Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short Arguments for Seals of Approval and Portal Affiliation: Building Consumer Trust in Online Shopping

The present study reviews two features that have the potential to increase consumer trust in Internet stores: (1) short arguments that explain the meaning of seals of approval and (2) the establishment of portal affiliation. The present study draws on previous research to argue that the effects of seals of approval on consumer trust are limited if consumers are not familiar with the meanings of the seals, and it proposes that short arguments for the seals can enhance their effects. Drawing from theories concerning stimuli generalization and the primacy effect, the present study attempts to explain conflicting results from previous empirical studies into the effects of portal affiliation on consumer trust. It is hypothesized that the effects of portal affiliation are more profound when consumers arrive at an Internet store via a link from a reputable portal site than when consumers visit the Internet store directly without visiting a portal. A laboratory experiment has been designed to test the effects of short arguments for seals of approval and the effects of portal affiliation.
A Proteomic View on the Role of Legume Symbiotic Interactions

Legume plants are key elements in sustainable agriculture and represent a significant source of plant-based protein for humans and animal feed worldwide. One specific feature of the family is the ability to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria. Additionally, like most vascular flowering plants, legumes are able to form a mutualistic endosymbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These beneficial associations can enhance the plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Understanding how symbiotic interactions influence and increase plant stress tolerance are relevant questions toward maintaining crop yield and food safety in the scope of climate change. Proteomics offers numerous tools for the identification of proteins involved in such responses, allowing the study of sub-cellular localization and turnover regulation, as well as the discovery of post-translational modifications (PTMs). The current work reviews the progress made during the last decades in the field of proteomics applied to the study of the legume-Rhizobium and -AM symbioses, and highlights their influence on the plant responses to pathogens and abiotic stresses. We further discuss future perspectives and new experimental approaches that are likely to have a significant impact on the field including peptidomics, mass spectrometric imaging, and quantitative proteomics.
Real-time brain machine interaction via social robot gesture control

Brain-Machine Interaction (BMI) system motivates interesting and promising results in forward/feedback control consistent with human intention. It holds great promise for advancements in patient care and applications to neurorehabilitation. Here, we propose a novel neurofeedback-based BCI robotic platform using a personalized social robot in order to assist patients having cognitive deficits through bilateral rehabilitation and mental training. For initial testing of the platform, electroencephalography (EEG) brainwaves of a human user were collected in real time during tasks of imaginary movements. First, the brainwaves associated with imagined body kinematics parameters were decoded to control a cursor on a computer screen in training protocol. Then, the experienced subject was able to interact with a social robot via our real-time BMI robotic platform. Corresponding to subject's imagery performance, he/she received specific gesture movements and eye color changes as neural-based feedback from the robot. This hands-free neurofeedback interaction not only can be used for mind control of a social robot's movements, but also sets the stage for application to enhancing and recovering mental abilities such as attention via training in humans by providing real-time neurofeedback from a social robot.
Classification of walking handicap in the stroke population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The limited walking ability that follows a stroke restricts the patient's independent mobility about the home and community, a significant social handicap. To improve the in-hospital prediction of functional outcome, the relationships between impairment, disability, and handicap were assessed with clinical measures in 147 stroke patients. METHODS The patients' level of functional walking ability at home and in the community was assigned by expert clinicians to one of the six categories of a modified Hoffer Functional Ambulation scale at least 3 months after discharge. A 19-item questionnaire was further used to assess current customary mobility of the subjects. Functional muscle strength and proprioception were tested, and walking velocity was measured. RESULTS The significant indicators of impairment, upright motor control knee flexion and extension strength, differentiated household from community ambulators. The addition of velocity improved the functional prediction. Proprioception was clinically normal in all walkers. The validity of the criteria for the six levels of walking handicap was confirmed statistically. Stepwise discriminant analysis reduced the ambulation activities on the questionnaire from 19 to 7. Redefinition of the criteria for patient classification using the coefficients and constants of the seven critical functions improved the prediction of patient walking ability to 84%. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study offer a quantitative method of relating the social disadvantage of stroke patients to the impairment and disability sustained. The measurement of therapeutic outcome in relation to the social advantage for the patient would allow more efficient standardization of treatment and services.
Extensible PGAS semantics for C++

