Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discovering by Surrendering: for an Epistemology of Serendipity Against the Neoliberal Ethics of Accountability

In an essay on serendipity in relation to Peirce’s notion of abduction, Ugo Fabietti (2012, p. 17) highlighted how, in spite of a vast literature on ethnographic authority, reflexivity, and positioning, little attention has so far been paid to the process of ethnographic discovery, that is, the identification of something that will allow the ethnographer “to alter their perspective on a given theme or problem and, naturally, enable them go forward in the knowledge of their object. ” Drawing on Fabietti’s reflections, I discuss how an epistemology of serendipity can be used to counteract the neoliberal bureaucratic regimentation of ethical reasoning and practice. I contrast my 2002-2003 fieldwork experience in upland Indonesia with my 2015 encounter with IRB procedures in the U.S. to show how the heuristic potential of serendipity advocated by Fabietti might be obstructed by (and mobilized against) the demands of a bureaucratized ethics of accountability and the growing hegemony of the research protocols of audit cultures.
Oil Price Shocks and Stock Markets

The present research studies the relationship between oil prices and the stock markets of the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom; The U.S. economy has proved to be the most sensitive of the three to oil prices changes, (stock market variance is affected by oil price changes by 9.51% in the U.S., 7.51% in the U.K., and 4.4% in Japan) The U.S. and U.K. stock markets are more affected by negative oil prices changes than from positive oil price changes, meanwhile the case of Japan is different
Hearing Words and Seeing Colours: An Experimental Investigation of a Case of Synaesthesia

A case of ‘chromatic–lexical’ (colour–word) synaesthesia is described, and its genuineness confirmed using the criterion of stable cross-modality imagery across time. The synaesthesia could not be accounted for by a memory hypothesis, nor was it associated with any psychiatric condition. Further analysis did not identify any semantic relationship between real words and colours, but the colours of nonwords were determined by the colours of the individual letters. Numbers also had their own stable colours. The experience of synaesthesia was triggered by other auditory stimuli, but most strongly by words. Cortical electrophysiological recording failed to reveal any abnormalities. An unusual organisation of modalities in the brain is postulated to account for the phenomenon.
Am I Nearly There? The Effect of Anticipated Running Distance on Perceived Exertion and Attentional Focus

Two studies tested the hypothesis that teleoanticipatory mechanisms regulate the perception of exertion (RPE) in the context of expected exercise duration by the adjustment of attentional focus. Study 1 involved 22 runners who participated in a short (8-mile) run and a long (10-mile) run on separate days. Pace did not differ between conditions (M = 6.3 mph). Runners reported on their attentional focus (proportion of associative to dissociative thoughts) and RPE at regular intervals. Study 2 involved 40 participants who ran twice on a treadmill at the same speed and gradient: once when they expected to run for 10 min (short condition) and once when they expected to run for 20 min (long condition). In both studies, RPE was lower throughout the long condition. In Study 1 there were more dissociative thoughts in the long condition. Study 2 showed the same trend, although the results were nonsignificant. In both studies RPE was inversely correlated with dissociative thoughts, supporting the hypothesis that run.
Performance of cache coherency schemes in a shared disks transaction environment

In a shared disks environment (SDE), the computing nodes are locally coupled via a high-speed network and share a common database at the disk level. To reduce the amount of expensive and slow disk I/O, each node caches database pages in its main memory buffer. This paper focuses on SDE that uses record-level locking as a concurrency control. While the record-level locking can guarantee higher concurrency than page-level locking, it may result in heavy message traffic. In this paper, we first propose a cache coherency scheme that can reduce the message traffic in the standard locking. Then the scheme is extended to the context where lock retention and lock de-escalation are adopted. Using a distributed database simulation model, we evaluate the performance of the proposed schemes under a wide variety of database workloads.
Signaling in Online Credit Markets

We study how signaling affects equilibrium outcomes and welfare in an online credit market, using detailed data on loan characteristics and borrower repayment. We build and estimate an equilibrium model in which a borrower may signal her default risk through the reserve interest rate. Comparing markets with and without signaling relative to the benchmark with no asymmetric information, we find that adverse selection destroys as much as 34% of total surplus, up to 78% of which can be restored with signaling. We also estimate backward-bending supply curves for some markets, consistent with the prediction made by Stiglitz and Weiss in 1981.
A Signal Processing View on Packet Sampling and Anomaly Detection

Anomaly detection methods typically operate on preprocessed traffic traces. Firstly, most traffic capturing devices today employ random packet sampling, where each packet is selected with a certain probability, to cope with increasing link speeds. Secondly, temporal aggregation, where all packets in a measurement interval are represented by their temporal mean, is applied to transform the traffic trace to the observation timescale of interest for anomaly detection. These preprocessing steps affect the temporal correlation structure of traffic that is used by anomaly detection methods such as Kalman filtering or PCA, and have thus an impact on anomaly detection performance. Prior work has analyzed how packet sampling degrades the accuracy of anomaly detection methods; however, neither theoretical explanations nor solutions to the sampling problem have been provided. This paper makes the following key contributions: (i) It provides a thorough analysis and quantification of how random packet sampling and temporal aggregation modify the signal properties by introducing noise, distortion and aliasing. (ii) We show that aliasing introduced by the aggregation step has the largest impact on the correlation structure. (iii) We further propose to replace the aggregation step with a specifically designed low-pass filter that reduces the aliasing effect. (iv) Finally, we show that with our solution applied, the performance of anomaly detection systems can be considerably improved in the presence of packet sampling.
Energy-Efficient Transmission of Wavelet-Based Images in Wireless Sensor Networks

We propose a self-adaptive image transmission scheme driven by energy efficiency considerations in order to be suitable for wireless sensor networks. It is based on wavelet image transform and semireliable transmission to achieve energy conservation. Wavelet image transform provides data decomposition in multiple levels of resolution, so the image can be divided into packets with different priorities. Semireliable transmission enables priority-based packet discarding by intermediate nodes according to their battery's state-of-charge. Such an image transmission approach provides a graceful tradeoff between the reconstructed images quality and the sensor nodes' lifetime. An analytical study in terms of dissipated energy is performed to compare the self-adaptive image transmission scheme to a fully reliable scheme. Since image processing is computationally intensive and operates on a large data set, the cost of the wavelet image transform is considered in the energy consumption analysis. Results show up to 80% reduction in the energy consumption achieved by our proposal compared to a nonenergy-aware one, with the guarantee for the image quality to be lower-bounded.
DSD: Dense-Sparse-Dense Training for Deep Neural Networks

Modern deep neural networks have a large number of parameters, making them very hard to train. We propose DSD, a dense-sparse-dense training flow, for regularizing deep neural networks and achieving better optimization performance. In the first D (Dense) step, we train a dense network to learn connection weights and importance. In the S (Sparse) step, we regularize the network by pruning the unimportant connections with small weights and retraining the network given the sparsity constraint. In the final D (re-Dense) step, we increase the model capacity by removing the sparsity constraint, re-initialize the pruned parameters from zero and retrain the whole dense network. Experiments show that DSD training can improve the performance for a wide range of CNNs, RNNs and LSTMs on the tasks of image classification, caption generation and speech recognition. On ImageNet, DSD improved the Top1 accuracy of GoogLeNet by 1.1%, VGG-16 by 4.3%, ResNet-18 by 1.2% and ResNet-50 by 1.1%, respectively. On the WSJ'93 dataset, DSD improved DeepSpeech and DeepSpeech2 WER by 2.0% and 1.1%. On the Flickr-8K dataset, DSD improved the NeuralTalk BLEU score by over 1.7. DSD is easy to use in practice: at training time, DSD incurs only one extra hyper-parameter: the sparsity ratio in the S step. At testing time, DSD doesn't change the network architecture or incur any inference overhead. The consistent and significant performance gain of DSD experiments shows the inadequacy of the current training methods for finding the best local optimum, while DSD effectively achieves superior optimization performance for finding a better solution. DSD models are available to download at this https URL
Viral Load Levels Measured at Set-Point Have Risen Over the Last Decade of the HIV Epidemic in the Netherlands

Background HIV-1 RNA plasma concentration at viral set-point is associated not only with disease outcome but also with the transmission dynamics of HIV-1. We investigated whether plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration and CD4 cell count at viral set-point have changed over time in the HIV epidemic in the Netherlands. Methodology/Principal Findings We selected 906 therapy-naïve patients with at least one plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration measured 9 to 27 months after estimated seroconversion. Changes in HIV-1 RNA and CD4 cell count at viral set-point over time were analysed using linear regression models. The ATHENA national observational cohort contributed all patients who seroconverted in or after 1996; the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS) contributed seroconverters before 1996. The mean of the first HIV-1 RNA concentration measured 9–27 months after seroconversion was 4.30 log10 copies/ml (95% CI 4.17–4.42) for seroconverters from 1984 through 1995 (n = 163); 4.27 (4.16–4.37) for seroconverters 1996–2002 (n = 232), and 4.59 (4.52–4.66) for seroconverters 2003–2007 (n = 511). Compared to patients seroconverting between 2003–2007, the adjusted mean HIV-1 RNA concentration at set-point was 0.28 log10 copies/ml (95% CI 0.16–0.40; p<0.0001) and 0.26 (0.11–0.41; p = 0.0006) lower for those seroconverting between 1996–2002 and 1984–1995, respectively. Results were robust regardless of type of HIV-1 RNA assay, HIV-1 subtype, and interval between measurement and seroconversion. CD4 cell count at viral set-point declined over calendar time at approximately 5 cells/mm3/year. Conclusion The HIV-1 RNA plasma concentration at viral set-point has increased over the last decade of the HIV epidemic in the Netherlands. This is accompanied by a decreasing CD4 cell count over the period 1984–2007 and may have implications for both the course of the HIV infection and the epidemic.
Full Matching in an Observational Study of Coaching for the SAT

