Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Re-engineering Security as a Crosscutting Concern

We have re-engineered a third-party application using a reflective security architecture that allows security to be treated as a crosscutting concern. This has resulted in a considerable reduction in tangling between application code and security code. Prior to the re-engineering, the application was secured using a conventional approach based upon the application of inheritance and the proxy pattern, and we are thus able to compare both approaches. Our experience highlights some general points that are applicable to any attempt to engineer security using advanced separation of concerns technology and some possible improvements to Kava, used to implement the crosscutting concerns.
Bayesian Variable Selection in Structured High-Dimensional Covariate Spaces With Applications in Genomics

We consider the problem of variable selection in regression modeling in high-dimensional spaces where there is known structure among the covariates. This is an unconventional variable selection problem for two reasons: (1) The dimension of the covariate space is comparable, and often much larger, than the number of subjects in the study, and (2) the covariate space is highly structured, and in some cases it is desirable to incorporate this structural information in to the model building process. We approach this problem through the Bayesian variable selection framework, where we assume that the covariates lie on an undirected graph and formulate an Ising prior on the model space for incorporating structural information. Certain computational and statistical problems arise that are unique to such high-dimensional, structured settings, the most interesting being the phenomenon of phase transitions. We propose theoretical and computational schemes to mitigate these problems. We illustrate our methods on two different graph structures: the linear chain and the regular graph of degree k. Finally, we use our methods to study a specific application in genomics: the modeling of transcription factor binding sites in DNA sequences.
Nowcasting with Daily Data

Economists have imperfect knowledge of the present state of the economy and even of the recent past. Many key statistics are released with a long delay and they are subsequently revised. As a consequence, unlike weather forecasters, who know what is the weather today and only have to predict the weather tomorrow, economists have to forecast the present and even the recent past. The problem of predicting the present, the very near future and the very recent past is labelled as nowcasting and is the subject of this paper.
Trends and Predictors of Prelacteal Feeding Practices in Nigeria (2003–2013)

Prelacteal feeding practices are associated with an increased risk of diarrhoea and many early-life diseases. This paper examined trends and predictors of prelacteal feeding practices in Nigeria. A sample of 6416 infants aged 0–6 months from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data for the period (2003–2013) was used. Trends and multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to determine the predictors. The trends of prelacteal feeding rates fluctuated between 55% and 66% over the study period and were significantly lower among mothers with secondary or higher levels of education (13.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54–25.9, p-value = 0.041), delivered at the health facility (13.7%, CI: 1.39–25.9, p-value = 0.029), from more affluent households (18.7%, CI: 1.53–35.9, p-value = 0.033), and lived in urban areas (26.9%, CI: 18.3–35.5, p-value < 0.001). Multivariable analyses revealed that mothers with no schooling, younger mothers (aged 15–24 years), mothers who delivered at home, and delivered by caesarean section were more likely to introduce prelacteal feeds. Many mothers still engage in prelacteal feeding practices in Nigeria, with prelacteal feeding more prevalent in young mothers, mothers with no schooling, and mothers who delivered at home. Interventions involving community health volunteers are needed to improve feeding practices in Nigeria.
Superior Encoding Enhances Recall in Color-Graphemic Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a phenomenon in which particular stimuli, such as letters or sound, generate a secondary sensory experience in particular individuals. Reports of enhanced memory in synesthetes raise the question of its cognitive and neurological substrates. Enhanced memory in synesthetes could arise from the explicit or implicit use of a synesthetic cue to aid memory, from changes unique to the synesthete brain, or from both, depending on the task. To assess this question, we tested nine color-graphemic synesthetes using standardized neuropsychological measures that should not trigger color-graphemic synesthesia (visuo-spatial tests) and measures that should trigger color-graphemic synesthesia (verbal tasks). We found a synesthetic advantage on both types of tests, primarily in the initial encoding of information. The pattern of results adds to existing evidence of advantages in synesthetic memory, as well as provides novel evidence that synesthetes may have enhanced encoding rather than superior recall. Synesthetes learn more initially, rather than forgetting less over time.
Distinctive membrane and discharge properties of rat spinal lamina I projection neurones in vitro

