Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
E-PEACE analyzed aircraft and satellite measurements to separate the aerosol cloud effects of three synthetic particle sources from dynamical variability . EASTERN PACIFIC EMITTED AEROSOL CLOUD EXPERIMENT

G aps in our fundamental understanding of cloud processes are the central underlying cause of uncertainty in aerosol radiative forcing, even in widespread and well-defined systems such as those for marine stratocumulus cloud formation. Atmospheric aerosol levels have increased markedly since the Industrial Revolution. We do not fully understand the extent to which this increase has affected the cycles of radiant energy and water in the climate system. It has been well established that clouds forming in a polluted environment tend to have more numerous, smaller droplets, which may lead to a cloud of higher cloud optical depth and albedo. Once cloud droplet size and number concentration are perturbed, the dynamics of both the cloud itself and the atmospheric layer in which it is embedded change in a nonlinear manner. Many important questions arise: What is the relationship between cloud microstructure and the aerosol on which the cloud forms? How can the understanding of cloud responses
Determinants of energy efficiency across countries

Yao, Guolin. M.S., Purdue University, May 2014. Determinants of Energy Efficiency across Countries. Major Professor: Wallace E. Tyner. With economic development, environmental concerns become more important. Economies cannot be developed without energy consumption, which is the major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Higher energy efficiency is one means of reducing emissions, but what determines energy efficiency? In this research we attempt to find answers to this question by using crosssectional country data; that is, we examine a wide range of possible determinants of energy efficiency at the country level in an attempt to find the most important causal factors. All countries are divided into three income groups: high-income countries, middle-income countries, and low-income countries. Energy intensity is used as a measurement of energy efficiency. All independent variables belong to two categories: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative variables are measures of the economic conditions, development indicators and energy usage situations. Qualitative variables mainly measure political, societal and economic strengths of a country. The three income groups have different economic and energy attributes. Each group has different sets of variables to explain energy efficiency. Energy prices and winter temperature are both important in high-income and middle-income countries.
Development of a new diabetes medication self-efficacy scale and its association with both reported problems in using diabetes medications and self-reported adherence

Background Although there are several different general diabetes self-efficacy scales, there is a need to develop a self-efficacy scale that providers can use to assess patient’s self-efficacy regarding medication use. The purpose of this study was to: 1) develop a new diabetes medication self-efficacy scale and 2) examine how diabetes medication self-efficacy is associated with patient-reported problems in using diabetes medications and self-reported adherence. Patients and methods Adult English-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from a family medicine clinic and a pharmacy in Eastern North Carolina, USA. The patients were eligible if they reported being nonadherent to their diabetes medicines on a visual analog scale. Multivariable regression was used to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and the number of reported diabetes medication problems and adherence. Results The diabetes medication self-efficacy scale had strong reliability (Cronbach’s alpha =0.86). Among a sample (N=51) of mostly African-American female patients, diabetes medication problems were common (6.1±3.1) and a greater number of diabetes medications were associated with lower medication adherence (odds ratio: 0.35; 95% confidence interval: 0.13, 0.89). Higher medication self-efficacy was significantly related to medication adherence (odds ratio: 1.17; 95% confidence interval: 1.05, 1.30) and inversely related to the number of self-reported medication problems (β=−0.13; P=0.006). Conclusion Higher diabetes medication self-efficacy was associated with fewer patient-reported medication problems and better medication adherence. Assessing medication-specific self-efficacy may help to identify medication-related problems that providers can help the patients address, potentially improving adherence and patient outcomes.
Can Rapid Assessments Predict the Biotic Condition of Restored Streams

Five rapid visual stream assessment methods were applied to 65 restored streams in North Carolina, and the results were correlated with measured macroinvertebrate community metrics to evaluate predictive ability. The USEPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP), USDA Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP), Peterson’s Riparian Channel and Environmental Inventory (RCE), NCSU Eco-Geomorphological Assessment (EGA), and NCSU Stream Performance Assessment (SPA) were applied by teams with expertise in hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and aquatic ecology. Predictions of most macroinvertebrate metrics were improved by re-weighting assessment variables using principal component analysis (PCA) and including watershed factors (e.g., size, slope, land use). The correlations of EGA, RCE, SPA and SVAP assessment results to macroinvertebrate metrics were most improved by variable re-weighting using PCA, while the correlations of RBP were most improved by adding watershed parameters. Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) indicates that PCA re-weighting including watershed parameters improves the predictor model for the total number of dominant EPT taxa more than using the sum total raw points for all five assessment methods. To demonstrate the application of the study results, a single-value index was generated for the RBP method using principal component regression (PCR) based on the EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) taxa metric.
On the structure of edge graphs ii

