Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Creative Reflections on Brainstorming.

Brainstorming is the default method of idea-generation in organisations, and is widely applied in higher education by students, academics and support staff. Its popularity is mainly attributable to an illusory belief that groups working together are more productive than individuals working apart. Shared responsibility, the need for collaboration and the social dimension to work also sustains the popularity of brainstorming. To add further insight to the numerous studies that have been demonstrated the inefficiencies of brainstorming, this paper describes preliminary results on participants’ self-reflection during a brainstorm. Recommendations are made for improving the productivity of group brainstorms.
Membrane potential, resting calcium and calcium transients in isolated muscle fibres from normal and dystrophic mice.

1. Single skeletal muscle fibres were enzymatically isolated from the flexor digitorum brevis muscles (FDB) of dystrophic mdx and control C57BL/10 mice aged 3‐9 weeks. In this age range the majority (> 95%) of the mdx fibres were morphologically normal. 2. There was no significant difference between the resting membrane potential (RMP) of mdx and control mice, ‐71.2 +/‐ 1.21 (n = 26) and ‐70.6 +/‐ 1.15 mV (n = 42), respectively. 3. At RMP more negative than ‐60 mV the resting calcium (recorded with fura‐2, free acid ionophoresed into cell) in the dystrophic mdx cells was not significantly different from the normal animals, 45.7 +/‐ 4.1 (n = 10) and 46.2 +/‐ 3.9 nM (n = 9), respectively. 4. The resting cytosolic calcium concentration was measured simultaneously with the RMP. At RMP between ‐60 to ‐17 mV there was an increase in the resting calcium concentration in both mdx and control ranging from 79.3 to 252 nM. This increase was most probably due to the activation of the slow calcium current. 5. Fura‐2 calcium transients were produced via single action potential stimulation using an intracellular microelectrode both to stimulate the cell and record potential changes. There was no significant difference between the rise time (Tp) or half‐decay time (T1/2) at 22 degrees C of the calcium transient in response to a single action potential in mdx compared to normal animals, 5.9 +/‐ 0.34 (n = 8) and 5.4 +/‐ 0.36 ms (n = 7); 39.5 +/‐ 2.9 (n = 8) and 40.75 +/‐ 3.7 ms (n = 7), respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Towards Understanding Connections between Security/Privacy Attitudes and Unlock Authentication

In this study, we examine the ways in which user attitudes towards privacy and security relating to mobile devices and the data stored thereon may impact the strength of unlock authentication, focusing on Android's graphical unlock patterns. We conducted an online study with Amazon Mechanical Turk ($N=750$) using self-reported unlock authentication choices, as well as Likert scale agreement/disagreement responses to a set of seven privacy/security prompts. We then analyzed the responses in multiple dimensions, including a straight average of the Likert responses as well as using Principle Component Analysis to expose latent factors. We found that responses to two of the seven questions proved relevant and significant. These two questions considered attitudes towards general concern for data stored on mobile devices, and attitudes towards concerns for unauthorized access by {\em known} actors. Unfortunately, larger conclusions cannot be drawn on the efficacy of the broader set of questions for exposing connections between unlock authentication strength (Pearson Rank $r=-0.08$, $p<0.1$). However, both of our factor solutions exposed differences in responses for demographics groups, including age, gender, and residence type. The findings of this study suggests that there is likely a link between perceptions of privacy/security on mobile devices and the perceived threats therein, but more research is needed, particularly on developing better survey and measurement techniques of privacy/security attitudes that relate to mobile devices specifically.
Measuring Empowerment in Families Whose Children Have Emotional Disabilities: A Brief Questionnaire

This paper describes the development and empirical examination of a brief questionnaire for assessing empowerment in families whose children have emotional disabilities. The questionnaire is based on a two-dimensional conceptual framework of empowerment derived from the literature. One dimension reflects empowerment with respect to the family, service system, and larger community and political environment; the other dimension reflects the expression of empowerment as attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. The paper outlines the questionnaire's conceptual basis, describes its development, and presents analyses of reliability and validity based on 440 responses of family members. Applications of the instrument in both research and service delivery are discussed. Family empowerment is increasingly seen as a central goal of efforts to improve services for families whose children have disabilities. The emergence of this concept reflects recent developments in the consumer, practice, and research communities. Among these developments are the growth of the consumer movement with its emphasis on self-help and self-reliance (Moxley, Raider, & Cohen, 1989), the widespread application ofpractice models that focus on family strengths rather than deficits (Cochran, 1987; Dunst, Trivette, & Deal, 1988; Poertner & Ronnau, 1992), the explicit incorporation of empowerment values within public policies and programs (Gallagher, Trohanis, & Clifford, 1989; Stroul & Friedman, 1988), and the increasing recognition that services can be delivered in ways that either promote or inhibit self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977, 1982; Dunst & Paget, 1991; Dunst & Trivette, 1987). The concept of family empowerment has also benefited from the synergistic effect that comes from many different disciplines focusing on one idea at the same time. Virtually all the helping professions that serve families of children with disabilities have adopted this concept to some degree, and thus it is beginning to emerge as a common value across disciplines. REHABILITATION PSYCHOLOGY Vol. 37, No.4, 1992 © 1992 by the Division of Rehabilitation Psychology of the American Psychological Association Published by Springer Publishing Company, Inc., 536 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Optimal Electrode Configurations for Finger Movement Classification using EMG

The myoelectric signal has played a major role in the development of prosthesis control technology. A myoelectric classification system has the ability to determine a prosthesis user's intent based solely on his or her muscle activity, thereby allowing for more intuitive prosthetic control. Much work has been done on the recognition of upper arm and gross hand movement tasks, but it was not until accuracy levels approached 100% [3] that more attention was given to specific finger movements. In this study, the effect of electrode array size and arrangement on classification accuracy is investigated for a four-finger typing task. This follows from previous work [1] in which the classification system itself was optimized. Unique advantages were found using array sizes of three and seven electrodes; classification accuracy of 92.7±3.9% was found in the latter case across twelve subjects.
Genome analyses of spirochetes: a study of the protein structures, functions and metabolic pathways in Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi.

We perform a comprehensive genome analysis on two spirochetes, T. pallidum and B. burgdorferi. First, we focus on the occurrence of protein structures in these organisms. We find that there are only a few spirochete-specific folds, relative to those in other types of bacteria. The most common fold, by far, in the spirochetes is the P-loop NTP hydrolase, followed by the TIM barrel. These folds also happen to be amongst the most multifunctional of the known folds. We also survey the membrane-protein structures in T. pallidum and find a notable large family with twelve transmembrane (TM) helices, reflecting the prevalence of 12-TM transporters in bacteria. Then we move to analysis of the metabolic pathways and overall metabolism in the spirochetes, using the metabolic-flux-balancing method. We find that the lipid biosynthesis pathway is absent from the spirochetes. This strongly limits the degree to which these organisms can metabolize NADPH. In turn, we find that the spirochetes distribute flux disproportionately through the glycolytic pathway instead of the NADPH-providing pentose phosphate pathway. Further information is available at http://bioinfo.mbb. yale.edu
Clinical practice guideline implementation strategy patterns in Veterans Affairs primary care clinics.

BACKGROUND The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mandated the system-wide implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in the mid-1990s, arming all facilities with basic resources to facilitate implementation; despite this resource allocation, significant variability still exists across VA facilities in implementation success. OBJECTIVE This study compares CPG implementation strategy patterns used by high and low performing primary care clinics in the VA. RESEARCH DESIGN Descriptive, cross-sectional study of a purposeful sample of six Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) with high and low performance on six CPGs. SUBJECTS One hundred and two employees (management, quality improvement, clinic personnel) involved with guideline implementation at each VAMC primary care clinic. MEASURES; Participants reported specific strategies used by their facility to implement guidelines in 1-hour semi-structured interviews. Facilities were classified as high or low performers based on their guideline adherence scores calculated through independently conducted chart reviews. FINDINGS High performing facilities (HPFs) (a) invested significantly in the implementation of the electronic medical record and locally adapting it to provider needs, (b) invested dedicated resources to guideline-related initiatives, and (c) exhibited a clear direction in their strategy choices. Low performing facilities exhibited (a) earlier stages of development for their electronic medical record, (b) reliance on preexisting resources for guideline implementation, with little local adaptation, and (c) no clear direction in their strategy choices. CONCLUSION A multifaceted, yet targeted, strategic approach to guideline implementation emphasizing dedicated resources and local adaptation may result in more successful implementation and higher guideline adherence than relying on standardized resources and taxing preexisting channels.
User generated content in the Israeli online journalism landscape