Among matching techniques for observational studies, full matching is in principle the best, in the sense that its alignment of comparable treated and control subjects is as good as that of any alternate method, and potentially much better. This article evaluates the practical performance of full matching for the first time, modifying it in order to minimize variance as well as bias and then using it to compare coached and uncoached takers of the SAT. In this new version, with restrictions on the ratio of treated subjects to controls within matched sets, full matching makes use of many more observations than does pair matching, but achieves far closer matches than does matching with k≥ 2 controls. Prior to matching, the coached and uncoached groups are separated on the propensity score by 1.1 SDs. Full matching reduces this separation to 1% or 2% of an SD. In older literature comparing matching and regression, Cochran expressed doubts that any method of adjustment could substantially reduce observed bias of this magnitude. To accommodate missing data, regression-based analyses by ETS researchers rejected a subset of the available sample that differed significantly from the subsample they analyzed. Full matching on the propensity score handles the same problem simply and without rejecting observations. In addition, it eases the detection and handling of nonconstancy of treatment effects, which the regression-based analyses had obscured, and it makes fuller use of covariate information. It estimates a somewhat larger effect of coaching on the math score than did ETS's methods.
The folding of knotted proteins: insights from lattice simulations

We carry out systematic Monte Carlo simulations of Gō lattice proteins to investigate and compare the folding processes of two model proteins whose native structures differ from each other due to the presence of a trefoil knot located near the terminus of one of the protein chains. We show that the folding time of the knotted fold is larger than that of the unknotted protein and that this difference in folding time is particularly striking in the temperature region below the optimal folding temperature. Both proteins display similar folding transition temperatures, which is indicative of similar thermal stabilities. By using the folding probability reaction coordinate as an estimator of folding progression we have found out that the formation of the knot is mainly a late folding event in our shallow knot system.
Systemic Arthritis in Children: A Review of Clinical Presentation and Treatment

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) constitutes a small part of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), yet has a disproportionally higher rate of mortality. Despite being grouped under JIA, it is considered to be a multifactorial autoinflammatory disease. The objective of this paper is to review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetics, clinical manifestations, complications, therapy, prognosis, and outcome of sJIA. The presentation and clinical manifestations of sJIA have not changed much in the past several decades, but the collective understanding of the pathogenesis and the development of new targeted therapies (particularly the biologic agents) have transformed and improved the disease outcome for children with sJIA.
Blended Learning Model: A Practical Approach for the Professional Development of University Students in Cameroon

The consistent increase in student population in university campuses without a corresponding infrastructural development and consequently limited professional competences developed motivated the researcher to carry out this study. Related literature based on blended learning, distance education and professional development constituted the conceptual framework of the work. The Goal Theory and the Theory of Change were used to give meaning to the problem of study. Qualitative approach was applied to carry out the study. The target population consisted of graduates of the Distance Education programme (2016/2017 graduation batch). The accessible population was made up of graduates of Yaounde Study Centre. Interviews were carried out with eight (8) cases that were selected using purposeful sampling technique. The data collected were analysed thematically following the objective of the study. Overall results of the study revealed that the blended learning model influenced professional development of university students in Cameroon. The results have shown that students are more comfortable with face-to-face learning mode as compared to online learning mode and self-learning mode. Consequently, recommendations are made to universities to adopt this model in their training programmes.
Species-Specific Viromes in the Ancestral Holobiont Hydra

Recent evidence showing host specificity of colonizing bacteria supports the view that multicellular organisms are holobionts comprised of the macroscopic host in synergistic interdependence with a heterogeneous and host-specific microbial community. Whereas host-bacteria interactions have been extensively investigated, comparatively little is known about host-virus interactions and viral contribution to the holobiont. We sought to determine the viral communities associating with different Hydra species, whether these viral communities were altered with environmental stress, and whether these viruses affect the Hydra-associated holobiont. Here we show that each species of Hydra harbors a diverse host-associated virome. Primary viral families associated with Hydra are Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Inoviridae, and Herpesviridae. Most Hydra-associated viruses are bacteriophages, a reflection of their involvement in the holobiont. Changes in environmental conditions alter the associated virome, increase viral diversity, and affect the metabolism of the holobiont. The specificity and dynamics of the virome point to potential viral involvement in regulating microbial associations in the Hydra holobiont. While viruses are generally regarded as pathogenic agents, our study suggests an evolutionary conserved ability of viruses to function as holobiont regulators and, therefore, constitutes an emerging paradigm shift in host-microbe interactions.
Social music services in teenage life: a case study

