Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Orleans Early Intervention Study of Children with Visual Impairments

There is widespread agreement that early intervention for children with visual impairments and their families is important and beneficial. However, few con- trolled prospective studies of the effectiveness of various types of early intervention have been completed with these children. This randomized study evaluated the immediate and long-term effects of a comprehensive, weekly homebased intervention for infants and toddlers with visual impairments, compared with a low-intensity treatment through parent group meetings offered approximately 12 times per year. In annual assessments conducted for t h e years after the intervention was begun, there were negligible statistically significant or practical differences between groups based on a variety of measures of child and family functioning. In light of the cost-effectiveness analyses reported, questions are raised about the type of early intervention that should be provided to children with visual impairments.
Effect of desvenlafaxine 50 mg and 100 mg on energy and lassitude in patients with major depressive disorder: A pooled analysis

Nine randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of major depressive disorder were pooled to evaluate the effects of desvenlafaxine 50- and 100-mg/d on energy and lassitude in adults with major depressive disorder (n=4279). Changes from baseline to endpoint in 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) Work and Activities, Retardation, and Somatic Symptoms General items, HAM-D17 psychomotor retardation factor, and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Lassitude item were analyzed with a mixed model for repeated measures analysis of variance. Associations between residual energy measures and functional impairment, based on the Sheehan Disability Scale, were modeled using stepwise multiple linear regression. Improvement from baseline was significantly greater for both desvenlafaxine doses versus placebo on all energy symptom outcomes at week 8 (all p⩽0.005). Both early improvement in HAM-D17 psychomotor retardation at week 2 and residual energy symptoms at week 8 were associated with Sheehan Disability Scale total score at week 8 (all p⩽0.001). Among Sheehan Disability Scale remitters and responders, the HAM-D17 psychomotor retardation score at week 8 was significantly lower with desvenlafaxine (both doses) than placebo. Desvenlafaxine 50 and 100 mg/d significantly improved energy and lassitude symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder. Both early improvement in energy and fewer residual energy symptoms were associated with functional improvement.
Stratiform cloud electrification: comparison of theory with multiple in‐cloud measurements

Stratiform clouds constitute ∼40% of global cloud cover and play a key role in determining the planetary radiation budget. Electrification remains one of the least understood effects on their microphysical processes. Droplet charging at the top and bottom edges of stratiform clouds arises from vertical current flow through clouds driven by the Global atmospheric Electric Circuit. In‐cloud charge data are central in assessing the role of charge in droplet growth processes, which influence droplet size distributions and associated cloud radiative properties and precipitation. This study presents the first high vertical resolution electrical measurements made in multiple layer clouds. Of the 22 clouds sampled, all were charged at their edges, demonstrating unequivocally that all stratiform clouds can be expected to contain charge at their upper and lower boundaries to varying extent. Cloud base and cloud top are shown to charge asymmetrically, with mean cloud‐top space charge +32 pC m−3 and base space charge −24 pC m−3. The larger cloud‐top charges are associated with strong temperature inversions and large vertical electrical conductivity gradients at the upper cloud boundary. Greater charging was observed in low altitude (<2 km) clouds (20.2 pC m−3), compared to higher altitude (>2 km) cloud layers (7.0 pC m−3), consistent with the smaller air conductivity at lower altitudes associated with reduced cosmic ray ionisation. Taken together, these measurements show that the greatest cloud droplet charges in extensive stratiform clouds occur at cloud tops for low altitude (<2 km) clouds, when vertical mixing is suppressed by appreciable temperature inversions, confirming theoretical expectations. The influence of cloud dynamics on layer cloud edge charging reported here should inform modelling studies of cloud droplet charging effects on cloud microphysics.
Learning a Translation Model from Word Lattices

Translation models have been used to improve automatic speech recognition when speech input is paired with a written translation, primarily for the task of computer-aided translation. Existing approaches require large amounts of parallel text for training the translation models, but for many language pairs this data is not available. We propose a model for learning lexical translation parameters directly from the word lattices for which a transcription is sought. The model is expressed through composition of each lattice with a weighted ﬁnite-state transducer representing the translation model, where inference is performed by sampling paths through the composed ﬁnite-state transducer. We show consistent word error rate reductions in two datasets, using between just 20 minutes and 4 hours of speech input, additionally outperforming a translation model trained on the 1-best path.
Engaging with soil, past and present

From raw material to sacred clay, from wall plaster to garden plots, soil plays an intimate role in the lives of agriculturalists. In the lives of archaeologists, however, soil too frequently plays the role of overburden, or the stuff holding the more important things, like stones and bones. At best, soil studies are seen as essential for environmental reconstruction or coming to grips with formation processes. A more grounded approach to interpreting agrarian life involves an understanding and appreciation of soil as a partner. In turn, thinking about soil opens new terrain in the study of landscape perception, ideology and memory. This article explores the potential offered by the materiality of sediments and soilscapes.
Accuracy of Heart Rate Watches: Implications for Weight Management

Background Wrist-worn monitors claim to provide accurate measures of heart rate and energy expenditure. People wishing to lose weight use these devices to monitor energy balance, however the accuracy of these devices to measure such parameters has not been established. Aim To determine the accuracy of four wrist-worn devices (Apple Watch, Fitbit Charge HR, Samsung Gear S and Mio Alpha) to measure heart rate and energy expenditure at rest and during exercise. Methods Twenty-two healthy volunteers (50% female; aged 24 ± 5.6 years) completed ~1-hr protocols involving supine and seated rest, walking and running on a treadmill and cycling on an ergometer. Data from the devices collected during the protocol were compared with reference methods: electrocardiography (heart rate) and indirect calorimetry (energy expenditure). Results None of the devices performed significantly better overall, however heart rate was consistently more accurate than energy expenditure across all four devices. Correlations between the devices and reference methods were moderate to strong for heart rate (0.67–0.95 [0.35 to 0.98]) and weak to strong for energy expenditure (0.16–0.86 [-0.25 to 0.95]). All devices underestimated both outcomes compared to reference methods. The percentage error for heart rate was small across the devices (range: 1–9%) but greater for energy expenditure (9–43%). Similarly, limits of agreement were considerably narrower for heart rate (ranging from -27.3 to 13.1 bpm) than energy expenditure (ranging from -266.7 to 65.7 kcals) across devices. Conclusion These devices accurately measure heart rate. However, estimates of energy expenditure are poor and would have implications for people using these devices for weight loss.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Two Intronic NIPBL Mutations in Two Patients with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetically heterogeneous disorder with a high phenotypic variability including mental retardation, developmental delay, and limb malformations. The genetic causes in about 30% of patients with CdLS are still unknown. We report on the functional characterization of two intronic NIPBL mutations in two patients with CdLS that do not affect a conserved splice-donor or acceptor site. Interestingly, mRNA analyses showed aberrantly spliced transcripts missing exon 28 or 37, suggesting the loss of the branch site by the c.5329-15A>G transition and a disruption of the polypyrimidine by the c.6344del(-13)_(-8) deletion. While the loss of exon 28 retains the reading frame of the NIBPL transcript resulting in a shortened protein, the loss of exon 37 shifts the reading frame with the consequence of a premature stop of translation. Subsequent quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated a 30% decrease of the total NIPBL mRNA levels associated with the frameshift transcript. Consistent with our results, this patient shows a more severe phenotype compared to the patient with the aberrant transcript that retains its reading frame. Thus, intronic variants identified by sequencing analysis in CdLS diagnostics should carefully be examined before excluding them as nonrelevant to disease.
Outside Directors' Social Capital and Firm Performance: A Complex Network Approach

This paper investigates whether the social capital of outside directors has an impact on firm performance and value, using a sample of 480 outside directors from 125 large publicly traded Korean companies. In order to measure social capital, we map out the social networks of outside directors on the basis of their personal affiliation in terms of educational and career backgrounds. Then, we apply betweenness centrality and closeness centrality — two commonly used complex network analysis measures — to capture the social capital of individual outside directors. A review of existing literature leads us to propose two competing hypotheses: one that posits a positive relationship between boards’ social capital and firm performance and another that posits a negative relationship between the two. The results of our empirical examination report a negative impact of outside directors’ social capital on firm performance and value.
Structural constraints on organizational and interorganizational learning in the restaurant sector

Examines the rates of mortality, survival, and entrepreneurship in the Danish restaurant sector, and demonstrates a considerable turbulence in the sector over the period 1980‐1993. Opportunities for organizational learning are enhanced by size as well as age. However, surprisingly, survival is not clearly related to managerial capacity, nor is affiliation with other restaurants an important factor for survival. The study indicates that learning in restaurants is decisively embedded in processes and technologies rather than in relations between human beings.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Novel Desulfobacteraceae Member from a Sulfate-Reducing Bioreactor Metagenome

ABSTRACT Sulfate-reducing bacteria are important players in the global sulfur cycle and of considerable commercial interest. The draft genome sequence of a sulfate-reducing bacterium of the family Desulfobacteraceae, assembled from a sulfate-reducing bioreactor metagenome, indicates that heavy-metal– and acid-resistance traits of this organism may be of importance for its application in acid mine drainage mitigation.
A Study of Hospitality and Tourism Information Technology Education and Industrial Applications

