Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extended Practice of Basic Addition Facts: Strategy Changes in Learning-Disabled Students

Basic addition facts performance of learning-disabled (LD) children was assessed prior to and following a period of extended practice in fact production. Consistent with current theoretical discussions (e.g., Siegler, 1987), effects of the extended practice were assessed through an examination of changes in (a) problem latencies, (b) mixed strategy usage, and (c) slope parameters of the regression function relating individual problem latencies to the size of the minimum addend. For the sample as a whole, there were reductions in response latency and in the slope of the regression function following practice. However, there were actually four discriminable groups in the sample, each slower in fact production than same-age normally achieving children but differing in their strategy usage patterns. Accordingly, differential effects of practice were expected for each group; the patterns of changes in latency, mixed strategy usage, and slope parameters were consistent with these predictions. Comparisons are ma.
Quantitative Exposure Assessment of Various Chemical Substances in a Wafer Fabrication Industry Facility

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate exposure levels of various chemicals used in wafer fabrication product lines in the semiconductor industry where work-related leukemia has occurred. Methods The research focused on 9 representative wafer fabrication bays among a total of 25 bays in a semiconductor product line. We monitored the chemical substances categorized as human carcinogens with respect to leukemia as well as harmful chemicals used in the bays and substances with hematologic and reproductive toxicities to evaluate the overall health effect for semiconductor industry workers. With respect to monitoring, active and passive sampling techniques were introduced. Eight-hour long-term and 15-minute short-term sampling was conducted for the area as well as on personal samples. Results The results of the measurements for each substance showed that benzene, toluene, xylene, n-butyl acetate, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-heptanone, ethylene glycol, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid were non-detectable (ND) in all samples. Arsine was either "ND" or it existed only in trace form in the bay air. The maximum exposure concentration of fluorides was approximately 0.17% of the Korea occupational exposure limits, with hydrofluoric acid at about 0.2%, hydrochloric acid 0.06%, nitric acid 0.05%, isopropyl alcohol 0.4%, and phosphine at about 2%. The maximum exposure concentration of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) was 0.0870 ppm, representing only 0.1% or less than the American Industrial Hygiene Association recommended standard (100 ppm). Conclusion Benzene, a known human carcinogen for leukemia, and arsine, a hematologic toxin, were not detected in wafer fabrication sites in this study. Among reproductive toxic substances, n-butyl acetate was not detected, but fluorides and PGMEA existed in small amounts in the air. This investigation was focused on the air-borne chemical concentrations only in regular working conditions. Unconditional exposures during spills and/or maintenance tasks and by-product chemicals were not included. Supplementary studies might be required.
Concise Review: Macrophages: Versatile Gatekeepers During Pancreatic β‐Cell Development, Injury, and Regeneration

Macrophages are classically considered detrimental for pancreatic β‐cell survival and function, thereby contributing to β‐cell failure in both type 1 (T1D) and 2 (T2D) diabetes mellitus. In addition, adipose tissue macrophages negatively influence peripheral insulin signaling and promote obesity‐induced insulin resistance in T2D. In contrast, recent data unexpectedly uncovered that macrophages are not only able to protect β cells during pancreatitis but also to orchestrate β‐cell proliferation and regeneration after β‐cell injury. Moreover, by altering their activation state, macrophages are able to improve insulin resistance in murine models of T2D. This review will elaborate on current insights in macrophage heterogeneity and on the evolving role of pancreas macrophages during organogenesis, tissue injury, and repair. Additional identification of macrophage subtypes and of their secreted factors might ultimately translate into novel therapeutic strategies for both T1D and T2D.
Recursive digital filters with maximally flat group delay

A well-known limitation of the recursive digital filter, when compared to the nonrecursive filter, is its incapability of having a strictly linear phase characteristic; thus it may only approximate a constant group delay. For the analog filters the choice of the maximally flat criterion leads to the use of the Bessel polynomials. Yet digital approximations of these continuous filter functions are inadequate to yield the true maximally flat delay approximation of the recursive filters. Our purpose is to provide for the problem at hand a solution obtained by a direct approximation procedure in the z plane. The denominator of the transfer function turns out to be a Gaussian hypergeometric function, more particularly connected with the Legendre functions. The stability of the filters is discussed and some numerical results in regard to the amplitude and phase responses as well as the pole loci are given.
FIVE‐YEAR FOLLOW‐UP OF GERIATRIC CHRONICALLY ILL MENTAL PATIENTS IN FOSTER HOME CARE

