Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consumer perceptions of online advertising of weight loss products: the role of social norms and perceived deception

Abstract Despite the prevalence of unsubstantiated claims in online advertising of weight loss products (OAWP), consumers tend to believe they are less susceptible to advertising claims than others. Based on a sample of American women (N = 684), drawn from Mechanical Turk, the current study examined the third-person effect of OAWP. After confirming the robustness of the third-person perception hypothesis, a structural equation model examined the third-person effect (TPE) of OAWP on restrictive and corrective actions. On the perceptual component of TPE, the model also elaborates the effects of descriptive and injunctive norms, usage of weight loss products, and perceived deception on the presumed influence of OAWP on self and others. The results of SEM implied that prior use and injunctive norms played important roles in the likelihood that consumers support government regulation and engage in corrective action. Results also showed that as perceived deception of OAWP increased, so did the perceived influence of OAWP on others. Perceived deception also significantly increased support for government regulation of OAWP.
Streaming Platform and Strategic Recommendation Bias

We consider a streaming platform which carries content from various upstream content providers. Participating customers face personalized recommendations from the platform and consume a mix of content originating from each provider. We analyze when the platform uses its personalized recommendation system to steer consumers from one content provider to another. We establish the conditions under which the recommendation system allows the platform to credibly threaten upstream providers to steer consumers away from their content in order to reduce their market power. We find that the streaming platform can increase its profit by reducing the royalty rate it pays to content providers through the use of a recommendation system which is strategically biased in favor of the cheaper content.
Conducting Survey Research Using MTurk

This chapter presents an introduction to crowdsourcing for survey participant recruitment. It also discusses best practices and ethical considerations for conducting survey research using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Readers will learn the benefits, limitations, and trade-offs of using MTurk as compared to other recruitment services, including SurveyMonkey and Qualtrics. A synthesis of survey design guidelines along with a sample survey are presented to help researchers collect the best quality data. Techniques, including SPSS and R syntax, are provided that demonstrate how users can clean resulting data and identify valid responses for which workers could be paid. An overview and syntax for conducting longitudinal studies is provided as well.
LDPC codes based on Progressive Edge Growth techniques for block fading channels

We propose an algorithm to design Root-Check LDPC codes based on Progressive Edge Growth (PEG) techniques for block-fading channels. The proposed algorithm imposes some restrictions on the traditional PEG algorithm to ensure that the LDPC code generated is Root-Check with the largest possible girth. The performance is investigated by means of the outage probability. By doing so, the codes generated by our proposed algorithm are shown to outperform the existing methods for generating Root-Check LDPC codes.
N-D SVPWM With DC Voltage Balancing and Vector Smooth Transition Algorithm for a Cascaded Multilevel Converter

Direct current voltages unbalance of respective power cells is an inherent and critical problem in a cascaded multilevel converter, which is widely used in the solid-state transformer. In this paper, an n -dimension space vector pulse width modulation is presented to address this issue in a three-level H-bridge-based cascaded multilevel converter. This algorithm utilizes the redundant switching pairs of the inner cell and the redundant vectors of mutual cells to balance capacitors’ and cells’ voltages. Meanwhile, a smooth vector transition strategy is included in this algorithm to avoid the level-skip phenomenon. The calculation processes are analyzed in one-cell, two-cells, and three-cells modes, respectively. It is simple, calculable, and flexible to extend in n-cells mode. Finally, the voltage balancing capacity of the inner cell and mutual cells with smooth level transition are verified by simulations and experiments not only at startup but also with unbalanced loads.
Introduction to Regenerative Simulation

A recently developed method for estimating confidence intervals when simulating stochastic systems having a regenerative structure is reviewed. The paper is basically tutorial, but also considers the pragmatic issue of the simulation duration required to obtain valid estimates. The method is illustrated in terms of simulating the M/G/1 queue. Analytic results for the M/G/1 queue are used to determine the validity of the simulation results.
Exploring Underpinning of Outsourcing Success: A case of Multinational Automotive group in Malaysia

This study explored underpinning of outsourcing success by analyzing different theories of outsourcing. This study is unique in its nature as it used interpretive paradigm to explore, analyze outsourcing success theatrically by comparing different phases of outsourcing, then the case of Boeing analyzed in the context of outsourcing and after that come up with real time case study of one big automotive group operating in Malaysia through using semi structured interview by developing and comparing themes of this study. This study figured out that cost reduction and efficiency can be attained by creating economies of scale, using and managing vendors appropriately with the combination of efficient strategic alliance.
On the Theory of Domain Walls in Planar Nematic Films

The theory of simple domain walls in planar nematic films is reconsidered taking into account azimuthal director rotations additionally. A perturbation treatment is useful to derive analytical equations which are asymptotically valid in the limit of small distortion am- plitudes. In comparison to previously known approaches a more complete description leads to a correction in the formula for the wall thickness. This correction also influences the shape of closed domains and causes an array of walls in materials with high elastic anisotropy.
Response modality affects human infant delayed-response performance.

Delayed response performance was assessed in 120 7-, 9-, and 11-month-old infants with correct response defined as either retrieval of a hidden object or gaze toward the location where the object was hidden. Performance improved with age, was above chance for each age group in each condition, and was more often correct with the gaze response. When direction of gaze and reach differed, direction of gaze was more likely to be correct. Infants in the reach condition were more likely to fail to reverse a previously correct response (i.e., to make the A-not-B error). Perseverative responding occurred frequently and was more likely in the reach than the gaze condition. This effect emerged primarily in the context of an incorrect response, which suggests modality-specific sensitivity to the effect of priming rather than reinforcement. Many infants showed strong side biases, and there was a tendency for more reaches to the left but gazes to the right. In a second experiment, 12 5-month-olds gazed toward the correct location more frequently than would be expected by chance but failed to reverse a previously correct response more often than older infants. These findings indicate that response modality has a significant effect on delayed-response performance.
Characterization of an Aldolase-binding Site in the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein*

The thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) is an essential transmembrane molecule in Plasmodium sporozoites. TRAP displays adhesive motifs on the extracellular portion, whereas its cytoplasmic tail connects to actin via aldolase, thus driving parasite motility and host cell invasion. The minimal requirements for the TRAP binding to aldolase were scanned here and found to be shared by different human proteins, including the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) family members. In vitro and in vivo binding of WASp members to aldolase was characterized by biochemical, deletion mapping, mutagenesis, and co-immunoprecipitation studies. As in the case of TRAP, the binding of WASp to aldolase is competitively inhibited by the enzyme substrate/products. Furthermore, TRAP and WASp, but not other unrelated aldolase binders, compete for the binding to the enzyme in vitro. Together, our results define a conserved aldolase binding motif in the WASp family members and suggest that aldolase modulates the motility and actin dynamics of mammalian cells. These findings along with the presence of similar aldolase binding motifs in additional human proteins, some of which indeed interact with aldolase in pull-down assays, suggest supplementary, non-glycolytic roles for this enzyme.
Harnessing sustainable development from niche marketing and coopetition in social enterprises

This article reports on strategic practices within social enterprises to drive social, economic, and environmental value. Multiple case studies were conducted across diverse third sector organisations to examine how managers deploy commercial and social marketing activities to fulfil sustainable missions. Results showed social enterprises attract target audiences by engaging in inclusive forms of niche marketing. The organisations leverage relationships across their horizontal and vertical value chains to enhance their own resources and capabilities while advancing wider social and environmental interests. Deep collaboration between social enterprises and their stakeholders sometimes extends to forging alliances with competitors. This research contributes the first empirical evidence of how coopetition leads to competitive advantage in profit‐for‐purpose organisations, and it proposes a model to show how cocreation of shared value with actors across multilevels of interdependent systems paves the way for sustainable development outcomes to be achieved.
Reduced Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Brainstem Contributes to Enhanced Sympathetic Drive in Rats with Heart Failure

Summary: Recent studies have suggested that central nervous mechanisms are involved in the enhanced sympathetic drive observed in heart failure (HF). Nitric oxide (NO) in the brainstem has been shown to reduce sympathetic nerve activity. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the brainstem is reduced in rats with HF. Heart failure was produced by myocardial infarction in Wistar‐Kyoto rats (HF group). Hemodynamic and echocardiographic examinations were performed. Western blot analysis for nNOS in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in the brainstem were performed to determine the expression of the nNOS gene in the HF group or sham‐operated (control) group. We also performed in situ hybridization for nNOS mRNA and distribution in the brainstem. The expression of nNOS protein in the NTS and the RVLM were reduced in the HF group compared to the control group. The expression of nNOS mRNA in the brainstem was also reduced in the HF group, particularly in the NTS, compared to the control group. Intracisternal injection of NG‐monomethyl‐ L‐arginine elicited a smaller pressor response in the HF group than in the control group. These results suggest that reduced nNOS expression in the NTS and the RVLM, and the resulting reduced NO production of these sites, contribute to the enhanced sympathetic drive in HF.
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of switching from a β-blocker to latanoprost in the treatment of ocular hypertension

