Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partitioning and Mapping Nested Loops on Multiprocessor Systems

A method for executing nested loops with constant loop-carried dependencies in parallel on message-passing multiprocessor systems to reduce communication overhead is presented. In the partitioning phase, the nested loop is divided into blocks that reduce the interblock communication, without regard to the machine topology. The execution ordering of the iterations is defined by a given time function based on L. Lamport's (1974) hyperplane method. The iterations are then partitioned into blocks so that the execution ordering is not disturbed, and the amount of interblock communication is minimized. In the mapping phase, the partitioned blocks are mapped onto a fixed-size multiprocessor system in such a manner that the blocks that have to exchange data frequently are allocated to the same processor or neighboring processors. A heuristic mapping algorithm for hypercube machines is proposed. >
Early-Life Nutritional Factors and Mucosal Immunity in the Development of Autoimmune Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an immune-mediated disease with a strong genetic basis but might be influenced by non-genetic factors such as microbiome development that “programs” the immune system during early life as well. Factors influencing pathogenesis, including a leaky intestinal mucosal barrier, an aberrant gut microbiota composition, and altered immune responsiveness, offer potential targets for prevention and/or treatment of T1D through nutritional or pharmacologic means. In this review, nutritional approaches during early life in order to protect against T1D development have been discussed. The critical role of tolerogenic dendritic cells in central and peripheral tolerance has been emphasized. In addition, since the gut microbiota affects the development of T1D through short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-dependent mechanisms, we hypothesize that nutritional intervention boosting SCFA production may be used as a novel prevention strategy. Current retrospective evidence has suggested that exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding might play a protective role against the development of T1D. The beneficial properties of human milk are possibly attributed to its bioactive components such as unique immune-modulatory components human milk oligosaccharides and metabolites derived thereof, including SCFAs. These components might play a key role in healthy immune development and creating a fit and resilient immune system in early and later life.
Organization of the human FK 506-binding immunophilin FKBP 52 protein gene ( FKBP 4 )

FKBP52 is a widely expressed FK506-binding immunophilin that possesses peptidylprolyl isomerase activity and a tetratricopeptide repeat involved in protein–protein interaction. FKBP52 plays an important role in steroid receptor function and is implicated in other diverse processes, including regulation of transcription, cation channel activity, and gene transfer efficiency. Reported here is the genomic organization of the human FKBP52 gene ( FKBP4), which shares all but one of the same exon–intron boundaries as the structurally related immunophilin FKBP51 gene ( FKBP5). Approximately 3.5 kb of 5 -flanking DNA ofFKBP4 was subcloned into a luciferase reporter vector and was found to exhibit robust activity in T-47D, MCF7, and COS-7 cells. Promoter constructs with only 143 bp of upstream sequence maintained high activity. This region contains a CAAT motif sequence and consensus binding sites for Sp1, heat-shock factor, and MYC-MAX, which are conserved in the rabbit FKBP4 promoter and, when deleted, dramatically reduced promoter activity in T-47D cells. © 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
THIN SILICONE MEMBRANES‐THEIR PERMEATION PROPERTIES AND SOME APPLICATIONS

While the permeation of gases through solid materials is often a nuisance and sometimes a hazard, in recent years several useful applications have been found for this phenomenon. For example, H, is purified by diffusion through Pd-Ag foils, 0, partial pressures are measured in instruments dependent on 0, permeating through a plastic membrane, and artificial lungs based on permeation of 0, and CO, through thin polymeric membranes are being developed. These applications are only the beginning, for recent advances in membrane technology portend uses as far afield as water desalination by reverse osmosis and the separation of azeotropes by membrane perm-vaporation. When one wishes to separate noncondensable gases by a membrane technique, his first consideration should be whether a silicone rubber membrane can be used. This stems from the unusually high permeability of silicone rubber, indicated in TABLE 1, a tabulation of 0, permeabilities in various membranes.
Novel kingdom-level eukaryotic diversity in anoxic environments

Molecular evolutionary studies of eukaryotes have relied on a sparse collection of gene sequences that do not represent the full range of eukaryotic diversity in nature. Anaerobic microbes, particularly, have had little representation in phylogenetic studies. Such organisms are the least known of eukaryotes and probably are the most phylogenetically diverse. To provide fresh perspective on the natural diversity of eukaryotes in anoxic environments and also to discover novel sequences for evolutionary studies, we conducted a cultivation-independent, molecular phylogenetic survey of three anoxic sediments, including both freshwater and marine samples. Many previously unrecognized eukaryotes were identified, including representatives of seven lineages that are not specifically related to any known organisms at the kingdom-level and branch below the eukaryotic “crown” radiation of animals, plants, fungi, stramenopiles, etc. The survey additionally identified new sequences characteristic of known ecologically important eukaryotic groups with anaerobic members. Phylogenetic analyses with the new sequences enhance our understanding of the diversity and pattern of eukaryotic evolution.
MicroRNA-155-3p Mediates TNF-α-Inhibited Cementoblast Differentiation