The landscape for discovering and sharing music is changing due to the rise of social media and mobile devices with increasing amount of features. This paper looks at the omnipresence of music and the social perspective of online music services among the youth, and describes a survey-based case study of 44 Finnish. The findings reveal that social media facilitates important aspects that engage the users, such as recommendations, large selections, and free content, but also that traditional media, e.g. FM radio has still a strong role in the omnipresence use of music.
XRCC1 Gene Polymorphisms and Glioma Risk in Chinese Population: A Meta-Analysis

Background Three extensively investigated polymorphisms (Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp, and Arg280His) in the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene have been implicated in risk for glioma. However, the results from different studies remain inconsistent. To clarify these conflicts, we performed a quantitative synthesis of the evidence to elucidate these associations in the Chinese population. Methods Data were extracted from PubMed and EMBASE, with the last search up to August 21, 2014. Meta-analysis was performed by critically reviewing 8 studies for Arg399Gln (3062 cases and 3362 controls), 8 studies for Arg194Trp (3419 cases and 3680 controls), and 5 studies for Arg280His (2234 cases and 2380 controls). All of the statistical analyses were performed using the software program, STATA (version 11.0). Results Our analysis suggested that both Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms were significantly associated with increased risk of glioma (for Arg399Gln polymorphism: Gln/Gln vs. Arg/Arg, OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.46–2.27, P = 0.000; Arg/Gln vs. Arg/Arg, OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.10–1.42, P = 0.001 and for Arg194Trp polymorphism: recessive model, OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.44–2.19, P = 0.000), whereas the Arg280His polymorphism had no influence on the susceptibility to glioma in a Chinese population. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that there may be no association between the Arg280His polymorphism and glioma risk, whereas the Arg399Gln/Arg194Trp polymorphisms may contribute to genetic susceptibility to glioma in the Chinese population. Nevertheless, large-scale, well-designed and population-based studies are needed to further evaluate gene-gene and gene–environment interactions, as well as to measure the combined effects of these XRCC1 variants on glioma risk.
Traumatic Injury and the Presence of Antigen Differentially Contribute to T-Cell Recruitment in the CNS

T-cell recruitment into the brain is critical in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases of the CNS. We use intracerebral antigen microinjection and tetramer technology to track antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells in the CNS and to clarify the contribution of antigen deposition or traumatic injury to the accumulation of T-cells in the brain. We demonstrate that, after intracerebral microinjection of ovalbumin, ovalbumin-specific CD8+ T-cells expand systemically and then migrate into the brain where they complete additional proliferation cycles. T-cells in the brain are activated and respond to in vitro secondary antigen challenge. CD8+ T-cells accumulate and persist in sites of antigen in the brain without replenishment from the periphery. Persistent survival of CD8+ T-cells at sites of cognate antigen is significantly reduced by blocking CD154 molecules. A small traumatic injury itself does not lead to recruitment of CD8+ T-cells into the brain but attracts activated antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells from cognate antigen injection sites. This process is presumably antigen independent and cannot be inhibited by blocking CD154 molecules. These data show that activated antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells accumulate in the CNS at both cognate antigen-containing and traumatic injury sites after intracerebral antigen delivery. The accumulation of activated antigen-specific T-cells at traumatic injury sites, in addition to antigen-containing areas, could amplify local inflammatory processes in the CNS. Combination therapies in neuroinflammatory diseases to block both of these processes should be considered.
Neonatal microbial colonization in mice promotes prolonged dominance of CD11b+Gr-1+ cells and accelerated establishment of the CD4+ T cell population in the spleen

To assess the microbial influence on postnatal hematopoiesis, we examined the role of early life microbial colonization on the composition of leukocyte subsets in the neonatal spleen. A high number of CD11b+Gr‐1+ splenocytes present perinatally was sustained for a longer period in conventionally colonized (CONV) mice than in mono‐colonized (MC) and germfree (GF) mice, and the CD4+ T cell population established faster in CONV mice. At the day of birth, compared to GF mice, the expression of Cxcl2 was up‐regulated and Arg1 down‐regulated in livers of CONV mice. This coincided with lower abundance of polylobed cells in the liver of CONV mice. An earlier peak in the expression of the genes Tjp1, Cdh1, and JamA in intestinal epithelial cells of CONV mice indicated an accelerated closure of the epithelial barrier. In conclusion, we have identified an important microbiota‐dependent neonatal hematopoietic event, which we suggest impacts the subsequent development of the T cell population in the murine spleen.