Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactive Effects of Environmental Variability and Military Training on Stream Biota of Three Headwater Drainages in Western Louisiana

Abstract We collected fishes and macroinvertebrates seasonally from eight headwater streams in three different drainage basins (the Red, Calcasieu, and Sabine rivers) crossing Peason Ridge Training Area in west-central Louisiana. Peason Ridge is part of the Fort Polk military training facility. We used multivariate analyses to test the effects of physical variables (i.e., current velocity, depth, and substrate), time (seasonal variability), drainage basin, and military training activities on assemblage structure. Tributaries of the Red River had the highest gradient and were predominated by shallow, swift-flowing runs with sandy substrates. Southern tributaries of the Calcasieu and Sabine rivers were of lower stream gradient and contained deep, sluggish runs and pools with large amounts of woody debris and silt. Fish assemblages were structured primarily by military training and drainage basin. Faunal differences among drainage basins probably reflect differences in stream gradient. Fish assemblages in tr.
Efficiency and Stability of a Financial Architecture with Too-Interconnected-to-Fail Institutions

The regulation of large interconnected financial institutions has become a key policy issue. To improve financial stability, regulators have proposed limiting banks’ size and interconnectedness. I estimate a network-based model of the over-the-counter interbank lending market in the US and quantify the efficiency-stability implications of this policy. Trading efficiency decreases with limits on interconnectedness because the intermediation chains become longer. While restricting the interconnectedness of banks improves stability, the effect is non-monotonic. Stability also improves with higher liquidity requirements, when banks have access to liquidity during the crisis, and when failed banks’ depositors maintain confidence in the banking system.
PPVA: A universal and transparent peer-to-peer accelerator for interactive online video sharing

Recent years have witnessed an explosion of online video sharing as a new killer Internet application. Yet, given limited network and server resources, user experience with existing video sharing sites are far from being satisfactory. To alleviate the bottleneck, peer-to-peer delivering has been suggested as an effective tool with success already seen in accelerating individual sites. The numerous video sharing sites existed however call for a universal solution that provides transparent peer-to-peer acceleration beyond ad hoc solutions. More importantly, only a universal platform can fully explore the aggregated video and client resources across sites, particular for identical videos replicated in diverse sites. To this end, we develop PPVA, a working platform for universal and transparent peer-to-peer accelerating. PPVA was first released in May 2008 and has since been constantly updated. As of January 2010, it has attracted over 50 million distinct clients, with 48 million daily transactions. In this paper, we highlight the unique challenges in implementing such a platform, and discuss the PPVA solutions. We have also constantly monitored the service of PPVA since its deployment. The mass amount of traces collected enables us to thoroughly investigate its effectiveness and potential drawbacks, and provide valuable guidelines to its future development.
Impact of Multidrug Resistance on Tuberculosis Recurrence and Long-Term Outcome in China

Little is known about the impact of drug resistance on recurrence in TB. We conducted a cohort study to measure the impact of multi-drug resistance (MDR) on TB recurrence over nine years in Henan Province China. We reviewed medical records and conducted field interviews of 100 MDR and 150 non-MDR TB patients who were treated between 2001 and 2002. We compared long-term recurrence rates, risk factors, and outcomes in 2010 for 234 individuals who could be followed up. About one third (29.5%, 69/234) suffered recurrence after completion of treatment. The overall recurrence rate was 35/1,000 patient-years (PY), with a much higher rate (65/1,000 PY) among MDR-TB patients. MDR (HR: 2.75; CI: 1.58–4.79) and patient annual household income less than 10,000 Yuan (HR: 2.05; CI 1.11–3.80) were associated with recurrence. The mean time for recurrence among MDR-TB patients was 5.7 years, compared to 7.2 years among non-MDR-TB patients. Among the recurrence group members, 61.3% died, and 18.8% had failed treatments. We believe that the high TB recurrence rate after 9 years suggests that a high cure rate cannot accurately predict long-term outcome. We recommend that TB surveillance and control should be strengthened with a focus on MDR-TB and directly observed treatment, to reduce TB recurrence and transmission of MDR-TB.
Investigation by isoelectric focusing of the initial carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and non-CDT transferrin isoform fractionation step involved in determination of CDT by the ChronAlcoI.D. assay.

BACKGROUND The introduction of a new set of reagents for the determination of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) as a marker of chronic alcohol abuse requires an independent evaluation of the analytic specificity of the test. This information is needed for correct interpretation and classification of test results. METHODS Isoelectric focusing on the PhastSystem(TM) followed by immunofixation, silver staining, and densitometry was used to validate the initial transferrin isoform fractionation step on anion-exchange microcolumns involved in the ChronAlcoI.D. assay. RESULTS The in vitro transferrin iron load was complete and stable. The CDT and non-CDT transferrin fractionation on anion-exchange microcolumns was reliable and reproducible (CV < or = 10%). Except for quantitatively unimportant traces of trisialo-Fe(2)-transferrin (<5% of total CDT), only asialo-, mono-, and disialo-Fe(2)-transferrin were detected in the microcolumn eluates (n = 170). There was a loss of proportionally similar amounts of asialo-Fe(2)-transferrin (during column rinsing) and disialo-Fe(2)-transferrin (on the anion exchanger). Thus, the peak height ratios for disialo- and asialo-Fe(2)-transferrin did not change from >1 (serum) to <1 (eluates) as described for the CDTect assays. The transferrin patterns in the ChronAlcoI.D. eluates were representative of those in serum. Transferrin D variants with isoelectric points close to that of trisialo-Fe(2)-transferrin C1 did not cause overdetermination of CDT by the ChronAlcoI.D. test. CONCLUSIONS The initial CDT and non-CDT fractionation step involved in determination of CDT by the ChronAlcoI.D. assay is efficient for eliminating non-CDT transferrins from serum before quantification of CDT in the final turbidimetric immunoassay. We recommend IEF for validation of other (commercial) CDT analysis methods and of odd CDT results.
Role of Sirtuins in Linking Metabolic Syndrome with Depression

Depression is now widely regarded as a common disabling disorder that affects negatively the social functioning all over the world. Depression is associated with diverse phenomenon in brain such as neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive deficit. Recent studies reported that depression occurs by various metabolic changes, leading to metabolic syndrome. Sirtuins (SIRTs) are NAD+-dependent class III histone deacetylases, known to regulate diverse biological mechanism such as longevity, genomic stability, and inflammation. The modulation of sirtuin activity has been highlighted as a promising approach to reduce neurodegenerative processes. In this review, we summarize the recent discoveries regarding the potential relationship between SIRTs and depression caused by metabolic disorders (Mets). Ultimately, we suggest the possibility that SIRTs will be novel targets to alleviate neuropathogenesis induced by depression.
On blind identifiability of FIR-MIMO systems with cyclostationary inputs using second order statistics

We consider a general n × n MIMO system excited by unobservable inputs that are spatially independent, cyclostationary with unknown statistics. We provide a set of conditions under which the system is uniquely identifiable based on second-order frequency-domain correlations of the system output. Such a MIMO problem appears in many applications, such as multi-user communications and separation of competing speakers.
Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from the River Danube: Antibiotic Resistances, with a Focus on the Presence of ESBL and Carbapenemases

In a clinical setting it seems to be normal these days that a relevant proportion or even the majority of different bacterial species has already one or more acquired antibiotic resistances. Unfortunately, the overuse of antibiotics for livestock breeding and medicine has also altered the wild-type resistance profiles of many bacterial species in different environmental settings. As a matter of fact, getting in contact with resistant bacteria is no longer restricted to hospitals. Beside food and food production, the aquatic environment might also play an important role as reservoir and carrier. The aim of this study was the assessment of the resistance patterns of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. out of surface water without prior enrichment and under non-selective culture conditions (for antibiotic resistance). In addition, the presence of clinically important extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenmase harboring Enterobacteriaceae should be investigated. During Joint Danube Survey 3 (2013), water samples were taken over the total course of the River Danube. Resistance testing was performed for 21 different antibiotics. Samples were additionally screened for ESBL or carbapenmase harboring Enterobacteriaceae. 39% of all isolated Escherichia coli and 15% of all Klebsiella spp. from the river Danube had at least one acquired resistance. Resistance was found against all tested antibiotics except tigecycline. Taking a look on the whole stretch of the River Danube the proportion of multiresistances did not differ significantly. In total, 35 ESBL harboring Enterobacteriaceae, 17 Escherichia coli, 13 Klebsiella pneumoniae and five Enterobacter spp. were isolated. One Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring NMD-1 carbapenmases and two Enterobacteriaceae with KPC-2 could be identified. Human generated antibiotic resistance is very common in E. coli and Klebsiella spp. in the River Danube. Even isolates with resistance patterns normally associated with intensive care units are present.
Convolutional Neural Networks for Authorship Attribution of Short Texts

We present a model to perform authorship attribution of tweets using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) over character n-grams. We also present a strategy that improves model interpretability by estimating the importance of input text fragments in the predicted classification. The experimental evaluation shows that text CNNs perform competitively and are able to outperform previous methods.
Differential effects of varying concentrations of clostridium difficile toxin A on epithelial barrier function and expression of cytokines.

BACKGROUND Presentation after Clostridium difficile infection may depend on the level of epithelial exposure to toxins. We investigated epithelial barrier function and expression of interleukin (IL)-8 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in response to varying concentrations of C. difficile toxin A. METHODS T84 cells were either preexposed or continuously exposed to C. difficile toxin A (0.01-1000 ng/mL). Barrier function was assessed by measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance. RESULTS Preexposure to < or =10 ng/mL toxin A led to an increase in the release of TGF-beta 1, but there was no change in the expression of IL-8. In contrast, after preexposure to >10 ng/mL toxin A, there was enhanced expression of IL-8, but release of TGF-beta 1 was similar to that in control monolayers. After preexposure to >10 ng/mL toxin A, there was complete and irreversible loss of electrical resistance. At lower concentrations, loss of resistance across monolayers was followed by recovery, which was enhanced by all 3 recombinant isoforms of TGF-beta. Pretreatment with recombinant isoforms of TGF-beta or coculture with TGF-beta 3-expressing colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts was also protective. CONCLUSIONS In C. difficile infection, the development and severity of colonic inflammation may depend on the exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to toxins and the expression of proinflammatory (IL-8) and protective (TGF-beta) factors.
On the inner product of truncated Eisenstein series

Introduction . $ 1. The problem . $2. Residues of cuspidal Eisenstein series 83. Exponents . $4. A comparison between two groups . $5. A property of the truncation operator $6. The constant terms of Eisenstein series $7. The negative dual chamber . $8. Coefficients of the zero exponents . $9. Conclusion . Bibliography .
Fewer Women Doing More Crime: How Has the One-Child Policy Affected Female Crime in China?

ABSTRACT China has a massive scarcity of marriageable women; but simultaneously, its rate of female crime has dramatically increased in recent decades, even outpacing the male counterpart. These two seemingly controversial phenomena, which have been ignored or unexpected previously, are connected and explained by this study from a critical perspective. By integrating three theories, it addresses how and when the one-child policy and economic development have influenced the time series of female offending. This study argues that the policy has structurally altered the family socialization of gender and equalized the one-child generations’ life goals between genders but retained inequality in the means to life goals, which has created specific strain for women that may have resulted in a correspondingly rising female crime rate. Based on a quasi-experiment, this study provides a new explanation for the increase in female crime.
Galaxy Groups in the SDSS DR4. I. The Catalog and Basic Properties

We use a modified version of the halo-based group finder developed by Yang et al. to select galaxy groups from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS DR4). In the first step, a combination of two methods is used to identify the centers of potential groups and to estimate their characteristic luminosity. Using an iterative approach, the adaptive group finder then uses the average mass-to-light ratios of groups, obtained from the previous iteration, to assign a tentative mass to each group. This mass is then used to estimate the size and velocity dispersion of the underlying halo that hosts the group, which in turn is used to determine group membership in redshift space. Finally, each individual group is assigned two different halo masses: one based on its characteristic luminosity and the other based on its characteristic stellar mass. Applying the group finder to the SDSS DR4, we obtain 301,237 groups in a broad dynamic range, including systems of isolated galaxies. We use detailed mock galaxy catalogs constructed for the SDSS DR4 to test the performance of our group finder in terms of completeness of true members, contamination by interlopers, and accuracy of the assigned masses. This paper is the first in a series and focuses on the selection procedure, tests of the reliability of the group finder, and the basic properties of the group catalog (e.g., the mass-to-light ratios, the halo mass-to-stellar mass ratios). The group catalogs including the membership of the groups are available on request.
Abnormal Parietal Brain Function in ADHD: Replication and Extension of Previous EEG Beta Asymmetry Findings

Background: Abundant work indicates ADHD abnormal posterior brain structure and function, including abnormal structural and functional asymmetries and reduced corpus callosum size. However, this literature has attracted considerably less research interest than fronto-striatal findings. Objective: To help address this imbalance, the current study replicates and extends our previous work showing abnormal parietal brain function in ADHD adults during the Conner’s Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Method: Our previous study found that ADHD adults had increased rightward EEG beta (16–21 Hz) asymmetry in inferior parietal brain regions during the CPT (p = 0.00001), and that this metric exhibited a lack of normal correlation (i.e., observed in controls) with beta asymmetry at temporal–parietal regions. We re-tested these effects in a new ADHD sample and with both new and old samples combined. We additionally examined: (a) EEG asymmetry in multiple frequency bands, (b) unilateral effects for all asymmetry findings, and (c) the association between EEG asymmetry and a battery of cognitive tests. Results: We replicated our original findings by demonstrating abnormal rightward inferior parietal beta asymmetry in adults with ADHD during the CPT, and again this metric exhibited abnormal reduced correlation to temporal–parietal beta asymmetry. Novel analyses also demonstrated a broader pattern of rightward beta and theta asymmetry across inferior, superior, and temporal–parietal brain regions, and showed that rightward parietal asymmetry in ADHD was atypically associated with multiple cognitive tests. Conclusion: Abnormal increased rightward parietal EEG beta asymmetry is an important feature of ADHD. We speculate that this phenotype may occur with any form of impaired capacity for top-down task-directed control over sensory encoding functions, and that it may reflect associated increase of attentional shifting and compensatory sustained/selective attention.
No-Arbitrage Taylor Rules with Switching Regimes

