Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Softshell

In this paper we present Softshell, a novel execution model for devices composed of multiple processing cores operating in a single instruction, multiple data fashion, such as graphics processing units (GPUs). The Softshell model is intuitive and more flexible than the kernel-based adaption of the stream processing model, which is currently the dominant model for general purpose GPU computation. Using the Softshell model, algorithms with a relatively low local degree of parallelism can execute efficiently on massively parallel architectures. Softshell has the following distinct advantages: (1) work can be dynamically issued directly on the device, eliminating the need for synchronization with an external source, i.e., the CPU; (2) its three-tier dynamic scheduler supports arbitrary scheduling strategies, including dynamic priorities and real-time scheduling; and (3) the user can influence, pause, and cancel work already submitted for parallel execution. The Softshell processing model thus brings capabilities to GPU architectures that were previously only known from operating-system designs and reserved for CPU programming. As a proof of our claims, we present a publicly available implementation of the Softshell processing model realized on top of CUDA. The benchmarks of this implementation demonstrate that our processing model is easy to use and also performs substantially better than the state-of-the-art kernel-based processing model for problems that have been difficult to parallelize in the past.
Known-Group Validity of the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and the Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool

Occupational therapists often use the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP; Dunn, 2002) or the Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool (SPM-P;Ecker et al., 2010) to obtain data about children suspected of having sensory processing problems. Therefore, it is essential that such scales are valid and reliable. The aim of the study was to investigate the known-group validity of the SPM-P (Home and School Forms) and the ITSP when used with a group of Australian children ages 23 to 36 months. Using a convenience sampling approach, nine parents/primary caregivers of children presenting with additional needs and attending an early childhood intervention service (ECIS) and nine parents/primary givers of typically developing children were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the ITSP, and the SPM-P (Home Form). An ECIS staff member completed the SPM-P (School Form) on the children with additional needs and a childcare teacher completed the SPM-P (School Form) on the typically developing children. A t-test was used to determine whether a statistically significant difference existed between the children with additional needs attending an ECIS and typically developing children. For the ITSP, statistically significant differences were identified for two of five of its subscales: auditory processing and vestibular processing. Four of eight of the SPM-P Home Form subscales had statistically significant differences: touch, body awareness, balance and motion, and planning and ideas. On seven of eight of the SPM-P School Form subscales, statistically significant differences were identified: social participation, vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell, balance and motion, and planning and ideas. The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the known-group validity for the ITSP and the SPM-P. This study further demonstrates that the ITSP and the SPM-P can be used with an Australian context.
CATCHprofiles: Clustering and Alignment Tool for ChIP Profiles

Chromatin Immuno Precipitation (ChIP) profiling detects in vivo protein-DNA binding, and has revealed a large combinatorial complexity in the binding of chromatin associated proteins and their post-translational modifications. To fully explore the spatial and combinatorial patterns in ChIP-profiling data and detect potentially meaningful patterns, the areas of enrichment must be aligned and clustered, which is an algorithmically and computationally challenging task. We have developed CATCHprofiles, a novel tool for exhaustive pattern detection in ChIP profiling data. CATCHprofiles is built upon a computationally efficient implementation for the exhaustive alignment and hierarchical clustering of ChIP profiling data. The tool features a graphical interface for examination and browsing of the clustering results. CATCHprofiles requires no prior knowledge about functional sites, detects known binding patterns “ab initio”, and enables the detection of new patterns from ChIP data at a high resolution, exemplified by the detection of asymmetric histone and histone modification patterns around H2A.Z-enriched sites. CATCHprofiles' capability for exhaustive analysis combined with its ease-of-use makes it an invaluable tool for explorative research based on ChIP profiling data. CATCHprofiles and the CATCH algorithm run on all platforms and is available for free through the CATCH website: http://catch.cmbi. ru.nl/. User support is available by subscribing to the mailing list catch-users@bioinformatics.org.
A quasi F‐test for functional linear models with functional covariates and its application to longitudinal data

Functional linear models are useful in analyzing data from designed experiments and observational studies with functional responses, as well as longitudinal data with a large number of repeated measures on each subject. We propose a quasi F‐test for functional linear models with functional covariates and outcomes. We develop a numerical procedure and an efficient approximation for computing p‐values, and present a simple way to test individual predictors. For illustration, we apply the proposed procedure to a longitudinal depression data set with repeatedly measured methamphetamine use as a predictor. We conduct a simulation study to assess the size and the power of the test. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation Metrics and Results of Human Arm Movement Imitation