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the subject relevance of Information Technology [IT] in Hospitality and Tourism Management programs with the skills deployed at workplace. This study aimed at investigating the graduates' transition from education to employment, and to determine how well they appear to be equipped to meet the needs of the hospitality and tourism industry. One hundred and seventeen graduates responded to a mail survey. These graduates rated the importance of IT skills at workplace, the level of IT teaching in hotel and tourism management programs, and the self-competence level in IT. This study concluded that a gap exists between the IT skills required at work and the IT skills acquired from the university.
Comparison of three-dimensional lower extremity running kinematics of young adult and elderly runners

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the three-dimensional lower extremity running kinematics of young adult runners and elderly runners. Seventeen elderly adults (age 67–73 years) and 17 young adults (age 26–36 years) ran at 3.1 m · s−1 on a treadmill while the movements of the lower extremity during the stance phase were recorded at 120 Hz using three-dimensional video. The three-dimensional kinematics of the lower limb segments and of the ankle and knee joints were determined, and selected variables were calculated to describe the movement. Our results suggest that elderly runners have a different movement pattern of the lower extremity from that of young adults during the stance phase of running. Compared with the young adults, the elderly runners had a substantial decrease in stride length (1.97 vs. 2.23 m; P = 0.01), an increase in stride frequency (1.58 vs. 1.37 Hz; P = 0.002), less knee flexion/extension range of motion (26 vs. 33°; P = 0.002), less tibial internal/external rotation range of motion (9 vs. 12°; P < 0.001), larger external rotation angle of the foot segment (toe-out angle) at the heel strike (−5.8 vs. −1.0°; P = 0.009), and greater asynchronies between the ankle and knee movements during running. These results may help to explain why elderly individuals could be more susceptible to running-related injuries.
L'école peut-elle être facteur de résilience ?

Lorsqu’un enfant vit dans des conditions de developpement affectif defaillantes, il lui est souvent necessaire de trouver en dehors du milieu familial des etayages utilises au depassement d’un vecu douloureux. L’ecole est un lieu ou l’enfant carence va pouvoir effectuer des rencontres significatives qui peuvent l’entrainer vers un processus de resilience et faciliter ainsi son epanouissement.
Combinatorial actions of patterning and HLH transcription factors in the spatiotemporal control of neurogenesis and gliogenesis in the developing spinal cord

During development, the three major neural cell lineages, neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, differentiate in specific temporal orders at topologically defined positions. How the timing and position of their generation are coordinately regulated remains poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that the transcription factors Pax6, Olig2 and Nkx2.2 (Nkx2-2), which define the positional identity of multipotent progenitors early in development, also play crucial roles in controlling the timing of neurogenesis and gliogenesis in the developing ventral spinal cord. We show that each of these factors has a unique ability to either enhance or inhibit the activities of the proneural helix-loop-helix (HLH) factors Ngn1 (Neurog1), Ngn2 (Neurog2), Ngn3 (Neurog3) and Mash1 (Ascl1), and the inhibitory HLH factors Id1 and Hes1, thereby regulating both the timing of differentiation of multipotent progenitors and their fate. Consistent with this, dynamic changes in their co-expression pattern in vivo are closely correlated to stage- and domain-specific generation of three neural cell lineages. We also show that genetic manipulations of their temporal expression patterns in mice alter the timing of differentiation of neurons and glia. We propose a molecular code model whereby the combinatorial actions of two classes of transcription factors coordinately regulate the domain-specific temporal sequence of neurogenesis and gliogenesis in the developing spinal cord.
Design and Implementation of a New SEPIC-Based High Step-Up DC/DC Converter for Renewable Energy Applications

This paper proposes a novel structure for a boost dc/dc converter. The presented structure is based on the SEPIC converter. Therefore, the converter benefits from various advantages that the SEPIC converter has such as continuous input current. Also, high voltage conversion gain and higher efficiency are the other advantages of the proposed converter. Input current continuity makes the presented converter suitable for renewable energy sources. Employing a coupled inductor with a voltage multiplier cell in this structure increases its high voltage gain. In addition, lower voltage stress on the main power switch leads to higher conversion efficiency. Also, the energy stored in the leakage inductance of the coupled inductor is recycled, which improves the efficiency more. The steady state analysis and the design of the converter are discussed thoroughly. Experimental results are provided by a 220 W prototype. The results verify the proper operation and feasibility of the presented converter.
The Role of Psychological Capital in Perception of Safety Climate Among Air Traffic Controllers

