Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of School Environment and Grade Level on Student Delinquency: A Multilevel Modeling Approach

Effects on delinquency made by grade level, school type (based on grade levels accommodated), and prosocial school climate were assessed, controlling for individual-level risk and protective factors. Data were obtained from the Substance Abuse Services Division of Alabama’s state mental health agency and analyzed via hierarchical linear modeling, yielding three major findings. First, grade level’s effects on delinquency varied strongly by school type, although in the multivariate context the interaction effects of grade level and school type were not significant. Second, prosocial school climate significantly explained differential delinquency rates. Third, the requirement that students change schools upon reaching a certain grade level does, as the literature notes, appear to lead to a poor environmental fit for students’ developmental needs.
The Reliability and Internal Validity of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

This study examined the internal validity of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in two samples. In an alcohol-dependent sample (n= 151), exploratory factor analysis of internal validity, using Lisrel 8, showed that the six principal scores derived from the test could be fitted to a model with one factor and correlated errors. In a sample of university students (n= 75), we replicated the one factor internal validity model identified in the alcohol-dependent sample, and we also examined the alternate-form reliability of the Wisconsin. The reliability data, together with a reanalysis of information from the most recent edition of the test manual, suggest that the test should not be used for clinical purposes in its present form.
Exploring the Role of Gender in the Development on Negative Political Advertisements

Since the 1970s, women have begun to make progress in attaining statewide and national elective office. Many political communication scholars and pundits suggest that gender is a factor in the way women campaign for political office. Using a sample of 99 advertisements from statewide and federal elections, a content analysis was employed to examine the way women use the negative political commercial. Specifically, this study explores whether gender is a significant variable in female campaigns' negative commercials. Contrary to the belief that gender affects campaign communication styles, little evidence for that belief was found.
Simultaneous hybrid revascularization for symptomatic lower extremity arterial occlusive disease

Multilevel revascularization, using a combination of endovascular and open (hybrid) surgery, is increasingly being used. Hybrid surgery allows complex anatomy to be treated by minimally invasive procedures in medically high risk patients. The aim of the present study was to report a novel hybrid surgery for lesions in the multilevel lower extremity arteries and to evaluate the clinical outcomes. Consecutive patients who presented at a single institution between March 2009 and Feburary 2012 were selected for inclusion in the study. The patients had disabling claudication or critical limb ischemia and underwent treatment for revascularization by open surgery or by a combination of open surgery and endovascular procedure. Retrospective analysis was conducted from a prospectively collected database. All procedures were performed by a vascular surgeon in an operating room. Postoperative surveillance in outpatient clinics was conducted at 3 and 6 months and every 6 months thereafter. A total of 76 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 67.1±11.3 years (range, 42–94 years) and the male to female ratio was 67:9. The most common indication for revascularization was Rutherford category IV (resting pain). The immediate technical success rate of hybrid surgery was 90.5%, with an overall limb salvage rate of 97.4%. The primary patency rates of the hybrid and open groups were 100 and 90.9%, respectively (P=0.441). Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that hybrid surgery is a feasible option for the treatment of multilevel peripheral arterial occlusive disease, showing favorable patency and limb salvage rates. These observations indicate that femoral endarterectomy plays a vital role in hybrid surgery.
APOE and cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer disease and non-demented aging

Objective: To investigate whether presence of the APOE ε4 allele is related to the pathologic progression of preclinical Alzheimer disease (AD), as reflected by change in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores among persons in the preclinical phase of AD, and cognitively intact adults confirmed as dementia-free during the 6-year assessment period. Method: In a population-based sample, participants were stratified according to APOE genotype (ε4 or non-ε4) and whether they received a diagnosis of AD at the end of either a 3- or 6-year assessment period. Participants were aged 75 years and older, and were nondemented at baseline. At the end of the 3-year period, 17.2% of non-ε4 and 26.7% of ε4 carriers became demented. For the 6-year period those percentages were 11.2% for non-ε4 carriers and 16.9% for ε4-carriers. Results: Individuals in the preclinical phase of AD showed greater decline on the MMSE as compared to nondemented adults. However, the decline was most marked in the 3 years prior to clinical diagnosis. Further, APOE-ε4 genotype did not modify the rate of decline among to-be-demented participants, as well as individuals who would remain free of AD. Conclusions: Although possession of the APOE ε4 allele is a risk factor for AD in old age, it does not modify the progression of the disease during the preclinical period. Further, in the absence of preclinical dementia, APOE did not influence global cognitive change in nondemented persons.
Validation of a Measure of Learning and Performance Goal Orientations

