Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Random hyperplane search trees in high dimensions

Given a set S of n \geq d points in general position in R^d, a random hyperplane split is obtained by sampling d points uniformly at random without replacement from S and splitting based on their affine hull. A random hyperplane search tree is a binary space partition tree obtained by recursive application of random hyperplane splits. We investigate the structural distributions of such random trees with a particular focus on the growth with d. A blessing of dimensionality arises--as d increases, random hyperplane splits more closely resemble perfectly balanced splits; in turn, random hyperplane search trees more closely resemble perfectly balanced binary search trees. We prove that, for any fixed dimension d, a random hyperplane search tree storing n points has height at most (1 + O(1/sqrt(d))) log_2 n and average element depth at most (1 + O(1/d)) log_2 n with high probability as n \rightarrow \infty. Further, we show that these bounds are asymptotically optimal with respect to d.
The Impact of Variation in Renal Replacement Therapy Settings on Piperacillin, Meropenem, and Vancomycin Drug Clearance in the Critically Ill: An Analysis of Published Literature and Dosing Regimens*

Objectives:To describe the effect of different renal replacement therapy modalities and settings on the clearance of meropenem, piperacillin, and vancomycin in critically ill patients and to evaluate the frequency with which current dosing regimens achieve therapeutic concentrations. Design:Regression analyses of published pharmacokinetic data. Setting:Pubmed was searched for relevant articles published between 1952 and 2013. Subjects:Original research articles describing the pharmacokinetics of meropenem, piperacillin, and vancomycin in critically ill patients receiving renal replacement therapy. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Data from 30 studies were analyzed. The mean age of the patient groups involved in studies of meropenem, piperacillin, and vancomycin were 55.3, 60.3, and 56.9 years, respectively. The mean blood and effluent flow rates used for each antibiotic were 151.3 and 33.8 mL/min, 131.8 and 27.3 mL/min, and 189.3 and 35.6 mL/min, respectively, in continuous renal replacement therapy studies. Correlations existed between effluent flow rate in continuous renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal clearance for meropenem (rs = 0.43; p = 0.12), piperacillin (rs = 0.77; p = 0.10), and vancomycin (rs = 0.90; p = 0.08). Current dosing regimens achieved target concentrations for meropenem (89%), piperacillin (83%), and vancomycin (60%) against susceptible pathogens. Conclusions:Effluent flow rate appears to be a reliable predictor of antibiotic clearance in critically ill patients despite significantly altered pharmacokinetics in these patients. Higher dosing regimens maybe required in critically ill patients receiving renal replacement therapy, in the presence of high effluent flow rates and/or the presence of poorly susceptible pathogens, particularly for vancomycin.
The Bologna Process: The Reform of the European Higher Education Systems

The structural reform becomes the most visible initiative of the Bologna process. However, today the reform serves as an umbrella for comprehensive reform processes in national systems of higher education. In Central and Eastern European countries the Bologna process is not only strongly connected to the overall political transformation, but provides for the higher education policy makers an opportunity for the Europeanization of the sector. The implementation of the three-cycle system (the reform of organizational dimensions) creates a demand for other reforms, and under this agenda have been released a numerous fundamental questions and debates on higher education systems. In a narrow concept, the Bologna process at the present implies systemic (e.g. core functions and role of different higher education institutions, the future of university and non-university sector), programmatic (e.g. at different program levels different curricular emphasis, arrangements and functions; vocationalization of the academic curriculum), procedural (e.g. new modes and arrangements of teaching) changes, and shift from accent on horizontal to vertical differences (e.g. the set up of stratified and hierarchical national systems based on reputation and prestige, especially in research quality), and from input to output oriented higher education. In a broad sense, and on the basis of national implementation experiences, we can also conceptualize the Bologna process as governance or recently finance reform. As the concepts behind these reform initiatives suggests, the original objectives of the Bologna process is reinterpreted and overwrote, by the Lisbon Strategy and several national higher educational policy objectives.
Mixing Online and Face-to-Face Therapy: How to Benefit From Blended Care in Mental Health Care

