Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations of Culture and Personality With McClelland’s Motives: A Cross-Cultural Study of Managers in 24 Countries

Using a cross-cultural sample of 17,538 managers from 24 countries, this study explores the interrelationships between McClelland’s motives and specific aggregate-level cultural dimensions and personality factors. The results reveal significant relationships between the Achievement, Affiliation, and Power Motives, and the cultural dimensions of Performance Orientation, Humane Orientation, and Power Distance, respectively. Support for posited relationships between the managers’ motives and aggregate-level personality, as measured by the Big Five factors, was also obtained. Finally, the results demonstrate that the relationships between McClelland’s motives and managers’ aggregate-level Big Five factors are moderated by the cultural dimensions of Performance Orientation, Humane Orientation, and Power Distance.
VeriCon: towards verifying controller programs in software-defined networks

Software-defined networking (SDN) is a new paradigm for operating and managing computer networks. SDN enables logically-centralized control over network devices through a "controller" software that operates independently from the network hardware, and can be viewed as the network operating system. Network operators can run both inhouse and third-party SDN programs (often called applications) on top of the controller, e.g., to specify routing and access control policies. SDN opens up the possibility of applying formal methods to prove the correctness of computer networks. Indeed, recently much effort has been invested in applying finite state model checking to check that SDN programs behave correctly. However, in general, scaling these methods to large networks is challenging and, moreover, they cannot guarantee the absence of errors. We present VeriCon, the first system for verifying that an SDN program is correct on all admissible topologies and for all possible (infinite) sequences of network events. VeriCon either confirms the correctness of the controller program on all admissible network topologies or outputs a concrete counterexample. VeriCon uses first-order logic to specify admissible network topologies and desired network-wide invariants, and then implements classical Floyd-Hoare-Dijkstra deductive verification using Z3. Our preliminary experience indicates that VeriCon is able to rapidly verify correctness, or identify bugs, for a large repertoire of simple core SDN programs. VeriCon is compositional, in the sense that it verifies the correctness of execution of any single network event w.r. t. the specified invariant, and can thus scale to handle large programs. To relieve the burden of specifying inductive invariants from the programmer, VeriCon includes a separate procedure for inferring invariants, which is shown to be effective on simple controller programs. We view VeriCon as a first step en route to practical mechanisms for verifying network-wide invariants of SDN programs.
Second-order statistics-based blind equalization of IIR single-input multiple-output channels with common zeros

The problem of blind equalization of single-input multiple-output (SIMO) communications channels is considered using only the second-order statistics of the data. Such models arise when a single receiver data is fractionally sampled (assuming that there is excess bandwidth) or when an antenna array is used with or without fractional sampling. We focus on direct design of finite-length minimum mean-square error (MMSE) blind equalizers. Unlike the past work on this problem, we allow infinite impulse response (IIR) channels. Our approaches also work when the "subchannel" transfer functions have common zeros as long as the common zeros are minimum-phase zeros. Illustrative simulation examples are provided.
Repression of Floral Meristem Fate Is Crucial in Shaping Tomato Inflorescence

Tomato is an important crop and hence there is a great interest in understanding the genetic basis of its flowering. Several genes have been identified by mutations and we constructed a set of novel double mutants to understand how these genes interact to shape the inflorescence. It was previously suggested that the branching of the tomato inflorescence depends on the gradual transition from inflorescence meristem (IM) to flower meristem (FM): the extension of this time window allows IM to branch, as seen in the compound inflorescence (s) and falsiflora (fa) mutants that are impaired in FM maturation. We report here that JOINTLESS (J), which encodes a MADS-box protein of the same clade than SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) and AGAMOUS LIKE 24 (AGL24) in Arabidopsis, interferes with this timing and delays FM maturation, therefore promoting IM fate. This was inferred from the fact that j mutation suppresses the high branching inflorescence phenotype of s and fa mutants and was further supported by the expression pattern of J, which is expressed more strongly in IM than in FM. Most interestingly, FA - the orthologue of the Arabidopsis LEAFY (LFY) gene - shows the complementary expression pattern and is more active in FM than in IM. Loss of J function causes premature termination of flower formation in the inflorescence and its reversion to a vegetative program. This phenotype is enhanced in the absence of systemic florigenic protein, encoded by the SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) gene, the tomato orthologue of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). These results suggest that the formation of an inflorescence in tomato requires the interaction of J and a target of SFT in the meristem, for repressing FA activity and FM fate in the IM.
Area and system clock effects on SMT/CMP processors

Two approaches to high throughput processors are chip multiprocessing (CMP) and simultaneous multi-threading (SMT). CMP increases layout efficiency, which allows more functional units and a faster clock rate. However, CMP suffers from hardware partitioning of functional resources. SMT increases functional unit utilization by issuing instructions simultaneously from multiple threads. However, a wide-issue SMT suffers from layout and technology implementation problems. We use silicon resources as our basis for comparison and find that area and system clock have a large effect on the optimal SMT/CCMP design trade. We show the area overhead of SMT on each processor and how it scales with the width of the processor pipeline and the number of SMT threads. The wide issue SMT delivers the highest single-thread performance with improved multi-thread throughput. However multiple smaller cores deliver the highest throughput.
A Mechanism Intrinsic to the Vesicle Fusion Machinery Determines Fast and Slow Transmitter Release at a Large CNS Synapse

Heterogeneity of release probability p between vesicles in the readily releasable pool (RRP) is expected to strongly influence the kinetics of depression at synapses, but the underlying mechanism(s) are not well understood. To test whether differences in the intrinsic Ca2+ sensitivity of vesicle fusion might cause heterogeneity of p, we made presynaptic Ca2+-uncaging measurements at the calyx of Held and analyzed the time course of transmitter release by EPSC deconvolution. Ca2+ uncaging, which produced spatially homogeneous elevations of [Ca2+]i, evoked a fast and a slow component of release over a wide range of [Ca2+]i, showing that mechanism(s) intrinsic to the vesicle fusion machinery cause fast and slow transmitter release. Surprisingly, the number of vesicles released in the fast component increased with Ca2+-uncaging stimuli of larger amplitudes, a finding that was most obvious below ∼10 μm [Ca2+]i and that we call “submaximal release” of fast-releasable vesicles. During trains of action potential-like presynaptic depolarizations, submaximal release was also observed as an increase in the cumulative fast release at enhanced release probabilities. A model that assumes two separate subpools of RRP vesicles with different intrinsic Ca2+ sensitivities predicted the observed Ca2+ dependencies of fast and slow transmitter release but could not fully account for submaximal release. Thus, fast and slow transmitter release in response to prolonged [Ca2+]i elevations is caused by intrinsic differences between RRP vesicles, and an “a posteriori” reduction of the Ca2+ sensitivity of vesicle fusion after the onset of the stimulus might cause submaximal release of fast-releasable vesicles and contribute to short-term synaptic depression.
Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers: Safety and Efficacy for the Treatment of Wrinkles, Aging Skin, Body Sculpturing and Medical Conditions

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear naturally occurring polysaccharide formed from repeating disaccharide units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronate. HA is omnipresent in the human body but highest amounts are found in soft connective tissues. HA is involved in several key processes, including wound repair, regeneration, and matrix organization. To increase stability, modifications of HA like various crosslinking substances and technologies have been developed. In recent years, most HA-fillers are of bacterial origin which ensures very low protein contaminations. HA fillers are temporary fillers, which can easily be digested by hyaluronidase, usually lasting for 6 to 9 months. They are safe for volumizing procedures when used with the appropriate technique and indications. Various types of clinical application are discussed. Best data are available for facial rejuvenation, in particular for nasolabial folds and the periocular region. Combining HA dermal fillers with other techniques allows an individualized treatment. In addition, HA fillers are useful to improve medical conditions such as scars and HIV-associated lipodystrophy as well. This review will provide an overview on the potential of this class of filler substances.
A Neural Code for Looming and Receding Motion Is Distributed over a Population of Electrosensory ON and OFF Contrast Cells

Object saliency is based on the relative local-to-background contrast in the physical signals that underlie perceptual experience. As such, contrast-detecting neurons (ON/OFF cells) are found in many sensory systems, responding respectively to increased or decreased intensity within their receptive field centers. This differential sensitivity suggests that ON and OFF cells initiate segregated streams of information for positive and negative sensory contrast. However, while recording in vivo from the ON and OFF cells of Apteronotus leptorhynchus, we report that the reversal of stimulus motion triggers paradoxical responses to electrosensory contrast. By considering the instantaneous firing rates of both ON and OFF cell populations, a bidirectionally symmetric representation of motion is achieved for both positive and negative contrast stimuli. Whereas the firing rates of the individual contrast detecting neurons convey scalar information, such as object distance, it is their sequential activation over longer timescales that track changes in the direction of movement.
Parts and Wholes in Expression Recognition

Holistic face identification has been inferred from composite face effects (Young, Hellawell, & Hay, 1987) and effects of configuration on part recognition (Tanaka & Sengco, 1997). Dissociations between face identification and expression recognition suggest that the latter process is more part-based than holistic. If it is, composite and configuration effects should not be found for expression recognition. Three reaction time (RT) experiments are reported. Composite effects disconfirmed neither holistic nor part-based recognition. A null configuration effect disconfirmed holistic recognition, and indicated that expressions are recognised as descriptions of parts and part relations. But a face inversion effect and a face context effect also showed that these descriptions are recognised holistically, in the special sense that they are encoded with a description of the face as a basic level object, together, as an undecomposed whole.
The effectiveness of Self-, Peer- and Teacher-Corrected Writing on Writing Achievement of Undergraduate Political Science Students at Thammasat University

