Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DNA Copy-Number Alterations Underlie Gene Expression Differences between Microsatellite Stable and Unstable Colorectal Cancers

Purpose: About 15% of colorectal cancers harbor microsatellite instability (MSI). MSI-associated gene expression changes have been identified in colorectal cancers, but little overlap exists between signatures hindering an assessment of overall consistency. Little is known about the causes and downstream effects of differential gene expression. Experimental Design: DNA microarray data on 89 MSI and 140 microsatellite-stable (MSS) colorectal cancers from this study and 58 MSI and 77 MSS cases from three published reports were randomly divided into test and training sets. MSI-associated gene expression changes were assessed for cross-study consistency using training samples and validated as MSI classifier using test samples. Differences in biological pathways were identified by functional category analysis. Causation of differential gene expression was investigated by comparison to DNA copy-number data. Results: MSI-associated gene expression changes in colorectal cancers were found to be highly consistent across multiple studies of primary tumors and cancer cell lines from patients of different ethnicities (P < 0.001). Clustering based on consistent changes separated additional test cases by MSI status, and classification of individual samples predicted MSI status with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 85%. Genes associated with immune response were up-regulated in MSI cancers, whereas genes associated with cell-cell adhesion, ion binding, and regulation of metabolism were down-regulated. Differential gene expression was shown to reflect systematic differences in DNA copy-number aberrations between MSI and MSS tumors (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results show cross-study consistency of MSI-associated gene expression changes in colorectal cancers. DNA copy-number alterations partly cause the differences in gene expression between MSI and MSS cancers.
Empowering the Battered Women: The Effectiveness of a Self-Compassion Program

Self-compassion represents an attitude that has the strength of fostering positive emotions toward oneself while simultaneously maintaining a sense of connectedness with others. Empirical work so far has provided evidence that self-compassion contributes to well-being, happiness and life satisfaction. Domestic violence may be defined as willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior—as part of a systematic pattern of power and control—perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. Domestic violence survivors often feel shame, and blame themselves for being battered. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a self-compassion program in increasing self-compassion and fostering psychological well-being of abused women. A sample of 21 women completed five self-report questionnaires (Self-Compassion Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Resilience Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) one week prior, one week following and six months after the completion of the six-week intervention program. The results indicated significant increases in self-compassion, positive affect, resilience and subjective happiness as well as decreases in negative affect depression, anxiety and stress. These findings might assist researchers and clinicians to develop future interventions in order to cultivate kind and encouraging attitudes in suffering individuals.
Insight into the Stability of Cross-β Amyloid Fibril from VEALYL Short Peptide with Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Amyloid fibrils are found in many fatal neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type II diabetes, and prion disease. The VEALYL short peptide from insulin has been confirmed to aggregate amyloid-like fibrils. However, the aggregation mechanism of amyloid fibril is poorly understood. Here, we utilized molecular dynamics simulation to analyse the stability of VEALYL hexamer. The statistical results indicate that hydrophobic residues play key roles in stabilizing VEALYL hexamer. Single point and two linkage mutants confirmed that Val1, Leu4, and Tyr5 of VEALYL are key residues. The consistency of the results for the VEALYL oligomer suggests that the intermediate states might be trimer (3-0) and pentamer(3-2). These results can help us to obtain an insight into the aggregation mechanism of amyloid fibril. These methods can be used to study the stability of amyloid fibril from other short peptides.
Firms as Incubators of Open Source Software

Many successful open-source projects have been developed by programmers who were employed by firms but worked on open-source projects on the side because of economic incentives like career improvement benefits. Such side work may be a good thing for the employing firms, too, if they get some strategic value from the open-source software and if the productivity of the programmers on these projects improves through learning-by-doing effects. However, the programmers may work more or less on these projects than what is best for the firms. To manage the programmers' efforts, the firms set appropriate employment policies and incentives. These policies and career concerns then together govern the programmers' effort allocation between the open-source and proprietary projects. We examine this relationship using a variant of the principal/agent model. We derive and characterize optimal employment contracts and show that firms either offer a bonus for only one of the two projects or do not offer any bonuses. However, if attractive alternate employment opportunities are available, they change their strategy and may offer bonuses for both projects simultaneously.
Helping Johnny Understand and Avoid Mistakes: A Comparison of Automatic and Manual Encryption in Email

Usable, secure email remains an open problem. Recent research compared two separate secure email systems that support manual and automatic encryption, respectively. The system supporting manual encryption helped users better understand secure email and avoid mistakes. However, the use of two distinct systems casts doubt on whether the improvements can indeed be attributed to manual encryption. In this paper, we report on the results of a formal user study comparing two versions of Private WebMail (Pwm) that differ only in their support for manual and automatic encryption. Our results demonstrate that manual encryption and automatic encryption perform equally well in terms of usability, users' understanding of secure email, and users' ability to avoid mistakes. Furthermore, both versions achieve the highest System Usability Scale (SUS) score ever recorded for a secure email tool.
Improved Bounds on the Finite Length Scaling of Polar Codes