Blended care, a combination of online and face-to-face therapy, is increasingly being applied in mental health care to obtain optimal benefit from the advantages these two treatment modalities have. Promising results have been reported, but a variety in descriptions and ways of operationalizing blended care exists. Currently, what type of “blend” works for whom, and why, is unclear. Furthermore, a rationale for setting up blended care is often lacking. In this viewpoint paper, we describe postulates for blended care and provide an instrument (Fit for Blended Care) that aims to assist therapists and patients whether and how to set up blended care treatment. A review of the literature, two focus groups (n=5 and n=5), interviews with therapists (n=14), and interviews with clients (n=2) were conducted to develop postulates of eHealth and blended care and an instrument to assist therapists and clients in setting up optimal blended care. Important postulates for blended care are the notion that both treatment modalities should complement each other and that set up of blended treatment should be based on shared decision making between patient and therapist. The “Fit for Blended Care” instrument is presented which addresses the following relevant themes: possible barriers to receiving blended treatment such as the risk of crisis, issues in communication (at a distance), as well as possible facilitators such as social support. More research into the reasons why and for whom blended care works is needed. To benefit from blended care, face-to-face and online care should be combined in such way that the potentials of both treatment modalities are used optimally, depending on patient abilities, needs, and preferences. To facilitate the process of setting up a personalized blended treatment, the Fit for Blended Care instrument can be used. By applying this approach in research and practice, more insight into the working mechanisms and optimal (personal) “blends” of online and face-to-face therapy becomes within reach.
Evolution of the mid range theory of comfort for outcomes research.

The developmental stages of the mid range theory of comfort are discussed in this article, which includes its philosophic orientation and its inductive, deductive, and retroductive reasoning. Other steps that are described are the concept analysis of comfort, the operationalization of the outcome of patient comfort, the application of the theory in previous nursing studies, and the evaluation of the current theory as it has been adapted for outcomes research. This article is a guide that shows how a concept grows, becomes embedded in theory, is tested, and is adapted for the rapidly changing health care environment. The theory of comfort also offers a way to reconceptualize nurse productivity.
Using Coding Apps to Support Literacy Instruction and Develop Coding Literacy.

In this article the authors present the concept of Coding Literacy and describe the ways in which coding apps can support the development of Coding Literacy and disciplinary and digital literacy skills. Through detailed examples, we describe how coding apps can be integrated into literacy instruction to support learning of the Common Core English Language Arts standards. The authors also provide suggestions for getting started with coding apps and discuss aspects of instruction for teachers to consider as they plan to integrate coding apps into their classrooms.
Decision Procedures for Dependency Parsing Using Graded Constraints

We present an approach to the parsing of dependency structures which brings together the notion of parsing as candidate elimination, the use of graded constraints, and the parallel disam-biguation of related structural representations. The approach aims at an increased level of robustness by accepting constraint violations in a controlled way, combining redundant and possibly con(cid:29)icting information on di(cid:27)erent representational levels, and facilitating partial parsing as a natural mode of behavior.
Regulation of expression of major outer surface proteins in Borrelia burgdorferi

We have characterized a Borrelia burgdorferi clone (CA-11 2A) that does not synthesize the major outer surface proteins, OspA and OspB. While the osp operon is intact and capable of expression, no mRNA transcript is detectable in this clone. These results suggest that osp operon expression in the B. burgdorferi clone can be regulated at the level of transcription.
The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide: Guidance for Working with Suicidal Clients

Why do people die by suicide? Dr. Thomas Joiner and his colleagues attempt to answer this age-old question by exploring two obvious yet insightful assumptions: people die by suicide because they can - that is, they become desensitized to pain and habituated toward violence; people die by suicide because they want to - they typically have no sense of belonging to a valued group or relationship, and they feel that they have become a burden to loved ones.This book offers a new theoretical framework for diagnosis and risk-assessment of a patient's entry into the dark and obscure mental world of suicidality, and for the creation of preventive and public-health campaigns aimed at the disorder. More important, though, the book provides new, effective clinical guidelines for crisis intervention and for therapeutic alliances in psychotherapy and suicide prevention.
Phosphorylation of the FUS low‐complexity domain disrupts phase separation, aggregation, and toxicity

Neuronal inclusions of aggregated RNA‐binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) are hallmarks of ALS and frontotemporal dementia subtypes. Intriguingly, FUS's nearly uncharged, aggregation‐prone, yeast prion‐like, low sequence‐complexity domain (LC) is known to be targeted for phosphorylation. Here we map in vitro and in‐cell phosphorylation sites across FUS LC. We show that both phosphorylation and phosphomimetic variants reduce its aggregation‐prone/prion‐like character, disrupting FUS phase separation in the presence of RNA or salt and reducing FUS propensity to aggregate. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates the intrinsically disordered structure of FUS LC is preserved after phosphorylation; however, transient domain collapse and self‐interaction are reduced by phosphomimetics. Moreover, we show that phosphomimetic FUS reduces aggregation in human and yeast cell models, and can ameliorate FUS‐associated cytotoxicity. Hence, post‐translational modification may be a mechanism by which cells control physiological assembly and prevent pathological protein aggregation, suggesting a potential treatment pathway amenable to pharmacologic modulation.
ASYMMETRY IN LINGUISTIC DEPENDENCY:LINGUISTIC AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF JAPANESE RIGHT DISLOCATION