Glaucoma is a pathological condition whose most important risk factor is increased intraocular pressure (IOP). The medical treatment of glaucoma essentially consists of compounds that are able to decrease the IOP. The compounds discussed in this review act in a different way, β-blockers mainly inhibit the production of aqueous humor, whereas latanoprost decreases the resistance in the outflow channels. β-Blockers are compounds with a well-known efficacy and safety profile and they are fairly inexpensive. Their systemic and local side effects are mainly cardiovascular and pulmonary adverse events, dry eye and keratopathy. Latanoprost, which has recently been introduced into the market, has been shown to be equally as effective, or better in lowering IOP in patients than timolol, although it is more expensive. Systemic reported side effects are anecdotal; local hyperaemia, keratopathy, hypertrichosis, increased pigmentation of eyelashes and iris, uveitis and cystoid macular oedema have been reported. A comparison of costs reveals that a 1-year therapy with timolol ophthalmic solution starts from €11.00 and can reach €146.00 for the most expensive preservative-free 1-day dispenser packages (∼ 13.5 times higher). For latanoprost once-daily administration, the cost for 1years therapy is €98.55, approximately six times higher than generic or brand 0.5% timolol applied twice-daily. What are the factors influencing a change in therapy from β-blockers to latanoprost? The only good reason is represented by a further deterioration in the visual field. This may occur, despite a significant reduction in IOP, because the reached IOP is not sufficient enough to avoid further deterioration because the patient’s work or social activities do not allow a correct daily dosage of the compound (bad compliance); or as a result of treatment suspension, because of the development of systemic and/or local side effects. Changes in therapy must always be related to a failing control of the disease, as any therapeutic modification leading to an increase in the number of visits and additional examinations, consequently enhances the costs.
Periodic health examination, 1995 update: 2. Prevention of dental caries. The Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination.

OBJECTIVE To make recommendations, based on current evidence, for practising physicians and dentists on interventions for the prevention of dental caries in their patients. OPTIONS Systemic fluoride administration, professionally administered fluoride, use of fluoride mouth rinses, fissure sealants, oral-hygiene practices, dietary practices, identification of groups at a high risk of dental caries, and early diagnosis and treatment. OUTCOMES Reduced prevalence of dental caries and fluorosis, longer retention of teeth and lower treatment costs. EVIDENCE Several MEDLINE searches were conducted for articles published from January 1980 to December 1992, including relevant review articles. VALUES Relevant clinical findings were evaluated and categorized with the use of the evidence-based methods and values of the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination. Recommendations were developed for each method of caries prevention, with reduced incidence of dental caries and improved prevalence of caries-free teeth given high values. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS The potential benefits of these measures in the long-term are a lower incidence of tooth decay, longer retention of teeth and prevention of fluorosis. The cost saving can be considerable for patients and insurers; however, implementation of some recommendations will be difficult, since the traditional preventive practices of dentists and dental hygienists are not easily changed. RECOMMENDATIONS There is good evidence that the following manoeuvres are effective in preventing dental caries: use of dentifrices containing fluoride, fluoridation of drinking water, fluoride supplements for patients in areas where there is a low level (0.3 ppm or less) of fluoride in the drinking water, professionally applied topical fluoride and the use of fluoride mouth rinses for patients with very active decay or at a high risk of dental caries and selective use of professionally applied fissure sealants on permanent molar teeth. There is poor evidence that the following manoeuvres are effective in preventing dental caries: professionally applied topical fluoride and the use of fluoride mouth rinses for patients with a low risk of caries, toothbrushing (without a dentifrice containing fluoride) and flossing, cleaning of teeth by a dentist or dental hygienist before topical application of fluoride or at a dental visit and dietary counselling for the general population. There is good evidence to recommend against the use of over-the-counter fluoride mouth rinses by the general population. VALIDATION These guidelines are compatible with those of the US Preventive Services Task Force. SPONSOR These guidelines were developed and endorsed by the task force, which is funded by Health Canada. Major funding was provided by the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Toronto, Toronto and the Faculty of Dentistry of Dalhousie University, Halifax.
Detection of Bacterial Biofilm on Cochlear Implants Removed Because of Device Failure, Without Evidence of Infection

