Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Students' Epistemological Beliefs in the Domain of Physics and Their Conceptual Change Are Related?.

The purposes of this study were to determine high school students’ epistemological beliefs in the domain of physics and to explore and explain the possible relationship between their beliefs and their conceptual change in physics by taking the students’ learning strategies into account. A multi-case study design was used for the research in order to focus on the epistemological beliefs-conceptual change relationship within several examples. The research was conducted with 17 tenth-grade students studying in an urban high school. Various instruments were used for the study. The following conclusions can be drawn from the study. First, high school students’ level of epistemological beliefs in the domain of physics is very close to sophistication. Second, there is a positive association between students’ physics epistemological beliefs and their learning gains. Third, sophisticated domain-specific epistemological beliefs especially in the dimensions of simplicity of knowledge and quick learning are prerequisite but not adequate for conceptual change. When these beliefs are existed together with advanced learning strategies, knowledge revision is accomplished and scientific knowledge is acquired.
Alternate feature optimization for 3-class underwater target recognition based on SVM classifiers

A novel signal processing method based on alternate feature optimization is introduced and analyzed in this paper. And a new underwater target recognition system using the optimized feature and SVM (support vector machine) is presented here. The system utilizes the alternate feature extraction method to optimize the feature selection process. The optimized feature set feeds a 3-class classification module, which is based on the traditional binary SVM classifier. The optimized feature set reduces the burden of the SVM classifier and improves its learning speed and classification accuracy. The paper includes, the algorithm of alternate feature optimization, the classification mechanism of SVM and the simulation studies. The result indicates that the proposed system has excellent performance.
Documents and debates Social exclusion, sure start and organizational social capital: evaluating inter‐disciplinary multi‐agency working in an education and health work programme

Social policy‐making in the UK under the Labour government has galvanized around the issue of social exclusion, identifying young children (0–4 years) and their families living in areas of high social disadvantage to be particularly at risk. This paper attempts to recover the experiences and views of professionals concerned with the delivery and implementation of a multi‐agency programme tackling the social exclusion of these young children and their families known as Sure Start. The data are based on the analysis of documentation, attendance and observation at meetings, and 32 semi‐structured interviews with members of the inter‐disciplinary team responsible for the Sure Start programme's delivery. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using open coding from grounded theorizing. The paper, in reflecting on the problems and dilemmas of multi‐agency approaches and reported in other research, considers how the preliminary findings from this study suggest the team have managed to accommodate and overcome these potential difficulties, to facilitate an integrated, holistic and user‐centred approach to the programme. The paper concludes by considering the possibility that the team's approach may be conceptually located within an organizational social capital framework as posited by Nahapiet and Ghoshal.
The Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18): norms for an Irish third-level college sample

A baseline assessment of mental health status was conducted in an Irish third-level student population. In addition to a number of other measures, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), a relatively new and unexamined measure in the Irish context, was administered. Based on a quota sample, data were collected from a sample of 763 participants. In line with previous findings, females reported significantly higher levels of symptomatology than males on all three subscales (Somatization, Depression and Anxiety) and the Global Severity Index. Final year students were also noted to have significantly worse mental health than non-final year students. In addition, differences were noted between the present Irish female sample and US women in BSI-18 scores. Results support the use of the BSI-18 in Ireland. The development of specific Irish norms is therefore proposed and provisional norms for third-level college students are provided.
Oxidized LDL Regulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in Human Macrophages and Endothelial Cells Through Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-&ggr;

Abstract— Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been recognized as an angiogenic factor that induces endothelial proliferation and vascular permeability. Recent studies have also suggested that VEGF can promote macrophage migration, which is critical for atherosclerosis. We have reported that VEGF is remarkably expressed in activated macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells within human coronary atherosclerotic lesions, and we have proposed the significance of VEGF in the progression of atherosclerosis. To clarify the mechanism of VEGF expression in atherosclerotic lesions, we examined the regulation of VEGF expression by oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), which is abundant in atherosclerotic arterial walls. A recent report has revealed that peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-&ggr; (PPAR&ggr;) is expressed not only in adipocytes but also in monocytes/macrophages and has suggested that PPAR&ggr; may have a role in the differentiation of monocytes/macrophages. Furthermore, 9- and 13-hydroxy-(S)-10,12-octadecadienoic acid (9- and 13-HODE, respectively), the components of Ox-LDL, may be PPAR&ggr; ligands. Therefore, we investigated the involvement of PPAR&ggr; in the regulation of VEGF by Ox-LDL. PPAR&ggr; expression was detected in human monocyte/macrophage cell lines, human acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells, and human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Ox-LDL (10 to 50 &mgr;g/mL) upregulated VEGF secretion from THP-1 dose-dependently. VEGF mRNA expression in HCAECs was also upregulated by Ox-LDL. The mRNA expression of VEGF in THP-1 cells and HCAECs was also augmented by PPAR&ggr; activators, troglitazone (TRO), and 15-deoxy-&Dgr;12,14-prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2). In contrast, VEGF expression in another monocyte/macrophage cell line, human histiocytic lymphoma cells (U937), which lacks PPAR&ggr; expression, was not augmented by TRO or PGJ2. We established the U937 cell line, which permanently expresses PPAR&ggr; (U937T). TRO and Ox-LDL augmented VEGF expression in U937T. In addition, VEGF production by THP-1 cells was significantly increased by exposure to 9-HODE and 13-HODE. In conclusion, Ox-LDL upregulates VEGF expression in macrophages and endothelial cells, at least in part, through the activation of PPAR&ggr;.
On the Performance of Voltage Stepping for the Simulation of Adaptive, Nonlinear Integrate-and-Fire Neuronal Networks

In traditional event-driven strategies, spike timings are analytically given or calculated with arbitrary precision (up to machine precision). Exact computation is possible only for simplified neuron models, mainly the leaky integrate-and-fire model. In a recent paper, Zheng, Tonnelier, and Martinez (2009) introduced an approximate event-driven strategy, named voltage stepping, that allows the generic simulation of nonlinear spiking neurons. Promising results were achieved in the simulation of single quadratic integrate-and-fire neurons. Here, we assess the performance of voltage stepping in network simulations by considering more complex neurons (quadratic integrate-and-fire neurons with adaptation) coupled with multiple synapses. To handle the discrete nature of synaptic interactions, we recast voltage stepping in a general framework, the discrete event system specification. The efficiency of the method is assessed through simulations and comparisons with a modified time-stepping scheme of the Runge-Kutta type. We demonstrated numerically that the original order of voltage stepping is preserved when simulating connected spiking neurons, independent of the network activity and connectivity.
Getting to Know Abby

The successful inclusion of children with autism is a recent trend. This is the story of Abby, a 6-year-old girl with autism who has had successful educational experiences with her peers. The case study was written collaboratively with Vicki, her mother. Three main points are stressed in the article: (a) the importance of getting to know the child's unique strengths, abilities, and special needs; (b) the impact of a positive attitude, inservice training for staff, and involvement of teachers, therapists, and support staff in team planning; and (c) the benefits of parent involvement in the inclusion setting. The story of Abby's inclusion experience can be instructive and inspiring in providing educators and parents with ideas for making inclusion a success for autistic children.
Conducting Assessments in Technology Needs

Practitioners with an expertise in assistive technology and technology assessments are in demand to be full participants in the selection, planning, and implementation of instruction for students with mild disabilities. Frequently, practitioners with knowledge of assistive technology are assigned to evaluate students with sensory, physical, language, or severe disabilities. Our article highlights aspects of technology assessments and progress monitoring that can be used for students with mild disabilities. Given the impact that technology integration can have on the access that students with mild disabilities have to the general education classroom, we argue that all practitioners should be cognizant of protocols for assistive technology assessment and evaluation and that all evaluation teams should include an assistive technology specialist.
A substantial proportion of microsatellite‐unstable colon tumors carry TP53 mutations while not showing chromosomal instability

