Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Centrality of Shame Memories and Psychopathology: The Mediator Effect of Self‐Criticism

Research has shown that the centrality of shame memories is related to psychopathological symptoms. However, little is known about the role of self-criticism on this association. The current study explored a mediator model in which self-criticism was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between centrality of shame memories and depressive symptoms, and between centrality of shame memories and paranoid beliefs. A battery of self-report instruments measuring centrality of shame memory (CES), forms (FSCRS) and functions (FSCS) of self-criticism, depressive symptoms (DASS-42), and paranoid beliefs (GPS) was administered to 204 participants from the general community population. Results showed did centrality of shame memories played an important role in depressive symptoms and paranoid beliefs. Only in depression did measures of self-criticism act as a mediator between centrality of shame and depressive symptomatology. These findings point to the distinct role that self-criticism plays on the relationship between shame memories and depressive and paranoid symptoms, adding to current evolutionary approaches on these two psychopathological features.
Conceptualizing Teacher Professional Learning

This article adopts a complexity theory framework to review the literature on teachers’ professional development practices, the generative systems of these practices, and the impact that learning experiences have on their knowledge and changes in classroom practices. The review brings together multiple strands of literature on teacher professional development, teaching and learning, teacher change, and organizational learning. In doing so, it illustrates that process–product logic has dominated the literature on teacher professional learning and that this has limited explanatory ability. The review demonstrates the ways the elements of three subsystems (the teacher, the school, and the learning activity) interact and combine in different ways and with varying intensities to influence teacher learning. The limitations of studies focusing on specific elements or subsystems are highlighted. The article concludes that to understand teacher learning scholars must adopt methodological practices that focus on explanatory causality and the reciprocal influences of all three subsystems.
Nonlinear scale-space analysis in image processing

The objective of this work is to develop and analyze robust and fast image segmentation algorithms. They must be robust to pervasive, large-amplitude noise, which cannot be well characterized in terms of probabilistic distributions. This is because the applications of interest include synthetic aperture radar (SAR) segmentation in which speckle noise is a well-known problem that has defeated many algorithms. The methods must also be robust to blur, because many imaging techniques result in smoothed images. For example, SAR image formation has a natural blur associated with it, due to the finite aperture used in forming the image. We introduce a family of first-order multi-dimensional ordinary differential equations with discontinuous right-hand sides and demonstrate their applicability to segmenting both scalar-valued and vector-valued images, as well as images taking values on a circle. An equation belonging to this family is an inverse diffusion everywhere except at local extrema, where some stabilization is introduced. For this reason, we call these equations “stabilized inverse diffusion equations” (“SIDEs”). Existence and uniqueness of solutions, as well as stability, are proven for SIDEs. A SIDE in one spatial dimension may be interpreted as a limiting case of a semi-discretized Perona-Malik equation [49,50], which, in turn, was proposed in order to overcome certain shortcomings of Gaussian scale spaces [72]. These existing techniques are reviewed in a background chapter. SIDEs are then described and experimentally shown to suppress noise while sharpening edges present in the input image. Their application to the detection of abrupt changes in 1-D signals is also demonstrated. It is shown that a version of the SIDEs optimally solves certain change detection problems. Its relations to the Mumford-Shah functional [44] and to linear programming are discussed. Theoretical performance analysis is carried out, and a fast implementation of the algorithm is described. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Against the Quantitative-Qualitative Incompatibility Thesis or Dogmas Die Hard

Over approximately the last 20 years, the use of qualitative methods in educational research has evolved from being scoffed at to being viewed as useful for provisional exploration, to being accepted as a valuable alternative approach in its own right, to being embraced as capable of thoroughgoing integration with quantitative methods. Progress has been halting, and it is not surprising that certain thinkers are now balking at the latest stage of development. The chief worry is that the capitulation to "what works" ignores the incompatibility of the competing positivistic and interpretivist epistemological paradigms that purportedly undergird quantitative and qualitative methods, respectively. Appealing to a pragmatic philosophical perspective, this paper argues that no incompatibility between quantitative and qualitative methods exists at either the level of practice or that of epistemology and that there are thus no good reasons for educational researchers to fear forging ahead with "what works. "
Racial Battle Fatigue for Latina/o Students

Previous literature demonstrates that as a result of racial microaggressions and hostile campus racial climates, Latina/o students often state they experience psychological, physiological, and behavioral stress responses during and after racialized incidents on campuses. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively test the racial battle fatigue framework for Latina/o students using structural equation modeling. Findings suggest that psychological stress responses for Latinas/os are most impacted by racial microaggressions in the racial battle fatigue framework.
Energy Efficiency of mmWave Massive MIMO Precoding With Low-Resolution DACs

