Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and implementation of flash based NVDIMM

Flash based NVDIMM memory is a practical nonvolatile memory technology that can be used to replace DRAM based computer main memory. It is cost effective and readily available than other types of emerging non-volatile memories. NVDIMM memory can be inserted into off-the-shelf computer boards and requires very minimum system modifications. It fits as an ideal transitional memory technology towards the generic storage class memory (SCM) technology in the future. In this paper, we describe the design of Flash based NVDIMM module and its controller architecture. The module layout, design trade offs and implementing results are discussed. Flash based NVDIMM use commodity DRAM memory during normal operations, it backups data from DRAM to Flash during power surge event. NVDIMM requires ultra-capacitors to provide energy during power transitions. The size of ultra-capacitor required for this task is dependent on the module's power consumption as well as data backup speed. We implemented NVDIMM controller design in FPGA. The module can backup 4 gigabyte data in 13 seconds. We also created two types of non-volatile RAMDISK by configuring the NVDIMM controller with DIMM or PCI-E as main interface. Test measurements shown their IOPS performance are much higher than that of hard disk drive.
Laparoscopic Versus Open Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and High-Quality Nonrandomized Studies

Objective:To perform a meta-analysis of high-quality published trials, randomized and observational, comparing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) and open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for gastric cancer. Background:Controversy persists about the clinical utility of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of gastric cancer. Prospective data is limited to a few small randomized trails. Methods:Studies published from January 1992 to March 2010 that compare LDG and ODG were identified. No restrictions in pathologic stage were applied. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Selection of high-quality, nonrandomized comparative studies (NRCTs) was based on a validated tool (Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies). Mortality, complications, harvested lymph nodes, operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay were compared using weighted mean differences (WMDs) and odds ratios (ORs). Results:Twenty-five studies were included in the analyses, 6 RCTs and 19 NRCTs, compromising 3055 patients (1658 LDG, 1397 ODG). LDG was associated with longer operative times (WMD 48.3 minutes; P < 0.001) and lower overall complications (OR 0.59; P < 0.001), medical complications (OR 0.49; P = 0.002), minor surgical complications (OR 0.62; P = 0.001), estimated blood loss (WMD −118.9 mL; P < 0.001), and hospital stay (WMD −3.6 days; P < 0.001). Mortality and major complications were similar. Patients in the ODG group had a significantly higher number of lymph nodes harvested (WMD 3.9 nodes; P < 0.001), although the estimated proportion of patients with less than 15 retrieved nodes was similar (OR 1.26, P = 0.09). Conclusions:LDG can be performed safely with a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications than open surgery. The long-term significance of a difference of less than 5 nodes in the number of harvested lymph nodes remains unclear. Lymph node staging appears to be unaffected. These results need to be validated in Western patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Serum Amyloid A, C-Reactive Protein, and Retinal Microvascular Changes in Hypertensive Diabetic and Nondiabetic Individuals

OBJECTIVE To study the association of the inflammatory markers serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) with retinal microvascular parameters in hypertensive individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This cross-sectional analysis was a substudy in 711 patients (159 with and 552 without diabetes) of the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT) based on digital 30-degree images of superior and inferior temporal retinal fields. RESULTS SAA was associated with arteriolar length-to-diameter ratio positively in nondiabetic patients (Ptrend= 0.028) but negatively in diabetic patients (Ptrend= 0.005). The difference was unlikely to be a chance finding (P = 0.007 for interaction). Similar results were found for the association of SAA with arteriolar tortuosity (P = 0.05 for interaction). Associations were less pronounced for CRP and retinal parameters. CONCLUSIONS Inflammatory processes are differentially involved in retinal microvascular disease in diabetic compared with nondiabetic hypertensive individuals.
CDC 6600 Subroutines IBESS and JBESS for Bessel Functions Iυ(x) and Jυ(x), x≥0,υ≥0

Subroutines IBESS and JBESS for L(x) and J,(x), x >_ O, p > O, are presented which implement , in similar fashions, the power series, the asymptotic expansion for x ~ ~, and the uniform asymptotic expansion for ~-* ¢~ as basic elements. Where the asymptotic expansion for x-~ o0 is used, sequences are started by two evaluations of the expansion followed by backward recursion in IBESS and forward recursion in JBESS for p < x. Two evaluations of the series also start a backward reeursive sequence where x _< ½. Except for very large z and v, where it is more economical to perform two evaluations of a basic formula, other sequences are started by the Miller algorithm normalized by one evaluation of either the power series or the expansion for ~-~ ~o. Recursion is used for pairs (~, x) not covered by one of the basic formulas. A scaling option to remove the exponential growth of I,(x) is also provided together with appropriate diagnostics for underflow or overflow in both IBESS and JBESS.
Asymptotic behaviour of the simple random walk on the 2-dimensional comb

