Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bovine lactoferrin supplementation for prevention of late-onset sepsis in very low-birth-weight neonates: a randomized trial.

CONTEXT Sepsis is a common and severe complication in premature neonates, particularly those with very low birth weight (VLBW) (<1500 g). Whether lactoferrin, a mammalian milk glycoprotein involved in innate immune host defenses, can reduce the incidence of sepsis is unknown. In animal models, the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) enhances the activity of lactoferrin but has not been studied in human infants. OBJECTIVE To establish whether bovine lactoferrin (BLF), alone or in combination with LGG, reduces the incidence of late-onset sepsis in VLBW neonates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial conducted in 11 Italian tertiary neonatal intensive care units. Patients were 472 VLBW infants enrolled from October 1, 2007, through July 31, 2008, and assessed until discharge for development of sepsis. INTERVENTION Infants were randomly assigned to receive orally administered BLF (100 mg/d) alone (n = 153), BLF plus LGG (6 x 10(9) colony-forming units/d) (n = 151), or placebo (n = 168) from birth until day 30 of life (day 45 for neonates <1000 g at birth). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE First episode of late-onset sepsis, ie, sepsis occurring more than 72 hours after birth with isolation of any pathogen from blood or from peritoneal or cerebrospinal fluid. RESULTS Demographic, clinical, and management characteristics of the 3 groups were similar, including type of feeding and intake of maternal milk. Incidence of late-onset sepsis was significantly lower in the BLF and BLF plus LGG groups (9/153 [5.9%] and 7/151 [4.6%], respectively) than in the control group receiving placebo (29/168 [17.3%]) (risk ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.70; P = .002 for BLF vs control and risk ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.60; P < .001 for BLF plus LGG vs control). The decrease occurred for both bacterial and fungal sepsis. No adverse effects or intolerances to treatment occurred. CONCLUSION Compared with placebo, BLF supplementation alone or in combination with LGG reduced the incidence of a first episode of late-onset sepsis in VLBW neonates. TRIAL REGISTRATION isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN53107700.
Homeostasis of intrinsic excitability in hippocampal neurones: dynamics and mechanism of the response to chronic depolarization

In order to maintain stable functionality in the face of continually changing input, neurones in the CNS must dynamically modulate their electrical characteristics. It has been hypothesized that in order to retain stable network function, neurones possess homeostatic mechanisms which integrate activity levels and alter network and cellular properties in such a way as to counter long‐term perturbations. Here we describe a simple model system where we investigate the effects of sustained neuronal depolarization, lasting up to several days, by exposing cultures of primary hippocampal pyramidal neurones to elevated concentrations (10–30 mm) of KCl. Following exposure to KCl, neurones exhibit lower input resistances and resting potentials, and require more current to be injected to evoke action potentials. This results in a rightward shift in the frequency‐input current (FI) curve which is explained by a simple linear model of the subthreshold I–V relationship. No changes are observed in action potential profiles, nor in the membrane potential at which action potentials are evoked. Furthermore, following depolarization, an increase in subthreshold potassium conductance is observed which is accounted for within a biophysical model of the subthreshold I–V characteristics of neuronal membranes. The FI curve shift was blocked by the presence of the L‐type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine, whilst antagonism of NMDA receptors did not interfere with the effect. Finally, changes in the intrinsic properties of neurones are reversible following removal of the depolarizing stimulus. We suggest that this experimental system provides a convenient model of homeostatic regulation of intrinsic excitability, and permits the study of temporal characteristics of homeostasis and its dependence on stimulus magnitude.
Shared visions? diversity and cultural membership in American life

