Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From phonetics to phonology: The emergence of first words in Italian*

ABSTRACT This study assesses the extent of phonetic continuity between babble and words in four Italian children followed longitudinally from 0 ; 9 or 0 ; 10 to 2 ; 0 – two with relatively rapid and two with slower lexical growth. Prelinguistic phonetic characteristics, including both (a) consistent use of specific consonants and (b) age of onset and extent of consonant variegation in babble, are found to predict rate of lexical advance and to relate to the form of the early words. In addition, each child's lexical profile is analyzed to test the hypothesis of non-linearity in phonological development. All of the children show the expected pattern of phonological advance: Relatively accurate first word production is followed by lexical expansion, characterized by a decrease in accuracy and an increase of similarity between word forms. We interpret such a profile as reflecting the emergence of word templates, a first step in phonological organization.
Ischaemic heart disease assessment by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) related mortality has been on the decline, although its prevalence has been on the rise since the late 1970s. One of the contributing factors to this decline has been improved diagnosis and therapeutic management. Every clinician seeks to answer four key questions while evaluating patients with suspected or known IHD: What is the global ventricular function? What is the regional ventricular function? Is the myocardium viable? What is the status of the coronary arteries? In the past decade cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has emerged as an important clinical technique with the potential of answering all the pertinent questions in a single study. This has led to a significant increase in demand and utilisation of this modality. However, many clinicians are not well versed with this technology, its clinical utility, limitations and future prospects. With the increasing prevalence of IHD, CMR imaging is likely to be used more often in its diagnosis, prognostication and management. The review describes the basic principles and practical aspects of CMR imaging, and then discusses in detail the role of CMR in the diagnosis and management of IHD, its complications, and its utility in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
The WiMap: A Dynamic Indoor WLAN Localization System

As positioning technology is an important foundation of the Internet of Things, a dynamic indoor WLAN localization system is proposed in this paper. This paper mainly concentrates on the design and implementation of the WiMap-a dynamic indoor WLAN localization system, which employs grid-based localization method using RSS (received signal strength). To achieve high localization accuracy and low computational complexity, Gaussian mixture model is applied to approximate the signal distribution and a ROI (region of interest) is defined to limit the search region. The authors also discuss other techniques like AP selection and threshold control, which affects the localization accuracy. The experimental results indicate that an accuracy of 3m with 73.8% probability can be obtained in WiMap. Moreover, the running time is reduced greatly with limited ROI method.
On Continuous-Time Gaussian Channels †

A continuous-time white Gaussian channel can be formulated using a white Gaussian noise, and a conventional way for examining such a channel is the sampling approach based on the Shannon–Nyquist sampling theorem, where the original continuous-time channel is converted to an equivalent discrete-time channel, to which a great variety of established tools and methodology can be applied. However, one of the key issues of this scheme is that continuous-time feedback and memory cannot be incorporated into the channel model. It turns out that this issue can be circumvented by considering the Brownian motion formulation of a continuous-time white Gaussian channel. Nevertheless, as opposed to the white Gaussian noise formulation, a link that establishes the information-theoretic connection between a continuous-time channel under the Brownian motion formulation and its discrete-time counterparts has long been missing. This paper is to fill this gap by establishing causality-preserving connections between continuous-time Gaussian feedback/memory channels and their associated discrete-time versions in the forms of sampling and approximation theorems, which we believe will play important roles in the long run for further developing continuous-time information theory. As an immediate application of the approximation theorem, we propose the so-called approximation approach to examine continuous-time white Gaussian channels in the point-to-point or multi-user setting. It turns out that the approximation approach, complemented by relevant tools from stochastic calculus, can enhance our understanding of continuous-time Gaussian channels in terms of giving alternative and strengthened interpretation to some long-held folklore, recovering “long-known” results from new perspectives, and rigorously establishing new results predicted by the intuition that the approximation approach carries. More specifically, using the approximation approach complemented by relevant tools from stochastic calculus, we first derive the capacity regions of continuous-time white Gaussian multiple access channels and broadcast channels, and we then analyze how feedback affects their capacity regions: feedback will increase the capacity regions of some continuous-time white Gaussian broadcast channels and interference channels, while it will not increase capacity regions of continuous-time white Gaussian multiple access channels.
Olivocochlear neurons sending axon collaterals into the ventral cochlear nucleus of the rat.

