Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting and verifying the intended and unintended consequences of large-scale ocean iron fertilization

Ocean iron fertilization (OIF) is being considered as a strategy for mitigating rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. One model for implementation is the sale of carbon offsets. Model- ing studies predict that OIF has the potential to produce a material difference in the rise of atmos- pheric CO2 over the next several decades, but this could only be attained by alteration of the ecosys- tems and biogeochemical cycles of much of the world's oceans. The efficacy of OIF on this scale has not been proven. However, the consequences of successful implementation must be considered now, for 2 important reasons: (1) to determine if the environmental effects would be predictable and veri- fiable, and if so, acceptable; and (2) to establish whether the basis for valuing carbon offsets — an accurate audit of net reductions in cumulative greenhouse gas potential over 100 yr — can be met. Potential side-effects of widespread OIF that must be considered include a reduced supply of macronutrients to surface waters downstream of fertilized regions, increased emissions of the potent greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane, and changes in the extent or frequency of coastal hypoxia. Given the uncertainties inherent in ocean models, predictions of environmental effects must be backed up by measurements. Thus, to go forward with confidence that the effects of rising CO2 could indeed be mitigated through OIF over the next century, and to establish the foundations for auditing carbon offsets, it must be explicitly demonstrated that methods exist to predict and detect downstream effects of OIF against the background of both climate variability and global warming. We propose that until the side-effects of widespread OIF can be shown to be verifiable — and there is good reason to believe that they cannot — OIF should not be considered a viable technology for climate mitigation.
Human Identification Using Temporal Information Preserving Gait Template

Gait Energy Image (GEI) is an efficient template for human identification by gait. However, such a template loses temporal information in a gait sequence, which is critical to the performance of gait recognition. To address this issue, we develop a novel temporal template, named Chrono-Gait Image (CGI), in this paper. The proposed CGI template first extracts the contour in each gait frame, followed by encoding each of the gait contour images in the same gait sequence with a multichannel mapping function and compositing them to a single CGI. To make the templates robust to a complex surrounding environment, we also propose CGI-based real and synthetic temporal information preserving templates by using different gait periods and contour distortion techniques. Extensive experiments on three benchmark gait databases indicate that, compared with the recently published gait recognition approaches, our CGI-based temporal information preserving approach achieves competitive performance in gait recognition with robustness and efficiency.
Electrical characteristics of 8-/spl Aring/ EOT HfO/sub 2//TaN low thermal-budget n-channel FETs with solid-phase epitaxially regrown junctions

The authors demonstrate high-performing n-channel transistors with a HfO2/TaN gate stack and a low thermal-budget process using solid-phase epitaxial regrowth of the source and drain junctions. The thinnest devices have an equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of 8 Aring, a leakage current of 1.5 A/cm2 at VG=1 V, a peak mobility of 190 cm2/Vmiddots, and a drive-current of 815 muA/mum at an off-state current of 0.1 muA/mum for VDD=1.2 V. Identical gate stacks processed with a 1000-degC spike anneal have a higher peak mobility at 275 cm2/Vmiddots, but a 5-Aring higher EOT and a reduced drive current at 610 muA/mum. The observed performance improvement for the low thermal-budget devices is shown to be mostly related to the lower EOT. The time-to-breakdown measurements indicate a maximum operating voltage of 1.6 V (1.2 V at 125 degC) for a ten-year lifetime, whereas positive-bias temperature-instability measurements indicate a sufficient lifetime for operating voltages below 0.75 V
Neurochemical plasticity in the enteric nervous system of a primate animal model of experimental Parkinsonism

