Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Focal gray matter density changes in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND The view that schizophrenia is a brain disease particularly involving decrements in gray matter is supported by findings from many imaging studies. However, it is unknown whether the (progressive) loss of tissue affects the brain globally or whether tissue loss is more prominent in some areas than in others. METHODS Magnetic resonance whole brain images were acquired from 159 patients with schizophrenia or a schizophreniform disorder and 158 healthy subjects across a 55-year age span. Gray matter density maps were made and analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. RESULTS Compared with healthy subjects, decreases in gray matter density were found in the left amygdala; left hippocampus; right supramarginal gyrus; thalamus; (orbito) frontal, (superior) temporal, occipitotemporal, precuneate, posterior cingulate, and insular cortices bilaterally in patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. Compared with healthy subjects, increases in gray matter density were exclusively found in the right caudate and globus pallidus in patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. A group-by-age interaction for density was found in the left amygdala, owing to a negative regression slope of gray matter density on age in the left amygdala in patients compared with healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS Gray matter density is decreased in distinct focal areas in the brains of patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. The decreased density in the left amygdala is more pronounced in older patients with schizophrenia.
Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling Antagonizes Serous Ovarian Cancer Growth in a Primary Xenograft Model

Background Recent evidence links aberrant activation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling with the pathogenesis of several cancers including medulloblastoma, basal cell, small cell lung, pancreatic, prostate and ovarian. This investigation was designed to determine if inhibition of this pathway could inhibit serous ovarian cancer growth. Methodology We utilized an in vivo pre-clinical model of serous ovarian cancer to characterize the anti-tumor activity of Hh pathway inhibitors cyclopamine and a clinically applicable derivative, IPI-926. Primary human serous ovarian tumor tissue was used to generate tumor xenografts in mice that were subsequently treated with cyclopamine or IPI-926. Principal Findings Both compounds demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity as single agents. When IPI-926 was used in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatinum (T/C), no synergistic effect was observed, though sustained treatment with IPI-926 after cessation of T/C continued to suppress tumor growth. Hh pathway activity was analyzed by RT-PCR to assess changes in Gli1 transcript levels. A single dose of IPI-926 inhibited mouse stromal Gli1 transcript levels at 24 hours with unchanged human intra-tumor Gli1 levels. Chronic IPI-926 therapy for 21 days, however, inhibited Hh signaling in both mouse stromal and human tumor cells. Expression data from the micro-dissected stroma in human serous ovarian tumors confirmed the presence of Gli1 transcript and a significant association between elevated Gli1 transcript levels and worsened survival. Conclusions/Significance IPI-926 treatment inhibits serous tumor growth suggesting the Hh signaling pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer and may hold promise as a novel therapeutic target, especially in the maintenance setting.
Caspase inhibition impaired the neural stem/progenitor cell response after cortical ischemia in mice

Cortical ischemia induces proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and provokes migration of these cells toward the injured area. Despite sustained migration of NSPCs for an extended period of time after injury, they do not appear to survive. Here, we hypothesized that the anti-apoptotic broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor Q-VD-OPh would increase NSPC survival in the injured cortex. However, contrary to our expectations, caspase inhibition did not promote NSPC survival and cortical neurogenesis. On the contrary, it abolished ischemia-induced proliferation and decreased the number of migrating neuroblasts in the injured cortex. Moreover, caspase inhibition decreased the levels of the chemoattractant chemokine CCL2 (MCP-1) and the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. We hence for the first time show that caspase inhibition abrogates the response of NSPCs to an ischemic injury, presumably by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory factors. Thus, caution is warranted if anti-apoptotic strategies are applied for neuroprotection.
The relationships among work-family conflict, turnover intention and organizational citizenship behavior in the hospitality industry of Taiwan

