Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of bilingualism on the preference for the mouth region of dynamic faces.

Bilingual infants show an extended period of looking at the mouth of talking faces, which provides them with additional articulatory cues that can be used to boost the challenging situation of learning two languages (Pons, Bosch & Lewkowicz, 2015). However, the eye region also provides fundamental cues for emotion perception and recognition, as well as communication. Here, we explored whether the adaptations resulting from learning two languages are specific to linguistic content or if they also influence the focus of attention when looking at dynamic faces. We recorded the eye gaze of bilingual and monolingual infants (8- and 12-month-olds) while watching videos of infants and adults portraying different emotional states (neutral, crying, and laughing). When looking at infant faces, bilinguals looked longer at the mouth region as compared to monolinguals regardless of age. However, when presented with adult faces, 8-month-old bilingual infants looked longer at the mouth region and less at the eye region compared to 8-month-old monolingual infants, but no effect of language exposure was found at 12 months of age. These findings suggest that the bias to the mouth region in bilingual infants at 8 months of age can be generalized to other audiovisual dynamic faces that do not contain linguistic information. We discuss the potential implications of such bias in early social and communicative development.
A simple and sensitive "dipstick" test in serum based on lateral flow separation of aptamer-linked nanostructures.

Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids that can be selected from a large random library to bind a number of molecules with high affinity and specificity. Therefore, they are considered to be the nucleic acid version of antibodies. Since its first discovery in the early 1990s, the use of aptamers for sensing and diagnostic applications has been extensively explored. Many detection methods developed for antibodies have been successfully adapted to aptamerbased detections. In many cases, aptamers show similar or even better performance when compared with antibodies in the laboratory. However, practical applications of aptamer-based sensing and diagnostics, such as home and
The Effect of Auditor Choice on Financing Decisions

We provide evidence that the financing decisions of companies that are audited by a Big Six auditor are less affected by information asymmetry. Specifically, these companies enjoy greater financial flexibility and depend less on favorable market conditions for their equity issuance decisions than those not audited by a Big Six firm. As a consequence, their debt ratios are less affected either by their past stock price performance or by Baker and Wurgler's [2002] measure of market timing. In addition, consistent with the idea that these firms are able to issue equity more regularly, we find that these firms have lower target debt ratios. These results are economically significant. They are robust to endogenizing the selection of the auditor and they hold both cross-sectionally and in panel settings.
R EPORT OF THE MEETINGS ON ASPARTAME WITH N ATIONAL E XPERTS Q UESTION NUMBER : EFSA-Q-2009-00488

The following experts were nominated by the Advisory Forum members to take part in the meetings on aspartame: Stephen Atkin*, Maria de Lourdes Bastos, Jacqueline J. M. Castenmiller, Rhodri Evans, Tor Øystein Fotland, Tero Hirovonen, Trine Husøy, Nils-Gunnar Ilbäck*, Indre Karpoviene, Eleni Kakouri, Erik Konings*, Maria Conçeição Branco Montenegro*, Angelina Pena*, André Penninks*, Aldert Piersma*, Iona Pratt, Hannu Raunio, Natalie Thatcher*, Marica Theiszová*, Martina Valachovičová, Daniela Winklerová
Symmetrical dimethylarginine methylation is required for the localization of SMN in Cajal bodies and pre-mRNA splicing

The nuclear structures that contain symmetrical dimethylated arginine (sDMA)–modified proteins and the role of this posttranslational modification is unknown. Here we report that the Cajal body is a major epitope in HeLa cells for an sDMA-specific antibody and that coilin is an sDMA-containing protein as analyzed by using the sDMA-specific antibody and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The methylation inhibitor 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine reduces the levels of coilin methylation and causes the appearance of SMN-positive gems. In cells devoid of Cajal bodies, such as primary fibroblasts, sDMA-containing proteins concentrated in speckles. Cells from a patient with spinal muscular atrophy, containing low levels of the methyl-binding protein SMN, localized sDMA-containing proteins in the nucleoplasm as a discrete granular pattern. Splicing reactions are efficiently inhibited by using the sDMA-specific antibody or by using hypomethylated nuclear extracts, showing that active spliceosomes contain sDMA polypeptides and suggesting that arginine methylation is important for efficient pre-mRNA splicing. Our findings support a model in which arginine methylation is important for the localization of coilin and SMN in Cajal bodies.
First bite syndrome: a complication of carotid endarterectomy

