Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Nature and Measurement of Emotional Intelligence Abilities: Basic Dimensions and Their Relationships with Other Cognitive Ability and Personality Variables

Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence (EI) were derived, and their place with respect to the cognitive ability and personality domains was examined. A factor analysis of 24 maximum-performance and self-report EI measures administered to an undergraduate sample (N= 176) yielded five factors: Emotional Congruence, Emotional Independence, Social Perceptiveness, Alexithymia, and Social Confidence. Emotional Congruence had lowcorrelations with four cognitive ability factors and Big Five personality factors, indicating that it may represent either a new psychological construct or a method factor. Social Perceptiveness correlated significantly with cognitive abilities, indicating its place in this domain. The remaining three factors had moderate correlations with various personality dimensions and low correlations with cognitive abilities, indicating that they fall outside the latter domain. On the basis of the present results, only maximum-performance and not self-report measures of EI can be seen as tapping the cognitive ability domain.
Modulation of Network Excitability by Persistent Activity: How Working Memory Affects the Response to Incoming Stimuli

Persistent activity and match effects are widely regarded as neuronal correlates of short-term storage and manipulation of information, with the first serving active maintenance and the latter supporting the comparison between memory contents and incoming sensory information. The mechanistic and functional relationship between these two basic neurophysiological signatures of working memory remains elusive. We propose that match signals are generated as a result of transient changes in local network excitability brought about by persistent activity. Neurons more active will be more excitable, and thus more responsive to external inputs. Accordingly, network responses are jointly determined by the incoming stimulus and the ongoing pattern of persistent activity. Using a spiking model network, we show that this mechanism is able to reproduce most of the experimental phenomenology of match effects as exposed by single-cell recordings during delayed-response tasks. The model provides a unified, parsimonious mechanistic account of the main neuronal correlates of working memory, makes several experimentally testable predictions, and demonstrates a new functional role for persistent activity.
Optic Flow Computation Using Interpolating Thin-Plate Splines

Optic flow computation is one of the most fundamental problems in the realm of visual motion. In this contribution, we present a novel optic flow computation method based on a thin-plate spline representation of image brightness data. Using a spline-based description of image brightness data removes the need for presmoothing and provides an algebraic means to compute the optic flow (explicitly). This method can be generalised to solve a wide range of image registration problems. A set of results on a number of standard motion sequences is also presented.
The online dating romance scam: causes and consequences of victimhood

The online dating romance scam is a relatively new and under-reported international crime targeting users of online dating sites. It has serious financial and emotional consequences, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. However, little if anything is known about psychological characteristics that may put people at risk of romance scam victimization, or influence how they react to it. Online daters (N=853) and participants recruited from a victim support site (N=397) completed a battery of online questionnaires. High scores on the romantic belief of Idealization were associated with likelihood of being a romance scam victim. Victims experienced significant emotional distress as well as financial losses. Even respondents who reported being fooled by scammers, but who had not lost any money, reported significant distress. Level of emotional distress was associated with high Neuroticism, and also with high Loneliness and low Openness to Experience among victims not losing money. The findings have implications for the feasibility of crime-prevention measures based on victim characteristics, and for treatment of victims by law enforcement and other stakeholders.
Smartphone Application for Enhanced Indoor Health Environments

The reduced air quality inside buildings is undoubtedly a key factor to be controlled to ensure the health and comfort of the occupants as people usually spend more than 90% of their time in indoor environments. This paper aims to present iAQ an automatic system that is capable to monitoring indoor air quality and send real time notifications to provide active coaching for occupants in order to improve indoor air quality. iAQ is a cost effective solution for indoor air quality monitoring and provide monitoring data access by a web portal and a mobile application. This system is equipped is a five cost effective sensors for data acquisition of environmental parameters (air temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and luminosity). Other sensors can be added to monitor specific pollutants. iAQ assumes increased interest due to the use of low cost and open source technologies. In fact, iAQ system has advantages in terms of simplicity of installation and configuration, through the use of wireless technology.
NeuN As a Neuronal Nuclear Antigen and Neuron Differentiation Marker

The NeuN protein is localized in nuclei and perinuclear cytoplasm of most of the neurons in the central nervous system of mammals. Monoclonal antibodies to the NeuN protein have been actively used in the immunohistochemical research of neuronal differentiation to assess the functional state of neurons in norm and pathology for more than 20 years. Recently, NeuN antibodies have begun to be applied in the differential morphological diagnosis of cancer. However, the structure of the protein, which can be revealed by antibodies to NeuN, remained unknown until recently, and the functions of the protein are still not fully clear. In the present mini-review, data on NeuN accumulated so far are summarized and analyzed. Data on the structure and properties of the protein, its isoforms, intracellular localization, and hypothesized functions are reported. The application field of immunocytochemical detection of NeuN in scientific and clinical studies, as well as the difficulties in the interpretation of the obtained experimental data and their possible causes, is described in details.
Varicella-Zoster Virus in Perth, Western Australia: Seasonality and Reactivation

Background Identification of the factors affecting reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) largely remains an open question. Exposure to solar ultra violet (UV) radiation is speculated to facilitate reactivation. Should the role of UV in reactivation be significant, VZV reactivation patterns would generally be expected to be synchronous with seasonal UV profiles in temperate climates. Methods We analysed age and gender specific VZV notification time series data from Perth, Western Australia (WA). This city has more daily sunshine hours than any other major Australian city. Using the cosinor and generalized linear models, we tested these data for seasonality and correlation with UV and temperature. Results We established significant seasonality of varicella notifications and showed that while herpes-zoster (HZ) was not seasonal it had a more stable seasonal component in males over 60 than in any other subpopulation tested. We also detected significant association between HZ notifications and UV for the entire Perth population as well as for females and males separately. In most cases, temperature proved to be a significant factor as well. Conclusions Our findings suggest that UV radiation may be important for VZV reactivation, under the assumption that notification data represent an acceptably accurate qualitative measure of true VZV incidence.
Isolation and Characterization of Human β-Defensin-3, a Novel Human Inducible Peptide Antibiotic*

The growing public health problem of infections caused by multiresistant Gram-positive bacteria, in particularStaphylococcus aureus, prompted us to screen human epithelia for endogenous S. aureus-killing factors. A novel 5-kDa, nonhemolytic antimicrobial peptide (human β-defensin-3, hBD-3) was isolated from human lesional psoriatic scales and cloned from keratinocytes. hBD-3 demonstrated a salt-insensitive broad spectrum of potent antimicrobial activity against many potentially pathogenic microbes including multiresistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Ultrastructural analyses of hBD-3-treated S. aureusrevealed signs of cell wall perforation. Recombinant hBD-3 (expressed as a His-Tag-fusion protein in Escherichia coli) and chemically synthesized hBD-3 were indistinguishable from naturally occurring peptide with respect to their antimicrobial activity and biochemical properties. Investigation of different tissues revealed skin and tonsils to be major hBD-3 mRNA-expressing tissues. Molecular cloning and biochemical analyses of antimicrobial peptides in cell culture supernatants revealed keratinocytes and airway epithelial cells as cellular sources of hBD-3. Tumor necrosis factor α and contact with bacteria were found to induce hBD-3 mRNA expression. hBD-3 therefore might be important in the innate epithelial defense of infections by various microorganisms seen in skin and lung, such as cystic fibrosis.
Motivation and Cognition in Social Life: A Social Survival Perspective

Socially motivated perceivers are potentially driven by a wide range of basic human motives, a wider range than so far addressed by theories of motivated social cognition. We suggest that the decidedly social context of our evolutionary past facilitated five core social motives: to belong, to understand, to be effective, to find the world benevolent, and to maintain self-esteem. Survival is facilitated by group membership, and we argue that all five motives facilitate successful belonging. An overview of motives previously proposed by diverse personality theorists reveals a striking consensus with our five motives. The social survival perspective more generally fits existing data and suggests new research directions.
The relationship of flow and self-regulated learning to active procrastination

We examined the relationships between active procrastination, flow, self-regulated learning, and academic achievement in 278 Korean undergraduate students in order to extend the existing research on active procrastination. We used two hierarchical multiple regressions to identify significant predictors of active procrastination and academic achievement. The results showed that flow and self-regulated learning were significant factors in predicting active procrastination. The findings also indicated that although active procrastination had a significant effect on academic achievement, flow and self-regulated learning better explained academic achievement than did active procrastination. Our findings offered a more sophisticated understanding offered a more in depth understanding of active procrastination than has been achieved in previous research and explained why active procrastinators can obtain satisfactory results.
Object recognition from omnidirectional visual sensing for mobile robot applications

This paper presents a practical optimization procedure for object detection and recognition algorithms. It is suitable for object recognition using a catadioptric omnidirectional vision system mounted on a mobile robot. We use the SIFT descriptor to obtain image features of the objects and the environment. First, sample object images are given for training and optimization procedures. Bayesian classification is used to train various test objects based on different SIFT vectors. The system selects the features based on the k-means group to predict the possible object from the candidate regions of the images. It is thus able to detect the object with arbitrary shape without the 3D information. The feature optimization procedure makes the object features more stable for recognition and classification. Experimental results are presented for real scene images captured by a catadioptric omni-vision camera.
Imaginization:The Art of Creative Management