We study the time-varying nature of U.S. monetary policies summarized by the Taylor rule based on a continuous-time regime-switching term structure model. In this model, the spot rate follows the Taylor rule and government bonds at different maturities are priced by no arbitrage. We allow the coefficients of the Taylor rule and the dynamics of inflation and output gap to be regime dependent and estimate the model using government bond yields. We find that the Fed is proactive in controlling inflation in one regime and accommodative for growth in another. Moreover, proactive monetary policies are associated with more stable inflation and output gap and therefore could have contributed to the Great Moderation. Our analysis also highlights the importance of switching regimes for term structure modeling. Without the regimes, inflation and output can explain less than 50% of the variations of bond yields. With the regimes, the two variables can explain more than 80% of the variations of bond yields.
Validation of the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale in Chinese college students

Using college student samples, two studies were conducted to validate the Chinese version of the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking (DOSPERT) Scale. The results replicated important findings reported by Weber et al. (2002) in the Chinese culture. Risk-taking and risk perception were domain-specific, whereas perceived-risk attitudes were relatively stable across domains, supporting the risk-return model of risk taking. Results of both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed that the ethical, recreational, health/safety, and gambling domains were preserved in the Chinese version of DOSPERT and that the items from social and investment domains formed one factor. This result may be explained by Weber and Hsee's (1998) cushion hypothesis. Other possible reasons for this cross-cultural difference in the factor structure were also discussed.
Alcohol Consumption and Gastric Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Background We sought to determine by meta-analysis the relationship between drinking alcohol and the risk of gastric cancer. Material/Methods A systematic Medline search was performed to identify all published reports of drinking alcohol and the associated risk of gastric cancer. Initially we retrieved 2,494 studies, but after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, only ten studies were found to be eligible for our meta-analysis. Results Our meta-analysis showed that alcohol consumption elevated the risk of gastric cancer with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.39 (95% CI 1.20–1.61). Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that only a nested case-control report from Sweden did not support this observation. Subgroup analysis of moderate drinking and heavy drinking also confirmed that drinking alcohol increased the risk of gastric cancer. Publication bias analysis (Begg’s and Egger’s tests) showed p values were more than 0.05, suggesting that the 10 articles included in our analysis did not have a publication bias. Conclusions The results from this meta-analysis support the hypothesis that alcohol consumption can increase the risk of gastric cancer; suggesting that effective moderation of alcohol drinking may reduce the risk of gastric cancer.
Automated Access to the NASA- JSC Image Archives

THE FILM ARCHIVES at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, houses the still-frame and motion picture documentation of the U.S. Manned Space Flight Program. While few people would have difficulty recognizing the milestone images stored here, the majority of the collection serves a variety of very specific interests. Access to these images has long suffered from limited intellectual control, but currently an effort is underway to remedy this situation. This article will provide background information on the recent state of the Film Archives and will discuss the goals and methodology of the effort to establish intellectual control over the storage and retrieval of images in this collection.
Network-Based Modeling and Analysis of Systemic Risk in Banking Systems

In the wake of the 2008 financial tsunami, existing methods and tools for managing financial risk have been criticized for weaknesses in monitoring and alleviating risks at the systemic level. A 2009 article in Nature suggested new approaches to modeling economic meltdowns are needed to prevent future financial crises. However, existing studies have not focused on analysis of systemic risk at the individual bank level in a banking network, which is essential for monitoring and mitigating contagious bank failures. To this end, we develop a network approach to risk management (NARM) for modeling and analyzing systemic risk in banking systems. NARM views banks as a network linked through financial relationships. It incorporates network and financial principles into a business intelligence (BI) algorithm to analyze systemic risk attributed to each individual bank via simulations based on real-world data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Our research demonstrates the feasibility of modeling and analyzing systemic risk at the individual bank level in a banking network using a BI-based approach. In terms of business impact, NARM offers a new means for predicting contagious bank failures and determining capital injection priorities in the wake of financial crises. Our simulation study shows that under significant market shocks, the interbank payment relationship becomes more influential than the correlated bank portfolio relationship in determining an individual bank's survival. These insights should help financial regulators devise more effective policies and mechanisms to prevent the collapse of a banking system. Further, NARM and the simulation procedure driven by real-world data proposed in this study have instructional value to similar research areas such as bank stress testing, where time series data and business networks may be studied.