Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global memory management for workstation networks

Advances in network and processor technology have greatly changed the communication and computational power of local-area workstation networks. However, operating systems still treat workstation networks as a collection of loosely-connected processors, where each workstation acts as an autonomous and independent agent. This operating system structure makes it difficult to exploit the characteristics of current networks, such as low-latency communication, huge primary memories, and high-speed processors, in order to improve the performance of network applications. This dissertation describes the design and implementation of global memory management in a workstation network. Our objective is to use a single, unified, but distributed memory management algorithm at the lowest level of the operating system. By managing memory globally at this level, all system- and higher-level software, including VM, file systems, transaction systems, and user applications, can benefit from available network memory. We have implemented this algorithm in the Digital Unix operating system running on an ATM-connected network of Alpha workstations. System measurements show that, on a suite of memory-intensive programs, our system improves performance by a factor of 1.5 to 3.5. We will also show that our algorithm has a performance advantage over others that have been proposed in the past. Another issue for global memory management is the implication it has on page size; large pages, while well suited for disks because they amortize seek time, increase the latency of remote-memory reads. Unlike disk access, a small message can be transferred from remote memory significantly faster than a full 8-Kbyte page. Furthermore, the per-message overhead on modern systems is low enough to make small transfers practical. We will describe several techniques that exploit these important performance features of remote memory to reduce page fault latency seen by application programs. One promising technique is to prefetch 1- or 2-Kbyte subpages, allowing execution to continue before an entire 8-Kbyte page has been transferred into the faulting node's memory. We will present measurements that show that subpage prefetching improves performance by 24% compared with fullpage fetch from remote memory.
Sparse ICA for blind separation of transmitted and reflected images

We address the problem of recovering a scene recorded through a semireflecting medium (i.e. planar lens), with a virtual reflected image being superimposed on the image of the scene transmitted through the semirefelecting lens. Recent studies propose imaging through a linear polarizer at several orientations to estimate the reflected and the transmitted components in the scene. In this study we extend the sparse ICA (SPICA) technique and apply it to the problem of separating the image of the scene without having any a priori knowledge about its structure or statistics. Recent novel advances in the SPICA approach are discussed. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methods. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 15, 84–91, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20042
Low surface brightness galaxies in the core of the coma cluster

We present the results of a search for low surface brightness galaxies (hereafter LSBs) in the Coma cluster. Bernstein et al. report on deep CCD observations in R of a 7.5 by 7.5 arcminute region in the core of the Coma cluster, and we extend this work by finding and measuring 36 LSBs within this field. We report both R and Bj results. The average magnitude based on the best fit exponential to the images is 22.5 (R) and the typical exponential scale is 1.3 arcseconds. The range of exponential scales is 0.4 to 1.2 kpc (distance modulus 34.89), and the range of central surface brightnesses is 24 to 27.4 R magnitudes per square arcsecond. Many of these objects are similar in terms of scale length and central surface brightness to those found by others in nearby clusters such as Fornax (Bothun, Impey and Malin), as well as in the low luminosity end of the dwarfs cataloged in the review by Ferguson and Binggeli. We find no evidence for a dependence of color on central surface brightness or on distance from the D galaxies or the X-ray center of Coma. We also find that these LSBs make a small contribution to the overall mass of the cluster. We discuss these results in terms of possible scenarios of LSB formation and evolution.
An Application of Univariate and Multivariate Approaches in fMRI to Quantifying the Hemispheric Lateralization of Acoustic and Linguistic Processes

The question of hemispheric lateralization of neural processes is one that is pertinent to a range of subdisciplines of cognitive neuroscience. Language is often assumed to be left-lateralized in the human brain, but there has been a long running debate about the underlying reasons for this. We addressed this problem with fMRI by identifying the neural responses to amplitude and spectral modulations in speech and how these interact with speech intelligibility to test previous claims for hemispheric asymmetries in acoustic and linguistic processes in speech perception. We used both univariate and multivariate analyses of the data, which enabled us to both identify the networks involved in processing these acoustic and linguistic factors and to test the significance of any apparent hemispheric asymmetries. We demonstrate bilateral activation of superior temporal cortex in response to speech-derived acoustic modulations in the absence of intelligibility. However, in a contrast of amplitude-modulated and spectrally modulated conditions that differed only in their intelligibility (where one was partially intelligible and the other unintelligible), we show a left dominant pattern of activation in STS, inferior frontal cortex, and insula. Crucially, multivariate pattern analysis showed that there were significant differences between the left and the right hemispheres only in the processing of intelligible speech. This result shows that the left hemisphere dominance in linguistic processing does not arise because of low-level, speech-derived acoustic factors and that multivariate pattern analysis provides a method for unbiased testing of hemispheric asymmetries in processing.
Young people's views about consenting to data linkage: Findings from the PEARL qualitative study

