Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Collaborative Learning Based Approach for Parameter Configuration of Cellular Networks

Cellular network performance depends heavily on the configuration of its network parameters. Current practice of parameter configuration relies largely on expert experience, which is often suboptimal, time-consuming, and error-prone. Therefore, it is desirable to automate this process to improve the accuracy and efficiency via learning-based approaches. However, such approaches need to address several challenges in real operational networks: the lack of diverse historical data, a limited amount of experiment budget set by network operators, and highly complex and unknown network performance functions. To address those challenges, we propose a collaborative learning approach to leverage data from different cells to boost the learning efficiency and to improve network performance. Specifically, we formulate the problem as a transferable contextual bandit problem, and prove that by transfer learning, one could significantly reduce the regret bound. Based on the theoretical result, we further develop a practical algorithm that decomposes a cell’s policy into a common homogeneous policy learned using all cells’ data and a cell-specific policy that captures each individual cell’s heterogeneous behavior. We evaluate our proposed algorithm via a simulator constructed using real network data and demonstrates faster convergence compared to baselines. More importantly, a live field test is also conducted on a real metropolitan cellular network consisting 1700+ cells to optimize five parameters for two weeks. Our proposed algorithm shows a significant performance improvement of 20%.
Success Despite the Image How African American Male Student-Athletes Endure their Academic Journey Amidst Negative Characterizations

College athletics are at the forefront of higher education. Con- sequently, student-athletes are visible figures on campus. Given this visibility, coupled with the overwhelmingly negative characterizations of student-ath- letes, the objective of this paper is to examine the extent to which images (both positive and negative) affect a Black student-athlete's academic experience on campus. Utilizing Scheurich and Young's (1997) four levels of racism schema, the academic experiences of 17 successful Black student-athletes at Division I institutions on the West Coast are chronicled and analyzed. The participants were selected not only because of their success in their respective sport but more importantly, because they demonstrated success in the classroom. The primary research questions guiding the study are: How do academically suc- cessful African American male student-athletes experience and perceive their academic journey amidst negative characterizations? Can student-athletes' racialized incidences subsequently be classified according to the four levels of racism schema? While the participants were accomplished students, all had experienced attacks on their intellect from a variety of college personnel in- cluding faculty, academic counselors, classmates, and teammates; attacks they felt were consequences of the negative images of Black student-athletes and nothing they had personally created for themselves. The implications of these findings should be discussed among coaches, faculty, student affairs leaders, and others who frequently interact with student-athletes and are committed to creating more equitable educational environments for all students. Americans share a common historical and cultural heritage in which racism has played and still plays a dominant role. Because of this shared experience, we also inevitably share many ideas, attitudes, and beliefs that attach significance to an individual's race and in - duce negative feelings and opinions about nonwhites. To the extent this cultural belief system has influenced all of us, we are all racists. At the same time, most of us are unaware of our racism . a large part of the behavior that produces racial discrimination is influenced by unconscious racial motivation (Lawrence, 1987, p.322).
Sex-allocation plasticity in hermaphrodites of sexually dimorphic Fragaria virginiana (Rosaceae)

Sex-allocation plasticity is thought to play an important role in the evolution of separate sexes in plants. Accordingly, much attention has been paid to environmentally induced variation in fruit and seed production in sexually dimorphic species, but we know little about whether this variation arises as a direct response to environmental variation or is instead an indirect consequence of changes in plant size. In this study, we characterize sex-allocation plasticity across a resource gradient for several reproductive traits in hermaphrodites of gyno(sub)dioecious Fragaria virginiana Duch. We find significant plasticity, on average, for flower number, proportion fruit set, ovule number, proportion seed set, and runner number in response to resource variation. Plasticity of most traits examined tended to be at least partially independent of variation in plant size, suggesting that it is not simply an indirect consequence of plant allometry. Moreover, we find genetic variation for plasticity of key reproduc.
Efecto de la micorrización sobre el crecimiento de plántulas de plátano en sustrato con y sin la presencia de nematodos fitoparásitos

We compared the effect of pre-inoculation with the following arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on the growth of vegetative propagules (suckers) of plantain (Musa AAB): 1) Glomus fistulosum, 2) Glomus fasciculatum, and 3) commercial inoculum (mixture of G. aggregatum, G. fistulosum, G.manihotis, G. fasciculatum, Kuklosplora colombiana and Scutellospora spp.), compared with a control without AMF, in substrate with and without the presence of Radopholus similis and Helicotylenchus spp. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of AMF on the final amount of plant parasitic nematodes in roots and rhizosphere soil. The results indicated a significant intensification in the mycorrhizal colonization in roots inoculated with commercial inoculum of AMF (40 - 41%) compared with control and other AMFs (<3%). There were over 30% of increase in fresh weight of roots and dry matter (corm and air tissue) variables, in plants inoculated with commercial AMF, even in the presence of plant parasitic nematodes. The final amount of plant parasitic nematodes was not affected by the inoculation of AMF. We conclude that mycorrhizal fungi species’ mixture, present within the AMF commercial inoculum, stimulated root growth and nutrient uptake, thereby improving biomass production and offsetting the damage by plant parasitic nematodes.
Performance Differences Between the Arched and Flat Bench Press in Beginner and Experienced Paralympic Powerlifters

Abstract Neto, FR, Dorneles, JR, Luna, RM, Spina, MA, Gonçalves, CW, and Gomes Costa, RR. Performance differences between the arched and flat bench press in beginner and experienced Paralympic powerlifters. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1936–1943, 2022—The present study aimed to verify the differences of the total load, trajectory of the barbell in the sagittal plane, and mean velocity of the barbell between the arched and flat techniques of the bench press in beginner (BG) and experienced (EG) Paralympic powerlifters. Twenty beginners (age: 34.4 years; experience: 3.3 months) and 23 experienced (age: 35.5 years; experience: 9.8 months) Paralympic powerlifters were selected from a Rehabilitation Hospital Network and a Paralympic sports center. Subjects were assessed in the one-maximum repetition test of the bench press exercise using the flat and arched bench press techniques (48–72-hour interval between sessions). Maximum strength, trajectory of the barbell in the sagittal plane, and mean velocity of the barbell were measured to compare the techniques and the groups. The total load corrected with the Haleczko formula was significantly higher in EG compared with BG (∆ = 21.1%; effect sizes [ES] = 0.39, p ≤ 0.05). There were no significant differences for all analyzed outcomes comparing the arched and flat techniques. During the eccentric phase of the bench press, all assessed differences ranged from −16.6 to 23.1% and presented ES of trivial to moderate. On the concentric phase, the assessed differences ranged from −20.7 to 13.9% and presented ES of trivial to moderate. The total load, trajectory of the barbell in the sagittal plane, and mean velocity of the barbell were not significantly different between the arched and flat techniques for experienced and beginner powerlifting athletes during both the eccentric and concentric phase of the movement. However, further analyses are essential to determine the best technique for athletes.
Macrophage phenotypic switch orchestrates the inflammation and repair/regeneration following acute pancreatitis injury

Background Impaired or hyperactive pancreas regeneration after injury would cause exocrine insufficiency or recurrent / chronic pancreatitis and potentially carcinogenesis. Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the regenerative pancreas, however their phenotype and role remain poorly defined. Method Using caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) model, we examined the dynamic landscape of pancreatic macrophages throughout the acute inflammation to regeneration phases by flow cytometric and RNA-seq analyses. Liposome depletion of macrophages, Il4ra−/− mice as well as inhibitors were used to elucidate the role and regulatory mechanism of macrophages during pancreatic regeneration. Findings We found that M1 macrophages dominated in the pro-inflammatory phase of AP, while M2-like macrophages dominated during pancreas repair/regeneration. Depletion of macrophages at early or late regenerative stage dramatically blocked the acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM) or delayed inflammation resolution, respectively. Moreover, alternative activation of macrophages was partially dependent on IL-4RA signaling, and ECM/AKT activation in pancreatic macrophages facilitated inflammation resolution during tissue regeneration. Interpretation Our findings illustrate a dynamic phenotype and function of macrophages during AP repair/regeneration, helping us better understand the mechanism of pancreatic regeneration and providing clues for novel therapeutic strategy.
Lipopolysaccharides d'une Souche à Virulence Atténuée de Yersinia pestis

