Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance tradeoffs for client-server query processing

The construction of high-performance database systems that combine the best aspects of the relational and object-oriented approaches requires the design of client-server architectures that can fully exploit client and server resources in a flexible manner. The two predominant paradigms for client-server query execution are data-shipping and query-shipping We first define these policies in terms of the restrictions they place on operator site selection during query optimization. We then investigate the performance tradeoffs between them for bulk query processing. While each strategy has advantages, neither one on its own is efficient across a wide range of circumstances. We describe and evaluate a more flexible policy called hybrid-shipping, which can execute queries at clients, servers, or any combination of the two. Hybrid-shipping is shown to at least match the best of the two "pure" policies, and in some situations, to perform better than both. The implementation of hybrid-shipping raises a number of difficult problems for query optimization. We describe an initial investigation into the use of a 2-step query optimization strategy as a way of addressing these issues.
T-Plastin Expression Downstream to the Calcineurin/NFAT Pathway Is Involved in Keratinocyte Migration

Cutaneous wound healing requires keratinocyte proliferation, migration and differentiation to restore the barrier function of the skin. The calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated-T-cell (NFAT) signaling pathway has been recently shown to be involved in keratinocyte growth, differentiation and migration. It is induced by an increased intracellular calcium rate and its inhibition results in decreased capacities of keratinocytes to migrate. Nevertheless, the link between calcineurin activation and keratinocyte migration remains unknown. Recently, Orai1, a pore subunit of a store-operated calcium channel that favors calcium influx, was shown to play a critical role to control proliferation and migration of basal keratinocytes. Of interest, the actin-bundling T-plastin is crucial in cell motility through cross-linking to actin filament and its synthesis was shown to be induced by calcium influx and regulated by the calcineurin/NFAT pathway in tumor Sezary cells. We investigated herein the role of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway-dependent T-plastin in keratinocyte migration, by quantifying T-plastin expression in keratinocytes and by analyzing their migration under calcineurin inhibition or knockdown of NFAT2 or T-plastin. We did confirm the role of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway in keratinocyte migration as shown by their decreased capacities to migrate after FK506 treatment or siNFAT2 transfection in both scratching and Boyden assays. The expression of NFAT2 and T-plastin in keratinocytes was decreased under FK506 treatment, suggesting that T-plastin plays a role in keratinocyte migration downstream to the calcineurin/NFAT pathway. Accordingly, siRNA knockdown of T-plastin expression also decreased their migration capacities. Actin lamellipodia formation as well as FAK and β6-integrin expression were also significantly decreased after treatment with FK506 or siRNA, reinforcing that NFAT2-dependent T-plastin expression plays a role in keratinocyte migration. These results indicate that T-plastin might be considered as a major actor in the mechanisms underlying calcineurin/NFAT-dependent keratinocyte migration and may explain wound-healing defects observed in patients under calcineurin inhibitor long-term treatment.
Improving human effectiveness for extreme-scale problem solving : final report (assessing the effectiveness of electronic brainstorming in an industrial setting).

An experiment was conducted comparing the effectiveness of individual versus group electronic brainstorming in order to address difficult, real world challenges. While industrial reliance on electronic communications has become ubiquitous, empirical and theoretical understanding of the bounds of its effectiveness have been limited. Previous research using short-term, laboratory experiments have engaged small groups of students in answering questions irrelevant to an industrial setting. The current experiment extends current findings beyond the laboratory to larger groups of real-world employees addressing organization-relevant challenges over the course of four days. Findings are twofold. First, the data demonstrate that (for this design) individuals perform at least as well as groups in producing quantity of electronic ideas, regardless of brainstorming duration. However, when judged with respect to quality along three dimensions (originality, feasibility, and effectiveness), the individuals significantly (p<0.05) out performed the group working together. The theoretical and applied (e.g., cost effectiveness) implications of this finding are discussed. Second, the current experiment yielded several viable solutions to the wickedly difficult problem that was posed.
Use of the Social Cognitive Theory to Explain Cheating in College: Implications for Future Health Professionals.

