Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Debiasing Using Decomposition: The Case of Memory-Based Credit Card Expense Estimates

This article develops a conceptual framework to examine how consumers incorporate memory-based and context-based cues in estimating past and future credit card expenses. Focusing on memory-based information, in this framework we suggest that past credit card expenses may be recalled as holistic totals or episodic individual expenses depending on the accessibility of each form of expense. We tested the conceptual framework with 3 studies. Study 1 showed that the recency of past expenses and frequency of credit card usage moderated the extent to which past expenses were used in estimating future expenses. Study 1 also showed that self-awareness of estimation bias affected consumers’ estimates of future expenses. Study 2 showed that a decomposition strategy (unbundling a total into subcategories), which serves to make episodic individual expenses more accessible, was effective in reducing sampling-based bias. Study 3 provided a validity check and showed that decomposition cues reduced estimation errors and affected estimates of future expense. In this article, we demonstrate the manner in which memory-based information is used to make estimates, and we also demonstrate the effectiveness of decomposition as a debiasing technique for past and future estimates.
Ilmstream: efficient multimedia streaming in decentralised distributed systems

Using the P2P-Model to implement multimedia streaming has been in the focus of research for some time. Many works have lead to very interesting results in the aspect of load balancing, caching and request scheduling. Only a few of the projects consider the decoupling of the neighbourhood relationship of the overlay network and the topology of the underlying infrastructure. In order to reduce the overall network load and to achieve point-to-point connections with better quality-of-service parameters we introduce ilmStream, a Peer-to-Peer Streaming System that forms geographical clusters of collaboratively streaming nodes.
Investigating Gender Differential Item Functioning Across Countries and Test Languages for PISA Science Items

This study uses PISA cycle 3 field trial data to investigate the relationships between gender differential item functioning (DIF) across countries and test languages for science items and their formats and the four other dimensions defined in PISA framework: focus, context, competency, and scientific knowledge. The data used were collected from 60 test language groups by 50 participating countries with a total of about 83,000 fifteen-year-old students. An IRT method is used to detect the gender uniform DIF for each of the language groups and the whole international sample. Gender directions have been drawn for each of the five item characteristic dimensions, for example, multiple choice and closed response items tend to favor males. The study also shows the effects of the country and test language on gender DIF in the international data. Findings from this study provide a potentially valuable contribution to the development of tests for international use.
Latent semantic analysis for speaker recognition

There exists certain traits specifi ct oa speaker that help in easy identification of the speaker among a familiar set of speakers. These include certain dis-fluencies, and mannerisms like stress for certain words, frequent usage of certain phrases, manner of pronunciation and back channels. The focus of this paper is identification of a speaker using such idiolectic traits in conversational speech. Every normal conversation by a speaker contains his idiolectic signature. A model is developed in the latent semantic analysis framework to capture this signature. The similarity of the idiolectic signature in the test utterance to that captured by the model is used to hypothesise the target speaker. The technique is demonstrated for the NIST 2003 extended data task.
Media-Effects of Fail-Videos on Risk Perception and Risk-Taking

Many injuries and even deaths were registered as a supposedly cause of copycatting behavior from television-programs broadcasting risky behavior, anecdotally evident in popular newspapers. However, few studies exist that try to shed some light on the mechanisms taking place when it comes to media-effects on risk-taking intentions and risk perception. Being interested in the outcomes and effects of watching amateur-videos depicting failed risk-taking, the stimuli used for a randomized controlled trial involving 239 participants were varied on the visual content factor as well as the audio factor. Clips were varied on factor ´success vs. fail´ and factor ´laughing vs. horror-sound´, the control group was not influenced by any videos. Besides manipulation checks whether the varied factors were perceived as intended, several 2x2 ANOVAs and regression-analyses were performed. Hypothesis 1 suggested a direct influence of the different video-versions on risk-taking intentions and risk perception. Results showed that only ethical risk-taking was influenced by whether participants saw a risky behavior going well versus going wrong. In other words, the depiction of injurious risk-taking decreased the intentions to take risks in the ethical sphere. Hypothesis 2 suggested a mediating role of affect, but mediator analysis could not show such a relationship. Hypothesis 3 supposed sensation seeking, risk-propensity, self-efficacy and locus of control as moderators. This could be partly confirmed, since sensation seeking moderated the influence of factor ´success vs. fail´ on ethical risk perception and also total risk perception. In other words, people low on sensation seeking had a higher risk perception of recreational risks and also in total. Furthermore, locus of control moderated the influence of factor ´laughing vs. horror-sounds´ on financial risk perception, such that people with an external locus of control had a higher perception of risks.
Experimental and simulation analysis of ferroresonance in single-phase transformers considering magnetic hysteresis effects

