Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Patterns of Sexting Among Ethnic Minority Urban High School Students

Although sexting among U.S. youth has received much popular media attention, there are only limited data on its prevalence among ethnic minority youth. This study, therefore, specifically examined the prevalence and patterns of sexting (sending and/or receiving a nude or semi-nude picture/video or a sexual text-only message) among a sample of black and Hispanic youth. Data from 1,034 tenth graders from a large, urban school district in southeast Texas were used to calculate the prevalence of sexting by gender-race/ethnicity. Overlap among sexting behaviors was also examined. Electronic surveys were administered via an audio-computer-assisted self-interview on laptop computers. Prevalence estimates were obtained, and chi-square analyses were conducted to compare the distribution of sexting behaviors by gender-race/ethnicity subgroups. More than 20% of students reported sending either a nude or semi-nude picture/video or a sexual text-only message (jointly referred to as a "sext"), and more than 30% reported receiving a sext. Sexts were also frequently shared with unintended recipients. Black males and females reported similar prevalence estimates for sexting behaviors. However, they were more likely than Hispanic males to participate in some sexting behaviors. Hispanic females reported the lowest estimates for sexting behaviors for all gender-race/ethnicity subgroups. Many youth who sent or received a nude or semi-nude picture/video were also likely to have sent or received sexual text-only messages. The results of this study indicate that sexting is prevalent among ethnic minority youth. However, more research is needed to understand the specific context and circumstances around which sexting occurs in this population.
Speech Evoked Potentials: From the Laboratory to the Clinic

Speech-evoked auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying speech processing. For this reason, ERPs are of great value to hearing scientists and audiologists. This article will provide an overview of ERPs frequently used to examine the processing of speech and other sound stimuli. These ERPs include the P1–N1–P2 complex, acoustic change complex, mismatch negativity, and P3 responses. In addition, we focus on the application of these speech-evoked potentials for the assessment of (1) the effects of hearing loss on the neural encoding of speech allowing for behavioral detection and discrimination; (2) improvements in the neural processing of speech with amplification (hearing aids, cochlear implants); and (3) the impact of auditory training on the neural processing of speech. Studies in these three areas are reviewed and implications for audiologists are discussed.
Aldosterone Is Produced From Ventricles in Patients With Essential Hypertension

This study was designed to examine whether aldosterone is produced from the hearts of patients with essential hypertension without left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). The study population consisted of 20 patients with essential hypertension without LVSD and 22 control subjects. Plasma levels of aldosterone, serum ACE activity, and B-type natriuretic peptide levels were measured in the anterior interventricular vein (AIV), coronary sinus, and aortic root during cardiac catheterization. The plasma aldosterone levels were significantly higher in AIV and coronary sinus than in aortic root (99±11 versus 88±10 pg/mL, P <0.01, and 100±12 versus 88±10 pg/mL, P <0.01, respectively) in the hypertension group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in aldosterone levels for these sites in the control group. There were no significant differences in ACE activity levels between aortic root, AIV, and coronary sinus in either the hypertension or control group. The levels of B-type natriuretic peptide were significantly higher in AIV than in aortic root in both groups. The difference in aldosterone levels between AIV and aortic root (&Dgr; Aldo[AIV−Ao]) had a significant positive correlation with the difference in ACE activity between AIV and aortic root (&Dgr;ACE[AIV−Ao]) (r =0.501, P <0.05) in the hypertension group. Both &Dgr; Aldo[AIV−Ao] and &Dgr;ACE[AIV−Ao] had a significant positive correlation with diastolic blood pressure (r =0.498, P <0.05;r =0.577, P <0.01, respectively) in the hypertension group. We conclude that production of aldosterone is activated in the left ventricles in patients with essential hypertension without LVSD in proportion to the severity of hypertension.
Cesarean delivery and perinatal mortality rates in Japan, 2007–2011

Abstract Objective: Cesarean delivery (CD) rates are increasing dramatically in developed countries. In this study, we examined the relationship between CD rates and perinatal mortality (PM) rates in all 47 prefectures in Japan. Methods: The CD rates were derived from a national obstetrics facility survey conducted by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG), which included 94.1% of all childbirths in Japan during the 5-year period from 2007 to 2011. The PM rates were based on vital statistics during the same period. Results: During the 5-year period from 2007 to 2011, the CD rates compiled for the 47 prefectures in Japan increased significantly in each successive year, whereas PM rates decreased significantly in each successive year. However, no statistically significant correlation between CD and PM rates was detected. Conclusion: There is a lack of evidence for a significant correlation between recently increasing CD rates and decreasing PM rates in Japan.
Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells as a Target for the Therapy of Immune Thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease in which platelets are destroyed by special antiplatelet autoantibodies produced by B cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells involved in humoral immunity and cellular immunity and among them DCs that induce autoimmune tolerance are called tolerogenic DCs (tDCs). As a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for ITP, tDCs have received increasing attention. In this review, we describe the significant role of DCs in regulating autoimmune balances, introduce the manipulation strategies to generate tDCs, summarize recent progress on the experimental application of tDCs for ITP therapy, and finally discuss the perspectives of tolerogenic vaccination for ITP treatment in the clinic.
A restoration genetics guide for coral reef conservation

Worldwide degradation of coral reef communities has prompted a surge in restoration efforts. They proceed largely without considering genetic factors because traditionally, coral populations have been regarded as open over large areas with little potential for local adaptation. Since, biophysical and molecular studies indicated that most populations are closed over shorter time and smaller spatial scales. Thus, it is justified to re‐examine the potential for site adaptation in corals. There is ample evidence for differentiated populations, inbreeding, asexual reproduction and the occurrence of ecotypes, factors that may facilitate local adaptation. Discovery of widespread local adaptation would influence coral restoration projects mainly with regard to the physical and evolutionary distance from the source wild and/or captive bred propagules may be moved without causing a loss of fitness in the restored population. Proposed causes for loss of fitness as a result of (plant) restoration efforts include founder effects, genetic swamping, inbreeding and/or outbreeding depression. Direct evidence for any of these processes is scarce in reef corals due to a lack of model species that allow for testing over multiple generations and the separation of the relative contributions of algal symbionts and their coral hosts to the overall performance of the coral colony. This gap in our knowledge may be closed by employing novel population genetic and genomics approaches. The use of molecular tools may aid managers in the selection of appropriate propagule sources, guide spatial arrangement of transplants, and help in assessing the success of coral restoration projects by tracking the performance of transplants, thereby generating important data for future coral reef conservation and restoration projects.
Activity‐dependent conduction failure: molecular insights

Weakness and fatigue are commonly encountered symptoms in neurological disorders and significantly impair quality of life. In the case of motor axons, conduction block contributes to weakness and fatigue and may be associated with aberrant nerve activity including fasciculations and cramp. These symptoms result from dysfunction of the constituent channels and pumps of the axonal membrane. In critically conducting axons, impulse conduction can be impaired by the effects of activity or by other mechanisms that produce a significant shift in membrane potential. Conduction failure may be accentuated or relieved by maneuvers that manipulate the time course of the driving current, including the administration of agents that interfere with Na+ channel function. In patients with inflammatory neuropathies, normal activity may be sufficient to precipitate conduction failure at sites of impaired function in multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). From a clinical perspective, these features are not assessed adequately by conventional neurophysiological techniques. As weakness and fatigue may only develop following activity or exertion, it is useful to assess the effects of impulse trains to determine the extent of conduction failure and the resulting symptoms in neurological patients. These techniques and the physiological mechanisms underlying the development of activity‐dependent hyperpolarization will be critically appraised in this review, with a focus on demyelinating neuropathies, MMN and the neurodegenerative disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Eosinophil Degranulation Is More Important than Eosinophilia in Identifying Asthma in Chronic Cough

Objective. We investigated whether eosinophil degranulation is a distinctive feature of asthma and can distinguish between chronic cough patients with asthma and those without. Methods. Thirty-seven patients, with a chronic cough for more than 1 month, and nine normal individuals (controls) were enrolled. Subjects were divided into two groups: one group with asthma and positive bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) (Asthma group, n = 18) and the other group without asthma and negative BHR (Non-Asthma group, n = 19). From induced sputum, total cell counts and differentials were determined. Myeloperoxidase levels were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and major basic protein (MBP) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results. The percentage of sputum eosinophils was increased in the Asthma (p < .001) and Non-Asthma (p < .05) groups compared with the Control group and when comparing the Asthma and Non-Asthma (p < .001) groups. Sputum EDN and MBP levels were increased in the Asthma group compared with the Non-Asthma (p < .05 and p < .05, respectively) and Control groups (p < .05 and p = .055, respectively). However, EDN and MBP levels were not increased in the Non-Asthma group compared with the Control group. The percentage of sputum eosinophils in the Asthma group correlated positively with sputum EDN (Rs = 0.921, p < .001) and MBP (Rs = 0.882, p < .0001) levels and negatively with maxΔFEV1 (Rs = −0.501, p < .05) (FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second). Unexpectedly, the percentage of eosinophils in the Non-Asthma group did not correlate significantly with any of these markers. Increased EDN and MBP levels and significant correlations between the percentage of eosinophils and EDN and MBP were only observed in asthma patients. Conclusions. These findings suggest that eosinophil degranulation is more important than eosinophilia in identifying asthma.
Payments for environmental services: Coasian transactions or something else?

Payments for environmental services (PES) are based on the beneficiary-pays rather than the polluter-pays principle. In this paper we argue that this is a key factor for identifying what ecosystems are amenable to PES. We build a general equilibrium framework to identify what ecosystems are amenable to PES as an efficient solution. In economies where society has a higher degree of environmental responsibility and produces a low level of alternative land services income efficient transfers cannot be financed with voluntary payments. There- fore PES programs must be seen as environmental subsidies (to ES providers) and must be combined with a user fee (on ES users). We use Costa Rica’s Payments for Environmental Services program (PSA) to illustrate our findings. We find that the efficient payments for forest conservation are higher than the value reported by Pagiola (2008). Implementing an efficient system implies an increase in payments for forest conservation by 4.15-fold.
Lateral geniculate activations can be detected using intersubject averaging and fMRI

Applications of fMRI in functional brain imaging are mainly confined to single subject designs, prohibiting the assessment of subject or group by condition interactions (i.e., differential activations) or areas of conjoint activation. In this paper a framework for fMRI group designs, using statistical parametric mapping, is introduced. It is generally believed that intersubject averaging, which requires spatial normalization and smoothing, will decrease the effective spatial resolution of fMRI or its sensitivity. A subcortical activation of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) was therefore chosen to demonstrate the feasibility and power of intersubject averaging in the context of fMRI. Seven volunteers were studied, while looking at a blank screen or radially moving dots. LGN activation was demonstrated in all single subject analyses and in the group analysis.
Optimal placement and determine parking capacity of electric vehicles to improve VSM and congestion

Nowadays, Electric vehicle parking (EVP) can be used as a distributed generation (DG) as an important opportunity. EVP is different with other DGs and can be used as a load or supplier, so it helps to flatten the grid load curve. Based on this matter optimal placement of EVP is an important matter. In this paper an optimal placement problem with considering multi-objective optimization is defined. Solving this problem, causes to improve some objects i.e. congestion, Voltage security margin (VSM), cost and voltage stability. To solve modeled optimization problem, an Elitist genetic algorithm optimization has been developed. This algorithm consists of continuous and discrete sections, so in addition placement, the optimal capacity of the selected parking can be calculated. These results have been analyzed and evaluated in different conditions and modified IEEE 14-bus and 30-bus networks are used as cases study.
Phosphorylcholine determinants in six pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides detected by monoclonal antibody

The presence of phosphorylcholine in pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides was examined by using monoclonal antiphosphorylcholine antibody. Of the 83 known capsular types of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 6 types, viz., 24A, 27, 28F, 28A, 32F, and 32A, gave a positive capsular reaction (quellung) which could be inhibited by phosphorylcholine. The capsular polysaccharides of these six types, therefore, contain phosphorylcholine.
MSK1 downregulation is associated with neuronal and astrocytic apoptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

MSK (mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase) proteins are a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases. MSKs represent a novel type of pro-survival genes, potentially enhancing the phosphorylation of Bcl2-associated agonist of cell death. However, MSK's function and expression are poorly understood in the central nervous system. In the present study, a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model was established in SD rats and the expression of MSK1 in the brain subsequent to experimental SAH was investigated. In response to SAH, MSK1 mRNA and protein levels gradually declined, reaching the lowest point at 3 days, and increased thereafter. The expression of active caspase-3 was negatively correlated with MSK1 level. Colocalization and correlating changes in expression of MSK1 and active caspase-3 at neurons and astrocytes indicated that MSK1 downregulation may contribute to SAH-induced apoptosis, validating that MSK1 may be involved in the pathophysiology of the brain cortex subsequent to SAH.
User centered story tracking

