Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Group Contingency Interventions

Group contingencies (GCs) vary in a variety of dimensions that may influence their efficacy and acceptability. This study evaluated the relative impact of four different GC types (independent, interdependent, dependent, and randomized) on classwide appropriate and disruptive student behaviors as well as how implementation of a teacher’s preferred contingency may enhance student behavioral outcomes. Three general education teachers and their students participated in the study. All four GCs resulted in reduced disruption and increased appropriate behavior across all three classrooms with no patterns of differentiation between contingency types. Teachers selected independent or dependent contingencies as their preferred reward system. Implementation of the preferred contingency resulted in further improvements in both classwide behaviors for all classes. Some evidence of generalization and maintenance was noted in all three classrooms.
Site-Selective Regulation of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor β Receptor Tyrosine Phosphorylation by T-Cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase

ABSTRACT The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) β receptor mediates mitogenic and chemotactic signals. Like other tyrosine kinase receptors, the PDGF β receptor is negatively regulated by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). To explore whether T-cell PTP (TC-PTP) negatively regulates the PDGF β receptor, we compared PDGF β receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in wild-type and TC-PTP knockout (ko) mouse embryos. PDGF β receptors were hyperphosphorylated in TC-PTP ko embryos. Fivefold-higher ligand-induced receptor phosphorylation was observed in TC-PTP ko mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) as well. Reexpression of TC-PTP partly abolished this difference. As determined with site-specific phosphotyrosine antibodies, the extent of hyperphosphorylation varied among different autophosphorylation sites. The phospholipase Cγ1 binding site Y1021, previously implicated in chemotaxis, displayed the largest increase in phosphorylation. The increase in Y1021 phosphorylation was accompanied by increased phospholipase Cγ1 activity and migratory hyperresponsiveness to PDGF. PDGF β receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in PTP-1B ko MEFs but not in PTPε ko MEFs was also higher than that in control cells. This increase occurred with a site distribution different from that seen after TC-PTP depletion. PDGF-induced migration was not increased in PTP-1B ko cells. In summary, our findings identify TC-PTP as a previously unrecognized negative regulator of PDGF β receptor signaling and support the general notion that PTPs display site selectivity in their action on tyrosine kinase receptors.
Influence of Time Pressure in a Simple Response Task, a Choice- by-Location Task, and the Simon Task

Examined the influence of strategy for a simple response task, a choice-by-location task, and the Simon task by varying time pressure in 11 Ss (mean age 28 yrs). Besides reaction time (RT) and accuracy, we measured response force and derived two measures from the event-related EEG potential to form an index for attentional orienting (posterior contralateral negativity: PCN) and the start of motor activation (the lateralized readiness potential: LRP). For the choice-by- location task and the Simon task, effects of time pressure were found on the response-locked LRP, but not on the onset of the PCN and the stimulus-locked LRP. Thus, strategy influences processing after the start of motor activation in choice tasks. A small effect of time pressure was found on the peak latency of the PCN in the Simon task, which suggests that time pressure may affect attentional orienting. In the simple response task, time pressure reduced the amplitude of the PCN. This finding suggests that strategy affects attentional orienting to stimuli when these stimuli are not highly relevant. Finally, the effect of time pressure on RT was much larger in the simple response task than in the other tasks, which may be ascribed to the possibility of preparing the required response in the simple response task.
Dimensionality reduction using a novel neural network based feature extraction method

A neural network based method for feature extraction is proposed. The method achieves dimensionality reduction of input vectors used for supervised learning problems. Combinations of the original features are formed that maximize the sensitivity of the network's outputs with respect to variations of its inputs. The method exhibits some similarity to principal component analysis, but also takes into account the supervised character of the learning task. It is applied to classification problems leading to efficient dimensionality reduction and increased generalization ability.
Situation Calculus as Answer Set Programming

We show how the situation calculus can be reformulated in terms of the first-order stable model semantics. A further transformation into answer set programs allows us to use an answer set solver to perform propositional reasoning about the situation calculus. We also provide an ASP style encoding method for Reiter's basic action theories, which tells us how the solution to the frame problem in ASP is related to the solution in the situation calculus.
Dual effects of dihydropyridines on whole cell and unitary calcium currents in single ventricular cells of guinea‐pig.

