Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the SDN control-plane performance of the Openvswitch software switch

Openvswitch is the most popular software implementation of an OpenFlow switch on the Linux system. Its current implementation includes a kernel module and a user space daemon. To connect with an OpenFlow controller and handle all the command message traffic, Openvswitch needs to transfer control messages between the user space and the kernel space of the Linux system frequently. When the amount of traffic becomes huge, control messages may be dropped in Openvswitch due to the lack of CPU cycles, causing performance bottlenecks. In this paper, we proposed a simple yet very effective design to improve the SDN control-plane performance of Openvswitch. The design is giving Openvswitch balanced chances to process the control messages in the netlink socket and the TCP socket so that the packets dropped in Openvswitch can be greatly reduced. Our results show that our optimized design can increase the control-plane message transfer throughput by up to 70% and make the per-second throughput very stable over time.
Exploring Free Matrix CFT Holographies at One-Loop

We extend our recent study on the duality between stringy higher spin theories and free conformal field theories (CFTs) in the S U ( N ) adjoint representation to other matrix models, namely the free S O ( N ) and S p ( N ) adjoint models as well as the free U ( N ) × U ( M ) bi-fundamental and O ( N ) × O ( M ) bi-vector models. After determining the spectrum of the theories in the planar limit by Polya counting, we compute the one loop vacuum energy and Casimir energy for their respective bulk duals by means of the Character Integral Representation of the Zeta Function (CIRZ) method, which we recently introduced. We also elaborate on possible ambiguities in the application of this method.
Extending the multiple-goal perspective to tertiary classroom goal structures.

The multiple-goal perspective has recently been applied to teacher behaviours in primary school classrooms through experimental intervention (Linnenbrink, 2005) and objective observation (Sideridis, 2005). However, there is evidence suggesting that rather than centered only on teacher behaviour, classroom goal structures are a whole class feature (Urdan, 2004c). Despite intended or observed classroom goal structures, students’ perceptions of the same classroom can vary (Wolters, 2004). Furthermore, students’ pre-existing personal goal orientations may shape their perceptions of classroom goal structures (Lyke & Kelaher Young, 2006). An investigation with tertiary students in naturalistic learning contexts will extend achievement goal theory to a multiple-goal perspective of classroom goal structures.
BICM-ID with Physical Layer Network Coding in TWR Free Space Optical Communication Links

Physical layer network coding (PNC) is a promising technique to improve the network throughput in a two-way relay (TWR) channel for two users to exchange messages across a wireless network. The PNC technique incorporating a TWR channel is embraced by a free space optical (FSO) communication link for full utilization of network resources, namely TWR-FSO PNC. In this paper, bit interleaved coded modulation with iterative decoding (BICM-ID) is adopted to combat the deleterious effect of the turbulence channel by saving the message being transmitted to increase the reliability of the system. Moreover, based on this technique, comparative studies between end-to-end BICM-ID code, non-iterative convolutional coded and uncoded systems are carried out. Furthermore, this paper presents the extrinsic information transfer (ExIT) charts to evaluate the performance of BICM-ID code combined with the TWR-FSO PNC system. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can achieve a significant bit error rate (BER) performance improvement through the introduction of an iterative process between a soft demapper and decoder. Similarly, Monte Carlo simulation results are provided to support the findings. Subsequently, the ExIT functions of the two receiver components are thoroughly analysed for a variety of parameters under the influence of a turbulence-induced channel fading, demonstrating the convergence behaviour of BICM-ID to enable the TWR-FSO PNC system, effectively mitigating the impact of the fading turbulence channel.
Tuning fractional order proportional integral controllers for fractional order systems

In this paper, two fractional order proportional integral controllers are designed to improve the performance and robustness for a class of fractional order systems which can better model many real systems such as bioengineering systems. For comparison between the fractional order proportional integral controllers and the traditional integer order PID (IOPID) controller, the IOPID controller is also designed following the same proposed tuning specifications. Unfortunately, the designed IOPID controller can not meet the required spcification. However, the designed fractional order proportional integral (FOPI) and fractional order [proportional integral] (FO[PI]) controllers both can satisfy all the three specifications proposed. From the simulation results presented, it can be seen that both the FOPI and FO[PI] controllers designed work efficiently. Furthermore, we can observe that the FO[PI] controller outperforms the FOPI controller following the proposed design schemes for the fractional order systems considered.
Kinematic characteristics of elite men's 50 km race walking

Abstract Race walking is an endurance event which also requires great technical ability, particularly with respect to its two distinguishing rules. The 50 km race walk is the longest event in the athletics programme at the Olympic Games. The aims of this observational study were to identify the important kinematic variables in elite men's 50 km race walking, and to measure variation in those variables at different distances. Thirty men were analysed from video data recorded during a World Race Walking Cup competition. Video data were also recorded at four distances during the European Cup Race Walking and 12 men analysed from these data. Two camcorders (50 Hz) recorded at each race for 3D analysis. The results of this study showed that walking speed was associated with both step length (r=0.54,P=0.002) and cadence (r=0.58,P=0.001). While placing the foot further ahead of the body at heel strike was associated with greater step lengths (r=0.45,P=0.013), it was also negatively associated with cadence (r= −0.62,P<0.001). In the World Cup, knee angles ranged between 175 and 186° at initial contact and between 180 and 195° at midstance. During the European Cup, walking speed decreased significantly (F=9.35,P=0.002), mostly due to a decrease in step length between 38.5 and 48.5 km (t=8.59,P=0.014). From this study, it would appear that the key areas a 50 km race walker must develop and coordinate are step length and cadence, although it is also important to ensure legal walking technique is maintained with the onset of fatigue.
How Best to Build Web-Scale Data Managers? A Panel Discussion

Many of the largest database-driven web sites use custom web-scale data managers (WDMs). On the surface, these WDMs are being applied to problems that are well-suited for relational database systems. Some examples are the following: • Map-Reduce [5], Hadoop [7], and Dryad [9] are used to process queries on large data sets using sequential scan and aggregation. Hive [8] is a data warehouse built on Hadoop. • Google's Bigtable [3] is used to store a replicated table of rows of semi-structured data. • Amazon's Dynamo [6] is used to store partitioned, replicated databases of key-value pairs. Cassandra [2] is similar. • Object caching systems are used instead of a persistent store, such as memcached [10], Oracle's Coherence, and Microsoft's Velocity project.
Additive effects of phosphodiesterase-4 inhibition on effects of rSP-C surfactant.

We have tested the effects of combined treatment with a recombinant surfactant protein C based surfactant (rSP-C surfactant) containing a phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor, roflumilast, in a lung lavage model of acute lung injury. The following groups were tested: (1) controls receiving sham exposure; (2) PDE-4 inhibitor (6.0 mg/kg body weight, intratracheally) alone; (3, 4) rSP-C surfactant (25 and 100 mg phospholipids [PL] per kg body weight) alone; and (5, 6 ) treatment with rSP-C surfactant (25 and 100 mg PL per kg body weight) combined with the PDE-4 inhibitor at a dose of 6.0 mg/kg body weight. The different groups were compared with respect to improving oxygenation and histopathologic changes, e.g., hyaline membrane (HM) formation. Both doses of rSP-C surfactant improved oxygenation while even this high dose of the PDE-4 inhibitor alone did not influence oxygenation compared with untreated control animals. Addition of the PDE-4 inhibitor led to improved oxygenation based on both doses of rSP-C surfactant. The PDE-4 inhibitor alone prevented further HM formation and infiltration of neutrophil leukocytes. The rSP-C surfactant was able to prevent further HM formation. Based on both doses of rSP-C surfactant, addition of the PDE-4 inhibitor showed additional effects on oxygenation and inhibition of HM formation. The effects of combined treatment were superior to each treatment alone, leading to the conclusion that a rSP-C surfactant containing a PDE-4 inhibitor may act synergistically in this animal model of acute lung injury. We conclude that combined treatment with rSP-C surfactant and a PDE-4 inhibitor may be an effective treatment for patients with acute lung injury.
Morality in clinical space: treatment of youngsters with functional somatic symptoms in a Western clinical context

ABSTRACT This paper explores the moral implications of treatment of young people with functional somatic symptoms. Based on an ethnographic field study at a Danish pain clinic for youngsters (age 8 to 18), the paper seeks to unearth the cultural, moral values that clinical practice steers by and upholds, and the implications this has for the assessment and management of ill body-selves. Through an exposition of the general practice of the clinic and an investigation of two specific cases of youngsters, it is found that the assessment of symptoms and selves and the goals of treatment are informed by cultural ideals of ‘the good self’ and ‘the good life’ in which agency and work ethic – both pertaining to the notion of individual responsibility – figure as prevalent virtues. The study underpins the findings of other researchers who have found that ideals of individual autonomy and responsibility for own life and health permeate the Western health care system and the discourses of ill individuals. The contribution of this article is to portray in ethnographic detail how such a cultural ethics manifests in practice and what implications this have for the treatment of young people with functional symptoms at a specific location and in specific cases. The two cases illustrate that the underlying norms and values can give rise to very different moral assessments of symptoms and selves within the same diagnostic category.
The identification of cell non-autonomous roles of astrocytes in neurodegeneration

Kennis over de pathogenese van ouderdomsgerelateerde neurodegeneratieve ziektes is belangrijk, aangezien er geen behandeling mogelijk is. Deze ziektes worden gekenmerkt door eiwitaggregatie in de hersenen en activatie van gliacellen. Gliacellen, zoals astrocyten en microglia, zijn belangrijke, niet-neuronale cellen in het CZS die neuronale functie en gezondheid ondersteunen. In dit proefschrift zijn de meest voorkomende glia cellen, astrocyten, bestudeerd. We hebben responsen van astrocyten bestudeerd op neuronen die een aggregerend, neurodegeneratie-geassocieerd eiwit tot expressie brengen. We hebben de fruitvlieg, Drosophila melanogaster, gebruikt als een modelorganisme, vanwege de mogelijkheid om genexpressie in neuronen en astrocyten onafhankelijk van elkaar te manipuleren. De structuur en functie van het Drosophila CZS en astrocyten zijn vergelijkbaar met mensen. Een aggregerend eiwit, geassocieerd met Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 (SCA3polyQ78), werd tot expressie gebracht in Drosophila ogen of neuronen, resulterend in een degeneratief fenotype. Een screen in astrocyten werd uitgevoerd om genen te identificeren die bijdroegen aan SCA3polyQ78-geinduceerde degeneratie. Een geidentificeerd gen was een geconserveerd NF-B gen, Relish. Remming van Relish in astrocyten vertraagde SCA3polyQ78-geinduceerde neurodegeneratie. Vergelijkbare effecten werden gevonden in een Drosophila model voor de ziekte van Alzheimer. Verder is bestudeerd hoe de activiteit van specifieke NF-B transcriptie factoren wordt gereguleerd, en gevonden dat dit gebeurt via specifieke calcineurine fosfatase isovormen. Calcineurine in astrocyten kan ook bijdragen aan SCA3polyQ78-geinduceerde degeneratie. Dus, remming van specifieke calcineurine isovormen kan ook relevant zijn om een specifieke NF-B transcriptie factor te remmen bij neurodegeneratieve ziektes. De bevindingen in dit proefschrift tonen de relevantie van astrocyten in neurodegeneratieve ziektes aan.
Chapter 2 Friction Between Ski and Snow

The first skis were developed to improve locomotion across the natural, wind packed snow surface in the European northern countries. The skis were made of flat planks with shovels at the tips. Under load, the tips and ends of the skis bended up causing resistance against forward movement. An improvement of the gliding of skis was the invention of the bow-shaped cambered ski, arched up towards his center. Under load, the ski lies flat on the snow surface and the load is more evenly distributed along the ski. With the appearance of downhill skiing, the turning properties of skis became more important. In 1928, Lettner (AT) invented steel edges to give the skis more grip. During the first half of the twentieth century, the technique was developed to produce laminated skis composed of a wooden core with different bottom and upper layers. In 1955, Kofler (AT) introduced the first ski with a polyethylene base, which remarkably improved the gliding properties. In addition, the repair of minor scratches was easily possible. In the recent past, the gliding properties of skis were further developed by special grinding techniques for the ski base and by the development of special waxes.
An 8 Mb Multi-Layered Cross-Point ReRAM Macro With 443 MB/s Write Throughput

An 8-Mb multi-layered cross-point resistive RAM (ReRAM) macro has been developed with 443 MB/s write throughput (64-bits parallel write per 17.2-ns cycle), which is almost twice as fast as competing methods. It uses the fast switching performance of TaOx ReRAM and a new write architecture to reduce the sneak current in a cross-point cell array structure based on an 0.18-μm process. First, a bidirectional diode as a memory cell select element is developed to reduce the sneak current. Second, PMOS and NMOS are used select transistors in the source follower to realize stable switching for the selected cell in the multi-layered cross-point structure. Third, a hierarchical bitline (BL) structure is employed with a short bitline. Fourth, multi-bit write architecture is developed to realize fast write operation and to suppress the sneak current.
Analytical Modeling of Surface-Mounted PM Machines Accounting for Magnet Shaping and Varied Magnet Property Distribution

This paper develops an analytical model for predicting the magnetic field, back-electromotive force (EMF), and electromagnetic torque of surface-mounted permanent magnet machines accounting for magnet geometrical shaping and varied magnet property distribution. The magnets on the rotor are represented by the remanence, thickness, and magnetization direction functions. They are finitely segmented into magnet pieces of simple regular shape and uniform magnet property. The magnetic field of the machine is obtained by the superposition of the magnetic field due to each segment. The back-EMF and electromagnetic torque are also calculated. Using the developed model, the technique of mixed magnet material is investigated on a four-pole/six-slot machine. The analytical predictions are verified by both finite element and experimental results.
Polymorphisms in MicroRNAs Are Associated with Survival in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) play important roles in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression and are involved in human carcinogenesis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in miRNA sequence may alter miRNA functions in gene regulation, which, in turn, may affect cancer risk and disease progression. Methods: We conducted an analysis of associations of 142 miRNA SNPs with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival using data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a Caucasian population from the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) including 452 early-stage and 526 late-stage NSCLC cases. Replication analyses were further performed in two external populations, one Caucasian cohort from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) and one Han Chinese cohort from Nanjing, China. Results: We identified seven significant SNPs in the discovery set. Results from the independent Caucasian cohort demonstrated that the C allele of rs2042253 (hsa-miRNA-5197) was significantly associated with decreased risk for death among the patients with late-stage NSCLC (discovery set: HR, 0.80; P = 0.007; validation set: HR, 0.86; P = 0.035; combined analysis: HR, 0.87; P = 0.007). Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that some miRNA SNPs are associated with NSCLC survival and can be used as predictive biomarkers. Impact: This study provided an estimate of outcome probability for survival experience of patients with NSCLC, which demonstrates that genetic factors, as well as classic nongenetic factors, may be used to predict individual outcome. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(11); 2503–11. ©2014 AACR.
A boundary of saturated and unsaturated throughput in IEEE802.11 wireless LAN channel

Throughput is an important parameter that it is used to measure the performance of wireless local network (WLAN). In this research, we proposes a new discrete time Markov chain model to calculate the boundary of saturated and unsaturated throughput efficiencies in WLAN channel. Both throughput parameters are compared in fixed back off stages and fixed contention window sizes (FBFC) technique by applying the global balance equation concept in steady-state distribution of discrete time Markov chain model. Also, the collision resolution method of transmitted packets through WLAN channel uses the Binary Exponential Back off (BEB) algorithm based on Carrier Sense Multiple Accesses with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol. Our numerical results show that the throughput of unsaturated channel is higher than the saturated channel at light traffic load. On the contrary, the throughput of unsaturated channel is less than the saturated channel at high traffic loads condition.
Compromis entre robustesse et coût pour la configuration d'un parc de machines parallèles partiellement multifonctions

Le probleme industriel auquel nous nous interessons concerne la configuration d'un atelier particulier de la chaine de fabrication de circuits integres. Configurer ce parc de machines revient a choisir quelles machines peuvent traiter quels types de produit en les munissant des ressources adequates et en faisant les reglages appropries. La mise en place des ressources et leur maintenance constituent le cout de la configuration. L'objectif est de minimiser ce cout tout en garantissant un delai de fabrication. Par ailleurs, les machines ayant un cout particulierement eleve, l'industriel souhaite que la demande soit satisfaite en equilibrant la charge de travail sur les differentes machines. Dans le secteur d'activite considere, la demande est extremement variable dans le temps. La configuration doit cependant garantir les performances d'equilibre de la charge malgre les incertitudes : elle doit etre robuste. Apres avoir modelise le probleme, une methode basee sur des outils de l'optimisation combinatoire a ete proposee et implantee. Des resultats exacts sur des exemples academiques ont ete obtenus. Sur des exemples de taille industrielle, des solutions approchees de bonne qualite ont ete calculees. Une analyse qualitative des resultats a permis de montrer que notre approche permet de repondre au probleme industriel pose.
Corticotropin‐releasing factor triggers neurite outgrowth of a catecholaminergic immortalized neuron via cAMP and MAP kinase signalling pathways

Corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), a neuropeptide of 41 amino acids, acts as the major physiological regulator of the basal and stress‐induced release of corticotropin (ACTH), β‐endorphin and other proopiomelanocortin‐derived peptides from the anterior pituitary gland. In addition to its endocrine activity, CRF displays extrahypophysiotropic effects, mainly as a regulator of stress responses. We show here that CRF may additionally function as a differentiating factor in immortalized noradrenergic neuronal CATH.a cells that express CRF receptor type I and resemble locus coeruleus‐derived neurons. CRF triggers morphological changes in CATH.a cells including the appearence of extended long, slender neurites with prominent growth cones. CRF‐treated CATH.a cells exhibit a morphology similar to locus coeruleus neurons in primary culture. CRF‐induced neurite outgrowth of CATH.a cells was blocked by addition of inhibitors for cAMP‐dependent protein kinase or extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (ERK), a subtype of the mitogen‐activated protein kinases. The participation of ERK within the CRF signalling cascade was further confirmed by Western blot experiments, with antibodies directed against the phosphorylated form of ERK, and also with transcription‐based assays. We conclude that CRF functions as a differentiating factor of CATH.a cells via the cAMP and the MAP kinase signalling pathways.
Hypocalcemia: A Sign of Severity of Necrotizing Fasciitis

Hypocalcemia: A Sign of Severity of Necrotizing Fasciitis Satoshi Nakamura a, Yoshio Hashimoto a, Akemi Ishida-Yamamoto a, Hidetoshi Takahashi a, Hideki Yokoo b, Hiroki Ichikawa b, Makoto Fujisawa c, Hajime Iizuka a aDepartment of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, b Division of Surgery, Fukagawa City Hospital, Fukagawa, c Division of Urology, Fukagawa City Hospital, Fukagawa, Japan