Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of children’s fitness testing

This review has been prompted by concerns and anecdotal stories about low levels of fitness amongst today’s young people and the possible consequences of this for their current and future health. Solutions to the ‘problem’ have included proposals to fitness test children and to use this information to improve their health status. While there is no doubt that young people’s health and fitness are important issues, the authors consider it equally important that policy-makers and practitioners work from an informed base in order that any actions taken are relevant, meaningful and effective. This article summarizes the literature on children’s fitness testing which was reviewed as part of a feasibility study commissioned by the National Assembly for Wales conducted between October 2003 and March 2004. The specific aim of the study was to determine if there was a need and whether it was cost effective and practical to carry out a research project investigating the fitness levels of Welsh children. A key aspect of the methodology included a comprehensive review of the relevant literature to establish the key findings and issues associated with the fitness testing of children. A worldwide literature search (of papers published in the English language) was carried out using metalib (a multi-database research tool). This article focuses only on the main and consistent findings, trends and issues associated with: physical fitness and the associated health benefits in children, the physical fitness status of children, monitoring children’s physical fitness, and the role of children’s fitness testing in physical activity and fitness promotion.
Learning by Doing and Multiproduction Effects Over the Life Cycle: Evidence from the Semiconductor Industry

In this study we derive a structural econometric model of learning by doing with multiproduct competition from a dynamic oligopoly game. We show the importance to account for multiproduction effects through product differentiation when measuring learning by doing. Using quarterly firm-level data for the dynamic random access memory semiconductor industry, we provide evidence that accounting for multiproduction results in lower learning effects and firms behaving more competitive in the product market. We can confirm that firms follow intertemporal production plans for investing in future cost reductions. We also find that learning effects are higher at the beginning of the life cycle.
Revista Paulista De Pediatria Factors Associated with Short Sleep Duration in Adolescents Palavras-chave Factors Associated with Short Sleep Duration in Adolescents Introduction

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with short sleep duration in adolescents from Maravilha-Santa Catarina (SC), southern Brazil. Methods: The sample consisted of 516 adolescents aged 10-19 years of both genders. Issues associated with short sleep duration and difficulty falling asleep, chronotype, daytime sleepi-ness, physical activity, sedentary behavior and weight status were investigated. Results: The prevalence of short sleep duration (<8h on school days) was 53.6%. Adolescents aged 17-19 years showed a 2.05-fold (95%CI: 1.20-3.50) greater prevalence of short sleep duration than those aged 10-12 years. The ones studying in morning and evening shifts had a higher prevalence of short sleep duration compared to those in the afternoon shift. Older age and school shift were the main factors associated with short sleep duration. Conclusions: Adolescents from Maravilha showed high prevalence of short sleep duration, and older adolescents that studied in the morning and evening shifts showed reduced sleep. Fatores associados à baixa duração do sono em adolescentes Resumo Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência e os fatores associados à baixa duração do sono de adoles-centes do município de Maravilha (SC), Brasil. Open Access sob a licença CC BY
The Politics of Intercountry Adoption: Explaining Variation in the Legal Requirements of Sub-Saharan African Countries

What determines whether a country has more or less restrictive policies regarding intercountry adoption? Despite the growing importance of intercountry adoption as a political issue, and as an explicitly human face of globalization, there is virtually no systematic empirical work on intercountry adoption. We introduce a measure of the restrictiveness of the adoption laws in Sub-Saharan African countries and test possible explanations for the variations in legal restrictions on intercountry adoption among these countries. Factors that are commonly cited as explanations for the restrictiveness of intercountry adoption policies do not hold up very well in our assessment. Openness to adoption is not determined by the severity of the orphan crisis or the AIDS crisis within the sending country, nor are democratic countries more responsive to the needs of their orphans. Additionally, African signatories to the Hague Convention, which aimed to increase transparency and accountability in intercountry adoption, tend to be among the most restrictive. On the other hand, a stronger connection with the global economy is associated with greater openness to intercountry adoption. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for orphans and for intercountry adoption.
[The Sikh Diaspora: The Search for Statehood]

This book offers an overview of the Sikh diaspora, exploring the relationship between home and host states and between migrant and indigenous communities. The book considers the implications of history and politics of the Sikh diaspora for nationality, citizenship and sovereignity. ; The text should serve as a supplementary text for undergraduates and postgraduates on courses in race, ethnicity and international migration within sociology, politics, international relations, Asian history, and human geography. In particular, it should serve as a core text for Sikh/Punjab courses within Asian studies.
Las aptitudes que se asocian al declive de la inteligencia: evidencias a partir del WAIS-III

