Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Roles of Information Load and Information Quality in Online Apparel Shopping

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect for information load on perceived information quality and website quality, and the relationships among perceived information quality, website quality and behavioral intentions in online apparel shopping contexts. The information load theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. The research strategy employed an online experimentation using an apparel mock website. The total of 647 responses were used for data analyses. The model of the study was tested by MANOVA and SEM. The results of MANOVA revealed the effect of information load on perceived information quality and website quality. The medium level of information load was perceived as having more positive information quality and website quality as compared to the low or high level of information load. The findings of SEM revealed the positive effect of information quality on website quailty, the positive effect of website quality on WOM and willingness to pay more, and the negative effect of website quailty on willingness to switch. Online apparel retailers and website designers need to manage information quantity and quality by understanding the importance of information load.
Distinct Pathways of Mannan-Binding Lectin (MBL)- and C1-Complex Autoactivation Revealed by Reconstitution of MBL with Recombinant MBL-Associated Serine Protease-21

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) plays a pivotal role in innate immunity by activating complement after binding carbohydrate moieties on pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Structural similarities shared by MBL and C1 complexes and by the MBL- and C1q-associated serine proteases, MBL-associated serine protease (MASP)-1 and MASP-2, and C1r and C1s, respectively, have led to the expectation that the pathways of complement activation by MBL and C1 complexes are likely to be very similar. We have expressed rMASP-2 and show that, whereas C1 complex autoactivation proceeds via a two-step mechanism requiring proteolytic activation of both C1r and C1s, reconstitution with MASP-2 alone is sufficient for complement activation by MBL. The results suggest that the catalytic activities of MASP-2 split between the two proteases of the C1 complex during the course of vertebrate complement evolution.
Identification With Mexican-American Values and Psychological Adjustment in Mexican- American Adolescents

CHILD2 and Madsen7 have observed that persons who are caught between two cultures experience severe value conflicts. A study of second-generation Italian-Americans2 revealed that they typically adopted one of three reactions to these conflicts : (1) the rebel-characterized by the desire of the individual to establish himself as an American and dissociate himself from the labels of the folk culture, (2) the in-group-a tendency to strive for affiliation with the folk culture and to express hostility to the symbols of the American group, and (3) the apathetic-an attempt to escape conflict by distorting memory or perception so that arousal tendencies to seek affiliation with either group are reduced. Child2 2
Characterization of two plasmids from Campylobacter jejuni isolates that carry the aphA-7 kanamycin resistance determinant

Two small plasmids of 11.5 and 9.5 kb, each carrying an aphA-7 kanamycin phosphotransferase gene, were studied. The MICs of kanamycin for the two human Campylobacter jejuni isolates harboring the plasmids were 10,000 and 5,000 micrograms/ml, while the MICs of amikacin were 32 and 8 micrograms/ml, respectively. The MICs of gentamicin and tobramycin were less than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml for both isolates. The restriction endonuclease maps of the plasmids were similar, with the larger plasmid showing two discrete regions of additional DNA. When the aphA-7 gene from each plasmid was cloned into pBR322, the aphA-7 gene expressed the kanamycin resistance phenotype in Escherichia coli. For transformants containing the cloned aphA-7 gene, kanamycin MICs were greater than or equal to 128 micrograms/ml. The aphA-7 gene was also subcloned from the plasmid pFKT4420 into the E. coli-Streptococcus shuttle vector pDL278 and was transformed into Streptococcus gordonii Challis. For streptococcal transformants containing the novel plasmid, kanamycin MICs were 4,000 micrograms/ml. In the presence of a tetracycline resistance plasmid, both small plasmids could be mobilized during conjugal matings to Campylobacter coli recipients.
Insights into riming and aggregation processes as revealed by aircraft, radar, and disdrometer observations for a 27 April 2011 widespread precipitation event

This study presents aircraft spiral ascent and descent observations intercepting a transition to riming processes during widespread stratiform precipitation. The sequence is documented using collocated scanning and profiling radar, including longer‐wavelength dual polarization measurements and shorter‐wavelength Doppler spectra. Riming regions are supported using aircraft measurements recording elevated liquid water concentrations, spherical particle shapes, and saturation with respect to water. Profiling cloud radar observations indicate riming regions during the event as having increasing particle fall speeds, rapid time‐height changes, and bimodalities in Doppler spectra. These particular riming signatures are coupled to scanning dual polarization radar observations of higher differential reflectivity (ZDR) aloft. Reduced melting layer enhancements and delayed radar bright‐band signatures in the column are also observed during riming periods, most notably with the profiling radar observations. The bimodal cloud radar Doppler spectra captured near riming zones indicate two time‐height spectral ice peaks, one rimed particle peak, and one peak associated with pristine ice needle generation and/or growth between −4°C and −7°C also sampled by aircraft probes. This pristine needle population gives a partial explanation for the enhanced ZDR we observe near this rimed particle region. The riming signatures aloft and radar measurements within the melting level are weakly lag correlated (r~0.6) with smaller median drop sizes at the surface, as compared with later times when aggregation of larger particle sizes was believed dominant.
DETERMINANTS OF AUDIT DELAY IN BANKING SECTOR

