Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Intersection of Continuous Deployment and Architecting Process: Practitioners' Perspectives

Context: Development and Operations (DevOps) is an emerging software industry movement to bridge the gap between software development and operations teams. DevOps supports frequently and reliably releasing new features and products-- thus subsuming Continuous Deployment (CD) practice. Goal: This research aims at empirically exploring the potential impact of CD practice on architecting process. Method: We carried out a case study involving interviews with 16 software practitioners. Results: We have identified (1) a range of recurring architectural challenges (i.e., highly coupled monolithic architecture, team dependencies, and ever-changing operational environments and tools) and (2) five main architectural principles (i.e., small and independent deployment units, not too much focus on reusability, aggregating logs, isolating changes, and testability inside the architecture) that should be considered when an application is (re-) architected for CD practice. This study also supports that software architecture can better support operations if an operations team is engaged at an early stage of software development for taking operational aspects into considerations. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that software architecture plays a significant role in successfully and efficiently adopting continuous deployment. The findings contribute to establish an evidential body of knowledge about the state of the art of architecting for CD practice
A Synthetic Biology Approach for a Vaccine Platform against Known and Newly Emerging Serotypes of Bluetongue Virus

ABSTRACT Bluetongue is one of the major infectious diseases of ruminants and is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV), an arbovirus existing in nature in at least 26 distinct serotypes. Here, we describe the development of a vaccine platform for BTV. The advent of synthetic biology approaches and the development of reverse genetics systems has allowed the rapid and reliable design and production of pathogen genomes which can be subsequently manipulated for vaccine production. We describe BTV vaccines based on “synthetic” viruses in which the outer core proteins of different BTV serotypes are incorporated into a common tissue-culture-adapted backbone. As a means of validation for this approach, we selected two BTV-8 synthetic reassortants and demonstrated their ability to protect sheep against virulent BTV-8 challenge. In addition to further highlight the possibilities of genome manipulation for vaccine production, we also designed and rescued a synthetic BTV chimera containing a VP2 protein, including regions derived from both BTV-1 and BTV-8. Interestingly, while the parental viruses were neutralized only by homologous antisera, the chimeric proteins could be neutralized by both BTV-1 and BTV-8 antisera. These data suggest that neutralizing epitopes are present in different areas of the BTV VP2 and likely “bivalent” strains eliciting neutralizing antibodies for multiple strains can be obtained. IMPORTANCE Overall, this vaccine platform can significantly reduce the time taken from the identification of new BTV strains to the development and production of new vaccines, since the viral genomes of these viruses can be entirely synthesized in vitro. In addition, these vaccines can be brought quickly into the market because they alter the approach, but not the final product, of existing commercial products.
Correlates and Risk Markers for Psychopathology in Young Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

ii Dedication.iv Acknowledgements.v Vita.vi List of Tables.ix List of Figures.xi CHAPTER 1: Introduction . 1 CHAPTER 2: Methods . 29 CHAPTER 3: Results.48 CHAPTER 4: Discussion.76 References.92 APPENDIX A: Supplementary Tables.101 APPENDIX B: Supplementary Figures.111 APPENDIX C: Correspondence.161
Correlation between dental caries experience and mutans streptococci counts using saliva and plaque as microbial risk indicators in 3-8 year old children. A cross Sectional study

Objectives: Determination of the relative amounts of mutans streptococcus in both saliva and plaque and to study its correlation with dental caries in children. Study Design: The study comprised of 60 children aged 3-8 years divided into 2 groups (30 children in each): Group A- Children with more than 4 carious teeth and Group B- Children without caries. Saliva and plaque was collected from children of both the groups with the help of Dentocult SM strip test kit (Orion Diagnostic). Following incubation, mutans streptococcus scores (from 0 to 3) in each individual was evaluated and compared between both the groups. Results: On comparing the two groups, mean ± SD of saliva score and plaque score was 2.40 ± 0.675 and 2.40 ± 0.621 respectively in group A, whereas it was 0.60 ± 0.498 and 0.83 ± 0.531 in children of group B showing a significant correlation (p = < 0.001) between mutans streptococci scores in both saliva and plaque and dental caries experience. Conclusions: There is a direct and strong co-relation between the salivary and plaque mutans streptococcus counts and caries activity in children aged 3-8 years. Key words:Mutans streptococci, dentocult, dental caries.
The behavioural approach to the strategic analysis of spectrum auctions: The case of the German DCS-1800 auction

