Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Drives Users to Pay for Freemium Services? Examining People's Willingness to Pay for Music Services

Freemium is intended to be a promising method that allows content providers to earn money now that Web 2.0 users feel entitled to free software. However, industries that use freemium, like the music industry, still struggle to cover their costs. Despite its practical relevance, no studies have investigated why customers are willing to pay for a service that can also be used for free. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, we developed a research model to identify antecedents of consumers’ intentions and attitudes towards the premium version of music services when a free version is available. The results of our survey with 157 participants show that using the free version has a negative impact on users’ intention to pay for the premium version. Our practical implications indicate that music service providers should focus on the premium product and introduce a time-limited freemium.
Reply to Shen et al.: No evidence to show nongrowing season NDVI affects spring phenology trend in the Tibetan Plateau over the last decade

We appreciate the comments on our article (1) from Shen et al. (2). They raise the issue of whether the nongrowing season (NGS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) could affect spring phenology as interpreted from time series NDVI data. To address it, they compared the NGS NDVIs of two separate periods (1998–2000 and 2009–2011) and found a higher 2009–2011 NGS NDVI than that of 1998–2000, which was considered to negatively (e.g., advanced) bias retrieved spring phenology results [figure 1 A and B in the letter (2)]. We found that the NGS NDVI increase from 1998–2000 to 2009–2011 was overused to represent the trend from 1998 to 2011 because of the effects of outliers in 1998 and 2000 (Fig. 1A). We used snow depth data derived from passive microwave remote sensing for the studied area (3) and found that snow depth from January to April was significantly higher in 1998 and 2000 (Fig. 1B). The El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event resulted in the most severe snow storm in the 1997/1998 winter across the Tibetan Plateau (4), which led to lower NGS NDVI from January to April in 1998. The La Nina in year 1999/2000 also resulted in big snow and lower NGS NDVI on the plateau in 2000 (Fig. 1B). Actually, the trends of the NDVIs in February, March, and April were not statistically significant when we removed the outliers in 1998 and 2000 (Fig. 1C). January NDVI increasing was significant. However, it will not affect start of the vegetation growing season (SOS) retrieval because all of the green-up dates happened after March on the plateau.
The prevalence of vertebral deformities is increased with higher egg incubation temperatures and triploidy in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.

Suboptimal egg incubation temperature is a risk factor for the development of skeletal deformities in teleosts. Triplicate diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. , egg batches were incubated at 6, 8 and 10 °C up until first feeding, whereupon fish were reared on a natural temperature before examination for externally visible skeletal deformities (jaw and spine) and radiographed for vertebral deformities and morphology at the parr stage. Increasing incubation temperatures and triploidy increased the number of fish showing one or more deformed vertebrae. Triploids had significantly higher mean vertebrae cranio-caudal length (L) and dorsal-ventral height (H) ratio at 6 and 10 °C than diploids, but triploidy had no effect on mean vertebrae centra area. Triploids demonstrated an increase in lower jaw deformities with increased incubation temperature, whereas jaw deformities were rare in diploids. Fish incubated at 10 °C had a significantly lower mean vertebral number than fish incubated at 6 °C, and triploids had lower mean vertebral numbers than diploids. Diploid fish with 58 vertebrae had a significantly higher mean vertebral centra area than fish with 59 vertebrae, but vertebral number did not affect the mean vertebral L/H ratio. The results are discussed with respect to the welfare and production of farmed salmonids.
Nominal uni cation

