Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disciplining Women? Rice, Mechanization, and the Evolution of Mandinka Gender Relations in Senegambia

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Center for Research on Economic Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, which partially supported the 1983-84 field research in The Gambia; the Institute of International Studies of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Ford Foundation for Watts's research in 1985; and the Institute for Development Anthropology, which provided critical follow-up support for Carey's 1987 fieldwork. The following individuals also provided invaluable assistance while working in The Gambia and in preparing this essay: Oussainou Baldeh, Sara Berry, Michael Burawoy, Chris Elias, David Gamble, Gillian Hart, Lucy Jarosz, Ivan Karp, Peter Little, Julia Morris, Pauline Peters, Modi Sanneh, and John Sutter.
A Report on Shape Deformation with a Stretching and Bending Energy

In this report we describe a mesh editing system that we implemented that uses a natural stretching and bending energy defined over smooth surfaces. As such, this energy behaves uniformly under various mesh resolutions. All of the elements of our approach already exist in the literature. We hope that our discussions of these energies helps to shed light on the behaviors of these methods and provides a unified discussion of these methods.
Structure and evolution of the Ivy protein family, unexpected lysozyme inhibitors in Gram-negative bacteria

Part of an ancestral bactericidal system, vertebrate C-type lysozyme targets the peptidoglycan moiety of bacterial cell walls. We report the crystal structure of a protein inhibitor of C-type lysozyme, the Escherichia coli Ivy protein, alone and in complex with hen egg white lysozyme. Ivy exhibits a novel fold in which a protruding five-residue loop appears essential to its inhibitory effect. This feature guided the identification of Ivy orthologues in other Gram-negative bacteria. The structure of the evolutionary distant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Ivy orthologue was also determined in complex with hen egg white lysozyme, and its antilysozyme activity was confirmed. Ivy expression protects porous cell-wall E. coli mutants from the lytic effect of lysozyme, suggesting that it is a response against the permeabilizing effects of the innate vertebrate immune system. As such, Ivy acts as a virulence factor for a number of Gram-negative bacteria-infecting vertebrates.
Categorising the Imagination in the Age of Standards-based Reforms: Teaching, Learning and Culture in the English Classroom

In this essay I explore the tensions between the static nature of standardised assessment and the dynamic student-focussed approach to appreciating literature that I value. I have closely analysed two of a series of lessons on the gothic literary genre taught by a student teacher on her first placement. By reflecting critically on my own journey as a teacher and by drawing on the recent debate surrounding the inculcation of genre theory in the curriculum, this essay aims to explore the way that such standard-based reforms can shape and mould the topic.
The development of polypharmacy. A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND To date, only a few studies have been carried out on the development and progress of polypharmacy in relation to morbidity in general practices in The Netherlands. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between an increase in long-term drug use and the incidence and severity of some chronic diseases, particularly in the elderly. METHODS Data on medication and morbidity of 1544 elderly people were collected for the period 1994-1997 from three family practices in the medication and morbidity Registration Network of Groningen (RNG) in the northern part of The Netherlands. Polypharmacy is defined as the long-term simultaneous use of two or more drugs; long-term is defined as >240 days in a year. We looked for differences in incidences of some chronic diseases in those subgroups of the elderly in whom multiple long-term drug use respectively increased, stayed constant or did not exist. Polypharmacy at the end of the period was predicted using regression analysis. RESULTS Polypharmacy occurred in 42% of the elderly at the end of 1997, with major polypharmacy (>5 drugs) in only 4%. The average number of drugs used long-term increased from 1.3 to 1.8 in 4 years. Predictors for the increase of polypharmacy were the number of drugs at the start, age, diabetes, coronary ischaemic diseases and use of medication without a clear indication (P < 0.005). The average number of diseases also increased, especially in the elderly who showed the greatest increase in long-term drug use; however, there was no significant difference from the groups with a slow or no increase in drug use. DISCUSSION Polypharmacy showed a slow increase over 4 years: almost 20% of the elderly developed polypharmacy, i.e. going from no drugs or one drug to two or more drugs. Polypharmacy develops mainly in elderly patients who already use several drugs, who are known to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or stomach symptoms, those who often take drugs (especially sedatives/hypnotics) without clear indication and those who develop hypertension or atrial fibrillation over time.
RIPPLES ON MARS FORMED BY FLOWING BRINES ?

