Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lessons Learned from the Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness Review. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

HomVEE limited the literature search to research on program models that used home visiting as the primary service delivery strategy, offered home visits to most or all participants, and aimed to improve outcomes in at least one of eight domains specified in the legislation: (1) child development and school readiness; (2) child health; (3) family economic self-sufficiency; (4) linkages and referrals; (5) maternal health; (6) positive parenting practices; (7) reductions in child maltreatment; and (8) reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime. The literature search included a database search, website searches, a call for studies, and an examination of existing literature reviews and meta-analyses. HomVEE then screened out studies that were not relevant and ranked program models for review based on the number and design of impact studies, sample sizes of impact studies, availability of implementation information, and prevalence in the field. This process yielded 11 prioritized home visiting models for review:
Entrepreneurs and Intertemporal Decision Making

This paper investigates the decision making behaviour of individuals with respect to attributes considered relevant to the assessment of potential venture opportunities. Using a decision making experiment, we were able to consider the behaviour of individuals taking into account their risk and time preferences. We find that while the respondent as a whole placed most weight on the potential payoffs when considering the value of a venture opportunity, we find significant individual differences in preference weightings across the attributes used in the study. By using a series of hypothetical venture vignettes, we also find some evidence that these differences in preference weightings may be useful in predicting choice behaviour in a more realistic entrepreneurial environment.
Mobile Element Evolution Playing Jigsaw—SINEs in Gastropod and Bivalve Mollusks

SINEs (Short INterspersed Elements) are widely distributed among eukaryotes. Some SINE families are organized in superfamilies characterized by a shared central domain. These central domains are conserved across species, classes, and even phyla. Here we report the identification of two novel such superfamilies in the genomes of gastropod and bivalve mollusks. The central conserved domain of the first superfamily is present in SINEs in Caenogastropoda and Vetigastropoda as well as in all four subclasses of Bivalvia. We designated the domain MESC (Romanian for MElc—snail and SCoica—mussel) because it appears to be restricted to snails and mussels. The second superfamily is restricted to Caenogastropoda. Its central conserved domain—Snail—is related to the Nin-DC domain. Furthermore, we provide evidence that a 40-bp subdomain of the SINE V-domain is conserved in SINEs in mollusks and arthropods. It is predicted to form a stable stem-loop structure that is preserved in the context of the overall SINE RNA secondary structure in invertebrates. Our analysis also recovered short retrotransposons with a Long INterspersed Element (LINE)-derived 5′ end. These share the body and/or the tail with transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived SINEs within and across species. Finally, we identified CORE SINEs in gastropods and bivalves—extending the distribution range of this superfamily.
Models of fertilization kinetics

Fertilization functions describe how the number of realized fertilizations depends on gamete numbers or density. They provide insight into the fertilization process, and are important components in models on the evolution of reproductive and sex-specific traits. Existing fertilization functions generally examine the proportion of fertilized eggs as a function of sperm numbers or density in a given fertilization environment. Because these functions have been developed for species with highly diverged gametes, there is an inbuilt (and well justified) asymmetry in them: they treat eggs and sperm, and therefore the two sexes, differently. Although very useful, such functions cannot therefore be used to consistently model early stages in the evolution of the two sexes, or extant species where sex-specific gamete sizes and numbers are similar. Here, I derive fertilization functions that describe the fertilization process without making prior assumptions about the two sexes, and are therefore consistent under any level of gamete dimorphism. These functions are compatible with simpler fertilization functions under appropriate conditions. Such functions can be particularly useful in understanding the early stages in the differentiation of the two sexes, as well as its consequences, where the gametes from the two sexes should be treated on an equal basis.
The nature of traumatic memories: a 4-T FMRI functional connectivity analysis.

OBJECTIVE This study used functional connectivity analyses to assess interregional brain activity correlations during the recall of traumatic memories in traumatized subjects with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD Both 4-T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional connectivity analyses were used to assess interregional brain activity correlations during script-driven symptom provocation in traumatized subjects with (N=11) and without (N=13) PTSD. Functional connectivity analyses were carried out by using data for brain regions activated in both the PTSD group and the comparison group. The use of functional connectivity analyses in addition to subtraction analyses allowed assessment of specific brain regions involved in the recall of traumatic events and of the neuronal networks underlying the recall of such events. RESULTS Significant between-group differences in functional connectivity were found. Comparison of connectivity maps at coordinates x=2, y=20, z=36 (right anterior cingulate gyrus) for the two groups showed that the subjects without PTSD had greater correlation than the PTSD subjects in the left superior frontal gyrus (Brodmann's area 9), left anterior cingulate gyrus (Brodmann's area 32), left striatum (caudate), left parietal lobe (Brodmann's areas 40 and 43), and left insula (Brodmann's area 13). In contrast, the PTSD subjects showed greater correlation than the subjects without PTSD in the right posterior cingulate gyrus (Brodmann's area 29), right caudate, right parietal lobe (Brodmann's areas 7 and 40), and right occipital lobe (Brodmann's area 19). CONCLUSIONS The differences in brain connectivity between PTSD and comparison subjects may account for the nonverbal nature of traumatic memory recall in PTSD subjects, compared to a more verbal pattern of traumatic memory recall in comparison subjects.
Attentional Modulation of Alpha/Beta and Gamma Oscillations Reflect Functionally Distinct Processes

