Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Providing High-Availability and Elasticity for an In-Memory Database System with RAMCloud

Stanford’s RAMCloud is a large-scale storage system that keeps all data in DRAM and provides high availability as well as a great degree of elasticity. These properties make it desirable for being used as the persistence for an in-memory database system. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate the high availability and elasticity RAMCloud can provide when it is being used as a storage system for a relational in-memory database system: a) We utilize RAMCloud’s fast-crash-recovery mechanism and measure its impact on database query processing performance. b) We evaluate the elasticity by executing a sinus-shaped, a plateau, and an exponential database workload. Based on our experiments, we show that an in-memory database running on top of RAMCloud can within seconds adapt to changing workloads and recover data from a crashed node both without an interruption of the ongoing query processing.
Large-scale instabilities in a nonrotating turbulent convection

A theoretical approach proposed by Elperin et al. [Phys. Rev. E66, 066305 (2002)] is developed further to investigate formation of large-scale coherent structures in a nonrotating turbulentconvection via excitation of a large-scale instability. In particular, the convective-wind instability that causes formation of large-scale coherent motions in the form of cells, can be excited in a shear-free regime. It was shown that the redistribution of the turbulent heat flux due to nonuniform large-scale motions plays a crucial role in the formation of the coherent large-scale structures in the turbulentconvection. The modification of the turbulent heat flux results in strong reduction of the critical Rayleigh number (based on the eddy viscosity and turbulent temperature diffusivity) required for the excitation of the convective-wind instability. The large-scale convective-shear instability that results in the formation of the large-scale coherent motions in the form of rolls stretched along imposed large-scale velocity, can be excited in the sheared turbulentconvection. This instability causes the generation of convective-shear waves propagating perpendicular to the convective rolls. The mean-field equations that describe the convective-wind and convective-shear instabilities, are solved numerically. We determine the key parameters that affect formation of the large-scale coherent structures in the turbulentconvection. In particular, the degree of thermal anisotropy and the lateral background heat flux strongly modify the growth rates of the large-scale convective-shear instability, the frequencies of the generated convective-shear waves, and change the thresholds required for the excitation of the large-scale instabilities. This study elucidates the origin of the large-scale circulations and rolls observed in the atmospheric convective boundary layers.
IT security service commoditization: The case of financial institutions in Kenya

The rising increase in cyber-attacks on corporate Kenya calls for CIOs and other senior IT Executives from Financial Services Sector to come together and create a robust, secure and cost effective IT ecosystem. This paper illuminates the concept of Commoditization of IT Security services and its benefits to Financial Institutions in East Africa. The main purpose is to encourage companies to come together and collectively outsource their IT Security operational requirements to gain economies of scale. Together, companies can create demand for a commoditised IT Security service strong enough to create a sense of urgency and competition on the supply side. The success of such an engagement is based on the premise that the demand side competes on true business innovations and not on IT Services. Pooling together their resources, in areas in which they are not in competition, would achieve a more efficient and potentially cheaper service.
Amplified fragment length polymorphism and sequence analyses reveal massive gene introgression from the European fungal pathogen Heterobasidion annosum into its introduced congener H. irregulare

The paucity of fungal species known to be currently hybridizing has significantly hindered our understanding of the mechanisms driving gene introgression in these eukaryotic microbes. Here, we describe an area of hybridization and gene introgression between the invasive plant pathogen Heterobasidion irregulare (introduced from North America) and the native H. annosum in Italy. A STRUCTURE analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphism data for 267 individuals identified gene introgression in 8–42% of genotypes in the invasion area, depending on site. Data indicate that introgression is mostly occurring unilaterally from the native to the invasive species and is responsible for 5–45% of genomes in admixed individuals. Sequence analysis of 11 randomly selected and unlinked loci for 30 individuals identified introgression at every locus, thus confirming interspecific gene flow involves a large number of loci. In 37 cases, we documented movement of entire alleles between the two species, but in 7 cases, we also documented the creation of new alleles through intralocus recombination. Sequence analysis did not identify enrichment of either transcriptionally different nonsynonymous alleles or of transcriptionally identical synonymous alleles. These findings may suggest introgression is occurring randomly for extant alleles without an obvious enrichment process driven by selection. However, further studies are needed to ensure selection is not at work elsewhere in the genome.
CAPILLARY PLEXUS ANOMALIES IN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY ON OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY

Purpose: To analyze the foveal microvasculature in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and fluorescein angiography (FA). Methods: In this retrospective study of 20 eyes of 14 patients with DR imaged using OCTA and FA, clinical features of DR such as microaneurysms, capillary nonperfusion areas, and intraretinal microvascular abnormalities were analyzed. Results: In the superficial plexus, a rarefaction of capillaries with capillary nonperfusion areas was present in all eyes. Some of these nonperfused areas were not detected on FA and were better delimited on OCTA. Conversely, in the deep plexus, capillary nonperfusion areas were seen only in 35% (7/20) of eyes, whereas DR led to an alteration of the normal capillary vortex pattern in all eyes. Only 62% of microaneurysms visualized on FA were detected by OCTA (P = 0.02). Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities were well detected by both FA and OCTA. Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography angiography allowed detecting DR anomalies in both superficial and deep capillary plexus in all eyes. The ability of OCTA to detect microaneurysms was lower than that of FA although its accuracy for assessing capillary nonperfusion was better and may enable a proper grading of DR progression.
Matroid Toric Ideals: Complete Intersection, Minors, and Minimal Systems of Generators

In this paper, we investigate three problems concerning the toric ideal associated to a matroid. First, we list all matroids $\mathcal{M}$ such that its corresponding toric ideal $I_{\mathcal{M}}$ is a complete intersection. Second, we handle the problem of detecting minors of a matroid $\mathcal{M}$ from a minimal set of binomial generators of $I_{\mathcal{M}}$. In particular, given a minimal set of binomial generators of $I_{\mathcal{M}}$ we provide a necessary condition for $\mathcal{M}$ to have a minor isomorphic to $\mathcal{U}_{d,2d}$ for $d \geq 2$. This condition is proved to be sufficient for $d = 2$ (leading to a criterion for determining whether $\mathcal{M}$ is binary) and for $d = 3$. Finally, we characterize all matroids $\mathcal{M}$ such that $I_{\mathcal{M}}$ has a unique minimal set of binomial generators.
The Williams Syndrome Cognitive Profile

Williams syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a hemizygous deletion of approximately 1.5 megabases on chromosome 7q11.23. In this article, we outline a Williams Syndrome Cognitive Profile (WSCP) that operationalizes the cognitive characteristics of the syndrome using measures of absolute and relative performance on subtests of the Differential Abilities Scales (Elliot, 1990a). Testing confirmed excellent sensitivity and specificity scores for the WSCP. Seventy-four of 84 individuals with Williams syndrome fit the WSCP while only 4 participants in a contrast group met all of the WSCP criteria. It was also found that the WSCP does not vary greatly with chronological age or overall level of cognitive ability for individuals with Williams syndrome. Possible applications for the WSCP include psychoeducational evaluation and empirical research such as the search for genotype/phenotype relations in this genetically based syndrome.
Medical student abuse. Incidence, severity, and significance.

In a survey of the incidence, severity, and significance of medical student abuse as perceived by the student population of one major medical school, 46.4% of all respondents stated that they had been abused at some time while enrolled in medical school, with 80.6% of seniors reporting being abused by the senior year. More than two thirds (69.1%) of those abused reported that at least one of the episodes they experienced was of "major importance and very upsetting. " Half (49.6%) of the students indicated that the most serious episode of abuse affected them adversely for a month or more; 16.2% said that it would "always affect them. " Students identified various types of abuse and proposed a number of measures for the prevention and management of abuse in medical school. We conclude that medical student abuse was perceived by these students to be a significant cause of stress and should be a major concern of those involved with medical student education.
The Course of the Spatial Extent of Pain in Nonspecific Chronic Back Pain: A Prospective Population-based Cohort Study With Clinical Evaluation

