Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automated Discovery of Lead Users and Latent Product Features by Mining Large Scale Social Media Networks

Lead users play a vital role in next generation product development, as they help designers discover relevant product feature preferences months or even years before they are desired by the general customer base. Existing design methodologies proposed to extract lead user preferences are typically constrained by temporal, geographic, size, and heterogeneity limitations. To mitigate these challenges, the authors of this work propose a set of mathematical models that mine social media networks for lead users and the product features that they express relating to specific products. The authors hypothesize that: (i) lead users are discoverable from large scale social media networks and (ii) product feature preferences, mined from lead user social media data, represent product features that do not currently exist in product offerings but will be desired in future product launches. An automated approach to lead user product feature identification is proposed to identify latent features (product features unknown to the public) from social media data. These latent features then serve as the key to discovering innovative users from the ever increasing pool of social media users. The authors collect 2.1 10 social media messages in the United States during a period of 31 months (from March 2011 to September 2013) in order to determine whether lead user preferences are discoverable and relevant to next generation cell phone designs. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4030049]
Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways

Extracellular vesicles (microvesicles), such as exosomes and shed microvesicles, contain a variety of molecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Microvesicles appear mostly to originate from multivesicular bodies or to bud from the plasma membrane. Here, we review the convergence of microvesicle biogenesis and aspects of viral assembly and release pathways. Herpesviruses and retroviruses, amongst others, recruit several elements from the microvesicle biogenesis pathways for functional virus release. In addition, noninfectious pleiotropic virus-like vesicles can be released, containing viral and cellular components. We highlight the heterogeneity of microvesicle function during viral infection, addressing microvesicles that can either block or enhance infection, or cause immune dysregulation through bystander action in the immune system. Finally, endogenous retrovirus and retrotransposon elements deposited in our genomes millions of years ago can be released from cells within microvesicles, suggestive of a viral origin of the microvesicle system or perhaps of an evolutionary conserved system of virus-vesicle codependence. More research is needed to further elucidate the complex function of the various microvesicles produced during viral infection, possibly revealing new therapeutic intervention strategies.
Employee Locus of Control and Engagement in Nonprofit Organizations

Employee Locus of Control and Engagement in Nonprofit Organizations by Jacqueline A. Myers M.B.A., Kaplan University, Davenport, Iowa 2008 B.S., Kaplan University, Davenport, Iowa 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy & Administration
Xuebijing Protects Rats from Sepsis Challenged with Acinetobacter baumannii by Promoting Annexin A1 Expression and Inhibiting Proinflammatory Cytokines Secretion

Xuebijing (XBJ) injection is a herbal medicine that has been widely used in the treatment of sepsis in China; however, its role in the development and progression of Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis and the underlying mechanisms remain uninvestigated. In the present study, fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to normal-control group, sepsis-control group, and sepsis + XBJ group, each containing three subgroups of different treatment time periods (6, 12, and 24 hrs following injection, resp.). The sepsis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of A. baumannii ATCC 19606. For XBJ treatment, 4 mL/kg XBJ was administrated simultaneously by intravenous injection through caudal vein every 12 hrs. All animals demonstrated ill state, obvious intestinal dysfunction, histopathological lung damages, and overactive inflammatory responses after A. baumannii infection, and these events could be partially reversed by XBJ treatment from the beginning of infection. XBJ induced an increase in the expression of anti-inflammatory mediator annexin A1; however, two proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were decreased at the each monitored time point. These findings suggested that XBJ via its cytokine-mediated anti-inflammatory effects might have a potential role in preventing the progression of A. baumannii infection to sepsis by early administration.
Does Individualism Promote Gender Equality?

Abstract We argue that individualism promotes gender equality. Individualist values of autonomy and self-determination transcend gender identities and serve to legitimize women’s goals and choices. In contrast, collectivist values may subordinate women’s personal goals to their social obligations, generating greater acceptance of gender inequality. Using individual level data from World Values Surveys, we find that individualism is significantly associated with support for gender equal attitudes regarding employment, income, education, and political leadership. Individualism is also associated with greater levels of female employment and educational attainment, and lower levels of fertility. These results are robust to controlling for income, education, religion, historical plough use, gendered language, and country-time fixed effects. Our within country analysis allows us to isolate the impact of individualism from other confounding effects. Using historical rainfall variation as an instrument for individualism, we find that the exogenous portion of individualism reduces support for patriarchal attitudes and fertility, and it increases female employment and educational attainment. These effects are economically large. We address concerns over instrumental validity by controlling for a variety of factors, including historical plough use, religious affiliation, religiosity, social trust, average rainfall levels, distance from the equator, cool-water conditions, agricultural suitability, historical political and economic development, and the presence of large animals. This paper contributes to a mounting body of evidence suggesting a key role for highly persistent cultural norms and values in determining gender inequality, the gender division of labor, and economic and social outcomes for women.
Dab1 Is Required for Synaptic Plasticity and Associative Learning

Disabled-1 (Dab1) is an adaptor protein that is an obligate effector of the Reelin signaling pathway, and is critical for neuronal migration and dendrite outgrowth during development. Components of the Reelin pathway are highly expressed during development, but also continue to be expressed in the adult brain. Here we investigated in detail the expression pattern of Dab1 in the postnatal and adult forebrain, and determined that it is expressed in excitatory as well as inhibitory neurons. Dab1 was found to be localized in different cellular compartments, including the soma, dendrites, presynaptic and postsynaptic structures. Mice that are deficient in Dab1, Reelin, or the Reelin receptors ApoER2 and VLDLR exhibit severely perturbed brain cytoarchitecture, limiting the utility of these mice for investigating the role of this signaling pathway in the adult brain. In this study, we developed an adult forebrain-specific and excitatory neuron-specific conditional knock-out mouse line, and demonstrated that Dab1 is a critical regulator of synaptic function and hippocampal-dependent associative and spatial learning. These dramatic abnormalities were accompanied by a reduction in dendritic spine size, and defects in basal and plasticity-induced Akt and ERK1/2 signaling. Deletion of Dab1 led to no obvious changes in neuronal positioning, dendrite morphology, spine density, or synaptic composition. Collectively, these data conclusively demonstrate an important role for Reelin-Dab1 signaling in the adult forebrain, and underscore the importance of this pathway in learning and memory.
Proton-Deuteron Elastic Scattering from 2.5 to 22.5 MeV

We present the results of a calculation of differential cross sections and polarization observables for proton-deuteron elastic scattering, for proton laboratory energies from 2.5 to 22.5 MeV. The Paris potential parametrisation of the nuclear force is used. As solution method for the charged-composite particle equations the ’screening and renormalisation approach’ is adopted which allows to correctly take into account the Coulomb repulsion between the two protons. Comparison is made with the precise experimental data of Sagara et al. [Phys. Rev. C 50, 576 (1994)] and of Sperison et al. [Nucl. Phys. A422, 81 (1984)].
Rings which are almost Gorenstein

We introduce classes of rings which are close to being Gorenstein. These rings arise naturally as specializations of rings of countable CM type. We study these rings in detail, and along the way generalize an old result of Teter which characterized Artinian rings which are Gorenstein rings modulo their socle.
Rethinking media richness: towards a theory of media synchronicity

The paper describes a new theory called a theory of media synchronicity which proposes that a set of five media capabilities are important to group work, and that all tasks are composed of two fundamental communication processes (conveyance and convergence). Communication effectiveness is influenced by matching the media capabilities to the needs of the fundamental communication processes, not aggregate collections of these processes (i.e., tasks) as proposed by media richness theory. The theory also proposes that the relationships between communication processes and media capabilities will vary between established and newly formed groups, and will change over time.
Macroprudential Policy and Its Instruments in a Small EU Economy

This paper focuses on the way the macroprudential policy framework in a small EU economy should be designed. With reference to the experience of the Czech Republic's financial system and the Czech National Bank it provides definitions of financial stability and macroprudential policy as well as of their objectives. It then explains how systemic risk evolves over the financial cycle and outlines approaches to preventing systemic risk in the accumulation stage of the cycle and subsequently mitigating the materialisation of such risk if prevention fails. The paper argues that for the establishment of a macroprudential policy framework in a bank-based economy with a relatively simple and small financial sector, the phenomenon of procyclical behaviour has to stand centrally. Correspondingly, a macroprudential authority in such an economy has to look primarily at cyclically induced sources of systemic risks. Nevertheless, structural sources of systemic risks and associated instruments are discussed as well. The arguments for the recommended arrangements are supported by empirical investigations into the extent of procyclicality in European banks' lending behaviour and the contribution of the regulatory and accounting framework to it.
Local-level mortality surveillance in resource-limited settings: a case study of Cape Town highlights disparities in health.

OBJECTIVE To identify the leading causes of mortality and premature mortality in Cape Town, South Africa, and its subdistricts, and to compare levels of mortality between subdistricts. METHODS Cape Town mortality data for the period 2001-2006 were analysed by age, cause of death and sex. Cause-of-death codes were aggregated into three main cause groups: (i) pre-transitional causes (e.g. communicable diseases, maternal causes, perinatal conditions and nutritional deficiencies), (ii) noncommunicable diseases and (iii) injuries. Premature mortality was calculated in years of life lost (YLLs). Population estimates for the Cape Town Metro district were used to calculate age-specific rates per 100,000 population, which were then age-standardized and compared across subdistricts. FINDINGS The pattern of mortality in Cape Town reflects the quadruple burden of disease observed in the national cause-of-death profile, with HIV/AIDS, other infectious diseases, injuries and noncommunicable diseases all accounting for a significant proportion of deaths. HIV/AIDS has replaced homicide as the leading cause of death. HIV/AIDS, homicide, tuberculosis and road traffic injuries accounted for 44% of all premature mortality. Khayelitsha, the poorest subdistrict, had the highest levels of mortality for all main cause groups. CONCLUSION Local mortality surveillance highlights the differential needs of the population of Cape Town and provides a wealth of data to inform planning and implementation of targeted interventions. Multisectoral interventions will be required to reduce the burden of disease.
Regulation of the Antibody Response to Type III Pneumococcal Polysaccharide

The present study was conducted primarily to obtain information concerning the mechanism by which suppressor thymic-derived (T) cells influence the magnitude of the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III). This was accomplished by examining the effects of treatment with antilymphocyte serum (ALS) and Velban, a mitotic inhibitor, on the kinetics for the appearance of plaque-forming cells (PFC) in mice immunized with SSS-III. Without ALS-treatment, the kinetics were essentially biphasic. First, there was a phase during which PFC appeared at a relatively rapid rate; this was followed by a phase during which the rate of appearance of PFC gradually declined until maximal numbers were attained. In contrast, similar rate changes were not noted for mice given ALS; here, PFC increased at a uniform exponential rate throughout the 1st 5 days of the antibody response. Velban completely arrested the development of additional PFC in ALS-treated but not non-ALS-treated mice. These findings indicate that suppressor T cells act primarily by limiting the extent to which antibody-forming bone marrow-derived cells proliferate following immunization.
AN INFRARED CENSUS OF STAR FORMATION IN THE HORSEHEAD NEBULA

At ∼ 400 pc, the Horsehead Nebula (B33) is the closest radiatively sculpted pillar to the Sun, but the state and extent of star formation in this structure is not well understood. We present deep near-infrared (IRSF/SIRIUS JHKS) and mid-infrared (Spitzer/IRAC) observations of the Horsehead Nebula to characterize the star-forming properties of this region and to assess the likelihood of triggered star formation. Infrared color–color and color–magnitude diagrams are used to identify young stars based on infrared excess emission and positions to the right of the zero-age main sequence, respectively. Of the 45 sources detected at both near- and mid-infrared wavelengths, three bona fide and five candidate young stars are identified in this 7′ × 7′ region. Two bona fide young stars have flat infrared spectral energy distributions and are located at the western irradiated tip of the pillar. The spatial coincidence of the protostars at the leading edge of this elephant trunk is consistent with the radiation-driven implosion model of triggered star formation. There is no evidence, however, for sequential star formation within the immediate ∼ 1. ′5 (0.17 pc) region from the cloud/H ii region interface.
The chromospheric emission of solar-type stars in the young open clusters IC 2391 and IC 2602

In this paper we present chromospheric emission levels of the solar-type stars in the young open clusters IC 2391 and IC 2602. High-resolution spectroscopic data were obtained for over 50 F, G and K stars from these clusters over several observing campaigns using the University College London Echelle Spectrograph on the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope. Unlike older clusters, the majority (28/52) of the solar-type stars in the two clusters are rapid rotators (v sin i > 20 km s−1) with five of the stars being classified as ultra-rapid rotators (v sin i > 100 km s−1) . The emission levels in the calcium infrared triplet lines were then used as a measure of the chromospheric activity of the stars. When plotted against the Rossby number (NR), the star's chromospheric emission levels show a plateau in the emission for log(NR) ≲−1.1 indicating chromospheric saturation similar to the coronal saturation seen in previously observed X-ray emission from the same stars. However, unlike the coronal emission, the chromospheric emission of the stars shows little evidence of a reduction in emission (i.e. supersaturation) for the ultra-rapid rotators in the clusters. Thus we believe that coronal supersaturation is not the result of an overall decrease in magnetic dynamo efficiency for ultra-rapid rotators.
An Observational Retrospective Study Provide Information on Hospitalization and Severe Outcomes of the 2009 A(H1N1) Infection in Italy