The brain adapts to dynamic environments by adjusting the attentional gain or precision afforded to salient and predictable sensory input. Previous research suggests that this involves the regulation of cortical excitability (reflected in prestimulus alpha oscillations) before stimulus onset that modulates subsequent stimulus processing (reflected in stimulus-bound gamma oscillations). We present two spatial attention experiments in humans, where we first replicate the classic finding of prestimulus attentional alpha modulation and poststimulus gamma modulation. In the second experiment, the task-relevant target was a stimulus change that occurred after stimulus onset. This enabled us to show that attentional alpha modulation reflects the predictability (precision) of an upcoming sensory target, rather than an attenuation of alpha activity induced by neuronal excitation related to stimulus onset. In particular, we show that the strength of attentional alpha modulations increases with the predictability of the anticipated sensory target, regardless of current afferent drive. By contrast, we show that the poststimulus attentional gamma enhancement is stimulus-bound and decreases when the subsequent target becomes more predictable. Hence, this pattern suggests that the strength of gamma oscillations is not merely a function of cortical excitability, but also depends on the relative mismatch of predictions and sensory evidence. Together, these findings support recent theoretical proposals for distinct roles of alpha/beta and gamma oscillations in hierarchical perceptual inference and predictive coding.
A Cell‐Based Light Interaction Model for Human Blood

The development of predictive appearance models for organic tissues is a challenging task due to the inherent complexity of these materials. In this paper, we closely examine the biophysical processes responsible for the appearance attributes of whole blood, one the most fundamental of these materials. We describe a new appearance model that simulates the mechanisms of light propagation and absorption within the cellular and fluid portions of this specialized tissue. The proposed model employs a comprehensive, and yet flexible first principles approach based on the morphological, optical and biochemical properties of blood cells. This approach allows for environment driven changes in the cells' anatomy and orientation to be appropriately included into the light transport simulations. The correctness and predictive capabilities of the proposed model are quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated through comparisons of modeled results with actual measured data and experimental observations reported in the scientific literature. Its incorporation into rendering systems is illustrated through images of blood samples depicting appearance variations controlled by physiologically meaningful parameters. Besides the contributions to the modeling of material appearance, the research presented in this paper is also expected to have applications in a wide range of biomedical areas, from optical diagnostics to the visualization and noninvasive imaging of blood‐perfused tissues.
Anterior Coracoscapular Ligament as a Factor Predisposing to or Protective for Suprascapular Neuropathy

Suprascapular neuropathy is a pathology caused by injury or compression of the suprascapular nerve. As the nerve runs from the anterior to posterior side of the scapula, the hot point where it is most susceptible to both injury and compression is the suprascapular notch. A literature search reveals several potential predisposing morphological factors in this area. However the most recent reports indicate that the structures at the suprascapular notch region may also prevent nerve injury and compression. The role of the anterior coracoscapular ligament (ACSL) remains unclear. While some studies indicate that it may predispose to suprascapular neuropathy, the newest study proposes a protective function. The aim of the article was to review the function of the anterior coracoscapular ligament in the light of the most recent studies. An understanding of the role of the ligament is essential for arthroscopic and other surgical procedures of this area in order to avoid iatrogenic injury of the suprascapular nerve.
Permeation and Gating of an Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel

Permeation, gating, and their interrelationship in an inwardly rectifying potassium (K+) channel, ROMK2, were studied using heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes. Patch-clamp recordings of single channels were obtained in the cell-attached mode. The gating kinetics of ROMK2 were well described by a model having one open and two closed states. One closed state was short lived (∼1 ms) and the other was longer lived (∼40 ms) and less frequent (∼1%). The long closed state was abolished by EDTA, suggesting that it was due to block by divalent cations. These closures exhibit a biphasic voltage dependence, implying that the divalent blockers can permeate the channel. The short closures had a similar biphasic voltage dependence, suggesting that they could be due to block by monovalent, permeating cations. The rate of entering the short closed state varied with the K+ concentration and was proportional to current amplitude, suggesting that permeating K+ ions may be related to the short closures. To explain the results, we propose a variable intrapore energy well model in which a shallow well may change into a deep one, resulting in a normally permeant K+ ion becoming a blocker of its own channel.
Contacts between adult children and their parents in Lithuania: the effects of familial, individual and structural factors

