Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bilingual vocabulary production in young children receiving Maltese-dominant exposure: individual differences and the influence of demographic and language exposure factors

ABSTRACT This study explored individual variability in the bilingual vocabularies of 65 Maltese children aged 23–27 months (N = 33) and 30–34 months (N = 32). Most of the participants’ direct input consisted of Maltese sentences embedding English words. Bilingualism was present at the societal level. Word production was measured through parental report, using a bilingual adaptation of the vocabulary checklist in the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories. The participants’ composite and single-language vocabulary measures were examined for central tendencies and age effects, together with individual usage of Maltese and English words. The study also investigated how demographic and language exposure factors, documented through parental questionnaire responses, accounted for individual differences in participants’ vocabularies. Proportionally adjusted single-language scores showed 61.54% of children to use fewer Maltese words than expected. Maternal education level emerged as a significant predictor of Total Vocabulary and Maltese word scores, but explained very little of the variance for each. Frequency of English language exposure in main caregiver input and age group emerged as factors explaining 30.5% of the variance in English vocabulary scores. Maternal education level and frequency of English exposure may therefore act as protective factors in the vocabulary development of children receiving Maltese-dominant exposure.
Oxidative Stress Statues in Serum and Follicular Fluid of Women with Endometriosis

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the levels of two oxidative stress (OS) markers including lipid peroxide (LPO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in both serum and follicular fluid (FF) of women with endometriosis after puncture. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total number of sixty-three women younger than 40 years old with laparoscopy (gold standard for endometriosis diagnosis) indication underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) program in the Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran from September 2013 to October 2014. About forty-three patients were diagnosed with endometriosis after laparoscopy. Blood and FF from the leading follicle in each stimulated ovary were obtained at the time of egg retrieval; samples were centrifuged and frozen until assessment. At the time of sample assessment, serum and FF samples were evaluated for the levels of LPO and TAC on spectrophotometery. Results We observed that women with endometriosis had significantly higher LPO and lower TAC levels in the serum and FF as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion It has observed that FF of women with endometriosis, regardless of disease stage, increases the proliferation power of endometrial cells in vitro, we presume that inflammatory reactions-induced OS in ovary may be responsible for proliferation induction ability in FF obtained from women with endometriosis.
Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Swedish Sterilant Workers Exposed to Ethylene Oxide: Updated Cohort Study Findings 1972–2006

Objectives: To assess whether cancer incidence, mainly from lymphohaematopoietic tumours and breast cancer, and mortality were increased in a cohort of Swedish sterilant workers exposed to low levels of ethylene oxide (EtO), updated with 16 more years of follow up. Methods: The mortality and cancer incidence 1972–2006 experienced by a cohort of 2,171 male and female workers employed for at least one year in two plants producing medical equipment sterilised with EtO were investigated. Individual cumulative exposure to EtO was assessed by occupational hygienists. Cause-specific standardized rate ratios were calculated using the regional general population as a comparison for mortality (SMR) and cancer incidence (SIR). Internal Poisson-regression analyses were performed for selected causes. Results: The median cumulative exposure to EtO was 0.13 ppm-years. The overall cancer incidence was close to unity (SIR 0.94, 95% CI 0.82–1.08). Eighteen cases of lymphohaematopoietic cancer were observed (SIR 1.25, 95% CI 0.74–1.98). A healthy worker effect was indicated from a significantly decreased overall mortality and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Internal analyses found significantly increased rate ratios for breast cancer for the two upper quartiles of cumulative exposure as compared to the lowest 50% of the cohort (IRR 2.76, 95% CI 1.20–6.33 and IRR 3.55, 95% CI 1.58–7.93). Conclusions: The findings from this updated study indicate limited or low risks for human cancer due to occupational exposure from ethylene oxide at the low cumulative exposure levels in this cohort. However a positive exposure-response relation with breast cancer was observed though.
‘It’s (not) all in the mind’: PhD students’ experiences, well-being, and mindfulness

Although undertaking a PhD provides great opportunities for intellectual challenges and benefits, students also experience high levels of stress and attrition within the degree. It is therefore important to better understand the needs of students and how to support them in order to improve their experience, increase well-being, and support better academic outcomes. This research conducted two studies: the first explores what supports and hinders the well-being and academic functioning of PhD students at one Victorian university; and the second—because stress is a large feature of PhD students’ lives—examines the potential of a brief mindfulness-based intervention (brief MBI) to provide benefits to students. This intervention is a modified and substantially shorter version of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program which was shortened from 8 weeks (27 hours) to 4 weeks (6 hours). This research used constructivist grounded theory as the strategy of inquiry and in-depth semi-structured interviews to achieve the aim of exploring subjective experiences, with participants interviewed at both one and four months post-intervention. Overall, Study 1 found that the needs of PhD students are best understood through an ecological perspective, that is, that the areas important to their well-being and academic functioning fall within and across individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural, material, and social levels. Included in these areas are the needs for personal and academic growth, personal and academic competence, rest and rejuvenation, social and intellectual integration, and material and cohort specific supports. Further, achieving a balance across these areas of well-being and academic functioning represents an ideal student experience which promotes higher levels of satisfaction. Study 2 found that the brief MBI provided some benefits to these students including stress reduction, increased positive affect, and improved academic functioning at the one month interview. However, at four months, many of these benefits were not sustained and only a few participants continued to practise techniques from the program. A brief MBI, therefore, has some value in supporting students but requires further modifications to sustain benefits and be of greater help to this population.
Nocturnal predators and their impact on lepidopteran eggs in annual crops: what we don't see does help us!

Predation is often a key factor maintaining insect populations below pest status in annual crops. However, in many cases, the predators causing significant mortality to particular pests in the field are not well understood. In particular, the complex of nocturnally active predators feeding on pest species is usually unknown. The predator complexes attacking lepidopteran eggs in cotton, corn and soybean in south Texas, U.S.A. , were determined with the goal of characterizing diurnal and nocturnal predator complexes, determining the role of nocturnal predators in lepidopteran pest mortality, and quantifying diel patterns of predation. The evaluations reported here focused on the predator complexes feeding on Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Spodopteran exigua (Hubner), (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). This work has been conducted using direct observation to accurately measure and identify predation of lepidopteran eggs while removing the bias towards day-active predators. Egg predation was typically high in all crops in all years, although it ranged from 25 to 99% in any 24 h period. Nocturnal predation was a significant component of this mortality in all crops. The diurnal and nocturnal predator complexes observed feeding on eggs differed between crops. The relative importance of nocturnal predation varied among dates, but on average was similar to diurnal predation in cotton, corn and soybean in 2002 and soybean in 2003. Mortality due to nocturnal predation was >50% higher than diurnal predation in cotton in 2003. Predators observed feeding at night constituted nearly 72% of all observations in south Texas cotton, 52% in corn and 49% in soybean. Nocturnal predators of particular importance included a group of cursorial spiders responsible for nearly 25% of all observations of predation in cotton as well as the formicids (primarily Solenopsis invicta Buren) Of the four spider species most frequently observed feeding on eggs, only one had previously been reported as an important predator in agricultural settings (Cheiracanthium inclusum [Hentz]). Few predators were commonly active during both day and night. Nocturnal observations revealed both predators that were previously suspected to be important mortality factors as well as those that had not been perceived to be important (e.g., cursorial spiders).
Breach and willingness to support the organization: An attribution and social exchange perspective

Purpose This study aims to integrate the attribution theory into the traditional social exchange view of the breach-outcome relationship. Perceived disinterested support (PDS), perceived organizational support (POS) and job satisfaction are included as serial mediators of the relationship between breach and willingness to support the organization. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a field study in which 579 employees took part. Findings The results indicated partial mediation of the examined relationship. More specifically, POS and PDS (through POS) were found to mediate the breach-willingness to support the organization relationship. Job satisfaction contributed weakly to the explanation of the examined relationship. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional nature of the study limits the ability to claim causality. Practical implications Managers should be aware of how employees interpret breach in terms of organizational motives. Interpreting breach as a lack of disinterest on the part of the organization can spark social exchange processes leading to lower willingness to support the organization. Originality/value The study makes a unique contribution to the literature by being the first to examine PDS as a mediator of the breach-outcome relationship.
Differential expression of calreticulin, a reticuloplasmin in primate endometrium.

