Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Answering questions about unanswered questions of Stack Overflow

Community-based question answering services accumulate large volumes of knowledge through the voluntary services of people across the globe. Stack Overflow is an example of such a service that targets developers and software engineers. In general, questions in Stack Overflow are answered in a very short time. However, we found that the number of unanswered questions has increased significantly in the past two years. Understanding why questions remain unanswered can help information seekers improve the quality of their questions, increase their chances of getting answers, and better decide when to use Stack Overflow services. In this paper, we mine data on unanswered questions from Stack Overflow. We then conduct a qualitative study to categorize unanswered questions, which reveals characteristics that would be difficult to find otherwise. Finally, we conduct an experiment to determine whether we can predict how long a question will remain unanswered in Stack Overflow.
Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their development and use (5th edition).

Clinicians and those in health sciences are frequently called upon to measure subjective states such as attitudes, feelings, quality of life, educational achievement and aptitude, and learning style in their patients. This fourth edition of Health Measurement Scales enables these groups who often have limited knowledge of statistics, to both develop scales to measure non-tangible health outcomes, and better evaluate and differentiate between existing tools.
The Combination of Thalidomide and Capecitabine in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma—Is Not the Answer

Objective:Despite the introduction of newer treatment approaches in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), overall survival remains disappointing and further exploration of current chemotherapeutic agents for second or third-line treatment is imperative. We conducted a phase II trial to determine the efficacy and safety of the combination of thalidomide and capecitabine in mRCC. Materials and Methods:We enrolled 13 eligible patients, who had progressive measurable metastatic disease, between May 2003 and January 2005. Treatment consisted of thalidomide 200 mg daily for 21 days per cycle, and capecitabine 1250 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days per cycle. The primary end point was response rate. Secondary endpoints included overall survival and toxicity assessment. Results:Twelve patients were eligible for statistical analysis. The median age was 59 years, and most patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–1 (92%). Nine patients had previous nephrectomy. The median number of administered cycles was 4 (range 2–10). Anemia was the only grade 3 toxicity. Grade 2 toxicities included fatigue, constipation, anemia, hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, and peripheral neuropathy. Although no radiographic responses were observed, 5 patients (42%) achieved stable disease. Seven patients (58%) experienced disease progression. The median overall survival was 10.2 months. Conclusion:Despite being well tolerated with manageable side effects, the use of thalidomide and capecitabine in patients with mRCC did not significantly impact response or survival.
The Feasibility of Embedding Data Collection into the Routine Service Delivery of a Multi-Component Program for High-Risk Young People

Background: There is little evidence about how to improve outcomes for high-risk young people, of whom Indigenous young people are disproportionately represented, due to few evaluation studies of interventions. One way to increase the evidence is to have researchers and service providers collaborate to embed evaluation into the routine delivery of services, so program delivery and evaluation occur simultaneously. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating best-evidence measures into the routine data collection processes of a service for high-risk young people, and identify the number and nature of risk factors experienced by participants. Methods: The youth service is a rural based NGO comprised of multiple program components: (i) engagement activities; (ii) case management; (iii) diversionary activities; (iv) personal development; and (v) learning and skills. A best-evidence assessment tool was developed by staff and researchers and embedded into the service’s existing intake procedure. Assessment items were organised into demographic characteristics and four domains of risk: education and employment; health and wellbeing; substance use; and crime. Descriptive data are presented and summary risk variables were created for each domain of risk. A count of these summary variables represented the number of co-occurring risks experienced by each participant. The feasibility of this process was determined by the proportion of participants who completed the intake assessment and provided research consent. Results: This study shows 85% of participants completed the assessment tool demonstrating that data on participant risk factors can feasibly be collected by embedding a best-evidence assessment tool into the routine data collection processes of a service. The most prevalent risk factors were school absence, unemployment, suicide ideation, mental distress, substance use, low levels of physical activity, low health service utilisation, and involvement in crime or with the juvenile justice system. All but one participant experienced at least two co-occurring domains of risk, and the majority of participants (58%) experienced co-occurring risk across four domains. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that best-evidence measures can feasibly be embedded into the routine data collection processes of a service for high-risk young people. This process allows services to tailor their activities to the most prevalent risks experienced by participants, and monitor these risks over time. Replication of this process in other services would improve the quality of services, facilitate more high quality evaluations of services, and contribute evidence on how to improve outcomes for high-risk young people.
Analysis of Chinese Energy Efficiency of Iron and Steel Industry Based on Super-efficiency DEA

