Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TCP as an Implementation of Age-Based Scheduling: Fairness and Performance

We show that different flavors of TCP may be viewed as implementations of age-based scheduling disciplines. By parameterizing the scheduling disciplines of interest we are able to position variants of TCP in a wide spectrum having FCFS (first-come first-served) and LAS (least attained service first) as extremal policies, and including PS (processor sharing) as an intermediate case. We argue that for highly loaded systems, providing a fair bandwidth allocation among all users is secondary to ensuring network stability. So as to isolate protocol fairness from congestion effects, we therefore focus on scenarios with infinite buffers. This way, asymmetries in capacity shares are the consequences of the protocol only, and not affected by the packet loss process. The model, however, is flexible enough to include finite buffers with random packet loss as a special case (for example to capture Active Queue Management). The results are helpful in studying fairness and performance concerned with transmission protocols in communication networks. For persistent HTTP connections we study the distributions of the transmission rates and the relative fairness index under various assumptions on the file size distributions and scheduling disciplines. For infinite file sizes, we show that protocols that increase priority more than linearly with the attained service asymptotically behave similar to FCFS. In contrast, protocols with at most linearly increasing (or even decreasing) priority, with TCP's Congestion Avoidance mechanism as the most prominent example, converge to PS scheduling (even in absence of losses). When the priority is exactly linear in the attained service, such as for scalable TCP and TCP's slow start phase, the shares remain constant in between file initiations and completions.
SP6-13 Sleep duration and overweight in European children: is the association modified by geographic region?

Introduction An association between sleep duration and overweight has been reported from several countries. Comparability of those results is limited by reasons of methodological differences. In a multi-center study we analysed this association in children from northern and southern Europe. Objectives To investigate differences and a possible effect modification by geographical region in the association between sleep duration and overweight. Methods In the IDEFICS-Study we examined 16.223 children (2–9 years) from eight European countries. Sleep was assessed by means of a parental 24h-Recall. Logistic regression models were applied to analyse the association between overweight and sleep duration and to test for effect modification by region. Results A dose dependent association between sleep duration and overweight was seen. This persisted after adjustment, but remained significant only for sleeping <9h if stratified by region (north:OR 2.0; 99% CI 1.3 to 3.2 vs south:OR 2.5; 99% CI 1.4 to 4.3). No effect modification by region was found. The association was stronger in older children. Conclusion Geographic region and related aspects do not modify the association between sleep and overweight, but should be taken in consideration as a confounding factor on this association.
Border Crossings: Cultural Workers and the Politics of Education

Since 1992, Border Crossings has showcased Henry Giroux's extraordinary range as a thinker by bringing together a series of essays that refigure the relationship between post-modernism, feminism, cultural studies and critical pedagogy. With discussions of topics including the struggle over academic canon, the role of popular culture in the curriculum and the cultural war the New Right has waged on schools, Giroux identified the most pressing issues facing critical educators at the turn of the century. In this revised edition, Giroux reflects on the limits and possibilities of border crossings in the 21st century. "Borders" in our post 9/11 world have not been collapsing, he argues, but vigorously rebuilt. In order to have a truly critically engaged citizenry the challenges of these new "borders"- such as the increased militarization of public spaces, the rise of neo-liberalism, and the war in Iraq- must play a vital role in any debate on school and pedagogy.
Sweet-beverage consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

BACKGROUND The consumption of sweet beverages has been associated with greater risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, which may be involved in the development of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that sweet beverages may increase pancreatic cancer risk as well. OBJECTIVE We examined the association between sweet-beverage consumption (including total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drink and juice and nectar consumption) and pancreatic cancer risk. DESIGN The study was conducted within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. A total of 477,199 participants (70.2% women) with a mean age of 51 y at baseline were included, and 865 exocrine pancreatic cancers were diagnosed after a median follow-up of 11.60 y (IQR: 10.10-12.60 y). Sweet-beverage consumption was assessed with the use of validated dietary questionnaires at baseline. HRs and 95% CIs were obtained with the use of multivariable Cox regression models that were stratified by age, sex, and center and adjusted for educational level, physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. Associations with total soft-drink consumption were adjusted for juice and nectar consumption and vice versa. RESULTS Total soft-drink consumption (HR per 100 g/d: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.07), sugar-sweetened soft-drink consumption (HR per 100 g/d: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.08), and artificially sweetened soft-drink consumption (HR per 100 g/d: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.10) were not associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Juice and nectar consumption was inversely associated with pancreatic cancer risk (HR per 100 g/d: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.99); this association remained statistically significant after adjustment for body size, type 2 diabetes, and energy intake. CONCLUSIONS Soft-drink consumption does not seem to be associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Juice and nectar consumption might be associated with a modest decreased pancreatic cancer risk. Additional studies with specific information on juice and nectar subtypes are warranted to clarify these results.
Pattern‐Based Quadrangulation for N‐Sided Patches

We propose an algorithm to quadrangulate an N‐sided patch (2 ≤ N ≤ 6) with prescribed numbers of edge subdivisions at its boundary. Our algorithm is guaranteed to succeed for arbitrary valid input, which is proved using a canonical simplification of the input and a small set of topological patterns that are sufficient for supporting all possible cases. Our algorithm produces solutions with minimal number of irregular vertices by default, but it also allows the user to choose other feasible solutions by solving a set of small integer linear programs. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm by integrating it into a sketch‐based quad remeshing system. A reference C++ implementation of our algorithm is provided as a supplementary material.
Mechanisms of Arsenic Tolerance and Detoxification in Plants and their Application in Transgenic Technology: A Critical Appraisal

Arsenic (As) contamination of the environment has emerged as a serious problem. Consequently, there is an urge to understand plants’ responses to As. The analysis of various hypertolerant and hyperaccumulator plants and comparison of their responses with non-tolerant and nonaccumulators have provided valuable information about the mechanisms of As tolerance and detoxification. Therefore, we understand why most of the pteridophytes are able to hyperacumulate As, why it is difficult to find hyperaccumulators among angiosperms and why rice is able to translocate As to its grains more efficiently than any other cereal crop. This information can be employed to generate As hyperaccumulators in angiosperms and to develop safe cultivars of rice for human consumption through biotechnological approaches. Although measurable success, in terms of application in the field, has so far not been achieved, transgenic research has yielded promising results, which shed light on the approaches to be taken up in future endeavor. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of As tolerance and detoxification in plants and transgenic research conducted.
Work zone items influencing driver speeds at roadworks: worker, driver and expert perspectives

Roadworks are essential to a safe and efficient road network, yet somewhat paradoxically the necessary work is often associated with increased risk to motorists and workers, as well as with traffic flow disruptions. A major source of increased crash risk at roadwork sites (work zones) is poor speed limit compliance. Speeding in work zones is examined in existing literature to the extent that major issues are known and some effective countermeasures are identified. However, as speeding remains a major problem in work zones, influences on driver behaviour arguably need to be better understood to achieve greater compliance and thus realise further gains in road safety. Current research on safety at Queensland roadwork sites has examined the views of workers, measured work zone speed profiles, and conducted an online survey of drivers (N=410). This paper focuses on survey participants’ ratings of 12 specific work zone items (including traffic control measures) in terms of their influence on speed choice. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences (p<0.001) in the ratings of these items, with the most influential including visible presence of workers, visible police presence, and speed feedback displays. Those rated least influential included ’roadwork speed limits are enforced’ and ‘reduce speed’ signs and increased fines for speeding in work zones. The paper considers the alignment of these findings with those from other sources, including worker interviews and the literature, to provide a consolidated assessment of the influence of work zone items on driver speeds.
Foundations of web script security

A web browser works with data and scripts from different sources, and these sources are not all trusted equally by the user of the browser. This fact requires web browser designers to take special care in order to keep information secure within the browser: data from one source should not be stolen or corrupted by a script from another source. This aspect of web browser design is what we will call web script security. The effectiveness of security checks designed to enforce web script security must ultimately be judged in terms of their effect on the outwardly visible behavior of the browser. In light of this fact, this dissertation defines a policy for web script security to refer to a logical constraint on a browser's behavior, stated exclusively in terms of the aspects that are outwardly visible, either to the network or to the user. Such end-to-end policies are naturally appealing. However, there is a reason they are rarely used for real-world systems: it is usually very unclear how to write down precise, flexible security policies of this sort. Supposing that one could write down such policies for web script security, a second obstacle would then arise: the problem of drawing a precise connection between such end-to-end policies and the security mechanisms that one would actually implement in a browser. This dissertation demonstrates that such information security policies for web browsers can in fact be written down—precisely and without reference to security enforcement mechanisms implemented inside the browser. Moreover, the mechanisms for enforcing those policies can be designed and formally proved correct within mathematical models of web browsers that are detailed enough to capture the inherent complexities of the domain. This dissertation supports these claims by (1) introducing mathematical tools for stating and proving end-to-end information security properties for software systems that are driven by buffered, asynchronous I/O; (2) introducing a particular mathematical model of a web browser that is accompanied by a security policy for confidentiality and is equipped with security mechanisms intended to enforce the policy; and (3) offering a proof that the security mechanisms in the model do enforce the policy, a proof which has been mechanized and verified in the Coq proof assistant.
High-sensitivity troponin is associated with high risk clinical profile and outcome in acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to evaluate the value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) for identifying high-risk patients. METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred and eighty-seven patients admitted with acute heart failure (HF) (without myocardial infarction) were consecutively included; hs-cTn was measured at admission; the relation between elevated hs-cTn and the clinical outcome during hospitalization and at 90 days was analyzed; 93% (n = 174) had hs-cTn above the maximal normal value (14 ng/L); median hs-cTn was 42 ng/L (IQR 24-81). Patients with ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 45% had higher hs-cTn values (p = 0.0004). Patients with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) or shock had higher troponin levels compared with those with less severe clinical presentations (p = 0.004). Patients who required inotropic presented higher troponin values (p = 0.002), troponin values were also higher in those requiring complex therapies (intra-aortic balloon pump, mechanical ventilation or hemodialysis, p = 0.002). At 90-day follow-up, 28 (15.5%) patients died and 27 rehospitalizations occurred (55 events). The risk of events was greater in patients with hs-cTn > 42 ng/L (0.021), low blood pressure at admission (p = 0.002), LCOS or shock (p < 0.0001), EF ≤ 45% (p = 0.005) and inotropic use (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, only inotropic agents requirements was associated independently with a high risk of death or rehospitalizations at 90 days (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Elevation of hs-cTn is a finding almost constant in patients with decompensated HF. In subjects with higher troponin levels ventricular dysfunction is frequent. The use of hs-cTn for risk stratification at admission helps to identify populations with poor outcome during hospitalization and increased risk of death or rehospitalizations during follow-up who will require rapid implementation of aggressive treatment.
Selectivity of inhibition by anticancer agents of mouse spleen immune effector functions involved in responses to sheep erythrocytes.

The selective effects of 24 agents on mouse spleen effector functions involved in the immune responses to sheep erythrocytes have been demonstrated. Five tests were used to assay the effector functions: the complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity test, which measures complement-mediated lysis in the presence of antibody excreted from B-cell effectors; the complement-in-dependent cellular cytotoxicity test, which measures lysis after non-T-cell, non-B-cell interactions with target cells coated with antibody excreted by B-cells within the same spleen cell populations; the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity test, which measures lysis after non-T-cell, non-B-cell interactions with antiserum-coated target cells; the complement-independent phagocytic test and the antibody-dependent phagocytic test, which measure phagocytosis of target cells coated with endogenous and added antibody, respectively. These five tests were, in general, insensitive to inhibitors of DNA synthesis. Phagocytosis and lysis associated with complement-independent cellular cytotoxicity were selectively sensitive to protein inhibitors, anthracycline antibiotics, bleomycin, actinomycin D, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, and N 6-benzyladenosine. All functions, except complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, were inhibited by agents that affect cellular motility and/or membrane characteristics. The complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was only affected by agents that probably acted in a nonspecific cytotoxic manner. Potentiation of immune function was demonstrated in one case, namely, with N 6-(Δ2-isopentenyl)adenosine. The demonstrated selectivity of action of the agents studied in vitro permitted speculation concerning the cellular effector functions involved in the efferent arm of the mouse spleen cell response to sheep erythrocytes and indicated selectivities on cellular functions that may become relevant in vivo .
Sex-Based Differences in the Effect of Intra-Arterial Treatment of Stroke: Analysis of the PROACT-2 Study

Background and Purpose— Sex influences outcome after intravenous thrombolysis. In a combined analysis of the tissue plasminogen activator clinical trials, a sex-by-treatment interaction was observed. We sought to confirm that observation in an independent data set. Methods— Data were from the Pro-Urokinase for Acute Cerebral Thromboembolism-2 (PROACT-2) trial. Baseline factors were compared by sex. The primary outcome was an assessment of a sex-by-treatment interaction term within a logistic regression model, using a modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 at 90 days as the binary outcome. We also assessed whether there were differences in CT-scan appearance and recanalization at 2 hours post-treatment. Results— In the PROACT-2 study of intra-arterial stroke thrombolysis, in both women and men, prourokinase resulted in better outcomes than control. A sex by prourokinase treatment interaction was observed, with women showing a larger treatment effect (20% absolute benefit) compared with men (10% absolute benefit). The reason for this interaction is that thrombolytic treatment nullifies the worse outcome for untreated women compared with men. The reasons for effect modification do not include improved recanalization at 2 hours among women. Conclusions— Women with middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke benefit more from intra-arterial therapy. Further study of how sex affects stroke outcome is needed.
Læreplanens differens: Formidling av læreplanen til skolepraksis

Laereplanens betydning og meningsinnhold for skolepraksis vil som vist matte avgjores av skolens personale. Skal laereplanen gis betydning i skolepraksis, kreves det derfor forst og fremst at den tas .
Road collisions as a cause of traumatic spinal cord injury in ireland, 2001-2010.

BACKGROUND Road collisions remain the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the world. Half of all TSCIs in Ireland in 2000 were caused by road collisions. Since then, there has been a downward trend in road fatalities coincident with implemented road safety strategies. OBJECTIVE To examine the incidence of TSCI resulting from road collisions from 2001 to 2010. METHOD This is a retrospective study using the hospital inpatient enquiry database of the tertiary referral center, which houses the national spinal injuries unit. Information retrieved included total numbers of patients with TSCI and number of TSCIs due to road collisions from 2001 through 2010, age groups affected, and the gender balance. RESULTS Over the 10-year period studied, the incidence rate of TSCI due to road collisions declined, although this did not reach statistical significance. The largest numbers of all TSCIs and TSCIs due to road collisions were in the 20- to 29-year age category and the male gender. CONCLUSIONS As mortality due to road collisions declined, so did the number of TSCIs from the same etiology. An impactful road safety campaign is likely to have influenced these trends.
Effects of Rikkunshito (TJ-43) on Esophageal Motor Function and Gastroesophageal Reflux

Background/Aims Rikkunshito (TJ-43), an herbal medicine, has been demonstrated to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. However, the effects of TJ-43 on esophageal motor functions have not been fully determined. This double-blind crossover study was performed to investigate the effects of TJ-43 on esophageal motor functions and gastroesophageal reflux. Methods The subjects were 10 normal male volunteers. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure and esophageal body peristaltic contractions with and without 1-week administration of TJ-43 were examined in a crossover fashion. Post-prandial gastroesophageal reflux was also determined using a multi-channel impedance pH dual monitor. Results TJ-43 at a standard dose of 7.5 g/day did not significantly augment esophageal peristaltic contraction pressure measured in the proximal, middle and distal segments of the esophagus, whereas increment of resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure was observed in a supine position. In addition, TJ-43 administration did not decrease post-prandial gastroesophageal acid, non-acid reflux events or accelerate esophageal clearance time. Conclusions TJ-43 at a standard dose did not have a significant effect on esophageal motor activity or gastroesophageal reflux in healthy adults.
On the X-Ray Emission from Massive Star Clusters and Their Evolving Superbubbles

Here we discuss the X-ray emission properties from the hot thermalized plasma that results from the collisions of individual stellar winds and supernovae ejecta within rich and compact star clusters. We propose a simple analytical way of estimating the X-ray emission generated by super star clusters and derive an expression that indicates how this X-ray emission depends on the main cluster parameters. Our model predicts that the X-ray luminosity from the star cluster region is highly dependent on the star cluster wind terminal speed, a quantity related to the temperature of the thermalized ejecta. We have also compared the X-ray luminosity from the super stellar cluster (SSC) plasma with the luminosity of the interstellar bubbles generated from the mechanical interaction of the high-velocity star cluster winds with the interstellar medium (ISM). We found that the hard (2.0-8.0 keV) X-ray emission is usually dominated by the hotter SSC plasma, whereas the soft (0.3-2.0 keV) component is dominated by the bubble plasma. This implies that compact and massive star clusters should be detected as pointlike, hard X-ray sources embedded into extended regions of soft diffuse X-ray emission. We also compared our results with predictions from the population synthesis models that take into consideration binary systems and found that in the case of young, massive, and compact super star clusters the X-ray emission from the thermalized star cluster plasma may be comparable to or even larger than that expected from the high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) population.
Extracting Temporal and Causal Relations between Events

A notably challenging problem related to event processing is recognizing the relations holding between events in a text, in particular temporal and causal relations. While there has been some research on temporal relations, the aspect of causality between events from a Natural Language Processing (NLP) perspective has hardly been touched. We propose an annotation scheme to cover different types of causality between events, techniques for extracting such relations and an investigation into the connection between temporal and causal relations. In this thesis work we aim to focus especially on the latter, because causality is presumed to have a temporal constraint. We conjecture that injecting this presumption may be beneficial for the recognition of both temporal and causal relations.