Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The XMM-Newton Wide-Field Survey in the COSMOS Field. I. Survey Description

We present the first set of XMM-Newton EPIC observations in the 2 deg2 COSMOS field. The strength of the COSMOS project is the unprecedented combination of a large solid angle and sensitivity over the whole multiwavelength spectrum. The XMM-Newton observations are very efficient in localizing and identifying active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and clusters, as well as groups of galaxies. One of the primary goals of the XMM-Newton Cosmos survey is to study the coevolution of active galactic nuclei as a function of their environment in the cosmic web. Here we present the log of observations, images, and a summary of first research highlights for the first pass of 25 XMM-Newton pointings across the field. In the existing data set we have detected 1416 new X-ray sources in the 0.5-2, 2-4.5, and 4.5-10 keV bands to an equivalent 0.5-2 keV flux limit of 7 × 10-16 erg cm-2 s-1. The number of sources is expected to grow to almost 2000 in the final coverage of the survey. From an X-ray color-color analysis we identify a population of heavily obscured, partially leaky or reflecting absorbers, most of which are likely to be nearby, Compton-thick AGNs.
Backpropagation-decorrelation: online recurrent learning with O(N) complexity

We introduce a new learning rule for fully recurrent neural networks which we call backpropagation-decorrelation rule (BPDC). It combines important principles: one-step backpropagation of errors and the usage of temporal memory in the network dynamics by means of decorrelation of activations. The BPDC rule is derived and theoretically justified from regarding learning as a constraint optimization problem and applies uniformly in discrete and continuous time. It is very easy to implement, and has a minimal complexity of 2N multiplications per time-step in the single output case. Nevertheless we obtain fast tracking and excellent performance in some benchmark problems including the Mackey-Glass time-series.
The role of cultural barriers in the relationship between open‐mindedness and organizational innovation

Purpose – There is no empirical evidence, particularly in relation to small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), to support the concept of cultural barriers and how they relate to open‐mindedness (OM). Some of these cultural barriers can be linked to outdated knowledge, which can impede the adoption of new configurations. The purpose of this paper therefore is to test the role of cultural barriers in the relationship between OM and organizational innovation.Design/methodology/approach – These relationships are examined through an empirical investigation of 133 SMEs.Findings – The results show that the relationship between OM and organizational innovation is likely to suffer if a firm does not overcome previously its cultural barriers. An explanation for this could be thatoutdated knowledge can impede the adoption of new configurations. Therefore, it is important for organizations to provide an appropriate environment for overcoming cultural barriers. Otherwise new knowledge will not be acted on or incorpo.
Using the occupational personality questionnaire (OPQ) for measuring broad traits.

The widespread acceptance of the Big Five model implies that personality consists of relatively independent dimensions that form a taxonomy whereby individual differences may be explained. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the subscales of an established personality inventory that measures narrow traits of personality, the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ), could be reduced meaningfully to fit a broad factor model within a South African context. The OPQ 5.2 concept model was administered to 453 job applicants in the telecommunications sector. An exploratory factor analysis yielded a six-factor structure that included five factors corresponding to the Big Five model of personality. The sixth factor, labeled Interpersonal Relationship Harmony, resembled the description of the Chinese tradition factor, extracted in a non-Western society. Opsomming Die wye aanvaarding van die Groot-Vyfmodel impliseer dat persoonlikheid uit relatief onafhanklike dimensies bestaan wat ’n taksonomie vorm waarmee individuele verskille verklaar kan word. Die doel van die ondersoek was om vas te stel of die subskale van ’n gevestigde persoonlikheidsvraelys wat gedetailleerde persoonlikheidstrekke meet, die Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ), op sinvolle wyse gereduseer kon word tot ’n bree faktormodel in ’n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Die OPQ 5.2 konsepmodel is toegepas op 453 werkapplikante in die telekommunikasiesektor. ’n Ondersoekende faktorontleding het ’n sesfaktorstruktuur gelewer, insluitende vyf faktore wat met die Groot Vyf persoonlikheidsmodel ooreenstem. Die sesde faktor wat as Interpersoonlike Verhoudingsharmonie benoem is, toon ooreenstemming met die Chinese tradisiefaktor wat in ’n nie-Westerse samelewing onttrek is.
Psychometrics Of The Group Engagement Measure With Male Sex Offenders

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Group Engagement Measure (GEM) with a purposive sample of 61 adult male sex offenders in long-term, open-ended treatment groups. The GEM was highly internally consistent with a low standard error of measurement. Construct validity consisted of assessing the correlations between the GEM and the Group Attitude Scale, the Sex Offender Treatment Rating Scale, and the Facets of Sexual Offender Denial at the scale and subscale levels. The entire scale was favorably correlated with the constructs, and the subscales had mostly significant associations, with correlations ranging from mild to strong, depending on the measure or subscale.
Fine-Scale Phylogeographic Congruence Despite Demographic Incongruence in Two Low-Mobility Saproxylic Springtails

