Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do Ethics Matter to E-Consumers?

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the extent to which ethical factors impact consumer willingness to purchase from e-stores. A methodology which examines a mix of factors, rather than each factor separately is employed in the context of a hypothetical purchasing situation. Two commercial factors (product price and quality) and three ethical factors (assuring e-consumer privacy and security, guaranteeing e-vendor accountability, and accurate product description) are given a ranking of “high” or “low” and used to construct 32 full factorial profiles of Websites. A sample of typical e-consumers was then asked to rate their willingness to purchase goods from each of the sites. Of the ethical factors, the assurance of privacy and security is found to have a significant impact on willingness to purchase. Yet, in the case of a conflict between the commercial and ethical factors, where the Website offers attractively priced, high-quality goods, while subjecting consumers to unfair ethical practices, the typical e-consumer tends to give more weight to the commercial factors than to the ethical factors.
Adapting Swarm Intelligence for the Self-Assembly of Prespecified Artificial Structures

The self-assembly problem involves designing individual behaviors that a collection of agents can follow in order to form a given target structure. An effective solution would potentially allow self-assembly to be used as an automated construction tool, for example, in dangerous or inaccessible environments. However, existing methodologies are generally limited in that they are either only capable of assembling a very limited range of simple structures, or only applicable in an idealized environment having few or no constraints on the agents' motion. The research presented here seeks to overcome these limitations by studying the self-assembly of a diverse class of non-trivial structures (building, bridge, etc.) from different-sized blocks, whose motion in a continuous, three-dimensional environment is constrained by gravity and block impenetrability. These constraints impose ordering restrictions on the self-assembly process, and necessitate the assembly and disassembly of temporary structures such as staircases. It is shown that self-assembly under these conditions can be accomplished through an integration of several techniques from the field of swarm intelligence. Specifically, this work extends and incorporates computational models of distributed construction, collective motion, and communication via local signaling. These mechanisms enable blocks to determine where to deposit themselves, to effectively move through continuous space, and to coordinate their behavior over time, while using only local information. Further, an algorithm is presented that, given a target structure, automatically generates distributed control rules that encode individual block behaviors. It is formally proved that under reasonable assumptions, these rules will lead to the emergence of correct system-level coordination that allows self-assembly to complete in spite of environmental constraints. The methodology is also verified experimentally by generating rules for a diverse set of structures, and testing them via simulations. Finally, it is shown that for some structures, the generated rules are able to parsimoniously capture the necessary behaviors. This work yields a better understanding of the complex relationship between local behaviors and global structures in non-trivial self-assembly processes, and presents a step towards their use in the real world.
Cell Cycle Modulation of Gene Targeting by a Triple Helix-forming Oligonucleotide*

Successful gene-targeting reagents must be functional under physiological conditions and must bind chromosomal target sequences embedded in chromatin. Triple helix-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) recognize and bind specific sequences via the major groove of duplex DNA and may have potential for gene targetingin vivo. We have constructed chemically modified, psoralen-linked TFOs that mediate site-specific mutagenesis of a chromosomal gene in living cells. Here we show that targeting efficiency is sensitive to the biology of the cell, specifically, cell cycle status. Targeted mutagenesis was variable across the cycle with the greatest activity in S phase. This was the result of differential TFO binding as measured by cross-link formation. Targeted cross-linking was low in quiescent cells but substantially enhanced in S phase cells with adducts in ∼20–30% of target sequences. 75–80% of adducts were repaired faithfully, whereas the remaining adducts were converted into mutations (>5% mutation frequency). Clones with mutations could be recovered by direct screening of colonies chosen at random. These results demonstrate high frequency target binding and target mutagenesis by TFOs in living cells. Successful protocols for TFO-mediated manipulation of chromosomal sequences are likely to reflect a combination of appropriate oligonucleotide chemistry and manipulation of the cell biology.
A population-based examination of cigarette smoking and mental illness in Black Americans.

