Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the impact of XML on e-service quality in the B 2 B environment

Herewith to testify that the papers accepted for the 7th Annual Conference on World Wide Web Applications, 29-31 August 2005, Cape Town have been peer-reviewed by independent and external peer-reviewers. Abstract The Internet has revolutionized the capacity for the sharing of information and online transacting in the Business-to-Business (B2B) sector. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) has been the technology used during the pre-Internet (WWW) era. With the extensive use of the Internet new technologies such as the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) have emerged to easily describe and deliver rich structured data from any web application between B2B organizations. Businesses adopting e-commerce strategies today are faced with many decisions regarding available standard technologies to be used on their web-based applications. In making such decisions, businesses must ensure that these technologies are able to support the attainment of business objectives such as the delivery of satisfactory levels of electronic service quality (e-SQ). Several studies have focused on identifying metrics for measuring e-SQ; none of them have investigated how to make decisions regarding the adoption of technologies, such as XML, to attain improved levels of service quality. In light of this, this article examines web-based service quality, post-internet technologies (XML) and pre-internet technologies (EDI). The key research question that is addressed is: How does the use of a Web-based technology (XML) compare to a pre-internet technology (EDI) with regards to its impact on the delivery of e-SQ? In pursuance of this a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of technologies such as XML on web-based applications, to attain improved levels of service quality, is developed. The paper concludes with recommendations regarding the use of XML in the B2B environment.
Analytical Methods for the Bioavailability Evaluation of Hydroxypyridinonate Actinide Decorporation Agents in Pre-Clinical Pharmacokinetic Studies

The hydroxypyridinonate ligands 5-LIO(Me-3,2-HOPO) and 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) are two lead compounds under development for actinide chelation therapy. Methods to quantify these actinide decorporation agents in plasma are necessary to study their in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior. Such bioanalytical methods were developed with rat plasma, using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and have a detection range of 0.05 to 2.5 μg/mL and 0.1 to 5 μg/mL for 5-LIO(Me-3,2-HOPO) and 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO), respectively. These methods were used to determine the in vivo plasma pharmacokinetics of the free acid and four salt forms of each ligand after a single intravenous or oral administration in rats. The different salt forms displayed similar pharmacokinetic profiles to those of the corresponding free acid, and the use of salt co-formers did not improve the oral bioavailability of the active pharmaceutical ingredients in rats. The described bioanalytical detection methods were successfully applied to the selection of solid-state forms of 5âLIO(Me-3,2-HOPO) and 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) for future preclinical development activities, and will be adapted for use with plasma from other species.
OUR TELLING OF THE AIED STORY

What will Education look like in 2010, and what will be its problems? Will AIED have anything substantial to offer, and what can we do to maximise its contributions? We argue that Education is, for understandable reasons, the discipline of classroom teaching and learning, with some attention paid to learning by individuals but very little indeed to teaching that is effective in a one-to-one situation. Further, it is not strong in formulating precise theories of learning and teaching. It is therefore not well-equipped to support the inevitable increase in learning activities that will be undertaken at computers. We argue that AIED has made great progress in adopting broader and more sophisticated conceptions of learning, and should thus at last be able to communicate well with Education. It can offer ways to develop and test precise theories, and also important concepts relevant to individualised learning that have largely been overlooked by Education, such as that of learner modelling by teachers. By 2010 AIED has the potential to be making a much broader contribution to Education. If this optimistic prediction can be achieved, and the educational mainstreaming of AIED does occur, both AIED and Education will benefit.
Relationships among antioxidants, phenolics, and specific gravity in potato cultivars, and evaluation of wild potato species for antioxidants, glycoalkaloids, and anti-cancer activity on human prostate and colon cancer cells in vitro.

Relationships among Antioxidants, Phenolics, and Specific Gravity in Potato Cultivars, and Evaluation of Wild Potato Species for Antioxidants, Glycoalkaloids, and Anticancer Activity on Human Prostate and Colon Cancer Cells In Vitro. (December 2008) Magnifique Ndambe Nzaramba, B.S., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; M.S., Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. J. Creighton Miller Jr. Understanding the influence of environment and correlation/relationships among traits is necessary in selection for crop quality improvement. Therefore, correlations among antioxidant activity (AOA), total phenolics (TP), phenolic composition, and specific gravity (SPG) in four potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.) cultivars (Atlantic, Red La Soda, Russet Norkotah, and Yukon Gold) grown in nine states (California, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin) for three years, and in 15 advanced selections grown in Texas were investigated. Cultivars within and between locations were significantly different in AOA, TP, and SPG. Significant effects of cultivar, year, location and their interactions on AOA, TP, and SPG were observed. There were significant positive correlations among the four cultivars between AOA and TP, and negative correlations between AOA and SPG, and between TP and SPG. However, correlations between AOA and SPG, and between TP and SPG, in the advanced selections were not significant. Some tuber-bearing wild potato species were higher in AOA and TP than the commercial cultivars; therefore, they could be used as parental material in breeding for
C:N:P stoichiometry in six distinct habitats of a glacier terminus in the Yangtze River Source Area

Glaciers are among the least explored environments on Earth, especially from a perspective of nutrient stoichiometry. In this study, we documented and compared the nutrient availabilities (concentrations) and composition (stoichiometric ratios) of nutrients (C, N, and P) in six distinct habitats of a glacier terminus in the Yangtze River Source area, including surface ice (SI), basal ice (BI), basal sediment (BaS), newly exposed forefront soil close to glacial terminus (TS), soil at increasing distances from glacier terminus (DS), and forefront soil with well-developed vegetation (VS). The results showed that SI had significantly higher DOC and N concentrations as well as higher C:P and N:P ratios than BI. However, BI had significantly higher SRP than SI. In addition, both SI and BI had very high C:P and N:P ratios, suggesting P-limitation. For sediment/soil in glacier terminus, nitrogen and organic carbon concentrations were significantly lower in BaS, TS, and DS than in VS. Moreover, TP and SRP concentrations were significantly higher in BaS and VS than in TS and DS. These nutrient patterns could be explained by differences in biotic influence in soil development or by changes in soil physical properties. With regard to nutrient limitation, VS had a significantly higher C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios than BaS, TS, and DS, supporting a long-held biogeochemical and ecological paradigm that ecosystem processes during early successional stages are primarily organic C and N limited but are P-limited in later successional stages. Considering that glaciers cover around 10% of the terrestrial landmass and are experiencing severe retreat, documenting and comparing nutrient contents and stoichiometry in glacier terminus can further our understanding of global biogeochemical cycles under future climate change regimes.
Muslims preaching movements in British-India: An appraisal of the Tablighi Jamaat and its competitors

The article examines emergence of the Tablighi Jamaat (henceforth TJ) in colonial India. It discusses the emergence of Tablighi Jamaat in light of the proselytizing (Tablighi) competition among various Islamic schools that emerged soon after the failure of the 1857 war. This article answers the question of why Maulana Ilyas founded the TJ in undivided India? This study aims to understand the emergence of the TJ in light of the deprivation and Maududian theory of Islamic revivalism. The discussion is based on qualitative analysis of the existing secondary sources in the form of books, research articles, and reports, etc. This study finds that TJ was founded because several Tablighi Jamaats belonged to different Islamic sects during British rule, responded to the challenges of the Muslim community. The Deobandi, Barailvi, Ahl-i-Hadith, and Shi’a Muslims established their proselytizing societies. This study concludes that the Deobandi Tablighi Jamaat emerged not only in response to the anti-Islamic campaigns of Hindus and Christians. The TJ was also founded in response to the preaching struggles of other Islamic schools in the British Raj. It is recommended that the TJ works to implement the Deobandi version of Islam in the world should be further studied. Article History Received: April 1, 2021 Last Revised: May 1, 2021 Accepted: May 6, 2021 Published: June 21, 2021
Molecular Epidemiological Surveillance of CTX-M-15-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from the patients of a teaching hospital in Sindh, Pakistan.

Background The presence of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase positive bacteria in hospital setting is an aggravating influential factor for hospitalized patients, and its consequences may be hazardous. Therefore, there is a need for rapid detection methods for newly emerging drug-resistant bacteria. This study was aimed at the molecular characterization of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase -positive Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates recovered from the patients of a teaching hospital in Sindh, Pakistan. Methods A total of 513 K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from various clinical samples during June 2019 to May 2020. The collected isolates were investigated for antimicrobial susceptibility (antibiogram), and PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to analyse the ESBL genes. Results Among the 513 isolates, as many as 359 (69.9%) were Extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers and 87.5% were multi-drug resistant, while none had resistance to imipenem. PCR scored 3% blaTEM, 3% blaSHV, and 60% blaCTX-M-15 genes for the tested isolates. Conclusion The study showed that CTX-M-15 was the major prevalent Extended-spectrum β-lactamase type among the isolates. Additionally, all the isolates were susceptible to carbapenems. Screening and detection of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase tests are necessary among all isolates from the enterobacteriaceae family in routine microbiology laboratory to prevent associated nosocomial infections. A larger study is essential to understand molecular epidemiology of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing organisms to minimize morbidities due to these multidrug resistant organisms.
Blazar OJ 287 after First VHE Activity: Tracking the Reemergence of the HBL-like Component in 2020

