Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-period toroidal earth free oscillations from the great Sumatra–Andaman earthquake observed by paired laser extensometers in Gran Sasso, Italy

SUMMARY Strain data recorded by two crossed laser extensometers operating in the Gran Sasso underground observatory recorded seismic free oscillations excited by the 2004 December 26 Sumatra–Andaman earthquake. The main source of instrumental noise can be mitigated by differencing data from the crossed strainmeter arms, so that the resulting differential strain data set offers an unprecedented resolution of the seismic toroidal free oscillations with periods T > 1000 s. We reconstruct the time evolution of selected free-oscillations for comparison with synthetic seismograms that include normal-mode coupling effects from Coriolis force, attenuation and ellipticity. Envelopes estimated for the Gran Sasso differential data set for free oscillations with period T 1 mHz) are approximated adequately by a composite Centroid–Moment–Tensor (CMT) source with five subevents and an aggregate Mw= 9.3 moment-magnitude. Envelopes for several toroidal free oscillations with T > 1000 s are predicted less well. The amplitude of the rarely observed mode 0T2 is overpredicted at Gran Sasso by roughly a factor of two, and other modes are underpredicted. The amplitude discrepancy for 0T2 is confirmed at selected exceptionally low-noise seismic stations. Hypothetical explanations include a slow-slip component of the seismic moment release, errors in the composite-CMT source model, unmodelled coupling effects to Earth's secular modes and feedback from the Sumatra–Andaman tsunami on Indian Ocean coastlines. Of these hypotheses, either an extended-duration strain release or tsunami feedback seem most plausible. The viability of the tsunami-feedback mechansim deserves further investigation.
Learning, realizability and games in classical arithmetic

In this dissertation we provide mathematical evidence that the concept of learning can be used to give a new and intuitive computational semantics of classical proofs in various fragments of Predicative Arithmetic. First, we extend Kreisel modified realizability to a classical fragment of first order Arithmetic, Heyting Arithmetic plus EM1 (Excluded middle axiom restricted to Sigma^0_1 formulas). We introduce a new realizability semantics we call "Interactive Learning-Based Realizability". Our realizers are self-correcting programs, which learn from their errors and evolve through time. Secondly, we extend the class of learning based realizers to a classical version PCFclass of PCF and, then, compare the resulting notion of realizability with Coquand game semantics and prove a full soundness and completeness result. In particular, we show there is a one-to-one correspondence between realizers and recursive winning strategies in the 1-Backtracking version of Tarski games. Third, we provide a complete and fully detailed constructive analysis of learning as it arises in learning based realizability for HA+EM1, Avigad's update procedures and epsilon substitution method for Peano Arithmetic PA. We present new constructive techniques to bound the length of learning processes and we apply them to reprove - by means of our theory - the classic result of Godel that provably total functions of PA can be represented in Godel's system T. Last, we give an axiomatization of the kind of learning that is needed to computationally interpret Predicative classical second order Arithmetic. Our work is an extension of Avigad's and generalizes the concept of update procedure to the transfinite case. Transfinite update procedures have to learn values of transfinite sequences of non computable functions in order to extract witnesses from classical proofs.
Statistical study of the storm effects in middle and low latitude ionosphere in the East-Asian sector

On the basis of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) observed at 4 ionosonde stations in the East-Asian sector during 515 geomagnetic storms from 1957 to 2006, we statistically analyze the types, the onset times and the time delay of ionospheric storms to reveal the distribution of ionospheric responses to storms related to geomagnetic latitude, season and local time. The results show that, the negative responses prevail at mid latitudes, whereas the positive responses prevail at low latitudes. There are more negative storms in summer and more positive storms in winter. In equinox, the distribution of ionospheric storms shows a latitudinal difference. At mid latitudes, most negative phase onsets are within the local time interval from night to early morning, and they are rarely occurred in the noon and afternoon sectors. At low latitude, positive phases commence most frequently in the daytime sector as well as night-time 18~21 LT. The average time delay for ionospheric positive storms is mostly within 10 hours, while it is longer than 10 hours for negative storms, and the time delay is significantly shorter for those at mid latitudes than at low latitudes. The time delay has significant dependence on the local time of MPO. The time delay of positive response is short for daytime MPO and longer for night-time MPO, whereas the opposite applies for negative response. However, there is no significant relationship between the time delay and the intensity of magnetic storms.
Statistical shape models for segmentation and structural analysis

