Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Negotiation Game: Establishing Stable Privacy Policies for Aggregate Reasoning

The process of personal information collection and exchange is associated with ever-growing privacy concerns. To resolve the issue, data provider’s consent on the usage of private information is sought through privacy policy specifications. The parameters of such privacy policies influence the quantity and quality of gathered information. Choosing the right privacy policy parameters can potentially increase the revenues to a data collector and the firms (third-parties) interested in accessing the database for data analysis purposes. In this work we use an extensive form game model to examine the decisions made by a data collector and a third-party to maximize their benefits from collecting and accessing data. We have found the game’s subgame perfect equilibria for various problem settings and provide the details of game analysis for a simplified scenario and two case studies. The equilibrium solutions demonstrate steady states of the game where collecting personal information at a specific privacy level is advantageous to the data collector and the third-party. Consequently the results define a realistic boundary on collecting personal information.
Cycling without the Cyclosome: Modeling a Yeast Strain Lacking the APC

The construction of viable Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that lack the anaphase promoting complex (APC) was recently reported. The normally lethal deletions of APC genes were suppressed by the double deletion of the PDS1 and CLB5 genes in conjunction with the insertion of multiple copies of the SIC1 gene controlled by its endogenous promoter. It was proposed that cyclic expression and degradation of Sic1 results in oscillations of Clb/CDK activity necessary for the cell cycle. We have used an updated version of a mathematical model of the yeast cell cycle to model strains that lack the APC. With a few modifications, the model accurately simulates the viability of Apc- strains, as well as the phenotypes of 27 other previously characterized strains. We discuss a few minor inconsistencies between the model and experiment, and how these may inform future revisions to the model.
Intuitions about personal identity: An empirical study

Williams (1970) argues that our intuitions about personal identity vary depending on how a given thought experiment is framed. Some frames lead us to think that persistence of self requires persistence of one's psychological characteristics; other frames lead us to think that the self persists even after the loss of one's distinctive psychological characteristics. The current paper takes an empirical approach to these issues. We find that framing does affect whether or not people judge that persistence of psychological characteristics is required for persistence of self. Open-ended, abstract questions about what is required for survival tend to elicit responses that appeal to the importance of psychological characteristics. This emphasis on psychological characteristics is largely preserved even when participants are exposed to a concrete case that yields conflicting intuitions over whether memory must be preserved in order for a person to persist. Insofar as our philosophical theory of personal identity should be based on our intuitions, the results provide some support for the view that psychological characteristics really are critical for persistence of self.
Distribution of uplink inter-cell interference in OFDMA networks with power control

In frequency reuse one networks, the inter-cell interference (ICI) is severe especially for cell edge user equipments (UEs). Statistical information of ICI is helpful to design interference mitigation schemes. This paper proposes a statistical model for the uplink ICI in orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) networks with power control. The distance-dependent attenuation and correlated shadowing are included in the channel model. Through analyzing the random part related to distribution of user's location and correlated shadowing, we derive the general parametric probability density function (PDF) of uplink ICI in logarithmic domain, and then use the derived model to investigate the distribution of ICI with typical power control schemes. Numerical results derived from theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations verify the statistical model and the analysis.
Different Morphometric and Densitometric Parameters Predict Cervical and Trochanteric Hip Fracture: The EPIDOS Study

We used an experimental software measuring the hip axis length (HAL) and bone mineral density (BMD) in specific regions of the lower and upper part of the femoral neck on dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scans. To determine whether these parameters were significant predictors of the type of hip fracture, we measured 167 healthy women (controls), 24 women with trochanteric, and 42 women with cervical hip fractures within the EPIDOS prospective cohort. EPIDOS is a multicenter prospective study on risk factors for hip fracture performed in 7575 elderly women living at home, aged 75–95 and conducted in five French centers (Amiens, Lyon, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse). Measurements were performed on data acquired at baseline before the occurrence of fracture. In the cervical fracture group, HAL was significantly longer than in controls (94.2 vs. 92.3, p = 0.03), and the associated odds ratio (OR) adjusted for age, weight, and total femoral neck BMD was significant (OR = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–2.55). In contrast, HAL was not significantly different from controls in the trochanteric fracture group. Femoral neck diameter was not a predictor of fracture. The upper and lower femoral neck BMD was lower in the trochanteric fracture group than in controls, and both measurements predicted trochanteric femoral neck fracture. In contrast, the prediction of cervical femoral neck fracture was enhanced by measuring only the upper part of the femoral neck (OR = 2.79 vs. 1.97 for the total femoral neck) while BMD of the lower part was not different from controls. Hip axis length is a predictor of femoral neck fracture. Femoral neck BMD distribution is different between cervical and trochanteric fractures. These results support the hypothesis of a different pathophysiological mechanism between the two types of hip fractures.
Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and policy knowledge in a South African state hospital

