Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Structure and Cognitive Orientation

Abstract Purpose To investigate two explanations for how variations in social network structure might produce differences in cognitive and perceptual orientation. One explanation is that the extent to which structures lead people to feel strong social bonds encourages holism. The other is that the extent to which a network leads individuals to be concerned about distal network relations leads to holistic thinking. Methodology An experimental study in which participants interacted in three-person networks of negotiated (with or without a one-exchange rule), generalized, or productive exchange before being administered the framed-line test, a common measure of cognitive and perceptual orientation. Findings Participants in network structures more likely to lead participants to be concerned about what was happening in relationships in the network of which they were not part performed relatively more holistically on the framed-line test. However, these effects did not extend to both modules of the test, and a check on the ordering of networks as reflecting concern with distal network relationships failed. Research limitations and implications The experimental design was structured such that only one of the presented explanations could possibly be supported, whereas they both could be correct. Nevertheless, results do indicate that cognitive orientation did respond to variations in network structure. Value Explanations for cultural differences typically implicate social structure, although the explanations often cannot be directly tested. Results show that social structure can produce effects that mirror differences thought to reflect profound cultural variations.
Oregano Essential Oil Improves Intestinal Morphology and Expression of Tight Junction Proteins Associated with Modulation of Selected Intestinal Bacteria and Immune Status in a Pig Model

Oregano essential oil (OEO) has long been used to improve the health of animals, particularly the health of intestine, which is generally attributed to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. However, how OEO acts in the intestine of pig is still unclear. This study was aimed at elucidating how OEO promotes the intestinal barrier integrity in a pig model. Pigs were fed a control diet alone or one supplemented with 25 mg/kg of OEO for 4 weeks. The OEO-treated pigs showed decreased (P < 0.05) endotoxin level in serum and increased (P < 0.05) villus height and expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the jejunum. These results demonstrated that the integrity of intestinal barrier was improved by OEO treatment. The OEO-treated pigs had a lower (P < 0.05) population of Escherichia coli in the jejunum, ileum, and colon than the control. This is in accordance with the greater inactivation (P < 0.05) of inflammation, which was reflected by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase B (Akt), and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways and expression of inflammatory cytokines in the jejunum. Our results show that OEO promotes intestinal barrier integrity, probably through modulating intestinal bacteria and immune status in pigs.
The Eficiency Effects of Bank Mergers and Acquisitions in a Developing Economy: Evidence from Malaysia

This paper utilises the non-parametric frontier approach, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), to analyse the technical and scale efficiency of domestic incorporated Malaysian commercial banks during the merger year, pre-and post merger period. We found that Malaysian banks have exhibit a commendable overall efficiency level of 95.9% during 1998-2003 hence suggesting minimal input waste of 4.1%. Our results suggest that the merger programme was successful, particularly for the small and medium size banks, which have benefited the most from the merger and expansion via economies of scale. On the other hand our results suggest that the larger banks should shrink to benefit from scale advantages. Decision-makers hence ought to be more cautious in promoting mergers as a means to enjoying efficiency gains.
An Antecedent Model of Team Identification in the Context of Professional Soccer

The current investigation examined the interrelationships among overall sport team identification, specific dimensions of team identification, and behavioral intentions. Using an antecedents approach to guide pre dictions (Dabholkar, Shepherd, & Thorpe, 2000), a model was tested in which overall identification would mediate the relationship between specific dimensions of team identification and behavioral intentions. To test the hypothesized pattern of effects, participants completed a questionnaire packet assessing overall iden tification via the Sport Spectator Identification Scale (Wann & Branscombe, 1993), specific dimensions of identification assessed via the Team Identification Scale (Dimmock & Grove, 2006; Theodorakis, Dimmock, Wann, & Barlas, 2010), and four items assessing behavioral intentions. A series of regression analyses con firmed the predicted pattern of effects. Specifically, both overall identification and the specific dimensions of identification predicted behavioral loyalty and the dimensions predicted overall identification. However, when the dimensions and overall identification were simultaneously entered as predictors of behavioral loy alty, the results indicated that overall identification fully mediated the relationship between specific dimen sions of identification and behavioral loyalty, as the beta scores of the dimensions were reduced to non-significant levels.
Meta-knowledge in systems design: panacea … or undelivered promise?

In this study we present a review of the emerging field of meta-knowledge components as practised over the past decade among a variety of practitioners. We use the artificially defined term “meta-knowledge” to encompass all those different but overlapping notions used by the artificial intelligence and software engineering communities to represent reusable modelling frameworks: ontologies, problem-solving methods, patterns and experience factories and bases, to name but a few. We then elaborate on how meta-knowledge is deployed in the context of system's design to improve its reliability by consistency-checking, enhance its reuse potential and manage its knowledge-sharing. We speculate on its usefulness and explore technologies for supporting deployment of meta-knowledge. We argue that, despite the different approaches being followed in systems design by divergent communities, meta-knowledge is present in all cases, in a tacit or explicit form, and its utilisation depends on pragmatic aspects which we try to identify and critically review on criteria of effectiveness.
A Note on Hjorth's oscillation theorem

Abstract We reformulate, in the context of continuous logic, an oscillation theorem proved by G. Hjorth and give a proof of the theorem in that setting which is similar to, but simpler than, Hjorth's original one. The point of view presented here clarifies the relation between Hjorth's theorem and first-order logic.
Diet of a sigmodontine rodent assemblage in a Peruvian montane forest

Knowledge of feeding habits of small rodents is necessary for understanding food webs, trophic structure, and plant-animal interactions in Neotropical forests. Despite several studies that have investigated community structure and feeding behavior of rodents, large gaps remain in our understanding of their guild occupancy. Our objective was to investigate the diets of 7 species of small (< 100 g) sympatric sigmodontine rodents in a high (3,500 m) Andean montane rainforest in Peru. We qualitatively and quantitatively assessed diet items in fecal samples from livetrapped rodents from 2009 to 2012. Frequency data for 4 diet categories indicated that all 7 species of rodents contained 4 diet categories in fecal samples: arthropods (88%), remains of leaves and fibers from plants (61%), intact seeds (with or without fruit pulp; 50%), and mycorrhizal spores (45%). Omnivory was found to be a strategy used by all species, although contingency table analysis revealed significant differences among and within species in diet categories. Cluster analysis showed 2 main groupings: that of the Thomasomys spp. plus Calomys sorellus group which included high amounts of intact seeds and plant parts in their fecal samples, and those of the genera Akodon, Microryzomys, Oligoryzomys, which included a greater proportion of arthropods in their fecal samples, but still consumed substantial amounts of fruit and plant parts. Intact seed remains from at least 17 plant species (9 families) were found in fecal samples. We concluded that this assemblage of sigmodontine rodents is omnivorous but that they likely play an important role as frugivores and in seed dispersal in tropical montane forests in Peru.
Is There a Missing Galaxy Problem at High Redshift?

We study the evolution of the global stellar mass density in a Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) universe using two different types of hydrodynamic simulations (Eulerian total variation diminishing and smoothed particle hydrodynamics) and the analytical model of Hernquist & Springel. We find that the theoretical calculations all predict both a higher stellar mass density at z ~ 3 than indicated by current observations and that the peak of the cosmic star formation rate history should lie at z ≳ 5. Such a star formation history implies that as much as (70%, 30%) of the total stellar mass density today must already have formed by z = (1, 3). Our results suggest that current observations at z ~ 3 are missing as much as 50% of the total stellar mass density in the universe, perhaps because of an inadequate allowance for dust obscuration in star-forming galaxies, limited sample sizes, or cosmic variance. We also compare our results with some of the updated semianalytic models of galaxy formation.
Newcomers in a Global Industry: Challenges of a Norwegian Game Company

This article presents results from a study of work practices in a Norwegian game development studio. Identifying key challenges faced by the company, the article argues that the combination of project management issues and a lack of human and financial resources led the company into an unfortunate situation where they were simultaneously working on two overlapping projects and thus were forced to cancel one of the projects. Further, the article also discusses how welfare measures related to cultural policy support system and work environment legislation may have impacted upon the process.
Theory of Mind and Linguistic Acquisition

