Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SmartRep: Reducing flow completion times with minimal replication in data centers

To improve users' experience, TCP short flows that are heavily used in interactive services should be completed as soon as possible. In current data centers, large flows and head-of-line blocking in switches hinder short flows from completion, which leads to long-tailed flow completion times (FCT). Replicating short flows with multiple equal-cost paths is a promising way to reduce FCT. However, the original flow and its replicated one are quite likely to be routed to the same path (ECMP hash collision), which increases both the mean and 99-percentile FCT significantly. What's more, inadequate replication leaves many other less-congested equal-cost paths unused and limits the performance while excess replication degrades throughput of large flows. To solve these problems, we propose SmartRep, a scheme consisting of an efficient and effective traceroute based hash collision avoidance method and an algorithm to decide the optimal number of replicated flows for different short flows. SmartRep can be easily implemented in software and readily deployed in data centers. Extensive NS2 simulations show that our approach improves previous replication-based work by 25%-50% in both mean and 99th percentile FCT, and meanwhile imposes negligible impact on large flows.
Comparison of the Pharmacodynamics of Meropenem in Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia following Administration by 3-Hour Infusion or Bolus Injection

ABSTRACT The time that concentrations in serum are above the MIC (T>MIC) is the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameter correlating with the therapeutic efficacy of β-lactam antibiotics. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the T>MIC of meropenem when administered by a 3-h infusion compared with that when administered by bolus injection. The study was conducted with nine patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia. Each subject received meropenem in three regimens consecutively: (i) bolus injection of 1 g every 8 h for 24 h; (ii) 3-h infusion of 1 g every 8 h for 24 h; and (iii) 3-h infusion of 2 g every 8 h for 24 h. Following bolus injection, the percentages of the T>MICs of 16, 8, 4, and 1 μg/ml were 28.33% ± 11.67%, 45.89% ± 22.90%, 57.00% ± 24.82%, and 74.67% ± 17.94% of an 8-h interval, respectively. For the 3-h infusion of 1 g of meropenem, the percentages of the T>MICs of 16, 8, 4, and 1 μg/ml were 37.78% ± 20.57%, 58.11% ± 24.38%, 72.67% ± 21.97%, and 93.56% ± 6.84% of an 8-h interval, respectively. For the 3-h infusion of 2 g of meropenem, the percentages of the T>MICs of 16, 8, 4, and 1 μg/ml were 57.89% ± 24.26%, 72.89% ± 22.40%, 85.56% ± 16.42%, and 98.56% ± 3.28% of an 8-h interval, respectively. In conclusion, a 3-h infusion resulted in greater T>MICs than those after a bolus injection. For the treatment of infections caused by pathogens with intermediate resistance, a 3-h infusion of 2 g of meropenem every 8 h can provide concentrations in serum above the MIC of 16 μg/ml for almost 60% of an 8-h interval.
Observation of calcium microdomains at the uropod of living morphologically polarized human neutrophils using flash lamp‐based fluorescence microscopy

The present study outlines improved strategies for ratiometric imaging of cell calcium using a flash lamp‐based excitation method and its application to neutrophil polarization. A brief (∼6 μs) and intense flash was used to excite the Fluo‐4 and Fura Red calcium dye combination in morphologically polarized human neutrophils. These illumination conditions do not allow the dye or calcium ions to diffuse significant distances during the exposure period. Buffer conditions such as pH, pyruvate concentration, and glucose levels were adjusted to more faithfully replicate these parameters in sepsis patients. Fluorescence images at both dyes' emission wavelengths were simultaneously collected using a Dual‐View apparatus and an ICCD camera. The ratiometric images, when viewed as single frames or averaged image stacks, clearly demonstrated high calcium probe ratios at the uropod and comparatively low ratios at the cell body that were not evident using conventional imaging methods with longer exposure times. Calcium signaling at the uropod is likely associated with cytoskeletal remodeling during cell motility. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
MEMS-Based Electronically Steerable Antenna Array Fabricated Using PCB Technology

In this paper, a MEMS-based electronically steerable antenna array (ESA) fabricated using printed circuit processing techniques is reported. A Kapton polyimide film is used as the structural layer for fabricating MEMS varactors. The MEMS varactors have been used in the bistable mode to design loaded- line-type MEMS phase shifters. These MEMS phase shifters have been monolithically integrated with the ESA on a Duroid substrate using printed circuit processing techniques. For proof-of-concept demonstration of the proposed MEMS-based ESA, a 3-bit MEMS phase shifter has been monolithically integrated with a two- element double-folded slot-antenna array on a Duroid substrate. An X-band ESA prototype with a beam steering angle of 20deg at 9.1 GHz is presented.
Size-selective grazing on bacteria by natural assemblages of estuarine flagellates and ciliates

