Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Can Consumer Trust in Energy Utilities be Increased? The Effectiveness of Prosocial, Proenvironmental, and Service-Oriented Investments as Signals of Trustworthiness

The transformation of the electricity infrastructure into the smart grid requires energy utilities to increase consumer involvement. However, in the United States, consumers’ trust in utilities is low, which impedes consumer involvement. Drawing on the literature on corporate social responsibility and signaling theory, we examine possible strategies for increasing trust. We hypothesize that utility prosocial, proenvironmental, and service-oriented investments increase consumer trust, and that this increase, in turn, is positively associated with consumers’ willingness to participate in utility programs. We test our hypotheses through online vignette experiments in the context of smart meter apps for household energy management. Our results show that utility proenvironmental investments have the strongest and most consistent effect on consumer trust, and the effect of utility behavior on consumer willingness to use the app is mediated by trust. Our findings contribute to the organizational trust literature and have practical implications for utilities seeking to increase consumer involvement.
Alterations in the basal ganglia in patients with brain tumours may be due to excessive iron deposition

The accumulation of iron in the brain is a common physiological process. However, alterations in the deposition of iron or other paramagnetic substances are associated with various diseases. In the present study, the deposition of paramagnetic substances in patients with brain tumours was evaluated using T2 relaxometry. A total of 23 patients with untreated tumours or with recurrent tumours following treatment, together with a group of 19 age-matched healthy controls, were examined using T2 relaxometry at 3T. The relaxation times in the basal ganglia, thalamus and white matter were evaluated. Significantly lower T2 relaxation times were identified in the basal ganglia and thalamus of the patients with tumours, as compared with those of the controls (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was identified between patients with untreated or recurrent brain tumours. The reduction in T2 relaxation times in the brain tumour patients was possibly caused by the accumulation of iron, since iron homeostasis is known to be altered in patients with tumours. We propose that increased iron deposition is a consequence of a higher risk of oxidative stress caused by an increased iron concentration in the plasma or cerebrospinal fluid.
Evaluation of named entity recognition tools on microposts

In this paper we evaluate eight well-known Information Extraction (IE) tools on a task of Named Entity Recognition (NER) in microposts. We have chosen six NLP tools and two Wikipedia concept extractors for the evaluation. Our intent was to see how these tools would perform on relatively short texts of microposts. Evaluation dataset has been adopted from the MSM 2013 IE Challenge. This dataset contained manually annotated microposts with classification restricted to four entity types: PER, LOC, ORG and MISC.
Reducing Channel Change Time by System Architecture Changes in DVB-S/C/T Set Top Boxes

This paper presents a software architecture that supports fast channel change in digital video broadcasting-satellite/cable/terrestrial (DVB-S/C/T) set top boxes (STBs). Long channel zapping time issue has first been addressed in the context of IPTV STBs, where it presented an obstacle for successful commercialization of the IPTV. In DVB-S/C/T, the channel zapping time has not been in the focus so much, but with the development of tuners and with the appearance of STB boards with more tuners and decoders, the conditions have been met for its further reduction. The aim is to improve the user’s quality of experience. The properties of our architecture have been discussed both with respect to resource management and to efficient processing of callbacks and notifications. The experimental results show the reduction of channel zapping time from about 2.6 s to less than 700 ms on the average.
Dusty plasma liquids

Dusty plasma liquids are formed by suspending negatively charged micro-metre sized particles in a low pressure discharge background. They are good candidates for studying the generic spatio-temporal dynamical behaviours at the kinetic level through direct optical video-microscopy due to the sub-mm interparticle spacing and the slow time scale. In this paper, starting from the basic picture of the avalanche type stick–slip cooperative hopping process under the interplay of mutual coupling and stochastic thermal agitation, we briefly review our recent study on particle micro-motion and the associated structural rearrangement. The effects of mesoscopic confinement and external slow shear drive are also discussed.
Finance and Growth: Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries, 1960-1990

This paper examined the empirical relationship between financial intermediation and economic growth using cross-country and panel data regressions for 69 developing countries for the period 1960-1990. The main results are: (i) Financial development is a significant determinant of economic growth in cross sectional regressions. (ii) Financial markets cease to exert any effect on real activity in panel data regressions. The paradox may be explained, in developing countries, by the lack of an entrepreneurial private sector capable to transform the funds into profitable projects. (iii) The effect of financial development on economic growth is channeled mainly through an increase in investment efficiency.
GABAergic Network Activation of Glial Cells Underlies Hippocampal Heterosynaptic Depression

