Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FlashKV

As the cost-per-bit of solid state disks is decreasing quickly, SSDs are supplanting HDDs in many cases, including the primary storage of key-value stores. However, simply deploying LSM-tree-based key-value stores on commercial SSDs is inefficient and induces heavy write amplification and severe garbage collection overhead under write-intensive conditions. The main cause of these critical issues comes from the triple redundant management functionalities lying in the LSM-tree, file system and flash translation layer, which block the awareness between key-value stores and flash devices. Furthermore, we observe that the performance of LSM-tree-based key-value stores is improved little by only eliminating these redundant layers, as the I/O stacks, including the cache and scheduler, are not optimized for LSM-tree’s unique I/O patterns. To address the issues above, we propose FlashKV, an LSM-tree based key-value store running on open-channel SSDs. FlashKV eliminates the redundant management and semantic isolation by directly managing the raw flash devices in the application layer. With the domain knowledge of LSM-tree and the open-channel information, FlashKV employs a parallel data layout to exploit the internal parallelism of the flash device, and optimizes the compaction, caching and I/O scheduling mechanisms specifically. Evaluations show that FlashKV effectively improves system performance by 1.5× to 4.5× and decreases up to 50% write traffic under heavy write conditions, compared to LevelDB.
N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is a Major Predictor of the Development of Atrial Fibrillation: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background— Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac rhythm abnormality, is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditures. Elevated B-type natriuretic peptide levels have been associated with the risk of heart failure, AF, and mortality. Methods and Results— The relation between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and AF was studied in 5445 Cardiovascular Health Study participants with the use of relative risk regression for predicting prevalent AF and Cox proportional hazards for predicting incident AF. NT-proBNP levels were strongly associated with prevalent AF, with an unadjusted prevalence ratio of 128 for the highest quintile (95% confidence interval, 17.9 to 913.3; P<0.001) and adjusted prevalence ratio of 147 for the highest quintile (95% confidence interval, 20.4 to 1064.3; P<0.001) compared with the lowest. After a median follow-up of 10 years (maximum of 16 years), there were 1126 cases of incident AF (a rate of 2.2 per 100 person-years). NT-proBNP was highly predictive of incident AF, with an unadjusted hazard ratio of 5.2 (95% confidence interval, 4.3 to 6.4; P<0.001) for the development of AF for the highest quintile compared with the lowest; for the same contrast, NT-proBNP remained the strongest predictor of incident AF after adjustment for an extensive number of covariates, including age, sex, medication use, blood pressure, echocardiographic parameters, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 3.2 to 5.0; P<0.001). Conclusions— In a community-based population of older adults, NT-proBNP was a remarkable predictor of incident AF, independent of any other previously described risk factor.
Noise with attitude: Influences on young people's decisions to protect their hearing

Abstract Abstract Objective: To investigate young people's experiences and attitudes towards hearing health and their participation in noise reduction behaviours, to better understand how education and prevention messages may be better targeted. Design: An online survey was used to investigate participants’ own hearing health, their engagement with noise reduction behaviour, and their beliefs about hearing health and the risk posed by leisure activities. Study sample: Results are presented for 1000 Australian young adults (18–35 years). Results: Most participants reported current good hearing health, although over a fifth showed possible early warning signs of damage. Approximately half of participants took steps to reduce their noise exposure. However, preventative action was not related to hearing loss symptomology, or perceived personal risk of noise-related damage. Participants’ engagement with hearing health was related to beliefs about the risk posed by leisure noise, hearing health awareness, and the importance of hearing. Conclusions: There is a need to further educate young people about the risks posed to hearing by leisure activity participation and factors that may assist improve hearing health. It is important that hearing health messages move past the traditional emphasis on knowledge, and move towards the use of more personalized motivators of noise reduction behaviour.
A correlation study between clinical manifestations of dengue fever and the degree of liver injury

