Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative assessment of centrality indices and implications on the vulnerability of ISP networks

The position of the nodes within a network topology largely determines the level of their involvement in various networking functions. Yet numerous node centrality indices, proposed to quantify how central individual nodes are in this respect, yield very different views of their relative significance. Our first contribution is then an exhaustive survey and categorization of centrality indices along several attributes including the type of information (local vs. global) and processing complexity required for their computation. We next study the seven most popular of those indices in the context of Internet vulnerability to address issues that remain under-explored in literature so far. First, we carry out a correlation study to assess the consistency of the node rankings those indices generate over ISP router-level topologies. For each pair of indices, we compute the full ranking correlation, which is the standard choice in literature, and the percentage overlap between the k top nodes. Then, we let these rankings guide the removal of highly central nodes and assess the impact on both the connectivity properties and traffic-carrying capacity of the network. Our results confirm that the top-k overlap predicts the comparative impact of indices on the network vulnerability better than the full-ranking correlation. Importantly, the locally computed degree centrality index approximates closely the global indices with the most dramatic impact on the traffic-carrying capacity; whereas, its approximative power in terms of connectivity is more topology-dependent.
Accommodating surprise in taxonomic tasks: the role of expertise

This paper reports a psychological study of human categorization that looked at the procedures used by expert scientists when dealing with puzzling items. Five professional botanists were asked to specify a category from a set of positive and negative instances. The target category in the study was defined by a feature that was unusual, hence situations of uncertainty and puzzlement were generated. Subjects were asked to think aloud while solving the tasks, and their verbal reports were analyzed. A number of problem solving strategies were identified, and subsequently integrated in a model of knowledge-guided inductive categorization. Our model proposes that expert knowledge influences the subjects' reasoning in more complex ways than suggested by earlier investigations of scientific reasoning. As in previous studies, domain knowledge influenced our subjects' hypothesis generation and testing; but, additionally, it played a central role when subjects revised their hypotheses.
Silencing the HaHR3 Gene by Transgenic Plant-mediated RNAi to Disrupt Helicoverpa armigera Development

RNA interference (RNAi) caused by exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has developed into a powerful technique in functional genomics, and to date it is widely used to down-regulate crucial physiology-related genes to control pest insects. A molt-regulating transcription factor gene, HaHR3, of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) was selected as the target gene. Four different fragments covering the coding sequence (CDS) of HaHR3 were cloned into vector L4440 to express dsRNAs in Escherichia coli. The most effective silencing fragment was then cloned into a plant over-expression vector to express a hairpin RNA (hpRNA) in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). When H. armigera larvae were fed the E. coli or transgenic plants, the HaHR3 mRNA and protein levels dramatically decreased, resulting developmental deformity and larval lethality. The results demonstrate that both recombinant bacteria and transgenic plants could induce HaHR3 silence to disrupt H. armigera development, transgenic plant-mediated RNAi is emerging as a powerful approach for controlling insect pests.
Surface Modifications and Their Effects on Titanium Dental Implants

This review covers several basic methodologies of surface treatment and their effects on titanium (Ti) implants. The importance of each treatment and its effects will be discussed in detail in order to compare their effectiveness in promoting osseointegration. Published literature for the last 18 years was selected with the use of keywords like titanium dental implant, surface roughness, coating, and osseointegration. Significant surface roughness played an important role in providing effective surface for bone implant contact, cell proliferation, and removal torque, despite having good mechanical properties. Overall, published studies indicated that an acid etched surface-modified and a coating application on commercial pure titanium implant was most preferable in producing the good surface roughness. Thus, a combination of a good surface roughness and mechanical properties of titanium could lead to successful dental implants.
Wavelet trees: A survey

The topic of this paper is the exploration of the various characteristics of the wavelet tree data structure, a data structure that was initially proposed for text compression applications but has found a plethora of other uses in text indexing and retrieval. Issues concerning the efficient maintenance of the structure, plus its handling in various applications are explored. Our main aim is to provide to computer science researchers that would like to explore the specific area, an up-to-date comprehensive material covering a wide range of applications. This kind of up-to-date survey is missing from the current bibliography and we hope that it will help young researchers to get familiar with the notions of this research area.
Total Quality Management in Engineering Education

Higher education institutions have been facing challenges for some time and are expected to face more in the future. In the new environment that higher education has entered quality plays an increasingly important role. In the past decade, emphasis on quality improvement has been one of the most characteristic features of higher education in many countries. By now, Total Quality Management has been adopted by many universities and colleges in the higher education world. Engineering education colleges and universities have no alternative but to follow and take advantage of the anticipated benefits that TQM has to offer. This paper reviews the main principles of TQM in higher education, defines the different roles of interested parties in a TQM program and comments on the models and the do’s and don’ts when implementing TQM in higher education. Finally, the paper outlines the unique challenges of implementing TQM in engineering education. Key-Words: Total Quality Management, Quality, Engineering Education, Higher Education.
Please Scroll down for Article Philosophical Psychology Do Ethicists Steal More Books?

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Global methylation silencing of clustered proto-cadherin genes in cervical cancer: serving as diagnostic markers comparable to HPV

Epigenetic remodeling of cell adhesion genes is a common phenomenon in cancer invasion. This study aims to investigate global methylation of cell adhesion genes in cervical carcinogenesis and to apply them in early detection of cancer from cervical scraping. Genome‐wide methylation array was performed on an investigation cohort, including 16 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3) and 20 cervical cancers (CA) versus 12 each of normal, inflammation and CIN1 as controls. Twelve members of clustered proto‐cadherin (PCDH) genes were collectively methylated and silenced, which were validated in cancer cells of the cervix, endometrium, liver, head and neck, breast, and lung. In an independent cohort including 107 controls, 66 CIN1, 85 CIN2/3, and 38 CA, methylated PCDHA4 and PCDHA13 were detected in 2.8%, 24.2%, 52.9%, and 84.2% (P < 10−25), and 2.8%, 24.2%, 50.6%, and 94.7% (P < 10−29), respectively. In diagnosis of CIN2 or more severe lesion of the cervix, a combination test of methylated PCDHA4 or PCDHA13 from cervical scraping had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 74.8%, 80.3%, 73%, and 81.8%, respectively. Testing of this combination from cervical scraping is equally sensitive but more specific than human papillomavirus (HPV) test in diagnosis of CIN2 or more severe lesions. The study disclosed a collective methylation of PCDH genes in cancer of cervix and other sites. At least two of them can be promising diagnostic markers for cervical cancer noninferior to HPV.
Laparoscopic Assistance After Vaginal Hysterectomy and Unsuccessful Access to the Ovaries or Failed Uterine Mobilization: Changing Trends

Objectives: We conducted retrospective and prospective clinical studies at the Columbus Hospital of Rome to point out changes in choosing the route for performing hysterectomy; to evaluate the feasibility of vaginal hysterectomy (VH) and oophorectomy, even in commonly considered contraindications to the vaginal route; to describe a method of laparoscopic oophorectomy following vaginal hysterectomy; and laparoscopic assistance in impossible vaginal hysterectomies. Methods: From November 1999 to November 2001, 226 patients (age 46.1±4.6 years, range 35 to 58) underwent hysterectomy for benign pathologies: 22 (9.7%) underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy for the presence of severe endometriosis, limited access to the fornices, or immobile uterus with no lateral mobilization; 204 (90.3%) underwent vaginal hysterectomy. Patients with uterine prolapse were excluded. Uterine size, previous cesarean deliveries, pelvic surgeries and the requirement of prophylactic oophorectomy were not considered contraindications to the vaginal approach. We retrospectively analyzed 509 hysterectomies performed in the previous 2 years from 1997 through 1998. Results: During vaginal hysterectomy, adnexectomy was possible in 90.6% of the cases in which it was indicated (unilateral in 21.8% because of adnexal pathology) and was technically impossible in 9.3%. In 4 patients (1.9%), it was not possible to complete a vaginal hysterectomy, owing to the presence of thick adhesions obliterating the cul-de-sac, to severe endometriosis, or to other unforeseen circumstances. In these few patients with difficult access to the ovaries (2.9% of all VH) or with difficulties in mobilizing the uterus, we resorted to laparoscopy. The pneumoperitoneum was achieved with an insufflation tube inserted via the vagina into the abdominal cavity and packing the vagina. Thus, the risks associated with the insertion of the Veress needle were avoided. In all but 2 patients in whom conversion to laparotomy was necessary, laparoscopy was successfully completed. No major complications occurred. In the retrospective analysis of 509 hysterectomies, we determined that 29% were vaginal, 43% abdominal, and 28% laparoscopic (mostly LAVH). In the following years, LAVH allowed the conversion of a significant number of abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomies to a vaginal route, showing that the vaginal approach was possible in most of cases. Conclusions: The vaginal approach is feasible in more than 90% of cases even if oophorectomy is required. In the few cases with difficult access to ovaries or difficulties in mobilizing the uterus, the laparoscopic route can easily be adapted by packing the vagina and obtaining a pneumoperitoneum without the risk and loss of time of the insertion of the Veress needle. In this way, it is possible to avoid a great number of LAVH, reducing operating time and the risks of a concomitant procedure.
Comparative analysis of bed resistance partitioning in high‐gradient streams

Total flow resistance can be partitioned into its components of grain (ffgrain), form (ffstep), wood (ffwood), and spill (ffspill) resistance. Methods for partitioning flow resistance developed for low‐gradient streams are commonly applied to high‐gradient systems. We examined the most widely used methods for calculating each component of resistance, along with the limitations of these methods, using data gathered from 15 high‐gradient (0.02 < S0 < 0.195) step‐pool, cascade, and plane‐bed reaches in Fraser Experimental Forest. We calculated grain resistance using three equations that relate relative submergence (R/Dm) to ffgrain as well as using an additive drag approach. The drag approach was also used for calculating ffwood and ffstep. The ffgrain contributed the smallest amount toward all reaches at all flows, although the value varied with the method used. The Parker and Peterson (1980) equation using D90 best represented ffgrain at high flows, whereas the Keulegan (1938) equation using D50 best characterized ffgrain at base flows, giving a lower bound for grain resistance. This suggests that ffgrain may be better represented if two grain sizes are used to calculate this component of resistance. The drag approach, which is used to calculate wood resistance, overestimated the significance of individual logs in the channel. The contribution of ffspill was reduced at higher flows when form drag around the step is accounted for at higher flows. We propose a method for evaluating the contribution of ffstep that accounts for form drag around the steps once they are submerged at higher flows. We evaluated the potential sources of error for the estimation of each component of resistance. Determination of the drag coefficient was one of the major sources of error when calculating drag around wood, steps, or boulders.
Balanced realization and model reduction of port-Hamiltonian systems

This paper is concerned with nonlinear model reduction for electro-mechanical systems described by port-Hamiltonian formulae. A novel weighted balanced realization and model reduction procedure is proposed which preserves port-Hamiltonian structure as well as stability, reachability and observability of the original system. This implies that one can utilize the intrinsic physical properties such as physical energy and the corresponding dissipativity for the reduced order model. Further, the proposed method reduces the computational effort in solving partial differential equations for nonlinear balanced realization. A numerical simulation shows how the proposed method works.
Chandra observation of the dipping source XB 1254-690

We present the results of a 53 ks long Chandra observation of the dipping source XB 1254–690. During the observation neither bursts or dips were observed. From the zero-order image we estimated the precise X-ray coordinates of the source with a 90% uncertainty of 0.6´´. Since the lightcurve did not show any significant variability, we extracted the spectrum corresponding to the whole observation. We confirmed the presence of the $\ion{Fe}{xxvi}$ K α absorption lines with a larger accuracy with respect to the previous XMM EPIC pn observation. Assuming that the line width were due to a bulk motion or a turbulence associated to the coronal activity, we estimate that the lines were produced in a photoionized absorber between the coronal radius and the outer edge of the accretion disk.
Managing Contingent Workers: How to Reap the Benefits and Reduce the Risks

Contingent workers now account for nearly a quarter of the US workforce. This book provides statistical data, analysis, and detailed case studies that challenge the prevailing assumption that "on call" workers are always a cost-effective alternative to using "core" workers. The book provides detailed information on how: to analyze the cost-effectiveness of using contingent labour; to determine when it will save money - and when it won't; to measure the cost-effectiveness of training; to manage contingent workers, or a "blended" workforce of core and contingent workers, for greatest effectiveness; and to understand legal, tax and social implications. The book also documents the mixed experiences of using contingent labour through five detailed case studies.
Unlocking Public Value: A New Model For Achieving High Performance In Public Service Organizations

Introduction. Preface. Chapter 1: The Public Sector Squeeze. Chapter 2: Zeroing In on Outcomes. Chapter 3: Why Is It So Hard to Measure Public Value? Chapter 4: Defining Value. Chapter 5: Measuring and Analyzing Public Service Value. Chapter 6: Driving Results. Chapter 7: The Key to Unlocking Public Value. Appendix: Public Service Value Methodology. Notes. Bibliography. About the Authors. Index.
Resveratrol Protects against Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy and Inhibits the NLRP3/IL-1β Axis in Microglia

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is characterized as brain dysfunction associated with sepsis. In this study we sought to investigate the effects of resveratrol in mice with SAE, as well as its effects in NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β, which were critical in the pathogenesis of SAE. SAE was induced in mice via cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and resveratrol was administered at two doses after surgery. Spatial learning memory functions were evaluated by Morris water maze testing. Apoptosis in the hippocampus was quantified using TUNEL assay. Inflammation in the hippocampus was quantified by measuring the levels of microglial activation, NLRP3, and IL-1β. CLP mice treated with resveratrol demonstrated a better spatial memory during water maze training. The TUNEL assay demonstrated significantly attenuated rates of apoptosis, in resveratrol treated mice, while decreasing the number of iba-1 positive microglia in the hippocampus region. NLRP3 expression and IL-1β cleavage were well inhibited by resveratrol dose-dependently. The in vitro results showed that in the BV2 cell lines resveratrol prevents ATP induced NLRP3 activation and IL-1β cleavage, which were reversed by the sirtuin 1 inhibitor, nicotinamide. In conclusion, resveratrol improves the spatial memory in mice with SAE and inhibits the NLRP3/IL-1β axis in the microglia.
The moderating role of self-construal on adoption of mobile data services: An empirical study

Based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this essay will analyze the consumers' self-construal characteristics and introduce self-construal variable as the moderator to study mobile data services acceptance. Two studies will be conducted through empirical researches: (1) do a deeper research on key factors affecting consumers' adoption of mobile data services; (2) find out whether consumers' self-construal orientation plays a role in moderating the relationship among variables of mobile data services acceptance model. The researchers have led a questionnaire survey by withdrawing 398 effective questionnaires from 450 questionnaires to collect data. Additionally, with the help of Lisrel software Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and multiple groups analysis, we achieve the main conclusions: (1) Self-construal, as a cultural difference reflected in individual aspects, places an outstanding moderating effect on mobile data services adoption; (2) Perceived usefulness has a positive effect on consumers' intention to use mobile data services; (3) Perceived ease of use and subjective norm have a positive effect on perceived usefulness, and on consumers' intention to use mobile data services, indirectly; (4) Up till now, consumers' perceived cost of mobile data services has no influence on consumers' intentions.
TENOR risk score predicts healthcare in adults with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma.

The aim of the present study was to predict which patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma are at highest risk for healthcare utilisation can be predicted so as to optimise clinical management. Data were derived from 2,821 adults with asthma enrolled in The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens (TENOR) study. Multiple potential predictors were assessed at baseline using a systematic algorithm employing stepwise logistic regression. Outcomes were asthma-related hospitalisations or emergency department (ED) visits within 6 months following baseline. Overall, 239 subjects (8.5%) reported hospitalisation or ED visits at follow-up. Predictors retained after multivariate analysis were as follows: younger age; female sex; non-white race; body mass index ≥35 kg·m-2; post-bronchodilator per cent predicted forced vital capacity <70%; history of pneumonia; diabetes; cataracts; intubation for asthma; and three or more steroid bursts in the prior 3 months. A final risk score derived from the logistic regression model ranged from 0–18 and was highly predictive (c-index: 0.78) of hospitalisation or ED visits. This tool was re-tested in a prospective validation using outcomes at 12- to 18-months follow-up among the same cohort (c-index: 0.77). The risk score derived is a clinically useful tool for assessing the likelihood of asthma-related hospitalisation or emergency department visits in adults with severe and difficult-to-treat asthma.
Education level as a technology adoption moderator

Internet banking is an emerging technology that employs the Internet and the financial infrastructure of banks. Adopting Internet banking is lagging in the Arab world and especially in Jordan. The adoption of a technology by users is vital if we want to benefit from the technology advancements and synergies. Education is an important factor in predicting Internet banking adoption by users. This study utilized three education levels to moderate the research model that was proposed by Abu-Shanab (2005). The model concluded to five major predictors of Internet banking adoption: Performance expectancy (PE), social influence (SI), self-efficacy (SE), perceived trust (PT) and locus of control (LOC). Education significantly moderated the relationships between behavioral intention and four variables: PE, SE, PT and LOC. The model explained 75% of the variance in behavioral intention, with an improvement of 1.7% when adding the interaction parts. Conclusions and future work are discussed at the end.
Use of a self-report constipation questionnaire with older adults in long-term care.

PURPOSE The Patient Assessment of Constipation (PAC), a symptom and quality-of-life inventory, was developed among community-dwelling adults under age 65. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and validity of an interview format of the PAC for older adults residing in long-term care. DESIGN AND METHODS The PAC was administered to 24 nursing home residents aged 65 and older. Cognitive interviewing methods were used to evaluate subjects' understanding and interpretation of PAC items. RESULTS The PAC interview required an average of 11 min, 15 s, to complete. Administration modifications for this population included rereading Likert anchor points and the stem question for each item. Subject item interpretation was generally accurate, as was interpretation of Likert anchors. IMPLICATIONS The PAC is easily administered and well understood by older adult residents in long-term care and provides a brief method for obtaining constipation-specific symptom and quality-of-life data from this population.