Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Surface Roughness Sample Size for C-Band SAR Backscatter Applications on Agricultural Soils

Soil surface roughness determines the backscatter coefficient observed by radar sensors. The objective of this letter was to determine the surface roughness sample size required in synthetic aperture radar applications and to provide some guidelines on roughness characterization in agricultural soils for these applications. With this aim, a data set consisting of ten ENVISAT/ASAR observations acquired coinciding with soil moisture and surface roughness surveys has been processed. The analysis consisted of: 1) assessing the accuracies of roughness parameters <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$s$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${l}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> depending on the number of 1-m-long profiles measured per field; 2) computing the correlation of field average roughness parameters with backscatter observations; and 3) evaluating the goodness of fit of three widely used backscatter models, i.e., integral equation model (IEM), geometrical optics model (GOM), and Oh model. The results obtained illustrate a different behavior of the two roughness parameters. A minimum of 10–15 profiles can be considered sufficient for an accurate determination of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$s$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, while 20 profiles might still be not enough for accurately estimating <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${l}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The correlation analysis revealed a clear sensitivity of backscatter to surface roughness. For sample sizes >15 profiles, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> values were as high as 0.6 for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and ~0.35 for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${l}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, while for smaller sample sizes <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> values dropped significantly. Similar results were obtained when applying the backscatter models, with enhanced model precision for larger sample sizes. However, IEM and GOM results were poorer than those obtained with the Oh model and more affected by lower sample sizes, probably due to larger uncertainly of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${l}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.
Autofocus Correction of APE and Residual RCM in Spotlight SAR Polar Format Imagery

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are often blurred by phase perturbations induced by uncompensated sensor motion and/or unknown propagation effects caused by turbulent media. To get refocused images, autofocus proves to be a useful postprocessing technique applied to estimate and compensate the unknown phase errors. However, a severe drawback of the conventional autofocus algorithms is that they are only capable of removing one-dimensional azimuth phase errors (APEs). As the resolution becomes finer, residual range cell migration (RCM), which makes the defocus inherently two dimensional (2-D), becomes a new challenge. In this paper, correction of APE and residual RCM are presented in the framework of polar format algorithm (PFA). First, an insight into the underlying mathematical mechanism of polar reformatting is presented. Then, based on this new formulation, the effect of polar reformatting on the uncompensated APE and residual RCM is investigated in detail. By using the derived analytical relationship between APE and residual RCM, an efficient 2-D autofocus method is proposed. Experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Biochemical characterization and immunolocalization of prostate-specific antigen in human term placenta.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been biochemically and molecularly characterized as a 33-kDa androgen-dependent glycoprotein related to the kallikrein family of serine proteases, with chymotrypsin- and kallikrein-like enzymatic activity (1)(2)(3)(4). PSA has long been thought to be produced exclusively by the prostate cells and has been used as a tumor marker for diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer (5)(6). Recently, it was found in several nonprostatic tissues and body fluids (7), although no physiologic role of PSA is known in these tissues (8). Immunoreactivity and gene expression studies have characterized human PSA as a steroid hormone-regulated serine protease (9)(10)(11)(12). Considering the studies carried out in amniotic fluids and in healthy endometrium (13)(14)(15), we undertook the present study on PSA characterization and immunolocalization in the term placentas collected from five women (ages, 25–37 years) undergoing routine deliveries (40 ± 2 weeks). After the membranes were stripped, each placenta was weighed and placed on ice in a sterile solution of 9 g/L NaCl and 5 mmol/L glucose, transported to the laboratory, and processed within 30 min. Samples of entire placentas were minced and homogenized as described (16). After sonication, the lysates were centrifuged at 9000 g at 4 °C for 30 min, and the supernatants were stored at −80 °C until analysis. n-Butanol-extracted fractions were prepared from cytosolic extracts, according to a previously described method (17). Blood was also drawn from healthy pregnant women (n = 15; ages, 23–38 years); after the blood clotted, the sample was centrifuged at 500 g for 10 min and the serum stored at −30 °C until assay. Free and total PSA concentrations were determined in serum and cytosolic extracts of placentas, using an automated enzyme immunoassay with a detection …
Circuit-Level Performance Evaluation of Schottky Tunneling Transistor in Mixed-Signal Applications

