Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Do Online Behavioral Advertising Disclosures Communicate to Users? (CMU-CyLab-12-008)

Online Behavioral Advertising (OBA) is the practice of tailoring ads based on an individual’s online activities. We conducted a 1,505-participant online study to investigate Internet users’ perceptions of OBA disclosures while performing an online task. We tested icons, accompanying taglines, and landing pages intended to inform users about OBA and provide opt-out options; these were based on prior research or drawn from those currently in use. The icons, taglines, and landing pages fell short both in terms of no-tifying participants about OBA and clearly informing participants about their choices. Half of the participants remembered the ads they saw but only 12% correctly remembered the disclosure taglines attached to ads. The majority of participants mistakenly believed that ads would pop up if they clicked on disclosure icons and taglines, and more participants incorrectly thought that clicking the disclosures would let them purchase their own advertisements than correctly understood that they could then opt out of OBA. “AdChoices,” the tagline most commonly used by online advertisers, was particularly ineffective at communicating notice and choice. 45% of participants who saw “AdChoices” believed that it was intended to sell advertising space, while only 27% believed it was an avenue to stop tailored ads. A majority of participants mistakenly believed that opting out would stop all online tracking, not just tailored ads. We discuss challenges in crafting disclosures, and we provide suggestions for improvement.
Relative abundance and population biology of the non-indigenous crab Charybdis hellerii (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae) in a southwestern Atlantic estuary-bay complex

Invasive species are potential threats to biodiversity, especially if they become established and outnumber native species. In this study, a population of the non-indigenous crab Charybdis hellerii was analyzed in an estuary-bay complex on the southeastern Brazilian coast, with respect to its abundance relative to sympatric native brachyuran species, as well as the size structure, sexual maturity, sex ratio, frequency of mutilation, reproductive period, and development of the reproductive system. Crabs were sampled monthly both in the intertidal zone of rocky shores and on sublittoral soft-bottom. Nine species were recorded on the rocky shores, where C. hellerii was the second most abundant species; only three individuals of C. hellerii were collected in the sublittoral samples. This population of C. hellerii showed a unimodal size structure composed mainly of mature individuals; males were larger than females, and the sex ratio was skewed toward males (3.1:1). About 46.9% of the individuals (75 of 160 crabs) had mutilated or regenerating appendages, more frequent in males (56.8%) than in females (28.2%), which may reflect both inter- and intraspecific agonistic interactions. A continuous reproductive pattern is suggested for this population, although ovigerous females occurred unevenly during the year, with 58.82% of them being collected in winter. There was evidence of multiple spawning, since the ovigerous females with an initial egg mass showed mature ovaries as well as seminal receptacles filled with sperm. C. hellerii is well established in the estuary-bay complex, but is concentrated in intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky shores, where it may compete with and replace other species such as the portunid Cronius ruber. This study also highlights the importance of systematic monitoring studies to evaluate the effects of the introduction of non-indigenous species on ecologically similar natives.
Evaluation of signs, symptoms, and occlusal factors among patients with temporomandibular disorders according to Helkimo index

Abstract Objective: This study sought to assess the clinical signs and subjective symptoms of TMD, including the occlusal condition. Methods: Recruited individuals included 123 patients (58 men, 65 women) aged 15 to 65 years (mean 38.6 years) who had been referred to the TMD department. Helkimo dysfunction, occlusal, and anamnestic indices were used to assess signs of TMD, occlusal condition, and symptoms, respectively. Relationships of occlusal factors with signs and symptoms of TMD were evaluated by Spearman’s correlation test. Associations of TMD with sex and age distributions were assessed by Mann–Whitney and Spearman’s test, respectively. Results: The prevalence of signs and symptoms was as high as 75%. Occlusal factors had significant associations with signs and symptoms of TMD. Conclusion: Prevalence of TMD in the study population was high, without preference for age or sex. Occlusal factors may play a role in the etiology of TMD.
The Association of Age, Sense of Control, Optimism, and Self-Esteem With Emotional Distress

The aim of this study was to test a model of emotional distress, which incorporates the potential mediator role of positive resources (sense of control, self-esteem, and optimism) in the association of age with emotional distress. The study used a cross-sectional design with intentional sampling and the voluntary participation of 325 adults between 18 and 87 years (M = 46.8 ± 19.10). The results show that emotional distress was negatively associated with age. Psychological resources also varied according to age, with older subjects presenting higher optimism and external control as well as lower internal control. The association between internal control and emotional distress was mediated by optimism and self-esteem. Moreover, the combined association of these 3 personal resources significantly increased the relationship between age and lower emotional distress. The results suggest that optimism and self-esteem are powerful resources in relieving emotional distress. The data provide potentially useful information for the design of psychological interventions aimed at reducing emotional distress.
Unsupervised Feature Learning and Deep Learning: A Review and New Perspectives

