Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Greenhead: Virtual Data Center Embedding across Distributed Infrastructures

Cloud computing promises to provide on-demand computing, storage, and networking resources. However, most cloud providers simply offer virtual machines (VMs) without bandwidth and delay guarantees, which may hurt the performance of the deployed services. Recently, some proposals suggested remediating such limitation by offering virtual data centers (VDCs) instead of VMs only. However, they have only considered the case where VDCs are embedded within a single data center. In practice, infrastructure providers should have the ability to provision requested VDCs across their distributed infrastructure to achieve multiple goals including revenue maximization, operational costs reduction, energy efficiency, and green IT, or to simply satisfy geographic location constraints of the VDCs. In this paper, we propose Greenhead, a holistic resource management framework for embedding VDCs across geographically distributed data centers connected through a backbone network. The goal of Greenhead is to maximize the cloud provider's revenue while ensuring that the infrastructure is as environment-friendly as possible. To evaluate the effectiveness of our proposal, we conducted extensive simulations of four data centers connected through the NSFNet topology. Results show that Greenhead improves requests' acceptance ratio and revenue by up to 40 percent while ensuring high usage of renewable energy and minimal carbon footprint.
Evolution of Graphics Northbridge Test and Debug Architectures Across Four Generations of AMD ASICs

Rapid growth in size and complexity of modern SoCs results in numerous architectural changes in design for test (DFT) and design for debug (DFD). Understanding the challenges and tracking the advances in DFT and DFD (DFx) design and architecture are essential for correct architecture planning of the next generation of SoCs. This paper provides an insight into the evolution of Graphics Northbridge (GNB) DFx architectures across four generations of AMD Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), including the first AMD fusion accelerated processor unit (APU).
Interactive walkthrough of large 3D models of buildings on mobile devices

Interactive visualization of large 3D architectural models on mobile devices such as PDAs would significantly benefit applications such as indoor navigators and mobile tourist guides, on-site monitoring and annotation of architectural designs at construction sites, evacuation training and evacuation guidance. Although PDAs are becoming more powerful and a few are even equipped with 3D hardware accelerators, their performance does not yet allow to handle a large architectural model at an acceptable frame rate. To face this problem, we propose and experiment a system that exploits hierarchical view frustum culling and portal culling for interactively visualizing 3D architectural models on mobile devices. We also discuss the performance of the system and its integration with our mobile X3D player (MobiX3D). The performance of the system has been evaluated on a large three-floor building with 39 rooms, 42 stairs and 42 doors.
Passively Ever After : Disney's Cinematic Abuse in Beauty and the Beast

This thesis examines the manner in which Disney's Beauty and the Beast cultivates stereotypes and gendered behaviors consistent with domestic violence and thereby encourages viewers to accept and tolerate abuse against women. Chapter 1 includes a literature review highlighting gender themes and the film's influence on children. I argue that due to the dangerous constricting and sexist gender roles encouraged by the Walt Disney Corporation films like Beauty and the Beast prime young girls and boys to react to social situations and encounters in a way that mirror the characters' reactions. Because of the films' entertainment value most of the characters' inappropriate stereotypical and often violent behaviors either go unnoticed or are passively accepted. The violence does not have to be blatant nor physical to have a detrimental effect. Passive and indirect acts of violence such as bullying ostracism and criticism pave the way for physical violence (Muscio 2010). Therefore a central argument of this thesis is that our culture desperately needs to broaden the way we conceptualize violence. The chapters that follow provide a unique feminist critical analysis that draws upon domestic violence literature to argue that Beauty and the Beast is an example of cinematic abuse. I propose that cinematic abuse occurs when viewers accept the dominant readings encouraged by films like Beauty and the Beast and are thereby coerced into entering into metaphoric domestic violence relationships with Disney. As I dissect the themes and scenes within the film Walker's (1979) book The Battered Woman is used to support the argument that cinematic abuse victims (viewers) and abusers (the film) mirror the behaviors and reactions of actual domestic violence victims and abusers.
Couple relationships in families with dependent children after a diagnosis of maternal breast cancer in the United Kingdom: Perspectives from mothers and fathers

