Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Composing auditory ERPs: cross-linguistic comparison of auditory change complex for Japanese fricative consonants

Two series of Electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements indicated that average auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by the disyllabic sound /asu/ were different between Japanese and English native listeners. Significant differences were observed in the time window where the P1-N1-P2 complex for /a/ is expected. This difference may be due to the absence/presence of the Auditory Change Complex (ACC) elicited by /s/. Furthermore, by combining the P1-N1-P2 complex elicited by each component of /asu/ (/a//s//u/) recorded individually, it was possible to compose ERPs similar to those elicited by /asu/. Interestingly, the optimized weights of /s/ were significantly lower for Japanese than for native- English listeners, suggesting that the trace of the ACC associated with /s/ was less visible in the actual ERP response to /asu/ for Japanese native listeners. These results may together suggest that Japanese and English native individuals process the /s/ in /asu/ differently and that the ACC is sensitive to language-specific perceptual categories.
Estimation of coronary flow reserve: Can SPECT compete with other modalities?

ConclusionSPECT can obtain CFR measurements, both globally and regionally. Positive SPECT results, as well as positive PET results, depend upon the tracer having a constant extraction fraction over the flow range being studied. SPECT approaches will probably not be as accurate as dynamic PET for estimation of CFR because spatial and timing resolution is poorer. Also, the radiopharmaceuticals may not track flow as effectively as O-15 water. The method presented by Sugihara et al is simpler than dynamic cardiac SPECT with compartment modeling; however, the technique works only for radiopharmaceuticals that act like microspheres. It is important that the extraction remain constant over a large flow range. The microsphere method also relies on not having any wash-out from the tissue from the time of injection to the time of measurement. Dynamic cardiac SPECT works best with radiopharmaceuticals that have high extraction. These radiopharmaceuticals are not as fast as the ideal flow tracer O-15 water. However, because of the inadequate timing resolutions of commercial SPECT systems, it would be virtually impossible to image such flow tracers.Research is still needed in the following areas. (1) Further studies should be done to determine what mechanisms govern maximal coronary vasodilation. (2) There should be a determination of how these new SPECT approaches can be evaluated and tested in human beings. It has yet to be determined whether use of the coronary flow or pressure wire would be better. Perhaps comparison to dynamic PET imaging alone would be sufficient. (3) Systematic studies should be done to define the distribution of absolute CFR in both normal and abnormal hearts and to determine how the common factors that can diminish CFR affect regional reserve, especially in small subendocardial regions. To truly define coronary vascular reserve, it is essential that subendocardial measurements of CFR be obtainable. (4) Technological advances must be made in order to improve SPECT imaging systems so that they better facilitate dynamic imaging. Current SPECT systems have been limited by low sensitivity, poor resolution, and poor temporal resolution as a result of the necessary mechanical rotation of the detector. However, recent advancements in dynamic cardiac SPECT, drawn from developments in PET, demonstrate that dynamic cardiac SPECT is useful for the extraction of physiologic values of perfusion38 in a manner similar to that of dynamic PET. These systems allow volumetric imaging but do not require sampling at rates of less than 5 seconds because of the lack of sufficient statistical data.
Missed Conceptions: A Gendered Extension of Early Conception Among Street Youth

The moral sentiment concerning teenage pregnancy among unmarried youth is that it is an act of deviance or non-conformity. Using data from a multidisciplinary study of high-risk youth, this article explores the notion that early conception among street youth is an opportunity for youth to conform to the conventional societal role of becoming a parent, not an act of deviance. The article further highlights the importance of including young men in discussions about early conception. Drawing on general strain theory and social bonding theory, experiences of strain in the family of origin as well as current social bonds are explored. Findings indicate that both general strain and social bonding contribute to a gendered understanding of early conception among street youth.
Larger and faster: revised properties and a shorter orbital period for the WASP-57 planetary system from a pro-am collaboration

Transits in the WASP-57 planetary system have been found to occur half an hour earlier than expected. We present 10 transit light curves from amateur telescopes, on which this discovery was based, 13 transit light curves from professional facilities which confirm and refine this finding, and high-resolution imaging which show no evidence for nearby companions. We use these data to determine a new and precise orbital ephemeris, and measure the physical properties of the system. Our revised orbital period is 4.5 s shorter than found from the discovery data alone, which explains the early occurrence of the transits. We also find both the star and planet to be larger and less massive than previously thought. The measured mass and radius of the planet are now consistent with theoretical models of gas giants containing no heavy-element core, as expected for the subsolar metallicity of the host star. Two transits were observed simultaneously in four passbands. We use the resulting light curves to measure the planet's radius as a function of wavelength, finding that our data are sufficient in principle but not in practise to constrain its atmospheric properties. We conclude with a discussion of the current and future status of transmission photometry studies for probing the atmospheres of gas-giant transiting planets.
Estrogen plus progestin and breast cancer incidence and mortality in postmenopausal women.