With the congestion of the sub-6 GHz spectrum, the interest in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems operating on millimeter wave spectrum grows. In order to reduce the power consumption of such massive MIMO systems, hybrid analog/digital transceivers and application of low-resolution digital-to-analog/analog-to-digital converters have been recently proposed. In this work, we investigate the energy efficiency of quantized hybrid transmitters equipped with a fully/partially connected phase-shifting network composed of active/passive phase shifters and compare it to that of quantized digital precoders. We introduce a quantized single-user MIMO system model based on an additive quantization noise approximation considering realistic power consumption and loss models to evaluate the spectral and energy efficiencies of the transmit precoding methods. Simulation results show that partially connected hybrid precoders can be more energy-efficient compared to digital precoders, while fully connected hybrid precoders exhibit poor energy efficiency in general. Also, the topology of phase-shifting components offers an energy-spectral efficiency tradeoff: Active phase shifters provide higher data rates, while passive phase shifters maintain better energy efficiency.
The contribution of self-regulatory efficacy beliefs in managing affect and family relationships to positive thinking and hedonic balance

Abstract In line with prior work, the present study aimed at examining a conceptual model that assigns a crucial role to affective and family interpersonal self–regulatory efficacy beliefs in influencing the cognitive and affective components of subjective well–being, namely, positive thinking and hedonic balance. Positive thinking is posited as the latent dimension underlying life satisfaction, self–esteem, and optimism. In contrast, hedonic balance is posited as the difference between positive affect and negative affect, as they are experienced in a variety of daily life situations. The present study was conducted on 347 Italian married males and females, and its findings corroborated the paths of posited relations linking the variables of interest. In particular, both one's perceived capacities to manage negative and positive affect and to manage relationships with the spouse and children accounted for a considerable portion of the variance in both subjective well–being components.
Air quality during the 2008 Beijing Olympics: secondary pollutants and regional impact

Abstract. This paper presents the first results of the measurements of trace gases and aerosols at three surface sites in and outside Beijing before and during the 2008 Olympics. The official air pollution index near the Olympic Stadium and the data from our nearby site revealed an obvious association between air quality and meteorology and different responses of secondary and primary pollutants to the control measures. Ambient concentrations of vehicle-related nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at an urban site dropped by 25% and 20–45% in the first two weeks after full control was put in place, but the levels of ozone, sulfate and nitrate in PM2.5 increased by 16%, 64%, 37%, respectively, compared to the period prior to the full control; wind data and back trajectories indicated the contribution of regional pollution from the North China Plain. Air quality (for both primary and secondary pollutants) improved significantly during the Games, which were also associated with the changes in weather conditions (prolonged rainfall, decreased temperature, and more frequent air masses from clean regions). A comparison of the ozone data at three sites on eight ozone-pollution days, when the air masses were from the southeast-south-southwest sector, showed that regional pollution sources contributed >34–88% to the peak ozone concentrations at the urban site in Beijing. Regional sources also contributed significantly to the CO concentrations in urban Beijing. Ozone production efficiencies at two sites were low (~3 ppbv/ppbv), indicating that ozone formation was being controlled by VOCs. Compared with data collected in 2005 at a downwind site, the concentrations of ozone, sulfur dioxide (SO2), total sulfur (SO2+PM2.5 sulfate), carbon monoxide (CO), reactive aromatics (toluene and xylenes) sharply decreased (by 8–64%) in 2008, but no significant changes were observed for the concentrations of PM2.5, fine sulfate, total odd reactive nitrogen (NOy), and longer lived alkanes and benzene. We suggest that these results indicate the success of the government's efforts in reducing emissions of SO2, CO, and VOCs in Beijing, but increased regional emissions during 2005–2008. More stringent control of regional emissions will be needed for significant reductions of ozone and fine particulate pollution in Beijing.
Maternal Positive Parenting Style Is Associated with Better Functioning in Hyperactive/Inattentive Preschool Children.

