Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Auditory processing disorder in relation to developmental disorders of language, communication and attention: a review and critique.

BACKGROUND Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) does not feature in mainstream diagnostic classifications such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV), but is frequently diagnosed in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and is becoming more frequently diagnosed in the United Kingdom. AIMS To familiarize readers with current controversies surrounding APD, with an emphasis on how APD might be conceptualized in relation to language and reading problems, attentional problems and autistic spectrum disorders. METHODS & PROCEDURES Different conceptual and diagnostic approaches adopted by audiologists and psychologists can lead to a confusing picture whereby the child who is regarded as having a specific learning disability by one group of experts may be given an APD diagnosis by another. While this could be indicative of co-morbidity, there are concerns that different professional groups are using different labels for the same symptoms. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS APD, as currently diagnosed, is not a coherent category, but that rather than abandoning the construct, we need to develop improved methods for assessment and diagnosis, with a focus on interdisciplinary evaluation.
pH of the Cytoplasm and Periplasm of Escherichia coli: Rapid Measurement by Green Fluorescent Protein Fluorimetry

ABSTRACT Cytoplasmic pH and periplasmic pH of Escherichia coli cells in suspension were observed with 4-s time resolution using fluorimetry of TorA-green fluorescent protein mutant 3* (TorA-GFPmut3*) and TetR-yellow fluorescent protein. Fluorescence intensity was correlated with pH using cell suspensions containing 20 mM benzoate, which equalizes the cytoplasmic pH with the external pH. When the external pH was lowered from pH 7.5 to 5.5, the cytoplasmic pH fell within 10 to 20 s to pH 5.6 to 6.5. Rapid recovery occurred until about 30 s after HCl addition and was followed by slower recovery over the next 5 min. As a control, KCl addition had no effect on fluorescence. In the presence of 5 to 10 mM acetate or benzoate, recovery from external acidification was diminished. Addition of benzoate at pH 7.0 resulted in cytoplasmic acidification with only slow recovery. Periplasmic pH was observed using TorA-GFPmut3* exported to the periplasm through the Tat system. The periplasmic location of the fusion protein was confirmed by the observation that osmotic shock greatly decreased the periplasmic fluorescence signal by loss of the protein but had no effect on the fluorescence of the cytoplasmic protein. Based on GFPmut3* fluorescence, the pH of the periplasm equaled the external pH under all conditions tested, including rapid acid shift. Benzoate addition had no effect on periplasmic pH. The cytoplasmic pH of E. coli was measured with 4-s time resolution using a method that can be applied to any strain construct, and the periplasmic pH was measured directly for the first time.
Quantitative proteomics profiling of the poly(ADP-ribose)-related response to genotoxic stress

Upon DNA damage induction, DNA-dependent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) synthesize an anionic poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr) scaffold to which several proteins bind with the subsequent formation of pADPr-associated multiprotein complexes. We have used a combination of affinity-purification methods and proteomics approaches to isolate these complexes and assess protein dynamics with respect to pADPr metabolism. As a first approach, we developed a substrate trapping strategy by which we demonstrate that a catalytically inactive Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) mutant can act as a physiologically selective bait for the isolation of specific pADPr-binding proteins through its macrodomain-like domain. In addition to antibody-mediated affinity-purification methods, we used a pADPr macrodomain affinity resin to recover pADPr-binding proteins and their complexes. Second, we designed a time course experiment to explore the changes in the composition of pADPr-containing multiprotein complexes in response to alkylating DNA damage-mediated PARP activation. Spectral count clustering based on GeLC-MS/MS analysis was complemented with further analyses using high precision quantitative proteomics through isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)- and Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based proteomics. Here, we present a valuable resource in the interpretation of systems biology of the DNA damage response network in the context of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and provide a basis for subsequent investigations of pADPr-binding protein candidates.
How Explicit and Implicit Test Instructions in an Implicit Learning Task Affect Performance

Typically developing children aged 5 to 8 years were exposed to artificial grammar learning. Following an implicit exposure phase, half of the participants received neutral instructions at test while the other half received instructions making a direct, explicit reference to the training phase. We first aimed to assess whether implicit learning operated in the two test conditions. We then evaluated the differential impact of age on learning performances as a function of test instructions. The results showed that performance did not vary as a function of age in the implicit instructions condition, while age effects emerged when explicit instructions were employed at test. However, performance was affected differently by age and the instructions given at test, depending on whether the implicit learning of short or long units was assessed. These results suggest that the claim that the implicit learning process is independent of age needs to be revised.
Prestimulus functional connectivity determines pain perception in humans