This experimental study investigates the effectiveness of self- and peer-correction techniques on students’ writing ability. Thirty-six political science students were assigned to either control or experimental groups. Throughout a semester, the former received instruction with teacher correction while the latter practiced correcting errors on their own and with their peers. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the writing achievement of both groups. The participants, however, revealed positive attitudes toward peer- and teacher-corrected writing. They most preferred writing instruction with a combination of teacher-, peer- and self-correction techniques. ผวจยไดศกษาประสทธภาพของเทคนคการสอนทกษะการเขยนภาษาองกฤษ โดยใหผเรยน แกไขขอผดพลาดดวยตวเองและผเรยนแกไขขอผดพลาดรวมกบเพอน เพอเปรยบเทยบกบเทคนคการแกไขขอผดพลาดของคร โดยแบงนกศกษาคณะรฐศาสตร มหาวทยาลยธรรมศาสตร จำนวน 36 คน ออกเปน 2 กลม ๆ ละ 18 คน เปนกลมควบคม และกลมทดลอง กลมควบคมไดรบการแกไขขอผดพลาดจากคร ในขณะทกลมทดลองฝกการเขยนโดยวธทผเรยนแกไขขอผดพลาดดวยตวเองและชวยกนแกไขขอผดพลาดกบเพอน จากผลการวจยพบวา ผลสมฤทธของทง 2 กลม ไมมความแตกตางอยางมนยสำคญทางสถต ผเรยนสวนใหญมทศนคตทดตอวธการแกไขขอผดพลาดโดยเพอนและคร และพอใจใหครใช 3 วธรวมกน คอ คร เพอน และผเรยนรวมกนแกไขขอผดพลาดในการเขยน
The Relationship Between Inhibition and Working Memory In Preschoolers: Evidence For Different Inhibitory Abilities

The present cross-sectional study aims to explore the contribution of working memory (WM) in different inhibitory abilities (i.e., response inhibition and interference suppression) in 72 children who are between 3 and 5 years of age. The results showed that response inhibition tasks are influenced by both verbal and spatial WM, whereas the interference suppression task was not influenced by WM when the analysis controlled for age.
High-dimensional instrumental variables regression and confidence sets

We propose an instrumental variables method for inference in high-dimensional structural equations with endogenous regressors. The number of regressors K can be much larger than the sample size. A key ingredient is sparsity, i.e., the vector of coefficients has many zeros, or approximate sparsity, i.e., it is well approximated by a vector with many zeros. We can have less instruments than regressors and allow for partial identification. Our procedure, called STIV (Self Tuning Instrumental Variables) estimator, is realized as a solution of a conic program. The joint confidence sets can be obtained by solving K convex programs. We provide rates of convergence, model selection results and propose three types of joint confidence sets relying each on different assumptions on the parameter space. Under the stronger assumption they are adaptive. The results are uniform over a wide classes of distributions of the data and can have finite sample validity. When the number of instruments is too large or when one only has instruments for an endogenous regressor which are too weak, the confidence sets can have infinite volume with positive probability. This provides a simple one-stage procedure for inference robust to weak instruments which could also be used for low dimensional models. In our IV regression setting, the standard tools from the literature on sparsity, such as the restricted eigenvalue assumption are inapplicable. Therefore we develop new sharper sensitivity characteristics, as well as easy to compute data-driven bounds. All results apply to the particular case of the usual high-dimensional regression. We also present extensions to the high-dimensional framework of the two-stage least squares method and method to detect endogenous instruments given a set of exogenous instruments.
Reticulo-cortical activity and behavior: A critique of the arousal theory and a new synthesis

Abstract It is traditionally believed that cerebral activation (the presence of low voltage fast electrical activity in the neocortex and rhythmical slow activity in the hippocampus) is correlated with arousal, while deactivation (the presence of large amplitude irregular slow waves or spindles in both the neocortex and the hippocampus) is correlated with sleep or coma. However, since there are many exceptions, these generalizations have only limited validity. Activated patterns occur in normal sleep (active or paradoxical sleep) and during states of anesthesia and coma. Deactivated patterns occur, at times, during normal waking, or during behavior in awake animals treated with atropinic drugs. Also, the fact that patterns characteristic of sleep, arousal, and waking behavior continue in decorticate animals indicates that reticulo-cortical mechanisms are not essential for these aspects of behavior. These puzzles have been largely resolved by recent research indicating that there are two different kinds of input from the reticular activating system to the hippocampus and neocortex. One input is probably cholinergic; it may play a role in stimulus control of behavior. The second input is noncholinergic and appears to be related to motor activity; movement-related input to the neocortex may be dependent on a trace amine. Reticulo-cortical systems are not related to arousal in the traditional sense, but may play a role in the control of adaptive behavior by influencing the activity of the cerebral cortex, which in turn exerts control over subcortical circuits that co-ordinate muscle activity to produce behavior.
Policewomen, Policemen, or Both?: Recruitment and Training Implications for Responses to Woman Battering