The olivocochlear projection constitutes the last stage of the descending auditory system in the mammalian brain. Its neurons reside in the superior olivary complex (SOC) and project to the inner and outer hair cell receptors in the cochlea. Olivocochlear neurons were also reported to send axon collaterals into the cochlear nucleus, but controversies about their number and about species differences persist. By injecting the fluorescent retrograde axonal tracers diamidino yellow and fast blue into the cochlea and the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN), we studied the distribution and number of olivocochlear neurons with and without axon collaterals into the VCN of the rat. We found that olivocochlear neurons residing in the lateral superior olive (LSO), the intrinsic lateral olivocochlear cells (intrinsic LOCs), do not send axon collaterals into the VCN. By contrast, a majority, and possibly all, olivocochlear neurons residing in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body (VNTB), the medial olivocochlear cells (MOCs), do have such axon collaterals. These cells may thus affect processing in the ascending auditory pathway at the level of the receptors and concurrently at the level of the secondary sensory neurons in the cochlear nucleus. Belonging to the lateral olivocochlear system, shell neurons reside around the LSO and form a third group of olivocochlear cells (shell LOCs). Like intrinsic LOCs, they innervate the inner hair cells, but like MOCs they do, by means of axon collaterals, project into the VCN. These findings have implications for understanding both auditory signal processing and the plasticity responses that occur following loss of cochlear function.
Disruption of androgen-regulated male reproductive development by di(n-butyl) phthalate during late gestation in rats is different from flutamide.

Gestational and lactational exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) at >/=250 mg/kg/day disrupts male rat reproductive development and function. Although this indicates an antiandrogenic mechanism, DBP and its biologically active metabolite do not interact with the androgen receptor (AR) in vitro. In the present study, we compared the effects of DBP and the antiandrogen flutamide using a shorter exposure during the prenatal period of male sexual differentiation in rats. Pregnant CD rats received DBP at 0, 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg/day po (n = 10) or flutamide at 100 mg/kg/day po (n = 5) from Gestation Days 12 to 21. In F1 males, DBP (500 mg/kg/day) and flutamide caused hypospadias; cryptorchidism; agenesis of the prostate, epididymis, and vas deferens; degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium; and interstitial cell hyperplasia of the testis. Flutamide and DBP (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) also produced retained thoracic nipples and decreased anogenital distance. Interstitial cell adenoma occurred at 500 mg DBP/kg/day in two males. The only effect seen at 100 mg DBP/kg/day was delayed preputial separation. In contrast to flutamide, DBP caused a low incidence of prostate agenesis and hypospadias with no vaginal pouch. The low incidence of DBP-induced intraabdominal testes contrasted with the high incidence of inguinal testes seen with flutamide. Thus prenatal male sexual differentiation is a sensitive period for the reproductive toxicity of DBP. A no observed adverse effect level was not established and the lowest observed (adverse) effect level was 100 mg/kg/day. Flutamide and DBP disrupted the androgen signaling necessary for male sexual differentiation but with a different pattern of antiandrogenic effects. DBP is an example of an environmental antiandrogen that disrupts androgen-regulated male sexual differentiation without interacting directly with the AR, as does flutamide.
Heritability Estimates for Forage Yield, In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility, Crude Protein, and Heading Date in Indiangrass

Space-planted populations derived from ‘Holt’ and ‘Oto’indiangrass, (L.) Nash, were used to obtain heritability estimates for forage yield, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IYDMD), crude protein, and heading date and to determine their genotypic correlations. Heritability estimates were determined by variance component analyses and by parent-progeny regression. Average narrow sense heritability estimates for the two populations were 0.43, 0.42, and 0.50, for forage yield, IVDMD, and protein, respectively. Narrow sense heritability estimates for heading date were 0.90 or larger. Genotypic correlations of yield and IVDMD were negative for the Holt population but were positive, although low, for the Oto population in 1976. Protein and IVDMD had positive genotypic correlations for both populations. Heading date was positively correlated with yield but was negatively correlated with IVDMD and protein.
Job Standardization: Helping Adaptation and Retention of Newly Graduated Nurses

Newly graduated nurses are under pressure to perform their jobs without required skills and experiences, which reflect a high turnover rate within the first year of employment. To address this problem, the researchers examined the effects of job standardization on newly graduated nurses’ adaptation. This study utilized a correlational, cross-sectional design. Hypotheses were tested using survey data from 214 newly hired graduates in two teaching hospitals and ten public hospitals in Taiwan. Results indicated that job standardization had significant negative effects on job stress and intention to quit. Findings of this study suggest that as hospitals face a serious nursing staff shortage, it is essential to create a job-standardized environment, which facilitates the transition of new graduates into professional nurses, via increasing their confidence and competence to provide high quality cares, and reducing their job stress and turnover rate.
On the equivalence of floating- and fixed-strike Asian options

