The Parallel Persistent Memory Model

We consider a parallel computational model that consists of $P$ processors, each with a fast local ephemeral memory of limited size, and sharing a large persistent memory. The model allows for each processor to fault with bounded probability, and possibly restart. On faulting all processor state and local ephemeral memory are lost, but the persistent memory remains. This model is motivated by upcoming non-volatile memories that are as fast as existing random access memory, are accessible at the granularity of cache lines, and have the capability of surviving power outages. It is further motivated by the observation that in large parallel systems, failure of processors and their caches is not unusual. Within the model we develop a framework for developing locality efficient parallel algorithms that are resilient to failures. There are several challenges, including the need to recover from failures, the desire to do this in an asynchronous setting (i.e., not blocking other processors when one fails), and the need for synchronization primitives that are robust to failures. We describe approaches to solve these challenges based on breaking computations into what we call capsules, which have certain properties, and developing a work-stealing scheduler that functions properly within the context of failures. The scheduler guarantees a time bound of $O(W/P_A + D(P/P_A) \lceil\log_{1/f} W\rceil)$ in expectation, where $W$ and $D$ are the work and depth of the computation (in the absence of failures), $P_A$ is the average number of processors available during the computation, and $f \le 1/2$ is the probability that a capsule fails. Within the model and using the proposed methods, we develop efficient algorithms for parallel sorting and other primitives.Comment: This paper is the full version of a paper at SPAA 2018 with the same nam

Habitat use pattern and conservation status of smooth–coated otters Lutrogale perspicillata in the Upper Ganges Basin, India

Modelo de uso del hábitat y estado de conservación de las nutrias lisas Lutrogale perspicillata en la zona alta de la cuenca del Ganges, India Las nutrias lisas habitan en varios sistemas fluviales importantes del Asia meridional y sus necesidades medioambientales las vinculan con problemas de seguridad alimentaria e hídrica, debido a la elevada densidad de humanos. La falta de datos de referencia sobre su distribución y ecología es otra limitación notable que la especie está afrontando en la India. El presente estudio se vio impulsado por el rápido descenso de la población de nutrias en el país y se centra en estimar el estado de conservación, el modelo de uso del hábitat y las amenazas asociadas en la zona alta de la cuenca del río Ganges (Asia septentrional). Nuestros resultados contribuyen a comprender mejor las complejas interacciones ecológicas y a elaborar medidas de conservación eficaces. Junto con las preferencias de hábitat, en el estudio también se informa sobre nuevas ubicaciones en la distribución de la especie. Asimismo se ponen de relieve las deficiencias existentes en la conservación de la especie y se sugieren las zonas cuya ordenación debería ser prioritaria.Smooth–coated otters inhabit several major river systems in southern Asia, and their environmental requirements link them to food and water security issues as the region is so densely populated by humans. The lack of baseline data on their distribution and ecology is another major constraint that the species is facing in India. The present study was stimulated by the rapid decline in the otter’s population in the country and focuses on estimating the conservation status, habitat use pattern, and associated threats in the upper Ganges River Basin (N India). Our findings contribute towards a better understanding of the complex ecological interactions and the design of effective conservation measures. Coupled with the habitat preferences, the study also provides new locations in the species distribution. This paper highlights the gap areas in the conservation of the species and suggests areas that should be prioritized for management.Modelo de uso del hábitat y estado de conservación de las nutrias lisas Lutrogale perspicillata en la zona alta de la cuenca del Ganges, India Las nutrias lisas habitan en varios sistemas fluviales importantes del Asia meridional y sus necesidades medioambientales las vinculan con problemas de seguridad alimentaria e hídrica, debido a la elevada densidad de humanos. La falta de datos de referencia sobre su distribución y ecología es otra limitación notable que la especie está afrontando en la India. El presente estudio se vio impulsado por el rápido descenso de la población de nutrias en el país y se centra en estimar el estado de conservación, el modelo de uso del hábitat y las amenazas asociadas en la zona alta de la cuenca del río Ganges (Asia septentrional). Nuestros resultados contribuyen a comprender mejor las complejas interacciones ecológicas y a elaborar medidas de conservación eficaces. Junto con las preferencias de hábitat, en el estudio también se informa sobre nuevas ubicaciones en la distribución de la especie. Asimismo se ponen de relieve las deficiencias existentes en la conservación de la especie y se sugieren las zonas cuya ordenación debería ser prioritaria

Single nucleotide substitution mutations and polymorphisms in ECM1 gene in lipoid proteinosis in siblings of a Pakistani family

