Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pr 2 00 7 Generalized Complex Submanifolds

We introduce the notion of twisted generalized complex submanifolds and describe an equivalent characterization in terms of Poisson-Dirac submanifolds. Our characterization recovers a result of Vaisman [21]. An equivalent characterization is also given in terms of spinors. As a consequence, we show that the fixed locus of an involution preserving a twisted generalized complex structure is a twisted generalized complex submanifold. We also prove that a twisted generalized complex manifold has a natural Poisson structure. We also discuss generalized Kähler submanifolds. 1 2
Training Programmes Can Change Behaviour and Encourage the Cultivation of Over-Harvested Plant Species

Cultivation of wild-harvested plant species has been proposed as a way of reducing over-exploitation of wild populations but lack of technical knowledge is thought to be a barrier preventing people from cultivating a new species. Training programmes are therefore used to increase technical knowledge to encourage people to adopt cultivation. We assessed the impact of a training programme aiming to encourage cultivation of xaté (Chamaedorea ernesti-augusti), an over-harvested palm from Central America. Five years after the training programme ended, we surveyed untrained and trained individuals focusing on four potential predictors of behaviour: technical knowledge, attitudes (what individuals think about a behaviour), subjective norms (what individuals perceive others to think of a behaviour) and perceived behavioural control (self assessment of whether individuals can enact the behaviour successfully). Whilst accounting for socioeconomic variables, we investigate the influence of training upon these behavioural predictors and examine the factors that determine whether people adopt cultivation of a novel species. Those who had been trained had higher levels of technical knowledge about xaté cultivation and higher belief in their ability to cultivate it while training was not associated with differences in attitudes or subjective norms. Technical knowledge and perceived behavioural control (along with socio-economic variables such as forest ownership and age) were predictors of whether individuals cultivate xaté. We suggest that training programmes can have a long lasting effect on individuals and can change behaviour. However, in many situations other barriers to cultivation, such as access to seeds or appropriate markets, will need to be addressed.
How Soluble GARP Enhances TGFβ Activation

GARP (glycoprotein A repetitions predominant) is a cell surface receptor on regulatory T-lymphocytes, platelets, hepatic stellate cells and certain cancer cells. Its described function is the binding and accommodation of latent TGFβ (transforming growth factor), before the activation and release of the mature cytokine. For regulatory T cells it was shown that a knockdown of GARP or a treatment with blocking antibodies dramatically decreases their immune suppressive capacity. This confirms a fundamental role of GARP in the basic function of regulatory T cells. Prerequisites postulated for physiological GARP function include membrane anchorage of GARP, disulfide bridges between the propeptide of TGFβ and GARP and connection of this propeptide to αvβ6 or αvβ8 integrins of target cells during mechanical TGFβ release. Other studies indicate the existence of soluble GARP complexes and a functionality of soluble GARP alone. In order to clarify the underlying molecular mechanism, we expressed and purified recombinant TGFβ and a soluble variant of GARP. Surprisingly, soluble GARP and TGFβ formed stable non-covalent complexes in addition to disulfide-coupled complexes, depending on the redox conditions of the microenvironment. We also show that soluble GARP alone and the two variants of complexes mediate different levels of TGFβ activity. TGFβ activation is enhanced by the non-covalent GARP-TGFβ complex already at low (nanomolar) concentrations, at which GARP alone does not show any effect. This supports the idea of soluble GARP acting as immune modulator in vivo.
Radicalization: Behind Bars and Beyond Borders

Spring/Summer 2007 • volume xiii, issue 2 113 The phenomenon of Islamic radicalization and recruitment of residents and citizens from Western countries has manifested itself in a series of terrorist attacks and activities including the bombings in Madrid (11 March 2004) and London (7 July 2005), and operations recently uncovered in Canada.1 While resurgent, al-Qaeda in its classic form is now a degraded entity, with many of its remaining key figures on the run. However, it has franchised itself across the globe, with its franchises prepared to act locally and largely independently—in effect as a network of networks. Recently, we have seen the emergence of a leaderless movement, marked significantly by self-enlistment and taking its inspiration from “al-Qaeda classic” to join the global Salafi jihad. Measures taken to combat this transnational insurgency have made it more difficult for extremist groups to recruit through mosques, and so the search for new and different areas of opportunity to expand their ranks is constant and outpacing many efforts to combat this threat.2 This article focuses on two understudied but fertile grounds for radicalization in the United States: the nation’s prison system and cyberspace. Until the bounds of the challenge in each of these contexts are better understood, effective, appropriately tailored prevention and response measures cannot be formulated and implemented.
Value, Scarcity, and Preference Polarization Value and the Perception of Scarcity Experiment 2: the Interaction of Value and Scarcity in Music Experiment 3: Polarization of Preferences for Paintings

