Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparative study into swarm intelligence algorithms for dynamic tasks scheduling in cloud computing

Cloud computing are becoming the major source of computing. The core idea of this environment is managing and scheduling the available resources to provide service's needs. Servers in cloud may be physical or virtual machines accessed across the network. Selecting machines for executing a task in the cloud computing must be considered. They have to be selected according to its status and submitted tasks properties to exploit the efficiency of the resources. Cloud task scheduling is considered an NP-hard optimization problem, and many meta-heuristic algorithms are suitable to solve it. This paper investigates three possible approaches proposed for dynamic task scheduling in cloud computing. The three approaches are belonging to the field of swarm intelligence that is used to find solutions for difficult or impossible combinatorial problems. These approaches are inspired by ant colony behavior, the behavior of particle swarm and honeybee foraging behavior. The main goal is to provide an evaluation and comparative study of these approaches that are used to minimize the makespan of a given tasks set. Performance of the algorithms is simulated using toolkit package of CloudSim. Algorithms have been compared with each other and with the well-known existed algorithms for dynamic task scheduling problem. The results of the experiments are presented and the strengths of each algorithm are investigated. Experimental results show that the proposed approaches satisfy expectation, also proved that ABC algorithm is the superior than other algorithms.
Achieving a High Response Rate With a Health Care Provider Survey, Washington State, 2006

Background Growing evidence of deficiencies in patient safety, health outcomes, cost, and overall quality of care in the United States has led to proposed initiatives and conceptual frameworks for improvement. A means for feasible, valid, and ongoing measurement of health care quality is necessary for planning and evaluating such initiatives. Community Context We sought to assess and improve health care quality for the management of chronic diseases in Washington State. We used the Chronic Care Model to develop a survey for health care providers and systems that measured quality of care and monitored improvement for multiple chronic conditions. Methods We surveyed a random sample of primary care providers and their clinic managers. We used 2 complementary tools: a provider questionnaire (administered by mail) and a clinic manager questionnaire (administered by telephone) to measure intermediate indicators of health care quality. Outcome We achieved high response rates (78% for physicians, 82% for physician assistants, and 71% for clinic managers). Interpretation Our survey administration methods, or modified versions of these methods, may be effective for obtaining high response rates as part of ongoing monitoring of health care quality.
Measuring mass-loss rates and constraining shock physics using X-ray line profiles of O stars from the Chandra archive

We quantitatively investigate the extent of wind absorption signatures in the X-ray grating spectra of all non-magnetic, effectively single O stars in the Chandra archive via line profile fitting. Under the usual assumption of a spherically symmetric wind with embedded shocks, we confirm previous claims that some objects show little or no wind absorption. However, many other objects do show asymmetric and blueshifted line profiles, indicative of wind absorption. For these stars, we are able to derive wind mass-loss rates from the ensemble of line profiles, and find values lower by an average factor of 3 than those predicted by current theoretical models, and consistent with Hα if clumping factors of fcl ≈ 20 are assumed. The same profile fitting indicates an onset radius of X-rays typically at r ≈ 1.5R*, and terminal velocities for the X-ray emitting wind component that are consistent with that of the bulk wind. We explore the likelihood that the stars in the sample that do not show significant wind absorption signatures in their line profiles have at least some X-ray emission that arises from colliding wind shocks with a close binary companion. The one clear exception is ζ Oph, a weak-wind star that appears to simply have a very low mass-loss rate. We also reanalyse the results from the canonical O supergiant ζ Pup, using a solar-metallicity wind opacity model and find M^˙=1.8×10−6 M_ ⊙yr^−1, consistent with recent multiwavelength determinations.
Empirical basis for the development of adaptative interfaces : behavioral and neurophysiological evidences of decision-making and expertise development in a sequencial choice scenario.

Our daily interaction with computer interfaces is plagued of situations in which we go from inexperienced to experienced users through self-motivated repetition of the same task. In many of these interactions, we must learn to find our way through a sequence of decisions and actions before obtaining the desired result. For instance, when drawing cash from an ATM machine, choices are presented in a set-by-step fashion and a specific sequence of actions must be performed in order to produce the expected outcome. But, as we become experts in the use of such interfaces, it is possible to identify specific search and learning strategies? And if so, can we use this information to predict future actions? In addition to better understanding the cognitive processes underlying sequential decision making, this could allow building adaptive interfaces that can facilitate interaction at different moments of the learning curve. Here we tackle the question of modeling sequential decision-making behavior in a simple human-computer interface that instantiates a 4-level binary decision tree (BDT) task. We record behavioral data from voluntary participants while they attempt to solve the task. Using a Hidden Markov Model-based approach that capitalizes on the hierarchical structure of behavior, we then model their performance during the interaction. Our results show that partitioning the problem space into a small set of hierarchically related stereotyped strategies can potentially capture a host of individual search behaviors. This allows us to follow how participants learn and develop expertise in the use of the interface. Moreover, using a Mixture of Experts based on these stereotyped strategies, the model is able to predict the behavior of participants that master the task. Furthermore, using behavioral indicators derived from our behavioral model, we are able to capture the rich structure of the learning process and expertise development in the participants’ Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, revealing at brain level the different stages of the decision-making process through Event Related Potentials (ERP). Our long-term goal is to inform the construction of interfaces that can establish dynamic conversations with their users in order to facilitate ongoing interactions. xiii
An adaptive service for objects re-ranking in u-learning environment

