Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CEPR: A Collaborative Exploration and Periodically Returning Model for Location Prediction

With the growing popularity of location-based social networks, numerous location visiting records (e.g., check-ins) continue to accumulate over time. The more these records are collected, the better we can understand users’ mobility patterns and the more accurately we can predict their future locations. However, due to the personality trait of neophilia, people also show propensities of novelty seeking in human mobility, that is, exploring unvisited but tailored locations for them to visit. As such, the existing prediction algorithms, mainly relying on regular mobility patterns, face severe challenges because such behavior is beyond the reach of regularity. As a matter of fact, the prediction of this behavior not only relies on the forecast of novelty-seeking tendency but also depends on how to determine unvisited candidate locations. To this end, we put forward a Collaborative Exploration and Periodically Returning model (CEPR), based on a novel problem, Exploration Prediction (EP), which forecasts whether people will seek unvisited locations to visit, in the following. When people are predicted to do exploration, a state-of-the-art recommendation algorithm, armed with collaborative social knowledge and assisted by geographical influence, will be applied for seeking the suitable candidates; otherwise, a traditional prediction algorithm, incorporating both regularity and the Markov model, will be put into use for figuring out the most possible locations to visit. We then perform case studies on check-ins and evaluate them on two large-scale check-in datasets with 6M and 36M records, respectively. The evaluation results show that EP achieves a roughly 20p classification error rate on both datasets, greatly outperforming the baselines, and that CEPR improves performances by as much as 30p compared to the traditional location prediction algorithms.
Understanding Host-Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli Interaction in Crohn's Disease: Opening Up New Therapeutic Strategies

A trillion of microorganisms colonize the mammalian intestine. Most of them have coevolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship and some of them have developed strategies to promote their replication in the presence of competing microbiota. Recent evidence suggests that perturbation of the microbial community favors the emergence of opportunistic pathogens, in particular adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) that can increase incidence and severity of gut inflammation in the context of Crohn's disease (CD). This review will report the importance of AIEC as triggers of intestinal inflammation, focusing on their impact on epithelial barrier function and stimulation of mucosal inflammation. Beyond manipulation of immune response, restoration of gut microbiota as a new treatment option for CD patients will be discussed.
Therapeutic Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide-Releasing L-Dopa Derivative ACS84 on 6-OHDA-Induced Parkinson’s Disease Rat Model

Parkinson’s disease (PD), characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, is a neurodegenerative disorder of central nervous system. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effect of ACS84, a hydrogen sulfide-releasing-L-Dopa derivative compound, in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD model. ACS84 protected the SH-SY5Y cells against 6-OHDA-induced cell injury and oxidative stress. The protective effect resulted from stimulation of Nrf-2 nuclear translocation and promotion of anti-oxidant enzymes expression. In the 6-OHDA-induced PD rat model, intragastric administration of ACS84 relieved the movement dysfunction of the model animals. Immunofluorescence staining and High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that ACS84 alleviated the loss of tyrosine-hydroxylase positive neurons in the substantia nigra and the declined dopamine concentration in the injured striatums of the 6-OHDA-induced PD model. Moreover, ACS84 reversed the elevated malondialdehyde level and the decreased glutathione level in vivo. In conclusion, ACS84 may prevent neurodegeneration via the anti-oxidative mechanism and has potential therapeutic values for Parkinson’s disease.
Leakage-resilient certificateless public key encryption

In certificateless public key encryption (CL-PKE), the Private Key Generator (PKG) keeps a master secret key to generate a partial private key corresponding to a user's identity. Together with a secret value generated by the user, a full private key can be constructed for decryption. Traditional security model for CL-PKE assumes that (i) both the master secret key of the PKG and the full private key of the user under attack are in absolute secrecy; and (ii) the attacker can only obtain either the target user's secret value without any partial knowledge of the partial private key or vice versa. However, the advancement of practical side-channel attacks enable attackers to obtain partial information of both keys easily, making the above assumption invalid. In this paper, we give the first leakage-resilient CL-PKE. We consider different leakage conditions for Type I (third party attackers) and Type II (honest-but-curious PKG) attackers, following the classification in traditional CL-PKE. We give a concrete construction in the composite order bilinear group. We prove the security of our scheme in the standard model, overcoming some technical difficulties in the security proofs for both Type I and Type II attackers of CL-PKE.
Lamellar Bodies of Human Epidermis

