Linguistic illusions and misconceptions: The role of language variation in language development across three varieties of American English

Prior research on the linguistic abilities of Southern English- (SE) and African-American English-speaking children (SAAE) revealed unexpectedly high rates of risk for a language disorder (Christodoulou & Tsimpli 2021; Moland & Oetting 2021). This study examines the performance of 139 SE-, 46 SAAE-, and 35 Mainstream American English-speaking children (MAE), aged 2-13, and analyzes their performance, through twelve sections, in four key linguistic domains: syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and phonology, using a standardized assessment test. Results revealed a parallel performance across the three groups in all linguistic domains. The highest means of accuracy were noted with phonology and the lowest with semantics. Analysis of the participants’ performance by age evidenced a virtually identical performance across the three groups after age 6 or 7, but considerable variations were noted with younger children. Results from the current study contradict results from previous work showing considerably high rates of risk for a language disorder for the SAAE-speaking children, as their performance is parallel to not only that of SE-speaking children but it also the performance of MAE-speaking children. Results from the current study could help guide educational policies, especially for early education programs, as well as diagnostic assessment and rehabilitation

A prime/boost DNA/Modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine expressing recombinant Leishmania DNA encoding TRYP is safe and immunogenic in outbred dogs, the reservoir of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis

Previous studies demonstrated safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of DNA/modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) prime/boost vaccines expressing tryparedoxin peroxidase (TRYP) and Leishmania homologue of the mammalian receptor for activated C kinase (LACK) against Leishmania major challenge in mice, which was consistent with results from TRYP protein/adjuvant combinations in non-human primates. This study aimed to conduct safety and immunogenicity trials of these DNA/MVA vaccines in dogs, the natural reservoir host of Leishmania infantum, followed-up for 4 months post-vaccination. In a cohort of 22 uninfected outbred dogs, blinded randomised administration of 1000 μg (high dose) or 100 μg (low dose) DNA prime (day 0) and 1 × 108 pfu MVA boost (day 28) was shown to be safe and showed no clinical side effects. High dose DNA/MVA vaccinated TRYP dogs produced statistically higher mean levels of the type-1 pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ than controls in whole blood assays (WBA) stimulated with the recombinant vaccine antigen TRYP, up to the final sampling at day 126, and in the absence of challenge with Leishmania. TRYP vaccinated dogs also demonstrated significantly higher TRYP-specific total IgG and IgG2 subtype titres than in controls, and positive in vivo intradermal reactions at day 156 in the absence of natural infection, observed in 6/8 TRYP vaccinated dogs. No significant increases in IFN-γ in LACK-stimulated WBA, or in LACK-specific IgG levels, were detected in LACK vaccinated dogs compared to controls, and only 2/9 LACK vaccinated dogs demonstrated DTH responses at day 156. In all groups, IgG1 subclass responses and antigen-specific stimulation of IL-10 were similar to controls demonstrating an absence of Th2/Treg response, as expected in the absence of in vivo restimulation or natural/experimental challenge with Leishmania. These collective results indicate significant antigen-specific type-1 responses and in vivo memory phase cellular immune responses, consistent with superior potential for protective vaccine immunogenicity of DNA/MVA TRYP over LACK

Can you make morphometrics work when you know the right answer? Pick and mix approaches for apple identification

Morphological classification of living things has challenged science for several centuries and has led to a wide range of objective morphometric approaches in data gathering and analysis. In this paper we explore those methods using apple cultivars, a model biological system in which discrete groups are pre-defined but in which there is a high level of overall morphological similarity. The effectiveness of morphometric techniques in discovering the groups is evaluated using statistical learning tools. No one technique proved optimal in classification on every occasion, linear morphometric techniques slightly out-performing geometric (72.6% accuracy on test set versus 66.7%). The combined use of these techniques with post-hoc knowledge of their individual successes with particular cultivars achieves a notably higher classification accuracy (77.8%). From this we conclude that even with pre-determined discrete categories, a range of approaches is needed where those categories are intrinsically similar to each other, and we raise the question of whether in studies where potentially continuous natural variation is being categorised the level of match between categories is routinely set too high

Chi è l'insegnante ideale? Greci insegnanti esprimono il loro parere per le caratteristiche del maestro "perfetto"

The purpose of the research is to identify the views of education department students (from elementary and pre-school education departments), namely potential teachers, on the ideal teacher. This study attempts to map diverse views on the role and image of the teacher inherent in social discourse as social experience, regardless of whether or not there is special knowledge. The authors asked 588 students from elementary education and pre-school education departments to write a text in which they would describe their views as to what makes a perfect teacher [What, in your opinion, makes an ideal educator?]. For the analysis of the texts, the authors used quantitative and qualitative content analysis (content analysis – classical thematic analysis). The findings of this research in accordance with previous studies, suggest that the teacher‘s role and his/her ―ideal‖ image, are two multidimensional concepts and cannot be defined with absolute precision.Lo scopo di questa ricerca è quello di identificare le opinioni di studenti universitari (da dipartimenti elementari e pre-scolastici) sul professore ideale. Questo studio si propone di dare le diverse opinioni sul ruolo e l'immagine del maestro nel discorso sociale come esperienza sociale. Gli autori hanno chiesto 588 studenti di istruzione elementare e l'istruzione pre-scuola per scrivere un testo in cui avrebbero descrivere il loro parere su ciò che rende un insegnante perfetto (Secondo suo parere, quali siano gli elementi che ci danno ‗il maestro ideale‘?]. Per l'analisi dei testi, gli autori hanno utilizzato l'analisi del contenuto quantitativa e qualitativa (analisi del contenuto - analisi tematica classica). I risultati di questa ricerca in accordo con gli studi precedenti, suggeriscono che il ruolo dell'insegnante e il suo immagine "ideale", sono due concetti multidimensionali e non possono essere definite con precisione assoluta

