Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of a classroom-based program on physical activity and on-task behavior.

PURPOSE This study evaluated the effects of a classroom-based physical activity program on children's in-school physical activity levels and on-task behavior during academic instruction. METHODS Physical activity of 243 students was assessed during school hours. Intervention-group students (N = 135) received a classroom-based program (i.e., Energizers). The control group (N = 108) did not receive Energizers. On-task behavior during academic instruction time was observed for 62 third-grade (N = 37) and fourth-grade students (N = 25) before and after Energizers activities. An independent groups t-test compared in-school physical activity levels between intervention and control classes. A multiple-baseline across-classrooms design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Energizers on on-task behavior. Additionally, a two-way (time [pre- vs postobservation] x period [baseline vs intervention]) repeated-measures analysis of variance compared on-task behavior between observation periods. Magnitudes of mean differences were evaluated with Cohen's delta (ES). RESULTS Students in the intervention group took significantly (P < 0.05) more in-school steps (5587 +/- 1633) than control-group students (4805 +/- 1543), and the size of this difference was moderate (ES = 0.49). The intervention was effective in improving on-task behavior; after the Energizers were systematically implemented, on-task behavior systematically improved. The improvement in on-task behavior of 8% between the pre-Energizers and post-Energizers observations was statistically significant (P < 0.017), and the difference was moderate (ES = 0.60). Likewise, the least on-task students improved on-task behavior by 20% after Energizers activities. This improvement was statistically significant (P < 0.001) and meaningful (ES = 2.20). CONCLUSION A classroom-based physical activity program was effective for increasing daily in-school physical activity and improving on-task behavior during academic instruction.
The Role of Uncertainty in the Term Structure of Interest Rates: A Macro-Finance Perspective

Using a macroeconomic perspective, we examine the effect of uncertainty arising from policy-shock volatility on yield-curve dynamics. Many macro-finance models assume that policy shocks are homoskedastic, while observed policy shock processes are significantly time varying and persistent. We allow for this key feature by constructing a no-arbitrage GARCH affine term structure model, in which monetary policy uncertainty is modeled as the conditional volatility of the error term in a Taylor rule. We find that monetary policy uncertainty increases the medium- and longer-term spreads in a model that incorporates macroeconomic dynamics.
Qd(p)-free rank two finite groups act freely on a homotopy product of two spheres

In this paper we show that most rank two groups act freely on a finite homotopy product of two spheres. This makes new progress on a conjecture by Benson and Carlson which states that a finite group G acts freely on a finite complex with the homotopy type of n spheres if the rank of G is less than or equal to n. Recalling that Qd(p) is the semidirect product of a rank two elementary abelian p-group with SL(2,p), we show that a rank two finite group acts freely on a finite CW-complex homotopic to the product of two spheres if, it does not contain any subquotient isomorphic to Qd(p) for any odd prime p.
Dust extinction and emission in a clumpy galactic disk - An application of the radiative transfer code TRADING

Aims. I present the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code TRADING (Transfer of RAdiation through Dust In Galaxies). The code selfconsistently computes the extinction of radiation in a dusty medium (including absorption and scattering) and the dust emission. Methods. A binary-tree adaptive grid is used for the description of the dust distribution. Dust radiation is computed at thermal equilibrium or under stochastic heating conditions, for a distribution of grains of different radii and materials. The code is applied to the case of a clumpy galactic disk, including both diffuse dust and a distribution of spherical clouds modelled on the GMCs of local galaxies. Diffuse and localised sources of starlight are used, with independent spectra. Results. A model is provided for the edge-on galaxy NGC 891. The SED of the galaxy from the UV to the submm/mm range can be well reproduced by a bulge/disk configuration of old stars together with an extended dust disk, as suggested by the analysis of optical/near-infrared images; a clumpy dust distribution of the same mass as the diffuse dust disk, together with a UV emitting component, half of which is in the form of a diffuse disk and half in sources embedded in clouds. In total, it is found that about 35% of the bolometric radiation is absorbed (and emitted) by dust; that absorption of starlight from the old population contributes to about 60% of the dust emission. A significant component of the dust emission from clouds is due to absorption of diffuse radiation. Radial profiles of dust emission in a clumpy disk are almost independent of the wavelength, with the exception of the wavelength range on the Wien side of the thermal equilibrium peak.
A multicenter, placebo-controlled trial of melatonin for sleep disturbance in Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES To determine the safety and efficacy of 2 dose formulations of melatonin for the treatment of insomnia in patients with Alzheimer's disease. DESIGN A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 2 dose formulations of oral melatonin coordinated by the National Institute of Aging-funded Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study. Subjects with Alzheimer's disease and nighttime sleep disturbance were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: placebo, 2.5-mg slow-release melatonin, or 10-mg melatonin. SETTING Private homes and long-term care facilities. PARTICIPANTS 157 individuals were recruited by 36 Alzheimer's disease research centers. Subjects with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease were eligible if they averaged less than 7 hours of sleep per night (as documented by wrist actigraphy) and had 2 or more episodes per week of nighttime awakenings reported by the caregiver. MEASUREMENTS Nocturnal total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake-time after sleep onset, and day-night sleep ratio during 2- to 3-week baseline and 2-month treatment periods. Sleep was defined by an automated algorithmic analysis of wrist actigraph data. RESULTS No statistically significant differences in objective sleep measures were seen between baseline and treatment periods for the any of the 3 groups. Nonsignificant trends for increased nocturnal total sleep time and decreased wake after sleep onset were observed in the melatonin groups relative to placebo. Trends for a greater percentage of subjects having more than a 30-minute increase in nocturnal total sleep time in the 10-mg melatonin group and for a decline in the day-night sleep ratio in the 2.5-mg sustained-release melatonin group, compared to placebo, were also seen. On subjective measures, caregiver ratings of sleep quality showed improvement in the 2.5-mg sustained-release melatonin group relative to placebo. There were no significant differences in the number or seriousness of adverse events between the placebo and melatonin groups. CONCLUSIONS Based on actigraphy as an objective measure of sleep time, melatonin is not an effective soporific agent in people with Alzheimer's disease.
System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks 2012