Lamellar bodies (LBs) are tubulovesicular secretory organelles of epithelial cells related to lysosomes. In the epidermis, they play a crucial role in permeability barrier homeostasis, secreting their contents, lipids, a variety of hydrolases, protease inhibitors, and antimicrobial peptides, in the upper keratinocyte layers. The identification of proteins transported in epidermal LBs is still far from complete, and the way their secretion is controlled unknown. In this study, we describe the first proteomics characterization by nano-LC-MS/MS of a fraction enriched in epidermal LBs. We identified 984 proteins, including proteins known or thought to be secreted by LBs. Moreover 31 proteins corresponded to lysosomal components further suggesting that LBs are a new class of secretory lysosomes. Many of the newly found proteins could play a role in the epidermal barrier and desquamation (one acid ceramidase-like protein, apolipoproteins, glycosidases, protease inhibitors, and peptidases) and in LB trafficking (e.g. Rab, Arf, and motor complex proteins). We focus here on CLIP-170/restin, a protein that mediates interactions between organelles and microtubules. Western blotting confirmed the presence of CLIP-170 and its known effectors IQGAP1 and Cdc42 in the LB-enriched fraction. We showed, by confocal microscopy analysis of skin cryosections, that CLIP-170 was expressed in differentiated keratinocytes, first at the periphery of the nucleus then with a granular cytoplasmic labeling evocative of LBs. It was preferentially co-localized with Cdc42 and with the known LB protein cathepsin D. CLIP-170 was also largely co-localized with Rab7. This study strongly suggests a new function for CLIP-170, its involvement together with Cdc42 and/or Rab7 in the intracellular trafficking of LBs, and provides evidence that nano-LC-MS/MS combined with monodimensional electrophoresis separation constitutes a powerful method for identifying proteins in a complex mixture such as subcellular structures.
Competitive Advantages Through IT Innovation Adoption by SMEs

Purpose — This paper seeks to explain the impact of IT innovation on competitive advantage; the barriers and the benefits companies gain from adopting and using these innovations and propose a model with which it is possible to measure determinants of IT innovation adoption among SMEs.Design/methodology/approach — This paper presents conceptual consideration on the role of SMEs in the Malaysian economy and the effect of government policy in encouraging companies to adopt IT innovation. The proposed research framework will be empirically validated using survey data. This study is an ongoing research, in the existing stage a theoretical argument is developed and methodology is in the process of being tested through regression analysis.Findings — Conclusions are drawn on the status of Malaysian SMEs to adopt IT innovation. We added attitude and self-efficacy to the Innovation Diffusion Theory to suit it to the individual situation. Therefore a novel approach is needed in order to study and understand it.Research limitations/implications — The paper represents work in progress.Practical implications — This paper present the theoretical framework for further study of IT innovation adoption among Malaysia SMEs.Originality/Value — The Information Technology concept is considered a powerful competitive weapon in the modern economy. This study used Innovation Diffusion Theory as the base theory, and added attitude and self efficacy as determinants to measure the individual’s perception toward innovation adoption. Individual self-efficacy and attitude toward innovation adoption shape beliefs and perceptions toward innovation, leading them to adopt or reject an innovation. Adding these factors to Innovation Diffusion Theory will narrow the breadth of the theory and possibilities to frame a single study which allows examination of the individual and technological dimension toward technology adoption.
A Qualitative Exploration of Athletes' Past Experiences With Doping Prevention Education

The purpose of this study was to explore athletes' experiences with doping education and their recommendations to improve current education to create more effective doping prevention interventions. Following a constructivist approach, interviews were conducted with 21 athletes and analyzed inductively with thematic analysis. Six themes were identified relating to athletes' experiences with doping education and recommendations for improving it. Athletes commonly described receiving insufficient doping education during adolescence, highlighting the need for increased doping prevention efforts. Recommendations for future educational programs include addressing doping prevention collaboratively, implementing education at younger ages, and assuring the programs are engaging and interactive.
EMPRESAS ESTATAIS E CONSERVADORISMO CONTÁBIL: UMA ANÁLISE DAS EMPRESAS DA BM&F BOVESPA