Many preschoolers are highly inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive; but only some are impaired in their functioning. Yet factors leading to functional impairment, above and beyond the severity of inattentive and hyperactive symptoms, have not been systematically examined. This study examined a model suggesting that after controlling for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom severity, child temperament is uniquely associated with parenting stress; that parenting stress affects parenting style, above and beyond child characteristics; that parenting style is related to the level of child impairment, above and beyond the effects of child symptoms, temperament, and parenting stress; and finally that parenting style moderates the relationship between ADHD symptom severity and child functioning. Child measures included parent- and teacher-rated ADHD symptom severity, teacher-rated temperament, and clinician-rated functioning in a sample of 138 inattentive/hyperactive preschoolers. Maternal self-ratings of parenting style and parenting stress were obtained. Analyses indicated that, after controlling for symptom severity, child temperament was related to maternal parenting stress, which was additionally related to both maternal parenting style and child functioning. Maternal positive parenting style moderated the relationship between ADHD symptom severity and child impairment, indicating that a positive parenting style plays a protective role in the functioning of hyperactive/inattentive preschoolers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
When actions speak volumes: The role of inferences about moral character in outrage over racial bigotry

Inferences about moral character may often drive outrage over symbolic acts of racial bigotry. Study 1 demonstrates a theoretically predicted dissociation between moral evaluations of an act and the person who carries out the act. Although Americans regarded the private use of a racial slur as a less blameworthy act than physical assault, use of a slur was perceived as a clearer indicator of poor moral character. Study 2 highlights the dynamic interplay between moral judgments of acts and persons, demonstrating that first making person judgments can bias subsequent act judgments. Privately defacing a picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. led to greater moral condemnation of the agent than of the act itself only when the behavior was evaluated first. When Americans first made character judgments, symbolically defacing a picture of the civil rights leader was significantly more likely to be perceived as an immoral act. These studies support a person-centered account of outrage over bigotry and demonstrate that moral evaluations of acts and persons converge and diverge under theoretically meaningful circumstances.
First and Fourth Grade Boys' and Girls' Preferences For and Perceptions About Narrative and Expository Text

This investigation focused on elementary-aged (first and fourth grade) children's individual preferences for narrative and expository text and perceptions of what their same-aged peers would like to read. Preferences and perceptions of text were examined through the lenses of social constructivist and engaged reading theories. The overall purpose of this study was to examine elementary students' preferences for and perceptions about narrative and expository text. This study was a systematic replication and extension of Chapman, Filipenko, McTavish, and Shapiro's (2007) research in British Columbia with first graders. Two individually administered book preference (Open and Closed) tasks and interviews were administered to 84 students. Findings revealed gender and grade level profiles in terms of preferences, perceptions, and rationales for their book choices. As expected, both first and fourth grade boys demonstrated a strong preference for expository text, however, the fourth grade boys also showed a growing preference for narrative text as well. In contrast, both first and fourth grade girls demonstrated a strong preference for both narrative and expository text. For both boys and girls, book topic and pictures/illustrations were the two top categories that drew the children's interest and resulted in the most conversations. Results are discussed in light of implications for instruction, assessment, and future research.
Tenure and academic freedom: Prospects and constraints

In our target article, we took the position that tenure conveys many important benefits but that its original justification – fostering academic freedom – is not one of them. Here we respond to various criticisms of our study as well as to proposals to remedy the current state of affairs. Undoubtedly, more research is needed to confirm and extend our findings, but the most reasonable conclusion remains the one we offered – that the original rationale for tenure is poorly served by the current system as practiced at top-ranked colleges and universities.
Teacher Evaluation, Performance-Related Pay, and Constructivist Instruction

Using statewide longitudinal teacher survey data collected in 2009 and 2010, this study examined the characteristics of teacher evaluation used to determine performance-related pay (PRP), and the association between PRP and improvement in the practice of constructivist instruction. The study found that 10.9% of middle school mathematics teachers in Missouri received PRP in 2009 and the average amount was US$1,463. The teachers were mainly evaluated by principals who conducted classroom observations and held face-to-face meetings to assess their teaching practice and professional development activities. After controlling for the background characteristics, this study found a modest yet positive association between PRP and improvement in teacher practice of constructivist instruction from 2009 to 2010.
Competitive Goal Orientations, Quality, and Stability in Gifted and Other Adolescents' Friendships

Competitive goal orientations were rated by self, peers, and teachers for 38 gifted- and 38 regular-program, same-sex, friendship dyads (19 female and 19 male) from grades 7 and 8 (N = 152). Gifted dyads were reassessed on friendship quality and stability at the end of the school year and after the summer. Gifted students were more task-oriented and comparison students more other-referenced. Task-orientation was related to fewer friendship conflicts, more friendly competition, and, for gifted students, greater friendship stability. Being other-referenced was related to negative friendship qualities and unstable friendships regardless of sex, grade, or program, and instability in gifted female students' friendships. Friends reporting positive friendship qualities at the end of the school year more likely remained friends over the summer. Comparison group friendships had more numerous positive qualities (companionship, help, security, closeness) than those of gifted adolescents. Competitive goal orientation rather than competition itself affects friendship success.
Neural correlates of self‐injurious behavior in Prader–Willi syndrome

