Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Australian Chinese parents’ language attitudes and practices relating to their children’s bilingual development prior to school

This article reports on a deep investigation of five Australian Chinese families regarding their preschool-aged children’s bilingual experiences and development. Each family was visited 3 to 5 times by the first author. The mothers were interviewed about their attitudes toward their child’s bilingualism and their practices to promote it. A detailed observation lasting 4 to 5 hours was undertaken of each family to record the interaction between parents and children. The findings suggest that Chinese parents have positive attitudes toward bilingualism for pragmatic reasons, such as future career success and ease of communication with family members. Yet they also expressed concern that their child’s development of the home language would have a negative effect on their child’s English language development. Observations demonstrated that parents’ interactions with their children were frequently playful and informal, and English language was frequently used. Many of the materials parents provided to support their child’s home language, such as picture books and DVDs, were actually rooted in English culture. These findings suggest there is room for Chinese parents to increase their awareness of bilingual development in children, including the relationship between first and second language development and strategies for facilitating their children’s learning.
The spatial structure of monthly temperature anomalies over Australia

The use of conventional surface temperature data for the monitoring of climate variability and change presents a major challenge. Meaningful analysis is only possible with consistent station records spanning many years, and networks which are sufficiently dense to sample the variability of interest (Karl et al. 1994; Weber and Madden 1995). In reality, the conventional networks are generally sparse and irregular, while few long-term staAust. Met. Mag. 49 (2000) 261-276
Neuronal expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase after oxygen and glucose deprivation in rat forebrain slices

Nitric oxide (NO) overproduction has been postulated to contribute significantly to ischaemia‐reperfusion neurotoxicity. Inducible or type II NO synthase (iNOS) synthesizes NO in large quantities for long periods of time. Therefore we investigated the expression and localization of iNOS after oxygen and glucose deprivation in rat forebrain slices. In this experimental model, calcium‐independent NOS activity reached a maximum 180 min after the end of a 20 min oxygen–glucose deprivation period. During the same period of time, the calcium‐independent activity was absent in control forebrain slices. To test whether this calcium‐independent NOS activity was due to the expression of iNOS, the effects of the addition of dexamethasone, cycloheximide and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate were determined. All of them inhibited the induction of the calcium‐independent NOS activity measured in the rat forebrain slices after oxygen and glucose deprivation. Furthermore, oxygen and glucose deprivation caused the expression of the gene encoding iNOS in rat forebrain slices, as assessed by the detection of iNOS message and protein in these samples. A sixfold increase in the iNOS mRNA levels was observed at 180 min and the time‐course of the expression of iNOS mRNA was in agreement with the temporal profile of iNOS enzymatic activity. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that iNOS was highly expressed in neurones, astrocytes and microglial cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that iNOS is expressed in neurones after oxygen and glucose deprivation, and that this expression occurs in short periods of time. These findings suggest that NO can play an important pathogenic role in the tissue damage that occurs after cerebral ischaemia.
Probabilistic Models for Local Patterns Analysis

Recently, many large organizations have multiple data sources (MDS’) distributed over different branches of an interstate company. Local patterns analysis has become an effective strategy for MDS mining in national and international organizations. It consists of mining different datasets in order to obtain frequent patterns, which are forwarded to a centralized place for global pattern analysis. Various synthesizing models [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,26] have been proposed to build global patterns from the forwarded patterns. It is desired that the synthesized rules from such forwarded patterns must closely match with the mono-mining results (i.e., the results that would be obtained if all of the databases are put together and mining has been done). When the pattern is present in the site, but fails to satisfy the minimum support threshold value, it is not allowed to take part in the pattern synthesizing process. Therefore, this process can lose some interesting patterns, which can help the decider to make the right decision. In such situations we propose the application of a probabilistic model in the synthesizing process. An adequate choice for a probabilistic model can improve the quality of patterns that have been discovered. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive study on various probabilistic models that can be applied in the synthesizing process and we choose and improve one of them that works to ameliorate the synthesizing results. Finally, some experiments are presented in public database in order to improve the efficiency of our proposed synthesizing method. Keywords—Global Pattern, Maximum Entropy Method, Non-derivable Itemset, Itemset Inclusion-exclusion Model
Multinational Firms, FDI Flows and Imperfect Capital Markets

This paper examines how costly financial contracting and weak investor protection influence the cross-border operational, financing and investment decisions of firms. We develop a model in which product developers have a comparative advantage in monitoring the deployment of their technology abroad. The paper demonstrates that when firms want to exploit technologies abroad, multinational firm (MNC) activity and foreign direct investment (FDI) flows arise endogenously when monitoring is nonverifiable and financial frictions exist. The mechanism generating MNC activity is not the risk of technological expropriation by local partners but the demands of external funders who require MNC participation to ensure value maximization by local entrepreneurs. The model demonstrates that weak investor protections limit the scale of multinational firm activity, increase the reliance on FDI flows and alter the decision to deploy technology through FDI as opposed to arm's length licensing. Several distinctive predictions for the impact of weak investor protection on MNC activity and FDI flows are tested and confirmed using firm-level data.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR (bFGF), EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR (EGF), INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1 (IGF-1), INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR BINDING PROTEIN-3 (IGFBP-3), CORTISOL, AND MELATONIN IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

Background: Circadian rhythms in plasma concentrations of many hormones and cytokines determine their effects on target cells. Methods: Circadian variations were studied in cortisol, melatonin, cytokines (basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF], EGF, insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]), and a cytokine receptor (insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 [IGFBP-3]) in the plasma of 28 patients with metastatic breast cancer. All patients followed a diurnal activity pattern. Blood was drawn at 3h intervals during waking hours and once during the night, at 03:00. The plasma levels obtained by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA) were evaluated by population mean cosinor (using local midnight as the phase reference and by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Cortisol and melatonin showed a high-amplitude circadian rhythm and a superimposed 12h frequency. bFGF showed a circadian rhythm with an acrophase around 13:00 with a peak-to-trough interval (double amplitude) of 18.2% and a superimposed 12h frequency. EGF showed a circadian rhythm with an acrophase around 14:20, a peak-to-trough interval of 25.8%, and a superimposed 12h frequency. IGF-1 showed a high value in the morning, which is statistically different t test) from the low value at 10:00, but a regular circadian or ultradian rhythm was not recognizable as a group phenomenon. IGFBP-3 showed a low-amplitude (peak-to-trough difference 8.4%) circadian rhythm with the acrophase around 11:00 and low values during the night. Conclusions: (1) Circadian periodicity is maintained in hospitalized patients with metastatic breast cancer. (2) Ultradian (12h) variations were superimposed on the circadian rhythms of the hormones and several of the cytokines measured. (3) Studies of hormones and cytokines in cancer patients have to take their biologic rhythms into consideration. (4) The circadian periodicity of tumor growth stimulating or restraining factors raises questions about circadian and/ or ultradian variations in the pathophysiology of breast cancer. (Chronobiology International, 18(4), 709–727)
The effect of cycle stage and plasma progesterone level on the induction of multiple ovulations in heifers.

The effect of the administration of progesterone during the early and midluteal phases of the estrous cycle on the ovarian response to pregnant mares serum gonadotropin (PMSG) was studied in heifers. The animals were injected with 2000 IU PMSG on either Day 3 (Group 1) of the cycle or Day 10 (Group 2). Concomitant administration of progesterone significantly (p less than .01) increased plasma levels of progesteorne in Group 1 but not Group 2 even though mean values were higher in the latter group. The ovulation rate was significantly (p less than .01) higher in Group 2 than Group 1 though progesterone did not affect the rate in either group. No significant correlation between plasma progesterone levels and the ovulation rate could be established. The follicular response and the total ovarian response were not affected by the day of the cycle on which PMSG was administered. It is concluded that the type of follicle population in the ovary at any given time is more likely to affect the ovulation response to gonadotropin than the number of follicles.
Human papillomavirus infection and time to progression and regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the duration of precancerous cervical lesions in relation to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. We estimated rates of progression and regression and sojourn times of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) according to HPV status. METHODS We used data from a longitudinal study of HPV infection and cervical neoplasia in São Paulo, Brazil. Cervical specimens were taken from 2404 women for Pap cytology and polymerase chain reaction-based HPV testing every 4-6 months over a period of 8 years. We used actuarial and non-actuarial analyses to measure time to and rates of lesion progression and regression according to status and type of HPV infection. RESULTS During follow-up, 118 low-grade SIL (LSIL), 24 high-grade SIL (HSIL), and 173 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) events were detected. Mean time to progression from ASCUS to LSIL or worse and from LSIL to HSIL or worse was shorter in women with oncogenic HPV types than in women with no HPV infection (mean times for ASCUS progression were 67.0 and 88.0 months, respectively, in women with oncogenic HPV and no HPV, difference = 21.0 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.3 to 30.7 months; mean times for LSIL progression were 73.3 and 83.5 months, respectively, difference = 10.2 months, 95% CI = -0.15 to 20.6 months). Half of the LSILs regressed to normal or ASCUS within 6 months. Mean times for regression from ASCUS to normal, from LSIL to ASCUS or normal, and from HSIL/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 to ASCUS or normal were longer for women with oncogenic HPV types (16.8 months, 95% CI = 7.5 to 26.2 months; 13.8 months, 95% CI = 8.8 to 18.7 months; and 17.1 months, 95% CI = 4.1 to 30.1 months, respectively) than for women with non-oncogenic HPV types (7.7 months, 95% CI = 5.2 to 10.2 months; 7.8 months, 95% CI = 5.3 to 10.2 months; 8.9 months, 95% CI = 3.3 to 14.6 months) or for women with no HPV infection (7.6 months, 95% CI = 6.9 to 8.4 months; 7.6 months, 95% CI = 6.4 to 8.7 months; and 7.0 months, 95% CI = 5.0 to 8.9 months, respectively). CONCLUSION Precursor lesions of the cervix persist longer and progress more quickly in women with oncogenic HPV infections than in women with non-oncogenic infections or without HPV. Testing cervical lesions for oncogenic HPVs may help identify those that are likely to progress rapidly.
Antiviral Action of Hydromethanolic Extract of Geopropolis from Scaptotrigona postica against Antiherpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1)

The studies on chemical composition and biological activity of propolis had focused mainly on species Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). There are few studies about the uncommon propolis collected by stingless bees of the Meliponini tribe known as geopropolis. The geopropolis from Scaptotrigona postica was collected in the region of Barra do Corda, Maranhão state, Brazil. The chemical analysis of hydromethanolic extract of this geopropolis (HMG) was carried out through HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and the main constituents found were pyrrolizidine alkaloids and C-glycosyl flavones. The presence of alkaloids in extracts of propolis is detected for the first time in this sample. The antiviral activity of HMG was evaluated through viral DNA quantification experiments and electron microscopy experiments. Quantification of viral DNA from herpes virus showed reduction of about 98% in all conditions and concentration tested of the HMG extract. The results obtained were corroborated by transmission electron microscopy, in which the images did not show particle or viral replication complex. The antiviral activity of C-glycosyl flavones was reported for a variety of viruses, being observed at different points in the viral replication. This work is the first report about the antiviral activity of geopropolis from Scaptotrigona postica, in vitro, against antiherpes simplex virus (HSV).
Interpreting Equivocal Signals: Market Reaction to Specific-Purpose Poison Pill Adoption