Sociological theory and public discourse raise concerns about division, fragmentation, or attenuation in our collective life rooted in, among other things, racial or religious differences, but we know very little about how ordinary Americans imagine themselves as similar to and different from their fellow citizens. In a recent, nationally representative telephone survey (2003, N = 2081) we asked over 2,000 Americans whether the members of ten different raciallethnic, religious, or social groups "share your vision of America. " We used cluster analysis and found three patterns of responses to this set of questions, patterns that reflect differences in social location and correspond to different views of diversity, group stereotypes, and understandings of American society. We argue that what we find reveals different dimensions along which Americans draw symbolic boundaries in public life, and that how these boundaries are drawn is rooted in three different visions of America. Optimistic pluralists believe in the positive value of diversity and are unwilling to exclude people on the basis of religion, ethnicity, or lifestyle; critics of multiculturalism are critical of diversity and are wary about contemporary social changes and political and social "out-groups;" and cultural preservationists imagine an America with a moral order underpinned by shared values and a history of a unified white, Christian culture. In the conclusion, we discuss the implications of these findings for scholarship on multiculturalism and the "culture wars," and we call for more research on how ordinary Americans interpret the meanings and implications of social differences in public life. Keywords: symbolic boundaries, multiculturalism, diversity, cultural membership, race and religion.
PAIN COMMUNICATION IN ETHNICALLY CONCORDANT AND DISCORDANT DYADS

While ethnicity is often regarded as a factor in pain experience and expression, ethnic pain research has almost exclusively focused on the intrapersonal dimension of the pain experience and failed to recognize the complex interpersonal nature of the pain experience. The Sociocommunications Model of Pain (Craig, 2009; Hadjistavropoulos & Craig, 2002; Hadjistavropoulos, Craig, & Fuchs-Lacelle, 2004) states that pain behaviours serve as both expressions of the inner experience and communications to other people, and the observer must take into account the social contexts in which the pain expression and report occur. Research in the recent decade has documented reliable evidence that ethnic minorities suffer disproportionately from undertreatment of pain compared to nonminority, but studies examining factors that contribute to such disparities have seldom directly considered the sociocultural context in which the pain experience and assessment take place. This dissertation has two studies. The primary objective of Study 1 is to compare pain report and behaviours in an ethnically concordant versus discordant environment. The primary objective of Study 2 is to investigate the impact of ethnic concordance on the accuracy of observer’s assessment of pain. The Chinese ethnic group was chosen as the focus of the present research because it is the largest ethnic group in Canada and also this group has received little attention in ethnic pain research. Overall, results indicate that ethnic concordance between the person in pain and the observer would influence the sufferer’s pain expression and the observer’s pain assessment. The findings support the Sociocommunications Models of Pain and suggest the importance of considering the interpersonal dimension of the pain experience.
EDITORIAL A Systematic Review of Depression

Depression is a widespread chronic medical illness that can affect thoughts, mood, and physical health. It is characterized by low mood, lack of energy, sadness, insomnia, and an inability to enjoy life. However, so far clinical studies have shown that patients with depression do not have a satisfactory therapeutic outcome. Therefore, based on recent studies, in this special issue these specialists will review depression systematically from behavior level to cellular and molecular level, and particularly focus on several interesting topics, such as “The neurobiological mechanisms and treatments of REM sleep disturbances in depression”, “Research on the pathological mechanism and drug treatment mechanism of Depression”, “The Antidepressant-like Effects of Estrogen-mediated Ghrelin”, “The Effects of Calorie Restriction in Depression and Potential Mechanisms”, “The effects of psychological stress on Depression” and “Herbal Medicine for Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia”. These reviews will provide new insight into treatment or adjunctive treatment for clinical depression.
THE ACQUISITION OF SINGLE AND GEMINATE STOPS BY ENGLISH-SPEAKING CHILDREN IN A JAPANESE IMMERSION PROGRAM

