Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the use of on-demand layer addition (ODL) with mutli-layer multicast transmission techniques

This work deals with the multicast transmission of data using multiple multicast groups. One reason to use multiple groups is to address the potential heterogeneity of receivers. But there is a risk that some of the groups are not used and sending data to a group with no receiver has many costs that are often underestimated. As IP multicast becomes widely deployed and used, these issues may well compromise its scalability. In this paper we introduce a new protocol, ODL (On Demand Layer Addition), which enables a source to use only the layers that are actually required by the current set of receivers. We describe its behavior when used with several kinds of packet scheduling schemes (cumulative or not) and different scenarios (one-to-many versus many-to-many). We have implemented the ODL protocol, integrated it in the MCL multicast library and we report several experiments that assess its benefits.
Non-native Speech Processing by Children with Phonological Disorders

본 연구의 목적은 말 처리 과정에 있어서 다양한 요인 중 하나인, 외국인의 억양을 이용하여 음운장애 아동의 어려움이 소리 개념(sound representation)에 있다는 가설을 뒷받침하는데 있다. 본 연구에서는 음운장애아동과 정상아동의 비원어민의 말, 즉 모국어가 다른 외국인의 말(non-native speech) 처리능력을 비교하였다. 총 55명의.
Tiled-MapReduce: Efficient and Flexible MapReduce Processing on Multicore with Tiling

The prevalence of chip multiprocessors opens opportunities of running data-parallel applications originally in clusters on a single machine with many cores. MapReduce, a simple and elegant programming model to program large-scale clusters, has recently been shown a promising alternative to harness the multicore platform. The differences such as memory hierarchy and communication patterns between clusters and multicore platforms raise new challenges to design and implement an efficient MapReduce system on multicore. This article argues that it is more efficient for MapReduce to iteratively process small chunks of data in turn than processing a large chunk of data at a time on shared memory multicore platforms. Based on the argument, we extend the general MapReduce programming model with a “tiling strategy”, called Tiled-MapReduce (TMR). TMR partitions a large MapReduce job into a number of small subjobs and iteratively processes one subjob at a time with efficient use of resources; TMR finally merges the results of all subjobs for output. Based on Tiled-MapReduce, we design and implement several optimizing techniques targeting multicore, including the reuse of the input buffer among subjobs, a NUCA/NUMA-aware scheduler, and pipelining a subjob’s reduce phase with the successive subjob’s map phase, to optimize the memory, cache, and CPU resources accordingly. Further, we demonstrate that Tiled-MapReduce supports fine-grained fault tolerance and enables several usage scenarios such as online and incremental computing on multicore machines. Performance evaluation with our prototype system called Ostrich on a 48-core machine shows that Ostrich saves up to 87.6% memory, causes less cache misses, and makes more efficient use of CPU cores, resulting in a speedup ranging from 1.86x to 3.07x over Phoenix. Ostrich also efficiently supports fine-grained fault tolerance, online, and incremental computing with small performance penalty.
Practice Placement Education in Mental Health: The Educator's Experience

Practice placements have been identified as a primary factor influencing new graduates' selection of specialty preference. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the experiences and issues for occupational therapists when providing practice placements for students in mental health. This research was prompted by continuing difficulties in the recruitment and retention of occupational therapists within mental health services in Queensland, Australia, along with a declining number of offers for student practice placements. In-depth interviews with eight participants extrapolated four key elements in the experiences of educating students, which were time, energy, skills and mental health provider issues. The participants also identified determinants that influenced the decision to educate students, including professional responsibility, personal rewards and demands, and support needs. The inherent complexities of contemporary mental health practice, such as emotional and role demands, added pressure when educating students. The need for appropriate support and practice placement educator training programmes that deal effectively with mental health issues was highlighted.
Stability of digitally emulated mem-elements

The paper analyzes the stability issue of a special emulator of memristive, memcapacitive and meminductive systems as well as higher-order elements from Chua's periodical table, and other two-terminal devices. It is demonstrated that, in order to provide stable behavior, the analog port of the emulator must be implemented by the controlled voltage or current source depending on the type of the emulated two-terminal device. As a practical consequence, the emulator must contain both of the above analog interfaces in order to be universal.
Nitroglycerin-Induced S-nitrosylation and Desensitization of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase Contribute to Nitrate Tolerance

