Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Revisiting the theory of planned behavior for the preparation of the adoption of municipal e-services in less developed countries

The aim of this study is to design a model of the factors affecting the decision of municipal councils of less developed countries (LDCs) to commit resources in preparation of the adoption of e-services. The proposed model was designed by identifying key general e-government adoption factors using a systematic literature review, by modeling these factors according to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and by defining a set of hypotheses for the application of the proposed model to municipal e-services in LDCs. This led to the hypothesis according to which the decision of LDCs' municipal councils to commit human resources and to engineer institutional arrangements in preparation of the adoption of e-services depends on: a) The ICT infrastructural capabilities of their municipalities. b) How these municipal councils intend to use e-government as a strategic tool towards the fulfillment of their mandate of improving the socio-politico and economic conditions of their municipal citizens. c) Their belief that they are being put under pressure to institute e-government as the tool of excellence or norm for the running of municipal affairs. Such pressure may come from their interaction with their citizens, from national and global challenges beyond their control, or from constraints inherent to their political ideology. The proposed model can be used for the engineering of decision support systems to help municipal councils make investment decisions in preparation of the adoption of e-government especially in the context of LDCs. Futhermore, its originality lies on its focus on factors affecting the preparatory stage of e-services adoption.
A Formal Treatment of Remotely KeyedEncryption ( Extended Abstract ) ?

Remotely keyed encryption schemes (RKESs), introduced by Blaze 6], support high-bandwidth cryptographic applications (such as encrypted video conferences) in which long-lived secrets (such as users' private keys) never leave lower-bandwidth environments such as secure smart-cards. We provide a formal framework in which to study the security of RKESs and give an RKES that satisses our formal security requirements. Our RKES is eecient in that the amount of communication and computation required of the smart-card is independent of the input size. Our proof of security uses the pseudorandom permutation framework of Naor and Reingold 14] in an essential way.
The Autonomic Architecture of Emotion

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotion, providing metabolic support for adaptive action, generating ap- pearance changes with high signal value for conspecifics, and producing visceral sensations that shape subjective emotional experience. In this chapter, I consider several of the most important ways that the ANS is in- volved in emotion, including: (a) peripheral activation of emotion; (b) au- tonomic influences on emotional language and the labeling of subjective emotional experience; (c) positive emotion and autonomic soothing; (d) ex- pressive signs of autonomic origin; (e) autonomic substrates of emotional contagion and empathy; and (f) autonomic consequences of emotion regu- lation. For each, I describe relevant research from our laboratory and dis- cuss implications for an evolutionary account of emotion. In these and many other ways the autonomic architecture of human emotion has evolved not only to move blood and tears in the service of fears, but also to provide us with a rich set of tools that help us communicate and signal the nature of our internal emotional experiences, understand the emotions of others, calm ourselves and others, and give us some modicum of control over harmful and unproductive emotions.
Genome-wide DNA polymorphisms in elite indica rice inbreds discovered by whole-genome sequencing.

Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have aided discovery of millions of genome-wide DNA polymorphisms, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions-deletions (InDels), which are an invaluable resource for marker-assisted breeding. Whole-genome resequencing of six elite indica rice inbreds (three cytoplasmic male sterile and three restorer lines) resulted in the generation of 338 million 75-bp paired-end reads, which provided 85.4% coverage of the Nipponbare genome. A total of 2 819 086 nonredundant DNA polymorphisms including 2 495 052 SNPs, 160 478 insertions and 163 556 deletions were discovered between the inbreds and Nipponbare, providing an average of 6.8 SNPs/kb across the genome. Distribution of SNPs and InDels in the chromosome was nonrandom with SNP-rich and SNP-poor regions being evident across the genome. A contiguous 4.3-Mb region on chromosome 5 with extremely low SNP density was identified. Overall, 83 262 nonsynonymous SNPs spanning 16 379 genes and 3620 nonsynonymous InDels in 2625 genes have been discovered which provide valuable insights into the basis underlying performance of the inbreds and the hybrids between these inbred combinations. SNPs and InDels discovered from this diverse set of indica rice inbreds not only enrich SNP resources for molecular breeding but also enable the study of genome-wide variations on hybrid performance.
Incorporating feature point-based motion hypotheses in distributed video coding

