Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Duplication-Aware SSD-Based Cache Architecture for Primary Storage in Virtualization Environment

With the advantages of low latency, high performance, and low power consumption, solid state drives (SSDs) have been widely deployed as the cache layer between memory and back-end low-speed storage devices to narrow the performance gap between CPU and storage system. However, in virtualization environment, the high integration of virtual machines can introduce a lot of duplicate data blocks in the cache device. Existing cache architectures and replacement algorithms rarely take this situation into consideration. This greatly limits the efficient use of the cache device. For this case, we proposed a duplication-aware SSD-based cache architecture. In this architecture, duplicate data blocks can be significantly reduced, and the utilization efficiency of the cache device will be notably improved. Furthermore, to reduce the cache replacement overhead, we also proposed an improved adaptive replacement cache (ARC)-based replacement strategy, which we named D-ARC. Experiment results show that, in some situations, our cache architecture can improve the cache hit ratio by five times, reduce the average I/O latency by 63%, and eliminate SDD writes by 81%. Compared with the ARC-based replacement strategy, D-ARC can provide a performance improvement by about 16% if the configuration is set appropriately.
Mammalian SMC3 C-terminal and Coiled-coil Protein Domains Specifically Bind Palindromic DNA, Do Not Block DNA Ends, and Prevent DNA Bending*

The C-terminal domains of yeast structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) proteins were previously shown to bind double-stranded DNA, which generated the idea of the antiparallel SMC heterodimer, such as the SMC1/3 dimer, bridging two DNA molecules. Analysis of bovine SMC1 and SMC3 protein domains now reveals that not only the C-terminal domains, but also the coiled-coil region, binds DNA, while the N terminus is inactive. Duplex DNA and DNA molecules with secondary structures are highly preferred substrates for both the C-terminal and coiled-coil domains. Contrasting other cruciform DNA-binding proteins like HMG1, the SMC3 C-terminal and coiled-coil domains do not bend DNA, but rather prevent bending in ring closure assays. Phosphatase, exonuclease, and ligase assays showed that neither domain renders DNA ends inaccessible for other enzymes. These observations allow modifications of models for SMC-DNA interactions.
GEOSAT Altimeter Observations of Kelvin Waves and the 1986-87 El Ni�o

Two years of GEOSAT altimeter observations are used to investigate the response of sea level to anomalous westerly wind bursts in the tropical Pacific Ocean before and during the 1986-87 El Ni�o. Sea level time series along the equator show examples of both positive and negative anomalies of 10-centimeter amplitude and 2- to 4-week time scale propagating across the Pacific with phase speeds of 2.4 to 2.8 meters per second, suggesting downwelling and upwelling Kelvin waves, respectively. A comparison of island wind observations with sea level indicates one instance (May 1986) in which a positive sea level anomaly can be related to westerly winds caused by a cross-equatorial cyclone pair in the western Pacific. This episode was followed by additional wind bursts later in the year, and finally by sustained westerlies in the western Pacific during November-December 1986, at the height of El Ni�o. The GEOSAT observations reveal the sea level response to these meteorological events and provide a synoptic description of the El Ni�o oceanographic phenomenon.
Codeine concentration in hair after oral administration is dependent on melanin content.

BACKGROUND Analysis of drugs in hair has been used on a qualitative basis to estimate earlier exposure to drugs. Clinical applications are rare because of the lack of dose-response relationships in the studies performed to date, and questions remain regarding the mechanisms of drug incorporation into hair. Several human studies have shown differences in drug accumulation between pigmented and nonpigmented hair. However, the melanin concentration in hair was not determined and correlated to the amount of drug incorporated. METHODS Nine human subjects were given codeine as a single oral dose, and plasma codeine concentrations were determined for 24 h, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Hair samples were obtained weekly for a month. Total melanin, eumelanin, and codeine were measured quantitatively in hair samples by spectrophotometry, HPLC, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. RESULTS There was an exponential relationship between codeine and melanin concentrations in hair, (r(2) = 0.95 with total melanin and r(2) = 0.83 with eumelanin). After normalizing the results by the area under the curve for codeine in plasma, we obtained r(2) = 0.86 for codeine vs total melanin and r(2) = 0.90 vs eumelanin. CONCLUSIONS Our results stress the importance of melanin determination when measuring drugs in hair. We postulate that analysis of drug concentration in hair may be worthwhile in the monitoring of drug compliance if the results are normalized for melanin content.
Development of colour and firmness in strawberry crops is UV light sensitive, but colour is not a good predictor of several quality parameters.

