Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elasticity in Cloud Databases and Their Query Processing

A central promise of cloud services is elastic, on-demand provisioning. The provisioning of data on temporarily available nodes is what makes elastic database services a hard problem. The essential task that enables elastic data services is bringing a node and its data up-to-date. Strategies for high availability do not satisfy the need in this context because they bring nodes online and up-to-date by repeating history, e.g., by log shipping. Nodes must become up-to-date and useful for query processing incrementally by key range. What is wanted is a technique such that in a newly added node, during each short period of time, an additional small key range becomes up-to-date, until eventually the entire dataset becomes up-to-date and useful for query processing, with overall update performance comparable to a traditional high-availability strategy that carries the entire dataset forward without regard to key ranges. Even without the entire dataset being available, the node is productive and participates in query processing tasks. The authors' proposed solution relies on techniques from partitioned B-trees, adaptive merging, deferred maintenance of secondary indexes and of materialized views, and query optimization using materialized views. The paper introduces a family of maintenance strategies for temporarily available copies, the space of possible query execution plans and their cost functions, as well as appropriate query optimization techniques.
Modeling Climate Change Impacts on the Water Balance of a Medium-Scale Mixed-Forest Watershed, SE USA

Abstract:One of the most significant impacts of projected climate change focuses on the hydrological cycle water balance which has the potential to alter future water resource availability at all spatial scales. This study investigated the impacts of projected changes in monthly air temperature and precipitation in the mid-21st century compared to the 1981–2010 normal climate conditions for a forest dominated medium-scale watershed in the southeastern United States (US). We utilized a water-balance model developed by the US Geological Survey to simulate historical long-term monthly evapotranspiration (ET) and runoff using gridded monthly air temperature and precipitation datasets. Following this, projected precipitation and temperature data were incorporated into the model to calculate future monthly ET and runoff values towards the mid-21st century. The results suggest a significant increase in the summer soil moisture deficit and reduction in soil moisture availability throughout the year which could severely impact overall water resource availability within the watershed. Closer monitoring of the health and development of some of the key forest and plant species may prove beneficial in assessing how the real-time water balance is changing in response to climatic drivers.RESUMEN: Uno de los impactos más importantes del cambio climático proyectado se enfoca en el balance hídrico del ciclo hidrológico que tiene el potencial de alterar la futura disponibilidad de recursos hídricos en todas las escalas espaciales. Este estudio investigó los impactos de los cambios proyectados en la temperatura del aire y lluvias mensuales a mediados del siglo XXI en comparación con las condiciones climáticas normales de 1981–2010 en una cuenca de media escala dominada por bosques en el sureste de los Estados Unidos (EE. UU.). Utilizamos un modelo de balance hidrico desarrollado por el Servicio Geológico de EE.UU. para simular la evapotranspiración (escurrimiento) mensual y escorrentía de largo plazo mensual mediante el uso de un conjunto de datos mensuales de temperatura del aire y precipitación. Después, se incorporaron los datos de precipitación y temperatura proyectados en el modelo para calcular los valores mensuales futuros de escorrentía y escorrentía hacia mediados del siglo XXI. Los resultados sugieren un aumento significativo en el déficit de humedad del suelo durante el verano y una reducción en la disponibilidad de humedad del suelo durante todo el año, lo cual podría impactar de forma severa la disponibilidad general de recursos hídricos dentro de la cuenca. Un monitoreo más detallado de la salud y el desarrollo de algunas de las especies de bosques y plantas clave puede resultar fructuoso para evaluar cómo está cambiando el balance de agua en tiempo real en respuesta a los factores climáticos.
Equipping designers by simulating the effects of visual and hearing impairments

This paper describes a software tool that demonstrates the effects of common vision and hearing impairments on image and sound files. This helps designers to understand and empathize with the difficulties that less able users might experience when using their products and interfaces. A range of impairments and severity levels are simulated and guidance is provided on how to address some of the issues raised. The latest version of this tool will be available for demonstration at Assets.
Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach

The idea that success in mathematics is only available to those born as “mathematics people” has been challenged in recent years by neuroscience, showing that mathematics pathways develop in the brain through learning and practice. This paper reports on a blended professional learning model of online and in-person meetings during which 40 teachers in 8 school districts in the US learned about the new brain science, challenging the “math person” myth, as well as effective mathematics teaching methods. We refer to the combination as a Mathematical Mindset Approach. Using mixed methods, we conducted a one-year study to investigate teacher and student learning in a Mathematical Mindset network. We collected data on teacher and student beliefs, teacher instructional practice, and student learning gains on state achievement tests. The results from our quantitative analyses found statistically significant positive improvements in student beliefs, teacher’s instructional practice, and on students’ math test scores. The mindset approach particularly raised the achievement of girls, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students. Based on our qualitative analysis, we propose that the success of the intervention rests upon two central factors: (1) The different forms of PD served to eradicate the learning myths that had held up teachers and learners; and that (2) Teachers had space for identity work as mathematical learners.
Genome Rearrangements Detected by SNP Microarrays in Individuals with Intellectual Disability Referred with Possible Williams Syndrome