The discovery in 2004 by Mars exploration rover Opportunity of sedimentary rocks with centimeter-scale trough cross-bedding is one of the compelling lines of evidence for flowing water on the Martian surface. The rocks contain a significant evaporite component mixed with weathered mafic silicates, suggesting that the aqueous fluid in contact with the sediments must have been of very high ionic strength because dissolution features are not observed. Recent thermodynamic modeling indicates that these brines could have had higher densities (by up to a factor of 1.3) and significantly higher viscosities (by up to a factor of 40) than pure water. Because fluid density and viscosity can significantly affect sediment transport mechanics, herein we analyze whether ripples could have been stable bed forms under flowing Martian brines. To this end, we compiled bed form stability diagrams with an emphasis on those studies that have considered high-viscosity fluids. For the case of viscous Martian brines, we find that ripples are stable under modest Shields numbers and low particle Reynolds numbers. These conditions translate into sediment sizes ranging from sand to gravel, and they are substantially coarser than sediment sizes for equivalent ripple-forming flows in freshwater. It is likely that ripples might also form in silt sizes under viscous brines, but these conditions (i.e., particle Reynolds numbers , 0.1) have not yet been explored in flume experiments, motivating future work. Using flow-resistance equations and assuming steady uniform flow, we calculate that Marian brines must have had flow depths ranging from 0.01 to 1 m and flow velocities of 0.01 to 1 m/s, and been driven by gravity on slopes of 10 4 to 10 2 in order to generate the bed stresses necessary to produce ripples. These conditions seem reasonable given the interdune environment that has been proposed for the Burns formation. In addition to the potential for ripples in much coarser sediments, ripples formed by viscous brines also might be larger in height and wavelength than their freshwater counterparts by as much as a factor of 12. Thus, large (.10 cm heights) and fine-grained (,1 mm particle diameter) cross strata would be compelling physical evidence for flowing brines in the Martian past, provided that independent evidence could be provided for a subaqueous (i.e., not eolian) origin of the cross-stratification. Smaller centimeter-scale ripples can also be formed by brines due to flow-depth limitations or lower-viscosity fluids, and therefore the physical sedimentological evidence in support of brines versus freshwater flows may be ambiguous in these cases.
Clinical Significance of Serum Interleukin-31 and Interleukin-33 Levels in Patients of Endometrial Cancer: A Case Control Study

Aims. Previous evidence has proved that interleukin-31 (IL-31) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) can be potential markers in some cancers' formulation. We aimed to determine the potential role of IL-31 and IL-33 in prognosis of endometrial cancer patients. Methods. Serum samples were collected from 160 patients with endometrial cancer and 160 healthy controls. The ELISA kits (Raybio® Systems) specific for human IL-31 and human IL-33 were used. Serum levels of tumor markers (CEA, CA-125, and CA19-9) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. A two-side P value < 0.05 was indicated to be significant. Results. Serum levels of IL-31 and IL-33 in patients were significantly elevated compared to those of healthy controls. The interleukin levels were also related to clinical characteristics, including tumor stages, depth of invasion, and existence of node metastases and distant metastases. The sensitivity and specificity of IL-31 and IL-33 were higher than the counterparts of tumor markers, both separately and in combination of IL-31, IL-33, and the clinical markers. Conclusions. This report is the first one mentioning the possible association between serum IL-31 and IL-33 and endometrial cancer. With their sensitivity and specificity, the interleukins may be useful biomarkers for endometrial cancer's prognosis.
Teacher Conceptions of History Revisited: Ideology, Curriculum, and Student Belief

Abstract The central purpose of this exploratory investigation is to describe and analyze the teaching of history in five classrooms, each representing one of five typologies developed earlier, the storyteller, scientific historian, relativist/reformer, cosmic philosopher, and eclectic (Evans, 1989b). The study focuses on the effects of each teacher's conceptions of history on the transmitted curriculum and on student beliefs. Data collection included interviews with teachers, in-depth observation, and interviews with students. Results suggest that the impact of teacher conceptions vary considerably, that the teaching of history has little impact on student belief in four of the classrooms, and a profound impact in one, and that approaches to the teaching of history are linked, implicitly, to competing ideological orientations.
Challenges in recruitment of research participants

There are many potential pitfalls in the identification and enlistment of suitable candidates for psychiatric research. The challenges of recruitment are highlighted, detailing impact of study design, characteristics of participants, including demographics and personal preferences, investigator characteristics and collaboration with clinicians. Techniques used in recruitment are discussed, including financial incentives, assertive tracking and communication methods. Ethical issues, methods of data collection, and control participants are also considered. Key issues are: early consideration of the impact of study design on the recruitment process; the participant’s perspective; close collaboration with colleagues; the investigator’s good interpersonal, communication and organisational skills; and feedback to collaborators, associated clinicians and participants.
Proliferation-independent regulation of organ size by Fgf/Notch signaling

