Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting online repurchase intention

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of online shopping experience and habit in relation to adjusted expectations for enhancing online repurchase intention. Design/methodology/approach – The authors employed partial least square (PLS) as a technique used to analyze the measurement and structural models. Data for this research were collected from 240 Taiwanese online shoppers who had experienced online shopping at least four times. Findings – The result of this study indicates that online shopping habit acts as a moderator of both customer satisfaction and adjusted expectations, whereas online shopping experience can be considered a key driver for customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the research findings confirm that customer satisfaction is a vital driver of adjusted expectations and online repurchase intention. Adjusted expectations do mediate the impact of online repurchase intention. Research limitations/implications – This paper highlights the effect of online shopping exp.
Reduced thymic maturation but normal effector function of CD8+ T cells in CD8 beta gene-targeted mice

CD8 is a cell surface glycoprotein on major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted T cells. Thymocytes and most peripheral T cells express CD8 as heterodimers of CD8 alpha and CD8 beta. The intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), which have been suggested to be generated extrathymically, express CD8 predominantly as homodimers of CD8 alpha. We have generated CD8 beta gene-targeted mice. CD8 alpha+ T cell population in the thymus and in most peripheral lymphoid organs was reduced to 20-30% of that in wild-type littermates. CD8 alpha expression on thymocytes and peripheral T cells also decreased to 44 and 53% of the normal levels, respectively. In contrast, neither the population size nor the CD8 alpha expression level of CD8 alpha+ IEL was reduced. This finding indicates that CD8 beta is important only for thymic-derived CD8+ T cells. The lack of CD8 beta reduces but does not completely abolish thymic maturation of CD8+ T cells. Our result also reveals the role of CD8 beta in regulating CD8 alpha expression on thymic derived T cells. Peripheral T cells in these mice were efficient in cytotoxic activity against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and vesicular stomatitis virus, suggesting that CD8 beta is not essential for the effector function of CD8+ T cells.
Determination of Carbon Monoxide in Cigarette Smoke Using an Electrochemical Transducer

Abstract A system for the in-line measurement of puff-by-puff levels of carbon monoxide on a Filtrona 300 smoking machine during routine smoking of cigarette for tar and nicotine yields has been developed. The technique involves the introduction of a transducer into the suction line behind the Cambridge filter. This transducer comprises an electrochemical cell bridged by a pair of solenoid valves which are under the control of the cotton gate smoking terminator. These valves are actuated, other than at the butt mark, by an additional inductive timing switch on the crankshaft. Results using this technique compare well with results from existing off-Iine techniques such as gas-solid chromatography
Dimension Selection for Feature Selection and Dimension Reduction with Principal and Independent Component Analysis

This letter is concerned with the problem of selecting the best or most informative dimension for dimension reduction and feature extraction in high-dimensional data. The dimension of the data is reduced by principal component analysis; subsequent application of independent component analysis to the principal component scores determines the most nongaussian directions in the lower-dimensional space. A criterion for choosing the optimal dimension based on bias-adjusted skewness and kurtosis is proposed. This new dimension selector is applied to real data sets and compared to existing methods. Simulation studies for a range of densities show that the proposed method performs well and is more appropriate for nongaussian data than existing methods.
Topiramate therapy of epilepsy associated with Angelman’s syndrome

Article abstract Angelman’s syndrome, a genetic disorder involving a defect in the DNA coding for subunits of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor, often is associated with intractable epilepsy. Topiramate is a novel anticonvulsant that enhances GABAergic neurotransmission. Five children with Angelman’s syndrome and epilepsy were treated with topiramate for clinical indications. The drug was effective and well tolerated, possibly because of its GABAergic properties. Further studies are necessary to confirm and elucidate this observation.
Human heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 interferes with Neisseria meningitidis adhesin A (NadA)‐mediated adhesion and invasion

NadA (N eisseria meningitidisadhesin A), a meningococcal surface protein, mediates adhesion to and invasion of human cells, an activity in which host membrane proteins have been implicated. While investigating these host factors in human epithelial cells by affinity chromatography, we discovered an unanticipated interaction of NadA with heat shock protein (Hsp) 90, a molecular chaperone. The specific in vitro interaction of recombinant soluble NadA and Hsp90 was confirmed by co‐immunoprecipitations, dot and far‐Western blot. Intriguingly, ADP, but not ATP, was required for this association, and the Hsp90 inhibitor 17‐AAG promoted complex formation. Hsp90 binding to an Escherichia coli strain used as carrier to express surface exposed NadA confirmed these results in live bacteria. We also examined RNA interference, plasmid‐driven overexpression, addition of exogenous rHsp90 and 17‐AAG inhibition in human epithelial cells to further elucidate the involvement of Hsp90 in NadA‐mediated adhesion and invasion. Together, these data suggest an inverse correlation between the amount of host Hsp90 and the NadA adhesive/invasive phenotype. Confocal microscopy also demonstrated that meningococci interact with cellular Hsp90, a completely novel finding. Altogether our results show that variation of host Hsp90 expression or activity interferes with adhesive and invasive events driven by NadA.
Effects of Remnant Tissue Preservation on the Tendon Graft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: There is controversy regarding the efficacy of remnant tissue preservation on graft healing in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Hypothesis: The preserved remnant tissue will (1) adhere to the graft surface and undergo a remodeling process, (2) accelerate graft revascularization, (3) increase the number of graft mechanoreceptors by 4 weeks, and (4) improve anteroposterior knee laxity and structural properties of the graft by 12 weeks. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Forty-two sheep were randomly divided into 2 groups of 21 animals. In group I, the ACL was completely removed. In group II, the ACL was transected at the midsubstance but not debrided. ACL reconstruction was performed using a semitendinosus tendon autograft in both groups. Histological changes of the grafted tendon and the remnant tissue were evaluated at 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. Biomechanically, anterior translation and knee joint stiffness under an anterior drawer force and the structural properties of the femur-graft-tibia complex were evaluated. Results: The preserved remnant tissue was histologically distinct from the graft at 4 weeks, while the tissue partially adhered to the graft surface at 12 weeks. The ACL remnant tissue significantly accelerated revascularization in the grafted tendon at 4 weeks and significantly increased the number of mechanoreceptors at 4 and 12 weeks. In addition, remnant preservation significantly improved anterior translation (9.3 ± 2.1 mm and 5.4 ± 1.7 mm at 60° of knee flexion in groups I and II, respectively) and knee joint stiffness at 12 weeks. However, there were no significant differences in the structural properties between the 2 groups at 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. Conclusion: Preservation of the ACL remnant tissue in ACL reconstruction enhanced cell proliferation, revascularization, and regeneration of proprioceptive organs in the reconstructed ACL and reduced anterior translation. However, remnant preservation did not improve the structural properties of the graft. Clinical Relevance: These results imply that preservation of the ACL remnant tissue may improve graft healing after ACL reconstruction.
COX-2-Derived Prostanoids and Oxidative Stress Additionally Reduce Endothelium-Mediated Relaxation in Old Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Endothelial dysfunction in resistance arteries alters end organ perfusion in type 2 diabetes. Superoxides and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) derivatives have been shown separately to alter endothelium-mediated relaxation in aging and diabetes but their role in the alteration of vascular tone in old diabetic subjects is not clear, especially in resistance arteries. Consequently, we investigated the role of superoxide and COX-2-derivatives on endothelium-dependent relaxation in 3 and 12 month-old Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and lean (LZ) rats. Mesenteric resistance arteries were isolated and vascular tone was investigated using wire-myography. Endothelium (acetylcholine)-dependent relaxation was lower in ZDF than in LZ rats (60 versus 84% maximal relaxation in young rats and 41 versus 69% in old rats). Blocking NO production with L-NAME was less efficient in old than in young rats. L-NAME had no effect in old ZDF rats although eNOS expression level in old ZDF rats was similar to that in old LZ rats. Superoxide level and NADPH-oxidase subunits (p67phox and gp91phox) expression level were greater in ZDF than in LZ rats and were further increased by aging in ZDF rats. In young ZDF rats reducing superoxide level with tempol restored acetylcholine-dependent relaxation to the level of LZ rats. In old ZDF rats tempol improved acetylcholine-dependent relaxation without increasing it to the level of LZ rats. COX-2 (immunolabelling and Western-blot) was present in arteries of ZDF rats and absent in LZ rats. In old ZDF rats arterial COX-2 level was higher than in young ZDF rats. COX-2 blockade with NS398 restored in part acetylcholine-dependent relaxation in arteries of old ZDF rats and the combination of tempol and NS398 fully restored relaxation in control (LZ rats) level. Accordingly, superoxide production and COX-2 derivatives together reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation in old ZDF rats whereas superoxides alone attenuated relaxation in young ZDF or old LZ rats.
Fingerspelling Recognition with Semi-Markov Conditional Random Fields

Recognition of gesture sequences is in general a very difficult problem, but in certain domains the difficulty may be mitigated by exploiting the domain's ``grammar''. One such grammatically constrained gesture sequence domain is sign language. In this paper we investigate the case of finger spelling recognition, which can be very challenging due to the quick, small motions of the fingers. Most prior work on this task has assumed a closed vocabulary of finger spelled words, here we study the more natural open-vocabulary case, where the only domain knowledge is the possible finger spelled letters and statistics of their sequences. We develop a semi-Markov conditional model approach, where feature functions are defined over segments of video and their corresponding letter labels. We use classifiers of letters and linguistic hand shape features, along with expected motion profiles, to define segmental feature functions. This approach improves letter error rate (Levenshtein distance between hypothesized and correct letter sequences) from 16.3% using a hidden Markov model baseline to 11.6% using the proposed semi-Markov model.
Temporal Changes in the Endoscopic Frequency of New Cases of Barrett's Esophagus in an Australian Health Region

OBJECTIVES:The number of patients diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus (BE) has increased in recent decades, although data from populations outside Europe and North America are scarce. This increase has significant implications for health resource utilization and costs. We sought to determine changes in the endoscopic frequency of new cases of BE in an Australian population during the period 1990–2002.METHODS:We identified all persons newly diagnosed with BE in an Australian health region in 1990, 1998, and 2002. BE cases were categorized as short segment (SSBE) (<3 cm), long segment (≥3 cm), or undefined length. We compared the total number of esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGD) and the number of new cases of BE for the three time periods.RESULTS:Between 1990 and 2002, the endoscopic frequency of new cases of BE increased from 2.9 to 18.9 per 1,000 endoscopies (p < 0.001). The greatest increase was for SSBE, increasing from no new cases in 1990 to 6.2 new cases per 1,000 EGD in 2002. In contrast there was a 17% decrease (2.3–1.9 new cases per 1,000 EGD) for long segment BE during the same period. There were 3,090 EGDs undertaken in 1990, 3,518 in 1998, and 2,593 in 2002, an increase of 14% over the first 8-yr interval (p < 0.001), and a decline of 26% over the subsequent 4 yr (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:In an Australian population undergoing EGD, the endoscopic frequency and absolute number of new cases of BE, particularly SSBE disease, has increased significantly between 1990 and 2002. This increased frequency of patients diagnosed with BE has broad future economic and clinical implications.
Leukocyte locomotion and chemotaxis: effects of bacteria and viruses.

The site of infection due to pyogenic bacteria has often been compared to a battlefield with two armies, the leukocytes and the invaders, contending for supremacy. There seems to be merit in such a comparison. Infections, like battles, are complex, confusing, and unpredictable events that entail much death and destruction. At times the experimeter trying to make sense of it all may share the bewilderment of Fabrice del Dongo, who, in Stendhal's "La Chartreuse de Parme," got mixed up in the battle of Waterloo but had no clear idea throughout the battle of what was happening or who was winning. We speak of mobilization of defenses in reference to both armies and leukocytes. Mobilization of leukocytes requires the active locomotion of these cells from the bloodstream into the infected site. This locomotion generally is believed to be directed by the chemotactic effect of substances generated or released at the infected site. The study of leukocyte chemotaxis has attracted considerable and increasing attention in recent years; thus, the time when the whole field could be covered realistically in a short review has passed forever. It therefore seemed most appropriate to confine this discussion to those aspects of the subject that are pertinent to infectious disease and to consider how studies of the effects of microorganisms on the locomotion of leukocytes in in vitro assay systems may help us to understand the more complex interaction that takes place in the infected host. Readers interested in other, and
Gonadal Asymmetry and Sex Determination in Birds

Although vertebrates display a superficial bilateral symmetry, most internal organs develop and locate with a consistent left:right asymmetry. There is still considerable debate as to when this process actually begins, but it seems that, at least for some species, the initial steps occur at a very early stage of development. In recent years, a number of model systems, including the chick embryo, have been utilised to increase our understanding of the molecular basis of this complex developmental process. While the basic elements of asymmetry are clearly conserved in chick development, the chick embryo also exhibits an additional unusual asymmetry in terms of the development of the gonads. In the female chick embryo, only 1 gonad and accessory structures fully develop, with the result that the adult hen has only 1 ovary and a single oviduct - both on the left side. With a small number of exceptions, this is a consistent feature of avian development. Here, we describe the morphological development and molecular basis of this unusual asymmetry, consider the implications for avian sex determination, and discuss the possible biological reasons why many birds have adopted a single-ovary system.
Electron energy loss spectroscopy of graphene and boron nitride with impurities or defects in the transmission electron microscope

The two-dimensional material graphene possesses many impressive properties such asextraordinary carrier mobility, mechanical stiffness and optical transmittance. However,the properties of pristine graphene do not always complement the requirements of applications. Of particular interest, a band gap is needed for electronic logic devices. Recent research shows that using few-layer hexagonal boron nitride as a substrate for graphene-based electronic devices can open a band gap in graphene. Also, introducing impurities such as hydrogen atoms, transition metals or silicon atoms on or within graphene can control the electronic properties according to recent studies. Furthermore, ion irradiation is an alternative option to tailor the properties of graphene by introducing defects. In this thesis, pristine, impure or defective graphene and few-layer boron nitride were characterised by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy loss (EEL) spectroscopy. Through STEM and EEL spectroscopy, lattice structures and electronic properties of these two-dimensional materials could be investigated at the atomic scale. This thesis focuses on the frontier studies of theoretical and experimental EEL spectroscopy of graphene and few-layer boron nitride with impurities. In the EEL spectra of pristine graphene and boron nitride two prominent peaks were observed, which are attributed to the plasmon excitations of ? - and ? +? -electrons. By introducing impurities such as hydrogen adatoms on graphene and substitutional oxygen and carbon atoms within single-layer boron nitride, our experimental and simulated EEL spectra show that their ? -plasmon peaks are modified. The concentrations of these impurities were then evaluated via EEL spectra and atomic-resolution images. If other impurities, such as various transition metals and silicon atoms, are introduced on or within single-layer graphene, our simulated EEL spectra demonstrate that the geometry of these impurity clusters affects the ? -plasmon peak in graphene and some impurities even enhance it. Finally, experiments on in-situ transmission electron microscopy and ex-situ STEM and Raman spectroscopy were conducted to investigate ion irradiated graphene. Many topological defects were, for the first time, observed in atomic-resolution STEM images of ion irradiated graphene. Simulated EEL spectra of defective graphene are also reported, which suggests that corrugations and dangling bonds in defects can modify out-of-plane EEL spectra and introduce intraband transitions, respectively.
Laboratory investigation of the effect of crumb rubber on the characteristics and rheological behaviour of asphalt binder

Effects of crumb rubber (CR) addition on performance characteristics of asphalt binder and evaluating the optimised level of additive are studied with both conventional and strategic highway research program (SHRP) tests. Five different amounts of CR, that is, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and 20%, were added to 60/70 pure asphalt binder and, then conventional and SHRP test methods were implemented with rotational viscosity and the dynamic shear rheometer, in three cases, that is, the main asphalt binder, aged with a rolling thin film oven and a pressure ageing vessel. Results show that modification of pure asphalt binder with CR, in mass per cents greater than 8 with respect to initial pure asphalt binder, will result in one or two degrees improvement in the performance of the asphalt binder, and will also increase the amount of G*/Sin δ (rutting criterion) at several temperatures for the before and after ageing in rolling thin film oven test, and reduction in the grade fatigue crack mechanism (G* × Sin δ) in middle service temperatures of pavement. Modification of pure asphalt binder with CR will increase its viscosity, and with an increase in the amount of CR, the rotational viscosity will also increase.
Ballistic phonon thermal conductance in graphene nanoribbons

Phonon dispersions for graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have been derived from the first-principles calculations, and ballistic phonon thermal conductances have been evaluated using the Landauer theory. The phonon thermal conductance per unit width for GNR is larger than that for graphene and increases with decreasing ribbon width. The normalized thermal conductance with a unit of thermal quantum for the zigzag GNR is higher than that for the single-walled carbon nanotube that has a circumferential length corresponding to the width of GNR.
[Psycometrics properties of subjetive indicator in children].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Oral Heath Impact Profile (OHIP-14) to measure oral health in children. METHODS The OHIP-14 questionnaire was applied to 312 schoolchildren aged 12 years residing in Sabará, Brazil, in 2001. OHIP-14's reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and correlation intraclass coefficient. For examining content validity, Pearson's correlation and logistic regression analysis were applied. For construct validity, Student's t-test and Tukey-Kramer test were used. RESULTS Tooth loss among the subjects was low in this study (between 85% and 100%). Caries prevalence was very low and not detectable in 59.0% of the sample. The logistic regression model showed high predictive values for reporting treatment need and intermediate values for dental caries perception. The comparison between different OHIP average scores, according to the DMF-S index's three categories of decayed, missing, filled surfaces, indicated significant difference only for the categories social disability and deficit. CONCLUSIONS The study results indicated that the adolescents did not report high prevalence of oral conditions. The OHIP was associated with perceived treatment need, reporting of dental caries and increased DMF-S index. These results suggest that the OHIP has good psychometric properties when applied to children and could be a promising instrument for screening priority care groups.
The QCAE: A Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy

Empathy has been inconsistently defined and inadequately measured. This research aimed to produce a new and rigorously developed questionnaire. Exploratory (n 1= 640) and confirmatory (n 2= 318) factor analyses were employed to develop the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE). Principal components analysis revealed 5 factors (31 items). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed this structure in an independent sample. The hypothesized 2-factor structure (cognitive and affective empathy) was tested and provided the best and most parsimonious fit to the data. Gender differences, convergent validity, and construct validity were examined. The QCAE is a valid tool for assessing cognitive and affective empathy.
Customer Involvement in Requirements Management: Lessons from Mass Market Software Development

Product software vendors are regularly challenged with identifying and selecting the requirements of upcoming product releases. Companies struggle to involve their customers and have a hard time selecting the right requirements from the enormous number of candidate requirements. This paper presents a practical approach to overcome these problems by including customers in the requirements management process through different types of involvement. The presented case illustrates how software requirements are gathered from customers, by involving them on three different levels. Based on the industrial experiences we present six lessons from customer involvement in large scale requirements management.