We analyze the differences between the horizontal and the vertical component of the simple random walk on the 2-dimensional comb. In particular we evaluate by combinatorial methods the asymptotic behaviour of the expected value of the distance from the origin, the maximal deviation and the maximal span in $n$ steps, proving that for all these quantities the order is $n^{1/4}$ for the horizontal projection and $n^{1/2}$ for the vertical one (the exact constants are determined). Then we rescale the two projections of the random walk dividing by $n^{1/4}$ and $n^{1/2}$ the horizontal and vertical ones, respectively. The limit process is obtained. With similar techniques the walk dimension is determined, showing that the Einstein relation between the fractal, spectral and walk dimensions does not hold on the comb.
Information translation, mediation, and mosaic-based browsing in the TSIMMIS system

Information Translation, Mediation, and Mosaic-Based Browsing in the TSIMMIS System Joachim Hammer, Hector Garcia-Molina, Kelly Ireland, Yannis Papakonstantinou, Jeffrey Ullman, Jennifer Widom Department of Computer Science Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-2140, USA E-mail: joachim@cs.stanford. edu The tsimmis project [1] provides an architecture and tools for accessing multiple heterogeneous information sources by translating source information into a common self-describing object model, called the Object Exchange Model (OEM) [2]. tsimmis provides integrated access to heterogeneous sources through a layer of source specific translators as well as "intelligent" modules, called mediators. Translators (wrappers) convert queries over information in the common del (OEM) into requests the source can execute. The data returned by the source is converted back into the common model. Mediators are programs that collect information from one or more sources, process and combine it, and export the resulting information to the end user or an application program. Users or applications can choose to interact either directly with the translators or indirectly via one or more mediators. End users can access information either by writing applications that request OEM objects, or by using one of the generic browsing tools we have developed: a graphical user interface based on DOS and Microsoft Windows, a UNIX-based textual interface, and a graphical interface based on the HTTP protocol called mobie (MOsaic-Based Information Explorer) 1 . Our demo uses mobie since it is the most interesting of the three. mobie is a platform-independent tool for displaying and exploring OEM objects that are returned as a result of queries. mobie provides a mechanism for This work was supported by ARPA Contract F33615-93-11339, by the Anderson Faculty Scholar Fund, by the Center for Integrated Systems at Stanford University, and by equipment grants from Digital Equipment Corporation and IBM Corporporation
Environmental Scanning for Information Technology: An Empirical Investigation

An increasing number of organizations are recognizing the strategic significance of their information technology (IT) resources. A process by which emerging information technologies may be effectively identified and evaluated is rapidly becoming a necessity. This process may be accomplished through scanning the external IT environment.Based on the strategic emphasis given to IT resources, organizations may be classified as exploiter/innovator (EI), competitor/early adopter (CEA), or participant/effective efficient follower (PEEF). This study uses data from 131 top information systems managers to examine differences in the three types of organizations across a number of issues concerning the process of scanning the external IT environment. These issues include: (1) the objectives of scanning the external IT environment; (2) the methods of scanning the external IT environment; (3) the existence of separate units dedicated to IT scanning; (4) the level of IT scanning intensity; (5) the sources of information used for IT scanning; and (6) the level of top management involvement with IT scanning.
Using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to Explore Spatial Varying Relationships of Immature Mosquitoes and Human Densities with the Incidence of Dengue

The only way for dengue to spread in the human population is through the human-mosquito-human cycle. Most research in this field discusses the dengue-mosquito or dengue-human relationships over a particular study area, but few have explored the local spatial variations of dengue-mosquito and dengue-human relationships within a study area. This study examined whether spatial heterogeneity exists in these relationships. We used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models to analyze spatial relationships and identify the geographical heterogeneities by using the information of entomology and dengue cases in the cities of Kaohsiung and Fengshan in 2002. Our findings indicate that dengue-mosquito and dengue-human relationships were significantly spatially non-stationary. This means that in some areas higher dengue incidences were associated with higher vector/host densities, but in some areas higher incidences were related to lower vector/host densities. We demonstrated that a GWR model can be used to geographically differentiate the relationships of dengue incidence with immature mosquito and human densities. This study provides more insights into spatial targeting of intervention and control programs against dengue outbreaks within the study areas.
Strain profile and piezoelectric performance of piezocomposites with 2-2 and 1-3 connectivities

The piezoelectric performance of 1-3-type composite depends critically on the stress transfer between the two constituents phases. The results of an investigation of the elastic and piezoelectric behavior of composites with 2-2 and 1-3 connectivities are presented. By taking into account the nonuniform strain profiles in the constituent phases, the theoretical model presented can quantitatively predict the performance of these composites. Theoretical predictions agree quantitatively with the experimental results. <<ETX>>
Pilot Study of CYP2B6 Genetic Variation to Explore the Contribution of Nitrosamine Activation to Lung Carcinogenesis

