Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) Field Campaign

AbstractThe Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field experiment produced an exceptional dataset on thunderstorms, including their dynamical, physical, and electrical structures and their impact on the chemical composition of the troposphere. The field experiment gathered detailed information on the chemical composition of the inflow and outflow regions of midlatitude thunderstorms in northeast Colorado, west Texas to central Oklahoma, and northern Alabama. A unique aspect of the DC3 strategy was to locate and sample the convective outflow a day after active convection in order to measure the chemical transformations within the upper-tropospheric convective plume. These data are being analyzed to investigate transport and dynamics of the storms, scavenging of soluble trace gases and aerosols, production of nitrogen oxides by lightning, relationships between lightning flash rates and storm parameters, chemistry in the upper troposphere that is affected by the convection, and related source character.
Caloric restriction reduces fiber loss and mitochondrial abnormalities in aged rat muscle

The influence of caloric restriction (CR) initiated at 17 months of age was investigated on selected age‐associated measures in skeletal muscle. Tissue from young (3–4 months) ad libitum‐fed, old (30–32 months) restricted (35% and 50% CR, designated CR35 and CR50, respectively), and old ad libitum‐fed rats (29 months) was studied. CR preserved fiber number and fiber type composition in the vastus lateralis muscle of the CR50 rats. In the old rats from all groups, individual fibers were found with either no detectable cytochrome c oxidase activity (COX−), hyperreactivity for succinate dehydrogenase activity (SDH++; also known as ragged red fibers [RRF]), or both COX− and SDH++. Muscle from the CR50 rats contained significantly fewer COX− and SDH++ fibers than did the muscle from CR35 rats. CR50 rats also had significantly lower numbers of mtDNA deletion products in two (adductor longus and soleus) of the four muscles examined compared to CR35 rats. These data indicate that CR begun in late middle age can retard age‐associated fiber loss and fiber type changes, as well as increases in the number of skeletal muscle fibers showing mitochondrial enzyme abnormalities. CR also decreased the accumulation of mtDNA deletions. —Aspnes, L. E. , Lee, C. M. , Weindruch, R. , Chung, S. S. , Roecker, E. B. , Aiken, J. M. Caloric restriction reduces fiber loss and mitochondrial abnormalities in aged rat muscle. FASEB J. 11, 573–581 (1997)
With Sadness Comes Accuracy; With Happiness, False Memory

The Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm lures people to produce false memories. Two experiments examined whether induced positive or negative moods would influence this false memory effect. The affect-as-information hypothesis predicts that, on the one hand, positive affective cues experienced as task-relevant feedback encourage relational processing during encoding, which should enhance false memory effects. On the other hand, negative affective cues are hypothesized to encourage item-specific processing at encoding, which should discourage such effects. The results of Experiment 1 are consistent with these predictions: Individuals in negative moods were significantly less likely to show false memory effects than those in positive moods or those whose mood was not manipulated. Experiment 2 introduced inclusion instructions to investigate whether moods had their effects at encoding or retrieval. The results replicated the false memory finding of Experiment 1 and provide evidence that moods influence the accessibility of lures at encoding, rather than influencing monitoring at retrieval of whether lures were actually presented.
Local Content Policies in the Oil and Gas Sector

A number of countries have recently discovered and are developing oil and gas reserves. Policy makers in such countries are anxious to obtain the greatest benefits for their economies from the extraction of these exhaustible resources by designing appropriate policies to achieve desired goals. One important theme of such policies is the so-called local content created by the sector- the extent to which the output of the extractive industry sector generates further benefits to the economy beyond the direct contribution of its value-added, through its links to other sectors. Local Content Policies (LCPs) were first introduced in the North sea in the early 1970s and ranged from restrictions on imports to direct state intervention in the oil sector. While LCPs have the potential to stimulate broad-based economic development, which is necessary to alleviate poverty and achieve the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), their application in petroleum-rich countries has achieved mixed results. This paper serves to introduce the topic by describing policies and practices meant to foster the development of economic links from the petroleum sector, as adopted by a number of petroleum-producing countries both in and outside the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The paper is organized as follows: chapter one defines local content and briefly illustrates the links between the petroleum sector and other economic sectors (where policies may be able to increase the economic benefits of the petroleum sector). An attempt is made to measure local content levels in a wide sample of petroleum-producing countries including net importers and net exporters, and countries at different stages of economic development to put LCPs in context and to consider if the structure of an economy is a key driver of local content levels. Chapter two discusses the arguments that have been used in favor and against the use of productive development policies in general and LCPs in particular. Chapter three provides an outline of the tools and types of LCPs that have been used by petroleum producing countries, and present their strengths and weaknesses. Chapter four focuses on issues related to the measurement and monitoring of LCPs, and discusses the limitations of alternative metrics. Chapter five provides a description of LCP objectives, implementation tools, and reporting metrics used in a selected sample of oil-producing countries including Angola, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Trinidad and Tobago and draw initial lessons that may be relevant to other countries.
The Ideal MIMO Channel: Maximizing Capacity in Sparse Multipath with Reconfigurable Arrays