BACKGROUND Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne var. Elsanta) plants were grown in polytunnels covered with three polythene films that transmitted varying levels of ultraviolet (UV) light. Fruit were harvested under near-commercial conditions and quality and yield were measured. During ripening, changes in the colour parameters of individual fruit were monitored, and the accuracy of using surface colour to predict other quality parameters was determined by analysing the correlation between colour and quality parameters within UV treatments. RESULTS Higher exposure to UV during growth resulted in the fruit becoming darker at harvest and developing surface colour more quickly; fruit were also firmer at harvest, but shelf life was not consistently affected by the UV regime. Surface colour measurements were poorly correlated to firmness, shelf life or total phenolics, anthocyanins and ellagic acid contents. CONCLUSION Although surface colour of strawberry fruits was affected by the UV regime during growth, and this parameter is an important factor in consumer perception, we concluded that the surface colour at the time of harvest was, contrary to consumer expectations, a poor indicator of firmness, potential shelf life or anthocyanin content.
Early Ceremonial Constructions at Ceibal, Guatemala, and the Origins of Lowland Maya Civilization

Early Mayan Architects Lowland Mayan civilizations began to construct dramatic pyramids beginning about 900 BCE. The cultural origins of these civilizations have been uncertain, particularly the connection to earlier Olmec cultures along the Gulf of Mexico. Inomata et al. (p. 467; see the cover; see the News story by Pringle) describe excavations and extensive radiocarbon dating at the early Mayan city of Ceibal in Guatamala. The site shows incipient plaza and pyramid construction beginning before those seen in the lowlands or Olmec areas, suggesting a broader cultural exchange through to the Pacific Coast as Mayan cultures evolved. Excavations at the Mayan city of Ceibal, Guatemala, reveal early examples of plazas and pyramids. The spread of plaza-pyramid complexes across southern Mesoamerica during the early Middle Preclassic period (1000 to 700 BCE) provides critical information regarding the origins of lowland Maya civilization and the role of the Gulf Coast Olmec. Recent excavations at the Maya site of Ceibal, Guatemala, documented the growth of a formal ceremonial space into a plaza-pyramid complex that predated comparable buildings at other lowland Maya sites and major occupations at the Olmec center of La Venta. The development of lowland Maya civilization did not result from one-directional influence from La Venta, but from interregional interactions, involving groups in the southwestern Maya lowlands, Chiapas, the Pacific Coast, and the southern Gulf Coast.
Inhibition of the defense system stimulating interleukin-12 interferon-gamma pathway during critical Illness.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) exert protective effects during experimental endotoxemia through upregulation of cellular immunity and phagocytic functions. They are part of a positive regulatory feedback loop that enhances the production of the other. Because critically ill patients show a marked suppression of T-cell and macrophage functions with a high susceptibility to infection, potential defects in the immunity/inflammation upregulating IL-12 IFN-gamma pathway were studied. As an ex vivo model of endotoxemia, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated whole blood from 25 critically ill patients and 12 healthy individuals was incubated with either recombinant human (rh) IL-12 or rhIFN-gamma, respectively. IFN-gamma dose-dependently (P < .05) increased the release of IL-12 p40 and p70 into LPS-stimulated whole blood from healthy humans without effect in whole blood from critically ill patients. RhIL-12 p70 enhanced (P < .05) the secretion of IFN-gamma in controls, while it was ineffective in LPS-stimulated whole blood from critically ill patients. The observed inhibition of the IL-12 IFN-gamma pathway is not specific to LPS, since Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC)-stimulated whole blood from critically ill patients showed similar suppression. The secretion of IL-12 and IFN-gamma was less reduced in critically ill patients when using isolated cultures of adherent cells or lymphocytes. Although preculture of whole blood from healthy humans with IL-10, but not with IL-4, mimicked suppression of the IL-12 IFN-gamma pathway similar to that observed during critical illness, the release of antiinflammatory reacting cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta 1) was decreased into LPS-stimulated whole blood from critically ill patients. These results indicate at least two mechanisms responsible for dramatic disturbances of the IL-12 IFN-gamma pathway during critical illness: (1) deactivation of IL-12 and IFN-gamma producing leukocytes in vivo early after the primary insult, and (2) presence of serum suppressive factors different from IL-4, IL-10, or TGF-beta 1. Because IL-12 and IFN-gamma upregulate essential immune functions, the marked inhibition of IL-12 and IFN-gamma release may be pivotal for high susceptibility of critically ill patients to infection.
Modified conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy for upper lacrimal system obstruction.