This study investigated the psychometric properties of an instrument (i.e., the Goals Inventory) that measured learning and performance goal orientations. Test-retest reliability estimates for the learning and performance goal scales were r = . 73 and r = . 76, respectively. Internal consistency estimates were assessed using Cronbach's alpha. These values were . 80 and . 75, respectively. Convergent and divergent validity were evaluated by comparing the Goals Inventory to measures of test anxiety, hope, and attributions for success and failure. All the theoretically explicit predictions of Dweck and Leggett's model were supported. Suggestions are made for the use and interpretation of the Goals Inventory's two subscales and for future research.
Exploring Reading Processes in an Academic Reading Test Using Short-Answer Questions

Integrated reading/writing tasks are becoming more common in large-scale language tests. Much of the research on these tasks has focused on writing through reading; assessing reading through writing is a less explored area. In this article we describe a reading-into-writing task that is intended to measure both reading comprehension and language use on an academic English test. The task involves responding to short-answer questions (SAQs) that require examinees to use their own words to state the main idea of a text, draw inferences, or synthesize information across multiple texts. The article presents results of a two-part study addressing the validity of this method of assessing reading by investigating the cognitive processes involved in responding to SAQs. First, we present the results of a qualitative study of five nonnative English-speaking students, who provided verbal protocols as they read the texts and responded to the SAQs. Next, we present data from a larger sample of students focusing specifically on the cognitive processes used when reading the texts for the purpose of responding to SAQs. Implications of the study for the validity of this method of testing are discussed.
The molecular basis of CO2 reception in Drosophila

CO2 elicits a response from many insects, including mosquito vectors of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, but the molecular basis of CO2 detection is unknown in insects or other higher eukaryotes. Here we show that Gr21a and Gr63a, members of a large family of Drosophila seven-transmembrane-domain chemoreceptor genes, are coexpressed in chemosensory neurons of both the larva and the adult. The two genes confer CO2 response when coexpressed in an in vivo expression system, the “empty neuron system. ” The response is highly specific for CO2 and dependent on CO2 concentration. The response shows an equivalent dependence on the dose of Gr21a and Gr63a. None of 39 other chemosensory receptors confers a comparable response to CO2. The identification of these receptors may now allow the identification of agents that block or activate them. Such agents could affect the responses of insect pests to the humans they seek.
Evaluation of a Commercial Multiplex PCR for Rapid Detection of Multi Drug Resistant Gram Negative Infections

Introduction: Community and healthcare associated infections caused by multi-drug resistant gram negative organisms (MDR GN) represent a worldwide threat. Nucleic Acid Detection tests are becoming more common for their detection; however they can be expensive requiring specialised equipment and local expertise. This study was done to evaluate the utility of a commercial multiplex tandem (MT) PCR for detection of MDR GN. Methods: The study was done on stored laboratory MDR GN isolates from sterile and non-sterile specimens (n=126, out of stored 567 organisms). Laboratory validation of the MT PCR was done to evaluate sensitivity, specificity and agreement with the current phenotypic methods used in the laboratory. Amplicon sequencing was also done on selected isolates for assessing performance characteristics. Workflow and cost implications of the MT PCR were evaluated. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the MT PCR were calculated to be 95% and 96.7% respectively. Agreement with the phenotypic methods was 80%. Major lack of agreement was seen in detection of AmpC beta lactamase in enterobacteriaceae and carbapenemase in non-fermenters. Agreement of the MT PCR with another multiplex PCR was found to be 87%. Amplicon sequencing confirmed the genotype detected by MT PCR in 94.2 % of cases tested. Time to result was faster for the MT PCR but cost per test was higher. Conclusion: This study shows that with carefully chosen targets for detection of resistance genes in MDR GN, rapid and efficient identification is possible. MT PCR was sensitive and specific and likely more accurate than phenotypic methods.
Chromatic and achromatic vision of macaques: role of the P pathway

Chromatic and achromatic contrast sensitivity were measured in a human observer, 2 normal macaque monkeys, and 3 monkeys with severe toxicant- induced damage to the parvocellular projecting retinogeniculate pathway (P cell-deficient monkeys). Damage to the P pathway was produced by the oral administration of acrylamide monomer (Eskin and Merigan, 1986). Contrast sensitivity was measured in all subjects with isochromatic luminance gratings, as well as isoluminant chromatic gratings, modulated along several directions of a color space that represents color-opponent and luminance contrast (Krauskopf et al., 1986). The chromatic and achromatic sensitivity of the control monkeys was virtually identical to that of the human observer. Chromatic sensitivity of the P cell-deficient monkeys, measured at a low spatial frequency (0.3 c/deg), along a constant-blue color axis, was 0.9–1.5 log units lower than that of controls. Similar losses were seen along a tritanopic confusion axis and along 2 intermediate axes of color direction. Chromatic thresholds measured at higher spatial frequency (2.0 c/deg) were similarly reduced. Counterphase-modulated chromatic gratings were used to test color sensitivity over a range of temporal frequencies up to 15 Hz, and the loss of color vision was substantial over the entire range of frequencies. The luminance contrast sensitivity of the P cell-deficient monkeys for stationary gratings decreased after exposure by 0.5–0.8 log units. These results indicate that the chromatic and achromatic spatial vision of macaques is very similar to that of humans. They also suggest that the P pathway plays an important role in macaque chromatic sensitivity at all spatial frequencies, as well as achromatic sensitivity at high spatial and lower temporal frequencies.
Diversity of GABAA receptor synaptic currents on individual pyramidal cortical neurons

