Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Read Well Kindergarten

Abstract This article reports the outcomes of an experimental evaluation of Read Well Kindergarten (RWK), a program that focuses on the development of vocabulary, phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding, and decoding. Kindergarten teachers in 24 elementary schools in New Mexico and Oregon were randomly assigned, by school, to teach RWK or their own program. Treatment teachers received 2 days of training and taught daily lessons. Project staff assessed 1,520 students at pretest and 1,428 at posttest with measures of vocabulary, phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding, and decoding. Follow-up testing was conducted in fall and spring of first grade. Analyses of final outcomes revealed a statistically significant difference favoring intervention students on curriculum-based measures of sight words and decodable words. Although these results did not generalize to standardized measures, follow-up analyses indicated that the impact of RWK rested on the rate of opportunities for independent student practice for letter names, letter sounds, sight words, and oral reading fluency, collected at the end of kindergarten. The findings suggest the potential efficacy of RWK in conjunction with frequent opportunities for independent practice for developing beginning reading skills.
Shared morpho‐syntactic features in contact varieties of English: article use

: This paper deals with the use of the definite article the and the indefinite article a/an in various ICE corpora. The claims about article use in the varieties under analysis are reexamined in the light of corpus evidence. Distribution patterns of articles across different text types as well as specific usages are discussed in order to characterize the nature of contact varieties, such as Jamaican English, Irish English or Indian English, as opposed to ENL varieties such as British English or New Zealand English. The corpus data reveals the strong influence of text types on usage across all varieties under analysis, but also surprising parallels between the various contact varieties, especially with regard to the use of the definite article.
Modernism, Post Modernism and Organizational Analysis 3: The Contribution of Jacques Derrida

This paper, the third in a series on the relevance of the modernist-post modernist debate to organizational analysis (Cooper and Burrell 1988, Burrell 1988), examines the work of Jacques Derrida. Specifically, Derrida's work is viewed as a contribution to the analysis of process (as opposed to structure) in social systems. In this context, three interrelated themes of his work - deconstruction, writing, 'difference' — are described in some detail and their implications explored for social and organizational analysis. Derrida's account of the logic of writing shows it to be fundamental to the division of labour and therefore to significant dimensions (complexity, formalization) of formal organization. Since 'organization theuries' are themselves products of writing and the division of labour, their essential function is to explain and justify the structures they represent, they are therefore more concerned with maintaining their own consistency and the stability of the organized world they describe rather than critical understanding. This point is illustrated by a detailed deconstruction of two major approaches to the study of bureaucracy (the 'formalist' and 'expertise' models) in organization theory. Finally, it is suggested that the affinity between the logic of writing and the division of labour underlies Michel Foucault's concept of knowledge-power and the development of areas of professionalized knowledge such as accountancy.
Very early diagnosis of chest pain by point-of-care testing: comparison of the diagnostic efficiency of a panel of cardiac biomarkers compared with troponin measurement alone in the RATPAC trial

Objective To assess the impact of triple marker testing on patient management and the diagnostic efficiencies of different biomarker strategies examined. Design A prospective randomised trial of triple marker testing by point-of-care testing (POCT); the Randomised Assessment of Panel Assay of Cardiac markers (RATPAC) study. Setting Six emergency departments. Patients Low-risk patients presenting with chest pain to diagnostic assessment with a cardiac panel measured by POCT or to diagnosis when biomarker measurement was based on central laboratory testing. Interventions 1125 patients were randomly assigned to POCT measurement of the triple marker panel of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), myoglobin and the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) on admission and 90 min from admission. Main Outcome Measures Myocardial infarction (MI) was defined by the universal definition of MI. The following diagnostic strategies were compared by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and comparison of area under the curve (AUC): individual marker values, change (Δ) in CK-MB and myoglobin and the combination of presentation or 90 min value plus Δ value. Results Admission sample measurement of cTnI was the most diagnostically efficient AUC 0.96 (0.93–0.98) with areas under the ROC curve statistically significantly greater than CK-MB 0.85 (0.80–0.90) and myoglobin 0.75 (0.68–0.81). At 90 min cTnI measurement had the highest AUC 0.95 (0.87–1.00) but was statistically significantly different only from Δmyoglobin and ΔCK-MB. Conclusion Measurement of cTnI alone is sufficient for diagnosis. Measurement of a marker panel does not facilitate diagnosis.
A Double-References and Dynamic-Tracking scheme for writing bit-yield improvement of ReRAM

In this paper a novel Double-References and Dynamic-Tracking Writing (DR-DTW) scheme is proposed for Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM) to improve bit-yield due to tail-bit issues and high-temperature resistance variations. Based on this scheme a 128bit HfO2 ReRAM is implemented in UMC 0. 13µm Mixed-Signal process. The test results show that the Ron/Roff window increases to 10×. Compared with transitional Single Voltage Pulse (SVP) and Ramped-Pulse series (RPS) scheme, the writing bit-yield is improved up to nearly 100%.
Resolving Over-Constrained Probabilistic Temporal Problems through Chance Constraint Relaxation

When scheduling tasks for field-deployable systems, our solutions must be robust to the uncertainty inherent in the real world. Although human intuition is trusted to balance reward and risk, humans perform poorly in risk assessment at the scale and complexity of real world problems. In this paper, we present a decision aid system that helps human operators diagnose the source of risk and manage uncertainty in temporal problems. The core of the system is a conflict-directed relaxation algorithm, called Conflict-Directed Chance-constraint Relaxation (CDCR), which specializes in resolving over-constrained temporal problems with probabilistic durations and a chance constraint bounding the risk of failure. Given a temporal problem with uncertain duration, CDCR proposes execution strategies that operate at acceptable risk levels and pinpoints the source of risk. If no such strategy can be found that meets the chance constraint, it can help humans to repair the over-constrained problem by trading off between desirability of solution and acceptable risk levels. The decision aid has been incorporated in a mission advisory system for assisting oceanographers to schedule activities in deep-sea expeditions, and demonstrated its effectiveness in scenarios with realistic uncertainty.
SOA Fiber Ring Lasers: Single- Versus Multiple-Mode Oscillation

Earlier investigations have demonstrated that a narrow bandwidth intracavity filter in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) fiber ring laser results in an output spectrum comprising multiple longitudinal modes, whereas a large bandwidth filter generally leads to quasi-single-mode oscillation. In this paper, we report on a numerical model simulating the SOA fiber ring laser dynamics and compare its predictions with experimental results obtained with two different SOAs. We demonstrate that the observed experimental behavior results from the interplay between the complex transfer function of the intracavity optical filter, fast gain saturation and four-wave mixing (FWM) due to the linewidth enhancement factor. The dispersion introduced by the complex transfer function of the filter can lead to modulation instability, which plays a key role in the laser dynamics that can evolve into a single-longitudinal mode (SLM) operation. We also simulate the behavior of the laser emission when the wavelength of the optical filter is finely tuned.
Pharaoh: Context-Based Structural Retrieval of Cognitive Scripts

Cognitive scripts can act as a basis for representing behavioral tasks and domain knowledge in cognitive systems. Each event in a cognitive script is either temporally or causally linked with preceding and succeeding events. This temporal progression of events is what provides context to a particular cognitive script. In other words, it is this linking that provides a deeper explanation of a key event by defining the settings in which this event occurs i.e. preceding and succeeding events. Contextual information plays a significant role in the retrieval process of cognitive scripts and needs to be considered in the retrieving process of cognitive scripts from large search spaces. Standard retrieval methods have been used on various unstructured data objects, such as text documents, images, audio, mind maps or videos. Other representations appear in logic-based languages that provide a structure that supports information retrieval based on logical reasoning, such as the Web Ontology Language. However, the application of these methods to structured cognitive scripts is not ideal because of the type of contextual information in cognitive scripts. This article presents Pharaoh, a novel context-based retrieval algorithm for cognitive scripts that can be employed in cognitive systems. Pharaoh relies on semantic structure and keyword-based retrieval to retrieve similar cognitive scripts based on a novel similarity measure between a structured query cognitive script and registered cognitive scripts.
Paraspeckles: nuclear bodies built on long noncoding RNA

Paraspeckles are ribonucleoprotein bodies found in the interchromatin space of mammalian cell nuclei. These structures play a role in regulating the expression of certain genes in differentiated cells by nuclear retention of RNA. The core paraspeckle proteins (PSF/SFPQ, P54NRB/NONO, and PSPC1 [paraspeckle protein 1]) are members of the DBHS (Drosophila melanogaster behavior, human splicing) family. These proteins, together with the long nonprotein-coding RNA NEAT1 (MEN-ϵ/β), associate to form paraspeckles and maintain their integrity. Given the large numbers of long noncoding transcripts currently being discovered through whole transcriptome analysis, paraspeckles may be a paradigm for a class of subnuclear bodies formed around long noncoding RNA.
The Effectiveness of Instruction in Cognitive Strategies in Developing Proficiency in Single-Digit Addition

This study compared the relative effectiveness in developing proficiency in single digit addition of direct instruction in cognitive strategies with practice activities designed to facilitate invented strategies. Forty children were matched on sex and written pretest scores and were randomly assigned to either strategy instruction or practice. Posttesting was conducted after 12 weeks of instruction. A delayed posttest was conducted after another 8 weeks. On all dependent measures, the children from the practice group performed as well as, or better than, the strategy instruction group. Although approximately equal numbers of children from each group were detected using the strategies, the practice group used them more effectively. The data indicate that practice produced more effective learning and more effective strategy use.
Does locomotor response to novelty in rats predict susceptibility to develop sensitization to cocaine and PHNO?

It has been suggested that the locomotor response of rats to novelty is positively correlated with motor stimulant effects of acute injections with psychomotor stimulants, and liability to self-administer these drugs. In addition, response to novelty appears to be inversely correlated with an individual's susceptibility to develop behavioural sensitization (an increase in the behavioural response to a given dose of stimulant after repeated treatments). To test some of these putative relationships, 96 rats were allocated to one of two subgroups based on a median split of locomotor responses to novelty. Animals then received 10 successive injections of either vehicle, cocaine (10 mg/kg), or the direct D2 agonist, (+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine (PHNO: 15 μg/kg), and locomotor activity was monitored. Conditioning tests and additional sensitization and cross-sensitization tests were conducted. Results showed that locomotor responses to novelty are not significantly correlated with locomotor effects of either acute injection with cocaine or PHNO, or rate of development of behavioural sensitization to these drugs. However, locomotor responses to novelty did predict level of locomotor and stereotypy responses to cocaine, and to a lessor extent to PHNO. Cocaine-treated, but not PHNO-treated, rats exhibited drug-conditioned-like effects. Cross-sensitization between cocaine and PHNO was not observed, indicating independent mechanisms for sensitization. It is concluded that the locomotor response to novelty can predict level of locomotion and stereotypy produced by cocaine and PHNO, but does not predict the degree or rate of behavioural sensitization to either of these drugs.
Motivational Interviewing Strategies for Disaffected Secondary School Students: A case example

This study considers the application and effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) as an intervention strategy for secondary school pupils experiencing disaffection. Using a case study example, the process of intervention and the use of specific techniques from other psychological approaches are described. Results identify issues concerning the process of MI and discuss implications of MI work for the educational practitioner. In conclusion, a positive evaluation of the general usefulness of the model within current educational psychology practice is made, highlighting possibilities to evaluate applications of MI interventions involving psychologists with younger pupils or teachers and parents.
Stimulation of Hepatic Apolipoprotein A-I Production by Novel Thieno-Triazolodiazepines: Roles of the Classical Benzodiazepine Receptor, PAF Receptor, and Bromodomain Binding

Expression and secretion of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) by cultured liver cells can be markedly stimulated by triazolodiazepines (TZDs). It has been shown previously that the thieno-TZD Ro 11-1464 increases plasma levels of apoA-I and in vivomacrophage reverse cholesterol transport in mice. However, these effects were only seen at high doses, at which the compound could act on central benzodiazepine (BZD) receptors or platelet activating factor (PAF) receptors, interfering with its potential utility. In this work, we describe 2 new thieno-TZDs MDCO-3770 and MDCO-3783, both derived from Ro 11-1464. These compounds display the same high efficacy on apoA-I production, metabolic stability, and lack of cytotoxicity in cultured hepatocytes as Ro 11-1464, but they do not bind to the central BZD receptor and PAF receptor. The quinazoline RVX-208 was less efficacious in stimulating apoA-I production and displayed signs of cytotoxicity. Certain TZDs stimulating apoA-I production are now known to be inhibitors of bromodomain (BRD) extra-terminal (BET) proteins BRDT, BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4, and this inhibition was inferred as a main molecular mechanism for their effect on apoA-I expression. We show here that the thieno-TZD (+)-JQ1, a potent BET inhibitor, strongly stimulated apoA-I production in Hep-G2 cells, but that its enantiomer (−)-JQ1, which has no BET inhibitor activity, also showed considerable effect on apoA-I production. MDCO-3770 and MDCO-3783 also inhibited BRD3 and BRD4 in vitro, with potency somewhat below that of (+)-JQ1. We conclude that the effect of thieno-TZDs on apoA-I expression is not due to inhibition of the BZD or PAF receptors and is not completely explained by transcriptional repression by BET proteins.
Fall Risk Assessments Based on Postural and Dynamic Stability Using Inertial Measurement Unit

Objectives Slip and fall accidents in the workplace are one of the top causes of work related fatalities and injuries. Previous studies have indicated that fall risk was related to postural and dynamic stability. However, the usage of this theoretical relationship was limited by laboratory based measuring instruments. The current study proposed a new method for stability assessment by use of inertial measurement units (IMUs). Methods Accelerations at different body parts were recorded by the IMUs. Postural and local dynamic stability was assessed from these measures and compared with that computed from the traditional method. Results The results demonstrated: 1) significant differences between fall prone and healthy groups in IMU assessed dynamic stability; and 2) better power of discrimination with multi stability index assessed by IMUs. Conclusion The findings can be utilized in the design of a portable screening or monitoring tool for fall risk assessment in various industrial settings.
Incentive-Aligned Conjoint Analysis

Because most conjoint studies are conducted in hypothetical situations with no consumption consequences for the participants, the extent to which the studies are able to uncover “true” consumer preference structures is questionable. Experimental economics literature, with its emphasis on incentive alignment and hypothetical bias, suggests that more realistic incentive-aligned studies result in stronger out-of-sample predictive performance of actual purchase behaviors and provide better estimates of consumer preference structures than do hypothetical studies. To test this hypothesis, the authors design an experiment with conventional (hypothetical) conditions and parallel incentive-aligned counterparts. Using Chinese dinner specials as the context, the authors conduct a field experiment in a Chinese restaurant during dinnertime. The results provide strong evidence in favor of incentive-aligned choice conjoint analysis, in that incentive-aligned choice conjoint outperforms hypothetical choice conjoint in out-of-sample predictions. To determine the robustness of the results, the authors conduct a second study that uses snacks as the context and considers only the choice treatments. This study confirms the results by providing strong evidence in favor of incentive-aligned choice analysis in out-of-sample predictions. The results provide a strong motivation for conjoint practitioners to consider conducting studies in realistic settings using incentive structures that require participants to “live with” their decisions.
Untangling the Racialization of Disabilities

Abstract This article advances an intersectional perspective in the analysis of racial inequities in special education so that theoretical refinement of this problem will strengthen educational equity research and theory. Racial disproportionality in some disability categories continues to affect a sizable number of students in the United States, with dire long-term consequences for the educational trajectories of these learners. After more than four decades, the problem continues to be debated in research, practice, and policy circles. There is consensus among researchers that the racialization of disability embodies complexities that defy linear explanations. But this debate has overlooked the potential of intersectionality to document complexity and to transcend the individual-structure binary that tends to permeate previous scholarship. Indeed, intersectionality's explicit attention to how the complexity of people's everyday experiences is connected to larger historical processes could offer key insights. I analyze how disproportionality research has addressed the intersections of race and disability (along with other markers of oppression) through a contrapuntal reading of works framed with medical, social, and cultural disability models. I conclude with reflections for future research on racial disparities in special education that is mindful of intersectional complexity.
"Skill-Builders": Enhancing Middle School Students' Self-efficacy and Adaptive Learning Strategies in Mathematics

This dissertation presents findings from a study investigating of the effects of a middle-school intervention, using the “Skill-Builders” curriculum, on participating students’ attitudes, self-efficacy, achievement, self-regulated learning, and classroom learning behaviors in mathematics. The main research questions were 1) will a nine week school-counselor-led intervention using the “Skill-Builders” curriculum have a significant effect on the outcome variables of interest, and 2) will the effects be different for females than for males. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for differences between conditions and between sexes on all outcome measures. Results from the study demonstrated statistically significant post-intervention differences between students in the experimental and control conditions on their attitudes toward math learning, self-efficacy, achievement, and self-regulated learning behaviors, and the gains made by students in the experimental condition were maintained at follow-up. Students in the control condition showed no changes or declined on measures of attitudes, achievement, self-efficacy, and self-regulated learning behaviors at post-test and followup. Results also indicated a significant interaction for sex and condition, which suggests that the intervention had different effects for the participating females than the males. Implications of the findings, within the theoretical framework of the study and within the context of school counseling outcome research, are discussed.
Effects of night-reading on daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and academic performance of undergraduate pharmacy students in Nigeria

We evaluated the impact of night reading on daytime sleepiness, quality of sleep and performance of student. Pharmacy students (N= 253, 71.5% response rate) completed a sleep and study lifestyle questionnaire, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and the Epworth sleepiness scale questionnaires, and their grade indices (were obtained. The results showed that the prevalence of night reading was 76.7% and there was a significant (P < 0.05) association between night reading and sleep quality, and also between sleep quality and academic performance. Thus, habitual night reading may affect academic performance, possibly due to the reduced sleep and poor sleep quality of habitual night readers.