Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lossy coding techniques for high-resolution images

High resolution images are nowadays a common source of data for many different applications; let us consider, for instance, hyperspectral images for remote sensing and geographic information systems. This kind of images allows for exhaustive analysis and provides good classification performance due to their high resolution (either bits per pixel, spatial, or spectral resolution). Nevertheless, this same high resolution, as well as their huge size, imposes a large demand of memory capability and channel bandwidth. To deal with this problem, lossy encoding of such images may be devised. Well known lossless and lossy image coding techniques have been used, but remote sensing and geographic information systems applications have some particular requirements that are not taken into account by the classical methods. There is therefore a need to investigate new approaches of image coding for these applications.
Correlation of the isotopic composition in precipitation with local conditions in alpine regions

[1] Mountains within alpine regions can have a significant influence on the geographic distribution of precipitation and on local- to regional-scale climatic and meteorological conditions. Consequently, the oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of precipitation are affected by alpine topography as well. The Austrian Network of Isotopes in Precipitation, one of the oldest and densest networks in the world, is therefore an excellent source of isotope data of the last 30 years for investigating the complex processes governing the isotopic composition of precipitation in alpine regions. Fractionation during phase change processes leads to significant isotopic variation in precipitation. Here we show that the spatial isotopic variability, especially in alpine regions, is to a large extent due to nonequilibrium fractionation. Additionally, we conclude that meteorological conditions prevailing at the sampling site are mainly responsible for the observed seasonal pattern in deuterium excess. These results are validated by stepwise multiple regression as well as by applying an empirical model for deuterium excess, which is an indicator of the differential behavior of D and 18O values in vapor and precipitation. The present results enhance the development of models based on detailed statistical assessment of local climatic conditions to improve the quantitative interpretation of isotope data for paleoclimatology delivered by glacial ice of alpine regions.
Comment on “Evidence and timing of crustal extension versus shortening in the early tectonothermal evolution of a Proterozoic continental rift sequence at Broken Hill, Australia” by G. M. Gibson, M. Peljo, and T. Chamberlain

[1] Gibson et al. [2004] presented structural and metamorphic histories of three key areas of the Willyama Supergroup, then argued for a high-grade metamorphism and accompanying extensional schistosity commencing circa 1700 Ma. In this discussion the basis for their structural and metamorphic history is challenged, for the following reasons: [2] 1. Their presented data and interpretation of that data are at gross variance with work presented here. [3] 2. Their data and interpretation are at gross variance with that of other structural geologists, several of whose pertinent studies have been ignored. [4] 3. Their reliance on discredited geochronology weakens their interpretation of metamorphic history. [5] 4. The timing of their proposed extensional deformation is at variance with published stratigraphic and geochronological evidence. [6] 5. There is no basis for the postulated high-pressure metamorphism. [7] 6. Major internal inconsistencies and misleading statements within the paper greatly weaken their argument. [8] Gibson et al.’s [2004] article is an outcome of the multidisciplinary Broken Hill Exploration Initiative (BHEI), but the paper was neither discussed with, nor seen by, other key BHEI contributors before publication. It is one of a number of papers and abstracts involving G.M. Gibson and/ or A.P. Nutman, proposing a geological history involving high-grade deformation extending from about 1700 Ma to at least 1670 Ma. Closely linked publications are Gibson and Nutman [2004], the ensuing discussion by Conor et al. [2005], and reply by Gibson and Nutman [2005]. Some discussion of those publications is unavoidable here. 1. Commentary on Structural Interpretations of Key Areas
The Influence of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the Troposphere in Winter in a Hierarchy of Models. Part I: Simplified Dry GCMs