We present a generalisation of rst-order uni cation to the practically important case of equations between terms involving binding operations. A substitution of terms for variables solves such an equation if it makes the equated terms � -equivalent, i.e. equal up to renaming bound names. For the applications we have in mind, we must consider the simple, textual form of substitution in which names occurring in terms may be captured within the scope of binders upon substitution. We are able to take a “nominal” approach to binding in which bound entities are explicitly named (rather than using nameless, de Bruijn-style representations) and yet get a version of this form of substitution that respects � -equivalence and possesses good algorithmic properties. We achieve this by adapting two existing ideas. The rst one is terms involving explicit substitutions of names for names, except that here we only use explicit permutations (bijective substitutions). The second one is that the uni cation algorithm should solve not only equational problems, but also problems about the freshness of names for terms. There is a simple generalisation of classical rst-order uni cation problems to this setting which retains the latter’s pleasant properties: uni cation problems involving � -equivalence and freshness are decidable; and solvable problems possess most general solutions. c 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Vicia faba agglutinin, the lectin present in broad beans, stimulates differentiation of undifferentiated colon cancer cells

BACKGROUND Dietary lectins can alter the proliferation of colonic cells. Differentiation is regulated by adhesion molecules which, being glycosylated, are targets for lectin binding. AIMS To examine the effects of dietary lectins on differentiation, adhesion, and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. METHODS Differentiation was assessed in three dimensional gels, adhesion by aggregation assay, and proliferation by 3H thymidine incorporation. The role of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (epCAM) was studied using a specific monoclonal antibody in blocking studies and Western blots. The human colon cancer cell lines LS174T, SW1222, and HT29 were studied. RESULTS The cell line LS174T differentiated in the presence of Vicia fabaagglutinin (VFA) into gland like structures. This was inhibited by anti-epCAM monoclonal antibody. Expression of epCAM itself was unaffected. VFA as well as wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and the edible mushroom lectin (Agaricus bisporus lectin, ABL) significantly aggregated LS174T cells but peanut agglutinin (PNA) and soybean agglutinin (SBA) did not. All lectins aggregated SW1222 and HT29 cells. Aggregation was blocked by the corresponding sugars. Aggregation of cells by VFA was also inhibited by anti-epCAM. VFA, ABL, and WGL inhibited proliferation of all the cell lines; PNA stimulated proliferation of HT29 and SW1222 cells. In competition studies all sugars blocked aggregation and proliferation of all cell lines, except that the addition of mannose alone inhibited proliferation. CONCLUSION VFA stimulated an undifferentiated colon cancer cell line to differentiate into gland like structures. The adhesion molecule epCAM is involved in this. Dietary or therapeutic VFA may slow progression of colon cancer.
Estimating the orientation error with injected test signals for sensorless field oriented control of induction machines using magnetic anisotropies

A method for sensorless control of induction machines is proposed to estimate the field angle error using continuous excitation signals. Effects, which are present during a misalignment between the real world and model value, are used to estimate the error and correct it. Main flux oriented machine model equations, which take into account the magnetic anisotropies of the machine, are used to show the effect of a mismatch between the real and the model angle. These equations are simplified to only show the relevant terms in respect to high frequency test signals. By this it is possible to estimate the expected amplitude of injected test signals with greatly reduced computational effort. Simulation results are presented to show the validity of these assumptions. With the effects of an orientation error on a test signal described, a way to correct this error is discussed. For this, test signal components are extracted and used in a simple, but effective, control structure to minimize the error. By this it is also possible to estimate the main-flux angle of the machine. Simulation results are presented to show the performance of this method. Measurements on a test bench were carried out to show that these effects can be used in a practical application and also to validate the proposed method. This is done for standstill and with low rotor speeds.
Effects of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin on the Plasma Levels of Vasoactive Regulatory Peptides in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

The plasma levels of nine vasoactive regulatory peptides were measured by radioimmunoassay in six stable patients with chronic renal failure on regular hemodialysis, before and during treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-huEPO). All patients responded with significant increases in hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit. Mean arterial blood pressure was not significantly changed nor were there any changes of body weight or interdialytic body weight gain. The mean plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and motilin decreased significantly, by 38 and 16 percent respectively, during r-huEPO treatment. There were no changes in mean plasma levels of arginine vasopressin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, β-lipotropin, γ2-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, neuropeptide Y, substance P or vasoactive intestinal peptide. No significant correlations were observed between changes of plasma peptide levels and changes of mean arterial blood pressure.
Transforming growth factor‐β2 (TGF‐β2) reverses the inhibitory effects of fibrin sealant on cutaneous wound repair in the pig

