Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of mesoscale convective systems in South America using multiple satellite products and an object‐based approach

[1] In this study, an object-based verification method was used to reveal the existence of systematic errors in three satellite precipitation products: Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), Climate Prediction Center Morphing Technique (CMORPH), and Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN). Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) for the austral summer 2002–2003 in the La Plata river basin, southeastern South America, were analyzed with the Contiguous Rain Area (CRA) method. Errors in storms intensity, volume, and spatial location were evaluated. A macroscale hydrological model was used to assess the impact of spatially shifted precipitation on streamflows simulations. PERSIANN underestimated the observed average rainfall rate and maximum rainfall consistent with the detection of storm areas systematically larger than observed. CMORPH overestimated the average rainfall rate while the maximum rainfall was slightly underestimated. TRMM average rainfall rate and rainfall volume correlated extremely well with ground observations whereas the maximum rainfall was systematically overestimated suggesting deficiencies in the bias correction procedure to filter noisy measurements. The preferential direction of error displacement in satellite-estimated MCSs was in the east-west direction for CMORPH and TRMM. Discrepancies in the fine structure of the storms dominated the error decomposition of all satellite products. Errors in the spatial location of the systems influenced the magnitude of simulated peaks but did not have a significant impact on the timing indicating that the system's response to precipitation was mitigating the effect of the errors.
JAPANESE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THAILAND : AN EMPIRICAL AND QUALITATIVE POST-CRISIS ANALYSIS

Our analysis of archival data on 1,629 Japanese subsidiaries in Thailand compares the extent, sectoral distribution, characteristics and performance (profitability and survival) of these subsidiaries. We also report on the results of a survey and field interviews conducted in Japanese subsidiaries in Thailand in 1999. These analyses highlight the strategies that Japanese multinationals have implemented in securing a dominant position in many sectors of the Thai economy. The analyses also point to the influences on Japanese firms’ investment and divestment decisions, particularly during the time of economic crisis. Overall, despite the lingering effects of the economic crisis and operational difficulties such as the localization of management, post-crisis, Japanese firms have maintained a strong investment position, with confidence in the long-term prospects for their direct investments in Thailand.
A Framework and Classification for Fault Detection Approaches in Wireless Sensor Networks with an Energy Efficiency Perspective

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are more and more considered a key enabling technology for the realisation of the Internet of Things (IoT) vision. With the long term goal of designing fault-tolerant IoT systems, this paper proposes a fault detection framework for WSNs with the perspective of energy efficiency to facilitate the design of fault detection methods and the evaluation of their energy efficiency. Following the same design principle of the fault detection framework, the paper proposes a classification for fault detection approaches. The classification is applied to a number of fault detection approaches for the comparison of several characteristics, namely, energy efficiency, correlation model, evaluation method, and detection accuracy. The design guidelines given in this paper aim at providing an insight into better design of energy-efficient detection approaches in resource-constraint WSNs.
Structural and microstructural analysis of a palaeo-transform fault zone in the Neyriz ophiolite, Iran

Abstract The Neyriz ophiolite in SW Iran includes a NNW-SSE-trending, steeply dipping oceanic palaeo-transform fault zone that consists mainly of deformed and sheared gabbros and peridotites. Mylonitic rocks within the fossil palaeo-transform fault display C-, C′- and S-band shear cleavages containing green hornblende- and feldspar-rich bands. Deformed hornblendemantled porphyroclasts have symmetrical tails or σ-type porphyroclast systems, which show clockwise stair-stepping rotation and oblique foliation with asymmetrical complex stripes and wings. These microstructures indicate dextral shearing on the palaeo-transform fault. The c-axes of hornblende in high-grade S-C mylonitic rocks exhibit strong lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) patterns with M- and G-type origin. These LPO patterns are asymmetrical with respect to the shear zone foliation and also indicate dextral shearing. The NNW-SSE trend of the palaeo-transform fault is perpendicular to the general NE strike of sheeted dykes and is parallel to the average harzburgite foliation. These observations suggest a noncoaxial shear orientation of mantle flow, which progressively rotated toward parallelism with the fossil fracture zone. This dextral transform fault is inferred to have connected ENE-trending oceanic spreading centre segments in a Neo-Tethyan ocean basin.
Immunohistochemistry for Myc Predicts Survival in Colorectal Cancer