We present a psychophysical study of human arm movement imitation, and an approach to analyzing the resulting data, which is general enough to be applied to human or humanoid movement analysis. We describe a joint-space based segmentation and comparison algorithm that allows us to evaluate the performance of 11 different subjects performing a series of arm movement imitation tasks. The results provide analytical evidence for the strong interference effects of simultaneous rehearsal during observation. Additionally, the results also demonstrate that repeated imitation in these tasks did not affect the subjects' performance.
On the spectral efficiency of MIMO two-way multihop networks with co-existing flows

In this paper, we investigate the spectral efficiency of MIMO two-way multihop networks when multiple flows co-exist and share the same channel. We assume that each multihop flow mitigates only its own intra-flow interference. More precisely, spatial array processing cancels adjacent node interference and a jointly optimal routing and power allocation strategy mitigates the weaker interference from far nodes. By assuming two types of topology, we study the effect of the inter-flow interference on the end-to-end capacity when the density of flows increases. For the linear topology, we show that multihop routing significantly improved the overall spectral efficiency in dense multihop networks; while single hop MIMO performed better at high SNR regime when there is no interfering flow nearby. However, the network was vulnerable to inter-flow interference in the parallel topology. Consequently, distributed admission control and resource allocation schemes, with coordination among the flows, will be of interest to further improve the spectral efficiency of the multihop networks.
Construction de protocoles de cohérence tolérants aux fautes pour un service adaptable de partage de données

We address the challenge of sharing large amounts of numerical data within computing grids consisting of clusters federation. We focus on the problem of handling the consistency of replicated data in an environment where the availability of storage resources dynamically changes. We propose a software architecture which decouples consistency management from fault-tolerance management. We illustrate this architecture with a case study showing how to design a consistency protocol using fault-tolerant building blocks. As a proof of concept, we describe a prototype implementation of this protocol within JUXMEM, a software experimental platform for grid data sharing, and we report on a preliminary experimental evaluation. Key-words: Consistency protocols, fault-tolerance, grid, data-sharing
Incremental Value of Strain Rate Imaging to Wall Motion Analysis for Prediction of Outcome in Patients Undergoing Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

Background— Wall motion score at dobutamine stress echocardiography is an independent predictor of mortality. We sought to determine whether quantification of DSE by strain rate imaging was incremental to wall motion score for predicting outcome. Methods and Results— In 646 patients undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography for the evaluation of known or suspected coronary disease, customized software was used to automatically measure peak systolic strain rate (SRs) and end-systolic strain (Ses) in 18 segments. Results were expressed as the number of abnormal segments and the mean SRs and Ses per patient. All-cause mortality was identified over 7 years of follow-up (mean, 5.2±1.5 years). Contributions of clinical, wall motion, and SRs and Ses data to outcome were analyzed with Cox models, which also were used to define cut points for SRs and Ses. Ischemia (new or worsening wall motion abnormalities) was detected in 45%, and 39% had a previous myocardial infarction. In patients with no ischemia, annualized mortality without and with previous myocardial infarction were 2% and 3% compared with 5% in patients with ischemia. Peak wall motion score index, mean SRs, segmental Ses, and segmental SRs were all predictors of mortality, but only segmental SRs (hazard ratio, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.7 to 7.2) was independently predictive. In sequential Cox models, the model based on clinical data (overall &khgr;2, 12.7) was improved by peak wall motion score index (18.4, P=0.002) and further increased by either segmental SRs (31.8, P<0.001) or mean SRs (25.7, P=0.009). Conclusions— Segmental analysis by SRs, derived from automated strain rate imaging analysis of dobutamine stress echocardiography response, offers prognostic information that is independent and incremental to standard wall motion score index.
Blood Conservation

Liaison: Mohammad R Rasouli MD Leaders: Luiz Sérgio Marcelino Gomes MD, PhD (International), Brian Parsley MD (US) Delegates: Wael Barsoum MD, Hari Bezwada MD, James Cashman MD, Julio Garcia MD, William Hamilton MD, Eric Hume MD, Rajesh Malhotra MD, Stavros Memtsoudis MD, PhD, Alvin Ong MD, Fabio Orozco MD, Douglas Padgett MD, Ricardo Reina MD, Marco Teloken MD, Emmanuel Thienpont MD, Jonathan H Waters MD
Real-Time Traffic Activity Detection Using Mobile Devices

We propose a method and system for detection of traffic activities in real-time using mobile devices. We address to detect a set of traffic activities that can be applicable for both developed countries and developing countries like Vietnam where major transportation means are motorbikes. In addition, this work focuses on real-time implementation of the system for convenient use, as it can run as a background service on the mobile platforms. Our method relies on a two-stage of detection: low- and high-frequency motion event detection and activity classification. The proposed method is evaluated over a dataset collected from 12 subjects under realistic settings. The results demonstrate that traffic activities (including unknown activities) can be detected with precision and recall over 83% under leave-one-subject-out evaluation. These results are very potential for the situated applications such as the interventions of improper use of mobile devices for traffic participants on the road, and therefore would be useful for alleviation of traffic accidents.
Coordinating space telescope operations in an integrated planning and scheduling architecture

