bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
I/o paravirtualization at the device file boundary
Authors: Amiri Sani Ardalan , Boos Kevin , Qin Shaopu , Zhong Lin 
Published: April 2020

Paravirtualization is an important I/O virtualization technology since it uniquely provides all of the following benefits: the ability to share the device between multiple VMs, support for legacy devices without virtualization hardware, and high performance. However, existing paravirtualization solutions have one main limitation: they only support one I/O device class, and would require significant engineering effort to support new device classes and features. In this paper, we present Paradice, a solution that vastly simplifies I/O paravirtualization by using a common paravirtualization boundary for various I/O device classes: Unix device files. Using this boundary, the paravirtual drivers simply act as a class-agnostic indirection layer between the application and the actual device driver.
We address two fundamental challenges: supporting cross-VM driver memory operations without changes to applications or device drivers and providing fault and device data isolation between guest VMs despite device driver bugs. We implement Paradice for x86, the Xen hypervisor, and the Linux and FreeBSD OSes. Our implementation paravirtualizes various GPUs, input devices, cameras, an audio device, and an Ethernet card for the netmap framework with ~7700 LoC, of which only ~900 are device class-specific. Our measurements show that Paradice achieves performance close to native for different devices and applications including netmap, 3D HD games, and OpenCL applications.
Finding trojan message vulnerabilities in distributed systems
Authors: Banabic Radu , Candea George , Guerraoui Rachid 
Published: April 2020

Trojan messages are messages that seem correct to the receiver but cannot be generated by any correct sender. Such messages constitute major vulnerability points of a distributed system---they constitute ideal targets for a malicious actor and facilitate failure propagation across nodes. We describe Achilles, a tool that searches for Trojan messages in a distributed system. Achilles uses dynamic white-box analysis on the distributed system binaries in order to infer the predicate that defines messages parsed by receiver nodes and generated by sender nodes, respectively, and then computes Trojan messages as the difference between the two.
We apply Achilles on implementations of real distributed systems: FSP, a file transfer application, and PBFT, a Byzantine-fault-tolerant state machine replication library. Achilles discovered a new bug in FSP and rediscovered a previously known vulnerability in PBFT. In our evaluation we demonstrate that our approach can perform orders of magnitude better than general approaches based on regular fuzzing and symbolic execution.
Session details: Special issue on the 32nd international symposium on computer performance, modeling, measurement, and evaluation (IFIP WG 7.3 performance 2014) - Regular papers
Authors: Buchholz Peter , Van Houdt Benny 
Published: April 2020

This special issue of Performance Evaluation Review (PER) contains part of the proceedings of Performance 2014, held in Torino, Italy on October 7-9, 2014. Performance is the agship conference of IFIP Working Group 7.3 on Computer System Modeling. The conference provides a leading international forum for high-quality research on the modeling, analysis, simulation, and evaluation of computer and communication systems.
The program this year reects the sustained ability of the conference to attract high quality submissions, while at the same time evolving with the interests of the performance research community. A wide range of topics like quantitative aspects of computer architecture and communication systems, performance modeling, storage systems, wireless networks, energy management as well as optimization and game theory, data centers, cloud and cluster computing are covered by the program of the conference and shows the current development in performance modeling and analysis.
There were 97 papers submitted for review. Authors had the option of submitting either a regular paper (of which 78 were submitted) or a short paper of 3 pages (of which 19 were submitted) summarizing recent results or work in progress. A total of 280 reviews were received during the reviewing period. Reviews were mainly written by the members of the Technical Program Committee and by a limited number of external referees. The TPC meeting took place at the Uni- versity of Antwerp, Belgium on June 2, 2014. As a result of this meeting, 21 full papers were selected for the conference program (representing an acceptance rate of 27%), together with 7 short papers (an acceptance rate of 37%).
This special issue includes one of the regular papers and all seven short papers. A corresponding special issue of Performance Evaluation (PEVA) contains the remaining papers.
From verification to synthesis under cost-utility constraints
Authors: Baier Christel , Dubslaff Clemens 
Published: April 2020

Various algorithms and tools for the formal verification of systems with respect to their quantitative behavior have been developed in the past decades. Many of these techniques inherently support the automated synthesis of strategies that guarantee the satisfaction of performance or reliability constraints by resolving controllable nondeterministic choices in an adequate way. More recently, such techniques have been further developed towards the analysis or strategy synthesis under multiple cost and utility constraints.This article deals with Markov decision processes (MDPs) for modeling systems and their environment and provides an overview of recent directions for different types of synthesis problems in MDPs that aim to achieve an acceptable cost-utility tradeoff.
Kernel Normalised Least Mean Squares with Delayed Model Adaptation
Authors: Fraser Nicholas J. , Leong Philip H. W. 
Published: April 2020