Under the framework of total factor energy efficiency,this paper establishes super-efficiency DEA model to investigate energy efficiency of Chinese iron and steel industry from 2002 to 2008.Based on the results,it also estimates the reducible of energy consumption of specific enterprise and evaluates the shift of energy efficiency.The results are as follows: first,the energy efficiency has a notable increase from 2007 and the energy efficiency varies greatly in different enterprises;second,the iron and steel industry has a huge potential to reduce energy consumption and energy consumption could be reduced by around 20% on the average every year;third,the energy efficiency improvement is mainly attributable to technical efficiency progress rather than technical change.
Comparative finite-element studies of sinusoidal and single pulse controlled switched reluctance machines with power converter considerations

This paper proposes a four-phase mutually coupled switched reluctance machine (MCSRM) arrangement with single pulse current control strategy, targeting performance improvements of both the machine and the power converter. Previously published works on MCSRM have focused only on machine performance while neglecting the power converters. Designs and comparative studies have been carried out among conventional switched reluctance machine (CSRM), full pitch MCSRM, short pitch MCSRM and single pulse MCSRM with practical specifications. Coupled finite element analysis and circuit simulations have been employed to evaluate performance indices including torque ripple, machine iron/copper loss, power factor, winding current density, power converter losses and power densities. The machine-converter system level investigations have confirmed that in the proposed four-phase MCSRM under single pulse control, improved machine performances can be obtained with reduced power converter loss.
VegaIndexer: A Distributed composite index scheme for big spatio-temporal sensor data on cloud

With the prevalence of data-intensive geospatial applications, massive spatio-temporal sensor data are obtained and the big data have posed grand challenges on existing index methods based on spatial databases due to their intrinsic poor scalability and retrieval efficiency. Motivated by the deficiencies, in this paper, we propose a distributed composite spatio-temporal index scheme called VegaIndexer for efficiently answering queries from large collections of space-time sensor data. Firstly, we present a distributed spatio-temporal indexing architecture based on cloud platform which consists of global index and local index. Moreover, we propose Multi-version Distributed enhanced R+ (MDR+) tree algorithm for accelerating data retrieval and spatio-temporal query efficiency. Furthermore, we design a MapReduce-based parallel processing approach of batch constructing indices for big spatiotemporal sensor data. In addition, we implement VegaIndexer middleware on top of the leading cloud platform, i.e., Hadoop and associated NoSQL database. The experimental experiments show that VegaIndexer outperforms the index methods of typical spatial databases.
Classification de Sentiments Multi-Domaines et Passage à l'Echelle

RÉSUMÉ. La classification de sentiments multi-domaines est un problème complexe: en effet, les distributions de caractéristiques sont alors différentes dans les ensembles d’apprentissage et de test. Différentes propositions permettent de limiter la baisse de performance inhérente à ce cadre. Cependant, la classification de sentiments est une tâche particulière car le web participatif nous donne accès à une quasi-infinité de données étiquetées. Cela soulève de nouvelles questions: à partir de quel volume de données les distributions d’apprentissage et de test convergent elles? Quand est ce que l’intérêt des techniques de transfert disparait? Dans cet article, nous étudions le taux de reconnaissance en sentiments par rapport la taille des ensembles d’apprentissage.
National agenda for children with special health needs. Social policy for the 1990s through the 21st century.

The evolution in medical technology for children with special health care needs has been accompanied by an evolution in concepts of care. Broadened diagnostic categories, comprehensive concern for the whole child, and coordinated services that are family-centered and community-based have become part of the national agenda. During the 1980s this agenda was advanced both by congressional action and by joint activities of the U.S. Public Health Service and the private sector. Much remains to be accomplished. Increased parent participation and activism, an integral part of the future, will require vigilant nurturing and support.
Modification of the sensitivity to cisplatin with c-myc over-expression or down-regulation in colon cancer cells