O conservadorismo contabil tem influenciado nas decisoes das empresas. No contexto internacional, a intervencao dos governos na atividade das empresas e fortemente observada, conforme afirmam alguns autores. No contexto brasileiro, alem da influencia do conservadorismo contabil as empresas sao influenciadas pela estrutura juridica-cultural code law . Nessa perspectiva, o presente estudo, busca analisar se as empresas estatais brasileiras seriam mais conservadoras do que as empresas nao estatais no mercado brasileiro, sob a otica do Modelo de Basu (1997) que define o conservadorismo como o grau de reconhecimento assimetrico do mercado para boas e mas noticias. Essa hipotese decorre de evidencias internacionais de que empresas estatais possuem incentivos de apresentar resultados maiores como forma de demonstrar uma boa imagem do governo. Como estrategia metodologica esta pesquisa adotou o Modelo de Basu (1997), adaptado as empresas brasileiras no periodo de 2010 a 2013, com adocao de estatistica descritiva e metodo quantitativo, sendo os dados coletados da base de dados do software Economatica®. Os principais resultados foram: foi possivel aceitar a hipotese de que as empresas estatais sao menos conservadoras do que as demais empresas da BMF observou-se conservadorismo contabil nas empresas que publicaram informacoes em conformidade normas contabeis exigidas a partir da Lei 11.638/08, entre o periodo de 2010 a 2013, sendo estatisticamente significante a 10%; entre outros resultados.
Brain Areas Consistently Linked to Individual Differences in Perceptual Decision-making in Younger as well as Older Adults before and after Training

Perceptual decision-making performance depends on several cognitive and neural processes. Here, we fit Ratcliff's diffusion model to accuracy data and reaction-time distributions from one numerical and one verbal two-choice perceptual-decision task to deconstruct these performance measures into the rate of evidence accumulation (i.e., drift rate), response criterion setting (i.e., boundary separation), and peripheral aspects of performance (i.e., nondecision time). These theoretical processes are then related to individual differences in brain activation by means of multiple regression. The sample consisted of 24 younger and 15 older adults performing the task in fMRI before and after 100 daily 1-hr behavioral training sessions in a multitude of cognitive tasks. Results showed that individual differences in boundary separation were related to striatal activity, whereas differences in drift rate were related to activity in the inferior parietal lobe. These associations were not significantly modified by adult age or perceptual expertise. We conclude that the striatum is involved in regulating response thresholds, whereas the inferior parietal lobe might represent decision-making evidence related to letters and numbers.
User Evaluation of a System for Classifying and Displaying Political Viewpoints of Weblogs

This paper presents a Web-based user evaluation of a system for classifying and presenting political viewpoints of blog posts. The system is based on a classification model trained using a supervised learning algorithm, and the data set consists of recent posts from blogs that are self-identified as a liberal or a conservative viewpoint. We first discuss the classification process. Then, with a prototype system for retrieving and classifying political blogs, we look at how the classification results can be presented to users in order to improve the blog search experience. We describe an online user study with 15 users, and the study shows that users preferred the search results page that clearly shows the political viewpoint classification.
Association of the TNF-α-C-857T Polymorphism With Resistance to the Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects

OBJECTIVE An association of the C-857T polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene promoter region with LDL cholesterol levels has been reported. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the TNF-α-C-857T polymorphism and LDL cholesterol levels according to statin treatment in subjects with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS DNA was obtained from 322 Japanese subjects (160 male and 162 female) with type 2 diabetes, and TNF-α-C-857T polymorphisms were determined by direct sequencing. Serum LDL cholesterol was measured by a direct method. RESULTS Although serum LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the T carriers (C/T + T/T) than in the non–T carriers (C/C) (3.14 ± 0.86 vs. 2.89 ± 0.75 mmol/l, P < 0.05), there was no difference in LDL cholesterol levels between the non–T carriers and the T carriers in statin-untreated subjects (2.87 ± 0.73 vs. 2.89 ± 0.76 mmol/l, NS), whereas in statin-treated subjects, LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the T carriers than in the non–T carriers (3.43 ± 0.89 vs. 2.90 ± 0.78 mmol/l, P = 0.0007). There were no differences in HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels between the non–T carriers and the T carriers in both statin-treated and -untreated subjects. The percent decrease in LDL cholesterol levels after administration of statins was significantly smaller in the T carriers compared with the non–T carriers (27.6 vs. 36.4%, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS The mutant allele of the C-857T promoter polymorphism of the TNF-α gene may predispose to resistance to the LDL cholesterol–lowering effect of statins and could be one of the markers used to predict the efficacy of statins.
A Retrospective Study of a Scientist in the Classroom Partnership Program.

