Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF A PREPAID NONMONETARY INCENTIVE ON RESPONSE RATES AND RESPONSE QUALITY IN A FACE-TO-FACE SURVEY

We conducted a randomized experiment on a face-to- face interview survey in order to test the effects on response rates of a prepaid nonmonetary incentive. Results showed a sta- tistically significant increase in response rates, mostly through reduction in refusal rates, in the half sample that received the incentive (a gift-type ballpoint pen) as compared with a no incen- tive control group. The effect appears to be due to greater cooper- ation from incentive recipients at the initial visit by an inter- viewer. Unexpectedly, the incentive group also showed a significantly higher rate of sample ineligibility, possibly due to easier identification of vacant residences or nonexistent ad- dresses. In addition, evidence suggests greater response com- pleteness among responding incentive recipients early in the in- terview, with no evidence of increased measurement error due
Effects of consanguinity on anthropometric measurements of newborn infants

The effects of parental consanguinity on gestational age and birth measurements were evaluated on 2880 newborn infants. Consanguineous marriages were considered in three subgroups: first‐cousin, first‐cousin‐once‐removed and distant‐cousin marriages, versus non‐consanguineous marriages. Anthropometric parameters were weight, length, leg length, head, chest and mid‐arm values obtained within 24 h of birth. No significant differences were found concerning gestational age. Although anthropometric values were slightly less, especially in children from first‐cousin couples, the differences were insignificant for all groups. It was concluded that blood‐relationship alone does not affect such multifactorial traits.
Synaptic weight noise during multilayer perceptron training: fault tolerance and training improvements

The authors develop a mathematical model of the effects of synaptic arithmetic noise in multilayer perceptron training. Predictions are made regarding enhanced fault-tolerance and generalization ability and improved learning trajectory. These predictions are subsequently verified by simulation. The results are perfectly general and have profound implications for the accuracy requirements in multilayer perceptron (MLP) training, particularly in the analog domain.
The assembly of integrin adhesion complexes requires both extracellular matrix and intracellular rho/rac GTPases

Interaction of cells with extracellular matrix via integrin adhesion receptors plays an important role in a wide range of cellular: functions, for example cell growth, movement, and differentiation. Upon interaction with substrate, integrins cluster and associate with a variety of cytoplasmic proteins to form focal complexes and with the actin cytoskeleton. Although the intracellular signals induced by integrins are at present undefined, it is thought that they are mediated by proteins recruited to the focal complexes. It has been suggested, for example, that after recruitment to focal adhesions p125FAK can activate the ERK1/2 MAP kinase cascade. We have previously reported that members of the rho family of small GTPases can trigger the assembly of focal complexes when activated in cells. Using microinjection techniques, we have now examined the role of the extracellular matrix and of the two GTP-binding proteins, rac and rho, in the assembly of integrin complexes in both mouse and human fibroblasts. We find that the interaction of integrins with extracellular matrix alone is not sufficient to induce integrin clustering and focal complex formation. Similarly, activation of rho or rac by extracellular growth factors does not lead to focal complex formation in the absence of matrix. Focal complexes are only assembled in the presence of both matrix and functionally active members of the rho family. In agreement with this, the interaction of integrins with matrix in the absence of rho/rac activity is unable to activate the ERK1/2 kinases in Swiss 3T3 cells. In fact, ERK1/2 can be activated fully by growth factors in the absence of matrix and it seems unlikely, therefore, that the adhesion dependence of fibroblast growth is mediated through the ras/MAP kinase pathway. We conclude that extracellular matrix is not sufficient to trigger focal complex assembly and subsequent integrin-dependent signal transduction in the absence of functionally active members of the rho family of GTPases.
Third-party intervention in intergroup reconciliation: The role of neutrality and common identity with the other conflict party

Third parties, particularly if neutral, have been found to promote instrumental conflict resolution. Using the needs-based model’s theoretical framework, we investigated whether third parties can also promote socioemotional reconciliation. Study 1 (N = 124) revealed that in the context of fraud between universities, conciliatory messages from either the other conflict party or a third party sharing common identity with it increased group members’ willingness to reconcile more than equivalent messages from a neutral third party. Replicating and extending this pattern, Study 2 (N = 177) exposed Israeli Jewish participants to texts which reminded them of historical transgressions conducted by Palestinians or against them. We found that compared to a control condition, messages supposedly conveyed by either Palestinians or Jordanians, but not by the UN, increased Israeli Jews’ willingness to reconcile with Palestinians. These effects were mediated by the extent to which the official conveying these messages was perceived as representing the other conflict party.
Subcultures of Consumption: An Ethnography of the New Bikers

