Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The ties that bind? Online musicians and their fans

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between musician’s social network sites (SNS), the tie that fans may develop via these sites, and music acquisition, via legal and illegal means. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative approach was taken, gathering 352 responses from young adults via an online survey. Findings – Perceptions of interactivity and sincerity on musicians’ SNS are found to lead to stronger ties, enhancing the fan’s feeling of closeness to the musician, the fan’s inclination to spread positive word-of-mouth, and the time a fan spends on the site. Pathways are found between the fan activity, sense of closeness and time spent on the SNS. In terms of acquisition, the tie strength indicator of time spent on the SNS holds a positive relationship with purchase intent. While a sense of closeness holds a negative relationship to illegal downloading activity, the fan’s activity recommending the musician has a positive influence on illegal downloading. Research lim.
Species Differences in Renal Vascular Effects of Dipyridamole and in the Potentiation of Adenosine Action by Dipyridamole

Summary The effects of dipyridamole and adenosine on the renal vasculature and on the enhancement by dipyridamole of the action of adenosine were studied in pigs, dogs, rabbits, and rats. Intravenous adenosine in doses of 10–300 μg/kg produced dose-dependent decreases in heart rate and blood pressure of rabbits and rats. Potentiation of adenosine action by intravenous infusion of dipyridamole occurred only in rabbits. When administered into the renal artery of pigs, dogs, raboits, and rats, adenosine caused dose-dependent vasoconstriction in all species, whereas dipyridamole produced vasoconstriction in rabbits and vasodilation in pigs and rats. In dogs, the renal vascular response to dipyridamole depended on the perfusion method used. In kidneys perfused at a fixed flow rate with a pump, intrarenal dipyridamole elicited vasoconstriction, but in kidneys perfused by their own systemic blood pressure without the use of a pump, it caused vasodilation. The adenosine-induced renal vasoconstriction was enhanced by dipyridamole in pigs, dogs, and rabbits, but not in rats. Species differences and the perfusion method used are important for the renal vascular effects of dipyridamole and for the enhancement of adenosine activity by dipyridamole. Dipyridamole appears to possess not only an indirect action on blood vessels which is related to adenosine, but also a direct vasodilator effect.
Graduate selection in three European countries

This paper reports the findings of a study comparing the methods used to select university graduates in British, Dutch and French organizations. In keeping with several recently published studies of managerial selection practices, a number of highly significant differences were observed in terms of the use of various selection methods across the three countries. The paper concludes with a call for follow-up studies of an in-depth, qualitative nature, in order to uncover the reasons for the existence of these cross-national variations in patterns of usage.
Directed Belief Diffusion for Dynamic Social Networks

This paper presents a novel model of interaction patterns between individual agents in dynamic social networks. A simulation was developed implementing the directed diffusion protocol to propagate beliefs through a social network. Belief propagation through a social network is modeled as packet propagation through a wireless sensor network using the directed diffusion protocol. This data propagation model is compared against a network using basic directed diffusion; the analysis measures the level of stress the networks experiences during the experiment as well as the individual and general energy consumption used. The evaluation of both methods will provide a better understanding of belief propagation in social networks by studying the dynamics in a directed diffusion network. The results of the experiment can also lead to models of interaction patterns between individual agents on dynamic social networks that can be integrated with real data from telecommunication service providers and person-person contact data. Keywordssocial network models; wireless technologies; belief propagation; directed diffusion; gradients.
ScienceDirect International Conference on Current Trends in ELT The Effect of Metadiscourse Use on Iranian EFL Learners ’ Lecture Comprehension

The literature on the theory of metadiscourse markers suggests that one significant function fulfilled by this type of resources is facilitating the comprehensibility of texts. Although many researchers have investigated this function in written texts, there has been little research on the role metadiscourse plays in the comprehension of spoken discourse. The aim of the present study was to gain insights into the effect of metadiscourse use on Iranian EFL learners’ lecture comprehension. To do so, 22 students were selected to participate in the study. In order to assess the students’ language proficiency a pre-test, namely Oxford Placement Test (OPT), was used. Then the subjects were randomly divided into two groups. During ten sessions, students in two groups listened to lectures with different topics in the field of linguistics by the teacher. Two versions of the same lecture were used. One of them included metadiscourse markers (Hyland’s model, 2005) and in the other one, metadiscourse markers were removed. To measure learners’ listening comprehension, a test consisting of a set of lecture-related questions (post-test) was administered. Then both groups of participants were asked to answer a questionnaire to assess the perceived level of the difficulty and the quality of the lecture. In order to analyze the obtained data, an independent t-Test was run. The findings of the study revealed that the subjects comprehended the lecture better when metadiscourse markers were included. © 2014 Kuhi, Asadollahfam, Dabagh Anbarian. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Urmia University, Iran.
Fabrication of gap-optimized CMUT