Schottky tunneling source FET (STSFET) is a promising device alternative for future nanometer-scale technology. This paper presents a circuit-level performance evaluation of using STSFET for mixed-signal circuit applications, as well as a design approach that can guide circuit designers to use STSFET optimally. A switched-capacitor track-and-hold amplifier is chosen as a test vehicle, and circuit-level power-performance tradeoff is examined when STSFET is incorporated into the existing array of device types in 90-nm CMOS process. To quantitatively explore the design tradeoff, this paper employs an automated circuit optimization framework using geometric programming, a special type of convex optimization problem. Numerical analysis shows that for our test bench circuit, introducing STSFET, when compared to using devices in 90-nm CMOS process, leads to 30%-50% power reduction, depending on the performance specifications. The analysis also reveals that the full benefit of using STSFET can only be achieved by judiciously choosing device types in a given circuit structure, and the optimal device type selection for a mixed-signal circuit can often be blended using both conventional devices and application-specific devices.
Early stages of divergence: phylogeography, climate modeling, and morphological differentiation in the South American lizard Liolaemus petrophilus (Squamata: Liolaemidae)

This study examines the phylogeographic structure within the Patagonian lizard Liolaemus petrophilus and tests for patterns of between-clade morphological divergence and sexual dimorphism, as well as demographic and niche changes associated with Pleistocene climate changes. We inferred intraspecific relationships, tested hypotheses for historical patterns of population expansion, and incorporated ecological niche modeling (ENM) with standard morphological and geometric morphometric analyses to examine between-clade divergence as indirect evidence for adaptation to different niches. The two inferred haploclades diverged during the early Pleistocene with the Southern clade depicting the genetic signature of a recent population increase associated with expanding niche envelope, whereas the Northern clade shows stable populations in a shrinking niche envelope. The combination of molecular evidence for postisolation demographic change and ENM, suggest that the two haploclades have responded differently to Pleistocene climatic events.
CONSORT-EHEALTH Checklist V1.6.2 Report

This pilot RCT was delivered entirely over Facebook; as such, the title of this manuscript highlights Facebook as the mode of delivery. Using the term "web-based" does not accurately reflect the use of Web 2.0 technologies. Furthermore, "social media-based" would not be appropriate, as the aim of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a specific social networking site (i.e., Facebook). 1a-ii) Non-web-based components or important co-interventions in title
Simulations of the population of Centaurs – II. Individual objects

Detailed orbit integrations of clones of five Centaurs ‐ namely, 1996 AR20, 2060 Chiron, 1995 SN55, 2000 FZ53 and 2002 FY36 ‐ for durations of ∼3 Myr are presented. One of our Centaur sample starts with perihelion initially under the control of Jupiter (1996 AR20), two start under the control of Saturn (Chiron and 1995 SN55) and one each starts under the control of Uranus (2000 FZ53) and Neptune (2002 FY36), respectively. A variety of interesting pathways are illustrated with detailed examples including: capture into the Jovian Trojans, repeated bursts of short-period comet behaviour, capture into mean-motion resonances with the giant planets and into Kozai resonances, as well as traversals of the entire Solar system. For each of the Centaurs, we provide statistics on the numbers (i) ejected, (ii) showing short-period comet behaviour and (iii) becoming Earth- and Mars-crossing. For example, Chiron has over 60 per cent of its clones becoming short-period objects, while 1995 SN55 has over 35 per cent. Clones of these two Centaurs typically make numerous close approaches to Jupiter. At the other extreme, 2000 FZ53 has ∼2 per cent of its clones becoming short-period objects. In our simulations, typically 20 per cent of the clones which become short-period comets subsequently evolve into Earth-crossers.
Alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient miniature pigs produced by serial cloning using neonatal skin fibroblasts with loss of heterozygosity

Objective Production of alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (αGT)-deficient pigs is essential to overcome xenograft rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. However, the production of such pigs requires a great deal of cost, time, and labor. Heterozygous αGT knockout pigs should be bred at least for two generations to ultimately obtain homozygote progenies. The present study was conducted to produce αGT-deficient miniature pigs in much reduced time using mitotic recombination in neonatal ear skin fibroblasts. Methods Miniature pig fibroblasts were transfected with αGT gene-targeting vector. Resulting gene-targeted fibroblasts were used for nuclear transfer (NT) to produce heterozygous αGT gene-targeted piglets. Fibroblasts isolated from ear skin biopsies of these piglets were cultured for 6 to 8 passages to induce loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and treated with biotin-conjugated IB4 that binds to galactose-α-1,3-galactose, an epitope produced by αGT. Using magnetic activated cell sorting, cells with monoallelic disruption of αGT were removed. Remaining cells with LOH carrying biallelic disruption of αGT were used for the second round NT to produce homozygous αGT gene-targeted piglets. Results Monoallelic mutation of αGT gene was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction in fibroblasts. Using these cells as nuclear donors, three heterozygous αGT gene-targeted piglets were produced by NT. Fibroblasts were collected from ear skin biopsies of these piglets, and homozygosity was induced by LOH. The second round NT using these fibroblasts resulted in production of three homozygous αGT knockout piglets. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that the time required for the production of αGT-deficient miniature pigs could be reduced significantly by postnatal skin biopsies and subsequent selection of mitotic recombinants. Such procedure may be beneficial for the production of homozygote knockout animals, especially in species, such as pigs, that require a substantial length of time for breeding.
Development of a Response Inconsistency Scale for the Personality Inventory for DSM–5

