Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OS Agents: Using AI Techniques in the Operating System Environment

While recent decades have brought substantial change to the form of the operating system interface, the power of operating system commands has remained nearly constant. Conventional commands, whether visual or textual, specify one particular action to perform. To carry out a complex task, such as reducing disk utilization, the user is forced to explicitly specify each of the necessary steps. Traditional command-language extension mechanisms, such as shell scripts and pipes, enable the user to aggregate and compose various commands, but force him or her to write and debug programs — a formidable challenge for naive users. This paper presents a goal-oriented approach to the operating system command interface, realized through an implementation we call OS agents. Using OS agents, the user simply specifies a goal to accomplish, and the OS agent decides how to accomplish that goal using its knowledge base of the system state and its commands. The OS agent dynamically synthesizes the appropriate command sequence, issues the required commands and system calls, handles errors, and retries commands if necessary. With OS agents, we have applied AI planning and learning techniques to the operating system environment to increase the power of the user’s commands. We have implemented OS agents within a distributed Unix environment. Our experience indicates that it is practical to incorporate novel ideas of automatic planning and learning into contemporary operating systems with a modest amount of work and little performance penalty. In this paper we present OS agents and their operation, and describe the general-purpose mechanism we have provided to flexibly and efficiently support the needs of OS agents within the Unix operating system.
From the Entropy to the Statistical Structure of Spike Trains

We use statistical estimates of the entropy rate of spike train data in order to make inferences about the underlying structure of the spike train itself. We first examine a number of different parametric and nonparametric estimators (some known and some new), including the "plug-in" method, several versions of Lempel-Ziv-based compression algorithms, a maximum likelihood estimator tailored to renewal processes, and the natural estimator derived from the context-tree weighting method (CTW). The theoretical properties of these estimators are examined, several new theoretical results are developed, and all estimators are systematically applied to various types of synthetic data and under different conditions. Our main focus is on the performance of these entropy estimators on the (binary) spike trains of 28 neurons recorded simultaneously for a one-hour period from the primary motor and dorsal premotor cortices of a monkey. We show how the entropy estimates can be used to test for the existence of long-term structure in the data, and we construct a hypothesis test for whether the renewal process model is appropriate for these spike trains. Further, by applying the CTW algorithm we derive the maximum a posterior (MAP) tree model of our empirical data, and comment on the underlying structure it reveals
Understanding Residential Polarization in a Globalizing City

This study examines the spatial polarization that characterizes the dwellings in the African leading megacity of Lagos. Data were collected through an extensive housing survey carried out on 1,485 household residences in 56 wards within 12 administrative units in Lagos megacity. The spatial dimension of residential density in the city generates three unique residential patterns which are low residential density (LRD), medium residential density (MRD), and high residential density (HRD) areas. Descriptive and multivariate inferential statistics were used to render explanations for the spatial variations in the residential quality variables in the study area. Findings indicated that a clear difference exists in the residential quality within the three residential density areas of Lagos. High correlations exist among the residential quality indicators and housing type. The principal component analysis shows that residential polarizations that occur in the LRD, MRD, and HRD are based on the location, dwelling facility, interior and exterior quality, neighborhood integrity, social bond, barrier to entry, and security. The practical implications of residential polarizations along the residential density areas are explicitly expressed.
Capacity of Multichannel Wireless Networks: Impact of Channels, Interfaces, and Interface Switching Delay ∗

This paper studies how the capacity of a static multichannel network scales as the number of nodes, n, increases. Gupta and Kumar have determined the capacity of single channel networks, and those bounds are applicable to multichannel networks as well, provided each node in the network has a dedicated interface per channel. In this work, we establish the capacity of general multichannel networks wherein the number of interfaces, m, may be smaller than the number of channels, c. We show that the capacity of multichannel networks exhibits different bounds that are dependent on the ratio between c and m. When the number of interfaces per node is smaller than the number of channels, there is a degradation in the network capacity in many scenarios. However, one important exception is a random network with up to O(logn) channels, wherein the network capacity remains at the Gupta and Kumar bound of �
Exhaustive stability analysis in a consensus system with time delay and irregular topologies