Dengue virus caused an extensive epidemic in Portsudan, Red Sea State, Sudan extending from July to December 2009. The acute presentation, regarding liver injury, varies from mild or even no hepatitis to sever or even fulminant hepatic failure. Therefore, we measured the levels of liver enzymes, prothrombin time (PT), creatinin in dengue infection and compare them to the clinical presentation of the patients. 633 Patients were seen in the outpatient and inpatient departments of Portsudan teaching hospital, Portsudan, Red Sea State, Sudan in the period from July to December 2009. All of them were serologically confirmed dengue cases and were negative to heptotropic viruses (A, B, C &E), malaria, leptospira, typhoid and brucellosis. The degree of hepatic injury was established according to the alterations in the liver enzymes, prothrombin time and creatinin levels. Grade 0 normal levels of liver enzymes; Grade 1 – mild elevation in the liver enzymes, not exceeding the double of reference value; Grade 2 elevated liver enzymes, with the levels of the enzymes increased to more than three times the reference values; grade 3 acute hepatitis, with liver enzymes levels increased to at least 10 times their normal values; Grade 4: evidence of hepatic failure (high PT) or hepato-renal involvement (high creatinin). In this study, there were 280 male and 353 female serologically confirmed dengue cases (total: 633), 63.8% presented mild alterations in the liver enzymes levels (grade 1), 17.9% presented grade 2 liver involvement, 3.9% of the patients had progressed to acute hepatitis (grade 3) and 1.1% had severe liver damage with fulminant hepatic failure. 50% of the renal impairment occurs in grade 3 liver damage and the other 50% in grade 4 liver damage. All cases of encephalopathy (100%) occur in grade 4 liver damage. Mild elevation of the liver enzymes was a common finding in dengue virus infected patients. There was a high relation between the degree of liver injury and presence of the complications. At least, the aspartate transeferase (AST) should be done regularly in the follow up of dengue patients in Portsudan.
Persistent Hyperkalemia Associated with Hypotension Due to Relative Hyporeninemic Hypoaldosteronism: Recognition is Key

Introduction: Persistent hyperkalemia in adults can be caused hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism (HH), which typically occur in diabetic patients with chronic kidney dysfunction and is associated with hypertension and a mild degree of hyperchloremic acidosis. Rarely, HH may occur and be featured by persistent hyperkalemia and renal salt wasting. Case presentation: A 49-year-old female developed unexplained lightheadedness and hyperkalemia several months following unilateral nephrectomy for a renal cell carcinoma. She was treated by her local physician with dietary potassium restriction, salt tablets and regular dosage of sodium polystyrene sulfonate. Two years later, her symptoms progressed to episodes of near syncope and supraventricular tachycardia. On presentation to our clinic, her blood pressure (BP) was 95/49 mmHg and laboratory studies showed serum potassium of 6.7 mmol/L, creatinine 0.8 mg/dL, renin activity 1.4 ng/mL/hour, and aldosterone 6.2 ng/dL (reference range <21 ng/dL). Serial transtubular potassium concentration gradients (TTKGs) were obtained. Upon administration of a single 0.1 mg of oral fludrocortisone, her TTKG raised sharply to 6.91 from a baseline of 3.87. She was diagnosed with relative HH; fludrocortisone 0.1 mg daily was initiated. On return visits two week later, she denied any lightheadedness, her BP rose to 108-125/65-80 mmHg (6 measurements), serum potassium normalized to 5.1 mmol/L (4.4 mmol/L at three-month follow-up). Conclusion: Although rare in adults, HH can develop and present with hypotension and persistent hyperkalemia. As illustrated in this case, recognizing such an occurrence is critical for correct management to avoid serous complications.
Determinación del Porcentaje de Masa Grasa, según Mediciones de Perímetros Corporales, Peso y Talla: Un Estudio de Validación

