Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Multicast on Irregular Switch-Based Cut-Through Networks with Up-Down Routing

The irregular switch-based network of workstations is fast becoming a cost-effective platform for high performance computing. This paper presents efficient multicasting with reduced link contention on irregular switch-based cut-through interconnection using the popular up*/down* (UD) routing and unicast message passing. First, it is proven that, for an arbitrary irregular network with UD routing, it is not possible to create an ordered list of nodes to implement an arbitrary multicast in a link contention-free manner with a minimal number of communication steps. Next, three different multicast algorithms are proposed with their respective node orderings to reduce link contention: switch-based ordering (SO), switch-based hierarchical ordering (SHO), and chain concatenation ordering (CCO). A variation of the binomial tree-based communication pattern, with unicast message passing, is used on the above orderings to implement multicast. Then, the problem of node contention is described in the case when multiple multicasts occur concurrently in a system. Using source-based information, the CCO algorithm is modified to propose a source-partitioned chain concatenation ordering (SPCCO) algorithm. It is also shown how the SPCCO algorithm reduces the effect of node contention at the cost of link contention. Using detailed simulation experiments, the proposed multicast algorithms are compared with each other as well as with the naive random ordering (RO) algorithm for a range of system sizes, switch sizes, message lengths, input buffer sizes, degrees of connectivity, destination set sizes, and communication start-up times. For the case of single multicast, the CCO algorithm is shown to be the best to implement multicast with reduced link contention and minimum latency, For the case of multiple multicasts, the SPCCO algorithm is shown to be the best when the start-up overhead dominates the propagation overhead and the CCO algorithm is shown to be the best otherwise. The results also highlight the importance of reducing link contention when designing efficient multicast, even for systems with large input buffers in the switches. Thus, these results demonstrate significant potential to be applied to current and future generation NOW systems with irregular interconnection.
Risk assessment in primary myelodysplastic syndromes: validation of the Düsseldorf score.

We have recently proposed a scoring system for risk assessment in primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In this score, one point is allocated to each of the following four parameters: bone marrow blasts > or = 5%, LDH > 200 U/l, hemoglobulin concentration < or = 9 g/dl, and platelet count < or = 100 x 10(9)/l. In a published series of 235 untreated patients with primary MDS, three prognostic groups (group A, score 0; group B, score 1 or 2; group C, score 3 or 4) were identified which differed significantly in both survival and rates of leukemic transformation. The present study was undertaken to reexamine the usefulness of our scoring system by applying it to an independent population of 263 newly diagnosed MDS patients. Morphological subtypes were RA in 53 (20%), RARS in 32 (12%), pure sideroblastic anemia (PSA) in 41 (16%), RAEB in 60 (23%), RAEB/T in 34 (13%), and CMML in 43 cases (16%). The predictive value of the Düsseldorf score could be assessed in 244 of 263 patients (initial LDH levels or platelet counts lacking in 19 cases). Forty-two patients were assigned to group A (low risk), 132 to group B (intermediate risk), and 70 to group C (high risk). Two-year cumulative survival was 86% in group A, 57% in group B and 14% in group C. Five-year cumulative survival was 53, 26 and 0%, respectively (p < 0.00005). Cumulative risk of AML 2 years after diagnosis was 3% in group A, 12% in group B, and 41% in group C (p < 0.05). Additional validation of the score was provided by extended follow-up of the initial patient population on which the scoring system was based. Survival curves in this patient population developed as predicted by the score. An important advantage of the Düsseldorf score is its ability to identify high-risk patients among the RA and RARS subgroups, even though by definition medullary blasts are less than 5%. The inclusion of LDH levels as a prognostic parameter also qualifies the Düsseldorf score for a correct assessment of CMML patients. In the new study population, LDH was confirmed as an important prognostic factor. After 2 years, actuarial survival for patients with LDH levels < or = 200 U/l was 61%, compared with 34% for patients with LDH > 200 U/l. Five-year cumulative survival was 32 and 14%, respectively (p < 0.00005). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Unemployment in East and West Europe

