Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost‐efficient and network‐aware dynamic repartitioning‐based algorithms for scheduling large‐scale graphs in cloud computing environments

Large amount of data that is generated by Internet and enterprize applications are stored in the form of graphs. Graph processing systems are broadly used in enterprizes to process such data. With the rapid growth in mobile and social applications and complicated connections of Internet websites, massive concurrent operations need to be handled. On the other hand, the intrinsic structure and the size of real‐world graphs make distributed processing of graphs more challenging. Low balanced communication and computation, low preprocessing overhead, low memory footprint, and scalability should be offered by distributed graph analytics frameworks. Moreover, the effects of network factors such as bandwidth and traffic as well as monetary cost of processing such large‐scale graphs and the mutual impact of these elements have been less studied. To address these issues, we proposed two dynamic repartitioning algorithms that consider network factors, affecting public cloud environments to decrease the monetary cost of processing. A new classification of graph algorithms and processing is also introduced, which will be used to choose the best strategy for processing at any operation. We plugged these algorithms to our extended graph processing system (iGiraph) and compared them with those supported in other graph processing systems such as Giraph and Surfer on Australian National Cloud Infrastructure. We observed that up to 30% faster execution time, up to 50% network traffic decline, and more than 50% cost reduction are achieved by our algorithms compared to a framework such as the popular Giraph.
What affects your shopping ?

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine what values influence Swedish consumers when purchasing tomatoes. Previous research show that there are many factors and attributes that consumers choose from. These aspects included health, low price, labelling of products, knowledge of what labels stand for, trust in the information of the packaging and appearance of the product. The values that were investigated in this study were conceptualized by Geert Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars. They both have similar theories of national cultures, which they explained by making cultural dimension scales. These were based on values that can be identified in cultures. The cultural dimensions were individualism versus collectivism, masculinity versus femininity, high or low uncertainty avoidance, long or short-term orientation, how humans relate to the environment and individualism versus communitarianism. To investigate this, the following research questions were asked; (1) what factors/attributes are important to Swedish consumers when purchasing tomatoes, (2) what values are prominent in Swedish consumers and (3) what the relations between factors/attributes and values regarding Swedish tomato consumption are. In order to answer this, a survey was answered by 310 respondents. To understand why consumers value different factors/attributes, and possibly change consumption patterns, it is important to know what influences consumers. The results showed that the factors/attributes investigated proved to be more or less equally important no matter what pole of the different dimensions the respondents belonged to. Finally, some parts of the results did not correspond with previous research, the main difference was that low price was not considered as important as previous research showed.
Lymph node density in papillary thyroid carcinoma is a prognostic factor after adjusting for pathological stage

We investigated the possible association between the lymph node density and survival outcomes in differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma, and examined whether the lymph node density was a predictor in a multivariate analysis adjusted for the pathological stage in the eighth edition of the Union for International Cancer Control Tumor-Node Metastasis Classification of Malignant Tumors. A total of 543 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were enrolled. We performed restaging according to the eighth edition. The lymph node density was the ratio between number of positive lymph nodes and total number of excised lymph nodes. A log-rank test and Cox's proportional hazards model were used for univariate and multivariate analysis with adjustment for the pathological stage in the eighth edition, respectively. In both the univariate and multivariate analyses of 150 patients with pN1bM0, the presence of a lymph node density of ≥ 0.3 with pN1b was significantly associated with shorter disease-specific survival. In both the univariate and multivariate analyses of all 543 patients, a lymph node density of ≥ 0.3 with pN1b were also significantly associated with shorter overall and disease-specific survival. In conclusion, these results suggest that the lymph node density can be used as a predictor for the survival outcomes after adjustment for the pathological stage in the eighth edition.
A mosaic of phenotypic variation in giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida): Local‐ and continental‐scale patterns in a range‐expanding agricultural weed

