Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
APPLYING MARKUS AND ROBEY ’ S CAUSAL STRUCTURE TO EXAMINE USER TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE RESEARCH : A NEW APPROACH

In this paper, we examine prior research on user technology acceptance from the perspective of theoretical structures based on Markus and Robey’s causal structure. Prior studies usually take a technology imperative perspective, use variance theories, and emphasize the micro level of analysis. We argue that this combination is limited. This may lead to some inconsistencies and limited explanatory powers in the existing studies. We propose an alternative “emergent perspective – process theories – mixed level of analysis” approach to study technology acceptance phenomena. To demonstrate how the new approach can be used to guide research, a new research model is proposed and several propositions are derived and discussed. This study draws on several prior theories and models but reassembles them in a novel way. The paper concludes with implications for both research and practice.
A new physics-based model for TANOS memories program/erase

We present a new physics-based model able to reproduce the program/erase transients in TANOS memories, accurately describing the charge trapping/detrapping dynamics in the nitride layer. Modeling results are extensively validated against a large number of experimental data taken on samples with different gate stack compositions, considering a quite extended range of program/erase voltages and times. The good agreement between experimental and simulated results makes the developed model a useful tool for the assessment of the performance achievable by the TANOS technology.
In Vitro Activities of Ceftobiprole, Tigecycline, Daptomycin, and 19 Other Antimicrobials against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains from a National Survey of Belgian Hospitals

ABSTRACT The in vitro activities of 22 antimicrobial agents, including ceftobiprole, daptomycin, and tigecycline, against 511 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from 112 Belgian hospitals were studied by using the CLSI agar dilution method. Isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis and by PCR detection of determinants of resistance to aminoglycosides, macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramins, and tetracyclines. A representative set of isolates with different PFGE genotypes was further characterized by multilocus sequence typing, determination of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type, and multiplex PCR for toxic shock syndrome type 1 (TSST-1) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. MRSA isolates belonged to nine epidemic MRSA clones, of which sequence type 45 (ST45)-SCCmec IV and ST8-SCCmec IV were predominant, accounting for 49 and 20% of isolates, respectively. The distribution of antimicrobial resistance and TSST-1 genes was strongly linked to clonal types. Ceftobiprole, daptomycin, and tigecycline showed high activity against all isolates of these sporadic and epidemic MRSA clones, as indicated by MIC90s of 2 mg/liter, 0.5 mg/liter, and 0.25 mg/liter, respectively. The MIC distribution of daptomycin and tigecycline was not different in isolates with decreased susceptibility to glycopeptides or tetracyclines, respectively. Ceftobiprole MICs were not correlated with oxacillin and cefoxitin MICs. These data indicate excellent activity of the newly developed agents ceftobiprole, daptomycin, and tigecycline against MRSA isolates recently recovered from hospitalized patients in Belgium, supporting their therapeutic potential for nosocomial MRSA infections.
Anthropometric findings in Nigerian children with sickle cell disease

Purpose: Sickle cell disease (SCD) subjects have been widely reported to present with various anthropometric deficits, including malocclusion and stunting, compared to their unaffected peers. This study was carried out to examine these reports in Lagos. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in 3 outpatient SCD units of one teaching and two general hospitals. All established SCD subjects aged 1 to 18 years (n=177) were examined on consecutive clinic days. Controls (unaffected subjects; n=122) were obtained from well-baby and surgical emergency clinics. Facial profile, occlusion, height, weight, head and mid-upper arm (MUA) circumference measurements were noted. Results: A prognathic maxillary profile was found to be more prevalent in SCD subjects (21%) than controls (4%; P .05). However, at age 18 years, the weight of the SCD group was significantly less than that of the control group (P<.05). The mean MUA circumference was significantly higher in the control group (20.04 cm±3.80) than in SCD subjects (17.91 cm±2.96; P< .05). Conclusions: There was a higher prevalence of maxillary protrusion and Class II malocclusion in SCD subjects than controls. Height and weight were not significantly different in both groups except at 18 years when SCD subjects weighed less than controls. (Pediatr Dent. 2002;24:321-325)
Adélie Penguin Population Diet Monitoring by Analysis of Food DNA in Scats

