Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
White matter microstructural abnormalities in euthymic bipolar disorder

Background Abnormal diffusion parameters are reported in specific brain regions and white matter tracts in bipolar disorder. Aims To investigate whether these abnormalities are generalised, and thus evident in large regions of white matter. Method Diffusion parameters were measured at several regions in the corpus callosum and in deep/periventricular white matter in 28 currently euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and controls. White matter hyperintensity loads were assessed. Results Comparing the whole data-sets using the sign test, in the group with bipolar disorder, mean diffusivity was greater at all 15 sites (P<0.001) and fractional anisotropy was reduced at 13 (P<0.01). The effect of diagnosis was significant for callosal mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy and for deep/periventricular mean diffusivity (MANCOVA). Comparing individual regions (Mann–Whitney U-test), prefrontal and periventricular mean diffusivity were significantly increased; callosal and occipital fractional anisotropy were significantly reduced. Former substance use and lithium were possible confounding factors. Periventricular white matter hyperintensities were associated with significantly increased periventricular mean diffusivity in individuals with bipolar disorder. Conclusions Generalised white matter microstructural abnormalities may exist in bipolar disorder, possibly exacerbated by past substance use and ameliorated by lithium.
In Vivo Measurement of the Pivot-Shift Test in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament—Deficient Knee Using an Electromagnetic Device

Background The pivot-shift test is commonly used for assessing dynamic instability in anterior cruciate ligament—insufficient knees, which is related to subjective knee function, unlike static load-displacement measurement. Conventional measurements of 3-dimensional position displacement cannot assess such dynamic instability in vivo and produce comparable parameters. Not only 3-dimensional position displacement but also its 3-dimensional acceleration should be measured for quantitative evaluation of the pivot-shift test. Hypothesis Knees with a positive pivot-shift test result have increased tibial anterior translation and acceleration of its subsequent posterior translation, and they are correlated with clinical grading. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Materials and Methods Thirty patients with isolated anterior cruciate ligament injury were included. Pivot-shift tests were evaluated under anesthesia manually and experimentally using an electromagnetic knee 6 degrees of freedom measurement system. From 60 Hz of 6 degrees of freedom data, coupled tibial anterior translation was calculated, and acceleration of posterior translation was computed by secondary derivative. Results All anterior cruciate ligament—deficient knees demonstrated a positive pivot-shift test result. The coupled tibial anterior translation was 7.7 and 15.6 mm in anterior cruciate ligament—intact and —deficient knees, respectively. The acceleration of posterior translation was —797 and —2001 mm/s 2, respectively. These differences were significant (P < .01). The coupled tibial anterior translation and acceleration of posterior translation in the anterior cruciate ligament—deficient knee were larger in correlation with clinical grading (P = .03 and P < .01, respectively). Conclusion The increase of tibial anterior translation and acceleration of subsequent posterior translation could be detected in knees with a positive pivot-shift result, and this increase was correlated to clinical grading. Clinical Relevance These measurements can be used for quantified evaluation of dynamic instability demonstrated by the pivot-shift test.
Carbohydrate and fat in energy metabolism of red and white muscle.

PANDE, S. V. , AND M. C. BLANCHAER. Carbohydrate and fat in energy metabolism of red and white muscle. Am. J. Physiol. 220(Z) : 549-553. 197 1 . -The ability of the mitochondria from red and white skeletal muscle of rabbit to oxidize various substrates with coupled phosphorylation was determined to evaluate the relative capacities of the two muscle types to utilize carbohydrate and fat for aerobic energy production. The respiratory rates were highest with pyruvate and were similar with mitochondria of red and white muscle. Compared to pyruvate, respiration with (-)palmitoylcarnitine and (-)-acetylcarnitine was only slightly slower in red but nearly half as great in white muscle mitochondria. The ADP/O values were similar with pyruvate and (-)-acetylcarnitine but lower during (-)-palmitoylcarnitine oxidation. The activities of palmitate-activating enzyme and carnitine acyltransferases were twice as high in red as in white muscle mitochondria. Thus, white muscle, and to some extent red muscle, appears potentially capable of deriving more usable energy by oxidizing carbohydrate than fat, and this correlates with the known observations that in vigorously exercising muscle carbohydrate utilization predominates over that of fat.
Make It Big!: The Effect of Font Size and Line Spacing on Online Readability

We report from an eye-tracking experiment with 104 participants who performed reading tasks on the most popular text-heavy website of the Web: Wikipedia. Using a hybrid-measures design, we compared objective and subjective readability and comprehension of the articles for font sizes ranging from 10 to 26 points, and line spacings ranging from 0.8 to 1.8 (font: Arial). Our findings provide evidence that readability, measured via mean fixation duration, increased significantly with font size. Further, comprehension questions had significantly more correct responses for font sizes 18 and 26. For line spacing, we found marginal effects, suggesting that the two tested extremes (0.8 and 1.8) impair readability. These findings provide evidence that text-heavy websites should use fonts of size 18 or larger and use default line spacing when the goal is to make a web page easy to read and comprehend. Our results significantly differ from previous recommendations, presumably, because this is the first work to cover font sizes beyond 14 points.
Cryptosporidiosis in adults in Lusaka, Zambia, and its relationship to oocyst contamination of drinking water.

