Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of adiabaticity in the aerosol first indirect effect

[1] Aerosol indirect effects are the most uncertain of the climate forcing mechanisms that have operated through the industrial period. Several studies have demonstrated modifications of cloud properties due to aerosols and corresponding changes in shortwave and longwave radiative fluxes under specific cloud conditions, but some recent studies have indicated that cloud dynamical processes such as entrainment-mixing may be the primary modulator of cloud optical properties in certain situations. For example, day-to-day variations of the cloud drop effective radius (re) determined from the ground-based remote sensing at the Southern Great Plains were found to be weakly associated with the variations in aerosol loading as characterized by its light-scattering coefficient at the surface, implying that other processes were impacting the cloud radiative properties. To study these other impacts, we extend a previous study to investigate the role of changes in liquid water path (LWP) and re in single layer stratiform clouds that are induced by entrainment-mixing processes and their effects on cloud radiative properties. We quantify the degree of entrainment-mixing in terms of the adiabaticity defined as the ratio of the observed cloud liquid water path to the corresponding adiabatic value. The cloud optical depth is, as expected, governed primarily by LWP, but that adiabaticity is the next most influential factor. In contrast, re is found to be equally sensitive to adiabaticity and LWP. In adiabatic clouds the aerosol first indirect effect is clearly observed and related to independent measures of aerosol loading. In sub-adiabatic clouds the aerosol first indirect effect is not readily observed; this may in some circumstances be due to interference from heterogeneous mixing processes that change the droplet number density in a manner that attenuates the effect.
Behind the frontlines : occupational stress and well-being in Jamaican police officers

Policing is considered highly stressful, and this is particularly true for the police in Jamaica. Along with the everyday demands and pressures of police work, these officers also contend with socio-economic challenges and high levels of crime and violence. However, there is a lack of empircal data on police stress and its effects in this context. Furthermore, while much progress has been made over the past four decades, it has been argued that there is a need for more thorough and organised research frameworks in understanding the complexities of police stress and its consequences. The current research was consistent with this recommendation and sought to provide a comprehensive study of work-related stress in the Jamaican Police Force. The first objective was to identify sources of occupational stress among police officers. The second was to use a multidimensional approach, guided by a contemporary theoretical framework, to examine the determinants of police officers’ well-being. This research investigated the relative contribution of occupational factors, individual differences, and work-family conflict in predicting occupational and personal well-being outcomes. Moderation effects of positive work factors and coping, as well as the intermediate role of subjective appraisals in the stress-strain relationship were also examined. Findings showed that organizational stressors, including inadequate pay and resources, poor working conditions, and poor management practices were the primary sources of stress for the Jamaican police. Confrontations with harm or death, public scrutiny and criticism as well as stress from the interplay of work and family life were also important.
The governance of the World Bank : analysis and implications of the decisional power of the G10

This article discusses the World Bank's formal rules of governance. It states that theoretically, each of the World Bank's member states is represented within the decision making process but in practice it is otherwise. Indeed, we demonstrate that in reality the democratic imbalance in favor of the Most Developed Countries (MDCs), caused by the voting system of the WB, is much stronger than it appears. In the first place, our analysis of the formal decision making process demonstrates that the voting system is such that a coalition of particularly coordinated countries - the eleven countries of the G10 - can, on its own, constitute a majority permitting them to vote decisively on all issues. This implies that the remaining 174 members have no influence on voting results. Thus, this minority coalition alone is in position to approve loans and their attached conditions. In the second place, four features of the World Bank's governance which protect and re-enforce the power of this coalition are found. On the one hand, this analysis provides some explanations to the failure of various initiatives made to increase the voice of the Less Developed Countries (LDCs). On the other hand, it identifies several means susceptible of increasing the power of these countries in the institution. The main interest of this study shows that the democratic imbalance caused by the voting system is more important than it seems. Indeed, not only do the World Bank's formal rules of governance give the G10 the voting weight at all three levels of decision making but several governing features also permit the G10 to protect and re-enforce the power that they already have. Due to their right of veto, the MDCs can notably block any reform proposals.
994 International Conference on Parallel Processing Execube -a New Architecture for Scaleable Mpps