First bite syndrome (FBS) is an uncommon pain syndrome characterised by severe cramping or spasm in the parotid region with the first bite of each meal. The proposed pathogenesis is sympathetic denervation of the parotid gland secondary to iatrogenic injury with resultant cross-stimulatory parasympathetic hypersensitivity response. FBS is a potential sequela of surgeries involving the infratemporal fossa, parapharyngeal space and/or deep lobe of the parotid gland, however, only four cases of FBS secondary to carotid endarterectomy have been documented to date. We present a case and management of a 77-year-old man who developed FBS after an ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy, to raise awareness of this complication among surgeons who operate in the neck region.
Allelic variations for lycopene-ε-cyclase and β-carotene hydroxylase genes in maize inbreds and their utilization in β-carotene enrichment programme

Abstract Vitamin A deficiency is a global health problem and can be effectively alleviated through crop biofortification. Quantification of carotenoids using high-performance liquid chromatography is expensive and time-consuming, thereby posing a challenge in the selection of genotypes with high provitamin A. Favourable alleles possessing rare genetic variation in lycopene-ε-cyclase (lcyE) and β-carotene hydroxylase (crtRB1) genes are associated with higher accumulation of provitamin A, especially β-carotene; and selection of these alleles holds immense promise in reducing large-scale phenotypic assays. Screening of a diverse set of 385 maize inbred lines of indigenous and exotic origin detected the presence of two alleles (amplicon size: 250 and 650 bp) of lcyE and three alleles (amplicon size: 296, 543 and 875 bp) of crtRB1 in the inbred panel. Favourable alleles of both the genes were rare among the traditional maize germplasm; 3.38% of the inbreds possessed the favourable allele (650 bp) of lcyE, while 3.90% inbreds had the favourable allele (543 bp) of crtRB1. Five inbreds (1.3%) with favourable alleles of both the genes were found. Inbreds with favourable alleles of crtRB1 and lcyE serve as rich genetic resources for effective utilization in the maize biofortification programme.
Ecological Correlates of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Abundance on the Nearshore Worm Reefs of Southeastern Florida

ABSTRACT Stadler, M. ; Salmon, M. , and Roberts, C. , 2015. Ecological correlates of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) abundance on the nearshore worm reefs of southeastern Florida. Juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) differ in abundance on nearshore reefs, but why some sites are preferred over others is unknown. Our study had two objectives: to quantify site-specific differences in turtle abundance over time (1 y) and to determine what ecological factors were correlated with those differences. We conducted quarterly surveys on reefs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties, Florida, and compared reef sites with respect to (1) water depth, (2) algal abundance, (3) algal species richness, and (4) fluctuations in reef area caused by sand burial (which kills the algae used as forage by the turtles). Turtles were most abundant on reefs located in shallow water and exposed to bright ambient light. More turtles were also seen at sites where algae were both abundant and composed of many species. Reefs with those characteristics tended to remain uncovered by sand (“stable”) for longer time periods. We hypothesize that foraging by turtles on preferred reefs may prevent any one species of algae from dominating the site, making room for others to colonize. If true, then both physical stability (reef exposure time) and biological activity (turtle grazing) may make some reefs more attractive to turtles than others.
Understanding Suicide Risk Within the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Framework: Insights, Challenges, and Future Research Considerations

Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. Prior research has focused primarily on sociodemographic and psychiatric risk factors with little improvement in the prediction or prevention of suicidal behavior over time. The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) may be an especially useful framework for advancing research in this area. This article provides a brief and broad overview of research on suicidal behavior relating to each of the RDoC domains—highlighting the RDoC construct(s) where research has focused, the construct(s) where research is lacking, and suggestions for future research directions. We also discuss major challenges for suicide research within the RDoC framework, including the intersection of RDoC domains, interaction of domains with the environment, incorporation of developmental stage, integration of distal and proximal processes, and inclusion of suicide-specific constructs. We conclude by underscoring important considerations for future research aimed at using the RDoC framework to study suicidal behavior and other forms of psychopathology.
Focus Group Findings of Smoking Onset Among Male Youth in China

ABSTRACT Background: Adolescence is associated with smoking initiation among men in China. The lack of qualitative studies using Chinese adolescent samples can pose challenges to enacting effective smoking prevention messages that resonate with male Chinese teenagers' thoughts, needs, and wishes. Objective: This focus group study was designed to obtain in-depth contextual information on early smoking among male teenagers in China. Methods: Twenty focus groups of 7–10 male students from vocational and junior colleges (N = 165) were conducted, approximately half in Shanxi and half in Guangdong. Results: A large number of early smoking activities occurred in homes and schools, and teenagers considered school toilets and dorms safe havens for smoking. Many participants' first cigarettes were offered to them by peers, others first smoked during social interactions, and some started smoking of their own volition. Teenagers were curious about the attributes of cigarette products, smoking techniques, and physical reactions. More participants disclosed negative first smoking experiences than positive experiences. Negative first physical experiences motivated some participants to acquire better smoking techniques. Smoking experimentation was sustained in part by reciprocated cigarette offers. Heavy experimentation occurred before graduation from high school. Conclusions/Importance: The current findings provide an empirical basis for developing intervention strategies that are alternative or complementary to the current conventional health education. These strategies include cognitive response methods to enhance antismoking beliefs, smoke-free social interaction norms, and school-based (e.g., peer education) and home-based (e.g., involving family members) intervention programs.
Actin Structure and Function: What We Still Do Not Understand*

Actin is interesting. We state this not just because actin is so plentiful that it is the single most abundant protein in many eukaryotic cells. Actin is interesting not only because it is so highly conserved that between humans and chickens there have been no amino acid changes in the 375 residues present in the skeletal muscle isoform (1). We think that actin remains interesting because after more than 60 years of study (2) fundamental questions about actin structure and dynamics and how these determine function remain unanswered.Wewill not attempt to summarize what is known about actin in this very brief review. Indeed, a search of PubMed for “actin” retrieves 53,234 publications! Rather, we will focus on a few related issues involving the structure of the actin monomer and polymer and spend as much time discussing what we still do not know about actin as we spend reviewing what we do know.
Optimizing silicon application to improve salinity tolerance in wheat

Salinity often suppresses the wheat performance. As wheat is designated as silicon (Si) accumulator, hence Si application may alleviate the salinity induced damages. With the objective to combat the salinity stress in wheat by Si application (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L -1 ) using calcium silicate, an experiment was conducted on two contrasting wheat genotypes (salt sensitive; Auqab-2000 and salt tolerant; SARC-5) in salinized (10 dS m -1 ) and non-salinized (2 dS m -1 ) solutions. Plants were harvested 32 days after transplanting and evaluation was done on the basis of different morphological and analytical characters. Silicon supplementation into the solution culture improved wheat growth and K + /Na + with reduced Na + and enhanced K + uptake. Concomitant improvement in shoot growth was observed; nonetheless the root growth remained unaffected by Si application. Better results were obtained with 150 and 200 mg L -1 of Si which were found almost equally effective. It was concluded that SARC-5 is better than Auqab-2000 against salt stress and Si inclusion into the solution medium is beneficial for wheat and can improve the crop growth both under optimal and salt stressful conditions.
Prostaglandin E 2 Effects on Corneal Endothelial Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphafe Synthesis and Cell Shape Are Mediated by a Receptor of the EP 2 Subtype

s. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31(Suppl):144, 1990. 19. Mittag TW: Signal transduction systems for prostaglandins in the iris and ciliary body. In The Ocular Effects of Prostaglandins and Other Eicosanoids, Bito LZ and Stjernschantz J, editors. New York, Alan R. Liss, 1989, pp. 139-148. 20. Bito LZ, Srinivassan RA, Baroody RA and Schubert H: Noninvasive observations on eyes of cats after long-term maintenance of reduced intraocular pressure by topical application of PGE2. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 24:376, 1983. 21. Joyce NC, Matkin ED, and Neufeld AH: Corneal endothelial wound closure in vitro: Effects of EGF and indomethacin. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:1548, 1989. 22. Camras CB, Podos SM, Rosenthal JS, Lee PY, and Severin CH: Multiple dosing of PGF2a or epinephrine on cynomolgus monkey eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 28:463, 1987. Downloaded From: http://iovs.arvojournals. org/pdfaccess.ashx? url=/data/journals/iovs/933159/ on 03/20/2018
23 Titanium : A New Allergen Laurence Evrard Stomatology and Maxillo-facial Surgery Department Hopital

Buccal allergies represent a growing problem and often go undiagnosed by health professionals. There is an increase in the prevalence of oral allergies to dental materials, and especially to metals used in dental materials. Titanium, used in orthopaedic devices and oral implants, although considered an inert material, can actually induce toxicity or allergic type I or IV reactions. Cases of an allergy to titanium described in the literature reflect the difficulty in the diagnosis of this allergy. In case of a suspected contact allergy, epicutaneous patch tests can be done, which consist of applying the allergens which are to be tested to the patient’s back. These tests are known to have a diagnostic efficiency of 75% for metal allergy, and can therefore underdiagnose a titanium sensitization or allergy. Blood tests which can be used for the diagnosis of allergies are based on lymphoblastic transformation. They are more sensitive than patch tests, but sometimes lack specificity. The occurrence of an allergy to titanium could be responsible for successive unexplained cases of failure of dental implants in some patients (known as “cluster patients”). It has been reported that the risk of an allergy to titanium is increased in patients who are allergic to other metals. In these patients, an allergy evaluation is recommended, in order to exclude any problem with titanium dental implants.
Clinical Investigation : Breast Cancer Benefit of Adjuvant Brachytherapy Versus External Beam Radiation for Early Breast Cancer : Impact of Patient Stratification on Breast Preservation

Benefit of Adjuvant Brachytherapy Versus External Beam Radiation for Early Breast Cancer: Impact of Patient Stratification on Breast Preservation Grace L. Smith, MD, PhD,* Jing Jiang, MS,y Thomas A. Buchholz, MD,* Ying Xu, MD,y Karen E. Hoffman, MD,* Sharon H. Giordano, MD,z Kelly K. Hunt, MD,x and Benjamin D. Smith, MD* Departments of *Radiation Oncology, yBiostatistics, zBreast Medical Oncology, and xSurgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Widespread exon skipping triggers degradation by nuclear RNA surveillance in fission yeast