Las puntuaciones en los tests de inteligencia declinan con la edad, aunque el grado de declive depende de la naturaleza, fluida o cristalizada, de los tests. Sin embargo, pocas investigaciones han abordado la pregunta de que aptitudes cognitivas son responsables de tal declive. El presente estudio se centra en esta cuestion. La combinacion del analisis factorial jerarquico (procedimiento Schmid-Leiman) y el metodo de vectores correlacionados permite responder a esta pregunta. Ambos procedimientos han sido utilizados para analizar la muestra de estandarizacion espanola del WAIS-III. Los resultados muestran que tanto g como el factor manipulativo son responsables del declive en las puntuaciones. El factor verbal (Gc) no da cuenta de tal declive. Por lo tanto, estos resultados suponen una matizacion del modelo de aptitudes vulnerables y sostenibles propuesto por Horn. Abilities that explain the Intelligence decline: Evidence from the WAIS-III. Intelligence test’s scores decline with age, but such decline change for fluid and crystallized tests. However, little effort has been put to investigate what cognitive abilities are responsible for such decline. The present paper focuses on that issue. A hierarchical factor analysis (performed through the Schmid-Leiman transformation) followed by the method of correlated vectors let us to answer that question. Both procedures were applied to the Spanish standardization sample of the WAIS-III. Results show that g and performance factors are responsible for the decrease on the scores. The verbal factor (Gc) does not account for such decline. Therefore, results draw a more fined-grained view about the Horn’s model distinguishing vulnerable and sustainable cognitive abilities.
Relationship between CCR5 density and viral load after discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy.

To the Editor: Discontinuation of combined antiretroviral therapy (CART) improves virological control and specific immunity in some persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), whereas in others it results in rapid viral rebound and decrease in the antiviral cytotoxic T cell responses below the pretherapeutic level. The host factors responsible for these opposite consequences are largely unknown. We have recently reported that the mean number of CCR5 coreceptors at the surface of CD4 T cells (CCR5 density) is logarithmically correlated with viral load and disease progression during HIV-1 infection. We have explained this link by showing in vitro that CCR5 density strongly determines the efficiency of HIV-1 life cycle, particularly at the reverse transcription stage. Herein we report a test of the hypothesis that CCR5 density, which is stable over time in a given individual but varies among individuals, might determine the intensity of viral rebound after cessation of CART. Methods. We used quantitative flow cytometry to measure CCR5 density on peripheral blood CD4 T cells of all chronically infected patients in our clinic who stopped antiretroviral multitherapy in an 18-month period because of physical or psychological drug intolerance (8 women and 15 men). All had CD4 T cell counts ranging from 300 to 1739 and HIV-1 RNA plasma levels below 200 copies/mL. We also measured virus load at day 30 after discontinuation of CART. Results. The FIGURE shows a strong logarithmic relation (r=0.644, P=.001) between CCR5 expression and plasma level of HIV-1 RNA. Interestingly, beyond a threshold of 8000 CCR5 molecules per CD4 T cell, virus load rebounded above 100000 copies/mL. Comment. These results emphasize the notion that CCR5 density is related to in vivo virus production and may explain why virus loads before CART and after cessation of CART are comparable. Moreover, they suggest CCR5 density as a predictive factor of the effect of treatment interruption, and emphasize the possible therapeutic potential of agents that would antagonize CCR5.
Characterization of multilayer gate stacks by multi-phonon transient trap spectroscopy

An improved model for charge injection via inelastic tunneling in multilayer gate stacks is used to extract the trap distribution in the band gap of silicon nitride based nonvolatile memories. The new model allows the extraction of the trap distribution from program and discharge transients. We show that the trap distribution in the interface region of the gate stack has a large influence on the discharge behavior. The determined trap distribution is compared to the elastic TSCIS extraction method. Our model enables the simulation of discharge transients directly after program stress.
Correction for the erroneous compensation of anterior segment birefringence with the scanning laser polarimeter for glaucoma diagnosis.

PURPOSE To evaluate whether erroneous compensation for anterior segment retardation can be estimated and used to correct peripapillary (PP) retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) retardation measurements. METHODS Retardation measurements (for the 780-nm wavelength), given as RNFL thickness by the scanning laser polarimeter, were obtained at the macula and PP retina in 45 eyes of 45 normal subjects and 53 eyes of 53 patients with early glaucoma. The correlation of macula and PP retardation was assessed. The normal range for RNFL retardation was defined as 97.5th minus 2.5th percentile (normal subjects). This was calculated for uncorrected PP RNFL retardation and for PP RNFL retardation corrected by retardation measurements taken in the macula (analysis 1) and in the temporal aspect of the PP measurement annulus (analysis 2). Further ranges were defined at different percentile cutoffs, and normal and glaucomatous eyes were classified as abnormal if retardation measurements were below each cutoff. The accuracy of classification by uncorrected and corrected measurements was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Uncorrected and corrected RNFL retardation was correlated with visual field mean deviation (MD). RESULTS PP retardation correlated significantly with of macular retardation in normal (r(2) = 0.71, P < 0.000) and glaucomatous (r(2) = 0.41, P < 0.000) eyes. The normal range for uncorrected PP retardation was 25.4 degrees and for corrected retardation, 18.0 degrees (analysis 1) and 14.6 degrees (analysis 2), a reduction of 29% and 43%, respectively. For a specificity of 85%, the sensitivity to identify glaucomatous eyes of uncorrected and corrected (analyses 1 and 2) retardation was 26%, 55%, and 66%, respectively. Corrected PP retardation measurements correlated better with visual field MD (analysis 1: r(2) = 0.21; analysis 2: r(2) = 0.18) than did uncorrected measurements (r(2) = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Erroneously corrected anterior segment birefringence significantly affects PP RNFL retardation measurements. Retardation arising from the cornea-corneal compensator interaction can be partially estimated from the macula and temporal aspect of the PP measurement annulus, allowing correction of PP RNFL retardation. This provides a narrower normal range and greater sensitivity for glaucoma diagnosis.
The Influence of Contextual Factors on Afro-American and Euro-American Children's Performance: Effects of Movement Opportunity 2nd Music

Abstract The present study sought to further establish that contextual factors informed by certain postulated cultural experiences could influence performance on a learning task. Towards this end, low income Afro-American and Euro-American children learned to pair pictures in an acquisition context that allowed for them to coordinate movement with music (High Movement Expressive [HME]) and in an acquisition context which allowed for little movement opportunity and no music (Low Movement Expressive [LME]). Children were subsequently tested For picture pair retention in a context where music was present or in a context where music was absent. The findings revealed that Afro-American children's tested performance was superior with the HME acquisition context, while Euro-American children's performance was superior with the LME context. In addition, music present at testing context seemed to have an independent enhancing effect only on Afro-American children's performance. The cultural and educational implica.
Teaching Models in the Use of Analogies as a Resource in the Science Classroom

The present work discusses, firstly, different dimensions that characterize the use of analogies in the classroom. Foremost among these are the pupil’s level of activity and the degree of monitoring carried out by the teacher. Secondly, the routines declared by a group of science teachers (n = 73), when they described their classroom activity in using analogies, are analysed. It was found that most of the teachers corresponded to traditional models for the use of analogies, or, in the best of cases, to models based on meaningful learning by transmission/reception of previously elaborated knowledge. Finally, some implications for teaching and teacher education are discussed.
Exploring Expectations of Nonprofit Management Capabilities

Management capabilities have been widely researched in the private and public sectors, yet there is less evidence relating to the nonprofit sector. Increasing pressures to balance the demands of organizational values with business performance in this sector leads to a focus on the managerial capabilities required to meet these expectations. This article reports an exploratory study of capability expectations of managers within an Australian nonprofit organization. Using semistructured interviews, data were collected from 21 managers across three hierarchical levels. Findings indicate that while there is some overlap with managerial requirements in the private and public sectors, there are some unique aspects of nonprofit operations which warrant further investigation. Specifically, there was an emphasis on personal knowledge and experience (i.e., self-awareness, discipline, knowledge, and strategic thinking) and having a commitment to the nonprofit sector and values of the organization. Expectations also varied depending on the level of management within the organization.
Preoperative Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Morbidly Obese Patients

In the western world, obesity is considered a key health problem. It has been estimated that more than two thirds of North Americans are overweight or obese and almost 34% of adults and 15% to 20% of children and adolescents of the US population are obese. Obesity has long been recognized as a predecessor of morbidity and premature mortality. It is frequently associated with a higher incidence of hypertension, lethal cardiac dysrhythmia, ischemic heart disease, and premature coronary death. Other related medical problems include hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, gall bladder disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, stroke, degenerative joint disease, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In addition to a poor quality of life; obesity is associated with hormonal changes that can lead to an increased likelihood of malignant tumors. Uterine and breast tumors have been documented in obese females. Similarly, a higher incidence of renal and esophageal carcinoma is reported in obese males compared to the normal weight population. Data showed that obesity was responsible for 365,000 preventable deaths in 2000. Given the increasing risk with comorbidity, the standard definition of morbid obesity was modified to incorporate patients of body mass index (BMI)Z35 kg/m with concomitant obesity-related disease. One of the major health care expenditures in the coming 2 decades will be the treatment of metabolic disease associated with obesity. With the increased life expectancy and
Essays in empirical corporate fin ance: social networks, M&A, and fin ancial distress

This thesis studies a range of topics in empirical corporate finance, and consists of three essays. The first essay is sole-authored and is titled ‘The Value of Social Networks during Periods of Distress. ’ The second essay ‘The Role of Investment Banker Directors in M&A: Can Experts Help? ’ is a joint work with Feng Jiang, Erik Lie, and Ke Yang. The third essay is titled ‘Acquisitions of Financially Distressed Firms: An Empirical Analysis’ and is coauthored with Feng Jiang. In the first essay, I examine the impact of social networks during (i) a financial crisis, (ii) industry downturns, and (iii) periods when firms are in financial distress. I find that socially well-connected firms exhibit better performance during the financial crisis of 2007-2009. Well-connected firms have better access to debt financing during the crisis, and this is especially true among financially constrained firms. During industry downturns, firms with more social connections also perform better. When firms become severely financially distressed, I find that personal connections to lenders reduce the probability of filing for bankruptcy and increase the likelihood of getting Debtor-inPossession financing if they nevertheless have to file. Overall, the results suggest that social networks benefit firms in times of distress. In the second essay, we examine how directors with investment banking experience affect firms’ acquisition behavior. We find that firms have a higher probability of acquisition when an investment banker is a director. Furthermore, acquirers with investment banker directors on the board have significantly higher announcement returns, especially if the deal is relatively large and the bankers’ experience and/or network is current. We also find evidence that investment banker directors help reduce
Support Vector Machines for Uplift Modeling

Uplift modeling is a branch of Machine Learning which aims to predict not the class itself, but the difference between the class variable behavior in two groups: treatment and control. Objects in the treatment group have been subject to some action, while objects in the control group have not. By including the control group it is possible to build a model which predicts the causal effect of the action for a given individual. In this paper we present a variant of Support Vector Machines designed specifically for uplift modeling. The SVM optimization task has been reformulated to explicitly model the difference in class behavior between two datasets. The model predicts whether a given object will have a positive, neutral or negative response to a given action, and by tuning a parameter of the model the analyst is able to influence the relative proportion of neutral predictions and thus the sensitivity of the model. We adapt the dual coordinate descent method to efficiently solve our optimization task. Finally the proposed method is compared experimentally with other uplift modeling approaches.
Descending projections and excitation during fictive swimming in Xenopus embryos: Neuroanatomy and lesion experiments

We describe the distribution of “descending” interneurons in late Xenopus laevis embryos after retrograde filling with horseradish peroxidaze via their ipsilateral, descending axons in the spinal cord. These multipolar neurons, with dendrites spread throughout the marginal zone, form a longitudinal column extending from midtrunk spinal cord into the brainstem to the level of the vagus. In the hindbrain these neurons are part of the uncrossed reticulospinal projection. They are most numerous in the caudal brainstem, their density falling by half at the eighth postotic segment.
Police Involvement in Counter-Terrorism and Public Attitudes Towards the Police in Israel--1998-2007

Public attitudes towards the police are considered one of the important outcomes of policing in democratic countries. However, it is not clear how policing terrorism may affect these evaluations. The ‘Rally Effect’ provides a context for examining this question, and suggests that when faced with severe terrorism threats, public perceptions of the police will rise in the short term but decline over time. Utilizing this framework, this article examines fluctuations in attitudes of Jewish adults in Israel towards the police over the past decade, within the context of legitimacy and procedural justice. The results lend support for the hypothesized model, and suggest that in addition to police conduct, public attitudes toward the police may be influenced by larger social forces.
WISC-III Verbal Item Invariance across Samples of Deaf and Hearing Children of Similar Measured Ability

Invariance of item difficulty estimates on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III; Wechsler, 1991) Verbal scale was investigated across samples of deaf children and younger hearing children of similar ability. The samples consisted of 110 deaf children who use sign language and subsamples of younger hearing children from the WISC-III standardization sample. The samples were of similar ability as measured by total raw scores and Rasch mean logit ability estimates. Items were calibrated using a Rasch Model. Methods for detecting differential item functioning (DIF), including standardized differences and anchor item fit statistics, were used to examine invariance. Numerous items were found to function differently across groups, indicating that the item level performance of the deaf children was not characteristic of younger hearing children. Thus, Verbal subtest scores should not be used as an indication of delayed verbal ability, and the subtest scores of deaf and hearing children should not be compared.