Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A study of academic library users' decision-making process: a Lens model approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role different information sources (or cues) play in forming users' mental representation of a work in an academic library setting. Of particular interest is discerning how these information sources influence borrowing decisions.Design/methodology/approach – A large‐scale user survey featuring two‐part questionnaires was utilized in an academic library setting. The questionnaires were designed to ascertain those information sources exerting a formative influence on users' information‐seeking behavior, especially the routes by which users came to know of a title and the sources by which they infer its content.Findings – Evidently users adaptively make use of a variety of cues to help them fulfil their information needs. These cues significantly reduced the uncertainty faced by users making a borrowing decision, even after their sense of domain familiarity was controlled for. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the .
Biofabrication of tissue constructs by 3D bioprinting of cell-laden microcarriers

Bioprinting allows the fabrication of living constructs with custom-made architectures by spatially controlled deposition of multiple bioinks. This is important for the generation of tissue, such as osteochondral tissue, which displays a zonal composition in the cartilage domain supported by the underlying subchondral bone. Challenges in fabricating functional grafts of clinically relevant size include the incorporation of cues to guide specific cell differentiation and the generation of sufficient cells, which is hard to obtain with conventional cell culture techniques. A novel strategy to address these demands is to combine bioprinting with microcarrier technology. This technology allows for the extensive expansion of cells, while they form multi-cellular aggregates, and their phenotype can be controlled. In this work, living constructs were fabricated via bioprinting of cell-laden microcarriers. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-laden polylactic acid microcarriers, obtained via static culture or spinner flask expansion, were encapsulated in gelatin methacrylamide-gellan gum bioinks, and the printability of the composite material was studied. This bioprinting approach allowed for the fabrication of constructs with high cell concentration and viability. Microcarrier encapsulation improved the compressive modulus of the hydrogel constructs, facilitated cell adhesion, and supported osteogenic differentiation and bone matrix deposition by MSCs. Bilayered osteochondral models were fabricated using microcarrier-laden bioink for the bone compartment. These findings underscore the potential of this new microcarrier-based biofabrication approach for bone and osteochondral constructs.
Identifying Structures in Social Conversations in NSCLC Patients through the Semi-Automatic extraction of Topical Taxonomies

The exploration of social conversations for addressing patient’s needs is an important analytical task in which many scholarly publications are contributing to fill the knowledge gap in this area. The main difficulty remains the inability to turn such contributions into pragmatic processes the pharmaceutical industry can leverage in order to generate insight from social media data, which can be considered as one of the most challenging source of information available today due to its sheer volume and noise. This study is based on the work by Scott Spangler and Jeffrey Kreulen and applies it to identify structure in social media through the extraction of a topical taxonomy able to capture the latent knowledge in social conversations in health-related sites. The mechanism for automatically identifying and generating a taxonomy from social conversations is developed and pressured tested using public data from media sites focused on the needs of cancer patients and their families. Moreover, a novel method for generating the category’s label and the determination of an optimal number of categories is presented which extends Scott and Jeffrey’s research in a meaningful way. We assume the reader is familiar with taxonomies, what they are and how they are used.
Gaze-independent ERP-BCIs: augmenting performance through location-congruent bimodal stimuli

Gaze-independent event-related potential (ERP) based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) yield relatively low BCI performance and traditionally employ unimodal stimuli. Bimodal ERP-BCIs may increase BCI performance due to multisensory integration or summation in the brain. An additional advantage of bimodal BCIs may be that the user can choose which modality or modalities to attend to. We studied bimodal, visual-tactile, gaze-independent BCIs and investigated whether or not ERP components’ tAUCs and subsequent classification accuracies are increased for (1) bimodal vs. unimodal stimuli; (2) location-congruent vs. location-incongruent bimodal stimuli; and (3) attending to both modalities vs. to either one modality. We observed an enhanced bimodal (compared to unimodal) P300 tAUC, which appeared to be positively affected by location-congruency (p = 0.056) and resulted in higher classification accuracies. Attending either to one or to both modalities of the bimodal location-congruent stimuli resulted in differences between ERP components, but not in classification performance. We conclude that location-congruent bimodal stimuli improve ERP-BCIs, and offer the user the possibility to switch the attended modality without losing performance.
Role of National Divorce Rates in Moderating the Association Between Marriage Duration and Body Mass Index

The aim of this study was to investigate the moderating effects of the national divorce rate on the association between body weight and marriage duration. Previous studies argued that a high divorce rate at country level reduces the body weight of married people because of an increased risk of a return to the marriage market. To examine the association in question, this study used retrospective data from 14,083 middle-aged individuals in Europe. For women the divorce rate, the percentage change, and the trend of change did not moderate the positive association between body mass index and marriage duration. In contrast, for men a high divorce rate and a steady decline over time positively moderated the relation between body mass index and marriage duration.
Hypoxia Decreases Insulin Signaling Pathways in Adipocytes