Background The aim of this study was to try to ascertain whether, in the absence of a pre-organized programme, locally collected data might provide information about the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the recent A(H1N1) pandemic in Italy. Methods The study was an observational retrospective analysis of the clinic-epidemiological features performed by reviewing medical charts from 141 hospitalized patients with laboratory confirmed pandemic A(H1N1) infection in Umbria, a region of central Italy, in the period July 2009 to March 2010. Results The pandemic virus was found capable of inducing severe illness requiring hospitalization or intensive care unit admission (ICU), or resulting in death. Age and comorbidity were found to be potential risk factors for severe disease. The mean age of the hospitalized patients was 37 years (range 0 - 93 yrs), however the mean age of ICU admitted patients, including people who did not survive, was higher as compared with those admitted to general medical ward (54 vs 35 yrs). The highest incidence of hospitalization was observed in the youngest group (0 - 17 yrs), the greatest rate of ICU admission in adults (18 - 64 years), and the risk of death in the oldest population (≥ 65 yrs). Comorbity conditions were present in some (55%), but not all hospitalized patients and increased with the age and the severity of the illness. Conclusions The data obtained are compatible with the identified epidemiological characteristics of the A(H1N1) pandemic derived from partial information previously collected in Italy and from studies conducted in other European and non European countries. The results of our retrospective observational study suggest that locally organized data collection may give information on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of a pandemic that are compatible with those obtained from more complex and complete studies.
Relationship between management philosophy and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND Medical research continues to focus overwhelmingly on biomedical interventions, such as drugs, devices, and procedures. The dysfunctional health care cultures and systems need more attention for quality of care to improve further. PURPOSE The existing health services management research has not used a systematic theoretical framework to predict the effects of organizational variables on clinical outcomes. This study tests the theoretical model proposed by N. Khatri, A. Baveja, S. Boren, and A. Mammo (2006). METHODOLOGY This study surveyed employees from hospitals in Missouri. The sample consisted of 77 respondents from 16 hospitals. FINDINGS The control-based management approach (Management Control and Silos) was found to be positively associated with Culture of Blame and negatively with Learning From Mistakes. In contrast, the commitment-based approach (Fair Management Practices and Employee Participation) was negatively associated with Culture of Blame and positively with Learning From Mistakes, Camaraderie, and Motivation. Mediating variables of Learning From Mistakes and Camaraderie showed a significant negative relationship with Medical Errors. Learning From Mistakes, Camaraderie, and Motivation all showed a significant positive relationship with Quality of Patient Care. The mediating variables had much stronger relationships with Medical Errors and Quality of Patient Care than did the independent variables, lending support to the proposed mediation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Health care organizations can improve the quality of care and reduce medical errors significantly by enhancing learning from mistakes and boosting camaraderie and morale of their employees. They can do so by breaking down silos in their structures, implementing just and fair management practices, and involving employees in decision making.
Satisfaction with service recovery: Its measurement and its outcomes

Persistent poor service delivery will have a harmful impact on the survival and growth prospects of service firms. The literature contends that, if service failures occur, there are strategies that service firms can employ to return customers to a state of satisfaction. Very little scholarly research has been done, however, to assess the satisfaction of customers after service firms have tried to recover from service failure. Although anecdotal evidence suggest it, no empirical research has been done to confirm that effective service recovery will ensure ‘overall’ satisfaction, or the long-term loyalty of complaining customers. The purpose of this study is to assess the validity and reliability of an instrument purported to measure satisfaction with service recovery (RECOVSAT), and to determine which dimensions of service recovery satisfaction are the most important predictors of overall satisfaction and loyalty.
Teaching systems in occupational medicine

European Higher Education Area includes standards for graduate and postgraduate teaching, as well as a psycho-pedagogy framework. Improving learning strategies of students in occupational medicine, from the teachers point of view, deals fundamentally with improving learning environment. The goal of the present study is to assess and profile learning strategies in occupational medicine teaching modules. A sample with 53 undergraduate students who were enrolled in occupational health classes participate in the study. The students filled the Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F). Strategies used by students were related with the learning assessment performed at the end of the teaching term. Students expressed a significantly higher use of deep strategies (16±4) than surface strategies (14±2). Regarding performance, there was a direct relationship between deep strategies score and the learning assessment results. The findings support that, in occupational medicine, knowledge of learning strategies profiles will help to improve education. In order to improve teaching standards it is advisable applying assessment systems that allow adapting teaching methods to students’ profiles.