Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The acquisition of verbal morphology in Persian

This study constitutes the first focused description and analysis of the acquisition of Persian inflectional morphology. It focuses on the order in which children acquire the verbal morphological system and also considers factors that influence the order of acquisition. Three monolingual Persian children with the age range of 1;8 to 3;1 were videotaped at one-to-four month intervals in naturalistic interaction with their mothers. Based on transcription of these sessions, the point of acquisition of verbal inflections was determined following two sets of criteria: productivity and contrastive use of inflections (Pizzuto and Caselli, 1994, adjusted to Persian) and deployment of morphemes in obligatory context (Cazden, 1968). The main finding is that although some shared order of emergence and development of productivity can be identified, it is not possible to talk about distinct stages in the acquisition of verbal morphemes, such that the acquisition of number, aspect, mood, tense or person could be said to occur in any set order. For example, in two of the children Person and Mood contrasts develop before AFF/NEG and Tense contrasts, followed by Number and Aspect contrasts; however, Person and AFF/NEG inflections are acquired to full criteria at the same MLU in each child (i.e., 1.5 and 1.9, respectively). The different patterns of productivity along with different pictures of development observed for each of the three children raise the question of what determines which forms will be learned and in which order. The frequency of occurrence of verbal morphemes in the input speech of the three mothers was found to be related to the order of emergence, productivity and contrastive knowledge of the morphemes in the children, whereas the role of typological factors (i.e., perceptual salience and transparency) was not straightforward. The results of the study are consistent with a constructivist account of language acquisition, which sees the acquisition of morphemes as a gradual process activated following considerable exposure to the input in different variations in terms of types and tokens. Furthermore, the findings confirm the interdependence of lexical and morphosyntactic development by demonstrating that it is prompted by an increase in the size of the lexicon over a certain level.
Microbiology and Biofilm Trends of Silicone Lacrimal Implants: Comparing Infected Versus Routinely Removed Stents

Purpose: To investigate the pathogens and biofilms responsible for clinically significant infection of silicone stents implanted within the lacrimal system. Methods: Retrospective review of culture results and patient demographics for all silicone lacrimal stents removed early for clinically significant infection and sent to the Bascom Palmer Microbiology Laboratory through the end of year 2010. As a control, routinely removed, clinically noninfected stents from the same institution were prospectively sent for culture over a 6-month period. Four clinically infected and 6 clinically noninfected stents showing mucus within the lumen at removal were sent for scanning electron microscopy. Images were randomized and graded by a microbiologist for the presence of organisms, matrix deposits, organisms within matrix, and overall impression of significant biofilm formation. Results: Nineteen stents were included in the study; 100% of clinically infected (n = 10) and noninfected (n = 9) stents were culture positive. Culture positivity for nontuberculous mycobacterium was found in 90% of infected stents and none of the noninfected stents (p < 0.001). Of infected stents, 50% grew Gram-positive organisms compared with 89% of noninfected stents (p = 0.07). Fifty percent of infected versus 67% of noninfected stents were culture positive for Gram-negative organisms (p = 0.46). Electron microscopy of stents revealed organisms consistent with culture results (size, shape) in planktonic and biofilm form. Masked observer image grading revealed a statistically significant higher amount of organism and biofilm on infected versus noninfected specimen. Conclusion: Nontuberculous mycobacteria comprise the primary pathogens responsible for clinically significant infection of silicone stents in the lacrimal system in South Florida. Robust biofilm production by this organism likely plays a role in pathogenesis. Further research into biofilm-related lacrimal implant infection may aid in the development of useful prevention and treatment strategies.
Compound heterozygosity for loss‐of‐function GARS variants results in a multisystem developmental syndrome that includes severe growth retardation

Aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are ubiquitously expressed enzymes that ligate amino acids onto tRNA molecules. Genes encoding ARSs have been implicated in myriad dominant and recessive disease phenotypes. Glycyl‐tRNA synthetase (GARS) is a bifunctional ARS that charges tRNAGly in the cytoplasm and mitochondria. GARS variants have been associated with dominant Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease but have not been convincingly implicated in recessive phenotypes. Here, we describe a patient from the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program with a multisystem, developmental phenotype. Whole‐exome sequence analysis revealed that the patient is compound heterozygous for one frameshift (p.Glu83Ilefs*6) and one missense (p.Arg310Gln) GARS variant. Using in vitro and in vivo functional studies, we show that both GARS variants cause a loss‐of‐function effect: the frameshift variant results in depleted protein levels and the missense variant reduces GARS tRNA charging activity. In support of GARS variant pathogenicity, our patient shows striking phenotypic overlap with other patients having ARS‐related recessive diseases, including features associated with variants in both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ARSs; this observation is consistent with the essential function of GARS in both cellular locations. In summary, our clinical, genetic, and functional analyses expand the phenotypic spectrum associated with GARS variants.
Modeling of synchronization behavior of bursting neurons at nonlinearly coupled dynamical networks

ABSTRACT Synchronization behaviors of bursting neurons coupled through electrical and dynamic chemical synapses are investigated. The Izhikevich model is used with random and small world network of bursting neurons. Various currents which consist of diffusive electrical and time-delayed dynamic chemical synapses are used in the simulations to investigate the influences of synaptic currents and couplings on synchronization behavior of bursting neurons. The effects of parameters, such as time delay, inhibitory synaptic strengths, and decay time on synchronization behavior are investigated. It is observed that in random networks with no delay, bursting synchrony is established with the electrical synapse alone, single spiking synchrony is observed with hybrid coupling. In small world network with no delay, periodic bursting behavior with multiple spikes is observed when only chemical and only electrical synapse exist. Single-spike and multiple-spike bursting are established with hybrid couplings. A decrease in the synchronization measure is observed with zero time delay, as the decay time is increased in random network. For synaptic delays which are above active phase period, synchronization measure increases with an increase in synaptic strength and time delay in small world network. However, in random network, it increases with only an increase in synaptic strength.
Progress in Understanding Algal Bloom-Mediated Fish Kills: The Role of Superoxide Radicals, Phycotoxins and Fatty Acids

Quantification of the role of reactive oxygen species, phycotoxins and fatty acids in fish toxicity by harmful marine microalgae remains inconclusive. An in vitro fish gill (from rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) assay was used to simultaneously assess the effect in superoxide dismutase, catalase and lactate dehydrogenase enzymatic activities caused by seven species of ichthyotoxic microalgae (Chattonella marina, Fibrocapsa japonica, Heterosigma akashiwo, Karenia mikimotoi, Alexandrium catenella, Karlodinium veneficum, Prymnesium parvum). Quantification of superoxide production by these algae was also performed. The effect of purified phycotoxins and crude extracts was compared, and the effect of fatty acids is discussed. The raphidophyte Chattonella was the most ichthyotoxic (gill cell viability down to 35%) and also the major producer of superoxide radicals (14 pmol cell-1 hr-1) especially after cell lysis. The raphidophyte Heterosigma and dinoflagellate Alexandrium were the least toxic and had low superoxide production, except when A. catenella was lysed (5.6 pmol cell-1 hr-1). Catalase showed no changes in activity in all the treatments. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactate dehydrogenase exhibited significant activity increases of ≤23% and 51.2% TCC (total cellular content), respectively, after exposure to C. marina, but SOD showed insignificant changes with remaining algal species. A strong relationship between gill cell viability and superoxide production or superoxide dismutase was not observed. Purified brevetoxins PbTx-2 and -3 (from Karenia brevis, LC50 of 22.1 versus 35.2 μg mL-1) and karlotoxin KmTx-2 (from Karlodinium; LC50 = 380 ng mL-1) could almost entirely account for the fish killing activity by those two dinoflagellates. However, the paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) GTX1&4, C1&C2, and STX did not account for Alexandrium ichthyotoxicity. Only aqueous extracts of Alexandrium were cytotoxic (≤65% decrease of viability), whereas crude methanol and acetone extracts of Chattonella, Fibrocapsa, Heterosigma, Karlodinium and Prymnesium decreased cell viability down to 0%. These and our previous findings involving the role of fatty acids confirm that superoxide radicals are only partially involved in ichthyotoxicity and point to a highly variable contribution by other compounds such as lipid peroxidation products (e.g. aldehydes).
Nutritional and Health Beneﬁts of Inulin and Oligofructose Inulin and Oligofructose: Safe Intakes and Legal Status 1

Inulin and oligofructose are a signiﬁcant part of the daily diet of most of the world’s population. Daily intakes for the U.S. and Europe have been estimated at up to 10 g, speciﬁcally 1–4 g for the 97th percentile in the U.S. Because both inulin and oligofructose are macroingredients, it is difﬁcult to apply classical toxicology tests. Although some high dose animal tests have been performed, none have revealed any toxic effects. The safety of inulin and oligofructose for use in foods was evaluated by many legal authorities worldwide. As a result, both inulin and oligofructose are accepted in most countries as food ingredients that can be used without restrictions in food formulations. In the U.S., a panel of experts performed a generally accepted as safe (GRAS) Self-Afﬁrmation Evaluation in 1992 and concluded similarly. At high doses, increased ﬂatulence and osmotic pressure can cause intestinal discomfort. These doses vary widely from person to person and also depend on the type of food in which inulin or oligofructose is incorporated. With regard to labeling, both inulin and oligofructose are gradually being accepted as ‘‘dietary ﬁbers’’ in most countries around the world. The mention of their ‘‘biﬁdogenic effect’’ on food labels has also been legally accepted in several countries. J. Nutr. 129: 1412S–1417S, 1999.
Enhancement of terminal B lymphocyte differentiation in vitro by fibroblast‐like stromal cells from human spleen

Stromal elements are major components of lymphoid tissues contributing to both tissue architecture and function. In this study we report on the phenotype and function of fibroblast‐like stromal cells obtained from human spleen. These cells express high levels of CD44 and ICAM‐1 and moderate levels of VLA‐4, VCAM, CD40 and CD21. They fail to express endothelial, epithelial, lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage markers. We show that these cells interact with B cell blasts induced in vitro by anti‐CD40 and anti‐μ stimulation. As a result of these interactions both IL‐6 and IgG secretion into culture medium is increased. The enhanced secretion of IgG is partly inhibited by abolishing B cell blast‐stromal cell contact or by anti‐IL‐6, anti‐VCAM or anti‐CD49d antibodies. Our studies also suggest that the ability of stromal cells to promote B cell survival is most likely the underlying mechanism of the enhanced immunoglobulin secretion. Comparison of stromal cells from different lymphoid and non‐lymphoid organs revealed that bone marrow‐ and spleen‐derived stromal cells are the most effective in promoting B cell blast differentiation.
Predicting the Ability of Preclinical Diagnosis To Improve Control of Farm-to-Farm Foot-and-Mouth Disease Transmission in Cattle

ABSTRACT Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) can cause large disruptive epidemics in livestock. Current eradication measures rely on the rapid clinical detection and removal of infected herds. Here, we evaluated the potential for preclinical diagnosis during reactive surveillance to reduce the risk of between-farm transmission. We used data from transmission experiments in cattle where both samples from individual animals, such as blood, probang samples, and saliva and nasal swabs, and herd-level samples, such as air samples, were taken daily during the course of infection. The sensitivity of each of these sample types for the detection of infected cattle during different phases of the early infection period was quantified. The results were incorporated into a mathematical model for FMD, in a cattle herd, to evaluate the impact of the early detection and culling of an infected herd on the infectious output. The latter was expressed as the between-herd reproduction ratio, Rh, where an effective surveillance approach would lead to a reduction in the Rh value to <1. Applying weekly surveillance, clinical inspection alone was found to be ineffective at blocking transmission. This was in contrast to the impact of weekly random sampling (i.e., using saliva swabs) of at least 10 animals per farm or daily air sampling (housed cattle), both of which were shown to reduce the Rh to <1. In conclusion, preclinical detection during outbreaks has the potential to allow earlier culling of infected herds and thereby reduce transmission and aid the control of epidemics.
Increased adaptive immune responses and proper feedback regulation protect against clinical dengue

Increased activation of adaptive immunity and proper feedback mechanisms can eliminate dengue viral infection without clinical symptoms. Distinguishing dengue presentation Although dengue hemorrhagic fever can be life-threatening, not all dengue virus infections even present with symptoms. To determine what may be driving the differences in clinical and asymptomatic infections, Simon-Lorière et al. examined the serum and immune gene transcripts of Cambodian children infected with dengue virus serotype 1. They saw that relative to those with clinical infections, the small subset of asymptomatic children had increased signs of antigen presentation, T cell activation, and T cell apoptosis; plasmablast differentiation and anti-dengue antibodies seemed relatively lower. These results provide clues for pathways that may drive pathologic responses in severe dengue virus infections. Clinical symptoms of dengue virus (DENV) infection, the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease, range from classical mild dengue fever to severe, life-threatening dengue shock syndrome. However, most DENV infections cause few or no symptoms. Asymptomatic DENV-infected patients provide a unique opportunity to decipher the host immune responses leading to virus elimination without negative impact on an individual’s health. We used an integrated approach of transcriptional profiling and immunological analysis to compare a Cambodian population of strictly asymptomatic viremic individuals with clinical dengue patients. Whereas inflammatory pathways and innate immune response pathways were similar between asymptomatic individuals and clinical dengue patients, expression of proteins related to antigen presentation and subsequent T cell and B cell activation pathways was differentially regulated, independent of viral load and previous DENV infection history. Feedback mechanisms controlled the immune response in asymptomatic viremic individuals, as demonstrated by increased activation of T cell apoptosis–related pathways and FcγRIIB (Fcγ receptor IIB) signaling associated with decreased anti-DENV–specific antibody concentrations. Together, our data illustrate that symptom-free DENV infection in children is associated with increased activation of the adaptive immune compartment and proper control mechanisms, leading to elimination of viral infection without excessive immune activation, with implications for novel vaccine development strategies.
Comment mesurer les "performances" des universités ? Quelques réflexions sur la mise en place d'indicateurs à l'université de Picardie Jules verne

Les universites sont aujourd'hui soumises a une pression multiforme visant a l'objectivation quantitative de leurs « performances », selon le lexique qui s'est largement impose dans le cadre de la strategie de Lisbonne. Celle-ci vise a faire de l'Europe l'« economie de la connaissance la plus competitive et la plus dynamique du monde ». Avec les notions de « pole », d'« excellence », de « competitivite », d' « attractivite », d' « innovation », etc., le lexique des « indicateurs de performance » s'est tres largement diffuse dans le cadre des reformes de l'enseignement superieur et de la recherche qui, depuis le processus de Bologne initie en 1998-99, ont deja tres profondement transforme ce secteur. En reprenant les categories analytiques du sociologue americain Robert K. Merton, cet article propose d'eclairer les logiques a l'œuvre dans le processus d'objectivation quantitative des performances des universites a la lumiere des fonctions sociales « manifestes » et « latentes » de ces institutions. Devant la multiplicite de ces fonctions, on observe a quel point l'objectivation quantitative des « performances » est un processus inegal et selectif qui tend principalement aujourd'hui a imposer la domination de criteres de type "economique", au detriment d'autres mesures et, partant, d'autres categories d'evaluation de l'activite universitaire. L'exemple de mise en oeuvre locale de la politique des indicateurs presente fait de plus apparaitre les nombreuses limites d'un processus cense favoriser la transformation des comportements par la transparence et l'evaluation generalisees.
Compressive Optic Neuropathy and Repeat Orbital Decompression: A Case Series