OBJECTIVE To describe a modified technique for conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) and to compare this technique with the standard transcaruncular placement of the glass tube. METHODS Patients with upper lacrimal system obstruction underwent CDCR at the Jules Stein Eye Institute during a 3-year period. Thirteen patients underwent modified CDCR leaving the caruncle intact, while 7 patients underwent Jones glass tubes placement through a caruncular incision (conventional CDCR). Data regarding ocular and tearing history were recorded and analyzed. Success rates, defined as complete improvement in tearing, were compared between patients who underwent standard CDCR and those who underwent modified CDCR. Main outcome measures included symptom relief, patients' tolerance of the Jones tube, and surgical complications. RESULTS Nineteen patients (12 men and 7 women; mean age, 66 years) underwent 20 CDCR surgical procedures with Jones tube placement. Previous lacrimal history included malignancy of the ocular adnexa, trauma, chemotherapy, and previous failed dacryocystorhinostomy. Success was found in 13 surgical cases (65%) and partial improvement was found in 4, giving a qualified success rate of 85%. Patients who underwent modified CDCR were more likely to undergo a successful surgery compared with patients who underwent conventional CDCR, with 11 (85%) of 13 cases achieving complete improvement vs 2 (29%) of 7 cases in the conventional CDCR group (P = .03, Fisher exact test). Complications included 1 case of migration and loss of the Jones tube. CONCLUSION Modified CDCR results in partial or complete resolution of tearing in nearly 92% of cases, allowing for an improved outcome both functionally and cosmetically compared with conventional CDCR.
Energy-Efficiency Comparison of Multi-Layer Deposited Nanophotonic Crossbar Interconnects

Single-layer optical crossbar interconnections based on Wavelength Division Multiplexing stand among other nanophotonic interconnects because of their low latency and low power. However, such architectures suffer from a poor scalability due to losses induced by long propagation distances on waveguides and waveguide crossings. Multi-layer deposited silicon technology allows the stacking of optical layers that are connected by means of Optical Vertical Couplers. This allows significant reduction in the optical losses, which contributes to improve the interconnect scalability but also leads to new challenges related to network designs and layouts. In this article, we investigate the design of optical crossbars using multi-layer silicon deposited technology. We propose implementations for Ring-, Matrix-, λ-router-, and Snake-based topologies. Layouts avoiding waveguide crossings are compared to those minimizing the waveguide length according to worst-case and average losses. The laser output power is estimated from the losses, which allows us to evaluate the energy efficiency improvement induced by multi-layer technology over traditional planar implementations (33% on average). Finally, networks comparison has been carried out and the results show that the ring topology leads to a 43% reduction in the laser output power.
Worldwide Trends in Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving

Improved laws, enhanced enforcement, and public awareness brought about by citizens' concern, during the 1980s led to dramatic declines in drinking and driving in the industrialized world. The declines included about 50% in Great Britain, 28% in The Netherlands, 28% in Canada, 32% in Australia, 39% in France, 37% in Germany, and 26% in the United States. Some of these declines may be due in part to lifestyle changes, demographic shifts, and economic conditions. In most countries the declines reversed in the early 1990s and drinking and driving began to increase. By the middle of that decade the increases stabilized and the rates of drinking and driving again began to decline. These decreases were much less dramatic than those in the 1980s. Approaching the end of the 1990s and early in the new century, the record has been mixed. Some countries (France and Germany (until 2002)) continued to reduce drinking and driving while in other countries (Canada, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the United States), there was stagnation and in some cases small increases or even large increase as was the case in Sweden. Complacency and attention to other issues in recent years have been difficult to overcome in some countries. Harmonization of traffic safety laws in the European Union has strengthened laws in some countries but threatens existing strong policies in others. It may be that the major gains have already been made and that additional progress will require a much greater level of scientific knowledge, use of new and emerging technologies, and political and social commitment to put in place proven countermeasures.
PLACENTA PRAEVIA: CORRELATION WITH CAESAREAN SECTIONS, MULTIPARITY AND SMOKING

Objective: This study is planned to assess the various risk factors of placenta previa such as with multi-parity, previous caesarean section and smoking. Methodology: This study conducted at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, J.L. N.Medicalcollege, Ajmer from Oct 2009 to September 201. Detailed obstetrical and surgical history were documented. All those attending antenatal clinic in third trimester of pregnancy, 32 weeks onwards with or without symptoms of placenta previa and showing placental implantation in lower uterine segment and In the obstetric ward all the patients presented in emergency (unbooked) with antepartum haemorrhage and diagnosed as case of placenta previa by Ultrasound examination, were documented. Statistical analysis was performed using the Vasserstats software, Chi square test; Risk ratio and Percentage of incidence were used to show association of risk factors with PP, where appropriate. Results: Out of total admissions, 4000 patients at random were taken for the study.150 patients were diagnosed as placenta previa of various degrees. Out of the 150 PP patients, 72 were multipara, 65 were grand multipara and rest were primigrvida.400 patients had previous history of one or more caesarean section.85 patients are those who smoked, having placenta previa. Conclusion: The data of this study is concluded that there is a good association between increasing incidence of placenta previa with the increase in parity (p<0.001), c-sections (p<0.001), and smoking (p<0.0001, RR=4.5, CI: 95).
A parameterized multifrequency-polarization surface emission model

This study develops a parameterized bare surface emission model for the applications in analyses of the passive microwave satellite measurements from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). We first evaluated the capability of the advanced integral equation model (AIEM) in simulating wide-band and high-incidence surface emission signals in comparison with INRA's field experimental data obtained in 1993. The evaluation results showed a very good agreement. With the confirmed confidence, we generated a bare surface emission database for a wide range of surface dielectric and roughness properties under AMSR-E sensor configurations using the AIEM model. Through the evaluations of the commonly used semiempirical models with both the AIEM simulated and the field experimental data, we developed a parameterized multifrequency-polarization surface emission model-the Qp model. This model relates the effects of the surface roughness on the emission signals through the roughness variable Qp at the polarization p. The Qp can be simply described as a single-surface roughness property-the ratio of the surface rms height and the correlation length. The comparison of the emissivity simulations by the Qp and AIEM models indicated that the absolute error is extremely small at the magnitude of 10/sup -3/. The newly developed surface emission model should be very useful in modeling, improving our understanding, analyses, and predictions of the AMSR-E measurements.
“UnPAKing” Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Replication: Using Small Interfering RNA Screening To Identify Novel Cofactors and Elucidate the Role of Group I PAKs in HIV Infection

