Adaptive variable sampling model for performance analysis in high cache-performance computing environments.

High-performance computing provides computing power for a variety of scientific disciplines, supporting advancements by offering insights beyond metacognition. Maximizing computing performance without wasting resources is a major research issue. Predicting the performance of a computer's next state is effective for scheduling. However, hardware performance monitors representing the computer's state require high expert knowledge, and there is no standardized model. In this paper, we propose an adaptive variable sampling model for performance analysis in high-performance computing environments. Our method automatically classifies the optimal variables from numerous variables related to performance prediction and predicts performance using the sampled variables. The optimal variables for performance analysis do not require expert knowledge during the sampling process. We conducted experiments in various architectures and applications to validate this method. This model performed at least 24.25% and up to 58.75% faster without any loss in accuracy.

Complex disaster response framework to reduce urban disaster vulnerability.

Cities are vulnerable to a range of disasters that can occur simultaneously due to their complexity. Therefore, an effective disaster response plan is needed to reduce the disaster vulnerability of cities. In particular, evacuation route management is important for reducing the losses from a disaster. Efficient disaster response can be realized by searching for suitable evacuation routes and effective road network management. In this paper, we propose a disaster response framework based on a multilayered road network structure and evacuation routes based on our road network. The suggested road structure consists of three layers for the effective management of the network. An A* algorithm-based search for multiple evacuation routes under different conditions in response to an individual disaster on the configured road map provides a safe route for evacuees. As a result, the damage caused by disasters in urban areas can be ameliorated.

Thiol-Rich fp-6 Controls the Tautomer Equilibrium of Oxidized Dopa in Interfacial Mussel Foot Proteins.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) is a versatile molecule that enables marine mussels to achieve successful underwater adhesion. However, due to its complicated redox chemistry and vulnerability to oxidation, controlling surface adhesion and cohesion has been a challenging issue to overcome. Foot protein type 6 (fp-6), a thiol-rich interfacial mussel adhesive protein, has been reported as a proteinaceous antioxidant for mussels that helps Dopa maintain surface adhesion ability. In this study, we focused on the role of fp-6 in oxidized Dopa. The effect on the tautomer equilibrium of oxidized Dopa was investigated using recombinant fp-6 (rfp-6) and Dopa-incorporated foot protein type 3 fast variant (drfp-3F), which were produced in bacterial cells. The redox chemistry of Dopa in drfp-3F and the role of rfp-6 were observed using a UV-vis spectrophotometer and a surface forces apparatus (SFA). We discovered that rfp-6 shifts the tautomer equilibrium to ΔDopa as a preferred tautomer for oxidized Dopa in drfp-3F and makes drfp-3F better on underwater surface adhesion.

Critical switching current density of magnetic tunnel junction with shape perpendicular magnetic anisotropy through the combination of spin-transfer and spin-orbit torques.

Recently, magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with shape perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (S-PMA) have been studied extensively because they ensure high thermal stability at junctions smaller than 20 nm. Furthermore, spin-transfer torque (STT) and spin-orbit torque (SOT) hybrid switching, which guarantees fast magnetization switching and deterministic switching, has recently been achieved in experiments. In this study, the critical switching current density of the MTJ with S-PMA through the interplay of STT and SOT was investigated using theoretical and numerical methods. As the current density inducing SOT ([Formula: see text]) increases, the critical switching current density inducing STT ([Formula: see text]) decreases. Furthermore, for a given [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] increases with increasing thickness, whereas [Formula: see text] decreases as the diameter increases. Moreover, [Formula: see text] in the plane of thickness and spin-orbit field-like torque ([Formula: see text]) was investigated for a fixed [Formula: see text] and diameter. Although [Formula: see text] decreases with increasing [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] slowly increases with increasing thickness and increasing [Formula: see text]. The power consumption was investigated as a function of thickness and diameter at the critical switching current density. Experimental confirmation of these results using existing experimental techniques is anticipated.

Oriented in situ immobilization of a functional tyrosinase on microcrystalline cellulose effectively incorporates DOPA residues in bioengineered mussel adhesive protein.

