Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Performance-oriented Operating System Approach to FastCommunications in a Low-cost Network of WorkstationsG

The use of workstations connected by a fast Local Area Network (LAN) to form a so called Network of Workstations (NOW) is a very appealing idea to implement a low-cost parallel processing platform. Interprocess communication is the most diicult feature for such a system to implement with an acceptable level of performance. Standard protocols and mechanisms implemented at Operating System (OS) level usually do not provide satisfactory performance in a NOW architecture, especially with respect to the communication performance ooered by the raw interconnection hardware. Two main solutions to such eeciency issue have been proposed so far, namely: standard OS mechanisms relying on simpliied communication protocols, and user-level protected access to the raw communication hardware. We show that a third way, namely eecient OS mechanisms supporting an Active Message communication layer, can not only ooer higher level communication primitives in a multiprogrammed environment but also outperform the former two approaches on NOW architectures even using low-cost commodity hardware. We provide the impressive communication performance of an Active Message layer implemented as an extension of the Linux OS kernel and running on a Fast Ethernet LAN of Pentium Personal Computers (PCs). Such a messaging system is the core of a NOW-based parallel platform called the Genoa Active Message MAchine (GAMMA).
Software Engineering for the Cloud: A Research Roadmap

Having arisen from the industry, cloud computing is receiving increasing attention from the academy. We are witnessing an increasing number of papers dedicated to experience reports and proposal of methods, processes and tools focused on cloud-related technology. Researchers are also attempting to identify and formalize the main concepts behind cloud computing, forming a basis for future investigations about how this approach can be used to promote advances in many fields of computer science. However, while the main research challenges and opportunities related to cloud computing in general are already well-known, in the software engineering area the scenario is less clear. In this paper, we present the results of a systematic literature review where we tried to understand how researchers from the software engineering field are viewing the cloud computing paradigm. We identified ten software engineering research opportunities focused specifically on cloud computing, which are presented and discussed in terms of related work. We also present a discussion on some practical issues related to the development of software for the cloud, trying to make some obscure points clearer and aiming to facilitate the work of software engineering researchers and practitioners.
Generic Software Frameworks for GC-MS Based Metabolomics

Metabolomics has seen a rapid development of new technologies, methodologies, and data analysis procedures during the past decade. The development of fast gasand liquid-chromatography devices coupled to sensitive mass-spectrometers, supplemented by the unprecedented precision of nuclear magnetic resonance for structure elucidation of small molecules, together with the public availability of database resources associated to metabolites and metabolic pathways, has enabled researchers to approach the metabolome of organisms in a high-throughput fashion. Other "omics" technologies have a longer history in high-throughput, such as next generation sequencing for genomics, RNA microarrays for transcriptomics, and mass spectrometry methods for proteomics. All of these together give researchers a unique opportunity to study and combine multi-omics aspects, forming the discipline of "Systems Biology" in order to study organisms at multiple scales simultaneously.
The design and implementation of remote personel monitoring system in military zones

Nowadays, despite there are many advanced technological applications to maintain the security of buildings, premises or regions, human intervention is necessary when considering both economical facts and the effectiveness of the systems especially for the security of military zones. In the presented work, a highly secure system has been designed. With the system to be implemented, the location, postures (lying, standing, sitting, and etc.), health conditions (body temperature, heart rate, and etc.), and environment conditions of the guard officers can be monitored remotely so that the key personal can be warned to take required steps in emergency at once. The system consists of three basic devices. First, an originally designed portable Wireless Sensor Node (WSN), which detects the desired parameters and transfers them to a Wireless Central Unit (WCU) by a secure radio frequency communication, is placed on the guards. The WCU collects all information to the center coming from wireless sensor nodes. Finally, a Central Monitoring Unit (CMU), in which all information from the WCU is monitored visually and evaluated, has been designed and implemented.
On Lossless Approximations , Fluctuation-Dissipation , and Limitations of Measurements

In this paper, we take a control-theoretic approach to answering some standard questions in statistical mechanics, and use the results to derive limitations of classical measurements. A central problem is the relation between systems which appear macroscopically dissipative but are microscopically lossless. We show that a linear system is dissipative if, and only if, it can be approximated by a linear lossless system over arbitrarily long time intervals. Hence lossless systems are in this sense dense in dissipative systems. A linear active system can be approximated by a nonlinear lossless system that is charged with initial energy. As a by-product, we obtain mechanisms explaining the Onsager relations from time-reversible lossless approximations, and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem from uncertainty in the initial state of the lossless system. The results are applied to measurement devices and are used to quantify limits on the so-called observer effect, also called back action, which is the impact the measurement device has on the observed system. In particular, it is shown that deterministic back action can be compensated by using active elements, whereas stochastic back action is unavoidable and depends on the temperature of the measurement device.
Dynamics of microphytoplankton abundance and diversity in NW Mediterranean Sea during late summer condition (DYNAPROC 2 cruise; September–October 2004)