Lipopolysaccharides from a Slightly virulent strain of Yersinia pestis were investigated. Two types of lipopolysaccharides were obtained from the bacteria: lipopolysaccharide I was extracted with aqueous phenol/chloroform/hexane while lipopolysaccharide II was extracted with phenol/water. Chemical analysis of these lipopolysaccharides shows the presence of D-glucose, galactose, glucosamine, L-glycero, -D-manno-heptose, D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, 3-deoxyoctulosonic acid, phosphate, 3-hydroxymyristic acid, and small quantities of palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid. In addition, lipopolysaccharide II contains arabinose. Lipopolysaccharides I and II were methylated; analysis by gas-liquid chromatography and by mass spectrometry indicated the presence of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl glucose, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl galactose and of tri-, tetra- and penta-methylated heptose derivatives. Arabinose in lipopolysaccharide II was not methylated and is therefore entirely substituted, while glucose and galactose are not substituted. Sodium metaperiodate nearly entirely oxidized glucose and galactose. Part of the heptose was not degraded by periodate oxidation, while part was converted into mannose. Lipopolysaccharides I and II could be the R and S forms of the lipopolysaccharide respectively, the S form containing an O-specific chain with arabinose. The lipopolysaccharides were hydrolysed with acetic acid and degraded polysaccharides I and II were obtained. A large part of the arabinose was lost during the hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharide II into polysaccharide II, thus indicating that the arabinose might be in the furanose form. The absence of phosphate groups in polysaccharides I and II suggests the absence of bridges between the chains. However, if such bridges exist in the lipopolysaccharides, they are either on 3-deoxyoctulosonic acid or on lipid A.
OsFY, a Homolog of AtFY, Encodes a Protein that Can Interact with OsFCA-γ in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

FCA and FY are flowering time related genes involved in the autonomous flowering pathway in Arabidopsis. FCA interacts with FY to regulate the alternative processing of FCA pre-mRNA. The FCA/ FY interaction is also required for the regulation of FLC expression, a major floral repressor in Arabidopsis. However, it is not clear if the regulation of this autonomous flowering pathway is also present in monocot plants, such as rice. Recently, alternative RNA processing of OsFCA was observed in rice, which strongly suggested the existence of an autonomous flowering pathway in rice. In this work, we cloned the cDNA of the autonomous flowering pathway gene OsFY from rice. The predicted OsFY protein contained a conserved 7 WD-repeat region and at least two Pro-Pro-Leu-Pro motifs compared to Arabidopsis FY. The protein- protein interaction between OsFY and OsFCA-γ, the key feature of their gene function, was also demon- strated using the yeast two-hybrid system. The GenBank database search provided evidence of expression for other autonomous pathway gene homologs in rice. These results indicate that the autonomous flowering pathway is present in monocots, and the regulation through FY and FCA interaction is conserved between monocots and dicots.
Stigma toward mental and physical illness: attitudes of healthcare professionals, healthcare students and the general public in Pakistan

Background The evidence base for stigma in mental health largely originates from high-income countries. Aims This study from Pakistan aimed to address the gap in literature on stigma from low- and middle-income countries. Method This cross-sectional study surveyed 1470 adults from Karachi, Pakistan. Participants from three groups (healthcare professionals, healthcare students and the general public) completed the adapted Bogardus Social Distance Scale (SDS) as a measure of stigma. Results All three groups reported higher scores of stigma toward mental disorders compared with physical disorders. SDS scores for mental illness in the general public were significantly higher than in healthcare students (mean difference (MD) 6.93, 95% CI 5.45–8.45, P < 0.001) and healthcare professionals (MD 6.93, 95% CI 5.48–8.38, P < 0.001). However, SDS scores between healthcare students and healthcare professionals were not significantly different (MD 0.003, 95% CI −1.14–1.14, P > 0.99). Being female was associated with lower stigma scores and being over the age of 30 years was associated with higher stigma scores. Conclusions Stigma campaigns in Pakistan need to target the general population. However, evidence of negative attitudes toward mental illness in healthcare students and healthcare professionals supports the need for stronger emphasis on psychiatric education within undergraduate and postgraduate training in Pakistan.
Isolation of a free radical-scavenging antioxidant from water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk)

Ipomoea aquatica Forsk, a green leafy vegetable that is a rich source of vitamins and amino acids with many health benefits, has been explored for the isolation and identification of its bioactive compounds. Activity-guided repeated fractionation of a methanol extract on a silica gel column followed by an XAD column yielded a compound that exhibited antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 83 ± 1.02 µgml−1 reaction mixture. It also showed very strong lipid peroxidation-inhibitory activity in a liposome model system with an EC50 value of 72.2 ± 0.9 µgml−1. However, it showed negligible metal-chelating activity. Based on UV, 2D nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry studies, the compound was tentatively identified to be 7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-dihydroquercetin-3-O-α- D-glucopyranoside. This is the first report on the antioxidant properties of I aquatica leaf extracts.  2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Using Vampire with Support for Algebraic Datatypes in Type Soundness Proofs

In our ongoing project VeriTaS, we aim at automating soundness proofs for type systems of domain-specific languages. In the past, we successfully used previous Vampire versions for automatically discharging many intermediate proof obligations arising within standard soundness proofs for small type systems. With older Vampire versions, encoding the individual proof problems required manual encoding of algebraic datatypes via the theory of finite term algebras. One of the new Vampire versions now supports the direct specification of algebraic datatypes and integrates reasoning about term algebras into the internally used superposition calculus. In this work, we investigate how many proof problems that typically arise within type soundness proofs different Vampire 4.1 versions can prove. Our test set consists of proof problems from a progress proof of a type system for a subset of SQL. We compare running Vampire 4.1 with our own encodings of algebraic datatypes (in untyped as well as in typed first-order logic) to running Vampire 4.1 with support for algebraic datatypes, which uses SMTLIB as input format. We observe that with our own encodings, Vampire 4.1 still proves more of our input problems. We discuss the differences between our own encoding of algebraic datatypes and the ones used within Vampire 4.1 with support for algebraic datatypes.
Development and validation of nomogram to predict risk of survival in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study established a nomogram to predict survival probability in Asian patients with LSCC. A risk prediction nomogram for patients with LSCC, incorporating easily assessable clinicopathologic factors, generates more precise estimations of the survival probability when compared TNM stage alone, but still need additional data before being used in clinical application. Background: Due to a wide variation of tumor behavior, prediction of survival in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients received curative-intent surgery is an important but formidable challenge. We attempted to establish a nomogram to precisely predict survival probability in LSCC patients. Methods: A total of 369 consecutive LSCC patients underwent curative resection between 2008 and 2012 at Hunan Province Cancer Hospital were included in the present study. Subsequently, 369 LSCC patients were assigned to a training set (N=261) and a validation set (N=108) at random. On the basis of multivariable Cox regression analysis results, we developed a nomogram. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were confirmed by calibration curve and a concordance index (C-index), and compared with TNM stage system by C-index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Six independent parameters to predict prognosis were age, pack years, N-stage, lymph node ratio (LNR), anemia and albumin, which were all assembled into the nomogram. The calibration curve verified excellent models’ concordance. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.73 (0.68–0.78), and the area under curve (AUC) of nomogram in predicting overall survival (OS) was 0.766, which were significantly higher than traditional TNM stage. Decision curve analysis further demonstrated that our nomogram had a larger net benefit than the TNM stage. Conclusion: A risk prediction nomogram for patients with LSCC, incorporating easily assessable clinicopathologic factors, generates more precise estimations of the survival probability when compared TNM stage alone, but still need additional data before being used in clinical application.
Haematobium irritans and Haematobium titillans as potential vectors of Parabronema skrjabini in camels (Camelus bactrianus) in Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract Parabronema skrjabini is one of the most harmful nematodes to camels and is responsible for economic losses in animal husbandry industry. There is an urgent need for in-depth studies of potential vectors of the nematode due to its scant regarding information. As previous studies indicated that flies may be the vectors of P. skrjabini, we captured flies in the main camel-producing areas of Inner Mongolia. After autopsy of the specimens of two species of horn flies, we observed the morphology of the suspected nematode larvae found in them. Internal transcribed spacer ribosomal-DNA gene sequences were considered the best candidate to confirm the species of the larvae found. Our results showed that the homology compared with P. skrjabini was 99.5% in GenBank. Subsequently, we preliminarily identified two species of horn flies through morphological observation and then sequenced the mitochondrial-DNA-gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I obtained from two species of horn flies, with 100 and 99.2% similarity to sequences deposited in GenBank, respectively. Thus, we identified Haematobia titillans and Haematobia irritans and provided evidence for their potential role as vectors of parabronemosis. Our study provides reference for future research on the life history of the nematode and the vectors of parabronemosis.
Changes in serum cortisol, metabolites, osmotic pressure and electrolytes in response to different blood sampling procedures in cultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