In this paper, we use 1991-2005 panel data on the unemployed, vacancies, inflow into unemployment, and outflow from unemployment in five former communist economies and in the western part of Germany (a benchmark western economy) to examine the evolution of unemployment together with that of inflows into unemployment and vacancies. The comparison of the transition economies with an otherwise similar and spatially close market economy is useful because it enables us to identify the main differences and similarities in the evolution of the key variables, and thus draw conclusions as to whether different or similar factors cause high unemployment.
Learning Embedded Discourse Mechanisms for Information Extraction

We address the problem of learning discourse-level merging strategies within the context of a natural language information extraction system. While we report on work currently in progress, results of preliminary experiments employing classification tree learning, maximum entropy modeling, and clustering methods are described. We also discuss motivations for moving away from supervised methods and toward unsupervised or weakly supervised methods.
Sleep habits and circadian preference in Italian children and adolescents

Sleep habits and circadian preference (morningness/eveningness, M/E) have been extensively analyzed in adolescents and young adults, while few studies were conducted on children and early adolescents. Aim of the present study was to investigate the developmental changes of circadian preference and to analyze its relationship with sleep habits, sleep problems and circadian preference in a large sample by means of a school‐based survey. One thousand seventy‐three participants (50.8% boys and 49.2% girls; mean age = 10.6; range = 8–14 years), recruited from four schools randomly extracted within the district of Rome, completed a modified version of School Sleep Habits Survey developed by Carskadon et al. The questionnaire included items about sleep habits during schooldays and weekends; a Sleepiness Scale; a Sleep–Wake Problems Behaviour Scale; a Morningness/Eveningness scale. The results show a consistent age‐related change in sleep habits, particularly in the weekends. The difference in sleep duration between schooldays and weekends increases linearly with age. No gender difference was observed in morningness/eveningness, while a significant linear increase in evening preference was found with increasing ages. M/E total scores correlated significantly with both self‐reported sleep/wake problems and daytime sleepiness indicating a higher prevalence of sleep complaints in evening‐type subjects. Overall, the present results support the existence of consistent age‐related changes in sleep habits and M/E dimension in the 8‐ to 14‐year age range.
Hierarchical two-level game model for tasks scheduling in a desktop grid

Desktop grids utilize idle computational resources within a research organization. Task scheduling is a very important issue for a desktop grid due to its significant impact on computational performance. In the paper we propose a game-theoretical model of task scheduling in a desktop grid. The model allows to consider the trade-off between the server load and the total time of computations. The numerical results based on a virtual drug screening project are presented, and the Nash equilibrium is found.
Myocardial motion analysis using optical flow and wavelet decomposition

The abnormalities of myocardial can be predicted quantitatively by analysing visualization of motion estimation in all or part of myocardial segment. To visualize the heart motion on myocardial, ultrasound image is evaluated globally using a differential optical flow technique that recursively applied a set of multi scale ultrasound image. A set of multi scale images is generated using approximation channel of Haar wavelet decomposition. The method was validated and evaluated on the real ultrasound image sequences that were collected from several health and unhealthy volunteers based on the American Heart Association standardization. The method was also compared to other methods using the same of ultrasound images. The result using our proposed algorithm is more accurate than the other methods. The results of myocardial motion estimation are shown in needle view of motion field in all myocardial segments and according to the expert echocardiographic analyzing.
Transparent Nanopaper‐Based Flexible Organic Thin‐Film Transistor Array

Eco‐friendly and low‐cost cellulose nanofiber paper (nanopaper) is a promising candidate as a novel substrate for flexible electron device applications. Here, a thin transparent nanopaper‐based high‐mobility organic thin‐film transistor (OTFT) array is demonstrated for the first time. Nanopaper made from only native wood cellulose nanofibers has excellent thermal stability (>180 °C) and chemical durability, and a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE: 5–10 ppm K‐1). These features make it possible to build an OTFT array on nanopaper using a similar process to that for an array on conventional glass. A short‐channel bottom‐contact OTFT is successfully fabricated on the nanopaper by a lithographic and solution‐based process. Owing to the smoothness of the cast‐coated nanopaper surface, a solution processed organic semiconductor film on the nanopaper comprises large crystalline domains with a size of approximately 50–100 μm, and the corresponding TFT exhibits a high hole mobility of up to 1 cm2V‐1 s‐1 and a small hysteresis of below 0.1 V under ambient conditions. The nanopaper‐based OTFT also had excellent flexibility and can be formed into an arbitrary shape. These combined technologies of low‐cost and eco‐friendly paper substrates and solution‐based organic TFTs are promising for use in future flexible electronics application such as flexible displays and sensors.
Group B Streptococcus suppression of phagocyte functions by protein-mediated engagement of human Siglec-5

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of invasive bacterial infections in human newborns. A key GBS virulence factor is its capsular polysaccharide (CPS), displaying terminal sialic acid (Sia) residues which block deposition and activation of complement on the bacterial surface. We recently demonstrated that GBS Sia can bind human CD33-related Sia-recognizing immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily lectins (hCD33rSiglecs), a family of inhibitory receptors expressed on the surface of leukocytes. We report the unexpected discovery that certain GBS strains may bind one such receptor, hSiglec-5, in a Sia-independent manner, via the cell wall–anchored β protein, resulting in recruitment of SHP protein tyrosine phosphatases. Using a panel of WT and mutant GBS strains together with Siglec-expressing cells and soluble Siglec-Fc chimeras, we show that GBS β protein binding to Siglec-5 functions to impair human leukocyte phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and extracellular trap production, promoting bacterial survival. We conclude that protein-mediated functional engagement of an inhibitory host lectin receptor promotes bacterial innate immune evasion.
Gender difference of childhood overweight and obesity in predicting the risk of incident asthma: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

The aims of our meta‐analysis were (i) to quantify the predictability of childhood overweight and obesity on the risk of incident asthma; and (ii) to evaluate the gender difference on this relationship. The selection criteria included prospective cohort paediatric studies which use age‐ and sex‐specific body mass index (BMI) as a measure of childhood overweight and the primary outcome of incident asthma. A total of 1,027 studies were initially identified through online database searches, and finally 6 studies met the inclusion criteria. The combined result of reported relative risk from the 6 included studies revealed that overweight children conferred increased risks of incident asthma as compared with non‐overweight children (relative risk, 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.37). The relationship was further elevated for obesity vs. non‐obesity (relative risk, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.16–3.50). A dose–responsiveness of elevated BMI on asthma incidence was observed (P for trend, 0.004). Obese boys had a significantly larger effect than obese girls (relative risk, boys: 2.47; 95% CI, 1.57–3.87; girls: 1.25; 95% CI, 0.51–3.03), with significant dose‐dependent effect. Proposed mechanisms of gender difference could be through pulmonary mechanics, sleep disordered breathing and leptin. Further research might be needed to better understand the exact mechanism of gender difference on the obesity–asthma relationship.
Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis: a neglected aspect of kala-azar control programmes.

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) was studied in relation to the kala-azar epidemic in Bihar, India. Between 1970 and 1989, 530 individuals, 302 males and 228 females, were admitted to the hospital of Patna Medical College with PKDL, the number of cases steadily rising from two in 1970 to 59 in 1989. The age of the patients varied from four to 70 years, with 33% aged 11-20 years and 16% 0-10 years. The prevalence of kala-azar in India also increased in the same period, mostly as the result of an epidemic of the disease in Bihar. There were no cases of this disease admitted to Patna Medical College from 1958-1970, it having become rare in India in the 1950s, possibly as a result of the DDT sprayed during the National Malaria Eradication Programme. In the period 1977-1990, however, there were 301,076 cases of kala-azar reported in Bihar alone, with a mortality rate over 2% (compared with 31,074 cases and a mortality rate below 0.4% for the rest of India). It seems possible that, once DDT spraying stopped, the re-establishment of large sandfly population and infection of these vectors, largely as a result of them feeding on cases of PKDL, provoked the resurgence of kala-azar. The study emphasizes the need to search for cases of PKDL, even in young children, and to monitor and effectively treat them as part of kala-azar control programmes. All patients could be cured if treated with the right dosage for the right period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Generic second-order macroscopic traffic node model for general multi-input multi-output road junctions via a dynamic system approach

