Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
adCFS: Adaptive completely fair scheduling policy for containerised workflows systems

Scientific workflows are increasingly containerised, which requires rethinking central processing unit (CPU) sharing policies to accommodate different workload types. However, container engines running scientific workflows struggle to share the CPU fairly, as workload characteristics are not taken into account. This paper proposes a sharing policy called the Adaptive Completely Fair Scheduling policy (adCFS), which considers the future state of CPU usage and proactively shares CPU cycles between various containers based on their corresponding workload metrics (e.g., CPU usage, task runtime, #tasks). adCFS estimates the weight of workload characteristics and redistributes the CPU based on the corresponding weights. The Markov chain model is used to predict CPU state use, and the adCFS policy is triggered to dynamically allocate containers to the proper CPU portions. Experimental results show enhanced container CPU response time for those containers that run heavy and large jobs: these display 12% faster response time compared with the default CFS (Completely Fair Scheduler). adCFS therefore enhances CFS by considering workload metrics, which leads to the CPU being shared fairly when it is fully used.
Mario Draghi: The outlook for the euro area economy

The first is one-off factors, which have clearly played an important role in the underperformance of growth since the start of the year. In the first half of 2018, weather, sickness and industrial action affected output in a number of countries. And in the third quarter, we saw a significant disruption of car production created by the introduction of new vehicle emissions standards on 1 September.
Effect of Glucocorticoid and Growth Hormone Treatment on Proinsulin Levels in Humans

Treatment with glucocorticoids is associated with a disproportionate elevation in the PI/IRI ratio. To determine whether growth hormone—another agent capable of producing insulin resistance and changing B-cell function—also alters the PI/IRI ratio and whether growth hormone and glucocorticoids have a synergistic effect on PI and IRI levels, we examined these variables in four groups of young healthy subjects (n = 8/group) after 7 days of treatment with placebo, prednisone (0.8 mg.kg−1 · day−1), rhGH (0.1 mg.kg−1 · day−1), and the combination of prednisone and rhGH. Fasting plasma glucose levels increased significantly above those of the control group in subjects receiving prednisone or prednisone and rhGH but not in subjects receiving rhGH alone. The basal concentration of IRI increased in response to prednisone, rhGH, and the combination of prednisone and rhGH. However, this increase in IRI was largely due to an increase in PI, so that the PI/IRI ratio increased from 14.7 ± 2.4% in control subjects to 33.9 ± 5.3% in subjects on prednisone (P < 0.005), 40.9 ± 4.3% in individuals receiving rhGH (P < 0.001 vs. control subjects), and 58.1 ± 9.2% in subjects receiving both prednisone and rhGH (P < 0.001 vs. control subjects). We suggest that this change in PI/IRI with glucocorticoid and growth hormone treatment may be due to an alteration in B-cell synthesis or release of PI. This change in the PI/IRI ratio is not dependent on fasting hyperglycemia but may contribute to the hyperglycemia often observed with these agents. Furthermore, these data show that IRI is not a reliable indicator of true insulin levels or insulin sensitivity in either growth hormone- or glucocorticoid-treated subjects.
Direct tunneling-induced floating-body effect in 90-nm pseudo-kink-free PD SOI pMOSFETs with DTMOS-like behavior and low input power consumption

This paper reports the investigation of the direct tunneling-induced floating-body effect in 90-nm H-gate floating body partially depleted (PD) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) pMOSFETs with dynamic-threshold MOS (DTMOS)-like behavior and low input power consumption. Based on this paper, with the decrease of the gate-oxide thickness, the direct-tunneling current will dominate the floating body potential of H-gate PD SOI pMOSFETs, which makes the floating body potential highly gate voltage dependent like DTMOS behavior with a larger drain current. However, the input power consumption is still kept lower. Simultaneously, the highly gate voltage dependent direct-tunneling current will reduce the influence of the impact ionization current on the neutral region with a higher kink onset-voltage. It contributes to the pseudo-kink-free phenomenon in 90-nm H-gate floating body PD SOI pMOSFETs.
Two distinct tumor-derived, parathyroid hormone-like peptides result from alternative ribonucleic acid splicing.