The behavioural approach can be applied to both the design of an auction as well as to the implementation of a bidding strategy. This paper reports a case study in which we assisted a bidder in the German DCS1800 auction in the preparation for its bidding. We describe the various steps on this path: First, information that may be scattered in the company must be collected and aggregated. From the relevant influential factors, likely scenarios are worked out. These scenarios are the basis for creating the experimental environment for experimental sessions with student subjects. Accompanying sessions are held with company managers, which also serve as first training sessions for the decision makers in the company. The lessons learnt from the data analysis and from the managers’ experiences are integrated into the implementation of a bidding strategy, complemented by theoretical considerations. Finally, training sessions are held to apply the bidding strategy in trial auctions.
Predicting popularity of online articles using Random Forest regression

Predictive analysis using machine learning has been gaining popularity in recent times. In this paper, the Random Forest regression model is used to predict popularity of articles from the Online News Popularity data set. The performance of the Random Forest model is investigated and compared with other models. Impact of standardization, regularization, correlation, high bias/high variance and feature selection on the learning models are also studied. Results indicate that, the Random Forest approach predicts popular/unpopular articles with an accuracy of 88.8%.
Testing a Primary and a Secondary Endpoint in a Group Sequential Design

Summary We consider a clinical trial with a primary and a secondary endpoint where the secondary endpoint is tested only if the primary endpoint is significant. The trial uses a group sequential procedure with two stages. The familywise error rate (FWER) of falsely concluding significance on either endpoint is to be controlled at a nominal level α. The type I error rate for the primary endpoint is controlled by choosing any α‐level stopping boundary, e.g., the standard O'Brien–Fleming or the Pocock boundary. Given any particular α‐level boundary for the primary endpoint, we study the problem of determining the boundary for the secondary endpoint to control the FWER. We study this FWER analytically and numerically and find that it is maximized when the correlation coefficient ρ between the two endpoints equals 1. For the four combinations consisting of O'Brien–Fleming and Pocock boundaries for the primary and secondary endpoints, the critical constants required to control the FWER are computed for different values of ρ. An ad hoc boundary is proposed for the secondary endpoint to address a practical concern that may be at issue in some applications. Numerical studies indicate that the O'Brien–Fleming boundary for the primary endpoint and the Pocock boundary for the secondary endpoint generally gives the best primary as well as secondary power performance. The Pocock boundary may be replaced by the ad hoc boundary for the secondary endpoint with a very little loss of secondary power if the practical concern is at issue. A clinical trial example is given to illustrate the methods.
Critical percolation in the plane

We study scaling limits and conformal invariance of critical site percolation on triangular lattice. We show that some percolation-related quantities are harmonic conformal invariants, and calculate their values in the scaling limit. As a particular case we obtain conformal invariance of the crossing probabilities and Cardy's formula. Then we prove existence, uniqueness, and conformal invariance of the continuum scaling limit.
Histopathological Correlates of Global and Segmental Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Experimental Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy

Background Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy in humans is characterized by segmental left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (WMA), mainly in the early stages of disease. This study aimed at investigating the detection of WMA and its correlation with the underlying histopathological changes in a chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy model in hamsters. Methods and Results Female Syrian hamsters (n=34) infected with 3.5×104 or 105 blood trypomastigote Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain) forms and an uninfected control group (n=7) were investigated. After 6 or 10 months after the infection, the animals were submitted to in vivo evaluation of global and segmental left ventricular systolic function by echocardiography, followed by euthanasia and histological analysis for quantitative assessment of fibrosis and inflammation with tissue sampling in locations coinciding with the left ventricular wall segmentation employed at the in vivo echocardiographic evaluation. Ten of the 34 infected animals (29%) showed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (<73%). Left ventricular ejection fraction was more negatively correlated with the intensity of inflammation (r=−0.63; P<0.0001) than with the extent of fibrosis (r=−0.36; P=0.036). Among the 24 animals with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (82.9±5.5%), 8 (33%) showed segmental WMA predominating in the apical, inferior, and posterolateral segments. The segments exhibiting WMA, in comparison to those with normal wall motion, showed a greater extent of fibrosis (9.3±5.7% and 7±6.3%, P<0.0001) and an even greater intensity of inflammation (218.0±111.6 and 124.5±84.8 nuclei/mm², P<0.0001). Conclusions Isolated WMA with preserved global systolic left ventricular function is frequently found in Syrian hamsters with experimental chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy whose underlying histopathological features are mainly inflammatory.
Expression of C-terminal deleted p53 isoforms in neuroblastoma

The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is rarely mutated in neuroblastomas (NB) at the time of diagnosis, but its dysfunction could result from a nonfunctional conformation or cytoplasmic sequestration of the wild-type p53 protein. However, p53 mutation, when it occurs, is found in NB tumors with drug resistance acquired over the course of chemotherapy. As yet, no study has been devoted to the function of the specific p53 mutants identified in NB cells. This study includes characterization and functional analysis of p53 expressed in eight cell lines: three wild-type cell lines and five cell lines harboring mutations. We identified two transcription-inactive p53 variants truncated in the C-terminus, one of which corresponded to the p53β isoform recently identified in normal tissue by Bourdon et al. [J. C. Bourdon, K. Fernandes, F. Murray-Zmijewski, G. Liu, A. Diot, D. P. Xirodimas, M. K. Saville and D. P. Lane (2005) Genes Dev. , 19, 2122–2137]. Our results show, for the first time, that the p53β isoform is the only p53 species to be endogenously expressed in the human NB cell line SK-N-AS, suggesting that the C-terminus truncated p53 isoforms may play an important role in NB tumor development.
Systematic analysis of funding awarded for norovirus research to institutions in the United Kingdom, 1997–2010

Objectives Norovirus infections pose great economic and disease burden to health systems around the world. This study quantifies the investments in norovirus research awarded to UK institutions over a 14-year time period. Design A systematic analysis of public and philanthropic infectious disease research investments awarded to UK institutions between 1997 and 2010. Participants None Setting UK institutions carrying out infectious disease research. Main outcome measures Total funding for infectious disease research, total funding for norovirus research, position of norovirus research along the R&D value chain. Results The total dataset consisted of 6165 studies with sum funding of £2.6 billion. Twelve norovirus studies were identified with a total funding of £5.1 million, 0.2% of the total dataset. Of these, eight were categorized as pre-clinical, three as intervention studies and one as implementation research. Median funding was £200,620. Conclusions Research funding for norovirus infections in the UK appears to be unacceptably low, given the burden of disease and disability produced by these infections. There is a clear need for new research initiatives along the R&D value chain: from pre-clinical through to implementation research, including trials to assess cost-effectiveness of infection control policies as well as clinical, public health and environmental interventions in hospitals, congregate settings and in the community.
Other Kuiper Belts

When a main sequence star evolves into a red giant and its Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) reach a temperature of ~170 K, the dust released during the rapid ice sublimation of these cometary bodies may lead to a detectable infrared excess at 25 μm, depending on the mass of the KBOs. Analysis of IRAS data for 66 first-ascent red giants with 200 L☉ < L < 300 L☉ within 150 pc of the Sun provides an upper limit to the mass in KBOs at 45 AU orbital radius that is usually less than ~0.1 M⊕. With improved infrared data, we may detect systems of KBOs around first-ascent red giants that are analogs to our solar system.
The heat shock protein 90 inhibitor IPI-504 induces KIT degradation , tumor shrinkage and cell proliferation arrest in xenografts models of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Giuseppe Floris, Maria Debiec-Rychter, Agnieszka Wozniak, Cristiana Stefan, Emmanuel Normant, Gavino Faa, Kathleen Machiels, Ulla Vanleeuw, Raf Sciot, Patrick Schöffski 1 Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Department of General Medical Oncology, 2 Department of Human Genetics, and 3 Department of Pathology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA; 5 Department of Pathology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
A Computationally Efficient Algorithm for Estimating the Distribution of Future Annuity Values Under Interest-Rate and Longevity Risks

Abstract This paper proposes a computationally efficient algorithm for quantifying the impact of interestrate risk and longevity risk on the distribution of annuity values in the distant future. The algorithm simulates the state variables out to the end of the horizon period and then uses a Taylor series approximation to compute approximate annuity values at the end of that period, thereby avoiding a computationally expensive “simulation-within-simulation” problem. Illustrative results suggest that annuity values are likely to rise considerably but are also quite uncertain. These findings have some unpleasant implications both for defined contribution pension plans and for defined benefit plan sponsors considering using annuities to hedge their exposure to these risks at some point in the future.
Chandra Observation of the Core of the Galaxy Cluster AWM 7

We present results from a Chandra observation of the core region of the nearby X-ray-bright galaxy cluster AWM 7. There are bloblike substructures, which are seen in the energy band 2-10 keV, within 10 kpc (20′′) of the cD galaxy NGC 1129, and the brightest subpeak has a spatial extent more than 4 kpc. We also notice that the central soft X-ray peak is slightly offset from the optical center by 1 kpc. These structures have no correlated features in optical, infrared, or radio bands. The energy spectrum of the hard subpeak indicates a temperature higher than 3 keV with a metallicity less than 0.3 solar, or a power-law spectrum with photon index ~1.2. A hardness ratio map and a narrow Fe K band image jointly indicate two Fe-rich blobs symmetrically located around the cD galaxy, with the direction perpendicular to the subpeak direction. In larger scales (r < 60 kpc), the temperature gradually drops from 4 to 2 keV toward the cluster center, and the metal abundance rises steeply to a peak of 1.5 solar at r ≈ 7 kpc. These results indicate that a dynamical process is going on in the central region of AWM 7, which probably creates heated gas blobs and drives metal injection.
Assessment in CLIL: Test development for content and language for teaching natural science in English as a foreign language

On-going bilingual programs without regard to needs analysis; little research on the actual effects of CLIL in Colombia and vague awareness or knowledge about the necessary considerations for effective CLIL programs, underpin the need to address a particular issue of curriculum as it is summative assessment. This small scale study takes place in a Natural Science class using a CLIL approach with thirdgrade students at A2 proficiency level who have been progressively immersed in a bilingual program at a private school in Bogota, Colombia. Regularly scheduled tests were analyzed in order to identify suitable assessment items hat simultaneously report on the content and language achievement in order to provide guidelines for test development that are aligned with the teaching goals, consistently measure students’ progress, and facilitate teaching practices. This study entails a systematic examination of test items using formal item analysis to depict test validity from an assessment grid that integrates content, at different knowledge levels, CALP functions and cognitive skills. The study concludes that the assessment grid is a helpful tool to discriminate language and content achievement in the results of multiple-choice CLIL tests, by increasing teachers’ understanding of the language demands of test items and the level of difficulty of content tasks. doi: 10.5294/laclil.2016. 9.2. 3
Oviposition preferences for ethanol depend on spatial arrangement and differ dramatically among closely related Drosophila species

