Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards a Theory of Individual-level Discontinuance of Information Systems Use

I develop a model of individuals’ intentions to discontinue information system use. Understanding these intentions is important because they give insights into users’ willingness to carry out system tasks, and provide a basis for maintenance decisions as well as possible replacement decisions. I offer a first conceptualization of factors determining users’ discontinu ance intentions on basis of existing literature on technology use, status quo bias and dual factor concepts. The model is grounded in rational choice theory to distinguish determinants of a conscious decision between continuing or discontinuing IS use. I provide details on the empirical test of the model through a field study of IS users in a retail organization. The work will have implications for theory on information systems continuance and dual-factor logic in information system use. The empirical findings will provide suggestions for managers dealing with cessation of information systems and work routine changes in organizations.
Evaluation of a mutation screening strategy for sporadic cases of ATR-X syndrome

We report on the evaluation of a strategy for screening for XNP/ATR-X mutations in males with mental retardation and associated dysmorphology. Because nearly half of the mutations in this gene reported to date fall into a short 300 bp region of the transcript, we decided to focus in this region and to extend the mutation analysis to cases with a negative family history. This study includes 21 mentally retarded male patients selected because they had severe mental retardation and a typical facial appearance. The presence of haemoglobin H or urogenital abnormalities was not considered critical for inclusion in this study. We have identified six mutations which represents a mutation detection rate of 28%. This figure is high enough for us to propose this strategy as a valid first level of screening in a selected subset of males with mental retardation. This approach is simple, does not require RNA preparation, does not involve time consuming mutation detection methods, and can thus be applied to a large number of patients at a low cost in any given laboratory.
Personality Traits and Inflammation in Men and Women in Their Early 70s: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study of Healthy Aging

Objectives Studies have reported associations between the five-factor model’s personality traits and inflammation markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Findings, however, have been inconsistent. This study investigates these associations in individuals who ranged in age from approximately 70 to 73 years. Methods Participants were from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n = 818). Acute-phase proteins—CRP and fibrinogen—were measured at ages approximately 70 years (first wave) and 73 years (second wave), and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 was measured at age 73 years. Personality traits were measured at age 70 years using two instruments, the International Personality Item Pool and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Results Lower International Personality Item Pool conscientiousness was cross-sectionally associated with elevated CRP, such that 1 standard deviation higher conscientiousness was associated with 22% lower odds of having a CRP level greater than 3 mg/l (odds ratio = 0.78; 95% confidence interval = 0.67–0.91). NEO Five-Factor Inventory openness was negatively associated with CRP (odds ratio = 0.79; 95% confidence interval = 0.67–0.94) and IL-6 (&bgr; = −.08, p = .045) at age 73 years; these associations were attenuated by 26% and 63%, respectively, after adjusting for social background and prior cognitive ability. Body mass index mediated some (14%–18%) of the conscientiousness-inflammation association, whereas common health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity did not significantly mediate the personality trait–inflammatory marker association. Conclusions The findings add some support to accumulating evidence for low conscientiousness being linked to higher levels of inflammation and poorer general health.
Divergent Thinking and Language Learning: A pilot study of the effect of creative context generation on word learning

Divergent thinking (DT) is the ability to generate diverse solutions to a problem. This type of problem solving helps analysts to engage in alternate analysis, that is, the ability to consider multiple hypotheses (Haarmann, Platt, Donavos, Fox, & Bowles, 2007). DT is cognitive skill that can be trained (for a review see Haarmann, O'Rourke, & Ragusa, 2013), including in analysts (Haarmann, George, Berens, Grunewald, & Freynik, 2012). Since DT ability is beneficial for analysis and can be trained, it would be of much interest to know whether engaging the same skill benefits language learning, in view of its importance for language analysts. Indeed CASL’s sponsor requested a pilot study to address this question.
A detailed analysis of a resonant gate driver for PWM applications

Gate drivers generate significant losses, especially at high frequencies. While conventional solutions dissipate all the energy, resonant gate drivers partly recover it. A resonant gate driver is studied in detail with the emphasis on PWM operation. Compared to other resonant drivers, the investigated driver combines simplicity, fast switching and loss reduction. Advantages and limits are discussed using a mathematical model and a prototype.
Computing matrix functions