Objectives:Longitudinal population-based studies on the natural course of nonspecific chronic back pain (nsCBP) concerning the spatial extent of pain are scarce. This study aims to assess the natural course of nsCBP patients concerning their spatial extent of pain and physical impairment over time. Methods:Analyses were based on a prospective, population-based survey with clinical evaluation. A representative population-based sample of 4000 German adults was sent a pain questionnaire. Patients mentioning nsCBP in the questionnaire were invited to a comprehensive clinical evaluation, including 1- and 2-year follow-ups. On the basis of pain drawings, the course of the spatial extent of pain over time was classified as “constant-local,” “constant-widespread,” “constant-amelioration,” “constant-spreading,” or “variable. ” Physical impairment was assessed by the Back Performance Scale as an objective clinical assessment tool that measures self-reported activity limitation in daily functioning caused by nsCBP. Results:Pain drawings and physical assessment from 3 visits were available from 165 patients. The course of the spatial extent of pain was constant-local in 39.4% and constant-widespread in 18.2% of all patients, whereas 11.5% reported a variable course. Constant-amelioration was observed in 18.2% and constant-spreading was observed in 12.7%. Physical impairment remained unchanged over the time in all groups and was worst in the constant-widespread group. Discussion:Most nsCBP patients report a stable pain extent over the time of the study, whereas a constant spread of pain is observed only in a minority of nsCBP patients. These findings challenge the concept of a continuous transition from local to widespread pain.
Analyses post-génomiques : étude de l'implication d'IL-33 et de BIN1 dans la physiopathologie de la maladie d'Alzheimer

Les analyses genomiques ont permis d’identifier des genes et des proteinesimpliques dans la maladie d’Alzheimer (MA). Au laboratoire, des approchesdifferentes ont mis en evidence deux genes differentiellement exprimes dans lamaladie : le gene IL-33, retrouve comme etant sous-exprime chez les patientsatteints de MA, et le gene BIN1, identifie par des approches de GWAS et retrouvecomme etant sur-exprimes dans le cerveau des patients.Nous avons observe que la proteine IL-33 avait un impact sur le metabolismedu precurseur du peptide amyloide (APP) de par sa fonction de facteur de regulationtranscriptionnelle. Nous avons alors cherche a identifier les genes modules par IL-33ainsi que des sites potentiels de fixation de la proteine sur l’ADN par des analyses ahaut debit. Il a ete observe qu’IL-33 avait une forte implication dans la transcriptiondes genes et pouvait agir directement sur l’ADN de par son impact sur les histones.De plus, IL-33 augmenterait l’expression de la preseniline 2, ce qui expliquerait alorsson impact sur le metabolisme de l’APP.Nous avons identifie un polymorphisme fonctionnel dans la region regulatricedu gene BIN1 associe a la maladie et pouvant expliquer la variation de sonexpression retrouvee dans le cerveau des patients. Nous avons egalement retrouveune interaction de la proteine BIN1 avec Tau. BIN1 est alors le premier determinantgenetique de la MA retrouve comme etant associe a Tau et pourrait expliquer le lienentre la pathologie amyloide et la pathologie Tau.Nos analyses nous ont donc permis, a partir des resultats d’analysesgenomiques, de mieux comprendre les mecanismes impliques dans laphysiopathologie de la MA.
Attentional shifts to rare singletons

