Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stochastic forcing of ENSO by the intraseasonal oscillation

Abstract Using the ideas of generalized linear stability theory, the authors examine the potential role that tropical variability on synoptic–intraseasonal timescales can play in controlling variability on seasonal–interannual timescales. These ideas are investigated using an intermediate coupled ocean–atmosphere model of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The variability on synoptic–intraseasonal timescales is treated as stochastic noise that acts as a forcing function for variability at ENSO timescales. The spatial structure is computed that the stochastic noise forcing must have in order to enhance the variability of the system on seasonal–interannual timescales. These structures are the so-called stochastic optimals of the coupled system, and they bear a good resemblence to variability that is observed in the real atmosphere on synoptic and intraseasonal timescales. When the coupled model is subjected to a stochastic noise forcing composed of the stochastic optimals, variability on seasonal–inte.
Report to HEFCE on student engagement

This study, commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), explored the extent and nature of student engagement in the higher education sector in England. The study was concerned with institutional and student union processes and practices – such as those relating to student representation and student feedback – which seek to inform and enhance the collective student learning experience, as distinct from specific teaching, learning and assessment activities that are designed to enhance individual students’ engagement with their own learning. The study found that institutions view student engagement as central to enhancing the student experience, but the emphasis seems to be placed on viewing students as consumers. For student unions, the emphasis is on viewing them as partners in a learning community. The latter notion seems to be stronger in certain subject areas (for example, Art and Design and Performing Arts) than others. The majority of HEIs and FE colleges rate their student engagement processes – comprising a basic model of student feedback questionnaires and student representation systems – as reasonably or very effective; student unions are less likely to do so. Detailed discussions with staff and students within a diverse range of HE providers showed that actual practices vary between and within institutions and that their effectiveness could be improved. Higher education institutions, student unions and further education colleges with significant higher education provision were surveyed to establish a baseline measure of the nature and extent of student engagement processes. Further exploration of institutions’ formal and informal processes and their effectiveness was undertaken through fieldwork with a number of higher education providers and student unions.
On EDFA and Raman Fiber Amplifier Energy Efficiency

We compare the energy efficiency of Distributed Raman Amplifiers (DRFA) and Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers(EDFA) used in long-haul transmission systems. This comparison accounts for the interaction between optical link power, signal quality (as measured by the Bit Error Rate (BER)), and the use of Forward Error Correction (FEC). We show that deploying DRFAs in some scenarios may be more energy efficient than EDFAs, despite their intrinsic requirement for higher pump powers, depending upon the link parameters.
Gasless Combustion Fronts with Heat Loss

For a model of gasless combustion with heat loss, we use geometric singular perturbation theory to show existence of traveling combustion fronts. We show that the fronts are nonlinearly stable in an appropriate sense if an Evans function criterion, which can be verified numerically, is satisfied. For a solid reactant and exothermicity parameter that is not too large, we verify numerically that the criterion is satisfied.
The Paradox of Representation

In order to automatically adapt the control of an ultrasonic fuel-injection system or other system in which fuel delivery from nozzles is normally controlled by varying the mark/space ratio of energising current supplied to the nozzles, to variation of ambient pressure, a pressure-regulating unit is provided in a line leading from a source of fuel under pressure to the nozzles through a manually adjustable throttle valve and is arranged to maintain the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of this series arrangement constant for any given ambient pressure P1. An altitude compensator comprising a spring-expanded vacuum capsule and a mechanical transmission is provided for varying this pressure difference in proportion to the ambient absolute pressure P1.
Cashflow News, the Value Premium and an Asset Pricing View on European Stock Market Integration

