What Makes Usage of Mobile Data Service Increase or Decrease: Perspective of Two-Factor Theory

This study is to investigate factors that affect usage change in mobile data service (MDS). The central claim of this paper is that influencing forces of usage increase in MDS are different from those of usage decrease. We propose that information quality as the motivator (forces of usage increase) and system quality as the de-motivator (forces of usage decrease) of MDS. A research model is proposed and subsequent hypotheses are empirically tested with partial least square (PLS) based on 478 responses from the users of mobile data service. We have found that information quality (as a motivator) is positively associated with usage increase in mobile data service, but system quality (as a de-motivator) is not. Also, system quality is negatively associated with usage decrease, but information quality is not. Despite the recognized limitations, our study highlights the potential value of the two-factor theory in explaining user behaviors associated with mobile data services

Mechanism of peripheral nerve modulation and recent applications

Neuromodulation is a multi-interdisciplinary field of neuroscience, neural engineering, and medicine in a complex, but a way of understanding. Recently, the interest and researches in this field have been attracted due to its promising applications such as bionic limbs and bioelectronic medicine. For easier entry into this field, in this review, we approach the basic mechanism, methods, and applications of peripheral neuromodulation sequentially. Firstly, the overall structure and functions of the human nervous system are introduced, especially in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Specifically, the fundamental neurophysiology regarding action potentials and neural signals is introduced to understand the communication between the neurons. Thereafter, two main methods for peripheral neuromodulation, which are electrical and optogenetic approaches, are introduced with the principles of the state-of-art devices. Finally, advanced applications of neuromodulation combined with the sensor, stimulator, and controller, called a closed-loop system are introduced with an example of bionic limbs. © 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.1

Coyote C++: An Industrial-Strength Fully Automated Unit Testing Tool

Coyote C++ is an automated testing tool that uses a sophisticated concolic-execution-based approach to realize fully automated unit testing for C and C++. While concolic testing has proven effective for languages such as C and Java, tools have struggled to achieve a practical level of automation for C++ due to its many syntactical intricacies and overall complexity. Coyote C++ is the first automated testing tool to breach the barrier and bring automated unit testing for C++ to a practical level suitable for industrial adoption, consistently reaching around 90% code coverage. Notably, this testing process requires no user involvement and performs test harness generation, test case generation and test execution with "one-click" automation. In this paper, we introduce Coyote C++ by outlining its high-level structure and discussing the core design decisions that shaped the implementation of its concolic execution engine. Finally, we demonstrate that Coyote C++ is capable of achieving high coverage results within a reasonable timespan by presenting the results from experiments on both open-source and industrial software

Repurposing metformin for cancer treatment: current clinical studies.

In recent years, several studies have presented evidence suggesting a potential role for metformin in anti-cancer therapy. Preclinical studies have demonstrated several anticancer molecular mechanisms of metformin including mTOR inhibition, cytotoxic effects, and immunomodulation. Epidemiologic data have demonstrated decreased cancer incidence and mortality in patients taking metformin. Several clinical trials, focused on evaluation of metformin as an anti-cancer agent are presently underway. Data published from a small number of completed trials has put forth intriguing results. Clinical trials in pre-surgical endometrial cancer patients exhibited a significant decrease in Ki67 with metformin monotherapy. Another interesting observation was made in patients with breast cancer, wherein a trend towards improvement in cancer proliferation markers was noted in patients without insulin resistance. Data on survival outcomes with the use of metformin as an anti-cancer agent is awaited. This manuscript will critically review the role of metformin as a potential cancer treatment

On Translation Lengths of Anosov Maps on Curve Graph of Torus

We show that an Anosov map has a geodesic axis on the curve graph of a torus. The direct corollary of our result is the stable translation length of an Anosov map on the curve graph is always a positive integer. As the proof is constructive, we also provide an algorithm to calculate the exact translation length for any given Anosov map. The application of our result is threefold: (a) to determine which word realizes the minimal translation length on the curve graph within a specific class of words, (b) to establish the effective bound on the ratio of translation lengths of an Anosov map on the curve graph to that on Teichm\"uller space, and (c) to estimate the overall growth of the number of Anosov maps which have a sufficient number of Anosov maps with the same translation length.Comment: 32 pages, 14 figure

Blockchain application in maritime supply chain: a systematic literature review and conceptual framework

This research aims to establish the link between blockchain technology adoption in the maritime and shipping industry and its impact on maritime supply chain integration via a systematic review of both the academic and practice literature. In total 148 articles were identified and analysed. Blockchain applications identified from the literature are categorized into three domains: document management, transaction management, and cargo/vessel/terminal operations. An analysis of the benefits and challenges that influence the deployment of blockchain technology for maritime supply chain integration leads to the development of an integrated and extended Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework. This study is among the first to examine the current state of blockchain diffusion within the maritime supply chain, making a significant contribution to the field. The extended TOE framework offers guidance for future research and understanding of the relationship between blockchain adoption and maritime supply chain integration. It can be used to assist organisations in successfully adopting blockchain technology in their supply chain operations

Advanced Neural Interface toward Bioelectronic Medicine Enabled by Micro-Patterned Shape Memory Polymer

<jats:p>Recently, methods for the treatment of chronic diseases and disorders through the modulation of peripheral and autonomic nerves have been proposed. To investigate various treatment methods and results, experiments are being conducted on animals such as rabbits and rat. However the diameter of the targeted nerves is small (several hundred μm) and it is difficult to modulate small nerves. Therefore, a neural interface that is stable, easy to implant into small nerves, and is biocompatible is required. Here, to develop an advanced neural interface, a thiol-ene/acrylate-based shape memory polymer (SMP) was fabricated with a double clip design. This micro-patterned design is able to be implanted on a small branch of the sciatic nerve, as well as the parasympathetic pelvic nerve, using the shape memory effect (SME) near body temperature. Additionally, the IrO2 coated neural interface was implanted on the common peroneal nerve in order to perform electrical stimulation and electroneurography (ENG) recording. The results demonstrate that the proposed neural interface can be used for the modulation of the peripheral nerve, including the autonomic nerve, towards bioelectronic medicine.</jats:p>1

A systematic literature review of Blockchain application in maritime supply chain: the TOE framework

Maritime and shipping industry is under rising to improve operational efficiency and inter-organisational collaboration to increase their competitiveness. Supply chain integration (SCI) in maritime and shipping industry has become a predominant strategy to improve efficiency and cost reduction (Panayides and Song 2009). Blockchain technology (BCT), also known as distributed ledger technology, has been identified as a promising solution to enable maritime supply chain (MSC) integration and improve efficiencies. BCT is a shared, distributed electronic ledger with characteristics such as immutability by encryption, transparency, openness, security, and real-time update in data management (Scott et al. 2017). The technology is considered to have the potential to address a number of issues facing MSC, i.e., the issues of trust, product traceability, process optimisation, and coordination and communication in maritime communication (Jović et al. 2019). This paper provides a systematic review of blockchain adoption in maritime and shipping industry and its relationship to MSCI, especially container transport, by identifying adoptions factors