Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A bio-ecological case-study investigation into outlooks on the development and learning of young children with cerebral palsy

This research examined outlooks on early development and learning of young children with cerebral palsy. Using a research framework informed by Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model of child development, which integrates scrutiny of ‘person’, ‘process’, ‘context’ and ‘time,’ in combination with an exploratory case-study design, the study focused on the perceptions of a range of stakeholders in a local authority in the West Midlands of England as well as the observed experiences of children themselves. Research questions required examination of stakeholders’ perspectives of the developmental and learning identities of these children, the contextual circumstances for their early educational support, the processes by which their progression was or should be pursued, and future aspirations held for them. The final research question related the revealed outlooks to children’s own observed educational experiences. The wide-ranging review of literature highlighted differences in academic perspectives on child development and disability, also a complex national ‘patchwork’ of early intervention for disabled children in general and for those with cerebral palsy in particular. The empirical study was pursued through questionnaire surveys of parents and practitioners, also interviews with support-service managers and with parents and practitioners of six target children who were subsequently observed in their early educational settings. Integration of quantitative and qualitative data enabled all research questions to be answered comprehensively and in depth. Findings showed that stakeholders’ outlooks on the identity of children with cerebral palsy, evident in discourse and observed practice, were medically, socially or pedagogically oriented. Provision for these children was found to be extensive, but diverse in nature, not simply in terms of the services used, but also in relation to practitioners’ qualifications, experiences, levels of confidence and professional roles. A range of pedagogical processes was evident in the various contexts – differences related to use of space and equipment, adult support, opportunities for children’s socialization and other features. In terms of future aspirations, largely positive views were held, together with concern about the child’s acceptance in peer contexts, particular at times of transition. Drawing from findings, the study argues for a more distinctive pedagogical identity for children with cerebral palsy, echoing the Vygotskian (1993) perspective of disabled children’s development as a socio-culturally influenced, exceptional phenomenon. Their development and early education should be perceived and pursued as an all-encompassing entity, with focus on motivation, interest and independence and reflecting strengthened notions of upbringing and pedagogy. Practical implications include renewed academic and professional discourse, revitalized training for professionals and greater practical involvement of parents in early educational provision.
THz MMICs based on InP HBT Technology

An indium-phosphide (InP) double-heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) based suite of terahertz monolithic integrated circuits (TMICs) fabricated using 256nm InP DHBT transistors and a multipurpose three metal layer interconnect system is reported. The InP DHBT MMIC process is well suited for TMICs due to its high bandwidth (fmax = 808 GHz) and high breakdown voltage (BVCBo = 4V) and integrated 10-µm thick layer of BCB dielectric supporting both low-loss THz microstrip lines for LNA, PA, and VCO tuning networks, and high-density thin-film interconnects for compact digital and analog blocks. TMIC low noise and driver amplifiers, fixed and voltage controlled oscillators, dynamic frequency dividers, and double-balanced Gilbert cell mixers have been designed and fabricated. These results demonstrate the capability of 256nm InP DHBT technology to enable sophisticated single-chip heterodyne receivers and exciters for operation at THz frequencies.
Counting single photoactivatable fluorescent molecules by photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM)

We present a single molecule method for counting proteins within a diffraction-limited area when using photoactivated localization microscopy. The intrinsic blinking of photoactivatable fluorescent proteins mEos2 and Dendra2 leads to an overcounting error, which constitutes a major obstacle for their use as molecular counting tags. Here, we introduce a kinetic model to describe blinking and show that Dendra2 photobleaches three times faster and blinks seven times less than mEos2, making Dendra2 a better photoactivated localization microscopy tag than mEos2 for molecular counting. The simultaneous activation of multiple molecules is another source of error, but it leads to molecular undercounting instead. We propose a photoactivation scheme that maximally separates the activation of different molecules, thus helping to overcome undercounting. We also present a method that quantifies the total counting error and minimizes it by balancing over- and undercounting. This unique method establishes that Dendra2 is better for counting purposes than mEos2, allowing us to count in vitro up to 200 molecules in a diffraction-limited spot with a bias smaller than 2% and an uncertainty less than 6% within 10 min. Finally, we demonstrate that this counting method can be applied to protein quantification in vivo by counting the bacterial flagellar motor protein FliM fused to Dendra2.
Production of CORINE2000 land cover data using calibrated LANDSAT 7 ETM satellite image mosaics and digital maps in Finland