Improved upper bounds on the blocklength required to communicate over binary-input channels using polar codes, below some given error probability, are derived. For that purpose, an improved bound on the number of non-polarizing channels is obtained. The main result is that the blocklength required to communicate reliably scales at most as O((I(W ) - R)-5.702), where R is the code rate and I(W ) is the symmetric capacity of the channel W. The results are then extended to polar lossy source coding at rate R of a source with symmetric distortion-rate function D(·). The blocklength required scales at most as O((D0)-5.702), where D0 is the maximal allowed gap between the actual average (or typical) distortion and D(R).
Contrast Sensitivity Perimetry and Clinical Measures of Glaucomatous Damage

Purpose To compare conventional structural and functional measures of glaucomatous damage with a new functional measure—contrast sensitivity perimetry (CSP-2). Methods One eye each was tested for 51 patients with glaucoma and 62 age-similar control subjects using CSP-2, size III 24-2 conventional automated perimetry (CAP), 24-2 frequency-doubling perimetry (FDP), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. For superior temporal (ST) and inferior temporal (IT) optic disc sectors, defect depth was computed as amount below mean normal, in log units. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement on defect depth, using limits of agreement and three indices: intercept, slope, and mean difference. A criterion of p < 0.0014 for significance used Bonferroni correction. Results Contrast sensitivity perimetry-2 and FDP were in agreement for both sectors. Normal variability was lower for CSP-2 than for CAP and FDP (F > 1.69, p < 0.02), and Bland-Altman limits of agreement for patient data were consistent with variability of control subjects (mean difference, −0.01 log units; SD, 0.11 log units). Intercepts for IT indicated that CSP-2 and FDP were below mean normal when CAP was at mean normal (t > 4, p < 0.0005). Slopes indicated that, as sector damage became more severe, CAP defects for IT and ST deepened more rapidly than CSP-2 defects (t > 4.3, p < 0.0005) and RNFL defects for ST deepened more slowly than for CSP, FDP, and CAP. Mean differences indicated that FDP defects for ST and IT were on average deeper than RNFL defects, as were CSP-2 defects for ST (t > 4.9, p < 0.0001). Conclusions Contrast sensitivity perimetry-2 and FDP defects were deeper than CAP defects in optic disc sectors with mild damage and revealed greater residual function in sectors with severe damage. The discordance between different measures of glaucomatous damage can be accounted for by variability in people free of disease.
Examining the Structure of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale

The Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS), a measure developed to evaluate an individual’s level of career adaptability, was initially validated as consisting of four factors (concern, control, curiosity, and confidence). The following study explores the structural validity of the CAAS when a fifth factor, cooperation, is included. Beyond examining the structural validity, we additionally conducted a cross-cultural validation of the five-factor model across American, Chinese, and Taiwanese samples. Our cross-cultural comparisons provided some support for the factorial equivalence of the five-factor Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS-5) in terms of the configural model. However, the results for the scalar model gave some indication of nonequivalence. Follow-up analyses showed that all items functioned similarly across groups, suggesting that small deviations in item functioning may have resulted in nonequivalence when aggregated to the scale level. Given the conceptual importance of cooperation’s inclusion, we contend that future research on career adaptability should explore the CAAS-5 further.
Adaptation Reduces Spike-Count Reliability, But Not Spike-Timing Precision, of Auditory Nerve Responses

Sensory systems use adaptive coding mechanisms to filter redundant information from the environment to efficiently represent the external world. One such mechanism found in most sensory neurons is rate adaptation, defined as a reduction in firing rate in response to a constant stimulus. In auditory nerve, this form of adaptation is likely mediated by exhaustion of release-ready synaptic vesicles in the cochlear hair cell. To better understand how specific synaptic mechanisms limit neural coding strategies, we examined the trial-to-trial variability of auditory nerve responses during short-term rate-adaptation by measuring spike-timing precision and spike-count reliability. After adaptation, precision remained unchanged, whereas for all but the lowest-frequency fibers, reliability decreased. Modeling statistical properties of the hair cell–afferent fiber synapse suggested that the ability of one or a few vesicles to elicit an action potential reduces the inherent response variability expected from quantal neurotransmitter release, and thereby confers the observed count reliability at sound onset. However, with adaptation, depletion of the readily releasable pool of vesicles diminishes quantal content and antagonizes the postsynaptic enhancement of reliability. These findings imply that during the course of short-term adaptation, coding strategies that employ a rate code are constrained by increased neural noise because of vesicle depletion, whereas those that employ a temporal code are not.
An examination of teacher authenticity in the college classroom