The success of machine learning algorithms generally depends on data representation, and we hypothesize that this is because different representations can entangle and hide more or less the different explanatory factors of variation behind the data. Although domain knowledge can be used to help design representations, learning can also be used, and the quest for AI is motivating the design of more powerful representation-learning algorithms. This paper reviews recent work in the area of unsupervised feature learning and deep learning, covering advances in probabilistic models, manifold learning, and deep learning. This motivates longer-term unanswered questions about the appropriate objectives for learning good representations, for computing representations (i.e., inference), and the geometrical connections between representation learning, density estimation and manifold learning.
Neighbourhoods, Households and Income Dynamics: A Semi-Parametric Investigation of Neighbourhood Effects

Using a unique data set, we present evidence on income trajectories of people living in micro-neighbourhoods. We investigate neighbourhood influences making as few parametric assumptions as possible. The article offers a number of advances. We exploit a data set that is large, representative, longitudinal, with very local neighbourhoods. We analyse income growth over 1-, 5- and 10-year windows. We analyse the whole distribution of income growth and track large gainers and losers as well as averages. We consider the appropriate definition of neighbourhood. We find no evidence of a negative relationship between neighbourhood disadvantage and subsequent income growth; indeed, some evidence of a positive relationship. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Combining Multi-Date Airborne Laser Scanning and Digital Aerial Photogrammetric Data for Forest Growth and Yield Modelling

The increasing availability of highly detailed three-dimensional remotely-sensed data depicting forests, including airborne laser scanning (ALS) and digital aerial photogrammetric (DAP) approaches, provides a means for improving stand dynamics information. The availability of data from ALS and DAP has stimulated attempts to link these datasets with conventional forestry growth and yield models. In this study, we demonstrated an approach whereby two three-dimensional point cloud datasets (one from ALS and one from DAP), acquired over the same forest stands, at two points in time (circa 2008 and 2015), were used to derive forest inventory information. The area-based approach (ABA) was used to predict top height (H), basal area (BA), total volume (V), and stem density (N) for Time 1 and Time 2 (T1, T2). We assigned individual yield curves to 20 × 20 m grid cells for two scenarios. The first scenario used T1 estimates only (approach 1, single date), while the second scenario combined T1 and T2 estimates (approach 2, multi-date). Yield curves were matched by comparing the predicted cell-level attributes with a yield curve template database generated using an existing growth simulator. Results indicated that the yield curves using the multi-date data of approach 2 were matched with slightly higher accuracy; however, projections derived using approach 1 and 2 were not significantly different. The accuracy of curve matching was dependent on the ABA prediction error. The relative root mean squared error of curve matching in approach 2 for H, BA, V, and N, was 18.4, 11.5, 25.6, and 27.53% for observed (plot) data, and 13.2, 44.6, 50.4 and 112.3% for predicted data, respectively. The approach presented in this study provides additional detail on sub-stand level growth projections that enhances the information available to inform long-term, sustainable forest planning and management.
Title Alternative photosynthetic electron flow to oxygen in marine Synechococcus Permalink

Cyanobacteria dominate theworld's oceanswhere iron is often barely detectable. Onemanifestation of low iron adaptation in the oligotrophicmarine environment is a decrease in levels of iron-rich photosynthetic components, including the reaction center of photosystem I and the cytochrome b6f complex [R.F. Strzepek and P.J. Harrison, Photosynthetic architecture differs in coastal and oceanic diatoms, Nature 431 (2004) 689–692. ]. These thylakoid membrane components have well characterised roles in linear and cyclic photosynthetic electron transport and their low abundance creates potential impediments to photosynthetic function. Here we show that the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus WH8102 exhibits significant alternative electron flow toO2, a potential adaptation to the low iron environment in oligotrophic oceans. This alternative electron flow appears to extract electrons from the intersystem electron transport chain, prior to photosystem I. Inhibitor studies demonstrate that a propyl gallate-sensitive oxidase mediates this flow of electrons to oxygen, which in turn alleviates excessive photosystem II excitation pressure that can often occur even at relatively low irradiance. These findings are also discussed in the context of satisfying the energetic requirements of the cell when photosystem I abundance is low. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Genetic footprints of adaptive divergence in the bracovirus of Cotesia sesamiae identified by targeted resequencing

The African parasitoid wasp Cotesia sesamiae is a generalist species structured in locally adapted populations showing differences in host range. The recent discovery of Cotesia typhae, a specialist, sister species to C. sesamiae, provides a good framework to study the genetic determinants of parasitoid host range. To investigate the genomic bases of divergence between these populations and species, we used a targeted sequencing approach on 24 samples. We targeted the bracovirus genomic region encoding virulence genes involved in the interaction with the lepidopteran hosts of the wasps. High sequencing coverage was obtained for all samples, allowing the study of genetic variation between wasp populations and species. By combining population genetic estimations, such as nucleotide diversity (π), relative differentiation (FST) and absolute divergence (dxy), with branch‐site dN/dS measures, we identified six of 98 bracovirus genes showing significant divergence and evidence of positive selection. These genes, belonging to different gene families, are potentially involved in host adaptation and in the specialization process. Fine‐scale analyses of genetic variation also revealed mutations and large deletions in certain genes inducing pseudogenization and loss of function. The image emerging from these results is that adaptation mediated by bracovirus genes happens through selection of particularly adaptive alleles and loss of nonadaptive genes. These results highlight the central role of the bracovirus in the molecular interactions between the wasps and their hosts and in the evolutionary processes of specialization.
Characterisation of Nanoparticle Structure by High Resolution Electron Microscopy

Iron-rhodium (FeRh) nanoislands of equiatomic composition have been analysed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) electron energy loss spectroscopy(EELS) and high angle annular dark field (HAADF) techniques. Previous magnetometry results have lead to a hypothesis that at room temperature the core of the islands are antiferromagnetic while the shell has a small ferromagnetic signal. The causes of this effect are most likely to be a difference in composition at the edges or a strain on the island that stretches the lattice and forces the ferromagnetic transition. The results find, at the film-substrate interface, an iron-rich layer ∼ 5 Å thick that could play a key role in affecting the magnetostructural transition around the interfacial region and account for the room temperature ferromagnetism.
Stealth Embolics for Uterine Fibroid Embolization

C l i n M e d International Library Citation: Laurent A, Moine L, Bédouet L, Wassef M (2016) Stealth Embolics for Uterine Fibroid Embolization. Int J Womens Health Wellness 2:023 Received: May 18, 2016: Accepted: June 13, 2016: Published: June 15, 2016 Copyright: © 2016 Laurent A, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Laurent et al. Int J Womens Health Wellness 2016, 2:023 Volume 2 | Issue 2 ISSN: 2474-1353
Clientelism and vote buying: lessons from field experiments in African elections

Electoral clientelism and vote buying are widely perceived as major obstacles to economic development. This is because they may limit the provision of public goods. In this paper, we review the literature on clientelism and vote buying and propose the use of field experiments to evaluate empirically the consequences of these phenomena. We provide an overview, discuss implementation, and interpret the main results of recent field experiments conducted by the authors in West African countries. Clientelism and vote buying seem to be effective and to enjoy widespread electoral support. The results suggest that increased access to information and political participation by women may limit clientelism. In addition, voter education campaigns may undermine the effects of vote buying on voting behaviour. We argue that our findings may inform the design of development aid interventions, as a way effectively to increase public-good political accountability. We also discuss directions for fruitful future research. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Phytochemical screening, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of assorted Carica papaya leaves in Ghana

The bioactive compounds of the leaves of Carica papaya; solo and solomix were extracted using ethanol and n-hexane, and investigated for the presence of secondary metabolites. Both ethanol and n-hexane extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids. Flavonoids, glycosides and saponins were present in only the ethanol extract whereas tannins were present in the n-hexane extract. The bioactivities of the leaf extracts were attributed to their phytochemical constituents. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts were determined against some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion and broth dilution methods with the polar extract being more effective. The ethanol extract demonstrated a significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gramnegative bacteria, with the highest activity having a zone of inhibition of 10 mm. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay method and the absorbance measured using UVvisible spectrophotometer with ascorbic acid as control. The antioxidant activities of solo and solomix showed IC50 of 1.465x10-2 and 1.364x 10-2 respectively. This study demonstrates the efficacy of ethanolic leaf extracts of C. Papaya as an alternative antibiotic for the development of newer antibacterial agents.
The Impact of Open Discussion Sessions on Enhancing the Oral Communicative Abilities of Saudi English Language Majors at Buraydah Community College

The importance of developing the communicative needs of English language majors has been found a fundamental concern of Buraydah Community college in Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study has been to identify English language speaking skill needs of English language majors and investigate the impact of using Open Discussion Sessions, as extracurricular speaking activities, on developing students’ oral communicative abilities. Thirty-five students and eleven English language teachers participated in the study. Data were collected quantitatively and qualitatively by means of survey questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and pre-post speaking test. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in analyzing the raw data collected. The results of the study exposed a perceived need for developing Saudi EFL students’ speaking skill in English as their oral communicative abilities dramatically increased for their needs and interests were clearly identified and the methods for fulfilling those needs were more innovative. Post-test speaking results revealed significant development in students’ speaking abilities due to the use of Open Discussion Sessions that provided a relaxed learning environment void of worry and enhanced learners’ self-confidence through active involvement with real communicative situations with other students as well as with the instructors. Finally this study provided a framework with techniques and procedures that helped teachers to teach speaking skill more efficiently. Suggestions focused on incorporating Social Network Sites and visual cues to enhance students’ interactivity and participation outside the college borders.
Automatic and efficient simulation of operation contracts

Operation contracts consisting of pre- and postconditions are a well-known means of specifying operations. In this paper we deal with the problem of operation contract simulation, i.e., determining operation results satisfying the postconditions based on input data supplied by the user; simulating operation contracts is an important technique for requirements validation and prototyping. Current approaches to operation contract simulation exhibit poor performance for large sets of input data or require additional guidance from the user. We show how these problems can be alleviated and describe an efficient as well as fully automatic approach. It is implemented in our tool OCLexec that generates from UML/OCL operation contracts corresponding Java implementations which call a constraint solver at runtime. The generated code can serve as a prototype. A case study demonstrates that our approach can handle problem instances of considerable size.
Optical sensing of biological, chemical and ionic species through aggregation of plasmonic nanoparticles

Plasmonic nanoparticles made of gold and silver have attracted a great deal of research attention in various fields, such as biosensors, imaging, therapy, nanophotonics, catalysis and light harvesting due to their unique optical and electronic properties. Plasmonic nanoparticle colloids may exhibit strong colours in the visible region due to localized surface plasmon resonances, whereas their aggregates exhibit different linear and nonlinear optical properties. Therefore, a smart design of chemical interactions between analytes and the nanoparticles surface may lead to gradual optical changes, which can be probed by various sensing methods, allowing quantitative analyte detection. A significant amount of research has been carried out toward the development of plasmonic sensors based on analyte-induced aggregation of Au or Ag nanoparticles, and the sensitivity and selectivity of such plasmonic biosensors have been greatly improved over the years. In this feature article, we summarize different design strategies that have been employed to induce the aggregation of plasmonic nanoparticles upon the addition of various analytes such as DNA, proteins, organic molecules and inorganic ions. We introduce various optical assays, such as colorimetry, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, two-photon photoluminescence, dynamic light scattering, hyper-Rayleigh scattering and chiroptical activity. From the discussion, it can be concluded that plasmonic sensors based on nanoparticle aggregation offer simple, highly sensitive and selective detection of various analytes. Finally, we discuss some of the future directions of plasmonic nanosensors toward device integration for practical applications.
Marginal biotin deficiency during normal pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Biotin deficiency is teratogenic in several mammalian species. Approximately 50% of pregnant women have an abnormally increased urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid (3-HIA), which probably reflects decreased activity of the biotin-dependent enzyme methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase. However, increased 3-HIA excretion could result from pregnancy per se (eg, from an effect of pregnancy on renal handling of organic acids). OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that biotin supplementation significantly decreases 3-HIA excretion in pregnant women with abnormally increased 3-HIA excretion. DESIGN Twenty-six pregnant women with increased 3-HIA excretion were studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial; 10 women were studied during early pregnancy (6-17 wk gestation) and 16 women during late pregnancy (21-37 wk gestation). Urine samples were collected before and after 14 d of supplementation with 300 microg (1.2 micromol) biotin/d or placebo. RESULTS In the early-pregnancy group, 3-HIA excretion decreased (P < 0.006) by 11.7 +/- 3.6 mmol/mol creatinine (mean +/- SEM) in the 5 women who received biotin supplements, whereas 3-HIA excretion increased by 1.6 +/- 0.6 mmol/mol creatinine in the 5 women who received placebo. In the late-pregnancy group, 3-HIA excretion decreased (P < 0.002) by 7.1 +/- 1.2 mmol/mol creatinine in the 8 women who received biotin supplements, whereas 3-HIA excretion increased by 0.9 +/- 1.8 mmol/mol creatinine in the 8 women who received placebo. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that the increased excretion of 3-HIA seen frequently in normal pregnancy reflects reduced biotin status. The conclusion that marginal biotin deficiency occurs frequently in the first trimester further raises concern about potential human teratogenicity.