Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time-bounded analysis of real-time systems

Real-Time Embedded Software (RTES) constitutes an important sub-class of concurrent safety-critical programs. We consider the problem of verifying functional correctness of periodic RTES, a popular variant of RTES that execute periodic tasks in an order determined by Rate Monotonic Scheduling (RMS). A computational model of a periodic RTES is a finite collection of terminating tasks that arrive periodically and must complete before their next arrival. We present an approach for time-bounded verification of safety properties in periodic RTES. Our approach is based on sequentialization. Given an RTES C and a time-bound W, we construct (and verify) a sequential program S that over-approximates all executions of C up to time W, while respecting priorities and bounds on the number of preemptions implied by RMS. Our algorithm supports partial-order reduction, preemption locks, and priority locks. We implemented our approach for C programs, with properties specified via user-provided assertions. We evaluated our tool on several realistic examples, and were able to detect a subtle concurrency issue in a robot controller.
Nucleotide requirements for sodium‐sodium exchange catalysed by the sodium pump in human red cells

1. Resealed red cell ghosts containing a variety of nucleoside triphosphates, or a mixture of tri‐ and diphosphates, were allowed to lose 24Na into a 10 m M‐K medium or a K‐free high‐Na medium in the presence and absence of ouabain.
X-FTL: transactional FTL for SQLite databases

In the era of smartphones and mobile computing, many popular applications such as Facebook, twitter, Gmail, and even Angry birds game manage their data using SQLite. This is mainly due to the development productivity and solid transactional support. For transactional atomicity, however, SQLite relies on less sophisticated but costlier page-oriented journaling mechanisms. Hence, this is often cited as the main cause of tardy responses in mobile applications. Flash memory does not allow data to be updated in place, and the copy-on-write strategy is adopted by most flash storage devices. In this paper, we propose X-FTL, a transactional flash translation layer(FTL) for SQLite databases. By offloading the burden of guaranteeing the transactional atomicity from a host system to flash storage and by taking advantage of the copy-on-write strategy used in modern FTLs, X-FTL drastically improves the transactional throughput almost for free without resorting to costly journaling schemes. We have implemented X-FTL on an SSD development board called OpenSSD, and modified SQLite and ext4 file system minimally to make them compatible with the extended abstractions provided by X-FTL. We demonstrate the effectiveness of X-FTL using real and synthetic SQLite workloads for smartphone applications, TPC-C benchmark for OLTP databases, and FIO benchmark for file systems.
Hallucinations in schizophrenia

The prevalence of different types of hallucinations and their clinical correlates were examined in 117 DSM‐III‐R schizophrenic or schizoaffective disorder patients. Auditory hallucinations were by far the most common, followed by visual hallucinations, and then by tactile and olfactory or gustatory hallucinations. Auditory hallucinations were associated with an earlier age of first hospitalization among the schizophrenics. Global severity of the illness for schizophrenics was related to the presence of visual hallucinations, but not other types of hallucinations. Tactile and olfactory or gustatory hallucinations were strongly correlated with each other and with the severity of delusions for both schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients. The results suggest that important clinical differences exist between patients with different types of hallucinations, and that these clinical variables need to be controlled for in cross‐cultural studies of hallucinations.
DISCRETE APPROXIMATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL CONSERVED QUANTITIES: DETERMINISTIC AND STATISTICAL BEHAVIOR ∗

Discrete numerical approximations with additional conserved quantities are devel- oped here both for barotropic geophysical flows generalizing the 2D incompressible fluid equations and suitable discretizations of the Burgers-Hopf equation. Mathematical, numerical, and statistical properties of these approximations are studied below in various different contexts through the sym- biotic interaction of mathematical theory and scientific computing. The new contributions include an explicit concrete discussion of the sine-bracket spectral truncation with many conserved quanti- ties for 2D incompressible flow, a theoretical and numerical comparison with the standard spectral truncation, and a rigorous proof of convergence to suitable weak solutions in the limit as the number of Fourier modes increases. Systematic discretizations of the Burgers-Hopf equation are developed, which conserve linear momentum and a non-linear energy; careful numerical experiments regarding the statistical behavior of these models indicate that they are ergodic and strongly mixing but do not have equipartition of energy in Fourier space. Furthermore, the probability distribution of the values at a single grid point can be highly non-Gaussian with two strong isolated peaks in this distribution. This contrasts with earlier results for statistical behavior of difference schemes which conserve a quadratic energy. The issues of statistically relevant conserved quantities are introduced through a new case study for the Galerkin-truncated Burgers-Hopf model.
[Analysis of negative life events among 304 elderly suicide victims].

OBJECTIVE To identify the most common life events that occurred prior to suicide in elderly individuals and the relationship of these life events to depressive symptoms. METHODS A detailed study considering life events in the year prior to death, the presence of mental illness at the time of death and the level of depressive symptoms in the 2 weeks prior to death was undertaken with the family members and other associates of 304 persons at 55 years of age and older who died of suicide. RESULTS The three most common negative life events were acute or chronic physical illness or injury (59.2%), major changes in diet, sleeping or other daily routines (37.8%) and financial difficulties (34.5%). The severity of depressive symptoms was significantly greater among persons who had experienced these life events both for persons with or without definite mental illness. CONCLUSION Most elderly persons who died of suicide events had experienced multiple negative life events in the year prior to death and these life events were closely related to the severity of depressive symptoms at the time of death.
Perinatal Risk Factors and Genu Valgum Conducive to the Onset of Growing Pains in Early Childhood

The most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder of childhood with unclear aetiology is growing pains (GPs). Anatomic deformities and factors that change bone turnover are implicated in GP pathophysiology. Perinatal risk factors alter the bone metabolism affecting the bone mineral density and content. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship between GPs, knock knees and perinatal factors. The examined population consisted of 276 children aged 3–7 years. Among them, ten pairs of dizygotic twins were evaluated. The data were collected by using a combination of semi-structured questionnaires, clinical examinations and medical charts of the children and the obstetric history of the mothers. A total of 78 children presenting GPs met Peterson’s criteria. Genu valgum severity was a significant factor for GP manifestation and for their increased frequency and intensity. Subsequently, perinatal factors regarding gestational age, Apgar score, head circumference (lower than 33 cm) and birth length or weight (smaller than 50 cm and 3000 g, respectively) made a remarkable contribution to the development of GPs. Conversely, antenatal corticosteroid treatment, increased maternal age and maternal smoking during pregnancy were not predictive of the disorder. Our data are potentially supportive for the “bone strength” theory and for the contribution of anatomical disturbances in GP appearance.
Achilles tendon stiffness is unchanged one hour after a marathon

SUMMARY Overuse-induced injuries have been proposed as a predisposing factor for Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures. If tendons can be overloaded, their mechanical properties should change during exercise. Because there data are lacking on the effects of a single bout of long-lasting exercise on AT mechanical properties, the present study measured AT stiffness before and after a marathon. AT stiffness was determined as the slope of the force–elongation curve between 10 and 80% of maximum voluntary force. AT force–elongation characteristics were measured in an ankle dynamometer using simultaneous motion-capture-assisted ultrasonography. Oxygen consumption and ankle kinematics were also measured on a treadmill at the marathon pace. All measurements were performed before and after the marathon. AT stiffness did not change significantly from the pre-race value of 197±62 N mm−1 (mean ± s.d.) to the post-race value of 206±59 N mm−1 (N=12, P=0.312). Oxygen consumption increased after the race by 7±10% (P<0.05) and ankle kinematic data revealed that in nine out of 12 subjects, the marathon induced a change in their foot strike technique. The AT of the physically active individuals seems to be able to resist mechanical changes under physiological stress. We therefore suggest that natural loading, like in running, may not overstress the AT or predispose it to injury. In addition, decreased running economy, as well as altered foot strike technique, was probably attributable to muscle fatigue.
Body posture in women after mastectomy and its changes as a result of rehabilitation.

PURPOSE The aim of the study is: 1) to analyse selected features of body posture in women after mastectomy, 2) to compare them with body posture of healthy women, 3) to determine the effect of rehabilitation physical exercises on the changes in body posture in women after mastectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research material consisted of 85 women after mastectomy examined once, including 40 of them who were additionally examined twice at six-monthly intervals. Moreover, a group of 20 women was isolated who regularly attended rehabilitation classes for a period of one year in question. A comparative group was a group of 85 healthy women. The examinations were performed using photogrametric assessment of body posture. RESULTS Distinct adverse changes in body posture of women after mastectomy in comparison with healthy women were found, manifested mainly in asymmetry of trunk and shoulder girdle and greater forward leaning of the trunk. Significant relationship was indicated between the operation of mastectomy and the asymmetry of position of scapulas. CONCLUSIONS When comparing the changes in the features of body posture in the group of women who exercised regularly with other women for the period of one year it was found that a positive effect of regular rehabilitation was keeping the angle of body inclination on the same level and improvement in trunk symmetry, position of scapulas and shoulder girdle.
Increased Activity of Cell Membrane-Associated Prothrombinase, Fibrinogen-Like Protein 2, in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of B-Cell Lymphoma Patients

Fibrinogen-like protein 2, FGL-2, was reported to be overexpressed in various cancer tissues, where it acts as a transmembrane prothrombinase. This study aims to determine the prothrombinase activity of FGL-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with B-cell lymphoma. FGL-2 activity was determined in patients with B-cell lymphoma (n = 53), and healthy controls (n = 145). FGL-2 activity in patients at diagnosis increased 3±0.3 fold (p<0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of the test was established at 73.6% and 80.7%, respectively, using a cutoff of 150% activity over control. Moreover, FGL-2 activity in 10 of 11 patients in remission decreased by 76%. In contrast, no significant difference was observed in expression levels of fgl-2 gene in patients and controls. Taken together, our study indicates that FGL-2 prothrombinase activity in PBMC of lymphoma patients is increased in active disease and normalizes during remission, thus being a potential marker for follow up of lymphoma patients.
Hot-Rodding the Browser Engine: Automatic Configuration of JavaScript Compilers

Modern software systems in many application areas offer to the user a multitude of parameters, switches and other customisation hooks. Humans tend to have difficulties determining the best configurations for particular applications. Modern optimising compilers are an example of such software systems; their many parameters need to be tuned for optimal performance, but are often left at the default values for convenience. In this work, we automatically determine compiler parameter settings that result in optimised performance for particular applications. Specifically, we apply a state-of-the-art automated parameter configuration procedure based on cutting-edge machine learning and optimisation techniques to two prominent JavaScript compilers and demonstrate that significant performance improvements, more than 35% in some cases, can be achieved over the default parameter settings on a diverse set of benchmarks.
Relationship Between CarotidIntima-Media Thickness and Silent Cerebral Infarction in Japanese Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE We examined the relationship between intima-media thickness of common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and silent cerebral infarction (SCI) with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The brain MRI study and the carotid ultrasonography were performed in a total of 217 consecutive Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes. Various risk factors for SCI were examined using multiple logistic analyses. RESULTS The SCI was found in 60.4% of the diabetic subjects. In the diabetic subjects, age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse wave velocity, and CCA-IMT were significantly higher in the subjects with SCI than in those without it. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that age, SBP, and CCA-IMT were significant and independent risk factors of SCI in the diabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS CCA-IMT, but not pulse wave velocity, was independently associated with SCI in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Towards a Mobile Assistive System Using Service-Oriented Architecture

As the aging population grows, age-related diseases show a cohesive increase. Ambient Assistive Living (AAL) systems are being developed and are continually evolving in various areas. While most researchers focus on robust Activity Recognition techniques, this paper investigates some of the architectural challenges of the AAL systems. This study proposes a new system architecture that brings together the service-oriented architecture (SOA), Semantic Web technologies and other methods to address some of the shortfalls in the predecessor system implementations using off-the-shelf and open source components. A partial system implementation is then presented using the proposed system architecture. The system takes some of the key design aspects such as extensibility, reusability, scalability, and maintainability into consideration that can then be seen as a base to further extend the capability of monitoring, collecting, processing and accurately recognising complex or concurrent activities in its overall aim to support assistive living.
Using the ASM framework to implement common Java bytecode transformation patterns

Most AOP frameworks targeting the Java platform use a bytecode weaving approach as it is currently considered the most practical solution. It allows applying cross-cutting concerns to Java applications when source code is not available, is portable and works on existing JVMs, in comparison to VM-level AOP implementations. Load-time bytecode weaving (LTW), which happens right before the application code is loaded into the Java VM, significantly simplifies development environment, but also raises the bar for the performance and memory requirements for these transformations. Such requirements directly apply to the toolkit that will be used to perform these transformations. In this paper, we examine how Java bytecode transformations, typical for AOP implementations can be done efficiently, using the ASM bytecode manipulation framework [1]. Transformations used by general-use AOP frameworks and similar applications can be categorized, and the common patterns can be reused to implement specific transformations. These patterns can also be combined to implement more complex transformations. General Terms Languages, Design, Performance, Experimentation, Standardization
Do hippocampal pyramidal cells signal non‐spatial as well as spatial information?

It is generally agreed that the rat hippocampus is involved in spatial memory. Whether this is its sole or primary function, or merely one component of a broader function, is still debated. It has been suggested, for example, that the hippocampus stores information about flexible relations between stimuli, both spatial and non‐spatial. In this paper, I reiterate the basic tenet of the cognitive map theory that the processing and storage of spatial information is the primary and perhaps the exclusive role of the hippocampus in the rat, and that data that appear to contradict this have been misinterpreted. These data are found in reports of non‐spatial correlates of unit activity recorded in the awake animals and reports of deficits on non‐spatial tasks following hippocampal lesions. In this paper, I examine both claims and suggest alternative explanations of the data. The first part of the paper contains a review of some of the properties of hippocampal place cells, which might be misinterpreted as non‐spatial in “non‐spatial” tasks. For example, if an animal is trained to carry out a sequence of stereotyped actions in different parts of an environment, there will be a strong correlation between the performance of each behaviour and the animal's location, and it is necessary to rule out the locational correlate as the cause of the firing pattern. The second part of the paper looks at the results of experiments on conditioning and non‐spatial discrimination tasks and concludes that the results are less supportive of a more general relational theory of hippocampal function than has been suggested. Furthermore, there is often a discrepancy between the correlates of unit firing in non‐spatial tasks and the absence of an effect of hippocampal damage on these same or similar tasks. It is concluded that, contrary to the claims of its detractors, the cognitive map theory is still the theory of hippocampal function that is most clearly specified, makes the most testable predictions, and for which there is the strongest experimental support. Hippocampus 1999;9:352–364. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Restoration of Growth to Acidic Phospholipid-deficient Cells by DnaA(L366K) Is Independent of Its Capacity for Nucleotide Binding and Exchange and Requires DnaA*

In the absence of adequate levels of cellular acidic phospholipids, Escherichia coli remain viable but are arrested for growth. Expression of a DnaA protein that contains a single amino acid substitution in the membrane-binding domain, DnaA(L366K), in concert with expression of wild-type DnaA protein, restores growth. DnaA protein has high affinity for ATP and ADP, and in vitro lipid bilayers that are fluid and contain acidic phospholipids reactivate inert ADP-DnaA by promoting an exchange of ATP for ADP. Here, nucleotide and lipid interactions and replication activity of purified DnaA(L366K) were examined to gain insight into the mechanism of how it restores growth to cells lacking acidic phospholipids. DnaA(L366K) behaved like wild-type DnaA with respect to nucleotide binding affinities and hydrolysis properties, specificity of acidic phospholipids for nucleotide release, and origin binding. Yet, DnaA(L366K) was feeble at initiating replication from oriC unless augmented with a limiting quantity of wild-type DnaA, reflecting the in vivo requirement that both wild-type and a mutant form of DnaA must be expressed and act together to restore growth to acidic phospholipid deficient cells.
Development, reliability, and validity of the Handwriting Proficiency Screening Questionnaire (HPSQ).

OBJECTIVE This study was used to (1) develop an occupational therapy screening questionnaire (the Handwriting Proficiency Screening Questionnaire [HPSQ]) to identify handwriting difficulties among school-aged children and (2) examine its reliability and validity. METHOD The questionnaire's content validity was established. Internal consistency, interrater and test-retest reliability, and concurrent and construct validity were initiated. Participants included 7- to 14-year-old (N = 230) typically developing school-aged children. RESULTS The tool demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = .90). Test-retest reliability for the score revealed an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of . 84 and interrater reliability of ICC = . 92 for the total questionnaire score. Construct and concurrent validity were also confirmed. CONCLUSION The HPSQ is suitable for use by occupational therapists for identification of handwriting deficiency among school-aged children and is appropriate for varied academic and clinical uses. More studies with larger samples of varied age groups are required to further support the questionnaire's reliability and validity.
Secondary substrate utilization of methylene chloride by an isolated strain of Pseudomonas sp

Secondary substrate utilization of methylene chloride was analyzed by using Pseudomonas sp. strain LP. Both batch and continuously fed reactors demonstrated that this strain was capable of simultaneously consuming two substrates at different concentrations: the primary substrate at the higher concentration (milligrams per liter) and the secondary substrate at the lower concentration (micrograms per liter). The rate of methylene chloride utilization at trace concentrations was greater in the presence of the primary substrate, acetate, than without it. However, when the substrate roles were changed, the acetate secondary substrate utilization rate was less when methylene chloride was present. Thus, substrate interactions are important in the kinetics of secondary substrate utilization. Pseudomonas sp. strain LP showed a preference toward degrading methylene chloride over acetate, whether it was the primary or secondary substrate, providing it was below an inhibitory concentration of ca. 10 mg/liter.
Locusts use dynamic thermoregulatory behaviour to optimize nutritional outcomes

Because key nutritional processes differ in their thermal optima, ectotherms may use temperature selection to optimize performance in changing nutritional environments. Such behaviour would be especially advantageous to small terrestrial animals, which have low thermal inertia and often have access to a wide range of environmental temperatures over small distances. Using the locust, Locusta migratoria, we have demonstrated a direct link between nutritional state and thermoregulatory behaviour. When faced with chronic restrictions to the supply of nutrients, locusts selected increasingly lower temperatures within a gradient, thereby maximizing nutrient use efficiency at the cost of slower growth. Over the shorter term, when locusts were unable to find a meal in the normal course of ad libitum feeding, they immediately adjusted their thermoregulatory behaviour, selecting a lower temperature at which assimilation efficiency was maximal. Thus, locusts use fine scale patterns of movement and temperature selection to adjust for reduced nutrient supply and thereby ameliorate associated life-history consequences.