Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The M(v)^HB Verses [FE/H] Calibration. I. HST Color-Magnitude Diagrams of Eight Globular Clusters in M31

Color Magnitude Diagrams (CMDs) of individual stars in 8 Globular Clusters in M31 down to about 1 mag fainter (V$\sim 26.5$) than the Horizontal Branch have been obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope. In particular, we observed G280 and G351 with the FOC (f/96+F430W, f/96+F480LP) while the WFPC2 (F555W,F814W) frames for G1,G58,G105,G108,G219+Bo468 were retrieved from the HST archive. The cluster metallicities -\fe- range from -1.8 to -0.4. Coupled with sufficiently accurate (to $\sim\pm0.1$ mag) measures of the mean brightness of the HB --\vhb--, appropriate estimates of reddening for each cluster, and the adoption of a distance modulus to M31 of \dmo = 24.43, this has allowed us to yield a direct calibration for the mean absolute magnitude of the HB at the instability strip --\mv-- with varying \fe: M_V^{HB} = (0.13 \pm 0.07)\fe + (0.95 \pm 0.09), where the associated errors result from the adopted global errors in the measure and best fitting procedures. The slope of the derived relation is fully consistent with that predicted by the standard and canonical models ($\sim0.15$) and obtained by various ground-based observations, while it is only marginally compatible with higher values ($\sim0.30$), also obtained in the past. The zero-point, which is crucial to absolute age determinations, depends on the adopted distance to M31 and is moreover affected by an additional error due to the residual uncertainties in the \hst photometric zero-points ($\sim0.05$ mag, at least). If confirmed, such a calibration of the \mv \vs \fe relationship would imply old absolute ages ($> 16$Gyr) for the oldest Galactic globulars and fairly small age spread among those having a constant magnitude difference between the Main-Sequence Turnoff and the HB.
Mass changes of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and shelves and contributions to sea-level rise: 1992-2002

Changes in ice mass are estimated from elevation changes derived from 10.5 years (Greenland) and 9 years (Antarctica) of satellite radar altimetry data from the European Remote-sensing Satellites ERS-1 and -2. For the first time, the dH/dt values are adjusted for changes in surface elevation resulting from temperature-driven variations in the rate of firn compaction. The Greenland ice sheet is thinning at the margins (-42 � 2G t a -1 below the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA)) and growing inland (+53 � 2G t a -1 above the ELA) with a small overall mass gain (+11 � 3G t a -1 ; -0.03 mm a -1 SLE (sea-level equivalent)). The ice sheet in West Antarctica (WA) is losing mass (-47 � 4G t a -1 ) and the ice sheet in East Antarctica (EA) shows a small mass gain (+16 � 11 Gt a -1 ) for a combined net change of -31 � 12 Gt a -1 (+0.08 mm a -1 SLE). The contribution of the three ice sheets to sea level is +0.05 � 0.03 mm a -1 . T he Antarctic ice shelves show corresponding mass changes of -95 � 11 Gt a -1 in WA and +142 � 10 Gt a -1 in EA. Thinning at the margins of the Greenland ice sheet and growth at higher elevations is an expected response to increasing temperatures and precipitation in a warming climate. The marked thinnings in the Pine Island and Thwaites Glacier basins of WA and the Totten Glacier basin in EA are probably ice- dynamic responses to long-term climate change and perhaps past removal of their adjacent ice shelves. The ice growth in the southern Antarctic Peninsula and parts of EA may be due to increasing precipitation during the last century.
Why Read if You Can Scan? Trigger Scoping Strategy for Biographical Fact Extraction

The rapid growth of information sources brings a unique challenge to biographical information extraction: how to find specific facts without having to read all the words. An effective solution is to follow the human scanning strategy which keeps a specific keyword in mind and searches within a specific scope. In this paper, we mimic a scanning process to extract biographical facts. We use event and relation triggers as
Corporate Governance and Performance in Socially Responsible Corporations: New Empirical Insights from a Neo‐Institutional Framework

Manuscript Type. Empirical. Research Question/Issue. This paper investigates the relationship between corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) and, consequently, examines whether CG can positively moderate the association between corporate financial performance (CFP) and CSR. Research Findings/Insights. Using a sample of large listed corporations from 2002 to 2009, we find that, on average, better‐governed corporations tend to pursue a more socially responsible agenda through increased CSR practices. We also find that a combination of CSR and CG practices has a stronger positive effect on CFP than CSR alone, implying that CG positively influences the CFP‐CSR relationship. Our results are robust to controlling for different types of endogeneities, as well as alternative CFP, CG and CSR proxies. Theoretical/Academic Implications. The paper generally contributes to the literature on CG, CSR, and CFP. Specifically, we make two main new contributions to the extant literature by drawing on new insights from an overarching neo‐institutional framework. First, we show why and how better‐governed corporations are more likely to pursue a more socially responsible agenda. Second, we provide evidence on why and how CG might strengthen the link between CFP and CSR. Practitioner/Policy Implications. Our findings have important implications for corporate regulators and policy‐makers. Since our evidence suggests that better‐governed corporations are more likely to be more socially responsible with a consequential positive effect on CFP, it provides corporate regulators, managers and policy‐makers with a new impetus to develop a more explicit agenda of jointly pursuing CG and CSR reforms, instead of merely considering CSR as a peripheral component of CG or as an independent corporate activity.
A PISA Paradox? An Alternative Theory of Learning as a Possible Solution for Variations in PISA Scores

