Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Knowledge and Risk Beliefs in Adolescent E-Cigarette Use: A Pilot Study

The use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices among adolescents is an urgent public health problem due to the concern about adolescent exposure to nicotine. This study examined: (1) adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs about e-cigarette risks; and (2) whether knowledge and risk beliefs were associated with e-cigarette use. N = 69 adolescents completed a cross-sectional survey about e-cigarette knowledge, attitudes (i.e., risk beliefs), and behavior (KAB). Nearly half (47%) of the sample reported ever using e-cigarettes. The majority of adolescents knew about many of the risks of e-cigarettes, with no differences between never- and ever-users. However, risk beliefs, such as worrying about health risks of using e-cigarettes, varied across groups. Compared to never-users, e-cigarette ever-users were significantly less likely to worry about e-cigarette health risks, less likely to think that e-cigarettes would cause them negative health consequences, and less likely to believe that e-cigarette use would lead to addiction. In a multivariable logistic regression, prior combustible cigarette use, mother’s education, and addiction risk beliefs about e-cigarettes emerged as significant predictors of adolescents’ e-cigarette use. This study reveals that while knowledge is not associated with adolescent e-cigarette use, risk beliefs do predict use.
Lyric Jumper: A Lyrics-Based Music Exploratory Web Service by Modeling Lyrics Generative Process

Each artist has their own taste for topics of lyrics such as “love” and “friendship. ” Considering such artist’s taste brings new applications in music information retrieval: choosing an artist based on topics of lyrics and finding unfamiliar artists who have similar taste to a favorite artist. Although previous studies applied latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to lyrics to analyze topics, LDA was not able to capture the artist’s taste. In this paper, we propose a topic model that can deal with the artist’s taste for topics of lyrics. Our model assumes each artist has a topic distribution and a topic is assigned to each song according to the distribution. Our experimental results using a realworld dataset show that our model outperforms LDA in terms of the perplexity. By applying our model to estimate topics of 147,990 lyrics by 3,722 artists, we implement a web service called Lyric Jumper that enables users to explore lyrics based on the estimated topics. Lyric Jumper provides functions such as artist’s topic taste visualization and topic-similarity-based artist recommendation. We also analyze operation logs obtained from 12,353 users on Lyric Jumper and show the usefulness of Lyric Jumper especially in recommending topic-related phrases in lyrics.
Price and Warranty Period Decision in Different Channel Structures for Durable Product

A decision problem is investigated in a decentralized two-echelon supply chain with one manufacturer and one retailer during a fixed sales time. There are three possible power balance scenarios: Manufacturer-Stackelberg, retailer-Stackelberg, vertical Nash classified by the different influence on the market between the manufacturer and the retailer. Aiming at profit maximization,from the perspectives of the consumer, the manufacturer and the retailer, respectively, the results of the three scenarios are analyzed, in which the retailer price P, warranty period W and the whole price CP are decision variables. Moreover, the sales over time can be characterized by a stochastic Bass model in the form of a non-homogeneous Poisson process (NHPP-Bass model) and the production system is a make-to-order type of system. Finally, A numerical example is provided to illustrate the effects of some key parameters, including the product reliability, price elasticity, and warranty period elasticity, on the optimal settings of the retail price and warranty period.
Current and potential therapeutic strategies for the management of vascular calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease including those on dialysis

Patients with CKD have accelerated vascular stiffening contributing significantly to excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Much of the arterial stiffening is thought to involve vascular calcification (VC), but the pathogenesis of this phenomenon is complex, resulting from a disruption of the balance between promoters and inhibitors of calcification in a uremic milieu, along with derangements in calcium and phosphate metabolic pathways. Management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors to reduce VC may be influential but has not been shown to significantly improve mortality. Control of mineral metabolism may potentially reduce the burden of VC, although using conventional approaches of restricting dietary phosphate, administering phosphate binders, and use of active vitamin D and calcimimetics, remains controversial because recommended biochemical targets are hard to achieve and clinical relevance hard to define. Increasing time on dialysis is perhaps another therapy with potential effectiveness in this area. Despite current treatments, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality remain high in this group. Novel therapies for addressing VC include magnesium and vitamin K supplementation, which are currently being investigated in large randomized control trials. Other therapeutic targets include crystallization inhibitors, ligand trap for activin receptors and BMP‐7. This review summarizes current treatment strategies and therapeutic targets for the future management of VC in patients with CKD.
Effectiveness of amisulpride in Chinese patients with predominantly negative symptoms of schizophrenia: a subanalysis of the ESCAPE study