The need to evaluate a function f(A) ∈ ℂn×n of a matrix A ∈ ℂn×n arises in a wide and growing number of applications, ranging from the numerical solution of differential equations to measures of the complexity of networks. We give a survey of numerical methods for evaluating matrix functions, along with a brief treatment of the underlying theory and a description of two recent applications. The survey is organized by classes of methods, which are broadly those based on similarity transformations, those employing approximation by polynomial or rational functions, and matrix iterations. Computation of the Fréchet derivative, which is important for condition number estimation, is also treated, along with the problem of computing f(A)b without computing f(A). A summary of available software completes the survey.
Physical environment as a 3-D textbook: design and development of a prototype

The use of the physical environment as a three-dimensional (3-D) textbook is not a common practice in educational facilities design. Previous researches documented that little progress has been made to incorporate environmental education (EE) into architecture, especially among the conventional designers who are often constrained by the budget and building area requirements. This article presents an exploratory project to develop a prototype for the 3-D textbook. The author does not formulate ideas and concept based on the pre-determined specs in a design brief. Instead, the design solution evolved through a qualitative case study conducted at the Green School in Bali, Indonesia. Data were collected through a series of interviews and on-site observations. The qualitative findings uncovered four design features for the 3-D textbook. A prototype was subsequently developed using the design features as a blueprint. The prototype serves as a testing ground for new ideas as well as a platform to promote awareness and acceptance of the 3-D textbook among the practitioners. Consequently, this article attempted a significant proposition to bring together architecture and EE, thus potentially contributing to a field of knowledge that embraces design and education.
Latent Trait Theory Approach to Measuring Person-Organization Fit: Conceptual Rationale and Empirical Evaluation

The purpose of this article is to offer a new approach to measuring person-organization (P-O) fit, referred to here as “Latent fit. ” Respondents were administered unidimensional forced choice items and were asked to choose the statement in each pair that better reflected the correspondence between their values and those of the organization; scaling was done using an item response theory (IRT) model for stimulus endorsement. An empirical study comparing this new approach to two traditional P-O fit measurement approaches was also conducted. The results indicated that the Latent fit approach had merit, with the fit scores exhibiting theoretically expected patterns of relations with other variables and incremental validity in predicting intentions to leave.
‘If I Ever Play Football, Dad, Can I Play for England or India?’

The overall scope of this article is to examine how young British Asians experience and articulate recent transformations in popular notions of ‘race’, nation and culture. The context for the analysis is sport, which acts as a prominent arena in which these variables are contested and, indeed, embodies the complexities of national affiliations and identities.The article argues that despite continuing ethnically exclusive manifestations of ‘Englishness’ – both in football and in the wider society – increasing numbers of young British Asians are expressing their support for the England football team.This is in direct contrast to cricket, where large numbers choose to follow a team from the Indian subcontinent.The article argues that these trends reflect the multifaceted, fragmented nature of diasporic identities, in that the diverse sporting affiliations of young British Asians enable them to emphasize both their cultural traditions and the permanency of South Asian settlement in Britain.
Harnessing mass spectra data using KNN principle: diagnosing Alzheimer's disease

A high level of expertise, rigorous algorithms and methods are needed to adequately mine and harness Mass Spectrometer generated data due to its unique nature and structure. Hitherto, peptide ions are matched with theoretical results and/or public databases in order to identify expressed proteins in analyzed protein source samples, but this is done on a spectrum by spectrum basis. In this study, we present a mechanism that extends the principle of K-nearest neighbor algorithm for mining pools of mass spectrometer saliva data towards discovering and characterizing patterns for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The methodology discusses feature selection by correlation matrix, matrix to vector decomposition, an extension of Euclidean distance formula, and successfully classifies donor samples into the three stages of Alzheimer's disease with over 85% accuracy without collaborating clinical records.
Contribution of cysteine aminotransferase and mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase to hydrogen sulfide production in peripheral neurons

