Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cloud-based content distribution on a budget

To leverage the elastic nature of cloud computing, a solution provider must be able to accurately gauge demand for its offering. For applications that involve swarm-to-cloud interactions, gauging such demand is not straightforward. In this paper, we propose a general framework, analyze a mathematical model, and present a prototype implementation of a canonical swarmto-cloud application, namely peer-assisted content delivery. Our system – called CYCLOPS – dynamically adjusts the off-cloud bandwidth consumed by content servers (which represents the bulk of the provider’s cost) to feed a set of swarming clients, based on a feedback signal that gauges the real-time health of the swarm. Our extensive evaluation of CYCLOPS in a variety of settings – including controlled PlanetLab and live Internet experiments involving thousands of users – show significant reduction in content distribution costs (by as much as two orders of magnitude) when compared to non-feedback-based swarming solutions, with minor impact on content delivery times.
Semi-Empirical Modelling of Si02 Chemical-Mechanical Polishing: Planarization

This paper describes process characterization techniques and key structural dependencies of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) planarization. Also presented are a closed-solution model for simple analysis and a differential model for more complex analysis of CMP planarization and its pattern and polishing pad dependencies. The modelling and characterization give insights into and quantify the effects of "down" area dimensions, "up" area patterning, and feature step heights. Differentially modelled results predict corner-rounding and, in doing so, suggest a mechanism.
Potential remobilization of belowground permafrost carbon under future global warming

Research on permafrost carbon has dramatically increased in the past few years. A new estimate of 1672 Pg C of belowground organic carbon in the northern circumpolar permafrost region more than doubles the previous value and highlights the potential role of permafrost carbon in the Earth System. Uncertainties in this new estimate remain due to relatively few available pedon data for certain geographic sectors and the deeper cryoturbated soil horizons, and the large polygon size in the soil maps used for upscaling. The large permafrost carbon pool is not equally distributed across the landscape: peat deposits, cryoturbated soils and the loess‐like deposits of the yedoma complex contain disproportionately large amounts of soil organic matter, often exhibiting a low degree of decomposition. Recent findings in Alaska and northern Sweden provide strong evidence that the deeper soil carbon in permafrost terrain is starting to be released, supporting previous reports from Siberia. The permafrost carbon pool is not yet fully integrated in climate and ecosystem models and an important objective should be to define typical pedons appropriate for model setups. The thawing permafrost carbon feedback needs to be included in model projections of future climate change. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antihypertensive medications and sexual function in women: baseline data from the SBP intervention trial (SPRINT)

Objectives: Hypertension is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and kidney disease, but treatment can substantially reduce risks. Many patients avoid antihypertensive medications because of fear of side-effects. Although associations between antihypertensives and sexual dysfunction in men have been documented, it remains unclear whether antihypertensives are associated with sexual dysfunction in women. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from women in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) to evaluate the relations among class of antihypertensive medication and the outcomes: sexual activity and sexual function. Methods: SPRINT enrolled individuals 50 and older with hypertension at high risk for cardiovascular disease. A subset of participants completed questionnaires regarding quality of life, including sexual function. Antihypertensive class was determined by medications taken at baseline. Results: Of 690 women in the quality of life subset of SPRINT, 183 (26.5%) were sexually active. There were no significant differences in sexual activity among women taking one or more antihypertensives and women not taking any. Women taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker had higher odds of sexual activity [odds ratio 1.66 (1.12–4.27), P = 0.011]. Among sexually active women, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction was high (52.5%). No class of medication was associated with sexual dysfunction in the multivariable model. Conclusion: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use was associated with higher odds of sexual activity. Although prevalence of sexual dysfunction was high, no single class of antihypertensive medication was associated with sexual dysfunction.
Overconfidence, Arbitrage, and Equilibrium Asset Pricing

This paper offers a model in which asset prices reflect both covariance risk and misperceptions of firms' prospects, and in which arbitrageurs trade against mispricing. In equilibrium, expected returns are linearly related to both risk and mispricing measures (e.g., fundamental/price ratios). With many securities, mispricing of idiosyncratic value components diminishes but systematic mispricing does not. The theory offers untested empirical implications about volume, volatility, fundamental/price ratios, and mean returns, and is consistent with several empirical findings. These include the ability of fundamental/price ratios and market value to forecast returns, and the domination of beta by these variables in some studies.
Accurate and Practical Thruster Modeling for Underwater Vehicles

