Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Straggler-free Coding for Concurrent Matrix Multiplications

Matrix multiplication is a fundamental building block in various distributed computing algorithms. In order to compute the multiplication of large matrices, it is common practice to distribute the computation into multiple tasks running on different nodes. In order to tolerate potential stragglers among such nodes, various coding schemes have been proposed which add additional coded tasks. However, most existing coding schemes for the matrix multiplication are constructed for only one matrix multiplication, while it is common to compute multiple matrix multiplications concurrently in large-scale distributed computing workloads. In this paper, we propose a novel coding framework where the results of multiple multiplications can be obtained within one job concurrently. Compared with running the multiplications separately with multiple jobs, our work demonstrates that the same number of stragglers can be tolerated with much fewer tasks.A full version of this paper is accessible at: https://users.cs. fiu.edu/~junli/papers/pedro-isit20-full.pdf
Heat Injury in Leaves of Alpine, Temperate and Tropical Plants

Temperatures producing heat injury in leaves of 30 species were measured by following heat-induced changes in fluorescence of the leaf chlorophyll. Except for six alpine plants and four cereals, mainly leafy vegetables and leaves of young fruit trees were used. Dark-adapted leaves were heated at a rate of one Celsius degree per minute. Chlorophyll fluoroscence began to increase between 30 and 40°C and reached a peak around 50°C. The peak of fluorescence was reached at 47.1°C in an alpine plant Plantago glacialis, at 51.2°C in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and at 57.6°C in pawpaw (Carica papaya). Similarly, in the cereals, the peak of fluorescence was reached at lower temperatures in the temperate ones (49.5°C in barley and 48.9°C in oats) than in the two from warm climates (55.2°C in maize and 53.5°C in sorghum). This difference in heat sensitivity between plants from the three groups did not hold for all plants surveyed and there was some overlapping between individual plants in different groups. However, the mean temperature, for the inital rise in fluorescence as well as for the peak of fluorescence, occurred at a lower temperature in the alpine group of plants and at a higher temperature in the tropical group of plants compared with the temperate group. The results demonstrate a relationship between heat resistance and temperature of the environment in which the plants evolved, and illustrate the potential use of the chlorophyll fluorescence method for in vivo measurements of heat sensitivity in green plants.
Tuning Condition Modification of Damped and Un-damped Adaptive Vibration Absorber

In this paper a tuned vibration absorber (TVA) is realized using different tuning conditions. The main objective of adaptive tuned vibration absorber is to maximize the vibration attenuation of main system vibration. The tuning condition is used to track the excitation frequency. By making some modification on tuning condition the frequency response of primary system (FRC) will have better performance. This paper shows that the FRC can be reduced by 10%. This enhancement is dependent on system parameters in addition to excitation frequency.
A Predictive Model of Listeria monocytogenes Fecal Shedding in a Dairy Herd

The objective of this study was to develop a model for analysis of the dynamics of Listeria monocytogenes fecal shedding in dairy cattle. A Markov Chain Model (MCM) with two states, shedding and non-shedding, has been developed for overall L. monocytogenes fecal shedding (all L. monocytogenes subtypes) and fecal shedding of three L. monocytogenes subtypes (ribotypes 1058A, 1039E and 1042B) using data from one study farm. The matrices of conditional probabilities of transition between shedding and non-shedding states for different sets of covariates have been estimated by application of logistic regression. The covariatespecific matrices of conditional probabilities, describing the presence of different risk factors, were used to estimate (i) the stationary prevalence of dairy cows that shed any L. monocytogenes subtype or ribotypes 1058A, 1039E, and 1042B, (ii) the duration of overall and subtype specific fecal shedding, and (iii) the duration of periods without shedding. A non-homogeneous MCM was constructed to study how the prevalence of fecal shedders changes over time. Validation indicated a reasonable validity of the developed model. The results of our modeling work indicated that: (i) the prevalence of L. monocytogenes fecal shedders varies over time and can be higher than 90%, (ii) L. monocytogenes subtypes exhibit dif ferent dynamics of fecal shedding, (iii) the dynamics of L. monocytogenes fecal shedding is highly associated with contamination of silage and cows’ exposure to stress, and (iv) the developed approach can be readily used to study the dynamics of fecal shedding in other pathogen-host-environment systems.
A History of Conserving Colonial Waterbirds in the United States

Abstract. The commentary follows the story of colonial waterbird conservation in the United States over the past 150 years. Colonial waterbirds, especially egrets and pelicans, played an important role in the founding of the American bird conservation movement. At the beginning of the 20th Century, bird conservation activity self-organized, inspired creation of refuges for colonial waterbirds, protected colonies with wardens, and secured passage of conservation laws. Thereafter Federal and state governments slowly grew in their authorities and commitment to bird conservation. Successes achieved, colonial waterbirds fell from priority during the remainder of the first half of the 20th Century, although legislative, administrative and academic progress was made of considerable subsequent value. In the 1960s and 1970s, colonial waterbirds resumed a significant role, first in contaminant studies and then in population inventories. This engagement encouraged maturation of a colonial waterbird research and conservation agenda in the United States, including founding of the Waterbird Society, which facilitated a blossoming of colonial waterbird research in the succeeding decades. In the national conservation planning initiatives of the 1990s, colonial waterbirds were represented by the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, later Waterbird Conservation for the Americas. Waterbirds are now well integrated in bird conservation planning and action at multiple scales in the United States. Conservation biology, assessment, protection and site management have progressed well, while population estimation, monitoring and data archiving have not. Appropriate direction seems clear, involving regional coordination of the actions of local stakeholders.
Conceptual Problem Solving during Artistic Representation

A ccording to Forman and Fyfe (1998), children an' capable of using a variety ofmeansof expression to communicate meaning successfully if the classroom culture allows it. These researchers emphasize that children should be encouraged and guided to move beyond the level of making symbols into a level of inventing different means of expression and communication. It is the nature of the relationships among the symbols that converts the medium into a message, and it is the presence of an inte nded message or the need to present or represent a solution to a prob lem that motivates children to negot iate shared mea nings an d to co-construct knowledge, In an art classroom, children's conceptual problem solving can be related to choosing or inventing means of expression to represent and communicate ideas, What follows is the resu lt of a close observation of an art-based university laboratory preschoo l classroom with the purpose of descri bing co nceptual problem so lving, I attempted to find out what conceptual problems are related to du ring art-rela ted activities, to ident ify children's thinking qual ities related to conceptual problem solving, an d to describe the classroo m context that facili tat es conceptual problem sol ving. The examples and findings from the observations are supported by exist ing literature on the same topic. Findings of studies on problem solving during art making can beuse ful to any art teacher who views students as responsib le individuals, full of pot ential an d in charge of their own learn ing through the arts. Conceptual Problem Solving DuringA m . -:. ~ Astudent. who expressed interest in participating in analready-formed group activity had to thinkof an idea,a role forhimself that would allow himto join the group without disrupting what was already taking place.And another chi ld's practicaldiff iculty of keeping th ar ers he already used separated from_ ••~ Aoo"" the ones he had not used' alsorequired conceptual problem solving. Conceptual problem solving rooted in children's interpersonal and practicalchallenges is related to thinking about or reconsidering thefocus or goals ofpersonalactions to serve the purpose of representation.
Comparison of the early growth characteristics of the Eucalyptus subgenera Monocalyptus and Symphyomyrtus.

The early growth characteristics of six Tasmanian species from each of the Eucalyptus subgenera Monocalyptus and Symphyomyrtus were examined. The species chosen from each subgenus came from a range of habitats extending from low altitude dry sclerophyll sites to subalpine sites. Marked differences in the rate of germination, percentage of viable seeds, total dry weight, and the root to shoot ratio were observed after 3 and 7 months' growth, as well as different responses to the level of nutrient provided. These subgeneric differences were generally larger than the differences observed between species chosen from one subgenus but from different ecological sites. The most striking differences were possibly the higher root to shoot ratio found in the subgenus Symphyomyrtus and the generally faster establishment of species from this subgenus. The results show that the two subgenera possess different early growth patterns. This may suggest that the subgenera exploit their environment in slightly different ways and may, at least partly, explain the frequent occurrence of mixed stands of eucalypts in south-eastern Australia. where stands frequently contain one species from each subgenus.
Inhibition of flowering of cucumber grafted on rooted squash stock

For the elucidation of the mechanisms of floral transition in indifferent plants, cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus cv. Rennsei or cv. Shimoshirazu-jibai) were grafted onto squash seedlings (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne x C. moschata Duchesne cv. Shintosa-ichigou) of which the meristems had been removed, and the effect on flower induction on the cucumber scion was examined. In both cultivars, the grafted cucumber bore no flowers, whereas control plants developed flowers above the second to fourth nodes. The inhibition of flower formation on the grafted cucumber scion occurred even when the root of cucumber was left with the squash root on the grafted plant, and flower formation occurred after removal of the squash stock. The inhibitory effect of the squash stock in the presence of the cucumber root was abolished by removal of the squash root. Neither the dry weight of stem plus leaf nor the chlorophyll content of the leaf, as indicators of vegetative growth, were correlated with flower formation on cucumber plants that had been grafted in the presence of cucumber roots on whole, cotyledon-free or root-free squash stock. These results indicate that flower formation in cucumber was inhibited by a factor produced by squash roots, an inhibition probably not involved in the modulation of vegetative growth. The root may control floral transition by the production of inhibitory factors in some day-neutral Cucurbitaceae plants.
Egg size and larval development in Central Amazonian fish

The relationship between larval development and egg size was studied in 14 species of Central Amazonian fish (seven characiforms, five cichlids and two siluriforms). Egg size was measured as yolk dry weight at activation (egg minus chorion). Larval development was measured as larva] dry weight and age (h from activation) at the developmental stages. Egg size explained most of the variability of larval body weight and total larval weight at hatching, pectoral bud formation, eye pigmentation, jaw formation, swimbladder inflation, onset of swimming, first feeding and maximum weight attained with exclusively endogenous feeding. Larval ages at these developmental stages were poorly related to egg size. Other variables, such as the weight-specific yolk caloric content of the eggs (cal mg−1), spawning site (river or lake) and phyletic relationships had no effect on the remaining variance. These results suggest that the developmental stages considered were conservative among the species examined and that a sequence of stages occurs in the larval development of Amazonian larval fish. The resistance of the larvae to starvation was not related to egg size.
Dual Effects of PKNα and Protein Kinase C on Phosphorylation of Tau Protein by Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β

Abstract We analyzed the effects of PKNα and protein kinase C (PKC) on phosphorylation of tau protein by glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β using monoclonal antibodies (AT8, AT180, and AT270). These antibodies are highly specific for phosphorylated tau in Alzheimer paired helical filaments, and recognize phosphorylated Ser202/Thr205, Thr231, and Thr181 of tau protein, respectively. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that PKNα and PKC did not directly phosphorylate their sites, whereas GSK-3β efficiently did so. Incubating GSK-3β with PKNα or PKC subtypes inhibited subsequent GSK-3β-induced AT8 and AT270 immunoreactivity. However, the constitutive active form of the GSK-3β(S9A) mutant was almost totally inert to each enzyme. Incubating tau with PKNα increased the GSK-3β-induced AT180 immunoreactivity, which was further enhanced when the S9A mutant was used instead of the wild type GSK-3β. These results suggest that PKNα and PKC directly inhibit GSK-3β activity at least in part by phosphorylating Ser9 of GSK-3β, and that they indirectly suppress GSK-3β-stimulated phosphorylation of tau at amino acids Ser202/Thr205 and Thr181, but enhanced phosphorylation at Thr231 through phosphorylation at other sites of tau.
Differential responses of Guillemot Uria aalge and Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis to a late winter wreck

The main species involved in a wreck of seabirds along the east coast of Britain in February–March 1994 were Guillemot Uria aalge (20–50 000 corpses) and Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (3–5000 corpses). The wreck was caused by a long period of onshore winds and, possibly, a shortage of food. On the Isle of May the start of breeding in the Guillemot was delayed by 5–10 days but the wreck had no determinable effect on the survival of adults or immatures, colony counts or breeding success. There was a high mortality among adult Shags and only 13% of 150 colour-ringed individuals alive in 1993 returned in 1994. This return rate was far lower than that recorded during the last 30 years (75–82%). None of the missing birds returned in 1995 and most are presumed dead. The start of breeding was delayed and the date of the first egg was 51 days later than that predicted from a usually reliable equation linking laying date with wind and Herring stocks, but median laying date, breeding success and growth of chicks we.
Uptake of magnesium by suspension cultures of plant cells (Ipomoea sp.)

The magnesium level required to support full growth in batch suspension cultures of an Ipomoea sp. (Morning Glory) cell line in 2% sucrose media was less than 0.3 mM. The uptake of magnesium increased with increasing magnesium in the medium, and with increasing pH at constant magnesium level. In medium containing 1.0 mM (24 mg/l) magnesium, a culture kept at pH 4.7 absorbed 6 mg of magnesium in 150 h; the corresponding figure for a culture kept at pH 6.9 was 19 mg.Much of the excess magnesium taken up by cells grown at the 1.0 mM magnesium level at various controlled pH levels could be extracted by grinding the cells in distilled water. The data suggest that under conditions of high magnesium supply and high pH these cells absorb large amounts (i.e. several milligrams per gram dry cells) of magnesium in excess of their requirement for growth.
THE POPULATION BIOLOGY OF CHAMAELIRIUM LUTEUM, A DIOECIOUS MEMBER OF THE LILY FAMILY: TWO-SEX POPULATION PROJECTIONS AND STABLE POPULATION STRUCTURE'

Matrix projection models as typically applied to data from natural populations of an- imals and plants fail to distinguish between male and female contributions to population growth. The well-known Leslie model, for example, considers only females, and thereby ignores the interaction of females with males in the production of offspring. In the present paper, a two-sex size-specific population projection model is developed for Chamaelirium luteum, a long-lived dioecious plant. Application of this model to C. luteum is based on a 5-yr study of three large (N > 1000) natural populations of this forest-floor herb. Differences between sex classes (male, female, juvenile) in size- specific survivorship and size transitions are taken into account, as well as particular differences between males and females in age at first reproduction, flowering schedules, and reproductive output per individual. Projections of the three populations studied using this model generally showed a slight male bias in the adult sex ratio. Furthermore, comparison of observed size distribution and sex composition with projected stable populations indicated that the populations studied are near a stable structure and should show only modest changes in population size from year to year. These results are in accord with one's expectations for a long-lived species growing in an ecologically stable habitat.
Assembly of Plant Shaker-Like Kout Channels Requires Two Distinct Sites of the Channel α-Subunit

SKOR and GORK are outward-rectifying plant potassium channels from Arabidopsis thaliana. They belong to the Shaker superfamily of voltage-dependent K(+) channels. Channels of this class are composed of four alpha-subunits and subunit assembly is a prerequisite for channel function. In this study the assembly mechanism of SKOR was investigated using the yeast two-hybrid system and functional assays in Xenopus oocytes and in yeast. We demonstrate that SKOR and GORK physically interact and assemble into heteromeric K(out) channels. Deletion mutants and chimeric proteins generated from SKOR and the K(in) channel alpha-subunit KAT1 revealed that the cytoplasmic C-terminus of SKOR determines channel assembly. Two domains that are crucial for channel assembly were identified: i), a proximal interacting region comprising a putative cyclic nucleotide-binding domain together with 33 amino acids just upstream of this domain, and ii), a distal interacting region showing some resemblance to the K(T) domain of KAT1. Both regions contributed differently to channel assembly. Whereas the proximal interacting region was found to be active on its own, the distal interacting region required an intact proximal interacting region to be active. K(out) alpha-subunits did not assemble with K(in) alpha-subunits because of the absence of interaction between their assembly sites.
Abnormal proliferation of CD4− CD8+ γδ+ T cells with chromosome 6 anomaly: Role of fas ligand expression in spontaneous regression of the cells

We report a case of granular lymphocyte proliferative disorder accompanied with hemolytic anemia and neutropenia. Phenotypes of the cells were T cell receptor γδ+ CD3+ CD4− CD8+ CD16+ CD56− CD57−. Southern blot analysis of T cell receptor β and γ chains demonstrated rearranged bands in both. Chromosomal analysis after IL‐2 stimulation showed deletion of chromosome 6. Sorted γδ+ T cells showed an increase in Fas ligand expression compared with the levels in sorted αβ+ T cells. The expression of Fas ligand on these γδ+ T cells increased after IL‐2 stimulation. The patient's anemia improved along with a decrease in granular lymphocyte count and disappearance of the abnormal karyotype without treatment. The expression of Fas ligand may be involved in spontaneous regression of granular lymphocyte proliferation with hemolytic anemia. Am. J. Hematol. 60:305–308, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
α-Amylase Production on Low-Cost Substrates by Naxibacter sp. Isolated from Mauritian Soils.

Alpha amylase is an important enzyme used in different industries, which degrades starch into smaller disaccharides. Extracellular α-amylase producing organisms were isolated from soil samples from Mauritius and identified by standard biochemical tests. In this study, the high yielding strain was used for amylase production. The potential of four readily available substrates, namely sugarcane bagasse, potato peel, kitchen wastes and banana peel to induce amylase production was investigated. Different parameters like temperature (30oC, 40oC, 50oC, 60oC & 70oC), different pH (5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 & 9.0) and inoculum sizes (10%, 20%, 50%, 100% & 150% v/w) were used for the α-amylase production. It was found that α-amylase production and activity was highest for potato peel at 50oC at pH 6.0 and inoculum size 50% (v/w). Amylase assays performed at different incubation temperatures (30oC 60oC) and pH (5-9) showed that the amylase worked best at 50oC and pH 7.Based on results of biochemical tests and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, the isolate was identified to belong to the Betaproteobacteria, closely related to Naxibacter haematophilus (99% sequence similarity to the type strain).
Partial characterization and post‐feeding activity of midgut aminopeptidase in the human body louse,
 Pediculus humanus humanus

Abstract.A leucine aminopeptidase was found in the midgut of the human body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus L. (Anoplura: Pediculidae). The enzyme is activated by the bloodmeal with a pH optimum at 8. The enzyme is soluble in both aqueous and detergent‐containing solutions. The two forms of the enzyme had the same Km but exhibited different catalytic activities with regard to Vmax values in these solutions. The enzyme is inhibited competitively by a substrate analogue 1,10‐phenanthroline and by Mn2+ ions in the presence and absence of detergent.
Phospholipid remodeling via exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acid uptake modulates stress resistance in Vibrio cholerae

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens represent an escalating threat to public health worldwide, substantially increasing the burden of healthcare and community-acquired infections. Several factors contribute to the emergence and spread of this threat, including but not limited to improper antibiotic use and prescriptions in health-care settings and the community, increasing global travel and migration from countries that have higher levels of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and a lack of new antibiotics under development. According to the World Health Organization, rising rates of resistance among Gram-negative bacteria (such as Vibrio cholerae) are of particular concern. These bacteria have evolved a number of endogenous membrane remodeling strategies to sense and adapt to their environment. However, another membrane remodeling strategy employed by these bacteria, the uptake and assimilation of exogenous longchain fatty acids, remains largely unexplored. Here, we seek to address this knowledge gap by determining the extent to which phospholipid remodeling through uptake of exogenous PUFAs impacts antimicrobial resistance in V. cholerae. As expected, resistance to polymyxin B is substantially lower for mutants lacking the ability to modify LPS compared to the wild-type (El Tor) strain. More interestingly, PMB resistance varies when cells are grown in the presence of long-chain fatty acids. This difference is most noticeable for long-chain fatty acids abundant in the human intestines.