AbstractA dry primitive equation model is used to explain how the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the tropical stratosphere can influence the troposphere, even in the absence of tropical convection anomalies and a variable stratospheric polar vortex. QBO momentum anomalies induce a meridional circulation to maintain thermal wind balance. This circulation includes zonal wind anomalies that extend from the equatorial stratosphere into the subtropical troposphere. In the presence of extratropical eddies, the zonal wind anomalies are intensified and extend downward to the surface. The tropospheric response differs qualitatively between integrations in which the subtropical jet is strong and integrations in which the subtropical jet is weak. While fluctuation–dissipation theory provides a guide to predicting the response in some cases, significant nonlinearity in others, particularly those designed to model the midwinter subtropical jet of the North Pacific, prevents its universal application. When the ext.
Probabilistic stability analysis of excavations in jointed rock

Excavations in jointed rock may liberate rock blocks that may fall by gravity or slide along the discontinuity. The orientation of discontinuities is one of the major input parameters in the conventional deterministic stability analysis of rock blocks. As the mean orientation of a discontinuity is often derived from a large number of joint-set data obtained from site investigation, Fisher's constant is commonly employed to represent the degree of dispersion of individual discontinuity orientation. However, such dispersion factors are rarely used in the conventional analysis. A probabilistic-based approach is proposed in this paper to incorporate Fisher's constant in the stability analysis of rock blocks. To account for the uncertainty reflected by the sample dispersion, data are generated systematically around each mean discontinuity normal, based on its Fisher's constant. The probability of rock block failure at a certain location and the largest possible block volume are determined in a logical manner. A microcomputer program has been developed to automate the analysis, and illustrative examples are shown to demonstrate the importance of incorporating the Fisher's constant of individual discontinuity in the stability analysis. In addition, risk mapping plots are presented to enable visual selection of an optimal route for excavation from one location to another. (A)
Composite Magnetoelectric Transducer of Terfenol-D and Pb(Zr,Ti)O$_{3}$  Plates Bonded on an Elastic Substrate

The megnetoelectric (ME) effect of magnetostrictive Terfenol-D (Tb<sub>1</sub> <sub>-</sub> <sub>x</sub>Dy<sub>x</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub> <sub>-</sub> <sub>y</sub>) and piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O<sub>3</sub> plates bonded on a beryllium bronze substrate is reported. The substrate severs as a frequency determining element and dominates the quality factor (<i>Q</i> <sub>m</sub>) of the oscillator. The device can be regarded as a driven damped system. Its resonance occurs at multimodes where the Terfenol-D plate oscillates at frequencies near the allowed frequencies of the substrate, producing a much greater response to finite AC magnetic field input. The theoretical analysis demonstrates that the ME voltage coefficient (alpha<sub>ME</sub>) is directly proportional to the factor of gamma = <i>Q</i> <sub>m</sub> <i>k</i> <sub>eff</sub> <sup>2</sup>/(1 - <i>k</i> <sub>eff</sub> <sup>2</sup>), where <i>k</i> <sub>eff</sub> is the effective electromechanical coupling factor. The experimental results show that: (i) there are multiple ME response peaks; (ii) the alpha<sub>ME</sub> and <i>Qm</i> are higher than those of the previous reported laminate composites of Terfenol-D and Pb(Zr,Ti)O<sub>3</sub> plates only; and (iii) the factor of gamma is enhanced by the introduction of elastic substrate and the enhancement of alpha<sub>ME</sub> is originated from the increase of the factor of gamma .
LC/MS applications in drug development.

The combination of high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has had a significant impact on drug development over the past decade. Continual improvements in LC/MS interface technologies combined with powerful features for structure analysis, qualitative and quantitative, have resulted in a widened scope of application. These improvements coincided with breakthroughs in combinatorial chemistry, molecular biology, and an overall industry trend of accelerated development. New technologies have created a situation where the rate of sample generation far exceeds the rate of sample analysis. As a result, new paradigms for the analysis of drugs and related substances have been developed. The growth in LC/MS applications has been extensive, with retention time and molecular weight emerging as essential analytical features from drug target to product. LC/MS-based methodologies that involve automation, predictive or surrogate models, and open access systems have become a permanent fixture in the drug development landscape. An iterative cycle of "what is it? " and "how much is there? " continues to fuel the tremendous growth of LC/MS in the pharmaceutical industry. During this time, LC/MS has become widely accepted as an integral part of the drug development process. This review describes the utility of LC/MS techniques for accelerated drug development and provides a perspective on the significant changes in strategies for pharmaceutical analysis. Future applications of LC/MS technologies for accelerated drug development and emerging industry trends are also discussed.
Model-Calculated Seasonal Transport Variations through the Florida Straits: A Comparison Using Different Wind-Stress Climatologies

