Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation of delayed-committing transactional memory

Transactional memory (TM) is promising to make parallel programming easier. Many hardware implementations of transactional memory (HTM) have been proposed to improve the performance, but they still suffer from some overheads when a transaction either commits or aborts. So we have been developing a novel new HTM design, called Delayed-Committing TM (DCTM), which enables transactions of arbitrary size to commit or abort in a fixed number of cycles — typically, one. In this paper, we analyze the performance of our DCTM system in detail. Simulation results show that the performance of our DCTM system is as much as 35.7% better than the performance of a conventional HTM system, which has almost no overhead when a transaction aborts but detects conflict and publishes speculatively modified data when a transaction commits. Furthermore, we can expect to improve performance more by increasing the bandwidth of the common bus connecting processing nodes with each other.
Efficiencies in Distribution Design and Operating Practices Mid-Study Analysis (February 2007)

This paper is a follow-up to the "efficiencies in distribution design and operating practices" paper presented at the rural electric power conference, 2005. It presents results of analysis of the data at the mid point (six months) of the study. By operating utility distribution systems in the lower range of the ANSI C84.1 allowable voltage limits, both the utility and the customer will benefit by having lower energy costs and high quality power. The basis of this conclusion is that electric load is not 100% constant power (PQ) load, but is actually a combination of constant power, constant impedance, and constant current. Performing cost-effective improvements to the distribution systems reduces the total voltage drop on the distribution feeder and changing the operation of the voltage regulation equipment reduces the average voltage level on the feeder. The results at mid-project show an overall energy savings by reducing the operating voltage with no adverse effect on the customer; the results are within expected values of 1 to 3 percent total energy reduction. Operating a utility distribution system in the lower half of the acceptable voltage range (120-114 volts) does save energy, reduces demand, and reduces VAR requirements. The Load Research project produced voltage reductions from 3.6% to 5.2% resulting in an average CVRf of 0.55% with an overall relative precision of 10.7% at a 90% confidence level. The voltage reduction for the Pilot Demonstration Project (measuring substation bus voltage) ranged from 0.93% to 3.54% resulting in an average CVRf of 0.86 with a relative precision of 13% at a 90% confidences level
Association of compartment defects in pelvic floor dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE Dynamic cystoproctography was used to determine the frequency of associated urinary, genital, and anorectal abnormalities in women with pelvic floor dysfunction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We categorized, by pelvic floor compartments, the symptoms at presentation of 100 consecutive female patients who had been referred for dynamic cystoproctography. We then analyzed the compartment defects seen on dynamic cystoproctography relative to those detected on clinical presentation. RESULTS Of the 20 patients with symptoms of anterior compartment (urinary) defect, dynamic cystoproctography revealed that 45% had vaginal vault prolapse of more than 50% and that 90% had rectoceles. Of the 45 patients with symptoms of middle compartment (genital) defect, dynamic cystoproctography revealed that 91% had cystoceles, 56% had a hypermobile bladder neck, 82% had rectoceles, 58% had enteroceles, 11% had sigmoidoceles, 20% had rectoanal intussusception, and 16% had anal incontinence. Of the 17 patients with symptoms of posterior compartment (anorectal) defect, dynamic cystoproctography showed that 71% had cystoceles, 65% had a hypermobile bladder neck, and 35% had vaginal vault prolapse of more than 50%. Of the 18 patients with symptoms of defects from a combination of compartments, dynamic cystoproctography revealed that 89% had cystoceles, 56% had a hypermobile bladder neck, 39% had vaginal vault prolapse exceeding 50%, 100% had rectoceles (of which 45% were large), 6% had enteroceles, 6% had sigmoidoceles, 22% had rectoanal intussusception, and 6% had anal incontinence. CONCLUSION Although patients may present with symptoms that involve only one compartment, a multicompartment prolapse is usually revealed on dynamic cystoproctography. Of the patients with pelvic floor dysfunction, 95% had abnormalities in all three compartments.
Human Eosinophils Secrete Preformed, Granule‐Stored Interleukin‐4 Through Distinct Vesicular Compartments

Secretion of interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) by leukocytes is important for varied immune responses including allergic inflammation. Within eosinophils, unlike lymphocytes, IL‐4 is stored in granules (termed specific granules) and can be rapidly released by brefeldin A (BFA)‐inhibitable mechanisms upon stimulation with eotaxin, a chemokine that activates eosinophils. In studying eotaxin‐elicited IL‐4 secretion, we identified at the ultrastructural level distinct vesicular IL‐4 transport mechanisms. Interleukin‐4 traffics from granules via two vesicular compartments, large vesiculotubular carriers, which we term eosinophil sombrero vesicles (EoSV), and small classical spherical vesicles. These two vesicles may represent alternative pathways for transport to the plasma membrane. Loci of both secreted IL‐4 and IL‐4‐loaded vesicles were imaged at the plasma membranes by a novel EliCell assay using a fluoronanogold probe. Three dimensional electron tomographic reconstructions revealed EoSVs to be folded, flattened and elongated tubules with substantial membrane surfaces. As documented with quantitative electron microscopy, eotaxin‐induced significant formation of EoSVs while BFA pretreatment suppressed eotaxin‐elicited EoSVs. Electron tomography showed that both EoSVs and small vesicles interact with and arise from granules in response to stimulation. Thus, this intracellular vesicular system mediates the rapid mobilization and secretion of preformed IL‐4 by activated eosinophils. These findings, highlighting the participation of large tubular carriers, provide new insights into vesicular trafficking of cytokines.
Basic concepts and recent advances in nanogels as carriers for medical applications

Abstract Nanogels in biomedical field are promising and innovative materials as dispersions of hydrogel nanoparticles based on crosslinked polymeric networks that have been called as next generation drug delivery systems due to their relatively high drug encapsulation capacity, uniformity, tunable size, ease of preparation, minimal toxicity, stability in the presence of serum, and stimuli responsiveness. Nanogels show a great potential in chemotherapy, diagnosis, organ targeting and delivery of bioactive substances. The main subjects reviewed in this article concentrates on: (i) Nanogel assimilation in the nanomedicine domain; (ii) Features and advantages of nanogels, the main characteristics, such as: swelling capacity, stimuli sensitivity, the great surface area, functionalization, bioconjugation and encapsulation of bioactive substances, which are taken into account in designing the structures according to the application; some data on the advantages and limitations of the preparation techniques; (iii) Recent progress in nanogels as a carrier of genetic material, protein and vaccine. The majority of the scientific literature presents the multivalency potential of bioconjugated nanogels in various conditions. Today’s research focuses over the overcoming of the restrictions imposed by cost, some medical requirements and technological issues, for nanogels’ commercial scale production and their integration as a new platform in biomedicine.
Constructing Nonviolent Alternatives To Collective Violence: A Scientific Strategy

Collective violence (including terrorism, gang violence, civil war, separatist ethnic and religious conflicts, and government sponsored wars) is a central concern of the 21st century. This analysis suggests a scientific strategy for reducing such violence by constructing functionally equivalent and highly effective nonviolent collective alternatives. This general approach is the heart of most effective programs of behavior change, but has not yet been used to address terrorism and other forms of collective violence. The paper briefly traces the history of effective nonviolent action, including both strategies to confront and reduce oppression as well as strategies for defending persons, peoples, and social institutions against attack. It then turns to a examination of cultural practices on which successful nonviolent actions have relied, emphasizing a scientific analysis of the behavioral dynamics involved. Both practices directed toward opposition groups and practices that maintain the commitment and action of group members are investigated. The paper concludes with an outline of a program of research for taking these analyses to deeper and more comprehensive levels.
Complexity versus integrity solution in adaptive fuzzy-neural inference models

This paper explores aspects of computational complexity versus rule reduction and of integrity preservation versus optimality index, which have become an issue of considerable concern in learning techniques for adaptive fuzzy inference models. In control-oriented applications of adaptive fuzzy inference systems, implemented as fuzzy-neural networks, a balanced observation of these conflicting requirements appeared rather important for a good yet feasible application design. The focus is confined to a family of adaptive fuzzy inference systems that can be interpreted as a partially connected multilayer feedforward neural networks employing Gaussian activation function. The knowledge base rules are designed implying the connections are a priori fixed, and then the respective strengths adapted on the grounds of input and output data sets. Information granulation plays a significant role too. These as well as membership-function parameters ought to be adapted in a learning-training process via the minimization of an appropriate error function. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Promoter Structure and Transcriptional Activation with Chromatin Templates Assembled In Vitro

To gain a better understanding of the role of chromatin in the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, we examined the relation between promoter structure and the ability of Gal4-VP16 to function with chromatin templates assembled in vitro. First, to investigate whether there are synergistic interactions among multiple bound factors, we studied promoter constructions containing one or five Gal4 sites and found that a single recognition site is sufficient for Gal4-VP16 to bind to chromatin, to induce nucleosome rearrangement, and to activate transcription. Notably, we observed that Gal4-VP16 binds to a single site in chromatin with affinity comparable with that which it binds to naked DNA, even in the absence of ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling activity. Second, to explore the relation between translational nucleosome positioning and transcriptional activation, we analyzed a series of promoter constructions in which nucleosomes were positioned by Gal4-VP16 at different locations relative to the RNA start site. These experiments revealed that the positioning of a nucleosome over the RNA start site is not an absolute barrier to transcriptional activation. Third, to determine the contribution of core promoter elements to transcriptional activation with chromatin templates, we tested the ability of Gal4-VP16 to activate transcription with TATA box- versus DPE-driven core promoters and found that the TATA box is not required to achieve transcriptional activation by Gal4-VP16 with chromatin templates. These results suggest that a single protomer of a strong activator is able to bind to chromatin, to induce nucleosome remodeling, and to activate transcription in conjunction with a broad range of chromatin structures and core promoter elements.
Optimal Classifying and Extracting Fuzzy Relationship from Query Using Text Mining Techniques