Ferroresonance is one of the most destructive and longest known power quality disturbances in the history of ac power systems. The undamped ferroresonant oscillations that occur between system capacitances and magnetizing inductances of transformer cores can cause severe damage and disruption to power networks. In this paper, ferroresonance in transformers is investigated with the aid of a nonlinear core model which includes magnetic hysteresis effects. Bifurcation and phase-plane analyses are applied to investigate the stability domain of ferroresonance. The impact of resulting ferroresonance modes on transformer voltages, core fluxes and magnetizing currents are shown in time-domain. Supporting measurements of ferroresonance are also provided for verifying model predictions of ferroresonance.
Overexpression of the Rabies Virus Glycoprotein Results in Enhancement of Apoptosis and Antiviral Immune Response

ABSTRACT A recombinant rabies virus (RV) carrying two identical glycoprotein (G) genes (SPBNGA-GA) was constructed and used to determine the effect of RV G overexpression on cell viability and immunity. Immunoprecipitation analysis and flow cytometry showed that tissue culture cells infected with SPBNGA-GA produced, on average, twice as much RV G as cells infected with RV carrying only a single RV G gene (SPBNGA). The overexpression of RV G in SPBNGA-GA-infected NA cells was paralleled by a significant increase in caspase 3 activity followed by a marked decrease in mitochondrial respiration, neither of which was observed in SPBNGA-infected cells. Furthermore, fluorescence staining and confocal microscopy revealed an increased extent of apoptosis and markedly reduced neurofilament and F actin in SPBNGA-GA-infected primary neuron cultures compared with neuronal cells infected with SPBNGA, supporting the concept that RV G or motifs of the RV G gene trigger the apoptosis cascade. Mice immunized with SPBNGA-GA showed substantially higher antibody titers against the RV G and against the nucleoprotein than SPBNGA-immunized mice, suggesting that the speed or extent of apoptosis directly determines the magnitude of the antibody response.
Adapting Q-Technique to Computer Scoring Procedures

Q methodology has become an increasingly popular technique for assessing perceptions of subjects (Mowrer, 1953; Gage, 1963). Perhaps the greatest source of difficulty in analyzing Q sorts has been the lengthy hand scoring procedure necessitated by the large number of cards usually found in any Q sort. A second problem of significance has been susceptibility to error in scoring and recording data from Q sorts. The authors were faced with the task of administering and readministering three Q sorts to 100 subjects. The problem of scoring these sorts by hand was overwhelming. It was decided to develop a method to utilize the IBM 1130 computer to score the Q sorts and
A database oriented management for asynchronous and consistent reconfiguration in Software-Defined Networks

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a new approach to manage the whole network flexibly by decoupling the control plane and the forwarding plane. While forwarding elements can be managed by a unified control, complexity arisen from the network size and scalability regarding the increase of the control traffic are notable problems. To deal with events of network reconfiguration that occur asynchronously and change frequently with intervals shorter than hours, a controller has to continue to asynchronously update the configuration of the whole network. However, it is hard to maintain the consistency of the configuration of the whole network because it needs to manage a huge amount of network information and to deal with user requests that occur asynchronously. In this paper, we propose a database oriented management for asynchronous reconfiguration to achieve the consistency of configuration in SDN. We design a structure of the database to store network information and two functional components. Finally, we adopt our management system to an OpenFlow-based network, and validate that our system can manage and control an OpenFlow network via the database.
Pattern { Driven Automatic Parallelization , Data Distribution and Performance

