Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exendin-4 dose not evoke pancreatitis or pancreatitis-associated histopathological and genetic changes in high-fat diet induced diabetic mice

Background: Clinical reports have suggested the potential link of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) with the development of pancreatitis. We investigated the effects of long-term exposure of Exendin-4 (Ex-4), a kind of GLP-1RA, on biochemical, histological and genetic markers of pancreatitis in High-Fat Diet (HFD) induced mice. Methodology: HFD induced mice received subcutaneous twice-daily injections of Ex-4 (3 and 30 μg/kg/d) or vehicle for 12 w. Pancreatitis was induced with Caerulein (CRN) in Ex-4 treated mice or wild mice. Changes in body weight, food consumption, serum amylase, serum lipase, glucose, and insulin concentrations were measured in each group. An extended histopathological and ultralstructural by transmission electron microscopy evaluation of exocrine pancreas was performed. The expressions of pancreatitis-associated microRNAs and genes were assessed by real-time PCR. Results: Ex-4 improved physical condition, glucose concentrations, decreased food intake, and increased serum insulin sensitivity in HFD induced mice. No deleterious effects on serum amylase and lipase were observed after Ex-4 treatment. The histopathological and ultralstructural findings did not reveal adverse effects of Ex-4. Ex-4 administration did not significantly modify the level of pancreatitisassociated microRNAs (miR-181, miR-148, miR-210 and miR-216a) or pancreatitis-associated genes (RegIII, MCP-1 and IL-6). However, we noted slightly pancreatitis ultralstructural changes in one mouse from 30 μg/kg/d Ex-4-treated group. Conclusion: Ex-4 does not affect biochemical, histopathological or genetic markers of pancreatitis in HFD induced mice. However, surveillance for a possible increased risk of pancreatitis under excess GLP-1RAs administration is warranted to ensure at least benefits far outweigh potential risks.
SERENDIPITOUS DISCOVERY OF A PROJECTED PAIR OF QSOs SEPARATED BY 4.5 arcsec ON THE SKY

We present the serendipitous discovery of a projected pair of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) with an angular separation of Δθ = 4.50 arcsec. The redshifts of the two QSOs are widely different: one, our program target, is a QSO with a spectrum consistent with being a narrow line Seyfert 1 active galactic nucleus at z = 2.05. For this target we detect Lyα, C iv, and C iii]. The other QSO, which by chance was included on the spectroscopic slit, is a Type 1 QSO at a redshift of z = 1.68, for which we detect C iv, C iii], and Mg ii. We compare this system to previously detected projected QSO pairs and find that only about a dozen previously known pairs have smaller angular separation.
ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE CYBERSPACE: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

This paper outlines some of the issues involved in conducting ethnographic research in the Internet specifically social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. With the advent of Internet and social media, online environments have emerged where millions of people come together in virtual communities to interact, collaborate, share and consume information. The emergence of these online communities has dramatically changed individual engagement and collaboration patterns. It is no longer sufficient to look at individual or small group activities in the real world as many individuals have browsed, searched, communicated and collaborated within the dynamic online social networks. Extending studies from traditional human relationship in the real world to the virtual world is imperative to better understand human behaviour. Ranging from simple textbased news groups to virtual multi-users environments, the Internet has provided new settings and rich sources of information for conducting ethnography research. However, online ethnography also raises the issues of managing scale, researcher presence and field relations when doing research in the digital world. Key Terms: Online ethnography, Virtual ethnography, Digital ethnography, Social networks, Social media
Real time mapping QRS duration based on wavelets

The pacing for permanent pacing in bradyarrhytmias can influence ventricular activation and can contribute to marked asynchrony in extremity. In this work, we search the optimal position for right ventricular pacing according the QRS duration. We evaluate the system for detection of QRS boundaries based on wavelet transform and adaptive threshold. The system is used during pacemaker implantations in Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Hospital Podlesi Třinec. Streszczenie. W artykule zaprezentowano system do detekcji QRS bazujący na transformacie falkowej. System sprawdzono w Klinice serca w Tryncu podczas implantacji rozrusznika serca. (Analiza w czasie rzeczywistym QRS bazująca na transformacie falkowej).
INVESTIGATING 2MASS J06593158-0405277: AN FUor BURST IN A TRIPLE SYSTEM?