ABSTRACT This article examines the facilitators and the barriers to couple relationships in families in the UK with dependent children after a diagnosis of maternal breast cancer. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 participants, including 10 couples and three women whose partners did not take part. Recorded interviews were analyzed using a thematic approach identifying themes and patterns in the interview transcripts and categorizing them using a framework. Key individual and contextual factors perceived as barriers or facilitators to couple relationships included: being a “young” family with young children, frustration and resentment from male partners, women's reactions to the illness, individual communication styles, differing needs for “personal space,” body image concerns, and social support. Findings indicated the need for strengthening “family focus” in services with adequate support for male partners. Health and family services should consider variability in the experiences of couples with dependent children and be sensitive to the needs of partners alongside the women.
opscale : A Function for Optimal Scaling

The opscale function from the optiscale package can be used to perform an optimal scaling transformation on a qualitative data vector, relative to a quantitative vector. In this paper, I provide a brief overview of optimal scaling, and an explanation of the opscale function. opscale is intended to be used with other R functions to create alternating least squares, optimal scaling (ALSOS) data analysis routines. I present a simple example in which opscale is used along with the lm function to carry out an ordinal regression analysis on data from a public opinion survey.
Prevalence of horizontal attachment loss in extracted teeth.

OBJECTIVE Probing attachment level provides useful information on patterns of destruction of the periodontium. It is difficult to detect complex attachment loss in clinics. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of vertical and horizontal attachment loss in extracted teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS We collected 10,212 extracted teeth from 130 dentists in Japan. After staining of periodontal membrane with erythrosine, linear loss of vertical and horizontal attachment was measured using a digital caliper. RESULTS Mean vertical attachment loss varied from 5.3 to 8.6 mm. Incisors had severe attachment loss at mesial sites. Specific local attachment loss at palatal sites was observed in maxillary premolars and molars as well as in mandibular canines and premolars. Horizontal attachment loss was observed in 23% of the teeth. Frequency of horizontal attachment loss of > or = 2.1 mm was 6.4%. CONCLUSION Severe attachment loss was observed on the palatal side of maxillary premolars. More than 1/3 of the maxillary first molars showed horizontal attachment loss. It may be impossible to debride 6.4% of teeth in cases of severe periodontitis because horizontal attachment loss may be deeper than the curette blade length.
Multimedia watermarking techniques

Multimedia watermarking technology has evolved very quickly during the last few years. A digital watermark is information that is imperceptibly and robustly embedded in the host data such that it cannot be removed. A watermark typically contains information about the origin, status, or recipient of the host data. In this tutorial paper, the requirements and applications for watermarking are reviewed. Applications include copyright protection, data monitoring, and data tracking. The basic concepts of watermarking systems are outlined and illustrated with proposed watermarking methods for images, video, audio, text documents, and other media. Robustness and security aspects are discussed in detail. Finally, a few remarks are made about the state of the art and possible future developments in watermarking technology.
Subtherapeutic Warfarin Is Not Associated With Increased Hemorrhage Rates in Ischemic Strokes Treated With Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Background and Purpose— Concern exists that preadmission warfarin use may be associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with ischemic stroke receiving intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, even in those with an international normalized ratio <1.7. However, evidence to date has been derived from a small single-center cohort of patients. Methods— We used data from Phase 3 of the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network. We compared the rates of post-tissue plasminogen activator hemorrhage, including any intracerebral hemorrhage, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with and without preadmission warfarin use. For those receiving warfarin, we restricted the analysis to patients with an international normalized ratio <1.7 on presentation. Secondary outcomes included functional status and mortality. Multivariate analyses were performed to adjust for other prognostic factors. Results— Our cohort included 1739 patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator of whom 125 (7.2%) were receiving warfarin before admission and had an international normalized ratio <1.7. Preadmission warfarin use was not associated with any secondary intracerebral hemorrhage (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.7 to 2.2), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.5 to 2.3), or gastrointestinal hemorrhage (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.2 to 5.6). Multivariate analysis showed that preadmission warfarin use was independently associated with a reduced risk of poor functional outcome (OR, 0.6; 95 CI, 0.3 to 0.9), but not with in-hospital mortality (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3 to 1.0). Conclusions— The results from the present study suggest that tissue plasminogen activator treatment appears to be safe in patients with acute ischemic stroke taking warfarin with an international normalized ratio <1.7 and may reduce the risk of poor functional outcome.
VIOLENT YOUTH IN ADULT COURT: A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF LEGISLATIVE WAIVER AND DECERTIFICATION

