Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapidly Alternating Bottlenecks: A Study of Two Cases in n-Tier Applications

Identifying the location of performance bottlenecks is a non‐trivial challenge when scaling n‐tier applications in computing clouds. Specifically, we observed that an n‐tier application may experience significant performance loss when bottlenecks alternate rapidly between component servers. Such rapidly alternating bottlenecks arise naturally and often from resource dependencies in an n‐tier system and bursty workloads. These rapidly alternating bottlenecks are difficult to detect because the saturation in each participating server may have a very short lifespan (e.g., milliseconds) compared to current system monitoring tools and practices with sampling at intervals of seconds or minutes. Using passive network tracing at fine‐granularity (e.g., aggregate at every 50ms), we are able to correlate throughput (i.e., request service rate) and queue length (i.e., number of concurrent requests) in each server of an n‐tier system. Our experimental results show conclusive evidence of rapidly alternating bottlenecks caused by system software (JVM garbage collection) and middleware (VM collocation).
Towards a Healthy Human Model of Neural Disorders of Movement

A quantitative approach to virtual-lesion physiology is presented which integrates event-related fMRI, image-guided, repetitive, transcranial magnetic stimulation (irTMS), and simultaneous recording of 3-D movement kinematics. By linking motor neuroscience with clinical disorders of motor function, our method allows development of a healthy, human system model of disorders of skilled action.
Substantial postoperative pain is common among children undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy

Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children. However, to our knowledge, the postoperative pain experience of children undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy has never been described. In this study, we assessed the postoperative pain experience of children undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy.
A delay-range-partition approach to analyse stability of linear systems with time-varying delays

ABSTRACT In this paper, the stability analysis of linear systems with an interval time-varying delay is investigated. First, augmented Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals are constructed, which include more information of the delay's range and the delay's derivative. Second, two improved integral inequalities, which are less conservative than Jensen's integral inequalities, and delay-range-partition approach are utilised to estimate the upper bounds of the derivatives of the augmented Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals. Then, less conservative stability criteria are proposed no matter whether the lower bound of delay is zero or not. Finally, to illustrate the effectiveness of the stability criteria proposed in this paper, two numerical examples are given and their results are compared with the existing results.
Proposta de um Mapa Estratégico para uma Universidade Pública

A ferramenta de traducao da estrategia, medicao e avaliacao do desempenho organizacional chamado Balanced Scorecard (BSC) vem sendo estudada de forma crescente desde a sua publicacao em 1990. O formato inicialmente proposto e aplicado muito bem as empresas privadas. Porem, sua aplicacao em organizacoes nao pertencentes ao ramo privado nao foi contemplado nos estudos iniciais. Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma proposicao de um mapa estrategico na forma do Balanced Scorecard para a Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Parana (UNIOESTE), localizada na regiao Oeste daquele estado. Foram utilizados dados secundarios relacionados ao Plano de Desenvolvimento Institucional, dentre outros documentos relacionados com a estrategia da instituicao. Este estudo de caso se classifica como exploratorio e qualitativo. A UNIOESTE possui, alem da Reitoria, 5 campis localizados nas cidades de Cascavel, Toledo, Foz do Iguacu, Marechal Cândido Rondon e Francisco Beltrao, alem do Hospital Universitario do Oeste do Parana (HUOP). Conta com corpo docente composto por 1.229 docentes e 1.267 agentes universitarios. Para o problema desta pesquisa, tem-se: e possivel a criacao de um Balanced Scorecard para uma Universidade Publica? Para o tratamento dos dados, utilizou-se a analise de conteudo, apoiado pelo software ATLAS.ti . Ao final do trabalho, propos-se um total de 5 perspectivas: Educacional, Financeira, Sociedade, Aprendizado e Crescimento e Processos Internos, distribuidos nestas perspectivas, 16 objetivos estrategicos e 30 indicadores estrategicos. A contribuicao deste artigo consiste em apresentar as especificidades nao abordadas no modelo tradicional, proposto por Kaplan e Norton, a uma instituicao que se apresenta nas caracteristicas de instituicao publica e voltada para o ensino superior.
The relationship of interpersonal involvement and effectiveness of content to the verbal communication of schizophernic patients.