Tetanus-induced heterosynaptic depression in the hippocampus is a key cellular mechanism in neural networks implicated in learning and memory. A growing body of evidence indicates that glial cells are important modulators of synaptic functions, but very little is known about their role in heterosynaptic plasticity. We examined the role of glial cells in heterosynaptic depression, knowing that tetanization and NMDA application caused depression of synaptic field responses (fEPSPs) and induced Ca2+ rise in glial cells. Here we report that chelating Ca2+ in a glial syncytium interfered with heterosynaptic depression and NMDA-induced fEPSP depression, suggesting that Ca2+ activation of glial cells is necessary for heterosynaptic depression. The NMDA-induced Ca2+ rise in glial cells was sensitive to tetrodotoxin and reduced by the GABAB antagonist CGP55845. Both heterosynaptic depression and simultaneous Ca2+ activation of glial cells were prevented by CGP55845, suggesting an involvement of the GABAergic network in glial activation and heterosynaptic depression. Also, the GABAB agonist baclofen caused both a Ca2+ rise in glial cells and fEPSP depression. Heterosynaptic depression, as well as NMDA- and baclofen-induced depression, were attenuated by an A1 antagonist, cyclopentyl-theophylline, whereas glial cell activation was not, indicating a role of adenosine downstream of glial activation. Finally, heterosynaptic depression requires ATP degradation because ectonucleotidase inhibitors reduced this plasticity. Our work indicates that Ca2+ activation of glial cells is necessary for heterosynaptic depression, which involves the sequential interaction of Schaffer collaterals, the GABAergic network, and glia. Thus, glial and neuronal networks are functionally associated during the genesis of heterosynaptic plasticity at mammalian central excitatory synapses.
Assessment of the Knowledge on Pre Conception Care among Women of Reproductive Age in Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya

Purpose: The study aimed at determining the knowledge on pre conception care among women of reproductive age in Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used with a target population of 65,045 women of reproductive age, para one and above in Ruiru sub-county. Simple random sampling method was used to select study participants. A total of 384 women of reproductive age took part in the study. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and Focused Discussion groups. Quantitative data from the questionnaire was checked daily for completeness and coded for appropriate computer entry. Thematic content analysis was done for Qualitative data from the FGDs and triangulated during discussion. Thereafter, data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical package. Univariate and bivariate data analysis were involved. Chi-square was used to determine the significance of associations between variables. Data finding were then presented using tables, pie charts and bar graphs. Results: There is low level of knowledge on preconception care services among the study participants with a larger proportion who have never heard about the services and not able to name the components of preconception care and the main source of information was obtained from the health workers in the hospitals. Recommendations: Health education of women of reproductive age on preconception care services, its components and importance in the health facilities and institutions of higher learning so that they can have the knowledge on preconception care services hence increasing its utilization. This is because the utilization of preconception care services is influenced by the level of education, occupation and age. Keywords: Utilization, para, preconception care, woman of reproductive age
Ruling out multiplicity and indeterminacy: The role of heterogeneity

It is well known that economies of scale that are external to the individual decision makers can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies and the multiplicity or even indeterminacy of equilibrium. We argue that the importance of this source of multiplicity and indeterminacy is overstated in representative agent models, as they ignore the potential stabilizing effect of heterogeneity. We illustrate this in a version of Matsuyama's (1991) two-sector model with increasing returns to scale. Two main results are shown. First, sufficient homogeneity with respect to individual productivity leads to the instability and non-uniqueness of a given stationary state and the indeterminacy of the corresponding stationary state equilibrium. Second, sufficient heterogeneity leads to the global saddle-path stability and the uniqueness of a given stationary state and the global uniqueness of equilibrium.
A MAPPING SURVEY OF DENSE CLUMPS ASSOCIATED WITH EMBEDDED CLUSTERS: EVOLUTIONARY STAGES OF CLUSTER-FORMING CLUMPS

We have carried out a survey of the dense clumps associated with 14 embedded clusters in the C18O (J = 1–0) line emission with the Nobeyama 45 m telescope in order to understand the formation and evolution of stellar clusters in dense clumps of molecular clouds. We have selected these clusters at distances from 0.3 to 2.1 kpc and have mapped about 6′ × 6′–10′ × 10′ regions (corresponding to 3.8 pc × 3.8 pc at 2.1 kpc) for all the clumps with 22″ resolution (corresponding to Jeans length at 2.1 kpc). We have obtained dense clumps with radii of 0.40–1.6 pc, masses of 150–4600 M☉, and velocity widths in FWHM of 1.4–3.3 km s−1. Most of the clumps are found to be approximately in virial equilibrium, which implies that C18O gas represents parental dense clumps for cluster formation. From the spatial relation between the distributions of clumps and clusters, we classified C18O clumps into three types (Type A, B, and C). Type A clumps have emission distributions with a single peak at the stellar clusters and higher brightness contrast than that of other target sources. Type B clumps have double or triple peaks, which are associated with the cluster, and moderately high brightness contrast structure. Type C clumps also have multiple peaks, although they are not associated with the cluster, and low brightness contrast structure. We suggest that our classification represents an evolutionary trend of cluster-forming dense clumps because dense gas in molecular clouds is expected to be converted into stellar constituents, or dispersed by stellar activities. Moreover, although there is a scatter, we found a tendency that the star formation efficiencies of the dense clumps increase from Type A to Type C, which also supports our scenario.
Using International, Interprofessional Service Learning to Promote Transcultural Self-Efficacy and Interprofessional Attitudes in Health Science Students

Interprofessional teams of occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and dental hygiene students from the University of South Dakota participated in a service-learning experience in Guatemala. Student perceptions were measured using the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale and the Transcultural SelfEfficacy Tool. Qualitative data were obtained through written reflections and discussions during the immersion component of the service-learning experience. Students reported statistically significant improvements in transcultural self-efficacy as defined by their confidence in interviewing individuals from different cultures; their values, attitudes, and beliefs regarding cultural awareness, acceptance, appreciation, recognition, and advocacy; and their knowledge on how cultural factors influence care. Slightly different findings emerged concerning students’ attitudes about interprofessional practice. Qualitative analysis of personal reflections showed that many students felt purposeful when working as part of an interprofessional team and appreciated the dialogue with other professionals when discussing patient care.
Resilience and personality in psychiatric inpatients

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify relationships between the concept of resilience and the psychobiological model that treats the dimensions of temperament and character as representative of innate and environmental factors, respectively, among psychiatric inpatients whose diseases have acquired chronicity. METHODS: The study involved 171 psychiatric inpatient volunteers. The Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the Symptom Checklist90, revised version, were used. Pearson correlation analyses and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify relationships between resilience and the other variables examined. RESULTS: We found a negative correlation between resilience and novelty seeking (NS) and harm avoidance (HA), but no correlation was found between resilience and self transcendence (ST) (respectively, r:−0.26, p < 0.01; r:−0.45, p < 0.01; r:−0.07, p > 0.05). There were positive correlations between resilience and the other temperament and character dimensions (respectively, r:0.14, p > 0.05; r:0.29, p < 0.01; r:0.56, p < 0.01; r:0.37, p < 0.01). The TCI dimensions of persistence (P), self-directedness (SD), and ST (F:7.3, df:7, p < 0.01, adj.R2:0.16) predicted resilience. CONCLUSION: There are significant relationships between resilience and personality dimensions in chronic psychiatric patients. Our results indicate that, consistent with Cloninger's model, both environment (i.e. character dimensions) and genetic endowment (i.e. temperament dimensions) contribute to resilience, which involves lower levels of HA and higher levels of P and SD in psychiatric inpatients whose diseases have acquired chronicity.
Longitudinal trends in postpartum mental health, cognition and steroid hormones

Longitudinal Trends in Postpartum Mental Health, Cognition and Steroid Hormones by Chandler R. Marrs Dr. Douglas P. Ferraro, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Psychology University of Nevada, Las Vegas The temporal association between psychiatric and cognitive disturbances during pregnancy and postpartum is clear in the literature. However, associations between these disturbances and puerperal hormones are equivocal. The present study followed nine primigravid women from late pregnancy through one year postpartum to investigate trends in psychiatric and cognitive disturbances relative to postpartum hormone changes. Participants completed a battery of neuropsychological instruments at 37 weeks of pregnancy, at 10 days and four-, eightand twelve-months postpartum and provided salivary specimen from which dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone, estradiol and estriol concentrations were quantified. Results showed psychiatric disturbances and cognitive decrements in late pregnancy that often worsened following parturition. Psychiatric symptoms generally resolved by four months postpartum and were associated predominantly with elevated DHEAS.
No-Regret Learning in Extensive-Form Games with Imperfect Recall

Counterfactual Regret Minimization (CFR) is an efficient no-regret learning algorithm for decision problems modeled as extensive games. CFR's regret bounds depend on the requirement of perfect recall: players always remember information that was revealed to them and the order in which it was revealed. In games without perfect recall, however, CFR's guarantees do not apply. In this paper, we present the first regret bound for CFR when applied to a general class of games with imperfect recall. We also show that CFR applied to any abstraction belonging to our class results in a regret bound not just for the abstract game, but for the full game as well. We verify our theory and show how imperfect recall can be used to trade a small increase in regret for a significant reduction in memory in three domains: die-roll poker, phantom tic-tac-toe, and Bluff.
Recovery of a US Endangered Fish

