Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the robustness of vocal development: an examination of infants with moderate-to-severe hearing loss and additional risk factors.

PURPOSE Onset of canonical babbling by 10 months of age is surprisingly robust in infancy, suggesting that there must be deep biological forces that keep the development of this key vocal capability on course. This study further evaluated the robustness of canonical babbling and other aspects of prelinguistic vocal development. METHOD Longitudinal observation was conducted on 4 infants who were at risk for abnormal vocal development because of bilateral moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss and additional risk factors for developmental delay. RESULTS Two of the infants were delayed in the onset of canonical babbling and showed greater fluctuation in canonical babbling ratios following its onset than did typically developing infants. On the same measures, the remaining 2 infants were within normal limits, although their age of onset for canonical babbling was later than the mean for typically developing infants. Volubility was not notably different from typically developing infants. Differences from typically developing infants were, however, observed in proportions of various prelinguistic syllable types produced across time. CONCLUSION Results provided further evidence of robustness of canonical babbling and indicated the need for a large parametric study evaluating effects of varying degrees of hearing loss and other risk factors on vocal development.
Performance analysis of NSL-KDD dataset using ANN

Anomalous traffic detection on internet is a major issue of security as per the growth of smart devices and this technology. Several attacks are affecting the systems and deteriorate its computing performance. Intrusion detection system is one of the techniques, which helps to determine the system security, by alarming when intrusion is detected. In this paper performance of NSL-KDD dataset is evaluated using ANN. The result obtained for both binary class as well as five class classification (type of attack). Results are analyzed based on various performance measures and better accuracy was found. The detection rate obtained is 81.2% and 79.9% for intrusion detection and attack type classification task respectively for NSL-KDD dataset. The performance of the proposed scheme has been compared with existing scheme and higher detection rate is achieved in both binary class as well as five class classification problems.
Confessing Excess: Women and the Politics of Body Reduction

During the interviews for my dissertation research, which dealt with aerobics, I frequently confronted women’s all encompassing need to lose weight regardless of what their actual size was. This obsession depressed me, but at the same time filled with questions such as: Why do we need to torture ourselves with crazy diets? Why do we need to be thinner? Why do we judge ourselves so hard? And do we merely exercise to control our weight? When I was struggling to find answers to these questions, I discovered Carol Spitzack’s (1990) book Confessing Excess: Women and t.he politics of body reduction. Her theorizing concerning women’s dieting practices was very helpful to me in terms of understanding aerobicizers’ notions ofweight control. Although Spitzack does not directly examine exercise, I believe that her book can be an important resource for anyone studying women and physical activity. For whenever we deal with women’ s physical activity-sport, exercise or dance-we must address such issues as body, physicality, female beauty, and health. I find myself referring back to Spitzack’s text over and over again as I try to come to terms with such themes as female sexuality in physical activity, health as promoted through exercise, or exercise clothing. Although publishedin 1990, Spitzack’s book is still timely and pertinent, therefore, I would like to share it with the other readers of this journal. Spitzack grounds her book in large part on Foucaultian theory of power. Michel Foucault is not interested in pointing out a particular source of power. Rather, he believes that power is unidentified in origin and has a ubiquitous presence. In addition, this power is not openly oppressive, but works through persuasion. Discourses are the means to these persuasions. Discourses dictate what we know about our cultural practices. For example, different discourses tell us about diet. , health or beauty. Our knowledge ofthese particular, mainly feminine practices, is learned through the discourses and we learn the “proper” ways of behaving and the proper ways of being a femaie. These proper ways are defined by the dominant powers in society. Spitzack points out, for example, that our understanding of health is defined hhrough a discourse of health, which itself is a combination of the political, economic, and historical forces in society. Through this definition she also aligns herself with feminist perspectives as she assumes that, in part, such discourses are defined by the masculine ideology; one dominant power in this society. In her book she aims to explain how the narrative of dieting
Application in Mexico of Psychosocial Rehabilitation with Schizophrenia Patients

To determine whether evidence-based, psychosocial treatments developed in the United States and England are applicable to Mexican outpatients with schizophrenia, the present study was carried out to evaluate the relative effectiveness of family psycho-education and psychosocial skills training added to customary treatment vs. customary treatment alone. Clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia participated in a 12-month randomized, controlled trial at the National Institute of Psychiatry in Mexico City. An experimental group (N = 47) received the combination of psychosocial skills training, family psycho-education and customary pharmacotherapy while the comparison group (N = 36) received customary treatment alone. Patients were assessed at baseline and one year after commencement of treatment. Significant differences favoring the group that received psychosocial rehabilitation were found in ratings of adherence to medication, attendance at appointments, symptoms, social functioning, relapse, and re-hospitalization. While some adaptations were made in the psychosocial treatments to resolve cultural differences, the results provide cross-national validation of evidence-based treatments for persons with schizophrenia.
Factors Associated with Developmental Behavioral Pediatricians Prescribing Psychotropic Medication to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Study of Three DBPNet Sites

