Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of the String Project in Teacher Training and Community Music Education

The National String Project Consortium was designed to encourage string education majors to become string teachers and to stimulate growth of new school orchestra programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which these goals were accomplished across 13 university sites in 2003-2004. Survey data were obtained from project directors, master teachers, student teachers, children, and parents (N = 1,458). Results indicated the majority of student teachers were music education majors who received professional and financial benefit from participation, and were engaged in authentic string teaching in productive and rewarding settings. Children studied string instruments under satisfying and affordable conditions. The String Project seems to have filled a void where school strings programs do not exist, or functioned to supplement strings instruction available in the schools.
Discrepant body mass index: behaviors associated with height and weight misreporting among US adolescents from the National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study.

BACKGROUND The accuracy and reliability of self-reported height and weight among adolescents in the process of calculating BMI is usually subject to bias. The aim of this study was to determine whether over- and under-reporting of self-reported height and weight existed among US high school students by weight category; if so, to examine anthropometric, behavioral, and demographic factors associated with over- and under-reporting. METHODS Data were retrieved from the National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study, 2010, a nationally representative sample (7160 students, grades 9-12). Analysis of variance was performed to determine any significant difference between weight categories in misreporting. Discriminant function analysis and sequential logistic regression were executed to detect behavioral and demographic predictors of reporting accuracy, respectively. RESULTS The mean over-reporting of height and under-reporting of weight were 1.1 cm and 1.020 kg, respectively, which underestimated BMI and BMI percentile by 0.671 and 2.734, respectively. Use of self-reported height and weight for BMI calculation overestimated prevalence of healthy weight by 3.8% and underestimated prevalence of obesity by 4.1%. Underweight students under-reported height and over-reported weight, whereas overweight and obese students over-reported height and under-reported weight. Reporting accuracy of females was significantly higher. Weight loss behaviors, both healthy and unhealthy, were associated with BMI underestimation, whereas fast foods and screen time were associated with overestimation. CONCLUSION Whenever possible, measuring height and weight is essential. However, because many studies must rely on self-reported values alone, additional research should examine the relationships between misreport of anthropometric data and lifestyle features in diverse adolescent samples to better interpret self-reported anthropometric data.
The Interaction Between Dietary Fructose and Magnesium Adversely Affects Macromineral Homeostasis in Men

Objective: Studies with rats have found that an interaction between fructose and magnesium affects macromineral metabolism; high dietary fructose significantly increased kidney calcification in both male and female rats, particularly when dietary magnesium was low. This study tests the hypothesis that an interaction between dietary fructose and magnesium adversely affects macromineral homeostasis in men. Methods: Eleven men aged 22 to 40 years were fed a mixed, Western diet for four 42-day dietary periods in which dietary magnesium was either approximately 170 or 370 mg/day and dietary fructose was either 4% or 20% of energy. A decaffeinated beverage containing high fructose corn syrup replaced cornstarch, bread and rice in the low fructose diet to give the high fructose diet. Results: High dietary fructose significantly (p<0.01) increased magnesium balance during both low and high dietary magnesium intakes. Ultrafilterable and ionized serum magnesium also apparently were related to magnesium and fructose intakes; they were higher when fructose was fed and when Mg intakes were high. High fructose depressed calcium balance: the effect tended to be more marked when dietary Mg was low. High dietary fructose also significantly (p<0.005) decreased phosphorous balance. Urinary phosphorous losses were significantly (p<0.001) higher when high dietary fructose was fed. High dietary fructose also increased the concentration of serum alkaline phosphatase (p<0.005). Conclusion: These findings indicate that dietary fructose adversely affects macromineral homeostasis in humans and suggest further studies to see if a high fructose diet coupled with low dietary magnesium and marginal calcium leads to bone loss.
Hierarchical Temporal Memory Based on Spin-Neurons and Resistive Memory for Energy-Efficient Brain-Inspired Computing

Hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) tries to mimic the computing in cerebral neocortex. It identifies spatial and temporal patterns in the input for making inferences. This may require a large number of computationally expensive tasks, such as dot product evaluations. Nanodevices that can provide direct mapping for such primitives are of great interest. In this paper, we propose that the computing blocks for HTM can be mapped using low-voltage, magnetometallic spin-neurons combined with an emerging resistive crossbar network, which involves a comprehensive design at algorithm, architecture, circuit, and device levels. Simulation results show the possibility of more than 200× lower energy as compared with a 45-nm CMOS ASIC design.
Residential Arrangements and Children’s School Engagement

The increase in shared residential arrangements is driven by the belief that it is in the best interest of the child. The maintenance of contact between child and parents can mitigate negative consequences of separation. However, selection mechanisms may account for a positive relationship between shared residential arrangements and child outcomes. This study examines the association between children’s residential arrangements and their school engagement, focusing on the parent–child relationship as a mediator and selection mechanisms. Structural equation models are performed on a sample of 973 secondary school pupils with separated parents from the Leuven Adolescents and Families Study (LAFS; 2008-2011). The results suggest that more parental time is related with a better parent–child relationship, and this leads indirectly to higher school engagement. However, shared residence may also have negative consequences for children and is certainly not the only residential arrangement in which children have a good relationship with both parents.
The Seasonal Variations of Surface Currents in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean: A Comparison of Ship Drift Data With Results From a General Circulation Model

Historical ship drifts from the tropical Atlantic Ocean are compared with surface currents from a general circulation model forced with monthly mean climatological winds. The model accurately reproduces the spatial structure of the currents and its time dependence, which varies considerably from the eastern side of the basin, where a semiannual harmonic is prominent, to the western side, where an annual harmonic is dominant. However, the amplitude of the simulated surface currents in the western side of the basin is too large. Mixing processes in the model appear to be too weak, especially when the winds are weak in regions where the thermocline is deep. High-frequency fluctuations of the winds need to be taken into account, and parameterization of the mixing needs to be improved, especially when the Richardson number is small.
A Smart Meeting Management System With Video Based Seat Detection

Nowadays intelligent meeting management is attracting more and more attention. Compared with most existing smart meeting systems which care more about recording talks during meeting in small meeting room, this paper describes an intelligent meeting management system for large auditorium. A cascade empty seat detection algorithm is embedded in the system to acquire the statuses of each seat. Empty seats are labeled step by step according to the extent of occlusions. Combined with attendee information input in advance, the system could provide people with the seated condition and corresponding information of attendees during the meeting. Experimental results demonstrate that the precision of seat's statuses detection could achieve 99.8%.
Dynamic Angiography and Perfusion Imaging Using Flat Detector CT in the Angiography Suite: A Pilot Study in Patients with Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusions

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Perfusion and angiographic imaging using intravenous contrast application to evaluate stroke patients is now technically feasible by flat detector CT performed by the angiographic system. The aim of this pilot study was to show the feasibility and qualitative comparability of a novel flat detector CT dynamic perfusion and angiographic imaging protocol in comparison with a multimodal stroke MR imaging protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 12 patients with acute stroke, MR imaging and the novel flat detector CT protocol were performed before endovascular treatment. Perfusion parameter maps (MTT, TTP, CBV, CBF) and MIP/volume-rendering technique images obtained by using both modalities (MR imaging and flat detector CT) were compared. RESULTS: Comparison of MIP/volume-rendering technique images demonstrated equivalent visibility of the occlusion site. Qualitative comparison of perfusion parameter maps by using ASPECTS revealed high Pearson correlation coefficients for parameters CBF, MTT, and TTP (0.95–0.98), while for CBV, the coefficient was lower (0.49). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown the feasibility of a novel dynamic flat detector CT perfusion and angiographic protocol for the diagnosis and triage of patients with acute ischemic stroke. In a qualitative comparison, the parameter maps and MIP/volume-rendering technique images compared well with MR imaging. In our opinion, this flat detector CT application may substitute for multisection CT imaging in selected patients with acute stroke so that in the future, patients with acute stroke may be directly referred to the angiography suite, thereby avoiding transportation and saving time.
Understanding Digital Inequality

Digital inequality is one of the most critical issues in the knowledge economy. Governments, businesses, and the public have devoted tremendous resources to address such inequality, yet the results are inconclusive. Theoretical understanding, complemented with theory-based empirical assessment of the phenomenon, is essential to inform effective policy-making and intervention. The context of our investigation is a city government project known as the LaGrange Internet TV initiative that allowed all city residents to access the Internet via their cable TVs at no additional cost. We examine the residents’ acceptance behavior through the lens of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which focuses on attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as explanatory variables of innovation decisions. The theoretical focus of TPB is expanded to include exposure to innovation. Furthermore, we elaborate potential behavioral differences between privileged and underprivileged adopters. The results of the multigroup analysis reveal different behavioral models between the two groups. Enjoyment and confidence in using information and communication technologies (ICT) and accessibility are more influential in shaping ICT innovation decisions for the underprivileged than the privileged. The privileged group has a higher tendency to respond to exposure to innovation and may adopt ICT faster than the underprivileged. Implications are discussed for policy-making and theoretical development.
Physical Education Majors’ Judgments about Inclusion and Teaching Students with Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to analyze the beliefs about inclusion and teaching students with disabilities of physical education (PE) majors from universities in North Carolina (NC). The participants were PE majors ( n = 147) and other enrolled students ( n = 30) at colleges and universities in NC. The research method was descriptive survey (Fraenkel & Wallen, 1990) situated in the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 2001). A survey was used to collect posttest data, which were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA tests to determine differences as a function of gender, ethnicity, and experience teaching persons with disabilities. The participants did not differ in their beliefs about the concept of inclusion. In contrast, there were differences as a function of gender and ethnicity in acceptance of teaching students with disabilities and perceived need for additional preparation. Implications of this research for professional preparation are discussed.
From monuments to mahallas: contrasting memories in the urban landscape of Osh, Kyrgyzstan

In recent years, social and cultural geographers have begun to interrogate the relationship between memory, space and identity in the towns and cities of post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan. This article advances this research agenda by comparing top-down, or elite, interventions in the commemorative landscape of a Kyrgyzstani city with those taking place from the bottom-up level and being inscribed at street level. Nowhere are the processes of memorialisation and identity building more keenly felt than in Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second city and one which is still recovering from the emotional and physical damage inflicted by 2010's violent inter-ethnic riots. Focusing on changes in the commemorative landscape of Osh since the 2010 Events, this article interrogates the construction of a number of large-scale monuments in the city in recent years, whilst also setting out a number of narratives of memory that seem to have been inscribed in the more mundane spaces of the city. Comparing and contrasting these narratives enables the researcher to uncover patterns of convergence and conflict between the narratives of memory privileged by the city authorities and those expressed by non-elite actors, and warns that such conflicts risk being exacerbated by planned changes to the physical fabric of the city.
Status concerns and financial debts in adolescents

Are status concerns associated with debts? Social comparison theory suggests that three status-based motives may underlie consumption: status enhancement, maintenance, and restoration. We tested whether each motive contributed to adolescents’ consumer debt. Status restoration appeared the best predictor of adolescents’ debt. Furthermore, the association between status restoration and debt was only significant for people with no other means to regain status. This suggests that accumulation of consumption debt is in fact the result of a strategy that is aimed at status restoration. This confirms ideas about the social nature of consumption and extends insights into the psychological nature of debt behavior.
Facial Landmark Localisation by Matching Simple Descriptors

facial feature localisation. The work here uses a basic graph model (three vertices and three arcs) to locate the inner eye corners and the nose tip simultaneously. We intend to extend this to a larger set of the eleven features that exist in our ground truth of the Face Recognition Grand Challenge (FRGC) database. We apply the structural matching algorithm " relaxation by elimination " using a simple " distance to local plane " node property and a " Euclidean distance " arc property. After the graph matching process has eliminated unlikely candidates, the most likely feature combination (left eye, right eye and nose tip) is selected, by exhaustive search, as the minimum Mahalanobis distance over a six dimensional space, corresponding to three node variables and three arc variables. Our results on the 3D FRGC database are presented and discussed.
Efficient, Highly Scalable Wavelet Image Coding for Network Applications

A new efficient, highly scalable wavelet image coding algorithm is proposed in this paper. Two techniques-morphological representation and quadtree partitioning-are efficiently combined to exploit the nature of wavelet coefficients. Thanks to the list structure, the new coding algorithm achieves fine fractional bit-plane coding with negligible additional complexity. Experiments show that it performs comparable or better than the state-of-the-art codecs. Furthermore, the flexible codec supports both quality and resolution scalability, which is very attractive in many network applications
Association of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels With Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Congestive Heart Failure

Background: The causes of elevated B-Type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are multifactorial. Renal dysfunction has been shown to affect BNP levels in some studies and the diagnostic value of BNP levels in the presence of chronic kidney disease has been questioned. Prior studies have involved small patient populations with variable outcomes noted. This study evaluated the association of BNP levels with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and presence or absence of congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study in which medical records were electronically screened, identified patients with a BNP level and serum creatinine measurement on the same day between December 2002 and March 2006. Results: Of 1739 eligible patients, 537 were positive for CHF and 1202 were negative for CHF by our criteria. There was a clear trend for BNP to be higher with the advancement of CHF, as determined by New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification (P<0.001). Median BNP levels increased from 65 pg/mL in patients without CHF to 496 pg/mL in patients with NYHA class IV CHF (P <0.001), and there was a strong inverse association with eGFR (P <0.001). Conclusion: BNP levels show a strong inverse association with eGFR in both CHF and non-CHF patients. Currently best practice at most institutions involves use of BNP cutoff diagnostic levels not adjusted for eGFR. The data presented underlines that eGFR is a significant confounder of BNP measurement especially when renal status is compromised and interpretation of clinical significance in the presence of elevated BNP measures should take renal status into consideration.
Improving quality of mother-infant relationship and infant attachment in socioeconomically deprived community in South Africa: randomised controlled trial

Objective To assess the efficacy of an intervention designed to improve the mother-infant relationship and security of infant attachment in a South African peri-urban settlement with marked adverse socioeconomic circumstances. Design Randomised controlled trial. Setting Khayelitsha, a peri-urban settlement in South Africa. Participants 449 pregnant women. Interventions The intervention was delivered from late pregnancy and for six months postpartum. Women were visited in their homes by previously untrained lay community workers who provided support and guidance in parenting. The purpose of the intervention was to promote sensitive and responsive parenting and secure infant attachment to the mother. Women in the control group received no therapeutic input from the research team. Main outcome measures Primary outcomes: quality of mother-infant interactions at six and 12 months postpartum; infant attachment security at 18 months. Secondary outcome: maternal depression at six and 12 months. Results The intervention was associated with significant benefit to the mother-infant relationship. At both six and 12 months, compared with control mothers, mothers in the intervention group were significantly more sensitive (6 months: mean difference=0.77 (SD 0.37), t=2.10, P<0.05, d=0.24; 12 months: mean difference=0.42 (0.18), t=−2.04 , P<0.05, d=0.26) and less intrusive (6 months: mean difference=0.68 (0.36), t=2.28, P<0.05, d=0.26; 12 months: mean difference=−1.76 (0.86), t=2.28 , P<0.05, d=0.24) in their interactions with their infants. The intervention was also associated with a higher rate of secure infant attachments at 18 months (116/156 (74%) v 102/162 (63%); Wald=4.74, odds ratio=1.70, P<0.05). Although the prevalence of maternal depressive disorder was not significantly reduced, the intervention had a benefit in terms of maternal depressed mood at six months (z=2.05, P=0.04) on the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale). Conclusions The intervention, delivered by local lay women, had a significant positive impact on the quality of the mother-infant relationship and on security of infant attachment, factors known to predict favourable child development. If these effects persist, and if they are replicated, this intervention holds considerable promise for use in the developing world. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN25664149.
New Techniques for Algorithm Portfolio Design

We present and evaluate new techniques for designing algorithm portfolios. In our view, the problem has both a scheduling aspect and a machine learning aspect. Prior work has largely addressed one of the two aspects in isolation. Building on recent work on the scheduling aspect of the problem, we present a technique that addresses both aspects simultaneously and has attractive theoretical guarantees. Experimentally, we show that this technique can be used to improve the performance of state-of-the-art algorithms for Boolean satisfiability, zero-one integer programming, and A.I. planning.
What is the Normative Role of Logic

In making assertions one takes on commitments to the consistency of what one asserts and to the logical consequences of what one asserts. Although there is no quick link between belief and assertion, the dialectical requirements on assertion feed back into normative constraints on those beliefs that constitute one's evidence. But if we are not certain of many of our beliefs and that uncertainty is modelled in terms of probabilities, then there is at least prima facie incoherence between the normative constraints on belief and the probability-like structure of degrees of belief. I suggest that the norm-governed practice relating to degrees of belief is the evaluation of betting odds.