Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pipelined Heap (Priority Queue) Management for Advanced Scheduling in High-Speed Networks

Per-flow queueing with sophisticated scheduling is one of the methods for providing advanced quality of service (QoS) guarantees. The hardest and most interesting scheduling algorithms rely on a common computational primitive, implemented via priority queues. To support such scheduling for a large number of flows at OC-192 (10 Gb/s) rates and beyond, pipelined management of the priority queue is needed. Large priority queues can be built using either calendar queues or heap data structures; heaps feature smaller silicon area than calendar queues. We present heap management algorithms that can be gracefully pipelined; they constitute modifications of the traditional ones. We discuss how to use pipelined heap managers in switches and routers and their cost-performance tradeoffs. The design can be configured to any heap size, and, using 2-port 4-wide SRAMs, it can support initiating a new operation on every clock cycle, except that an insert operation or one idle (bubble) cycle is needed between two successive delete operations. We present a pipelined heap manager implemented in synthesizable Verilog form, as a core integratable into ASICs, along with cost and performance analysis information. For a 16 K entry example in 0.13-mum CMOS technology, silicon area is below 10 mm2 (less than 8% of a typical ASIC chip) and performance is a few hundred million operations per second. We have verified our design by simulating it against three heap models of varying abstraction
Effect of diet and physical exercise intervention programmes on coronary heart disease risk in smoking and non-smoking men in Sweden.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences between smokers and non-smokers in health behaviour, cardiovascular risk factors, coronary heart disease (CHD) risks, health knowledge, health attitudes, and compliance with a CHD prevention programme. DESIGN: Differences between smokers and non-smokers were studied via medical examinations, questionnaires, physical exercise activity logs, and food record sheets. Data were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses. The five and 10 year CHD risks were assessed using the Framingham CHD risk estimate. SETTING: The Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, and Sollentuna Primary Health Centre, Sollentuna, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: The analyses were based on 158 healthy smoking and non-smoking men aged 35-60 years with raised cardiovascular risk factors who enrolled in controlled, randomised six month diet and exercise programmes. MAIN RESULTS: Discriminant analysis suggested that smokers, compared with non-smokers, were characterised by a higher alcohol energy percent, lower HDL cholesterol concentration, lower systolic blood pressure, and a higher plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) value. Knowledge of the risk factors for CHD was not a discriminating factor. Both smokers and non-smokers increased the exercise taken, improved their diet, and lowered their CHD risk. Before, as well as after the intervention, smokers had a higher CHD risk than non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: The best CHD prevention action that could be taken by smokers would of course be to quit smoking. Those who cannot stop should be encouraged to improve their diet and increase the amount of physical exercise they take in order to reduce the health hazards of their smoking behaviour.
Design of Low Phase-Noise Oscillator and Voltage-Controlled Oscillator Using Microstrip Trisection Bandpass Filter

In this letter, a low phase-noise oscillator using a microsrtip trisection bandpass filter is designed, fabricated, and experimentally verified. The trisection filter is mainly treated as a frequency stabilization element, and then embedded into the feedback loop of the oscillator. As the oscillation frequency is designed at group delay peak of the filter near the passband edge, the phase noise of the oscillator can be significantly reduced. In addition, by attaching a varactor on one of the resonators of the trisection filter, the developed oscillator can be easily extended to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). In this letter, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator is designed at 2.46 GHz, and the measured phase noise is -144.47 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency. Moreover, the developed VCO has a frequency turning range from 2.497 to 2.537 GHz. Over this frequency range, the measured phase noise is from -127.47 to -138.17 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency.
Effect of Travel Speed on Quality and Welding Efficiency of Friction Stir Welded AZ31B Magnesium Alloy