The aim of the study is to ascertain the impact of corporate governance variables and firm attributes on audit delay in the Nigerian banking sector. We used ordinary least square technique to analyze our data. Our results reveals that there is no significant relationship between ownership structure, firm size, balance sheet date and audit delay, while firm age and profitability have positive relationship with audit delay. Board size exhibits a negative relationship with audit delay. We conclude older firms, December balance sheet date and institutional ownership will increase the delay in publishing of audited financial report consequently, the study recommended that statutory bodies should enact law to reduce institution ownership and the firm should be compile to adjust their balance date from January-December to June –July to avoid rush associated with December.
A Randomized Trial of Medical Care With and Without Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care With and Without Physical Modalities for Patients With Low Back Pain: 6-Month Follow-Up Outcomes From the UCLA Low Back Pain Study

Study Design. A randomized clinical trial. Objectives. To compare the effectiveness of medical and chiropractic care for low back pain patients in managed care; to assess the effectiveness of physical therapy among medical patients; and to assess the effectiveness of physical modalities among chiropractic patients. Summary of Background Data. Despite the burden that low back pain places on patients, providers, and society, the relative effectiveness of common treatment strategies offered in managed care is unknown. Methods. Low back pain patients presenting to a large managed care facility from October 30, 1995, through November 9, 1998, were randomly assigned in a balanced design to medical care with and without physical therapy and to chiropractic care with and without physical modalities. The primary outcome variables are average and most severe low back pain intensity in the past week, assessed with 0 to 10 numerical rating scales, and low back-related disability, assessed with the 24-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. Results. Of 1,469 eligible patients, 681 were enrolled; 95.7% were followed through 6 months. The mean changes in low back pain intensity and disability of participants in the medical and chiropractic care-only groups were similar at each follow-up assessment (adjusted mean differences at 6 months for most severe pain, 0.27, 95% confidence interval, -0.32–0.86; average pain, 0.22, -0.25–0.69; and disability, 0.75, -0.29–1.79). Physical therapy yielded somewhat better 6-month disability outcomes than did medical care alone (1.26, 0.20–2.32). Conclusions. After 6 months of follow-up, chiropractic care and medical care for low back pain were comparable in their effectiveness. Physical therapy may be marginally more effective than medical care alone for reducing disability in some patients, but the possible benefit is small.
An Inverse-Kinematics Table-Based Solution of a Humanoid Robot Finger With Nonlinearly Coupled Joints

This paper presents a novel approach toward the inverse kinematics solution of the humanoid robot fingers with nonlinearly coupled joints, a challenging problem existing for years. Under an assumption that the coupled joint angles of the finger are the same, we first derive an approximate closed-form solution of the finger's inverse kinematics. Then, utilizing the approximate solution as the ancillary variable, we propose to solve the finger joint angles from this approximate solution rather than the fingertip position. Through analyzing properties of the approximate solution, it can be known that the coupled joint angles in the approximate solution play the most important role in the derivation of inverse kinematics. In practical implementation, a 1-D lookup table and the linear interpolation to the approximate solution are used to calculate the accurate joint angles. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed inverse kinematics method.
Correlates of partnership effectiveness: the Coalition for Unified Recreation in the Eastern Sierra.

The political culture of fiscal constraint has caused a groundswell of interest in collaborative or partnership arrangements among leisure service organizations. Advocates of partnerships cite many potential benefits including stretching scarce public resources and providing organizational flexibility. However, the authority of partnerships to make decisions on behalf of participating agencies has been questioned along with the accountability of partnerships to the generai public. These issues suggest the need to carefully monitor the performance of partnership arrangements. The purpose of this paper is to identify correlates of partnership effectiveness as perceived by the members of a broad-based regional partnership, the Coalition for Unified Recreation in the Eastern Sierra (CURES). The study involved collecting secondary information on CURES, personal interviews with select CURES members, and a survey of the CURES membership. A number of correlates of partnership effectiveness and partner satisfaction were identified including: administrative support, level of trust, sense of belonging, and strong leadership. Results suggest that managers should pay close attention to how other partners view the partnership and encourage, reward, and find the time available for staff to engage in partnership activities.
Relation of birth weight and childhood respiratory infection to adult lung function and death from chronic obstructive airways disease.

