Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uses & gratifications of a facebook media sharing group

This paper explores uses and gratifications of a content community on a social network service - a music video sharing group on Facebook. In a two-stage study, 20 users first generated words or phrases to describe how they used the group, and what they enjoyed about their use. These phrases were coded into 34 questionnaire items that were then completed by 57 new participants. Factor analysis on this data revealed four gratifications: contribution; discovery; social interaction and entertainment. These factors are interpreted and discussed, leading to design implications and guidelines aimed at informing the design of future online services that combine media sharing with social interaction to create online systems based on a rich and meaningful object-centered sociality.
HIV-1 Vpr-Mediated G2 Arrest Involves the DDB1-CUL4AVPRBP E3 Ubiquitin Ligase

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral protein R (Vpr) has been shown to cause G2 cell cycle arrest in human cells by inducing ATR-mediated inactivation of p34cdc2, but factors directly engaged in this process remain unknown. We used tandem affinity purification to isolate native Vpr complexes. We found that damaged DNA binding protein 1 (DDB1), viral protein R binding protein (VPRBP), and cullin 4A (CUL4A)—components of a CUL4A E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, DDB1-CUL4AVPRBP —were able to associate with Vpr. Depletion of VPRBP by small interfering RNA impaired Vpr-mediated induction of G2 arrest. Importantly, VPRBP knockdown alone did not affect normal cell cycle progression or activation of ATR checkpoints, suggesting that the involvement of VPRBP in G2 arrest was specific to Vpr. Moreover, leucine/isoleucine-rich domain Vpr mutants impaired in their ability to interact with VPRBP and DDB1 also produced strongly attenuated G2 arrest. In contrast, G2 arrest–defective C-terminal Vpr mutants were found to maintain their ability to associate with these proteins, suggesting that the interaction of Vpr with the DDB1-VPRBP complex is necessary but not sufficient to block cell cycle progression. Overall, these results point toward a model in which Vpr could act as a connector between the DDB1-CUL4AVPRBP E3 ubiquitin ligase complex and an unknown cellular factor whose proteolysis or modulation of activity through ubiquitination would activate ATR-mediated checkpoint signaling and induce G2 arrest.
Replication and Analysis of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve

We present a successful replication of Ebbinghaus’ classic forgetting curve from 1880 based on the method of savings. One subject spent 70 hours learning lists and relearning them after 20 min, 1 hour, 9 hours, 1 day, 2 days, or 31 days. The results are similar to Ebbinghaus' original data. We analyze the effects of serial position on forgetting and investigate what mathematical equations present a good fit to the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve and its replications. We conclude that the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve has indeed been replicated and that it is not completely smooth but most probably shows a jump upwards starting at the 24 hour data point.
EyeVote in the wild: do users bother correcting system errors on public displays?

Although recovering from errors is straightforward on most interfaces, public display systems pose very unique design challenges. Namely, public display users interact for very short amounts of times and are believed to abandon the display when interrupted or forced to deviate from the main task. To date, it is not well understood whether public display designers should enable users to correct errors (e.g. by asking users to confirm or giving them a chance correct their input), or aim for faster interaction and rely on other types of feedback to estimate errors. To close this gap, we conducted a field study where we investigated the users willingness to correct their input on public displays. We report on our findings from an in-the-wild deployment of a public gaze-based voting system where we intentionally evoked system errors to see if users correct them. We found that public display users are willing to correct system errors provided that the correction is fast and straightforward. We discuss how our findings influence the choice of interaction methods for public displays; interaction methods that are highly usable but suffer from low accuracy can still be effective if users can "undo" their interactions.
A capacitor-free CMOS LDO regulator with AC-boosting and active-feedback frequency compensation

A capacitor-free CMOS low-dropout (LDO) regulator for system-on-chip (SoC) applications is presented. By adopting AC-boosting and active-feedback frequency compensation (ACB-AFFC), the proposed LDO regulator, which is independent of an off-chip capacitor, provides high closed-loop stability. Moreover, a slew rate enhancement circuit is adopted to increase the slew rate and decrease the output voltage dips when the load current is suddenly switched from low to high. The LDO regulator is designed and fabricated in a 0.6 μm CMOS process. The active silicon area is only 770 × 472 μm2. Experimental results show that the total error of the output voltage due to line variation is less than ±0.197%. The load regulation is only 0.35 mV/mA when the load current changes from 0 to 100 mA.
Social Psychology and the Stimulation of Recycling Behaviors: The Block Leader Approach