We report the reemergence of a new broadband emission through a detailed and systematic study of the multiwavelength spectral and temporal behavior of OJ 287 after its first-ever reported very high energy activity in 2017 to date, which includes the second-highest X-ray flux of the source. The source shows high optical to X-ray flux variations, accompanied mainly by strong spectral changes. The optical to X-ray flux variations are correlated and simultaneous except for two durations when they are anticorrelated. The flux variations, however, are anticorrelated with the X-ray spectral state while correlated with optical–UV (ultraviolet). Weekly binned Fermi-LAT data around the duration of the highest X-ray activity show a few detections with a log-parabola model but none with a power law, yet the extracted LAT spectral energy distribution of the high-activity duration for both the models is similar and shows a hardening above 1 GeV. Further, near-infrared data indicate strong spectral change, resembling a thermal component. Overall, the combined optical to gamma-ray broadband spectrum establishes the observed variations to a new high-energy-peaked broadband emission component, similar to the one seen during the highest reported X-ray flux state of the source in 2017. The observed activities indicate some peculiar features that seem to be characteristic of this emission component, while its appearance a few years around the claimed ∼12 yr optical outbursts strongly indicates a connection between the two.
IMF: Iterative Max-Flow for Node Localizability Detection in Barycentric Linear Localization

Determining whether nodes can be uniquely localized, called localizability detection, is a concomitant problem of network localization. Localizability under traditional Non-Linear Localization (NLL) schema has been well explored, whereas localizability under the emerging Barycentric coordinate-based Linear Localization (BLL) schema has not been well touched. In this paper, we investigate the deficiency of existing localizability theories and algorithms in BLL, and then propose a necessary condition and a sufficient condition for BLL node localizability. Based on these two conditions, an efficient iterative maximum flow (IMF) algorithm is designed to identify BLL localizable nodes. Finally, our algorithms are validated by both theoretical analysis and experimental evaluations.
Impact of Shareholders’ Activism on Governance Practices and Firm Performance in Pakistan: A Response for Family Controlled Firms

Impact of Shareholders’ Activism on Governance Practices and Firm Performance in Pakistan: A Response for Family Controlled Firms Ayesha Amjad, Sadaf Ehsan, Mariam Amjad, Seemab Gillani MPhil Scholar, Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Pakistan, Email: ayeshasalman916@gmail.com MPhil Scholar, Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Pakistan, Email: sadafehsan@cuilahore.edu. pk PhD Scholar,School of Economics and Finance, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, P.R. China Email: mariamamjad40@gmail.com PhD Scholar,School of Economics and Finance, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, P.R. China Email: seemabgillani@yahoo.com
SPARSE TENSOR PRODUCT APPROXIMATION FOR A CLASS OF GENERALIZED METHOD OF MOMENTS ESTIMATORS

Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimators in their various forms, including the popular Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimator, are frequently applied for the evaluation of complex econometric models with not analytically computable moment or likelihood functions. As the objective functions of GMM- and ML-estimators themselves constitute the approximation of an integral, more precisely of the expected value over the real world data space, the question arises whether the approximation of the moment function and the simulation of the entire objective function can be combined. Motivated by the popular Probit and Mixed Logit models, we consider double integrals with a linking function which stems from the considered estimator, e.g. the logarithm for Maximum Likelihood, and apply a sparse tensor product quadrature to reduce the computational effort for the approximation of the combined integral. Given H\"older continuity of the linking function, we prove that this approach can improve the order of the convergence rate of the classical GMM- and ML-estimator by a factor of two, even for integrands of low regularity or high dimensionality. This result is illustrated by numerical simulations of Mixed Logit and Multinomial Probit integrals which are estimated by ML- and GMM-estimators, respectively.
Leopard: Scaling BFT without Sacriﬁcing Efﬁciency

