Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Veni, Vidi, Vici: Breaking the TAM Logjam

Benbasat and Barki (2007) argue that TAM has been both a blessing and curse for the IS field and they detail reasons why this is the case. Our response to their critique is to highlight areas of agreement, disagree with one of their assertions, and extend their thinking along another, related line. Specifically, we agree that some TAM constructs, namely perceived usefulness and system usage, need to be more closely examined in order to break up the "black box" portrayal of these concepts. Our view of Benbasat and Barki's characterization of TAM as unassailable is that common methods bias has never been well tested and that TAM linkages may in fact be methodological artifacts. Finally, it is argued that the field desperately needs more parsimony in TAM models and that meta-analysis is one good way of achieving this goal.
Limits of Model Transformations for Embedded Software

We report on an effort to use executable modeling languages for developing software for the Ericsson LTE-A uplink test bed. The test bed was a part of a 4G telecommunications system, that was presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, February 2011. The requirements for the delivered software included efficient real-time performance for signal processing on new hardware as well as a firm non-negotiable delivery deadline. Our results show that the existing model transformations were not efficient enough on the new platform and that model transformations across paradigms is a challenging task; to meet the deadline and the requirements the generated code had to be manually optimised.
Linear prediction methods for blind fractionally spaced equalization

We describe adaptive methods for estimating FIR zero-forcing blind equalizers with arbitrary delay directly from the linear predictions of the observations. While most current methods require inversion or singular value decomposition (SVD) of the correlation matrix, our methods need only to solve two linear prediction problems. They can be implemented as RLS or LMS algorithms to recursively update the equalizer estimation. they are computationally efficient. The computational complexity in each recursion can be less than 15(LN)/sup 2/ in the RLS case, where LN equals the equalizer length, and 3L(LN) in the LMS case, where L is the number of subchannels. The performance of the proposed methods and comparisons with existing approaches are shown by simulation to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Evaluation of Cryopreserved Human Hepatocytes as an Alternative in Vitro System to Microsomes for the Prediction of Metabolic Clearance

Human liver microsomes have typically resulted in marked underprediction of in vivo human intrinsic clearance (CLint); therefore, the utility of cryopreserved hepatocytes as an alternative in vitro system has become an important issue. In this study, 10 compounds (tolbutamide, diclofenac, S-warfarin, S-mephenytoin, dextromethorphan, bufuralol, quinidine, nifedipine, testosterone, and terfenadine) were selected as substrate probes for CYP2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4, and the kinetics of metabolite formation (n = 14 pathways) were investigated in three individual lots of cryopreserved hepatocytes and in a pool of human liver microsomes. For the majority of the compounds, lower unbound KM or S50 values were observed in hepatocytes compared with microsomes, on average by 50% over a 200-fold range (0.5–140 μM). Expressed on an equivalent liver weight basis, a good correlation between microsomal and hepatocyte Vmax values was observed for most pathways greater than 5 orders of magnitude (0.16–216 nmol/min/g liver). Unbound hepatocyte CLint (CLint,u) values, when scaled to the whole liver (range 0.38–4000 ml/min/kg), were on average 2.5-fold higher than microsomal CLint,u values, with the exception of tolbutamide and diclofenac, for which lower hepatocellular CLint,u values were observed. Hepatocyte predicted CLint values were compared with human in vivo CLint values, and to supplement our data, in vitro data from cryopreserved hepatocytes were collated from four other published sources. These data show that for 37 drugs, there is, on average, a 4.5-fold under-prediction of the in vivo CLint using cryopreserved hepatocytes, representing a significant reduction in prediction bias compared with human microsomes.
"It's about What I Can Do with My Body": Body Image and Embodied Experiences of Aging among Older Canadian Men

The purpose of this study was to explore retirement-age men’s perceptions of body image and embodied experiences of aging. Individual interviews and follow-up focus groups were conducted with fifteen Canadian men aged 60 to 70. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Findings highlighted the complex perceptions of body image for older men. Findings suggest that participants placed more emphasis on function than on appearance, with men feeling that aging played an important role in body image attitudes and how they viewed themselves through their bodies. The findings also suggest that gender and to some extent masculinity played a role in participants’ body image and embodied experiences. Implications in light of existing literature and directions for future research are discussed.
Seeing the World with Different Eyes

Across countries, women own significantly fewer businesses than do men. We show that this is due, in large part, to the fact that the propensity to start businesses of women is significantly lower than that of men. The lower propensity of women, in turn, appears to be highly correlated to women’s lower average levels of optimism and self-confidence, and higher fear of failure. Ceteris paribus, women and men have different perceptions of the business environment and, as a result, make different decisions. We provide some evidence that this may be universally true and independent from culture, although country specific factors seem to influence perceptual differences between genders. We also show that women who are more self-confident and undeterred by failure have a greater probability to start a business than men with similar characteristics.
Who Stands at the Top and Bottom of the Slippery Slope?

Prior research argues that sequential decisions lead to a slippery slope toward unethical or fraudulent behavior, with little evidence to support such claims. We conduct two experiments which demonstrate the existence of the slippery slope in a controlled setting, and investigate how it leads “good people” (low-Machiavellians) to do “bad things. ” The first experiment manipulates whether the potential to overstate personal performance in order to earn excess monetary compensation increases or decreases across two experimental tasks. We find that smaller initial incentives to misreport followed by larger subsequent incentives to misreport lead to greater subsequent misreporting by low-Machiavellians. High-Machiavellians do not exhibit this slippery slope pattern of behavior. Our second experiment manipulates the length of time between tasks to examine whether the effects of misreporting incentives on slippery slope behavior diminish as opportunities to misreport are separated. We again observe slippery slope behavior among low-Ms at the short horizon, but not at the long horizon. Our study confirms the existence of a slippery slope toward unethical behavior, highlights individual differences along an important personality trait, and suggests that slippery slope behavior is likely to be magnified when individuals are presented with frequent opportunities to misreport.
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Treated with Intravenous High-Dose Immunoglobulins: Our Experience

Background: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare severe acute exfoliative drug-induced skin disorder which has recently been ascribed to alterations in the control of keratinocyte apoptosis, mediated by an interaction between the cell surface death receptor Fas and its respective ligand. A therapeutic approach with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) associated with pulse methylprednisolone, based on the inhibition of Fas-mediated keratinocyte death by naturally occurring Fas-blocking antibodies included in human immunoglobulin preparations, has produced good preliminary results. Objective: To analyse the efficacy of IVIG in the treatment of TEN. Patients: Nine patients with erythematous body surface area ranging from 38 to 85% and dermo-epidermal detachment from 4 to 37% were treated. Results: Eight patients were healed and 1 died of septic shock and multiple organ failure. Interruption of further epidermal detachment occurred after an average of 4.8 days from the onset of IVIG therapy. Complete wound healing occurred after an average of 12 days. Concerning complications, 3 out of 8 surviving patients had acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and 1 acute renal failure was treated with dialysis. Late sequelae were limited to dyschromia and nail dystrophies. No hypertrophic scars were observed. Conclusion: IVIG therapy represents a safe and valid approach for TEN.
Incorporating Lexical Priors into Topic Models

Topic models have great potential for helping users understand document corpora. This potential is stymied by their purely unsupervised nature, which often leads to topics that are neither entirely meaningful nor effective in extrinsic tasks (Chang et al., 2009). We propose a simple and effective way to guide topic models to learn topics of specific interest to a user. We achieve this by providing sets of seed words that a user believes are representative of the underlying topics in a corpus. Our model uses these seeds to improve both topic-word distributions (by biasing topics to produce appropriate seed words) and to improve document-topic distributions (by biasing documents to select topics related to the seed words they contain). Extrinsic evaluation on a document clustering task reveals a significant improvement when using seed information, even over other models that use seed information naively.
Understanding the Effects of Interruptions on the Quality of Task Performance

UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF INTERRUPTIONS ON THE QUALITY OF TASK PERFORMANCE David Michael Cades, PhD George Mason University, 2011 Dissertation Director: Deborah A. Boehm-Davis The majority of previous research on interrupted task performance has primarily focused on the few actions surrounding the interruption (Trafton, Altmann, Brock, & Mintz, 2003; Ratwani, McCurry, & Trafton, 2008; Monk, Trafton, & Boehm-Davis, 2008) and most of these studies have been conducted in controlled laboratory environments (Eyrolle & Cellier, 2000; Oulasvirta & Saariluoma, 2004; Gillie & Broadbent, 1989). The purposes of the following studies are to expand the understanding of the disruptive effects of interruptions to include how interruptions impact the overall quality of the task being performed. Additionally, this research investigates how both quality and previously identified local effects generalize and can be understood in real-world environments, specifically the classroom and the flightdeck. Previous theoretical frameworks used to explain interrupted task performance in the lab (Altmann & Trafton, 2002, 2007; Oulasvirta & Saariluoma, 2004, 2006) were combined with theories of decision making (Brunswik, 1952, 1955; Adelman, Miller, Henderson, & Schoelles, 2003; Hogarth, 1987; Simon, 1955) to provide a more complete picture of how interruptions affect task quality in the real world. Two classroom studies and one flightdeck study were conducted to further our understanding of how interruptions actually affect performance in these environments at both a quality and local level. The first classroom experiment showed that certain tasks can be performed with interruptions and distractions without showing a decrement in overall quality, although they might take longer. This study also showed that expertise was not necessary to avoid the disruptive effects of interruptions. The second classroom study showed that quality decrements due to interruptions are positively correlated with greater cognitive resource demand and that local disruptions have little influence on the overall quality of performance. The flightdeck experiment showed that sufficient expertise can help mitigate the disruptive effects of interruptions and that tools designed to facilitate resumption are generally liked by pilots, but that the information on them needs to be carefully designed. Taken as a whole, the results of these experiments suggest that theories of interrupted task performance need to be broadened and augmented with theories from other domains in order to provide a more complete view of how interruptions affect task performance in terms of both local metrics and more global measures such as quality.
Deservingness and emotions: Applying the structural model of deservingness to the analysis of affective reactions to outcomes

