Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating MapReduce System Performance: A Simulation Approach

Scale of data generated and processed is exploding in the Big Data era. The MapReduce system popularized by open-source Hadoop is a powerful tool for the exploding data problem, and is widely employed in many areas involving large scale of data. In many circumstances, hypothetical MapReduce systems must be evaluated, e.g. to provision a new MapReduce system to provide certain performance goal, to upgrade a currently running system to meet increasing business demands, to evaluate novel network topology, new scheduling algorithms, or resource arrangement schemes. The traditional trial-and-error solution involves the time- consuming and costly process in which a real cluster is first built and then benchmarked. In this dissertation, we propose to simulate MapReduce systems and evaluate hypothetical MapReduce systems using simulation. This simulation approach offers significantly lower turn-around time and lower cost than experiments. Simulation cannot entirely replace experiments, but can be used as a preliminary step to reveal potential flaws and gain critical insights. We studied MapReduce systems in detail and developed a comprehensive performance model for MapReduce, including sub-task phase level performance models for both map and reduce tasks and a model for resource contention between multiple processes running in concurrent. Based on the performance model, we developed a comprehensive simulator for MapReduce, MRPerf. MRPerf is the first full-featured MapReduce simulator. It supports both workload simulation and resource contention, and it still offers the most complete features among all MapReduce simulators to date. Using MRPerf, we conducted two case studies to evaluate scheduling algorithms in MapReduce and shared storage in MapReduce, without building real clusters. Furthermore, in order to further integrate simulation and performance prediction into Map- Reduce systems and leverage predictions to improve system performance, we developed on- line prediction framework for MapReduce, which periodically runs simulations within a live Hadoop MapReduce system. The framework can predict task execution within a window in near future. These predictions can be used by other components in MapReduce systems in order to improve performance. Our results show that the framework can achieve high prediction accuracy and incurs negligible overhead. We present two potential use cases, prefetching and dynamic adapting scheduler.
Factorial Design as an Effective Tool for Optimization of Alcoholic Wine Production from Paw Paw Fruits

Optimization of process conditions for alcoholic wine production from pawpaw fruit was achieved using 2 level full factorial designs with centre points. The factors that were considered were pH, initial sugar concentration, yeast concentration, and fermentation time with specific gravity of the wine as the response. ANOVA confirmed curvature to be significant which showed that higher order model can predict the process well when augmented to Response Surface Method that estimates quadratic terms. Linear model generated can be used to predict response at the factorial points only because of the significant curvature. Minimization optimization predicted specific gravity of the wine to be 0.9767 at pH of 5, initial sugar concentration of 20g/l, fermentation time of 13 days and yeast concentration of 9g/l at desirability of 0.945. The optimum conditions were validated with little error of 0.14% confirming the adequacy of the model in predicting the process. Index Term-ANOVA, Factorial design, Paw-paw, Saccharomyces Cerevesia,
A Robust Algorithm for Real-Time Peak Detection of Photoplethysmograms Using a Personal Computer Mouse

Monitoring the photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal is essential for cardiovascular patients in the hospital or at home, as well as for those working in front of a personal computer (PC) at the office every day. Therefore, we developed a wireless PPG mouse that consists of a PC mouse, PPG sensor, and Bluetooth mote. The sensor is located within the PC mouse, therefore, the structure of the ordinary mouse is not changed. A user's thumb can easily touch the surface of a sensor for PPG signal monitoring. However, it is challenging to process the signals collected from the PPG mouse, especially in the cases where the mouse moves quickly or the user performs multiple actions on the mouse buttons. In this paper, we propose a robust algorithm to detect the PPG peak under big motion artifact conditions. In the proposed algorithm, an adaptive method enables simultaneous detection of true peaks and eliminates fake peaks from the acquired PPG signal. Next, these detected error peaks can be corrected by a random error estimator. The combination of two sequential methods enhances the robustness of the algorithm for distinguishing irregular PPG patterns. The proposed algorithm presents an advantage for real-time applications and continuous heart rate monitoring systems using a wireless PPG sensor implemented in a PC mouse.
Inter-comparison of SMOS and aquarius Sea Surface Salinity: Effects of the dielectric constant and vicarious calibration

