Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organizational readiness and the adoption of electronic business: the moderating role of national culture in 29 european countries

In this paper we explore the relationship between average organizational readiness and actual electronic business (e-business) adoption at a national level. Several researchers have provided empirical evidence suggesting that an organization's readiness is one of the most important antecedents of e-business adoption; however, despite often comparable levels of organizational readiness, tremendous variations in the national level of e-business adoption can still be observed. We argue that cultural specifics can explain these variations to a great extent, and report results from a pan-European empirical study conducted among 14,065 enterprises from 29 different countries. Measuring culture by Hofstede's (2001) well-known cultural dimensions we are able to show that national culture significantly moderates the relationship of organizational readiness and e-business adoption. Power distance, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance were found to exert a significant influence on the relation between organizational readiness and e-business-adoption. We suggest that decision makers interested in e-business consider these cultural effects prior to starting new initiatives.
Modulation of Borrelia burgdorferi Stringent Response and Gene Expression during Extracellular Growth with Tick Cells

ABSTRACT Borrelia burgdorferi N40 multiplied extracellularly when it was cocultured with tick cells in L15BS medium, a medium which by itself did not support B. burgdorferi N40 growth. Growth of B. burgdorferi N40 in the presence of tick cells was associated with decreased production of (p)ppGpp, the stringent response global regulator, a fourfold decrease in relA/spoT mRNA, an eightfold net decrease in bmpD mRNA, and a fourfold increase in rpsL-bmpD mRNA compared to growth of B. burgdorferi in BSK-H medium. As a result, the polycistronic rpsL-bmpD mRNA level increased from 3 to 100% of the total bmpD message. These observations demonstrate that there are reciprocal interactions between B. burgdorferi and tick cells in vitro and indicate that the starvation-associated stringent response mediated by (p)ppGpp present in B. burgdorferi growing in BSK-H medium is ameliorated in B. burgdorferi growing in coculture with tick cell lines. These results suggest that this system can provide a useful model for identifying genes controlling interactions of B. burgdorferi with tick cells in vitro when it is coupled with genetic methods to isolate and complement B. burgdorferi mutants.
Recognizing Textual Entailment with Tree Edit Distance: Application to Question Answering and Information Extraction

This thesis addresses the problem of Recognizing Textual Entailment (i.e. recognizing that the meaning of a text entails the meaning of another text) using a Tree Edit Distance algorithm between the syntactic trees of the two texts. A key aspect of the approach is the estimation of the cost for the editing operations (i.e. Insertion, Deletion, Substitution) among words. Our aim is to compare the contribution of different resources providing entailment rules, including lexical rules from WordNet and the UniAlberta thesaurus, and syntactic rules automatically acquired by the Dirt and TEASE systems. We carried out a number of experiments over the PASCAL-RTE dataset in order to estimate the contribution of different combinations of the available resources. In addition, we have developed and evaluated an Answer Validation module for Question Answering and a Relation Extraction system, both of them based on textual entailment.
Real time anomaly detection in H.264 compressed videos

Real time anomaly detection is the need of the hour for any security applications. In this paper, we have proposed a real-time anomaly detection algorithm by utilizing cues from the motion vectors in H.264/AVC compressed domain. The discussed work is principally motivated by the observation that motion vectors (MVs) exhibit different characteristics during anomaly. We have observed that H.264 motion vector magnitude contains relevant information which can be used to model the usual behavior (UB) effectively. This is subsequently extended to detect abnormality/anomaly based on the probability of occurrence of a behavior. Additionally, we have suggested a hierarchical approach through Motion Pyramid for High Resolution videos to further increase the detection rate. The proposed algorithm has performed extremely well on UMN and Peds Anomaly Detection Video datasets, with a detection speed of >150 and 65-75 frames per sec in respective datasets resulting in more than 200× speedup along with comparable accuracy to pixel domain state-of-the-art algorithms.
Simultaneous extrapolation in time and frequency domains using hermite expansions

