Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meiotic Studies of a 38,XY/39,XXY Mosaic Boar

Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) is the most common sex chromosome abnormality identified in human males. This syndrome is generally associated with infertility. Men with KS may have a 47,XXY or a 46,XY/47,XXY karyotype. Studies carried out in humans and mice suggest that only XY cells are able to enter and complete meiosis. These cells could originate from the XY cells present in mosaic patients or from XXY cells that have lost one X chromosome. In pig, only 3 cases of pure 39,XXY have been reported until now, and no meiotic analysis was carried out. For the first time in pig species we report the analysis of a 38,XY/39,XXY boar and describe the origin of the supplementary X chromosome and the chromosomal constitutions of the germ and Sertoli cells.
An Autosegmental-Metrical Investigation of Intonation in People with Parkinson's Disease

Abstract This study investigates the intonation in the read speech of two males with hypokinetic dysarthria resulting from idiopathic Parkinson's disease and compares them with two age-matched male controls. The investigation was carried out within the autosegmental-metrical framework (AM), which analyzes intonational contours as a sequence of abstract, discrete pitch targets (high or low tones) and permits analysis on two levels: the intonational phonology and its phonetic realisation. Despite its potential for revealing patterns of disordered usage, the AM approach has seldom been deployed in the analysis of disordered speech, and has never been used to investigate the intonation patterns of people with Parkinson's disease. Results showed that there were no differences between the participants with parkinsonian dysarthria and the healthy controls in the inventory of pitch accents and boundary tones (i.e., the phonological elements of intonation). Both groups used the same range of pitch accent types and boundary tones. However, there were differences in the phonetic realization of them. In particular, the speakers with parkinsonian dysarthria on average produced shorter intermediate and intonational phrases, used fewer pitch accents per intonational phrase, and had a narrower pitch range. Furthermore, their boundary tones did not always coincide with syntactic boundaries. The finding of preserved categorical elements of intonation suggests that the abstract representations of intonation are unaffected in these participants with parkinsonian dysarthria. However, the findings of problems with the distribution and phonetic realization suggests that there may be a disruption in the instantiation of those abstract representations either at the initial planning level or at the level of phonetic implementation.
Elevated preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with poor prognosis in gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients

Purpose To investigate the prognostic relevance of preoperative peripheral neutrophil- to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients. Materials and methods We enrolled 129 consecutive GIST patients who underwent initial curative surgical resection with or without adjuvant/palliative imatinib treatment in our study. Blood NLR was calculated as neutrophil count (number of neutrophils ×109/L) divided by lymphocyte count (number of lymphocytes ×109/L). Survival curves were constructed by using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed to identify associations with outcome variable. All tests were two-sided, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The optimal cut-off value of NLR was 2.07 in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The median overall survival (OS) of high NLR group was 113.0 months, whereas that of the low NLR group had not reached the median OS both in the general (P<0.001) and subgroup analyses. The elevated NLR suggested shorter OS in the high malignant potential groups (P=0.01) and the combined low and moderate groups (P=0.02). Increased NLR indicated poor OS in patients regardless of whether if received imatinib treatment or not (P=0.005, and P=0.032, respectively). High NLR indicated poor OS of patients in stage I and II disease (P=0.005) and a clear tendency that increased level of NLR is inimical to OS. Conclusion Elevated NLR was detected as an independent adverse prognostic factor. Elevated preoperative NLR predicts poor clinical outcome in GIST patients and may serve as a cost-effective and broadly available independent prognostic biomarker.
Using the compiler to improve cache replacement decisions

Memory performance is increasingly determining microprocessor performance and technology trends are exacerbating this problem. Most architectures use set-associative caches with LRU replacement policies to combine fast access with relatively low miss rates. To improve replacement decisions in set-associative caches, we develop a new set of compiler algorithms that predict which data will and will not be reused and provide these hints to the architecture. We prove that the hints either match or improve hit rates over LRU. We describe a practical one-bit cache-line tag implementation of our algorithm, called evict-me. On a cache replacement, the architecture will replace a line for which the evict-me bit is set, or if none is set, it will use the LRU bits. We implement our compiler analysis and its output in the Scale compiler. On a variety of scientific programs, using the evict-me algorithm in both the level 1 and 2 caches improves simulated cycle times by up to 34% over the LRU policy by increasing hit rates. In addition, a combination of simple hardware prefetching and evict-me works together to further improve performance.
Organ‐level validation of a cross‐bridge cycling descriptor in a left ventricular finite element model: effects of ventricular loading on myocardial strains