Text mining techniques are generally applied for classifying the text, finding fuzzy relations and structures in data sets. This research provides plenty text mining capabilities. One common application is text classification and event extraction, which encompass deducing specific knowledge concerning incidents referred to in texts. The main contribution of this paper is the clarification of a concept graph generation mechanism, which is based on a text classification and optimal fuzzy relationship extraction. Furthermore, the work presented in this paper explains the application of fuzzy relationship extraction and branch and bound (BB) method to simplify the texts. Keywords—Extraction, Max-Prod, Fuzzy Relations, Text Mining, Memberships, Classification.
Clinical experience with intravenous zoledronic acid in the treatment of male osteoporosis: evidence and opinions

Osteoporosis frequently remains underrecognized and undertreated in men. Most osteoporosis-related fractures could be prevented if men at risk would be diagnosed, treated, and remained compliant with therapy. Bisphosphonates, the mainstay of osteoporosis treatment, are potent antiresorptive agents that inhibit osteoclast activity, suppress in vivo markers of bone turnover, increase bone mineral density, decrease fractures, and likely improve survival in men with osteoporosis. The focus of the article is on intravenous zoledronic acid, which may be a preferable alternative to oral bisphosphonate therapy in patients with cognitive dysfunction, the inability to sit upright, polypharmacy, significant gastrointestinal pathology or suspected medication noncompliance. Zoledronic acid is approved in the United States (US) and European Union (EU) as an annual 5 mg intravenous infusion to treat osteoporosis in men. The zoledronic acid 4 mg intravenous dose has been studied in the prevention of bone loss associated with androgen deprivation therapy. This article reviews the evidence for zoledronic acid, currently the most potent bisphosphonate available for clinical use, and its therapeutic effects in the treatment of men with osteoporosis.
Local Feature Descriptor Learning with Adaptive Siamese Network

Although the recent progress in the deep neural network has led to the development of learnable local feature descriptors, there is no explicit answer for estimation of the necessary size of a neural network. Specifically, the local feature is represented in a low dimensional space, so the neural network should have more compact structure. The small networks required for local feature descriptor learning may be sensitive to initial conditions and learning parameters and more likely to become trapped in local minima. In order to address the above problem, we introduce an adaptive pruning Siamese Architecture based on neuron activation to learn local feature descriptors, making the network more computationally efficient with an improved recognition rate over more complex networks. Our experiments demonstrate that our learned local feature descriptors outperform the state-of-art methods in patch matching.
CLINICAL STUDY: A comparison of exposure to carcinogens among roll‐your‐own and factory‐made cigarette smokers

Consumption of roll‐your‐own (RYO) tobacco is rising, but little is known about its in vivo delivery of toxins relative to factory‐made (FM) cigarettes. To start to address this issue, this study compared the concentrations of metabolites of recognized human carcinogens in smokers of RYO tobacco and FM cigarettes. We opportunistically recruited 127 FM and 28 RYO cigarette smokers in central London and collected saliva and urine samples. Saliva samples were assayed for cotinine while urinary samples were assayed for 1‐hydroxypyrene (1‐HOP) and total 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL), metabolic markers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines, respectively. Data on socio‐demographic, anthropometric and puffing characteristics were also obtained. Both unadjusted and adjusted analyses (controlling for age, sex, body mass index, puff flow, puff duration and cotinine) showed no difference in metabolic markers between RYO and FM cigarette smokers. However, significant main effects for cotinine levels and sex were observed in adjusted analyses. Greater levels of cotinine were associated with a greater concentration of both 1‐HOP (B = 0.002, P = 0.037) and NNAL (B = 0.002, P < 0.001). In addition, women had significantly greater concentrations of urinary 1‐HOP (B = 0.679, P = 0.004) and total NNAL metabolites (B = 0.117, P = 0.024) than men, irrespective of the type of cigarettes smoked. More research is now needed to confirm these findings and gender‐specific effects in a larger, representative sample. However, results do not support the common belief that RYO cigarettes are less harmful than manufactured cigarettes.
Experimental Study of Telco Localization Methods

Telecommunication (Telco) localization is a technique to accurately locate mobile devices (MDs) using measurement report (MR) data, and has been widely used in Telco industry. Many techniques have been proposed, including measurement-based statistical algorithms, fingerprinting algorithms and different machine learning-based algorithms. However, it has not been well studied yet on how these algorithms perform on various Telco MR data sets. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive experimental study of five state-of-art algorithms for Telco localization. Based on real data sets from two Telco networks, we study the localization performance of such algorithms. We find that a Random Forest-based machine learning algorithm performs best in most experiments due to high localization accuracy and insensitivity to data volume. The experimental result and observation in this paper may inspire and enhance future research in Telco localization.
Heat induced male sterility in Drosophila melanogaster: adaptive genetic variations among geographic populations and role of the Y chromosome

SUMMARY We analyzed genetic variation among geographically diverse populations of Drosophila and showed that tropical flies are more tolerant than temperate ones to heat-induced male sterility, as assessed by the presence of both motile sperm and progeny production. In tropical populations, the temperature inducing 50% sterility (median threshold) is 1°C above the value for temperate populations (30.4 vs. 29.4°C). When transferred to a mild permissive temperature (21°C), males recover fertility. Recovery time is proportional to pre-adult culture temperature. At these temperatures, recovery time is greater for temperate than for tropical populations. Crosses between a temperate and a tropical strain (F1, F2 and successive backcrosses) revealed that the Y chromosome was responsible for much of the geographic variation. Sterile males exhibited diverse abnormalities in the shape and position of sperm nuclei. However, impairment of the spermatid elongation seems to be the major factor responsible for sperm inviability. Heat-induced male sterility seems to be quite a general phenomenon in Drosophilid species and variation of threshold temperatures may be important for explaining their geographic distributions.
The effect of probucol and vitamin E treatment on the oxidation of low‐density lipoprotein and forearm vascular responses in humans

Abstract This study investigates the hypothesis that lipid soluble antioxidants may increase the resistance of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation and also enhance vascular endothelial responses in humans. In a double‐blind parallel group study, 24 hypercholesterolaemic patients, already on treatment with simvastatin (20mg day‐1), were randomized to supplementary treatment with probucol (500 mg bd), vitamin E (400 IU daily) or placebo for 8 weeks. Mean serum cholesterol before antioxidant treatment was 7·00 mmol l‐1. Resistance of LDL to oxidation by copper was increased by 830% in the probucol group and by 30% in the vitamin E group. However, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances in whole serum were not altered by either antioxidant. Probucol lowered HDL‐and LDL‐cholesterol levels and increased the QT interval. Forearm vascular responses, as measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, to acetylcholine, glyceryl trinitrate and NG‐monomethyl‐L‐arginine, were not significantly changed by antioxidant treatment. Probucol has a major, and vitamin E a minor, effect on LDL resistance to oxidation but neither compound appears to alter forearm vascular responses in vivo.
The Evolution of Ownership Disclosure Rules Across Countries

In recent years, a number of regulators have launched proposals to expand the obligation to disclose major share ownership in listed companies. This article shows that these are not stand-alone developments. Using a unique dataset comprising data from 25 countries over 11 years (1995–2005), collected by the Centre for Business Research at the University of Cambridge, we empirically study the evolution of ownership disclosure rules across countries. The analysis demonstrates that these rules have become more stringent over time, in the sense that disclosure thresholds have been lowered, and that there has been convergence. A breakdown of the results suggests that the degree of countries' economic development is a relevant factor in explaining the differences between countries. The analysis also suggests a positive correlation between ownership disclosure and other variables that protect minority shareholders, as well as a positive correlation between the stringency of countries' ownership disclosure rules and the degree of dispersed ownership. In the article, we offer various possible explanations for these results. Looking to the future, while it appears unlikely that disclosure thresholds will be lowered much further, ownership disclosure rules can be expected to continue to evolve in other dimensions. Regulators are likely to broaden the definition of the stake that triggers disclosure, so as to ensure that the ultimate owner is reached. In addition, regulators may require more information be disclosed when the notification is made, so as to enable other investors and issuers to adequately assess the implications of major share ownership.
Question Answering on Electronic Medical Records

Electronic medical records (EMRs) document the healthcare provided to the patient using both unstructured clinical notes and structured data. Typically, these records are large, containing hundreds of documents about a single patient. To navigate the vast amounts of information about a patient, current EMR applications available to physicians either attempt to proactively summarize important patient information or they provide a more traditional search service that retrieves notes “relevant” to a given query. However, it may be possible to much more precisely (and automatically) answer very specific questions about the patient’s health, by providing short answers to natural language questions – perhaps supported by evidence. For e.g., “Why was the patient prescribed arginine? ” or “Were there any complications of the patient's RYGB surgery? ” could be answered with very specific phrases or passages from the EMR. Recent advances in automatic question answering (QA) technology may help answer such questions.