Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1 2 Ju n 20 06 Syntactic Characterisations of Polynomial-Time Optimisation Classes

In Descriptive Complexity, there is a vast amount of literature on decision problems, and their classes such as P, NP, L and NL. However, research on the descriptive complexity of optimisation problems has been limited. Optimisation problems corresponding to the NP class have been characterised in terms of logic expressions by Papadimitriou and Yannakakis, Panconesi and Ranjan, Kolaitis and Thakur, Khanna et al, and by Zimand. Grädel characterised the polynomial class P of decision problems. In this paper, we attempt to characterise the optimisation versions of P via expressions in second order logic, many of them using universal Horn formulae with successor relations. The polynomially bound versions of maximisation and minimisation problems are treated first, and then the maximisation problems in the “not necessarily polynomially bound” class.
Some guidelines for queue management in high-speed networks

We study, using queuing, control and bifurcation theory, nonlinear fluid models of TCP Reno with Drop-Tail. In an intermediate buffer regime, we show that the system loses stability as link capacity or the feedback delay increases. With small buffers, a simple model for bursty traffic highlights the loss of local stability via a Hopf bifurcation when the buffer sizes, or thresholds for dropping packets in queue policies, increase. Finally we offer some guidelines, for a threshold-based queue policy to ensure stability of the queues and low-latency in the network. Packet-level simulations serve to corroborate the analysis and the proposed guidelines.
Language by Ear and by Eye: The Relationships Between Speech and Reading

"Proceedings of a conference on 'the relationships between speech and learning to read' in a series entitled Communicating by language, sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health [held May 16-19, 1971, at Belmont, Elkridge, Md. ]"
Alteration of digital representations in somatosensory cortex in focal hand dystonia

FOCAL hand dystonia involves a loss of motor control of one or more digits; it is associated with the repetitive, synchronous movements of the digits made by musicians over periods of many years. Magnetic source imaging revealed that there is a er distance (fusion) between the representations of the digits in somatosensory cortex for the affected hand of dystonic musicians than for the hands of non-musician control subjects. The data suggest that use-dependent susceptibility to digital representation fusion in cortex may be involved in the etiology of focal dystonia. A successful therapy for the condition has been developed based on this consideration.
Inteligencia emocional y género: más allá de las diferencias sexuales

Research on gender and Emotional Intelligence (EI) has analysed individual differences in relation to sex and has yielded contradictory results. With the aim of suggesting new proposals in this field of study, the present work analyses the influence of gender identity on EI in a sample of 338 workers. We combined self-report measures (TMMS) and ability based measures (MSCEIT) of Emotional Intelligence. Results indicate that women´s higher acceptance of expressive traits may help to explain their higher scores on EI. Also, results show that androgynous individuals, compared with instrumental and expressive individuals, present higher levels of EI. Taking into account these results, the need to go beyond the “sex differences” approach when analysing EI and to develop less stereotyped gendered identity references is discussed.
The impact of instruction on second-language implicit knowledge: Evidence against encapsulation

ABSTRACT This paper compares explicit instruction in second-language Spanish with a control treatment on a written picture description task and a timed auditory grammaticality judgment task. Participants came from two intact, third-year US high school classes, with one experiencing a week of communicative lessons on the Spanish clitic se (n = 15) and the other exposed to se only incidentally (n = 20). Explicit instruction consisted of grammar rules with sentence-level examples, followed by communicative tasks. Three test versions were administered within a split-bloc design as a pretest, immediate posttest, and delayed posttest 6 weeks after instruction. The instructed group increased targetlike uses of se on both tasks and sustained gains through the delayed posttest, although first-language transfer errors persisted. Meanwhile, overgeneralization errors centered on semantic and syntactic contexts similar to the instructional object, aligning with the unergative–unaccusative distinction among intransitive verbs. It is argued that the data provide evidence for the permeability of second-language implicit knowledge to explicit instruction and against total encapsulation as a model of the mind.
The effects of caudal fin loss and regeneration on the swimming performance of three cyprinid fish species with different swimming capacities

