Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Disk I/O Characteristics Collection Method Based on Virtual Machine Technology

The disk I/O performance may be the bottleneck in computer system, because of the mechanism characters of hard disk system. In order to tune the system performance effectively, the collection of the disk I/O workload characteristics is the essential step for the performance optimization work. Compared to other I/O characteristics collection method, this paper presents a kind of efficient on-line I/O characteristics analysis method based on Xen 3.0 virtual machine monitor. In virtual machine environment, this method can be transparent to the unmodified operating system. This method can be used to collecting a comprehensive set of essential I/O characteristics metrics. Through the testing, we found that this method has little system overhead and impact on the application system I/O performance. In addition, we demonstrate our I/O characteristics analysis results under the large file copy and the filebench benchmark workload.
Cognitive Consistency Theory in Social Psychology: A Paradigm Reconsidered

Abstract From the 1950s onward, psychologists have generally assumed that people possess a general need for cognitive consistency, whose frustration by an inconsistency elicits negative affect. We offer a novel perspective on this issue by introducing the distinction between epistemic and motivational impact of consistent and inconsistent cognitions. The epistemic aspect is represented by the updated expectancy of the outcome addressed in such cognitions. The motivational aspect stems from value (desirability) of that outcome. We show that neither the outcome’s value nor its updated expectancy is systematically related to cognitive consistency or inconsistency. Consequently, we question consistency’s role in the driving of affective responses and the related presumption of a universal human need for cognitive consistency.
Distributed Force Control of Deformable Mirrorsg

Large (>1 m) deformable mirrors are attractive for adaptive optics on ground-based telescopes; the mirrors typically have hundreds or thousands of actuators. The use of force actuators instead of position actuators has the potential to significantly reduce total system cost. However, the use of force actuators results in many lightly-damped structural resonances within the desired bandwidth of the control system. We present a robust control approach for this problem and demonstrate its performance in simulation. First, we demonstrate that high-bandwidth active damping using velocity feedback from mirror sensors that are not quite collocated with the actuators can be robustly implemented, because at sufficiently high frequencies the structural dynamics enter an “acoustic” limit, where the half power bandwidth of a mode exceeds the modal spacing. This is important, because the system can be made less expensive using sensors placed in between actuators rather than collocated with each actuator. Introduction of active damping leads to a much easier problem for subsequent position control. It is known that a position control system in which each of the actuators is controlled using feedback from a collocated sensor can be made robustly stable. However, the resulting performance at high spatial frequencies is poor because there is no shared information between neighbouring actuators. In contrast, global control gives excellent performance but lacks robustness to model uncertainty. We introduce an innovative local control approach, which significantly improves the high spatial frequency performance without the robustness challenges associated with a global control approach. The overall approach is demonstrated
Two-dimensional current density imaging

Imaging of electrical current by measuring the magnetic field which it produces requires the solution of the magnetic inverse problem. For a current restricted to a plane, the inverse problem can theoretically be solved by a linear spatial filtering method. Experimental results indicate that currents restricted to the surface of a printed circuit board can be imaged using this method. To measure the magnetic field, a magnetic resonance imaging technique is used. The reconstructed current density images illustrate that a tradeoff exists between the spatial resolution and the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The currents were restricted to the surface of a printed circuit board set in the xy plane. The circuit board was bathed in a nonconducting mineral oil to provide a magnetic resonance (MR) signal. The z component of the magnetic field produced by the current was measured using the magnetic resonance technique, and a spatial filtering technique was used to find the current density (J). The spatial resolution with which one can measure electric current density depends strongly on the distance at which the magnetic field from these currents can be measured. Magnetic resonance imaging offers a way to measure magnetic fields noninvasively and thus the possibility of reducing this distance to zero (if the current flows in an appropriate medium). While less sensitive than a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), the MR imaging method might, under certain circumstances, be capable of higher spatial resolution. >
Dedication, humbleness, and audacity: advice from pathfinder faculty to colleagues new to online distance education

Despite its long history, Distance Education (DE) has only won the support of renowned universities and space in public policy after the advent of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). Teachers, who previously saw it with suspicion, perceived in online DE the possibility of extending university education to underserved population groups, e.g., fulltime workers and residents of remote regions. Given their recent foray in this educational modality, many teachers explore DE as an uncharted territory and advise those who come after them. Cooperation, commitment, organization, and above all courage and humility to learn and openness to new experiences, are, according to this research, attitudes essential to teacher-explorers of the Media Age.
A POMDP-Based Optimal Control of P300-Based Brain-Computer Interfaces

Most of the previous work on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) exploiting the P300 in electroencephalography (EEG) has focused on low-level signal processing algorithms such as feature extraction and classification methods. Although a significant improvement has been made in the past, the accuracy of detecting P300 is limited by the inherently low signal-to-noise ratio in EEGs. In this paper, we present a systematic approach to optimize the interface using partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs). Through experiments involving human subjects, we show the P300 speller system that is optimized using the POMDP achieves a significant performance improvement in terms of the communication bandwidth in the interaction.
From first email to first date: Strategies for initiating relationships in online dating

The present study explores the relationship initiation process in online dating using participants’ (N = 105) naturally occurring email messages to a prospective romantic partner. Data were collected online at time one, and participants were recontacted at time two (after meeting their partner offline) to assess the likelihood of continued interaction. A qualitative content analysis uncovered 7 broad categories and 18 subcategories of strategies for initiating relationships in online dating. The analysis indicated that participants’ relationships followed a trajectory that often began with the use of pickup lines to initiate contact and culminated with the transition offline. Along the way, they alternated between strategies for attracting and selecting a partner, constructing an authentic self-presentation, creating a shared context for interaction, revealing and seeking information, and adapting to the online dating environment. Additional quantitative analyses revealed differences in strategy use related to gender and the outcome of the first date. That is, men were generally more direct than women (e.g., by sending the first message), and those who discussed their mate preferences tended to report a higher likelihood of a second date than other participants. The results have implications for the hyperpersonal model, as well as for illuminating the evolution of online dating relationships from the first contact with a partner to meeting offline.
Studying cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism using simultaneous near-infrared spectroscopy and transcranial Doppler ultrasound: a hyperventilation and caffeine study

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed psycho‐stimulants in the world, yet little is known about its effects on brain oxygenation and metabolism. Using a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized cross‐over study design, we combined transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) and near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to study caffeine's effect on middle cerebral artery peak blood flow velocity (Vp), brain tissue oxygenation (StO2), total hemoglobin (tHb), and cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO2) in five subjects. Hyperventilation‐induced hypocapnia served as a control to verify the sensitivity of our measurements. During hypocapnia (~16 mmHg below resting values), Vp decreased by 40.0 ± 2.4% (95% CI, P < 0.001), while StO2 and tHb decreased by 2.9 ± 0.3% and 2.6 ± 0.4%, respectively (P = 0.003 and P = 0.002, respectively). CMRO2, calculated using the Fick equation, was reduced by 29.3 ± 9% compared to the isocapnic‐euoxia baseline (P < 0.001). In the pharmacological experiments, there was a significant decrease in Vp, StO2, and tHb after ingestion of 200 mg of caffeine compared with placebo. There was no significant difference in CMRO2 between caffeine and placebo. Both showed a CMRO2 decline compared to baseline showing the importance of a placebo control. In conclusion, this study showed that profound hypocapnia impairs cerebral oxidative metabolism. We provide new insight into the effects of caffeine on cerebral hemodynamics. Moreover, this study showed that multimodal NIRS/TCD is an excellent tool for studying brain hemodynamic responses to pharmacological interventions and physiological challenges.
Population pharmacokinetics of panipenem in neonates and retrospective evaluation of dosage.

The population pharmacokinetics of panipenem was studied in 23 neonates. Their postconceptional age (PCA) was 24.7-42.6 weeks and their body weight was 530-4455 g at initiation of therapy. Panipenem was infused over a period of 60 min in a dose of 10.2-34.7 mg/kg bd in 21 patients, tid in one patient and four times daily in one patient for a mean of 10.7 days. Blood samples were obtained just before the infusion and 1-2 h after and again 6 h after the infusion. All the data for the 108 serum panipenem concentrations were evaluated with a non-linear mixed-effect model (NONMEM with first-order method), a computer program designed for population pharmacokinetic analysis. One- and two-compartment population pharmacokinetic parameters were measured. The two-compartment parameters were as follows: panipenem clearance CL = 0.150 L/h, central volume of distribution = 0.54 L, intercompartmental clearance = 0.014 L/h and peripheral volume of distribution = 0.28 L. The one-compartment parameters were CL = 0.175 L/h and volume of distribution = 0.55 L. In the fitting process using the one-compartment model, significantly fixed effects related to CL were PCA, postnatal age (PNA), gestational age (GA), body weight (BW) and serum creatinine, and that for the distribution volume (V) was BW. CL showed a logarithmic rise with PCA (CL = 0.00176 x exp(0.14 x PCA)). The CL levels in the patients with PCA < 33 weeks (0.098 L/h) were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those with PCA > or = 33 weeks (0.25 L/h). The final formulae for the population pharmacokinetic parameters are as follows: CL = 0.0832 (PCA < 33 weeks), CL = 0.179 x BW (PCA > or = 33 weeks), V = 0.53 x BW (coefficient of variation; 23.9% for CL, 28.5% for V). Based on these data, a simulated time-concentration curve was compared with that for adult data in a clinical Phase I study. Our findings suggest that the panipenem dosage regimen of 10-20 mg/kg every 12 h should yield concentrations within the accepted therapeutic range.
Examining the multifactorial nature of cognitive aging with covariance analysis of positron emission tomography data

Abstract Research has indicated that there may be age-related and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) -related reductions in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the brain. This study explored differences in age- and AD-related rCBF patterns in the context of cognitive aging using a multivariate approach to the analysis of H215O PET data. First, an rCBF covariance pattern that distinguishes between a group of younger and older adults was identified. Individual subject’s expression of the identified age-related pattern was significantly correlated with their performance on tests of memory, even after controlling for the effect of age. This finding suggests that subject expression of the covariance pattern explained additional variation in performance on the memory tasks. The age-related covariance pattern was then compared to an AD-related covariance pattern. There was little evidence that the two covariance patterns were similar, and the age-related pattern did a poor job of differentiating between cognitively-healthy older adults and those with probable AD. The findings from this study are consistent with the multifactorial nature of cognitive aging. (JINS, 2009, 15, 973–981.)
The Century Survey: A Deeper Slice of the Universe

The ``Century Survey'' (CS hereafter) is a complete redshift survey of a 1$^\circ$-wide strip. It covers 0.03 steradians to a limiting m$_R$ = 16.13. The survey is 98.4% complete and contains 1762 galaxies. Large-scale features in the survey are qualitatively similar to those in other surveys: there are large voids surrounded or nearly surrounded by thin dense regions which are sections of structures like (and including) the Great Wall. The survey crosses the classical Corona Borealis supercluster. The galaxy density enhancement associated with this system extends for $\simgreat 100 h^{-1}$ Mpc (the Hubble constant is H$_0 = 100h$ km s$^{-1}$Mpc$^{-1}$). The Schechter (1976) luminosity function parameters for the CS are: $M^*_{CS} = -20.73 ^{+0.17}_{-0.18}$, $\alpha_{CS} = -1.17 ^{+0.19}_{-0.19}$, and $\phi^*_{CS} = 0.0250\pm0.0061$ Mpc$^{-3}$mag$^{-1}$. In concert with the ESO Key Program (\cite{vet97}; \cite{zuc97}) and the AUTOFIB (\cite{ell96}) surveys, the CS indicates that the absolute normalization of the luminosity function exceeds estimates based on shallower and/or sparser surveys.
Changes in the free-energy landscape of p38α MAP kinase through its canonical activation and binding events as studied by enhanced molecular dynamics simulations

p38α is a Ser/Thr protein kinase involved in a variety of cellular processes and pathological conditions, which makes it a promising pharmacological target. Although the activity of the enzyme is highly regulated, its molecular mechanism of activation remains largely unexplained, even after decades of research. By using state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulations, we decipher the key elements of the complex molecular mechanism refined by evolution to allow for a fine tuning of p38α kinase activity. Our study describes for the first time the molecular effects of different regulators of the enzymatic activity, and provides an integrative picture of the activation mechanism that explains the seemingly contradictory X-ray and NMR data. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.22175. 001
A Genealogical Interpretation of Principal Components Analysis

Principal components analysis, PCA, is a statistical method commonly used in population genetics to identify structure in the distribution of genetic variation across geographical location and ethnic background. However, while the method is often used to inform about historical demographic processes, little is known about the relationship between fundamental demographic parameters and the projection of samples onto the primary axes. Here I show that for SNP data the projection of samples onto the principal components can be obtained directly from considering the average coalescent times between pairs of haploid genomes. The result provides a framework for interpreting PCA projections in terms of underlying processes, including migration, geographical isolation, and admixture. I also demonstrate a link between PCA and Wright's fst and show that SNP ascertainment has a largely simple and predictable effect on the projection of samples. Using examples from human genetics, I discuss the application of these results to empirical data and the implications for inference.
Different Regional Gray Matter Loss in Recent Onset PTSD and Non PTSD after a Single Prolonged Trauma Exposure

