Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applying EEG in consumer neuroscience

Purpose This paper aims to review past papers focused on understanding consumer-related topics in marketing and related interdisciplinary fields to demonstrate the applications of electroencephalogram (EEG) in consumer neuroscience. Design/methodology/approach In addition to the review of papers using EEG to study consumer cognitive processes, the authors also discuss relevant decisions and considerations in conducting event-related potential (ERP) studies. Further, a framework proposed by Plassmann et al. (2015) was used to discuss the applications of EEG in marketing research from papers reviewed. Findings This paper successfully used Plassmann et al.’s (2015) framework to discuss five applications of neuroscience to marketing research. A review of growing EEG studies in the field of marketing and other interdisciplinary fields reveals the advantages and potential of using EEG in combination with other methods. This calls for more research using such methods. Research limitations/implications A technical overview of ERP-related terminology provides researchers with a background for understanding and reviewing ERP studies. A discussion of method-related considerations and decisions provides marketing researchers with an introduction to the method and refers readers to relevant literature. Practical implications The marketing industry has been quick to adopt cutting edge technology, including EEG, to understand and predict consumer behavior for the purpose of improving marketing practices. This paper connects the academic and practitioner spheres by presenting past and potential EEG research that can be translatable to the marketing industry. Originality/value The authors review past literature on the use of EEG to study consumer-related topics in marketing and interdisciplinary fields, to demonstrate its advantages over-traditional methods in studying consumer-relevant behaviors. To foster increasing use of EEG in consumer neuroscience research, the authors further provide technical and marketing-specific considerations for both academic and market researchers. This paper is one of the first to review past EEG papers and provide methodological background insights for marketing researchers.
Quantitative Analyse studentischer Projekte

Im Studiengang Softwaretechnik an der Universitat Stuttgart mussen alle Studierenden im Hauptdiplom an zwei Studienprojekten teilnehmen. Das erste Studienprojekt (Studienprojekt A) wird von den Informatikinstituten ausgegeben, das zweite Studienprojekt (B) wird im Anwendungsfach von Instituten anderer Fakultaten durchgefuhrt [Stu05]. Die Teilnehmer an einem Studienprojekt sollen die wesentlichen Aktivitaten von Softwareprojekten selbststandig planen und durchfuhren [Lud01]. Neben allen Tatigkeiten zur Entwicklung mit Vorprojekt, Spezifikation, Entwurf, Implementierung, Integration, Test und Auslieferung gehoren dazu auch Projektplanung und -kontrolle, Qualitatssicherung und weitere projektbegleitende Masnahmen. Unterstutzend stehen ihnen Betreuer der ausgebenden Abteilung zur Seite. Ein Teilnehmer ubernimmt die Rolle des Projektleiters. Die Kundenrolle wird von einem Mitarbeiter der Abteilung ubernommen, aber auch von externen Kunden aus der Industrie [Ham05]. An jedem Studienprojekt nehmen 6 bis 12 Studierende teil. Die Studienordnung [Stu05] nennt fur Studienprojekte eine Dauer von zwei Semestern und einen Aufwand von 16 SWS (Semesterwochenstunden) pro Teilnehmer. Davon entfallen 6 SWS auf konventionelle Lehrveranstaltungen. Die Projektarbeit mit 10 SWS entspricht 400 Eh (Entwicklerstunden) pro Teilnehmer. Bislang wurden Metriken in den Studienprojekten von den Teilnehmern erhoben und anekdotisch in den Abschlussprasentationen gezeigt. Da diese Daten aber nicht zentral gesammelt wurden, war ein Vergleich zwischen mehreren Projekten nicht moglich. Eine erste systematische Analyse des Aufwands und des Umfangs wurde fur die Studienprojekte der Abteilung Programmiersprachen durchgefuhrt [Sim05]. In einer Studienarbeit wurden umfangreich Metriken aus abgeschlossenen Studienprojekten A erhoben [Thu05]. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit und die Erfahrungen mit der Metrikerhebung und -analyse werden in diesem Artikel vorgestellt. Die Ziele dieser Erhebung waren: Unterstutzung der Kostenschatzung. Die Aufgabenstellung wird von den Betreuern und Kunden auf die Rahmenbedingungen des Studienprojekts zugeschnitten, der Umfang der Anforderungen wird aber im Vorprojekt und wahrend der Spezifikation endgultig geklart. Fur das Angebot im Vorprojekt werden die Teilnehmer mit den Schwierigkeiten der Kostenschatzung konfrontiert, weil sie alle Anforderungen des Kunden realisieren sollen, der mogliche Aufwand aber begrenzt ist. Fur die Planung mussen einzelne Phasen und Arbeitspakete definiert und mit Aufwand und Dauer geplant werden. Wahrend in der Praxis uberwiegend Expertenschatzungen durchgefuhrt werden [Jor04], konnen die Studienprojektteilnehmer nicht auf eigene Erfahrungen mit Projekten dieser Grose zuruckgreifen. Darum sollen die Teilnehmer durch Daten aus abgeschlossenen Studienprojekten unterstutzt werden.
123I-FP-CIT SPECT Accurately Distinguishes Parkinsonian From Cerebellar Variant of Multiple System Atrophy

