Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of fire danger rating indexes using logistic regression and percentile analysis

Methods are presented for analysing the relationship between fire danger rating indexes and fire activity as a means of evaluating the performance of fire danger rating systems. Percentile analysis is used to examine the data itself; logistic regression provides a means for statistical analysis. Ranking of selected items indicates indexes that deserve further assessment using subjective considerations. Methods rely on generally available data: the fire danger index for every day in the fire season, fire discovery date, and final fire size. For logistic regression analysis, the independent variable is the index, and dependent variables are fire-day, large-fire-day, and multiple-fire-day. Data analysis methods have been incorporated into the FireFamily Plus computer program for easy application. Potential uses of the analysis include choosing the most appropriate fire danger index and fuel model for an area, evaluating proposed changes to a fire danger rating system, and assessing the performance of a system in a location other than that for which it was designed. As a demonstration, this technique was applied to evaluation of several indexes and fuel models of the U.S. National Fire Danger Rating System on the Tonto National Forest in Arizona, USA, using fire and weather data for 1974–2001.
Acceleration of Ventricular Pacemakers by Transient Increases in Heart Rate in Dogs during Ouabain Administration

The present experiments describe effects of transient increases in heart rate on ventricular pacemakers during digitalization. Fifteen anesthetized, vagotomized dogs were studied during ouabain infusion or after recovery from ouabain-induced ventricular tachycardia. Vagal stimulation was used to assess baseline ventricular automaticity and 30-second periods of atrial pacing were utilized to evaluate the response of ventricular pacemakers following different increments in rate. After an average dose of 45 ± 3 (SE) μg/kg of ouabain, vagal stimulation unmasked an automatic ventricular focus in 14 animals and pacing was followed by ventricular acceleration in all 15 animals. The Degrees of ventricular acceleration varied directly with the pacing rate. The increment in ventricular rate above the level unmasked by vagal stimulation averaged 59 ± 4% of the increment in atrial rate. At the higher driving rates, a transient postpacing depression was present before the emergence of a rapid ventricular focus. These findings were unaffected by beta-receptor blockade with 4-(2-hydroxy-3-isopropylamino propoxy) acetanilide (AY21,011). The results indicate that transient increases in heart rate may accelerate rather than depress ventricular pacemakers during digitalization.
Estimating stellar parameters from spectra using a hierarchical Bayesian approach

A method is developed for fitting theoretically predicted astronomical spectra to an observed spectrum. Using a hierarchical Bayesian principle, the method takes both systematic and statistical measurement errors into account, which has not been done before in the astronomical literature. The goal is to estimate fundamental stellar parameters and their associated uncertainties. The non-availability of a convenient deterministic relation between stellar parameters and the observed spectrum, combined with the computational complexities this entails, necessitates the curtailment of the continuous Bayesian model to a reduced model based on a grid of synthetic spectra. A criterion for model selection based on the so-called predictive squared error loss function is proposed, together with a measure for the goodness-of-fit between observed and synthetic spectra. The proposed method is applied to the infrared 2.38-2.60 mum Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)-Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS) data of the star alpha Bootis, yielding estimates for the stellar parameters: effective temperature T eff = 4230 +/- 83 K, gravity logg = 1.50 +/- 0.15 dex and metallicity [Fe/H] = - 0.30 +/- 0.21 dex. Based on observations with Infrared Space Observatory, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and with the participation of ISAS and NASA. E-mail: ziv.shkedy@uhasselt.be (ZS); Leen.Decin@ster.kuleuven. be (LD) â€i Postdoctoral Fellow of the Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders.
The Early and Middle Miocene transgression at the southern border of the North Sea Basin (northern Belgium)

The Lower–Middle Miocene Berchem Formation of northern Belgium is an essentially sandy sequence with a varying glauconite content and often abundant shelly intervals. The formation was deposited in a shallow marine environment and rests unconformably on stiff Rupelian clays or Chattian sands. The lithological recognition of the four members (Edegem Sands, Kiel Sands, Antwerpen Sands and Zonderschot Sands members) of the Berchem Formation solely based on lithological criteria proved to be difficult, especially in boreholes. The geometry of the Formation in the subsurface of northern Belgium remained largely unknown.
Pharmacogenetic implications for eight common blood pressure-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms

Objective: We aimed to test whether eight common recently identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), strongly associated with blood pressure (BP) in the population, also have impact on the degree of BP reduction by antihypertensive agents with different mechanisms. Methods: In 3863 Swedish hypertensive patients, we related number of unfavorable alleles of each SNP (i.e. alleles associated with higher baseline BP) to the magnitude of BP reduction during 6 months of monotherapy with either a beta-blocker, a thiazide diuretic or diltiazem. Results: For six SNPs (rs16998073, rs1378942, rs3184504, rs1530440, rs16948048, rs17367504) no pharmacogenetic interactions were suggested, whereas two SNPs showed nominal evidence of association with treatment response: PLCD3-rs12946454 associated with more SBP (beta = 1.53 mmHg per unfavorable allele; P = 0.010) and DBP (beta = 0.73 mmHg per unfavorable allele; P = 0.014) reduction in patients treated with diltiazem, in contrast to those treated with beta-blockers or diuretics wherein no treatment response association was found. CYP17A1-rs11191548 associated with less DBP reduction (beta = −1.26 mmHg per unfavorable allele; P = 0.018) in patients treated with beta-blockers or diuretics, whereas there was no treatment response association in diltiazem-treated patients. However, if accounting for multiple testing, the significant associations for rs12946454 and rs11191548 were attenuated. Conclusion: For a majority of these, eight recently identified BP-associated SNPs, there are probably no important pharmacogenetic interactions for BP reduction with use of beta-blockers, diuretics or diltiazem. Whether the nominally significant associations for rs12946454 and rs11191548 are true signals and could be of possible clinical relevance for deciding treatment of polygenic essential hypertension should be further tested.
“A Planned Baby Is a Rarity:” Monitoring and Planning Pregnancy in Russia

Russia provides an interesting case for comparative research of maternity care due to the rapid social change and steep fertility decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union. I analyze out-patient maternity care in public sector women's clinics in St. Petersburg on the basis of qualitative observation and interview data. Gynecologists’ role in monitoring pregnancy is central, resulting in an emphasis on medical expertise and risk management. Ideally, gynecologists see themselves as medical experts and maternal caretakers, but the latter role seldom materializes in practice. Gynecologists’ ideas of pregnancy planning demonstrate a wish for further medicalization of maternity care.
DETECTION OF A HIGH BRIGHTNESS TEMPERATURE RADIO CORE IN THE ACTIVE-GALACTIC-NUCLEUS-DRIVEN MOLECULAR OUTFLOW CANDIDATE NGC 1266

We present new high spatial resolution Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) H i absorption and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) continuum observations of the active-galactic-nucleus-(AGN-)driven molecular outflow candidate NGC 1266. Although other well-known systems with molecular outflows may be driven by star formation (SF) in a central molecular disk, the molecular mass outflow rate of 13 M☉ yr−1 in NGC 1266 reported by Alatalo et al. exceeds SF rate estimates from a variety of tracers. This suggests that an additional energy source, such as an AGN, may play a significant role in powering the outflow. Our high spatial resolution H i absorption data reveal compact absorption against the radio continuum core co-located with the putative AGN, and the presence of a blueshifted spectral component re-affirms that gas is indeed flowing out of the system. Our VLBA observations at 1.65 GHz reveal one continuum source within the densest portion of the molecular gas, with a diameter d < 8 mas (1.2 pc), a radio power Prad = 1.48 × 1020 W Hz−1, and a brightness temperature Tb > 1.5 × 107 K that is most consistent with an AGN origin. The radio continuum energetics implied by the compact VLBA source, as well as archival VLA continuum observations at lower spatial resolution, further support the possibility that the AGN in NGC 1266 could be driving the molecular outflow. These findings suggest that even low-level AGNs may be able to launch massive outflows in their host galaxies.
EFFECTIVE USE OF MULTIPLE ERROR-PRONE COVARIATE MEASUREMENTS IN CAPTURE-RECAPTURE MODELS

We study capture-recapture models in a closed population when multiple error-prone measurements of a covariate are available. Due to the identity between the number of captures and the number of measurements, no suitable complete and sufficient statistic exists, and the existing method no longer applies. The familiar strategy of generalized method of moments fails to resolve this issue satisfactorily, and complexity lies in the loss of the surrogacy assumption commonly assumed in measurement error problems. Our approach to this problem through a semi- parametric treatment overcomes these difficulties. The superior performance of the new method is demonstrated through numerical experiments in simulated and data examples.
The Trypanosoma brucei AIR9-like protein is cytoskeleton-associated and is required for nucleus positioning and accurate cleavage furrow placement

AIR9 is a cytoskeleton‐associated protein in Arabidopsis thaliana with roles in cytokinesis and cross wall maturation, and reported homologues in land plants and excavate protists, including trypanosomatids. We show that the Trypanosoma brucei AIR9‐like protein, TbAIR9, is also cytoskeleton‐associated and colocalizes with the subpellicular microtubules. We find it to be expressed in all life cycle stages and show that it is essential for normal proliferation of trypanosomes in vitro. Depletion of TbAIR9 from procyclic trypanosomes resulted in increased cell length due to increased microtubule extension at the cell posterior. Additionally, the nucleus was re‐positioned to a location posterior to the kinetoplast, leading to defects in cytokinesis and the generation of aberrant progeny. In contrast, in bloodstream trypanosomes, depletion of TbAIR9 had little effect on nucleus positioning, but resulted in aberrant cleavage furrow placement and the generation of non‐equivalent daughter cells following cytokinesis. Our data provide insight into the control of nucleus positioning in this important pathogen and emphasize differences in the cytoskeleton and cell cycle control between two life cycle stages of the T. brucei parasite.
Simultaneous support recovery in high dimensions : Benefits and perils of block l 1 / l ∞-regularization

Given a collection of r ≥ 2 linear regression problems in p dimensions, suppose that the regression coefficients share partially common supports of size at most s. This set-up suggests the use of l1/l∞-regularized regression for joint estimation of the p × r matrix of regression coefficients. We analyze the high-dimensional scaling ofl1/l∞-regularized quadratic programming, considering both consistency rates in l∞-norm, and how the minimal sample size n required for consistent variable selection scales with model dimension, sparsity, and overlap between the supports. We first establish bounds on thel∞-error as well sufficient conditions for exact variable selection for fixed design matrices, as well as for designs drawn randomly from general Gaussian distributions. Specializing to the caser = 2 linear regression problems with standard Gaussian designs whose supports overlap in a fraction α ∈ [0, 1] of their entries, we prove that l1/l∞-regularized method undergoes a phase transition characterized by the rescaled sample size θ1,∞(n, p, s, α) = n/{(4 − 3α)s log(p − (2 − α) s)}. An implication is that the use ofl1/l∞-regularization yields improved statistical efficiency if the overlap parameter is large enough ( α > 2/3), but has worse statistical efficiency than a naive Lasso-based approach for moderate to small overlap (α < 2/3). Empirical simulations illustrate the close agreement between theory and actual behavior in practice. These results show that caution must be exercised in applyingl1/l∞ block regularization: if the data does not match its structure very closely, it can impair statistical performance relative to computationally less expensive schemes.
Evidence that deforestation affects the onset of the rainy season in Rondonia, Brazil