Individuals with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), a genetic disorder caused by mutations to the q11‐13 region on chromosome 15, commonly show severe skin‐picking behaviors that can cause open wounds and sores on the body. To our knowledge, however, no studies have examined the potential neural mechanisms underlying these behaviors. Seventeen individuals with PWS, aged 6–25 years, who showed severe skin‐picking behaviors, were recruited and scanned on a 3T scanner. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while episodes of skin picking were recorded on an MRI‐safe video camera. Three participants displayed skin picking continuously throughout the scan, three participants did not display skin picking, and the data for one participant evidenced significant B0 inhomogeneity that could not be corrected. The data for the remaining 10 participants (six male, four female) who displayed a sufficient number of picking and nonpicking episodes were subjected to fMRI analysis. Results showed that regions involved in interoceptive, motor, attention, and somatosensory processing were activated during episodes of skin‐picking behavior compared with nonpicking episodes. Scores obtained on the Self‐Injury Trauma scale were significantly negatively correlated with mean activation within the right insula and left precentral gyrus. These data indicate that itch and pain processes appear to underlie skin‐picking behaviors in PWS, suggesting that interoceptive disturbance may contribute to the severity and maintenance of abnormal skin‐picking behaviors in PWS. Implications for treatments are discussed. Hum Brain Mapp 36:4135–4143, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dimensions of executive functioning: Evidence from children

This study investigated dimensions of executive functioning in 8- to 13-year-old children. Three tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), two tasks from the NEPSY battery and some additional executive function (EF) tests were administered to 108 children. In line with earlier work, modest correlations among EF measures were obtained (r < .4). Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded three interrelated factors, which resembled those obtained by Miyake et al. (2000) and which were—with some reservations—labelled Working Memory (WM), Inhibition and Shifting. Age correlated with performance on most individual EF measures as well as Shifting and WM. The present findings are in agreement with contemporary views as to the simultaneous unity and diversity of EFs.
The Effect of Harvest on Forest Soil Carbon: A Meta-Analysis

Forest soils represent a substantial portion of the terrestrial carbon (C) pool, and changes to soil C cycling are globally significant not only for C sequestration but also for sustaining forest productivity and ecosystem services. To quantify the effect of harvesting on soil C, we used meta-analysis to examine a database of 945 responses to harvesting collected from 112 publications from around the world. Harvesting reduced soil C, on average, by 11.2% with 95% CI [14.1%, 8.5%]. There was substantial variation between responses in different soil depths, with greatest losses occurring in the O horizon (−30.2%). Much smaller but still significant losses (−3.3%) occurred in top soil C pools (0–15 cm depth). In very deep soil (60–100+ cm), a significant loss of 17.7% of soil C in was observed after harvest. However, only 21 of the 945 total responses examined this depth, indicating a substantial need for more research in this area. The response of soil C to harvesting varies substantially between soil orders, with greater losses in Spodosol and Ultisol orders and less substantial losses in Alfisols and Andisols. Soil C takes several decades to recover following harvest, with Spodosol and Ultisol C recovering only after at least 75 years. The publications in this analysis were highly skewed toward surface sampling, with a maximum sampling depth of 36 cm, on average. Sampling deep soil represents one of the best opportunities to reduce uncertainty in the understanding of the response of soil C to forest harvest.
Profiling Teaching and Learning Needs in Beginning Literacy Instruction: The Case of Children in “Low Decile” Schools in New Zealand

Children in low decile schools in New Zealand, most of whom are from Maori and Pacific Islands families achieve significantly lower levels in school reading and writing than other children. Claims have been made about their learning needs. This paper argues that, among other sources of information, decisions about effective teaching should be based on knowledge of children's development under particular instructional conditions. This paper examines the rates and levels of learning particular components of reading and writing over the first year of literacy instruction. A cross sectional design was used to establish profiles from 346 children (5.0-year-olds, n =111; 5.6-year-olds, n = 135; 6.0-year-olds, n =100) in 12 schools in South Auckland, New Zealand. Despite low entry levels in conventional literacy knowledge and receptive and expressive English language skills, children made nationally expected progress in letter and phonological knowledge. Markedly lower than expected progress occurred for word recognition, writing words, and text reading. The profiles indicate that effective literacy instruction needs to enhance the understanding of and production of texts through early and focussed instruction.