Imaginization Introducing a New Competence for Turbulent Times Looking in the Mirror Strategic Termites On Spider Plants 'Political Football' 'We're a Blob out of Water' 'Futureblock' 'Boiling Dry' Imaginizing Teamwork Picture Power Living the Message Rethinking Products and Services If You Only Have a Hammer.
The effect of heat treatment and particle size of bran on mineral absorption in rats

1. The effect of heat treatment of bran on true zinc absorption was measured using an isotope-dilution technique. A bran-based breakfast cereal (heated to 204° for 40 min during manufacture) was incorporated into a semi-synthetic diet at a level of 180 g/kg, A parallel diet was formulated containing an identical weight of untreated bran from the same source plus other ingredients used to make the cereal. 2. Young male Wistar rats (mean weight 80 g) were injected intramuscularly with 65Zn to label body Zn. They were given the heat-treated- and untreated-bran diets for 9 d. During the last 6 d of this period Zn intakes and faecal and urinary Zn were measured in order to calculate apparent Zn retention. True Zn retention was measured by taking into account losses of Zn of endogenous origin (labelled with 65Zn), by measuring faecal and urinary 65Zn taking the mean specific radioactivity of Zn in kidneys and upper small intestine to represent specific radioactivity of endogenous origin. 3. Heat treatment of bran removed approximately one-third of the phytate, but this was not enough to improve Zn absorption from the diet. True Zn retention measured by isotope dilution was significantly higher (P < 0.02) than apparent Zn retention measured bv the conventional balance technique. 4. The hypothesis that a reduction in particle size of bran would improve mineral availability was tested by feeding coarse and milled bran (100 g/kg diet) in a semi-synthetic diet to rats and measuring true Fe and apparent Zn absorptions. The importance of phytate was also investigated by feedino a diet containing dephytinized bran. 5. Male Wistar rats (mean weight 172 g) were given diets containing coarse, milled or dephytinized bran for 9 d. Fe and Zn intakes were measured and faeces and urine collected for Fe and Zn analysis. 6. The mean (±SE) particle size of the bran was reduced on milling from 3.5 (± 1.8) to 0.2–0.5 mm. There were no differences in the fraction of Fe retained between the three groups. Particle size had a small effect on Zn retention which was marginally higher in rats on the milled-bran diet (0.126 (± 0.023)) than in those on the coarse-bran diet (0.087 (± 0.012)). Total removal of phytate had a greater effect and apparent Zn retention from the dephytinized-bran diet was significantly higher (0.182 (±0.027), P < 0.01).
A 15–22 Gbps Serial Link in 28 nm CMOS With Direct DFE

A half-duplex serial link design that is capable of 22 Gbps operation over PCB channels with up to 20 dB of loss is presented. A current-mode transmitter can be configured either as a pre-cursor or post-cursor 2-tap FIR filter. The receiver consists of a trans-admittance-trans-impedance single-stage linear equalizer that can provide 10 dB of high-frequency gain without the use of peaking inductors. The CTLE is followed by an half-rate 2-tap decision feedback equalizer with direct feedback. To mitigate long-tail intersymbol interference in a power-efficient manner, a third DFE tap employs a single-pole IIR filter. A 15-22 GHz LC-PLL provides quadrature clocks to a 16-lane macro. The 16-lane macro occupies 1.66 mm × 1.6 mm in a 28 nm CMOS process and is packaged in a 45 mm × 45 mm flip-chip MCM module. The link operates from two power supplies at 1.35 V and 0.9 V with a BER and a power efficiency of 6.5 mW/Gbps at 20 Gbps.
Quantifying maximal loss of anonymity in protocols

There is a natural intuitive match between anonymity and information theory. In particular, the maximal anonymity loss in anonymity protocols can be matched to the information theoretical notion of channel capacity. However, there is also a significant mismatch between the theories and reality: current theories can only characterize channel capacity based upon certain assumptions of symmetry, which are rarely satisfied in the real world. This paper aims to resolve this mismatch by appealing to powerful mathematical techniques. A generic methodology using Lagrange multiplier method is proposed to characterize channel capacity in anonymity protocols. This Lagrangian approach is proved to be able to generalize previous work on the channel capacity of protocols. Further, we present analyses on three well known protocols, namely Dining Cryptographers, Crowds and Onion Routing to demonstrate the application of our methodology.
Chapter 4 The September 11th Attacks and Depressive Symptomatology Among Older Adults with Vision Loss in New York City

