Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Investigation into the Relationship between Computer Self-Efficacy, Anxiety, Experience, Support and Usage

Organizations make significant investments in information technology. However, if individuals do not use information system applications as anticipated, successful implementation can be hard to achieve. In order to investigate some key factors thought to affect an individual's use of information technology, this study draws on Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Triandis's Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB), and the computer anxiety literature to develop its conceptual model and research hypotheses. An empirical investigation (n=978) found support for the majority of the hypotheses. As suggested by SCT, experience and support were positively related to computer self-efficacy, and computer self-efficacy was negatively related to anxiety and positively related to usage. As suggested by TIB, experience was positively related to usage. Furthermore, computer anxiety was negatively related to experience. By providing insight into these important relationships, this research can help further understanding of their role in the acceptance and use of information technology.
Advantages of predicted phenotypes and statistical learning models in inferring virological response to antiretroviral therapy from HIV genotype

Background Inferring response to antiretroviral therapy from the viral genotype alone is challenging. The utility of an intermediate step of predicting in vitro drug susceptibility is currently controversial. Here, we provide a retrospective comparison of approaches using either genotype or predicted phenotypes alone, or in combination. Methods Treatment change episodes were extracted from two large databases from the USA (Stanford-California) and Europe (EuResistDB) comprising data from 6,706 and 13,811 patients, respectively. Response to antiretroviral treatment was dichotomized according to two definitions. Using the viral sequence and the treatment regimen as input, three expert algorithms (ANRS, Rega and HIVdb) were used to generate genotype-based encodings and VircoTYPE™ 4.0 (Virco BVBA, Mechelen, Belgium) was used to generate a predicted phenotype-based encoding. Single drug classifications were combined into a treatment score via simple summation and statistical learning using random forests. Classification performance was studied on Stanford- California data using cross-validation and, in addition, on the independent EuResistDB data. Results In all experiments, predicted phenotype was among the most sensitive approaches. Combining single drug classifications by statistical learning was significantly superior to unweighted summation (P<2.2x10-16). Classification performance could be increased further by combining predicted phenotypes and expert encodings but not by combinations of expert encodings alone. These results were confirmed on an independent test set comprising data solely from EuResistDB. Conclusions This study demonstrates consistent performance advantages in utilizing predicted phenotype in most scenarios over methods based on genotype alone in inferring virological response. Moreover, all approaches under study benefit significantly from statistical learning for merging single drug classifications into treatment scores.
Otopetrin 1 activation by purinergic nucleotides regulates intracellular calcium

Otopetrin1 (Otop1) is a multitransmembrane domain protein required for the formation of otoconia in the vertebrate inner ear. Otoconia are complex calcium carbonate (CaCO3) biominerals that are required for the sensation of gravity. Examination of the phenotypes of animals with mutations or deficiencies in Otop1 suggests a direct role for Otop1 in the initiation of extracellular biomineralization, possibly through the regulation of intracellular Ca2+. Here, we demonstrate that Otop1 overexpression can modulate purinergic-mediated Ca2+ homeostasis in transfected cell lines. These experiments define a unique set of biochemical activities of Otop1, including depletion of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores, specific inhibition of the purinergic receptor P2Y, and regulation of the influx of extracellular Ca2+ in response to ATP, ADP, and UDP. These activities can be inhibited by the polyanion suramin in a rapidly reversible manner. This first characterization of the consequences of Otop1 overexpression indicates a profound effect on cellular Ca2+ regulation. In a physiologic setting, these activities could direct the formation and growth of otoconia and regulate other biomineralization processes.
Medial preoptic sexual dimorphisms in the guinea pig. I. An investigation of their hormonal dependence

The guinea pig exhibits sexually dimorphic patterns of cell density and distribution throughout the medial preoptic area, a region that has been shown to be involved in the regulation of sexually differentiated behavioral and endocrinological reproductive functions (Bleier et al., 1982). The most prominent sex differences involve 2 components of the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN), an anteriorly placed compact subnucleus (MPNa) that is twice as large in females as in males, and a centrally placed compact subnucleus that occupies an approximately 10-fold greater volume in males than in females and corresponds to the sexually dimorphic nucleus described in the rat by Gorski et al. (1978). In the present study the sex differences in both of these cell groups were shown to be unaffected by neonatal gonadectomy and postnatal hormonal manipulations. In contrast, MPNa volume was significantly decreased and MPNc volume significantly increased in genotypic females exposed to testosterone propionate (TP) on gestational days 28-37 or 28-65 but not 38-65. All 3 prenatal TP treatments administered to females significantly increased mounting frequencies and suppressed lordosis, ovulation, and the positive-feedback effects of estrogen and progesterone on luteinizing hormone release. Thus, the volumetric sex differences in MPNa and MPNc alone do not seem to be sufficient to account for the sex differences in the functions of the medial preoptic region. It is, therefore, suggested that androgens continue to exert organizational influences upon the developing brain after cytoarchitectonic patterns have been determined.
DNA replication origin of polyoma virus: early proximal boundary