The EXECUBE* chip is a new single part type building block for MPP systems that scales seamlessly from a few chips (with a few hundred mips) to thousands of chips with petaop potential. Further, the chip architecture supports directly both SIMD and MIMD modes of processing, permitting not only the best of both current parallel computing modes but also new modes not possible with more conventional designs. This paper discusses the overall architecture of the EXECUBE chip, the new computational model it represents, some comparisons against the current state of the art, how it might be used for real applications, and some extrapolations into future developments.
EVALUATION OF LIDAR AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR MONITORING VOLUME CHANGES IN RIPARIAN RESOURCES WITHIN THE GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

Elevation data from high resolution photogrammetry and different resolution and replicate collections of LIDAR were compared with ground survey elevations of bare- and vegetable-sediment deposits within the Colorado ecosystem, to determine their ability to map ground topography at an accuracy of 20 cm and the estimate sediment volume at an accuracy of 3%. High resolution LIDAR and photogrammetry were found to meet this vertical accuracy requirement on bare-sand surfaces, but not on vegetable-sand surfaces. Photogrammetry and LIDAR second return data produced the best vertical accuracies on vegetable-sand surfaces, but accuracies were only about 35 cm. Photogrammetry consistently produced the highest volumetric accuracies on bare and vegetated ground. Overall, photogrammetry provides more accurate monitoring data than LIDAR, although more careful photogrammetric processing is necessary to attain monitoring accuracy requirements within vegetation.
Acute lipopolysaccharide exposure facilitates epileptiform activity via enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability in vitro

Growing evidence indicates brain inflammation has been involved in the genesis of seizures. However, the direct effect of acute inflammation on neuronal circuits is not well known. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been used extensively to stimulate brain inflammatory responses both in vivo and in vitro. Here, we observed the contribution of inflammation induced by 10 μg/mL LPS to the excitability of neuronal circuits in acute hippocampal slices. When slices were incubated with LPS for 30 minutes, significant increased concentration of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In electrophysiological recordings, we found that frequency of epileptiform discharges and spikes per burst increased 30 minutes after LPS application. LPS enhanced evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents but did not modify evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents. In addition, exposure to LPS enhanced the excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons, as demonstrated by a decrease in rheobase and an increase in action potential frequency elicited by depolarizing current injection. Our observations suggest that acute inflammation induced by LPS facilitates epileptiform activity in vitro and that enhancement of excitatory synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability may contribute to this facilitation. These results may provide new clues for treating seizures associated with brain inflammatory disease.
Modifications Not Needed in the General Paradigm for Understanding Criminal Behavior

W olf correctly notes the oscillatory potential in the system of relationships specified by the general paradigm. As the example provided in my response to the other commentators (Vila, 1997b:50-51) showed, these oscillations may be simple, or they may be quite complex. Wolf also raises the interesting possibility of shifts in the nature ofcrime in a population from more to less serious that might be brought on by an increase in criminal opportunities, citing the excellent work of Bennett, Clarke, and others on situational crime prevention and offender motivation. However, this possibility does not require modification of the general paradigm, because it is already accounted for in the feedback loop, motivation-opportunity-motivation
Enriching a spatial road representation with lanes and driving directions

