Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"Digital Natives" and learning with the ICTs. The "GenY @ work" research in Ticino, Switzerland

This article presents the route and the historical roots of the successful expression “digital natives” and introduces the critical debate recently arisen to show its limits and the undemonstrated assumptions it is based on. The paper also presents a research conducted in Canton Ticino (Switzerland), whose purpose was to study the use of the ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) by the young employees of GenY (people born after 1980). This research enabled both to better understand the population studied and to observe how some of the assumptions about GenY and digital natives are nothing more than the result of huge generalizations. The results encourage local researches to re-evaluate and consider the limits due to contextual issues.
COMPARATIVE ASPECTS OF PORPHYRIA IN MAN AND ANIMALS *

The enzymatic pathway for the biosynthesis of heme begins with the formation of 6-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) from succinyl coenzyme A and glycine (FIGURE 1). This reaction, catalyzed by ALA synthetase, is thought to be the rate-limiting step in the entire sequence. The intermediates between porphobilinogen (PBG), which is the product of the condensation of two ALA molecules, and protoporphyrin IX, are colorless, nonaromatic porphyrinogens. The first of these, uroporphyrinogen 111, is formed in a complex reaction requiring two enzymes,' ,2 currently designated uroporphyrinogen I synthetase and uroporphyrinogen 111 cosynthetase. In vitro, the synthetase acting alone converts PBG to uroporphyrinogen I. The mode of action of cosynthetase is bnknown, but it is not an isomerase that interconverts the two uroporphyrinogen isomer^. ^ It has been proposed that cosynthetase acts upon a polypyrrole
Increasing Prospective Music Educators' Tolerance for Student Diversity

JAYNE M. STANDLEY Florida State University D espite the pluralism that will cause ethnic and racial minorities to comprise 40% of our school population within the next 30 years, prejudice against nonwhite, non-European groups remains high (Cartledge & Milburn, 1996, p. 1). A survey in 1992 revealed that many Americans believe there are irreconcilable differences among ethnic and racial groups with blacks (46.2%) feeling more strongly about the issue than whites (26.7%) (Dash & Niemi, 1992). In response to this growing social problem, President Clinton has instituted a national initiative on race entitled "One America in the 21st Century," appointing by Executive Order 12050 a seven-member Advisory Board on Race Relations to advise him in promoting a national dialogue on race relations (U.S. Embassy Israel Press Archives, 1997). It would seem that teachers particularly need tolerance and understanding of gender, ability, race, and cultural differences in order to be successful in the pluralistic classroom of the future. Many colleges have made minimal curricular changes to address these issues by requiring multicultural, women's studies, and/or world music classes. Research has not yet shown resultant changes in tolerance or acceptance of diversity among prospective teachers. Demonstrating this point, Stanley (1996) recently reported that preservice physical education majors were overwhelmingly negative about the ability to teach academics to lower socioeconomic groups and those of another race; 72% reported being uncomfortable around students from an ethnic heritage different from their own. Though America is becoming more culturally diverse, the teaching pool is becoming increasingly homogeneous, with the number of white, middleclass, Euro-American females increasing dispropor-
The covariation between parental and expert evaluations of early language skills

This study investigated the potential interrelationship between parental (maternal) and expert assessments of the expressive and receptive language skills of 12- to 18-month-old children. The language activities of 27 children were monitored by their mothers (MCDI scale: Lyytinen, 2000. Varhaisen kommunikaation ja kielen kehityksen arviointimenetelmä. Jyväskylän yliopiston lapsitutkimuskeskus ja Niilo Mäki Instituutti. Jyväskylä: Yliopistopaino. [An assessment tool for early communication and language development] Jyväskylä: University Press) and trained researchers (Bayley Scales III: Bayley, 2006. Bayley III Scales of Infant Development. Administration Manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation). First and foremost, the results showed that parental and expert assessments of different aspects of child development were in accord, even after controlling for the child's age. Covariance modelling confirmed the strong concordance between maternal and expert assessment of both aspects of early language development. Furthermore, maternal age did have an effect on the child's receptive language, according to experts' assessments. Gender or maternal education level did not have an impact on language skills as measured by Bayley assessment. Parent-reported dyslexia in a close relative was also taken into account.
Cartilage T2 assessment: differentiation of normal hyaline cartilage and reparative tissue after arthroscopic cartilage repair in equine subjects.

