Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Efficient and Fair Multi-Resource Allocation Mechanism for Heterogeneous Servers

Efficient and fair allocation of multiple types of resources is a crucial objective in a cloud/distributed computing cluster. Users may have diverse resource needs. Furthermore, diversity in server properties/capabilities may mean that only a subset of servers may be usable by a given user. In platforms with such heterogeneity, we identify important limitations in existing multi-resource fair allocation mechanisms, notably Dominant Resource Fairness and its follow-up work. To overcome such limitations, we propose a new server-based approach; each server allocates resources by maximizing a per-server utility function. We propose a specific class of utility functions which, when appropriately parameterized, adjusts the trade-off between efficiency and fairness, and captures a variety of fairness measures (such as our recently proposed Per-Server Dominant Share Fairness ). We establish conditions for the proposed mechanism to satisfy certain properties that are generally deemed desirable, e.g., envy-freeness, sharing incentive, bottleneck fairness, and Pareto optimality. To implement our resource allocation mechanism, we develop an iterative algorithm which is shown to be globally convergent. Subsequently, we show how the proposed mechanism could be implemented in a distributed fashion. Finally, we carry out extensive trace-driven simulations to show the enhanced performance of our proposed mechanism over the existing ones.
Inhibition of DT-diaphorase is a requirement for Mn3+ to produce a 6-OH-dopamine like rotational behaviour

Intracerebral managanese administration together with the DT-diaphorase inhibitor dicoumarol (Mn3+ 40 nmol+-dicoumarol 2 nmol; in 4 μl) into the left medial forebrain bundle (MFB) produced a behavioural pattern characterised by contralateral behaviour when the rats were stimulated with apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.), in a manner similar to that when administered to unilaterally 6-hydroxy-dopamine-lesioned animals. The same animals rotated towards the opposite side (ipsilaterally) when stimulated with d-amphetamine (2 mg/kg s.c.). These results support the idea that DT-diaphorase plays a protective role in the dopaminergic systems.
Nutrition Society Medal Lecture: The role of the skeleton in acid—base homeostasis

Nutritional strategies for optimising bone health throughout the life cycle are extremely important, since a dietary approach is more popular amongst osteoporosis sufferers than drug intervention, and long-term drug treatment compliance is relatively poor. As an exogenous factor, nutrition is amenable to change and has relevant public health implications. With the growing increase in life expectancy, hip fractures are predicted to rise dramatically in the next decade, and hence there is an urgent need for the implementation of public health strategies to target prevention of poor skeletal health on a population-wide basis. The role that the skeleton plays in acid-base homeostasis has been gaining increasing prominence in the literature; with theoretical considerations of the role alkaline bone mineral may play in the defence against acidosis dating as far back as the late 19th century. Natural, pathological and experimental states of acid loading and/or acidosis have been associated with hypercalciuria and negative Ca balance and, more recently, the detrimental effects of ‘acid’ from the diet on bone mineral have been demonstrated. At the cellular level, a reduction in extracellular pH has been shown to have a direct enhancement on osteoclastic activity, with the result of increased resorption pit formation in bone. A number of observational, experimental, clinical and intervention studies over the last decade have suggested a positive link between fruit and vegetable consumption and the skeleton. Further research is required, particularly with regard to the influence of dietary manipulation using alkali-forming foods on fracture prevention. Should the findings prove conclusive, a “fruit and vegetable” approach to bone health maintenance may provide a very sensible (and natural) alternative therapy for osteoporosis treatment, which is likely to have numerous additional health-related benefits.
Thermal transport properties of carbon nanotube

Because of their unique structure, novel properties and potential applications, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted significant attention since their discovery. The thermal properties of CNTs are of interest for basic science as well as for technological applications. In the present paper, our experimental studies of the thermal transport properties of CNTs in recent years were introduced. The measurement techniques and the obtained results of the thermal transport properties of one individual CNTs, CNT arrays, CNT nanostructures and CNT composites were present. The mechanism of heat transport in CNTs has been further discussed.
Smoking status and gene susceptibility play important roles in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung function decline

Background: We conducted this study to identify the influences and synergistic effects of smoking status and polymorphisms in hedgehog interacting protein (HHIP) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung function decline. Methods: A cohort containing 306 COPD patients and 743 healthy subjects was recruited from 25,000 subjects. All selected subjects had chronic cough for over 2 years or a smoking history above 20 pack-years. After 8 years, all subjects were divided into 2 cohorts according to whether they had quit smoking or not. A follow-up of all patients was completed after another period of 10 years. Three variants in HHIP were genotyped to investigate the impacts of gene susceptibility on the development of COPD and lung function decline. Results: During the follow-up tests, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) ratios decreased more significantly in COPD patients than in healthy subjects. For variant rs7654947, FEV1 decreased more significantly in CC and CT subjects than in TT subjects. FEV1 in COPD patients with a CC genotype from smoking cohorts reduced markedly when compared to ex-smoking cohorts (case, 30.75% vs. 35.5%; total, 28% vs. 32%). Conclusions: Our results showed that smoking and HHIP variant rs7654947 were associated with COPD development and lung function decline. Moreover, we found that cigarette smoking and gene susceptibility have cooperative effects on COPD risk and lung function decline.
Association between incubation time and genotype in sheep experimentally inoculated with scrapie-positive brain homogenate.

OBJECTIVE To compare incubation time and clinical signs of scrapie in codon 136/171 alanine-valine/glutamine-glutamine (AVQQ) experimentally inoculated sheep with that in sheep with the more common 136/171 AAQQ genotype. ANIMALS 60 Suffolk sheep. PROCEDURE Twenty-seven 171 QQ ewes purchased from 2 private flocks were bred with a 171 QQ Suffolk ram before being inoculated with a 20% solution of scrapie-positive brain homogenate (5 mL, PO) from sheep containing genotypes 136/154/171 AA/arginine-arginine (RR)/QQ, AVRRQQ, and VVRRQQ that had died of scrapie. Ewes had 33 lambs, which were inoculated in the same manner on the day of birth. RESULTS All 16 genotype 136/154/171 AVRRQQ sheep that died of scrapie were 9 to 11 months of age; clinical signs lasted 1 day to 3 weeks with no wasting and only mild pruritus. The first AARRQQ sheep died with typical clinical signs of scrapie 27 months after inoculation, and 14 were still alive 37 to 42 months after inoculation. The 136/171 AVQQ sheep had minimal accumulation of modified cellular protein (PrP(SC)) as determined by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining within affected cells; thus the severity of clinical signs and time of death were not associated with brain lesions or the amount of PrP(SC) in brain TISSUE OF 136/154/171 AVRRQQ sheep as determined by IHC staining. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The rapid incubation time may have been influenced by the codon 136 genotype, a new unreported valine (V)-dependent strain of scrapie similar to strain SSBP/1, or the inoculum may have contained a traditional strain and a V-dependent or SSBP/1-like strain of scrapie.
The effect of zinc oxide and elemental zinc boluses on the concentrations of Zn in serum and faeces, and on providing protection from natural Pithomyces chartarum challenge in sheep

Abstract AIM: To investigate the efficacy of intra-ruminal Zn boluses as aids in providing protection from natural Pithomyces chartarum challenge in sheep. METHODS: Seventy-two adult sheep (mean weight 59 (SEM 0.5) kg) were divided into four groups. Commencing on Day 0, they received either a proprietary bolus containing 67 g ZnO (equivalent to 54 g Zn) (ZnO group), two different levels of elemental Zn (81 and 108 g) delivered in boluses each containing 27 g Zn (Zn81 and Zn108 groups, respectively), or remained untreated (control). Concentrations of Zn in serum, activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in serum, and spore counts on pasture were measured weekly from Day -6, and concentrations of Zn in faeces weekly from Day 21, until Day 77. RESULTS: Mean concentrations of Zn in serum between Days 14 and 42 were significantly higher in ZnO animals (15.4 (SEM 0.70)µmol/L) than the other groups. Mean concentrations in Zn108animals (11.1 (SEM 0.26) µmol/L) were significantly higher than controls, but there were no differences between Zn81 and the controls (9.9 (SEM 0.20) and 9.4 (SEM 0.26) µmol/L, respectively). Between Days 21 and 49, there was no significant difference in mean concentrations of Zn in faeces between ZnO and Zn81 animals (307 (SEM 28) and 281 (SEM 29) mg/kg fresh weight (FW), respectively), but concentrations were significantly higher in Zn108 animals (500 (SEM 40) mg/ kg FW). Spore counts exceeded 70,000/g on Days 14, 28, 49, 56 and 63 but there were no clinical signs of facial eczema. In controls, activities of GGT were unchanged until Day 21, then increased to 637 IU/L at Day 70; for ZnO animals, activities remained <75 IU/L until Day 14, then increased to 200 IU/L at Day 70; for Zn81 and Zn108, they remained <75 IU/L until Day 35, and then increased at Day 70 to 369 IU/L and 293 IU/L, respectively. From Day 56 activities were significantly lower in all treated groups compared with controls, but there was no significant difference between the three Zn bolus treatments. There were significant negative correlations between activities of GGT and concentrations of Zn in serum in Zn108 animals, and with concentrations of Zn in faeces for both Zn81 and Zn108 groups. CONCLUSION: Elemental Zn boluses can reduce activities of GGT associated with elevated spore counts. The association between concentrations of Zn in faeces and activities of GGT suggests that a minimum concentration of Zn in the gastrointestinal tract may be important in providing protection against sporidesmin.
Food for thought ... on validation.

Publishing a scientific journal in the internet era is an enormous challenge: Articles are commonly retrieved by browsing databases, with the consequence that fewer and fewer people hold the journal in their hands and actually screen the contents of an issue. Many miss what makes a scientific journal different from a repository of articles – the active forum of exchange of a specific section of the scientific community. With my new series of “Food for Thought” articles ALTEX aims to enhance this form of communication by providing a very personal view on topics in the field of alternative methods that might need some more thought. As a first topic I have chosen the core of ECVAM’s business, validation itself. I want to share and discuss a couple of thoughts, identified problems and emerging solutions, but not give final answers. Comments and feedback are more than welcome as is active participation in driving the field toward solutions for these open problems.
Course and outcome in bipolar affective disorder: a longitudinal follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE A number of recent studies have questioned whether, despite modern treatment, the natural course of bipolar illness today still involves multiple relapses and impaired psychosocial functioning. This prospective follow-up study examined longitudinal outcome in a large group of inpatients with affective disorders. METHOD Fifty-one bipolar manic patients and 49 unipolar depressed patients were interviewed three times: 1) during hospitalization, 2) approximately 2 years after discharge, and 3) approximately 4.5 years after discharge. Subjects were treated under routine conditions and assessed for global adjustment, rehospitalization, and work and social functioning. RESULTS Only 41% of the bipolar group had a good overall outcome by the time of the 4.5-year follow-up. The bipolar patients had more severe work impairment than the unipolar group. More than one-half of the bipolar patients were rehospitalized at least once during the 4.5-year follow-up period. Outcome for both diagnostic groups improved significantly over time. CONCLUSIONS Many contemporary bipolar patients demonstrate gradual improvement in the first several years after hospitalization. However, a subgroup approaching 60% still experience poor posthospital adjustment in one or more areas of functioning.
Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Blastoid Variant of Mantle Cell Lymphoma in an Adult with Recurrent Infectious Mononucleosis-Like Symptoms: A Case Report

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is closely associated with several lymphomas, such as Burkitt lymphoma, natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma; however, whether EBV is implicated in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has not been established. We report the case of an adult with recurrent infectious mononucleosis (IM)-like symptoms who developed an EBV-positive blastoid variant of MCL. A 54-year-old Japanese man presented with fever, swelling of the oral mucosa and tongue, dispersed pulmonary infiltrations, systemic lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. He had a history of recurrent IM-like symptoms (prolonged fever and cervical lymphadenopathy) for at least 1 year. MCL was diagnosed by biopsy of the cervical lymph node. The anti-EBV antibody titer indicated a reactivation of chronic infection with this virus. EBV was detected in most of the lymphoma cells and in the peripheral blood. EBV might have played some role in the tumorigenesis of blastoid MCL.
Evaluation of Glycaemic Control Limits Using the Ames DCA 2000 HbA1c Analyser

The Ames DCA 2000 is a benchtop analyser that measures HbA1c by an agglutination inhibition immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody. Laboratory and nursing staff measured HbA1c on‐site in 78 patients with Type 1 diabetes at the outpatient clinic. Significant correlations were noted with both the Corning Glytrac total HbA1 assay (r = 0.89) and the Novoclone assay for HbA1c (r = 0.95). Mean within‐assay CV was 1.6% and 3.0% at HbA1c of 5.4% and 13.0%, respectively, while between‐assay CVs were 4.2% and 3.8%. These results are as good as our routine laboratory method based on the Corning HbA1 assay. Locally derived reference population data for HbA1c were produced and patients were assigned to categories of good, acceptable, and poor glycaemic control using conventional recommendations for Type 2 diabetes. There was poor agreement between the methods, with only 22% of patients achieving good/acceptable control using the DCA 2000, while 46% of patients had an HbA1 in this range. It appears that the convention for derivation of control limits for HbA1 does not hold for this HbA1c assay.
Abnormal function of high-density lipoprotein is associated with poor disease control and an altered protein cargo in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the antiinflammatory function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify specific differences in HDL-associated proteins and enzymes that distinguish proinflammatory HDL from normal, antiinflammatory HDL. METHODS We studied 132 RA patients. The antiinflammatory function of HDL was assessed by a cell-free assay, and proinflammatory HDL was defined by an HDL inflammatory index > or =1. Plasma and HDL-associated protein levels of apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), haptoglobin, hemopexin, hemoglobin, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured by direct and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was measured by a commercially available assay. RESULTS Age, disease activity, the presence of erosive disease, non-Caucasian race, and smoking were significantly associated with proinflammatory HDL on multivariate analysis. Patients with proinflammatory HDL had higher measures of systemic inflammation, and a significant correlation was observed between RA disease activity (using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints) and the HDL inflammatory index (r = 0.54, P < 0.0001). Compared with patients with antiinflammatory HDL, patients with proinflammatory HDL had significantly higher levels of haptoglobin, hemoglobin, Apo A-I, and MPO associated with HDL (P < 0.05 for all comparisons except MPO, which was P = 0.05). LCAT activity was lowest in patients with proinflammatory HDL, but was also significantly reduced in RA patients with antiinflammatory HDL as compared with healthy controls (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Proinflammatory HDL in this RA patient cohort was associated with active disease and an altered protein cargo as compared with antiinflammatory HDL in RA patients and in healthy controls. The antiinflammatory function of HDL was inversely correlated with systemic inflammation in RA patients and may warrant further investigation as a mechanism by which active RA increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Evolving treatment strategies for chronic refractory angina

