Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Critical capital: cultural studies, the critical disposition and critical reading as elite practice

ABSTRACT In Distinction, Pierre Bourdieu famously proposes the concept of an ‘aesthetic disposition’: a capacity to conceive the world in terms of form rather than function. Acquired through education, this disposition serves as a key marker of cultural privilege. Building on subsequent critical discussions regarding the applicability of aesthetic disposition (or lack of) beyond Bourdieu’s own context, I argue that in the contemporary cultural context, formal appreciation has been supplanted by critical reading as a marker of a privileged and educated orientation towards culture and that this ‘critical disposition’ is directly relevant to the project of cultural studies. Addressing the importance of critical reading in new venues of cultural criticism, I argue that the elevation of critical over formal orientations towards culture speaks to the success of certain forms of cultural studies, but also threatens to associate critique with privilege in ways that undercut its emancipatory promise.
Effect of Nadir CD4+ T Cell Count on Clinical Measures of Periodontal Disease in HIV+ Adults before and during Immune Reconstitution on HAART

Background The contribution of HIV-infection to periodontal disease (PD) is poorly understood. We proposed that immunological markers would be associated with improved clinical measures of PD. Methods We performed a longitudinal cohort study of HIV-infected adults who had started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) <2 years. PD was characterized clinically as the percent of teeth with ≥1 site with periodontal probing depth (PPD) ≥5.0mm, recession (REC) >0mm, clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥4.0mm, and bleeding on probing (BOP) at ≥4 sites/tooth and microbiologically as specific periodontopathogen concentration. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between immune function and PD. Results Forty (40) subjects with median 2.7 months on HAART and median nadir CD4+ T-cell count of 212 cells/μl completed a median 3 visits. Over 24 months, CD4+ T-cell count increased by a mean 173 cells/µl (p<0.001) and HIV RNA decreased by 0.5 log10 copies/ml (p<0.001); concurrently, PPD, CAL and BOP decreased by a mean 11.7%, 12.1%, and 14.7% respectively (all p<0.001). Lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with worse baseline REC (-6.72%; p=0.04) and CAL (9.06%; p<0.001). Further, lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with a greater relative longitudinal improvement in PPD in subjects with higher baseline levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (p=0.027), and BOP in subjects with higher baseline levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis or Treponema denticola (p=0.001 and p=0.006 respectively). Longitudinal changes from baseline in CD4+ T-cell count and level of HIV RNA were not independently associated with longitudinal changes in any clinical markers of PD. Conclusion Degree of immunosuppression was associated with baseline gingival recession. After HAART initiation, measures of active PD improved most in those with lower nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and higher baseline levels of specific periodontopathogens. Nadir CD4+ T-cell count differentially influences periodontal disease both before and after HAART in HIV-infected adults.
Shooting the Auctioneer

Most dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models of the macroeconomy assume that labor is traded in a spot market. Two exceptions by David Andolfatto and Monika Merz combine a two-sided search model with a one-sector real business cycle model. These hybrid models are successful, in some dimensions, but they cannot account for observed volatility in unemployment and vacancies. Following suggestions by Robert Hall and Robert Shimer, this paper shows that a relatively standard DSGE model with sticky wages can account for these facts. Using a second-order approximation to the policy function we simulate moments of an artificial economy with and without sticky wages and we document the dependence of unemployment and vacancy volatility on two key parameters; the disutility of effort and the degree of wage stickiness. We compute the welfare costs of the sticky wage equilibrium and find them to be small.
Genetic Pathways and New Progression Markers for Prostate Cancer Suggested by Microsatellite Allelotyping

Purpose: At diagnosis, the biological behavior of prostate cancer is uncertain, making the choice of an adequate therapy option difficult. Performing microsatellite allelotyping on a large series of consecutive prostate cancers procured during radical prostatectomy at our institution, we sought to identify molecular markers associated with disease progression. Experimental Design: A total of 156 consecutive fresh tumor samples was prospectively collected and macroscopically dissected from the whole prostatectomy specimen immediately after operation. Histologically 100 samples contained >75% tumor cells and were therefore enrolled in the microsatellite allelotyping, using a total of 24 polymorphic markers for the chromosomal regions 5p, 5q, 7q, 8p, 9p, 9q, 13q, 17p, 17q, and 18q. Fresh paired normal and tumor DNA was investigated in fluorescent microsatellite analysis with automated laser product detection. Results: The incidence of tumor–DNA alterations [loss of heterozygosity or allelic imbalance (AI)] was highest for chromosomal regions 13q and 8p with 72 and 71%, respectively, followed by chromosomes 7q, 18q, 5q, and 17p with 57, 53, 41, and 39%, respectively. Alterations at chromosomes 8p, 9p, 13q, and 17p were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with advanced tumor stage, whereas AI at 8p and 17p was also associated with high Gleason score (P < 0.05). AI at 5q and 9p was associated with regional lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The combination of AI at 8p and 13q was strongly associated with advanced tumor stage (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: With the obtained results, we are able to postulate three distinct pathways in prostate carcinogenesis, and we identified microsatellite markers of prognostic value.
Adaptation of Perceived Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale for Writing into Turkish Language

Article History: Received 18.03. 2015 Received in revised form 07.08. 2015 Accepted 21.08. 2015 Available online 13.09. 2015 This research aimed to adapt perceived self-regulatory efficacy scale for writing to Turkish language. The data for factor analysis and reliability was obtained from a total of 450 undergraduate students (308 male, 142 female, age mean=20.82, SD=1.43) studying at a public university in Turkey’s Mugla province. Additionally, for the criterion validity of the scale, another data was gathered from a total of 250 undergraduate students (154 male, 76 female age mean=20.89, SD=1.55). The scale, which is consisted of 25 items, revealed one-factor model and this factor explained 38% variance. Factor loading of the scale ranged from . 18 to . 74. Item-total correlations were from . 16 to . 69. Beside this, the internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha=α) of the scale was . 93 from the first sample and it was . 90 from the second sample. The item analysis of 27% upper and lower group means calculation yielded a statistically significant “t value”. In regard to the criterion validity of the scale, there was positive and significant relation between the adapted scale and academic self-efficacy scale. © 2015 IOJES. All rights reserved
Novel Human Metapneumovirus Sublineage

In a pediatric surveillance network, 287 (5.1%) of 5,580 specimens from patients with acute respiratory infections tested positive for human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Phylogenetic analysis of N- and F-gene sequences of identified HMPV showed that 30% belonged to a novel phylogenetic cluster.
Dual role of the integrated stress response in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis

In response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, activation of pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) coordinates an adaptive program known as the integrated stress response (ISR) by phosphorylating translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α). Phosphorylated eIF2α is quickly dephosphorylated by the protein phosphatase 1 and growth arrest and DNA damage 34 (GADD34) complex. Data indicate that the ISR can either promote or suppress tumor development. Our previous studies showed that the ISR is activated in medulloblastoma in both human patients and animal models, and that the decreased ISR via PERK heterozygous deficiency attenuates medulloblastoma formation in Patched1 heterozygous deficient (Ptch1+/−) mice by enhancing apoptosis of pre-malignant granule cell precursors (GCPs) during cell transformation. We showed here that GADD34 heterozygous mutation moderately enhanced the ISR and noticeably increased the incidence of medulloblastoma in adult Ptch1+/− mice. Surprisingly, GADD34 homozygous mutation strongly enhanced the ISR, but significantly decreased the incidence of medulloblastoma in adult Ptch1+/− mice. Intriguingly, GADD34 homozygous mutation significantly enhanced pre-malignant GCP apoptosis in cerebellar hyperplastic lesions and reduced the lesion numbers in young Ptch1+/− mice. Nevertheless, neither GADD34 heterozygous mutation nor GADD34 homozygous mutation had a significant effect on medulloblastoma cells in adult Ptch1+/− mice. Collectively, these data imply the dual role of the ISR, promoting and inhibiting, in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis by regulating apoptosis of pre-malignant GCPs during the course of malignant transformation.
Virtual Teams versus Face-to-Face Teams: An Exploratory Study of a Web-based Conference System*

Many organizations are forming “virtual teams” of geographically distributed knowledge workers to collaborate on a variety of workplace tasks. But how effective are these virtual teams compared to traditional face-to-face groups? Do they create similar teamwork and is information exchanged as effectively? An exploratory study of a World Wide Web-based asynchronous computer conference system known as Meeting Web™ is presented and discussed. It was found that teams using this computer-mediated communication system (CMCS) could not outperform traditional (face-to-face) teams under otherwise comparable circumstances. Further, relational links among team members were found to be a significant contributor to the effectiveness of information exchange. Though virtual and face-to-face teams exhibit similar levels of communication effectiveness, face-to-face team members report higher levels of satisfaction. Therefore, the paper presents steps that can be taken to improve the interaction experience of virtual teams. Finally, guidelines for creating and managing virtual teams are suggested, based on the findings of this research and other authoritative sources.
Rights, participatory spaces and the daily fabric of children and young people’s voices in Switzerland

ABSTRACT The past two decades have witnessed an unprecedented rise in public policies aimed at hearing children and young people’s voices, which typically entail creating supportive participatory spaces. While this political project is usually presented as a radical move towards a more inclusive society, it raises critical questions about whose voices are being represented, how, why, by whom and for whom. Drawing upon recent ethnographic research on childhood and youth policies in Switzerland, this article explores how children and young people’s voices are produced in concrete situations. It studies how the institutional and material characteristics of participatory spaces and situated interactions shape which voices will actually be heard. The research highlights that, despite their inclusive ambitions, participatory spaces paradoxically exclude young persons who fail to articulate, orally or in written, linguistically, morally or politically legitimate voices.
Theoretical Study of Acoustic Circular Arrays With Tangential Pressure Gradient Sensors

Microphone arrays as a means of sound field acquisition have been the topic of extensive research for more than eight decades now. A number of designs have been suggested, each trying to overcome difficulties that are inherent to either the decomposition of the sound field, the transducers in use or the presence of the array itself. This work presents a theoretical analysis of circular microphone arrays that do not measure the sound pressure but the component of its gradient that is tangential to a given boundary. Its performance is compared to that of a conventional pressure sensor array as a benchmark. The focus of the analysis and subsequent assessment lies on spatial aliasing and performance in the presence of noise.
Deep Reinforcement Learning with a Natural Language Action Space

This paper introduces a novel architecture for reinforcement learning with deep neural networks designed to handle state and action spaces characterized by natural language, as found in text-based games. Termed a deep reinforcement relevance network (DRRN), the architecture represents action and state spaces with separate embedding vectors, which are combined with an interaction function to approximate the Q-function in reinforcement learning. We evaluate the DRRN on two popular text games, showing superior performance over other deep Q-learning architectures. Experiments with paraphrased action descriptions show that the model is extracting meaning rather than simply memorizing strings of text.
Cord Blood Glutathione Depletion in Preterm Infants: Correlation with Maternal Cysteine Depletion

Background Depletion of blood glutathione (GSH), a key antioxidant, is known to occur in preterm infants. Objective Our aim was to determine: 1) whether GSH depletion is present at the time of birth; and 2) whether it is associated with insufficient availability of cysteine (cys), the limiting GSH precursor, or a decreased capacity to synthesize GSH. Methodology Sixteen mothers delivering very low birth weight infants (VLBW), and 16 mothers delivering healthy, full term neonates were enrolled. Immediately after birth, erythrocytes from umbilical vein, umbilical artery, and maternal blood were obtained to assess GSH [GSH] and cysteine [cys] concentrations, and the GSH synthesis rate was determined from the incorporation of labeled cysteine into GSH in isolated erythrocytes ex vivo, measured using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Principal Findings Compared with mothers delivering at full term, mothers delivering prematurely had markedly lower erythrocyte [GSH] and [cys] and these were significantly depressed in VLBW infants, compared with term neonates. A strong correlation was found between maternal and fetal GSH and cysteine levels. The capacity to synthesize GSH was as high in VLBW as in term infants. Conclusion The current data demonstrate that: 1) GSH depletion is present at the time of birth in VLBW infants; 2) As VLBW neonates possess a fully active capacity to synthesize glutathione, the depletion may arise from inadequate cysteine availability, potentially due to maternal depletion. Further studies would be needed to determine whether maternal-fetal cysteine transfer is decreased in preterm infants, and, if so, whether cysteine supplementation of mothers at risk of delivering prematurely would strengthen antioxidant defense in preterm neonates.
Essential role of GATA3 in regulation of differentiation and cell proliferation in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma is a common solid malignant tumor of the sympathetic nervous system, which contributes to 15% of cancer-related mortality in children. The differentiation status of neuroblastoma is correlated with clinical outcome, and the induction of differentiation thus constitutes a therapeutic approach in this disease. However, the molecular mechanisms that control the differentiation of neuroblastoma remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to define whether GATA3 is involved in the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. The results demonstrated that GATA3 is a prognostic marker for survival in patients with neuroblastoma, and that high-level GATA3 expression is associated with increased self-renewal and proliferation of neuroblastoma cells. Retinoic acid treatment led to GATA3 downregulation together with neuronal differentiation, suppression of cell proliferation and inhibition of tumorigenecity in neuroblastoma cells. These findings suggest that GATA3 is a key regulator of neuroblastoma differentiation, and provide a novel potential therapeutic strategy for the induction of neuroblastoma differentiation.
The Asymmetric Effect of Website Attribute Performance on Satisfaction: An Empirical Study

The purpose of this study is to examine the asymmetrical effects of negative and positive website attribute performance on satisfaction. An online survey on satisfaction with an e-portal was conducted, and a total of 515 usable questionnaires were collected. Psychometric properties of the measures were examined, and ordinary least squares were used to estimate the regression model. Results show that the importance of asymmetrical effect is different for different attributes, where the negative performance on information reliability, system access and usability had a stronger impact than their positive performance. On the other hand, the positive performance on information understandability and usefulness, and system navigation had a stronger impact than their negative performance. This difference of asymmetrical effect is an important area calling for future investigation.
Co-lateralized bilingual mechanisms for reading in single and dual language contexts: evidence from visual half-field processing of action words in proficient bilinguals

When reading, proficient bilinguals seem to engage the same cognitive circuits regardless of the language in use. Yet, whether or not such “bilingual” mechanisms would be lateralized in the same way in distinct—single or dual—language contexts is a question for debate. To fill this gap, we tested 18 highly proficient Polish (L1) —English (L2) childhood bilinguals whose task was to read aloud one of the two laterally presented action verbs, one stimulus per visual half field. While in the single-language blocks only L1 or L2 words were shown, in the subsequent mixed-language blocks words from both languages were concurrently displayed. All stimuli were presented for 217 ms followed by masks in which letters were replaced with hash marks. Since in non-simultaneous bilinguals the control of language, skilled actions (including reading), and representations of action concepts are typically left lateralized, the vast majority of our participants showed the expected, significant right visual field advantage for L1 and L2, both for accuracy and response times. The observed effects were nevertheless associated with substantial variability in the strength of the lateralization of the mechanisms involved. Moreover, although it could be predicted that participants' performance should be better in a single-language context, accuracy was significantly higher and response times were significantly shorter in a dual-language context, irrespective of the language tested. Finally, for both accuracy and response times, there were significant positive correlations between the laterality indices (LIs) of both languages independent of the context, with a significantly greater left-sided advantage for L1 vs. L2 in the mixed-language blocks, based on LIs calculated for response times. Thus, despite similar representations of the two languages in the bilingual brain, these results also point to the functional separation of L1 and L2 in the dual-language context.
Dual Coding Theory 1 a Dual Coding Theoretical Model of Reading Orthogonal Relationship between Mental Codes and Sense Modalities Mental Codes Sense Modality Verbal Nonverbal Visual Visual Language(writing) Visual Objects

dual coding theory 2 Dual Coding Theory (DCT) is an established theory of general cognition that has been directly applied to literacy. This theory was originally developed to account for verbal and nonverbal influences on memory, but it has been extended to many other areas of cognition through a systematic program of research over many years (Paivio, 1971, 1986, 1991). It has been extended to literacy as an account of reading comprehension and as a unified theory of reading and writing (Sadoski & Paivio, 2001). For the fullest understanding of the theory these references and the specific studies they cite should be consulted. This paper briefly discusses the DCT account of certain basic processes in reading including decoding, comprehension, and response. The value of explaining reading under the aegis of a theory of general cognition is compelling. Reading is a cognitive act, but there is nothing about reading that does not occur in other cognitive acts that do not involve reading. We perceive, recognize, interpret, comprehend, appreciate, and remember information that is not in text form as well as information that is in text form. Cognition in reading is a special case of general cognition that involves written language. Theories specific to reading must eventually conform with broader theories of general cognition for scientific progress to advance. DCT provides one vehicle for that advancement. Another value offered by DCT is that it provides a combined account of decoding, comprehension, and response. Theories of reading often focus on one or another of these aspects of reading but not all. As we shall see, the same basic DCT principles apply to grapheme-phoneme correspondences, word meaning, grammar, the construction of dual coding theory 3 mental models of text episodes, and even imaginative responses to text. In this chapter we will briefly explain the theory's basic assumptions; provide accounts of decoding, comprehension, and response; compare and contrast DCT with other theories of reading; and discuss its implications for practice and research. Basic Assumptions A basic premise of DCT is that all mental representations retain some of the concrete qualities of the external experiences from which they derive. These experiences can be linguistic or nonlinguistic. Their differing characteristics develop into two separate mental systems, or codes, one specialized for representing and processing language (the verbal code) and one for processing nonlinguistic objects and events (the nonverbal code). The latter is frequently referred to as the …
Risk , Uncertainty , and Asset-Pricing Puzzles

In conventional rational expectations expositions of the equity premium puzzle, riskfree rate puzzle, and variability mismatch puzzle,the subjective distribution of future growth rates is essentially made to mimic its past sample moments. This paper shows that the unobservable nature of structural growth parameters adds to expectation beliefs a permanent thick-tailed background layer of uncertainty that never converges to a stationary-ergodic rational expectations equilibrium, yet which explains the three puzzlesparsimoniously by one unifying principle. The posterior data generating process of a Bayesian evolutionary-learning equilibrium with a vague prior is consistent with all three values of the puzzlesobserved as stylized facts. 1 Introduction: Structural Uncertainty and Asset Prices The equity premium puzzlerefers to the spectacular failure of the standard neoclassical representative-agent model of stochastic general-equilibrium growth to explain a historical di¤erence of some six or so percentage points between the average return to a representative stock market portfolio and the average return from a representative portfolio of relatively safe stores of value. Such a large premium on risk cum uncertainty suggests either that people are perceiving more uncertainty about the future than past data would at rst glance appear to indicate, or else that something is fundamentally wrong with the standard formulation of the (e-address: mweitzman@harvard.edu) For helpful detailed comments on earlier drafts of this paper, but without blaming them for its remaining defects, I am grateful to Andrew Abel, Gary Chamberlain, Xavier Gabaix, Alfred Galichon, Jerry Hausman, Joseph Kadane, Angelo Melino, Jonathan Parker, Je¤ Strnad, and, especially, Evan Anderson, John Geweke, and Narayana Kocherlakota.