Emerging mobile video applications introduce demands (e.g. low encoding complexity) which do not fit well to conventional video coding (e.g. H.264/AVC, MPEG-4). Upcoming coding schemes, following the distributed video coding (DVC) paradigm, are well suited for mobile video encoding due to their low encoder complexity. The performance of a DVC scheme is mainly influenced by the Slepian-Wolf coding performance and the side information quality. The side information is commonly obtained by temporal interpolation, where fast inhomogeneous motion is still challenging. In this paper, fast motion is negotiated by applying a multiple motion hypotheses pixel-based temporal interpolation method. Global and local motion estimation are incorporated. Simulation results show side information quality improvements by up to 0.6 dB for the sequence Stefan. Furthermore, state-of-the-art side information generation approaches are outperformed by 1.2 dB in terms of overall RD performance.
Aquatic resources in the Philippines and the extent of poverty in the sector

This report presents an overview of the state of aquatic resources in the Philippines, its performance and importance in the Philippine economy, and explores the situation of poverty in the "aquatic resources sector. " The report describes the policy environment that guides the action of key actors in the sector. The report also provides a general analysis of some trends in relation to factors that keep the poor from participating and benefiting from aquatic resource management, based on the perspectives of the authors. (PDF contains 135 pages)
Basic opioid pharmacology: an update

Opioids are a group of analgesic agents commonly used in clinical practice. There are three classical opioid receptors (DOP, KOP and MOP), while the novel NOP receptor is considered to be a non-opioid branch of the opioid receptor family. Opioids can act at these receptors as agonists, antagonists or partial agonists. Opioid agonists bind to G-protein coupled receptors to cause cellular hyperpolarisation. Most clinically relevant opioid analgesics bind to MOP receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system in an agonist manner to elicit analgesia. Opioids may also be classified according to their mode of synthesis into alkaloids, semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds.
GPUMemSort: A High Performance Graphics Co-processors Sorting Algorithm for Large Scale In-Memory Data

In this paper, we present a GPU-based sorting algorithm, GPUMemSort, which achieves high performance in sorting large-scale in-memory data by take advantage of GPU processors. It consists of two algorithms: an in-core algorithm, which is responsible for sorting data in GPU global memory efficiently, and an out-of-core algorithm, which is responsible for dividing large-scale data into multiple chunks that fit GPU global memory. GPUMemSort is implemented based on NVIDIA’s CUDA framework and some critical and detailed optimization methods are also presented. The tests of different algorithms have been run on multiple data sets. The experimental results show that our in-core sorting can outperform other comparison-based algorithms and GPUMemSort is highly effective in sorting large-scale inmemory data.
False Positive Responses Optimization for Intrusion Detection System

In Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), the operation costs represent one of the big challenges for researchers. They are apart from the IDS cost acquisition and they comprise the costs of maintenance, administration, response, running and errors reactions costs. In the present paper, we focus on the missed reactions which include False Positive (FP) and False Negative (FN) reactions. For that a new optimization cost model is proposed for IDS. This optimization proposes a minimal interval where the IDSs work optimally. In simulation, we found this interval as a trade-off between the damage costs and the FP.
The effect of scalp block and local infiltration on the haemodynamic and stress response to skull-pin placement for craniotomy