Abstract Emerging evidences suggest that the enteric nervous system (ENS) is affected by the degenerative process in Parkinson’s disease (PD). In addition lesions in the ENS could be associated with gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunctions, in particular constipation, observed in PD. However, the precise alterations of the ENS and especially the changes in the neurochemical phenotype remain largely unknown both in PD and experimental Parkinsonism. The aim of our study was thus to characterize the neurochemical coding of the ENS in the colon of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐treated monkeys, a well‐characterized model of PD. In the myenteric plexus, there was a significant increase in the number of neurons per ganglia (identified with Hu), especially nitric oxide synthase immunoreactives (IR) neurons in MPTP‐treated monkeys compared to controls. A concomitant 72% decrease in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase‐IR neurons was observed in MPTP‐treated monkeys compared to controls. In contrast no change in the cholinergic or vasoactive intestinal peptide‐IR population was observed. In addition, the density of enteric glial cells was not modified in MPTP‐treated monkeys. Our results demonstrate that MPTP induces major changes in the myenteric plexus and to a lesser extent in the submucosal plexus of monkeys. They further reinforce the observation that lesions of the ENS occur in the course of PD that might be related to the GI dysfunction observed in this pathology.
Measurement of the Dielectric Properties of Sawdust Between 0.5 and 15 GHz

The aim of this paper was to measure the broadband dielectric properties of sawdust. Knowledge of dielectric properties is important in improving understanding of a material and can lead to the development of methods for determining physical properties such as moisture and salt content. The broadband dielectric properties of sawdust were measured with an open-ended coaxial-line dielectric probe. Measurements on granular materials with the dielectric probe are dependent on the density of the measured region, which may differ from the average density of the sample. In this paper, a method was developed for determining the actual density for measurements with the dielectric probe. It consists of measurement of the dielectric constant with a different method (in this instance, a free-space transmission method) at a frequency common to both methods and identifying a relationship between the measured dielectric constant and density. The dielectric properties of sawdust samples with moisture content levels between 13% and 45% are presented for frequencies between 0.5 and 15 GHz.
The use of enhancement in studying tumor antigens.

I have been asked to discuss the use of immunologie en hancement in studying tumor antigens. Strictly speaking, there is little to say on this topic, for although enhancement has attracted much experimental attention, most investigations have been designed to find out more about the phenomenon itself. It has not been widely used as a technic for studying tumor antigens. In some early work on what we now know to have been an example of enhancement, Casey (7) attempted to extract a growth-promoting factor from the Brown Pearce tumor of rabbits, and he used the capacity of the extracts to induce enhanced growth of the tumor as an assay. However, he was unable to identify the growth-promoting factor(s) precisely. Later when the immunologie basis of enhancement had been established, Kandutsch and Stimpfling (24) used it for assaying H-2 antigen-containing material prepared from the A strain sarcoma, Sa l. But assay methods based on en hancement lack precision and convenience. More recent work on the characterization of H-2 and human histocompatibility antigens has usually involved testing for the activity of an extract by its capacity to inhibit specifically a cytotoxic isoantibody reaction in vitro. Such tests do not permit one to conclude that an active extract is immunogenic, and in prov ing this point an assay method based on enhancement may be useful. Nevertheless, the relevance of immunologie enhancement to the study of tumors is considerable, and I will discuss the subject from this wider point of view. It should be mentioned here that there are a number of detailed reviews on enhance ment (2, 22, 28). In this article I will discuss some of the newer experimental work and attempt to emphasize some aspects of enhancement which have not been stressed in the past.
High Conductivity in Molecularly p‐Doped Diketopyrrolopyrrole‐Based Polymer: The Impact of a High Dopant Strength and Good Structural Order

[3]-Radialene-based dopant CN6-CP studied herein, with its reduction potential of +0.8 versus Fc/Fc+ and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of -5.87 eV, is the strongest molecular p-dopant reported in the open literature, so far. The efficient p-doping of the donor-acceptor dithienyl-diketopyrrolopyrrole-based copolymer having the highest unoccupied molecular orbital level of -5.49 eV is achieved. The doped films exhibit electrical conductivities up to 70 S cm(-1) .
Portfolio Selections with Innate Learning Ability

This study explores how innate learning ability changes portfolio selection decision-making in a continuous-time framework. We re-solve Samuelson-Mertoni¦s portfolio choice problem framed in a fixed investment opportunity set for an individual with a learning ability. In contrast to traditional theoretical results, we suggest that risk-averse investors with a risk-cognitive ability hold a lower fraction of risky stocks to hedge against the jump risk and volatility risk since the investors are cognizant of the market risks. In addition, an individual whose learning process correlates strongly with stock movements would be likely to invest more in stocks.
Jumping to conclusions, neuropsychological functioning, and delusional beliefs in first episode psychosis.