In Lusaka, where human immunodeficiency virus seroprevalence in young adults is approximately 25%, four townships were studied to establish the prevalence of persistent diarrhea in adults and the etiologic importance of cryptosporidiosis in adults with persistent diarrhea. Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst contamination of urban water supplies was measured and the results used to categorize these populations into high or low exposure. In total, 506 adults were reported as having had diarrhea in the 2 weeks prior to the survey; 101 of these episodes were persistent. Adults with persistent diarrhea in the high-exposure areas were more likely to have cryptosporidiosis (odds ratio, 5.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-17.2; risk ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-3.21; P = .003) although overall prevalence of persistent diarrhea was not greater in these areas. This association was not confounded by animal exposure, travel, or boiling water. Within these urban populations, water contamination with C. parvum was a major influence on the prevalence of infection.
p120 catenin associates with kinesin and facilitates the transport of cadherin–catenin complexes to intercellular junctions

p120 catenin (p120) is a component of adherens junctions and has been implicated in regulating cadherin-based cell adhesion as well as the activity of Rho small GTPases, but its exact roles in cell–cell adhesion are unclear. Using time-lapse imaging, we show that p120-GFP associates with vesicles and exhibits unidirectional movements along microtubules. Furthermore, p120 forms a complex with kinesin heavy chain through the p120 NH2-terminal head domain. Overexpression of p120, but not an NH2-terminal deletion mutant deficient in kinesin binding, recruits endogenous kinesin to N-cadherin. Disruption of the interaction between N-cadherin and p120, or the interaction between p120 and kinesin, leads to a delayed accumulation of N-cadherin at cell–cell contacts during calcium-initiated junction reassembly. Our analyses identify a novel role of p120 in promoting cell surface trafficking of cadherins via association and recruitment of kinesin.
Global flows in local language planning: articulating parallel language use in Swedish university policies

In this paper, the language policies of three Swedish universities are examined as instances of language planning in local contexts. Although Sweden has the national Language Act of 2009 (SFS 2009:600) as well as a general Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100; SFS 2014:1096), language planning for higher education is left to the purview of individual institutions. Since language planning in local contexts often involves the intersection of locally situated communication needs and wider circulating ideologies, the present study considers how national language planning goals are taken up and reinterpreted by higher education institutions. In particular, the focus is on universities whose policies are framed using the Nordic language planning concept of “parallel language use”, which has emerged over the last 20 years as a way to theorize a sociopolitical balance between English and Scandinavian languages. The concept indexes a range of issues related to the relative position of Swedish and English, including linguistic tensions surrounding international aspirations and national responsibilities for universities and the mitigation of purported domain loss by Swedish to English. Drawing upon a discourse analysis of policy approach, we analyze the policies of these three universities as examples of local language planning, focusing on how they engage with ideas related to parallel language use while also expanding upon the concept to include the linguistic needs of local students and staff.
Pathways to bilingualism: Evolving perspectives on immersion education

he fall conference, organized by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, was the first immersion-specific conference to be held in the United States since 1995. It drew attendees from all over North America and included international participants as well. Many of you took the time to give the conference organizers your thoughts about the format and content of the threeday event. For the most part, your comments were overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic: I thought this conference offered a refreshing depth of discussion about so many important issues relating to theory, policy, and practice: there was a really good mix of highly relevant research, and research-based practice, and the relevant policy/politics in various contexts. I was so impressed! I really enjoyed the topic-specific networking opportunities offered at the luncheon. What a great way to gain and share information in our areas of concentration/expertise! As a TESOL pre-service teacher educator, [I] gained so much insight from the research in immersion education that I wished that all of my ELL educators, pre-service teachers were there to hear such words as “more English is not better” and “a human brain is not a monolingual brain” (Genesee). It was superb to be able to not only hear [nationally-acclaimed researchers] in person, but to interact with them and have a chance to ask them questions specifically related to our own programs; phenomenal! I appreciated the inclusion of food (evening reception and two lunches) as many of us are paying our own way. This made the conference an excellent value in addition to the many other benefits it provided. I had a wonderful time, learned a great deal, and had my belief in the value of immersion education reaffirmed. I can’t wait to attend another conference! I was drawn into and overheard so many important discussions that grew out of session topics and plenary speakers! This was a conference about putting theory into practice, reflective practice, best practices, advocacy, and action research!
Developmental Role of Zebrafish Protease-Activated Receptor 1 (PAR1) in the Cardio-Vascular System

Thrombin receptor, F2R or PAR1 is a G-protein coupled receptor, located in the membrane of endothelial cells. It has been initially found to transduce signals in hemostasis, but recently also known to act in cancer and in vascular development. Mouse embryos lacking PAR1 function die from hemorrhages with varying frequency at midgestation. We have performed a survey of potential PAR1 homologs in the zebrafish genome and identified a teleost ortholog of mammalian PAR1. Knockdown of par1 function in zebrafish embryos demonstrates a requirement for Par1 in cardio-vascular development. Furthermore, we show that function of Par1 requires the presence of a phylogenetically conserved proteolytic cleavage site and a second intracellular domain. Altogether our results demonstrate a high degree of conservation of PAR1 proteins in the vertebrate lineage in respect to amino acid sequence as well as protein function.
Design and analysis for subjective assessment of visual and taste stimuli

In areas such as agriculture and medicine, there is often a need for humans to carry out tasks of estimating the intensity of certain kinds of stimuli. A lot of experiments have been carried out by psychologists to study the performance of humans at such tasks. This thesis is concerned with quantitative visual assessments of plant disease severity and with food tasting studies. Judgements made by humans are prone to bias from several sources. Thus, the designs used for such experiments and the models used for analysis of such data need to account for this bias. In studies where human assessors make judgements of long sequences of varying levels of a stimulus, sequential effects, such as carry-over from the previous stimulus and order of the stimulus in the sequence, are likely to arise. Designs which are balanced for order and carry-over have therefore been studied here, and a program which searches for sequences of one such design was written. The sequences generated by this program were then grouped according to certain invariance and optimality properties. Calibration consists of comparing the performance of different measuring instruments that are used to measure similar samples of interest, as well as correcting for biases of some of the instruments. Here, humans were used as measuring instruments in a visual assessment experiment. A test experiment was carried out for which true stimulus intensities were known, and then calibration of responses from a subsequent similar experiment was done. This kind of calibration is known as absolute calibration because the true stimulus intensities in the test experiment were known. It was based on a Bayesian predictive method applied to a regression model of the responses on the true stimulus levels, with carry-over and order effects, as well as first order auto-correlation in the errors. A method to select the best assessors was based on the Shannon information criterion. Data were analysed from a series of food tasting experiments in which a panel of assessors made judgements based on a number of attributes. Data from these experiments were combined in order to study assessor performance over time, and to use information about the assessors to improve analysis of their future performances. In this case, there was no standard measure of the intensity of attributes. Thus, the performance of each assessor was judged relative to the others in the panel, and this is called comparative calibration. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses were carried out based on a multiplicative model in which the responses were regressed on unknown parameters of the true attribute intensity for each food product, with the corresponding coefficients measuring the relative differences in the assessors' use of the scale.
How the Measurement of Store Choice Behaviour Moderates the Relationship between Distance and Store Choice Behaviour

The influence of distance on consumer store choice behaviour has been considered in many studies. In that respect, frequency and budget share are frequently used methods of measurement to determine the consumer’s store choice behaviour. In this study, we propose that the significance of distance is influenced by the way in which store choice behaviour is conceptualized. A survey among 631 consumers was performed in order to examine the research proposition. Structural equation results suggest that the negative effect of distance on store choice behaviour is larger when store choice behaviour is measured as number of visits to a particular store than when store choice behaviour is measured as the percentage of budget spend at a particular store. Our results indicate that researchers should carefully consider the measurement of store choice behaviour when carrying out empirical research involving the concept of distance.
Tax compliance attitude and behaviour: Gender & ethnicity differences of Malaysian taxpayers

Prior tax compliance research has focused little on gender as a predictor of compliance.In Malaysia, ethnic background of a taxpayer also could be a major determinant of tax compliance.This study investigates whether gender and ethnicity differences occur in relation to tax compliance attitude and behaviour of Malaysian taxpayers.A personal interview approach is used to obtain information from taxpayers in urban towns. Univariate test suggests that males and females were found to have similar compliant attitudes. As for ethnicity, a similar result was observed.A regression analysis of the data revealed that ethnic factors, academic qualifications and attitude towards noncompliance were statistically significant in relation to income reporting behaviour. The findings of this study are useful for policy implementation in identifying groups that require additional attention to increase voluntary compliance through tax education.
Ultrahigh Strength in Nanocrystalline Materials Under Shock Loading