Weight reduction is one of the most concerning issues of automotive and aircraft industries in reducing fuel consumption. Magnesium (Mg) alloys are the lightest alloys which can be used in the structure due to low density and high strength to weight ratio. Developing a reliable joining process of magnesium alloys is required due to limited ductility and low workability at room temperature. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process that can be performed to produce sound joints in magnesium alloys. Researchers have performed investigations on the effect of rotation and travel speeds in FSW of AZ31B magnesium alloy. However, there is lack of study on the FSW parameters, i.e. travel speed below 50 mm/min and rotation speed lower than 1000 rpm. In this research, FSW of AZ31B magnesium alloy was performed at a constant rotation speed of 700 rpm and varied travel speeds below 50 mm/min. The results showed the development of finer grain size in stir zone with increasing of welding travel speed from 20 mm/min to 40 mm/min. It was found that the finer grain size improved the mechanical properties while maintaining the elongation at different welding parameters.
Mechanical characterization of hexagonal boron nitride nanocomposites: A multiscale finite element prediction

In this study, a calculation of the elastic mechanical properties of composite materials reinforced by boron nitride nanosheets is taking place, following the finite elements approach. Composites are specifically composed of two phases of materials, the matrix material and the reinforcing phase, here, consisting of boron nitride monolayers. The simulation of these two materials as well as the interface between them were made in accordance with the micromechanics theory, examining a representative volume element. Specifically, the matrix material is considered as continuous medium and the reinforcing phase, based on its atomistic microstructure, is considered as a discrete medium and was simulated through spring-based finite elements. Something similar occurred with the simulation of the interface region, which is responsible for the load transfer between the two materials. The results of the method were compared with data from other studies and showed good agreement.
Structural Changes and Economic Growth in Nepal

This paper analyzes the structural change and performance of the Nepalese economy over the period of 1965 to 2009, specially focusing on the impact of IMF and World Bank's structural adjustment program implemented since the mid-1980s based on the Washington consensus. The performance of Nepalese economy has not improved much after the implementation of a series of structural adjustment programs in conjunction with economic liberalization policy. Instead, poverty is widespread and per capital income is still low with widening income inequality. Rather, the Washington consensus helped expand social tension with rising unemployment and inequality dragging Nepal into a decade long internal con ict with poor and weakening governance system.
EZH2 in Bladder Cancer, a Promising Therapeutic Target

Bladder Cancer (BC) represents a current clinical and social challenge. The recent studies aimed to describe the genomic landscape of BC have underscored the relevance of epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of these tumors. Among the epigenetic alterations, histone modifications occupied a central role not only in cancer, but also in normal organism homeostasis and development. EZH2 (Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2) belongs to the Polycomb repressive complex 2 as its catalytic subunit, which through the trimethylation of H3 (Histone 3) on K27 (Lysine 27), produces gene silencing. EZH2 is frequently overexpressed in multiple tumor types, including BC, and plays multiple roles besides the well-recognized histone mark generation. In this review, we summarize the present knowledge on the oncogenic roles of EZH2 and its potential use as a therapeutic target, with special emphasis on BC pathogenesis and management.
The midregion, nuclear localization sequence, and C terminus of PTHrP regulate skeletal development, hematopoiesis, and survival in mice

