Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drivers of Cultural Differences in Information System Adoption - A Case Study

There are various studies demonstrating the influence of cultural differences on IS adoption decisions, whereby variation among corresponding findings is substantial. In contrast to previous quantitative studies which focus mainly on uncovering the kinds of differences that exist in the adoption process across cultures, we scrutinize the motives for these differences in adoption decisions with a qualitative case study across China, the United States and Switzerland. By applying the extended technology acceptance model and the GLOBE study, we analyze the adoption decisions of a subset of an ERP system – quality management systems. By means of a case study containing document analysis, evaluations of observations and interviews, five system-related and four project-management-related influencing variables are identified, leading to the basis for a future research agenda. Finally, the practical and theoretical contribution of this study consists of an enriched understanding of culturally determined variables for the implementation of IS.
Closed-Loop Control for FES : Past Work and Future Directions Lynch CL

The spinal cord can be damaged by injury or disease, which can lead to medical complications including the loss of motor function. FES is one technique that can be used to replace lost motor function. Many potential clinical applications of FES require closed-loop control of electrical stimulation. This paper outlines the challenges to control that are presented by FES. Also, a set of design criteria for clinical FES applications is proposed; these criteria were developed with input from medical and technical personnel as well as spinal cord injured individuals. Lastly, a review of the state of the art in closed-loop control of FES is provided, and a framework for future work on clinical FES systems is
Restoring recloser-fuse coordination in radial distribution networks with distributed generation

In this paper, offline and adaptive online solutions are developed to deal with recloser-fuse miscoordination problem. This problem arises from the penetration of distributed generation in radial distribution systems. The proposed strategies are based on calculating the suitable setting of the fast mode recloser characteristic by changing its time dial parameter. The strategies are applied using microprocessor-based recloser and a developed protection coordination algorithm running in a central Control Unit (CU) to maintain recloser setting adapted to the recent state of the network. To evaluate the performance of the proposed strategies, extensive simulation analysis on 37-Bus system for different cases is carried out.
Relation Between V˙E/V˙CO2 Slope and Maximum Phonation Time in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the relation between the regression slope relating minute ventilation to carbon dioxide output (V˙E/V˙CO2 slope) and maximum phonation time (MPT), and the MPT required to attain a threshold value for V˙E/V˙CO2 slope of ⩽34 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.This cross-sectional study enrolled 115 CHF patients (mean age, 54.5 years; men, 84.9%). V˙E/V˙CO2 slope was assessed during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX). Thereafter, patients were divided into 2 groups according to exercise capacity: V˙E/V˙CO2 slope ⩽34 (V˙E/V˙CO2 ⩽34 group, n = 81) and V˙E/V˙CO2 slope >34 (V˙E/V˙CO2 >34 group, n = 34). For MPT measurements, all patients produced a sustained vowel/a:/ for as long as possible during respiratory effort from the seated position.All subjects showed significant negative correlation between V˙E/V˙CO2 slope and MPT (r = −0.51, P < 0.001). After adjustment for clinical characteristics, MPT was significantly higher in the V˙E/V˙CO2 ⩽34 group vs V˙E/V˙CO2 >34 group (21.4 ± 6.4 vs 17.4 ± 4.3 s, F = 7.4, P = 0.007). The appropriate MPT cut-off value for identifying a V˙E/V˙CO2 slope ⩽34 was 18.12 seconds.An MPT value of 18.12 seconds may be a useful target value for identifying CHF patients with a V˙E/V˙CO2 slope ⩽34 and for risk management in these patients.
On Common Ground : Neural-Symbolic Integration and Lifelong Machine Learning

Research efforts in Neural-Symbolic Integration and Lifelong Machine Learning have taken place with limited interactions over the last 20 years. These two areas of artificial intelligence share common ground and yet have much to learn from each other. This paper provides background, particularly on Lifelong Machine Learning, and presents a number of common areas of investigation with Neural-Symbolic Integration. It then invites researchers in the two fields to better understand some of the differences in motives and objectives for the purpose of jointly advancing machine learning, knowledge representation and reasoning.
Validity Measures for the Fuzzy Cluster Analysis of Orientations

Fuzzy K-means clustering can be applied to the automatic identification of sets in discontinuity data after suitable adaptation of the algorithm. To establish the number of clusters in a data set, modified versions of the validity measures of Gath and Geva (1989), Xie-Beni (1991) and Fukuyama-Sugeno are presented in this paper.
The Energy-Efficient Operation Problem of a Freight Train Considering Long-Distance Steep Downhill Sections

With the energy consumption rising in rail transport, the railway sector is showing increasing interest in the energy-efficient operation of freight trains. Freight trains require more complicated driving strategies than ordinary passenger trains do due to their heavy loads, especially in the long-distance steep downhill (LDSD) sections that are very common in freight rail lines in China. This paper studies the energy-efficient operation of a freight train considering LDSD sections. An optimal control model including regenerative and pneumatic braking is developed for the freight train. Then, when a train leaves/enters the LDSD section, we verify the uniqueness of control transitions and discuss the speed profile linkage between LDSD and its adjacent sections, which indicates that the periodic braking should be applied on LDSD sections for optimality. Additionally, given the same running time for the entire journey, our analysis shows that electrical braking-full braking strategy is more energy-efficient than coasting-full braking strategy on LDSD sections. Finally, a numerical algorithm for the optimal driving solution is proposed. The simulation results demonstrate that the driving strategies generated by the proposed algorithm performs better than those from fuzzy predictive control and field operation regarding energy saving.
A discrete particle simulation study on the influence of restitution coefficient on spout fluidized bed dynamics

In this paper the influence of the normal restitution coefficient on the bed dynamics during different flow regimes was studied using the discrete element model. The three flow regimes comprise the intermediate/spout-fluidization, spouting-with-aeration regime and the jetin-fluidized-bed. It is shown that with increase of the restitution coefficient the average bed height decreases for all flow regime cases. To study the influence of the granule impact velocity and the liquid film on the wall surface the free-fall experiments in the velocity range of 0.5- 4.5 m/s were performed with spherical ? -Al2O3 granules. During the free-fall tests, the impact angle from 0° to 80° and the viscosity of thin liquid film in the range of 1-300 mPa·s were varied.
3-inch GaN-on-Diamond HEMTs With Device-First Transfer Technology

Based on a device-first transfer process, a 3-inch polycrystalline diamond substrate is bonded within $1.5~\mu \text{m}$ of the junction in GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) to enhance heat removal of the high-power RF devices. Highly preserved electrical performance is demonstrated by comparison exactly on the same HEMT device prior and after substrate transfer. The residual compressive strain relaxation of the whole GaN epilayer does not reduce the 2-D electron gas sheet density. The dc characteristics show weakened self-heating in the GaN-on-diamond HEMT with maximum current density increasing from 968 to 1005 mA/mm. The power density increases from 4.8 to 5.5 W/mm with the PAE slightly reducing from 50.9% to 50.5%. On-wafer infrared measurement is performed on a 1.25-mm GaN HEMT at power dissipation of 10 W/mm, and the peak juncture temperature of the device decreases from 241 °C to 191 °C after transferring to the diamond substrate.
The intestinal flora of the chicken in the period 2 to 6 weeks of age, with particular reference to the anaerobic bacteria.

Synopsis A study has been made of the intestinal flora of chickens aged between 2 and 6½ weeks. No major differences were found when rations containing 9 or 25% fish meal were compared or when two different sources of fish meal were used. Throughout the period investigated, it was confirmed that the lactobacilli are the only group of organisms generally present in the small intestine in numbers exceeding 104/g. Clostridia were regularly found at 102 to 104/g, but Clostridium welchii was isolated from only occasional samples. In the caeca, the total number of bacteria present at 2, 3, 4 and 6½ weeks was about 1011/g. Of these it was generally possible to isolate more than 20% using an anaerobic roll‐tube technique and oxygen‐free CO2. Many different types of anaerobes were isolated including strictly anaerobic budding bacteria which had not previously been studied. During the growth of the bird the flora changed. Anaerobic streptococci (peptostreptococci) predominated at 2 weeks but gradually decreased so .
The Religious Ethics Impact as Evaluative Element of Culture on the Personality Development of the Future Teacher: The Person Measurement Approach

Personality measuring today becomes popular as it is a civilization marker for modern cultural and educational changes in society. Theoretical and methodological foundations of measuring the personality are laid in the present study as the leading principle of humanitarian studies. Human measuring approach in modern understanding is presented as a product of neoclassical science. There are shown major human systems, which are directly influenced by the religious ethics.
Mapping in vivo topoisomerase I sites on simian virus 40 DNA: asymmetric distribution of sites on replicating molecules

Complexes between simian virus 40 DNA and topoisomerase I (topo I) were isolated from infected cells treated with camptothecin. The topo I break sites were precisely mapped by primer extension from defined oligonucleotides. Of the 56 sites, 40 conform to the in vitro consensus sequence previously determined for topo I. The remaining 16 sites have an unknown origin and were detectable even in the absence of camptothecin. Only 11% of the potential break sites were actually broken in vivo. In the regions mapped, the pattern of break sites was asymmetric. Most notable are the clustering of sites near the terminus for DNA replication and the confinement of sites to the strand that is the template for discontinuous DNA synthesis. These asymmetries could reflect the role of topo I in simian virus 40 DNA replication and suggest that topo I action is coordinated spatially with that of the replication complex.
Comparison of $Q$-Factors Between TE and TM Modes in 3-D Microsquares by FDTD Simulation

Mode characteristics of three-dimensional (3-D) microsquare resonators are investigated by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation for the transverse electric (TE)-like and the transverse magnetic (TM)-like modes. For a pillar microsquare with a side length of 2 mum in air, we have Q-factors about 5 times 103 for TM-like modes at the wavelength of 1550 nm, which are one order larger than those of TE-like modes, as vertical refractive index distribution is 3.17/3.4/3.17 and the corresponding center layer thickness is 0.2 mum. The mode field patterns show that TM-like modes have much weaker vertical radiation coupling loss than TE-like modes. TM-like modes can have high Q-factors in a microsquare with weak vertical field confinement.
Big BRICS, Weak Foundations: The Beginning of Public Elementary Education in Brazil, Russia, India, and China

Our paper provides a comparative perspective on the development of public primary education in four of the largest developing economies circa 1910: Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). These four countries encompassed more than 50 percent of the world's population in 1910, but remarkably few of their citizens attended any school by the early 20th century. We present new, comparable data on school inputs and outputs for BRIC drawn from contemporary surveys and government documents. Recent studies emphasize the importance of political decentralization, and relatively broad political voice for the early spread of public primary education in developed economies. We identify the former and the lack of the latter to be important in the context of BRIC, but we also outline how other factors such as factor endowments, colonialism, serfdom, and, especially, the characteristics of the political and economic elite help explain the low achievement levels of these four countries and the incredible amount of heterogeneity within each of them.
FUZZY CLUSTERING DRIVEN FAST AND INTUITIVE CLASSIFIER LEARNING WITH MAPREDUCE FRAMEWORK