A recently introduced set up of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUT) combines a conductive membrane above a structured sacrificial layer. All previous approaches either require an additional metallic electrode or do not possess a structured sacrificial layer and, consequently, may make exact adjustment of the membrane dimensions difficult. The present set ups are especially suited for the fabrication of cMUT with gap heights ranging between 50 nm and 2 /spl mu/m between the electrodes. Large gaps are a prerequisite to enabling sufficient deflections of the membrane and, therewith, to generating high pressure gradients. On the other hand, small gap sizes are desirable for detecting weak ultrasonic sources. This paper focuses on the fabrication process of cMUT to realize electrode separation above 500 nm and, in addition, on the manufacturing of cMUT with gaps below 500 nm. The successful realization has been proven by some basic experimental investigations. Finally, the fundamental equations of a frequently chosen simulation model are documented, as a number of ambiguities exist in the common literature.
Changing Patterns of Drug and Alcohol Use in Fatally Injured Drivers in Washington State

ABSTRACT: We have previously reported on patterns of drug and alcohol use in fatally injured drivers in Washington State. Here we revisit that population to examine how drug use patterns have changed in the intervening 9 years. Blood and serum specimens from drivers who died within 4 h of a traffic accident between February 1, 2001, and January 31, 2002, were analyzed for illicit and therapeutic drugs and alcohol. Drugs when present were quantitated. Samples suitable for testing were obtained from 370 fatally injured drivers. Alcohol was detected above 0.01 g/100 mL in 41% of cases. The mean alcohol concentration for those cases was 0.17 g/100 mL (range 0.02–0.39 g/100 mL). Central nervous system (CNS) active drugs were detected in 144 (39%) cases. CNS depressants including carisoprodol, diazepam, hydrocodone, diphenhydramine, amitriptyline, and others were detected in 52 cases (14.1%), cannabinoids were detected in 47 cases (12.7%), CNS stimulants (cocaine and amphetamines) were detected in 36 cases (9.7%), and narcotic analgesics (excluding morphine which is often administered iatrogenically in trauma cases) were detected in 12 cases (3.2%). For those cases which tested positive for alcohol c. 40% had other drugs present which have the potential to cause or contribute to the driver's impairment. Our report also considers the blood drug concentrations in the context of their interpretability with respect to driving impairment. The data reveal that over the past decade, while alcohol use has declined, some drug use, notably methamphetamine, has increased significantly (from 1.89% to 4.86% of fatally injured drivers) between 1992 and 2002. Combined drug and alcohol use is a very significant pattern in this population and is probably overlooked in DUI enforcement programs.
Effects of Alcohol and Drug Use on Inpatient and Residential Treatment Among Youth with Severe Emotional Disturbance in Medicaid-Funded Behavioral Health Care Plans

Abstract This study examined the use of alcohol and recreational drugs among 875 youth with severe emotional disturbance (SED) enrolled in Medicaid-funded behavioral health care plans, and whether co-occurring SED and substance use affected the subsequent likelihood of receiving inpatient and/or residential treatment. Youth at five sites nationwide were interviewed about their use of drugs and alcohol, while interviews with their caregivers elicited information about youths' service utilization, degree of functional impairment, and a series of demographic and environmental variables. Results indicated that half of the youth (52%) reported lifetime use of alcohol, street drugs, or over-the-counter medications for recreational purposes, while 18% reported use in the past 30 days. Among those reporting recent use, 32% reported using drugs only, 34% alcohol only, and 33% reported use of both drugs and alcohol. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, the effect of recent use was stronger than that of lifetime use; however, the largest effect occurred for those reporting recent use of both drugs and alcohol, versus either alone, or none. Differences remained significant when controlling for managed care versus fee for service enrollment as well as child, family, and environmental characteristics including study site. These results mirror those of prior studies that found an association between substance use and greater likelihood of inpatient services, even in managed care settings. †The research in this article is funded under Cooperative Agreement Number UR7T111267 from the Substance Abuse and MentalHealth Services Administration. The statements expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Vanderbilt University, University of South Florida, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Columbus Children's Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbia University, Human Services Research Institute, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
VANS: Visual Ad hoc Network Simulator∗

