Beyond Microbenchmarks: The SPEC-RG Vision for a Comprehensive Serverless Benchmark

Serverless computing services, such as Function-as-a-Service (FaaS), hold the attractive promise of a high level of abstraction and high performance, combined with the minimization of operational logic. Several large ecosystems of serverless platforms, both open- and closed-source, aim to realize this promise. Consequently, a lucrative market has emerged. However, the performance trade-offs of these systems are not well-understood. Moreover, it is exactly the high level of abstraction and the opaqueness of the operational-side that make performance evaluation studies of serverless platforms challenging. Learning from the history of IT platforms, we argue that a benchmark for serverless platforms could help address this challenge. We envision a comprehensive serverless benchmark, which we contrast to the narrow focus of prior work in this area. We argue that a comprehensive benchmark will need to take into account more than just runtime overhead, and include notions of cost, realistic workloads, more (open-source) platforms, and cloud integrations. Finally, we show through preliminary real-world experiments how such a benchmark can help compare the performance overhead when running a serverless workload on state-of-the-art platforms

Role of STAT3 and vitamin D receptor in EZH2 ‐mediated invasion of human colorectal cancer

The polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homologue 2 ( EZH2 ), which has histone methyltransferase ( HMT ) activity, is overexpressed in malignant tumours. However, the role of EZH2 in colorectal cancer ( CRC ) invasion is little known. Here we investigated the clinical significance, biological effects, and mechanisms of EZH2 signalling. Knockdown of EZH2 significantly reduced cell invasion and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases 2/9 ( MMP2 /9) in in vitro studies. Knockdown of EZH2 dramatically increased overall survival and decreased metastasis of lung in in vivo studies. Conversely, overexpression of EZH2 significantly increased lung metastasis and shortened overall survival when compared with control tumours. EZH2 ‐induced CRC cell invasion may depend on down‐regulation of vitamin D receptor ( VDR ), which is considered to be a marker of CRC invasion. EZH2 regulates the histone trimethylation of lysine 27 ( H3K27me3 ) in the VDR promoter. Moreover, we found that STAT3 directly binds to the EZH2 promoter and regulates VDR down‐regulation in CRC cells. Significant inverse correlations were observed between the expression of EZH2 and pSTAT3 and that of VDR in CRC tissues compared with normal tissue in patients. We show the role of EZH2 in CRC metastasis and identify VDR as a target gene of EZH2 . EZH2 expression may be directly regulated by STAT3 , and STAT3 may play an important role in EZH2 ‐mediated VDR down‐regulation in CRC . This pathway may provide potential targets in aggressive CRC . Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98269/1/path4179-sup-0004-FigureS3.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98269/2/path4179-sup-0002-FigureS1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98269/3/path4179.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98269/4/path4179-sup-0003-FigureS2.pd

Proactive listening to a training commentary improves hazard prediction

The aim of this work was to explore the effect of Proactive Listening to a Training Commentary, using the recently developed version of the Spanish Hazard Perception test. Firstly, 16 videos were used in the pre-test session in its short version, cut to black just before the hazard appearance. The What Happens Next Assessment (at the pre-test stage) generates expectations about the outcome of the traffic situation. Then, the training (8 minutes in length) uses the complete version of the same 16 videos, revealing the hazards unfolding. It involves listening to a voice with relevant information about where to allocate attention in the complex driving scene in order to recognise and anticipate the hazard successfully. A total of 121 participants were included in this study The sample consisted of learner, novice and experienced drivers, including re-offender and non-offender drivers. The participants were divided into 2 groups: a trained and an untrained group. Two assessment times were used: pre-test (16 videos) and post-test sessions (another 16 videos). The test presented a high internal consistency (Alpha = 0.875). This training shows significant positive effects for all types and groups of participants. No significant differences were found between the non-offender and the offender groups. Performance in gradual-onset hazard events can be improved after training but also by practice; however this training is essential and especially beneficial for training the ability to detect hazards that appear abruptly (which seems to be difficult to improve just by practice)

Are situation awareness and decision-making in driving totally conscious processes? Results of a Hazard Prediction task