Upholding academic integrity is a key part of becoming a successful, ethical health educator and professional. Many universities struggle with students engaging in academically dishonest behaviors, ultimately increasing the chance of compromising their futures as professionals in today’s society. The purpose of this study was to assess four factors related to cheating among college students: the effects of cheating on academic preparation, perceptions of cheating behaviors, knowledge of the honor code, and honor code violation behaviors. Following the administration of a 74-item instrument, data were collected and analyzed from a sample of undergraduate students. Results of 912 participants indicated over half of seniors (52.9%) reported cheating during college, plagiarism was reported most frequently, averaged 66% on knowledge questions, and the main motivation for cheating was to earn good grades for graduate school (49.3%). The most frequently reported major among the sampled participants was Health Sciences; students preparing to become a health educator/professional. Social Cognitive Theory constructs were used to explain cheating behaviors and showed that observed behaviors that do not appear to have consequences serve as motivating factors. These results indicate that greater effort is needed, at the university level, to decrease cheating and improve ethical behavior among future professionals.
Spatial Changes of Pilgrimage Centers in Pilgrimage Studies – Review and Contribution to Future Research

The phenomenon of pilgrimage has an impact on the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life (Vukonic, 1992; Park, 1994; Proctor, 2006; Timothy & Olsen 2006; Collins-Kreiner, 2010a, 2010b, 2010c; Collins-Kreiner & Wall 2015; Griffin & Raj, 2017). In recent years, a resurgence of journeys with religious motives has been observed around the world (Digance, 2003; Eade, 2015; Griffin & Raj, 2017); for example, in Europe, about 50 million Christians a year, mostly Catholics, go on pilgrimages.
Auxiliary mixture sampling for parameter-driven models of time series of counts with applications to state space modelling

We consider parameter-driven models of time series of counts, where the observations are assumed to arise from a Poisson distribution with a mean changing over time according to a latent process. Estimation of these models is carried out within a Bayesian framework using data augmentation and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. We suggest a new auxiliary mixture sampler, which possesses a Gibbsian transition kernel, where we draw from full conditional distributions belonging to standard distribution families only. Emphasis lies on application to state space modelling of time series of counts, but we show that auxiliary mixture sampling may be applied to a wider range of parameter-driven models, including random-effects models and panel data models based on the Poisson distribution. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
The Natural Chemopreventive Agent Sulforaphane Inhibits STAT5 Activity

Signal transducer and activator of transcription STAT5 is an essential mediator of cytokine, growth factor and hormone signaling. While its activity is tightly regulated in normal cells, its constitutive activation directly contributes to oncogenesis and is associated to a number of hematological and solid tumor cancers. We previously showed that deacetylase inhibitors can inhibit STAT5 transcriptional activity. We now investigated whether the dietary chemopreventive agent sulforaphane, known for its activity as deacetylase inhibitor, might also inhibit STAT5 activity and thus could act as a chemopreventive agent in STAT5-associated cancers. We describe here sulforaphane (SFN) as a novel STAT5 inhibitor. We showed that SFN, like the deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA), can inhibit expression of STAT5 target genes in the B cell line Ba/F3, as well as in its transformed counterpart Ba/F3-1*6 and in the human leukemic cell line K562 both of which express a constitutively active form of STAT5. Similarly to TSA, SFN does not alter STAT5 initial activation by phosphorylation or binding to the promoter of specific target genes, in favor of a downstream transcriptional inhibitory effect. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that, in contrast to TSA however, SFN only partially impaired the recruitment of RNA polymerase II at STAT5 target genes and did not alter histone H3 and H4 acetylation, suggesting an inhibitory mechanism distinct from that of TSA. Altogether, our data revealed that the natural compound sulforaphane can inhibit STAT5 downstream activity, and as such represents an attractive cancer chemoprotective agent targeting the STAT5 signaling pathway.
Dynamic Partitioning Based Scheduling of Real-Time Tasks in Multicore Processors

Existing real-time multicore schedulers use either global or partitioned scheduling technique to schedule real-time tasks. Partitioned scheduling is a static approach in which, a task is mapped to a per-processor ready queue prior to scheduling it and it cannot migrate. Partitioned scheduling makes ineffective use of the available processing power and incurs high overhead when real-time tasks are dynamic in nature. Global scheduling is a dynamic scheduling approach, where the processors share a single ready-queue to execute the highest priority tasks. Global scheduling allows task migration which results in high scheduling overhead. In this paper, we present a dynamic partitioning based scheduling of real-time tasks, called DP scheduling. In DP scheduling, jobs of tasks are assigned to cores when they are released and remain in the same core till they finish execution. The partitioning in DP scheduling is done based on the slack time and priority of jobs. If a job cannot be allocated to any core, then it is split, and executed on more than one core. DP scheduling technique attempts to retain good features of both global and partitioned scheduling without compromising on resource utilization, and at the same time, also tries to minimize the scheduling overhead. We have tested DP scheduling technique with EDF scheduling policy at each core, and we term this scheduling algorithm as DP-EDF. The performance of DP-EDF scheduling algorithm has been evaluated using simulation study and its implementation in LITMUS-RT on a 64-bit intel processor with eight logical cores. Both simulation and experimental results show that DP-EDF scheduling algorithm has better performance in terms of resource utilization, and comparable or better performance in terms of scheduling overhead in comparison to contemporary scheduling algorithms.
Be the Change You Want to See

Although principles of nonviolence have been applied in sociopolitical arenas, they can also be helpful in understanding intimate partner relationships. This is because couples who handle conflict in a constructive way are often using techniques and ideas congruent with nonviolent philosophies. Relationships that handle conflict by becoming aggressive could potentially apply principles of nonviolence to help them address problems in constructive ways. The purpose of this study was to explore qualitative data that described intimate partner dynamics (including conflict, violence, appraisals, and safety) to better understand how individuals apply principles of nonviolence in their partnerships to achieve healthier relationship outcomes. Three qualitative data sets were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. From this secondary analysis, emerged categories and concepts that illustrate the ways couples demonstrate nonviolence principles in these relationships. The first main category was awareness, which included accountability, reflection, commitment, and justice. The second category was action, which included the concepts of authenticity, resistance, repair, and care. These are shown in a process model that in undergirded by the category of context, which includes interaction, gender/culture, and family of origin. Implications for clinical practice and research are provided.
Relation between subcortical grey matter atrophy and conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease

Objective To investigate whether subcortical grey matter atrophy predicts progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to compare subcortical volumes between AD, MCI and controls. To assess the correlation between subcortical grey matter volumes and severity of cognitive impairment. Methods We included 773 participants with three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI at 3 T, made up of 181 controls, who had subjective memory symptoms with normal cognition, 201 MCIs and 391 AD. During follow-up (2.0±0.9 years), 35 MCIs converted to AD (progressive MCI) and 160 MCIs remained stable (stable MCI). We segmented volumes of six subcortical structures of the amygdala, thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and nucleus accumbens, and of the hippocampus, using FMRIBs integrated registration and segmentation tool. Results Analysis of variances, adjusted for sex and age, showed that all structures, except the globus pallidus, were smaller in AD than in controls. In addition, the amygdala, thalamus, putamen, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus were smaller in MCIs than in controls. Across groups, all subcortical greymatter volumes, except the globus pallidus, showed a positive correlation with cognitive function, as measured by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) (0.16<r<0.28, all p<0.05). Cox proportional hazards analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, Cambridge Cognitive Examination-Revised (CAMCOG-R) and MMSE showed that smaller volumes of the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens were associated with increased risk of progression from MCI to AD (HR (95% CI) 1.60 (1.15 to 2.21); 1.60 (1.09 to 2.35), p<0.05). Conclusions In addition to the hippocampus, the nucleus accumbens volume loss was also associated with increased risk of progression from MCI to AD. Furthermore, volume loss of subcortical grey matter structures was associated with severity of cognitive impairment.
Permutation orientifolds of Gepner models