Objective: To investigate the formation of bacterial biofilms on the surface of the electrode array of cochlear implants (CI) explanted because of device failure, without evidence of infection, by use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Study Design: Prospective study. Setting: Patients from 2 tertiary-care referral centers. Patients and Methods: CIs were explanted from 9 patients because of device failure. Specimens were immediately snap-frozen in cold isopenthane, stored at −80°C and examined with SEM and CLSM by 3 investigators. Main Outcome Measure: Presence of bacterial biofilm ascertained by SEM and CSLM. Results: One specimen showed the formation of a bacterial biofilm on the middle ear part of the electrode array. No biofilm formation was found in the inner-ear part of electrode arrays. In the middle-ear part of the electrode array, a cylindrical cover of human muscular tissue was seen plugging the cochleostomy. Conclusion: This is the first study demonstrating that bacterial biofilms may exist on the surface of the electrode array of CIs explanted because of device failure but not infection. We found 1 case of biofilm formation in 9 explanted CIs. Further studies with larger series of CIs are required to investigate biofilm formation on the surface of CI electrode arrays to address both the pathophysiology of bacterial biofilms and prevention of device-related infections in CI patients.
Review. Ochratoxin A: Presence in Human Plasma and Intake Estimation

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a fungal toxic secondary metabolite that can be found in several foodstuffs and thereby ingested by humans. One way to assess exposure of humans to OTA is the determination of the levels of this mycotoxin in blood plasma from a certain population. Such studies have been done in many countries, both in healthy people and nephropathy patients. Relationships with individual characteristics were investigated in several cases. Thus, most studies found no correlation with age, either with gender. However, the few studies that found correlation between OTA plasma levels and gender showed that men presented the highest values. When sampling was done over more than one season, the highest OTA plasma levels were found mostly in summer. Differences within regions of a country were related to dietary habits of each area. OTA levels of group populations showed variations from year to year, whereas intraindividual repetitions showed no specific trend. Daily intake of the toxin can be estimated from OTA plasma concentrations by the Klaassen equation. OTA toxicokinetics are considered in this review. Calculated daily intake of OTA by different studies did not overpass the proposed tolerable daily intakes of OTA.
Synthetic evaluation for lightning protection performance of smart buildings

Lightning protection performance of the lightning protection system has a great effect on smart buildings. Aiming at general smart buildings at the height of 60 meters and below, this paper presents the evaluation model of smart building lightning protection system and the key indexes which affect the performance and gets the data sources. From the system point of view, a synthetic evaluation method based on ANP-TOPSIS for lighting protection system of smart buildings is presented.
Formal modeling, verification and implementation of a train control system

For complex system design, it can be very useful to use abstracted models to verify functionality, thereby reducing the number of potential bugs in the implementation phase. In this respect, model checking is a powerful technique for automatically determining whether a design (model) satisfies desired properties. Upon positive results, the design can then be implemented with limited risks of malfunction. In this paper, we show this by modeling a train control system for safe speed and acceleration limits and verifying the correctness of the model properties using the NuSMV model checker. Then, we implement the algorithm of the verified model on an ARM CortexM platform.
Schmorl's nodes: common, highly heritable, and related to lumbar disc disease.

OBJECTIVE Schmorl's nodes (SN) are common, but little is known of their relationship with degenerative change and back pain or genetic and environmental factors influencing their expression. We studied healthy female twin volunteers to determine the prevalence and clinical features associated with SN. METHODS Serial sagittal T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine were analyzed in 516 healthy female twins (150 monozygotic and 366 dizygotic). The images were scored for lumbar degenerative change. Presence of SN was noted at cranial and caudal vertebral levels T9 to L5. Data on physical activity and back pain were collected by questionnaire. Heritability of SN was calculated using variance components modeling. RESULTS SN were found in 30% of subjects. Of the 374 SN, 153 (41%) were in the lumbar spine and 221 (59%) were in the thoracic spine. SN heritability was >70%. There was a positive association between SN and lumbar disc disease (LDD). SN were more frequent in subjects with back pain (for >/=2 SN: odds ratio [OR] 2.68, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.11-6.47, P = 0.03), but this was largely accounted for by the association of SN with LDD (OR 1.97, 95% CI 0.78-5.0, P = 0.15 adjusted for LDD). No independent association of SN with back pain was identified. CONCLUSION SN are common in middle-aged women and are strongly genetically determined. They are associated with lumbar degenerative change, which is a risk factor for back pain, but are not themselves an independent risk factor for back pain.