Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Generalized Mantel-Haenszel Statistics to Assess DIF Among Multiple Groups

In spite of the growing interest in cross-cultural research and assessment, there is little research on statistical procedures that can be used to simultaneously assess the differential item functioning (DIF) across multiple groups. The chief objective of this work is to show a unified framework for the analysis of DIF in multiple groups using one of the most popular methodologies for DIF assessment: the Mantel-Haenszel (MH) methods. The MH statistics proposed to date with this purpose only permitted analysis of the DIF for dichotomous items. In contrast, the statistics presented here permit, through a single significance test, simultaneous evaluation of the DIF in several groups, being applicable to both dichotomous and polytomous items. Specific software to detect DIF using this methodology is available free of charge.
Posing Polygonal Objects in the Plane by Pushing

This paper studies the use of pushing actions to orient and trans late objects in the plane. The authors use linear normal pushes, which are straight-line pushes in a direction normal to the pushing fence. These pushes are specified by the fence orientation and push distance. The authors show that a set of linear normal pushes can always be found to move any polygonal object from any initial con figuration to any goal configuration in the obstacle-free plane. The object configuration is specified by its pose; that is, its position and orientation. The authors formulate the search for such a sequence of pushes as a linear programming problem. They then describe an implemented pose planner that uses this formulation to identify a sequence of linear normal pushes given any polygonal object, any initial pose, and any goal pose. This planner is proven to be com plete and to have polynomial time complexity. The planner, which uses an analysis of the mechanics of pushing an object, generates open-loop plans that do not require sensing. The authors describe experiments that demonstrate the validity of the generated plans.
Studying students’ attitudes towards science from a cultural perspective but with a quantitative methodology: border crossing into the physics classroom

This study applies the concept of cultural border (or boundary) crossing first introduced by Phelan et al. (1991) to the investigation of students’ attitudes towards physics and to their choice of physics for A‐level. A typology of border crossings is introduced and a number of possible crossings are hypothesized; for example, family background (parents’ occupation and thinking style), low general school interest among family and peers, students’ non‐scientific perception of knowledge, their ‘more‐than‐just‐absorption’ purposes of knowledge‐acquisition and other value‐related judgements. The quantitative methodology used here makes it possible to build regression models of students’ attitudes and compare the possible impact of the border crossings with that of personality variables and teacher and teaching style characteristics. It is found that cultural border crossing factors are important predictors for attitudes towards physics as well as for choice of A‐level physics in the Danish upper secondary school (‘gymnasium’).
Sources of measurement variation in child anthropometry in the Malawi maternal and child nutrition study

An examination of intra‐ and inter‐observer error in child anthropometry and variation between two skinfold calipers was conducted as part of a large prospective study of maternal and child nutrition in Malawi, Central Africa. Measurements include length, weight, head and arm circumferences, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, and estimated cross‐sectional arm fat and arm muscle areas. Total observer error, expressed as a percentage of total variance in each trait, is ⩽3.2% for length, weight, and head circumference; 7% for arm circumference; 10% for arm fat area; and 16–20% for skinfolds and arm muscle area. When total observer error is divided into the two additive components studied, intraobserver error represents approximately 50% or more of total observer error for most traits. An exception is the subscapular skinfold for which intra‐observer represents 38% of total observer error. Errors of this magnitude will cause an attenuation of approximately 10% in the correlation coefficients between anthropometric and other variables, and a loss of power in attempting to detect associations between anthropometric variables and either their determinants or outcomes. However, the effects of errors of this magnitude are minor compared to those encountered in studies correlating nutrient intake with other variables. This study also finds that the SlimGuide caliper systematically overestimates skinfolds at low readings and underestimates skinfolds at high readingss relative to the Lange caliper.
Cognitive profile of patients with newly diagnosed Parkinson disease

Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of cognitive dysfunction in patients with newly diagnosed Parkinson disease (PD) and to identify its demographic and clinical correlates. Methods: A cohort of 115 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed PD and 70 healthy controls underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment including tests of psychomotor speed, attention, language, memory, executive and visuospatial functions, as well as measures of affective status. Patients also received quantitative ratings of motor symptom severity and functional status. Neuropsychological performance of PD patients was compared with that of healthy controls and with available normative data. Independent demographic and clinical predictors of cognitive impairment were identified with multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Relative to controls, PD patients performed significantly worse on most cognitive measures. However, further analysis revealed that group differences in cognitive performance could mainly be explained by measures of immediate memory and executive function. Comparison with normative data showed that impairments were most frequent on measures of executive function, memory and psychomotor speed. In all, 24% of PD patients (4% of controls) displayed defective performance on at least three neuropsychological tests and were classified as cognitively impaired. Late onset of disease was an independent predictor of cognitive dysfunction in PD. Conclusion: Cognitive impairments are common even in newly diagnosed Parkinson disease patients, with deficits being most prominent in the domains of memory and executive functions. Older age at disease onset is likely to be an important determinant of cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson disease.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIFENTHRIN CATABOLIZING BACTERIAL STRAIN BACILLUS CIBI FROM SOIL FOR PYRETHROIDS BIODEGRADATION