The decomposition of national CAPM market betas of European countries' value and growth portfolio returns into cashflow and discount rate news driven components reveals that i) high average returns on value portfolios are associated with disproportionately high sensitivity to national cashflow news which corroborates recent evidence for the U.S. and ii) two-beta variants of national CAPMs capture the cross-sectional dispersion in European stock returns. The latter finding is suggestive of relatively well integrated stock markets among the core European countries and reflects basic asset pricing theory. One (national) discount factor should price any (international) asset.
Case Characterization, Clinical Features and Risk Factors in Drug-Induced Liver Injury

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by xenobiotics (drugs, herbals and dietary supplements) presents with a range of both phenotypes and severity, from acute hepatitis indistinguishable of viral hepatitis to autoimmune syndromes, steatosis or rare chronic vascular syndromes, and from asymptomatic liver test abnormalities to acute liver failure. DILI pathogenesis is complex, depending on the interaction of drug physicochemical properties and host factors. The awareness of risk factors for DILI is arising from the analysis of large databases of DILI cases included in Registries and Consortia networks around the world. These networks are also enabling in-depth phenotyping with the identification of predictors for severe outcome, including acute liver failure and mortality/liver transplantation. Genome wide association studies taking advantage of these large cohorts have identified several alleles from the major histocompatibility complex system indicating a fundamental role of the adaptive immune system in DILI pathogenesis. Correct case definition and characterization is crucial for appropriate phenotyping, which in turn will strengthen sample collection for genotypic and future biomarkers studies.
Management and follow up of extra–adrenal phaeochromocytoma

Introduction The prevalence of phaeochromocytoma (PCC) in patients with hypertension is 0.1–0.6% and about 10% of PCCs are detected in extra–adrenal tissue. The diagnosis and therapy of this rare disease detected as a retroperitoneal tumor mass can be difficult for clinicians. Material and methods A PubMed database was searched for the peer–reviewed articles, the listed articles until Dec 2012 were included. Following key words were used: “extra–adrenal phaeochromocytoma”, “paraganglioma”, “diagnosis”, “therapy”, “surgery”, “genetic analysis”, and “SDH mutation”. Results Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) are first choice imaging tools for PCC (sensitivity 90–100%). For the validation of the diagnosis or follow up, the functional imaging 123I–metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) or Fluorine–18–L–dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F–DOPA) positron emission tomography (excellent specificity and sensitivity of 90–100% in detection of small tumors >1–2 cm) are used. Laparoscopic surgery with complete resection is a safe and a first choice approach. The conversion (about 5%) to direct open operation was needed for large lesions (>8 cm) with the suspicion of malignancy. Currently, there are no histological criteria for distinguishing benign and malignant tumors. The genetic testing (Sanger DNA sequencing) for hereditary syndromes (von Hippel–Lindau, neurofibromatosis, etc.) is used for prediction of malignancy and recurrence. All patients should get individual and risk–adapted genetic analysis and consultation, including family members. The rate of malignancy in ePCC is about 30% (PCC about 5–10%). In patients with proven SDHB germline mutations, higher malignancy rate, multiple PCCs and recurrences are likely. A stringent lifelong clinical follow–up is recommended in these cases. Patients with syndromic hereditary forms should be screened for other often associated neoplasms. Conclusions New imaging tools and genetic analysis are crucial to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of phaeochromocytoma.
Does the Past Predict the Future? The Case of Delay Announcements in Service Systems

Motivated by the recent interest in making delay announcements in large service systems, such as call centers, we investigate the accuracy of announcing the waiting time of the last customer to enter service (LES). In practice, customers typically respond to delay announcements by either balking or by becoming more or less impatient, and their response alters system performance. We study the accuracy of the LES announcement in single-class, multiserver Markovian queueing models with announcement-dependent customer behavior. We show that, interestingly, even in this stylized setting, the LES announcement may not always be accurate. This motivates the need to study its accuracy carefully and to determine conditions under which it is accurate. Since the direct analysis of the system with customer response is prohibitively difficult, we focus on many-server, heavy-traffic analysis instead. We consider the quality-and-efficiency-driven and efficiency-driven many-server, heavy-traffic regimes and prove, under b.
Who Is out there? Exploring Trust in the Remote-Hosting Vendor Community

