Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
More Eecient Serialization and Rmi for Java

In current Java implementations, Remote Method Invocation (RMI) is too slow, especially for high performance computing. RMI is designed for wide-area and high-latency networks, it is based on a slow object serialization, and it does not support high-performance communication networks. The paper demonstrates that a much faster drop-in RMI and an e cient drop-in serialization can be designed and implemented completely in Java without any native code. Moreover, the re-designed RMI supports nonTCP/IP communication networks, even with heterogeneous transport protocols. We demonstrate that for high performance computing some of the o cial serialization's generality can and should be traded for speed. As a by-product, a benchmark collection for RMI is presented. On PCs connected through Ethernet, the better serialization and the improved RMI save a median of 45% (maximum of 71%) of the runtime for some set of arguments. On our Myrinet-based ParaStation network (a cluster of DEC Alphas) we save a median of 85% (maximum of 96%), compared to standard RMI, standard serialization, and Fast Ethernet; a remote method invocation runs as fast as 80 s round trip time, compared to about 1.5 ms.
The Reflective Model of Intercultural Competency: A Multidimensional, Qualitative Approach to Study Abroad Assessment.

Judging from the recent surge in research on outcomes assessment, many study abroad offices rely on quantitative surveys and measures to collect student outcomes data (Olson and Kroeger 2001, Ingraham and Peterson 2004, Chieffo and Griffiths 2004, Kehl and Morris 2007, Sutton and Rubin 2007). This paper presents a multidimensional, qualitative approach to data collection. This approach makes qualitative data easy to collect and encourages students to reflect and contextualize their experience, so that the students themselves articulate their own growth towards intercultural competence. This article will demonstrate how I established a set of learning outcomes for study abroad, encouraged student awareness of these learning outcomes prior to departure and during the program, and collected qualitative data to measure how well students were reaching these outcomes. This innovative approach, the Reflective Model of Intercultural Competence, shows both the benefits of qualitative data and of a multidimensional collection process. This approach provides rich data about student gains. It encourages students to consider their experience in broad terms, providing them with meaningful ways to articulate their experience to others. Furthermore, integrating learning outcomes into assessment reinforces their importance. The Reflective Model of Intercultural Competence provides a new and effective multifaceted tool for assessing study abroad outcomes.
Characterization of a Single-Chain Variable Fragment Recognizing a Linear Epitope of Aβ: A Biotechnical Tool for Studies on Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with devastating effects. Currently, therapeutic options are limited to symptomatic treatment. For more than a decade, research focused on immunotherapy for the causal treatment of AD. However, clinical trials with active immunization using Aβ encountered severe complications, for example meningoencephalitis. Consequently, attention focused on passive immunization using antibodies. As an alternative to large immunoglobulins (IgGs), Aβ binding single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) were used for diagnostic and therapeutic research approaches. scFvs can be expressed in E. coli and may provide improved pharmacokinetic properties like increased blood-brain barrier permeability or reduced side-effects in vivo. In this study, we constructed an scFv from an Aβ binding IgG, designated IC16, which binds the N-terminal region of Aβ (Aβ(1-8)). scFv-IC16 was expressed in E. coli, purified and characterized with respect to its interaction with different Aβ species and its influence on Aβ fibril formation. We were able to show that scFv-IC16 strongly influenced the aggregation behavior of Aβ and could be applied as an Aβ detection probe for plaque staining in the brains of transgenic AD model mice. The results indicate potential for therapy and diagnosis of AD.
Automatic imitation.

