Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining the mediating role of festival visitors’ satisfaction in the relationship between service quality and behavioral intentions

Although tourism studies have shown that improved service quality will contribute to increased visitor satisfaction, and both of them influence visitors’ future behavioral intentions, there is still a lack of guidance in the tourism marketing literature in understanding the interrelationships among service quality, visitor satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Findings on the mediating role of visitor satisfaction in the relationship between service quality and behavioral intentions are mixed, and thus it needs further investigation. This study adopted Cole and Scott’s1 touristexperience model, which portrays a sequential pattern among performance quality/attribute-level service quality, experience quality/transactionlevel satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. The model was tested using data collected from 413 visitors to a rural heritage festival. Structural equation modeling analysis procedures were applied and the mediating role of transaction-level satisfaction and global-level satisfaction was confirmed. In addition, experience quality was found to have a direct impact on visitors’ future behavioral intentions. The practical implications for festival organizers and limitations of the study were discussed.
Exploiting Protrusion Cues for Fast and Effective Shape Modeling via Ellipses

Modeling objects with a set of geometric primitives is a key problem in computer vision and pattern recognition with numerous applications including object detection and retrieval, tracking, motion and action analysis. In this paper, we attempt to represent 2D object shapes with a number of ellipses with semantic meaning (e.g. one ellipse may correspond to an arm, while two other ellipses may represent a bent leg), while maintaining a high coverage of the shapes. We propose a novel ellipse fitting method based on psychology and cognitive science studies on shape decomposition and show that our shape coverage compares well with the state of the art methods, while significantly outperforming them in run-time by as much as 508 times in our evaluation of the methods on over 4000 2D shapes. We also demonstrate the value of our method to higher-level processing via an example application in creating 3D ellipsoid models of PASCAL horses.
Transcriptome of the inner circular smooth muscle of the developing mouse intestine: Evidence for regulation of visceral smooth muscle genes by the hedgehog target gene, cJun

Background: Digestion is facilitated by coordinated contractions of the intestinal muscularis externa, a bilayered smooth muscle structure that is composed of inner circular muscles (ICM) and outer longitudinal muscles (OLM). We performed transcriptome analysis of intestinal mesenchyme tissue at E14.5, when the ICM, but not the OLM, is present, to investigate the transcriptional program of the ICM. Results: We identified 3967 genes enriched in E14.5 intestinal mesenchyme. The gene expression profiles were clustered and annotated to known muscle genes, identifying a muscle‐enriched subcluster. Using publically available in situ data, 127 genes were verified as expressed in ICM. Examination of the promoter and regulatory regions for these co‐expressed genes revealed enrichment for cJUN transcription factor binding sites, and cJUN protein was enriched in ICM. cJUN ChIP‐seq, performed at E14.5, revealed that cJUN regulatory regions contain characteristics of muscle enhancers. Finally, we show that cJun is a target of Hedgehog (Hh), a signaling pathway known to be important in smooth muscle development, and identify a cJun genomic enhancer that is responsive to Hh. Conclusions: This work provides the first transcriptional catalog for the developing ICM and suggests that cJun regulates gene expression in the ICM downstream of Hh signaling. Developmental Dynamics 245:614–626, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new approach to securing audio conference tools

Instead of securing the communication channel between sources and destinations as in today's Internet, Named Data Networking (NDN), a recently proposed Internet architecture, is designed to secure data directly. To further understand the design space of securing applications through securing data, we performed a case study of designing the security mechanisms for the Audio Conference Tool (ACT). Utilizing NDN's built-in primitive of signed data packets, we applied basic cryptographic schemes in a straightforward manner to effectively secure conferencing control information as well as voice data.
The antiprotozoal drug pentamidine blocks KIR 2 . x-mediated inward rectifier current by entering the cytoplasmic pore region of the channelbph

