Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Note: Correction to the 1997 tutorial on Reed–Solomon coding

In 1997, SPE published a tutorial by Plank [19] on implementi ng Reed-Solomon codes for erasure correction in redundant data storage systems. The motivation of this tutori al was to present these codes, which are typically described mathematically by coding theorists, in a way accessible to t he programmers who need to implement them. The tutorial as published presented an information dispersal matrix A, which does not have the properties claimed – that the deletion of anym rows results in an invertable n n matrix. The purpose of this note is to present a correct infor mation dispersal matrix that has the desired properties, and to put the work in current context.
The Leakage Pathway and Effect of Needle Gauge on Degree of Disc Injury Post Anular Puncture: A Comparative Study Using Aged Human and Adolescent Porcine Discs

Study Design. An in vitro biomechanical study using aged human and adolescent porcine discs. Objectives. To find the leakage pathway and effect of needle gauge on the degree of disc injury post anular puncture. Summary of Background Data. Spinal needles are widely used for minimal invasive disc surgeries and disc degeneration/regeneration research. Applications of anular puncture require different diameters of spinal needles. However, the effect of needle diameters on the disc injury has not been systematically studied yet. Methods. Four groups of experiments were conducted: 1) porcine thoracic disc, 2) human thoracic disc, 3) porcine thoracic disc with 200 N external loading, and 4) porcine lumbar discs. The disc was punctured consecutively with needles from smaller diameter to larger diameter. After each anular puncture, the quantitative discomanometry technique was conducted to quantify the disc rupture pressure and volume. The association between needle gauge and rupture pressure and volume was analyzed. Results. The degree of disc injury increased with the diameter of needle. For an aged human thoracic disc, the anulus fibrosus cannot hold pressure more than 2 MPa after a 21-gauge-needle-anular-puncture. The leakage pathway of injected saline was through the anular fissure but was through the endplate when the disc was next to an osteoporotic vertebrae. The pressure holding power of porcine disc is stronger than of human disc. The rupture pressure of porcine lumbar disc is higher than of porcine thoracic disc. The axial compressive external loading increased the disc rupture pressure. The rupture volumes were not affected by the dimension of injury fissure. The rupture volume was at level of 0.3 mL without external loading and at 0.2 mL with external loading. Conclusion. A spinal needle of ≤22 gauge and injection volume of ≤0.2 mL are recommended to prevent postsurgery leakage.
Micro Load Balancing in Data Centers with DRILL

The trend towards simple data center network fabric strips most network functionality, including load balancing capabilities, out of the network core and pushes them to the edge. We investigate a different direction of incorporating minimal load balancing intelligence into the network fabric and show that this slightly smarter fabric significantly enhances performance. We provide a very simple in-network load balancing scheduling algorithm called DRILL which is purely local to each switch. DRILL leverages local load sensing and randomization concepts to distribute load among multiple paths. Through simulation, we show that this simple approach outperforms CONGA, a recent global edge-based load balancing scheme for data centers. We also formally prove the switch-level stability and throughput-efficiency of DRILL's scheduling algorithm.
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis pks2 Gene Encodes the Synthase for the Hepta- and Octamethyl-branched Fatty Acids Required for Sulfolipid Synthesis*

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a major global health emergency. Cell wall lipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis can play crucial roles in the pathogenesis. The enzymes involved in their synthesis can be ideal new drug targets against tuberculosis, because many such lipids are unique to this pathogen. A variety of multiple methyl-branched fatty acids are among such unique lipids. We have identified seven genes highly homologous to the mas gene, which is known to be involved in the production of one class of such multiple methyl-branched fatty acids. One of these mas-like genes, pks2, was disrupted using a phage-mediated delivery of the disruption construct. Gene disruption by homologous recombination was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of the flanking regions of the introduced disrupted gene and by Southern analysis. Thin-layer and radio gas-chromatographic analyses of lipids derived from [1-14C]propionic acid and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the fatty acids and hydroxy fatty acids showed that the pks2 mutant was incapable of producing hepta- and octamethyl phthioceranic acids and hydroxyphthioceranic acids that are the major acyl constituents of sulfolipids. Consequently,pks2 mutant does not produce sulfolipids. Sulfolipid deficiency in pks2 mutant was confirmed by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic analysis of lipids derived from [1-14C]propionic acid and35SO 4 − 2 . With this sulfolipid-deficient mutant, it should be possible to test for the postulated important roles for sulfolipids in the pathogenesis ofM. tuberculosis.
An Effective Hybrid PSOSA-Based Multi-user Detection for DS-CDMA Ultra-WideBand Communications Systems

In this paper, we investigate the performance of various interference cancellation techniques in direct-sequence ultra-wideband (DS-UWB) communication systems. Multiple access interference (MAI) causes the performance of the conventional single user detector in DS-UWB systems to degrade. Due to high complexity of the optimum multiuser detector, suboptimal multiuser detectors with less complexity and reasonable performance have received considerable attention. A hybrid approach that employs a simulated annealing algorithm (SA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) for the MUD problem in UWB communication systems is proposed. By taking advantage of heuristic values and the collective intelligence of SAPSO, the proposed detector offers almost the same bit error rate (BER) performance as the full-search-based optimum multiuser detector does, while greatly reducing the computational complexity. The near–far resistance of the PSOSA-based multiuser detector is also examined. The good behavior of the proposed approach is demonstrated by means of comparisons in term of bit error rate (BER) performance and implementation complexity with the classical Rake receiver and different multiuser receivers previously proposed in the literature on this subject.
Hand and wrist configurations in patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The association between hand and wrist configurations was investigated in this study. The hand and wrist dimensions of sixty patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and sixty healthy control subjects were measured using specific anatomical landmarks. The palm width was significantly greater in the patient group. There was no significant difference in the hand length between the two groups. Both the wrist width and wrist depth were significantly greater in the patient group. The hand ratio and the wrist ratio were significantly smaller in the patient group indicating that the latter had squarer hands and wrists than the control group respectively. This suggests that the anatomy of the hand and wrist may predispose to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Expression pattern of chemoresistance-related genes in human malignant brain tumors: a working knowledge for proper selection of anticancer drugs.

BACKGROUND In addition to traditional modalities such as surgical intervention and radiotherapy, chemotherapy is a common therapeutic method for human malignant brain tumors. However, the effectiveness of chemotherapy is frequently hampered by cancer cell chemoresistance, resulting in an unsatisfactory outcome. To overcome this disadvantage, the proper selection of efficacious anticancer agents is required. METHODS The expression levels of chemoresistance-related genes, MGMT, mdr1, MRP, MTIIA and GST-pi, in 28 surgical specimens of human brain tumors and in 10 human glioma cell lines were examined by Northern blot analysis. In addition, the SD10 values of human glioma cell lines against ACNU, CDDP, ADM and VP16 were estimated by a cell survival assay. RESULTS The expression levels of each of the chemoresistance-related genes, except MRP, were generally higher in brain tumors than those in non-neoplastic brain tissues. MGMT expression correlated exclusively with ACNU resistance in all glioma cell lines examined (p = 0.0002). The transcriptional level of mdr1 in the tumor cells correlated with the SD10 values of VCR (p = 0.04) and ADM (p = 0.034). In contrast, the expression levels of MTIIA and GST-pi did not correlate with resistance to any of the drugs tested. A correlation of MRP mRNA expression with multidrug resistance was not apparent in the 10 cell lines tested. CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that knowledge of the expression levels of MGMT and mdr1 may be particularly useful for a more rational selection of drugs which are not influenced by these resistance genes and which have improved efficacy against human brain tumors.
Exploring how consumers cope with online behavioral advertising

This study explores how consumers cope with a computer technology-driven persuasion tactic called online behavioral advertising (OBA). By tracking consumers’ online behaviors, OBA delivers highly tailored advertising messages to individual consumers, giving rise to serious privacy concerns due to their covert nature. Integrating the persuasion knowledge model and the protection motivation theory, we employed a survey method (N = 442) to examine how consumers cope with OBA based on their persuasion knowledge, cognitive appraisal, and cognitive processing variables. The results reveal that persuasion knowledge was indirectly associated with coping behavior of ad avoidance throughout cognitive appraisal process (perceived risks; perceived benefits; self-efficacy). Privacy concerns partially mediated such associations with ad avoidance. Interestingly, cognitive processing variables (reactance; perceived personalization) were significantly associated with ad avoidance without being related to persuasion knowledge. The implications for theoretical, managerial, and social contributions are discussed.
Single Step Tableaux for Modal

Single Step Tableaux (SST) are the basis of a calculus for modal logics which combines diierent features of sequent and preexed tableaux into a simple, modular, strongly analytic and eeective calculus for a wide range of modal logics. The paper presents a number of the computational results about SST (connu-ence, decidability, space complexity, query combination etc.) and compares SST with other formalisms such as translation methods, modal resolution and Gentzen-type tableaux. For instance, it discusses the feasibility and unfeasibility of deriving decision procedures for SST and translation based methods by replacing loop checking techniques with simpler termination checks. The complexity of searching for validity and logical consequence with SST and other methods is discussed. Minimal conditions on SST search strategies are proven to require Pspace (and NPtime for S5 and KD45). The paper also presents the methodology underlying the construction of the correctness and completeness proofs.
A Retinotopic Basis for the Division of High-Level Scene Processing between Lateral and Ventral Human Occipitotemporal Cortex

In humans, there is a repeated category-selective organization across the lateral and ventral surfaces of the occipitotemporal cortex. This apparent redundancy is often explained as a feedforward hierarchy, with processing within lateral areas preceding the processing within ventral areas. Here, we tested the alternative hypothesis that this structure better reflects distinct high-level representations of the upper (ventral surface) and lower (lateral surface) contralateral quadrants of the visual field, consistent with anatomical projections from early visual areas to these surfaces in monkey. Using complex natural scenes, we provide converging evidence from three independent functional imaging and behavioral studies. First, population receptive field mapping revealed strong biases for the contralateral upper and lower quadrant within the ventral and lateral scene-selective regions, respectively. Second, these same biases were observed in the position information available both in the magnitude and multivoxel response across these areas. Third, behavioral judgments of a scene property strongly represented within the ventral scene-selective area (open/closed), but not another equally salient property (manmade/natural), were more accurate in the upper than the lower field. Such differential representation of visual space poses a substantial challenge to the idea of a strictly hierarchical organization between lateral and ventral scene-selective regions. Moreover, such retinotopic biases seem to extend beyond these regions throughout both surfaces. Thus, the large-scale organization of high-level extrastriate cortex likely reflects the need for both specialized representations of particular categories and constraints from the structure of early vision. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT One of the most striking findings in fMRI has been the presence of matched category-selective regions on the lateral and ventral surfaces of human occipitotemporal cortex. Here, we focus on scene-selective regions and provide converging evidence for a retinotopic explanation of this organization. Specifically, we demonstrate that scene-selective regions exhibit strong biases for different portions of the visual field, with the lateral region representing the contralateral lower visual field and the ventral region the contralateral upper visual field. These biases are consistent with the retinotopy found in the early visual areas that lie directly antecedent to category-selective areas on both surfaces. Furthermore, these biases extend beyond scene-selective cortex and provide a retinotopic basis for the large-scale organization of occipitotemporal cortex.
IMAGING THE COOL HYPERGIANT NML CYGNI'S DUSTY CIRCUMSTELLAR ENVELOPE WITH ADAPTIVE OPTICS

We present subarcsecond angular resolution, high-Strehl ratio mid-IR adaptive optics images of the powerful OH/IR source and cool hypergiant NML Cyg at 8.8, 9.8, and 11.7 μm. These images reveal once more the complexity in the dusty envelope surrounding this star. We spatially resolve the physical structures (radius ∼ 0.″14, ∼240 AU adopting a distance of 1.74 kpc) responsible for NML Cyg's deep 10 μm silicate dust absorption feature. We also detect an asymmetric excess, at separations of ∼0. ″3–0. ″5 (∼520–870 AU), northwest from the star. The colors of this excess are consistent with thermal emission of hot, optically thin dust. This excess is oriented in the direction of the Cyg OB2 stellar association, and is likely due to the disruption of NML Cyg's dusty wind with the near-UV radiation flux from the massive hot stars within Cyg OB2. This interaction was predicted in our previous paper to explain the geometry of an inverted photodissociation region observed at optical wavelengths.
Neurotransmitters and Nutrition

There is a body of evidence (Wurtman and Fernstrom, 1974; Growdon and Wurtman, 1977, 1980; Gelenberg, Wojcik and Growdon, 1980) that ingesting large quantities of naturally occurring dietary constituents that are precursors for neurotransmitters can produce sequential elevations in blood and brain levels of the neurotransmitters themselves. The relationship of dietary intake to brain function has been the focus of recent research, especially that of Richard J. Wurtman, M.D. and colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and a number of laboratories have begun to utilize the brain's dependence on dietary precursors to learn more about normal brain function as well as disease states. It is thought that certain disease states may result from inadequate release of
Neuromuscular and Microvascular Changes in Intrinsic Tongue Muscles of Patients with Various Forms of ALS

The study objective was to investigate whether amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects the intrinsic tongue muscles differently when the symptoms begin in cranial or lower limb muscles. Muscle fiber area, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition and vascularization were analyzed in the anterior and posterior region of the tongue with immunohistochemistry and morphometric techniques in 7 patients with classical ALS (limb onset) and 5 patients with progressive bulbar ALS (cranial onset). Samples from 5 previously healthy subjects were used as controls. The morphological results were correlated to the clinical data for each patient.The results showed that the ALS samples had various degrees of pathological changes in both the anterior and posterior region of the tongue. The fiber area and number of capillaries around fibers was decreased by approximately 50% compared to controls. In both anterior and posterior regions, there was a shift against fibers co-expressing slow and fast MyHC isoforms. Although both classical and bulbar forms of ALS affected the muscles, there were also important differences between the two. In the bulbar form of ALS, the proportion of MyHCI fibers were decreased, a finding in contrast with classical ALS where MyHCII fibers have been reported to be affected preferentially. The slow contracting MyHCI fibers in the bulbar form of ALS differed also by being better supplied by capillaries. Conclusively, ALS had a large impact on the tongue muscle morphology, but both the form of the ALS and inherent factors seem to influence the disease process.
Control of maximal and submaximal vertical jumps.

PURPOSE It was investigated to what extent control signals used by human subjects to perform submaximal vertical jumps are related to control signals used to perform maximal vertical jumps. METHODS Eight subjects performed both maximal and submaximal height jumps from a static squatting position. Kinematic and kinetic data were recorded as well as electromyographic (EMG) signals from eight leg muscles. Principal component analysis was used analyze the shape of smoothed rectified EMG (SREMG) histories. Jumps were also simulated with a forward dynamic model of the musculoskeletal system, comprising four segments and six muscles. First, a maximal height jump was simulated by finding the optimal stimulation pattern, i.e., the pattern resulting in a maximum height of the mass center of the body. Subsequently, submaximal jumps were simulated by adapting the optimal stimulation pattern using strategies derived from the experimental SREMG histories. RESULTS SREMG histories of maximal and submaximal jumps revealed only minor differences in relative timing of the muscles between maximal and submaximal jumps, but SREMG amplitude was reduced in the biarticular muscles. The shape of the SREMG recordings was not much different between the two conditions, even for the biarticular muscles. The simulated submaximal jump resembled to some extent the submaximal jumps found in the experiment, suggesting that differences in control signals as inferred from the experimental data could indeed be sufficient to get the observed behavior. CONCLUSIONS The results fit in with theories on the existence of generalized motor programs within the central nervous system, the output of which is determined by the setting of parameters such as amplitude and relative timing of control signals.
Interpretable classifiers using rules and Bayesian analysis: Building a better stroke prediction model

We aim to produce predictive models that are not only accurate, but are also interpretable to human experts. Our models are decision lists, which consist of a series of if.then. statements (e.g., if high blood pressure, then stroke) that discretize a high-dimensional, multivariate feature space into a series of simple, readily interpretable decision statements. We introduce a generative model called Bayesian Rule Lists that yields a posterior distribution over possible decision lists. It employs a novel prior structure to encourage sparsity. Our experiments show that Bayesian Rule Lists has predictive accuracy on par with the current top algorithms for prediction in machine learning. Our method is motivated by recent developments in personalized medicine, and can be used to produce highly accurate and interpretable medical scoring systems. We demonstrate this by producing an alternative to the CHADS$_2$ score, actively used in clinical practice for estimating the risk of stroke in patients that have atrial fibrillation. Our model is as interpretable as CHADS$_2$, but more accurate.
The impact of cellar door experience on visitors’ loyalty intentions.

With the increasing establishment of new wineries, cellar doors are now marketing in an energetic manner to attract wine tourists; as a result, cellar door managers are increasingly concerned with factors leading to the differentiation of their cellar doors and visitors’ post-visit behaviours. However, despite the fact that the cellar door experience is logically of great importance from both the wine tourism and wine marketing perspectives, little is known about the detailed relationships between the different aspects of a visitor’s cellar door experience and how these aspects interact to affect a visitor’s post-visit behavioural intentions. This study features an exploration of the effects of winery cellar door inputs on visitors’ monetary and experiential value perceptions, overall satisfaction and behavioural intentions. The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that a memorable cellar door experience encompasses not only the selection of the core wine product but also other components, including the appreciation of the cellar door environment and the face-to-face interaction with the front-line employees that facilitate the visit. Further, the application of Partial Least Squares path modelling indicates that cellar door visitors are oriented towards the experiential aspects of the visit itself as much as pragmatic considerations in purchasing wine. The insights are, therefore, directed towards the creation of a total cellar door experience. The research shows that cellar door operators cannot solely rely on good-quality wine to maintain their business. Their marketing differentiation strategy needs to shift from a goods-based offering to including the creation of hedonic and utilitarian experiential value on a consistent basis, to maintain visitor satisfaction and enhance customer loyalty.
Attitudes of police officers toward offenders: implications for future training

Purpose Police officers’ attitudes toward criminals are critical to the justice system’s response to crime. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes toward offenders (ATOs) among police officers. Design/methodology/approach To assess police officers ATOs, the authors adapted the Attitudes Toward Prisoner scale to produce the ATO scale. The scale was completed by 431 male police officers in a Portuguese police institution. Findings The results revealed that police officers hold more negative ATOs than correctional officers and graduate students. Moreover, the results revealed significant differences in average ATO scores according to police officers’ age, years of service, marital status and education; namely, police officers who were older, married, less educated, and with more years of police service had more positive ATOs. However, the results revealed that these demographic factors had a limited value in predicting attitudes, as none of them emerged as a predictor of ATOs. Originality/value Nonetheless, considering the relevance of attitudes in law enforcement procedures, the implications for training police officers are provided, specifically using critical incident technique strategies.