Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Workshop to Incorporate Language Development in Teaching Reading.

It is the purpose of this paper to describe a workshop designed to teach elementary school teachers how to incorporate language development activities during reading instruction, particularly with children who have language-based reading difficulties. A WORKSHOP TO INCORPORATE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN TEACHING READING Dixie D. Songer and Sheldon L. Stick UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, LINCOLN Speech-language pathologists and educators in Elementary Education are becoming increasingly aware of the need to include specific speech and language activities as a part of regular classroom instruction (Andrews & Brabson, 1977; England, 1973; Jones, 1972; Pickering & Kaelber, 1978; Simon, 1975). This increased interest is related to: (1) the relationship between language and reading skills (Mattingly, 1972; Smith, 1975; Snyder, 1981; Stark, 1975 ; Stark & Wallach, 1981; Wiig & Semel, 1976); (2) the relationship between language development and academic success ( Carlson, Gruenwald, & Nyberg, 1981; England, 1973; Nelson, 1981); (3) the relationship between reading skills and cognitive development (Gallagher & Quandt, 1981; Jenkins & Heliotis, 1981; Sawyer and Lipa, 1981); and, (4) the documentation that phonology, morphology, syntax and seffi'IDtics are integral components to a reading program (Anastasiow, 1970; Good! 11'ID, 1974; Magee & Newcome, 1978; McDonnel, 1975; Monroe & Rogers, 1964; Smith, 1975; Snyder, 1980; Vogel, 1977; Wiig & Semel, 1976). It is the purpose of this paper to describe a workshop designed to teach elementary school teachers how to incorporate language development activities during reading instruction, particularly with children who have language-based reading difficulties. This integrative reading-language program is carried out in a regular classroom setting and illustrates how teachers can help students improve their language skills and concomitantly gain more meaning from' their printed texts by improving the use of predicting, confinning, and integrating strategies during reading instruction. The main themes of the workshop are: a rationale for the relationship between reading and language; the integrative language activities; general guidelines for implementing the integrative reading-language approach; and a workshop evaluation. A Rationale for the Integrative Language-Reading Approach Many students have reading problems because of covert associated or primary language deficiencies despite an apparent ability to communicate with peers and family members. Such children might not understand how given lexical units can be used and combined in multiple linguistic contexts, and therefore be unfamiliar with the vocabulary and the complexity of the syntax in their reading books even though they can read words and use them in restricted contexts. The result is a failure to understand the printed text
Spectroscopic On-Line Monitoring of Cu/W Contacts Erosion in HVCBs Using Optical-Fibre Based Sensor and Chromatic Methodology

Contact erosion is one of the most crucial factors affecting the electrical service lifetime of high-voltage circuit breakers (HVCBs). On-line monitoring the contacts’ erosion degree is increasingly in demand for the sake of condition based maintenance to guarantee the functional operation of HVCBs. A spectroscopic monitoring system has been designed based upon a commercial 245 kV/40 kA SF6 live tank circuit breaker with copper–tungsten (28 wt % and 72 wt %) arcing contacts at atmospheric SF6 pressure. Three optical-fibre based sensors are used to capture the time-resolved spectra of arcs. A novel approach using chromatic methods to process the time-resolved spectral signal has been proposed. The processed chromatic parameters have been interpreted to show that the time variation of spectral emission from the contact material and quenching gas are closely correlated to the mass loss and surface degradation of the plug arcing contact. The feasibility of applying this method to online monitoring of contact erosion is indicated.
Semantic fluency in deaf children who use spoken and signed language in comparison with hearing peers

Abstract Background Deafness has an adverse impact on children's ability to acquire spoken languages. Signed languages offer a more accessible input for deaf children, but because the vast majority are born to hearing parents who do not sign, their early exposure to sign language is limited. Deaf children as a whole are therefore at high risk of language delays. Aims We compared deaf and hearing children's performance on a semantic fluency task. Optimal performance on this task requires a systematic search of the mental lexicon, the retrieval of words within a subcategory and, when that subcategory is exhausted, switching to a new subcategory. We compared retrieval patterns between groups, and also compared the responses of deaf children who used British Sign Language (BSL) with those who used spoken English. We investigated how semantic fluency performance related to children's expressive vocabulary and executive function skills, and also retested semantic fluency in the majority of the children nearly 2 years later, in order to investigate how much progress they had made in that time. Methods & Procedures Participants were deaf children aged 6–11 years (N = 106, comprising 69 users of spoken English, 29 users of BSL and eight users of Sign Supported English—SSE) compared with hearing children (N = 120) of the same age who used spoken English. Semantic fluency was tested for the category ‘animals’. We coded for errors, clusters (e.g., ‘pets’, ‘farm animals’) and switches. Participants also completed the Expressive One‐Word Picture Vocabulary Test and a battery of six non‐verbal executive function tasks. In addition, we collected follow‐up semantic fluency data for 70 deaf and 74 hearing children, nearly 2 years after they were first tested. Outcomes & Results Deaf children, whether using spoken or signed language, produced fewer items in the semantic fluency task than hearing children, but they showed similar patterns of responses for items most commonly produced, clustering of items into subcategories and switching between subcategories. Both vocabulary and executive function scores predicted the number of correct items produced. Follow‐up data from deaf participants showed continuing delays relative to hearing children 2 years later. Conclusions & Implications We conclude that semantic fluency can be used experimentally to investigate lexical organization in deaf children, and that it potentially has clinical utility across the heterogeneous deaf population. We present normative data to aid clinicians who wish to use this task with deaf children.
Interpolated Policy Gradient: Merging On-Policy and Off-Policy Gradient Estimation for Deep Reinforcement Learning