The heuristic scheduling testbed system (HSTS), a software architecture for integrated planning and scheduling, is discussed. The architecture has been applied to the problem of generating observation schedules for the Hubble Space Telescope. This problem is representative of the class of problems that can be addressed: their complexity lies in the interaction of resource allocation and auxiliary task expansion. The architecture deals with this interaction by viewing planning and scheduling as two complementary aspects of the more general process of constructing behaviors of a dynamical system. The principal components of the software architecture are described, indicating how to model the structure and dynamics of a system, how to represent schedules at multiple levels of abstraction in the temporal database and how the problem solving machinery operates. A scheduler for the detailed management of Hubble Space Telescope operations that has been developed within HSTS is described. Experimental performance results are given that indicate the utility and practicality of the approach. <<ETX>>
The Metric-FF Planning System: Translating ''Ignoring Delete Lists'' to Numeric State Variables

Planning with numeric state variables has been a challenge for many years, and was a part of the 3rd International Planning Competition (IPC-3). Currently one of the most popular and successful algorithmic techniques in STRIPS planning is to guide search by a heuristic function, where the heuristic is based on relaxing the planning task by ignoring the delete lists of the available actions. We present a natural extension of "ignoring delete lists" to numeric state variables, preserving the relevant theoretical properties of the STRIPS relaxation under the condition that the numeric task at hand is "monotonic". We then identify a subset of the numeric IPC-3 competition language, "linear tasks", where monotonicity can be achieved by pre-processing. Based on that, we extend the algorithms used in the heuristic planning system FF to linear tasks. The resulting system Metric-FF is, according to the IPC-3 results which we discuss, one of the two currently most efficient numeric planners.
Biomarkers Associated with Vascular and Valvular Calcification in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Cardiovascular calcification, including arterial intimal and medial calcification (AIC and AMC) and valvular calcification (VC) are important predictors of outcome in chronic dialysis patients. We aimed to compare their prevalence and analyze respective risk factors in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: A total of 81 HD patients were enrolled. Vascular calcification was assessed by plain film radiography of the pelvis and VC was diagnosed by echocardiography. Demographic data was reviewed and serum levels of calcification-relevant biomarkers were determined. Patients with and without calcification were then compared. Results: The prevalence study indicated that 36 patients had AIC (44.4%), 17 had AMC (21%) and 60 (74.1%) had VC. Patients with vascular calcification were older, and had a higher prevalence of diabetes. Their IL-6, osteoprotegerin, and uric acid levels were higher. Serum fetuin-A was lower in patients with VC. Logistic regression analysis revealed age, uric acid and diabetes to be independently associated with AIC; uric acid, diabetes and osteoprotegerin with AMC. Fetuin-A was the sole associate of VC. Conclusions: It is concluded that the prevalence of cardiovascular calcification in chronic HD patients was high with cardiac valve involvement more frequent. Factors associated with different type of calcification were not identical. Changes in biomarkers may represent clinical clues for assessment of cardiovascular calcification in HD patients.
Challenging homogenous representations of rural youth through a reconceptualisation of young rural Tasmanian’s sexual health strategies

Abstract Dominant explanations of young people’s health risk behaviours echo essentialist notions of perceived invulnerability and risk misperception. Rural youth, however, are considered particularly ‘at-risk’. In this paper I argue for a need to challenge rural youth discourses, as they can have counterproductive implications. To evidence this need I draw on interview data from research that examined sexual (and other) risk perceptions among young rural Tasmanians. Findings revealed that participants were aware of rural youth stereotypes and often sought to distinguish themselves from these; were cognisant of their susceptibility to risk; and employed particular strategies to reduce the risks they faced. While these strategies are not perfect or foolproof, they nonetheless signify young people’s efforts to mitigate health risks. It is important to recognise this.
Synaptic activity prompts γ-secretase–mediated cleavage of EphA4 and dendritic spine formation

Alzheimer's disease is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function. γ-secretase dysfunction is evident in many cases of early onset familial Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanism by which γ-secretase dysfunction results in memory loss and neurodegeneration is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that γ-secretase is localized at synapses and regulates spine formation. We identify EphA4, one of the Ephrin receptor family members, as a substrate of γ-secretase, and find that EphA4 processing is enhanced by synaptic activity. Moreover, overexpression of EphA4 intracellular domain increases the number of dendritic spines by activating the Rac signaling pathway. These findings reveal a function for EphA4-mediated intracellular signaling in the morphogenesis of dendritic spines and suggest that the processing of EphA4 by γ-secretase affects the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Molecular Cloning and Expression of a Novel Humantrans-Golgi Network Glycoprotein, TGN51, That Contains Multiple Tyrosine-containing Motifs*