Biomedical imaging of large patient populations, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, is becoming a standard technique for noninvasive, in-vivo studies of the pathophysiology of diseases and for monitoring drug treatment. In radiation oncology, imaging and extraction of anatomical organ geometry is a routine procedure for therapy planning an monitoring, and similar procedures are vital for surgical planning and image-guided therapy. Bottlenecks of today's studies, often processed by labor-intensive manual region drawing, are the lack of efficient, reliable tools for three-dimensional organ segmentation and for advanced morphologic characterization. This paper discusses current research and development focused towards building of statistical shape models, used for automatic model-based segmentation and for shape analysis and discrimination. We build statistical shape models which describe the geometric variability and image intensity characteristics of anatomical structures. New segmentations are obtained by model deformation driven by local image match forces and constrained by the training statistics. Two complimentary representations for 3D shape are discussed and compared, one based on global surface parametrization and a second one on medial manifold description. The discussion will be guided by presenting a most recent study to construct a statistical shape model of the caudate structure.
Annual cycle of landfast sea ice in Prydz Bay, east Antarctica

[1] Under the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition program in 2006, the annual thermal mass balance of landfast ice in the vicinity of Zhongshan Station, Prydz Bay, east Antarctica, was investigated. Sea ice formed from mid-February onward, and maximum ice thickness occurred in late November. Snow cover remained thin, and blowing snow caused frequent redistribution of the snow. The vertical ice salinity showed a “question-mark-shaped” profile for most of the ice growth season, which only turned into an “I-shaped” profile after the onset of ice melt. The oceanic heat flux as estimated from a flux balance at ice-ocean interface using internal ice temperatures decreased from 11.8 (±3.5) W m−2 in April to an annual minimum of 1.9 (±2.4) W m−2 in September. It remained low through late November, in mid-December it increased sharply to about 20.0 W m−2. Simulations applying the modified versions of Stefan's law, taking account the oceanic heat flux and ice-atmosphere coupling, compare well with observed ice growth. There was no obvious seasonal cycle for the thermal conductivity of snow cover, which was also derived from internal ice temperatures. Its annual mean was 0.20 (±0.04) W m-1 °C−1.
The Equity Share in New Issues and Aggregate Stock Returns

The share of equity issues in total new equity and debt issues is a strong predictor of U.S. stock market returns between 1928 and 1997. In particular, firms issue relatively more equity than debt just before periods of low market returns. The equity share in new issues has stable predictive power in both halves of the sample period and after controlling for other known predictors. We do not find support for efficient market explanations of the results. Instead, the fact that the equity share sometimes predicts significantly negative market returns suggests inefficiency and that firms time the market component of their returns when issuing securities. IN THEIR CLASSIC PROOF of the irrelevance of financing policy, Modigliani and Miller ~1958! implicitly assume market efficiency. If the stock market is inefficient, however, financing policy becomes relevant in obvious ways. When equity prices are too high, existing shareholders benefit by issuing overvalued equity. When equity prices are too low, issuing debt is preferable. Consistent with this timing hypothesis, firms issuing equity have poor subsequent performance. Stigler ~1964! , Ritter ~1991! , Loughran and Ritter ~1995! , and Speiss and Aff leck-Graves ~1995! find low average returns after both initial and seasoned offerings. 1 These studies focus exclusively on issuer returns relative to some benchmark—the first term in the decomposition Ri 5 ~Ri 2 Rb! 1 Rb. The benchmark is typically the market portfolio or
Two Xenopus Proteins That Bind the 3′ End of Histone mRNA: Implications for Translational Control of Histone Synthesis during Oogenesis