This note is a sequel to [1]. First let us recall some of the notations. Denote by G{n, m) a graph with n vertices and m edges. Let Kd(ru ., rd) be the complete dpartite graph with r{ vertices in its i-th class and put Kd(t) = Kd(t, ., t), Kd = Kd(\). Given integers n ̂ d(^ 2), let md(n) be the minimal integer with the property that every G(n, m), where m ^ md(ri), contains a Kd. The function md(n) was determined by Turan [5]. It is easily seen that
Sparse Local Discriminant Projections for Face Feature Extraction

One of the major disadvantages of the linear dimensionality reduction algorithms, such as Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), are that the projections are linear combination of all the original features or variables and all weights in the linear combination known as loadings are typically non-zero. Thus, they lack physical interpretation in many applications. In this paper, we propose a novel supervised learning method called Sparse Local Discriminant Projections (SLDP) for linear dimensionality reduction. SLDP introduces a sparse constraint into the objective function and obtains a set of sparse projective axes with directly physical interpretation. The sparse projections can be efficiently computed by the Elastic Net combining with spectral analysis. The experimental results show that SLDP give the explicit interpretation on its projections and achieves competitive performance compared with some dimensionality reduction techniques. Keywordsf-feature extraction; Elastic Net ; sparse projections; physical interpretation;
Oxidative stress due to radiation in CD34+ Hematopoietic progenitor cells: protection by IGF-1

Radiation exerts direct as well as indirect effects on DNA through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Irradiated hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) experience DNA strand breaks, favoring genetic instability, due to ROS generation. Our aim was to study the effect of a range of radiation doses in HPCs and the possible protective mechanisms activated by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). ROS generation was evaluated, in the presence or absence of IGF-1 in liquid cultures of human HPCs-CD34+ irradiated with 1-, 2- and 5-Gy X-rays, using a flow cytometry assay. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression was studied by western blot analysis and visualized by an immunofluorescence assay. Apoptosis was estimated using the following assays: Annexin-V assay, DNA degradation assay, BCL-2/BAX mRNA and protein levels and caspase-9 protein immunofluorescence visualization. Viability and clonogenic potential were studied in irradiated HPCs. The generation of superoxide anion radicals at an early and a late time point was increased, while the hydrogen peroxide generation at a late time point was stable. IGF-1 presence further enhanced the radiation-induced increase of MnSOD at 24 h post irradiation. IGF-1 inhibited the mitochondria-mediated pathway of apoptosis by regulating the m-RNA and protein expression of BAX, BCL-2 and the BCL-2/BAX ratio and by decreasing caspase-9 protein expression. IGF-1 presence in culture media of irradiated cells restored the clonogenic capacity and the viability of HPCs as well. In conclusion, IGF-1 protects HPCs-CD34+ from radiation effects, by eliminating the oxidative microenvironment through the enhancement of MnSOD activation and by regulating the mitochondria-mediated pathway of apoptosis.
Lifetime Exposure to a Constant Environment Amplifies the Impact of a Fructose-Rich Diet on Glucose Homeostasis during Pregnancy

The need to refine rodent models of human-related disease is now being recognized, in particular the rearing environment that can profoundly modulate metabolic regulation. Most studies on pregnancy and fetal development purchase and transport young females into the research facility, which after a short period of acclimation are investigated (Gen0). We demonstrate that female offspring (Gen1) show an exaggerated hyperinsulinemic response to pregnancy when fed a standard diet and with high fructose intake, which continues throughout pregnancy. Markers of maternal hepatic metabolism were differentially influenced, as the gene expression of acetyl-CoA-carboxylase was raised in Gen1 given fructose and controls, whereas glucose transporter 5 and fatty acid synthase expression were only raised with fructose. Gen1 rats weighed more than Gen0 throughout the study, although fructose feeding raised the percent body fat but not body weight. We show that long-term habituation to the living environment has a profound impact on the animal's metabolic responses to nutritional intervention and pregnancy. This has important implications for interpreting many studies investigating the influence of maternal consumption of fructose on pregnancy outcomes and offspring to date.
Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Social Competence in Physically Disabled Adolescents

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of social group work interventions with cognitive behavioral approach on social competence in physically disabled adolescents. MethodsThis was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test and control group design. The statistical population included physically disabled adolescents aged 13-18 years who were referred to the Center of Rehabilitation and Vocational Training in Sanandaj City, Iran, to participate in educational programs. To this end, 30 physically disabled adolescents were selected based on inclusion criteria and were divided into 2 matching groups (intervention and control). Social competence questionnaire was completed by both groups at the beginning and at the end of training. The intervention group was trained for 8 weeks in terms of social competence, whereas the control group received no special training. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS. The Chi-square, Independent samples t-test, and Paired t test were used to verify the study assumptions.ResultsComparing the intervention group with the controls before and after training reveled that teaching patients with cognitive behavioral strategies had a significant impact on increasing their social competence (Mean±SD, 181.66±17.88 versus 120.93±10.47; P=0.0001) and its dimensions (cognitive, behavioral, emotional and motivational) of the former group. DiscussionIt seems that one of the efficient methods to increase social competence among physically disabled adolescents is cognitive behavioral therapy within the social group work. Thus, coaches and teachers of this group are recommended to use this method, to increase their social competence and subsequently increasing their presence in public areas.
GALEX Ultraviolet Observations of the Interacting Galaxy NGC 4438 in the Virgo Cluster