We explored the contribution of nitrosamine metabolism to lung cancer in a pilot investigation of genetic variation in CYP2B6, a high-affinity enzymatic activator of tobacco-specific nitrosamines with a negligible role in nicotine metabolism. Previously we found that variation in CYP2A6 and CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 combined to increase lung cancer risk in a case-control study in European American ever-smokers (n = 860). However, these genes are involved in the pharmacology of both nicotine, through which they alter smoking behaviours, and carcinogenic nitrosamines. Herein, we separated participants by CYP2B6 genotype into a high- vs. low-risk group (*1/*1 + *1/*6 vs. *6/*6). Odds ratios estimated through logistic regression modeling were 1.25 (95% CI 0.68–2.30), 1.27 (95% CI 0.89–1.79) and 1.56 (95% CI 1.04–2.31) for CYP2B6, CYP2A6 and CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4, respectively, with negligible differences when all genes were evaluated concurrently. Modeling the combined impact of high-risk genotypes yielded odds ratios that rose from 2.05 (95% CI 0.39–10.9) to 2.43 (95% CI 0.47–12.7) to 3.94 (95% CI 0.72–21.5) for those with 1, 2 and 3 vs. 0 high-risk genotypes, respectively. Findings from this pilot point to genetic variation in CYP2B6 as a lung cancer risk factor supporting a role for nitrosamine metabolic activation in the molecular mechanism of lung carcinogenesis.
Tropomyosin-enriched and alpha-actinin-enriched microfilaments isolated from chicken embryo fibroblasts by monoclonal antibodies

Antitropomyosin and anti-alpha-actinin monoclonal antibodies have been used to isolate two classes of microfilaments, i.e., tropomyosin- enriched and alpha-actinin-enriched microfilaments, respectively, from cultured chicken embryo fibroblasts. Electron microscopic studies of the isolated tropomyosin-enriched microfilaments showed periodic localization of tropomyosin along the microfilaments, with a 35-nm repeat. On the contrary, the isolated alpha-actinin-enriched microfilaments showed no obvious periodicity. Many individual alpha- actinin-enriched microfilaments with length greater than 1 micron (ranging from 1 to 10 microns) were aggregated by anti-alpha-actinin monoclonal antibodies. Both of the isolated microfilaments had the ability to activate the Mg2+-ATPase activity of skeletal muscle myosin, although different extents of activation were observed. These two classes of microfilaments also differed in their protein composition. Molar ratios of major identifiable proteins in the isolated microfilaments were alpha- actinin(dimer):actin(monomer):tropomyosin(dimer) = less than 0.02:8.06:1.00 for tropomyosin-enriched microfilaments and 0.44:13.91:1.00 for alpha-actinin-enriched microfilaments. By two- dimensional gel analysis of the isolated microfilaments, we have found seven spots which possess typical tropomyosin properties including pI 4.5, immunological cross-reaction, lack of proline and tryptophan, and heat stability. Pulse-chase experiments suggested that the assembly of microfilament-associated proteins, at least for alpha-actinin and tropomyosins, was coordinately regulated by the assembly of actin into microfilaments.
The effects of neurotransmitters on the integrative properties of spinal neurons in the lamprey.

1. The integrative behavior of lamprey central neurons was analyzed by white noise frequency domain methods and simulated with a minimal, non-linear neuronal model consisting of two voltage-dependent processes: (i) a depolarizing inwardly directed conductance carrying calcium and monovalent ions and (ii) a repolarizing outwardly directly conductance representing a generalized potassium conductance. In addition to normal properties, the effects of neurotransmitters were interpreted with the model. Specifically, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced properties were simulated under conditions where the intrinsic voltage dependence of the potassium channels was constrained by properties of lamprey neurons. However, the NMDA channel kinetics were fixed by the single-channel properties of other neurons. The effects of focally applied neurotransmitters on the membrane properties of intact spinal cord neurons were quantitatively described with a reduced neuronal model that was also used to simulate transmitter-induced responses. In addition, transmitters were also released synaptically by KCl depolarization of projecting neurons. 2. Both synaptically released transmitters and focally applied putative excitatory or inhibitory transmitters directly applied to the spinal cord generally resulted in a decrease in the magnitude of the impedance function that was modeled by a decrease in membrane resistance (shunting effect). 3. Local application of the inhibitory neurotransmitters glycine or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) led to small voltage responses when recorded near the resting potential. However, large decreases in the magnitude of the impedance function were observed in both current-clamp or voltage-clamp recording modes. 4. The excitatory amino acids quisqualate, kainate and glutamate evoked depolarizations in current clamp that activated intrinsic voltage-dependent conductances and obscured the direct effects of the transmitters. Under voltage-clamp conditions these transmitters caused a small decrease in the impedance magnitude that could be modeled by a shunt. 5. In contrast to the other excitatory amino acids, NMDA elicited large increases, rather than decreases, in both the magnitude and the phase lag of the impedance function. These changes were modeled by a negative conductance (a voltage-dependent conductance that produces an inward current). 6. The reduced neuron model provides an experimentally based description of the highly oscillatory and non-linear responses observed during NMDA activation of the spinal neurons involved in the pattern generation of locomotion. Simulations of sustained oscillatory behaviors consistent with experimental observations were carried out to illustrate the NMDA-induced integrative properties of central neurons. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Suppression of fibrotic scar formation promotes axonal regeneration without disturbing blood‐brain barrier repair and withdrawal of leukocytes after traumatic brain injury

