Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
It Usage Behavior of Medical Personnel: an Empirical Study Based on the Theory of planned Behavior

Digitalization of regional public health information is an irreversible trend in the course of China's social development. This is also one of the key tasks to reform China's medicine and public health system. To learn more about the influence of using information technology for medical personnel and hospital performance, this study reviews in the personal perspective to know more about the sustainable action of using IT in hospitals based on the Theory of Planned Bahavior. We proposed a research model which expanded TPB and tested it based on 278 valid data collected from employees in a large-scale hospital in Anhui Province, East China. The results of study reveal: 1.We verified TPB in the Chinese context and found that attitude and subjective norm not only have a directly influence on behavioral intention, but also can influence the use behavior.2. The habit of using IT of medical personnel has a directly influence on the attitude of using IT, and it also has significant influence on the behavioral intention. Our research model discovered the relationship between subjective factors of IT users’ and their behaviour. The founding of this study not only can provide references regarding the direction of public hospitals reform in China for decision makers of hospitals, but also is very helpful for management teams in hospitals to adopt more rational management measures for better IT use among medical personnel, and better hospital performance.
Five-year extension of a clinical trial comparing the EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration device and trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma

Background: This study compared the efficacy of the EX-PRESS® glaucoma filtration device and trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma up to five years after surgery. Methods: Patients from a previously reported randomized, open-label, parallel-arm clinical trial in which 78 patients received either the EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration device or underwent a trabeculectomy were followed for up to an additional four years (five total) beyond the original study (39 eyes per treatment group). Risk-benefit data were obtained for up to five years after glaucoma surgery. Outcome variables were intraocular pressures and intraocular pressure medications. Complete success was denoted by intraocular pressure values ≤ 18 mmHg without medication. Results: The EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration device controlled intraocular pressure more effectively without medication for more patients from year 1 (86.8% versus 61.5%, P = 0.01) to year 3 (66.7% versus 41.0%, P = 0.02) than trabeculectomy. At year 1, only 12.8% of patients required intraocular pressure medication after EX-PRESS implantation, compared with 35.9% after trabeculectomy. The proportions became closer at year 5 (41% versus 53.9%). The responder rate was higher with EX-PRESS and time to failure was longer. In addition, surgical interventions for complications were fewer after EX-PRESS implantation. Conclusion: This five-year analysis confirmed and extended the results reported after one year. Compared with trabeculectomy, EX-PRESS provided better intraocular pressure control in the first three years, and patients required fewer intraocular pressure medications and fewer surgical interventions during the five-year study period. For patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, the EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration device, implanted under a superficial scleral flap, produced significantly higher success rates than trabeculectomy. EX-PRESS is an effective device for long-term treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma.
Spectral Energy Distributions of starburst galaxies in the 900-1200 A range

We present the 970-1175 A spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 12 starburst galaxies observed with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer FUSE. We take benefit of the high spectral resolution of FUSE to estimate a continuum as much as possible unaffected by the interstellar lines. The continuum is rather flat with, in few cases, a decrease at lambda <~1050 A, the amplitude of which being correlated with various indicators of the dust extinction. The far-UV SEDs are compared with synthetic population models. The galaxies with almost no extinction have a SED consistent with an on-going star formation over some Myrs. We derive a mean dust attenuation law in the wavelength range 965-1140 A by comparing the SED of obscured galaxies to an empirical dust-free SED. The extinction is nearly constant longward of 1040 A but rises at shorter wavelengths. We compare our results with other studies of the extinction for galaxies and stars in this wavelength range.
Measuring Systemic Liquidity Risk and the Cost of Liquidity Insurance