Background More fish have been afforded US Endangered Species Act protection than any other vertebrate taxonomic group, and none has been designated as recovered. Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) occupy large rivers and estuaries along the Atlantic coast of North America, and the species has been protected by the US Endangered Species Act since its enactment. Methodology/Principal Findings Data on the shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson River (New York to Albany, NY, USA) were obtained from a 1970s population study, a population and fish distribution study we conducted in the late 1990s, and a fish monitoring program during the 1980s and 1990s. Population estimates indicate a late 1990s abundance of about 60,000 fish, dominated by adults. The Hudson River population has increased by more than 400% since the 1970s, appears healthy, and has attributes typical for a long-lived species. Our population estimates exceed the government and scientific population recovery criteria by more than 500%, we found a positive trend in population abundance, and key habitats have remained intact despite heavy human river use. Conclusions/Significance Scientists and legislators have called for changes in the US Endangered Species Act, the Act is being debated in the US Congress, and the Act has been characterized as failing to recover species. Recovery of the Hudson River population of shortnose sturgeon suggests the combination of species and habitat protection with patience can yield successful species recovery, even near one of the world's largest human population centers.
Strontium Isotope Signals in Cremated Petrous Portions as Indicator for Childhood Origin

Dental enamel is currently of high informative value in studies concerning childhood origin and human mobility because the strontium isotope ratio in human dental enamel is indicative of geographical origin. However, many prehistoric burials involve cremation and although strontium retains its original biological isotopic composition, even when exposed to very high temperatures, intact dental enamel is rarely preserved in cremated or burned human remains. When preserved, fragments of dental enamel may be difficult to recognize and identify. Finding a substitute material for strontium isotope analysis of burned human remains, reflecting childhood values, is hence of high priority. This is the first study comparing strontium isotope ratios from cremated and non-cremated petrous portions with enamel as indicator for childhood origin. We show how strontium isotope ratios in the otic capsule of the petrous portion of the inner ear are highly correlated with strontium isotope ratios in dental enamel from the same individual, whether inhumed or cremated. This implies that strontium isotope ratios in the petrous bone, which practically always survives cremation, are indicative of childhood origin for human skeletal remains. Hence, the petrous bone is ideal as a substitute material for strontium isotope analysis of burned human remains.
THE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF KUIPER BELT OBJECTS FOR D ≳ 10 km

We have performed a survey of the Kuiper belt covering ∼1/3 deg2 of the sky using Suprime-cam on the Subaru telescope, to a limiting magnitude of m50(R) ∼ 26.8 and have found 36 new Kuiper belt objects (KBOs). We have confirmed that the luminosity function (LF) of the Kuiper belt must break as previously observed. From the LF, we have inferred the underlying size distribution and find that it is consistent with a large object power-law slope q1 ∼ 4.8 that breaks to a slope q2 ∼ 1.9 at object diameter Db ∼ 60 km assuming 6% albedos. We have found no conclusive evidence that the size distribution of KBOs with inclinations i < 5 is different than that of those with i > 5. We discuss implications of this measurement for early accretion in the outer solar system and Neptune migration scenarios.
Pilot sequences allocation in TDD massive MIMO systems

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) has been proposed as a key technology for the future fifth generation (5G) cellular networks. In time division duplex (TDD) massive MIMO systems, pilot contamination caused by channel estimation error is crucial to the system performance. In this paper, we propose a pilot sequences allocation strategy to mitigate the pilot contamination. In this strategy, the pilot sequences sets are identical for center users, but mutually orthogonal for edge users in different cells. With mitigated pilot contamination, we analytically determine the approximate system capacity which is accurate when the number of antennas at the base station tends to infinite. The simulation results show that the proposed pilot sequences allocation strategy achieves higher system capacity than the traditional pilot sequences allocation strategy whose sequences reuse rate is one or three. There also exists an optimal number of pilot sequences in different SNR to maximize the system capacity.
Recurrent Convolutional Neural Networks for Scene Parsing

Scene parsing is a technique that consist on giving a label to all pixels in an image according to the class they belong to. To ensure a good visual coherence and a high class accuracy, it is essential for a scene parser to capture image long range dependencies. In a feed-forward architecture, this can be simply achieved by considering a sufficiently large input context patch, around each pixel to be labeled. We propose an approach consisting of a recurrent convolutional neural network which allows us to consider a large input context, while limiting the capacity of the model. Contrary to most standard approaches, our method does not rely on any segmentation methods, nor any task-specific features. The system is trained in an end-to-end manner over raw pixels, and models complex spatial dependencies with low inference cost. As the context size increases with the built-in recurrence, the system identifies and corrects its own errors. Our approach yields state-of-the-art performance on both the Stanford Background Dataset and the SIFT Flow Dataset, while remaining very fast at test time.