The paper provides a review of research on user generated content in the Israeli online journalism landscape. Findings reveal that scholarly attention has been focused primarily on user comments, with initial insight on the role of blogs and citizen journalism in the Israeli journalism landscape. Methodologically, research is derived primarily from interviews with newsroom staff and case study content analyses. The review suggests that future research should complement current data with user based inquiry about orientations and use of UGC, and examine the role of Israeli culture in the practice of UGC.
EFFECT OF EVALUATIVE CONDITIONING ON AFFECTIVELY NEUTRAL NONSENSE SHAPES

The present study examined the effect of evaluative conditioning on affectively neutral novel contour shapes. In the experiment, two nonsense shapes were paired with positive and negative personality traits, and were presented to participants (N = 26). These shapes and positive or negative nouns were then used as primes and targets for the affective priming procedure at stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) 300 and 1000. Results showed that, at both SOAs, positive target words presented immediately after the shape paired with positive traits and negative target words presented immediately after the shape paired with negative traits caused faster evaluation than the other combinations. These results suggest that both automatic evaluation and intentional expectation are linked with evaluative conditioning.
The Method of Business Process Oriented Tool Selection in Information Systems Development Projects

The focus of this paper is to provide an overview of the nature of business process oriented tools and to develop a procedure that could help managers in the selection process in relation to the project goals, critical success factors, and business process oriented tools criteria. The proposed procedure is based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, which is flexible and can be adapted to different company and project types.
Masseter Muscle Rigidity and Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptibility

&NA; Seventy‐seven patients who developed masseter muscle rigidity (MMR) after receiving succinylcholine to facilitate tracheal intubation were evaluated for malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility by in vitro halothane and caffeine contracture tests. Thirty‐nine patients were diagnosed as MH‐susceptible. Neither age, sex, nor type of surgery or anesthesia distinguished MH‐susceptible from nonsusceptible patients. Two susceptible and two nonsusceptible patients had evidence of a myopathy. Fifty‐two patients had serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels measured in the perioperative period. Although all values were above nor‐ mal, CPK values equal to or greater than 20,000 IU within 24 hr of trismus (in the absence of myopathy) were observed in six of 30 patients diagnosed as MH‐susceptible, but were found in none of the nonsusceptible patients. Considering the high percentage of patients exhibiting MMR that are indeed susceptible to MH (∽50%) compared to estimates of MH in the population as a whole (∽0.005%), MMR should be considered a presumptive sign of MH. Perioperative CPK values greater than 20,000 IU are highly suggestive of MH susceptibility. Patients exhibiting MMR should be evaluated for MH susceptibility and myopathies. Succinylcholine should be avoided for subsequent anesthetics in patients with a history of MMR.
Racial Tolerance as a Function of Group Position.

White people's attitudes toward racial desegregation of the public schools are assessed by using items replicated on 22 surveys from 1954 to 1978. Myrdal's statement that racial tolerance reflects adherence to a general principle (equal access to educational opportunity) is compared to Blumer's thesis that racial tolerance varies as a function of the perceived position of groups in a racially stratified system. Depending on the racial mixture implied, whites have different levels of tolerance of school desegregation; but regardless of the racial mix, regional differences in tolerance decrease over time. Where differences in tolerance exist among other demographic subgroups of whites, those differences remain relatively constant.
Preferring Offline Bookings: An Empirical Study of Channel Choice Motives of Online Information Seekers

Gaining revenues from e-commerce has proven to be far trickier that could have been expected from the hype in the late 1990's. The majority of online customers are still information seekers, who make their purchases offline. The tourism industry has achieved a competitive advantage over other sectors, since it has been able to transfer more customers online. Therefore, we should examine and learn from the companies in travel business. This paper reports the findings from a study exploring motives behind booking channel choice. For testing eight hypotheses based on media choice theories, a questionnaire was designed and implemented in a Web survey for customers visiting the Web site of a passenger cruise company. The primary reasons for not using the Internet for travel reservations were: perceiving the booking so complex that discussion with customer service was required, having many special arrangements included in the booking, and distrust in finding the cheapest alternative in the online booking system. Online booking was found to be quick, easy, and especially suitable for simple bookings with no special arrangements. The probability of making a reservation online increased when a customer gained more experience of online shopping.
Masked repetition priming effects on naming in aphasia: A Phase I treatment study

