Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linguistic Diversity, Access, and Risk

Rarely do we view educational risk from a linguistic perspective. There are noteworthy exceptions, among them Valdes (1996) and Zentella (1997). However, of the educational literature devoted to risk, the vast majority attends to the array of attributes and circumstances that perpetuate cycles of poverty (Williams, 1970). The aim of this discussion is to examine educational risk, paying particular attention to the possible existence of a "linguistic stereotype threat. " If such a threat does exist, it is very possible or even likely that linguistic stereotyping inhibits the academic achievement of many students who lack fluency in the dominant linguistic norms of their local speech communities. From a linguistic point of view, students in any speech community tend to fit within three general categories, including
Dual Route and Connectionist Models of Reading: An Overview.

Reading researchers seek to discover exactly what kinds of information-processing activities go on in our minds when we read; to discover what the structure and organization is of the cognitive system skilled readers have acquired from learning to read. Little is known about how the most elaborate aspects of this system work, but much has been learned about its basic building blocks such as letter identification, visual word recognition and knowledge of letter-sound rules. I contrast two approaches to theorizing about these basic reading components, the dual route approach and the connectionist approach, and offer reasons for believing that the dual route approach is to be preferred.
Interference analysis and outage performance of finite multi-antenna ad hoc networks

In this paper, the aggregate interference in a finite-area multi-antenna wireless ad hoc network is statistically characterized. While most of the existing studies model the spatial distribution of transmit nodes as a Poisson point process in an infinite plane, a binomial point process is adopted here to better characterize the node distribution in a finite area. In the test link, maximum-ratio combining (MRC) is employed at the receiver, whereas spatial multiplexing or transmit antenna selection is employed at the transmitter depending on the availability of limited feedback. Moments of aggregate interference as well as outage probability formulas are obtained. Interestingly, for a finite network, our analysis establishes the optimality of single-stream transmissions in spatial multiplexing with a MRC test receiver, and justifies the use of transmit antenna selection for further enhancing the outage performance with limited feedback. Simulations are provided to corroborate the analysis.
EGFR Induces E2F1-Mediated Corticotroph Tumorigenesis

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), expressed in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)–secreting pituitary adenomas causing Cushing disease, regulates ACTH production and corticotroph proliferation. To elucidate the utility of EGFR as a therapeutic target for Cushing disease, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice with corticotroph-specific human EGFR expression (corti-EGFR-Tg) using a newly constructed corticotroph-specific promoter. Pituitary-specific EGFR expression was observed by 2.5 months, and aggressive ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas with features of Crooke’s cells developed by 8 months with 65% penetrance observed. Features consistent with the Cushing phenotype included elevated plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels, increased body weight, glucose intolerance, and enlarged adrenal cortex. Gefitinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppressed tumor POMC expression and downstream EGFR tumor signaling, and ACTH and corticosterone levels were attenuated by 80% and 78%, respectively. Both E2F1 and phosphorylated Ser-337 E2F1 were increased in corti-EGFR-Tg mice and also colocalized with human POMC (hPOMC) in human pituitary corticotroph tumor samples. EGFR inhibition reversed E2F1 activity in vivo, whereas E2F1 inhibition suppressed POMC and ACTH in cultured human pituitary tumor cells. The corti-EGFR-Tg phenotype recapitulates ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas and Cushing disease, validating the relevance of EGFR to corticotroph tumorigenesis. E2F1 is identified as a promising corticotroph-specific target for ACTH-dependent Cushing disease.
Transparent Muscle Characterization Using Quantitative Electromyography: Different Binarization Mappings

Evaluation of patients with suspected neuromuscular disorders is typically based on qualitative visual and auditory assessment of needle detected eletromyographic (EMG) signals; the resulting muscle characterization is subjective and highly dependent on the skill and experience of the examiner. Quantitative electromyography (QEMG) techniques were developed to extract motor unit potential trains (MUPTs) from needle detected EMG signals, and estimate features capturing motor unit potential (MUP) morphology and quantifying morphological consistency across MUPs belonging to the same MUPT. The aim of this study is to improve available methods for obtaining transparent muscle characterizations from features obtained using QEMG techniques. More specifically, we investigate the following. 1) Can the use of binarization mappings improve muscle categorization accuracies of transparent methods? 2) What are the appropriate binarization mappings in terms of accuracy and transparency? Results from four different sets of examined limb muscles (342 muscles in total) demonstrate that four out of the 10 investigated binarization mappings based on transparent characterization methods outperformed the multi-class characterizers based on Gaussian mixture models (GMM) and the corresponding binarization mappings based on GMM. This suggests that the use of an appropriate binarization mapping can overcome the decrease in categorization accuracy associated with quantizing MUPT features, which is necessary to obtain transparent characterizations. This performance gain can be attributed to the use of more relevant features and tuned quantization to obtain more specific binary characterizations.
Cellular automaton for ultra-fast watershed transform on GPU

In this paper we describe a cellular automaton (CA) used to perform the watershed transform in N-D images. Our method is based on image integration via the Ford-Bellman shortest paths algorithm. Due to the local nature of CA algorithms we show that they are designed to run on massively parallel processors and therefore, be efficiently implemented on low cost consumer graphical processing units (GPUs).
The Twilight of Ethnicity Among American Catholics of European Ancestry

The Catholic ethnic groups of European origins are essential to any assessment of ethnicity in the United States. Their ethnicity is believed widely to remain vigorous many decades after their immigration. Indeed, by the measure of some important characteristics, such as rates of college attendance and interethnic marriage, they seem distinct from American core groups, specifically Protestants of British ancestry. However, the trends of these characteristics among the Catholic groups, indicated by differences between birth cohorts, reveal their growing similarity to the American core. The Catholic groups appear to be assimilating rapidly, and it is argued that their ethnicity is entering a twilight stage.
Linear and non-linear modelling of the cytotoxicity of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles by empirical descriptors†

Titanium oxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are among the most widely used in different applications in daily life. In this study, local regression and classification models were developed for a set of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles tested at different concentrations for their ability to disrupt the lipid membrane in cells. Different regression techniques were applied and compared by checking the robustness of the models and their external predictive ability. Additionally, a simple classification model was developed, which predicts the potential for disruption of the studied nanoparticles with good accuracy (overall accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity >80%) on the basis of two empirical descriptors. The present study demonstrates that empirical descriptors, such as experimentally determined size and tested concentrations, are relevant to modelling the activity of nanoparticles. This information may be useful to screen the potential for harmful effect of nanoparticles in different experimental conditions and to optimize the design of toxicological tests. Results from the present study are useful to support and refine the future application of in silico tools to nanoparticles, for research and regulatory purposes.
Adolescent Perceptions of Their Family System, Parents' Behavior, Self-Esteem, and Family Life Satisfaction in Relation to Their Substance Use

ABSTRACT A path model was utilized to determine the relationship of demographic, family system, adolescent perceptions of parental behavior, and youth characteristics to adolescent substance abuse. Self-report questionnaire data were collected from 214 high school students at two high schools in a southwestern state. Results showed direct positive relationships of adolescent reports of parental substance use and adolescent reports of parental support with adolescent reports of substance use. Indirect relationships were found for school, gender of the adolescent, family hardiness, family coherence and parental substance use to perceived parental support to adolescent substance use. Implications are presented for prevention and intervention at multiple levels of the family system in relation to adolescent substance use.
Pharmacokinetics of Tedizolid Following Oral Administration: Single and Multiple Dose, Effect of Food, and Comparison of Two Solid Forms of the Prodrug

The single‐ and multiple‐dose pharmacokinetics (PK) of tedizolid were examined after oral administration of tedizolid phosphate disodium (TPD), including the effect of food on PK. The relative bioavailability of TPD to the free acid tedizolid phosphate was determined to bridge the results of these and other studies to the solid form of the prodrug selected for further development.
Sonority as a constraint on word identification processes

ABSTRACT This study was undertaken as a sequel to DePaolis (1991) to explore the role of sonority in constraining the word identification errors of normal listeners. The data from 9 subjects from DePaolis's study were used to examine the phonological relationships, defined by the Sonority Sequencing Principle (Jespersen, 1904), between response errors and stimulus targets - a methodology previously employed in the analysis of target-related neologisms (Christman, 1992b, 1994). The present study found that, although sonority may constrain onset-driven word-search processes, sonority and lexical phonostatistics may constrain coda-driven word-search processes. These findings are consistent with those obtained from the productive errors of aphasic subjects (Christman, 1994). Taken together, the results of these studies support a role for sonority in phonologically based aspects of word identification and word production.
Do Korean Immigrant Adolescents Experience Stress-Related Growth During Stressful Intergroup Contact and Acculturation?

Asian immigrant adolescents have a difficult time adapting to unfamiliar customs and cultural values as well as interacting with other ethnic groups. During intergroup contacts and acculturation, Asian immigrant adolescents have negative experiences such as discrimination experiences, intergroup anxiety, interracial tension, and limited social support. In spite of such stressful and negative life experiences, some research has shown that individuals may develop the ability to thrive or grow from stressful life events. Using grounded theory, we explored the characteristics of positive psychological changes that occurred as the result of stressful intergroup contacts and acculturation from the perspective of Korean immigrant adolescents. We captured three main themes related to stress-related growth: (a) psychological thriving, (b) cultural and ethnic understandings, and (c) culturally attuned relationships. This finding implies that stressful intergroup contacts and acculturation provide an opportunity in which Korean immigrant adolescents develop coping abilities and enhance a sense of personal growth.
Children's and adolescents' decisions about sharing money with others

Two hundred and ninety-four participants aged between 7 and 17 years of age were asked to share out money between themselves and another, imaginary group. Individual responses were recorded as well as responses after discussion in a group with two other participants. The distribution task took place in two different experimental conditions that either gave participants a free choice about how much to offer to the other group or involved making a strategic offer to avoid the other group rejecting an offer and losing all the money. From 10 years of age onwards, when allowed to choose freely how much to share, boys made progressively less generous offers than girls whereas girls’ offers remained the same with age. However, when inter-group strategic constraints were present, there were few gender differences from 10 years of age. The order in which games were presented was a powerful influence on the offers that participants made.
A PRELIMINARY COMPARISON OF VOLUMETRIC CHANGES BETWEEN DYSLEXIA AND ASPERGER SYNDROME

Although shared neuropsychological characteristics between dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder have been identified, no comparisons at anatomical brain level have been reported. In this study, we examined global and regional grey and white matter changes in adults with dyslexia and patients with Asperger syndrome (AS) in comparison to healthy controls, using voxel-based-morphometry. Results revealed higher levels of global grey mat- ter volume in the Asperger syndrome group in comparison to normal controls but not dyslexia. Further comparisons of grey and white matter could not detect any regional dif- ferences between the three groups. From the current data, the hypothesis that regional anatomical abnormalities are strongly implicated in AS and dyslexia could not be support- ed with the technique used.
Family income and survival in Brazilian Peritoneal Dialysis Multicenter Study Patients (BRAZPD): time to revisit a myth?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Although low socioeconomic status has been considered a contraindication to peritoneal dialysis (PD), no published data clearly link it to poor outcomes. The goal of this study was assessing the effect of income on survival in the Brazilian Peritoneal Dialysis Multicenter STUDY. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Incident PD patients enrolled in this prospective cohort from December 2004 to October 2007 were divided according to monthly family income. The median age was 59 years, 54% were women, 60% Caucasians, 41% diabetics, and 24% had cardiovascular disease. Most of them were in continuous ambulatory PD, had not received predialysis care, had <4 school years, and had a family income of <5 minimum wage (80%). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model adjusting the results for age, gender, educational status, predialysis care, first therapy, PD modality, calendar year, and comorbidities. RESULTS There were no differences in technique (log rank test χ² = 4.36) and patient (log rank test χ² = 2.92) survival between the groups. In the multivariate analysis, low family income remained not associated either to worse technique survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91 to 1.84) or to patient survival (HR = 1.40; 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.99). CONCLUSIONS According to these results, economic status is not independently associated with outcomes in this large cohort and should not be considered a barrier for PD indication.
Otic Capsule Dehiscence Syndrome: Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome with no Radiographically Visible Dehiscence

We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of two cohorts of patients who had superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SSCDS); one group had radiographically confirmed superior canal dehiscence (SCD), and the other exhibited no identified otic capsule dehiscence on imaging (no-iOCD). We compiled data obtained from prospective structured symptomatology interviews; diagnostic studies; three-dimensional, high-resolution, temporal bone computed tomography; and a retrospective case review from our tertiary care referral center. Eleven adults and 1 child with SSCDS were identified, surgically managed, and followed. Six of these patients—1 man and 5 women, aged 29 to 54 years at first surgery (mean: 41.8)—had radiologically confirmed SCD. The other 6 patients—1 man, 4 women, and 1 girl, aged 1 to 51 years (mean: 32.2)—had no-iOCD. The 6 adults with SCD underwent surgery via a middle cranial fossa approach with plugging procedures. The 5 adults and 1 child with no-iOCD underwent round window reinforcement (RWR) surgery. One SCD patient developed no-iOCD 1.5 years after SCD surgery, and she subsequently underwent RWR surgery. Our main outcome measures were patient symptomatology (with video documentation) and the results of diagnostic studies. Other than the character of migraine headaches, there was no difference in preoperative symptomatology between the two groups. Postoperatively, resolution of SSCDS symptoms ultimately occurred in all patients. Both the SCD and the no-iOCD groups experienced a highly significant improvement in postural control following treatment (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p < 0.001). We conclude that the term otic capsule dehiscence syndrome more accurately reflects the clinical syndrome of SSCDS since it includes both superior semicircular canal dehiscence and no-iOCD, as well as posterior and lateral semicircular canal dehiscence, all of which can manifest as SSCDS. We have also included links to videos in which 4 of the SSCDS patients with no-iOCD in this study discussed their symptoms and the results of their surgery; these links are found in the “References” section in citations 12–15. Links to three other videos of interest are contained in citations 10, 11, and 24.
Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity

This work traces the development of country music and its institutionalization from Fiddlin' John Carson's pioneering recordings in Atlanta in 1923 to the posthumous success of Hank Williams. Richard Peterson seeks to capture the free-wheeling entrepreneurial spirit of the era and details the activities of the key promoters who sculpted the emerging country music scene. More than just a history of the music and its performers, this book explores what it means to be authentic within popular culture.
Biotypic diversity in greenbug (Hemiptera: Aphididae): characterizing new virulence and host associations.

Biotypic diversity of the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), was assessed among populations collected from cultivated wheat, Triticum aestivum L. , and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, and their associated noncultivated grass hosts. Greenbugs were collected during May through August 2002 from 30 counties of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Discounting the presumptive biotype A, five of the remaining nine letter-designated greenbug biotypes were collected; however, biotypes C, F, J, and K were not detected. Biotypes E and I exhibited the greatest host range and were the only biotypes collected in all four states. Sixteen greenbug clones, collected from eight plant species, exhibited unique biotype profiles. Eleven were collected from noncultivated grasses, three from wheat, and two from sorghum. The most virulent biotypes were collected from noncultivated hosts. The great degree of biotypic diversity among noncultivated grasses supports the contention that the greenbug species complex is composed of host-adapted races that diverged on grass species independently of, and well before, the advent of modern agriculture.
BENEFITS AND COST OF DUAL-TASKING IN A VIGILANCE TASK: A LABORATORY AND DRIVING SIMULATOR INVESTIGATION

It is believed that under certain conditions, the presence of a secondary task such as a cell phone conversation would minimize a decrease in vigilance. The current study investigates this assumption by using two different vigilance paradigms. Further investigations were done by applying the same secondary task conditions to a monotonous driving scenario in a simulator. Results from the vigilance studies showed robust effects of dual task interference, and improvement in task performance for participants engaged in dual task from beginning to end. It was noted that the benefit of an improvement in task performance did not outweigh its cost as the reported improvement only reached a level similar to that of an individual who was low in vigilance. Results from the driving simulator indicated a possible driving improvement with the presence of a secondary task during later stages of the driving task as indicated by smaller lane keeping variability. The perceived improvement was questioned as there was a significantly poorer recall memory under dual task conditions. In general, it might be suggested that a secondary task may improve task performance under vigilance conditions, but the reported benefit may not outweigh its
Growing up an orphan: vulnerability of adolescent girls to HIV in Malawi

Based on a qualitative study conducted in the township of Chibavi in Mzuzu City Malawi this paper seeks to contribute to the emerging debate as to why orphans may be more vulnerable to the AIDS epidemic through the lens of an informal labour relation locally known as ganyu. The paper argues that although ganyu has deep roots in the countrys history and has served as an escape from extreme poverty in rural areas its transition to the urban landscape is associated with an emergent practice of sexual exchange between those who seek ganyu and those who recruit the workers. While youth in Chibavi generally work ganyu the particularly oversized domestic roles of encumbered orphans against a backdrop of extremely deprived material circumstances and weak kin ties propelled them into prolonged ganyu contracts and compelled them to more readily concede to sexual demands imposed by those who offered them ganyu. Drawing on geographic perspectives from political ecology of health and tracing the historical and geographic interconnections of ganyu this study adds to the understanding of how the spatial transformation of this enduring ad hoc labour makes it a relation that potentially shapes vulnerability to HIV in Malawi. This study also wrestles with the question of why current policy debates do not reflect these realities in a country with one of worst AIDS epidemics and in turn makes relevant policy recommendations.
Advising Policymakers through the Media

In the information age, an exchange with the media is part of the duties the economics profession has to deliver to educate the public. A key issue is the education of policymakers through the media. It is the silver bullet of policy advice in comparison to commissioned research and face-to-face advice provided to the politician. It also pleases the vanity of the scientist: Few economists are willing to sacrifice the celebrity of public visibility to the effectiveness of face-to-face advice. The author advocates for a stronger role of researchers in the public debate and suggests ways to become more influential. He argues that in the long run agenda setting is a more promising strategy than reactive press activities.