Despite the progresses made in parallelizing compilers technology during the last decade, for instance, at dependence analysis or at automatic generation of message passing code, we remain faced with three hard problems that are particularly characteristic for distributed memory parallelization: The eeciency of the target program heavily depends on choosing a suitable data distribution (and sometimes , also redistribution) | these problems are NP{ complete 12, 11]. a SPMD program generated semi{automatically from a sequential source program by adapting it to given array distributions must in general be transformed to be eecient (e.g., by exploiting locality) | just applying the owner-computes-rule will usually not suf-ce. There is, however, no guidance in which optimizing transformations to choose, and in which order to apply them. Moreover, there is no possibility to exploit the large potential of explicitly parallel algorithms that have been developed over the last decades for various problems on various target architectures. Run time prediction for nontrivial codes on real machines is a very problematic matter for reasons of network contention, message protocols, buuering, undocumented hardware features, and others. These problems arise from the fact that there is often not suucient knowledge available on the source program and on the target machine characteristics. So what we should do to make fully automatic DMS parallelization feasible at all is to gain as much of this knowledge as possible. This works, of course, not for all programs. Many numerical programs are, however, in particular good-natured for this purpose. At typical application codes that are reasonable candidates to be ported to distributed memory systems, we have observed that there is only a rather limited number of typical semantic operations , called patterns, that often occur in these programs , in particular in the time{consuming inner loops, e.g. vector and matrix operations, simple recurrences, relaxation operations, simple reduction operations, convolu-tions, FFT and so on 9]. Patterns are semantics{based, mostly data{parallel operations. A pattern is regarded to be a primitive with respect to mathematical properties, occurring data structures , memory access structure, array alignment preferences and run time behaviour. We have collected around 150 patterns and also typical modiications (transformations) of them, called templates 9]. From this observation, we construct an automatic paral-lelizer called PARAMAT (\PARallelize Automatically by pattern MATching") with the following key ideas: First, there must be a pattern recognition tool that works fast and reliably. We have proposed such a tool in …
Translating Principles into Practice: Implementing the Feminist and Strengths Perspectives in Work with Battered Women

This study examined the narratives of battered women to determine whether court advocates used principles of the feminist and strengths perspectives to assist the women in obtaining protective orders and devising safety plans. The results indicated that advocates were using principles of these perspectives. Advocates uncovered women’s strengths, often reinforcing the steps the women had taken to effect positive change in their lives, and gave the women information on resources. Most of the women were satisfied with the services and believed that the advocates showed concern about their plight. Taking time to listen was cited as a major aspect of that display of concern.
Aerobic performance is degraded, despite modest hyperthermia, in hot environments.