Exon skipping is considered a principal mechanism by which eukaryotic cells expand their transcriptome and proteome repertoires, creating different splice variants with distinct cellular functions. Here we analyze RNA-seq data from 116 transcriptomes in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), covering multiple physiological conditions as well as transcriptional and RNA processing mutants. We applied brute-force algorithms to detect all possible exon-skipping events, which were widespread but rare compared to normal splicing events. Exon-skipping events increased in cells deficient for the nuclear exosome or the 5′-3′ exonuclease Dhp1, and also at late stages of meiotic differentiation when nuclear-exosome transcripts decreased. The pervasive exon-skipping transcripts were stochastic, did not increase in specific physiological conditions, and were mostly present at less than one copy per cell, even in the absence of nuclear RNA surveillance and during late meiosis. These exon-skipping transcripts are therefore unlikely to be functional and may reflect splicing errors that are actively removed by nuclear RNA surveillance. The average splicing rate by exon skipping was ∼0.24% in wild type and ∼1.75% in nuclear exonuclease mutants. We also detected approximately 250 circular RNAs derived from single or multiple exons. These circular RNAs were rare and stochastic, although a few became stabilized during quiescence and in splicing mutants. Using an exhaustive search algorithm, we also uncovered thousands of previously unknown splice sites, indicating pervasive splicing; yet most of these splicing variants were cryptic and increased in nuclear degradation mutants. This study highlights widespread but low frequency alternative or aberrant splicing events that are targeted by nuclear RNA surveillance.
A Simplified Method for Three-Dimensional (3-D) Ovarian Tissue Culture Yielding Oocytes Competent to Produce Full-Term Offspring in Mice

In vitro growth of follicles is a promising technology to generate large quantities of competent oocytes from immature follicles and could expand the potential of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Isolated follicle culture is currently the primary method used to develop and mature follicles in vitro. However, this procedure typically requires complicated, time-consuming procedures, as well as destruction of the normal ovarian microenvironment. Here we describe a simplified 3-D ovarian culture system that can be used to mature multilayered secondary follicles into antral follicles, generating developmentally competent oocytes in vitro. Ovaries recovered from mice at 14 days of age were cut into 8 pieces and placed onto a thick Matrigel drop (3-D culture) for 10 days of culture. As a control, ovarian pieces were cultured on a membrane filter without any Matrigel drop (Membrane culture). We also evaluated the effect of activin A treatment on follicle growth within the ovarian pieces with or without Matrigel support. Thus we tested four different culture conditions: C (Membrane/activin-), A (Membrane/activin+), M (Matrigel/activin-), and M+A (Matrigel/activin+). We found that the cultured follicles and oocytes steadily increased in size regardless of the culture condition used. However, antral cavity formation occurred only in the follicles grown in the 3-D culture system (M, M+A). Following ovarian tissue culture, full-grown GV oocytes were isolated from the larger follicles to evaluate their developmental competence by subjecting them to in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Maturation and fertilization rates were higher using oocytes grown in 3-D culture (M, M+A) than with those grown in membrane culture (C, A). In particular, activin A treatment further improved 3-D culture (M+A) success. Following IVF, two-cell embryos were transferred to recipients to generate full-term offspring. In summary, this simple and easy 3-D ovarian culture system using a Matrigel drop and activin A supplementation (M+A) provides optimal and convenient conditions to support growth of developmentally competent oocytes in vitro.
Implications of Hybridization, NUMTs, and Overlooked Diversity for DNA Barcoding of Eurasian Ground Squirrels

The utility of DNA Barcoding for species identification and discovery has catalyzed a concerted effort to build the global reference library; however, many animal groups of economical or conservational importance remain poorly represented. This study aims to contribute DNA barcode records for all ground squirrel species (Xerinae, Sciuridae, Rodentia) inhabiting Eurasia and to test efficiency of this approach for species discrimination. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences were obtained for 97 individuals representing 16 ground squirrel species of which 12 were correctly identified. Taxonomic allocation of some specimens within four species was complicated by geographically restricted mtDNA introgression. Exclusion of individuals with introgressed mtDNA allowed reaching a 91.6% identification success rate. Significant COI divergence (3.5–4.4%) was observed within the most widespread ground squirrel species (Spermophilus erythrogenys, S. pygmaeus, S. suslicus, Urocitellus undulatus), suggesting the presence of cryptic species. A single putative NUMT (nuclear mitochondrial pseudogene) sequence was recovered during molecular analysis; mitochondrial COI from this sample was amplified following re-extraction of DNA. Our data show high discrimination ability of 100 bp COI fragments for Eurasian ground squirrels (84.3%) with no incorrect assessments, underscoring the potential utility of the existing reference librariy for the development of diagnostic ‘mini-barcodes’.