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous neuromodulator produced from L‐cysteine. H2S is generated by three distinct enzymatic pathways mediated by cystathionine γ‐lyase (CSE), cystathionine β‐synthase (CBS), and mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) coupled with cysteine aminotransferase (CAT). This study investigated the relative contributions of these three pathways to H2S production in PC12 cells (rat pheochromocytoma‐derived cells) and the rat dorsal root ganglion. CBS, CAT, and MPST, but not CSE, were expressed in the cells and tissues, and appreciable amounts of H2S were produced from L‐cysteine in the presence of α‐ketoglutarate, together with dithiothreitol. The production of H2S was inhibited by a CAT inhibitor (aminooxyacetic acid), competitive CAT substrates (L‐aspartate and oxaloacetate), and RNA interference (RNAi) against MPST. Immunocytochemistry revealed a mitochondrial localization of MPST in PC12 cells and dorsal root ganglion neurons, and the amount of H2S produced by CAT/MPST at pH 8.0, a physiological mitochondrial matrix pH, was comparable to that produced by CSE and CBS in the liver and the brain, respectively. Furthermore, H2S production was markedly increased by alkalization. These results indicate that CAT and MPST are primarily responsible for H2S production in peripheral neurons, and that the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism may influence neuronal H2S generation.
Power, Legitimacy, and Urgency in Organizational Learning: Learning Through Stakeholder Complaints to Improve Quality in the California Nursing Home Industry

Although research suggests that organizations learn through interactions with stakeholders, little is known regarding how this process occurs. The author addresses this void by examining how the power, legitimacy, or urgency related to stakeholders’ interactions influence organizations’ abilities to learn from these interactions. Hypothesis tests on a panel of nursing homes suggest that organizations learn more effectively through interactions with powerful stakeholders or those whose feedback requires immediate response. Findings contribute to organizational learning theory by identifying how different forms of experience vary substantially in their impacts on organizational activity. Related implications for stakeholder management and managerial practice are also discussed.
Computer-based assessment: quality assurance issues, the hub of the wheel

Quality in computer-based assessment systems (CBA) is embedded in the identification and elimination or reduction of risks. The effectiveness of procedures that eliminate or reduce the likelihood of risks occurring are therefore the benchmarks by which the quality of CBA systems are measured. This paper proposes that the ‘Catherine Wheel’ risk model for CBA has a natural synergy with stakeholders' views on quality and therefore recommends its use for the successful implementation of CBA systems.
Stochastic performance tuning of complex simulation applications using unsupervised machine learning

Machine learning for complex multi-objective problems (MOP) can substantially speedup the discovery of solutions belonging to Pareto landscapes and improve Pareto front accuracy. Studying convergence speedup of multi-objective search on well-known benchmarks is an important step in the development of algorithms to optimize complex problems such as High Energy Physics particle transport simulations. In this paper we will describe how we perform this optimization via a tuning based on genetic algorithms and machine learning for MOP. One of the approaches described is based on the introduction of a specific multivariate analysis operator that can be used in case of expensive fitness function evaluations, in order to speed-up the convergence of the “black-box” optimization problem.
Caries prevalence in a rural Chilean community after cessation of a powdered milk fluoridation program.

OBJECTIVE The milk fluoridation scheme established in Codegua, Chile, between 1994 and 1999 demonstrated the effectiveness of powdered milk as a community-based vehicle for fluoride to prevent dental caries. The present study aimed to compare caries prevalence in both the Codeguan control and test communities, three years after ending fluoride distribution through the powdered milk fluoridation scheme, to assess whether the benefits of such milk fluoridation were still present in the test community. METHODS Children 3-6 years old living in Codegua (test community) and La Punta (control community) were examined for dental caries at their educational facilities by three trained and calibrated examiners using natural light, dental mirrors, and sickle probes. Differences in caries prevalence (dmfs) by year of the study were tested for statistically significant differences using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS Findings from Codegua (1999-2002) indicate that the dental caries experience increased in all age groups following the termination of powdered milk fluoridation. These differences reached levels of statistical significance in the 3-, 4-, and 5- year old group (P < .03). Comparing results from Codegua and La Punta (2002), no statistically significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS Termination of the powdered milk fluoridation scheme resulted in a deterioration of the dental health of children. After three years, dental caries prevalence was higher than that reached at the end of the scheme and equivalent to that of the control community without fluoride exposure. These results emphasize the need to establish and maintain an alternative mechanism of community-based fluoridation of proven effectiveness for the prevention of dental caries in communities where water fluoridation is not available.
Semantic Gap?? Schemantic Schmap!! Methodological Considerations in the Scientific Study of Music

We argue that it is time to re-evaluate the MIR community’s approach to building artificial systems which operate over music. We suggest that it is fundamentally problematic to view music simply as data representing audio signals, and that the notion of the so-called “semantic gap” is misleading. We propose a philosophical framework within which scientific and/or technological study of music can be carried out, free from such artificial constructions. Ultimately, we argue that Music (as opposed to sound) can be studied only in a context which explicitly allows for, and is built on, (albeit de facto) models of human perception; to do otherwise is not to study Music at all.
The Benefits of Attending Community College: A Review of the Evidence

This article reviews the existing literature on the economic and other benefits of attending community college. First, the article reports on the earnings gains across all students and reviews the evidence for subgroups by gender, minority status, and credits accumulated. The article then reviews the methodological challenges associated with calculating earnings gains from attending a community college. Despite these challenges, the evidence for the significant earnings gains from community college attendance appears to be compelling. The second part of the article reviews the literature on a broader spectrum of gains, such as health, crime, and welfare reliance. This literature is very limited and potentially offers an important area for further research to establish the full returns from community college attendance.
Optimum Power Allocation in Sensor Networks for Passive Radar Applications

In the present work, we investigate the power allocation problem in distributed sensor networks that are used for passive radar applications. The signal emitted by a target is observed by the sensor nodes independently. Since these local observations are noisy and are thus unreliable, they are fused together as a single reliable observation at a remotely located fusion center in order to increase the overall system performance. The fusion center uses the best linear unbiased estimator in order to estimate the present target signal accurately. By using the proposed system model, fusion rule and objective function we are able to optimize the power allocation analytically and can hence present a closed-form solution to the power allocation problem. Since the power allocation problem can be subject to different power constraints, three different cases of power constraints are discussed and compared with each other. Furthermore, we demonstrate that all considered constraints lead to signomial optimization problems which are in general quite hard to solve. The main applications of the proposed results are issues concerning the sensor selection and energy efficiency in passive sensor networks.
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF FRESHMEN THROUGH ATTRIBUTIONAL TESTIMONIES FROM FELLOW STUDENTS

Summary. This study investigates the effectiveness of attributional techniques in a remedial programme at university aiming at improving the academic performance of students with learning difficulties. Subjects were 130 freshmen who had failed a mid-term economics examination. Two experimental conditions were provided. Subjects in the first condition watched a videotape in which senior students related their learning difficulties at the beginning of the first year, the causes of these problems and how they had improved examination scores at the end of the year. Subjects in the second condition watched the same videotape and, additionally, followed an individual study skill training course. Control subjects received no treatment. Results showed that experimental subjects attained higher scores than control subjects at the next economics examination held after the training. This increase was further generalised over all examinations in the first year, where experimental subjects showed a higher marks average than control subjects. Improvements in performance were equally strong for subjects who had only watched the videotape and for those who had received additional skill training. No effects were found with regard to the number of students who eventually passed the freshmen year. The practical implications of this study for counselling programmes at university are discussed.
Pleural effusion due to Corynebacterium propinquum in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma.

Corynebacterium propinquum (C. propinquum) is part of the normal oropharyngeal flora. Originally called CDC coryneform ANF-3 (absolute nonfermenter), it was Riegel et al. in 1993 who proposed the name C. propinquum. On gram stain, it shows corynebacterial forms after 24 hours’ incubation on sheep blood agar. Colonies appear whitish, nonhemolytic and 1-2 mm in diameter with a matted surface. C. propinquum is nonlipophilic, catalase positive, reduces nitrate and hydrolyzes tyrosine, but does not hydrolyze urea or esculin, and also does not ferment sugars. CAMP test for the organism is usually negative. Clinical infections by C. propinquum are rare. There has only been one previously reported case of native valve endocarditis due to Corynebacterium ANF-3, in 1994, but there have been no reports of this organism as a causative agent of lower respiratory tract infection in the English and nonEnglish literature over the last 20 years. In this report, we describe a case of pleural effusion which grew C. propinquum in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The organism was multiresistant to penicillin, cefuroxime, gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, rifampicin and vancomycin, but sensitive to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of clinically significant C. propinquum infection.
Study of Mobility in Cache-Enabled Wireless Heterogeneous Networks

Caching popular multimedia content has the potential to take wireless networking to an unprecedented height in terms of user experience. Primary motif behind content caching is to give frequent access to popular content cached at local caches, such as femto access point with finite storage. Although content-caching was Initially limited to wired backbone networks, it now being developed for wireless networks. The main difference between these two cases is the potential mobility of the user. We thus investigate the impact of user mobility on the performance of content-caching wireless heterogeneous networks (HetNets). We describe the user mobility by the random waypoint model and characterize the spatial randomness of different types of nodes by using independent Poisson point processes. Using their stochastic properties, we analyze the handover probabilities and evaluate expected download delay as a function of handover probabilities.