The detection of lane layout in the surroundings of the ego-vehicle is a key issue for modern ADAS and autonomous driving. Most modern systems rely on annotated spatial maps to provide lane information. However, these maps are not available everywhere, and thus have to be often supported by direct detection systems (e.g. cameras, lasers). Such systems detect lane boundaries by directly observing lane markings or sensing curbstones and pavements. However, well defined boundaries are not always there, or they can be difficult to detect, especially in rural or inner city roads. Furthermore, other traffic participants in the surroundings can significantly limit the field of view of the ego-vehicle. In order to help lane detection in this kind of scenario, indirect cues, such as the behavior of the other vehicles, can be a useful resource. In this paper we propose a grid-based approach, that works on a road terrain representation and assigns a lane and a driving direction to each patch of road. Our approach segments the road terrain into multiple lanes based on geometrical considerations and prior knowledge, and then assigns a driving direction to each lane, taking into account the observed and predicted motion of the other vehicles in the scene. The road terrain is provided by a system we proposed in a previous work, which combines direct and indirect cues to build a probabilistic road representation grid. This new approach constitutes an additional layer to our representation, providing more awareness about the road regulations to motion control systems and allowing them to plan safer trajectories.
Upper-bounding ℓ1-optimization weak thresholds

In our recent work \cite{StojnicCSetam09} we considered solving under-determined systems of linear equations with sparse solutions. In a large dimensional and statistical context we proved that if the number of equations in the system is proportional to the length of the unknown vector then there is a sparsity (number of non-zero elements of the unknown vector) also proportional to the length of the unknown vector such that a polynomial $\ell_1$-optimization technique succeeds in solving the system. We provided lower bounds on the proportionality constants that are in a solid numerical agreement with what one can observe through numerical experiments. Here we create a mechanism that can be used to derive the upper bounds on the proportionality constants. Moreover, the upper bounds obtained through such a mechanism match the lower bounds from \cite{StojnicCSetam09} and ultimately make the latter ones optimal.
Emotionele belasting en de noodzaak tot het verbergen van emoties op het werk

Bij een representatieve steekproef van de Nederlandse beroepsbevolking van 4334 personen is de emotionele belasting van het werk en het moeten verbergen van emoties op het werk onderzocht. Uit het onderzoek blijkt dat de emotionele belasting hoog is in beroepen in de zorg, het onderwijs en de kunsten en dat het moeten verbergen van emoties vooral voorkomt bij politie, brandweer en bewaking. Verder blijkt - grotendeels in overeenstemming met de verwachtingen - dat emotionele belasting en het moeten verbergen van emoties op het werk gerelateerd zijn aan uitputting en ontevredenheid met het werk. Sociale steun van chef en van collega's kan deze samenhang van emotionele belasting en het moeten verbergen van emoties op het werk met negatieve werkuitkomsten gedeeltelijk tegengaan. Een buffereffect van sociale steun treedt vooral op bij het moeten verbergen van emoties op het werk.
The role of microstructure and processing on the proton conducting properties of gadolinium-doped barium cerate

The influence of grain boundary conductivity and microstructure on the electrical properties of BaCe_0. 85Gd_0. 15O_3–δ have been examined. Grain sizes were varied by sintering at various temperatures. Impedance data were analyzed using the brick layer model, and some new consequences of this model are presented. The specific grain boundary conductivity exhibits an activation energy of ~0.7 eV, and for similar processing routes, is independent of grain size. An isotope effect was observed, indicating that protons (or deuterons) are the mobile species. TEM investigations showed the intergranular regions to be free of any glassy phase that could account for the differences in bulk and grain boundary properties. Single-crystal fibers, grown by a modified float zone process, were notably barium deficient, and exhibited a low conductivity, comparable to that of polycrystalline Ba_0. 96Ce_0. 85Gd_0. 15O_3–δ.
Crosstalk between NSL Histone Acetyltransferase and MLL/SET Complexes: NSL Complex Functions in Promoting Histone H3K4 Di-Methylation Activity by MLL/SET Complexes

hMOF (MYST1), a histone acetyltransferase (HAT), forms at least two distinct multiprotein complexes in human cells. The male specific lethal (MSL) HAT complex plays a key role in dosage compensation in Drosophila and is responsible for histone H4K16ac in vivo. We and others previously described a second hMOF-containing HAT complex, the non-specific lethal (NSL) HAT complex. The NSL complex has a broader substrate specificity, can acetylate H4 on K16, K5, and K8. The WD (tryptophan-aspartate) repeat domain 5 (WDR5) and host cell factor 1 (HCF1) are shared among members of the MLL/SET (mixed-lineage leukemia/set-domain containing) family of histone H3K4 methyltransferase complexes. The presence of these shared subunits raises the possibility that there are functional links between these complexes and the histone modifications they catalyze; however, the degree to which NSL and MLL/SET influence one another's activities remains unclear. Here, we present evidence from biochemical assays and knockdown/overexpression approaches arguing that the NSL HAT promotes histone H3K4me2 by MLL/SET complexes by an acetylation-dependent mechanism. In genomic experiments, we identified a set of genes including ANKRD2, that are affected by knockdown of both NSL and MLL/SET subunits, suggested they are co-regulated by NSL and MLL/SET complexes. In ChIP assays, we observe that depletion of the NSL subunits hMOF or NSL1 resulted in a significant reduction of both H4K16ac and H3K4me2 in the vicinity of the ANKRD2 transcriptional start site proximal region. However, depletion of RbBP5 (a core component of MLL/SET complexes) only reduced H3K4me2 marks, but not H4K16ac in the same region of ANKRD2, consistent with the idea that NSL acts upstream of MLL/SET to regulate H3K4me2 at certain promoters, suggesting coordination between NSL and MLL/SET complexes is involved in transcriptional regulation of certain genes. Taken together, our results suggest a crosstalk between the NSL and MLL/SET complexes in cells.
Asymmetric dominance and asymmetric mate choice oppose premating isolation after allopatric divergence

Assortative mating promotes reproductive isolation and allows allopatric speciation processes to continue in secondary contact. As mating patterns are determined by mate preferences and intrasexual competition, we investigated male–male competition and behavioral isolation in simulated secondary contact among allopatric populations. Three allopatric color morphs of the cichlid fish Tropheus were tested against each other. Dyadic male–male contests revealed dominance of red males over bluish and yellow-blotch males. Reproductive isolation in the presence of male–male competition was assessed from genetic parentage in experimental ponds and was highly asymmetric among pairs of color morphs. Red females mated only with red males, whereas the other females performed variable degrees of heteromorphic mating. Discrepancies between mating patterns in ponds and female preferences in a competition-free, two-way choice paradigm suggested that the dominance of red males interfered with positive assortative mating of females of the subordinate morphs and provoked asymmetric hybridization. Between the nonred morphs, a significant excess of negative assortative mating by yellow-blotch females with bluish males did not coincide with asymmetric dominance among males. Hence, both negative assortative mating preferences and interference of male–male competition with positive assortative preferences forestall premating isolation, the latter especially in environments unsupportive of competition-driven spatial segregation.
A parameterisation for the activation of cloud drops including the effects of semi-volatile organics

Abstract. We present a parameterisation of aerosol activation, including co-condensation of semi-volatile organics, for warm clouds that has applications in large-scale numerical models. The scheme is based on previously developed parameterisations that are in the literature, but has two main modifications. The first is that the total aerosol mass is modified by the condensation of organic vapours entering cloud base, whereas the second is that this addition of mass acts to modify the median diameter and the geometric standard deviation of the aerosol size distribution. It is found that the scheme is consistent with parcel model calculations of co-condensation under different regimes. Such a parameterisation may find use in evaluating important feedbacks in climate models.
IL‐12 plays a pivotal role in LFA‐1‐mediated T cell adhesiveness by up‐regulation of CCR5 expression

The chemokine receptor CCR5 has been implicated in the recruitment of T cells to inflammatory sites. However, the regulation of CCR5 induction on T cells and its contribution to T cell adhesiveness are poorly understood. Using a Th1 clone, 2D6, that can be maintained with interleukin (IL)‐12 or IL‐2 alone (designated 2D6IL‐12 or 2D6IL‐2, respectively), we investigated how CCR5 is induced on T cells and whether CCR5 is responsible for up‐regulating the function of adhesion molecules. 2D6IL‐12 grew, forming cell aggregates, in culture containing IL‐12. This was due to lymphocyte function‐associated antigen (LFA)‐1–intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1 interaction, because 2D6IL‐12 expressed both LFA‐1 and ICAM‐1 and cell aggregation was inhibited by anti‐ICAM‐1 monoclonal antibody. Despite comparable levels of LFA‐1 and ICAM‐1 expression, 2D6IL‐2 cells did not aggregate in culture with IL‐2. It is important that there was a critical difference in CCR5 expression between 2D6IL‐12 and 2D6IL‐2; the former expressed high levels of CCR5, and the latter expressed only marginal levels. Both types of cells expressed detectable albeit low levels of RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted) mRNA. Unlike IL‐12 or IL‐2, IL‐18 induced high levels of RANTES mRNA expression without modulating CCR5 expression. Therefore, combined stimulation with IL‐12 and IL‐18 strikingly up‐regulated 2D6 cell aggregation. Notably, LFA‐1‐mediated aggregation of 2D6IL‐12 cells was suppressed by anti‐CCR5 antibody. These results indicate that IL‐12 plays a critical role in CCR5 expression on Th1 cells and consequently contributes to CCR5‐mediated activation of LFA‐1 molecules.
Fluctuation theorems for harmonic oscillators

We study experimentally the thermal fluctuations of energy input and dissipation in a harmonic oscillator driven out of equilibrium, and search for fluctuation relations. Both the transient evolution from the equilibrium state, and non-equilibrium steady states are analyzed. Fluctuation relations are obtained experimentally for both the work and the heat, for the stationary and transient evolutions. A stationary state fluctuation theorem is verified for various time dependences of the imposed external torque. The transient fluctuation theorem is satisfied for the work given to the system but not for the heat dissipated by the system in the case of linear forcing. Experimental observations on the statistical and dynamical properties of the position fluctuations of the torsion pendulum allow us to derive analytical expressions for the probability density functions of the work and the heat. We obtain for the first time an analytic expression for the probability density function of the heat. The agreement between experiments and our predictions is excellent.
Substitution between Real and Accruals-Based Earnings Management after Voluntary Adoption of Compensation Clawback Provisions

ABSTRACT: To deter financial misstatements, many companies have recently adopted compensation recovery policies—commonly known as “clawbacks”—that authorize the board to recoup compensation paid to executives based on misstated financial reports. Clawbacks have been shown to reduce financial misstatements and increase investors' confidence on earnings information. We show that the benefits come with an unintended consequence of certain firms substituting for accruals management with real transactions management (e.g., reduce research and development [R&D] expenditures), especially firms with strong incentives to achieve short-term earnings targets, such as firms with high growth or high transient institutional ownership. As such, the total amount of earnings management does not decrease subsequent to clawback adoption. We further show that although real transactions management temporarily boosts those clawback adopters' short-term profitability and stock performance, this trend reverses after three years.
The role of orthotactic probability in incidental and intentional vocabulary acquisition L1 and L2

Four experiments were conducted to examine the role of orthotactic probability, i.e. the sequential letter probability, in the early stages of vocabulary acquisition by adult native speakers and advanced learners of German. The results show different effects for orthographic probability in incidental and intentional vocabulary acquisition: Whereas low orthographic probability contributed positively to incidental acquisition of novel word meanings in first language (L1), high orthographic probability affected positively the second language (L2) intentional learning. The results are discussed in the context of the following concepts: (1) triggering the establishment of a new representation, (2) noticing of new lexemes during reading, and (3) vocabulary size of the L1 and L2 mental lexicons.