A novel PTH-like peptide has recently been isolated and cloned from human tumors associated with the syndrome of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. The deduced product of the initial clones to be reported is a 177 amino-acid protein, consisting of a 36 amino-acid precursor sequence followed by a 141 amino-acid mature peptide. Southern analysis of genomic DNA is compatible with a single-copy gene, but Northern analysis of mRNAs from both tumors and normal tissues consistently reveals multiple hybridizing transcripts, suggesting the possibility of alternative RNA splicing. We provide here direct evidence of alternative RNA splicing by the identification of a second cDNA clone in a human renal carcinoma cDNA library. As compared to the initial clone, this cDNA contains a foreshortened 5'-untranslated region but is otherwise identical until the distal portion of the coding region, at which point it diverges completely to encode a 166 amino-acid mature peptide with 27 amino acids of unique C-terminal sequence. The relative lengths of the primary translation products encoded by these two cDNAs were confirmed by transcription and translation in vitro, and both products were shown to be processed by added microsomes. The unique 3'-ends of these two cDNAs, as well as that of a third cDNA isolated by another laboratory, were used to identify one or more hybridizing transcripts corresponding to each cDNA in mRNA from a human renal carcinoma as well as in mRNA from normal human keratinocytes. We conclude that alternative RNA splicing results in mRNAs which encode multiple PTH-like peptides. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cycling into Headwinds: Analysing mobility practices that inhibit sustainability

Using the example of cycling we contribute to public policy debates surrounding sustainability. We employ practice theory to shift the debate away from consumer choice and agency to examine instead why sustainable practices are not always available to consumers. Therefore, rather than asking the question “why don't people cycle? ” we ask “why is the practice of cycling not thriving? ” Practice theory focuses on material, meanings and competences as making up a practice positing that it can only thrive and grow once these elements come together. By looking at how practices compete between each other for the same set of elements we can examine how some practices (i.e. driving, schooling, policing) come to dominate or inhibit others (cycling). In terms of the theme of this special issue then instead of excavating anti-consumption as a pre-cursor to practices (i.e. a choice not to engage in), by opening out practices we examine the mechanisms through which this choice is restricted.
More forearm fractures among urban than rural women: The NOREPOS study based on the Tromsø study and the HUNT study

Higher rates of hip fracture and all fractures combined have been observed in urban compared with rural areas, but whether there are urban‐rural differences in distal forearm fracture rates is less studied. The aim of this longitudinal study was to compare the incidence of forearm fracture in postmenopausal women in urban and rural areas in Norway and to investigate risk factors that could explain potential fracture differences. The study included data from 11,209 women aged 65 years or more who participated in two large health studies, the Tromsø Health Study in 1994–1995 and the Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study in 1995–1997. Forearm bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by single‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry in a subsample of women (n = 7333) at baseline. All women were followed with respect to hospital‐verified forearm fractures (median follow‐up 6.3 years). A total of 9249 and 1960 women lived in areas classified as rural and urban, respectively. Urban women had an increased forearm fracture risk [relative risk (RR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.52] compared with women in rural areas. Rural women had higher body mass index (BMI) than urban women, and the RR was moderately reduced to 1.21 (95% CI 1.02–1.43) after BMI adjustments. Rural women had the highest BMD. In the subgroup with measured BMD, adjustments for BMD changed the urban versus rural RR from 1.21 (95% CI 0.96–1.52) to 1.05 (95% CI 0.83–1.32), suggesting that BMD is an important explanatory factor. In conclusion, higher rates of forearm fractures was found in urban compared with rural women. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Understanding Phatic Aspects of Narrative when Designing Assistive and Augmentative Communication Interfaces

