Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving storage performance of high-performance computing systems by using the non-volatile buffer cache

ABSTRACT With the emerging applications of the 4th industrial revolution, such as IoT (Internet-of-Things), big data, and machine learning, the role of high-performance computing systems is becoming increasingly important. One of the significant performance hurdles in these systems is storage devices as the access time of disk drives is limited to tens of milliseconds. Although buffer cache alleviates the speed gap between memory and storage, data in buffer cache may be lost if the system crashes before updated data is reflected to storage. Thus, pdflush is used to periodically flush the updated data to storage. However, pdflush degrades the buffer cache performance significantly as most writes are directly transferred to storage. We show that pdflush accounts for 64–78% of total write traffic to storage. To resolve this problem, we present a new buffer cache architecture that adopts non-volatile memory to maintain updated data. Experimental results show that the proposed buffer cache reduces storage write traffic by 40%, thereby eliminating most of pdflush overhead.
II. Urologic Viewpoints on the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Children

in children. Med. Clin. N . America, 39: 965, 1955. 8. GARROD, L. P., SHOOTER, R. A. , and CURWEN, M. P.: The results of chemotherapy in urinary infections. Brit. M . J., 2: 1003, 1954. 9. JACKSON, G. G. , and GRIEBLE, H. G. : Pathogenesis of renal infection. Arch. Int. M. , 100: 693, 1957. 10. Urinary findings diagnostic of pyelonephritis, J. Am. M . Ass. , 166: 14, 1958. 11. JAWETZ, E. : Urinary tract infections. D. M. ; Disease-A-Month, pp. 1-31 (Novernber), 1954. 12. KASS, E. H. : Chemotherapeutic and antibiotic drugs in the management of infections of the urinary tract. Am. J . M. , 18: 764, 1955. 13. Asymptomatic infections of the urinary tract. Tr. Ass. Am. Physicians, 69: 56, 1956. 14. Bacteruria and the diagnosis of infections of the urinary tract. Arch. Int . M. , 100: 709, 1957. 15. LIPPMAN, R. W. , WROBEL, C. I. , REES, R. and HOYT, R. : A theory concerning recurrance of urinary infection: prolonged administration of nitrofurantoin for prevention. J. Urol. , 8: 77, 1958. 16. MACAULAY, D. and SUTTON, R. N. P.: The prognosis of urinary infections in childhood, Lancet, 11: 1318, 1957. 17. MCCRORY, W. and MACAULAY, D. : Recent advances in the management of renal disease in children. Pediatrics, 19: 481, 19: 639, 1957. 18. MARPLE, C. D. : The frequency and character of urinary tract infections in an unselected group of women. Bnn. Int. M. , 14: 2220, 1940. 19. MERRIT, A. D. and SANFORD, J. P.: Sterilevoided urine culture. J. Laborat. Clin. M. , 52: 463, 1958. 20. KIESER, C. : Pyelonephritis, in Conn, H. F. (Ed.) Current Therapy, pp. 353-355. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Company, 1957. 21. RHOADS, P. S. : Management of urinary tract infections. Postgrad. M. , 21: 563, 1957. 22. SANFORD, J. P., Favour, C. B. , Mao, F. H. and Harrison, J. H. : Evaluation of the "positive" urine culture. Am. J . M. , 20: 88, 1956. 23. STANSFELD, I. M. and WEBB, I. K. G. : Aplea for the longer treatment of chronic pyelonephritis in children. Brit. M . J . , I : 616, 1954. 24. TAYLOR, R. D. : The diagnosis and treatment of pyelonephritis. Med. Clin. N . America, 39: 957, 1955. 25. WEYRAUCH, H. M. , and ROSENBERO, M. L. : Modern Concepts and management of nonobstructive urinary infections. Stanford M . Bull., 12: 90, 1954.
The role of critical micellization concentration in efficacy and toxicity of supramolecular polymers