Spatial patterns of trait variation across a species' range have implications for population success and evolutionary change potential, particularly in range‐expanding and weedy species that encounter distinct selective pressures at large and small spatial scales simultaneously. We investigated intraspecific trait variation in a common garden experiment with giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), a highly variable agricultural weed with an expanding geographic range and broad ecological amplitude. Our study included paired populations from agricultural and natural riparian habitats in each of seven regions ranging east to west from the core of the species' distribution in central Ohio to southeastern Minnesota, which is nearer the current invasion front. We observed trait variation across both large‐ and small‐scale putative selective gradients. At large scales, giant ragweed populations from the westernmost locations were nearly four times more fecund and had a nearly 50% increase in reproductive allocation compared to populations from the core. The degree of surface texture on fruits also declined from east to west. Greater fecundity in the west represents a putative trade‐off between fruit size and fruit number across the study region, although no such trade‐off was found across individual plants. This pattern may effectively result in greater propagule pressure closer to the invasion front. At smaller spatial scales, plants from agricultural populations emerged later and were smaller than plants from riparian populations. However, because plants from agricultural populations allocated more biomass to reproduction, total fecundity did not differ across habitats. Our emergence data are consistent with previous observations showing delayed emergence in agricultural compared to natural populations; thus evolutionary change may be predictable as giant ragweed continues spreading into agricultural fields throughout North America. These shifts in life‐history strategy apparently bear no fecundity cost, suggesting that giant ragweed's success can be attributed at least in part to its substantial adaptive potential.
What's in a name? A field experiment test for the existence of ethnic discrimination in the hiring process

This paper provides evidence of extensive ethnic discrimination in the Swedish labour market. A field experiment (correspondence test) that tests employer discrimination has been performed. Pairs of equally merited applications has been sent to job openings, one with a Swedish sounding name and one with a foreign sounding name. Discrimination is measured by documenting the existence of an ethnic difference in call-backs. The results indicate that there is discrimination in all of the occupations that were tested in the experiment, but that the extent of the ethnic discrimination differs between the occupations. An attempt is also made to explain the results applying the theories of statistical discrimination and social distance.
Differential response of pea ( Pisum sativum L.) genotypes to salt stress in relation to the growth, physiological attributes antioxidant activity and organic solutes

The response of nine pea ( Pisum sativum ) genotypes, with varying salt tolerance potential, was studied under salt stress. Salt stress significantly ( p � 0.05) reduced the growth (internodal distance, plant fresh/dry biomass and number of leaves), physiological attributes (photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll contents) and cell membrane stability index (MSI) while elevated antioxidant enzymes, i.e. superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), organic solutes (proline, glycinebetaine and total free amino acids), lipid peroxidation (LPO), hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2) and leaf abscisic acid (ABA) in tested genotypes. However, root/shoot sodium (Na + ) was increased with increasing salinity levels, which enhanced the Na + : K + ratio and seemed to affect the bioenergetic processes of photosynthesis. Whereas, root and shoot of tested genotypes exhibited a considerable reduction in phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents. Based on % increase or decrease in above mentioned attributes, the tested genotypes were categorized into salt tolerant and salt sensitive categories. Therefore, Climax, Samarina zard and 9800-5 were found to be salt tolerant, whereas 2001-20, Meteor and Euro observed as highly salt sensitive. Tolerant genotypes (Climax, Samarina zard and 9800-5) were successful in maintaining the maximum dry matter, low Na + , while high P and K + under saline conditions. Since, genotypes with high concentration of organic osmolytes (proline, glycinebetaine and amino acids) and high antioxidant activity (SOD, POD, CAT) had high salt tolerance, so it is also concluded that salt tolerance potential of pea is highly associated with concentration of osmolytes and antioxidant enzymes.
Kinetic study on green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Coleus aromaticus leaf extract.

Green synthesis method of nanoparticles is evolution from the nanobiotechnology. It is a low cost, environment benign, non toxic and large scale up process. In this study, Coleus aromaticus leaf extract was used to the bioreduction of silver ions to nanoparticles. Bioreduction process was carried out to study about the factors affecting the nanoparticles synthesis by changing the silver ion concentration, pH and temperature. 1 mM silver ion concentration, pH 8.2 and temperature 70 oC is more favorable for maximum production of silver nanoparticles. UV-vis spectrum was used to characterize these synthesized silver nanoparticles and the SPR band was observed at 460 nm indicates particles are poly dispersed. Size and shape of nanoparticles was analyzed by Scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows polydispersed and mostly spherical shape of nanoparticles with aggregation. This green synthesis method has many advantages over the chemical method because it reduces the use of toxic metals in the synthesis process and it is a single step eco-friendly method
Fast Spherical Drawing of Triangulations: An Experimental Study of Graph Drawing Tools

We consider the problem of computing a spherical crossing-free geodesic drawing of a planar graph: this problem, as well as the closely related spherical parameterization problem, has attracted a lot of attention in the last two decades both in theory and in practice, motivated by a number of applications ranging from texture mapping to mesh remeshing and morphing. Our main concern is to design and implement a linear time algorithm for the computation of spherical drawings provided with theoretical guarantees. While not being aesthetically pleasing, our method is extremely fast and can be used as initial placer for spherical iterative methods and spring embedders. We provide experimental comparison with initial placers based on planar Tutte parameterization. Finally we explore the use of spherical drawings as initial layouts for (Euclidean) spring embedders: experimental evidence shows that this greatly helps to untangle the layout and to reach better local minima.
PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF FISHMEAL WITH TUNA LIVER MEAL IN DIETS FOR COMMON CARP FRY, CYPRINUS CARPIO L. 1758

Tuna liver meal (TLM) was tested to replace fish meal (FM) in diets for carp fry, Cyprinus carpio Linneus, 1758. Triplicate groups of fish with average weight of 0.32 ± 0.65g were fed each of six isonitogenous (42%), isolipidic (16%) and isoenergetic (18 KJ DE g -1 ) diets prepared to include 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% (diets 1- 6, respectively) of FM protein being substituted by TLM. The control diet contained fish meal (17.14%) and soybean meal (46.9%) as the main sources of dietary protein. After 13 weeks of feeding, fish fed diet 2 and diet 3 exhibited the highest (P 0.05) differences in the crude protein and ash content in the whole-body. However, moisture and lipid contents were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatments. These results indicate that up to 20% of FM protein in fish diet can be replaced by TLM without adverse effects on fish growth, feed utilization and body composition.
An empirical study on evaluation metrics of generative adversarial networks

Evaluating generative adversarial networks (GANs) is inherently challenging. In this paper, we revisit several representative sample-based evaluation metrics for GANs, and address the problem of how to evaluate the evaluation metrics. We start with a few necessary conditions for metrics to produce meaningful scores, such as distinguishing real from generated samples, identifying mode dropping and mode collapsing, and detecting overfitting. With a series of carefully designed experiments, we comprehensively investigate existing sample-based metrics and identify their strengths and limitations in practical settings. Based on these results, we observe that kernel Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) and the 1-Nearest-Neighbor (1-NN) two-sample test seem to satisfy most of the desirable properties, provided that the distances between samples are computed in a suitable feature space. Our experiments also unveil interesting properties about the behavior of several popular GAN models, such as whether they are memorizing training samples, and how far they are from learning the target distribution.
Using Structural Equation Modeling

The present study aimed to further explore the established relationship between acculturative stress and diminished pediatric asthma outcomes in Latino populations. Three psychosocial variables related to pediatric asthma outcomes were predicted to mediate this relationship. Secondary data on pediatric asthma outcomes were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling path analyses. Study results did not support the hypothesized mediating effect of the psychosocial variables. Rather, post hoc analyses indicated that the psychosocial variables moderated the relationship between acculturative stress and pediatric asthma outcomes. The significance of these findings in relation to pediatric asthma vulnerability and pediatric asthma interventions is discussed, and methodological recommendations are suggested for future research.
Determinants Of Domestic Food Price Differentials In Uganda: The Potential for and Constraints on Intra-County Trade

This paper examines the determinants of price differentials across 79 districts in Uganda. It identifies the main production areas for key agricultural commodities and consumption destinations. In the framework of the law of one price, the paper examines the hypothesis that spatial price differentials are at least partly influenced by transportation and other transaction costs, infrastructural constraints, productivity and commodity output shocks and the purchasing power of households. This is done through an estimation of the determinants of price differentials of commodities across districts. The study notes the wide range of price differences across the country, which, to a large extent, can be attributed to the interaction between remoteness and physical infrastructure. The effect of per capita income on price differentials is relatively uniform across commodities. The findings point to the importance of strengthening the capacities of farmers and their productivity as a means of improving their livelihoods and fostering more efficient markets with faster supply responses to changes in prices. The findings further emphasize the significance of spatial dimensions and infrastructure conditions in Uganda, thus suggesting that infrastructural development must be a focus to reduce price differentials in the country.
Pharmacist-Led Intervention to Enhance Medication Adherence in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in Vietnam: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Patient adherence to cardioprotective medications improves outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but few adherence-enhancing interventions have been tested in low-income and middle-income countries. Objectives: We aimed to assess whether a pharmacist-led intervention enhances medication adherence in patients with ACS and reduces mortality and hospital readmission. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Vietnam. Patients with ACS were recruited, randomized to the intervention or usual care prior to discharge, and followed 3 months after discharge. Intervention patients received educational and behavioral interventions by a pharmacist. Primary outcome was the proportion of adherent patients 1 month after discharge. Adherence was a combined measure of self-reported adherence (the 8–item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale) and obtaining repeat prescriptions on time. Secondary outcomes were (1) the proportion of patients adherent to medication; (2) rates of mortality and hospital readmission; and (3) change in quality of life from baseline assessed with the European Quality of Life Questionnaire – 5 Dimensions – 3 Levels at 3 months after discharge. Logistic regression was used to analyze data. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02787941). Results: Overall, 166 patients (87 control, 79 intervention) were included (mean age 61.2 years, 73% male). In the analysis excluding patients from the intervention group who did not receive the intervention and excluding all patients who withdrew, were lost to follow-up, died or were readmitted to hospital, a greater proportion of patients were adherent in the intervention compared with the control at 1 month (90.0% vs. 76.5%; adjusted OR = 2.77; 95% CI, 1.01–7.62) and at 3 months after discharge (90.2% vs. 77.0%; adjusted OR = 3.68; 95% CI, 1.14–11.88). There was no significant difference in median change of EQ-5D-3L index values between intervention and control [0.000 (0.000; 0.275) vs. 0.234 (0.000; 0.379); p = 0.081]. Rates of mortality, readmission, or both were 0.8, 10.3, or 11.1%, respectively; with no significant differences between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led interventions increased patient adherence to medication regimens by over 13% in the first 3 months after ACS hospital discharge, but not quality of life, mortality and readmission. These results are promising but should be tested in other settings prior to broader dissemination.
Effects of Robot Facial Characteristics and Gender in Persuasive Human-Robot Interaction

The growing interest in social robotics makes it relevant to examine the potential of robots as persuasive agents and, more specifically, to examine how robot characteristics influence the way people experience such interactions and comply with the persuasive attempts by robots. The purpose of this research is to identify how the (ostensible) gender and the facial characteristics of a robot influence the extent to which people trust it and the psychological reactance they experience from its persuasive attempts. This paper reports a laboratory study where SociBot™, a robot capable of displaying different faces and dynamic social cues, delivered persuasive messages to participants while playing a game. In-game choice behavior was logged, and trust and reactance toward the advisor were measured using questionnaires. Results show that a robotic advisor with upturned eyebrows and lips (features that people tend to trust more in humans) is more persuasive, evokes more trust, and less psychological reactance compared to one displaying eyebrows pointing down and lips curled downwards at the edges (facial characteristics typically not trusted in humans). Gender of the robot did not affect trust, but participants experienced higher psychological reactance when interacting with a robot of the opposite gender. Remarkably, mediation analysis showed that liking of the robot fully mediates the influence of facial characteristics on trusting beliefs and psychological reactance. Also, psychological reactance was a strong and reliable predictor of trusting beliefs but not of trusting behavior. These results suggest robots that are intended to influence human behavior should be designed to have facial characteristics we trust in humans and could be personalized to have the same gender as the user. Furthermore, personalization and adaptation techniques designed to make people like the robot more may help ensure they will also trust the robot.
The effect of microbial activity on soil water diffusivity

In this study, we explored the effects of microbial activity on the evaporation of water from cores of a sandy soil under laboratory conditions. We applied treatments to stimulate microbial activity by adding different amounts of synthetic analogue root exudates. For comparison, we used soil samples without synthetic root exudates as control and samples treated with mercuric chloride to suppress microbial activity. Our results suggest that increasing microbial activity reduces the rate of evaporation from soil. Estimated diffusivities in soil with the largest amounts of added root exudates were one third of those estimated in samples where microbial activity was suppressed by adding mercuric chloride. We discuss the effect of our results with respect to water uptake by roots.
Screening for cholinesterase inhibitors in selected fruits and vegetables

Plants deliver a great number of compounds among which some of them can exert a beneficial therapeutic role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (e.g. huperzine A, galanthamine, physostigmine). In the present study it was shown that 17 edible fruits or vegetables effectively inhibited AChE and/or BChE. The highest anti-ChE activity was demonstrated in the case of the juice produced from peach (Prunus persica L.), water extracts prepared from dill leaves, wild strawberry fruit, potato tubers and juices produced using apples var. Idared and Champion. Extracts from parsley (leaves) and celery exhibited significantly higher activity towards AChE than BChE. AChE activity was not diminished by extracts prepared from strawberry, bean, broccoli, parsley (root) and tomato. These results confirm that selected fruits and vegetables can be an interesting source of ChE inhibitors with the possible potential in the context of the restoring of cognitive function and improving the memory. Therefore, there is a possibility to compose the diet containing fruits and vegetables aiming the protection against memory deficits caused by AD.