Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Handwriting Readiness: Locatives and Visuomotor Skills in the Kindergarten Year.

Abstract Handwriting is an integral part of every child's school experience. In order to provide the best program to children both with and without handwriting problems, elementary educators need to understand the factors underlying the skill of handwriting. This study investigated the relationship between the cognitive understanding of locatives (e.g., words used for spatial and temporal concepts such as "up" or "next to") and the graphomotor task of shape and letter copying in typically developing kindergarten children. Additionally, changes in those skills during the kindergarten year were examined. The Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts, and the Scale of Children's Readiness In PrinTing were administered to a sample of 138 children during the first and second half of their kindergarten year. The findings showed a significant increase in performance on all three measures from time one to time two. The relationships among the three tests varied. A moderate positive relationship between the visuomotor and handwriting test was found. This result supports previous findings that link visuomotor skills to handwriting. All other relationships were low. This study adds to a growing body of knowledge about the prerequisite
Notes on an Implementation of Sugiyama's Scheme

These technical notes are comments on my work on GLEE, Graph Layout Execution Engine. GLEE is a library developed inside Microsoft Research and is written in the C# language. The library has quite a few users inside of Microsoft. GLEE implements Sugiyama’s scheme of layout for directed graphs, or so-called layered layout. The paper describes in more detail efficient coding of adjacent vertex swaps and spline routing, where the latter is based on the b-spline in a channel approach by Lutterkort and Peters.
Effects of Electrode Array Length on Frequency-Place Mismatch and Speech Perception with Cochlear Implants

Frequency-place mismatch often occurs after cochlear implantation, yet its effect on speech perception outcome remains unclear. In this article, we propose a method, based on cochlea imaging, to determine the cochlear place-frequency map. We evaluated the effect of frequency-place mismatch on speech perception outcome in subjects implanted with 3 different lengths of electrode arrays. A deeper insertion was responsible for a larger frequency-place mismatch and a decreased and delayed speech perception improvement by comparison with a shallower insertion, for which a similar but slighter effect was noticed. Our results support the notion that selecting an electrode array length adapted to each individual's cochlear anatomy may reduce frequency-place mismatch and thus improve speech perception outcome.
Application of an LPC distance measure to the voiced-unvoiced-silence detection problem

One of the most difficult problems in speech analysis is reliable discrimination among silence, unvoiced speech, and voiced speech which has been transmitted over a telephone line. Although several methods have been proposed for making this three-level decision, these schemes have met with only modest success. In this paper, a novel approach to the voiced-unvoiced-silence detection problem is proposed in which a spectral characterization of each of the three classes of signal is obtained during a training session, and an LPC distance measure and an energy distance are nonlinearly combined to make the final discrimination. This algorithm has been tested over conventional switched telephone lines, across a variety of speakers, and has been found to have an error rate of about 5 percent, with the majority of the errors (about \frac{2}{3} ) occurring at the boundaries between signal classes. The algorithm is currently being used in a speaker-independent word recognition system.
Cloning and expression of Lentinula edodes cellobiohydrolase gene in E. coli and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

A gene encoding cellobiohydrolase CEL7A was successfully isolated from the L. edodes mushroom strain N127 using RT-PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by cel7A showed high homology with the sequence of glycoside hydrolase family 7. To confirm the gene sequence encoding the CEL7A the cloned gene was expressed in E. coli. For the first time the cel7A gene from the L. edodes was expressed in E. coli and characterized. The recombinant CEL7A has the ability to hydrolyze Avicel, Filter paper, p-Nitrophenyl β-D-lactopyranoside (pNP-Lac) and p-Nitrophenyl β-D-cellobioside (pNP-Cel). The activity of the cloned enzyme towards carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is much lower. It showed an optimal working condition at 50 0 C and pH 7.
Plant-Herbivore Interactions and Evolutionary Potential of Natural Arabidopsis lyrata Populations

Levels of additive genetic variation and patterns of genetic correlations among traits influence evolutionary trajectories of traits in natural populations and among-population differentiation. With a nested paternal half-sib crossing design we examined the genetic architecture of flowering time, floral display and rosette size in four Scandinavian populations of the perennial herb Arabidopsis lyrata grown in a common-garden experiment in the Swedish native range. We specifically asked whether these traits vary genetically among populations, whether response to selection is constrained by lack of genetic variation or by genetic covariances among traits, and whether there is evidence of a trade-off between allocation to reproduction and vegetative growth, or between the number and size of flowers produced. The characters examined varied genetically among populations and displayed significant additive genetic variation in some populations. A strong negative genetic correlation between flowering start and number of flowers, and a strong positive correlation between petal length and width indicated that these pairs of traits do not evolve independently in some populations. G-matrices varied among populations suggesting that genetic (co)variances have evolved locally. There was no evidence of a trade-off between allocation to reproduction and vegetative growth or between the number and size of flowers, indicating that variation in resource acquisition was larger than variation in relative allocation to these different functions.
Molecular Evolutionary History of Tubercle Bacilli Assessed by Study of the Polymorphic Nucleotide within the Nitrate Reductase (narGHJI) Operon Promoter