Despite the importance accorded schizophrenic communicative disturbances, few experimental efforts have been made to examine conditions which seem functionally related to them. Two such conditions suggested by the literature are interpersonal involvement, and affectiveness of communication content. That interpersonal involvement affects schizophrenic communication is suggested by general interpersonal theory. It is perhaps most explicitly stated in a remark of Will (1954, p. xiv) which noted Sullivan's observation of the defensive aspect of schizophrenic language. Will proposed that, having experienced considerable anxiety in interpersonal relationships, the schizophrenic attempts to withdraw from them, either physically or by talking in a way that puzzles and irritates the listener. Few studies have manipulated the interpersonal variable experimentally and most of them have used some kind of written or drawn material as the interpersonal situation (Rabin & King, 19S8, pp. 237-238).
Myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death in Olmsted County, Minnesota, before and after smoke-free workplace laws.

BACKGROUND Reductions in admissions for myocardial infarction (MI) have been reported in locales where smoke-free workplace laws have been implemented, but no study has assessed sudden cardiac death in that setting. In 2002, a smoke-free restaurant ordinance was implemented in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and in 2007, all workplaces, including bars, became smoke free. METHODS To evaluate the population impact of smoke-free laws, we measured, through the Rochester Epidemiology Project, the incidence of MI and sudden cardiac death in Olmsted County during the 18-month period before and after implementation of each smoke-free ordinance. All MIs were continuously abstracted and validated, using rigorous standardized criteria relying on biomarkers, cardiac pain, and Minnesota coding of the electrocardiogram. Sudden cardiac death was defined as out-of-hospital deaths associated with coronary disease. RESULTS Comparing the 18 months before implementation of the smoke-free restaurant ordinance with the 18 months after implementation of the smoke-free workplace law, the incidence of MI declined by 33% (P < .001), from 150.8 to 100.7 per 100,000 population, and the incidence of sudden cardiac death declined by 17% (P = .13), from 109.1 to 92.0 per 100,000 population. During the same period, the prevalence of smoking declined and that of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity either remained constant or increased. CONCLUSIONS A substantial decline in the incidence of MI was observed after smoke-free laws were implemented, the magnitude of which is not explained by community cointerventions or changes in cardiovascular risk factors with the exception of smoking prevalence. As trends in other risk factors do not appear explanatory, smoke-free workplace laws seem to be ecologically related to these favorable trends. Secondhand smoke exposure should be considered a modifiable risk factor for MI. All people should avoid secondhand smoke to the extent possible, and people with coronary heart disease should have no exposure to secondhand smoke.
Love and the stranger: intimate relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in a very remote Aboriginal town, northern Australia

Intimate relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people have generally been pursued within the transactional modalities afforded by economy and kinship (e.g. Hamilton 1972; Tonkinson 1990; Redmond 2005). A parallel anthropological literature (e.g. Myers 1979; Venkatesan et al. 2011), however, has critiqued these emphases, and has instead highlighted the need to consider the emotional experiences of individuals. One of the types of individuals considered here is the stranger, a figurative character that Simmel (1950: 403) described as ‘no owner of soil’. In this paper I explore the experiences of one of these strangers, ‘Andrew’, a non-Aboriginal man who was the partner of an Aboriginal woman and living in the remote Aboriginal town of Mornington Island in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. In interpreting Andrew's experiences, I argue for an analytic frame based on understanding how transformative personal encounters including love can bring together and sustain relationships between those of (sometimes) vastly different socio-cultural backgrounds.
Internationalizing the Curriculum: Study in Nepal.

Les AA. estiment que la decouverte d'autres pays et d'autres cultures constitue un facteur tres important sur le plan de la formation des etudiants et plus particulierement de ceux qui etudient la sociologie. Ils presentent une experience menee a l'Universite de Miami, aux Etats-Unis, qui consiste a organiser des stages d'etudes au Nepal pendant les vacances d'ete. Ils soulignent l'interet de ce type de programme sur la plan de l'apprentissage, du developpement des competences en matiere de recherche et de l'approche de la realite sociale
Functional Connectivity Differences of the Subthalamic Nucleus Related to Parkinson's Disease

A typical feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) is pathological activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Here, we tested whether in patients with PD under dopaminergic treatment functional connectivity of the STN differs from healthy controls (HC) and whether some brain regions show (anti‐) correlations between functional connectivity with STN and motor symptoms. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate whole‐brain resting‐state functional connectivity with STN in 54 patients with PD and 55 HC matched for age, gender, and within‐scanner motion. Compared to HC, we found attenuated negative STN‐coupling with Crus I of the right cerebellum and with right ventromedial prefrontal regions in patients with PD. Furthermore, we observed enhanced negative STN‐coupling with bilateral intraparietal sulcus/superior parietal cortex, right sensorimotor, right premotor, and left visual cortex compared to HC. Finally, we found a decline in positive STN‐coupling with the left insula related to severity of motor symptoms and a decline of inter‐hemispheric functional connectivity between left and right STN with progression of PD‐related motor symptoms. Motor symptom related uncoupling of the insula, a key region in the saliency network and for executive function, from the STN might be associated with well‐known executive dysfunction in PD. Moreover, uncoupling between insula and STN might also induce an insufficient setting of thresholds for the discrimination between relevant and irrelevant salient environmental stimuli, explaining observations of disturbed response control in PD. In sum, motor symptoms in PD are associated with a reduced coupling between STN and a key region for executive function. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1235–1253, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Anti‐FGF23 Neutralizing Antibodies Show the Physiological Role and Structural Features of FGF23

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)23 is proposed to play a physiological role in the regulation of phosphate and vitamin D metabolism; deranged circulatory levels of FGF23 cause several diseases with abnormal mineral metabolism. This paper presents a novel approach to analyze the mechanism of action of FGF23 using anti‐FGF23 monoclonal antibodies that can neutralize FGF23 activities both in vitro and in vivo. We developed two antibodies (FN1 and FC1) that recognize the N‐ and C‐terminal regions of FGF23, respectively. Both FN1 and FC1 inhibited FGF23 activity in a cell‐based Klotho‐dependent reporter assay. Their administration caused marked increases in serum phosphate and 1,25D levels in normal mice. These changes were accompanied by altered expression in the kidney of type IIa sodium‐phosphate cotransporter, 25‐hydroxyvitamin‐D‐1α‐hydroxylase, and 24‐hydroxylase. Thus, this study using neutralizing antibodies confirms that FGF23 is a physiological regulator of phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. We addressed the mechanism of action for these neutralizing antibodies. Structural analysis of the FGF23/FN1‐Fab complex showed that FN1 masked putative FGF receptor‐binding sites in the N‐terminal domain of FGF23, whereas biochemical analyses showed that FC1 interfered with the association between FGF23 and Klotho by binding to the C‐terminal domain of FGF23. Taken together, our results suggest that the N‐ and C‐terminal domains of FGF23 are responsible for association with cognate FGF receptors and Klotho, respectively, and that these interactions are indispensable for FGF23 activity.
STRUCTURE AND SPECIFICITY OF GUINEA PIG 7S ANTIBODIES

Additional evidence has been obtained to show that different guinea pig anti-hapten antibodies differ in the structure of their L polypeptide chains. Antibodies from animals immunized with the same hapten conjugated to different carrier proteins gave similar starch gel electrophoretic patterns after dissociation of their chains. In a study of fine differences of specificity, cross-reacting antibodies were found to have some L chains with the same electrophoretic mobility. The multiplicity of L chain bands found in the characteristic starch gel electrophoretic patterns of dissociated anti-DNP antibodies was shown to be a reflection of the heterogeneity of antibodies of slightly different specificities. Reduction and alkylation of the active fragment produced by digestion of antibodies with papain yielded starch gel electrophoretic bands corresponding in mobility to L chains. The results are consistent with the notion that L chains are involved in the acquisition of immunologic specificity.
Synaptic organization and ionic basis of on and off channels in mudpuppy retina. I. Intracellular analysis of chloride-sensitive electrogenic properties of receptors, horizontal cells, bipolar cells, and amacrine cells