Pyrethroids are commonly used in most parts of the world and are reported to have potential health ris ks. Bifenthrin, a third generation pyrethroid used as i nsecticide has caused potential effect on aquatic l ife and human health. Bioremediation is a practical approac h to reduce pesticide in the environment and report s of microbial degradation of bifenthrin are meagre. This study was aimed at isolating and characterizin g bacterial isolates for the efficient removal of bif enthrin residues in the environment. A bacterial st rain PGS-4 isolated from sewage of pesticide industry wa s tested for growth at higher concentration of bifenthrin (800 mg L -1 ) and the optimum pH and temperature were determined. The strain utilized bifenthrin as sole carbon source for growth over a wide range of pH (4.0-9.0) and temperatures (1637°C). On the basis of growth kinetics studies, the optimal conditions were determined to be pH 7.0-8. 0 and 30°C. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain PGS-4 forms a distinct phylogenetic lineage within the evolutionary radiation encompass ed by the genus Bacillus and showed 99% similarity to that of Bacillus cibi. This study depicts the ability of B. cibi to utilize bifenthrin at higher concentration under in vitro thereby can be used in eliminating bifenthrin from contaminated soils as a practical approach to reduce pyrethroid toxicity in the environment.
Preoperative differentiation between noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary‐like nuclear features (NIFTP) and non‐NIFTP

A recent concept was proposed that the noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma reclassified as “noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary‐like nuclear features (NIFTP)” is benign. Our aim was to identify the differences between NIFTP and non‐NIFTP preoperatively.
Intercultural Study of Personal Space: A Case Study

The study of intercultural differences in personal space attempts to identify factors that could be helpful in guiding people from different cultures to live and work together in international ventures. The objective of this research was to measure interpersonal distance in a cross-cultural environment. Twenty-three participants classified in 4 cultural groups answered an 11-questions interview where the personal distance and orientation between seated interactants were measured. Results showed that Anglo Saxons used the largest zone of personal space, followed by Asians, then Caucasians, and, as expected, Mediterraneans and Latinos used the shortest distance. Where Latinos adopt a face-to-face position, Caucasians tend to orient themselves to the side of the interviewer, which has an impact on interpersonal communication.
Idiomaticity and Classical Traditions in Some East Asian Languages

The rhetorical distinction between literal and metaphorical meanings and so semantic and discoursal opacity often associated with idioms is universal. But the format of idioms can stand out, and the means by which the expressions are formed, often drawing on the use of notable objects or events relevant to the native society concerned are often culture bound. These objects and events can often be drawn from relatively closed sets.
Correlation between Fenvalerate Resistance and Cytochrome P450-mediated O-Demethylation Activity in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases are a major metabolic mechanism responsible for pyrethroid resistance in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) from Asia. Cytochrome P450-mediated O-demethylation activity toward p-nitroanisole (PNOD) of individual fourth instars was determined in five strains of H. armigera by using a microplate reader. The four resistant strains of YS, HD, YGF, and YG59 had 6-, 71-, 2,540-, and 11,800-fold resistance, respectively, to fenvalerate in comparison with the susceptible BK77 strain. Their mean PNOD activity was 4-, 10-, 24-, and 60-fold, respectively, compared with the BK77 strain. A strong positive correlation (correlation coefficient r = 0.98) between PNOD activity and fenvalerate resistance was found. Of 48 larvae from each strain, only 4% larvae of the susceptible BK77 strain had detectable PNOD activity, whereas 25, 33, 79, and 96% of larvae from the resistant strains YS, HD, YGF, and YG59 exhibited PNOD activity, respectively. There was a clear discrimination of patterns of PNOD frequency distribution between H. armigera strains and their magnitudes of fenvalerate resistance. The PNOD activity can be used as a biochemical marker for monooxygenase-mediated pyrethroid resistance in field populations of H. armigera.
I Never Knew I Could Stand up to the System: Families' Perspectives on Pursuing Inclusive Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences encountered by parents committed to inclusive education for their children with disabilities. In-depth interviews of nine study participants were analyzed to identify common themes related to their experiences and perceptions. Results revealed that parents desired inclusive education, because they viewed it as a fundamental right for their children. Most importantly, findings indicated that parents employed numerous strategies to obtain inclusive education for their children, often seeking assistance from the courts and media. These findings suggest the need for meaningful family and school collaboration.
The mnemonic feat of the "Shass Pollak".

