Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A nine year study of file system and storage benchmarking

Benchmarking is critical when evaluating performance, but is especially difficult for file and storage systems. Complex interactions between I/O devices, caches, kernel daemons, and other OS components result in behavior that is rather difficult to analyze. Moreover, systems have different features and optimizations, so no single benchmark is always suitable. The large variety of workloads that these systems experience in the real world also adds to this difficulty. In this article we survey 415 file system and storage benchmarks from 106 recent papers. We found that most popular benchmarks are flawed and many research papers do not provide a clear indication of true performance. We provide guidelines that we hope will improve future performance evaluations. To show how some widely used benchmarks can conceal or overemphasize overheads, we conducted a set of experiments. As a specific example, slowing down read operations on ext2 by a factor of 32 resulted in only a 2--5% wall-clock slowdown in a popular compile benchmark. Finally, we discuss future work to improve file system and storage benchmarking.
PCDD/F and related compounds in solid residues from municipal solid waste incineration - a literature review

Emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) from waste incineration into the air have been a major focus of interest during the last two decades. An integrated approach to clean waste disposal has to take the occurrence of PCDD/F in all residues into account. This paper compiles published data on concentration ranges of PCDD/F and the related compounds polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), chlorinated benzenes and phenols, as well as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in solid residues from waste incineration in grate furnaces and their development since 1985. A short description of inertization processes for PCDD/F loaded materials is added.
Novel controlled attenuation parameter for noninvasive assessment of steatosis using Fibroscan®: validation in chronic hepatitis C

Summary. A novel controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been developed for Fibroscan® to assess liver steatosis, simultaneously with liver stiffness measurement (LSM). We assessed CAP diagnostic accuracy in a large cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus. A total of 615 patients with CHC, who underwent both Fibroscan® and liver biopsy, were analysed. Fibrosis was graded using METAVIR score. Steatosis was categorized by visual assessment as S0: steatosis in <10% of hepatocytes, S1: 11–33%, S2: 34–66% and S3: 67–100%. Performances of CAP and liver stiffness were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and cross‐validated using the bootstrap method. The Obuchowski measure was used to assess overall accuracy of CAP and to differentiate between steatosis grades. In multivariate analysis, CAP was related to steatosis (P < 10−15) independently of fibrosis stage (which was related to LSM). The areas under ROC curves using CAP to detect steatosis were 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75–0.84) for S ≥ S1, 0.86 (0.81–0.92) for S ≥ S2 and 0.88 (0.73–1) S = S3. CAP exhibited a good ability to differentiate steatosis grades (Obuchowski measure = 0.92). Performance of LSM for fibrosis assessment confirmed results from previous studies. CAP is a novel tool to assess the degree of steatosis and both fibrosis and steatosis can be evaluated noninvasively during the same procedure using Fibroscan®, in patients with CHC.
Immune function biomarker QuantiFERON-monitor is associated with infection risk in cirrhotic patients

AIM To investigate whether a novel immune function biomarker QuantiFERON-Monitor (QFM) can identify cirrhotic patients at greatest risk of infection. METHODS Adult cirrhotic patients on the liver transplant waiting list were recruited for this observational cohort study from a tertiary liver transplant referral unit. The immune function biomarker, QFM was performed using the same method as the widely available Quantiferon-gold assay, and measures output in interferon gamma in IU/mL after dual stimulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Ninety-one cirrhotic patients were recruited, with 47 (52%) transplanted on the day of their QFM. The remaining 44 (48%) were monitored for infections until transplant, death, or census date of 1st February 2014. RESULTS Cirrhotic patients express a median QFM significantly lower than healthy controls (94.5 IU/mL vs 423 IU/mL), demonstrating that they are severely immunosuppressed. Several factors including model for end stage liver disease, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, bilirubin, international normalized ratio and haemoglobin were associated with QFM on univariate analysis. Disease aetiology did not appear to impact QFM. On multivariate analysis, only Child-Pugh score and urea were significantly associated with a patient’s immune function as objectively measured by QFM. In the 44 patients who were not transplanted immediately after their blood test and could be monitored for subsequent infection risk, 13 (29.5%) experienced a pre-transplant infection a median 20 d (range 2-182) post-test. QFM < 214 IU/mL was associated with HR = 4.1 (P = 0.01) for infection. A very low QFM < 30 IU/mL was significantly associated (P = 0.003) with death in three patients who died while awaiting transplantation (HR = 56.6). CONCLUSION QFM is lower in cirrhotics, allowing objective determinations of an individual’s unique level of immune dysfunction. Low QFM was associated with increased susceptibility to infection.
A Quantitative Study of Gully Erosion Based on Object-Oriented Analysis Techniques: A Case Study in Beiyanzikou Catchment of Qixia, Shandong, China