The time-domain response of a three-dimensional (3-D) conducting object is modeled as an associate hermite (AH) series expansion. Using the isomorphism of the AH function and its Fourier transform, the frequency-domain response can be expressed as a scaled version of the time domain expansion. Using early-time and low-frequency data, we demonstrate simultaneous expansion in both domains. This approach is attractive because expansions with only 10-20 terms give good extrapolation in both time and frequency domains. The computation involved is minimal with this method. In this paper, we have applied this technique to the problem of extrapolating the current on a scatterer being excited by a uniform plane wave. Five scatterers were considered-a plate, disk, sphere, cube, and cone.
Comparing the Markov Chain Model with the Eulerian and Lagrangian Models for Indoor Transient Particle Transport Simulations

Correctly predicting transient particle transport in indoor environments is crucial to improving the design of ventilation systems and reducing the risk of acquiring airborne infectious diseases. Recently, a new model was developed on the basis of Markov chain frame for quickly predicting transient particle transport indoors. To evaluate this Markov chain model, this study compared it with the traditional Eulerian and Lagrangian models in terms of performance, computing cost, and robustness. Four cases of particle transport, three of which included experimental data, were used for this comparison. The Markov chain model was able to predict transient particle transport indoors with similar accuracy to the Eulerian and Lagrangian models. Furthermore, when the same time step size (Courant number ≤1) and grid number were used for all three models, the Markov chain model had the highest calculation speed. The Eulerian model was faster than the Lagrangian model unless a super-fine grid was used. This investigation developed empirical equations for evaluating the three models in terms of computing cost. In addition, the Markov chain model was found to be sensitive to the time step size when the Courant number is larger than 1, whereas the Eulerian and Lagrangian models were not. Copyright 2015 American Association for Aerosol Research
A Conceptual Model Exploring the Dynamics of Government–Nonprofit Service Delivery

This article explores the dynamics between government and human service nonprofits for service delivery in the United States. The authors initiate the development of a dynamic resource theory to explain the process of government–nonprofit interdependence for human service delivery. The theory is conceived from the application of system dynamics to dependencies arising through the process of resource exchange. They explain how government regulations can help to improve or to lower the quality of service and how the balance of power between government and nonprofits shifts over time. Elaboration, refinement, and testing of dynamic resource theory will improve our ability to manage and benefit from the government–nonprofit partnership.
The Importance of Developing Students’ Academic and Professional Identities in Higher Education

In higher educational research, there is a growing recognition that students’ academic achievement is influenced by their opportunities for academic identity development; however, less attention has been given to the process and development of students’ professional identity. In a qualitative study among 26 Danish and 11 Australian university students, we found that, regardless of educational background and broader educational context, many students indicated the need for professional identity, but were unable to develop it. Furthermore, a lack of clarity about professional identity was experienced as loss of goal-orientation and motivation, uncertainty, stress, and perceived poor academic achievement.
Responding to Concerns About Online Radicalization in U.K. Schools Through a Radicalization Critical Digital Literacy Approach

ABSTRACT This article discusses the two main strategies commonly used to safeguard children and young people online; namely, Internet filtering and digital literacy education. In recent U.K. government guidance, both are identified as means to prevent online radicalization in schools. However, despite the inadequacies of filtering, more attention is usually paid to technical solutions than to pedagogic ones. In this article, a critical digital literacy approach is proposed to allow students to explore and discuss the types of controversial issues they may encounter outside school within a supportive environment. Such an approach can allow schools to meet their responsibility to help young people to develop appropriate skills to engage with the Internet as it actually is, not as we might like it to be.
Incorporating Knowledge of Legal and Ethical Aspects into Computing Curricula of South African Universities

As students in computing disciplines are introduced to modern information technologies, numerous unethical practices also escalate. With the increase in stringent legislations on use of IT, users of technology could easily be held liable for violation of this legislation. There is however lack of understanding of social aspects of computing, and institutions have not integrated many of these aspects into their curricula. The present study investigates the extent to which legal and ethical issues relating to IT are integrated in the undergraduate curricula in South African Universities. It also examines the factors that impede such integration.
Galaxies under the Cosmic Microscope: A Gemini Multiobject Spectrograph Study of Lensed Disk Galaxy 289 in A2218