Background Effective management strategies for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia remain an unmet need, and data on the use of antipsychotics in this population are scarce, particularly in Chinese patients. Therefore, we investigated amisulpride for the treatment of Chinese patients with predominantly negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Methods This post hoc subanalysis of the prospective Effectiveness and Safety of Amisulpride in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia (ESCAPE) study included adult Chinese patients with an International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia and predominantly negative symptoms, who received amisulpride for 8 weeks. Effectiveness outcomes included ≥50% decrease in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative score, and a reduction in PANSS negative symptom score and Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S). The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01795183). Results In total, 26 patients were included in the analysis. A ≥50% decrease in PANSS negative score from baseline to week 8 was achieved by 34.6% of patients. From baseline to week 8, the mean PANSS negative symptom score decreased by 45.2% (31.9 to 20.7) and CGI-S decreased 1.9 points (5.2 to 3.3). The mean week 8 dose of amisulpride was lower for patients who achieved a ≥50% decrease in PANSS negative score at week 8 versus those who did not (481.2 vs 704.1 mg/day). The most common treatment-related adverse events included blood prolactin increase (19.2%) and extrapyramidal disorder (19.2%). Weight gain was reported by one patient. Conclusion Amisulpride effectively reduced PANSS negative symptom score and CGI-S for Chinese patients with predominantly negative symptoms of schizophrenia. No unexpected adverse events were reported.
Rehabilitation technology services and employment outcomes among consumers using division of rehabilitation services

Abstract Purpose: The primary goal of the study was to evaluate how the use of rehabilitation technology impacted closure status for consumers receiving services in fiscal year (FY) 2014. Materials and Methods: Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA-911) Case Service Report FY 2014 archival dataset was obtained from the U.S. Department of Education (2014) and secondary analyses was performed for this study. RSA-911 archival data is updated on an annual basis and consists of all state-federal rehabilitation consumers who were served in the specific fiscal year. The dataset contains information related to each consumer’s demographic information (e.g. age, gender, race) and other supplemental information (e.g. weekly earnings at closure, cause of disability, services provided). Results and Conclusions: A multiple logistic regression analysis was utilized and revealed that white consumers receiving rehabilitation technology (RT) services have significantly higher closure rate than consumers of other races, RT services differ by the employment status at application, RT services differ by the type of disability, educational level at application for people receiving RT services did predict closure status (i.e. exiting with an employment outcome), IEP status did not predict closure status, weekly earnings at application did predict closure status and the interaction effect between IEP and RT services is statistically significant. The odds ratio (ORs) were presented at the 95% confidence interval (CI). Vocational rehabilitation counselors needs training to correctly identify appropriate RT services for consumers, so that the likelihood of exiting with an employment outcome is obtained. Implications for Rehabilitation RT services significantly improved their chances of successful employment compared to those who did not receive RT services. Education at closure would also have some significant impact on employment outcomes. Training in Assistive Technology (AT) for Vocational Rehabilitation counselors will assist in the proper identification of AT requirements, which may lead to a higher likelihood of consumers exiting with an employment outcome.
Study of the 1D Scattering Mechanisms' Impact on the Mobility in Si Nanowire Transistors

The extensive research of aggressively scaled nano-electronic devices necessitates the inclusion of quantum confinement effects and their impact on performance. This work implements a set of multisubband phonon and impurity scattering mechanisms within the Kubo-Greenwood formalism in order to study their impact on the mobility in Si nanowire transistors (NWTs). This 1D treatment has been coupled with a 3D Poisson-2D Schrödinger solver, which accurately captures the effects of quantum confinement on charge dynamics. We also emphasize the importance of using the 1D models to evaluate the geometrical properties on mobility at the scaling limit.
Developing and Testing a Model of Burnout at Work and Turnover Intensions among Doctors in Pakistan

This paper examines the impact of burnout at work (BO), work life balance (WLB), work life conflict (WLC) and job satisfaction (JS) on turnover intensions (TOI) among doctors in Pakistan. The research team developed a conceptual model to test the hypothesized relationships between the variables. Simple random sampling method was used to distribute 300 questionnaires among MBBS qualified doctors working in the private and public sector hospitals in major cities of Pakistan, such as Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. With a response rate of 58.3%, 175 valid responses were received which comprised sample size of this study. The research team used SPSS 15.0 and Amos 16.0 for data analysis and model testing. The study concludes that there is no significant effect of burnout at work, work life balance and work life conflict on doctors’ turnover intentions. There is no significant affect of burnout at work on doctors’ work life balance whereas it has a significant effect on the work life conflict and job satisfaction of doctors. Moreover, work life balance has no significant affect on job satisfaction of doctors whereas work life conflict does have a significant effect on job satisfaction of doctors. Lastly, job satisfaction has a significant effect on turnover intentions of doctors.
Sensors fault diagnosis for a BMS