Background and objective The insertion of skull pins into the periosteum induces not only a haemodynamic response but also an increase in stress hormones. We compared the effects of scalp-nerve block, infiltration anaesthesia, and routine anaesthesia during skull-pin insertion on haemodynamic and stress responses to craniotomy. Methods Forty-five ASA I or II patients, scheduled for elective craniotomies, were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental (5 mg kg−1), fentanyl (2 μg kg−1) and vecuronium (0.1 mg kg−1), and was maintained with 50% N2O in oxygen and 1% isoflurane. Five minutes before head pinning, 0.5% bupivacaine was infiltrated at each pin-insertion site in group L. In group S, scalp block was performed by blocking the supraorbital, supratrochlear, auriculotemporal, occipital, and postauricular branches of the greater auricular nerves using 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine. Opioids were used to control haemodynamic responses in group C (the control group). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were recorded at regular intervals before and for 1 h after induction. Blood samples were collected for cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone analysis 5 min before induction and 5 and 60 min after pin-holder insertion. Results There were significant increases in heart rate and mean arterial pressure during head pinning in groups L and C compared with group S and also at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd minutes after pinning (P < 0.05). In group S, the reduced plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels measured at the 5th and 60th minutes after pinning were significantly lower than those in groups L and C (P < 0.05). Conclusion We conclude that scalp block using 0.5% bupivacaine blunts the haemodynamic and stress responses to head pinning better than routine anaesthesia or scalp infiltration with bupivacaine and should be considered in conjunction with general anaesthesia for craniotomy.
Assessing Herbal Products with Health Claims

Herbs, herbal extracts, or phytochemicals are broadly used as foods, drugs, and as traditional medicines. These are well regulated in Europe, with thorough controls on both safety and efficacy or validity of health claims. However, the distinction between medicines and foods with health claims is not always clear. In addition, there are several cases of herbal products that claim benefits that are not scientifically demonstrated. This review details the European Union (EU) legislative framework that regulates the approval and marketing of herbal products bearing health claims as well as the scientific evidence that is needed to support such claims. To illustrate the latter, we focus on phytoecdysteroid (PE)-containing preparations, generally sold to sportsmen and bodybuilders. We review the limited published scientific evidence that supports claims for these products in humans. In addition, we model the in silico binding between different PEs and human nuclear receptors and discuss the implications of these putative bindings in terms of the mechanism of action of this family of compounds. We call for additional research to validate the safety and health-promoting properties of PEs and other herbal compounds, for the benefit of all consumers.
Evolutionarily Conserved nodE, nodO, T1SS, and Hydrogenase System in Rhizobia of Astragalus membranaceus and Caragana intermedia

Mesorhizobium species are the main microsymbionts associated with the medicinal or sand-fixation plants Astragalus membranaceus and Caragana intermedia (AC) in temperate regions of China, while all the Mesorhizobium strains isolated from each of these plants could nodulate both of them. However, Rhizobium yanglingense strain CCBAU01603 could nodulate AC plants and it's a high efficiency symbiotic and competitive strain with Caragana. Therefore, the common features shared by these symbiotic rhizobia in genera of Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium still remained undiscovered. In order to study the genomic background influencing the host preference of these AC symbiotic strains, the whole genomes of two (M. silamurunense CCBAU01550, M. silamurunense CCBAU45272) and five representative strains (M. septentrionale CCBAU01583, M. amorphae CCBAU01570, M. caraganae CCBAU01502, M. temperatum CCBAU01399, and R. yanglingense CCBAU01603) originally isolated from AC plants were sequenced, respectively. As results, type III secretion systems (T3SS) of AC rhizobia evolved in an irregular pattern, while an evolutionarily specific region including nodE, nodO, T1SS, and a hydrogenase system was detected to be conserved in all these AC rhizobia. Moreover, nodO was verified to be prevalently distributed in other AC rhizobia and was presumed as a factor affecting the nodule formation process. In conclusion, this research interpreted the multifactorial features of the AC rhizobia that may be associated with their host specificity at cross-nodulation group, including nodE, nodZ, T1SS as the possible main determinants; and nodO, hydrogenase system, and T3SS as factors regulating the bacteroid formation or nitrogen fixation efficiency.
Well-Posedness, Regularity, and Convergence Analysis of the Finite Element Approximation of a Generalized Robin Boundary Value Problem