OBJECTIVE—Obesity is characterized by an overgrowth of adipose tissue that leads to the formation of hypoxic areas within this tissue. We investigated whether this phenomenon could be responsible for insulin resistance by studying the effect of hypoxia on the insulin signaling pathway in adipocytes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The hypoxic signaling pathway was modulated in adipocytes from human and murine origins through incubation under hypoxic conditions (1% O2) or modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) expression. Insulin signaling was monitored through the phosphorylation state of several key partners of the pathway and glucose transport. RESULTS—In both human and murine adipocytes, hypoxia inhibits insulin signaling as revealed by a decrease in the phosphorylation of insulin receptor. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, this inhibition of insulin receptor phosphorylation is followed by a decrease in the phosphorylation state of protein kinase B and AS160, as well as an inhibition of glucose transport in response to insulin. These processes were reversible under normoxic conditions. The mechanism of inhibition seems independent of protein tyrosine phosphatase activities. Overexpression of HIF-1α or -2α or activation of HIF transcription factor with CoCl2 mimicked the effect of hypoxia on insulin signaling, whereas downregulation of HIF-1α and -2α by small interfering RNA inhibited it. CONCLUSIONS—We have demonstrated that hypoxia creates a state of insulin resistance in adipocytes that is dependent upon HIF transcription factor expression. Hypoxia could be envisioned as a new mechanism that participates in insulin resistance in adipose tissue of obese patients.
Constraint-Based Preferences via Utility Hyper-Graphs

Real-world decisions involve preferences that are nonlinear and often defined over multiple and interdependent issues. Such scenarios are known to be challenging, especially in strategic encounters between agents having distinct constraints and preferences. In this case, reaching an agreement becomes more difficult as the search space and the complexity of the problem grow. In this paper, we propose a new representation for constraint-based utility spaces that can tackle the scalability problem by efficiently finding the optimal contracts. Particularly, the constraint-based utility space is mapped into an issue-constraint hyper-graph. Exploring the utility space reduces then to a message passing mechanism along the hyper-edges by means of utility propagation. We experimentally evaluate the model using parameterized random nonlinear utility spaces. We show that it can handle a large family of complex utility spaces by finding the optimal contract(s), outperforming previous sampling-based approaches.
IL-6 Promotes Head and Neck Tumor Metastasis by Inducing Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition via the JAK-STAT3-SNAIL Signaling Pathway

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in tumor metastatic cascade that is characterized by the loss of cell–cell junctions and cell polarity, resulting in the acquisition of migratory and invasive properties. However, the precise molecular events that initiate this complex EMT process in head and neck cancers are poorly understood. Increasing evidence suggests that tumor microenvironment plays an important role in promoting EMT in tumor cells. We have previously shown that head and neck tumors exhibit significantly higher Bcl-2 expression in tumor-associated endothelial cells and overexpression of Bcl-2 alone in tumor-associated endothelial cells was sufficient to enhance tumor metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model. In this study, we show that endothelial cells expressing Bcl-2 (EC-Bcl-2), when cocultured with head and neck tumor cells (CAL27), significantly enhance EMT-related changes in tumor cells predominantly by the secretion of IL-6. Treatment with recombinant IL-6 or stable IL-6 overexpression in CAL27 cells or immortalized oral epithelial cells (IOE) significantly induced the expression of mesenchymal marker, vimentin, while repressing E-cadherin expression via the JAK/STAT3/Snail signaling pathway. These EMT-related changes were further associated with enhanced tumor and IOE cell scattering and motility. STAT3 knockdown significantly reversed IL-6–mediated tumor and IOE cell motility by inhibiting FAK activation. Furthermore, tumor cells overexpressing IL-6 showed marked increase in lymph node and lung metastasis in a SCID mouse xenograft model. Taken together, these results show a novel function for IL-6 in mediating EMT in head and neck tumor cells and increasing their metastatic potential. Mol Cancer Res; 9(12); 1658–67. ©2011 AACR.
Performance Analysis and Optimization of Parallel Scientific Applications on CMP Clusters

