Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating Potential Mechanisms of Obesity by Metabolomics

Obesity is a serious health problem with an increased risk of several common diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Metabolomics is an emerging analytical technique for systemic determination of metabolite profiles, which is useful for understanding the biochemical changes in obesity or related diseases both in individual organs and at the organism level. Increasingly, this technology has been applied to the study of obesity, complementing transcriptomics and/or proteomics analyses. Indeed, the alterations of metabolites in biofluids/tissues are direct indicators of variations in physiology or pathology. In this paper, we will examine the obesity-related alterations in significant metabolites that have been identified by metabolomics as well as their metabolic pathway associations. Issues concerning the screening of biologically significant metabolites related to obesity will also be discussed.
Sarah: An ECA in the Wild

In this paper we report on a Wizard of Oz interaction study with an Embodied Conversational Agent. The agent was placed on a large display in the university crush area, an informal student meeting space over the course of a week. The main goal of the experiment was to gain information about interesting conversation topics for the students in or-der to inform the design of an autonomous version of the agent that can act as a long term companion in a natural social setting. We report the study results, discuss the possi-ble reasons for the lack of meaningful conversation that the ECA could elicit from the students and report on lessons learned from this experiment.
Regional Variation in Nonoperative Therapy Utilization for Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis and Spondylolisthesis: A 2-Year Costs Analysis

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objectives: To characterize regional variations in maximal nonoperative therapy (MNT) costs in patients suffering from lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis. Methods: Medical records from patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing primary ≤3-level lumbar decompression and fusion procedures from 2007 to 2016 were gathered from a large insurance database. Geographic regions (Midwest, Northeast, South, and West) reflected the US Census Bureau definitions. Records were searchable by International Classification of Diseases diagnosis/procedure codes, Current Procedural Terminology codes, and insurance-specific generic drug codes. Utilization of MNT, defined as cost billed, prescriptions written, and number of units disbursed, within 2-years prior to index surgery was assessed. Results: A total of 27 877 patients underwent 1-, 2-, or 3-level lumbar decompression and fusion surgery. Regional breakdown of the study cohort was as follows: South 62.3%, Midwest 25.2%, West 10.4%, Northeast 2.1%. Regional variations in the number of patients using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (P < .0001), opioids (P < .0001), muscle relaxants (P < .0001), and lumbar steroid injections (P < .0001) were detected. A significant difference was identified in the regional MNT failure rates (P < .0001). The total cost associated with MNT prior to index surgery was $48 411 125 ($1736.60/patient), with the Midwest ($1943.83/patient) responsible for the greatest average spending. Despite comprising 62.3% of the cohort, the South was accountable for 67.5% of NSAID prescriptions, 64.6% of opioid prescriptions, and 71.2% of muscle relaxant prescriptions. Conclusions: Regional differences exist in the costs of MNT in patients with lumbar stenosis and spondylolisthesis prior to surgery. Future studies should focus on identifying patients likely to fail prolonged nonoperative management.
An Empirical Investigation of the Security Controls of Computerized Accounting Information Systems (CAIS) in the Selected Listed Companies in Sri Lanka

The rapid development of IT, availability of user friendly accounting software and the increased competition have forced companies to adapt CAIS in order to remain competitive whereas threats to CAIS are unavoidable in the dynamic environment. In this scenario, security controls of CAIS are vital to the organizations. This study examines the existence and adequacy of implemented computerized accounting information system (CAIS) security controls to prevent, detect and correct security breaches in the selected listed companies in Sri Lanka. An empirical survey using a self-administered questionnaire has been carried out to achieve the objective. 41 out of 118 usable questionnaires have been collected to different types of companies representing 13 out of 20 sectors from 4th November to 10th December 2008. The results of the study spotlight a number of inadequately implemented CAIS security controls and significant differences among listed companies regarding the adequacy of implemented CAIS security controls. Based on the findings, some recommendations are given to strengthen the breaches in the present CAIS security controls in the listed companies. Findings of this study help accountants, auditors, managers, and IT users to better understand and secure their CAIS in order to achieve success of their visions.
Running head : Surprise in Decision Making SURPRISE IN DECISION MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY

In four experiments we investigate overand underweighting of probabilities in decisions under risk. To account for this phenomenon we propose a view of the probab ility weighting function as a composite of cognitive and emotional processes and suggest that there is no single weighting function but two separate weighting functions for each process. Data obtained from a rating as well as three choice experiments, using both between and within subjects designs, generally support the proposed view. Given this broader perspective, cognitive "biases" or "errors" may turn out as highly intelligent solutions to maximize utility. * Dr. Eduard Brandstätter, Dept. of Social and Economic Psychology, University of Linz, A-4040 Linz, Austria. Phone: 0043-732-2468-578, Fax: 0043-732-2468-9315. E-mail: e.brandstaetter@jk.uni-linz.ac. at ** Dr.Anton Kühberger, Dept. of Psychology, University of Salzburg, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria. Phone: 0043-662-8044-5112, Fax: 0043-662-8044-5126. E-mail: anton.kuehberger@sbg.ac. at *** Professor of Economics, Dr. Friedrich Schneider, Dept. of Economics, University of Linz, A-4040 Linz, Austria. Phone: 0043-732-2468-210, Fax: 0043-732-2468-209. E-mail: Friedrich.Schneider@jk.uni-linz.ac. at
Biometric person authentication using new spectral features of electroencephalogram (EEG)

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is suitable for continuous authentication since it enables unconscious presentation of biometric features. However, the conventional authentications methods using the EEG require heavy computational load: AR modeling and/or machine learning. In this paper, we propose simple spectral features of the EEG to make the authentication system using the EEG more practical. The effectiveness of the proposed new features is evaluated in verification experiments with 23 users and we obtain the verification rate of 79%.
A Review of Optical Sky Brightness and Extinction at Dome C, Antarctica

The recent discovery of exceptional seeing conditions at Dome C, Antarctica, raises the possibility of constructing an optical observatory there with unique capabilities. However, little is known from an astronomer’s perspective about the optical sky brightness and extinction at Antarctic sites. We review the contributions to sky brightness at high‐latitude sites and calculate the amount of usable dark time at Dome C. We also explore the implications of the limited sky coverage of high‐latitude sites and review optical extinction data from the South Pole. Finally, we examine the proposal of Baldry & Bland‐Hawthorn to extend the amount of usable dark time through the use of polarizing filters.
Detailed Behavior of TCP over ATM rtm

This work suggests a different cause of poor TCP performance over ATM, based on detailed observations using hardware monitors in the CreditNet switch. TCP performs well only if the network tends to drop a single packet when TCP increases its window too much. In fact ATM switches tend to drop cells from multiple packets when the window increases too much, causing TCP to pause for a long time rather than continuing with a reduced window.
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: the factor structure in a sample of Korean immigrant parents in New Zealand

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a widely used, brief, 25-item instrument for screening for adaptive and problematic behaviour in children and adolescents. Despite its widespread application in child and adolescent research, concerns regarding the construct validity of the instrument have been expressed. Further, to date, limited research has been conducted using Korean and Korean immigrant samples to provide data about the reliability and validity of the SDQ and the factorial structure of this instrument. The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity, based on pre-existing models suggested by the extant literature, for the parent-informant version of the questionnaire. METHODS: A sample of 207 Korean immigrant parents in New Zealand completed the SDQ for their children (ages 6 and 10). The resulting data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), testing four competing models: a three-factor model (internalization dimension, externalization dimension, and a prosocial factor), a five-factor model (emotional symptoms, peer problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and prosocial), a six-factor model (a separated uncorrelated method factor, four symptom factors, and the single prosocial factor), and a hierarchical model in which the four first-order problem-oriented scales form a higher order difficulties factor. RESULTS: CFA of the SDQ partially supported the traditional five-factor conceptualization of the SDQ, although some modifications were necessary to reach an acceptable fit. Reliability was a concern particularly for Emotional Symptoms and Peer Problems. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the revised five-factor model of the SDQ in the present setting should be interpreted with caution. Some items need to be further evaluated and revised to capture the originally intended constructs.
A Randomized Controlled Study Evaluating a Brief, Bystander Bullying Intervention with Junior High School Students.

A randomized controlled study evaluated a brief, bystander bullying intervention for junior high school students. Students in both groups reported an increase in knowledge and confidence to act as defenders and to utilize strategies to intervene on behalf of victims of bullying. Findings suggest possible carry-over effects from the intervention group to control group. Students in the intervention group, however, reported a significantly greater ability to identify of bullying and a decrease in anxiety (p = .06) relative to the control group. There were no differences in reported depression between the two groups. Implications for school counselors are discussed.
Data association technology based on multi algorithm matching for SLAM