In this paper, we propose the mathematical and finite element analysis of a second-order partial differential equation endowed with a generalized Robin boundary condition which involves the Laplace--Beltrami operator by introducing a function space $H^1(\Omega; \Gamma)$ of $H^1(\Omega)$-functions with $H^1(\Gamma)$-traces, where $\Gamma \subseteq \partial \Omega$. Based on a variational method, we prove that the solution of the generalized Robin boundary value problem possesses a better regularity property on the boundary than in the case of the standard Robin problem. We numerically solve generalized Robin problems by means of the finite element method with the aim of validating the theoretical rates of convergence of the error in the norms associated to the space $H^1(\Omega; \Gamma)$.
The avian tail reduces body parasite drag by controlling flow separation and vortex shedding

The aerodynamic effect of the furled avian tail on the parasite drag of a bird's body was investigated on mounted, frozen European starling Sturnus vulgaris in a wind tunnel at flight speeds between 6 and 14 m s−1. Removal of tail rectrices and dorsal and ventral covert feathers at the base of the tail increased the total parasite drag of the body and tail by between 25 and 55%. Flow visualization and measurements of dynamic pressure in the tail boundary layer showed that in the intact bird a separation bubble forms on the ventral side of the body, and reattaches to the ventral side of the tail. This bubble is a consequence of the morphology of the body, with a rapid contraction posterior to the pelvis and hind legs. The tail and the covert feathers at its base act as a combined splitter plate and wedge to control vortex shedding and body wake development, and thereby are important to minimize drag. This hitherto unsuspected mechanism is central to understanding the morphology of the avian body, and may have had a significant influence on the evolution of avian tail morphology by pre–adapting the tail for radiation and specialization as an aero–dynamic lifting structure and as an organ of communication in sexual selection.
The Early Evolution of the Inner Solar System: A Meteoritic Perspective

Formation of the solar system may have been triggered by a stellar wind. From then on, the solar system would have followed a conventional evolutionary path, including the formation of a disk and bipolar jets. The now extinct short-lived radionuclides beryllium-10 and, possibly, manganese-53 that were present in meteorites probably resulted from energetic particle irradiation within the solar system. Calcium-aluminum–rich inclusions (the oldest known solar system solids) and chondrules could have been produced by the bipolar jets, but it is more likely that they formed during localized events in the asteroid belt. The chondritic meteorites formed within the temperature range (100 to 400 kelvin) inferred for the midplane of classical T Tauri disks at 2 to 3 astronomical units from their central stars. However, these meteorites may retain a chemical memory of earlier times when midplane temperatures were much higher. Dissipation of the solar nebula occurred within a few million years of solar system formation, whereas differentiation of asteroidal-sized bodies occurred within 5 to 15 million years. The terrestrial planets took ∼100 million years to form. Consequently, they would have accreted already differentiated bodies, and their final assembly was not completed until after the solar nebula had dispersed. This implies that water-bearing asteroids and/or icy planetesimals that formed near Jupiter are the likely sources of Earth's water.
Increased utilization of primary care 5 years before diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: a matched cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether case subjects who were later diagnosed with type 2 diabetes utilized primary care differently from control subjects who remained free from diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a matched cohort study using the U.K. General Practice Research Database. Case subjects were aged 30-89 years, diagnosed with diabetes, and later prescribed oral hypoglycemic drugs between 1997 and 2000. Control subjects, who were matched for age, sex, and general practice, were not diagnosed with diabetes and not treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin. RESULTS Data were analyzed for 5,158 case subjects (2,492 women and 2,666 men) and their matched control subjects with a mean age of 63 years. Five years before the date of diagnosis, case subjects consulted more frequently than control subjects (rate ratio [RR] 1.26 [95% CI 1.20-1.33]) and received more prescription items (1.44 [1.36-1.53]). Consultations were increased for a wide range of conditions. The cumulative 5-year prevalence of diagnoses of hypertension or treatment, hyperlipidemia or treatment, obesity, or coronary heart disease or stroke was 66.1% in case subjects and 45.9% in control subjects (1.44 [1.40-1.49]). A medical diagnosis of hyperglycemia or impaired glucose tolerance was highly (>99%) specific for later diagnosis of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Primary care consultations and drug utilization are increased from 5 years before diagnosis of diabetes. Diagnoses of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, or coronary heart disease or stroke have moderate sensitivity for subsequent diabetes but are nonspecific. A diagnosis of hyperglycemia has a high specificity for later detection of diabetes.
Decreased IL-4 production in new onset type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

