Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leveraging Customer Knowledge in Electronic Knowledge Repositories for Service Expertise

This study examines how three dimensions of electronic knowledge repositories (EKRs), namely customer knowledge level, customer knowledge integration and accessibility of customer knowledge, contribute to increasing customer service representatives (CSRs)’ service expertise and their customer knowledge utilization and acquisition. Furthermore, the study empirically tests the proposition that service quality is influenced by CSRs’ service expertise and their customer knowledge utilization and acquisition. To test the proposed model and hypotheses, data were collected on CSRs working for call centers using EKRs such as knowledge management systems. All the hypothesized relationships were found to be significant except that between customer knowledge acquisition and service quality. Service expertise was strongly affected by customer knowledge level. While customer knowledge utilization was strongly increased by the accessibility of customer knowledge, customer knowledge acquisition was strongly increased by customer knowledge integration. This study offers an insight into how EKRs, which will have been accumulated by firms over time, ultimately influence the performance of CSRs.
Bone Disease in Thalassemia: A Frequent and Still Unresolved Problem

Adults with β thalassemia major frequently have low BMD, fractures, and bone pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of low BMD, fractures, and bone pain in all thalassemia syndromes in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, associations of BMD with fractures and bone pain, and etiology of bone disease in thalassemia. Patients of all thalassemia syndromes in the Thalassemia Clinical Research Network, ≥6 yr of age, with no preexisting medical condition affecting bone mass or requiring steroids, participated. We measured spine and femur BMD and whole body BMC by DXA and assessed vertebral abnormalities by morphometric X‐ray absorptiometry (MXA). Medical history by interview and review of medical records, physical examinations, and blood and urine collections were performed. Three hundred sixty‐one subjects, 49% male, with a mean age of 23.2 yr (range, 6.1–75 yr), were studied. Spine and femur BMD Z‐scores < −2 occurred in 46% and 25% of participants, respectively. Greater age, lower weight, hypogonadism, and increased bone turnover were strong independent predictors of low bone mass regardless of thalassemia syndrome. Peak bone mass was suboptimal. Thirty‐six percent of patients had a history of fractures, and 34% reported bone pain. BMD was negatively associated with fractures but not with bone pain. Nine percent of participants had uniformly decreased height of several vertebrae by MXA, which was associated with the use of iron chelator deferoxamine before 6 yr of age. In patients with thalassemia, low BMD and fractures occur frequently and independently of the particular syndrome. Peak bone mass is suboptimal. Low BMD is associated with hypogonadism, increased bone turnover, and an increased risk for fractures.
Introducing Spatial Information into Predictive NF-κB Modelling – An Agent-Based Approach

Nature is governed by local interactions among lower-level sub-units, whether at the cell, organ, organism, or colony level. Adaptive system behaviour emerges via these interactions, which integrate the activity of the sub-units. To understand the system level it is necessary to understand the underlying local interactions. Successful models of local interactions at different levels of biological organisation, including epithelial tissue and ant colonies, have demonstrated the benefits of such ‘agent-based’ modelling [1]–[4]. Here we present an agent-based approach to modelling a crucial biological system – the intracellular NF-κB signalling pathway. The pathway is vital to immune response regulation, and is fundamental to basic survival in a range of species [5]–[7]. Alterations in pathway regulation underlie a variety of diseases, including atherosclerosis and arthritis. Our modelling of individual molecules, receptors and genes provides a more comprehensive outline of regulatory network mechanisms than previously possible with equation-based approaches [8]. The method also permits consideration of structural parameters in pathway regulation; here we predict that inhibition of NF-κB is directly affected by actin filaments of the cytoskeleton sequestering excess inhibitors, therefore regulating steady-state and feedback behaviour.
Principal influence in teacher hiring: documenting decentralization over time

Purpose Over the past decade, policy researchers and advocates have called for the decentralization of teacher hiring decisions from district offices to school principals. The purpose of this paper is to document the trends across two and a half decades in principals’ reported influence over teacher hiring decisions in the USA and explore how and whether principal influence varies systematically across contexts. Design/methodology/approach Regression analysis with secondary data using seven waves of nationally representative data from the Schools and Staffing Survey. Findings Principals report increased influence over the 25 years that the data span. While principals of urban schools were much more likely to report having less influence over teacher hiring compared to their non-urban counterparts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, their reported influence increased more than that of other principals. Research limitations/implications Empowering principals as primary decision-makers assumes that they have the best information on which to make hiring decisions. At the same time, other research suggests that local teacher labor market dynamics contribute to the inequitable sorting of teachers across schools. This study raises questions regarding the implications of the increased influence of principals in teacher hiring on equity of access to quality teachers across schools. Originality/value This is the first study to explore whether and how principal influence in teacher hiring decisions has changed over time.
A Method to Improve the Analysis of Cluster Ensembles