Abstract A linear, barotropic model of the North Atlantic at 1° ×1° resolution is employed to investigate the effect of using different wind-stress climatologies on the model response at the Florida Straits. The wind-stress climatologies are those of da Silva et al. (DS), Hellerman and Rosenstein (HR), Isemer and Hasse (IH), and Trenberth et al. (TR). For each climatology, the model shows maximum northward transport in the summer and minima in the fall and late winter, in general agreement with transport measurements from cable data (Larsen). However, the amplitude of the model response differs considerably between the climatologies. In the case of DS the range (maximum transport minus minimum transport) is 2.8 Sv (1 Sv=1 × 106 m3 s−1); HR: 3.6 Sv, TR: 5.2 Sv, and IH: 5.9 Sv, compared to a range of 4.6 ± 0.3 Sv derived from cable data. The increased range in the IH case compared to HR is in general agreement with the finding of Boning et al. using the Kiel version of the model that forms the WOCE Communit.
Dust emission and transport mechanisms in the central Sahara: Fennec ground‐based observations from Bordj Badji Mokhtar, June 2011

A detailed analysis of the first ever high‐resolution ground‐based dust observations in the remote central Sahara is presented from observations at Bordj Badji Mokhtar (BBM), taken during the Fennec project in June 2011. Detailed case studies are presented for three dust‐producing mechanisms (cold pool outflows, low‐level jets (LLJs), and dry convective plumes). The results confirm the importance of cold pools in dust emission and transport in the region. Forty‐five percent of the dust over BBM is generated by local emission in cold pool outflows. Twenty‐seven percent of the dust is advected rather than locally emitted dust; on three occasions, it is advected over 500 km to BBM by cold pool outflows. Dust that has been in long‐range transport to the area within such cold pool outflows is found to carry larger particles and be responsible for higher dust loadings than fresh uplift. LLJs are of tertiary importance in the partitioning, responsible for 14% dust over BBM. Dry convective plumes are identifiable in the data but produce much less significant quantities of dust, approximately 2% of the June total. The cube of wind speed has a stronger correlation with dust emission than wind speed. The correlation is strongest (at 95% confidence) for LLJ‐induced emission (0.88), followed by locally emitting cold pools (0.78).
Leaning against the Wind Policies on Vietnam’s Economy with DSGE Model

The global financial crisis of 2007–2008 had a negative impact on many countries, including Vietnam. Many policies have been applied to stabilize the macro-economic indicators. However, most of them are based on old qualitative models, which do not help policy makers understand deeply how each one affects the economy. In this paper, we investigate a quantitative macro-economic approach and use leaning against the wind policies with the Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium model (DSGE) to find a better way to understand how policies stabilize the Vietnamese economy. Based on the framework of Gerali et al., we calibrate the hyper-parameter for Vietnam financial data and do the comparison between the standard Taylor rule and the cases in which we add asset price and credit elements. The results show that the credit-augmented Taylor rule is better than the asset-price-augmented one under the technology shock and contrary to the cost-push shock. Moreover, the extended simulation result shows that combining both asset-price and credit rules on the model is not useful for Vietnam’s economy in both types of shock.
Ground state of two-dimensional quantum-dot helium in zero magnetic field: Perturbation, diagonalization, and variational theory

