bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automated regression testing of BPMN 2.0 processes: a capture and replay framework for continuous delivery
Authors: Makki Majid , Van Landuyt Dimitri , Joosen Wouter 
Published: May 2017

Regression testing is a form of software quality assurance (QA) that involves comparing the behavior of a newer version of a software artifact to its earlier correct behavior, and signaling the QA engineer when deviations are detected. Given the large potential in automated generation and execution of regression test cases for business process models in the context of running systems, powerful tools are required to make this practically feasible, more specifically to limit the potential impact on production systems, and to reduce the manual effort required from QA engineers.
In this paper, we present a regression testing automation framework that implements the capture & replay paradigm in the context of BPMN 2.0, a domain-specific language for modeling and executing business processes. The framework employs parallelization techniques and efficient communication patterns to reduce the performance overhead of capturing. Based on inputs from the QA engineer, it manipulates the BPMN2 model before executing tests for isolating the latter from external dependencies (e.g. human actors or expensive web services) and for avoiding undesired side-effects. Finally, it performs a regression detection algorithm and reports the results to the QA engineer.
We have implemented our framework on top of a BPMN2-compliant execution engine, namely jBPM, and performed functional validations and evaluations of its performance and fault-tolerance. The results, indicating 3.9% average capturing performance overhead, demonstrate that the implemented framework can be the foundation of a practical regression testing tool for BPMN 2.0, and a key enabler for continuous delivery of business process-driven applications and services.
Automated Synthesis of Comprehensive Memory Model Litmus Test Suites
Authors: Lustig Daniel , Wright Andrew , Papakonstantinou Alexandros , Giroux Olivier 
Published: May 2017

The memory consistency model is a fundamental part of any shared memory architecture or programming model. Modern weak memory models are notoriously difficult to define and to implement correctly. Most real-world programming languages, compilers, and (micro)architectures therefore rely heavily on black-box testing methodologies. The success of such techniques requires that the suite of litmus tests used to perform the testing be comprehensive--it should ideally stress all obscure corner cases of the model and of its implementation. Most litmus test suites today are generated from some combination of manual effort and randomization; however, the complex and subtle nature of contemporary memory models means that manual effort is both error-prone and subject to incomplete coverage.
This paper presents a methodology for synthesizing comprehensive litmus test suites directly from a memory model specification. By construction, these suites contain all tests satisfying a minimality criterion: that no synchronization mechanism in the test can be weakened without causing new behaviors to become observable. We formalize this notion using the Alloy modeling language, and we apply it to a number of existing and newly-proposed memory models. Our results show not only that this synthesis technique can automatically reproduce all manually-generated tests from existing suites, but also that it discovers new tests that are not as well studied.
Hardware-Software Co-design to Mitigate DRAM Refresh Overheads
Authors: Kotra Jagadish B. , Shahidi Narges , Chishti Zeshan A. , Kandemir Mahmut T. 
Published: May 2017

DRAM cells need periodic refresh to maintain data integrity. With high capacity DRAMs, DRAM refresh poses a significant performance bottleneck as the number of rows to be refreshed (and hence the refresh cycle time, tRFC) with each refresh command increases. Modern day DRAMs perform refresh at a rank-level, while LPDDRs used in mobile environments support refresh at a per-bank level. Rank-level refresh degrades the performance significantly since none of the banks in a rank can serve the on-demand requests. Per-bank refresh alleviates some of the performance bottlenecks as the other banks in a rank are available for on-demand requests. Typical DRAM retention time is in the order several of milliseconds, viz, 64msec for environments operating in temperatures below 85 deg C and 32msec for environments operating above 85 deg C.
With systems moving towards increased consolidation (ex: virtualized environments), DRAM refresh becomes a significant bottleneck as it reduces the available overall DRAM bandwidth per task. In this work, we propose a hardware-software co-design to mitigate DRAM refresh overheads by exposing the hardware address mapping and DRAM refresh schedule to the Operating System. We propose a novel DRAM refresh-aware process scheduling algorithm in OS which schedules applications on cores such that none of the on-demand requests from the application are stalled by refreshes. Extensive evaluation of our proposed co-design on multi-programmed SPEC CPU2006 workloads show significant performance improvement compared to the previously proposed hardware only approaches.
REDSPY
Authors: Wen Shasha , Chabbi Milind , Liu Xu 
Published: May 2017