Although detailed cell‐based descriptors of cross‐bridge cycling have been applied in finite element (FE) heart models to describe ventricular mechanics, these multiscale models have never been tested rigorously to determine if these descriptors, when scaled up to the organ‐level, are able to reproduce well‐established organ‐level physiological behaviors. To address this void, we here validate a left ventricular (LV) FE model that is driven by a cell‐based cross‐bridge cycling descriptor against key organ‐level heart physiology. The LV FE model was coupled to a closed‐loop lumped parameter circulatory model to simulate different ventricular loading conditions (preload and afterload) and contractilities. We show that our model is able to reproduce a linear end‐systolic pressure volume relationship, a curvilinear end‐diastolic pressure volume relationship and a linear relationship between myocardial oxygen consumption and pressure–volume area. We also show that the validated model can predict realistic LV strain‐time profiles in the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial directions. The predicted strain‐time profiles display key features that are consistent with those measured in humans, such as having similar peak strains, time‐to‐peak‐strain, and a rapid change in strain during atrial contraction at late‐diastole. Our model shows that the myocardial strains are sensitive to not only LV contractility, but also to the LV loading conditions, especially to a change in afterload. This result suggests that caution must be exercised when associating changes in myocardial strain with changes in LV contractility. The methodically validated multiscale model will be used in future studies to understand human heart diseases.
Multispectral image coding using lattice VQ and the wavelet transform

This paper examines the problem of compressing multispectral images using the wavelet transform and stack-run entropy coding. Our goal is to explore various ways of coding the wavelet coefficients in order to see which techniques can best exploit the correlation between the multispectral bands to produce an efficient coding algorithm. The results of our study indicate that applying the KLT to each subband followed by lattice VQ on Z/sup n/ and subsequent independent entropy coding of each of the lattice dimensions is an effective and fairly simple coding technique. We also demonstrate the importance of proper bit-allocation or, equivalently, the correct choice of the lattice scale parameter for each subband.
Building a prototype Geographical Correlates Exploration Machine

The paper describes a exploratory procedure for data analysis for use within GIS. The objective is to search digital map databases for the presence of geographical relationships that may be useful for descriptive purposes, as a pointer towards areas for further investigation, and as a means of generating hypotheses for subsequent testing. A prototype Geographical Correlates Exploration Machine (GCEM) is demonstrated by searching for possible linkages between children with leukaemia and a selection of environmental coverages. Arc Info is used for the GIS parts and a Cray X-MP/48 supercomputer for the analysis. Ultimately, it is envisaged that GCEM will be able to run entirely within a GIS workstation environment.
Prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results from multicenter clinical trials.

Oxygen Therapy Trials The first multicenter clinical trials in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) dealt with long-term O2 therapy (I, 2). The trials conclusively demonstrated that such therapy conferred a survival advantage, but they are difficult to interpret in terms of general survival in COPD for several reasons. First, the hypoxemic patients involved were by definition a subset with very severe disease. Second, because of the effect of 0 . mortality differed by treatment group and treatment groups wereeither small33 men in the British Medical Research Council (MRC) trial (I)-or followed for a short time-an average of 19.3months in the Nocturnal Oxygen Therapy Trial (2). Besides the effect of O2 , the major conclusion to be drawn from these trials is that hypoxemicCOPD has a verypoor prognosis. In the British MRC trial, no O2 therapy was associated with a 5-yr survival of about 251lJo, while patients on 15 h of O2 therapy per day including the nocturnal hours had a41ClJo 5-yrsurvival (I). In the NOTT, nocturnal O2 therapy was associated with an annual mortality of about 201Jfo, while continuous 0, therapy yielded an annual mortality ofabout H% (2). Within all treatment groups, indices ofdisease severity such as CO 2 retention and low values of FEV1 tended to predict death, but these werenot analyzed in detail, and no decisive effect of O2 therapy on such physiologic measurements was shown. It is of considerable interest that there were some major transatlantic differences in patients at baseline though entry criteria differed only in that patients of 70 yr or more were excluded from the British trial. British patients, although they had the same degree of airways obstruction as the North Americans, had considerably higher levels of Paco" hematocrit, pulmonary artery pressure, and cardiac output (table 1). These differences have not been explained.
Developing Self‐Authorship in Graduate School

