Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning about and from Group Support Systems

A framework for using Group Support Systems (GSS) to aid learning about group problem-solving processes is presented. The authors describe a typical group problem-solving process and GSS. A framework for matching GSS tools to stages of the group problem-solving process is presented. The authors then detail how two simulations were developed for use with GSS. The simulations were used to provide students with experience in using GSS and in developing an agenda for group problem solving. Evidence of effectiveness of the simulations is presented. The authors conclude with considerations for developing simulations for presenting GSS and group problem-solving processes.
Learning User Real-Time Intent for Optimal Dynamic Web Page Transformation

Many e-commerce websites struggle to turn visitors into real buyers. Understanding online users' real-time intent and dynamic shopping cart choices may have important implications in this realm. This study presents an individual-level, dynamic model with concurrent optimal page adaptation that learns users' real-time, unobserved intent from their online cart choices, then immediately performs optimal Web page adaptation to enhance the conversion of users into buyers. To suggest optimal strategies for concurrent page adaptation, the model analyzes each individual user's browsing behavior, tests the effectiveness of different marketing and Web stimuli, as well as comparison shopping activities at other sites, and performs optimal Web page transformation. Data from an online retailer and a laboratory experiment reveal that concurrent learning of the user's unobserved purchase intent and real-time, intent-based optimal interventions greatly reduce shopping cart abandonment and increase purchase conversions. If the concurrent, intent-based optimal page transformation for the focal site starts after the first page view, shopping cart abandonment declines by 32.4% and purchase conversion improves by 6.9%. The optimal timing for the site to intervene is after three page views, to achieve efficient learning of users' intent and early intervention simultaneously.
Haplotype reconstruction from SNP fragments by minimum error correction

MOTIVATION Haplotype reconstruction based on aligned single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) fragments is to infer a pair of haplotypes from localized polymorphism data gathered through short genome fragment assembly. An important computational model of this problem is the minimum error correction (MEC) model, which has been mentioned in several literatures. The model retrieves a pair of haplotypes by correcting minimum number of SNPs in given genome fragments coming from an individual's DNA. RESULTS In the first part of this paper, an exact algorithm for the MEC model is presented. Owing to the NP-hardness of the MEC model, we also design a genetic algorithm (GA). The designed GA is intended to solve large size problems and has very good performance. The strength and weakness of the MEC model are shown using experimental results on real data and simulation data. In the second part of this paper, to improve the MEC model for haplotype reconstruction, a new computational model is proposed, which simultaneously employs genotype information of an individual in the process of SNP correction, and is called MEC with genotype information (shortly, MEC/GI). Computational results on extensive datasets show that the new model has much higher accuracy in haplotype reconstruction than the pure MEC model.
Knowledge management in construction companies oriented on project success factors

A major obstacle to the wider acceptance of knowledge management in Swiss construction companies is that the management of these companies find it difficult to recognize any concrete benefit for their day-to-day business to be gained from applying existing knowledge management concepts. It is important for construction companies to win orders in a competitive environment and to execute these orders profitably for the company and satisfactorily for the customer (project success). The identification and management of success factors in construction processes support project management and help to achieve these goals. Based on these considerations, the Institute for Construction Engineering and Management (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich) has developed a solution for knowledge management in association with leading Swiss construction companies. The solution pursues the approach that knowledge that is valuable for construction companies is the knowledge needed to activate the success factors. This knowledge, which ensures success, is worth managing.
Family Context and Spanish-Language Use: A Study of Latino Children in the United States

This article seeks to explain why Latino children maintain some knowledge of their native language even though past research has consistently supported the view that non-English-language use rarely lasts past the third generation. I argue that family context, in addition to assimilation characteristics, plays an important role in determining their language situation. Copyright (c) 2005 by the Southwestern Social Science Association.
Assembling ‘the bioeconomy’: Exploiting the power of the promissory life sciences

Over the last decade, many governments around the world have embraced the concept of the bioeconomy and its promise to provide a ‘new engine of growth’ and deliver significant health and environmental benefits in the future. Drawing on ideas from the sociology of science and economic sociology, and focusing on the biomedical technology sector, this article examines the sociopolitical significance of the promissory discourse of the bioeconomy. We argue that this discourse plays a crucial performative role in contemporary biopolitics, in mobilising actor networks, attracting venture capital and research funding, and shaping the possibilities for action. However, for reasons that we outline and as the Australian experience in the biotechnology sector illustrates, the performativity of ‘the bioeconomy’ is prone to failure. The article concludes by considering the implications of promissory discourse for anticipatory governance in relation to science and for scientific practice.
Influence of hydrodynamics and nutrients on biofilm structure