The Adélie penguin is the most important animal currently used for ecosystem monitoring in the Southern Ocean. The diet of this species is generally studied by visual analysis of stomach contents; or ratios of isotopes of carbon and nitrogen incorporated into the penguin from its food. There are significant limitations to the information that can be gained from these methods. We evaluated population diet assessment by analysis of food DNA in scats as an alternative method for ecosystem monitoring with Adélie penguins as an indicator species. Scats were collected at four locations, three phases of the breeding cycle, and in four different years. A novel molecular diet assay and bioinformatics pipeline based on nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) sequencing was used to identify prey DNA in 389 scats. Analysis of the twelve population sample sets identified spatial and temporal dietary change in Adélie penguin population diet. Prey diversity was found to be greater than previously thought. Krill, fish, copepods and amphipods were the most important food groups, in general agreement with other Adélie penguin dietary studies based on hard part or stable isotope analysis. However, our DNA analysis estimated that a substantial portion of the diet was gelatinous groups such as jellyfish and comb jellies. A range of other prey not previously identified in the diet of this species were also discovered. The diverse prey identified by this DNA-based scat analysis confirms that the generalist feeding of Adélie penguins makes them a useful indicator species for prey community composition in the coastal zone of the Southern Ocean. Scat collection is a simple and non-invasive field sampling method that allows DNA-based estimation of prey community differences at many temporal and spatial scales and provides significant advantages over alternative diet analysis approaches.
A position control of electro-hydraulic actuator systems using the adaptive control scheme

In general, the position control of electro-hydraulic actuator(EHA) systems is difficult because of the large variation of the effective bulk modulus of the working fluid, which is due to the absence of a heat exchanger like a reservoir tank, a friction between the cylinder and piston, and an external disturbance force. Moreover, it is difficult to identify the values of the effective bulk modulus and friction. In this paper, the variations of the effective bulk modulus, friction, and external disturbance are considered as uncertainties of EHA systems. To solve the problems due to these system uncertainties, an adaptive control scheme is proposed. This new scheme uses the error equations for velocity, acceleration, and jerk, which are generated in the design procedure of the standard back-stepping control scheme. The effectiveness of the adaptive back-stepping control system was compared to that of the standard back-stepping control system through computer simulation.
Characterization of the effects of Mg2+ on Ca2+- and Sr2+-activated tension generation of skinned skeletal muscle fibers

Changes in [Mg2+] in a millimolar range have a significant inverse effect on the Ca2+- (or Sr2+)activated tension generation of skeletal muscle fibers. Single frog (Rana pipiens) semitendinosus muscle fibers were "skinned" (sarcolemma removed) and contracted isometrically in bathing solutions of varying [Ca2+] or [Sr2+] and [Mg2+] but a constant pH, [MgATP2-], [K+], [CP2-], [CPK], and ionic strength. Ca2+- (or Sr2+- )activated steady-state tensions were recorded for three [Mg2+]'s: 5 X 10(-5)M, 1 X 10(-3) M, and 2 X 10(-3) M; and these tensions were expressed as the percentages of maximum tension generation of the fibers for the same [Mg2+]. Maximum tension was not affected by [Mg2+] within Ca2+-activating or Sr2+-activating sets of solutions; however, the submaximum Ca2+-(or Sr2+)activated tension is strongly affected in an inverse fashion by increasing [Mg2+]. Mg2+ behaves as a competitive inhibitor of Ca2+ and also affects the degree of cooperativity in the system. At [Mg2+] = 5 X 10(-5)M the shape of tension versus [Ca2+] (or [Sr2+]) curve showed evidence of cooperativity of Ca2+ (or Sr2+) binding or activation of the contractile system. As [Mg2+] increased, the apparent affinity for Ca2+ or Sr2+ and cooperativity of the contractile system declined. The effect on cooperativity suggests that as [Mg2+] decreases a threshold for Ca2+ activation appears.
Disseminated Histoplasmosis in HIV-Infected Patients in South America: A Neglected Killer Continues on Its Rampage

HIV/AIDS is not a neglected disease. Histoplasmosis is not considered a neglected disease in North America. However, in South America, it should be. It often affects neglected populations and represents a lethal blind spot of the HIV/AIDS data collection systems. Counts of new AIDS cases and AIDS-related deaths are useful to follow the epidemic; however, they overlook the exact cause of death. In the context of the South American pathogen ecology, the systemic mycosis due to Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum is probably on the top of the list of AIDS-defining illnesses and AIDS-related deaths [1], yet it is mostly undiagnosed and is not even on the diagnostic algorithm used by a significant proportion of clinicians facing a febrile, severely immunodepressed patient in the region.
Large Graph Algorithms for Massively Multithreaded Architectures

