Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining Cooperative Software / Hardware Prefetching and Cache Replacment

Data prefetching is an effective technique to hide memory latency and thus bridge the increasing processor-memory performance gap. Our previous work presents guided region prefetching (GRP), a hardware/software cooperative prefetching technique which cost-effectively tolerates L2 latencies. The compiler hints improve L2 prefetching accuracy and reduce bus bandwidth consumption compared to hardware only prefetching. However, some useless prefetches remain to degrade memory performance. This paper first explores a more aggressive GRP prefetching scheme which pushes L2 prefetches into the L1, similar to the IBM Power 4 and 5 cache designs. This approach yields some additional performance improvements. This work then combines GRP with evict-me, a compilerassisted cache replacement policy. This combination can reduce cache pollution introduced by useless prefetches and further improve memory system performance.
OPTIMAL TRADE EXECUTION IN ILLIQUID MARKETS

We study optimal trade execution strategies in financial markets with discrete order flow. The agent has a finite liquidation horizon and must minimize price impact given a random number of incoming trade counterparties. Assuming that the order flow N is given by a Poisson process, we give a full analysis of the properties and computation of the optimal dynamic execution strategy. Extensions, whereby N is a Markov‐modulated compound Poisson process are also considered. We derive and compare the properties of the various cases and illustrate our results with computational examples.
Retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy is associated with physical and cognitive disability in multiple sclerosis

Background Studying axonal loss in the retina is a promising biomarker for multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT) techniques to measure the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with MS, and to explore the relationship between changes in the RNFL thickness with physical and cognitive disability. We studied 52 patients with MS and 18 proportionally matched controls by performing neurological examination, neuropsychological evaluation using the Brief Repetitive Battery-Neuropsychology and RNFL thickness measurement using OCT and HRT. Results We found that both OCT and HRT could define a reduction in the thickness of the RNFL in patients with MS compared with controls, although both measurements were weakly correlated, suggesting that they might measure different aspects of the tissue changes in MS. The degree of RNFL atrophy was correlated with cognitive disability, mainly with the symbol digit modality test (r = 0.754, P < 0.001). Moreover, temporal quadrant RNFL atrophy measured with OCT was associated with physical disability. Conclusion In summary, both OCT and HRT are able to detect thinning of the RNFL, but OCT seems to be the most sensitive technique to identify changes associated with MS evolution.
Managing labour migration in Europe: Ideas, knowledge and policy change

Preface and acknowledgments List of abbreviations List of tables List of figures 1. Introduction 2. Labour migration policy theory - the state of the art 3. Developing the approach: theory and methods 4. Case study one: labour migration policy change in Spain 5. Case study two: labour migration policy change in the UK 6. The EU and labour migration policymaking in the UK and Spain 7. Managing migration in the UK and Spain: ideas and policy change 8. Conclusions References Index
Optical Characterization of Quantum Dot Intermediate Band Solar Cells

In this paper we present an optical characterization for quantum dot intermediate band solar cells (QDIBSCs). The cells were developed by growing a stack of ten InAs/GaAs QDs layers between p and n doped GaAs conventional emitters. Electroluminescence, EL, photoreflectance, PR, and transmission electron microscopy, TEM, were applied to the samples in order to test and characterize them optically. The results, derived from the application of the different techniques, showed a good correlation. TEM images revealed a very good structural quality of the QDs, which seem to evolve in shape-strain from the bottom to the top of the stack. Corresponding to the quality observed by TEM, strong signals from EL and PR resolved unambiguously the energy band diagram of the QDIBSCs. By fitting PR data we were able to indentify the coexistence of bands and discrete energy levels coming from the IB material. The PR data evidenced also a strong electric field over the dots, attributed to the space charge region created between the p-n emitters sandwiching the IB material. From EL results, we identified the predominantly radiative nature of the IB material related energy transitions
New Role of JAK2/STAT3 Signaling in Endothelial Cell Oxidative Stress Injury and Protective Effect of Melatonin

Previous studies have shown that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays a regulatory role in cellular oxidative stress injury (OSI). In this study, we explored the role of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced OSI and the protective effect of melatonin against (H2O2)-induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). AG490 (a specific inhibitor of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway) and JAK2 siRNA were used to manipulate JAK2/STAT3 activity, and the results showed that AG490 and JAK2 siRNA inhibited OSI and the levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. HUVECs were then subjected to H2O2 in the absence or presence of melatonin, the main secretory product of the pineal gland. Melatonin conferred a protective effect against H2O2, which was evidenced by improvements in cell viability, adhesive ability and migratory ability, decreases in the apoptotic index and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and several biochemical parameters in HUVECs. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting showed that H2O2 treatment increased the levels of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, Cytochrome c, Bax and Caspase3 and decreased the levels of Bcl2, whereas melatonin treatment partially reversed these effects. We, for the first time, demonstrate that the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway results in a protective effect against endothelial OSI. The protective effects of melatonin against OSI, at least partially, depend upon JAK2/STAT3 inhibition.
The Cost of Job Loss and the "New" Phillips Curve