A follow‐up study of 12 geriatric chronically ill mental patients placed in foster homes as the result of an intensive ward rehabilitation program revealed that 8 (67 per cent) of these men remained out of the hospital at the end of five years. Six had been discharged from the hospital and 2 remained on trial visit status in foster homes. All but 1 of the 8 men were still in foster homes at the time of follow‐up. Neither age, the severity of psychiatric disability nor the length of previous hospitalization was a deterrent to success in home care, as long as the patient was not extremely irritable or aggressive. Indeed, the older men in this study remained out of the hospital significantly longer than did the younger ones. Eight of the 12 patients required transfer to a new foster home, re‐admission to the hospital, or new placement after rehospitalization—which shows the importance in such a program of having continuous supervision by a persistent social work staff.
Study of Error Performance of Rotated PSK modulation in Nakagami-q (Hoyt) Fading Channel

paper concerns with the study of the modulation diversity in PSK scheme due to rotation of the signal constellation along with bit interleaving. We derive here the expressions for the Symbol Error Probability (SEP) of rotated BPSK and QPSK modulations over frequency non-selective slowly fading Nakagami-q channels. Numerical results based on moment generating function (MGF) are obtained and comparison of error performance are made for conventional and rotated modulation schemes. We investigate also the dependence of symbol errors on signal-to-noise ratio, Nakagami-q factor and the angle of rotation. The results show significant improvement in the performance of rotated scheme over conventional method. The optimum rotation angle is also calculated and a symmetrical nature of SEP with rotation angle is observed. Keywordserror rate, Bit interleaving, Diversity, Moment generating function, Nakagami-q fading channel.
Predictors of oral mucositis in patients receiving hematopoietic cell transplants for chronic myelogenous leukemia.

PURPOSE Oral mucositis is a nearly universal and often severe complication following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The objective of this study was to evaluate factors predicting oral mucositis severity among 133 patients undergoing allogeneic HCT for chronic myelogenous leukemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients were transplanted between 1992 and 1999, were >or= 18 years of age, received either cyclophosphamide/total-body irradiation (TBI) or busulfan/cyclophosphamide conditioning regimens, and received four doses of methotrexate for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis post-transplant. Oral mucositis was measured by a trained examiner every 2 to 3 days using the Oral Mucositis Index (OMI). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of mean OMI during days 6 to 12, 1 to 18, and the maximum OMI score between days 1 to 18. RESULTS TBI containing conditioning regimens, body mass index >or= 25, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 TT genotype were found to be predictive of higher mean OMI scores (P <.05). Pretransplant multivitamin supplement use was associated with lower mean OMI scores compared to those who did not use supplements. Smoking status, race, pretransplant treatment with interferon-alfa or hydroxyurea, and patient/donor ABO compatibility were not associated with mean OMI scores. CONCLUSION Patients who are scheduled to receive conditioning regimens containing TBI, have a pretransplant body mass index >or= 25, or carry the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 TT genotype should be considered at greater risk of developing oral mucositis following HCT. Future studies should investigate whether multivitamin supplementation before HCT could reduce mucositis severity.
Rule of Morality vs. Rule of Law?

This article assesses whether civil servant values in China and the Netherlands reflect different administrative traditions (i.e., rule of morality vs. rule of law). The question is highly relevant because both countries have recently undergone reform and modernization, and their mutual dealings and interactions have increased and gained importance. A pilot survey and a content analysis of codes of conduct were used to establish a value set that was tested in an exploratory survey of Chinese (n = 68) and Dutch (n = 45) civil servants. The results revealed that value preferences reflected administrative traditions less clearly than expected, and values associated with the rule of law tradition were in some instances more important for Chinese than for Dutch respondents. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are offered.
Clinical value of antenatal fetal pulse oximetry

The aim of this prospective observational study was to see if high quality fetal pulse oximetry signals can be obtained from the fetus before labour. It was carried out in Labour Ward, Clarendon Wing, Leeds General Infirmary and St. James Hospital, Leeds. We studied Caucasian term fetuses antenatally and 20 fetuses during labour. Antenatal fetal oxygen saturation was measured using a sensor passed through the cervix onto the membranes covering the fetus before the onset of labour. The quality of these signals was compared to data obtained from 20 fetuses monitored during active labour after amniotomy. High quality pulse oximetry signals were obtained for less than 1% of the monitoring time before the onset of labour (95% CI 0-2.5%). High quality data was seen 38.6% of the time once the membranes were ruptured and the head descendend into the pelvis. With present technology fetal pulse oximetry will not contribute to antenatal fetal assessment.
Automatic detection of pragmatic deficits in children with autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypical and idiosyncratic language, which often has its roots in pragmatic deficits. Identifying and measuring pragmatic language ability is challenging and requires substantial clinical expertise. In this paper, we present a method for automatically identifying pragmatically inappropriate language in narratives using two features related to relevance and topicality. These features, which are derived using techniques from machine translation and information retrieval, are able to distinguish the narratives from children with ASD from those of their language-matched peers and may prove useful in the development of automated screening tools for autism and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The in vitro effect of recombinant factor VIIa on coated platelet formation and clot dynamics of stored platelet concentrates