UNLABELLED Environmental heat stress degrades aerobic performance; however, little research has focused on performance when the selected task elicits modest elevations in core body temperature (<38.5 degrees C). PURPOSE To determine the effect of environmental heat stress, with modest hyperthermia, on aerobic performance and pacing strategies. METHODS After a 30-min cycling preload at 50% VO2peak, eight euhydrated men performed a 15-min time trial on a cycle ergometer in temperate (TEMP; 21 degrees C, 50% RH) and hot (HOT; 40 degrees C, 25% RH) environments. Core and skin temperature (Tc and Tsk, respectively) and HR were continuously monitored. Performance was assessed by the total work (kJ) completed in 15 min. Pacing was quantified by comparing the percent difference in actual work performed in each of five 3-min blocks normalized to the mean work performed per 3-min block. Pace over the final 2 min was compared with the average pace from minutes 0 to 13 for end spurt analysis. RESULTS Tc and HR rose continually throughout both time trials. Peak Tc remained modestly elevated in both environments [mean (range): HOT = 38.20 degrees C (37.97-38.42 degrees C); TEMP = 38.11 degrees C (38.07-38.24 degrees C)], whereas Tsk was higher in HOT (36.19 +/- 0.40 degrees C vs 31.14 +/- 1.14 degrees C), and final HR reached approximately 95% of age-predicted maximum in both environments. Total work performed in HOT (147.7 +/- 23.9 kJ) was approximately 17% less (P < 0.05) than TEMP (177.0 +/- 25.0 kJ). Pace was evenly maintained in TEMP, but in HOT, volunteers were unable to maintain initial pace, slowing progressively over time. A significant end spurt was produced in both environments. CONCLUSIONS During a brief aerobic exercise time trial where excessive hyperthermia is avoided, total work is significantly reduced by heat stress because of a gradual slowing of pace over time. These findings demonstrate how aerobic exercise performance degrades in hot environments without marked hyperthermia.
Debt Enforcement Procedures and the Ampli cation Role of Collateral Constraints

This paper examine the role of credit market ine¢ ciencies for the ampli cation mechanism generated by collateral constraints. To this purpose we use a model with borrowing limits a la Kiyotaki and Moore (1997) and inelastic capital supply. We complement previous literature by drawing theoretical considerations on the relation between the degree of debt enforcement e¢ ciency in the credit market and the ampli cation of productivity shocks. I am indebted to Kosuke Aoki, Ian Christensen, Giancarlo Corsetti, Carlos De Resende, Martin Floden, Zvi Hercowitz, Lars Ljungqvist, Andrea Pescatori and Hajime Tomura for useful feedback on this project. I am also grateful to seminar participants at the SSE, Riksbank, EUI, ECB, Bank of Canada, 11th conference of the Society of Computational Economics, X Vigo workshop on Dynamic Macroeconomics, the 2005 Money Macro Finance group annual meeting and the 2006 far east meeting of the econometric society for valuable suggestions. This paper is built on the second chapter of my dissertation. All remine errors are mine. yMonetary and Financial Analysis Department, Bank of Canada, 234 Wellington St., Ottawa, K1A 0G9, Ontrario, Canada; Email: menc@bankofcanada.ca; Homepage: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/ec/cmendicino/
Salmonella Brandenburg - emergence of a new strain affecting stock and humans in the South Island of New Zealand

Abstract AIMS: To report information on the spread of a new strain of Salmonella Brandenburg, which affected livestock and humans in the South Island of New Zealand, and a series of small case studies designed to investigate potential transmission of infection. METHODS: Information on the occurrence and spread of S. Brandenburg in livestock was gathered from laboratory diagnostic submissions, from case studies on the faecal excretion rate in ewes, carrier status of black-backed gulls (Larus dominicanus), spread of S. Brandenburg organisms in sheep yards, infection in lambs going to meat plants, and from post-abortion pathological changes in the reproductive tract of ewes. RESULTS: A newly recognised strain of S. Brandenburg was first diagnosed in aborting sheep from a flock in mid Canterbury in the South Island in 1996. Subsequently, the disease spread to other farms in mid and south Canterbury in 1997 and to Southland and Otago in the lower half of the South Island in 1998–2003. In 1999, the same strain was responsible for abortions in cattle and gastroenteritis in calves and adult cattle. The same strain of bacterium also caused disease in horses, goats, deer, pigs and humans. Spread of the disease on farms was strongly associated with aborting ewes, which resulted in considerable environmental contamination. During the abortion season, black-backed gulls appeared to spread the disease to other farms. Other potential sources of infection were carrier sheep, contaminated water sources and contaminated sheep-yard dust. Damage to the reproductive tract may affect the ability of surviving ewes to conceive. CONCLUSION: Important features of this disease are its high morbidity and mortality within a flock or herd, rapid local spread and its role as an occupational, health and safety risk to farm workers and their families.
Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 Is Associated with Glomerular Filtration Rate Progression and Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease in Two Community-Based Cohorts of Elderly Individuals