INTRODUCTION This study examines the relation between tobacco use and cessation with lifetime and past year mental illness in a nationally representative sample of Blacks. METHODS This cross-sectional study analyzed nationally representative data from 3,411 adult Blacks participating in the 2001-2003 National Survey of American Life. Smoking prevalence and quit rates according to lifetime and past year Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition mental disorders were assessed by a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS Compared with those without mental illness, respondents with a lifetime, past year, or past month mental illness had a higher smoking prevalence (20.6%, 35.6%, 36.0%, and 45.4%, respectively) and lower quit rate (40.5%, 31.2%, and 26.2%, respectively). The odds of being a current smoker among Blacks with mental illness in their lifetime, past year, and past month, after adjusting for age, gender, education, poverty, and marital status were 1.76 (95% CI = 1.39-2.22), 1.57 (95% CI = 1.22-2.03), and 2.20 (95% CI = 1.56-3.12), respectively. Mental illness also was associated with heavier smoking. Blacks with past year mental illness represented 18.1% of the sample, yet consumed 23.9% of cigarettes smoked by Black smokers. Past year (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53-0.97) and past month (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.29-0.98) mental illness were associated with a lower odds of quitting for at least 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that mental illness is significantly associated with tobacco use in Blacks. Tobacco cessation interventions that address mental illness as a barrier to cessation are needed.
Conventional rehabilitation of edentulous patients: the impact on oral health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction.

PURPOSE This study examined patient satisfaction and oral health-related impacts on the quality of life of patients restored with complete conventional or duplicate dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty patients (aged 55 to 85 years) were assigned to receive new complete maxillary and mandibular dentures using either a conventional or duplication technique according to clinical need. Patients rated their satisfaction with their dentures on 100-mm visual analogue scales before treatment and 1 month after delivery of their new dentures. Their oral health-related quality of life was determined by completion of an Oral Health-Related Impacts on Quality of Life questionnaire (OHIP-20) at the same time points. RESULTS Both groups of patients had similar satisfaction and OHIP ratings at the beginning of the study and 1 month after delivery of their new dentures. The two groups were comparable with regard to age and gender. Statistically significant improvement in the OHIP domains of functional limitation and physical and psychological disability was seen in both groups. The conventional group also showed significant improvement with regard to handicap, whereas the duplicate denture group showed significant improvement in the patients' rating of pain and psychological discomfort. Patient satisfaction improved significantly in both groups across all variables except ease of cleaning and ability to speak. The duplication technique resulted in patients being less satisfied with the esthetics of their new dentures. CONCLUSION In this study, the provision of new dentures either with a conventional technique or with a duplication technique resulted in an overall improvement in oral health-related quality of life and satisfaction. These improvements were statistically significant for some domains, which varied depending on the technique used for construction of the new dentures. Neither technique was seen to be superior, which may be a reflection of the patients' treatment expectations at the outset. Patients' reported satisfaction with their dentures and the impact that dentures have on their quality of life may not be useful measures for determining the most appropriate technique for providing new dentures.
Impact of Social Network Characteristics on High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Non-Injection Drug Users

Sexually active non-injection drug users in New York City and their sexual partners or fellow drug users (N = 264) were recruited from 2002 to 2005, and associations between social network characteristics and sexual risk behaviors were examined. We assessed social networks, sexual practices, and drug use. Results suggest having a drug-centered social network, i.e., a network that includes a high proportion of individuals who provide, receive, or use drugs, increases the risk of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. The study's limitations are noted and longitudinal studies are needed to ascertain whether these associations are causal. Funding was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Does firm governance affect institutional investment? Evidence from real estate investment trusts

Institutional investors typically hold large blocks of assets and are thus thought capable of realizing the benefits of monitoring managers’ activities. Yet, the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) environment is characterized by high free-rider costs and low incentives to monitor. Given this environment, institutions may choose to invest in firms with beneficial governance mechanisms in place. This study examines the impact of board composition and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) influence on the level of institutional investment and asks whether the existence of beneficial governance mechanisms is important in determining which REITs attract investment. After conducting Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions, a quasi-maximum likelihood model is estimated to resolve the problems associated with linear estimation of a fractional dependent variable. Robustness checks include re-estimating the models with the sample split into three size panels, and employing instrumental variables to control for potential endogeneity effects. The results are consistent with a preference for greater liquidity, increased free cash flow, less debt and lower dividend yield. Institutional investment is greater when boards of directors are busier and less tenured, which supports a preference for well connected yet less entrenched directors. Institutions prefer less equity ownership by the CEO, indicative of a preference for reduced CEO influence and increased governance.
Knowledge of HIV infection and transmission: a knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices (KABP) survey among a sample of students at the "Magna Graecia", University of Catanzaro.

BACKGROUND Continuous spreading of HIV infection may be due to lack of knowledge, especially among young people. It is important to monitor level of knowledge and risk behaviours especially in young people to set up appropriate preventative and informative campaigns. METHODS We assessed knowledge of HIV infection and risk factors in a sample of students at the "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, using an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire. RESULTS Two-hundred and sixteen medical students attending the first year at "Magna Graecia" University (age: 18-20 years) were prescribed an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire. Knowledge of HIV infection was scarce in a significant percentage of students. They were often practicing risk behaviours at risk for acquisition of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections. CONCLUSION This study shows that preventative and informative campaigns are urgently needed in earlier stage of adolescence to avoid acquisition of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Driver Missense Mutation Identification Using Feature Selection and Model Fusion

Driver mutations propel oncogenesis and occur much less frequently than passenger mutations. The need for automatic and accurate identification of driver mutations has increased dramatically with the exponential growth of mutation data. Current computational solutions to identify driver mutations rely on sequence homology. Here we construct a machine learning-based framework that does not rely on sequence homology or domain knowledge to predict driver missense mutations. A windowing approach to represent the local environment of the sequence around the mutation point as a mutation sample is applied, followed by extraction of three sequence-level features from each sample. After selecting the most significant features, the support vector machine and multimodal fusion strategies are employed to give final predictions. The proposed framework achieves relatively high performance and outperforms current state-of-the-art algorithms. The ease of deploying the proposed framework and the relatively accurate performance make this solution applicable to large-scale mutation data analyses.
The Demand for Housing, Household Headship Rates, and Household Formation: An International Analysis

This study investigates the influence of availability and affordability of housing on demographic changes through an international analysis of the relationship between age specific headship rates and housing availability and affordability. The researchers describe the basic trends in household formation and headship rates in Canada, France, Great Britain and the United States, investigate the economic determinants of age specific household headship rates in the four countries, and discuss the implications for future housing analysis. It was found that the considerable increase in household headship rate during the recent postwar period has been facilitated in these four countries by the increasing real affordability of housing. In addition, there was a clear relationship between the household age category and the responsiveness to economic variables.
Effect of personal data aggregation method on estimating group stress with wearable sensor: Consideration of group dynamics in workplaces

In this paper, we evaluate methods of aggregating personal sensor data to estimate the degree of group stress. We compare the estimation accuracy of two aggregation methods, one without and one with personal distribution scaling. As a result of applying the data of 9 groups of people (105 people) to the methods, it is shown that the no-scaling method successfully estimates the degree of group stress better than the other (average error = 1.19, r = 0.964). At the conclusion of discussion, it is suggested that the method without scaling is valid because both the group stress state and method reflect the interaction among people.
Common Agency Contracting and the Emergence of "Open Science" Institutions

The Cold War’s ending has brought mounting pressures to recognize national science and technology research systems. Yet, by comparison with what has been learned already concerning institutional arrangements and business strategies affecting corporate RD investments, surprisingly little is known about the economic origins and effects of the corresponding institutional infrastructures shaping the world of “academic” science, and the organization and conduct of publicly supported RD more generally. The desirability of closing this particular lacuna in the economics and economic-history literatures has been just as evident to economists concerned with extending the analysis of modern institutions as to those who have begun to approach the whole area of science and technology studies from the perspectives and methods of industrial-organization economics. [1] Even before the “new economics of science” had begun to direct attention to such a program, Douglass North (1990 p. 75) saw a significant challenge and a promising opportunity in explicit exploration of “the connecting links between institutional structures. and incentives to acquire pure knowledge. ” The research reported here has accepted that challenge (see also the other papers in this session: Timothy Lenoir [1998], Christophe Lecuyer [1998], and Marjory S. Blumenthal [1998]). It is focused upon key episodes in the institutional evolution of “public science,” and its complex and changing relationship to the other organizational spheres of contemporaneous scientific activity: those in which research was conducted under “proprietary rules” for industrial profit-goals, and “defense-related” science and engineering knowledge was sought under conditions of restricted access to information concerning methods, findings, and their actual and potential applications.
The small town in the urban fringe: Conflicts in attitudes and values

Abstract In numerous surveys Americans have indicated a preference for the small town as the most desirable place in which to live, and people are now moving to small towns in increasing numbers. Three villages which have experienced population growth in recent years are examined in this article, and attention is focused upon the attitudes of the residents towards growth. In general, the residents would like these towns to remain small, with greater percentages of higher income households and longer‐term residents tending to oppose growth. Furthermore, more residents in the town which has experienced the highest rate of growth in the recent past are opposed to further growth. In the town experiencing the least growth, a majority of residents favor pro‐growth policies. Since both types of villages will probably continue to grow, they will have to deal with the increasing pressures of growth if they are to maintain their small town environments.
Developmental changes in pharyngeal swallowing acoustics: a comparison of adults and children

Abstract This study examined developmental differences in the acoustics of pharyngeal swallowing. Thirty-one young children (M = 4.5 years) and 29 adults (M = 22.5 years) were recorded swallowing thin liquid and puree boluses. In comparison with adults, children showed longer total swallow sound duration and duration to peak intensity, as well as greater variability in the duration to peak intensity and mean of the averaged spectrum in Hz. Thin and puree boluses differed in measures of duration, intensity and frequency of the averaged sound spectrum, although these effects did not interact with age. The increased variability in swallowing observed in children paralleled that found in acoustic measures of vowel formants, although speech and swallowing acoustic measures were uncorrelated. Using Formant 2 frequency as a proxy measure of vocal tract length, the age differences in swallowing acoustics appear to be independent of physical size, although associations between duration to peak intensity and pharyngeal size warrant further investigation. These findings suggest acoustic measures of swallowing are sensitive to developmental status, possibly reflecting ongoing refinement of the pharyngeal swallow across childhood, and support continued research into the use of digital cervical auscultation as a tool to assess the efficiency and stability of the swallowing neuromuscular control system in children and adults.
Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of oxazepam in the Fischer 344 rat.

Oxazepam and related benzodiazepines are used in the treatment of anxiety. Carcinogenicity studies of oxazepam were performed with the F344 rat because of marked differences in tumor responses observed in NTP studies with B6C3F1 and Swiss-Webster mice compared to the results of Sprague-Dawley rat studies submitted to the FDA by a manufacturer to support registration of the drug. Groups of 50 male and 50 female F344/N rats were fed diets containing 0, 625, 2500, or 5000 ppm oxazepam for up to 105 weeks. A stop-exposure group of 50 males and 50 females received 10,000 ppm oxazepam in diet for 26 weeks, after which animals received control diet. All 5000- and 10, 000-ppm stop-exposure males died before the end of the study. Survival of 2500-ppm males and females was lower than that of controls. Body weight gains of 2500- and 5000-ppm males and females were less than those of controls. Male rats exposed to 2500 ppm had an increased incidence of renal tubule adenoma and hyperplasia. In addition, the incidences of renal tubule adenoma and hyperplasia were increased in the 10,000-ppm stop-exposure group. The incidences of nephropathy in exposed females were greater than those in controls, and the severity of nephropathy increased in exposed males. Epithelial hyperplasia and chronic inflammation of the nonglandular stomach were increased in males given 2500 and 5000 ppm and the incidence of ulcers of the nonglandular stomach in 2500-ppm males was also greater than that in controls. In males exposed to 5000 ppm, mineralization of the glandular stomach and erosion of the duodenum were observed. In females exposed to 2500 ppm, the incidences of epithelial hyperplasia, chronic inflammation, and ulcers of the nonglandular stomach and the incidence of erosion in the glandular stomach were increased. The incidences of centrilobular hepatocyte hypertrophy in males and females given 2500 and 5000 ppm were greater than those in controls. In summary, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity in males based on increased renal tubule adenomas in groups which also had significantly enhanced nephropathy. There was no evidence of carcinogenicity of oxazepam in females given a diet containing 625, 2500, or 5000 ppm for 2 years or 10,000 ppm for 6 months.
Understanding Socialization of Teachers and Social Workers: Groundwork for Collaboration in the Schools

Collaboration between social workers and teachers is critical in order to maximize students' achievement in school. These professional groups share attributes including their status in professions where women predominate, whose practice occurs in a bureaucratic setting and whose professionals hold a service orientation. Despite these similarities, differences occur in the socialization of the two professions in relation to: the processes of self-selection to the profession; education and training; and in their orientation to and experiences within the organization of the school. This article articulates these differences and similarities and examines their impact on the processes of collaboration between social workers and teachers. In addition, strategies for bridging the differences are presented and illustrated with examples of successful interdisciplinary collaboration in schools.