MYC over-expression as determined by molecular means has been reported as a favorable prognostic biomarker in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However MYC expression analysis is not available in the routine clinical setting. We investigated whether immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the myc protein using a novel commercially available rabbit monoclonal antibody [clone Y69] which is currently in widespread clinical use for lymphoma diagnosis could be used to predict outcome in resected CRC. Myc IHC was performed on a tissue microarray (TMA) comprising a retrospective cohort of 1421 CRC patients and scored blinded as to all clinical and pathological data. IHC was also performed on a subcohort of whole section CRCs to assess staining characteristics and concordance with TMA expression. MYC over-expression was found in 980 (69%) of CRCs and was associated with tumor stage and DNA mismatch repair/BRAF status. There was substantial agreement between TMA and whole section myc IHC (kappa = 0.742, p<0.01). CRCs with MYC over-expression demonstrated improved 5-year survival (93.2% vs. 57.3%), with the effect significantly modulated by the dominant effect of tumor stage, age at diagnosis and lymphovascular space invasion status on survival. We conclude that myc status as determined by IHC alone can be used to predict overall survival in patients with CRC undergoing surgical resection.
DCU: Aspect-based Polarity Classification for SemEval Task 4

We describe the work carried out by DCU on the Aspect Based Sentiment Analysis task at SemEval 2014. Our team submitted one constrained run for the restaurant domain and one for the laptop domain for sub-task B (aspect term polarity prediction), ranking highest out of 36 systems on the restaurant test set and joint highest out of 32 systems on the laptop test set.
Monitoring frictional strength with acoustic wave transmission

We monitored acoustic transmissivity of a frictional interface during laboratory experiments where complex slip history was imposed. Frictional strength, which was also tracked continuously, showed complex changes due to various causes such as aging of the interface in quasi‐stationary contact and slip weakening that began with miniscule pre‐failure slip. Albeit such complexity, acoustic transmissivity was found to be a unique function of frictional strength throughout the experiment. This suggests that acoustic transmissivity reflects the resultant changes in load‐supporting contact population that governs the frictional strength of the moment, not the external conditions that have altered contact state. This simple non‐destructive acoustic measurement, which can be applied remotely and continuously, is therefore a robust technique to monitor frictional strength.
Association of MTHFR A1298C polymorphism with conotruncal heart disease

Abstract Congenital heart diseases are common congenital anomalies with 1% prevalence worldwide and are associated with significant childhood morbidity and mortality. Among a wide range of aetiologically heterogeneous conditions, conotruncal anomalies account for approximately one-third of all congenital heart defects. The aetiology of conotruncal heart diseases is complex, with both environmental and genetic causes. Hyperhomocysteinaemia, which is often accompanied by the defects of folic acid metabolism, is known to cause conotruncal heart anomalies. In this study, we have evaluated three polymorphisms in the following two hyperhomocysteinaemia-related genes: methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T and A1298C) and nicotinamide N-methyl transferase (NNMT rs694539) in 79 children with conotruncal heart disease and 99 children without conotruncal heart disease. Genotype distribution of the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups. In the case group, AC and CC genotypes were higher than the control group (p<0.05). We have found that MTHFR A1298C polymorphism is associated with conotruncal heart disease; C allele (p=0.028), AC (OR[95% CI]=2.48[1.24–4.95], p=0.010), CC (OR[95% CI]=3.01[1.16–7.83], p=0.023), and AC+CC (OR[95% CI]=2.60[1.36–4.99], p=0.004) genotypes are more frequent in the patient group. Genotype distributions of the MTHFR C677T and NNMT rs694539 polymorphisms were similar in the two groups when evaluated separately and also according to the dominant genetic model (p>0.05). Our results suggest that MTHFR 1298C allele is a risk factor for conotruncal heart disease.
Regulation of fruit and seed response to heat and drought by sugars as nutrients and signals

A large body of evidence shows that sugars function both as nutrients and signals to regulate fruit and seed set under normal and stress conditions including heat and drought. Inadequate sucrose import to, and its degradation within, reproductive organs cause fruit and seed abortion under heat and drought. As nutrients, sucrose-derived hexoses provide carbon skeletons and energy for growth and development of fruits and seeds. Sugar metabolism can also alleviate the impact of stress on fruit and seed through facilitating biosynthesis of heat shock proteins (Hsps) and non-enzymic antioxidants (e.g., glutathione, ascorbic acid), which collectively maintain the integrity of membranes and prevent programmed cell death (PCD) through protecting proteins and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). In parallel, sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose), also exert signaling roles through cross-talk with hormone and ROS signaling pathways and by mediating cell division and PCD. At the same time, emerging data indicate that sugar-derived signaling systems, including trehalose-6 phosphate (T6P), sucrose non-fermenting related kinase-1 (SnRK), and the target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase complex also play important roles in regulating plant development through modulating nutrient and energy signaling and metabolic processes, especially under abiotic stresses where sugar availability is low. This review aims to evaluate recent progress of research on abiotic stress responses of reproductive organs focusing on roles of sugar metabolism and signaling and addressing the possible biochemical and molecular mechanism by which sugars regulate fruit and seed set under heat and drought.
The Experience of Group Weight Loss Efforts Among Lesbians

