Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity and Specificity of Preschool Vision Screening in Iran

Background: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the National Vision Screening Program for 7 yr old children in Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, eight cities in Iran were selected through multistage cluster sampling. Selected cities were Sari, Birjand, Ardabil, Mashhad, Bandar Abbas, Dezful, Yazd, and Arak, in Iran in 2013. Totally, 4614 schoolchildren were selected, 4106 of which participated in the study. An optometrist at the school site conducted all vision tests. Results were compared against those recorded on each child’s health card. Those with an uncorrected visual acuity worse than 20/25 in at least one eye screened positive for a vision problem. Results: 8.49% [95% confidence interval, 7.65 to 9.39] of the examinees had a vision problem. The sensitivity rate of the school entry screening was 38.15% (95% CI, 33.01 to 43.50) and the specificity rate was 93.11 (95%CI 92.25 to 93.90). The positive and negative predictive values were 33.93 (29.24 to 38.88) and 94.19 (93.39 to 94.93), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity rates did not significantly differ between boys and girls. For the uncorrected visual acuity tested by public health care workers compared to optometrists, the area under the ROC surface was 0.741 (P<0.001). The best-associated criterion was an uncorrected visual acuity more than 0.05 LogMAR with 67.3% sensitivity and 74.7% specificity. Conclusion: The validity of the school entry vision screening by health workers is low. To reduce false negative rates, some supplementary examinations such as refraction and near visual acuity measurements as well as further training of screeners should be considered.
Structural differences in the self-determination of upper secondary students with and without disabilities in vocational education

The aim of the study was to analyze the differences in degree of self-determination between students with and without disabilities and to relate these differences to grade point average and gender in both groups. Students in both groups were equalized in pairs by age, gender and school program (n = 122; 61 pairs). Results indicate that students with disabilities have a lower level of self-determination than their peers without disabilities. With regards to gender, girls with disabilities have the lowest level of self-determination. An analysis of differences in self-determination by grade point average (GPA) showed that students with and without disabilities who had high GPAs have higher levels of self-determination than students with low GPAs. Results of this study reveal important fields of intervention, especially for students with disabilities.
Inter‐Rater Reliability and Measurement Error of Sonographic Muscle Architecture Assessments

Sonography of muscle architecture provides physicians and researchers with information about muscle function and muscle‐related disorders. Inter‐rater reliability is a crucial parameter in daily clinical routines. The aim of this study was to assess the inter‐rater reliability of sonographic muscle architecture assessments and quantification of errors that arise from inconsistent probe positioning and image interpretation.
Weak gravity conjecture for effective field theories with N species

We conjecture an intrinsic UV cutoff for the validity of the effective field theory with a large number of species coupled to gravity. In four dimensions such an UV cutoff takes the form {lambda}={radical}({lambda}/N)M{sub p} for N scalar fields with the same potential {lambda}{phi}{sub i}{sup 4}, i=1,. ,N. This conjecture implies that the assisted chaotic inflation or N-flation might be in the swampland, not in the landscape. Similarly an UV cutoff {lambda}=gM{sub p}/{radical}(N) is conjectured for the U(1) gauge theory with N species.
The impact of incentives on prosocial behavior: An experimental investigation with German and Chinese subjects

Economists believe in (monetary) incentives. However, in the specialized area of prosocial behaviours, (monetary) incentives could backfire because extrinsic motivation might crowd out intrinsic motivation. Moreover, national differences in the perception of incentives should also be considered, taking the cultural background of individuals into account. In this project, we ran a real effort experiment in Germany and in China. In addition to an extrinsic monetary incentive (personal payment) to the subjects, we made a donation to UNICEF, and the amount of the donation depended on the effort of the subjects, which served as an intrinsic motivation. The results indicate that with respect to activities with a prosocial element, Germans tended to exert a high level of effort, regardless of the alternation of the art and the level of their payoff; in contrast, the Chinese did react to extrinsic monetary incentives and exerted more effort with a linear payment or if the level of payment was high. Females exerted significantly more effort than males, and this was true for both the German and Chinese subjects. The last finding is that the Chinese were more motivated by a fixed non-monetary payment than a fixed monetary payment, if the level of payment was relatively low.
Stabilization of the Skeletal Muscle Ryanodine Receptor Ion Channel-FKBP12 Complex by the 1,4-Benzothiazepine Derivative S107

Activation of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR1) complex results in the rapid release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and muscle contraction. Dissociation of the small FK506 binding protein 12 subunit (FKBP12) increases RyR1 activity and impairs muscle function. The 1,4-benzothiazepine derivative JTV519, and the more specific derivative S107 (2,3,4,5,-tetrahydro-7-methoxy-4-methyl-1,4-benzothiazepine), are thought to improve skeletal muscle function by stabilizing the RyR1-FKBP12 complex. Here, we report a high degree of nonspecific and specific low affinity [3H]S107 binding to SR vesicles. SR vesicles enriched in RyR1 bound ∼48 [3H]S107 per RyR1 tetramer with EC50 ∼52 µM and Hillslope ∼2. The effects of S107 and FKBP12 on RyR1 were examined under conditions that altered the redox state of RyR1. S107 increased FKBP12 binding to RyR1 in SR vesicles in the presence of reduced glutathione and the NO-donor NOC12, with no effect in the presence of oxidized glutathione. Addition of 0.15 µM FKBP12 to SR vesicles prevented FKBP12 dissociation; however, in the presence of oxidized glutathione and NOC12, FKBP12 dissociation was observed in skeletal muscle homogenates that contained 0.43 µM myoplasmic FKBP12 and was attenuated by S107. In single channel measurements with FKBP12-depleted RyR1s, in the absence and presence of NOC12, S107 augmented the FKBP12-mediated decrease in channel activity. The data suggest that S107 can reverse the harmful effects of redox active species on SR Ca2+ release in skeletal muscle by binding to RyR1 low affinity sites.
Strengthening the supernatural punishment hypothesis through computer modeling

Cox, M. , Villamayor-Tomas, S. , & Hartberg, Y. (2014). The role of religion in community-based natural resource management. World Development, 54, 46–55. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev. 2013.07. 010 Empiricus, S. (1936). Against physicists. Against ethicists. (R. G. Bury, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb. Fowler, C. T. (2003). The ecological implications of ancestral religion and reciprocal exchange in a sacred forest in Karendi (Sumba, Indonesia). Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, 7(3), 303–329. Hartberg, Y. , Cox, M. , & Villamayor-Tomas, S. (2014). Supernatural monitoring and sanctioning in community-based resource management. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 1–17. doi:10.1080/2153599X.2014. 959547 Johnson, D. (2016). God is watching you: How the fear of God makes us human. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Wagner, A. (2005). Robustness and evolvability in living systems. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Whitehouse, H. (1995). Inside the cult: Religious innovation and transmission in Papua New Guinea. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.
Parent Perspectives on Preparing Students with Intellectual Disabilities for Inclusive Postsecondary Education.

Using a three-round Delphi survey, researchers explored parent perspectives regarding the personal competencies students with intellectual disabilities (ID) needed to be better prepared for participation in an Inclusive Postsecondary Education program (IPSE). An expert panel comprised of parents of students with ID in IPSE programs participated. Three Delphi rounds consisted of open-ended questions and cycles of subsequent rating scales on identified perspectives to establish a quantitative basis for consensus. The parent panel reached consensus on a list of 30 personal competencies that support student preparation for IPSE. A description of the methodology, results, and implications for practice are discussed.
Adipose tissue 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 expression in obesity and Cushing’s syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of 11beta-hydrxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) in omental adipose tissue of patients with Cushing's syndrome and simple obesity, compared with normal weight controls. DESIGN AND METHODS: We have performed a case-control study and studied omental adipose tissue from a total of 24 subjects (eight obese subjects, ten patients with Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal adenoma, and six normal weight controls). Body mass index, blood pressure, plasma glucose, plasma insulin, plasma cortisol, urinary free cortisol and post dexamethasone plasma cortisol were measured with standard methods. 11beta-HSD1 mRNA and protein expression were evaluated in real-time PCR and western blot analysis respectively. RESULTS: 11beta-HSD1 mRNA was 13-fold higher in obese subjects compared with controls (P=0.001). No differences were found between Cushing's patients and controls. Western blot analysis supported the mRNA expression results. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show the involvement of 11beta-HSD1 enzyme invisceral obesity, which is more evident in severely obese patients than in Cushing's syndrome patients. The lack of increase of 11beta-HSD1 expression in Cushing's syndrome could suggest downregulation of the enzyme as a result of long-term overstimulation.
Matching As An Econometric Evaluation Estimator

This paper develops the method of matching as an econometric evaluation estimator. A rigorous distribution theory for kernel-based matching is presented. The method of matching is extended to more general conditions than the ones assumed in the statistical literature on the topic. We focus on the method of propensity score matching and show that it is not necessarily better, in the sense of reducing the variance of the resulting estimator, to use the propensity score method even if propensity score is known. We extend the statistical literature on the propensity score by considering the case when it is estimated both parametrically and nonparametrically. We examine the benefits of separability and exclusion restrictions in improving the efficiency of the estimator. Our methods also apply to the econometric selection bias estimator.
Asymptotic shape in a continuum growth model

A continuum growth model is introduced. The state at time t, S t , is a subset of ℝ d and consists of a connected union of randomly sized Euclidean balls, which emerge from outbursts at their centre points. An outburst occurs somewhere in S t after an exponentially distributed time with expected value |S t |-1 and the location of the outburst is uniformly distributed over S t . The main result is that, if the distribution of the radii of the outburst balls has bounded support, then S t grows linearly and S t /t has a nonrandom shape as t → ∞. Due to rotational invariance the asymptotic shape must be a Euclidean ball.
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Some Actions of POPs on Female Reproduction

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated ethers (PBDEs), chloronaftalens (PCNs), and bisphenol A (BPA), are stable, lipophilic pollutants that affect fertility and cause serious reproductive problems, including ovotoxic action, lack of ovulation, premature ovarian failure (POF), or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Most of the representatives of POPs influence the activation of transcription factors, not only activation of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), but also the steroid hormone receptors. This minireview will focus on a variety of PAH activities in oocyte, ovary, placenta, and mammary gland. The complexity and diversity of factors belonging to POPs and disorders of the reproductive function of women indicate that the impact of environmental pollution as an important determinant factor in fertility should not be minimize.
Multi-Valued and Probabilistic Argumentation Frameworks

In this paper we further progress the analysis of the recently introduced multi-valued argumentation frameworks ( ). are an extension of Dung’s abstract argumentation, where arguments have a degree of truth associated with them. Here we describe a list of properties of considering the major multi-valued logics such as those proposed by Godel, Zadeh and Łukasiewicz. We then propose a computational framework that joins multi-valued and probabilistic argumentation frameworks to handle situations where arguments affected by vagueness and/or probabilities coexist. The findings are a contribution to the field of non-monotonic approximate reasoning and they also represent a well-grounded proposal towards the introduction of gradualism in argumentation systems.
Exploring pulse shaping for Z using graded-density impactors on gas guns (Final report for LDRD Project 79879)

While isentropic compression experiment (ICE) techniques have proved useful in deducing the high-pressure compressibility of a wide range of materials, they have encountered difficulties where large-volume phase transitions exist. The present study sought to apply graded-density impactor methods for producing isentropic loading to planar impact experiments to selected such problems. Cerium was chosen due to its 20% compression between 0.7 and 1.0 GPa. A model was constructed based on limited earlier dynamic data, and applied to the design of a suite of experiments. A capability for handling this material was installed. Two experiments were executed using shock/reload techniques with available samples, loading initially to near the gamma-alpha transition, then reloading. As well, two graded-density impactor experiments were conducted with alumina. A method for interpreting ICE data was developed and validated; this uses a wavelet construction for the ramp wave and includes corrections for the ''diffraction'' of wavelets by releases or reloads reflected from the sample/window interface. Alternate methods for constructing graded-density impactors are discussed.
What Is 'Really' Taught As The Content of School Subjects?: Teaching School Subjects As An Alchemy

There is general belief in current reforms that a teacher cannot teach a school subject unless she has adequate knowledge of the disciplinary field of that teaching. Coinciding with this belief is the emphasis in teacher education reforms and research on pedagogical knowledge teachers need for children to learn the content knowledge. The identification of “the best practices” and “the core” teaching knowledge to enact the curriculum exemplifies this belief. “Benchmarks” or standards are indicators of whether the teacher has mastered the core or best practices. The professional, highly skilled teacher is one who exhibits the benchmarks and classified as “effective” and “authentic” in classroom teaching.
Effect of peroxide bleaching on the biaxial flexural strength and modulus of bovine dentin

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide on the biaxial flexural strength and flexural modulus of bovine dentin. Materials and Methods: Thirty coronal dentin disks (0.5 mm thick × 6.0 mm diameter) were prepared from bovine teeth. The disks were randomly divided into three groups (n=10): A control group (unbleached), a group bleached with 10% carbamide peroxide (8 h at 37°C), and a group bleached with 38% hydrogen peroxide (three 10 min applications at 37°C). The specimens were tested in a biaxial flexural apparatus held in a universal testing machine at 1.27 mm/min until failure occurred, and the biaxial mechanical properties were calculated. For each test parameter, the data were statistically analyzed by Fisher′s PLSD test (predetermined α = 0.05). Results: The group bleached with 38% hydrogen peroxide demonstrated significantly lower flexural strength than the unbleached control group. Hydrogen peroxide treatment resulted in a significantly lower flexural modulus compared with the control group and with carbamide peroxide bleaching. Conclusion: Exposure of dentin to hydrogen peroxide significantly reduced both the flexural strength and the flexural modulus compared with the no-treatment control, whereas exposure to carbamide peroxide did not significantly affect either parameter.
The Many Hats of Juvenile Probation Officers

The role of juvenile probation officers (JPOs) involves a balancing act between “child saving” and community safety activities. In this study, we examine JPOs’ supervision strategies and how these fit within a juvenile justice framework. Using surveys and latent class analysis, we examine the extent to which JPOs engage in a variety of case management and supervision strategies. Findings reveal little evidence supporting a purely law enforcement role and identified a new class of JPOs that does not fit within the traditional role definitions but focuses on a pro forma role that was nonengaged in case management and supervision activities.
Mitigating Performance Degradation in Congested Sensor Networks

Data generated in wireless sensor networks may not all be alike: some data may be more important than others and hence may have different delivery requirements. In this paper, we address differentiated data delivery in the presence of congestion in wireless sensor networks. We propose a class of algorithms that enforce differentiated routing based on the congested areas of a network and data priority. The basic protocol, called congestion-aware routing (CAR), discovers the congested zone of the network that exists between high-priority data sources and the data sink and, using simple forwarding rules, dedicates this portion of the network to forwarding primarily high-priority traffic. Since CAR requires some overhead for establishing the high-priority routing zone, it is unsuitable for highly mobile data sources. To accommodate these, we define MAC-enhanced CAR (MCAR), which includes MAC-layer enhancements and a protocol for forming high-priority paths on the fly for each burst of data. MCAR effectively handles the mobility of high-priority data sources, at the expense of degrading the performance of low-priority traffic. We present extensive simulation results for CAR and MCAR, and an implementation of MCAR on a 48-node testbed.
Exploring trust and distrust as conceptually and empirically distinct constructs: Association with symmetrical communication and public engagement across four pairings of trust and distrust

ABSTRACT Existing relationship research has interpreted low trust as being equivalent to high distrust and high trust as the evidence of low distrust, which has failed to capture the full scope of the functions of trust and distrust in organization–public relationships. Recent research in this area suggests that trust and distrust might simultaneously exist during relational interactions and might play uniquely positive and negative functions in certain social contexts. The main purpose of this study was to offer a new insight in trust–distrust research by providing distinctions in conceptualization and operationalization between trust and distrust. This study also empirically tested the functions of four pairings of trust and distrust on two core public relations concepts (i.e., symmetrical communication and public engagement). The results from the surveys (N = 704; in 20 companies) of US consumers showed sound discriminant validity of trust and distrust. Further, the statistical results revealed that symmetrical communication and public engagement were most strongly associated with the high trust and high distrust pairing, supporting the utilities of distrust in public relations and the coexistence of trust and distrust in social interactions.
Physical Abuse Victimization and Violence in the Transition to Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Alcohol and Drug Use

ABSTRACT In the present paper we examine the association between physical abuse victimization in childhood and violent criminal behavior in the transition from adolescence to adulthood (TAA). Of central interest is whether that association is indirect, through the impact of abuse victimization on alcohol and drug use. We employ a statistical test for indirect effects, using a design that also applies Savage and Wozniak’s (2016) “differential etiology of violence” standard. The data suggest that the effect of physical abuse on violence in the TAA is partially indirect, mediated by alcohol and drug use. A control for nonviolent offending is applied to build confidence that the dynamic between abuse victimization and substance use is a differential predictor of violence.
A Heterogeneous System for Real-Time Detection with AdaBoost

AdaBoost algorithm based on Haar-like features can achieves high accuracy (above 95%) in object detection. Meanwhile massive computing power is needed to implement the cascaded classifiers involved in AdaBoost detection. To solve this problem, several dedicated hardware solutions have been proposed for real-time applications. In this work, a novel heterogeneous architecture of an AdaBoost detector is presented. This architecture achieves higher performance while consuming fewer hardware resources. By combining an integrated ARM Cortex-A9 processor with a dedicated accelerator, this architecture can be configured to realize various objects detection by simply loading different parameters. 2-D parallelism is involved in accelerator unit combination which brings more flexibility. This scheme is implemented on Xilinx ZC702 platform, the experiment result shows that 40 QVGA frames per second can be achieved for real-time face detection. The accelerator achieves more than 13 times improvement over the OpenCV implementation on a standalone Cortex-A9 w.r. t execution speed. Meanwhile, the accelerator consumes 40% less FPGA hardware resources than the prior-art implementation.
Orbital precession due to central-force perturbations

We calculate the perifocus precession of Keplerian orbits under the influence of arbitrary central-force perturbations. Our result is in the form of a one-dimensional integral that is straightforward to evaluate numerically. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our formula for the case of the Yukawa potential. We obtain analytic results for potentials of the form $V(r)=\ensuremath{\alpha}{r}^{n}$ and $V(r)=\ensuremath{\alpha}\mathrm{ln}﻿(r/\ensuremath{\lambda})$ in terms of the hypergeometric function $_{2}F_{1}(\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{-}\frac{n}{2},1\ensuremath{-}\frac{n}{2};2;{e}^{2})$, where $e$ is the eccentricity. Our results reproduce the known general relativistic ($n=\ensuremath{-}3$), constant force ($n=1$), and cosmological constant ($n=2$) precession formulas. Planetary perihelion precessions are often used to constrain the sizes of hypothetical new weak forces---our results allow for more precise, and often stronger, constraints on such proposed new forces.