Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Do People Visit Social Commerce Sites But Do Not Buy? The Role of The Scarcity Heuristic As a Momentary Characteristic

Due to the low conversion rate of social commerce, its sustainability is questioned. To solve this problem, this study aims to verify the different antecedents between visit intention and purchase intention. For a visit intention, this study employs the concept of the scarcity heuristic and its momentary characteristic. The scarcity heuristic is created by a scarcity of time and quantity, and provisional coupons. In previous studies, the scarcity heuristic has often been treated as a major factor in which to influence purchase intention. However, this study examines the scarcity heuristic only as an antecedent of the visit intention, not of the purchase intention, because of its momentary characteristic. Contrary to previous studies, as this study expected, the attributes of the scarcity heuristic had a significant relationship only with the visit intention in social commerce. Additionally, the results suggest that there are two distinct intentions in social commerce: visit intention and purchase intention. This study verified that the antecedents of the two distinct intentions are different from one another. This study helps to understand why people visit social commerce sites regularly but do not buy.
Continuously proliferating allospecific T cells, lifespan and antigen receptors

Allospecific mouse T cells derived from one‐way mixed lymphocyte cultures after 19 months in tissue culture still require allogeneic stimulation for their proliferation. If injected into normal or immunodeficient mice these cells do not form tumors. After proliferation over long time periods or after extensive expansion these T cells tend to lose their cytotoxic activity which cannot be reconstituted by addition of cells from active cultures of a different specificity. Accordingly, the specificity of the cytotoxic and proliferative response was investigated. The cytotoxic activity appears to be specific for the H‐2 SD antigens, while the proliferative response and also the activation of cytotoxicity in resting cultures is only triggered by lymphocyte activating determinants (LAD) coded either inside or outside the H‐2 region.
Constructions of protocol sequences for multiple access collision channel without feedback

Constructions of protocol sequences for multiple-access collision channel without feedback are given. These constructions are the extensions of those described by A, Gyorfi, and Massey (see ibid., vol.38, p. 940, May 1992). If the basic code in their constructions, a Reed-Solomon code, is replaced by a BCH code then the resulting protocol sequences have the feature that, for a given sum rate, the ratio of the total user population to the block length becomes much larger. >
Detection and Diagnosis of Recurrent Faults in Software Systems by Invariant Analysis

A correctly functioning enterprise-software system exhibits long-term, stable correlations between many of its monitoring metrics. Some of these correlations no longer hold when there is an error in the system, potentially enabling error detection and fault diagnosis. However, existing approaches are inefficient, requiring a large number of metrics to be monitored and ignoring the relative discriminative properties of different metric correlations. In enterprise-software systems, similar faults tend to reoccur. It is therefore possible to significantly improve existing correlation-analysis approaches by learning the effects of common recurrent faults on correlations. We present methods to determine the most significant correlations to track for efficient error detection, and the correlations that contribute the most to diagnosis accuracy. We apply machine learning to identify the relevant correlations, removing the need for manually configured correlation thresholds, as used in the prior approaches. We validate our work on a multi-tier enterprise-software system. We are able to detect and correctly diagnose 8 of 10 injected faults to within three possible causes, and to within two in 7 out of 8 cases. This compares favourably with the existing approaches whose diagnosis accuracy is 3 out of 10 to within 3 possible causes. We achieve a precision of at least 95%.
In Vitro Quantification of the Relative Packaging Efficiencies of Single-Stranded RNA Molecules by Viral Capsid Protein

ABSTRACT While most T=3 single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses package in vivo about 3,000 nucleotides (nt), in vitro experiments have demonstrated that a broad range of RNA lengths can be packaged. Under the right solution conditions, for example, cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) capsid protein (CP) has been shown to package RNA molecules whose lengths range from 100 to 10,000 nt. Furthermore, in each case it can package the RNA completely, as long as the mass ratio of CP to nucleic acid in the assembly mixture is 6:1 or higher. Yet the packaging efficiencies of the RNAs can differ widely, as we demonstrate by measurements in which two RNAs compete head-to-head for a limited amount of CP. We show that the relative efficiency depends nonmonotonically on the RNA length, with 3,200 nt being optimum for packaging by the T=3 capsids preferred by CCMV CP. When two RNAs of the same length—and hence the same charge—compete for CP, differences in packaging efficiency are necessarily due to differences in their secondary structures and/or three-dimensional (3D) sizes. For example, the heterologous RNA1 of brome mosaic virus (BMV) is packaged three times more efficiently by CCMV CP than is RNA1 of CCMV, even though the two RNAs have virtually identical lengths. Finally, we show that in an assembly mixture at neutral pH, CP binds reversibly to the RNA and there is a reversible equilibrium between all the various RNA/CP complexes. At acidic pH, excess protein unbinds from RNA/CP complexes and nucleocapsids form irreversibly.
Petri nets are good for protocols