"Automatic imitation" is a type of stimulus-response compatibility effect in which the topographical features of task-irrelevant action stimuli facilitate similar, and interfere with dissimilar, responses. This article reviews behavioral, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging research on automatic imitation, asking in what sense it is "automatic" and whether it is "imitation. " This body of research reveals that automatic imitation is a covert form of imitation, distinct from spatial compatibility. It also indicates that, although automatic imitation is subject to input modulation by attentional processes, and output modulation by inhibitory processes, it is mediated by learned, long-term sensorimotor associations that cannot be altered directly by intentional processes. Automatic imitation provides an important tool for the investigation of the mirror neuron system, motor mimicry, and complex forms of imitation. It is a new behavioral phenomenon, comparable with the Stroop and Simon effects, providing strong evidence that even healthy adult humans are prone, in an unwilled and unreasoned way, to copy the actions of others.
A study of aircraft taxi performance for enhancing airport surface traffic control

In view of the ever-increasing air traffic, much attention in air traffic management research has been given to improving arrival and departure efficiency. As air traffic begins and ends at the airport, the issues of taxi delays and ground incursions are becoming more evident. The paper considers the surface-traffic problem at major airports and envisions a collaborative traffic and aircraft control environment where a surface traffic automation system will help coordinate surface traffic movements. Specifically, the paper studies the performance potential of high-precision taxi toward the realization of such an environment. A state-of-the-art nonlinear control system based on feedback linearization is designed for a detailed B-737 aircraft taxi model. The simulation model with the nonlinear control system is evaluated extensively in a scenario representing the demanding situation of an arrival aircraft crossing an adjacent active runway immediately following its own landing. The evaluation establishes the potential of an automated system to achieve high-precision taxi control, including the ability to comply with taxi clearances with tight time margins. Such a high-precision taxi capability reduces the time margin required for clearing taxiing aircraft to cross active runways, thus increasing the opportunity for issuing such clearances, which in turn reduces the need for aircraft to hold short at the runways to wait for the opportunity for crossing. The results from the analyses provide insight into future aircraft operational capabilities toward the design of the envisioned surface traffic automation system. Moreover, the nonlinear control design serves as a preliminary study for future auto-taxi functional development.
Pulse Pressure Predicts Incident Cardiovascular Disease but Not Diabetic Nephropathy in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes (The FinnDiane Study)

OBJECTIVE Pulse pressure (PP), an estimate of arterial stiffness, has been shown to be associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, diabetic kidney disease, a strong predictor of CVD, was not previously taken into account. Furthermore, the role of PP as a predictor of diabetic nephropathy is not known. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the associations between PP and these diabetes complications in patients with T1D. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 4,509 patients from the FinnDiane Study participated. Follow-up data on incident CVD events and renal status (median 5.3 years) were available in 69 and 76% of the patients, respectively. Altogether, 269 patients (8.6%) had an incident CVD event and 370 patients (10.8%) progressed to a higher level of albuminuria or to end-stage renal disease. RESULTS PP was higher at baseline in patients who experienced a CVD event (66 ± 18 vs. 52 ± 14 mmHg; P < 0.001) or progressed in their renal status (58 ± 18 vs. 54 ± 15 mmHg; P < 0.01) during follow-up. In a Cox regression model, PP was independently associated with a first ever CVD event (hazard ratio per 10 mmHg 1.22 [95% CI 1.10–1.34]) but not progression of renal disease (1.00 [0.89–1.12]) after adjustments for traditional risk factors. CONCLUSIONS PP, a marker of arterial stiffness, is a risk factor for cardiovascular complications but not for diabetic nephropathy in patients with T1D.
Burkholderia pseudomallei kills the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using an endotoxin‐mediated paralysis

We investigated a non‐mammalian host model system for fitness in genetic screening for virulence‐attenuating mutations in the potential biowarfare agents Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei. We determined that B. pseudomallei is able to cause ‘disease‐like’ symptoms and kill the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Analysis of killing in the surrogate disease model with B. pseudomallei mutants indicated that killing did not require lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O‐antigen, aminoglycoside/macrolide efflux pumping, type II pathway‐secreted exoenzymes or motility. Burkholderia thailandensis and some strains of Burkholderia cepacia also killed nematodes. Manipulation of the nematode host genotype suggests that the neuromuscular intoxication caused by both B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis acts in part through a disruption of normal Ca2+ signal transduction. Both species produce a UV‐sensitive, gamma‐irradiation‐resistant, limited diffusion, paralytic agent as part of their nematode pathogenic mechanism. The results of this investigation suggest that killing by B. pseudomallei is an active process in C. elegans, and that the C. elegans model might be useful for the identification of vertebrate animal virulence factors in B. pseudomallei.
Vascular age to determine cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review of its concepts, definitions, and clinical applications