CORINE Land Cover is a Europeanwide land cover and land use classification. The CORINE2000 classification of Finland is based on automated interpretation of satellite images and data integration with existing digital map data. Satellite images are used in estimation of continuous variables describing vegetation type and coverage, as well as in updating map data. Continuous land cover variables were transformed into discrete CORINE classes by thresholding these variables according to class descriptions in CORINE nomenclature. The output of Finnish CLC2000 project consists of calibrated IMAGE2000 mosaic, national CORINE classification (25 m raster) which is generalized and vectorized to European CORINE classification. According to the first validation utilization of non-standard, automated data production approach together with exploitation of digital map data was proved to be successful in Finnish conditions.
DNA damage response and cellular senescence in tissues of aging mice

The impact of cellular senescence onto aging of organisms is not fully clear, not at least because of the scarcity of reliable data on the mere frequency of senescent cells in aging tissues. Activation of a DNA damage response including formation of DNA damage foci containing activated H2A.X (γ‐H2A.X) at either uncapped telomeres or persistent DNA strand breaks is the major trigger of cell senescence. Therefore, γ‐H2A.X immunohistochemistry (IHC) was established by us as a reliable quantitative indicator of senescence in fibroblasts in vitro and in hepatocytes in vivo and the age dependency of DNA damage foci accumulation in ten organs of C57Bl6 mice was analysed over an age range from 12 to 42 months. There were significant increases with age in the frequency of foci‐containing cells in lung, spleen, dermis, liver and gut epithelium. In liver, foci‐positive cells were preferentially found in the centrilobular area, which is exposed to higher levels of oxidative stress. Foci formation in the intestine was restricted to the crypts. It was not associated with either apoptosis or hyperproliferation. That telomeres shortened with age in both crypt and villus enterocytes, but telomeres in the crypt epithelium were longer than those in villi at all ages were confirmed by us. Still, there was no more than random co‐localization between γ‐H2A.X foci and telomeres even in crypts from very old mice, indicating that senescence in the crypt enterocytes is telomere independent. The results suggest that stress‐dependent cell senescence could play a causal role for aging of mice.
Making Audience Engagement Visible: Publics for Journalism on Social Media Platforms

The role of audiences in creating meaning from journalistic content is already well-established: viewers, readers, and users of the news create their own dominant or alternative readings of news stories, and in doing so engage in the interpretation for further circulation of news content for themselves as well as for those in their social networks with whom they choose to share such readings. To date, however, such phenomena have largely been studied only on a small-scale basis; the full extent of such active news engagement, and its likely impact on the circulation of the news, has remained a matter of extrapolation. However, using innovative methods that draw on large-scale data gathering from social media platforms – which now play a central role in the popular discussion and circulation of news content – it is becoming possible to observe the processes of active news reading and sharing as they take place, and without interfering with these processes themselves. This provides new insights into the diverse patterns of user engagement with the news, and documents how in aggregate such engagement gives rise to temporary audiences around current themes and topics. This article draws on large-scale, longitudinal data for audience engagement on Twitter and Facebook with the 35 leading Australian news and opinion sites, gathered as part of the Australian Twitter News Index (ATNIX) project since mid-2012. Based on this empirical study it explores the prevalence of dominant and alternative approaches to reading news stories, and examines the structure and dynamics of the news audience.
Localization of rRNA Synthesis in Bacillus subtilis: Characterization of Loci Involved in Transcription Focus Formation