Recycling has been touted as an important part of the solution to solid waste problems, yet most citizens still do not recycle, even when recycling is made easy by curbside pickups. This field experiment was designed to increase participation in a city-sponsored curbside recycling program. Citizens who consistently recycled with the city program were approached and asked to be “recycling block leaders. ” Those who agreed were instructed to give approximately 10 nonrecycling neighbors a persuasive communication advocating recycling and special recycling bags. A second treatment group (of nonrecycling households) had bags and the communication left at their door. Results indicated that the curbside recycling of the two experimental groups differed significantly from one another (with the block leader group recycling more), and both differed significantly from a control group receiving no treatment. A discussion of past recycling intervention research and its feasibility for community application is included.
Expanding the Mood-Creativity Equation

This article picks up on the suggestion made by Mumford that the relationship of affect to creativity is an important, new trend in the field. Fuel is added to this argument by pointing to evidence indicating that tasks of creative thinking may be particularly mood sensitive. The main stream argument that positive mood unconditionally and reliably facilitates creativity is characterized as a case of premature closure. Evidence is reviewed that calls this general thesis into serious question. It is concluded that creativity is a multifaceted construct, and that different moods are differentially related to different components of creative thinking.
Functional Requirement for Histone Deacetylase 1 in Caenorhabditis elegans Gonadogenesis

ABSTRACT Histone acetylation and deacetylation have been implicated in the regulation of gene expression. Molecular studies have shown that histone deacetylases (HDACs) function as transcriptional repressors. However, very little is known about their roles during development in multicellular organisms. We previously demonstrated that inhibition of maternal and zygotic expression of histone deacetylase 1 (HDA-1) causes embryonic lethality in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we report the identification of an hda-1 genetic mutant which has also been called a gon-10 mutant (for gonadogenesis defective 10) and show that loss of HDA-1 zygotic expression results in specific postembryonic defects in gonadogenesis and vulval development. We provide evidence that the lag-2 gene, which plays a role in gonadogenesis and vulval development and encodes a Notch ligand, is derepressed in gon-10 animals, suggesting that lag-2 may be a target of HDA-1. Our findings reveal a novel and specific function for the ubiquitously expressed HDA-1 in C. elegans gonadogenesis and place hda-1 in the Notch signaling pathway.
Spatial Citizenship education and digital geomedia: composing competences for teacher education and training

Based on the idea of Spatial Citizenship, which endeavours to promote individuals' maturity and participation in the geospatial society, we focus on teachers' competence in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) teaching and learning. By employing methods of qualitative social research, we have determined the dimensions and structures of Spatial Citizenship competence which, in turn, were used to create a Spatial Citizenship competence model for teacher education and training. In light of the derived competence framework, we argue for a shift in learning with GIS from the expert-based view to the everyday non-expert use of digital geomedia.
Fast Signal Transforms for Quantum ComputersMartin

We present the discrete Fourier transform as a basic primitive in the treatment of controlled quantum systems. Based on the complexity model for quantum circuits the Fourier transform of size 2 n surprisingly can be realised with O(n 2) elementary operations which is an exponential speedup compared to the classical case. This is the reason for its presence in almost all known quantum algorithms among which Shor's algorithm for factoring is the most prominent example. We show how recent results in the theory of signal processing (for a classical computer) can be applied to obtain fast quantum algorithms for various discrete signal transforms. As an example we derive a quantum circuit implementing the discrete cosine transform DCTIV(8) eeciently.
Improving performance predictions by accounting for the accuracy of composed performance models

Performance predictions on the software architecture level support the design and evaluation of component-based systems. Composable and parameterized models are used in current prediction approaches for reasoning. The actual model for an influencing factor or component of the system is the result of a trade-off between the required accuracy, prediction speed, and validation effort. Different models can have different accuracies and the overall effect on the prediction depends on their composition and used parameter values. Existing prediction approaches neglect to take into account this potentially difference in the accuracies of models. In this paper, we present an approach in which accuracy statements attached to composable performance models allow analyzing their influence on predictions without adding restrictions on the compositionality of each model. The resulting support for risk mitigation in decision making, prediction quality evaluation, as well as inaccuracy effect propagation from parts of the analyzed system on the overall prediction results are evaluated on a case study.
Framing solutions: Adolescent girls and their relationships with alcohol.

The purpose of the thesis is to learn more about the drinking behavior of adolescent girls at high personality risk of alcohol abuse. Feminist theory provides the conceptual and value framework for a three study empirical investigation that uses quantitative and qualitative research methods. Together, the three empirical studies were designed to add insight into our understanding of certain groups of at-risk girls' relationships with alcohol by exploring three inter-related questions.
Psychoanalytic conceptions of the mind in relation to personality disorders of drug abusers.

