Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the Impact of Social Attributes on Commit Integration Success

As the software development community makes it easier to contribute to open source projects, the number of commits and pull requests keep increasing. However, this exciting growthrenders it more difficult to only accept quality contributions. Recent research has found that both technical and social factors predictthe success of project contributions on GitHub. We take this question a step further, focusing on predicting continuousintegration build success based on technical andsocial factors involved in a commit. Specifically, we investigated if social factors (such as being acore member of the development team, having a large number of followers, or contributing a large number of commits) improve predictions of buildsuccess. We found that social factors cause a noticeable increasein predictive power (12%), core team members are more likely to pass the buildtests (10%), and users with 1000 or more followers are more likely topass the build tests (10%).
Stem Cell Labeling using Polyethylenimine Conjugated (α-NaYbF4:Tm3+)/CaF2 Upconversion Nanoparticles

We report on a polyethylenimine (PEI) covalently conjugated (α-NaYbF4:Tm3+)/CaF2 upconversion nanoparticle (PEI-UCNP) and its use for labeling rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs). The PEI-UCNPs absorb and emit near-infrared light, allowing for improved in vivo imaging depth over conventional probes. We found that such covalent surface conjugation by PEI results in a much more stable PEI-UCNP suspension in PBS compared to conventional electrostatic layer by layer (LbL) self-assembling coating approach. We systematically examined the effects of nanoparticle dose and exposure time on rat mesenchymal stem cell (rMSC) cytotoxicity. The exocytosis of PEI-UCNPs from labeled rMSCs and the impact of PEI-UCNP uptake on rMSC differentiation was also investigated. Our data show that incubation of 100-µg/mL PEI-UCNPs with rMSCs for 4 h led to efficient labeling of the MSCs, and such a level of PEI-UCNP exposure imposed little cytotoxicity to rMSCs (95% viability). However, extended incubation of PEI-UCNPs at the 100 µg/mL dose for 24 hour resulted in some cytotoxicity to rMSCs (60% viability). PEI-UCNP labeled rMSCs also exhibited normal early proliferation, and the internalized PEI-UCNPs did not leak out to cause unintended labeling of adjacent cells during a 14-day transwell culture experiment. Finally, PEI-UCNP labeled rMSCs were able to undergo osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation upon in vitro induction, although the osteogenesis of labeled rMSCs appeared to be less potent than that of the unlabeled rMSCs. Taken together, PEI-UCNPs are promising agents for stem cell labeling and tracking.
A fast Ant Colony Optimization for traveling salesman problem

In this paper, we present an efficient method for speeding up Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), called Pattern Reduction Enhanced Ant Colony Optimization (PREACO). The proposed algorithm is motivated by the observation that many of the computations of ACO on its convergence process are essentially redundant and thus can be eliminated to reduce its computation time. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, we use it to solve the the traveling salesman problem (TSP). Moreover, we compare the proposed algorithm with several state-of-the-art ACO-based algorithms. Our simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm can reduce the computation time of ACO algorithms we evaluated up to 99.21% or by a factor of 126.58 while limiting the degradation of the quality of the solution to a very small percentage compared to ACO algorithms themselves.
VELVET: An Adaptive Hybrid Architecture for Very Large Virtual Environments

Collaborative virtual environment (CVE) concepts have been used in many systems in the past few years. Applications of such technology range from military combat simulations to various civilian commercial applications. The architectures available today provide support for a number of users, but they fail if too many users are together in a small space in the virtual world. This paper introduces VELVET, an adaptive hybrid architecture that allows a greater number of users to interact through a CVE. This is accomplished through an adaptive filtering scheme based on multicasting. VELVET also supports small groups of users, but its use in large environments shows the greatest potential, better handling local concentrations of activity than region-, cell-, orlocale-based approaches. VELVET introduces a novel adaptive area of interest management that supports heterogeneity amongst the various participants. This allows users in a supercomputer with high-speed networking to successfully collaborate with others in not-so-powerful systems behind a slow dial-up connection.
Detection of Listeria species and Listeria monocytogenes using polymerase chain reaction

Five oligonucleotide sequences are described that were used as primers in the poly‐merase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify specific sequences from Listeria DNA. when all five primers werre used in combination, three PCR products were possible; a Listeria specific product that occurs with DNA from any Listeria sp. , a Listeria monocytogenes specific product that occurs only in the presence of DNA from this organism and a universal product that is found using DNA from any bacterial source. The occurrence of these PCR products was used as a diagnostic test on bacteria isolated from various food samples to detect Listeria sp, and L. mono‐cytogenes.
Mental Imagery and Visual Working Memory

Visual working memory provides an essential link between past and future events. Despite recent efforts, capacity limits, their genesis and the underlying neural structures of visual working memory remain unclear. Here we show that performance in visual working memory - but not iconic visual memory - can be predicted by the strength of mental imagery as assessed with binocular rivalry in a given individual. In addition, for individuals with strong imagery, modulating the background luminance diminished performance on visual working memory and imagery tasks, but not working memory for number strings. This suggests that luminance signals were disrupting sensory-based imagery mechanisms and not a general working memory system. Individuals with poor imagery still performed above chance in the visual working memory task, but their performance was not affected by the background luminance, suggesting a dichotomy in strategies for visual working memory: individuals with strong mental imagery rely on sensory-based imagery to support mnemonic performance, while those with poor imagery rely on different strategies. These findings could help reconcile current controversy regarding the mechanism and location of visual mnemonic storage.
Combined evaluation of adenosine deaminase level and histopathological findings from pleural biopsy with Cope's needle for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

INTRODUCTION Closed needle pleural biopsy (CNPB) has historically been the gold standard procedure for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an efficient biomarker for tuberculosis that is measurable in pleural fluids. OBJECTIVE We compared the diagnostic accuracy of the pleural ADA (P-ADA) level and histopathological findings of CNPB specimens in patients with pleural tuberculosis. METHODS This prospective study consisted of two groups of examinations with a proven diagnosis of pleural effusion. The P-ADA level was measured in 218 patients with pleural effusion due to a number of causes, and 157 CNPB specimens underwent histopathological analysis. RESULTS CNPBs were performed in patients with tuberculosis (n=122) and other diseases: adenocarcinoma (n=23), lymphoma (n=5), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=4), squamous cell carcinoma (n=2), and small cell lung cancer (n=1). According to the ROC curve, the optimal cut-off value of the P-ADA level (Giusti and Galanti colorimetric method) was equal to or greater than 40.0 U/L. The diagnostic accuracy of the P-ADA test was 83.0%, and that of histopathological examination of the CNPB tissue, was 78.8% (AUC=0.293, P=0.7695). The association between the P-ADA assay and pleural histopathology was 24.41 (P<0.0001). The tetrachoric correlation coefficient was 0.563 (high correlation). CONCLUSION In Brazil and other countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis, P-ADA activity is an accurate test for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions, and its use should be encouraged. The high diagnostic performance of the P-ADA test could to aid the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis and render CNPB unnecessary.
Professional and User-Generated Content Rating using Context Information

The topic of context awareness has often been addressed, but rarely in a content delivery setting. In this article the authors present the architecture of a context-aware content delivery system prototype. After introducing the system, the techniques used in the implementation of content ingestion and metadata enrichment for both professional and user generated content are described. Finally, the implemented content selection mechanisms using context information are presented and a comparison to work in recommender systems is drawn.
Monotone simulations of nonmonotone proofs

We show that an LK proof of size m of a monotone sequent (a sequent that contains only formulas in the basis /spl and/, V) can be turned into a proof containing only monotone formulas of size m/sup O(log m)/ and with the number of proof lines polynomial in m. Also we show that some interesting special cases, namely the functional and the onto versions of PHP and a version of the matching principle, have polynomial size monotone proofs.
Counterpoint: visceral adiposity is not causally related to insulin resistance.

It has been known for over half a century that accumulation of fat in the upper body is associated with metabolic complications of obesity. The mechanism responsible for this association is widely believed to be insulin resistance, which is frequently present in individuals with upper-body obesity (1) and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk (2). The upper-body obesity phenotype is accompanied by increased free fatty acid (FFA) flux and concentration, whereas individuals with predominantly lower-body obesity tend to have normal FFA kinetics (3). Increased FFA concentrations, in turn, are thought to be a major mediator of insulin resistance (4) and have been shown to cause endothelial dysfunction (5), impair pancreatic β-cell function (6), and acutely raise blood pressure (7). Increased delivery of FFA to skeletal muscle can result in insulin resistance in that tissue, either directly or via accumulation of increased intramyocellular triglyceride stores (8). Similarly, increased delivery of FFA to the liver may be responsible for hepatic insulin resistance (9), accumulation of intrahepatocellular triglyceride (10), and increased synthesis and secretion of VLDL (11). Hormone-sensitive lipase in adipocytes is exquisitely sensitive to the antilipolytic effect of insulin in lean healthy individuals (12). However, impaired insulin suppression of adipose tissue lipolysis is a feature of, and may even be the primary cause of, insulin resistance (13). To our knowledge, insulin resistance has not been reported in individuals with normal sensitivity to the antilipolytic effects of insulin. The degree of upper-body obesity can be estimated by measurement of waist circumference, which is predictive of cardiovascular risk (14). However, nonobese individuals exhibit considerable variability in insulin sensitivity (15) that is not necessarily explained by differences in waist circumference (16). It is possible that differences in the distribution of upper-body fat could explain variability in insulin sensitivity at a given BMI and a given …
Genetic Polymorphisms in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 Are Associated with Prostate Cancer in the Chinese Population