Indiana University of Pennsylvania The School of Graduate Studies and Research Department of Criminology We hereby approve the dissertation of Kareem L. Jordan Candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy David L. Myers, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Criminology, Advisor Dennis Giever, Ph.D. Professor of Criminology ______________________ Daniel R. Lee, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Criminology ______________________ Jamie Martin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Criminology ACCEPTED ___________________________________ Michele S. Schwietz, M.A. Assistant Dean for Research The School of Graduate Studies and Research
Genetic Basis of Resistance to Fusidic Acid in Staphylococci

ABSTRACT Resistance to fusidic acid in Staphylococcus aureus often results from acquisition of the fusB determinant or from mutations in the gene (fusA) that encodes the drug target (elongation factor G). We now report further studies on the genetic basis of resistance to this antibiotic in the staphylococci. Two staphylococcal genes that encode proteins exhibiting ca. 45% identity with FusB conferred resistance to fusidic acid in S. aureus. One of these genes (designated fusC) was subsequently detected in all fusidic acid-resistant clinical strains of S. aureus tested that did not carry fusB or mutations in fusA, and in strains of S. intermedius. The other gene (designated fusD) is carried by S. saprophyticus, explaining the inherent resistance of this species to fusidic acid. Fusidic acid-resistant strains of S. lugdunensis harbored fusB. Thus, resistance to fusidic acid in clinical isolates of S. aureus and other staphylococcal species frequently results from expression of FusB-type proteins.
Yagi Patch Antenna With Dual-Band and Pattern Reconfigurable Characteristics

This letter presents a slot-loaded Yagi patch antenna with dual-band and pattern reconfigurable characteristics. The beam can scan in the E-plane by switching the modes of the antenna, which is implemented by changing the states of the switches installed in the slots etched on the parasitic patches. Different modes of the antenna have different radiation patterns and operating frequency bands. There are three modes having a common band of 9.15-9.45 GHz and their beams direct to -7deg, +33.5deg, and -40deg in the E-plane. Two among three modes also have another common frequency band around 10.3 GHz and the main beams direct to +58.5deg and -62.5deg, respectively. The third mode also has another frequency band around 10.85 GHz and has a dual-beam pattern. Simulated and measured results are given and they agree well with each other. The antenna can be used in radar, satellite communications, etc
Southern Ocean acidification: A tipping point at 450-ppm atmospheric CO2

Southern Ocean acidification via anthropogenic CO2 uptake is expected to be detrimental to multiple calcifying plankton species by lowering the concentration of carbonate ion (CO32−) to levels where calcium carbonate (both aragonite and calcite) shells begin to dissolve. Natural seasonal variations in carbonate ion concentrations could either hasten or dampen the future onset of this undersaturation of calcium carbonate. We present a large-scale Southern Ocean observational analysis that examines the seasonal magnitude and variability of CO32− and pH. Our analysis shows an intense wintertime minimum in CO32− south of the Antarctic Polar Front and when combined with anthropogenic CO2 uptake is likely to induce aragonite undersaturation when atmospheric CO2 levels reach ≈450 ppm. Under the IPCC IS92a scenario, Southern Ocean wintertime aragonite undersaturation is projected to occur by the year 2030 and no later than 2038. Some prominent calcifying plankton, in particular the Pteropod species Limacina helicina, have important veliger larval development during winter and will have to experience detrimental carbonate conditions much earlier than previously thought, with possible deleterious flow-on impacts for the wider Southern Ocean marine ecosystem. Our results highlight the critical importance of understanding seasonal carbon dynamics within all calcifying marine ecosystems such as continental shelves and coral reefs, because natural variability may potentially hasten the onset of future ocean acidification.
Are Articulatory Settings Mechanically Advantageous for Speech Motor Control?

We address the hypothesis that postures adopted during grammatical pauses in speech production are more “mechanically advantageous” than absolute rest positions for facilitating efficient postural motor control of vocal tract articulators. We quantify vocal tract posture corresponding to inter-speech pauses, absolute rest intervals as well as vowel and consonant intervals using automated analysis of video captured with real-time magnetic resonance imaging during production of read and spontaneous speech by 5 healthy speakers of American English. We then use locally-weighted linear regression to estimate the articulatory forward map from low-level articulator variables to high-level task/goal variables for these postures. We quantify the overall magnitude of the first derivative of the forward map as a measure of mechanical advantage. We find that postures assumed during grammatical pauses in speech as well as speech-ready postures are significantly more mechanically advantageous than postures assumed during absolute rest. Further, these postures represent empirical extremes of mechanical advantage, between which lie the postures assumed during various vowels and consonants. Relative mechanical advantage of different postures might be an important physical constraint influencing planning and control of speech production.
ANALISIS FAKTOR KONFIRMATORI UNTUK MENGETAHUI KESADARAN BERLALU LINTAS PENGENDARA SEPEDA MOTOR DISURABAYA TIMUR