FUor outbursts in young stellar objects are the most dramatic events among episodic accretion phenomena. The origin of these bursts is not clear: disk instabilities and/or disk perturbations by an external body being the most viable hypotheses. Here, we report our Very Large Telescope/SINFONI high angular resolution AO-assisted observations of 2MASS J06593158-0405277, which is undergoing a recently discovered FUor outburst. Our observations reveal the presence of an extended disk-like structure around the FUor, a very low-mass companion (2MASS J06593158-0405277B) at ∼100 AU in projection, and, possibly, a third closer companion at ∼11 AU. These sources appear to be young, displaying accretion signatures. Assuming the components are physically linked, 2MASS J06593158-0405277 would then be one of the very few triple systems observed in FUors.
The Conceptual Model of Mobile TV Service Adoption: A Triangulational Perspective

Mobile TV is a fledgling industry which has high profit expectations while with low adoption rates. To advance this line of research, this paper presents a comprehensive review on literatures related to mobile TV adoption, including traditional adoption theories, uses and gratification research, domestication research, cognitive research, service research, communication research, and so on. Drawing on theories reviewed, a triangulation of adoption model is proposed, viewing mobile TV as a technology, a service, and a form of new media. The model will provide useful implications not only for innovative technology adoption researchers but also for mobile TV service practitioners.
A Comparison of Conditional Volatility Estimators for the ISE National 100 Index Returns

We compare more than 1000 different volatility models in terms of their fit to the historical ISE-100 Index data and their forecasting performance of the conditional variance in an out-of-sample setting. Exponential GARCH model of Nelson (1991) with “constant mean, t-distribution, one lag moving average term” specification achieves the best overall performance for modeling the ISE-100 return volatility. The t-distribution seems to characterize the distribution of the heavy tailed returns better than the Gaussian distribution or the generalized error distribution. In terms of forecasting performance, the best models are the ones that can accommodate a leverage effect. Results from fitting the selected exponential GARCH model to the historical ISE-100 return data indicates that the return volatility reacts to bad news 24% more than they react to good news as a result of a one standard deviation shock to the returns. As the magnitude of shock increases, the asymmetry becomes larger.
Fluctuating epistemic uncertainty in a design team as a metacognitive driver for creative cognitive processes

Abstract Previous design research has demonstrated how epistemic uncertainty engenders localised, creative reasoning, including analogising and mental simulation. We analysed not just the short-term, localised effects of epistemic uncertainty on creative processing and information selection, but also its long-term impact on downstream creative processes. Our hypothesis was that heightened levels of uncertainty associated with a particular cognitive referent would engender: (1) immediate creative elaboration of that referent aimed at resolving uncertainty and determining information selection; and (2) subsequent attentive returns to that cognitive referent at later points in time, aimed at resolving lingering uncertainty and determining information selection. Findings: First—contrary to expectations—we observed that increased epistemic certainty (rather than increased epistemic uncertainty) in relation to cognitive referents triggered immediate, creative reasoning and information elaboration. Second, epistemic uncertainty was, as predicted, found to engender subsequent attentive returns to cognitive referents. Third, although epistemic uncertainty did not predict the selection of information, both immediate creative elaboration and subsequent attentive returns did predict information selection, with subsequent attentive returns being the stronger predictor. Our findings hold promise for identifying more global impacts of epistemic uncertainty on creative design cognition possibly mediated through the establishment of lasting associations with cognitive referents.
Baroclinic instability of time-dependent currents

The baroclinic instability of a zonal current on the beta-plane is studied in the context of the two-layer model when the shear of the basic current is a periodic function of time. The basic shear is contained in a zonal channel and is independent of the meridional direction. The instability properties are studied in the neighbourhood of the classical steady-shear threshold for marginal stability. It is shown that the linear problem shares common features with the behaviour of the well-known Mathieu equation. That is, the oscillatory nature of the shear tends to stabilize an otherwise unstable current while, on the contrary, the oscillation is able to destabilize a current whose time-averaged shear is stable. Indeed, this parametric instability can destabilize a flow that at every instant possesses a shear that is subcritical with respect to the standard stability threshold. This is a new source of growing disturbances. The nonlinear problem is studied in the same near neighbourhood of the marginal curve. When the time-averaged flow is unstable, the presence of the oscillation in the shear produces both periodic finite-amplitude motions and aperiodic behaviour. Generally speaking, the aperiodic behaviour appears when the amplitude of the oscillating shear exceeds a critical value depending on frequency and dissipation. When the time-averaged flow is stable, i.e. subcritical, finite-amplitude aperiodic motion occurs when the amplitude of the oscillating part of the shear is large enough to lift the flow into the unstable domain for at least part of the cycle of oscillation. A particularly interesting phenomenon occurs when the time-averaged flow is stable and the oscillating part is too small to ever render the flow unstable according to the standard criteria. Nevertheless, in this regime parametric instability occurs for ranges of frequency that expand as the amplitude of the oscillating shear increases. The amplitude of the resulting unstable wave is a function of frequency and the magnitude of the oscillating shear. For some ranges of shear amplitude and oscillation frequency there exist multiple solutions. It is suggested that the nature of the response of the finite-amplitude behaviour of the baroclinic waves in the presence of the oscillating mean flow may be indicative of the role of seasonal variability in shaping eddy activity in both the atmosphere and the ocean.
Modeling and Designing for Key Elements of Curiosity: Risking Failure, Valuing Questions

In this paper, we present a design model of curiosity that articulates the relationship between uncertainty and curiosity and defines the role of failure and question-asking within that relationship. We explore ways to instantiate failure and question-asking within a cooperative tabletop game, share data from multiple playtests both in the field and lab, and investigate the impact of design decisions on players’ affective experiences of failure and their ability to use questions to close information gaps. In designing for ​comfort with failure we find that risk can be more frightening than failure and affective responses to failure can be modified by ​aesthetic decisions as well as group norms. In designing for ​comfort with questions we find that empowering quieter players supports the entire group, flexibility in enforcing rules fosters curiosity, and questions can serve multiple simultaneous roles. Our findings can be used in other games to support curiosity in play.
Social Construction of Reality

Ple a s e no t e: Ch a n g e s m a d e a s a r e s ul t of p u blishing p roc e s s e s s uc h a s copy-e di ting, for m a t ting a n d p a g e n u m b e r s m ay no t b e r eflec t e d in t his ve r sion. For t h e d efini tive ve r sion of t his p u blica tion, ple a s e r ef e r to t h e p u blish e d sou rc e. You a r e a dvise d to cons ul t t h e p u blish e r’s ve r sion if you wish to ci t e t his p a p er.
Chemical composition, in vitro antifungal and antioxidant activities of essential oil from Cotula coronopifolia L. growing in Tunisia

The chemical composition of Cotula coronopifolia L. essential oils obtained from the aerial parts (flowers, leaves, stems) and roots by hydro distillation was analyzed by gas chromatography/ mass spectrum (GC/MS). Fifty seven components were identified. The most important compound detected in leaves was Agarospirol (10.43%). Hexacosane was identified in flowers with an abundance percentage of (31.7%) and 1-Eicosanol (17.1%) in stem. The major constituents identified in the root oils were Heptacosane (28.4%), 1-Eicosanol (14.6%), Octacosane (5.4%), and γ Amorphen (5.2%). In vitro antioxidant activities of prepared essential oils were determined by using ABTS and DPPH methods and compared to those of the Trolox. Among the tested samples, flowers had the highest phenolic content with 22.02 mg equivalents Catechin/g of extract and roots presented the lowest phenolic content with 3.12 mg equivalents Catechin/g of extract. To evaluate in vitro antifungal activity, all volatile oils were tested against four fungi (two dermatophytes and two hyphamycets).
The relationship between the marketing strategies and competitiveness of four and five star hotels

The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between the marketing strategies and competitiveness of four and five star hotels in Kenya. The results showed that the hotels adopted the 5 P’s marketing concept which addressed the product, people, place, pricing and promotion strategies. These strategies also directly and indirectly affected customer satisfaction, market image and awareness, sales volumes, market penetration, market shares, competitive positions, competitive advantages, cash inflows, profits, return on investment, share prices and earnings per share
External-internal linkages and overseas autonomy-control tension: the management dilemma of the Japanese R&D in Europe

By examining how external/internal linkages held by overseas R&D labs affect autonomy-control tension within multinational corporations (MNCs), managerial dilemmas pertinent to international R&D management are discussed, especially in the context of internationalization of Japanese R&D in Europe. R&D is liable to be affected by high autonomy-control tension due to countervailing institutional forces at the functional level (research/corporate) and the geographical level (host country/home country). The external linkages an overseas R&D lab develops tend to increase the expected degree of local autonomy vis-a-vis the parent. The external linkages tend to increase the need for internal control on the part of the parent, especially when such sensitive issues as intellectual property rights and research initiatives are involved. Managers use internal linkages as a condition based on which local autonomy can be granted. Similarly, a high degree of internal linkages tends to decrease the difficulty of internal control and would even allow for some potential increase in local autonomy. An alternative multinational linkage strategy becomes necessary for the Japanese MNCs in the era of global R&D management in which the conventional social/cultural control mechanism may break down. This paper attempts to provide a basic framework which enables the association of such differences in linkage patterns with autonomy-control tension in a systematic way so that some new insight would be obtained regarding this classic yet unresolved tension.
Fractal and Morphological Characteristics of Single Marble Particle Crushing in Uniaxial Compression Tests