ABSTRACT A well-characterized collection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) isolates, representing all known subspecies as well as some relevant genotypic families of M. tuberculosis, was analyzed for the newly discovered narGHJI −215 C-to-T promoter single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). This point mutation has been shown in earlier studies to be responsible for the differential nitrate reductase activity of M. tuberculosis versus M. bovis. As previously defined by the presence or the absence of the TbD1 genetic locus, the group included both the “modern” W-Beijing, Haarlem, and Central-Asian1 (CAS1) families as well as the “ancestral” East-African-Indian (EAI) clade. Interestingly, among “modern” M. tuberculosis isolates, those previously classified as Principal Genetic Group 1 (PGG1) organisms by katG463-gyrA95 polymorphism analysis did not present the two-banded narGHJI restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products pattern common to the other PGG1 MTC members, including the “ancestral” M. tuberculosis isolates. Instead, they showed a one-banded pattern, aligning them with other evolutionarily recent M. tuberculosis isolates of the PGG2 and PGG3 groups, such as Haarlem, Latin-American and Mediterranean (LAM), and X families. The presence of a nitrate reductase producer phenotype in “Mycobacterium canettii” and some “ancestral” M. tuberculosis isolates, despite a two-band −215C genotype, argues in favor of an alternate mechanism to explain the differential nitrate reductase activity of certain PGG1 subspecies of the MTC. Overall, these findings may help to establish the precise evolutionary history of important genotype families such as W-Beijing and suggest that the −215T genotype may have contributed the virulence, spread, and evolutionary success of “modern” M. tuberculosis strains compared to the remaining MTC organisms.
Radiation-Induced Lung Cancers in Murine Models

Radiation therapy is a key weapon in the modern arsenal of cancer treatment. However, this effective treatment comes with risks of its own, and the sheer number of patients that undergo radiation as a part of their therapy regimen is only increasing. As this number increases, so does the incidence of secondary, radiation-induced neoplasias, creating a need for therapeutic agents targeted specifically towards reduction in the incidence of and treatment of these cancers. Development and efficacy testing of these agents requires not only extensive in vitro testing, but also a set of reliable animal models to accurately recreate the complex situations of radiation-induced carcinogenesis. The laboratory mouse Mus musculus remains the most relevant animal model in cancer research due to the molecular and physiological similarities it shares with man, its small size and high rate of breeding in captivity, and its fully sequenced genome. In this work, we review relevant M. musculusinbred and F1 hybrid animal models, as well as methods of induction of radiation-induced lung cancers. Associated molecular pathologies are also included.
Syntaxin 4 up-regulation increases efficiency of insulin release in pancreatic islets from humans with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

CONTEXT Evidence suggests that dysfunctional β-cell insulin release precedes type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D and T2D, respectively) and that enhancing the efficiency of insulin release from pancreatic islet β-cells may delay/prevent these diseases. We took advantage of the rare opportunity to test this paradigm using islets from human type 2 diabetic individuals. OBJECTIVES Insulin release capacity is limited by the abundance of fusogenic soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins. Because enrichment of Syntaxin 4, a plasma membrane soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor protein, enhances β-cell function in mice, we investigated its potential to restore functional insulin secretion to human diabetic islets. DESIGN Human islets from type 2 diabetic and healthy individuals transduced to overexpress Syntaxin 4 were examined by perifusion analysis. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic recipient mice transplanted with Syntaxin 4-enriched or normal islets were assessed for rescue of diabetes in vivo. RESULTS Syntaxin 4 up-regulation in human islets enhanced β-cell function by approximately 2-fold in each phase of secretion. Syntaxin 4 abundance in type 2 diabetes islets was approximately 70% reduced, and replenishment significantly improved insulin secretion. Islets from Syntaxin 4 overexpressing transgenic mice more effectively attenuated streptozotocin-induced diabetes than did control islets. CONCLUSIONS These data show that the addition of just Syntaxin 4 is sufficient to significantly improve insulin secretory function to human type 2 diabetes islets retaining low levels of residual function and provide proof of concept that by building a more efficient β-cell with up-regulated Syntaxin 4, fewer islets may be required per patient, clearing a major barrier in transplantation therapy.
Closed-loop positioning of hemiplegic patient's joint by means of functional electrical stimulation.

