Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges for Ubicomp Evaluation

Technology in different forms is available ubiquitously through much of the world. The study of Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp) is concerned with enabling a future in which the most useful applications of such technology are feasible to build, and pleasing to use. But what is useful? What is usable? What do people actually need? These questions are only beginning to be answered partly because Ubicomp systems are more difficult to evaluate, particularly at the early stages of design, than desktop applications. This difficulty is due to issues like scale and ambiguity, and a tendency to apply Ubicomp in ongoing, daily life settings unlike task and work oriented desktop systems. This paper presents a case study of three Ubicomp systems that were evaluated at multiple stages of their design. In each case, we briefly describe the application and evaluation, and then present a set of lessons that we learned regarding the evaluation techniques we used. Our goal is to better understand how evaluation techniques need to evolve for the Ubicomp domain. Based on the lessons that we learned, we suggest four challenges for
The Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) applied to clinical practice and research: an integrative review

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify and evaluate the evidence found in the international scientific literature on the application of the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) in clinical practice and research in Palliative Care (PC). Method: integrative literature review, through the search of publications in journals indexed in PubMed / MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO and CINAHL databases, between the years 1999 and 2014. Results: the final sample consisted of 11 articles. In the data analysis, the articles were classified into 2 units of analysis (studies using the POS as a resource in research and studies using the POS in clinical practice), in which the information was presented in the form of sub-themes related to publications of the selected studies, highlighting the synthesis of the results. Conclusion: POS emerged as an important tool for measuring outcomes to assess the quality of life of patients and families, of the quality of care provided and the PC service organization. The international scientific literature on the application of POS proved to be relevant to the advancement and consolidation of the field of knowledge related to PC.
Optimal Unemployment Insurance with Sequential Search

Unemployment insurance is an asset that protects workers against the risk of failing to find a job. Its provision is limited by an important moral hazard problem: workers who are protected against unemployment risk remain unemployed for longer. A growing theoretical literature examines how optimal unemployment insurance deals with the tradeoff between insurance and moral hazard (Shavell and Weiss 1979, Atkeson and Lucas 1995, Hopenhayn and Nicolini 1997, Werning 2002). For the most part, this literature has ignored another important limitation of unemployment insurance: it does not protect workers against uncertainty regarding the type of job that they find. This paper explores the optimal provision of unemployment insurance when post-unemployment wages are uncertain and cannot be observed by the insurance provider. We extend the McCall (1970) intertemporal job search model, a basic workhorse in decision theory, to allow for a risk-averse worker with constant absolute risk aversion (CARA) preferences. In each period, the worker receives a single job offer drawn from a known wage distribution, which she decides to accept or reject. If she accepts the job, she earns this wage forever. If she rejects it, she remains unemployed and draws another wage in the following period. We introduce a benevolent social planner who provides insurance against unemployment risk into this environment. The planner’s goal is to maximize the worker’s utility while providing actuarially fair insurance, i.e. his budget is balanced in expected present value terms. We consider several different information structures, each of which offers the planner
Eliciting salient beliefs in research on theory of planned behavior: an investigation of the attitude of Millennials toward consumption philanthropy

Consumption philanthropy (CP) provides consumers with an opportunity to support charities through consumption of charity-linked products promoted by corporations. Although research on consumers’ response to corporate philanthropy continues to grow, little is known about contextual factors that influence young donors’ willingness to participate in CP. Moreover, CP, also known as cause marketing (CM), has received little attention in public relations research. This study attempts to reduce the gap in the literature. Drawing from the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this research is to examine beliefs about altruistic goals, perceptions, perceived support, and external control beliefs related to CP participation among Millennials. Findings indicate that the primary factors influencing the participation willingness of the Millennial consumer group are the portion of the proceeds that benefits the cause, the beneficiary, and a high social pressure. Also, Millennials have expectations from their participation in consumption philanthropy programs. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for research and practices regarding messaging strategies for consumer advertising campaigns.
Dynamic Facial Expression Recognition Using A Bayesian Temporal Manifold Model

In this paper, we propose a novel Bayesian approach to modelling temporal transitions of facial expressions represented in a manifold, with the aim of dynamical facial expression recognition in image sequences. A generalised expression manifold is derived by embedding image data into a low dimensional subspace using Supervised Locality Preserving Projections. A Bayesian temporal model is formulated to capture the dynamic facial expression transition in the manifold. Our experimental results demonstrate the advantages gained from exploiting explicitly temporal information in expression image sequences resulting in both superior recognition rates and improved robustness against static frame-based recognition methods.
β-Cell Expansion for Therapeutic Compensation of Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin resistance is the primary cause of type 2 diabetes. However, if compensated by increased insulin production, insulin resistance by itself does not lead to overt disease. Type 2 diabetes develops when this compensation is insufficient, due to defects in β-cell function and in regulation of the β-cell mass. β-Cell transplantation, as well as approaches that replenish or preserve the endogenous β-cell mass, may facilitate the treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients requiring exogenous insulin.
Profiles of dark haloes: evolution, scatter and environment

