Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ALARM: Autonomic Load-Aware Resource Management for P2P Key-Value Stores in Cloud

This paper presents ALARM, an autonomic load-aware resource management algorithm that can be used to manage physical machines or virtual machines in cloud, which participate in a P2P key-value store. A lot of existing key-value stores claim that they are elastic enough to scale up or down with no downtime or interruption to applications. However, the question that when the scaling up or down should take place has still not been resolved. The situation may get worse if the data store consists of hundreds of machines, for it's unrealistic for a system administrator to monitor the system and add/remove a machine manually. Fortunately, cloud computing and virtualization technology have enabled the real-time provision of virtual machines and a way of managing virtual machines without human interference. By supervising the utilization of multiple resources (CPU, memory, network IO, etc.) in virtual machines hosting the data store, our ALARM algorithm will take effect when some of the machines become overloaded or under loaded. The experiment result shows that ALARM helps the Open Chord data store, an open-source implementation of the Chord protocol, scale up and down according to the resource usage in the virtual machines.
The relationship in experience between various types of affect

Universit of MichiganThe co-occurence in experience of various emotions was explored, with the focus on positive versusnegative affect. In Study 1,72 subjects read stories designed to produce varying levels of either positiveor negative affect, and then rated their level of both types of affect. In Study 2, 42 participants ratedtheir feelings during emotional times in everyday life for a period of 6 weeks. We found that emotionsof the same hedonic valence (e.g., fear and anger) tend to co-occur. We also found that positive andnegative affect do not occur together at high levels of intensity. These two facts about the relation ofpositive and negative affect are probably responsible for the bipolarity that is often found betweenthem. These findings represent a challenge to those who postulate that there are unrelated discreteemotions and that the terms positive affect and negative affect do not describe meaningful clusters ofemotions. We found that if one type of affect is of low intensity, the other type can be at any levelfrom low to high. Therefore, a truly inverse and linear relation does not characterize positive andnegative affect. This finding represents a challenge to most structural models of emotion. It appearsthat mutual exclusion only at high levels of intensity characterizes the relation between positive andnegative affect.We explore the relation between feeling particular emotionsand experiencing other emotions. For example, if one feels joy,what is the likelihood of also feeling anger or fear? In recent yearsa great deal of discussion has focused on the structure of emotion(e.g., Daly, Lancee, & Polivy, 1983; Plutchik, 1980; Russell, 1978,1979). In addition to the structure of momentary emotion, Dienerand his colleagues (Diener, 1984; Diener, & Emmons, 1984;Diener, Emmons, & Sandvik, 1985; Diener, Larsen, Levine, E Schlosberg, 1954; Watson, Clark, TWatson & Tellegen, 1985; Zevon & Tellegen, 1982). The twodimensions are either positive-negative affect and arousal (e.g.,Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to EdDiener, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, 603 E. Daniel,Champaign, Illinois 61820.
Music piracy: ethical perspectives

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the issue of illegal downloading of music under an ethical lens.Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical framework observed was one which included three independent variables: individual, situational and experimental elements. The dependent variable of the study was legal vs illegal downloading of music. A 20‐item questionnaire was completed by 84 respondents. The final four questions in the study were guilt‐inducing questions (which the respondent was informed of in compliance with ethical primary research); the remainder of the questions were neutral in nature.Findings – The paper finds that the respondents illegally download despite viewing the act as immoral. Respondents choose to morally disengage from the non‐ethical nature of the act in an attempt to avoid feeling guilty about illegal downloading and also to avoid any blame being attributed to them personally. Many respondents feel the act of illegal downloading is simply today's reality and that there is n.
Transforming Growth Factor-β Stimulates Inorganic Phosphate Transport and Expression of the Type III Phosphate Transporter Glvr-1 in Chondrogenic ATDC5 Cells.

Members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family are important regulators of skeletal development. In this study, we investigated the effect of TGF-β1 on inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport and on expression of the type III Pi carriers Glvr-1 and Ram-1 in murine ATDC5 chondrocytes. TGF-β1 induced a selective, dose- and time-dependent increase in sodium-dependent Pi transport in ATDC5 cells. This response was dependent on RNA and protein synthesis and reflected a change in the maximal rate of the transport system, suggesting that TGF-β1 induces the synthesis of new Pi carriers and their insertion into the plasma membrane. Consistently, Northern blotting analysis showed a dose-dependent increase in Glvr-1 messenger RNA expression in response to TGF-β1, which preceded the maximal stimulation of Pi transport by several hours. Glvr-1 thus likely mediates at least part of the increase in Pi uptake induced by TGF-β1. Ram-1 messenger RNA expression was not affected by TGF-β1. TGF-β1 activated the Smad sign.
Where and How You Sit

Citizen participation is disputed; some see it as enhancing democracy while others see it as undermining representative government. Some find it increases administrative efficiency, and others find it creates additional costs. Studies argue that the outcome depends on the value which civil servants place on inclusion. Echoing Miles’s law, “where you stand depends on where you sit,” we discuss how administrative structures and processes—“how you sit”—shape civil servants’ values on citizens’ participation. Using survey data from more than 1,700 civil servants in the Baltic countries, the article contributes by placing the discussion in the context of extreme social change.
Molecular Predictors of Long-Term Survival in Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive adult primary brain cancer, with <10% of patients surviving for more than 3 years. Demographic and clinical factors (e.g. age) and individual molecular biomarkers have been associated with prolonged survival in GBM patients. However, comprehensive systems-level analyses of molecular profiles associated with long-term survival (LTS) in GBM patients are still lacking. We present an integrative study of molecular data and clinical variables in these long-term survivors (LTSs, patients surviving >3 years) to identify biomarkers associated with prolonged survival, and to assess the possible similarity of molecular characteristics between LGG and LTS GBM. We analyzed the relationship between multivariable molecular data and LTS in GBM patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), including germline and somatic point mutation, gene expression, DNA methylation, copy number variation (CNV) and microRNA (miRNA) expression using logistic regression models. The molecular relationship between GBM LTS and LGG tumors was examined through cluster analysis. We identified 13, 94, 43, 29, and 1 significant predictors of LTS using Lasso logistic regression from the somatic point mutation, gene expression, DNA methylation, CNV, and miRNA expression data sets, respectively. Individually, DNA methylation provided the best prediction performance (AUC = 0.84). Combining multiple classes of molecular data into joint regression models did not improve prediction accuracy, but did identify additional genes that were not significantly predictive in individual models. PCA and clustering analyses showed that GBM LTS typically had gene expression profiles similar to non-LTS GBM. Furthermore, cluster analysis did not identify a close affinity between LTS GBM and LGG, nor did we find a significant association between LTS and secondary GBM. The absence of unique LTS profiles and the lack of similarity between LTS GBM and LGG, indicates that there are multiple genetic and epigenetic pathways to LTS in GBM patients.
Structural and Individual Determinants of Workplace Victimization: The Effects of Hierarchical Status and Conflict Management Style

Most studies of harmful workplace behavior have focused on the motives or characteristics of perpetrators. In contrast, the present study draws from theories of victimization to examine when employees are more likely to perceive themselves as targets of co-workers’ aggressive actions. Individual and organizational structural variables were related to perceived victimization based on prior theory and research. The individual variable was conflict management style; the structural variable was hierarchical status. Direct relationships between the conflict styles and perceived victimization were predicted. The moderating effect of hierarchical status was also tested. Results supported the direct effect of an obliging style on covert aggressive actions. An interaction involving both integrating and obliging styles and hierarchical status was supported for direct forms of interpersonal aggression.
Teaching (about) Britishness? An investigation into trainee teachers' understanding of Britishness in relation to citizenship and the discourse of civic nationalism

This research was prompted by the developing political discourse proposing the teaching of Britishness and British values in the context of the United Kingdom. This discourse will be reviewed in the first part of the article, in the context of previous work which has sought to assess how Britishness and related concepts might be promoted through education. The second part will be based on questionnaire responses from a sample of students following post-graduate initial teacher training programmes in a number of higher education partnerships. It indicates that, while political discourse and educational policy have sensitised trainee teachers to the agenda, there remains a deep uncertainty and misgiving about this as an educational objective.
Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ESR1) Gene Polymorphisms in Pre-eclamptic Saudi Patients

Objectives: Pre-eclampsia causes maternal mortality worldwide. Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene polymorphisms were responsible for cardiovascular diseases. This case control study was conducted to investigate whether 2 polymorphic genes of ESR1 are associated with pre-eclampsia among Saudi women in Madina city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Blood samples from 97 pre-eclamptic and 94 healthy pregnant women were analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction method. All the subjects were recruited randomly from outpatient clinics of Madina Maternity Children Hospital (MMCH), Madina, Saudi Arabia, between Dec. 2012 and Jan. 2014. Results: There was no association between pre-eclampsia and PvuII and XbaI ESR1 gene polymorphisms individually. TT/AA and TT/AG genotype combination existed significantly in pre-eclamptic patients compared to control. The frequency of PvuII and XbaI combined TT/AA genotypes between pre-eclamptic women was 36.1% vs 9.6%, however, frequency of PvuII and XbaI combined TT/AG genotypes between pre-eclamptic women was 3.1% vs 17%, compared to control. The homozygous T-A haplotype carriers showed high pre-eclampsia risk, independent of pregnancy, BMI and smoking status (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 3.26, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.71-9.21). The heterozygous T-A haplotype carriers did not differ from that of non-carriers (adjusted OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.47-2.75). No association was observed between pre-eclampsia and T-G, C-G and C-A haplotype of PvuII and XbaIESR1 gene polymorphisms. Conclusions: T-A haplotype of homozygous associated with pre eclampsia not heterozygous carriers of ESR 1 PvuII and XbaI gene polymorphisms elicited high risk of pre-eclampsia. GG genotype of XbaI polymorphism decreased pre-eclampsia risk. Further studies using larger sample size are recommended to investigate the ESR 1 gene polymorphisms associated with pre-eclampsia.
An Integrated Analog Readout for Multi-Frequency Bioimpedance Measurements

Bioimpedance spectroscopy is used in a wide range of biomedical applications. This paper presents an integrated analog readout, which employs synchronous detection to perform galvanostatic multi-channel, multi-frequency bioimpedance measurements. The circuit was fabricated in a 0.35-μm CMOS technology and occupies an area of 1.52 mm2. The effect of random dc offsets is investigated, along with the use of chopping to minimize them. Impedance measurements of a known RC load and skin (using commercially available electrodes) demonstrate the operation of the system over a frequency range up to 1 MHz. The circuit operates from a ±2.5 V power supply and has a power consumption of 3.4-mW per channel.
Retrospective analysis of changing characteristics of treatment-seeking smokers: implications for further reducing smoking prevalence

Objective The goal of the current study was to empirically compare successive cohorts of treatment-seeking smokers who enrolled in randomised clinical trials in a region of the USA characterised by strong tobacco control policies and low smoking prevalence, over the past three decades. Design Retrospective treatment cohort comparison. Setting Data were collected from 9 randomised clinical trials conducted at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco, between 1990 and 2013. Participants Data from a total of 2083 participants were included (Stanford, n=1356; University of California San Francisco, n=727). Primary and secondary outcomes One-way analysis of variance and covariance, χ2 and logistic regression analyses were used to examine relations between nicotine dependence, cigarettes per day, depressive symptoms and demographic characteristics among study cohorts. Results Similar trends were observed at both settings. When compared to earlier trials, participants in more recent trials smoked fewer cigarettes, were less nicotine-dependent, reported more depressive symptoms, were more likely to be male and more likely to be from a minority ethnic/racial group, than those enrolled in initial trials (all p's<0.05). Analysis of covariances revealed that cigarettes per day, nicotine dependence and current depressive symptom scores were each significantly related to trial (all p's<0.001). Conclusions Our findings suggest that more recent smoking cessation treatment-seeking cohorts in a low prevalence region were characterised by less smoking severity, more severe symptoms of depression and were more likely to be male and from a minority racial/ethnic group.
Words of Swords in the Caucasus: About a Leading Indicator of Conflicts

A modest and rational way of getting communication intelligence is to analyze speeches of political leaders. This study's interest is in the communications that precede conflicts—in this case, the conflict between Georgia and the Russian Federation (January-August 2008) over the separatist regions of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia. This study analyzes statements by President Saakashvili of Georgia, by President Medvedev of the Russian Federation, and by Georgia's allies over this period. The study analyzes these statements using a computer-aided procedure of quantitative content analysis equipped with semantic filters tailored to forecast the risk of conflict based on the gap between power words (increasing) and affiliation words (decreasing) in texts, as McClelland (1975) showed. The larger the gap, the greater the risk. Because possible conflicts increase uncertainty, how much vagueness there was in the statements was also quantified. The statements by President Medvedev display a growing power motivation about Georgia and a style characterized by increasing precision. Despite the need to defend the territorial integrity of his country, President Saakashvili showed a decreasing risk of war while also using vaguer words, betraying uncertainty. Georgia's allies also show an increasing risk of war, but restraint prevailed. The Russian national revival movement of Eurasianism offers insight in helping to grasp the meaning of the events of August 2008 while also confirming the efficacy of McClelland's (1975) indicator of risk of conflict.
Urban Black Violence: The Effect of Male Joblessness and Family Disruption

This paper examines the relationships among unemployment, crime, and family disruption in the black "underclass. " The main hypothesis tested is that the effect of black adult male joblessness on black crime is mediated largely through its effects on family disruption. The study examines race-specific rates of robbery and homicide by juveniles and adults in over 150 U.S. cities in 1980. The results show that the scarcity of employed black men increases the prevalence of families headed by females in black communities. In turn, black family disruption substantially increases the rates of black murder and robbery, especially by juveniles. These effects are independent of income, region, race and age composition, density, city size, and welfare benefits and are similar to the effects of white family disruption on white violence. The paper concludes that there is nothing inherent in black culture that is conducive to crime. Rather, persistently high rates on black crime appear to stem from the structural linkages among unemployment, economic deprivation, and family disruption in urban black communities.
Preparing Teachers for Success with English Language Learners: Challenges and Opportunities for University Tesol Educators