Objective: To describe experiences of group weight loss efforts among lesbians participating in a predominantly lesbian weight loss group. Methods: A qualitative study (N = 14 self-identified overweight lesbians) was conducted, incorporating phenomenology and grounded theory in methodology. Focus groups were analyzed using a Template Analysis style. Results: Several themes were identified that contributed to the weight loss experience of the participants. These themes contributed to the development of a model depicting history, components, and relationships among concepts leading to positive weight loss experiences for lesbians. Conclusions: Participants had long histories of shame and fear surrounding weight loss attempts. Weight loss group participants needed cultural connectivity and a sense of safety and acceptance to address issues contributing to weight gain and in order to lose weight and maintain weight loss. Although more research is needed before implementation of a sexual minority women-specific weight loss program, these data are the basis for further exploration into the development of such a program.
Sponge Spicules, Silicification, and Sequence Stratigraphy

Abstract Early diagenetic silica is distributed unevenly in Phanerozoic sponge-spicule-rich carbonate mounds. In Paleozoic mounds, replacive silica occurs principally at the microscopic scale, whereas in Mesozoic strata, it is frequently present as nodular chert. This paper explores the possibility of advective–dispersive loss of dissolved pore-water silica for explaining the contrasting styles of silica cycling in mounds. Four examples of spicule-rich mounds were transcribed into hydrogeological conceptual models: two weakly silicified Paleozoic mounds with stromatactis (Silurian, Carboniferous), and two strongly silicified Jurassic mounds (one stromatactis mound, one sponge mound). Monte-Carlo fluid flow simulations utilized literature-derived ranges of effective porosity while hydraulic conductivity of component hydrostratigraphic units provided quantitative constraints. For the Paleozoic examples, the strata aggrade and prograde, which creates shallowing-upward trends. Mesozoic examples aggrade and retrograde, resulting in deepening-upward trends, and stratigraphic condensation and fluid baffling (interpreted from hardgrounds and black shale). For the Silurian and the Jurassic stromatactis-mound models, simulations of advective–dispersive silica mass transport were performed by applying different compaction-driven fluid fluxes (based on stratigraphic data). The Silurian mound displays vertical flushing, but high silica concentrations prevail in off-mound and flank deposits. The Jurassic case maintains a stratiform-like silica distribution over tens of thousands of years. The two other cases (Carboniferous, Jurassic) used an identical low fluid flux. The simulations which match field observations (silica-depleted mound versus stratiform chert) occur at different time scales, realistic for the Jurassic case but unrealistic for the Carboniferous case because it lacks the required degree of stratigraphic condensation to establish a silica-depleted mound. The results suggest that the variation of fluxes of dissolved pore-water silica in Phanerozoic spicule-rich mounds is controlled by mass accumulation or sediment burial rate. During the Paleozoic, mound formation is commonly associated with shallowing-upward trends (high to intermediate accumulation rates), whereas Mesozoic mound formation more commonly extended into condensed sections with low mass accumulation and respective low rates of compaction-driven fluid flow. The Mesozoic extension of spicule-rich carbonate mounds into the condensed section might be related to an intensification of benthic–pelagic coupling established during the Mesozoic marine revolution.
Magnetic signatures of the distant polar cusps: Observations by Polar and quantitative modeling

Polar cusps are an essential element of the magnetospheric topology. In the outermost regions of the cusp the magnetosheath plasma becomes entrained on magnetospheric field lines and penetrates to low altitudes along field lines on the dayside, causing a significant local depression of B, clearly visible in magnetometer data taken at high latitudes. This study addresses the spatial distribution of the magnetic depression associated with the polar cusp, as derived from a large set of Polar magnetometer data taken in 1996–1998. The depression ΔB was derived as the difference between the total magnitude of the observed field and the one calculated from the International Geomagnetic Reference Field model of the internal field, combined with an external field model. In the noon sector the cusp depression is clearly visible in plots of ΔB versus solar magnetic latitude as a relatively narrow region of large negative ΔB (down to ∼ −80 nT), extending from R ∼ 8 − 9 RE (Polar apogee) to R ∼ 5 – 6 RE. At closer geocentric distances the cusp depression fades out because of a rapid increase of the geomagnetic field toward Earth. The cusp depression also shallows as one moves away from the noon meridian and completely disappears at solar magnetic longitudes ±40 – 60°. The second part of the paper deals with a mathematical representation of the observed polar cusp depression in quantitative models of the geomagnetic field. A method is suggested on the basis of the field deformation technique, making it possible to incorporate a realistic structure of the polar cusps in global models of the magnetosphere.
Risk factors for psychopathology among Chinese children

