Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
System-Level Performance Metrics for Multiprogram Workloads

Assessing the performance of multiprogram workloads running on multithreaded hardware is difficult because it involves a balance between single-program performance and overall system performance. This article argues for developing multiprogram performance metrics in a top-down fashion starting from system-level objectives. The authors propose two performance metrics: average normalized turnaround time, a user-oriented metric, and system throughput, a system-oriented metric.
Measurements of x‐ray emission from rocket‐triggered lightning

We report measurements of the x‐ray emission from rocket‐triggered lightning, made during the summer of 2003, using four instruments placed between 15 and 40 m from the lightning channels. X‐rays were measured 0–80 μs just prior to and at the beginning of 73% of the 26 return strokes observed. The emission was composed of multiple, very brief bursts of x‐rays in the 30–250 keV range, with each burst typically lasting less than 1 μs. The x‐rays were primarily observed to be spatially and temporally associated with the dart leaders with a possible contribution from the beginning of the return strokes, with the most intense x‐ray bursts coming from the part of the lightning channel within ∼50 m of the ground. Because triggered lightning strokes are similar to subsequent strokes in natural lightning, it is likely that x‐ray emission is a common property of natural lightning.
A Watershed in White House Journalism: Explaining the Post-1968 Rise of Aggressive Presidential News

Presidential journalism is known to have grown substantially more aggressive through the 1970s and beyond, but a definitive explanation for this trend remains elusive. Some suggest that events surrounding Vietnam and Watergate transformed the professional norms of journalism. However, the trend could also be a more superficial and transitory response to other circumstantial factors that converged in the same time period, such as president-level characteristics (the prevalence of Republicans, Washington outsiders, and more vigorous news management efforts), the political environment (the rise of official discord), and the economic environment (a downturn in the business cycle). This study disentangles these various factors and assesses their relative success in explaining trends in journalistic conduct in the postwar era. Data are drawn from a large sample of presidential news conferences from 1953 through 2000, focusing on the aggressiveness of journalists' questions. The results strongly support the normative shift hypothesis, although economic factors have also been consequential. These results suggest a punctuated equilibrium model of journalistic change in relations between the White House press corps and the presidency.
Reconstituted high-density lipoprotein suppresses leukocyte NADPH oxidase activation by disrupting lipid rafts

Reconstituted discoidal high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) has potent vascular protective actions. Native HDL suppresses cellular generation of reactive oxygen species, whereas this antioxidant effect of rHDL is less clear. This study examined the effects of rHDL on NADPH oxidase, a major source of cellular superoxide generation, in both leukocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Superoxide was measured with lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. Expression of NADPH oxidase sub-units was determined by real-time PCR. Pre-treatment of HL-60 cells with rHDL (10 and 25 µM) for 1 h significantly reduced phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated superoxide production. Treatment with rHDL for up to 24 h did not change the mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase sub-units. In HL-60 cells, depletion of cholesterol from the plasma membrane by methyl-β-cyclodextrin mimicked the effect of rHDL, whereas cholesterol repletion blunted the effects of rHDL. Treatment with rHDL induced disruption of the lipid raft structures and blunted PMA-induced redistribution of p47phox into lipid rafts. In contrast, treatment of endothelial cells with rHDL for up to 18 h had no effect on either basal or tumour necrosis factor-α-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity, but markedly suppressed the cytokine-induced expression of proinflammatory adhesion molecules. The results suggest that rHDL inhibits NADPH oxidase activation in leukocytes, probably by interrupting the assembly of NADPH oxidase sub-units at the lipid rafts. This effect may contribute to the vascular protective actions of rHDL against inflammation-mediated oxidative damage.
Can Matched Savings Stimulate Asset Accumulation ? Theory and Evidence from a Field Experiment in Mozambique

Matched Savings (MS) accounts offer a financial incentive of have been quite successful in stimulating capital accumulation among low-income households in the USA and other developed countries, yet the implementation and evaluation of this approach in developing countries has been scarce.This paper offers an analysis of a savings and Matched Savings program implemented in rural Mozambique. In a field experiment involving 1,436 maize producers in Mozambique, we randomly assigned localities to either a Savings Treatment (ST), which offered financial education, or a Matched Savings Treatment (MST), which added a 50% match on savings between harvest and planting season to the ST . A theoretical analysis identifies three mechanisms through which MS can allow the beneficiary to transit out of povery 1)the learning subsidy effect allows the beneficiary to learn about the benefits of owning a savings account, 2) the Conditional Cash Transfer Effect increases the asset of the beneficiary, both as a result of the cash transfer and the incentive to save that it provides, and 3) the self-selection effect increases efficiency because beneficiaries who have the possibility to transit out of poverty will self-select into the program and make more effort to accumulate assets and receive a higher match. The primary empirical evidence show that in its first year, the MST increased the number of beneficiaries who hold a savings account by 20 percentage points and increased savings in banks 2.7 times more than the ST, at the expense of informal savings. We also find some evidence of a reduction in the consumption of the beneficiaries. These new findings contribute to developing new ways for policy makers to promote micro-savings and change poverty dynamics.
Effector Regulatory T Cells Reflect the Equilibrium between Antitumor Immunity and Autoimmunity in Adult T-cell Leukemia