In this paper, we exploit the gravitational potential of the rich cluster A2218 as a magnifying glass. We demonstrate that the magnification due to the cluster allows us to observe distant background galaxies at a comparable level of detail to galaxies at z ~ 0.1. Using the Gemini Multiobject Spectrograph (GMOS) integral field unit (IFU) on Gemini North, we observed the spatially resolved [O II] λ3727 emission line spectrum for a lensed disk galaxy at z = 1.034. Using a detailed model for the cluster mass distribution, we are able to correct for the lensing by the cluster and reconstruct the source morphology. We find that the overall magnification is a factor of 4.92 ± 0.15, and the rest-frame absolute I-band magnitude is M = -22.4 ± 0.2, where the error bars include conservative estimates of the uncertainty in the source-plane reconstruction. The inclination-corrected circular velocity is 206 ± 18 km s -1. The galaxy lies very close to the mean Tully-Fisher relation of present-day spirals. Although our results are based on a single object, they demonstrate that gravitational lensing can be viably used to make detailed studies of the evolution of the structure of distant field galaxies.
Accès aux services financiers et réduction de la pauvreté dans les PED

Nous utilisons des donnees issues d'enquetes sur les menages et aupres des organismes de reglementation bancaire, afin d'explorer l'impact de l'acces aux services financiers (ASF) sur la pauvrete, sur un large echantillon de pays en developpement. En controlant pour la presence d'un eventuel biais d'endogeneite a l'aide de la methode des variables instrumentales, nous montrons que l'ASF reduit significativement la pauvrete. Ce resultat, qui est robuste a l'utilisation de mesures alternatives d'ASF ou de pauvrete, ainsi qu'a l'introduction de plusieurs variables de controle, milite en faveur d'une place primordiale pour l'ASF dans la conception des Strategies de reduction de la pauvrete.
Energy comparison of MPPT techniques for PV Systems

Many maximum power point tracking techniques for photovoltaic systems have been developed to maximize the produced energy and a lot of these are well established in the literature. These techniques vary in many aspects as: simplicity, convergence speed, digital or analogical implementation, sensors required, cost, range of effectiveness, and in other aspects. This paper presents a comparative study of ten widely-adopted MPPT algorithms; their performance is evaluated on the energy point of view, by using the simulation tool Simulink®, considering different solar irradiance variations. Key-Words: - Maximum power point (MPP), maximum power point tracking (MPPT), photovoltaic (PV), comparative study, PV Converter.
Finite-Length Analyses for Source and Channel Coding on Markov Chains†

We derive finite-length bounds for two problems with Markov chains: source coding with side-information where the source and side-information are a joint Markov chain and channel coding for channels with Markovian conditional additive noise. For this purpose, we point out two important aspects of finite-length analysis that must be argued when finite-length bounds are proposed. The first is the asymptotic tightness, and the other is the efficient computability of the bound. Then, we derive finite-length upper and lower bounds for the coding length in both settings such that their computational complexity is low. We argue the first of the above-mentioned aspects by deriving the large deviation bounds, the moderate deviation bounds, and second-order bounds for these two topics and show that these finite-length bounds achieve the asymptotic optimality in these senses. Several kinds of information measures for transition matrices are introduced for the purpose of this discussion.
Social and sexual representation in the primary somatosensory cortex