While generally the share of imports is increasing in the German organic fruit and vegetable market, the situations seems to be better in the case of organic apples, and the share of domestic produce is comparably high at about 55 %. This contribution answers the question on the reasons and the success factors within the organic apple supply chain. The focus of the research is laid on the relationship quality and on collaboration activities. In order to create a better understanding of the supply chain some information on production, imports and main distribution channels is provided. Structured interviews were conducted with selected actors of the supply chain. Success factors of the organic apple supply chain turned out to be the high relationship quality between actors which results in intense collaboration. Actors at all levels of the supply chain are highly committed and describe their business relations as satisfying and trustful. However, part of the success is also related to the pronounced retailers and consumer preferences for domestic apples.
Safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy

AIMS AND METHOD Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as first-line drugs for the treatment of depression, but there is emerging evidence that they might not be entirely safe in pregnancy. We reviewed the literature in this area. RESULTS Some data indicate an association between first-trimester SSRI exposure, particularly with paroxetine, and an increased risk of some major congenital malformations. Stronger evidence supports an association with small reductions in gestational age and neonatal withdrawal symptoms. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Risks and benefits of using SSRIs during pregnancy should be discussed with the patient, and a joint decision made between prescriber and patient regarding treatment. Limited data suggest that other SSRIs are safer than paroxetine in pregnancy.
Investor Protection, Cross Listings and Opportunistic Earnings Management

This paper, based on the Brockman and Chung (2003) framework, tests the hypothesis that H-shares registered under Chinese law (with lower level of investor protection and legal enforcement) are associated with higher levels of opportunistic earnings management than local shares registered under Hong Kong law, which are traded on the same Hong Kong equity market. The results using a sample of 853 industrial firms in the Hong Kong equity market during the period 1994-1999 also support the hypothesis that the positive association between H-shares and opportunistic earnings management is significantly weaker for firms that list their shares in the US, a jurisdiction with a higher level of investor protection and more stringent reporting requirements.
Title: Trade Credit and Small Distressed Firms

We analyze trade credit in a sample of small distressed firms that are restructured under the Belgian procedure of court-supervised reorganization (Chapter 11 in the U.S). During the pre-bankruptcy period, firms rely on trade credit to finance a lack of internally generated cash. This is specifically true if banks contract their lending during the pre-bankruptcy period. Trade creditors lend more if firms are more transparent, and if their board members are less involved with previous bankruptcies. Suppliers may also lend to our sample firms because they have a long-run interest in their survival since our sample firms indeed succeed in getting a plan voted by their creditors and confirmed by the court.
Common Consequence Effects with Pricing Data

This paper presents an experimental study analyzing common consequence effects with binary choice, willingness-to-pay (WTP), and willingness-to-accept (WTA). Consistent with previous research we do not find clearcut evidence of fanning out in the absence of certainty effects. Violation rates of EU are more pronounced for WTP and WTA than for choice data. Moreover, there is a strong tendency for violations in the direction of fanning out. Our results reinforce the significance of common consequence effects and provide support for the operation of cancellation in prospect theory.
On Educational Outcomes in an Urban School District

