Linguistic Anthropology

Linguistic anthropologists investigate how language use both presupposes and creates social relations in cultural context (Silverstein, 1985; Duranti, 1997; Agha, 2006). Theories and methods from linguistic anthropology have been productively applied in educational research for the past 40 years. This chapter describes key aspects of a linguistic anthropological approach, reviews research in which these have been used to study educational phenomena, and illustrates how researchers can analyze educational data from this perspective. Readers should also consult Chapter 28, Language Socialization, by Kathleen Riley, later in this volume, for a discussion of linguistic anthropological research in the language socialization tradition. The linguistic and paralinguistic signs that compose educational language use communicate both referential and relational messages. When educators and learners speak and write, they communicate not only about the subject matter they are learning but also about their affiliations with social groups both inside and outside the speech event. These affiliations, some of which are created in educational events and institutions themselves, can shape students\u27 life trajectories and influence how they learn subject matter. For both theoretical and practical reasons, then, educational researchers need to understand how language use both creates and presupposes social relations during educational activities

Reconstructing the somatotopic organization of the corticospinal tract remains a challenge for modern tractography methods

The corticospinal tract (CST) is a critically important white matter fiber tract in the human brain that enables control of voluntary movements of the body. Diffusion MRI tractography is the only method that enables the study of the anatomy and variability of the CST pathway in human health. In this work, we explored the performance of six widely used tractography methods for reconstructing the CST and its somatotopic organization. We perform experiments using diffusion MRI data from the Human Connectome Project. Four quantitative measurements including reconstruction rate, the WM-GM interface coverage, anatomical distribution of streamlines, and correlation with cortical volumes to assess the advantages and limitations of each method. Overall, we conclude that while current tractography methods have made progress toward the well-known challenge of improving the reconstruction of the lateral projections of the CST, the overall problem of performing a comprehensive CST reconstruction, including clinically important projections in the lateral (hand and face area) and medial portions (leg area), remains an important challenge for diffusion MRI tractography.Comment: 41 pages, 19 figure

Dynamic debt runs and financial fragility: Evidence from the 2007 ABCP crisis

We use the 2007 asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) crisis as a laboratory to study the determinants of debt runs. Our model features dilution risk: maturing short-term lenders demand higher yields in compensation for being diluted by future lenders, making runs more likely. The model explains the observed tenfold increase in yield spreads leading to runs and the positive relation between yield spreads and future runs. Results from structural estimation show that runs are very sensitive to leverage, asset values, and asset liquidity, but less sensitive to the degree of maturity mismatch, the strength of guarantees, and asset volatility

Preparing the family and children for surgery

The focus of this literature analysis is the concept of preparing the family and children for surgery. As posited in the literature, surgery causes stress and anxiety that have a negative impact on both parents and their children. Therefore, the need for health care professionals to facilitate positive preparation for surgery to minimize anxiety and enhance postoperative recovery is important. Preparing the family and children for surgery is discussed in depth under the following themes: Preoperative Anxiety in Children, the Impact of Preoperative Anxiety on the Pediatric Patients and Parents, Preoperative Psychological Preparation for Children and Parents, and the Role of Nurse Practitioners in Preoperative Preparation. Through reviewing the literature, it would appear that some areas of preparation for parents are not as sufficient as they could be, particularly with regard to adequate preoperative education programs. The majority of studies reported that therapeutic play and clown interventions used for psychological preparation of parents and their children have been effective in minimizing and decreasing anxiety levels

Microcephaly, intellectual impairment, bilateral vesicoureteral reflux, distichiasis, and glomuvenous malformations associated with a 16q24.3 contiguous gene deletion and a Glomulin mutation