A number of mutations in extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) that is a glycoprotein and expressed in skin and other tissues are reported to cause a rare, autosomal recessive disorder called lipoid proteinosis (LP). The peculiar manifestation of LP is hoarseness of voice caused by laryngeal infiltration in infancy. Skin and mucous membrane changes clinically become apparent, and the disease typically follows a slowly progressive, yet often benign, course. About 300 cases of LP have been reported, but occurrence in siblings is rare. In this study, two siblings (18 and 24-year-old) of a Pakistani family were reported to have LP. This study presents two brothers with scaly itchy lesions on whole body, hoarse voice and macroglossia. Their deceased father had similar clinical manifestations but mother, younger brother and sister were unaffected. Blood from affected and clinically unaffected family members were collected with informed consent. The ECM1 gene containing 10 exons were amplified and sequenced. Both patients showed non-pathogenic missense and silent mutations in exon 6 and 8. In exon 6, a nucleotide C was substituted to T (C→T) at codon 2, in patient 1. This nonpathogenic missense mutation causes appearance of amino acid cysteine instead of arginine that is part of normal ECM1 protein. In patient 2, polymorphism of nucleotide C to T (C/T) was observed observed in exion 6 that may lead to the appearance of cysteine and/or arginine in the resulting gene product. In exon 8, a nucleotide G was substituted to A (G→A) at codon 53, in patient 1. This substitution leads to a silent mutation as serine is coded by both forms of codon. In patient 2, polymorphism of nucleotide G to A (G/A) was observed in exion 8 that do not cause any change in the coded amino acid. These findings represent a set of missense and silent mutations supporting an unusual function of ECM1 protein, broadening the spectrum of disease-linked mutations in rare cases of LP.Key words: Lipoid proteinosis, extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1), missense, silent mutation, single nucleotide polymorphism, exons 6 and 8, genodermatosis

An IR-based Approach Utilising Query Expansion for Plagiarism Detection in MEDLINE

The identification of duplicated and plagiarised passages of text has become an increasingly active area of research. In this paper we investigate methods for plagiarism detection that aim to identify potential sources of plagiarism from MEDLINE, particularly when the original text has been modified through the replacement of words or phrases. A scalable approach based on Information Retrieval is used to perform candidate document selection - the identification of a subset of potential source documents given a suspicious text - from MEDLINE. Query expansion is performed using the ULMS Metathesaurus to deal with situations in which original documents are obfuscated. Various approaches to Word Sense Disambiguation are investigated to deal with cases where there are multiple Concept Unique Identifiers (CUIs) for a given term. Results using the proposed IR-based approach outperform a state-of-the-art baseline based on Kullback-Leibler Distance

ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE REGARDING CHILD LABOR IN AGRICULTURE: A CASE STUDY OF COTTON GROWERS IN DISTRICT BAHAWALPUR

The work which affects the education, dignity and health of a child is known as child labor. It exists in agriculture sector of Pakistan mostly in the form of hazardous work. The main objective of the study was to investigate the degree of knowledge of cotton growers on child labor issue with special reference to Decent Work of International Labor Organization (ILO). The study was conducted in Bahawalpur district where Decent Work has been implemented by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Pakistan since 2013 as a part of its Sustainable Agriculture Program. Three categories of farmers were identified among a total of 388 selected cotton growers i.e. Farmers having high level of awareness, farmers having basic level of awareness and farmers having no awareness of child labor. Farmers were also categorized into three groups on the basis of their land holding i.e. (Category ‘a’) 1-7 acres, (b) >7-20 acres and (c) >20-50 acres. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistical method. Among category ‘a’ 7.5%, 88.7% and 3.7% of the farmers had advance, basic and no awareness, respectively. Among category ‘b’ 7.2%, 88.5% and4.2% farmers had advance, basic and no awareness, respectively. Among category ‘c’ 5.8%, 90.2% and 3.9% farmers had advance, basic and no awareness, respectively. Since there was a large proportion of those farmers who have only basic level of awareness on child labor among all the three land holding categories, therefore, there is a need to educate farmers on preventing child labor at their farms to promote sustainable cotton

Medicinal Potential of Jamun (Syzygium cumini Linn): A Review

Unani System of Medicine (USM) is being practised as traditional, alternative and complementary medicine in India and other countries. In this system of medicine, medicinal plants are extensively used in the treatment of various kind of diseases since time immemorial. Herbo-mineral origin drugs are the main components of Unani Pharmacopoeia. Jamun (Syzygium cumini Linn) is one of the medicinal plants used for therapeutic purposes in Dhayābīṭus Ḥārr (diabetes mellitus),  Ishāl-e- Damwī (haemorrhagic diarrhoea), Is’haal-i-Safrāwī (bilious diarrhoea), Ḍu‘f al-Ishtihā’(loss of appetite), Zaḥīr (dysentery) and Qulā (oral ulcer). In recent past its fruits, seeds, leaves, stem bark and its secondary metabolites have shown medicinal properties in various experimental and clinical studies. In this review we have tried to explore its ethno-botanical uses and pharmacological actions described in classical literature and scientific publications based on experimental studies. It is found that this plant plays an important role in prevention and management of non-communicable diseases such as Dhayābīṭus Ḥārr (diabetes mellitus), Sarṭān (cancer), Niqris (gout), ischaemic heart disease etc. Several preclinical studies have revealed that it has Muḥallil-i- Awrām (anti-inflammatory), Muḥāfiẓ-i- Qalb (cardio protective), Dafi‘-i-Ḥummā (anti-pyretic) and Muqawwī-i-Jigar (hepatotonic) properties. It also possesses anti-diabetic potential activity and considered as a potent anti-diabetic plant. Keywords: Unani, Jamun, Syzygium, Antidiabetic, Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotectiv