Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virt-LM: a benchmark for live migration of virtual machine (abstracts only)

Virtualization technology has been widely applied in data centers and IT infrastructures, with advantages of server consolidation and live migration. Through live migration, data centers could flexibly move virtual machines among different physical machines to balance workloads, reduce energy consumption and enhance service availability. Today's data centers can grow to a huge scale. This implies that frequent live migration would be desirable for the economic use of hardware resources. Then, the performance of the live migration strategy will be an issue. So, we need a reliant evaluation method to choose the software and hardware environments that will produce the best live migration performance. However, there is not a complete live migration benchmark available currently. In addition, the existing evaluation methodologies select different metrics, different workloads and different test means. Thus, it is difficult to compare their results. In this paper we first survey the current research and their evaluation methods on live migration. We then summarize the critical issues for the live migration evaluation and also raise other unreported potential problems. We propose our solutions and present an implementation in our live migration benchmark -- Virt-LM. This is a benchmark for comparing live migration performance among different software and hardware environments in a data center scenario. We detail its design and provide some experimental results to validate its effectiveness.
Modeling impacts of carbon sequestration on net greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils in China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) contents in many farmlands have been depleted because of the long‐term history of intensive cultivation in China. Chinese farmers are encouraged to adopt alternative management practices on their farms to sequester SOC. On the basis of the availability of carbon (C) resources in the rural areas in China, the most promising practices are (1) incorporating more crop residue in the soils and (2) resuming traditional manure fertilizer. By implementing the alternative practices, increase in SOC content has been observed in some fields. This paper investigates how the C sequestration strategies could affect nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions from the agricultural soils in six selected sites across China. A process‐based model, denitrification‐decomposition or DNDC, which has been widely validated against data sets of SOC dynamics and N2O and CH4 fluxes observed in China, was adopted in the study to quantify the greenhouse gas impacts of enhanced crop residue incorporation and manure amendment under the diverse climate, soil, and crop rotation conditions across the six agroecosystems. Model results indicated that (1) when the alternative management practices were employed C sequestration rates increased, however, N2O or CH4 emissions were also increased for these practices; and (2) reducing the application rates of synthetic fertilizer in conjunction with the alternative practices could decrease N2O emissions while at the same time maintaining existing crop yields and C sequestration rates. The modeling approach could help with development of spatially differentiated best management practices at large regional scales.
Direct interaction between the Arabidopsis disease resistance signaling proteins, EDS1 and PAD4

The Arabidopsis EDS1 and PAD4 genes encode lipase‐like proteins that function in resistance (R) gene‐mediated and basal plant disease resistance. Phenotypic analysis of eds1 and pad4 null mutants shows that EDS1 and PAD4 are required for resistance conditioned by the same spectrum of R genes but fulfil distinct roles within the defence pathway. EDS1 is essential for elaboration of the plant hypersensitive response, whereas EDS1 and PAD4 are both required for accumulation of the plant defence‐potentiating molecule, salicylic acid. EDS1 is necessary for pathogen‐induced PAD4 mRNA accumulation, whereas mutations in PAD4 or depletion of salicylic acid only partially compromise EDS1 expression. Yeast two‐hybrid analysis reveals that EDS1 can dimerize and interact with PAD4. However, EDS1 dimerization is mediated by different domains to those involved in EDS1–PAD4 association. Co‐immunoprecipitation experiments show that EDS1 and PAD4 proteins interact in healthy and pathogen‐challenged plant cells. We propose two functions for EDS1. The first is required early in plant defence, independently of PAD4. The second recruits PAD4 in the amplification of defences, possibly by direct EDS1–PAD4 association.
Mitochondrial DNA variation and the evolution of Robertsonian chromosomal races of house mice, Mus domesticus.

The house mouse, Mus domesticus, includes many distinct Robertsonian (Rb) chromosomal races with diploid numbers from 2n = 22 to 2n = 38. Although these races are highly differentiated karyotypically, they are otherwise indistinguishable from standard karyotype (i.e., 2n = 40) mice, and consequently their evolutionary histories are not well understood. We have examined mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation from the control region and the ND3 gene region among 56 M. domesticus from Western Europe, including 15 Rb populations and 13 standard karyotype populations, and two individuals of the sister species, Mus musculus. mtDNA exhibited an average sequence divergence of 0.84% within M. domesticus and 3.4% between M. domesticus and M. musculus. The transition/transversion bias for the regions sequenced is 5.7:1, and the overall rate of sequence evolution is approximately 10% divergence per million years. The amount of mtDNA variation was as great among different Rb races as among different populations of standard karyotype mice, suggesting that different Rb races do not derive from a single recent maternal lineage. Phylogenetic analysis of the mtDNA sequences resulted in a parsimony tree which contained six major clades. Each of these clades contained both Rb and standard karyotype mice, consistent with the hypothesis that Rb races have arisen independently multiple times. Discordance between phylogeny and geography was attributable to ancestral polymorphism as a consequence of the recent colonization of Western Europe by mice. Two major mtDNA lineages were geographically localized and contained both Rb and standard karyotype mice. The age of these lineages suggests that mice have moved into Europe only within the last 10,000 years and that Rb populations in different geographic regions arose during this time.
Large‐scale enhancement in aerosol absorption in the lower free troposphere over continental India during spring

Aerosol absorption in the lower troposphere over continental India was assessed using extensive measurements of the vertical distribution of absorption coefficients aboard an instrumented aircraft. Measurements were made from seven base stations during winter (November–December 2012) and spring (April–May 2013), supplemented by the data from the networks of surface observatories. A definite enhancement in aerosol absorption has been observed in the lower free troposphere over the Indo‐Gangetic Plain (IGP) during spring, along with a reduction near the surface. The regional mean aerosol absorption optical depth (AAOD) over IGP, which was derived from aircraft observations (integrated from the ground to 3 km), increased from 0.020 ± 0.009 in winter to 0.048 ± 0.01 in spring. The columnar AAOD depicted weak and distinctly different seasonal variations than that of surface level black carbon mass concentrations. This contrasting difference in the seasonality indicates the presence of elevated layers of absorbing aerosols during spring in association with the long‐range transport and vertical convective lofting of aerosols.
Characterization and Bioscreening of a New Triterpenoid and a Flavanone Isolated from Salvia nubicola

A new epimeric lupane triterpenoid, 3α‐hydroxy‐20‐oxo‐30‐norlupane (1), and a new flavanone (nubatin; 3) have been isolated from Salvia nubicola collected from Quetta, Pakistan. The structures of these constituents were elucidated with the aid of spectroscopic techniques, including two‐dimensional NMR and NOE experiments. Both the metabolites were found to be moderately bio‐active.
0-1 Integer Programming for Computing Semi-Stable Semantics of Argumentation Frameworks

Dung's abstract argumentation has been object of intense study not just for its relationship with logical reasoning but also for its uses within artificial intelligence. One research branch in abstract argumentation has focused on finding new methods for computing its different semantics. We present a novel method, to the best of our knowledge, for computing semi-stable semantics using 0-1 integer programming. This approach captures the notions of conflict freeness, acceptability, maximality with regard to set inclusion, etc., by 0-1 integer constraints. Additionally, this work also presents an empirical experiment to compare this novel approach with an answer set programming approach. Our results indicate that this new method performed well, and it has a great opportunity space for improving.
Fine structure and morphogenesis of spironolactone bodies in the zona glomerulosa of the human adrenal cortex

Numerous spironolactone bodies have been detected in the zona glomerulosa cells of the adrenal cortex of a 36-year-old spironolactone-treated woman whose non-tumorous right adrenal gland was removed surgically because of primary hyperaldosteronism. Electron microscopy revealed spherical laminated whorls which consisted of a central core composed of an amorphous electron-dense material surrounded by numerous smooth-walled concentric membranes. Continuous with and deriving from the endoplasmic reticulum, they were present in viable cells and were not associated with ultrastructural features indicating cellular injury. Cytoplasmic inclusions similar to spironolactone bodies can be detected in other organs after the administration of various compounds. Thus, they can be regarded as neither specific to spironolactone treatment nor exclusively inducible in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex.
rapid communication Localization of P 2 X 1 purinoceptors by autoradiography and immunohistochemistry in rat kidneys

Chan, C. M. , R. J. Unwin, M. Bardini, I. B. Oglesby, A. P. D. W. Ford, A. Townsend-Nicholson, and G. Burnstock. Localization of P2X1 purinoceptors by autoradiography and immunohistochemistry in rat kidneys. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Renal Physiol. 43): F799–F804, 1998. —P2 receptors have been identified in rat kidney by autoradiography, using the radioligand [3H]a,b-methylene ATP, and by immunohistochemistry, using a polyclonal antibody to the P2X1 purinoceptor. They have been localized to the vascular smooth muscle of intrarenal arteries, including arcuate and interlobular arteries, and afferent arterioles, but not glomeruli, postglomerular efferent arterioles, or renal tubules. We conclude that at least some of the P2 receptors present on vascular smooth muscle are of the P2X1 subtype. The functional significance of these findings in the vascular control of the kidney is discussed.
Bioactive Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Fruit Peels

Fruit peels are the major agro-industrial wastes in canned fruit manufacture and fruit juice processing which make it worth to investigate on their bioactive phenolic compounds. This study discussed on the total phenolic content (TPC), the quantification of eight individual bioactive phenolics using HPLC and evaluation of antioxidant activitu using DPPH scavenging assay and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays on Psidium guajava (guava), Mangifera indica var. Chakonan (Chakonan mango), Citrus sinensis var. Navel (Navel orange) and Malus sylvestris (Granny Smith apple) peels. Results showed that fruit peels are significantly rich in phenolic acids, with gallic acid and chlorogenic acid present in considerably high concentrations. M. indica peel extract contained the highest total phenolic content with 537.70 mg GAE/ g extract weight and also possessed strongest antioxidant activity in both antioxidant assays. Results also showed strong correlations between the presence phenolics with the antioxidant activity. The study herein revealed that fruit peels represent an excellent source of high natural antioxidants, particularly phenolic acids which may be applied in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries.
Wireless Systems Combination of interference cancellation with channel estimation for OFDM transmission over mobile radio channels

This paper proposes a new method, which combines interference cancellation with channel estimation for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system in the case of insufficient guard interval (GI) length. To avoid the problem of causing additional errors of conventional cancellers in the presence of strong additive noise, the proposed cancellation scheme uses the channel state information (CSI) and the so-called remodulation technique to reproduce the interference distortions. Then, these distortions in both the received pilot symbols and the data symbols are iteratively cancelled. Consequently, the channel estimation as well as the data equalisation performances are iteratively enhanced. In the range of high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the proposed scheme improves significantly the performance of the system. It does not cause any additional errors to the received signal, when the system suffers from very low SNR. In comparison to the case of sufficient GI length, the required SNR can be reduced by 0.5 dB to achieve the same symbol error rate (SER). Moreover, the spectral efficiency of the system can be increased, because the GI length is allowed to be insufficient. The proposed method is applicable to future OFDM-based wireless local area networks (WLANs). Copyright © 2007 John & Sons, Ltd.
An FMCW MIMO radar calibration and mutual coupling compensation approach

Calibration is an important topic in MIMO radar and phased array systems. Variations of the gains and phases of RF components as well as mutual coupling are prominent examples of error sources in such systems. Different measurement-based calibration procedures have been developed to tackle these problems. Most of them rely on well-defined calibration measurement scenarios. In this paper we present a calibration method that can help to reduce the effects of channel variations and mutual coupling on the side-lobes of such systems with relaxed requirements on the calibration setup. The paper contains both simulation and measurement results that verify the proposed method.
Association between host's genetic diversity and parasite burden in damselflies

Recent research indicates that low genetic variation in individuals can increase susceptibility to parasite infection, yet evidence from natural invertebrate populations remains scarce. Here, we studied the relationship between genetic heterozygosity, measured as AFLP‐based inbreeding coefficient fAFLP, and gregarine parasite burden from eleven damselfly, Calopteryx splendens, populations. We found that in the studied populations, 5–92% of males were parasitized by endoparasitic gregarines (Apicomplexa: Actinocephalidae). Number of parasites ranged from none to 47 parasites per male, and parasites were highly aggregated in a few hosts. Mean individual fAFLP did not differ between populations. Moreover, we found a positive association between individual's inbreeding coefficient and parasite burden. In other words, the more homozygous the individual, the more parasites it harbours. Thus, parasites are likely to pose strong selection pressure against inbreeding and homozygosity. Our results support the heterozygosity‐fitness correlation hypothesis, which suggests the importance of heterozygosity for an individual's pathogen resistance.
Regulation of Osteoclast Apoptosis and Motility by Small GTPase Binding Protein Rac1

The role of Rac1 in osteoclast survival and bone‐resorbing activity was examined using adenovirus vector expression systems. Rac1 is critically involved in M‐CSF receptor signaling and mediates survival signaling primarily through PI3K/Akt pathways. Rac1 also plays a significant role in bone resorptive activity, probably by regulating the motility of osteoclasts.
Sylviculture et sylvigenese en foret sempervirente du coorg (sud-ouest de l'inde)

Deux parcelles forestieres, l'une de 8 ha en foret primaire, l'autre de 18 ha dans une foret exploitee 5 ans auparavant ont ete etudiees dans la region du coorg par un echantillonnage statistique a 2 degres. Les resultats montrent un deficit significatif et passe de 56 a 39 m#2/ha
A Distributed-Based Stochastic Simulation Algorithm for Large Biochemical Reaction Networks

Dynamic modeling and simulation of biochemical reaction networks is an important topic in systems biology and is obtaining growing attention from researchers with computational and biological background. Gillespie's stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) was a standard algorithm to simulate "well- stirred" biochemical reaction system. The biggest problem of the SSA lied in the excessive cost of computation because of its computational complexity. This paper describes a new distributed-based stochastic simulation algorithm (DSSA), which uses distributed computing and multi-agents system to improve the computing performance of the SSA. Experiments showed the DSSA is able to improve time performance significantly when compared to the SSA, and is an effective way to model and simulate large biochemical reaction networks.
Temporal Changes of Genetic Population Structure and Diversity in the Endangered Blakiston's Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni) on Hokkaido Island, Japan, Revealed by Microsatellite Analysis

The Blakiston's fish owl (Bubo blakistoni) population on Hokkaido Island, Japan, decreased to less than one hundred individuals over the last century due to habitat disruption by human activity. Although the ongoing conservation management has slightly restored the population, it remains endangered. In order to assess the genetic variation and population structure of the Blakiston's fish owl in Hokkaido, we genotyped eight microsatellite loci on 120 individuals sampled over the past three decades. The genotype data set showed low levels of genetic variation and gene flow among the geographically isolated five subpopulations. Comparative analysis of past and current populations indicated that some alleles shared by past individuals had been lost, and that genetic variation had declined over the last three decades. The result suggests that the genetic decline may have resulted from inbreeding and/or genetic drift due to bottlenecks in the Hokkaido population. The present study provides invaluable genetic information for the conservation and management of the endangered Blakiston's fish owl in Hokkaido.
Cerebral blood flow during submaximal and maximal dynamic exercise in humans.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in humans was measured at rest and during dynamic exercise on a cycle ergometer corresponding to 56% (range 27-85) of maximal O2 uptake (VO2max). Exercise bouts were performed by 16 male and female subjects, lasted 15 min each, and were carried out in a semisupine position. CBF (133Xe clearance) was expressed as the initial slope index (ISI) and as the first compartment flow (F1). CBF at rest [ISI, 58 (range 45-73); F1, 76 (range 55-98) ml.100 g-1.min-1] increased during exercise [ISI to 79 (57-94) and F1 to 118 (75-164) ml.100 g-1.min-1, P less than 0.01]. CBF did not differ significantly between work loads from 32 (24-33) to 86% (74-96) of VO2max (n = 10). During exercise, mean arterial pressure increased from 84 (60-100) to 101 (78-124) Torr (P less than 0.01) and PCO2 remained unchanged [5.1 (4.6-5.6) vs. 5.4 (4.4-6.3) kPa, n = 6]. These results demonstrate a median increase of 31% (0-87) in CBF by ISI and a median increase of 58% (0-133) in CBF by F1 during dynamic exercise in humans.
Timing skew insensitive switching for double sampled circuits

A novel switching arrangement is proposed to avoid the timing skew problems in double-sampled circuits. The modification is applied in a high-speed double-sampled S/H-circuit. Comparisons to a circuit with conventional switching show no degradation in circuit performance due to the modification. The validity of theoretical results is verified via fabrication and measurements of a prototype chip.
Stationary Headband for Clinical Time‐of‐Flight Optical Imaging at the Bedside

Conventional brain‐imaging modalities may be limited by high cost, difficulty of bedside use, noncontinuous operation, invasiveness or an inability to obtain measurements of tissue function, such as oxygenation during stroke. Our goal was to develop a bedside clinical device able to generate continuous, noninvasive, tomographic images of the brain using low‐power nonionizing optical radiation. We modified an existing stage‐based time‐of‐flight optical tomography system to allow imaging of patients under clinical conditions. First, a stationary headband consisting of thin, flexible optical fibers was constructed. The headband was then calibrated and tested, including an assessment of fiber lengths, the existing system software was modified to collect headband data and to perform simultaneous collection of data and image reconstruction, and the existing hardware was modified to scan optically using this headband. The headband was tested on resin models and allowed for the generation of tomographic images in vitro; the headband was tested on critically ill infants and allowed for optical tomographic images of the neonatal brain to be obtained in vivo.
Efficient encoding of customer class load profiles

The majority of distribution management functionalities rely on load profiles. Customer classification and load analysis have the largest impact on them. In this paper a novel approach for load profile generation is presented. The presented work is based on artificial neural networks: sparse autoencoders and deep belief networks in order to reveal hidden features from data sets.
MicroRNA analysis in placentas from patients with preeclampsia: comparison of new and published results

Objective: The aim was to identify differences in microRNA expression between patients with and without preeclampsia. Methods: Microarray-based study was carried out with placental samples. Results: Comparison of eight previous studies with the current study revealed a total of 138 microRNAs; only 20/138 (14%), however, were seen in more than one study and the results agreed in the direction of change. Bioinformatic analysis of these 20 microRNAs identified a wide range of biological functions including apoptosis and cell movement for their mRNA targets. Conclusion: The associations between miRNA expression and preeclampsia suggest a potential role for microRNAs in preeclampsia pathobiology.