Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Load Sharing in Distributed Systems

An important part of a distributed system design is the choice of a load sharing or global scheduling strategy. A comprehensive literature survey on this topic is presented. We propose a taxonomy of load sharing algorithms that draws a basic dichotomy between source-initiative and server-initiative approaches. The taxonomy enables ten representative algorithms to be selected for performance evaluation. A performance metric called the Q-factor (quality of load sharing) is defined which summarizes both overall efficiency and fairness of an algorithm and allows algorithms to be ranked by performance. We then evaluate the algorithms using both mathematical and simulation techniques. The results of the study show that: i) the choice of load sharing algorithm is a critical design decision; ii) for the same level of scheduling information exchange, server-initiative has the potential of outperforming source-initiative algorithms (whether this potential is realized depends on factors such as communication overhead); iii) the Q-factor is a useful yardstick; iv) some algorithms, which have previously received little attention, e.g., multiserver cyclic service, may provide effective solutions.
Genome-wide identification of CBL family and expression analysis of CBLs in response to potassium deficiency in cotton

Calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins, as calcium sensors, play pivotal roles in plant responses to diverse abiotic stresses and in growth and development through interaction with CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). However, knowledge about functions and evolution of CBLs in Gossypium plants is scarce. Here, we conducted a genome-wide survey and identified 13, 13 and 22 CBL genes in the progenitor diploid Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium raimondii, and the cultivated allotetraploid Gossypium hirsutum, respectively. Analysis of physical properties, chromosomal locations, conserved domains and phylogeny indicated rather conserved nature of CBLs among the three Gossypium species. Moreover, these CBLs have closer genetic evolutionary relationship with the CBLs from cocoa than with those from other plants. Most CBL genes underwent evolution under purifying selection in the three Gossypium plants. Additionally, nearly all G. hirsutum CBL (GhCBL) genes were expressed in the root, stem, leaf, flower and fiber. Many GhCBLs were preferentially expressed in the flower while several GhCBLs were mainly expressed in roots. Expression patterns of GhCBL genes in response to potassium deficiency were also studied. The expression of most GhCBLs were moderately induced in roots after treatments with low-potassium stress. Yeast two-hybrid experiments indicated that GhCBL1-2, GhCBL1-3, GhCBL4-4, GhCBL8, GhCBL9 and GhCBL10-3 interacted with GhCIPK23, respectively. Our results provided a comprehensive view of the CBLs and valuable information for researchers to further investigate the roles and functional mechanisms of the CBLs in Gossypium.
High-affinity maltose/trehalose transport system in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus litoralis

The hyperthermophilic marine archaeon Thermococcus litoralis exhibits high-affinity transport activity for maltose and trehalose at 85 degrees C. The K(m) for maltose transport was 22 nM, and that for trehalose was 17 nM. In cells that had been grown on peptone plus yeast extract, the Vmax for maltose uptake ranged from 3.2 to 7.5 nmol/min/mg of protein in different cell cultures. Cells grown in peptone without yeast extract did not show significant maltose or trehalose uptake. We found that the compound in yeast extract responsible for the induction of the maltose and trehalose transport system was trehalose. [14C]maltose uptake at 100 nM was not significantly inhibited by glucose, sucrose, or maltotriose at a 100 microM concentration but was completely inhibited by trehalose and maltose. The inhibitor constant, Ki, of trehalose for inhibiting maltose uptake was 21 nM. In contrast, the ability of maltose to inhibit the uptake of trehalose was not equally strong. With 20 nM [14C]trehalose as the substrate, a 10-fold excess of maltose was necessary to inhibit uptake to 50%. However, full inhibition was observed at 2 microM maltose. The detergent-solubilized membranes of trehalose-induced cells contained a high-affinity binding protein for maltose and trehalose, with an M(r) of 48,000, that exhibited the same substrate specificity as the transport system found in whole cells. We conclude that maltose and trehalose are transported by the same high-affinity membrane-associated system. This represents the first report on sugar transport in any hyperthermophilic archaeon.
PREDICTION OF MONSOON RAINFALL AND RIVER DISCHARGE ON 15-30-DAY TIME SCALES

Most attempts at predicting south Asian monsoon variability have concentrated on seasonally averaged rainfall over the Indian subcontinent some months in advance using regional and remote boundary effects as predictors. Overall, about 30% of the variance of mean seasonal monsoon rainfall can be explained, but the statistics appear to be nonstationary and correlations vary strongly on interdecadal time scales. Model intercomparisons show that climate models have difficulty in simulating even gross-scale features of the monsoon such as mean summer rainfall, and there is little demonstrated skill when the models are used in predictive mode. Even if the statistics were stable and model predictions were skillful it is argued that the information is not readily downscalable because the mean rainfall does not define the timing or number of intraseasonal variations or even the spatial distributions of the seasonal mean rainfall. Based on these concerns, it is argued that skillful and timely forecasts of intraseas.
Development of calcium‐permeable α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid receptors in cultured neocortical neurons visualized by cobalt staining

The developmental expression of calcium (Ca2+)‐permeable α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainate receptors in cultured neocortical neurons was evaluated by using cobalt uptake, a histochemical method that identifies cells expressing Ca2+‐permeable, non‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (non‐NMDA) receptors. At a concentration of 500 μM, AMPA was found to stimulate cobalt uptake only late in development, resulting in staining of 2.7% ± 0.3% of the neurons maintained in culture for 12 days in vitro (DIV). When AMPA receptor desensitization was blocked with 50 μM cyclothiazide, the developmental profile of cobalt uptake mediated by 25 μM AMPA changed dramatically. The cobalt staining now appeared in young cultures (5 DIV), and the percentage of stained cells increased from 3.4% ± 0.2% at 5 DIV to 21.7% ± 1.6% at 12 DIV. The effect of 200 μM kainate was similar to that seen with 25 μM AMPA plus 50 μM cyclothiazide, resulting in 17.7% ± 0.3% stained neurons at 12 DIV. The cobalt uptake was specific to AMPA and kainate receptors because NMDA receptors and voltage‐gated calcium channels were found not to mediate any cobalt staining. In addition, 10 μM 6‐nitro‐7‐sulphamoylbenzo‐ [f]‐quinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (NBQX) was able to prevent all staining at 5 and 8 DIV and most of the staining at 12 DIV, indicating that the non‐NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors are involved in cobalt uptake into the neurons. The AMPA receptor‐selective antagonist GYKI 53655 was used to differentiate between cobalt influx through AMPA‐ or kainate‐preferring receptors. After pretreatment with concanavalin A (con A), an inhibitor of kainate receptor desensitization, cobalt uptake was assessed after stimulation by 200 μM kainate in the presence of 25 μM GYKI 53655. No cobalt staining was observed under these conditions, indicating that most if not all of the cobalt influx induced by kainate was mediated through AMPA receptor channels. J. Neurosci. Res. 54:273–281, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sparse signal recovery in Hilbert spaces

This paper reports an effort to consolidate numerous coherence-based sparse signal recovery results available in the literature. We present a single theory that applies to general Hilbert spaces with the sparsity of a signal defined as the number of (possibly infinite-dimensional) subspaces participating in the signal's representation. Our general results recover uncertainty relations and coherence-based recovery thresholds for sparse signals, block-sparse signals, multi-band signals, signals in shift-invariant spaces, and signals in finite unions of (possibly infinite-dimensional) subspaces. Moreover, we improve upon and generalize several of the existing results and, in many cases, we find shortened and simplified proofs.
Performance Analysis of Optimal Blind Fusion of Bits

This paper is devoted to a statistical performance analysis of blind estimation of bit error rates (BERs) of a bank of detectors, using empirical estimation algorithms that have appeared in the literature (by Dixit ). In particular, we prove that these blind estimators asymptotically (in the number of observed bits) achieve the accuracy obtained with perfect knowledge of the transmitted bits. We propose a maximum-likelihood solution which follows from the standard expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, considered to be a reference algorithm. Finally, the optimal fusion rule is revisited and our theoretical results are compared to Monte Carlo simulations
The role of cystatin-C in the confirmation of reduced glomerular filtration rate among the oldest old

Introduction Current guidelines suggest using cystatin-C to confirm a reduced creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcr) when the latter is thought to be inaccurate. Older adults have reduced muscle mass, which may affect the accuracy of eGFRcr. We evaluated the use of cystatin-C-based eGFR (eGFRcys) to confirm reduced eGFRcr among adults ≥ 80 years of age and, for comparison, younger adults. Material and methods We analyzed data from 3,059 REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants with reduced eGFRcr (< 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) enrolled in 2003–2007 who were not on dialysis. eGFRcr and eGFRcys were calculated using age, sex and race-adjusted equations. Confirmed reduced eGFRcr was defined as eGFRcys < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease complications at baseline and all-cause mortality up to March 2012 were calculated. Analyses were stratified by age: < 65, 65–79 and ≥ 80 years. Results Among participants < 65, 65–79 and ≥ 80 years of age, 76.5%, 85.7% and 92.5%, respectively, had reduced eGFRcr confirmed with eGFRcys (p < 0.001). Among participants ≥ 80 years of age, those with reduced eGFRcr confirmed with eGFRcys had higher prevalence of hypertension (79.1% vs. 65.1%, p = 0.03) and albuminuria (38.3% vs. 22.7%, p = 0.04) and higher risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 2.43; 95% confidence interval: 1.19–5.01) as compared with those in whom reduced eGFRcr was not confirmed by eGFRcys. Conclusions Reduced eGFRcr was confirmed using eGFRcys for the vast majority of adults ≥ 80 years. These results suggest that using cystatin-C to confirm a reduced eGFRcr may not be necessary among the oldest old.
A Practical Approach to the Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Tract Carcinomas for Lynch Syndrome

Lynch syndrome accounts for roughly 1 of every 35 patients with colorectal carcinoma, making it the most common hereditary form of colorectal carcinoma. Identifying patients at risk for Lynch syndrome is essential, as these patients can develop additional Lynch syndrome–related tumors, and patients and their relatives benefit from genetic counseling. The hallmark of Lynch syndrome–associated neoplasms is DNA mismatch repair protein deficiency. In most instances, the pathologist is the first to identify patients at risk for Lynch syndrome and is tasked with communicating these results to treating clinicians and genetics counselors. This review will attempt to provide the tools for pathologists to identify patients at risk for Lynch syndrome through evaluation of tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and provide up-to-date knowledge on evaluating mismatch repair protein deficiency in tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
Postprandial improvement in insulin sensitivity after a single exercise session in adolescents with low aerobic fitness and physical activity

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute and residual impact of a single exercise bout on meal glucose control in adolescents with habitually low physical activity. Twelve adolescents (seven females/five males, 14 ± 2 yr) completed three trials. One trial [No Exercise (No Ex)] was completed after refraining from vigorous activity for ≥3 d. On the other two trials, a 45‐min aerobic exercise bout at 75% peak heart rate was performed either 17‐h Prior Day Exercise (Prior Day Ex) trial or 1‐h Same Day Exercise (Same Day Ex) trial before consuming the test meal (2803 kJ, 45/40/15% energy as carbohydrate/fat/protein, respectively). Compared to No Ex, insulin sensitivity (SI) (minimal model analysis) was increased by 45% (p < 0.03) and 78% (p < 0.01) on the Prior Day Ex and Same Day Ex trials, respectively. This improvement in glucose control was supported by corresponding reductions in the net area under the curve for glucose, insulin, and c‐peptide, although there was no change in postprandial suppression of fatty acids. These results show that SI is improved with a single bout of moderate intensity exercise in adolescents with habitually low physical activity and that the residual beneficial effect of exercise lasts at least 17 h. This finding highlights the plasticity of exercise responses in youth and the importance of daily exercise for metabolic health.
Ergosterol Peroxide Isolated from Ganoderma lucidum Abolishes MicroRNA miR-378-Mediated Tumor Cells on Chemoresistance

Due to an altered expression of oncogenic factors and tumor suppressors, aggressive cancer cells have an intrinsic or acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. This typically contributes to cancer recurrence after chemotherapy. microRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that are involved in both cell self-renewal and cancer development. Here we report that tumor cells transfected with miR-378 acquired properties of aggressive cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-378 enhanced both cell survival and colony formation, and contributed to multiple drug resistance. Higher concentrations of chemotherapeutic drugs were needed to induce death of miR-378-transfected cells than to induce death of control cells. We found that the biologically active component isolated from Ganoderma lucidum could overcome the drug-resistance conferred by miR-378. We purified and identified the biologically active component of Ganoderma lucidum as ergosterol peroxide. We demonstrated that ergosterol peroxide produced greater activity in inducing death of miR-378 cells than the GFP cells. Lower concentrations of ergosterol peroxide were needed to induce death of the miR-378-transfected cells than in the control cells. With further clinical development, ergosterol peroxide represents a promising new reagent that can overcome the drug-resistance of tumor cells.
Fever of unknown origin

PREVIEW Fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains a challenging clinical problem despite recent advances in diagnostic tools and techniques. Because primary care physicians are often the first ones to encounter a case of FUO, it is important that they be familiar with the best strategy and steps for confronting this problem intially. Here, Drs Amin and Kauffman review the major causes of FUO in adults and describe an in-depth approach to laboratory and radiologic tests that help establish a diagnosis.
The use of digital periapical radiographs to study the prevalence of alveolar domes

Purpose In the present study, we coined the term 'alveolar dome' and aimed to demonstrate the prevalence of alveolar domes through digital periapical radiographs. Materials and Methods This study examined 800 digital periapical radiographs in regard to the presence of alveolar domes. The periapical radiographs were acquired by a digital system using a photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plate. The χ2 test, with a significance level of 5%, was used to compare the prevalence of alveolar domes in the maxillary posterior teeth and, considering the same teeth, to verify the difference in the prevalence of dome-shaped phenomena between the roots. Results The prevalence of alveolar domes present in the first pre-molars was statistically lower as compared to the other maxillary posterior teeth (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of alveolar domes between the maxillary first and second molars. Considering the maxillary first and second molars, it was observed that the palatal root presented a lower prevalence of alveolar domes when compared to the distobuccal and mesiobuccal roots (p<0.05). Conclusion The present study coined the term 'alveolar dome', referring to the anatomical projection of the root into the floor of the maxillary sinus. The maxillary first and second molars presented a greater prevalence of alveolar domes, especially in the buccal roots, followed by the third molars and second pre-molars. Although the periapical radiograph is a two-dimensional method, it can provide dentists with the auxiliary information necessary to identify alveolar domes, thus improving diagnosis, planning, and treatment.
Detection of speech under physical stress: model development, sensor selection, and feature fusion

fusion based stress detection using a new audio corpus (UT-Scope). We used a GMM framework with our previously formulated TEO-CB-AutoEnv features for neutral/physical stress detection. Second, stress detection performance is investigated for both acoustic and non-acoustic (P-MIC) sensors. Evaluations show that effective stress models can be obtained with 12 speakers out of a random size of 1-42 subjects, with stress detection performance of 62.96% (for close-talking mic) and 66.36% (for P-MIC) respectively. The TEO-CB-AutoEnv model scores were fused with traditional MFCC based stress model scores using the Adaboost algorithm, resulting in an improvement in overall system performance of 9.43% (absolute, for close-talking mic) and 12.99% (absolute, for PMIC) respectively. These three advances allow for effective stress detection algorithm development with fewer training speakers and/or alternative sensors in combined feature domains.
Performance of the Duisburg Statistical Object Tracker on Test Data for PETS 2000

This paper presents the first results obtained from the statistical object tracker developed at Duisburg University for the test data sequence provided by the organizers of the PETS2000 workshop. Our system differs from many other systems in that respect that it does not use any motion information at all for calculating the trajectory of a moving object in an image sequence, resulting in the fact that the proposed approach even makes the tracking of objects possible in the presence of background motions, for instance caused by other moving objects such as cars, or by camera operations as e.g. panning or zooming. Thus, the test sequence provided for PETS2000 represents a suitable testbed for our system, because it contains different moving objects and thus confronts the system with the challenge of tracking a specifically selected object in presence of other objects that are moving across the entire image and are even intersecting with the trajectories of other objects in the sequence. Our results confirm that our approach can handle the difficult task of tracking a specific person within the image sequence without losing its trace despite the previously mentioned problems caused by the other moving object in the sequence. The advantages of our tracking approach would have been even more apparent if the test sequence had been acquired with a moving camera, causing motion information distributed all over the entire image sequence. Of course, our system also has certain limitations. In the paper, we report on the advantages and limitations of our statistical object tracker.
The Role of the Right Cerebral Hemisphere in Processing Novel Metaphoric Expressions: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study

Previous research suggests that the right hemisphere (RH) may contribute uniquely to the processing of metaphoric language. However, causal relationships between local brain activity in the RH and metaphors comprehension were never established. In addition, most studies have focused on familiar metaphoric expressions which might be processed similarly to any conventional word combination. The present study was designed to overcome these two problems by employing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to examine the role of the RH in processing novel metaphoric expressions taken from poetry. Right-handed participants were presented with four types of word pairs, literal, conventional metaphoric and novel metaphoric expressions, and unrelated word pairs, and were asked to perform a semantic judgment task. rTMS of the right posterior superior temporal sulcus disrupted processing of novel but not conventional metaphors, whereas rTMS over the left inferior frontal gyrus selectively impaired processing of literal word pairs and conventional but not novel metaphors (Experiment 1). In a further experiment, we showed that these effects were due to right-left asymmetries rather than posterior-anterior differences (Experiment 2). This is the first demonstration of TMS-induced impairment in processing novel metaphoric expressions, and as such, confirms the specialization of the RH in the activation of a broader range of related meanings than the left hemisphere, including novel, nonsalient meanings. The findings thus suggest that the RH may be critically involved in at least one important component of novel metaphor comprehension, the integration of the individual meanings of two seemingly unrelated concepts into a meaningful metaphoric expression.
Numerical Simulations and Experimental Investigations on Quasi-Static and Cyclic Mixed Mode Delamination of Multidirectional CFRP Laminates

The structural applications of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) composites are gradually expanding in aerospace industry as a result of their outstanding mechanical properties such as high stiffness to weight ratio and fatigue resistance. With the increasing application, the need for understanding their mechanical behaviour and failure mechanisms also rises. Interfacial cracking between layers or delamination is one of the most common failure types in laminated fibre-reinforced composites due to their relatively weak inter-laminar strengths. Typically, delamination failures initiate and propagate under mixed mode effect of normal and shear stresses. Therefore, mixed mode delamination failure in fibrous composites has been one of the major issues being studied extensively in recent years. In this scope, the development of predictive, reliable and robust numerical and experimental analysis tools for quasi-static or cyclic mixed mode delamination of CFRPs is the major focus of this work. Quasi-static and cyclic mixed mode delamination failure in multidirectional CFRP laminates are analyzed using fracture experiments and finite element (FE) simulations.