We studied the effects of dihydropyridine Ca channel ligands (DHPs), mainly nitrendipine and Bay K8644, on whole cell and single channel Ca currents on single myocytes isolated from the adult guinea‐pig ventricle. Nitrendipine had dual effects, stimulatory or inhibitory, depending upon the membrane potential. At low frequencies (less than 0.03 Hz) and negative holding potentials (‐90 mV or more), nitrendipine increased the Ca currents in a dose‐dependent manner. The dose‐response curve was best fitted by a Langmuir adsorption isotherm model which was the sum of two independent one‐to‐one drug‐receptor sites with median effective doses (ED50S) of 1.0 X 10(‐9) M and 1.4 X 10(‐6) M respectively. When the membrane potential was held at ‐30 mV or less, nitrendipine inhibited the Ca currents, also in a dose‐dependent manner. The dose‐response curve was fitted by a single binding site model having a median inhibitor concentration (IC50) of 1.5 X 10(‐9) M. At holding potentials between ‐70 and ‐40 mV, nitrendipine produced mixed effects on Ca currents; an increase occurred initially and this was followed by a decrease. When rundown was excluded, Bay K8644 showed only stimulatory effects on the Ca currents between holding potentials of ‐120 and ‐30 mV. When the test potential was zero or +10 mV the Ca currents reached peak values and the dose‐response curve was best fitted by a single binding site model having an ED50 of 3 X 10(‐8) M. When the effects were measured at negative test potentials of ‐30 to ‐10 mV, the curve was best fitted by a two‐site model with ED50S of 3 X 10(‐9) and 9 X 10(‐7) M. At the single Ca channel level the stimulatory effect of nitrendipine was due to an increased probability that a Ca channel which had opened once would reopen, a reduction in records without activity and an increase in the mean open time. There were no changes in unit conductance. Inhibitory effects were due to a large increase in nulls. At lower concentrations the main effect of Bay K8644 was an increase in the probability of opening. At doses above 10(‐6) M, a pronounced increase in the open time was observed. The effects we observed are attributed to at least two sites for DHP related to Ca channels; one with high affinity and one with a lower affinity. The low affinity site mediates a stimulatory effect due to greatly prolonged openings. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Effect of age of growing turkeys on nutrient digestibility and energy value of cereal-soybean-based diets

Ileal and total tract digestibility of protein, total tract digestibility of fat and AMEN of cereal-based diets were assayed in growing turkeys at four, seven and 12 weeks of age. Fat digestibility and AMEN improved linearly with age. Total tract protein digestibility improved with age according to a curvilinear trend, while ileal protein digestibility improved from 4 – 7 weeks of age but decreased from 7 – 12 weeks of age. It can be concluded that higher AMEN values could be applied when formulating diets for older than for younger turkeys. Regarding protein digestibility more investigation is needed but a possible fall in values after the first weeks of age may be expected.
On Squirt Singularities in Hydrodynamics

We consider certain singularities of hydrodynamic equations that have been proposed in the literature. We present a kinematic argument that shows that if a volume preserving field presents these singularities, certain integrals related to the vector field have to diverge. We also show that if the vector fields satisfy certain partial differential equations (Navier--Stokes, Boussinesq), then the integrals have to be finite. As a consequence, these singularities are absent in the solutions of the above equations.
Examining Reciprocal Associations Between a Negative Cognitive Style and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescence

Depressive symptoms tend to increase in adolescence, and have been associated with the development of a negative cognitive style. Cognitive theories postulate that a negative cognitive style precedes the development of depressive symptoms while other theories suggest a negative cognitive style is a consequence. We examined the reciprocal relationship between a negative cognitive style and depressive symptoms over three measurements in a community sample of 720 adolescents (11–15 years; 52.8% male). Additionally, we examined the moderating effects of gender. An increased negative cognitive style predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms, but not vice versa. These patterns were found consistently and were not moderated by gender. The findings suggest that a pre-existing negative cognitive style influences the development of depressive symptoms, while a negative cognitive style develops independent of baseline levels of depressive symptoms. These effects do not differ between boys and girls. Theoretical.
Comparative trial of L-tryptophan and amitriptyline in depressive illness

Synopsis Depressed patients who were suitable for drug treatment were allocated randomly to treatment for four weeks with either amitriptyline in doses reaching 150 mg daily or with l-tryptophan in a maximal dose of 8 G daily. Both in-patients and out-patients were included. The trial was double-blind and ratings were made at the start of treatment and weekly for the subsequent four weeks: the patients were then followed for a further six months. Both groups of patients improved steadily over the course of four weeks and there were no marked differences between the treatment groups though there was some tendency for the improvement of the tryptophan-treated patients to fade between the third and fourth weeks. Within the tryptophan group anxious patients improved least. It is concluded that L-tryptophan probably has some antidepressive action in patients with depressive illness of moderate severity.
Polyomavirus-Specific Cellular Immunity: From BK-Virus-Specific Cellular Immunity to BK-Virus-Associated Nephropathy?