Sub-Saharan Africa is the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. With about 5.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in 2004 South Africa has the largest number of PLWHA in a single country. It is expected that in the coming years the number of PLWHA will increase in South Africa. Medical staff involved in the hospital care of HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa especially nurses and doctors are confronted with a number of problems. Due to the presumed dangers of HIV infection during patient care medical staff may experience stress when caring for HIV/AIDS patients. Adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS is an important means to reduce stress and could result in better care and improve information to the general public. (excerpt)
Gene Tagging Strategies To Assess Protein Expression, Localization, and Function in Drosophila

Analysis of gene function in complex organisms relies extensively on tools to detect the cellular and subcellular localization of gene products, especially proteins. Typically, immunostaining with antibodies provides these data. However, due to cost, time, and labor limitations, generating specific antibodies against all proteins of a complex organism is not feasible. Furthermore, antibodies do not enable live imaging studies of protein dynamics. Hence, tagging genes with standardized immunoepitopes or fluorescent tags that permit live imaging has become popular. Importantly, tagging genes present in large genomic clones or at their endogenous locus often reports proper expression, subcellular localization, and dynamics of the encoded protein. Moreover, these tagging approaches allow the generation of elegant protein removal strategies, standardization of visualization protocols, and permit protein interaction studies using mass spectrometry. Here, we summarize available genomic resources and techniques to tag genes and discuss relevant applications that are rarely, if at all, possible with antibodies.
"Let's not reinvent the wheel": A qualitative investigation of collaboration in the Australian GP education and training sector

Introduction: E-learning collaboration in the Australian GP education and training sector represents one way to improve sustainability, innovation and reuse of existing data sources. However, few collaborative e-learning projects are currently undertaken within the sector, with previous joint ventures resulting in variable success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of increased e-learning collaboration, with specific focus on exploration of the beliefs and perceptions of key stakeholders within the GP education and training sector. Methods: A total of 78 personnel and 16 CEOs participated in focus groups and interviews held at training sites across Australia. Independent and group qualitative analysis was used to derive key themes. Results: Six key themes related to e-learning collaboration were identified: benefits of e-learning collaboration, maintaining focus on educational outcomes, competitiveness within the RTP sector, individual identity and regional differences, establishing relationships and enablers to promoting collaboration. Conclusions: Considerable goodwill and enthusiasm towards collaboration exists within the sector. Congruent with established literature regarding collaboration, key recommendations are detailed for the advancement of prospective collaborative e-learning projects, including a need for early and ongoing stakeholder engagement, a focus on educational outcomes, respect for matters of individual identity and consideration of regional differences.
Competitive advantage impacts of direct procurement management capabilities and Web-based direct procurement system

This study adopts a resource-based view to investigate the impact of direct procurement management capabilities and information technology (IT) capabilities derived from Web-based direct procurement systems on competitive advantage. A sample of 128 manufacturing firms in Taiwan with an experience of participating in government-subsidised e-business development projects is surveyed, with resulting data subject to partial least squares analysis to investigate main and interaction effects. The results show that, as hypothesised, process efficiency capability and coordination capability contribute significantly to competitive advantage, but IT capabilities derived from Web-based direct procurement systems per se are not significantly associated with competitive advantage. However, IT capabilities are found to play important roles in reinforcing direct procurement management capabilities.
An Economic Sociology of Entry Barriers: Business Entry and the Inner City Market

An Economic Sociology of Entry Barriers: Business Entry into Inner City Markets Scholarly research about inner city business development by business scholars has not addressed the link between the identification and evaluation of the business opportunity and the exploitation strategy used to enter new markets. Inner city markets pose a challenge for business managers and entrepreneurs because many do not understand how to overcome significant social and institutional factors. In this dissertation, I propose a theory of social and institutional entry barriers to inner city markets that explains aspects of entrepreneurial action. This dissertation develops propositions concerning the structure of business opportunity and business entry in inner city markets. I ask three important questions. First, what factors influence the decision to enter for firms interested in entering inner city markets? Second, for those that enter, what is the relationship between these entry barriers and the entrance strategies they use to enter? Third, how do these entrance strategies relate to firm performance? I collect data using three different research methodologies to address these questions: interviews, vignettes, and survival analysis of empowerment zone data. Through this research on the structure of business opportunity in inner city markets, I test two arguments: • Entrepreneurs often overlook business opportunities because of the social and institutional context of the market • Entrepreneurs and managers that build firms more adept at overcoming social and institutional barriers to the inner city market will be more successful than those without.
CRUPA: A container resource utilization prediction algorithm for auto-scaling based on time series analysis