BACKGROUND The "jumping to conclusions" (JTC) data-gathering bias is implicated in the development and maintenance of psychosis but has only recently been studied in first episode psychosis (FEP). In this study, we set out to establish the relationship of JTC in FEP with delusions and neuropsychological functioning. METHODS One hundred and eight FEP patients and 101 age-matched controls completed assessments of delusions, general intelligence (IQ), working memory (WM), and JTC (the probabilistic reasoning "beads" task). RESULTS Half the FEP participants jumped to conclusions on at least 1 task, compared with 25% of controls (OR range 2.1 to 3.9; 95% CI range 1.5 to 8.0, P values ≤ .02). JTC was associated with clinical, but not nonclinical delusion severity, and with neuropsychological functioning, irrespective of clinical status. Both IQ and delusion severity, but not WM, were independently associated with JTC in the FEP group. CONCLUSIONS JTC is present in FEP. The specific association of JTC with clinical delusions supports a state, maintaining role for the bias. The associations of JTC with neuropsychological functioning indicate a separable, trait aspect to the bias, which may confer vulnerability to psychosis. The work has potential to inform emerging interventions targeting reasoning biases in early psychosis.
A Novel p75 Neurotrophin Receptor-Related Protein, NRH2, Regulates Nerve Growth Factor Binding to the TrkA Receptor

Nerve growth factor (NGF) functions as a ligand for two receptors, the TrkA tyrosine kinase receptor and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). The Ig-like domains of Trk receptors and the cysteine-rich repeats of p75NTR are involved in binding to the neurotrophins. Recently, a closely related gene to p75NTR called neurotrophin receptor homolog-2 (NRH2) was identified; however, the function of NRH2 and its relevance to neurotrophin signaling are unclear. NRH2 contains a similar transmembrane and intracellular domain as p75NTR but lacks the characteristic cysteine-rich repeats in the extracellular domain. Here we show that NRH2 is expressed in several neuronal populations that also express p75NTR and Trk receptors. NRH2 does not bind to NGF; however, coimmunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that NRH2 is capable of interacting with TrkA receptors. Coexpression of NRH2 with TrkA receptors resulted in the formation of high-affinity binding sites for NGF. These results indicate that a transmembrane protein related to p75NTR is capable of modulating Trk receptor binding properties.
Stable Model Semantics of Abstract Dialectical Frameworks Revisited: A Logic Programming Perspective

This paper relates two extensively studied formalisms: abstract dialectical frameworks and logic programs with generalized atoms or similar constructs. While the syntactic similarity is easy to see, also a strong relation between various stable model semantics proposed for these formalisms is shown by means of a unifying framework in which these semantics are restated in terms of program reducts and an immediate consequence operator, where program reducts have only minimal differences. This approach has advantages for both formalisms, as for example implemented systems for one formalism are usable for the other, and properties such as computational complexity do not have to be rediscovered. As a first, concrete result of this kind, one stable model semantics based on program reducts and subset-minimality that reached a reasonable consensus for logic programs with generalized atoms provides a novel, alternative semantics for abstract dialectical frameworks.
Complex source point beam excitation of a lossless dielectric slab

The excitation of the guided modes of a lossless slab by a complex source point (CSP) beam is semi-analytically investigated. The goal is to compute the guided-mode powers and efficiencies as a function of problem's parameters, namely the electrical thickness, the angle of incidence, the beam aperture, and the aperture location.
Thinking Ahead: The Decision Problem