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) are members of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family that play important roles in carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that the functional polymorphisms in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 may be associated with the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in the Chinese population. This hospital-based case-control study included 664 PCa patients and 702 cancer-free controls. Nine SNPs in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were genotyped using the TaqMan assay. The genetic associations between the pathogenesis and progression of PCa were assessed by logistic regression. We found that the genotype and allele frequency distribution of rs6218, rs35767 and rs5742612 were significantly different when comparing PCa cases to controls (P = 0.005, 0.005 and 0.020, respectively). In the combined analysis, individuals with 2–6 risk alleles had an elevated risk of PCa compared to those with 0–1 risk alleles. We also found that the association between the combined risk alleles and the risk of PCa appeared stronger in the following subgroups: individuals older than 71 years of age (OR = 1.41, 95%CI = 1.05–1.91, P = 0.020), nonsmokers (OR = 1.68, 95%CI = 1.21–2.32, P = 0.002), nondrinkers (OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.02–1.61, P = 0.002), and those with a negative family history of PCa (OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.02–1.71, P = 0.022). Our results indicate that the three SNPs (rs6218, rs35767 and rs5742612) and the joint genotypes with 2–6 risk alleles, may contribute to the susceptibility to PCa, but not the progression, in the Chinese population.
Personality and analogy-based project estimation

The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between personality and expert prediction behaviour when estimating software project effort using analogical reasoning. For some years we have been developing tools and techniques for estimation by analogy (EBA). However the variability of results from using these tools and techniques can be difficult to interpret. We have conducted a pilot study to integrate knowledge from cognitive psychology and computer science to investigate how to improve estimation when using analogy-based tools. We interviewed and assessed the personality of two experienced project managers to gain an understanding of their background and the problem solving strategies they currently employ. Following these interviews, the project managers were given a typical project effort estimation task. The project managers were asked to complete the task using our analogical reasoning tool and articulate their processes by means of a ‘think aloud’ protocol. We found significant differences in prediction approach that may be in part be explained by personality differences. One aspect, i.e. the strong need to acquire personal understanding may present obstacles to the successful use of some prediction tools.
Survival outcomes in acute invasive fungal sinusitis: A systematic review and quantitative synthesis of published evidence

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is an aggressive and often fatal infection. Despite improvements in medical and surgical therapy, survival remains limited and the factors that contribute to patient outcomes remain poorly understood. The current study systematically reviews and quantitatively synthesizes the published literature to characterize prognostic factors associated with survival.
Different Effects of Antihypertensive Therapies Based on Losartan or Atenolol on Ultrasound and Biochemical Markers of Myocardial Fibrosis: Results of a Randomized Trial

Background—In hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial texture is altered by a disproportionate increase in fibrosis, but there is insufficient clinical evidence whether antihypertensive therapy or individual agents can induce regression of myocardial fibrosis. Methods and Results—We compared the effects of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist with a &bgr;-blocker on myocardial collagen volume (assessed by echoreflectivity and serum collagen markers) in 219 hypertensive patients with echocardiographically documented LVH. Patients were allocated randomly to receive losartan 50 to 100 mg/d (n=111) or atenolol 50 to 100 mg/d (n=99) with or without hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 to 25 mg/d for 36 weeks. Echoreflectivity analysis was conducted on ultrasound tracings of the midapex septum with specifically designed and validated software. A color histogram of reflecting echoes was obtained, and its spread (broadband [BB], previously shown to correlate directly with collagen volume fraction on endomyocardial biopsies) was used as the primary outcome measure. Mean color scale and serum markers of collagen synthesis (PIP, PIIIP) or degradation (CITP) were secondary outcome variables. Echoreflectivity analysis proved feasible in 106 patients (losartan 52, atenolol 54). Losartan reduced BB over 36 weeks (from 114.5 to 104.3 color levels, P<0.02), whereas atenolol treatment was associated with an increase in BB (from 109.0 to 113.6 color levels, P=NS), the difference between treatments being −12.8 color levels (95% CI −23.6 to −2.0, P=0.02). Secondary end points (mean color scale and collagen markers) also changed in the direction of decreased collagen in patients receiving losartan, but differences between groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions—In hypertensive patients with LVH, losartan decreases myocardial collagen content, whereas atenolol does not. The difference between the 2 treatments is statistically significant.
Coded power control: Performance analysis

In this paper, we introduce the general concept of coded power control (CPC) in a particular setting of the interference channel. Roughly, the idea of CPC consists in embedding information (about the channel state) into the transmit power levels themselves: in this new framework, provided the power levels of a given transmitter can be observed by other transmitters, a sequence of power levels of the former can therefore be used to coordinate the latter. To assess the limiting performance of CPC (and therefore the potential performance brought by this new approach), we derive, as a first step towards many extensions of the present work, a general result which not only concerns power control (PC) but also any scenario involving two decision-makers (DMs) which communicate through their actions and have the following information and decision structures. We assume that the DMs want to maximize the average of an arbitrarily chosen instantaneous payoff function which depends on the DMs' actions and the state realization. DM 1 is assumed to know the state non-causally (e.g., the channel state) which affects the common payoff while DM 2 has only a strictly causal knowledge of it. DM 1 can only use its own actions (e.g., power levels) to inform DM 2 about its best action in terms of payoff. Importantly, DM 2 can only monitor the actions of DM 1 imperfectly and DM 2 does not need to be observed by DM 1. The latter assumption leads us to exploiting Shannon-theoretic tools in order to generalize an existing theorem which provides the information constraint under which the average payoff is maximized. The derived result is then exploited to fully characterize the performance of good CPC policies for a given instance of the interference channel.
Expectations and Reality in American Higher Education.

FALL 2007 59 At best, its celebration is conveyed by the 1954 Norman Rockwell painting Breaking Home Ties, which appeared as the cover on the Saturday Evening Post: a young man with his suitcase sits on the running board of the family Ford Model T as he bids farewell to his grizzled farmer father—and heads for the state college. It’s comparable to the theme that attracted historian Frederick Rudolph who wrote in 1962:
Child development in developing countries 3 Strategies to avoid the loss of developmental potential in more than 200 million children in the developing world

This paper is the third in the Child Development Series. The fi rst paper showed that more than 200 million children under 5 years of age in developing countries do not reach their developmental potential. The second paper identifi ed four well-documented risks: stunting, iodine defi ciency, iron defi ciency anaemia, and inadequate cognitive stimulation, plus four potential risks based on epidemiological evidence: maternal depression, violence exposure, environmental contamination, and malaria. This paper assesses strategies to promote child development and to prevent or ameliorate the loss of developmental potential. The most eff ective early child development programmes provide direct learning experiences to children and families, are targeted toward younger and disadvantaged children, are of longer duration, high quality, and high intensity, and are integrated with family support, health, nutrition, or educational systems and services. Despite convincing evidence, programme coverage is low. To achieve the Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty and ensuring primary school completion for both girls and boys, governments and civil society should consider expanding high quality, cost-eff ective early child development programmes.
A novel non-minimal turn model for highly adaptive routing in 2D NoCs

Network-on-Chip (NoC) is emerging as a promising communication paradigm to overcome bottleneck of traditional bus-based interconnects for future micro-architectures (MPSoC and CMP). One of current issue in NoC routing is the use of acyclic channel dependency graph (ACDG) for deadlock freedom prohibiting certain routing turns. Thus, ACDG reduces the degree of adaptiveness. In this paper, we propose a novel nonminimal turn model which allows cycles in channel dependency graph provided that extended channel dependency graph is acyclic. Proposed turn model reduces number of restrictions on routing turns (specially on 90-degree), hence able to provide additional minimal and non-minimal routes between source and destination. We also propose a non-minimal and congestion-aware adaptive routing algorithm based on proposed turn model to demonstrate advantages. From results, we can observe that proposed method improves the network performance by distributing the traffic load in the non-congested regions.
Hydrogen profile measurement of (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3 capacitor with conductive electrode after hydrogen annealing

We fabricated ferroelectric (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3 (PLZT) capacitors with Pt, Al:ZnO, or Sn:In2O3 top electrodes. The remnant polarization decreased for these PLZT capacitors after forming gas (3%H2/balance N2) annealing at 200°C and 1 Torr, especially for PLZT capacitor with Pt top electrodes due to the catalytic effect of Pt. The time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profile showed that the hydrogen content in PLZT thin films with Pt top electrode increased ca. 2.7 times after forming gas annealing compared with ca. 1.2 times with other electrodes.