This chapter describes how a structural model of deservingness governed by a principle of balance may be applied to the analysis of emotions relating to deserved or undeserved outcomes of other or of self. In each case perceived deservingness/undeservingness is assumed to mediate both general emotional reactions such as pleasure and dissatisfaction and discrete emotions such as sympathy, resentment, disappointment, and guilt, depending on outcome (positive, negative), the evaluative structure of action/outcome relations, and whether outcomes relate to other or to self. Evidence from studies of reactions to success or failure, and reactions to penalties for offences, supports the analysis, as does earlier research on tall poppies or high achievers. The theoretical analysis is then related to the wider psychological literature on justice and emotions, especially to appraisal theory as exemplified in Weiner's approach. Also discussed are issues concerned with reciprocal relations between affect and deservingness, thoughtful versus automatic processing, new extensions of balance theory, and variables such as like/dislike relations, ingroup/outgroup relations, and perceived responsibility that would moderate perceived deservingness/undeservingness, thereby influencing the emotions that are assumed to be activated in each case.
Topographic information of sand dunes as extracted from shading effects using Landsat images

Topographic variations affect the reflectance properties of the Earth’s surface and are often removed in remote sensing studies, especially when significant terrain variations exist. In this study, however, we show that shading effects assessed by Landsat can be treated as a signal that stores important topographic information, especially when the spectral characteristics of a surface are homogenous. The coastal transverse dunes of the Ashdod area, and the desert linear dunes of Nizzana (both located in Israel), were selected to investigate the abovementioned idea. The dune heights in these areas are 10 m on average (relative to their surroundings) and have maximum slopes of 33j. An innovative method for extracting slope, aspect, and height data for sand dunes using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) images was developed, based on the regularity and periodicity of dunes’ landscapes. Using two Landsat images representing different sun zenith and azimuth angles, reflectance values of each image were converted to cos(i) values (i = incident angle between the surface normal and the solar beam radiation), applying histogram matching methods. The slope and aspect of each pixel were determined as those that give the best prediction of the observed value of cos(i). Height profiles were then extracted, using simple trigonometric relationships. The accuracies of heights and slopes along selected profile lines were to the order of 1 m and 3j, respectively (at a spatial resolution of 15 m). Best results were obtained when the images included one from the summer and the other from the winter, corresponding to maximum difference in solar zenith and azimuth angles. Errors in heights were attributed to surface heterogeneity (e.g., presence of biogenic soil crusts in the rainy season), geometric correction errors, cast shadows, and Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) effects. Comparison to Advanced Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) 3D information showed that the proposed method is better in representing the topographic variation of the area than the digital elevation model (DEM) produced by ASTER. D 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Cyclin D1 Overexpression Is Associated with Poor Clinicopathological Outcome and Survival in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Asian Populations: Insights from a Meta-Analysis

Background The clinicopathological significance of cyclin D1 overexpression and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma has not been fully quantified. We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis for evaluation of cyclin D1 overexpression in oral squamous cell carcinoma to determine the strength of this association. Methods Using both medical subheadings and free terms, we searched PubMed, Embase and the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science for all eligible studies published before Nov. 2013. We retrieved 1674 citations, determining that 15 met the selection criteria. We used the odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) as the common measures of association to quantitatively determine the correlation between cyclin D1 overexpression and outcomes of oral cancer. We performed a meta-analysis and heterogeneity, sensitivity, and subgroup analyses to clarify and validate the pooled results. Results The pooled results provided compelling evidence that cyclin D1 overexpression was significantly correlated with increased tumor size (OR = 1.617, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.046–2.498, p = 0.031), lymphoid node metastasis (OR = 2.035, 95% CI = 1.572–2.635, p<0.001), tumor differentiation (OR = 1.976, 95% CI = 1.363–2.866, p<0.001), and advancement of clinical stages (OR = 1.516, 95% CI = 1.140–2.015, p = 0.004), and adversely influenced overall survival of OSCC patients (HR = 1.897, 95% CI = 1.577–2.282, p<0.001). The strength of association varied in different oral cavity subsites. Conclusion Our findings indicated that cyclin D1 expression correlates with detrimental clinicopathological outcome and poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Our results may be useful in the management of oral cancer.
Pricing When Customers Have Limited Attention

We study the optimal pricing problem of a firm facing customers with limited attention and capability to process information about the value (quality) of the offered products. We model customer choice based on the theory of rational inattention in the economics literature, which enables us to capture not only the impact of true qualities and prices, but also the intricate effects of customer’s prior beliefs and cost of information acquisition and processing. We formulate the firm’s price optimization problem and characterize the pricing and revenue implications of customer’s limited attention. We test the robustness of our results under various modelling generalizations such as prices signaling quality and customer heterogeneity, and study extensions such as multiple products, competition, and joint inventory and pricing decisions. We also show that using alternative pricing policies that ignore the limited attention of customers or their ability to allocate this attention judiciously can potentially lead to significant profit losses for the firm. We discuss the managerial implications of our key findings and prescribe insights regarding information provision and product positioning.
Characteristics of Wet and Dried Distillers Grains on In vitro Ruminal Fermentation and Effects of Dietary Wet Distillers Grains on Performance of Hanwoo Steers

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutrient composition, in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) and organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) of three kinds of distillers grains (DG); i) wet distillers grains (WDG, KRW 25/kg), ii) dried distillers grains (DDG, KRW 280/kg), iii) dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS, KRW 270/kg) produced from tapioca 70% and rice 30%, and to evaluate dietary effects of WDG on the performance of Hanwoo steers. In Exp. 1, twelve-WDG, four-DDG and one-DDGS were collected from seven ethanol plants. Average crude protein, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber of WDG, DDG, and DDGS were: 32.6%, 17.8%, 57.5%, and 30.2% for WDG, 36.7%, 13.9%, 51.4%, and 30.5% for DDG, and 31.0%, 11.9%, 40.3%, and 21.2% for DDGS (DM basis), respectively. The DDGS had a higher quantity of water-soluble fraction than WDG and DDG and showed the highest IVDMD (p<0.05) in comparison to others during the whole experimental time. The IVDMD at 0 to 12 h incubation were higher (p<0.05) in DDG than WDG, but did not show significant differences from 24 to 72 h. The same tendency was observed in IVOMD, showing that DG made from tapioca and rice (7:3) can be used as a feed ingredient for ruminants. Considering the price, WDG is a more useful feed ingredient than DDG and DDGS. In Exp. 2, 36 Hanwoo steers of 21 months (495.1±91 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments for 85 days; i) Control (total mixed ration, TMR), ii) WDG 10% (TMR containing 10% of WDG, as fed basis), and iii) WDG 20% (TMR containing 20% of WDG, as fed basis). With respect to body weight and average daily gain, there were no differences between control and WDG treatments during the whole experimental period. Dry matter intake of control (9.34 kg), WDG 10% (9.21 kg) and 20% (8.86 kg) and feed conversion ratio of control (13.0), WDG 10% (13.2) and 20% (12.1) did not show differences between control and WDG treatments. Thus, the use of WDG up to 20% in TMR did not show any negative effect on the performance of Hanwoo steers.
Transformation of myelodysplastic syndrome to acute myeloid leukemia: A case with whole-body 2-[F18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography

The case reported here was that of an old woman characterized by pancytopenia, chromosome clonal abnormality, fluctuation of the percent of blast cells at 20%, and negative evidence of malignancy in whole-body 2-[F18] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (F18-FDG PET). After about 10 months, the blast cells accounted for about 25%, the morphology of which was similar to that of previous ones, and F18-FDG PET demonstrated diffusing increased uptake in the right upper leg and lymph nodes and patchy high uptake of bone marrow. 2-[F18]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose can reflect extramedullary infiltration and bone marrow cellularity of the whole body, compared with invasive, regional biopsies and aspirations. The value of 2-[F18]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose or 3’-deoxy-3’-[F18]-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography as an indicator in predicting the transformation of myelodysplastic syndrome to acute myeloid leukemia needs to be explored in the future.