Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applications of deformation rigidity theory in Von Neumann algebras

This work contains some structural results for von Neumann algebras arising from measure preserving actions by direct products of groups on probability spaces. The technology and the methods we use are a continuation of those used by Chifan and Sinclair in [Ionut Chifan and Thomas Sinclair. On the structural theory of II1 factors of negatively curved groups, ArXiv e-prints, March 2011]. By employing these methods, we obtain new examples of strongly solid factors as well as von Neumann algebras with unique or no Cartan subalgebra. We show for instance that every II1 factor associated with a weakly amenable group in the class S of Ozawa is strongly solid [Narutaka Ozawa. Solid von Neumann algebras, Acta Math., 192 (2004), 111–117]. We also obtain a product version of this result: any maximal abelian *-subalgebra of any II1 factor associated with a finite direct product of weakly amenable groups in the class S of Ozawa has an amenable normalizing algebra. Finally, pairing some of these results with Ioana’s cocycle superrigidity theorem [Adrian Ioana. Cocycle superrigidity for profinite actions of property (T) groups, Duke Math. J., to appear ], we prove that compact actions by finite products of lattices in Sp(n, 1), n ≥ 2, are virtually W ∗-superrigid. The results presented here are joint work with Ionut Chifan and Thomas Sinclair. They constitute the substance of an article which has already been submitted for publication [Ionut Chifan, Thomas Sinclair, and Bogdan Udrea. On the structural theory of II1 factors of negatively curved groups, ii. actions by product groups, ArXiv e-prints, August 2011].
Entropy Regularization for Topic Modelling

Supervised Latent Dirichlet based Topic Models are variants of Latent Dirichlet Topic Models with the additional capability to discriminate the samples. Light Supervision strategies are recently adopted to express the rich domain knowledge in the form of constraints. Posterior Regularization framework is developed for learning models from this weaker form of supervision expressing the set of constraints over the family of posteriors. Modelling arbitrary problem specific dependencies is a non-trivial task, increasing the complexity of already harder inference problem in the context of latent dirichlet based topic models. In the current work we propose posterior regularization method for topic models to capture wide variety of auxiliary supervision. This approach simplifies the computational challenges posed by additional compound terms. We have demonstrated the use of this framework in improving the utility of topic models in the presence of entropy constraints. We have experimented with real word datasets to test the above mentioned techniques.
Evaluating Instructional Effects of Flipped Classroom in Higher Vocational Colleges: A Case Study on Marketing Practice Course

The main purpose of this study is to explore the instructional effects of flipped classroom in marketing practice course in higher vocational education, and to confirm instructional effects by teaching experimental research. The participants of the study are students majoring in marketing. Students in the experimental group received flipped classroom teaching, and the control group received the traditional teaching method. This research evaluates instructional effects by using the students' learning achievements, learning interests and course satisfaction. The research results show that flipped classroom can effectively improve the students' learning achievement, encourage more students to actively participate in active learning, improve students' satisfaction of course, obtaining good results in the practical teaching, but no significant advantage to improve the students' interest in learning.
Investigation of the Mitochondrial Haplogroups M, BM, N, J, K and Their Frequencies in Five Regions in Iran

The frequencies of the Asian (M, BM) and European (N, J, K) mtDNA haplogroups in five major regions of Iran was investigated. Unexpectedly, the frequencies of the Asian haplogroups M and BM were low in Iran (2.34% for haplogroup M; 17.6% for haplogroup BM and 80.06% for haplogroup N). Almost identical frequencies for haplogroups J and K were found in the present study (10.81% and 10.14% for haplogroups J and K, respectively). On the other hand, the frequencies of haplogroups M and BM in Eastern regions were more than their frequencies in Western regions of the country. In contrast, the frequencies of haplogroups J and K in Western regions were more than their frequencies in Eastern regions of Iran. As a result, this study gives evidence for similarity between Iranian population ethnic groups and people from Northwest Asia and Southeast Europe. Our data suggest that Iranian tribes probably played a remarkable role in the formation of these ethnic groups. It gives the indication that the haplogroup J may be older than 6000-10000 years, and probably developed in Iran, and then expanded to different regions in Europe and Northwest Asia. On the other hand, it seems that the super-haplogroup M has developed after the inhabitants of Iran moved to Eastern Asia or this group migrated from Southern Iran/North of Arabian halve O to Pakistan and then to Asia.
Variations in the sense of agency during hypnotic responding: insights from latent profile analysis

The primary phenomenological feature of a response to hypnotic suggestion is the perception that a person is not the author of their actions and experiences. This distortion in volition during hypnotic responding, known as the classic suggestion effect, has the potential to illuminate the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying hypnosis and inform broader models of agency. Here, we sought to clarify interindividual differences in the patterns of agency that participants experience during hypnosis. We applied latent profile analysis, a finite mixture modeling method for partitioning participants into homogeneous classes, to participants’ responses to a standardized behavioral measure of hypnotic suggestibility and an experiential measure of sense of agency during hypnotic responding. The best fitting model suggested that there were 4 discrete response patterns: a low suggestible class, 2 medium suggestible classes, and 1 highly suggestible class. The 2 medium suggestible classes displayed nearly equivalent patterns of behavioral hypnotic responding but diverged in their experience of agency during hypnotic responding: 1 class experienced greater involuntariness during responding, whereas the other experienced greater effortlessness during responding. These results reinforce previous research highlighting differential patterns of hypnotic responding and complement work suggesting that there may be 2 or more phenomenologically distinct modes of hypnotic responding. They also have a number of implications for the measurement of hypnotic responding and for the use of low and medium suggestible individuals in experimental hypnosis research designs.
Efficient or Fortunate? The Impact of Environmental Economic Conditions on Co-Operative Banks

This paper analyses the cost and profit efficiency of Italian co-operative banks. These small financial institutions have homogeneous business model and their performance is strongly influenced by the economic conditions of their local markets. As recognised by various recent studies (Bos et al., 2008), the efficiency measurement has to account for the heterogeneity of environmental conditions. By using a sample of 2683 year observations collected between 2000 and 2005, we estimated cost and profit efficiency using the Stochastic Frontier Analysis and including various environmental variables accounting for disparities among Italian regions. Our results provide evidence that banks in the North-East of Italy are more cost efficient, taking advantage of a favourable environment, while banks in the South of Italy display a higher profit efficiency, probably due to lower competitive pressures.
Homogeneous middles vs. heterogeneous tails, and the end of the ‘Inverted-U’: the share of the rich is what it's all about

This paper examines the current global scene of within-nations distributional disparities. There are three main conclusions: first, that the statistical evidence for the ‘upwards’ side of the “Inverted-U” between inequality and income per capita seems to have vanished, as many lowand low-middle income countries now have a distribution of income similar to that of most middle-income countries (other than those of Latin America and Southern Africa). That is, half of Sub-Saharan Africa and many countries in Asian, including India, China and Vietnam, now have an income distribution similar to that found in North Africa, the Caribbean and the secondtier NICs. And this level is also similar to that of half of the first-tier NICs, the Mediterranean EU and the Anglophone OECD (excluding the US). As a result, about 80% of the world population now live in countries with a Gini around 40. So, the pre-globalisation statistical evidence for the hypothesis that posits that (for whatever reason) from a distributional point of view “things have to get worse before being able to get better” is rapidly drawing to a close. Second, that among middle-income countries it is only Latin America and Southern Africa that are living in an inequality limbo of their own. And third, that within an overall trend of rising inequality, there are two opposite distributional forces at work. One is ‘centrifugal’, and takes place at the two tails of the distribution—leading to an increased diversity across country in the shares appropriated by the top 10 percent and bottom forty percent. The other is ‘centripetal’, and takes place in the middle—leading to a remarkable uniformity across countries in the share of income going to the half of the population located between deciles 5 to 9. Therefore, globalisation is creating a situation where virtually all the within-nation distributional differences are the result of what the very rich and the poor are able to appropriate. In turn, it seems that regardless of the political settlement at work current distributional outcomes are characterised by half of the population (located in the middle and upper-middle of the distribution) acquiring strong ‘property rights’ over half of the national income. The other half, however, seems to be increasingly up for grabs between the very rich and the poor. And if what really matters in distributional terms is the income-share of the rich—because the rest ‘follows’ (middle classes able to defend their shares, and workers with ever more precarious jobs in ever more ‘flexible’ labour markets)—everybody attempting to understand the within-nations disparity of inequality (including myself) should always be reminded of this basic distributional fact following the example of Clinton’s campaign strategist: by sticking a note in our notice boards saying “It is the share of the rich, stupid”.
Feedforward Inhibition Contributes to the Control of Epileptiform Propagation Speed

It is still poorly understood how epileptiform events can recruit cortical circuits. Moreover, the speed of propagation of epileptiform discharges in vivo and in vitro can vary over several orders of magnitude (0.1–100 mm/s), a range difficult to explain by a single mechanism. We previously showed how epileptiform spread in neocortical slices is opposed by a powerful feedforward inhibition ahead of the ictal wave. When this feedforward inhibition is intact, epileptiform spreads very slowly (∼100 μm/s). We now investigate whether changes in this inhibitory restraint can also explain much faster propagation velocities. We made use of a very characteristic pattern of evolution of ictal activity in the zero magnesium (0 Mg2+) model of epilepsy. With each successive ictal event, the number of preictal inhibitory barrages dropped, and in parallel with this change, the propagation velocity increased. There was a highly significant correlation (p < 0.001) between the two measures over a 1000-fold range of velocities, indicating that feedforward inhibition was the prime determinant of the speed of epileptiform propagation. We propose that the speed of propagation is set by the extent of the recruitment steps, which in turn is set by how successfully the feedforward inhibitory restraint contains the excitatory drive. Thus, a single mechanism could account for the wide range of propagation velocities of epileptiform events observed in vitro and in vivo.
Evaluating the OntoNL Framework : a Natural Language Interface Generator for Knowledge Repositories

One of the essential activities when providing a software system in general, is to evaluate the system based on qualitative and quantitative measures. We present in this paper the design and implementation of an evaluation framework for the OntoNL Framework, a natural language interface generator for knowledge repositories. We provide the definition and description of the measures, the methodology of evaluation and the results using an application of the OntoNL Framework. The evaluation framework has been based on the standard, ISO 9126, which is concerned primarily with the definition of quality characteristics to be used in the evaluation of software products.
Seeking resolutions for the inequities within Indigenous education : unearthing causal psychosocial constructs that impact upon educational outcomes

XXX CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2: INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN INEQUITIES AND EDUCATION SYSTEMS 6 Introduction 6 Economic Inequities 7 Employment 7 Income 7 Housing 8 Summary 8 Mental Health Inequities 8 The Complex Nature of Mental Health 8 Trauma 10 Forced Separation 11 Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) . 12 Emotional and behavioural problems. 13 Bullying and racism. 14 Self-esteem. 14 Suicidal behaviour. 15 Summary 15 Physical Health Inequities 15 Self-Perceptions of Health 16 Long-term Health Conditions 16 Smoking 16 Alcohol Consumption 16 Diet 17 Obesity 17 Mortality 17 Summary 18 An Overview of the History of Indigenous Education 19 The Missionary Era 20
The Effect of Clean Water Act Regulation on Corporate Financial Performance : Short-Run versus Long-Run Implications

Opposing theoretical arguments exist regarding the effect of environmental regulation on financial performance. Some studies argue that environmental regulation constrains firms’ abilities to exploit revenue-enhancing or cost-reducing opportunities. Other studies, representing the Porter hypothesis, argue that environmental regulation motivates firms to innovate, improving financial performance. While much of the debate focuses on long-run effects, there are also important short-run effects. This study provides empirical evidence regarding the effect of Clean Water Act regulation on both short-run and long-run financial performance. To generate this evidence, we examine the effect of Clean Water Act regulation, as measured by permitted wastewater discharge limits, on the return on sales, which captures current profitability, and Tobin’s q, which captures investors’ expectations of future profitability, using panel data for publicly-traded firms in the chemical manufacturing industries. We find that Clean Water Act regulation improves short-run financial performance but undermines long-run financial performance. These results suggest that any financial benefits from stricter environmental regulation fade over time.
Synergy between Electrical Coupling and Membrane Properties Promotes Strong Synchronization of Neurons of the Mesencephalic Trigeminal Nucleus

Electrical synapses are known to form networks of extensively coupled neurons in various regions of the mammalian brain. The mesencephalic trigeminal (MesV) nucleus, formed by the somata of primary afferents originating in jaw-closing muscles, constitutes one of the first examples supporting the presence of electrical synapses in the mammalian CNS; however, the properties, functional organization, and developmental emergence of electrical coupling within this structure remain unknown. By combining electrophysiological, tracer coupling, and immunochemical analysis in brain slices of rat and mouse, we found that coupling is mostly restricted to pairs or small clusters of MesV neurons. Electrical transmission is supported by connexin36 (Cx36)-containing gap junctions at somato-somatic contacts where only a small proportion of channels appear to be open (∼0.1%). In marked contrast with most brain structures, coupling among MesV neurons increases with age, such that it is absent during early development and appears at postnatal day 8. Interestingly, the development of coupling parallels the development of intrinsic membrane properties responsible for repetitive firing in these neurons. We found that, acting together, sodium and potassium conductances enhance the transfer of signals with high-frequency content via electrical synapses, leading to strong spiking synchronization of the coupled neurons. Together, our data indicate that coupling in the MesV nucleus is restricted to mostly pairs of somata between which electrical transmission is supported by a surprisingly small fraction of the channels estimated to be present, and that coupling synergically interacts with specific membrane conductances to promote synchronization of these neurons.
New Keck observations of lithium in very metal-poor stars