This study investigated the effect of five sampling procedures on serum cortisol, glucose, total protein, osmolality, Na+, Cl–, K+ and Ca++ concentrations in 2-year-old cultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L). Mild disturbance caused by rapid removal of fish and brief handling did not induce significant variation in any of the blood parameters investigated. Confinement and crowding elicited a high and significant increase in serum cortisol, glucose, osmolality, Na+, Cl–, and Ca++ concentrations. Exposure to MS 222 (140 mg L–1) significantly increased osmolality, but not ionic concentration. Site of blood withdrawal (cardiac sinuses/caudal vein) had no effect on the concentration of analysed blood constituents, except for K+ levels. Scattered literature of sea bass blood chemistry is reviewed and compared with ‘normal’ ranges of blood constituents measured in this study. We conclude that it is necessary to select and rigorously execute an opportune blood sampling procedure whenever blood constituents are used as indicators of fish functional state.
Differences in spatial genetic structure and diversity in two mosses with different dispersal strategies in a fragmented landscape

Abstract The Thousand-Island Lake (Zhejiang Province, China) was artificially isolated 50 years ago and provides an interesting model for investigating the impact of fragmentation on the spatial genetic structure in plant populations. Using variation from inter-simple sequence repeat markers and DNA sequences in two moss species with contrasting reproductive strategies, Hypnum plumaeforme and Pogonatum inflexum, we investigate the effect of sexual and asexual reproduction on molecular diversity and spatial genetic structure in this fragmented landscape. In H. plumaeforme, which mostly reproduces asexually, genetic diversity of island populations was significantly higher than that of lakeside populations. In the frequently fertile P. inflexum, conversely, genetic diversity was not significantly different between island and lakeside populations. Furthermore, a clear island versus lakeshore structure emerged from the spatial analysis of genetic variation in H. plumaeforme, but not in P. inflexum. We conclude that differences in reproductive strategies have a substantial effect on spatial genetic structure. In addition, landscape fragmentation may lead to the exacerbation of genetic differentiation in species with limited dispersal abilities at this scale, causing substantial spatial genetic structure.