Urban school districts face an enormous challenge. They are confronted with high levels of poverty and minority students who at high-risk for educational failure. To compound this, financial resources are lacking in improving these dire conditions. Thus, in a situation where increased budgetary support is no longer accessible, one question remains: What will make a difference? Chapter 1 suggests a first strategy. If district administrators or school principals could shift classroom composition to increase student achievement, then perhaps this managerial approach could improve urban education under extremely strict financial constraints. Using the framework of the education production function and two quasi-experiments, this investigation has identified status quo peer effects in Philadelphia’s elementary school classrooms over six years of observations. Holding fixed students and classrooms, Chapter 2 then asks what contributes to school effectiveness at the level of the institution. It does so by constructing two unique, quantifiable measures of school quality based on the empirical model from Chapter 1. The results indicate that institutional-level resources are significantly related to school quality across three categories (programs, personnel, and school environment) and within both testing subject areas. Based on the covariates analyzed in the first two chapters, Chapter 3 evaluates if and why there is significant variation in standardized testing performance for students in a single urban school district. Incorporating variables into a three-tiered hierarchical linear model of student achievement explains the majority of the between classroom and between school variance, though only half of the within classroom variance. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Applied Economics First Advisor Robert P. Inman Second Advisor Rebecca Maynard Third Advisor Todd Sinai This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/173
Passing The Baton: An Experimental Study of Shift Handover

Shift handovers occur in many safety-critical environments, including aviation maintenance, medicine, air traffic control, and mission control for space shuttle and space station operations. Shift handovers are associated with increased risk of communication failures and human error. In dynamic industries, errors and accidents occur disproportionately after shift handover. Typical shift handovers involve transferring information from an outgoing shift to an incoming shift via written logs, or in some cases, face-to-face briefings. The current study explores the possibility of improving written communication with the support modalities of audio and video recordings, as well as face-to-face briefings. Fifty participants participated in an experimental task which mimicked some of the critical challenges involved in transferring information between shifts in industrial settings. All three support modalities—face-to-face, video, and audio recordings, reduced task errors significantly over written communication alone. The support modality most preferred by participants was face-to-face communication; the least preferred was written communication alone.
Interactions of oxygen radicals with airway epithelium.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous disease processes. Epithelial cells lining the respiratory airways are uniquely vulnerable regarding potential for oxidative damage due to their potential for exposure to both endogenous (e.g., mitochondrial respiration, phagocytic respiratory burst, cellular oxidases) and exogenous (e.g., air pollutants, xenobiotics, catalase negative organisms) oxidants. Airway epithelial cells use several nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms to protect against oxidative insult. Nonenzymatic defenses include certain vitamins and low molecular weight compounds such as thiols. The enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutatione peroxidase are major sources of antioxidant protection. Other materials associated with airway epithelium such as mucus, epithelial lining fluid, and even the basement membrane/extracellular matrix may have protective actions as well. When the normal balance between oxidants and antioxidants is upset, oxidant stress ensues and subsequent epithelial cell alterations or damage may be a critical component in the pathogenesis of several respiratory diseases. Oxidant stress may profoundly alter lung physiology including pulmonary function (e.g., forced expiratory volumes, flow rates, and maximal inspiratory capacity), mucociliary activity, and airway reactivity. ROS may induce airway inflammation; the inflammatory process may serve as an additional source of ROS in airways and provoke the pathophysiologic responses described. On a more fundamental level, cellular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of ROS may involve activation of intracellular signaling enzymes including phospholipases and protein kinases stimulating the release of inflammatory lipids and cytokines. Respiratory epithelium may be intimately involved in defense against, and pathophysiologic changes invoked by, ROS.
The XMM-Newton wide-field survey in the COSMOS field - The point-like X-ray source catalogue

