Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Origin of the Intraseasonal Variability over the North Pacific in Boreal Summer

AbstractThe spatial structure and temporal evolution of the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) in boreal summer over the midlatitude North Pacific Ocean are investigated, through the diagnosis of NCEP reanalysis data. It is found that the midlatitude ISO has an equivalent-barotropic structure, with maximum amplitude at 250 hPa. Initiated near 120°W, the ISO perturbation propagates westward at a phase speed of about 2.4 m s−1 and reaches a maximum amplitude at 150°W. A diagnosis of barotropic energy conversion shows that the ISO gains energy from the summer mean flow in the ISO activity region. A center-followed column-averaged vorticity budget analysis shows that the nonlinear eddy meridional vorticity transport plays a major role in the growth of the ISO perturbation. There is a two-way interaction between ISO flows and synoptic eddies. While a cyclonic (anticyclonic) ISO flow causes synoptic-scale eddies to tilt toward the northwest–southeast (northeast–southwest) direction, the tilted synoptic eddies then.
On the Spherical Hausdorff Measure in Step 2 Corank 2 Sub-Riemannian Geometry

In this paper, we consider generic corank 2 sub-Riemannian structures (i.e., nonlinear optimal control problems that are linear in the control and have quadratic cost), and we show that the spherical Hausdorff measure is always a $\mathcal{C}^{1}$-smooth volume, which is in fact generically $\mathcal{C}^{2}$-smooth out of a stratified subset of codimension 7. In particular, for rank 4, it is generically $\mathcal{C}^{2}. $ This result is fundamental to study the diffusion of the heat and other evolution phenomena in sub-Riemannian geometry.
A Day in the Life of a Sim: Making Meaning of Video Game Avatars and Behaviors

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SIM: MAKING MEANING OF VIDEO GAME AVATARS AND BEHAVIORS Jessica Stark Antioch University Seattle Seattle, WA With video game usageand criticism on its activityon the rise, it may be helpful for the psychological community to understand what it actually means to play video games, and what the lived experience entails. This qualitative, phenomenological study specifically explores user behaviors and decisions in the simulated life video game, The Sims. Ten participants completed oneto two-hour long semi-structured interviews, and the data was transcribed, organized into 1,988 codes, which were clustered into 30 categories, and from which six themes ultimately emerged. These resulting themes are: self-representation; past, present, and future; purpose for play; self-reflection; co-creation; and familiarity. The essence of playing The Sims includes a degree of self-representation through gameplay choices, projecting one’s own past, present or future into the game, and play that is motivated by distinct reasons or benefits. Gameplay in The Sims also involves a sense of familiarity, the interaction of inspirations coming from both the user and the game, and the users’ reflections on the connection between themselves and the game. Relationships between the six resulting themes and the current literature on video game psychology are reviewed, and future research and clinical implications are discussed. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, http://aura.antioch. edu/ and Ohio Link ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink. edu/etd.
The Transparency of Galaxy Clusters

If galaxy clusters contain intracluster dust, the spectra of galaxies lying behind clusters should show attenuation by dust absorption. We compare the optical (3500-7200 Å) spectra of 60,267 luminous, early-type galaxies selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to search for the signatures of intracluster dust in z ∼ 0.05 clusters. We select massive, quiescent (i.e., non-star-forming) galaxies using an EW (H α) ⩽ 2 Å cut and consider galaxies in three bins of velocity dispersion ranging from 150 to 300 km s−1. The uniformity of early-type galaxy spectra in the optical allows us to construct inverse-variance-weighted composite spectra with high signal-to-noise ratios (ranging from 102 to 103). We compare the composite spectra of galaxies that lie behind and adjacent to galaxy clusters and find no convincing evidence of dust attenuation on scales of ~0.15-2 Mpc; we derive a generic limit of E(B − V) < 3 × 10−3 mag on scales of ~1-2 Mpc at the 99% confidence level, using conservative jackknife error bars, corresponding to a dust mass ≲108 M☉. On scales smaller than 1 Mpc, this limit is slightly weaker, E(B − V) < 8 × 10−3 mag.
Stochastic Modeling of the Impact of Random Dopants on Hot-Carrier Degradation in n-FinFETs

Using the deterministic version of our hot-carrier degradation (HCD) model, we perform a statistical analysis of the impact of random dopants (RDs) on the HCD in n-FinFETs. For this, we use an ensemble of 200 transistors with different configurations of RDs. Our analysis shows that changes in the linear drain currents have broad distributions, thereby resulting in broad distributions of device lifetimes. While lifetimes are nearly normally distributed at high stress biases, under voltages close to the operating regime, the distribution has a substantially different shape. This observation considerably complicates extrapolation from accelerated stress conditions, thereby suggesting that a comprehensive statistical treatment of the impact of RDs is required.
Physiological ecology of Methanobrevibacter cuticularis sp. nov. and Methanobrevibacter curvatus sp. nov., isolated from the hindgut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes

Two morphologically distinct, H2- and CO2-utilizing methanogens were isolated from gut homogenates of the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes-flavipes (Kollar) (Rhinotermitidae). Strain RFM-1 was a short straight rod (0.4 by 1.2 micron), whereas strain RFM-2 was a slightly curved rod (0.34 by 1.6 microns) that possessed polar fibers. Their morphology, gram-positive staining reaction, resistance to cell lysis by chemical agents, and narrow range of utilizable substracts were typical of species belonging to the family Methanobacteriaceae. Analysis of the nearly complete sequences of the small-subunit rRNA-encoding genes confirmed this affiliation and supported their recognition as new species of Methanobrevibacter: M. cuticularis (RFM-1) and M. curvatus (RFM-2). The per cell rates of methanogenesis by strains RFM-1 and RFM-2 in vitro, taken together with their in situ population densities (ca. 10(6) cells.gut-1; equivalent to 10(9) cells . ml of gut fluid-1), could fully account for the rate of methane emission by the live termites. UV epifluorescence and electron microscopy confirmed that RFM-1- and RFM-2-type cells were the dominant methanogens in R.flavipes collected in Michigan (but were not the only methanogens associated with this species) and that they colonized the peripheral, microoxic region of the hindgut, i.e., residing on or near the hindgut epithelium and also attached to filamentous prokaryotes associated with the gut wall. An examination of their oxygen tolerance revealed that both strains possessed catalase-like activity. Moreover, when dispersed in tubes or agar medium under H2-CO2-O2 (75: 18.8:6.2, vol/vol/vol), both strains grew to form a thin plate about 6 mm below the meniscus, just beneath the oxic-anoxic interface. Such growth plates were capable of mediating a net consumption of O2 that otherwise penetrated much deeper into uninoculated control tubes. Similar results were obtained with an authentic strain of Methanobrevibacter arboriphilicus. This is the first detailed description of an important and often cited but poorly understood component of the termite gut microbiota.
Factors Influencing Audit Technology Acceptance by Audit Firms: A New I-TOE Adoption Framework

Many businesses are now moving to e-business and implementing computerized accounting information systems. This phenomenon has given impact to audit profession in performing IT audit, financial reports audit and tracing electronic source documents. Computer-Assisted-Auditing Techniques and Tools (CAATTs) are audit technologies that allow IT audit work to be performed efficiently, effectively and reduce audit time. However, little is known about CAATTs adoption by public audit firms. This paper presents a new paradigm of Individual-Technology-OrganizationEnvironment (I-TOE) to investigate the acceptance of CAATTs in audit firms. There are gaps that exist in prior literatures which studied CAATTs acceptance from only individual auditor views and did not deliberate on issues from both organizational and individual perspectives. Consequently, this paper contributes to extend the literature by providing a better understanding on relationship of both organizational and individual factors in foreseeing CAATTs adoption and investment. A combination of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2, and TechnologyOrganization-Environment framework are used as the underlying theories. In addition to that, this paper complements the framework with new variables of technology risk, technology task fit, organization readiness and top management commitment. I-TOE framework contributes to professional audit firms that need to measure CAATTs acceptance for the advancement of audit profession. Future experimental studies may be done to provide evidence and empirically validate I-TOE framework in other domain.
Quantitative X-ray Powder Diffraction Analyses of Clays Using an Orienting Internal Standard and Pressed Disks of Bulk Shale Samples

Quantitative analysis of clay minerals by X-ray powder diffraction requires oriented clays in order to increase detection limits of the analyses. This is achieved commonly either by smear or sedimentation techniques; however, these techniques can lead to poor analytical precision when used with an internal standard because they often produce non-homogeneous internal standard—clay mineral mixtures. Compaction of bulk shale material at 8000 psi in an hydraulic press produces preferred orientations comparable to that produced by smear or sedimentation. When used with a suitable platy internal standard which provides an estimate of clay mineral preferred orientation, excellent analytical precision is achieved routinely. Several lines of experimental evidence indicate that 1–5 µm MoS2 is an ideal orienting internal standard for use with compaction mounts.
Optimization of Forward Lighting: Headlamp Intensity and Visibility Along Curves

A field study to measure peripheral visual performance under various headlamp conditions, including conditions typical of halogen and high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps was conducted. The study simulated an approach of left- and right-hand turns. Targets of varying size were located at different locations along the edges of the curves, and different headlamp illumination conditions were used. Eleven subjects aged 21 to 49 years participated in the study. Reaction times and missed targets were measured. The results were consistent with previously published studies showing a benefit of increased peripheral illumination commonly found in HID headlamps on peripheral detection. Perhaps more importantly, these data can be used to make predictions of peripheral visibility under arbitrary beam patterns as a function of target characteristics and headlamp intensity, and could help identify locations within beam patterns where increased illumination is likely to be beneficial when entering curves. The findings of the present study are consistent with the findings of visual benefits with HID headlamps in earlier studies, in that the configuration with illuminance conditions most representative of HID headlamps resulted in improved target detection for targets located along a curve, over the configuration most closely matching the illuminance profile of halogen headlamps.
On Bias in the Estimation of Autocorrelations for fMRI Voxel Time-Series Analysis

For fMRI time-series analysis to be statistically valid, it is important to deal correctly with temporal autocorrelation in the noise. Most of the approaches in the literature adopt a two-stage approach in which the autocorrelation structure is estimated using the residuals of an initial model fit. This estimate is then used to "prewhiten" the data and the model before the model is refit to obtain final activation parameter estimates. An assumption implicit in this scheme is that the residuals from the initial model fit represent a realization of the "true" noise process. In general this assumption will not be correct as certain components of the noise will be removed by the model fit. In this paper we examine (i) the form of the bias induced by the initial model fit, (ii) methods of correcting for the bias, and (iii) the impact of bias correction on the model parameter estimates. We find that while bias correction does result in more accurate estimates of the correlation structure, this does not translate into improved estimates of the model parameters. In fact estimates of the model parameters and their standard errors are seen to be so accurate that we conclude that bias correction is unnecessary.
Land Use Influences Niche Size and the Assimilation of Resources by Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Tropical Headwater Streams

It is well recognized that assemblage structure of stream macroinvertebrates changes with alterations in catchment or local land use. Our objective was to understand how the trophic ecology of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages responds to land use changes in tropical streams. We used the isotope methodology to assess how energy flow and trophic relations among macroinvertebrates were affected in environments affected by different land uses (natural cover, pasture, sugar cane plantation). Macroinvertebrates were sampled and categorized into functional feeding groups, and available trophic resources were sampled and evaluated for the isotopic composition of 13C and 15N along streams located in the Cerrado (neotropical savanna). Streams altered by pasture or sugar cane had wider and more overlapped trophic niches, which corresponded to more generalist feeding habits. In contrast, trophic groups in streams with native vegetation had narrower trophic niches with smaller overlaps, suggesting greater specialization. Pasture sites had greater ranges of resources exploited, indicating higher trophic diversity than sites with natural cover and sugar cane plantation. We conclude that agricultural land uses appears to alter the food base and shift macroinvertebrate assemblages towards more generalist feeding behaviors and greater overlap of the trophic niches.
The Central Role of Morality in Perceived Humanness and Unselfish Behaviors

There is ample evidence for the central role of morality in social judgments. However, research has not examined whether perceived morality of others also drives perceived humanness, nor has it extensively considered its behavioral consequences. These issues were addressed across two studies. Study 1 revealed that information about a target person’s morality increased his/her perceived humanness, which in turn explained positive behavioral intentions toward him/her. Study 2 pointed out that information about a target person’s morality increased unselfish behaviors toward him/her. This effect was explained by perceived humanness of the target. Implications of the relationship between morality, perceived humanness, and unselfish behaviors are discussed.
Event-related potential evidence for a specific recognition memory deficit in adult survivors of cerebral hypoxia.

Transient global ischaemia due to cardiac arrest may lead to profound neuropsychological disorders. Recent research indicates that memory processes are particularly impaired after hypoxic brain injury. Visual recognition memory functions were examined in these patients by means of event-related potential (ERP) and performance data. Eight chronic hypoxic patients, matched with controls for sex and age, performed a visual recognition memory task requiring recognition judgements for either object forms or spatial locations and a visual classification (i.e. oddball) task that imposed negligible memory demands. Reliable P300 oddball effects were obtained both for patients and for controls, whereas the two groups differed in P300 latency and P300 scalp topography. In the memory task, old/new effects (i.e. larger ERP waveforms for previously studied than for unstudied items) were found for the controls. In contrast, in patients these old/new effects were absent or even inverted in polarity while recognition performance was well above chance level, except for one patient. These results suggest that recognition, based on the retrieval of an item's study episode, is degraded in patients who have suffered a period of transient global ischaemia. In the light of the patients' above-chance level of recognition performance and the outcome of post hoc analysis of practice-related changes in recognition performance, it is argued that the patients' memory disorders are best characterized as a degradation of explicit memory functions such as episodic retrieval of a study episode. Implicit functions such as cognitive skill learning were intact.
Power Control and Soft Topology Adaptations in Multihop Cellular Networks With Multi-Point Connectivity