Detecting danger in the driving environment is an indispensable task to guarantee safety which depends on the driver's ability to predict upcoming hazards. But does correct prediction lead to an appropriate response? This study advances hazard perception research by investigating the link between successful prediction and response selection. Three groups of drivers (learners, novices and experienced drivers) were recruited, with novice and experienced drivers further split into offender and non-offender groups. Specifically, this works aims to develop an improved Spanish Hazard Prediction Test and to explore the differences in Situation Awareness, (SA: perception, comprehension and prediction) and Decision-Making ("DM") among learners, younger inexperienced and experienced drivers and between driving offenders and non-offenders. The contribution of the current work is not only theoretical; the Hazard Prediction Test is also a valid way to test Hazard Perception. The test, as well as being useful as part of the test for a driving license, could also serve a purpose in the renewal of licenses after a ban or as a way of training drivers. A sample of 121 participants watched a series of driving video clips that ended with a sudden occlusion prior to a hazard. They then answered questions to assess their SA ("What is the hazard?" "Where is it located?" "What happens next?") and "DM" ("What would you do in this situation?"). This alternative to the Hazard Perception Test demonstrates a satisfactory internal consistency (Alpha=0.750), with eleven videos achieving discrimination indices above 0.30. Learners performed significantly worse than experienced drivers when required to identify and locate the hazard. Interestingly, drivers were more accurate in answering the "DM" question than questions regarding SA, suggesting that drivers can choose an appropriate response manoeuvre without a totally conscious knowledge of the exact hazard

Characteristics associated with risk taking behaviours predict young people's participation in organised activities

Participation in organised activities (OAs) such as sports and special groups can shape adolescent risk taking behaviours. Sensation seeking and inhibitory control play an important role in the emergence of adolescent risk taking behaviours and may explain variations in OA participation as well as inform the development of more effective interventions that use OAs. Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (England) were analysed using logistic regression to test whether inhibitory control and sensation seeking predicted participation in OAs at a mean age of 11.7 years (n = 2557) and 15.4 years (n = 2147). At 11 years of age higher sensation seeking predicted participation in any activity, sports and special groups while low inhibitory control predicted less participation in sports. At 15 years of age higher sensation seeking predicted participation in sports and activity breadth. Opportunities to develop targeted interventions aimed at increasing participation are discussed

Comparison of Monthly Ibandronate Versus Weekly Risedronate in Preference, Convenience, and Bone Turnover Markers in Korean Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women

Patient preferences, convenience, and bone turnover markers were evaluated for the monthly ibandronate over the weekly risedronate regimen in Korean postmenopausal osteoporotic women. This was a 6-month, prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter study with a two-period and two-sequence crossover treatment design. After a 30-day screening period, eligible participants with postmenopausal osteoporosis were randomized to receive either monthly oral ibandronate 150 mg for 3 months followed by weekly oral risedronate 35 mg for 12 weeks (sequence A) or the same regimen in reverse order (sequence B). Patient preference and convenience were evaluated by questionnaire. The changes in serum C-telopeptide after 3 months of treatment were analyzed. A total of 365 patients were enrolled in this study (sequence A 182, sequence B 183). Of patients expressing a preference (83.4%), 74.8% preferred the monthly ibandronate regimen over the weekly regimen (25.2%). More women stated that the monthly ibandronate regimen was more convenient (84.2%) than the weekly regimen (15.8%). There was no significant difference in the change in bone turnover marker between the two treatments. The two regimens were similarly tolerable. There were fewer adverse events in the monthly ibandronate group compared to the weekly risedronate group in terms of gastrointestinal side effects (nausea and abdominal distension). This study revealed a strong preference and convenience for monthly ibandronate over weekly risedronate in Korean postmenopausal osteoporotic women. There was no significant difference in change of bone turnover marker and safety profile between the two regimens

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Vitamin D metabolites are lower with active Crohn’s disease and spontaneously recover with development of remission

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with active Crohn’s disease (CD). However, it remains unclear if lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration is the cause, or consequence, of intestinal inflammation. Existing literature has focused on circulating 25(OH) D rather than the active metabolite 1,25(OH)2D, or its breakdown product, 24,25(OH)2D. We aimed to characterise vitamin D metabolism in a cohort of patients with active and inactive CD. Methods: Fifty-four patients with CD and not on corticosteroids or vitamin D supplements, were enrolled in a 6-month prospective cohort study. Sera were collected on enrolment and at 6months and tested for 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, 24,25(OH)2D using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy as well as vitamin-D-binding protein. Results: There were no differences in 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D levels between participants with active versus inactive disease. Levels of 24,25(OH)2D were significantly lower in those with active compared with inactive disease (mean 3.9 versus 6.0µmol/l; p=0.007) and therefore the ratio of 25(OH)D:24,25(OH)2D was higher (mean 17.3 versus 11.1; p=0.001). In those patients with active disease who achieved remission, there was a mean increase in 25(OH) D of 32.3nmol/l (i.e. to a level in the sufficient range) and 24,25(OH)2D of 2.1µmol/l. These increases were not seen in patients with persistently active or inactive disease. Conclusion: Levels of 24,25(OH)2D, but not 25(OH)D, were lower in patients with active CD, and spontaneously increased with resolution of underlying inflammation. The utility of 24,25(OH)2D as a biomarker of disease activity and vitamin D status in CD warrants further exploration