Adults in contemporary America are expected to be productive citizens who can manage their own affairs. They are expected to make informed decisions for themselves and their fellow citizens, appreciate diverse perspectives, manage conflict appropriately, and act responsibly in their communities. They are expected to be lifelong learners in the face of constant change and incre a s i n g c o m p l e x i t y. Meeting these expectations re q u i res the ability to develop one’s own perspective—the capacity for self-authorship. Self-authorship re q u i res complex assumptions about the nature of knowledge, namely that knowledge is constructed in a context based on relevant evidence, that evaluating evidence is necessary to decide what to believe, and that each individual has the capacity to make such decisions. Furt h e rm o re, selfauthorship re q u i res a sense of identity through which individuals perc e i v e themselves as capable of knowledge construction. It also re q u i res interd e p e ndence with other people to gain access to other perspectives without being consumed by them. As a result, self-authorship is more than a skill; it is a way of making meaning of one’s experience. My longitudinal study of college students’ assumptions about knowledge revealed that 2 percent of the seniors and 12 percent of the participants one year after graduation used contextual knowing (Baxter Magolda, 1992). C o ntextual knowing includes viewing knowledge relative to a context, understanding that some knowledge claims are more valid than others, and using i n f o rmed judgment to determine what to believe. Similar re s e a rch on re f l e ctive judgment showed that college seniors used reasoning characterized by the assumption that knowledge claims are personal opinions, and thus were unable to explain the role of evidence in making interpretations (King and
Using Serious Games for Idea Assessment in Service Innovation

Serious games are an innovative way for tackling design objectives in a variety of IS contexts. In this paper, we explore the use of an online serious game for idea assessment in companies, an approach that is not covered in scientific literature so far. Thereby, we contribute to understanding (i) whether serious games can add to overcoming challenges in the area of idea assessment, and, (ii) whether there are potential biases of the game towards more incremental or radical ideas when played by teams differing in terms of their members’ personality profile. In a first step, we employ the serious game Buy-a-Feature and run a qualitative pre-study under real-life conditions at a German Financial Services provider. Next, we conduct a lab experiment in which 250 participants prioritize a portfolio of 16 ideas by playing the game. Our results demonstrate high levels of engagement amongst the participants, perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use and confidence with the games’ outcomes. Moreover, teams with a high average score of the personality trait “Openness to Experience” exhibit a bias towards radical ideas, while all other team formations showed rather balanced results. Based on our results we reflect on managerial implications for the use of the game for idea assessment, particularly in a service innovation context.
Media ownership and news framing: an analysis of HIV/AIDS coverage by Ugandan press

Applying framing theory, the present research analyzes trends in Ugandan news coverage and the prominent issue frames for HIV/AIDS-related stories. In order to determine the influence of other factors, such as media ownership and journalist origin, nearly 800 articles, from 2000 to 2004, were gathered from the major private newspaper and government-owned newspaper in Uganda. After systematic sampling, 365 articles constitute the sample. The results indicate that print news coverage of HIV and AIDS followed a non-linear trajectory, declining from 2000–2002 and then increasing from 2003–2004. Curative medicine emerged as the most prominent issue frame. Higher-risk behaviour was the least prominent issue frame overall. The ‘solutions’ issue frame nearly doubled in prominence from 2000–2004, while the HIV-prevention frame decreased from 2000–2002 and then rebounded from 2003–2004. Concerning HIV-related topics, the private newspaper included more features, printed lengthier articles, incorporated a greater variety of news frames, and published more articles by foreign journalists than the government-owned newspaper. The private newspaper employed the ‘HIV-prevention,’ ‘action,’ and ‘victims’ frames more often than the government-owned newspaper. Journalists at the government-owned newspaper adopted a ‘solutions’ frame more often than their private-press counterparts. Though foreign journalists were more likely than local journalists to employ the HIV-prevention frame, additional tests revealed that the news organisation for which the journalists worked contributed to issue framing to a greater extent than did either a local or foreign reporting origin. Local (Ugandan) journalists working for the two news organisations differed in their tendencies to apply the HIV-prevention, action, victims, and tragedy frames in news stories on HIV and AIDS, with journalists at the private newspaper using these frames more often than did journalists at the government-owned newspaper.
Differential effects of experience on the ERP and behavior of 6-month-old infants: trends during repeated stimulus presentations

Increasing experience with repetitive stimuli may lead to changes in the way the infant processes the information in the stimulus. It has been shown that some components of the event‐related brain potential (ERP) are sensitive to the differential experience provided by two stimuli presented at different probabilities. For example, the negative component (Nc) of the infant's ERP is often greater in amplitude to low probability stimuli (oddballs) than to frequent stimuli. Therefore, changes in ERP component amplitudes and latencies may be expected to occur with stimulus repetition. We analyzed the ERP components to the frequent stimulus within an oddball task for 28 six‐month‐old infants. An 80‐trial Benoulli sequence of two female‐face pictures, presented at 80%/20% probabilities, was divided into three blocks. Amplitudes and latencies of Nc and a positive component (Pb) were measured as was the area of a negative slow wave (NSW) at frontal and central scalp sites FZ, CZ, PZ, C3, and C4. Early components w.
Cumulative familial risks and low-birthweight children's cognitive and behavioral development