Users of Assistive and Augmentative Communications AAC systems sometimes have difficulty engaging in the quick and varied banter demanded of many social situations, or contributing to social conversations with their own previously developed narratives, opinions, experiences, or jokes. This chapter presents tools and approaches that have been developed to remedy these challenges. These include special interfaces that rely on "phatic" vocabularies or retrieve previously saved narratives that are used phatically. A phatic approach uses language to convey social participation through gesture, affirmation, or emotive support as much as or more than to convey wants, needs, or spontaneous and novel narrative. This chapter does not propose replacing standard AAC vocabularies, but instead suggests how a supplementary phatic approach can significantly enhance a user's participation in social interactions.
Contribution of the Interaction of Streptococcus mutans Serotype k Strains with Fibrinogen to the Pathogenicity of Infective Endocarditis

ABSTRACT Streptococcus mutans, a pathogen responsible for dental caries, is occasionally isolated from the blood of patients with bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE). Our previous study demonstrated that serotype k-specific bacterial DNA is frequently detected in S. mutans-positive heart valve specimens extirpated from IE patients. However, the reason for this frequent detection remains unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the virulence of IE from S. mutans strains, focusing on the characterization of serotype k strains, most of which are positive for the 120-kDa cell surface collagen-binding protein Cbm and negative for the 190-kDa protein antigen (PA) known as SpaP, P1, antigen I/II, and other designations. Fibrinogen-binding assays were performed with 85 clinical strains classified by Cbm and PA expression levels. The Cbm+/PA− group strains had significantly higher fibrinogen-binding rates than the other groups. Analysis of platelet aggregation revealed that SA31, a Cbm+/PA− strain, induced an increased level of aggregation in the presence of fibrinogen, while negligible aggregation was induced by the Cbm-defective isogenic mutant SA31CBD. A rat IE model with an artificial impairment of the aortic valve created using a catheter showed that extirpated heart valves in the SA31 group displayed a prominent vegetation mass not seen in those in the SA31CBD group. These findings could explain why Cbm+/PA− strains are highly virulent and are related to the development of IE, and the findings could also explain the frequent detection of serotype k DNA in S. mutans-positive heart valve clinical specimens.
Robust beamforming for motional interference mitigation in DSSS

A robust beamformer is presented to mitigate interference for direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications when the receiver vibrates/moves quickly or the interference environment is nonstationary. This paper introduces taper processing (TP) beam forming to widen the notch and suppress the sidelobe simultaneously. Nonlinear least-square method is adopted to realize the desired low-sidelobe array pattern. And an extension matrix without the knowledge of interference arrival angle is presented for notch widen. Simulations illustrate the validity and efficiency of TP beam forming against motional excess interference in DSSS.
Cardiovascular Protective Effects of Salvianic Acid A on db/db Mice with Elevated Homocysteine Level

The onsets of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and endothelial dysfunction (ED) in diabetics, especially in those with elevated homocysteine (Hcy), precede the development of cardiovascular (CV) events. Salvianic acid A (SAA) is a renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been applied in the treatment of cardiovascular disease for many decades. In this study, we aimed (1) to investigate the CV protective effects of SAA on ameliorating LVH and ED in db/db mice with elevated blood Hcy level and (2) to decipher whether the observed CV protective effects of SAA are associated with Hcy metabolism by modulating the methylation potential and redox status in the liver of the db/db mice with elevated blood Hcy level. Our results found that the administration of SAA could significantly slow down the build-up of left ventricular mass and ameliorate ED. Immunological assay analysis on the mouse liver tissue also indicated that SAA treatment on db/db mice with elevated Hcy was associated with reduced methylation potential but improved redox status. In conclusion, we revealed that SAA has the potential to protect against the hyperglycemia- and hyperhomocysteinemia-induced oxidative stress on diabetic mice via modulation in Hcy metabolism.
The Relation between 6-n-Propylthiouracil Sensitivity and Caries Activity in Schoolchildren

