Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain metabolism and autoantibody titres predict functional impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective We investigated whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease duration or serology associate with abnormal regional glucose metabolism as measured with [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and deficits on neuropsychological testing. Methods Subjects with SLE with stable disease activity, without brain damage or clinical symptoms of neuropsychiatric (NP) SLE, stratified by disease duration (short-term (ST)-SLE=disease ≤2 years, long-term (LT)-SLE=disease ≥10 years), underwent clinical assessments, neuropsychological testing, resting FDG-PET scan imaging and measurement of serum titres of antibody to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (DNRAb). FDG-PET scans were compared with age-matched and gender-matched healthy controls. Results Subjects with LT-SLE demonstrated hypometabolism in the prefrontal and premotor cortices that correlated with accrued SLE-related damage, but not with DNRAb titre or performance on NP testing. Independent of disease duration, subjects with SLE demonstrated hypermetabolism in the hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex that correlated with impaired memory performance and mood alterations (depression, anxiety, fatigue). Serum DNRAb also correlated independently with impaired memory performance and increased anxiety. Together, serum DNRAb titre and regional hypermetabolism were more powerful predictors of performance than either alone. Interpretation The presence of serum DNRAbs can account for some aspects of brain dysfunction in patients with SLE, and the addition of regional measurements of resting brain metabolism improves the assessment and precise attribution of central nervous system manifestations related to SLE.
A new perspective on rule support for object-oriented databases

This paper proposes a new approach for supporting reactive capability in an object-oriented database. We introduce an event interface, which extends the conventional object semantics to include the role of an event generator. This interface provides a basis for the specification of events spanning sets of objects, possibly from different classes, and detection of primitive and complex events. This approach clearly separated event detection from rules. New rules can be added and use existing objects, enabling objects to react to their own changes as well as to the changes of other objects. We use a runtime subscription mechanism, between rules and objects to selectively monitor particular objects dynamically. This elegantly supports class level as well as instance level rules. Both events and rules are treated as first class objects.
Temporal Experiences and Time Knowledge in Infancy and Early Childhood

The developmental psychology of time is a vast field, as vast as the complexities of the notion of time itself. No overview can do justice to all areas of exploration. This paper focuses on early temporal experiences and time knowledge. The first section deals with the precursors of some temporal abilities in infancy. Then, three sets of studies are reviewed: studies on the development of representations of temporal structure; studies on transitions over the course of ontogenesis from conditioned responses to time to more cognitively regulated behaviours; and research on the development of children's conceptions of time as a quantifiable dimension.
The Immediate Effects of Homicidal, Suicidal, and Nonviolent Heavy Metal and Rap Songs on the Moods of College Students

The authors examined the impact of homicidal, suicidal, and nonviolent heavy metal and rap songs on the moods of male undergraducates under the guise of administering a memory for lyrics test. Subjects heard one of six songs and completed a memory task. Subjects completed several mood inventories as part of a “second study. ” There were no effects of song content or music type on suicidal ideation, anxiety, or self-esteem. The nonviolent rap song elicited higher Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores than the violent rap songs. And, rap songs elicited significantly more angry responses than heavy metal songs.
E-Books for supporting the emergent literacy and emergent math of children at risk for learning disabilities: can metacognitive guidance make a difference?

The purpose of the study reported here was to examine the effect of activity with an educational electronic book (e-book), with/without metacognitive guidance, on the emergent literacy (rhyming) and emergent math (essence of addition, ordinal numbers) of kindergartners at risk for learning disability (LD). Seventy-seven children (M = 5.88, SD = .67) participated in the study. The children’s cognitive level (verbal and non-verbal), emergent literacy (rhyming) and emergent math (essence of addition and ordinal numbers) were examined pre- and post-intervention. The findings indicate a significant improvement in these variables among the two groups of subjects who worked with the e-book when compared to the control group. The experimental group that received metacognitive guidance as part of their e-book experience exhibited the greatest improvement in rhyming. The findings are discussed in light of the still meager research on the effectiveness of e-books for promoting learning of children at risk for LD.
Automated social hierarchy detection through email network analysis

This paper provides a novel algorithm for automatically extracting social hierarchy data from electronic communication behavior. The algorithm is based on data mining user behaviors to automatically analyze and catalog patterns of communications between entities in a email collection to extract social standing. The advantage to such automatic methods is that they extract relevancy between hierarchy levels and are dynamic over time. We illustrate the algorithms over real world data using the Enron corporation's email archive. The results show great promise when compared to the corporations work chart and judicial proceeding analyzing the major players.
Grape and Grape Seed Extract Capacities at Protecting LDL against Oxidation Generated by Cu 2+ , AAPH or SIN-1 and at Decreasing Superoxide THP-1 Cell Production. A Comparison to other Extracts or Compounds

A large body of evidence supports the key role of oxidized low-density lipoprotein in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare the capacity of natural polyphenols (PP) from Vitis vinifera and Olea europea at protecting LDL against oxidation brought about by Cu 2+ , oxygen-centered radical-generating AAPH, or peroxynitrite-generating SIN-1 in vitro systems, or at impairing superoxide production in promonocyte cells (THP-1) conveniently differentiated into adherent macrophages. PP were either from the whole grape (fraction A) containing mainly procyanidins, (epi)-catechin and anthocyanins, or from grape seed extracts (fractions B and C) consisting of tannins and procyanidin oligomers with a higher content in B than in C, or from a grape skin extract (fraction D) consisting mainly of anthocyanins, or from a hydrosoluble olive mill wastewater PP extract (fraction E) containing hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein. Chlorogenic acid (F) and catechin (G) were taken as archetypes of PP preventing oxidation partly as copper scavenger and as radical scavenger only, respectively. All grape fractions were efficient towards Cu 2+ system (equally or more efficient than F), whereas they were rather poorly efficient towards AAPH and SIN-1 (less efficient than G but as efficient as F). Among the PP fractions, B was the most effective at protecting LDL in the SIN-1 system and at impairing THP-1 superoxide production. Taken together, these data suggest that the PP fraction from grape seed rich in procyanidins achieves the best compromise between the direct and indirect (i.e. cell-mediated) types of action in protecting LDL against oxidation, strengthening the need for improving the knowledge of its bioavailability in humans.
Us and them: the influence of discourses of nationalism on media coverage of the Paralympics

Recent research suggests that the mainstream media representation of disabled athletes increasingly fits within the ‘norms’ of sports reporting. This study interrogates this suggestion, using the theoretical tools of cultural studies to compare representations of athletes from ‘our’ nation with athletes from other countries. The results suggest the change may be related primarily to athletes who can be constructed as being more like ‘Us’ through their national affiliation rather than to a revolution in how journalists see disability sport. For those focused on creating progressive images of disability (such as increasing the visibility, depth and complexity of reporting), this finding may offer a way forward. Through understanding the conditions under which athletes might become publicly visible, disability sport organizations gain tools that may enhance their promotional activities.
Evaluating the Statistical Properties of the Pain Interference Index in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain

&NA; The high prevalence of chronic debilitating pain in pediatric populations calls for more knowledge regarding the impact of pain on functioning or pain interference. This in turn requires valid and reliable instruments to adequately assess the impact of pain on functioning. Also, adequate measures of pain interference are important in evaluations of behavioral interventions aimed at improving functioning. Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the statistical properties of the Pain Interference Index (PII), including the factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent criteria validity of the instrument. Method: Data were collected from a consecutive sample of children and adolescents referred to a tertiary pain clinic due to chronic pain (n = 163). A principal component analysis was used to investigate the latent factor structure of items. The internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. A set of hierarchical regression analyses was conducted to evaluate the ability of instruments to predict levels of depression and functional disability. Results: Analyses indicated the adequacy of a 1-factor solution with a total of 6 items. The intercorrelation between items and the scale's reliability was satisfactory. Furthermore, bivariate correlations and hierarchical regression analyses illustrate the concurrent criteria validity of the instrument. Conclusion: Results support the use of PII as an adequate instrument to assess pain interference in children and adolescents with chronic pain.
Serotonin-Driven Long-Range Inhibitory Connections in the Cerebellar Cortex

Disturbances of the serotoninergic neuromodulation in the cerebellar cortex have been involved in several types of ataxia, but the physiological action of serotonin in this structure remains poorly understood. We report that in slices of the rat cerebellar vermis, serotonin triggers the firing of an inhibitory interneuron presynaptic to Golgi cells. The Lugaro cell, a neglected interneuronal type, satisfies the expected criteria for this input, whereas basket cells, stellate cells, or Golgi cells do not. Lugaro cells are selectively excited by serotonin, and their firing behavior (sustained steady frequency in the 5–15 Hz range) resembles the pattern of occurrence of serotonin-evoked IPSCs in Golgi cells. Immunohistochemical stainings and single cell reconstructions show that Lugaro cell axons form a parasagittal plexus but also extend long transverse branches that run parallel to the parallel fibers and are partly myelinated. Electrophysiological data suggest that these transverse axons participate in synaptic contacts of the Lugaro cells with Golgi cells, and we calculated that in the intact cerebellum a given Lugaro cell contacts >100 Golgi cells. Serotonin modulation of Lugaro cells may constitute an intracortical switch involved in information patterning at the level of Golgi cells and granule cells populations, and particularly in synchronizations recorded along the transverse axisin vivo.
Comparative Pedagogies and Epistemological Diversity: Social and Materials Contexts of Teaching in Tanzania