The purpose was to investigate whether signs of DMTm (Defense Mechanism Technique modified) could discriminate between the ten groups of DSM-III-R personality disorders (PDs) and DSM-III-R clusters among drug abusers. DMTm signs are interpreted as different kinds of defense and anxiety. The 65 subjects were recruited from Sabbatsberg Hospital, Sweden. Prominent affect defenses were projected introaggression in paranoid and schizotypal PDs, introaggression in borderlines, inhibition in avoidant PD and barrier/affect isolation in obsessive-compulsive PD. Prominent identity defenses were marked denial in narcissism, reversal II 1-2 in dependent PD and reversal IV in histrionics. Patients with antisocial PD (ASPD, n = 53 out of 65) were analyzed separately. Results underlined psychoanalytic conceptions of the mind in relation to PDs of drug abusers. (Less)
Simulink‐based implementation of TCSC‐operated single‐phase induction motor as an educational tool

The article presents a method to achieve a variable capacitance in the auxiliary circuit of single‐phase induction motor (SPIM) using thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC) which is considered as a controllable variable impedance that can considerably alter impedance of a circuit in which it is inserted to be capacitive or inductive. The TCSC can change its impedance quickly as firing angle is controlled, therefore, it can be utilized as variable capacitor to improve starting torque and enhance running performance of the SPIM. The article also presents an unsophisticated Simulink‐based model for a TCSC‐operated SPIM to be an educational approach that fits different operation conditions of the motor by adopting a very simple fashion. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 514–524, 2011
A Positive Regulatory Loop between foxi3a and foxi3b Is Essential for Specification and Differentiation of Zebrafish Epidermal Ionocytes

Background Epidermal ionocytes play essential roles in the transepithelial transportation of ions, water, and acid-base balance in fish embryos before their branchial counterparts are fully functional. However, the mechanism controlling epidermal ionocyte specification and differentiation remains unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings In zebrafish, we demonstrated that Delta-Notch-mediated lateral inhibition plays a vital role in singling out epidermal ionocyte progenitors from epidermal stem cells. The entire epidermal ionocyte domain of genetic mutants and morphants, which failed to transmit the DeltaC-Notch1a/Notch3 signal from sending cells (epidermal ionocytes) to receiving cells (epidermal stem cells), differentiates into epidermal ionocytes. The low Notch activity in epidermal ionocyte progenitors is permissive for activating winged helix/forkhead box transcription factors of foxi3a and foxi3b. Through gain- and loss-of-function assays, we show that the foxi3a-foxi3b regulatory loop functions as a master regulator to mediate a dual role of specifying epidermal ionocyte progenitors as well as of subsequently promoting differentiation of Na+,K+-ATPase-rich cells and H+-ATPase-rich cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions/Significance This study provides a framework to show the molecular mechanism controlling epidermal ionocyte specification and differentiation in a low vertebrate for the first time. We propose that the positive regulatory loop between foxi3a and foxi3b not only drives early ionocyte differentiation but also prevents the complete blockage of ionocyte differentiation when the master regulator of foxi3 function is unilaterally compromised.
Atlas/t.i como instrumento de análise em pesquisa qualitativa de abordagem fenomenológica

There’s, in the context of research in the humanities and social sciences, an emerging discussion about the use of new technologies in analytical processes, therefore, what concerns to the use of qualitative or quantitative data analysis software. In this perspective, this paper, we present the potential of using Atlas.t. i software, guided by way of thinking the qualitative research according to a phenomenological approach. The question we set up is the following: how to show the potential of the Atlas ti software when used as an analytical tool in the phenomenological approach research? As long as the question we discus about phenomenology, the software, and about the potential and cautions arising from its use in this research approach.
Establishment of external quality control program for hs-CRP and three-year follow-up of the performance for precision and accuracy.

AIM We established an external quality control (QC) program for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) for a collaborative epidemiological study. METHODS External QC was performed 3 times in 3 years to follow hs-CRP performance for precision and accuracy. RESULTS For precision, the mean coefficient of variation (CV) of the internal QC by 9 laboratories was 2.2% and 1.9% in the 1st and 2nd tests, respectively. The mean CV of the external QC by 4 laboratories was 2.7% in the three tests. The CV of both the internal and external QC satisfied the acceptable range specified by the AHA/CDC Scientific Statement, CV < 10%. For accuracy, the mean values of the 1st external QC by 9 laboratories were set as the consensus value and the acceptable range was set to within +/- 10% from it. The mean accuracy by 9 laboratories was 0.51% in the 2nd external QC. The mean accuracy by 4 laboratories was - 0.37% in the 3rd external QC. These findings demonstrated that the initial consensus value was valid in the continued external QC, and hs-CRP was stable for 3 years. CONCLUSION We demonstrated both the precision and accuracy of hs-CRP by an external QC program applied for 3 years in a collaborative epidemiological study.
Exploring Consumer Orientation Toward Returns: Unethical Dimensions