i Zusammenfassung . ii List of Figures . iv Outline of the thesis . v Chapter 1 . 1 General Introduction . 1 1.1 Social touch in rats . 1 1.1.1 Social facial touch . 3 1.1.2 Genital touch . 4 1.2 Somatosensory cortex: from humans to rats . 6 1.3 Touch processing in the rat somatosensory cortex . 9 1.4 Genital representation in the brain . 11 Methods . 14 2.1 Animals . 14 2.2 Surgeries . 14 2.2.1 Surgeries for acute and chronic whole-cell patch clamp recordings (chapter 3) . 14 2.2.2 Surgery for the acute mapping experiments (chapter 4) . 15 2.4 Habituation procedure (chapter 3) . 15 2.5 Social facial touch behavior in head-fixed animals (chapter 3) . 16 2.6 Electrophysiology . 16 2.6. 1 Whole-cell Patch clamp recordings in head-restrained rats (chapter 3) . 16 2.6. 2 Receptive field mapping, whole-cell and single-unit recording (chapter 4). 17 2.7 Histology . 18 2.8 High-speed videography and tracking (chapter 3) . 19 2.9 Data analysis. 19 2.9. 1 Correlation of the Vm and whisking (chapter 3) . 19 2.9. 2 Quantification of somatosensory areas and sizes (chapter 4) . 20 2.9. 3 Matching anatomical maps to physiological response maps (chapter 4) . 20
User attributes in Web-based electronic service adoption model (e-sam)

We examine the user attributes of Web-based electronic services. It aims to develop a Web-based electronic service model (e-sam), test its effectiveness, and from it develop an understanding about user interaction with Web sites. In the process constructs are developed to measure user attributes in using Web-based e-services. We report a survey, which captured 403 responses on user attributes towards a specific university Website. We conclude by suggesting a conceptual framework for a Web-based e-service adoption model (e-sam).
The depth of the honeybee's backup sun-compass systems

SUMMARY Honeybees have at least three compass mechanisms: a magnetic compass; a celestial or sun compass, based on the daily rotation of the sun and sun-linked skylight patterns; and a backup celestial compass based on a memory of the sun's movements over time in relation to the landscape. The interactions of these compass systems have yet to be fully elucidated, but the celestial compass is primary in most contexts, the magnetic compass is a backup in certain contexts, and the bees' memory of the sun's course in relation to the landscape is a backup system for cloudy days. Here we ask whether bees have any further compass systems, for example a memory of the sun's movements over time in relation to the magnetic field. To test this, we challenged bees to locate the sun when their known celestial compass systems were unavailable, that is, under overcast skies in unfamiliar landscapes. We measured the bees' knowledge of the sun's location by observing their waggle dances, by which foragers indicate the directions toward food sources in relation to the sun's compass bearing. We found that bees have no celestial compass systems beyond those already known: under overcast skies in unfamiliar landscapes, bees attempt to use their landscape-based backup system to locate the sun, matching the landscapes or skylines at the test sites with those at their natal sites as best they can, even if the matches are poor and yield weak or inconsistent orientation.
Association Factors for CT Angiography Spot Sign and Hematoma Growth in Korean Patients with Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage : A Single-Center Cohort Study

Objective This study was conducted to clarify the association factors and clinical significance of the CT angiography (CTA) spot sign and hematoma growth in Korean patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods We retrospectively collected the data of 287 consecutive patients presenting with acute ICH who arrived within 12 hours of ictus. Baseline clinical and radiological characteristics as well as the mortality rate within one month were assessed. A binary logistic regression was conducted to obtain association factors for the CTA spot sign and hematoma growth. Results We identified a CTA spot sign in 40 patients (13.9%) and hematoma growth in 78 patients (27.2%). An elapsed time to CT scan of less than 3 hours (OR, 5.14; 95% CI, 1.76-15.02; p=0.003) was associated with the spot sign. A CTA spot sign (OR, 5.70; 95% CI, 2.70-12.01; p<0.001), elevated alanine transaminase (GPT) level >40 IU (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.01-4.01; p=0.047), and an international normalized ratio ≥1.8 or warfarin medication (OR, 5.64; 95% CI, 1.29-24.57; p=0.021) were independent predictors for hematoma growth. Antiplatelet agent medication (OR, 4.92; 95% CI, 1.31-18.50; p=0.019) was significantly associated with hematoma growth within 6 hours of ictus. Conclusion As previous other populations, CTA spot sign was a strong predictor for hematoma growth especially in hyper-acute stage of ICH in Korea. Antithrombotics medication might also be associated with hyper-acute hematoma growth. In our population, elevated GPT was newly identified as a predictor for hematoma growth and its effect for hematoma growth is necessary to be confirmed through a further research.
Sensory Stimulation-Dependent Plasticity in the Cerebellar Cortex of Alert Mice

In vitro studies have supported the occurrence of cerebellar long-term depression (LTD), an interaction between the parallel fibers and Purkinje cells (PCs) that requires the combined activation of the parallel and climbing fibers. To demonstrate the existence of LTD in alert animals, we investigated the plasticity of local field potentials (LFPs) evoked by electrical stimulation of the whisker pad. The recorded LFP showed two major negative waves corresponding to trigeminal (broken into the N2 and N3 components) and cortical responses. PC unitary extracellular recording showed that N2 and N3 occurred concurrently with PC evoked simple spikes, followed by an evoked complex spike. Polarity inversion of the N3 component at the PC level and N3 amplitude reduction after electrical stimulation of the parallel fiber volley applied on the surface of the cerebellum 2 ms earlier strongly suggest that N3 was related to the parallel fiber–PC synapse activity. LFP measurements elicited by single whisker pad stimulus were performed before and after trains of electrical stimuli given at a frequency of 8 Hz for 10 min. We demonstrated that during this later situation, the stimulation of the PC by parallel and climbing fibers was reinforced. After 8-Hz stimulation, we observed long-term modifications (lasting at least 30 min) characterized by a specific decrease of the N3 amplitude accompanied by an increase of the N2 and N3 latency peaks. These plastic modifications indicated the existence of cerebellar LTD in alert animals involving both timing and synaptic modulations. These results corroborate the idea that LTD may underlie basic physiological functions related to calcium-dependent synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum.
Atypical Protein Kinase C in Neurodegenerative Disease I: PKM&zgr; Aggregates With Limbic Neurofibrillary Tangles and AMPA Receptors in Alzheimer Disease

Protein kinase M&zgr; (PKM&zgr;), an atypical protein kinase C (PKC) isoform, plays a key role in the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP), a persistent enhancement of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, as well as in the persistence of memory in Drosophila. Because memory impairment in Alzheimer disease (AD) has been attributed to disruption of synaptic plasticity, we investigated the expression and distribution of PKM&zgr; in this disorder. We found that PKM&zgr; accumulated in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), whereas conventional and novel PKC isoforms did not. Unlike tau, which is present in all NFTs regardless of location, PKM&zgr; was found in a subset of NFTs restricted to limbic or medial temporal lobe structures (i.e. hippocampal formation, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala), areas implicated in memory loss in AD. Interestingly, PKM&zgr; was not identified in any NFTs in control brains derived from 6 elderly individuals without known cognitive impairment. In medial temporal lobe structures in AD, PKM&zgr; also occurred within abnormal neurites expressing MAP2, GluR1 and GluR2 as well as in perisomatic granules expressing GluR1 and GluR2, suggesting that aggregation of PKM&zgr; disrupts glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Together, these findings suggest a link between PKM&zgr;-mediated synaptic plasticity and memory impairment in AD.
Seismic characterization of vertical fractures described as general linear‐slip interfaces

Fluid flow in many hydrocarbon reservoirs is controlled by aligned fractures which make the medium anisotropic on the scale of seismic wavelength. Applying the linear‐slip theory, we investigate seismic signatures of the effective medium produced by a single set of ‘general’ vertical fractures embedded in a purely isotropic host rock. The generality of our fracture model means the allowance for coupling between the normal (to the fracture plane) stress and the tangential jump in displacement (and vice versa). Despite its low (triclinic) symmetry, the medium is described by just nine independent effective parameters and possesses several distinct features which help to identify the physical model and estimate the fracture compliances and background velocities. For example, the polarization vector of the vertically propagating fast shear wave S1 and the semi‐major axis of the S1‐wave normal‐moveout (NMO) ellipse from a horizontal reflector always point in the direction of the fracture strike. Moreover, for the S1‐wave both the vertical velocity and the NMO velocity along the fractures are equal to the shear‐wave velocity in the host rock.