Kernel adaptive filters (KAFs) are non-linear filters which can adapt temporally and have the additional benefit of being computationally efficient through use of the “kernel trick”. In a number of real-world applications, such as channel equalisation, the non-linear mapping provides significant improvements over conventional linear techniques such as the least mean squares (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms. Prior works have focused mainly on the theory and accuracy of KAFs, with little research on their implementations. This article proposes several variants of algorithms based on the kernel normalised least mean squares (KNLMS) algorithm which utilise a delayed model update to minimise dependencies. Subsequently, this work proposes corresponding hardware architectures which utilise this delayed model update to achieve high sample rates and low latency while also providing high modelling accuracy. The resultant delayed KNLMS (DKNLMS) algorithms can achieve clock rates up to 12× higher than the standard KNLMS algorithm, with minimal impact on accuracy and stability. A system implementation achieves 250 GOps/s and a throughput of 187.4 MHz on an Ultra96 board with 1.8× higher throughput than previous state of the art.
Childhood/Adolescent Smoking and Adult Smoking and Cessation: The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium
Authors: Hu Tian , Gall Seana L. , Widome Rachel , Bazzano Lydia A. , Burns Trudy L. , Daniels Stephen R. , Dwyer Terence , Ikonen Johanna , Juonala Markus , Kähönen Mika , Prineas Ronald J. , Raitakari Olli , Sinaiko Alan R. , Steinberger Julia , Urbina Elaine M. , Venn Alison , Viikari Jorma , Woo Jessica G. , Jacobs David R. 
Published: April 2020

Background

Despite declining
US
adolescent smoking prevalence from 40% among 12th graders in 1995 to around 10% in 2018, adolescent smoking is still a significant problem. Using the International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium, which includes 7 international cohorts recruited in childhood and followed into adulthood, the present study was designed to confirm the important relation between adolescent smoking and daily adult smoking and present new data on adult smoking into the forties and comparison of smoking in the United States, Finland, and Australia.

Methods and Results

Childhood smoking experience during ages 6 to 19 in the 1970s and 1980s was classifiable in 6687 i3C participants who also provided smoking status in their twenties and forties through 2011–2018. Prevalence of daily smoking in their twenties was directly related to degree of smoking during adolescence and inversely related to the age at which that smoking experience occurred (
P
trend, <0.001). Similar patterns were observed for prediction of smoking during age forties. Among the 2465 smokers in their twenties, cessation by their forties was generally inverse to degree of smoking in ages 6 to 19 (
P
trend, <0.001). Prevalence of smoking during adolescence and adulthood was similar among
US
, Finnish, and Australian participants.

Conclusions
These long‐term follow‐up data show that smoking intensity increased throughout adolescence. Prevalence of adult smoking and cessation by the forties were both correlated with levels of childhood smoking intensity. These data lend support to preventive strategies designed to reduce, delay, or eliminate any youth access to cigarettes.
Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes Associated With Extremely High Values for the sFlt‐1 (Soluble fms‐Like Tyrosine Kinase 1)/PlGF (Placental Growth Factor) Ratio
Authors: Villalaín Cecilia , Herraiz Ignacio , Valle Leonor , Mendoza Manel , Delgado Juan Luis , Vázquez‐Fernández María , Martínez‐Uriarte Juan , Melchor Íñigo , Caamiña Sara , Fernández‐Oliva Antoni , Villar Olga Patricia , Galindo Alberto 
Published: April 2020

Background

There is little knowledge about the significance of extremely high values (>655) for the ratio of
sF
lt‐1 (soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1) to Pl
GF
(placental growth factor). We aim to describe the time‐to‐delivery interval and maternal and perinatal outcomes when such values are demonstrated while assessing suspected or confirmed placental dysfunction based on clinical or sonographic criteria.

Methods and Results

A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed on 237 singleton gestations between 20+0 and 37+0 weeks included at the time of first demonstrating a
sF
lt‐1/Pl
GF
ratio >655. Clinicians were aware of this result, but standard protocols were followed for delivery indication. Main outcomes were compared for women with and without preeclampsia at inclusion. In those with preeclampsia (n=185, of whom 77.3% had fetal growth restriction), severe preeclampsia features and fetal growth restriction in stages
III
or
IV
were present in 49.2% and 13.5% cases, respectively, at inclusion and in 77.3% and 28.6% cases, respectively, at delivery. In the group without preeclampsia (n=52, 82.7% had fetal growth restriction), these figures were 0% and 30.8%, respectively, at inclusion and 21.2% and 50%, respectively, at delivery. Interestingly, 28% of women without initial preeclampsia developed it later. The median time to delivery was 4 days (interquartile range: 1–6 days) and 7 days (interquartile range: 3–12 days), respectively (
P
<0.01). Overall, perinatal mortality was 62.1% before 24 weeks; severe morbidity surpassed 50% before 29 weeks but became absent from 34 weeks. Maternal serious morbidity was high at any gestational age.

Conclusions

An
sF
lt‐1/Pl
GF
ratio >655 is almost invariably associated with preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction that progresses rapidly. In our tertiary care settings, we observed that maternal adverse outcomes were high throughout gestation, whereas perinatal adverse outcomes diminished as pregnancy advanced.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Authors: Schuurmans-Stekhoven James Benjamin 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
A belief-as-benefit effect (BABE)—the positive association between well-being and religiosity/spirituality—is recurrently reported. Past BABE research has however been critiqued for predominantly utilizing unrepresentative samples, questionable psychometric measures and bivariate designs. Employing a multivariate design, I explore the incremental validity of the BABE in two community samples. Hierarchical models—initially including socio-demographic factors and religiosity/spirituality and subsequently adding trait agreeableness and conscientiousness—are used. Simple correlations confirm the BABE (with an unexceptional effect size). However the unique association observed using multivariate estimation is substantially weaker and occasionally indicates an adverse association. That cross-sectional analyses cannot establish cause is fully acknowledged. Yet, establishing cause is not the current aim; multivariate models are simply used to substantiate the cross-sectional BABE.
Public Perception About the Zika Virus in Working Professionals: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Choudhry Fahad Riaz , Munawar Khadeeja , Kassab Yaman W. , Bakrin Faizah Safina , Al-Worafi Yaser Mohammed , Khan Tahir Mehmood 
Published: April 2020

Aims The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network recently warned that the Zika virus-containing mosquitoes are being found in Pakistan and the health sector is on high alert. It is thus significant to understand public beliefs and perceptions of the Zika virus and vaccination in the current scenario of Pakistan. Methods Twenty semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed through an inductive approach to analysis. Results The findings were presented in three main categories which were coded: Reality vs. Conspiracy, Vaccination Concerns, and Public Worries. The majority believed that the Zika virus is a real problem and that authorities might be trying to hide the Zika cases in Pakistan. Moreover, they believed that health organizations are being incompetent by failing to take timely remedial measures to manage the Zika. However, 20% have an opposing view and believed that the Zika virus is a conspiracy against Pakistan from the West. Conclusion Overall, most participants were concerned about the lack of treatment and preventive methods and emphasized the need to create awareness among the public. It is observed that the participants’ perceptions ranged from perceiving the Zika virus as real to as a conspiracy.
A prospective pilot study of the effect of acupuncture on insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance
Authors: Li Juan , Wu Wanting , Stener-Victorin Elisabet , Ng Ernest Hung Yu , Li Raymond Hang Wun , Li Meifang , Liu Hua , Lai Maohua , Meng Yanbing , Zheng Yanhua , Xia Yang , Ma Hongxia 
Published: April 2020

Objective: To test the hypothesis that acupuncture improves insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance (IR). Design: Prospective pilot study. Setting: Guangzhou, China, 2014–2016. Participants: Eighty women with PCOS aged 18–40 years with body mass index (BMI) above 18.5 kg/m2 and with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index ⩾2.14. Interventions: Subjects received acupuncture with combined manual and low-frequency electrical stimulation of the needles three times per week for 6 months. Primary and secondary outcome measures: The primary outcome was the change in HOMA-IR after 6 months of acupuncture relative to baseline. Secondary outcomes included changes after 6 months of acupuncture and at 3 months of follow-up (both relative to baseline) in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) parameters (glucose and insulin levels), anthropometric measurements, and circulating metabolic and endocrine variables. Results: HOMA-IR and fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were significantly decreased after 6 months of acupuncture, and both HOMA-IR and fasting insulin remained significantly decreased at 3 months of follow-up. In a subgroup analysis of normal-weight and overweight/obese women, HOMA-IR was reduced after 6 months of acupuncture in both subgroups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment in Chinese women with PCOS and IR was associated with an encouraging improvement in insulin sensitivity. Further randomized controlled studies are required to confirm the efficacy of acupuncture for this indication.
The prognostic values of systemic immune-inflammation index and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in EGFR-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yucel Sebnem , Bilgin Burak 
Published: April 2020

Introduction Targeted therapy is the main treatment option for oncogene-addicted non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is known that inflammation can affect survival. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of host inflammation on survival and treatment outcome by using the derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). Material and methods The advanced epidermal growth factor receptor mutant NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2019 were included. SII and dNLR were calculated from pretreatment blood samples. The estimated cutoff for SII and dNLR were 640 and 2, respectively. Progression-free survival and overall survival were calculated by using the Kaplan–Meier test. Results One hundred thirty six patients enrolled in the study. Of the total patients, 34.6% and 65.4% were SII-low and high, respectively. In addition, 58.1% and 41.9% of the patients were dNLR-low and high groups, respectively. The progression-free survival was better in low SII (22.4 vs. 13.01 months, HR: 0.50; 95% CI 0.32–0.80; P: 0.003) and low dNLR groups (16.9 vs. 13.01 months, HR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.38–0.88; P: 0.011). The overall survival was also significantly longer in SII-low and dNLR-low groups (32.4 vs. 20.4 months; HR, 0.47; 95% CI 0.27–0.81; P: 0.005 for SII and 32.4 vs. 18.4 months HR: 0.40; 95% CI 0.24–0.66; P < 0.001 for dNLR). Conclusion Based on the results of our study, both SII and dNLR can be routinely used as the simple, inexpensive and easily assessable prognostic markers in oncogene-addicted NSCLC.
A non‐selective endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan modulates kinetics of bone marrow‐derived cells in ameliorating pulmonary hypertension in mice
Authors: Kato Taichi , Mitani Yoshihide , Masuya Masahiro , Maruyama Junko , Sawada Hirofumi , Ohashi Hiroyuki , Ikeyama Yukiko , Otsuki Shoichiro , Yodoya Noriko , Shinohara Tsutomu , Miyata Eri , Zhang Erquan , Katayama Naoyuki , Shimpo Hideto , Maruyama Kazuo , Komada Yoshihiro , Hirayama Masahiro 
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan modulates the kinetics of bone marrow‐derived stem cells in inhibiting the development of pulmonary hypertension. Bone marrow chimeric mice, transplanted with enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)‐positive bone marrow mononuclear cells, were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia or kept in the ambient air, and were daily treated with bosentan sodium salt or saline for 21 days. After the treatment period, right ventricular pressure was measured and pulmonary vascular morphometry was conducted. Incorporation of bone marrow‐derived cells was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Gene expression and protein level in the lung tissue were evaluated by quantitative real‐time PCR and western blotting, respectively. The results showed that, in hypoxic mice, right ventricular pressure and the percentage of muscularized vessel were increased and pulmonary vascular density was decreased, each of which was reversed by bosentan. Bone marrow‐derived endothelial cells and macrophages in lungs were increased by hypoxia. Bosentan promoted bone marrow‐derived endothelial cell incorporation but inhibited macrophage infiltration into lungs. Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis revealed that interleukin 6, stromal cell‐derived factor‐1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 were upregulated by hypoxia, in which interleukin 6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 were downregulated and stromal cell‐derived factor‐1 was upregulated by bosentan. Protein level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the whole lung was significantly upregulated by hypoxia, which was further upregulated by bosentan. Bosentan modulated kinetics of bone marrow‐derived ECs and macrophages and related gene expression in lungs in ameliorating pulmonary hypertension in mice. Altered kinetics of bone marrow‐derived stem cells may be a novel mechanism of the endothelin receptor blockade in vivo and confer a new understanding of the therapeutic basis for pulmonary hypertension.
An interprofessional cohort analysis of student interest in medical ethics education: a survey-based quantitative study
Authors: DeFoor Mikalyn T. , Chung Yunmi , Zadinsky Julie K. , Dowling Jeffrey , Sams Richard W. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundThere is continued need for enhanced medical ethics education across the United States. In an effort to guide medical ethics education reform, we report the first interprofessional survey of a cohort of graduate medical, nursing and allied health professional students that examined perceived student need for more formalized medical ethics education and assessed preferences for teaching methods in a graduate level medical ethics curriculum.MethodsIn January 2018, following the successful implementation of a peer-led, grassroots medical ethics curriculum, student leaders under faculty guidance conducted a cross-sectional survey with 562 of 1357 responses received (41% overall response rate) among students enrolled in the School of Medicine, College of Nursing, Doctor of Physical Therapy and BS/(D) MD Professional Scholars programs at The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. An in person or web-based questionnaire was designed to measure perceived need for a more in-depth medical ethics curriculum.ResultsThe majority of respondents were female (333, 59.3%), white (326, 58.0%) and mid-20s in age (340, 60.5%). Almost half of respondents (47%) reported no prior medical ethics exposure or training in their previous educational experience, while 60% of students across all degree programs reported an interest in more medical ethics education and 92% noted that an understanding of medical ethics was important to their future career. Over a quarter of students (28%) were interested in pursuing graduate-level training in medical ethics, with case-based discussions, small group peer settings and ethics guest lectures being the most desired teaching methods.ConclusionsThe future physician, nursing and physical therapist workforce in our medical community demonstrated an unmet need and strong interest for more formal medical ethics education within their current coursework. Grassroots student-driven curricular development and leadership in medical ethics can positively impact medical education. Subsequent integration of interprofessional training in medical ethics may serve as a vital curricular approach to improving the training of ethically competent healthcare professionals and overcoming the current hierarchical clinical silos.