Chip multiprocessors (CMP) are widely used for high performance computing. Further, these CMPs are being configured in a hierarchical manner to compose a node in a cluster system. A major challenge to be addressed is efficient use of such cluster systems for large-scale scientific applications. In this paper, we quantify the performance gap resulting from using different number of processors per node; this information is used to provide a baseline for the amount of optimization needed when using all processors per node on CMP clusters. We conduct detailed performance analysis to identify how applications can be modified to efficiently utilize all processors per node using three scientific applications: a 3D particle-in-cell, magnetic fusion application Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC), a Lattice Boltzmann Method for simulating fluid dynamics (LBM), and an advanced Eulerian gyrokinetic-Maxwell equation solver for simulating microturbulent transport in plasma (GYRO). In terms of refinements, we use conventional techniques such as loop blocking, loop unrolling and loop fusion, and develop hybrid methods for optimizing MPI{\_}Allreduce and MPI{\_}Reduce. Using these optimizations, the application performance for utilizing all processors per node was improved by up to 18.97{%} for GTC, 15.77{%} for LBM and 12.29{%} for GYRO on up to 2048 total processors on the CMP clusters.
An Optimized Approach to Protect Virtual Machine Image Integrity in Cloud Computing

The development of cloud computing is surely unprecedented in IT industry with many companies adapting to this new technology. The related companies undoubtedly benefit a lot from cloud computing. Meanwhile, the security of cloud platforms becomes one of the concerns for companies. As an important underlying component, the virtual machine image is also in need of especial protection. In this paper, we propose an optimized approach to protect the virtual machine image integrity. In the approach, we propose an architecture of integrity protection, optimize a hardware environment as the fundamental deployment environment, design a measurement module to measure and verify images, and design a strategy module to handle the results. Finally, we integrate it with OpenStack and evaluate its security and performance. The experiments demonstrate that our approach can protect the image integrity well and the measurement speed is increased three times faster than the ordinary approach with a little more resource consumption.
The Relationship among Quality of Work Life, Participation and Stress Levels in Health Center Workers

Abstract Introduction: The quality of work life is one of the main issues in human resource management that is related to job satisfaction, resignation, turnover rate, personality and job stress. The present study was conducted to investigate the quality of work life in relation to stress levels and participation in health care workers in cities. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 124 random health care workers employed in centers across the city of Hamadan. Walton's quality of work life questionnaire, Belcher's participation questionnaire and a stress questionnaire were used for achieving the study objectives. The Pearson test was used for determining the correlation between the variables. Results: The results showed that 40.3% of the subjects reported their overall participation rate to be low, 38.7%% reported it to be moderate and 21% reported it to be high. In addition, 73.4% of the subjects reported low levels of perceived stress and 26.6% reported it to be very high. The findings of the study showed a significant positive correlation between participation and the quality of work life (r=0.33 and p<0.001). The quality of work life and stress were also found to have a negative correlation (p=0.015 and r=-0.219). Conclusion: Through understanding participation and levels of stress among the employees and through presenting and implementing appropriate strategies for reducing stress and encouraging participation, the quality of work life and ultimately the productivity of health care organizations can be increased.
Near-zero-energy end states in topologically trivial spin-orbit coupled superconducting nanowires with a smooth confinement

A one-dimensional spin-orbit coupled nanowire with proximity-induced pairing from a nearby s-wave superconductor may be in a topological nontrivial state, in which it has a zero energy Majorana bound state at each end. We find that the topological trivial phase may have fermionic end states with an exponentially small energy, if the confinement potential at the wire's ends is smooth. The possible existence of such near-zero energy levels implies that the mere observation of a zero-bias peak in the tunneling conductance is not an exclusive signature of a topological superconducting phase even in the ideal clean single channel limit.
The relationship between anthropometric indices and type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults in north-east China

Abstract Objective The present study was performed to test the predictive value of different cut-off points of anthropometric parameters for the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) or glucose tolerance abnormalities in north-east Chinese adults. Design Multistage random cluster sampling method in a cross-sectional study. Setting Height, body weight, maximal body weight in the past, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure, 2 h post-load glucose and other lifestyle factors were measured. Subjects We used data from 1058 adults aged 20 years or over, selected in the city of Mudanjiang, in 2005. Results BMI, maximal BMI in the past (MAXBMI), waist:hip ratio (WHR), waist:height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC) were significantly correlated with each other. Partial correlation coefficients between WHtR and WC, and between MAXBMI and BMI, were higher than those between the other indices. The association of anthropometric indices with T2DM or glucose tolerance abnormalities was significantly highest for the collaboration cut-off points of MAXBMI (≥23·0 kg/m2 for T2DM, ≥22·0 kg/m2 for glucose tolerance abnormalities) with WHtR (≥0·52). Areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves also showed that WHtR was a better anthropometric index that discriminated between the presence and absence of T2DM and an excellent indicator with high Youden’s index. Conclusions MAXBMI combined with WHtR was a better anthropometric index associated with T2DM or glucose tolerance abnormalities. The combined use of these two measures is a good choice for T2DM prevention and screening.
Hierarchical Qualitative Descriptions of Perceptions for Robotic Environments