Human colon cancer SW480 cells express the c-myc gene. On the other hand, SW480DDP cell lines resistant to cisplatin exhibited decreased c-myc gene expression, but their cell growth rates remained similar to those of their parental cells. Antisense oligonucleotides to c-myc inhibited c-myc expression and induced increased resistance to cisplatin in SW480 cells. In contrast, SW480DDP cells showed increased c-myc expression and reversed sensitivity to cisplatin when these cells were transfected with c-myc cDNA from the pLNCX plasmid. Moreover, SW480DDP cells transfected with c-myc cDNA induced apoptosis when exposed to cisplatin, but not SW480 cells transfected with an antisense sequence for c-myc. Transfection either with a c-myc antisense sequence or c-myc cDNA to these cells did not change their growth rates. Thus enforced expression of c-myc in SW480 and SW620 lines sensitizes cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis, whereas the down-regulation of c-myc in SW480DDP and SW620DDP increases cisplatin resistance when using antisense strategy.
Executive function in adolescents with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to clarify executive function weakness in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during adolescence and determine the specificity of executive function weakness to ADHD symptom domains. METHOD A total of 182 adolescents (105 boys), ages 13 to 17 years, completed a multistage diagnostic assessment; 85 were diagnosed with ADHD: 43 primarily Inattentive type (ADHD-PI) and 42 Combined type (ADHD-C). Participants completed the Stop, Trail Making, Wisconsin Card Sort, and Stroop tasks. RESULTS The ADHD group exhibited impaired performance compared with the non-ADHD group on executive function measures (multivariate p < .05); there were no ADHD subtype differences. A composite executive function factor was significantly related to inattentive but not hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Executive function weakness in adolescent ADHD is specifically related to symptoms of inattention-disorganization. Results are congruent with a dual-pathway model of ADHD cognitive mechanisms.
Honeybees ( exhibit flexible visual search Apis mellifera ) strategies for vertical targets presented at various heights

When honeybees are presented with a colour discrimination task, they tend to choose swiftly and accurately when objects are presented in the ventral part of their frontal visual field. In contrast, poor performance is observed when objects appear in the dorsal part. Here we investigate if this asymmetry is caused by fixed search patterns or if bees can increase their detection ability of objects in search scenarios when targets appear frequently or exclusively in the dorsal area of the visual field. We trained individual honeybees to choose an orange rewarded target among blue distractors. Target and distractors were presented in the ventral visual field, the dorsal field or both. Bees presented with targets in the ventral visual field consistently had the highest search efficiency, with rapid decisions, high accuracy and direct flight paths. In contrast, search performance for dorsally located targets was inaccurate and slow at the beginning of the experimental phase, but bees increased their search performance significantly after a few foraging bouts: they found the target faster, made fewer errors and flew in a straight line towards the target. However, bees needed thrice as long to improve the search for a dorsally located target when the target’s position changed randomly between the ventral and the dorsal visual field. We propose that honeybees form expectations of the location of the target’s appearance and adapt their search strategy accordingly. A variety of possible mechanisms underlying this behavioural adaptation, for example spatial attention, are discussed. 1,2 3
Immune response in cervical lymph nodes from patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Deficient immune response in the cervical lymph nodes of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma may contribute to dissemination of metastatic neoplastic cells. This study evaluates the immune response in cervical lymph nodes from patients with primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). METHODS The density of immature (CD1a(+)) and mature (CD83(+)) dendritic cells (DCs), cytotoxic T lymphocytes CD8(+) /perforin(+) (CTLs), and Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Tregs) cells in the lymph nodes of patients with OCSCC without cervical lymph node metastases (LN1) (negative) (n = 10) were identified through immunohistochemistry. From patients with cervical lymph node metastases, samples were obtained of lymph nodes both with (LM2) (positive) (n = 10) and without (LN2) (negative) (n = 10) metastases. RESULTS The results demonstrated that the number of CD1a(+) and Foxp3(+) cells was significantly higher in the LM2 group than in either the LN1 or the LN2 group. In addition, the number of CD8(+) /perforin(+) and CD83(+) cells was significantly lower in the LM2 group than in the other groups. CONCLUSION The results of this study demonstrate a higher density of immature DCs and Tregs cells and a lower density of mature DCs and activated CTLs in metastatic than in non-metastatic lymph nodes. These findings might indicate an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which could be involved in the spread of neoplastic cells to cervical lymph nodes.
A Unified Approach to Network Traffic and Network Security Visualisation

In this paper we present an architecture which enables data-sharing between computer security and network traffic visualisation tools. At its core is a middleware which manages all interactions. This enables one application to determine the acceptable input for another, and send compatible data. The middleware sits atop a unified database which provides data in a generic form to the applications. Interesting traffic patterns or attack trends seen in one tool can be sent directly to another for further examination and analysis. All communication in the middleware is performed using XML as a data transport mechanism.
Alkamides Isolated from Plants Promote Growth and Alter Root Development in Arabidopsis1

To date, several classes of hormones have been described that influence plant development, including auxins, cytokinins, ethylene, and, more recently, brassinosteroids. However, it is known that many fungal and bacterial species produce substances that alter plant growth that, if naturally present in plants, might represent novel classes of plant growth regulators. Alkamides are metabolites widely distributed in plants with a broad range of biological activities. In this work, we investigated the effects of affinin, an alkamide naturally occurring in plants, and its derivates, N-isobutyl-2E-decenamide and N-isobutyl-decanamide, on plant growth and early root development in Arabidopsis. We found that treatments with affinin in the range of 10-6 to 10-4 m alter shoot and root biomass production. This effect correlated with alteration on primary root growth, lateral root formation, and root hair elongation. Low concentrations of affinin (7 × 10-6–2.8 × 10-5 m) enhanced primary root growth and root hair elongation, whereas higher concentrations inhibited primary root growth that related with a reduction in cell proliferating activity and cell elongation. N-isobutyl-2E-decenamide and N-isobutyl-decanamide were found to stimulate root hair elongation at concentrations between 10-8 to 10-7 m. Although the effects of alkamides were similar to those produced by auxins on root growth and cell parameters, the ability of the root system to respond to affinin was found to be independent of auxin signaling. Our results suggest that alkamides may represent a new group of plant growth promoting substances with significant impact on root development and opens the possibility of using these compounds for improved plant production.
Processing and levitation force in top-seeded YBCO

Bulk cylinders of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/-Y/sub 2/BaCuO/sub 5/ composites, up to 35.0 mm in diameter, have been melt-processed using MgO single crystals, Nd123 and Sm123 melt textured ceramics, as seeds. The influence of processing parameters has been examined in order to optimize the growth conditions. Polarized light microscopy, SEM and EDX, have been used to characterize the orientation, size and morphology of the grains, as well as the spatial distribution and size of Y211 particles. An increase of the levitation forces is observed when the top seeding growth is carried out under a temperature gradient. The trapped magnetic and the levitation force of a single domain sample was systematically measured and theoretically simulated by finite element calculations. The deduced J/sub c/ from the different experiments have been compared and analyzed.
High-Voltage Pulsed Power Supply to Generate Wide Pulses Combined With Narrow Pulses

This paper proposes a pulsed power supply topology based on the combination of capacitor-diode voltage multiplier and resonant circuit. It generates high output voltage pulses with low ac input voltage using power electronics switches. Based on the type of application, simple or combined mode pulses can be created by proposed topology. The combined mode pulse (wide pulses combined with narrow pulses) generation can be a very good alternative strategy for food sterilization, which can reduce the amount of consumed power and avoid side effects of wide pulses used in the food treatment process. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the proposed topology.
CLADOGENESIS AS THE RESULT OF LONG‐DISTANCE RAFTING EVENTS IN SOUTH PACIFIC TOPSHELLS (GASTROPODA, TROCHIDAE)

Abstract We used DNA sequences of lecithotrophic monodontine topshells, belonging to the genera Diloma, Melagraphia, and Austrocochlea, to ascertain how this group became established over a large area of the South Pacific Ocean. The phylogeny of the topshells was estimated using portions of two mitochondrial genes (16S and cytochrome oxidase 1) and one nuclear gene (actin). A range of divergence rates was used to estimate the approximate timing of cladogenetic events within their phylogenetic tree. These estimates allow us to unambiguously reject vicariant explanations for several major divergence events and to infer several dispersal events across wide stretches of ocean. The first were two initial dispersal events from Australia (1) to an area between Samoa and Japan and (2) to New Zealand. Subsequently, at least one, and possibly two, recent eastward dispersals took place from New Zealand to Chile and the Juan Fernandez Islands, and one further dispersal occurred from somewhere in the tropical Pacific to Samoa. Moreover, owing to the short‐lived nature of the topshell larvae, transoceanic larval dispersal is unlikely. The apparent paradox of a short larval phase and broad geographic range suggests that dispersal most probably occurred by rafting of adults on a suitable platform such as macroalgae; indeed, naturally buoyant bull kelp is the natural habitat of the most geographically widespread species in this group. Our molecular phylogenies imply that, despite of being an unlikely event, adult rafting in ocean currents has occurred on several occasions throughout the evolutionary history of topshells, resulting in their wide present‐day distribution.
Haptic based walking stick for visually impaired people

This paper proposes a new product concept of an electronic travelling aid with haptic perception for the visually impaired people. The device is much similar to the conventional white cane in appearance and it is fabricated using ultrasonic sensors, a vibrator motor scheme, a controller and a power unit inside the walking stick. The sensor system comprises of three ultrasonic sensors to acquire obstacle distance measurements and the user can interpret the distance information as a tactile sensation. The sonar sensors are fired with a sequential firing mechanism to avoid crosstalk. Distance is felt by the user in terms of the vibration intensity change. This device was tested with blind school students and results are presented.