ABSTRACT In Bacillus subtilis, RNA polymerase becomes concentrated into regions of the nucleoid called transcription foci. With green fluorescent protein-tagged RNA polymerase, these structures are only observed at higher growth rates and have been shown to represent the sites of rRNA synthesis. There are 10 rRNA (rrn) operons distributed around nearly half of the chromosome. In this study we analyzed the rrn composition of transcription foci with fluorescently tagged loci and showed that they comprise the origin-proximal operon rrnO but not the more dispersed rrnE or rrnD. This suggests that transcription foci comprise only the seven origin-proximal operons rrnO, rrnA, rrnJ, rrnW, rrnI, rrnH, and rrnG. These results have important implications for our understanding of microbial chromosome structure.
Comparing the Effects of Victimization, Witnessed Violence, Hearing about Violence, and Violent Behavior on Young Adults

This study compares the effects of: (1) violent victimization, (2) witnessing violence, (3) hearing about violence, and (4) violent behavior on depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among a sample of young adults. All forms of lifetime exposure were significantly correlated with depression and PTSD, but when they were assessed simultaneously, victimization had the strongest effect. Witnessing violence over the lifetime also had a significant effect on PTSD. High social support was related to fewer symptoms of depression and PTSD. Social support and gender were investigated as moderators. High social support moderated the effects of recent victimization on depression and PTSD. Gender did not moderate the effects of exposure to violence on depression, but it did moderate the effects of recent witnessed violence and violent behavior (both recent and lifetime) on PTSD. Women were more negatively affected than men by recent witnessed violence and engaging in violent behavior. Implications for interventions are discussed.
Does necroptosis have a crucial role in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury?

Background Previous studies have demonstrated protective effects of anti-receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1), a key necroptosis molecule. However, it is uncertain whether necroptosis has a crucial role in hepatic IR injury. Therefore, we evaluated the role of necroptosis in hepatic IR injury. Method The IR mice underwent 70% segmental IR injury induced by the clamping of the hepatic artery and portal vein for 1 hr followed by reperfusion for 4 hr. The key necroptosis molecules (RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL) and other key molecules of regulated necrosis (PGAM5 and caspase-1) were evaluated in the warm IR injury model. A RIP1 inhibitor (necrostain-1s) and/or an anti-mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-mediated necrosis mediator (cyclosporine A, CyA) were administered before clamping. Necrotic injury was quantified using Suzuki’s scoring system. qRT-PCR and western blot were performed to evaluate RIP1, RIP3, MLKL and PGAM5 expressions. Results RIP1, RIP3, MLKL and PGAM5 expression did not change in the hepatic IR injury model. Moreover, Nec1s pretreatment did not improve histology or biochemical markers. The overall Suzuki score (cytoplasmic vacuolization, sinusoidal congestion and hepatocytes necrosis) was increased in the RIP3(-/-) mice compared to the IR group (3.5 vs. 5, p = 0.026). CyA pretreatment and/or RIP3(-/-) mice decreased Bax/Bcl2 expression; however, it did lead to an overall change in the levels of AST, ALT and LDH or necrotic injury. The Bax/Bcl2 ratio and the expression of caspase-1 and caspase-3 did not increase in our hepatic IR injury model. Conclusion Key necroptosis molecules did not increase in the necrosis-dominant hepatic IR injury model. Anti-necroptosis and/or cyclosporine-A treatment did not have an overall protective effect on necrosis-dominant hepatic IR injury.
Programme de prévention des toxicomanies en milieu scolaire