Changes in marine phytoplankton communities over short-time scales have rarely been examined. We sampled nearly daily, and determined taxonomic composition and abundance of the main microplanktonic groups from both net and bottle sampling during the DYNAPROC 2 cruise (September–October 2004), in the NW Mediterranean Sea. 5 Hydrological conditions were characterised by the existence of a highly-stratiﬁed water column and nutrient-depleted conditions. In this almost steady state situation, we found a decrease in regularity, which we attribute to competitive exclusion, leading to the dominance of species with the best ﬁtness. While overall diversity appeared to be quite invariant, important variations occured among speciﬁc taxonomic groups. For ex- 10 ample, within the genus Ceratium , the dominance index tended to increase throughout the study from 44% to a maximum of 73% at the end of the cruise. We also discuss the value of taxonomic studies, especially in the context of global change, as able to provide valuable information on biogeochemically-important groups of species, as well as those indicative of water masses or warming, and trophic aspects of the community 15 that are ignored or largely underestimated with other kind of phytoplankton studies, such as pigment analysis.
A transform based covariance differencing approach to bearing estimation

In recent years a new, and very powerful technique for parameter estimation - the eigenstructure, or signal subspace method - has been developed. Eigenstructure algorithms are closely related to Pisarenko's method for estimating the frequencies of sinusoids in white Gaussian noise. In theory they yield asymptotically unbiased estimates of arbitrarily close parameters, independent of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Although signal subspace methods have proven to be powerful tools, they are not without drawbacks. An important weakness of all signal subspace algorithmis their need to know the noise covariance explicitly. The important problem of developing signal subspace based procedures for signals in noise fields with unknown covariance has not been satisfactorily addressed. It is our intent to propose a solution to the problem of direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation for a broad class of unknown noise fields. We will then briefly discuss other important estimation problems for which modified versions of this procedure can be applied.
Comparative analysis of development and survival of two Natal fruit fly Ceratitis rosa Karsch (Diptera, Tephritidae) populations from Kenya and South Africa

Abstract Comparative analysis of development and survivorship of two geographically divergent populations of the Natal fruit fly Ceratitis rosa Karsch designated as Ceratitis rosa R1 and Ceratitis rosa R2 from Kenya and South Africa were studied at seven constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 33, 35 °C). Temperature range for development and survival of both populations was 15–35 °C. The developmental duration was found to significantly decrease with increasing temperature for Ceratitis rosa R1 and Ceratitis rosa R2 from both countries. Survivorship of all the immature stages of Ceratitis rosa R1 and Ceratitis rosa R2 from Kenya was highest over the range of 20–30 °C (87–95%) and lowest at 15 and 35 °C (61–76%). Survivorship of larvae of Ceratitis rosa R1 and Ceratitis rosa R2 from South Africa was lowest at 35 °C (22%) and 33 °C (0.33%), respectively. Results from temperature summation models showed that Ceratitis rosa R2 (egg, larva and pupa) from both countries were better adapted to low temperatures than R1, based on lower developmental threshold. Minimum larval temperature threshold for Kenyan populations were 11.27 °C and 6.34 °C (R1 and R2, respectively) compared to 8.99 °C and 7.74 °C (R1 and R2, respectively) for the South African populations. Total degree-day (DD) accumulation for the Kenyan populations were estimated at 302.75 (Ceratitis rosa R1) and 413.53 (Ceratitis rosa R2) compared to 287.35 (Ceratitis rosa R1) and 344.3 (Ceratitis rosa R2) for the South African populations. These results demonstrate that Ceratitis rosa R1 and Ceratitis rosa R2 from both countries were physiologically distinct in their response to different temperature regimes and support the existence of two genetically distinct populations of Ceratitis rosa. It also suggests the need for taxonomic revision of Ceratitis rosa, however, additional information on morphological characterization of Ceratitis rosa R1 and Ceratitis rosa R2 is needed.
Mathematical Model of Colorectal Cancer with Monoclonal Antibody Treatments

We present a new mathematical model of colorectal cancer growth and its response to monoclonal-antibody (mAb) therapy. Although promising, most mAb drugs are still in trial phases, and the possible variations in the dosing schedules of those currently approved for use have not yet been thoroughly explored. To investigate the effectiveness of current mAb treatment schedules, and to test hypothetical treatment strategies, we have created a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODE) to model colorectal cancer growth and treatment. The model includes tumor cells, elements of the host's immune response, and treatments. Model treatments include the chemotherapy agent irinotecan and one of two monoclonal antibodies - cetuximab, which is FDA-approved for colorectal cancer, and panitumumab, which is still being evaluated in clinical trials. The model incorporates patient-specific parameters to account for individual variations in immune system strength and in medication efficacy against the tumor. We have simulated outcomes for groups of virtual patients on treatment protocols for which clinical trial data are available, using a range of biologically reasonable patient-specific parameter values. Our results closely match clinical trial results for these protocols. We also simulated experimental dosing schedules, and have found new schedules which, in our simulations, reduce tumor size more effectively than current treatment schedules. Additionally, we examined the system's equilibria and sensitivity to parameter values. In the absence of treatment, tumor evolution is most affected by the intrinsic tumor growth rate and carrying capacity. When treatment is introduced, tumor growth is most affected by drug-specific PK/PD parameters.
A murine antibacterial ortholog to human bactericidal/permeability‐increasing protein (BPI) is expressed in testis, epididymis, and bone marrow

The bactericidal/permeability‐increasing protein (BPI), stored in human neutrophil granulocytes, is cytotoxic against Gram‐negative bacteria. Several genes related to BPI cluster on human chromosome 20 and on mouse chromosome 2, but expression and characterization of a BPI ortholog in the mouse have not been reported. We asked whether BPI is structurally and functionally conserved between humans and mice and whether murine BPI might be synthesized in neutrophils as well as in other tissues. We report the isolation of a murine full‐length cDNA encoding a 54‐kDa protein, showing 53% amino acid identity and 71% similarity, to human BPI. The murine BPI and human BPI genes show a similar exon‐intron organization. Murine BPI mRNA was detected in testis, epididymis, and bone marrow, as well as in Sertoli and promyelocytic cell lines. Although levels of BPI mRNA in human and murine testis were comparable, expression in murine bone marrow cells was low as compared with that in human bone marrow. BPI protein showed a cytoplasmic, granular localization in mature neutrophils. BPI gene expression in Sertoli and promyelocytic cells was enhanced several‐fold by all‐trans retinoic acid. Overexpression of murine BPI in human embryonic kidney 293 cells resulted in antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, comparable with that obtained with human BPI. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that mouse neutrophils store BPI with antibacterial activity and that murine BPI is also expressed in testis and epididymis.
Intravascular Ultrasound and Angiographic Predictors of In-Stent Restenosis of Chronic Total Occlusion Lesions

Despite the benefits of successful percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions, PCIs of CTO lesions still carry a high rate of adverse events, including in-stent restenosis (ISR). Because previous reports have not specifically investigated the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) predictors of ISR in CTO lesions, we focused on these predictors. We included 126 patients who underwent successful PCIs, using drug-eluting stents, and post-PCI IVUS of CTO lesions. Patient and lesion characteristics were analyzed to elucidate the ISR predictors. In each lesion, an average of 1.7 ± 0.7 (mean length, 46.4 ± 20.3 mm) stents were used. At 9 months follow-up, 14 (11%) patients demonstrated ISR, and 8 (6.3%) underwent target lesion revascularization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent predictors of ISR were the post-PCI minimal luminal diameter (MLD) and the stent expansion ratio (SER; minimal stent cross-sectional area (CSA) over the nominal CSA of the implanted stent), measured using quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and IVUS, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the best post-PCI MLD and SER cut-off values for predicting ISR were 2.4 mm (area under the curve [AUC], 0.762; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.639–0.885) and 70% (AUC, 0.714; 95% CI, 0.577–0.852), respectively. Lesions with post-PCI MLD and SER values less than these threshold values were at a higher risk of ISR, with an odds ratio of 23.3 (95% CI, 2.74–198.08), compared with lesions having larger MLD and SER values. Thus, the potential predictors of ISR, after PCI of CTO lesions, are the post-PCI MLD and SER values. The ISR rate was highest in lesions with a post-PCI MLD ≤2.4 mm and an SER ≤70%.
The Current Status of Evidence for and Against Postnatal Oogenesis in Mammals: A Case of Ovarian Optimism Versus Pessimism?1

Abstract Whether or not oogenesis continues in the ovaries of mammalian females during postnatal life was heavily debated from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. However, in 1951 Lord Solomon Zuckerman published what many consider to be a landmark paper summarizing his personal views of data existing at the time for and against the possibility of postnatal oogenesis. In Zuckerman's opinion, none of the evidence he considered was inconsistent with Waldeyer's initial proposal in 1870 that female mammals cease production of oocytes at or shortly after birth. This conclusion rapidly became dogma, and remained essentially unchallenged until just recently, despite the fact that Zuckerman did not offer a single experiment proving that adult female mammals are incapable of oogenesis. Instead, 20 years later he reemphasized that his conclusion was based solely on an absence of data he felt would be inconsistent with the idea of a nonrenewable oocyte pool provided at birth. However, in the immortal words of Carl Sagan, an “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. ” Indeed, building on the efforts of a few scientists who continued to question this dogma after Zuckerman's treatise in 1951, we reported several data sets in 2004 that were very much inconsistent with the widely held belief that germ cell production in female mammals ceases at birth. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the magnitude of the paradigm shift being proposed, this work reignited a vigorous debate that first began more than a century ago. Our purpose here is to review the experimental evidence offered in recent studies arguing support for and against the possibility that adult mammalian females replenish their oocyte reserve. “Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. ”—Plato (427–347 BC).
Sequence of Neuron Origin and Neocortical Laminar Fate: Relation to Cell Cycle of Origin in the Developing Murine Cerebral Wall