Background: It has been suggested that lexical access deficits in aphasia may be the result of impaired automatic activation of the networks that support language processing, a system that operates implicitly, outside conscious awareness. This raises the question of whether there might be a way to address rebuilding these implicit networks directly, rather than through the explicit treatment protocols that are typical of aphasia therapy. Masked priming is one method by which the language system can be automatically activated, while limiting or preventing the influence of conscious, explicit processing. Aims: This Phase I study was undertaken to investigate the potential effectiveness of masked repetition priming as a treatment for anomia. Methods & Procedures: This study used a single-participant, ABA, multiple-baseline repeated-probe design. A total of 22 training sessions were completed across 4 weeks. Training involved repeated presentation of masked repetition primes paired with target pictures prior to attempts at naming those pictures. Untrained items were presented an equal number of times, but without prime words. Repeated naming probes administered before, during, and after treatment were used to measure effects of training (naming trained stimuli) and generalisation (naming within and across semantic categories). Pre- and post-training assessment with broader tests of language function and conversation were also completed. Outcomes & Results: Results revealed a small effect of training on naming of trained items in one category, as well as a pattern of improvement in the other category that did not quite meet the criterion for a small effect. There was also a medium cross- category generalisation effect, although no generalisation effect was seen to untrained items within semantic categories. Improvements were seen on some measures of general language function. Conclusions: Masked priming can elicit changes in naming ability over time, and may have potential as a tool for improving word retrieval in individuals with anomia. Results warrant further investigation.
A cell cycle and mutational analysis of anchorage-independent growth: cell adhesion and TGF-beta 1 control G1/S transit specifically

We have examined cell cycle control of anchorage-independent growth in nontransformed fibroblasts. In previous studies using G0-synchronized NRK and NIH-3T3 cells, we showed that anchorage-independent growth is regulated by an attachment-dependent transition at G1/S that resembles the START control point in the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the studies reported here, we have synchronized NRK and NIH-3T3 fibroblasts immediately after this attachment-dependent transition to determine if other portions of the fibroblast cell cycle are similarly regulated by adhesion. Our results show that S-, G2-, and M-phase progression proceed in the absence of attachment. Thus, we conclude that the adhesion requirement for proliferation of these cells can be explained in terms of the single START-like transition. In related studies, we show that TGF-beta 1 overrides the attachment-dependent transition in NRK and AKR-2B fibroblasts (lines in which TGF-beta 1 induces anchorage-independent growth), but not in NIH-3T3 or Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts (lines in which TGF-beta 1 fails to induce anchorage- independent growth). These results show that (a) adhesion and TGF-beta 1 can have similar effects in stimulating cell cycle progression from G1 to S and (b) the differential effects of TGF-beta 1 on anchorage- independent growth of various fibroblast lines are directly reflected in the differential effects of the growth factor at G1/S. Finally, we have randomly mutagenized NRK fibroblasts to generate mutant lines that have lost their attachment/TGF-beta 1 requirement for G1/S transit while retaining their normal mitogen requirements for proliferation. These clones, which readily proliferate in mitogen-supplemented soft agar, appear non-transformed in monolayer: they are well spread, nonrefractile, and contact inhibited. The existence of this new fibroblast phenotype demonstrates (a) that the growth factor and adhesion/TGF-beta 1 requirements for cell cycle progression are genetically separable, (b) that the two major control points in the fibroblast cell cycle (G0/G1 and G1/S) are regulated by distinct extracellular signals, and (c) that the genes regulating anchorage- independent growth need not be involved in regulating contact inhibition, focus formation, or growth factor dependence.
Rapid face recognition using hashing

We propose a face recognition approach based on hashing. The approach yields comparable recognition rates with the random ℓ1 approach [18], which is considered the state-of-the-art. But our method is much faster: it is up to 150 times faster than [18] on the YaleB dataset. We show that with hashing, the sparse representation can be recovered with a high probability because hashing preserves the restrictive isometry property. Moreover, we present a theoretical analysis on the recognition rate of the proposed hashing approach. Experiments show a very competitive recognition rate and significant speedup compared with the state-of-the-art.