Two hereditary syndromes, lymphedema‐distichiasis (LD) syndrome and blepharo‐chelio‐dontic (BCD) syndrome include the aberrant growth of eyelashes from the meibomian glands, known as distichiasis. LD is an autosomal dominant syndrome primarily characterized by distichiasis and the onset of lymphedema usually during puberty. Mutations in the forkhead transcription factor FOXC2 are the only known cause of LD. BCD syndrome consists of autosomal dominant abnormalities of the eyelid, lip, and teeth, and the etiology remains unknown. In this report, we describe a proband that presented with distichiasis, microcephaly, bilateral grade IV vesicoureteral reflux requiring ureteral re‐implantation, mild intellectual impairment and apparent glomuvenous malformations (GVM). Distichiasis was present in three generations of the proband's maternal side of the family. The GVMs were severe in the proband, and maternal family members exhibited lower extremity varicosities of variable degree. A GLMN (glomulin) gene mutation was identified in the proband that accounts for the observed GVMs; no other family member could be tested. TIE2 sequencing revealed no mutations. In the proband, an additional submicroscopic 265 kb contiguous gene deletion was identified in 16q24.3, located 609 kb distal to the FOXC2 locus, which was inherited from the proband's mother. The deletion includes the C16ORF95 , FBXO31 , MAP1LC3B , and ZCCHC14 loci and 115 kb of a gene desert distal to FOXC2 and FOXL1 . Thus, it is likely that the microcephaly, distichiasis, vesicoureteral, and intellectual impairment in this family may be caused by the deletion of one or more of these genes and/or deletion of distant cis ‐regulatory elements of FOXC2 expression. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90599/1/35229_ftp.pd

Parylene neuro-cages for live neural networks study

Here we present a surface-micromachined Parylene neuro-cage array for the in vitro study of live neural networks. Various types of neuro-cages have been fabricated and several adhesion promotion techniques have been explored. The biocompatibility and mechanical robustness of Parylene neuro-cages have been demonstrated through cell culture experiments. Dissociated neuronal cell bodies have been inserted one to a cage and cultured, allowing neurites to grow out through Parylene channels and form live neural networks. In addition, there is no observable difference between neural growth on Parylene and on oxide surfaces. It is possible to use the same or slightly modified cage structures to accommodate different cells, leading to possible applications of this technology in cell study and drug discovery

Impaired perceptual learning in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome is mediated by parvalbumin neuron dysfunction and is reversible.

To uncover the circuit-level alterations that underlie atypical sensory processing associated with autism, we adopted a symptom-to-circuit approach in the Fmr1-knockout (Fmr1-/-) mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. Using a go/no-go task and in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, we find that impaired visual discrimination in Fmr1-/- mice correlates with marked deficits in orientation tuning of principal neurons and with a decrease in the activity of parvalbumin interneurons in primary visual cortex. Restoring visually evoked activity in parvalbumin cells in Fmr1-/- mice with a chemogenetic strategy using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs was sufficient to rescue their behavioral performance. Strikingly, human subjects with Fragile X syndrome exhibit impairments in visual discrimination similar to those in Fmr1-/- mice. These results suggest that manipulating inhibition may help sensory processing in Fragile X syndrome

A Strategic Environmental Management Model: Salt Lake Case

Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) is the most important tool used to determine how to protect, to use, to develop and to manage regions. SEMP is prepared for the identification of natural and cultural resources, identifying threats to those resources, and the long term protection of the region and it also provides development of strategies and implementation plans. Within SEMP is based on the current state of the region and it shows the most efficient and equitable way to be achieved in the future. The article aims to correctly analyse Salt Lake's unique environmental conditions and protect its biological endogenous and exogenous factors that may arise in the future. In this paper, it is also developed creative and innovative approaches to use and to protect existing stocks by establishing a major paradigm to carry these approaches into future. The model includes four dimensions. First the problems of Salt Lake is determined in consideration of four dimensions such as environment, agriculture and livestock, business world and management issues then a scale is developed according to results obtained from focus group meetings. Stakeholders of Salt Lake evaluate each component of the region -economic condition, biological, ecological and social values, protection of environment, and regional management issues -. Finally, a strategic environmental management model is developed special to Salt Lake. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published b