BACKGROUND: Storage can negatively impact the hemostatic potential of platelet concentrates (PCs) used for transfusion. At the site of vascular injury, normal platelets (PLTs) are hypothesized to change into highly procoagulant‐coated PLTs upon costimulation with collagen and thrombin. We investigated whether activated recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven, Novo Nordisk A/S) could improve the ability of stored PLTs to support coagulation under conditions that promote the formation of coated PLTs.
The power of technology: a qualitative analysis of how South Asian youth use technology to maintain cross-gender relationships

This research explores how South Asian youth in Canada use computer-mediated communication (CMC) such as social networking sites, cell phones and instant messaging in their cross-gender intimate relationships. Using 42 qualitative interviews conducted with second-generation South Asian Canadians living in the Greater Toronto Area and Durham region, this article sheds light on the motives for using CMC as well as negative consequences that can emerge. The data reveal that South Asian youth are using CMC to initiate and build relationships, remain connected with partners, engage in discreet communication, to ease uncomfortable and intimate discussions, and to communicate when face-to-face interaction is not available. Gender, religion and country of origin differences were rare, but did appear in a few motives. Negative consequences of CMC use volunteered by participants include parental–child conflict over restriction and questioning CMC use and its use leading to parents’ discovery of a ‘secret’ relationship. Overall, CMC provided a means for second-generation South Asian youth in Canada to overtly adhere to norms of gender-separation while covertly engaging in cross-gender relationships. If not discovered, this helped to maintain family honour within the South Asian community while fulfilling their perceived need for cross-gender friendships and romantic involvements.
Built for speed: musculoskeletal structure and sprinting ability

SUMMARY The musculoskeletal structure of the foot and ankle has the potential to influence human sprinting performance in complex ways. A large Achilles' tendon moment arm improves the mechanical advantage of the triceps surae but also produces larger shortening velocity during rapid plantarflexion, which detracts from the force-generating capacity of the plantarflexors. The lever arm of the ground reaction force that resists the muscular plantarflexor moment during propulsive push-off is constrained in part by the skeletal structure of the foot. In this study, we measured the plantarflexion moment arms of the Achilles' tendon, lateral gastrocnemius fascicle lengths and pennation angles, and anthropometric characteristics of the foot and lower leg in collegiate sprinters and height-matched non-sprinters. The Achilles' tendon moment arms of the sprinters were 25% smaller on average in sprinters than in non-sprinters (P<0.001) whereas the sprinters' fascicles were 11% longer on average (P=0.024). The ratio of fascicle length to moment arm was 50% larger in sprinters (P<0.001). Sprinters were found to have longer toes (P=0.032) and shorter lower legs (P=0.026) than non sprinters. A simple computer simulation of the sprint push-off demonstrated that shorter plantarflexor moment arms and longer toes, like those measured in sprinters, permit greater generation of forward impulse. Simulated propulsion was enhanced in both cases by increasing the `gear ratio' of the foot, thus maintaining plantarflexor fibre length and reducing peak fibre shortening velocity. Longer toes especially prolonged the time of contact, giving greater time for forward acceleration by propulsive ground reaction force.
How Much is the Public Willing to Pay to be Protected from Identity Theft?

Identity theft has become one of the most ubiquitous crimes in the USA with estimates of the number of households being victimized annually ranging between 5% and 25%, resulting in direct losses totaling hundreds of billions of dollars over the past few years. Government efforts to combat identity theft have included legislation criminalizing and increasing penalties as well as regulatory efforts designed to protect individual identifying information held by financial and other business organizations. At the same time, individuals are taking their own preventive actions and purchasing private protection such as credit monitoring and identity theft insurance services. We use data from a large sample of residents from four states (Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Washington) in order to assess the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for a government program designed to reduce identify theft under two separate conditions, one promising a 25% reduction in identity theft and the other promising a 75% reduction in identity theft. Results indicate that: (1) between 40% and 66% of the public is willing to pay an additional tax for identity theft prevention, more so when the promise of a reduction is highest (75% compared to 25%) with an average WTP of $87, and (2) WTP is highest among individuals who carry many credit cards, who subscribe to an identity theft protection service, and who take active steps in preventing fraud by shredding bills and paying with cash, but is lowest among individuals who believe that taxes are too high. Converted into a “per crime” cost and combined with the portion of identity theft costs that are borne directly by business, we estimate the average cost per identity theft to range from approximately $2,800 to $5,100.
Organizational quality on the Rey-Osterrieth and Taylor Complex Figure Tests: A new scoring system.

A new system for measuring organizational quality on the Complex Figure Test (Rey, 1942; Taylor, 1969) is described. This system extends the traditional use of the test as a measure of constructional ability and figural memory. The new system is easy to learn, quick to score, and shows very good interrater reliability. Organizational quality was found to correlate moderately with copy accuracy, half-hour recall, and percentage retained. In an initial application of the system (N = 63), organizational quality of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure successfully discriminated between symptomatic (those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS] or AIDS-related complex [ARC]) and asymptomatic subjects positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but organizational quality ratings of the Taylor figure did not
Building trust in m-commerce: contributions from quality and satisfaction

Purpose – Mobile commerce (m‐commerce) represents a new area of business opportunity. Past research has often focused on customer acceptance and its antecedents, rather than factors that build trust in m‐commerce. The purpose of this paper is to provide an explanation of factors influencing customer trust towards vendors on the mobile internet.Design/methodology/approach – M‐commerce relies on mobile technology and well‐maintained service quality. This paper has applied the service quality model (SERVQUAL) and technology acceptance model (TAM), coupled with proposed quality factors in relation to m‐commerce that, according to the literature, influence customer trust, to empirically test the formation of trust. The proposed model was empirically evaluated using online survey data from 212 experienced m‐commerce customers.Findings – The results showed that despite customisation, brand image and satisfaction all directly affecting customer trust towards the vendor in m‐commerce, customisation and brand image.
Association of Smoking Status, Weight Change, and Incident Metabolic Syndrome in Men: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study

OBJECTIVE We investigated the incidence of the metabolic syndrome and assessed the effect of smoking status and weight change on incident metabolic syndrome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study included 4,542 men without metabolic syndrome at baseline who were followed for an average of 3 years. Subjects were divided into four categories according to smoking status at baseline and at the 3-year follow-up. RESULTS The overall incidence of metabolic syndrome was 10.6%: 8.0% in nonsmokers, 7.1% in new smokers, 17.1% in ex-smokers, and 13.9% in sustained smokers (P < 0.001). In a multivariate regression model, ex-smokers had significantly increased odds for incident metabolic syndrome with a mean 1.45 (95% CI 1.06–1.98) compared with sustained smokers. This was no longer significant after including weight change. CONCLUSIONS Smoking cessation within 3 years may be a higher risk factor for incident metabolic syndrome than sustained smoking, indicating that weight control in ex-smokers is critical to attenuate the additional risk for incident metabolic syndrome.
The Mother, the Daughter, and the Cow: Venezuelan Transformistas’ Migration to Europe

Abstract Venezuelan transformistas migrate to Europe in order to occupy the lucrative niche of transgender sex work. With their earnings, they enhance the process of transforming their male bodies towards perfect femininity. Various forms of liminality are inherent both in transformistas’ migration and in their bodily transformation. This paper aims at an understanding of how they arrived at their present situation by following their lives through time and space. It explores motivations for migration as well as the economic and affective dimensions of relations evolving from recruitment practices that are based on sexual identity and gender. The negotiation of love for their natural mothers through economic transactions is interpreted as a change of status that became possible in the context of migration.
Interval algorithm for random number generation

The problem of generating a random number with an arbitrary probability distribution by using a general biased M-coin is studied. An efficient and very simple algorithm based on the successive refinement of partitions of the unit interval (0, 1), which we call the interval algorithm, is proposed. A fairly tight evaluation on the efficiency is given. Generalizations of the interval algorithm to the following cases are investigated: (1) output sequence is independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.); (2) output sequence is Markov; (3) input sequence is Markov; (4) input sequence and output sequence are both subject to arbitrary stochastic processes.
Kinetics and determinants of the changes of CC16, a lung secretory protein in a rat model of toxic lung injury

Purpose. To investigate the kinetics and the determinants of the changes of the Clara cell 16 kDa protein (CC16) as a marker of lung injury following exposure to different toxicants. Methods. Rats were treated with 4-Ipomeanol (IPO), alpha-naphtylthiourea (ANTU), sodium chromate (Na2CrO4) or paraquat-(PQ). The changes of CC16, total protein, albumin, and cystatin-C were determined on BALF supernatan, and CC16, cystatin-C and creatinine levels were also determined in serum. Results. Bronchiolar insult due to IPO or ANTU resulted in an initial transient increase of serum CC16, parallel to that of albumin in BALF, and a subsequent reduction in both BALF and serum. A slight reduction of CC16 in BALF was already apparent one hour following treatment with PQ. In the serum, CC16 increased to 400 % of basal value. With PQ and Na2CrO4, the elevation of CC16 was mainly determined by the degree of renal impairment.