Purpose Dopamine transporter SPECT imaging is a valuable tool to estimate the integrity of presynaptic dopaminergic pathways in degenerative parkinsonisms. Evidence about SPECT differential pattern between parkinsonian and cerebellar forms of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P and MSA-C) is lacking. We aimed at assessing whether MSA-P and MSA-C variants have a distinct semiquantitative 123I-FP-CIT SPECT pattern. Methods We studied a unicentric 13-year (2003–2016) retrospective cohort of subjects with possible or probable MSA and scanned with the same acquisition and reconstruction SPECT protocol. Age-dependent semiquantitative reference limits for striatal volumes of interest, asymmetry indices, and caudate/putamen ratio were previously established with a percentile approach on a cohort of subjects with nondegenerative conditions and normal visual scan. Results Thirty-four subjects with clinical MSA (28 MSA-P and 6 MSA-C) were identified (mean age, 68.2 ± 10.1 years; male/female ratio 1.00; disease duration, 2.5 ± 2.2 years; Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III score, 33.8 ± 12.4). The MSA-P subjects exhibited lower uptake values for all volumes of interest, for example, striatal uptake on the more affected side (1.10 ± 0.51) compared with MSA-C (2.30 ± 0.41, P = 0.0005), as well as significantly higher asymmetry indices % (24.7 ± 24.8 vs 6.3 ± 4.5, P = 0.028) and caudate/putamen ratio (2.26 ± 1.23 vs 1.13 ± 0.17, P = 0.00148). Conclusions The MSA-P and MSA-C subjects exhibited significantly distinct semiquantitative SPECT pattern with severe uptake impairment and high asymmetry for MSA-P and borderline uptake values for MSA-C. Clinical distinction of these 2 phenotypical entities is necessary in order to evaluate SPECT potential to discriminate between degenerative parkinsonisms.
Growth as a Mirror of the Condition of Society: Secular Trends and Class Distinctions

A study of the history of growth (Tanner 1981) shows that there have been three principal reasons or impulses for undertaking growth studies. First, the pure impulse of curiosity. the desire to discover the way in which a child grows, t o formulate a law describing human growth, enshrined in an ideal Human Growth Curve. Second, the more socially-oriented impulse, the impulse above all of the men and women who would reform and improve society; growth of children. as I shall show you, is a wonderfully good gauge of living conditions and the relative prosperity of different groups in a population. And third, there is the clinical impluse, the desire to monitor the growth not of populations of children but of a particular child, to ensure that it develops in the best possible way. The very first longitudinal study of growth was made out of pure curiosity. It was at the time of what we call the French Enlightenment, a period in the second half of the 18th century when education, and particularly education in science, swept away centuries-old superstitions and prejudices, and rational
Forest Growth Responses to Drought at Short- and Long-Term Scales in Spain: Squeezing the Stress Memory from Tree Rings