Miniature GABAA receptor‐mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in cortical pyramidal neurons have previously been categorized into two types: small amplitude mIPSCs with a mono‐exponential deactivation (mono‐mIPSCs) and relatively larger mIPSCs with bi‐exponential deactivation (bi‐mIPSCs). The aim of this study was to determine if the GABAA channels that underlie these mIPSCSs are molecularly distinct. We found, using non‐stationary noise analysis, that the difference in their amplitude could be not accounted for by their single channel conductance (both were 40 pS). Next, using α subunit selective GABAA receptor modulators, we examined the identity of the α subunits that may be expressed in the synapses that give rise to these mIPSCs. Zolpidem (100 and 500 nm, α1 selective) affected the deactivation of a subset of the mono‐mIPSCs, indicating that α1 subunits are not highly expressed in these synapses. However, zolpidem (100 nm) prolonged the deactivation of all bi‐mIPSCs, indicating a high abundance of α1 subunits in these synapses. SB‐205384 (α3 selective) had no effect on the mono‐mIPSCs but the bi‐mIPSCs were prolonged. Furosemide (α4 selective) reduced the amplitude of only the mono‐mIPSCs. L655,708 (α5 selective) reduced the amplitude of both populations and shortened the duration of the mono‐mIPSCs. Finally, we found that the neuroactive steroid pregesterone sulphate reduced the amplitude of both mIPSC types. These results provide pharmacological evidence that synapses on cortical pyramidal neurons are molecularly distinct. The purpose of these different types of synapses may be to provide different inhibitory timing patterns on these cells.
Beyond External Validity

s it is usually phrased, the question of external validity has to do with whether the results of a behavioral study would hold for other persons, settings, times, or places. Consistent with the original notions of Campbell and Stanley (1966) and Cook and Campbell (1977), we have argued that this concept of external validity is rela­tively less important than other forms of validity when the objective of research is to test theory (Calder, Phillips, and Tybout 1981, 1982). Our position is that external validity is a matter of the applicability of behavioral research.
The Role of Physician and Nurse Attitudes in the Health Care of Injecting Drug Users

In 2005, 60 health care workers were recruited through services that attract injecting drug users (IDUs) and asked to complete attitude measures regarding IDU clients. Mediation analyses indicated that conservative health care workers displayed more negative attitudes toward their IDU clients because they believe that injecting drug use is within the control of the IDU. Negative attitudes toward IDU clients, in turn, were associated with worry about IDU clients’ behavior in the clinic and with beliefs that IDU clients should disclose their hepatitis C status to their health care worker. Perceptions of controllability of drug use were also associated with the belief that IDU clients’ ailments were caused by their IDU status. The study's limitations are noted.
On paging with locality of reference

Motivated by the fact that competitive analysis yields too pessimistic results when applied to the paging problem, there has been considerable research interest in refining competitive analysis and in developing alternative models for studying online paging. The goal is to devise models in which theoretical results capture phenomena observed in practice.In this paper we propose a new, simple model for studying paging with locality of reference. The model is closely related to Denning's working set concept and directly reflects the amount of locality that request sequences exhibit. We demonstrate that our model is reasonable from a practical point of view.We use the page fault rate to evaluate the quality of paging algorithms, which is the performance measure used in practice. We develop tight or nearly tight bounds on the fault rates achieved by popular paging algorithms such as LRU, FIFO, deterministic Marking strategies and LFD. It shows that LRU is an optimal online algorithm, whereas FIFO and Marking strategies are not optimal in general. We present an experimental study comparing the page fault rates proven in our analyses to the page fault rates observed in practice. This is the first such study for an alternative/refined paging model.
Assessment of Fungal Contamination in Moldy Homes: Comparison of Different Methods

In an effort to better understand the relationship between different fungal sampling methods in the indoor environment, four methods were used to quantify mold contamination in 13 homes with visible mold. Swab, fungal spore source strength tester (FSSST), and air samples (total of 52 samples) were analyzed using both the microscopic (total spore count) and culture-based (CFU count) enumeration techniques. Settled dust samples were analyzed for culturable fungi only, as the microscopic enumeration was restricted by the masking effect. The relationships between the data obtained with the different sampling methods were examined using correlation analysis. Significant relationships were observed between the data obtained from swab and FSSST samples both by the total counting (r = 0.822, p < 0.05) and by the CFU counting (r = 0.935, p < 0.01). No relationships were observed between air and FSSST samples or air and settled dust samples. Percentage culturability of spores for each sampling method was also calculated and found to vary greatly for all three methods (swab: 0.03% to 63%, FSSST: 0.1% to > 100%, air: 0.7% to 79%). These findings confirm that reliance on one sampling or enumeration method for characterization of an indoor mold source might not provide an accurate estimate of fungal contamination of a microenvironment. Furthermore, FSSST sampling appears to be an effective measurement of a mold source in the field, providing an upper bound estimate of potential mold spore release into the indoor air. Because of the small sample size of this study, however, further research is needed to better understand the observed relationships in this study.
Viewing Boundary “Objects” as Boundary Constructions

Empirical results from a qualitative study within an important North American aircraft engine manufacturing company allows us to propose an alternative framework for achieving effective knowledge sharing based on the boundary construction concept. Tapping into Latour's (1993) epistemological insights of mutual transformation, hybridization and inter- reciprocal relationship between the object and subject, it is proposed that effective boundary objects are in a constant flux of actual (and potential) co-construction and re-construction at the hands of interacting actors. This boundary constructing, in turn, leads to enriched organizational sense-making. Effective sharing of knowledge occurs as a result of boundary construction/actor interactions that are enabled within a shared context (ba) where mutual trust and respect, empathy and openness to others' differences, and requisite variety predominate. Such an environment is consistent with Enriquez's (1992) concept of differentiated work group environments, whereby emancipation of the self co-exists with identification to the other.
Evidence for inter-generational instability in the CAG repeat in the MJD1 gene and for conserved haplotypes at flanking markers amongst Japanese and Caucasian subjects with Machado-Joseph disease.

The size of the (CAG)n repeat array in the 3' end of the MJD1 gene and the haplotype at a series of microsatellite markers surrounding the MJD1 gene were examined in a large cohort of Japanese and Caucasian subjects affected with Machado-Joseph disease (MJD). Our data provide five novel observations. First, MJD is associated with expansion fo the array from the normal range of 14-37 repeats to 68-84 repeats in most Japanese and Caucasian subjects, but no subjects were observed with expansions intermediate in size between those of the normal and MJD affected groups. Second, the expanded allele associated with MJD displays inter-generational instability, particularly in male meioses, and this instability was associated with the clinical phenomenon of anticipation. Third, the size of the expanded allele is not only inversely correlated with the age-of-onset of MJD (r = -0.738, p < 0.001), but is also correlated with the frequency of other clinical features [e.g. pseudoexophthalmos and pyramidal signs were more frequent in subjects with large repeats (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively)]. Fourth, the disease phenotype is significantly more severe and had an early age of onset (16 years) in a subject homozygous for the expanded allele, which contrasts with Huntington disease and suggests that the expanded allele in the MJD1 gene could exert its effect either by a dominant negative effect (putatively excluded in HD) or by a gain of function effect as proposed for HD. Finally, Japanese and Caucasian subjects affected with MJD share haplotypes at several markers surrounding the MJD1 gene, which are uncommon in the normal Japanese and Caucasian population, and which suggests the existence either of common founders in these populations or of chromosomes susceptible to pathologic expansion of the CAG repeat in the MJD1 gene.
Extensive Gene Acquisition in the Extremely Psychrophilic Bacterial Species Psychroflexus torquis and the Link to Sea-Ice Ecosystem Specialism

Sea ice is a highly dynamic and productive environment that includes a diverse array of psychrophilic prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa distinct from the underlying water column. Because sea ice has only been extensive on Earth since the mid-Eocene, it has been hypothesized that bacteria highly adapted to inhabit sea ice have traits that have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Here we compared the genomes of the psychrophilic bacterium Psychroflexus torquis ATCC 700755T, associated with both Antarctic and Arctic sea ice, and its closely related nonpsychrophilic sister species, P. gondwanensis ACAM 44T. Results show that HGT has occurred much more extensively in P. torquis in comparison to P. gondwanensis. Genetic features that can be linked to the psychrophilic and sea ice-specific lifestyle of P. torquis include genes for exopolysaccharide (EPS) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthesis, numerous specific modes of nutrient acquisition, and proteins putatively associated with ice-binding, light-sensing (bacteriophytochromes), and programmed cell death (metacaspases). Proteomic analysis showed that several genes associated with these traits are highly translated, especially those involved with EPS and PUFA production. Because most of the genes relating to the ability of P. torquis to dwell in sea-ice ecosystems occur on genomic islands that are absent in closely related P. gondwanensis, its adaptation to the sea-ice environment appears driven mainly by HGT. The genomic islands are rich in pseudogenes, insertional elements, and addiction modules, suggesting that gene acquisition is being followed by a process of genome reduction potentially indicative of evolving ecosystem specialism.