Previously, it has been shown that glycoproteins with ∼130-kDa molecular mass react with antisera from patients with renal vasculitis (Kain, R., Matsui, K., Exner, M., Binder, S., Schaffner, G., Sommer, E. M., and Kerjaschki, D. (1995) J. Exp. Med. 181, 585–597). To search for a molecule that reacts with the antibodies, we screened a λgt11 human placental cDNA library. Two of the isolated clones were found to encode a putative counterpart of the rodent trans-Golgi network (TGN) glycoprotein 38, hTGN46, which has the tyrosine containing motif YQRL shared by mouse and rat TGN38. Moreover, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of hTGN46transcripts and genomic analysis of a cDNA deposited as an expressed sequence tag in dbEST Data Base revealed that additional cDNAs exist that are produced by alternate usage of 3′-splice sites of intron III. Alternative splicing results in frame shifts and leads to novel larger translation products with one (for hTGN48) or two (for hTGN51) additional tyrosine-containing motifs. hTGN51 expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells were localized to thetrans-Golgi network, overlapping with β-1,4-galactosyltransferase even after mutating the tyrosine-containing motif common to hTGN46. In contrast, mutated hTGN48 and hTGN46 are no longer retrieved to the TGN. These results strongly suggest that hTGN51 may have a unique function compared with hTGN46 or hTGN48 in shuttling between the cell surface and the TGN.
Aggressive and Violent Behavior

This chapter reviews research and theory on the development of aggressive behavior and violence from childhood to adolescence. We also summarize and discuss research on correlates, risk factors, markers, causal mechanisms, and consequences of aggressive behavior and violence. Due to space constraints, our review focuses on more recent developmental research and theoretical advancements in the past decade. In the introductory section, we present definitions and dimensions of aggression across development. Then we discuss current theories on adaptive and maladaptive functions of human aggression, and we identify cross-cutting theoretical issues. Next, we describe subtypes of aggression, clinical classification, and measurement issues. Then the empirical literature related to the epidemiology of aggression from infancy to adolescence is reviewed, with a focus on normative developmental change and stability. The subsequent sections review the biological, individual, and socialization processes that are related to the development of aggressive behavior and violence. Lastly, we review macro-level comparative research on aggression and violence. Finally, we discuss challenges in current research and identify areas for future research. Keywords: aggressive behavior; biological processes; (mal)adaptation; morality; socialization; violence
3D Reconstruction of Coronary Arteries from Angiographic Images: A Survey

X-Ray angiographyis considered to be the “golden standard” of all times in the medical imaging field due to its wide range of applications. In this paper, a survey is performed on the basic techniques and the methodologies that have already been proposed by various researchers in the field of 3D reconstruction of coronary arteries using one or more angiograms as in monoplane or biplane angiographic systems or a volume of data as in rotational angiographic systems. Also, the various procedures that need to be performed are stated and described showing the contribution of each step in the reconstruction process. These procedures include distortion correction, motion compensation, feature extraction, background removal, projection geometry optimization and topology identification, surface visualization etc. Keyword : 3D Reconstruction, Centerline Extraction, Motion Compensation, X-Ray Angiography
Learning and Performance Orientation of Salespeople: The Role of Supervisors

The recent work of Sujan, Weitz, and Kumar (1994) brings into sharp focus two distinct goal orientations of salespeople: learning and performance. In this article, the authors make two primary contributions to this emerging topic in salesforce literature: (1) They develop and examine novel propositions that shed light on how supervisors influence the goal orientations of salespeople, and (2) They examine whether supervisors’ influence on their salespeople's orientations is moderated by salesperson experience. The article's hypotheses are tested using data from salespeople in two Fortune 500 companies. The results support several of the a priori hypotheses and suggest that supervisory behaviors (as perceived by salespeople) have a significant influence on salespeople's learning and performance orientations. Furthermore, the authors obtain some support for the hypothesized moderating effect of salesperson experience.
gocc: a configuration compiler for self-adaptive systems using goal-oriented requirements description

Self-adaptive systems have recently attracted attention because of their ability to cope with changing environments, including system intrusions or faults. Such software must modify itself to better fit its environment, and one of the approaches by which we expect this capability to be achieved is the introduction of multiple control loops to assess the situation and to determine whether a change in behaviors or configurations is necessary and how to implement the change. Development of such systems with multiple control loops complicates the task of identifying components, and could be greatly aided by appropriate tool support. In this paper, we propose an architectural compiler for self-adaptive systems, which generates architectural configurations from the goal-oriented requirements descriptions. We also present a framework for generating such configurations with this compiler and a pattern in the requirements description. We evaluate the framework experimentally and show that it helps to generate suitable configurations that have high performance, and that the compiler scales well to large input models.