Lithium abundances have been determined in more than 100 metal-poor halo stars both in the field and in clusters. From these data we find trends of Li with both temperature and metallicity and a real dispersion in Li abundances in the Spite Li plateau. We attribute this dispersion primarily to Li depletion (presumably due to extra mixing induced by stellar rotation) and to Galactic chemical evolution. We derive a primordial Li of 2.44$\,{\pm}\,$0.18 for A(Li)$_p$ = log N(Li/H) + 12.00. This agrees with the Li abundances predicted by the WMAP results. For stars cooler than the Li plateau we have evidence that Li depletion sets in at hotter temperatures for the higher metallicity stars than for the low-metal stars. This is the opposite sense of predictions from stellar models. The smooth transition of the Li content from the Li plateau stars to the cool stars adds weight to the inference of Li depletion in the plateau stars.
Association of Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism of Alpha-Adrenoceptor Gene in Essential Hypertension with or without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Malaysian Subjects

An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of Alpha2B-Adrenoceptor (ADRA2B) gene located on chromosome 2 has been studied extensively in related to cardiovascular diseases. The main aim of the present study was to examine the potential association of D allele frequency of I/D polymorphism of ADRA2B gene in Malaysian essential hypertensive subjects with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study includes 70 hypertensive subjects without T2DM, 65 hypertensive subjects with T2DM and 75 healthy volunteers as control subjects. Genotyping of I/D polymorphism was performed by conventional PCR method. There was significant difference found in age, body mass index, systolic/diastolic blood pressure and high density lipoprotein cholesterol level between the case and control subjects. DD genotypic frequency of I/D polymorphism was significantly higher in hypertensive subjects (42.84% vs. 29.33%; P=0.029) and in hypertensive with T2DM subjects (46.15% vs. 29.33%; P=0.046) than control group. D allele frequency was higher in hypertensive group (67.41%) than control subjects (52.67%). However, no significant difference was found between the three genotypes of I/D polymorphism of ADRA2B gene and the clinical characteristics of the subjects. The result obtained in this study show D allele of ADRA2B gene was associated with essential hypertension with or without T2DM in Malaysian subjects.
Autoreactive T Cells in Healthy Individuals1

The presence of autoreactive CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood of healthy human subjects was investigated after removal of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg). CD4+ T cells that were directed against the type 1 diabetes-associated autoantigen glutamic acid decarboxylase 65, the melanocyte differentiation Ag tyrosinase, and the cancer/testis tumor Ag NY-ESO-1 were readily derived from PBMC of healthy individuals. These autoreactive T cells could be visualized, using Ag-specific class II tetramer reagents, in the peripheral blood of most individuals examined. Addition of CD4+CD25+ Treg back to the CD4+CD25− population suppressed the expansion of the autoreactive T cells. Autoreactive T cells were cloned based on tetramer binding, and expressed characteristic activation markers upon self-Ag stimulation. These results show that autoreactive T cells are present in most healthy individuals and that Treg likely play an important role of keeping these autoreactive T cells in check.
Intracellular pH regulation in neurons from chemosensitive and nonchemosensitive areas of the medulla.

Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation was studied in neurons from two chemosensitive [nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and ventrolateral medulla (VLM)] and two nonchemosensitive [hypoglossal (Hyp) and inferior olive (IO)] areas of the medulla oblongata. Intrinsic buffering power (betaint) was the same in neurons from all regions (46 mM/pH U). Na+/H+ exchange mediated recovery from acidification in all neurons [Ritucci, N. A. , J. B. Dean, and R. W. Putnam. Am. J. Physiol. 273 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 42): R433-R441, 1997]. Cl-/HCO-3 exchange mediated recovery from alkalinization in VLM, Hyp, and IO neurons but was absent from most NTS neurons. The Na+/H+ exchanger from NTS and VLM neurons was fully inhibited when extracellular pH (pHo) <7.0, whereas the exchanger from Hyp and IO neurons was fully inhibited only when pHo <6.7. The Cl-/HCO-3 exchanger from VLM, but not Hyp and IO neurons, was inhibited by pHo of 7.9. These pH regulatory properties resulted in steeper pHi-pHo relationships in neurons from chemosensitive regions compared with those from nonchemosensitive regions. These differences are consistent with a role for changes of pHi as the proximate signal in central chemoreception and changes of pHo in modulating pHi changes.
Tried and Tested: Infant Industry Theory and its Relevance for Africa

African countries in general have not achieved any substantial level of industrialization to date. In response to the abysmal performance of the economies in the continent, the Orthodoxy dictates that African governments must follow the path of minimal intervention and free trade. Under such a context, this paper re-states and analyzes the infant industry theory and presents historical evidence that demonstrates that no major county has ever succeeded in modernization and industrialization without deliberate and intensive infant industry protection and promotion by government. Accordingly, the paper argues that selective, dynamic, predictable and performance based protection and promotion of infant industries, under the context where the government has the willingness and the ability to withdraw the protection and support, is the only tried and tested path for modernization and industrialization in Africa.