Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Case for RodentStore: An Adaptive, Declarative Storage System

Recent excitement in the database community surrounding new applications? analytic, scientific, graph, geospatial, etc.? has led to an explosion in research on database storage systems. New storage systems are vital to the database community, as they are at the heart of making database systems perform well in new application domains. Unfortunately, each such system also represents a substantial engineering effort including a great deal of duplication of mechanisms for features such as transactions and caching. In this paper, we make the case for RodentStore, an adaptive and declarative storage system providing a high-level interface for describing the physical representation of data. Specifically, RodentStore uses a declarative storage algebra whereby administrators (or database design tools) specify how a logical schema should be grouped into collections of rows, columns, and/or arrays, and the order in which those groups should be laid out on disk. We describe the key operators and types of our algebra, outline the general architecture of RodentStore, which interprets algebraic expressions to generate a physical representation of the data, and describe the interface between RodentStore and other parts of a database system, such as the query optimizer and executor. We provide a case study of the potential use of RodentStore in representing dense geospatial data collected from a mobile sensor network, showing the ease with which different storage layouts can be expressed using some of our algebraic constructs and the potential performance gains that a RodentStore-built storage system can offer.
Finding Their Way: Conditions for Successful Reintegration Among Women Offenders

The transition from prison to community is challenging for women. Herein we propose a framework of reintegration readiness from women's experiences of community re-entry after a prison stay. In qualitative interviews with 31 women who spent time in Canadian federal prisons, they described the time immediately following their release, specifically person-specific and context-specific factors that allowed them to successfully adapt to society. Addictions and unresolved trauma were barriers to reintegration success. In their transition from prison to the community, it is important to address these person- and context-specific conditions as well as trauma and addictions to improve reintegration readiness.
Revivification of rehabilitation: Evidence from the 1980s

We reviewed the offender rehabilitation literature for the period 1981–87 and assessed the following types of interventions: biomedical, diversion, early/family intervention, education, getting tough, individual differences, parole/probation, restitution, and work. We evaluated treatments applied to specific subgroups of offender populations: sexual offenders, substance abusers, and violent offenders. The hypothesis that the “nothing works” credo has had a pervasive influence and has suppressed the rehabilitative agenda was not borne out when we examined the number and variety of successfully reported attempts at reducing delinquent behavior. In fact, the rehabilitative literature is growing at a noticeable rate; moreover, it suggests several strategies for developing more effective programs. Finally, we speculated why the “nothing works” doctrine continues to receive support in spite of empirical evidence to the contrary.
Multiuser Massive MIMO Relaying With Mixed-ADC Receiver

In this letter, a multiuser relay network with massive multiple-input multiple-output is investigated with mixed-analog-to-digital converter (ADC) at receiver. We first characterize the uplink achievable rate by deriving a tight approximation, which embraces the conventional unquantized system as a special case. Both power scaling laws at sources and relay are presented. It is validated that the performance loss due to low-precision ADCs can be compensated by increasing the number of antennas $M$ , obeying a logarithmical scaling law, rather than by increasing the transmit power at sources and/or relay. We show that the performance suffers from a loss factor interpreted as a nominal effective resolution of the entire mixed-ADC structure. Simulation results verify our observations.
Differential expression during embryogenesis of three genes clustered in the Ras1 region of Drosophila melanogaster