Economists have two standard explanations for the absence of substantial nominal wage pressures in the current macroeconomic climate. The first, and more traditional, view asserts that the NAIRU has drifted downward over the last decade, while the second posits the establishment of a "new paradigm. " In this paper, we describe and evaluate a third, and perhaps simpler, explanation--that a stable Phillips-consistent relationship still exists for a different measure of labor market slack, the normalized cost of job loss.
The BBN single-phonetic-tree fast-match algorithm

In this paper we present a very fast and accurate fast-match algorithm which, when followed by a regular beam search restricted within only the subset of words selected by the fast-match, can speed up the recognition process by at least two orders of magnitude in comparison to a typical single-pass speech recognizer utilizing the Viterbi (or Beam) search algo-rithm. This is a novel fast-match algorithm that has two important properties: high-accuracy recognition and run-time proportional to only the cube root of the vocabulary size.
Recent advances in managing and understanding diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is the commonest cause of end-stage renal disease in most developed economies. Current standard of care for diabetic nephropathy embraces stringent blood pressure control via blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and glycemia control. Recent understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy has led to the development of novel therapeutic options. This review article focuses on available data from landmark studies on the main therapeutic approaches and highlights some novel management strategies.
Inhibition of Pediatric Glioblastoma Tumor Growth by the Anti-Cancer Agent OKN-007 in Orthotopic Mouse Xenografts

Pediatric glioblastomas (pGBM), although rare, are one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in children, with tumors essentially refractory to existing treatments. Here, we describe the use of conventional and advanced in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to assess a novel orthotopic xenograft pGBM mouse (IC-3752GBM patient-derived culture) model, and to monitor the effects of the anti-cancer agent OKN-007 as an inhibitor of pGBM tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry support data is also presented for cell proliferation and tumor growth signaling. OKN-007 was found to significantly decrease tumor volumes (p<0.05) and increase animal survival (p<0.05) in all OKN-007-treated mice compared to untreated animals. In a responsive cohort of treated animals, OKN-007 was able to significantly decrease tumor volumes (p<0.0001), increase survival (p<0.001), and increase diffusion (p<0.01) and perfusion rates (p<0.05). OKN-007 also significantly reduced lipid tumor metabolism in responsive animals [(Lip1.3 and Lip0.9)-to-creatine ratio (p<0.05)], as well as significantly decrease tumor cell proliferation (p<0.05) and microvessel density (p<0.05). Furthermore, in relationship to the PDGFRα pathway, OKN-007 was able to significantly decrease SULF2 (p<0.05) and PDGFR-α (platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α) (p<0.05) immunoexpression, and significantly increase decorin expression (p<0.05) in responsive mice. This study indicates that OKN-007 may be an effective anti-cancer agent for some patients with pGBMs by inhibiting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, possibly via the PDGFRα pathway, and could be considered as an additional therapy for pediatric brain tumor patients.
Investment financing in Russian financial-industrial groups

We study whether Russian Financial-Industrial Groups facilitate access by Russianfirms to investment finance. We compare firms which are members of official FinancialIndustrial Groups and/or are owned by a large Russian bank with a control set of large firmscategorized by dispersed ownership or/and management and employee control. We find thatinvestment is sensitive to internal liquidity for the second set of firms but not for the first. Thisis consistent with extensive reallocation of resources within the groups to overcome capitalconstraints.One interpretation is that group firms have an internal capital market which facilitateaccess to finance. We test this view against the alternative possibility that financial reallocationhide opportunistic value transfer across firms. Specifically, we assess the quality of theinvestment process in group and non group firms by regressing individual firms’ absolute andrelative investment on our measure of Tobin’s Q. The result supports the notion that groupfirm allocate capital better than independent firms.We then distinguish between bank-led groups, which are more hierarchical, andindustry-centered groups which may be more defensive arrangements. While investment is notsignificantly correlated with cash flow in industry-led group firms (unlike in independent firms),there is a negative significant correlation for bank-led firms, suggesting a more extensivefinancial reallocation and the use of profitable firms as cash-cows. Most intriguingly, thegreater sensitivity of group firms’ investment to Q is entirely to be attributed to firms in bankledgroups, where the controlling bank may have a stronger profit motive and authority toreallocate resources.Finally, independent firms with significant stock market trading appear also lessliquidity constraints, suggesting that the Russian equity market may already provide a positiveinformational function.
The morphology of type ia supernovae light curves