Caries activity tests are being used to assess caries risk in children. In recent years the purpose of most studies has been to develop practical, quick, reliable and economic tests. Clinical studies showed that the difference in sensitivity to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) is a heritable trait and may influence children’s nutritional habits and caries development. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between PROP sensitivity and caries activity in schoolchildren, in comparison with different caries activity tests. One hundred and twenty children aged between 7 and 12 years (mean age 9.97 ± 1.59) were investigated to determine socioeconomic status and oral hygiene habits, fluoride consumption, DMFT, DMFS, df, dfs, plaque indexes, and nutritional habits. Children were divided into three groups according to their caries risk status based on the Cariogram. The solution test and the PROP-impregnated filter paper test were used together to determine PROP sensitivity. After all associated factors had been controlled, stepwise regression analyses revealed that DMFT and dfs scores were important determinants of PROP. According to dfs, the sensitivity of the Cariogram and of PROP tests was 0.85 and 0.70, respectively, and specificity was 0.32 and 0.33, respectively. There was an inverse significant relationship between PROP sensitivity and DMFT, DMFS, and dfs results (p < 0.01). In conclusion, PROP nontasters were significantly more likely to have high caries risk than PROP tasters (p < 0.01).
Computer-assisted surgery: virtual- and augmented-reality displays for navigation during urological interventions

Purpose of review To provide an overview of the developments made for virtual- and augmented-reality navigation procedures in urological interventions/surgery. Recent findings Navigation efforts have demonstrated potential in the field of urology by supporting guidance for various disorders. The navigation approaches differ between the individual indications, but seem interchangeable to a certain extent. An increasing number of pre- and intra-operative imaging modalities has been used to create detailed surgical roadmaps, namely: (cone-beam) computed tomography, MRI, ultrasound, and single-photon emission computed tomography. Registration of these surgical roadmaps with the real-life surgical view has occurred in different forms (e.g. electromagnetic, mechanical, vision, or near-infrared optical-based), whereby the combination of approaches was suggested to provide superior outcome. Soft-tissue deformations demand the use of confirmatory interventional (imaging) modalities. This has resulted in the introduction of new intraoperative modalities such as drop-in US, transurethral US, (drop-in) gamma probes and fluorescence cameras. These noninvasive modalities provide an alternative to invasive technologies that expose the patients to X-ray doses. Whereas some reports have indicated navigation setups provide equal or better results than conventional approaches, most trials have been performed in relatively small patient groups and clear follow-up data are missing. Summary The reported computer-assisted surgery research concepts provide a glimpse in to the future application of navigation technologies in the field of urology.
A boundary contour mode-matching method for the rigorous analysis of cascaded arbitrarily shaped H-plane discontinuities in rectangular waveguides

A rigorous boundary contour mode-matching (BCMM) method is presented for the efficient calculation of the modal scattering matrix of cascaded, arbitrarily shaped H-plane discontinuities, junctions and/or obstacles in rectangular waveguides. For the inhomogeneous waveguide region with general contour, the field is expanded in the complete set of cylindrical wave functions. The mode-matching technique is applied at the boundary to the waveguide ports and is shown to yield quick convergence and high numerical stability. Moreover, the modal scattering matrix of the corresponding region is obtained directly. The generalized modal scattering matrix technique achieves the rigorous and flexible modeling of composed H-plane waveguide structures of arbitrary cross-section, including the higher-order mode interactions at all discontinuities, such as of inductive iris coupled filters with resonators of more general shape. The theory is verified by comparison with results obtained by other methods. <<ETX>>
Genetic Analysis of Riboswitch-mediated Transcriptional Regulation Responding to Mn2+ in Salmonella*

Background: Divalent cation binding to riboswitch RNAs regulates expression of their transporter genes in bacteria. Results: Mn2+ interacts with Salmonella riboswitches characterized from Mn2+ transporter mntH and Mg2+ transporter mgtA to modulate transcription of the downstream coding region. Conclusion: Specific riboswitches control gene expression in response to Mn2+ in bacteria. Significance: This is the discovery of a Mn2+ riboswitch. Riboswitches are a class of cis-acting regulatory RNAs normally characterized from the 5′-UTR of bacterial transcripts that bind a specific ligand to regulate expression of associated genes by forming alternative conformations. Here, we present a riboswitch that contributes to transcriptional regulation through sensing Mn2+ in Salmonella typhimurium. We characterized a 5′-UTR (UTR1) from the mntH locus encoding a Mn2+ transporter, which forms a Rho-independent terminator to implement transcription termination with a high Mn2+ selectivity both in vivo and in vitro. Nucleotide substitutions that cause disruption of the terminator interfere with the regulatory function of UTR1. RNA probing analyses outlined a specific UTR1 conformation that favors the terminator structure in Mn2+-replete condition. Switch sequence GCUAUG can alternatively base pair duplicated hexanucleotide CAUAGC to form either a pseudoknot or terminator stem. Mn2+, but not Mg2+, and Ca2+, can enhance cleavage at specific nucleotides in UTR1. We conclude that UTR1 is a riboswitch that senses cytoplasmic Mn2+ and therefore participates in Mn2+-responsive mntH regulation in Salmonella. This riboswitch domain is also conserved in several Gram-negative enteric bacteria, indicating that this Mn2+-responsive mechanism could have broader implications in bacterial gene expression. Additionally, a high level of cytoplasmic Mn2+ can down-regulate transcription of the Salmonella Mg2+ transporter mgtA locus in a Mg2+ riboswitch-dependent manner. On the other hand, these two types of cation riboswitches do not share similarity at the primary or secondary structural levels. Taken together, characterization of Mn2+-responsive riboswitches should expand the scope of RNA regulatory elements in response to inorganic ions.
Incidence and distribution of parkinsonism in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1976–1990

Objective: Limited information is available on the frequency and distribution of parkinsonism as a syndrome. We studied the incidence of parkinsonism and its specific types among residents of Olmsted County, MN, for the period from 1976 through 1990. Methods: We used the medical records linkage-system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project to identify all individuals whose records contained documentation of any form of parkinsonism, related neurodegenerative diseases, or tremor of any type. A nurse abstractor screened the records, and, when applicable, a neurologist reviewed them to determine the presence of parkinsonism using specified diagnostic criteria and to define the year of onset. Results: We found 364 incident cases of parkinsonism: 154 with PD (42%), 72 with drug-induced parkinsonism (20%), 61 unspecified (17%), 51 with parkinsonism in dementia (14%), and 26 with other causes (7%). The average annual incidence rate of parkinsonism (per 100,000 person-years) in the age group 50 to 99 years was 114.7; incidence increased steeply with age from 0.8 in the age group 0 to 29 years to 304.8 in the age group 80 to 99 years. The cumulative incidence of parkinsonism assuming no competing causes of death was 7.5% to age 90 years. PD was the most common type of parkinsonism, followed by parkinsonism in dementia in men and drug-induced parkinsonism in women. Men had higher incidence than women at all ages for all types of parkinsonism except drug-induced. Conclusions: Parkinsonism is a common disease among the elderly; its incidence increases steeply with advancing age and is consistently higher in men. The distribution by type changes with age and gender.
Authentication of binary document images in PNG format based on a secret sharing technique

A new authentication method utilizing the secret sharing technique to resist attacks with a data recovery capability for binary document images in PNG format is proposed. An authentication signal is generated for each block of a cover image, which together with the block content is transformed into several shares using the Shamir secret sharing scheme. The shares then are embedded into the alpha channel plane of the input PNG image in a carefully designed manner. In the process of image authentication, an image block is marked as tampered if the authentication signal computed from the current block content does not match that extracted from the shares embedded in the alpha channel plane. Data recovery is conducted for each tampered block by a reverse Shamir scheme after collecting enough shares from unmarked blocks. Experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed method for real applications.
Weekly Momentum Study on Indian Stock Markets

The Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) has been one of the dominant topics in the financial research literature. The main purpose of this study is to explore the existence of return continuation in the Indian Stock Markets, thus investigating its efficiency at the weak form level (Fama,1970). Momentum strategies which buy stocks that have performed well in the past and sell stocks that have poor performances previously – generate significant positive returns. The weekly momentum strategies can be executed by the investor to generate significant profits. The explanation of momentum remains challenge in literature. The behavioral factors may account for the momentum phenomena.