Off-policy model-free deep reinforcement learning methods using previously collected data can improve sample efficiency over on-policy policy gradient techniques. On the other hand, on-policy algorithms are often more stable and easier to use. This paper examines, both theoretically and empirically, approaches to merging on- and off-policy updates for deep reinforcement learning. Theoretical results show that off-policy updates with a value function estimator can be interpolated with on-policy policy gradient updates whilst still satisfying performance bounds. Our analysis uses control variate methods to produce a family of policy gradient algorithms, with several recently proposed algorithms being special cases of this family. We then provide an empirical comparison of these techniques with the remaining algorithmic details fixed, and show how different mixing of off-policy gradient estimates with on-policy samples contribute to improvements in empirical performance. The final algorithm provides a generalization and unification of existing deep policy gradient techniques, has theoretical guarantees on the bias introduced by off-policy updates, and improves on the state-of-the-art model-free deep RL methods on a number of OpenAI Gym continuous control benchmarks.
HepPar1, MOC-31, pCEA, mCEA and CD10 for Distinguishing Hepatocellular Carcinoma vs. Metastatic Adenocarcinoma in Liver Fine Needle Aspirates

OBJECTIVE To investigate immunohistochemical staining of hepatocyte paraffin-1 (HepPar1), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen (pCEA), monoclonal CEA (mCEA), MOC-31 and CD10 for differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from metastatic adenocarcinoma (MA) on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). STUDY DESIGN Fifty-one archival, paraffin-embedded FNAB cell blocks, representing 18 HCCs and 33 MAs, were immunostained with antibodies for AFP, CD10, pCEA, mCEA, HepPar1 and MOC-31. RESULTS HepPar1, AFP, canalicular pCEA and CD10 were positive in 78% (14 of 18), 28% (5 of 18), 72% (13 of 18) and 35% (6 of 17) of cases of HCC, respectively. The 33 MAs were negative for immunostaining of the above antibodies except for one AFP-positive MA. Ninety-seven percent (31 of 32) of the MAs and 6% (1 of 17) of the HCCs were positive for MOC-31. Monoclonal CEA was immunoreactive on 82% (27 of 33) of the MAs and negative on all the HCCs. CONCLUSION HepPar1 was the most sensitive marker for HCC, followed by canalicular staining for pCEA. For MA, MOC-31 was the most sensitive marker; mCEA was slightly less sensitive but more specific. We suggest using HepPar1, pCEA, CD10, MOC-31 and mCEA as a panel for distinguishing HCC from MA in liver FNAB.
A New Patient with Potocki–Lupski Syndrome: A Literature Review

Abstract Speech delay, intellectual disability, and behavioral disturbances are the main clinical manifestations of Potocki–Lupski syndrome. Other features include infantile hypotonia, the absence of major dysmorphism, sleep disorders, and congenital anomalies, particularly of the cardiovascular system. A male patient with Potocki–Lupski syndrome is reported herein. He showed speech and borderline cognitive delay, behavioral troubles with no signs suggestive of autism, in the absence of major dysmorphism. A de novo 17p12-p11.2 duplication spanning 3.6 Mb was detected, with boundaries from 15,284,052 to 18,647,233 (hg19 assembly). At the age of 5 years, the child showed a noticeable improvement of speech skills and a moderate scholastic performance was reached. Upon analysis of the clinical manifestations of the present patient and those reported in existing literature, we found that the syndrome may present in various degrees of clinical expressivity. Affected patients may manifest symptoms ranging from mild behavioral disturbances to severe degrees of autism.
Current Self-Reported Symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Are Associated with Total Brain Volume in Healthy Adults

Background Reduced total brain volume is a consistent finding in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In order to get a better understanding of the neurobiology of ADHD, we take the first step in studying the dimensionality of current self-reported adult ADHD symptoms, by looking at its relation with total brain volume. Methodology/Principal Findings In a sample of 652 highly educated adults, the association between total brain volume, assessed with magnetic resonance imaging, and current number of self-reported ADHD symptoms was studied. The results showed an association between these self-reported ADHD symptoms and total brain volume. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the symptom domain of inattention had the strongest association with total brain volume. In addition, the threshold for impairment coincides with the threshold for brain volume reduction. Conclusions/Significance This finding improves our understanding of the biological substrates of self-reported ADHD symptoms, and suggests total brain volume as a target intermediate phenotype for future gene-finding in ADHD.
Salivary Gland Fine Needle Aspiration Using the ThinPrep® Technique

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively assess the diagnostic accuracy, cytologic features and pitfalls of ThinPrep (TP) (Cytyc Corporation, Marlborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) versus conventional (smear) preparation (CP) in salivary gland fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) and second, to evaluate the reproducibility of the cytomorphologic criteria used in the evaluation of FNABs prepared by CP versus TP. STUDY DESIGN All salivary gland fine needle aspiration biopsies (SGFNABs) between January 1996 and June 1999 were retrieved from the cytology files of the University of Michigan Hospital. Histologic correlation was identified when available. Two cytopathologists reevaluated the slides for artifacts, cellular preservation, background material, cellularity, and cytoplasmic and nuclear details. RESULTS Seventy-four of the 134 (55%) cases identified had histologic follow-up. Fifty (68%) cases were processed by TP and 24 (32%) by CP. FNAB processed by TP and CP correctly identified malignancy in 14 and 9 cases, respectively. There were three (4%) false negative cases. These included two acinic cell carcinomas and one mucoepidermoid carcinoma. There were 37 true negative cases (24 TP and 13 CP) and one false positive case of cellular pleomorphic adenoma (cytologic interpretation, mucoepidermoid carcinoma). All discrepant cases were processed using the TP method. The overall specificity and sensitivity were 98% and 88%, respectively. However, specificity and sensitivity for TP-processed SGFNABs were 96% and 82% as compared to a 100% specificity and sensitivity for CP. Additionally, there were 10 (14%) nondiagnostic cases, 8 of which were processed by TP. Cytologic artifacts associated with TP included diminished/distorted extracellular and stromal elements, cellular shrinkage and tissue fragmentation CONCLUSION The diagnostic accuracy of TP-processed SGFNABs approaches that of the CP. However, there are several artifacts that may lead to erroneous diagnoses. Additional studies, that depend on real-life clinical samples processed by TP are suggested to modify current diagnostic criteria.
A modified cellular automaton method for polydimensional modelling of dendritic growth and microsegregation in multicomponent alloys

Numerous numerical models for simulating solidification of metals on a microscopic scale have been proposed in the past, among them are most importantly the phase-field method and models based on cellular automata. Especially the models based on cellular automata (adopting the virtual front tracking (VFT) concept) published so far are often only suitable for the consideration of one alloying element. Since industrial alloys are usually constituted of multicomponent alloys, the possibility of applying cellular automata is rather limited. With the aim of enhancing this modelling technique, a new, modified VFT model, which allows for the treatment of several alloying elements, in the low Péclet number regime is presented. The model uses the physical fundamentals of solute and heat diffusion in two dimensions as a basis for determining the solidification progress. By a new and effective approach, based on a functional extrapolation of the concentration gradient, dendritic growth in multicomponent Fe-C-Si-Mn-P-S alloys could be studied. The model shows the typical behaviour of dendritic solidification, such as parabolic tip and secondary dendrite arm formation as well as selection of preferably aligned columnar dendrites. A validation of the model is performed by the evaluation of morphological parameters and comparing them to experimentally determined values. The results for free and constrained dendritic growth effectively demonstrate the capabilities of this new model. The model is especially attractive for bridging the gap between one-dimensional microsegregation models and multidimensional morphology models with regard to modelling the complex interrelations between segregation on a multidimensional level and morphology formation.
Pathological Neural Attractor Dynamics in Slowly Growing Gliomas Supports an Optimal Time Frame for White Matter Plasticity

Neurological function in patients with slowly growing brain tumors can be preserved even after extensive tumor resection. However, the global process of cortical reshaping and cerebral redistribution cannot be understood without taking into account the white matter tracts. The aim of this study was to predict the functional consequences of tumor-induced white matter damage by computer simulation. A computational model was proposed, incorporating two cortical patches and the white matter connections of the uncinate fasciculus. Tumor-induced structural changes were modeled such that different aspects of the connectivity were altered, mimicking the biological heterogeneity of gliomas. The network performance was quantified by comparing memory pattern recall and the plastic compensatory capacity of the network was analyzed. The model predicts an optimal level of synaptic conductance boost that compensates for tumor-induced connectivity loss. Tumor density appears to change the optimal plasticity regime, but tumor size does not. Compensatory conductance values that are too high lead to performance loss in the network and eventually to epileptic activity. Tumors of different configurations show differences in memory recall performance with slightly lower plasticity values for dense tumors compared to more diffuse tumors. Simulation results also suggest an optimal noise level that is capable of increasing the recall performance in tumor-induced white matter damage. In conclusion, the model presented here is able to capture the influence of different tumor-related parameters on memory pattern recall decline and provides a new way to study the functional consequences of white matter invasion by slowly growing brain tumors.
Clinicopathologic Profile of Significant Cervical Lymphadenopathy in Children Aged 1–12 Years

OBJECTIVE To emphasize the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in etiologic workup in significant cervical lymphadenopathy in children. STUDY DESIGN A total of 336 consecutive children, aged 1 month to 12 years, with significant cervical lymphadenopathy were subjected to FNAC. Children on empirical/specific therapy for lymphadenopathy for >2 months and children with lymphadenopathy other than cervical region were excluded from this study. RESULTS Of 324 cases, the cytomorphologic features observed were reactive lymphadenitis in 58.02% of cases, granulomatous lymphadenitis in 30.55%, suppurative lymphadenitis in 7.10% and malignancies in 5.62%. The remaining 3. 57% of cases were excluded because of inadequate aspiration. The most common cause diagnosed was tuberculosis in 29.01% of cases followed by chronic tonsillopharyngitis in 28.39%, suppurative lymphadenitis in 7.10%, human immune deficiency infection in 5.55% and malignancies in CONCLUSION FNAC is an important diagnostic modality for the etiologic workup in significant cervical lymphadenopathy in children. It is almost as sensitive and specific as excision lymph node biopsy when an adequate aspirate is examined by expert eyes.
Phonetic detail and lateralization of reading‐related inner speech and of auditory and somatosensory feedback processing during overt reading

Phonetic detail and lateralization of inner speech during covert sentence reading as well as overt reading in 32 right‐handed healthy participants undergoing 3T fMRI were investigated. The number of voiceless and voiced consonants in the processed sentences was systematically varied. Participants listened to sentences, read them covertly, silently mouthed them while reading, and read them overtly. Condition comparisons allowed for the study of effects of externally versus self‐generated auditory input and of somatosensory feedback related to or independent of voicing. In every condition, increased voicing modulated bilateral voice‐selective regions in the superior temporal sulcus without any lateralization. The enhanced temporal modulation and/or higher spectral frequencies of sentences rich in voiceless consonants induced left‐lateralized activation of phonological regions in the posterior temporal lobe, regardless of condition. These results provide evidence that inner speech during reading codes detail as fine as consonant voicing. Our findings suggest that the fronto‐temporal internal loops underlying inner speech target different temporal regions. These regions differ in their sensitivity to inner or overt acoustic speech features. More slowly varying acoustic parameters are represented more anteriorly and bilaterally in the temporal lobe while quickly changing acoustic features are processed in more posterior left temporal cortices. Furthermore, processing of external auditory feedback during overt sentence reading was sensitive to consonant voicing only in the left superior temporal cortex. Voicing did not modulate left‐lateralized processing of somatosensory feedback during articulation or bilateral motor processing. This suggests voicing is primarily monitored in the auditory rather than in the somatosensory feedback channel. Hum Brain Mapp 38:493–508, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toll‐like receptors – sentries in the B‐cell response

Toll‐like receptors (TLR) play a central role in the initiation of the innate immune response to pathogens. Upon recognition of molecular motifs specific for microbial molecules TLR mediate pro‐inflammatory cytokine secretion and enhance antigen presentation; in B cells they further promote expansion, class switch recombination and immunoglobulin secretion. As a result of their adjuvant properties, TLR ligands have become an integral component of antimicrobial vaccines. In spite of this, little is known of the direct effects of TLR engagement on B‐lymphocyte function. The scope of this review is to outline the differences in TLR expression and reactivity in murine and human B‐cell subsets and to provide an overview of the currently available literature. We will further discuss the possible roles of TLR in regulating B‐cell effector functions and shaping antibody‐mediated defence against microbial pathogens in vivo.
On the role of bonding, emotional leadership, and partner choice in games of cooperation and conflict

Human behavior is difficult to capture in simple and elegant models. In similarly looking environments different people show opposite behaviors and small changes in these environments can radically change the behavior of some, while huge changes might be completely ignored by others. The explanations for these behaviors have traditionally been approached from two different angles. In economics and (behavioral) game theory an individual is reduced to a set of beliefs, preferences and possible actions, whereby the, not always rational, mind rules over the body. On the other hand, in psychology and neurosciences, hormones, emotions and other direct physical impulses control humans with rationality playing a much smaller part This thesis tries to harmonize both views to a certain extent, as it tries to show that both rational and emotional elements can be modeled together, studies destructive behavior, investigates the role of emotions in leadership and analyses the effect of partner choice, based on only physical characteristics, on the level of cooperation.