In this paper, we describe the design of a visual simulator for ad hoc networks that provides a function that allows users to perform various operations during the simulation. This enables users to configure the evaluation environment by checking its behavior. These operations can be easily performed with a GUI. We also describe the implementation of a simulator prototype that visually shows the behavior of routing protocols.
Factor IX: Insights from knock-out and genetically engineered mice

Summary The study of coagulation factors has been rapidly advanced by studies performed in genetically engineered mouse strains. Investigation of factor IX (FIX) has benefited from excellent genedeleted mouse models that recapitulate many of the features of human haemophilia B. Moreover, advanced positional cloning techniques and availability of technology to allow not only knock-out mice, but also knock-in and knock-down mice, provide new opportunities to observe genotype-phenotype and structure-function correlations regarding FIX, as well as the interaction of FIX with inflammatory, immune, and tissue repair systems. In this paper, available FIX knock-out mice and additional haemophilia B mouse models are reviewed specifically in regards to observations these models have facilitated concerning: factor IX gene expression and factor IX protein pharmacokinetics; the role of FIX in haemostasis, thrombosis and wound healing; insights into coagulation FIX arising out of gene therapy applications in haemophilia mouse models; immunology of tolerance or loss of tolerance of FIX and inhibitor antibody formation.
Quantitative assessment of nutrition in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Background PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is called a pathology of the XX century and affects at least 10-15% women of childbearing age. The therapy involves pharmacotherapy of hormonal imbalance, as well as the change of lifestyle, including the diet. Objective Performing the quantitative assessment of components of diets of women with PCOS, comparing the results with current dietary standards for Polish people and defining dietary requirements for the patients. Material and Methods The study was performed on 54 women of childbearing age (average age 26.03± 5.52) with PCOS syndrome diagnosed according to on the Rotterdam criteria. Anthropometric measurements of the patients were made and BMI and WHR calculated. Quantitative assessment of women’s diets was performed based on the analysis of 3-day food diaries and food records taken from the previous 24h with the interview method. The data were introduced to a dietary software DIETA 5.0, calculating the average intake of the energy, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, cholesterol and dietary fibre. The obtained results were compared to Polish dietary guidelines. Results Examined group was characterized by increased waist circumference (98.71± 13.6 cm) and an average WHR was 0.92± 0.08. An increased average value of BMI was also shown (28.91± 5.54 kg/m2). The patients consumed, on average, 1952.5±472.7 kcal daily, and the risk of insufficient intake of protein was determined in 36.7% of examined women. The highest risk of deficiency in minerals in women with PCOS was related to calcium (634 mg), potassium (3493 mg) and magnesium (250.1 mg), whereas with reference to vitamins deficiency as much as 70% of tested women were at risk of insufficient intake of folic acid, 36.7% of them - vitamin C, and 26.7% - vitamin B12. The average consumption of vitamin D was at the level of 3.4 μg. Test group was characterized by excessive average consumption of total fat (50%), SFA (70.4%) and saccharose (50%). The percentage of people with excessive average intake of cholesterol was at the level of 40.74%. As much as 83.3% patients consumed too low amounts of dietary fibre in their diets (<25g). Conclusions In diet therapy of women with PCOS there should be higher intake of folic acid, vitamins D and C, cobalamin, dietary fibre and calcium. The consumption of total fats, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol should be reduced, as through facilitating the development of diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases, they affect the dysfunction of ovaries. The diet of some of the patients should be also supplemented by potassium, magnesium and zinc. The introduction of a properly balanced diet should be the key in the treatment of women with PCOS diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria.
Le développement de la compréhension des fausses croyances chez l'enfant de 5 à 8 ans

Une vaste litterature atteste que l’enfant de 4 ans devient capable d’attribuer des croyances a autrui. Popularisee sous le vocable d’acquisition d’une theorie de l’esprit, cette competence est souvent reduite a la reussite aux items standard et elle est souvent concue comme emergeant de facon robuste et complete. Le present article s’eleve contre cette facon de voir et montre que la comprehension des croyances est subordonnee a un calcul de type operatoire concret. Une experience conduite avec 82 enfants de 5 ; 0 a 8 ; 11 ans evalue la capacite des jeunes enfants a attribuer a un sujet victime de fausse croyance un projet d’action correct dans une situation d’intersection des etats intentionnels. Elle confirme que plusieurs annees separent les premieres attributions de fausse croyance de la maitrise des operations de partage qui requierent des calculs du type de ceux qui caracterisent les operations concretes.
The Infectious Dose of Francisella Tularensis (Tularemia)

Quantitatively estimating an individual's risk of infection by an airborne pathogen requires knowledge of the expected dose and the pathogen's infectious dose. Based on our review of the published literature on tularemia, we conclude that the infectious dose of Francisella tularensis varies among individuals, but that a substantial proportion of the population can be infected by a single bacillus. We also conclude that infection can be initiated by inhaling bacilli carried on respirable particles (diameters less than 10 µm) or nonrespirable particles (diameters between 10 µm and 100 µm). Regression analyses based on two-parameter Weibull and log-normal models of human inhalation dose-infection data aggregated across three studies indicate that approximately 30% of individuals who inhale a single F. tularensis bacillus will develop tularemia. Further, when the organism is carried on particles with diameters on the order of 1 µm, it is estimated that the deposition of a single bacillus produces infection in 40% to 50% of individuals; thus, when F. tularensis is carried on respirable particles, the estimated ID50 via inhalation is close to one deposited bacillus. These results are consistent with separate analyses using nonparametric methods and with experimental animal models in which infection is observed after injection of a single bacillus. The risk of person-to-person transmission of tularemia is generally considered negligible, perhaps due to a low concentration of F. tularensis in respiratory fluids. However, viable F. tularensis bacilli are present in human respiratory fluids, and can be carried in inspirable particles (diameters less than 100 µm) which are emitted during coughs and sneezes.
On Random Testing of Image Processing Applications

Testing image processing applications is a non-trivial task. Complex inputs have to be generated and complex test results have to be evaluated. In the present paper, models for random generation of images are proposed and compared. The study for their comparison uses mutants of one particular implementation of an image processing operator, namely an implementation of the Euclidean distance transform. Metamorphic relations, necessary properties, and special values are furthermore identified for this distance transform to enable automatic evaluation of test results. These criteria are also compared using mutation analysis. Based on the results, general hints are given on how to choose random models and automatically evaluate test results for testing in the field of image processing
A Generalized Fundamental Matrix for Computing Fundamental Quantities of Markov Systems

As is well known, the fundamental matrix $(I - P + e \pi)^{-1}$ plays an important role in the performance analysis of Markov systems, where $P$ is the transition probability matrix, $e$ is the column vector of ones, and $\pi$ is the row vector of the steady state distribution. It is used to compute the performance potential (relative value function) of Markov decision processes under the average criterion, such as $g=(I - P + e \pi)^{-1} f$ where $g$ is the column vector of performance potentials and $f$ is the column vector of reward functions. However, we need to pre-compute $\pi$ before we can compute $(I - P + e \pi)^{-1}$. In this paper, we derive a generalization version of the fundamental matrix as $(I - P + e r)^{-1}$, where $r$ can be any given row vector satisfying $r e \neq 0$. With this generalized fundamental matrix, we can compute $g=(I - P + e r)^{-1} f$. The steady state distribution is computed as $\pi = r(I - P + e r)^{-1}$. The Q-factors at every state-action pair can also be computed in a similar way. These formulas may give some insights on further understanding how to efficiently compute or estimate the values of $g$, $\pi$, and Q-factors in Markov systems, which are fundamental quantities for the performance optimization of Markov systems.
Block acknowledgement: redesigning the window protocol

We describe a new version of the window protocol where message sequence numbers are taken from a finite domain and where both message disorder and loss can be tolerated. Most existing window protocols achieve only one of these two goals. Our protocol is based on a new method of acknowledgement, called <italic>block acknowledgement</italic>, where each acknowledgement message has two numbers <italic>m</italic> and <italic>n</italic> to acknowledge the reception of all data messages with sequence numbers ranging from <italic>m</italic> to <italic>n</italic>. Using this method of acknowledgement, the proposed protocol achieves the two goals while maintaining the same data transmission capability of the traditional window protocol.
Adaptive howling canceller using adaptive IIR notch filter: simulation and implementation

This paper presents an adaptive howling canceller using adaptive IIR notch filter. The robust and fast, sign-sign LMS, algorithm is used to adjust the notch parameter. For the implementation of the howling canceller, we use the TMS320C50, digital signal processor, to process in the fixed-point number system. The experimental results for different conditions are revealed that the proposed system can cancel the howling rapidly and efficiently.
The Psychological and Physiological Dynamics of a Simple Conversation

Two experiments examined several variables that influence first impressions between previously unacquainted, opposite gender participants. The first experiment investigated the relationship among measures of extroversion, cheerfulness, and attractiveness during a first encounter. Results showed that measures of attractiveness did not correlate with measures of extroversion and cheerfulness. The second experiment examined galvanic skin response (GSR) from male and female couples engaged in conversation. The results showed a significant direct relationship between the electrical conductivity of the skin for 10 pairs of participants who were engaged in a simple conversation.