Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new dependence parameter approach to improve the design of cluster randomized trials with binary outcomes

Background and Purpose Power and sample size calculations for cluster randomized trials require prediction of the degree of correlation that will be realized among outcomes of participants in the same cluster. This correlation is typically quantified as the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), defined as the Pearson correlation between two members of the same cluster or proportion of the total variance attributable to variance between clusters. It is widely known but perhaps not fully appreciated that for binary outcomes, the ICC is a function of outcome prevalence. Hence, the ICC and the outcome prevalence are intrinsically related, making the ICC poorly generalizable across study conditions and between studies with different outcome prevalences. Methods We use a simple parametrization of the ICC that aims to isolate that part of the ICC that measures dependence among responses within a cluster from the outcome prevalence. We incorporate this parametrization into sample size calculations for cluster randomized trials and compare our method to the traditional approach using the ICC. Results Our dependence parameter, R, may be less influenced by outcome prevalence and has an intuitive meaning that facilitates interpretation. Estimates of R from previous studies can be obtained using simple statistics. Comparison of methods showed that the traditional ICC approach to sample size determination tends to overpower studies under many scenarios, calling for more clusters than truly required. Limitations The methods are developed for equal-sized clusters, whereas cluster size may vary in practice. Conclusions The dependence parameter R is an alternative measure of dependence among binary outcomes in cluster randomized trials that has a number of advantages over the ICC.
Survival Processing and the Stroop Task

This study was designed to investigate the impact of survival processing with a novel task for this paradigm: the Stroop color-naming task. As the literature is mixed with regard to task generalizability, with survival processing promoting better memory for words, but not better memory for faces or paired associates, these types of task investigations are important to a growing field of research. Using the Stroop task provides a unique contribution, as identifying items by color is an important evolutionary adaptation and not specific to humans as is the case with word recall. Our results indicate that survival processing, with its accompanying survival-relevance rating task, remains the best mnemonic strategy for word memory. However, our results also indicate that presenting the survival passage does not motivate better color-naming performance than color-naming alone. In addition, survival processing led to a larger amount of Stroop interference, though not significantly larger than the other conditions. Together, these findings suggest that considering one’s survival when performing memory and attention-based tasks does not enhance cognitive performance generally, although greater allocation of attentional resources to color-incongruent concrete objects could be considered adaptive. These findings support the notion that engaging in deeper processing via survival-relevance ratings may preserve these words across a variety of experimental manipulations.
Age differences in medial prefrontal activity for subsequent memory of truth value

Much research has demonstrated that aging is marked by decreased source memory relative to young adults, yet a smaller body of work has demonstrated that increasing the socioemotional content of source information may be one way to reduce age-related performance differences. Although dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) activity may support source memory among young and older adults, the extent to which one activates dorsal vs. ventral mPFC may reflect one's personal connection with incoming information. Because truth value may be one salient marker that impacts one's connection with information and allocation of attention toward incoming material, we investigated whether the perceived truth value of information differently impacts differences in mPFC activity associated with encoding source information, particularly with age. Twelve young (18–23 years) and 12 older adults (63–80 years) encoded true and false statements. Behavioral results showed similar memory performance between the age groups. With respect to neural activity associated with subsequent memory, young adults, relative to older adults, exhibited greater activity in dmPFC while older adults displayed enhanced ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and insula engagement relative to young. These results may potentially indicate that young adults focus on a general knowledge acquisition goal, while older adults focus on emotionally relevant aspects of the material. The findings demonstrate that age-related differences in recruitment of mPFC associated with encoding source information may in some circumstances underlie age-equivalent behavioral performance.
Bias in Interview Judgments of Stigmatized Applicants: A Dual-Process Approach

The abundance of research on interview discrimination has resulted in the conventional wisdom that stigmatizing applicant characteristics elicit biased interview judgments. Although this finding is robust across a wide variety of stigmatized groups, and despite the social importance of this effect, currently we lack understanding of the processes driving these biased decisions. The present dissertation contributes to the literature on personnel selection by investigating the mechanisms that drive bias in the job interviewer’s decision-making process. This dissertation starts by presenting an overview of the current understanding of interview bias, and highlights the challenges that need to be addressed by future research. Next, building on research from social- and cognitive psychology, a dual-process framework of interview bias is presented. Propositions from this framework will guide the present dissertation and will be investigated in several empirical studies. The introduction concludes with an overview of the chapters and empirical studies of this dissertation.
Olive Oil Consumption and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Alienor Study