A consensus problem and its stability for a group of agents with second order dynamics and communication delays is studied. Communication topologies are taken as irregular but always connected and undirected. The delays are assumed to be quasi-static and they remain the same for all the interagent channels. A decentralized PD-like control structure is proposed to create consensus in the position and velocity of the agents. We deploy a recent factorization technique for the characteristic equation of the system in order to simplify the stability analysis from a prohibitively large dimension to a small scale. Considering all possible topologies we reach a common stability picture utilizing a paradigm named CTCR. The influence of the individual factors on the absolute and relative stability of the system is studied, leading to the introduction of a novel concept of most exigent eigenvalue, for the one that defines the delay margin of the system, and the most critical eigenvalue, which dictates the consensus speed. It is shown that the most exigent eigenvalue is not always the most critical. Case studies and simulations results are presented to verify the analytical derivations.derivations.
Automotive surface identification system based on modular neural network architecture

The development of automotive remote surface identification system is an important step in ensuring road safety. In this paper we shall discuss a novel approach which addresses the road surface classification process. This method is based on polarimetric radar and sonar data fusion and surface identification using artificial neural network. A modular artificial neural network, which is considered in the paper, allows an overall increase in classification accuracy in the presence of a large number of surface types and a large number of signal features. We shall discuss the techniques involved and present classification results that have been achieved using modular neural network.
Mini-CEX as a workplace-based assessment tool for interns in an emergency department – Does cost outweigh value?

Background: The mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) has been proposed as a method to address the deficiencies of in-training assessment for junior doctors. Aim: Our study aimed to determine the feasibility and value of adding mini-CEX assessments to the existing assessment processes for an intern cohort in the emergency department (ED). Methods: Interns undertook four mini-CEX assessments with senior ED medical officers, in addition to their standard in-training assessment processes. Assessment results and time taken to perform the mini-CEX assessments were recorded. Interns and assessors completed a survey regarding their perceptions of the mini-CEX assessment process. Results: The total time taken for mini-CEX assessments during the study period was 36.51 h. If extrapolated over a year this would represent an additional direct cost to the ED of more than $A 80,000 per year. No additional interns were identified as underperforming through the addition of the mini-CEX. The mini-CEX assessment process was perceived as generally positive. Both interns and assessors felt that it provided a valid assessment of intern performance, and enabled timely and specific feedback. Significant practical difficulties in arranging and conducting mini-CEX assessments in the workplace were identified. Conclusion: There was a significant cost to the ED as a result of adding mini-CEX encounters to interns’ performance assessment. No change in summative outcome occurred for this study cohort.
Melodic and contextual similarity of folk song phrases

Various models of melodic similarity have been proposed and assessed in perceptual experiments. Contour and pitch content variables haven been favoured although music-theoretical and statistical variables have also been claimed to explain similarity ratings. A Re-analysis of earlier work by Rosner & Meyer (1986) suggests that simple contextual features can also be highly explanatory with more complex stimuli. A new experiment containing short melodic phrases investigated the effectiveness of several global and comparative variables. A multi-dimensional scaling solution indicated that both melodic direction and pitch range are highly relevant for making such similarity judgments and that the most salient aspects of melody when making similarity judgments are relatively simple context-dependent features.
The Paradox of Authentic Selves and Chameleons: Self-Monitoring, Perceived Job Autonomy and Contextual Performance

We investigate how self-monitoring combines with the degree of perceived job autonomy to affect contextual performance. We explore both a mediation model, built on theories on individual differences in the perception of job characteristics, and a moderation model, built on theories of the interaction between personality and perceived job situation. Empirical evidence suggests that self-monitoring and perceived job autonomy significantly predict contextual performance. In addition, an interesting paradox emerges: high self-monitors are likely to perceive higher job autonomy than low self-monitors but appear to benefit less from perceiving high job autonomy than low self-monitors. This paper provides a richer understanding of the controversial nature of the self-monitoring construct and offers a new specification of the combination between perceived situational and personality variables in the prediction of behavioural outcomes.
Oral malignancies associated with negative transepithelial brush biopsy.

PURPOSE This study was performed to assess the incidence of negative brush biopsy for oral lesions later demonstrated histologically to be squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS All diagnoses of oral squamous cell carcinoma from a university oral pathology service for the period June 2000 through March 2002 were reviewed to determine if any had previously undergone brush biopsy reported to be "negative for epithelial abnormality. " Those cases identified were further investigated to determine the time lapse between brush biopsy and definitive tissue diagnosis. RESULTS Four cases of brush biopsy negative squamous cell carcinoma were identified from 115 total cases of malignancy (3.5%). The average time from brush biopsy to tissue diagnosis was 117.25 days (range, 5 to 292 days). CONCLUSION False negative reports are possible with the oral brush biopsy technique. Persistent lesions should undergo tissue biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
The relative importance of children’s criteria for representational adequacy in the perception of simple sonic stimuli

This study investigates children’s metarepresentational competence (MRC) with regard to listening to and making sense of simple sonic stimuli. Using diSessa’s (2002) seminal work on MRC in mathematics and sciences as background, it aims to assess the relative importance children attribute to several criteria for representational adequacy of graphical representations of sonic stimuli, as well as to investigate the impact of children’s age and music background on their valuations of the relative importance of these criteria. Four groups of children (8–9- and 11–12-year-olds with and without extra music education) were exposed to short and simple sonic fragments. For each fragment they received a set of pairs of representations from which they had to choose one from each pair. The representations were organized in pairs of opposites for two of the four representational criteria involved in the study (correctness, formality, transparency, and neatness). The findings revealed a development in children’s personal hierarchies of representational criteria with growing age and musical education towards the following ranking: (1) correctness; (2) neatness; (3) formality; and (4) transparency. Theoretical, methodological, and educational implications are discussed.
Telephone contacts with a cancer nurse specialist.

AIM The objective of this study was to audit the nature of telephone consultations with a Macmillan nurse specialist. METHOD All calls made to or by a Macmillan nurse over a period of 20 days were analysed in respect of three main areas: symptom management, psychological support and treatment. Information was recorded on a data sheet and then data were collected and descriptive statistics were produced. RESULTS The mean length of call was eight minutes. Most calls were incoming and involved patients, followed by relatives and healthcare professionals. The majority of calls involved psychological support, followed by symptom management then treatment. CONCLUSION The data show that the Macmillan nurse specialist spends a large amount of time in telephone work, mainly in consultation with patients.
Eukaryotic expression plasmid transfer from the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes to host cells

The facultative intracellular, Gram‐positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes invades phagocytic and non‐phagocytic cells from the tissues and organs of a wide variety of animals and humans. Here, we report the use of these bacteria as vehicles for gene transfer. Eukaryotic expression plasmids were introduced into the nucleus of host cells following lysis of the intracytosolic, plasmid‐carrying bacteria with antibiotics. Cell lines of different tissues and species could be transfected in this way. We examined bacterial properties required for delivery of the expression plasmids and found that this was strictly dependent on the ability of these bacteria to both invade eukaryotic cells and egress from the vacuole into the cytosol of the infected host cells. Macrophage‐like cell lines or primary, peritoneal macrophages proved to be almost refractory to Listeria‐mediated gene transfer. Thus, attenuated L. monocytogenes represents a serious candidate for consideration as a DNA‐transfer vehicle for in vivo somatic gene therapy. The potential for oral administration of L. monocytogenes and the ease in producing and cultivating recombinant strains are further attributes that make its use as a gene transfer vehicle attractive.
Crowdsourcing Stereotypes: Linguistic Bias in Metadata Generated via GWAP

Games with a Purpose (GWAP) is a popular approach for metadata creation, enabling institutions to collect descriptions of digital artifacts on a mass scale. Creating metadata is challenging not only because one must recognize the artifact; the description must then be encoded into natural language. Language behaviors are influenced by many social factors, particularly when we are asked to describe other people. We consider labels for images of people generated via the ESP Game. While ESP has been shown to produce relevant labels, critics claim they are obvious and stereotypical. Based on theories of linguistic biases, we examine whether there are systematic differences in the ways players describe images of men versus women. Our first analysis considers images of people generally, and reveals a tendency for women to be described with subjective adjectives. A second analysis compares images depicting men and women within each of six occupational roles. Images of women receive more labels related to appearance, whereas those depicting men receive more occupation-related labels. Our work exposes the presence of gender-based stereotypes through linguistic biases, illustrates the forms in which they manifest, and raises important implications for those who design systems or train algorithms using data produced via GWAP.
C-terminal interactions of apolipoprotein E4 respond to the postprandial state Published, JLR Papers in Press, April 21, 2006.

Increased triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TGRLs) in the postprandial state are associated with atherosclerosis. We investigated whether the postprandial state induced structural changes at the apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) C terminus, its principal lipid binding domain, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of a site-directed spin label attached to the cysteine of apoE4-W264C. Spin coupling between labels located in the C termini was followed after mixing with preprandial and postprandial human plasma samples. Our results indicate that postprandial plasma triggers a reorganization of the protein such that the dipolar broadening is diminished, indicating a reduction in C-terminal interaction. The loss of spectral broadening was directly correlated with an increase in postprandial plasma triglycerides and was reduced with delipidated plasma. The spin-labeled apoE4 displayed a lipid preference of VLDL > LDL > HDL in the preprandial and postprandial states. The apoE4 shift to VLDL during the postprandial state was accompanied by a loss in spectral broadening of the protein. These findings suggest that apoE4 associated with LDL maintains self-association via its C terminus and that this association is diminished in VLDL-associated protein. Lipolyzed TGRL reflected a depletion of the C-terminal interaction of apoE4. Addition of palmitate to VLDL gave a similar response as lipolyzed TGRL, suggesting that lipolysis products play a major role in reorganizing apoE4 during the postprandial state.
Skin disease in a primary care practice.

OBJECTIVE Family medicine physicians treat a large amount of skin disease. Yet, information is lacking regarding which dermatologic disorders are more likely to present to a family medicine physician. Therefore, we performed a chart review at a family medicine private practice in Islamorada, FL, to determine the percentage of patients presenting with dermatologic disease and to identify the most common diseases encountered. DISCUSSION On 12 office days in May 2004 to June 2004, 21% of patients seen by a family medicine physician had at least one skin problem, which was the chief complaint 72.2% of the time. CONCLUSIONS Infectious etiology and inflammatory conditions accounted for the majority of skin disease diagnosed by the physician. Geography and demographics are of great importance when considering which dermatologic diseases are most likely to present to a given physician.
Homo-d-Lactic Acid Fermentation from Arabinose by Redirection of the Phosphoketolase Pathway to the Pentose Phosphate Pathway in l-Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene-Deficient Lactobacillus plantarum

ABSTRACT Optically pure d-lactic acid fermentation from arabinose was achieved by using the Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 8826 strain whose l-lactate dehydrogenase gene was deficient and whose phosphoketolase gene was substituted with a heterologous transketolase gene. After 27 h of fermentation, 38.6 g/liter of d-lactic acid was produced from 50 g/liter of arabinose.
Institutions and Social Structure: Determinants of Ethnic Voting

Why is ethnicity salient for vote choice in some places, but not in others? Electoral institutions have been identified, perhaps rightly so, as the chief determinant. However, the structure of society plays an important, under-explored role within dierent electoral systems. In investigating the role of social structure within dierent electoral regimes, I perform a true replication of Huber (2012)’s analysis, which produced a puzzling finding: PR decreases ethnic voting. I replicate this finding and then proceed to demonstrate that ethnic voting is also attenuated by the presence of cross-cutting cleavages, specifically religion. This finding supports a long theorized, but infrequently tested theory.
Developing and Validating a Total Quality Management Model for Healthcare Organisations

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a total quality management (TQM) model for healthcare organisations and validate it using a sample of Iranian healthcare organisations. Design/methodology/approach: A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from all healthcare organisations that implemented TQM in Isfahan province, Iran. Findings: Using the proposed model, TQM implementation was measured in healthcare organisations. The level of TQM success in Isfahan healthcare organisations was medium. The highest score was achieved in the dimension of “customer management”, followed by “leadership” and “employee management”. Employee management, information management, customer management, process management and leadership had the most positive effect on TQM success. Using a series of quality management techniques had “synergistic” effect on TQM success. Practical implications: Top management support, effective management of human resources, full involvement of the entire workforce including physicians, education and training, team working, continuous improvement, a corporate quality culture, customer focus and using a combination of management techniques under a quality management system are necessary for TQM successful implementation. Originality/value: A healthcare context-specific model of TQM was developed and tested and suggestions were provided for its successful implementation.
Increased expression of nuclear factor E2 p45‐related factor 2 (NRF2) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Overexpression of specific phase II gene products may represent an important biomarker. One regulator of phase II gene expression is the transcription factor nuclear factor E2 p45‐related factor 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 expression was evaluated in HNSCC, to determine whether it might serve as a biomarker for early detection of disease.