PURPOSE To prospectively assess T2 mapping characteristics of normal articular cartilage and of cartilage at sites of arthroscopic repair, including comparison with histologic results and collagen organization assessed at polarized light microscopy (PLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS Study protocol was compliant with the Canadian Council on Animal Care Guidelines and approved by the institutional animal care committee. Arthroscopic osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) and microfracture arthroplasty (MFx) were performed in knees of 10 equine subjects (seven female, three male; age range, 3-5 years). A site of arthroscopically normal cartilage was documented in each joint as a control site. Joints were harvested at 12 (n = 5) and 24 (n = 5) weeks postoperatively and were imaged at 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) with a 10-echo sagittal fast spin-echo acquisition. T2 maps of each site (21 OAT harvest, 10 MFx, 12 OAT plug, and 10 control sites) were calculated with linear least-squares curve fitting. Cartilage T2 maps were qualitatively graded as "organized" (normal transition of low-to-high T2 signal from deep to superficial cartilage zones) or "disorganized. " Quantitative mean T2 values were calculated for deep, middle, and superficial cartilage at each location. Results were compared with histologic and PLM assessments by using kappa analysis. RESULTS T2 maps were qualitatively graded as organized at 20 of 53 sites and as disorganized at 33 sites. Perfect agreement was seen between organized T2 and histologic findings of hyaline cartilage and between disorganized T2 and histologic findings of fibrous reparative tissue (kappa = 1.0). Strong agreement was seen between organized T2 and normal PLM findings and between disorganized T2 and abnormal PLM findings (kappa = .92). Quantitative assessment of the deep, middle, and superficial cartilage, respectively, showed mean T2 values of 53.3, 58.6, and 54.9 msec at reparative fibrous tissue sites and 40.7, 53.6, and 61.6 msec at hyaline cartilage sites. A significant trend of increasing T2 values (from deep to superficial) was found in hyaline cartilage (P < .01). Fibrous tissue sites had no significant change with depth (P > .59). CONCLUSION Qualitative and quantitative T2 mapping helped differentiate hyaline cartilage from reparative fibrocartilage after cartilage repair at 1.5-T MR imaging.
An Extended Optional Infinitive Stage in German-Speaking Children With Specific Language Impairment

An extended period of Optional Infinitives (OIs) has been identified in young English-speaking children with specific language impairment (SLI; Rice and Wexler (1996b), Rice, Wexler, and Cleave (1995)). Poeppel and Wexler (1993) argued that an OI period exist in young unaffected German-speaking children. In this investigation, predictions are formulated for an extended OI stage in German-speaking children with SLI and evaluated in a clinical sample of 8 young German-speaking children with SLI, ages 4;0 to 4;8, and a control group of 8 younger mean length of utterance equivalent children, ages 2;1 to 2;7. Longitudinal spontaneous language samples reveal that the affected group was more likely than the younger control group to use infinitival lexical verbs in declarative sentences and to drop copular SEIN, as predicted for an Extended Optional Infinitive (EOI) stage. As expected, lexical infinitives appeared in clause-final word order, showing that the affected children know the association between sentence.
Reducing Intergroup Bias: The Common Ingroup Identity Model

Preface. Introduction and Overview. Aversive Racism and Intergroup Bias. Theoretical Background and the Common Ingroup Identity Model. Alerting the Perception of Group Boundaries. Conditions of Intergroup contact. Cognitive and Affective Priming: Antecedents and Consequences of a Common Ingroup Identity. Extending the Benefits of Recategorization. Problems, Progress, and Promise. References.
Correlation between Peripheral Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Hippocampal Volume in Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is a serious mental disorder that affects the development and emotional growth of affected patients. The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is recognized as one of the possible markers of the framework and its evolution. Abnormalities in BDNF signaling in the hippocampus could explain the cognitive decline seen in patients with TB. Our aim with this study was to evaluate possible changes in hippocampal volume in children and adolescents with BD and associate them to serum BDNF. Subjects included 30 patients aged seven to seventeen years from the ProCAB (Program for Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder). We observed mean right and left hippocampal volumes of 41910.55 and 41747.96 mm3, respectively. No statistically significant correlations between peripheral BDNF levels and hippocampal volumes were found. We believe that the lack of correlation observed in this study is due to the short time of evolution of BD in children and adolescents. Besides studies with larger sample sizes to confirm the present findings and longitudinal assessments, addressing brain development versus a control group and including drug-naive patients in different mood states may help clarify the role of BDNF in the brain changes consequent upon BD.
A Phase I Dose-Finding Study of 5-Azacytidine in Combination with Sodium Phenylbutyrate in Patients with Refractory Solid Tumors

Purpose: This was a phase I trial to determine the minimal effective dose and optimal dose schedule for 5-azacytidine (5-AC) in combination with sodium phenylbutyrate in patients with refractory solid tumors. The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antineoplastic effects were also studied. Experimental Design: Three dosing regimens were studied in 27 patients with advanced solid tumors, and toxicity was recorded. The pharmacokinetics of the combination of drugs was evaluated. Repeat tumor biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed to evaluate epigenetic changes in response to therapy. EBV titers were evaluated as a surrogate measure for gene re-expression of epigenetic modulation in PBMC. Results: The three dose regimens of 5-AC and phenylbutyrate were generally well tolerated and safe. A total of 48 cycles was administrated to 27 patients. The most common toxicities were bone marrow suppression–related neutropenia and anemia, which were minor. The clinical response rate was disappointing for the combination of agents. One patient showed stable disease for 5 months whereas 26 patients showed progressive disease as the best tumor response. The administration of phenylbutyrate and 5-AC did not seem to alter the pharmacokinetics of either drug. Although there were individual cases of targeted DNA methyltransferase activity and histone H3/4 acetylation changes from paired biopsy or PBMC, no conclusive statement can be made based on these limited correlative studies. Conclusion: The combination of 5-AC and phenylbutyrate across three dose schedules was generally well tolerated and safe, yet lacked any real evidence for clinical benefit. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(19):6241–9)
'Scrapbooks' as a resource in media research with young people

[About the book]: Visual media offer powerful communication opportunities. Doing Visual Research with Children and Young People explores the methodological, ethical, representational and theoretical issues surrounding image-based research with children and young people. It provides well-argued and illustrated resources to guide novice and experienced researchers through the challenges and benefits of visual research. Because new digital technologies have made it easier and cheaper to work with visual media, Pat Thomson brings together an international body of leading researchers who use a range of media to produce research data and communicate findings. Situating their discussions of visual research approaches within the context of actual research projects in communities and schools, and discussing a range of media from drawings, painting, collage and montages to film, video, photographs and new media, the book offers practical pointers for conducting research. These include: - why visual research is used - how to involve children and young people as co–researchers - complexities in analysis of images and the ethics of working visually - institutional difficulties that can arise when working with a 'visual voice' - how to manage resources in research projects Doing Visual Research with Children and Young People will be an ideal guide for researchers both at undergraduate and postgraduate level across disciplines, including education, youth and social work, health and nursing, criminology and community studies. It will also act as an up-to-date resource on this rapidly changing approach for practitioners working in the field.
Innate immune response to human bone marrow fibroblastic cell implantation in CB17 scid/beige mice

Immunocompromised mouse models have been extensively used to assess human cell implantation for evaluation of cytotherapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering strategies, as these mice are deficient in T and B lymphoid cells. However, the innate immune response and its effect on human cell xenotransplantation in these mouse models are mainly unknown. The aim of this study is to characterise the myeloid populations in the spleen and blood of CB17 scid beige (CB17 sb) mice, and to study the inflammatory cell responses to xenogeneic implantation of enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labelled human bone marrow fibroblastic (HBMF) cells into CB17 sb mice. The results indicate that even though CB17 sb mice are deficient in B‐ and T‐cells, they exhibit some increases in their monocyte (Mo), macrophage (MΦ) and neutrophil (Neu) populations. NK cell and eosinophil populations show no differences compared with wild‐type Balb/C mice. An innate immune response, identified by CR3 (CD11b/CD18)‐positive myeloid inflammatory cells and F4/80‐positive macrophages, was evident in the tissues where HBMF cells were implanted. As a consequence, the majority of implanted HBMF cells were eliminated by 4 weeks after implantation. Interestingly, the mineralised matrix formed by osteogenic HBMF cells was also eroded by multinuclear MΦ‐like giant cells. We conclude that CB17 sb mice retain active innate immune cells, which respond to HBMF cell xenotransplantation. This study highlights the importance of the innate immune cells in the anti‐xenograft response and suggests that strategies to block the activities of these cells may ameliorate the progressive long‐term elimination of xenotransplants. J. Cell. Biochem. 98: 966–980, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The colour of class: the educational strategies of the Black middle classes

appeal to a general readership. There is an important message here, however, for a broad audience, and I sincerely hope that it reaches beyond French Studies, postcolonial, or colonial historical studies. Wilder observes that Césaire, Sédar and their contemporaries in black Caribbean and African thought ‘are rarely included in general considerations of interwar philosophy or postwar social theory’ (9). What Freedom Time does most convincingly is to demonstrate that the social theory studied in European universities is weaker for this omission and that serious engagement with these thinkers is long overdue.
Clarifying the Relational Ties of Organizational Belonging