Organ morphogenesis depends on the precise orchestration of cell migration, cell shape changes and cell adhesion. We demonstrate that Notch signaling is an integral part of the Wnt and Fgf signaling feedback loop coordinating cell migration and the self-organization of rosette-shaped sensory organs in the zebrafish lateral line system. We show that Notch signaling acts downstream of Fgf signaling to not only inhibit hair cell differentiation but also to induce and maintain stable epithelial rosettes. Ectopic Notch expression causes a significant increase in organ size independently of proliferation and the Hippo pathway. Transplantation and RNASeq analyses revealed that Notch signaling induces apical junctional complex genes that regulate cell adhesion and apical constriction. Our analysis also demonstrates that in the absence of patterning cues normally provided by a Wnt/Fgf signaling system, rosettes still self-organize in the presence of Notch signaling. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.21049. 001
Social Cognitive Theory and the Career Development of African American Women

No comprehensive model of the career development of racial and ethnic minorities has yet been developed; even less attention has been devoted to models of the career development of racial and ethnic minority women. One of the more promising career theories that may prove satisfactory in accounting for ethnicity in career development is Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory (Lent & Brown, 1996; Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994). In this article, the authors selectively review the literature on African American women's career development to clarify how social cognitive mechanisms may be operating. The primary focus of this conceptual analysis is on the central elements of social cognitive theory, namely, self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Implications for counseling are presented.
Trichloroethylene Cancer Epidemiology: A Consideration of Select Issues

A large body of epidemiologic evidence exists for exploring causal associations between cancer and trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2001 draft TCE health risk assessment concluded that epidemiologic studies, on the whole, support associations between TCE exposure and excess risk of kidney cancer, liver cancer, and lymphomas, and, to a lesser extent, cervical cancer and prostate cancer. As part of a mini-monograph on key issues in the health risk assessment of TCE, this article reviews recently published scientific literature examining cancer and TCE exposure and identifies four issues that are key to interpreting the larger body of epidemiologic evidence: a) relative sensitivity of cancer incidence and mortality data; b) different classifications of lymphomas, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma; c) differences in data and methods for assigning TCE exposure status; and d) different methods employed for causal inferences, including statistical or meta-analysis approaches. The recent epidemiologic studies substantially expand the epidemiologic database, with seven new studies available on kidney cancer and somewhat fewer studies available that examine possible associations at other sites. Overall, recently published studies appear to provide further support for the kidney, liver, and lymphatic systems as targets of TCE toxicity, suggesting, as do previous studies, modestly elevated (typically 1.5–2.0) site-specific relative risks, given exposure conditions in these studies. However, a number of challenging issues need to be considered before drawing causal conclusions about TCE exposure and cancer from these data.
Effects of an Immunosuppressive Treatment in the GRMD Dog Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The GRMD (Golden retriever muscular dystrophy) dog has been widely used in pre-clinical trials targeting DMD (Duchenne muscular dystrophy), using in many cases a concurrent immune-suppressive treatment. The aim of this study is to assess if such a treatment could have an effect on the disease course of these animals. Seven GRMD dogs were treated with an association of cyclosporine A (immunosuppressive dosage) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg/d) during 7 months, from 2 to 9 months of age. A multi-parametric evaluation was performed during this period which allowed us to demonstrate that this treatment had several significant effects on the disease progression. The gait quality as assessed by 3D-accelerometry was dramatically improved. This was consistent with the evolution of other parameters towards a significant improvement, such as the clinical motor score, the post-tetanic relaxation and the serum CK levels. In contrast the isometric force measurement as well as the histological evaluation argued in favor of a more severe disease progression. In view of the disease modifying effects which have been observed in this study it should be concluded that immunosuppressive treatments should be used with caution when carrying out pre-clinical studies in this canine model of DMD. They also highlight the importance of using a large range of multi-parametric evaluation tools to reliably draw any conclusion from trials involving dystrophin-deficient dogs, which reproduce the complexity of the human disease.
Good Policy or Good Luck? Country Growth Performance and Temporary Shocks

Much of the new growth literature stresses country characteristics, such as education levels or political stability, as the dominant determinant of growth. However, growth rates are highly unstable over time, with a correlation across decades of . 1 to . 3, while country characteristics are stable, with cross-decade correlations of . 6 to . 9. Shocks, especially those to terms of trade, play a large role in explaining variance in growth. These findings suggest either that shocks are important relative to country characteristics in determining long-run growth, or that worldwide technological change determines long-run growth while country characteristics determine relative income levels.
Multipoint room response equalization with group delay compensation: Subjective listening tests

In a recent paper, a multipoint mixed-phase room response (RR) equalization system, integrating a minimum-phase multiple position room amplitude equalizer and a FIR group delay equalizer, was proposed. In this RR equalization system, both the room amplitude equalizer and the group delay equalizer are designed in the frequency domain with a simple and computationally efficient but also effective and robust technique. By means of experiments performed on impulse responses acquired in real environments, it was shown that the mixed-phase equalizer is capable of improving the Clarity index in listening positions without introducing artifacts. In this paper, the results of a listening test session using the aforementioned mixed phase equalizer will be discussed. The tests show good results of the algorithm also considering a subjective judgment on the overall audio quality for a set of different tracks.
An excess of breast cancer among young California-born Asian women.