Context. The COSMOS survey is a multiwavelength survey aimed to study the evolution of galaxies, AGN and large scale structures. Within this survey XMM-COSMOS a powerful tool to detect AGN and galaxy clusters. The XMM-COSMOS is a deep X-ray survey over the full 2 deg^2 of the COSMOS area. It consists of 55 XMM-Newton pointings for a total exposure of ~1.5 Ms with an average vignetting-corrected depth of 40 ks across the field of view and a sky coverage of 2.13 deg^2. Aims. We present the catalogue of point-like X-ray sources detected with the EPIC CCD cameras, the log N − log S relations and the X-ray colour–colour diagrams. Methods. The analysis was performed using the XMM-SAS data analysis package in the 0.5–2 keV, 2–10 keV and 5–10 keV energy bands. Source detection has been performed using a maximum likelihood technique especially designed for raster scan surveys. The completeness of the catalogue as well as log N − log S and source density maps have been calibrated using Monte Carlo simulations. Results. The catalogs contains a total of 1887 unique sources detected in at least one band with likelihood parameter det_ml > 10. The survey, which shows unprecedented homogeneity, has a flux limit of ~1.7×10^(−15) erg cm^(−2) s^(−1), ~9.3×10^(−15) erg cm^(−2) s^(−1) and ~1.3×10^(−14) erg cm^(−2) s^(−1) over 90% of the area (1.92 deg^2) in the 0.5–2 keV, 2–10 keV and 5–10 keV energy band, respectively. Thanks to the rather homogeneous exposure over a large area, the derived log N − log S relations are very well determined over the flux range sampled by XMM-COSMOS. These relations have been compared with XRB synthesis models, which reproduce the observations with an agreement of ~10% in the 5–10 keV and 2–10 keV band, while in the 0.5–2 keV band the agreement is of the order of ~20%. The hard X-ray colors confirmed that the majority of the extragalactic sources in a bright subsample are actually type I or type II AGN. About 20% of the sources have a X-ray luminosity typical of AGN (L_X > 10^(42) erg/s) although they do not show any clear signature of nuclear activity in the optical spectrum.
Relapsed and refractory lymphoid neoplasms and multiple myeloma with a focus on carfilzomib

Proteasomal inhibition revolutionized myeloma therapies in this decade of novel agents. The only US Food and Drug Administration approved proteasome inhibitor so far, bortezomib effectively targets the constitutive proteasome subunit β5 of the 26S proteasome. Bortezomib induces high and quality response rates that are durable. However, myeloma cells acquire resistance to bortezomib through various mechanisms. Further, grade 3/4 peripheral neuropathy is seen in up to a quarter of patients treated with bortezomib. While the recent change in the mode of administration via the subcutaneous route is associated with a lower incidence of grade 3/4 peripheral neuropathy, it remains a major concern. The second generation proteasome inhibitors are promising, with increased preclinical efficacy and a better administration schedule. The current review spotlights the second generation proteasome inhibitors with special focus on the safety and efficacy of carfilzomib, an epoxyketone with lesser peripheral neuropathy, which exhibits irreversible proteasome inhibition. In this article, we review the pharmacology and preclinical and clinical efficacy and safety of carfilzomib alone and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the various lymphoid neoplasms and multiple myeloma as well as ongoing clinical trials.
Towards a Unified Theory of Economic Growth

Oded Galor, Professor of Economics at Brown University, is one of the worldâ€™s leading and most imaginative growth theorists. Throughout his career, his numerous publications have focussed on growth-related issues such as labour migration, international trade, income distribution, demography, human capital accumulation, and discrete dynamical systems. Recently his work has emphasised the need for a unified theory of growth that incorporates an evolutionary perspective and can account for the transition from â€˜Malthusian stagnationâ€™ to the modern growth regime. Brian Snowdon provides, as background, a brief survey of the new and exciting literature in this area and in the interview that follows, discusses with Professor Galor his innovative approach to explaining some of the most profound and difficult questions in human history, and the progress that is being made in building a coherent unified theory of long-run growth.
Geometric Shape Detection with Soundview

We present the results of user studies that were performed on sighted people to test their ability to detect simple shapes with SoundView. SoundView is an experimental vision substitution system for the blind. Visual images are mapped onto a virtual surface with a fine-grained color dependent roughness texture. The user explores an image by moving a pointer device over the image which creates sounds. The current prototype uses a Wacom graphics tablet as a pointer device. The pointer acts like a virtual gramophone needle, and the sound produced depends on the motion as well as on the color of the area explored. An extension of SoundView also allows haptic feedback and we have compared the performance of users using auditory and/or haptic feedback.
DEM generation using Cartosat-1 stereo data: issues and complexities in Himalayan terrain

Abstract High-altitude Himalayan terrain exhibits extreme geometric distortion along north-facing (dilation) and south-facing (compression) slopes as observed in satellite stereo data with high look angles. In the present study, Cartosat-1 stereo pairs have been used for generating Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using Differential Global Positioning System based Ground Control Points. DEM quality assessment through stereoscopic visualization revealed distortions especially in E-W oriented steep valleys. The study highlights issues and challenges in DEM generation for Himalayan terrain and articulates density of editing required. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of the DEM produced showed considerable improvements after post processing.