The paper focuses on the frequency of intergenerational face-to-face contacts between parents and their adult children in Lithuania, and how they are affected by the parental family history events, the child’s life course events, individual and structural level factors. The main empirical findings prove that parental divorce negatively affects the father–child contacts and has no effect at all on the mother–child contacts. Moreover, the effect of divorce is more negative on father–daughter contacts, and this contradicts the findings from other countries. Contrary to what has been expected, the child’s life course events, individual and structural level factors define the intergenerational contacts to a very limited extent. Proximity stands out as the most stable defining factor of contacts in all types of child–parent dyads.
Localization of Two Enzymes of the Tetrahydrobiopterin Biosynthetic Pathway in Embryonic Chick Retina

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential co-factor for the biosynthesis of catecholamine-type neurotransmitters and of nitric oxide (NO). The expression of the enzymes catalyzing the first two steps of the BH4 biosynthetic pathway was studied in the developing chicken retina by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. GTP-cyclohydrolase-I (GTP-CH-I) and 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) were already expressed in the undifferentiated and proliferating retina of E7. At stage E11 both enzymes were expressed in photoreceptors, amacrine cells, displaced amacrine cells, and ganglion cells, and in the plexiform layers in which synaptic connections take place. At stage E18 the labeling was comparable to E11 but appeared to be more concentrated in photoreceptors and ganglion cells.
The Impact of Fair Trade on Producers and Their Organisations: A Case Study with Coocafé in Costa Rica

Fair Trade attempts to address the poverty issues of small Southern producers through the payment of a ‘fair price’ for their goods and the provision of support services for producer organisations. Although Fair Trade is overwhelmingly identified with the ‘fair price’ paid by participating importers and buyers, sketching the possible avenues of impact reveal that many of the effects of Fair Trade on the quality of life of producers are felt through the organisational development supported by Fair Trade organisations. This study examines the impact of 10 years of Fair Trade in coffee in Costa Rica and reveals the importance of organisational development support for the stakeholders of the nine Costa Rican coffee co-operatives.
Matrix rank estimation and reduced rank matrix estimators through GMM and GEL

This work develops Generalized Empirical Likelihood (GEL) tests and estimators for matrix rank and reduced rank matrices. The approach taken adapts that of the seminal work of Newey and Smith (2004), by first setting the problems of matrix rank testing and estimation of reduced rank matrices in the framework of Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The resulting GMM and GEL tests and estimators are studied in theory, through simulations and in several examples. The key technical, theoretical difficulty is to deal with nonuniqueness when searching for nonsingular principal submatrix. When this matrix is found through Gaussian Elimination with Complete Pivoting (GECP), our approach deals with the so-called issue of ties in permutation matrices of GECP.
Impact of institute and person variables on teachers’ conceptions of learning and teaching*

Abstract Background: Teachers’ conceptions of learning and teaching are important for faculty development to result in enduring changes in teaching practices. Until now, studies on these conceptions have mostly focused on traditional, lecture-based curricula rather than on small-group student-centred educational formats, which are gaining ground worldwide. Aim: To explore which factors predict teachers’ conceptions in student-centred curricula. Methods: In two Dutch medical schools with 10 and 40 years of student-centred education, teachers were asked to fill out the Conceptions of Learning and Teaching (COLT) Questionnaire to assess their ‘teacher-centredness’, ‘appreciation of active learning’ and ‘orientation to professional practice’. Next, we quantitatively assessed the relations of teachers’ conceptions with their personal and occupational characteristics and institute. Results: Overall response was 49.4% (N = 319/646). Institute was the main predictor for variance in all three scales, and discipline, gender and teaching experience significantly explained variance in two of the scales. More than 80% of the variance was not explained by these factors. Conclusion: Longer exposure to a student-centred curriculum was associated with fewer teacher-centred conceptions, greater ‘appreciation of active learning’ and stronger ‘orientation towards professional practice’. In line with studies on lecture-based curricula, discipline, gender and teaching experience also appeared important for teachers’ conceptions in student-centred curricula. More research is necessary to better understand the influence of institute on the three teachers’ conceptions scales.
Neisseria meningitidis Sequence Type and Risk for Death, Iceland