Hydrodynamic conditions control two interlinked parameters; mass transfer and drag, and will, therefore, significantly influence many of the processes involved in biofilm development. The goal of this research was to determine the effect of flow velocity and nutrients on biofilm structure. Biofilms were grown in square glass capillary flow cells under laminar and turbulent flows. Biofilms were observed microscopically under flow conditions using image analysis. Mixed species bacterial biofilms were grown with glucose (40 mg/l) as the limiting nutrient. Biofilms grown under laminar conditions were patchy and consisted of roughly circular cell clusters separated by interstitial voids. Biofilms in the turbulent flow cell were also patchy but these biofilms consisted of patches of ripples and elongated ‘streamers' which oscillated in the flow. To assess the influence of changing nutrient conditions on biofilm structure the glucose concentration was increased from 40 to 400 mg/l on an established 21 day old biofilm growing in turbulent flow. The cell clusters grew rapidly and the thickness of the biofilm increased from 30 μ to 130 μ within 17 h. The ripples disappeared after 10 hours. After 5 d the glucose concentration was reduced back to 40 mg/l. There was a loss of biomass and patches of ripples were re‐established within a further 2 d.
Establishment and Application of Early Risk Stratification Method for Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults

Background: Acute abdominal pain is a common symptom of emergency patients. The severity was always evaluated based on physicians’ clinical experience. The aim of this study was to establish an early risk stratification method (ERSM) for addressing adults with acute abdominal pain, which would guide physicians to take appropriate and timely measures following the established health-care policies. Methods: In Cohort 1, the records of 490 patients with acute abdominal pain that developed within the past 72 h were enrolled in this study. Measurement data and numeration data were compared with analysis of variance and Chi-square test, respectively. Multiple regression analysis calculated odd ratio (OR) value. P and OR values showed the impacts of factors. ERSM was established by clinical experts and statistical experts according to Youden index. In Cohort 2, data from 305 patients with acute abdominal pain were enrolled to validate the accuracy of the ERSM. Then, ERSM was prospectively used in clinical practice. Results: The ERSM was established based on the scores of the patient's clinical characteristics: right lower abdominal pain + 3 × diffuse abdominal pain + 3 × cutting abdominal pain + 3 × pain frequency + 3 × pain duration + fever + 2 × vomiting + 5 × stop defecation + 3 × history of abdominal surgery + hypertension history + diabetes history + hyperlipidemia history + pulse + 2 × skin yellowing + 2 × sclera yellowing + 2 × double lung rale + 10 × unconsciousness + 2 × right lower abdominal tenderness + 5 × diffuse abdominal tenderness + 4 × peritoneal irritation + 4 × bowel sounds abnormal + 10 × suspicious diagnosis + white blood cell count + hematocrit + glucose + 2 × blood urea nitrogen + 3 × creatine + 4 × serum albumin + alanine aminotransferase + total bilirubin + 3 × conjugated bilirubin + amylase. When the score was <18, the patient did not need hospitalization. A score of ≥18 and <38 indicated that the patient should be under observation or hospitalized. A score of ≥38 and <50 indicated the need for an emergent operation. A score of ≥50 indicated the need for admission to the Intensive Care Unit. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ERSM in Cohorts 1 and 2 were 0.979 and 0.988, respectively. Conclusions: This ERSM was an accurate and reliable method for making an early determination of the severity of acute abdominal pain. There was the strong correlation between scores of ERSM and health-care decision-making.
The Role of External Environment in Upper Echelons Theory

Upper echelons research has largely focused on the antecedents and consequences of top management teams (TMTs) from the team and firm levels of analysis. This paper reviews empirical research on TMTs with a specific emphasis on the role of the external environment. Applying institutional and industrial organization theories, a cross-level conceptual model outlining the direct, mediating, and moderating effects of the external environment on upper echelons is developed. This review distinguishes between industry and institutional levels of analysis and three types of environmental characteristics: stable, dynamic, and transformational. The paper further explains the relationships between each category of characteristics and firm upper echelons, and outlines possible avenues for future research.
Steady states and their stability of homogeneous, rigid, extended nematic polymers under imposed magnetic fields

