Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Left-lateralized N170 Effects of Visual Expertise in Reading: Evidence from Japanese Syllabic and Logographic Scripts

The N170 component of the event-related potential (ERP) reflects experience-dependent neural changes in several forms of visual expertise, including expertise for visual words. Readers skilled in writing systems that link characters to phonemes (i.e., alphabetic writing) typically produce a left-lateralized N170 to visual word forms. This study examined the N170 in three Japanese scripts that link characters to larger phonological units. Participants were monolingual English speakers (EL1) and native Japanese speakers (JL1) who were also proficient in English. ERPs were collected using a 129-channel array, as participants performed a series of experiments viewing words or novel control stimuli in a repetition detection task. The N170 was strongly left-lateralized for all three Japanese scripts (including logographic Kanji characters) in JL1 participants, but bilateral in EL1 participants viewing these same stimuli. This demonstrates that left-lateralization of the N170 is dependent on specific reading expertise and is not limited to alphabetic scripts. Additional contrasts within the moraic Katakana script revealed equivalent N170 responses in JL1 speakers for familiar Katakana words and for Kanji words transcribed into novel Katakana words, suggesting that the N170 expertise effect is driven by script familiarity rather than familiarity with particular visual word forms. Finally, for English words and novel symbol string stimuli, both EL1 and JL1 subjects produced equivalent responses for the novel symbols, and more left-lateralized N170 responses for the English words, indicating that such effects are not limited to the first language. Taken together, these cross-linguistic results suggest that similar neural processes underlie visual expertise for print in very different writing systems.
Seeing the Wood for the Trees: A Minimal Reference Phylogeny for the Human Y Chromosome

During the last few decades, a wealth of studies dedicated to the human Y chromosome and its DNA variation, in particular Y‐chromosome single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (Y‐SNPs), has led to the construction of a well‐established Y‐chromosome phylogeny. Since the recent advent of new sequencing technologies, the discovery of additional Y‐SNPs is exploding and their continuous incorporation in the phylogenetic tree is leading to an ever higher resolution. However, the large and increasing amount of information included in the “complete” Y‐chromosome phylogeny, which now already includes many thousands of identified Y‐SNPs, can be overwhelming and complicates its understanding as well as the task of selecting suitable markers for genotyping purposes in evolutionary, demographic, anthropological, genealogical, medical, and forensic studies. As a solution, we introduce a concise reference phylogeny whereby we do not aim to provide an exhaustive tree that includes all known Y‐SNPs but, rather, a quite stable reference tree aiming for optimal global discrimination capacity based on a strongly reduced set that includes only the most resolving Y‐SNPs. Furthermore, with this reference tree, we wish to propose a common standard for Y‐marker as well as Y‐haplogroup nomenclature. The current version of our tree is based on a core set of 417 branch‐defining Y‐SNPs and is available online at http://www.phylotree. org/Y.
Interactions Stratégiques sur le Marché d'une Ressource Non-renouvelable : Le cas du phosphore

The theoretical literature that deals with phosphorus considers the market of the resource as being perfectly competitive, whereas the reality of this market suggests otherwise. Indeed, several interactions occur in this market. The main aim of this thesis is to rethink this market in an imperfectly framework. More specifically, we analyze the effect of recycling on the extraction of an exhaustible resource, on the dynamic of the resource price, on its date of depletion and on the reduction of water pollution. This thesis consists in a general introduction and five theoretical chapters all dealing with the economics of phosphorus or of exhaustible resources. Chapter 1 considers a two-period model where an extractor and a recycler compete with quantities. We assume that extracted and recycled phosphorus are strategic substitutes. We show that the effect of recycling on the extracted quantities strongly depends on the level of the stock of phosphorus. Chapter 2 extends the previous chapter in a continuous time framework over an infinite horizon. It investigates the effect of phosphorus recycling on the monopolist's extraction and on the dynamic of its price. We postulate an optimal control model and show that the price of the resource does not necessarily increase through time. Chapter 3 considers that extraction and recycling can be either strategic substitutes or strategic complements. In a two-period model, we show that the effect of recycling on the monopolist's second-period marginal revenue and on its extracted quantities depends on whether extracted and recycled products are strategic substitutes or strategic complements. Chapter 4 considers that the extracting sector chooses between accommodating or preventing the recycler's entry. The entry prevention can take two forms: either deterring or blockading. In a two-period model, we show that the strategy of the extractor depends on the level of the fixed costs incurred by the recycler and on whether the resource is scarce or not. Chapter 5 addresses the problems of phosphorus exhaustion and water pollution. We consider one firm that extracts and recycles phosphorus. We investigate the influence of a tax-subsidy scheme. We show that a combination of these two instruments enables to reduce water pollution and to prolong the lifetime of phosphorus.
Possibilities of modification of polymer/SiO2 composite by various types of carrier