Many business organizations exploring their big data resources using Hadoop distributed file system due to its capability in offering fast processing, easy scalability and higher extend reliability on low cost commodity hardware. The efficiency of Hadoop distributed file system is the result of using Mapreduce frame work, which is leading research communities to scale conventional data mining techniques to fit on Mapreduce framework. So far in the research we can found proposals of data mining on Mapreduce frame work concentrating only on scalability factor, but at the same time they are ignoring two important factors which can affect the efficiency, those are reducing number of scans to database and lacking of intuitiveness in obtained data mining results. In order to overcome such short comes and considering importance of classification learning techniques in real time environment, we propose an fuzzy associative classifier learning model using Mapreduce framework which take advantage of Tid-list representation to extract the total classifier with in single scan to database and provides intuitiveness using data driven fuzzy clusters. The experimental results show the proposed model successfully enhanced the fast and intuitive efficiencies of classification techniques for big data analytics without compromising the accuracy.
Myocet (liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin citrate): a new approach in breast cancer therapy

Doxorubicin, either as a single agent or in combination regimens, is considered to be one of the most active chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. However, its clinical utility is limited by a cumulative, dose-dependent cardiac myopathy that can lead to potentially fatal congestive heart failure. Considerable research has gone into improving the therapeutic index of doxorubicin-based regimens. A new liposomal formulation of doxorubicin (Myocet™, Elan Pharmaceuticals) has a significantly improved therapeutic index compared with conventional doxorubicin. The development of Myocet, a less cardiotoxic, better tolerated and equally efficacious doxorubicin, extends the therapeutic options in the overall management of breast cancer.
Characterization of Patient Mutations in Human Persulfide Dioxygenase (ETHE1) Involved in H2S Catabolism*

Background: ETHE1 converts persulfides to sulfite in the mitochondrial sulfide oxidation pathway. Results: The kinetics of human ETHE1 and two mutants described in patients have been characterized. Conclusion: Both glutathione and coenzyme A serve as persulfide carriers for ETHE1, albeit with different efficacies. Significance: Low steady-state H2S levels are maintained by its efficient oxidation, and patient mutations in ETHE1 impair this activity. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a recently described endogenously produced gaseous signaling molecule that influences various cellular processes in the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal tract. The biogenesis of H2S involves the cytoplasmic transsulfuration enzymes, cystathionine β-synthase and γ-cystathionase, whereas its catabolism occurs in the mitochondrion and couples to the energy-yielding electron transfer chain. Low steady-state levels of H2S appear to be controlled primarily by efficient oxygen-dependent catabolism via sulfide quinone oxidoreductase, persulfide dioxygenase (ETHE1), rhodanese, and sulfite oxidase. Mutations in the persulfide dioxgenase, i.e. ETHE1, result in ethylmalonic encephalopathy, an inborn error of metabolism. In this study, we report the biochemical characterization and kinetic properties of human persulfide dioxygenase and describe the biochemical penalties associated with two patient mutations, T152I and D196N. Steady-state kinetic analysis reveals that the T152I mutation results in a 3-fold lower activity, which is correlated with a 3-fold lower iron content compared with the wild-type enzyme. The D196N mutation results in a 2-fold higher Km for the substrate, glutathione persulfide.
Sensitivity measurement of short pulse width pacemakers

This article deals with pacemaker sensitivity measurements. Sensitivity in this case is defined as the ability of the pacemaker to recognize the patient's own intrinsic rhythm. The Fluke IMPULSE 7000DP was used for sensitivity measurements in our laboratory environment. However, this commercial device is limited by pulse width of the pacemaker - the minimum pulse width which this device can recognize is one millisecond. Therefore a custom measurement system was developed which consists of two interconnected parts. The first part is a software tool (MATLAB / Simulink) and the second one is a data acquisition card AD622 from Humusoft Company.
Integrated nanotechnology platform for tumor-targeted multimodal imaging and therapeutic cargo release