In tensor products of a left-right symmetric CFT, one can define permutation orientifolds by combining orientation reversal with involutive permutation symmetries. We construct the corresponding crosscap states in general rational CFTs and their orbifolds, and study in detail those in products of affine U(1)2 models or N = 2 minimal models. The results are used to construct permutation orientifolds of Gepner models. We list the permutation orientifolds in a few simple Gepner models, and study some of their physical properties — supersymmetry, tension and RR charges. We also study the action of corresponding parity on D-branes, and determine the gauge group on a stack of parity-invariant D-branes. Tadpole cancellation condition and some of its solutions are also presented.
Analysis of Organizational Elements in the Arrangement of HIV Rapid Tests Offer

The use of HIV 4rapid tests is increasingly widespread in order to raise knowledge of serological status and access to therapies especially in those populations considered more at risk. In this study, through a systematic review of literature and of the most significant projects made in the last years, we are trying to analyse the organizational elements that should be taken into consideration in order to ensure an efficient and effective service. In particular, the places of test administration, the type of staff involved, the relationship and link with a public body for the confirmation and to take charge of positivity, the counselling service offered, the costs of the service, the test type, the frequency of administration and the rate of effectiveness of the rapid test are being analysed and compared.
Dark haloes of spiral galaxies: ISO photometry

We exclude hydrogen-burning stars, of any mass above the hydrogen-burning limit and any metallicity, as significant contributors to the massive haloes deduced from rotation curves to dominate the outer parts of spiral galaxies. We present and analyse images of four nearly edge-on bulgeless spiral galaxies (UGC 711, NGC 2915, UGC 12426, UGC 1459) obtained with ISOCAM (The CAMera instrument on board the Infrared Space Observatory) at 14.5 and 6.75 μm. Our sensitivity limit for detection of any diffuse infrared emission associated with the dark haloes in these galaxies is a few tens of μJy per 6 × 6 arcsec2 pixel, with this limit currently set by remaining difficulties in modelling the non-linear behaviour of the detectors. All four galaxies show zero detected signal from extended non-disc emission, consistent with zero halo-like luminosity density distribution. The 95 per cent upper limit on any emission, for NGC 2915 in particular, allows us to exclude very low mass main-sequence stars (M > 0.08 M⊙) and young brown dwarfs (≲1 Gyr) as significant contributors to dark matter in galactic haloes. Combining our results with those of the Galactic microlensing surveys, which exclude objects with M < 0.01 M⊙, excludes almost the entire possible mass range of compact baryonic objects from contributing to Galactic dark matter.
First-passage competition with different speeds: positive density for both species is impossible

Consider two epidemics whose expansions on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ are governed by two families of passage times that are distinct and stochastically comparable. We prove that when the weak infection survives, the space occupied by the strong one is almost impossible to detect. Particularly, in dimension two, we prove that one species finally occupies a set with full density, while the other one only occupies a set of null density. Furthermore, we observe the same fluctuations with respect to the asymptotic shape as for the weak infection evolving alone. By the way, we extend the Haggstrom-Pemantle non-coexistence result "except perhaps for a denumerable set" to families of stochastically comparable passage times indexed by a continuous parameter.
Does the Macroeconomy Predict U.K. Asset Returns in a Nonlinear Fashion? Comprehensive Out-of-Sample Evidence