Invasive meningococcal infections are hyperendemic in Iceland, a relatively isolated country in the mid-Atlantic. We performed a nationwide study on all viable meningococcal strains (N = 362) from 1977 to 2004. We analyzed the association of patient's age and sex, meningococcal serogroups, and sequence types (STs) with outcomes. Overall, 59 different STs were identified, 19 of which were unique to Iceland. The most common STs were 32 (24.6%), 11 (19.9%), and 10 (10.2%). The unique ST-3492 ranked fourth (7.7%). The most common serogroups were B (56.4%), C (39.8%), and A (2.2%). Age (p<0.001) and infection with a unique ST (p = 0.011) were independently associated with increased death rates, whereas isolation of meningococci from cerebrospinal fluid only was associated with lower death rates (p = 0.046). This study shows evolutionary trends of meningococcal isolates in a relatively isolated community and highlights an association between unique STs and poor outcome.
Serial Biomarker Measurements in Ambulatory Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: The Importance of Change Over Time

Background— Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been used to estimate prognosis in heart failure; however, most studies have evaluated decompensated patients with single measurements. To determine if there are advantages to serial measurements, we evaluated stable chronic heart failure patients every 3 months for 2 years. Methods and Results— A cohort of 190 New York Heart Association class III–IV heart failure patients was prospectively enrolled from June 2001 to January 2004. Primary end points were death, cardiac transplantation, or hospitalization. At study enrollment cTnT was <0.01 ng/mL in 87 (45.8%) patients, 0.01 to 0.03 ng/mL in 50 (26.3%) patients, and >0.03 ng/mL in 53 (27.9%) patients. An increase in cTnT above normal (<0.01 ng/mL) carried a 3.4-fold increased risk (P=0.019). Further increases (≥20%) from an elevated level worsened the overall risk (hazard ratio, 5.09; P<0.001). BNP was elevated (>95th percentile for age and gender normal population) in 122 (64.2%) patients. An elevation of BNP from normal at any time during the study was associated with a poor outcome, but, once elevated, further changes in BNP (increases or decreases) remained associated with the same risk (hazard ratio, 5.09; P<0.001). Combined elevations of cTnT (>0.03 ng/mL) and BNP defined the highest risk group (hazard ratio, 8.58; P<0.001). Conclusions— Elevations of cTnT or BNP from normal detected at any time during clinical follow-up in ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure are highly associated with an increased risk of events. Further increases in cTnT contribute to additional risk. Combined elevations of cTnT and BNP contribute the highest risk. The ability to monitor changes by serial measurements adds substantially to the assessment of risk in this patient population.
Optimal Circuits for Streamed Linear Permutations Using RAM

We propose a method to automatically derive hardware structures that perform a fixed linear permutation on streaming data. Linear permutations are permutations that map linearly the bit representation of the elements addresses. This set contains many of the most important permutations in media processing, communication, and other applications and includes perfect shuffles, stride permutations, and the bit reversal. Streaming means that the data to be permuted arrive as a sequence of chunks over several cycles. We solve this problem by mathematically decomposing a given permutation into a sequence of three permutations that are either temporal or spatial. The former are implemented as banks of RAM, the latter as switching networks. We prove optimality of our solution in terms of the number of switches in these networks.
Plasma Cardiac Troponin I Concentration and Cardiac Death in Cats with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background The use of cardiac biomarkers to assist in the diagnosis of occult and symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats has been established. There is limited data describing their prognostic utility in cats with HCM. Hypothesis Circulating concentrations of N‐terminal B‐type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) predict cardiac death in cats with HCM. Animals Forty‐one cats diagnosed with HCM at a veterinary teaching hospital, between February 2010 and May 2011. Methods Prospective investigational study. Plasma samples were collected from cats diagnosed with HCM and concentrations of NTproBNP and cTnI were analyzed at a commercial laboratory. Echocardiographic measurements from the day of blood sampling were recorded. Long‐term outcome data were obtained. Associations with time to cardiac death were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. Results When controlling for the presence/absence of heart failure and echocardiographic measures of left atrial size and function, cTnI > 0.7 ng/mL was independently associated with time to cardiac death. In univariable analysis, NTproBNP > 250 pmol/L was associated with cardiac death (P = .023), but this did not remain significant (P = .951) when controlling for the effect of clinical signs or left atrial size/function. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Plasma concentration of cTnI (cutoff >0.7 ng/mL) is a predictor of cardiac death in cats with HCM that is independent of the presence of heart failure or left atrial dilatation.