Periodontitis is a prevalent and chronic inflammatory disease that is interrelated with systemic health. Periodontitis can be promoted by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Cementum, a vital part of the periodontium, is a bone-like mineralized tissue that is produced by cementoblasts. Our laboratory previously revealed that TNF-α inhibits cementoblast differentiation and mineralization. However, how TNF-α modulates cementoblast differentiation and mineralization remains largely unknown. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is induced and regulates TNF-α-inhibited osteogenic differentiation. In this study, we found that miR-155-3p was increased during TNF-α-stimulated OCCM-30 cells and involved in cementoblast differentiation and mineralization. Overexpression of miR-155-3p suppressed cementoblast mineralization. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 1 (Kctd1) is a candidate target gene of miR-155-3p. Moreover, miR-155-3p overexpression suppressed KCTD1 levels. Meanwhile, its knockdown increased KCTD1 expression. Transfection with miR-155-3p also inhibited the luciferase activity of 3′-untranslated regions in the Kctd1 wild type but not the mutant. These data indicated that Kctd1 is a direct and novel target of miR-155-3p. The Wnt signaling pathway inhibits cementoblast differentiation, and we further demonstrated that miR-155-3p partially modulates cementoblast differentiation through the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. In addition to the gain/loss function assay of miR-155-3p, the luciferase activity assay of canonical Wnt signaling was performed. The assays revealed that miR-155-3p increased β-catenin-mediated transcriptional activation. Overall, our data clarified that miR-155-3p mediated TNF-α-inhibited cementoblast differentiation by targeting Kctd1, at least partially through canonical Wnt signaling pathway. These findings reveal the expanded function of miRNAs in cementoblast differentiation and mineralization.
Software project process management maturity and project performance: An examination of Taiwan's software companies

Researchers and practitioners argue that an inadequate software development process is one critical factor accounting for high project failure rates. a result, the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) was introduced by the Software Engineering Institute as a guideline for advanc­ ing project maturity and improving the odds of project success. To investigate the effectiveness of applying the principles of the CMM, a survey was conducted of 196 Information System managers in Taiwan. The results indicate that a more mature software development process reduces the extent of certain risks experienced during the project development and enables better project performance. Managerial implications regarding the CMM are described.
Replication of ICP0-Null Mutant Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Is Restricted by both PML and Sp100

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) mutants that fail to express the viral immediate-early protein ICP0 have a pronounced defect in viral gene expression and plaque formation in limited-passage human fibroblasts. ICP0 is a RING finger E3 ubiquitin ligase that induces the degradation of several cellular proteins. PML, the organizer of cellular nuclear substructures known as PML nuclear bodies or ND10, is one of the most notable proteins that is targeted by ICP0. Depletion of PML from human fibroblasts increases ICP0-null mutant HSV-1 gene expression, but not to wild-type levels. In this study, we report that depletion of Sp100, another major ND10 protein, results in a similar increase in ICP0-null mutant gene expression and that simultaneous depletion of both proteins complements the mutant virus to a greater degree. Although chromatin assembly and modification undoubtedly play major roles in the regulation of HSV-1 infection, we found that inhibition of histone deacetylase activity with trichostatin A was unable to complement the defect of ICP0-null mutant HSV-1 in either normal or PML-depleted human fibroblasts. These data lend further weight to the hypothesis that ND10 play an important role in the regulation of HSV-1 gene expression.
Synaptic localization of SAPAP1, a synaptic membrane‐associated protein

Background: SAPAP1 was originally identified as a protein interacting with the guanylate kinase domain of PSD‐95. SAPAP1 also interacts with various proteins, including neurofilaments, synaptic scaffolding molecule (S‐SCAM), nArgBP2, dynein light chain and Shank through different regions.
Existence and uniqueness of open-loop Nash equilibria in linear-quadratic discrete time games

We present existence and uniqueness results for an equilibrium in an M-person Nash game with quadratic performance criteria and a linear difference equation as constraint, describing the system dynamics under an open-loop information pattern. The approach used is the construction of a value function which leads to existence assertions in terms of solvability of certain symmetric and nonsymmetric Riccati difference equations.
Log it While it's Hot: Designing Human Interaction with Smart Thermostats for Shared Work Environments