—The Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) provide high computation power at a low cost and is an important compute accelerator with a massively multithreaded architecture. In this paper, we present fast implementations of common graph operations like breadth-ﬁrst search, st-connectivity, single-source shortest path, all-pairs shortest path, minimum spanning tree, and maximum ﬂow for undirected graphs on the GPU using the CUDA programming model. Our implementations exhibit high performance, especially on large graphs. We use two data-parallel programming methodologies for these algorithms. One is an iterative, mask-based approach that processes valid data elements like vertices and edges using independent threads for each. The other is a divide-and-conquer approach that reduces the problem into smaller problems that are handled later using the same approach. Parallel algorithms for such problems have been reported in the literature before, especially on supercomputers. The massively multithreaded model of the GPU makes it possible to adopt the data-parallel approach even to irregular algorithms like graph algorithms, using O ( V ) or O ( E ) simultaneous threads. The algorithms and the underlying techniques presented in this paper are likely to be applicable to many irregular algorithms. We show the impact of our implementations on random, scale-free, and real-life graphs of up to millions of vertices on high-end and low-end GPUs. The availability and spread of GPUs to desktops and laptops make them ideal candidates to accelerate graph operations over the CPU-only implementations. Practical implementations of basic operations go a long way in realizing their potential.
Programmed Death-1 and Its Ligand Are Novel Immunotolerant Molecules Expressed on Leukemic B Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is an immunoreceptor predominantly expressed on exhausted T cells, which through an interaction with its ligand (PD-L1), controls peripheral tolerance by limiting effector functions of T lymphocytes. qRT-PCR for PD-1, PD-L1 and their splicing forms as well as flow cytometric assessment of surface expression was performed in a cohort of 58 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. In functional studies, we assessed the influence of the proliferative response of leukemic B-cells induced by IL-4 and CD40L on PD-1 transcripts and expression on the protein level. The median level of PD-1, but not PD-L1, transcripts in CLL patients was higher in comparison to healthy volunteers (HVs, n = 43, p = 0.0057). We confirmed the presence of PD-1 and PD-L1 on the CLL cell surface, and found the expression of PD-1, but not PD-L1, to be higher among CLL patients in comparison to HVs (47.2% vs. 14.8%, p<0.0001). The Kaplan-Meier curves for the time to progression and overall survival in groups with high and low surface expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 revealed no prognostic value in CLL patients. After stimulation with IL-4 and CD40L, protein expression of PD-1 was significantly increased in samples that responded and up-regulated CD38. PD-1, which is aberrantly expressed both at mRNA and cell surface levels in CLL cells might represent a novel immunotolerant molecule involved in the pathomechanism of the disease, and could provide a novel target for future therapies.
Defunctionalizing push arrays

Recent work on embedded domain specific languages (EDSLs) for high performance array programming has given rise to a number of array representations. In Feldspar and Obsidian there are two different kinds of arrays, called Pull and Push arrays. Both Pull and Push arrays are deferred; they are methods of computing arrays, rather than elements stored in memory. The reason for having multiple array types is to obtain code that performs better. Pull and Push arrays provide this by guaranteeing that operations fuse automatically. It is also the case that some operations are easily implemented and perform well on Pull arrays, while for some operations, Push arrays provide better implementations. But do we really need to have more than one array representation? In this paper we derive a new array representation from Push arrays that have all the good qualities of Pull and Push arrays combined. This new array representation is obtained via defunctionalization of a Push array API.
Visual-auditory differences in duration discrimination of intervals in the subsecond and second range

A common finding in time psychophysics is that temporal acuity is much better for auditory than for visual stimuli. The present study aimed to examine modality-specific differences in duration discrimination within the conceptual framework of the Distinct Timing Hypothesis. This theoretical account proposes that durations in the lower milliseconds range are processed automatically while longer durations are processed by a cognitive mechanism. A sample of 46 participants performed two auditory and visual duration discrimination tasks with extremely brief (50-ms standard duration) and longer (1000-ms standard duration) intervals. Better discrimination performance for auditory compared to visual intervals could be established for extremely brief and longer intervals. However, when performance on duration discrimination of longer intervals in the 1-s range was controlled for modality-specific input from the sensory-automatic timing mechanism, the visual-auditory difference disappeared completely as indicated by virtually identical Weber fractions for both sensory modalities. These findings support the idea of a sensory-automatic mechanism underlying the observed visual-auditory differences in duration discrimination of extremely brief intervals in the millisecond range and longer intervals in the 1-s range. Our data are consistent with the notion of a gradual transition from a purely modality-specific, sensory-automatic to a more cognitive, amodal timing mechanism. Within this transition zone, both mechanisms appear to operate simultaneously but the influence of the sensory-automatic timing mechanism is expected to continuously decrease with increasing interval duration.
The Role of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Understanding Reading and Dyslexia