This study investigates the role that a socioculturally grounded university English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program played in shaping teachers' work with English Language Learners (ELLs). Subjects were a group of teachers at “Wheatland Elementary School,” a newly designated ESOL site for a school district in Kansas. From an analysis of teachers' comments on course evaluations, written class assignments, formal observations of their post-coursework instruction, and a questionnaire administered at the onset and conclusion of an 18 credit-hour program, we examined changes in teachers' (a) attitudes toward ELLs, (b) beliefs about how children acquire second languages, and (c) knowledge of pedagogical practices that promote successful language and content learning. Our findings suggest that well-planned university programs influence even very experienced teachers and those who may be ambivalent toward ESOL endorsement mandates, and policies that limit the requirements for those seeking state ESOL endorsement may be ill advised.
Genome-Wide Association of Histone H3 Lysine Nine Methylation with CHG DNA Methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Methylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) is a hallmark of transcriptional silencing in many organisms. In Arabidopsis thaliana, dimethylation of H3K9 (H3K9m2) is important in the silencing of transposons and in the control of DNA methylation. We constructed a high-resolution genome-wide map of H3K9m2 methylation by using chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with whole genome Roche Nimblegen microarrays (ChIP-chip). We observed a very high coincidence between H3K9m2 and CHG methylation (where H is either A,T or C) throughout the genome. The coding regions of genes that are associated exclusively with methylation in a CG context did not contain H3K9m2. In addition, we observed two distinct patterns of H3K9m2. Transposons and other repeat elements present in the euchromatic arms contained small islands of H3K9m2 present at relatively low levels. In contrast, pericentromeric/centromeric regions of Arabidopsis chromosomes contained long, rarely interrupted blocks of H3K9m2 present at much higher average levels than seen in the chromosome arms. These results suggest a complex interplay between H3K9m2 and different types of DNA methylation and suggest that distinct mechanisms control H3K9m2 in different compartments of the genome.
The relevance of the tangible and intangible social impacts of tourism on selected South African communities

Most tourism social impact studies emphasise tangible social impacts such as economic improvement. In developing countries such as South Africa, a small percentage of tangible benefits filter down to community level. This creates a problem as various studies revealed the importance of community support for the sustainability of the tourism industry. Therefore it was important to explore the role of both the tangible and the intangible social impacts of tourism. Communities with established tourism industries (Clarens, Soweto and Jeffreys Bay) formed part of the quantitative research. Through exploratory factor analyses, 31 social impact statements could be categorised into four tangible and two intangible impacts. The tangible factor Economic improvement obtained a low rating, meaning that it was not directly experienced by residents, while the intangible factor Community pride and upliftment obtained the highest rating among all factors. This, together with the fact that community members continue their support for the tourism industry, is a novel find, indicating the significant role of intangible social impacts in fostering community support. This finding shows the importance of incorporating intangible social impacts into tourism planning in developing countries. Contributions are made towards social impact research methodology and literature.
Intrasexual selection predicts the evolution of signal complexity in lizards

Sexual selection has often been invoked in explaining extravagant morphological and behavioural adaptations that function to increase mating success. Much is known about the effects of intersexual selection, which operates through female mate choice, in shaping animal signals. The role of intrasexual selection has been less clear. We report on the first evidence for the coevolution of signal complexity and sexual size dimorphism (SSD), which is characteristically produced by high levels of male–male competition. We used two complementary comparative methods in order to reveal that the use of complex signals is associated with SSD in extant species and that historical increases in complexity have occurred in regions of a phylogenetic tree characterized by high levels of pre–existing size dimorphism. We suggest that signal complexity has evolved in order to improve opponent assessment under conditions of high male–male competition. Our findings suggest that intrasexual selection may play an important and previously underestimated role in the evolution of communicative systems.
Recent trends in the use of antidiabetic medications from 2008 to 2013: A nation‐wide population‐based study from Taiwan

Studies from other countries indicate that utilization patterns of antidiabetic drugs change significantly after the introduction of newer classes of antidiabetic drugs (e.g. dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors [DPP‐4i]). Evidence on recent trends regarding antidiabetic drug use in Taiwan is lacking, especially for times after the introduction of newer classes of drugs (e.g. DPP‐4i). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess: (i) recent trends in the use and spending on antidiabetic drugs; (ii) changes in utilization patterns after introduction of newer classes of antidiabetic drugs; and (iii) factors associated with the choice of newer versus older classes of antidiabetic drugs.