undoubtedly still are, men who know the whole text of the Talmud by heart. Some years ago one of these men, a native of Poland, was in this country. I witnessed his remarkable feats of memory. Thus, one of us would throw open one of the volumes of the Talmud, say the tractate Berakhot, at page 10; a pin would be placed on a word, let us say, the fourth word in line eight; the memory sharp would then be asked what word is in this same spot on page thirtyeight or page fifty or any other page; the pin would be pressed through the volume until it reached page thirty eight or page fifty or any other page designated; the memory sharp would then mention the word and it was found invariably correct. He had visualized in his brain the whole Talmud; in other words, the pages of the Talmud were photographed on his brain. It was one of the most
Habitat Use and Selection by Giant Pandas

Animals make choices about where to spend their time in complex and dynamic landscapes, choices that reveal information about their biology that in turn can be used to guide their conservation. Using GPS collars, we conducted a novel individual-based analysis of habitat use and selection by the elusive and endangered giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). We constructed spatial autoregressive resource utilization functions (RUF) to model the relationship between the pandas' utilization distributions and various habitat characteristics over a continuous space across seasons. Results reveal several new insights, including use of a broader range of habitat characteristics than previously understood for the species, particularly steep slopes and non-forest areas. We also used compositional analysis to analyze habitat selection (use with respect to availability of habitat types) at two selection levels. Pandas selected against low terrain position and against the highest clumped forest at the at-home range level, but no significant factors were identified at the within-home range level. Our results have implications for modeling and managing the habitat of this endangered species by illustrating how individual pandas relate to habitat and make choices that differ from assumptions made in broad scale models. Our study also highlights the value of using a spatial autoregressive RUF approach on animal species for which a complete picture of individual-level habitat use and selection across space is otherwise lacking.
Attitude toward organic foods among Taiwanese as related to health consciousness, environmental attitudes, and the mediating effects of a healthy lifestyle

– Instead of using general food choice motives, this study adopts more specific attitudes – i.e. health consciousness and environmental attitudes – to predict the consumer's attitude toward organic foods. The main objective of the paper is to test the hypothesis whether health consciousness and environmental attitudes influence the consumer's attitude toward organic foods through an individual's healthy lifestyle. , – Data were collected in Taiwan by means of a national self‐administered consumer questionnaire survey in this study. A series of regression models are used to detect how the mediating role of the healthy lifestyle construct plays in the relationships between the determinant factors (i.e. health consciousness and environmental attitudes) and the consumer's attitude toward organic foods. , – The results are consistent with previous studies, which assert that concern for one's health and for the environment are the two most commonly stated motives for purchasing organic foods, with the former exceeding the latter in importance. In addition, the healthy lifestyle indeed exerts effective mediating effects on the positive relationships between health consciousness and environmental attitudes and the consumer's attitude toward organic foods. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle should be advocated to render the consumer's attitude toward organic foods more positive. , – Based on the findings, the selection of advertising messages, social interaction and so forth should revolve around the issues of health consciousness, environmental attitudes, and healthy lifestyle in the future. , – This study is one of the first to examine the mediating effect of a healthy lifestyle that bears on organic foods. The empirical findings from this study are expected to benefit the continued development of the organic sector in Taiwan's food industry.
COMPLEX EVENT PROCESSING AND DATA MINING FOR SMART CITIES

Complex Event Processing (CEP) is emerging as a new paradigm for continuous processing of streaming data in order to detect relevant information and provide support for timely reactions. The main role of a CEP engine is to detect the occurrence of event patterns on the incoming streaming data. However, the problem of discovering the event patterns, although strongly related to the data mining field, has not been studied from the perspective of CEP applications. This paper presents the first steps towards defining a framework that would allow seamless integration of CEP and data mining method. We present the smart cities scenarios as a good working-field for experimentation. A concrete use case is discussed and preliminary results are presented for real-live data that has been collected.
Do applicants fake? An examination of the frequency of applicant faking behavior

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to empirically test whether applicants fake their responses to personality based employment inventories.Design/methodology/approach – This study utilized a within subjects design to asses whether applicants elevated their scores in an applicant conditions. Subjects who applied for a job were later contacted and asked to complete the same personality measure under an honest instructional set. The within subjects design allowed the researcher to examine faking behavior at the individual level of analysis rather than draw inferences between applicant and incumbent groups.Findings – Results suggest that a significant number of applicants do fake personality based selection measures. Depending on the confidence interval used between 30 and 50 percent of applicants elevated their scores when applying for a job. The results also show that applicant faking behavior resulted in significant rank ordering changes that impacted hiring decisions.Research limitations/implication.
Full Virtualization for GPUs Reconsidered