BACKGROUND: Catechol-containing polymers such as mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) are attractive as biocompatible adhesive biomaterials, and the catecholic amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (DOPA) is considered a key molecule in underwater mussel adhesion. Tyrosinases can specifically convert tyrosine to DOPA without any cofactors. However, their catalytic properties still need to be adjusted to minimize unwanted DOPA oxidation via their diphenolase activity and catechol instability at neutral and basic pH values in the reaction products. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this work, we constructed a novel functional tyrosinase, mTyr-CNK_CBM, by fusion of mTyr-CNK with a cellulose-binding motif (CBM) for oriented in situ immobilization on microcrystalline cellulose via the C-terminal CBM without any additional purification steps. mTyr-CNK_CBM showed optimal catalytic activity at pH 4.5-6.5 and room temperature and had a high monophenolase/diphenolase activity ratio (Vmax mono/Vmax di = 2.08 at pH 6 and 25°C). mTyr-CNK_CBM exhibited 2.17-fold higher (as a unimmobilized free enzyme) and similarly high (upon immobilization) in vitro DOPA modification of a bioengineered MAP compared to a commercially available mushroom tyrosinase. Moreover, the immobilized mTyr-CNK_CBM showed long-term storability and improved reusability. CONCLUSIONS: These results clearly demonstrate a strong potential for practical use of immobilized mTyr-CNK_CBM as a monophenol monooxygenase in preparing biocompatible DOPA-tethered biomaterials and other catechol-containing polymers.

Enhancement of perceived body ownership in virtual reality-based teleoperation may backfire in the execution of high-risk tasks.

Guided by previous research on the role of embodiment in virtual environments, this study aimed to investigate the potential effects of using human-like (compared to robotic) virtual hands on work performances in the context of virtual reality (VR)-based teleoperation of high-risk machinery. A 2 × 2 mixed factorial design experiment (N = 74), with the virtual hand representation as a within-subjects factor (robotic vs. human-like virtual hands) and the risk of danger as a between-subjects factor (low vs. high), was conducted to examine the effects of virtual hand representations (i.e., human-likeness) on perceived body ownership (i.e., embodiment), risk perception, intention to work using the teleoperator, and work performance (i.e., the number of successful task completions). In addition, the moderating effects of the risk of danger on the relationship between perceived body ownership and risk perception were explored. Results showed that the enhancement of perceived body ownership in VR-based teleoperation, induced by the use of human-like hands, increased the risk perception and degraded workers' task performances in the execution of high-risk tasks. Further implications of the findings were discussed.

Harnessing the bioresponsive adhesion of immuno-bioglue for enhanced local immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

Despite the great promise of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy for cancer treatment, the currently available options for ICB treatment pose major clinical challenges, including the risk of severe systemic autoimmune responses. Here, we developed a novel localized delivery platform, immuno-bioglue (imuGlue), which is inspired by the intrinsic underwater adhesion properties of marine mussels and can allow the optimal retention of anti-PD-L1 drugs at tumor sites and the on-demand release of drugs in response to the tumor microenvironment. Using a triple-negative breast cancer and melanoma models, we found that imuGlue could significantly enhance anti-tumor efficacy by eliciting a robust T cell-mediated immune response while reducing systemic toxicity by preventing the rapid diffusion of anti-PD-L1 drugs into the systemic circulation and other tissues. It was also demonstrated that imuGlue could be successfully utilized for combination therapy with other immunomodulatory drugs to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of ICB-based immunotherapy, demonstrating its versatility as a new treatment option for cancer immunotherapy.

Enhanced production of Dopa-incorporated mussel adhesive protein using engineered translational machineries.

Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) have great potential as bioglues, particularly in wet conditions. Although in vivo residue-specific incorporation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) in tyrosine-auxotrophic Escherichia coli cells allows for production of Dopa-incorporated bioengineered MAPs (dMAPs), the low production yield hinders the practical application of dMAPs. This low production yield of dMAPs is due to low translational activity of a noncanonical amino acid, Dopa, in E. coli cells. Herein, to enhance the production yield of dMAPs, we investigated the coexpression of Dopa-recognizing tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases (TyrRSs). To use the Dopa-specific Methanococcus jannaschii TyrRS (MjTyrRS-Dopa), we altered the anticodon of tyrosyl-tRNA amber suppressor into AUA (MjtRNATyrAUA ) to recognize a tyrosine codon (AUA). Co-overexpression of MjTyrRS-Dopa and MjtRNATyrAUA increased the production yield of Dopa-incorporated MAP foot protein type 3 (dfp-3) by 57%. Similarly, overexpression of E. coli TyrRS (EcTyrRS) led to a 72% higher production yield of dfp-3. Even with coexpression of Dopa-recognizing TyrRSs, dfp-3 has a high Dopa incorporation yield (over 90%) compared to ones prepared without TyrRS coexpression.

The position of lysine controls the catechol-mediated surface adhesion and cohesion in underwater mussel adhesion.

Intensive studies have found that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) is one of the key molecules for underwater mussel adhesion. Although basic mechanisms of mussel adhesion have been elucidated, little is known about how mussels control the balance between surface adhesion and cohesion, which is critical for successful adhesion without peeling and/or tearing. In this work, we focused on lysine (Lys) molecules which are frequently flanked to Dopa residues in interfacial adhesive proteins, specifically their synergy and anti-synergy on surface adhesion and cohesion. Three model peptides were designed to characterize flanking Lys effects. Through nano-mechanistic analyses, we found that flanking Lys enhanced surface adhesion but disrupted Fe3+-mediated cohesion. Through nuclear magnetic resonance analyses and density functional theory calculations, we corroborated the synergetic effect on surface adhesion and anti-synergetic effect on cohesion. We also confirmed the consistency of flanking Lys effects in the actual protein system. Thus, we, for the first time, discovered that each Dopa molecule in interfacial adhesive proteins is participated in surface adhesion and cohesion differently through controlling the existence of flanking Lys. Our discovery enlightens how nature designs adhesive proteins through according roles of Dopa.

Uncanny Valley Effects on Friendship Decisions in Virtual Social Networking Service.

Drawing on the uncanny valley effects (UVE) hypothesis and related works on avatar-based interactions, this study investigates the role of UVE (i.e., a feeling of eeriness), induced by avatar realism and animacy, on the perceived trustworthiness (PT) of an avatar user, and subsequent decisions to befriend that avatar user in a virtual social networking service (SNS). Specifically, the current study examines whether (1) the realism (hyperrealistic vs. cartoonish) and animacy (animate vs. still) of avatars, rendered through a 3D scanning technology, will induce a feeling of eeriness as a result of UVE; (2) the degree to which perceivers experience a feeling of eeriness will negatively bias the PT of an avatar user; and (3) PT, determined by UVE, will serve a role as a gating mechanism for the decision whether to befriend the unknown avatar user in a virtual SNS. Results from a two (realism: cartoonish vs. hyperrealistic) × two (animacy: still vs. animate) between-subjects online experiment (N = 134) indicated that a feeling of eeriness, induced by the realism and animacy of avatars, negatively biased the PT of the avatar user, and this, in turn, led avatar perceivers to reject a friend request sent from the unknown avatar user. These results call into the question the effectiveness of rendering avatar realism in social virtual environments. Overall, the findings of our research provide theoretical as well as practical implications for the design of avatars in virtual SNSs.

CASS: A distributed network clustering algorithm based on structure similarity for large-scale network.

As the size of networks increases, it is becoming important to analyze large-scale network data. A network clustering algorithm is useful for analysis of network data. Conventional network clustering algorithms in a single machine environment rather than a parallel machine environment are actively being researched. However, these algorithms cannot analyze large-scale network data because of memory size issues. As a solution, we propose a network clustering algorithm for large-scale network data analysis using Apache Spark by changing the paradigm of the conventional clustering algorithm to improve its efficiency in the Apache Spark environment. We also apply optimization approaches such as Bloom filter and shuffle selection to reduce memory usage and execution time. By evaluating our proposed algorithm based on an average normalized cut, we confirmed that the algorithm can analyze diverse large-scale network datasets such as biological, co-authorship, internet topology and social networks. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can develop more accurate clusters than comparative algorithms with less memory usage. Furthermore, we confirm the proposed optimization approaches and the scalability of the proposed algorithm. In addition, we validate that clusters found from the proposed algorithm can represent biologically meaningful functions.