Chromosomal instability in colon tumors implies the presence of numerical and structural chromosome aberrations and is further characterized by the absence of microsatellite instability and the occurrence of KRAS and/or TP53 mutations. In a previous screening of 194 colon tumors for both microsatellite instability and TP53 mutation, we found 25 microsatellite‐unstable tumors, in 9 (36%) of which, presumed to be chromosomally stable, there were TP53 mutations. This prompted us to investigate whether a TP53 mutation in these microsatellite‐unstable tumors would be an indicator of chromosomal instability, that is, whether this would be a category of tumors showing both microsatellite and chromosomal instability. For chromosomal instability assessment, we performed array‐comparative genomic hybridization analysis of tumor and control DNA extracted from formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded stage III colon tumor specimens. The array consisted of 435 subtelomere‐specific BACs. We compared all but one (whose DNA was of bad quality) of the microsatellite‐unstable TP53 mutation‐containing tumors (8) with a similarly sized group of microsatellite‐unstable tumors without TP53 mutation (11). Microsatellite‐unstable tumors with a TP53 mutation showed on average 0.9 aberrations (range 0–3) when assessed with this array system. Those without a TP53 mutation showed on average 0.7 aberrations (range 0–2). Thus, microsatellite‐unstable tumors showed few chromosomal abnormalities regardless of TP53 mutation status. Because, in our study, the microsatellite‐stable tumors had on average 3.4chromosomal abnormalities (range 0–7), a clear difference exists between microsatellite‐unstable and ‐stable tumors. Because a substantial proportion of microsatellite‐unstable colon tumors carry a TP53 mutation while showing relativelyfewchromosomal aberrations, a TP53 mutation in these tumors cannot be considered to be an indicator of chromosomal instability. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Potentially inappropriate prescribing of benzodiazepines for older adults and risk of falls during a hospital stay: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND Falls have been identified as a potential adverse event associated with the administration of psychotropic medications to older patients. OBJECTIVE The objective of this exploratory study was to examine the association between potentially inappropriate prescribing of benzodiazepines, as defined by the Beers criteria, by older adults (at least 65 years of age) and the risk of having a fall during acute inpatient care. METHODS This 1-year retrospective cross-sectional study of discharges from a tertiary care hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, used pharmacy data to identify the prescription of benzodiazepines listed in the updated Beers criteria as being associated with an increased risk of falls. These data were linked with information on in-hospital falls from occurrence report forms. RESULTS For 5831 (58.1%) of the 10 044 discharges, the patient had received a prescription for at least one benzodiazepine during the hospital stay. A total of 574 falls were reported (for 374 patients), and 226 (39.4%) of the falls resulted in an injury. According to the Beers criteria, for 936 (9.3%) of the discharges, the patient had received a prescription for at least one potentially inappropriate benzodiazepine. However, there was no statistically significant difference between patients with a prescription for a potentially inappropriate benzodiazepine and those receiving an appropriate or no benzodiazepine in terms of occurrence of falls (4.5% versus 3.8%, p = 0.30) or fall-related injuries (2.6% versus 1.8%, p = 0.08). The median length of stay was about 3 days longer for the former group (9 versus 6 days, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The findings from the current study do not support use of the Beers criteria related to benzodiazepines alone for identifying patients at risk of falls or injuries.
Inequality and Violent Crime*

We investigate the robustness and causality of the link between income inequality and violent crime across countries. First, we study the correlation between the Gini index and homicide and robbery rates within and between countries. Second, we examine the partial correlation by considering other crime determinants. Third, we control for the endogeneity of inequality by isolating its exogenous impact on these crime rates. Fourth, we control for measurement error in crime rates by modeling it as both unobserved country effects and random noise. Finally, we examine the robustness of this partial correlation to alternative measures of inequality. The panel data consist of nonoverlapping 5‐year averages for 39 countries during 1965–95 for homicides and 37 countries during 1970–94 for robberies. Crime rates and inequality are positively correlated within countries and, particularly, between countries, and this correlation reflects causation from inequality to crime rates, even after controlling for other crime determinants.
A Modification of Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa

This case study illustrates the treatment of an adult woman who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN). For approximately 10 years, the client had suffered from various forms of eating disorders and had had several unsuccessful encounters with the health care services. In this study, she was treated with a modification of enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E). CBT-E is a relatively new treatment guide with a transdiagnostic perspective on eating disorders. In all, the treatment consisted of 14 sessions where most sessions were held on a weekly basis. Thereafter, a maintenance and follow-up was conducted via email and with the aid of self-help literature. Treatment time lasted for 8 months followed by a follow-up of 4 months. In this study, the content of each session is described, as are the modifications that were made. The modifications were made to increase motivation and self-esteem, as well as perceived control of eating, which, in itself, is a contribution to increased efficiency and a clarification of important treatment components. Apart from a description of treatment interventions, the study shows the weight gain and other clinically significant components regarding eating disorders that concern, among other things, self-esteem and general mental health. The results of this study demonstrate that this treatment, with the proposed modifications, has been highly effective for this client and hence provides a positive anticipation that this might be a more effective treatment in general for people with AN.
Combinatorial Ranking of Gene Sets to Predict Disease Relapse: The Retinoic Acid Pathway in Early Prostate Cancer

Background Quantitative high-throughput data deposited in consortia such as International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) present opportunities and challenges for computational analyses. Methods We present a computational strategy to systematically rank and investigate a large number (210–220) of clinically testable gene sets, using combinatorial gene subset generation and disease-free survival (DFS) analyses. This approach integrates protein–protein interaction networks, gene expression, DNA methylation, and copy number data, in association with DFS profiles from patient clinical records. Results As a case study, we applied this pipeline to systematically analyze the role of ALDH1A2 in prostate cancer (PCa). We have previously found this gene to have multiple roles in disease and homeostasis, and here we investigate the role of the associated ALDH1A2 gene/protein networks in PCa, using our methodology in combination with PCa patient clinical profiles from ICGC and TCGA databases. Relationships between gene signatures and relapse were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier (KM) log-rank analysis and multivariable Cox regression. Relative expression versus pooled mean from diploid population was used for z-statistics calculation. Gene/protein interaction network analyses generated 11 core genes associated with ALDH1A2; combinatorial ranking of the power set of these core genes identified two gene sets (out of 211 − 1 = 2,047 combinations) with significant correlation with disease relapse (KM log rank p < 0.05). For the more significant of these two sets, referred to as the optimal gene set (OGS), patients have median survival 62.7 months with OGS alterations compared to >150 months without OGS alterations (p = 0.0248, hazard ratio = 2.213, 95% confidence interval = 1.1–4.098). Two genes comprising OGS (CYP26A1 and RDH10) are strongly associated with ALDH1A2 in the retinoic acid (RA) pathways, suggesting a major role of RA signaling in early PCa progression. Our pipeline complements human expertise in the search for prognostic biomarkers in large-scale datasets.
Evaluating the outcomes and implementation of a TaMHS (Targeting Mental Health in Schools) project in four West Midlands (UK) schools using activity theory