Chronic refractory angina is a term used to describe patients who, despite optimal medical therapy, have both angina and objective evidence of ischaemia. It is estimated that 5 – 15% of the 12 million patients with chronic angina in the US meet the criteria for having refractory angina. This review focuses on the following evolving pharmacological therapies for chronic refractory angina: l-arginine, ivabradine, ranolazine, nicorandil and trimetazidine. Evolving devices and invasive procedures including enhanced external counterpulsation, spinal cord stimulation, and transmyocardial revascularisation are also briefly discussed.
Basic Care I: The effect of dementia-specific training on certified nursing assistants and other sraff

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Basic Care I, a dementia-specific training course offered by the St. Louis Alzheimer's Association. Using three standardized measures, the effects of the course on knowledge gain, stress level, and sense of work-related self-esteem are examined. Findings suggest that participation in Basic Care I increases retained learning, as 76.4 percent of the sample showed improvement on dementia knowledge scores. The outcomes of stress and self-esteem measures are inconclusive but indicate areas for future study. Implications for program planning are discussed.
Implement human-robot interaction via robot's emotion model

Nowadays, many robots are in service for the people, such as pepper, Paro, HSR and so on. The robots are not only as partners but also provide services to daily life. To be a good partner, a robot needs to have a better model of feedback, such that it can interact more naturally. Moreover, in order to design a robot that can interact just like human, we need to design the emotion model for the robot. In our research, first our system extracts face and computes the feature from the facial image. Then our system uses SVM to classify the facial expression into different emotion states. At the same time, the robot also updates its own emotion states. Then the robot's emotion will change to interact with human according to the facial expression recognized. Therefore, the robot can show different feedback actions that expressing the emotion of robot with some funny postures.
Human Methionine Synthase

Human cDNAs for methionine synthase (5-methyltetrahydrofolate:L-homocysteine S-transmethylase; EC 2.1.1.13) have been isolated from fetal and adult liver and HepG2 libraries. The cDNAs span 7.2 kilobases (kb) and consist of a 394-base pair upstream untranslated region, a 3795-base pair open reading frame encoding a 1265-residue 140.3-kDa protein, and about 3 kb of 3′ region. The deduced protein sequence shares 53 and 63% identity with the Escherichia coli and the presumptive Caenorhabditis elegans proteins, respectively, and contains all residues implicated in B12 binding to the E. coli protein. Several potential polymorphisms and a cryptic splice deletion were detected in the coding region of the cDNAs. A polymorphism that results in a D919G modification in the protein is fairly common in human DNA samples. Northern analyses of poly(A) mRNA indicated two major species of about 8 and 10 kb in human tissues and some minor, partially spliced species. mRNA levels were highest in the pancreas, skeletal muscle, and heart of the adult and in the kidney in the fetus and were low in adult liver. Genomic clones were isolated and the 5′ region was analyzed. Exon 1 is preceded by a number of potential promoter sites, including an E box, CAAT boxes, and a GC box, but this region lacks a TATA element. The human methionine synthase gene was localized to chromosome region 1q42.3-43 by in situ hybridization.
Data Correction Method Using Ideal Wireless LAN Model in Positioning System

Over the last few years, many positioning systems and information support systems using wireless LAN have been developed. Some systems use the received signal strength of a wireless LAN for positioning. However, the received signal strength differs depending on each terminal's wireless LAN adapter. It is important to investigate the differences among the received signal strengths for different wireless LAN adapters, because the differences among each adapter may cause an increase in location estimation errors. In this paper, we examine the differences among the received signal strengths for a number of wireless LAN adapters, and propose wireless LAN data usage using an ideal wireless LAN adapter. Using our method, we can improve the estimation accuracy of the location estimation system
Research on user experience design of household fridge

This paper summarizes the key elements in the fridge design based on the analysis of the concept and connotation of the user experience design, and the methods to express each kind of elements are put forward. The trend of fridge design in the future is predicted with the help of the classification of various experience elements, which provides a reference to the research on the experience design theory and the fridge design. Moreover, the theory proposed in this paper, which is combining the user experience design theory with the fridge design, is also useful to other design applications such as the household appliance design and so on.