ABSTRACT This study sought to generate a more robust understanding of teacher (in)authenticity. In other contexts, authenticity is regarded as a display of true self and has been positively linked to beneficial psychological (e.g., increased self-esteem) and social outcomes (e.g., higher relational satisfaction). However, what it means to be authentic in relational contexts may be very different from what it means to be authentic in teaching. Indeed, the concept of authentic teaching has been discussed by many, but has yet to be examined from a social science perspective. Using a grounded theory approach, this study sought to determine student perceptions of both authentic and inauthentic teacher behavior and communication. Open-ended data from 297 college students indicate that there are distinct behaviors employed by (in)authentic teachers. Results indicated that authentic teaching is perceived when teachers are viewed as approachable, passionate, attentive, capable, and knowledgeable. Alternatively inauthentic teaching is observed when teachers are perceived as unapproachable, lacking passion, inattentive, incapable, and disrespectful. Notably, these behaviors are often demonstrated through distinct actions taken by teachers that are often examined within the larger instructional communication literature (e.g., self-disclosure). Practically, these results allude to the notion that (in)authentic teaching can have a meaningful impact on students.
PENGARUH DIMENSI EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING TERHADAP MINAT BELI ULANG KONSUMEN PADA OWL CAFE DI BANDAR LAMPUNG

ABSTRAK Owl Cafe merupakan cafe yang telah menerapkan sistem experiential marketing dengan menyediakan permainan untuk konsumen. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan pengaruh dimensi experiental marketing terhadap minat beli ulang (repurchase intention). Metode yang digunakan penelitian ini adalah metode analisis deskriptif dan verifikatif. Jenis data yang digunakan adalah data kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Sumber data pada penelitian ini adalah data primer dan data sekunder. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui penyebaran kuesioner kepada 100 responden yang dipilih berdasarkan teknik pengambilan sampel Non Probability Sampling dengan menggunakan metode Purposive Sampling dan beberapa kriteria yang telah ditetapkan. Analisis data dilakukan dengan menggunakan SPSS 16.0. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa dimensi experiential marketing berpengaruh positif secara signifikan terhadap minat beli ulang. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa dimensi think memiliki pengaruh dominan terhadap minat beli ulang sedangkan dimensi relate memiliki pengaruh terkecil terhadap minat beli ulang. Kata kunci : Experiential Marketing dan Minat Beli Ulang ABSTRACT Owl cafe is a cafe that has been applying experiential marketing system with provide games to consumer. This research aims to clarify the influence of experimental marketing to repurchase intention. The research method used is descriptive and verification. The type of data used is qualitative and quantitative data. Primary and secondary data were used in this research. The data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires to 100 selected respondents based on technique of non-probability sampling by using purposive sampling method and some criteria that have been set. This research are analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software. The result from this research is dimension experiential marketing has a influence positive and significant on repurchase intention. The analysis result found that the dimension think (X3) has a dominant influence on repurchase intention and dimension relate has a few influence on repurchase intention (Y). Keywords : Experiential Marketing and Repurchase Intention
Experimentally enhancing self-compassion: Moderating effects of trait care-seeking and perceived stress

Abstract Social mentality theory suggests that the ability to be reassuring and compassionate to oneself relies on the activation of care-seeking and caregiving mentalities. In this experimental study, college students were randomly assigned to recall memories of care-seeking, caregiving, a combination of care-seeking and caregiving, having fun (active control group), or a no-treatment control group. Participants completed the memory recall task twice per day for four days and were assessed on pre- and post-test levels of self-reassurance. Findings showed a moderating effect of individual differences in trait care-seeking and perceived stress. In response to the caregiving interventions, high care-seekers exhibited increased self-reassurance whereas low care-seekers exhibited decreased self-reassurance. In response to the care-seeking interventions, highly stressed individuals showed increased self-reassurance. Findings suggest that fostering self-compassion/reassurance can be achieved for certain individuals by activating the interpersonal processes involved in care-seeking and caregiving with others.
Computing upper-bounds of the minimum dwell time of linear switched systems via homogeneous polynomial Lyapunov functions

This paper investigates the minimum dwell time for switched linear systems. It is shown that a sequence of upper bounds of the minimum dwell time can be computed by exploiting homogeneous polynomial Lyapunov functions and convex optimization problems based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). This sequence is obtained by adopting two possible representations of homogeneous polynomials, one based on Kronecker products, and the other on the square matrix representation (SMR). Some examples illustrate the use and the potentialities of the proposed approach. It is also conjectured that the proposed approach is asymptotically nonconservative, i.e. the exact minimum dwell time is obtained by using homogeneous polynomials with sufficiently large degree.
Feasibility of Controlling Ixodes scapularis Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), the Vector of Lyme Disease, by Parasitoid Augmentation