We study dark-matter halo density profiles in a high-resolution N-body simulation of aCDM cosmology. Our statistical sample contains �5000 haloes in the range 10 11 10 14 h −1 M⊙ and the resolution allows a study of subhaloes inside host haloes. The profiles are parameterized by an NFW form with two parameters, an inner radius rs and a virial radius Rvir, and we define the halo concentration cvirRvir/rs. We find that, for a given halo mass, the redshift dependence of the median concentration is cvir / (1 + z) −1 . This corresponds to rs(z) � constant, and is contrary to earlier suspicions that cvir does not vary much with redshift. The implications are that high- redshift galaxies are predicted to be more extended and dimmer than expected before. Second, we find that the scatter in halo profiles is large, with a 1� �(logcvir) = 0.18 at a given mass, corresponding to a scatter in maximum rotation velocities of �Vmax/Vmax = 0.12. We discuss implications for modelling the Tully-Fisher relation, which has a smaller reported intrinsic scatter. Third, subhaloes and haloes in dense environments tend to be more concentrated than isolated haloes, and show a larger scatter. These results suggest that cvir is an essential parameter for the theory of galaxy modelling, and we briefly discuss implications for the universality of the Tully- Fisher relation, the formation of low surface brightness galaxies, and the origin of the Hubble sequence. We present an improved analytic treatment of halo formation that fits the measured relations between halo parameters and their redshift dependence, and can thus serve semi-analytic studies of galaxy formation.
How Do Data Skills Affect Firm Productivity: Evidence from Process-driven vs. Innovation-driven Practices

As digitization of various economic and human behaviors become more prevalent, we examine whether data analysis capabilities can help with process- and innovation-oriented firm practices. Using detailed, firm level data on employee data analysis capabilities combined with a survey of organizational practices for 330 large firms, we find that while neither data skills nor process-related practices affect productivity directly, they have a substantial positive interaction. Specifically, firms with process-related practices receive a greater marginal benefit for the presence of or acquisition of data-related skills in their workforce. However, we do not find the same complementarities between data-related skills and innovation-oriented practices and at times the interaction can even be negative. These results are also unique to data-related skills and not IT skills generally. Overall these results highlight the potential tradeoffs of using data analytics at firm, similar to the tradeoffs between exploitation and exploration. We show that value of analytics (at least over our 1987-2007 sample period) is in enabling the use of internal and external data to drive process improvement, but data analytics capability does not immediately translate to greater innovation.
Presentation of Exogenous Antigens on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and MHC Class II Molecules Is Differentially Regulated during Dendritic Cell Maturation

During maturation, dendritic cells (DCs) regulate their capacity to process and present major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II–restricted antigens. Here we show that presentation of exogenous antigens by MHC I is also subject to developmental control, but in a fashion strikingly distinct from MHC II. Immature mouse bone marrow–derived DCs internalize soluble ovalbumin and sequester the antigen intracellularly until they receive an appropriate signal that induces cross presentation. At that time, peptides are generated in a proteasome-dependent fashion and used to form peptide–MHC I complexes that appear at the plasma membrane. Unlike MHC II, these events do not involve a marked redistribution of preexisting MHC I molecules from intracellular compartments to the DC surface. Moreover, out of nine stimuli well known to induce the phenotypic maturation of DCs and to promote MHC II presentation, only two (CD40 ligation, disruption of cell–cell contacts) activated cross presentation on MHC I. In contrast, formation of peptide–MHC I complexes from endogenous cytosolic antigens occurs even in unstimulated, immature DCs. Thus, the MHC I and MHC II pathways of antigen presentation are differentially regulated during DC maturation.
Effect of the Oxygen Line-Parameter Modeling on Temperature and Humidity Retrievals From Ground-Based Microwave Radiometers

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program maintains a suite of instruments in various locations to provide continuous monitoring of atmospheric parameters. Temperature and humidity retrievals are two of the key parameters used by the climate-modeling community. Accuracy in the spectroscopy adopted by the various radiative transfer models is crucial for obtaining accurate retrievals. While the accuracy of the spectroscopic parameters used for water-vapor retrievals is satisfactory, temperature retrievals continue to be affected by uncertainties in oxygen line parameters leading to discrepancies between the modeled and observed brightness temperatures. In this paper, we compare the model calculations in the oxygen-band channels with the measurements collected by the ARM-operated 12-channel Microwave Radiometer Profiler (MWRP). The dataset used spans a wide range of atmospheric temperature conditions, with ground temperatures varying between -40degC and +20degC. Model calculations are performed by using line parameters from the high-resolution transmission molecular-absorption (HITRAN) database and from a set of newly published parameters. Our comparison shows that the newly published parameters agree more closely with the MWRP measurements and confirms the need to update the HITRAN database for the oxygen lines. We show the effect of line parameters on the retrievals of temperature, water vapor, and liquid water, and show that improved oxygen absorption is essential to reduce the clear-sky bias in the liquid-water path retrievals.
Incidence of HIV-Associated Tuberculosis among Individuals Taking Combination Antiretroviral Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Knowledge of tuberculosis incidence and associated factors is required for the development and evaluation of strategies to reduce the burden of HIV-associated tuberculosis. Methods Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of tuberculosis incidence rates among HIV-infected individuals taking combination antiretroviral therapy. Results From PubMed, EMBASE and Global Index Medicus databases, 42 papers describing 43 cohorts (32 from high/intermediate and 11 from low tuberculosis burden settings) were included in the qualitative review and 33 in the quantitative review. Cohorts from high/intermediate burden settings were smaller in size, had lower median CD4 cell counts at study entry and fewer person-years of follow up. Tuberculosis incidence rates were higher in studies from Sub-Saharan Africa and from World Bank low/middle income countries. Tuberculosis incidence rates decreased with increasing CD4 count at study entry and duration on combination antiretroviral therapy. Summary estimates of tuberculosis incidence among individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy were higher for cohorts from high/intermediate burden settings compared to those from the low tuberculosis burden settings (4.17 per 100 person-years [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 3.39–5.14 per 100 person-years] vs. 0.4 per 100 person-years [95% CI 0.23–0.69 per 100 person-years]) with significant heterogeneity observed between the studies. Conclusions Tuberculosis incidence rates were high among individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy in high/intermediate burden settings. Interventions to prevent tuberculosis in this population should address geographical, socioeconomic and individual factors such as low CD4 counts and prior history of tuberculosis.
Overlap Chronic Placental Inflammation Is Associated with a Unique Gene Expression Pattern

Breakdown of the balance between maternal pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways is thought to allow an anti-fetal maternal immune response that underlies development of chronic placental inflammation. Chronic placental inflammation is manifested by the influx of maternal inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, histiocytes, and plasma cells, into the placental membranes, villi, and decidua. These infiltrates are recognized pathologically as chronic chorioamnionitis, chronic villitis of unknown etiology, and chronic deciduitis. Each of these histological entities is associated with adverse fetal outcomes including intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. Studying the gene expression patterns in chronically inflamed placenta, particularly when overlapping histologies are present, may lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanism(s). Therefore, this study compared tissue with and without chronic placental inflammation, manifested as overlapping chronic chorioamnionitis, chronic villitis of unknown etiology, and chronic deciduitis. RNA expression profiling was conducted on formalin fixed, paraffin embedded placental tissue using Illumina microarrays. IGJ was the most significant differentially expressed gene identified and had increased expression in the inflamed tissue. In addition, IGLL1, CXCL13, CD27, CXCL9, ICOS, and KLRC1 had increased expression in the inflamed placental samples. These differentially expressed genes are associated with T follicular helper cells, natural killer cells, and B cells. Furthermore, these genes differ from those typically associated with the individual components of chronic placental inflammation, such as chronic villitis, suggesting that the inflammatory infiltrate associated with overlapping chronic chorioamnionitis, chronic villitis of unknown etiology, and chronic deciduitis differs is unique. To further explore and validate gene expression findings, we conducted immunohistochemical assessment of protein level expression and demonstrate that IgJ expression was largely attributable to the presence of plasma cells as part of chronic deciduitis and that IgA positive plasma cells are associated with chronic deciduitis occurring in combination with chronic chorioamnionitis and chronic villitis of unknown etiology but not with isolated chronic deciduitis.
Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Does It Work?

Background This article is presented to provoke further discussion regarding the use of thromboly drugs to treat acute ischemic stroke. Summary of Review Overview analysis of the six randomized trials of thrombolysis in acute ischer stroke available in the world literature shows a 20% increase in the odds of death and a 30% reduction the odds of death or deterioration (both with wide confidence intervals, neither result significant) af thrombolytic treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Exclusion of the two trials conducted without I benefit of computed tomographic scanning shows a 37% reduction in the odds of death (95% confidence interval, 74% reduction to 40% excess) and a significant reduction of 56% in the odds of death or deterioration after thrombolytic treatment (95% confidence interval, 20–76% reduction; 2p = 0.007). Analysis of all published studies (randomized and nonrandomized) shows that there does not appear to be an excess risk of hemorrhagic transformation of the cerebral infarct or of severe edema formation. Conclusions We believe the present evidence is sufficiently encouraging to warrant proper testing of thrombolysis in sufficiently large and well-designed randomized clinical trials to influence clinical practice.
Mitochondrial Respiration Is Decreased in Skeletal Muscle of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

We tested the hypothesis of a lower respiratory capacity per mitochondrion in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic patients compared with obese subjects. Muscle biopsies obtained from 10 obese type 2 diabetic and 8 obese nondiabetic male subjects were used for assessment of 3-hydroxy-Acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HAD) and citrate synthase activity, uncoupling protein (UCP)3 content, oxidative stress measured as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), fiber type distribution, and respiration in isolated mitochondria. Respiration was normalized to citrate synthase activity (mitochondrial content) in isolated mitochondria. Maximal ADP-stimulated respiration (state 3) with pyruvate plus malate and respiration through the electron transport chain (ETC) were reduced in type 2 diabetic patients, and the proportion of type 2X fibers were higher in type 2 diabetic patients compared with obese subjects (all P < 0.05). There were no differences in respiration with palmitoyl-l-carnitine plus malate, citrate synthase activity, HAD activity, UCP3 content, or oxidative stress measured as HNE between the groups. In the whole group, state 3 respiration with pyruvate plus malate and respiration through ETC were negatively associated with A1C, and the proportion of type 2X fibers correlated with markers of insulin resistance (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we provide evidence for a functional impairment in mitochondrial respiration and increased amount of type 2X fibers in muscle of type 2 diabetic patients. These alterations may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes in humans with obesity.
A NATIONAL STUDY ON THE ANTECEDENTS AND OUTCOMES OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN IRAN

This paper examines the impact of work-life balance (WLB) on individual outcomes of full time employees in Iran. This research aims to identify the influence of WLB on job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and turnover intentions. Moreover, this paper aims to identify the influence of a selected group of antecedents (job autonomy, work demands and supervisor work-family support) on WLB. Structural equation modeling in AMOS is used to analyze data from a sample of 203 full time workers in Iran. Analysis of data reveals positive relationships between WLB and job and life satisfaction while negative relationships between WLB and turnover intentions. The results also show significant relationships with all the studied antecedents of WLB. Job autonomy and supervisor work-family support have a positive relationship with WLB while work demands have a negative relationship with WLB. This is one of the first studies to analyze antecedents and outcomes of WLB in Iran. The results show that WLB is a relevant factor in the Iranian society. Employees that are able to balance all their life roles experience higher satisfaction and have less intention to leave their organization. In addition, the perception of balance is strongly influenced by work and family conditions. These findings align with other national studies in Western countries. Further research is needed to assess other work and non-work conditions that might influence WLB, for example, the role that colleagues, supervisors and HR management play in creating supportive work environments. It would also be valuable to extend the current study to other countries to develop a comparative cross-national research.
User Acceptance of Information Technology: Toward a Unified View

Information technology (IT) acceptance research has yielded many competing models, each with different sets of acceptance determinants. In this paper, we (1) review user acceptance literature and discuss eight prominent models, (2) empirically compare the eight models and their extensions, (3) formulate a unified model that integrates elements across the eight models, and (4) empirically validate the unified model. The eight models reviewed are the theory of reasoned action, the technology acceptance model, the motivational model, the theory of planned behavior, a model combining the technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behavior, the model of PC utilization, the innovation diffusion theory, and the social cognitive theory. Using data from four organizations over a six-month period with three points of measurement, the eight models explained between 17 percent and 53 percent of the variance in user intentions to use information technology. Next, a unified model, called the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), was formulated, with four core determinants of intention and usage, and up to four moderators of key relationships. UTAUT was then tested using the original data and found to outperform the eight individual models (adjusted R2 of 69 percent). UTAUT was then confirmed with data from two new organizations with similar results (adjusted R2 of 70 percent). UTAUT thus provides a useful tool for managers needing to assess the likelihood of success for new technology introductions and helps them understand the drivers of acceptance in order to proactively design interventions (including training, marketing, etc.) targeted at populations of users that may be less inclined to adopt and use new systems. The paper also makes several recommendations for future research including developing a deeper understanding of the dynamic influences studied here, refining measurement of the core constructs used in UTAUT, and understanding the organizational outcomes associated with new technology use.