Intracellular recordings from receptors, horizontal cells, bipolars, and amacrines have been carried out in the perfused mudpuppy eyecup. The introduction of a chloride-free (c-f) medium results in initial transient potential changes in many cells followed by a slow loss of light-evoked activity of the depolarizing bipolar, the horizontal cell, and the on depolarization of amacrine cells. The hyperpolarizing bipolar remains responsive to light stimulation in a c-f medium, but the antagonistic surround mechanism is abolished. These effects are reversible after returning to a normal ionic medium. The results of this study provide insight into the retinal connections which underlie ganglion cell receptive field organization. It is concluded that the depolarizing bipolar is excitatory to on ganglion cells and is also the pathway for on-excitation of on-off cells. The hyperpolarizing bipolar mediates the off discharge of off and on-off cells. Amacrine cells receive input from both depolarizing and hyperpolarizing bipolar cells. These findings raise the possibility that transmembrane movements of chloride ions are critical for the light responsiveness of horizontal and depolarizing bipolar cell activity.
MUST-CNN: A Multilayer Shift-and-Stitch Deep Convolutional Architecture for Sequence-Based Protein Structure Prediction

Predicting protein properties such as solvent accessibility and secondary structure from its primary amino acid sequence is an important task in bioinformatics. Recently, a few deep learning models have surpassed the traditional window based multilayer perceptron. Taking inspiration from the image classification domain we propose a deep convolutional neural network architecture, MUST-CNN, to predict protein properties. This architecture uses a novel multilayer shift-and-stitch (MUST) technique to generate fully dense per-position predictions on protein sequences. Our model is significantly simpler than the state-of-the-art, yet achieves better results. By combining MUST and the efficient convolution operation, we can consider far more parameters while retaining very fast prediction speeds. We beat the state-of-the-art performance on two large protein property prediction datasets.
Synergistic cooperation between the AP‐1 and LEF‐1 transcription factors in the activation of the matrilysin promoter by the src oncogene: implications in cellular invasion

The matrix metalloprotease matrilysin is expressed in premalignant polyps and plays a key role in local invasion during the progression of digestive tumors. In the present work, we investigated the possible relationships between the activity of the mouse and human matrilysin promoters (Mp), endogenous matrilysin protein expression, and two early oncogenetic defects frequently observed in human colonic cancers, namely activation of the src oncogene and impairment of the Wnt/APC/β‐catenin pathway. Using transient transfection assays, we report here that src signaling and the HMG‐box transcription factor LEF‐1 act synergistically with the proximal (−61 to −67) AP‐1 binding site to transactivate the Mp in premalignant and tumorigenic kidney and colonic epithelial cells, through β‐catenin‐ and axin‐independent signaling pathways. This synergism involves the −109 and −194 Tcf/LEF‐1 binding sites in the Mp and a physical interaction between LEF‐1 and c‐Jun. Furthermore, src coordinates accumulation of the c‐Jun factor and matrilysin transcripts. Conversely, the c‐Jun dominant negative mutant TAM67 and the src tyrosine kinase inhibitor M475271 impaired src‐induced Mp activation, matrilysin protein accumulation, and invasion of type I collagen gels. This mechanism may thereby contribute to cellular invasion during the early‐stage adenoma/adenocarcinoma conversion and the metastatic process of digestive tumors.
Fas Ligand Has a Greater Impact than TNF-α on Apoptosis and Inflammation in Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury

Background/Aim: Fas ligand (FasL) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α are major pro-apoptotic molecules and also induce inflammation through cytokine and chemokine production. Although precise intracellular mechanisms of action have been reported for each molecule, the differential impact of these molecules on kidney injury in vivo still requires clarification. Methods: We explored the differential impact of FasL and TNF-α upon apoptosis and inflammation in ischemic acute kidney injury using neutralizing anti-FasL antibodies and TNF-α receptor 1 (TNFR1)-deficient mice. Results: TNFR1 deficiency was associated with a lesser anti-inflammatory effect upon leukocyte infiltration and tubular necrosis than treatment with anti-FasL antibody. Furthermore, the number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly reduced in anti-FasL antibody-treated mice, whereas it was only partially diminished in TNFR1-deficient mice. In vitro studies confirmed these findings. FasL administration induced both apoptosis and cytokine/chemokine production from cultured tubular epithelial cells. However, TNF-α had a limited effect upon tubular epithelial cells. Conclusion: In ischemic acute kidney injury, FasL has a greater impact than TNF-α on the apoptosis and inflammatory reaction through cytokine/chemokine production from tubular epithelial cells.
Culture, religion and social capital: evidence from European regions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible relationship of religion and culture with the social capital in a particular region. Design/methodology/approach – The data of 85 regions from 26 European countries are analysed. Regression analysis is used for analysing cultural dimensions, religion-related aspects and the communist past as possible factors of social capital components. In addition, graphic analysis is used for the generalisation of the results. Findings – The results from both the regression and graphic analyses indicate that cultural dimensions capture the possible reasons for different levels of social capital better than religion-related aspects or the division according to the communist background. Research limitations/implications – Conclusions can be drawn only for the European regions analysed. Data were not available for regions in all European countries and including control variables was limited by the data availability. Practical implications – When intending to develop policies for increasing social capital, the culture of a particular region should be assessed in order to predict the success of the policies. Originality/value – The novelty of this study lies in including cultural dimensions based on Hofstede’s concept to the set of possible factors determining the level of social capital in a region.
Understanding Angler Preferences for Species and Water Bodies: Importance for New York's Future Fisheries Management

Classifications of recreational anglers have focused on factors that may not be easily influenced by fishery managers, such as fishing specialization, desired experiences, and fishing conditions. To provide managers with a more managerially relevant classification of angler groups, we used the 2007 New York statewide angler survey and hierarchical cluster analysis for binary data to describe seven groups based on their species and water body preferences. Angler groups ranged from those interested in fishing for trout on inland streams (16%) to those interested in fishing lakes for warm water species (37%). We compared groups using their preferences for certain management actions and found relationships that can aid managers in deciding how to target management efforts and deploy limited resources. Grouping anglers based on species and water body preferences provides managers with a different perspective that resonates more with their information needs than past research.
Trophoblast-derived chemokine CXCL12 promotes CXCR4 expression and invasion of human first-trimester decidual stromal cells.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12/chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCL12/CXCR4) axis on the crosstalk between human first-trimester trophoblast cells (TCs) and decidual stromal cells (DSCs), to contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms on the interaction between the mother and embryo during pregnancy. METHODS CXCR4 on human first-trimester DSC membranes was detected by flow cytometry. The effects of exogenous CXCL12 or TC-conditioned medium (TCM) on proliferation and invasion of DSCs were examined by measuring proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and an invasion assay, respectively. Finally, a co-culture model was established to investigate the effect of CXCL12 secreted from TCs on motility of DSCs. RESULTS The mean (±SEM) percentage of DSCs positive for CXCR4 was 32.32 ± 7.18%. Human recombinant CXCL12 induced an increase in CXCR4 levels on DSCs via binding to CXCR4 (P < 0.01) but had no effect on the PCNA expression of DSCs. Moreover, both exogenous CXCL12 and TCM reinforced the invasive ability of DSCs via CXCR4 ligation. A co-culture model further confirmed that the enhanced invasiveness of DSCs in co-culture with TCs was inhibited by anti-CXCR4 or anti-CXCL12 neutralizing antibody (both P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Human first-trimester DSCs express membrane CXCR4 and TC-derived CXCL12 promotes CXCR4 expression and invasion of DSCs via ligation with CXCR4. Our data highlight the role of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis on the co-operation between TCs and DSCs during human first-trimester pregnancy.