Background Vascular age is an alternate means of representing an individual's cardiovascular risk. Little consensus exists on what vascular age represents and its clinical utility has not been determined. We systematically reviewed the literature to provide a comprehensive overview of different methods that have been used to define vascular age, and to examine its potential clinical value in patient communication and risk prediction. Design This was a systematic review with data sources of PubMed and Embase. Results We identified 39 articles on vascular age, 20 proposed to use vascular age as a communication tool and 19 proposed to use vascular age as a means to improve cardiovascular risk prediction. Eight papers were methodological and 31 papers reported on vascular age in study populations. Of these 31 papers, vascular age was a direct translation of the absolute risk estimated by existing cardiovascular risk prediction models in 15 papers, 12 derived vascular age from the reference values of an additional test, and in three papers vascular age was defined as the age at which the estimated cardiovascular risk equals the risk from non-invasive imaging observed degree of atherosclerosis. One trial found a small effect on risk factor levels when vascular age was communicated instead of cardiovascular risk. Conclusion Despite sharing a common name, various studies have proposed distinct ways to define and measure vascular age. Studies into the effects of vascular age as a tool to improve cardiovascular risk prediction or patient communication are scarce but will be required before its clinical use can be justified.
The broad band spectrum and variability of NGC 4151 observed by BeppoSAX

Abstract We present broad band timing and spectral analysis of Beppo-SAX data of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151, and propose multi-component models to explain the complex spectrum of this source and the observed, energy dependent, spectral variability. Many different components are needed to model SAX NGC 4151 spectra. The intrinsic continuum is well described by a simple power law with energy spectral index slightly correlated with intensity (α ∼ 0.4–0.5) up to ∼ 15 keV. At higher energies an exponential cutoff is clearly detected in the PDS spectra ( c = 50 ± 5 keV). There is also an evidence for a flattening of the spectrum above ∼ 15 keV which is well described by a reflection model. A non-variable, complex soft component becomes dominant below ∼ 1 keV. Between 1 keV and ∼ 5 keV, a complicate absorption structure reveals the presence of either a cold absorber partially covering the nuclear continuum or a very thick warm absorber, or both. Finally, a strong Iron line at 6.4 keV is clearly detected, with varying equivalent width, becoming stronger as continuum intensity drops.
Cardiovascular risk factors in normotensive and hypertensive Egyptians

Objectives To define the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and their relation to the level of blood pressure, in Egyptians. Methods Data were collected during the Egyptian National Hypertension project, a national hypertension survey in Egypt. During phase I of the survey, hypertensive (HT) patients were identified. In phase II, clinical and laboratory evaluations were made on HT and gender-matched normotensives (NT). A total of 2313 individuals were examined, 311 NT males, 443 NT females, 670 HT males and 889 HT females. Results The prevalence of obesity was 33 and 47% in hypertensive men and women, respectively. After adjusting for age, HT men had significantly higher heart rate, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), post-prandial blood sugar (PBS), body mass index and waist/hip (W/H) ratio than their NT counterparts. In addition, HT women had higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The prevalence of elevated LDL-C and FBS increased with age. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia, elevated FBS and obesity rose with increasing level of blood pressure (BP). From the 25–34 to the 55–64 age group, the percentage of hypertensives with ⩾ 2 risk factors rose from 42.9 to 60.6% in men, and from 9.4 to 46.2% in women. All risk factors were more prevalent in urban populations. Conclusion This is one of the few reports on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a developing country. Risk factors cluster with rising level of BP and with ageing. Obesity is very prevalent, particularly in hypertensive Egyptian women. Health efforts directed at the prevention and treatment of obesity should be a high priority.
Stress during Adolescence Increases Novelty Seeking and Risk-Taking Behavior in Male and Female Rats

