Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Academic Self-Concepts in Ability Streams: Considering Domain Specificity and Same-Stream Peers

The study examined the relations between academic achievement and self-concepts in a sample of 1,067 seventh-grade students from 3 core ability streams in Singapore secondary education. Although between-stream differences in achievement were large, between-stream differences in academic self-concepts were negligible. Within each stream, levels of students’ achievement and their self-concepts were systematically related only when considered in the matching academic domain and the appropriate level of specificity. In English, lower achievers in the high-ability stream tended to underestimate their achievement, whereas higher achievers in the low-ability stream tended to overestimate their achievement. This pattern, however, was not evident in mathematics and the general academic domain. Taken together, the findings highlight the importance of considering the interplay of domain specificity and same-stream peers in academic self-concepts.
Mixed Anxiety Depression Should Not Be Included in DSM-5

Abstract Subthreshold anxiety and subthreshold depressive symptoms often co-occur in the general population and in primary care. Based on their associated significant distress and impairment, a psychiatric classification seems justified. To enable classification, mixed anxiety depression (MAD) has been proposed as a new diagnostic category in DSM-5. In this report, we discuss arguments against the classification of MAD. More research is needed before reifying a new category we know so little about. Moreover, we argue that in patients with MAD symptoms and a history of an anxiety or depressive disorder, symptoms should be labeled as part of the course trajectories of these disorders, rather than calling it a different diagnostic entity. In patients with incident co-occurring subthreshold anxiety and subthreshold depression, subthreshold categories of both anxiety and depression could be classified to maintain a consistent classification system at both threshold and subthreshold levels.
Truth table task: Working memory load, latencies, and perceived relevance

The aim of the present study is to uncover the relation between cognitive ability and the answer patterns yielded by the truth table task. According to the Classical Mental Models Theory, people with high working memory capacity answer according to two-valued or “logical” answer patterns. The Suppositional Theory and the Revised Mental Models Theory predict that the answer patterns given by the most intelligent ones are three-valued or “defective”. Correlations are examined, and in three experiments it is tested with a dual task paradigm whether a differential working memory load alters participants' answer patterns. A positive correlation is observed between cognitive ability and three-valued answer patterns, but no effect of the working memory load manipulation is revealed. With an inspection of the classification times we shed light on the processes underlying truth table judgements. We conclude that the Revised Mental Models Theory provides the best account for our results.
The moderating role of individual‐difference variables in compensation research

Purpose – To examine the influence of company‐imposed reward systems on the motivation levels of salespeople.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 214 business‐to‐business salespeople. In order to assure the adequacy of the survey instrument, several salespeople were recruited to “pretest” the questionnaire. To test the potential moderating influence of career stage on pay mix and valence, expectancy, and instrumentality estimates, a split‐group analysis was performed. To test the moderating hypotheses for risk, we used two‐step regression models in which the dependent measures (i.e. valence, expectancy, and instrumentality) were first regressed on the predictor variables as main effects, and then regressed on the multiplicative interaction term along with the main effects.Findings – Support was found for many of the hypotheses. In particular, individual‐level variables such as career stage and risk preferences moderate the relationship between pay mix and valence for the reward, expectan.
A Preliminary Investigation of Second‐ and Fourth‐Grade African American Students' Performance on the Gray Oral Reading Test—Fourth Edition

Purpose Research has established that African American (AA) children are lagging behind other children in their reading skills. A number of factors have been proposed to account for the literacy gap; however no single factor has entirely explained this disparity. This investigation examined the appropriateness of the Gray Oral Reading Test—Fourth Edition (GORT–4) for identifying the oral reading proficiency skills of African American English (AAE)-speaking children in the second and fourth grades by comparing their reading skills with their levels of dialect usage as measured by the Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation-Screening Test (DELV-ST). Method The DELV-ST and the GORT–4 were used to assess 33 typically developing AA students in second and fourth grades. The scores were analyzed to evaluate associations between the two measures. Results Results of the DELV-ST indicated that the majority of the participants were AAE-speaking children. The participants also scored below the mean for the normative sample on the GORT–4. A statistically significant correlation was found between the participants' DELV-ST scores (higher scores represent less variation from mainstream American English; lower scores represent more variation and higher AAE usage) and participants' performance on the GORT–4 comprehension subtest, as well as a significant correlation between their grade level and performance on the GORT–4, in particular between the rate subtest and grade. Findings are discussed in terms of using the GORT–4 with caution by professionals in determining the reading skills of AA children who speak AAE. There could be some value in using the GORT with AAE-speaking children even though they may score lower on it.
"When You Call Me That, Smile!" How Norms for Politeness, Interaction Styles, and Aggression Work Together in Southern Culture*