Theory of Mind (ToM) is a conceptual theory that is credited with enabling individuals to anticipate the mental states of others, including their beliefs, desires, emotions, intentions, and additional emotive circumstances (Flavell, 2004). Linguistic acquisition is a natural development that begins to develop in children from birth and enables communication. The cognitive domains necessary to comprehend language is also required in order for the formation of ToM to develop. The interpretations made through ToM presumptions can contain the discernment of another’s false belief. In this context, the individual must be aware that the literal interpretation could be an inaccurate symbol or manufactured belief. This understanding requires a certain level of cognitive development in the child since the intention may be to signify something else and the child must be able to correctly process idiomatic expressions in order to accurately make ToM determinations (Caillies & Le Sourn-Bissaoui, 2008). This paper explores the relationship between ToM and linguistic acquisition in normally developing children, as well as those with various disabilities to ascertain the degree of cognitive development necessary in order to make ToM determinations. Exploration of this relationship reveals that linguistic and cognitive development are both essential in the construct of ToM perceptions in early childhood.
Earnings Differentials between the Public and the Private Sectors in China: Explaining Changing Trends for Urban Locals in the 2000s

This paper analyzes the changes in public-private sector earnings differentials for local residents in urban China between 2002 and 2007. We find that earnings gaps across ownership have been reducing during this period and that the convergence trend has been in favor of the private and semi-public sectors as opposed to the public sector. This is in sharp contrast to what occurred at the turn of the century, when employees of public administration and enterprises were found to enjoy a very much privileged situation. On the one hand, differences in endowments are found to play a growing role in explaining earnings differentials. On the other hand, although starting to become less an issue, segmentation across ownership remains important, especially for high-wage earners.
Video from nearly still: An application to low frame-rate gait recognition

In this paper, we propose a temporal super resolution approach for quasi-periodic image sequence such as human gait. The proposed method effectively combines example-based and reconstruction-based temporal super resolution approaches. A periodic image sequence is expressed as a manifold parameterized by a phase and a standard manifold is learned from multiple high frame-rate sequences in the training stage. In the test stage, an initial phase for each frame of an input low frame-rate image sequence is estimated based on the standard manifold at first, and the manifold reconstruction and the phase estimation are then iterated to generate better high frame-rate images in the energy minimization framework that ensures the fitness to both the input images and the standard manifold. The proposed method is applied to low frame-rate gait recognition and experiments with real data of 100 subjects demonstrate a significant improvement by the proposed method, particularly for quite low frame-rate videos (e.g., 1 fps).
Inattentive Professional Forecasters

We use the ECB Survey of Professional Forecasters to characterize the dynamics of expectations at the micro level. We find that forecasters (i) have predictable forecast errors; (ii) disagree; (iii) fail to systematically update their forecasts in the wake of new information; (iv) disagree even when updating; and (v) differ in their frequency of updating and forecast performances. We argue that these micro data facts are qualitatively in line with recent models in which expectations are formed by inattentive agents. However building and estimating an expectation model that features two types of inattention, namely sticky information a la Mankiw-Reis and noisy information a la Sims, we cannot quantitatively generate the error and disagreement that are observed in the SPF data. The rejection is mainly due to the fact that professionals relatively agree on very sluggish forecasts.
Improving lossy image compression Wavelet transform based algorithms by predicting discarded coefficients

Most of lossy image compression methods like SPIHT or JPEG2000 are based on determining the intervals in which each coefficient can be reached. Once these intervals are known, the decoder selects the value that minimizes the mean square error of the possible values. When a coefficient is not considered significant, because its sign is not known, the selected reconstruction value is zero. This ignorance of the sign for non significant coefficients makes the interval of the possible values to be twice as much the rest of the Wavelet coefficients. In this paper an alternative for the selection of the reconstruction value for the non significant coefficients is analyzed. It is based on predicting their actual values using the neighbors' values. With this new improvement it has been possible to reach average reductions of about 5 percent, being higher than reductions reached by JPEG2000 over SPIHT.
Doctor of philosophy

The College of Professional & Liberal Studies, formerly University College, provides interdisciplinary educational opportunities in a flexible, relevant format for a diverse community of traditional and non-traditional adult learners . Established in 1975, the college is an innovator of new programs, a catalyst for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary efforts throughout the campus
Elite Domination of Public Doubts About Climate Change (Not Evolution)