This paper addresses an open problem in traffic modeling: the second-order macroscopic node problem. A second-order macroscopic traffic model, in contrast to a first-order model, allows for variation of driving behavior across subpopulations of vehicles in the flow. The second-order models are thus more descriptive (e.g., they have been used to model variable mixtures of behaviorally-different traffic, like car/truck traffic, autonomous/human-driven traffic, etc.), but are much more complex. The second-order node problem is a particularly complex problem, as it requires the resolution of discontinuities in traffic density and mixture characteristics, and solving of throughflows for arbitrary numbers of input and output roads to a node (in other words, this is an arbitrary-dimensional Riemann problem with two conserved quantities). We propose a solution to this problem by making use of a recently-introduced dynamic system characterization of the first-order node model problem, which gives insight and intuition as to the continuous-time dynamics implicit in first-order node models. We use this intuition to extend the dynamic system node model to the second-order setting. We also extend the well-known "Generic Class of Node Model" constraints to the second order and present a simple solution algorithm to the second-order node problem. This node model has immediate applications in allowing modeling of behaviorally-complex traffic flows of contemporary interest (like partially-autonomous-vehicle flows) in arbitrary road networks.
Patient survival after chemotherapy and its relationship to in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis

To study the relationship between chemotherapy immunocompetence and prognosis, in vitro lymphocyte blastogenic responses were studied serially, in 40 patients, receiving intensive chemotherapy for metastatic solid tumors. Suppression of lymphocyte blastogenic responses to phytohemagglutinin and streptolysin “O” was similar in all patients at the end of chemotherapy and was highly significant (PHA: P < 0.01, SLO: P < 0.02). Recovery of such responses occurred with significant overshoot above the pretreatment levels (P < 0.01) for PHA and SLO in those patients whose tumors regressed and survival was long, while such recovery was lacking in those patients whose tumors progressed and whose survival was short (PHA: P < 0.01, SLO: P < 0.05). This shows that the rebound with overshoot of immunologic reactivity after chemotherapy correlates with tumor regression and prognosis, and continued suppression may be an indicator of poor prognosis.
Diameter dependence of electron mobility in InGaAs nanowires

In this work, we present the diameter dependent electron mobility study of InGaAs nanowires (NWs) grown by gold-catalyzed vapor transport method. These single crystalline nanowires have an In-rich stoichiometry (i.e., In0.7Ga0.3As) with dispersed diameters from 15 to 55 nm. The current-voltage behaviors of fabricated nanowire field-effect transistors reveal that the aggressive scaling of nanowire diameter will induce a degradation of electron mobility, while low-temperature measurements further decouple the effects of surface/interface traps and phonon scattering, highlighting the impact of surface roughness scattering on the electron mobility. This work suggests a careful design consideration of nanowire dimension is required for achieving the optimal device performances.
The Investigation of Biochemical and Histological Effects of Ellagic Acid in Experimental Chronic Fluorosis Induced Mice