The thruster is the crucial factor of an underwater vehicle system, because it is the lowest layer in the control loop of the system. However, an accurate and practical thruster model has not been utilized yet. In this paper, we propose an accurate and practical thrust modeling for underwater vehicles which considers the effects of ambient flow velocity. In this model, the axial flow velocity of the thruster, which is non-measurable, is represented by ambient flow velocity and propeller shaft velocity. Hence, contrary to previous models, the proposed model is practical since it uses only measurable states. Next, the whole thrust map is divided into three states according to the state of ambient flow and propeller shaft velocity, and one of the borders of the states is defined as Critical Advance Ratio (CAR). This classification explains the physical phenomenon of conventional experimental thrust maps. The proposed model is evaluated by comparing experimental data with numerical model simulation data, and it accurately covers overall flow conditions within ± 2N force error. The comparison results show that the new model’s matching performance is significantly better than conventional models’.
Topological properties of hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds from charge densities obtained by the maximum entropy method (MEM)

The maximum-entropy charge densities of six amino acids and peptides reveal systematic dependencies of the properties at bond critical points on bond lengths. MEM densities demonstrate that low-order multipoles (l max = 1) and isotropic atomic displacement parameters for H atoms in the multipole model are insufficient for capturing all the features of charge densities in hydrogen bonds.
Evaluation of a Patient Activation and Empowerment Intervention in Mental Health Care

Background:Evidence suggests that minority populations have lower levels of attendance and retention in mental health care than non-Latino whites. Patient activation and empowerment interventions may be effective in increasing minority patients’ attendance and retention. Objectives:This study developed and evaluated a patient self-reported activation and empowerment strategy in mental health care. Research Design:The Right Question Project–Mental Health (RQP-MH) trainings consisted of 3 individual sessions using a pre/post test comparison group design with patients from 2 community mental health clinics. The RQP-MH intervention taught participants to identify questions that would help them consider their role, process and reasons behind a decision; and empowerment strategies to better manage their care. Subjects:A total of 231 participated, completing at least the pretest interview (n = 141 intervention site, 90 comparison site). Measures:Four main outcomes were linked to the intervention: changes in self-reported patient activation; changes in self-reported patient empowerment; treatment attendance; and retention in treatment. Results:Findings show that intervention participants were over twice as likely to be retained in treatment and over 3 times more likely than comparison participants to have scheduled at least 1 visit during the 6-month follow-up period. Similarly, intervention participants demonstrated 29% more attendance to scheduled visits than comparison patients. There was no evidence of an effect on self-reported patient empowerment, only on self-reported patient activation. Conclusions:Results demonstrate the intervention's potential to increase self-reported patient activation, retention, and attendance in mental health care for minority populations. By facilitating patient-provider communication, the RQP-MH intervention may help minorities effectively participate in mental health care.
CovSel: An R Package for Covariate Selection When Estimating Average Causal Effects

We describe the R package CovSel, which reduces the dimension of the covariate vector for the purpose of estimating an average causal effect under the unconfoundedness assumption. Covariate selection algorithms developed in De Luna, Waernbaum, and Richardson (2011) are implemented using model-free backward elimination. We show how to use the package to select minimal sets of covariates. The package can be used with continuous and discrete covariates and the user can choose between marginal co-ordinate hypothesis tests and kernel-based smoothing as model-free dimension reduction techniques.
The Effects of Orthodox Christian Fasting on Blood Coagulation

Introduction: Several studies in recent literature refer to the effects of nutrition and religious fasting on blood coagulation. Nevertheless, the influence of Orthodox Christian fasting on blood coagulation has not yet been studied. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the 48 days that Orthodox Christians fast prior to Easter affects blood coagulation. Materials and Methods: The studied sample consisted of 41 volunteers, aged 20-55 years, who fasted and abstained from animal products for 48 days. For each participant, blood samples were collected in sodium citrate tubes before and after the fasting period. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen concentration, and the activity of coagulation factor VII (FVII) were measured with an automated coagulation analyzer. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.21 software for Windows. Normality of continuous data was determined. In order to compare the results before and after the fast t-test was applied. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: At the end of the 48 day fasting period, a statistically significant decrease in APTT (p < 0.001) and FVII activity (p = 0.001) were noted. In contrast, PT increase and fibrinogen concentration decrease were observed, but neither change was statistically significant (p = 0.577 and p = 0.096, respectively). Conclusions: It is possible that blood coagulation is not affected by Orthodox Christian fasting, as the balance between the exogenous and the endogenous coagulation pathways does not change. This fact can be attributed to two possible mechanisms: a) low consumption of animal fatty acids has beneficial effects on the exogenous coagulation pathway, b) the endogenous coagulation pathway appears to show greater activation post-fasting, even the lower fibrinogen levels. The mechanism of this activation is still unknown and needs to be elucidated.
Multiplex PCR Testing Detection of Higher-than-Expected Rates of Cervical Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, and Trichomonas and Viral Agent Infections in Sexually Active Australian Women

