Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological importance of human agency how self-assembly affects user experience of robots

Does assembling one's robot enhance the quality of our interaction with it? And, does it matter whether the robot is a utilitarian tool or a socially interactive entity? We examined these questions with a 2 (Assembler: Self vs. Others) × 2 (Expectation Setting/Framing: Task-oriented robot vs. Interaction-oriented robot) between-subjects experiment (N = 80), in which participants interacted with a humanoid desktop robot (KT-Gladiator 19). Results showed that participants tended to have more positive evaluations of both the robot and the interaction process when they set it up themselves, an effect that is positively mediated by a sense of ownership and a sense of accomplishment, and negatively mediated by perceived process costs of setting up the robot. They also tended to evaluate the robot and the interaction more positively when they expected it to be task-oriented rather than interaction-oriented. Implications for theory and design of robots are discussed.
Redesigning introductory computer programming using multi-level online modules for a mixed audience

We report here on an extensive redesign and unification of the Introductory Computer Programming sequences offered to computer science, computer engineering, information science and digital media majors. The redesign is intended to improve student learning while reducing costs. The approach makes use of substantial Web-based course material and course management tools, including multi-level online modules that individualize instruction and enable students to self-schedule learning each week. Each module covers a particular aspect of computer programming at different levels of knowledge. Students are assigned work and reading from the module at a level appropriate to the objectives of the long-term goals of their major. This allows students in different majors to acquire the appropriate skill level for each technique and concept. Peer mentors and teaching assistants provide assistance online or in person. In the future, we plan to expand the self-scheduling aspect of the course to allow students to enter the course at different modules, depending on their previous knowledge.
Designing and Engineering Interactive Critical Systems Using Contributions from Gaming Research and Practice

Integrating automation in systems is a classical approach followed by designers and engineers to support operators in the command and control tasks of more and more complex systems. However, designing automation and designing interfaces for operating systems that are (partly) automated is a very complex activity altering in depth the development process of these systems. In the early days such automation was rather limited and thus easier to manage even though bad designs have been widely and frequently reported (e.g. [21, 24]). Entertainment computing and gaming is a large research and industrial domain receiving an ever growing interest that has been facing such issues since the very first games. Early on games were involving autonomous objects and (later) automation-based tools for supporting (and evoking) extremely demanding and challenging cognitive, perceptive and motor activities. This paper reports on work that has been carried out in the area of games to support the engineering of autonomous systems. It provides a set of design guidelines, processes, and evaluation techniques applicable to the domain of safety-critical interactive command and control systems.
Different Notions Lead Difficulties of Making Information System Modernization Decisions

If organizational purposes or functions changes then usually we are concerned with information system modernization. However, there are difficulties of making information system modernization decisions because of suppliers and clients may have different notions about modernization. In this paper, we present a review and qualitative analysis of statements for information system modernization. The objective of this review is to describe current reported knowledge in terms of what kind of modernization is defined, what is the domain of modernization, is modernization a synonym for reengineering, and does modernization include replacement situations. We found 42 statements for modernization from 36 papers. These findings show that the concept of modernization is unestablished. However, if we want to have similar notions about information system modernizations then we have to be transparent where the changes have effect. Therefore, one solution based on the analysis of relationships between the entities of enterprise architecture is presented to help for making information system modernization decisions.
Support Vector Machine for Automatic Image Annotation

Automatic image annotation (AIA) is an active topic of research in computer vision and pattern recognition. In the last two decades, large amount of researches on AIA have been proposed, mainly including classification-based methods and probabilistic modeling methods. As one of the most common methods for AIA, support vector machine (SVM) has been widely applied in the multimedia research community, especially for image classification, image annotation and retrieval. However, compared with various SVM methods and their corresponding applications in the literature, there is almost no review research and analysis about SVM related studies. So the current paper, to start with, elaborates the basic principles of SVM. Followed by it summarizes SVM with applications to image annotation from three aspects of SVM ensemble for AIA, SVM with mixture of kernels for AIA and hybrid SVM for AIA respectively. In addition, SVM exploited in several other applications are also briefly reviewed. Finally, we end this paper with a summary of some important conclusions and highlight the potential research directions of SVM in automatic image annotation for the future.
The CAG repeat within the androgen receptor gene and its relationship to prostate cancer.