Clustering is fundamental to understand the structure of data. In the past decade the cluster ensemble problem has been introduced, which combines a set of partitions (an ensemble) of the data to obtain a single consensus solution that outperforms all the ensemble members. However, there is disagreement about which are the best ensemble characteristics to obtain a good performance: some authors have suggested that highly dierent partitions within the ensemble are benecial for the nal performance, whereas others have stated that medium diversity among them is better. While there are several measures to quantify the diversity, a better method to analyze the best ensemble characteristics is necessary. This paper introduces a new ensemble generation strategy and a method to make slight changes in its structure. Experimental results on six datasets suggest that this is an important step towards a more systematic approach to analyze the impact of the ensemble characteristics on the overall consensus performance.
Models of self in families of people with spina bifida

Os modelos de self revelam a visao cultural acerca das competencias que as criancas devem adquirir e tendem a ser compartilhados pelas pessoas que integram o mesmo ambiente. Neste sentido, este estudo objetiva avaliar os modelos de self em familias de pessoas com espinha bifida. Dezessete cuidadores responderam um questionario virtual contendo questoes sociodemograficas e tres Escalas de Self: Autonomo, Relacionado e Autonomo Relacionado. Os dados foram tratados por meio de estatistica descritiva, com tecnicas de analises multivariadas. Os principais resultados indicam que o modelo de self mais valorizado foi o autonomo relacional que se reflete no desejo que os filhos e filhas desenvolvam a autonomia e, tambem, relacionamentos interpessoais. Tal modelo, porem, distingue-se dos grupos familiares de pessoas com desenvolvimento tipico que residem no mesmo ambiente cultural, o que evidencia a necessidade das familias de pessoas com espinha bifida receberem apoio para alcancarem seus alvos desenvolvimentais.
Viewpoint Invariant 3D Human Pose Estimation with Recurrent Error Feedback

We propose a viewpoint invariant model for 3D human pose estimation from a single depth image. To achieve viewpoint invariance, our deep discriminative model embeds local regions into a learned viewpoint invariant feature space. Formulated as a multi-task learning problem, our model is able to selectively predict partial poses in the presence of noise and occlusion. Our approach leverages a convolutional and recurrent network with a top-down error feedback mechanism to self-correct previous pose estimates in an end-to-end manner. We evaluate our model on a previously published depth dataset and a newly collected human pose dataset containing 100K annotated depth images from extreme viewpoints. Experiments show that our model achieves competitive performance on frontal views while achieving state-of-the-art performance on alternate viewpoints.
NAI1 Gene Encodes a Basic-Helix-Loop-Helix–Type Putative Transcription Factor That Regulates the Formation of an Endoplasmic Reticulum–Derived Structure, the ER Body

Plant cells develop various types of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–derived structures with specific functions. ER body, an ER-derived compartment in Arabidopsis thaliana, is a spindle-shaped structure. The NAI1 gene regulates the development of ER bodies because mutation of NAI1 abolishes the formation of ER bodies. To better understand the role of NAI1, we cloned the NAI1 gene using a positional cloning strategy. The nai1-1 mutant had a single nucleotide change at an intron acceptor site of At2g22770 (NAI1 gene). Because of this mutation, aberrant splicing of NAI1 mRNA occurs in the nai1-1 mutant. NAI1 encodes a transcription factor that has a basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain. Transient expression of NAI1 induced ER bodies in the nai1-1 mutant. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and RT-PCR analyses showed that a putative lectin was depressed at both the mRNA and protein levels in nai1 mutants, as was a β-glucosidase (PYK10). Our results provide direct evidence that a bHLH protein plays a role in the formation of ER bodies.
Translational approaches to obsessive‐compulsive disorder: from animal models to clinical treatment

Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive ritualistic behaviours) leading to functional impairment. Accumulating evidence links these conditions with underlying dysregulation of fronto‐striatal circuitry and monoamine systems. These abnormalities represent key targets for existing and novel treatment interventions. However, the brain bases of these conditions and treatment mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. Animal models simulating the behavioural and clinical manifestations of the disorder show great potential for augmenting our understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of OCD. This paper provides an overview of what is known about OCD from several perspectives. We begin by describing the clinical features of OCD and the criteria used to assess the validity of animal models of symptomatology; namely, face validity (phenomenological similarity between inducing conditions and specific symptoms of the human phenomenon), predictive validity (similarity in response to treatment) and construct validity (similarity in underlying physiological or psychological mechanisms). We then survey animal models of OC spectrum conditions within this framework, focusing on (i) ethological models; (ii) genetic and pharmacological models; and (iii) neurobehavioural models. We also discuss their advantages and shortcomings in relation to their capacity to identify potentially efficacious new compounds. It is of interest that there has been rather little evidence of ‘false alarms’ for therapeutic drug effects in OCD models which actually fail in the clinic. While it is more difficult to model obsessive cognition than compulsive behaviour in experimental animals, it is feasible to infer cognitive inflexibility in certain animal paradigms. Finally, key future neurobiological and treatment research areas are highlighted.
Photocatalytic reactivity of the titanium oxide loaded on a stainless steel screen by a spraying method

To reduce a film-diffusional resistance in the very vicinity of the photocatalyst surface, titanium oxide particles containing a small amount of adsorbent particles (310 %) are immobilized on a stainless steel screen by a spraying method and its performance is investigated by decomposing 2,4-dinitrophenol in water. It is found that the activity of this photocatalyst screen is higher than that of the photocatalyst glass tube prepared by the conventional dip-coating method in the region of low linear velocity. A simple mathematical model that takes into consideration the photocatalytic reaction, diffusion, and adsorption is used to interpret the experimental result.
The effect of house prices on household saving: the case of Italy

In this paper we study the effect on Italian households’ saving behaviour of a change in real estate wealth using the Bank of Italy’s Survey of Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) dataset. We relate annual household saving to capital gains in housing, controlling for other characteristics such as age. In line with the empirical predictions of our model, we find the oldest households — who are less touched by the higher costs of future rents — to be the most affected by an increase in real net housing wealth; younger households, on the other hand, are not significantly affected by house price increases in their saving decisions. We also take into account that observing capital gains is conditional on owning housing wealth and estimate the different impact of house price changes on the savings behaviour of homeowners and renters. Our estimates suggest that a house price increase raised consumption not only for homeowners but also for renters.
Dancing with danger: ethnographic safety, male bravado and gang research in Colombia

This article considers the dilemmas and challenges of conducting fieldwork with youth gang members in Medellín, Colombia. It draws upon the author’s experiences to develop the notion of ‘ethnographic safety’, where researchers learn to perceive and avert danger by gaining a ‘feel for the rules of the game’ (Bourdieu, 1992) in violent communities; it problematizes the role that the researcher’s gender and ‘male bravado’ played in accessing and interviewing gang members; considers the ethical conundrums of building rapport with criminal subjects; and discusses the challenges of working in complex, chronically violent communities where there are no simple dichotomies between victims and perpetrators of violence.
3D-press: haptic illusion of compliance when pressing on a rigid surface

This paper reports a new intramodal haptic illusion. This illusion involves a person pressing on a rigid surface and perceiving that the surface is compliant, i.e. perceiving that the contact point displaces into the surface. The design process, method and conditions used to create this illusion are described in detail. A user study is also reported in which all participants using variants of the basic method experienced the illusion, demonstrating the effectiveness of the method. This study also offers an initial indication of the mechanical dimensions of illusory compliance that could be manipulated by varying the stimuli presented to the users. This method could be used to augment touch interaction with mobile devices, transcending the rigid two-dimensional tangible surface (touch display) currently found on them.
System identification, estimation and control for a cost effective open-source quadcopter

This paper describes system identification, estimation and control of translational motion and heading angle for a cost effective open-source quadcopter - the MikroKopter. The dynamics of its built-in sensors, roll and pitch attitude controller, and system latencies are determined and used to design a computationally inexpensive multi-rate velocity estimator that fuses data from the built-in inertial sensors and a low-rate onboard laser range finder. Control is performed using a nested loop structure that is also computationally inexpensive and incorporates different sensors. Experimental results for the estimator and closed-loop positioning are presented and compared with ground truth from a motion capture system.
Area Partitioning Method with Learning of Dirty Areas and Obstacles in Environments for Cooperative Sweeping Robots

In this paper, we introduce an extended performance-based partitioning method for the cooperative cleaning domain in the environment with obstacles. Due to ongoing advances in technology, robotic applications have been crucial for large and complicated areas that require cooperation and coordination in task operations by multiple robots. Therefore, our research has focused on methods for cooperation/coordination of multiple agents, which are the control programs of robots, using examples of cleaning tasks by multiple robots. Our proposed method partitions target area in a bottom-up manner, according to the characteristics of environments by identifying where are easy to be dirty, so that agents can clean their responsible areas effectively and evenly. Specifically, it also has included the learning to identify the shapes and the locations of obstacles in the environments via the steps of cleaning tasks because the shapes of obstacles affect the work performance. Our experiments showed that it could partition their responsible areas autonomously and effectively by taking into consideration the environmental characteristics. We also indicated that it could achieve efficient task operations in a more balanced manner by comparing these results with those by the conventional methods which assumed that the area is divided into equal-size sub areas and/or the environmental characteristics are given in advance.
Mental Health Systems Transformation through Participatory Evaluation and Action: The Transition-age Youth Appreciative Inquiry/Photovoice (“YAP”) Project