We study the steady state phase behavior of homogeneous, rigid, extended (polar) nematic polymers or nematic dispersions under imposed magnetic (or electric fields), in which the intermolecular dipole-dipole and excluded volume interaction as well as external field contribution are accounted for. We completely characterize the phase diagram for polar nematics with and without permanent magnetic moments (or dipoles). For nematics without magnetic moments, the steady state is either purely nematic or polar depending on the strength of the excluded volume and the dipole-dipole interaction, in which the nonzero polarity vector (the first moment vector) is coaxial with the second moment tensor; thereby the steady state pdf is determined essentially by up to three scalar order parameters and a rotational group of SO(2) transverse to the imposed field direction. For nematics with permanent magnetic moments (or dipoles), the steady states are polar and the polarity vector is parallel to the external field direction when a necessary condition for parameters is met. When the condition is violated, only stable steady states have their polarity vector parallel to the external field direction and there are thermodynamically unstable nonparallel states. The stability of the steady states is inferred from the minimum of the free energy density.
Influences of peripheral nerve grafts on the survival and regrowth of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats

To investigate the role of extrinsic influences on the survival and growth of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the mature mammalian CNS, both optic nerves (ONs) of adult rats were transected intraorbitally and, on one side, replaced by an autologous segment of peripheral nerve (PN) that had been left unconnected distally. The survival of RGCs and the regrowth of their cut axons into the PN grafts were assessed using morphometric techniques, neuroanatomic tracers, and immunologic cell markers to identify and count RGCs at times ranging from 15 d to 9 months. It was observed that (1) in the absence of a PN graft, more than 90% of the RGCs died by 1 month after axotomy; (2) between 1 and 3 months after axotomy, survival of RGCs in the PN- grafted retinas was enhanced 2–4-fold; (3) nearly 20% of the surviving RGCs regrew lengthy axons into the grafts; and (4) although the density of surviving RGCs in PN-grafted retinas decreased significantly between 1 and 3 months after axotomy, the densities of RGCs with axons extending into the graft remained relatively stable. These results confirm that in the adult rat retina, neuronal death is a major effect of axotomy near the cell soma. Although such lesions lead to the degeneration of many RGCs, we show that extrinsic influences introduced by the apposition of a PN segment at the time of severing the ON can rescue a substantial number of these neurons. Because the enhanced survival of many axotomized RGCs in the PN-grafted retinas appears to be limited to the first few weeks after injury, while those of RGCs that regenerate axons into the grafts do not show a parallel decline, it is possible that, in these experiments, neuronal viability depends on a spectrum of differently timed influences that may include the early diffusion of critical molecules arising from the graft and the subsequent establishment of more complex interactions with graft components.
Research Note: The Creation of Capabilities in New Ventures—A Longitudinal Study

The role of the organization's resources and capabilities in its competitive advantage, and, by extension, its performance, has become a topic of renewed interest. Although the importance of capabilities is the basis of much of this research, there is little work which investigates how capabilities are actually created. This paper empirically assesses the role of management in the creation of capability within organizations over time. Of five hypotheses, two were fully supported, and partial support was found for a third. We find that managerial advocacy in the form of specialized directors of sub-units, and the number of executives on the top management team, influence capability creation as does the existence of formalized rules related to resource allocation. CEO background was found to have no effect. The results present the initial outlines of how competencies might be created and suggest avenues for further inquiry.
A new synthetic species of Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae) from interspecific hybridization and chromosome doubling

A new synthetic species,Cucumis hytivus J.-F. Chen & J. H. Kirkbr. (2n=38), obtained by doubling the number of chromosomes in the sterile interspecific F1 hybrid (2n=19) betweenC. sativus L. (2n=14) andC. hystrix Chakr. (2n=24), is described.
A Consideration of Challenges to Psychological Assessment Instruments Used in Forensic Settings: Rorschach As Exemplar

In this brief primer, we provide an outline of key issues that will help psychologists organize and prepare their expert testimony. These issues include the need to obtain essential sources of research, a review of the actual legal standards regarding admissibility of test data in expert testimony, the nature of the expert relative to the assessment instrument in expert testimony, the nature of legal versus scientific debate, and the examination of appropriate qualifications of expertise when offering legal testimony. In addition, we use a summary of information contained in several recent articles to address challenges directed against forensic psychological testing. We use the empirical literature on the Rorschach as an exemplar in discussing these issues, as the admissibility of the Rorschach in particular has been challenged, and the issues frequently focused on with the Rorschach are equally applicable to other psychological measures. In this article, we provide essential sources of Rorschach research regarding several empirical studies that summarize important information and directly address previous criticisms of the measure.
Prevention of Flavobacterium psychrophilum Vertical Transmission by Iodophor Treatment of Unfertilized Eggs in Salmonids