Variations in mean PISA scores have not been adequately explained to date, suggesting the limits of our current understanding of the relationship between educational practices and students’ performance. In contrast to previous research that applies existing theories to explain observed variations, this study attempts to extend our existing theoretical horizon using PISA-derived data. We first introduce findings of PISA-Science data that run counter to the fundamental assumptions of both student-centered and teacher-centered learning theories; namely, countries having lower levels of students’ initiative to design and carry out their own projects had higher scores. We then propose an alternative theory of learning (Type II learning) to explain this counterexample by rethinking the learning process at its philosophical and ontological depths. We conclude by noting a surprising paradox: the Type II learning made visible through PISA data appears to undermine the core premise of the OECD’s whole approach to PISA itself.
Toward a cognitive organization for electronic dictionaries, the case for semantic proxemy

We compare a psycholinguistic approach of mental lexicon organization with a computational approach of implicit lexical organization as found in dictionaries. In this work, we associate dictionaries with 'small world' graphs. This multidisciplinary approach aims at showing that implicit structure of dictionaries, mathematically identified, fits the way young children categorize. These dictionary graphs might therefore be considered as 'cognitive artifacts'. This shows the importance of semantic proximity both in cognitive and computational organization of verbs lexicon.
Mammalian Granulocyte–Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Receptor Expressed in Primary Avian Hematopoietic Progenitors: Lineage-specific Regulation of Proliferation and Differentiation

The cytokine Granulocyte–Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) regulates proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis during myelopoiesis and erythropoiesis. Structure–function relationships of GM-CSF interactions with its receptor (GM-R), the biochemistry of GM-R signal transduction, and GM-CSF action in vivo are relatively well understood. Much less is known, however, about GM-R function in primary hematopoietic cells. In this paper we show that expression of the human GM-R in a heterologous cell system (primary avian erythroid and myeloid cells) confirms respective results in murine or human cell lines, but also provides new insights how the GM-R regulates progenitor proliferation and differentiation. As expected, the hGM-CSF stimulated myeloid progenitor proliferation and differentiation and enhanced erythroid progenitor proliferation during terminal differentiation. In the latter cells, however, the hGM-R only partially substituted for the activities of the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR). It failed to replace the EpoR in its cooperation with c-Kit to induce long-term proliferation of erythroid progenitors. Furthermore, the hGM-R α chain specifically interfered with EpoR signaling, an activity neither seen for the βc subunit of the receptor complex alone, nor for the α chain of the closely related Interleukin-3 receptor. These results point to a novel role of the GM-R α chain in defining cell type–specific functions of the GM-R.
Confirmation of the existence of coherent orientations of quasar polarization vectors on cosmological scales

In order to verify the existence of coherent orientations of quasars polarization vectors on very large scales, we have obtained new polarization measurements for a sample of quasars located in a given region of the three-dimensional Universe where the range of polarization position angles was predicted in advance. For this new sample, the hypothesis of uniform distribution of polarization position angles may be rejected at the 1.8% signicance level on the basis of a simple binomial test. This result provides an independent conrmation of the existence of alignments of quasar polarization vectors on very large scales. In total, out of 29 polarized quasars located in this region of the sky, 25 have their polarization vectors coherently oriented. This alignment occurs at redshifts z' 1 2 suggesting the presence of correlations in objects or elds on Gpc scales. More global statistical tests applied to the whole sample of polarized quasars distributed all over the sky conrm that polarization vectors are coherently oriented in a few groups of 20{30 quasars. Some constraints on the phenomenon are also derived. Considering more particularly the quasars in the selected region of the sky, we found that their polarization vectors are roughly parallel to the plane of the Local Supercluster. But the polarization vectors of objects along the same line of sight at lower redshifts are not accordingly aligned. We also found that the known correlations between quasar intrinsic properties and polarization are not destroyed by the alignment eect. Several possible mechanisms are discussed, but the interpretation of this orientation eect remains puzzling.
Forensic Psychiatric Patients with Comorbid Psychopathy: Double Trouble?