Abstract A theoretical analysis of the feasibility of controlling tick populations (Ixodidae) by the release of reared Ixodiphagus parasitoids in tick ecosystems yielded promising results. The analysis suggested that if reasonable progress could be made in mass-rearing the parasitoids, it would be possible to control the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say), the vector of Lyme disease, by this biological control procedure. Lyme disease has become the most important vector-borne disease in the United States. In a field-release experiment conducted in Africa by members of the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, effective control of Amblyomma variegatum (F.) was obtained by the release of Ixodiphagus parasitoids in tick habitats. Encouraging theoretical results along with the encouraging results of a field-release experiment indicate the need for civil and political leaders in countries where ticks are a major problem to sponsor strong and well-coordinated research initiatives focused on the development of this new method of dealing with tick problems.
The distance to the Pleiades: Main sequence fitting in the near infrared

Hipparcos parallax measurements of stars in the Pleiades notoriously result in a cluster distance of 118 pc, which is approximately 10% shorter than the "classical" result obtained from earlier main sequence (MS) fitting studies. In an earlier paper we developed a purely empirical MS-fitting method in an attempt to address this problem. This work produced conflicting results for the Pleiades between the (B − V )a nd (V − I) colour indices, indicating that the cluster's photometric metallicity is substantially lower than its generally accepted spectroscopic metallicity of (Fe/H) = −0.03. We were able to reconcile the discrepancy by assuming (Fe/H) = −0.4, the appropriate metallicity indicated from (B − V)/(V − I) colour-colour plots, and the distance moduli obtained from the two colour indices were in agreement with the Hipparcos result, within the 1σ errors. With the release of the 2MASS All Sky Catalogue, we now apply our MS-fitting method to the Pleiades using the infrared colours in addition to the optical bands, in order to test the plausibility of our earlier result. Using the full field dwarf sample and fitting in the V/(V − K )a ndK/(J − K) colour planes, we find that assuming a substantially subsolar metallicity does not produce distances in agreement with the (B − V )a nd (V − I) results. However the infrared plus (V − I) distances are in mutual agreement when adopting the spectroscopic metallicity. By considering only the field dwarfs with MV ≤ 6, i.e. brighter than the magnitude where the Pleiades (B − V) colours start to be anomalous (Stauffer et al. 2003, AJ, 126, 833), the infrared and optical colour indices all yield consistent distances using the spectroscopic (Fe/H). The concordant distances thus obtained from the V/(B − V), V/(V − I), V/(V − K )a ndK/(J − K) planes yield a mean of 133.8 ± 3 pc, in excellent agreement with both the pre-Hipparcos MS-fitting results, and the most recent determinations from other methods. We conclude that there are two distinct, and unrelated, issues affecting the Pleiades: 1) the Hipparcos parallax is in error by ∼10%, as previously claimed; 2) the (B − V) colours of the lower MS are anomalous, and we caution against using the (B − V) index for MS-fitting to the Pleiades and similarly young open clusters.
Methods and characteristics of published network meta-analyses using individual patient data: protocol for a scoping review

Introduction Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis (MA) offers advantages over aggregate MA of using standardised criteria for patient characteristics across trials, and allowing reliable investigation of subgroup effects of interventions. Network meta-analysis (NMA) allows for the comparison of multiple treatments in a comprehensive analysis and the determination of the best treatment among several competing treatments, including those that have never been compared in a head-to-head study. Including IPD in NMA may enable the prevention of misleading inferences due to several biases, such as aggregation bias. Application of IPD-NMA methods in healthcare have begun to appear in medical journals. Our objective is to conduct a scoping review of existing IPD-NMA methods, and summarise their properties. We also aim to describe the characteristics of empirical IPD-NMAs, and examine how their results are reported. Methods and analysis We will search relevant electronic databases from inception until October 2014 (eg, MEDLINE), grey literature, and Google. The scoping review will consider published and unpublished papers that report completion of an IPD-NMA, describe a method, or report the methodological quality of IPD-NMA. We will include IPD-NMA of any quantitative study (eg, experimental, quasiexperimental, observational studies). Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles, and will complete data abstraction. The anticipated outcome will be a collection of all the IPD-NMAs completed to date, and a description of their methods and reporting of results. We will create summary tables providing the characteristics of the included studies, and the various methods. Quantitative data (eg, number of patients) will be summarised by medians and IQRs, and categorical data (eg, type of effect size) by frequencies and percentages. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required as our study will not include confidential participant data and interventions. We will disseminate our results through an open access, peer-reviewed publication.