This paper took a subregion in a small watershed gully system at Beiyanzikou catchment of Qixia, China, as a study and, using object-orientated image analysis (OBIA), extracted shoulder line of gullies from high spatial resolution digital orthophoto map (DOM) aerial photographs. Next, it proposed an accuracy assessment method based on the adjacent distance between the boundary classified by remote sensing and points measured by RTK-GPS along the shoulder line of gullies. Finally, the original surface was fitted using linear regression in accordance with the elevation of two extracted edges of experimental gullies, named Gully 1 and Gully 2, and the erosion volume was calculated. The results indicate that OBIA can effectively extract information of gullies; average range difference between points field measured along the edge of gullies and classified boundary is 0.3166 m, with variance of 0.2116 m. The erosion area and volume of two gullies are 2141.6250 m2, 5074.1790 m3 and 1316.1250 m2, 1591.5784 m3, respectively. The results of the study provide a new method for the quantitative study of small gully erosion.
Differential Roles for Dopamine D1-Like and D2-Like Receptors in Mediating the Reinforcing Effects of Cocaine: Convergent Evidence from Pharmacological and Genetic Studies

A series of studies by Drs. Barak Caine, James Woods, Gregory Collins, Jonathan Katz and Takato Hiranita demonstrated a novel and unique reinforcing effect using dopamine (DA) D2-like receptor [D2-like R: D2, D3, and D4 receptor subtypes (respectively, D2R, D3R, and D4R)] agonists in rats and genetically modified mice. In order to understand how important their findings are, a comparison was made regarding the reinforcing effects of DA D2-like R full agonists with those of DA uptake inhibitors and of a DA D1-like receptor [D1-like R, D1 and D5 receptor subtypes (D1R and D5R)] full agonist (±)-SKF 82958.
Agonist‐dependent failure of neutrophil function in diabetes correlates with extent of hyperglycemia

Inexplicable controversies with regard to possible functional defects of neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in diabetes persist. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the relative effectiveness of several PMN agonists in stimulating lysosomal‐enzyme secretion and leukotriene (LT) B4 production by PMNs isolated from diabetic subjects. Formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP) and platelet‐activating factor (PAF) induced significantly less lysosomal‐enzyme secretion and LTB4 production in diabetic‐subject PMNs than in normal‐subject PMNs. It is surprising that PMNs from these same diabetic subjects responded normally after stimulation with A23187, serum‐opsonized zymosan, or phorbol myristate acetate. The in vitro responsiveness of PMNs stimulated with fMLP or PAF was inversely correlated with indices of in vivo glycemic control (fasting plasma glucose and glycated‐hemoglobin levels). In combination, these results indicate that hyperglycemia is associated with sustained decreases in PMN function but only in response to agonists that initiate stimulus‐response coupling via G‐protein‐coupled receptors. This agonist‐selective reduction in PMN responsiveness may contribute to the compromised host defense associated with sustained hyperglycemia in diabetes.
Detection of hepatitis A virus in wastewater

The present study investigates the presence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in wastewater both before and after conventional treatment. Two different procedures are used to concentrate the viruses: by precipitation and by filtration. The reverse transciptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) followed by hybridization are applied to detect HAV. The flocculation of 1 L of wastewater using the aluminum hydroxide adsorption–precipitation method gave two negative samples out of the nine processed; that is, 22% of the samples were HAV negative. The filtration method, using an immersible CX‐30 ultrafiltration unit, showed 10% of the samples to be negative. However, the Chi2 test gave no statistically significant differences for these results with respect to the method of concentration used. All of the samples of raw wastewater were HAV positive, a finding which reflects a high prevalence among the population. Furthermore, although conventional wastewater treatment reduces all other microbiological indicators by more than 99%, HAV was found to remain positive in our samples of treated water. This means that when primary influents are contaminated with HAV, the secondary effluent may constitute a public health hazard in the transmission of HAV. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 14: 391–396, 1999
A Model of Price Swings in the Housing Market

In this paper we use a standard neoclassical model supplemented by some frictions to understand large price swings in the housing market. We construct a two good general equilibrium model in which housing is a composite good produced using structures and land. We revisit the connection between changes in interest rates, credit conditions as measured by maximum loan-to-value ratios and expectations in influencing housing prices in a setting in which the stock of housing can be used as collateral for borrowing and credit markets are segmented. We find that changes in interest rates and credit conditions can generate significant price swings. Under rational expectations (perfect foresight) our model is able to explain 50% of the recent movements in U.S. house prices. When we allow shocks to expectations, the model’s ability to match the evidence increases significantly. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we show that standard asset pricing formulas seem to correctly describe the behavior of house prices if the appropriate pricing kernel is used.
Experimental Investigation of AC Loss Characteristics in HTS Tape With Rotating Magnetic Field

In this work, we exposed a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape to a rotating magnetic field, and measured ac losses using a calorimetric method based on the temperature rise caused by the ac loss. To compare the characteristics of the other ac loss conditions, we measured the magnetization losses in the uniform ac magnetic field perpendicular and parallel to the HTS tape face. The losses in the rotating magnetic field are the same as in the perpendicular magnetic field. In addition, we measured the influence of the rotating magnetic field waviness on the ac loss characteristics.
GALAXY INFALL BY INTERACTING WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF 340 GALAXY CLUSTERS

To study systematically the evolution of the angular extents of the galaxy, intracluster medium (ICM), and dark matter components in galaxy clusters, we compiled the optical and X-ray properties of a sample of 340 clusters with redshifts <0.5, based on all the available data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Chandra/XMM-Newton. For each cluster, the member galaxies were determined primarily with photometric redshift measurements. The radial ICM mass distribution, as well as the total gravitational mass distribution, was derived from a spatially resolved spectral analysis of the X-ray data. When normalizing the radial profile of galaxy number to that of the ICM mass, the relative curve was found to depend significantly on the cluster redshift; it drops more steeply toward the outside in lower-redshift subsamples. The same evolution is found in the galaxy-to-total mass profile, while the ICM-to-total mass profile varies in an opposite way. The behavior of the galaxy-to-ICM distribution does not depend on the cluster mass, suggesting that the detected redshift dependence is not due to mass-related effects, such as sample selection bias. Also, it cannot be ascribed to various redshift-dependent systematic errors. We interpret that the galaxies, the ICM, and the dark matter components had similar angular distributions when a cluster was formed, while the galaxies traveling in the interior of the cluster have continuously fallen toward the center relative to the other components, and the ICM has slightly expanded relative to the dark matter although it suffers strong radiative loss. This cosmological galaxy infall, accompanied by an ICM expansion, can be explained by considering that the galaxies interact strongly with the ICM while they are moving through it. The interaction is considered to create a large energy flow of 1044−45 erg s−1 per cluster from the member galaxies to their environment, which is expected to continue over cosmological timescales.
High-Energy Protons Associated with Liftoff of a Coronal Mass Ejection

Large solar energetic particle (SEP) events occur in association with fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares. We have studied in detail the rise phase of the SEP event of 1998 May 2 observed with the particle telescope ERNE aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft and ground-based neutron monitors. Using the ERNE data and numerical modeling of the SEP transport, we present improved evaluations of the solar release profile of deka-MeV protons. The SOHO EIT images are used to study the CME liftoff processes and possible sources of deka-MeV and hecto-MeV proton streams. In a first stage of the deka-MeV proton production, which starts not later than 4 minutes after the radio flash and the Moreton wave start, particles get accelerated from a few MeV through 20 MeV in ≈15 minutes. Both ERNE and neutron monitor data are used to study the release of solar protons in the hecto-MeV range. The proton acceleration to above 400 MeV was completed not later than 15-20 minutes after the onset of the eruption. However, injection profiles of deka-MeV protons and hecto-MeV protons were different. Differences in the release scenarios, energy spectra, and composition of deka-MeV protons versus hecto-MeV protons suggest two different acceleration regions involved, perhaps situated on initially open lines and initially closed lines of the coronal magnetic field. The first SEP productions were followed by a prolonged period of proton reacceleration, which continued in the ~10-100 MeV range for many hours and during which a common energy spectrum was formed.
Aperiodic phase re‐setting in scalp EEG of beta–gamma oscillations by state transitions at alpha–theta rates

