Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Share your view: impact of co-navigation support and status composition in collaborative online shopping

Collaborative online shopping, an emerging paradigm in e-commerce, allows remote shoppers to extend purchase-oriented social interactions into the digital environment. Online vendors have been experimenting ways to facilitate this activity. However, more research needs to be done on identifying what feature can create a pleasing shopping experience and ultimately encourage spending. In this paper, we present an exploration of the impact of co-navigation supports, including location cue, split screen, and shared view, on the experiences and performance of 60 co-shopper dyads. We also studied if status composition of shopping companions played a role in this process. By analyzing about 1800 minutes of eye-tracking data, video footages, and web logs, we found that split screen encouraged more diverse product search, shared view enabled better coordination, and location cue was the least distracting. Co-buyers achieved better factual and inference understanding, though buyer-advisor dyads were more likely to stay together.
An EDA based on Bayesian networks constructed with Archimedean copulas

In this paper, an estimation of distribution algorithm that adopts a copula Bayesian network as probabilistic graphic model is presented. Multivariate Archimedean copula functions with one parameter are used to model the dependences between variables and the beta distribution is used to describe the univariate marginals. The learning process of the Bayesian network is assisted through a simple technique that relies on the associative property of Archimedean copulas, the use of Kendall's tau coefficient for measuring relations between variables and the relation between tau coefficients and bivariate Archimedean copulas. This paper presents the proposal, together with some initial experiments, which show encouraging results.
Multivariate Multiscale Entropy Analysis

Multivariate physical and biological recordings are common and their simultaneous analysis is a prerequisite for the understanding of the complexity of underlying signal generating mechanisms. Traditional entropy measures are maximized for random processes and fail to quantify inherent long-range dependencies in real world data, a key feature of complex systems. The recently introduced multiscale entropy (MSE) is a univariate method capable of detecting intrinsic correlations and has been used to measure complexity of single channel physiological signals. To generalize this method for multichannel data, we first introduce multivariate sample entropy (MSampEn) and evaluate it over multiple time scales to perform the multivariate multiscale entropy (MMSE) analysis. This makes it possible to assess structural complexity of multivariate physical or physiological systems, together with more degrees of freedom and enhanced rigor in the analysis. Simulations on both multivariate synthetic data and real world postural sway analysis support the approach.
Current Mode Universal Filter Using Single Current Controlled Differential Difference Current Conveyor Transconductance Amplifier

This research paper contains a new electronically tunable current-mode biquadratic universal filter using a new active building block; current controlled differential difference current conveyor transconductance amplifier (CCDDCCTA). The proposed filter provides the following important and desirable features: (i) One can use only one CCDDCCTA and two capacitors; (ii) One can get low pass (LP), band pass (BP), high pass (HP), notch (NF) and all pass (AP) current responses from the same configuration without any alteration; (iii) Passive components are grounded, which ease the integrated circuit implementation; (iv) Responses are electronically tunable; and (v) Sensitivity is low. Moreover, the non-ideality analysis shows that the parasitic passive components can be compensated for the proposed circuit. The functionality of the design is verified through SPICE simulations using 0.25 μm CMOS TSMC technology process parameters. Simulation result agrees well with the theoretical analysis.
Trend Analysis of Malaria Occurrence in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. The trend of malaria occurrence remains unknown in the study area. This study is aimed at determining the last five years' trend of malaria occurrence from 2008/09 to 2012/13 in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods. A health facility-based retrospective study was conducted in Wolaita Zone from March to August, 2014. Five years' laboratory confirmed malaria record review was made from six health centers. Result. A total of 105,755 laboratory confirmed malaria cases were reported, with total slide positivity rate of 33.27% and mean annual occurrence of 21,151 cases. Malaria occurred with a fluctuating trend in the study area, with its peak occurring at the year 2011/12. Overall, no remarkable decline in the total laboratory confirmed malaria was observed in the last five years. P. falciparum was the predominantly reported species, accounting for 75,929 (71.80%) of cases. The highest slide positivity rate was observed in the age group of 5–14 years (40.5%) followed by 1–4 years (35.5%). Two malaria peak seasons occurred: one from September to December and the other from April to June. Conclusion. No remarkable decline in laboratory confirmed malaria in the last five years was observed.
Trimeric Autotransporters Require Trimerization of the Passenger Domain for Stability and Adhesive Activity