Tensile strength of 2‐cm, full‐thickness, surgically incised porcine skin wounds sealed with fibrin sealant was enhanced compared to conventionally sutured wounds at 6 hours postwounding, but was significantly reduced after 3 days. Supplementation of fibrin sealant with transforming growth factor‐β2 (TGF‐β2) reversed the inhibitory effects of fibrin sealant on tensile strength at 3 days, and enhanced tensile strength at 7 days compared to suture or fibrin sealant alone. By 14 days, the tensile strengths of all wounds were similar, although wounds treated with fibrin sealant supplemented with TGF‐β2 showed a small, but statistically significant, improvement in wound strength compared to wounds treated with fibrin sealant alone. Histological assessment at day 7 revealed significant remnants of fibrin sealant at the wound site following fibrin sealant treatment alone, while wounds treated with fibrin sealant supplemented with TGF‐β2 or suture exhibited fibroblast infiltration and extracellular matrix deposition. At day 7, TGF‐β was immunolocalized in the base and margins of only wounds treated with fibrin sealant supplemented with TGF‐β2. A significant increase in matrix metalloproteinase‐9 activity was found in fibrin sealant–treated wounds at day 7 as compared to sutured wounds. Addition of TGF‐β to the fibrin sealant suppressed the up‐regulation of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 in these wounds. These results suggest that fibrin sealant supplemented with TGF‐β may provide superior wound healing as compared to fibrin sealant alone. (WOUND REP REG 2002;10:252–258)
Acute stroke care and rehabilitation: an analysis of the direct cost and its clinical and social determinants. The Copenhagen Stroke Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Stroke represents a major economic challenge to society. The direct cost of stroke is largely determined by the duration of hospital stay, but internationally applicable estimates of the direct cost of acute stroke care and rehabilitation on cost-efficient stroke units are not available. Information regarding social and medical factors influencing the length of hospital stay (LOHS) and thereby cost is needed to direct cost-reducing efforts. METHODS We determined the direct cost of stroke in the prospective, consecutive, and community-based stroke population of the Copenhagen Stroke Study by measuring the total LOHS in the 1197 acute stroke patients included in the study. All patients had all their acute care and rehabilitation on a dedicated stroke unit. Neurological impairment was measured by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale. Local nonmedical factors affecting the LOHS, such as waiting time for discharge to a nursing home after completed rehabilitation, were accounted for in the analysis. The influence of social and medical factors on the LOHS was analyzed in a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS The average LOHS was 27.1 days (SD, 44.1; range, 1 to 193), corresponding to a direct cost of $12.150 per patient including all acute care and rehabilitation. The LOHS increased with increasing stroke severity (6 days per 10-point increase in severity; P < .0001) and single marital status (3.4 days; P = .02). Death reduced LOHS (22.0 days; P < .0001). Age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, claudication, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, former stroke, other disabling comorbidity, smoking, daily alcohol consumption, and the type of stroke (hemorrhage/infarct) had no independent influence on LOHS. CONCLUSIONS Acute care and rehabilitation of unselected patients on a dedicated stroke unit takes on average 4 weeks. In general, comorbidity such as diabetes or heart disease does not increase LOHS. Efforts to reduce costs should therefore aim at reducing initial stroke severity or improving the rate of recovery.
Antigenic differences between primary methylcholanthrene‐induced rat sarcomas and post‐surgical recurrences

The immunogenicities of in vivo lines established from primary MCA‐induced rat sarcomas have been compared with those of lines initiated from tumour recurrences at the site of the primaries' surgical excisions. Lines from two of four primary sarcomas showed little or no immunogenicity, as assessed by protection against challenge afforded by graft excision or implantation of irradiated tissue. In contrast, lines from all four recurrences were immunogenic, giving protection against up to 5 × 106 tumour cells. Most importantly, with all four tumours, lines established from recurrences were antigenically distinct from lines derived from their original primary sarcomas, so that immunization with regrowth lines gave no protection against the lines from the primaries, and vice versa. These studies demonstrate that primary MCA‐induced sarcomas are antigenically distinct from recurrent tumours arising after surgical removal of the primaries, implying that these tumours arose by clonal amplification of separate populations of transformed cells. This may reflect proliferation of dormant neoplastic cells or the further induction of transformed cells by residual carcinogen. These findings are relevant to the multifocal origin of tumours and for the design of active immunotherapy for the treatment of recurrences or metastatic deposits.
Oscillatory pallidal local field potential activity correlates with involuntary EMG in dystonia

The pathophysiology of dystonia is unclear. The authors recorded local field potentials (LFPs) from deep brain stimulation electrodes implanted in the pallidum of 13 dystonic patients. LFP power correlated with the level of dystonic EMG in the sternocleidomastoid, with maximal positive correlations at the lower contacts of pallidal electrodes. The data suggest that the neuronal synchronization indexed by LFP oscillations in the globus pallidus may be mechanistically linked to dystonic EMG activity.
Aggregation Methods for Solving Sparse Triangular Systems on Multiprocessors

Efficient methods are presented for solving large sparse triangular systems on multiprocessors. These methods use heuristics for the aggregation, mapping, and scheduling of relatively fine-grained computations whose data dependencies are specified by directed acyclic graphs. Results of experiments run on the Encore Multimax, as well as model problem analysis, measure the performance of the partitioning strategies on shared-memory architectures with varying synchronization costs.
Relationships between methanol marker and mechanical performance of electrical insulation papers for power transformers under accelerated thermal aging

The mechanical performance of two commercial papers used as solid insulation in power transformers, namely standard Kraft and a thermally upgraded Kraft paper, were studied during accelerated aging in Luminol oil at 170 °C. The results show a relationship between the degree of polymerization and the mechanical properties measured by tensile testing. A linear relationship was found between the mechanical properties of paper, the tensile index (Tidx), and the concentration of methanol present in the oil. The methanol chemical marker has been proven to be an accurate assessment tool for the aging of cellulosic paper. The results show a promising tool for correlating the methanol concentration in oil, as an indirect indicator, with the mechanical performance of the paper. This approach can be used to monitor the real state of the cellulose chains in the power transformer insulation paper.
Nonlinear State of Charge Estimator for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Battery

A new method for battery state of charge estimation using a sliding mode observer has been developed. A nonlinear battery dynamic modeling technique is established and design methodology with the sliding mode observer is presented. Contrary to the conventional methods using complicated battery modeling, a simple resistor-capacitor battery model was used in this work. The modeling errors caused by the simple model are compensated by the sliding mode observer. The structure of the sliding mode observer is simple, but it shows robust control property against modeling errors and uncertainties. The convergence of the proposed observer has been proved by the equivalent control method. The performance of the system has been verified by the sequence of urban dynamometer driving schedule test. The test results of the proposed observer system shows robust tracking performance under real driving environments.
Functional connectivity changes following interpersonal reactivity

Attachment experiences substantially influence emotional and cognitive development. Narratives comprising attachment‐dependent content were proposed to modulate activation of cognitive‐emotional schemata in listeners. We studied the effects after listening to prototypical attachment narratives on wellbeing and countertransference‐reactions in 149 healthy participants. Neural correlates of these cognitive‐emotional schema activations were investigated in a 7 Tesla rest‐task‐rest fMRI‐study (23 healthy males) using functional connectivity (FC) analysis of the social approach network (seed regions: left and right Caudate Nucleus, CN). Reduced FC between left CN and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) represented a general effect of prior auditory stimulation. After presentation of the insecure‐dismissing narrative, FC between left CN and bilateral temporo‐parietal junction, and right dorsal posterior Cingulum was reduced, compared to baseline. Post‐narrative FC‐patterns of insecure‐dismissing and insecure‐preoccupied narratives differed in strength between left CN and right DLPFC. Neural correlates of the moderating effect of individual attachment anxiety were represented in a reduced CN‐DLPFC FC as a function of individual neediness‐levels. These findings suggest specific neural processing of prolonged mood‐changes and schema activation induced by attachment‐specific speech patterns. Individual desire for interpersonal proximity was predicted by attachment anxiety and furthermore modulated FC of the social approach network in those exposed to such narratives.
The lipid component of lipoproteins from Borrelia burgdorferi: structural analysis, antigenicity, and presentation via human dendritic cells.

The spirochaetal bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is the tick-borne causative agent of lyme disease. The major membrane immunogens of Bb are outer surface proteins. The lipid component of these lipoproteins is relevant for the immunogenicity of Bb-lipoproteins. To characterize the antigenic properties, the native lipid component of lipoproteins was isolated and the detailed molecular structure was analyzed. The molecular structure of the lipoprotein-lipid component turned out to be S(propane-2',-3'diol)-3-thio-2-aminopropanic acid (S-glyceryl-cysteine) with one ester-linked fatty acid, one acetyl group, and one N-terminal amide-bound fatty acid. Fatty acid analysis of the lipid component indicated a heterogeneous composition comprising C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, and C 20:0. The antigenicity was tested with in vitro bioassays using human blood-derived dendritic cells (DCs) as antigen-presenting cells and autologous Bb-specific T-cells. We found that human DCs present the lipid component of Bb-lipoproteins via MHC class II inducing an antigen-specific T-cell immune response in vitro.
Mitochondria and Antioxidants: The Active Players in Islet Oxidative Stress

Diabetes mellitus (DM) of type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) are characterized by persistently high glucose (HG) blood levels known as hyperglycemia. The preponderance of evidence points to a significant role of oxidative stress in the development of complications in patients with DM. In particular, the pathogenic increase in reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) as well as accumulation of oxidation and nitration products has been well documented in cases of diabetes. ROS and RNS affect all types of biological molecules: they cause oxidation of membrane lipids, modification of protein amino groups as well as deoxynucleotites. Insulin producing beta-cells, which are part of pancreatic islets of Langerhans, perform the energetically demanding function of sensing blood glucose and releasing insulin to sustain metabolic homeostasis. They are highly specialized endocrinal cells with a complex system of signal transduction and insulin producing capacity. In pathology of diabetes beta-cells are the ones which are most susceptible to oxidative stress.
Spatially Resolved Characterization of Water and Ion Incorporation in Bacillus Spores

ABSTRACT We present the first direct visualization and quantification of water and ion uptake into the core of individual dormant Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) endospores. Isotopic and elemental gradients in the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis spores show the permeation and incorporation of deuterium in deuterated water (D2O) and solvated ions throughout individual spores, including the spore core. Under hydrated conditions, incorporation into a spore occurs on a time scale of minutes, with subsequent uptake of the permeating species continuing over a period of days. The distribution of available adsorption sites is shown to vary with the permeating species. Adsorption sites for Li+, Cs+, and Cl− are more abundant within the spore outer structures (exosporium, coat, and cortex) relative to the core, while F− adsorption sites are more abundant in the core. The results presented here demonstrate that elemental abundance and distribution in dormant spores are influenced by the ambient environment. As such, this study highlights the importance of understanding how microbial elemental and isotopic signatures can be altered postproduction, including during sample preparation for analysis, and therefore, this study is immediately relevant to the use of elemental and isotopic markers in environmental microbiology and microbial forensics.