We evaluated the efficacy of povidone-iodine treatments in preventing vertical transmission of Flavobacterium psychrophilum in the eggs of masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou, Japanese char Salvelinus pluvius, coho salmon O. kisutch and rainbow trout O. mykiss. When newly spawned eggs were immersion-challenged with F. psychrophilum (> 109 CFU/mL) and subsequently disinfected with povidone-iodine (50 ppm in PBS, 15 min) prior to fertilization, the pathogen was not detected in the contents of the eggs. Without this pre-fertilization disinfection with povidone-iodine, however, procedures such as water-hardening of immersion-challenged eggs in povidone-iodine (50-100 ppm in water) and rinsing of the F. psychrophilum-contaminated eggs with PBS were insufficient to control the intra-ovum infection. In a separate experiment using coho salmon eggs challenged with F. psychrophilum, pre-fertilization disinfection was effective to prevent bacterial cold-water disease in the produced fry. Surface disinfection of unfertilized eggs immediately after spawning is thus essential to prevent vertical transmission of F. psychrophilum.
Bioinformatics Discovery Note in Silico Identification of Putative Metal Binding Motifs

Metal ion binding domains are found in proteins that mediate transport, buffering or detoxification of metal ions. In this study, we have performed an in silico analysis of metal binding proteins and have identified puta-tive metal binding motifs for the ions of cadmium, cobalt, zinc, arsenic, mercury, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum and nickel. A pattern search against the UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot and UniProtKB/TrEMBL databases yielded true positives in each case showing the high-specificity of the motifs. Motifs were also validated against PDB structures and site directed mutagenesis studies.
Pkc-Mediated Stimulation of Amphibian Cftr Depends on a Single Phosphorylation Consensus Site. Insertion of This Site Confers Pkc Sensitivity to Human Cftr

Mutations of the CFTR, a phosphorylation-regulated Cl− channel, cause cystic fibrosis. Activation of CFTR by PKA stimulation appears to be mediated by a complex interaction between several consensus phosphorylation sites in the regulatory domain (R domain). None of these sites has a critical role in this process. Here, we show that although endogenous phosphorylation by PKC is required for the effect of PKA on CFTR, stimulation of PKC by itself has only a minor effect on human CFTR. In contrast, CFTR from the amphibians Necturus maculosus and Xenopus laevis (XCFTR) can be activated to similar degrees by stimulation of either PKA or PKC. Furthermore, the activation of XCFTR by PKC is independent of the net charge of the R domain, and mutagenesis experiments indicate that a single site (Thr665) is required for the activation of XCFTR. Human CFTR lacks the PKC phosphorylation consensus site that includes Thr665, but insertion of an equivalent site results in a large activation upon PKC stimulation. These observations establish the presence of a novel mechanism of activation of CFTR by phosphorylation of the R domain, i.e., activation by PKC requires a single consensus phosphorylation site and is unrelated to the net charge of the R domain.
Judges v. Jurors: Courtroom Tensions in Murder Trials and the Law of Criminal Responsibility in Nineteenth-Century England

Although it is well known that the criminal law's administration in nineteenth-century England altered decisively, little important change has been noted in the substantive criminal law. Yet change there was, but produced less through legislation (as was much administrative change) or even appeals court rulings than through everyday criminal justice practice. In particular, the effective meanings of legal terms central to the prosecution of homicide—terms such as provocation, intention, and insanity—were in motion during the nineteenth century as part of a broader redefining and reimagining of liability and responsibility. To grasp these often subtle shifts of meaning, we must look to the sites in which they occurred, the most important of which were the courtrooms of the assize courts, where the most serious offenses were tried.
A rotation-invariant bag of visual words model for symbols based ancient coin classification

We propose to perform image-based ancient coin classification by recognizing symbols minted on the reverse side of coins. Dense sampling based bag-of-visual-words model is used for symbol recognition. The lack of spatial information in the bag-of-visual-words model degrades symbol recognition rate as the symbols have specific geometric structures. Furthermore, coins can be imaged under various rotations resulting in severely rotated symbols. Therefore we propose a novel bag-of-visual-wordsmodel for symbol-based coin classification which accounts for the spatial arrangement of the visual words in a rotation invariant manner. We perform our experiments on images collected from three different sources thus making our dataset more challenging. To evaluate our proposed model for robustness to rotations, we synthetically generated severely rotated coin images. In the presence of rotation differences between coins, our model outperforms the conventional bag-of-visual-words model as well as recently proposed angles histograms of pair-wise identical visual words model.
The Open University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs High-dimensional visual vocabularies for image retrieval Conference Item

In this paper we formulate image retrieval by text query as a vector space classification problem. This is achieved by creating a high-dimensional visual vocabulary that represents the image documents in great detail. We show how the representation of these image documents enables the application of well known text retrieval techniques such as Rocchio tf-idf and naïve Bayes to the semantic image retrieval problem. We tested these methods on a Corel images subset and achieve state-of-the-art retrieval performance using the proposed methods.