Anti-CCR4 treatment of ATL destroys leukemic and normal Tregs, which can lead to autoimmunity. Only leukemic Tregs expressed CADM1, distinguishing the two populations. Treg depletion was associated with autoimmunity and Treg reemergence with relapse of ATL. The regulatory T cells (Treg) with the most potent immunosuppressive activity are the effector Tregs (eTreg) with a CD45RA–Foxp3++CCR4+ phenotype. Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells often share the Treg phenotype and also express CCR4. Although mogamulizumab, a monoclonal antibody to CCR4, shows marked antitumor effects against ATL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, concerns have been raised that it may induce severe autoimmune immunopathology by depleting eTregs. Here, we present case reports for two patients with ATL who responded to mogamulizumab but developed a severe skin rash and autoimmune brainstem encephalitis. Deep sequencing of the T-cell receptor revealed that ATL cells and naturally occurring Tregs within the cell population with a Treg phenotype can be clearly distinguished according to CADM1 expression. The onset of skin rash and brainstem encephalitis was coincident with eTreg depletion from the peripheral blood, whereas ATL relapses were coincident with eTreg recovery. These results imply that eTreg numbers in the peripheral blood sensitively reflect the equilibrium between antitumor immunity and autoimmunity, and that mogamulizumab might suppress ATL until the eTreg population recovers. Close monitoring of eTreg numbers is crucial if we are to provide immunomodulatory treatments that target malignancy without severe adverse events. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(8); 644–9. ©2016 AACR.
Variations in anxiolytic and hypnotic prescribing by GPs: a cross-sectional analysis using data from the UK Quality and Outcomes Framework.

BACKGROUND Wide variations in anxiolytic and hypnotic prescribing by GPs in England have been described, but are largely unexplained. AIM To examine the relationships between the volume of anxiolytics and hypnotics prescribed by GPs and their practice characteristics, population demography, and performance indicators. DESIGN OF STUDY Cross-sectional study. SETTING All general practices in England. METHODS A dataset was constructed for 8469 (98.8%) general practices including: standardised prescribing volume data for anxiolytics and hypnotics (average daily quantities per 1000 STAR-PUs [Specific Therapeutic group Age-sex weightings Related Prescribing Units]), practice descriptors, Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, ethnicity data (2001 UK Census), and Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) data. RESULTS The standardised volume of anxiolytics and hypnotics prescribed varied eightfold between practices on the 5th and 95th centiles. A regression model was constructed which explained 20.5% of the variation. Higher prescribing practices were located in more deprived areas (standardised beta 0.31), but also in areas with a lower proportion of ethnic minorities (black or black British = -0.22; Asian or Asian British = -0.12). Higher volumes were also prescribed by practices with lower QOF scores ('Clinical Care' domain = -0.12; 'Organisational' domain = -0.08). Other significant but weaker predictors were: lower proportions of female GPs, higher recorded prevalence of serious mental illness and non-training status. The proportion of GPs trained outside UK was not a predictor. CONCLUSION Demographic factors were more powerful determinants of prescribing than characteristics of the practice itself. Nevertheless, the findings provide some support for the notion that high prescribing practices were less well developed, in that their QOF scores were lower and they were less likely to be training practices.
Fear of falling is common in patients with type 2 diabetes and is associated with increased risk of falls.

AIMS fear of falling is an important falls-related symptom that has received little attention in studies of falls risk in older adults with type 2 diabetes. METHODS matched pairs of participants with diabetes or with normoglycaemia (n = 186 per group) recruited from a community-based survey underwent an assessment of fear of falling and associated falls risk factors. Multivariate methods examined associations between fear of falling and risk factors for history of recent falls. RESULTS compared with the normoglycaemic participants, those with diabetes had worse mobility (slow timed Up and Go test times: 16.2 versus 4.9%, P < 0.01), more fear of falling (24.2 versus 15.1%, P < 0.05) and more activity restriction from fear of falling (indoors: 14.0 versus 4.8%, P = 0.006), but there was no increase in reported recent falls. In the combined sample, a history of recent falls was negatively associated with fear-related limitation of outdoor activities (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.30 (0.15-0.58), P < 0.001) and positively associated with age (1.65 (1.20-2.28) per 10-year increase, P = 0.002) and use of antidepressants (2.14 (1.02-4.50, P = 0.044). The frequency of falls in those with recurrent falls was negatively associated with measures of balance. CONCLUSIONS type 2 diabetes is associated with increased fear of falling and fear-associated activity restriction, and this modifies the risk of falls even in the face of increased falls risk factors including worse mobility. Future studies of falls in diabetes need to consider that fear of falling is an important modifier of the relationship between risk factors and falls.
The determination of locus of control in a geriatric population and a subsequent test of the social learning model for interpersonal distances.

Summary An attempt was made to measure locus of control in a geriatric population and to apply this measurement to the social learning model for interpersonal distance. Results suggested that the elderly group studied were no more external than middle-aged adults. This was discussed from several theoretical points of view. Interpersonal distance results, although not in direct support of theory, provided a source for further development and alteration of the model.
Scheduling of Elective Surgical Cases within Allocated Block-times: Can the Future be Drawn from the Experience of the Past ?

Abstract We determined a strategy to regulate the elective occupation of operating rooms; it was based on the determination of a median operating room occupation time, per procedure and per operator. Methods: Median occupation times were determined from a retrospective analysis of 12 consecutive months of operating activity (966 patients). These data were prospectively used in surgical planning, with a daily occupation limit set at 10 hours. After four months collecting data, daily recorded (ROT) and predicted (POT) occupation times were compared. The surgical activity during that test period (group A) was compared to the activity of the same period in the previous year (group B) and the evolution of the waiting lists for surgery were analysed for each of the operators. Results: At the end of the four-month observation period, 317 surgical cases spread over 105 operating days were recorded. The correlation between ROT and POT was strong (r = 0.911, p < 0.001). The relative error in this prediction was 13 ± 11 min. In comparison with group B, group A was characterized by a significant reduction in occurrence (p = 0.015) and duration (p = 0.007) of time limit overruns and in variability of daily occupation time (p < 0.001). The waiting list was reduced for all operators at the end of the test period. Conclusion: Determination of individualized median occupation times, associated with definition of a daily limit, resulted in reduction of time overruns and delays before surgery.
An intensive study of twelve cases of manic-depressive psychosis.

Abstract : An intensive study of 12 manic-depressive patients was made in order to reformulate, and further develop the dynamics of the character structure of these patients in terms of their patterns of interpersonal relationships. A comprehensive survey of the literature was made in order to determine the present state of development of psychopathological theory in regard to manic- depressive states. The manic-depressive character was investigated from the point of view of (1) the patterns of interaction between parents and child and between family and community; (2) the ways in which these patterns influenced the character structure of the child and affected his experiencing of other people in his subsequent life; and (3) the way in which these patterns are repeated in therapy and can be altered by the processes of psychotherapy.
Diet, Overfeeding, and Moderate Dietary Restriction in Control Sprague-Dawley Rats: II. Effects on Age-Related Proliferative and Degenerative Lesions

This study compared the effects of ad libitum (AL) overfeeding and moderate dietary restriction (DR) of 2 different diets on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat survival and spontaneous, age-related proliferative and degenerative lesions. SD rats were fed Purina Rodent Chow 5002 or a modified Rodent Chow 5002-9 containing lower protein, fat, metabolizable energy, and increased fiber by AL or by DR at 65% of the AL amount by measurement or time (6.5 hr). At 106 wk, rats fed the 5002-9 diet AL did not have significantly improved survival over rats fed the 5002 diet AL. The 5002 diet fed DR by time (6.5 hr) improved survival for males but not females. Only DR by measurement of both diets resulted in lower mortality for both sexes. By 106 wk rats fed either diet by AL had the same brain weights as DR fed rats, but AL fed rats had greater body weight, body fat content, and increased heart, lung, kidney, liver, adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary weights that correlated with an increased incidence and severity of degenerative and/or proliferative lesions in these organs. Moderate DR delayed the progression of chronic nephropathy by delaying the early development of glomerular hypertrophy that initiates the development of glomerular sclerosis and nephron loss in AL overfed rats. Moderate DR lowered the incidence, severity, and progression of cardiomyopathy and other degenerative, age-related lesions and appeared to delay the development of reproductive senescence in SD females. The conclusion from this study is that moderate DR delayed onset and progression of degenerative lesions, and death due to cardiovascular or renal disease, and thus potentially improves the bioassay to detect compound-specific chronic toxicity.
A two-phase commit protocol and its performance