Objective: The present analysis deals with the effects of ellagic acid treatment and biochemical and histopathological alterations in mice with NaF-induced experimental chronic fluorosis. Materials and Methods: Treatments were carried out on male 28 Swiss albino mice divided into 4 equal groups for 8 weeks. Group I (control) was not applied experimental operation. Group II received subcutaneously (sc) 10 mg/kg/day ellagic acid injection, Group III received per orally 25 mg/L NaF, and Group IV received ellagic acid plus NaF. Levels of lipid bound sialic acid (LSA), malondialdehyde (MDA), paraoxonase (PON) activity and reduced glutathion (GSH) in blood samples were analyzed by spectrophotometric method. The levels of calcium, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in plasma were measured by autoanalyzer. Following euthanasia, liver and kidney tissues obtained from subjects were evaluated as histopathological. Results: MDA level was significantly higher when levels of GSH and PON activity of group III were lower as compared to other groups. Levels of PON activity and GSH of group IV increased as compared to group III. LSA levels of group III and IV were lower than control group. Conclusion: As a result, in experimental chronic fluorosis was detected to decrease in levels of LSA, GSH, PON activity, calcium and glucose, and increase in MDA level and changes in lipid profiles and cellular degenerations in liver and kidney. Injection of ellagic acid was protective during chronic fluorosis.
Improving User's Experience through Simultaneous Multi-WLAN Connections

In highly-dense IEEE 802.11 deployments, areas covered by multiple Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) will be common. This opens the door for stations equipped with multiple IEEE 802.11 interfaces to use several WLANs simultaneously, which not only may improve user experience, achieving a better connection with higher throughput and resilience; but it may also improve the network utilization. In this paper we investigate such a scenario. First, using a test-bed, consisting of a single station equipped with two interfaces and two access points, we observe that the file transfer time between the station and a destination server can be significantly reduced, studying with special attention the case in which both links do not have the same available bandwidth. Then, using a Markovian model that captures the scenario's dynamics in presence of multiple stations, we observe that in addition to improve individual station's performance, we can also improve the utilization of a multi-Access Points network despite increasing the contention level.
An energy conservation based high-efficiency dimmable multi-channel LED driver

This paper presents a high-efficiency multi-channel LED backlighting driver with local dimming capability. A sequential burst-mode channel multiplexed pulse width modulation dimming scheme is introduced to regulate and maintain uniform LED current. An energy conservation technique is utilized to handle load disconnect situation, which significantly improves the efficiency over the entire dimming range. The proposed approach eliminates the dedicated linear current regulator and sensing components in each LED channel as required by recently reported methods. This work is well suited for digital IC implementation for dynamic LED luminance adjustment. The performance of the proposed method was verified experimentally using a 4.5 to 14V boost converter. An overall efficiency of 50–90% was observed over a wide range of LED luminance.
Acquisition of User Preferences for Plan Recognition

Plan recognition systems need a measure to assess the quality of their hypotheses about a user’s goals. Such a measure allows the exclusion of extremely “bad” hypotheses at an early stage or the selection of the “best” one whenever this is required, e.g. when a help system is asked to provide support to the user of an application system. To work properly, such a measure has to take into account the user’s individual preferences and particularities. This paper presents an approach to the acquisition of such user preferences in noncooperative domains and their exploitation in the assessment of the hypotheses of a plan recognizer.
Insight into Disrupted Spatial Patterns of Human Connectome in Alzheimer's Disease via Subgraph Mining

Alzheimer's disease AD is the most common cause of age-related dementia, which prominently affects the human connectome. In this paper, the authors focus on the question how they can identify disrupted spatial patterns of the human connectome in AD based on a data mining framework. Using diffusion tractography, the human connectomes for each individual subject were constructed based on two diffusion derived attributes: fiber density and fractional anisotropy, to represent the structural brain connectivity patterns. After frequent subgraph mining, the abnormal score was finally defined to identify disrupted subgraph patterns in patients. Experiments demonstrated that our data-driven approach, for the first time, allows identifying selective spatial pattern changes of the human connectome in AD that perfectly matched grey matter changes of the disease. Their findings also bring new insights into how AD propagates and disrupts the regional integrity of large-scale structural brain networks in a fiber connectivity-based way.