The Partitioned Global Address Space model combines the expression of data locality in SPMD applications, which is crucial to achieving good parallel performance, with the relative simplicity of the Distributed Shared Memory model. C++ currently lacks language support for PGAS semantics; however, C++ is an excellent host language for implementing Domain-Specific Embedded Languages (DSELs). Leveraging these capabilities of C++, we have implemented the Partitioned Global Property Map, a DSEL library supporting PGAS semantics, polymorphic partitioned global data structures, and a number of useful extensions. The Partitioned Global Property Map library utilizes template meta-programming to allow direct mapping at compile-time of high-level semantics to efficient underlying implementations. It combines flexible/extensible semantics, high performance, and portability across different low-level communication interfaces to allow PGAS programs to be expressed in C++.
Software Process Definition & Improvement: An Industry Report

We present highlights of an process improvement project at a software center in preparation for CMM level 3, with applicable examples given that relate to CMM level 2, level 3, and the effort needed in transitioning between level 2 and 3. For the efforts taken at this particular software center, the work documented is divided into three parts: the level 2 bases for moving to level 3, the process definition and the process database. Finally, some qualitative and quantitative analysis, suggestions for future work, and conclusions regarding overall lessons learned from the experience are provided
The experience and perception of concurrent versus retrospective chocolate cravings

Seventy undergraduate students participated in a self-report study to investigate the perception of concurrent versus retrospective chocolate-related cravings. This study was interested in exploring whether retrospective cravings were reported as more intense than concurrent cravings due to cognitive distortions over time. Results showed that retrospective chocolate cravings were reported as significantly stronger and more urgent (p< .001), and were characterised by more vivid gustatory imagery (p< .025), than concurrent cravings. All other aspects of chocolate craving were reported similarly across groups. This indicates that retrospective measures of chocolate cravings may provide inaccurate representations of the craving experience. This difference may potentially be found with other types of cravings, and for that reason, where possible, concurrent measures of craving should be given priority.
Hemodynamics and survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension related to systemic sclerosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine whether the survival of patients with pulmonary hypertension related to systemic sclerosis (SScPH) was different from that of patients with other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS Our cohort was composed of 33 patients with pulmonary hypertension that is sporadic, familial, or related to anorexigen use (PPH) and 22 patients with SScPH who underwent initial pulmonary artery catheterization and vasodilator study at our center between January 1997 and June 2001. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Patients with SScPH had somewhat lower percentage of predicted lung volumes than patients with PPH (total lung capacity, 80% vs 92%; p = 0.06) and had lower percentage of predicted diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (42% vs 68%; p = 0.0002). Right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and cardiac index were similar between the groups. Patients with SScPH and PPH were treated with usual medical therapies, such as digoxin, warfarin, and continuous IV epoprostenol. Despite these similarities, the risk of death in patients with SScPH was higher than in patients with PPH (unadjusted hazard ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 7.8; p = 0.03). This increased risk appeared to persist after adjustment for a variety of demographic, hemodynamic, or treatment variables. CONCLUSIONS Despite having similar hemodynamics, patients with SScPH have a higher risk of death than patients with PPH. Future studies of the mechanism and therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension should focus on the distinctions between the different forms of this disease.
Effects of Vigabatrin on Brain GABA+/CR Signals in Patients with Epilepsy Monitored by 1H‐NMR‐Spectroscopy: Responder Characteristics

Summary: Purpose: Vigabatrin (VGB) is a new antiepileptic drug that increases the human brain γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) level by irreversibly inhibiting GABA transaminase. Although some patients respond to VGB with a significant seizure reduction, others do not. The aim of this study was to identify possible responders before or in an early phase of VGB treatment by measuring the GABA and homocarnosine contaminated with macromolecules/creatine and phosphocreatine ratio (GABA+/Cr) signal by means of proton‐nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy.
Prostate cancer detection in the prostate specific antigen range of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml: value of percent free prostate specific antigen on tumor detection and tumor aggressiveness.

PURPOSE We evaluated the positive predictive value and cancer detection rate in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) range of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml and assessed the value of percent free (F) PSA (FPSA) on tumor detection and tumor aggressiveness in this low PSA range. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of 3623 men who were attending the second round of screening within the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, section Rotterdam 883 had PSA values of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml. These men were offered laterally directed sextant biopsy. FPSA was prospectively determined from pretreatment serum. Cancers were classified as prognostically favorable and unfavorable using biopsy results and other pretreatment diagnostic features. RESULTS Using the PSA range of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml as a biopsy indication 126 cancers were detected, resulting in a positive predictive value of 17.1% and a cancer detection rate of 14.3%. By using percent FPSA and setting relative sensitivity at 95% 9% of biopsies could have been avoided. Unfavorable tumor characteristics were found in 46.9% of the men with T1C tumors. Mean percent FPSA was significantly lower in such men compared to men with favorable tumor characteristics. Of the men with percent FPSA lower than 10% 90% had unfavorable tumor characteristics. CONCLUSIONS The PSA range 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml is accessible for prostate cancer screening. Percent FPSA is of moderate value in avoiding unnecessary biopsies in the PSA range of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml. However, when assessing tumor aggressiveness in biopsy results, percent FPSA is predictive and can be used to select treatment options, such as watchful waiting.
WELL-POSEDNESS IN SMOOTH FUNCTION SPACES FOR THE MOVING-BOUNDARY 1-D COMPRESSIBLE EULER EQUATIONS IN PHYSICAL VACUUM

The free-boundary compressible 1-D Euler equations with moving physical vacuum boundary are a system of hyperbolic conservation laws which are both characteristic and degenerate. The physical vacuum singularity (or rate-of-degeneracy) requires the sound speed c = γργ−1 to scale as the square-root of the distance to the vacuum boundary, and has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years [1]. We establish the existence of unique solutions to this system on a short time-interval, which are smooth (in Sobolev spaces) all the way to the moving boundary. The proof is founded on a new higher-order Hardy-type inequality in conjunction with an approximation of the Euler equations consisting of a particular degenerate parabolic regularization. Our regular solutions can be viewed as degenerate viscosity solutions.
Onset of the First S-Phase Is Determined by a Paternal Effect During the G1-Phase in Bovine Zygotes1

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the respective influences of the paternal and the maternal components on the timing of the first S-phase in the bovine zygote. In vitro-matured oocytes were fertilized in vitro with sperm conferring a high blastocyst rate (embryos of group 1) or a low blastocyst rate (embryos of group 2). Resulting zygotes were either allowed to develop in vitro to the blastocyst stage or exposed to 5′-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine in order to characterize the timing of their first S-phases. Timing of pronuclear formation was similar in the two groups, but the onset of S-phase and the first cleavage occurred earlier in group 1 than in group 2. We also showed that the length of the S-phase represented 30% of the first cell cycle in group 1 and 20% in group 2. Differences in times of onset of the first S-phase observed between embryo groups concerned both male and female pronuclei in a similar manner and were not dependent on the maternal component of the zygote. Our data demonstrated that the precocity of the onset of the first S-phase stemmed from a paternal control exerted during a transient period of the G1-phase.
Neuropil distribution in the cerebral cortex differs between humans and chimpanzees

Increased connectivity of high‐order association regions in the neocortex has been proposed as a defining feature of human brain evolution. At present, however, there are limited comparative data to examine this claim fully. We tested the hypothesis that the distribution of neuropil across areas of the neocortex of humans differs from that of one of our closest living relatives, the common chimpanzee. The neuropil provides a proxy measure of total connectivity within a local region because it is composed mostly of dendrites, axons, and synapses. Using image analysis techniques, we quantified the neuropil fraction from both hemispheres in six cytoarchitectonically defined regions including frontopolar cortex (area 10), Broca's area (area 45), frontoinsular cortex (area FI), primary motor cortex (area 4), primary auditory cortex (area 41/42), and the planum temporale (area 22). Our results demonstrate that humans exhibit a unique distribution of neuropil in the neocortex compared to chimpanzees. In particular, the human frontopolar cortex and the frontoinsular cortex had a significantly higher neuropil fraction than the other areas. In chimpanzees these prefrontal regions did not display significantly more neuropil, but the primary auditory cortex had a lower neuropil fraction than other areas. Our results support the conclusion that enhanced connectivity in the prefrontal cortex accompanied the evolution of the human brain. These species differences in neuropil distribution may offer insight into the neural basis of human cognition, reflecting enhancement of the integrative capacity of the prefrontal cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:2917–2929, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence and association of welding related systemic and respiratory symptoms in welders

Background: The prevalence of welding related respiratory symptoms coexisting with welding related systemic symptoms in welders is unknown. Aims: To determine in a sample of welders the prevalence of coexisting welding related systemic symptoms indicative of metal fume fever (MFF) and welding related respiratory symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma (OA), and the strength and significance of any association between these two groups of symptoms. Methods: A respiratory symptoms questionnaire, a systemic symptoms questionnaire, and a questionnaire on occupational history were administered by telephone to 351 of a sample of 441 welders (79.6%) from two cities in Québec, Canada. Results: The co-occurrence of possible MFF (defined as having at least two symptoms of fever, feelings of flu, general malaise, chills, dry cough, metallic taste, and shortness of breath, occurring at the beginning of the working week, 3–10 hours after exposure to welding fumes) together with welding related respiratory symptoms suggestive of OA (defined as having at least two welding related symptoms of cough, wheezing, and chest tightness) was 5.8%. These two groups of symptoms were significantly associated (χ2 = 18.9, p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is a strong association between welding related MFF and welding related respiratory symptoms suggestive of OA. As such, MFF could be viewed as a pre-marker of welding related OA, a hypothesis that requires further investigation.
C-terminal Splice Variants of the Mouse μ-Opioid Receptor Differ in Morphine-induced Internalization and Receptor Resensitization*