Nitrates such as nitroglycerin (GTN) and nitric oxide donors such as S-nitrosothiols are clinically vasoactive through stimulation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), which produces the second messenger cGMP. Development of nitrate tolerance, after exposure to GTN for several hours, is a major drawback to a widely used cardiovascular therapy. We recently showed that exposure to nitric oxide and to S-nitrosothiols causes S-nitrosylation of sGC, which directly desensitizes sGC to stimulation by nitric oxide. We tested the hypothesis that desensitization of sGC by S-nitrosylation is a mechanism of nitrate tolerance. Our results established that vascular tolerance to nitrates can be recapitulated in vivo by S-nitrosylation through exposure to cell membrane-permeable S-nitrosothiols and that sGC is S-nitrosylated and desensitized in the tolerant, treated tissues. We next determined that (1) GTN treatment of primary aortic smooth muscle cells induces S-nitrosylation of sGC and its desensitization as a function of GTN concentration; (2) S-nitrosylation and desensitization are prevented by treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine, a precursor of glutathione, used clinically to prevent development of nitrate tolerance; and (3) S-nitrosylation and desensitization are reversed by cessation of GTN treatment. Finally, we demonstrated that in vivo development of nitrate tolerance and crosstolerance by 3-day chronic GTN treatment correlates with S-nitrosylation and desensitization of sGC in tolerant tissues. These results suggest that in vivo nitrate tolerance is mediated, in part, by desensitization of sGC through GTN-dependent S-nitrosylation.
Comparison of organic and inorganic forms of selenium in the mother and kid relationship in goats

The goal of the experiment was to compare the effect of four different forms of selenium (Se) − sodium selenite (SS), lactate-protein selenium complex (SL), selenium enriched yeast (SY), and selenium- proteinate (SP) supplemented to pregnant goats on Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the blood of goats on the day of delivery and also on Se concentration and GSH-Px activity in the blood of newborn kids. The experiment involved 33 pregnant goats of White Short-haired breed. The sup- plementation started 6 weeks before the parturition. The goats were divided into 5 groups: control group C, not supplemented, and 4 trial groups (SL, SP, SS, SY), which received Se in the above stated forms by the means of supplemented pellets (300 g per animal per day) at a rate 900 μg Se/kg of dry matter. The average Se concentrations in the blood of the goats were 79.6 μg/l in group C, 152.6 μg/l in group SL, 167.1 μg/l in group SP, 144.9 μg/l in group SS, and 152.9 μg/l in group SY. Selenium concentrations in all 4 trial groups were significantly higher ( P < 0.01) than in control group, however no significant difference was found between individual trial groups. Likewise, the activity of GSH-Px in goat blood increased significantly in all supplemented groups compared to the controls; however we did not discover any significant differences in activity of GSH-Px between the individual selenium-supplemented groups. The Se concentrations in the blood of kids were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the selenium-supplemented groups (SL - 94.9 μg/l, SP - 87.5 μg/l, SS - 87.6 μg/l, SY - 92.5 μg/l) than in the control group (C - 49.4 μg/l), but we did not discover any differences between the individual experimental groups. The activity of GSH-Px in the blood of the kids tended towards higher values in the supplemented groups than in the control group, but the values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) only in groups SY and SL. We have found significant correlation between GSH-Px activity and Se concentration in the blood of goats (r = 0.86) and newborn kids (r = 0.95). Likewise, there was significant correlation between Se concentration in the blood of goats and their kids (r = 0.74). We discovered that the kids are reaching physiologically only about 60% of Se status in whole blood in comparison with their mothers. Our results are suggesting that all the above forms of Se were similarly utilised and transferred into the foetus in the goats.
PTGER2 Overexpression in Colorectal Cancer Is Associated with Microsatellite Instability, Independent of CpG Island Methylator Phenotype

Background: Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee–approved official symbol for cycloxygenase-2, COX-2) and its enzymatic product prostaglandin E2 have critical roles in inflammation and carcinogenesis through the G protein–coupled receptor PTGER2 (EP2). The PTGS2 (COX-2) pathway is a promising target for cancer therapy and chemoprevention. PTGS2 (COX-2) expression in colon cancer has been inversely associated with survival as well as tumoral microsatellite instability (MSI) and the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP). However, the prognostic significance of PTGER2 expression or its relationship with MSI, CIMP, LINE-1 hypomethylation, or PTGS2 (COX-2) remains uncertain. Methods: Using the database of 516 colorectal cancers in two prospective cohort studies with clinical outcome data, we detected PTGER2 overexpression in 169 (33%) tumors by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed MSI using 10 microsatellite markers; CIMP by MethyLight (real-time methylation-specific PCR) on an eight-marker panel [CACNA1G, CDKN2A (p16), CRABP1, IGF2, MLH1, NEUROG1, RUNX3 and SOCS1]; BRAF, KRAS, PIK3CA, and methylation in LINE-1 by Pyrosequencing; and CTNNB1 (β-catenin) and TP53 (p53) by immunohistochemistry. Results: PTGER2 overexpression was positively associated with the mucinous component (P = 0.0016), signet ring cells (P = 0.0024), CIMP-high (P = 0.0023), and MSI-high (P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the significant relationship between PTGER2 and MSI-high persisted (adjusted odds ratio, 2.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.69-4.72; P < 0.0001). PTGER2 was not significantly associated with PTGS2 (COX-2), TP53, or CTNNB1 expression, patient survival, or prognosis. Conclusion: PTGER2 overexpression is associated with MSI-high in colorectal cancer. Impact: Our data imply potential roles of inflammatory reaction by PTGER2 upregulation in carcinogenic process to MSI-high colorectal cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(3); 822–31
Nutrition education linked to agricultural interventions improved child dietary diversity in rural Cambodia

Abstract Poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are major determinants of chronic malnutrition. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of a nutrition education (NE) programme aimed at promoting improved IYCF behaviours in combination with an agriculture intervention on children’s dietary diversity and nutritional status. From 2012 to 2014, a cluster randomised trial was rolled out in Cambodia in the context of an agriculture and nutrition project of the FAO of the UN. The cross-sectional baseline study was carried out in sixteen pre-selected communes in 2012. Restricted randomisation allotted the communes to either intervention (NE and agriculture intervention) or comparison arms (agriculture intervention only). The impact survey was conducted as a census in all FAO project villages in 2014. Caregivers of children aged 0–23 months were interviewed using standardised questions on socio-economic status and dietary diversity (24-h recall). Anthropometric measurements were taken. A difference-in-differences model was applied. The sample comprised 743 households with children ≥6 months of age at baseline and 921 at impact. After 1 year of NE, 69 % of the intervention households reported to have participated in the NE. Estimated mean child dietary diversity was significantly different at impact between comparison and intervention (3·6 and 3·9, respectively). In particular, the consumption of pro-vitamin A-rich foods and other fruits and vegetables increased. No treatment effects on height-for-age Z-scores could be shown. NE led to improvements in children’s diets. For effects on growth, it is assumed that longer NE activities are required to achieve sustainable behaviour change of age-appropriate infant feeding.
Children's School Grades and Sibling Structure

Children's school grades were examined in relation to birth order, sex of child, and sex of sibling. Subjects were 160 sixth grade children from two-child families. The grade-point-average, computed from end-of-year grades in five subject areas, was used as the dependent variable in analysis of variance. Girls received higher grades than boys and first-born children received higher grades when their sibling was a girl, while second born children received higher grades when their sibling was a boy. This study suggests that earlier findings of higher grades for first born may be due to confounding with family size and that birth order should not be used to explain children's achievement without considering other sibling-structure variables.
The development and evaluation of a holistic needs assessment and care planning learning package targeted at cancer nurses in the UK

A project team from the United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society developed a blended e-learning website to facilitate nurses to further develop their confidence and competencies in a range of skills related to assessing the holistic needs of people with cancer. The project team identified three areas which were integral to an holistic needs assessment (HNA) implementation project. These were project support information, project management skills, and practical competencies delivered in a blended e-learning package containing a series of accessible video presentations, supporting documents, and practical activities. The team worked with internal and external partners to ensure that a robust and inspiring programme was created. www.hnaforcancer. com was launched in October 2012 as a blended learning programme that incorporates e-learning on core subjects. These subjects are packaged as videoed presentations with supporting learning material and can be accessed via the UKONS website. By the end of the programme participants were equipped to identify and explore the essential requirements for HNA and care planning, more able to recognise potential need, and initiate care to prevent or minimise the risk of complications. Participants had also developed confidence and competency in new skills, including basic project management.
Uptake and Population-Level Impact of Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) on Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae: The Washington State Community-Level Randomized Trial of EPT

Background Expedited partner therapy (EPT), the practice of treating the sex partners of persons with sexually transmitted infections without their medical evaluation, increases partner treatment and decreases gonorrhea and chlamydia reinfection rates. We conducted a stepped-wedge, community-level randomized trial to determine whether a public health intervention promoting EPT could increase its use and decrease chlamydia test positivity and gonorrhea incidence in women. Methods and Findings The trial randomly assigned local health jurisdictions (LHJs) in Washington State, US, into four study waves. Waves instituted the intervention in randomly assigned order at intervals of 6–8 mo. Of the state’s 25 LHJs, 24 were eligible and 23 participated. Heterosexual individuals with gonorrhea or chlamydial infection were eligible for the intervention. The study made free patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) available to clinicians, and provided public health partner services based on clinician referral. The main study outcomes were chlamydia test positivity among women ages 14–25 y in 219 sentinel clinics, and incidence of reported gonorrhea in women, both measured at the community level. Receipt of PDPT from clinicians was evaluated among randomly selected patients. 23 and 22 LHJs provided data on gonorrhea and chlamydia outcomes, respectively. The intervention increased the percentage of persons receiving PDPT from clinicians (from 18% to 34%, p < 0.001) and the percentage receiving partner services (from 25% to 45%, p < 0.001). Chlamydia test positivity and gonorrhea incidence in women decreased over the study period, from 8.2% to 6.5% and from 59.6 to 26.4 per 100,000, respectively. After adjusting for temporal trends, the intervention was associated with an approximately 10% reduction in both chlamydia positivity and gonorrhea incidence, though the confidence bounds on these outcomes both crossed one (chlamydia positivity prevalence ratio = 0.89, 95% CI 0.77–1.04, p = 0.15; gonorrhea incidence rate ratio = 0.91, 95% CI .71–1.16, p = 0.45). Study findings were potentially limited by inadequate statistical power, by the institution of some aspects of the study intervention outside of the research randomization sequence, and by the fact that LHJs did not constitute truly isolated sexual networks. Conclusions A public health intervention promoting the use of free PDPT substantially increased its use and may have resulted in decreased chlamydial and gonococcal infections at the population level. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01665690
No Consistent Relationship between Gamma Power and Peak Frequency in Macaque Primary Visual Cortex

Neural activity in the gamma frequency range (“gamma”) is elevated during active cognitive states. Gamma has been proposed to play an important role in cortical function, although this is debated. Understanding what function gamma might fulfill requires a better understanding of its properties and the mechanisms that generate it. Gamma is characterized by its spectral power and peak frequency, and variations in both parameters have been associated with changes in behavioral performance. Modeling studies suggest these properties are co-modulated, but this has not been established. To test the relationship between these properties, we measured local field potentials (LFPs) and neuronal spiking responses in primary visual cortex of anesthetized monkeys, for drifting sinusoidal gratings of different sizes, contrasts, orientations and masked with different levels of noise. We find that there is no fixed relationship between LFP gamma power and peak frequency, and neither is related to the strength of spiking activity. We propose a simple model that can account for the complex stimulus dependence we observe, and suggest that separate mechanisms determine gamma power and peak frequency.
The eyes have it: Development of children’s generative thinking

Generative thinking is defined as the active construction of a creative instantiation of some familiar concept or object. Four studies examined differences in the generative thinking of 6-, 9-, and 12- year-olds. All versions of the task involved imagining where on the body they would place a third eye and why. In Study 1, when children and adults were required to draw their eye placement, only the adults considered novelty and utility, e.g., seeing all around with the eye behind the head. In Study 2, when children were instructed to place the eye so that they could see more, only 12-year-olds improved their performance. In Study 3, when a model was provided on which the third eye could be placed, both 6- and 9-year-olds improved but their thinking was limited to considerations of the eye still within the face region. In Study 4, when children could place the third eye on their own bodies, 6- and 9-year-olds clearly displayed generative thinking. Results are discussed in terms of constraints on children’s generative thinking.
Prognostic significance of HER‐2/neu oncoprotein expression in node‐positive breast cancer. The influence of the pattern of immunostaining and adjuvant therapy

Background. The influence of HER‐2/neu on prognosis of breast cancer is controversial. The authors investigated by immunohistochemistry in node‐positive disease the influence of the pattern of immunostaining (membranous or cytoplasmic) on outcome and the prognostic significance of this marker in patients receiving or not receiving adjuvant therapy.
Excutive Cognitive Functioning, Negative Affectivity, and Drug Use in Adolescent Boys With and Without a Family History of a Substance Use Disorder

SUMMARY This study examined the association between executive cognitive functioning (ECF), negative affectivity (NA) and drug use in adolescent males. Subjects were 250 boys, ages 15–17 years, with (FH+ n = 90) and without (FH− n = 160) a family history of a substance use disorder (SUD). The subjects in these two groups are respectively at high average risk (HAR) and low average risk (LAR) for SUD. ECF was measured using a battery of neuropsychological tests; NA was measured using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire. Drug use frequency and problems were measured using the Drug Use Screening Inventory. The HAR group had lower ECF scores and higher NA scores than the LAR group. Low ECF and high NA were significantly correlated. Family history moderated the relation between ECF and drug use frequency and problems. Tins family moderation effect was not observed for NA. The implications of these findings for elucidating the neurobiological substrate underlying SUD liability are discussed.
Herpes simplex virus gene expression in neurons: viral DNA synthesis is a critical regulatory event in the branch point between the lytic and latent pathways

Herpes simplex virus establishes a latent infection in peripheral neurons. We examined viral gene expression in rat peripheral neurons in vitro and determined that viral gene expression is attenuated and delayed in these neurons compared with that in Vero cells. In addition, using pharmacologic and genetic blocks to viral DNA synthesis, we found that viral alpha and beta gene expression was upregulated by viral DNA synthesis. Although maximal gene expression in neurons requires viral DNA synthetic activity, activation of viral gene expression was seen even in the presence of herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase inhibitors, but not in the absence of the origin-binding protein. Initiation of viral DNA synthesis is apparently a key regulatory event in the balance between the lytic and latent pathways in peripheral neurons.