La obesidad se caracteriza por un aumento excesivo de la grasa corporal. En Chile, en el ano 2010, se determino que el 25,1% de la poblacion sobre los 15 anos, presentaba obesidad y un 39,3 % sobrepeso. El objetivo de esta investigacion fue validar un metodo economico y de facil manejo para los profesionales de la Educacion, que permita determinar los porcentajes de masa grasa (%MG) en poblacion escolar, ocupando las variables de perimetros corporales, el peso y la talla (PPT). A una muestra de 1725 alumnos de ensenanza basica, 1020 ninas y 705 ninos, de entre 10 a 14 anos de edad de la Comuna de Arica (XV Region), se les determino el %MG segun el modelo propuesto de perimetro, peso y talla (PPT). Como modelos de referencia se utilizaron los protocolos de Durnin & Womersley (1974) y el protocolo de Slaughter et al. (1988). Los resultados muestran que los indices de masa corporal (IMC), presentan valores normales de 21 kg/m2 tanto para ninas como ninos. La sumatoria de los pliegues corporales de biceps, triceps, subescapular, iliaco y abdominal (S5), es significativamente mayor en la poblacion femenina, respecto a los varones (108,5 mm y 81,4 mm respectivamente). La comparacion del porcentaje de masa grasa, entre los diversos modelos en estudio demuestra que el modelo propuesto de PPT, no presenta diferencias significativas (NS). Todos ellos expresan valores sobre el 20% en la poblacion en estudio, propio de sobrepeso y obesidad. Se concluye que el modelo de perimetros, peso y talla, es eficaz para determinar los porcentajes de masa grasa en poblacion escolar. La poblacion en estudio presenta altos indices de masa grasa.
Comparison of Radiation Dose and Image Quality of Contrast-Enhanced Dual-Source CT of the Chest: Single-Versus Dual-Energy and Second-Versus Third-Generation Technology.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare radiation dose and image quality of single- and dual-energy CT (SECT, DECT) examinations of the chest in matched cohorts for second and third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT) systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed 200 patients (100 men; mean age, 61.7 ± 14.8 years old; 100 women, mean age, 59.4 ± 15.1 years old), matched by sex and body mass index, who had undergone clinically indicated contrast-enhanced chest CT. Four study groups, each consisting of 50 patients, were evaluated. Contrast-enhanced chest CT was performed using vendor-preset second-generation DSCT (group A, 120-kV SECT; group C, 80/Sn140-kV DECT) or third-generation DSCT (group B, 90-kV SECT; group D, 90/Sn150-kV DECT) protocols. Radiation dose assessment was normalized to a scan range of 27.5 cm. Image quality was objectively analyzed using dose-independent figure-of-merit (FOM) contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) calculations and subjectively evaluated by three independent radiologists. RESULTS Direct comparison of effective radiation dose for second-generation DSCT groups A and C showed statistically significant lower radiation dose values for DECT compared with SECT acquisition (3.2 ± 1.2 mSv vs 2.3 ± 0.6 mSv, p ≤ 0.004), but differences between third-generation SECT and DECT were not significant (1.2 ± 0.9 mSv vs 1.3 ± 0.6 mSv, p = 0.412). FOM CNR analysis revealed highest values for third-generation DECT (p ≤ 0.043). Differences in subjective image quality between the four groups were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.179). CONCLUSION Contrast-enhanced DECT examinations of the chest can be performed routinely with second- and third-generation DSCT systems without either increased radiation exposure or decreased image quality compared with SECT acquisition.
Sudden Death and Left Ventricular Involvement in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

Background: Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited heart muscle disorder characterized by myocardial fibrofatty replacement and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Originally described as a right ventricular disease, ACM is increasingly recognized as a biventricular entity. We evaluated pathological, genetic, and clinical associations in a large SCD cohort. Methods: We investigated 5205 consecutive cases of SCD referred to a national cardiac pathology center between 1994 and 2018. Hearts and tissue blocks were examined by expert cardiac pathologists. After comprehensive histological evaluation, 202 cases (4%) were diagnosed with ACM. Of these, 15 (7%) were diagnosed antemortem with dilated cardiomyopathy (n=8) or ACM (n=7). Previous symptoms, medical history, circumstances of death, and participation in competitive sport were recorded. Postmortem genetic testing was undertaken in 24 of 202 (12%). Rare genetic variants were classified according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria. Results: Of 202 ACM decedents (35.4±13.2 years; 82% male), no previous cardiac symptoms were reported in 157 (78%). Forty-one decedents (41/202; 20%) had been participants in competitive sport. The adjusted odds of dying during physical exertion were higher in men than in women (odds ratio, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.54–13.68; P=0.006) and in competitive athletes in comparison with nonathletes (odds ratio, 16.62; 95% CI, 5.39–51.24; P<0.001). None of the decedents with an antemortem diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy fulfilled definite 2010 Task Force criteria. The macroscopic appearance of the heart was normal in 40 of 202 (20%) cases. There was left ventricular histopathologic involvement in 176 of 202 (87%). Isolated right ventricular disease was seen in 13%, isolated left ventricular disease in 17%, and biventricular involvement in 70%. Among whole hearts, the most common areas of fibrofatty infiltration were the left ventricular posterobasal (68%) and anterolateral walls (58%). Postmortem genetic testing yielded pathogenic variants in ACM-related genes in 6 of 24 (25%) decedents. Conclusions: SCD attributable to ACM affects men predominantly, most commonly occurring during exertion in athletic individuals in the absence of previous reported cardiac symptoms. Left ventricular involvement is observed in the vast majority of SCD cases diagnosed with ACM at autopsy. Current Task Force criteria may fail to diagnose biventricular ACM before death.
The association between childhood emotional functioning and adulthood inflammation is modified by early-life socioeconomic status.

OBJECTIVE Identifying interrelationships among childhood social disadvantage, emotional functioning and adult health may help illustrate how health disparities may become embedded early in life, yet few have considered how these factors are associated. We examined whether the association of child emotional functioning and adult health risk was modified by child socioeconomic status (CSES), or whether child emotional functioning mediated the association of CSES and adult health risk. METHOD We studied 430 adult offspring (mean age 42 years) of Collaborative Perinatal Project participants, a cohort of pregnant women enrolled in 1959-1966 (Broman, Nichols, & Kennedy, 1975; Niswander & Gordon, 1972). Child emotional functioning was assessed by psychologist ratings at age 7 and included inappropriate self regulation (ISR) and distress proneness. CSES measures included parental education, household income, and parental occupation. Adult health risk was measured by the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP). Hypotheses were tested with multiple linear regression. Effect modification was evaluated via interaction terms and stratification of fully adjusted models by CSES. Mediation by child emotional functioning was evaluated via coefficient changes. RESULTS There was no evidence that child emotional functioning mediated the association of CSES and CRP. Significant interactions were observed for ISR and low income (b = 1.67, SE = 0.70, p < .05), and distress proneness and low (b = 3.14, SE = 1.47, p < .05) and middle (b = 3.52, SE = 1.46, p < .05) income. Stratified models indicated that associations of child emotion with CRP varied significantly by level of parental education, household income and occupation. CONCLUSION The highest levels of adult inflammation were observed among those with childhood emotional problems who were also exposed to low socioeconomic status as children. This study suggests adulthood disparities in CRP may have developmental origins in childhood adversity.
Evaluation of visual function in Royal College of Surgeon rats using a depth perception visual cliff test

Abstract Preserving of vision is the main goal in vision research. The presented research evaluates the preservation of visual function in Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) rats using a depth perception test. Rats were placed on a stage with one side containing an illusory steep drop (“cliff”) and another side with a minimal drop (“table”). Latency of stage dismounting and the percentage of rats that set their first foot on the “cliff” side were determined. Nondystrophic Long–Evans (LE) rats were tested as control. Electroretinogram and histology analysis were used to determine retinal function and structure. Four-week-old RCS rats presented a significantly shorter mean latency to dismount the stage compared with 6-week-old rats (mean ± standard error, 13.7 ± 1.68 vs. 20.85 ± 6.5 s, P = 0.018). Longer latencies were recorded as rats aged, reaching 45.72 s in 15-week-old rats (P < 0.00001 compared with 4-week-old rats). All rats at the age of 4 weeks placed their first foot on the table side. By contrast, at the age of 8 weeks, 28.6% rats dismounted on the cliff side and at the age of 10 and 15 weeks, rats randomly dismounted the stage to either table or cliff side. LE rats dismounted the stage faster than 4-week-old RCS rats, but the difference was not statistically significant (7 ± 1.58 s, P = 0.057) and all LE rats dismounted on the table side. The latency to dismount the stage in RCS rats correlated with maximal electroretinogram b-wave under dark and light adaptation (Spearman’s rho test = −0.603 and −0.534, respectively, all P < 0.0001), outer nuclear layer thickness (Spearman’s rho test = −0.764, P = 0.002), and number of S- and M-cones (Spearman’s rho test = −0.763 [P = 0.002], and −0.733 [P = 0.004], respectively). The cliff avoidance test is an objective, quick, and readily available method for the determination of RCS rats’ visual function.
mTOR Hyperactivity Levels Influence the Severity of Epilepsy and Associated Neuropathology in an Experimental Model of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Focal Cortical Dysplasia

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) are focal malformations of cortical development (FMCDs) that are highly associated with intractable epilepsy. TSC and FCD are mTORopathies caused by a spectrum of pathogenic variants in the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway genes leading to differential activation of mTOR signaling. However, whether the degree of mTOR hyperactivity influences disease severity remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of differential mTOR hyperactivity levels on epilepsy and associated neuropathology in a mouse model of TSC and FCD. Constitutively active Rheb (RhebCA), the canonical activator of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), was expressed in mouse embryos of either sex via in utero electroporation at low, intermediate, and high concentrations to induce different mTORC1 activity levels in developing cortical neurons. We found that RhebCA expression induced mTORC1 hyperactivation and increased neuronal soma size and misplacement in a dose-dependent manner. No seizures were detected in the low RhebCA mice, whereas the intermediate and high RhebCA mice displayed spontaneous, recurrent seizures that significantly increased with higher RhebCA concentrations. Seizures were associated with a global increase in microglial activation that was notably higher in the regions containing RhebCA-expressing neurons. These data demonstrate that neuronal mTOR hyperactivity levels influence the severity of epilepsy and associated neuropathology in experimental TSC and FCD. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of evaluating the outcome of individual variants on mTOR activity levels and support personalized medicine strategies based on patient variants and mTOR activity level for TSC, FCD, and potentially other mTORopathies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) are epileptogenic cortical malformations caused by pathogenic variants in mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway genes leading to differential mTOR hyperactivation. Here, we present novel findings that neuronal mTOR hyperactivity levels correlate with the severity of epilepsy and associated neuropathology in a mouse model of TSC and FCD. Our findings suggest the need to evaluate the outcome of individual variants on mTOR activity levels in clinical assessments and support personalized medicine strategies based on patient variants and mTOR activity level. Additionally, we present useful modifications to a previously described mouse model of TSC and FCD that allows for titration of seizure frequency and generation of a mild to severe epilepsy phenotype as applicable for preclinical drug testing and mechanistic studies.
On the Relationship between P3 Latency and Mental Ability as a Function of Increasing Demands in a Selective Attention Task

The mental speed approach to individual differences in mental ability (MA) is based on the assumption of higher speed of information processing in individuals with higher than those with lower MA. Empirical support of this assumption has been inconsistent when speed was measured by means of the P3 latency in the event-related potential (ERP). The present study investigated the association between MA and P3 latency as a function of task demands on selective attention. For this purpose, 20 men and 90 women performed on a standard continuous performance test (CPT1 condition) as well as on two further task conditions with lower (CPT0) and higher demands (CPT2) on selective attention. MA and P3 latency negatively correlated in the standard CPT, and this negative relationship even increased systematically from the CPT1 to the CPT2 condition but was absent in the CPT0 condition. The present results indicate that task demands on selective attention are decisive to observe the expected shorter P3 latency in individuals with higher compared to those with lower MA.