We perform a comprehensive examination of the recursive, comparative predictive performance of linear and nonlinear models for UK stock and bond returns. We estimate Markov switching, threshold autoregressive (TAR) and smooth transition autoregressive (STR) regime switching models and a range of linear specifications including models with GARCH type specifications. Results demonstrate UK asset returns require nonlinear dynamics to be modelled with strong evidence in favour of Markov switching frameworks. Our results appear robust to the choice of sample period, changes in loss functions and to the methodology employed to test for equal predictive accuracy. The key findings extend to a similar sample of US data.
Socially Assistive Robots: The Link between Personality, Empathy, Physiological Signals, and Task Performance

This paper describes a hands-off socially assistive therapist robot designed for monitoring, assisting, encouraging, and socially interacting with users engaged in rehabilitation exercises. We investigate the role of the robot’s embodiment, personality, empathy, and physiological signals in the hands-off therapy process, focusing mainly on the relationship between the level of extroversionintroversion of the robot and the user. We also demonstrate a behavior adaptation system capable of adjusting its social interaction parameters toward customized rehabilitation therapy based on the user’s personality traits and task performance. The experiments validate our hypotheses of mapping the user’s extroversion-introversion personality dimension to a spectrum of robot therapy styles that range from challenging to nurturing and of adapting the robot’s therapy styles based on user personality and performance.
Parallel-interference-cancellation-assisted decision-directed channel estimation for OFDM systems using multiple transmit antennas

The number of transmit antennas that can be employed in the context of least-squares (LS) channel estimation contrived for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems employing multiple transmit antennas is limited by the ratio of the number of subcarriers and the number of significant channel impulse response (CIR)-related taps. In order to allow for more complex scenarios in terms of the number of transmit antennas and users supported, CIR-related tap prediction-filtering-based parallel interference cancellation (PIC)-assisted decision-directed channel estimation (DDCE) is investigated. New explicit expressions are derived for the estimator's mean-square error (MSE), and a new iterative procedure is devised for the offline optimization of the CIR-related tap predictor coefficients. These new expressions are capable of accounting for the estimator's novel recursive structure. In the context of our performance results, it is demonstrated, for example, that the estimator is capable of supporting L=16 transmit antennas, when assuming K=512 subcarriers and K/sub 0/=64 significant CIR taps, while LS-optimized DDCE would be limited to employing L=8 transmit antennas.
Global dissolution effects on planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios controlled by the calcite‐saturation state of bottom waters

Mg/Ca ratios of planktonic foraminiferal tests are important tools for reconstructing past ocean temperatures at different levels of the upper water column. Yet numerous studies suggest a significant influence of calcite dissolution on Mg/Ca ratios lowering their initial signal recorded within a planktonic foraminiferal habitat. To determine the effect of dissolution, this study presents Mg/Ca ratios of eight planktonic foraminiferal species from the South China Sea sediment surface. Continuously decreasing with increasing water depth, the Mg/Ca ratios also decrease with calcite-saturation states close to and below saturation (bottom water Delta[CO32-] 40 mu mol kg(-1)). This preservation pattern compares well with examples of Mg/Ca dissolution from the tropical Atlantic Ocean and is independent of the foraminiferal species. Merging a global data set by separate normalization of 79 Mg/Ca data sets from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, which removes thermal differences between the ocean regions and foraminiferal species, enabled us to quantify a global decrease in planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios of 0.054 +/- 0.019 mu mol mol(-1) per mol kg(-1) below a critical threshold for dissolution of 21.3 +/- 6.6 mu mol kg(-1). The absolute decline in Mg/Ca ratios, which is similar for all species, affects temperature estimates from (sub-)thermocline species more strongly than those from shallow dwellers. The water depth of this critical threshold in the global oceans shoals from >3.5 km in the North Atlantic to <0.5 km in the North Pacific based on calculations of the global calcite-saturation state from 6321 hydrographic stations. Above this critical threshold Mg/Ca ratios are well preserved, and paleotemperature estimates are broadly unaffected by dissolution.