OBJECTIVE--To examine whether birth weight, infant weight, and childhood respiratory infection are associated with adult lung function and death from chronic obstructive airways disease. DESIGN--Follow up study of men born during 1911-30 whose birth weights, weights at 1 year, and childhood illnesses were recorded at the time by health visitors. SETTING--Hertfordshire, England. SUBJECTS--5718 men born in the county during 1911-30 and a subgroup of 825 men born in the county during 1920-30 and still living there. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Death from chronic obstructive airways disease, mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), and respiratory symptoms. RESULTS--55 men died of chronic obstructive airways disease. Death rates fell with increasing birth weight and weight at 1 year. Mean FEV1 at age 59 to 70 years, adjusted for height and age, rose by 0.06 litre (95% confidence interval 0.02 to 0.09) with each pound (450 g) increase in birth weight, independently of smoking habit and social class. Bronchitis or pneumonia in infancy was associated with a 0.17 litre (0.02 to 0.32) reduction in adult FEV1 and with an increased odds ratio of wheezing and persistent sputum production in adult life independently of birth weight, smoking habit, and social class. Whooping cough in infancy was associated with a 0.22 litre (0.02 to 0.42) reduction in adult FEV1. CONCLUSIONS--Lower birth weight was associated with worse adult lung function. Intrauterine influences which retard fetal weight gain may irrecoverably constrain the growth of the airways. Bronchitis, pneumonia, or whooping cough in infancy further reduced adult lung function. They also retarded infant weight gain. Consistent with this, death from chronic obstructive airways disease in adult life was associated with lower birth weight and weight at 1 year. Promoting lung growth in fetuses and infants and reducing the incidence of lower respiratory tract infection in infancy may reduce the incidence of chronic obstructive airways disease in the next generation.
Imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia: the impact of its effectiveness and long-term side effects.

The development of effective, selective therapies has long challenged researchers trying to improve treatment options for cancer patients. The allure of such therapies has always been that so-called “ targeted therapies ” would by their very nature limit toxic effects commonly associated with traditional cytotoxic agents. Moreover, if the targeted agents are effective, such therapies might improve clinical responses, alter disease biology, and ultimately improve survival for a multitude of cancer patients. The threats to such promising approaches include serious or unexpected toxic effects (ie, narrow therapeutic indices) or partially effective therapies that could allow the emergence of drug resistance. To date, the success of imatinib mesylate (IM) in the treatment of chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remains the best example of successful targeted therapy. This is true despite challenges as a result of its toxicity profi le and the fi nding that drug resistance does occur. IM has transformed this leukemia with a previously optimistic life expectancy of 4 – 6 years with interferonbased treatments ( 1 ) into a true chronic illness with overall survival rates that appear to be increasing each year. However, there are still concerns about long-term tolerability and long-term effi cacy with IM. In this issue of the Journal, the article by GambacortiPasserini et al . ( 2 ) adds “real-life, long-term” tolerability data to Imatinib for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: The Impact of Its Effectiveness and Long-term Side Effects
Asian and European Financial Crises Compared

The European and Asian financial crises are the two most recent major regional crises. This paper compares their origins and evolution. The origins of the two sets of crises were different in some respects, but broadly similar. The two sets of crises also shared similarities in their evolution, but here the differences were more significant. The European crisis countries received more external financial support, despite the fact that they involved more solvency issues while the Asian crises involved more liquidity issues. On balance, the reform programs in the European crises were less demanding and rigorous than in the Asian crises. Partly as a consequence, the negative impacts on the global economy have been larger. Author Edwin M. Truman draws three lessons from this analysis: First, history will repeat itself; there will be other external financial crises. Second, other countries have a stake in appropriate crisis management. Third, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other countries were mistaken in treating the European crises as individual country crises rather than as a crisis for the euro area as a whole that demanded policy conditionality on all members of the euro area.
How free is 'free' primary education in India?

Based on data generated by the National Sample Survey Organisation on household expenditures on education this paper shows that households spend large sums of money on acquiring primary education. More specifically, it has been found that students pay tuition fee, examination fee and other fees even in government prinary schools. The financial and material incentives provided by the government arefound to be available only to a smallfraction of students. There are large scale inter-state and inter-group (by gender and by region rural and urban) variations with respect to several aspects relating to public provision of incentives and also to the levels of household expenditure on education.
No evidence that vaccines cause insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

(see table 1), international attention hasbegan focusing on the nature of possible exter-nal stimuli in the genesis of IDDM. Amongthese, vaccination schedules have been alsocalled into question as possible modulatingfactors. Classen and Classen have postulated aprotective eVect of exposure to immunogens ifbabies are vaccinated within 42 days frombirth.
Existence of weak solution for volume preserving mean curvature flow via phase field method