This paper defines and empirically tests a new concept of general trust in the remote-hosting (RH) vendor community. In the absence of prior experience or familiarity with RH vendors, and because third-party guarantees do not yet exist to assure expected results, previous trust mechanisms are inapplicable. Therefore, based on the Transaction Cost Economy theory and on the broad trust-related body of knowledge, and drawing upon previous empirical work, this study defines, develops, and empirically supports the 'general trust in the RH vendor community' construct. This factor is found to be a composite, second-level construct, affected by perceived vendor capabilities, and reflected in perceived vendor reputation. Moreover, the study re-visits the general risk of technology factor, and shows that, as postulated, such risk perceptions are decreased by trust in the vendor community. The internal structure of perceived risk of the RH technology is also investigated. The study thus suggests a new trust concept that is arguably material for organizational intention to adopt a new, risky, IT innovation. It also sheds light on a plausible explanation for the apparent past failure of RH, and suggests insights as to its future destiny.
Mutations of the Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) gene in sporadic colorectal carcinomas and colorectal carcinoma cell lines with microsatellite instability

Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome, an inherited autosomal genodermatosis characterised by benign tumours of the hair follicle, is associated with renal neoplasia, lung cysts, and spontaneous pneumothorax.1 The novel causative gene, identified by linkage analysis in BHD families, is localised on chromosome 17p11.2. 2 Protein truncating germinal mutations within a hypermutable (C)8 tract occur in patients with BHD syndrome and lead to an increased risk of kidney cancer.3 Microsatellite repeats are widely distributed throughout the genome. Owing to a defect in the DNA mismatch repair gene, a subset of tumours accumulates frequent deletion and insertion mutations in these repetitive DNA sequences.4–6 Most microsatellite instability (MSI) has so far been described in non-coding DNA within introns of intergenic regions in the genome. However, in some cancer related genes and mismatch repair genes, MSI has been identified in protein coding regions. The first target sequence identified within a coding region was a poly (A)10 nucleotide tract of the TGFBR2 gene.7 The other mutational targets of MSI have been found in repetitive sequences of IGF2R 8 and BAX 9 genes involved in the regulation of cell growth and in the promotion of apoptosis, respectively. Furthermore, frameshift mutations in repeat sequences of the DNA mismatch repair genes MSH3 and MSH6 have been reported.10 In tumours with MSI, the mechanism of tumorigenesis is believed to involve frameshift mutations of microsatellite repeats within the coding regions of genes, the inactivation of which is considered to contribute to tumorigenesis. Early reports suggested that BHD syndrome was associated with a predisposition to colon neoplasms,11–13 but Zbar et al 14 reported that colon cancer and colon polyps are not related to BHD syndrome. Recently, Khoo et al 15 reported that colorectal neoplasia is an associated feature of BHD in some families. …
Parents' convergence on sharing and marital satisfaction, father involvement, and parent–child relationship at the transition to parenthood