Neurons destined for each region of the neocortex are known to arise approximately in an “inside-to-outside” sequence from a pseudostratified ventricular epithelium (PVE). This sequence is initiated rostrolaterally and propagates caudomedially. Moreover, independently of location in the PVE, the neuronogenetic sequence in mouse is divisible into 11 cell cycles that occur over a 6 d period. Here we use a novel “birth hour” method that identifies small cohorts of neurons born during a single 2 hr period, i.e., 10–20% of a single cell cycle, which corresponds to ∼1.5% of the 6 d neuronogenetic period. This method shows that neurons arising with the same cycle of the 11 cycle sequence in mouse have common laminar fates even if they arise from widely separated positions on the PVE (neurons of fields 1 and 40) and therefore arise at different embryonic times. Even at this high level of temporal resolution, simultaneously arising cells occupy more than one cortical layer, and there is substantial overlap in the distributions of cells arising with successive cycles. We demonstrate additionally that the laminar representation of cells arising with a given cycle is little if at all modified over the early postnatal interval of histogenetic cell death. We infer from these findings that cell cycle is a neuronogenetic counting mechanism and that this counting mechanism is integral to subsequent processes that determine cortical laminar fate.
Improving QoS Routing Performance Under Inaccurate Link State Information

Several recent works have investigated the costs associate d with QoS routing, in terms of both additional processing and increased protocol overhead, in an attempt to identify operating conditions that achieve a good trade-off between cost and performance. In th is paper, we concentrate on improving this trade-off by devising methods that increase the perfor mance of QoS routing, when cost constraints, i.e., limitations on link state updates, affect the accurac y of the information on which it operates. In particular, we study the performance of “safety-based” rou ting, which incorporates knowledge of the underlying inaccuracy in computing a “safety” measure for l inks, and uses it when computing paths. Using detailed simulations, we evaluate the effectiveness of afety-based routing and investigate the dependence of its performance on the assumptions made when com puting link safety. Our findings show that for most operating conditions, safety-based routing i s successful at improving routing performance while maintaining low update traffic volumes.
Increasing Receipt of High-Tech/High-Cost Imaging and Its Determinants in the Last Month of Taiwanese Patients With Metastatic Cancer, 2001–2010

AbstractOne strategy for controlling the skyrocketing costs of cancer care may be to target high-tech/high-cost imaging at the end of life (EOL). This population-based study investigated receipt of high-tech/high-cost imaging and its determinants for Taiwanese patients with metastatic cancer in their last month of life.Individual patient-level data were linked with encrypted identification numbers from computerized administrative data in Taiwan, that is, the National Register of Deaths Database, Cancer Registration System database, and National Health Insurance claims datasets, Database of Medical Care Institutions Status, and national census statistics (population/household income). We identified receipt of computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and radionuclide bone scans (BSs) for 236,911 Taiwanese cancer decedents with metastatic disease, 2001 to 2010. Associations of patient, physician, hospital, and regional factors with receiving CT, MRI, and bone scan in the last month of life were evaluated by multilevel generalized linear-mixed models.Over one-third (average [range]: 36.11% [33.07%–37.31%]) of patients with metastatic cancer received at least 1 high-tech/high-cost imaging modality in their last month (usage rates for CT, MRI, PET, and BS were 31.05%, 5.81%, 0.25%, and 8.15%, respectively). In 2001 to 2010, trends of receipt increased for CT (27.96–32.22%), MRI (4.34–6.70%), and PET (0.00–0.62%), but decreased for BS (9.47–6.57%). Facilitative determinants with consistent trends for at least 2 high-tech/high-cost imaging modalities were male gender, younger age, married, rural residence, lung cancer diagnosis, dying within 1 to 2 years of diagnosis, not under medical oncology care, and receiving care at a teaching hospital with a larger volume of terminally ill cancer patients and greater EOL care intensity. Undergoing high-tech/high-cost imaging at EOL generally was not associated with regional characteristics, healthcare resources, and EOL care intensity.To more effectively use high-tech/high-cost imaging at EOL, clinical and financial interventions should target nonmedical oncologists/hematologists affiliated with teaching hospitals that tend to aggressively treat high volumes of terminally ill cancer patients, thereby avoiding unnecessary EOL care spending and transforming healthcare systems into affordable high-quality cancer care delivery systems.