Using data collections available on the Internet has for many people became the main medium for staying informed about the world. Many of these collections are in nature dynamic, evolving as the subjects they describe change. The goal of different research areas is to identify and highlight these changes to better enable readers to track stories. In this work we restrict ourselves to news collections and investigate "real-life" effectiveness and usability of temporal text mining (TTM) story tracking methods. We propose a new story tracking method and build a tool to support it. Additionally, we investigate the effectiveness and usability of story tracking methods and define a new frameworks for automatic and user oriented evaluation. We built methods and tools which allow for understanding, discovery, and search through user interaction. Although there are many TTM methods developed there is a lack of common evaluation procedure. Therefore, we propose an evaluation framework for measuring how different TTM methods discover novel "facts". Apart from the automatic evaluation we are interested in how can users interact with pattens and learn about the underlying subjects of the story they track. For this purpose we propose a user testing environment that measures speed and accuracy in which users can use story tracking methods to discover predefined sets of ground-truth sentences.
Cooling rate dependence of microstructure and thermoelectric properties of AgPb18SbTe20 compounds

AgPb18SbTe20 samples were prepared by cooling from melts at three different rates as quenching, furnace cooling and controlled slow cooling rate of 10degC /h, and the correlation between cooling rates and samples microstructure and thermoelectric properties were discussed. Experimental results show that cooling rates influence significantly the microstructure and thermoelectric properties of the samples. As the cooling rate increased, an Ag-Sb-rich second phase occurred. Samples carrier concentration and electrical conductivity decrease with increased cooling rates and all samples measured have a negative Seebeck coefficient showing n-type conduction. At room temperature, the power factor of the slow cooled sample is 100 times that of the quench samples, and the ZT value of furnace cooled samples is much higher than that of the quenched samples. This results may explain why the samples several researchers prepared by different synthesis processes show very different ZT values.
Multivariate Chaotic Time Series Prediction Using a Wavelet Diagonal Echo State Network

Echo state networks have become increasingly popular for its superior performance in the field of time series prediction. However, it is difficult to implement the complicated ESN topologies in practice. To solve the problem, we propose a diagonal connected reservoir structure with composite functions inside the nodes. The input is first processed by wavelet functions and then passes through sigmoid activation functions. This increases the diversity of the reservoir. A selection method that takes into account the domain of the input data is applied to initialize the wavelet translation and dilation parameters. The output weights are efficiently computed by the least square method after the reservoir state matrix is formed. We exhibit the merits of our model on a benchmark multivariate chaotic dataset and a real-world application. Experimental results substantiate that the proposed model can achieve significantly good performance with a low-dimensional reservoir.
Cloning and expression of a tetracycline resistance determinant from Campylobacter jejuni in Escherichia coli

The tetracycline resistance gene (tet) from the Campylobacter jejuni plasmid pFKT1025 was cloned into both pUC18 and pBR322 and was expressed when the chimeric plasmids were introduced into Escherichia coli. The location of the tet determinant on the chimeric plasmids was determined by BAL 31 deletion mapping within a 2.25-kilobase (kb) RsaI-HincII fragment. A protein of approximately 70 kilodaltons was consistently produced by E. coli maxicells harboring the cloned tet determinant. A 500-base-pair restriction fragment from within the 2.25-kb tet region was shown to hybridize only to DNA from tetracycline-resistant strains of C. jejuni and C. coli, but not to the DNA of organisms known to carry the streptococcal tetM determinant. No homology was noted between the DNA of 10 tetracycline-resistant isolates of campylobacter and the streptococcal tetL, tetM, or tetN determinants when tested under conditions of high stringency. However, homology was noted between a 5.0-kb HincII restriction fragment containing the tetM determinant and two C. jejuni tet R factors under conditions of reduced stringency.
Influence of cell polarity on early development of the sea urchin embryo

Background: Establishment and maintenance of cell polarity is critical for normal embryonic development. Previously, it was thought that the echinoderm embryo remained relatively unpolarized until the first asymmetric division at the 16‐cell stage. Here, we analyzed roles of the cell polarity regulators, the PAR complex proteins, and how their disruption in early development affects later developmental milestones. Results: We found that PAR6, aPKC, and CDC42 localize to the apical cortex as early as the 2‐cell stage and that this localization is retained through the gastrula stage. Of interest, PAR1 also colocalizes with these apical markers through the gastrula stage. Additionally, PAR1 was found to be in complex with aPKC, but not PAR6. PAR6, aPKC, and CDC42 are anchored in the cortical actin cytoskeleton by assembled myosin. Furthermore, assembled myosin was found to be necessary to maintain proper PAR6 localization through subsequent cleavage divisions. Interference with myosin assembly prevented the embryos from reaching the blastula stage, while transient disruptions of either actin or microtubules did not have this effect. Conclusions: These observations suggest that disruptions of the polarity in the early embryo can have a significant impact on the ability of the embryo to reach later critical stages in development. Developmental Dynamics 244:1469–1484, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.