While the intense research on multi-antenna (MIMO) wireless communication channels was pioneered by results based on an i.i. d. channel model representing a rich multipath environment, there is growing experimental evidence that physical wireless channels exhibit a sparse multipath structure, even at relatively low antenna dimensions. In this paper, we propose a model for sparse multipath channels and study coherent MIMO capacity as a function of SNR for a fixed number of antennas. In a recent work, we had shown that the spatial distribution of the sparse multipath has a significant impact on capacity and had also characterized the optimal distribution (the ideal MIMO channel) that maximizes capacity at any operating SNR. In this paper, we refine these results and develop a framework for maximizing MIMO capacity at any SNR by systematically adapting the array configurations (antenna spacings) at the transmitter and receiver to the level of sparsity. Surprisingly, three canonical array configurations are sufficient for near-optimum performance over the entire SNR range. In a scattering environment with randomly distributed paths, the capacity gain due to optimal configuration is directly proportional to the number of antennas at low SNR's. Numerical results based on a realistic physical model are presented to illustrate capacity gains with reconfigurable antenna arrays
Clinical simulation of aortic valve: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION About 30 percent of the worldwide death is due to cardiovascular diseases. Clinical simulation is a promising filed that can help to understand diseases, their nature and intervention's effects. The simulated models are flexible and make it easy to study the changes' effects and help to select the appropriate interventions. This narrative review aims to report common methods for the clinical simulation and its merits focusing on the cardiovascular field especially those pertaining to the aortic valve. METHOD The search was conducted on google scholar and PubMed in August and September of 2014 with three queries' categories. We searched among English papers with no limitation on the published year. A qualitative-interpretive approach was used for data extraction. RESULTS Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) is used to simulate and study body structures, systems and their common phenomena. Its two common methods for cardiovascular simulations are Finite Element Method (FEM) and Finite Volume Method (FVM). There were two kinds of the aortic valve simulation: dry models and Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) models. Unlike the dry model, FSI models consider the interaction between blood flow and tissue. Clinical simulation is a promising field allowing statistical analysis and can be used in clinical decision support systems (CDSS) or as a virtual experimental platform as a training system.
Equity Cross-Listings in the U.S. and the Price of Debt

This study examines whether foreign firms raise debt capital more often and at lower rates after cross listing their equity shares in the U.S., and the sources of these debt market benefits. Employing a large global sample from more than 40 countries, we find that firms raise debt capital more frequently in the bond market and issue fewer syndicated loans following an equity crosslisting on a U.S. exchange. Offering yields of bonds are significantly lower after the cross-listing, while syndicated loan spreads do not change. We also find that cross-listed firms are more likely to conduct public bond offerings, at lower rates, instead of placing their bonds privately. Moreover, cross-listed firms domiciled in countries with a relatively weak regulatory and reporting environments issue bonds more frequently outside the U.S., while those located in countries that protect lenders well, issue more Yankee bonds, again at a lower cost. These results support the notion that bonding, information disclosure, and liquidity benefits from U.S. equity cross-listings extend to the debt holders of the firm. JEL classification: F34, G12, G15, G38, K22
Working Paper No. 14. Understanding State-Building and Local Government in Afghanistan.

The paper first briefly proposes an approach to understanding states and their roles, drawing on ideas of institutions and their rules as a means of mediating power. After a discussion of power structures at the subnational level in Afghanistan, the paper then moves on to use this approach to explore two ‘state-building’ initiatives at the subnational level in Afghanistan, showing how attempts to impose ‘bureaucratic rules’ are being resisted. The final section looks at the implications of the international community’s failure to understand the role of 1
Ornithine decarboxylase-1 polymorphism, chemoprevention with eflornithine and sulindac, and outcomes among colorectal adenoma patients.