The development and uptake of robotic technologies, outside the research community, has been hindered by the fact that robotic systems are notably lacking in flexibility. Introducing humans in robot teams promises to improve their flexibility. However, the major underlying difficulty in the development of human-robot teams is the inability of robots to emulate important cognitive capabilities of human beings due to the lack of approaches to generate and effectively abstract salient semantic aspects of information and big data sets. In this paper we develop a general framework for information abstraction that allows robots to obtain high level descriptions of their perceptions. These descriptions are represented using a formal predicate logic that emulates natural language structures, facilitating human understanding while it remains easy to interpret by robots. In addition, the proposed formal logic constitutes a precisiation language that generalizes Zadeh’s Precisiated Natural Language, providing new tools for the computation with perceptions.
Relationships between drivers, SMEs' adoption of green supply chain practices and performance

Global warming and climate changing have been concerning by organizations regarding their environmental management. As an export-oriented country, green supply chain (GSC) practices are emerging to be critical approaches for Taiwan enterprises to balance financial and environmental performance. This study attempts to explore the driving forces behind Small-and Medium Enterprises' (SMEs) green investment in supply chain and to provide an integrated model of adopting green supply chain practices. On the statistical analysis of 145 SMEs respondents on GSC practices in Taiwan, the major finding are organizational members' awareness/commitment and cumulated experiences are significant influence the adoption of GSCP in SMEs. SMEs are insensitive to the external drivers. However, once SMEs invest GSCP, the reward, both economic and environment are very satisfied. Theoretical and Managerial implications of the research findings are discussed.
Listeria arpJ gene modifies T helper type 2 subset differentiation.

BACKGROUND Although the T-cell subset differentiation pathway has been characterized extensively from the view of host gene regulation, the effects of genes of the pathogen on T-cell subset differentiation during infection have yet to be elucidated. Especially, the bacterial genes that are responsible for this shift have not yet been determined. METHODS Utilizing a single-gene-mutation Listeria panel, we investigated genes involved in the host-pathogen interaction that are required for the initiation of T-cell subset differentiation in the early phase of pathogen infection. RESULTS We demonstrate that the induction of T helper types 1 and 2 (Th1 and Th2) subsets are separate phenomena and are mediated by distinct Listeria genes. We identified several candidate Listeria genes that appear to be involved in the host-Listeria interaction. Among them, arpJ is the strongest candidate gene for inhibiting Th2 subset induction. Furthermore, the analysis utilizing arpJ-deficient Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) revealed that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (Tnfsf) 9-TNF receptor superfamily (Tnfrsf) 9 interaction inhibits the Th2 response during Lm infection. CONCLUSIONS arpJ is the candidate gene for inhibiting Th2 T-cell subset induction. The arpJ gene product influences the expression of Tnfsf/Tnfrsf on antigen-presenting cells and inhibits the Th2 T-cell subset differentiation during Listeria infection.
Does the Implant Surgical Technique Affect the Primary and/or Secondary Stability of Dental Implants? A Systematic Review

Background. A number of surgical techniques for implant site preparation have been advocated to enhance the implant of primary and secondary stability. However, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the association between the surgical technique and implant stability. Purpose. This review aimed to investigate the influence of different surgical techniques including the undersized drilling, the osteotome, the piezosurgery, the flapless procedure, and the bone stimulation by low-level laser therapy on the primary and/or secondary stability of dental implants. Materials and methods. A search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and grey literature was performed. The inclusion criteria comprised observational clinical studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in patients who received dental implants for rehabilitation, studies that evaluated the association between the surgical technique and the implant primary and/or secondary stability. The articles selected were carefully read and classified as low, moderate, and high methodological quality and data of interest were tabulated. Results. Eight clinical studies were included then they were classified as moderate or high methodological quality and control of bias. Conclusions. There is a weak evidence suggesting that any of previously mentioned surgical techniques could influence the primary and/or secondary implant stability.
Detection and Monitoring of Passengers on a Bus by Video Surveillance

This paper presents a method to detect passengers onboard public transport vehicles. The method comprises first an elliptical head detection algorithm using the curvature profile of the human head as a cue. This is followed by applying the geometric blur features which are consistent to affine distortion of the image to keep track of the movement of the head within the vehicle. The profile of the moving heads with respect to each other within a length of time can then be used as indicative features to detect the advent of suspicious behaviour of the passengers.