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have become the tool choice in computationally demanding fields such as scientific computing and machine learning. However, supporting GPUs in virtualized settings like the cloud remains a challenge due to limited hardware support for virtualization. In practice, cloud providers elide GPU support entirely or resort to compromise techniques such as PCI pass through. GPU virtualization remains an active research area, fostering proposals for improvements at all layers of the technology stack, as well as software solutions based on API remoting, mediated pass-through, paraand fullvirtualization, among others. The wealth of research leaves practitioners with much to think about but precious little in terms of usable techniques and actionable ideas. This paper revisits GPUvm [59], a Xen-hypervisor-based full virtualization design for supporting VM access to discrete NVIDIA GPUs. Based on core primitives such as virtual memory-mapped I/O (MMIO), resource shadowing for GPU channels and page tables, GPUvm is arguably a high-water mark for transparency and feature completeness in GPGPU virtualization. We describe our experience setting up the most recent open source version, adapting new benchmarks, and re-creating experiments described in the original paper. While we are able to reproduce some reported results, we also reach a number of contrary findings. We observe that core functionalities such as para-virtual optimizations and the FIFO scheduler do not work and that optimizations such as BAR remapping are mostly ineffective. Full virtualization introduces catastrophic overhead in initialization and GPUvm’s optimizations, which primarily target those overheads do so with limited success. The BAND scheduler algorithm purported to improve fairness over Xen’s default CREDIT algorithm actually increases maximum unfairness by up to 6%, doing so at the cost of decreasing aggregate throughput by as much as 8%.
Initial human PET imaging studies with the dopamine transporter ligand 18F-FECNT.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to do an initial assessment of the usefulness of 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-(2-(18)F-fluoroethyl)nortropane ((18)F-FECNT) PET scanning in determining in vivo brain dopamine transporter (DAT) density in healthy humans and subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS We investigated 6 neurologically healthy subjects and 5 PD patients: 2 with mild unilateral disease, 1 with mild-to-moderate bilateral disease, and 2 with moderately severe bilateral disease. The healthy subjects underwent a 3-h PET scan (26 frames) and the PD subjects underwent a 2-h PET scan (23 frames) while (18)F-FECNT was being injected over the first 5 min of the scan. Arterial blood samples were taken throughout scanning for well-counter and metabolite analysis to determine the presence of possible active metabolites. The scans were reconstructed; then we placed spheric regions of interest in the caudate nuclei, putamena, thalami, brain stem, cerebellum, and occipital cortex of each subject. The radioactivity level in each region was calculated for each frame of a subject's PET scan. Then we calculated target tissue-to-cerebellum ratios for each time frame. RESULTS The analysis of arterial blood samples revealed that metabolism of the tracer was rapid. The ether-extractable component of the arterial input was >98% pure (18)F-FECNT. The caudate nucleus and putamen exhibited the highest uptake and prolonged retention of the radioligand. They both attained maximum uptake at approximately 90 min, with the healthy subjects' average caudate- and putamen-to-cerebellum ratios (+/-SD) at that time being 9.0 +/- 1.2 and 7.8 +/- 0.7, respectively. The maximal caudate-to-cerebellum ratios for the healthy subjects ranged from 7.6 to 10.5 and their maximal putamen-to-cerebellum ratios ranged from 7.1 to 9.3. The 2 early-stage, unilateral PD patients had, at 90 min, an average right caudate-to-cerebellum ratio of 5.3 +/- 1.1 and a left ratio of 5.9 +/- 0.7 and an average right putamen-to cerebellum ratio of 2.8 +/- 0.1 and a left ratio of 3.0 +/- 0.6. The late-stage PD patients had, at 90 min, an average right caudate-to-cerebellum ratio of 3.7 +/- 0.4 and a left ratio of 3.9 +/- 0 and an average right putamen-to cerebellum ratio of 1.8 +/- 0.1 and a left ratio of 1.8 +/- 0. CONCLUSION These results indicate that (18)F-FECNT is an excellent candidate radioligand for in vivo imaging of the DAT system in humans. It has a much higher affinity for DAT than for the serotonin transporter and yields the highest peak striatum-to-cerebellum ratios and has among the most favorable kinetics of (18)F-radiolabeled DAT ligands. Having picked up presymptomatic changes in the hemisphere opposite the unaffected side of the body in our early-stage (unilateral) PD patients, it appears that, like other DAT radioligands, it may be able to identify presymptomatic PD.