Background Intellectual disability (ID) affects 2–3% of the population and may occur with or without multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) or other medical conditions. Established genetic syndromes and visible chromosome abnormalities account for a substantial percentage of ID diagnoses, although for ∼50% the molecular etiology is unknown. Individuals with features suggestive of various syndromes but lacking their associated genetic anomalies pose a formidable clinical challenge. With the advent of microarray techniques, submicroscopic genome alterations not associated with known syndromes are emerging as a significant cause of ID and MCA. Methodology/Principal Findings High-density SNP microarrays were used to determine genome wide copy number in 42 individuals: 7 with confirmed alterations in the WS region but atypical clinical phenotypes, 31 with ID and/or MCA, and 4 controls. One individual from the first group had the most telomeric gene in the WS critical region deleted along with 2 Mb of flanking sequence. A second person had the classic WS deletion and a rearrangement on chromosome 5p within the Cri du Chat syndrome (OMIM:123450) region. Six individuals from the ID/MCA group had large rearrangements (3 deletions, 3 duplications), one of whom had a large inversion associated with a deletion that was not detected by the SNP arrays. Conclusions/Significance Combining SNP microarray analyses and qPCR allowed us to clone and sequence 21 deletion breakpoints in individuals with atypical deletions in the WS region and/or ID or MCA. Comparison of these breakpoints to databases of genomic variation revealed that 52% occurred in regions harboring structural variants in the general population. For two probands the genomic alterations were flanked by segmental duplications, which frequently mediate recurrent genome rearrangements; these may represent new genomic disorders. While SNP arrays and related technologies can identify potentially pathogenic deletions and duplications, obtaining sequence information from the breakpoints frequently provides additional information.
Masers in AGN environments

Abstract Galactic nuclei are well known sources of OH and H2O maser emission. It appears that intense star formation in ultra-luminous infrared galaxies drives most OH sources. In contrast, nuclear activity appears to drive most H2O sources. When H2O emission originates in accretion disk structures, constrained geometry and dynamics enable robust interpretation of spectroscopic and imaging data. The principal science includes study of AGN geometry at parsec and sub-parsec radii and measurement of geometric distances in the Hubble Flow. New high accuracy estimates of the “Hubble constant, H○” obtained from maser distances may enable new substantively improved constraints on fundamental cosmological parameters (e.g., dark energy).
Teacher motivation and job satisfaction: a case study of North West Nigeria

The rate of educational development in Nigeria is constrained by social, economic, and political factors. This affects the adult literacy rate in the country, which is about 60% and lower for adults in rural areas. Teachers play pivotal roles in improving student enrolment, retention, and completion. Teachers’ motivation levels may determine how they effectively play such roles. This study addresses the relationship between teacher motivation and high productive performance by teachers. The study uses the context of Northern Nigeria whose struggles with literacy and education generally are more pronounced than the rest of the country. The study uses Baseline Survey data from the 2014 Teacher Development Program In-Service Training Component Impact Evaluation conducted in North West Nigeria. A binary multiple logistic regression model is used to evaluate the relationship between job satisfaction, some sociodemographic factors, and some perceptions relating to teaching. It is hoped that the findings will be beneficial to an international audience especially for comparative benefits in motivation and job satisfaction. In addition, the findings will be beneficial to educators in Nigeria in addressing the issue of teachers’ motivation, performance and job satisfaction. Keywords: Adult Education, Teacher Perception, Adult Literacy, Northern Nigeria, Logistic Regression
Exploiting the Power of Multiplicity: A Holistic Survey of Network-Layer Multipath

The Internet is inherently a multipath network: For an underlying network with only a single path, connecting various nodes would have been debilitatingly fragile. Unfortunately, traditional Internet technologies have been designed around the restrictive assumption of a single working path between a source and a destination. The lack of native multipath support constrains network performance even as the underlying network is richly connected and has redundant multiple paths. Computer networks can exploit the power of multiplicity, through which a diverse collection of paths is resource pooled as a single resource, to unlock the inherent redundancy of the Internet. This opens up a new vista of opportunities, promising increased throughput (through concurrent usage of multiple paths) and increased reliability and fault tolerance (through the use of multiple paths in backup/redundant arrangements). There are many emerging trends in networking that signify that the Internet's future will be multipath, including the use of multipath technology in data center computing; the ready availability of multiple heterogeneous radio interfaces in wireless (such as Wi-Fi and cellular) in wireless devices; ubiquity of mobile devices that are multihomed with heterogeneous access networks; and the development and standardization of multipath transport protocols such as multipath TCP. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive survey of the literature on network-layer multipath solutions. We will present a detailed investigation of two important design issues, namely, the control plane problem of how to compute and select the routes and the data plane problem of how to split the flow on the computed paths. The main contribution of this paper is a systematic articulation of the main design issues in network-layer multipath routing along with a broad-ranging survey of the vast literature on network-layer multipathing. We also highlight open issues and identify directions for future work.
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 antibody reduces tumorigenicity and metastasis in orthotopic prostate cancer xenografts via induction of endothelial cell apoptosis and reduction of endothelial cell matrix metalloproteinase type 9 production.

PURPOSE Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is produced by tumor cells, is a potent endothelial cell mitogen. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of orthotopic prostate cancer xenografts and prostate cancer bone metastasis to anti-VEGF receptor (flk-1) antibody (DC101) treatment. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Orthotopic prostate cancer models (PC-3M-MM2 and LNCaP-LN3 prostate carcinoma cells) and a prostate cancer bone metastasis model (PC-3M-MM2) were used for these experiments. Early and established tumors were treated with saline, paclitaxel, DC101, or a DC101-plus-paclitaxel combination for 5 weeks (PC-3M-MM2) and 12 weeks (LNCaP-LN3). At the end of therapy, tumors were removed and weighed. Apoptosis, tumor cell proliferation, and angiogenesis- and metastasis-related gene expression were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-ediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS After treatment of early tumors (PC-3M-MM2), median prostate tumor weights (+/-SE) were 1230 +/- 210 mg in untreated controls, 482 +/- 121 mg in mice treated with paclitaxel (P = 0.009), 148 +/- 27 mg in mice treated with DC101 (P < 0.001), and 48 +/- 10 mg in mice treated with the combination of DC101 and paclitaxel (P < 0.001). Lymph node metastasis occurred in 7 of the 9 control mice, 5 of the 9 paclitaxel-treated animals, 5 of the 12 DC101-treated animals, and 2 of the 11 animals in the combination therapy group. Treatment with DC101 alone or in combination with paclitaxel reduced tumor-induced neovascularity measured by microvessel density and tumor cell proliferation (by proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and enhanced apoptosis (measured by TUNEL) in tumor cells and endothelial cells compared with controls. In the tibial prostate cancer metastasis model, significant inhibition of tumor growth was observed. In the LNCaP-LN3 orthotopic prostate cancer model, tumors occurred in 7 of the 10 control mice, 4 of the 10 paclitaxel-treated animals, 5 of the 10 DC101-treated animals, and 2 of the 11 animals in the combination therapy group (P < 0.05). The efficacy of DC101 was much greater in the treatment of early tumors, which suggests that tumor burden may be a critical factor in determining the response to DC101. In vitro and in vivo analysis of endothelial cell function showed reduced matrix metalloproteinase type 9 production in endothelial cells treated with DC101. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the principle of tumor growth inhibition by targeting angiogenesis within tumors and supports the use of anti-VEGF receptor agents.
SPECTRAL METHODS FOR THE CALCULATION OF RISK MEASURES FOR VARIABLE ANNUITY GUARANTEED BENEFITS

Abstract Spectral expansion techniques have been extensively exploited for the pricing of exotic options. In this paper, we present novel applications of spectral methods for the quantitative risk management of variable annuity guaranteed benefits such as guaranteed minimum maturity benefits and guaranteed minimum death benefits. The objective is to find efficient and accurate solution methods for the computation of risk measures, which is the key to determining risk-based capital according to regulatory requirements. Our example calculations show that two spectral methods used in this paper are highly efficient and numerically more stable than conventional known methods. Hence these approaches are more suitable for intensive calculations involving death benefits.
Experimental Results on Solving the Projection Problem in Action Formalisms Based on Description Logics

In the reasoning about actions community, one of the most basic reasoning problems is the projection problem: the question whether a certain assertion holds after executing a sequence of actions. While undecidable for general action theories based on the situation calculus, the projection problem was shown to be decidable in two different restrictions of the situation calculus to theories formulated using description logics. In this paper, we compare our implementations of projection procedures for these two approaches on random testing data for several realistic application domains. Important contributions of this work are not only the obtained experimental results, but also the approach for generating test cases. By using patterns extracted from the respective application domains, we ensure that the randomly generated input data make sense and are not inconsistent.
Some Tests in Text Categorization using Term Selection by DTP