Significance Critical micellization concentration (CMC) is an important design consideration for developing all supramolecular biomaterials, and in particular for drug delivery systems. Once placed in an in vivo setting, supramolecular materials will start to dissociate into monomeric units, providing a means for therapeutic release and an essential pathway for clearance. This beneficial phenomenon could also lead to premature drug release and degradation. Through the design of a series of self-assembling prodrugs (SAPDs) of various CMCs, we developed a fundamental understanding of the role of CMC in therapeutic efficacy of supramolecular polymers. We found that the two important parameters of assessing a drug potential (efficacy and toxicity) can be correlated to the SAPD’s supramolecular form and monomeric form, respectively. The inception and development of supramolecular chemistry have provided a vast library of supramolecular structures and materials for improved practice of medicine. In the context of therapeutic delivery, while supramolecular nanostructures offer a wide variety of morphologies as drug carriers for optimized targeting and controlled release, concerns are often raised as to how their morphological stability and structural integrity impact their in vivo performance. After intravenous (i.v.) administration, the intrinsic reversible and dynamic feature of supramolecular assemblies may lead them to dissociate upon plasma dilution to a concentration below their critical micellization concentration (CMC). As such, CMC represents an important characteristic for supramolecular biomaterials design, but its pharmaceutical role remains elusive. Here, we report the design of a series of self-assembling prodrugs (SAPDs) that spontaneously associate in aqueous solution into supramolecular polymers (SPs) with varying CMCs. Two hydrophobic camptothecin (CPT) molecules were conjugated onto oligoethylene-glycol (OEG)-decorated segments with various OEG repeat numbers (2, 4, 6, 8). Our studies show that the lower the CMC, the lower the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in rodents. When administrated at the same dosage of 10 mg/kg (CPT equivalent), SAPD 1, the one with the lowest CMC, shows the best efficacy in tumor suppression. These observations can be explained by the circulation and dissociation of SAPD SPs and the difference in molecular and supramolecular distribution between excretion and organ uptake. We believe these findings offer important insight into the role of supramolecular stability in determining their therapeutic index and in vivo efficacy.
Purification and Characterization of Two Thermostable Xylanases from Paenibacillus sp. DG-22

Two thermostable xylanases, designated XynA and XynB, were purified to homogeneity from the culture supernatant of Paenibacillus sp. DG-22 by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The molecular masses of xylanases A and B were 20 and 30kDa, respectively, as determined by SDS-PAGE, and their isoelectric points were 9.1 and 8.9, respectively. Both enzymes had similar pH and temperature optima (pH 5.0- 6.5 and 70°C). but their stability at various temperatures differed. Xylanase B was comparatively more stable than xylanase A at higher temperatures. Xylanases A and B differed in their K m and V max values. XynA had a K m of 2.0 mg/ml and a V max of 2,553 U/mg, whereas XynB had a K m of 1.2 mg/ml and a V max of 754 U/mg. Both enzymes were endo-acting, as revealed by their hydrolysis product profiles on birchwood xylan. but showed different modes of action. Xylotriose was the major product of XynA activity, whereas XynB produced mainly xylobiose. These enzymes utilized small oligosaccharides such as xylotriose and xylotetraose as substrates, but did not hydrolyzed xylobiose. The amino terminal sequences of XynA and XynB were determined. Xylanase A showed high similarity with low molecular mass xylanases of family 11.
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Endometrial Cancer: An Update.