ABSTRACT Patients with psychopathy need intensive care and supervision. There is however reluctance to treat them because of (supposedly) limted chances of success and risk of therapy-interfering behavior. This study focused on inpatient disruptive behavior in mentally disordered offenders during medium security treatment. Patients (N = 224) were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised total, factor and facet scores and divided into three groups depending on the presence of low, medium, and high psychopathy traits. Associations between psychopathy and criminogenic risk and need factors were analyzed. Additionally, the association between psychopathy and therapy-interfering behavior (non-compliance, drop-out, institutional misconduct) was investigated with correlational and logistic regression analyses. The results showed that psychopathy was associated with greater risk, needs, and therapy-interfering behavior. PCL-R Factor 2 predicted institutional misconduct, whereas PCL-R Factor 1 predicted drop-out from treatment. The study highlights the importance of responsive treatment climates in retaining this difficult-to-treat group in treatment.
Expression of SET Protein in the Ovaries of Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background. We previously found that expression of SET gene was up-regulated in polycystic ovaries by using microarray. It suggested that SET may be an attractive candidate regulator involved in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, expression and cellular localization of SET protein were investigated in human polycystic and normal ovaries. Method. Ovarian tissues, six normal ovaries and six polycystic ovaries, were collected during transsexual operation and surgical treatment with the signed consent form. The cellular localization of SET protein was observed by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of SET protein were analyzed by Western Blot. Result. SET protein was expressed predominantly in the theca cells and oocytes of human ovarian follicles in both PCOS ovarian tissues and normal ovarian tissues. The level of SET protein expression in polycystic ovaries was triple higher than that in normal ovaries (P < 0.05). Conclusion. SET was overexpressed in polycystic ovaries more than that in normal ovaries. Combined with its localization in theca cells, SET may participate in regulating ovarian androgen biosynthesis and the pathophysiology of hyperandrogenism in PCOS.
Identification and Semi-parametric Estimation of Dynamic Games of Electoral Competition ∗

We provide a new approach to identify and estimate dynamic games of electoral competition. Building on recent theoretical advances in modeling repeated elections, we study dynamic games in which candidates from two parties compete in statewide elections. Candidates differ in their ideological positions and competence. Both dimensions are initially unobserved by voters, but are (partially) revealed over time through observed incumbents’ behavior. Politicians cannot credibly commit to policies prior to an election. Equilibria can be characterized by asymmetric election standards, which depend on the party of the candidate, the competence of the incumbent, and the history of the game. We show that parts of our model are non-parametrically identified and propose a new semi-parametric estimator. Our empirical analysis draws on data from U.S. gubernatorial elections between 1950 and 2012 and evaluates the impact of term limits on economic policies and welfare. Our findings suggest that voters are willing to accept significant trade-offs in ideology to obtain a more competent governor. We find that term limits lead to more variation in economic policies over time and, thus, reduce voters’ welfare.
The Role of Vascular Actors in Two Dimensional Dialogue of Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cell and Endothelial Cell for Inducing Self-Assembled Network

Angiogenesis is very important for vascularized tissue engineering. In this study, we found that a two-dimensional co-culture of human bone marrow stromal cell (HBMSC) and human umbical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) is able to stimulate the migration of co-cultured HUVEC and induce self-assembled network formation. During this process, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) was upregulated in co-cultured HBMSC. Meanwhile, VEGF165-receptor2 (KDR) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) were upregulated in co-cultured HUVEC. Functional studies show that neutralization of VEGF165 blocked the migration and the rearrangement of the cells and downregulated the expression of uPA and its receptor. Blocking of vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cad) did not affect the migration of co-cultured HUVEC but suppressed the self-assembled network formation. In conclusion, co-cultures upregulated the expression of VEGF165 in co-cultured HBMSC; VEGF165 then activated uPA in co-cultured HUVEC, which might be responsible for initiating the migration and the self-assembled network formation with the participation of VE-cad. All of these results indicated that only the direct contact of HBMSC and HUVEC and their respective dialogue are sufficient to stimulate secretion of soluble factors and to activate molecules that are critical for self-assembled network formation which show a great application potential for vascularization in tissue engineering.
Very high-energy gamma rays from the direction of Sagittarius A*

We report the detection of a point-like source of very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays coincident within 1' of Sgr A*, obtained with the H.E. S.S. array of Cherenkov telescopes. The gamma-rays exhibit a power-law energy spectrum with a spectral index of -2.2 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.15 and a flux above the 165 GeV threshold of (1.82 +/- 0.22) \times 10^{-7} m^{-2} s^{-1}. The measured flux and spectrum differ substantially from recent results reported in particular by the CANGAROO collaboration.
Confucius Institutes and the limitations of China’s global cultural network