The functions of parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP) on morphogenesis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and calcium homeostasis have been attributed to its N terminus. Evidence suggests that many of these effects are not mediated by the N terminus but by the midregion, a nuclear localization sequence (NLS), and C terminus of the protein. A knock‐in mouse lacking the midregion, NLS, and C terminus of PTHrP (Pthrp△/△) was developed. Pthrp△/△ mice had craniofacial dysplasia, chondrodysplasia, and kyphosis, with most mice dying by d 5 of age. In bone, there were fewer chondrocytes and osteoblasts per area, bone mass was decreased, and the marrow was less cellular, with erythroid hypoplasia. Cellular proliferation was impaired, and apoptosis was increased. Runx2, Ocn, Sox9, Crtl1, ß‐catenin, Runx1, ephrin B2, cyclin D1, and Gata1 were underexpressed while P16/ Ink4a, P21, GSK‐3ß, Il‐6, Ffg3, and Ihh were overexpressed. Mammary gland development was aberrant, and energy metabolism was deregulated. These results establish that the midregion, NLS, and C terminus of PTHrP are crucial for the commitment of osteogenic and hematopoietic precursors to their lineages, and for survival, and many of the effects of PTHrP on development are not mediated by its N terminus. The down‐regulation of Runx1, Runx2, and Sox9 indicates that PTHrP is a modulator of transcriptional activation during stem cell commitment. Toribio, R E. , Brown, H. A. , Novince, C. M. , Marlow, B. Hernon, K. , Lanigan, L. G. , Hildreth III, B. E. , Werbeck, J. L. , Shu, S. T. , Lorch, G. , Carlton, M. , Foley, J., Boyaka, P., McCauley, L. K. , Rosol, T. J. The midregion, nuclear localization sequence, and C terminus of PTHrP regulate skeletal development, hematopoiesis, and survival in mice. FASEB J. 24, 1947–1957 (2010). www.fasebj. org
Predictors of functional ambulation and patient perception following total knee replacement and short-term rehabilitation

Purpose. To investigate whether measured and patient-perceived function 6 months after total knee replacement (TKR) can be predicted from factors measured during post-operative rehabilitation. Method. Retrospective analysis of data from a randomised clinical trial involving 100 patients after TKR. High- and low-performing subjects for pain, WOMAC score and 6-min walk test (6MWT) at 2, 8 and 26 weeks post-TKR were partitioned and analysed. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was applied to the contributing factors to determine associations with outcome. Results. Prediction of outcome was unconvincing based upon variables recorded at 2 weeks; however, status at 8 weeks was a better indicator of functional performance and perception at 26 weeks. 6MWT at 26 weeks could be predicted from VAS pain scores and 6MWT at 8 weeks (r = 0.789; p < 0.001). Prediction of pain and patient perceived function at 26 weeks was also dependent on performance in 6MWT at 8 weeks (r = 0.51; p < 0.05). Males and those with lower body mass index values demonstrated better functional outcomes. Conclusion. Functional status at 2 weeks post-surgery gives few indicators of ultimate status, possibly because of pain, joint swelling and other immediate post-operative factors. However, measurements taken at 8 weeks, following an outpatient-based exercise programme, provides a reasonable estimate of performance and response 26 weeks after surgery. Patient and clinician expectations for longer-term recovery could be informed by these findings.
NKG2D and DNAM-1 activating receptors and their ligands in NK-T cell interactions: role in the NK cell-mediated negative regulation of T cell responses

The negative regulation of adaptive immunity is relevant to maintain lymphocyte homeostasis. Several studies on natural killer (NK) cells have shown a previously unappreciated immunomodulatory role, as they can negatively regulate T cell-mediated immune responses by direct killing and by secretion of inhibitory cytokines. The molecular mechanisms of T cell suppression by NK cells, however, remained elusive. Only in the last few years has it become evident that, upon activation, human T cells express MICA–B, ULBP1–3, and PVR, ligands of the activating receptors NKG2D and DNAM-1, respectively. Their expression renders T cells targets of NK cell lysis, representing a new mechanism taking part to the negative regulation of T cell responses. Studies on the expression of NKG2D and DNAM-1 ligands on T cells have also contributed in understanding that the activation of ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated)/ATR (ATM/Rad3-related) kinases and the DNA damage response is a common pathway regulating the expression of activating ligands in different types of cells and under different conditions. The functional consequences of NKG2D and DNAM-1 ligand expression on activated T cells are discussed in the context of physiologic and pathologic processes such as infections, autoimmunity, and graft versus host disease.
Nanoenergetics and High Hydrogen Content Materials for Space Propulsion

Abstract : Progress in the past year has occurred in the following areas: 1) understanding the role of pH and rheology on Al/water combustion, 2) encapsulation of nanoparticles in crystals for propellants, 3) disrupting ignition of aluminum with fluorocarbon inclusions, 4) the combustion of micron aluminum with hydrogen peroxide, and high speed PLIF applied to composite propellants, 5) the thermochemical behavior of Ni-coated Al particles, 6) the effects of particle size on melting, diffusion, and reactions, 7) the pyrophoricity of nano-aluminum particles, 8) the thermal decomposition and high temperature oxidation of ammonia borane (NH3BH3),particularly as an energetic fuel/additive, and 9) investigations of solid oxidizer and gaseous fuel combustion performance using counterflow burners and reverse hybrid motors. Each of these topics are described in more detail below.
Aberrant Mitochondrial Homeostasis in the Skeletal Muscle of Sedentary Older Adults

The role of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress has been extensively characterized in the aetiology of sarcopenia (aging-associated loss of muscle mass) and muscle wasting as a result of muscle disuse. What remains less clear is whether the decline in skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity is purely a function of the aging process or if the sedentary lifestyle of older adult subjects has confounded previous reports. The objective of the present study was to investigate if a recreationally active lifestyle in older adults can conserve skeletal muscle strength and functionality, chronic systemic inflammation, mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative capacity, and cellular antioxidant capacity. To that end, muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis of young and age-matched recreationally active older and sedentary older men and women (N = 10/group; ♀ = ♂). We show that a physically active lifestyle is associated with the partial compensatory preservation of mitochondrial biogenesis, and cellular oxidative and antioxidant capacity in skeletal muscle of older adults. Conversely a sedentary lifestyle, associated with osteoarthritis-mediated physical inactivity, is associated with reduced mitochondrial function, dysregulation of cellular redox status and chronic systemic inflammation that renders the skeletal muscle intracellular environment prone to reactive oxygen species-mediated toxicity. We propose that an active lifestyle is an important determinant of quality of life and molecular progression of aging in skeletal muscle of the elderly, and is a viable therapy for attenuating and/or reversing skeletal muscle strength declines and mitochondrial abnormalities associated with aging.
Experimental Extraction of the Charge Centroid and of the Charge Type in the P/E Operation of Sonos Memory Cells

In this work, we report experiments on SONOS memory cells aimed to investigate the vertical position and the nature of the charge trapped in the gate stack during program/erase (P/E) cycling. To this purpose a new experimental setup has been developed to accurately detect the amount of injected charge and the consequent threshold voltage shift. The results, confirmed by different measurement techniques, show that the position of the charge centroid during program and erase operation is quite insensitive to the injection conditions. Moreover, we investigate by means of carrier separation experiments the role of the different type of carriers during program and erase operation of SONOS cells
A molecular phylogeny of enteric bacteria and implications for a bacterial species concept

A molecular phylogeny for seven taxa of enteric bacteria (Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Hafnia alvei, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia plymuthica) was made from multiple isolates per taxa taken from a collection of environmental enteric bacteria. Sequences from five housekeeping genes (gapA, groEL, gyrA, ompA, and pgi) and the 16s rRNA gene were used to infer individual gene trees and were concatenated to infer a composite molecular phylogeny for the species. The isolates from each taxa formed tight species clusters in the individual gene trees, suggesting the existence of ‘genotypic’ clusters that correspond to traditional species designations. These sequence data and the resulting gene trees and consensus tree provide the first data set with which to assess the utility of the recently proposed core genome hypothesis (CGH). The CGH provides a genetically based approach to applying the biological species concept to bacteria.
Measurement of the linewidth enhancement factor of singlemode room temperature continuous wave quantum cascade lasers