I construct a systemic liquidity risk index (SLRI) from data on violations of arbitrage relationships across several asset classes between 2004 and 2010. Then I test whether the equity returns of 53 global banks were exposed to this liquidity risk factor. Results show that the level of bank returns is not directly affected by the SLRI, but their volatility increases when liquidity conditions deteriorate. I do not find a strong association between bank size and exposure to the SLRI - measured as the sensitivity of volatility to the index. Surprisingly, exposure to systemic liquidity risk is positively associated with the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR). The link between equity volatility and the SLRI allows me to calculate the cost that would be borne by public authorities for providing liquidity support to the financial sector. I use this information to estimate a liquidity insurance premium that could be paid by individual banks in order to cover for that social cost.
Causality across rainfall time scales revealed by continuous wavelet transforms

[1] Rainfall variability occurs over a wide range of time scales owing to processes initiated by cloud microphysics and sustained by atmospheric circulation. A central topic in rainfall research is to determine whether rainfall variability at a given scale is caused by dynamics acting at some other scales. Random multiplicative cascades (RMCs) are standard approaches for describing rainfall variability across such a wide range of time scales. Their popularity stems from their ability to reproduce rainfall self-similarity and long-range correlations as well as intermittency buildup at finer scales. However, standard RMCs only predict instantaneous flow of variance (energy or activity) from large to fine scales and cannot account for scale-wise causal relationships. Such relationships reveal themselves through noninstantaneous cascade mechanisms, namely, large-scale events influencing finer-scale events at later times (i.e., forward causal cascade) or conversely (inverse causal cascade). The presence of causal cascade signatures within the rainfall process is explored here using both continuous wavelet decomposition (CWT) and scale-by-scale causality measures such as cross-scale correlation and linearized transfer entropy. The causality hypothesis is further tested against results from toy models, surrogate data, and a scalar turbulence time series (water vapor) to ensure that rainfall causality is not an artifact of the estimation method or resulting from the redundancy in CWT. The analysis demonstrates the presence of causal cascades (mainly forward) in rainfall series when sampled at fine temporal resolutions (seconds). These causal relationships tend to vanish when rainfall is aggregated at coarser time scales (hours and longer).
Securin Enhances the Anti-Cancer Effects of 6-Methoxy-3-(3′,4′,5′-Trimethoxy-Benzoyl)-1H-Indole (BPR0L075) in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

BPR0L075 [6-methoxy-3-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxy-benzoyl)-1H-indole] is a novel anti-microtubule drug with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo. Securin is required for genome stability, and is expressed abundantly in most cancer cells, promoting cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. In this study, we found that BPR0L075 efficiently induced cell death of HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells that have higher expression levels of securin. The cytotoxicity of BPR0L075 was attenuated in isogenic securin-null HCT116 cells. BPR0L075 induced DNA damage response, G2/M arrest, and activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint in HCT116 cells. Interestingly, BPR0L075 induced phosphorylation of securin. BPR0L075 withdrawal resulted in degradation of securin, mitotic exit, and mitotic catastrophe, which were attenuated in securin-null cells. Inhibition of cdc2 decreased securin phosphorylation, G2/M arrest and cell death induced by BPR0L075. Moreover, BPR0L075 caused cell death through a caspase-independent mechanism and activation of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways. These findings provided evidence for the first time that BPR0L075 treatment is beneficial for the treatment of human colorectal tumors with higher levels of securin. Thus, we suggest that the expression levels of securin may be a predictive factor for application in anti-cancer therapy with BPR0L075 in human cancer cells.
Asymptotic behavior of nonlinear networked control systems

The defining characteristic of a networked control system (NCS) is having a feedback loop that passes through a local area computer network. Our two-step design approach includes using standard control methodologies and choosing the network protocol and bandwidth in order to ensure important closed-loop properties are preserved when a computer network is inserted into the feedback loop. For sufficiently high data rates, global exponential stability is preserved. Simulations are included to demonstrate the theoretical result.
Conditional Gene Expression in Chlamydia trachomatis Using the Tet System

Chlamydia trachomatis is maintained through a complex bi-phasic developmental cycle that incorporates numerous processes that are poorly understood. This is reflective of the previous paucity of genetic tools available. The recent advent of a method for transforming Chlamydia has enabled the development of essential molecular tools to better study these medically important bacteria. Critical for the study of Chlamydia biology and pathogenesis, is a system for tightly controlled inducible gene expression. To accomplish this, a new shuttle vector was generated with gene expression controlled by the Tetracycline repressor and anhydryotetracycline. Evaluation of GFP expression by this system demonstrated tightly controlled gene regulation with rapid protein expression upon induction and restoration of transcription repression following inducer removal. Additionally, induction of expression could be detected relatively early during the developmental cycle and concomitant with conversion into the metabolically active form of Chlamydia. Uniform and strong GFP induction was observed during middle stages of the developmental cycle. Interestingly, variable induced GFP expression by individual organisms within shared inclusions during later stages of development suggesting metabolic diversity is affecting induction and/or expression. These observations support the strong potential of this molecular tool to enable numerous experimental analyses for a better understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of Chlamydia.
Stock Returns and Inflation: Some New Evidence

Using aggregate and industry-wise monthly UK data over a period of 44 years we examine the long run relationship between stock return index (St) and retail price index (Pt) in a VAR framework. Univariate tests confirm Pt as I(2); nevertheless pairs of St and Pt are co-integrated and share common I(1) trend. There is no evidence of shared I(2) trend. We find evidence of shifts in the cointegrating ranks and parameters, and accounting for these shifts improved estimates’ precision. The long run price elasticity of return index is consistently above unity, a finding that stands in sharp contrast to the existing ones. Overall our results suggest that tax-paying stock investors are fully insulated against inflation in the long run.
Reappraising the Need for Bulk Heterojunctions in Polymer−Fullerene Photovoltaics: The Role of Carrier Transport in All-Solution-Processed P3HT/PCBM Bilayer Solar Cells

The most efficient organic solar cells produced to date are bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic devices based on blends of semiconducting polymers such as poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) with fullerene derivatives such as [6,6]-penyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester (PCBM). The need for blending the two components is based on the idea that the exciton diffusion length in polymers like P3HT is only ∼10 nm, so that the polymer and fullerene components must be mixed on this length scale to efficiently split the excitons into charge carriers. In this paper, we show that the BHJ geometry is not necessary for high efficiency, and that all-solution-processed P3HT/PCBM bilayer solar cells can be nearly as efficient as BHJ solar cells fabricated from the same materials. We demonstrate that o-dichlorobenzene (ODCB) and dichloromethane serve nicely as a pair of orthogonal solvents from which sequential layers of P3HT and PCBM, respectively, can be spin-cast. Atomic force microscopy, various optical spectrosco.
Towards Efficient Vehicle Classification in Intelligent Transportation Systems

The classification of vehicles is an important task in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for applications such as analyzing traffic, checking for fraud, tracking targets, and other security applications. In the recent years, automated systems to recognize makes and models of oncoming vehicles are gaining attention, utilizing existing infrastructure of traffic cameras. To this end, we present an unexplored approach for vehicle make and model recognition (VMMR) and demonstrate its highly accurate and real-time performance, using a recently published real-world dataset. The encouraging results of our approach pave the way towards efficient large-scale and distributed vehicular surveillance in ITS.
Effect of Attention on Early Cortical Processes Associated with the Sound-induced Extra Flash Illusion

When a single flash of light is presented interposed between two brief auditory stimuli separated by 60–100 msec, subjects typically report perceiving two flashes [Shams, L. , Kamitani, Y. , & Shimojo, S. Visual illusion induced by sound. Brain Research, Cognitive Brain Research, 14, 147–152, 2002; Shams, L. , Kamitani, Y. , & Shimojo, S. Illusions. What you see is what you hear. Nature, 408, 788, 2000]. Using ERP recordings, we previously found that perception of the illusory extra flash was accompanied by a rapid dynamic interplay between auditory and visual cortical areas that was triggered by the second sound [Mishra, J., Martínez, A. , Sejnowski, T. J., & Hillyard, S. A. Early cross-modal interactions in auditory and visual cortex underlie a sound-induced visual illusion. Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 4120–4131, 2007]. In the current study, we investigated the effect of attention on the ERP components associated with the illusory extra flash in 15 individuals who perceived this cross-modal illusion frequently. All early ERP components in the cross-modal difference wave associated with the extra flash illusion were significantly enhanced by selective spatial attention. The earliest attention-related modulation was an amplitude increase of the positive-going PD110/PD120 component, which was previously shown to be correlated with an individual's propensity to perceive the illusory second flash [Mishra, J., Martínez, A. , Sejnowski, T. J., & Hillyard, S. A. Early cross-modal interactions in auditory and visual cortex underlie a sound-induced visual illusion. Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 4120–4131, 2007]. The polarity of the early PD110/PD120 component did not differ as a function of the visual field (upper vs. lower) of stimulus presentation. This, along with the source localization of the component, suggested that its principal generator lies in extrastriate visual cortex. These results indicate that neural processes previously shown to be associated with the extra flash illusion can be modulated by attention, and thus are not the result of a wholly automatic cross-modal integration process.
Accurate Performance Analysis of TR UWB Systems With Arbitrary Front-end Filters

The sampling expansion approach for computing the performance of TR UWB systems has restricted validity and is very inaccurate in some cases. A new analytical method to evaluate the BER performance of a TR UWB system is derived. The method is based on expanding the received signal using the Karhunen-Loeve expansion and then evaluating the characteristic function of the receiver decision metric. This new method puts no restriction on the front-end filter type and is accurate for any arbitrary value of receiver time-bandwidth product. The analytical results are validated with simulation results, and it is found that the method is highly accurate and can evaluate BER rates down to 10-9.
Nonmonotonicity and Human Probabilistic Reasoning

Nonmonotonic logics allow—contrary to classical (monotone) logics— for withdrawing conclusions in the light of new evidence. Nonmonotonic reasoning is often claimed to mimic human common sense reasoning. Only a few studies, though, have investigated this claim empirically. system p is a central, broadly accepted nonmonotonic reasoning system that proposes basic rationality postulates. We previously investigated empirically a probabilistic interpretation of three selected rules of system p. We found a relatively good agreement of human reasoning and principles of nonmonotonic reasoning according to the coherence interpretation of system p. This study reports an experiment on the cautious monotonicity Rule and its “incautious” counterpart that is not contained in system p, namely the monotonicity Rule. In accordance with our previous results, the data suggest that people reason nonmonotonically: the subjects in the cautious monotonicity condition infer significantly tighter intervals close to the coherence interpretation of system p compared with the subjects in the incautious monotonicity condition where rather wide (and hence non-informative) intervals are inferred.
A role for Rab14 in the endocytic trafficking of GLUT4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Summary Insulin enhances the uptake of glucose into adipocytes and muscle cells by promoting the redistribution of the glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4) from intracellular compartments to the cell surface. Rab GTPases regulate the trafficking itinerary of GLUT4 and several have been found on immunopurified GLUT4 vesicles. Specifically, Rab14 has previously been implicated in GLUT4 trafficking in muscle although its role, if any, in adipocytes is poorly understood. Analysis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes using confocal microscopy demonstrated that endogenous GLUT4 and endogenous Rab14 exhibited a partial colocalisation. However, when wild-type Rab14 or a constitutively-active Rab14Q70L mutant were overexpressed in these cells, the colocalisation with both GLUT4 and IRAP became extensive. Interestingly, this colocalisation was restricted to enlarged ‘ring-like’ vesicular structures (mean diameter 1.3 µm), which were observed in the presence of overexpressed wild-type Rab14 and Rab14Q70L, but not an inactive Rab14S25N mutant. These enlarged vesicles contained markers of early endosomes and were rapidly filled by GLUT4 and transferrin undergoing endocytosis from the plasma membrane. The Rab14Q70L mutant reduced basal and insulin-stimulated cell surface GLUT4 levels, probably by retaining GLUT4 in an insulin-insensitive early endosomal compartment. Furthermore, shRNA-mediated depletion of Rab14 inhibited the transit of GLUT4 through early endosomal compartments towards vesicles and tubules in the perinuclear region. Given the previously reported role of Rab14 in trafficking between endosomes and the Golgi complex, we propose that the primary role of Rab14 in GLUT4 trafficking is to control the transit of internalised GLUT4 from early endosomes into the Golgi complex, rather than direct GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane.
Properties of simulated compact groups of galaxies

