Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BATON: A Balanced Tree Structure for Peer-to-Peer Networks

We propose a balanced tree structure overlay on a peer-to-peer network capable of supporting both exact queries and range queries efficiently. In spite of the tree structure causing distinctions to be made between nodes at different levels in the tree, we show that the load at each node is approximately equal. In spite of the tree structure providing precisely one path between any pair of nodes, we show that sideways routing tables maintained at each node provide sufficient fault tolerance to permit efficient repair. Specifically, in a network with N nodes, we guarantee that both exact queries and range queries can be answered in O(log N) steps and also that update operations (to both data and network) have an amortized cost of O(log N). An experimental assessment validates the practicality of our proposal.
GPU-Accelerated Parallel Sparse LU Factorization Method for Fast Circuit Analysis

Lower upper (LU) factorization for sparse matrices is the most important computing step for circuit simulation problems. However, parallelizing LU factorization on the graphic processing units (GPUs) turns out to be a difficult problem due to intrinsic data dependence and irregular memory access, which diminish GPU computing power. In this paper, we propose a new sparse LU solver on GPUs for circuit simulation and more general scientific computing. The new method, which is called GPU accelerated LU factorization (GLU) solver (for GPU LU), is based on a hybrid right-looking LU factorization algorithm for sparse matrices. We show that more concurrency can be exploited in the right-looking method than the left-looking method, which is more popular for circuit analysis, on GPU platforms. At the same time, the GLU also preserves the benefit of column-based left-looking LU method, such as symbolic analysis and columnlevel concurrency. We show that the resulting new parallel GPU LU solver allows the parallelization of all three loops in the LU factorization on GPUs. While in contrast, the existing GPU-based left-looking LU factorization approach can only allow parallelization of two loops. Experimental results show that the proposed GLU solver can deliver 5. 71χ and 1.46x speedup over the single-threaded and the 16-threaded PARDISO solvers, respectively, 19.56x speedup over the KLU solver, 47.13x over the UMFPACK solver, and 1.47x speedup over a recently proposed GPU-based left-looking LU solver on the set of typical circuit matrices from the University of Florida (UFL) sparse matrix collection. Furthermore, we also compare the proposed GLU solver on a set of general matrices from the UFL, GLU achieves 6.38x and 1.12x speedup over the singlethreaded and the 16-threaded PARDISO solvers, respectively, 39.39x speedup over the KLU solver, 24.04x over the UMFPACK solver, and 2.35x speedup over the same GPU-based left-looking LU solver. In addition, comparison on self-generated RLC mesh networks shows a similar trend, which further validates the advantage of the proposed method over the existing sparse LU solvers.
Partial-volume correction increases estimated dopamine D2-like receptor binding potential and reduces adult age differences

The relatively modest spatial resolution of positron emission tomography (PET) increases the likelihood of partial volume effects such that binding potential (BPND) may be underestimated. Given structural grey matter losses across adulthood, partial volume effects may be even more problematic in older age leading to overestimation of adult age differences. Here we examined the effects of partial volume correction (PVC) in two studies from different sites using different high-affinity D2-like radioligands (18 F-Fallypride, 11C-FLB457) and different PET camera resolutions (∼5 mm, 2.5 mm). Results across both data sets revealed that PVC increased estimated BPND and reduced, though did not eliminate, age effects on BPND. As expected, the effects of PVC were smaller in higher compared to lower resolution data. Analyses using uncorrected data that controlled for grey matter volume in each region of interest approximated PVC corrected data for some but not all regions. Overall, the findings suggest that PVC increases estimated BPND in general and reduces adult age differences especially when using lower resolution cameras. The findings suggest that the past 30 years of research on dopamine receptor availability, for which very few studies use PVC, may overestimate effects of aging on dopamine receptor availability.
Efficacy of Prophylactic G-CSF in Patients Receiving FOLFIRINOX: A Preliminary Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE Recent guidelines have adopted an incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN) threshold of 20% for the use of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In a Japanese phase II study of a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of oxaliplatin, irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX) for Japanese patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, the incidence of FN and severe neutropenia were 24.7% and 77.8%, respectively, without G-CSF prophylaxis. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the incidence of FN or severe neutropenia induced by full-dose FOLFIRINOX administration with G-CSF prophylaxis during the first cycle of treatment. METHODS Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who received FOLFIRINOX with G-CSF prophylaxis during the first cycle of treatment from January 2014 to August 2014 were investigated and the frequency of adverse events during the first cycle was measured. RESULTS Among seven patients who received FOLFIRINOX, six patients met the eligibility criteria. The patient characteristics were as follows: median age (range), 57 (50-66); men/women, 3/3; performance status 0/1, 2/4. Grade 3/4 hematological adverse events were as follows: leukopenia in 33% of the patients, neutropenia in 33% of the patients, thrombocytopenia in 33% of the patients and FN in 17% of the patients. One patient was heterozygous for the UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 polymorphisms and experienced FN. Grade3/4 non-hematological adverse events were as follows: anorexia in 33% of the cases and nausea in 50% of the cases. CONCLUSION Although the present study was retrospective and small, the simultaneous administration of G-CSF might be effective for the prevention of severe neutropenia and FN in patients treated with FOLFIRINOX.
Hydrogen-assisted post-growth substitution of tellurium into molybdenum disulfide monolayers with tunable compositions

Herein we report the successful doping of tellurium (Te) into molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) monolayers to form MoS2xTe2(1−x) alloy with variable compositions via a hydrogen-assisted post-growth chemical vapor deposition process. It is confirmed that H2 plays an indispensable role in the Te substitution into as-grown MoS2 monolayers. Atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy allows us to determine the lattice sites and the concentration of introduced Te atoms. At a relatively low concentration, tellurium is only substituted in the sulfur sublattice to form monolayer MoS2(1−x)Te2x alloy, while with increasing Te concentration (up to ∼27.6% achieved in this study), local regions with enriched tellurium, large structural distortions, and obvious sulfur deficiency are observed. Statistical analysis of the Te distribution indicates the random substitution. Density functional theory calculations are used to investigate the stability of the alloy structures and their electronic properties. Comparison with experimental results indicate that the samples are unstrained and the Te atoms are predominantly substituted in the top S sublattice. Importantly, such ultimately thin Janus structure of MoS2(1−x)Te2x exhibits properties that are distinct from their constituents. We believe our results will inspire further exploration of the versatile properties of asymmetric 2D TMD alloys.
Inverse relationship of serum adiponectin concentration with type 2 diabetes mellitus incidence in middle‐aged Japanese workers: six‐year follow‐up

Background It was suggested that inflammation may mediate or modify biological effects of adiponectin. Few studies examined the association between circulating adiponectin levels and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) while controlling for variables related to inflammation. In addition, East Asians were reported to have lower adiponectin levels but higher diabetes prevalence at a given degree of obesity than Caucasians, raising some possibility that the adiponectin–diabetes association may differ by race. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the associations with a number of covariates including C‐reactive protein and smoking status in a cohort of Japanese workers aged 35–66 years.
Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide and N5,N10‐Methenyltetrahydrofolate are the in planta Cofactors of Arabidopsis thaliana Cryptochrome 3

Members of the cryptochrome/photolyase family (CPF) of proteins utilize noncovalently bound light‐absorbing cofactors for their biological function. Usually, the identity of these cofactors is determined after expression in heterologous systems leaving the question unanswered whether these cofactors are identical to the indigenous ones. Here, cryptochrome 3 from Arabidopsis thaliana was expressed as a fusion with the green fluorescent protein in Arabidopsis plants. Besides the confirmation of the earlier report of its localization in chloroplasts, our data indicate that fractions of the fusion protein are present in the stroma and associated with thylakoids, respectively. Furthermore, it is shown that the fusion protein expressed in planta contains the same cofactors as the His6‐tagged protein expressed in Escherichia coli, that is, flavin adenine dinucleotide and N5,N10‐methenyltetrahydrofolate. This demonstrates that the heterologously expressed cryptochrome 3, characterized in a number of previous studies, is a valid surrogate of the corresponding protein expressed in plants. To our knowledge, this is also a first conclusive analysis of cofactors bound to an Arabidopsis protein belonging to the CPF and purified from plant tissue.
No evidence for Helicobacter pylori in oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVES Oral lichen planus is a T-cell-mediated mucosal disease of unknown etiology. Numerous predisposing factors have been put forward in the etiology of this disease. This includes stress, drugs, genetic susceptibility, certain viruses, and bacterial infections. Recently, there have been studies published on possible role of Helicobacter pylori infection in pathogenesis of mucocutaneous diseases including oral lichen planus (OLP). The aim of this study was to detect immunohistochemically the presence of Helicobacter pylori in oral lichen planus. MATERIALS AND METHODS Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 50 cases of OLP and 10 cases of normal buccal mucosal biopsies and 6 endoscopic biopsies of patients with peptic ulcer (control group) were sectioned and stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Serial sections of same were stained immunohistochemically using Anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody and observed under microscope for presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori. RESULTS Except for the control group, none of the cases of OLP and normal buccal mucosal biopsies showed positivity for Helicobacter pylori. CONCLUSION As we did not detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori in any of the OLP cases, we question the role of these organisms in the pathogenesis of OLP planus if any.
Behaviour and frequency dependence of AC-DC high voltage transfer standard under humidity step changes

Under humidity step changes, the measured AC-DC difference results from a thermal converter and a range resistor at 200 V in the frequency range from 40 Hz to 100 kHz have shown that a first order differential equation can be used to model the behaviour. The humidity coefficients for the model are found to be strongly frequency-dependent and the time constants are related to the changes in humidity.
Psychosocial Correlates of AUDIT-C Hazardous Drinking Risk Status

The current study identified psychosocial variables associated with AUDIT-C hazardous drinking risk status for male and female college students. Logistic regression analysis revealed that AUDIT-C risk status was associated with alcohol-related negative consequences, injunctive norms, and descriptive norms for both male and female participants. Sociability and self-perception outcome expectancies predicted risk status for females. Cognitive and behavioral impairment expectancies predicted risk status for men in the sample. Implications for screening and brief intervention programming efforts are discussed.
Assessment of Nutritional Status, Digestion and Absorption, and Quality of Life in Patients with Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Background and Aim To provide a comprehensive quantitative assessment of nutritional status, digestion and absorption, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Methods Sixteen patients with LAPC were prospectively assessed for weight loss (WL), body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), handgrip strength (HGS), dietary macronutrient intake, serum vitamin levels, resting and total energy expenditure (REE and TEE, indirect calorimetry), intestinal absorption capacity and fecal losses (bomb calorimetry), exocrine pancreatic function (fecal elastase-1 (FE1)), and gastrointestinal quality of life (GIQLI). Results Two patients had a low BMI, 10 patients had WL > 10%/6 months, 8 patients had a FFMI < P10, and 8 patients had a HGS < P10. Measured REE was 33% higher (P = 0.002) than predicted REE. TEE was significantly higher than daily energy intake (P = 0.047). Malabsorption (<85%) of energy, fat, protein, and carbohydrates was observed in, respectively, 9, 8, 12, and 10 patients. FE1 levels were low (<200 μg/g) in 13 patients. Total QoL scored 71% (ample satisfactory). Conclusion Patients with LAPC have a severely impaired nutritional status, most likely as a result of an increased REE and malabsorption due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The trial is registered with PANFIRE clinicaltrials.gov NCT01939665.
On the performance characteristics of a thin-wire zigzag circular-loop antenna

This paper presents an investigation of the performance features of a thin-wire zigzag antenna, shaped in the form of a circular loop, and whose characterizing current distribution is determined with the use of a Method of Moments (MoM) approximation involving a delta-gap feed model. Data concerning the antenna's input characteristics are available from the MoM tool, whilst its radiation-zone parameters, as described in the paper, subsequently derive from the Matrix Vector Potential (MVP) integrals earlier reported by Muhammed et al. The computational results displayed in graphical formats suggest that there are significant differences between the performance parameters of the zigzag circular loop and those of the regular circular-loop, depending on the geometry of the zigzag elements introduced. Indeed, because the MVP is able to identify distinct contributions attributable to the zigzag elements, it becomes possible to prescribe the design possibilities offered by variations in the geometrical properties of the zigzag elements, including degree of uniformity, pitch profile, and number of elements.
Retrospective Single Center Study of Granulocyte Monocyte Adsorption Apheresis Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Patients with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have elevated and activated myeloid leukocytes, which infiltrate the intestinal mucosa. A significant proportion of IBD patients do not respond adequately to conventional treatment regimes. Studies have suggested that treatment with granulocyte monocyte apheresis (GMA) could be a safe and efficacious alternative for these patients. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of granulocyte/monocyte apheresis in patients with IBD in a retrospective cohort study, conducted from a single center in Stockholm. Clinical details from consecutive apheresis treated patients were retrospectively reviewed from 2004 to 2012. A total of 37 patients were included, 23 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 14 with Crohn's disease (CD). Clinical response was seen in 11 patients (30%) and complete remission in 11 patients (30%). The remission rate was higher in UC patients compared to CD patients, 39% (N = 9) and 14% (N = 2) respectively. A total of 9 patients experienced adverse events. Most frequently reported was headache (N = 4). GMA seems to be a valuable adjuvant treatment regime in the care of patients with refractory IBD.
Design, fabrication and characterization of an axial-flow turbine for flow sensing

This paper presents a novel micro-power conversion device that combines an axial flow turbine with an axial-flux electromagnetic generator. The device has a sandwich structure, consisting of a top silicon stator, a polymer rotor and a bottom silicon stator. Axial gas flow through the device causes rotation, while permanent magnets embedded in the rotor induce output voltage in planar coils on the stators. Compared to radial flow devices the axial-flow design is more compact and can operate at lower pressure ratios. Details of the device design and fabrication process are given, and preliminary results are presented for the variation of output voltage, rotation speed, and pressure ratio with flow rate for nitrogen gas. The test results show operation over a wide dynamic range.
SPUR: a trace-based JIT compiler for CIL

Tracing just-in-time compilers (TJITs) determine frequently executed traces (hot paths and loops) in running programs and focus their optimization effort by emitting optimized machine code specialized to these traces. Prior work has established this strategy to be especially beneficial for dynamic languages such as JavaScript, where the TJIT interfaces with the interpreter and produces machine code from the JavaScript trace. This direct coupling with a JavaScript interpreter makes it difficult to harness the power of a TJIT for other components that are not written in JavaScript, e.g., the DOM implementation or the layout engine inside a browser. Furthermore, if a TJIT is tied to a particular high-level language interpreter, it is difficult to reuse it for other input languages as the optimizations are likely targeted at specific idioms of the source language. To address these issues, we designed and implemented a TJIT for Microsoft's Common Intermediate Language CIL (the target language of C#, VisualBasic, F#, and many other languages). Working on CIL enables TJIT optimizations for any program compiled to this platform. In addition, to validate that the performance gains of a TJIT for JavaScript do not depend on specific idioms of JavaScript that are lost in the translation to CIL, we provide a performance evaluation of our JavaScript runtime which translates JavaScript to CIL and then runs on top of our CIL TJIT.
Emodiversity and Biomarkers of Inflammation

There is growing evidence that inflammatory responses may help to explain how emotions get “under the skin” to influence disease susceptibility. Moving beyond examination of individuals’ average level of emotion, this study examined how the breadth and relative abundance of emotions that individuals experience— emodiversity—is related to systemic inflammation. Using diary data from 175 adults aged 40 to 65 who provided end-of-day reports of their positive and negative emotions over 30 days, we found that greater diversity in day-to-day positive emotions was associated with lower circulating levels of inflammation (indicated by IL-6, CRP, fibrinogen), independent of mean levels of positive and negative emotions, body mass index, anti-inflammatory medications, medical conditions, personality, and demographics. No significant associations were observed between global or negative emodiversity and inflammation. These findings highlight the unique role daily positive emotions play in biological health.
Grid-cell representations in mental simulation

Anticipating the future is a key motif of the brain, possibly supported by mental simulation of upcoming events. Rodent single-cell recordings suggest the ability of spatially tuned cells to represent subsequent locations. Grid-like representations have been observed in the human entorhinal cortex during virtual and imagined navigation. However, hitherto it remains unknown if grid-like representations contribute to mental simulation in the absence of imagined movement. Participants imagined directions between building locations in a large-scale virtual-reality city while undergoing fMRI without re-exposure to the environment. Using multi-voxel pattern analysis, we provide evidence for representations of absolute imagined direction at a resolution of 30° in the parahippocampal gyrus, consistent with the head-direction system. Furthermore, we capitalize on the six-fold rotational symmetry of grid-cell firing to demonstrate a 60° periodic pattern-similarity structure in the entorhinal cortex. Our findings imply a role of the entorhinal grid-system in mental simulation and future thinking beyond spatial navigation. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.17089. 001
Social and behavioral factors associated with failing second-line ART – results from a cohort study at the Themba Lethu Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

ABSTRACT Poor adherence is a main challenge to successful second-line ART in South Africa. Studies have shown that patients can re-suppress their viral load following intensive adherence counselling. We identify factors associated with failure to re-suppress on second-line ART. The study was a retrospective cohort study which included HIV-positive adults who experienced an elevated viral load ≥400 copies/ml on second-line ART between January 2013–July 2014, had completed an adherence counselling questionnaire and had a repeat viral load result recorded within 6 months of intensive adherence counselling. Log-binomial regression was used to evaluate the association between patient characteristics and social, behavioral or occupational factors and failure to suppress viral load (≥400 copies/ml). A total of 128 patients were included in the analysis, and of these 39% (n = 50) failed to re-suppress their viral load. Compared to those who suppressed, far more patients who failed to suppress reported living with family (44.2% vs. 23.7%), missing a dose in the past week (53.3% vs. 30.0%), using traditional/herbal medications (63.2% vs. 34.3%) or had symptoms suggestive of depression (57.7% vs. 34.3%). These patient-related factors could be targeted for interventions to reduce the risk for treatment failure and prevent switching to expensive third-line ART.
Resisting relay attacks on vehicular Passive Keyless Entry and start systems

Passive Keyless Entry and Start (PKES) systems are popularly embed in modern cars, which allow users to open and start their cars while having their car keys' in their pockets. They bring convenience to users but are vulnerable to relay attacks. A relay attack to PKES is a widely known attack against the challenge- response technique used in the passive keyless vehicle system, which allows to open and start the car while the true distance between the key and car remained large. The main countermeasure against relay attacks is the use of distance bounding protocols measuring the round-trip time between the car and the key. However, most schemes tend to a more complex design to decrease adversary's success probability. In this paper, we propose a novel distance bounding protocol to resist relay attacks in PKES systems, using only 2n bits of memory, which, to our best knowledge, is equal to Hancke and Kuhn's protocol and less than any existing protocols. In addition, by using our protocol, the key is able to detect adversary's malicious queries. We also make a comparison with typical previous distance bounding protocols in both memory and mafia fraud success probability.