Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
@i seek 'fb.me': identifying users across multiple online social networks

An online user joins multiple social networks in order to enjoy different services. On each joined social network, she creates an identity and constitutes its three major dimensions namely profile, content and connection network. She largely governs her identity formulation on any social network and therefore can manipulate multiple aspects of it. With no global identifier to mark her presence uniquely in the online domain, her online identities remain unlinked, isolated and difficult to search. Literature has proposed identity search methods on the basis of profile attributes, but has left the other identity dimensions e.g. content and network, unexplored. In this work, we introduce two novel identity search algorithms based on content and network attributes and improve on traditional identity search algorithm based on profile attributes of a user. We apply proposed identity search algorithms to find a user's identity on Facebook, given her identity on Twitter. We report that a combination of proposed identity search algorithms found Facebook identity for 39% of Twitter users searched while traditional method based on profile attributes found Facebook identity for only 27.4%. Each proposed identity search algorithm access publicly accessible attributes of a user on any social network. We deploy an identity resolution system, Finding Nemo, which uses proposed identity search methods to find a Twitter user's identity on Facebook. We conclude that inclusion of more than one identity search algorithm, each exploiting distinct dimensional attributes of an identity, helps in improving the accuracy of an identity resolution process.
Preferred Learning Styles of Community College Career and Transfer Students.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain differences in learning styles of 400 community college students in career and transfer programs as measured by the Canfield Learning Styles Inventory. Independent variables were program area and sex. Dependent variables were scores regarding each of the Learning Style Inventory Scales for the following categories: (a) conditions, (b) content, (c) mode, and (d) expectation. The data indicated: (1) female students have greater interest in areas of qualitative, people, and listening, (2) male students have a greater interest for the inanimate, (3) career students have greater interest for inanimate, greater expectations for average and below average performance, and (4) transfer students have greater expectations for above average performance.
The Impact of Gender on the Evaluation of Teaching: What We Know and What We Can Do

The importance of teaching evaluations to the tenure and promotion of women faculty cannot be underestimated. Administrators routinely consider classroom teaching in hiring, tenure, promotion, and salary decisions and increasingly rely most heavily on quantitative student ratings. Scholars who have attempted to determine whether/how gender enters into students' evaluations of their teachers generally fall into two camps: those who find gender to have no (or very little) influence on evaluations, and those who find gender to affect evaluations significantly. Drawing on insights developed from sociological scholarship on gender and evaluation, we argue that the apparent inconsistency on the question of whether student evaluations are gendered is itself an artifact of the way that quantitative measures can mask underlying gender bias. We offer concrete strategies that faculty, researchers, and administrators can employ to improve the efficacy of the system of evaluation.
Lipoprotein alterations, hepatic lipase activity, and insulin sensitivity in subclinical hypothyroidism: response to L-T(4) treatment.

UNLABELLED Subclinical hypothyroidism (sH) has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease even in the absence of hypercholesterolemia. OBJECTIVE Our study was designed to assess the hypothesis that other pro-atherogenic parameters, such as qualitative lipoprotein changes and insulin resistance, might be present in sH. DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-one sH women were compared to 11 female controls matched for body mass index, menopausal status, and age. Before and after 6 months of levothyroxine (L-T(4)) treatment, we determined total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), apoB levels, hepatic lipase (HL) activity in postheparin plasma samples, the chemical composition and copper-induced oxidation in isolated LDL and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, and insulinogenic index. MAIN OUTCOME Lipid profiles were similar between the two groups. No differences in LDL oxidability or the insulin sensitivity assessment parameters were found. HL activity was significantly lower in the sH patients: median (range), 13.1 (2.5-26.7) vs. 18.7 (7.9-28.1) micromol free fatty acids/mL, p < 0.04. The LDL-cholesterol/LDL-TG ratio was decreased in sH: 3.9 (1.8-5.5) vs. 4.7 (3.5-6.8), p < 0.02. HL negatively correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (r = - 0.504, p < 0.01) and positively with LDL-cholesterol/LDL-TG (r = 0.46, p < 0.02). Posttreatment results for all these parameters did not differ significantly compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS Increased levels of TSH are associated to a decrease in HL activity, explaining our findings of an LDL particle rich in TG. This qualitative lipoprotein alteration suggests a pro-atherogenic pattern in sH. Treatment with L-T(4), however, did not correct the basal lipid derangement.
Kindness Counts: Prompting Prosocial Behavior in Preadolescents Boosts Peer Acceptance and Well-Being

At the top of parents’ many wishes is for their children to be happy, to be good, and to be well-liked. Our findings suggest that these goals may not only be compatible but also reciprocal. In a longitudinal experiment conducted in 19 classrooms in Vancouver, 9- to 11-year olds were instructed to perform three acts of kindness (versus visit three places) per week over the course of 4 weeks. Students in both conditions improved in well-being, but students who performed kind acts experienced significantly bigger increases in peer acceptance (or sociometric popularity) than students who visited places. Increasing peer acceptance is a critical goal, as it is related to a variety of important academic and social outcomes, including reduced likelihood of being bullied. Teachers and interventionists can build on this study by introducing intentional prosocial activities into classrooms and recommending that such activities be performed regularly and purposefully.
The cultural dimensions of language teaching and learning

Language teaching and learning has many different cultural dimensions, and over the years more and more of these have been the subject of research. The first dimension to be explored was that of content: the images of target language countries and the world that were offered in textbooks and presented in class. The next dimension was that of the learner: the (inter)cultural learning, competence and identity of the learner or subject. The next dimension was context: the situation and role of language teaching and learning in society and in the world.
Securing Interactive Programs

This paper studies the foundations of information-flow security for interactive programs. Previous research assumes that the environment is total, that is, it must always be ready to feed new inputs into programs. However, programs secure under this assumption can leak the presence of input. Such leaks can be magnified to whole-secret leaks in the concurrent setting. We propose a framework that generalizes previous research along two dimensions: first, the framework breaks away from the totality of the environment and, second, the framework features fine-grained security types for communication channels, where we distinguish between the security level of message presence and message content. We show that the generalized framework features appealing compositionality properties: parallel composition of secure program results in a secure thread pool. We also show that modeling environments as strategies leads to strong compositionality: various types of composition (with and without scoping) follow from our general compositionality result. Further, we propose a type system that supports enforcement of security via fine-grained security types.
Entry and pricing in a differentiated products industry: evidence from the ATM market

We estimate a structural equilibrium model of the automatic teller machine market (ATM) to evaluate the implications of regulating ATM surcharges. We use data on bank characteristics, potential and actual ATM locations, and consumer locations; identify the model parameters with a regression discontinuity design; and develop methods to estimate the model without computing equilibria. A surcharge ban reduces ATM entry 12% and consumer welfare 24% but increases firm profits 27%. Total welfare under either regime is 4% lower than the surplus maximizing level. The article can help shed light on the implications of unregulated entry for differentiated products industries.
Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus markers among hospital health care workers. Analysis of certain potential risk factors.

OBJECTIVES To determine, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among hospital health care workers, to determine the influence of some risk factors on such prevalence and to outline the specific policies to tackle such problems among hospital health care workers. METHODS Hepatitis B virus markers including hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis B core antigen were determined from sera samples collected from 459 hospital health care workers at different hospital departments. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus among these employees was correlated by a variety of risk factors such as gender, age, blood transfusion, and needle-stick and sharps injuries, and previous history of jaundice using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Of the hospital health care workers studied 143 (31%) of employees showed evidence of previous hepatitis B virus infection, including 17 (4%) carriers. The highest incidence was among those who were working at infectious diseases departments where 22 (43%) employees were found to be seropositive, followed by 26 (41%) employees from surgical departments. The risk factors, which were found to influence seropositivity, include age over 40 years old, needle-stick and sharps injuries and previous blood transfusion. Other factors such as gender, and previous history of jaundice were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION The hepatitis B virus infection was high among the hospital health care workers studied. This was influenced by certain potential occupational risk factors. As there is emerging evidence that vaccination among health care workers was infective. Specific measures should be implemented to reduce such risk. These may include strict policies on sharps and considering any blood or other body fluids being a potential risk. Education, clinical advice and health insurance should be available for health care workers who are at a higher risk of contracting hepatitis B virus infection.
Direct Interaction of the Rho GDP Dissociation Inhibitor with Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin Initiates the Activation of the Rho Small G Protein*

The Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) forms a complex with the GDP-bound form of the Rho family small G proteins and inhibits their activation. The GDP-bound form complexed with Rho GDI is not activated by the GDP/GTP exchange factor for the Rho family members, suggesting the presence of another factor necessary for this activation. We have reported that the Rho subfamily members regulate the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM)-CD44 system, implicated in reorganization of actin filaments. Here we report that Rho GDI directly interacts with ERM, initiating the activation of the Rho subfamily members by reducing the Rho GDI activity. These results suggest that ERM as well as Rho GDI and the Rho GDP/GTP exchange factor are involved in the activation of the Rho subfamily members, which then regulate reorganization of actin filaments through the ERM system.
Optimal linear detectors for nonorthogonal amplify-and-forward protocol

In this paper, we propose optimal linear detectors for non-orthogonal amplify-and-forward cooperative protocol when considering a single-relay scenario. Two types of detectors are proposed based on the principles of minimum mean square error (MMSE) and minimum bit error rate (MBER). The MMSE detector minimizes the mean square error, while the MBER minimizes the system bit error rate (BER). Both detectors exhibit excellent BER performance with relatively low complexity as compared to the maximal likelihood (ML) detector. The BER performance of both detectors is superior to the channel inversion, the maximal ratio combining, and the biased ML detectors.
Advantages and limitations of in vitro and in vivo methods of iron and zinc bioavailability evaluation in the assessment of biofortification program effectiveness

ABSTRACT Biofortification aims to improve the micronutrient concentration of staple food crops through the best practices of breeding and modern biotechnology. However, increased zinc and iron concentrations in food crops may not always translate into proportional increases in absorbed zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). Therefore, assessing iron and zinc bioavailability in biofortified crops is imperative to evaluate the efficacy of breeding programs. This review aimed to investigate the advantages and limitations of in vitro and in vivo methods of iron and zinc bioavailability evaluation in the assessment of biofortification program effectiveness. In vitro, animal and isotopic human studies have shown high iron and zinc bioavailability in biofortified staple food crops. Human studies provide direct knowledge regarding the effectiveness of biofortification, however, human studies are time consuming and are more expensive than in vitro and animal studies. Moreover, in vitro studies may be a useful preliminary screening method to identify promising plant cultivars, however, these studies cannot provide data that are directly applicable to humans. None of these methods provides complete information regarding mineral bioavailability, thus, a combination of these methods should be the most appropriate strategy to investigate the effectiveness of zinc and iron biofortification programs.
Elevated plasma level of visfatin/pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

CONTEXT Visfatin (also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor or PBEF) is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and whose blood levels correlate with obesity. Originally isolated as a secreted factor that promotes the growth of B cell precursors and recently found to act as an insulin analog on the insulin receptor, its pathophysiological role in humans remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVES In this study we investigated whether plasma visfatin level is altered in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DESIGN AND PATIENTS Plasma visfatin as well as adiponectin and resistin concentrations were measured through ELISA in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. RESULTS A total of 61 patients with T2DM and 59 sex- and age-matched nondiabetic subjects were studied. Plasma visfatin was found to be elevated in patients with T2DM (31.9 +/- 31.7 vs. 15.8 +/- 16.7 ng/ml, P = 0.002). In contrast, adiponectin was decreased (4.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 30.8 +/- 10.3 microg/ml, P < 0.001), whereas plasma resistin level did not differ between the groups. Increasing concentrations of visfatin were independently and significantly associated with T2DM. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed visfatin as an independent association factor for T2DM, even after full adjustment of known biomarkers. The association between adiponectin and T2DM was no longer significant after adjustments for body mass index or waist to hip ratio. In a multiple linear regression analysis, only waist to hip ratio was independently associated with plasma visfatin level. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that visfatin may play a role in the pathogenesis of T2DM.
Cognitive Processes in Anesthesiology Decision Making

The quality and safety of health care are under increasing scrutiny. Recent studies suggest that medical errors, practice variability, and guideline noncompliance are common, and that cognitive error contributes significantly to delayed or incorrect diagnoses. These observations have increased interest in understanding decision-making psychology.Many nonrational (i.e., not purely based in statistics) cognitive factors influence medical decisions and may lead to error. The most well-studied include heuristics, preferences for certainty, overconfidence, affective (emotional) influences, memory distortions, bias, and social forces such as fairness or blame.Although the extent to which such cognitive processes play a role in anesthesia practice is unknown, anesthesia care frequently requires rapid, complex decisions that are most susceptible to decision errors. This review will examine current theories of human decision behavior, identify effects of nonrational cognitive processes on decision making, describe characteristic anesthesia decisions in this context, and suggest strategies to improve decision making.
Association of Anthropometric Characteristics with the Risk of Malignant Lymphoma and Plasma Cell Myeloma in a Japanese Population: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Although Asian and Western populations differ markedly in anthropometric characteristics and the incidence of malignant lymphoma and plasma cell myeloma, few studies have evaluated the associations between these variables among Asian populations. Methods: We conducted a large-scale, population-based prospective study in a Japanese cohort that included 45,007 men and 49,540 women ages 40 to 69 years at baseline. During an average follow-up period of 13 years, 257 cases of malignant lymphoma and 88 of plasma cell myeloma were identified. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated with the use of a Cox regression model adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Compared with the 1st quartile, categorization in the 4th quartile for height showed a positive association with lymphoid neoplasm risk (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.00-1.91), and the association was significant among men (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.11-2.66). A similar trend was observed for subcategories of malignant lymphoma, plasma cell myeloma, and non–Hodgkin lymphoma, albeit the associations were weak due to the small number of subjects in each category. In contrast, weight and body mass index were not associated with risk of lymphoid neoplasm. Conclusions: Height was positively associated with risk of lymphoid neoplasm in a Japanese population. Impact: Our data suggested that early life exposure to growth-related hormones, such as insulin-like growth factors and growth hormones, or genetic factors relating to height may affect the risk of lymphoid neoplasm. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(6); 1623–31. ©2010 AACR.
Visual landmark extraction and recognition for autonomous robot navigation

The robot navigation using visual landmark approach is described. The landmarks are not preselected or otherwise defined a priori, but rather, they are extracted automatically during a learning phase. To facilitate this, a saliency map is constructed which highlights potential landmarks. This is used in conjunction with a qualitative segregation of the workspace, to further delineate the search areas for environment landmarks. For the sake of robustness, no semantic information is attached to the landmarks; they are stored as raw patterns along with information readily available from the workspace segregation, that facilitates their accurate rate recognition at a later, navigation session. During such a session, similar steps with the learning phase are employed to locate landmarks. The stored information is used to transform a previously leaned landmark pattern, according to the current position of the observer, achieving thus accurate landmark recognition. Results obtained from our approach demonstrate its validity and applicability in indoor workspaces.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Well-Being of Ghanaian Children in Transnational Families.

This study is the first to employ panel data to examine well-being outcomes-self-rated health, happiness, life satisfaction, and school enjoyment-of children in transnational families in an African context. It analyzes data collected in 2013, 2014, and 2015 from secondary schoolchildren and youth (ages 12-21) in Ghana (N = 741). Results indicate that children with fathers, mothers, or both parents away and those cared for by a parent, a family, or a nonfamily member are equally or more likely to have higher levels of well-being as children in nonmigrant families. Yet, there are certain risk factors-being a female, living in a family affected by divorce or by a change in caregiver while parents migrate-that may decrease child well-being.
An integrated structure- and system-based framework to identify new targets of metabolites and known drugs

Motivation: The inherent promiscuity of small molecules towards protein targets impedes our understanding of healthy versus diseased metabolism. This promiscuity also poses a challenge for the pharmaceutical industry as identifying all protein targets is important to assess (side) effects and repositioning opportunities for a drug. Results: Here, we present a novel integrated structure- and system-based approach of drug-target prediction (iDTP) to enable the large-scale discovery of new targets for small molecules, such as pharmaceutical drugs, co-factors and metabolites (collectively called ‘drugs’). For a given drug, our method uses sequence order–independent structure alignment, hierarchical clustering and probabilistic sequence similarity to construct a probabilistic pocket ensemble (PPE) that captures promiscuous structural features of different binding sites on known targets. A drug’s PPE is combined with an approximation of its delivery profile to reduce false positives. In our cross-validation study, we use iDTP to predict the known targets of 11 drugs, with 63% sensitivity and 81% specificity. We then predicted novel targets for these drugs—two that are of high pharmacological interest, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and the oncogene B-cell lymphoma 2, were successfully validated through in vitro binding experiments. Our method is broadly applicable for the prediction of protein-small molecule interactions with several novel applications to biological research and drug development. Availability and implementation: The program, datasets and results are freely available to academic users at http://sfb.kaust.edu.sa/Pages/Software.aspx. Contact: xin.gao@kaust.edu.sa and stefan.arold@kaust.edu.sa Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.