This paper deals with sensor fault diagnosis for a battery management system (BMS). The diagnosis procedure consists on the detection and isolation of sensor faults. A new battery pack design, composed by the cells and sensors, is introduced. Three sensors are considered: voltage, current and temperature. The algorithms are simple and efficient, even for multiple faults, so as to be low-cost from computation and power point of view. Examples are developed during the paper to show the effectiveness of the technique.
Benchmark Management During Australia's Transition to International Accounting Standards

Practitioners and commentators have raised concerns that Australian companies exploited opportunities to benchmark manage during the transition to international financial reporting standards (IFRS). However, as yet, no paper has explored this possibility. This study analyses the reconciliations of AGAAP into AIFRS for 457 companies listed on the ASX 500. Results show that 16.85% of companies provided erroneous information of a material nature in their reconciliations and that, on the balance of probabilities, 5.03% of companies in the sample managed their prior year's earnings benchmarks. This has implications for countries considering whether to adopt IFRS and countries which have already established timetables for their transitions.
An Efficient and Secure Mutual Authentication Mechanism in NEMO-based PMIPv6 Networks: A Methodology and Simulation Analysis

Currently, Network Mobility (NEMO) Basic Support protocol enables the attachment of mobile networks to different points in the Internet. It permits session continuity for all nodes in the mobile network to be reachable as the network moves. While this standard is based on the MobileIPv6 standard, it inherits these disadvantages such as security vulnerabilities. To manage the problems of NEMO, many schemes combine it with a network-based approach such as Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6). Despite the fact that this latter expedites the real deployment of IP mobility management; it suffers from lack of security. Therefore, we propose an Efficient and Secure Mutual Authentication Mechanism during initial attachment in NEMO-based Proxy Mobile IPv6 Networks called EMA-NEMO based PMIPv6 in order to provide mutual authentication between a mobile router and diameter server during initial attachment of the mobile router to a PMIPv6 domain. Moreover, we evaluate the performance of our scheme using the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA) software which has proved that authentication goals are achieved.
A hybrid modulation strategy for voltage fed converters with multiple parallel legs

This paper presents a hybrid modulation strategy for voltage fed converters with multiple parallel magnetically coupled legs. The proposed hybrid modulation strategy combines the benefits of space vector, such as switching sequences flexibility and the simplicity of the modulation based on the geometric approach. As a result, it is possible to obtain multilevel equivalent voltages, as well as the equal sharing among the converter leg currents. In addition, the virtual vector concept is used which leads to the determination of the voltage limits required to impose the equal sharing among the leg currents and to avoid the saturation of the coupled inductor. Finally, simulation and experimental results show the good performance and flexibility of the proposed hybrid modulation technique.
Empirical Performance of Option Pricing Models with Stochastic Local Volatility

We examine the empirical performance of several stochastic local volatility models that are the extensions of the Heston stochastic volatility model. Our results indicate that the stochastic volatility model with quadratic local volatility significantly outperforms the stochastic volatility model with CEV type local volatility. Moreover, we compare the performance of these models to several other benchmarks and find that the quadratic local volatility model compares well to the best performing option pricing models reported in the current literature for European-style S&P500 index options. Our results also indicate that the model with quadratic local volatility reproduces the characteristics of the implied volatility surface more accurately than the Heston model. Finally, we demonstrate that capturing the shape of the implied volatility surface is necessary to price binary options accurately.
An integrated management systems approach to corporate sustainability

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe an integrated management systems (IMS) approach for the integration of corporate sustainability into business processes.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of published literature was conducted. Building on existing research, the paper presents an original framework for structuring the integration of corporate sustainability with existing business infrastructure. The framework is supported by a detailed set of diagnostic questions to help guide the process. Both the framework and the diagnostic questions are based on the “Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act” cycle of continuous improvement.Findings – The paper highlights the need for a systematic means to integrate sustainability into business processes. Building on that point, the paper illustrates how an IMS approach can be used to structure the entire process of managing, measuring, and assessing progress towards corporate sustainability.Practical implications – The paper should be of interest to both practitioners an.
The return of pretransfer editing in protein synthesis