Participatory action research and evaluation methods (PAR) have been used to help individuals to address a variety of challenges and improve the responsiveness of service systems to these challenges. To the present, however, few studies have examined applications of PAR in systems change advocacy for youth with mental health needs in the transition to adulthood (transitionage youth [TAY]). PAR may be especially beneficial in systems transformation efforts for this population, which lacks resources of other mental health system consumers for advocacy such as formal settings, specialized professional attention, and well established consumer organizations. The present paper describes how specific strategies for PAR, including Appreciative Inquiry and Photovoice, were employed in the Youth Appreciative Inquiry and Photovoice (YAP) project to: 1) gather perspectives of TAY in two statewide youth and family operated programs on needs and aspirations, current responsiveness of their programs and systems, and possible targets for program and system improvement; and 2) share these perspectives with stakeholders to effect change through a video. Findings on these perspectives as well as the impact of video showings are presented, and implications for systems change benefitting TAY and other populations facing systems-level challenges are discussed (191 words).
A Laser-Induced Mouse Model with Long-Term Intraocular Pressure Elevation

Purpose To develop and characterize a mouse model with intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation after laser photocoagulation on the trabecular meshwork (TM), which may serve as a model to investigate the potential of stem cell-based therapies for glaucoma. Methods IOP was measured in 281 adult C57BL/6 mice to determine normal IOP range. IOP elevation was induced unilaterally in 50 adult mice, by targeting the TM through the limbus with a 532-nm diode laser. IOP was measured up to 24 weeks post-treatment. The optic nerve damage was detected by electroretinography and assessed by semiautomatic counting of optic nerve axons. Effects of laser treatment on the TM were evaluated by histology, immunofluorescence staining, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results The average IOP of C57BL/6 mice was 14.5±2.6 mmHg (Mean ±SD). After laser treatment, IOP averaged above 20 mmHg throughout the follow-up period of 24 weeks. At 24 weeks, 57% of treated eyes had elevated IOP with the mean IOP of 22.5±2.5 mmHg (Mean ±SED). The difference of average axon count (59.0%) between laser treated and untreated eyes was statistically significant. Photopic negative response (PhNR) by electroretinography was significantly decreased. CD45+ inflammatory cells invaded the TM within 1 week. The expression of SPARC was increased in the TM from 1 to 12 weeks. Histology showed the anterior chamber angle open after laser treatment. OCT indicated that most of the eyes with laser treatment had no synechia in the anterior chamber angles. TEM demonstrated disorganized and compacted extracellular matrix in the TM. Conclusions An experimental murine ocular hypertension model with an open angle and optic nerve axon loss was produced with laser photocoagulation, which could be used to investigate stem cell-based therapies for restoration of the outflow pathway integrity for ocular hypertension or glaucoma.
Sentiment analysis of microblog combining dictionary and rules

Microblog has become a daily communication tool in recent years. Researches on microblog have drawn more and more attention. Microblogging emotional classification is a major research of user intent analysis based on User-Generated Content (UGC). This paper focuses on the discrimination on two emotional tendencies: positive and negative. Firstly, the system cleared the noisy elements in the microblog, then extracted the features of the microblog and finally classified the microblog using Support Vector Machine (SVM). Furthermore, we improve the algorithms of feature extraction and weight computing combining dictionary approach and rule based approach. The result of experiment shows that the method is effective.
High-speed mobile robot control in off-road conditions: A multi-model based adaptive approach

This paper is focused on the design of a control strategy for the path tracking of off-road mobile robots acting at high speed. In order to achieve high accuracy in such a context, uncertain and fast dynamics have to be explicitly taken into account. Since these phenomena (grip conditions, delays due to inertial and low-level control properties) are hardly measurable directly, the proposed approach relies on predictive and observer-based adaptive control techniques. In particular, the adaptive part is based on an observer loop, taking advantage of both kinematic and dynamic vehicle models. This multi-model based adaptive approach permits to adapt on-line the grip conditions (represented by cornering stiffnesses), enabling highly reactive sideslip angles observation and then accurate path tracking. The relevance of this approach is investigated through full scale experiments.