The small average cell size of in situ bacterioplankton, relative to cultured cells, has been suggested to be at least partly a result of selection of larger-sized cells by bacterivorous protozoa. In this study, we determined the relative rates of uptake of fluorescence-labeled bacteria (FLB), of various cell sizes and cell types, by natural assemblages of flagellates and ciliates in estuarine water. Calculated clearance rates of bacterivorous flagellates had a highly significant, positive relationship with size of FLB, over a range of average biovolume of FLB of 0.03 to 0.08 microns3. Bacterial cell type or cell shape per se did not appear to affect flagellate clearance rates. The dominant size classes of flagellates which ingested all types of FLB were 3- to 4-microns cells. Ciliates also showed a general preference for larger-sized bacteria. However, ciliates ingested a gram-positive enteric bacterium and a marine bacterial isolate at higher rates than they did a similarly sized, gram-negative enteric bacterium or natural bacterioplankton, respectively. From the results of an experiment designed to test whether the addition of a preferentially grazed bacterial strain stimulated clearance rates of natural bacterioplankton FLB by the ciliates, we hypothesized that measured differences in rates of FLB uptake were due instead to differences in effective retention of bacteria by the ciliates. In general, clearance rates for different FLB varied by a factor of 2 to 4. Selective grazing by protozoa of larger bacterioplankton cells, which are generally the cells actively growing or dividing, may in part explain the small average cell size, low frequency of dividing cells, and low growth rates generally observed for assemblages of suspended bacteria.
A Khmer named entity recognition method by fusing language characteristics

Aiming at the problem of Khmer named entity recognition, we proposed a method fusing Khmer entity characteristics based on the universal feature templates. For the relatively stable entity that is formed of time expressions and digital expressions, we recognize it using artificial rules; For the complex entity that is formed of names, locations, and organizations, we use Conditional Random Fields algorithm, taking word, part of speech, contextual information and Khmer entity characteristics into consideration, to build a complex entity recognition model to recognize it. Experimental results show that the named entity recognition method fusing Khmer entity characteristics has a better effect.
Adenylate Kinase as a Virulence Factor ofPseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Adenylate kinase (AK; ATP:AMP phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.3 ) is a ubiquitous enzyme that contributes to the homeostasis of adenine nucleotides in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. AK catalyzes the reversible reaction Mg · ATP + AMP ↔ Mg · ADP + ADP. In this study we show that AK secreted by the pathogenic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa appears to play an important role in macrophage cell death. We purified and characterized AK from the growth medium of a cystic fibrosis isolate strain of P. aeruginosa 8821 and hyperproduced it as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase. We demonstrated enhanced macrophage cell death in the presence of both the secreted and recombinant purified AK and its substrates AMP plus ATP or ADP. These data suggested that AK converts its substrates to a mixture of AMP, ADP, and ATP, which are potentially more cytotoxic than ATP alone. In addition, we observed increased macrophage killing in the presence of AK and ATP alone. Since the presence of ATPase activity on the macrophages was confirmed in the present work, external macrophage-effluxed ATP is converted to ADP, which in turn can be transformed by AK into a cytotoxic mixture of three adenine nucleotides. Evidence is presented in this study that secreted AK was detected in macrophages during infection with P. aeruginosa. Thus, the possible role of secreted AK as a virulence factor is in producing and keeping an intact pool of toxic mixtures of AMP, ADP, and ATP, which allows P. aeruginosa to exert its full virulence.
Preventive effect of levothyroxine in patients operated for non‐toxic goitre: a randomized trial of one hundred patients with nine years follow‐up

OBJECTIVE Earlier reports have shown different effects of levothyroxine in the prevention of recurrence of non‐toxic goitre after operation. These studies have been either retrospective or of short‐term follow‐up. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of long‐term Eitroxin treatment (levothyroxine 0.1 mg daily) In the prevention of post‐operative recurrence of non‐toxic goitre.
Moderate Intake of n-3 Fatty Acids for 2 Months Has No Detrimental Effect on Glucose Metabolism and Could Ameliorate the Lipid Profile in Type 2 Diabetic Men: Results of a controlled study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a moderate dose of fish oil on glycemic control and in vivo insulin action in type 2 diabetic men with elevated plasma triacylglycerols and to determine the effect of the same treatment on gene expression of GLUT4, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in the abdominal adipose tissue. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 12 type 2 diabetic men were randomly allocated to 2 months of 6 g daily of either fish oil or sunflower oil, separated by a 2- month washout interval, in a double-blind crossover design. RESULTS For glucose metabolism, 2 months of fish oil supplementation compared with sunflower oil led to similar fasting plasma insulin, glucose, and HbA1c. Basal hepatic glucose production did not increase after fish oil. There was no difference in insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production nor in insulin stimulation of whole-body glucose disposal measured by the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Fish oil did not ameliorate the low mRNA level of GLUT4 in adipose tissue of these patients. For lipid profile, fish oil lowered plasma triacylglycerol more than sunflower oil (P < 0.05) and tended to increase the amount of mRNA of both LPL and HSL in adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS A moderate dose of fish oil did not lead to deleterious effects on glycemic control or whole-body insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic men, with preserved triacylglycerol- lowering capacities.
The pattern of educator voice in clinical counseling in an educational hospital in Shiraz, Iran: a conversation analysis

Doctor-patient interaction (DPI) includes different voices, of which the educator voice is of considerable importance. Physicians employ this voice to educate patients and their caregivers by providing them with information in order to change the patients’ behavior and improve their health status. The subject has not yet been fully understood, and therefore the present study was conducted to explore the pattern of educator voice. For this purpose, conversation analysis (CA) of 33 recorded clinical consultations was performed in outpatient educational clinics in Shiraz, Iran between April 2014 and September 2014. In this qualitative study, all utterances, repetitions, lexical forms, chuckles and speech particles were considered and interpreted as social actions. Interpretations were based on inductive data-driven analysis with the aim to find recurring patterns of educator voice. The results showed educator voice to have two general features: descriptive and prescriptive. However, the pattern of educator voice comprised characteristics such as superficiality, marginalization of patients, one-dimensional approach, ignoring a healthy lifestyle, and robotic nature. The findings of this study clearly demonstrated a deficiency in the educator voice and inadequacy in patient-centered dialogue. In this setting, the educator voice was related to a distortion of DPI through the physicians’ dominance, leading them to ignore their professional obligation to educate patients. Therefore, policies in this regard should take more account of enriching the educator voice through training medical students and faculty members in communication skills.
Conserved functional consequences of disease-associated mutations in the slide helix of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 subunits of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel

Cantu syndrome (CS) is a condition characterized by a range of anatomical defects, including cardiomegaly, hyperflexibility of the joints, hypertrichosis, and craniofacial dysmorphology. CS is associated with multiple missense mutations in the genes encoding the regulatory sulfonylurea receptor 2 (SUR2) subunits of the ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel as well as two mutations (V65M and C176S) in the Kir6.1 (KCNJ8) subunit. Previous analysis of leucine and alanine substitutions at the Val-65-equivalent site (Val-64) in Kir6.2 indicated no major effects on channel function. In this study, we characterized the effects of both valine-to-methionine and valine-to-leucine substitutions at this position in both Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 using ion flux and patch clamp techniques. We report that methionine substitution, but not leucine substitution, results in increased open state stability and hence significantly reduced ATP sensitivity and a marked increase of channel activity in the intact cell irrespective of the identity of the coassembled SUR subunit. Sulfonylurea inhibitors, such as glibenclamide, are potential therapies for CS. However, as a consequence of the increased open state stability, both Kir6.1(V65M) and Kir6.2(V64M) mutations essentially abolish high-affinity sensitivity to the KATP blocker glibenclamide in both intact cells and excised patches. This raises the possibility that, at least for some CS mutations, sulfonylurea therapy may not prove to be successful and highlights the need for detailed pharmacogenomic analyses of CS mutations.
Diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation as a primary surgical treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the feasibility of diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) as a primary surgical treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma and to compare 2 laser energy settings used for treatment. METHODS In a prospective clinical trial in Cape Coast and Accra, Ghana, 1 eye of each of 92 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma was treated by diode laser TSCPC as a primary surgical treatment. Eyes were randomly assigned to receive treatment by 20 applications of either 1.5 W applied for 1.5 seconds or 1.25 W applied for 2.5 seconds. RESULTS Seventy-nine (86%) of 92 patients completed 3 months of follow-up; follow-up was 13.2 +/- 6.0 months (mean +/- SD). Intraocular pressure decreased in 53 (67%) of the 79 eyes. The drop in intraocular pressure was 20% or more in 37 eyes (47%) and final intraocular pressure was 22 mm Hg or less in 38 eyes (48%). An atonic pupil was a previously unreported complication that arose in 27 (28%) of 92 eyes. There were no serious complications of hypotony, phthisis bulbi, or sympathetic ophthalmia. Visual acuity decreased in 18 (23%) of 79 eyes treated by TSCPC and in 10 (23%) of 47 fellow eyes treated only with glaucoma medications. There was no difference in outcomes between the 2 laser energy settings. CONCLUSIONS Diode laser TSCPC is a practical, rapid, well-tolerated procedure that may provide a modest and variable lowering of intraocular pressure. The treatment, used with conservative energy levels applied to the eye, seems to have few serious complications, although a previously unrecognized complication of atonic pupil needs further evaluation. A moderate variation in laser energy settings does not influence the results of treatment.
Radioimmunotherapy (90Y‐Ibritumomab Tiuxetan) for Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders After Prior Exposure to Rituximab

