Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semantic and Pragmatic Mechanisms of Humour in Animal Jokes

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to take a close look at the interplay of semantic and pragmatic components of animal jokes. Rather than insisting on the priority of one particular theoretical tradition and selecting a few illustrative examples, 30 animal jokes – most of them translated into English from Hungarian – are presented to help identify the different mechanisms that make them amusing. Adopting a theory-by-theory approach, it becomes clear that some jokes fit well the explanation of frame or script semantics, while others are best captured by one or another pragmatic framework and classification. This leads to the related question of whether it is possible, at this stage of research, to integrate the diverse lines of thought or whether the semantic and pragmatic study of verbal humour will have to remain relatively fragmented. It is argued that certain basic elements of major pragmatic theories are important complements to frame/script semantics, the humour of animal jokes is reliant on the same meaning-generating processes as observed in other jokes, and that the attraction of animal jokes lies in their psychological and cultural-anthropological characteristics. Finally, their cross-cultural investigation is encouraged.
Review of Drinking Water Quality in Nigeria: Towards Attaining the Sustainable Development Goal Six

Abstract Access to potable water is a major problem confronting most developing nations particularly with the overwhelming health burden posed by polluted water and its sources. In this review, studies on the level of contamination of drinking water sources in different geopolitical zones in Nigeria were assessed. The anthropogenic activities eliciting the pollutions were extensively discussed. Overall, the level of Nigeria preparedness in meeting the sustainable development goal number 6 (SDG no 6: to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all) was evaluated. Cogent methods that could enhance the achievement of SDG no. 6 were suggested. From our analysis of published literature, pre- and post- SDG implementation in Nigeria, it is clear that no significant progress has been made in providing potable water for all in Nigeria. All implementing partners must therefore rejig the process to ensure the availability of potable water, in order to achieve the sustainable development goal six.
Novel dry electrode EEG headbands for home use: Comparing performance and comfort

Abstract Monitoring brain activity at home using electroencephalography (EEG) is an increasing trend for both medical and non-medical applications. Gel-based electrodes are not suitable due to the gel application requiring extensive preparation and cleaning support for the patient or user. Dry electrodes can be applied without prior preparation by the patient or user. We investigate and compare two dry electrode headbands for EEG acquisition: a novel hybrid dual-textile headband comprising multipin and multiwave electrodes and a neoprene-based headband comprising hydrogel and spidershaped electrodes. We compare the headbands and electrodes in terms of electrode-skin impedance, comfort, electrode offset potential and EEG signal quality. We did not observe considerable differences in the power spectral density of EEG recordings. However, the hydrogel electrodes showed considerably increased impedances and offset potentials, limiting their compatibility with many EEG amplifiers. The hydrogel and spider-shaped electrodes required increased adduction, resulting in a lower wearing comfort throughout the application time compared to the novel headband comprising multipin and multiwave electrodes.
Step on the Gas! Focal Seizures with Autonomic Features

Autonomic changes including cardiac (tachy and bradyarrhythmias, hypertension), respiratory (“neurogenic” pulmonary edema), and cutaneous (piloerection, sweating) are known manifestations of temporal lobe seizures. Interestingly, insular seizures can also manifest with cardiac changes, in addition to abnormal somatosensory or vicerosensory experiences. The pathophysiology underlying these changes involves disruption of the central autonomic network (CAN). This network is comprised of structures in the insular, temporal (amygdala and stria terminalis), and frontal (prefrontal cortex) lobes, as well as in deep (hypothalamus) and brainstem structures. The CAN is an essential controller of primitive bodily functions including maintenance of homeostasis and visceral functions. Patients presenting with dysautonomia and its downstream effects have a wide differential diagnosis, but focal seizures with autonomic features should be considered. We report a case of autonomic dysfunction associated with non-dominant temporal lobe seizures, likely with propagation from the insular cortex, in an 83-year-old female. An 83-year-old right-handed woman with medical history significant for right hemispheric infarct secondary to carotid atherosclerosis, and remote follicular lymphoma in sustained remission after treatment with bendamustine and rituximab, presented with acute encephalopathy. This culminated in a witnessed generalized seizure, with laboratory evidence of multi-organ failure at presentation to hospital. She and her family members described a normal morning and afternoon with nausea, dizziness, and dysgeusia developing suddenly in the evening. These symptoms fluctuated over multiple hours, evolving to include hyperventilation, anxiety, and diaphoresis with urinary urgency. Family members describe fluent speech and complaints of "blurry vision” and unsteadiness. Emergency medical services were contacted and found the patient to be afebrile, tachycardic, tachypneic, and hypertensive (blood pressure 220/120 mmHg). She was transferred to the regional hospital and en-route had a 1–2 minute episode of limb stiffening and shaking with altered level of consciousness. On arrival to hospital, there was persistent hypertension (246/121 mmHg), tachycardia, and tachypnea, and the patient was drowsy but alerted slightly to tactile stimulation. A non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan of the head demonstrated right temporal-insular-parietal encephalomalacia consistent with the reported prior stroke (Figure 1A). She had a markedly elevated serum troponin, diffuse ST depression on
Enhancement of barrier and anti-corrosive performance of zinc-rich epoxy coatings using nano-silica/graphene oxide hybrid