Complex code bases with several layers of abstractions have abundant inefficiencies that affect the execution time. Value redundancy is a kind of inefficiency where the same values are repeatedly computed, stored, or retrieved over the course of execution. Not all redundancies can be easily detected or eliminated with compiler optimization passes due to the inherent limitations of the static analysis.
Microscopic observation of whole executions at instruction- and operand-level granularity breaks down abstractions and helps recognize redundancies that masquerade in complex programs. We have developed REDSPY---a fine-grained profiler to pinpoint and quantify redundant operations in program executions. Value redundancy may happen over time at same locations or in adjacent locations, and thus it has temporal and spatial locality. REDSPY identifies both temporal and spatial value locality. Furthermore, REDSPY is capable of identifying values that are approximately the same, enabling optimization opportunities in HPC codes that often use floating point computations. REDSPY provides intuitive optimization guidance by apportioning redundancies to their provenance---source lines and execution calling contexts. REDSPY pinpointed dramatically high volume of redundancies in programs that were optimization targets for decades, such as SPEC CPU2006 suite, Rodinia benchmark, and NWChem---a production computational chemistry code. Guided by REDSPY, we were able to eliminate redundancies that resulted in significant speedups.
SaberLDA
Authors: Li Kaiwei , Chen Jianfei , Chen Wenguang , Zhu Jun 
Published: May 2017

Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) is a popular tool for analyzing discrete count data such as text and images. Applications require LDA to handle both large datasets and a large number of topics. Though distributed CPU systems have been used, GPU-based systems have emerged as a promising alternative because of the high computational power and memory bandwidth of GPUs. However, existing GPU-based LDA systems cannot support a large number of topics because they use algorithms on dense data structures whose time and space complexity is linear to the number of topics.
In this paper, we propose SaberLDA, a GPU-based LDA system that implements a sparsity-aware algorithm to achieve sublinear time complexity and scales well to learn a large number of topics. To address the challenges introduced by sparsity, we propose a novel data layout, a new warp-based sampling kernel, and an efficient sparse count matrix updating algorithm that improves locality, makes efficient utilization of GPU warps, and reduces memory consumption. Experiments show that SaberLDA can learn from billions-token-scale data with up to 10,000 topics, which is almost two orders of magnitude larger than that of the previous GPU-based systems. With a single GPU card, SaberLDA is able to learn 10,000 topics from a dataset of billions of tokens in a few hours, which is only achievable with clusters with tens of machines before.
Neoadjuvant Trials in ER+ Breast Cancer: A Tool for Acceleration of Drug Development and Discovery
Authors: Guerrero-Zotano Angel L. , Arteaga Carlos L. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractNeoadjuvant therapy trials offer an excellent strategy for drug development and discovery in breast cancer, particularly in triple-negative and HER2-overexpressing subtypes, where pathologic complete response is a good surrogate of long-term patient benefit. For estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancers, however, use of this strategy has been challenging because of the lack of validated surrogates of long-term efficacy and the overall good prognosis of the majority of patients with this cancer subtype. We review below the clinical benefits of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for ER+/HER2-negative breast cancer, its use and limitations for drug development, prioritization of adjuvant and metastatic trials, and biomarker discovery.Significance: Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy is an excellent platform for the development of investigational drugs, triaging of novel combinations, biomarker validation, and discovery of mechanisms of drug resistance. This review summarizes the clinical and investigational benefits of this approach, with a focus on how to best integrate predictive biomarkers into novel clinical trial designs. Cancer Discov; 7(6); 561–74. ©2017 AACR.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Drive Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Pieterse Elmar , Rother Nils , Garsen Marjolein , Hofstra Julia M. , Satchell Simon C. , Hoffmann Markus , Loeven Markus A. , Knaapen Hanneke K. , van der Heijden Olivier W.H. , Berden Jo H.M. , Hilbrands Luuk B. , van der Vlag Johan 
Published: May 2017