ABSTRACT Translationally inactive histone mRNA is stored in frog oocytes, and translation is activated at oocyte maturation. The replication-dependent histone mRNAs are not polyadenylated and end in a conserved stem-loop structure. There are two proteins (SLBPs) which bind the 3′ end of histone mRNA in frog oocytes. SLBP1 participates in pre-mRNA processing in the nucleus. SLBP2 is oocyte specific, is present in the cytoplasm, and does not support pre-mRNA processing in vivo or in vitro. The stored histone mRNA is bound to SLBP2. As oocytes mature, SLBP2 is degraded and a larger fraction of the histone mRNA is bound to SLBP1. The mechanism of activation of translation of histone mRNAs may involve exchange of SLBPs associated with the 3′ end of histone mRNA.
Electromagnetic Waves Propagation above Rough Surface: Application to Natural Surfaces

In this paper, roughness efiects, in electromagnetic wave propagation above natural surfaces, are introduced using a new method based on surface generation and a roughness param- eter. Difierent surfaces are characterized by the means of permittivity. Finally some results are presented for difierent surfaces (ground, sea, snow cover) and frequencies (UHF-band, X-band).
Patterns of cannabis use during adolescence and their association with harmful substance use behaviour: findings from a UK birth cohort

Background Evidence on the role of cannabis as a gateway drug is inconsistent. We characterise patterns of cannabis use among UK teenagers aged 13–18 years, and assess their influence on problematic substance use at age 21 years. Methods We used longitudinal latent class analysis to derive trajectories of cannabis use from self-report measures in a UK birth cohort. We investigated (1) factors associated with latent class membership and (2) whether latent class membership predicted subsequent nicotine dependence, harmful alcohol use and recent use of other illicit drugs at age 21 years. Results 5315 adolescents had three or more measures of cannabis use from age 13 to 18 years. Cannabis use patterns were captured as four latent classes corresponding to ‘non-users’ (80.1%), ‘late-onset occasional’ (14.2%), ‘early-onset occasional’ (2.3%) and ‘regular’ users (3.4%). Sex, mother's substance use, and child's tobacco use, alcohol consumption and conduct problems were strongly associated with cannabis use. At age 21 years, compared with the non-user class, late-onset occasional, early-onset occasional and regular cannabis user classes had higher odds of nicotine dependence (OR=3.5, 95% CI 0.7 to 17.9; OR=12.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 150.3; and OR=37.2, 95% CI 9.5 to 144.8, respectively); harmful alcohol consumption (OR=2.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 4.3; OR=5.0, 95% CI 2.1 to 12.1; and OR=2.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 7.1, respectively); and other illicit drug use (OR=22.7, 95% CI 11.3 to 45.7; OR=15.9, 95% CI 3.9 to 64.4; and OR=47.9, 95% CI 47.9 to 337.0, respectively). Conclusions One-fifth of the adolescents in our sample followed a pattern of occasional or regular cannabis use, and these young people were more likely to progress to harmful substance use behaviours in early adulthood.
Solar, interplanetary and terrestrial features associated with periods of prolonged positive and negative Dst index.

A partir d'un survey de valeurs publiees de l'indice geomagnetique Dst pour la periode 1958-1972, des intervalles de plus de 25-30 jours sont trouves durant lesquels cet indice est reste positif (Dst+) ou negatif (Dst-). Une etude est effectuee sur les parametres appropries au sol, dans la magnetosphere, dans le vent solaire et sur le Soleil afin de rechercher les caracteristiques systematiques associees avec les 2 conditions. Afin d'eliminer les facteurs provenant des variations saisonnieres et du cycle solaire, des paires Dst+ et Dst- ont ete selectionnees sur des mois successifs de la meme annee, ou le meme mois de 2 annees successives
A robot hand using electro-conjugate fluid