This study acoustically analyzed the production of single and geminate stops in Japanese by English-speaking children (N = 19) at three different grade levels in a Japanese immersion program. Results show that both their singletons and geminates were significantly longer than those of Japanese monolinguals and the bilinguals' immersion teachers, but all of the immersion groups have acquired the contrast between the two types of stop. This finding supports Flege's (1995) hypothesis that a phonetic category established for second language sounds by a bilingual might differ from that of a monolingual. Additionally, 52 native speakers of Japanese rated the contrast between the two stops produced by all of the bilingual children and a subset of the monolingual children. The accent ratings suggest that the contrast made by the immersion children was not nativelike despite some individual differences in their performance and that there was no statistical difference in accent ratings across the grade levels. The degree of the contrast correlated fairly highly with the closure duration ratio of geminates to singletons.Part of this article was presented at the 2000 AAAL Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia and the 2001 AAAL Conference, St. Louis, MO. I would like to thank Dr. R. Campbell, Dr. M. Celce-Murcia, Dr. S. Guion, Dr. S. Iwasaki, and Dr. S. -A. Jun as well as the anonymous SSLA reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article. I am also grateful to the children and their teachers for their participation in this study, without whom it would not have been possible.
Distribution of weakness in the upper and lower limbs post-stroke

Objective. To assess the distribution of weakness in the upper and lower limbs post-stroke and the factors associated with weakness. Method. The design was a prospective cross-sectional survey. A consecutive sample of 75 patients (37 (49%) men, mean age 71.5 (SD 12.2) years, 46 (61%) left hemiplegics) with a first-time anterior-circulation stroke, tested 2 – 4 weeks post-stroke, were recruited from two NHS trusts. Main outcome measures. Weakness (Motricity Index, MI). Results. Mean MI score was 58.5 (SD 39.6) and 69.1 (SD 33.6) for the upper and lower limb (p < 0.001), but examination of individual data indicated 36 (48%) had no/ negligible difference (0 +/− 9 points) in MI score between the limbs. When there was a difference, the lower limb was more frequently the stronger. There was no significant difference between the proximal and distal joints in either limb (p < 0.217 and 0.410). Severity of weakness was not associated with the subjects' demographics or stroke pathology, but was associated with neglect and sensation. Conclusions. Although group analysis showed that the leg was significantly stronger than the arm, individual analysis showed that most participants had a similar degree of weakness in both limbs. When there was a difference, the lower limb was more frequently the stronger. Proximal joints were not more severely affected than distal joints. Patient demographics and stroke pathology factors were not associated with weakness, but stroke-related impairments were.
Robust Estimators in High Dimensions without the Computational Intractability

We study high-dimensional distribution learning in an agnostic setting where an adversary is allowed to arbitrarily corrupt an epsilon fraction of the samples. Such questions have a rich history spanning statistics, machine learning and theoretical computer science. Even in the most basic settings, the only known approaches are either computationally inefficient or lose dimension dependent factors in their error guarantees. This raises the following question: Is high-dimensional agnostic distribution learning even possible, algorithmically? In this work, we obtain the first computationally efficient algorithms for agnostically learning several fundamental classes of high-dimensional distributions: (1) a single Gaussian, (2) a product distribution on the hypercube, (3) mixtures of two product distributions (under a natural balancedness condition), and (4) mixtures of k Gaussians with identical spherical covariances. All our algorithms achieve error that is independent of the dimension, and in many cases depends nearly-linearly on the fraction of adversarially corrupted samples. Moreover, we develop a general recipe for detecting and correcting corruptions in high-dimensions, that may be applicable to many other problems.
A Bag-of-Audio-Words Approach for Snore Sounds' Excitation Localisation

Habitual snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea are serious conditions that can affect the health of the snorer. For a targeted surgical treatment, it is crucial to identify the exact location of the vibration within the upper airways. As opposed to earlier work, we present the first unsupervised feature learning approach to this task based on bags-ofaudio-words. Likewise, we cluster feature values within a given time-segment into acoustic ‘words’. The frequency of occurrence per such word is then represented in a histogram per sound chunk to classify between four excitation locations. In extensive test runs based on snore sound data of 24 patients labelled by experts, we evaluated several feature sets as basis for audio word creation. In the result, we find audio words based on wavelet features, formants, and MFCC to be highly suited and outperform previous experiments based on the same data set.
Equivalence of symptom dimensions in females and males with autism

This study investigated equivalence of autism symptom domains in males and females with autism. Symptom data were obtained from 2643 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (352 females, 2291 males; age range = 4–17 years) included in the Simons Simplex Collection. Items from the Social Responsiveness Scale and Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised were mapped to nine a priori symptom dimensions. Multi-group confirmatory factor models, including measurement equivalence and item response theory analyses, examined whether males and females showed measurement or structural differences in autism symptom constructs. Results indicated mean differences in restricted interests that were not due to measurement bias. No other symptom dimension showed evidence of measurement bias and autism symptom structure was highly similar between males and females. Future studies are needed to carefully estimate any sex differences in the content, frequency, or intensity/severity of restricted interests in females and males.
Echoplanar diffusion-weighted imaging in neonates and infants with suspected hypoxic-ischemic injury: correlation with patient outcome.

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to examine the effectiveness of echoplanar diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging in detecting CNS ischemia in neonates and infants and to determine how well the imaging findings using this technique correlate with short-term neurologic deficit. MATERIALS AND METHODS Echoplanar DW images, turbo T2-weighted images, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences were obtained in a clinically defined cohort of 26 consecutive neonates and infants with suspected hypoxic-ischemic injury. Echoplanar DW imaging was performed with the diffusion gradient in the slice-select direction: b value, 1200 sec/mm2; matrix, 128 x 128, interpolated to 256 x 256. Four scans (4 sec per scan) were obtained and averaged to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. Most patients were not sedated (n = 19). Abnormalities seen on DW imaging were correlated with clinical findings at short-term follow-up and compared with findings on FLAIR and turbo T2-weighted images. RESULTS Short-term clinical follow-up showed neurologic deficit in 10 (83%) of 12 patients with DW images with abnormal findings, and no neurologic sequelae in 12 (86%) of 14 patients with DW images with normal findings. Echoplanar DW images revealed a greater extent of and a larger number of abnormalities compared with FLAIR or turbo T2-weighted images in 11 (92%) of 12 patients with DW images with abnormal findings. CONCLUSION Echoplanar DW imaging reveals abnormalities poorly depicted on turbo T2-weighted and FLAIR images in neonates and infants with clinically suspected hypoxic-ischemic injury. DW imaging may be able to identify which patients are likely to develop at least short-term neurologic deficits and may afford the best early evaluation of short-term neurologic prognosis in these patients.
Large-Range Movements of Neotropical Orchid Bees Observed via Radio Telemetry

Neotropical orchid bees (Euglossini) are often cited as classic examples of trapline-foragers with potentially extensive foraging ranges. If long-distance movements are habitual, rare plants in widely scattered locations may benefit from euglossine pollination services. Here we report the first successful use of micro radio telemetry to track the movement of an insect pollinator in a complex and forested environment. Our results indicate that individual male orchid bees (Exaerete frontalis) habitually use large rainforest areas (at least 42–115 ha) on a daily basis. Aerial telemetry located individuals up to 5 km away from their core areas, and bees were often stationary, for variable periods, between flights to successive localities. These data suggest a higher degree of site fidelity than what may be expected in a free living male bee, and has implications for our understanding of biological activity patterns and the evolution of forest pollinators.
Plant mechanisms that give defence against soilborne diseases

Little is known about factors that determine the outcome of interactions between soilborne pathogens and their hosts, despite the economic importance of many root diseases. Preformed defences, disease suppression and induced resistance mechanisms are all likely to contribute to plant protection. This overview highlights some key aspects of resistance mechanisms and experimental approaches that are relevant to the control of soilborne pathogens.
Depremi Yaşamış Olan 9. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin "Deprem" Kavramına Yönelik Algılarının Nitel Açıdan İncelenmesi

Bu arastirma, ortaogretim 9. sinif ogrencilerinin "deprem" kavramina iliskin sahip olduklari metaforlari belirlemek amaciyla yapilmistir. Arastirmaya 2012-2013 egitim-ogretim yilinda, Van ili Ercis ilcesinde 9. sinifta ogrenim goren 194 ogrenci katilmistir. Arastirmanin verileri, ogrencilerin "deprem… gibidir; cunku…" cumlesini tamamlamasiyla ve deprem kavramina ait ogrencilerin cizdikleri resim/karikaturler yoluyla elde edilmistir. Arastirmanin verileri icerik analiz teknigiyle cozumlenmistir. Arastirmadan elde edilen bulgulara gore; ortaogretim 9. sinif ogrencileri "deprem" kavramina iliskin toplam 72 adet gecerli metafor meydana getirmistir. Bu metaforlar ortak ozelliklerine gore 6 farkli kavramsal kategoriye ayrilmistir. Arastirmanin sonucunda, "deprem" kavramini 9. sinif ogrencilerinin %5.04'u kiyamet gunu, %4.32'si korku, %3.60'i canavar ve besik, %2.88'i olum ve felaket olarak algiladiklari ortaya cikmistir. This study is carried out to determine the metaphors of 9th graders they have towards the concept "earthquake". 194 9th graders in Ercis, Van took part in the study in the academic year of 2012-2013. The data of the study is collected by students' completing the sentence "earthquake is like …, because …. " and from the pictures and caricatures drawn by the students about their metaphors for the concept earthquake. The data is analyzed with content analysis method. According to the results of the study, the students produced 72 metaphors about the concept of "earthquake". These metaphors were categorized into 6 different conceptual groups according to their common features. As a result of the study, it was revealed that 5.04% of the students perceive the concept of "earthquake" as doomsday, 4.32% as fear, 3.60% as monster and cradle and 2.88% as death and disaster.
Modeling Purposeful Adaptive Behavior with the Principle of Maximum Causal Entropy

Predicting human behavior from a small amount of training examples is a challenging machine learning problem. In this thesis, we introduce the principle of maximum causal entropy, a general technique for applying information theory to decision-theoretic, game-theoretic, and control settings where relevant information is sequentially revealed over time. This approach guarantees decision-theoretic performance by matching purposeful measures of behavior (Abbeel & Ng, 2004), and/or enforces game-theoretic rationality constraints (Aumann, 1974), while otherwise being as uncertain as possible, which minimizes worst-case predictive log-loss (Grunwald & Dawid, 2003). We derive probabilistic models for decision, control, and multi-player game settings using this approach. We then develop corresponding algorithms for efficient inference that include relaxations of the Bellman equation (Bellman, 1957), and simple learning algorithms based on convex optimization. We apply the models and algorithms to a number of behavior prediction tasks. Specifically, we present empirical evaluations of the approach in the domains of vehicle route preference modeling using over 100,000 miles of collected taxi driving data, pedestrian motion modeling from weeks of indoor movement data, and robust prediction of game play in stochastic multi-player games.
The Social Processes of Learning to Use Computers

The ability to use a computer is assumed to be a cornerstone of effective citizenship in the Information Age, with a range of initiatives and educational provisions being introduced to encourage people to become competent with information technology (IT). Despite such provision, levels of computer use and competence have been found to vary widely throughout the general population, and we knowlittle of how different ways of learning to use computers contribute to people's eventual use of IT. Based on data from in-depth interviews with 100 adults in the United Kingdom, this article examines the range and social stratification of formal and informal learning about computers that is taking place, suggesting that formal computer instruction orientated toward the general public may inadvertently widen the digital knowledge gap. In particular, the data highlight the importance of informal learning about IT and of encouraging such learning, especially in the home.
Reading, Writing, and Thinking Like a Scientist

In this commentary, the authors bring insights from their work on science-literacy integration at the elementary level to bear on the ongoing conversation about disciplinary literacy at the middle and secondary levels. In particular, the authors discuss what they have learned about inquiry, disciplinary reading strategies, and the role of text in disciplinary learning. The authors conclude that reading, writing, and language are best viewed as closely tied to inquiry and meaning-making in different disciplines, and, as such, are best positioned as a set of tools used to support student involvement in the unique practices of each discipline.