The fibrotic scar containing type IV collagen (Col IV) formed in a lesion site is considered as an obstacle to axonal regeneration, because intracerebral injection of 2,2′‐dipyridyl (DPY), an inhibitor of Col IV triple‐helix formation, suppresses fibrotic scar formation in the lesion site and promotes axonal regeneration. To determine the role of the fibrotic scar on the healing process of injured central nervous system (CNS), the restoration of blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and withdrawal of inflammatory leukocytes were examined in mice subjected to unilateral transection of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway and intracerebral DPY injection. At 5 days after injury, destruction of BBB represented by leakage of Evans blue (EB) and widespread infiltration of CD45‐immunoreactive leukocytes was observed around the lesion site, whereas reactive astrocytes increased surrounding the BBB‐destroyed area. By 2 weeks after injury, the region of EB leakage and the diffusion of leukocytes were restricted to the inside of the fibrotic scar, and reactive astrocytes gathered around the fibrotic scar. In the DPY‐treated lesion site, formation of the fibrotic scar was suppressed (84% decrease in Col IV‐deposited area), reactive astrocytes occupied the lesion center, and areas of both EB leakage and leukocyte infiltration decreased by 86%. DPY treatment increased the number of regenerated dopaminergic axons by 2.53‐fold. These results indicate that suppression of fibrotic scar formation does not disturb the healing process in damaged CNS, and suggest that this strategy is a reliable tool to promote axonal regeneration after traumatic injury in the CNS. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:3867–3881, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epidemiology of the symptoms of menopause – an intercontinental review

Introduction The age of menopause is a time of many changes in the psychophysical-social functioning of women, with reduced ovarian hormonal activity and estrogen levels. The most common, troublesome symptoms of menopause age include depressive disorders, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, discomfort associated with muscle pain, joint aches, osteoporosis and characteristic hot flashes. Aim of the study Aim of the study is to determine and compare the rate of menopausal symptoms among women living in continents of both Americas, Africa, Australia and Eurasia. Material and methods The results of this work were obtained in 2014 on the basis of the data from a review of the 64 most important studies using the PubMed database. Research published in the period 2000-2014, from Africa, both Americas, Australia and Eurasia, were taken into account. Results The prevalence of menopausal symptoms in African women is disconcertingly high. Women from South America complain about occurrence of depressive, sexual dysfunctions and discomfort associated with muscle pain and joint aches. Symptoms most reported by women in the United States are pains associated with muscles and joints. Women in Australia suffer mainly due to vasomotor symptoms and sexual dysfunction, while in the group of women surveyed in Asia there is observed an alarming increase in the proportion of women reporting depressive disorders. In Europe there was a much greater incidence of sleep disorders and depressive disorders. Conclusions Women around the world suffer from ailments characteristic for the menopausal period regardless of ethnic origin, skin color or socio-demographic factors.
Sex and Speciation: Drosophila Reproductive Tract Proteins— Twenty Five Years Later

The protein electrophoresis revolution, nearly fifty years ago, provided the first glimpse into the nature of molecular genetic variation within and between species and showed that the amount of genetic differences between newly arisen species was minimal. Twenty years later, 2D electrophoresis showed that, in contrast to general gene-enzyme variation, reproductive tract proteins were less polymorphic within species but highly diverged between species. The 2D results were interesting and revolutionary, but somewhat uninterpretable because, at the time, rapid evolution and selective sweeps were not yet part of the common vocabulary of evolutionary biologists. Since then, genomic studies of sex and reproduction-related (SRR) genes have grown rapidly into a large area of research in evolutionary biology and are shedding light on a number of phenomena. Here we review some of the major and current fields of research that have greatly contributed to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics and importance of SRR genes and genetic systems in understanding reproductive biology and speciation.