Government guidance in 2008 endorsed the “Targeting Mental Health in Schools” (TaMHS) agenda, which sets out to promote mental health in schools through the delivery of universal and targeted interventions. This paper initially defines mental health and outlines the TaMHS initiative. It then offers empirical findings from four focus groups with schools who took part in the TaMHS initiative in one local authority. Socio-cultural activity theory is used as an analytic framework to explore perceived outcomes of TaMHS, as well as providing insight into the processes of TaMHS implementation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings are consistent with existing literature and suggest positive outcomes for children, staff and the whole-school system. Implications for the role of educational psychologists in continuing to promote mental health in schools and considerations for effective implementation are discussed.
Brain Volume, Intracranial Volume, and Dementia

Bigler EK, Tate DF. Brain volume, intracranial volume, and dementia. Invest Radiol 2001;36:539–546. rationale and objectives. Using a large magnetic resonance (MR) imaging data set (n = 532), we investigated the utility of total intracranial volume (TICV) as a correction factor for head size variability when assessing total brain volume (TBV) and the subcortical volumes of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricular system and the hippocampus. methods.A uniform tissue segmentation procedure (analyze) was used to calculate volumes. Total brain volume was compared with TICV in 357 control subjects and 175 patients with various dementing and neuropsychiatric disorders (mixed dementia/neuropsychiatric group). These MR-based TBV/TICV relationships were compared with actual postmortem (n = 87) values obtained from a study of neurologically healthy subjects at the time of death. Comparisons were also made in which temporal horn and hippocampal volumes were corrected by TICV and TBV. Lastly, the ability of corrected TBV and temporal horn and hippocampal volumes to distinguish subjects in the mixed dementia/neuropsychiatric group from controls was examined by logistic regression. results.In the control sample, brain volume averaged 9% of TICV, regardless of age. In contrast, TBV in the mixed dementia/neuropsychiatric subjects showed, on average, a 22% reduction compared with TICV. By plotting TBV/TICV curves, highly significant but different regression lines emerged, wherein a reduction in brain volume in conditions of mixed dementia/neuropsychiatric disorder showed a distinct separation from the norm. The TBV/TICV regression line generated from MR imaging in controls did not differ from the postmortem TBV/TICV regression line. Logistic regression showed a 96% correct classification of mixed dementia/neuropsychiatric subjects from controls by using the TBV/TICV ratio. This technique has the advantage that each subject serves as his or her own control. conclusions.In cases of dementia and neuropsychiatric disorder in persons 65 and older, TBV corrected by TICV readily differentiated this clinical population from controls. This technique is easy and simple to use and has various clinical applications. For temporal horn and hippocampal volume, corrections with TBV rather than TICV may provide more clinically meaningful corrections.
Automatic Facial Action Detection Using Histogram Variation Between Emotional States

This article presents an appearance based method to detect automatically facial actions. Our approach focuses on reducing features sensitivity to identity of the subject. We compute from an expressive image a Local Gabor Binary Pattern (LGBP) histogram and synthesize a LGBP histogram approaching the one we would compute on a neutral face. Difference between these two histograms are used as inputs of Support Vector Machine (SVM) binary detectors associated with a new kernel: the Histogram Difference Intersection (HDI) kernel. Experimental results carried out for 16 Action Units (AUs) on the benchmark Cohn-Kanade database can be compared favorably with two state-of-the-art methods.
Prefabricated auricular cartilage radial forearm free flap reconstruction for cricoid chondrosarcoma

This case describes a subtotal cricoid cartilage defect reconstructed with a prefabricated composite free flap. A 61‐year‐old man with a chondrosarcoma of the cricoid cartilage required a subtotal cricoidectomy. The resulting defect was successfully reconstructed with a two‐stage prefabricated radial forearm free flap utilizing auricular cartilage. Our case further adds to the evidence that prefabricated flaps are reliable in airway reconstruction. Additionally, this provides another option for laryngeal preservation in patients with laryngeal chondrosarcoma. Laryngoscope, 125:2514–2517, 2015