Computing resource utilization of applications may vary over time and inappropriate static resource provision would cause resource wastage or performance loss. Auto scaling based on instant demand is a simple solution but it also introduces latency of scaling. An accurate resource demand prediction algorithm is able to eliminate the side effects of scaling. To address this issue, we present CRUPA, a resource utilization prediction algorithm based on a time series analysis model (ARIMA) combined with Docker container technique. We also design a comparison experiment to evaluate the proposed algorithm and its average forecast error is only 6.5% in the short term, which is much lower than the most common model based on threshold (16.9%) on the same dataset. The result shows that CRUPA not only has high prediction accuracy but also scales the resource well.
What Factors Are Related to Impairment of Cerebrovascular Reserve before and after Arteriovenous Malformation Resection? A Cerebral Blood Flow Study Using Xenon-enhanced Computed Tomography

OBJECTIVETo examine the incidence and possible determinants of impaired vascular reserve in arteriovenous malformation (AVM)-affected brain, before and after surgery. METHODSIn a prospective study of 30 patients, the regional cerebrovascular reserve capacity (rCRC) and the vasodilated regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were assessed during an acetazolamide challenge, using xenon-enhanced computed tomography, before and after complete AVM resection. Single brain slices at the level of the basal ganglia were examined, and scanning through the AVMs was avoided. Five regions of interest in the AVM-bearing hemisphere were compared with their counterparts in the unaffected hemisphere. Vasodilated rCBF reductions of at least 20% in one or more regions of interest and rCRC values of less than 10 ml/100 g/min were considered to be significant. RESULTSIpsilateral vasodilated rCBF was significantly reduced in 17 patients before surgery and 15 patients after surgery. Ipsilateral rCRC was impaired in 14 patients before surgery and 12 patients after surgery. Large AVM size, venous congestion, and AVM-related vascular territories were correlated with impaired vascular reserve in AVM-nonadjacent brain tissue before surgery. Similar correlations were observed after surgery, except that not AVM size but a large number of AVM-supplying vascular territories was correlated. Moreover, the smallest AVMs and those supplied by a single vascular territory, as well as hemorrhage and nonhemorrhagic neurological deficits as presenting symptoms, were correlated with reduced ipsilateral vasodilated rCBF before surgery. Among patients with AVMs and nonhemorrhagic epilepsy, a trend of impaired cerebrovascular reserve was observed. In the only case of postresectional “breakthrough,” the preoperative rCRC was not impaired but abnormally high. CONCLUSIONAmong the determinants of impaired cerebrovascular reserve, AVM size is already a constituent of current grading scales and decision-making paradigms, whereas factors such as venous congestion have been less closely considered or less obvious but may deserve increased attention in the future. Nonhemorrhagic epilepsy in patients with AVMs may constitute the clinical equivalent of chronic cerebral ischemia in a murine model. Postresectional breakthrough may be partly attributable to individual predisposition to excessive vasoreactivity in the whole brain.
An Examination of the ASX Announcement Process and Information Pricing Policy

We examine market activity across several phases of the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) announcement process. Previous research assumes that an announcement is a single information event. However, market sensitive announcements released on ASX follow a time-consuming, complex process, which involves a series of steps, including (1) a halt to trading, (2) the release of a summary headline of the announcement, (3) the subsequent release of the announcement details (which may be in segments) and (4) the resumption of trading. We identify a set of Preliminary Final Statements and Takeover announcements made between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 2003 that are suitable for examination. By studying order flow, trading activity and order imbalance over one-minute intervals at various stages of the announcements process, we find that traders do not react immediately to the news release. Instead, activity is concentrated towards the end of the trading halt and after the resumption of trading. We also analyse the effect on trading behaviour of a change to ASX’s royalty policy. The royalty period during which users are charged for accessing the full text of news releases was shortened to 20 minutes on 1 February 2000. Prior to the change, the royalty period extended from the time of the release until midnight that day. We find increased market activity on the day of the release for the post-2000 sample compared to the pre-2000 sample.
Randomized Control Trial Comparing Oral Amoxicillin-clavulanate and Ofloxacin With Intravenous Ceftriaxone and Amikacin as Outpatient Therapy in Pediatric Low-risk Febrile Neutropenia

Background Outpatient oral therapy is infrequently used in pediatric low-risk febrile neutropenia (LRFN) as there is insufficient data regarding its equivalence as compared with parenteral therapy. Methods This is a single institutional, randomized control trial in pediatric LRFN aged 2 to 15 years, in which 123 episodes in 88 patients were randomized to outpatient oral ofloxacin 7.5 mg/kg 12 hourly and amoxycillin-clavulanate 12.5 mg/kg 8 hourly or outpatient intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone 75 mg/kg and amikacin 15 mg/kg once daily after blood cultures. Results Out of 119 evaluable episodes, one-third were leukemia patients in maintenance and rest were solid tumors. Success was achieved in 55/61 (90.16%) and 54/58 (93.1%) in oral and IV arms, respectively, (P=0.56). There were 3 hospitalizations but no mortality. Median days to resolution of fever, absolute neutrophil count >500/mm3 and antibiotic use were 3, 5, and 6 days in both arms. There were 5 blood culture isolates (3 gram-positive and 2 gram-negative bacteria). Failure of outpatient therapy was associated with perianal infections, bacteremia, febrile neutropenia onset before day 9 of chemotherapy in solid tumors and Vincristine, actinomycin-D, and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma. All gram-positive isolates were successes, whereas both gram-negative isolates were failures. Diarrhea in IV arm and Vincristine, actinomycin-D, and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy in the oral arm predicted failure in subgroup analysis. Conclusions Outpatient therapy is efficacious and safe in pediatric LRFN. There was no difference in outcome in oral versus IV outpatient therapy. Amoxycillin-clavulanate and ofloxacin may be the oral regimen of choice.
The antecedents of consumer loyalty in retail banking

This paper is focused on a study designed to investigate loyalty in retail banking. The research findings suggest that loyalty is the outcome of a cognitive rather than an affective process. The main antecedents of bank loyalty were found to be perceived value, service quality, service attributes, satisfaction, image and trust: constructs that are inter-related and form a network of loyalty antecedents. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Link Extraction for Crawling Flash on the Web

The set of web pages not reachable using conventional web search engines is usually called the hidden or deep web. One client-side hurdle for crawling the hidden web is Flash files.This thesis presents a tool for extracting links from Flash files up to version 8 to enable web crawling. The files are both parsed and selectively interpreted to extract links. The purpose of the interpretation is to simulate the normal execution of Flash in the Flash runtime of a web browser. The interpretation is a low level approach that allows the extraction to occur offline and without involving automation of web browsers. A virtual machine is implemented and a set of limitations is chosen to reduce development time and maximize the coverage of interpreted byte code.Out of a test set of about 3500 randomly sampled Flash files the link extractor found links in 34% of the files. The resulting estimated web search engine coverage improvement is almost 10%.
Examining the Relationship between some Financial Factors Affecting Cash Held in Companies Listed in Tehran Stock Exchange

This paper examines the relationship between some financial factors such as financial leverage, dividend payout ratio, the return on equity ratio, current ratio and the firm size and cash holding in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange began. The study was conducted between the years 2007 to2011. The statistical samples used in were the142companies. To estimate the statistical model in the research, regression method using panel analysis has been used. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship neither between financial leverage and cash holding, nor between dividend payout ratio and cash. However, there is a significant positive relationship between the ratio of return on equity and cash held. The coefficient of current ratio variable has a significant relation with cash held; at last coefficient of firm size has a significant positive relation with cash held. And none of the control variables have presented a significant relation with cash held by companies listed in the Stock Exchange.
A theatrical perspective on service performance evaluation: The customer-critic approach

Abstract In this article, the customer-critic approach is presented as a complementary approach to existing service performance evaluation. It is based on methods, derived originally by Patrice Pavis, that have a distinguished pedigree in the evaluation of theatrical performances. An adaptation of Pavis's evaluation framework is illustrated in the context of a restaurant service performance. A focus on the work of Pavis directs attention to the mise-en-scène or metatext of a performance as a vehicle for consumer analysis, and explicitly acknowledges the value of nurturing and enhancing the critical capacity of an audience. Although an audience should be made aware of the main components of a performance, most importantly they should be encouraged to take a holistic, rather than fragmented, view of what is being presented. In addition, unlike other research approaches, the customer-critic process involves customers before, during, and after the performance, and builds in the opportunity for both reporting and reconstruction. It is an approach to data collection and analysis more closely aligned to the Service-Dominant Logic of marketing than methods currently adopted by service managers, recognising consumers as operant resources and the ‘value in use’ of the performance from a consumer experience perspective.