The Scientist in the Classroom Partnership (SCP) is a unique, long-term program that partners STEM fellows with K-12 teachers. The SCP was adapted from the original NSF GK-12 model, with fellows and teachers working in the summer and academic year to build their partnership and design and coteach inquiry-based STEM curricula. The current study is a retrospective investigation of the first 10 years of the program to determine the impacts on university fellows and K-12 teachers and the implications for students in the participating classrooms. Results from surveys and focus groups showed that fellows gained communication, mentoring, and pedagogical skills and served as role models for students. Teachers gained STEM content knowledge, increased use of inquiry, and greater confidence in teaching science. The SCP represents an innovative model that enhances hands-on and inquiry-based teaching and learning of science through a unique partnership that brings together the university and K-12 systems.
An experiment in automatic game design

This paper presents a first attempt at evolving the rules for a game. In contrast to almost every other paper that applies computational intelligence techniques to games, we are not generating behaviours, strategies or environments for any particular game; we are starting without a game and generating the game itself. We explain the rationale for doing this and survey the theories of entertainment and curiosity that underly our fitness function, and present the details of a simple proof-of-concept experiment.
Unsupervised Natural Language Processing Using Graph Models

In the past, NLP has always been based on the explicit or implicit use of linguistic knowledge. In classical computer linguistic applications explicit rule based approaches prevail, while machine learning algorithms use implicit knowledge for generating linguistic knowledge. The question behind this work is: how far can we go in NLP without assuming explicit or implicit linguistic knowledge? How much efforts in annotation and resource building are needed for what level of sophistication in text processing? This work tries to answer the question by experimenting with algorithms that do not presume any linguistic knowledge in the system. The claim is that the knowledge needed can largely be acquired by knowledge-free and unsupervised methods. Here, graph models are employed for representing language data. A new graph clustering method finds related lexical units, which form word sets on various levels of homogeneity. This is exemplified and evaluated on language separation and unsupervised part-of-speech tagging, further applications are discussed.
Clinical application of expectorant therapy in chronic inflammatory airway diseases (Review)

Airway mucus hypersecretion is a significant clinical and pathological feature of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Its clinical presentations include recurrent coughing and phlegm. Airway mucus is closely associated with the occurrence, development and prognosis of chronic inflammatory airway diseases and critically affects the lung function, quality of life, hospitalization rate and mortality of patients with chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Therefore, expectorant therapies targeting the potential mechanisms of mucus hypersecretion have been the focus of numerous studies. Conventional expectorants are mainly mucoactive medicines, including nausea-stimulating expectorants, mucolytics, mucokinetics, and proteases and nucleases. In addition, certain traditional Chinese herbal medicines and non-mucoactive agents, including muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists, corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists and macrolide antibiotics, have also shown expectorant effects. Several novel medicines for expectorant therapy have emerged, including cholesterol-lowering statins, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, stanozolol, surfactants, flavonoids, tachykinin receptor antagonists, protease inhibitors, cytokine antagonists and purinergic agonists. With the increasing number of multidisciplinary studies, the effectiveness of expectorant therapy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases has been confirmed. Therefore, the development of novel expectorants and the standardization of expectorant therapy are the direction and focus of future studies, thus benefiting patients who have a chronic inflammatory airway disease.
Answering graph pattern queries using views

Answering queries using views has proven an effective technique for querying relational and semistructured data. This paper investigates this issue for graph pattern queries based on (bounded) simulation, which have been increasingly used in, e.g., social network analysis. We propose a notion of pattern containment to characterize graph pattern matching using graph pattern views. We show that a graph pattern query can be answered using a set of views if and only if the query is contained in the views. Based on this characterization we develop efficient algorithms to answer graph pattern queries. In addition, we identify three problems associated with graph pattern containment. We show that these problems range from quadratic-time to NP-complete, and provide efficient algorithms for containment checking (approximation when the problem is intractable). Using real-life data and synthetic data, we experimentally verify that these methods are able to efficiently answer graph pattern queries on large social graphs, by using views.
The convivial space – exploring teacher learning through practitioner research

Abstract In this paper we consider the pedagogic and cultural role of practitioner research (PR) in teacher learning, using a case study approach set in a secondary academy school in the West Midlands of England. We acknowledge teacher learning and its influence on pupils as complex and relational, and that this should encourage more research, not deter or reduce our thinking to false certainties. We note literature that endorses practitioner research, particularly its influence on positive identity shifts and enhanced collegiality. Through in-depth ‘acquaintance interviews’ we gathered data from six members of the Innovation Unit in the school and one senior management leader. The findings suggests that practitioner research helped them live more fulfilled lives at work. They felt PR increased their confidence, expertise and enthusiasm at work. These aspects contributed to a shift in their identities and changed the ways they felt about themselves and how they thought they were seen by others. We also explore participants'' reservations about the role of leadership in teacher learning. Finally we contextualise the rich detail of our interview data with a broader view to establish the importance of and explore connections between collegiality, Macmurray’s notions of the personal and the functional, Illich’s conviviality concept and Dewey’s notion of aesthetic learning experiences. In light of this context, we suggest that practitioner research enriches the working world of teachers, offering an alternative view to some more standardised and standardising CPD programmes.