Two spaceborne instruments share the scientific objective of mapping the global Sea Surface Salinity (SSS). ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and NASA's Aquarius use L-band (1.4 GHz) radiometry to retrieve SSS. We find that SSS retrieved by SMOS is generally lower than SSS retrieved by Aquarius, except for very cold waters where SMOS SSS is higher overall. The spatial distribution of the differences in SSS is similar to the distribution of sea surface temperature. There are several differences in the retrieval algorithm that could explain the observed SSS differences. We assess the impact of the dielectric constant model and the ancillary sea surface salinity used by both missions for calibrating the radiometers and retrieving SSS. The differences in dielectric constant model produce differences in SSS of the order of 0.3 psu and exhibit a dependence on latitude and temperature. We use comparisons with the Argo in situ data to assess the performances of the model in various regions of the globe. Finally, the differences in the ancillary sea surface salinity products used to perform the vicarious calibration of both instruments are relatively small (0.1 psu), but not negligible considering the requirements for spaceborne remote sensing of SSS.
Risk Factors for Acute Postoperative Renal Failure in Thoracic or Thoracoabdominal Aortic Surgery: A Prospective Study

Acute postoperative renal failure is a common complication of thoracic aorta, thoracoabdominal aorta, or aortic arch surgery.To identify variables associated with acute postoperative renal failure, we prospectively studied 475 consecutive patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic surgery over a 12-yr period, including those requiring emergent surgery. One hundred twenty-one (25%) patients developed acute postoperative renal failure, and 39 (8%) required hemodialysis. Using multivariate analysis, acute postoperative renal failure was significantly associated with the following variables: age >50 yr (odds ratio [OR] 2.90 [95% confidence interval 1.52-5.53]), preoperative serum creatinine >120 micro mol/L (OR 2.76 [1.70-4.48]), duration of left kidney ischemia >30 min (OR 2.01 [1.27-3.17]), packed red cells administration >5 units (OR 2.04 [1.24-3.37]), and Cell-Saver administration >5 units (OR 2.31 [1.34-1.96]). Reimplantation of visceral, renal arteries and the Adamkievicz artery; duration of visceral, spinal, and right kidney ischemia; requirement for fresh frozen plasma; administration of aprotinin; extracorporeal circulation; and procedures with circulatory arrest and profound hypothermia were not predictive of postoperative renal failure. In addition, age >50 yr (OR 5.59 [1.31-23.91]), requirement for packed red blood cells >5 unit (OR 3.91 [1.58-9.67]), and preoperative serum creatinine concentration >120 micro mol/L (OR 2.26 [1.13-4.53]) were independent factors for acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis. In conclusion, acute renal failure is often observed after thoracic aortic surgery. Numerous predictive factors must be considered when evaluating the etiology of this complication. Implications: Acute postoperative renal insufficiency is a common complication of thoracic aortic surgery. This study found that age >50 yr, preoperative renal dysfunction, duration of renal ischemia, and amount of blood transfusion are significant predictors of this complication. (Anesth Analg 1997;85:1227-32)
Une nouvelle station de mesure pour l’acquisition de séries chronologiques en hydrologie urbaine

La generalisation de la metrologie et de l’autosurveillance reglementaire en hydrologie urbaine ainsi que les conditions d’exploitation souvent difficiles necessitent des outils toujours plus performants. C’est pourquoi l’Observatoire de terrain en hydrologie urbaine (OTHU) a souhaite rehabiliter ses stations de mesure. Cet article illustre quelques innovations technologiques et methodologiques mises en place afin d’assurer une production de donnees continues fiables tout en reduisant la maintenance necessaire au bon fonctionnement de ces installations. La technologie actuelle offre de reelles opportunites en matiere de reduction des couts de maintenance, de reactivite, de pretraitement des donnees. Chaque station produit en moyenne 12240 donnees par jour afin d’assurer le suivi en continu de la quantite et de la qualite des eaux pluviales en milieu urbain. Le suivi de la dynamique des phenomenes sur le long terme necessite du materiel disponible et operationnel 24 h/24 et 7 j/7. Les nouvelles stations OTHU sont fiables et fournissent des donnees representatives et de meilleure qualite que les anciennes installations.
Does atopic disease start in foetal life?