Previous research has shown that psychological capital (PsyCap) is associated with desired employee behavioral and performance outcomes. Extending previous research, we examine, in two studies, if the PsyCap of Norwegian air traffic controllers is related to their perceptions of safety climate. Based on bootstrapping procedures, results from Study 1 (N = 77) and Study 2 (N = 38) revealed that PsyCap was positively correlated with safety climate. In Study 1, PsyCap explained 31% of the variance in safety climate. Controlling for mediating effects of positive and negative emotions in Study 2, PsyCap explained 15.5% of the variance. These results provide first-time empirical evidence linking PsyCap to safety climate in safety critical organizations.
Low-dose Succinylcholine to Facilitate Laryngeal Mask Airway Insertion: A Comparison of Two Doses

Background and Aims: Around the world, the use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is becoming more common for different surgeries accounting for it being the dominant choice of airway in numerous surgeries. Although propofol is known to blunt the laryngeal reflexes often patient movement, coughing, and gagging occur on insertion. This study aims to identify the optimum dose of succinylcholine required to facilitate LMA insertion comparing placebo, 0.1 mg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg of succinylcholine. Further objectives were to compare (a) the overall insertion conditions of the LMA, (b) the number of insertion attempts, (c) the amount of propofol consumption, and (d) the hemodynamics in the three groups. Setting and Design: This is a prospective, double-blinded, randomized control trial of 283 patients randomized into three groups-placebo, 0.1 mg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg of succinylcholine. It was done in the day case theatres of a tertiary hospital in Southern India. Subjects and Methods: Patients were induced with 2 mg/kg of propofol, after 2 μg/kg of fentanyl. The study drug was given after loss of consciousness. After 60 s, a classic LMA was inserted by the standard method by a single investigator. Jaw relaxation, coughing, gagging, movement, laryngospasm, ease of insertion, number of attempts, propofol usage, and hemodynamics were assessed. Statistical Analysis: Statistical methods used were analysis of variance with Bonferroni's t-test, Chi-square test, and Fisher's test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Jaw relaxation was significantly better in the 0.25 mg/kg succinylcholine group. There was no significant difference in coughing and gagging in the groups, but patient movement was more in the placebo group. Two patients in the placebo group experienced partial laryngospasm. Overall insertion conditions were significantly better in the 0.25 mg/kg group compared to the other two groups. Propofol consumption was significantly more in the placebo group. Conclusions: The study concludes that 0.25 mg/kg succinylcholine facilitates insertion of the LMA.
Detection of Human Polyomavirus DNA Using the Genome Profiling Method

Background In the field of forensic medicine, it is very difficult to know prior to autopsy what kind of virus has infected a body. Objective We assessed the potential of the genome profiling (GP) method, which was developed in the field of bioengineering, to identify viruses belonging to one species. Method Two species in the same family, JC and BK viruses, were used in this study. Using plasmid samples, we compared the findings of molecular phylogenetic analysis using conventional genome sequencing with the results of cluster analysis using the random PCR-based GP method and discussed whether the GP method can be used to determine viral species. Results It was possible to distinguish these two different viral species. In addition to this, in our trial we could also detect the JC virus from a clinical sample. Conclusion This method does not require special reagent sets for each viral species. Though our findings are still in the trial period, the GP method may be a simple, easy, and economical tool to detect viral species in the near future.
Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Confers Protection against a Lethal Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge in Chickens and Allows a Strategy of Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals

ABSTRACT In this study, we developed Newcastle disease virus (NDV) virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing NDV fusion (F) protein along with influenza virus matrix 1 (M1) protein using the insect cell expression system. Specific-pathogen-free chickens were immunized with oil emulsion NDV VLP vaccines containing increasing dosages of VLPs (0.4, 2, 10, or 50 μg of VLPs/0.5-ml dose). Three weeks after immunization, the immunogenicity of the NDV VLP vaccines was determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and a lethal challenge using a highly virulent NDV strain was performed to evaluate the protective efficacy of the NDV VLP vaccines. NDV VLP vaccines elicited anti-NDV antibodies and provided protection against a lethal challenge in a dose-dependent manner. Although the VLP vaccines containing 0.4 and 2 μg of VLPs failed to achieve high levels of protection, a single immunization with NDV VLP vaccine containing 10 or 50 μg could fully protect chickens from a lethal challenge and greatly reduced challenge virus shedding. Furthermore, we could easily differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. These results strongly suggest that utilization of NDV VLP vaccine in poultry species may be a promising strategy for the better control of NDV.