Background Olive oil provides a mixture of lipids and antioxidant nutrients which may help preventing age-related diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, little is known about the associations between olive oil consumption and the risk of AMD. Objective To examine associations between olive oil use and AMD prevalence in elderly subjects. Methods Alienor (Antioxydants, Lipides Essentiels, Nutrition et maladies OculaiRes) is a population-based study on eye diseases performed in elderly residents of Bordeaux (France). In 1999–2000, frequencies of consumption of main categories of dietary fats used were collected. In 2006–2088, AMD was graded from non mydriatic retinal photographs into three exclusive stages: no AMD, early AMD, and late AMD. Two categories of preferred dietary fat used (olive oil, n-3 rich oils, n-6 rich oils, mixed oils, butter and margarine) were defined: “no use” and “regular use” (using fat for spreading and/or cooking and/or dressing). Associations of AMD with each fat use were estimated using Generalized Estimating Equation logistic regressions models. Results Our study included 654 subjects (1269 eyes) with complete data (n = 268 eyes with early AMD and n = 56 with late AMD). After adjustment for potential confounders, regular use of olive oil was significantly associated with a decreased risk of late AMD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21;0.91). In contrast, regular use of olive oil was not significantly associated with early AMD (OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.59;1.21). No associations were found between regular consumption of n-3 rich oils, n-6 rich oils, mixed oils, butter and margarine and AMD, whatever the stage. Conclusions This study suggests a protective effect of olive oil consumption for late AMD in this elderly community-dwelling population. Characterization of the mediating nutrients deserves further research.
A Devil On Each Shoulder

This article examines how cognitive capacity influences self-control. Two studies demonstrated a cognitive capacity by visceral state interaction. Study 1 found that cognitive load impaired self-control for satiated smokers but increased self-control for craved smokers. Study 2 replicated this effect in the context of dieting. Hungry dieters who were given the opportunity to deliberate selected more unhealthy snacks compared to hungry dieters who were forced to make an immediate choice. Study 2 also demonstrated the process driving this effect. The authors found that visceral states bias information processing in ways that promote impulsive behavior, thereby turning cognition into a vehicle for impulsive action.
Complex mating system and dispersal patterns in a social lizard, Egernia whitii

In contrast to the polygynous mating systems typically displayed by most reptilian taxa, long‐term genetic monogamy appears to be widespread within a lineage of group‐living Australian scincid lizards, the Egernia group. We have recently shown that White's skink, Egernia whitii, lives in small but temporally stable social aggregations. Here, we examine the mating system, spatial organization, and dispersal patterns of E. whitii using behavioural field studies and data from four microsatellite loci. Parentage analysis of E. whitii litters revealed that its mating system is characterized by both polygyny and monogamy. Polygyny was the predominant mating system but within‐season social and genetic monogamy was common (36–45% of breeding pairs). The incidence of between‐season monogamy in E. whitii was rare compared to that reported for its congeners. Low levels of multiple paternity (12% of litters) and extra‐group paternity (16%) were detected. Social groups are generally comprised of closely related individuals, but breeding pairs were not more closely related compared to other potential mates. Spatial autocorrelation analyses revealed significant positive local genetic structure over 50 m, which was consistent for all age–sex classes. There was no clear and consistent evidence for sex‐biased dispersal, with assignment tests (mean assignment index) and relatedness analyses suggesting female‐biased dispersal, but spatial autocorrelation analyses indicating a trend for male‐biased dispersal. We discuss the implication of our results in regard to the factors promoting the evolution of monogamy within the Egernia group.
Formaldehyde-Detoxifying Role of theTetrahydromethanopterin-Linked Pathway in MethylobacteriumextorquensAM1

ABSTRACT The facultative methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 possesses two pterin-dependent pathways for C1 transfer between formaldehyde and formate, the tetrahydrofolate (H4F)-linked pathway and the tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT)-linked pathway. Both pathways are required for growth on C1 substrates; however, mutants defective for the H4MPT pathway reveal a unique phenotype of being inhibited by methanol during growth on multicarbon compounds such as succinate. It has been previously proposed that this methanol-sensitive phenotype is due to the inability to effectively detoxify formaldehyde produced from methanol. Here we present a comparative physiological characterization of four mutants defective in the H4MPT pathway and place them into three different phenotypic classes that are concordant with the biochemical roles of the respective enzymes. We demonstrate that the analogous H4F pathway present in M. extorquens AM1 cannot fulfill the formaldehyde detoxification function, while a heterologously expressed pathway linked to glutathione and NAD+ can successfully substitute for the H4MPT pathway. Additionally, null mutants were generated in genes previously thought to be essential, indicating that the H4MPT pathway is not absolutely required during growth on multicarbon compounds. These results define the role of the H4MPT pathway as the primary formaldehyde oxidation and detoxification pathway in M. extorquens AM1.
Adherence of Lactobacillus plantarum P 17630 in soft-gel capsule formulation versus Döderlein's bacillus in tablet formulation to vaginal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND To evaluate in vitro the adherence capability of two bacteria to vaginal epithelial cells (VEC) by comparing product A containing L. plantarum P 17630, in soft-gel capsule formulation* and product B containing Döderlein's bacillus, now classified as L. gasseri, in vaginal tablet formulation, marketed for many years in Italy. METHODS The comparative study of two commercially available preparations followed an open, controlled trial. Collection of VEC samples was done in an ambulatory setting; the adherence tests were carried out at the Institute of Microbiology of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza. The study was made on intact VEC, washed and drawn from 20 patients affected by bacterial vaginitis and/or vaginosis. One capsule or tablet, suspended in physiological solution, was mixed with a suspension of VEC. Adherence of lactobacilli to the VEC was counted by light microscopy and by CFU cultured on the plates. The type of adhesion was evaluated as well. RESULTS The mean number of lactobacilli adhering to individual VEC was higher for product A containing L. plantarum P 17630. On the plate cultures, 10(6)-10(8) CFU/sample were found for product A, compared with 10(2)-10(4) CFU/sample for product B. L. plantarum P-17630 adhere prevalently to single cells, whereas L. gasseri adhere by forming small chains. CONCLUSIONS Product A has a better capability of adherence to VEC than does product B. Even the type of adhesion of L. plantarum P 17630 enabled it to remain better attached to the VEC. The results suggest that in vivo product A may be more likely to provide better colonization, thus affording better protection of the vaginal milieu.
Analysis of Path Model Based on Objectification Theory for College Women's Eating Disorder Symptomatology.

PURPOSE This study was to examine the fitness of a path model based on the objectification theory and to expand it by including the new variables to explain eating disorder symptomatology (EDS). METHODS The subjects consisted of 444 college women. Data was collected through self-report questionnaires that measured self-objectification (SO), social physique anxiety (SPA) and EDS as the original variables in the objectification theory, and influence of mass media (IMM) and sex-role attitude (SRA) as the new variables. Data was analyzed by SPSS/WIN 12.0 and Amos 5.0 programs. RESULTS IMM and SRA showed direct effect on SO. IMM had direct and indirect effect on SPA and EDS. SRA had direct and indirect effect on EDS, but only indirect effect on SPA. SO and SPA influenced EDS directly, and SO influenced indirectly EDS. CONCLUSION Path analyses indicated support for the original theory and the expanded theory. It is necessary for repeated studies including various age groups of women to clarify the applicability of the objectification theory to Korean women's eating disorders. And it were recommended that we should promote womens' criticism of the image and message about the perfect female body presented in the mass media, and to highlight the relationship of gender equality to women's eating disorders in health education.
An Improvement Image Compression Scheme Based on Lower Tree

A novel image encoding algorithm is presented based on lower tree to solve the problems such as low speed, huge capacity, repeated calculation in advanced compression codings. It is an efficient method of grouping the coefficients, coding them and reconstructing them based on the correlation of the wavelet coefficients in multiresolution. And an improved algorithm is proposed. The experimental result shows that the improved algorithm increases the coding speed, reduces the memory and improves the image recovery quality, so it is an efficient method for image encoding.
A local path planning algorithm under the variable planning size

The research in the field of the localization and navigation of mobile robot is becoming more and more significant. Among them, the local real-time path planning for robot autonomous navigation in complex environment is particularly important. However, the current local path planning algorithms are all planning the local path in the same plan-scope. Sometimes, this situation leads to a waste of time and computing resources. Therefore, in this article, a new path planning method called the variable planning size (VPS) for robot in static workspace is presented. In this paper, the graph theory is the basic algorithm of path planning. In addition, the mobile robot using this algorithm could autonomous to decide the planning scope according to the complexity of the surrounding environment. Therefore, in a complex environment, the robot is more efficient to find a local optimal path. As a result, the VPS path planning algorithm can plan out of the local optimal path preferably.
Organizational Information Dissemination Within Collaborative Networks Using Digital Communication Tools

Knowledge transfer among employees remains a challenge for many organizations. With the increased adoption rate of corporate social media collaboration technologies, there is an urgent need to determine the factors that enhance information diffusion among employees. The current study leverages prior research on social media collaboration performed in the public domain to determine whether the dimensions of tie strength have any effect on information diffusion among corporate users of social media technologies. Analysis of 511 Lync messages related to a training topic at a mid-sized South Central corporation was performed. The preliminary results demonstrated that the dimensions of tie strength (intimacy, structural, and social) were highly correlated to the number of messages among users. Moreover, regression analysis showed that three quarters of the messages were also predicted by the dimensions of tie strength.
Author ' s personal copy Attribute vector guided groupwise registration

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Groupwise registration has been recently introduced to simultaneously register a group of images by avoiding the selection of a particular template. To achieve this, several methods have been proposed to take advantage of information-theoretic entropy measures based on image intensity. However, simplistic utilization of voxelwise image intensity is not sufficient to establish reliable correspondences, since it lacks important contextual information. Therefore, we explore the notion of attribute vector as the voxel signature, instead of image intensity, to guide the correspondence detection in groupwise registration. In particular, for each voxel, the attribute vector is computed from its multi-scale neighborhoods, in order to capture the geometric information at different scales. The probability density function (PDF) of each element in the attribute vector is then estimated from the local neighborhood, providing a statistical summary of the underlying anatomical structure in that local pattern. Eventually, with the help of Jensen–Shannon (JS) divergence, a group of subjects can be aligned simultaneously by minimizing the sum of JS divergences across the image domain and all attributes. We have employed our groupwise registration algorithm on both real (NIREP NA0 data set) and simulated data (12 pairs of normal control and simulated atrophic data set). The experimental results demonstrate that our method yields better registration accuracy, compared with a popular groupwise registration method. Introduction Medical image registration has been a hot area of research for decades, due to its valuable applications to clinical studies for comparison of longitudinal and cross-sectional data, computer-assisted diagnosis and treatment guidance, and quantitative monitoring of the disease progression (Hill et al. For example, to analyze and monitor tumor growth based on the observation of patient images at different time points, meaningful diagnosis can only be conducted after aligning those images to a common space and preserving morphological variability related to the disease (Hajnal et al., 1995; Holden et al., 2000; Woods et al., 1992). Pairwise image registration seeks to register the moving image to the space of the fixed image by minimizing the distance between two images. For example, given a set of corresponding …
Knowledge sharing and innovative service behavior relationship: guanxi as mediator

A mediating model to explain the relationships among employees’ knowledge sharing (KS), guanxi, and innovative service behavior (ISB) was developed and tested. Results support guanxi’s role as a mediator of the relationships between KS and ISB and serve as a constructive replication of the hypothesized relationships. Supporting prior research, it was found that KS is associated with increased ISB for individuals with a favorable guanxi. Results from empirical studies demonstrate strong support for the effects of KS, guanxi, and ISB. A structural equation analysis reveals that the mediating model has strong predictive ability for KS to ISB.
Modeling the Role of Context Dependency in the Identification and Manifestation of Entrepreneurial Opportunity

The paper uses the SCOP theory of concepts to model the role of environmental context on three levels of entrepreneurial opportunity: idea generation, idea development, and entrepreneurial decision. The role of contextual-fit in the generation and development of ideas is modeled as the collapse of their superposition state into one of the potential states that composes this superposition. The projection of this collapsed state on the socio-economic basis results in interference between the developed idea and the perceptions of the supporting community, undergoing an eventual collapse for an entrepreneurial decision that reflects the shared vision of its stakeholders. The developed idea may continue to evolve due to continuous or discontinuous changes in the environment. The model offers unique insights into the effects of external influences on entrepreneurial decisions.
Subhypergraphs in non-uniform random hypergraphs

In this paper we focus on the problem of finding (small) subhypergraphs in a (large) hypergraph. We use this problem to illustrate that reducing hypergraph problems to graph problems by working with the 2-section is not always a reasonable approach. We begin by defining a generalization of the binomial random graph model to hypergraphs and formalizing several definitions of subhypergraph. The bulk of the paper focusses on determining the expected existence of these types of subhypergraph in random hypergraphs. We also touch on the problem of determining whether a given subgraph appearing in the 2-section is likely to have been induced by a certain subhypergraph in the hypergraph. To evaluate the model in relation to real-world data, we compare model prediction to two datasets with respect to (1) the existence of certain small subhypergraphs, and (2) a clustering coefficient.