Abstract Cet article presente les resultats a court terme d'un programme de prevention des toxicomanies aupres de filles avec et sans difficultes d'adaptation sociale. Le programme de prevention est une adaptation du Life Skills Training de Botvin et coll. Il comporte deux phases et est etale sur deux annees. Chaque phase est composee d'ateliers de formation aux habiletes personnelles et sociales. Le programme comporte aussi un systeme de renforcement au sein des ateliers et des activites complementaires a I'exterieur des ateliers. Soixante et onze filles de 11–12 ans ont participe au programme de prevention lorsqu'elles etaient en 5e et 6e annee d'ecole primaire. Vingtsept autres filles ont uniquement participe aux seances d'evaluation (i.e. pretest et post-test) et composaient un groupe de controle. Une partie des filles dans chaque condition eprouvait des difficultes d'adaptation sociale (i.e. troubles du comportement et rejet par les pairs) et une partie n'eprouvait pas de telles difficultes. Les resu.
Teaching NeuroImages: Isolated peripheral facial palsy due to ipsilateral pontine infarction

A 72-year-old woman presented left peripheral facial palsy for 1 day. Neurologic examination revealed isolated left peripheral facial palsy (figure 1). She did not have additional pontomedullary symptoms or signs, such as diplopia, abduction weakness, facial sensory loss, vertigo, nystagmus, or dysarthria. A brain diffusion-weighted MRI scan showed a hyperintense signal in the left dorsal pons (figure 2) in the region of the seventh nerve nucleus. Infranuclear facial palsy with isolated facial weakness has been reported rarely, and may be misdiagnosed as Bell palsy.1,2
Modelling the effect of habitat fragmentation on range expansion in a butterfly

There is an increasing need for conservation programmes to make quantitative predictions of biodiversity responses to changed environments. Such predictions will be particularly important to promote species recovery in fragmented landscapes, and to understand and facilitate distribution responses to climate change. Here, we model expansion rates of a test species (a rare butterfly, Hesperia comma) in five landscapes over 18 years (generations), using a metapopulation model (the incidence function model). Expansion rates increased with the area, quality and proximity of habitat patches available for colonization, with predicted expansion rates closely matching observed rates in test landscapes. Habitat fragmentation constrained expansion, but in a predictable way, suggesting that it will prove feasible both to understand variation in expansion rates and to develop conservation programmes to increase rates of range expansion in such species.
Monitored Design of an Effective Learning Environment for Algebraic Problem Solving

We describe a formative design experiment in which we adapt and evaluate the Practical Algebra Tutor, "PAT," for integrated use in developmental algebra classrooms at the college level. PAT is a software learning environment that presents students with real-world problem situations, modern mathematical representational tools to analyze these situations, and constant background support from a "cognitive tutor"-an intelligent computer tutor based on the ACT theory of cognition (Anderson, 1993). In two colleges, students who used PAT solved a performancebased assessment better than those who did not. This assessment required the use of mathematical representations to analyze a real-world problem situation and captured the reform objectives of the PAT approach, which are consistent with new national standards for mathematics. Changes over three semesters that increasingly integrated the technology into the classroom curriculum doubled student performance; students in control classes at one university had average scores of 30% after the first semester while students in experimental classes were averaging 67% by the third semester. Use of PAT provided impetus for universities to reform their courses and these reforms appeared to contribute to the observed increases in student learning across semesters.
[Observation on therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE To study the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture for the treatment of osteoarthritis of knee joint. METHODS Forty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups: the electroacupuncture group (20 patients)and the control group (20 patients). The patients in electroacupuncture group (8 male and 12 female, with an average age of 62.50 +/- 9.23 years and mean course of disease 9.85 +/- 8.17 years)were treated with electroacupuncture for one month. At the same time, the patients in control group (7 male and 13 female, with an average age of 61.15 +/- 6.75 years and mean course of disease 8.60 +/- 6.89 years) were given Diclofenac sodium orally for one month. The motor function of knee joints were evaluated before and after treatment according to Lysholm knee scoring scale. RESULTS Most scores in the electroacupuncture group improved significantly compared with those of before treatment (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) except for the item demands for support. While in the control group, compared with those of before treatment, there were significant difference on the item of pain, inter locking and instability (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences on other five items (P > 0.05). Between the two groups after treatment, differences on item of inter locking, instability, swelling, stair activity and squat were significant (P < 0.05), but no differences on limp, demands for support and pain (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and knee joint's motor function of patients with knee osteoarthritis, and more superior than Diclofenac sodium oral. It is a proved effective method for osteoarthritis.
The treatability of “growing pains” in children - a mini review