The LTE standards account for the use of relays to enhance coverage near the cell edge. In a traditional topology, a mobile can either establish a direct link to the base station (BS) or a link to the relay, but not both. In this paper, we consider the benefit of multipoint connectivity in allowing user equipment (UEs) to split their transmit power over simultaneous links to the BS and the relay, in effect transmitting two parallel flows. We model decisions by the UEs as to: (i) which point of access to attach to (either a relay or a relay and the BS or only the BS); and (ii) how to allocate transmit power over these links so as to maximize their total rate. We show that this flexibility in the selection of points of access leads to substantial network capacity increase against when nodes operate in a fixed network topology. Individual adaptations by UEs, in terms of both point of access and transmit power, are interdependent due to interference and to the possibility of over-loading of the backhaul links. We show that these decisions can converge without any explicit cooperation and derive a closed-form expression for the transmit power levels.
Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Blood Pressure in Indians: Systematic Review

Introduction. High blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, which accounts for one in every eight deaths worldwide. It has been predicted that, by 2020, there would be 111% increase in cardiovascular deaths in India. Aerobic exercise in the form of brisk walking, jogging, running, and cycling would result in reduction in BP. Many meta-analytical studies from western world confirm this. However, there is no such review from Indian subcontinent. Objective. Our objective is to systematically review and report the articles from India in aerobic exercise on blood pressure. Methodology. Study was done in March 2016 in Google Scholar using search terms “Aerobic exercise” AND “Training” AND “Blood pressure” AND “India. ” This search produced 3210 titles. Results. 24 articles were identified for this review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Total of 1107 subjects participated with median of 25 subjects. Studies vary in duration from +3 weeks to 12 months with each session lasting 15–60 minutes and frequency varies from 3 to 8 times/week. The results suggest that there was mean reduction of −05.00 mmHg in SBP and −03.09 mmHg in DBP after aerobic training. Conclusion. Aerobic training reduces the blood pressure in Indians.
Self-report versus informant-report in the measurement of Māori offenders’ wellbeing

Wellbeing has predominantly been measured using self-report. However, methodological issues have led to an increased interest in informant-report. Mäori literature suggests wellbeing measures should involve the self and others, providing a holistic view of Mäori experience. Given the potential for differing impressions, and the implications of this for Mäori, selfreport versus otherreport approaches to assessing wellbeing is an important area of exploration. This study administered the Hua Oranga wellbeing measure to 60 Mäori male offenders and 11 officers at Waikeria Prison, to investigate the relationship between selfreported and informantreported wellbeing. Data were analysed via correlation coefficients and a generalised linear model. Results indicated significant differences between stakeholders, with offenders reporting higher wellbeing, and greater change in wellbeing over time, than informants. This study may inform future assessments of Mäori offenders’ wellbeing, in terms of the complexities, issues and implications that exist in the differing methods of measurement.
Magnetically Driven Accretion Flows in the Kerr Metric. I. Models and Overall Structure

This is the first in a series of papers that investigate the properties of accretion flows in the Kerr metric through three-dimensional general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of tori with a nearly Keplerian initial angular velocity profile. We study four models with increasing black hole spin, from a/M = 0 to 0.998, for which the structural parameters of the initial tori are maintained nearly constant. The subsequent accretion flows arise self-consistently from stresses and turbulence created by the magnetorotational instability. We investigate the overall evolution and the late-time global structure in the resulting nonradiative accretion flows, including the magnetic fields within the disks, the properties of the flow in the plunging region, and the flux of conserved quantities into the black hole. Independent of black hole spin, the global structure is described in terms of five regions: the main disk body, the coronal envelope, the inner disk (consisting of an inner torus and plunging region), an evacuated axial funnel, and a biconical outflow confined to the corona-funnel boundary. We find evidence for lower accretion rates, stronger funnel-wall outflows, and increased stress in the near-hole region with increasing black hole spin.
A STUDY OF THE COMPETITION OF LECITHIN AND ANTITOXIN FOR CL. WELCHII LECITHINASE

Lecithin has been found to interfere with the combining reaction of Cl. welchii alpha toxin (lecithinase) and its antitoxin. If the lecithinase is first brought into contact with lecithin, and the antitoxin is then added, the antitoxin fails to stop the enzymatic reaction, but gradually decelerates it. If the lecithinase is brought into contact with both lecithin and antitoxin at the same instant, it appears to combine in part with each, and the enzymatic process takes place at a reduced rate, which gradually declines further. If the lecithinase is first brought into contact with antitoxin, before the lecithin is added, the enzymatic reaction is completely inhibited. This ability of lecithin to inhibit the antitoxin-toxin combination cannot be explained adequately as a non-specific coating of the toxin-enzyme by the lecithin. It is rather suggested that lecithin and antitoxin compete specifically for combination with the same regions on the enzyme molecule. Lecithin has similarly been found to interfere with the combination of Crotalus terrificus venom and its antiserum. The above findings provide a partial explanation for the lack of effectiveness of antitoxin when given late in the course of Cl. welchii infection.