It is well established that consumers infer value from scarcity, which Cialdini (1984) called the scarcity principle. We demonstrate the reverse of this effect of scarcity on perceived value – consumers infer scarcity of product supply from product attractiveness. We show that this effect arises from the operation of what we call “the value heuristic”. In addition, we show that the value heuristic and the scarcity principle interact to bias consumer valuations through a circular inference process, causing a polarization of initial preferences. In other words, consumers infer scarcity of supply from product value, and then, in turn, infer even higher product value from the inferred scarcity. We test these propositions in six experiments. In the first three experiments, we show the operation of the value heuristic in judgments of portraits, experiences over time, and consumer products. In the second set of three experiments, we demonstrate that the circular inference process systematically polarizes consumer preferences expressed as consumer satisfaction ratings, product evaluations, and charitable donations (i.e., willingness to pay). Overall, these results provide evidence of a fundamental bias in consumer judgments that has important marketing implications for estimates of supply and for consumer valuations.
Cirrus models for local and high‐z SCUBA galaxies

We present a model for the ultraviolet to submillimetre emission from stars embedded in the general interstellar dust in galaxies (the ‘infrared cirrus’ component). Such emission is characterized by relatively low optical depths of dust and by cool (<30 K) dust temperatures. The model incorporates the stellar population synthesis model of Bruzual & Charlot and the dust model of Siebenmorgen & Krugel which includes the effects of small grains/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We apply the model to fit the optical to submillimetre spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of nearby galaxies, which are dominated by cirrus emission, and we find that our simple model is quite adequate to explain the observed SEDs. We also, more controversially, apply this cirrus model to the SEDs of high redshift sources detected in blank-field submillimetre surveys with the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA). Surprisingly, an excellent fit is found for many of these sources, with typical values for the optical depth AV and the surface brightness of the stellar radiation field ψ being only a factor of 2–3 higher than for nearby galaxies. This increase is not unreasonable given the expected evolution of dust optical depth in currently favoured star-formation history models. We conclude that the tendency to interpret the high-z SCUBA galaxies as very highly obscured starbursts may be premature and that these galaxies may be more closely linked to optically selected high redshift galaxies than previously assumed.
Free subgroups in groups acting on rooted trees

We show that if a group $G$ acting faithfully on a rooted tree $T$ has a free subgroup, then either there exists a point $w$ of the boundary $\partial T$ and a free subgroup of $G$ with trivial stabilizer of $w$, or there exists $w\in\partial T$ and a free subgroup of $G$ fixing $w$ and acting faithfully on arbitrarily small neighborhoods of $w$. This can be used to prove absence of free subgroups for different known classes of groups. For instance, we prove that iterated monodromy groups of expanding coverings have no free subgroups and give another proof of a theorem by S. Sidki.
Role of NF-kappaB-mediated interleukin-8 expression in intraocular neovascularization.

PURPOSE To investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-8 in intraocular neovascularization and the mechanism of its production. METHODS Interleukin-8 was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in vitreous and aqueous fluid obtained from patients with neovascular diseases. Localization of IL-8 was examined by immunohistochemistry. An in vitro angiogenesis assay was performed on collagen gels, by using bovine aortic endothelial cells to determine the effect of the vitreous fluid. In bovine retinal glial cells under hypoxia, NF-kappaB activation was evaluated by immunoblot analysis and by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and IL-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression was determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The concentration of IL-8 in vitreous fluid of patients with retinal neovascularization was significantly higher than that of patients without neovascular disease. Interleukin-8 immunostaining was detected in vascular endothelial cells and glial cells in the retinas with neovascularization. Vitreous fluid with high concentrations of IL-8 induced tubular morphogenesis in endothelial cells, and this effect was inhibited to a similar extent by neutralizing antibodies to IL-8 or to VEGF. In glial cells, in vitro, hypoxia induced NF-kappaB activation and increased IL-8 and VEGF mRNA. Furthermore, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, prevented the induction of the IL-8 gene, but not that of the VEGF gene. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that IL-8 induced by hypoxia and mediated by NF-kappaB may contribute to the pathogenesis of intraocular neovascularization.
Low-voltage and High-transmittance Blue Phase Liquid Crystal Displays

We develop a refraction model to analyze the electro-optics of an in-plane-switching blue phase liquid crystal (IPS-BPLC) cell. Good agreement with experiment is obtained. By optimizing the BPLC material and device structure, our simulation shows that a single-gamma IPS-BPLC with operation voltage <10Vrms and transmittance >80% can be achieved. Author
Development and Validation of Osteoporosis Risk-Assessment Model for Korean Men

Purpose The aim of the present study was to develop an osteoporosis risk-assessment model to identify high-risk individuals among Korean men. Materials and Methods The study used data from 1340 and 1110 men ≥50 years who participated in the 2009 and 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, respectively, for development and validation of an osteoporosis risk-assessment model. Osteoporosis was defined as T score ≤-2.5 at either the femoral neck or lumbar spine. Performance of the candidate models and the Osteoporosis Self-assessment Tool for Asian (OSTA) was compared with sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). A net reclassification improvement was further calculated to compare the developed Korean Osteoporosis Risk-Assessment Model for Men (KORAM-M) with OSTA. Results In the development dataset, the prevalence of osteoporosis was 8.1%. KORAM-M, consisting of age and body weight, had a sensitivity of 90.8%, a specificity of 42.4%, and an AUC of 0.666 with a cut-off score of -9. In the validation dataset, similar results were shown: sensitivity 87.9%, specificity 39.7%, and AUC 0.638. Additionally, risk categorization with KORAM-M showed improved reclassification over that of OSTA up to 22.8%. Conclusion KORAM-M can be simply used as a pre-screening tool to identify candidates for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry tests.
The true cost of unusable password policies: password use in the wild

HCI research published 10 years ago pointed out that many users cannot cope with the number and complexity of passwords, and resort to insecure workarounds as a consequence. We present a study which re-examined password policies and password practice in the workplace today. 32 staff members in two organisations kept a password diary for 1 week, which produced a sample of 196 passwords. The diary was followed by an interview which covered details of each password, in its context of use. We find that users are in general concerned to maintain security, but that existing security policies are too inflexible to match their capabilities, and the tasks and contexts in which they operate. As a result, these password policies can place demands on users which impact negatively on their productivity and, ultimately, that of the organisation. We conclude that, rather than focussing password policies on maximizing password strength and enforcing frequency alone, policies should be designed using HCI principles to help the user to set an appropriately strong password in a specific context of use.
Response to Comment on "Ongoing Adaptive Evolution of ASPM, a Brain Size Determinant in Homo sapiens" and "Microcephalin, a Gene Regulating Brain Size, Continues to Evolve Adaptively in Humans"

Currat et al. present computer simulations to argue that the haplotype structure found at the microcephalin and ASPM genes can be better explained by demographic history rather than by selection. The demographic models they adopt, however, strongly contradict a decade of empirical research on human demographic history and do not account for the critical features of the data on which our argument for selection was based.
Predicting star ratings based on annotated reviews of mobile apps

This paper presents and evaluates different computational models for review rating prediction. The models rely solely on star ratings from an annotated corpus of customer reviews of mobile apps that were collected from the Google Play Store in a related work. Fine-granular opinions and the classification of their sentiment orientation were already available. The models build upon them to make predictions based on their polarity. Predicting star ratings is of importance to the sentiment analysis community because it can better be understood how customers subjectively rate products. Rating them consistently with corresponding written reviews, however, remains a difficult task for automated predictors. This paper sheds new light in that direction.
The ‘Dark Side’ and ‘Bright Side’ of Personality: When Too Much Conscientiousness and Too Little Anxiety Are Detrimental with Respect to the Acquisition of Medical Knowledge and Skill

Theory suggests that personality traits evolved to have costs and benefits, with the effectiveness of a trait dependent on how these costs and benefits relate to the present circumstances. This suggests that traits that are generally viewed as positive can have a ‘dark side’ and those generally viewed as negative can have a ‘bright side’ depending on changes in context. We test this in a sample of 220 UK medical students with respect to associations between the Big 5 personality traits and learning outcomes across the 5 years of a medical degree. The medical degree offers a changing learning context from pre-clinical years (where a more methodical approach to learning is needed) to the clinical years (where more flexible learning is needed, in a more stressful context). We argue that while trait conscientiousness should enhance pre-clinical learning, it has a ‘dark side’ reducing the acquisition of knowledge in the clinical years. We also suggest that anxiety has a ‘bright side’ enhancing the acquisition of skills in the clinical years. We also explore if intelligence enhances learning across the medical degree. Using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling we show that medical skills and knowledge assessed in the pre-clinical and clinical years are psychometrically distinguishable, forming a learning ‘backbone’, whereby subsequent learning outcomes are predicted by previous ones. Consistent with our predictions conscientiousness enhanced preclinical knowledge acquisition but reduced the acquisition of clinical knowledge and anxiety enhanced the acquisition of clinical skills. We also identified a curvilinear U shaped association between Surgency (extraversion) and pre-clinical knowledge acquisition. Intelligence predicted initial clinical knowledge, and had a positive total indirect effect on clinical knowledge and clinical skill acquisition. For medical selection, this suggests that selecting students high on conscientiousness may be problematic, as it may be excluding those with some degree of moderate anxiety.
HI study of the warped spiral galaxy NGC5055: a disk/dark matter halo offset?