The invention of the laser source in 1960 has led to a wide range of applications showing a widespread impact in every aspect of our today life, including for example hospital, factory or simply at home. In particular, recent developments originating from the compact, highly efficient and common semiconductor lasers that are simply supplied by an electrical current. The diode coherent light sources are characterized by the fact that their constituent semiconductor materials define their emitted wavelength, or colour for visible light. For the long-wavelength range, i.e. in the mid-infrared spectra, lead-salt semiconductor crystals are the standard material used. Another approach that differs in a fundamental way from the diode laser one, consists to engineer the emission wavelength by a multiple quantum wells design achieved through nanoscale layer alternation of two different semiconductor materials. Demonstrated in 1994, this type of optical emitter called intersubband, unipolar or quantum cascade laser is the subject of this work. The names are coming from the cascade design of the unipolar optical gain media engineered in a way so that an electron (matter) is injected and recycled in a periodic multiple quantum wells stack and produce as much photons (light) as the repeated stacks in the structure. The laser transition in one of the stacks is achieved in the called active region, i.e. where the electron population inversion occurs, ensures by the electron reduce lifetime on the lower radiative state. Two of different scattering relaxation mechanisms for electronic lifetime reduction are presented, the optical phonon resonance and the tunneling trough superlattice. A correlation between the doping, i.e. the amount of electrons in the reservoir following the active regions in a stack, and the performance of quantum cascade lasers is also exposed. An important chapter in the history of information in modern society consists to the de-
Interest rates, distribution and capital accumulation – A post-Kaleckian perspective on the US and Germany

We analyse the effects of interest rate variations on the rates of capacity utilisation, capital accumulation and profit in a simple post-Kaleckian distribution and growth model. This model gives rise to different potential accumulation regimes depending on the values of the parameters in the investment, saving and distribution function. Estimating these core behavioural equations for the US and Germany in the period 1960–2007, we find significant and robust effects of interest payments with the expected sign in each of the equations. Our estimation results imply, both for the US and for Germany, that the effects of changes in the real long-term rate of interest on the equilibrium rates of capacity utilisation, capital accumulation and profits, are characterised by the ‘normal regime’: rising long-term real rates of interest cause falling rates of capacity utilisation, capital accumulation and profits, as well as redistribution at the expense of labour income and hence an increasing profit share in both countries.
Locomotor activity rhythm in the field mouse Mus booduga phase-shifts to melatonin injections in a dose-dependent manner

Melatonin is known to shift the phase of the locomotor activity rhythm in the field mouse Mus booduga in accordance with a type-I phase response curve (PRC), with phase delays during the subjective day and phase advances during late subjective night and the early subjective day. At CT4 (circadian time 4; i.e. 16 hr. after activity onset) and CT22 of the circadian cycle, a single dose of melatonin (1 mg/kg) is known to evoke maximum delay and maximum advance phase-shifts, respectively. We investigated the dose-dependent responses of the circadian pacemaker of these mice to a single dose of melatonin at the times for maximum delay and maximum advance. The circadian pacemaker responsible for the locomotor activity rhythm in these mice responded to various doses of melatonin in a dose-dependent manner with the magnitude of phase shifts increasing with dose.
Are disease reservoirs special? Taxonomic and life history characteristics

Pathogens that spill over between species cause a significant human and animal health burden. Here, we describe characteristics of animal reservoirs that are required for pathogen spillover. We assembled and analyzed a database of 330 disease systems in which a pathogen spills over from a reservoir of one or more species. Three-quarters of reservoirs included wildlife, and 84% included mammals. Further, 65% of pathogens depended on a community of reservoir hosts, rather than a single species, for persistence. Among mammals, the most frequently identified reservoir hosts were rodents, artiodactyls, and carnivores. The distribution among orders of mammalian species identified as reservoirs did not differ from that expected by chance. Among disease systems with high priority pathogens and epidemic potential, we found birds, primates, and bats to be overrepresented. We also analyzed the life history traits of mammalian reservoir hosts and compared them to mammals as a whole. Reservoir species had faster life history characteristics than mammals overall, exhibiting traits associated with greater reproductive output rather than long-term survival. Thus, we find that in many respects, reservoirs of spillover pathogens are indeed special. The described patterns provide a useful resource for studying and managing emerging infectious diseases.