Abstract This study reports a facile method to prepare silica-coated graphene oxide nanoflakes (SiO2–GO). Results of X-ray diffraction analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy reveal that silica was successfully coated on the GO flakes. The effect of SiO2–GO nanosheets on the corrosion protection and barrier performance of the epoxy coating was investigated in this work. Results indicate that the mechanical properties of all coatings added with GO and SiO2–GO were significantly improved. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance and Tafer polarisation curves showed that added 0.5 wt% SiO2–GO nanoflakes into zinc-rich epoxy coating could greatly improve the anti-corrosion performance of the sample, and the corrosion protection efficiency increased from 67.01 to 99.58%.
Effects of Diabetes on Motor Recovery after Cerebral Infarct: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study.

PURPOSE Little is known about the effects of diabetes on motor recovery after cerebral infarct. To address this, we recruited patients with corona radiata infarct and controlled for the integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST) determined using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). METHODS One hundred patients were recruited, and DTT was performed within 7-30 days of infarct onset. Based on the DTT findings (DTT+: CST was preserved around the infarct, DTT-: CST was interrupted by the infarct) and the presence (DM+) or absence (DM-) of diabetes, patients were divided into, DTT+/DM- (36 patients), DTT+/DM+ (19 patients), DTT-/DM- (32 patients), and DTT-/DM+ (13 patients) groups. Six months after cerebral infarct, motor function on the affected side was evaluated for each patient using the upper Motricity Index (MI), lower MI, modified Brunnstrom classification (MBC), and the functional ambulation category (FAC). RESULTS In the patients with a DTT+ finding, no motor function scores were significantly different between the DTT+/DM- and DTT+/DM+ groups at six-month evaluation. However, in patients with DTT- finding, all motor function scores at the six-month evaluation were significantly higher in the DTT-/DM- group than in the DTT-/DM+ group. CONCLUSION When the CST is interrupted by a corona radiata infarct, recovery of motor function in patients with diabetes is more impaired than those without diabetes.
“Use the mirror now” – Demonstrating through a mirror in show dance classes

Abstract This article investigates how a significant part of the learning process within show dance classes is performed, namely multimodal demonstrations. In particular, it focuses on how the mirror is used as a tool during demonstrations. The data consist of video recordings and ethnographic fieldwork among young adults practicing show dance. Three single cases undergo in-depth analysis using an EMCA (ethnomethodology conversation analysis) approach. The analysis shows that the understanding of a multimodal demonstration is watched into being and that the mirror functions as an extension of the teacher. In addition, the use of the mirror changes over the course of the ongoing demonstration. The participants agree on how to use the mirror and that there is a symmetrical order for how the mirror is used, which means that the responding participant follows the way of using (or not using) the mirror that is introduced by another participant. As such, this article contends that use of the mirror is a well-established practice. The article concludes by highlighting the positive effect on the learning situation when a mirror is used for demonstration in show dance classes.
Deep learning-based recognition of cell structures in fluorescence microscopy sequences with respect to their morphology on cells infected with Marburg virus

Abstract The Institute of Virology at the Philipps-Universität Marburg is currently researching possible drugs to combat the Marburg virus. This involves classifying cell structures based on fluoroscopic microscopic image sequences. Conventionally, membranes of cells must be marked for better analysis, which is time consuming. In this work, an approach is presented to identify cell structures in images that are marked for subviral particles. It could be shown that there is a correlation between the distribution of subviral particles in an infected cell and the position of the cell’s structures. The segmentation is performed with a "Mask-R-CNN" algorithm, presented in this work. The model (a region-based convolutional neural network) is applied to enable a robust and fast recognition of cell structures. Furthermore, the network architecture is described. The proposed method is tested on data evaluated by experts. The results show a high potential and demonstrate that the method is suitable.
Evolution of Spinal Endoscopic Surgery

Innovations in the development of endoscopic spinal surgery were classified into different generations and reviewed. Future developments and directions for endoscopic spinal surgery were discussed. Surgical therapy for spinal disease has been gradually changing from traditional open surgery to minimally invasive spinal surgery. Recently, endoscopic spinal surgery, which initially was limited to the treatment of soft tissue lesions, has expanded to include other aspects of spinal disease and good clinical results have been reported. As the paradigm of spinal surgery shifts from open surgery to endoscopic surgery, we discussed the evolution of endoscopic spine surgery in our literature review. Through this description, we presented possibilities of future developments and directions in endoscopic spine surgery.
Weekly cisplatin for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer

Abstract Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most leading causes of deaths in the Chinese women. The objective of this protocol is to perform a full-scale systematic review on the efficacy of weekly cisplatin (WC) for the treatment of patients with OC. Methods: Data sources will comprise of PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Opengrey, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. All relevant randomized controlled trials from searched databases will be identified from their inception to the present. A defined search strategy will be implemented along with eligibility criteria. Relevant data will be extracted according to the predefined data collection form. Methodologic quality will be assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias tool; and data pooled and meta-analysis will be conducted by using fixed-effects, or random-effects model with RevMan 5.3 software. Results: This proposed systematic review will evaluate the efficacy of WC for patients with OC. Conclusion: The findings of this study may summarize the latest evidence for the WC on OC. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study, because it will be based on published studies, and existing sources of literature. The results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO registration number: PROSPERO CRD42018120938.
DNA methylation inhibitor attenuates polyglutamine‐induced neurodegeneration by regulating Hes5

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a polyglutamine‐mediated neuromuscular disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. While transcriptional dysregulation is known to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of SBMA, the underlying molecular pathomechanisms remain unclear. DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic modification that silences the transcription of various genes that have a CpG‐rich promoter. Here, we showed that DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) is highly expressed in the spinal motor neurons of an SBMA mouse model and in patients with SBMA. Both genetic Dnmt1 depletion and treatment with RG108, a DNA methylation inhibitor, ameliorated the viability of SBMA model cells. Furthermore, a continuous intracerebroventricular injection of RG108 mitigated the phenotype of SBMA mice. DNA methylation array analysis identified hairy and enhancer of split 5 (Hes5) as having a CpG island with hyper‐methylation in the promoter region, and the Hes5 expression was strongly silenced in SBMA. Moreover, Hes5 over‐expression rescued the SBMA cells possibly by inducing Smad2 phosphorylation. Our findings suggest DNA hyper‐methylation underlies the neurodegeneration in SBMA.
Motor skills assessments: support for a general motor factor for the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the construct validity and model-based reliability of general and specific contributions of the subscales of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) when evaluating motor skills across a range of psychiatric disorders. METHODS Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bifactor analysis were conducted on BOT-2 data from 187 elementary school students (grades 1 to 6) (mean age: 113 ± 20 months; boys: n = 117, 62.56%) and on MABC-2 data from 127 elementary school students (grade 1) (mean age: 76 ± 2 months; boys: n = 58, 45.67%). RESULTS The results of the CFA fit the data for multidimensionality for the BOT-2 and presented poor fit indices for the MABC-2. For both tests, the bifactor model showed that the reliability of the subscales was poor. CONCLUSIONS The BOT-2 exhibited factorial validity with a multidimensional structure among the current samples, but the MABC-2 showed poor fit indices, insufficient to confirm its multidimensional structure. For both tests, most of the reliable variance came from a general motor factor (M-factor), therefore the scoring and reporting of subscale scores were not justified for both tests.
Task Oriented Programming and the Internet of Things

In the omnipresent Internet of Things (IoT), tiny devices sense and alter the environment, process information and communicate with the world. These devices have limited amounts of processing power and memory. This imposes severe restrictions on their software and communication protocols. As a result, applications are composed of parts written in various programming languages that communicate in many different ways. This impedance mismatch hampers development and maintenance. In previous work we have shown how an IoT device can be programmed by defining an embedded Domain Specific Language (eDSL). This paper shows how IoT tasks can be seemlessly integrated with a Task Oriented Programming (TOP) server such as iTasks. It allows the specification on a high level of abstraction of arbitrary collaborations between human beings, large systems, and now also IoT devices. The implementation is made in three steps. First, there is an interface to connect devices dynamically to an iTasks server using various communication protocols. Next, we solve the communication problem between IoT devices and the server by porting Shared Data Sources (SDSs) from TOP. As a result, data can be shared, viewed and updated from the server or IoT device. Finally, we crack the maintenance problem by switching from generating fixed code for the IoT devices to dynamically shipping code. It makes it possible to run multiple tasks on an IoT device and to decide at runtime what tasks that should be.
A Systematic Review of Cognitive Functioning After Traumatic Brain Injury in Individuals Aged 10–30 Years

Given the importance of the period of life from 10 to 30 years in terms of cognitive development and education, combined with the high incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) during this period, and limited consensus as to the pattern and degree of cognitive impairment post TBI during this period, we conducted a systematic review to investigate cognitive performance across a range of domains among individuals between the ages of 10 and 30 years who had sustained a TBI. We searched five databases and identified 799 unique records; 52 met our inclusion criteria. These studies reported cognitive function for intelligence, attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function. The majority of the studies reported significant effects, suggesting that TBI is associated with cognitive impairments in these domains. Nine of the studies used physiological tests (EEG and fMRI), the outcomes of which supported behaviorally demonstrated cognitive deficits. In the studies we reviewed, individuals aged 10–30 years who had experienced a TBI performed worse than healthy controls on cognitive function measures—specifically for attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function. In the studies that subjected the individuals with TBI to EEG and fMRI, atypical activation in associated brain regions was demonstrated while the individuals were undergoing cognitive tasks. However, caution should be taken when interpreting the overall results due to the high risk of bias across the majority of the studies. The broader implications of reduced cognitive performance after TBI across this age range are yet to be fully understood.
Extreme mechanical diversity of human telomeric DNA revealed by fluorescence-force spectroscopy

Significance G-quadruplex (GQ)–forming G4 DNA, made of four repeats of guanines, is implicated in many important processes. Telomeric GQs are being studied extensively as anticancer drug targets. Because many nucleic acid-processing enzymes can exert piconewton forces and can be functionally regulated by tension on DNA, we used a single-molecule instrument combining fluorescence with mechanical manipulation to study the dynamics of human telomeric DNA under physiological levels of tension. We observed extreme mechanical diversity with at least six different interconverting species that differ in mechanical responses. Such extreme mechanical diversity may induce differential interactions with helicases and polymerases and modulate processes such as replication and transcription. Our comparative analysis further revealed the effects of sequence changes and ionic conditions. G-quadruplexes (GQs) can adopt diverse structures and are functionally implicated in transcription, replication, translation, and maintenance of telomere. Their conformational diversity under physiological levels of mechanical stress, however, is poorly understood. We used single-molecule fluorescence-force spectroscopy that combines fluorescence resonance energy transfer with optical tweezers to measure human telomeric sequences under tension. Abrupt GQ unfolding with K+ in solution occurred at as many as four discrete levels of force. Added to an ultrastable state and a gradually unfolding state, there were six mechanically distinct structures. Extreme mechanical diversity was also observed with Na+, although GQs were mechanically weaker. Our ability to detect small conformational changes at low forces enabled the determination of refolding forces of about 2 pN. Refolding was rapid and stochastically redistributed molecules to mechanically distinct states. A single guanine-to-thymine substitution mutant required much higher ion concentrations to display GQ-like unfolding and refolded via intermediates, contrary to the wild type. Contradicting an earlier proposal, truncation to three hexanucleotide repeats resulted in a single-stranded DNA-like mechanical behavior under all conditions, indicating that at least four repeats are required to form mechanically stable structures.
Facultative oviparity in a viviparous skink (Saiphos equalis)

Facultative changes in parity mode (oviparity to viviparity and vice versa) are rare in vertebrates, yet offer fascinating opportunities to investigate the role of reproductive lability in parity mode evolution. Here, we report apparent facultative oviparity by a viviparous female of the bimodally reproductive skink Saiphos equalis—the first report of different parity modes within a vertebrate clutch. Eggs oviposited facultatively possess shell characteristics of both viviparous and oviparous S. equalis, demonstrating that egg coverings for viviparous embryos are produced by the same machinery as those for oviparous individuals. Since selection may act in either direction when viviparity has evolved recently, squamate reproductive lability may confer a selective advantage. We suggest that facultative oviparity is a viable reproductive strategy for S. equalis and that squamate reproductive lability is more evolutionarily significant than previously acknowledged.