ABSTRACT Knowing the prevalence of potential etiologic agents of nongonococcal and nonchlamydial cervicitis is important for improving the efficacy of empirical treatments for this commonly encountered condition. We describe four multiplex PCRs (mPCRs), designated VDL05, VDL06, VDL07, and VDL09, which facilitate the detection of a wide range of agents either known to be or putatively associated with cervicitis, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), enterovirus (EV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (VDL05); Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Mycoplasma hominis (VDL06); Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum, and group B streptococci (VDL07); and adenovirus species A to E (VDL09). The mPCRs were used to test 233 cervical swabs from 175 women attending a sexual-health clinic in Sydney, Australia, during 2006 and 2007. The agents detected alone or in combination in all cervical swabs (percentage of total swabs) included CMV (6.0), EV (2.1), EBV (2.6), VZV (4.7), HSV-1 (2.6), HSV-2 (0.8), HSV-2 and VZV (0.4), U. parvum (57.0), U. urealyticum (6.1), M. genitalium (1.3), M. hominis (13.7), C. trachomatis (0.4), T. vaginalis (3.4), and group B streptococci (0.4). Adenovirus species A to E and T. pallidum were not detected. These assays are adaptable for routine diagnostic laboratories and provide an opportunity to measure the true prevalence of microorganisms potentially associated with cervicitis and other genital infections.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms within LIPA (Lysosomal Acid Lipase A) Gene Are Associated with Susceptibility to Premature Coronary Artery Disease. A Replication in the Genetic of Atherosclerotic Disease (GEA) Mexican Study

Aim The rs1412444 and rs2246833 polymorphisms within the LIPA gene were recently found to be significantly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in genome-wide association studies in Caucasian and Asian populations. The aim of the present study was to replicate this association in an independent population with a different genetic background. Methods The rs1412444 and rs2246833 polymorphisms of the LIPA gene were genotyped by 5′ exonuclease TaqMan genotyping assays in a sample of 899 Mexican patients with premature CAD, 270 individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis, and 677 healthy unrelated controls. Haplotypes were constructed after linkage disequilibrium analysis. Results Under recessive and additive models, the rs1412444 T and rs2246833 T alleles were associated with an increased risk of premature CAD when compared to controls adjusting for age, gender, BMI, and total cholesterol (OR = 1.53, PRec = 0.0013 and OR = 1.34, PAdd = 5 × 10-4 for rs1412444 and OR = 1.45, PRec = 0.0039 and OR = 1.28, PAdd = 0.0023 for rs2246833). The effect of the two polymorphisms on various metabolic cardiovascular risk factors was analyzed in premature CAD and controls (CAC score = 0). The T alleles in both polymorphisms after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, and medication were associated with hypo-α-lipoproteinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus using recessive and additive models. The polymorphisms were in strong linkage disequilibrium and, based on SNP functional prediction software, only the rs1412444 polymorphism seemed to be functional. Conclusions These results indicate that the rs1412444 and rs2246833 of the LIPA gene are shared susceptibility polymorphisms for CAD among different ethnicities.
Professionally biased: Misestimations of driving speed, journey time and time-savings among taxi and car drivers

People make systematic and predictable mistakes regarding estimations of average speed and journey time. In addition, people have been shown to commit a time-saving bias by underestimating the time that can be saved when increasing from a low speed and overestimating the time that can be saved when increasing from a relatively high speed. These misestimations have been shown to relate to biases in judgments of the speed required to arrive at a specific time and to choosing unduly high speed. Professional drivers, such as taxi drivers, might be less susceptible to these biases due to their increased driving experience. In the current study, we interviewed taxi drivers about a journey they were currently making and examined their estimations of journey time, average speed and time savings. Compared to a group of non-professional car drivers, taxi drivers showed the same considerable misestimations of driving speed, journey time and time savings as non-professionals. However, overestimations of time savings among taxi drivers were smaller than those made by car drivers. We discuss the practical significance of these findings.
Perioperative visual loss following prone spinal surgery: A review