ABSTRACT In recent years, structural studies have identified a number of bacterial, viral, and eukaryotic adhesive proteins that have a trimeric architecture. The prototype examples in bacteria are the Haemophilus influenzae Hia adhesin and the Yersinia enterocolitica YadA adhesin. Both Hia and YadA are members of the trimeric-autotransporter subfamily and are characterized by an internal passenger domain that harbors adhesive activity and a short C-terminal translocator domain that inserts into the outer membrane and facilitates delivery of the passenger domain to the bacterial surface. In this study, we examined the relationship between trimerization of the Hia and YadA passenger domains and the capacity for adhesive activity. We found that subunit-subunit interactions and stable trimerization are essential for native folding and stability and ultimately for full-level adhesive activity. These results raise the possibility that disruption of the trimeric architecture of trimeric autotransporters, and possibly other trimeric adhesins, may be an effective strategy to eliminate adhesive activity.
Supernova Simulations with Boltzmann Neutrino Transport: A Comparison of Methods

Accurate neutrino transport has been built into spherically symmetric simulations of stellar core collapse and postbounce evolution. The results of such simulations agree that spherically symmetric models with standard microphysical input fail to explode by the delayed, neutrino-driven mechanism. Independent groups implemented fundamentally different numerical methods to tackle the Boltzmann neutrino transport equation. Here we present a direct and detailed comparison of such neutrino radiation-hydrodynamics simulations for two codes, AGILE-BOLTZTRAN of the Oak Ridge-Basel group and VERTEX of the Garching group. The former solves the Boltzmann equation directly by an implicit, general relativistic discrete-angle method on the adaptive grid of a conservative implicit hydrodynamics code with second-order TVD advection. In contrast, the latter couples a variable Eddington factor technique with an explicit, moving-grid, conservative high-order Riemann solver with important relativistic effects treated by an effective gravitational potential. The presented study is meant to test our neutrino radiation-hydrodynamics implementations and to provide a data basis for comparisons and verifications of supernova codes to be developed in the future. Results are discussed for simulations of the core collapse and postbounce evolution of a 13 M☉ star with Newtonian gravity and a 15 M☉ star with relativistic gravity.
Response of Breast Cancer Cells and Cancer Stem Cells to Metformin and Hyperthermia Alone or Combined

Metformin, the most widely prescribed drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been shown to exert significant anticancer effects. Hyperthermia has been known to kill cancer cells and enhance the efficacy of various anti-cancer drugs and radiotherapy. We investigated the combined effects of metformin and hyperthermia against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell, and MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells. Incubation of breast cancer cells with 0.5–10 mM metformin for 48 h caused significant clonogenic cell death. Culturing breast cancer cells with 30 µM metformin, clinically relevant plasma concentration of metformin, significantly reduced the survival of cancer cells. Importantly, metformin was preferentially cytotoxic to CD44high/CD24low cells of MCF-7 cells and, CD44high/CD24high cells of MIA PaCa-2 cells, which are known to be cancer stem cells (CSCs) of MCF-7 cells and MIA PaCa-2 cells, respectively. Heating at 42°C for 1 h was slightly toxic to both cancer cells and CSCs, and it markedly enhanced the efficacy of metformin to kill cancer cells and CSCs. Metformin has been reported to activate AMPK, thereby suppressing mTOR, which plays an important role for protein synthesis, cell cycle progression, and cell survival. For the first time, we show that hyperthermia activates AMPK and inactivates mTOR and its downstream effector S6K. Furthermore, hyperthermia potentiated the effect of metformin to activate AMPK and inactivate mTOR and S6K. Cell proliferation was markedly suppressed by metformin or combination of metformin and hyperthermia, which could be attributed to activation of AMPK leading to inactivation of mTOR. It is conclude that the effects of metformin against cancer cells including CSCs can be markedly enhanced by hyperthermia.
Synthesis and Study of Annealing Effect on Electrical Properties of CdS doped Zn Thin Films

CdS doped Zn thin films have been prepared by thermal evaporation technique on glass substrate at room temperature under high vacuum of 10 -5 mbar. These films have been annealed at different annealing temperatures (373,423,473 and 523) K. X- ray diffraction studies show that the structure is nearly crystalline with preferential orientation along the (111) direction of the cubic structure type. Results showed that the D.C. conductivity increases with increasing of temperature while it decreases with increasing of annealing temperatures. The activation energies increased with increasing of annealing temperatures. Hall measurements showed that all doped films are n-type. The charge carriers concentration decreases with increasing of annealing temperatures. Hall mobility, drift velocity, carrier life-time and mean free path increases with increasing of annealing temperatures.
Is adenomyosis associated with menorrhagia?