Since the 1970s, police training and recruitment has been impacted by two feminist concerns: the low number of female officers and charges of ineffective responses to women victims of male violence. This study analyzes 324 law enforcement officers' responses as to whether policewomen, policemen, or a combination are best suited to respond to woman battering overall, battering victims, and batterers. In addition, the analysis accounts for the relationship between officers' demographic characteristics and their responses. In short, the findings of this study suggest that policemen are less enthusiastic about policewomen's contributions to policing woman battering, than policewomen are of policemen's contributions. Further, the only demographic characteristics related to the officers' responses are their sex and departmental affiliation. (Officers' race, age, education, rank, shift, years of experience, and SES were unrelated to their responses.)
Patient-identified quality indicators for colonoscopy services.

BACKGROUND Current quality improvement tools for endoscopy services, such as the Global Rating Scale (GRS), emphasize the need for patient-centred care. However, there are no studies that have investigated patient expectations and/or perceptions of quality indicators in endoscopy services. OBJECTIVES To identify quality indicators for colonoscopy services from the patient perspective; to rate indicators of importance; to determine factors that influence indicator ratings; and to compare the identified indicators with those of the GRS. METHODS A two-phase mixed methods study was undertaken in Montreal (Quebec), Calgary (Alberta) and Hamilton (Ontario) among patients ≥18 years of age who spoke and read English or French. In phase 1, focus group participants identified quality indicators that were then used to construct a survey questionnaire. In phase 2, survey questionnaires, which were completed immediately after colonoscopy, prompted respondents to rate the 20 focus group-derived indicators according to their level of importance (low, medium, high) and to list up to nine additional items. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors that influenced focus group-derived indicator ratings. Patient-identified indicators were compared with those used in the GRS to identify novel indicators. RESULTS Three quality indicator themes were identified by 66 participants in 12 focus groups: communication, comfort and service environment. Of the 828 surveys distributed, 402 (48.6%) were returned and 65% of focus group-derived indicators were rated highly important by at least 55% of survey respondents. Indicator ratings differed according to age, sex, site and perceived colorectal cancer risk. Of the 29 patient-identified indicators, 17 (58.6%) were novel. CONCLUSIONS Patients identified 17 novel quality indicators, suggesting that patients and health professionals differ in their perspectives with respect to quality in colonoscopy services.
A Novel Image Compression Architecture with proficient Layered scenario

The architecture proposed in this paper performs all inevitable operations effectively to compress the data for image processing. The given behavioral architecture is not only verified algorithmically but also gave clear snapshot of the facts hindering in the efficient operation of data transfer with appropriate results. Moreover, this paper is the continuation of concurrent compression pre coder design to which DCT coders are to be appended for transformation and compression operation. The compression scenario is tackled in the coders by utilizing adaptive Huffman coding scheme. The most distinguishable characteristic of proposed design is the pre-coder attachment to the coders working in any format, i.e., JPEG or MPEG. In either case the results obtained are reliable and significantly appreciable with respect to image quality to support proposed architecture even in a system with variable band widths
Single‐site, results‐level evaluation of quality awareness training

A Crosby quality-training intervention was studied in a single facility to evaluate its long-term effects in terms of both quality level and dollar utility. Using an interrupted time-series design pooling six twelve-year series, this study found that the training demonstrates a positive effect size for the quality level of the goods produced in a vitreous china plant and has a positive dollar utility. The study also revealed an important contextual factor—production process—in the evaluation of the effect size of a quality-training intervention. In addition, the analysis method—a fixed effects model—was shown to be useful for studying training interventions in single facilities where there are multiple product lines.
About the impact of automaticity in the minimal group paradigm: evidence from affective priming tasks

Two experiments examined whether novel, minimal ingroups are automatically associated with positive affect while outgroups do not elicit such positive evaluative default. Participants were assigned to social categories in a typical minimal group setting and subsequently administered a masked priming task, i.e. prime words were not consciously recognized. Following either the presentation of a priori positive or negative words or the presentation of the group labels, participants classified adjectives with regard to their valence (positive/negative). In Experiment 1, a standard affective priming paradigm was realized with response latencies as dependent measures; in Experiment 2, a response window technique was used, with errors as crucial measure. In both studies, significant affective congruency effects emerged similarly for standard primes and category labels, indicating ingroup bias on an implicit level. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.