Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Joint Optimization of Chain Placement and Request Scheduling for Network Function Virtualization

Compared with executing Network Functions (NFs) on dedicated hardwares, the recent trend of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) holds the promise for operators to flexibly deploy software-based NFs on commodity servers. However, virtual NFs (VNFs) are normally "chained" together to provide a specific network service. Thus, an efficient scheme is needed to place the VNF chains across the network and effectively schedule requests to service instances, which can maximize the average resource utilization of each node in service and simultaneously minimize the average response latency of each request. To this end, we formulate first VNF chains placement problem as a variant of bin-packing problem, which is NP-hard, and we model request scheduling problem based on the key concepts from open Jackson network. To jointly optimize the performance of NFV, we propose a priority-driven weighted algorithm to improve resource utilization and a heuristic algorithm to reduce response latency. Through extensive trace-driven simulations, we show that our methods can indeed enhance performance in diverse scenarios. In particular, we can improve the average resource utilization by 33.4% and can reduce the average total latency by 19.9% as compared with the state-of-the-art methods.
Measuring and modelling the isotopic composition of soil respiration: insights from a grassland tracer experiment

Abstract. The carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of CO2 efflux (δ13Cefflux) from soil is generally interpreted to represent the actual isotopic composition of the respiratory source (δ13CRs). However, soils contain a large CO2 pool in air-filled pores. This pool receives CO2 from belowground respiration and exchanges CO2 with the atmosphere (via diffusion and advection) and the soil liquid phase (via dissolution). Natural or artificial modification of δ13C of atmospheric CO2 (δ13Catm) or δ13CRs causes isotopic disequilibria in the soil-atmosphere system. Such disequilibria generate divergence of δ13Cefflux from δ13CRs (termed "disequilibrium effect"). Here, we use a soil CO2 transport model and data from a 13CO2/12CO2 tracer experiment to quantify the disequilibrium between δ13Cefflux and δ13CRs in ecosystem respiration. The model accounted for diffusion of CO2 in soil air, advection of soil air, dissolution of CO2 in soil water, and belowground and aboveground respiration of both 12CO2 and 13CO2 isotopologues. The tracer data were obtained in a grassland ecosystem exposed to a δ13Catm of −46.9 ‰ during daytime for 2 weeks. Nighttime δ13Cefflux from the ecosystem was estimated with three independent methods: a laboratory-based cuvette system, in-situ steady-state open chambers, and in-situ closed chambers. Earlier work has shown that the δ13Cefflux measurements of the laboratory-based and steady-state systems were consistent, and likely reflected δ13CRs. Conversely, the δ13Cefflux measured using the closed chamber technique differed from these by −11.2 ‰. Most of this disequilibrium effect (9.5 ‰) was predicted by the CO2 transport model. Isotopic disequilibria in the soil-chamber system were introduced by changing δ13Catm in the chamber headspace at the onset of the measurements. When dissolution was excluded, the simulated disequilibrium effect was only 3.6 ‰. Dissolution delayed the isotopic equilibration between soil CO2 and the atmosphere, as the storage capacity for labelled CO2 in water-filled soil pores was 18 times that of soil air. These mechanisms are potentially relevant for many studies of δ13CRs in soils and ecosystems, including FACE experiments and chamber studies in natural conditions. Isotopic disequilibria in the soil-atmosphere system may result from temporal variation in δ13CRs or diurnal changes in the mole fraction and δ13C of atmospheric CO2. Dissolution effects are most important under alkaline conditions.
Development of thymus, parathyroids, and ultimo-branchial bodies in NMRI and nude mice.

In the NMRI mouse embryo, the thymus develops from the third endodermal pouch and the third ectodermal cleft. The cervical vesicle, formed not by the closure of the sinus cervicalis but by an invagination of the dorsal segment of the ectoderm between the third and fourth branchial clefts, contributes to the formation of the thymus. The intense proliferation of the ectoderm of the third cleft on the eleventh day covers the endodermal part. The thymus is thus composed of a central endodermal region and a peripheral ectodermal region. The normal adult thymus, then, has a mixed origin, the cortical cells being ectodermal, and the medullary cells endodermal in origin. The fourth endodermal pouch gives rise to the ultimo-branchial body, which becomes entirely incorporated within the thyroid on the fourteenth day. There is no formation of a thymus IV nor of a second pair of parathyroids from the fourth endodermal pouch. In the Nude mouse embryo, the third branchial pouch and cleft, as well as the cervical vesicle, develop normally for the first 11½ days. From this point on, the ectoderm of the third cleft ceases to develop further. The endoderm is, now, no longer covered by ectoderm and, deprived of its normal inducing agent, ceases to develop further. Thymic dysgenesis is thus ectodermal in origin. The fourth endodermal pouch develops normally. No development of an accessory “thymus-like” structure from the fourth pouch was observed. The dysgenetic thymus originates entirely from the third branchial pouches and clefts. In both Nude and NMRI embryos, the parathyroids develop at about 11½ days from a very limited area in the dorsal region of the cranial wall of the third endodermal pouch between the pharyngo-branchial and ecto-branchial ducts. Morphometric analysis shows that the volume of the parathyroids is the same in both strains of mice at each stage of development; nor does their microscopic appearance differ. Thus, mutation in the Nude mouse does not affect the development of the parathyroids from the third pouch, even though the first anomalies in the development of the thymus are observed at the precise moment at which the parathyroid primordium appears.
Intentions of frontline nurses regarding COVID‐19 patient care: A cross‐sectional study in Korea

Abstract Aim This cross‐sectional study, conducted from August to September 2020, examined nurses’ stress, self‐efficacy and nursing intentions when caring for COVID‐19 patients and identified the predictors of nursing intentions during the pandemic. Background The COVID‐19 outbreak has increased nurses' role expectations and imposed a heavy social responsibility. In particular, frontline nurses are under significant stress when caring for patients during a novel epidemic because of the lack of accurate information. Methods A total of 232 nurses with experience in providing care for suspected or confirmed COVID‐19 patients from seven large hospitals in three cities in Korea completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Self‐Efficacy Scale and Predictive Nursing Intention Scale. Results Multiple regression confirmed that completing COVID‐19‐related education and self‐efficacy were significant predictors of nursing intentions during the current pandemic; the regression model explained 22.0% of the variance in nursing intentions. Conclusion Stress did not affect frontline nurses' nursing intentions towards COVID‐19 patient care, but completing COVID‐19‐related education and higher self‐efficacy predicted improved nursing intentions. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse leaders should recognize that to improve nursing intentions during a novel infection outbreak, infection‐related education should be provided and strategies to improve self‐efficacy should be implemented.
RNP and CPCP in Lebesgue-Bochner function spaces

In this paper we study the extremal structure of the unit ball of a Lebesgue Bochner function space. Throughout, X will denote a Banach space, Bx the unit ball, Sx the unit sphere, X* the dual space of X, (f, E,/) a positive measure space, and 1 < p, q < oo with 1/p + 1/q 1. Let K be a subset of X. A point x in K is a point of sequential continuity of K if for every sequence (x) in K, weak-lim x x implies limllx xl[ 0. The point of sequential continuity is a generalization of the point of continuity. A space X has the Kadec-Klee property if every point x in Sx is a point of sequential continuity of Bx. It is well-known that if (l, E,/z) is not purely atomic, then L(/z, X) with the Kadec-Klee property must be strictly convex. This result, due to M. Smith and B. Turett [ST], is one of the most surprising results in the theory of Lebesgue-Bochner function spaces. Our first main result (Theorem 2.2) asserts that if (1, E,/z) is atom-free, then every point of sequential continuity of BLp(Ix, X) must be an extreme point of BLp(#,x). This gives a local version of the result of Smith and Turett. Theorem 2.2 has several interesting consequences; for example, it implies that if (f, E,/z) is not purely atomic then: (i) The Radon-Nikodym Property (RNP) and the Convex Point of Continuity Property (CPCP) are equivalent for LP(Iz, X) and LP(Iz, X)*. (ii) The super-RNP and the super-CPCP are equivalent for LP(tz, X) and LP(/x, X)*. Recall that the RNP implies the PCP (Point of Continuity Property) which, in turn, implies the CPCP, and that RNP, PCP, and CPCP are distinct [BR], [GMS1]. It follows that if X has the PCP but fails the RNP, and if (f, is not purely atomic, then LP(I.t, X) does not have the CPCP. Consequently, neither the PCP nor the CPCP can be "lifted" from X to LP(t.t, X). We would like to mention (1) it is still an open problem whether the super-RNP and the super-CPCP are equivalent in general, (2) the RNP and the CPCP are equivalent for Banach spaces with the Krein-Milman Property [Sc], and
Cultural Competence in the Caring Professions

Acknowledgements. Introduction. Part One: Re-discovering Culture. 1. A Tale of Two Cultures. 2. Culture: A Global Concept. 3. Towards a Definition of 'Culture' and 'Cultural Identity'. 4. Islam 5. American Indians. 6. Australian Aborigines. Part Two: Obstacles and Challenges to Cultural Competence. 7. The Traditional Lack of Cultural Awareness within the Caring Professions. 8. Perceptions of Culture within Anti-Racist and Anti-Discriminatory Practice. 9. Culture and Religion. 10. Culture and Language. Part Three. Part Three: The Way Forward 11. Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Insensitivity. 12. Commentary on Research Findings. 13. Agency Perspective. 14. Definition: Completing the Task 15. Training for Cultural Competence 16. Epilogue. References.
Whole-Exome Sequencing of ETV6/RUNX1 in Four Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Cases

Background: ETV6/RUNX1 gene fusion is the most frequently seen chromosomal abnormality in childhood acute lymphobastic leukamia (ALL). However, additional genetic changes are known to be required for the development of this type of leukaemia. Therefore, we here aimed to assess the somatic mutational profile of four ALL cases carrying the ETV6/RUNX1 fusion gene using whole-exome sequencing. Methods: DNA was isolated from bone marrow samples using a QIAmp DNA Blood Mini kit and subsequently sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq system. Results: We identified 12,960 to17,601 mutations in each sample, with a total of 16,466 somatic mutations in total. Some 15,533 variants were single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 129 were substitutions, 415 were insertions and 389 were deletions. When taking into account the coding region and protein impact, 1,875 variants were synonymous and 1,956 were non-synonymous SNPs. Among non-synonymous SNPs, 1,862 were missense, 13 nonsense, 35 frameshifts, 11 nonstop, 3 misstart, 15 splices disrupt and 17 in-frame indels. A total of 86 variants were located in leukaemia-related genes of which 32 variants were located in the coding regions of GLI2, SP140, GATA2, SMAD5, KMT2C, CDH17, CDX2, FLT3, PML and MOV10L1. Conclusions: Detection and identification of secondary genetic alterations are important in identifying new therapeutic targets and developing rationally designed treatment regimens with less toxicity in ALL patients.
Single-trial classification of ERPS using second-order blind identification (SOBI)

Single-trial classification of EEG signals has received increasing attention in both basic research and for the development of EEG based brain computer interfaces (BCI). Typically, such classification has been performed using signals from a set of selected EEG sensors. Since EEG sensor signals are mixtures of signals from multiple intra- and extra-cranial sources, single-trial sensory and motor evoked potentials can be difficult to detect and classify. In this paper, second-order blind identification (SOBI) was used to preprocess EEG data and extract activity from the left and right primary somatosensory (SI) cortices. Subsequently, classification of event-related potentials (ERPs) evoked by a sequence of randomly mixed left, right, and bilateral median nerve stimulations was performed by back-propagation neural networks, using as inputs the two SOBI-recovered SI components or the two "best sensors". Results from four subjects showed that classification accuracy was significantly higher when SOBI-recovered left and right SI components were used for classification than when the EEG sensor signals were used directly.
Deep appearance models for face rendering

We introduce a deep appearance model for rendering the human face. Inspired by Active Appearance Models, we develop a data-driven rendering pipeline that learns a joint representation of facial geometry and appearance from a multiview capture setup. Vertex positions and view-specific textures are modeled using a deep variational autoencoder that captures complex nonlinear effects while producing a smooth and compact latent representation. View-specific texture enables the modeling of view-dependent effects such as specularity. In addition, it can also correct for imperfect geometry stemming from biased or low resolution estimates. This is a significant departure from the traditional graphics pipeline, which requires highly accurate geometry as well as all elements of the shading model to achieve realism through physically-inspired light transport. Acquiring such a high level of accuracy is difficult in practice, especially for complex and intricate parts of the face, such as eyelashes and the oral cavity. These are handled naturally by our approach, which does not rely on precise estimates of geometry. Instead, the shading model accommodates deficiencies in geometry though the flexibility afforded by the neural network employed. At inference time, we condition the decoding network on the viewpoint of the camera in order to generate the appropriate texture for rendering. The resulting system can be implemented simply using existing rendering engines through dynamic textures with flat lighting. This representation, together with a novel unsupervised technique for mapping images to facial states, results in a system that is naturally suited to real-time interactive settings such as Virtual Reality (VR).
Using Exponential Smoothing Methods for Modelling and Forecasting Short-Term Electricity Demand

In this paper different exponential smoothing methods are considered for modelling and forecasting short-term electricity demand in England and Wales. The time series contains half-hourly time periods and two seasonalities can be observed – one within each day and one within each week. Both seasonalities are modelled separately with the Holt-Winters methods. The double seasonal Holt-Winters method introduced by Taylor (2003) accommodates both seasonal patterns. An autoregressive model is fitted to the residuals in order to deal with first-order autocorrelation. In addition, a model for multiple seasonal (MS) processes introduced by Hyndman et al. (2008) is used, which divides the seasonal component into several sub-cycles and allows for the seasonal sub-cycles to be combined. This reduces the amount of seed values to be estimated. Moreover, the MS process allows for the seasonal terms to be updated more than once during a seasonal cycle. Although the MS process with three combined sub-cycles reduces the amount of seed values to be estimated and gives accurate forecasts, the double seasonal Holt-Winters method outperforms the other methods in forecasting the short-term electricity demand.
LOCAL DRUG DELIVERY IN THE TREATMENT OF PERIODONTITIS: A REVIEW.

Dr. Shahid Sikkander (MDS student) 1 , Dr. Annaji Sreedhara MDS 2 , Dr. B. S Jagadish Pai MDS 3 and Dr. Razeena Salam. 1. Coorg institute of dental sciences, virajpet, Karnataka. 2. Professor,Coorg institute of dental sciences, virajpet, Karnataka 3. Professor & HOD, Coorg institute of dental sciences, virajpet, Karnataka. 4. (MDS student), Coorg institute of dental sciences, virajpet, Karnataka. Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History
A New Dataset for Source Code Comment Coherence

English. Source code comments provide useful insights on a codebase and on the intent behind design decisions and goals. Often, the information provided in the comment of a method and in its corresponding implementation may be not coherent with each other (i.e., the comment does not properly describe the implementation). Several could be the motivations for this issue (e.g., comment and source code do not evolve coherently). In this paper, we present the results of a manual assessment on the coherence between comments and implementations of 3, 636 methods, gathered from 4 Java open-source software. The results of this assessment has been collected in a dataset that we made publicly available on the web. We also sketch here the protocol to create this dataset. Italiano. I commenti al codice sorgente forniscono informazioni utili sull’implementazione del codice e sulle intenzioni relative alle decisioni e agli scopi del progetto. Spesso, le informazioni presenti nel commento di un metodo e nella sua implementazione possono non essere coerenti (nel senso che il commento non dà una descrizione adeguata dell’implementazione). Ci possono essere diverse spiegazioni per questo (ad esempio, commenti e codice sorgente non sono stati modificati in modo coerente). In questo articolo, presentiamo i risultati di una valutazione manuale della coerenza tra commenti e implementazione di 3, 636 metodi, raccolti da 4 applicazioni open source in Java. I risultati di questa valutazione sono stati raccolti in un dataset che abbiamo pubblicato sul web. Accenniamo anche al protocollo seguito per la preparazione del dataset.
Multilayer Perceptron for Change Detection of Remotely Sensed Images

Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) have been proven to be an effective way to solve classification tasks. A major concern in their use is the difficulty to define the proper network for a specific application, due to the sensitivity to the initial conditions and overfitting and underfitting problems which limit their generalization capability. Moreover, time and hardware constraints may seriously reduce the degrees of freedom in the search for a single optimal network. A very promising way to partially overcome such drawbacks is the use of MLP ensembles. In this thesis the focus is on the analysis and development of Ensemble of Neural Networks for change detection in supervised context. An ensemble is a system in which a set of heterogeneous artificial neural networks are generated in order to outperform the single-network based classifiers (especially when all are weak). Supervised change detection techniques generally represent the most accurate methodological solution for mapping land-cover changes while identifying the associated land-cover transitions between two different dates [1-4]. However, the application of these techniques depends on the availability of exhaustive ground-truth information for all the land-cover classes present in the area of interest at the times under investigation. Such a requirement is seldom satisfied since gathering a reliable ground truth for all the classes characterizing the considered scenes at the two dates under analysis presents several practical drawbacks and limitations (both in terms of time and economic cost) that may render this task almost impossible in most real-life cases. Nevertheless, to solve these specific types of problems, it would be highly beneficial for an operator to rely on a robust automatic technique that may allow an effective detection of the “targeted” land-cover transitions by taking into account only ground-truth information for the few classes of interest at each date (thus, avoiding the burden and cost associated to the collection of a full and exhaustive ground-truth data set at both times). When a few labeled patterns are present, then the problem can be approached in two different ways: either using the concept of semi-supervised learning (used since 1970 [5]) or using the concept of ensemble learning (started since 1965 [6]). In the present study, we are concentrating only on the ensemble learning. In the present work each classifier in the ensemble is trained using all labeled samples available. Then the ensemble helps in generating a label of unknown patterns using some of the non trainable combiners. Experiments are carried out on two different multitemporal remotely sensed images. Experimental results reveal that the ensemble learning approach reduces classification error over the weakest classifier.
Ultrasonographic Assessment of the Diaphragm in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: Relationships with Pulmonary Function and the Influence of Body Composition - A Pilot Study

Background: Skeletal muscle weakness with loss of fat-free mass (FFM) is one of the main systemic effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The diaphragm is also involved, leading to disadvantageous conditions and poor contractile capacities. Objectives: We measured the thickness of the diaphragm (TD) by ultrasonography to evaluate the relationships between echographic measurements, parameters of respiratory function and body composition data. Methods: Thirty-two patients (23 males) underwent (1) pulmonary function tests, (2) echographic assessment of TD in the zone of apposition at various lung volumes, i.e. TD at residual volume (TDRV), TD at functional residual capacity (TDFRC) and TD at total lung capacity (TDTLC), and (3) bioelectrical body impedance analysis. The BMI and the BODE (BMI-Obstruction-Dyspnea-Exercise) index values were reported. Results: TDRV, TDFRC and TDTLC measured 3.3, 3.6 and 6 mm, respectively, with good intraobserver reproducibility (0.97, 0.97 and 0.96, respectively). All the TDs were found to be related to FFM, with the relationship being greater for TDFRC (r2 = 0.39 and p = 0.0002). With regard to lung volumes, inspiratory capacity (IC) was found to be closely related to TDTLC (r2 = 0.42 and p = 0.0001). The difference between TDTLC and TDRV, as a thickening value (TDTLCRV), was closely related to FVC (r2 = 0.34 and p = 0.0004) and to air-trapping indices (RV/TLC, FRC/TLC and IC/TLC): the degree of lung hyperinflation was greater and the TDTLCRV was less. Finally, we found a progressive reduction of both thicknesses and thickenings as the severity of IC/TLC increased, with a significant p value for the trend in both analyses (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Ultrasonographic assessment of the diaphragm could be a useful tool for studying disease progression in COPD patients, in terms of lung hyperinflation and the loss of FFM.