Surabaya merupakan kota metropolitan di Jawa Timur, dengan mobilitas masyarakat yang tinggi. Transportasi yang tinggi mengakibatkan kemacetan dan kecelakaan semakin tinggi. Sepeda motor memberikan angka kecelakaan paling tinggi dari pada transportasi lain. Dengan demikian diperlukan kesadaran berlalu lintas agar dapat mengurangi kecelakaan sepeda motor. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui indikator apa saja yang paling berkontribusi besar dalam survey kesadaran berlalu lintas, variabel laten yang digunakan adalah kesadaran berlalu lintas, pribadi, aturan dan lingkungan. Metode yang digunakan adalah Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Hasil first order CFA adalah variabel laten kesadaran kontribusi terbesar pernah melihat kecelakaan sehingga lebih waspada, variabel pribadi kontribusi terbesar tidak mengerem secara mendadak, variabel aturan kontribusi terbesar menggunakan jaket (perlengkapan berkendara) dan variabel lingkungan kontribusi terbesar mematuhi aturan meskipun tidak ada polisi yang menjaga. Sedangkan pada second order CFA menghasilkan kesadaran berlalu lintas kontribusi terbesar adalah lingkungan.
Can naïve observers distinguish a violinist ' s solo from an ensemble performance ? A pilot study

This paper investigates whether specific non-verbal behavioral variables may enable to distinguish between performing an action alone or jointly in a group. We consider the test case of a first violinist in a string quartet. Starting from the observation of audio-video recordings, non-expert participants were instructed to report whether they reckoned the performance being a solo or an ensemble one. The role of the musician’s expressivity and expressed emotions on the participants’ perception was also investigated.
Circuit-based Boolean reasoning

Many tasks in CAD, such as equivalence checking, property checking, logic synthesis, and false paths analysis require efficient Boolean reasoning for problems derived from circuit structures. Traditionally, canonical representations, e.g., BDDs, or SAT-based search methods are used to solve a particular class of problems. In this paper we present a combination of techniques for Boolean reasoning based on BDDs, structural transformations, and a SAT procedure natively working on a shared graph representation of the problem. The described intertwined integration of the three techniques results in a robust summation of their orthogonal strengths. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Sexual selection drives speciation in an Amazonian frog

One proposed mechanism of speciation is divergent sexual selection, whereby divergence in female preferences and male signals results in behavioural isolation. Despite the appeal of this hypothesis, evidence for it remains inconclusive. Here, we present several lines of evidence that sexual selection is driving behavioural isolation and speciation among populations of an Amazonian frog (Physalaemus petersi). First, sexual selection has promoted divergence in male mating calls and female preferences for calls between neighbouring populations, resulting in strong behavioural isolation. Second, phylogenetic analysis indicates that populations have become fixed for alternative call types several times throughout the species' range, and coalescent analysis rejects genetic drift as a cause for this pattern, suggesting that this divergence is due to selection. Finally, gene flow estimated with microsatellite loci is an average of 30 times lower between populations with different call types than between populations separated by a similar geographical distance with the same call type, demonstrating genetic divergence and incipient speciation. Taken together, these data provide strong evidence that sexual selection is driving behavioural isolation and speciation, supporting sexual selection as a cause for speciation in the wild.
Acupuncture for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a protocol of a systematic review

Introduction This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods and analysis 14 databases will be searched from their inception. These include PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, seven Korean medical databases (Korean Studies Information Service System, DBPIA, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Research Information Service System, KoreaMed, The Town Society of Science Technology and the Korean National Assembly Library), three Chinese Databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and the Wanfang Database). Only randomised clinical trials (RCTs) using acupuncture for COPD will be considered. The selection of the studies, data abstraction and validation will be performed independently by two researchers. Methodological quality will be assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias. Dissemination The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The review will also be disseminated electronically and in print. Updates of the review will be conducted to inform and guide the healthcare practice and policy. Trial registration number PROSPERO 2013: CRD42013004824.