Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social media affordances and governance in the workplace: An examination of organizational policies

This paper examines how organizations perceive affordances of social media and how they react to their employees' use of social media through policies, a key means of organizational governance. Existing literature identified 4 affordances - visibility, persistence, editability, and association (between people and between people and information) - as action potentials of social media in organizations. Content analysis of a sample of organizational social media policies reveals that organizations especially reacted to the affordances of visibility and persistence much more than to the affordance of editability. It also discovers a third type of association (between employees and organization). It shows how organizations' reactions to social media evolved from being solely concerned with risk management to also considering its value-generating potential.
Learning Latent Engagement Patterns of Students in Online Courses

Maintaining and cultivating student engagement is critical for learning. Understanding factors affecting student engagement will help in designing better courses and improving student retention. The large number of participants in massive open online courses (MOOCs) and data collected from their interaction with the MOOC open up avenues for studying student engagement at scale. In this work, we develop a framework for modeling and understanding student engagement in online courses based on student behavioral cues. Our first contribution is the abstraction of student engagement types using latent representations and using that in a probabilistic model to connect student behavior with course completion. We demonstrate that the latent formulation for engagement helps in predicting student survival across three MOOCs. Next, in order to initiate better instructor interventions, we need to be able to predict student survival early in the course. We demonstrate that we can predict student survival early in the course reliably using the latent model. Finally, we perform a closer quantitative analysis of user interaction with the MOOC and identify student activities that are good indicators for survival at different points in the course.
Response of key stress-related genes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the vicinity of submarine volcanic vents

Abstract. Submarine volcanic vents are being used as natural laboratories to assess the effects of increased ocean acidity and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on marine organisms and communities. However, in the vicinity of volcanic vents other factors in addition to CO2, which is the main gaseous component of the emissions, may directly or indirectly confound the biota responses to high CO2. Here we used for the first time the expression of antioxidant and stress-related genes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to assess the stress levels of the species. Our hypothesis is that unknown factors are causing metabolic stress that may confound the putative effects attributed to CO2 enrichment only. We analyzed the expression of 35 antioxidant and stress-related genes of P. oceanica in the vicinity of submerged volcanic vents located in the islands of Ischia and Panarea, Italy, and compared them with those from control sites away from the influence of vents. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to characterize gene expression patterns. Fifty-one percent of genes analyzed showed significant expression changes. Metal detoxification genes were mostly down-regulated in relation to controls at both Ischia and Panarea, indicating that P. oceanica does not increase the synthesis of heavy metal detoxification proteins in response to the environmental conditions present at the two vents. The up-regulation of genes involved in the free radical detoxification response (e.g., CAPX, SODCP and GR) indicates that, in contrast with Ischia, P. oceanica at the Panarea site faces stressors that result in the production of reactive oxygen species, triggering antioxidant responses. In addition, heat shock proteins were also activated at Panarea and not at Ischia. These proteins are activated to adjust stress-accumulated misfolded proteins and prevent their aggregation as a response to some stressors, not necessarily high temperature. This is the first study analyzing the expression of target genes in marine plants living near natural CO2 vents. Our results call for contention to the general claim of seagrasses as "winners" in a high-CO2 world, based on observations near volcanic vents. Careful consideration of factors that are at play in natural vents sites other than CO2 and acidification is required. This study also constitutes a first step for using stress-related genes as indicators of environmental pressures in a changing ocean.
Variations in carcass and meat quality traits of heavy pigs

Introduction Breeding of heavy weight pigs presents an important source of raw meat in the production of drycured products. It is widely known that increased muscularity of modern genotypes of fattening pigs caused by intensive selection have a negative e ect on meat color and water holding capacity. On the other side, heavy pigs are characterized by increased fat content in the carcasses and poor feed conversion ratio, especially in last days of fattening. However, by increasing body weight, higher carcass yield can be achieved, while cooling and meat processing costs can be reduced gations showed that increasing age at slaughter may result in an improvement of certain pork quality traits (Candek-
Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Self-Concept in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

The present study aims to identify different profiles in emotional intelligence (EI) and self-concept of the participants with disabilities according to functionality of spinal cord injury. In addition, significant differences in self-concept domains among profiles previously identified are also analysed. The Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24) and AF5 Self-concept Questionnaire were administered to 98 participants with physical disabilities by traffic accidents (42 tetraplegics and 56 paraplegics). Cluster analyses allowed identifying three different EI profiles: a group of participants with low EI profile, a group with predominance of high emotional repair and regulation and, finally, a group of participants with high EI. Results also revealed significant statistical differences in most domains of self-concept among profiles. Results suggest the need of going in depth on EI knowledge and design enhancement of self-concept programs for people with spinal cord injury.
Toward Off-Policy Learning Control with Function Approximation

We present the first temporal-difference learning algorithm for off-policy control with unrestricted linear function approximation whose per-time-step complexity is linear in the number of features. Our algorithm, Greedy-GQ, is an extension of recent work on gradient temporal-difference learning, which has hitherto been restricted to a prediction (policy evaluation) setting, to a control setting in which the target policy is greedy with respect to a linear approximation to the optimal action-value function. A limitation of our control setting is that we require the behavior policy to be stationary. We call this setting latent learning because the optimal policy, though learned, is not manifest in behavior. Popular off-policy algorithms such as Q-learning are known to be unstable in this setting when used with linear function approximation.
Comparing the Innovation Performance in Canadian, French and German Manufacturing Enterprises

This paper compares pairwise the innovation performance of Canada with France and Germany, respectively. The comparison is based on two ordered probit models with sample selection, one where innovation is measured by the introduction of new-to-the firm products and one where it is measured by the introduction of new-to-the market products. The econometric analysis attempts to explain part of the country differences as the result of the sectoral composition of output, and the effects of size, environment conditions (proximity to basic research and competition) and innovation activities (internal R&D, the number of innovation activities, cooperation and government support). The Canadian firms benefit from being larger and more numerous in receiving government support, but suffer from a lack of competition and internal R&D. These structural effects combined, while informative, are not enough to explain a lot of the basic pattern of innovation revealed by the raw data. If we take the stronger measure of first-to-market innovation as a yardstick of innovation, the observed pairwise country differences are less strong, and our model explains a little bit more of the observed differences. Cette etude compare les performances d'innovation entre le Canada et la France d'une part, et entre le Canada et l'Allemagne d'autre part. La comparaison repose sur deux modeles de probit ordonne avec selection. Le premier mesure l'innovation par l'introduction sur le marche de produits nouveaux pour la firme, le second par l'introduction de produits nouveaux pour le marche. L'analyse econometrique essaye d'expliquer une partie des differences nationales d'innovation par la composition sectorielle de la production, l'effet taille, les conditions environnementales (proximite de la recherche de base et concurrence) et les activites d'innovation (R-D interne, nombre d'activites innovantes, cooperation et support gouvernemental). Les firmes canadiennes tirent avantage de leur plus grande taille et sont plus nombreuses a recevoir du support gouvernemental. Par contre, elles souffrent du manque de concurrence et de R-D interne. Au total, la prise en compte de ces effets structurels est certes revelatrice, mais n'explique qu'une faible partie des differences bilaterales dans les processus d'innovation. La mesure plus forte d'innovation par l'introduction de produits nouveaux pour le marche reduit les differences observees et les explique un peu mieux.
IL1B and DEFB1 Polymorphisms Increase Susceptibility to Invasive Mold Infection After Solid-Organ Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in immune genes have been associated with susceptibility to invasive mold infection (IMI) among hematopoietic stem cell but not solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients. METHODS Twenty-four SNPs from systematically selected genes were genotyped among 1101 SOT recipients (715 kidney transplant recipients, 190 liver transplant recipients, 102 lung transplant recipients, 79 heart transplant recipients, and 15 recipients of other transplants) from the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study. Association between SNPs and the end point were assessed by log-rank test and Cox regression models. Cytokine production upon Aspergillus stimulation was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers and correlated with relevant genotypes. RESULTS Mold colonization (n = 45) and proven/probable IMI (n = 26) were associated with polymorphisms in the genes encoding interleukin 1β (IL1B; rs16944; recessive mode, P = .001 for colonization and P = .00005 for IMI, by the log-rank test), interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN; rs419598; P = .01 and P = .02, respectively), and β-defensin 1 (DEFB1; rs1800972; P = .001 and P = .0002, respectively). The associations with IL1B and DEFB1 remained significant in a multivariate regression model (P = .002 for IL1B rs16944; P = .01 for DEFB1 rs1800972). The presence of 2 copies of the rare allele of rs16944 or rs419598 was associated with reduced Aspergillus-induced interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor α secretion by PBMCs. CONCLUSIONS Functional polymorphisms in IL1B and DEFB1 influence susceptibility to mold infection in SOT recipients. This observation may contribute to individual risk stratification.
IL-2 Mediates CD4+ T Cell Help in the Breakdown of Memory-Like CD8+ T Cell Tolerance under Lymphopenic Conditions

BACKGROUND Lymphopenia results in the proliferation and differentiation of naïve T cells into memory-like cells in the apparent absence of antigenic stimulation. This response, at least in part due to a greater availability of cytokines, is thought to promote anti-self responses. Although potentially autoreactive memory-like CD8(+) T cells generated in a lymphopenic environment are subject to the mechanisms of peripheral tolerance, they can induce autoimmunity in the presence of antigen-specific memory-like CD4(+) T helper cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here, we studied the mechanisms underlying CD4 help under lymphopenic conditions in transgenic mice expressing a model antigen in the beta cells of the pancreas. Surprisingly, we found that the self-reactivity mediated by the cooperation of memory-like CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells was not abrogated by CD40L blockade. In contrast, treatment with anti-IL-2 antibodies inhibited the onset of autoimmunity. IL-2 neutralization prevented the CD4-mediated differentiation of memory-like CD8(+) T cells into pathogenic effectors in response to self-antigen cross-presentation. Furthermore, in the absence of helper cells, induction of IL-2 signaling by an IL-2 immune complex was sufficient to promote memory-like CD8(+) T cell self-reactivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE IL-2 mediates the cooperation of memory-like CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the breakdown of cross-tolerance, resulting in effector cytotoxic T lymphocyte differentiation and the induction of autoimmune disease.
Automatic Testing Based on Design by Contract TM

Although its importance is widely recognized, testing is seldom done properly. The reasons for this include under-allocation of resources for the testing activity, lack of proper tool support, and developers’ reluctance towards testing. To tackle these issues, we propose the full automation of the testing process for contract-equipped classes. According to the principles of Design by ContractTM, assertions contain the specifications of the software elements. As such, they can be used to ascertain the correctness of these elements. In this paper we discuss the various issues involved in the full automation of the testing process and present our technical solution and its implementation in the tool called AutoTest1. We also look at ways of improving the current approach.
Accuracy and Interpretability Trade-Offs in Machine Learning Applied to Safer Gambling

Responsible gambling is an area of research and industry which seeks to understand the pathways to harm from gambling and implement programmes to reduce or prevent harm that gambling might cause. There is a growing body of research that has used gambling behavioural data to model and predict harmful gambling, and the industry is showing increasing interest in technologies that can help gambling operators to better predict harm and prevent it through appropriate interventions. However, industry surveys and feedback clearly indicate that in order to enable wider adoption of such data-driven methods, industry and policy makers require a greater understanding of how machine learning methods make these predictions. In this paper, we make use of the TREPAN algorithm for extracting decision trees from Neural Networks and Random Forests. We present the first comparative evaluation of predictive performance and tree properties for extracted trees, which is also the first comparative evaluation of knowledge extraction for safer gambling. Results indicate that TREPAN extracts better performing trees than direct learning of decision trees from the data. Overall, trees extracted with TREPAN from different models offer a good compromise between prediction accuracy and interpretability. TREPAN can produce decision trees with extended tests rules of different forms, so that interpretability depends on multiple factors. We present detailed results and a discussion of the trade-offs with regard to performance and interpretability and use in the gambling industry.
PD-1 and Tim-3 Pathways Regulate CD8+ T Cells Function in Atherosclerosis

T cell-mediated immunity plays a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis (AS). There is increasing evidence that CD8+ T cells are also involved in AS but their exact roles remain unclear. The inhibitory receptors programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) are well known inhibitory molecules that play a crucial role in regulating CD8+ T cell activation or tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that the co-expression of PD-1 and Tim-3 on CD8+ T cells is up-regulated in AS patients. PD-1+ Tim-3+ CD8+ T cells are enriched for within the central T (TCM) cell subset, with high proliferative activity and CD127 expression. Co-expression of PD-1 and Tim-3 on CD8+ T cells is associated with increased anti-atherogenic cytokine production as well as decreased pro-atherogenic cytokine production. Blockade of PD-1 and Tim-3 results in a decrease of anti-atherogenic cytokine production by PD-1+ Tim-3+ CD8+ T cells and in an augmentation of TNF-α and IFN-γ production. These findings highlight the important role of the PD-1 and Tim-3 pathways in regulating CD8+ T cells function in human AS.
Simultaneous search for multiple QTL using the global optimization algorithm DIRECT

MOTIVATION A simultaneous search is necessary for maximizing the power to detect epistatic quantitative trait loci (QTL). The computational complexity demands that the traditional exhaustive search be replaced by a more efficient global optimization algorithm. RESULTS We have the previously known algorithm adapted DIRECT, to the problem of simultaneous mapping of multiple QTL. We have compared DIRECT with standard exhaustive search and a genetic algorithm previously used for QTL mapping in two dimensions. In all two- and three-QTL test cases, DIRECT accurately finds the global optimum two to four orders of magnitude faster than when using an exhaustive search, and one order of magnitude faster than when using the genetic algorithm. Thus, randomization testing for determining empirical significance thresholds for at least three QTL is made feasible by the use of DIRECT. AVAILABILITY The code of the prototype implementation is available at http://user.it. uu.se/~kl/qtl_software. html
Art Therapy as an Intervention for Autism

This article presents the art therapy treatment of a 6-yearold boy diagnosed with autism without mental retardation. Children create art and draw because it is rooted in the need to relate to their world (Horovitz, Lewis, & Luca, 1967). However, children with autism have difficulty relating (Green & Luce, 1996). This case study explores the value of art therapy interventions in the young boy's development, growth, and ability to relate. His growth is highlighted by discussing three of his drawings that reflect his progress towards developing object constancy. The importance of art therapy in the treatment of children with the diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder is also explored.
READING NEWS ON SMARTPHONES: HOW DO MOOD, MODALITY INTERACTIVITY, AND NEWS STORY LENGTH INFLUENCE USER ENGAGEMENT?

Reading news on smartphones has become a primary activity among smartphone users. A 2 (Mood: Positive vs. Negative) x 2 (Modality Interactivity: Scrolling vs. Swiping) x 2 (Length: Long form vs. Short Form) x 2 (Topic: Zika vs. West Nile) between subject experiment (N = 332) was conducted to examine the effects of mood, modality interactivity, news story length, and topic on user engagement under the context of smartphone news reading. Results showed mood, modality interactivity, or news story length had no direct impact on user engagement. However, there was a combinatory effect of mood, length, and topic on dimensions of user engagement. When reading stories about Zika, happy readers showed more curiosity toward the long form story than the short form story. Sad readers showed equal curiosity toward the long form Zika story and the short form Zika story. Participants in the sad mood condition reading stories about the West Nile virus showed more curiosity toward the long form news story compared with the happy readers. Participants in the happy mood condition showed more curiosity toward the short form news story compared with the sad readers. A significant three-way interaction among mood, length, and topic on credibility was also discovered. The long form Zika story was generally perceived as more credible than the short form news story regardless of the mood condition. Sad readers perceived the short form story as more credible than the long form story about West Nile. Happy readers perceived the short form West Nile story as equally credible as the long form story.
A multimedia consent tool for research participants in the Gambia: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective To assess the effectiveness of a multimedia informed consent tool for adults participating in a clinical trial in the Gambia. Methods Adults eligible for inclusion in a malaria treatment trial (n = 311) were randomized to receive information needed for informed consent using either a multimedia tool (intervention arm) or a standard procedure (control arm). A computerized, audio questionnaire was used to assess participants’ comprehension of informed consent. This was done immediately after consent had been obtained (at day 0) and at subsequent follow-up visits (days 7, 14, 21 and 28). The acceptability and ease of use of the multimedia tool were assessed in focus groups. Findings On day 0, the median comprehension score in the intervention arm was 64% compared with 40% in the control arm (P = 0.042). The difference remained significant at all follow-up visits. Poorer comprehension was independently associated with female sex (odds ratio, OR: 0.29; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.12–0.70) and residing in Jahaly rather than Basse province (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13–0.82). There was no significant independent association with educational level. The risk that a participant’s comprehension score would drop to half of the initial value was lower in the intervention arm (hazard ratio 0.22, 95% CI: 0.16–0.31). Overall, 70% (42/60) of focus group participants from the intervention arm found the multimedia tool clear and easy to understand. Conclusion A multimedia informed consent tool significantly improved comprehension and retention of consent information by research participants with low levels of literacy.