Abstract Evolutionary trajectories of codistributed taxa with comparable ecological preferences and dispersal abilities may be similarly impacted by historical landscape-level processes. Species’ responses to changes in a shared biogeographic landscape may be purely concerted, completely independent, or classified as falling within an intermediate part of the continuum bounded by these two extremes. With sufficient molecular data, temporal contrasts of congruence among taxa with respect to these responses can be made. Such contrasts provide insights into the relative influence of ancient versus more recent climatic (and other) impacts on genetic structuring. Using phylogenetic, allele frequency, and genotypic data from two low-mobility, rotting-log-adapted (saproxylic) springtail species (Collembola) from an isolated 100-km-long section of the Great Dividing Range in southeastern Australia, we tested the concerted-response hypothesis over three timescales. Tests of phylogeographic, demographic, and contemporary population-genetic congruence were performed using an integrative approach that draws on both direct (pattern-based) and indirect (scenario-based) analyses. Our data revealed a general pattern of broad-scale similarities in species’ responses to the interaction between Pleistocene climatic cycles and landscape setting, overlaid with some species-specific differences on local geographic and more recent temporal scales. This general pattern of phylogeographic congruence was accompanied by evidence for contemporaneous demographic incongruence indicating that, even at relatively small spatial scales, biogeographic context can exert an overarching influence on genetic structuring.
Folic Acid Use and Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts in China: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Questions remain about the effectiveness, dose, and timing of folic acid in preventing orofacial clefts. Case-control studies report conflicting results. There have been no cohort studies of orofacial clefts and the use of folic acid without other vitamins. Methods: In a prospective cohort of 240,244 women enrolled between 1993 and 1995 in 1 northern and 2 southern provinces in China, we examined the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) and cleft palate alone (CP) in relation to maternal use of 400 &mgr;g of folic acid without other vitamins. Results: Daily use of 400 &mgr;g of folic acid without other vitamins, started before the last menstrual period (LMP), was associated with reduced risk of CL/P with adjusted rate ratio (aRR) of 0.69 (95% confidence interval = 0.55–0.87). The greatest reduction in risk was observed in the north among daily users who began taking folic acid pills before LMP (aRR = 0.21 [0.10–0.44]); in the south there was marginal reduction in risk (aRR = 0.81 [0.63–1.05]). No evidence of reduced CL/P risk was observed among women who started folic acid pills on or after their LMP. No persuasive evidence for reduction in CP risk was seen with folic acid pill use at any time. Conclusion: Daily maternal consumption of 400 &mgr;g of folic acid without other vitamins, started before mother's LMP, was associated with a reduced risk of CL/P in babies born in a high-prevalence region of China.
Molecular cloning and expression of the human interleukin 5 receptor

Human interleukin 5 (IL-5) plays an important role in proliferation and differentiation of human eosinophils. We report the isolation of cDNA clones from cDNA libraries of human eosinophils by using murine IL-5 receptor alpha chain cDNA as a probe. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence indicated that the human IL-5 receptor has approximately 70% amino acid sequence homology with the murine IL-5 receptor and retains features common to the cytokine receptor superfamily. One cDNA clone encodes a glycoprotein of 420 amino acids (Mr 47,670) with an NH2- terminal hydrophobic region (20 amino acids), a glycosylated extracellular domain (324 amino acids), a transmembrane domain (21 amino acids), and a cytoplasmic domain (55 amino acids). Another cDNA encodes only the extracellular domain of this receptor molecule. Other cDNA clones encode molecules having diversified cytoplasmic domains. COS7 cells transfected with the cDNA expressed a approximately 60-kD protein and bound IL-5 with a single class of affinity (Kd = 250-590 pM). The Kd values were similar to that observed in normal human eosinophils. In contrast to the murine 60-kD alpha chain, which binds IL-5 with low affinity (Kd = approximately 10 nM), the human alpha chain homologue can bind IL-5 with much higher affinity by itself. RNA blot analysis of human cells demonstrated two transcripts (approximately 5.3 and 1.4 kb). Both of them were expressed in normal human eosinophils and in erythroleukemic cell line TF-1, which responds to IL-5. The human IL-5 receptor characterized in this paper is essential for signal transduction, because expression of this molecule in murine IL-3-dependent cell line FDC-P1 allowed these cells to proliferate in response to IL-5.
Violent Encounters

This study identifies key factors from the criminal events perspective that affect the lethality of violent encounters. Data for this research are derived from the National Incident-Based Reporting System of the FBI. Using logistic regression analysis, the effects of several contextual factors, including weapon, location, time of incident, circumstances, and victim and offender characteristics and relationships are explored. Analysis reveals that variables from each of the six categories affect the lethality of interpersonal violence, but the circumstance and type of weapon exert the strongest influence. Our investigation demonstrates the utility of the criminal events perspective for explaining the outcomes of violent encounters.
Strong and weak formal specifications

Starting from Marr's ideas about levels of explanation, a theory of the data structures and access processes in human memory is demonstrated on 10 tasks. Functional characteristics of human memory are captured implementation-independently. Our theory generates a multidimensional task classification subsuming existing classifications such as the distinction between tasks that are implicit versus explicit, data driven versus conceptually driven, and simple associative (two-way bindings) versus higher order (threeway bindings), providing a broad basis for new experiments. The formal language clarifies the binding problem in episodic memory, the role of input pathways in both episodic and semantic (lexical) memory, the importance of the input set in episodic memory, and the ubiquitous calculation of an intersection in theories of episodic and lexical access.
Ideological Orientation of Professors and Equity Policies for Racialized Minorities

This paper examines the extent to which university professors in Canada are supportive of policies that set targets for admission to colleges and universities and that help increase employment opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities in the wider market. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that support for equity legislation is primarily accounted for by professors' ideological orientation and less so by their collective or self-interest. Using a large study conducted in 2001, we showed that the most important explanation for support for race-directed equity legislation is rooted in the perception of discrimination and a left-oriented ideology which includes egalitarianism, union support, and strike militancy. As well, the analysis revealed that racialized minorities are more, and higher income individuals are less, supportive of race-targeted equity policies. The policy implication of results is discussed.Dans cet article, nous recherchons à quel point les professeurs d'université au Canada soutiennent des politiques d'objectifs à atteindre concernant l'admission de minorités raciales et ethniques dans les institutions post-secondaires afin de les aider à obtenir plus de possibilités d'emploi dans le marché en général. Plus précisément, nous avons testé l'hypothèse selon laquelle c'est surtout l'orientation idéologique des professeurs qui les mène à tenir compte d'un soutien à une législation sur l'équité, plutôt que leur intérêt collectif ou personnel. À partir d'une grande étude conduite en 2001, nous montrons que l'explication la plus fréquente pour soutenir une telle législation qui vise la question raciale, est ancrée dans la perception d'une discrimination et d'une idéologie de gauche qui inclut l'égalitarisme, le soutien aux syndicats et un militantisme pro-grèves. De même, notre analyse révèle que les minorités racialisées sont plus en faveur de politiques d'équité envers les races, alors que les personnes à revenus plus élevés le sont moins. Les implications de ces politiques font l'objet d'un débat.
Cerebral palsy symptoms in children decreased following massage therapy

Twenty young children (mean age = 32 months) with cerebral palsy (CP) recruited from early intervention programs received 30 minutes of massage or reading twice weekly for 12 weeks. The children receiving massage therapy showed fewer physical symptoms including reduced spasticity, less rigid muscle tone overall and in the arms, and improved fine and gross motor functioning. In addition, the massage group had improved cognition, social and dressing scores on the Developmental Profile, and they showed more positive facial expressions and less limb activity during face‐to‐face play interactions. These findings suggest that massage therapy attenuates physical symptoms associated with CP, enhances development and should be considered as an early intervention for children with CP.
Medication Adherence Interventions Improve Heart Failure Mortality and Readmission Rates: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Controlled Trials

Background Poor adherence to medications is a common problem among heart failure (HF) patients. Inadequate adherence leads to increased HF exacerbations, reduced physical function, and higher risk for hospital admission and death. Many interventions have been tested to improve adherence to HF medications, but the overall impact of such interventions on readmissions and mortality is unknown. Methods and Results We conducted a comprehensive search and systematic review of intervention studies testing interventions to improve adherence to HF medications. Mortality and readmission outcome effect sizes (ESs) were calculated from the reported data. ESs were combined using random‐effects model meta‐analysis methods, because differences in true between‐study effects were expected from variation in study populations and interventions. ES differences attributed to study design, sample, and intervention characteristics were assessed using moderator analyses when sufficient data were available. We assessed publication bias using funnel plots. Comprehensive searches yielded 6665 individual citations, which ultimately yielded 57 eligible studies. Overall, medication adherence interventions were found to significantly reduce mortality risk among HF patients (relative risk, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81, 0.99), and decrease the odds for hospital readmission (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71, 0.89). Heterogeneity was low. Moderator analyses did not detect differences in ES from common sources of potential study bias. Conclusions Interventions to improve medication adherence among HF patients have significant effects on reducing readmissions and decreasing mortality. Medication adherence should be addressed in regular follow‐up visits with HF patients, and interventions to improve adherence should be a key part of HF self‐care programs.
Contribution of visceral adiposity to the exaggerated postprandial lipemia of men with impaired glucose tolerance.

OBJECTIVE Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) has been associated with alterations in numerous coronary heart disease risk factors, including postprandial hyperlipidemia. An excess visceral adipose tissue accumulation is also predictive of IGT and of an exaggerated postprandial lipemia. The objective of the present study was therefore to compare the respective contributions of visceral adipose tissue accumulation versus IGT with the variation in postprandial lipemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Potential differences in postprandial triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoprotein (TRL) levels following a standardized breakfast with a high fat content were examined among men characterized by normal glucose tolerance (NGT) or IGT. Sixty-seven men were classified according to their glucose tolerance status (<7.8 mmol/l [NGT] or between 7.8 and 11.1 mmol/l [IGT] 2 h after a 75-g oral glucose test). RESULTS Men with IGT showed the highest TRL-TG concentrations (P < 0.05) at the 4-, 6-, and 8-h time points compared with men with NGT. These higher postprandial TRL-TG levels among men with IGT were also accompanied by a greater postprandial TG total area under the incremental curve in all TRL fractions (large, medium, and small) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, subjects characterized by IGT had also the highest visceral adipose tissue accumulation (P < 0.009). When subgroups of IGT and NGT men were individually matched (n = 11) for similar visceral adipose tissue accumulation, no significant difference was found in postprandial responses of all TRL-TG fractions between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence that visceral adipose tissue accumulation is an important factor involved in the deterioration of postprandial lipemia noted among men with IGT.
Comparative Effectiveness Research/Health Technology Assessment Comparative Effectiveness, Cost, and Utilization of Radical Prostatectomy among Young Men within Managed Care Insurance Plans

Background: Costs and benefits of emerging prostate cancer treatments for young men (age 65 years) in the United States are not well understood.Wecomparedutilization,clinicaloutcomes,andcostsbetweentwo types of radical prostatectomy (RP)—minimally invasive prostatectomy (MIRP) and retropubic prostatectomy (RRP)—among young patients. Methods: We extracted from LifeLink Health Plan Claims Database, a commercial claims database, information on 10,669 patients receiving either MIRP or RRP between 2003 and 2007. In unadjusted analyses, we used chi-square tests to compare clinical outcomes and nonparametric bootstrapping method to compare costs between the MIRP and RRP groups. We applied logistic, Cox proportional hazard, and extended estimation equation methods to examine the association between surgical modality and perioperative complications, anastomotic stricture, and costs while controlling for age, comorbidity, and health plan characteristics. Results: The percentage of prostatectomies performed as MIRP increased from 5.7% in 2003 to 50.3% in 2007. Patients with more comorbidity were more likely to undergo RRP than MIRP. Compared with the RRP group, the MIRP group had a significantly lower rate of perioperative complications (23.0% vs. 30.4%; P 0.001) and a lesser tendency for anastomotic strictures (hazard ratio 0.42; 95% CI 0.35‐0.50) within the first postoperative year but had higher hospitalization costs ($19,998 vs. $18,424; P0.001) despite shorter hospitalizations (1.7 days vs. 3.1 days; P0.001). Similar findings were reported in the subgroup analysis of patients with comorbidity score 0. Conclusion: MIRP among nonelderly patients increased substantially over time. MIRP was found to have fewer complications. Lower costs of complications appeared to have offset higher hospitalization costs of MIRP.
Gifted Adolescents: Psychological Behaviors, Values, and Developmental Implications.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the level of moral reasoning, ego identity formation, and gender role socialization among gifted adolescents by ethnicity and gender. A total of 167 gifted and talented high school seniors participated in this investigation. The students completed the Defining Issues Test (Rest, 1988), Rasmussen Ego Identity Scale (Rasmussen, 1961, 1964), and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1981). Scores on the Defining Issues Test among the different ethnic groups were more variable than scores on the other two measures. The students scored at the adult level of identity development on the Ego Identity Scale. Scores on the Bem Sex Role Inventory indicated that the students endorsed either androgynous or masculine sex role characteristics. No significant gender differences were found on any of the measures. Implication of these findings are discussed in terms of the role that counselors and educators should play in addressing the psychosocial developmental needs of gifted a.
Bounded energy consumption with dynamic packet coalescing

Switching the operating state on machines is probably the simpler way to reduce the energy consumption of otherwise non energy-aware devices. Indeed, many energy-aware systems allow two states of operation: a low power idle (LPI) mode, in which the system is unable to process data, and a fully working mode. For networking equipment, packet coalescing is the best known algorithm for managing the LPI mode and has been proved able to get power savings nearing theoretical limits at the expense of packet delay when properly tuned. However, in real networks with non stationary traffic conditions, static tuning induces higher than necessary delays. In this paper we present the first dynamic algorithm that adapts packet coalescing configuration parameters to the real time traffic characteristics. Simulation results show that our algorithm is capable of achieving a given target energy efficiency while keeping packet delay as low as possible.