Pain is a highly subjective experience that can be substantially influenced by differences in individual susceptibility as well as personality. How susceptibility to pain and personality translate to brain activity is largely unknown. Here, we report that the functional connectivity of two key brain areas before a sensory event reflects the susceptibility to a subsequent noxious stimulus being perceived as painful. Specifically, the prestimulus connectivity among brain areas related to the subjective perception of the body and to the modulation of pain (anterior insular cortex and brainstem, respectively) determines whether a noxious event is perceived as painful. Further, these effects of prestimulus connectivity on pain perception covary with pain-relevant personality traits. More anxious and pain-attentive individuals display weaker descending connectivity to pain modulatory brain areas. We conclude that variations in functional connectivity underlie personality-related differences in individual susceptibility to pain.
Learning-by-Doing in the Newsvendor Problem: A Laboratory Investigation of the Role of Experience and Feedback

We investigate learning by doing in the newsvendor inventory problem. An earlier study observed that decision makers tend to anchor their orders around average demand and fail to adjust sufficiently toward the expected profit-maximizing order. Principles of behavioral theory suggest some relatively simple interventions into the decision maker's experience and feedback that might improve performance, and these guide our investigation. The results imply that the institutional organization of experience and feedback may have a significant influence on whether inventory is stocked optimally.
Echocardiographic predictors of outcome in acute heart failure patients in sub-Saharan Africa: insights from THESUS-HF

Summary Background: The role of echocardiography in the risk stratification of acute heart failure (HF) is unknown. Some small studies and retrospective analyses have found little change in echocardiographic variables during admission for acute HF and some echocardiographic parameters were not found to be associated with outcomes. It is unknown which echocardiographic variables will predict outcomes in sub-Saharan African patients admitted with acute HF. Using echocardiograms, this study aimed to determine the predictors of death and re-admissions within 60 days and deaths up to 180 days in patients with acute heart failure. Methods: Out of the 1 006 patients in the THESUS-HF registry, 954 had had an echocardiogram performed within a few weeks of admission. Echocardiographic measurements were performed according to the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. We examined the associations between each echocardiographic predictor and outcome using regression models. Results: Heart rate and left atrial size predicted death within 60 days or re-admission. Heart rate, left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (PWTd), and presence of aortic stenosis were associated with the risk of death within 180 days. PTWd added to clinical variables in predicting 180-day mortality rates. Conclusions: Echocardiographic variables, especially those of left ventricular size and function, were not found to have additional predictive value in patients admitted for acute HF. Left atrial size, aortic stenosis, heart rate and measures of hypertrophy (LV PWTd) had some predictive value, suggesting the importance of early treatment of hypertension and severe valvular heart disease.
Advancing recovery science: reliability and validity properties of the Recovery Assessment Scale.

OBJECTIVE The promotion of recovery is the driving philosophy underlying national, state, and local mental health systems. Although numerous recovery-oriented measures have been developed in response, the scientific assessment of recovery measures has lagged behind. The purpose of this literature review was to review the psychometric properties of the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS), which is arguably the most commonly used measure of recovery in the published literature. Such information is critical for advancing recovery science. METHODS A thorough literature search using the search term "Recovery Assessment Scale" was conducted in August 2012, yielding a total of 222 articles published from around the world. A total of 77 articles that included psychometric data on the RAS were used in this review. RESULTS Means and standard deviations across studies were fairly consistent. Overall, the studies indicate very good results for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and interrater reliability. A number of studies also reported consistent factor structures for the measure. The RAS was found to have positive associations with other related constructs and negative associations with constructs such as symptoms. Finally, the RAS appears to be sensitive to change over time. CONCLUSIONS The review found significant evidence to support the use of the RAS in recovery science as a means to measure recovery and to include it in mental health research.
Near-infrared bulge–disc correlations of lenticular galaxies

We consider the luminosity and environmental dependence of structural parameters of lenticular galaxies in the near-infrared K band. Using a 2D galaxy image decomposition technique, we extract bulge and disc structural parameters for a sample of 36 lenticular galaxies observed by us in the K band. By combining data from the literature for field and cluster lenticulars with our data, we study correlations between parameters that characterize the bulge and the disc as a function of luminosity and environment. We find that scaling relations such as the Kormendy relation, photometric plane and other correlations involving bulge and disc parameters show a luminosity dependence. This dependence can be explained in terms of galaxy formation models in which faint lenticulars (MT > −24.5) formed via secular formation processes that likely formed the pseudo-bulges of late-type disc galaxies, while brighter lenticulars (MT < −24.5) formed through a different formation mechanism most likely involving major mergers. On probing variations in lenticular properties as a function of environment, we find that faint cluster lenticulars show systematic differences with respect to faint field lenticulars. These differences support the idea that the bulge and disc components fade after the galaxy falls into a cluster, while simultaneously undergoing a transformation from spiral to lenticular morphologies.
QUEL TYPE DE CONTROLE POUR LES EQUIPES VIRTUELLES : UNE ETUDE EMPIRIQUE

Cet article presente les resultats d'une recherche empirique sur les systemes de controle des equipes virtuelles. L'entreprise etudiee ne met pas totalement en oeuvre les conditions de succes preconisees par la litterature. Par ailleurs, elle combine controle des resultats, controle des comportements et controle clanique.
Dual renin-angiotensin system blockade at optimal doses for proteinuria.