We constructed a series of deleted polyoma genomes by Bal 31 nuclease digestion from the unique Bg/I site at nucleotide 86 on the "early" side of the origin of DNA replication. The ability of the cloned deleted genomes to replicate was tested after transfection into mouse 3T6 fibroblasts or into the polyomatransformed C127 (COP5) mouse cell line (Tyndall et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 9:6231-6251, 1981). Deletions up to nucleotide 64-had no effect on the amount of replicated DNA accumulated, but larger deletions, extending up to nucleotide 42, decreased this amount 7- to 10-fold. By nucleotide 38, the quantity of detected DNA was down 100-fold, and by nucleotide 20, no replication could be detected. The minimum origin segment does not contain any known high-affinity, large tumor antigen binding site.
Longitudinal Growth Curves of Brain Function Underlying Inhibitory Control through Adolescence

Neuroimaging studies suggest that developmental improvements in inhibitory control are primarily supported by changes in prefrontal executive function. However, studies are contradictory with respect to how activation in prefrontal regions changes with age, and they have yet to analyze longitudinal data using growth curve modeling, which allows characterization of dynamic processes of developmental change, individual differences in growth trajectories, and variables that predict any interindividual variability in trajectories. In this study, we present growth curves modeled from longitudinal fMRI data collected over 302 visits (across ages 9 to 26 years) from 123 human participants. Brain regions within circuits known to support motor response control, executive control, and error processing (i.e., aspects of inhibitory control) were investigated. Findings revealed distinct developmental trajectories for regions within each circuit and indicated that a hierarchical pattern of maturation of brain activation supports the gradual emergence of adult-like inhibitory control. Mean growth curves of activation in motor response control regions revealed no changes with age, although interindividual variability decreased with development, indicating equifinality with maturity. Activation in certain executive control regions decreased with age until adolescence, and variability was stable across development. Error-processing activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex showed continued increases into adulthood and no significant interindividual variability across development, and was uniquely associated with task performance. These findings provide evidence that continued maturation of error-processing abilities supports the protracted development of inhibitory control over adolescence, while motor response control regions provide early-maturing foundational capacities and suggest that some executive control regions may buttress immature networks as error processing continues to mature.
Osteoactivin Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis to Bone

The skeleton is a preferred site of metastasis in patients with disseminated breast cancer. We have used 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma cells, which metastasize to bone from the mammary fat pads of immunocompetent mice, to identify novel genes involved in this process. In vivo selection of parental cells resulted in the isolation of independent, aggressively bone metastatic breast cancer populations with reduced metastasis to the lung. Gene expression profiling identified osteoactivin as a candidate that is highly and selectively expressed in aggressively bone metastatic breast cancer cells. These cells displayed enhanced migratory and invasive characteristics in vitro, the latter requiring sustained osteoactivin expression. Osteoactivin depletion in these cells, by small interfering RNA, also lead to a loss of matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression, whereas forced osteoactivin expression in parental 4T1 cells was sufficient to elevate matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels, suggesting that this matrix metalloproteinase may be an important mediator of osteoactivin function. Overexpression of osteoactivin in an independent, weakly bone metastatic breast cancer cell model significantly enhanced the formation of osteolytic bone metastases in vivo. Finally, high levels of osteoactivin expression in primary human breast cancers correlate with estrogen receptor–negative status and increasing tumor grade. Thus, we have identified osteoactivin as a protein that is expressed in aggressive human breast cancers and is capable of promoting breast cancer metastasis to bone. (Mol Cancer Res 2007;5(10):1001–14)
Exercise therapy for osteoporosis: results of a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To define the effects of therapeutic exercise on bone density and back complaints. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial with parallel groups was conducted in an outpatient clinic, Medical School, University of Vienna. Ninety two sedentary post-menopausal women with back problems were randomly allocated to either exercise (groups 1 and 2) or control (group 3, no exercise, n = 31); the exercise group was retrospectively subdivided into compliant (group 1, n = 27) and not fully compliant patients (group 2, n = 34). Regular, initially supervised therapeutic exercise aimed at restoring biomechanical function was performed for four years. Bone density in the forearm was measured by single photon absorptiometry at entry and after four years; subjective back complaints were documented. RESULTS: A significant decrease in bone density was observed in groups 2 and 3; no change was noted in group 1; back complaints decreased in group 1 only. CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary postmenopausal women may benefit from regular long term therapeutic exercise in terms of subjective back complaints and slowed loss of bone mass.
Stability analysis of underactuated bipedal gait using linearized model

This paper investigates the self-stabilization principle underlying an underactuated bipedal gait generated by trajectory tracking control of the hip-joint angle. First, we introduce a planar underactuated compass-like biped robot with semicircular feet, and develop its dynamics and linearized system equation. We then design an output following control for the linearized robot's hip-joint angle. Second, we analytically derive the transition equation of state error for the stance and collision phases from the state space representation. We then solve the stability limit and optimal condition of the stance phase and show the stability of the collision phase. Finally, the validity of the theoretical results is verified through numerical simulations.
Chromatin organization during mouse oocyte growth

We investigated the changes in the organization of oocyte nuclear chromatin and nucleolar‐associated chromatin throughout folliculogenesis. Zona‐free oocytes were isolated from ovaries, grouped into seven classes according to size and chromatin organization, and analyzed after staining with Hoechst 33342. We show that oocyte differentiation from the dictyate stage to the conclusion of maturation is associated with either of two chromatin configurations. Initially, all oocytes are in the NSN configuration (nonsurrounded nucleolus oocytes; characterized by a Hoechst positive‐chromatin pattern of small clumps forming a network on the nuclear surface, with a nucleolus nonsurrounded by chromatin). While growing, some of these NSN oocytes continue their development in the NSN configuration, whereas others shift (from class IV on) into the SN configuration (surrounded nucleolus oocytes; characterized by a threadlike chromatin organization that may partially surround the nucleolus or project towards the nuclear periphery). The percentage of SN oocytes increases both with increasing size of the oocyte (class I–III, 10–40 μm in diameter: 100% NSN vs. 0% SN; class VII 70–80 μm in diameter: 47.3% NSN vs. 52.3 SN, in 4–6‐week‐old females), and with aging (class VII: 94.1% NSN vs. 5.9% SN in 2‐week‐old females; 11.8% NSN vs. 8.2% SN in 56‐week‐old females). Further, we suggest as a working hypothesis that those oocytes that switch to the SN chromatin organization early in maturation may not be ovulated, even though this particular chromatin structure normally occurs just prior to ovulation. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Energy-Aware IP Core Design for the Variable-Length DCT/IDCT Targeting at MPEG4 Shape-Adaptive Transforms

This paper proposes a flexible hardware solution and the associated energy-aware IP core design for computing the variable-length discrete cosine transform/inverse discrete cosine transform (DCT/IDCT) required in the MPEG4 shape-adaptive DCT/IDCT (SA-DCT/IDCT). The proposed IP core has been developed based on the design concept of programmable processors to provide the flexibility in dynamically configuring the hardware. To achieve good performance both in area and speed, we optimize the proposed IP core both in the algorithmic computational complexity and hardware complexity. Furthermore, the proposed IP core possesses the feature of energy-aware design flexibility. The simulation shows that the proposed design has 44% energy reduction at the price of 0.3-dB signal quality degradation for the image compression applications. The implementation results show that the proposed IP core costs about 3100 gates along with 16 words (1 word = 16 bits) of memory, which can achieve the real-time processing of the texture coding in MPEG4 SP@L3 and ACE@L2 CODEC system for the CIF format video at 30 frames/s with 4:2:0 color format.
Pride and Prejudice

The present research demonstrates that pride has divergent effects on prejudice, exacerbating or attenuating evaluative biases against stigmatized groups, depending on the form of pride experienced. Specifically, three experiments found that hubristic pride—associated with arrogance and self-aggrandizement—promotes prejudice and discrimination, whereas authentic pride—associated with self-confidence and accomplishment—promotes more positive attitudes toward outgroups and stigmatized individuals. Findings generalized to discriminatory judgments (Experiment 2) and were found to be mediated by empathic concern for the evaluative target. Together, these experiments suggest that pride may be a cause of everyday prejudice and discrimination but that these social consequences depend on whether hubristic or authentic pride is experienced, and the degree to which empathic concern is subsequently aroused.
An RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Prevents Meristem Invasion by Potato Virus X and Is Required for the Activity But Not the Production of a Systemic Silencing Signal1[w]

One of the functions of RNA silencing in plants is antiviral defense. A hallmark of RNA silencing is spreading of the silenced state through the plant. Little is known about the nature of the systemic silencing signal and the proteins required for its production, transport, and reception in plant tissues. Here, we show that the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase RDR6 in Nicotiana benthamiana is involved in defense against potato virus X at the level of systemic spreading and in exclusion of the virus from the apical growing point. It has no effect on primary replication and cell-to-cell movement of the virus and does not contribute significantly to the formation of virus-derived small interfering (si) RNA in a fully established potato virus X infection. In grafting experiments, the RDR6 homolog was required for the ability of a cell to respond to, but not to produce or translocate, the systemic silencing signal. Taking these findings together, we suggest a model of virus defense in which RDR6 uses incoming silencing signal to generate double-stranded RNA precursors of secondary siRNA. According to this idea, the secondary siRNAs mediate RNA silencing as an immediate response that slows down the systemic spreading of the virus into the growing point and newly emerging leaves.
The Role of Sleep in Motor Sequence Consolidation: Stabilization Rather Than Enhancement

Sleep supports the consolidation of motor sequence memories, yet it remains unclear whether sleep stabilizes or actually enhances motor sequence performance. Here we assessed the time course of motor memory consolidation in humans, taking early boosts in performance into account and varying the time between training and sleep. Two groups of subjects, each participating in a short wake condition and a longer sleep condition, were trained on the sequential finger-tapping task in the evening and were tested (1) after wake intervals of either 30 min or 4 h and (2) after a night of sleep that ensued either 30 min or 4 h after training. The results show an early boost in performance 30 min after training and a subsequent decay across the 4 h wake interval. When sleep followed 30 min after training, post-sleep performance was stabilized at the early boost level. Sleep at 4 h after training restored performance to the early boost level, such that, 12 h after training, performance was comparable regardless of whether sleep occurred 30 min or 4 h after training. These findings indicate that sleep does not enhance but rather stabilizes motor sequence performance without producing additional gains.
Adaptive client-impostor centric score normalization: A case study in fingerprint verification

Cohort-based score normalization as examplified by the T-norm (for Test normalization) has been the state-of-the-art approach to account for the variability of signal quality in testing. On the other hand, user-specific score normalization such as the Z-norm and the F-norm, designed to handle variability in performance across different reference models, has also been shown to be very effective. Exploiting the strenghth of both approaches, this paper proposes a novel score normalization called adaptive F-norm, which is client-impostor centric, i.e., utilizing both the genuine and impostor score information, as well as adaptive, i.e, adaptive to the test condition thanks to the use of a pool of cohort models. Experiments based on the BioSecure DS2 database which contains 6 fingers of 415 subjects, each acquired using a thermal and an optical device, show that the proposed adaptive F-norm is better or at least as good as the other alternatives, including those recently proposed in the literature.
Replicon sequence typing of IncF plasmids carrying virulence and resistance determinants.

OBJECTIVES IncF plasmids are frequently encountered in clinical enterobacterial strains associated with the dissemination of relevant antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. These plasmids are usually heterogeneous in size and carry multiple replicons, and technical difficulties can impair the comparison and detection of related plasmids by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. We devised a rapid sequence-based typing scheme to categorize the members of this plasmid family into homogeneous groups. METHODS We compared the available IncF replicon sequences, identifying the combination of the different IncF replicon alleles as the discriminating characteristic of these plasmid scaffolds. An IncF typing method based on PCR amplification and sequence typing of the IncF replicons was devised. A collection of IncF plasmids carrying resistance and/or virulence genes, identified in strains from different sources and geographical origins, was tested with this typing system. RESULTS We devised a replicon sequence typing (RST) scheme discriminating IncF plasmid variants. This system was tested on the collection of IncF plasmids, demonstrating that it was useful for the discrimination of plasmids carrying the same resistance gene (i.e. the bla(CTX-M-15) gene), but also recognized strictly related virulence plasmids (i.e. IncFIme plasmids). The PCR-based replicon typing (PBRT) system was also updated by including new primer pairs to allow the identification of the Salmonella, Klebsiella and Yersinia IncF plasmids. CONCLUSIONS The ability to recognize and sub-categorize IncF plasmids by RST in homogeneous groups on the basis of their phylogenetic relatedness can be helpful in analysing their distribution in nature and discovering their evolutionary origin.
Tracking the multi person wandering visual focus of attention

Estimating the wandering visual focus of attention (WVFOA) for multiple people is an important problem with many applications in human behavior understanding. One such application, addressed in this paper, monitors the attention of passers-by to outdoor advertisements. This paper investigates the problem of tracking the wandering visual focus-of-attention (VFOA) of multiple people, an important problem with many applications in human behavior understanding. We address the specific problem of monitoring attention to outdoor advertisements. To solve the WVFOA problem, we propose a multi-person tracking approach based on a hybrid Dynamic Bayesian Network that simultaneously infers the number of people in the scene, their body and head locations, and their head pose, in a joint state-space formulation that is amenable for person interaction modeling. The model exploits both global measurements and individual observations for the VFOA. For inference in the resulting high-dimensional state-space, we propose a trans-dimensional Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling scheme, which not only handles a varying number of people, but also efficiently searches the state-space by allowing person-part state updates. Our model was rigorously evaluated for tracking and its ability to recognize when people look at an outdoor advertisement using a realistic data set.