Objective: We aimed to explore and validate the longitudinal associations between soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) progression, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence in two independent community-based cohorts of elderly individuals with prespecified subgroup analyses in individuals without prevalent diabetes. Research Design and Methods: Two community-based cohorts of elderly individuals were used with 5-year follow-up data on estimated GFR: the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM; n = 437 men; mean age: 78 years) and the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS; n = 703; mean age: 70 years; 51% women). GFR categories were defined as ≥60, 30-60, and <30 ml/min/1.73 m2. Results: In longitudinal multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for inflammatory markers and established cardiovascular risk factors, higher serum sTNFR1 was significantly associated with an increased risk to progress to a lower GFR category in both ULSAM and PIVUS [odds ratio (OR) per standard deviation (SD) increase 1.28 (95% CI 1.03-1.60) and OR 1.56 (95% CI 1.30-1.87), respectively]. Also, in subgroup analyses in individuals with a GFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline, higher sTNFRs were associated with incident CKD after 5 years in both cohorts [ULSAM: OR per SD increase 1.49 (95% CI 1.16-1.9) and PIVUS: OR 1.84 (95% CI 1.50-2.26)]. Associations were similar in individuals without diabetes. Conclusions: Higher circulating sTNFR1 independently predicts the progression to a worse GFR category and CKD incidence in elderly individuals even in the absence of diabetes. Further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms, and to evaluate the clinical relevance of our findings.
Assessment of 1 month forecasts of weak Indian monsoons based on the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS)

This study focuses on analyses and validation of 1 month forecasts (OMFs) of weak Indian monsoons based on 10 member ensemble hindcasts (retrospective forecasts) of the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS) model for the period 1981–2008. The weak monsoon episodes chosen for the analysis correspond to summer monsoon months which were characterized by significant deficits in the All‐India monthly rainfall of − 20% of the climatological normal. Examination of the CFS‐OMFs shows poor skill of the model in capturing the observed rainfall and circulation anomalies during weak monsoons. The present analysis suggests that deficiencies in realistically capturing the ocean‐atmosphere coupling in the tropical Indian Ocean (IO) introduces biases in simulating sea surface temperature and rainfall anomalies in the equatorial region, which in turn affects the monsoon precipitation forecasts over the sub‐continent. In particular, the mean thermocline in the near‐equatorial IO is found to be practically flat in the CFS model, so that the near‐equatorial anomalies in the model are not strong enough to weaken the summer monsoon circulation and reduce the monsoon precipitation over India. By examining a 100 year free run of the CFS model, it is seen that moderate monsoon‐droughts simulated by the model have weak teleconnections with the equatorial IO dynamics. On the other hand, intense monsoon‐droughts in the CFS‐model are found be remarkably linked with the equatorial IO anomalies. It is suggested that improving the slope of the equatorial IO thermocline and allowing for more realistic IO‐monsoon coupling in the CFS‐model would be an important step for improving the skill of extended‐range monsoon forecasts. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
PATTERNED POLYMER MULTILAYERS AS ETCH RESISTS

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of patterned polymer multilayers on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and the use of these structures as etch resists for gold. The procedure used to build polymer multilayers consisted of five steps: (i) A polar thiolHS(CH2)15COOHwas patterned on gold or silver films by microcontact printing (μCP) with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp. (ii) The patterned surface was placed in a solution containing CH3(CH2)15SH to form a nonpolar, methyl-terminated SAM on the remaining bare metal surface. (iii) The regions of the SAM patterned with CO2H groups were activated for further chemical reaction by conversion into interchain anhydride groups. (iv) The activated substrate was allowed to react with poly(ethylene imine) (PEI, branched chain, Mw 750 000). (v) A second polymer layer was attached to the PEI layer by allowing the amine-terminated surface to react with poly(octadecene-alt-maleic anhydride) (POMA, Mw 30 000) or poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride).