Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Accuracy and Scalability of Intensive I/O Workload Replay

We introduce a replay tool that can be used to replay captured I/O workloads for performance evaluation of high-performance storage systems. We study several sources in the stock operating system that introduce the uncertainty of replaying a workload. Based on the remedies of these findings, we design and develop a new replay tool called hfplayer that can more accurately replay intensive block I/O workloads in a similar unscaled environment. However, to replay a given workload trace in a scaled environment, the dependency between I/O requests becomes crucial. Therefore, we propose a heuristic way of speculating I/O dependencies in a block I/O trace. Using the generated dependency graph, hfplayer is capable of replaying the I/O workload in a scaled environment. We evaluate hfplayer with a wide range of workloads using several accuracy metrics and find that it produces better accuracy when compared with two exiting available replay tools.
Industrial Productivity Convergence in China 1

This paper examines the convergence process of industrial productivity between Chinese regions. Both σ and β convergences are investigated using a panel data set of 30 provinces and autonomous regions over the period 1985-1999. Unconditional σ and β convergence methods fail to detect productivity convergence over the whole sample period, although they suggest convergence during a sub-period 1985-1990. The estimates of a human capital enhanced production function, with the constant return to scale constraint, show that productivity gaps between Chinese regions declined during 19851999 with a rate of convergence of around 1.3% per annum. Similar results are also found when the data are disaggregated into three broader geographic regions.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Utility Scores in People with Mental Disorders: A Comparison with the Non-Mentally Ill General Population

There is a lack of comparable health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and utility data across all mental disorders and all inpatient and outpatient settings. Our objective was to investigate the HRQoL and utility scores of people with mental disorders in France, treated in outpatient and inpatient settings, and to identify the HRQoL and utility score losses attributable to mental disorders compared to the non-mentally ill general population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess HRQoL (SF-12) and utility scores of patients with mental disorders and followed in four psychiatric sectors in France. Scores were described by demographic and clinical characteristics and were then adjusted on age and gender and compared with those of the non-mentally ill general population. Median HRQoL and utility scores were significantly lower in patients with mental disorders than in the non-mentally ill general population; median differences amounted to 5.4 for the HRQoL physical score, to 11.8 for the HRQoL mental score and to 0.125 for the utility score. Our findings underscore the negative impact of mental disorders on HRQoL in France and provide a baseline to assess the global impact of current and future organizational changes in the mental health care system.
Cosmic ray acceleration parameters from multi-wavelength observations. The case of SN 1006

Aims. The properties of the Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) SN 1006 are theoretically reanalysed. Methods. Nonlinear kinetic theory is used to determine the accelerat ion efficiency of cosmic rays (CRs) in the supernova remnant S N 1006. The known range of astronomical parameters and the existing measurements of nonthermal emission are examined in order to define the values of the relevant physical parameters which determine the CR acceleration efficiency. Results. It is shown that the parameter values ‐ proton injection rate , electron to proton ratio and downstream magnetic field stre ngth ‐ are determined with the appropriate accuracy. In particula r also the observed azimuthal variations in the -ray morphology agree with the theoretical expectation. These parameter values, togethe r with the reduction of the -ray flux relative to a spherically symmetric acceleration geometry, allow a good fit to the existing data, including the recently detected TeV emission by H.E. S.S. Conclusions. SN 1006 represents the first example where a high efficiency of nuclear CR production, required for the Galactic CR sources, is consistently established.
Basic Organizational Behavior

ENVIRONMENT. Organizational Behavior Today. International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior. MANAGING INDIVIDUALS. Diversity and Individual Differences. Perception and Attribution. Motivation. Performance Management and Rewards. Job Design and Work Arrangements. MANAGING GROUPS. How Groups Work. Teamwork and Group Design. MANAGING ORGANIZATIONS. Organization Goals and Structures. Organizational Design and Learning. Organizational Culture. MANAGING PROCESSES. Power and Politics. Leadership. Communication. Decision Making. Conflict and Negotiation. Change and Stress. Notes. Glossary. Index.
Effective Scheduling in Infrastructure-Based Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, we investigate a joint scheduling and power control for an infrastructure-based cognitive radio network (CRN) in coexistence with a cellular primary radio network (PRN). The PRN uses a set of licensed nonoverlapping orthogonal frequency channels for transmission. This set of channels is also accessed in an opportunistic manner by a set of cognitive radio base stations (CR-BSs) to support secondary users (SUs). The problem is formulated to maximize the spectrum utilization of SUs without causing excessive interference to active primary users (PUs) of the PRN. In addition, all the serviced SUs must meet a certain Quality of Service (QoS), such as satisfying a predefined signal to interference noise ratio (SINR). A centralized solution for joint scheduling and power control is derived to make the global accessing decision for all unserved SUs. With the assumption that the knowledge of all subscribers is available, a coordinator of the CRN can use the joint scheduling and power control algorithm to maximize the spectrum utilization of serviced SUs by solving a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) with an NP-hard complexity. To avoid the NP-hard complexity, we propose a suboptimal heuristic greedy algorithm that can be obtained at a much lower complexity based on the coloring interference graph among unserved SUs effected by serviced SUs and active PUs. Its superior performance over the existing algorithms is demonstrated through simulations.
Hard X-ray view of the past activity of Sgr A in a natural Compton mirror

We report the association of the recently discovered hard X-ray source IGR J17475−2822 with the giant molecular cloud Sgr B2 in the Galactic Center region. The broad band (3-200 keV) spectrum of the source constructed from data of different observatories strongly supports the idea that the X-ray emission of Sgr B2 is Compton scattered and reprocessed radiation emitted in the past by the Sgr Asource. We conclude that 300-400 years ago Sgr Awas a low luminosity (L ≈ 1.5 × 10 39 erg s −1 at 2-200 keV) AGN with a characteristic hard X-ray spectrum (photon index Γ ≈ 1. 8). We estimate the mass and iron abundance of the Sgr B2 scattering gas at 2 × 10 6 M� (r/10 pc) 2 and 1.9 solar, respectively (where r is the radius of
Implications of MBTI in software engineering education

A number of approaches exist to aid the understanding of individual differences and their effects on teaching and learning. Educators have been using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to understand differences in learning styles and to develop teaching methods that cater for the various personality styles. Inspired by the MBTI, we developed a range of practices for effective teaching and learning in a software engineering course. Our aim is to reach every student, but in different ways, by devising various teaching approaches.
Haplotype block dynamics in hybrid populations

When species originate through hybridization, the genomes of the ancestral species are blended together. Over time genomic blocks that originate from either one of the ancestral species accumulate in the hybrid genome through genetic recombination. Modeling the accumulation of ancestry blocks can elucidate processes and patterns of genomic admixture. However, previous models have ignored ancestry block dynamics for chromosomes that consist of a discrete, finite number of chromosomal elements. Here we present an analytical treatment of the dynamics of the mean number of blocks over time, for continuous and discrete chromosomes, in finite and infinite populations. We describe the mean number of haplotype blocks as a universal function dependent on population size, the number of genomic elements per chromosome, the number of recombination events, and the initial relative frequency of the ancestral species.
Activating Public Sector Ethics in Transitional Societies

Public sector reform efforts to combat corruption in the countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) have, to date, focused heavily on control and compliance measures, such as the adoption of legal frameworks. Compliance-based approaches, however, are necessary but not sufficient. This article explores the potential of integrity-based approaches to ethical public service behavior, using examples from the public and private sectors. The critical success factors in realizing the promise of integrity in activating ethics in transitional societies are identified. In terms of leadership, they involve capitalizing on the call to public service, targeting and supporting moral leaders, and developing peer professional communities and networks. In regard to education, they mean offering objective and case-based ethics training. For development assessment, they require the introduction of an integrity lens to monitor public service reform and international anti-corruption conventions.
Distinct Familiarity-Based Response Patterns for Faces and Buildings in Perirhinal and Parahippocampal Cortex

An unresolved question in our understanding of the medial temporal lobes is how functional differences between structures pertaining to stimulus category relate to the distinction between item-based and contextually based recognition–memory processes. Specifically, it remains unclear whether perirhinal cortex (PrC) supports item-based familiarity signals for all stimulus categories or whether parahippocampal cortex (PhC) may also play a role for stimulus categories that are known to engage this structure in other task contexts. Here, we used multivoxel pattern analyses of fMRI data to compare patterns of activity in humans that are associated with the perceived familiarity of faces, buildings, and chairs. During scanning, participants judged the familiarity of previously studied and novel items from all three categories. Instances in which recognition was based on recollection were removed from all analyses. In right PrC, we found patterns of activity that distinguished familiar from novel faces. By contrast, in right PhC, we observed such patterns for buildings. Familiarity signals for chairs were present in both structures but shared little overlap with the patterns observed for faces and buildings on a more fine-grained scale. In the hippocampus, we found no evidence for familiarity signals for any object category. Our findings show that both PrC and PhC contribute to the assessment of item familiarity. They suggest that PhC does not only represent episodic context but can also represent item information for some object categories in recognition-memory decisions. In turn, our findings also indicate that the involvement of PrC in representing item familiarity is not ubiquitous.
Correlations in ion channel expression emerge from homeostatic tuning rules

Significance A deep puzzle in neuroscience is how neurons maintain their electrical properties despite continuous ion channel turnover and activity perturbations. Previous work proposed that activity-dependent homeostatic rules ensure robust development of excitability by regulating channel density, although it is not understood how these rules shape the distribution of ion channel types nor how finely tuned these rules must be. We show that generic homeostatic regulation rules impose correlations in the steady-state distribution of ion channels, as has been recently observed experimentally. Specific correlations depend on relative expression rates, and the regulation rules themselves are far more robust than previously thought. Experimental observations reveal that the expression levels of different ion channels vary across neurons of a defined type, even when these neurons exhibit stereotyped electrical properties. However, there are robust correlations between different ion channel expression levels, although the mechanisms that determine these correlations are unknown. Using generic model neurons, we show that correlated conductance expression can emerge from simple homeostatic control mechanisms that couple expression rates of individual conductances to cellular readouts of activity. The correlations depend on the relative rates of expression of different conductances. Thus, variability is consistent with homeostatic regulation and the structure of this variability reveals quantitative relations between regulation dynamics of different conductances. Furthermore, we show that homeostatic regulation is remarkably insensitive to the details that couple the regulation of a given conductance to overall neuronal activity because of degeneracy in the function of multiple conductances and can be robust to “antihomeostatic” regulation of a subset of conductances expressed in a cell.
Collision of Three Histologically Distinct Endometrial Cancers of the Uterus

A collision tumor is defined by the presence of two separate masses in one organ, which are pathologically distinct. We described a 70-yr-old patient who complained of abnormal vaginal bleeding with a collision tumor of the uterine corpus. The patient received total hysterectomy, bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy, bilateral pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy, omentectomy, and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The uterine corpus revealed three separate masses, which were located at the fundus, anterior and posterior wall. Each tumor revealed three pathologically different components, which were malignant mixed müllerian tumor, papillary serous carcinoma, and endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Among these components, only the papillary serous carcinoma component invaded the underlying myometrium and metastasized to the regional lymph node. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy were performed. The patient is still alive and has been healthy for the last 8 yr. We have reviewed previously reported cases of collision tumors which have occurred in the uterine corpus.
Explaining Danish-Swedish asymmetric word intelligibility - An error analysis (Charlotte Gooskens & Renée van Bezooijen)

Previous research has shown that the Danish-Swedish mutual intelligibility is asymmetric at the text level. Danes perform better in tests developed to investigate intelligibility of Swedish at the global level of whole texts than Swedes participating in Danish tests. This asymmetry has usually been attributed to non-linguistic factors such as a more positive attitude towards Swedes and more experience with Swedish among Danes than vice versa. Also strong evidence has been found for general linguistic explanations of the asymmetry such as speech rate which has been measured to be higher in Danish than in Swedish. Also Danes seem to benefit from the fact that Swedish is similar to written Danish and Swedish when they listen to spoken Swedish. This benefit is smaller for Swedes because spoken Danish has developed away from its written Swedish and Danish form. In the present investigation we investigated Danish-Swedish mutual intelligibility at the word level. We also found an asymmetry at this level and therefore conclude that at least part of the explanation for the asymmetric DanishSwedish intelligibility has to do with linguistic characteristics that are present in single words. To gain insight into the linguistic factors that cause this asymmetry we made a detailed analysis of the kind of errors that the listeners made when listening to cognate word pairs with asymmetric intelligibility. We focus on sound correspondences causing asymmetric problems.
Calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) triggers Ca2+ responses in cultured astrocytes and in Bergmann glial cells from cerebellar slices

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) is transiently expressed in cerebellar climbing fibers during development while its receptor is mainly expressed in astrocytes, in particular Bergmann glial cells. Here, we analyzed the effects of CGRP on astrocytic calcium signaling. Mouse cultured astrocytes from cerebellar or cerebral cortex as well as Bergmann glial cells from acutely isolated cerebellar slices were loaded with the Ca2+ sensor Fura‐2. CGRP triggered transient increases in intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes in culture as well as in acute slices. Responses were observed in the concentration range of 1 nm to 1 mm, in both the cell body and its processes. The calcium transients were dependent on release from intracellular stores as they were blocked by thapsigargin but not by the absence of extracellular calcium. In addition, after CGRP application a further delayed transient increase in calcium activity could be observed. Finally, cerebellar astrocytes from neonatal mice expressed receptor component protein, a component of the CGRP receptor, as revealed by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. It is thus proposed that the CGRP‐containing afferent fibers in the cerebellum (the climbing fibers) modulate calcium in astrocytes by releasing the neuropeptide during development and hence possibly influence the differentiation of Purkinje cells.
AN ALGORITHMIC FRAMEWORK FOR PROTECTION SWITCHING IN WDM NETWORKS

In a WDM network, a single component failure may lead to multiple failures in the logical topology. Protection switching schemes that adopt traditional edge-disjoint or node-disjoint path-selection algorithms may not be able to protect the active connections properly. In this paper, we generalize the disjoint path problem by providing a framework that can model arbitrary types of failures, so that a solution to the problem can be applied to protection switching in WDM networks. We prove the necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of disjoint paths that are free from simultaneous disruption by a single failure. The necessary and sufficient condition suggests a way to find such disjoint paths. Based on the result, we formulate an integer linear program (ILP) that finds the disjoint paths.
A Fingerprint Recognizer Using Interminutiae Binary Constraint Graph

The main aim of this paper is to describe an inter-minutiae binary network-based global matching algorithm. It exploits absolute minutiae features represented by a binary constraint graph. A dynamic tolerance area in the neighborhood of the minutiae combined with the search-rearrangement method on the binary constraint graph is used to perform the global matching. Tests on the public fingerprint databases DB1 and DB2 FVC2002 showed that our approach outperforms those based on the forward tracking search only. The most relevant aspect of this algorithm is that it does not require implicit alignment of the two fingerprint images due to the strong dependencies between minutiae described by the constraint graph.
Emer gence of Cooper at ion in the I PD Game using Spatial I nter act ions

Abstr act This paper presents a comparative study of two evolving populations, one in a non-spatial environment, and the other in a spatial environment, playing the Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma. The effect of the environment on the emergence of cooperation is studied. The populations are evolved using a genetic algorithm and the performance of the evolved individuals evaluated against expert and naïve strategies. The spatial environment is shown to encourage the emergence of cooperation further than the non-spatial structure. We also demonstrate that a spatially evolved popuation is less resistant to incoming individuals, less exploitative in nature, and more able to be exploited than the strategies evolved in the nonspatial environment.
English Today. The International Review of the English Language

Ideology and Linguistic Theory Noam Chomsky and the Deep Structure Debates Geoffrey Huck, University of Toronto and John Goldsmith, University of Chicago This highly controversial and revisionist book argues that Chomsky's triumph in interpretative semantics was because the opposing side, with their programme for generative semantics, were unable to establish an institutional base. Through detailed examination of the principle theoretical arguments and drawing on extensive interviews with Chomsky's former students, this is a major re-appraisal of the Chomskyan paradigm. May 1995:234x156:192pp Hb: 0415-117356: £19.99
A Smartphone-Based Tool for Assessing Parkinsonian Hand Tremor

The aim of this study is to propose a practical smartphone-based tool to accurately assess upper limb tremor in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. The tool uses signals from the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope (as the phone is held or mounted on a subject's hand) to compute a set of metrics which can be used to quantify a patient's tremor symptoms. In a small-scale clinical study with 25 PD patients and 20 age-matched healthy volunteers, we combined our metrics with machine learning techniques to correctly classify 82% of the patients and 90% of the healthy volunteers, which is high compared to similar studies. The proposed method could be effective in assisting physicians in the clinic, or to remotely evaluate the patient's condition and communicate the results to the physician. Our tool is low cost, platform independent, noninvasive, and requires no expertise to use. It is also well matched to the standard clinical examination for PD and can keep the patient “connected” to his physician on a daily basis. Finally, it can facilitate the creation of anonymous profiles for PD patients, aiding further research on the effectiveness of medication or other overlooked aspects of patients' lives.
The Condorcet Jury Theorem, Free Speech and Correlated Votes

One of the more optimistic, if obscure, propositions about democracy is Condorcet's jury theorem (CJT). The theorem establishes that under certain conditions a majority of a group, with limited information about a pair of alternatives, is more likely to choose the "better" alternative than any one member of the group. The theorem thus provides a mathematical basis for majority-rule voting and potentially gives an important clue to our understanding of the strength of democratic government. Yet CJT makes two overly restrictive assumptions: it assumes that individuals vote independently and that they share a common goal. Clearly, the assumptions preclude any application of the theorem to democratic politics. Not surprisingly, Black (1963, 163) ruled that the theorem offers "truly . an unpromising start. " Recently, interest in the theorem was revived by Miller (1986), who permits voters to have conflicting goals; and by Grofman and Feld (1988), who link it with Rousseau's general will. Miller (1986) and Grofman and Feld (1988), however, retain the assumption of independence. ' In this paper, I generalize CJT for correlated votes and offer an analytical basis for free speech. Moreover, I apply the generalized theorem to organization theory: who should a chief executive choose as advisers? The main results of the paper are summarized: for large groups, Condorcet's result would hold under fairly general conditions. For small groups, the conditions are severe. Finally, under reasonable assumptions, P, the probability that a majority selects the