Distance to Transition Point (DTP) has shown good performance in term selection for Text Categorization task. Previous experiment report that DTP behaves well as DF and CHI term selection techniques. In this paper we present the results of using DTP computed in a global and local fashion; considering the whole of categories of training set. The results confirm that performance of DTP globally computed is better than DTP locally computed. The test carried out took into account two classification methods: k−NN and Rocchio’s algorithm; and three well known methods to select terms: DF, CHI and IG.
An implementation of secure multi-party computations to preserve privacy when processing EMR data

The combination of secure multi-party computations (SMC) algorithms, encryption, public key infrastructure (PKI), certificates, and a certificate authority (CA) is used to implement an infrastructure and a toolset for statistical analysis of electronic medical record (EMR) data. EMR data are typically located at different general practices and hospitals. These general practices and hospitals are considered nodes in a computing graph. The infrastructure and toolset has to take into consideration legal, security and privacy issues involved in statistical analysis of such data. The described approach tries to support a wide range of possible SMC algorithms and computing graphs.
Risk Factors for Sexual Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Case-Control Study

Background. Since 2000, incidence of sexually acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection has increased among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). To date, few case-control and cohort studies evaluating HCV transmission risk factors were conducted in this population, and most of these studies were initially designed to study HIV-related risk behavior and characteristics. Methods. From 2009 onwards, HIV-infected MSM with acute HCV infection and controls (HIV-monoinfected MSM) were prospectively included in the MOSAIC (MSM Observational Study of Acute Infection with hepatitis C) study at 5 large HIV outpatient clinics in the Netherlands. Written questionnaires were administered, covering sociodemographics, bloodborne risk factors for HCV infection, sexual behavior, and drug use. Clinical data were acquired through linkage with databases from the Dutch HIV Monitoring Foundation. For this study, determinants of HCV acquisition collected at the inclusion visit were analyzed using logistic regression. Results. Two hundred thirteen HIV-infected MSM (82 MSM with acute HCV infection and 131 MSM without) were included with a median age of 45.7 years (interquartile range [IQR], 41.0–52.2). Receptive unprotected anal intercourse (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63–15.4), sharing sex toys (aOR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.04–12.5), unprotected fisting (aOR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.02–6.44), injecting drugs (aOR, 15.62; 95% CI, 1.27–192.6), sharing straws when snorting drugs (aOR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.39–8.32), lower CD4 cell count (aOR, 1.75 per cubic root; 95% CI, 1.19–2.58), and recent diagnosis of ulcerative sexually transmitted infection (aOR, 4.82; 95% CI, 1.60–14.53) had significant effects on HCV acquisition. Conclusions. In this study, both sexual behavior and biological factors appear to independently increase the risk of HCV acquisition among HIV-infected MSM.
Extracting common spatial patterns based on wavelet lifting for brain computer interface design

Brain computer interfacing (BCI) offers the possibility to interact with machines uniquely relying on the user's thoughts. Although wavelet analysis has been used in the BCI field there is evidence that standard wavelet families, such as Daubechies, may not be the optimal approach. In this study, we developed a novel wavelet lifting scheme, specifically for BCI design. The lifting transform in this new approach is based on common spatial patterns (CSP), which allows to exploit the signal characteristics in temporal, spectral and spatial domains simultaneously. Experimental results show that in BCI applications the new wavelet outperforms several first generation wavelet families in terms of classification accuracy and resource consumption.
Multitrait least squares for quantitative trait loci detection.

A multiple-trait QTL mapping method using least squares is described. It is presented as an extension of a single-trait method for use with three-generation, outbred pedigrees. The multiple-trait framework allows formal testing of whether the same QTL affects more than one trait (i.e., a pleiotropic QTL) or whether more than one linked QTL are segregating. Several approaches to the testing procedure are presented and their suitability discussed. The performance of the method is investigated by simulation. As previously found, multitrait analyses increase the power to detect a pleiotropic QTL and the precision of its location estimate. With enough information, discrimination between alternative genetic models is possible.
Long-term nonlinear behaviour of the magnetorotational instability in a localized model of an accretion disc

For more than a decade, the so-called shearing box model has been used to study the fundamental local dynamics of accretion discs. This approach has proved to be very useful because it allows high resolution and long term studies to be carried out, studies that would not be possible for a global disc. Localised disc studies have largely focused on examining the rate of enhanced transport of angular momentum, essentially a sum of the Reynolds and Maxwell stresses. The dominant radial-azimuthal component of this stress tensor is, in the classic Shakura-Sunayaev model, expressed as a constant alpha times the pressure. Previous studies have estimated alpha based on a modest number of orbital times. Here we use much longer baselines, and perform a cumulative average for alpha. Great care must be exercised when trying to extract numerical alpha values from simulations: dissipation scales, computational box aspect ratio, and even numerical algorithms all affect the result. This study suggests that estimating alpha becomes more, not less, difficult as computational power increases.