This paper is intended to survey the applicability of Petri nets for protocol, as well as for service specification and validation. At the specification level, different classes of nets are introduced, and emphasis is given to the modular specification of a protocol layer. At the validation level, the analysis techniques implemented in the CAD package OGIVE/OVIDE are presented, and are used in order to prove safety and progress properties of a protocol layer. Finally, the specification and validation of the ISO Transport protocol is chosen as a significant example of the proposed design methodology.
Sonosynthesis of Microcellulose from Kenaf Fiber: Optimization of Process Parameters

ABSTRACT Green composites using cellulose fibers as a reinforcement material provide a sustainable and renewable alternative to petroleum-based polymers. However, controlling the usage of chemicals and processing parameters to extract the cellulose could be sometimes difficult. Therefore, this study aims to optimize the conditions for extracting the microcellulose from kenaf fibers using central composite design (CCD), a statistical tool in design of experiments. Three factors and three levels were chosen for carrying out the analysis. The design was based on sodium hydroxide (NaOH) dosage, Sodium Chlorite (NaClO2) dosage and sonication time as independent variables, while dependent variables were the fiber size and degradation point. Later, size responses were fitted using quadratic polynomial model and degradation responses using 2-factor interaction model (2FI). The R2 values of 0.89 and 0.83 were obtained for the quadratic and the 2FI model, respectively. Further, surface morphology, thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) were also used for design validation. Optimal parameters for microcellulose extraction were found to be 0.15 g of NaOH at first stage, 4.6 mL of NaClO2 at second stage, and 10 min of sonication during third stage.
A voltage multiplying AC/DC converter for energy harvesting applications

This paper presents a low voltage AC/DC converter using a voltage multiplier circuit for energy harvesting applications where a low voltage AC waveform used to charge a battery. The circuit rectified and boosted the AC input voltages in the range of 0.5–4 V and 40–150 Hz to a DC voltage in the range of 0.8–12 V. A maximum power efficiency of 71% achieved for AC amplitude 1.5 V with temperature measurements between −40 to +50 ° C. The proposed circuit fabricated using TSMC 130nm CMOS technology with an active area of 0.249 mm.
A Model of Passive Human Motion Recognition Using Two-Layer Wireless Links

The recognition of human motions based on wireless sensor network technology has several obvious advantages. Since traditional recognition technology adopts a single wireless link, it is effective to identify whether an individual stays in a certain area. However, the technology fails to effectively recognize high-level human motions such as falling and lying down, which is of great importance for home health care for elders and rescue for fire buildings. To solve this problem, we put forward an experimental model with two layer wireless links to facilitate human motion recognition. After presenting relevant feasibility analysis, we conducted simulation experiments and applied Support Vector Machine (SVM) in the recognition of human motions. Experimental results show that the model makes a satisfactory performance in the recognition of the four human motions: walking, standing, lying down and normal state.
MCAIM: Modified CAIM Discretization Algorithm for Classification

Discretization is a process of dividing a continuous attribute into a finite set of intervals to generate an attribute with small number of distinct values, by associating discrete numerical value with each of the generated intervals. Discretization is usually performed prior to the learning process and has played an important role in data mining and knowledge discovery. The results of CAIM are not satisfactory in some cases, led us to modify the algorithm. The Modified CAIM (MCAIM) results are compared with other discretization techniques for classification accuracy and generated the outperforming results. The intervals generated by MCAIM discretization are more in numbers, so to reduce them, the CAIR criterion is used to merge the intervals in MCAIM discretization. It gives better classification accuracy and the reduced number of intervals.
Jump Landing Characteristics Predict Lower Extremity Injuries in Indoor Team Sports

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of landing stability and technique to gain insight into risk factors for ankle and knee injuries in indoor team sport players. Seventy-five male and female basketball, volleyball or korfball players were screened by measuring landing stability after a single-leg jump landing and landing technique during a repeated counter movement jump by detailed 3-dimensional kinematics and kinetics. During the season 11 acute ankle injuries were reported along with 6 acute and 7 overuse knee injuries by the teams’ physical therapist. Logistic regression analysis showed less landing stability in the forward and diagonal jump direction (OR 1.01–1.10, p≤0.05) in players who sustained an acute ankle injury. Furthermore landing technique with a greater ankle dorsiflexion moment increased the risk for acute ankle injury (OR 2.16, p≤0.05). A smaller knee flexion moment and greater vertical ground reaction force increased the risk of an overuse knee injury (OR 0.29 and 1.13 respectively, p≤0.05). Less one-legged landing stability and suboptimal landing technique were shown in players sustaining an acute ankle and overuse knee injury compared to healthy players. Determining both landing stability and technique may further guide injury prevention programs.
Stochastic Variational Inequalities: Residual Minimization Smoothing Sample Average Approximations