In order to clarify the roles of relational ties within the perceived organizational membership theoretical framework, we test the discriminant validity and concurrent predictive validity of perceived insider status, psychological ownership, and organizational identification. Hypotheses were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical multiple regression for a sample of 347 workers across two industry segments. Results indicate that the constructs of interest each explain unique variance. Perceived insider status and psychological ownership were significant predictors of job satisfaction and turnover intentions, whereas organizational identification was only found to predict job satisfaction. Post hoc analyses indicate that relationship between organizational identification and turnover intentions is fully mediated by perceived insiders status and psychological ownership.
Alzheimer’s patients do not show left unilateral spatial neglect but exhibit peripheral inattention and simplification

The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) is widely used to measure visuoperceptual and visuoconstructional skills, while the Line Bisection (LB) test is commonly employed to assess unilateral spatial neglect (USN). Previous studies have suggested that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients may suffer from left USN. Objectives The purpose of this study was to clarify whether left USN occurs in AD. Methods Forty controls, 40 very mild AD patients and 31 mild/moderate AD patients performed both the RCFT copying and the LB test. Results The very mild AD and mild/moderate AD groups had lower total RCFT copying scores and also scored lower in the “left” and “detail” categories compared to controls. However, there were no correlations between the left-category score for RCFT and the LB score. Instead, peripheral inattention and simplification patterns were noted. Conclusions We found that the RCFT copying test is effective for detecting early AD and suggest that AD patients manifest peripheral inattention and simplification but not left USN.
A Local Energy Consumption Prediction-Based Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

Clustering is a fundamental and effective technique for utilizing sensor nodes' energy and extending the network lifetime for wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we propose a novel clustering protocol, LECP-CP (local energy consumption prediction-based clustering protocol), the core of which includes a novel cluster head election algorithm and an inter-cluster communication routing tree construction algorithm, both based on the predicted local energy consumption ratio of nodes. We also provide a more accurate and realistic cluster radius to minimize the energy consumption of the entire network. The global energy consumption can be optimized by the optimization of the local energy consumption, and the energy consumption among nodes can be balanced well. Simulation results validate our theoretical analysis and show that LECP-CP has high efficiency of energy utilization, good scalability and significant improvement in the network lifetime.
EGFR mutation testing in lung cancer: a review of available methods and their use for analysis of tumour tissue and cytology samples

Aims Activating mutations in the gene encoding epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can confer sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as gefitinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Testing for mutations in EGFR is therefore an important step in the treatment-decision pathway. We reviewed reported methods for EGFR mutation testing in patients with lung cancer, initially focusing on studies involving standard tumour tissue samples. We also evaluated data on the use of cytology samples in order to determine their suitability for EGFR mutation analysis. Methods We searched the MEDLINE database for studies reporting on EGFR mutation testing methods in patients with lung cancer. Results Various methods have been investigated as potential alternatives to the historical standard for EGFR mutation testing, direct DNA sequencing. Many of these are targeted methods that specifically detect the most common EGFR mutations. The development of targeted mutation testing methods and commercially available test kits has enabled sensitive, rapid and robust analysis of clinical samples. The use of screening methods, subsequent to sample micro dissection, has also ensured that identification of more rare, uncommon mutations is now feasible. Cytology samples including fine needle aspirate and pleural effusion can be used successfully to determine EGFR mutation status provided that sensitive testing methods are employed. Conclusions Several different testing methods offer a more sensitive alternative to direct sequencing for the detection of common EGFR mutations. Evidence published to date suggests cytology samples are viable alternatives for mutation testing when tumour tissue samples are not available.
DISA at ImageCLEF 2014: The Search-based Solution for Scalable Image Annotation

This paper presents an annotation tool developed by the DISA Laboratory for the ImageCLEF 2014 Scalable Concept Image Annotation challenge. Our solution exploits the search-based annotation paradigm and utilizes several sources of semantic information to determine the relevance of candidate concepts. Rather than relying on the quality of training data, our approach profits from the large quantities of information available in large image collections and semantic knowledge bases. The results achieved by our system confirm that this approach is very promising for scalable image annotation.
Language is Powerful

As Wierzbicka suggests in her recent review, language is powerful in emotion. Wierzbicka's solution is to remove the linguistically relative aspects of emotion concepts, like icing from a cake, to reveal the universal meanings below. In the present commentary, I suggest that language is a more fundamental ingredient in emotion than Wierzbicka's solution assumes; language can be no more removed from emotion, than flour can be removed from an already baked cake. As an alternate solution, I present a constructionist view of emotion, which not only recognizes the role of language in emotion, but also predicts and models its impact as language constitutes emotion experience.