This article introduces the subculture of consumption as an analytic category through which to better understand consumers and the manner in which they organize their lives and identities. Recognizing that consumption activities, product categories, or even brands may serve as the basis for interaction and social cohesion, the concept of the subculture of consumption solves many problems inherent in the use of ascribed social categories as devices for understanding consumer behavior. This article is based on three years of ethnographic fieldwork with Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners. A key feature of the fieldwork was a process of progressive contextualization of the researchers from outsiders to insiders situated within the subculture. Analysis of the social structure, dominant values, and revealing symbolic behaviors of this distinct, consumption-oriented subculture have led to the advancement of a theoretical framework that situates subcultures of consumption in the context of modern consumer culture and discusses, among other implications, a symbiosis between such subcultures and marketing institutions. Transferability of the principal findings of this research to other subcultures of consumption is established through comparisons with ethnographies of other self-selecting, consumption-oriented subcultures.
Neural Specificity Predicts Fluid Processing Ability in Older Adults

We investigated whether individual differences in neural specificity—the distinctiveness of different neural representations—could explain individual differences in cognitive performance in older adults. Neural specificity was estimated based on how accurately multivariate pattern analysis identified neural activation patterns associated with specific experimental conditions. Neural specificity calculated from a same/different task on two categories of visual stimuli (faces and houses) significantly predicted performance on a range of fluid processing behavioral tasks (dot-comparison, digit-symbol, Trails-A, Trails-B, verbal-fluency) in older adults, whereas it did not correlate with a measure of crystallized knowledge (Shipley-vocabulary). In addition, the neural specificity measure accounted for 30% of the variance in a composite measure of fluid processing ability. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that loss of neural specificity, or dedifferentiation, contributes to reduced fluid processing ability in old age.
Student Diversity and Secondary School Change in a Context of Increasingly Standardized Reform

This article analyzes three decades of educational reform strategies pertaining to ethnocultural diversity in the United States and Canada and how they affect the efforts of four secondary schools, two in each context, to respond to increasing student diversity. Data include 186 teacher interviews drawn from a large ethnographic study. The article describes the current effects of increasing standardization on racially diverse schools and concludes with recommendations for policy reform that embrace poststandardization.
Temporal resolution and temporal transfer properties: Gabaergic and cholinergic mechanisms

Temporal resolution is a basic property of the visual system and critically depends upon retinal temporal coding properties which are also of importance for directional coding. Whether the temporal coding properties for directional coding derive form inherent properties or critically depend upon the temporal coding mechanisms is unclear. Here, the influence of acetylcholine and GABA upon photopic temporal coding was investigated in goldfish, using flicker stimuli, in a behavioral and an electrophysiological (ERG) approach. The goldfish temporal resolution ability decreased from more than 90% correct choices at 20 Hz flicker frequency to about 65% at 45 Hz flicker frequency with a flicker fusion frequency of approximately 39 Hz. Blockade of GABAa-receptors reduced the flicker fusion frequency to about 23 Hz, not affecting temporal resolution below 20 Hz flicker frequency. Partial blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors reduced the flicker fusion frequency slightly and lowered the temporal resolution ability in the 25–30 Hz range. Blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors had a smaller effect than the partial blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In ERG-recordings, blocking GABAa-receptors increased the a- and b-wave amplitude, induced a delay, an increase and a slow fall-off of the d-wave. Blocking GABAc-receptors had little effect. Blocking GABAa- or GABAa/c-receptors changed the temporal resolution, when expressed as a linear filter, from a 3rd degree filter with resonance to a low order low-pass filter with a low upper limit frequency. The temporal transfer properties were barely changed by blocking either nicotinic or muscarinic acteylcholine receptors, although ERG-components increased in amplitude to varying degrees. The behavioral and electrophysiological data indicate the important role of GABA for temporal processing but little involvement of the cholinergic system. It is proposed that the interaction of the GABAergic amacrine cell network and bipolar cells determines the gain of the retinal temporal coding in the upper frequency range.
Heightening Fourth-Grade Students' Sensitivity to Sources of Information for Answering Comprehension Questions.

THIS STUDY consisted of two experiments training fourth-grade students to recognize the relationship between comprehension questions and answer sources. In the first experiment, students who received four days of instruction about sources of information for answering comprehension questions did not differ from untrained control group students on three dependent measures. In the second experiment, the length of instruction was extended and conducted by teachers during their reading classes. Four teachers participated in two levels of training, a traditional half-day teacher workshop, or the half-day workshop supplemented by instructional materials and weekly monitoring by researchers with feedback. Six additional teachers did not receive any training, though their students participated in either a practice control group or a no treatment control group. When both trained and control group students were tested on the three dependent measures, significant effects for ability and question types were revealed in predicted directions. Performance of high ability students was superior to average and both were superior to low; performance on text based questions was higher than that on knowledge based questions. Both groups of trained students were generally superior to control groups in their quality of responses.
Bodies and Spaces: An Exploration of Disabled People's Experiences of Public Space

In this paper we consider the ways in which concepts of and attitudes towards ‘disability’ affect disabled people's ability to move freely within public spaces. We first set the paper in context by briefly discussing recent developments in and ongoing debates on the conceptualisation of disability which have accompanied the growing disability rights movement. Next we examine feminist literature relating to the links between biology and the body and the social status of women and draw out parallels for the analysis of disabled people's social situation. We then discuss a possible framework for the analysis of disabled people's experience of public space. Finally, to illustrate the reflexive relationship between bodily and social experience, we draw on in-depth interview material from a case study of visually impaired people in Reading and Leeds, England.
Resonance Enhancement in Silicon-on-Insulator-Based Two-Ring Mach–Zehnder Interferometer

We propose and demonstrate a two-ring coupled Mach-Zehnder interferometer (2RMZI) device that exhibits a sharp resonance with background suppression to give both high finesse and modulation depth. The combination of MZI and the two-ring structure leads to more complete destructive interference that effectively removes the unwanted background envelope effect found in the transmission spectrum of a simple two-ring-two-bus (2R2B) system. The projected finesse enhancement of 2RMZI relative to one-ring coupled MZI and 2R2B is discussed based on best-fit parameter values that match the fabricated devices.
Characterization of Pro-Inflammatory Flagellin Proteins Produced by Lactobacillus ruminis and Related Motile Lactobacilli

Lactobacillus ruminis is one of at least twelve motile but poorly characterized species found in the genus Lactobacillus. Of these, only L. ruminis has been isolated from mammals, and this species may be considered as an autochthonous member of the gastrointestinal microbiota of humans, pigs and cows. Nine L. ruminis strains were investigated here to elucidate the biochemistry and genetics of Lactobacillus motility. Six strains isolated from humans were non-motile while three bovine isolates were motile. A complete set of flagellum biogenesis genes was annotated in the sequenced genomes of two strains, ATCC25644 (human isolate) and ATCC27782 (bovine isolate), but only the latter strain produced flagella. Comparison of the L. ruminis and L. mali DSM20444T motility loci showed that their genetic content and gene-order were broadly similar, although the L. mali motility locus was interrupted by an 11.8 Kb region encoding rhamnose utilization genes that is absent from the L. ruminis motility locus. Phylogenetic analysis of 39 motile bacteria indicated that Lactobacillus motility genes were most closely related to those of motile carnobacteria and enterococci. Transcriptome analysis revealed that motility genes were transcribed at a significantly higher level in motile L. ruminis ATCC27782 than in non-motile ATCC25644. Flagellin proteins were isolated from L. ruminis ATCC27782 and from three other Lactobacillus species, while recombinant flagellin of aflagellate L. ruminis ATCC25644 was expressed and purified from E. coli. These native and recombinant Lactobacillus flagellins, and also flagellate L. ruminis cells, triggered interleukin-8 production in cultured human intestinal epithelial cells in a manner suppressed by short interfering RNA directed against Toll-Like Receptor 5. This study provides genetic, transcriptomic, phylogenetic and immunological insights into the trait of flagellum-mediated motility in the lactobacilli.
The Master Catalogue of stars towards the Magellanic Clouds. I. Multispectral surveys of the Large Magellanic Cloud

The Master Catalogue of stars towards the Magellanic Clouds (MC2) �� is a multi-wavelength reference catalogue. The current paper presents the first results of the MC2 project. We started with a massive cross-identification of the two recently released near-infrared surveys: the DENIS Catalogue towards the Magellanic Clouds (DCMC) with more than 1.3 million sources identified in at least two of the three DENIS filters ( IJK s) and the 2nd Incremental Release of the 2MASS point source catalogue ( JHK s) covering the same region of the sky. Both point source catalogues provide an unprecedented wealth of data on the stellar populations of the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). The cross-matching procedure has been extended to optical wavelength ranges, including the UCAC1 (USNO) and GSC2.2 catalogues. New cross-matching procedures for very large catalogues have been developed and important results on the astrometric and photometric accuracy of the cross-identified catalogues were derived. The cross-matching of large surveys is an essential tool to improve our understanding of their specific contents. This study has been partly supported by the  ��� project that aims at improving access to astronomical
A crisis of definition: culture versus industry in odda, norway