Data association is one of the critical questions to mobile robot simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). A data association method based on multi algorithm matching is proposed. It use equal weight particles to denote the joint probability distribution of the robot and feature map. Each of particles applies different data association algorithm and gets different data association set during SLAM, the intersecting set of all sets is taken as the objective set. The simulated experiment use the intersecting set between the NN data association set and JCBB data association set as the data association set of every step. The result shows it can effectively reduce the false data association pairs to improve the precision of robot location.
Crime detection using Latent Semantic Analysis and hierarchical structure

We make efforts to help the investigator discover the hidden conspirators. In the criminal cases, the investigators or the police have to make full use of the messages or spoken documents data that they record in files. Thus, mining the latent information from messages is vital to them. In Information Retrieval area, Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) is an important method for query matching which can discover the underlying semantic relation or similarity between words and topics. We introduce a network hierarchical structure to analyze the original message network, making the analysis conveniently as well as ensuring the connectivity of the inner network connection of all the conspirators. For this purpose, we use LSA to measure the similarities between topics and Crime Prototype Vector, and the similarities will be used as the weights of the paths in the network hierarchies and calculate the suspicious degrees.
Radiometric Calibration Methodology of the Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor

The science-focused mission of the Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) requires that it have an accurate radiometric calibration. A calibration methodology was developed to convert the raw output from the instrument into an accurate at-aperture radiance. The methodology is based on measurements obtained during component-level and instrument-level characterization testing. The radiometric accuracy from the pre-flight measurements was estimated to be approximately 0.7%. The calibration parameters determined pre-flight were updated during the post-launch checkout period by utilizing the on-board calibration sources and Earth scene data. These relative corrections were made to adjust for differences between the pre-flight and the on-orbit performance of the instrument, thereby correcting large striping artifacts observed in Earth imagery. Despite this calibration correction, banding artifacts (low frequency variation in the across-track direction) have been observed in certain uniform Earth scenes, but not in other uniform scenes. In addition, the absolute calibration performance determined from vicarious measurements have revealed a time-varying error to the absolute radiance reported by TIRS. These issues were determined to not be caused by the calibration process developed for the instrument. Instead, an investigation has revealed that stray light is affecting the recorded signal from the Earth. The varying optical stray light effect is an ongoing subject of evaluation and investigation, and a correction strategy is being devised that will be added to the calibration process.
Prediction and Pre-booking for Guaranteed Service Provisioning in Future Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) Networks

: Future Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks should not only support flexible resource-provisioning, but also transport various services with regulated end-to-end delay. In large-scale backbone networks with dynamic lightpath provisioning, the resource reservation overhead is high due to the latencies involved, thus limiting the capability of end-to-end delay guaranteed service provisioning. This paper proposes a traffic prediction and pre-booking mechanism to reduce the reservation overhead in traditional reactive two-way reservation protocols and consequently enhance the network performance. The proposed mechanism is investigated with regard to end-to-end delay and on blocking probability with both constant bit rate and self-similar traffic. The results demonstrate that in large networks, such as NSFNET, the proposed pre-booking mechanism is able to bring significant benefits beyond familiar Wavelength-Routed Optical Burst Switching (WR-OBS) in terms of burst/bit blocking probability and lightpath bandwidth efficiency.
Short term load forecasting for small scale power system using fuzzy logic

Load forecasting has an important role in planning and operations in power generation plant. Many new forecasting systems have been presented and proposed in recent years. Gas District Cooling (GDC) plant was built to supply electricity and chilled water for Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). It operates on island operation during normal mode with utility company supply on hot standby mode. The plant has two generation units rated at 4.2 MW each, with a maximum generation capacity of 8.4 MW. In this paper, a practical short term load forecasting (STLF) method for UTP is presented. In the proposed method, a fuzzy logic approach was used and STLF model was designed based on UTP 2008 electricity demand data. The proposed model was tested with actual load data for January till June 2009 period. The test results show that the mean absolute percentage error of 4.59%.
Access Graph Based Risk Assessment Model for Network Information System

The risk assessment for network information system has experienced a stage from rule-based questionnaire investigation to model-based assessment. Many graph-based models have been proposed and applied to risk assessment. Attack Graph is widely used one. But attack graphs grow exponentially with the size of the network. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework for network vulnerabilities modeling and risk assessment by policy rules violations based on the access graph. As a complement to the attack graph approach, the access graph grows polynomially with the number of hosts and so has the benefit of scaling better to more practical, realistic size networks. This paper presents a novel risk assessment model for network information system based access graph. Compared with related works, our approach improves the performance and reduces the computational cost.
Longitudinal imaging of HIV-1 spread in humanized mice with parallel 3D immunofluorescence and electron tomography