We study the phase field method for the volume preserving mean curvature flow. Given an initial $C^1$ hypersurface we proved the existence of the weak solution for the volume preserving mean curvature flow via the reaction diffusion equation with a nonlocal term. We also show the monotonicity formula and the density upper bound for the reaction diffusion equation.
Development of diagnostic criteria and a prognostic score for hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

Objective The definition of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) based on cirrhosis, irrespective of aetiology, remains controversial. This study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with hepatitis B virus-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) in a prospective study and develop new diagnostic criteria and a prognostic score for such patients. Design The clinical data from 1322 hospitalised patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis or severe liver injury due to chronic hepatitis B (CHB) at 13 liver centres in China were used to develop new diagnostic and prognostic criteria. Results Of the patients assessed using the Chronic Liver Failure Consortium criteria with the exception of cirrhosis, 391 patients with ACLF were identified: 92 with non-cirrhotic HBV-ACLF, 271 with cirrhotic HBV-ACLF and 28 with ACLF with cirrhosis caused by non-HBV aetiologies (non-HBV-ACLF). The short-term (28/90 days) mortality of the patients with HBV-ACLF were significantly higher than those of the patients with non-HBV-ACLF. Total bilirubin (TB) ≥12 mg/dL and an international normalised ratio (INR) ≥1.5 was proposed as an additional diagnostic indicator of HBV-ACLF, and 19.3% of patients with an HBV aetiology were additionally diagnosed with ACLF. The new prognostic score (0.741×INR+0.523×HBV-SOFA+0.026×age+0.003×TB) for short-term mortality was superior to five other scores based on both discovery and external validation studies. Conclusions Regardless of the presence of cirrhosis, patients with CHB, TB ≥12 mg/dL and INR ≥1.5 should be diagnosed with ACLF. The new criteria diagnosed nearly 20% more patients with an HBV aetiology with ACLF, thus increasing their opportunity to receive timely intensive management.
Normal Relationship of β- and Non–β-Cells Not Needed for Successful Islet Transplantation

Islets are composed mostly of β-cells, and therefore stem cell research has concentrated on generating purified β-cells, neglecting the other endocrine cell types in the islet. We investigated the presence of endocrine non–β-cells after islet transplantation. In addition, we studied whether the transplantation of pure β-cells, in volumes similar to that used in islet transplantation, would suffice to reverse hyperglycemia in diabetic mice. Rat islets were dispersed and β-cells were purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting according to their endogenous fluorescence. After reaggregation, 600 islet equivalents of the purified β-cell aggregates were implanted into diabetic SCID mice. In mice implanted with β-cell–enriched aggregates, the hyperglycemia was reversed and good graft function over a 12-week period was observed with regard to glucose and insulin levels, glucose tolerance tests, and graft insulin content. The endocrine cell composition of the β-cell–enriched aggregates remained constant; before and 12 weeks after transplantation, the β-cell–enriched aggregates comprised 95% β-cells and 5% endocrine non–β-cells. However, islet grafts, despite originally having comprised 75% β-cells and 25% endocrine non–β-cells, comprised just 5% endocrine non–β-cells after transplantation, indicating a loss of these cells. β-Cell–enriched aggregates can effectively reverse hyperglycemia in mice, and transplanted intact islets are depleted in non–β-cells. It is therefore likely that islet non–β-cells are not essential for successful islet transplantation.
Relationships Between Errors Propagated in Fraction of Vegetation Cover by Algorithms Based on a Two-Endmember Linear Mixture Model

Remotely sensed reflectance spectra may be biased by several intervening factors, and the biases are propagated into estimations of the fraction of vegetation cover (FVC) by algorithms based on a linear mixture model (LMM). The errors propagated in FVCs depend on the retrieval algorithm used, due to differences in the assumptions of the model as well as constraints employed in the algorithm. These differences should be fully understood prior to algorithm selection for practical applications. Although numerous studies have investigated the relationships between errors propagated by different algorithms, these relationships have not been fully understood from a deterministic perspective. This study introduces a technique for deriving the analytical underpinnings of error propagation in FVC based on several LMM-based algorithms. The derivation assumes that measurement noise is band-correlated additive noise. The bias errors propagated in FVC depended on the endmember spectra assumed in the algorithm, the target spectrum, and the coefficients of the spectral vegetation index, which were employed as constraints, as well as magnitude of the input error. It was found that the relationships among the propagated errors assume asymmetric elliptical forms with coefficients that are determined by the input variables. These results suggest that the relationships depend heavily on the choice of endmember spectra as well as the spectrum of the target pixel and the vegetation index employed as a constraint. The present findings should assist in the selection of an optimum algorithm based on prior knowledge of the target field.