BACKGROUND The antiproteinuric effect of combining the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor lisinopril and the angiotensin II (Ang II) antagonist losartan was compared to that of the optimal antiproteinuric doses of monotherapy. METHODS To this purpose, lisinopril and losartan were studied in 9 nondiabetic renal patients with median proteinuria 4.5 g/day (95% CI, 3.5, 6.4), creatinine clearance of 80 mL/min (95% CI, 66, 96), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 102 mm Hg (95% CI, 93, 112). First, in two protocols with six-week treatment periods per dose, the optimal antiproteinuric dose of each drug was established in each patient. Losartan and lisinopril were used in randomized order, each preceded by a baseline period without medication. The doses of losartan (mg/day) were 50, 100, 150, and again 50. The lisinopril doses were 10, 20, 40, and again 10. After the second protocol, patients were treated with a combination, using the optimal antiproteinuric doses established for the individual drugs. RESULTS The antiproteinuric response by losartan was optimal at 100 mg (-46%; 95% CI, -60, -24%), being larger than at the 50 mg dose (-27%; 95% CI, -42, -4%, P < 0.05), but not different from the 150 mg dose (-46%; 95% CI, -58; -20%). Proteinuria decreased further at each up-titration step of lisinopril to -75% (95% CI, -85, -43%) at the 40 mg dose. Combination therapy reduced proteinuria more effectively (-85%; 95% CI, -96, -58) than monotherapy with losartan, and to a lesser extent than with lisinopril. Optimal blood pressure responses were obtained at similar doses. CONCLUSIONS Dose-titration with a renin-angiotensin system blocker, followed by add-on therapy is highly effective in order to reduce proteinuria. The safety of this regimen needs to be addressed in future studies.
Changes in the epidemiologic profile of sudden infant death syndrome as rates decline among California infants: 1990-1995.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate changes in the rates and epidemiologic patterns of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) after implementation of public health campaigns to promote back sleeping and reduce exposure to cigarette smoke and environmental risk factors for SIDS. METHODS California vital statistics data were used to evaluate changes in SIDS rates (deaths/1000 live births) and in the proportions of SIDS deaths by age and season of occurrence for California infants of black or other races from 1990 through 1995. RESULTS From 1990 through 1995, 3508 SIDS deaths occurred. SIDS rates declined from 2.69 to 2.15 for black infants and from 1.04 to 0.61 for others between 1990 and 1995. Most SIDS deaths occurred during the 2nd to 4th months of life; the proportion of SIDS deaths during this period was unchanged for blacks but decreased for others from 70% to 65%. Of all SIDS deaths, 62% occurred during the colder season (October through March); the proportion of deaths in each season did not change for either race. CONCLUSION California SIDS rates declined 20% for blacks and 41% for others between 1990 and 1995. Declines coincided with campaigns to reduce environmental risk factors for SIDS. Blacks continue to be at increased risk for SIDS compared with others, and the SIDS rate for blacks relative to others has increased. Reductions in SIDS mortality coinciding with interventions were smaller for blacks than for others. New strategies are needed to reduce further SIDS rates and narrow the gap between blacks and others.
Large‐scale dynamics of Saturn's magnetopause: Observations by Cassini

The long-term statistical behavior of the large-scale structure of Saturn's magnetosphere has been investigated. Established statistical techniques for Jupiter have been applied to the kronian system, employing Cassini magnetometer data and a new empirical shape model of the magnetopause based on these data. The resulting distribution of standoff distance R-MP for Saturn, covering a time interval of similar to 400 days, is well-described by a "dual'' or "bimodal'' model-the sum of two normal distributions with different means at similar to 22 and similar to 27 planetary radii. We have made a comparison between the dual model's prediction for the probability distribution of solar wind dynamic pressure at Saturn with a sequence of observations from the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) instrument. Although the solar wind dynamic pressure observations are limited to a smaller time interval than the magnetometer data, we find that their overall range is in broad agreement with the that of the modeled pressures. However, the bimodal structure exhibited by the model is not apparent in the solar wind data for the corresponding range of dynamic pressures (similar to 0.008 - 0.06 nPa), which suggests that other mechanisms at Saturn also influence the size distribution of the magnetopause. Considering internal processes at Saturn and their influence on magnetopause size, we conclude that the effect of internal mass loading and loss from the magnetospheric disk is plausibly able to explain the observed bimodal distribution in magnetopause standoff distance.
Law and Globalization from Below: Nike's law: the anti-sweatshop movement, transnational corporations, and the struggle over international labor rights in the Americas