In renal transplantation, BK-virus (BKV)-associated nephropathy has emerged as a major complication, with a prevalence of 1–10% and graft loss in >50% of cases. BKV is a member of the polyomavirus family and rarely induces apparent clinical disease in the general population. However, replication of polyomaviruses, associated with significant organ disease, is observed in patients with acquired immunosuppression. Monitoring of specific immunity combined with viral load could be used to individually assess the risk of viral reactivation and virus control. We review the current knowledge on BKV-specific cellular immunity and, more specifically, in immunocompromised patients. In the future, immune-based therapies could allow us to treat and prevent BKV-associated nephropathy.
Discussion of Issues in Differential Response

In this article, the authors responded to nine commentaries by 17 contributors to their article, Issues in Differential Response. The authors found that a majority of the respondents agreed with the major conclusions of Issues in Differential Response. However, there were varying degrees of disagreement regarding the significance of some of the article’s conclusions. The authors point out and discuss the considerable divergence in the respondents’ definitions of differential response (DR), their assessment of DR reform’s empirical support, and their assessment of its potential for progressive development as an evidence-informed model for child welfare practice. The authors conclude that research claims and public belief regarding DR reform’s safety and effectiveness exceed its scientific support, and they make suggestions for improving model building and outcome research for DR reform.
Finding a Path: Investigating the Labour Market Trajectories of High-Skilled Immigrants in Denmark

The labour market incorporation of high-skilled immigrants is of key concern to receiving societies and migrating individuals alike. This paper draws on life-story interviews with 19 high-skilled Eastern Europeans in Denmark to develop a time-geographical trajectory notation for analysing immigrants’ individual movements in social space across time. I propose a typology of five paths, each partly shaped by variations in the intersections of individual and historical temporalities. Three of these paths—‘re-entry’, ‘ascent’ and ‘re-education’—lead into the higher parts of the host country labour market, while the two paths of ‘re-migration’ and ‘marginalisation’ remain outside.
Change Over Time of SF‐36 Functional Outcomes for Operatively Treated Unstable Ankle Fractures

Objective: Ankle fractures are one of the most common operatively treated lower extremity fractures. Several studies indicate that patients often have residual effects after this injury. The purpose of this study is to use the SF‐36 questionnaire at two times to assess patients' functional recovery and residual effects after operative stabilization of an unstable ankle fracture. Design: Twenty adult patients with an isolated unstable ankle fracture (OTA 44B/C) who had operative stabilization completed an SF‐36 questionnaire when they were released from orthopaedic follow‐up at approximately four months from injury. These same patients again completed the SF‐36 at a longer follow‐up, twenty months on average. Both SF‐36 scores were compared with U.S. population norms. Setting: Level II Community Hospital. Intervention: Internal fixation of unstable ankle fractures. Main Outcome Measures: SF‐36 questionnaire. Results: Patients had significant improvement (p < 0.5) in all domains of the SF‐36 questionnaire at the later follow‐up, except for general health, which was unchanged. Patients still had significant differences in SF‐36 scores compared with the U.S. population at the time of release from routine follow‐up. The scores of all the domains of the SF‐36 at the later follow‐up were not significantly different from U.S. population norms except for the domain of physical functioning. Conclusions: This study indicates that patients have significant improvement in functional outcome after release from orthopaedic follow‐up but have a residual physical effect at twenty months after injury. These data are important to guide a patient's expectations after this injury and are also important in considering medicolegal and workers' compensation issues. Patients continue to have improvement in function after we have routinely released them from orthopaedic follow‐up. Maximal medical improvement appears to be longer than four months from this injury.
Grade Retention, Postsecondary Education, and Public Aid Receipt

Using data from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS), an ongoing investigation of a panel of low-income minority children growing up in an inner city, this study investigated whether retention is associated with participation in postsecondary education and public aid receipt. The study sample included 1,367 participants whose data were available for grade retention and educational attainment by age 24. Findings from both regression and propensity score matching indicated that grade retention was associated significantly with lower rates of participation in postsecondary education. Late retention (between fourth and eighth grades) was linked more strongly to lower rates of post-secondary education than early retention (between first and third grades). There was no significant association between retention and public aid receipt.
Alcohol intoxication reduces impulsivity in the delay-discounting paradigm.