Abstract: We present a study of the HI distribution and the dynamics of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC5055 based on observations with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. The gaseous disk of NGC5055 extends out to about 40 kpc, equal to 3.5 R_25 and shows a pronounced warp, starting at the end of the bright optical disk (R_25= 11.6 kpc). The warp is very extended and symmetric. Its large-scale symmetry and the long rotation period of its outer parts (~ 1.5 Gyr at 40 kpc) suggest a long-lived phenomenon. The rotation curve has a steep rise in the central parts up to the maximum velocity (v_{max}= 206 km/s). Beyond the bright stellar disk (R_25) it shows a decline of about 25 km/s and then it remains flat out to the last measured point. The standard analysis with luminous and dark matter components shows the dynamical importance of the disk. The best fit to the rotation curve is obtained with a ``maximum disk''. Less satisfactory fits with lighter disks help to set a firm lower limit of 1.4 to the mass-to-light ratio in F band of the disk. Such a ``minimum disk'' is contributing about 60% of the observed maximum rotational velocity. NGC5055 shows remarkable overall regularity and symmetry. A mild lopsidedness is noticeable, however, both in the distribution and in the kinematics of the gas. The tilted ring analysis of the velocity field has led us to the adoption of different values for the kinematical centre and for the systemic velocity for the inner and the outer parts of the system. This has produced a remarkable result: the kinematical and geometrical asymmetries have disappeared, both at the same time. These results point at two different dynamical regimes: an inner region, dominated by the stellar disk, and an outer one, dominated by a dark matter halo offset with respect to the disk.
Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water and QT-Interval Prolongation: Results from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study

Background: Arsenic exposure from drinking water has been associated with heart disease; however, underlying mechanisms are uncertain. Objective: We evaluated the association between a history of arsenic exposure from drinking water and the prolongation of heart rate–corrected QT (QTc), PR, and QRS intervals. Method: We conducted a study of 1,715 participants enrolled at baseline from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study. We assessed the relationship of arsenic exposure in well water and urine samples at baseline with parameters of electrocardiogram (ECG) performed during 2005–2010, 5.9 years on average since baseline. Results: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for QTc prolongation, defined as a QTc ≥ 450 msec in men and ≥ 460 msec in women, was 1.17 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.35) for a 1-SD increase in well-water arsenic (108.7 µg/L). The positive association appeared to be limited to women, with adjusted ORs of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.47) and 1.24 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.53) for a 1-SD increase in baseline well-water and urinary arsenic, respectively, compared with 0.99 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.33) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.51) in men. There were no apparent associations of baseline well-water arsenic or urinary arsenic with PR or QRS prolongation in women or men. Conclusions: Long-term arsenic exposure from drinking water (average 95 µg/L; range, 0.1–790 µg/L) was associated with subsequent QT-interval prolongation in women. Future longitudinal studies with repeated ECG measurements would be valuable in assessing the influence of changes in exposure.
Constructing the Audience Constructing the FUTURE NEWS : CONSTRUCTING THE AUDIENCE CONSTRUCTING THE NEWS

Each new medium (from print to television) has introduced a series of ratings technologies which, predominantly, quantifies the audience as passive commodity, i.e., as a number which is “delivered” by the broadcasters and “bought” by the advertisers. New electronic media demand a representation of audience that breaks with the traditional audience-as-commodity representation. Contemporary television technologies, e.g., the remote control channel changer, make it impossible for one to realistically conceptualize an audience as passive. An audience member can now jump from channel to channel, from soap to sport broadcast quickly and easily. This contemporary activity of channel “zapping” will be the ancestor of far more powerful text and video manipulation tactics that audiences of future electronic media will employ. Future electronic media will allow users to search for or filter out particular kinds of stories, scenes, words and phrases and then, if they so desire, to reassemble these bits of media together into new presentations which may bear only a passing resemblance to the contexts in which the bits were originally embedded. In this presentation I introduce a new way of thinking about audiences which assumes neither that audience members are passive nor that audiences are a commodity. I call this conceptualization audience-as-social-network. My focus, for this presentation, is on news audiences. § This paper appears in the Proceedings of WRITE’94, Vancouver, Canada, June 1994.