Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overclocking the Yahoo!: CDN for faster web page loads

Fast-loading web pages are key for a positive user experience. Unfortunately, a large number of users suffer from page load times of many seconds, especially for pages with many embedded objects. Most of this time is spent fetching the page and its objects over the Internet. This paper investigates the impact of optimizations that improve the delivery of content from edge servers at the Yahoo! Content Delivery Network (CDN) to the end users. To this end, we analyze packet traces of 12.3M TCP connections originating from users across the world and terminating at the Yahoo! CDN. Using these traces, we characterize key user-connection metrics at the network, transport, and the application layers. We observe high Round Trip Times (RTTs) and inflated number of round trips per page download (RTT multipliers). Due to inefficiencies in TCP's slow start and the HTTP protocol, we found several opportunities to reduce the RTT multiplier, e.g. increasing TCP's Initial Congestion Window (ICW), using TCP Appropriate Byte Counting (ABC), and using HTTP pipelining. Using live workloads, we experimentally study the micro effects of these optimizations on network connectivity, e.g. packet loss rate. To evaluate the macro effects of these optimizations on the overall page load time, we use realistic synthetic workloads in a closed laboratory environment. We find that compounding HTTP pipelining with increasing the ICW size can lead to reduction in page load times by up to 80%. We also find that no one configuration fits all users, e.g. increasing the TCP ICW to a certain size may help some users while hurting others.
Effect of N-1/C-8 Ring Fusion and C-7 Ring Structure on Fluoroquinolone Lethality

ABSTRACT Quinolones rapidly kill bacteria by two mechanisms, one that requires protein synthesis and one that does not. The latter, which is measured as lethal action in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor chloramphenicol, is enhanced by N-1 cyclopropyl and C-8 methoxy substituents, as seen with the highly lethal compound PD161144. In some compounds, such as levofloxacin, the N-1 and C-8 substituents are fused. To assess the effect of ring fusion on killing, structural derivatives of levofloxacin and PD161144 differing at C-7 were synthesized and examined with Escherichia coli. A fused-ring derivative of PD161144 exhibited a striking absence of lethal activity in the presence of chloramphenicol. In general, ring fusion had little effect on lethal activity when protein synthesis was allowed, but fusion reduced lethal activity in the absence of protein synthesis to extents that depended on the C-7 ring structure. Additional fused-ring fluoroquinolones, pazufloxacin, marbofloxacin, and rufloxacin, also exhibited reduced activity in the presence of chloramphenicol. Energy minimization modeling revealed that steric interactions of the trans-oriented N-1 cyclopropyl and C-8 methoxy moieties skew the quinolone core, rigidly orient these groups perpendicular to core rings, and restrict the rotational freedom of C-7 rings. These features were not observed with fused-ring derivatives. Remarkably, structural effects on quinolone lethality were not explained by the recently described X-ray crystal structures of fluoroquinolone-topoisomerase IV-DNA complexes, suggesting the existence of an additional drug-binding state.
Innate immune processes are sufficient for driving silicosis in mice

The lung is constantly exposed to potentially pathogenic particles and microorganisms. It has become evident recently that not only innate but also adaptive immune responses to particulates, such as SiO2 entering the respiratory tract, are complex and dynamic events. Although the cellular mechanisms and anatomical consequences involved in the development of silicosis have been studied extensively, they still remain poorly understood. Based on their capacity for immune regulation, lymphocytes may play a key role in the respiratory response to environmental challenge by SiO2. The objective of this study was to characterize the impact of SiO2 exposure on respiratory immune processes, with particular emphasis on evaluating the importance of lymphocytes in the murine silicosis model. Therefore, lymphopenic mice, including NK‐deficient, Rag1−/−, or a combination (Rag1−/− NK‐depleted), were used and demonstrated that SiO2‐induced fibrosis and inflammation can occur independently of T, B, NK T, and NK cells. Studies in Rag1−/− mice suggest further that lymphocytes may participate in the regulation of SiO2‐induced inflammation through modulation of the Nalp3 inflammasome. This observation may have clinical relevance in the treatment of inflammatory and fibrotic lung diseases that are refractory or respond suboptimally to current therapeutics.
Systems of Mating. III. Assortative Mating Based on Somatic Resemblance.

Variation due to one unit factor. 144 Variation due to two factors. 145 General formulae. 146 Summary of formulae. : . 151 Checks on theory. 152 One factor. 152 Two factors. 152 Other results. 152 Equilibrium. 153 The variability of a population. 153 Composition of the population. 155 Dominance. 157 Assortative mating with inbreeding. 157 Percentage of heterozygosis. 158 Correlation between parent and offspring. 160 Correlation between brothers. 160 LITERATURE CITED . 161
Talk in the Classroom.

Traditionally, language has been divided into four main skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing. Until the mid-19 century, schools tended to focus on the written language. Foreign languages were taught through the study of grammar rules and lists of vocabulary that were combined in the analysis of written texts or in the formation of decontextualized sentences. In the midto late-19 century, a growing number of linguists began to question this approach that had failed to produce proficient users of foreign languages. One of the grounds for questioning the approach was the suggestion that the learning of a language (as in the mother tongue) should begin with listening and speaking, followed later with reading and writing (Richards & Rodgers, 2001).
The impact of exercise during pregnancy on neonatal outcomes: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM The effect of exercise training during the course of pregnancy on the newborn's birth weight is unclear. This study examines the effect of aerobic and strength conditioning exercise performed during the second and the third trimester of pregnancy in nulliparous, previously inactive women on the newborn's outcome. METHODS Sixty-three nulliparous, previously sedentary, were randomly assigned to either an exercise (N.=30) or a control (N.=33) group. The subjects participated in the exercise group (EG) focused on aerobic and strength-conditioning exercise in three sessions for about 20 weeks. We registered the birth weight, birth length, gestational age at time of delivery, Apgar score and head circumference of the newborn. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in mean birth weight, length, head circumference, and length of gestation. There was a significant difference between two groups in Apgar scores at 1 min (P=0.036) and 5 min (P=0.015) with newborns of the EG scoring higher than the CG. CONCLUSION Supervised, aerobic and strength conditioning exercise performed over the second and third trimester of pregnancy does not have a negative impact on the newborn's body size and health.
A NEW DETECTION OF LYα ABSORPTION FROM THE HELIOTAIL

We present new Hubble Space Telescope observations of H i Lyα absorption toward the F8 V star HD 35296. This line of sight is only a few degrees from the downwind direction of the local interstellar medium flow vector. As a consequence, Lyα absorption from the heliotail is detected in the spectrum, consistent with three previous downwind detections of heliotail absorption. The clustering of the heliotail absorption detections around the downwind direction demonstrates that the heliotail is pointed close to that direction, limiting the extent to which the interstellar magnetic field might be distorting and deflecting the heliotail. We explore this issue further using three-dimensional MHD models of the global heliosphere. The three computed models represent the first three-dimensional MHD models with both a kinetic treatment of neutrals and an extended grid in the tail direction, both of which are necessary to model Lyα absorption downwind. The models indicate only modest heliotail asymmetries and deflections, which are not large enough to be inconsistent with the clustering of heliotail absorption detections around the downwind direction. The models are reasonably successful at reproducing the observed absorption, but they do overpredict the Lyα opacity by a factor of 2–3. We discuss implications of these results in light of observations of the heliotail region from the Interstellar Boundary Explorer mission.
Management of Irregular Astigmatism after Laser In Situ Keratomileusis

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures for the correction of myopic, hyperopic, and astigmatic refractive errors. Despite the high level of success in improving unaided vision after LASIK, impairment of visual function may occur, with loss of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and significant reduction of vision quality caused by glare, halos, loss of contrast sensitivity, and other optical aberrations. These problems are frustrating to both patients, and refractive surgeons. The most common cause of these abnormalities is irregular astigmatism that can adversely affect image quality and may lead to permanent loss of BCVA if not managed properly. A thorough understanding of the various etiologies and manifestations of irregular astigmatism and of the strategies to manage this complication are essential for surgeons performing LASIK surgery. The Table lists several factors that contribute to the development of irregular astigmatism after LASIK. These include (1) preoperative factors, such as keratoconus, marginal degeneration, contact lens warpage syndrome, and other forms of preexisting irregular astigmatism, and misalignment between the entrance pupil and the corneal apex, including large-angle kappa; (2) intraoperative factors, such as induced irregular astigmatism due to poor laser optics, nonuniform stromal bed hydration, irregular LASIK flap (thin, irregular, incomplete, and buttonholed flap), free cap, flap folds and microstriae, epithelial defect, decentered ablation, and central island; and (3) postoperative factors, such as those resulting from subclinical flap displacement (with resultant folds), wrinkles, dislodged flap, epithelial ingrowth, posterior corneal ectasia, irregular wound healing, diffuse lamellar keratitis, and infectious keratitis. In the following sections, we discuss the etiology and management of decentrations, central islands, ectasia, and flap folds associated with irregular astigmatism. Irregular astigmatism is associated with higher-order aberrations. Wavefront analysis shows coma, trefoil, secondary astigmatism and other higher-order aberrations in patients with irregular astigmatism. It is worth noting that not all higher-order aberrations after LASIK are caused by irregular astigmatism.
Genetic variability of six indigenous goat breeds using major histocompatibility complex-associated microsatellite markers

The present study aimed at analyzing the genetic variability of indigenous goat breeds (Capra hircus) using the MHC-associated microsatellite markers BF1, BM1818, BM1258, DYMS1, and SMHCC1. The following breeds were included: Chinese Xuhuai, Indian Changthangi and Pashmina, Kenyan Small East African (SEA) and Galla, and Albanian Vendi. To examine genetic variability, the levels of heterozigosity, degrees of inbreeding, and genetic differences among the breeds were analyzed. The mean number of alleles ranged from nine in the Galla to 14.5 in the Vendi breed. The mean observed heterozygosity and mean expected heterozygosity varied from 0.483 in the Vendi to 0.577 in the Galla breed, and from 0.767 in the SEA to 0.879 in the Vendi breed, respectively. Significant loss of heterozygosity (p < 0.01) indicated that these loci were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The mean FIS values ranged from 0.3299 in the SEA to 0.4605 in the Vendi breed with a mean value of 0.3623 in all breeds (p < 0.001). Analysis of molecular variance indicated that 7.14% and 4.74% genetic variation existed among the different breeds and geographic groups, whereas 92.86% and 95.26% existed in the breeds and the geographic groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The microsatellite marker analysis disclosed a high degree of genetic polymorphism. Loss of heterozygosity could be due to genetic drift and endogamy. The genetic variation among populations and geographic groups does not indicate a correlation of genetic differences with geographic distance.
Descriptive Analysis of the Boston Criteria Applied to a Dutch-Type Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Population

Background and Purpose— Validation of the Boston criteria for the in vivo diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is challenging, because noninvasive diagnostic tests do not exist. Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis–Dutch type is an accepted monogenetic model of CAA and diagnosis can be made with certainty based on DNA analysis. The aim of this study was to analyze and refine the existing Boston criteria in patients with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis–Dutch type. Methods— We performed T2*-weighted MRI in 27 patients with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis–Dutch type to assess the presence and location of microbleeds, intracranial hemorrhages, and superficial siderosis. Using the Boston criteria, subjects were categorized as having: no hemorrhages, possible CAA, probable CAA, and hemorrhagic lesions not qualifying for CAA. The sensitivity of the Boston criteria was calculated separately using intracranial hemorrhages only and using intracranial hemorrhages and microbleeds. Results— The sensitivity of the Boston criteria for probable CAA increased from 48% to 63% when microbleeds were included. For symptomatic subjects only, the sensitivity was 100%. No hemorrhages were identified in the deep white matter, basal ganglia, thalamus, or brainstem. Superficial siderosis, observed in 6 patients, did not increase the sensitivity of the Boston criteria in our study group. Conclusions— Our data show that using T2*-weighted MRI and including microbleeds increase the sensitivity of the Boston criteria. The exclusion of hemorrhages in the deep white matter, basal ganglia, thalamus, and brainstem does not lower the sensitivity of the Boston criteria.
Articulatory distinctiveness of vowels and consonants: a data-driven approach.

PURPOSE To quantify the articulatory distinctiveness of 8 major English vowels and 11 English consonants based on tongue and lip movement time series data using a data-driven approach. METHOD Tongue and lip movements of 8 vowels and 11 consonants from 10 healthy talkers were collected. First, classification accuracies were obtained using 2 complementary approaches: (a) Procrustes analysis and (b) a support vector machine. Procrustes distance was then used to measure the articulatory distinctiveness among vowels and consonants. Finally, the distance (distinctiveness) matrices of different vowel pairs and consonant pairs were used to derive articulatory vowel and consonant spaces using multidimensional scaling. RESULTS Vowel classification accuracies of 91.67% and 89.05% and consonant classification accuracies of 91.37% and 88.94% were obtained using Procrustes analysis and a support vector machine, respectively. Articulatory vowel and consonant spaces were derived based on the pairwise Procrustes distances. CONCLUSIONS The articulatory vowel space derived in this study resembled the long-standing descriptive articulatory vowel space defined by tongue height and advancement. The articulatory consonant space was consistent with feature-based classification of English consonants. The derived articulatory vowel and consonant spaces may have clinical implications, including serving as an objective measure of the severity of articulatory impairment.
Access to Inpatient or Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Among Homeless Adults With Alcohol or Other Drug Use Disorders

Objectives.We conducted a theoretically guided study of access to inpatient or residential treatment among a probability sample of homeless adults with alcohol or drug use disorders in Houston, Texas. Methods.This study used a cross-sectional, retrospective design with data collected from a multistage random sample of 797 homeless adults age 18 or older who were living in Houston shelters and streets in 1996. Structured, face-to-face interviews produced screening diagnoses for alcohol and drug use disorders, treatment use data, and candidate predictors of treatment use. Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed on the subset of 326 homeless persons with either alcohol or drug use disorder. Results.27. 5% of persons with substance use disorder had accessed inpatient or residential treatment during the past year. Controlling for additional need factors such as comorbidity, persons having public health insurance and a history of treatment for substance problems had greater odds of receiving at least one night of treatment. Contrary to expectation, contact with other service sectors was not predictive of treatment access. Schizophrenia and having a partner appeared to hinder access. Greater need for treatment was associated with fewer nights of treatment, suggesting retention difficulties. Conclusions.This study adds to previous findings on access to health care among homeless persons and highlights a pattern of disparities in substance abuse treatment access. Health insurance is important, but enhancing access to care involves more than economic considerations if homeless persons are to receive the treatment they need. Referral relationships across different service sectors may require strengthening.
The HIV-1 Vpu Protein Induces Apoptosis in Drosophila via Activation of JNK Signaling

The genome of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) encodes the canonical retroviral proteins, as well as additional accessory proteins that enhance the expression of viral genes, the infectivity of the virus and the production of virions. The accessory Viral Protein U (Vpu), in particular, enhances viral particle production, while also promoting apoptosis of HIV-infected human T lymphocytes. Some Vpu effects rely on its interaction with the ubiquitin–proteasome protein degradation system, but the mechanisms responsible for its pro-apoptotic effects in vivo are complex and remain largely to be elucidated. We took advantage of the Drosophila model to study the effects of Vpu activity in vivo. Expression of Vpu in the developing Drosophila wing provoked tissue loss due to caspase-dependent apoptosis. Moreover, Vpu induced expression of the pro-apoptotic gene reaper, known to down-regulate Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs) which are caspase-antagonizing E3 ubiquitin ligases. Indeed, Vpu also reduced accumulation of Drosophila IAP1 (DIAP1). Though our results demonstrate a physical interaction between Vpu and the proteasome-addressing SLIMB/β-TrCP protein, as in mammals, both SLIMB/βTrCP-dependent and -independent Vpu effects were observed in the Drosophila wing. Lastly, the pro-apoptotic effect of Vpu in this tissue was abrogated upon inactivation of the c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway. Our results in the fly thus provide the first functional evidence linking Vpu pro-apoptotic effects to activation of the conserved JNK pathway.
Dehydration of Gas Mixture Using Throttling Valve:Effect of Pressure & Effect on Moisture Content

Natural gas hydrate has always bring major problem to pipelines corrosion and plugging. Many technologies have been invented and applied to tackle this problem. The widely used and most feasible technologies used is absorption by using triethylene glycol (TEG). This technology has been used in industry for decades due to its promising efficiency. However, its packing column requires a large column space for maximizing the absorption amount. Besides, there are other drawbacks of using this method such as desiccant effectiveness which decreases promptly at temperatures greater than 80°F (26.67°C) and high energy consumption. Hence, the throttling technique is proposed to remove moisture content in natural gas mixture in achieving the essentials for critical offshore application, which removes water vapor in large production, small size and less weight. The advantage of the proposed system include self-induced refrigeration, small in size, low operating cost, simple mechanical design and unlikely to form hydrates. In this project, relationship between feed pressure and temperature drop in a throttling valve is studied. On top of that, the effect on different moisture content in hydrocarbon mixture with various throttling pressure is studied. Mathematical study is also developed to model and validate the temperature drop for different gas mixture under different feed pressure in a throttling valve. Calculated value is compared with experimental data to study the contributing factor of efficient water removal. Dehydration via throttling valve can be achieved by controlling the parameters: eg. , increasing the feed pressure with constant temperature and increasing the feed temperature with inlet pressure kept constant. The dehydration of gas mixture by using throttling valve deemed a valuable result noting that the effectiveness of the throttling valve can go up to 87% if a proper insulation is installed.
The Electrical Activity of the Temporal and Masseter Muscles in Patients with TMD and Unilateral Posterior Crossbite

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of unilateral posterior crossbite on the electrical activity of the temporal and masseter muscles in patients with subjective symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMD). The sample consisted of 50 patients (22 female and 28 male) aged 18.4 to 26.3 years (mean 20.84, SD 1.14) with subjective symptoms of TMD and unilateral posterior crossbite malocclusion and 100 patients without subjective symptoms of TMD and malocclusion (54 female and 46 male) aged between 18.4 and 28.7 years (mean 21.42, SD 1.06). The anamnestic interviews were conducted according to a three-point anamnestic index of temporomandibular dysfunction (Ai). Electromyographical (EMG) recordings were performed using a DAB-Bluetooth Instrument (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany). Recordings were carried out in the mandibular rest position and during maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Analysis of the results of the EMG recordings confirmed the influence of unilateral posterior crossbite on variations in spontaneous muscle activity in the mandibular rest position and maximum voluntary contraction. In addition, there was a significant increase in the Asymmetry Index (As) and Torque Coefficient (Tc), responsible for a laterodeviating effect on the mandible caused by unbalanced right and left masseter and temporal muscles.