Cette etude examine les determinants de la participation du pere, la convergence des parents sur la satisfaction conjugale, et le comportement interactif des meres et des peres dans des familles ou les deux parents travaillent, a la transition vers le parentage. Soixante couples israelites travaillant tous les deux et leur premier ne de cinq mois ont ete interviewes et filmes durant des interactions nourrisson-mere et nourrisson-pere. Les interactions ont ete codees globablement pour vingt-et-un comportements interactifs et configurees en mesure de sensibilite parentale et d'empressement du nourrisson a communiquer. Cinq determinants de la participation de chaque parent a la vie familiale et aux responsabilites de soin de l'enfant ont ete evalues en tant qu'indicateurs des interactions parent-nourrisson: le partage des responsibilites de soin de l'enfant et des responsibilites familiales de menage, le temps passe par chaque parent avec le nourrisson durant la semaine et durant le week-end, et l'eventail des activites de soin de l'enfant que le parent pratique habituellement. La convergence conjugate etait indexee par la difference absolue de score entre la satisfaction conjugale des meres et des peres. La sensibilite paternelle etait liee au partage des responsabilites de soin de l'enfant et familiales, au temps que le pere passe avec l'enfant le week-end (mais pas pendant la semaine), a l'eventail des activites de soin de l'enfant que le pere pratique, et a la convergence entre les epoux. L'eventail des activites de soin de l'enfant pratiquees par le pere predisait une sensibilite maternelle interactive. L'empressement de l'enfant a communiquer avec le pere, mais pas avec la mere, etait lie au partage des responsabilites de soin de l'enfant, a l'eventail des activites de soin de l'enfant pratiquees par le pere et a la convergence conjugale. Les resultats precisent plus loin les associations differentielles entre la relation conjugale et la relation parent-enfant pour les meres et les peres, et indiquent l'importance de la participation instrumentale du pere dans le soin de leur enfant pour ce qui concerne le developpement du paternage.
How Much Is the Dose Varying between Follow-Up CT-Examinations Performed on the Same Scanner with the Same Imaging Protocol?

Purpose To investigate the dose variation between follow-up CT examinations, when a patient is examined several times on the same scanner with the identical scan protocol which comprised automated exposure control. Material and Methods This retrospective study was approved by the local ethics committee. The volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) and the dose-length-product (DLP) were recorded for 60 cancer patients (29 male, 31 female, mean age 60.1 years), who received 3 follow-up CT examinations each composed of a non-enhanced scan of the liver (LI-CT) and a contrast-enhanced scan of chest (CH-CT) and abdomen (AB-CT). Each examination was performed on the same scanner (Siemens Definition FLASH) equipped with automated exposure control (CARE Dose 4D and CARE KV) using the identical scan protocol. Results The median percentage difference in DLP between follow-up examinations was 9.6% for CH-CT, 10.3% for LI-CT, and 10.1% for AB-CT; the median percentage difference in CTDIvol 8.3% for CH-CT, 7.4% for LI-CT and 7.7% for AB-CT (p<0.0001 for all values). The maximum difference in DLP between follow-up examinations was 67.5% for CH-CT, 50.8% for LI-CT and 74.3% for AB-CT; the maximum difference in CTDIvol 62.9% for CH-CT, 47.2% for LI-CT, and 49% for AB-CT. Conclusion A significant variance in the radiation dose occurs between follow-up CT examinations when the same CT scanner and the identical imaging protocol are used in combination with automated exposure control.
The mapping and analysis of multiplets is an important technique for determining the geometry of a fault or revealing fault dynamics

Multiplet-clustering analysis is a method for precise determination of microseismic event locations and is used to identify subsurface fractures and fracture networks. A multiplet is a group of microseismic events with very similar waveforms, despite different origin times, and is likely the expression of stress release on the same structure. The relative source locations of similar events can be determined with high resolution and accuracy by using the moving-window cross-spectrum analysis technique. Deduced seismic clusters, called multiplet clusters, are indicative of seismically activated structures, and the orientations of these structures can be estimated using the seismic clusters even though the absolute locations of the multiplet clusters cannot themselves be determined. We examine methods of determining the relative locations of multiplet clusters and introduce the concept of clustering analysis. The clustering analysis method is used to estimate the relative location of multiplet clusters by detecting phase differences between similar stacked events. We describe the procedure for multiplet-clustering analysis, estimate relative locations of multiplet clusters, and apply the method to induced microseismic data from the Soultz Hot Dry Rock field, France. We show that a fracture network can be delineated through multiplet-clustering analysis, whereas it is difficult to identify detailed structures on the basis of source locations estimated by the joint hypocenter determination method.
Physician Procedure Volume and Complications of Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation

Background— The outcomes of procedures are often better when they are performed by more experienced physicians. We assessed whether the rate of complications after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement varied with the volume of procedures a physician performed. Methods and Results— We studied 356 515 initial ICD implantations in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry–ICD Registry, performed by 4011 physicians in 1463 hospitals. We examined the relationship between physician annual ICD implantation volume and in-hospital complications, using hierarchical logistic regression to adjust for patient characteristics, implanting physician certification, hospital characteristics, hospital annual procedure volume, and the clustering of patients within hospitals and by physician. We repeated this analysis for ICD subtypes: single chamber, dual chamber, and biventricular. There were 10 994 patients (3.1%) with a complication after ICD implantation, and 1375 died (0.39%). The complication rate decreased with increasing physician procedure volume from 4.6% in the lowest quartile to 2.9% in the highest quartile (P<0.0001), and the mortality rate decreased from 0.72% to 0.36% (P<0.0001). The inverse relationship between physician procedure volume and complications remained significant after adjusting for patient, physician, and hospital characteristics (OR 1.55 for complications in lowest-volume quartile compared with highest; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–1.79; P<0.0001). This inverse relationship was independent of physician specialty and of hospital volume, was consistent across ICD subtypes, and was also evident for in-hospital mortality. Conclusion— Physicians who implant more ICDs have lower rates of procedural complications and in-hospital mortality, independent of hospital procedure volume, physician specialty, and ICD type.
Proximity and Innovation

There is growing awareness that knowledge in general, and learning (or the capability to learn) in particular, may be critical to the competitive advantage of firms, regions and nations. In this respect, much has been written on the impact of ‘proximity’ on learning, knowledge creation and innovation. With respect to this topic, a few issues will be addressed in the paper. First, we feel a need to clarify what is exactly meant by the concept of proximity. Proximity means a lot more than just geography. It includes both spatial and non-spatial dimensions. The non-spatial dimension is related to a broad category of organizational, institutional and cultural aspects. In other words, it is a broad concept that makes an attempt to incorporate similarity or adherence between actors or organisations. The reason why it is so important is that it may influence the way people deal, communicate and interact with each other, with many social, political and economic implications. Proximity is often expected to have a positive impact on economic performance. However, local networks may also have negative effects (such as excluding new dynamic outsiders). This issue of positive versus negative aspects of proximity is a challenging one. When does proximity leads to good performance? What preconditions should be met, in order to let social capital have a positive economic effect in local networks?
“Death by PEEL?” The teaching of writing in the secondary English classroom in England

ABSTRACT The teaching of writing is at the core of the secondary English teacher’s work. There have long been contrasting ideas about the most effective approaches to supporting students as writers, and in recent years in England the evidence—from Ofsted, for example—would suggest that it is common for teachers to offer structures to scaffold students’ writing in response to text, in particular. Whilst they may be helpful in some ways, there is a risk that these structures—often known by acronyms such as PEE (point, evidence, evaluation)—can be overused with a consequential marginalisation of student choice, voice and personal response. After a brief overview of the development of different approaches to teaching writing in English, this article—through consideration of a questionnaire and focus group interview—explores the teaching writing as it is experienced by one group of new entrants to the profession.
Monitoring the propagation of a debris flow along a torrent

Abstract The results are presented of a field experiment on debris flow monitoring that were obtained in the summer of 1996 in a small mountain torrent in the Italian Alps. A network of seismic detectors was placed about one kilometre upstream of some previously existing gauging stations equipped with ultrasonic devices. In June and July two debris flows occurred, which were recorded both by the seismic and the ultrasonic sensors allowing a comparison between the two results. For the first event, the plot of the mean velocity of ground vibration vs time revealed a strong similarity with the hydrograph recorded at the gauging sites: the graphs show the passage of a debris flow wave with a sharp peak followed by subsequent smaller waves. An estimation of the mean front velocity of these waves was performed at both sites.