As customer return rates increase, retailer bottom lines suffer from customers’ misuse of the policies and to the ethics of such practice. The purpose of this study is to explore customers’ orientation toward return behaviors, and to develop a return orientation assessing these dimensions. This research identified three dimensions relevant to consumer return behavior: the planned/unethical returner; the eager returner; and the reluctant/educated returner. A retest with another sample confirmed these three dimensions. Each dimension was analyzed for its relationship with consumer ethical beliefs as measured by the Muncy–Vitell Consumer Ethics Scale, ethical philosophies and shopping behaviors. These relationships supported the ethical and unethical aspects of returner orientation. Results of this research imply that the core aspect of returner orientation is relevant to ethical behavior and misuse of retail return policies. The three return orientations identified partially support the Rosenbaum & Bitner‐Olson research.
The Culture of an Information Economy: Influences and Impacts in the Republic of Ireland

From the Publisher: In this book Eileen Trauth peers inside the day-to-day working lives of the people who have been bringing about Ireland's transition from a small agricultural country to a healthy information economy. It is one of the few book-length interpretive studies in the information systems field. This book links the disciplines of information systems, international management, economic development, history and public policy to tell the story behind the statistics about Ireland's economic development. The findings from this ten-year study illustrate the range of socio-cultural factors, which influence the emergence of an information sector. Ireland's story contains a message for other nations that this change to a new way of working and living is intimately connected to the cultural context within which it occurs. This book reveals the ethnographic approach that was used by taking the reader through the interpretive process as it occurred. The Appendix is devoted to additional detail about the methodology. " "This book should be read by Ph.D. students and others who want to learn more about the actual application of ethnographic methods in information systems research. It should be read by students, researchers, teachers and policy makers working in several related fields including: global information systems, the information society, management in the knowledge economy, and economic development.
Sos-mediated activation of rac1 by p66shc

The Son of Sevenless 1 protein (sos1) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for either the ras or rac1 GTPase. We show that p66shc, an adaptor protein that promotes oxidative stress, increases the rac1-specific GEF activity of sos1, resulting in rac1 activation. P66shc decreases sos1 bound to the growth factor receptor bound protein (grb2) and increases the formation of the sos1–eps8–e3b1 tricomplex. The NH2-terminal proline-rich collagen homology 2 (CH2) domain of p66shc associates with full-length grb2 in vitro via the COOH-terminal src homology 3 (C-SH3) domain of grb2. A proline-rich motif (PPLP) in the CH2 domain mediates this association. The CH2 domain competes with the proline-rich COOH-terminal region of sos1 for the C-SH3 domain of grb2. P66shc-induced dissociation of sos1 from grb2, formation of the sos1–eps8–e3b1 complex, rac1-specific GEF activity of sos1, rac1 activation, and oxidative stress are also mediated by the PPLP motif in the CH2 domain. This relationship between p66shc, grb2, and sos1 provides a novel mechanism for the activation of rac1.
Toward physical activity diary: motion recognition using simple acceleration features with mobile phones

In this paper, we perform physical motion recognition using mobile phones with built-in accelerometer sensors. Sensor data processing and smoothing techniques are discussed first to reduce the special noise present in phone-collected accelerometer data. We explore orientation-independent features extracted from vertical and horizonal components in acceleration as well as magnitudes of acceleration for six common physical activities, such as sitting, standing, walking, running, driving and bicycling. We find decision tree achieves the best performance among four commonly used static classifiers, while vertical and horizonal features have better recognition accuracy than magnitude features. Furthermore, a well-pruned decision tree with simple time domain features and less over-fitting on the training data can provide a usable model for inferencing a physical activity diary, refined by a similarity match from K-means clustering results and smoothed by an HMM-based Viterbi algorithm.
Cognitive Response to Memantine in Moderate to Severe Alzheimer Disease Patients Already Receiving Donepezil: An Exploratory Reanalysis

ObjectiveTo investigate the cognitive effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, memantine, with a post-hoc exploratory reanalysis of a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial comparing memantine (20 mg per day) to placebo in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer disease (AD) receiving treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil. MethodsThe effects of memantine on individual items of the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), subscale performance, and 3 post-hoc–derived aggregate subscales were investigated. Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population using last observation carried forward and observed cases approaches. The SIB components were assessed at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24. ResultsThe mean change from baseline by visit and at study end point on the SIB showed statistically significant differences between the memantine and placebo groups at all visits beginning at week 8 (last observation carried forward and observed cases). The SIB subscale analysis showed statistically significantly greater effects of memantine than placebo on memory, language, and praxis. When the SIB domains were aggregated using a face valid approach to create 3 higher-order subscales, memantine treatment resulted in statistically significant differences on memory, language, and praxis compared with placebo. ConclusionsThese post-hoc analyses support the beneficial effects of memantine on cognition observed in a previously reported clinical trial. The results presented here suggest an effect of memantine on memory, language, and praxis in patients with moderate to severe AD and support the efficacy of memantine for the treatment of cognitive deficits in AD.