We report about the results on positioning of the ankle joint of a hemiplegic patient and of normal experimental subjects, using functional electrical stimulation (FES) of antagonistic muscle groups and position feedback. Such a controller is intended to be used as the execution level of a multilevel orthotic system. The synthesis of the controller has been made with the aid of the components of an analog hybrid computer. Experimental results show that the static and dynamic properties of regulated movements are not essentially inferior to the properties of voluntary movements. There are stated technological problems that will have to be solved before the controller can be clinically applied for rehabilitation purposes. At the present state of the art, the poor technology of FES, the unsolved problem of fatigue with FES muscles, size, price, and bad cosmetic effect prevent the position controller from being clinically applicable.
Using liposomes to target infection and inflammation induced by foreign body injuries or medical implants

Importance of the field: Foreign body (FB) injuries occur under many circumstances: at work, when practising a hobby, in car accidents, or in violence-afflicted zones. Owing to the nature of these injuries, they are not restricted to a certain part of the body and may affect several organs simultaneously. In general, an FB will be surgically removed when it is a cause of pain or infection or when jeopardizing a critical biological function. However, in many cases removing the FB is not possible owing to risk of harming adjacent delicate tissue. Furthermore, often when surgically removing the FB, microscopic fragments or debris remain at the site of invasion, becoming a cause of pain and recurring infection and inflammation. FB-related complications can also originate from micro- or nanoparticles released by degradation of medical implants. The use of advanced drug delivery technologies to target the tissue surrounding the FB, or the FB itself, may be of therapeutic benefit. Liposomes, vesicles with an aqueous core entrapped in one or more lipid bilayers, are widely used as drug delivery systems. Previous studies show that nanoliposomes can effectively target infected and inflamed tissue. The working hypothesis of this paper is that nanoliposomes, of specific lipid composition, may be used to target FB under conditions of inflammation. Areas covered in this review: A comprehensive literature review regarding the use of liposomes for targeting and treating infection and inflammation, as well as a prospective on conjugates that can improve FB targeting in vivo. What the reader will gain: The article aims to assess whether nanoliposomes loaded with a therapeutic compound may be advantageous for treating FB-related pathologies. Take home message: Nanoliposomes are promising candidates for targeting FB-induced infection and inflammation. Certain properties, related to the micro-anatomy and physiology of inflammation as well as to the liposome physicochemical properties, make possible ‘passive’ targeting of the FB region. Conjugating specific ligands to the surface of the liposomes can improve their efficacy by adding an element of ‘active’ targeting. Despite the great clinical need, the use of nano-based technologies to target and treat FB-induced infection, inflammation and pain has not been exploited yet. The use of drug-loaded nanoliposomes for this application seems to be most promising and should be evaluated with high priority.
Efficacy of Quetiapine Monotherapy in Bipolar I and II Depression: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study (The BOLDER II Study)

This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine monotherapy for depressive episodes in patients with bipolar I or II disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) who were randomized to 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with quetiapine (300 or 600 mg/d; once daily, evening dosing) or placebo. Patients were assessed weekly using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). The primary end point was change in MADRS total score from baseline to Week 8 (analysis of covariance/last-observation-carried-forward analysis). Of 509 patients randomized, 59% completed the study. Improvements from baseline in mean MADRS total scores were significantly greater with quetiapine 300 and 600 mg/d than with placebo from first evaluation (Week 1) through Week 8 (both P ≤ 0.001 vs. placebo). Therapeutic effect sizes at Week 8 were 0.61 and 0.54 for quetiapine 300 and 600 mg/d, respectively. Improvements in mean HAM-D scores were also significantly greater with both quetiapine doses than with placebo (P < 0.001) as early as Week 1 and throughout the study. The MADRS response and remission rates were also significantly greater in both quetiapine dose groups compared with placebo. Improvements in primary and secondary outcomes were observed with both 300 and 600 mg/d quetiapine without major differences between the doses. Common adverse events included dry mouth, sedation, somnolence, dizziness, and constipation. The incidence of treatment-emergent mania or hypomania was lower with quetiapine treatment than placebo. This study demonstrates that quetiapine monotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, confirming the results observed from a previous study (BipOLar DEpRession [BOLDER] I).
Tuberculosis among household contacts of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Delhi, India.

