Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Croquet: a menagerie of new user interfaces

A new architecture like Croquet presents numerous opportunities and challenges to create useful interfaces to enable access to the underlying power of the system. In particular, our focus on an integrated 2D and 3D system ensures that we have a rich intellectual environment within which to explore. This experience is similar to the development of the original modern windowing user interface created by Alan Kay, his team at Xerox Pare, and his Squeak team (Ingalls et al., 2002; Kay, 1996). Just as those teams did, we also have an infrastructure that is rich enough to allow us to perform some deep exploration into the presentation and manipulation of rich media expressed in 3D, and in the negotiations through these rich media worlds. A number of key technologies will be discussed including dynamic movable portals, floating 3D windows, true 3D creation tools, live teleporting snapshots, and completely new concepts such as 3D portals.
Naive Bayes text classifiers: a locally weighted learning approach

Due to being fast, easy to implement and relatively effective, some state-of-the-art naive Bayes text classifiers with the strong assumption of conditional independence among attributes, such as multinomial naive Bayes, complement naive Bayes and the one-versus-all-but-one model, have received a great deal of attention from researchers in the domain of text classification. In this article, we revisit these naive Bayes text classifiers and empirically compare their classification performance on a large number of widely used text classification benchmark datasets. Then, we propose a locally weighted learning approach to these naive Bayes text classifiers. We call our new approach locally weighted naive Bayes text classifiers (LWNBTC). LWNBTC weakens the attribute conditional independence assumption made by these naive Bayes text classifiers by applying the locally weighted learning approach. The experimental results show that our locally weighted versions significantly outperform these state-of-the-art naive Bayes text classifiers in terms of classification accuracy.
Safe & Efficient Gradual Typing for TypeScript

Current proposals for adding gradual typing to JavaScript, such as Closure, TypeScript and Dart, forgo soundness to deal with issues of scale, code reuse, and popular programming patterns. We show how to address these issues in practice while retaining soundness. We design and implement a new gradual type system, prototyped for expediency as a 'Safe' compilation mode for TypeScript. Our compiler achieves soundness by enforcing stricter static checks and embedding residual runtime checks in compiled code. It emits plain JavaScript that runs on stock virtual machines. Our main theorem is a simulation that ensures that the checks introduced by Safe TypeScript (1) catch any dynamic type error, and (2) do not alter the semantics of type-safe TypeScript code. Safe TypeScript is carefully designed to minimize the performance overhead of runtime checks. At its core, we rely on two new ideas: differential subtyping, a new form of coercive subtyping that computes the minimum amount of runtime type information that must be added to each object; and an erasure modality, which we use to safely and selectively erase type information. This allows us to scale our design to full-fledged TypeScript, including arrays, maps, classes, inheritance, overloading, and generic types. We validate the usability and performance of Safe TypeScript empirically by type-checking and compiling around 120,000 lines of existing TypeScript source code. Although runtime checks can be expensive, the end-to-end overhead is small for code bases that already have type annotations. For instance, we bootstrap the Safe TypeScript compiler (90,000 lines including the base TypeScript compiler): we measure a 15% runtime overhead for type safety, and also uncover programming errors as type safety violations. We conclude that, at least during development and testing, subjecting JavaScript/TypeScript programs to safe gradual typing adds significant value to source type annotations at a modest cost.
News and social media: Windows into community perspectives on disinvestment

Objectives: The aim of this study, in the context of disinvestment related health technology assessment, is to examine whether analysis of Web 2.0—commercial media output, blogs, and discussion forums—can provide an understanding of media framing, community perspectives, and the sociopolitical aspects of an entrenched technology. Methods: Thematic analysis of relevant data from fifty-nine media articles, thirty-nine discussion forums, thirteen blogs, and three Facebook pages relating to our case study: public funding for assisted reproductive technology services. Mainstream media and community-based social media responses were compared. Results: Media responses were narrow, primarily describing emotive individual narratives or the political nexus of interests. Community (including patient) responses were broader including discussion of opportunity cost and vested interests but mostly reflected the polar ends of the debate, diverging strongly for or against disinvestment from public funding. Conclusion: Web2.0 and media analysis offers an inexpensive method to capture media portrayal, divergent community responses both to that portrayal and independent of it, and insight into the sociopolitical aspects of an entrenched technology undergoing disinvestment debate.
Slowness and sparseness for unsupervised learning of spatial and object codes from naturalistic data

This thesis introduces a hierarchical model for unsupervised learning from naturalistic video sequences. The model is based on the principles of slowness and sparseness. Different approaches and implementations for these principles are discussed. A variety of neuron classes in the hippocampal formation of rodents and primates codes for different aspects of space surrounding the animal, including place cells, head direction cells, spatial view cells and grid cells. In the main part of this thesis, video sequences from a virtual reality environment are used for training the hierarchical model. The behavior of most known hippocampal neuron types coding for space are reproduced by this model. The type of representations generated by the model is mostly determined by the movement statistics of the simulated animal. The model approach is not limited to spatial coding. An application of the model to invariant object recognition is described, where artificial clusters of spheres or rendered fish are presented to the model. The resulting representations allow a simple extraction of the identity of the object presented as well as of its position and viewing angle.
Continuous palliative sedation until death: practice after introduction of the Dutch national guideline

Background In 2005, a national palliative guideline was launched in The Netherlands. The authors describe the practice of continuous palliative sedation until death (CPS) after the introduction of this guideline. Methods In 2008, a random sample of physicians (n=1580) were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding the last patient in whom they had provided CPS until death. Results The response was 38%. In all, 82% of the respondents were aware of the existence of the national guideline. Dyspnoea, pain and physical exhaustion were most often mentioned as decisive indications for continuous sedation. The decision to use sedation was discussed with all competent patients, but in 18% this merely involved informing the patient. Life expectancy at the start of continuous sedation was estimated to be less than 2 weeks in 97% of the cases. In 14%, the physicians had felt pressure to start the sedation, predominantly from patients and relatives. Physicians were present at the start of the sedation in 81% of the cases. Midazolam was used to induce the sedation in 92%. Overall, 41% of the physicians estimated that continuous sedation had hastened death to some extent. Most physicians thought that patients' complaints were adequately relieved by continuous sedation, that relatives were satisfied and that a good quality of dying was achieved. Interpretation Continuous palliative sedation practice in The Netherlands largely reflects the recommendations from the national guideline. Issues needing further attention are the pressure felt by physicians to start continuous sedation and the potential life-shortening effect as mentioned by the physicians.
Impact of non-functionalized and amino-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes on pesticide uptake by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract The effect of non-functionalized and amino-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT) exposure, as well as the impact of CNT presence on coexistent pesticide accumulation, was investigated in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Lettuce seeds were sown directly into CNT-amended vermiculite (1000 mg L−1) to monitor phytotoxicity during germination and growth. During growth, lettuce seedlings were subsequently exposed to chlordane (cis-chlordane [CS], trans-chlordane [TC] and trans-nonachlor [TN]) and p,p′-DDE (all at 100 ng/L) in the irrigation solution for a 19-d growth period. CNT exposure did not significantly influence seed germination (82–96%) or plant growth. Similarly, pesticide exposure had no impact on plant growth, total pigment production or tissue lipid peroxidation. After 19 d, the root content of total chlordane and p,p′-DDE was 390 and 73.8 µg g−1, respectively; in plants not exposed to CNTs, the shoot levels were 1.58 and 0.40 µg g−1, respectively. The presence and type of CNT significantly influenced pesticide availability to lettuce seedlings. Non-functionalized CNT decreased the root and shoot pesticide content by 88% and 78%, respectively, but amino-functionalized CNT effects were significantly more modest, with decreases of 57% in the roots and 23% in the shoots, respectively. The presence of humic acid completely reversed the reduced accumulation of pesticides induced by amino-functionalized CNT, likely due to strong competition over adsorption sites on the nanomaterial (NM). These findings have implications for food safety and for the use of engineered NMs in agriculture, especially with leafy vegetables.
Statins: mechanism of action and effects

The beneficial effects of statins are the result of their capacity to reduce cholesterol biosyntesis, mainly in the liver, where they are selectively distributed, as well as to the modulation of lipid metabolism, derived from their effect of inhibition upon HMG‐CoA reductase. Statins have antiatherosclerotic effects, that positively correlate with the percent decrease in LDL cholesterol. In addition, they can exert antiatherosclerotic effects independently of their hypolipidemic action. Because the mevalonate metabolism generates a series of isoprenoids vital for different cellular functions, from cholesterol synthesis to the control of cell growth and differentiation, HMG‐CoA reductase inhibition has beneficial pleiotropic effects. Consequently, statins reduce significantly the incidence of coronary events, both in primary and secondary prevention, being the most efficient hypolipidemic compounds that have reduced the rate of mortality in coronary patients. Independent of their hypolipidemic properties, statins interfere with events involved in bone formation and impede tumor cell growth.
Recommending user generated item lists

Existing recommender systems mostly focus on recommending individual items which users may be interested in. User-generated item lists on the other hand have become a popular feature in many applications. E.g., Goodreads provides users with an interface for creating and sharing interesting book lists. These user-generated item lists complement the main functionality of the corresponding application, and intuitively become an alternative way for users to browse and discover interesting items to be consumed. Unfortunately, existing recommender systems are not designed for recommending user-generated item lists. In this work, we study properties of these user-generated item lists and propose a Bayesian ranking model, called LIRE for recommending them. The proposed model takes into consideration users' previous interactions with both item lists and with individual items. Furthermore, we propose in LIRE a novel way of weighting items within item lists based on both position of items, and personalized list consumption pattern. Through extensive experiments on a real item list dataset from Goodreads, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed LIRE model.
The number of 2 c tables with given margins

We provide an elementary proof of a formula for the number of possible 2× c contingency tables with given row and column sums. Further, we show that the number of r×c contingency tables with given row sums is maximal as a function of column sums when column sums are as equal as possible. If only the sum of all table entries is given, the number of tables is maximal when also row sums are as equal as possible. The knowledge of those numbers is useful for determining which method to use for statistical testing of association in a contingency table.
The Science of Desire: The Search for the Gay Gene and the Biology of Behavior

Dean Hamer and his team of researchers at the National Cancer Institute made a remarkable discovery: in families with two gay brothers, 33 out of 40 pairs shared a distinctive pattern in one region of the X chromosone, a far higher number than chance alone would predict. DNA and family studies confirmed a much higher than average rate of homosexuality among male relatives on the mother's side of the family. The discovery of the gene marker - popularly, though inaccurately called the "gay gene" - launched a furious international debate about profound scientific, social and ethical issues. Would it be possible to test prenatally for it? And would parents abort a foetus with the gene? The author tackles these and other important questions with a mixture of scientific objectivity, scepticism and compassion.
Toward improved simulation tools for compressible turbomachinery: assessment of residual-based compact schemes for the transonic compressor NASA Rotor 37

Residual-based compact schemes of second- and third-order accuracy are applied to a challenging three-dimensional flow through a transonic compressor. The proposed schemes provide almost mesh-converged solutions in good agreement with experimental data on relatively coarse grids, which allow achieving a given accuracy level with computational cost reductions by a factor between 2 and 4 with respect to standard solvers.
Codeswitching and ethnicity: grammatical types of codeswitching in the Afrikaans speech community

Abstract Codeswitching in its function as a marker of ethnicity within the same speech community has so far mostly been illustrated with case studies involving closely related codes (e.g. dialect/standard) rather than distinct standard languages. The purpose of this article is to show in how far Afrikaans-English codeswitching reflects in its grammatical forms ethnic divisions within the Afrikaans speech community. In order to answer this question, Muysken's threefold taxonomy of insertions, alternations and congruent lexicalization is used to categorize and quantify forms of Afrikaans-English codeswitching in the informal speech of three age cohorts distributed across seven samples of White and Coloured Afrikaans speakers from South Africa and Namibia. The analysis reveals that codeswitching patterns differ across the ethnic divide not only in terms of relative proportions of insertions, alternations and congruent lexicalization, but also in terms of specific grammatical or syntactic characteristics which these codeswitching types may assume. On the basis of some of these specific characteristics the conclusion is drawn that codeswitching practices remain to some degree conditioned by perceptions of ethnic group membership rather than by histories of language contact or typological distance between Afrikaans and English.
Differential Rescue of Poliovirus RNA Replication Functions by Genetically Modified RNA Polymerase Precursors

ABSTRACT We have previously described the RNA replication properties of poliovirus transcripts harboring chimeric RNA polymerase sequences representing suballelic exchanges between poliovirus type 1 (PV1) and coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) utilizing an in vitro translation and RNA replication assay (C. Cornell, R. Perera, J. E. Brunner, and B. L. Semler, J. Virol. 78:4397-4407, 2004). We showed that three of the seven chimeras were capable of RNA replication in vitro, although replication levels were greatly reduced compared to that of wild-type transcripts. Interestingly, one of the replication-competent transcripts displayed a strand-specific RNA synthesis defect suggesting (i) a differential replication complex assembly mechanism involving 3D and/or precursor molecules (i.e., 3CD) required for negative- versus positive-strand RNA synthesis or (ii) effect(s) on the ability of the 3D polymerase to form higher-ordered structures required for positive-strand RNA synthesis. In this study, we have attempted to rescue defective RNA replication in vitro by cotranslating nonstructural proteins from a transcript encoding a large precursor polyprotein (P3) to complement 3D polymerase and/or precursor polypeptide functions altered in each of the chimeric constructs. Utilization of a wild-type P3 construct revealed that all transcripts containing chimeric PV1/CVB3 polymerase sequences can be complemented in trans for both negative- and positive-strand RNA synthesis. Furthermore, data from experiments utilizing genetically modified forms of the P3 polyprotein, containing mutations within 3C or 3D sequences, strongly suggest the existence of different protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions required for positive- versus negative-strand RNA synthesis. These results, combined with data from in vitro RNA elongation assays, indicate that the delivery of active 3D RNA polymerase to replication complexes requires a series of macromolecular interactions that rely on the presence of specific 3D amino acid sequences.
Physician use of an ambulatory medical record system: matching form and function

An ambulatory medical record system was implemented as a pilot project to determine the clinical and operational impacts of using interactive, computer-based systems in the outpatient setting. Of the 58 physicians who attempted to use the AMR system, 28 continue as active users. Physicians who discontinued use of the system reported a variety of reasons for their dissatisfaction. As a result of the pilot, the AMR implementation team and physicians understand better how to fit the AMR system to a physician's specific requirements, as well as enhance the operation of the physician's practice. Armed with the experience gained during the early phases of the implementation, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation now intends a cautious expansion and continued evaluation of the AMR system, with the objective of meeting organizational needs with appropriate technical functions.
Credit Market Imperfections and Long-Run Macroeconomic Consequences

This paper develops a dynamic general-equilibrium model with production to examine the inter-relationships between the real and the financial sectors with and without credit market imperfections. Due to the moral hazard problem, borrowers may take the money and run while lenders may ration credit, resulting in a widened financial spread and low effective bank loans, compared to the unconstrained equilibrium. Credit rationing causes both the loan and the deposit rates to rise. In either unconstrained or constrained equilibrium, the long-run effects of a productivity improvement on real and financial activities depends crucially on where it is originated.
Democratic Discontent in Old and New Democracies: Assessing the Importance of Democratic Input and Governmental Output

Although the phenomenon of dissatisfied democrats has been frequently discussed in the literature, it has not often been empirically investigated. This article sets out to analyse the discrepancy between the strong support for democratic principles and the widespread discontent with the way democracy works. Drawing on earlier research on the sources of political support, using data from a wide range of democracies, the relevance of two contrasting explanatory perspectives are investigated. The first perspective argues that the sources of democratic discontent are found on the input-side of the political system in terms of representation. The contrasting view argues that the output-side of the political system is most important, where the quality of government plays the pivotal role. The results of the empirical analysis suggest that, in general, both types of factor are important, but also that these processes to a large extent are conditioned by the level of institutional consolidation.
Self-Care Independence After Spinal Cord Injury: Patient And Therapist Expectations And Real Life Performance

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate changes in self-care performance between rehabilitation discharge and 1 year follow-up and to compare patients’ and therapists’ expectations of self-care independence with actual self-care performance after discharge. Methods: Prospective study of 55 patients with tetraplegia (21 complete and 34 incomplete) after spinal cord injury (SCI) consecutively admitted to a large urban rehabilitation hospital [injury levels: C4 (5), C5 (33), C6 (9), C7 (4), and C8 (4)] . Data were collected using structured patient interviews, occupational therapists’ predictions of patients’ self care, and Functional Independence Measure ratings by rehabilitation staff. Results: Analysis showed that for all skills, expectations of patients (mainly African American men) were higher than therapists’ predictions, and for 3 of these skills, the differences were statistically significant: eating (Z = -4.47, P < .001 ); bathing (Z = -3.67, P < .001 ); and dressing (Z = -3.16, P = .002). Occupational therapists were better predictors of patients’ actual self-care performance at discharge than were patients, although both tended to overestimate patients’ performance. There was no evidence that self-care capability declined between discharge and 12 months follow-up, but routine self-care performance varied widely across patient and personal circumstances. Conclusions: Differential attrition reduced the study sample to 25 SCI patients who were primarily more severely injured African American men. Results showed that these patients maintained their self-care performance 1 year after discharge, but more innovative strategies must be developed to customize self-care retraining to address the unique needs of this patient population. J Spinal Cord Med. 2001 ;24:257–265
Leadership Development during Times of Reform

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN EARLY childhood education and care settings has been integrated within the National Quality Framework in Australia, which came into effect on 1 January, 2012. While the appointment of educational leaders within the field is a step in the right direction, leadership development has been overlooked at governmental level until recently. The issue is being examined at this time due the regulatory reforms currently underway within the field in Australia. The paper calls for more leadership development within the field since most educators with leadership responsibilities have been appointed to their position with limited, or no, leadership training. A cultural shift is recommended in order to significantly improve the status of the profession.