Five experiments examined whether extremely rare featural singletons (e.g., presented in 4% of all trials) capture attention, and whether this effect could be explained by top-down contingent capture or stimulus-driven singleton capture. To this end, performance (accuracy in Experiments 1–4, reaction time in Experiment 5) in a demanding letter search task was measured in singleton trials that were presented within rare-singleton blocks consisting mainly of no-singleton trials, and in singleton trials that occurred in all-singleton blocks. In separate blocks, either target singletons (i.e., a singleton at target position), or distractor singletons (i.e., a singleton at a distractor position) were presented in each trial. Results are consistent with the contingent-capture view. When the letters were presented briefly and accuracy was the dependent variable, a large performance benefit was obtained, revealing that attention was shifted very fast to the singleton. An examination of search efficiency with a variation of set size and reaction time as the dependent variable revealed a strong gain in search efficiency with a rare target singleton. The large benefit was not accompanied by proportionally large costs for distractor singletons relative to the no-distractor trials. Moreover, a comparison of singleton trials from the all-singleton and from the rare-singleton blocks revealed nonspatial costs for the rare singletons that were of about the same size for target and distractor singletons. In summary, results show that an attentional control setting can remain “dormant” for many trials where it is not applicable, but is then applied nearly as efficiently as when the control setting has been used just recently.
Multi-objective routing optimizations in cluster based Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks have many objectives to be addressed to. These objectives have to be satisfied in order to obtain sufficient excellence in the application of the wireless sensor networks. The multi-objective optimization method proves to be a very efficient tool in the application of these objectives in the wireless sensor fields. The multi-objective optimization methods are implemented onto the wireless networks and an observation is done so as to determine how the objectives are adhered to.
Plumage Evolution in the Oropendolas and Caciques: Different Divergence Rates in Polygynous and Monogamous Taxa

Avian plumage colors are frequently used in studies of sexual selection, yet surprisingly little is known about how these traits evolve under different mating systems. We compared historical rates of divergence in male color patterns among the oropendolas and caciques (genera Cacicus, Gymnostinops, Ocyalus, and Psarocolius), a group with both polygynous and monogamous representatives. Reconstructing the evolution of individual color patches on a molecular phylogeny showed that overall color patterns have changed much more rapidly in oropendolas, which comprise two groups that evolved polygyny independently, than in caciques, which are predominantly monogamous. None of these taxa are notably sexually dichromatic, however, suggesting that higher rates of plumage evolution occurred in both sexes rather than just males. Despite high rates of change, color patterns show few examples of convergence among taxa, similar to the lack of homoplasy in male song among oropendolas but in a stark contrast to the repeated convergence in both plumage and song patterns found in a closely related, monogamous clade, the New World orioles (Icterus). Our results support previous suggestions that display traits evolve more rapidly and with less homoplasy in polygynous mating systems, and we provide surprising evidence that these patterns may occur in both sexes.
Exponential Mean Square Stability of the BE Method for Linear Neutral Hybrid Stochastic Delay Differential Equations

Abstract: In this paper, the backward Euler (BE) method is introduced and analyzed for linear neutral hybrid stochastic delay differential equations. The exponential mean square stability of the BE method is considered for linear neutral hybrid stochastic delay differential equations. It is proved that, under the one-sided Lipschitz condition and the linear growth condition, for some positive stepsizes which depend on the Markovian switching, the BE method is exponential mean square stable. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the theoretical results.
Losartan and Angiotensin II Inhibit Aldosterone Production in Anephric Rats via Different Actions on the Intraadrenal Renin-Angiotensin System.

Angiotensin II (ANG II) is a major stimulator of aldosterone biosynthesis. When investigating the relative contribution of circulating and locally produced ANG II, we were therefore surprised to find that ANG II, given chronically sc (200 ng/kg·min), markedly inhibits a nephrectomy (NX)-induced rise of aldosterone concentrations (from 10 ± 2 to 465 ± 90 ng/100 ml in vehicle infused, and from 9 ± 2 to 177 ± 35 in ANG II infused rats 55 h after NX and hemodialysis). We further observed, by in situ hybridization, that bilateral NX increases the number of adrenocortical cells expressing renin and that this rise was prevented by ANG II. Moreover, the rise of aldosterone levels was also inhibited by the AT1-receptor antagonist, losartan (10 μg/kg·min, chronically ip from 8 ± 2 to 199 ± 26 ng/100 ml), despite the absence of circulating renin and a reduction of ANG I to less than 10%. These data demonstrate that aldosterone production, after NX, is regulated by an intraadrenal renin-angiotensin system and that th.
Life Skills Training for Chronic Schizophrenics

This research evaluates the effectiveness of training chronic schizophrenic patients in interpersonal and instrumental skills for coping adequately in community living situations. The subjects were male, chronic schizophrenic inpatients with histories of multiple rehospitalizations. Twenty-eight volunteers were randomly assigned to either the life skills training or to a traditional Veterans Administration rehabilitation program. The life skills program included 7 weeks of training in interpersonal and instrumental skills considered important for community tenure: interpersonal communication skills, nutrition, health, finance, time management, and utilization of community resources. Acquisition of skills was assessed by means of a Life Skills Inventory (LSI) and five attitudinal and affective measures pretreatment and post-treatment. The results of the comparison of outcome measures showed the treatment group superior to the control in interpersonal skills, finance, health, use of community resources, and total LSI score. They also showed greater improvement on most of the attitudinal and affective measures. Patients are being followed to measure duration of community placement and maintenance of skills.
Inhibition of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis by the Antibiotic Cerulenin in Bacillus subtilis: Effects on Citrate-Mg2+ Transport and Synthesis of Macromolecules

Inhibition of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis by the antibiotic cerulenin in Bacillus subtilis stopped de novo synthesis of neutral lipids and phospholipids. The bacteria ceased growing but remained completely viable. Addition of 12-methyltetradecanoic acid and palmitic acid to the culture medium of cerulenin-treated cells restored growth of the bacteria, albeit at a reduced rate. Although the de novo synthesis of all lipid components of the membrane was blocked, citrate-Mg2+ transport activity remained inducible, and induced cells did not lose this transport activity when treated with cerulenin. Shortly after the addition of cerulenin, the rate of ribonucleic acid synthesis dropped rapidly and was followed by a slower decrease in the rate of protein synthesis. The rate of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis remained almost unaffected. The rapid decrease of ribonucleic acid synthesis in cerulenin-treated cells might be due to the inhibition of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis or it might be due to a secondary effect of cerulenin in B. subtilis cells.
Bradyrhizobium japonicum TlpA, a novel membrane‐anchored thioredoxin‐like protein involved in the biogenesis of cytochrome aa3 and development of symbiosis.

We report the discovery of a bacterial gene, tlpA, that codes for a hitherto unknown type of thioredoxin‐like protein. The gene was found in the course of studying a Tn5 insertion mutant of the soybean root nodule symbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The TlpA protein shared up to 31% amino acid sequence identity with various eukaryotic and prokaryotic thioredoxins and protein disulfide isomerases, and possessed a characteristic active‐site sequence, Trp‐Cys‐Val‐Pro‐Cys. In contrast to all members of the thioredoxin family known to date, TlpA was shown to be anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane by means of an N‐terminal transmembrane domain, while the active site‐containing part of the protein faced the periplasm. The tlpA mutant had a pleiotropic phenotype in that it was defective in the development of a nitrogen fixing endosymbiosis and exhibited a strongly decreased oxidase activity, as compared with the wild‐type. Holocytochrome aa3 was spectroscopically undetectable in the mutant, whereas the apoprotein of subunit one (CoxA) of this oxidase was still synthesized and incorporated into the cytoplasmic membrane. Since cytochrome aa3 is not a prerequisite for the development of symbiosis, the results suggest that TlpA is involved in at least two independent cellular processes, one of which is an essential periplasmic step in the maturation of cytochrome aa3.
Twisted Dielectric Elastomer stack Actuator

The purpose of this research is to make an actuator which is easily adaptable to use as artificial muscle by improving structure of stack-type Dielectric Elastomer Actuator (DEA). In contrast with previous stack-type actuator, Single body Dielectric Elastomer stack Actuators (SDEAs) is connected as single body without external frame so that it can be actuated in twisted and bended state like human muscle. Consequently, it is applicable with no design limitations of rigid frame and has the advantages of flexibility and weight lightening. Using the advantages of SDEAs, we fabricate 2-ply structure SDEAs which can amplify the contraction rate and compare the performance with the non-ply SDEAs and evaluate that SDEAs is effective for use as artificial muscle application.