Objective: Psychotropic medications are frequently prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but little is known about the prescribing practices of developmental-behavioral pediatricians (DBPs). Our objective was to determine whether clinical site, age, insurance, or comorbidities influenced DBPs prescribing psychotropic medication for children with ASD. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using electronic health record data of all patients with ASD seen at 3 academic developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) clinical programs from January 2010 to December 2011. Data included age, diagnoses, primary insurance, and medications prescribed. Factors associated with prescribing psychotropic medication were examined using generalized estimating equations. Results: Sites varied in the frequency with which they prescribed psychotropic medication for children with ASD (site 1: 33.1%, site 2: 49.3%, site 3: 4.0%; p < .001). We found that the following factors predicted prescribing of psychotropic medications: comorbidities (odds ratio [OR]: 2.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.58–3.18), age, and primary insurance. However, the impact of insurance depended on age. For 3- to 5-year-old children, those on Medicaid were more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medications than those with private insurance (OR: 1.65; 95% CI, 1.29–2.12). This was particularly true for alpha-2-adrenergic agonists (OR: 2.48; 95% CI, 1.56–3.92) and atypical antipsychotics (OR: 2.57; 95% CI, 1.46–4.55). Conclusion: There are large variations in prescribing psychotropic medication to children with ASD at 3 academic DBP programs. Further research is needed to understand factors that contribute to higher use of psychotropic medication in young children with Medicaid.
Consensus of switched multi-agent systems

In this paper, we consider the consensus problem of switched multi-agent system composed of continuous-time and discrete-time subsystems. By combining the classical consensus protocols of continuous-time and discrete-time multi-agent systems, we propose a linear consensus protocol for switched multi-agent system. Based on the graph theory and Lyapunov theory, we prove that the consensus of switched multi-agent system is solvable under arbitrary switching with undirected connected graph, directed graph and switching topologies, respectively. Simulation examples are also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Correlation Between Vertical Misfits and Stresses Over Implants From Castable Frameworks Made of Different Alloys

Abstract This study aims to investigate a possible correlation between vertical misfits and the stresses transmitted to implants from one-piece casted frameworks fabricated with 3 different materials: commercially pure titanium, cobalt chromium alloy, and nickel chromium titanium alloy. Twelve frameworks simulating screw-retained prosthesis were fabricated from a master cast with 5 implants. Each framework was screwed (20 Ncm) over a metal cast and the vertical mesial and distal misfits were measured using an optical microscope. The stresses transmitted to the implants were measured in a third model by a quantitative photoelastic analysis. Stress and vertical misfit data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and least significant difference tests and the correlation tests were performed using Pearson Correlation Test (&agr; = 0.05). Mean and standard deviation values of vertical misfit and stress over implants are presented, respectively: commercially pure titanium (29.09 ± 13.24 &mgr;m and 11.38 ± 9.23 kPa), cobalt chromium alloy (27.05 ± 10.30 &mgr;m and 15.83 ± 9.30 kPa), nickel chromium titanium alloy (24.95 ± 11.14 &mgr;m and 16.39 ± 9.51 kPa). There were no significant differences for vertical misfit (P = 0.285). Regarding the stress analysis, there were significant differences between commercially pure titanium, cobalt chromium alloy, and nickel chromium titanium alloy (P = 0.035), with the lowest values for the commercially pure titanium. It may be concluded that stress over implants was affected by different procedures and materials for framework production.
Independent functions and mechanisms for homeobox gene Barx1 in patterning mouse stomach and spleen

Homeobox genes convey positional information in embryos and their role in patterning the mammalian gut is a topic of considerable interest. Barx1 is expressed selectively in fetal stomach mesenchyme and directs differentiation of overlying endoderm. Recombinant tissue cultures and study of young mouse embryos previously suggested that Barx1 controls expression of secreted Wnt antagonists, which suppress endodermal Wnt signaling, to enable stomach epithelial differentiation. We overcame mid-gestational lethality of Barx1-/- mouse embryos and report here the spectrum of anomalies in a distinctive and unprecedented model of gastrointestinal homeotic transformation. Using various mouse models, we confirm the importance of attenuated Wnt signaling in stomach development and the role of Barx1 in suppressing endodermal Wnt activity. Absence of Barx1 also results in fully penetrant defects in positioning and expansion of the spleen, an organ that originates within the mesothelial lining of the stomach. Barx1 is absent from the spleen primordium but highly expressed in the mesogastrium, indicating an indirect effect on spleen development. However, our results argue against a role for Wnt antagonism in genesis of the spleen. Mouse spleen development relies on several homeodomain transcriptional regulators that are expressed in the spleen primordium. Loss of Barx1 does not affect expression of any of these genes but notably reduces expression of Wt1, a transcription factor implicated in spleen morphogenesis and expressed in the mesothelium. These observations place Barx1 proximally within a Wt1 pathway of spleen development and reveal how a homeotic regulator employs different molecular mechanisms to mold neighboring organs.
Reading with vocabulary intervention: evaluation of an instruction for children with poor response to reading intervention

Interventions combining phonically based reading instruction with phonological training are generally effective for children with reading (decoding) difficulties. However, a minority of children respond poorly to such interventions. This study explored the characteristics of children who showed poor response to reading intervention and aimed to improve their literacy and language skills via a new theoretically motivated intervention. Twelve 8-year-old treatment poor responders with severe and persisting reading difficulties participated. A 9-week reading intervention incorporating reading, phonological and vocabulary training was implemented. Before the intervention began the children showed almost no progress over 6 months of regular classroom education, on measures of oral language and literacy. Over the intervention period improvements were made on measures of reading, phonological awareness and language skills, which were maintained 6 months later. Although the intervention was effective, it should be noted that most children remained poor readers and require ongoing remediation.
Partition function and base pairing probabilities for RNA-RNA interaction prediction

MOTIVATION The RNA-RNA interaction problem (RIP) consists in finding the energetically optimal structure of two RNA molecules that bind to each other. The standard model allows secondary structures in both partners as well as additional base pairs between the two RNAs subject to certain restrictions that ensure that RIP is solvabale by a polynomial time dynamic programming algorithm. RNA-RNA binding, like RNA folding, is typically not dominated by the ground state structure. Instead, a large ensemble of alternative structures contributes to the interaction thermodynamics. RESULTS We present here an O(N(6)) time and O(N(4)) dynamics programming algorithm for computing the full partition function for RIP which is based on the combinatorial notion of 'tight structures'. Albeit equivalent to recent work by H. Chitsaz and collaborators, our approach in addition provides a full-fledged computation of the base pairing probabilities, which relies on the notion of a decomposition tree for joint structures. In practise, our implementation is efficient enough to investigate, for instance, the interactions of small bacterial RNAs and their target mRNAs. AVAILABILITY The program rip is implemented in C. The source code is available for download from http://www.combinatorics. cn/cbpc/rip.html and http://www.bioinf. uni-leipzig.de/Software/rip.html.
Randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle exercises and manometric biofeedback for erectile dysfunction.

BACKGROUND The pelvic floor muscles are active in normal erectile function. Therefore, it was hypothesised that weak pelvic floor muscles could be a cause of erectile dysfunction. AIMS To compare the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle exercises and manometric biofeedback with lifestyle changes for men with erectile dysfunction. DESIGN OF STUDY Randomised controlled trial. SETTING The Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Taunton, United Kingdom. METHOD Fifty-five men with erectile dysfunction (median age 59.2 years; range 22-78 years) were enrolled from a local urology clinic. Of these, 28 participants were randomised to an intervention group and engaged in pelvic floor exercises, as well as receiving biofeedback and suggestions for lifestyle changes. Twenty-seven controls were solely advised on lifestyle changes. Baseline, 3- and 6-month assessments were: erectile function domain of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Partner's International Index of Erectile Function (PIIEF), Erectile Dysfunction-Effect on Quality of Life (ED-EQoL), anal manometry, digital anal measurements, and clinical assessment by an assessor blind to treatment allocation. After 3 months, the control group were transferred to the active arm. RESULTS At 3 months, compared with controls, men in the intervention group showed significant mean increases in the erectile function domain of the IIEF (6.74 points, P = 0.004); anal pressure (44.16 cmH(2)O, P <0.001); and digital anal grades (1.5 grades, P <0.001). All showed further improvement in these outcomes at 6 months. Similar benefits were seen in men of the control arm after transfer to active treatment. A total of 22 (40.0%) participants attained normal function, 19 (34.5%) participants had improved erectile function, and 14 (25.5%) participants failed to improve. CONCLUSION Pelvic floor muscle exercises and biofeedback are an effective treatment for men with erectile dysfunction.
AUTOPHAGY-RELATED11 Plays a Critical Role in General Autophagy- and Senescence-Induced Mitophagy in Arabidopsis[W]

The ATG1/13 kinase complex that regulates autophagy also includes ATG11 and ATG101, with ATG11 helping regulate the phosphorylation and turnover of ATG1 and ATG13, tether the complex to developing autophagic structures, and promote the delivery of autophagic vesicles to the vacuole. ATG11 and other autophagy factors also direct the elimination of mitochondria via a vacuolar mitophagic process. Autophagy-mediated turnover removes damaged organelles and unwanted cytoplasmic constituents and thus plays critical roles in cellular housekeeping and nutrient recycling. This “self eating” is tightly regulated by the AUTOPHAGY-RELATED1/13 (ATG1/13) kinase complex, which connects metabolic and environmental cues to the vacuolar delivery of autophagic vesicles. Here, we describe the Arabidopsis thaliana accessory proteins ATG11 and ATG101, which help link the ATG1/13 complex to autophagic membranes. ATG11 promotes vesicle delivery to the vacuole but is not essential for synthesizing the ATG12-ATG5 and ATG8-phosphatidylethanolamine adducts that are central to autophagic vesicle assembly. ATG11, ATG101, ATG1, and ATG13 colocalize with each other and with ATG8, with ATG1 tethered to ATG8 via a canonical ATG8-interacting motif. Also, the presence of ATG11 encourages starvation-induced phosphorylation of ATG1 and turnover of ATG1 and ATG13. Like other atg mutants, ATG11-deficient plants senesce prematurely and are hypersensitive to nitrogen and fixed-carbon limitations. Additionally, we discovered that the senescence-induced breakdown of mitochondria-resident proteins and mitochondrial vesicles occurs via an autophagic process requiring ATG11 and other ATG components. Together, our data indicate that ATG11 (and possibly ATG101) provides important scaffolds connecting the ATG1/13 complex to both general autophagy and selective mitophagy.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) polymorphisms and reduced risk of malignant lymphoma

Folate and methionine are important nutrients in the “one‐carbon” metabolism that is closely associated with DNA synthesis and DNA methylation. Genetic variation in these pathways may change susceptibility to cancer development. We have previously reported associations between lymphoma risk and germline polymorphisms in genes of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T and A1298C) and methionine synthase (MTR A2756G), finding the genotype other than the MTHFR 677CC/1298AA to confer a half‐risk compared to the MTHFR 677CC/1298AA and a 3‐fold higher risk with the MTR GG genotype than the AA/AG genotypes. To confirm the association and explore the histological difference, we extended the previous case series. A case‐control study was conducted in Japan with a total of 372 lymphoma cases and 500 noncancer controls examined for genotypes. The relative risks were estimated by unconditional logistic regression analysis. In overall analyses, the age–sex adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the subjects harboring MTHFR 677T or 1298C alleles relative to 677CC/1298AA genotype was 0.58 (95% confidence interval: 0.41–0.83, P = 0.002). The MTR GG genotype showed an OR of 1.75 (0.87–3.52, P = 0.114). These findings were validated in separate analyses of the 273 new incident cases. Subgroup analyses according to histological subtype [diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLB), follicular lymphoma (FL), low‐grade lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), and others] illustrated similar associations with certain exceptions for FL and MALT. Our data showed an association between the MTHFR polymorphisms and malignant lymphoma risk for all histological subtypes, although the extent of contribution of these polymorphisms may differ somewhat with histological subtype. Lack of association with MTR polymorphism was also confirmed. Am. J. Hematol. 77:351–357, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determinants of Brain Cell Metabolic Phenotypes and Energy Substrate Utilization Unraveled with a Modeling Approach

Although all brain cells bear in principle a comparable potential in terms of energetics, in reality they exhibit different metabolic profiles. The specific biochemical characteristics explaining such disparities and their relative importance are largely unknown. Using a modeling approach, we show that modifying the kinetic parameters of pyruvate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial NADH shuttling within a realistic interval can yield a striking switch in lactate flux direction. In this context, cells having essentially an oxidative profile exhibit pronounced extracellular lactate uptake and consumption. However, they can be turned into cells with prominent aerobic glycolysis by selectively reducing the aforementioned parameters. In the case of primarily oxidative cells, we also examined the role of glycolysis and lactate transport in providing pyruvate to mitochondria in order to sustain oxidative phosphorylation. The results show that changes in lactate transport capacity and extracellular lactate concentration within the range described experimentally can sustain enhanced oxidative metabolism upon activation. Such a demonstration provides key elements to understand why certain brain cell types constitutively adopt a particular metabolic profile and how specific features can be altered under different physiological and pathological conditions in order to face evolving energy demands.
Preschool Application of the Metropolitan Readiness Tests: Validity, Reliability, and Preschool Norms

910 subjects were followed from pre-kindergarten through the latter part of first grade. It was found that scores on the Metropolitan Readiness Tests (MRT) obtained prior to kindergarten entrance correlated . 65 with MRT scores obtained one year later, at pre-first grade level. Pre-kindergarten MRT scores predicted late first grade achievement in reading, spelling, and arithmetic approximately as effectively as did MRT scores obtained at pre-first grade level. Pre-kindergarten MRT norms based on the study sample are presented.