The stochastic variational inequality (VI) has been used widely in engineering and economics as an effective mathematical model for a number of equilibrium problems involving uncertain data. This paper presents a new expected residual minimization (ERM) formulation for a class of stochastic VI. The objective of the ERM-formulation is Lipschitz continuous and semismooth which helps us guarantee the existence of a solution and convergence of approximation methods. We propose a globally convergent (a.s.) smoothing sample average approximation (SSAA) method to minimize the residual function; this minimization problem is convex for the linear stochastic VI if the expected matrix is positive semidefinite. We show that the ERM problem and its SSAA problems have minimizers in a compact set and any cluster point of minimizers and stationary points of the SSAA problems is a minimizer and a stationary point of the ERM problem (a.s.). Our examples come from applications involving traffic flow problems. We show that t.
Sampling time-dependent parameters in high-speed network monitoring

Nowadays network bandwidth is increasing continuously for end-users and network providers. Network monitoring tools have to be able to support these high-speed networks, processing a high number of packets per second. For this reason, network monitoring tools have to be improved using software or hardware techniques. In this paper we use sampling techniques, as a software technique that can provide the capacity of monitoring networks with high bandwidth, keeping a low-cost hardware platform. A new technique called mixed sampling is proposed and compared with other techniques proposed in the literature. We focus on time-dependent statistics not studied before with sampling. These statistics will require applying estimation techniques for better results
Visceral leishmaniasis in those infected with HIV: clinical aspects and other opportunistic infections

Abstract Cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in HIV-positive individuals have been reported from most areas of the world where the geographical distributions of the two infections overlap. The majority of the co-infected cases that have been recorded, however, live around the Mediterranean basin. In these subjects, the length of the incubation period of VL is presumably very short, particularly in those who have severe immunodepression. At diagnosis, almost all cases of VL/HIV co-infection have been found to have fewer than 200 CD4+ cells/μl blood, and about 50% meet the AIDS-defining criteria during their first episode of VL. The clinical manifestations of VL in HIV-infected individuals may be similar to those seen in HIV-negative cases; fever, pancytopenia and hepato-splenomegaly, for example, are found in 75% of all the HIV-positive cases. Following the dissemination of the parasites, however, the HIV-positive cases may develop unusual, multi-organ pathology. Almost all the cases of co-infection are very prone to VL relapses, even after carefully managed antileishmanial treatment. The opportunistic infections that are often seen in HIV-positives frequently develop during VL episodes, the signs and symptoms of the leishmaniasis then confusingly overlapping with those of the other infections.
EAP as actuator for a gripper with variable curvature

Nowadays, the bottleneck of the fabrication of hybrid microsystems is the assembling phase of microscopic components. Indeed, at microlevel, as a result of the high surface to volume ratio, superficial forces become dominant with respect to other ones and the development of new handling techniques is strongly required. In this context, innovative handling systems have been studied at ITIA. The possibilitiy of controlling and exploiting the capillary force has been investigated and an original handling system, based on capillary force, has been conceived. The theoretical studies led to the development of a first prototype of a gripper with variable curvature and the results obtained from this prototype encouraged the development of a smaller prototype, able to manipulate objects with weight of the order of milligrams. Regarding the actuation system of such a gripper, smart materials seemed to be required. Specifically, a novel configuration based on electroactive polymers (EAP) has been conceived. A feasibility study to evaluate their functionality and performances, as actuation system, has been carried out and the results are presented in this paper.
CKD.QLD: chronic kidney disease surveillance and research in Queensland, Australia