STUDY QUESTION Is the presence of adenomyosis associated with menorrhagia? SUMMARY ANSWER There was no significant association between adenomyosis and menorrhagia, but there was a significant positive correlation between the severity of adenomyosis on ultrasound and the amount of menstrual loss estimated using pictorial blood loss assessment charts. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is no consensus in the literature with regards to the association between adenomyosis and menorrhagia. Previous studies have been limited to retrospective studies of highly selected populations which mainly included women who underwent hysterectomy. There are no large prospective studies evaluating the association between adenomyosis and menorrhagia, either in the general population of women or in a general gynaecology clinic setting. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was a prospective observational study set in the general gynaecology clinic of a university teaching hospital between January 2009 and January 2010. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS There were 714 consecutive premenopausal women who attended the clinic and underwent structured clinical and transvaginal ultrasound examination in accordance with the study protocol. Morphological features of adenomyosis were systematically recorded on ultrasound scan. Menorrhagia was determined subjectively by direct questioning and objectively by completion of pictorial blood loss analysis charts. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A diagnosis of adenomyosis was made in 157/714 women [22.0% (95% CI: 19.1-25.2%)]. Multivariable analysis showed significant associations between submucous fibroids [OR 5.60 (95% CI: 2.69-11.6)], any fibroids [OR 1.53 (95% CI: 0.91-2.58)] and endometrial polyps [OR 2.81 (95% CI: 1.15-11.7)] and menorrhagia. There were also significant associations between increasing gravidity and BMI and menorrhagia (P < 0.01). There was no significant association between adenomyosis and menorrhagia in the study population, when adenomyosis was assessed as a binary outcome. When severity of adenomyosis was assessed by counting the number of morphological features of adenomyosis in each woman, we found a significant 22% increase in menstrual loss for each additional feature of adenomyosis [OR 1.21 (95% CI: 1.04-1.40)]. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A classification of severity of adenomyosis based on the number of ultrasound features present is a novel concept that should be prospectively evaluated in different populations. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS A better understanding of the relationship between adenomyosis and menorrhagia can help improve counselling of women regarding the significance of this common condition and facilitate future studies assessing the effectiveness of different conservative treatments protocols. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The authors have no competing interests. The study was not supported by an external grant.
Hearing movement: how taiko can inform automatic recognition of expressive movement qualities

We describe the first stages of exploratory research undertaken to analyze expressive movement qualities of taiko performance, a Japaense artistic practice that combines stylized movement with drumming technique. The eventual goals of this research are to answer 1) Can expressive visual qualities of taiko be heard in the sound and 2) Can expressive sonic qualities of taiko be seen in the movement? We achieved high accuracy across multiple machine-learning algorithms in recognizing key sonic and visual qualities of taiko performance. In contrast to many current methods of studying expressive qualities of movement, we inform our data collection process and annotations with taiko technique. We seek to understand how the fundamentals of taiko create expression. More broadly, we suggest that codified artistic practices, like taiko, can inform automatic recognition and generation of expressive movement qualities that have been challenging to reliably classify, parse, and detect. In future work we propose ways to generalize expressive features of taiko so they can be recognized in other movement contexts.
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Research Memorandum 2002-24 the Personal Usage of Online Information Services: Theory and Empirical Investigation the Personal Usage of Online Information Services: Theory and Empirical Investigation the Personal Usage of Online Information Services: 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to thank his colleagues at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for their participation in the pre-studies of this research and Dorine van der Wind and Taco Stomps from Filmfocus.nl for their kind cooperation. ABSTRACT In thispaper we develop a conceptualframework around the attitudes and intentions towards using online information sewice, and we theorise about the differences in relationships between regular information systems and online information services, Specijcally we hypothesize (1) that affect and perceived ease of use are more important than perceived usefulness. and (2) that gender and experìence wil1 make a significant differente in people's evaluation to use the service. These hypotheses are then tested with a quantitative study, using 1144 respondents of a real-ltfe online information service. The results effectively demonstrate how the cognitive-affective pattern of user evaluations develops when users start becoming more experienced with an online information sewice.
From the Margins to the Center: Debunking Claims about Southeast Asian American Masculinity

Abstract This study reviews empirical data from the U.S. Census, American Community Survey (ACS) and academic journals to explore K-12 and higher educational outcomes pertaining to Southeast Asian American (SEAA) males. We argue that the empirical dismissal of SEAA males in social science research reinforces a longstanding agenda of structural neglect and invisibility. By disaggregating some of the existing data for Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, and Vietnamese subgroups from the broader “Asian” group, we hope to repudiate the model minority myth and stereotypes related to masculinity. Findings revealed that SEAA males had K-12 and higher educational outcomes that contradict the standard conception of academic and financial success. We situate the findings of the article in a discussion of intersectionality and the mainstream cultural forces that impact SEAA males.
On the Minimal Average Data-Rate that Guarantees a Given Closed Loop Performance Level

Abstract This paper deals with control system design subject to average data-rate constraints. By focusing on SISO LTI plants, and a class of source coding schemes, we establish lower and upper bounds on the minimal average data-rate needed to achieve a prescribed performance level. We also guarantee the existence of a specific source coding scheme, within the proposed class, that achieves the desired performance level at average data-rates below our upper bound. Our results are based upon a recently proposed framework to address control problems subject to average data-rate constraints.
Modeling Frailty-Correlated Defaults Using Many Macroeconomic Covariates

We propose a novel time series panel data framework for estimating and forecasting time-varying corporate default rates subject to observed and unobserved risk factors. In an empirical application for a U.S.Â dataset, we find a large and significant role for a dynamic frailty component even after controlling for more than 80% of the variation in more than 100 macro-financial covariates and other standard risk factors. We emphasize the need for a latent component to prevent a downward bias in estimated default rate volatility and in estimated probabilities of extreme default losses on portfolios of U.S.Â debt. The latent factor does not substitute for a single omitted macroeconomic variable. We argue that it captures different omitted effects at different times. We also provide empirical evidence that default and business cycle conditions partly depend on different processes. In an out-of-sample forecasting study for point-in-time default probabilities, we obtain mean absolute error reductions of more than forty percent when compared to models with observed risk factors only. The forecasts are relatively more accurate when default conditions diverge from aggregate macroeconomic conditions.
Landscape genetics: where are we now?

Landscape genetics has seen rapid growth in number of publications since the term was coined in 2003. An extensive literature search from 1998 to 2008 using keywords associated with landscape genetics yielded 655 articles encompassing a vast array of study organisms, study designs and methodology. These publications were screened to identify 174 studies that explicitly incorporated at least one landscape variable with genetic data. We systematically reviewed this set of papers to assess taxonomic and temporal trends in: (i) geographic regions studied; (ii) types of questions addressed; (iii) molecular markers used; (iv) statistical analyses used; and (v) types and nature of spatial data used. Overall, studies have occurred in geographic regions proximal to developed countries and more commonly in terrestrial vs. aquatic habitats. Questions most often focused on effects of barriers and/or landscape variables on gene flow. The most commonly used molecular markers were microsatellites and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLPs), with AFLPs used more frequently in plants than animals. Analysis methods were dominated by Mantel and assignment tests. We also assessed differences among journals to evaluate the uniformity of reporting and publication standards. Few studies presented an explicit study design or explicit descriptions of spatial extent. While some landscape variables such as topographic relief affected most species studied, effects were not universal, and some species appeared unaffected by the landscape. Effects of habitat fragmentation were mixed, with some species altering movement paths and others unaffected. Taken together, although some generalities emerged regarding effects of specific landscape variables, results varied, thereby reinforcing the need for species‐specific work. We conclude by: highlighting gaps in knowledge and methodology, providing guidelines to authors and reviewers of landscape genetics studies, and suggesting promising future directions of inquiry.
Structural organization of the glomerulus in the main olfactory bulb.

According to the combinatorial receptor and glomerular codes for odors, the fine tuning of the output level from each glomerulus is assumed to be important to the information processing in the olfactory system, which might be regulated by numerous elements such as olfactory nerves (ONs), various interneurons and centrifugal nerves. Recently structural and physiological analyses at the cellular level has started to reveal that the neuronal organization of the main olfactory bulb (MOB) might be more complex than previously believed. In this article we describe on some aspects of the structural organization of the glomerulus we have revealed in our morphological studies.