Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Book Reviews

'Contemporary workplaces are peopled by high performing, highly committed individuals, bound together into a common cause by a corporate mission enshrined within a strong organisational culture. Workplaces themselves have been 'transformed' by new technologies, new forms of organisation and a new generation of management thinking that stresses flexibility, quality, teamwork and empowerment. ' (p 1)
Metaphor Production in Online Conversation: Gender and Friendship Status

This article details a study of metaphor production by 64 same-gender dyads engaged in 2 persuasive conversations over chat software. Dyads were comprised of friends or strangers. Overall, men produced more metaphor than women, especially slang. Metaphor production differed by gender as a function of friendship status: Men produced the same amount of metaphor when chatting with a friend or a stranger whereas women produced more metaphor when talking to friends. The more literal conversations observed between female strangers may reflect a selective use of metaphor to avoid miscommunication. For men, these data may suggest a willingness to risk being misunderstood for certain benefits, including being humorous and engaging in competitive one-upmanship with other men.
Structure of the 70S Ribosome Complexed with mRNA and tRNA

The crystal structure of the bacterial 70S ribosome refined to 2.8 angstrom resolution reveals atomic details of its interactions with messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA). A metal ion stabilizes a kink in the mRNA that demarcates the boundary between A and P sites, which is potentially important to prevent slippage of mRNA. Metal ions also stabilize the intersubunit interface. The interactions of E-site tRNA with the 50S subunit have both similarities and differences compared to those in the archaeal ribosome. The structure also rationalizes much biochemical and genetic data on translation.
Shape-tailored local descriptors and their application to segmentation and tracking

We propose new dense descriptors for texture segmentation. Given a region of arbitrary shape in an image, these descriptors are formed from shape-dependent scale spaces of oriented gradients. These scale spaces are defined by Poisson-like partial differential equations. A key property of our new descriptors is that they do not aggregate image data across the boundary of the region, in contrast to existing descriptors based on aggregation of oriented gradients. As an example, we show how the descriptor can be incorporated in a Mumford-Shah energy for texture segmentation. We test our method on several challenging datasets for texture segmentation and textured object tracking. Experiments indicate that our descriptors lead to more accurate segmentation than non-shape dependent descriptors and the state-of-the-art in texture segmentation.
The fourth way: the inspiring future for educational change

Written at the height of the credit crunch, but also at a high point of optimism, this book is a yes-we-can manifesto for educational change. Recapitulating and building on the research and learning of the authors and many others, it seeks to seize the moment when all seemed possible just after Obama’s election, taking to heart his (then) chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel’s adopted dictum: ‘never let a good crisis go to waste’. Andy Hargreaves and Dennis Shirley, educational change gurus with fully-paid-up liberal democratic credentials, are aiming for impact, relevance, and engagement with a broad audience. Reading this book now may, as they intend, renew our inspiration but also tests it, by prompting three questions. As the Tea Party continues and the bankers’ bonuses return, has the ship of state already washed up on the reefs of greed in the squalls of hate, or can we still allow the audacity of hope? Can we really identify a Fourth Way, and was there ever even a Third Way? And maybe a fourth question: who are the intended audience? As a student and practitioner of higher educational management and policy I may be at the margins of that audience, but the book’s argument can nevertheless be applied with advantage to the current travails of English higher education policy. After the global financial crisis ‘the status quo is no longer an option’. Hargreaves and Shirley start from here, setting out their credo assertively. It is ‘askew’ to argue for: British Journal of Sociology of Education Vol. 32, No. 4, July 2011, 643–663
Peptide YY: obesity's cause and cure?

RECENTLY, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided for the present against approving the cannabinoid receptor antagonist Rimonabant® for the treatment of obesity in the United States. This decision mainly resulted from concerns based on study results showing that the drug’s benefits would not outweigh its risks for side effects. This decision further diminished already limited hopes, that a potent and safe anti-obesity drug would soon emerge and remove one of the most serious health threats to industrialized and developing societies of today and tomorrow. What would a new drug candidate have to become a perfect anti-obesity agent? Such a perfect anti-obesity molecule should not only lead to sustained loss of body fat, but also induce the necessary negative energy balance without causing undesired side effects. What’s more, a perfect anti-obesity agent would preferably be a naturally occurring, endogenous, molecule and it should target a known specific mechanism. Finally, it should remove the cause for obesity rather than treating symptoms of the disease. Looking at these requirements, it seems that such a silver bullet may already be available: the gastrointestinal hormone, peptide YY (PYY). Based on published data, peptide YY may be the only currently known molecule which matches these criteria without exception: PYY has been reported to induce a negative energy balance by potently decreasing food intake in rodents (1) and humans (2) without causing any undesired side effects (1,2). This gut peptide is a naturally occurring hormone which is secreted by endocrine L-cells of the colon (3). The reported mechanism of action of its predominantly circulating form, PYY3-36, is based on the
Distinguishing Differential Testlet Functioning From Differential Bundle Functioning Using the Multilevel Measurement Model

This study extends the multilevel measurement model to handle testlet-based dependencies. A flexible two-level testlet response model (the MMMT-2 model) for dichotomous items is introduced that permits assessment of differential testlet functioning (DTLF). A distinction is made between this study’s conceptualization of DTLF and that of differential bundle functioning (DBF) with an emphasis on the practical utility of decomposing differential functioning into item- and testlet-specific components. A small-scale simulation study is also conducted to assess estimation of the MMMT-2 model and its measures of DIF and DTLF when compared with SIBTEST’s estimation of DIF and DBF. Results support use of the MMMT-2 model for assessing impact, DIF, and DTLF for tests that include testlet-based dichotomous items with equal item discriminations.
On Testing for Impropriety of Complex-Valued Gaussian Vectors

We consider the problem of testing whether a complex-valued random vector is proper, i.e., is uncorrelated with its complex conjugate. We formulate the testing problem in terms of real-valued Gaussian random vectors, so we can make use of some useful existing results which enable us to study the null distributions of two test statistics. The tests depend only on the sample-size n and the dimensionality of the vector p . The basic behaviors of the distributions of the test statistics are derived and critical values (thresholds) are calculated and presented for certain (n,p) values. For one of these tests we derive a distributional approximation for a transform of the statistic, potentially very useful in practice for rapid and simple testing. We also study the power (detection probability) of the tests. Our results mean that testing for propriety can be a practical and undaunting procedure.
ACO-OFDM-Specified Recoverable Upper Clipping With Efficient Detection for Optical Wireless Communications

The high peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR) of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) degrades the performance in optical wireless communication systems. This paper proposes a modified asymmetrically clipped optical OFDM (ACO-OFDM) with low PAPR via introducing a recoverable upper-clipping (RoC) procedure. Although some information is clipped by a predetermined peak threshold, the clipped error information is kept and repositioned in our proposed scheme, which is named RoC-ACO-OFDM, instead of simply being dropped in conventional schemes. The proposed method makes full use of the specific structure of ACO-OFDM signals in the time domain, where half of the positions are forced to zeros within an OFDM symbol. The zero-valued positions are utilized to carry the clipped error information. Moreover, we accordingly present an optimal maximum a posteriori (MAP) detection for the RoC-ACO-OFDM system. To facilitate the usage of RoC-ACO-OFDM in practical applications, an efficient detection method is further developed with near-optimal performance. Simulation results show that the proposed RoC-ACO-OFDM achieves a significant PAPR reduction, while maintaining a competitive bit-error rate performance compared with the conventional schemes.
Dictionary Training for Sparse Representation as Generalization of K-Means Clustering

Recent dictionary training algorithms for sparse representation like K-SVD, MOD, and their variation are reminiscent of K-means clustering, and this letter investigates such algorithms from that viewpoint. It shows: though K-SVD is sequential like K-means, it fails to simplify to K-means by destroying the structure in the sparse coefficients. In contrast, MOD can be viewed as a parallel generalization of K-means, which simplifies to K-means without perturbing the sparse coefficients. Keeping memory usage in mind, we propose an alternative to MOD; a sequential generalization of K-means (SGK). While experiments suggest a comparable training performances across the algorithms, complexity analysis shows MOD and SGK to be faster under a dimensionality condition.
Attributes of Excellence in Various Professions: Their Relevance to the Selection of Gifted/Talented Persons

Grades will predict grades and the academic-type tests will predict grades but they have been found through research studies to be poor predictors or no predictors at all of who will be the best in professions. The troublesome answer generally is that professional schools do not select the persons who will become the best professionals in their fields, nor who will best keep up-to-date with new knowledge and techniques in their careers. The main exception to this general finding occurs in the field of professional athletics and in the entertainment and artistic fields. The example given comes from the Dallas Cowboys scouting data and outcome of potential football recruits in their professional careers. Their correlations are about . 70 with career success, whereas predictors from professional schools range from zeros to about +. 20 or slightly higher—such predictors from professional schools still miss over 90% or even over 95% of the target, i.e., what is involved in succeeding in each of the professions. Consequently, neither those chosen into most professions nor their future clients will be well served by such poor predictive procedures.
Specialized Counseling Services for Gifted Youth and Their Families: A Needs Assessment

Although many authors have recommended counseling for the gifted (Colangelo, 1991; Kerr, 1986; Silverman, 1993b), little research has been done to find out what types of counseling services parents, teachers, and counseling professionals believe to be most beneficial to the development of gifted and talented individuals (Myers & Pace, 1986; Passow, 1991; Shore, Cornell, Robinson, & Ward, 1991). In this study 335 parents, school personnel, and related counseling professionals were surveyed to determine their perceptions of the specialized counseling needs of gifted children and adolescents as part of a needs assessment for a proposed university-based counseling center. Results indicated that all groups of respondents believed that gifted and talented youth have important social, emotional, family and talent and career development needs that can best be met by differentiated counseling services; and that such services are not readily available to gifted youth. Implications of the study for the development of counseling services and the training of counseling professionals are discussed.
Comparison of functional and quality-of-life outcomes in patients with and without palatomaxillary reconstruction: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND Orodental rehabilitation of hemipalatomaxillectomy defects can be accomplished by using a prosthetic obturator or a vascularized bone-containing free flap. Whereas prosthetic obturation offers several advantages, including the opportunity for immediate dental restoration without the need for further surgery, vascularized bone grafts provide permanent closure of the oronasal communication and bone sufficient for the placement of osseointegrated implants. OBJECTIVE To compare the functional and quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in patients rehabilitated with a prosthetic obturator with defect-matched patients who underwent reconstruction with a vascularized bone-containing free flap. METHODS Four hemipalatomaxillectomy patients rehabilitated with a tissue-borne prosthetic obturator were compared with 4 defect-matched hemipalatomaxillectomy patients who underwent reconstruction with a vascularized bone-containing free flap. All of the patients were objectively assessed for speech, mastication, and QOL. Functional status was assessed by mastication testing, voice analysis, and nasorhinometry. Swallowing-related QOL was assessed using a patient-reported, validated swallowing QOL questionnaire, and donor site morbidity was assessed using upper extremity and lower extremity questionnaires. RESULTS Patients who underwent reconstruction with a vascularized bone-containing free flap achieved higher mastication and speech assessment scores with less oronasal reflux than defect-matched patients rehabilitated with a prosthetic obturator. Swallowing QOL and donor site assessments demonstrated that compared with their prosthetic counterparts, reconstruction patients enjoyed a better QOL without incurring significant donor site morbidity. CONCLUSIONS Although palatomaxillary reconstruction with vascularized bone-containing free flaps requires a second operative site, this method of orodental rehabilitation of the hemipalatomaxillectomy defect can achieve superior functional and QOL outcomes relative to defect-matched patients rehabilitated with a prosthetic obturator.
Prevalence and correlates of youth gambling in Scotland

The present research had the purpose of establishing baseline rate for the prevalence of youth problem gambling in Scotland. A cluster-design involved the distribution of questionnaires to youngsters in a classroom setting, with twelve schools from across Glasgow and North Lanarkshire participating in the research. A total of 2,043 youngsters aged between eleven and sixteen years of age (mean = 13.7) particpated in the study, with each participant obtained representing one hundred and ninety young people aged between eleven and sixteen across Scotland. Two questionnaires were employed in the study, with the first being designed by the authors to investigate types, frequency and correlates of gambling, and the second being the DSM-IV-J (Fisher, ). The prevalence of problem gambling in this study was 9.0 percent, with a further 15.1 percent deemed to be at-risk gamblers. By far the most popular type of youth gambling was fruit machines, regardless of gambling group. The high rates of problem and at-risk gambling clearly highlights the popularity of gambling in modern society and moreover the need for appropriate intervention strategies aimed at youth problem gramblers, possibly as early as twelve years of age. Worryingly, treatment for problem gamblers is virtually non-existent in Scotland.
A Common Function of Basal Ganglia-Cortical Circuits Subserving Speed in Both Motor and Cognitive Domains

Abstract Distinct regions of the frontal cortex connect with their basal ganglia and thalamic counterparts, constituting largely segregated basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (BTC) circuits. However, any common role of the BTC circuits in different behavioral domains remains unclear. Indeed, whether dysfunctional motor and cognitive BTC circuits are responsible for motor slowing and cognitive slowing, respectively, in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a matter of debate. Here, we used an effortful behavioral paradigm in which the effects of task rate on accuracy were tested in movement, imagery, and calculation tasks in humans. Using nonlinear fitting, we separated baseline accuracy (Abase) and “agility” (ability to function quickly) components of performance in healthy participants and then confirmed reduced agility and preserved Abase for the three tasks in PD. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tractography, we explored the neural substrates underlying speeded performance of the three tasks in healthy participants, suggesting the involvement of distinct BTC circuits in cognitive and motor agility. Language and motor BTC circuits were specifically active during speeded performance of the calculation and movement tasks, respectively, whereas premotor BTC circuits revealed activity for speeded performance of all tasks. Finally, PD showed reduced task rate-correlated activity in the language BTC circuits for speeded calculation, in the premotor BTC circuit for speeded imagery, and in the motor BTC circuits for speeded movement, as compared with controls. The present study casts light on the anatomo-functional organization of the BTC circuits and their parallel roles in invigorating movement and cognition through a function of dopamine.
Cross Culture and Business Practices: Are They Coterminous or Cross-Verging?