Profil masnih kiselina, broj somatskih stanica i mikrobiološka kvaliteta mlijeka dobivenog potpunom strojnom mužnjom i ručnim izmuzivanjem Chios ovaca

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of milk fraction on composition, fatty acid profile, somatic cell count and microbiological quality of the milk of Chios ewes sheep breed. Totally forty eight animals were included in the study (16 of the first, 16 of the second and 16 of the third and subsequent lactations, respectively). The animals were fed with 1.06 kg/ewe/day a concentrate mixture and 0.9 kg/ewe/day alfalfa hay. Ewes were milked twice a day for 10 weeks in a milking parlor of “Casse” type 1x24 with 12 milking units and a low milk line and air pipeline. All the variables measured were compared by ANOVA using SPSS. The results of the experiment showed that fat percentage in hand stripped milk was higher than in total machine milk, while protein and lactose were found in the same levels. Despite the higher fat concentration in the hand stripped milk the fatty acid profile in two fractions was found to be similar. Only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid concentrations were found in higher levels in hand stripped milk. Somatic cell count was lower in total machine milk, while microbiological quality was found to be better in hand stripped milk. Lactation stage influenced significantly all measured variables.Ciljevi ovog rada bili su procijeniti učinak izmuzivanja mlijeka na sastav, profil masnih kiselina, broj somatskih stanica i mikrobiološku kvalitetu mlijeka ovaca Chios pasmine. U istraživanje je bilo uključeno ukupno četrdeset osam životinja (16 prve, 16 druge i 16 treće i kasnijih laktacija). Sve su životinje hranjene sa 1,06 kg/ovci/dan koncentrirane smjese i 0,9 kg/ovci/dan sijena lucerne. Ovce su mužene dva puta dnevno tijekom 10 tjedana u izmuzištu tipa «Casse» 1x24 s 12 muznih jedinica. Dobiveni podaci analizirani su ANOVA testom. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da je udjel masti ručno izmuženog mlijeka bio veći nego u mlijeku dobivenom cjelokupnom strojnom mužnjom, dok su udjeli proteina i laktoze bili na istim razinama. Unatoč višem udjelu masti u ručno izmuženom mlijeku, profil masnih kiselina u dvije frakcije bio je sličan. Samo su koncentracije eikozapentaenske kiseline (EPA) i dokoheksanoične kiseline (DHA) utvrđene u većim količinama u ručno izmuženom mlijeku. Broj somatskih stanica bio je niži u cjelokupnoj strojnoj mužnji, a mikrobiološka kvaliteta bila je bolja u ručno izmuženom mlijeku. Faza laktacije značajno je utjecala na sve izmjerene varijable

Verlaufsbeobachtung des Mineralstoff-Stoffwechsels anhand von Urin- und Serumproben bei kleinen Frühgeborenen

Frühgeborene haben einen hohen Bedarf an Mineralstoffen; Es besteht aber auch ein Risiko zur Nephrocalcinose. Wir haben Parameter des Mineralstoff-Stoffwechsels in Serum bzw. Urin bei Frühgeborenen untersucht. Methode: In einer prospektiven Studie wurden bei Frühgeborenen Parameter in Serum- und Urinproben gemessen und mit Ultraschall Hinweise einer Nephrocalcinose dokumentiert. Zusätzlich wurden retrospektiv verglichen Frühgeborene mit und einer pair-matched Vergleichsgruppe ohne Nephrocalcinose. Ergebnisse: Die Konzentration von Kreatinin, Calcium und Phosphat im Urin stieg. Frühgeborene mit Nephrocalcinose zeigten häufiger eine metabolische Azidose und ein niedrigeres Serumphosphat bzw. ein höheres Calcium/Kreatinin im Spontanurin. Diskussion: Für ein Monitoring bei Frühgeborenen sind Kontrollen aus Spontanurinproben sinnvoll. Imbalancen der Säure-Basen Regulation könnten mit einem erhöhten Risiko für die Entwicklung einer Nephrocalcinose assoziiert sein

A cluster of four cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania donovani in Cyprus: a case series