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is recognized as a major public health problem in Australia with significant mortality, morbidity and economic burden. However, there is no comprehensive surveillance programme to collect, collate and analyse data on CKD in a systematic way. Methods We describe an initiative called CKD Queensland (CKD.QLD), which was established in 2009 to address this deficiency, and outline the processes and progress made to date. The foundation is a CKD Registry of all CKD patients attending public health renal services in Queensland, and patient recruitment and data capture have started. Results We have established through early work of CKD.QLD that there are over 11 500 CKD patients attending public renal services in Queensland, and these are the target population for our registry. Progress so far includes conducting two CKD clinic site surveys, consenting over 3000 patients into the registry and initiation of baseline data analysis of the first 600 patients enrolled at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) site. In addition, research studies in dietary intake and CKD outcomes and in models of care in CKD patient management are underway. Conclusions Through the CKD Registry, we will define the distribution of CKD patients referred to renal practices in the public system in Queensland by region, remoteness, age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. We will define the clinical characteristics of those patients, and the CKD associations, stages, co-morbidities and current management. We will follow the course and outcomes in individuals over time, as well as group trends over time. Through our activities and outcomes, we are aiming to provide a nidus for other states in Australia to join in a national CKD registry and network.
A c c ep t ed M anu sc r i p t The geochemistry and petrogenesis of the Paleoproterozoic du Chef dyke swarm, Québec, Canada

The du Chef dyke swarm in southern Québec, Canada is composed of numerous northeast trending, greenschist-amphibolite facies, gabbronoritic dykes that crop out either side of the Grenville Front. The age of the du Chef swarm (2408±3 Ga) has led previous authors to suggest a genetic link between the du Chef dykes and coeval swarms (including the Ringvassøy, Scourie, Widgemooltha and Sebanga) preserved on other Archean cratons. These now disparate dyke swarms are proposed to have formed in response to mantle plume-induced continental breakup during the early Proterozoic. This work represents the first geochemical study of the du Chef dykes and shows that the swarm evolved through fractional crystallisation of a tholeiitic parent magma that remained largely uncontaminated during its residence in, and ascent through, the crust. We also show that the primary magma for the du Chef swarm was derived through partial melting of an enriched region of the mantle, with a similar trace element composition to the modern-day HIMU reservoir and that the magma produced was significantly hotter than the ambient mantle at the time. We contend that the du Chef dykes are the product of early Proterozoic mantle plume magmatism and may help pinpoint an ancient hotspot centre
Comparative Analysis of Intensity between Native Speakers and Japanese Speakers of English

Intensity has been reported as a reliable acoustical corre-late of stress accent for English language, but not of pitch accent for Japanese language. This difference between English and Japanese languages is presumed to shape the characteristics of intensity in English spoken by Japanese ( Japanese English , henceforth). Based on this presump-tion, the intensity of words in sentence utterances for Japanese English is compared to that for native speakers’ English ( native English , henceforth). Statistical analysis shows that nouns for Japanese English are produced with less intensity, whereas most function words are with more intensity than those for native English. A correlation is recognized between the above results and the proﬁciency in Japanese English.
Hemodynamic Effects of Continuous Spinal Anesthesia:: A Comparative Study between Low and High Doses of Bupivacaine

Background and Objective. Arterial hypotension is a major side effect of spinal anesthesia. Continuous spinal anesthesia may allow titration of the amount of local anesthetic to obtain a level that is appropriate for the surgical procedure. Methods. This study compared the hemodynamic effects and the quality of analgesia of spinal anesthesia performed with 3 ml of either 0.125% ( n = 12) or 0.5% ( n = 13) plain bupivacaine in 25 elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Results. The initial dose's duration of action (time elapsed between the end of injection and the first patient's complaint of pain during surgery) was shorter in the group receiving 3 ml of 0.125% plain bupivacaine than in the group receiving 0.5% plain bupivacaine: 80 ± 31 minutes versus 114 ± 37 minutes, respectively (mean ± SD; p < 0.05). In 6 (50%) of 12 patients of the 0.125% group and in 2 (15%) of 13 of the 0.5% group, analgesia became insufficient during the surgical procedure, necessitating injection of an additional 1 ml (top-up) of the previous solution. All subjects obtained good anesthesia for the entire procedure. The mean dose of bupivacaine necessary for the procedure was significantly lower in the 0.125% group (4.8 ± 1.3 mg, compared with the 0.5% group (16.1 ± 3 mg). For a similar maximal upper level of analgesia (T4-T12 in the 0.125% group versus T2-T10 in the 0.5% group), the decrease in systolic arterial pressure was more pronounced in the 0.5% group than in the 0.125% group during the period 15-40 minutes after induction of spinal anesthesia ( p < 0.05%). The mean dose of ephedrine was threefold larger in the 0.5% group than in the 0.125% group. Conclusion. Continuous spinal anesthesia with small amounts of 0.125% plain bupivacaine produces effective anesthesia for orthopedic procedures in elderly patients with minimal hemodynamic changes.