ABSTRACT Recent work on the model fly Drosophila melanogaster has reported inconsistencies in their preference for laying eggs on intermediate concentrations of ethanol. In this study, we resolve this discrepancy by showing that this species strongly prefers ovipositing on ethanol when it is close to a non-ethanol substrate, but strongly avoids ethanol when options are farther apart. We also show fluidity of these behaviors among other Drosophila species: D. melanogaster is more responsive to ethanol than close relatives in that it prefers ethanol more than other species in the close-proximity case, but avoids ethanol more than other species in the distant case. In the close-proximity scenario, the more ethanol-tolerant species generally prefer ethanol more, with the exception of the island endemic D. santomea. This species has the lowest tolerance in the clade, but behaves like D. melanogaster. We speculate that this could be an adaptation to protect eggs from parasites or predators such as parasitoid wasps, as larvae migrate to non-toxic substrates after hatching. These natural differences among species are an excellent opportunity to study how genes and brains evolve to alter ethanol preferences, and provide an interesting model for genetic variation in preferences in other organisms, including humans. Summary: Drosophila species make dramatically different egg-laying decisions depending on ethanol concentration and the distances between options. Surprisingly, we find that the species with the lowest ethanol tolerance prefers ethanol the most.
Accentuate the positives, but don’t necessarily eliminate the negatives: A cross-sectional survey of junior doctor psychiatry terms

Results: Seventy-seven junior doctors (39% response rate) participated. The psychiatry term was rated as a positive experience by 82% (n=63), with several key influences identified. The proportion of respondents interested in a psychiatry career increased by 19%, pre-term to post-term (p=0.004). Qualitative data point to improved perceptions of psychiatry post-term due to improved mental health literacy, applicability of skills across vocations, and psychiatrist role models. Challenging clinical situations were considered positive influences if managed effectively by senior staff. Poorer perceptions of psychiatry post-term were rare.
Journal of Network and Computer Applications

There has been a shift in research towards the convergence of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and cloud computing paradigms motivated by the need for IoT applications to leverage the unique characteristics of the cloud. IoT acts as an enabler to interconnect intelligent and self-con ﬁ gurable nodes “ things ” to establish an e ﬃ cient and dynamic platform for communication and collaboration. IoT is becoming a major source of big data, contributing huge amounts of streamed information from a large number of interconnected nodes, which have to be stored, processed, and presented in an e ﬃ cient, and easily interpretable form. Cloud computing can enable IoT to have the privilege of a virtual resources utilization infrastructure, which integrates storage devices, visualization platforms, resource monitoring, analytical tools, and client delivery. Given the number of things connected and the amount of data generated, a key challenge is the energy e ﬃ cient composition and interoperability of heterogeneous things integrated with cloud resources and scattered across the globe, in order to create an on-demand energy e ﬃ cient cloud based IoT application. In many cases, when a single service is not enough to complete the business requirement; a composition of web services is carried out. These composed web services are expected to collaborate towards a common goal with large amount of data exchange and various other operations. Massive data sets have to be exchanged between several geographically distributed and scattered services. The movement of mass data between services in ﬂ uences the whole application process in terms of energy consumption. One way to signi ﬁ cantly reduce this massive data exchange is to use fewer services for a composition, which need to be created to complete a business requirement. Integrating fewer services can result in a reduction in data interchange, which in return helps in reducing the energy consumption and carbon footprint. This paper develops a novel multi-cloud IoT service composition algorithm called (E2C2) that aims at creating an energy-aware composition plan by searching for and integrating the least possible number of IoT services, in order to ful ﬁ l user requirements. A formal user requirements translation and transformation modelling and analysis is adopted for the proposed algorithm. The algorithm was evaluated against four established service composition algorithms in multiple cloud environments (All clouds, Base cloud, Smart cloud, and COM2), with the results demonstrating the superior performance of our approach.