OBJECTIVE To compare breast cancer risk among young Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women to White women, all of whom were born in California during the 1960s. DESIGN We used previously-collected data from a population-based case-control study in which breast cancer cases were linked to their California birth records. SETTING California, US. PARTICIPANTS Invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed 1988-2004 among women aged < 45 were identified from the population-based California Cancer Registry. Breast cancer cases (n = 3,799) were linked to their California birth records. Controls (n = 17,461) were randomly selected from California birth records for females, frequency matched to cases by birth year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS Among young women born in California, API women had higher risks of breast cancer than Whites (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.35-1.94). Among APIs, the risks were highest for women of Filipina (OR = 1.72, 95% Cl: 1.15-2.56) and Japanese ancestry (OR = 1.59, 95% Cl 1.20-2.10). CONCLUSIONS Our finding of breast cancer risk among young API women who were born in California that exceeds that of young White women highlights the need for further evaluations of breast cancer risk among young API women and underscores the need to consider both ancestry and migration status in such evaluations.
Criteria-Based Content Analysis: A Qualitative Review of the First 37 Studies.

Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) is used to assess the veracity of child witnesses’ testimony in trials for sexual offences. The author reviewed the available SVA research. Issues addressed include the accuracy of Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA; part of SVA), interrater agreement between CBCA coders, frequency of occurrence of CBCA criteria in statements, the correlations between CBCA scores and (i) interviewer’s style and (ii) interviewee’s age and social and verbal skills, and issues regarding the Validity Checklist (another part of SVA). Implications for the use of SVA assessments in criminal courts are discussed. It is argued that SVA evaluations are not accurate enough to be admitted as expert scientiﬁc evidence in criminal courts but might be useful in police investigations.
Locus of the Context Effect in Children's Word Recognition.

SCHWANTES, FREDERICK M. Locus of the Context Effect in Children's Word Recognition. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1981, 52, 895-903. 2 experiments were conducted to examine those differences in word-recognition processes between third-grade and college students which are specifically related to the children's relatively greater use of context in facilitating word-recognition speed. In experiment 1, a lexical decision task was presented under 2 conditions of target word visual clarity. It was found that developmental differences in magnitude of the context effect were greater under the clear as compared to the degraded target word condition. These results were interpreted in terms of an interactive compensatory model of reading and indicated that children's greater reliance on context is directly related to their slower visual encoding processes. In experiment 2, performance was compared in a lexical versus a rhyming decision task. Task differences in decision speed in the no-context condition were smaller for children than for adults. These results suggested that children make more predominant use of phonological recoding to obtain lexical access than do adults. However, there was no evidence that developmental differences in context use were related to this differential use of the indirect pathway.
Racial Disparities in End-of-Life Communication and Preferences among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background: Previous studies on end-of-life (EOL) care among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been largely limited to White hemodialysis patients. In this study, we sought to explore racial variability in EOL communication, care preferences and advance care planning (ACP) among patients with advanced CKD prior to decisions regarding the initiation of dialysis. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study between 2013 and 2015 of Black and White patients with stage IV or V CKD (per the Modified Diet in Renal Disease estimation of GFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2) from 2 academic centers in Boston. We assessed experiences with EOL communication, ACP, EOL care preferences, hospice knowledge, spiritual/religious and cultural beliefs, and distrust of providers. Results: Among 152 participants, 41% were Black. Black patients were younger, had less education, and lower income than White patients (all p < 0.01). Black patients also had less knowledge of hospice compared to White patients (17 vs. 61%, p < 0.01). A small fraction of patients (8%) reported having EOL discussions with their nephrologists and the majority had no advance directives. In multivariable analyses, Blacks were more likely to have not communicated EOL preferences (adjusted OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.08-6.76) and more likely to prefer life-extending treatments (adjusted OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.23-7.60) versus Whites. Conclusions: As Black and White patients with advanced CKD differ in areas of EOL communication, preferences, and hospice knowledge, future efforts should aim to improve patient understanding and promote informed decision-making.