The main analgesic effects of the opioid alkaloid morphine are mediated by the μ-opioid receptor. In contrast to endogenous opioid peptides, morphine activates the μ-opioid receptor without causing its rapid endocytosis. Recently, three novel C-terminal splice variants (MOR1C, MOR1D, and MOR1E) of the mouse μ-opioid receptor (MOR1) have been identified. In the present study, we show that these receptors differ substantially in their agonist-selective membrane trafficking. MOR1 and MOR1C stably expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells exhibited phosphorylation, internalization, and down-regulation in the presence of the opioid peptide [d-Ala2,Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO) but not in response to morphine. In contrast, MOR1D and MOR1E exhibited robust phosphorylation, internalization, and down-regulation in response to both DAMGO and morphine. DAMGO elicited a similar desensitization (during an 8-h exposure) and resensitization (during a 50-min drug-free interval) of all four μ-receptor splice variants. After morphine treatment, however, MOR1 and MOR1C showed a faster desensitization and no resensitization as compared with MOR1D and MOR1E. These results strongly reinforce the hypothesis that receptor phosphorylation and internalization are required for opioid receptor reactivation thus counteracting agonist-induced desensitization. Our findings also suggest a mechanism by which cell- and tissue-specific C-terminal splicing of the μ-opioid receptor may significantly modulate the development of tolerance to the various effects of morphine.
"All the Better to See You with, My Dear": Facial Recognition and Privacy in Online Social Networks

Focusing primarily on popular online social networks like Facebook, this article provides an overview of the main social and legal challenges attending the use of facial-recognition technologies on these platforms and explores ways of governing the associated privacy implications, specifically from a European data protection perspective. The authors discuss potential legal, technological, and business model responses to these developments.
Efficient joint poisson-gauss restoration using multi-frame L2-relaxed-L0 analysis-based sparsity

Recently we proposed an efficient technique based on analysis-based sparsity in tight frames to restore images affected by shift-invariant blur and additive white Gaussian noise. Here we apply the same alternate marginal optimization idea used in that work, but dealing with combined Poissonian-Gaussian noise, which we approximate as Gaussian, additive and signal-dependent. We operate (1) by adding to the original image and its associated sparse vector another auxiliary variable to be optimized in the loop: the blurred, but not yet noisy, image; and (2) by using a quadratic soft constraint. We also re-formulate the previous prior modelling in order to perform a standard maximum a posteriori estimation, and generalize the approach to allow for a multi-frame prior. The proposed technique is computationally efficient and yields state-of-the-art performance.
Finding pieces of the puzzle of nonresponse to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an exciting advance for heart failure patients. As a result of a wealth of evidence from randomized clinical trials, guidelines for selecting patients for CRT have been established, including New York Heart Association functional class III or IV on optimal medical therapy, QRS width ≥120 ms, and ejection fraction ≤35%. 1,2 The landmark Multicenter InSync Randomized Clinical Evaluation (MIRACLE) trial published in 2002 reported a 67% improvement in the group randomized to CRT using a clinical composite score in which patients were judged to be improved, unchanged, or worsened.1 Interestingly, the very recent Frequent Optimization Study Using the QuickOpt Method (FREEDOM) trial, designed to assess strategies for atrioventricular (AV) and interventricular (VV) interval optimization, reported a 67.5% improvement after CRT using the same clinical composite score.3 Despite tremendous advances in knowledge and experience with CRT, the proportion of patients considered clinical nonresponders has remained at one third over the last 8 years. Puzzling questions remain: Why are there nonresponders to CRT? Can we improve on current patient selection for CRT to reduce nonresponders? The important article by Delgado et al4 in this issue finds some pieces of the puzzle of nonresponse by focusing on a large series of patients with ischemic heart failure. They reported that mortality and heart failure hospitalizations after CRT in patients with routine indications are associated with dyssynchrony, left ventricular (LV) lead position, and estimates of regional scar. It is worthwhile to consider these factors individually, in combination, and in context of other variables that may influence response to CRT (the Figure). Figure. The puzzle of nonresponse to CRT. Article see p 70 There is an abundance of data to support dyssynchrony as the major pathological derangement associated with mechanical inefficiency and deleterious biological effects that …