ABSTRACT The advent of a dimensional model of personality disorder included in DSM–5 has necessitated the development of a new measurement scheme, specifically a self-report questionnaire termed the Personality Inventory for DSM–5 (PID–5; Krueger, Derringer, Markon, Watson, & Skodol, 2012). However, there are many threats to the validity of a self-report measure, including response inconsistency. This study outlines the development of an inconsistency scale for the PID–5. Across both college student and clinical samples, the inconsistency scale was able to reliably differentiate real from random responding. Random responses led to increased scores on the PID–5 facets, indicating the importance of detecting inconsistent responding prior to test interpretation. Thus, this inconsistency scale could be of use to researchers and clinicians in detecting inconsistent responses to this new personality disorder measure.
Analysis of 4.3 Kilobases of Divergent Locus B of Macaque Retroperitoneal Fibromatosis-Associated Herpesvirus Reveals a Close Similarity in Gene Sequence and Genome Organization to Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

ABSTRACT We previously identified retroperitoneal fibromatosis-associated herpesvirus (RFHV) as a simian homolog of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in a fibroproliferative malignancy of macaques that has similarities to Kaposi's sarcoma. In this report, we cloned 4.3 kb of divergent locus B (DL-B) flanking the DNA polymerase gene from two variants of RFHV from different species of macaque with a consensus degenerate hybrid oligonucleotide primer approach. Within the DL-B region of RFHV, viral homologs of the cellular interleukin-6, dihydrofolate reductase, and thymidylate synthase genes were identified, along with a homolog of the gammaherpesvirus open reading frame (ORF) 10. In addition, a homolog of the KSHV ORF K3, the modulator of immune recognition-1, was identified. Our data show a close similarity in sequence conservation, gene content, and genomic structure between RFHV and KSHV which strongly supports the grouping of these viral species within the same RV-1 rhadinovirus lineage and the hypothesis that RFHV is the macaque homolog of KSHV.
A Fractional Derivative Viscoelastic Model for Hybrid Active-Passive Damping Treatments in Time Domain - Application to Sandwich Beams

This work presents a finite element formulation for the dynamic transient analysis of a damped adaptive sandwich beam composed of a viscoelastic core and elastic-piezoelectric laminated faces. The latter are modeled using the classical laminate theory, which takes the electromechanical coupling into account by modifying the stiffness of the piezoelectric layers. For the core, a fractional derivative model is used to characterize its viscoelastic behavior. Equations of motion are solved using a direct time integration method based on the Newmark scheme in conjunction with the Grunwald approximation of fractional derivatives. Emphasis is given to the finite element implementation of the fractional derivative model and to the influence of the electromechanical coupling.
Is there a difference between abdominal pain and discomfort in moderate to severe IBS patients?

OBJECTIVES:The aims of this study were to: 1) determine the relative prevalence of self-reported pain-predominant and discomfort-predominant symptom patterns in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients; and 2) test the hypotheses that pain-predominant patients report higher GI symptom severity, show higher psychological symptom severity, show worse quality of life, and demonstrate higher health care use.METHODS:A total of 256 consecutive ROME I-positive IBS patients with moderate to severe symptoms were classified according to whether they rated their predominant IBS symptoms as pain (n = 52), or as nonpainful discomfort (n = 128) on the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life questionnaire. The validity of this classification scheme was confirmed by interview in a subsample of 45 patients. IBS-specific symptom patterns, psychometric assessment, and health-related quality of life measures were obtained using validated survey instruments.RESULTS:Contrary to the generally accepted notion that pain is the most predominant symptom in IBS, twice as many patients self-classified their symptoms as abdominal discomfort rather than abdominal pain. The classifications based on questionnaire data were shown to be valid in a subsample of subjects (n = 45) who underwent classification based on an independent, blinded, clinical interview (r = 0.77, p < 0.05). Pain and discomfort subgroups were similar in age, gender, predominant bowel habit, and overall GI symptom severity. In addition, the subgroups reported similar degrees of psychological distress, impaired quality of life, and increased patterns of health care use.CONCLUSIONS:Subgroups of moderate to severe IBS patients do report their predominant GI symptoms in terms of pain or nonpainful discomfort, regardless of severity of their overall GI symptoms or psychological symptoms. These findings are most consistent with a cognitive labeling bias of visceral sensations as either pain or discomfort.
Diversity of Fusarium species isolated from UK forage maize and the population structure of F. graminearum from maize and wheat