Abstract Responding to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research developed a measure to assess bias in studies of mental health resulting from these events. Studies that have reported a negative mental health impact from September 11th have focused on adults of all ages and have had limited preattack comparison data. However, at the time, we were studying depression among older adult vision rehabilitation applicants in the New York City metro area. Thus, we were in an unique position to examine any potential biasing effects of September 11th given our proximity to one of the attack sites. CES-D scores and life satisfaction were compared for those providing data 2 months prior (n = 111) or 2 months after September 11th (n = 58). Significant biasing effects of September 11th did not emerge, nor were there any interaction effects of the event with age, gender or education. Failure to find bias from September 11th in our Sample reflects, in part, the resiliency of older adults who have coped with other stressful events in their lifetimes.
The teaching practicum as a locus of multi-leveled, school-based transformation

The teaching practicum is often considered as a compulsory activity for enculturating new members into the teacher community by providing opportunities to experience teaching in action. However, the practicum is rarely conceptualized in terms of its transformative potential. In this study, we report the results of a two-year ethnography study of a teaching practicum in Brazil based on the {coteaching | cogenerative dialoguing} model. Our study shows that the practicum does not have to be a mere induction experience, but that it also may be the transformative locus for (a) the practicum participants (new teachers, school teachers, teacher educator, and students) and (b) school and university/school relationships, and (c) of the practicum activity itself. The results show the potential of the practicum to transform individual and collective agency. Implications are discussed for reorganizing the teaching practicum.
ENDOSCOPIC RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CRANIAL BASE USING A PEDICLED NASOSEPTAL FLAP

OBJECTIVE Reconstruction of the cranial base using vascularized tissue promotes rapid and complete healing, thus avoiding complications caused by persistent communication between the cranial cavity and the sinonasal tract. The Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap (HBF), a neurovascular pedicled flap of the nasal septum mucoperiosteum and mucoperichondrium based on the nasoseptal artery, seems to be advantageous for the reconstruction of the cranial base after endonasal cranial base surgery. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent endonasal cranial base surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from January 30, 2006 to January 30, 2007, identifying patients who experienced reconstruction with a vascularized septal mucosal flap (HBF). We analyzed the demographic data, pathological characteristics, site and extent of resection, use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion techniques, and outcome. RESULTS Seventy-five patients who underwent endonasal cranial base endoscopic surgery received repair with the HBF. In this population, we encountered eight postoperative CSF leaks (10.66%), all in patients who required intra-arachnoidal dissection. When we correct the statistical analysis to include only patients with intra- arachnoidal lesions, the postoperative CSF leak rate is 14.5% (eight of 55 patients). It is notable that six CSF (33%) leaks occurred in our first 25 repairs, whereas we encountered only two postoperative leaks (4%) in the last 50 patients. The corrected CSF leak rate, considering only intra-arachnoidal lesions, was two (5.4%) of 37 patients. This improvement in the CSF leak rate reflects our growing experience and comfort with this reconstructive technique. All of our failures could be matched to a specific technical mistake. In addition, we modified the flap-harvesting technique to allow for staged procedures and the removal of caudal lesions. These special circumstances require storage of the flap in the antrum during the removal of caudal lesions, and suturing of the flap in its original position for staged procedures. One patient experienced a posterior nose bleed from the posterior nasal artery. This was controlled with bipolar electrocautery, thereby preserving the flap blood supply. We encountered no infectious or wound complications in this series of patients. The donor site accumulates crusting, which requires debridement until mucosalization is complete; this usually occurs 6 to 12 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSION The HBF is a versatile and reliable reconstructive technique for repairing defects of the anterior, middle, clival, and parasellar cranial base. Its use has resulted in a significant decrease in our incidence of CSF leaks after endonasal cranial base surgery. Attention to technical details is of paramount importance to achieve the best outcomes.
BibPro: A Citation Parser Based on Sequence Alignment Techniques

The dramatic increase in the number of academic publications has led to a growing demand for efficient organization of the resources to meet researchers' specific needs. As a result, a number of network services have compiled databases from the public resources scattered over the Internet. However, publications in different conferences and journals follow different citation formats, so the problem of accurately extracting metadata from a publication string has also attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. In this paper, we extend our previous work to propose a new tool called BibPro for extracting metadata from citation strings by using a gene sequence alignment tool. The main enhancement of BibPro to our previously tool is that BibPro does not need knowledge databases (e.g., an author name database) to generate feature indices for citation strings. Instead, only the order of punctuation marks in a citation string is used to represent its format. Second, BibPro employs the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) to find the most similar citation formats in database and then uses the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm to choose the best-fit citation format as the extraction template. Our experimental results show that, in terms of precision and recall, BibPro outperforms other existent systems (e.g., INFOMAP and ParaCite), and BibPro can scale well.