The present study was designed to examine the family environment and child characteristics associated with psychopathology among Chinese children. A large epidemiological sample of 1695 children aged 6–11 was drawn from 12 elementary schools in Linyi Prefecture of China. Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist, the Family Environment Scale, and a self‐administered questionnaire including a number of items with regard to family, parental, and child characteristics. Results indicated that the overall prevalence of child psychopathology was 17.2%. Logistic regression analyses showed that a number of family and parental, as well as prenatal, perinatal and postnatal risk factors had significant association with child psychopathology. The most notable risks were derived from poor parental rearing with regard to the child’s misbehaviour, low birthweight, and poor marital relations of the parents after controlling for other factors. These findings are consistent with previously reported risk factors for child psychopathology, highlighting the importance of family and early childhood intervention as a measure to prevent child psychopathology in China.
Chandlerism in Post-War Europe: Strategic and Structural Change in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, 1950-1993

This paper examines the Chandlerian model of corporate development in the light of new data on the strategies and structures of large European firms in the post-war period. Conglomerate strategies continue to spread, but these are typically less stable than strategies of diversification. The divisional structure now predominates in Europe, suppressing more indigenous forms. The paper discusses implications both for economic arguments around the resource-based view of the firm and for institutionalist arguments around the spread of American management ideas. The paper concludes that Chandler's original model is remarkably robust to both change over time and differences across countries.
Mast Cell: A Multi-Functional Master Cell

Mast cells are immune cells of the myeloid lineage and are present in connective tissues throughout the body. The activation and degranulation of mast cells significantly modulates many aspects of physiological and pathological conditions in various settings. With respect to normal physiological functions, mast cells are known to regulate vasodilation, vascular homeostasis, innate and adaptive immune responses, angiogenesis, and venom detoxification. On the other hand, mast cells have also been implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases, including allergy, asthma, anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal disorders, many types of malignancies, and cardiovascular diseases. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of mast cells in many pathophysiological conditions.
A comprehensive test of evolutionarily increased competitive ability in a highly invasive plant species.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS A common hypothesis to explain plants' invasive success is that release from natural enemies in the introduced range selects for reduced allocation to resistance traits and a subsequent increase in resources available for growth and competitive ability (evolution of increased competitive ability, EICA). However, studies that have investigated this hypothesis have been incomplete as they either did not test for all aspects of competitive ability or did not select appropriate competitors. METHODS Here, the prediction of increased competitive ability was examined with the invasive plant Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) in a set of common-garden experiments that addressed these aspects by carefully distinguishing between competitive effect and response of invasive and native plants, and by using both intraspecific and interspecific competition settings with a highly vigorous neighbour, Urtica dioica (stinging nettle), which occurs in both ranges. KEY RESULTS While the intraspecific competition results showed no differences in competitive effect or response between native and invasive plants, the interspecific competition experiment revealed greater competitive response and effect of invasive plants in both biomass and seed production. CONCLUSIONS The use of both intra- and interspecific competition experiments in this study revealed opposing results. While the first experiment refutes the EICA hypothesis, the second shows strong support for it, suggesting evolutionarily increased competitive ability in invasive populations of L. salicaria. It is suggested that the use of naturally co-occurring heterospecifics, rather than conspecifics, may provide a better evaluation of the possible evolutionary shift towards greater competitive ability.
A Membrane-bound eIF2 Alpha Kinase Located in Endosomes Is Regulated by Heme and Controls Differentiation and ROS Levels in Trypanosoma cruzi

Translation initiation has been described as a key step for the control of growth and differentiation of several protozoan parasites in response to environmental changes. This occurs by the activation of protein kinases that phosphorylate the alpha subunit of the translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), which decreases translation, and in higher eukaryotes favors the expression of stress remedial response genes. However, very little is known about the signals that activate eIF2α kinases in protozoan parasites. Here, we characterized an eIF2α kinase of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcK2), the agent of Chagas’ disease, as a transmembrane protein located in organelles that accumulate nutrients in proliferating parasite forms. We found that heme binds specifically to the catalytic domain of the kinase, inhibiting its activity. In the absence of heme, TcK2 is activated, arresting cell growth and inducing differentiation of proliferative into infective and non-proliferative forms. Parasites lacking TcK2 lose this differentiation capacity and heme is not stored in reserve organelles, remaining in the cytosol. TcK2 null cells display growth deficiencies, accumulating hydrogen peroxide that drives the generation of reactive oxygen species. The augmented level of hydrogen peroxide occurs as a consequence of increased superoxide dismutase activity and decreased peroxide activity. These phenotypes could be reverted by the re-expression of the wild type but not of a TcK2 dead mutant. These findings indicate that heme is a key factor for the growth control and differentiation through regulation of an unusual type of eIF2α kinase in T. cruzi.