Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Understanding the Energy Impact of Speculative Execution in Hadoop

Hadoop emerged as an important system for large-scale data analysis. Speculative execution is a key feature in Hadoop that is extensively leveraged in clouds: it is used to mask slow tasks (i.e., stragglers) -- resulted from resource contention and heterogeneity in clouds -- by launching speculative task copies on other machines. However, speculative execution is not cost-free and may result in performance degradation and extra resource and energy consumption. While prior literature has been dedicated to improving stragglers detection to cope with the inevitable heterogeneity in clouds, little work is focusing on understanding the implications of speculative execution on the performance and energy consumption in Hadoop cluster. In this paper, we have designed a set of experiments to evaluate the impact of speculative execution on the performance and energy consumption of Hadoop in homo-and heterogeneous environments. Our studies reveal that speculative execution may sometimes reduce, sometimes increase the energy consumption of Hadoop clusters. This strongly depends on the reduction in the execution time of MapReduce applications and on the extra power consumption introduced by speculative execution. Moreover, we show that the extra power consumption varies in-between applications and is contributed to by three main factors: the duration of speculative tasks, the idle time, and the allocation of speculative tasks. To the best of our knowledge, our work provides the first deep look into the energy efficiency of speculative execution in Hadoop.
What is Your Bench Strength? An Exploration of Succession Planning in Three Large School Districts in a Southeastern State

RIDDICK, FRANCINE PISCITELLI. What is Your Bench Strength? An Exploration of Succession Planning in Three Large School Districts in a Southeastern State. (Under the direction of Dr. Lance Fusarelli and Dr. Matthew Militello.) Large school districts face a number of challenges due to their sheer size. One of these challenges involves staffing the role of the principal. With Baby Boomers reaching retirement age, large school districts, especially those experiencing growth, have to fill numerous leadership positions. In order to fill these positions efficiently and effectively, many school districts are beginning to develop and implement succession planning programs to expand their internal pool of leadership candidates. Succession planning strategies have been utilized in the business world for years and the education realm is beginning to realize their value. This study explores three large school districts in a southeastern state and their efforts to implement effective succession planning systems. While all three districts have a variety of strategies in place, none of the districts have a comprehensive, written succession plan and corresponding evaluation. Other similarities across the three districts include administrator certification programs, coaching programs, the predominant use of selfselection into succession planning initiatives, the principal position as the focal point, and the value of utilizing the cohort concept. Some differences across the three districts are the departments and positions responsible for succession planning initiatives, the categorization of some strategies as succession planning, and an additional position as a secondary focal point. What is Your Bench Strength? An Exploration of Succession Planning in Three Large School Districts in a Southeastern State by Francine Piscitelli Riddick A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education Educational Administration and Supervision Raleigh, North Carolina 2009
Overview of Resistance in the 1990 s

The tremendous therapeutic advantage afforded by antibiotics is being threatened by the emergence of increasingly resistant strains of microbes. Selective pressure favoring resistant strains arises from misuse and overuse of antimicrobials (notably extended-spectrum cephalo-sporins), increased numbers of immunocompromised hosts, lapses in infection control, increased use of invasive procedures and devices, and the widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture and animal husbandry. Outside the hospital, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae is of greatest concern; recent reports also indicate the appearance of outpatient methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. MRSA is a significant problem in the hospital, as are vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, oxacillin-resistant S aureus, and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli. Owing to the high rate of antibiotic use and other risk factors, a person is more likely to acquire an antibiotic-resistant infection in the ICU than anywhere else, either inside or outside the hospital. Responsible antibiotic use and stringent infection-control policies are needed to discourage the development of resistant strains. T he discovery of potent antimicrobial agents was one of the greatest contributions to medicine in the 20th century. Unfortunately, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens now threatens these advances. Antimicrobial resistance has resulted in increased morbidity and mortality as well as higher health-care costs. Yearly expenditures arising from drug resistance in the United States are estimated to approach $4 billion and are rising. 1,2 The emergence of resistance is a result of factors such as increased use and misuse of antimicrobial agents (notably the extended-spectrum cephalospo-rins), increased use of invasive devices and procedures , a greater number of susceptible hosts, and lapses in infection control practices leading to increased transmission of resistant organisms. In the hospital, widespread use of antimicrobials in the ICU and for immunocompromised patients has resulted in the selection of multidrug-resistant organisms. Microorganisms have a remarkable array of mechanisms with which to overcome the effects of antimicro-bial agents (Table 1). These include the production of structure-altering or inactivating enzymes (eg, ␤-lacta-mase-or aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes), alteration of penicillin-binding proteins or other cell-wall target sites, altered DNA gyrase targets, permeability mutations, and ribosomal modification. 3–7 Selective pressure resulting from antimicrobial administration can lead to the growth of previously susceptible strains that have acquired resistance or to the overgrowth of strains that are intrinsically resistant. The emergence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia during imipenem therapy is an example of selection of intrinsically antibiotic-resistant strains. In general, resistance is acquired by mutational change or by the acquisition of resistance-encoding genetic material. …
FAULT DETECTION USING RADIAL BASIS FUNCTION NETWORK AND POLYGONAL LINE

Abstract This paper proposes a novel approach for the reduction of the dimensionality of non-linear data based on radial basis function (RBF) network and polygonal line (PL). A method is suggested to find out the optimum number of nodes in the hidden layer which is mostly heuristic in case of other proposed methods. A hybrid optimization technique based on genetic algorithm (GA) and Broyden, Fletcher, Goldfarb, and Shanno (BFGS) Quasi-Newton algorithm is used for faster and effective training of the network. Kernel density estimation is used for finding the confidence limits. The method is applied for detecting the fault in a simulated continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). The result shows that the proposed method is excellent for process monitoring in non-linear systems.
Genomic Profiling Identifies GATA6 as a Candidate Oncogene Amplified in Pancreatobiliary Cancer

Pancreatobiliary cancers have among the highest mortality rates of any cancer type. Discovering the full spectrum of molecular genetic alterations may suggest new avenues for therapy. To catalogue genomic alterations, we carried out array-based genomic profiling of 31 exocrine pancreatic cancers and 6 distal bile duct cancers, expanded as xenografts to enrich the tumor cell fraction. We identified numerous focal DNA amplifications and deletions, including in 19% of pancreatobiliary cases gain at cytoband 18q11.2, a locus uncommonly amplified in other tumor types. The smallest shared amplification at 18q11.2 included GATA6, a transcriptional regulator previously linked to normal pancreas development. When amplified, GATA6 was overexpressed at both the mRNA and protein levels, and strong immunostaining was observed in 25 of 54 (46%) primary pancreatic cancers compared to 0 of 33 normal pancreas specimens surveyed. GATA6 expression in xenografts was associated with specific microarray gene-expression patterns, enriched for GATA binding sites and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation activity. siRNA mediated knockdown of GATA6 in pancreatic cancer cell lines with amplification led to reduced cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and colony formation. Our findings indicate that GATA6 amplification and overexpression contribute to the oncogenic phenotypes of pancreatic cancer cells, and identify GATA6 as a candidate lineage-specific oncogene in pancreatobiliary cancer, with implications for novel treatment strategies.
Variable Selection in Competing Risks Using the L1-Penalized Cox Model

VARIABLE SELECTION IN COMPETING RISKS USING THE L1 PENALIZED COX MODEL By Xiangrong Kong, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2008 Major Director: Kellie J. Archer, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Biostatistics One situation in survival analysis is that the failure of an individual can happen because of one of multiple distinct causes. Survival data generated in this scenario are commonly referred to as competing risks data. One of the major tasks, when examining survival data, is to assess the dependence of survival time on explanatory variables. In competing risks, as with ordinary univariate survival data, there may be explanatory variables associated with ix
Configuration-independent kinematics for modular mobile manipulators

A modular mobile manipulator system consists of standardized joint and wheel modules that can be assembled into a number of different robot configurations. This paper mainly focuses on the formulation of configuration-independent kinematics algorithms for modular mobile manipulators. Based on the design of various types of modules, a modified Assembly Incidence Matrix (AIM) is proposed to represent the modular mobile manipulators configurations. The local frame representation of POE (Product of Exponentials) formula is employed to automatically generate the kinematic models for a given mobile manipulator based on its AIM.
Fully-Automated Liquid Penetrant Inspection Line Simulation Model for Increasing Productivity

By proposing an optimization model for a new automated liquid penetrant inspection (LPI) system in order to increase its productivity, the paper tries to identify the best algorithm to solve this case study. The architecture of the system is dictated by the successive stages of the inspection process and the available conditions in the work shop. As a novelty in the field, the authors developed such a fully automated LPI system for inspecting different parts, which eliminates the need of the visual inspection made by operator, using instead dedicated software solution for processing the digital images of the inspected parts and for giving the pass/fail verdict. In the present case study, the attention was focused on optimizing the new LPI system architecture. Simulations in different working scenarios are run with the purpose to increase productivity by optimizing the critical waiting times within the system and by establishing the best order for inspecting parts belonging to three families subjected to LPI method. Moreover, the results of the simulation are used for programming the system by setting the optimal values of the functional parameters of system’s equipment in order to avoid running a large number of tests which are expensive and time consuming. (Received in April 2012, accepted in February 2013. This paper was with the authors 3 months for 4 revisions.)
Response of bacterioplankton to iron fertilization of the Southern Ocean, Antarctica

Ocean iron fertilization is an approach to increase CO2 sequestration. The Indo-German iron fertilization experiment “LOHAFEX” was carried out in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica in 2009 to monitor changes in bacterial community structure following iron fertilization-induced phytoplankton bloom of the seawater from different depths. 16S rRNA gene libraries were constructed using metagenomic DNA from seawater prior to and after iron fertilization and the clones were sequenced for identification of the major bacterial groups present and for phylogenetic analyses. A total of 4439 clones of 16S rRNA genes from ten 16S rRNA gene libraries were sequenced. More than 97.35% of the sequences represented four bacterial lineages i.e. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes and confirmed their role in scavenging of phytoplankton blooms induced following iron fertilization. The present study demonstrates the response of Firmicutes due to Iron fertilization which was not observed in previous southern ocean Iron fertilization studies. In addition, this study identifies three unique phylogenetic clusters LOHAFEX Cluster 1 (affiliated to Bacteroidetes), 2, and 3 (affiliated to Firmicutes) which were not detected in any of the earlier studies on iron fertilization. The relative abundance of these clusters in response to iron fertilization was different. The increase in abundance of LOHAFEX Cluster 2 and Papillibacter sp. another dominant Firmicutes may imply a role in phytoplankton degradation. Disappearance of LOHAFEX Cluster 3 and other bacterial genera after iron fertilization may imply conditions not conducive for their survival. It is hypothesized that heterotrophic bacterial abundance in the Southern Ocean would depend on their ability to utilize algal exudates, decaying algal biomass and other nutrients thus resulting in a dynamic bacterial succession of distinct genera.
Substance Use Related Emergencies in a Tertiary Care General Hospital Setting: Observations and Discussion

1. Kalaiselvan V, Prasad T, Bisht A, Singh S, Singh GN. Ad v e r s e d r u g re a c t i o n s re p o r t i n g c u l t u re i n Pharmacovigilance Programme of India. Indian J Med Res 2014;140:563-4. 2. Patel KJ, Kedia MS, Bajpai D, Mehta SS, Kshirsagar NA, Gogtay NJ. Evaluation of the prevalence and economic burden of adverse drug reactions presenting to the medical emergency department of a tertiary referral centre: A prospective study. BMC Clin Pharmacol 2007;7:8. 3. Ramesh M, Pandit J, Parthasarathi G. Adverse drug reactions in a south Indian hospital—their severity and cost involved. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2003;12:687-92. 4. Raut A, Diwan A, Patel C, Patel P, Pawar A. Incidence, severity and financial burden associated with adverse drug reactions in medicine inpatients. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2011;4:103-11. 5. Sarkar S, Varshney M, Patil V, Lal R. Maintenance treatment of opioid dependence with tramadol. J Neurosci Rural Pract 2017;8:S98-101. Access this article online
Towards a Confidence-based Routing Algorithm in Delay Tolerant Network

High latency, low data rate and intermittent network connectivity make Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) cannot copy routing protocols in traditional network. Because of node mobility, node cache limitations and energy, it is very difficult to select relay nodes. The paper proposed a Confidence Based Routing Algorithm (CBRA) that uses factor combination of message forward successful rate, contact rate and free buffer rate so as to make routing decision and selection for better relay node. It can effectively avoid too much network knowledge or too many copies to achieve higher successful rate as other routing protocols. Simulation experiment results on ONE compared with Direct Contact, Epidemic Routing, Two-Hop Relay and PROPHET algorithm show that CBRA has advantages that small redundant, low buffer occupancy rate and low energy consumption. Copyright © 2013 IFSA.
Ukrainian Teacher Candidates Develop Dispositions of Socially Meaningful Activity

This study addresses how the method of peer mediation can be utilized by teacher educators in developing students’ attitudes to care for those who are in need, how to actively participate in socially meaningful activity without any expectation of reward, and how to contribute to the democratic development of a post-conflict country via active individual participation of teacher candidates. While developing teacher candidates’ dispositions of socially meaningful activity, researchers realized the premises of cultural–historical theory of activity by developing a supportive learning environment and changing the social role of the instructor who becomes a facilitator of teacher candidates learning.
Physical principles of fluid-mediated insect attachment - Shouldn’t insects slip?

Summary Insects use either hairy or smooth adhesive pads to safely adhere to various kinds of surfaces. Although the two types of adhesive pads are morphologically different, they both form contact with the substrate via a thin layer of adhesive fluid. To model adhesion and friction forces generated by insect footpads often a simple “wet adhesion” model is used, in which two flat undeformable substrates are separated by a continuous layer of fluid. This review summarizes the key physical and tribological principles that determine the adhesion and friction in such a model. Interestingly, such a simple wet-adhesion model falls short in explaining several features of insect adhesion. For example, it cannot predict the observed high static friction forces of the insects, which enable them to cling to vertical smooth substrates without sliding. When taking a closer look at the “classic” attachment model, one can see that it is based on several simplifications, such as rigid surfaces or continuous layers of Newtonian fluids. Recent experiments show that these assumptions are not valid in many cases of insect adhesion. Future tribological models for insect adhesion thus need to incorporate deformable adhesive pads, non-Newtonian properties of the adhesive fluid and/or partially “dry” or solid-like contact between the pad and the substrate.
DNA: An Extensible Molecule

The force-displacement response of a single duplex DNA molecule was measured. The force saturates at a plateau around 70 piconewtons, which ends when the DNA has been stretched about 1.7 times its contour length. This behavior reveals a highly cooperative transition to a state here termed S-DNA. Addition of an intercalator suppresses this transition. Molecular modeling of the process also yields a force plateau and suggests a structure for the extended form. These results may shed light on biological processes involving DNA extension and open the route for mechanical studies on individual molecules in a previously unexplored range.
Collaboration in a web enabled design management system - a case study in Kolkata, India

Project specific websites for construction management have become common in developed countries. Such a web space was introduced in Kolkata, India in 2006 for a hotel restoration and development project. The collaboration performances of the participants are presented in this case study. Relevant literature and the background conditions were first studied for planning of the web site. The response and participation of the end users were the most important aspects for success of such a collaborative web site. A number of tools like sociogram, sociometry, statistical analysis, social network analysis and factor analysis have been used to investigate the users’ participation in the web site. The responses in the web forum followed a Pareto distribution in conformity with the literature. A sociogram and indexes as proposed in Moreno methods in sociometry were reported. A social network analysis was executed. These results could be used for comparisons with similar internet forums. It can be also used in future for checking performance of this web space. A factor analysis was performed to map the users’ opinion about the web site. Users felt that the web site performed well in respect of coordination and benefit perspective but expected more in the areas of quality improvement and users’ satisfaction perspective.
Alterations in White Matter Evident Before the Onset of Psychosis

Background Psychotic disorders are associated with widespread reductions in white matter (WM) integrity. However, the stage at which these abnormalities first appear and whether they are correlates of psychotic illness, as opposed to an increased vulnerability to psychosis, is unclear. We addressed these issues by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study subjects at ultra high risk (UHR) of psychosis before and after the onset of illness. Methods Thirty-two individuals at UHR for psychosis, 32 controls, and 15 patients with first-episode schizophrenia were studied using DTI. The UHR subjects and controls were re-scanned after 28 months. During this period, 8 UHR subjects had developed schizophrenia. Between-group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) and diffusivity were evaluated cross sectionally and longitudinally using a nonparametric voxel-based analysis. Results At baseline, WM DTI properties were significantly different between the 3 groups (P < .001). Relative to controls, first-episode patients showed widespread reductions in FA and increases in diffusivity. DTI indices in the UHR group were intermediate relative to those in the other 2 groups. Longitudinal analysis revealed a significant group by time interaction in the left frontal WM (P < .001). In this region, there was a progressive reduction in FA in UHR subjects who developed psychosis that was not evident in UHR subjects who did not make a transition. Conclusions People at UHR for psychosis show alterations in WM qualitatively similar to, but less severe than, those in patients with schizophrenia. The onset of schizophrenia may be associated with a progressive reduction in the integrity of the frontal WM.
European Conference on Information Systems ( ECIS ) 5-15-2012 ICT ARCHITECTURE AND PROJECT RISK IN INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL SETTINGS

This paper investigates the relationship between ICT architectures and project risk, in the context of the development of large inter-organizational systems. Although previous research has identified ICT architecture as a project risk, the focus has been on technical issues. Expanding this perspective, we investigate how technical architectures have bearings on the organization of projects, which may, to a large extent, determine the outcome of large information infrastructure initiatives. Our empirical evidence is ten cases from the health sector, collected over a period of 20 years. Due to space limitations only two cases are presented in this paper. A multi-level analysis allowed us to identify two main architectures; the institutional interface architecture (INA) and the service provider architecture (SPA). Through the careful study of ten cases over a period of 20 years, we present evidence for the high project risk of the INA and the viability of the SPA strategy. We find that the SPA has significant impact not only on the complexity of the technological solutions, but – more importantly – also on the complexity of the projects developing the solutions. The organizational complexity of the SPA based projects, and hence the necessary co-ordination activities, were dramatically reduced, and the success rate of the projects and the benefits for the users similarly increased.