Ubiquitous Learning (U-Learning), as an emerging learning paradigm, makes it possible for learners to carry out the learning activities at any places and at anytime. With the advantages of the devices, learners can obtain a variety of supplementary materials from the internet. In the scope of distance learning, LOR (Learning Object Repository) stands for managing and sharing of these kinds of materials which also be named as learning objects. However, some challenges raise while performing these activities. For instance, a huge amount of learning objects may appear while learners utilize the search service provided by the system. Learners have to spend time on collecting relevant resources for specific purposes. This situation may discourage the reusability of learning objects especially in a ubiquitous environment. In this paper, based on systematic re-examination of reuse scenarios, a resource retrieval mechanism, as a search middleware, was proposed to assist learners in obtaining relevant objects. The achievement of proposed mechanism can re-rank the search results in order of relevant degree based on the combination of learners' geographical information and input query. It may make resource retrieval more efficient in u-learning environment.
Effects of fou8/fry1 Mutation on Sulfur Metabolism: Is Decreased Internal Sulfate the Trigger of Sulfate Starvation Response?

The fou8 loss of function allele of adenosine bisphosphate phosphatase FIERY1 results in numerous phenotypes including the increased enzymatic oxygenation of fatty acids and increased jasmonate synthesis. Here we show that the mutation causes also profound alterations of sulfur metabolism. The fou8 mutants possess lower levels of sulfated secondary compounds, glucosinolates, and accumulate the desulfo-precursors similar to previously described mutants in adenosine 5′phosphosulfate kinase. Transcript levels of genes involved in sulfate assimilation differ in fou8 compared to wild type Col-0 plants and are similar to plants subjected to sulfate deficiency. Indeed, independent microarray analyses of various alleles of mutants in FIERY1 showed similar patterns of gene expression as in sulfate deficient plants. This was not caused by alterations in signalling, as the fou8 mutants contained significantly lower levels of sulfate and glutathione and, consequently, of total elemental sulfur. Analysis of mutants with altered levels of sulfate and glutathione confirmed the correlation of sulfate deficiency-like gene expression pattern with low internal sulfate but not low glutathione. The changes in sulfur metabolism in fou8 correlated with massive increases in 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphate levels. The analysis of fou8 thus revealed that sulfate starvation response is triggered by a decrease in internal sulfate as opposed to external sulfate availability and that the presence of desulfo-glucosinolates does not induce the glucosinolate synthesis network. However, as well as resolving these important questions on the regulation of sulfate assimilation in plants, fou8 has also opened an array of new questions on the links between jasmonate synthesis and sulfur metabolism.
Impact of Stratospheric Volcanic Aerosols on Age-of-Air and Transport of Long-Lived Species

The radiative perturbation associated to stratospheric aerosols from major explosive volcanic eruptions may induce significant changes in stratospheric dynamics. The aerosol heating rates warm up the lower stratosphere and cause a westerly wind anomaly, with additional tropical upwelling. Large scale transport of stratospheric trace species may be perturbed as a consequence of this intensified Brewer–Dobson circulation. The radiatively forced changes of the stratospheric circulation during the first two years after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo (June 1991) may help explain the observed trend decline of long-lived greenhouse gases at surface stations (approximately −8 and −0.4 ppbv/year for CH4 and N2O, respectively). This decline is partly driven by the increased mid- to high-latitude downward flux at the tropopause and also by an increased isolation of the tropical pipe in the vertical layer near the tropopause, with reduced horizontal eddy mixing. Results from a climate-chemistry coupled model are shown for both long-lived trace species and the stratospheric age-of-air. The latter results to be younger by approximately 0.5 year at 30 hPa for 3–4 years after the June 1991 Pinatubo eruption, as a result of the volcanic aerosols radiative perturbation and is consistent with independent estimates based on long time series of in situ profile measurements of SF6 and CO2. Younger age of air is also calculated after Agung, El Chichon and Ruiz eruptions, as well as negative anomalies of the N2O growth rate at the extratropical tropopause layer. This type of analysis is made comparing the results of two ensembles of model simulations (1960–2005), one including stratospheric volcanic aerosols and their radiative interactions and a reference case where the volcanic aerosols do not interact with solar and planetary radiation.
Convergent Validity of a Consumer-Grade Accelerometer with a Research-Grade Pedometer in a Physical Education Setting

The cost of activity monitors has substantially reduced in recent years, making them more feasible for use in physical education programs. This study examined the convergent validity of the consumer-grade Movband activity monitor with the research-grade NL-2000 pedometer. The NL-2000 was chosen as the criterion unit because it is unaffected by BMI, pedometer tilt, or waist circumference, and has been recommended for use in research [1]. One hundred and eleven elementary school aged children (53 boys, 58 girls; 9.2 ± 0.7 yr.) from three physical education classes wore an NL-2000 on their right hip and a Movband on each wrist during a 30 minute class in which participants walked or ran on a hiking trail. A repeated measures ANOVA of mean steps indicated a significant difference (p< .001) between the NL-2000 (2411.74 ± 514.87) and the Movband worn on either wrist (left= 1554.33 ± 340.81, right= 1532.26 ± 329.76). Pearson product-moment correlations indicated that NL-2000 steps and Moves were significantly and positively correlated (p< .001; left= .79, right= .85). The correlation coefficient between left and right wrists was . 87. In general, the Movband can provide reasonable estimates of physical activity for physical education teachers.
A Novel Joint Problem of Routing, Scheduling, and Variable-Width Channel Allocation in WMNs

This paper investigates a novel joint problem of routing, scheduling, and channel allocation for single-radio multichannel wireless mesh networks in which multiple channel widths can be adjusted dynamically through a new software technology so that more concurrent transmissions and suppressed overlapping channel interference can be achieved. Although the previous works have studied this joint problem, their linear programming models for the problem were not incorporated with some delicate constraints. As a result, this paper first constructs a linear programming model with more practical concerns and then proposes a simulated annealing approach with a novel encoding mechanism, in which the configurations of multiple time slots are devised to characterize the dynamic transmission process. Experimental results show that our approach can find the same or similar solutions as the optimal solutions for smaller-scale problems and can efficiently find good-quality solutions for a variety of larger-scale problems.
The Predictive Value of the Integrated Weaning Indices in Mechanically Ventilated COPD Patients

Background: COPD exacerbations necessitating mechanical ventilation representing important aspect of disease management. Attempts to search for better weaning index is a continuous process. Aim of the work: was to study the accuracy of the integrated weaning indices including, CROP index and CORE index as predictors of weaning success in COPD exacerbation under mechanical ventilation. Patients and Methods: 102 COPD patients necessitating mechanical ventilation >24 h underwent daily screen of subjective and objective indices for weaning readiness, and patients were classified according to weaning outcome into successful group (Group S) (60 patients) and failure group (Group F) (42 patients). Results: There were no significant observed difference regarding the demographic data between the successful and the failure groups. There was highly significant difference between both weaning groups regarding dynamic compliance, NIF, P0.1, CROP index and CORE index (P value < 0.05). AUC of CROP index (0.80) was moderately precise compared with that of CORE index (0.63). Conclusion: CROP index is superior to CORE index as a predictor of weaning success in mechanically ventilated COPD patients
GLUT1 and ASCT2 as Predictors for Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

An emerging hallmark of cancer is reprogrammed cellular metabolism, and several cancers involve increased glucose intake and glutamine addiction. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal cancers, and its molecular basis needs to be delineated to identify biomarkers for its potential treatment without resection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the metabolism status of HCC by evaluating the expression of the glucose transporter GLUT1 and glutamine transporter ASCT2. We enrolled 192 patients with surgically resected HCC in this study. Their tissue samples were subjected to immunohistochemistry to detect GLUT1 and ASCT2 expression. The prognostic value of GLUT1 and ASCT2 expression and their combined metabolic index was determined by Kaplan–Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model. We found that GLUT1 and ASCT2 expression was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues as compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues and was positively associated with tumor size. Survival analysis revealed that patients with high GLUT1 or ASCT2 expression had poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). In HCC patients, ASCT2 expression was an independent negative prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.760; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.124−2.755; p = 0.013) and the metabolic index was an independent negative prognostic factor for OS (HR = 1.672, 95% CI = 1.275−2.193, p < 0.001) and RFS (HR = 1.362, 95% CI = 1.066−1.740, p = 0.013). In conclusion, the tumor metabolism status determined by expression of GLUT1 and ASCT2 and their metabolic index is a promising prognostic predictor for HCC patients.
A Portable Kernel Abstraction for Low-Overhead Ephemeral Mapping Management

Modern operating systems create ephemeral virtual-to-physical mappings for a variety of purposes, ranging from the implementation of inter-process communication to the implementation of process tracing and debugging. With succeeding generations of processors the cost of creating ephemeral mappings is increasing, particularly when an ephemeral mapping is shared by multiple processors. To reduce the cost of ephemeral mapping management within an operating system kernel, we introduce the sf_buf ephemeral mapping interface. We demonstrate how in several kernel subsystems -- including pipes, memory disks, sockets, execve(), ptrace(), and the vnode pager -- the current implementation can be replaced by calls to the sf_buf interface. We describe the implementation of the sf_buf interface on the 32-bit i386 architecture and the 64-bit amd64 architecture. This implementation reduces the cost of ephemeral mapping management by reusing wherever possible existing virtual-to-physical address mappings. We evaluate the sf_buf interface for the pipe, memory disk and networking subsystems. Our results show that these subsystems perform significantly better when using the sf_buf interface. On a multiprocessor platform interprocessor interrupts are greatly reduced in number or eliminated altogether.
Broadband PLC for Clustered Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Architecture

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) subsystems monitor and control energy distribution through exchange of information between smart meters and utility networks. A key challenge is how to select a cost-effective communication system without compromising the performance of the applications. Current communication technologies were developed for conventional data networks with different requirements. It is therefore necessary to investigate how much of existing communication technologies can be retrofitted into the new energy infrastructure to cost-effectively deliver acceptable level of service. This paper investigates broadband power line communications (BPLC) as a backhaul solution in AMI. By applying the disparate traffic characteristics of selected AMI applications, the network performance is evaluated. This study also examines the communication network response to changes in application configurations in terms of packet sizes. In each case, the network is stress-tested and performance is assessed against acceptable thresholds documented in the literature. Results show that, like every other communication technology, BPLC has certain limitations; however, with some modifications in the network topology, it indeed can fulfill most AMI traffic requirements for flexible and time-bounded applications. These opportunities, if tapped, can significantly improve fiscal and operational efficiencies in AMI services. Simulation results also reveal that BPLC as a backhaul can support flat and clustered AMI structures with cluster size ranging from 1 to 150 smart meters.
MATEDA: A suite of EDA programs in Matlab

This paper describes MATEDA-2.0, a suite of programs in Matlab for estimation of distribution algorithms. The package allows the optimization of single and multi-objective problems with estimation of distribution algorithms (EDAs) based on undirected graphical models and Bayesian networks. The implementation is conceived for allowing the incorporation by the user of different combinations of selection, learning, sampling, and local search procedures. Other included methods allow the analysis of the structures learned by the probabilistic models, the visualization of particular features of these structures and the use of the probabilistic models as fitness modeling tools.
Bin‐packing problem with concave costs of bin utilization

We consider a generalized one‐dimensional bin‐packing model where the cost of a bin is a nondecreasing concave function of the utilization of the bin. Four popular heuristics from the literature of the classical bin‐packing problem are studied: First Fit (FF), Best Fit (BF), First Fit Decreasing (FFD), and Best Fit Decreasing (BFD). We analyze their worst‐case performances when they are applied to our model. The absolute worst‐case performance ratio of FF and BF is shown to be exactly 2, and that of FFD and BFD is shown to be exactly 1.5. Computational experiments are also conducted to test the performance of these heuristics. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006
NKX2-3 Transcriptional Regulation of Endothelin-1 and VEGF Signaling in Human Intestinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Background NKX2-3 is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). NKX2-3 is expressed in microvascular endothelial cells and the muscularis mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMECs) are actively involved in the pathogenesis of IBD and IBD-associated microvascular dysfunction. To understand the cellular function of NKX2-3 and its potential role underlying IBD pathogenesis, we investigated the genes regulated by NKX2-3 in HIMEC using cDNA microarray. Methodology/Principal Findings NKX2-3 expression was suppressed by shRNA in two HIMEC lines and gene expression was profiled by cDNA microarray. Pathway Analysis was used to identify gene networks according to biological functions and associated pathways. Validation of microarray and genes expression in intestinal tissues was assessed by RT-PCR. NKX2-3 regulated genes are involved in immune and inflammatory response, cell proliferation and growth, metabolic process, and angiogenesis. Several inflammation and angiogenesis related signaling pathways that play important roles in IBD were regulated by NKX2-3, including endothelin-1 and VEGF-PI3K/AKT-eNOS. Expression levels of NKX2-3, VEGFA, PI3K, AKT, and eNOS are increased in intestinal tissues from IBD patients and expression levels of EDN1 are decreased in intestinal tissues from IBD patients. These results demonstrated the important roles of NKX2-3, VEGF, PI3K, AKT, eNOS, and EDN1 in IBD pathogenesis. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between mRNA expression of NKX2-3 and VEGFA and a negative correlation between mRNA expression of NKX2-3 and EDN1 in intestinal tissues from IBD patients. Conclusion/Relevance NKX2-3 may play an important role in IBD pathogenesis by regulating endothelin-1 and VEGF signaling in HIMECs.