Aim: Growing pains in children is not an uncommon condition. Relative local overuse, reduction of bone strength, reduction of pain threshold, hypovitaminosis D and abnormal foot postures have all been found to be associated with the condition. Yet the etiology of the condition has not been completely determined. At present, there is no standard treatment protocol of the condition. As the growing pains in children tend to disappear with age, many health care practitioners opt not to treat the condition or dismiss the patient on the ground that he or she would get better with time. The present mini-review aims at reviewing the current treatment approaches and recommendation. Methods and materials: A manual search in the PubMed has been made, using the keywords growing pains in children, treatment, orthoses and vitamin D, for treatments of growing pains in children. Results: A search of literature reveals a well-implemented muscle stretching program as the first line treatment. In spite of the rather equivocal findings from the numerous studies regarding the efficacy of foot orthoses, their success in reducing pain and symptoms related to growing pains cannot be denied. The prescription of foot orthotics is clinically advocated. Also, supplementation of vitamin D3 is suggested for children with hypovitaminosis D, as it has been found that the majority of children with growing pains have a low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. Conclusions: Children with growing pains should be assessed for their serum vitamin D level and their foot postures. Supplementation of vitamin D3 and foot orthoses may improve the signs and symptoms of patients, when indicated. Correspondence to: Daniel Kai-Yip Pang, Pedorthic Technology Ltd, Room 1101, 11/F, Methodist House, 36 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Tel: (852)2522-9673; Fax: (852)2527-3618; E-mail: danielp@ezped.com
Spatial distribution of mercury deposition fluxes in Wanshan Hg mining area , Guizhou province , China

The legacy of long-term mining activities in Wanshan mercury (Hg) mining area (WMMA), Guizhou, China including a series of environmental issues related to Hg pollution. The spatial distribution of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) concentrations in ambient air were monitored using a mobile RA-915 Zeeman Mercury Analyzer during daytime and night time in May 2010. The data imply that calcines and mine wastes piles located at Dashuixi and on-going artisanal Hg mining activities at Supeng were major sources of atmospheric mercury in WMMA. For a full year (May 2010 to May 2011), sampling of precipitation and throughfall were conducted on a weekly basis at three sites (Shenchong, Dashuixi, and Supeng) within WMMA. Hg in deposition was characterized by analysis of total Hg (THg) and dissolved Hg (DHg) concentrations. The corresponding data exhibit a high degree of variability, both temporarily and spatially. The volume-weighted mean THg concentrations in precipitation and throughfall samples were 502.6 ng l −1 and 977.8 ng l −1 at Shenchong, 814.1 ng l −1and 3392.1 ng l −1 at Dashuixi, 7490.1 ng l −1and 9641.5 ng l −1 at Supeng, respectively. THg was enhanced in throughfall compared to wet deposition samples by up to a factor of 7. The annual wet Hg deposition fluxes were 29.1, 68.8 and 593.1 μg m −2 yr−1 at Shenchong, Dashuixi and Supeng, respectively, while the annual dry Hg deposition fluxes were estimated to be 378.9, 2613.6 and 6178 μg m −2 yr−1 at these sites, respectively. Dry deposition played a dominant role in total atmospheric Hg deposition in WMMA since the dry deposition fluxes were 10.4–37.9 times higher than the wet deposition fluxes during the whole sample period. Our data showed that air deposition was still an important pathway of Hg contamination to the local environment in WMMA.