Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Engineering THE EFFECTS OF TASK CHARACTERISTICS ON PERCEIVED USABILITY A Thesis in Industrial Engineering by

Product development teams have many factors to consider when designing products, but one of the most important ones is the usability of the product, which contains both objective and subjective components. To have good usability, a product must have attributes such as learnability, efficiency, memorability, reduction of errors, and satisfaction. An important factor in understanding the usability of a product is the context in which the product is being used, which consists of individual characteristics of the users, characteristics of tasks performed with the product, and the environment in which it is used. Though a variety of task analysis methods provide ways for practitioners to systematically study tasks, and usability studies have empirically measured the effects of the users and environment on usability, the literature is lacking empirical studies measuring the direct effect of task characteristics on usability. This study uses a task taxonomy created using the task characteristics approach of classifying human performance to identify specific task characteristics, mental workload imposed by task goal and degree of perceived operator control, which are then varied while the rest of the context and the interface design are held constant and the perceived usability is measured. Main effects for mental workload and perceived control on perceived usability were found to be statistically significant, though the interaction effect was not. These results provide theoretical implications concerning the depth of common task analysis methods, as well as practical implications for product development teams regarding the depth of their analysis of the context of end use and the context in which they conduct their own usability testing.
Psychometric evaluation of the Japanese version of Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI-J) among middle-aged, and elderly adults: Concurrent validity, internal consistency and test–retest reliability

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to provide a psychometric evaluation of the Japanese version of the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI-J), and was conducted to confirm the concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability of the measure. Methods: A total of 520 middle-aged (40–64 years old) and 312 older adults (65–79 years old) participated in this study. Participants were registered research volunteers with an internet research company. The TIPI-J assesses the Big Five personality traits (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness). The NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) was used to test concurrent validity. Results: Correlations of corresponding trait measures for the TIPI-J and NEO-FFI ranged from 0.45 (Openness) to 0.70 (Extraversion) for middle-aged, and from 0.33 (Openness) to 0.67 (Neuroticism) for older adults. The correlation values of Openness between the two scales were similar to those for the correlation between TIPI-J Openness and NEO-FFI Extraversion for both middle-aged and older adults, and that for the correlation between TIPI-J Openness and NEO-FFI Conscientiousness for older adults. The relationships between TIPI-J personality scores measured at a two-week interval ranged from 0.74 (Agreeableness) to 0.84 (Extraversion) for middle-aged and from 0.67 (Openness) to 0.78 (Neuroticism and Extraversion) for older adults. Conclusion: The TIPI-J has relatively acceptable concurrent validity, with the exception of Openness, which was considerably weaker than the other traits. The scale has relatively acceptable test–retest reliability. Thus, TIPI-J would be a useful instrument, roughly speaking, for assessing the Big Five personality traits among middle-aged and older adults.
In vitro anticancer effect of hypocrellin B in SiHa human cervical cancer cells through the caspases

The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro anticancer effects of hypocrellin B (HB) in SiHa human cervical cancer cells by MTT, flow cytometry and RT-PCR assay, as well as to explain the mechanism of this effect through the caspases expression changes by HB. The SiHa cells were treated with 1 and 2 μg/mL HB and meanwhile these cells were also irradiated by the light (LED: light-emitting diodes). The results showed that HB could reduce the growth of SiHa cells, and LED irradiation increased the inhibitory effects. Treatment of 2 μg/mL HB could induce apoptosis in cancer cells (sub-G1 DNA content) at 32.8%, and after LED irradiation, the apoptotic cancer cells raised to 46.8%. The 2 μg/mL HB+LED treated SiHa cells had the highest caspase-3 activity, with 4.61 ± 0.21-fold to control cells. Both LED and 2 μg/mL hypocrellin treated SiHa cells had the strongest caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, Bax, Fas/FasL, TRAIL, DR4, DR5, ROS and weakest Bcl-2, Bcl-xL mRNA expressions. These results proved that HB had a good in vitro anticancer effect, and LED irradiation could raise its anticancer effect, this effect might be derived from the influence of caspases and caspases related gene expressions by HB. HB could be used as a good cancer treatment drug.
The Relationship between Firms’ Strategic Orientations and Strategic Planning Process

The study examines the quantity surveying (QS) firms’ strategic orientation and its relation to strategic planningprocess. The strategic orientations based on Miles and Snow typology were used to identify the strategicorientation for QS firms. The strategic planning process that includes the efforts of strategic planning, degree ofinvolvement in strategic planning and formality were also determined. The declined period in Malaysianconstruction industry from year 2001 to 2005 has been determined. The research aims to establish the strategicorientations of QS firms and the strategic planning process carried out by QS firms in terms of processes, degree ofinvolvement and formality. The strategic planning process is examined using qualitative and quantitative data tothirty four QS firms in Malaysia. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to test the hypotheses. The research is partof the doctoral research. The study concludes that there are significant correlations between the QS firms’ strategicorientation (Prospector and Defender) and efforts in strategic planning process during declined period. The QSfirms’ strategic orientation also correlated with the degree of involvement of top management and senior quantitysurveyors in all three stages of strategic planning. In addition, formalized strategic planning depends on theDefender strategic orientation.
A genetic, genomic, and computational resource for exploring neural circuit function

The anatomy of many neural circuits is being characterized with increasing resolution, but their molecular properties remain mostly unknown. Here, we characterize gene expression patterns in distinct neural cell types of the Drosophila visual system using genetic lines to access individual cell types, the TAPIN-seq method to measure their transcriptomes, and a probabilistic method to interpret these measurements. We used these tools to build a resource of high-resolution transcriptomes for 100 driver lines covering 67 cell types, available at http://www.opticlobe. com. Combining these transcriptomes with recently reported connectomes helps characterize how information is transmitted and processed across a range of scales, from individual synapses to circuit pathways. We describe examples that include identifying neurotransmitters, including cases of co-release, generating functional hypotheses based on receptor expression, as well as identifying strong commonalities between different cell types. Highlights Transcriptomes reveal transmitters and receptors expressed in Drosophila visual neurons Tandem affinity purification of intact nuclei (TAPIN) enables neuronal genomics TAPIN-seq and genetic drivers establish transcriptomes of 67 Drosophila cell types Probabilistic modeling simplifies interpretation of large transcriptome catalogs
No . ZU-WP 2017-0410 Oil Wealth and Economic Growth Revisited : A Bayesian Model Averaging Approach

We investigate the effect of oil revenues on long-term economic growth within a Bayesian framework that accounts for model uncertainty. Our analysis is based on an updated cross country data set for long term growth in the period 1970-2014 including 91 countries and 54 potential growth determinants. Initially, we do not find any empirical evidence for the existence of the “natural resource curse” in our sample. On the contrary, we document a robust positive effect of oil rents on long-term economic growth. Then, we introduce interaction terms of oil rents with potential conditions under which oil dependency can lead to sub-standard growth. Our second set of results shows that the interaction of institutional quality and oil revenues has a robust positive effect on growth, while the constituent oil rent term is no longer robust. We conclude that institutional quality is necessary condition for oil revenues to have a growth-enhancing effect.
The Influence of Sustainable Strategic Orientations towards Sustainable Services by Third Party Logistics ( 3 PLs ) in Closed-Loop Supply Chains ( CLSCs )

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship of reputation-based strategy, efficiencybased strategy and innovation-based strategy (sustainable strategic orientations) that can give output of sustainable services by the implementation of closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) in order to reach the customers’ (manufacturers) demand. The core practical implication is to help third party logistics (3PLs) to perform better in offering absolute sustainable services in CLSCs’ activities. In theoretical implications, the institutional theory (INT) has been used to explain the reasons for 3PLs to hold the sustainable strategic orientations for the output of effective sustainable services in CLSCs. Based on the literature reviews and test results, the study inputs of reputation-based strategy, efficiency-based strategy and innovation-based strategy correspond to the outcome of the sustainable services. The reputation-based strategy, efficiency-based strategy and innovation-based strategy are adopted by the 3PLs towards the offering of services in CLSCs activities such as product acquisition, refurbishing, inspection and disposition. Key-Words: -sustainable strategic orientations, reputation-based strategy, efficiency-based strategy, innovation-based strategy, sustainable services, closed-loop supply chains, third-party logistics
Antioxidant profile of commercial oenological tannins determined by multiple chemical assays

Background and Aims: The addition of oenological tannins during winemaking is a longstanding technological practice. To assist such a practice, knowledge of their antioxidant properties is an asset for understanding their role in redox processes occurring in wine. Hence, the aim of this work was to assess the antioxidant profile of oenological tannins from several botanical sources, which are usually applied at different winemaking steps. Methods and Results: Several antioxidant assays, including the ability to reduce copper(II) assay (CUPRAC), the scavenging capacity against 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH), and the peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay, ORAC) were applied. The concentration of phenolic substances and the ability to chelate iron(II) (ICA) were also determined. A significant correlation was obtained between the concentration of phenolic substances and the copper(II) reducing antioxidant capacity (R = 0.89), and the 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (R = 0.86) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (R = 0.86) assays. No such correlation was observed (R = 0.15) with the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay. Conclusions: The highest radical scavenging capacity was attained for oenological tannins composed of gallotannins, while those containing ellagic acid were able to chelate iron(II) strongly, preventing the oxidative damage mediated by Fenton-based reactions. Condensed tannins demonstrated a significant ability to scavenge peroxyl radicals, which represents a powerful antioxidant mechanism to prevent lipid peroxidation. Significance of the Study: The chemical antioxidant profile of oenological tannins displayed in radar charts provides valuable information for winemakers and manufacturers of oenological tannins.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON FLOW PATTERN OF A SEDIMENT RETENTION POND

Existing studies of sediment retention ponds (SRPs) have examined the effect of pond layout, inlet and outlet geometry and installation of baffles on the performance of the SRPs. However, the effect of a temperature difference between the pond and the inflow is a neglected phenomenon, with the buoyancy forces arising from differences in temperature potentially changing the flow in the pond. This study evaluates the effect of these temperature differences on the flow pattern and residence time in a retention pond. In this research an innovative experimental setup was used to create the temperature differentials. The results reveal that cold inflow sinks to the bottom of the pond while hot inflow remains at the surface, and in both cases the inflow moves more rapidly towards the outlet than in the isothermal case. A counter current occurred at the bottom or the surface of the pond for colder or hot influent, respectively. These thermally induced flows significantly reduced the hydraulic performance of the pond and caused severe short-circuiting. The results also show that the temperature differences in the pond decrease with time, yet small temperature differences persist with the pond remaining stratified.
NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE WHEAT-SOY UNLEAVENED FLAT BREAD BY RAT BIOASSAY

Wheat flour was blended with enzyme active (full fa t and defatted) and heat treated (full fat and defa tted) soy flours @ 10%. Wheat-soy flour blends along with the control sample were analyzed for proximate com position, essential amino acids and mineral profile. Rat bioa ssay was conducted to evaluate the nutritional qual ity of unleavened flat bread (chapattis) prepared from whe at and soy flours blends. Soy flour blending signif icantly increase the crude protein, ash, crude fiber and fa t contents while moisture contents and nitrogen fre e extract decreases significantly by the incorporation of soy flour. Micronutrient deficiency of wheat flour was compensated by the addition of soy flour. Essential amino acids composition of the wheat-soy flour blends was bala nce by meeting the deficiency of each other. Defatted soy flour samples (enzyme active full fat soy flour (T 1) and enzyme active defatted soy flour (T 2)) attain maximum score regarding the sensory param eter of the flat bread. All types of flour blends along with the control were fed to gro up of 4 rats for ten day. Heat treated soy flour sa mples (heat treated full fat soy flour (T3) and heat treated de fatted soy flour (T4)) have higher feed intake, foo d efficiency ratio, and biological value. The parameters of biological assay were significantly higher than the control di et which interfered that these wheat-soy flour samples are n utritionally superior to the wheat flour.
The Improbability of Fraud in Accounting for Derivatives: A Case Study on the Boundaries of Financial Reporting Compliance

ABSTRACT This study responds to recent calls in the literature to examine fraud using detailed case studies, extending knowledge beyond individual incentives and capital market reactions towards a more contextualized understanding of the concept. We use an institutional logics perspective to challenge existing assumptions about a universally valid meaning of compliance, fraud, and faithful representation. Presenting the case of the Swedish bank HQ, we show how the interpretation of the accounting standard for option measurement varies across different enforcement bodies because the meaning of compliance is socially negotiated across the institutional logics of markets, financial regulation, and law. The independent decision-making of the different enforcement bodies leads to a systematic variation in the interpretation of principles-based accounting standards without ultimate coordination. To define consistent boundaries of compliance across institutional logics, and thus, to distinguish between fraud and allowable managerial discretion becomes problematic. Faithful representation, in turn, cannot be understood as financial statements reflecting a correct value or as financial statements being prepared in accordance with acceptable practice, as suggested in the earlier literature. Instead, faithful representation itself becomes a contextually bound concept, which can only be defined within an institutional logic.
Behavioral Portfolio Theory

Abstract We develop a positive behavioral portfolio theory (BPT) and explore its implications for portfolio constrution and security design. The optimal portfolios of BPT investors resemble combinations of bonds and lotterly tickets consistent with Friedman and Savage's (1948) observation. We compare the BPT efficient frontier with the mean-variance efficient frontier and show that, in general, the two frontiers do not coincide. Optimal BPT portfolios are also different from optimal CAPM portfolios. In particular, the CAPM two-fund separation does not hold in BPT. We present BPT in a single mental account version (BPT-SA) and a multiple mental account version (BPT-SA). BPT-SA investors integrate their portfolios into a single mental account, while BPT-SA investors segregate their portfolios into several mental accounts. BPT-SA portfolios resemble layered pyramids, where layers are associated with aspirations. We explore a two-layer portfolio where the low aspiration layer is designed to avoid poverth while the high aspiration layer is designed for a shot at riches.
Sertularia marginata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) in the Mediterranean: an alien species in expansion?

Mature and dense populations of the tropical hydroid species Sertulariamarginata were detected in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean) and in the Atlantic coast of the Strait of Gibraltar. Until now, it had only been recorded in the eastern basin within the Mediterranean Sea.This species has previously been recorded in estuaries and anthropogenichabitats but, in the area studied here, we only found it in natural zones. These observations could indicate an early expansion and naturalization in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its limited dispersion capacity by its own natural means and the history of its records, the observations provided here support the hypothesis of an arrival and a spread by anthropogenic vectors.A pathway of arrival and dispersion of alien species into the Mediterranean Sea is proposed for future monitoring: from Macaronesia (particularly Canary Islands) to the Atlantic coast of the Strait of Gibraltar and from here into the Mediterranean.
Potential influence of offshore oil and gas platforms on the feeding ecology of fish assemblages in the North Sea

This article presents results from the first detailed study on the feeding habits of fish assemblages associated with offshore oil and gas platforms in the North Sea. Multi-seasonal sam- pling was conducted at one of the oil platforms located in the central North Sea between Septem- ber 2010 and January 2014 to characterise temporal variation in the stomach contents of different fish species. A total of 6 fish species were recorded, including commercially important gadoids such as saithe Pollachius virens, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus and cod Gadus morhua. Saithe fed predominantly on euphausiids and haddock consumed a large proportion of ophi- uroids, whereas cod were mainly piscivorous. The prey compositions were significantly different between species, indicating the presence of interspecific prey resource partitioning among those species. To further investigate possible links between the feeding habits of the most dominant fish species, saithe, and the physical presence of offshore platforms across the North Sea, a separate set of stomach data was collected during the 2012 Quarter 3 International Bottom Trawl Survey aboard the FRV 'Scotia'. The multivariate analysis of both data sets showed that the observed spatio-temporal variability in the saithe diet was significantly explained by proximity to the near- est offshore platforms and changes in water temperatures, which appear to reflect patterns of euphausiid availability over space and time. The physical presence of the offshore structures may potentially affect the distribution/availability of zooplankton (i.e. euphausiids) and thereby influ- ence the feeding behaviour of saithe and any other marine populations that are interconnected to the dynamics of such trophic interactions.
The Effect of Insurance Status and Race on Access to Care for Pediatric and Adolescent Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL) of the knee are becoming increasingly common in the pediatric and adolescent population with the rise in organized sports participation. This injury can be devastating to a young athlete’s ability to engage in physical activity as the knee is rendered unstable; leaving it susceptible to further degenerative changes. As a result, a delay in both the diagnosis and treatment of ACL injuries can lead to secondary joint damage in this highly active population. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the insurance status and race of pediatric and adolescent patients with ACL injuries impacts the time from injury to diagnosis and treatment, and consequently secondary joint damage. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 170 consecutive patients at a tertiary care pediatric hospital treated by a single surgeon from 2011 to 2015 for ACL ruptures. The institution at which the patients were treated was a safety-net hospital that provides a significant level of care to low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable populations with no care preference given based on insurance status. Patients were stratified into public insurance and private insurance groups. Race was also considered. Ability to access care was compared between the groups in regards to time from injury to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam (the gold standard for diagnosis of ACL injury) as well time from injury to surgical reconstruction. In addition, the presence of secondary injury (meniscal / chondral injury) that may have stemmed from treatment delay and continued activity with an unstable knee was compared between groups. RESULTS: One hundred and two patients had public insurance and 68 patients had private insurance. Patients with private insurance received an MRI nearly 50% faster after their injury (p < 0.001, 19 days vs. 38 days). In addition, time from injury to ACL reconstruction was also faster (p < 0.001, 61 days vs. 96 days) for privately insured patients. 88 Anterior Cruciate Ligament Care Disparity Khanna et al. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice Volume 11, Issue 2, Summer 2018 http://digitalscholarship.unlv. edu/jhdrp/ Follow on Facebook: Health.Disparities. Journal Follow on Twitter: @jhdrp An increased rate of meniscal tears and chondral injuries was not significantly seen in the public insurance group. Race did not impact timing to treatment or secondary injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that time from injury to MRI diagnosis, and surgical treatment was significantly shorter in privately insured pediatric and adolescent patients even in a safety-net hospital setting. Clinicians must be cognizant of this disparity and develop means to ensure timely access to care.