We propose a model of costly decision making based on time-costs of deliberating current and future decisions. We model an individual decision-maker's thinking process as a thought-experiment that takes time, and lets the decision maker 'think ahead' about future decision problems in yet unrealized states of nature. By formulating an intertemporal, state-contingent, planning problem which may involve costly deliberation in every state of nature, and by letting the decision maker deliberate ahead of the realization of a state, we attempt to capture the basic observation that individuals generally do not think through a complete action plan. Instead, individuals prioritize their thinking and leave deliberations on less important decisions to the time or event when they arise. Copyright 2009, Wiley-Blackwell.
Effects of clothianidin on aquatic communities: Evaluating the impacts of lethal and sublethal exposure to neonicotinoids

The widespread usage of neonicotinoid insecticides has sparked concern over their effects on non-target organisms. While research has largely focused on terrestrial systems, the low soil binding and high water solubility of neonicotinoids, paired with their extensive use on the landscape, puts aquatic environments at high risk for contamination via runoff events. We assessed the potential threat of these compounds to wetland communities using a combination of field surveys and experimental exposures including concentrations that are representative of what invertebrates experience in the field. In laboratory toxicity experiments, LC50 values ranged from 0.002 ppm to 1.2 ppm for aquatic invertebrates exposed to clothianidin. However, freshwater snails and amphibian larvae showed high tolerance to the chemical with no mortality observed at the highest dissolvable concentration of the insecticide. We also observed behavioral effects of clothianidin. Water bugs, Belostoma flumineum, displayed a dose-dependent reduction in feeding rate following exposure to clothianidin. Similarly, crayfish, Orconectes propinquus, exhibited reduced responsiveness to stimulus with increasing clothianidin concentration. Using a semi-natural mesocosm experiment, we manipulated clothianidin concentration (0.6, 5, and 352 ppb) and the presence of predatory invertebrates to explore community-level effects. We observed high invertebrate predator mortality with increases in clothianidin concentration. With increased predator mortality, prey survival increased by 50% at the highest clothianidin concentration. Thus, clothianidin contamination can result in a top-down trophic cascade in a community dominated by invertebrate predators. In our Indiana field study, we detected clothianidin (max = 176 ppb), imidacloprid (max = 141 ppb), and acetamiprid (max = 7 ppb) in soil samples. In water samples, we detected clothianidin (max = 0.67 ppb), imidacloprid (max = 0.18 ppb), and thiamethoxam (max = 2,568 ppb). Neonicotinoids were detected in >56% of soil samples and >90% of the water samples, which reflects a growing understanding that neonicotinoids are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Collectively, our results underscore the need for additional research into the effects of neonicotinoids on aquatic communities and ecosystems.
Attitudes and behaviour

This article is presented as training material for an introductory session on the management of change in organisations One of the most stubborn concepts to get across to a group of managers or supervisors is the relationship between attitude and behaviour and to define the distinction between the two. I believe that a working understanding of this relationship is critical to the business of improving human performance in the situation in which most of today's managers and supervisors work. It might seem a bit remote to stand up in front of a group of tough managers and tell them that you are going to help them to clarify the difference between attitude and behaviour in the belief that this will help them in their daily work of managing people. You can actually see the look of incredulity on their faces.
Inhibition of COX-2 prevents hypertension and proteinuria associated with a decrease of 8-iso-PGF2α formation in l-NAME-treated rats

Background The inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) exerts injurious effects on the cardiovascular system by several mechanisms, such as the activation of the renin–angiotensin system, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines. We examined whether COX-2, an inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase, is associated with the pathogenesis observed in Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Methods Three groups of 8-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were studied (n = 6 in each group): group 1, untreated controls; group 2, treated with l-NAME (1 g/l for 3 weeks, p.o.); and group 3, l-NAME co-treated with COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 (5 mg/kg per day, i.p.). The l-NAME-induced expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein was semi-quantified in the kidneys and the thoracic aorta. Urinary excretion of the prostaglandin 6-keto PGF1α, thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in the three groups. Moreover, urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF2α, a potent vasoconstricting arachidonic acid metabolite acting through thromboxane A (TXA) receptor activation, proposed recently as a marker of oxidative stress, was also measured. Results l-NAME induced significant increases in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), urinary protein (P < 0.05), and renal excretion of 8-iso-PGF2α (P < 0.01), compared with the control. In l-NAME-treated rats, the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein were more than 50% higher in the kidneys (P < 0.05), and six-fold higher in the thoracic aorta (P < 0.01) than in control rats. NS-398 significantly ameliorated an increase in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01) and urinary protein (P < 0.05) induced by l-NAME. Conclusions These data indicate that an increase in COX-2 expression might have a hypertensive effect, partly associated with 8-iso-PGF2α formation in l-NAME-treated rats.
A laboratory comparison of a new arthroscopic transosseous rotator cuff repair to a double row transosseous equivalent rotator cuff repair using suture anchors.

BACKGROUND Because current instrumentation makes it possible to perform an arthroscopic transosseous rotator cuff repair, we performed a biomechanical comparison of a double-row transosseous equivalent rotator cuff repair using suture anchors to an arthroscopic, transosseous rotator cuff repair to determine if they provided similar fixation stability. METHODS Six pairs of shoulders were used. One of each pair had a standard double row, transosseous equivalent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using a suture-bridge technique with suture anchors, and the other had an arthroscopic transosseous repair using an Xbox technique. The repairs were cycled at 150 N for 10,000 cycles with movement of the lateral cuff edge recorded and then tested to failure. RESULTS The total cuff edge displacement at 10,000 cycles in the anchor group (transosseous equivalent repair) was 7.9 mm and 6.3 mm for the bone tunnel group (transosseous repair); these were not significantly different (p=0.19). The anchor group failed at an average of 309 N and the bone tunnel group at an average of 339 N (p=0.22). DISCUSSION Biomechanical testing suggests that arthroscopic, transosseous rotator cuff repair using a Xbox suture configuration is similar in strength and stability to an arthroscopic transosseous equivalent suture-bridge repair. Both techniques demonstrated difficulty in maintaining the lateral position of the tendon.
Long-Term Survival of Human Central Nervous System Progenitor Cells Transplanted into a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Progenitor cells were isolated from the developing human central nervous system (CNS), induced to divide using a combination of epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-2, and then transplanted into the striatum of adult rats with unilateral dopaminergic lesions. Large grafts were found at 2 weeks survival which contained many undifferentiated cells, some of which were migrating into the host striatum. However, by 20 weeks survival, only a thin strip of cells remained at the graft core while a large number of migrating astrocytes labeled with a human-specific antibody could be seen throughout the striatum. Fully differentiated graft-derived neurons, also labeled with a human-specific antibody, were seen close to the transplant site in some animals. A number of these neurons expressed tyrosine hydroxylase and were sufficient to partially ameliorate lesion-induced behavioral deficits in two animals. These results show that expanded populations of human CNS progenitor cells maintained in a proliferative state in culture can migrate and differentiate into both neurons and astrocytes following intracerebral grafting. As such these cells may have potential for development as an alternative source of tissue for neural transplantation in degenerative diseases.
Dynamic analysis of structure of a piezoelectric MEMS micro-mirror actuator: Effects of chip anisotropy and residual stress

This paper presents the dynamic behavior of a piezoelectric MEMS actuator using finite element simulations taking anisotropic properties of silicon chip and technologically induced stress into account. Silicon anisotropy has shown to shift eigenfrequencies particularly in higher eigenmodes compared to that of isotropic case. Technologically induced stress has resulted in substantial influence on both eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes. Eigenmodes were found to be significantly changed and shifted with such a stress state. Dynamic harmonic analysis exhibited a significant maximum vertical deflection of ~28 µm attainable with the actuator when excited at a resonant frequency of 112,600 Hz under 2D scanning mode.