AIMS To examine the moderating effects of alcohol myopia on cognitive impulsivity in humans using the delay-discounting paradigm. METHODS Seventy-six male undergraduate students were randomly assigned to sober, placebo or alcohol conditions. In the delay-discounting task, participants made a series of hypothetical choices between a small, immediate reward and a large, delayed reward. To test the predictions of alcohol myopia theory, participants completed a standard version of the task or one containing cues which impelled the impulsive choice (i.e. preference for the small, immediate reward). Participants also completed a personality measure of impulsivity and the go/no-go task, which assesses motor impulsivity. RESULTS Intoxicated participants tended to discount delayed rewards at lower rates than sober participants, and blood alcohol level was inversely correlated with delay discounting. The impelling cues did not moderate the effects of alcohol on delay discounting. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol intoxication does not always increase cognitive impulsivity and may lead to more cautious decision-making under certain conditions.
Geometric Camera Calibration Using Circular Control Points

Modern CCD cameras are usually capable of a spatial accuracy greater than 1/50 of the pixel size. However, such accuracy is not easily attained due to various error sources that can affect the image formation process. Current calibration methods typically assume that the observations are unbiased, the only error is the zero-mean independent and identically distributed random noise in the observed image coordinates, and the camera model completely explains the mapping between the 3D coordinates and the image coordinates. In general, these conditions are not met, causing the calibration results to be less accurate than expected. In the paper, a calibration procedure for precise 3D computer vision applications is described. It introduces bias correction for circular control points and a nonrecursive method for reversing the distortion model. The accuracy analysis is presented and the error sources that can reduce the theoretical accuracy are discussed. The tests with synthetic images indicate improvements in the calibration results in limited error conditions. In real images, the suppression of external error sources becomes a prerequisite for successful calibration.
High School Accountability: The Role of Perceived Collective Efficacy

This study examined the relationship between collective efficacy and high school student achievement in a state with an accountability system heavily focused on achievement, measured by mandatory assessments in multiple content areas. Using social cognitive theory, a theoretical model was developed linking school context and collective efficacy to differences among schools in 12th grader student achievement. Structural equation modeling was used to test the fit of the model to data drawn from students and teachers in 96 state high schools. Collective efficacy was positively influenced by past mastery experience and negatively related to school socioeconomic disadvantage. Additionally, after accounting for the influence of several aspects of school context, collective efficacy remained a significant positive predictor of student performance across all content areas tested by the state. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for social cognitive theory and school improvement in an era of school accountability for student performance on subject-specific achievement assessments.
Measuring Educators’ Beliefs About Diversity in Personal and Professional Contexts

This study describes the development of two empirical measures designed to assess educators’ personal and professional beliefs about diversity. A review of related studies and existing beliefs and/or attitudinal measures on diversity is provided. Steps utilized for instrument development and revisions are presented. Summaries of pilot, preliminary, and field testing developmental stages are provided, including results of our assessment of reliability and construct validity of the scales. These results provide promising support for internal consistency and (face and construct) validity of the instruments. Recommendations for educational and research uses of the measures are also provided.
Outcome of intensive care of the “oldest‐old” critically ill patients

Objective:To determine the short-term and long-term outcome of critically ill “oldest-old” (≥85 yrs) patients. Design:Retrospective chart review and follow-up telephone interview. Setting:ICUs at a tertiary care hospital. Methods:The medical records of all patients ≥85 yrs of age admitted to the ICUs during 1988 were reviewed. Demographic information, severity of illness, major interventions, mortality rate, and hospital charges were examined. A follow-up telephone interview was conducted to determine the quality of life and mortality rate after discharge. Results:Of 34 patients ≥85 yrs of age admitted to the ICU, 21 (62%) survived to discharge from the hospital, and 13 (62%) of these 21 patients were discharged to home. Mean ± so hospital charges were $34,738 ± 34,366. Seventeen of the 21 patients were contacted for long-term follow-up, and ten of these patients were alive at a mean follow-up time of 18 ± 10 months (range 1 to 32). Eight of the ten patients described their quality of life as fair or good. Conclusion:These findings suggest that age alone may be an inappropriate criterion for allocation of ICU resources.