Abstract This article addresses the influence of dominant and traditional ways of grasping the reality in social and economic processes of change. Our point of departure is how the perception of crisis in Odda, a small industrial community in Norway, influences the course of the process of change. The analysis focuses on a heated debate over the exploitation of a large site in the centre of Odda, left after the closure of the key factory. Rather than the economic and social consequences of the closure, the main challenge that arose from the crisis was related to the emergence of ambiguity in the local conceptual framework. Coming to terms with the situation stimulated various attempts to rearticulate the discourse of local development, with the result that industrial and culture‐based perspectives on development came into conflict. The economic crisis became a crisis of definition. In Odda, the industrial discourse finally domesticated the competing cultural discourse, ending years of conflict and inaction. In its explicit focus on the importance of local struggles and the way discourse structures such processes this story about recent developments in Odda complements literature on post‐industrial development.
Support vector machines for speech recognition

Hidden Markov models (HMM) with Gaussian mixture observation densities are the dominant approach in speech recognition. These systems typically use a representational model for acoustic modeling which can often be prone to overfitting and does not translate to improved discrimination. We propose a new paradigm centered on principles of structural risk minimization using a discriminative framework for speech recognition based on support vector machines (SVMs). SVMs have the ability to simultaneously optimize the representational and discriminative ability of the acoustic classifiers. We have developed the first SVM-based large vocabulary speech recognition system that improves performance over traditional HMM-based systems. This hybrid system achieves a state-of-the-art word error rate of 10.6% on a continuous alphadigit task—a 10% improvement relative to an HMM system. On SWITCHBOARD, a large vocabulary task, the system improves performance over a traditional HMM system from 41.6% word error rate to 40.6%. This dissertation discusses several practical issues that arise when SVMs are incorporated into the hybrid system.
Performance analysis of MIMO-MRC system in the presence of multiple interferers and noise over rayleigh fading channels

In this paper, we analyze the performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication links with transmit beamforming and maximum ratio combining (MRC), known as MIMO-MRC, in the presence of multiple interferers and noise over Rayleigh fading channels. First, exact closed-form expressions for the signal-to-noise-plus-interference-ratio (SINR) distribution are calculated, along with the outage probability of the SINR, and the moment generating function (MGF) of the SINR. Second, upper bound and approximation of the average symbol error rate (SER) for pulse amplitude modulation (PAM), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and phase shift keying (PSK) with M-ary signaling are evaluated by using the MGF of the SINR. Third, an exact closed-form expression of the average SER for some modulation formats is derived. Finally, the analytical results are confirmed by numerical simulations.
Editorial: Mixed Methodology Across Disciplines

With this issue, the Journal of Mixed Methods Research celebrates its first birthday in existence. We had an exciting and successful 1st year, and we hope to continue the scholarly level of discourse and dialogue. Editorials in the first issue were predominantly our way of sharing our understanding of the way things were developing in the emerging field of integrated research. We examined a few broad issues such as the definition of mixed methods, mixed methods research questions, and general domains of discourse among mixed methods researchers and methodologists. We hope to continue our editorials in the coming year by focusing on more specific topics, with the idea of generating discussions and ultimately developing common grounds in these specific areas. Some of these topics/issues in need of refocusing or further development are standards for evaluating the adequacy of mixed methods studies, the credibility of findings, teaching of research methods and specifically integrated research methods, and utilizing mixed methods in dissertations. We will also focus in our editorials on guidelines for authors submitting to JMMR, such as the types of contributions that will add to the ‘‘field’’ of mixed methods research. What does it mean when we ask authors to provide an empirical or methodological article that ‘‘adds’’ to the literature? An issue of considerable debate in the past year was the nature of integration/mixing. Various authors have recently commented on the enduring debate regarding feasibility by asking, ‘‘Is mixed methods possible? ’’ The answer in the past few years has been that ‘‘it depends on what is being integrated or mixed. ’’ The question now seems to be shifting to ‘‘What does mixing mean? ’’ and ‘‘Are there discipline-specific mixed methods? ’’ Discipline utilization of mixed methods has been reviewed and discussed in various fields of study (for example, see Brewer & Hunter, 2006, for sociology; Rao & Woolcock, 2004, in international development; and Waszak & Sines, 2003, in psychology). We would like to focus this editorial on a specific aspect of this cross-disciplinary utilization of mixed methods: Is there a field of mixed methodology that transcends disciplinary boundaries? This focus follows our previous editorial (Creswell & Tashakkori, 2007), suggesting that some of the developments in the ‘‘field’’ of mixed methodology have emerged in a ‘‘bottom-up’’ manner from the pragmatic needs of researchers and evaluators in various fields. Pushing this idea a bit further is the view of an international development specialist. Vijayendra Rao has recently suggested that mixed methods has emerged almost independently in various disciplines (personal communication, 2007). Rao calls this the ‘‘disciplinarization of mixed-methods. ’’ According to Rao, this