We present GALEX near-ultraviolet (2310 Å) and far-ultraviolet (1530 Å) images of the interacting galaxy NGC 4438 (Arp 120) in the center of the Virgo Cluster. These images show an extended (20 kpc) tidal tail at the northwest edge of the galaxy that was previously undetected at other wavelengths; this tail is 15-25 kpc from NGC 4438's nucleus. Except for in the nucleus, the UV morphology of NGC 4438 is totally different from the Hα + [N II] morphology, which is more similar to the X-ray emission, confirming its gas cooling origin. We study the star formation history of NGC 4438 by combining spectrophotometric data in the UV-visible-near-IR wavelength range with population synthesis and galaxy evolution models. The data are consistent with a recent (~10 Myr), instantaneous burst of star formation in the newly discovered UV northwestern tail that is significantly younger than the age of the tidal interaction with NGC 4435, dated by dynamical models at ~100 Myr ago. Recent star formation events are also present at the edge of the northern arm and in the southern tail, while totally lacking in the other regions, which are dominated by the old stellar population that was perturbed during the dynamical interaction with NGC 4435. The contribution of this recent starburst to the total galaxy stellar mass is lower than 0.1%, an extremely low value for such a violent interaction. High-velocity, off-center tidal encounters such as that observed in Arp 120 are thus not sufficient to significantly increase the star formation activity of cluster galaxies.
Interrelationship between Growth, Inequality, and Poverty: The Asian Experience

This paper examines the relationships between economic growth, income distribution, and poverty for 17 Asian countries for the period 1981–2001. It deals with two distinct but related issues. First, it investigates how much growth is required to offset the adverse effect of an increase in inequality on poverty. This trade-off between inequality and growth is quantified using a tool called the “inequality-growth trade-off index. ” The trade-off index measures how much growth in mean income or expenditure will be required to offset a 1 percent increase in inequality, with poverty remaining unchanged. This is an ex ante analysis based only on one period household survey. Second, the paper looks into the issue of pro-poor growth. This is an ex post analysis concerned with whether the growth process in a country has been pro-poor or anti-poor. Pro-poor growth is defined as growth that benefits the poor proportionally more than the nonpoor. By using a measure called the “poverty equivalent growth rate”, which is a composite index of a level of growth rate and the distribution of benefits of growth, the paper examines both (i) how growth in mean income or expenditure has fared in Asia, and (ii) how the benefits of growth are distributed between the poor and the nonpoor.
p48/STAT-1α-Containing Complexes Play a Predominant Role in Induction of IFN-γ-Inducible Protein, 10 kDa (IP-10) by IFN-γ Alone or in Synergy with TNF-α

Human IFN-γ-inducible protein, 10 kDa (hIP-10) and murine IP-10 (mIP-10) genes are induced by IFN-γ alone, and synergistically induced by TNF-α and IFN-γ. Upstream regions of the human and murine genes contain conserved regulatory motifs, including an IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE), which governs response of the mIP-10 gene to IFN-γ. Trans-acting factors mediating the IFN-γ response via ISRE remain incompletely defined. We examined ISRE-binding factors in the regulation of the hIP-10 gene. The requirement of p48 for hIP-10 induction by IFN-γ, with or without TNF-α, was demonstrated using p48-deficient U2A cells. An hIP-10 promoter-reporter mutant (mISRE3) that was relatively deficient for binding a related factor, IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) but competent for binding p48, was induced as well as the wild-type hIP-10 promoter, supporting the interpretation that p48 played a necessary and sufficient role in hIP-10 transcription. Genomic in vivo footprinting revealed IFN-γ/TNF-α-inducible binding at the ISRE consistent with the presence of p48 and associated factors, but not with IRF-1. Induction of hIP-10 by TNF-α/IFN-γ also required NFκB binding sites, which were protected in vivo and bound p65 homodimeric NFκB in vitro. These results documented the essential role of p48 (complexed with STAT-1α) for induction and sustained transcription of the IP-10 gene, strongly suggesting that IRF-1 is not required for IP-10 induction by these inflammatory cytokines.
Large-Scale Power Spectrum and Cosmological Parameters from SFI Peculiar Velocities

We estimate the power spectrum of mass density fluctuations from peculiar velocities of galaxies by applying an improved maximum likelihood technique to the new all-sky SFI catalog. Parametric models are used for the power spectrum and the errors, and the free parameters are determined by assuming Gaussian velocity fields and errors and maximizing the probability of the data given the model. It has been applied to generalized cold dark matter (CDM) models with and without COBE normalization. The method has been carefully tested using artificial SFI catalogs. The most likely distance errors are found to be similar to the original error estimates in the SFI data. The general result that is not very sensitive to the prior model used is a relatively high amplitude of the power spectrum. For example, at k = 0.1 h Mpc-1 we find P(k)Ω1. 2 = (4.4 ± 1.7) × 103(h-1 Mpc)3. An integral over the power spectrum yields σ8Ω0. 6 = 0.82 ± 0.12. Model-dependent constraints on the cosmological parameters are obtained for families of CDM models. For example, for COBE-normalized ΛCDM models (scalar fluctuations only), the maximum likelihood result can be approximated by Ωn2h1. 360 = 0.58 ± 0.11. The formal random errors quoted correspond to the 90% confidence level. The total uncertainty, including systematic errors associated with nonlinear effects, may be larger by a factor of ~2. These results are in agreement with an application of a similar method to other data (Mark III).
Minimum classification error training with geometric margin enhancement for robust pattern recognition

As a practical discriminative approach to pattern classifier design, the Minimum Classification Error (MCE) training method has been extensively used. In it, classification correctness is represented by a misclassification measure whose positive value corresponds to misclassification and whose negative value corresponds to correct classification. The amount of its negative value is considered to bring in high robustness to unseen pattern samples. However, this effect of the misclassification measure on robustness increase has been questioned in recent studies. In this paper, we clarify the cause of the measure's insufficiency and propose a solution by developing a new MCE training method using geometric margin as the misclassification measure. To maintain the high application generality of the MCE framework, we derive the geometric margin for a general class of discriminant functions and demonstrate the utility of our new MCE method by installing the newly formulated general geometric margin to widely used prototype-based discriminant functions.
Mobility Enhanced RPL for Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we investigate the problem of supporting mobility over RPL (IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low power and Lossy Networks) when applied to route traffic in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). RPL is a routing protocol adapted for information routing with low power, low storage and processing sensor devices, in static topologies commonly found in WSNs, but which is not directly designed for mobile scenarios. Specifically, RPL actively decreases control traffic, at the price of lower reactivity to topology changes. In this paper, we propose to introduce some new mechanisms to the native RPL that reconcile decrease in control traffic and reactivity. They are based on an identification of mobile nodes, and furthermore they enhance RPL behavior in case of node mobility. Our approach will be, henceforth, called ME-RPL (Mobility Enhanced RPL).
Clinical and In vitro Studies of Imatinib in Advanced Carcinoid Tumors

Purpose: Effective systemic therapy options for carcinoid tumors are lacking. We conducted in vitro studies and a phase II clinical trial to explore the activity of imatinib in carcinoid tumors. Experimental Design: Cells of the human bronchial carcinoid cell line NCI-H727 and the human pancreatic carcinoid cell line BON-1 were treated with increasing concentrations of imatinib using standard procedures to assess in vitro growth-inhibitory activity. A clinical trial using a two-stage phase II design to assess the response rate and safety profile of imatinib at a dose of 400 mg given twice daily in patients with advanced carcinoid tumors was completed. Results: In both cell lines, there was a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect. The clinical trial enrolled 27 evaluable patients. Median duration on trial was 16 weeks. One patient had a partial response, 17 had stable disease, and 9 had progressive disease by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. Median progression-free survival time was 24 weeks. Median overall survival is 36 months. Seven patients who achieved a biochemical response had a superior progression-free survival time compared with patients without biochemical response (115 weeks compared with 24 weeks; P = 0.003). An increase in plasma basic fibroblast growth factor was associated with a shorter progression-free survival duration (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Our data suggest that imatinib is active in vitro and has a modest clinical activity in carcinoid patients. Changes in tumor markers may help select patients who are likely to benefit from therapy.
Characterization of the optimal disturbance attenuation for nonlinear stochastic uncertain systems

This paper is concerned with an abstract formulation of stochastic optimal control systems, in which uncertainty is described by a relative entropy constraint between the nominal measure and the uncertain measure, while the payoff is a functional of the uncertain measure. This is a minimax game in which the controller seeks to minimize the pay-off, while the disturbance described by a set of measures aims at maximizing the pay-off. When stochastic dynamical systems are considered, this problem is known to be equivalent to the optimal disturbance attenuation problem arising in H/sup /spl infin// control. The objective of this paper is to derive several properties of the optimal solution. One such property is the characterization of the optimal disturbance attenuation, in terms of the nominal measure and an estimate of the uncertain measure. The characterization is important for computing, as well as comparing, the solution of sub-optimal disturbance attenuation problems to the optimal one.