Purpose: To characterize the presenting characteristics, preoperative clinical activity score (CAS), surgical approach, and visual outcomes in patients with thyroid eye disease undergoing repeat orbital decompression for recurrent or recalcitrant compressive optic neuropathy (CON). Methods: The medical records of patients with recurrent or recalcitrant CON undergoing repeat orbital decompressions were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome measures included pre- and postoperative Humphrey visual field mean deviation, visual acuity (VA) measured in logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution, color vision measured by Ishihara plates, and presence of relative afferent pupillary defect. Details of the surgical procedure and each patient’s CAS at presentation were also recorded. Results: Six patients, 9 orbits, with a mean preoperative CAS of 3.8 were included in this review. The mean time between initial decompression and presentation to our center for recurrent or persistent CON symptoms was 8.6 years (range, 1 to 15 years). At presentation, the average Humphrey visual field mean deviation was −16.5 (standard deviation: 8.8), improving to −3.8 (2.4) postoperatively with a mean of 9.3 months follow up (mean improvement of 75%). Preoperative VA was 0.34 (0.23) LogMAR, improving to 0.05 (0.10) LogMAR with a mean follow up of 10.4 months. Pre- to postoperative comparisons of clinical measures all showed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05). Eight eyes presented with decreased VA (any VA < 20/20), 4 with decreased color vision (any color vision < 11), and 1 with a relative afferent pupillary defect, and all these patients demonstrated improvement following repeat orbital decompression. Conclusions: In patients with thyroid eye disease, symptoms of recurrent CON occurred up to 15 years following initial orbital decompression underscoring the smoldering, progressive nature of the disease. Repeat decompression that focused on the orbital apex resulted in visual improvement in all 6 patients. Despite clinical evidence of CON, the mean CAS of these patients at presentation was only 3.8, highlighting the importance of close monitoring of patients with thyroid eye disease following decompression regardless of the external manifestations of disease activity.
Measuring food insecurity and hunger in the United States: development of a national benchmark measure and prevalence estimates.

Since 1992, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has led a collaborative effort to develop a comprehensive benchmark measure of the severity and prevalence of food insecurity and hunger in the United States. Based on prior research and wide consultation, a survey instrument specifically relevant to U.S. conditions was designed and tested. Through its Current Population Survey (CPS), the U.S. Bureau of the Census has fielded this instrument each year since 1995. A measurement scale was derived from the data through fitting, testing and validating a Rasch scale. The unidimensional Rasch model corresponds to the form of the phenomenon being measured, i.e., the severity of food insufficiency due to inadequate resources as directly experienced and reported in U.S. households. A categorical measure reflecting designated ranges of severity on the scale was constructed for consistent comparison of prevalence estimates over time and across population groups. The technical basis and initial results of the new measure were reported in September 1997. For the 12 months ending April 1995, an estimated 11.9% of U.S. households (35 million persons) were food insecure. Among these, 4.1% of households (with 6.9 million adults and 4.3 million children) showed a recurring pattern of hunger due to inadequate resources for one or more of their adult and/or child members sometime during the period. The new measure has been incorporated into other federal surveys and is being used by researchers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The price of commitment in online stochastic vehicle routing

This paper considers online stochastic multiple vehicle routing with time windows in which requests arrive dynamically and the goal is to maximize the number of serviced customers. Early work has focused on very flexible routing settings where the decision to assign a vehicle to a customer is delayed until a vehicle is actually deployed to the customer. Motivated by real applications that require stability in the decision making, this paper considers a setting where the decision to assign a customer request to a vehicle must be taken when that request is accepted. Experimental results suggest that this constraint severely degrades the performance of existing algorithms. However, the paper shows how the use of stochastic information for vehicle assignment and request acceptance improves decision quality considerably. Moreover, the use of resource augmentation quantifies precisely the cost of commitment in online vehicle routing.