Norms for politeness may actually promote violence in the US. South. Whereas northerners may have behavioral rituals in which they give and receive small doses of hostility to regulate conflict, southerners seem not to. In two laboratory experiments, southerners were less clear than northerners in both sending and receiving signs of hostility. In Study 1, southerners initially showed little reaction to an annoying confederate only to end with bursts of anger far more sudden and more severe than northerners ever showed. In Study 2, as subjects watched objectively dangerous situations unfold, southerners were less sensitive to cues of hostility than were northerners. And in Study 3, consistent with southern politeness norms inhibiting effective conflict resolution, it was shown that friendly, helpful cities had different patterns of argumentrelated violence in the North and in the South. Results suggest a cycle in which norms for politeness and for violence can reinforce each other.
Reverse‐Engineering Transcriptional Modules from Gene Expression Data

“Module networks” are a framework to learn gene regulatory networks from expression data using a probabilistic model in which coregulated genes share the same parameters and conditional distributions. We present a method to infer ensembles of such networks and an averaging procedure to extract the statistically most significant modules and their regulators. We show that the inferred probabilistic models extend beyond the dataset used to learn the models.
Stable and Quadratic Optimal Control for TS Fuzzy-Model-Based Time-Delay Control Systems

For the finite-horizon optimal control problem of the Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy-model-based time-delay control systems, by integrating the delay-dependent stabilizability condition, the shifted-Chebyshev-series approach (SCSA), and the hybrid Taguchi-genetic algorithm (HTGA), an integrative method is presented to design the stable and quadratic optimal parallel distributed compensation (PDC) controllers. In this paper, the delay-dependent stabilizability condition is proposed in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Based on the SCSA, an algebraic algorithm only involving the algebraic computation is derived in this paper for solving the TS fuzzy-model-based time-delay feedback dynamic equations. In addition, by using the SCSA, the stable and quadratic optimal PDC control problem for the TS fuzzy-model-based time-delay control systems is replaced by a static parameter optimization problem represented by the algebraic equations with constraint of the LMI-based stabilizability condition, thus greatly simplifying the stable and optimal PDC control design problem. The computational complexity for both differential and integral in the stable and optimal PDC control design of the original dynamic systems may therefore be reduced considerably. Then, for the static constrained optimization problem, the HTGA is employed to find the stable and quadratic optimal PDC controllers of the TS fuzzy-model-based time-delay control systems. A design example of the stable and quadratic optimal PDC controllers for the continuous-stirred-tank-reactor system is given to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed integrative approach.
Inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma growth by adenovirus-mediated expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase COOH-27 terminal polypeptide in mice

A 27-kDa C-terminal fragment of human telomerase reverse transcriptase, hTERTC27, has previously been reported to inhibit the growth and tumorigenicity of HeLa human cervical cancer cells and U87-MG human glioblastoma multiforme cells. However, the antitumor effects of hTERTC27 in hepatoma and its underlying mechanisms are unclear. In the current study, the therapeutic effect of hTERTC27, mediated by recombinant adenovirus, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was explored in vitro and in vivo to investigate the possible mechanisms. The results indicated that recombinant adenovirus carrying hTERTC27 (rAdv-hTERTC27) effectively inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis of the Hepa 1–6 HCC cells. Dendritic cells transduced with rAdv-hTERTC27 were highly effective at inducing antigen-specific T cell proliferation and increasing the activated cytotoxicity of T cells against Hepa 1–6 cells. HCC was inhibited significantly when a single dose of 5×107 pfu rAdv-hTERTC27 was administered intravenously. In summary, the results of this study demonstrated that rAdv-hTERTC27 may serve as a reagent for intravenous administration when combined with telomerase-based gene therapy and immunotherapy for cancer.
The phylogeography of Y chromosome binary haplotypes and the origins of modern human populations

Although molecular genetic evidence continues to accumulate that is consistent with a recent common African ancestry of modern humans, its ability to illuminate regional histories remains incomplete. A set of unique event polymorphisms associated with the non‐recombining portion of the Y‐chromosome (NRY) addresses this issue by providing evidence concerning successful migrations originating from Africa, which can be interpreted as subsequent colonizations, differentiations and migrations overlaid upon previous population ranges. A total of 205 markers identified by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), together with 13 taken from the literature, were used to construct a parsimonious genealogy. Ancestral allelic states were deduced from orthologous great ape sequences. A total of 131 unique haplotypes were defined which trace the microevolutionary trajectory of global modern human genetic diversification. The genealogy provides a detailed phylogeographic portrait of contemporary global population structure that is emblematic of human origins, divergence and population history that is consistent with climatic, paleoanthropological and other genetic knowledge.
Germination of spores from Clostridium botulinum B-aphis and Ba410