This article examines how epistemological differences regarding knowledge production and material differences in the conditions of teaching influence teachers’ and teacher educators’ understandings of learner-centered pedagogy. Emerging from a 5-year collaboration between teams of US and Tanzanian teacher educators, the research focuses on six Tanzanian secondary schools whose teachers participated in a workshop on learner-centered pedagogy and pedagogical content knowledge. We find that teachers’ views of knowledge production are profoundly shaped by the cultural, economic, and social contexts in which they teach. We conclude not only that teachers’ working conditions are important contextual factors in comparative studies of schooling but that the conditions themselves need to be conceptualized more fully in theories of knowledge production and global/local reforms of teacher education.
Hematogenous Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Spondylodiscitis

Study Design. Retrospective case series. Objective. To determine relevant demographics, clinical presentations, and outcomes of this condition. Summary of Background Data. This is the first study looking specifically at methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) spondylodiscitis. Methods. We performed a retrospective review of patients presenting between 2000 and 2005. Results. Thirteen cases were identified. The mean age was 65 years; 85% were male. All cases presented with back pain, spinal tenderness, and systemic upset. Neurologic deficit was present initially in 39%, and 8% developed neurologic deterioration during treatment. The thoracic spine (53%) was most commonly affected, followed by the lumbar (33%), thoracolumbar junction (7%), and cervical spine (7%); 16% of cases were multilevel. The white cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were elevated in all cases with means of 17.3 × 10−9/L, 102 mm/h, and 236 mg/L, respectively. Radiologic diagnosis was established with MRI in all cases. The most common risk factors were diabetes mellitus (62%), malnourishment (54%), cirrhosis (31%), end-stage renal failure (15%), and intravenous drug use (15%). Multiple risk factors were present in 76% of cases, and only 15% had no identifiable risk factors. The main sources of sepsis were intravenous catheters (23%), urinary tract (15%), and intravenous drug use (15%). Treatment consisted of intravenous vancomycin monotherapy for a mean period of 4 weeks followed by oral combination or monotherapy antimicrobials for a mean period of 8 weeks. Operative intervention was required in 38% of cases. At 6 months, 54% of cases were clinically free of infection, 38% had died, and 8% required ongoing treatment. Neurologic deficit was present in 50% of survivors. At 1 year, 29% of survivors had MRSA bacteremia and spondylodiscitis recurrence. Conclusion. This is a devastating condition with high mortality and morbidity.
Crime and Poverty - Some Experimental-Evidence from Ex-Offenders

Building on perspectives from sociology, criminology, and economics, this article reports findings from a randomized experiment undertaken with over 2,000 ex-offenders in the states of Texas and Georgia in which unemployment benefits were extended to individuals immediately upon release from prison. The analysis focuses on the endogenous relationships (over a one-year follow-up period) between these "transfer payments," unemployment, arrests for property and nonproperty crimes, and the resulting time spent in jail or prison. By and large, the hypotheses derived from a priori theory are supported by the data. (abstract Adapted from Source: American Sociological Review, 1980. Copyright © 1980 by the American Sociological Association) Ex-Offender Texas Crime Causes Poverty Socioeconomic Factors Unemployment Factors Employment Factors Adult Crime Adult Offender 07-02
Memory for Verbal and Visual Material in Highly Trained Musicians

INTEREST IN STUDYING THE EFFECTS of extensive music training on nonmusical perceptual and cognitive abilities has grown in recent years. Here, we present evidence that formal music instruction is associated with superior verbal and visual memory. Participants included 15 highly trained pianists and 21 individuals with little or no formal music training. The groups were comparable in terms of age, gender distribution, and socioeconomic status. Musicians showed superior immediate and delayed recall of word lists and greater use of a semantic clustering strategy during initial list-learning than nonmusicians. They also exhibited superior learning, delayed recall, and delayed recognition for visual designs. Group differences in delayed free recall of both words and designs persisted after controlling statistically for estimated Full Scale IQ. These results suggest that extensive music training is associated with a generalized enhancement of auditory and visual memory functions.
Minimally-invasive surfactant therapy in preterm infants on continuous positive airway pressure

Objective To evaluate the applicability and potential effectiveness of a technique of minimally-invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) in preterm infants on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Methods An open feasibility study of MIST was conducted at two sites. Infants were eligible for MIST if needing CPAP pressure ≥7 cm H2O and FiO2 ≥0.3 (25–28 weeks gestation, n=38) or ≥0.35 (29–32 weeks, n=23). Without premedication, a narrow-bore catheter was inserted through the vocal cords under direct vision. Surfactant (100 or 200 mg/kg Curosurf) was then instilled, followed by reinstitution of CPAP. Outcomes were compared between surfactant-treated infants and historical controls achieving the same CPAP and FiO2 thresholds. Results Surfactant was successfully administered via MIST in all cases, with a rapid and sustained reduction in FiO2 thereafter. For infants at 25–28 weeks gestation, need for intubation <72 h was diminished after MIST compared with controls (32% vs 68%; OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.083 to 0.55), with a similar trend at 29–32 weeks (22% vs 45%; OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.11 to 1.1). Duration of ventilation and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia were similar, but infants receiving MIST had a shorter duration of oxygen therapy. Conclusion Surfactant delivery via a narrow-bore tracheal catheter is feasible and potentially effective, and deserves further investigation in clinical trials.
Proposals for the Classification of the Acute Leukaemias French‐American‐British (FAB) Co‐operative Group

Summary. A uniform system of classification and nomenclature of the acute leukaemias, at present lacking, should permit more accurate recording of the distribution of cases entered into clinical trials, and could provide a reference standard when newly developed cell‐surface markers believed to characterize specific cell types are applied to cases of acute leukaemia. Proposals based on conventional morphological and cytochemical methods are offered following the study of peripheral blood and bone‐marrow films from some 200 cases of acute leukaemia by a group of seven French, American and British haematologists. The slides were examined first independently, and then by the group working together. Two groups of acute leukaemia,‘lymphoblastic’and myeloid are further subdivided into three and six groups. Dysmyelopoietic syndromes that may be confused with acute myeloid leukaemia are also considered. Photomicrographs of each of the named conditions are presented.
The politics of languages in education: issues of access, social participation and inequality in the multilingual context of Pakistan

This paper, based on some findings of a wider three-year study, sets forth the issue of languages used and taught in education as a dimension of inequality and highlights its implications for widening participation and access in the multilingual context of Pakistan. The paper takes secondary education in private and government schools in Pakistan as a point of departure, and through themes that emerge from a qualitative multiple-case studies account of 32 participants (final year graduating students and their same-sex five- to six-years older siblings) explores issues of inequality with reference to Amertya Sen’s capability approach and Pierre Bourdieu’s social critical theory. The findings revealed that the concurrent processes of (a) hegemony of English; (b) its discriminatory distribution through schooling; and (c) devaluation of local languages, led by the language policy and mediated through educational institutions, diminished the transformative impact of education in expanding opportunities for widening participation and access. Issues of inequality continue to haunt the underprivileged despite their secondary education. The paper highlights the importance of considering the political economy of languages chosen and taught in formal education as a means of evaluating social justice in educational contexts and considering languages in education decisions with reference to national language policy.
The effects of family-friendly practices and gender discrimination on job attitudes: the moderating role of supervisor support

This study examined the effects of family-friendly practices and gender discrimination on female employees' job attitudes and the moderating role of supervisor support. The results of our analysis, based on a sample of 1556 female employees in Korea, indicate that family-friendly practices and workplace environments reflecting gender discrimination are significantly related to their job satisfaction and workplace benefits stress. In addition, supervisor support moderated the effects of family-friendly practices and workplace environments reflecting gender discrimination on Korean female employees' job satisfaction and work stress. These results suggest that perceived organizational support has considerable influence on the job attitudes of Korean female employees through its interactions with supervisor support. Therefore, firms should consider the ‘fit’ between organizational support and supervisory roles to enhance Korean female employees' job satisfaction and to reduce their work stress.
Leverage Ratios, Industry Norms, and Stock Price Reaction: An Empirical Investigation of Stock-for-Debt Transactions

In this paper, I extend the stock-for-debt research by investigating whether stock value is influenced by how a firm changes its leverage ratio in relationship to its industry leverage ratio norm. I find that announcement-period stock returns for firms moving "away from" industry debt-to-equity norms are significantly more negative than returns for firms moving "closer to" these norms. This finding is consistent with optimal capital structure theory if industry debt-to-equity norms are reasonable approximations of wealth maximizing leverage ratios.