IL-4 has been shown to protect against diabetes development in rodent models of insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus (IDDM). To study IL-4 production in human IDDM, PBMC from IDDM patients and controls were stimulated in vitro with PHA, anti-CD3 mAb, or PMA and ionophore. IL-4 production by PBMC or T cells was strongly impaired in IDDM patients at diabetes onset (p < 0.0001). The mean IL-4 response of patients in the honeymoon stage was higher than the mean of the new onset patients, but significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.01). Patients with IDDM of longer duration (>2 yr) showed a wide range of IL-4 responses and their mean IL-4 response was lower than the controls; however, the difference was not statistically significant. IL-4 mRNA levels were measured using competitive reverse transcription PCR. The results showed greatly reduced mRNA levels in new onset IDDM. In contrast, IL-1 production (measured by ELISA) and IFN-gamma mRNA (measured by reverse transcription PCR) were not significantly different in IDDM. The results suggest an imbalance of inflammatory vs anti-inflammatory cytokine production at the onset of IDDM. Deficient IL-4 production as seen at the onset of IDDM may play a role in the development of diabetes by allowing the inflammatory/autoimmune process in pancreatic islets to progress.
Raised Afraid: The Media's Influence in Heightened Fear of Terrorism

Raised Afraid: The Media’s Influence in Heightened Fear of Terrorism By Paige Fetters Mentored by Dr. Ken Tunnell, Department of Justice Studies Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, terrorism has become a household topic and a leading headline for the news media. Following the 9/11 attacks, coverage of the event was played around the clock for the first five days. 99 – 100% of Americans followed terrorism-related events by watching television listening to the radio, or reading print news. Exposure to terrorism-related media have increased substantially since the widespread use of smartphones and social media, where news and topics can be shared and discussed around the world in a matter of seconds. The psychological effects of this exposure could affect how fearful Americans are of terrorism, despite their relative level of victimization. This thesis will explore the various theories and hypotheses that have psychoanalyzed the effects terrorism-related media have had on Americans post-9/11. A convenience sample of 240 college students at a central Kentucky university yielded results of contradictory opinions regarding the government, media, and terrorism protection since 9/11. A comparison of this sample’s results to the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics revealed similar results regarding various opinions of terrorism. A Pearson correlation was also conducted to examine if any correlation exists between the number of hours spend consuming news and levels of fear regarding terrorism.
How to Distinguish True Dependence from Varying Independence

A usual statistical criterion for the quantities X and Y to be independent is that the corresponding distribution function F (x, y) is equal to the product of the corresponding marginal distribution functions. If this equality is violated, this is usually taken to mean that X and Y are dependent. In practice, however, the inequality may be caused by the fact that we have a mixture of several populations, in each of which X and Y are independent. In this paper, we show how we can distinguish true dependence from such varying independence. This can also lead to new measures to degree of independence and of varying independence. 1 Formulation of the Problem Independence: a usual description (see, e.g., [8]). In statistics, independence between two events A and B means that the probability of the event A is not affected by whether the event B occurs or not. For example, the prob-