We analyze compact groups of galaxies appearing in a galaxy formation simulation dominated by cold dark matter (0=1, baryon=0.1). The simulation uses an N-body code to model the behavior of the non-baryonic matter and smoothed particle hydrodynamics to model the baryons. One run includes gas dynamics alone, and the other incorporates star formation as well. Groups identified as physically compact at z=0 form originally along filaments and become compact in the final ∼20% of the simulation; they contain x-ray– luminous diffuse gas well before becoming compact. The component masses, baryon fractions, and gas-to-galaxy mass fractions of the simulated groups are roughly similar to those of Hickson compact groups (HCGs), although they tend to be somewhat more gas-rich and have x-ray temperatures a factor of 3 lower than those seen in HCGs. These discrepancies may be alleviated by adding the effects of energy input into the diffuse group gas by star formation and supernovae.
Effects of Digesting Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans on Plasticity in Cat Primary Visual Cortex

Monocular deprivation (MD) during a critical period of postnatal development produces significant changes in the anatomy and physiology of the visual cortex, and the deprived eye becomes amblyopic. Extracellular matrix molecules have a major role in restricting plasticity such that the ability to recover from MD decreases with age. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) act as barriers to cell migration and axon growth. Previous studies showing that degradation of CSPGs by the bacterial enzyme chondroitinase can restore plasticity in the adult rat visual cortex suggest a potential treatment for amblyopia. Here MD was imposed in cats from the start of the critical period until 3.5 months of age. The deprived eye was reopened, the functional architecture of the visual cortex was assessed by optical imaging of intrinsic signals, and chondroitinase was injected into one hemisphere. Imaging was repeated 1 and 2 weeks postinjection, and visually evoked potentials (VEPs) and single-cell activity were recorded. Immunohistochemistry showed that digestion of CSPGs had been successful. After 2 weeks of binocular exposure, some recovery of deprived-eye responses occurred when chondroitinase had been injected into the hemisphere contralateral to that eye; when injected into the ipsilateral hemisphere, no recovery was seen. Deprived-eye VEPs were no larger in the injected hemisphere than in the opposite hemisphere. The small number of neurons dominated by the deprived eye exhibited poor tuning characteristics. These results suggest that despite structural effects of chondroitinase in adult cat V1, plasticity was not sufficiently restored to enable significant functional recovery of the deprived eye.
Measuring Systemic Risk in the Finance and Insurance Sectors

A significant contributing factor to the Financial Crisis of 2007–2009 was the apparent interconnectedness among hedge funds, banks, brokers, and insurance companies, which amplified shocks into systemic events. In this paper, we propose five measures of systemic risk based on statistical relations among the market returns of these four types of financial institutions. Using correlations, cross-autocorrelations, principal components analysis, regime-switching models, and Granger causality tests, we find that all four sectors have become highly interrelated and less liquid over the past decade, increasing the level of systemic risk in the finance and insurance industries. These measures can also identify and quantify financial crisis periods. Our results suggest that while hedge funds can provide early indications of market dislocation, their contributions to systemic risk may not be as significant as those of banks, insurance companies, and brokers who take on risks more appropriate for hedge funds.