There are two types of Asian options in the financial markets which differ according to the role of the average price. We give a symmetry result between the floating- and fixed-strike Asian options. The proof involves a change of numéraire and time reversal of Brownian motion. Symmetries are very useful in option valuation, and in this case the result allows the use of more established fixed-strike pricing methods to price floating-strike Asian options.
Beyond Sub-Gaussian Measurements: High-Dimensional Structured Estimation with Sub-Exponential Designs

We consider the problem of high-dimensional structured estimation with norm-regularized estimators, such as Lasso, when the design matrix and noise are drawn from sub-exponential distributions. Existing results only consider sub-Gaussian designs and noise, and both the sample complexity and non-asymptotic estimation error have been shown to depend on the Gaussian width of suitable sets. In contrast, for the sub-exponential setting, we show that the sample complexity and the estimation error will depend on the exponential width of the corresponding sets, and the analysis holds for any norm. Further, using generic chaining, we show that the exponential width for any set will be at most [Formula: see text] times the Gaussian width of the set, yielding Gaussian width based results even for the sub-exponential case. Further, for certain popular estimators, viz Lasso and Group Lasso, using a VC-dimension based analysis, we show that the sample complexity will in fact be the same order as Gaussian designs. Our general analysis and results are the first in the sub-exponential setting, and are readily applicable to special sub-exponential families such as log-concave and extreme-value distributions.
beta-Amyloid precursor protein and ss-amyloid peptide immunoreactivity in the rat brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion: effect of age.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous studies have shown that the ss-amyloid precursor protein (ssAPP) is upregulated after cerebral ischemia and that the ss-amyloid (Ass) fragment may be toxic to brain cells. Although stroke in humans usually afflicts the elderly, most experimental studies on the nature of cerebral ischemia have used young animals. To test the hypothesis that the upregulation and/or persistence of amyloidogenic proteins is exacerbated in aged rats after cerebral ischemic stroke, we studied the expression of ssAPP and its proteolytic product Ass in the brains of young and old rats 7 days after temporary cerebral ischemia. METHODS Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by reversible occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery in 3- and 20-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. After 1 week, brains were removed and immunostaining was performed for ssAPP, Ass, and ED1 for macrophages and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). RESULTS Histological staining revealed that the degree of necrotic cavitation in the infarct core was relatively less in aged rats than in young rats, suggesting a slower pace of degenerative change and/or tissue removal in older animals. ssAPP immunoreactivity was robustly increased, primarily in macrophage-like, ED1-positive cells in the infarct core and in the penumbra of both young and aged animals. Ass immunoreactivity was evident in GFAP-positive astrocytic somata and processes, and also in clusters of small spherical structures in the penumbra. These Ass-immunoreactive minispheres were more numerous in aged rats than in young rats. CONCLUSIONS The presence of ssAPP and Ass immunoreactivity in the infarct core and penumbra indicates that cerebral ischemia promotes conditions that are favorable to the focal accumulation of ssAPP and its proteolytic fragments, especially in the aged brain.
Evaluation of Fern and Moss Protein‐Based Defenses Against Phytophagous Insects

Relatively little is known about insect defense mechanisms in the ferns and mosses. The current paradigm is that secondary metabolites and physical barriers are most important in conferring insect resistance in ferns, lycopods, and mosses. We investigated whether protein‐based resistance exists in representatives of these taxa. We screened a total of 23 plant species for protein‐based insecticidal activity against the two common lepidopteran pests: corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Protein extracts from fern and moss species were compared with those from a lepidopteran‐susceptible soybean (Glycine max) cultivar (Cobb) in bioassays for insect resistance. The ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), glade fern (Anthyrium pycnocarpon), and the burned ground moss (Ceratodon purpureus) protein extracts caused the greatest decrease in damage in leaf‐disk assays and insect larval growth. These species are good candidates for follow‐up evaluation.
Rhythmical Photic Stimulation at Alpha Frequencies Produces Antidepressant-Like Effects in a Mouse Model of Depression

Current therapies for depression consist primarily of pharmacological agents, including antidepressants, and/or psychiatric counseling, such as psychotherapy. However, light therapy has recently begun to be considered as an effective tool for the treatment of the neuropsychiatric behaviors and symptoms of a variety of brain disorders or diseases, including depression. One methodology employed in light therapy involves flickering photic stimulation within a specific frequency range. The present study investigated whether flickering and flashing photic stimulation with light emitting diodes (LEDs) could improve depression-like behaviors in a corticosterone (CORT)-induced mouse model of depression. Additionally, the effects of the flickering and flashing lights on depressive behavior were compared with those of fluoxetine. Rhythmical flickering photic stimulation at alpha frequencies from 9–11 Hz clearly improved performance on behavioral tasks assessing anxiety, locomotor activity, social interaction, and despair. In contrast, fluoxetine treatment did not strongly improve behavioral performance during the same period compared with flickering photic stimulation. The present findings demonstrated that LED-derived flickering photic stimulation more rapidly improved behavioral outcomes in a CORT-induced mouse model of depression compared with fluoxetine. Thus, the present study suggests that rhythmical photic stimulation at alpha frequencies may aid in the improvement of the quality of life of patients with depression.
Nutritionally variant streptococci

Streptococci requiring either pyridoxal or L-cysteine for growth were first observed 30 years ago as organisms forming satellite colonies adjacent to colonies of "helper" bacteria. Although they were previously considered nutritional mutants of viridans streptococcal species, the nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) are currently thought to belong to distinct species of the genus Streptococcus. NVS strains may display pleomorphic cellular morphologies, depending on their growth conditions, and are distinguished from most other streptococci by enzymatic and serological characteristics and the presence of a cell wall chromophore. NVS are found as normal inhabitants of the oral cavity, and in addition to their participation in endocarditis, they have been isolated from a wide range of clinical specimens. Endocarditis caused by NVS is often difficult to eradicate; combinations of penicillin and an aminoglycoside are recommended for treatment. The unique physiological features of the NVS contribute to the difficulties encountered in their recovery from clinical specimens and may play a role in the problems associated with successful treatment of NVS endocarditis.
Incidence of nutritional risk and causes of inadequate nutritional care in hospitals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Many patients in hospitals are undernourished and nutritional care is inadequate in most hospitals. The aim of this investigation was to gain insight into how this situation could be improved. METHODS Seven hundred and fifty randomly selected patients were screened at admission in three hospitals and surveyed during their entire hospitalization. Each time a patient was not treated according to a clearly defined nutritional standard, the nurse responsible for the patient was interviewed about possible reasons according to preformed questionnaires. RESULTS The investigators found that 22% of the patients were nutritionally at-risk, and that only 25% of these patients received an adequate amount of energy and protein. The departments had only screened for nutritional problems in 60% of the cases. Only 47% of the patients, who the departments judged to be at-risk patients, had a nutrition plan worked out, and only about 30% of the at-risk patients were monitored by the departments by recording of dietary intake and/or body weight. The main causes for inadequate nutritional care were lack of instructions to deal with these problems, and lack of basic knowledge with respect to dietary requirements and practical aspects of the hospital's food provision. Patient-related aspects and the system of food provision also contributed, but only to a small degree. CONCLUSIONS These findings form the basis of the strategy to improve nutritional care in these hospitals.
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: An Improved Diagnostic Procedure for Early Gastroesophageal Epithelial Neoplasms

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), which is advocated for the treatment of early (superficial) gastroesophageal neoplasms, has also been alluded to represent a superior diagnostic and staging modality. We compared the diagnostic concordance of preceding biopsies with EMR specimens in 31 gastric and 10 esophageal EMRs consisting of 6 low-grade and 12 high-grade dysplasias, 21 intramucosal adenocarcinomas, and 2 submucosal invasive adenocarcinomas. Discrepancies were considered as either major or minor if the histologic grades differed by 2 or more, or by only 1, respectively. Discrepant and concordant cases were compared with regard to the size of lesion (maximum dimension and surface area), number of biopsy fragments, and extent of biopsy sampling (ratio between lesion size and number of biopsy fragments). These same variables were used to evaluate the differences seen between gastric and esophageal cases. Of the 41 cases, 16 (39%) had discrepant diagnoses, including 14 gastric and 2 esophageal neoplasms. A major discrepancy was seen in 2% of the cases (n = 1, gastric) and a minor discrepancy, in 15 cases. All but 2 of the discrepant cases were found to have a higher grade on EMR. The average number of biopsy fragments was 4.4 in both concordant and discrepant groups. The maximal dimension, surface area, and biopsy sampling ratios of the lesion were significantly greater in the discrepant cases than in the concordant cases. The esophageal cases trended toward having smaller size and a significantly extensive biopsy sampling. We conclude that EMR is superior to biopsy for diagnosing superficial gastroesophageal tumors. Discrepancies between the specimens occur in larger lesions (>10 mm) with less extensive biopsy sampling. EMR can substantially modify the diagnostic grade of a lesion and therefore facilitate optimal therapeutic decisions by avoiding undertreatment and overtreatment based on inaccurate grading and staging.