Most lamina I neurones with a projection to the brainstem express the neurokinin 1 receptor and thus belong to a small subgroup of lamina I neurones that are necessary for the development of hyperalgesia in rat models of persisting pain. These neurones are prone to synaptic plasticity following primary afferent stimulation in the noxious range while other nociceptive lamina I neurones are not. Here, we used whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings from lamina I neurones in young rat spinal cord transverse slices to test if projection neurones possess membrane properties that set them apart from other lamina I neurones. Neurones with a projection to the parabrachial area or the periaqueductal grey (PAG) were identified by retrograde labelling with the fluorescent tracer DiI. The properties of lamina I projection neurones were found to be fundamentally different from those of unidentified, presumably propriospinal lamina I neurones. Two firing patterns, the gap and the bursting firing pattern, occurred almost exclusively in projection neurones. Most spino‐parabrachial neurones showed the gap firing pattern while the bursting firing pattern was characteristic of spino‐PAG neurones. The underlying membrane currents had the properties of an A‐type K+ current and a Ca2+ curent with a low activation threshold, respectively. Projection neurones, especially those of the burst firing type, were more easily excitable than unidentified neurones and received a larger proportion of monosynaptic input from primary afferent C‐fibres. Intracellular labelling with Lucifer yellow showed that projection neurones had larger somata than unidentified neurones and many had a considerable extension in the mediolateral plane.
Mining Sequential Patterns from Temporal Streaming Data

In recent years, emerging applications introduced new constraints for data mining methods. These constraints are typical of a new kind of data: the data streams. In a data stream processing, memory usage is restricted, new elements are generated continuously and have to be considered as fast as possible, no blocking operator can be performed and the data can be examined only once. At this time and to the best of our knowledge, no method has been proposed for mining sequential patterns in data streams. We argue that the main reason is the combinatory phenomenon related to sequential pattern mining. In this paper, we propose an algorithm based on sequences alignment for mining approximate sequential patterns in Web usage data streams. To meet the constraint of one scan, a greedy clustering algorithm associated to an alignment method are proposed. We will show that our proposal is able to extract relevant sequences with very low thresholds.
Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species in Anticancer Therapy with Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. We aim to provide a systematic review about the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in anticancer therapy with Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). Danshen, including its lipophilic and hydrophilic constituents, is potentially beneficial for treating various cancers. The mechanisms of ROS-related anticancer effects of Danshen vary depending on the specific type of cancer cells involved. Danshen may enhance TNF-α-induced apoptosis, upregulate caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, endoplasmic reticulum stress, P21, P53, Bax/Bcl-2, DR5, and AMP-activated protein kinase, or activate the p38/JNK, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and FasL signaling pathways. Conversely, Danshen may downregulate human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA, telomerase, survivin, vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, CD31, NF-κB, Erk1/2, matrix metalloproteinases, microtubule assembly, and receptor tyrosine kinases including epidermal growth factor receptors, HER2, and P-glycoprotein and inhibit the PI3K/Akt/mTOR or estrogen receptor signaling pathways. Therefore, Danshen may inhibit cancer cells proliferation through antioxidation on tumor initiation and induce apoptosis or autophagy through ROS generation on tumor progression, tumor promotion, and tumor metastasis. Based on the available evidence regarding its anticancer properties, this review provides new insights for further anticancer research or clinical trials with Danshen.
Simulation-Based Optimization of Virtual Nesting Controls for Network Revenue Management

Virtual nesting is a popular capacity control strategy in network revenue management. In virtual nesting, products (itinerary-fare-class combinations) are mapped (“indexed”) into a relatively small number of “virtual classes” on each resource (flight leg) of the network. Nested protection levels are then used to control the availability of these virtual classes; specifically, a product request is accepted if and only if its corresponding virtual class is available on each resource required. Bertsimas and de Boer proposed an innovative simulation-based optimization method for computing protection levels in a virtual nesting control scheme [Bertsimas, D. , S. de Boer. 2005. Simulation-based booking-limits for airline revenue management. Oper. Res.53 90--106]. In contrast to traditional heuristic methods, this simulation approach captures the true network revenues generated by virtual nesting controls. However, because it is based on a discrete model of capacity and demand, the method has both computational and theoretical limitations. In particular, it uses first-difference estimates, which are computationally complex to calculate exactly. These gradient estimates are then used in a steepest-ascent-type algorithm, which, for discrete problems, has no guarantee of convergence. In this paper, we analyze a continuous model of the problem that retains most of the desirable features of the Bertsimas-de Boer method, yet avoids many of its pitfalls. Because our model is continuous, we are able to compute gradients exactly using a simple and efficient recursion. Indeed, our gradient estimates are often an order of magnitude faster to compute than first-difference estimates, which is an important practical feature given that simulation-based optimization is computationally intensive. In addition, because our model results in a smooth optimization problem, we are able to prove that stochastic gradient methods are at least locally convergent. On several test problems using realistic networks, the method is fast and produces significant performance improvements relative to the protection levels produced by heuristic virtual nesting schemes. These results suggest it has good practical potential.
An Abstraction-Based Analysis of Rule Systems for Active Database Management Systems

An active database management system (ADBMS) augments a conventional DBMS with the capability to automatically react to stimuli occurring within and outside a database. This is usually achieved by incorporating a DBMS with a set of rules which determine the actions a DBMS should automatically execute when certain events and conditions arise. In this manner ADBMSs can be used to enforce and manage integrity constraints, provide security in databases, or act as alerters or triggers. However, one would like to be sure that the execution of some chain of rules is guaranteed to terminate; or that a set of rules interacts in a manner that is consistent with their intended semantics. We examine model checking and abstract interpretation as a possible framework for automatically analyzing and designing ADBMS rule systems. Our proposal provides the foundations for a tool that can be used to isolate properties of a given rule system's behavior. We implemented a prototype in the veriication tool Spin by writing a GUI for rule system design and a Promela code generator for rule system analysis. 1 Motivation With a conventional database management system (DBMS), insertions, deletions , and other manipulations of data are performed via user commands or application programs. This passive and potentially limiting characteristic of DBMSs is the primary motivation behind recent attempts to integrate database systems with sets of rules that deene the circumstances when a DBMS may execute some actions automatically 19]. Active database management systems (ADBMSs) provide this additional capability by adding features allowing one to deene rules that will be processed automatically when certain external or internal events, such as changes to the database state or a request from another resource, arise 12]. ADBMSs may thus automate enforcement and management of integrity constraints, database security, and alerting users of important transactions 1, 19]. As the popularity of active database management systems has grown, so has the demand for tools assisting ADBMS designers, users, and administrators who wish to analyze how a group of rules will interact 12]. Predicting the behavior of rules based on chosen simulation runs raises the same concerns which apply
Evolution of Teachers’ Technology Integration Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices: How Can We Support Beginning Teachers Use of Technology?

Abstract In this study, we examined a group of four teachers who completed extra educational technology coursework and field experiences during their teacher education programs to determine how their technology integration knowledge, self-efficacy beliefs, intentions, and practices evolved over time. We conducted interviews and evaluated data sources at three intervals: (1) after teacher education coursework was completed, (2) after student teaching was completed, and (3) after two initial years of teaching. Results showed that school resources and environment had a strong impact on beginning teachers' practices, regardless of strong internal enabling factors.
Incremental Transformations: Education for Resiliency in Post-War Sri Lanka

There is growing evidence to support the relationship between levels of gender inequality in a society and its potential for conflict. Positive attitudes to gender equality in and through education strengthen social cohesion; consequently, there is a need for gender-transformative education for peacebuilding. Drawing on the 4Rs (representation, redistribution, recognition, and reconciliation) framework in conjunction with the idea of incremental transformation with a focus on resilience, this study examines how eleven ethnic minority high school girls from Sri Lanka understand the transformative role of education in their lives as it relates to peace and gender equality. Education was a source of hope for the participants of this study and thus contributed to their resilience. However, rather than fostering and capitalizing on this resilience to build social cohesion and peace, education and the school systems are silencing them. This silencing is evident in the acceptance and normalization of militarization in their communities, daily experiences of gender-based violence (GBV), and the message, through the formal and informal curriculum, that gender equality has been achieved in Sri Lanka.
Exploration and confirmation of a reflective-thinking scale to measure transformative learning in online courses

Abstract Responding to the ubiquity of information and the corresponding need to filter and make sense of it, transformative learning is increasingly being used to frame learning experiences in higher education. While several instruments have been developed to measure transformative learning in educational settings, little work has been done towards an understanding of transformative learning measurement in online environments. This study was conducted over two phases, an initial exploration of a reflective thinking questionnaire with students in an online MBA program of a higher education institution in the mid-Atlantic region of U.S., followed by a confirmatory phase of a refined, three-factor instrument in the same context. This study demonstrated the improved fit and overall interpretability of the three-factor instrument. The measurement invariance of the factor structure has also been examined with a set of covariates.
Birth weight reduction associated with residence near a hazardous waste landfill.

We examined the relationship between birth weight and mother's residence near a hazardous waste landfill. Twenty-five years of birth certificates (1961-1985) were collected for four towns. Births were grouped into five 5-year periods corresponding to hypothesized exposure periods (1971-1975 having the greatest potential for exposure). From 1971 to 1975, term births (37-44 weeks gestation) to parents living closest to the landfill (Area 1A) had a statistically significant lower average birth weight (192 g) and a statistically significant higher proportion of low birth weight [odds ratio (OR) = 5.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.1-12.3] than the control population. Average term birth weights in Area 1A rebounded by about 332 g after 1975. Parallel results were found for all births (gestational age > 27 weeks) in Area 1A during 1971-1975. Area 1A infants had twice the risk of prematurity (OR = 2.1; 95 CI, 1.0-4.4) during 1971-1975 compared to the control group. The results indicate a significant impact to infants born to residents living near the landfill during the period postulated as having the greatest potential for exposure. The magnitude of the effect is in the range of birth weight reduction due to cigarette smoking during pregnancy. ImagesFigure 1.Figure 2.
The moderation of empathy in the longitudinal association between witnessing cyberbullying, depression, and anxiety

While the role of and consequences of being a bystander to face-to-face bullying has received some attention in the literature, to date, little is known about the effects of being a bystander to cyberbullying. It is also unknown how empathy might impact the negative consequences associated with being a bystander of cyberbullying. The present study focused on examining the longitudinal association between bystander of cyberbullying, depression, and anxiety, and the moderating role of empathy in the relationship between bystander of cyberbullying and subsequent depression and anxiety. There were 1,090 adolescents (Mage = 12.19; 50% female) from the United States included at Time 1, and they completed questionnaires on empathy, cyberbullying roles (bystander, perpetrator, victim), depression, and anxiety. One year later, at Time 2, 1,067 adolescents (Mage = 13.76; 51% female) completed questionnaires on depression and anxiety. Results revealed a positive association between bystander of cyberbullying and depression and anxiety. Further, empathy moderated the positive relationship between bystander of cyberbullying and depression, but not for anxiety. Implications for intervention and prevention programs are discussed.
Theories of understanding others: the need for a new account and the guiding role of the person model theory

What would be an adequate theory of social understanding? In the last decade, the philosophical debate has focused on Theory Theory, Simulation Theory and Interaction Theory as the three possible candidates. In the following, we look carefully at each of these and describe its main advantages and disadvantages. Based on this critical analysis, we formulate the need for a new account of social understanding. We propose the Person Model Theory as an independent new account which has greater explanatory power compared to the existing theories.
Young Men’s Experiences and Views of Sex Education in Bangladesh: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis

This study has sought to shed light on the dearth of research on sex education in Bangladesh bringing forward young men’s experiences, views, narratives, recollections, and perceptions around sex education. Using social constructionism and poststructuralism, this study addresses the research questions: How did Bangladeshi young men receive sex education during adolescence? How did they interpret their experiences? How did their narratives reproduce and/or disrupt dominant discourses related to sex education, including discourses around sexuality, teenagerhood, masculinity, and manhood? Based on the qualitative data collected from nine in-depth Skype interviews with young men in Bangladesh, nine themes emerged. These themes illustrate how participants received sex education with the help of peers, pornography, the Internet, media, parents, schools, and religion. This study also reveals that what they learned about sex and sexuality from these sources was often gendered (e.g., reproduced hegemonic masculinity), sexist (e.g., undermined the need for girls’ consent), and naturalized the idea of sex and sexuality as dangerous (e.g., through a focus on sexually infected disease prevention). This study identified dominant discourses around sex education, which are intertwined with social institutions, such as the school; it also illustrates instances which reproduced and disrupted these dominant discourses. Some participants embraced dominant discourses while others disrupted them, and some contradicted themselves. Participants also proposed mixed ways of improving sex education in Bangladesh, especially through designing sex education curriculum. The study draws the attention of the parents, curriculum designers, teachers, policymakers, service providers to young people, and scholars from the Global South to consider these innovations as food for thought to ensure young people’s right to sex education.
The Validity of the Adiabatic Contraction Approximation for Dark Matter Halos

We use high-resolution numerical simulations to investigate the adiabatic contraction of dark matter halos with a Hernquist density profile. We test the response of the halos to the growth of additional axisymmetric disk potentials with various central concentrations and the spherically symmetric potential of a softened point mass. Adding the potentials on timescales that are long compared to the dynamical timescale of the halo, the contracted halos have density profiles that are in excellent agreement with analytical predictions based on the conservation of the adiabatic invariant M(r)r. This is surprising, as this quantity is strictly conserved only for particles on circular orbits and in spherically symmetric potentials. If the same potentials are added on timescales that are short compared to the dynamical timescale, the result depends strongly on the adopted potential. The adiabatic approximation still works for disk potentials. It does, however, fail for the central potential.