Pre-harvest contamination of forage maize by mycotoxin producing Fusarium species was investigated in the UK in 2011 and 2012. A total of 15 Fusarium species were identified from a collection of 1,761 Fusarium isolates recovered from maize stalks and kernels. This study characterized the diversity of Fusarium species present in forage maize in the UK. The predominant species detected were F. graminearum (32.9%) and F. culmorum (34.1%). Along with those species; F. avenacem, F. cerealis, F. equiseti, F. langsethiae, F. napiforme, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. proliferatum, F. scripi, F. solani, F. subglutinans, F. tricinctum and, F. verticillioides were occasionally isolated. The trichothecene genotypes for F. graminearum were determined to be 84.9% deoxynivalenol (DON) and 15.0% nivalenol (NIV) while F. culmorum isolates were determined to have 24.9% DON and 75.1% NIV genotypes. A Bayesian model-based clustering method with nine variable number of tandem repeat markers was used to evaluate the population genetic structure of 277 F. graminearum isolates from the maize and wheat in the UK. There were three genetic clusters detected which were DON in maize, NIV in maize and DON in wheat. There were high admixture probabilities for 14.1% of the isolates in the populations. In conclusion, increased maize production in the UK and the high admixture rates in a significant portion of F. graminearum populations in maize and wheat will contribute to a new pathogen population which will further complicate breeding strategies for tolerance or resistance to this pathogen in both crops.
Global Strichartz estimates for the wave equation with a time-periodic non-trapping metric

We obtain global Strichartz estimates for the solution u of the wave equation ∂ 2 t u − divx(a(t, x)∇xu) = 0 with time-periodic metric a(t, x) equal to 1 outside a compact set with respect to x. We assume a(t, x) is a non-trapping perturbation and, moreover, we suppose that there are no resonances zj ∈ C with |zj | 1.
Fabrication and Characterization of 3C‐SiC‐Based MOSFETs

In this article, the electrical properties of 3C-SiC are described and its potential for metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) is demonstrated. The density of traps, D IT , at the interface of 3C-SiC/SiO 2 capacitors is determined by the conductance method subsequent to various processing steps; the origin of the interface traps is discussed. Lateral and vertical 3C-SiC MOSFET devices of varying cell and device size are designed with hexagonal and squared cell geometry, and are fabricated side by side with MOS Hall bar structures. The electrical parameters of the MOSFETs are determined, and the free electron areal density and Hall mobility are measured in the channel of the MOS Hall bar structures. Based on the charge-sheet model, D IT is also obtained from the Hall investigations.
Fully Automated, Semiautomated, and Manual Morphometric Analysis of Corneal Subbasal Nerve Plexus in Individuals With and Without Diabetes

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the association, agreement, and detection capability of manual, semiautomated, and fully automated methods of corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) quantification of the human corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SNP). Methods: Thirty-three participants with diabetes and 17 healthy controls underwent laser scanning corneal confocal microscopy. Eight central images of the SNP were selected for each participant and analyzed using manual (CCMetrics), semiautomated (NeuronJ), and fully automated (ACCMetrics) software to quantify the CNFL. Results: For the entire cohort, mean CNFL values quantified by CCMetrics, NeuronJ, and ACCMetrics were 17.4 ± 4.3 mm/mm2, 16.0 ± 3.9 mm/mm2, and 16.5 ± 3.6 mm/mm2, respectively (P < 0.01). CNFL quantified using CCMetrics was significantly higher than those obtained by NeuronJ and ACCMetrics (P < 0.05). The 3 methods were highly correlated (correlation coefficients 0.87–0.98, P < 0.01). The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.87 for ACCMetrics versus NeuronJ and 0.86 for ACCMetrics versus CCMetrics. Bland–Altman plots showed good agreement between the manual, semiautomated, and fully automated analyses of CNFL. A small underestimation of CNFL was observed using ACCMetrics with increasing the amount of nerve tissue. All 3 methods were able to detect CNFL depletion in diabetic participants (P < 0.05) and in those with peripheral neuropathy as defined by the Toronto criteria, compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Automated quantification of CNFL provides comparable neuropathy detection ability to manual and semiautomated methods. Because of its speed, objectivity, and consistency, fully automated analysis of CNFL might be advantageous in studies of diabetic neuropathy.
Osmoregulation in the Antarctic nematode Panagrolaimus davidi

SUMMARY A technique for determining the internal osmotic concentration of a small nematode using a modified nanolitre osmometer is described and used to investigate osmoregulation in the Antarctic nematode Panagrolaimus davidi. This technique enables the osmotic concentration to the measured with an accuracy of ±12 mmol kg−1. The pattern of melting in the nematode's different body compartments suggests that it is the osmolality of its pseudocoelomic fluid that is being measured. Panagrolaimus davidi maintains its internal osmotic concentration above that of the external medium and is thus an hyperosmotic regulator. The nematode achieves regulation under hyposmotic stress more rapidly than under hyperosmotic stress.