UNLABELLED : Lymph node removal for staging, as part of the initial surgical management of patients with endometrial carcinoma, remains a controversial topic in gynecologic oncology. There is currently wide variability among clinical practices, with surgical approaches ranging from no nodal evaluation to comprehensive pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy. Lymphatic mapping has emerged as an increasingly popular option over the past few years, with several attractive features in its concept, innovative surgical approach, and encouraging preliminary results. At this time, however, several different techniques have been described and used for lymphatic mapping in endometrial cancer, incorporating a variety of mapping agents and injection sites. Although recently published results are encouraging, they are limited to single-institution series or multi-institutional collaborations undertaken without the aegis of a prospective randomized controlled trial. However, the surgical staging of endometrial cancer with lymphadenectomy was historically established based not on randomized trial data but on prospective clinicopathologic studies. Another evolving field in endometrial cancer staging is the interpretation of pathologic ultrastaging of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), which can identify low-volume metastases for which the clinical significance and the ideal management remain uncertain. This is particularly an issue with extremely low-volume nodal metastasis and isolated tumor cells. Furthermore, it has become apparent that applying a predefined SLN algorithm can decrease false-negative rates. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center SLN algorithm can be used as a checklist to ensure standardization of care and to reduce the chance of missing nodal disease. Prospective trials are under way at many institutions to help establish the definitive role of SLN mapping for staging of endometrial cancer. The objective of this study was to provide an update on the latest clinical data related to lymphatic mapping for the staging and management of endometrial cancer and its role in clinical practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Lymphatic mapping is an increasingly popular option in the surgical treatment of endometrial cancer. The aim of using this tool is to target the lymph nodes that are the most likely to be involved with metastatic cancer cells (sentinel lymph nodes) and thereby limit the extent of surgery needed and decrease surgical complications and long-term side effects associated with extensive lymph node removal. By examining a limited number of sentinel lymph nodes, a more detailed examination of the node can be done (ultrastaging). This allows for the detection of a small number of cancer cells (low-volume metastasis) that can be missed with standard techniques.
URBAN HABITAT EVALUATION FOR WEST NILE VIRUS SURVEILLANCE IN MOSQUITOES IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

ABSTRACT As part of an ongoing mosquito surveillance program, 27 sites in the greater metropolitan Albuquerque area (Bernalillo County, New Mexico) were trapped from May through September 2004. Each site was sampled for 1 night weekly, using a standard CO2-baited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light trap and a gravid trap. Captured mosquitoes were catalogued by location, species, and date, and selected pools were tested for West Nile virus (WNV) by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Based on previous surveillance, WNV was already established in the state of New Mexico. Surveillance during 2003, the 1st year of WNV detection in New Mexico mosquitoes, was focused on the bosque forest of the Rio Grande river valley. Surveillance during summer of 2004 was extended to additional areas around the city of Albuquerque, the state's largest population center. In addition to the standard surveillance objectives, a secondary goal was to determine whether foci of WNV activity were detectable in other habitats besides the riparian ecosystem of the Rio Grande, and in other species not previously identified as vectors. There was no demonstrable advantage to extending the traditional trapping area outside of the Rio Grande valley. Sites in the valley area had WNV-positive mosquitoes earlier in the season, and for a longer period than the added sites. In addition, riparian sites had the highest diversity of species, the largest numbers of Culex spp. captured, and the largest proportion of the WNV-positive mosquito pools from the study. Species found in other areas of the metropolitan area were also represented in the valley. Although WNV activity was detected in other areas of the city, its activity began later and ended earlier than in the river valley. We surmise that the greatest benefit to mosquito surveillance could be achieved by focusing on the river valley area.
Long-Term Antiretroviral Treatment Initiated at Primary HIV-1 Infection Affects the Size, Composition, and Decay Kinetics of the Reservoir of HIV-1-Infected CD4 T Cells