SUMMARY In nature, the caudal fins of fish species are frequently lost to some extent by aggressive behaviour, predation and diseases. To test whether the swimming performance of fish with different swimming capacities would be differentially affected due to caudal fin loss and regeneration, we investigated the critical swimming speed (Ucrit), swimming metabolic rate (), tail beat frequency (fTB) and tail beat amplitude (ATB) after caudal fin loss and regeneration (20 days) in juveniles of three cyprinid fish species: the qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis; strong swimmer), the common carp (Cyprinus carpio; intermediate swimmer) and the goldfish (Carassius auratus; poor swimmer). The Ucrit values of the caudal-fin-lost qingbo, common carp and goldfish were 49, 32 and 35% significantly lower than those of the control groups, respectively. The maximum tail beat amplitude (ATBmax) (all three fishes), the maximum tail beat frequency (fTBmax) (only the common carp and the goldfish) and/or the active metabolic rate () (only the common carp) of the caudal-fin-lost fish were significantly higher than those of the control groups. After 20 days of recovery, the caudal fins recovered to 41, 47 and 24% of those of the control groups for the qingbo, the common carp and the goldfish, respectively. However, the Ucrit values of the fin-regenerated qingbo, common carp and goldfish recovered to 86, 91 and 95% of those of the control group, respectively. The caudal-fin-regenerated qingbo and common carp showed a significantly higher ATBmax and fTBmax, respectively, compared with those of the control groups. The qingbo had a higher fTBmax but a lower ATBmax than the common carp and the goldfish, which suggested that a strong swimmer may maintain swimming speed primarily by maintaining a greater fTBmax, for which the caudal fin plays a more important role during swimming, than a poor swimmer. The of fish (common carp) with a redundant respiratory capacity could increase due to caudal fin loss to meet the increase in energy expenditure required by an increase in fTBmax. In addition, the sustained swimming performance may not be the only selective pressure acting on caudal fin size in these three species, and the present caudal fin size may be a trade-off between sustain swimming performance and other factors (e.g. sexual selection, escape responses).
Whispers in the Hyper-space: High-speed Covert Channel Attacks in the Cloud

Information security and privacy in general are major concerns that impede enterprise adaptation of shared or public cloud computing. Specifically, the concern of virtual machine (VM) physical co-residency stems from the threat that hostile tenants can leverage various forms of side channels (such as cache covert channels) to exfiltrate sensitive information of victims on the same physical system. However, on virtualized ×86 systems, covert channel attacks have not yet proven to be practical, and thus the threat is widely considered a "potential risk". In this paper, we present a novel covert channel attack that is capable of high-bandwidth and reliable data transmission in the cloud. We first study the application of existing cache channel techniques in a virtualized environment, and uncover their major insufficiency and difficulties. We then overcome these obstacles by (1) redesigning a pure timing-based data transmission scheme, and (2) exploiting the memory bus as a high-bandwidth covert channel medium. We further design and implement a robust communication protocol, and demonstrate realistic covert channel attacks on various virtualized ×86 systems. Our experiments show that covert channels do pose serious threats to information security in the cloud. Finally, we discuss our insights on covert channel mitigation in virtualized environments.
Mentoring circles in higher education

Traditionally, mentoring in higher education institutions has either occurred informally or as a planned program where junior staff members are matched with experienced staff members in a formal one‐to‐one program. While such programs have reported benefits to participants, many miss out on the opportunity. Further, mentoring dyads do little to enhance a more collaborative atmosphere in higher education settings. Alternative mentoring methods do exist and can provide advantages to the traditional approach. Mentoring circles are an innovative example of these alternative methods. The mentoring activity and subsequent evaluation described in this paper sought to explore the perceived benefits of a group mentoring model for academic staff.
Influence of gender and age on preventing cardiovascular disease by antihypertensive treatment and acetylsalicylic acid. The HOT study. Hypertension Optimal Treatment.

OBJECTIVE We have assessed the influence of gender and age on the main outcome results of the Hypertension Optimal Treatment (HOT) study. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS The aims of the HOT study were to study the relationship between three levels of target office diastolic blood pressure (BP) (< or = 90, < or = 85 or < or = 80 mmHg) and cardiovascular (CV) events in hypertensive patients, and to examine the effects of 75 mg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) daily versus placebo. SETTING Outpatient clinical trial in 26 countries. PATIENTS A total of 18790 patients (mean age 61.5 years, range 50-80) were randomized and followed for an average of 3.8 years until 71051 patient-years and 683 events had occurred. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES CV death, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. RESULTS There were significantly fewer MIs in those in the lower diastolic BP target groups (3.0 versus 1.2 and 1.7 MIs/1000 patient-years, P for trend = 0.034) in women (n = 8883), whereas the similar but smaller trend (4.1 versus 4.1 and 3.4 MIs/1000 patient-years) was not statistically significant in men nor in the subgroup analysis of younger and older subjects. The effect of ASA on preventing MI was not influenced by age < 65 years (P= 0.02) or age > or = 65 years (P = 0.04) but was influenced by gender (P = 0.38 in women and P = 0.001 in men, lowered by 42% corresponding to a reduction from 5.0 to 2.9 MIs/1000 patient-years). CONCLUSIONS The data of this HOT study sub-analysis suggest somewhat differentiated optimal gender- and age-dependent effects of anti-hypertensive and anti-platelet therapies; lowering of diastolic BP to about 80 mmHg in hypertensive women and, in addition, the administration of 75 mg of ASA to well-treated hypertensive men appear to effectively reduce the most common cardiovascular complication, i.e. myocardial infarction, in patients with essential hypertension.
Automatic pain quantification using autonomic parameters