Significance The main goal in the emerging field of cancer nanomedicine is to generate, standardize, and produce multifunctional carriers designed to improve the response of drugs against tumors. Here we report the design, development, and preclinical validation of a ligand-directed bioinorganic platform that integrates tumor targeting, receptor-mediated cell internalization, photon-to-heat conversion, and drug delivery. This enabling hydrogel-based technology can accommodate a broad variety of ligands, nanoparticles, and payloads. We show experimental proof-of-concept in mouse models of breast and prostate cancer with molecular imaging and marked reduction of tumor growth. However, with future proof that this technology is translatable, medical applications beyond cancer may also be leveraged. A major challenge of targeted molecular imaging and drug delivery in cancer is establishing a functional combination of ligand-directed cargo with a triggered release system. Here we develop a hydrogel-based nanotechnology platform that integrates tumor targeting, photon-to-heat conversion, and triggered drug delivery within a single nanostructure to enable multimodal imaging and controlled release of therapeutic cargo. In proof-of-concept experiments, we show a broad range of ligand peptide-based applications with phage particles, heat-sensitive liposomes, or mesoporous silica nanoparticles that self-assemble into a hydrogel for tumor-targeted drug delivery. Because nanoparticles pack densely within the nanocarrier, their surface plasmon resonance shifts to near-infrared, thereby enabling a laser-mediated photothermal mechanism of cargo release. We demonstrate both noninvasive imaging and targeted drug delivery in preclinical mouse models of breast and prostate cancer. Finally, we applied mathematical modeling to predict and confirm tumor targeting and drug delivery. These results are meaningful steps toward the design and initial translation of an enabling nanotechnology platform with potential for broad clinical applications.
Practice Variability and Training Design: Strategies of Elite Horizontal Jump Coaches

Abstract Schmidt’s Schema Theory (1975) predicts that successful motor skill learning and performance are largely determined by the amount of movement variability the performer experiences during practice. This prediction has been consistently validated through a vast amount of research. Within a training environment, practice variability can be integrated by creating variation within the movements of an action, the physical context in which the action takes place, and the situation in which the action is performed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree to which elite long jump coaches institute practice variability within their training design to enhance toe-board accuracy. Participants completed an open-ended survey inquiring about their knowledge and strategies to improve toe-board accuracy. Seventy-eight percent of the coaches reported they were aware of research on toe-board accuracy and reported using a variety of strategies. With respect to practice variability, coaches used “measured run” techniques that change the approach distance to the toe-board. Coaches did not report varying movements of the long jump action or situations in which the action occurs. The results suggest that elite long jump coaches stress the importance of toe-board accuracy but do not maximize the use of practice variability for training toe-board accuracy.
Aortic stenosis and role of multi-detector row computed tomography in diagnosis: whom, when and why?

DIAB AY, GONSORCIK J, GIBARTI C. Aortic stenosis and role of multi-detector row computed tomography in diagnosis: whom, when and why? Cardiol 2008;17(3):115–121 Aortic valve calcification is often seen incidentally on chest computed tomographic scans obtained for a variety of noncardiac indications. As a consequence of improved technology, introduction of multi-detector row computed tomography in the year 2000 led to a significant improvement in the temporal and spatial resolution of computed tomographic, which permitted substantial expansion of potential indications for cardiac computed tomographics technology. Because computed tomographic is a sensitive method for the detection of calcification, it is potentially useful for the assessment of aortic valve morphology and quantification of the degree of calcification. The assessment of aortic valve stenosis using multi-detector row computed tomography is feasible with good diagnostic accuracy. In addition, the most recent generations of multi-detector row computed tomography, with the ability to acquire 64 and 256 slices simultaneously, allow relatively robust morphological and functional imaging of the heart including noninvasive coronary angiography.
Puppy smoothies: Improving the reliability of open, collaborative wikis

The reliability of information collected from at large Internet users by open collaborative wikis such as Wikipedia has been a subject of widespread debate. This paper provides a practical proposal for improving user confidence in wiki information by coloring the text of a wiki article based on the venerability of the text. This proposal relies on the philosophy that bad information is less likely to survive a collaborative editing process over large numbers of edits. Colorization would provide users with a clear visual cue as to the level of confidence that they can place in particular assertions made within a wiki article.