Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reading, Writing, and Phonological Processing Skills of Adolescents With 10 or More Years of Cochlear Implant Experience

Objectives: This study had three goals: (1) to document the literacy skills of deaf adolescents who received cochlear implants (CIs) as preschoolers; (2) to examine reading growth from elementary grades to high school; (3) to assess the contribution of early literacy levels and phonological processing skills, among other factors, to literacy levels in high school. Design: A battery of reading, spelling, expository writing, and phonological processing assessments were administered to 112 high school (CI-HS) students, ages 15.5 to 18.5 yrs, who had participated in a reading assessment battery in early elementary grades (CI-E), ages 8.0 to 9.9 yrs. The CI-HS students' performance was compared with either a control group of hearing peers (N = 46) or hearing norms provided by the assessment developer. Results: Many of the CI-HS students (47 to 66%) performed within or above the average range for hearing peers on reading tests. When compared with their CI-E performance, good early readers were also good readers in high school. Importantly, the majority of CI-HS students maintained their reading levels over time compared with hearing peers, indicating that the gap in performance was, at the very least, not widening for most students. Written expression and phonological processing tasks posed a great deal of difficulty for the CI-HS students. They were poorer spellers, poorer expository writers, and displayed poorer phonological knowledge than hearing age-mates. Phonological processing skills were a critical predictor of high school literacy skills (reading, spelling, and expository writing), accounting for 39% of variance remaining after controlling for child, family, and implant characteristics. Conclusions: Many children who receive CIs as preschoolers achieve age-appropriate literacy levels as adolescents. However, significant delays in spelling and written expression are evident compared with hearing peers. For children with CIs, the development of phonological processing skills is not just important for early reading skills, such as decoding, but is critical for later literacy success as well.
Empirical Validity of Value Added Intellectual Coefficient Model in Indian Knowledge-based Sector

The purpose of this study is to investigate empirically the validity of the basic propositions of value added intellectual coefficient (VAIC) and extend VAIC models in Indian knowledge-based sector. Using panel data relating to 62 firms from two Indian knowledge-based sectors, namely, electronics and banking sectors, for a period of 10 years (from 2001–2002 to 2010–2011), the study indicates that the VAIC model cannot be rejected as a technique of measuring intellectual capital. The result shows that VAIC significantly and positively influences the corporate performance measured by return on assets (ROA) and market-to-book (M/B) ratio. All the components of VAIC except structural capital (SC) efficiency (SCE) significantly and positively influence the corporate performance. The insignificant association between SCE and firm performance, as observed in the present context and also observed earlier by many researchers, may be regarded as the inappropriateness of the model in capturing structural capital. In order to modify the SC component of the model, the components of extended VAIC model may be used as a value-creating entity.
The Politics of Slums in the Global South : Urban Informality in Brazil, India, South Africa and Peru

Chapter 1. Introduction: Situating the politics of slums within the 'urban turn' Einar Braathen, Veronique Dupont, David Jordhus-Lier and Catherine Sutherland Chapter 2. National and urban contexts of the settlement cases: an overview Einar Braathen, Veronique Dupont, David Jordhus-Lier Catherine Sutherland and Carlos Escalante Estrada Chapter 3. Policies towards substandard settlements Catherine Sutherland, Einar Braathen, Veronique Dupont and David Jordhus-Lier Chapter 4. Settlement stories I: A question of knowledge? Veronique Dupont and Shankare Gowda, David Jordhus-Lier, Pamela Tsolekile de Wet, Catherine Sutherland, Einar Braathen, Lisa Strauch and Michaela Hordijk Chapter 5. Knowledge and power in upgrading and resettlement initiatives David Jordhus-Lier, Einar Braathen, Veronique Dupont and Catherine Sutherland Chapter 6. Settlement stories II: Communities responses Einar Braathen, Catherine Sutherland, David Jordhus-Lier, Lisa Strauch, Michaela Hordijk, Veronique Dupont and R. Dhanalakshmi Chapter 7. Modalities of social mobilisation Veronique Dupont, David Jordhus-Lier, Einar Braathen, Catherine Sutherland andCarlos Escalante Estrada Chapter 8. Conclusion Catherine Sutherland, David Jordhus-Lier, Einar Braathen and Veronique Dupont
Evaluation of a commercial monoclonal antibody for detection of adenovirus antigen

The Adenoclone monoclonal antibody for detection of adenovirus antigen was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay and a 72-h indirect fluorescent-antibody test in shell vials and compared with standard culture. The sensitivity and specificity of the Adenoclone test were both 100% with 114 cell culture isolates. With 310 direct clinical specimens, the Adenoclone enzyme immunoassay sensitivity varied from 14.3 to 66.6%, but the Adenoclone indirect fluorescent-antibody test sensitivity was 86.7%, with 100% specificity.
Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Living Alone: Identifying the Risks for Public Health.

The authors reflect on the article "Social Isolation: A Predictor of Mortality Comparable to Traditional Clinical Risk Factors" by M. Pantell, D. Rehkopf, D. Jutte, S.L. Syme, J. Balmes, and N. Adler which appears in a 2013 issue of the journal, and it mentions the efforts to identify the risks for public health. Research on one-person households in places such as Sweden, Finland, and the U.S. is provided, along with the causal links between living alone, social isolation, and loneliness.
Prenatal phencyclidine exposure alters hippocampal cell proliferation in offspring rats

Multiple case reports have described pregnancy in phencyclidine hydrochloride (PCP) abusers. Characteristic clinical symptoms of PCP‐exposed infants have revealed neurobehavioral or physical abnormalities. We designed this study to evaluate whether chronic prenatal exposure to PCP during the last 2 weeks of gestation in rats produces alterations of hippocampal neurogenesis in offspring. Rats received repeated subcutaneous injection of PCP (5 mg/kg) once daily during the last 2 weeks of gestation. Control animals received subcutaneous injection of physiological saline during gestation. Dams receiving repeated PCP administrations showed markedly increased locomotor activities on days 1, 5, and 10 during the last 2 weeks of gestation. At 21 days after birth, 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU)‐positive cells of offspring were counted in the granule cell layer (GCL) and subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. The numbers of BrdU‐positive cells in the GCL in male and female offspring of the PCP‐treated group were significantly increased by ∼77% compared with those from the control group. At 56 days, the number of surviving BrdU‐positive cells also remained to be increased by 74% in the GCL in PCP‐treated group. At 21 days, locomotor activities of offspring in the PCP‐treated group were significantly decreased by ∼30% compared with those in the control group. However, neuronal differentiation of newly formed cells and cell survival were not influenced at 5 weeks after BrdU injections. Some altered biochemical or physiological conditions of offspring from dams receiving repeated PCP injections during pregnancy could influence changes in cell proliferation in the GCL of offspring during early development. Changes to cell proliferation in the hippocampus may affect behavioral abnormalities during infancy in offspring. Synapse 63:729–736, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genome-Wide Scan for Pulse Pressure in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study

The objective of this study was to assess heritability and identify chromosomal regions showing evidence of linkage to pulse pressure (PP), a simple indicator of proximal conduit vessel stiffness. Blood pressure data were analyzed for 8478 members of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Framingham Heart Study. Long-term PP was defined using 2-stage analysis. First, the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure was averaged over all qualifying clinic examinations. In the second stage, mean PP was adjusted for mean age, time period of examination, and body mass index by regression analysis. PP values were available for 6421 individuals in 1593 families for heritability estimation and for 2492 individuals in 330 families for linkage analysis. Microsatellite markers covering the genome at 10 cM intervals were typed by the NHLBI Mammalian Genotyping Service; genome scan data were available on 1585 individuals with PP data. Heritability estimates of long-term PP accounting for hypertension treatment and for ignoring treatment were 0.52 and 0.51, respectively. Variance component linkage analysis identified several locations with suggestive evidence of linkage: chromosome 15 at 122 cM (logarithm of odds [LOD]= 2.94), chromosome 7 at 71 cM (LOD= 2.42), chromosome 5 at 53 cM (LOD= 2.03), and chromosome 10 at 81 cM (LOD= 1.83) for PP accounting for treatment. LOD scores were slightly lower when ignoring treatment, with the exception of a peak on chromosome 10 at 81 cM (LOD= 2.58). In conclusion, we have demonstrated a substantial genetic component to PP and have identified 4 chromosomal regions that may harbor genes influencing vascular stiffness.
Hypofractionation with VMAT versus 3DCRT in post-operative patients with prostate cancer.

AIMS To retrospectively evaluate and compare the incidence of acute genitourinary (aGU), upper gastrointestinal (uGI) and rectal (lGI) injuries after radiotherapy with hypo-fractionation by volumetric modulation arc therapy (VMAT, the Hypo-RapidArc group) and conventional fractionation by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in patients with localized prostate cancer treated, after radical prostatectomy, with prostatic bed irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 2007 and 2012, 84 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer submitted to radical prostatectomy were also treated with irradiation to the prostate bed. Forty-five received 3DCRT and 39 Hypo-RapidArc. The median age was 67 and 69 years for 3DCRT and Hypo-RapidArc groups respectively. The median dose to the prostatic bed was 70 Gy in both groups: 2 Gy/fraction in the 3DCRT group and 2.5 Gy/fraction in the Hypo-RapidArc group. After radical prostatectomy, the median time-to-RT was 15 and 16 months respectively. Acute and late toxicities were scored according to the Radiation Therapy and Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer system. RESULTS Grade 2aGU was recorded in 16% of cases in the 3DRCT group and in 10% in the Hypo-RapidArc group. No acute grade 2 upper gastrointestinal (uGI) toxicities were found in the 3DCRT versus 5% in the Hypo-RapidArc group. The incidence of grade 2 lower gastrointestinal (lGI) toxicities was 22% in the 3DCRT group versus 15% in the Hypo-RapidArc group. No grade 3 or greater toxicities were found in either group. In both groups, good planning target volume coverage was achieved: V95% was recorded as 96.3 ± 3.6% (mean ± standard deviation) and 95.7 ± 8.9 for the 3DRCT and the Hypo-RapidArc groups, respectively. The mean rectal volume dose receiving at least 70 Gy was 9.1 ± 10.8% and 0.1 ± 0.6% respectively. The mean dose to the bladder was 49.5 ± 12.3 Gy and 37.2 ± 5.2 Gy respectively. Significant correlation between late rectal toxicity and the maximum dose to the rectum, V70Gy, was found in the 3DCRT group, while no significant correlations were found for acute toxicity. CONCLUSION The results presented in this study demonstrate the feasibility of a moderate hypo-fractionation regimen with RapidArc in the postoperative setting. Longer-term data are needed to confirm late toxicity profiles.
Plasma Copeptin and Decline in Renal Function in a Cohort from the Community: The Prospective D.E.S.I.R. Study

Background/Aims: In recent days, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming an increasing public health problem. Identification of factors contributing to its progression is crucial for designing preventive interventions. Previous studies suggested that chronically high vasopressin is deleterious to the renal function. We evaluated plasma copeptin, a surrogate of vasopressin, as a predictor for renal function decline in a community cohort. Methods: Plasma copeptin was measured at baseline in 1,234 participants from the D.E. S.I. R. study, a prospective cohort from the French general population. All participants were followed for 9 years. Progression towards CKD during follow-up was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 on at least one follow-up visit. We have also considered the criterion ‘Certain Drop in eGFR' proposed by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) group. Results: Progression towards CKD was observed in 86 (7.0%) participants. Factors like age, female gender, plasma copeptin and use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin 2 receptor blocker at baseline were positively associated, and eGFR inversely associated with CKD progression during follow-up. The hazard ratio per unit of log10-transformed plasma copeptin was 1.65 (95% CI 1.06-2.54) and p = 0.02. Copeptin was similarly associated with CKD and this was observed when we considered the KDIGO criterion: OR 3.03 (95% CI 1.21-7.57), p = 0.02. Conclusion: The plasma copeptin level was independently and positively associated with progression towards CKD in a community-based cohort. Our results add to the available evidence for a deleterious effect of high vasopressin on renal health not only in selected groups of patients with CKD but also in the general population.
Bad News and Differential Market Reactions to Announcements of Earlier-Quarters Versus Fourth-Quarter Earnings

In this study, we investigate whether the security market reaction to the announcement of lower than expected earnings (bad news earnings) is dependent on the fiscal quarter of the announcement (earlier quarters versus fourth quarter). Such dependence could arise from the provisions of generally accepted accounting principles which allow extensive use of managers' fiscal-year expectations when formulating interim cost estimates. These provisions provide managers with a potential means of delaying bad news earnings until the fourth-quarter earnings announcement. Support for the view that managers delay the release of bad news is provided by recent research on the timing of information releases (e.g., the release of bad earnings news, bad dividend news, and bad nonearnings news). ' Since managers have the means (through generally accepted accounting principles for interim reporting) and the tendency (as suggested by the empirical evidence on the timing of information releases) to delay bad news, it seems plausible to hypothesize a larger security
Assessment of sexual function and related factors in mid-aged sexually active Spanish women with the six-item Female Sex Function Index

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess sexual function and related factors (menopause-related quality of life and mood included) in mid-aged Spanish women. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study in which 179 sexually active women (40-65 y old) completed the six-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a sociodemographic questionnaire containing personal and partner data. ResultsMedian age was 51 years; 55.3% of the women were naturally postmenopausal, 47.5% had increased body mass index, and 6.7% had hypertension. Currently, 4.5% and 19.6% of the women used hormone therapy and psychotropic drugs, respectively. A total of 87.7% had a stable partner; 1.3% of partners abused alcohol and 8.3% had erectile dysfunction. Of the surveyed women, 36.9% displayed total FSFI-6 scores of 19 or less (lower sexual function); 40.2%, mood morbidity (total HADS scores ≥11); and 23.5%, impaired quality of life (severe total MRS scores ≥17). Cronbach &agr; for the FSFI-6 was 0.91. Total FSFI-6 scores positively correlated with female and partner education and inversely with female age and scores on the MRS and the HADS (total and subscale values). Multiple linear regression analysis found that total FSFI-6 scores positively correlated with partner educational level and inversely (worse sexual function) with female age, partner issues (alcohol abuse and erectile dysfunction), and total HADS and urogenital and somatic MRS scores. ConclusionsIn this mid-aged Spanish sample, as assessed with a short and consistent tool, lower sexual function was related to menopausal and mood symptoms and several women and partner factors. Further research using this instrument is warranted.
The LDL receptor‐related protein (LRP) family: An old family of proteins with new physiological functions

The low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor is the founding member of a family of seven structurally closely related transmembrane proteins (LRP1, LRP1b, megalin/LRP2, LDL receptor, very low‐density lipoprotein receptor, MEGF7/LRP4, LRP8/apolipoprotein E receptor2). These proteins participate in a wide range of physiological processes, including the regulation of lipid metabolism, protection against atherosclerosis, neurodevelopment, and transport of nutrients and vitamins. While currently available data suggest that the role of the LDL receptor is limited to the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis by receptor‐mediated endocytosis of lipoprotein particles, there is growing experimental evidence that the other members of the gene family have additional physiological functions as signal transducers. In this review, we focus on the latest discovered functions of two major members of this family, LRP1 and megalin/LRP2, and on the newly elucidated physiological role of a third member of the family, MEGF7/LRP4, which can also function as a modulator of diverse signaling pathways during development.
Functional implications of structural differences between variants A and B of bovine β‐lactoglobulin

The structure of the trigonal crystal form of bovine β‐lactoglobulin variant B at pH 7.1 has been determined by X‐ray diffraction methods at a resolution of 2.22 Å and refined to values for R and Rfree of 0.239 and 0.286, respectively. By comparison with the structure of the trigonal crystal form of bovine β‐lactoglobulin variant A at pH 7.1, which was determined previously [Qin BY et al., 1998, Biochemistry 37:14014—14023], the structural consequences of the sequence differences D64G and V118A of variants A and B, respectively, have been investigated. Only minor differences in the core calyx structure occur. In the vicinity of the mutation site D64G on loop CD (residues 61—67), there are small changes in main‐chain conformation, whereas the substitution V118A on β‐strand H is unaccompanied by changes in the surrounding structure, thereby creating a void volume and weakened hydrophobic interactions with a consequent loss of thermal stability relative to variant A. A conformational difference is found for the loop EF, implicated in the pH‐dependent conformational change known as the Tanford transition, but it is not clear whether this reflects differences intrinsic to the variants in solution or differences in crystallization.
Effect of Magnesium Supplement on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral required to regulate body temperature, nucleic acid, and protein synthesis with an important role in maintaining nerve and muscle cell electrical potentials. It may reduce fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia as well as increase birth weight. This study aimed to assess the effects of consuming Mg supplementation during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial with three sixty populated groups of pregnant women. Participants were randomized to treatment or control groups through random table numbers. Participants with Mg serum levels more than 1.9 mg/dl considered as control group A randomly. They just received one multimineral tablet once a day until the end of pregnancy participants with hypomagnesemia consider as Group B and C. Participants in Group B received one multimineral tablet daily until the end of pregnancy. Participants in Group C received 200 mg effervescent Mg tablet from Vitafit Company once daily for 1 month, and also they consumed one multimineral tablet from Alhavi Company, which contains 100 mg Mg, once a day until the end of pregnancy. Intrauterine growth retardation, preterm labor, maternal body mass index, neonatal weight, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, cramps of the leg Apgar score were compared between three groups. Results: In all pregnancy outcomes, Group C that received effervescent Mg tablet plus multimineral showed a better result than other groups, and frequency of complications of pregnancy was fewer than the other two groups and showed a significant difference. Conclusion: Mg supplement during pregnancy likely decrease probability occurrence of many complications of pregnancy.
Barriers and Facilitators to Healthy Physical Activity in Asthma Patients

Preliminary evidence indicates that asthma patients limit exercise and healthy lifestyle activities to avoid respiratory symptoms. This self-imposed decrease in activity, even among those with mild disease, may predispose to long-term general health risks. The objectives of this qualitative study were to determine patients' views about exercise and lifestyle activities and to determine if these views varied depending on asthma characteristics. During in-person interviews, 60 patients were asked open-ended questions about asthma and perceived barriers and facilitators to exercise and lifestyle activities, particularly walking. Responses were coded and corroborated by independent investigators and then compared according to asthma severity, knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes. Although most patients acknowledged the importance of exercise, many either limited or did not participate in exercise because of asthma and other conditions. Patients cited both internal and external barriers to exercise, such as lack of motivation, time constraints, and extreme weather affecting asthma. Patients identified multiple facilitators, such as social support and the desire to be healthy. Lifestyle activities were preferred over formal exercise regimens. Patients with more severe disease were more likely to believe that exercise was not good for asthma. Patients with less knowledge, less self-efficacy, and worse attitudes toward asthma also were more likely to have negative perspectives about exercise. In conclusion, for many patients, asthma is a deterrent to physical activity and predisposes to inactivity. Developing interventions to foster prudent lifestyle activities and exercise among asthma patients should be a priority to decrease long-term health risks.