In recent years multi-cultural practices and values are becoming significantly conspicuous in corporate business. Cultures and managerial values became conterminous when organisations cross boundaries. The synergy between corporate culture and managerial values institute cross-cultural practices garnering effective strategic options, aiding to perform a set task successfully. This has far fetching effect on what people in different cultures perceive and how these cultural values affect business affairs in an altogether different environment. In essence, organisational practices are based on culture and most organisations avoid cultural risks to manage their businesses. Skills, capabilities, knowledge, technology and experiences, are better facilitated by cross-cultural approach, particularly in geo-centric organisations. This paper discusses the phenomenon as a global norm implying its effect on business practices. However cross-cultural practices still face many contradictions, paradoxes and conflicts irrespective of its popularity.
Complexity Theory and Strategic Change: An Empirically Informed Critique

We present a four-year ethnographic study of a public-sector organization and use narrative to describe its development in terms of four complexity theory concepts: sensitivity to initial conditions, negative and positive feedback processes, disequilibrium and emergent order. Our study indicates that order emerges at the boundary between the organization's legitimate and shadow systems. We suggest that the underlying dynamic leading to the emergent order is the need to reduce anxiety. Our findings cause us to question the assertion that organizations are naturally complex adaptive systems producing novel forms of order. We propose an alternate view that in social systems, equilibrium-seeking behaviour is the norm; such systems can self-organize into hierarchy. We draw attention to some of the difficulties we found in applying complexity-theory concepts to a social system and conclude by advocating the development of complexity theory through the incorporation of insights from psychology and social theory.
Apoptosis and Cellular Activation in the Pathogenesis of Acute Vascular Rejection

Abstract— Acute vascular or humoral rejection, a vexing outcome of organ transplantation, has been attributed by some to activation and by others to apoptosis of endothelial cells in the graft. We asked which of these processes causes acute vascular rejection by tracing the processes during the development of acute vascular rejection in porcine cardiac xenografts performed in baboons. Apoptosis, assayed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL), expression of activated caspase-3, and proapoptotic genes Bax and Bcl-xL, was not detected until acute vascular rejection was well advanced, and even then, apoptosis was largely confined to myocytes. Activation of the endothelium, as evidenced by expansion of rough endoplasmic reticulum and increased ribosomal antigen and phospho-p70 S6 kinase, occurred early in the course of acute vascular rejection and progressed through the disease process. These findings suggest that acute vascular rejection is caused by an active metabolic process and not by apoptosis in the endothelium.
Trait argumentativeness as a predictor of communicative behavior in situations requiring argument

Same‐sex dyads were created which consisted of a high or low argumentative paired with a moderate. The subjects argued a controversial topic and communication behavior was assessed by a same‐sex observer. Analysis revealed seven dimensions of communication behavior discriminated between high and low argumentatives: flexibility, interest, verbosity, expertise, dynamism, willingness to argue, and argumentative skill.
Cosmic shear from STIS pure parallels - II. Analysis

We report on the marginal detection of cosmic shear on sub-arcmin scales with archive data from the STIS camera on board HST. For the measurement 121 galaxy fields with a field of view of $51'' \times 51''$ are used to obtain an rms cosmic shear of ~4% with $1.5\sigma$ significance. This value is consistent with groundbased results obtained by other groups on larger scales, and with theoretical predictions for a standard Λ CDM cosmology. To show the suitability of STIS for weak shear measurements we carefully investigated the stability of the PSF. We demonstrate that small temporal changes do not affect the cosmic shear measurement by more than ~10%. We also discuss the influence of various weighting and selection schemes for the galaxy ellipticities.
Testing software in age of data privacy: a balancing act

Database-centric applications (DCAs) are common in enterprise computing, and they use nontrivial databases. Testing of DCAs is increasingly outsourced to test centers in order to achieve lower cost and higher quality. When proprietary DCAs are released, their databases should also be made available to test engineers. However, different data privacy laws prevent organizations from sharing this data with test centers because databases contain sensitive information. Currently, testing is performed with anonymized data, which often leads to worse test coverage (such as code coverage) and fewer uncovered faults, thereby reducing the quality of DCAs and obliterating benefits of test outsourcing. To address this issue, we offer a novel approach that combines program analysis with a new data privacy framework that we design to address constraints of software testing. With our approach, organizations can balance the level of privacy with needs of testing. We have built a tool for our approach and applied it to nontrivial Java DCAs. Our results show that test coverage can be preserved at a higher level by anonymizing data based on their effect on corresponding DCAs.