Effects of Si/SiO2 interface stress on the performance of ultra-thin-body field effect transistors: a first-principles study.

First-principles density functional theory (DFT) based device simulations are performed for Si ultra-thin-body (UTB) field effect transistors with the explicit SiO2 atoms in the gate dielectric. In order to evaluate the Si/SiO2 interface stress effects on the UTB device performance, the interface stress tensor is extracted from the Si/SiO2 atomic structure by DFT calculations. The influence of the interface stress on the transport properties is examined through full quantum mechanical non-equilibrium Green's function calculations. Based on the analysis of the band structure and transfer characteristics, we demonstrate that the interface stress can characterize the overall effects of the SiO2 gate dielectric on the device performance in the nanoscale regime.

To Be Connected or Not To Be Connected? Mobile Messenger Overload, Fatigue, and Mobile Shunning.

With the increased adoption of mobile devices, mobile communication is all around us and we are connected anywhere, anytime. Mobile communication in general and mobile messenger service in particular make interpersonal communication in Korea so frequent and convenient. However, being connected too much anywhere and anytime via mobile messenger service appears to lead an increasing number of people to feel fatigue and to decrease mobile communication under some conditions. Based on a sample of 334 respondents, this study empirically investigated the relationships among commercial, noncommercial mobile messenger overload, mobile messenger fatigue, relational self-concept, and mobile shunning behavior. The findings show that (a) the effect of noncommercial mobile messenger overload is stronger than that of commercial mobile messenger overload in increasing mobile messenger fatigue although both positively affect mobile messenger fatigue, (b) relational self-concept has moderating effects on the relationship between mobile messenger overload and mobile messenger fatigue, and that (c) mobile messenger fatigue triggers mobile communicators' shunning behavior through which the communicators increase their intention to avoid mobile communication, to change their mobile phone numbers, and to subscribe to dual number service on one mobile device. When confronted with mobile messenger fatigue caused by mobile messenger overload, mobile messaging service users are likely to shun their mobile communication. Being constantly and conveniently connected appears to be a blessing in disguise.

Nonorthogonal [Formula: see text] tight-binding parameterization of single-layer phosphorene under biaxial strain and application to FETs.

This paper presents a new set of [Formula: see text] tight-binding (TB) parameters for single-layer phosphorene within the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) scheme. For this, we develop the numerical algorithm to find the NRL TB parameters fitted to ab initio results. It is shown that the proposed NRL TB parameters successfully reproduce the band structure of a single-layer phosphorene, and even under biaxial or uniaxial strain, they appropriately describe the effects, such as modification of anisotropic effective masses and band gap. Via the top-of-the-barrier model, we also investigate the performance of single-layer phosphorene FETs under biaxial strain with the NRL TB Hamiltonian and find that the results are well in accordance with those of previous studies.

The Augmented Cognitive Mediation Model: Examining Antecedents of Factual and Structural Breast Cancer Knowledge Among Singaporean Women.

As knowledge acquisition is an important component of health communication research, this study examines factors associated with Singaporean women's breast cancer knowledge using an augmented cognitive mediation model. We conducted a nationally representative study that surveyed 802 women between the ages of 30 and 70 using random-digit dialing. The results supported the augmented cognitive mediation model, which proposes the inclusion of risk perception as a motivator of health information seeking and structural knowledge as an additional knowledge dimension. There was adequate support for the hypothesized paths in the model. Risk perception was positively associated with attention to newspaper, television, Internet, and interpersonal communication. Attention to the three media channels was associated with interpersonal communication, but only newspaper and television attention were associated with elaboration. Interpersonal communication was positively associated with structural knowledge, whereas elaboration was associated with both factual and structural knowledge. Differential indirect effects between media attention and knowledge dimensions via interpersonal communication and elaboration were found. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Spin nano-oscillator-based wireless communication.

Spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) have outstanding advantages of a high degree of compactness, high-frequency tunability, and good compatibility with the standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor process, which offer prospects for future wireless communication. There have as yet been no reports on wireless communication using STNOs, since the STNOs also have notable disadvantages such as lower output power and poorer spectral purity in comparison with those of LC voltage-controlled oscillators. Here we show that wireless communication is achieved by a proper choice of modulation scheme despite these drawbacks of STNOs. By adopting direct binary amplitude shift keying modulation and non-coherent demodulation, we demonstrate STNO-based wireless communication with 200-kbps data rate at a distance of 1 m between transmitter and receiver. It is shown, from the analysis of STNO noise, that the maximum data rate can be extended up to 1.48 Gbps with 1-ns turn-on time. For the fabricated STNO, the maximum data rate is 5 Mbps which is limited by the rise time measured in the total system. The result will provide a viable route to real microwave application of STNOs.

Effect of silicide/silicon hetero-junction structure on thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient.

We fabricated a thermoelectric device with a silicide/silicon laminated hetero-structure by using RF sputtering and rapid thermal annealing. The device was observed to have Ohmic characteristics by I-V measurement. The temperature differences and Seebeck coefficients of the proposed silicide/silicon laminated and bulk structure were measured. The laminated thermoelectric device shows suppression of heat flow from the hot to cold side. This is supported by the theory that the atomic mass difference between silicide and silicon creates a scattering center for phonons. The major impact of our work is that phonon transmission is suppressed at the interface between silicide and silicon without degrading electrical conductivity. The estimated thermal conductivity of the 3-layer laminated device is 126.2 +/- 3.7 W/m. K. Thus, by using the 3-layer laminated structure, thermal conductivity is reduced by around 16% compared to bulk silicon. However, the Seebeck coefficient of the thermoelectric device is degraded compared to that of bulk silicon. It is understood that electrical conductivity is improved by using silicide as a scattering center.

The influence of ionized impurity scattering on the thermopower of Si nanowires.

The thermopower of Si nanowires was investigated on the basis of electronic transport theory, taking into account ionized impurity scattering as well as electron-phonon scattering. It was found that the enhancement of the Seebeck coefficient in nanowires arising from quantum confinement is unimportant due to the ionized impurity scattering associated with donor deactivation. Furthermore, because the electrical conductivity is degraded significantly as the nanowire size becomes smaller, despite the accompanying slightly enhanced Seebeck coefficient, the reduction of the nanowire size is not beneficial, at least for the thermopower of devices.

Quantum mechanical simulation of hole transport in p-type Si Schottky barrier MOSFETs.

A full quantum-mechanical simulation of p-type nanowire Schottky barrier metal oxide silicon field effect transistors (SB-MOSFETs) is performed by solving the three-dimensional Schrödinger and Poisson's equations self-consistently. The non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) approach is adopted to treat hole transport, especially quantum tunneling through SB. In this work, p-type nanowire SB-MOSFETs are simulated based on the 3-band k.p method, using the k.p parameters that were tuned by benchmarking against the tight-binding method with sp3s* orbitals. The device shows a strong dependence on the transport direction, due to the orientation-sensitive tunneling effective mass and the confinement energy. With regard to the subthreshold slope, the [110] and [111] oriented devices with long channel show better performance, but they are more vulnerable to the short channel effects than the [100] oriented device. The threshold voltage also shows a greater variation in the [110] and [111] oriented devices with the decrease of the channel length.

Hole-effective masses in the transport calculation of Si nanowire pMOSFETs.

The full-quantum, self-consistent simulation of p-type silicon nanowire field effect transistors based on the k * p method is performed and their device characteristics are examined in the light of the hole-effective masses. An attempt is made in this study to assess the role of the hole-effective masses by devising simple, single-band parabolic effective mass (PEM) Hamiltonians and comparing the transport characteristics with the ones from the k * p method. It is found that the PEM Hamiltonian with isotropic effective masses fails to correctly produce both the scaling behavior of the subthreshold currents and the behavior of the on-currents with respect to the silicon orientation. A modified PEM model with light-hole effective mass in the transport direction and quantization effective mass in the perpendicular direction greatly improve the subthreshold behavior for all the silicon orientations, which shows that the top-most light-hole subband dominantly determines the subthreshold behavior. The modified PEM model however overestimates the on-currents, indicating the limitation of the model.