BACKGROUND To our knowledge, there are no data on hormonal regulation of reticuloplasmins in primate endometrium. We report the presence and modulation of expression of three reticuloplasmins in endometrium of bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata). METHODS Receptive and non-receptive endometria obtained from vehicle-treated control and onapristone (antiprogestin)-treated animals, respectively, were compared for differentially expressed proteins by two-dimensional proteomics. Mass spectrometric analysis annotated two such proteins as calreticulin and protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI), known to be molecular chaperones in endoplasmic reticulum. We then investigated if endoplasmin, another reticuloplasmin is also differentially expressed. Expression of these reticuloplasmins was also investigated in the endometriuma during pregnancy in bonnet monkeys. Samples were analysed by immunohistochemistry and western blot (calreticulin in human endometrium), and calreticulin transcript levels in Ishikawa cell line were assessed by real time PCR. RESULTS Immunohistochemical analysis of the functionalis region of non-receptive endometria in monkeys revealed higher expression of (i) calreticulin (P < 0.01) in glandular epithelium and (ii) PDI in stroma (P < 0.0001), but no change in endoplasmin in stroma or glands, compared with receptive endometria. Protein level of all three reticuloplasmins in the stromal region of endometrial functionalis was higher in pregnant than non-pregnant animals (P < 0.05). Human endometrial calreticulin protein was higher in the estrogen-dominant (proliferative) phase than progesterone-dominant (mid-secretory) phase of the cycle. Calreticulin mRNA in Ishikawa cells is up-regulated by estrogen (P < 0.05 versus control), with a trend towards down-regulation by progesterone. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that endometrial reticuloplasmins are regulated by hormones and embryonic stimuli in a cell-type specific manner. These novel data open up new lines of investigation for elucidating the mechanisms by which hormones or embryonic stimuli influence the sub-cellular physiology of endometrium.
Intact Lexicon Running Slowly – Prolonged Response Latencies in Patients with Subthalamic DBS and Verbal Fluency Deficits

Background Verbal Fluency is reduced in patients with Parkinson’s disease, particularly if treated with deep brain stimulation. This deficit could arise from general factors, such as reduced working speed or from dysfunctions in specific lexical domains. Objective To test whether DBS-associated Verbal Fluency deficits are accompanied by changed dynamics of word processing. Methods 21 Parkinson’s disease patients with and 26 without deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus as well as 19 healthy controls participated in the study. They engaged in Verbal Fluency and (primed) Lexical Decision Tasks, testing phonemic and semantic word production and processing time. Most patients performed the experiments twice, ON and OFF stimulation or, respectively, dopaminergic drugs. Results Patients generally produced abnormally few words in the Verbal Fluency Task. This deficit was more severe in patients with deep brain stimulation who additionally showed prolonged response latencies in the Lexical Decision Task. Slowing was independent of semantic and phonemic word priming. No significant changes of performance accuracy were obtained. The results were independent from the treatment ON or OFF conditions. Conclusion Low word production in patients with deep brain stimulation was accompanied by prolonged latencies for lexical decisions. No indication was found that the latter slowing was due to specific lexical dysfunctions, so that it probably reflects a general reduction of cognitive working speed, also evident on the level of Verbal Fluency. The described abnormalities seem to reflect subtle sequelae of the surgical procedure for deep brain stimulation rather than of the proper neurostimulation.
Impact of Capital Controls and Transaction Costs on the Return Distribution of Dually Traded Securities: Evidence from Chile and Argentina

In this paper we compare the distributions of ADR returns and the returns of the locally traded shares between Chile and Argentina. This comparison is interesting because both countries are emerging economies with a similar free market orientation. Both countries have similar free market orientation, but they differ in two important respects: (1) exchange rate regime and (2) restrictions to foreign investments. We find several differences between the two economies. Consistent with previous research, we find that the volatility of ADR returns tends to be higher than the return volatility of the underlying securities. We also find that the return distributions of Chilean ADRs are significantly different from the distributions of the returns on the respective underlying Chilean shares. The results reveal that while the mean returns are the same, the return standard deviations are significantly different. In contrast, Argentinean ADRs and their respective underlying shares tend to have the same distribution of returns. Finally, we employ a threshold model to estimate the transaction cost of trading the ADRs and the locally traded shares. We find that transaction costs that must be added to the returns difference before arbitrage is possible are between 1% and 2% for Chilean ADRs, and slightly lower - 0.66% to 1.65% for Argentinean ADRs. We also find that the daily return differential reversion caused by arbitrage activities is around 30% for Chilean ADRs and 40% for Argentinean ADRs.
Understanding the match-fixing scandals of professional baseball in Taiwan: an exploratory study of a Confucianism-oriented society

ABSTRACT Research question: Given the context of corrupt global sports, this study seeks to understand how Taiwan’s local culture is linked to match-fixing. Based on the concepts of Confucianism and Mencius’ ‘Five Cardinal Relationships’ (Wulun), this article identifies and analyzes how factors of Confucian culture relate to match-fixing in Taiwanese professional baseball (Chinese Professional Baseball League). Research methods: Nine in-depth interviews were conducted with syndicates, baseball coaches, former professional baseball players, and players’ wives. Additionally, data and information were collected from various documentary sources, including court transcripts of Taiwanese match-fixing cases, academic articles, and media and press commentaries. Results and findings: The results show that Wulun concepts can be characterized as a form of Confucianism in which social and familial relations ‘support’ various groups of actors. Elements of Wulun relationships, such as obedience, collective harmony, and loyalty, characterize the specific match-fixing context. Implications: These results indicate that both Confucian ideology and match-fixing are present in the Taiwanese professional baseball system. Meanwhile, Confucian Wulun emerges as a novel analytical concept in the literature on sports corruption.
Neuronal Responses in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell during Sexual Behavior in Male Rats

Previous behavioral studies have indicated that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell of a male rat is involved in its sexual behavior; however, no previous studies have investigated neuronal activities in the male rat NAc shell during sexual behavior. To investigate this issue, we recorded single unit activities in the NAc shell of male rats during sexual behavior. Of 123 NAc shell neurons studied, 53, 47, and 40 neurons exhibited significantly changed firing rates at various times during intromission, genital auto-grooming, and sniffing of females, respectively. The two types of NAc shell neurons [putative fast spiking interneurons (pFSIs) and medium spiny neurons (pMSNs)] responded differently during sexual behavior. First, more pFSIs than pMSNs exhibited inhibitory responses to thrusting with intromission and genital grooming, while pFSIs and pMSNs responded similarly to sniffing of females. Second, both pFSIs and pMSNs responded differently to thrusting with and without intromission. Furthermore, NAc shell neuronal activity was significantly different across the different phases of sexual behavior, and the number of NAc shell neurons with delta oscillation, which is related to behavioral inhibition, and high gamma oscillation, which is related to reward perception, increased after ejaculation. Together, our results suggest that the NAc shell is deeply involved in sexual behavior, and changes in NAc shell neuronal activity are related to performance of sexual behavior, encoding cues or contexts related to sexual behavior, reward-related processing, and the inhibition of sexual behavior after ejaculation.
Reconsidering Whether Women are Less Selfish than Men: Group Gender Composition Matters in Dictator Games

This paper investigates gender differences in donating behavior in double-anonymous dictator game experiments. To do so, we developed a new treatment where researchers can connect the gender of a dictator to her/his donation amount despite both female and male dictators being gathered in a room (the mixed-sex treatment). The gender priming effect is induced by comparing female dictators in the mixed-sex treatment with those in the single-sex treatment, where only female dictators are collected. Our findings are that: (1) Women donated more in the single-sex treatment than in the mixed-sex treatment, although the donation rates of men are not significantly different between the two treatments. (2)Women donated more than men in the single-sex treatment, although the donation rates between men and women are not significantly different in the mixed-sex treatment. These results indicate that women are less selfish than men when there are only women in a room.
Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells are resistant to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid excitotoxicity

Purpose Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) express the photopigment melanopsin (OPN4) and are mainly responsible for non-image-forming visual tasks such as circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex. Compared to other classes of RGCs, ipRGCs are more resistant to cell death in several experimental models such as ocular hypertension, optic nerve transection, and others. Here, we tested whether ipRGCs are also resistant to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity. Methods Mice were injected intravitreally with NMDA, and subsequent expression levels of Opn4 and Brn3a mRNA were analyzed with semiquantitative real-time PCR. Cells immunopositive for BRN3A and OPN4 were quantified in retinal flat mounts of NMDA- and PBS-injected eyes. The molecular response of the retina to NMDA treatment was analyzed with real-time PCR and western blotting. Intravitreal injections of wortmannin and AG-490 were used to inhibit phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling, respectively. Results In contrast to retinal Brn3a expression and BRN3A-containing cells, levels of Opn4 mRNA and the number of OPN4-expressing cells were not reduced after NMDA injection. Survival of ipRGCs after NMDA injection was not strain specific, did not require the presence of photoreceptor cells, and did not depend on PI3K/AKT or JAK/STAT signaling, although both signaling pathways were activated after NMDA treatment. Conclusions Our data support the existence of an efficient survival system for ipRGCs. This system does not depend on PI3K/AKT or JAK/STAT signaling. Identification of the responsible molecular survival mechanisms may provide clues to protect “traditional” ganglion cells in diseases such as glaucoma.