Crushing of rock particles is a phenomenon commonly encountered in geotechnical engineering practice. It is however difficult to study the crushing of rock particles using classical theory because the physical structure of the particles is complex and irregular. This paper aims at evaluating fractal and morphological characteristics of single rock particle. A large number of particle crushing tests are conducted on single rock particle. The force-displacement curves and the particle size distributions (PSD) of crushed particles are analysed based on particle crushing tests. Particle shape plays an important role in both the micro- and macroscale responses of a granular assembly. The PSD of an assortment of rocks are analysed by fractal methods, and the fractal dimension is obtained. A theoretical formula for particle crushing strength is derived, utilising the fractal model, and a simple method is proposed for predicting the probability of particle survival based on the Weibull statistics. Based on a few physical assumptions, simple equations are derived for determining particle crushing energy. The results of applying these equations are tested against the actual experimental data and prove to be very consistent. Fractal theory is therefore applicable for analysis of particle crushing.
Measuring Managers' and Professionals' Perceptions and Attitudes towards Information and Communication Technology Projects in Japan

This study examines attitudes and feelings of managers and professionals of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project management teams in order to complete the assignment. Especially, relationships between factors, such as communication, internal work motivation, general satisfaction, internal work motivation and job involvement for both groups are analyzed by using a framework and empirical analyses for the survey data from 1,678 managers and professionals working in a collaborative environment for Japanese software houses. The results of the research model using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) show that internal work motivation, and job involvement are highly related to their satisfaction for both groups. However, each group feels differently on a relationship between communication and internal work motivation. The manager regards communications are highly related to internal motivation, while professionals do not feel the same way.
Bias-Corrected Confidence Intervals in a Class of Linear Inverse Problems

We propose a new method for constructing confidence intervals in a class of linear inverse problems. Point estimators are obtained via a spectral cutoff method that depends on a regularization parameter a that determines the bias of the estimator. The proposed confidence interval corrects for this bias by explicitly estimating it based on a second regularization parameter ? that is asymptotically smaller than a. The coverage error of the resulting confidence interval is shown to converge to zero. The proposed method is illustrated by two simulation studies, one in the context of functional linear regression and the other in the context of nonparametric instrumental variables estimation.
Experiments Study on the Performance of Automotive Exhaust Muffler

Firstly, a performance test system was established for exhaust muffler based on the existing engine bench and physical layout of vehicle exhaust system. Secondly, the experimental data of original muffler exhaust back-pressure, noise of exhaust and tailpipe were recorded, and the pressure loss and insertion loss were computed. An optimized design scheme was proposed and the verification experiment was conducted according to previous results and design requirements. Finally, the experimental results show that exhaust back-pressure is reduced at all engine speeds, especially at high speed (4800rpm or above) reduced by about 4kPa; and exhaust noise decreases obviously, the insertion loss reached 27 dB (A) at low speed (between 1000 and 3200rpm), the exhaust noise declined by about 3dB (A) at high speeds (4800rpm or above).
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF PARALLEL PROGRAMMING PARADIGMS ON A MULTICORE CLUSTER

Currently, most supercomputers are multicore clusters. This type of architectures is said to be hybrid, because they combine distributed memory with shared memory. Traditional parallel programming paradigms (message passing and shared memory) cannot be naturally adapted to the hardware features offered by these architectures. A parallel paradigm that combines message passing with shared memory is expected to better exploit them. Therefore, in this paper the performance of two parallel programming paradigms (message passing and combination of message passing with shared memory) is analyzed for multicore clusters. The study case used is the construction of phylogenetic trees by means of the Neighbor-Joining method. Finally, conclusions and future research lines are presented.
Semantic Support for Tables using RDF Record Table

Tabular datasets are common in many domains, for example science and engineering. These are often not very well specified, and are therefore hard to understand and use. Semantic standards are available to express the meaning and context of the data. However, present standards have their limitations in expressing heterogeneous datasets with several types of measurements, missing data, and irregular structures. Such datasets are abundant in everyday life. We propose the RDF (Resource Description Framework) Record Table vocabulary for semantically modelling tabular data, as a supplement to the existing RDF Data Cube standard. RDF Record Table has a nested structure of records that contain self-describing observations, and is able to cope with irregular, missing and unexpected data. This allows it to escape the constraints of RDF Data Cube and to model complex data, such as that occurring in science and engineering. We demonstrate our Excel add-in for transforming data into the Record Table format. We propose a general approach to integrating tabular data in RDF, and confirm this approach by implementing integration support in the add-in and evaluating this in industrial use cases. This semantic support for tables helps researchers and data analysts to get the most out of available quantitative data with a minimum of effort.