objective measurement of subjective, multi-dimensionally experienced pain is a problem for which there has not been an adequate solution. Although verbal methods (e.g., pain scales and questionnaires) are commonly used to measure clinical pain, they tend to lack objectivity, reliability, or validity when applied to mentally impaired individuals. Biopotential and behavioral parameters may represent a solution. Such coding systems already exist, but they are either very costly or time-consuming or have not been sufficiently evaluated. In this context, we collected a database of biopotentials to advance an automated pain recognition system, determine its theoretical testing quality, and optimize its performance. For this purpose, participants were subjected to painful heat stimuli under controlled conditions. One hundred thirty-five features were extracted from the mathematical groupings of amplitude, frequency, stationarity, entropy, linearity, and variability. The following features were chosen as the most selective: (1) electromyography corrugator peak to peak, (2) corrugator shannon entropy, and (3) heart rate variability slope RR. Individual-specific calibration allows the adjustment of feature patterns, resulting in significantly more accurate pain detection rates. The objective measurement of pain in patients will provide valuable information for the clinical team, which may aid the objective assessment of treatment (e.g., effectiveness of drugs for pain reduction, information on surgical indication, and quality of care provided to patients).
Autologous Adipose-derived Stromal Stem Cell Implantation to Resolve Critical Limb Ischemia: Case Report

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a debilitating condition for which limited therapeutic options exist. Characterized by ischemia of the lower limb due to vascular deficiency, attempts have been made to stimulate angiogenesis utilizing cell and gene-based approaches. Adipose stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells are a practical source of autologous tissue that can be prepared inexpensively in a same-day procedure. Recent studies have demonstrated SVF to be highly angiogenic, as well as clinically safe in a variety of contexts. Here, we describe the rationale and, to our knowledge, the first successful clinical implementation of autologous SVF cells for the treatment of a no-option CLI patient.
Effect of Fibroblasts on Epithelial Regeneration on the Surface of a Bioengineered Trachea

Objectives: Our group applied a tracheal prosthesis, which was composed of polypropylene as the frame and collagenous sponge as the scaffold, to the first human case and had successful results. The objective of this study was to find a way to acquire more rapid re-epithelialization with fibroblasts on this tracheal prosthesis. Methods: Tracheal epithelial cells, which were isolated from the trachea of rats, were suspended in a collagenous gel. The collagenous gel with fibroblasts was layered on a collagenous sponge. The grafts of this “bioengineered trachea” were implanted into tracheal defects of rats, and the regenerated epithelium on the grafts was histologically examined. Results: Seven days after implantation, stratified squamous epithelium covered almost all of the surface of the gel, and some of the implanted fibroblasts in the gel were lined up just below the epithelium. Fourteen days after implantation, columnar and cuboidal ciliated epithelium covered almost all of the surface of the defects, and the implanted fibroblasts had disappeared. The numbers of regenerated epithelial cells at 14 days after implantation were larger than those of control models without fibroblasts, with statistical significance. Conclusions: The results suggested that the grafts of bioengineered trachea composed of collagenous sponge and collagenous gel with tracheal fibroblasts accelerated epithelial differentiation and proliferation in vivo.
A matter of attitude? Developing a profile of boys’ and girls’ responses to primary schooling

Much of the research investigating pupils’ attitudes towards school has been qualitatively‐oriented. This analysis explores the extent to which some of the differences between pupils can be rendered in quantitative terms. Drawing upon a survey of 1310 pupils in 21 primary schools, its main concern is to explore the extent to which there is a ‘gender gap’ in attitudes and responses to school. The question of whether schools participating in the research faced common or distinct challenges in terms of pupils’ attitudes was also of interest. Analysis confirms that, in line with previous research, primary girls were more favourably disposed towards school than primary boys. Factor analysis of pupil responses to an attitude questionnaire showed that girls were more positive in terms of engagement with school and pupil behaviour but that boys had higher academic self‐esteem. There were no differences between the two sexes in terms of relationships with peers. A cluster analysis identified the existence of five groups of pupils, some of whom have been highlighted in previous research using different approaches. These groups were: (1) the enthusiastic and confident; (2) the moderately interested but easily bored; (3) the committed but lacking self‐esteem; (4) the socially engaged but disaffected; and (5) the alienated. The gendered nature of some of these groupings was apparent: the first group was dominated by girls while the fourth and fifth were dominated by boys. However, analysis indicated that such gender‐based differences were, to some extent, matters of degree. Some 14% of primary boys, for example, were judged to be alienated, but so were 9% of primary girls. An analysis of the prevalence of each group within each of the participating schools showed that while many primary schools had similar overall pupil profiles, some faced specific challenges associated with having larger proportions of particular groups of children (for example the alienated, the socially engaged but disaffected or the committed but lacking self‐esteem). The implications of the findings for those concerned with interventions in relation to gender issues are briefly discussed.
“Normal” and “inappropriate” childhood sexual behaviours: Findings from a Delphi study of professionals in the United Kingdom