Signaling theory suggests that firms send signals to stakeholders to reduce information asymmetry. Research, however, has rarely examined how investors interpret signals that are equivocal. We suggest that sensemaking serves as an important process by which investors interpret firm signals, and salient contextual cues influence the sensemaking process. We examine an equivocal signal, the adoption of a poison pill, as a means of examining investor interpretation of the signal and the role of contextual cues in influencing interpretation. Using a sample of 578 poison pill adoptions and controlling for self-selection, we find that investors react negatively to poison pills adopted to protect net operating losses (NOL poison pills) but positively to poison pills adopted when the firm is in receipt of a takeover offer (in-play poison pills). Assessing the role of contextual cues, our results suggest that CEO duality, the proportion of inside directors on the firm’s board, the firm’s R&D investments, and industry concentration also condition investor response to specific-purpose poison pill adoption. Our study contributes to research on signaling theory, sensemaking, and corporate governance by examining how investors interpret a firm’s equivocal governance decisions.
Challenging the Dichotomy Between “Urban” and “Suburban” in Educational Discourse and Policy

Abstract This article builds a case for nuanced conceptualizations of “urban” and “-suburban” educational contexts and issues. The author analyzes data across two studies—one of upper-middle-class White parents with children in Chicago public schools, and the other of Black low-income and working-class parents who moved from Chicago to a Wisconsin suburb. The findings suggest that monolithic framings of urban and suburban educational issues and populations can mask patterns of inequality within and across particular locales.
Comparative anatomical study of the autonomic cardiac nervous system in macaque monkeys

The main aim of this study was to clarify the general morphology of the autonomic cardiac nervous system in macaque monkeys. A submacroscopic comparative anatomical study of the autonomic cardiac nervous system was performed by examining 22 sides of 11 bodies of four species of macaque monkeys, including some previously unreported species (pig‐tailed and stump‐tailed monkeys), under a surgical stereomicroscope. The following results were obtained. 1) The basic arrangement of the autonomic cardiac nervous system is constant in all examined macaques. 2) A superior cardiac nerve originating from the superior cervical ganglion was not observed, whereas the thoracic cardiac nerve originating from the sympathetic trunk/ganglia under the cervicothoracic ganglion was rarely observed in all the examined macaques. 3) The main cardiac nerve is the middle cardiac nerve originating from the middle cervical ganglion, similar to the situation in humans. 4) Although the superior, inferior, and thoracic cardiac branches of the vagus nerve were consistently observed, the left thoracic cardiac branch is rarely absent because of its lower origin to the heart. 5) The cranial autonomic nerves tend to distribute into the heart medially (arterial porta), and the caudal autonomic nerves tend to distribute into the heart laterally (venous porta). To comprehend the comparative morphological and evolutionary changes more completely, these results were compared with our previous studies and some references. Consequently, differences in the sympathetic cardiac nerves of macaques and humans are recognized, in spite of the similar morphologies of the vagal cardiac branches. These differences include the composition of the cervicothoracic ganglion, the lower positions of the middle cervical and cervicothoracic ganglia, and the narrow range for the origin of the cardiac nerves in macaques compared to that in humans. J. Morphol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[The role of smoking as a risk factor in inflammatory bowel diseases: single center study in Korea].

BACKGROUND/AIMS Cigarette smoking is the most significant environmental factor identified in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Smoking has a beneficial effect on ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. In contrast, Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with smoking, and a detrimental effect of smoking on the course of CD has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence in smoking in CD and UC at the time of diagnosis compared with the general population in a single center study. METHODS Prevalence of smoking at the time of IBD diagnosis were compared between CD and UC patients in Kyung-Hee Medical Center with healthy general population at age-, gender-, and time period-adjusted rates. We investigated the smoking status of IBD patients at the time of diagnosis by telephone interview. There were 178 IBD patients (98 UC patients and 80 CD patients) between January 1995 and December 2004. RESULTS The male to female ratio in CD and UC were 2:1 and 1:1.4, respectively. The onset of age was 28.2 years and 38.8 years, respectively. The prevalence of smoking was significantly lower in CD and UC patients than in the general population (CD; odds ratio 0.21, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.41, p<0.001, UC; odds ratio 0.06, 95% confidence interval 0.03-0.14, p<0.001). After statistical adjustment for gender and age at the diagnosis of IBD, the odds ratio of a current smoker diagnosed as UC was 73% lower than that of CD (adjusted odds ratio 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.59, p<0.001). In contrast, being a former smoker showed a risk of approximate 1.27-fold higher likelihood of having UC diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio 1.27, confidence interval 0.41-3.95, p=0.68). CONCLUSIONS Cigarette smoking is protective against developing UC at any age, but is not associated with the development of CD in Korean population. Former smoking is not the high risk factor in developing UC.
Addicted to the Thrill of the Virtual Hunt: Examining the Effects of Internet Addiction on the Cyberstalking Behaviors of Juveniles

ABSTRACT The rapid advancement of technology has produced several substantial benefits that enrich individuals’ lives, but some also note that technology has provided new methods to engage in crime—particularly stalking. This investigation was one of the first to explore whether a relationship existed between cyberstalking and a new phenomenon becoming a pressing issue in the lives of adolescents: Internet Addiction. High school students in a rural North Carolina country were surveyed about their Internet behaviors and experiences. After analysis, the results indicated there is a significant relationship between Internet Addiction and cyberstalking in adolescents.
Positional Venous MR Angiography: An Operator-Independent Tool to Evaluate Cerebral Venous Outflow Hemodynamics

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CCSVI has been proposed as a cause for MS. According to this theory, strictures of the IJV are among the described causes for CCSVI. Little is known about their influence on the hemodynamics of the CVBO. We used positional MR imaging to describe the influence of positional changes on the CVBO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the Fonar Upright MR imaging system, we performed venous time-of-flight angiography of the cervical region in the supine and sitting positions in 15 healthy volunteers. The image quality was rated; the positional findings and interindividual variances in the CVBO were analyzed. RESULTS: A venous time-of-flight angiography of the cervical spine was feasible with good image quality. Strictures of 1 or both IJVs were found in 8 of 15 healthy volunteers in the supine position; however, none were visible in upright position. The IJV was not the main outflow route in the erect position. No relevant venous reflux was observed. CONCLUSIONS: IJV strictures are a common finding in healthy volunteers in the supine position. They seem to be of no relevance in the erect position. This finding questions the validity of this criterion for the diagnosis of CCSVI. Reflux into the venous system was not visualized, and it remains to be seen whether it can be identified in patients with MS. Positional MR imaging enables operator-independent evaluation of the CVBO and may help to clarify the validity of the criteria for CCSVI.
Sparse Binary Matrices of LDPC Codes for Compressed Sensing

We present the sparse binary matrix defined by low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes as measurement matrix in compressed sensing. This kind of matrix owns much stronger orthogonality than current other main measurement matrices. In practice, for a matrix given size, the optimal column degree for high orthogonality can also be determined by progressive edge-growth (PEG) algorithm.
“Supporting me through emotional times, all different kinds of behaviour.” Forensic mental health service users understanding of positive behavioural support

Abstract This service evaluation project explored service users’ experiences of positive behavioural support (PBS) within a medium secure mental health service. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse interviews with ten service users. Four main themes emerged from the data: My plan; How I understand PBS; How PBS has helped me, the benefits; and Making the plan work. Overall, service users viewed their experience of having a PBS plan positively. They reflected that the plans offered staff greater understanding of their behaviours and needs, enabling them to receive appropriate support. Service users valued the experience of being involved in the process, offering important insights into their experiences. They also expressed frustrations about staff not following the plan and not understanding why they had a plan whilst others did not. Limitations of the study, clinical implications and ideas for future research have been discussed.