ABSTRACT In order to identify novel proviral host factors involved in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we performed a screen of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) library targeting 5,000 genes with the highest potential for being targets for therapeutics. Many siRNAs in the library against known host factors, such as TSG101, furin, and CXCR4, were identified as inhibitors by the screen and thus served as internal validation. In addition, many novel factors whose knockdown inhibited infection were identified, including Pak3, a member of the serine/threonine group I PAK kinases. The HIV accessory factor Nef has been shown to associate with a PAK kinase, leading to enhanced viral production; however, the exact identity of the kinase has remained controversial. Prompted by the Pak3 screen hit, we further investigated the involvement of group I PAK kinases in HIV using siRNA. Contrary to the current literature, Pak1 depletion strongly inhibited HIV infection in multiple cell systems and decreased levels of integrated provirus, while Pak2 depletion showed no effect. Overexpression of a constitutively active Pak1 mutant also enhanced HIV infection, further supporting its role as the dominant PAK involved.
Comments on the Mechanism of Microbial Cell Disruption in High‐Pressure and High‐Speed Devices

The dominant mechanism for microbial cell disruption in a high‐pressure homogenizer and a high‐speed homogenizer used in this study has been identified. It was found that the cavity collapse and the pressure pulse resulting from such a collapse have a significant influence on the rates of cell disruption. The similarities among the operating conditions for the decomposition of the aqueous KI solution to liberate iodine, the reaction occurring only under cavitating conditions, and that required for the substantial disruption of microbial cells have been pointed out. The liberation of iodine by the aqueous KI decomposition is treated as evidence of cavitation, and hence microbial cell disruption occurring at an identical discharge pressure confirms the mechanism of cell disruption as cavitation, in the high‐pressure homogenizer valve. In the case of the high‐speed homogenizer, shear and cavitation both play a significant role in cell disruption.
COMAR Technical Information Statement: Expert Reviews on Potential Health Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and Comments on the BioInitiative Report

The Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR) is a technical committee of the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Its primary area of interest is biological effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, including radiofrequency (RF) energy. The public interest in possible health effects attributed to RF energy, such as emitted by mobile phones, wireless telephone base stations, TV and radio broadcasting facilities, Wi-Fi systems and many other sources, has been accompanied by commentary in the media that varies considerably in reliability and usefulness for their audience. The focus of this COMAR Technical Information Statement is to identify quality sources of scientific information on potential health risks from exposure to RF energy. This Statement provides readers with references to expert reports and other reliable sources of information about this topic, most of which are available on the Internet. This report summarizes the conclusions from several major reports and comments on the markedly different conclusions in the BioInitiative Report (abbreviated BIR below). Since appearing on the Internet in August 2007, the BIR has received much media attention but, more recently, has been criticized by several health organizations (see Section titled “Views of health agencies about BIR”). COMAR concludes that the weight of scientific evidence in the RF bioeffects literature does not support the safety limits recommended by the BioInitiative group. For this reason, COMAR recommends that public health officials continue to base their policies on RF safety limits recommended by established and sanctioned international organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, which is formally related to the World Health Organization.
A simple model of effective elastic properties of materials with inclusions

The aim of this study is to develop a simple phenomenological model for the elastic moduli of a composite material formed by localized inclusions embedded in an elastic matrix. It is assumed that the material can be characterised by only two aggregated parameters, viz., volume fraction of inclusions and their resonance frequency within the elastic matrix. The values of these two parameters are assumed to be given (i.e. from experimental measurements) or deduced from other models (also presented in the paper). The shear wave velocity in the elastic matrix is assumed to be much smaller than the velocity of longitudinal waves. A simple analytical expression for the effective longitudinal w ave velocity that is uniformly valid for the entire frequency domain is derived (including proximity to the resonance frequency of inclusions) and validated with some paradigmatic results of the mean-field theories.