Dissemination of HIV-1 throughout lymphoid tissues leads to systemic virus spread following infection. We combined tissue clearing, 3D-immunofluorescence, and electron tomography (ET) to longitudinally assess early HIV-1 spread in lymphoid tissues in humanized mice. Immunofluorescence revealed peak infection density in gut at 10–12 days post-infection when blood viral loads were low. Human CD4+ T-cells and HIV-1–infected cells localized predominantly to crypts and the lower third of intestinal villi. Free virions and infected cells were not readily detectable by ET at 5-days post-infection, whereas HIV-1–infected cells surrounded by pools of free virions were present in ~10% of intestinal crypts by 10–12 days. ET of spleen revealed thousands of virions released by individual cells and discreet cytoplasmic densities near sites of prolific virus production. These studies highlight the importance of multiscale imaging of HIV-1–infected tissues and are adaptable to other animal models and human patient samples. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.23282. 001
Seismic Structure of the Changbai Intraplate Volcano in NE China From Joint Inversion of Ambient Noise and Receiver Functions

We study the detailed 3‐D crustal and upper mantle structure beneath the active Changbai intraplate volcano in Northeast China by conducting a trans‐dimensional Bayesian inversion of teleseismic receiver functions and Rayleigh‐wave group velocity dispersions from ambient noise. More than 12,000 teleseismic receiver functions recorded at 78 seismic stations and 1,573 group velocity dispersions are used in this study. Receiver‐function H‐κ stacking measurements reveal a thick crust (~40 km) with a high Vp/Vs ratio (~1.8) beneath the Changbai volcano. Our joint inversion results show a heterogeneous crustal structure in the study region. A low‐velocity body at depths of 8–15 km is revealed directly beneath the Changbai volcano, which has a lateral extent of ~100 km in the north–south direction and may reflect a large magma chamber in the midcrust. Our results also reveal a 5–10 km depressed Moho and a low‐velocity anomaly in the uppermost mantle beneath the Changbai volcano. These features may indicate an upwelling channel of the asthenospheric material with a high mafic composition, and the mafic intrusion attaches to the bottom of the crust and thus deepens the Moho beneath the volcano. Our results support the notion that the Changbai volcanism is caused by hot and wet mantle upwelling associated with subduction‐driven corner flow in the big mantle wedge above the stagnant Pacific slab in the mantle transition zone.
The Consequences of Strategic News Coverage for Democracy: A Meta-Analysis

One of the most dominant ways of covering politics in the media is by focusing on politicians’ strategies for gaining public support and their positions at the polls. The conventional wisdom is that this tendency—usually referred to as strategic, horse race, or game coverage—has negative consequences for democracy because it increases political alienation. Others argue, however, that the public’s attraction to strategic coverage improves knowledge about issues and encourages civic engagement. This study examines the consequences of strategic coverage by performing a meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies. Based on 54 findings from 32 studies and 38,658 respondents, I show that across studies and contexts, strategic coverage increases political cynicism (d = 0.32), reduces substance-based political knowledge (d = −0.31), and discourages positive evaluations regarding the news items (d = −0.22). However, there is no evidence that this coverage erodes participation. These findings correspond with scholars’ previous concerns.
Attack Detection based on Statistical Discriminators

Attacks represent a serious threat to a network environment, and therefore need to be promptly detected. New attack types, of which detection systems may not even be aware, are the most difficult to detect. Currently, the available methods are mainly based on signature or learning algorithms and generally can not detect these new attacks. The approach presented here uses a small number of statistical discriminators and cluster analysis to detect attacks, obtaining results which are better than the results found in previous papers. Cluster analysis is a not supervised technique and, therefore, it is able to detect new attacks. We performed an empirical test using real traces.
How quality assurance codes change: beyond ‘bells and whistles’ and ‘code by catastrophe’?

Abstract Quality assurance codes and guidelines for systems of higher education change frequently and sometimes rapidly and dramatically. More often changes are gradual and incremental. This paper examines types of change to these codes and guidelines and uses strategic management theory to outline three modes of development and change. An example of gradual change, sometimes referred to as ‘logical incrementalism’ or ‘adding bells and whistles’ is outlined from Oman. A contrasting example of discontinuous change known as ‘emergent strategy’ or ‘code by catastrophe’ is used from Australia. Elements of a third ‘co-participative’ model incorporating stakeholder and community input alongside technical knowledge are becoming more frequent. An ideal model is proposed drawing from the best aspects of logical incrementalism and co-participative development. This model can be applied to changes in codes, guidelines and standards in multiple systems and sectors.