The length of a polymorphic CAG repeat sequence, occurring in the androgen receptor gene, is inversely correlated with transcriptional activity by the androgen receptor. Because heightened androgenic stimulation may increase risk of prostate cancer development and progression, we examined whether shorter CAG repeats in the androgen receptor gene are related to higher risk of prostate cancer. We conducted a nested case-control study of 587 newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer detected between 1982 and 1995, and 588 controls without prostate cancer, within the Physician's Health Study. An association existed between fewer androgen receptor gene CAG repeats and higher risk of total prostate cancer [relative risk (RR) = 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.92-2.49; P trend = 0.04; for men with CAG repeat lengths < or = 18 relative to > or = 26 repeats]. In particular, a shorter CAG repeat sequence was associated with cancers characterized by extraprostatic extension or distant metastases (stage C or D) or high histologic grade (RR = 2.14; CI = 1.14-4.01; P trend = 0.001). This association was observed individually both for high stage (RR = 2.23) and high grade prostate cancer (RR = 1.89). Men with shorter repeats were at particularly high risk for distant metastatic and fatal prostate cancer. Variability in the CAG repeat length was not associated with low grade or low stage disease. These results demonstrate that a shorter CAG repeat sequence in the androgen receptor gene predicts higher grade and advanced stage of prostate cancer at diagnosis, and metastasis and mortality from the disease. The clinical implications of these results should be evaluated further.
The challenges of seamless handover in future mobile multimedia networks

One of the major objectives of third-generation mobile communications systems (TGMS) is the seamless integration of advanced multimedia services over both fixed and mobile networks leading to fixed-mobile convergence. Such systems will support audio, video, multimedia, data, and speech services in a variety of environments with levels of service for mobile users comparable to service currently available for fixed users. To achieve this, TGMS systems must provide adequate performance (in terms of bits per second) for each user in each of the operating environments foreseen. Despite considerable support from many sources (academia, network equipment manufacturers) the homogeneous network architecture that universal adoption of ATM would have provided seems unlikely to become a reality. The very rapid development of ultra-high-speed members of the Ethernet "family" has pre-empted the unique scalability promise of ATM. At the same time, the explosive growth of Internet-based applications and services has ensured that IP will remain the network layer protocol of choice for the vast majority of next-generation systems. This article examines the challenges of handover across a single network domain, between network domains, and specifically between network domains of different levels of QoS. We report on various techniques for supporting mobile terminals, different approaches to handover, and specific issues associated with TCP/IP over wireless links. Finally, we identify some of the more advanced mobile systems R&D projects from the "seamless integration of advanced multimedia services" perspective before generating our conclusions.
The p38 MAPK Pathway Mediates Transcriptional Activation of the Plasma Platelet-activating Factor Acetylhydrolase Gene in Macrophages Stimulated with Lipopolysaccharide*

Administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to experimental animals results in the up-regulation of expression of the plasma form of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF AH) in tissue macrophages. To investigate the mechanism underlying induction of PAF AH by LPS we used murine RAW264.7 and human THP-1 macrophages as model systems. We found that the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway mediates transcriptional activation of the PAF AH gene through the participation of nucleotides -68/-316 relative to the transcriptional initiation site. This promoter region spans two Sp1/Sp3 binding sites (SP-A and SP-B) and is necessary and sufficient for the observed effect. Disruption of these Sp binding sites significantly reduces promoter activity in LPS-stimulated cells. The ability of LPS to induce transcriptional activation of PAF AH is not due to enhanced Sp1/Sp3 binding to the promoter but involves enhanced transactivation function of Sp1 via p38 MAPK activation. These studies characterize the mechanism by which LPS modulates expression of PAF AH at the transcriptional level, and they have important implications for our understanding of responses that occur during the development of LPS-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Penetration of ceforanide and cefamandole into the right atrial appendage, pericardial fluid, sternum, and intercostal muscle of patients undergoing open heart surgery

Doses of 30 mg of ceforanide or cefamandole per kg were administered intravenously to 26 patients just before their chests were opened for coronary artery bypass or cardiac valve replacement surgery. Samples of right atrial appendage, pericardial fluid, plasma, aortic wall, intercostal muscle, and sternum were obtained at different times after the antibiotic was injected, and these samples were assayed for cephalosporin concentration. For ceforanide the pre-bypass plasma half-life was 2.5 h, and the atrial appendage half-life was 2.1 h; for cefamandole the pre-bypass plasma half-life was 0.75 h and the atrial appendage half-life was 0.72 h. At 3 h the concentrations of ceforanide and cefamandole in atrial appendages were 28.0 and 5.0 micrograms/g, respectively. Ceforanide achieved higher and more sustained concentrations in other tissues than cefamandole. Considering the minimal inhibitory concentrations of these drugs for staphylococci, cefamandole and ceforanide should provide adequate protection against infection by these organisms for the duration of the surgical procedure.
Newcastle disease in Paraguay.

A serious outbreak of a velogenic strain of Newcastle disease occurred in Paraguay in August, 1970. Deaths of domestic poultry were very high in affected flocks. Vaccination against Newcastle disease had been prevented by law. This was rescinded, however, and voluntary vaccination was started. The incidence of new outbreaks dropped sharply thereafter. This is the first report of isolation and identification of Newcastle disease in Paraguay. Evidence is presented, however, suggesting that Newcastle was present in Paraguay between 1957 and 1959. At that time, diagnostic facilities were not available, so no attempt was made to differentiate between Newcastle disease and fowl plague by those doing the diagnostic and regulatory work.
The proportionality of glutaminase content to growth rate and morphology of rat neoplasms.

Correlations were demonstrated among the growth rates, concentrations of kidney-type of phosphate-dependent glutaminase, and morphologies of seven types of transplanted and primary rat neoplasms. The exponential rates of growth in volume of each of the transplanted rat neoplasms were respectively similar to their rates of cellular growth, measured with colchicine. The relative degrees of histologic differentiation were quantified by a ranking procedure. The concentrations of enzyme present in the tumors were proportional to the rates of growth over the 5-fold ranges encompassed by this material, and the faster growing tumors with more enzyme were proportionately more undifferentiated. The glutaminase apparently plays a significant role in neoplastic type of metabolism in this series of heterogeneous tumors because it is quantitatively proportional to the two main biologic properties of these neoplasms.
Impacts of Online Reviews on IT-enabled Service Adoption: A Preliminary Evidence from Mobile Data Services

The advancement of social media technologies has enabled consumers to freely generate reviews online. These reviews are considered important in influencing consumer purchase decisions of various products. However, it is unclear how they affect the adoption of IT-enabled services. Further, service innovativeness is implied to affect service adoption. But, little research has examined the influence of innovativeness of IT-enabled services on their adoption. By drawing on service dominant logic, this paper examines the effects of service innovativeness and online reviews on IT-enabled services adoption. A preliminary test of the model was performed using initial data of mobile data service applications obtained from a platform. The results reveal that both service innovativeness and the volume of online reviews positively impact IT-enabled service acceptance. However, the valence of online reviews does not impact IT-enabled service adoption. The potential contributions and plans for further testing and enhancing the model are described.
DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNET ACROSS TRANSITION ECONOMIES

In a global and innovation driven economy, the use of the tools provided by new telecommunications technologies such as the Internet, can play a crucial role to reduce transactions costs and to allow exchanges that otherwise would not take place. There has been an extensive literature trying to quantify the contribution of technology in general and in particular of Information Technology (IT) in achieving the US productivity acceleration of the late 1990s with has generated a lively debate. The role and contribution of IT to increase productivity and growth has been also been extended for selected OECD countries. However, there is st ill limited empirical evidence on transition and developing economies, also due both to lack of adequate or reliable census data, with most of the analysis focusing on cross country analysis. This paper attempts to tackle similar issues considering new microeconomic evidence from survey data from a major enterprise level survey (implemented by EBRD and the World Bank in the summer of 1999) and on business case studies consisting of in -depth interviews of general directors and senior management of enterprise s across selected countries in the region carried out in the summer of 2000. Our key regressions results and can be summarised as follows. At the enterprise-level innovation as well as pressures from competition is positively and significantly associated to the use of Internet. As expected we find out that Internet is likely to be associated with greater agglomeration, raising concerns on the risks on a digital divide. At the country level, Internet is more likely to be adopted in countries characterised by higher income, democracy, better basic telecom infrastructure. As regards to enterprise performance, the use of the Internet is positively and significantly associated to better enterprise performance, even controlling for many of the other enterprise and country level variables that are associated with enhanced performance. In sum, the use of advanced telecom services represents a great opportunity for transition economies to accelerate progress in the transition process. However, for them to make a sol id contribution to long term growth, markets must be allowed to work and not be held back by non-supportive regulatory frameworks.
Extensive gas bubble release in Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) during predator avoidance

Events of extensive gas bubble release in over-wintering Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) were repeatedly observed acoustically and visually in Vestfjorden, northern Norway, during attacks from killer whales (Orcinus orca) and saithe (Pollachius virens). Gas bubbles were visually observed to come from the swimbladder of individual herring swimming very close to the surface and gas bubble production was so extensive that large areas of the sea surface were sometimes covered with white foam after each event. Acoustically, gas bubbles could be identified on the echosounder as strong echoes covering the upper 0-30 m of the water column. It is suggested that herring schools were forced from large depths up to the surface by predatory killer whales and saithe, after which they expelled gas as a consequence of the rapid change in depth. Gas release may confuse and deflect both visually and acoustically oriented predators due to increased scattering of light, reduced range of vision, and confounding effects of the reflection energy of bubbles and fish. Such events may have considerable effect on target strength and estimated stock sizes during acoustic surveys.
Lethal outbreak of disease associated with feline calicivirus infection in cats

Recently, in the USA, virulent mutants of feline calicivirus (FCV) have been identified as the cause of a severe and acute virulent systemic disease, characterised by jaundice, oedema and high mortality in groups of cats. This severe manifestation of FCV disease has so far only been reported in the USA. However, in 2003, an outbreak of disease affected a household of four adult cats and an adult cat from a neighbouring household in the UK. Three of the adult cats in the household and the neighbouring cat developed clinical signs including pyrexia (39·5 to 40·5°C), lameness, voice loss, inappetence and jaundice. One cat was euthanased in extremis, two died and one recovered. A postmortem examination of one of the cats revealed focal cellulitis around the right hock and right elbow joints. The principal finding of histopathological examinations of selected organs from two of the cats was disseminated hepatocellular necrosis with mild inflammatory infiltration. Immunohistology identified FCV antigen in parenchymal and Kupffer cells in the liver of both animals and in alveolar macrophages of one of them. In addition, calicivirus-like particles were observed by electron microscopy within the hepatocytes of one cat. FCV was isolated from two of the dead cats and from the two surviving cats. Sequence analysis showed that they were all infected with the same strain of virus, but that it was different from strains of FCV associated with the virulent systemic disease in cats in the USA. The outbreak was successfully controlled by quarantine in the owner’s house.
Effects of antenatal depression and antidepressant treatment on gestational age at birth and risk of preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE The authors evaluated the effects of prenatal antidepressant exposure and maternal depression on infant gestational age at birth and risk of preterm birth. METHOD Ninety women were followed in a prospective, naturalistic design through pregnancy with monthly assessments of symptoms of depression and anxiety using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV mood module for depression, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Participants included 49 women with major depressive disorder who were treated with antidepressants during pregnancy (group 1), 22 women with major depressive disorder who were either not treated with antidepressants or had limited exposure to them during pregnancy (group 2), and 19 healthy comparison subjects (group 3). The primary outcome variables were the infants' gestational age at birth, birth weight, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, and admission to the special care nursery. RESULTS Groups 1, 2, and 3 differed significantly in gestational age at birth (38.5 weeks, 39.4 weeks, 39.7 weeks, respectively), rates of preterm birth (14.3%, 0%, 5.3%, respectively), and rates of admission to the special care nursery (21%, 9%, 0%, respectively). Birth weight and Apgar scores did not differ significantly between groups. Mild to moderate depression during pregnancy did not affect outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal antidepressant use was associated with lower gestational age at birth and an increased risk of preterm birth. Presence of depressive symptoms was not associated with this risk. These results suggest that medication status, rather than depression, is a predictor of gestational age at birth.
Tissue microarray analysis of cytoskeletal actin‐associated biomarkers gelsolin and E‐cadherin in urothelial carcinoma

Alterations of expression of the cytoskeletal proteins Gelsolin and E‐cadherin have been implicated in urothelial carcinoma tumorigenesis. However, it is not clear how these altered expressions associate with tumor progression, nor is it clear how these protein markers provide prognostic value for urothelial carcinomas.
An Analysis of the Factors Influencing ITS Technology Adoption and Deployment

This study analyzes the factors influencing the adoption of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies in the U.S. amongst state and local transportation agencies. Using data from the ITS Deployment Tracking survey, insight is provided on how economic and demographic factors influence ITS adoption/deployment, the role safety or mobility problems play in the decision to adopt/deploy ITS technologies, and how policy can affect ITS adoption/deployment. In addition, this study examines the historical adoption patterns of ITS technologies as they entered the market place. Results indicate ITS markets are primarily made up of imitators (as opposed to innovators) and at the aggregate level the markets examined are mature. Key factors affecting the adoption and deployment of ITS include agency funding levels and the presence of a regional architecture. Based on these results, policy recommendations are presented on how best the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) might target its efforts to influence the pattern of ITS adoption. These recommendations include support for additional funding for state and local agencies, requirement of regional ITS architectures, knowledge sharing programs and continue to provide evidence, through operational and evaluation tests, of the effectiveness of ITS technologies.