ABSTRACT Initiation of antiretroviral therapy during the earliest stages of HIV-1 infection may limit the seeding of a long-lasting viral reservoir, but long-term effects of early antiretroviral treatment initiation remain unknown. Here, we analyzed immunological and virological characteristics of nine patients who started antiretroviral therapy at primary HIV-1 infection and remained on suppressive treatment for >10 years; patients with similar treatment duration but initiation of suppressive therapy during chronic HIV-1 infection served as controls. We observed that independently of the timing of treatment initiation, HIV-1 DNA in CD4 T cells decayed primarily during the initial 3 to 4 years of treatment. However, in patients who started antiretroviral therapy in early infection, this decay occurred faster and was more pronounced, leading to substantially lower levels of cell-associated HIV-1 DNA after long-term treatment. Despite this smaller size, the viral CD4 T cell reservoir in persons with early treatment initiation consisted more dominantly of the long-lasting central-memory and T memory stem cells. HIV-1-specific T cell responses remained continuously detectable during antiretroviral therapy, independently of the timing of treatment initiation. Together, these data suggest that early HIV-1 treatment initiation, even when continued for >10 years, is unlikely to lead to viral eradication, but the presence of low viral reservoirs and durable HIV-1 T cell responses may make such patients good candidates for future interventional studies aiming at HIV-1 eradication and cure. IMPORTANCE Antiretroviral therapy can effectively suppress HIV-1 replication to undetectable levels; however, HIV-1 can persist despite treatment, and viral replication rapidly rebounds when treatment is discontinued. This is mainly due to the presence of latently infected CD4 T cells, which are not susceptible to antiretroviral drugs. Starting treatment in the earliest stages of HIV-1 infection can limit the number of these latently infected cells, raising the possibility that these viral reservoirs are naturally eliminated if suppressive antiretroviral treatment is continued for extremely long periods of time. Here, we analyzed nine patients who started on antiretroviral therapy within the earliest weeks of the disease and continued treatment for more than 10 years. Our data show that early treatment accelerated the decay of infected CD4 T cells and led to very low residual levels of detectable HIV-1 after long-term therapy, levels that were otherwise detectable in patients who are able to maintain a spontaneous, drug-free control of HIV-1 replication. Thus, long-term antiretroviral treatment started during early infection cannot eliminate HIV-1, but the reduced reservoirs of HIV-1 infected cells in such patients may increase their chances to respond to clinical interventions aiming at inducing a drug-free remission of HIV-1 infection.
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) as an Independent Predictive Factor of Sustained Virologic Response in Patients With Hepatitis C Treated With Interferon-Alpha and Ribavirin

Background: Recently, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) has been investigated as a predictive factor for therapy response in hepatitis C patients, but so far its value in pretreatment screening has not been established. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating GGT as an independent predictive factor for the response to treatment with interferon-α and ribavirin in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Methods: Naive chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing a 6-month follow-up after interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy had their sustained virologic response (SVR) analyzed according to age, sex, body mass index, GGT levels, genotype, and liver histology by use of a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Of the 211 patients studied with a mean age of 48 ± 10 years, 125 (59%) were males. Overweight was detected in 47% of patients. Genotype 1 was detected in 141 (75%) of the 187 patients tested. Cirrhosis was present in 67 (32%). A high pretreatment GGT level was observed in 134 (63%). SVR was obtained in 84 (40%) patients. In the final logistic regression model, the variables independently associated with SVR were GGT (P < 0.001), genotype (P < 0.001), and liver histology (P < 0.001). Conclusion: A normal GGT level is an independent predictive factor for SVR in HCV-infected patients and should be considered for pretreatment screening.
The development of a generic scale to measure the social impacts of events.

Tourism destination managers are increasingly looking at events as an important mechanism for enhancing tourism development in their regions. While it is clear that events have the potential to generate positive economic impacts, a balanced appraisal of the success of an event needs to consider the total cost/benefit package including social impacts. Unlike economic impacts, social impacts of events can be difficult to measure objectively as many of them cannot be quantified, and they often have a differential effect on different members of the community. For this reason, social impacts are frequently examined through investigation of residents' perceptions of the impacts. However, little research has undertaken a systematic evaluation of these social impacts, and the aim of this CRC for Sustainable Tourism study is to provide a framework within which to assess these impacts. This article documents the processes involved in developing a scale to be used in assessing the social impacts of three different events. The development process began with a review of literature to generate items, which were supplemented by items generated through focus group discussions. The overall aim of the study is to test and validate an instrument that can be used to compare the social impacts of a variety of events and ultimately to inform knowledge in the area of social impact assessment in tourism more generally. In so doing, the article provides, through the use of factor analysis, a reduced set of items for measuring the social impacts of events. It is anticipated that this method will provide a more parsimonious instrument for general use.
The Effectiveness of Sex Education Programs in Virginia Schools: Teenage Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Disease Rates: A Comparison of Counties

ii Acknowledgments . iv List of Tables . vii List of Figures . viii Chapter 1. Statement of Problem . 1 Chapter 2. Literature Review . 3 2.1. Teenage Pregnancy as an Epidemic . 3 2.2. The Causes of Teenage Pregnancy . 4 2.3. What’s the Problem? 6 2.4. Policy Recommendations at a Glance . 7 2.5. What is Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education? 8 2.6. What is Comprehensive Sex Education? 8 2.7. History of Abstinence-Only Policies . 9 2.8. Virginia’s State Policy on Sexuality Education . 11 2.9. Federal and State Funding: Where’s the Money? 12 2.10. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc Study . 12 2.11. Research on Sex Education: Is Abstinence Enough? 16 Chapter 3. Theoretical Aspects . 29 3.1. Public Policy to Construct Reproductive Freedom . 29 3.2. Self-Determination and The Illusion of Freedom . 32 3.3. Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage: The Message Behind the Words . 36 3.4. Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage: The Four Social Controls? 37
Psychosocial Treatment Within Sex by Ethnicity Subgroups in the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Clinical Trial

Objective: Intervening in depression and/or low perceived social support within 28 days after myocardial infarction (MI) in the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) clinical trial did not increase event-free survival. The purpose of the present investigation was to conduct post hoc analyses on sex and ethnic minority subgroups to assess whether any treatment subgroup is at reduced or increased risk of greater morbidity/mortality. Methods: The 2481 patients with MI (973 white men, 424 minority men, 674 white women, 410 minority women) who had major or minor depression and/or low perceived social support were randomly allocated to usual medical care or cognitive behavior therapy. Total mortality or recurrent nonfatal MI (ENRICHD primary endpoint) and cardiac mortality or recurrent nonfatal MI (secondary endpoint) were analyzed as composite endpoints by group for time to first event using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: There was a trend in the direction of treatment efficacy for white men for the primary endpoint (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.61–1.05; p = .10) and a significant (p < .006, Bonferroni corrected) effect for the secondary endpoint (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46–0.87; p = .004). In contrast, the HRs for each of the other three subgroups were nonsignificant. The magnitude of differences in treatment effects between white men and the other subgroups remained significant for the secondary endpoint (p =.04) after adjustment for age, education, living alone, antidepressant use, comorbidity score, cardiac catheterization, ejection fraction, history of hypertension, and major depression. Conclusions: White men, but not other subgroups, may have benefited from the ENRICHD intervention, suggesting that future studies need to attend to issues of treatment design and delivery that may have prevented benefit among sex and ethnic subgroups other than white men.
From Pre-Diabetes to Diabetes: Diagnosis, Treatments and Translational Research

Diabetes, a silent killer, is one of the most widely prevalent conditions of the present time. According to the 2017 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) statistics, the global prevalence of diabetes among the age group of 20–79 years is 8.8%. In addition, 1 in every 2 persons is unaware of the condition. This unawareness and ignorance lead to further complications. Pre-diabetes is the preceding condition of diabetes, and in most of the cases, this ultimately leads to the development of diabetes. Diabetes can be classified into three types, namely type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gestational diabetes. The diagnosis of both pre-diabetes and diabetes is based on glucose criteria; the common modalities used are fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A glucometer is commonly used by diabetic patients to measure blood glucose levels with fast and rather accurate measurements. A few of the more advanced and minimally invasive modalities include the glucose-sensing patch, SwEatch, eyeglass biosensor, breath analysis, etc. Despite a considerable amount of data being collected and analyzed regarding diabetes, the actual molecular mechanism of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still unknown. Both genetic and epigenetic factors are associated with T2DM. The complications of diabetes can predominantly be classified into two categories: microvascular and macrovascular. Retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy are grouped under microvascular complications, whereas stroke, cardiovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease (PAD) belong to macrovascular complications. Unfortunately, until now, no complete cure for diabetes has been found. However, the treatment of pre-diabetes has shown significant success in preventing the further progression of diabetes. To prevent pre-diabetes from developing into T2DM, lifestyle intervention has been found to be very promising. Various aspects of diabetes, including the aforementioned topics, have been reviewed in this paper.