The prevalence of IgE-mediated allergies, such as eczema, hay fever, and asthma, has increased dramatically over the past few decades. The short time over which this change has occurred and continues to occur indicates that the environment plays a central role in these disorders. That there is an important inherited component in these diseases is well established, and numerous genes have been identi®ed as having a possible role (1). However, a complex interplay between the environment and our genes is likely to determine disease development and progression. The environmental factors that affect the inherited susceptibility have been reviewed elsewhere (2). Here we will consider the contribution of pregnancy and foetal development in this issue.
Assessing the Predictive Validity of the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Criteria for Performing Carotid Endarterectomy

Abstract We assessed the predictive validity of an expert panel's ratings of the appropriateness of carotid endarterectomy by comparing ratings to the results of subsequent randomized clinical trials. We found the trials confirmed the ratings for 44 indications (covering almost 30% of operations performed in 1981) and refuted the ratings for none.
Clique Community Persistence: A Topological Visual Analysis Approach for Complex Networks

Complex networks require effective tools and visualizations for their analysis and comparison. Clique communities have been recognized as a powerful concept for describing cohesive structures in networks. We propose an approach that extends the computation of clique communities by considering persistent homology, a topological paradigm originally introduced to characterize and compare the global structure of shapes. Our persistence-based algorithm is able to detect clique communities and to keep track of their evolution according to different edge weight thresholds. We use this information to define comparison metrics and a new centrality measure, both reflecting the relevance of the clique communities inherent to the network. Moreover, we propose an interactive visualization tool based on nested graphs that is capable of compactly representing the evolving relationships between communities for different thresholds and clique degrees. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on various network types.
N′-[(5-Methyl-2-furyl)methylene]thiophene-2-carbohydrazide

In the title compound, C11H10N2O2S, the dihedral angle between the five-membered aromatic rings is 10.24 (12)°. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked by bifurcated N—H⋯(O,N) hydrogen bonds, generating [001] chains.
Monocyte phagocytosis of opsonized Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B

The chemiluminescence (CL) was examined when peripheral blood monocytes were incubated with opsonized Neisseria meningitidis, serogroup B, serotype 15:P1.16 or serotype 2a:P1.2. The monocytes were separated from a mononuclear cell suspension by an immunomagnetic negative selection technique using magnetic polystyrene microspheres coated with monoclonal antibodies specific for T and B lymphocytes. More than 90% of the lymphocytes were removed, yielding a suspension containing 93% monocytes. Optimal sensitivity for phagocytosis was obtained using 1% serum (10 μl), 72 bacteria per monocyte cell, and 7.5 min opsonization and incubation time during continuous agitation at 37°C. The CL was amplified by lucigenin. Preliminary experiments suggest that convalescent sera from patients with group B meningococcal disease induced increased CL responses compared to acute sera. Sera from volunteers immunized with an outer membrane complex vaccine from serogroup B, serotype 15:P1.16 or 2a:P1.2 meningococci also induced increased CL activity compared to preimmune sera. No such response was shown when a group B capsular polysaccharide vaccine was given. This response pattern was also demonstrated by a flow cytometric phagocytosis technique (FCM). Internalization of meningococci by monocytes was demonstrated by a FCM quenching technique and by transmission electron microscopy. CL and FCM represent rapid and reproducible methods for the measurement of opsonophagocytosis of meningococci by monocytes and may be performed with minute amounts of sera.
Lung Vascular Injury with Protease Infusion Relationship to Plasma Fibronectin

Fibronectin exists in a soluble form in plasma and in an insoluble form in tissues. Plasma fibronectin can modulate phagocytic function as well as incorporate into the tissue matrix where it is believed to influence microvascular integrity and tissue repair. The temporal alterations in plasma and lung lymph fibronectin were studied in relation to increased pulmonary vascular permeability induced by protease infusion. The acute sheep lung lymph fistula model was used. A 39% decrease in plasma fibronectin (control = 421 +/- 67 micrograms/ml) was observed 2.5 hours (255 +/- 43 micrograms/ml) after protease infusion. There was an elevation of lymph fibronectin early after protease infusion, followed by a progressive decline. Concomitant with the decrease in plasma fibronectin, an increase in lymph flow (QL) of greater than 200% (from a control of 6.7 +/- 1.0 ml/hr to 13.9 +/- 1.4 ml/hr) was observed within 2.5 hours. Also, there was a sustained elevation in the total protein lymph/plasma concentration (L/P) ratio, which was maximal at 2.5 hours. The transvascular protein clearance (TVPC = QL X L/P) was 4.5 +/- 0.7 ml/hr at the control period and 13.1 +/- 2.0 ml/hr by 2.5 hours. This was indicative of increased flux of protein-rich fluid across the pulmonary endothelial barrier. Lung vascular permeability stabilized after 2.5 hours as manifested by a slowly declining L/P ratio. Thus, plasma fibronectin deficiency may contribute to the etiology of increased lung vascular permeability with protease infusion. Since the progressive decline in plasma fibronectin was not reflected in a proportional increase in lymph fibronectin, plasma fibronectin may have sequestered in tissues such as the lung, or perhaps in reticuloendothelial cells during the injury phase. Whether the progressive decrease in plasma fibronectin reflects its incorporation into the endothelial barrier matrix where it may mediate stabilization of the pulmonary microvascular barrier remains to be determined.
Marker tumour response to Evans and Pasteur bacille Calmette-Guérin in multiple recurrent pTa/pT1 bladder tumours: report from the Medical Research Council Subgroup on Superficial Bladder Cancer (Urological Cancer Working Party).

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of Evans bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and Pasteur BCG in eradicating marker bladder tumours and to compare the toxicity of the two strains. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety-nine patients with multiple recurrent pTa or pT1 bladder tumours were allocated at random to six instillations at weekly intervals of either Evans BCG or Pasteur BCG. All tumours were resected except one marker tumour. At cystoscopy 3 months after randomization all tumours including the marker tumour, if still present, were resected. RESULTS The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups but numbers were small and only large differences would have been detected. No statistically significant difference in efficacy regarding the response of the marker tumour or the appearance of other tumours at 3 months was noted in the two groups. There was no evidence of stage progression of the marker tumours. CONCLUSIONS In multiple recurrent pTa or pT1 bladder tumours clearing the bladder of all except one marker tumour provides a safe and convenient way of measuring the response to intravesical therapy. No significant difference in efficacy or toxicity was detected between Evans BCG and Pasteur BCG.
Augmented expression of secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine and EBI1 ligand chemokine in Crohn’s disease

Background: A dominant T helper type 1 (Th1) immune response is thought to be involved in Crohn’s disease (CD). SLC/CCL21 and ELC/CCL19, chemokines that regulate T cell homing and promote recirculating T and dendritic cell (DC) interactions, help control antigen specific T cell responses. Aims: To investigate the Th1 response and SLC and ELC in CD pathogenesis. Methods: Surgically resected intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) from controls and patients with CD and ulcerative colitis (UC) were investigated. CD3, CD83, HECA452, VEGFR3, SLC, ELC, and CCR7 expression was studied immunohistochemically. CCR7 mRNA was quantified using real time RT-PCR. Results: ELC was almost undetectable in intestinal samples. SLC was found sporadically in lymphoid follicles, lymphoid aggregate venules, and lymphatic vessels. In MLNs, SLC was highly expressed in high endothelial venules (HEVs), lymphatic vessels, and stromal DCs, predominantly in T cell areas. ELC was highly expressed in mature DCs. There were significantly more SLC positive HEVs and ELC positive mature DCs, important components of T cell areas, in CD. SLC, ELC, and CCR7 mRNA was significantly higher in CD MLNs compared with UC. CD MLNs had increased expression of SLC and ELC, mainly in HEVs, mature DCs, and lymphatic vessels, inducing T cell hyperplasia. CCR7 mRNA was increased in T cell areas. Conclusion: The dominant Th1 immune response is facilitated by interaction of SLC positive HEVs/lymphatic vessels, ELC positive mature DCs, and CCR7 positive T cells in hyperplastic T cell areas. In CD, memory T cells and mature DCs may home to MLN.
Impact of pre-diabetic state on clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome

A 78 year old woman presented to a local hospital 10 hours after onset of typical angina. Based on symptoms of acute chest pain, ST elevation in anterior leads, and elevated creatine phosphokinase (maximum value 450 U/l), the diagnosis of an acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI) was made. Because of the circumstances a conservative …
Sole Use of Dexmedetomidine Has Limited Utility for Conscious Sedation during Outpatient Colonoscopy

Background:This study evaluated the ability of dexmedetomidine to provide analgesia and sedation for outpatient colonoscopy, examining outcomes including cardiorespiratory variables, side effects, and discharge readiness. Methods:Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens. In group D, patients received 1 &mgr;g/kg dexmedetomidine over 15 min followed by an infusion of 0.2 &mgr;g · kg−1 · h−1. Group P received meperidine (1 mg/kg) with midazolam (0.05 mg/kg), and group F received fentanyl (0.1–0.2 mg intravenous) on demand. The assessment included measurements of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, quality of sedation/analgesia, and an evaluation of the recovery time. Results:The study was terminated before the planned 90 patients had been recruited because of adverse events in group D. In all groups, negligible hemoglobin oxygen saturation and respiratory rate variations were observed. In group D, there was a significantly larger decrease in heart rate (to approximately 40 beats/min in 2 of 19 cases) and blood pressure (to less than 50% of the initial value in 4 of 19 patients). Supplemental fentanyl was required in 47% of patients receiving dexmedetomidine to achieve a satisfactory level of analgesia (vs. 42.8% of patients in group P and 79.2% of patients in group F). Vertigo (5 patients), nausea/vomiting (5 patients), and ventricular bigeminy (1 patient) were observed only in group D. Time to home readiness was longest in group D (85 ± 74, 39 ± 21, and 32 ± 13 min in groups D, P and F, respectively; P = 0.007). Conclusions:The use of dexmedetomidine to provide analgesia/sedation for colonoscopy is limited by distressing side effects, pronounced hemodynamic instability, prolonged recovery, and a complicated administration regimen.
Overexpression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 10 in Myocardium Disrupts Cardiac Postnatal Hypertrophic Growth*

Postnatal cardiac hypertrophies have traditionally been classified into physiological or pathological hypertrophies. Both of them are induced by hemodynamic load. Cardiac postnatal hypertrophic growth is regarded as a part of the cardiac maturation process that is independent of the cardiac working load. However, the functional significance of this biological event has not been determined, mainly because of the difficulty in creating an experimental condition for testing the growth potential of functioning heart in the absence of hemodynamic load. Recently, we generated a novel transgenic mouse model (αMHC-BMP10) in which the cardiac-specific growth factor bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) is overexpressed in postnatal myocardium. These αMHC-BMP10 mice appear to have normal cardiogenesis throughout embryogenesis, but develop to smaller hearts within 6 weeks after birth. αMHC-BMP10 hearts are about half the normal size with 100% penetrance. Detailed morphometric analysis of cardiomyocytes clearly indicated that the compromised cardiac growth in αMHC-BMP10 mice was solely because of defect in cardiomyocyte postnatal hypertrophic growth. Physiological analysis further demonstrated that the responses of these hearts to both physiological (e.g. exercise-induced hypertrophy) and pathological hypertrophic stimuli remain normal. In addition, the αMHC-BMP10 mice develop subaortic narrowing and concentric myocardial thickening without obstruction by four weeks of age. Systematic analysis of potential intracellular pathways further suggested a novel genetic pathway regulating this previously undefined cardiac postnatal hypertrophic growth event. This is the first demonstration that cardiac postnatal hypertrophic growth can be specifically modified genetically and dissected out from physiological and pathological hypertrophies.
January–October, 2003

The aim of these updates is to very briefly review most relevant articles in the field of xenotransplantation that have been published within recent months in journals with international distribution. The reviews will not be comprehensive or exhaustive. This current literature update includes a review of papers published from January to October, 2003. During this period, several general and specialized reviews of xenotransplantation were published [1–16].