This article examines the sources of ideological skepticism about two issues where there is a scientific consensus: climate change and evolution. The results indicate that self-identified conservatives doubt global warming in large part because of elite rhetoric, but that evolution beliefs are unrelated to reception of political discourse. News reception is perhaps the strongest predictor of conservatives’ climate change skepticism, but has no influence on their aversion to evolution. Moreover, the article leverages three sources of variation in elite discourse on climate change—temporal, cross-national, and experimental—to show that changes in the prevalence of ideological cues strongly affect public opinion about global warming. Politically attentive conservatives, in fact, were more likely to believe scientists about global warming than liberals were in the 1990s before the media depicted climate change as a partisan issue. The United States is also the only nation where political interest significantly predicts both conservatives’ skepticism about, and liberals’ belief in, climate change. Finally, evidence from a national survey experiment suggests that Americans would be less skeptical of manmade global warming if more Republicans in Congress believed in it, but a growing Congressional consensus about evolution would not diminish doubts about its existence.
A Dynamic Model of Customers’ Usage of Services: Usage as an Antecedent and Consequence of Satisfaction

As firms seek ways to manage customer relationships over the long term, understanding the dynamics of the service provider–customer relationship becomes a key priority. In this article, the authors develop and test a dynamic model of customer usage of services, identifying causal links between customer's prior usage levels, satisfaction evaluations, and subsequent service usage. The authors quantify the (heretofore anecdotal) relationship between customer satisfaction and subsequent service usage and provide new theoretical insights into the antecedents of customer satisfaction by introducing the concept of perceived payment equity. The primary contribution of the article is an understanding of how service usage changes over time, and particularly, how the consumer's view of the fairness or “equity” of the exchange over time affects the consumer's usage of services. Specifically, payment equity represents the customer's changing evaluation of the fairness of the level of economic benefits derived from usage in relation to the level of economic costs, that is, the customer's evaluation of the fairness of the exchange. By examining the antecedents of payment equity, it can be determined how customers use price and usage over time to update their evaluations of the fairness of the exchange. This evaluation affects overall satisfaction, which in turn affects future usage. The results suggest that customers’ usage levels can be managed through pricing strategies, communications, and more generally dynamic customer satisfaction management.
Effects of transformer core modeling on Partial Discharge current pulses simulation accuracy

Partial Discharge (PD) measurements in Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band requires modern techniques for monitoring of power transformer. This is a topic of interest investigated in this field, especially in recent years. Different experimental models, such as: defect models, and winding models are used in PD studies of power transformer. The purpose in application of these models is to represent and simulate the real transformer performance using a simple model. The proposed model needs to be a simplified one which can be implemented of them. However, the applied simplifications may result in some changes (inaccuracy) into the recorded PD current signals captured by UHF sensors. These changes are due to existence of different paths for high frequency signals propagation; through those paths signal should travel to be detected by the sensors. While, the refractions and reflections coefficients are not unique in these travel paths. Hence, it is important to analyze the effects of each part of the model on propagated and recorded PD signals in these simulations. In this paper, the effects of core as a main part of the transformer structure on propagation of PDs current pulses are investigated (through related electromagnetic waves). Therefore, effect of method used for core simulation in the experimental model of transformer is evaluated. The propagation of related electric field waves is investigated by application of Finite Integration Time (FIT) method, using CST Software on this model. The calculated electric fields (by measuring probes) are analyzed with wavelet transform (WT). To select the proper mother wavelet for this study, a new approach which employs an energy scale for coefficients of each decomposition level is proposed. The results of simulations show how the different core modeling techniques (based on the position of the PD source) can affect the accuracy of measured PD signals in these simulations.
Multi-robot cooperative control for monitoring and tracking dynamic plumes

We study robotic tracking of dynamic plume front modeled by the advection-diffusion equation in this paper. Different from existing work purely relying on gradient measurement, the transport model of pollution source is explicitly considered in tracking control design. We first study the problem using a single robot and solve the problem in an estimation and control framework. We then extend it to the multi-robot case in a nearest-neighbor communication structure, and have the robots take formation along the plume front. The distributed control is scalable to a large number of robots. Simulation results show satisfactory performances of the proposed method.
A comment on Robust linear optimization under new distance measure

Zhang et al. (2012) proposed a new robust counterpart for linear optimization, and shown the effectiveness of the new model by numerical results of AFIRO and ADLITTLE. In this comment, it is shown that the numerical results in their paper are not true, conversely, the model of Bertimas and Sim (2004) has better optimality than that of Zhang et al. (2012) if the same probability bounds that the -th constraint violated is maintained. Key words: Robust optimization, probability bounds, Netlib.