We study the ground-state properties of two-dimensional quantum-dot helium in zero external magnetic field (a system of two interacting electrons in a two-dimensional parabolic confinement potential ) by using perturbation and variational theory. We introduce a family of ground-state trial wave functions with one, two, and three variational parameters. We compare the perturbation and variational energies with numerically exact diagonalization results and earlier unrestricted Hartree-Fock studies. We find that the three-parameter variational wave function is an excellent representation of the true ground state and argue on how to generalize such a wave function for larger quantum dots with arbitrary numbers of electrons.
THE ORIGIN OF DOLOMITE IN THE ASMARI FORMATION (OLIGOCENE‐LOWER MIOCENE), DEZFUL EMBAYMENT, SW IRAN

Dolomitisation is an important factor controlling reservoir quality in the Asmari Formation in many producing fields in SW Iran. Dolostones have higher average porosities than limestones. Petrographic and geochemical studies have been used to determine the causes of Asmari dolomitisation at the Bibi Hakimeh and Marun fields and at the Khaviz anticline. The formation is generally characterized by a large‐scale trend of upward‐decreasing accommodation. Basal strata were deposited under relatively open‐marine, high‐energy conditions, whereas the Middle to Upper Asmari succession was deposited in relatively protected settings with more frequent evidence of exposure and evaporitic conditions. There is a general upward increase in the abundance of both anhydrite (occurring as nodules and cement) and dolomite.
Real-Time Iterative Spectrum Inversion with Look-Ahead

In this paper, we present an algorithm for real-time iterative spectrogram inversion (RTISI) with look-ahead (RTISI-LA). RTISI-LA reconstructs a time-domain signal from a given sequence of short-time Fourier transform magnitude (STFTM) spectra without phase information. Whereas RTISI reconstructs the current frame using only magnitude spectra information for previous frames and the current frame, RTISI-LA also uses magnitude spectra for a small number future frames. This allows RTISI-LA to achieve substantially higher signal-to-noise (SNR) performance than either RTISI or the Griffin & Lim method with an equivalent computational load, while retaining the real-time properties of RTISI
A Multiband Power Amplifier With a Reconfigurable Output-Matching Network for 10-MHz BW LTE Mobile Phone Applications

A single-chip power amplifier (PA) with a reconfigurable output-matching network is presented for fourth-generation multiband mobile phone applications. The multiband PA (MBPA) consists of an amplifier and a reconfigurable output-matching network [a band selection circuit (BSC) and a tunable transmission line (TTL)]. Multiband load-impedance modulation is done by controlling a p-i-n switch of the BSC and varactor diodes of the TTL in the reconfigurable output-matching network. This MBPA delivered a gain of more than 11 dB, an adjacent channel leakage ratio of the Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) smaller than -32 dBc, and a power-added efficiency larger than 29% at the output power of 26 dBm for high and low frequency bands with a 10-MHz 16-quadrature amplitude modulation Long-Term Evolution signal.
PALEOMAGNETISM OF CRETACEOUS ROCKS FROM EASTERN QIANGTANG TERRANE OF TIBET

Thermal demagnetization has successfully isolated high unblocking temperature characteristic directions from paleomagnetic samples of Lower and Middle Cretaceous redbed formations from eastern Qiangtang Terrane, Tibet. The tilt-corrected mean direction for the Lower Cretaceous is D/I = 57.7°/50.2° with α95 = 10.9° and N = 12 sites, and that for the Middle Cretaceous is D/I = 39.7°/51.6° with α95 = 8.5° and N = 11 sites. Both formations pass the fold test, and the latter possesses two polarities. The magnetization predates the Eocene and was probably acquired during Cretaceous time. Comparison of the mean directions with expected directions from the stable interior of Eurasia indicates significant clockwise rotation but little paleolatitudinal change for the sampling area. Deformation and rotation of these rocks are presumably related to the collision of India with Asia and its subsequent northward indentation into Asia. Existing paleomagnetic data from Tibet and its environs seems to be compatible with a crustal shortening/thickening model (Dewey et al., 1988) in that the continental crust directly north of the Indian indenter was substantially shortened north-south, whereas in the vicinity of the Western and Eastern Syntaxes, latitudinal displacement was minimal but tectonic rotation was very important. More data are needed to further differentiate between this model and the lateral eastward crustal extrusion model (Molnar and Tapponier, 1975).
Min-Sum Decoder Architectures With Reduced Word Length for LDPC Codes

In this paper, we propose an improvement of the normalized min-sum (MS) decoding algorithm and novel MS decoder architectures with reduced word length using nonuniform quantization schemes for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The proposed normalized MS algorithm introduces a more exact adjustment with two optimized correction factors for check-node-updating computations, while the conventional normalized MS algorithm applies only one correction factor. The proposed algorithm provides a significant performance gain without any additional computation or hardware complexity. The finite word-length analysis in implementing an LDPC decoder is a very important factor since it directly impacts the size of memory to store the intrinsic and extrinsic messages and the overall hardware area in the partially parallel LDPC decoder. The proposed nonuniform quantization scheme can reduce the finite word length while achieving similar performances compared to a conventional quantization scheme. From simulation results, it is shown that the proposed 4-bit nonuniform quantization scheme achieves an acceptable decoding performance, unlike the conventional 4-bit uniform quantization scheme. Finally, the proposed MS decoder architectures by the nonuniform quantization scheme provide significant reductions of 20% and up to 8% for the memory area and combinational logic area, respectively, compared to the conventional 5-bit ones.
The dendritic location of the L-type current and its deactivation by the somatic AHP current both contribute to firing bistability in motoneurons

Spinal motoneurons may display a variety of firing patterns including bistability between repetitive firing and quiescence and, more rarely, bistability between two firing states of different frequencies. It was suggested in the past that firing bistability required that the persistent L-type calcium current be segregated in distal dendrites, far away from the spike generating currents. However, this is not supported by more recent data. Using a two compartment model of motoneuron, we show that the different firing patterns may also result from the competition between the more proximal dendritic component of the dendritic L-type conductance and the calcium sensitive potassium conductance responsible for afterhypolarization (AHP). Further emphasizing this point, firing bistability may be also achieved when the L-type current is put in the somatic compartment. However, this requires that the calcium-sensitive potassium conductance be triggered solely by the high threshold calcium currents activated during spikes and not by calcium influx through the L-type current. This prediction was validated by dynamic clamp experiments in vivo in lumbar motoneurons of deeply anesthetized cats in which an artificial L-type current was added at the soma. Altogether, our results suggest that the dynamical interaction between the L-type and afterhyperpolarization currents is as fundamental as the segregation of the calcium L-type current in dendrites for controlling the discharge of motoneurons.
Patterns of appearance and risk of misdiagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in cirrhosis at contrast enhanced ultrasound

Primary aim was to validate the percentage of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICC) which have a contrast vascular pattern at contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) at risk of misdiagnosis with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and, secondary aim, to verify if any characteristics in the CEUS pattern helps to identify ICC.
Influence of dipole–dipole correlations on the stability of the biaxial nematic phase in the model bent-core liquid crystal

A molecular theory of biaxial nematic ordering in the system of bent-core molecules has been developed in the two-particle cluster approximation which enables one to take into account short-range polar correlations determined by both electrostatic dipole–dipole interaction and polar molecular shape. All orientational order parameters and short-range correlation functions are calculated numerically as functions of temperature in the uniaxial and in the biaxial nematic phases, and the results are compared with the ones obtained in the mean-field approximation and in the cluster approximation but without taking into consideration the dipole–dipole interaction. It is shown that short-range polar correlations and, in particular, the dipole–dipole correlations dramatically increase the temperature of the transition into the biaxial nematic phase and enhancing its stability range. The results are also very sensitive to the value of the opening angle of a model bent-core molecule.