Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Topographic distribution of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a hybrid physics- and agent-based model

Objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal disease characterized by excessive deposition of collagen and associated stiffening of lung tissue. While it is known that inflammation and dysfunction of fibroblasts are involved in disease development, it remains poorly understood how cells and their microenvironment interact to produce a characteristic subpleural pattern of high and low tissue density variations, called honeycombing, on CT images of patients with IPF. Since the pleura is stiffer than the parenchyma, we hypothesized that local stiffness of the underlying extracellular matrix can influence fibroblast activation and consequently the deposition of collagen, which in turn influences tissue stiffness in a positive feedback loop. Approach: We tested this hypothesis by developing a hybrid physics-based/agent-based computational model in which aberrant fibroblast activation is induced when cells migrate on stiff tissue. This activation then feeds back on itself via the altered mechanical environment that it creates by depositing collagen. Main results: The model produces power law distributions of both low- and high-attenuation area clusters and predicts the development of honeycombing only when mechanical rupture is allowed to take place in highly strained normal tissue surrounded by stiff fibrotic tissue. These predictions compare well with histologic data computed from CT images of patients with IPF. Significance: We conclude that the clinical manifestation of subpleural honeycombing in IPF may result from fibroblasts entering into a positive feedback loop induced by the abnormally high tissue stiffness near the pleura.
Contractual and Relational Governance, ICT Skills and Organization Adaptations, and Cloud Computing Benefits

Cloud Computing (CC) has high potential to offer to firms important benefits, concerning both costs reduction, and in general efficiency improvements, as well as innovation facilitation and support. However, these benefits are not straightforward and automatically generated; their realization as well as their magnitude will depend on a variety of factors. Nevertheless, limited empirical research has been conducted in order to identify CC benefits’ determinants. This paper contributes to filling this research gap. It empirically investigates the effects of a) the contractual and relational governance of firm’s relationships with its CC services providers, and b) the adaptations of the skills of firm’s ICT personnel, as well as its internal ICT organization, to this new CC paradigm, on the magnitude of CC benefits. Our study uses data collected through a questionnaire from 115 Greek firms using CC services. It has been concluded that all the above four examined factors impact positively the benefits firms obtain from CC; the effect of the adaptation of the skills of firm’s ICT personnel is the strongest, followed by the effect of the relational governance.
EIGEN: Ecologically-Inspired GENetic Approach for Neural Network Structure Searching From Scratch

Designing the structure of neural networks is considered one of the most challenging tasks in deep learning, especially when there is few prior knowledge about the task domain. In this paper, we propose an Ecologically-Inspired GENetic (EIGEN) approach that uses the concept of succession, extinction, mimicry, and gene duplication to search neural network structure from scratch with poorly initialized simple network and few constraints forced during the evolution, as we assume no prior knowledge about the task domain. Specifically, we first use primary succession to rapidly evolve a population of poorly initialized neural network structures into a more diverse population, followed by a secondary succession stage for fine-grained searching based on the networks from the primary succession. Extinction is applied in both stages to reduce computational cost. Mimicry is employed during the entire evolution process to help the inferior networks imitate the behavior of a superior network and gene duplication is utilized to duplicate the learned blocks of novel structures, both of which help to find better network structures. Experimental results show that our proposed approach can achieve similar or better performance compared to the existing genetic approaches with dramatically reduced computation cost. For example, the network discovered by our approach on CIFAR-100 dataset achieves 78.1% test accuracy under 120 GPU hours, compared to 77.0% test accuracy in more than 65, 536 GPU hours in [35].
High glucose reduces megalin-mediated albumin endocytosis in renal proximal tubule cells through protein kinase B O-GlcNAcylation

The role of albumin reabsorption in proximal tubule (PT) cells has emerged as an important factor in the genesis of albuminuria observed in the early stages of diabetes. Evidence has shown that a decrease in megalin expression could be the key mechanism in this process. In the present work, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the modulation of albumin endocytosis in LLC-PK1 cells, a model of PT cells. High glucose concentrations (HG) inhibited megalin expression and albumin endocytosis after 48 h of incubation. This inhibitory effect involves the entrance of glucose into PT cells through SGLT located at the luminal membrane. Once inside PT cells, glucose is diverted to the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) increasing O-GlcNAcylation of several intracellular proteins, including PKB. This process promotes the inhibition of PKB activity measured by its phosphorylation at Thr-308 and Ser-473 and phosphorylation of specific substrates, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and tuberous sclerosis complex 2. The decrease in PKB activity led to a decrease in megalin expression and, consequently, reducing albumin endocytosis in LLC-PK1 cells. HG did not change mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) C2 activity, responsible for phosphorylated PKB at Ser-473. In addition, HG activated the mTORC1/S6K pathway, but this effect was not correlated to the decrease in megalin expression or albumin endocytosis. Taken together, our data help to clarify the current understanding underlying the genesis of tubular albuminuria induced by hyperglycemia in the early stage of diabetes pathogenesis.
An a posteriori species clustering for quantifying the effects of species interactions on ecosystem functioning