The majority of Anglophone literature tends to portray Confucius Institutes as playing a successful role serving China’s interests in its foreign collaborations. So far, the threat of this institution has been largely stereotyped and even taken for granted. Few scholars question the influence and capacity of the institution on both global and local scales. Relying on cartograms, correlation and national image analyses as well as qualitative studies, this article examines the influence of Confucius Institutes as the institution globalized and localized. This article reports three main findings: (1) the geopolitical influence of Confucius Institutes is uneven in different regions and they are engaged in an ongoing process of geopolitical construction; (2) analyses of correlation with China’s national image show that not only does the influence of the institution vary in regions but also that the project could have a negative impact on bilateral cooperation, suggesting that, contrary to popular thinking, Confucius Institutes have not had a positive impact on China’s global interests; and (3) the capacity of the institutes in everyday operations is systematically limited, reflecting China’s inexperience in managing this global cultural network. Confucius Institutes are generous in making economic concessions but are hesitant during political negotiations, which can be said to mirror China’s patchy performance in economic and political reform.
Cost Behavior and Fundamental Analysis of SG&A Costs

In fundamental analysis, it is customary to interpret an increase in the ratio of selling, general, and administrative costs to sales (the SG&A cost ratio) between two periods as a negative signal about future profitability and firm value. Implicit in this interpretation is an expectation that SG&A costs should normally move proportionately with increases or decreases in revenues, and that an increase in the ratio signals management inefficiency in controlling costs. While this expectation provides a straightforward interpretation for analysis purposes, it ignores important aspects of SG&A cost behavior. We observe that both fixity of costs and stickiness of costs may cause the ratio of SG&A costs to sales to increase, rather than decrease proportionately with sales, when revenue declines. Sticky costs, in fact, may represent deliberate retention of SG&A resources based on managers' expectations that revenue will increase in the future. In this case, an increase in the SG&A cost ratio may actually convey positive information about managers' expectations of future earnings. We estimate an earnings prediction model and find that future earnings are positively related to changes in the SG&A cost ratio in periods in which revenue declines, inconsistent with traditional interpretation of SG&A cost changes. We also find that abnormal positive returns may be earned on portfolios formed by going long on firms with high increases in the SG&A cost ratio (and short on firms with low increases in the SG&A cost ratio) in revenue-declining periods.
Infrastructure Restructuring and Regulation: Building a Base for Sustainable Growth

The link between economic growth, and better provision of infrastructure services may be unproven, but it is clear that reforms to make infrastructure services more competitive (where possible), and to provide strong, and independent economic regulation of natural monopolies, do create an environment more conducive to: 1) Private sector participation in infrastructure investments. 2) companies trying to cut costs, and pass the savings on to consumers. 3) Better provision of services (through faster rollout of infrastructure, for example, and through innovative solutions for delivering services to customers who are not connected to an existing network). It is important that policymakers make the right decisions when deciding how to restructure infrastructure. First, they should review the evidence on the impact various types of reform have had. The authors provide an overview of the evidence from - and lessons learned in - Latin America, one of the first regions to undertake wholesale reform of its infrastructure service provides. Among their conclusions: a) the reform of utility, and infrastructure industries is vital to economic growth. b) Apparently well-founded, but wrong decisions can damage growth prospects. C) Reform should combine changes in industry structure, ownership, and (through effective regulation) behavior. To minimize the risk of misconduct by infrastructure companies, the government should introduce: i) As much competition as possible (after evaluating all tradeoffs). ii) Rules to limit (or eliminate) vertical, and horizontal ownership, which makes it difficult to regulate company behavior. iii) Rules to ensure that regulators get all the information they need, and that it is timely, consistent, and accurate.
A New Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

A new adaptive particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed in this paper. Every particle chooses its inertial factor according to the fitness of itself and the optimal particle in the presented algorithm. Simulation results show that the new algorithm has advantage of global convergence property and can effectively alleviate the problem of premature convergence. At the same time, the experimental results also show that the suggested algorithm is greatly superior to PSO and APSO in terms of robustness.
Towards Mobile Document Image Retrieval for Digital Library

With the proliferation of mobile devices, recent years have witnessed an emerging potential to integrate mobile visual search techniques into digital library. Such a mobile application scenario in digital library has posed significant and unique challenges in document image search. The mobile photograph makes it tough to extract discriminative features from the landmark regions of documents, like line drawings, as well as text layouts. In addition, both search scalability and query delivery latency remain challenging issues in mobile document search. The former relies on an effective yet memory-light indexing structure to accomplish fast online search, while the latter puts a bit budget constraint of query images over the wireless link. In this paper, we propose a novel mobile document image retrieval framework, consisting of a robust Local Inner-distance Shape Context (LISC) descriptor of line drawings, a Hamming distance KD-Tree for scalable and memory-light document indexing, as well as a JBIG2 based query compression scheme, together with a Retinex based enhancement and an OTSU based binarization, to reduce the latency of delivering query while maintaining query quality in terms of search performance. We have extensively validated the key techniques in this framework by quantitative comparison to alternative approaches.