—With the emergence of large-scale decentralized applications, a scalable and efﬁcient Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) protocol of hundreds of replicas is desirable. Although the throughput of existing leader-based BFT protocols has reached a high level of 10 5 requests per second for a small scale of replicas, it drops signiﬁcantly when the number of replicas increases, which leads to a lack of practicality. This paper focuses on the scalability of BFT protocols and identiﬁes a major bottleneck to leader-based BFT protocols due to the excessive workload of the leader at large scales. A new metric of scaling factor is deﬁned to capture whether a BFT protocol will get stuck when it scales out, which can be used to measure the performance of efﬁciency and scalability of BFT protocols. We propose “Leopard”, the ﬁrst leader-based BFT protocol that scales to multiple hundreds of replicas, and more importantly, preserves a high efﬁciency. We remove the bottleneck by introducing a technique of achieving constant scaling factor, which takes full advantage of the idle resource and adaptively balances the workload of the leader among all replicas. We implement Leopard and evaluate its performance compared to HotStuff, the state-of-the-art BFT protocol. We run extensive experiments on the two systems with up to 600 replicas. The results show that Leopard achieves signiﬁcant performance improvements both on throughput and scalability. In particular, the throughput of Leopard remains at a high level of 10 5 when the system scales out to 600 replicas. It achieves a 5 × throughput over HotStuff when the scale is 300 (which is already the largest scale we can see the progress of the latter in our experiments), and the gap becomes wider as the number of replicas further increases.
An investigation of spatial-temporal patterns and predictions of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia, 2020-2021

Colombia announced the first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 on March 6, 2020. Since then, the country has reported a total of 4,240,982 cases and 106,544 deaths as of June 30, 2021. This motivates an investigation of the SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics at the national and regional level using case incidence data. Mathematical models are employed to estimate the transmission potential and perform short-term forecasts of the COVID-19 epidemic trajectory in Colombia. Furthermore, geographic heterogeneity of COVID-19 in Colombia is examined along with the analysis of mobility and social media trends, showing that the increase in mobility in July 2020 and January 2021 were correlated with surges in case incidence. The estimation of national and regional reproduction numbers shows sustained disease transmission during the early phase of the pandemic, exhibiting sub-exponential growth dynamics. Moreover, most recent estimates of reproduction number are >1.0 at the national and regional levels as of May 30, 2021. Further, the 30-day ahead short-term forecasts obtained from Richards model present a sustained decline in case counts in contrast to the sub-epidemic and GLM model. Nevertheless, our spatial analysis in Colombia shows distinct variations in incidence rate patterns across different departments that can be grouped into four distinct clusters. Lastly, the correlation of social media trends and adherence to social distancing measures is observed by the fact that a spike in the number of tweets indicating the stay-at-home orders was observed in November 2020 when the case incidence had already plateaued.
Association of acute kidney injury with the risk of dementia: A meta-analysis protocol

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex disorder characterized by an abrupt decline in kidney function over a short period of time. Published epidemiological studies linked AKI with the development of dementia. This meta-analysis aims to understand the pooled risk of dementia in AKI patients compared to non-AKI patients. MEDLINE and Embase databases, and the grey literature in five sources were searched to identify the studies assessing the association of AKI with dementia. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) will be used to determine the quality of included studies. The primary outcome of this study will be the risk of dementia among AKI patients compared to non-AKI patients. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis will also be performed. Review Manager version 5.4. 1 will be used to perform the meta-analysis.
Resting State Functional Connectivity Alterations in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

Many studies investigate the alterations in resting state functional connectivity in autism. Most of these studies focus on different regions of the brain to find the connectivity differ- ences between autism spectrum disorder and typically developing populations. The present review quantitatively extracts this data from all the seed based studies on autism spectrum disorder and uses it to build, for the first time, an Autism Altered Functional Connectome (AAFC) which summarizes the alterations in functional connectivity consistently reported in the literature. The data extracted from all the studies matching the inclusion criteria are presented at one place in human as well as a machine-readable format for further interpretation and analysis. Systematically reviewing 41 publications on 2818 subjects comprising 1459 typically developing and 1359 subjects with autism spectrum disorder, a total of 932 altered functional connectivity links were employed to construct an AAFC. The AAL atlas mapping of these links resulted in 71 replicated links of which 49 were consistent, and 574 unreplicated links that were reported just once. Out of 49, 38 were replicated across different non overlapping datasets. Majority of the studies analyzed the functional connectivity of the Default Mode Network (DMN) and its regions. Two important DMN regions, namely precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex were reported to exhibit different connectivity profiles with former majorly underconnected and later majorly overconnected consistently reported across multiple studies. After mapping the AAFLs to an atlas of brain networks, poor integration within DMN regions, and poor segregation of DMN regions with extra-DMN regions was observed. Keywords: Connectome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brain, Magnetic Resonance Imaging