Converging evidence from a number of lines of investigation indicates that dyslexia represents a disorder within the language system and more specifically within a particular subcomponent of that system, phonological processing. Recent advances in imaging technology, particularly the development of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), provide evidence of a neurobiological signature for dyslexia, specifically a disruption of 2 left hemisphere posterior brain systems, 1 parietal-temporal, the other occipital-temporal, with compensatory engagement of anterior systems around the inferior frontal gyrus and a posterior (right occipital-temporal) system. Furthermore, good evidence indicates a computational role for the left occipital-temporal system: the development of fluent (automatic) reading. In addition, fMRI studies of young adults with reading difficulties followed prospectively and longitudinally from age 5 through their mid 20s suggests that there may be 2 types of reading difficulties, 1 primarily reflecting a genetic basis, the other, and far more common, reflecting environmental influences. The brain systems for reading are malleable and their disruption in children with dyslexia may be remediated by provision of an evidence-based, effective reading intervention. These studies offer the promise for more precise identification and effective management of dyslexia in children, adolescents, and adults.
Fast and accurate protocol specific bus modeling using TLM 2.0

The need to have Transaction Level models early in the design cycle is becoming more and more important to shorten the development times of complex Systems-on-Chip (SoC). These models need to be functional and timing accurate in order to address different design use-cases during the SoC development. However the typical issue with Transaction Level Modeling (TLM) techniques is the accuracy vs. simulation speed trade-off. Models that can run at high simulation speeds are often modeled at abstraction levels that make them unsuitable for use-cases where timing accuracy is required. Similarly, most models that are cycle accurate are inherently too slow (due to clock sensitive processes) to be used in use-cases where high simulation speed is key. This paper introduces a new methodology that enables the creation of fast and cycle accurate protocol specific bus-based communication models, based on the new TLM 2.0 standard from the Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI).
Alcohol consumption and mortality after breast cancer diagnosis: The health and functioning in women study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association of prediagnostic alcohol consumption with long-term mortality from breast cancer and other causes in a cohort of women with breast cancer. METHODS We studied a Michigan-based cohort of 939 women aged 40-84 years, who provided complete information about the type, amount and intensity of prediagnostic alcohol consumption. Associations of alcohol consumption, based on weekly volume of alcohol consumption during the year prior to breast cancer diagnosis, with mortality were evaluated in Cox proportional hazards models, with adjustment for sociodemographic factors, body mass index, smoking, comorbidity, tumor characteristics, and treatment. Differences among covariates were assessed with Pearson χ2 , Student t -tests and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 11 years, 724 deaths occurred overall, with 303 from breast cancer. Fifty-five percent of the women were categorized as drinkers with volume of alcohol consumption ranging from 0.75 to 36.00 drinks/week. In multivariable models, a decreased risk of other-cause mortality was associated with low alcohol drinking (0.75-3.75 drinks/week; HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.47-0.78), moderate volume alcohol drinking (4.00-9.75 drinks/week; HR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39-0.85) and low frequency (0.75-3.75 drinks/week) beer and wine intake (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.50-0.96 and HR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.52-0.88 respectively). Although the risk of breast cancer-specific mortality was not statistically significantly associated with moderate (4.00-9.75 drinks/week) and high volume (10.00-36.00 drinks/week) alcohol drinking in the overall cohort (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 95% 0.97-2.12 and HR = 1.53, 95% CI = 0.87-2.70 respectively), there was a positive association of alcohol consumption with breast cancer-specific mortality among current smokers (HR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.03-3.57; Pinteraction = 0.04). CONCLUSION In this prospective cohort study, regular consumption of 0.75-36.00 alcoholic drinks per week during the year prior to breast cancer diagnosis was associated with a reduction in other-cause mortality and with an increase in breast cancer-specific mortality among current smokers, after taking into account clinical and sociodemographic factors.
Changes in Corneal Sensation and Ocular Surface in Patients With Asymmetrical Keratoconus

Purpose: To describe tear function, ocular surface changes, and corneal sensitivity in patients with asymmetrical keratoconus (KC). Methods: Thirty-one patients with asymmetrical KC (31 KC and 31 subclinical KC eyes) and 30 control subjects (1 eye in each subject) were enrolled in this prospective, case-control study. The patients and control subjects underwent ocular surface examinations including corneal sensitivity measurements, the Schirmer test using topical anesthesia, tear osmolarity test, and conjunctival impression cytology. Results: Mean corneal sensitivity and Schirmer test values were significantly lower in the KC and subclinical KC eyes compared with the control eyes. The conjunctiva of KC and subclinical KC eyes showed significantly higher grades of squamous metaplasia and goblet cell loss compared with the control group. However, no significant difference in tear osmolarity was found among the groups. Conclusions: The corneal sensitivity and ocular surface changes were significant in the subclinical KC and KC eyes compared with the control subjects. Ocular surface disease in KC was characterized by tear deficiency disorder and abnormal impression cytology results. However, no significant difference in tear osmolarity was found among the groups. The decrease in corneal sensitivity and ocular surface change may be associated with the pathogenesis of ocular surface changes in KC and the progression of the disease.