Transcription mapping and nucleotide sequence analysis reveal that the genomic region of the Drosophila Ras1 gene contains a cluster of three closely localized genes. A gene termed Rlb1 is located nearby and upstream of Ras1, and is oriented in the opposite polarity relative to Ras1. In addition, a third gene termed Rlc1, is found at a very close proximity downstream to Rlb1. Ras1, the homologue of the human transforming ras genes, has been shown to be active in the posterior termini of the Drosophila embryo and in the eye imaginal disc in pathways of cell fate determination. We demonstrate that during embryogenesis Ras1 transcripts are restricted mainly to the embryonic central nervous system, suggesting that the gene product also may have a role in these nerve cells. Rlb1 encodes for a novel, lysine‐rich basic protein. It is expressed mainly in the developing midgut and in the somatic mesoderm. Rlc1 also encodes for a novel, basic protein. The expression of Rlc1 during embryogenesis is similar, but not identical, to the expression pattern detected for Ras1. The vertebrate p21Ras proteins are bound to the inner face of the cell membrane. Ras1, the Drosophila homologue of p21, and the Rlb1 protein, are also non‐cytoplasmic, membranous proteins. Rlb1 is found in the cell membrane of larval midgut epithelial cells. In addition, Rlb1 is detected in the nuclei of these cells, and in the nuclei of the midgut imaginal cells. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of Echium amoenum Fisch. et Mey a Traditional Iranian Herbal Remedy in an Experimental Model of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a morbid inflammatory condition of pancreas with limited specific therapy. Enhanced oxidative stress plays an important role in induction and progression of acute pancreatitis. So reducing oxidative stress may relieve this pathogenic process. Echium amoenum Fisch. and Mey has been implemented in Iranian folk medicine for several centuries. Antioxidant, analgesic, immunomodulatory, and anxiolytic properties of E. amoenum suggest that this plant may have beneficial effects in the management of acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of petals of E. amoenum extract (EAE) on a murine model of pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced by five intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cerulein (50 μg/kg) with 1h intervals which was characterized by pancreatic inflammation and increase in the serum level of digestive enzymes, in comparison to normal mice. EAE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) was administered i.p., 30 minutes before induction of pancreatitis. Pretreatment with EAE (400 mg/kg) reduced significantly the inflammatory response of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis by ameliorating pancreatic edema, amylase and lipase serum levels, proinflammatory cytokines, myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxidation and pathological alteration. These results show that EAE attenuates the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis with an anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects.
Human cytomegalovirus‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes: requirements for in vitro generation and specificity

The nature of any virus‐specific T cells involved in controlling human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in normal subjects harboring latent virus is unknown. As an approach to this problem, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from normal seropositive subjects were cocultured with HCMV and responding T cells expanded in interleukin 2 (IL2)‐dependent culture, determining in particular whether HCMV‐specific cytotoxic T cells (Tc) were generated. Coculture of PBM with free HCMV resulted in the generation of short‐term T cell lines of predominantly helper phenotype (Leu 3a+), expressing no cytotoxicity. However, when PBM were cocultured on HCMV‐infected fibroblasts (autologous to the donor in these experiments) predominantly Leu 2a+ lines were generated, which lysed HCMV‐infected cells. The cytotoxicity of these short‐term IL2‐dependent lines was HCMV‐specific and human HLA‐restricted; HCMV‐infected target cells expressing only early viral antigens were lysed. It is concluded that HCMV‐specific Tc precursors are present in peripheral blood of latently infected individuals without preceding overt infection and that effector Tc may be capable of lysing infected cells prior to viral replication.
Complexities and challenges in the work‐family interface

Purpose – The purpose of this brief paper is to introduce the papers in this special issue of Journal of Managerial Psychology, focused on “Complexities and challenges in the work‐family interface”. Design/methodology/approach – The paper first introduces the theme of the special issue, and a brief outline of each paper contained in it is given.Findings – There is concern that progress in the work‐family research area has been somewhat restricted and may have failed to take sufficient account of the complexity of work‐family issues.Originality/value – The literature on the work‐family interface is complex, and theory in the field is uncertain and under‐developed. The papers in this special issue should further understanding of the challenges and complexities underscoring the work‐family interface.
Dense, accurate optical flow estimation with piecewise parametric model

This paper proposes a simple method for estimating dense and accurate optical flow field. It revitalizes an early idea of piecewise parametric flow model. A key innovation is that, we fit a flow field piecewise to a variety of parametric models, where the domain of each piece (i.e., each piece's shape, position and size) is determined adaptively, while at the same time maintaining a global inter-piece flow continuity constraint. We achieve this by a multi-model fitting scheme via energy minimization. Our energy takes into account both the piecewise constant model assumption and the flow field continuity constraint, enabling the proposed method to effectively handle both homogeneous motions and complex motions. The experiments on three public optical flow benchmarks (KITTI, MPI Sintel, and Middlebury) show the superiority of our method compared with the state of the art: it achieves top-tier performances on all the three benchmarks.
Promoting a Lifetime of Inclusion

The purpose of this article is to assist parents and professionals in developing effective educational programs that promote a lifetime of successful inclusion for individuals With severe disabilities. We first establish the principle of normalization as the philosophical basis of inclusion. We next describe conditions and practices that reflect the principle of normalization and that foster inclusion across the life span. These conditions and practices consist of universal design, person-centered planning, self-determination, and positive behavior support. We end by suggesting that inclusion may be vieWed as a continuum and that With the appropriate supports and skill development, all people, regardless of disability level, can successfully move up the continuum to more inclusive environments.
Physical activity and television viewing in relation to risk of undiagnosed abnormal glucose metabolism in adults.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to assess the associations of physical activity time and television (TV) time with risk of "undiagnosed" abnormal glucose metabolism in Australian adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This population-based cross-sectional study using a stratified cluster design involving 42 randomly selected Census Collector Districts across Australia included 8,299 adults aged 25 years or older who were free from new type 2 diabetes and self-reported ischemic disease and did not take lipid-lowering or antihypertensive drugs. Abnormal glucose metabolism (impaired fasting glycemia [IFG], impaired glucose tolerance [IGT], or new type 2 diabetes) was based on an oral glucose tolerance test. Self-reported physical activity time and TV time (previous week) were assessed using interviewer-administered questionnaires. RESULTS After adjustment for known confounders and TV time, the odds ratio (OR) of having abnormal glucose metabolism was 0.62 (95% CI 0.41-0.96) in men and 0.71 (0.50-1.00) in women for those engaged in physical activity >or=2.5 h/week compared with those who were sedentary (0 h/week). The ORs of having abnormal glucose metabolism were 1.16 (0.79-1.70) in men and 1.49 (1.12-1.99) in women who watched TV >14 h/week compared with those who watched <or=7.0 h/week. Higher TV viewing (>14 h/week) was also associated with an increased risk of new type 2 diabetes in men and women and IGT in women compared with those watching <14 h/week. Total physical activity of >or=2.5 h/week was associated with a reduced risk of IFG, IGT, and new type 2 diabetes in both sexes; however, only the association with IGT in women was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a protective effect of physical activity and a deleterious effect of TV time on the risk of abnormal glucose metabolism in adults. Population strategies to reduce risk of abnormal glucose metabolism should focus on reducing sedentary behaviors such as TV time, as well as increasing physical activity.
Role the bones – from iron to steel

Rituals and technology have many common structural features. Planned sequences of actions assure that goals are achieved. The actions are technical necessities, whereas rituals are actions impossible not to do. This work is the result of cooperation between an archaeologist and a smith. We wish to put forward thoughts on technological processes for carbonization of iron, i.e. making steel. The process can be divided into several phases, but the transformation from iron to steel may have deeper and more symbolic content than anticipated, due to the use of bones. We will argue that the production of iron may be seen as a birth, and that the metal develops social qualities through initiations and ritual technique.
Color features for tracking non-rigid objects

Robust real-time tracking of non-rigid objects is a challen ging task. Color distributions provide an efficient feature for this kind of tracking problems as they are robust to p artial occlusion, are rotation and scale invariant and computationally efficient. This article presents the in t gration of color distributions into particle filtering, which has typically been used in combination with edge-base d image features. Particle filters offer a probabilistic framework for dynamic state estimation and have proven to wo rk ell in cases of clutter and occlusion. To overcome the problem of appearance changes, an adaptive model up date is introduced during temporally stable image observations. Furthermore, an initialization strategy is discussed since tracked objects may disappear and reappear .
Introduction: The People's Republic of China and Hong Kong's New Political Dispensation

This introduction describes some of the background of Hong Kong’s current situation, and sets the scene for the papers that follow. More substantively , it examines a debate that has intensi ed since Mao’s death over the nature of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). What kind of state is it? Where is it heading? Does it yet permit an embryonic ‘civil society’? We will see that Sinologist s and other commentators have different answers to these questions, a dissonance that reveals how fast the PRC is changing. Even so, these changes do not as yet suggest that the PRC is moving in a liberal or democratic direction. The dangers for Hong Kong’s freedoms are evident. The Chinese Communist Party leadership has a notably extractive, utilitarian view of Hong Kong’s value. Such a view not only rules out freedom as self-mastery (‘positive ’ liberty); it also curtails the freedom that Hong Kong’s new institutiona l arrangements are supposed to enshrine: freedom from interference (‘negative’ liberty). As recent events have shown, the PRC retains the capacity and will to overrule arbitrarily the decisions of Hong Kong’s courts. In turn, this reveals the key weakness of a view of liberty that concentrates on the area of its exercise as distinct from its source. Hong Kong’s political liberties are perpetually vulnerable so long as they depend on the Sovereign’s authoritarian toleration. The absence of republican freedom (as nondomination ) is the Achilles heel of the ‘one country, two systems’ formula.
T-Spot.TB outperforms tuberculin skin test in predicting tuberculosis disease.

RATIONALE Silicosis is a well-recognized risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVES To compare T-Spot.TB with tuberculin skin test (TST) in predicting the development of TB. METHODS Male patients with silicosis without clinical suspicion of active TB, past history of TB, and treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI) were offered both T-Spot.TB and TST in the Pneumoconiosis Clinic of Hong Kong from 2004 to 2008, and followed prospectively until September 30, 2009, for development of TB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Active TB and culture- or histology-confirmed TB developed in 17 (5.5%) and 14 (4.5%) of 308 recruited subjects at an annual rate of 2,247 and 1,851 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Active TB occurred in 7.4% (15 of 204) and 1.9% (2 of 104) of T-Spot.TB-positive and -negative subjects, respectively, whereas the corresponding figures for TST (cutoff 10 mm) were 6.4% (13 of 203) and 3.9% (4 of 205), respectively. A positive T-Spot.TB test significantly predicted the subsequent development of active TB (relative risk, 4.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-19.68) and culture- or histology-confirmed TB (relative risk, 7.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-59.63). Consistent results were obtained after exclusion of subjects treated for LTBI and adjustment for potential confounders. TST did not significantly predict the development of active TB or culture- or histology-confirmed TB, irrespective of the cutoff values with or without exclusion of subjects treated for LTBI. Culture filtrate protein 10 spot count, but not early secretary antigenic target 6 spot count, was significantly associated with subsequent TB development. CONCLUSIONS T-Spot.TB performs better than TST in the targeted screening of LTBI among patients with silicosis.
A Simple PB/LIE Free Energy Function Accurately Predicts the Peptide Binding Specificity of the Tiam1 PDZ Domain

PDZ domains generally bind short amino acid sequences at the C-terminus of target proteins, and short peptides can be used as inhibitors or model ligands. Here, we used experimental binding assays and molecular dynamics simulations to characterize 51 complexes involving the Tiam1 PDZ domain and to test the performance of a semi-empirical free energy function. The free energy function combined a Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) continuum electrostatic term, a van der Waals interaction energy, and a surface area term. Each term was empirically weighted, giving a Linear Interaction Energy or “PB/LIE” free energy. The model yielded a mean unsigned deviation of 0.43 kcal/mol and a Pearson correlation of 0.64 between experimental and computed free energies, which was superior to a Null model that assumes all complexes have the same affinity. Analyses of the models support several experimental observations that indicate the orientation of the α2 helix is a critical determinant for peptide specificity. The models were also used to predict binding free energies for nine new variants, corresponding to point mutants of the Syndecan1 and Caspr4 peptides. The predictions did not reveal improved binding; however, they suggest that an unnatural amino acid could be used to increase protease resistance and peptide lifetimes in vivo. The overall performance of the model should allow its use in the design of new PDZ ligands in the future.
Machine Translation by Triangulation: Making Effective Use of Multi-Parallel Corpora

Current phrase-based SMT systems perform poorly when using small training sets. This is a consequence of unreliable translation estimates and low coverage over source and target phrases. This paper presents a method which alleviates this problem by exploiting multiple translations of the same source phrase. Central to our approach is triangulation, the process of translating from a source to a target language via an intermediate third language. This allows the use of a much wider range of parallel corpora for training, and can be combined with a standard phrase-table using conventional smoothing methods. Experimental results demonstrate BLEU improvements for triangulated models over a standard phrase-based system.
Double-Density Discrete Wavelet Transform Based Texture Classification

Texture classification plays an important role in image analysis. The wavelet is a very efficient multiscale analysis method that has been successfully applied to describe the texture. However, it is translation-invariant. The recent double-density discrete wavelet transform have two interesting property, low computational complexity and nearly shift invariant. In this paper, the texture feature based on the double-density discrete wavelet transform are derived from the subbands and tested in two texture databases. The experimental results suggest the potential capacity of the double-density discrete wavelet transform in texture analysis.
SNAIL: A Multiprocessor Based on the Simple Serial Synchronized Multistage Interconnection Network Architecture

Simple Serial Synchronized (SSS) Multistage Interconnection Network (MIN) is a novel MIN architecture for connecting processors and memory modules in multiprocessors. Synchronized bit-serial communication simplifies the structure/control, and also solves the pin-limitation problem. Here, design, implementation, and evaluation of a multiprocessor prototype called SNAIL with the SSS-MIN are presented. The heart of SNAIL is the prototype 1 /mu CMOS SSS-MIN gate array chip which exchanges packets from 16 inputs with 50MHz clock. The message combining is implemented only with 20% increases of the hardware. From the empirical evaluation with some application programs, it appears that the latency and synchronization overhead of the SSSMIN are tolerable, and the bandwidth of the SSS-MIN is sufficient. Although the performance improvement with the bit serial message combine is not so large (1%) when instructions are stored in the local memory, it becomes up to 400% when instructions are stored in the shared memory.