The germination of spores from Clostridium botulinum B-aphis and Ba410 was examined. In a complex medium, heat activation of spores from both strains doubled the germination rates and was required for germination in the presence of 2% NaCl. In a defined medium (CTB [D. B. Rowley and F. Feeherry, J. Bacteriol. 104:1151-1157, 1970]), the parent strain B-aphis germinated at a rate of 0.77% min-1 in the absence of NaCl and was not affected by 2% NaCl. A salt-tolerant derivative, strain Ba410, germinated at rates of 0.16% min-1 in CTB and 0.04% min-1 in CTB containing 2% NaCl. L-Alanine-triggered spores germinated faster than did L-cysteine-triggered spores from both strains. When both amino acids were present, B-aphis germinated rapidly in the absence of NaCl and had biphasic kinetics in the presence of NaCl. Strain Ba410 had biphasic kinetics in the absence of NaCl and germinated slowly with single-phase kinetics in the presence of NaCl. L-Alanine- and L-cysteine-triggered germinations were each inhibited by both D-alanine and D-cysteine, indicating a common germinant-binding site for both alanine and cysteine. Attempts to select for variants with amino acid-specific germinant-binding sites were unsuccessful. Differences in the germination kinetics of both strains could not be explained by ultrastructural differences. Transmission electron micrographs revealed striking similarities between the strains.
Breast Cancer Risk in Relation to Alcohol Consumption and BRCA Gene Mutations – A Case‐Only Study of Gene‐Environment Interaction

Abstract: The variable penetrance of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes suggests that other genetic or environmental factors may interact with these mutations to modify breast cancer risk. The objective of this study was to measure departures from multiplicative effects of alcohol consumption and BRCA gene mutations. A cohort of French‐Canadian breast cancer patients was tested for BRCA gene mutations and completed a food frequency questionnaire. The case‐only odds ratio (COR) was calculated. A total of 857 women, including 10 BRCA1 and 33 BRCA2 mutation carriers, participated in the study. No significant interaction between alcohol consumption and BRCA1 mutations was detected, although the interaction with wine consumption suggested a sub‐multiplicative effect (COR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.08–1.81). Consumption of alcohol other than wine interacted significantly with BRCA2 mutations (COR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.03–4.49). Consumption of wine may protect against BRCA1‐associated tumors, while women with BRCA2 mutations may be at greater risk of alcohol‐induced breast cancer.
Are we as good as we think? Observers' perceptions of indirect self‐presentation as a social influence tactic

Three studies tested whether indirect self‐presentation actually works as a social influence tactic in the eyes of other people—as prior research has shown that it works for the self—and, if so, whether it works to the same degree for others as it does for the self. Experiment 1 demonstrated that basking in reflected glory, an association with a positively viewed entity, did improve an audience's perceptions of the basker. Experiment 2 demonstrated that if the audience's view of the basking target changed, an identical basking strategy backfired and was perceived negatively by the audience. Experiment 3 further examined potential self–other differences in the effectiveness of indirect self‐presentation using a purportedly shared birthday association while directly comparing an observer's views to self‐views. The birthday association did change the observer's view but to a lesser degree than it changed the person's self‐views, suggesting a self–other asymmetry. Portions of this research are based on Seth Carter's Masters Thesis conducted under the direction of Lawrence Sanna. We thank thesis committee members Bruce Bartholow and Hart Blanton, Editor Anthony Pratkanis and anonymous reviewers, and the Imagination, Goals, and Affect (IGoA, or ego) laboratory group members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for their comments on this research. We also thank Michael Pote and Ryan Campbell for assistance with the data collection and coding.
The Logistics and Coordination of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immunoprophylaxis Use Among US Pediatric Specialists

This study was conducted to survey US pediatric specialists about administration of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis, communication patterns among physicians and parents, and barriers to access. Separate surveys were sent to neonatologists, pediatricians, pediatric pulmonologists, and pediatric cardiologists. Most physicians (≥93.5%) routinely recommended immunoprophylaxis to high-risk children. Most respondents (≥71.8%) reported that >50.0% of eligible infants and young children received each monthly dose throughout the RSV season, with the first dose most commonly administered before discharge from the birth hospitalization. To ensure receipt of subsequent doses, specialists frequently scheduled a follow-up visit at the end of the current appointment. All specialists reported insurance denials as the biggest obstacle to the administration of immunoprophylaxis to high-risk children. These findings may be used to improve adherence to immunoprophylaxis by enhancing education and physician-parent communications about severe RSV disease prevention, and by reducing known barriers to use of this preventive therapy.
Dynamic star formation in the massive DR21 filament