Background and purpose: Pentamidine is a drug used in treatment of protozoal infections. Pentamidine treatment may cause sudden cardiac death by provoking cardiac arrhythmias associated with QTc prolongation and U-wave alterations. This proarrhythmic effect was linked to inhibition of hERG trafficking, but not to acute block of ion channels contributing to the action potential. Because the U-wave has been linked to the cardiac inward rectifier current (IK1), we examined the action and mechanism of pentamidine-mediated IK1 block. Experimental approach: Patch clamp measurements of IK1 were made on cultured adult canine ventricular cardiomyocytes, KIR2.1-HEK293 cells and KIR2.x inside-out patches. Pentamidine binding to cytoplasmic amino acid residues of KIR2.1 channels was studied by molecular modelling. Key results: Pentamidine application (24 h) decreased IK1 in cultured canine cardiomyocytes and KIR2.1-HEK293 cells under whole cell clamp conditions. Pentamidine inhibited IK1 in KIR2.1-HEK293 cells 10 min after application. When applied to the cytoplasmic side under inside-out patch clamp conditions, pentamidine block of IK1 was acute (IC50 = 0.17 mM). Molecular modelling predicted pentamidine-channel interactions in the cytoplasmic pore region of KIR2.1 at amino acids E224, D259 and E299. Mutation of these conserved residues to alanine reduced pentamidine block of IK1. Block was independent of the presence of spermine. KIR2.2, and KIR2.3 based IK1 was also sensitive to pentamidine blockade. Conclusions and implications: Pentamidine inhibits cardiac IK1 by interacting with three negatively charged amino acids in the cytoplasmic pore region. Our findings may provide new insights for development of specific IK1 blocking compounds. British Journal of Pharmacology (2010) 159, 1532–1541; doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010. 00658.x; published online 24 February 2010
Multiple risk factor intervention reduces cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients with echolucent plaques in the carotid artery

Abstract. Schmidt C, Fagerberg B, Wikstrand J, Hulthe J on behalf of the RIS Study Group (Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular research, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden for the RIS Study Group*). Multiple risk factor intervention reduces cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients with echolucent plaques in the carotid artery. J Intern Med 2003; 253: 430–438.
Pashler, H. (2000). Task switching and multitask performance. To appear in Monsell, S., and Driver, J. (editors). Attention and Performance XVIII: Control of mental processes. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Task Switching and Multitask Performance

Research on task switching and dual-task performance has spawned two lit- eratures that have, to a surprising extent, developed independently. This tutorial reviews the principal findings of each tradition and considers how these phenomena may be related. Beginning with Jersild 1927, task-switching studies reveal that when people perform two tasks in succession, with each task requiring different responses to the same set of stimuli, substantial slowing occurs. Recent research suggests that while this slowing can be partially ameliorated by allowing sufficient time between tasks, advance reconfiguration is almost always incomplete. In studies of dual-task performance, stimuli arc presented very close together in time, and subjects attempt concurrently to perform two wholly distinct tasks. A substantial slowing of one or both tasks is usually observed. The most stubborn source of this slowing appears to be queuing of central processing stages, sometimes supplemented by other kinds of interference. This queuing occurs even when the tasks are highly dissimilar and is unlikely to reflect voluntary strategies. A number of possibilities for how task switching and dual-task queuing plight be related are discussed critically, including the possibility that queuing might stem from an inability to maintain two distinct task sets at the same time. What happens when people try to switch rapidly between one task and another? What happens when they try to do more than one task at the same time? The first of these two fundamental questions is chiefly dis- cussed in a modest-sized literature under the label "task switching" or "mental set"; the second, in a much larger literature under the label "divided attention" or "dual-task performance. " The present chapter reviews main phenomena and theoretical issues in both areas and tries to draw some substantive connections between them. 12.1 TASK SWITCHING
Prevalence of tuberculosis, brucellosis and trypanosomiasis in cattle in Tanzania: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract A meta-analysis was performed to derive prevalence estimates for Brucella spp. , Mycobacterium spp. and Trypanosoma spp. in cattle in Tanzania using data derived from a systematic review of zoonotic hazards in cattle production systems. Articles published before 2012 reporting prevalence and considered at least moderate in quality were included in the analysis. Results showed high heterogeneity between studies, with wide ranges in the reported prevalence: Brucella (0.3–60.8%), Mycobacterium (0.1–13.2%) and Trypanosoma (0.82–33.3%). Overall meta-analytic mean prevalence estimates were 8.2% (95% CI 6.5–10.2), 1.28% (95% CI 0.35–4.58) and 10.3% (95% CI 6.20–16.70) respectively, for Brucella spp. , Mycobacterium spp. and Trypanosoma spp. Time and region were predictors of variability of Brucella spp. prevalence, while diagnostic test was a strong predictor of Mycobacterium spp. prevalence, with higher prevalence estimates given by skin tests compared with post-mortem inspection. None of the studied factors were associated with prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. The small sample sizes, range of study locations, study designs and diagnostics used, contributed to high variability among prevalence estimates. Larger and more robust prevalence studies are needed to adequately support risk assessment and management of animal and public health threats.
Analyzing Mathematics beliefs of pre-Service Teachers using Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Mathematics beliefs play an important role in enhancing the quality and the effectiveness of teaching and learning. This study analyzes the mathematics beliefs of 317 pre-service teachers from six Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) (Government Public Universities) who were randomly selected to participate in this study. Questionnaires consisting of twenty three items were given to the respondents during the data collection process. The validation of the items was done by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In order to obtain a model fit for the measurement model of mathematics beliefs, several fit index tests such as CMINDF, GFI, AGFI, IFI, NFI, CFI, TLI and RMSEA were used. Constructivist beliefs and traditional beliefs were identified as the contributing factors in the model. The analysis also revealed that mathematics beliefs consist of structures of two hidden variables. The correlation between the two variables (constructivist beliefs and traditional beliefs) is at a moderate level. Hence, pre-service teachers should be able to recognize their type of mathematics beliefs in order to become effective mathematics teachers.
Protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on multiple organ failure induced by zymosan in the rat.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS In the present study, we evaluated the effect of N-acetylcysteine treatment in a nonseptic shock model induced by zymosan in the rat. Animals were randomly divided into eight groups (ten animals in each group). The first group was treated with ip administration of saline solution (0.90% NaCl) and served as the sham group. The second group was treated with ip administration of zymosan (500 mg/kg suspended in saline solution). In the third and fourth groups, rats received ip administration of N-acetylcysteine (40 mg/kg; 1 and 6 hrs after administration of zymosan or saline). In the fifth and sixth groups, rats received ip administration of N-acetylcysteine (20 mg/kg; 1 and 6 hrs after zymosan or saline administration). In the seventh and eighth groups, rats received ip administration of N-acetylcysteine (10 mg/kg; 1 and 6 hrs after zymosan or saline administration). After zymosan or saline injection, animals were monitored for the evaluation of systemic toxicity (conjunctivitis, ruffled fur, diarrhea, and lethargy), loss of body weight, and mortality for 72 hrs. Exudate formation, leukocyte infiltration, nitrate/nitrite production, lung and intestine myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxidation, and histologic examination were evaluated at 18 hrs after zymosan administration. RESULTS Administration of zymosan in the rat induced acute peritonitis, as assessed by a marked increase in the leukocyte count in the exudate, as well as by an increase in the exudate nitrate/nitrite concentration. Lung and intestine myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in zymosan-treated rats. This inflammatory process coincided with the damage of lung and small intestine. Peritoneal administration of zymosan in the rat also induced a significant increase in the plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate and stable metabolites of nitric oxide and in levels of peroxynitrite, as measured by the oxidation of the fluorescent dihydrorhodamine 123 at 18 hrs after zymosan challenge. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a marked increase in the immunoreactivity to nitrotyrosine, a specific "footprint" of peroxynitrite, in the lung of zymosan-shocked rats. Pretreatment of zymosan-shocked rats with ip administration of N-acetylcysteine (40, 20, and 10 mg/kg, 1 and 6 hrs after zymosan) prevented the development of peritonitis and reduced peroxynitrite formation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ip administration of N-acetylcysteine (40 mg/kg, 1 and 6 hrs after zymosan) was effective in preventing the development of lung and intestine injury and neutrophil infiltration, as determined by myeloperoxidase evaluation. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the present results demonstrate that N-acetylcysteine exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects.
An exploration of musical style from human and connectionist perspectives

present work describes two different approaches to musical style recognition. The first includes a behavioral experiment in which human listeners (divided into musi- cians and nonmusicians) are asked to recognize musical style. The main purpose of this approach is to explore the cognitive processes involved in musical style categorization and the influence of prior musical knowledge in style per- ception. The second approach simulates stylistic recogni- tion through a back propagation neural network model, considering recognition as a supervised learning task. The learner (i.e. the model) is given examples of music in the specified style, together with non-examples, thus learning to distinguish between examples and non-examples. How- ever, since musical style recognition is different from tradi- tional supervised learning tasks (due to the freeform na- ture of the input and the depth of structure), considerable care is required in the design of the model. We have chosen back propagation neural networks for our approach for a number of reasons: they have an excellent track record in complex recognition tasks and are capable of inducing the hidden features of a domain. Our model accounts for vari- ous features that are quite likely to be important in the process of musical style recognition in humans: these fea- tures can roughly be described as the accounting for musi- cal input of varying length in an even manner; modeling the hierarchical nature of musical recognition; capturing the importance of directional flow in music. Our model was trained on a corpus comprising the same compositions as the behavioral experiment (i.e. arias by Legrenzi, by sev- eral other coeval composers Rossi, Stradella, Gabrielli, A. Scarlatti and by the computer program LEGRE). The model reaches a fairly high classification accuracy (vary- ing between 66.7 and 100%, depending on the composers considered). The study of the approaches shows similari- ties (the ability to correctly recognize a style depends on the global exposure to that style both in human listeners and the neural model) but also puzzling discrepancies (for example in the case Legrenzi vs LEGRE, where the accu- racy of the model � 100% � is well beyond that of the hu- mans) which the present work tries to assess.
P-Store: Genuine Partial Replication in Wide Area Networks

Partial replication is a way to increase the scalability of replicated systems: updates only need to be applied to a subset of the system's sites, thus allowing replicas to handle independent parts of the workload in parallel. In this paper, we propose P-Store, a partially replicated key-value store for wide area networks. In P-Store, each transaction T optimistically executes on one or more sites and is then certified to guarantee serializability of the execution. The certification protocol is genuine, it only involves sites that replicate data items read or written by T, and incorporates a mechanism to minimize a convoy effect. P-Store makes a thrifty use of an atomic multicast service to guarantee correctness: no messages need to be multicast during T's execution and a single message is multicast to certify T. In case T is global, that is, T's execution is distributed at different geographical locations, an extra vote phase is required. Our approach may offer better scalability than previously proposed solutions that either require multiple atomic multicast messages to execute T or are non-genuine. Experimental evaluations reveal that the convoy effect plays an important role even when one percent of the transactions are global. We also compare the scalability of our approach to a fully replicated solution when the proportion of global transactions and the number of sites vary.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Yawning is a phylogenetically old behaviour that can be observed in most vertebrate species from foetal stages to old age. The origin and function of this conspicuous phenomenon have been subject to specula- tions for centuries. Here, we review the experimental evidence for each of these hypotheses. It is found that theories ascribing a physiological role to yawning (such as the respiratory, arousal, or thermoreg- ulation hypotheses) lack evidence. Conversely, the notion that yawning has a communicative function involved in the transmission of drowsiness, boredom, or mild psychological stress receives increasing support from research in different fields. In humans and some other mammals, yawning is part of the
Using crowdfunding for extracting feedback: literature review

During the last few years, crowdfunding has grown in importance as an alternative source of finance for various types of purposes. It has quickly evolved into a commonly used tool to help entrepreneurs getting products developed, and furthermore, is a way for innovative, small organizations to access capital since the financial crisis. However, only very recently, it has been noticed that the significant value of crowdfunding lies in its ability to enable learning from crowdfunding backers and receive useful and interesting feedback from them in various manners. The purpose of the study was to review and better understand the various business-related novel and rapid means of crowdfunding to provide useful information and feedback. To our knowledge, no earlier systematic literature reviews have been carried out on this topic. To study the topic, we carried out a literature review on empirical academic journal articles on crowdfunding between 2005--2016, making use of Fink's [6, 7] process model of systematic literature review. On the basis of our review, we can state that crowdfunding is a very interesting and useful approach as a feedback channel for various types of business organizations. Even though feedback was not commonly the main goal in crowdfunding campaigns, it was noted to be very important outcome in the reviewed articles. Managerially, this study enables for instance start-ups, entrepreneurs and managers to evaluate the usefulness of crowdfunding as a means for gaining various types of feedback, new information and knowledge.
Accelerated Stochastic ADMM with Variance Reduction

Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) is a popular method in solving Machine Learning problems. Stochastic ADMM was firstly proposed in order to reduce the per iteration computational complexity, which is more suitable for big data problems. Recently, variance reduction techniques have been integrated with stochastic ADMM in order to get a fast convergence rate, such as SAG-ADMM and SVRG-ADMM,but the convergence is still suboptimal w.r. t the smoothness constant. In this paper, we propose a new accelerated stochastic ADMM algorithm with variance reduction, which enjoys a faster convergence than all the other stochastic ADMM algorithms. We theoretically analyze its convergence rate and show its dependence on the smoothness constant is optimal. We also empirically validate its effectiveness and show its priority over other stochastic ADMM algorithms.
Performance Monitoring in Equine Sports

Thereby, performance of equine athletes is largely determined by the musculoskeletal apparatus of the horse. Thus far, studies on training have mainly focused on exercise physiology [7] or kinematics [1, 6, 16]. The incorporation of forces between rider and horse and behavioral observations would provide essential information when comparing riding techniques, rider levels and training programmes. This could lead to better training and increase the understanding of the rider-horse interaction.
Designing the Web of Things as a Society of Autonomous Real/Virtual Hybrid Entities

The Web of things paradigm aims to interconnect network-enabled objects using Web standards and protocols. Designing such systems raises several challenges related to the heterogeneity of things and the openness of the whole system. We propose an avatar-based approach to abstract physical objects into autonomous agents. We lead a discussion about these Web abstractions by highlighting some multi-agent systems requirements and their implementation on the Web.