Abstract This paper presents the results of a three-stage Delphi study examining the current level of consensus among 24 professionals in the United Kingdom regarding definitions of and distinctions between normal, inappropriate and sexually abusive behaviours in children under 10 years, as well as factors influencing their views. Although firm conclusions cannot be drawn, findings indicate high consensus that children should not be called “sex offenders/abusers” and that behaviours which use force or resemble adult sexual behaviours are concerning. Watching pornography was rated similarly. A high consensus regarding acceptable sexual behaviours was obtained on a couple of items. Divergent views existed regarding various sexual behaviours, and no consensus was reached on what terminology should be used. Professionals agreed that their views were influenced to some extent by professional and personal experiences, and values. Implications for clinical work and research are discussed.
Motor dysfunction of the upper digestive tract in Pierre Robin sequence as assessed by sucking-swallowing electromyography and esophageal manometry.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate motor dysfunction in infants with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) who manifest upper airway obstruction and congenital dysphagia. STUDY DESIGN Term infants (n = 28) with nonsyndromic PRS were studied between days 15 and 45. Sucking-swallowing electromyography was used to evaluate suction and coordination between the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing. Esophageal manometry was used to study the lower esophageal sphincter, esophageal body, and upper esophageal sphincter functions. Manometry results were compared with those of 16 infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). RESULTS Electromyography showed incoordination of sucking and swallowing in 24 of 28 patients. The disorder was mild in 6, moderate in 6, and severe in 12 patients. All patients showed manometry disturbances: incomplete or asynchronous lower sphincter relaxation (15), multipeaked esophageal body waves (17), very high amplitude waves (14), and asynchronous upper sphincter relaxation (19). The frequency of disturbances and mean resting pressures of both lower and upper sphincters were significantly higher than GERD patients. CONCLUSION In Pierre Robin sequence, sucking-swallowing electromyography and esophageal manometry reveal dysfunction in the motor organization of the tongue, the pharynx, and the esophagus.
Threshold Evaluation Techniques

Threshold selection techniques have been used as a basic tool in image segmentation, but little work has been done on the problem of evaluating a threshold of an image. The problem of threshold evaluation is addressed, and two methods are proposed for measuring the "goodness" of a thresholded image, one based on a busyness criterion and the other based on a discrepancy or error criterion. These evaluation techniques are applied to a set of infrared images and are shown to be useful in facilitating threshold selection. In fact, both methods usually result in similar or identical thresholds which yield good segmentations of the images.
Clinical monitoring: infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 in the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Abstract Objective: The infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 (Remsima®, Inflectra®) was approved in Europe for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) based on extrapolation of data from patients with rheumatic disease. Because there are limited published reports on clinical outcomes for IBD patients treated with CT-P13, we monitored responses to induction treatment with this biosimilar in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) in centres across the Czech Republic. Material and methods: Fifty-two patients with CD (n = 30) or UC (n = 22) were treated with 5 mg/kg CT-P13 for up to 14 weeks. Effectiveness of therapy was evaluated with the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) or the Mayo Scoring System (MSS) in patients with CD or UC, respectively, before and after 14 weeks. Additional goals were to evaluate weight changes, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and complications/adverse events. Results: In patients with CD, remission (CDAI <150) was achieved in 50.0% of cases, and partial response (≥70-point decrease in CDAI score from baseline) in the remaining 50.0%. In patients with UC, remission (total score on partial Mayo index ≤2 points) was achieved in 40.9% of cases, partial response (≥2-point decrease in partial Mayo score from baseline) in 54.5%, and no response in 4.5%. There were statistically significant improvements in CDAI, MSS and CRP serum levels after 14 weeks of therapy, and body weight increased. Four adverse events were identified (n = 1 each): lower-extremity phlebothrombosis, herpes labialis, pneumonia and allergic reaction. Conclusions: This prospective observational study provides evidence of the effectiveness of CT-P13 in IBD.