The formation of massive stars is a highly complex process in which it is not clear whether the star-forming gas is in global gravitational collapse or in an equilibrium state, supported by turbulence. By studying one of the most massive and dense star-forming regions in the Galaxy at a distance of less than 3 kpc, the filament containing the well-known sources DR21 and DR21(OH), we expect to find observational signatures that allow to discriminate between the two views. We use molecular line data from our 13CO 1-0, CS 2-1, and N2H+ 1-0 survey of the Cygnus X region obtained with the FCRAO and high-angular resolution observations of CO, CS, HCO+, N2H+, and H2CO, obtained with the IRAM 30m telescope. We observe a complex velocity field and velocity dispersion in the DR21 filament in which regions of highest column-density, i.e. dense cores, have a lower velocity dispersion than the surrounding gas and velocity gradients that are not (only) due to rotation. Infall signatures in optically thick line profiles of HCO+ and 12CO are observed along and across the whole DR21 filament. From modelling the observed spectra, we obtain a typical infall speed of 0.6 km/s and mass accretion rates of the order of a few 10^-3 Msun/yr for the two main clumps constituting the filament. These massive (4900 and 3300 Msun) clumps are both gravitationally contracting. All observed kinematic features in the DR21 filament can be explained if it is formed by the convergence of flows at large scales and is now in a state of global gravitational collapse. Whether this convergence of flows originated from self-gravity at larger scales or from other processes can not be settled with the present study. The observed velocity field and velocity dispersion are consistent with results from (magneto)-hydrodynamic simulations where the cores lie at the stagnation points of convergent turbulent flows.
A pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging study probing the interface of cognitive and emotional brain systems in pediatric bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE This functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated the effects of pharmacotherapy on brain function underlying affect dysregulation and cognitive function in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). METHOD Healthy controls (HC) (n=14; mean age =14.1 ± 2.4 years) and unmedicated PBD patients with manic or hypomanic episodes (n=17; mean age =14.3 ± 1.1 years) were matched on intelligence quotient (IQ) and demographic factors. The fMRI studies were performed at baseline and after 14 weeks, during which PBD patients were treated initially with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) followed by lamotrigine monotherapy. The pediatric affective color-matching task was used where subjects matched the color of a positive, negative, or neutral word with one of the two colored circles below in each of the trials. There were five blocks of each emotional word type, with 10 trials per block. RESULTS Behavioral data showed that the PBD group was modestly slower and less accurate than the HC, regardless of condition or treatment status. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal activity was reduced with treatment in the PBD group relative to the HC group during the negative versus neutral condition in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), right posterior cingulate gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule, but increased in left ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). Similarly, during the positive versus neutral condition, the PBD group, relative to HC, showed reduced activity in right DLPFC, precuneus, and inferior parietal lobule and increased activity in the right VMPFC. However, within the PBD group, there was treatment related decrease in VMPFC and DLPFC. Improvement on Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score significantly correlated with the decreased activity in VMPFC within the patient group. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacotherapy in PBD patients led to differential effort with persistently increased activity in the affective regions and decreased activity in the cognitive regions relative to HC, demonstrating altered mechanisms of affective and cognitive systems of brain function, regardless of symptom response.
Diversified Coherent Core Search on Multi-Layer Graphs

Mining dense subgraphs on multi-layer graphs is an interesting problem, which has witnessed lots of applications in practice. To overcome the limitations of the quasi-clique-based approach, we propose d-coherent core (d-CC), a new notion of dense subgraph on multi-layer graphs, which has several elegant properties. We formalize the diversified coherent core search (DCCS) problem, which finds k d-CCs that can cover the largest number of vertices. We propose a greedy algorithm with an approximation ratio of 1 - 1/e and two search algorithms with an approximation ratio of 1/4. The experiments verify that the search algorithms are faster than the greedy algorithm and produce comparably good results as the greedy algorithm in practice. As opposed to the quasi-clique-based approach, our DCCS algorithms can fast detect larger dense subgraphs that cover most of the quasi-clique-based results.
Processes and experiences of mutual support in professionally-led support groups for people with early-stage dementia

Participation in a support group is increasingly offered to those diagnosed with early-stage dementia; however, empirical data about such groups for this population remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the mutual support processes that occur in dementia support groups and how members perceive the groups. Eleven individuals from two support groups participated; three sessions of each group were videotaped and semi-structured interviews were conducted with individual members. Quantitative analysis of the videotapes indicated that only a minority of responses were classified as helping behaviours, and that facilitators played a highly active role in the group interactions. The interview data were analysed qualitatively; the themes identified related to aspects of the group that participants found helpful and unhelpful, and their perceptions of how the group operated. The findings have theoretical implications regarding the role of support groups in creating and maintaining social identities, as well as practical implications for how professionals might facilitate these groups.