Objective—
An excessive release and impaired degradation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) leads to the continuous exposure of NETs to the endothelium in a variety of hematologic and autoimmune disorders, including lupus nephritis. This study aims to unravel the mechanisms through which NETs jeopardize vascular integrity.

Approach and Results—
Microvascular and macrovascular endothelial cells were exposed to NETs, and subsequent effects on endothelial integrity and function were determined in vitro and in vivo. We found that endothelial cells have a limited capacity to internalize NETs via the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts. An overflow of the phagocytic capacity of endothelial cells for NETs resulted in the persistent extracellular presence of NETs, which rapidly altered endothelial cell–cell contacts and induced vascular leakage and transendothelial albumin passage through elastase-mediated proteolysis of the intercellular junction protein VE-cadherin. Furthermore, NET-associated elastase promoted the nuclear translocation of junctional β-catenin and induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cultured endothelial cells. In vivo, NETs could be identified in kidney samples of diseased MRL/lpr mice and patients with lupus nephritis, in whom the glomerular presence of NETs correlated with the severity of proteinuria and with glomerular endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Conclusions—
These results indicate that an excess of NETs exceeds the phagocytic capacity of endothelial cells for NETs and promotes vascular leakage and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition through the degradation of VE-cadherin and the subsequent activation of β-catenin signaling. Our data designate NET-associated elastase as a potential therapeutic target in the prevention of endothelial alterations in diseases characterized by aberrant NET release.
Morbidity and Mortality Associated With Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty
Authors: Alkhouli Mohamad , Zack Chad J. , Sarraf Mohammad , Bashir Riyaz , Nishimura Rick A. , Eleid Mackram F. , Nkomo Vuyisile T. , Sandhu Gurpreet S. , Gulati Rajiv , Greason Kevin L. , Holmes David R. , Rihal Charanjit S. 
Published: May 2017

Background—
The introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) led to renewed interest in balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV). We sought to assess contemporary trends in BAV utilization and their outcomes.

Methods and Results—

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients who underwent BAV between 2004 and 2013. In-hospital morbidity and mortality, and predictors of death after BAV were assessed. Outcomes of propensity-matched groups of patients undergoing elective BAV or TAVR were evaluated. BAV utilization increased from 707 cases in 2004 to 3715 cases in 2013 (national estimates). Procedural and in-hospital mortality were 1.4% and 8.5%, respectively. Vascular complications occurred in 7.0% of cases, blood transfusion in 17.5%, clinical stroke in 1.8%, and pacemaker implantation in 3.0%. The strongest predictors of in-hospital death were cardiogenic shock (odds ratio, 6.01; 95% confidence interval, 4.19–8.61;
P
<0.001), need for left ventricular assist device (odds ratio, 3.48; 95% confidence interval, 2.25–5.36;
P
<0.001), coagulopathy (odds ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.51–3.18;
P
<0.001), and low institutional volume of BAV (odds ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–2.37;
P
=0.03). In propensity-matched patients undergoing elective BAV or TAVR, rates of in-hospital mortality (2.9% versus 3.5%;
P
=0.60), clinical stroke (1.6% versus 3.1%;
P
=0.10), and vascular complications (8.2% versus 10.9%;
P
=0.14) were similar. However, BAV was associated with lower rates of pacemaker implantation (2.9% versus 8.0%;
P
<0.001) and blood transfusion (12.8% versus 22.9%;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—
In a contemporary national registry, BAV is associated with significant morbidity and mortality that are similar to TAVR. With the substantial increase in BAV utilization and the continuous improvement in TAVR outcomes, these data have important implications to aid clinicians in the selection of appropriate BAV candidates.
Establishing Recommendations for Stroke Systems in the Thrombectomy Era: The Upstate New York Stakeholder Proceedings
Authors: Magdon-Ismail Zainab , Benesch Curtis , Cushman Jeremy T. , Brissette Ian , Southerland Andrew M. , Brandler Ethan S. , Sozener Cemal B. , Flor Sue , Hemmitt Roseanne , Wales Kathleen , Parrigan Krystal , Levine Steven R. 
Published: May 2017

Background and Purpose—
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and Department of Health Stroke Coverdell Program convened a stakeholder meeting in upstate NY to develop recommendations to enhance stroke systems for acute large vessel occlusion.

Methods—
Prehospital, hospital, and Department of Health leadership were invited (n=157). Participants provided goals/concerns and developed recommendations for prehospital triage and interfacility transport, rating each using a 3-level impact (A [high], B, and C [low]) and implementation feasibility (1 [high], 2, and 3 [low]) scale. Six weeks later, participants finalized recommendations.

Results—
Seventy-one stakeholders (45% of invitees) attended. Six themes around goals/concerns emerged: (1) emergency medical services capacity, (2) validated prehospital screening tools, (3) facility capability, (4) triage/transport guidelines, (5) data capture/feedback tools, and (6) facility competition. In response, high-impact (level A) prehospital recommendations, stratified by implementation feasibility, were (1) use of online medical control for triage (6%); (2) regional transportation strategy (31%), standardized emergency medical services checklists (18%), quality metrics (14%), standardized prehospital screening tools (13%), and feedback for performance improvement (7%); and (3) smartphone application algorithm for screening/decision-making (6%) and ambulance-based telemedicine (6%). Level A interfacility transfer recommendations were (1) standardized transfer process (32%)/timing goals (16%)/regionalized systems (11%), performance metrics (11%), image sharing capabilities (7%); (2) provider education (9%) and stroke toolbox (5%); and (3) interfacility telemedicine (7%) and feedback (2%).

Conclusions—
The methods used and recommendations generated provide models for stroke system enhancement. Implementation may vary based on geographic need/capacity and be contingent on establishing standard care practices. Further research is needed to establish optimal implementation strategies.
Observations of Misovortices within a Long-Lake-Axis-Parallel Lake-Effect Snowband during the OWLeS Project
Authors: Mulholland Jake P. , Frame Jeffrey , Nesbitt Stephen W. , Steiger Scott M. , Kosiba Karen A. , Wurman Joshua 
Published: May 2017

AbstractRecent lake-effect snow field projects in the eastern Great Lakes region have revealed the presence of misovortices with diameters between 40 and 4000 m along cyclonic horizontal shear zones within long-lake-axis-parallel bands. One particular band in which an abundance of misovortices developed occurred on 7 January 2014. The leading hypothesis for lake-effect misovortexgenesis is the release of horizontal shearing instability (HSI). An analysis of three-dimensional dual-Doppler wind syntheses reveals that two criteria for HSI are satisfied along the horizontal shear zone, strongly suggesting that HSI was the likely cause of the misovortices in this case. Furthermore, the general lack of anticyclonic–cyclonic vortex couplets throughout the event reveal that tilting of horizontal vorticity into the vertical is of less importance compared to the release of HSI and subsequent strengthening via vortex stretching. A WRF simulation depicts misovortices along the horizontal shear zone within the simulated band. The simulated vortices display remarkable similarities to the observed vortices in terms of intensity, depth, spacing, and size. The simulated vortices persist over the eastern end of the lake; however, once the vortices move inland, they quickly dissipate. HSI criteria are also calculated from the WRF simulation and are satisfied along the shear zone. Competing hypotheses of misovortexgenesis are presented, with results indicating that the release of HSI is the likely mechanism of vortex formation.
Talking Circles to Improve Diabetes Self-care Management
Authors: Wilken Marlene , Nunn Martha 
Published: May 2017

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of both the Talking Circles (TCs) and diabetes self-management education (DSME) results in better adherence and outcomes for diabetes self-management than DSME alone in American Indians (AIs) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A quasiexperimental, mixed-methods approach was used for AIs with uncontrolled T2DM, defined by an A1C > 7.0%. The experimental group (n = 20) participated in a TC and received DSME. The control group (n = 19) received only DSME. Talking Circles were audio-taped and analyzed qualitatively. Quantitative data were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation and Fisher exact test for all study participants every 3 months for 1 year. Results Themes identified by TC participants were spirituality, gratitude, and sharing. Major topics of discussion were the experiences of living with T2DM, including challenges and coping. Evidence of positive trends for the experimental group who received the TC intervention included lower systolic blood pressure, lower A1C, lower weight over time, and increased adherence without incentives. Conclusion Talking Circles may have utility in improving adherence in AI adults with uncontrolled T2DM. Further studies are warranted, including extending the use of the TCs after completion of DSME sessions.
Job applicant screening in China and its four pillars
Authors: Hlásny Vladimír 
Published: May 2017

AbstractChinese employers practise extensive personal screening of applicants during the recruitment process. This study identifies four motives for these practices – statistical, customer taste, employer taste and regulatory. It discusses their distinctive roles in the Chinese labour market and in regard to labour-market regulations. Using a convenience sample of large Chinese employers, the study evaluates the economic and institutional determinants of screening approaches and implications for firms’ performance. Statistical screening, based on the assumption that social group membership is an indicator of productivity or loyalty, is found to be related positively to employers’ capitalisation, labour-market power and private ownership, and negatively to skill supply in provincial markets. Customer-taste screening is prevalent in the services and sales sectors, and interestingly in wealthy first-tier cities. Employer-taste screening endures in privately owned firms, and in skill-intensive industries and first-tier cities, and appears linked to customer-taste screening. Some forms of screening breach anti-discrimination laws and persist because of lax enforcement of such laws, but requests for personal data on job applications forms may also reflect compliance with equity indicators. Regulatory compliance-based screening is related positively to firms’ market power, capitalisation and state ownership. The implications of the different screening practices for public policy and corporate strategy are examined.
Barriers to ESC guideline implementation: results of a survey from the European Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (CCNAP)
Authors: McKee Gabrielle , Kerins Mary , Hamilton Glenys , Hansen Tina , Hendriks Jeroen , Kletsiou Eleni , Lambrinou Ekaterini , Jennings Catriona , Fitzsimons Donna 
Published: May 2017

Background: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has a comprehensive clinical guideline development programme, relevant for all clinicians. However, implementation of guidelines is not always optimal. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine nurses’ and allied professionals’ awareness and barriers regarding clinical guideline implementation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administrated online and in print at EuroHeartCare 2015. A questionnaire was developed which examined awareness and barriers to implementation of ESC guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (2012) and ESC guidelines in general. Results: Of the 298 respondents, 12% reported that the prevention guidelines were used in their practice area. Respondents identified, in order of magnitude, that lack of leadership, workload, time, resources and a perception that they were unable to influence current practice were barriers to the use of the prevention guidelines. When asked to rank barriers to use of any ESC guidelines, time (22%) and leadership (23%) were ranked highest. Conclusions: Implementation of ESC guidelines by nurses, the majority responders in this survey, is a serious problem, requiring urgent improvement to ensure patients receive optimal evidence based care. Issues of leadership, workload, time and resources are significant barriers to guideline implementation. It is of concern that these professionals perceive both that they have little influence on implementation decisions and lack of leadership regarding guideline implementation. Educational and organisational strategies to improve leadership skills are imperative. These will build self-efficacy and empower nurses and allied professionals to advocate for evidence-based care in the clinical environment.