Purpose The hospitality industry is well-known for its high turnover rate and shift work, both of which are direct precursors to work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC). The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of WFC and FWC on turnover intention (TI) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) via literature reviews and empirical analyses. Design/methodology/approach The research data were collected using questionnaire surveys from employees working in the hospitality industries in Taiwan. The questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part, which was conducted by interviewers, included questions about WFC/FWC and TI, and the second part, which was completed by pairing the respondents’ answers with observations of supervisors, explored OCB. There were 325 effective samples collected. Reliability and validity were confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Sample properties were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis, and the relationship among control variables, predictor variables and outcome variables were explored via correlation analysis, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA. Finally, the study hypotheses were verified by structural equation modeling. Findings The paper attempted to identify the relationships among WFC/FWC, TI and OCB. The results revealed that: WFC and FWC were positively related to TI; WFC and FWC were negatively related to OCB; and TI was negatively related to OCB. Practical implications While the policy of tourism development has been promoted proactively by Taiwan’s Government in recent years, there are insufficient studies describing the relationships among WFC, TI and OCB with respect to hospitality employees. The findings from this study may contribute to human resource management and strategy development. Originality/value Because OCB is minimally regarded as an outcome variable, the results of this study support the relationships among OCB, WFC/FWC and TI. The results of this study will be of great benefit to supervisors as they seek to manage effectively human resources and improve and control the relationships among OCB, WFC/FWC and TI. The findings will also be of benefit to future studies.
Pre-radiotherapy neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an independent prognostic factor in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiotherapy

We aimed to investigate the pre-radiotherapy neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (prNLR) as a prognostic factor in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with radiotherapy (RT), and to determine the optimal cut-off value for prNLR. We retrospectively evaluated 56 patients with locally advanced HCC treated with RT (helical tomotherapy) between March 2006 and February 2012. The optimal cut-off value was determined by using a maximally selected log-rank test. Prognostic factors that influence the local progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. A prNLR of 2.1 was determined to be the optimal cut-off value. In a comparison between the high-prNLR group and the low-prNLR group, there was a 13.1-month difference in the median OS (10.3 vs. 23.4 months, p = 0.003) and a 10.4-month difference in the median local PFS (7.1 vs. 17.5 months, p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis of prognostic factors for local PFS and OS, the prNLR was identified as an independent prognostic factor, and the hazard ratio was 4.2 and 2.5, respectively. We demonstrated that a low prNLR was significantly associated with better PFS and OS in patients with locally advanced HCC treated with RT, and the prNLR should be considered as an independent prognostic factor in these patients.
Enhancing Project-Based Learning Through Online Between-Group Collaboration

This research explored how between-group collaboration enhanced the co-construction of knowledge and performance on project-based learning tasks of collaborative learning groups. The findings of 2 case studies, one that focused on between-group mentoring and one that focused on between-group project review, revealed that both strategies were perceived favorably by the students and had a positive impact on the collaborative learning skills, the knowledge revealed through their online dialogue, and the project performance of all students, especially the less effective groups. The results provide some insights into the computer-supported collaborative learning process among students in a higher education context.
THE PERILS OF CLUMPFIND: THE MASS SPECTRUM OF SUBSTRUCTURES IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS

We study the mass spectrum of substructures in the Perseus Molecular Cloud Complex traced by 13CO(1–0), finding that dN/dM ∝ M−2.4 for the standard Clumpfind parameters. This result does not agree with the classical dN/dM ∝ M−1.6. To understand this discrepancy, we study the robustness of the mass spectrum derived using the Clumpfind algorithm. Both two- and three-dimensional Clumpfind versions are tested, using 850 μm dust emission and 13CO spectral-line observations of Perseus, respectively. The effect of varying threshold is not important, but varying stepsize produces a different effect for two- and three-dimensional cases. In the two-dimensional case, where emission is relatively isolated (associated with only the densest peaks in the cloud), the mass spectrum variability is negligible compared to the mass function fit uncertainties. In the three-dimensional case, however, where the 13CO emission traces the bulk of the molecular cloud (MC), the number of clumps and the derived mass spectrum are highly correlated with the stepsize used. The distinction between “two dimension” and “three dimension” here is more importantly also a distinction between “sparse” and “crowded” emission. In any “crowded” case, Clumpfind should not be used blindly to derive mass functions. Clumpfind's output in the “crowded” case can still offer a statistical description of emission useful in intercomparisons, but the clump-list should not be treated as a robust region decomposition suitable to generate a physically meaningful mass function. We conclude that the 13CO mass spectrum depends on the observations resolution, due to the hierarchical structure of the MC.
Test of Random Walk Hypothesis in the Nigerian Stock Market

The paper investigates the weak-form market hypothesis in the emerging capital market of Nigeria from January 2006 to December 2011. It uses three tests of randomness based on autoregressive technique to check for the presence or otherwise of autocorrelation in daily stock prices and returns from the Nigerian Stock Market. All the tests including the Z-statistics for both stock prices and their returns show significant indications of dependence in return series and hence, of non-randomness. The overall results suggest that the emerging Nigerian Stock Market is not efficient in the weak form. The paper recommends that policy makers and regulatory authorities should enact and implement policy measures and put in place necessary market structures that would promote the efficiency of the Nigerian Stock Market.
A survey of structured and object-oriented software specification methods and techniques

This article surveys techniques used in structured and object-oriented software specification methods. The techniques are classified as techniques for the specification of external interaction and internal decomposition. The external specification techniques are further subdivided into techniques for the specification of functions, behavior, and communication. After surveying the techniques, we summarize the way they are used in structured and object-oriented methods and indicate ways in which they can be combined. This article ends with a plea for simplicity in diagram techniques and for the use of formal semantics to define these techniques. The appendices show how the reviewed techniques are used in 6 structured and 19 object-oriented specification methods.
Impacts of Using Paralanguage on Teaching and Learning English Language to Convey Effective Meaning

Paralanguage is considered as an influential factor in foreign language teaching and learning that plays an essential role in language teaching and enhancing language learners’ performance. The paper states to explore the effect of using paralanguage on teaching and learning English language to EFL learners. It is going to investigate the relationship between learners’ awareness of learning concept and teachers’ paralanguage; the standardized testing relational aspect between students’ learning and teachers’ paralanguage; and the learners’ credible teaching perceptions depend on the teachers’ paralanguage. The participants in this research are teachers and students of English language in the College of Science and Arts, Almandaq Branch in Albaha University. The study has concluded that paralanguage strategies assist in communicating effective meanings. It is recommended that EFL teachers and learners should use paralanguage strategies in their teaching and learning processes to convey meaning effectively.
Theoretical Formulation of Principal Components Analysis to Detect and Correct for Population Stratification

The Eigenstrat method, based on principal components analysis (PCA), is commonly used both to quantify population relationships in population genetics and to correct for population stratification in genome-wide association studies. However, it can be difficult to make appropriate inference about population relationships from the principal component (PC) scatter plot. Here, to better understand the working mechanism of the Eigenstrat method, we consider its theoretical or “population” formulation. The eigen-equation for samples from an arbitrary number () of populations is reduced to that of a matrix of dimension , the elements of which are determined by the variance-covariance matrix for the random vector of the allele frequencies. Solving the reduced eigen-equation is numerically trivial and yields eigenvectors that are the axes of variation required for differentiating the populations. Using the reduced eigen-equation, we investigate the within-population fluctuations around the axes of variation on the PC scatter plot for simulated datasets. Specifically, we show that there exists an asymptotically stable pattern of the PC plot for large sample size. Our results provide theoretical guidance for interpreting the pattern of PC plot in terms of population relationships. For applications in genetic association tests, we demonstrate that, as a method of correcting for population stratification, regressing out the theoretical PCs corresponding to the axes of variation is equivalent to simply removing the population mean of allele counts and works as well as or better than the Eigenstrat method.
Statistical Remedies for Common Method Biases

: The problem of common method biases has being given more and more attention in the field of psychology, but there is little research about it in China, and the effects of common method bias are not well controlled. Generally, there are two ways of controlling common method biases, procedural remedies and statistical remedies. In this paper, statistical remedies for common method biases are provided, such as factor analysis, partial correlation, latent method factor, structural equation model, and their advantages and disadvantages are analyzed separately. Finally, suggestions of how to choose these remedies are given.
Constructive episodic simulation: Temporal distance and detail of past and future events modulate hippocampal engagement

Behavioral, lesion and neuroimaging evidence show striking commonalities between remembering past events and imagining future events. In a recent event‐related fMRI study, we instructed participants to construct a past or future event in response to a cue. Once an event was in mind, participants made a button press, then generated details (elaboration) and rated them. The elaboration of past and future events recruited a common neural network. However, regions within this network may respond differentially to event characteristics, such as the amount of detail generated and temporal distance, depending on whether the event is in the past or future. To investigate this further, we conducted parametric modulation analyses, with temporal distance and detail as covariates, and focused on the medial temporal lobes and frontopolar cortex. The analysis of detail (independent of temporal distance) showed that the left posterior hippocampus was responsive to the amount of detail comprising both past and future events. In contrast, the left anterior hippocampus responded differentially to the amount of detail comprising future events, possibly reflecting the recombination of details into a novel future event. The analysis of temporal distance revealed that the increasing recency of past events correlated with activity in the right parahippocampus gyrus (Brodmann area (BA) 35/36), while activity in the bilateral hippocampus was significantly correlated with the increasing remoteness of future events. We propose that the hippocampal response to the distance of future events reflects the increasing disparateness of details likely included in remote future events, and the intensive relational processing required for integrating such details into a coherent episodic simulation of the future. These findings provide further support for the constructive episodic simulation hypothesis (Schacter and Addis ( 2007 ) Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 362:773–786) and highlight the involvement of the hippocampus in relational processing during elaboration of future events. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cognitive Aging and the Hippocampus: How Old Rats Represent New Environments

Spatial learning impairment in aged rats is associated with changes in hippocampal connectivity and plasticity. Several studies have explored the age-related deficit in spatial information processing by recording the location-specific activity of hippocampal neurons (place cells). However, these studies have generated disparate characterizations of place cells in aged rats as unstable (Barnes et al., 1997), resistant to change (Tanila et al., 1997b; Oler and Markus, 2000; Wilson et al., 2003), or delayed in using external cues (Rosenzweig et al., 2003). To reconcile these findings, we recorded place cells from aged and young rats as they repeatedly explored both a highly familiar environment and an initially novel environment, and we repeatedly tested whether the place fields formed in the novel environment were anchored by external cues. Initially, spatial representations in aged rats were abnormally maintained between the familiar and novel environments. Then, new representations were formed but were also delayed in becoming anchored to the external landmarks. Finally, even when the new spatial representations became bound to the landmarks, they were multi-stable across repetitive exposures to the formerly novel environment. These observations help to reconcile previously divergent characterizations of spatial representation in aged rats and suggest a model of cognitive aging and hippocampal function.
Automated Screening of Microtubule Growth Dynamics Identifies MARK2 as a Regulator of Leading Edge Microtubules Downstream of Rac1 in Migrating Cells

Polarized microtubule (MT) growth in the leading edge is critical to directed cell migration, and is mediated by Rac1 GTPase. To find downstream targets of Rac1 that affect MT assembly dynamics, we performed an RNAi screen of 23 MT binding and regulatory factors and identified RNAi treatments that suppressed changes in MT dynamics induced by constitutively activated Rac1. By analyzing fluorescent EB3 dynamics with automated tracking, we found that RNAi treatments targeting p150glued, APC2, spastin, EB1, Op18, or MARK2 blocked Rac1-mediated MT growth in lamellipodia. MARK2 was the only protein whose RNAi targeting additionally suppressed Rac1 effects on MT orientation in lamellipodia, and thus became the focus of further study. We show that GFP-MARK2 rescued effects of MARK2 depletion on MT growth lifetime and orientation, and GFP-MARK2 localized in lamellipodia in a Rac1-activity-dependent manner. In a wound-edge motility assay, MARK2-depleted cells failed to polarize their centrosomes or exhibit oriented MT growth in the leading edge, and displayed defects in directional cell migration. Thus, automated image analysis of MT assembly dynamics identified MARK2 as a target regulated downstream of Rac1 that promotes oriented MT growth in the leading edge to mediate directed cell migration.
Towards Improving Japanese EFL Learners’ Pronunciation: The Impact of Teaching Suprasegmentals on Intelligibility

In the literature regarding pronunciation instruction, it has been argued that the suprasegmental features of language, such as rhythm, stress and word linking, lend more to intelligibility than segmental features (Celce-Murcia et al., 2010). This is especially relevant when teaching learners of English from syllabletimed or mora-timed languages like Japanese. The nature of Japanese mora-timed speech can contribute to negative L1 language transfer. Furthermore, due to the vast difference between Japanese and English speech rhythm (Koike, 2014), these speech patterns are one of the more salient features of Japanese learners' English. This article details the results of a study on the effects of pronunciation instruction on Japanese adult learners of English and explores how simple instruction can mitigate the native language interference of Japanese in their speech. It also argues that the instruction of suprasegmental features of English, primarily stress and word linking, can help to improve the intelligibility of Japanese learners of English. To quantify this study, native Japanese English students were recorded in a pre/post test format that was conducted before and after they were given instruction in suprasegmentals. Then the findings of the study will be discussed. Key Terms: Pronunciation, Segmentals, Suprasegmentals, Stress-timed Rhythm, Word-stress, Word-linking, L1 transfer, L1: first language, L2: second language, Japanese ELs