[1] Anecdotes from local residents and modeling studies suggest that deforestation may delay the onset of the rainy season (O) in western Brazil, but detection studies using climatological time series are not available. Here we investigate trends in O in the state of Rondonia, Brazil, a region that has been continuously deforested since the 1970s. Daily rainfall data from 16 station time series, spanning periods of at least 25 years, with five covering more than 30 years, are used. We define O as the first day after 1 September with rainfall greater than 20 mm d −1 . A t test indicates that for stations that lie inside the major deforestedarea,Ohassignificantlyshiftedto,onaverage,11days(andupto18days)laterin the year over the last three decades. However, for stations that lie in areas that have not been heavily deforested, O has not shifted significantly. Nonparametric and parametric trend analyses all gave similar results for the change of O with time, and all of the statistically significant results indicated a delay in O. Twenty‐five percent (four) of the stations analyzed showed a marked shift in timing of O: these stations are located inside deforested areas, primarily near the BR 364 highway that crosses Rondonia. Delayed onset may be a result of land use change, and this signal may strengthen in future: current delaying trends may be as great as 0.6 days per year, and after 30 years of deforestation the onset of the rainy season is expected to be 18 days later.
Remote sensing and active tectonics of South India

The Indian Peninsula in general and its southern part in particular has been thought to be a stable shield area and hence inert to younger earth movements and seismicities. However, in addition to fast relapsing seismicities, the studies carried out by earlier workers during the past three decades indicate possible pulsatory tectonism, at least since the Jurassics. The present study is a newer attempt to identify, analyse, and spatially amalgamate a large number of anomalies visibly displayed by the tectonic, fluvial, coastal, and hydrological systems in remote sensing and ground based datasets/observations, and to finally paint a fair picture on the active tectonic scenario of South India. The study reveals that the phenomena, viz. extensive soil erosion, reservoir siltation, sediment dump into the ocean, preferential migration of rivers, restricted marine regression, shrinkage of back waters, withdrawal of creeks, fall of groundwater table, etc., indicate two E–W trending ongoing tectonic (Cymatogenic) archings along Mangalore–Chennai in the north and Cochin–Ramanathapuram in the south. Intervening these two arches, a cymatogenic deep along Ponnani–Palghat–Manamelkudi exhibiting phenomena opposite to the above is observed. In addition, the characteristic tectonic, geomorphic, and hydrological anomalies observed in 1B satellite FCC data, as well as in the field, indicate N–S trending extensional, NE–SW sinistral, and NW–SE dextral strike slip faults. These anomalies and the tectonic features deduced thereupon, indicate that the southern part of the Indian Peninsula is tectonically active due to the northerly to north–northeasterly directed compressive force related to post collision tectonics. This active tectonic model visualized for South India gives a further clue that the whole Indian plate is whirling like a worm with alternate E–W arching and deepening, along with block and transform faulting from Cape Comorin in the south to the Himalayas in the north.
Estimating Progression Rates for Human Papillomavirus Infection From Epidemiological Data

A Markov model was constructed in order to estimate typespecific rates of cervical lesion progression and regression in women with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). The model was fitted to age- and type-specific data regarding the HPV DNA and cytological status of women undergoing cervical screening in a recent screening trial, as well as cervical cancer incidence. It incorporates different assumptions about the way lesions regress, the accuracy of cytological screening, the specificity of HPV DNA testing, and the age-specific prevalence of HPV infection. Combinations of assumptions generate 162 scenarios for squamous cell carcinomas and 54 scenarios for adenocarcinomas. Simulating an unscreened cohort of women infected with high-risk HPV indicates that the probability of an infection continuing to persist and to develop into invasive cancer depends on the length of time it has already persisted. The scenarios and parameter sets that produce the best fit to available epidemiological data provide a basis for modeling the natural history of HPV infection and disease.
Aquatic cycling of selenium: implications for fish and wildlife

Selenium, a non-metallic trace element, is readily accumulated by aquatic organisms. The degree of mobility or cycling rate of selenium in an aquatic ecosystem will largely determine whether toxicity occurs and how long the environmental hazard remains. The selenium cycle is made up of immobilization and mobilization processes that move the element between organisms, water, and sediment, with kinetics determined by chemical and physical factors related to the type of habitat present and its spatial variability. Because of its ability to bioaccumulate and cause adverse reproductive effects at low environmental concentrations, selenium should be recognized as a contaminant with the potential to severely impact fish and wildlife populations.
Dynamic denitrosylation via S-nitrosoglutathione reductase regulates cardiovascular function

Although protein S-nitrosylation is increasingly recognized as mediating nitric oxide (NO) signaling, roles for protein denitrosylation in physiology remain unknown. Here, we show that S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), an enzyme that governs levels of S-nitrosylation by promoting protein denitrosylation, regulates both peripheral vascular tone and β-adrenergic agonist-stimulated cardiac contractility, previously ascribed exclusively to NO/cGMP. GSNOR-deficient mice exhibited reduced peripheral vascular tone and depressed β-adrenergic inotropic responses that were associated with impaired β-agonist–induced denitrosylation of cardiac ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2), resulting in calcium leak. These results indicate that systemic hemodynamic responses (vascular tone and cardiac contractility), both under basal conditions and after adrenergic activation, are regulated through concerted actions of NO synthase/GSNOR and that aberrant denitrosylation impairs cardiovascular function. Our findings support the notion that dynamic S-nitrosylation/denitrosylation reactions are essential in cardiovascular regulation.
A Rule-based Approach for Port Scanning Detection

Intrusion detection has been performed at network and host level for detecting various attacks. Port scanning could be classified as one of the network intrusions. This paper presents a method for detecting port scanning attacks using rule-based state diagram techniques. A set of rules corresponding with the appropriate thresholds was designed for intrusion decision. Experiment results under real environment show that port scanning patterns are successfully detected in real-time.
Emerging drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive and usually lethal lung disorder of unknown etiology. The disease is characterized by alveolar epithelial cell injury, formation of activated fibroblasts/myofibroblasts foci and finally by the exaggerated accumulation of extracellular matrix with the subsequent destruction of the lung architecture. The long-term survival is distinctly poor, with only a 20 – 30% survival 5 years after the time of diagnosis. Actually, regardless of extensive research, no current therapy has been shown to either reverse or stop the progression of this disease. Areas covered: The authors searched the Medline database from January 1990 to December 2010 using search terms ‘pulmonary fibrosis’, ‘fibrosing alveolitis’ and ‘usual interstitial pneumonia’. Several subsets were included: definition and epidemiology, risk factors, clinical behavior, pathogenesis and therapy. For the section of IPF treatment, the authors examined all relevant studies including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies and cross-sectional studies. In this review, the authors describe the current therapeutic approaches, the ongoing clinical trials and some future options based on stem cells, lung bioengineering and microRNAs. Expert opinion: The treatment of IPF represents one of the greatest challenges confronting respiratory medicine and, currently, there is no effective therapeutic option for IPF. Perhaps some of the drugs that are under evaluation in clinical trials will slow the decline of the pulmonary function tests or hopefully stabilize some patients. Nonetheless, it appears clear that new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed.
Recording Lifetime Behavior and Movement in an Invertebrate Model

Characterization of lifetime behavioral changes is essential for understanding aging and aging-related diseases. However, such studies are scarce partly due to the lack of efficient tools. Here we describe and provide proof of concept for a stereo vision system that classifies and sequentially records at an extremely fine scale six different behaviors (resting, micro-movement, walking, flying, feeding and drinking) and the within-cage (3D) location of individual tephritid fruit flies by time-of-day throughout their lives. Using flies fed on two different diets, full sugar-yeast and sugar-only diets, we report for the first time their behavioral changes throughout their lives at a high resolution. We have found that the daily activity peaks at the age of 15–20 days and then gradually declines with age for flies on both diets. However, the overall daily activity is higher for flies on sugar-only diet than those on the full diet. Flies on sugar-only diet show a stronger diurnal localization pattern with higher preference to staying on the top of the cage during the period of light-off when compared to flies on the full diet. Clustering analyses of age-specific behavior patterns reveal three distinct young, middle-aged and old clusters for flies on each of the two diets. The middle-aged groups for flies on sugar-only diet consist of much younger age groups when compared to flies on full diet. This technology provides research opportunities for using a behavioral informatics approach for understanding different ways in which behavior, movement, and aging in model organisms are mutually affecting.