INTRODUCTION Just as sweatshops have become the symbol of the perverse effects of neoliberal globalization, the transnational anti-sweatshop movement lies at the heart of the struggle for social justice in the global economy. In the global North, the reemergence of sweatshops in such cities as New York and Los Angeles entails the return of the economic and legal realities of the nineteenth century (Bonacich and Appelbaum 2000; Ross 1997). In the South, the exploitative labor conditions and the unfulfilled promise of employment and growth have turned maquilas into an icon of the failure of late twentieth-century neoliberalism. In bridging the North–South divide through highly plural, dynamic, and decentralized transnational advocacy networks (TANs), the anti-sweatshop movement holds out the prospect of a revamped, twenty-first century labor internationalism (Evans, forthcoming; Moody 1997). Beyond its political and symbolic importance, the anti-sweatshop movement offers a privileged vantage point to examine the role of law in counter-hegemonic globalization for two reasons. First, in terms of social movement theory (Snow et al . 1986), the “framing” of the anti-sweatshop cause has crucially relied on law and legal discourse. Given that abuses committed in global sweatshops – from physical violence to sexual harassment and misery wages – undermine fundamental conditions of human dignity, TANs have framed their struggle as a vindication of basic human rights. This has not only lent a potent moral force to the movement but has also placed the mobilization of human rights rules and discourses at the center of TANs' strategies.
The cathepsin D (224C/T) polymorphism confers an increased risk to develop Alzheimer's disease in men.

The lysosomal protease cathepsin D is likely involved in beta-amyloidogenesis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is evidence for a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs17571) of the cathepsin D gene to be associated with increased AD risk. However, little is known about gender-specific differences. Therefore, we performed a genetic association study focusing on gender-specific differences in 434 participants (219 AD and 215 controls). Screening of the rs17571 shows a significantly higher proportion of T-allele carriers among male Alzheimer patients (28.5%) when compared with male controls (13.8%, p = .013, p(corr) = . 039). The odds ratio was 2.48 (95% confidence interval: 1.14-5.58). There was no significant difference in the T-allele distribution in women. Including APOE4 status and age did not have an additional effect on the morbidity risk. Thus, our results support the idea that rs17571 confers an increased risk for AD in men but not in women. Further investigation should substantiate the role of gender for AD risk of rs17571.
Chronic graft-versus-host disease is associated with increased numbers of peripheral blood CD 4 CD 25 high regulatory T cells

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is characterized by a state of profound immunodeficiency in association with alloreactive and autoimmune phenomena. These observations indicate an impairment of immunologic tolerance that could involve both central and peripheral mechanisms. Defective thymic function may contribute to dysregulation of central tolerance, but few studies have addressed peripheral tolerance. Recently a population of CD4 CD25 T cells (Treg cells) has been characterized, which controls immunologic reactivity in vivo and which on transfer can prevent experimental acute GVHD. We investigated the number and function of peripheral blood CD4 CD25high T cells in patients more than 100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Patients with cGVHD had markedly elevated numbers of CD4 CD25high T cells as compared to patients without GVHD. CD4 CD25high T cells derived from patients in both groups were of donor origin, lacked markers of recent activation, and expressed intracellular CD152. In contrast to controls, CD4 CD25high T cells derived from patients with cGVHD were characterized by lower surface CD62L expression. In vitro, CD4 CD25high T cells were hyporesponsive to polyclonal stimulation and suppressed the proliferation and cytokine synthesis of CD4 CD25 cells, an effect that was independent of interleukin 10. These results indicate that chronic graft-versus-host injury does not occur as a result of Treg cell deficiency. (Blood. 2004;103:2410-2416)
Kernel Least-Squares Temporal Difference Learning

Kernel methods have attracted many research interests recently since by utilizing Mercer kernels, non-linear and non-parametric versions of conventional supervised or unsupervised learning algorithms can be implemented and usually better generalization abilities can be obtained. However, kernel methods in reinforcement learning have not been popularly studied in the literature. In this paper, we present a novel kernel-based least-squares temporal-difference (TD) learning algorithm called KLS-TD(λ), which can be viewed as the kernel version or nonlinear form of the previous linear LS-TD(λ) algorithms. By introducing kernel-based nonlinear mapping, the KLS-TD(λ) algorithm is superior to conventional linear TD(λ) algorithms in value function prediction or policy evaluation problems with nonlinear value functions. Furthermore, in KLS-TD(λ), the eligibility traces in kernel-based TD learning are derived to make use of data more efficiently, which is different from the recent work on Gaussian Processes in reinforcement learning. Experimental results on a typical value-function learning prediction problem of a Markov chain demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.