The accuracy with which the genetic information contained in protein-coding genes is faithfully translated into the corresponding sequence of amino acids has long fascinated biologists. Before the mechanisms of transcription and protein synthesis had been uncovered in the exquisite molecular detail we know today, some of the inherent problems of faithful gene expression were obvious. Crick's seminal adaptor hypothesis (1) predicted the existence of many then-unknown components of translation, including the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in effect define the genetic code by catalyzing a 2-step reaction that pairs amino acids with their cognate tRNAs to provide substrates for ribosomal protein synthesis. In the first step, an amino acid is condensed with ATP to form an aminoacyl-adenylate. In the second reaction, the aminoacyl group is transferred to the 3′ end of the tRNA. The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases also provide a critical safeguard to maintain fidelity during translation of the genetic code by discriminating against and, when necessary, editing noncognate amino acids. Crick was quick to point out that specificity would be of paramount importance to the synthetases, because their function in protein synthesis would require them to precisely distinguish similar amino acids such as isoleucine and valine. Linus Pauling (2), who reasoned that small differences in binding energy between aliphatic amino acids would not provide the level of discrimination necessary for faithful protein synthesis, had also noted this particular problem in molecular recognition. This discrepancy, between the specificity achievable during recognition and the accuracy required for translation, was resolved with the discovery of editing.
Hitting sets with near-optimal error for read-once branching programs

Nisan (Combinatorica’92) constructed a pseudorandom generator for length n, width n read-once branching programs (ROBPs) with error ε and seed length O(log2n + logn · log(1/ε)). A major goal in complexity theory is to reduce the seed length, hopefully, to the optimal O(logn+log(1/ε)), or to construct improved hitting sets, as these would yield stronger derandomization of BPL and RL, respectively. In contrast to a successful line of work in restricted settings, no progress has been made for general, unrestricted, ROBPs. Indeed, Nisan’s construction is the best pseudorandom generator and, prior to this work, also the best hitting set for unrestricted ROBPs. In this work, we make the first improvement for the general case by constructing a hitting set with seed length O(log2n+log(1/ε)). That is, we decouple ε and n, and obtain near-optimal dependence on the former. The regime of parameters in which our construction strictly improves upon prior works, namely, log(1/ε) ≫ logn, is well-motivated by the work of Saks and Zhou (J.CSS’99) who use pseudorandom generators with error ε = 2−(logn)2 in their proof for BPL ⊆ L3/2. We further suggest a research program towards proving that BPL ⊆ L4/3 in which our result achieves one step. As our main technical tool, we introduce and construct a new type of primitive we call pseudorandom pseudo-distributions. Informally, this is a generalization of pseudorandom generators in which one may assign negative and unbounded weights to paths as opposed to working with probability distributions. We show that such a primitive yields hitting sets and, for derandomization purposes, can be used to derandomize two-sided error algorithms.
Empowering Learners to Choose the Difficulty Level of Problems Based on Their Learning Needs

Research has found that increasing learner control offers several benefits, including increased motivation, attitude, and learning. The goal of the present study was to determine how prior math achievement influences students’ selection of the difficulty level of problems within Math Pursuits, a hypermedia learning program. Math Pursuits was designed to help children understand mathematics by discovering how it relates to the world around them. The program presented each learner with an adjustable level of challenge, along with the necessary scaffolding to support success. The researchers hypothesized that students with lower math skills would choose to start with a lower difficultly level; whereas, students with higher math skills would begin the program by choosing a question with a higher level of difficulty. Results supported these hypotheses. This research also examined the motivational framework guiding students’ selection of problem difficulty.
Modified Spin‐Echo Method for Measuring Nuclear Relaxation Times

A spin echo method adapted to the measurement of long nuclear relaxation times (T2) in liquids is described. The pulse sequence is identical to the one proposed by Carr and Purcell, but the rf of the successive pulses is coherent, and a phase shift of 90° is introduced in the first pulse. Very long T2 values can be measured without appreciable effect of diffusion.
NONLINEAR INTERDEPENDENCE IN NEURAL SYSTEMS: MOTIVATION, THEORY, AND RELEVANCE

In this article, we motivate models of medium to large-scale neural activity that place an emphasis on the modular nature of neocortical organization and discuss the occurrence of nonlinear interdependence in such models. On the basis of their functional, anatomical, and physiological properties, it is argued that cortical columns may be treated as the basic dynamical modules of cortical systems. Coupling between these columns is introduced to represent sparse long-range cortical connectivity. Thus, neocortical activity can be modeled as an array of weakly coupled dynamical subsystems. The behavior of such systems is represented by dynamical attractors, which may be fixed point, limit cycle, or chaotic in nature. If all the subsystems are perfectly identical, then the state of identical chaotic synchronization is a possible attractor for the array. Following the introduction of parameter variation across the array, such a state is not possible, although two other important nonlinear interdependences--generalized and phase synchronized--are possible. We suggest that an understanding of nonlinear interdependence may assist advances in models of neural activity and neuroscience time series analysis.