An electro-conjugate fluid (ECF) is a kind of functional fluid, which produces a jet flow (ECF jet) when subjected to high DC voltage. It is known that a strong ECF jet is generated under nonuniform electric field, for example, the field with a pair of needle and ring electrodes. This study introduces the ECF jet to develop a novel flexible robot hand. First, we characterize the ECF jet generator which could be a micro fluid pressure source of the robot hand, and confirm the effect of the variation of electrode parameters and the number of electrode pairs on its performance. Next, we investigate the characteristics of the robot finger which mainly consists of the ECF jet generator, a flexible rubber finger and an ECF tank. The robot finger is integrated with the pressure source (ECF jet generator) and the tank, and is successfully driven. Finally we developed a five-fingered flexible robot hand and demonstrate that the robot hand can grasp some objects with various shapes without any complex controller. The height, the width and the mass of the robot hand are approximately 60 mm, 40 mm and 15g, respectively.
A DEEP‐SEA SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILE

This paper presents a detailed seismic reflection profile taken over the deep ocean. Clear sub‐bottom reflections and refractions are obtained which are interpretable to show the variation of velocity with depth. From the travel‐time difference between the bottom reflection and a prominent sub‐bottom reflection as a function of range and frequency and from the variation of the amplitudes of the bottom and sub‐bottom reflections with frequency and angle of incidence, the conclusion is reached that the sediment is dispersive, i.e, that the velocity of sound propagation through it is a function of frequency. Further it is concluded that at lower frequencies the velocity in the sediment near the bottom is less than that in the adjacent ocean. This rather unexpected geophysical phenomenon is explained theoretically in terms of propagation in a porous media. The low velocity sediment forms a wave guide between the higher velocity ocean above and the higher velocity sediment beneath. This resulant wave guide exp.
Optic nerve sheath diameter threshold by ocular ultrasonography for detection of increased intracranial pressure in Korean adult patients with brain lesions

Abstract Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) seen on ocular US has been associated with increased intracranial pressure (IICP). However, most studies have analyzed normal range of ONSD and its optimal cut-off point for IICP in Caucasian populations. Considering ONSD differences according to ethnicity, previous results may not accurately reflect the association between IICP and ONSD in Koreans. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate normal range of ONSD and its optimal threshold for detecting IICP in Korean patients. This prospective multicenter study was performed for patients with suspected IICP. ONSD was measured 3 mm behind the globe using a 13-MHz US probe. IICP was defined as significant brain edema, midline shift, compression of ventricle or basal cistern, effacement of sulci, insufficient gray/white differentiation, and transfalcine herniation by radiologic tests. The results of the ONSD are described as the median (25th–75th percentile). The differences of ONSD according to disease entity were analyzed. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to determine the optimal cut-off point for identifying IICP. A total of 134 patients were enrolled. The patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: patients with IICP, n = 81 (60.5%); patients without IICP, n = 27 (20.1%); and control group, n = 26 (19.4%). ONSD in patients with IICP (5.9 mm [5.8–6.2]) is significantly higher than those without IICP (5.2 mm [4.8–5.4]) (P < 0.01) and normal control group (4.9 mm [4.6–5.2]) (P < 0.001). Between patients without IICP and normal control group, the difference of ONSD did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.31). ONSD >5.5 mm yielded a sensitivity of 98.77% (95% CI: 93.3%–100%) and a specificity of 85.19% (95% CI: 66.3%–95.8%). In conclusion, the optimal cut-off point of ONSD for identifying IICP was 5.5 mm. ONSD seen on ocular US can be a feasible method for detection and serial monitoring of ICP in Korean adult patients.
Temporal and spatial variabilities of the South China Sea surface temperature anomaly