Objective Gray matter loss in the limbic structures was found in recent onset post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. In the present study, we measured regional gray matter volume in trauma survivors to verify the hypothesis that stress may cause different regional gray matter loss in trauma survivors with and without recent onset PTSD. Method High resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were obtained from coal mine flood disaster survivors with (n = 10) and without (n = 10) recent onset PTSD and 20 no trauma exposed normal controls. The voxel-based morphometry (VBM) method was used to measure the regional gray matter volume in three groups, the correlations of PTSD symptom severities with the gray matter volume in trauma survivors were also analyzed by multiple regression. Results Compared with normal controls, recent onset PTSD patients had smaller gray matter volume in left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and non PTSD subjects had smaller gray matter volume in the right pulvinar and left pallidum. The gray matter volume of the trauma survivors correlated negatively with CAPS scores in the right frontal lobe, left anterior and middle cingulate cortex, bilateral cuneus cortex, right middle occipital lobe, while in the recent onset PTSD, the gray matter volume correlated negatively with CAPS scores in bilateral superior medial frontal lobe and right ACC. Conclusion The present study identified gray matter loss in different regions in recent onset PTSD and non PTSD after a single prolonged trauma exposure. The gray matter volume of left dorsal ACC associated with the development of PTSD, while the gray matter volume of right pulvinar and left pallidum associated with the response to the severe stress. The atrophy of the frontal and limbic cortices predicts the symptom severities of the PTSD.
The Impact of Medicaid Adoption of the Medicare Fee Schedule

In this article, the authors simulate the effects on Federal and State Medicaid expenditures of increasing Medicaid fees to Medicare fee schedule (MFS) levels. Strict adoption of the MFS by the States would increase total Medicaid spending by approximately 4 percent, $2.5 to $2.9 billion. Because Medicaid fees vary across States, so does the impact of adopting the MFS. Medicaid spending would increase significantly in some wealthy States with large Medicaid populations and in a few small, relatively poor States. Some States currently pay more than the MFS for obstetrical services. If these fees continued at higher levels for obstetrical care, total Medicaid spending would increase by $3.5 to $4.0 billion.
The evolution of inflammatory mediators

Invertebrates do not display the level of sophistication in immune reactivity characteristic of mammals and other ‘higher’ vertebrates. Their great number and diversity of forms, however, reflect their evolutionary success and hence they must have effective mechanisms of defence to deal with parasites and pathogens and altered self tissues. Inflammation appears to be an important first line defence in all invertebrates and vertebrates. This brief review deals with the inflammatory responses of invertebrates and fish concentrating on the cell types involved and the mediators of inflammation, in particular, eicosanoids, cytokines and adhesion molecules.
The Cepheid impostor HD 18391 and its anonymous parent cluster

New and existing photometry for the G0 Ia supergiant HD 18391 is analyzed in order to confirm the nature of the variability previously detected in the star, which lies off the hot edge of the Cepheid instability strip. Small-amplitude variability at a level of δV = 0.016 ± 0.002 is indicated, with a period of P = 123d.04 ± 0d.06. A weaker second signal may be present at P = 177d.84 ± 0d.18 with δV = 0.007 ± 0.002, likely corresponding to fundamental mode pulsation if the primary signal represents overtone pulsation (123.04/177.84 = 0.69). The star, with a spectroscopic reddening of EB–V = 1.02 ± 0.003, is associated with heavily-reddened B-type stars in its immediate vicinity that appear to be outlying members of an anonymous young cluster centered ∼10′ to the west and 1661 ± 73 pc distant. The cluster has nuclear and coronal radii of rn = 3.5′ and Rc = 14′, respectively, while the parameters for HD 18391 derived from membership in the cluster with its outlying B stars are consistent with those implied by its Cepheid-like pulsation, provided that it follows the semi-period-luminosity relation expected of such objects. Its inferred luminosity as a cluster member is MV = –7.76 ± 0.10, its age (9 ± 1) × 106 years, and its evolutionary mass ∼19 M⊙. HD 18391 is not a classical Cepheid, yet it follows the Cepheid period-luminosity relation closely, much like another Cepheid impostor, V810 Cen (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Fuzzy complex quadrics and spheres

A matrix algebra is constructed which consists of the necessary degrees of freedom for a finite approximation to the algebra of functions on the family of orthogonal grassmannians of real dimension 2N, known as complex quadrics. These matrix algebras contain the relevant degrees of freedom for describing truncations of harmonic expansions of functions on N-spheres. An Inonu-Wigner contraction of the quadric gives the co-tangent bundle to the commutative sphere in the continuum limit. It is shown how the degrees of freedom for the sphere can be projected out of a finite dimensional functional integral, using second-order Casimirs, giving a well-defined procedure for constructing functional integrals over fuzzy spheres of any dimension.