Molecular dynamics simulations of nanocrystalline copper under shock loading show an unexpected ultrahigh strength behind the shock front, with values up to twice those at low pressure. Partial and perfect dislocations, twinning, and debris from dislocation interactions are found behind the shock front. Results are interpreted in terms of the pressure dependence of both deformation mechanisms active at these grain sizes, namely dislocation-based plasticity and grain boundary sliding. These simulations, together with new shock experiments on nanocrystalline nickel, raise the possibility of achieving ultrahard materials during and after shock loading.
A new perspective on the pathobiology of keratoconus: interplay of stromal wound healing and reactive species‐associated processes

Severe loss of vision manifests from the corneal protrusion, thinning and distortion that characterises keratoconus, which in its most severe form is still treated primarily by lamellar or penetrating keratoplasty. Unfortunately, alternative therapeutic options targeting the underlying pathobiology remain limited, attributable to an incomplete understanding of the biological mechanisms instigating stromal deterioration and other disease processes. We postulate that underlying abnormalities in stromal repair and reactive species‐linked activities and the interaction between these phenomena are implicated in the development of keratoconus. This revised interpretation of the pathophysiology may, with further investigation, advance our knowledge and the clinical management of this prevalent ectatic disorder.
The Effects of Repetition on Vocabulary Knowledge

This article discusses the effects of repetition (1, 3, 7, and 10 encounters) on word knowledge in a carefully controlled study of 121 Japanese students learning English. The study is innovative and original in several aspects. (1) The study uses 10 tests to measure knowledge of orthography, association, grammatical functions, syntax, and meaning and form. (2) The study controls for several different numbers of repetitions. (3) The study controls for type of context in which the word occurs. (4) The study makes use of nonsense words to replace frequently used words in authentic text. (5) The study examines word knowledge acquisition at different levels. The results showed that greater gains in knowledge were found for at least one aspect of knowledge each time repetitions increased. If learners encounter unknown words ten times in context, sizeable learning gains may occur. However, to develop full knowledge of a word more than ten repetitions may be needed.
Alterations in hepatic and splenic microsomal electron transport system components, drug metabolism, heme oxygenase activity, and cytochrome P-450 turnover in Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma-bearing rats.

Hepatic and splenic microsomal electron transport system function, microsomal heme oxygenase activity, and microsomal drug metabolism have been examined in male Wistar rats bearing Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma 2 to 15 days following i.m. tumor transplantation. Hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity decreased significantly [cytochrome P-450 nadir was 0.49 ± . 07 (S.E.) nmol/mg at 10 days as compared with 1.21 ± 0.10 for control ( p < 0.001); NADPH-cytochrome c reductase nadir was 38.7 ± 3.5 nmol/min/mg at 10 days as compared with 75.3 ± 4.1 for control ( p < 0.001)], and hepatic microsomal oxidative drug metabolism was also significantly diminished [benzo-( a )pyrene hydroxylase nadir was 0.35 ± 0.09 nmol/min/mg at 10 days as compared with 1.28 ± 0.36 for control ( p < 0.05); aminopyrine demethylase nadir was 0.60 ± 0.27 nmol/hr/mg at 10 days as compared with 2.85 ± 1.40 for control ( p < 0.01)]. Conversely, hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase activity was significantly increased (peak was 0.092 ± 0.008 nmol/min/mg at 10 days as compared with 0.038 ± 0.014 for control ( p < 0.001)]. Transplantation i.v. or i.p. of Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma and transplantation i.m. of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma caused similar alterations in hepatic microsomal function. Splenic microsomal electron transport system function, drug metabolism, and heme oxygenase did not demonstrate these changes, nor could they be wholly reproduced in liver or spleen by transplantation of irradiated tumor cells or 105,000 × g Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma cell supernatant. Using double-label isotope techniques, the relative rates of hepatic cytochrome P-450 synthesis and degradation were both found to be significantly decreased in Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma-bearing rats as compared with control rats. These results suggest that the capacity for hepatic microsomal oxidative drug metabolism is reduced in Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma-bearing rats, due to decreased hepatic microsomal electron transport system function. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content is reduced, primarily due to decreased cytochrome P-450 synthesis. The resultant increase in size of the hepatic free heme pool may cause substrate-mediated induction of hepatic heme oxygenase in Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma-bearing rats.