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are life‐threatening complications after solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Only half of CD20‐positive PTLDs respond to rituximab monotherapy, and outcomes remain poor for patients with relapsed/refractory disease, especially those who do not qualify for an anthracycline containing regimen due to frailty or comorbidities. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) might be an option in this particular setting. We report a panel of eight patients with rituximab refractory/relapsed CD20‐positive PTLDs including three ineligible for subsequent CHOP‐like chemotherapy who received 90Y‐Ibritumomab tiuxetan as a single agent (n = 7) or combined to chemotherapy (n = 1). Five out of eight patients were kidney transplant recipients, while 2/8 had a liver transplant and 1/8 had a heart transplant. Patients received a median of two previous therapies. Overall response rate was 62.5%. Importantly, all responders achieved complete response. At a median follow‐up of 37 months [5; 84], complete response was ongoing in four patients. Toxicity was predominantly hematological and easily manageable. No graft rejection was noticed concomitantly or following RIT administration despite immunosuppression reduction after diagnosis of PTLDs. This report emphasizes the potential efficiency of salvage RIT for early rituximab refractory PTLDs without any unexpected toxicity.
Attitude and Consumption Patterns of the Indian Chocolate Consumer: An Exploratory Study

This exploratory study is a pioneering research in the study of chocolate consumption amongst Indian consumers. Most studies look at chocolate consumption as deviant behaviour. However, for a developing country like India the frequency and amount of consumption is low; hence the factors influencing/hindering the consumption are of interest both for academicians as well as practitioners. The study went on to analyze the prevailing attitude towards chocolate consumption and tested the difference in attitude across relevant demographic variables. A cross-sectional consumer survey of 186 Indian chocolate consumers was conducted across the National Capital Region (NCR) of New Delhi, India. Factor analysis of consumer attitudes resulted in two distinct factors—cultural significance of sweets and chocolate value proposition. Younger consumers were found to be more value seeking as compared to older consumers. Taste followed by the brand were the most important criteria while choosing a chocolate and predominant reason for buying chocolates was for gifting purpose.
Amplitude monopulse pillbox antenna in SIW technology

A new amplitude monopulse multi-beam antenna is proposed in substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology. The antenna system is a dual-layer structure incorporating the monopulse technique along its scanning plane (E-plane). The radiating part, in the upper most layer, is an array of slotted waveguides. In the lower layer the feeding system consists of five horn pairs located in the focal plane of the pillbox transition. The in-phase and out-of-phase operations of each horn pair form the sum (Σ) and difference (Δ) radiation patterns in the antenna scanning plane. This allows enhanced angular resolution in E-plane without mechanical rotation of the antenna structure. The proposed concept has been validated numerically at 24.15 GHz. At the design frequency, very good scanning performance is obtained over an angular sector of ±26° with side lobe level (SLL) lower than -11dB and -6dB respectively, for the Σ and Δ patterns. The null depth is better that -28dB for all Δ patterns.
Population-Based Pediatric Reference Intervals in General Clinical Chemistry: A Swedish Survey

Summary Very few high quality studies on pediatric reference intervals for general clinical chemistry and hematology analytes have been performed. Three recent prospective community-based projects utilising blood samples from healthy children in Sweden, Denmark and Canada have substantially improved the situation. The Swedish survey included 701 healthy children. Reference intervals for general clinical chemistry and hematology were defined. Kratak sadržaj Postoji vrlo malo visokokvalitetnih studija o pedijatrijskim referentnim intervalima za opšte analite u kliničkoj hemiji i hematologiji. Nedavno su tri prospektivna projekta zasnovana na ispitivanjima u okviru zajednice uzoraka krvi zdrave dece u Švedskoj, Danskoj i Kanadi znatno popravila situaciju. Švedsko ispitivanje obuhvatilo je 701 zdravo dete. Definisani su referentni intervali za opštu kliničku hemiju i hematologiju.
FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM TUNISIA

The objective of this paper is to build an index of financial liberalization in Tunisia using the Principal Component Analysis method over a period of 36 years from 1980 to 2015. In addition, this paper also includes econometric estimates terms of cointegration and causality between financial liberalization policy and economic growth in Tunisia. To do this, we adopt a methodology which is based on an analysis in terms of causality. This approach requires passing through three stages. The first step is to check the properties of time series (stationary and integration order) of the financial liberalization index and economic growth through the use of unit root Dickey-Fuller tests. The second step seeks to examine the long-term relationship between the two variables by using a multivariate analysis Johansen. Finally, the third step seeks to determine the direction of causality between the financial liberalization index and economic growth by applying a vector error correction model. The results show that the two series are integrated of order one (I (1)), the existence of a long-term relationship between the financial liberalization index and economic growth and the presence of causality Granger unidirectional of financial liberalization index to economic growth.