The main aim of this paper is to describe possibilities of modification of polymer insulating materials by various types of carrier. The major problem of currently used insulation system is their inhomogeneous structure. Therefore, there is an efforts to develop material that is macroscopically homogeneous. New composite materials are created using nano-particles silica (~1 wt %) and epoxy type of resin. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and fabric with micrometric thicknesses were chosen as carrier for this research. Composites were created by using a mixing method, in which a nano-fillers were applied to the epoxy resin and applied on PET, PEN or glass fabric carrier component. The dissipation factor, volume resistivity, dielectric strength and polarization indexes were measured to determine the electrical insulating properties.
Migration of Limbal Melanocytes Onto the Central Cornea After Ocular Surface Reconstruction: An In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Case Report

Purpose: To report the in vivo confocal microscopic findings of migrated melanocytes onto the central cornea in a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome who received ocular surface reconstruction by amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT). Methods: Single interventional case report. A 37-year-old man presented with bilateral symblepharon because of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Release of the bilateral symblepharon with AMT on the bare sclera was performed. Results: Three weeks after the surgery, slit-lamp biomicroscopy of the right eye revealed patchy brown pigmentation on the surface of the cornea and the amniotic membrane transplanted to the bare sclera. In vivo confocal microscopy of the affected cornea revealed abnormal basal epithelial cells with hyperreflective nuclei and loss of cellular borders. Multiple dendritiform cells, which appeared to be melanocytes, were distributed mainly on the corneal basal epithelial layer and superficial stroma. The number of the migrated melanocytes gradually decreased over 6 months of observation. Conclusions: Melanocytes can migrate into the central cornea after reconstruction of the ocular surface with AMT. In vivo confocal microscopy can be a useful tool to observe these changes.
Antigen‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes protect against lethal West Nile virus encephalitis

Infection with West Nile virus (WNV) causes fatal encephalitis in immunocompromised animals. Previous studies in mice have established that T cell protection is required for clearance of WNV infection from tissues and preventing viral persistence. The current study assessed whether specific WNV peptide epitopes could elicit a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response capable of protecting against virus infection. Hidden Markov model analysis was used to identify WNV‐encoded peptides that bound the MHC class I proteins Kb or Db. Of the 35 peptides predicted to bind MHC class I molecules, one immunodominant CTL recognition peptide was identified in each of the envelope and non‐structural protein 4B genes. Addition of these but not control peptides to CD8+ T cells from WNV‐infected mice induced IFN‐γ production. CTL clones that were generated ex vivo lysed peptide‐pulsed or WNV‐infected target cells in an antigen‐specific manner. Finally, adoptive transfer of a mixture of envelope‐ and non‐structural protein 4B‐specific CTL to recipient mice protected against lethal WNV challenge. Based on this, we conclude that CTL responses against immundominant WNV epitopes confer protective immunity and thus should be targets for inclusion in new vaccines.
Regime Dependent Sensitivity of Country Exchange Traded Funds to Common Risk Factors

If common factors jointly a ect country stock markets, it is an indication of the global stock market integration. Common factors may a ect some markets more/less than other markets, an indication of the degree of the global stock market integration/segmentation. In this paper, we study the intergration of global stock markets based on the returns on exchange traded funds (ETFs) for the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Japan. The relationship between country ETF returns and common risk factors may be time-varying across countries, and that favors a regime switching (RS) factor model for the dynamics of the country ETF returns. A RS factor model for the relationship between country ETF returns and common risk factors is tted to daily data for period from May 31, 2000 to March 31, 2014. We use the data to test a hierarchy of hypotheses on country ETF returns: (1) common factor exposure across all country ETFs and all regimes; (2) common factor exposure across some country ETFs and all regimes, and (3) common factor exposure across some country ETFs and some regimes. The RS factor model for ETF returns ts the data well and the common factors have variable e ects across countries and over regimes. JEL Codes: C13, C32, G12
Approach to blood donors with microcytosis

The aim of this paper is to find microcytosis in donors, to establish prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and β‐thalassemia trait (BTT) in them and to evaluate which index is most effective in differentiating these two conditions. IDA and BTT are the most common causes of microcytic anaemia. Traditional approach is trial of iron treatment. Where thalassemias are common, this can lead to iron overload and failure to provide diagnosis/counselling in BTT. Initially 925 donor samples were evaluated on cell counter. Of these, 50 were found microcytic. These were subjected to Ferritin and HbA2 determination. Subsequently, additional 51, age‐ and sex‐matched normocytic donor samples were selected as controls. These were subjected to the same tests. Nine indices namely RBC, RDW, Mentzer's, Shine and Lal, England and Fraser, Srivastava, Green and King, RDW index and Ricerca were used to differentiate IDA and BTT. Prevalence of microcytosis was 5·4%. Of these microcytic samples, 52% were IDA, 36% were BTT, 8% had both and 4% were undiagnosed. IDA had significantly lower Hb, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and Ferritin levels than the control group. BTT had lower MCV, higher Ferritin and comparable Hb levels with control group. The Youden's index of Mentzer's was highest and RBC was the only index which had both sensitivity and specificity more than 80% for both IDA and BTT. It is desirable to routinely perform hemograms for all blood donors and further analyse the microcytic samples for Ferritin and HbA2 to diagnose IDA and BTT and to provide appropriate counselling/treatment.
How middle school teachers make sense of mandated reforms to their grading and reporting practices through qualitative interviewing

Grading and reporting practices in secondary schools have traditionally been designed so that teachers assign a single letter or percentage grade at the end of a term to communicate student learning. Increasingly, leaders of secondary schools have mandated change away from these traditional grading practices to ones that are standards-based. These grades are not aggregated, but divided so that a student’s academic achievement, approach to learning, and their progress are explicitly communicated. This qualitative study investigated the sense-making process of middle school teachers involved in a mandated change to their grading and reporting practices. The findings suggest that the process is complex and multi-faceted, and that the sense-making process in ongoing. In order to be able to effectively utilize the procedures of standards-based grading and reporting, teachers must have a deep understanding of their academic standards and the efficacy to build assessments that elicit the extent to which a student has mastered the intended learning objective. The close analysis of the participant experiences revealed themes across the them in relation to their intentional use of standards, previous teaching experiences, inconsistencies in application of the new practices, high levels of anxiety, time needed for implementation, and positive influence on teaching and student learning. Future studies should investigate factors that influence teacher sense-making during this type of change, the extent to which teacher practices are changed, and the influence that standards-based grading and reporting has on student learning.
Comparative Omics and Trait Analyses of Marine Pseudoalteromonas Phages Advance the Phage OTU Concept

Viruses influence the ecology and evolutionary trajectory of microbial communities. Yet our understanding of their roles in ecosystems is limited by the paucity of model systems available for hypothesis generation and testing. Further, virology is limited by the lack of a broadly accepted conceptual framework to classify viral diversity into evolutionary and ecologically cohesive units. Here, we introduce genomes, structural proteomes, and quantitative host range data for eight Pseudoalteromonas phages isolated from Helgoland (North Sea, Germany) and use these data to advance a genome-based viral operational taxonomic unit (OTU) definition. These viruses represent five new genera and inform 498 unaffiliated or unannotated protein clusters (PCs) from global virus metagenomes. In a comparison of previously sequenced Pseudoalteromonas phage isolates (n = 7) and predicted prophages (n = 31), the eight phages are unique. They share a genus with only one other isolate, Pseudoalteromonas podophage RIO-1 (East Sea, South Korea) and two Pseudoalteromonas prophages. Mass-spectrometry of purified viral particles identified 12–20 structural proteins per phage. When combined with 3-D structural predictions, these data led to the functional characterization of five previously unidentified major capsid proteins. Protein functional predictions revealed mechanisms for hijacking host metabolism and resources. Further, they uncovered a hybrid sipho-myovirus that encodes genes for Mu-like infection rarely described in ocean systems. Finally, we used these data to evaluate a recently introduced definition for virus populations that requires members of the same population to have >95% average nucleotide identity across at least 80% of their genes. Using physiological traits and genomics, we proposed a conceptual model for a viral OTU definition that captures evolutionarily cohesive and ecologically distinct units. In this trait-based framework, sensitive hosts are considered viral niches, while host ranges and infection efficiencies are tracked as viral traits. Quantitative host range assays revealed conserved traits within virus OTUs that break down between OTUs, suggesting the defined units capture niche and fitness differentiation. Together these analyses provide a foundation for model system-based hypothesis testing that will improve our understanding of marine copiotrophs, as well as phage–host interactions on the ocean particles and aggregates where Pseudoalteromonas thrive.
Causal links between bilateral aid and exports: The Swiss case

This paper investigates the direction of Granger causality, if Granger causality there is, between Swiss bilateral official development aid and Swiss exports for a panel of 50 recipient countries over the period 1974-2013. To account for possible geographical effects, three specific group of recipient countries across the same period are considered, that is "Africa", "Latin America" and "Asia". To shed on light potential level effects, four other group of countries are considered according to the relative amount of aid, respectively exports, Switzerland has exchanged with a given recipient country across the all period. The former panel plus the seven specific group of countries and the fact that we test for Granger causality in both directions give us a total of 16 models. As a necessary first step, four different panel unit root tests are conducted on each series of all eight panels and results systematically indicate stationary series in levels. Then and to test for Granger causality, Dumitrescu-Hurlin Granger non-causality tests are conducted. Results indicate bidirectional Granger causality in all panels except for the "African" one where Granger causality seems to run only from exports to bilateral aid. This result is important in terms of policy implications, particularly for a donor country as Switzerland, since it implies that if aid towards a recipient country is cut, it is likely to cause Swiss export reductions to that same recipient country.
Efficacy and safety of a 7.5% icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution in patients treated with automated peritoneal dialysis.

In a randomized, prospective, multicenter study, we compared the safety, efficacy, and metabolic effects of a 7.5% icodextrin solution (Extraneal) with a 2.27% glucose solution for long dwell exchanges in patients undergoing automated peritoneal dialysis. Thirty-nine stable patients on automated peritoneal dialysis were randomized to receive either icodextrin (n = 20) or glucose 2.27% solution (n = 19). The study included a 2-week baseline period followed by a 12-week icodextrin treatment phase and a 2-week follow-up period when switching back to glucose. The average net ultrafiltration during the long dwell period was 278 +/- 43 mL/d for the icodextrin group and -138 +/- 81 mL/d for the control group (P < 0.001). The higher ultrafiltration volume with icodextrin was associated with higher creatinine (2.59 +/- 0.09 mL/min versus 2.16 +/- 0.11 mL/min) and urea (2.67 +/- 0.09 mL/min versus 2.28 +/- 0.12 mL/min) peritoneal clearances for the long dwell (both P < 0.001). Ultrafiltration rate per mass of carbohydrate absorbed was +5.2 +/- 1.2 microL/min/g in the icodextrin group and -5.5 +/- 2.8 microL/min/g in the glucose group (P < 0.001). In the icodextrin group, there was a decrease in serum sodium and chloride compared with baseline (P < 0.01). Total dialysate sodium removal increased in the icodextrin group from 226.7 mEq to 269.6 mEq (week 12, P < 0.001). Serum alpha-amylase activity decreased from 103 U/L to 16 U/L (P < 0.001). The total icodextrin plasma levels reached a steady-state concentration of 6,187 +/- 399 mg/L after 1 week of treatment. Urine volume and residual renal function were not specifically affected by icodextrin compared with glucose. None of the laboratory changes resulted in any reported clinically meaningful side effect. Icodextrin produced increased, sustained ultrafiltration during the long dwell period, increasing (convective) peritoneal clearance and sodium removal in automated peritoneal dialysis patients.
Limiting the Current Density During Localization of the Primary Motor Cortex by Using a Tangential-Radial Cortical Somatosensory Evoked Potentials Model, Direct Electrical Cortical Stimulation, and Electrocorticography

BACKGROUND:Traditionally, the dual-radial model, which requires high cortical stimulation intensities and may evoke intraoperative seizures, is used for mapping during resection of lesions within or near the central sulcus. OBJECTIVE:To examine the potential utility of using the multimodal tangential-radial triphasic model, which may increase the accuracy and reliability of cortical mapping at lower stimulation intensities. METHODS:We performed a retrospective review of intracranial neuromonitoring cases at the University of Virginia. The tangential-radial triphasic model used direct electrical cortical stimulation (DECS), electrocorticography, and somatosensory evoked potentials with an additional P25 peak for waveform interpretation, instead of the older dual-radial model with N20 and P30 peaks alone. The central sulcus and sensory cortex were localized by generating multiple sensory maps. DECS with 50-Hz frequency was applied. Electrocorticography was used for detection of afterdischarges. RESULTS:Fifteen consecutive intracranial cases were identified. The patients consisted of 8 males and 7 females ranging in age from 12 to 74 years (median, 53 years). Fourteen patients had an intra-axial cortical mass, and 1 patient had a cortical arteriovenous malformation. The DECS thresholds ranged from 3.7 to 12 mA (median, 6.2 mA). Localization of motor and sensory cortices was accurately performed at low thresholds with bipolar DECS in all patients. Intraoperative seizures occurred in 1 patient (7%), and new permanent postoperative functional deficits occurred in 1 patient (7%). CONCLUSION:Our mapping technique appears safe and reliable for resection near the central sulcus. The tangential-radial triphasic model allows for lower stimulation intensities, reducing the risk of intraoperative seizures.
Changes in the balance between formal and informal care supply in England between 2001 and 2011: evidence from census data

Abstract Informal care plays a crucial role in the social care system in England and is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of future sustainability of the long-term care (LTC) system. This paper explores the variation in informal care provision over time, and in particular, whether the considerable reduction in publicly-funded formal LTC after 2008 had an impact on the provision of informal care. We used small area data from the 2001 and 2011 English censuses to measure the prevalence and intensity (i.e. the number of hours of informal care provided) of informal care in the population. We controlled for changes in age structure, health, deprivation, income, employment and education. The effects of the change in formal social care provision on informal care were analysed through instrumental variable models to account for the well-known endogeneity. We found that informal care provision had increased over the period, particularly among high-intensity carers (20+ hours per week). We also found that the reduction in publicly-funded formal care provision was associated with significant increases in high-intensity (20+ hours per week) informal care provision, suggesting a substitutive relationship between formal and informal care of that intensity in the English system.