Examines the prevalence, contributions, and cumulative effects of 13 biological, economic, maternal, family-structural, and parenting-belief risk factors in poor and nonpoor families separately on low-birthweight premature children's 36-month ZQ scores and behavior problems (N = 704). Children were part of the Infant Health and Development Program (ZHDP), a multisite, randomized clinical trial providing early pediatric follow-up and educational and family support services. Risk factors occurred more frequently in poor families than in nonpoor families. Different sets of risk factors were associated with children's ZQ scores and behavior problem scores. As the number of risk factors increased, child ZQ decreased. Behavior problems did not change as a function of risk factors. Early intervention had a beneficial effect on ZQ scores regardless of the number of risks experienced.
Evidence for an effect of phospholamban on the regulatory role of ATP in calcium uptake by the calcium pump of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional relationship between phospholamban and the nucleotide site of the calcium pump protein of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. We used control and trypsin-treated cardiac microsomes in which cleavage of the inhibitory cytoplasmic domain of phospholamban is associated with an activation of the calcium pump similar to that produced by protein kinase A catalyzed phospholamban phosphorylation. Phenylglyoxal was shown to inactivate the calcium pump in a pseudo-first-order reaction by binding to a single Arg at the nucleotide binding site. No differences upon trypsin treatment of microsomes were observed in the kinetics of phenylglyoxal inactivation or the ability of millimolar ATP to protect against inactivation. In subsequent kinetic studies, Ca-uptake rates measured at saturating Ca2+ and 5 microM-1 mM MgATP2- were increased 15-32% by trypsin treatment in each of three different microsome preparations. Double-reciprocal plots of the data showed marked downward curvature indicating an acceleratory effect associated with ligand binding to a lower affinity site. At 0.32 microM Ca2+, Ca-uptake rates were lower than at 11 microM Ca2+ but were stimulated to a greater extent by trypsin treatment; control microsomes showed reduced evidence of apparent negative cooperativity. At 0-2 microM MgATP2- and saturating Ca2+, there was a 50% increase in Vmax(app) when the Hill coefficient (N) was 1. At 0-10 microM MgATP2-, second-site binding was evident. At both 0-10 microM and 5 microM-1 mM MgATP2-, trypsin-treated microsomes showed greater activation of Ca uptake attributable to second-site binding than did control microsomes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Similarity of Mothers’ and Preschool Teachers’ Evaluations of Socialization Goals in a Cross-Cultural Perspective

This study examines the similarity of socialization goals of a group of mothers with different cultural backgrounds and their children’s respective preschool teachers in Germany. Additionally, the researchers were interested in the relationship between the degree of mother-teacher similarity and maternal satisfaction with child care. Questionnaire data of nonmigrant (n = 464), Turkish migrant (n = 83), and Former Soviet Union (FSU) migrant (n = 112) mothers and their respective preschool teachers (n = 244) were analyzed. Significant cross-cultural differences between mothers and teachers were evident in the lower correlation of socialization goal evaluations between migrant mothers and teachers, and higher absolute difference scores for migrant mothers. However, maternal satisfaction with institutional child care was not related to similarity of socialization goals and was generally high across all groups. Results point to the importance of cross-cultural differences in child-rearing ideas in terms of the interaction between parents and child care professionals.
Construct validation using multitrait‐multimethod‐twin data: The case of a general factor of personality

We describe a behavioural genetic extension of the classic multitrait‐multimethod study design that allows estimating genetic and environmental influences on method effects in twin studies (MTMM‐T). Genetic effects and effects of the environment shared by siblings are interpreted as indicators of convergent validity. In an application of the MTMM study design, we used self‐ and peer report data to examine the higher‐order structure of the NEO‐PI‐R. Structural equation modelling did not support a general factor of personality in multimethod data. The higher‐order factor Stability turns out to be, at most, a weak trait factor. Genetic effects on method factors indicate that especially self‐reports but also peer reports show convergent validity between twins but not between methods. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
View-based Appearance Model Online Learning for 3D Deformable Face Tracking

In this paper we address the issue of joint estimation of head pose and facial actions. We propose a method that can robustly track both subtle and extreme movements by combining two types of features: structural features observed at characteristic points of the face, and intensity features sampled from the facial texture. To handle the processing of extreme poses, we propose two innovations. The first one is to extend the deformable 3D face model Candide so that we can collect appearance information from the head sides as well as from the face. The second one is to exploit a set of view-based templates learned online to model the head appearance. This allows us to handle the appearance variation problem, inherent to intensity features and accentuated by the coarse geometry of our 3D head model. Experiments on the Boston University Face Tracking dataset show that the method can track common head movements with an accuracy of $3.2\degrees$, outperformning some state-of-the-art methods. More importantly, the ability of the system to robustly track natural/faked facial actions and challenging head movements is demonstrated on several long video sequences.