Smart thermostats offer impressive scope for adapting to users' thermal comfort preferences and saving energy in shared work environments. Yet human interactions with smart thermostats thus far amount to an assumption from designers that users are willing and able to provide unbiased data at regular intervals; which may be unrealistic. In this paper we highlight the variety of social factors which complicate users' relationships with smart thermostats in shared work environments. These include social dynamics, expectations, and contextually specific factors that influence motivations for interaction with the system. In response we outline our framework towards a Smarter Thermostat: one which better accounts for these messy social inevitabilities, is equipped for a decline in user feedback over time and one which augments rather than attempts to replaces human intelligence- thereby ensuring a smarter thermostat does not create dumber humans.
Preoperative quadriceps strength is a significant predictor of knee function two years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objective: To identify preoperative predictive factors for knee function two years after reconstructive surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The main hypothesis was that preoperative quadriceps strength would be the most significant predictor for knee function two years after reconstructive surgery. Design: Cohort study. Setting: ACL injured individuals treated at a University Hospital and an outpatient clinic in Oslo, Norway. Participants: Seventy-three individuals with complete unilateral rupture of the ACL scheduled for reconstruction with a bone-patellar-bone autograft were included in the study, from where 60 were available for two-year follow up and included in the final analyses. Interventions: Not applicable. Main outcome measurements: Identification of baseline independent variables that may predict knee function assessed with the Cincinnati Knee Score as dependent variable two years after ACL reconstruction. Results: Quadriceps muscle strength, meniscus injury and the Short-Form-36 Bodily Pain sub score were identified as significant predictors for knee function assessed from the Cincinnati Knee Score two years after ACL reconstruction. Individuals with preoperative quadriceps strength deficits above 20% also had persistent significantly larger strength deficits two years after surgery. Conclusions: Preoperative quadriceps muscle strength deficits and meniscus injuries have significant negative consequences for the long-term functional outcome after ACL reconstruction. From our findings we suggest that ACL reconstruction should not be performed before quadriceps muscle strength deficits of the injured limb is less than 20% of the uninjured limb.
The effect of carrageenan on delayed hypersensitivity reactions.

Administration of carrageenan to tuberculin-sensitive guinea pigs resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of delayed hypersensitivity. Recovery was complete 1 week after drug administration. The suppressive activity was not correlated with anticomplementary or anticoagulant activity. It is suggested that carrageenan exerts its effect as a result of its toxicity for macrophages, acting through lysosomal damage and the release of intracellular enzymes.
Minimally invasive approaches for gastric cancer—Korean experience

Laparoscopic surgery in Korea increased rapidly because of the early detection of gastric cancer by the development of diagnostic tools and nationwide screening. The Korean Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study Group (KLASS group) played a leading role in various projects related with minimally invasive surgery. The justification of minimally invasive procedures including robotic surgery, sentinel‐node biopsy, or single‐port surgery/Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) must be predetermined by the clinical trial before a wide application, and the medical industry as well as surgeons should have great responsibility. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013;107:277–281. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On Random Access Channel Performance and M2M Support in Standalone LTE Unlicensed

Next generation telecommunication systems are required to efficiently support orders of magnitude larger amount of devices per cell than the current LTE networks. This requirement is causing major design challenges for the Random Access Channel (RACH), especially for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications. On the other hand, due to the increasing spectrum demands, LTE vendors are exploring unlicensed spectrum. For example, MulteFire has been recently standardized as an LTE- based technology for standalone deployment in unlicensed 5GHz frequency bands. It is reasonable to expect that the coexistence with Wi-Fi and standalone LTE in the unlicensed spectrum, will amplify Random Access problem and worsen RACH performance. Henceforth, in this paper, we quantify the Wi-Fi-LTE coexistence and its impact on the RACH performance. We consider a synchronized activation of a large amount of UEs in an MulteFire/LTE unlicensed cell, and analyze the time it takes to connect all of them to the base station. Our results confirm that the presence of Wi-Fi substantially degrades RACH performance, with an increase of almost 50% per additional Wi-Fi station. Furthermore, we illustrate applications of our evaluation for RACH resource dimensioning and network planning.
Obsolescence Challenges for Product-Service Systems in Aerospace and Defence Industry

The aerospace and defence industries are moving towards new types of agreement such as availability contracts based on Product-Service System (PSS) business models. Obsolescence has become one of the main problems that will impact on many areas of the system during its life cycle. This paper presents the major challenges to managing obsolescence for availability contracts, identified by means of a comprehensive literature review and several interviews and forums with experts in obsolescence management. It is observed that there is a lack of understanding of the impact of obsolescence on whole life cost. Experts agree that the development of a framework to support estimation, management, and mitigation of these costs is desirable, but the difficulty in forecasting future obsolescence issues constrains industry to a reactive approach rather than proactive.
Nosocomial Outbreak of Parechovirus 3 Infection among Newborns, Austria, 2014

In 2014, sepsis-like illness affected 9 full-term newborns in 1 hospital in Austria. Although results of initial microbiological testing were negative, electron microscopy identified picornavirus. Archived serum samples and feces obtained after discharge were positive by PCR for human parechovirus 3. This infection should be included in differential diagnoses of sepsis-like illness in newborns.
Trees harvesting the clouds: fog nets threatened by climate change.

The major direct drivers of environmental change in mountains are relief, hydroclimate and land use. Mountain forests affected by persistent seasonal or annual fog are called montane cloud forests (Bubb et al. 2004). On the slopes of temperate mountains, the elevation of the cloud base marks the transition from mon-tane (hardwood-deciduous, lower-altitude) to cloud (conifer-evergreen, higher-altitude) forests (Braun 1964). Montane cloud forests intercept fog and cloud droplets (horizontal precipitation), which can add substantial amounts of water to the hydrologic system (Bruijnzeel et al. 2011). Suppressed incoming radiation and transpiration rates may also be favourable for low water use (Bruijnzeel and Veneklaas 1998). Fog drip and cloud shading regulate ecosystem water balance and atmospheric vapour pressure deficit. In an intensified drought scenario (McDowell et al. 2011), in which water is the primary limiting factor to vegetation growth, horizontal precipitation and low transpiration might have a significant impact on water availability and, thus, shape mountain vegetation significantly. A potential increase in cloud base height and associated effects, on energy and water balance, underlie concerns regarding how cloud regime and fog frequency may be altered in coming decades (Williams et al. 2015). The combination of shallow root systems, reduced photosynthetic rates and lower air temperatures of temperate montane cloud forests may lead to increased sensitivity of vegetation damage by drought and warrants revisiting the sensitivity of stomatal con-ductance to varying vapour pressure deficit and regulation of water potential in these foggy ecosystems (Jane and Green 1985). Discontinuities in vegetation composition and community structure may offer insights into the factors controlling ecological processes along environmental gradients, such as those associated with elevational changes in temperature and moisture (Martin et al. 2007). Discrete montane forest ecotones are associated with pronounced environmental (and micro-environmental) disconti-nuities or with contrasting disturbance history (Palombo et al. 2014). However, the ecophysiological consequences of water uptake and transport mechanisms in temperate montane cloud forest tree species remain largely unexplored, as do the feedbacks on vegetation boundaries and interactions with atmospheric depositions. In this issue, Berry et al. (2015) compare plant water status during cloud-immersed and non-immersed conditions and hydraulic vulnerability in branches and roots of species across a temperate , mountain fog ecotone. Cloud forest species were expected to have less drought-resistance characteristics (e.g., lower water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity) and greater improvements in hydraulic functioning during fog relative to non-cloud forest species. In both conifer cloud forest …
Rectification Properties and Ca2+ Permeability of Glutamate Receptor Channels in Hippocampal Cells

Excitatory amino acids exert a depolarizing action on central nervous system cells through an increase in cationic conductances. Non‐NMDA receptors have been considered to be selectively permeable to Na+ and K+, while Ca2+ influx has been thought to occur through the NMDA receptor subtype. Recently, however, the expression of cloned non‐NMDA receptor subunits has shown that α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors are permeable to Ca2+ whenever the receptor lacks a particular subunit (edited GluR‐B). The behaviour of recombinant glutamate receptor channels predicts that Ca2+ would only permeate through receptors that show strong inward rectification and vice versa, i.e. AMPA receptors with linear current‐voltage relationships would be impermeable to Ca2+ . Using the whole‐cell configuration of the patch‐clamp technique, we have studied the Ca2+ permeability and the rectifying properties of AMPA receptors, when activated by kainate, in hippocampal neurons kept in culture or acutely dissociated from differentiated hippocampus. Cells were classified according to whether they showed outward rectifying (type I), inward rectifying (type II) or almost linear (type III) current‐voltage relationships for kainate‐activated responses. AMPA receptors of type I cells (52.2%) were mostly Ca2+‐impermeable (PcaIPcs= 0.1) while type II cells (6.5%) expressed Ca2+‐permeable receptors (PcaIPcs=0.9). Type III cells (41.3%) showed responses with low but not negligible Ca2+ permeability (PcaIPcs= 0.18). The degree of Ca2+ permeability and inward rectification were well correlated in cultured cells, i.e. more inward rectification corresponded to higher Ca2+ permeability. In acutely dissociated neurons, the restricted activation of the receptors located either in dendritic or somatic membranes revealed that inward rectifying (i.e. Ca2+‐permeable) AMPA receptors are preferentially located in the dendritic shaft (i.e. synaptic field). Our results indicate that oligomeric AMPA receptors of different subunit composition are coexpressed in dissimilar proportions in different cells, which would explain the incomplete inward rectification and graded Ca2+ permeability. In addition, Ca2+‐permeable AMPA receptors may exhibit non‐homogeneous subcellular distribution.