We present a family of six BVI template light curves for SNe Ia for days -5 and +80, based on high-quality data gathered at CTIO. These templates display a wide range of light curve morphologies, with initial decline rates of their B light curves between m15(B)=0.87 mag and 1.93 mag. We use these templates to study the general morphology of SNe Ia light curves. We find that several of the main features of the BVI templates correlate tightly with m15(B). In particular, the V light curves, which are probably a reasonably good approximation of the bolometric light curves, display an orderly progression in shapes between the most-luminous, slowest-declining events and the least-luminous, fastest-declining SNe. This supports the idea that the observed spectroscopic and photometric sequences of SNe Ia are due primarily to one parameter. Nevertheless, SNe with very similar initial decline rates do show significant differences in their light curve properties when examined in detail, suggesting the influence of one or more secondary parameters.
Typing of Streptococcus mutans strains isolated from caries free and susceptible subjects by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis

This study was evaluated the clonal diversity of Streptococcus mutans in caries-free and caries-active subjects using MLEE. Strains from caries-free subjects were grouped in a single taxon. Unrooted dendrogram showed that different strains clustered in four different clades, also showed that more than one clonal type can be found in a same individual.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum periostin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

The periostin protein is expressed in a variety of human malignancies. The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum periostin levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We measured serum periostin levels by ELISA in 296 NSCLC patients, 120 benign lung diseases (BLD) patients and 160 healthy controls. The levels of serum periostin in NSCLC patients were significantly elevated compared with those in healthy controls (P < 0.001) and BLD patients (P < 0.001). Using a cutoff value of 30.87 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of periostin in differentiating between NSCLC patients and BLD patients, and between NSCLC patients and healthy controls was, 48.6 and 91.7%, and 51.4 and 97.5%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier log rank analysis revealed that the higher serum periostin levels group had a poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with lower periostin group (P = 0.024, P = 0.015, respectively). Further univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that serum periostin was an independent risk factor of prognosis of NSCLC patients. In conclusion, our study suggests that serum periostin could be considered as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for NSCLC patients.
Bifurcation and stability of single and multiple vortex rings in three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates

In the present work, we investigate how single- and multi-vortex-ring states can emerge from a planar dark soliton in three-dimensional (3D) Bose-Einstein condensates (confined in isotropic or anisotropic traps) through bifurcations. We characterize such bifurcations quantitatively using a Galerkin-type approach, and find good qualitative and quantitative agreement with our Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) analysis. We also systematically characterize the BdG spectrum of the dark solitons, using perturbation theory, and obtain a quantitative match with our 3D BdG numerical calculations. We then turn our attention to the emergence of single- and multi-vortex-ring states. We systematically capture these as stationary states of the system and quantify their BdG spectra numerically. We find that although the vortex ring may be unstable when bifurcating, its instabilities weaken and may even eventually disappear, for sufficiently large chemical potentials and suitable trap settings. For instance, we demonstrate the stability of the vortex ring for an isotropic trap in the large chemical potential regime.
Relationship between dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity and plasma 5-fluorouracil levels with evidence for circadian variation of enzyme activity and plasma drug levels in cancer patients receiving 5-fluorouracil by protracted continuous infusion.

The activity of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma concentration of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) were simultaneously determined in cancer patients receiving FUra by protracted continuous infusion (300 mg/m2/day). Blood samples were drawn every 3 h over 24-h period and the resulting DPD and FUra values analyzed for circadian periodicity. In the seven patients studied, a circadian rhythm of DPD activity was observed (P less than 0.00001, Cosinor analysis) with the peak of activity at 1 a.m. (0.197 +/- 0.007 nmol/min/mg) and the trough at a 1 p.m. (0.113 +/- 0.007 nmol/min/mg). In addition, a circadian rhythm was observed for the plasma concentrations of FUra obtained over a 24-h period (P less than 0.00001, Cosinor analysis) with peak values (27.4 +/- 1.3 ng/ml) occurring at 11 a.m. and trough values (5.6 +/- 1.3 ng/ml) occurring at 11 p.m. The ratio of the maximum concentration of FUra to the minimum concentration observed was almost 5-fold. This study demonstrates a circadian variation of DPD activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a circadian variation of FUra plasma levels in patients receiving FUra by protracted continuous infusion. An inverse relationship between the circadian patterns of DPD activity and FUra plasma levels was also noted, suggesting that an association may exist between DPD activity and FUra plasma concentration. Further evidence of an association between DPD activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma FUra concentration was demonstrated by a linear relationship between the two parameters in all patients (r = -0.627) and within individual patients (-0.978 less than r less than -0.742). With the recent advent of programmable pumps, information on the circadian pattern of FUra and/or DPD may be useful in planning continuous infusion schedules in order that optimal plasma drug concentration may be maintained over a 24-h cycle, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of FUra administered by continuous infusion.
The Remarkable Mid-Infrared Jet of the Massive Young Stellar Object G35.20–0.74

The young massive stellar object G35.20-0.74 was observed in the mid-infrared using T-ReCS on Gemini South. Previous observations have shown that the near-infrared emission has a fanlike morphology that is consistent with emission from the northern lobe of a bipolar radio jet known to be associated with this source. Mid-infrared observations presented in this Letter show a monopolar jet-like morphology as well, and it is argued that the mid-infrared emission observed is dominated by thermal continuum emission from dust. The mid-infrared emission nearest the central stellar source is believed to be directly heated dust on the walls of the outflow cavity. The hydroxyl, water, and methanol masers associated with G35.20-0.74 are spatially located along these mid-infrared cavity walls. Narrow jet or outflow cavities such as this may also be the locations of the linear distribution of methanol masers that are found in association with massive young stellar objects. The fact that G35.20-0.74 has mid-infrared emission that is dominated by the outflow, rather than disk emission, is a caution to those who consider mid-infrared emission from young stellar objects to come only from circumstellar disks.
Trade Volume Effects of the Euro : Aggregate and Sector Estimates

The gravity model is used to estimate the trade volume effects of the creation of the European currency union. The euro is estimated to have raised the level of aggregate trade between euro countries in 1998-2002 compared to 1989-1997 by 15 per cent and the level of trade with outside countries by 8 per cent. The effect is clearly increasing over time. Estimates for one-digit SITC sectors yield a concentration of effects to highly processed manufactures, indicating that the spillover is caused by increasing vertical specialization across countries.
Computational Statistics and Data Analysis ( ) – Computational Statistics and Data Analysis Variance Estimation in Censored Quantile Regression via Induced Smoothing

Statistical inference in censored quantile regression is challenging, partly due to the unsmoothness of the quantile score function. A new procedure is developed to estimate the variance of the Bang and Tsiatis inverse-censoring-probability weighted estimator for censored quantile regression by employing the idea of induced smoothing. The proposed variance estimator is shown to be asymptotically consistent. In addition, a numerical study suggests that the proposed procedure performs well in finite samples, and it is computationally more efficient than the commonly used bootstrap method.
Diets for cardiovascular disease prevention: what is the evidence?

Patients often initiate commercial dietary plans to reduce obesity and prevent cardiovascular disease. Such plans include very low-carbohydrate, low-carbohydrate, very low-fat, and Mediterranean diets. Published evidence on several popular diets has made it easier for physicians to counsel patients about the health benefits and risks of such plans. Although the Atkins, Zone, Sugar Busters! , and South Beach diets have data proving that they are effective for weight loss and do not increase deleterious disease-oriented outcomes, they have little evidence of patient-oriented benefits. In contrast, the Mediterranean diet has extensive patient-oriented outcome data showing a significant risk reduction in mortality rates and in rates of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction. The American Heart Association released guidelines in 2006 that integrate recommendations from a variety of diets into a single plan. Physicians should emphasize diets that are rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthful fatty acids and that limit saturated fat intake. A stepwise individualized patient approach, with incorporation of one or two dietary interventions every three to six months, may be a practical way to help reduce a patient's cardiovascular disease risk.
Assessing Cumulative Evidence within Macro Research: Why Meta-Analysis Should Be Preferred Over Vote Counting

Understanding the conclusions a body of evidence offers involves accumulating findings. Two recent articles used vote counting to assess the evidence related to important macro theories: transaction cost theory and resource-based theory. Each concluded that its focal theory is not well supported. In contrast, recent meta-analyses of the same theories concluded that both are strongly supported. We explain why macro researchers should trust the findings of meta-analyses but not those of vote counts. A direct implication is that researchers interested in advancing transaction cost and resource-based theories need to build upon the meta-analytic evidence. A broader implication is that, as the preferred method for accumulating evidence, meta-analysis can be a catalyst for the re-evaluation of established theories and the development of new theory.
Investigating the dynamic relationships among the indicators of the Community of Inquiry model in blended learning

The dynamic relationships among teaching presence, cognitive presence, and social presence in Community Of Inquiry (COI) model in blended learning are discussed in this paper. This research offers an opportunity to find out the relationships among presences in COI model in a blended learning. The respondents of this research use Course Management System (CMS) and social network in addition to face to face learning. The researchers used a set of questionnaire to find the relationships among three presences based on the COI model. Through statistical analysis using path analysis by multiple regression analysis teaching presence has a significance impact on sustaining social and cognitive presence in the case study.