On the basis of the notion of the argument/adjunct asymmetry in syntactic derivation, it will be argued that Japanese right dislocation constructions should be divided into two types, based on the argument/ adjunct distinction of the dislocated element. This argument is also examined through an event-related brain potential (ERP) study. We will report that dislocated arguments elicit the left dominant positivity. On the basis of previous ERP studies of language processing, it will be argued that this left dominant positivity effect reflects a syntactic integration, and that this result supports our asymmetrical analysis of Japanese right dislocation constructions. *
Cross-Cultural Validation of Holland's Theory in Singapore: Beyond Structural Validity of RIASEC

Cross-cultural validation of Holland's theory typically focuses on the structural validity of the RIASEC model. This study not only examined structural validity, but the conceptual equivalence of RIASEC and the criterion-related validity of Holland's theory, based on college students from the major ethnic group in United States (White Americans) and Singapore (Chinese). Values were used to examine the convergent-discriminant validity and equivalence of meaning of RIASEC. Results indicate similar structural and criterion-related validity across the samples, although the figures were generally lower than those found in previous studies. Values were weakly related to the interest types. Some evidence of weak convergent validity was found for the I, S, and E types. Tests on these three types indicated that there was equivalence of meaning for the S and E types and the possibility of some culture-specific meaning attached to the I type. Implications for future research are discussed.
Finding Probabilistic Nearest Neighbors for Query Objects with Imprecise Locations

A nearest neighbor query is an important notion in spatial databases and moving object databases.In the emerging application fields of moving object technologies, such as mobile sensors and mobile robotics, the location of an object is often imprecise due to noise and estimation errors.We propose techniques for processing a nearest neighbor query when the location of the query object is specified by an imprecise Gaussian distribution. First, we consider two query processing strategies for pruning candidate objects, which can reduce the number of objects that require numerical integration for computing the qualification probabilities.In addition, we consider a hybrid approach that combines the two strategies. The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated using test data.
Effects of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether on various parameters of testicular function in the F344 rat.

These studies were designed to define the target cell for ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) action in the rodent testis, and to compare fluid production and protein secretory patterns in the testes of treated and control animals. Adult F344 rats were treated with 150 mg/kg/day, 5 day/week, and sacrificed 1, 2, 4, 7 or 10 days after the first dose. In the testes of treated animals, the most sensitive cells were the premeiotic and meiotic spermatocytes. As length of treatment continued, the younger transitional spermatocytes, and more pachytene spermatocytes, were affected. Early and late stage spermatids did not appear affected, nor was the visual appearance of spermatogonia changed by exposure to EGME. Fluid production, androgen-binding protein secretion and electrophoreograms of proteins found in the ligated rete testis were also unchanged by EGME, showing that these indices of Sertoli cell function were not affected by EGME. The histologic and biochemical data suggest that both early and late spermatocytes are targets for EGME in the testis, and that the Sertoli cells are relatively unaffected. ImagesFIGURE 1.FIGURE 2.FIGURE 3.FIGURE 4.
BASIC RELATIONS BETWEEN TSUNAMIS CALCULATION AND THEIR PHYSICS-II

Basic tsunami physics of propagation and run-up is discussed for the simple geometry of a channel. Modifications of a numerical technique are suggested for the long-distance propagation and for the nonlinear processes in tsunami waves. The principal modification is application of the higher order of approximations for the first derivative in space. Presently, tsunami calculations employ the high resolution 2D and 3D models for generation and runup processes, while propagation is resolved by the regular 2D models. Such approach requires boundary conditions which will seamlessly connect the high resolution calculations to the propagation models. These conditions are described with the help of the method of characteristics.
An exploration of the use of power in social work supervisory relationships in Hong Kong

Supervision is considered to be a determining factor in the quality of service to clients, the job satisfaction of social workers, and the level of professional development they achieve. How supervisors use their authority affects their relationships with subordinates, which in turn influences service outcomes. This case study reveals the micro-process of the interplay of power in the supervisor–supervisee dyad, the influence of cultural factors on attitudes toward hierarchical relationships, and subordination to authority in the supervisory dyad. Respondents who considered supervision to be counterproductive or disempowering employed tactics to hide their negative attitude, and concealed important cases and project materials, which hindered the disclosure of mistakes. Redistributing power in the current hierarchical supervisor–supervisee relationship could lead to fewer instances of game playing in the supervisory dyad and facilitate disclosure, which is important in ethical practice.
Informing the design of deictic behaviors of a web agent with spoken and sign language video data

Deixis refers to linguistic features that relate utterances to the circumstances of space and time in which they occur. Pointing gestures are regarded as indicating an object, a location or a direction, which is discovered by projecting a straight line from the furthest point of the body part that has been extended outward, into the space that extends beyond the speaker [1]. Pointing show complex relations between multiple modalities such as gaze, hand, torso orientation and language [2]. The form of pointing adopted provides information about how the speaker wishes the object being indicated to be regarded [1]. Few virtual agents endowed with deictic capabilities [35] have been designed from experimental data collected with the target application. Furthermore, few studies have compared deixis in speaking and signing users [6]. In this paper we focus on the specification of deictic behaviors to be displayed by speaking and signing web agents during a presentation task. A video corpus was collected in the context of the target application in order to study the deictic behaviors in both vocal and signed languages. We also describe the DIVA web agents that we use for web based presentations.
Efficiency of Sequestering Carbon in Agricultural Soils (The)

Agricultural tillage practices are important human-induced activities that can alter carbon emissions from agricultural soils and have the potential to significantly contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emission. This paper investigates the expected costs of sequestering carbon in agricultural soils under different subsidy and market-based policies. Using the detailed National Resources Inventory data, the authors estimate the probability that farmers adopt conservation tillage practices based on a variety of exogenous characteristics and profit from conventional practices. Using these estimates, along with physical models of carbon sequestration, the authors estimate the subsidy costs of achieving increased carbon sequestration with alternative subsidy schemes.
Lack of Relationship Between an Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism in the Angiotensin I–Converting Enzyme Gene and Diabetic Nephropathy and Proliferative Retinopathy in IDDM Patients

Genotypic abnormalities of the renin-angiotensin system have been suggested as a risk factor for the development of diabetic nephropathy and proliferative retinopathy. We studied the relationship between an insertion(I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients with diabetic nephropathy (121 men and 77 women, age 40.9 ± 10 years, diabetes duration 27 ± 8 years) and in IDDM patients with normoalbuminuria (118 men and 74 women, age 42.7 ± 10 years, diabetes duration 26 ± 8 years). A total of 155 patients (40%) had proliferative retinopathy, and 67 patients (17%) had no diabetic retinopathy. There was no difference in genotype distribution between IDDM patients with diabetic nephropathy and those with normoalbuminuria: 63 (32%)/95 (48%)/40 (20%) vs. 67 (35%)/77 (41%)/46 (24%) had DD/ID/II genotypes, respectively. Patients with nephropathy had higher plasma ACE levels (609 [151–1,504] ³g/l) compared with patients with normoalbuminuria (428 [55–1,630] ³g/l) (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the plasma ACE level in patients with nephropathy is partially determined by ACE/ID polymorphism, mean arterial blood pressure, and glomerular filtration rate (r2 = 0.30, P < 0.001). There was no difference in genotype distribution between IDDM patients with proliferative retinopathy and those without diabetic retinopathy: 52 (34%)/74 (48%)/29 (19%) vs. 26 (39%)/25 (37%)/16 (24%) had DD/ID/II genotypes, respectively. There was also no difference in plasma ACE concentration detected among patients with no, simplex, or proliferative retinopathy. We conclude that the ACE/ID polymorphism does not contribute to the genetic susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy and proliferative retinopathy, whereas the raised plasma ACE concentration may play a role in the initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy in Caucasian IDDM patients.
THE ENDS AND THE MEAN-SPIRITED IN ACTION RESEARCH

Recently, I was informed by a member of the academy that Action Research, as a technique, really didn’t exist in a methodological sense. Instead, it was this person’s impression that the loose term was too informal in its approach and seldom identified any underpinnings of its research. From what she could see, it was not really quantitative because it was not “truth-seeking”, but neither should it be considered qualitative because it was not even “perspective-seeking”. Rather, she believed that it should be seen more as professional development, in that it offered a good pretext to free up teachers’ and other “practitioners’” time to learn more about their classes. She then brought her thesis to a triumphant conclusion - however justifiable, action research could not be placed in a category of “scholarly” research.
Achieving Successful School-University Collaboration

This research used Q methodology and follow-up interviews to investigate essential elements required to establish and maintain successful school-university partnerships as reported by principals, teachers, and university coordinators in 10 partnerships. Of the partnerships, five were voluntary and grant-related and the other five were required by the district for Chicago public schools on probation. Analysis of the 34 Q sorts (54 items based on a grounded theory of partnership process) identified five factors representing different perspectives on key elements for successful partnerships, with participants tending to load on factors based on member position and/or context of the partnership.