Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Introductory Programming Courses in Australasia in 2016

This paper reports on a survey of introductory programming courses in Australia and New Zealand conducted in the first half of 2016. Such surveys have been conducted a number of times in the past 15 years, and we have access to some of the past data to enable us to perform some longitudinal analysis. In the previous iteration of the study, in 2013, Python had joined Java as the dominant language used in introductory programming courses, and student numbers were apparently on the rise, having previously been falling. Those trends are found to continue in 2016, with Python being taught in the same number of courses as Java, but to greater numbers of students; and with a substantial increase in student numbers both overall and averaged per course. We also report on the reasons for the choices of programming languages; on the use of IDEs with the languages (which appears to be falling slightly); on the provision of resources that might help students (which also appears to be falling slightly); on the respondents' aims in their courses; and on considerations of academic integrity in these programming courses.
Primate TRIM5 proteins form hexagonal nets on HIV-1 capsids

TRIM5 proteins are restriction factors that block retroviral infections by binding viral capsids and preventing reverse transcription. Capsid recognition is mediated by C-terminal domains on TRIM5α (SPRY) or TRIMCyp (cyclophilin A), which interact weakly with capsids. Efficient capsid recognition also requires the conserved N-terminal tripartite motifs (TRIM), which mediate oligomerization and create avidity effects. To characterize how TRIM5 proteins recognize viral capsids, we developed methods for isolating native recombinant TRIM5 proteins and purifying stable HIV-1 capsids. Biochemical and EM analyses revealed that TRIM5 proteins assembled into hexagonal nets, both alone and on capsid surfaces. These nets comprised open hexameric rings, with the SPRY domains centered on the edges and the B-box and RING domains at the vertices. Thus, the principles of hexagonal TRIM5 assembly and capsid pattern recognition are conserved across primates, allowing TRIM5 assemblies to maintain the conformational plasticity necessary to recognize divergent and pleomorphic retroviral capsids. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.16269. 001
A Fast Decision Algorithm for High Efficiency Video Coding

Fast mode decision algorithms in video intra coding are very useful and necessary for implementing practical real-time performance of the encoder. It can reduce the computational complexity by excluding impossible modes from candidate set. Anyway, most of these algorithms may give rise to the remarkable quality degradation, especially for the all intra coding scenario. In order to improve the encoding speed while avoiding the quality loss, this paper presents a new algorithm for fast CU size decision and mode decision in HEVC intra coding. First, the size of the coding unit is pre-determined according to judging the coding unit whether has the sub-block whose depth is 3 and analyzing the depth of the adjacent CU. Then a judgment by block-DCT coefficients is made on the texture direction of image block, determining candidate mode set based on the calculated direction and the best prediction mode of the adjacent block, which can reduce the number of candidate mode, thereby reducing the amount of computation to save coding time. The experimental results show that the algorithm provides about 34.6% reduction of intra coding time compared with the latest HM13.0 with negligible loss of PSNR and a little increase of bite-rate.
Xenohormetic and anti-aging activity of secoiridoid polyphenols present in extra virgin olive oil