Quantifying the effects of species interactions is key to understanding the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning but remains elusive due to combinatorics issues. Functional groups have been commonly used to capture the diversity of forms and functions and thus simplify the reality. However, the explicit incorporation of species interactions is still lacking in functional group‐based approaches. Here, we propose a new approach based on an a posteriori clustering of species to quantify the effects of species interactions on ecosystem functioning. We first decompose the observed ecosystem function using null models, in which species diversity does not affect ecosystem function, to separate the effects of species interactions and species composition. This allows the identification of a posteriori functional groups that have contrasting diversity effects on ecosystem functioning. We then develop a formal combinatorial model of species interactions in which an ecosystem is described as a combination of co‐occurring functional groups, which we call an assembly motif. Each assembly motif corresponds to a particular biotic environment. We demonstrate the relevance of our approach using datasets from a microbial experiment and the long‐term Cedar Creek Biodiversity II experiment. We show that our a posteriori approach is more accurate, more efficient and more parsimonious than a priori approaches. The discrepancy between a priori and a posteriori approaches results from the way each clustering is set up: a priori approaches are based on ecosystem or species properties, such as ecosystem size (number of species or functional groups) or species’ functional traits, whereas our a posteriori approach is based only on the observed interaction and composition effects on ecosystem functioning. Our findings demonstrate that an a posteriori approach is highly explanatory: it identifies who interacts with whom, and quantifies the effects of species interactions on ecosystem functioning. They also highlight that a combinatorial modelling of ecosystem functioning can predict the functioning of an ecosystem without any hypothesis about the biotic or environmental determinants or any information on species functional traits. It only requires the species composition of the ecosystem and the observed functioning of others that share the same assembly motif.
Anatomical subsite can modify the association between meat and meat compounds and risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma: Findings from three large US cohorts

Distal and proximal colon tumors have distinct incidence trends and embryonic origins; whether these sub‐sites have distinct susceptibilities to known risk factors is unclear. We used pooled data from 407,270 participants in three US‐based studies, with overall median follow‐up of 13.8 years. We used adjusted Cox models to analyze the association between dietary intakes (from diet history questionnaire) of total, processed and unprocessed red meat; total white meat, poultry and fish and meat‐related compounds: heme iron, nitrate, nitrite, the heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and incidence of colorectal cancer subsites. The risk of colorectal cancer (n = 6,640) increased by 35% for each 50 g/1,000 kcal higher daily intake of total red meat, with a significant right‐to‐left trend from proximal colon (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.09–1.39) to distal colon (HR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.13–1.55) and rectum (HR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.28–1.79). Only unprocessed red meat showed a significant right‐to‐left trend. Each 50 g/1,000 kcal increase in white meat intake was associated with a 26% reduction in total colorectal cancer risk (HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.68–0.80), with a significant inverse right‐to‐left trend. The highest quintile of heme iron was associated with increased cancer risk only in the distal colon (HR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02–1.42) and rectum (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07–1.52). The highest quintile of HCAs, and nitrate/nitrite were associated with increased risk of total colorectal cancer, but these associations did not vary across anatomical subsites. In summary, right and left subsites of the colon may have distinct susceptibilities to meat and possibly other dietary risk factors, suggesting that the causes of colorectal cancer may vary across anatomical subsites.
Constrained Counting and Sampling: Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice

Constrained counting and sampling are two fundamental problems in Computer Science with numerous applications, including network reliability, privacy, probabilistic reasoning, and constrained-random verification. In constrained counting, the task is to compute the total weight, subject to a given weighting function, of the set of solutions of the given constraints. In constrained sampling, the task is to sample randomly, subject to a given weighting function, from the set of solutions to a set of given constraints. Consequently, constrained counting and sampling have been subject to intense theoretical and empirical investigations over the years. Prior work, however, offered either heuristic techniques with poor guarantees of accuracy or approaches with proven guarantees but poor performance in practice. In this thesis, we introduce a novel hashing-based algorithmic framework for constrained sampling and counting that combines the classical algorithmic technique of universal hashing with the dramatic progress made in combinatorial reasoning tools, in particular, SAT and SMT, over the past two decades. The resulting frameworks for counting (ApproxMC2) and sampling (UniGen) can handle formulas with up to million variables representing a significant boost up from the prior state of the art tools' capability to handle few hundreds of variables. If the initial set of constraints is expressed as Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF), ApproxMC is the only known Fully Polynomial Randomized Approximation Scheme (FPRAS) that does not involve Monte Carlo steps. By exploiting the connection between definability of formulas and variance of the distribution of solutions in a cell defined by 3-universal hash functions, we introduced an algorithmic technique, MIS, that reduced the size of XOR constraints employed in the underlying universal hash functions by as much as two orders of magnitude.
Is Negative Feedback Better than No Feedback? The Impact of Social Dynamics on Reviewers' Review Decisions

Consumers are increasingly relying on online product reviews when making purchase decisions. While the impact of online reviews on product sales has been studied extensively, only a few studies examine online reviewer’s decision making. This paper directly measures social influences on reviewers’ review decisions as well as on consumers’ voting decisions (i.e. consumers vote for the helpfulness of reviews). Contrary to traditional cognitive evaluation theory, we find that both positive and negative feedback may positively motivate reviewers review behaviors. Receiving negative feedback may pose a challenge to reviewers and indicate the amount of attention the review receives, which could increase intrinsic motivation for reviewers to write new reviews. In addition, our results of the consumer voting decision model show that there is a multi-audience effect among consumers, as voters, who try to balance the sentiment of existing votes.
A Lazy User Perspective to the Voluntary Adoption of Electronic Personal Health Records (PHRs)

Personal Health Records (PHRs) have been imbued with the potential to improve health outcomes for individual healthcare consumers, providers, and the broader healthcare system. With Meaningful Use Stage 2 now mandating the implementation of tethered PHRs, tethered to provider electronic health records (patient portals), will healthcare consumers voluntarily use PHRs and contribute to safety, quality, efficiency and reduced health disparities through engagement? Or will PHR use remain low? In this qualitative study, using grounded theory, we asked users how they currently managed their personal health information (PHI) and why. Using the lazy user model, we found that letting physicians manage healthcare consumers PHI is the least effortbased solution and thus the predominant and preferred solution. Providers as guardians of patient PHI suggests the low use rates may persist yet. We should do more to make these technologies usable and accessible to those with irregular contact with a primary care physician.
Comparative Evaluation of Coronally Advanced Flap Using Amniotic Membrane and Platelet-rich Fibrin Membrane in Gingival Recession: An 18-Month Clinical Study

Background: An amnion membrane is a placenta-derived tissue that consists of numerous growth factors, proteins, and stem cell reserves which help in accelerated wound healing and regeneration. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) also releases growth factors after activation from the platelets and gets trapped within fibrin matrix which has been shown to stimulate the mitogenic response in the periosteum for bone repair and regeneration during normal wound healing. This preliminary, controlled, randomized clinical trial with an 18-month follow-up was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of coronally advanced flap (CAF) with either PRF membrane or bioresorbable amniotic membrane (AM) in treatment of localized gingival recession defects. Materials and Methods: Sixteen healthy adult patients presenting with Miller Class I recession defects were treated surgically with CAF along with AM (Group I) or PRF (Group II) for coverage of the recession defects. For all patients, plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level, depth of recession, width of recession, width of attached gingiva, and gingival thickness were evaluated at 6 months and 18 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test, repeated measure analysis of variance test, Bonferroni test for intragroup comparison and unpaired t-test for intergroup comparison. Results: The results showed statistically nonsignificant (P < 0.01) difference in all clinical parameters at the 6- and 18-month follow-ups in both groups. Gingival recession in both PRF and amnion group when evaluated individually, significantly reduced from baseline to 6 months (P = 0.000) and from baseline to 18 months (P = 0.000). However, the mean value from 6 months to 18 months was statistically nonsignificant. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that both CAF + PRF and CAF + AM are equally effective in providing clinically significant outcomes with respect to root coverage with AM showing the better percentage of root coverage as compared to PRF.
Unveiling the Key Challenges to Achieve the Breakthrough of Blockchain: Insights from the Payments Industry

The emergence of blockchain technology has led to an animated discussion among both researchers and practitioners about its future prospects. Similar to other upcoming technologies, in the foreground of the analysis are often the potential benefits of blockchain. Much less discussed are the challenges the technology must overcome before achieving breakthrough in traditional areas, such as the financial services sector. To close this gap, and to identify the challenges blockchain needs to overcome, we explore its impact in the payments industry, which represents a major pillar of banking and the cradle of blockchain. For this purpose, we performed a Delphi study and subsequently conducted a number of dedicated interviews. The findings enable us to delineate six key challenges that have to be tackled. Our study contributes to the literature on blockchain and has important practical implications as it indicates issues that should be addressed in order to foster its dissemination.
The Impact of Dynamic Two-Sided Platform Pricing on Fairness Perception in the Sharing Economy

From an economic perspective, dynamic pricing seems to be the profit maximizing pricing strategy for consumer-to-consumer (C2C) sharing platforms because it allows balancing supply and demand over time. Based on distributive justice and equity theory we investigate how two characteristics of dynamic pricing, namely ‘fee changes over time’ and ‘fee differences across consumer groups’, influence fairness perception and intention to share of consumers. Using a laboratory experiment, we find that fee differences between lenders and borrowers is the dominant source of negative fairness perception, which in turn results in a lower intention to share, especially for the consumer group that is charged with a higher fee. Consequently, C2C sharing platforms have to be aware of this negative effect from fairness perception when they implement a dynamic two-sided platform pricing strategy to maximize profits.
Genetic diversity of the Chinese goat in the littoral zone of the Yangtze River as assessed by microsatellite and mtDNA

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of goats in the Yangtze River region using microsatellite and mtDNA to better understand the current status of those goat genetic diversity and the effects of natural landscape in fashion of domestic animal genetic diversity. The genetic variability of 16 goat populations in the littoral zone of the Yangtze River was estimated using 21 autosomal microsatellites, which revealed high diversity and genetic population clustering with a dispersed geographical distribution. A phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial D‐loop region (482 bp) was conducted in 494 goats from the Yangtze River region. In total, 117 SNPs were reconstructed, and 173 haplotypes were identified, 94.5% of which belonged to lineages A and B. Lineages C, D, and G had lower frequencies (5.2%), and lineage F haplotypes were undetected. Several high‐frequency haplotypes were shared by different ecogeographically distributed populations, and the close phylogenetic relationships among certain low‐frequency haplotypes indicated the historical exchange of genetic material among these populations. In particular, the lineage G haplotype suggests that some west Asian goat genetic material may have been transferred to China via Muslim migration.
Why do Individuals Continue Using Mobile Payments - A Qualitative Study in China

Many financial and mobile service providers are viewing mobile payment (MP) as a strategic growth area for their business. In order to realize this anticipated growth potential, users must initially adopt and then continue to use MP systems. However, a rich and detailed user perspective of MP continuance behavior is lacking. We address part of this research gap by content-analyzing interview transcripts of 38 MP users. The findings indicate that perceived usefulness and risk, disconfirmation, satisfaction, subjective norm, and habit are important when users making MP continuance decisions.
Prevalence and location of bone spurs in anterior ankle impingement: A cadaveric investigation

Anterior ankle impingement (AAI) results from repetitive microtrauma leading to pain and decreased dorsiflexion due to spur formation and synovial hypertrophy. Information about the prevalence of anterior spur formation in a large population, and the individual contributions of the talus and tibia to osseous impingement, is limited. A total of 670 ankle specimens from 344 individuals (n = 111 females, n = 233 males) aged 20 to 40 years at the time of death were examined. Matching tibia and talus were opposed and any spurring causing impingement was recorded. Spur locations were measured and ratios calculated to allow for inter‐specimen comparison between: (1) medial‐to‐lateral and anterior‐to‐posterior spur location versus dimensions of talar neck width, and (2) medial‐to‐lateral spur location to dimensions of distal anterior tibial width. Differences in spur prevalence in relation to sex, race, height and age were identified by univariant and multivariable statistical analyses. Bony impingement was observed in 21% (n = 72) of specimens, with bilateral involvement in 8% (n = 27). For ankles with AAI, spurs were seen on the talus only in 61%, on the tibia only in 14%, and on both the tibia and talus in 26%. Spurs were significantly more prevalent in males (P = 0.001) and with increasing specimen age (P = 0.002). There were no significant differences related to specimen height or race. Spurs were predominately located on the anterolateral talus (78%) and the anterolateral portion of the distal tibial margin (80%). AAI was present in 21% of young osseous specimens and was significantly more prevalent in males and with increasing specimen age. Clin. Anat. 31:1144–1150, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.