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is endemic in more than 95 countries and is the only tropical/subtropical vector-borne disease that has been endemic in Southern Europe for decades. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania donovani in a child and the first cluster with adult cases reported in Europe. Case presentation: We describe a familial cluster of four cutaneous leishmaniasis cases among Greek Cypriots caused by L. donovani in a Paphos village, in Cyprus. A 6-year-old boy (Case number 1) had a persistent lesion in the left angle of his upper lip, a 60-year-old woman (Case number 2) presented with a 2cm-diameter glabella lesion on her forehead, a 60-year-old man (Case number 3) developed a lesion on his moustache area and a 40-year-old woman (Case number 4) had a lesion on her neck. In Case number 3 the lesion was self-cured; the other cases recovered after surgical resection followed by liposomal amphotericin B (Case numbers 1 and 4) or thermotherapy and liposomal amphotericin B (Case number 2). Conclusions: This familial cluster of cutaneous leishmaniasis, due to the anthroponotic L. donovani, shows that the sand fly species responsible for transmitting this parasite species is found in the area around the three neighbouring houses involved. The factors favourable for the survival, spread and contact of the vector with people could be assessed in this area for the establishment of preventative measures to safeguard public health

Intrafamilial Phenotype Variability in Two Male Siblings, With X-linked Juvenile Retinoschisis and Dorzolamide Treatment Effect in the Natural History of the Disease

To investigate how genotype is related to phenotype and document correlations of genotype-phenotype with response of topical administration of dorzolamide in siblings affected with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS). We performed a retrospective study on two male siblings (four eyes) with XLRS, who were treated with topical installation of dorzolamide. Clinical diagnosis was supported with familial genetic analysis with bi-directional Sanger sequencing of RS1 pathogenic variant. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), ultrasound scan (U/S) and electroretinogram (ERG) were used in the evaluation. Central macular thickness (CMT) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded monthly for eighteen months. We performed genetic analysis in their family for mutations in the gene that encodes the protein retinoschisin, responsible for retinoschisis (RS1).  It was proved that phenotype variability might be related to the same pathogenic variant. While there was an improvement in BCVA and OCT central macular thickness in the patient with the mild form of disease, the visual acuity and the OCT scans of the patient with severe form of disease did not improve. Intrafamilial phenotypic variability between individuals sharing identical pathogenic variant was documented. Both our patients had a pathogenic variant in a hemizygous state at a genomic location in exon 6 of the RS1 gene; Frameshift mutation that is likely to cause protein truncation was identified which is suggested to result in greater clinical severity. Consequently, it was found that response to dorzolamide is correlated to phenotypic severity

Η ΣΥΜΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ ΠΑΙΔΙΩΝ ΜΕΙΟΝΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΣΕ ΓΕΝΙΚΕΣ ΤΑΞΕΙΣ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗΣ-ΑΠΟΨΕΙΣ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΩΝ

Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία μελετάται η στάση των εκπαιδευτικών απέναντι στη συμπερίληψη μαθητών μειονοτήτων σε γενικές τάξεις εκπαίδευσης. Συγκεκριμένα, πραγματοποιήθηκε ποσοτική έρευνα, στην οποία συμμετείχαν 102 εκπαιδευτικοί. Η έρευνα έδειξε ότι οι εκπαιδευτικοί φαίνεται πως τηρούν γενικά θετική στάση απέναντι στη συμπερίληψη. Εντούτοις εντοπίζονται σημαντικά εμπόδια στην εφαρμογή της στα σχολεία, όπως για παράδειγμα είναι η ελλιπής υποστήριξη, η απουσία πόρων και υλικοτεχνικής υποδομής, η απουσία συνεργασίας μεταξύ των εμπλεκόμενων μελών, αλλά και οι παλαιωμένες αντιλήψεις των ίδιων των εκπαιδευτικών σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις. Η πλειοψηφία των εκπαιδευτικών δηλώνουν έτοιμοι στο να εφαρμόσουν πρακτικές συμπερίληψης. Ωστόσο, ένας σημαντικός αριθμός δεν ένιωθε σιγουριά. Τέλος, οι γυναίκες εκπαιδευτικοί συμφωνούν περισσότερο με την άποψη, ότι οι μαθητές με διαφορετική πολιτισμική καταγωγή μπορούν να συνυπάρξουν αρμονικά μέσα στην τάξη με τους εντόπιους μαθητές, όπως επίσης και ότι η συμπερίληψη των μαθητών μειονοτήτων μέσα στην τάξη μπορεί να επηρεάσει θετικά τη στάση των υπόλοιπων μαθητών.In this thesis, the attitude of teachers towards the inclusion of minority students in general education classes is studied. Specifically, a quantitative survey was carried out in which 102 teachers participated. The research showed that teachers seem to have a generally positive attitude towards inclusion. However, significant obstacles to its implementation in schools are identified, such as insufficient support, the absence of resources and logistical infrastructure, the absence of cooperation between the members involved, and also the outdated perceptions of the teachers themselves. The majority of teachers state that they are ready to implement inclusion practices. However, a significant number did not feel confident. Finally, female teachers agree more that students with different cultural origins can coexist harmoniously in the classroom with local students, as well as that the inclusion of minority students in the classroom can positively affect the attitude of the rest of the students