The ornithine decarboxylase-1 (ODC1) polymorphism at position +316 affects binding by transcriptional activators and repressors and modulates the risk of metachronous colorectal adenomas, particularly in association with aspirin use. We investigated the effects of ODC1 after treatment with difluoromethylornithine (eflornithine)/sulindac or placebo. Two hundred twenty-eight colorectal adenoma patients in a randomized phase III trial were genotyped for ODC1. We used Wilcoxon rank sums tests on non-normally distributed continuous variables across two genotype groups, χ(2) or Fisher exact test to assess the association between baseline categorical variables and genotype group, and log binomial regression for the primary (adenoma recurrence) and secondary outcomes (tissue polyamine response, cardiovascular toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and ototoxicity). All statistical tests were two-sided. In binomial regression models with variables age, sex, race, aspirin use, treatment, and ODC1 genotype, treatment was the only statistically significant factor associated with differences in adenoma recurrence or tissue polyamine response. A statistically significant interaction was detected between ODC1 genotype and treatment with respect to adenoma recurrence (placebo group: GG, 50%, AA/GA: 34%; treatment group: GG, 11%, AA/GA, 21%; P(interaction) = . 038). Excess ototoxicity was observed among ODC1 AA patients receiving treatment, but the interaction of genotype and treatment on ototoxicity was not statistically significant (P = .45).
A Model of Housing Markets with Interdependent Values

This paper offers a "simple" model of housing markets with interdependent values. Here, we introduce private information on the quality of a house, which is known only to the initial owner. An ex-post preference of an agent is assumed to depend on such information. We prove that ex-post incentive compatibility together with another axiom leads to an impossibility: (i) a rule satisfies ex-post individual rationality and ex-post incentive compatibility if and only if it is the no-trade rule; (ii) there exists no rule that satisfies ex-post efficiency and ex-post incentive compatibility; and (iii) a rule satisfies non-bossiness and ex-post incentive compatibility if and only if it is agent-wise constant. Our results differ significantly from those of the private values model in which there exist non-trivial strategy-proof rules that satisfy desirable axioms.
A novel polymorphism in the gene coding for the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor associated with survival in patients with heart failure.

AIMS The adrenergic nervous system is of major importance in congestive heart failure. No genetic polymorphism has previously been identified in the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor gene. The aim of this study was to find possible mutations in this gene and to relate such findings to morbidity and prognosis in heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS Genomic DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes from patients with congestive heart failure (n=184) and from age-matched controls (n=77). The part of the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor gene corresponding to nucleotide 1-255 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analysed by automated sequencing. The patients were investigated by echocardiography and followed regarding symptoms and survival for 5 years. A missense mutation was identified at nucleotide position 145 in the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor gene, which predicted an amino acid substitution at position 49 (Ser49Gly). The allele frequency of the Gly49 variant was 0.13 in controls and 0.18 in patients (P=0.19). At the time of the 5-years follow-up, 62% of the patients with the wild type gene and 39% of the patients with the Ser49Gly variant had died or had experienced hospitalization (P=0.005). Patients without the mutation had significantly poorer survival compared to those with the mutation, risk ratio 2.34 (95% CI 1.30-4.20), P=0.003. In a mulivariate analysis, the risk ratio was 2.03 (95% CI 0.99-4.16) P=0.05. CONCLUSION A novel missense mution in the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor gene was associated with a decreased mortality risk in patients with congestive heart failure. These data suggest that the beta(1)-receptor Ser49Gly variant might be associated with altered receptor function, resulting in myocardial protection in patients with heart failure.
THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MAMMALIAN CARDIAC MUSCLE

Papillary muscles of rat and dog hearts were fixed in such a way as to prevent excessive shortening during the procedure. The material was embedded in either araldite or methacrylate and was stained in various ways. The filamentous fine structure of mammalian cardiac muscle is similar to that previously described for striated skeletal muscle. The sarcomeres are composed of a set of thick and thin filaments which interdigitate in the A band proper. The filament ratios and the filamentous array are in accord with those found in skeletal muscle. The functional significance of this twofold array of filaments is not entirely clear. Various other structural aspects of cardiac cells such as surface membranes, mitochondria, nuclei, and cytoplasmic granules are described. The sarcoplasmic reticulum is discussed in detail as are the various structural components forming the intercalated discs. Fairly frequent deep invaginations of the sarcolemma with basement membrane are observed in addition to the intercalated discs. These surface membrane invaginations probably explain the branching appearance of cardiac fibers as seen under the light microscope.
General Approach for Extracting Road Vector Data from Raster Maps

Raster maps are easily accessible and contain rich road information; however, converting the road information to vector format is challenging because of varying image quality, overlapping features, and typical lack of metadata (e.g., map geocoordinates). Previous road vectorization approaches for raster maps typically handle a speciﬁc map series and require significant user eﬀort. In this paper, we present a general road vectorization approach that exploits common geometric properties of roads in maps for processing heterogeneous raster maps while requiring minimal user intervention. In our experiments, we compared our approach to a widely-used commercial product using 40 raster maps from 11 sources. We showed that overall our approach generated high quality results with low redundancy with considerably less user input compared to competing approaches.
A human ventricular cell model for investigation of cardiac arrhythmias under hyperkalaemic conditions

In this study, several modifications were introduced to a recently proposed human ventricular action potential (AP) model so as to render it suitable for the study of ventricular arrhythmias. These modifications were driven by new sets of experimental data available from the literature and the analysis of several well-established cellular arrhythmic risk biomarkers, namely AP duration at 90 per cent repolarization (APD90), AP triangulation, calcium dynamics, restitution properties, APD90 adaptation to abrupt heart rate changes, and rate dependence of intracellular sodium and calcium concentrations. The proposed methodology represents a novel framework for the development of cardiac cell models. Five stimulation protocols were applied to the original model and the ventricular AP model developed here to compute the described arrhythmic risk biomarkers. In addition, those models were tested in a one-dimensional fibre in which hyperkalaemia was simulated by increasing the extracellular potassium concentration, [K+]o. The effective refractory period (ERP), conduction velocity (CV) and the occurrence of APD alternans were investigated. Results show that modifications improved model behaviour as verified by: (i) AP triangulation well within experimental limits (the difference between APD at 50 and 90 per cent repolarization being 78.1 ms); (ii) APD90 rate adaptation dynamics characterized by fast and slow time constants within physiological ranges (10.1 and 105.9 s); and (iii) maximum S1S2 restitution slope in accordance with experimental data (SS1S2=1.0). In simulated tissues under hyperkalaemic conditions, APD90 progressively shortened with the degree of hyperkalaemia, whereas ERP increased once a threshold in [K+]o was reached ([K+]o≈6 mM). CV decreased with [K+]o, and conduction was blocked for [K+]o>10.4 mM. APD90 alternans were observed for [K+]o>9.8 mM. Those results adequately reproduce experimental observations. This study demonstrated the value of basing the development of AP models on the computation of arrhythmic risk biomarkers, as opposed to joining together independently derived ion channel descriptions to produce a whole-cell AP model, with the new framework providing a better picture of the model performance under a variety of stimulation conditions. On top of replicating experimental data at single-cell level, the model developed here was able to predict the occurrence of APD90 alternans and areas of conduction block associated with high [K+]o in tissue, which is of relevance for the investigation of the arrhythmogenic substrate in ischaemic hearts.
Urbanization of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Brazil and appears to occur in epidemic form in the state of Ceará. Few epidemiologic studies have been done on VL in this state. The aim of this study is to establish the epidemiologic pattern of VL in Fortaleza City and to show how urbanization has occurred in recent years. METHODS Data were obtained from the State Health Department of Fortaleza, Ceará, and included all cases of VL registered in Fortaleza from January 2001 to December 2006. RESULTS There were a marked increase and an elevated incidence of cases of VL in urban areas. Children and young people were the most affected group. CONCLUSION The epidemic occurrence of VL in the region must convince authorities to adopt more adequate policies of disease control.
Growth, Inequality, and Poverty in Rural China: The Role of Public Investments

In the past two decades, China has achieved world renown for reducing rural poverty. However, it is becoming harder to reduce poverty and inequality further in China, even though its economy continues to grow. This report compares the impact specific rural public investments can have on promoting growth and reducing poverty and inequality. Returns to these investments are calculated for the nation as a whole and for three economic zones in the west, central, and coastal regions of the country. Government expenditures that have the highest impact on poverty and growth include education, agricultural research and development, and rural infrastructure (roads, electricity, and telecommunications). Notably, spending on irrigation and anti-poverty loans had minimal impact. The report discusses the implications of these findings for setting future priorities for government investment. It also suggests avenues for future research and calls for a better understanding of how to improve the effectiveness of public resources. This report will be of interest to professionals involved in rural poverty reduction, rural development, agricultural growth, food security, and public investment policy.
Creative Economic Development of Pesantren

This article mostly focuses on the values performed by pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in taking influence of creative economics within the community. Three factors observed in this paper mainly but may relate to other variables are embedded traditional values, technological resources and the role of ustadz and kyai engaged in the creative economic process. Taking several pesantren in Java and Yogyakarta as research sites, while conducting multiple regression as technique of analysis, this research shows that aforementioned variables have a positive and significant influence on developing creative economic of pesantren. Creative economic of pesantren largely invites more elaborative research, while this research can be a preliminary contribution to the field of new economic challenges within Islamic society.Keywords: pesantren, creative economics, kyai, ustadz