We evaluated the rapid changes in regional scalp EEG synchronization in normal subjects with spatial and temporal resolution exceeding prior art 10‐fold with a high spatial density array and the Hilbert transform. A curvilinear array of 64 electrodes 3 mm apart extending 18.9 cm across the scalp was used to record EEG at 200/sec. Analytic amplitude (AA) and phase (AP) were calculated at each time step for the 64 traces in the analog pass band of 0.5–120 Hz. AP differences approximated the AP derivative (instantaneous frequency). The AP from unfiltered EEG revealed no reproducible patterns. Filtering was necessary in the β and gamma ranges according to a technique that optimized the correlation of the AP differences with the activity band pass filtered in the alpha range. The sizes of temporal AP differences were usually within ±0.5 radian from the average step corresponding to the center frequency of the pass band. Large AP differences were often synchronized over distances of 6 to 19 cm. An optimal pass band to detect and measure these recurring jumps in AP in the β and γ ranges was found by maximizing the α peak in the cospectrum of the correlation between unfiltered EEG and the band pass AP differences. Synchronized AP jumps recurred in clusters (CAP) at α and theta rates in resting subjects and with EMG. Cortex functions by serial changes in state. The Hilbert transform of EEG from high‐density arrays can visualize these state transitions with high temporal and spatial resolution and should be useful in relating EEG to cognition. Hum. Brain Mapping 19:248–272, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Hawthorne effect

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of a newly developed integrated care programme in facilitating the return to work for patients with chronic low back pain. The newly developed programme was a combined patient and workplace directed intervention delivered in the outpatient setting. A randomised controlled trial study design was used. The control arm received usual care. The study lasted one year.1 Trial participants were recruited from primary and secondary care if they were aged 18-65 years, had been having low back pain for more than 12 weeks, were in paid work for at least eight hours a week, and were absent or partially absent from work. The primary outcome was length of time absent from work until a fully sustained return to work. …
Smoothed Particle Magnetohydrodynamics – II. Variational principles and variable smoothing-length terms

In this paper we show how a Lagrangian variational principle can be used to derive the Smoothed Particle Magnetohydrodynamics (SPMHD) equations for ideal Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). We also consider the effect of a variable smoothing length in the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) kernels, after which we demonstrate by numerical tests that the consistent treatment of terms relating to the gradient of the smoothing length in the SPMHD equations significantly improves the accuracy of the algorithm. Our results complement those obtained in the companion paper for non-ideal MHD where artificial dissipative terms were included to handle shocks.
Self disclosure of HIV infection to sexual partners.

Self-disclosure of HIV infection to current sexual partners was examined in 138 seropositive men, mostly lower income Hispanics, from Los Angeles. Forty-five percent had been sexually active since learning their serostatus. Of these, 52% had kept their infection secret from one or more partners. The likelihood of disclosure decreased in direct proportion to the number of partners. Nondisclosure occurred in conjunction with unprotected receptive and insertive anal intercourse. Potential factors promoting nondisclosure are discussed.
Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the maxillary central incisor in two different situations of traumatic impact

Dental trauma is one of the most common events in dental practice. However, few studies have investigated the biomechanical characteristics of these injuries. The objective of this study was to analyse the stress distribution in the dentoalveolar structures of a maxillary central incisor subjected to two situations of impact loading. The following loading forces were applied using a 3D finite element model: a force of 2000 N acting at an angle of 90°on the buccal surface of the crown and a vertical 2000 N force acting in the cleidocranial direction on the incisal surface of the tooth. Harmful stresses were observed in both situations, causing damage to both the tooth and adjacent tissue. However, the damage found in soft tissues such as periodontal ligament and dental pulp was negligible. In conclusion, injuries resulting from the traumatic situations were more damaging to the integrity of the tooth and its associated hard-tissue structures.
Use of Birth Certificates to Examine Maternal Occupational Exposures and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring

The continuing rise in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders has led to heightened interest in the role of nongenetic factors, including exogenous exposures, but little research has been conducted. To explore a possible role in autism etiology, we used data available from our prior studies to examine potential occupational exposures, as these may occur at higher levels than environmental exposures. Parental occupation was obtained from birth certificates for 284 children with autism and 659 controls, born in 1994 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Self‐reported occupation and industry were coded into eight exposure/chemical groups based on potential neurotoxicity or reprotoxicity by a board‐certified physician in occupational medicine and an industrial hygienist blinded to case‐control status. Mothers of autistic children were twice as likely to work in occupations considered exposed (14.4%) as mothers of controls (7.2%) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.3 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.3–4.2]). The exposure categories of the greatest frequency among case mothers were exhaust and combustion products (AOR = 12.0 [95% CI 1.4–104.6]) and disinfectants (AOR = 4.0 [95% CI 1.4–12.0]). Paternal occupational exposure was not associated with autism, potentially consistent with a direct in‐utero exposure effect. There are several limitations of this hypothesis‐generating study, including lack of detail on workplace and job duties, leading to possible misclassification and low proportion exposed. However, this misclassification would not be biased by case‐control status and is unlikely to explain the associations we did find, suggesting that further research on exogenous exposures may yield useful etiologic clues. Autism Res 2013, ●●: ●●–●●. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.