Aging can be viewed as a quasi-programmed phenomenon driven by the overactivation of the nutrient-sensing mTOR gerogene. mTOR-driven aging can be triggered or accelerated by a decline or loss of responsiveness to activation of the energy-sensing protein AMPK, a critical gerosuppressor of mTOR. The occurrence of age-related diseases, therefore, reflects the synergistic interaction between our evolutionary path to sedentarism, which chronically increases a number of mTOR activating gero-promoters (e.g., food, growth factors, cytokines and insulin) and the “defective design” of central metabolic integrators such as mTOR and AMPK. Our laboratories at the Bioactive Food Component Platform in Spain have initiated a systematic approach to molecularly elucidate and clinically explore whether the “xenohormesis hypothesis,” which states that stress-induced synthesis of plant polyphenols and many other phytochemicals provides an environmental chemical signature that upregulates stress-resistance pathways in plant consumers, can be explained in terms of the reactivity of the AMPK/mTOR-axis to so-called xenohormetins. Here, we explore the AMPK/mTOR-xenohormetic nature of complex polyphenols naturally present in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), a pivotal component of the Mediterranean style diet that has been repeatedly associated with a reduction in age-related morbid conditions and longer life expectancy. Using crude EVOO phenolic extracts highly enriched in the secoiridoids oleuropein aglycon and decarboxymethyl oleuropein aglycon, we show for the first time that (1) the anticancer activity of EVOO secoiridoids is related to the activation of anti-aging/cellular stress-like gene signatures, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response, spermidine and polyamine metabolism, sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) and NRF2 signaling; (2) EVOO secoiridoids activate AMPK and suppress crucial genes involved in the Warburg effect and the self-renewal capacity of “immortal” cancer stem cells; (3) EVOO secoiridoids prevent age-related changes in the cell size, morphological heterogeneity, arrayed cell arrangement and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining of normal diploid human fibroblasts at the end of their proliferative lifespans. EVOO secoiridoids, which provide an effective defense against plant attack by herbivores and pathogens, are bona fide xenohormetins that are able to activate the gerosuppressor AMPK and trigger numerous resveratrol-like anti-aging transcriptomic signatures. As such, EVOO secoiridoids constitute a new family of plant-produced gerosuppressant agents that molecularly “repair” the aimless (and harmful) AMPK/mTOR-driven quasi-program that leads to aging and aging-related diseases, including cancer.
TrUbi: A System for Dynamically Constraining Mobile Devices within Restrictive Usage Scenarios

In certain restrictive usage scenarios, personal mobile devices are required to operate in some constrained manner. Security concerns tend to be the most typical motivation, for example, as in "Bring Your Own Device" use cases. However, because most device configurations are strictly controlled by their respective users, today it is practically infeasible to satisfy such requirements. In this paper, we present TrUbi, a system that allows for dynamic and temporary restriction of Android devices by disabling or locking specific functions for limited amounts of time, e.g. network blocked. TrUbi enforces global security policies by implementing an OS primitive named trust lease. Our TrUbi prototype can efficiently enforce security policies in unmodified real-world apps and paves the way for new apps that are currently unsupported by existing mobile platforms.
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction in anaerobic sediments leading to river nitrite accumulation

Recent studies on Northern Ireland rivers have shown that summer nitrite (NO(inf2)(sup-)) concentrations greatly exceed the European Union guideline of 3 (mu)g of N liter(sup-1) for rivers supporting salmonid fisheries. In fast-flowing aerobic small streams, NO(inf2)(sup-) is thought to originate from nitrification, due to the retardation of Nitrobacter strains by the presence of free ammonia. Multiple regression analyses of NO(inf2)(sup-) concentrations against water quality variables of the six major rivers of the Lough Neagh catchment in Northern Ireland, however, suggested that the high NO(inf2)(sup-) concentrations found in the summer under warm, slow-flow conditions may result from the reduction of NO(inf3)(sup-). This hypothesis was supported by field observations of weekly changes in N species. Here, reduction of NO(inf3)(sup-) was observed to occur simultaneously with elevation of NO(inf2)(sup-) levels and subsequently NH(inf4)(sup+) levels, indicating that dissimilatory NO(inf3)(sup-) reduction to NH(inf4)(sup+) (DNRA) performed by fermentative bacteria (e.g., Aeromonas and Vibrio spp.) is responsible for NO(inf2)(sup-) accumulation in these large rivers. Mechanistic studies in which (sup15)N-labelled NO(inf3)(sup-) in sediment extracts was used provided further support for this hypothesis. Maximal concentrations of NO(inf2)(sup-) accumulation (up to 1.4 mg of N liter(sup-1)) were found in sediments deeper than 6 cm associated with a high concentration of metabolizable carbon and anaerobic conditions. The (sup15)N enrichment of the NO(inf2)(sup-) was comparable to that of the NO(inf3)(sup-) pool, indicating that the NO(inf2)(sup-) was predominantly NO(inf3)(sup-) derived. There is evidence which suggests that the high NO(inf2)(sup-) concentrations observed arose from the inhibition of the DNRA NO(inf2)(sup-) reductase system by NO(inf3)(sup-).
A Global Perspective on Hantavirus Ecology, Epidemiology, and Disease

SUMMARY Hantaviruses are enzootic viruses that maintain persistent infections in their rodent hosts without apparent disease symptoms. The spillover of these viruses to humans can lead to one of two serious illnesses, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. In recent years, there has been an improved understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and natural history of these viruses following an increase in the number of outbreaks in the Americas. In this review, current concepts regarding the ecology of and disease associated with these serious human pathogens are presented. Priorities for future research suggest an integration of the ecology and evolution of these and other host-virus ecosystems through modeling and hypothesis-driven research with the risk of emergence, host switching/spillover, and disease transmission to humans.
The association between the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and arterial stiffness in young healthy subjects

Aldosterone might affect arterial stiffening, in both the short‐ and long‐term. We investigated a possible association between excess aldosterone, reflected by an increased aldosterone : renin ratio (ARR) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in young healthy adults. In a single‐centre study, 60 subjects were evaluated for lipid profile, glucose, hs‐CRP, renin and aldosterone. PWV was performed as a simple non‐invasive recording and computer analysis of the two artery sites pressure waveform using SphygmoCor (version 7·1, AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia). The ARR was significantly, positively associated with PWV: r = 0·298, P = 0·02. ARR was not associated with anthropometric variables, blood pressure (BP), metabolic and inflammatory parameters. In conclusion, the ARR was significantly associated with PWV and may exhibit direct effects of aldosterone on the vascular wall, which are not related to changes in conventional cardiovascular risk factors.
Multimeric structure of ClC‐1 chloride channel revealed by mutations in dominant myotonia congenita (Thomsen).

Voltage‐gated ClC chloride channels play important roles in cell volume regulation, control of muscle excitability, and probably transepithelial transport. ClC channels can be functionally expressed without other subunits, but it is unknown whether they function as monomers. We now exploit the properties of human mutations in the muscle chloride channel, ClC‐1, to explore its multimeric structure. This is based on analysis of the dominant negative effects of ClC‐1 mutations causing myotonia congenita (MC, Thomsen's disease), including a newly identified mutation (P480L) in Thomsen's own family. In a co‐expression assay, Thomsen's mutation dramatically inhibits normal ClC‐1 function. A mutation found in Canadian MC families (G230E) has a less pronounced dominant negative effect, which can be explained by functional WT/G230E heterooligomeric channels with altered kinetics and selectivity. Analysis of both mutants shows independently that ClC‐1 functions as a homooligomer with most likely four subunits.
Entrepreneurial Stepping Stone or Consolation Prize

We analyse potential dynamic benefits for a firm from having the option of adopting informal status. Informality may be a stepping stone, without which formality might never be achieved. This result obtains for a broad range of realistic parameter values, suggesting a potential dynamic case for government support of informal firms. Informality may alternatively play a converse role as a consolation prize, a firm only entering an industry (formally) because it recognizes that if profitability is disappointing, it can switch to informality. However, this result obtains for a range of parameter values so narrow to be of no practical significance.
Design, Fabrication, and Operating Test of the Prototype HTS Electromagnet for EMS-Based Maglev

The prototype high-Tc superconducting electromagnet (HTS-EM) for high-speed EMS Maglev was successfully demonstrated in EMS system up to the vehicle running speed of 500 km/h. The EM was designed to interface with the existing propulsion system used in the German high-speed Maglev. The rating levitation force of the EM was designed to correspond to the weight of the EM at a 20 mm levitation gap. Electromagnetic forces were simulated and compared with the test results in order to verify the design feasibility of the HTS-EM. Operating tests revealed that the HTS-EM was fully operational in zero-power control mode. However, the operating current of the HTS coil was affected by the control current when the guideway disturbance occurred. The design feasibility and operability of the HTS-EM was verified in the study.
Plasma total homocysteine level and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C>T genetic polymorphism in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine has been also linked to inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we investigated the relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the gene coding for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of homocysteine, and the correlation between the plasma homocysteine levels and generally used inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and matrix metalloproteinase-3) in 96 Japanese patients with RA. Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with the MTHFR 677TT genotype were significantly higher than in those with the 677CC genotype (p < 0.05). In addition, plasma homocysteine levels were increased along with the elevation of general inflammatory markers. Therefore, we conclude that homocysteine might affect the inflammatory status of patients, and the MTHFR 677C>T SNP could be a predictive factor of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with RA.
An improved grid search algorithm of SVR parameters optimization

The proper selection of parameters, kernel parameter g, penalty factor c, non-sensitive coefficient p of Support Vector Regression (SVR) model can optimize SVR's performance. The most commonly used approach is grid search. However, when the data set is large, a terribly long time will be introduced. Thus, we propose an improved grid algorithm to reduce searching time by reduce the number of doing cross-validation test. Firstly, the penalty factor c could be calculated by an empirical formula. Then the best kernel parameter g could be found by general grid search algorithm with the achieved c and a p-value selected randomly within a range. According to the achieved c and p, the grid search algorithm is used again to search the best non-sensitive coefficient p. Experiments on 5 benchmark datasets illustrate that the improved algorithm can reduce training time markedly in a good prediction accuracy.
Central nervous pathway for acupuncture stimulation: localization of processing with functional MR imaging of the brain--preliminary experience.

PURPOSE To characterize the central nervous system (CNS) pathway for acupuncture stimulation in the human brain by using functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Functional MR imaging of the whole brain was performed in two groups of nine healthy subjects during four stimulation paradigms: real acupuncture at acupoints ST.36 (on the leg) and LI.4 (on the hand) and control stimulations (minimal acupuncture and superficial pricking on the leg). Stimulations were performed in semirandomized, balanced order nested within two experiments. Psychophysical responses (pain, De-Qi effect [characteristic acupuncture effect of needle-manipulation sensation], anxiety, and unpleasantness) and autonomic responses were assessed. Talairach coordinates-transformed imaging data were averaged for a group analysis. RESULTS Acupuncture at LI.4 and ST.36 resulted in significantly higher scores for De-Qi and in substantial bradycardia. Acupuncture at both acupoints resulted in activation of the hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens and deactivation of the rostral part of the anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala formation, and hippocampal complex; control stimulations did not result in such activations and deactivations. CONCLUSION Functional MR imaging can demonstrate the CNS pathway for acupuncture stimulation. Acupuncture at ST.36 and LI.4 activates structures of descending antinociceptive pathway and deactivates multiple limbic areas subserving pain association. These findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of acupuncture analgesia and form a basis for future investigations of endogenous pain modulation circuits in the human brain.
Nasal polyps in cystic fibrosis

In II polyps from patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas, the density, shape, and architecture of mucous glands were studied by the whole-mount method and compared with 102 non-cystic-fibrosis polyps. There were no differences in density which was in most polyps less than 0.5 gland/mm.2. The shape and architecture as well as other histological appearances of the polyp were also alike in both groups of polyps which could not be distinguished. The pathogenesis of nasal polyps in cystic fibrosis is discussed. Apparently, it is the same as that of non-cystic-fibrosis polyps.
Cell cycle effects resulting from inhibition of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c‐Met in regenerating rat livers by RNA interference

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c‐Met are involved in liver regeneration. The role of HGF and c‐Met in liver regeneration in rat following two‐thirds partial hepatectomy (PHx) was investigated using RNA interference to silence HGF and c‐Met in separate experiments. A mixture of 2 c‐Met‐specific short hairpin RNA (ShRNA) sequences, ShM1 and ShM2, and 3 HGF‐specific ShRNA, ShH1, ShH3, and ShH4, were complexed with linear polyethylenimine. Rats were injected with the ShRNA/PEI complex 24 hours before and at the time of PHx. A mismatch and a scrambled ShRNA served as negative controls. ShRNA treatment resulted in suppression of c‐Met and HGF mRNA and protein compared with that in controls. The regenerative response was assessed by PCNA, mitotic index, and BrdU labeling. Treatment with the ShHGF mixture resulted in moderate suppression of hepatocyte proliferation. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed severe suppression of incorporation of BrdU and complete absence of mitosis in rats treated with ShMet 24 hours after PHx compared with that in controls. Gene array analyses indicated abnormal expression patterns in many cell‐cycle‐ and apoptosis‐related genes. The active form of caspase 3 was seen to increase in ShMet‐treated rats. The TUNEL assay indicated a slight increase in apoptosis in ShMet‐treated rats compared with that in controls. Conclusion: The data indicated that in vivo silencing of c‐Met and HGF mRNA by RNA interference in normal rats results in suppression of mRNA and protein, which had a measurable effect on proliferation kinetics associated with liver regeneration. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.)
Mehr Wettbewerb durch strategische Allianzen ? / Increased Competition through Strategie Alliances ?

Zusammenfassung In diesem Papier werden Wettbewerbswirkungen strategischer Allianzen im Rahmen eines zweistufigen Cournot-Oligopols untersucht. Ziel einer strategischen Allianz ist dabei die Beeinflussung des Wettbewerbsverhaltens im Absatzmarkt. Zu diesem Zweck schließen die kooperierenden Unternehmen auf der ersten Stufe einen strategisch gestalteten Kooperationsvertrag ab, durch den ihre Anreize im Oligopolwettbewerb auf der zweiten Stufe modifiziert werden. Ein optimaler Kooperationsvertrag berücksichtigt zwei Aspekte: Da der negative externe Effekt der eigenen Absatzentscheidung auf die Partnerunternehmen internalisiert wird, besteht ein Anreiz den Absatz einzuschränken. Zur Realisierung strategischer Vorteile müßte demgegenüber der Absatz ausgeweitet werden. Das relative Gewicht der beiden Faktoren hängt bei gegebenen Marktbedingungen von der Anzahl der Allianzpartner ab: Bei linearer Preisabsatzfunktion und konstanten Grenzkosten weiten strategische Allianzen, die weniger als die Hälfte der Wettbewerber umfassen, die Produktionsmenge aus; kooperiert demgegenüber die Mehrzahl der Oligopolisten, so schränken die Allianzpartner die Produktion ein. Summary This paper analyzes the effects of strategic alliances on product market competition. In the first stage the cooperating firms design a strategic contract. In the second stage there is Cournot competition between all firms. The optimal contract balances two effects: The incentive to reduce output because external effects between partner firms are internalized, and the strategic incentive to increase output. For given market conditions the relative strength of these effects depends on the number of cooperating firms. In a linear Cournot oligopoly outputs is increased if the alliance comprises less than half of the industry.
A Method of the Benchmarks Selection Based on the Choice Preference of Competitive Strategies

This study uses self-organizing map to identify potential benchmarks based on the similarity of input use.The supper DEA efficiencies are used to identify the industry leaders.Different from other researches,the appropriate target is finally determined based not only on the DEA efficiency scores but also on the choice preference of competitive strategies such as cost leadership,product differentiation and focus strategy for the decision making units.An empirical study on 50 Chinese banks with 2011 Annual Report data shows that the proposed method is very practical in selection of competitive strategies-oriented benchmarks for inefficient units.
Knowledge-Based Approach to de Novo Design Using Reaction Vectors

A knowledge-based approach to the de novo design of synthetically feasible molecules is described. The method is based on reaction vectors which represent the structural changes that take place at the reaction center along with the environment in which the reaction occurs. The reaction vectors are derived automatically from a database of reactions which is not restricted by size or reaction complexity. A structure generation algorithm has been developed whereby reaction vectors can be applied to previously unseen starting materials in order to suggest novel syntheses. The approach has been implemented in KNIME and is validated by reproducing known synthetic routes. We then present applications of the method in different drug design scenarios including lead optimization and library enumeration. The method offers great potential for capturing and using the growing body of data on reactions that is becoming available through electronic laboratory notebooks.