SETTING Lala Ram Sarup Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (LRS), a tertiary level tuberculosis (TB) institute in Delhi, India. OBJECTIVE To study the profile of TB among household contacts of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients. DESIGN In a cross-sectional study, contacts of MDRTB patients were traced and clinical, radiological, bacteriological and pulmonary function tests were performed for evidence of TB infection and active disease. RESULTS Between January 2005 and December 2008, 58 of 92 index MDR-TB patients could be traced. Of 302 contacts who could be studied, 16 (5.29%) developed TB: nine had pulmonary and seven had extra- pulmonary disease; two (0.66%) had MDR-TB. Of the 302 contacts, 137 reported to the LRS Institute and were investigated. The most common symptoms observed were cough, chest pain and fever. The tuberculin skin test was positive in 109 of 135 (80.7%) contacts; among these, bacille Calmette-Guérin scar was present in 86. Pulmonary function tests revealed obstruction, restriction and mixed abnormalities. CONCLUSION The majority of contacts of MDR-TB patients had drug-susceptible TB and the rate of MDRTB was very low. Evaluation of contacts of MDR-TB cases may lead to early diagnosis and prevention of TB.
N-chain Hubbard model in weak coupling

We present a systematic weak-coupling renormalization group ~RG! technique for studying a collection of N coupled one-dimensional interacting electron systems, focusing on the example of N-leg Hubbard ladders. For N52,3, we recover previous results, and find that also more generally broad regions of the phase space of these models are unstable to pairing, usually with approximate d-wave symmetry. We show how these instabilities can be understood in terms of a fairly conventional ‘‘gap’’ function D at the discretized Fermi surface, and describe how this function is calculated. The dimensional crossovers as N! ‘ and as many such ladders are weakly coupled together are also discussed. @S0163-1829~97! 00836-9#
A simple test of visual neglect

“Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world. ” SCHOPENHAUER, Psychological Observations: Studies in Pessimism . The primary purpose of this paper is to explain a simple, clinically useful test for visual neglect. The results of this test, which was standardized with normal subjects and presented to patients with unilateral cerebral lesions, shed light on the nature of visual neglect. In this paper the term “visual neglect” refers to a defective and, therefore, a reduced ability to attend to one or more components of the visual world.
Hereditary factors in cancer. Study of two large midwestern kindreds.

MENDELIAN autosomal inheritance patterns have been demonstrated in familial aggregations of polyposis coli, retinoblastoma, xeroderma pigmentosum, neurofibromatosis,1Gardner's syndrome2and the basal cell nevus syndrome.3In addition, an increased familial incidence of carcinoma of the breast,4lung,5stomach and colon,6and prostate,7as well as leukemia,8multiple myeloma,9Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia,10pheochromocytoma,11multiple endocrine tumors,12cerebellar hemangioblastoma,13and malignant melanoma14has been observed. However, the mode of inheritance is not clear in these latter conditions. In appraising these data, it must be kept in mind that only those families showing a high incidence of carcinoma are "selected" for publication. When one considers the high population incidence of carcinoma, ". it is bound to occur in excess in some families according to the operation of the laws of probability.15" The purpose of this paper is to present the findings in two large midwestern kindreds in which a high frequency of
Identification of selected Leuconostoc species with the use of FTIR spectroscopy and artificial neural networks

Background. FTIR spectroscopy is becoming an important tool in the differentiation and identification of bacteria. In the present study, lactic acid bacteria of the genus Leuconostoc were differentiated and identified with the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The aim of the study was to expand the existing library of FTIR spectra of lactic acid and propionic acid bacteria, and to develop multilayer artificial neural networks as part of the same structure. Material and methods. The material for this study were 10 reference strains of the genus Leuconostoc, and 24 strains isolated from food products. The isolated pure cultures were identified with species specific pairs of primers by PCR technique, as a reference method. Bacterial strain samples were subjected to spectroscopic measurements by the transmission method at a wavelength of 4000 cm to 500 cm using a FTIR spectrophotometer. Digitized spectral data were submitted to neural networks training, until an error of less than 0.05 was obtained and than used for identification of isolates. Results. The utility of neural networks has been determined based on the identification of 10 reference strains and 24 bacterial strains of the genus Leuconostoc isolated from food products. The isolated strains have been identified by PCR-based method using speciesspecific primers. The use of artificial neural networks in FTIR spectral analyses as the most advanced chemometric method supported the correct identification of 83-92% bacteria of the genus Leuconostoc at the species level. Conclusions. The discussed method may be deployed in analytical laboratories for identifying lactic acid bacteria at the genus, species and subspecies level, for monitoring the purity of cultures in strain collections and for fast screening of selected bacterial groups. FTIR delivers a variety of advantages, including simple technology, low cost, high specificity and a wide range of industrial applications.
A characterization of vanadate interactions with the (Na,K)-ATPase. Mechanistic and regulatory implications.

The interaction of vanadium in the +5 oxidation state (vanadate) with purified dog kidney Na+ and K+-stim- ulated adenosine trlphosphatase [(Na,K)-ATPase] has been studied using equilibrium binding, steady state kinetics, and measurements of relaxation kinetics. Van- adate binds to one high affinity site (Kl = 4 no) and one low afinity site (Kz = 0.5