Adolescence is a period of major physical, hormonal, and psychological change. It is also characterized by a significant increase in the incidence of psychopathologies and this increase is gender-specific. Likewise, stress during adolescence is associated with the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. Previously, using a rat model of psychogenic stress (exposure to predator odor followed by placement on an elevated platform) during the pre-pubertal period (postnatal days 28–30), we reported sex-specific effects on auditory and contextual fear conditioning. Here, we study the short-term impact of psychogenic stress before and during puberty (postnatal days 28–42) on behavior (novelty seeking, risk taking, anxiety, and depression) and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis activation during late adolescence (postnatal days 45–51). Peri-pubertal stress decreased anxiety-like behavior and increased risk taking and novelty seeking behaviors during late adolescence (measured with the elevated plus maze, open field and exposure to novel object tests and intake of chocopop pellets before or immediate after stress). Finally neither depressive-like behavior (measured at the forced-swim test) nor HPA response to stress (blood corticosterone and glucose) were affected by peri-pubertal stress. Nevertheless, when controlling for the basal anxiety of the mothers, animals exposed to peri-pubertal stress showed a significant decrease in corticosterone levels immediate after an acute stressor. The results from this study suggest that exposure to mild stressors during the peri-pubertal period induces a broad spectrum of behavioral changes in late adolescence, which may exacerbate the independence-building behaviors naturally happening during this transitional period (increase in curiosity, sensation-seeking, and risk-taking behaviors).
Machine Learning Enhancement of Storm-Scale Ensemble Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts

AbstractProbabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts challenge meteorologists due to the wide variability of precipitation amounts over small areas and their dependence on conditions at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Ensembles of convection-allowing numerical weather prediction models offer a way to produce improved precipitation forecasts and estimates of the forecast uncertainty. These models allow for the prediction of individual convective storms on the model grid, but they often displace the storms in space, time, and intensity, which results in added uncertainty. Machine learning methods can produce calibrated probabilistic forecasts from the raw ensemble data that correct for systemic biases in the ensemble precipitation forecast and incorporate additional uncertainty information from aggregations of the ensemble members and additional model variables. This study utilizes the 2010 Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms Storm-Scale Ensemble Forecast system and the National Severe .
Cysteamine Suppresses Invasion, Metastasis and Prolongs Survival by Inhibiting Matrix Metalloproteinases in a Mouse Model of Human Pancreatic Cancer

Background Cysteamine, an anti-oxidant aminothiol, is the treatment of choice for nephropathic cystinosis, a rare lysosomal storage disease. Cysteamine is a chemo-sensitization and radioprotection agent and its antitumor effects have been investigated in various tumor cell lines and chemical induced carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated whether cysteamine has anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects in transplantable human pancreatic cancer, an aggressive metastatic disease. Methodology/Principal Findings Cysteamine's anti-invasion effects were studied by matrigel invasion and cell migration assays in 10 pancreatic cancer cell lines. To study mechanism of action, we examined cell viability and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity in the cysteamine-treated cells. We also examined cysteamine's anti-metastasis effect in two orthotopic murine models of human pancreatic cancer by measuring peritoneal metastasis and survival of animals. Cysteamine inhibited both migration and invasion of all ten pancreatic cancer cell lines at concentrations (<25 mM) that caused no toxicity to cells. It significantly decreased MMPs activity (IC 50 38–460 µM) and zymographic gelatinase activity in a dose dependent manner in vitro and in vivo; while mRNA and protein levels of MMP-9, MMP-12 and MMP-14 were slightly increased using the highest cysteamine concentration. In vivo, cysteamine significantly decreased metastasis in two established pancreatic tumor models, although it did not affect the size of primary tumors. Additionally, cysteamine prolonged survival of mice in a dose-dependent manner without causing any toxicity. Similar to the in vitro results, MMP activity was significantly decreased in animal tumors treated with cysteamine. Cysteamine had no clinical or preclinical adverse effects in the host even at the highest dose. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest that cysteamine, an agent with a proven safety profile, may be useful for inhibition of metastasis and prolonging the survival of a host with pancreatic cancer.
Characterization of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Transport Proteins from Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacterium glutamicum

ABSTRACT Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is the direct precursor of the flavin cofactors flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide, essential components of cellular biochemistry. In this work we investigated the unrelated proteins YpaA from Bacillus subtilis and PnuX from Corynebacterium glutamicum for a role in riboflavin uptake. Based on the regulation of the corresponding genes by a riboswitch mechanism, both proteins have been predicted to be involved in flavin metabolism. Moreover, their primary structures suggested that these proteins integrate into the cytoplasmic membrane. We provide experimental evidence that YpaA is a plasma membrane protein with five transmembrane domains and a cytoplasmic C terminus. In B. subtilis, riboflavin uptake was increased when ypaA was overexpressed and abolished when ypaA was deleted. Riboflavin uptake activity and the abundance of the YpaA protein were also increased when riboflavin auxotrophic mutants were grown in limiting amounts of riboflavin. YpaA-mediated riboflavin uptake was sensitive to protonophors and reduced in the absence of glucose, demonstrating that the protein requires metabolic energy for substrate translocation. In addition, we demonstrate that PnuX from C. glutamicum also is a riboflavin transporter. Transport by PnuX was not energy dependent and had high apparent affinity for riboflavin (Km 11 μM). Roseoflavin, a toxic riboflavin analog, appears to be a substrate of PnuX and YpaA. We propose to designate the gene names ribU for ypaA and ribM for pnuX to reflect that the encoded proteins function in riboflavin uptake and that the genes have different phylogenetic origins.
Race Performance in Male Mountain Ultra-Marathoners: Anthropometry or Training?

The association of anthropometric variables, training volume, and prerace experience with race time was investigated in 25 male mountain ultra-marathoners (M age = 44.5 yr., SD = 7.0; M body mass = 73.0 kg, SD = 7.8; M body height = 1.78 m, SD = 0.07; M Body Mass Index = 22.9 kg/m2, SD = 1.8) in a 7-day mountain ultra-marathon over 350 km with a total 11,000 m of altitude gained and lost. The relationship of anthropometry (body mass, body height, Body Mass Index, percent body fat, circumferences of limbs, and thicknesses of skin-folds), training, and prerace experience (years as active runner, average training volume in hours and kilometres per week, average running speed in training, and personal best time in marathon running) with total race time was investigated using bivariate correlation analysis. None of the variables of anthropometry were related to total race time. Average speed in running during training and personal best time in marathon running were associated with total race time. Speed in running during training was correlated with personal best time in marathon running. The finding that average speed in running during training and personal best marathon time were related to race performance suggests that training and especially intensity might be of increased importance in these ultra-runners compared to anthropometry.
Self-determination theory approach to indigenous workers and working with family

The present study tests whether working with whanau (extended family) has positive effects for New Zealand Maori employees. Using a sample of 197 employed Maori, factor analysis found two dimensions: whanau work connections and whanau home connections. Direct negative effects were found towards stress and anxiety and positive effects towards career satisfaction and life satisfaction. In addition significant interactions were tested found between the two dimensions of whanau connections. Interactions showed respondents with high whanau home and work connections reported the lowest levels of stress and anxiety, and the highest levels of career satisfaction. Findings indicate that indigenous employees may respond with the strongest positive outcomes when interacting and working with their extended family, which has previously been unexplored.