In this study we use the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) monthly sea surface temperature (SST) fields (1982-1994) to investigate the temporal and spatial wriabilities of the South China Sea (SCS) warm/cool anomalies. Three steps of analysis were performed on the data set: ensemble mean (T), composite analysis to obtain the monthly mean anomaly relative to the ensemble mean (T), and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis on the residue data relative to (T) +(T). The ensemble mean SST field (T) has a rather weak horizontal gradient: 29oC near the Borneo cost to 25o-26oC near the southeast Chincoast. Two areas of evident SST anomalies were found in the monthly T variation: west of Borneo-Palawan Islands (WBP) and southeast of the southern Vietnam coast (SVC). Four patterns, monsoon and transition each with two out-of-phase structures, were found. During the spring-to-summer transition (March to May) the warm anomaly is formed in the northern SCS with T > 1.8oC located at 112o-119o30E, 15o-19o30N. During the fMl-to-winter transition (October to November) the northern SCS (north of 12oN) cool anomaly is formed in November with T < -0.6oC located at 108o-115oE, 13o-20oN. We performed an EOF analysis on the residue data relative to T + T in order to obtain transient and interannual variations of the SST fields. EOF1 accounts for 47% of the variance and represents the northern SCS warm/cool anomaly pattern. EOF2 accounts for 14% of the variance and represents the southern SCS dipole pattern. Strong northern SCS wrmnomMy (IoC wrmer) ppers during October-November 1987 nd Jnury- February 1988, and strong northern SCS cool anomaly (IoC cooler) occurs during March 1986 and November 1992. Furthermore,  strong cross correlation between wind stress curl and SST anomalies, computed from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast analyzed wind stress data and the N CEP SST 'data for different lags, shows the existence of an air-sea feedback mechanism in the SCS deep basin.
Assessment of extent of apoptosis and DNA defragmentation in chilled semen of stallions during the breeding season.

The objective of the study was to assess apoptosis and DNA defragmentation in equine semen diluted and chilled to +4°C. Semen was collected from nine fertile stallions, including four Arabian thoroughbreds and five coldbloods. Examinations were carried out immediately after semen collection (0) and at five storage times (24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h). The basic semen evaluation was performed in terms of volume, sperm concentration, viable sperm percentage, progressive motility and morphology. Using flow cytometry, DNA defragmentation and cell membrane integrity of spermatozoa were determined. The results of basic tests did not demonstrate significant differences amongst stallions, except for progressive sperm motility, which was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the semen of Arabian stallions. In the semen of the same stallions, a significant decrease in the percentage of alive spermatozoa was observed at 72, 96 and 120 h of storage, whereas a significant increase in the number of spermatozoa with DNA defragmentation was found after 24 h storage. In the semen of coldblood stallions, significantly reduced live spermatozoa percentage was observed at 96 and 120 h, while increased DNA defragmentation was observed at 48 h. These findings demonstrated that the semen of Arabian stallions chilled to +4°C retained original characteristics until 24 h of storage, whereas in coldbloods, these were preserved up to 48 h of storage.
Estimation of the relative risk of developing clinical scrapie: the role of prion protein (PrP) genotype and selection bias

Prion protein (PrP) genotype data from statutory confirmed cases and from three non-case datasets have been used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for the development of clinical scrapie for an individual sheep of a given PrP genotype, compared with one possessing the ‘wild-type’ ARQ/ARQ genotype. Logistic regression has been used to estimate the ORs, and a multiple-test procedure has been used to evaluate the statistical significance of each comparison. The results are similar to those observed in other studies: the VRQ/VRQ genotype has OR point estimates greater than 20; the ARQ/VRQ and ARH/VRQ genotypes have OR point estimates between 5 and 20; AHQ/VRQ between 0·03 and 0·1; ARR/VRQ 0·4 and 0·5; all the other PrP genotypes, excluding ARR/ARR, ARR/ARH and AHQ/ARH for which no clinical cases have been recorded have OR point estimates of less than 0·3. The estimates derived from each dataset are comparable, but not identical. This can be explained by plausible biases inherent in the sampling of the non-case populations
Tiredness, Fatigue, and Exhaustion in the Context of a Major Depressive Disorder

Framed in a multimethod design using ethnoscience and grounded theory, the purpose of this study was to characterize the attributes of tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion, and to explore their influences on illness experiences in individuals with major depressive disorder. Two domains, mind (attributes: cognitive function, sleep quality, emotional reactivity, social interaction) and body (attributes: stamina and control over body processes), were identified. These attributes changed qualitatively with participants’ progression from tiredness to fatigue and from fatigue to exhaustion, and determined whether participants “faced outward” to engage with others or “faced inward” to protect energy reserves—a decision largely influenced by the capacity “to hold up a mask” to conceal symptoms. The mask was energy depleting, and if participants could not hold up their mask, they withdrew to preserve energy. Findings regarding the role of the mask could contribute to the development of patient self-care strategies and caregiver interventions.