ABSTRACT BackgroundElectronic administrative data exist in several domains which, if linked, are potentially useful for research. However, benefits from data linkage should be considered alongside risks such as the threat to privacy. Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a birth cohort study. The Project to Enhance ALSPAC through Record Linkage (PEARL) was established to enrich the ALSPAC resource through linkage between ALSPAC participants and routine sources of health and social data. Qualitative research was incorporated in the PEARL study to examine participants’ views about data linkage and inform approaches to information. This paper focusses on issues of consent. MethodsDigitally recorded interviews were conducted with 55 participants aged 17-19 years. Terms and processes relating to consent, anonymization and data linkage were explained to interviewees. Scenarios were used to prompt consideration of linking different sources of data, and whether consent should be requested. Interview recordings were fully transcribed. Thematic analysis was undertaken using the Framework approach. ResultsParticipant views on data linkage appeared to be most influenced by: considerations around the social sensitivity of the research question, and; the possibility of tangible health benefits in the public interest. Some participants appeared unsure about the effectiveness of anonymization, or did not always view effective anonymization as making consent unnecessary. This was related to notions of ownership of personal information and etiquette around asking permission for secondary use. Despite different consent procedures being explained, participants tended to equate consent with ‘opt-in’ consent through which participants are ‘asked’ if their data can be used for a specific study. Participants raising similar concerns came to differing conclusions about whether consent was needed. Views changed when presented with different scenarios, and were sometimes inconsistent. ConclusionsFindings from this study question the validity of ‘informed consent’ as a cornerstone of good governance, and the extent to which potential research participants understand different types of consent and what they are consenting, or not consenting, to. Pragmatic, imaginative and flexible approaches are needed if research using data linkage is to successfully realise its potential for public good without undermining public trust in the research process.
Amplitude Linearizers for PEP-II 1.2 MW Klystrons and LLRF Systems

The PEP-II B-factory has aggressive current increases planned for luminosity through 2008. At 2.2A (HER) on 4A (LER) currents, we estimate that longitudinal growth rates will be comparable to the damping rates currently achieved in the existing low level RF and longitudinal feedback systems. Prior to having a good non-linear time domain model [1] it was postulated that klystron small signal gain non-linearity may be contributing to measured longitudinal growth rates being higher than linearly predicted growth rates. Five prototype klystron amplitude modulation linearizers have been developed to explore improved linearity in the LLRF system. The linearizers operate at 476 MHz with 15 dB dynamic range and 1 MHz linear control bandwidth. Results from lab measurements and high current beam tests are presented. Future development plans, conclusions from beam testing and ideas for future use of this linearization technique are presented.
The Wardle Instability in Interstellar Shocks. I. Nonlinear Dynamical Evolution

The nonlinear evolution of unstable C-type shocks in weakly ionized plasmas is studied by means of time-dependent, magnetohydrodynamic simulations. This study is limited to shocks in magnetically dominated plasmas (in which the Alfvén speed in the neutrals greatly exceeds the sound speed), and microphysical processes such as ionization and recombination are not followed. Both the two-dimensional simulations of initially planar perpendicular and oblique C-type shocks and the fully three-dimensional simulation of a perpendicular shock are presented. For the cases studied here, the instability results in the formation of dense sheets of gas elongated in the direction of shock propagation and oriented perpendicular to the magnetic field. The formation of a weak J-type front is associated with the growth of the instability from an equilibrium shock structure. After saturation, the magnetic field structure consists of arches that bow outward in the direction of shock propagation and are anchored by the enhanced ion-neutral drag in the dense sheets. Analogous to the magnetic buoyancy (Parker) instability, saturation occurs when the magnetic tension in the distorted field lines is balanced by drag in the sheets. For the magnetically dominated shocks studied here, the distortions in the magnetic field that produce saturation are very small. Nonetheless, the enhancements of the ion and neutral densities in the sheets are very large, between 2 and 3 orders of magnitude compared with the preshock values. At these high densities, recombination processes may be important. The sheets evolve slowly in time, so that shocks propagating in a homogeneous medium may leave behind a network of intersecting filaments and sheets of dense gas elongated in the direction of shock propagation and perpendicular to the mean field. The temperature structure and emission properties of unstable C-type shocks in the nonlinear regime are presented in a companion paper.
Virions released from cells transfected with a molecular clone of human T-cell leukemia virus type I give rise to primary and secondary infections of T cells

The ability of molecular clones of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) to direct the synthesis of infectious virions has not previously been demonstrated. An HTLV-I provirus originating from an adult T-cell leukemia patient was cloned into a plasmid vector and is designated pCS-HTLV. This molecular clone was shown to direct the synthesis of viral mRNA and proteins in transiently transfected cells; in addition, virus structural proteins were released into the culture medium. Viral proteins were assembled into virions that sedimented at a buoyant density characteristic of retrovirus particles and whose morphology was verified by electron microscopy. Virions concentrated from transiently transfected cell supernatants were incubated with primary cord blood lymphocytes or with transformed T-cell lines to establish that these particles were infectious. Expression of spliced, viral mRNAs in the T-cell cultures after both primary and secondary infections with cell-free virus revealed that pCS-HTLV encodes an infectious provirus.
Engineering Viroid Resistance

Viroids are non-encapsidated, non-coding, circular, single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs). They are classified into the families Pospiviroidae and Avsunviroidae, whose members replicate in the nucleus and chloroplast of plant cells, respectively. Viroids have a wide host range, including crop and ornamental plants, and can cause devastating diseases with significant economic losses. Thus, several viroids are world-wide, classified as quarantine pathogens and, hence, there is an urgent need for the development of robust antiviroid strategies. RNA silencing-based technologies seem to be a promising tool in this direction. Here, we review the recent advances concerning the complex interaction of viroids with the host’s RNA silencing machinery, evaluate past and present antiviroid approaches, and finally suggest alternative strategies that could potentially be employed in the future in order to achieve transgenic and non-transgenic viroid-free plants.
The effect of an analytic trait, task -specific rubric with or without explanation on self -efficacy and academic achievement

The purpose of this quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group study was to investigate the effect of three strategies for implementation of an analytic trait, taskspecific rubric—no rubric, rubric given without explanation, and rubric given with explanation—on teacher credential candidates’ self-efficacy for and achievement in writing a lesson plan.
Determinization of $\omega$-automata unified

We describe a uniform construction for converting $\omega$-automata with arbitrary acceptance conditions (based on the notion of infinity sets i.e. the set of states visited infinitely often in a run of the automaton) to equivalent deterministic parity automata (DPW). Given a non-deterministic automaton with $n$ states, our construction gives a DPW with at most $2^{O(n^2 \log n)}$ states and $O(n^2)$ parity indices. The corresponding bounds when the original automaton is deterministic are O(n! ) and O(n), respectively. Our algorithm gives better asymptotic bounds on the number of states and parity indices vis-a-vis the best known technique when determinizing Rabin or Streett automata with $\Omega{(2^n)}$ acceptance pairs, where $n > 1$. We demonstrate this by describing a family of Streett (and Rabin) automata with $2^{n}$ non-redundant acceptance pairs, for which the best known determinization technique gives a DPW with at least $\Omega{(2^{(n^3)})}$ states, while our construction constructs a DRW/DPW with $2^{O(n^2\log n)}$ states. An easy corollary of our construction is that an $\omega$-language with Rabin index $k$ cannot be recognized by any $\omega$-automaton (deterministic or non-deterministic) with fewer than $O(\sqrt{k})$ states.
Design rationale capture in software architecture: what has to be captured?

More than thirty years of research on the topic of design rationale (DR) have passed. However, as of today there are just some exceptional cases where DR are applied in industrial practise. Researchers analysed them for its nature, its structure, its quality, and for analyses to be performed on them. The results showed that DR have the potential to sustainably contribute to the product life cycle in terms of product design, product re-design, product testing, maintenance, and product quality. Hence, this paper presents a proposal to tackle the lack DR usage in documenting software architectures. We strive to promote the use of DR for designing software architectures. Therefore, as a complement to the numerous approaches to formalise the representation of DR, this paper is proposing to pay more attention on research how to capture rationale. In short, within this paper we introduce the topic of DR, related research and elaborate on the intended research on the topic of DR capture.
A generalization of joint-diagonalization criteria for source separation

In the field of blind source separation, joint-diagonalization-based approaches constitute an important framework, leading to useful algorithms such as the popular joint approximate diagonalization of eigenmatrices (JADE) and simultaneous third-order tensor diagonalization (STOTD) algorithms. However, they are often restricted to the case of cumulants of order four. In this paper, we extend the results leading to JADE and STOTD to cumulants of any order greater than or equal to three by exhibiting a new family of contrast functions that constitutes then a unified framework for the above known results. This also leads us to generalize some links between contrast functions and joint-diagonalization criteria on which these algorithms are based. In turn, one contrast of the new family allows us to show that a function previously proposed as a separation criterion is also a contrast. Moreover, for the two generalized JADE and STOTD contrasts, the analytical optimal solution in the case of two sources is derived and shown to keep the same simple expression, whatever the cumulant order. Finally, some computer simulations illustrate the potential advantage one can take by considering statistics of different orders for the joint-diagonalization of cumulant matrices.
Structural and Functional Plasticity of Astrocyte Processes and Dendritic Spine Interactions

Experience-dependent plasticity of synaptic transmission, which represents the cellular basis of learning, is accompanied by morphological changes in dendritic spines. Astrocytic processes are intimately associated with synapses, structurally enwrapping and functionally interacting with dendritic spines and synaptic terminals by responding to neurotransmitters and by releasing gliotransmitters that regulate synaptic function. While studies on structural synaptic plasticity have focused on neuronal elements, the structural–functional plasticity of astrocyte–neuron relationships remains poorly known. Here we show that stimuli inducing hippocampal synaptic LTP enhance the motility of synapse-associated astrocytic processes. This motility increase is relatively rapid, starting <5 min after the stimulus, and reaching a maximum in 20–30 min (t(1/2) = 10.7 min). It depends on presynaptic activity and requires G-protein-mediated Ca2+ elevations in astrocytes. The structural remodeling is accompanied by changes in the ability of astrocytes to regulate synaptic transmission. Sensory stimuli that increase astrocyte Ca2+ also induce similar plasticity in mouse somatosensory cortex in vivo. Therefore, structural relationships between astrocytic processes and dendritic spines undergo activity-dependent changes with metaplasticity consequences on synaptic regulation. These results reveal novel forms of synaptic plasticity based on structural–functional changes of astrocyte–neuron interactions.
QRS detector for maternal abdominal ECG

Detection of QRS complexes of the Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals plays a significant role in detecting heart rates and diagnosing most of the cardiac diseases. The abdominal ECG (aECG) recorded from the maternal abdominal surface of a pregnant woman is a composite of Maternal ECG (MECG), Fetal ECG (FECG), Electromyogram (EMG), power line interference, baseline drift, motion artifact and electrode contact noise. Monitoring of maternal and fetal ECG of pregnant mothers from the collected aECGs can detect accurate MECG and can also detect fetal asphyxia early in the evolution to acidosis. A modified QRS detection algorithm based on the Pan Tompkins algorithm was optimized to minimize the number of false QRS detections. The algorithm performance is evaluated with the physionet databases 1) Abdominal and direct fetal ECG (adfecgdb) and 2) Physionet Challenge 2013 (PhyC). The algorithm adjusts the threshold for each record to obtain the Maternal Heart Rates (MHR) giving an error of 0.012% and 0.044% respectively for the two databases. This algorithm correctly detects Sensitivity (Se) and Positive Predictivity (PP) of 99.49% and 99.35% respectively for PhyC records while, 100% of Sensitivity and Positive Predictivity for the adfecgdb.
Blind Separation of Mixture of Independent SourcesThrough a Maximum Likelihood

This is the preprint of a paper submitted to IEEE Trans. on Signal Processing A preliminary version has also appeared as \Rapport de Recherche RR 917-M-LMC/IMAG (May 1993) Acknowledgment The authors would like to thank C. Jutten and J. H erault with whom we have many fruitful discussions and H.L. Nguyen Thi who has provided us with the speech data and also several referees who have carefully read our manuscript and suggested many improvements. Abstract In this paper we propose two methods for separating mixtures of independent sources without any precise knowledge of their probability distribution. They are obtained by considering a maximum likelihood solution corresponding to some given distributions of the sources and relaxing this assumption afterward. The rst method is specially adapted to temporally independent non Gaussian sources and is based on the use of nonlinear separating functions. The second method is specially adapted to correlated sources with distinct spectra and is based on the use of linear separating lters. A theoretical analysis of the performance of the methods has been made. A simple procedure for choosing optimally the separating functions from a given linear space of functions is proposed. Further, in the second method, a simple implementation based on the simultaneous diagonalization of two symmetric matrices is provided. Finally, some numerical and simulation results are given illustrating the performance of the method and the good agreement between the experiments and the theory.
Distributed Clusterhead Architecture for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) consists of dynamic topology as nodes in the network are mobile, and connected via wireless links. The nodes are grouped in clusters for the purpose of routing. Nodes within the cluster communicate directly. However, nodes communicate outside the cluster through a centralized node that is called a clusterhead. An elected clusterhead is assigned for communication with all other clusters. The centralized clusterhead can become a bottleneck and possibly cause a lower throughput for the clustering system. We propose a mechanism in which communication outside the cluster is distributed through separate clusterheads. We prove that the overall averaged throughput for the clustering system increases considerably, about doubles for our distributed number of clusterheads. We also show that the increase in overall averaged throughput is reduced by the increase in the overall averaged error rate ratio resulting from the added clusterheads. Additionally, the routing reliability to outside the cluster is increased since routes to different clusters use distinct clusterheads.