Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning to read in Williams syndrome and Down syndrome: syndrome-specific precursors and developmental trajectories.

BACKGROUND In typical development, early reading is underpinned by language skills, like vocabulary and phonological awareness (PA), as well as taught skills like letter knowledge. Less is understood about how early reading develops in children with neurodevelopmental disorders who display specific profiles of linguistic strengths and weaknesses, such as Down syndrome (DS) and Williams syndrome (WS). METHODS Early reading, letter knowledge, rhyme matching, phoneme matching and receptive vocabulary were assessed in 26 children with DS and 26 children with WS between 4 and 8 years, as well as in two groups of typically developing (TD) children matched on nonverbal mental age (NVMA controls) or reading (RA controls). Reading was also measured 1 year later in DS, WS and RA controls to assess reading growth and its longitudinal predictors. RESULTS Despite poor PA and vocabulary, children with DS displayed good reading and letter knowledge, compared with NVMA controls. Performance of children with WS was equivalent to RA controls and superior to NVMA controls on all tasks. Longitudinal delays emerged in reading in both DS and WS compared with RA controls. Vocabulary was a significant longitudinal predictor of reading growth for all children, but, for both children with DS and WS, and unlike RA controls, letter knowledge and PA were not. CONCLUSIONS Children with DS and WS display atypical developmental patterns in the earliest stages of reading, further underlining the importance of cross-syndrome, longitudinal research, which tracks all levels of development in neurodevelopmental disorders. Identifying early syndrome-specific profiles of strengths and weaknesses underlying literacy development is critical for planning intervention programmes.
Hydrogen sulfide protects blood–brain barrier integrity following cerebral ischemia

By using two structurally unrelated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors 5‐(4‐methoxyphenyl) ‐3H‐1, 2‐dithiole‐3‐thione (ADT) and sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), this study investigated if H2S protected blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). ICR mice underwent MCAO and received H2S donors at 3 h after reperfusion. Infarction, neurological scores, brain edema, Evans blue (EB) extravasation, and tight junction protein expression were examined at 48 h after MCAO. We also investigated if ADT protected BBB integrity by suppressing post‐ischemic inflammation‐induced Matrix Metalloproteimase‐9 (MMP9) and Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX). ADT increased blood H2S concentrations, decreased infarction, and improved neurological deficits. Particularly, ADT reduced EB extravasation, brain edema and preserved expression of tight junction proteins in the ischemic brain. NaHS also increased blood H2S levels and reduced EB extravasation following MCAO. Moreover, ADT inhibited expression of pro‐inflammatory markers induced Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) and IL‐1β while enhanced expression of anti‐inflammatory markers arginase 1 and IL‐10 in the ischemic brain. Accordingly, ADT attenuated ischemia‐induced expression and activity of MMP9. Moreover, ADT reduced NOX‐4 mRNA expression, NOX activity, and inhibited nuclear translocation of Nuclear Factor Kappa‐B (NF‐κB) in the ischemic brain. In conclusion, H2S donors protected BBB integrity following experimental stroke possibly by acting through NF‐κB inhibition to suppress neuroinflammation induction of MMP9 and NOX4‐derived free radicals.
In vitro angiogenesis on the human amniotic membrane: requirement for basic fibroblast growth factor-induced proteinases

The role of basic fibroblast growth factor-(bFGF) induced proteinases in basement membrane (BM) invasion by bovine capillary endothelial (BCE) cells was studied using a quantitative in vitro assay previously described (Mignatti et al., 1986). 125I-iododeoxyuridine-labeled BCE cells were grown for 72 h on the human amnion BM, and cell invasion was determined by measuring the radioactivity associated with the tissue after removal of the noninvasive cell layer. BCE cells were noninvasive under normal conditions. Addition of human bFGF to either the BM or to the stromal aspect of the amnion induced BCE cell invasion with a dose- dependent response. This effect was maximal in the presence of 70 ng/ml bFGF, and was inhibited by anti-FGF antibody. Transforming growth factor beta, as well as plasmin inhibitors and anti-tissue type plasminogen activator antibody inhibited BCE cell invasion. The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, 1-10 phenanthroline, anti-type IV and anti-interstitial collagenase antibodies had the same effect. On the contrary, anti-stromelysin antibody and Eglin, an inhibitor of elastase, were ineffective. The results obtained show that both the plasminogen activator-plasmin system and specific collagenases are involved in the invasive process occurring during angiogenesis.
Generalised Gibbs sampler and multigrid Monte Carlo for Bayesian computation

Although Monte Carlo methods have frequently been applied with success, indiscriminate use of Markov chain Monte Carlo leads to unsatisfactory performances in numerous applications. We present a generalised version of the Gibbs sampler that is based on conditional moves along the traces of groups of transformations in the sample space. We explore its connection with the multigrid Monte Carlo method and its use in designing more efficient samplers. The generalised Gibbs sampler provides a framework encompassing a class of recently proposed tricks such as parameter expansion and reparameterisation. To illustrate, we apply this new method to Bayesian inference problems for nonlinear state-space models, ordinal data and stochastic differential equations with discrete observations.
Avoiding the demonstration of lack of ability: An underexplored aspect of goal theory.

Traditionally, theorists have described motivation in terms of approach and avoidance tendencies. In contrast, goal orientation research has focused primarily on 2 approach goals: demonstrating ability (performance-approach) and developing ability (task). A scale to assess the goal of avoiding the demonstration of lack of ability (performance-avoid) was included with scales assessing approach goals in a survey given to 703 6th graders. Factor analysis supported the differentiation among the 3 scales. The performance scales were moderately positively correlated and exhibited low correlations with the task scale. With all 3 goals in regression equations, task goals predicted academic efficacy, self-regulated learning, and lower levels of avoiding seeking academic help in the classroom. Performance-avoid goals negatively predicted academic efficacy and positively predicted avoiding seeking help and test anxiety. Performance-approach goals did not emerge as the most significant predictor of any of these educationally relevant outcomes.
Patent ductus venosus does not lead to alimentary galactosaemia in preterm infants

The aim of this study was to investigate if an open ductus venosus representing a portal‐caval shunt can lead to transient “alimentary galactosaemia” in preterm infants fed human breast milk. Twenty‐six preterm infants (28–34 wk of gestational age) with open ductus venosus were included. Capillary blood samples for measurement of galactose and glucose were collected before, 30 and 50 min after a meal with breast milk (range 12–23 mL/kg). Ultrasound studies of the blood flow in the ductus venosus, truncus coeliacus, superior mesenteric artery and left hepatic vein were performed before and 30 min after the meal. There was a significant rise in blood glucose after 30 and 50 min, indicating a sufficient lactose load. Galactose, however, was either not detectable or was just above the detectable limit (0.1–0.4 mmol/L), with no changes after the meal. An increased flow velocity was found in the ductus venosus and superior mesenteric artery after 30 min (p≫ 0.001) indicating increased entero‐hepatic and portal‐caval shunting.
FANSUBBING ANIME: INSIGHTS INTO THE ‘BUTTERFLY EFFECT’ OF GLOBALISATION ON AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION

This article revolves around fansubbing, a subtitling-based mediation phenomenon whose emergence and consolidation in recent years has gone hand in hand with the globalisation of Japanese animated cinema. The paper begins with an overview of (i) the origins and rationale for the popularity of anime in Japan and beyond; (ii) the first attempts to localise anime into other languages; and (iii) the contribution of fansubbing to the expansion of anime fandom worldwide. The article then proceeds to delve into the organisation of the fansubbing process and outline its most distinctive practices. The final section appraises the potential for propagation of fansubbing practices within a fast-changing cultural landscape, drawing on the theoretical models that media sociology has developed to account for similar developments in the audiovisual marketplace.
South African students’ perceptions of the role of a gap year in preparing them for higher education

Abstract Students often drop out of university because they were not yet ready for higher education studies. This article reports on research done on the perceptions of a group of students of the role that their gap year had played in preparing them for higher education studies. The research approach was qualitative. Data was gathered by means of 34 interviews. The findings revealed that the participants mostly took a gap year because they were uncertain about a field of study or career choice, suffered from burn-out or wanted to earn money to finance their own studies. Their gap year experience played a constructive role in preparing the participants for higher education: it gave them time to get clarity on a career choice which resulted in a higher level of motivation and a more focused approach to their studies; it cured them from burn out; facilitated their adjustment at university; improved their intercultural and interpersonal relationship skills and contributed to their personal development, independence and self-knowledge. The disadvantages of a gap year are also discussed.
An Empirical Analysis of Capital Structure on Performance of Firms in the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria

The objectives of firms revolve round ensuring that they satisfy all the stakeholders involved in the business. The manager of a firm has to make both financing and investment decisions that will aid the realisation of the firm's objective. In making financing decision, one of the priorities of the manager is to ensure that he selects the best financing mix or capital structure of the firm (Ogebe et al, 2013). Capital structure can be viewed as a way in which a firm can finance its whole operations and growth through the utilisation of various sources of funds. The capacity of companies to carry out the needs of their stakeholders is closely associated with capital structure (San and Heng, 2011).
Position Weight Matrix, Gibbs Sampler, and the Associated Significance Tests in Motif Characterization and Prediction

Position weight matrix (PWM) is not only one of the most widely used bioinformatic methods, but also a key component in more advanced computational algorithms (e.g., Gibbs sampler) for characterizing and discovering motifs in nucleotide or amino acid sequences. However, few generally applicable statistical tests are available for evaluating the significance of site patterns, PWM, and PWM scores (PWMS) of putative motifs. Statistical significance tests of the PWM output, that is, site-specific frequencies, PWM itself, and PWMS, are in disparate sources and have never been collected in a single paper, with the consequence that many implementations of PWM do not include any significance test. Here I review PWM-based methods used in motif characterization and prediction (including a detailed illustration of the Gibbs sampler for de novo motif discovery), present statistical and probabilistic rationales behind statistical significance tests relevant to PWM, and illustrate their application with real data. The multiple comparison problem associated with the test of site-specific frequencies is best handled by false discovery rate methods. The test of PWM, due to the use of pseudocounts, is best done by resampling methods. The test of individual PWMS for each sequence segment should be based on the extreme value distribution.
Latency versus Cost Optimizations in Hierarchical Overlay Networks

Overlay networks have emerged as a fundamental technique for efficient data dissemination. Current overlay construction techniques typically face a number of limitations, including: i) limited scalability because of reliance upon global knowledge, and ii) performance characteristics targeting the requirements of a particular class of applications. In this paper, we propose dynamically organizing overlay nodes into clusters that form the basis for a hierarchical overlay network. Overall, we find that the exponential improvement in both scalability and network overhead to typically be worth the resulting reduction in overlay quality. Next, we evaluate the relative benefits of existing graph and overlay construction algorithms with respect to varying application requirements. We find that light approximate shortest-path trees (LAST) allow application developers to flexibly trade communication cost with delay along a continuous spectrum. More importantly, for our target network topologies, we find LAST settings that result in cost and delay values within 15% of optimal.
Chaperone‐mediated inhibition of tubulin self‐assembly

Molecular chaperones are known to play an important role in facilitating the proper folding of many newly synthesized proteins. Here, we have shown that chaperone proteins exhibit another unique property to inhibit tubulin self‐assembly efficiently. Chaperones tested include α‐crystallin from bovine eye lenses, HSP16.3, HSP70 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and α s‐casein from milk. All of them inhibit polymerization in a dose‐dependent manner independent of assembly inducers used. The critical concentration of MTP polymerization increases with increasing concentration of HSP16.3. Increase in chaperone concentration lowers the extent of polymerization and increases the lag time of self‐assembly reaction. Although the addition of a chaperone at the early stage of elongation phase shows no effect on polymerization, the same concentration of chaperone inhibits polymerization completely when added before the initiation of polymerization. Bindings of HSP16.3 and α s‐casein to tubulin have been confirmed using isothermal titration calorimetry. Affinity constants of tubulin are 5.3 ×× 104 and 9.8 ×× 105 M−1 for HSP16.3 and α s‐casein, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters indicate favourable entropy and enthalpy changes for both chaperones‐tubulin interactions. Positive entropy change suggests that the interaction is hydrophobic in nature and desolvation occurring during formation of tubulin‐chaperone complex. On the basis of thermodynamic data and observations made upon addition of chaperone at early elongation phase or before the initiation of polymerization, we hypothesize that chaperones bind tubulin at the protein‐protein interaction site involved in the nucleation phase of self‐assembly. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Product-Market Theory of Industry-Specific Training

We develop a product market theory that explains why firms provide their workers with skills that are sufficiently general to be potentially useful for competitors. We consider a model where firms first decide whether to invest in industry-specific human capital, then make wage offers for each othersi? ½ trained employees and finally engage in imperfect product market competition. Equilibria with and without training, and multiple equilibria can emerge. If competition is sufficiently soft and returns to the number of trained workers decrease sufficiently, firms may invest in non-specific training if others do the same, because they would otherwise suffer a competitive disadvantage or need to pay high wages in order to attract trained workers.
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: sequential enhanced MR imaging vs clinical findings in determining disease activity.

OBJECTIVE Sequential MR imaging frequently shows disease activity (clinically silent new brain lesions) in subgroups of patients with multiple sclerosis and therefore is valuable in monitoring the effects of treatment. Monitoring of disease activity in patients being treated for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis will increase in importance as new and safe therapies are developed. We studied sequential enhanced MR images of patients with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to define the MR features that indicate disease activity in this subgroup of patients and to compare MR imaging and clinical findings for this purpose. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Seven patients with relapsing-remitting definite multiple sclerosis were examined monthly for 4-12 months. For each image, a standard repositioning protocol consisting of three images was used to ensure reproducibility of axial (double oblique) image planes, planned according to internal landmarks. A total of 58 unenhanced T2-weighted and enhanced T1-weighted MR images were obtained. RESULTS MR images showed new enhancing lesions in six of the seven patients. On 25 (43%) of the 58 enhanced T1-weighted MR images, a total of 50 new enhancing lesions were observed, and on one image a reenhancing lesion was seen. The unenhanced T2-weighted images showed corresponding abnormalities for 92% of the new enhancing lesions. At follow-up, most lesions (86%) were enhanced on only one occasion: 4% were enhanced on more than two consecutive monthly MR examinations. Forty-nine percent of the lesions seen on T2-weighted images "disappeared" (beyond the resolution of the imaging system) after a mean follow-up of 3.5 months, especially lesions that were initially smaller than 5 mm. During the study, only five clinical relapses occurred in three patients (all at times when MR images showed contrast-enhancing lesions), and fixed disability did not increase. On 21 additional occasions, MR images showed new enhancing or reenhancing lesions in patients who were clinically stable at the time (4.2 times more clinically silent disease activity). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that contrast-enhanced MR imaging is more sensitive than clinical monitoring for detecting new disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and that MR imaging might be useful in the evaluation of therapeutic regimens.
The Network Data Repository with Interactive Graph Analytics and Visualization

NetworkRepository (NR) is the first interactive data repository with a web-based platform for visual interactive analytics. Unlike other data repositories (e.g., UCI ML Data Repository, and SNAP), the network data repository (networkrepository.com) allows users to not only download, but to interactively analyze and visualize such data using our web-based interactive graph analytics platform. Users can in real-time analyze, visualize, compare, and explore data along many different dimensions. The aim of NR is to make it easy to discover key insights into the data extremely fast with little effort while also providing a medium for users to share data, visualizations, and insights. Other key factors that differentiate NR from the current data repositories is the number of graph datasets, their size, and variety. While other data repositories are static, they also lack a means for users to collaboratively discuss a particular dataset, corrections, or challenges with using the data for certain applications. In contrast, NR incorporates many social and collaborative aspects that facilitate scientific research, e.g., users can discuss each graph, post observations, and visualizations.
Plasma Adipokines and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus–Infected Carriers: A Prospective Study in Taiwan

Background: Obesity is considered a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The relationship between adipocytokine and HCC in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers remains unclear. We prospectively investigated the association of adiponectin, leptin, and visfatin levels with HCC. Methods: We conducted a nested case–control study in a community-based cohort with 187 incident HCC and 374 HCC-free HBV carriers. Unconditional logistic regression was conducted to estimate the ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Adiponectin, but not leptin and visfatin, levels were associated with an increased risk of HCC after adjustment for other metabolic factors and HBV-related factors. The risk was increased [OR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.12–2.11; OR = 4.88 (1.46–16.3); OR = 3.79 (1.10–13.0); OR = 4.13 (1.13–15.1) with each additional quintiles, respectively] with a significant dose–response trend (Ptrend = 0.003). HCC risk associated with higher adiponectin level was higher in HBV carriers with ultrasonographic fatty liver, genotype C infection, higher viral load, and with elevated alanine aminotransferase. Longitudinally, participants with higher adiponectin were less likely to achieve surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) seroclearance and more likely to have persistently higher HBV DNA. Eventually, they were more likely to develop liver cirrhosis [OR = 1.65 (0.62–4.39); OR = 3.85 (1.47–10.1); OR = 2.56 (0.96–6.84); OR = 3.76 (1.33–10.7) for the second, third, fourth, and fifth quintiles, respectively; Ptrend = 0.017] before HCC. Conclusions: Elevated adiponectin levels were independently associated with an increased risk of HCC. Impact: Adiponectin may play different roles in the virus-induced and metabolic-related liver diseases, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(8); 1659–71. ©2014 AACR.
Double Standards: Social Preferences and Moral Biases

A consensus seems to be emerging in economics that at least three motives are at work in many strategic decisions: distributive preferences, reciprocal preferences and self-interest. An important obstacle to this research, however, has been moral biases, i.e., the distortions created by self-interest that can obscure social preferences. Among other things, this has led to disagreement about the relative importance of distributive preferences, reciprocal preferences, or both. This paper describes a simple experiment that decomposes behavior into these three forces and examines their interactions without the confounds that have compromised other designs. We compare the decisions of implicated “stakeholders” with those of impartial “spectators,” who have no stake. Several surprising and interesting results emerge. For example, stakeholders respond less forcefully to kindness and unkindness towards them than do spectators acting on their behalf. We also find an asymmetry in reciprocity: stakeholders punish but do not reward, whereas spectators both reward and punish. This result suggests that the lack of positive reciprocity found in other studies is not due to an asymmetry in underlying reciprocal preferences but rather to a moral bias by stakeholders in the application of that preference. More generally, we find that all three hypothesized motives have important and significant effects on final allocations.