Drought-triggered declines in forest productivity and associated die-off events have increased considerably due to climate warming in the last decades. There is an increasing interest in quantifying the resilience capacity of forests against climate warming and drought to uncover how different stands and tree species will resist and recover after more frequent and intense droughts. Trees form annual growth rings that represent an accurate record of how forest growth responded to past droughts. Here we use dendrochronology to quantify the radial growth of different forests subjected to contrasting climatic conditions in Spain during the last half century. Particularly, we considered four climatically contrasting areas where dominant forests showed clear signs of drought-induced dieback. Studied forests included wet sites dominated by silver fir (Abies alba) in the Pyrenees and beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands in northern Spain, and drought-prone sites dominated by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in eastern Spain and black pine (Pinus nigra) in the semi-arid south-eastern Spain. We quantified the growth reduction caused by different droughts and assessed the short-and long-term resilience capacity of declining vs. non-declining trees in each forest. In all cases, drought induced a marked growth reduction regardless tree vigor. However, the capacity to recover after drought (resilience) at short- and long-term scales varied greatly between declining and non-declining individuals. In the case of beech and silver fir, non-declining individuals presented greater growth rates and capacity to recover after drought than declining individuals. For Scots pine, the resilience to drought was found to be lower in recent years regardless the tree vigor, but the growth reduction caused by successive droughts was more pronounced in declining than in non-declining individuals. In the black pine forest an extreme drought induced a marked growth reduction in declining individuals when accounting for age effects on growth rates. We demonstrate the potential of tree ring data to record short- and long-term impacts of drought on forest growth and to quantify the resilience capacity of trees.
Anatomic Localization of Immature and Mature Dendritic Cells in an Ectopic Lymphoid Organ: Correlation with Selective Chemokine Expression in Rheumatoid Synovium

It remains to be clarified whether dendritic cells (DC) reach the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium, considered an ectopic lymphoid organ, as mature cells or undergo local maturation. We characterized by immunohistochemistry the DC subsets and used tonsils as a control. Immature and mature DC were defined by CD1a and DC-lysosome-associated membrane protein/CD83 expression, respectively. Immature DC were mainly detected in the lining layer in RA synovium. Mature DC were exclusively detected in the lymphocytic infiltrates. The DC-lysosome-associated membrane protein/CD1a ratio was 1.1 in RA synovium and 5.3 in tonsils, suggesting the relative accumulation of immature DC in RA synovium. We then focused on the expression of CCL20/CCR6 and CCL19/CCR7, CCL21/CCR7 chemokine/receptor complex, which control immature and mature DC migration respectively. A close association was observed between CCL20-producing cells and CD1a+ cells, suggesting the contribution of CCL20 to CCR6+ cell homing. Conversely, CCL21 and CCL19 expression was only detected in perivascular infiltrates. The association among CCL19/21-producing cells, CCR7 expression, and mature DC accumulation is in line with the roles of these chemokines in mature CCR7+ DC homing to lymphocytic infiltrates. The role of DC in disease initiation and perpetuation makes chemokines involved in DC migration a potential therapeutic target.
Generalización del algoritmo cuántico de teleportación

Resumen En 1993 C. Bennet, G. Brassard, C. Crepeau, R. Jozsa, A. Peres y W. Wootters[1] sugirieron un algoritmo cuantico capaz de teleportar el estado desconocido de un qubit haciendo uso de un estado de Bell. Utilizando dicho algoritmo, la teleportacion de los estados de 2 o mas qubits debe hacerse de a uno por vez. El problema surge cuando se quiere teleportar un estado cuantico de N-qubits que esten entangled, pues separarlos para viabilizar la teleportacion implicaria perder dicha propiedad. El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar una generalizacion del algoritmo de teleportacion que sea capaz de teleportar los estados de N-qubits en forma simultanea. Para ello se propone un estado entangled analogo a un estado de Bell de 2N-qubits.
How Do Exporters in a Middle-Income Country Choose Their Markets ?

Since the breakthrough contribution of heterogeneous-firm trade models (Melitz, 2003, Bernard et al., 2003, and Yeaple, 2005, among others), extensions have been proposed to allow country specific exogenous technology-generation processes (Demidova, 2008, and Falvey, Greenaway, and Yu, 2006). The purpose is to capture the fact that, not only firms are heterogeneous, but countries differ in their overall technology levels as well. However, the mathematical complexity of these extensions led authors to rely on the assumption of an outside sector. This assumption implies that the level of a country’s income is fixed and simplifies the model such as it is possible to achieve an analytical solution. However, concerning the profile of exporters, this assumption is by no way innocuous. As shown by Demidova (2008) and Falvey, Greenaway, and Yu (2006), it implies that an improvement in an export’s market productivity distribution tend to increase the toughness of competition and exclude the less productive, i.e. less cost efficient and less profitable, foreign exporter firms from that market. This is called here the Competition Effect. However, using a firm-level panel data from Brazil, descriptive statistics show that Brazilian firms that export to the most technologically developed markets are in average less cost efficient and less profitable than those that export to undeveloped countries. On the other hand, when an outside sector is not assumed, income is not fixed and an improvement in the productivity distribution of an export market increases this country’s income and demand, creating export opportunities even for some less productive firms. Thus, the assumption of an outside sector masks this very important link, called here the Demand Effect. However, given the lack of an analytical solution, the Demand Effect can only be studied by simulations and empirical investigations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the inadequacy of the outside sector assumption in the context of how firms choose their export markets. Using a simplified parameterization of Melitz (2003) heterogeneous-firm trade model, simulations are performed to demonstrate that not only the Demand Effect is present but it can also overcome the Competition Effect. The empirical findings based on Brazilian firms also show that, after controlling for trade costs and firm’s characteristics, an increment in a country’s productivity level may actually increase the probability that a firm will export to that country.
The effects of chronic ethanol consumption on the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopamine systems.

Both the mesolimbic dopamine system, which is involved with the rewarding properties of several drugs of abuse, and the nigrostriatal dopamine system, which is involved with motor function, appear to be sensitive to the effects of ethanol. In order to determine which components of the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopamine systems are adversely affected by chronic ethanol consumption, we assessed dopamine and DOPAC (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) concentration and D1 and D2 receptors in several dopaminergic brain areas. These studies demonstrated that consumption of a 6.6% (v/v) ethanol-containing lipid diet for 1 month affected several components of the mesolimbic dopamine system in 3-month-old Fisher 344 rats and fewer components of the nigrostriatal dopamine system. Specifically, there was a 1.6- to 2.6-fold increase in the concentration of DOPAC in the nucleus accumbens (NA), frontal cortex (FCX), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and substantia nigra (SN). While the increase in DOPAC in the FCX and VTA was paralleled by a similar increase in dopamine, there was a significant deficiency of dopamine in the SN. These results suggest that there is an increase in dopamine turnover in the FCX, VTA, NA, and SN, which is accompanied by increased dopamine synthesis in the former two regions. Studies of dopamine receptors in control and ethanol-fed rats demonstrated a 25% loss of D1 receptors in the NA. No significant differences were found in D1 receptors in the striatum or globus pallidus. In addition, there were no differences in the number of total D2 receptors or in the conversion of the high to low affinity state of D2 receptors in the nucleus accumbens and striatum. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Alexithymia, Psychopathology and Alcohol Misuse in Adolescence: A Population Based Study on 3556 Teenagers

Objectives: To analyze the association between alexithymia and alcohol intake during adolescence, also in relation to psychopathology, in order to identify psychological risk factors for alcohol misuse. Method: 3556 students [mean age (range) 14.5 years (11-18)] were recruited in the Padua area. Each was administered a set of three questionnaires: the Toronto Alexithymia Scale for children (TAS-20) to measure alexithymia, the Questionnaire Adolescent Saturday evening (QAS) to estimate of alcohol intake, and the Youth Self-Report (YSR 11-18) to value psychopathology. Results: Externalizing problems appeared to increase with age and with the amount of alcohol consumed, unlike internalizing problems. The prevalence of alexithymia was 18%, decreasing with age, and it was not associated with alcohol consumption, and used except in younger subjects (≤13), for whom a positive correlation was observed between alexithymia, internalizing problems and alcohol intake. Conclusions: Younger adolescents are more psycho-emotionally vulnerable (internalizing problems and alexithymia) and at a greater risk of alcohol misuse.
Internal audit functions: an empirical study of public and private sectors in Nigeria

The study examines the similarities and differences between the private and public sectors internal audit functions in Nigeria. The features examined include the hierarchical position of the internal audit functions, outsourcing of internal audit activities, reporting relationship of the internal auditor, and the coordination between internal and external auditors. A survey of internal audit managers of both sectors was undertaken to establish their current practices. The results revealed that there are no much differences in the hierarchical positioning of the internal audit function in both sectors. A substantial difference was found in the reporting lines of internal auditors in both sectors. The results further showed that private sector outsources internal audit activities more than the public sector and a slight difference exists between the two sectors about the level of coordination between internal and external auditors. Finally, the result indicated that private sector experiences a reduction in external audit fees compares to its counterpart in the public sector.
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma with functional autonomy.

OBJECTIVE To present a case of papillary carcinoma in an autonomously hyperfunctioning thyroid nodule. METHODS We chronicle the clinical and laboratory findings in a patient with a painless neck mass, with a particular focus on the pathologic findings after surgical removal of the right thyroid lobe. RESULTS A 39-year-old woman had an enlarging nodule of the right thyroid lobe. Results of thyroid function tests suggested subclinical hyperthyroidism. Two months later, the patient complained of increasing swelling in the neck (but still had no symptoms suggestive of hyperthyroidism). Thus, resection of the right thyroid lobe was performed. Pathologic analysis disclosed low-grade papillary thyroid carcinoma within the nodule, with a small rim of compressed inactive-appearing thyroid tissue surrounding the nodule. Subsequently, she underwent total thyroidectomy and follow-up care for thyroid carcinoma. CONCLUSION Although solitary hyperfunctioning nodules of the thyroid gland are usually considered benign, the current case suggests that the diagnosis of autonomous thyroid nodules does not preclude thyroid carcinoma in a functioning nodule.
Regulation of Twist, Snail, and Id1 is conserved between the developing murine palate and tooth

The development of both the tooth and palate requires coordinated bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. Here, we demonstrate that transcription factors Twist and Snail are downstream targets of FGF signalling, that Id1 and Msx2 are downstream targets of BMP signalling, and that Msx1 is regulated by both signalling pathways during tooth and palate development. We show that Twist and Snail expression in the mesenchyme is regulated by the overlying epithelium and that exogenous FGF4 in tooth and FGF2 in palate can mimic this regulation in isolated mesenchymal explants. Ids act in a dominant‐negative manner to inhibit the function of other transcription factors such as Twist and Snail. FGF and BMP signalling can regulate development antagonistically, and we suggest that FGF‐regulated Twist and Snail and BMP‐regulated Id1 may mediate these antagonistic effects during both tooth and palate development. Developmental Dynamics 234:28–35, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transportation 2.0

Most of our current transportation system is not sustainable. It represents transportation 1.0, mainly dependent on fossil fuels. There is a fierce global competition to develop the next generation of vehicles, however, and the most promising and practical sustainable solution is clearly electrification- transportation 2.0. There is, in fact, an evolving paradigm shift in the transportation industry toward more efficient, more reliable, safer, smarter, and higher-performance vehicles that are more environmentally friendly.
The importance of production standard operating procedure in a family business company

Plastic industry is a growing sector, therefore UD X which engage in this business has a great potential to grow as well. The problem faced by this family business company is that no standard operating procedure is used and it lead to problem in the quality and quantity produced. This research is aim to create a production standard operating procedure for UD X. Semistructure interview is used to gather information from respondent to help writer create the SOP. There are four SOP’s created, namely: classifying SOP, sorting SOP, milling SOP and packing SOP. Having SOP will improve the effectiveness of production because employees already know how to work in each stages of production process.