CONTEXT In the Women's Health Initiative randomized, placebo-controlled trial of estrogen plus progestin, after a mean intervention time of 5.6 (SD, 1.3) years (range, 3.7-8.6 years) and a mean follow-up of 7.9 (SD, 1.4) years, breast cancer incidence was increased among women who received combined hormone therapy. Breast cancer mortality among participants in the trial has not been previously reported. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of therapy with estrogen plus progestin on cumulative breast cancer incidence and mortality after a total mean follow-up of 11.0 (SD, 2.7) years, through August 14, 2009. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 16,608 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years with no prior hysterectomy from 40 US clinical centers were randomly assigned to receive combined conjugated equine estrogens, 0.625 mg/d, plus medroxyprogesterone acetate, 2.5 mg/d, or placebo pill. After the original trial completion date (March 31, 2005), reconsent was required for continued follow-up for breast cancer incidence and was obtained from 12,788 (83%) of the surviving participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Invasive breast cancer incidence and breast cancer mortality. RESULTS In intention-to-treat analyses including all randomized participants and censoring those not consenting to additional follow-up on March 31, 2005, estrogen plus progestin was associated with more invasive breast cancers compared with placebo (385 cases [0.42% per year] vs 293 cases [0.34% per year]; hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.46; P = .004). Breast cancers in the estrogen-plus-progestin group were similar in histology and grade to breast cancers in the placebo group but were more likely to be node-positive (81 [23.7%] vs 43 [16.2%], respectively; HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.23-2.58; P = .03). There were more deaths directly attributed to breast cancer (25 deaths [0.03% per year] vs 12 deaths [0.01% per year]; HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.00-4.04; P = .049) as well as more deaths from all causes occurring after a breast cancer diagnosis (51 deaths [0.05% per year] vs 31 deaths [0.03% per year]; HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.01-2.48; P = .045) among women who received estrogen plus progestin compared with women in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Estrogen plus progestin was associated with greater breast cancer incidence, and the cancers are more commonly node-positive. Breast cancer mortality also appears to be increased with combined use of estrogen plus progestin. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000611.
How much L1 is too much? Teachers' language use in response to students’ abilities and classroom interaction in Content and Language Integrated Learning

In Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) classrooms where students' L2 proficiency has not reached the threshold level, teachers have been observed to use L1 to assist students in grasping specific technical terms and abstract concepts. It is argued to be a ‘realistic’ approach to the learning problems caused by students' limited L2 proficiency, particularly in English-as-a-foreign-language contexts. Nonetheless, researchers have also warranted ‘judicious’ and ‘principled’ use of L1 so that both content and language learning are facilitated. The question thus remains is whether teachers can use L1 appropriately to suit their students' needs. This study seeks to address this question. It includes data from 30 Grade 10 lessons in Hong Kong CLIL classrooms, where students' L2 proficiency varied considerably. Using both quantitative and qualitative analyses, this study shows that when teaching students with limited L2 proficiency, teachers used a significant proportion of L1 in lessons to explain the subject content, interact with students and develop students' L2 metalinguistic awareness. In contrast, with students highly proficient in L2, teachers used little L1, mainly to provide translation equivalents for L2 subject-specific vocabulary items. This study thus shows that teachers seemed to be sensitive when making use of students' existing linguistic repertoires.
Percutaneous thrombectomy with the RESCUE system in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STEMI) are associated with distal coronary embolisation. It may be speculated that percutaneous thrombectomy preceding stent implantation may prevent coronary microcirculation from embolisation. AIM To assess safety and efficacy of percutaneous thrombectomy in patients with STEMI. METHODS Seventy two patients with STEMI were randomised to PCI with stent implantation alone (n=32) or percutaneous thrombectomy with the RESCUE system, followed by stent implantation (n=40). Coronary flow in infarct related artery before and after the procedure was assessed using TIMI scale and corrected TIMI frame count - cTFC. Myocardial blood flow was measured using TIMI myocardial perfusion grade - tMPG. The degree of ST segment resolution 60 min after PCI was also assessed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured in hospital and three months later. RESULTS The two groups did not differ with respect to the time from the onset of symptoms to the procedure (236+/-162 min vs 258+/-198 min, NS) or the baseline TIMI, cTFC and tMPG values. An effective thrombectomy procedure was performed in 35 (87%) patients from group B. After the procedure, the number of patients with TIMI 3 grade as well as cTFC values and the proportion of patients with tMPG 3 were similar in both groups (86% vs 85%, NS; 19 vs 21, NS; and 38% vs 54%, NS). The sum of ST segment elevations after the procedure was significantly greater in patients who underwent PCI only compared with patients who had thrombectomy and PCI (6.8+/-5.2 mm vs 3.6+/-2.9 mm, p=0.004). Complete normalisation of ST segment was achieved in 68% of patients treated with thrombectomy and PCI compared with 25% of patients who had PCI only (p=0.005). CK-MB peak values occurred significantly earlier in patients treated with thrombectomy (92.1% vs 66.7% up to 360 min, p=0.01). After 3 months of follow-up, LVEF tended to be greater in patients treated with thrombectomy and PCI than in those who underwent PCI only (55.3+/-14.7% vs 60.3+/-9.2%, NS). CONCLUSIONS Thrombectomy with the RESCUE system in patients with STEMI is safe and effectively restores patency of infarct related artery. Thrombectomy better improves myocardial perfusion than standard PCI.
Accomplishing Water Strategy Policies in Hospitals: The Role of Management Information Systems and Managerial Styles

Hospitals are using more sophisticated and comprehensive management information systems to implement multiple strategic policies towards water cost saving and water quality enhancement. However, they do not always achieve the intended strategic goals. This paper analyzes how managerial styles interact with sophisticated management information systems to achieve different water strategic priorities. How proactive vs. reactive managerial styles moderate the effects of management information systems on water cost saving and water quality enhancement is analyzed. Relationships are explored using data collected from 122 general services directors in Spanish public hospitals. The findings show a positive effect of sophisticated management information systems on the achievement of water policies focused on cost saving and quality enhancement. Results also show a different moderated effect of managerial styles; thus, sophisticated management information systems with a proactive managerial style facilitate managers to achieve better water quality policies rather than water cost saving policies.
HOW PREPARED ARE SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONERS FOR BEGINNERS’ PRACTICE? REFLECTIONS OF NEWLY QUALIFIED BSW GRADUATES

The establishment of social work qualifications in South Africa emerged at a few universities from 1937 onwards (Earle, 2008; Nicholas, Rautenbach & Maistry, 2010; Potgieter, 1998). In accordance with Section 18A (1) of the Social Service Professions Act (No. 110 of 1978), up until 1987 a social worker required a three-year degree, after which a four-year qualification was required. At some institutions the introduction of a fourth year was included in the undergraduate programme, while others added the fourth year as a separate Honours qualification. This system allowed social workers to gain registration through a range of bachelor’s qualifications in the arts, social sciences or social work. At the time the need for a standardised qualification for all social workers to meet the requirements of practice settings became a growing concern to all the different stakeholders.
Effects of Ecballium elaterium on brain in a rat model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy

ABSTRACT Despite recent advances in antibiotic therapy, sepsis remains a major clinical challenge in intensive care units. Here we examined the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Ecballium elaterium (EE) on brain, and explored its therapeutic potential in an animal model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) [induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)]. Thirty rats were divided into three groups of 10 each: control, sepsis, and treatment. Rats were subjected to CLP except for the control group, which underwent laparatomy only. The treatment group received 2.5 mg/kg EE while the sepsis group was administered by saline. Twenty-four hours after laparotomy, animals were sacrificied and the brains were removed. Brain homogenates were prepared to assess interleukin 1beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS). Brain tissue sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to semi-quantitatively examine the histopathologic changes such as neuron degeneration, pericellular/perivascular edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in the cerebral cortex. We found a statistically significant reduction in brain tissue homogenate levels of TNF-α 59.5 ± 8.4/50.2 ± 6.2 (p = 0.007) and TOS 99.3 ± 16.9/82.3 ± 7.8 (p = 0.01) in rats treated with EE; although interleukin 6 levels were increased in the treatment group compared to the sepsis group, this was not statistically significant. Neuronal damage (p = 0.00), pericellular/perivascular edema and inflammatory cell infiltration (p = 0.001) were also significantly lower in the treatment group compared to those in the sepsis group. These data suggest that Ecballium elaterium contains some components that exert protective effects against SAE in part by attenuating accumulation of proinflammatory cytokines, which may be important contributors to its anti-inflammatory effects during sepsis.
Effects of Task-Focused Goals on Low-Achieving Students With and Without Learning Disabilities

We examined effects of a task-focused goals treatment (TFG) in mathematics on low-achieving students with and without disabilities. We randomly assigned 40 classrooms to (a) TFG (which incorporated self-referenced assessment feedback, SRAF), (b) SRAF, and (c) contrast (neither TFG nor SRAF). We measured student perceptions of TFG, the difficulty and variety of learning topics, mathematics learning, effort, and intrinsic motivation. TFG students reported enjoying and benefiting from TFG, chose more challenging and a greater variety of learning topics, and increased their effort differentially. Increased effort, however, was associated with greater learning only for low achievers in TFG without learning disabilities, and we found no effects on intrinsic motivation.
An Evaluation of the Field Experiences of the Innovative Model for the Preparation of Elementary Teachers for Science, Mathematics, and Technology

Schools have a major role in providing mathematics and science programs that stimulate interest and encourage students to participate in science, mathematics and technology. This study focuses on the field experience component of teacher education programs. In this article, the AA. focus on the effect of some field experiences on the development of self-efficacy in elementary preservice teachers' participation in a government-funded degree program for certification in elementary teaching of science, mathematics and technology
Maximum Simulated Likelihood Estimation of Random-Effects Dynamic Probit Models with Autocorrelated Errors

This paper investigates using maximum simulated likelihood (MSL) estimation for random-effects dynamic probit models with autocorrelated errors. It presents and illustrates a new Stata command, redpace, for this estimator. The paper also compares using pseudorandom numbers and Halton sequences of quasirandom numbers for MSL estimation of these models.
Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency as a risk factor for pterygium.

PURPOSE Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is an important site of metabolic control in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), providing reducing power (NADPH) and pentose phosphates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of G6PD deficiency (G6PD-) in the pathogenesis of pterygium. METHODS Erythrocyte G6PD activity was evaluated in 123 pterygium patients and in 112 age-matched control patients. Enzyme activity, mRNA, rate of growth, green autofluorescence, response to oxidative stress, and cholesterol metabolism were determined in pterygium fibroblasts (PFs) and in normal conjunctival fibroblasts (NCFs) isolated from G6PD normal (NCFs+ and PFs+) and G6PD- (NCFs- and PFs-) patients. RESULTS Higher prevalence of G6PD- was found in patients affected by primary pterygium than in control subjects, both men and women, suggesting that this enzymatic defect may be a predisposing factor for pterygium. G6PD activity was significantly lower in NCFs- than in NCFs+, but not in PFs- than in PFs+. In PFs-, G6PD mRNA levels were significantly higher than in PFs+. Growth-stimulated NCFs- grew at half the rate of NCFs+, although PFs- and PFs+ grew at the same rate. Increased green autofluorescence and susceptibility to oxidative stress were observed in PFs (+/-) and in NCFs-, but not in NCFs+. Moreover, ex vivo PFs (+/-) accumulated more lipids than corresponding NCFs. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study, although restricted to a limited group of subjects (i.e., those of Sardinian ancestry), suggest that G6PD- not only does not protect against pterygium, but may even be considered a risk factor for the development of this disorder.
The Impact of Performance Feedback on Counseling Self‐Efficacy and Counselor Anxiety

Based on the Social Cognitive Model of Counselor Training (L. M. Larson, 1998), this study explored the effects of bogus performance feedback on counseling self-efficacy and counselor anxiety. After a 10-minute mock counseling session, 45 master's-level trainees received either positive or negative bogus feedback regarding their performance. Results showed that (a) participants altered their counseling self-efficacy depending on the performance feedback they received, and (b) participants reported changes in anxiety following performance feedback.
Elementary School Teachers' Familiarity, Conceptual Knowledge, and Interest in Light

This study explored elementary school teachers' familiarity, conceptual knowledge, and interest in learning more about light and its related concepts. This study also sought to establish the relationship between elementary school teachers' familiarity, conceptual knowledge, and interest in learning light concepts. Sixty-six lower and upper elementary school teachers in Midwest of the USA participated in this study. Data were collected using 3 instruments namely Familiarity with Light Concepts Questionnaire, Conceptual Knowledge of Light Test, and Interest in Learning about Light Concepts Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical tests. Most teachers expressed high levels of familiarity with light concepts surveyed. The upper elementary grade teachers expressed more familiarity with advanced light concepts than lower elementary grade teachers. However, most teachers exhibited low conceptual knowledge of light concepts. There was no significant difference in conceptual knowledge of light concepts between lower and upper elementary grade teachers, and between more experienced and less experienced teachers. As such, teachers' self-reported familiarity with light concepts was not consistent with their actual knowledge of the concepts. However, most teachers expressed high interest in learning more about the light concepts. Thus, teachers showed willingness to learn more about light concepts they did not understand. These findings have implications on teacher education, and science teaching and learning.