A number of schemes have been used in distributed database systems to coordinate the execution of the subtransactions of a global transaction. We study the performance of a simple modification to the basic two phase commit protocol called Prudent Two Phase Commit protocol. The protocol gives the transaction a second chance before it decides to abort it. This prudent approach prevents a transaction from aborting in case of transient communication failures and hence improves system performance and reliability. To measure the performance of this protocol, we simulate a distributed database system. The performance of this simulated distributed system is measured while using the Prudent, Basic, and Optimistic Two Phase Commit protocols. The results of this simulation study are presented with a discussion and interpretation of the graphs generated by the simulation. The results confirm the improvement in system performance with the Prudent Two Phase Commit Protocol.
Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by liver: A morphological study

The present review deals with the morphological features of the removal of apoptotic cells by liver. The engulfment of cells undergoing apoptosis can be considered a specialized form of phagocytosis, playing a major role in the general tissue homeostasis in physiological and pathological conditions. In fact, defects of phagocytosis of apoptotic cells might have deleterious consequences for neighboring healthy cells, i.e., pathogenesis of inflammatory disease or dysregulation of the immune system. Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by liver is a complex phenomenon, involving multiple molecular mechanisms of recognition (i.e., lectin‐like receptors and receptors for externalized phosphatydilserine) of both parenchymal (hepatocytes) and nonparenchymal (Kupffer and endothelial cells) liver cells, often operating in cooperation. The data discussed in the present review are drawn from studies of phagocytosis of apoptotic cells in the liver, carried out with in vivo and in situ adhesion experiments as well as in vitro assays. Our results indicate that the three main liver cell types (hepatocytes, Kupffer, and endothelial cells) are able to recognize and internalize apoptotic cells by means of specific receptors (galactose and mannose‐specific receptor; receptor for phosphatydilserine) and by cytoskeletal reorganization that favors the engulfment of the apoptotic cells. The “flags” for the identification of apoptotic cells by the liver are modifications of the surface of dead cells, i.e., sugar residues and phosphatydilserine exposition. Vitronectin receptor is not involved in such a recognition. The adhesions between modified cell surfaces of apoptotic cells and phagocytes generate cytoplasmatic signaling pathways that drive apoptotic cells to their final fate within the phagocytes (i.e., lysosomal digestion). Microsc. Res. Tech. 57:530–540, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dichlorido(N,N′-diisopropylpiperidine-1-carboximidamidato-κ2 N,N′)titanium(IV)

In the mononuclear title complex, [Ti(C12H24N3)2Cl2], the TiIV ion, located on a crystallographic inversion center, is six-coordinated by four N atoms from two N′,N′′-diisopropyl-N-carboxamidine anions and two chloride atoms in a distorted octahedral geometry. The dihedral angles between the piperidine groups and the NCN chelate rings are 51.5 (1) and 52.3 (1)°.
Comparison of three in vitro culture systems for maturation of early preantral mouse ovarian follicles

The aim of this study was to compare three different culture systems for in vitro follicular growth and oocyte maturation in ovarian follicles of mice in order to assess the technique with the optimal growth and improved rate of meiotic maturation. The three systems tested were culture under oil, on a hydrophobic membrane and on agar respectively. Early preantral follicles were cultured for 12 days in α-MEM GlutaMAX medium. Follicular growth, oocyte meiotic maturation, oocyte extrusion, atresia and estradiol production were analysed. Follicular development showed two phases in the three systems, with slow growth before day 5 and subsequent acceleration. The percentage of follicles transferred into oocyte maturation medium was significantly higher after culture under oil. The proportion of oocytes that achieved nuclear maturation (metaphase II) was higher when follicles were cultured under oil or on a hydrophobic membrane than on agar. Our results support the use of culture under oil for in vitro follicular growth from the early preantral stage in order to obtain metaphase II oocytes. Fertilization ability of these oocytes and the capacity to obtain healthy mice in a reproducible manner warrants further investigation.
Empowering road vehicles to learn parking situations based on optical sensor measurements

Connected road vehicles are about to create a massive Internet of mobile things, equipped with increasing sensing capabilities and autonomy. In particular on-board distance sensors allow for detecting free road-side parking spaces when passing by. Upon receiving parking information, other vehicles may efficiently navigate to free slots leading to decreased parking space search times. Yet, in real road situations, sensed information may be misleading due to the mobility of the sensor, driving on multi-lane roads, and unknown semantics of sensed free spaces. In this demo, we present a drive-by parking space sensing system consisting of a LIDAR optical distance sensor and a GPS receiver connected to a Raspberry Pi. By applying machine learning, parking situations are estimated. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our solution in standard parking situations, in presence of obstacles, and when overtaking bicycles and cars on multi-lane roads.
An inflammatory response with worsening of pleural effusion on treatment with erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer

Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Laboratory Medicine Service, Changi General Hospital, Singapore and Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore