Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oracle database replay

This paper presents Oracle Database Replay, a novel approach to testing changes to the relational database management system component of an information system (software upgrades, hardware changes etc). Database Replay makes it possible to subject a test system to a real production system workload, which helps identify all potential problems before implementing the planned changes on the production system. Any interesting workload period of a production database system can be captured with minimal overhead. The captured workload can be used to drive a test system while maintaining the concurrency and load characteristics of the real production workload. Therefore, the test results using database replay can provide very high assurance in determining the impact of changes to a production system before applying these changes. This paper presents the architecture of Database Replay as well as experimental results that demonstrate its usefulness as testing methodology.
Prevalence, Correlates and Perceptions Toward Cigarette Smoking Among Male and Female In-School Adolescents (Aged 11–18 years) in South Africa: Results from the 2008 GYTS Study

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and identify correlates of current cigarette use among 8470 school-going adolescents (aged 11 to 18 years) in South Africa. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2008 in South Africa within the framework of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Overall prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 16.5%. Significantly, more male students (22.8%) than female students (10.5%) were current smokers (p < 0.001). Among boys and girls, cigarette smoking was positively associated with (a) being male, (b) parental and/or peer smoking, and (c) the perception of risks. Among girls, cigarette smoking was positively associated with attitudes variables (i.e., having more friends among girls, attractiveness among boys and weight change) and various higher exposures to smoking advertising and promotion activities. However, anti-smoking advertising and community and family education were positively associated with current smoking, while only having school or community special groups or classes for students who want to stop smoking was protective of smoking. Cigarette smoking and other tobacco use is a significant public health problem in South Africa. Public health efforts aimed to prevent adolescent cigarette/tobacco use should incorporate knowledge on the associated factors related to smoking.
Leadership: A Critical Text

Introduction Part One: Deconstructing Leadership Chapter 1. Why A Critical Approach to Leadership Chapter 2. What is Leadership? Chapter 3 Asymmetric Leadership: A Brief Case Study Chapter 4. Against Leadership: Autonomist Leadership Chapter 5. Leadership and Diversity Chapter 6. Leadership and Organizational Culture Chapter 7: Corporate Fundamentalism Part Two: Reconstructing Leadership Chapter 8. The Four Discourses of Leadership Chapter 9. The Controller Leadership Discourse Chapter 10. The Therapist Leadership Discourse Chapter 11. The Messiah Leadership Discourse Chapter 12. The Eco-Leadership Discourse Chapter 13. An Overview of the Leadership Discourses Chapter 14. Leadership Formation: Creating Spaces for Leadership to Flourish Chapter 15. Epilogue: Leadership in the Aftermath
Risk factors for motor neuron diseases : genes, environment and lifestyle

The main focus of this thesis is to identify susceptibility factors in diseases affecting the motor neuron: both motor neuron disease (MND), in which primarily the cell body is affected, and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), in which primarily the axon is affected, are covered. Due to its relentless course the most notorious of this spectrum of disorders is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in which both the lower and upper motor neurons are affected causing progressive muscle weakness. The course of the disease is heterogeneous and varies from patient to patient. As ALS cannot be cured, mean disease duration is 3 years when progressive weakness of the respiratory muscles ultimately leads to death of the patient. ALS does occur in families, but the majority concerns a sporadic form. Sporadic ALS is considered a multifactorial disease in which environmental factors in a genetically susceptible host cause motor neuron degeneration. Both the purely lower motor neuron (LMN) and the upper motor neuron (UMN) variants are heterogeneous, although disease progression is generally slower. These variants may represent the same disease entity and the heterogeneity can be used to identify risk factors. MMN is characterized by the presence of progressive, asymmetric, predominantly distal, atrophy and weakness. Its clinical features can mimic MND. Treatment with intravenously applied immunoglobulin improves muscle strength. A multifactorial etiology is implied with a large role for immune-mediated mechanisms which cause demyelinisation of motor nerves. The aim of this thesis was to identify genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors which increase susceptibility to MND and MMN. Proposed disease mechanisms covered in this thesis are oxidative stress, vascularisation, immune-mediated mechanisms and hypermetabolism. Several candidate gene studies were studied. A positive association between ALS and HFE H63D seems to be population-wide, but the association with VEGF could not be consistently detected in different populations. Studies on occupational risk factors and exposure to chemical agents and metals could not show strong evidence in favor of a specific risk factor for ALS and emphasizes the need for future well-designed studies. Based on findings from this thesis as well as newly published studies, smoking seems a consistently associated risk factor for ALS. In contrary to our hypothesis, vascular risk factors did not increase ALS risk. On the other hand, low lipid status seemed to be associated with increased risk for ALS. HLA-DRB1*15 was associated with MMN; monoclonal immunoglobulin was associated with MMN and slowly progressive muscular atrophy, but not the other forms of MND. These findings suggest a possible role for oxidative stress and hypermetabolism in ALS pathogenesis and immune-mediated mechanisms to play a role in MMN, but also some variants of MND. Future studies are needed to elucidate these findings and suggestions are made for study design.
Safety and efficacy of an attenuated vaccine against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND The safety and efficacy of an attenuated G1P[8] human rotavirus (HRV) vaccine were tested in a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial. METHODS We studied 63,225 healthy infants from 11 Latin American countries and Finland who received two oral doses of either the HRV vaccine (31,673 infants) or placebo (31,552 infants) at approximately two months and four months of age. Severe gastroenteritis episodes were identified by active surveillance. The severity of disease was graded with the use of the 20-point Vesikari scale. Vaccine efficacy was evaluated in a subgroup of 20,169 infants (10,159 vaccinees and 10,010 placebo recipients). RESULTS The efficacy of the vaccine against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis and against rotavirus-associated hospitalization was 85 percent (P<0.001 for the comparison with placebo) and reached 100 percent against more severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. Hospitalization for diarrhea of any cause was reduced by 42 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 29 to 53 percent; P<0.001). During the 31-day window after each dose, six vaccine recipients and seven placebo recipients had definite intussusception (difference in risk, -0.32 per 10,000 infants; 95 percent confidence interval, -2.91 to 2.18; P=0.78). CONCLUSIONS Two oral doses of the live attenuated G1P[8] HRV vaccine were highly efficacious in protecting infants against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis, significantly reduced the rate of severe gastroenteritis from any cause, and were not associated with an increased risk of intussusception. (ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00139347 and NCT00263666.)
Using the emancipatory values of social work as a guide to the investigation: What processes and principles represent good practice with people on community treatment orders?

This research explores good practice with people on CTOs via a case study of one area mental health service in Victoria. The emancipatory values of Social Work were used to guide the investigation, thereby ensuring the involvement of consumers and their families or carers. Critical Social Work theory provided an important theoretical base for the research, and both critical theory and pragmatism supported the methodology. A mixed methods approach was undertaken. This included a cluster analysis of 164 people on CTOs. Three clusters emerged from the exploratory cluster analysis. These clusters, labelled ‘connected’, ‘young males’ and ‘chaotic’ are discussed in relation to their particular characteristics. The results from the cluster analysis were used to inform the recruitment of four people on CTOs who were the central focus of case studies that represented the different clusters. Semi-structured group interviews were also undertaken to enhance the triangulation of data collection and analysis. This resulted in 29 semi-structured interviews with multiple informants, including consumers, family/carers, case managers, doctors, Mental Health Review Board members and senior managers. The data analysis was guided by a general inductive approach that was supported by the use of NVivo 7. Five principles, and the processes required to enable them, emerged from the qualitative data: 1) use and develop direct practice skills, 2) take a human rights perspective, 3) focus on goals and desired outcomes, 4) aim for quality of service delivery, and, 5) enhance and enable the role of key stakeholders. These principles are discussed and then applied to the case studies in order to consider their potential relevance to practice within a diverse community of CTO recipients. The application of the principles identified two further findings: 1) that the principles are interdependent, and 2) the relevance of the principles varies depending on the characteristics of the consumer. The two most important findings to emerge from this thesis are that: 1) people on CTOs, their family/carers, and service providers are a diverse community of people who have a range of problems, needs and preferences in relation to either being on a CTO or supporting someone on a CTO; and 2) the implementation of CTOs is influenced by social and structural issues that need to be considered in developing any recognition or understanding about what represents good practice. Recommendations relating to each of the principles are made, along with identification of future research questions. A particular focus is whether application of the principles will enable improvements in practice on a range of measures, including reducing the use of CTOs, and the experience of coercion by consumers.
Association of nitrotyrosine levels with cardiovascular disease and modulation by statin therapy.

CONTEXT Formation of nitric oxide-derived oxidants may serve as a mechanism linking inflammation to development of atherosclerosis. Nitrotyrosine, a specific marker for protein modification by nitric oxide-derived oxidants, is enriched in human atherosclerotic lesions and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) recovered from human atheroma. OBJECTIVES To determine whether systemic levels of nitrotyrosine are associated with the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and are modulated by hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase inhibitor (statin) therapy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS A case-control and interventional study at 2 urban tertiary-care referral centers; recruitment for each was from June 1, 2001, until January 1, 2002. For the case-control study, 100 case-patients with established CAD and 108 patients with no clinically evident CAD were recruited consecutively. In the interventional study, participants aged 21 years or older with hypercholesterolemia (LDL cholesterol > or =130 mg/dL [> or =3.5 mmol/L]) underwent nutrition and exercise counseling. Those whose levels did not decrease with 6 to 8 weeks were enrolled in the study (n = 35). For 12 weeks, they received 10 mg/d of oral atorvastatin therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES In the case-control study, the association between systemic levels of protein-bound nitrotyrosine, CAD risk, and presence of CAD. In the interventional study, the change in nitrotyrosine, lipoprotein, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. RESULTS Nitrotyrosine levels were significantly higher among patients with CAD (median 9.1 micromol/mol [interquartile range, 4.8-13.8 micromol/mol] tyrosine vs 5.2 micromol/mol [interquartile range, 2.2-8.4 micromol/mol]; P<.001). Patients in the upper quartile of nitrotyrosine (29%; P<.001) had a higher odds of CAD compared with those in the lowest quartile (unadjusted odds ratio, 6.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-14.0; P<.001). In multivariate models adjusting for Framingham Global Risk Score and CRP, upper quartiles of nitrotyrosine remained associated with CAD (odds ratio, 4.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-10.6; P<.001). Statin therapy reduced nitrotyrosine levels significantly (25%; P<.02) with a magnitude similar to reductions in total cholesterol levels (25%; P<.001) and LDL particle number (29%; P<.001) yet were independent of alterations in lipoproteins and inflammatory markers like CRP. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this preliminary study indicate that nitrotyrosine levels are associated with the presence of CAD and appear to be modulated by statin therapy. These results suggest a potential role for nitric oxide-derived oxidants as inflammatory mediators in CAD and may have implications for atherosclerosis risk assessment and monitoring of anti-inflammatory actions of statins.
Analysis of 58 Families of Holins Using a Novel Program, PhyST

We have designed a freely accessible program, PhyST, which allows the automated characterization of any family of homologous proteins within the Transporter Classification Database. The program performs an NCBI-PSI-BLAST search and reports (1) the average protein sequence length with standard deviations, (2) the average predicted number of transmembrane segments, (3) the total number of homologues retrieved, (4) a quantitative list of all source phyla, and (5) potential fusion proteins of sizes considerably exceeding the average size of the proteins retrieved. We have applied this program to 58 families of holins, and the results are presented. The results show that holins are very rarely fused to other protein domains, suggesting that holins form transmembrane pores as homooligomers without the participation of other proteins or protein domains.
A new weaving technique for handling overlapping regions

The use of transparencies is a common strategy in visual representations to guarantee the visibility of different overlapping graphical objects, especially, if no visibility-deciding order is given (e.g., importance, depth). Alpha-blending, however, could generate new colors that are not specified by the given color scale and overlapping shapes may become difficult to be separated visually and the selection of specific elements would be difficult. In this paper, we present a new approach for representing overlapping regions: Instead of blending different colors, our weaving technique separates the original colors and shapes are easier to differentiate. Due to a deterministic weaving order, all overlapping objects are visible. We apply our approach to scatter plot visualizations to enhance the communication of overlapping clusters.
Look Again: Effects of Brain Images and Mind–Brain Dualism on Lay Evaluations of Research

Brain scans have frequently been credited with uniquely seductive and persuasive qualities, leading to claims that fMRI research receives a disproportionate share of public attention and funding. It has been suggested that functional brain images are fascinating because they contradict dualist beliefs regarding the relationship between the body and the mind. Although previous research has indicated that brain images can increase judgments of an article's scientific reasoning, the hypotheses that brain scans make research appear more interesting, surprising, or worthy of funding have not been tested. Neither has the relation between the allure of brain imaging and dualism. In the following three studies, laypersons rated both fictional research descriptions and real science news articles accompanied by brain scans, bar charts, or photographs. Across 988 participants, we found little evidence of neuroimaging's seductive allure or of its relation to self-professed dualistic beliefs. These results, taken together with other recent null findings, suggest that brain images are less powerful than has been argued.
8T Single-ended sub-threshold SRAM with cross-point data-aware write operation

This paper presents a new 8T SRAM cell with data-aware cross-point Write operation and series connected Read buffer for low power and low voltage operation. The cell features a shared footer device to control the VGND for cell pass-gate (Write) transistors and the Read buffer. The row-based VGND control and the column-based data-aware Write Word-Line form a cross-point Write structure, thus eliminating Write Half-Select Disturb to facilitate bit-interleaving architecture. Replica based timing tracking circuit is used to control the pulse width of Word-Line Enable (WLE) signal to overcome the large timing variation at low voltage and to reduce the Word-Line active power consumption. A 4Kbit SRAM test chip implemented in 90nm HVT CMOS technology operates at 120MHz at 0.6V and 6MHz at 0.38V with measured power consumption of 2.99uW at 6MHz, 0.38V.
Test Item Dependence of Several Oblique Factor Solutions

SEVERAL studies have focused on factor loading stability in an effort to define the sampling distribution of rotated factor loadings. Pennell (1968) provides a concise summary of Eome published work in this area (JSroskog, 1963; Cliff and Hamburger, 1967; Cliff and Pennell, 1967; and Bailey, 1969). The sampling error of rotated factor loadings appears t o be a function of certain parameters of the factoring problem, notably N and test item communality. However, one of the constraints which must be imposed on generalizing from the results of all these studies relates to the mathematical methods used to determine the factor loadings, eg. , the rotational scheme used by the researcher to make factor analysis a more useful tool to him. Standard machine procedures use any number of algorithms representing different criteria to arrive a t useful solutions. These automatic methods, especially those which attempt to approximate in mathematical terms the simple structure criteria formulated by Thurstone (1947), have not been shown innocent of contributing to the deviant behavior of loadings. Kaiser (1958) demonstrated the stability of varimax factor loadings in a convincing empirical manner using actual test data. \Vhen the particular test items included in the battery were varied, the size of the computed factor loadings remained surprisingly similar. But common factor structure often dictates the use of
Vibrio cholerae as a predator: lessons from evolutionary principles

Diarrheal diseases are the second-most common cause of death among children under the age of five worldwide. Cholera alone, caused by the marine bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is responsible for several million cases and over 120,000 deaths annually. When contaminated water is ingested, V. cholerae passes through the gastric acid barrier, penetrates the mucin layer of the small intestine, and adheres to the underlying epithelial lining. V. cholerae multiplies rapidly, secretes cholera toxin, and exits the human host in vast numbers during diarrheal purges. How V. cholerae rapidly reaches such high numbers during each purge is not clearly understood. We propose that V. cholerae employs its bactericidal type VI secretion system to engage in intraspecies and intraguild predation for nutrient acquisition to support rapid growth and multiplication.
A Deterministic Digital Background Calibration Technique for VCO-Based ADCs

This paper presents a digital background calibration technique to realize a linear voltage-controlled-oscillator (VCO) based ADC. The distortion caused due to the VCO's nonlinear tuning characteristics is eliminated by introducing an inverse voltage-to-frequency transfer function in the signal path. The proposed calibration unit runs in the background and detects the inverse transfer function using a highly digital frequency locked loop. Like many other VCO-based ADCs, the proposed technique does not require analog building blocks such as operational amplifiers, multi-bit feed-back DACs etc., and retains the scaling friendly properties. Implemented in a 90 nm CMOS process, the on-chip calibration improves SNDR of an open-loop VCO-based ADC from 46 dB to more than 73 dB in 5 MHz signal bandwidth while consuming 4.1 mW power. The ADC achieves a figure-of-merit of 91-112 fJ/conv-step for different input frequencies.
Recognition Based on Metric-optimized Neighborhood Preserving Embedding

Face recognition is a biometric technology with great developable potential. It has a great deal of potential applications in public security and information security. To overcome the problem in the high-dimensional face data processing, the k-nearest neighbors is chose by Linear Discriminate Analysis (LDA). A Metric-optimized is proposed for Neighborhood Preserving Embedding (MONPE). MONPE algorithm, with the dimensions of data reduced by LDA, will be reasonable in NPE algorithm. On the other hand, LDA maximizes the between-class scatter and minimizes the within-class scatter, so the neighbors of a sample will have higher possibility to be picked from the same class . With the ORL face database and the Yale database, the recognition rate and run time is compared among NPE, MONPE and CLMONPE. The simulation results show that CLMONPE has obvious advantage in application DOI : http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/telkomnika.v12i4. 4825