Background: Postoperative visual loss (POVL) following prone spine surgery occurs in from 0.013% to 1% of cases and is variously attributed to ischemic optic neuropathy (ION: anterior ION or posterior ION [reported in 1.9/10,000 cases: constitutes 89% of all POVL cases], central retinal artery occlusion [CRAO], central retinal vein occlusion [CRVO], cortical blindness [CB], direct compression [horseshoe, prone pillows, and eye protectors Dupaco Opti-Gard]), and acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG). Methods: Risk factors for ION include prolonged operative times, long-segment spinal instrumentation, anemia, intraoperative hypotension, diabetes, obesity, male sex, using the Wilson frame, microvascular pathology, decreased the percent of colloid administration, and extensive intraoperative blood loss. Risk factors for CRAO more typically include improper positioning during the surgery (e.g., cervical rotation), while those for CB included prone positioning and obesity. Results: POVL may be avoided by greater utilization of crystalloids versus colloids, administration of α-2 agonists (e.g., decreases intraocular pressure), avoidance of catecholamines (e.g., avoid vasoconstrictors), avoiding intraoperative hypotension, and averting anemia. Patients with glaucoma or glaucoma suspects may undergo preoperative evaluation by ophthalmologists to determine whether they require prophylactic treatment prior to prone spinal surgery and whether and if prophylactic treatment is warranted. Conclusions: The best way to avoid POVL is to recognize its multiple etiologies and limit the various risk factors that contribute to this devastating complication of prone spinal surgery. Furthermore, routinely utilizing a 3-pin head holder will completely avoid ophthalmic compression, while maintaining the neck in a neutral posture, largely avoiding the risk of jugular vein and/or carotid artery compromise and thus avoiding increasing IOP.
Latent Space Inference of Internet-Scale Networks

The rise of Internet-scale networks, such as web graphs and social media with hundreds of millions to billions of nodes, presents new scientific opportunities, such as overlapping community detection to discover the structure of the Internet, or to analyze trends in online social behavior. However, many existing probabilistic network models are difficult or impossible to deploy at these massive scales. We propose a scalable approach for modeling and inferring latent spaces in Internet-scale networks, with an eye towards overlapping community detection as a key application. By applying a succinct representation of networks as a bag of triangular motifs, developing a parsimonious statistical model, deriving an efficient stochastic variational inference algorithm, and implementing it as a distributed cluster program via the Petuum parameter server system, we demonstrate overlapping community detection on real networks with up to 100 million nodes and 1000 communities on 5 machines in under 40 hours. Compared to other state-of-the-art probabilistic network approaches, our method is several orders of magnitude faster, with competitive or improved accuracy at overlapping community detection.
The potassium channel subunit KV3.1b is localized to somatic and axonal membranes of specific populations of CNS neurons

Potassium channels play major roles in the regulation of many aspects of neuronal excitability. These channels are particularly well suited for such multiplicity of roles since there is a large diversity of channel types. This diversity contributes to the ability of specific neurons (and possibly different regions of the same neuron) to respond uniquely to a given input. Neuronal integration depends on the local response of spatially segregated inputs to the cell and the communication of these integration centers with the axon. Therefore, the functional implications of a given set of K+ channels varies depending on their precise location on the neuronal surface. Site- specific antibodies were utilized to characterize the distribution of KV3.1b, a subunit of voltage-gated K+ channels in CNS neurons. KV3.1b subunits are expressed in specific neuronal populations of the rat brain, such as cerebellar granule cells, projecting neurons of deep cerebellar nuclei, the substantia nigra pars-reticulata, the globus pallidus, and the ventral thalamus (reticular thalamic nucleus, ventral lateral geniculate and zona incerta). The KV3.1b protein is also present in various neuronal populations involved in the processing of auditory signals, including the inferior colliculus, the nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, the superior olive, and some parts of the cochlear nuclei; as well as in several other neuronal groups in the brainstem (e.g., in the oculomotor nucleus, the pontine nuclei, the reticulotegmental nucleus of the pons, trigeminal and vestibular nuclei, and the reticular formation) and subsets of neurons in the neocortex, the hippocampus and the caudate-putamen shown by double staining to correspond to neurons containing parvalbumin. KV3.1b subunits are localized predominantly in somatic and axonal membranes (particularly in axonal terminal fields) but are much less prominent in dendritic arborizations. This distribution is different than that of other subunits of voltage gated K+ channels and is consistent with a role in the modulation of action potentials. KV3.1b proteins have a cellular and subcellular distribution different than the related KV3.2 subunits which express in Xenopus oocytes currents similar to those expressed by KV3.1b.
Converging to a player model in Monte-Carlo Tree Search

Player models allow search algorithms to account for differences in agent behavior according to player's preferences and goals. However, it is often not until the first actions are taken that an agent can begin assessing which models are relevant to its current opponent. This paper investigates the integration of belief distributions over player models in the Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) algorithm. We describe a method of updating belief distributions through leveraging information sampled during the MCTS. We then characterize the effect of tuning parameters of the MCTS to convergence of belief distributions. Evaluation of this approach is done in comparison with value iteration for an iterated version of the prisoner's dilemma problem. We show that for a sufficient quantity of iterations, our approach converges to the correct model faster than the same model under value iteration.