Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple stressors of ocean ecosystems in the 21st century: projections with CMIP5 models

Ocean ecosystems are increasingly stressed by human-induced changes of their physical, chemical and biological environment. Among these changes, warming, acidification, deoxygenation and changes in primary productivity by marine phytoplankton can be considered as four of the major stressors of open ocean ecosystems. Due to rising atmospheric CO 2 in the coming decades, these changes will be amplified. Here, we use the most recent simulations performed in the framework of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 to assess how these stressors may evolve over the course of the 21st century. The 10 Earth system models used here project similar trends in ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation and reduced primary productivity for each of the IPCC's representative concentration pathways (RCPs) over the 21st century. For the "business-as-usual" scenario RCP8.5, the model-mean changes in the 2090s (compared to the 1990s) for sea surface temperature, sea surface pH, global O 2 content and integrated primary productivity amount to p2.73 (±0.72) °C, −0.33 (±0.003) pH unit, −3.45 (±0.44)% and −8.6 (±7.9)%, respectively. For the high mitigation scenario RCP2.6, corresponding changes are +0.71 (±0.45) °C, −0.07 (±0.001) pH unit, −1.81 (±0.31)% and −2.0 (±4.1)%, respectively, illustrating the effectiveness of extreme mitigation strategies. Although these stressors operate globally, they display distinct regional patterns and thus do not change coincidentally. Large decreases in O 2 and in pH are simulated in global ocean intermediate and mode waters, whereas large reductions in primary production are simulated in the tropics and in the North Atlantic. Although temperature and pH projections are robust across models, the same does not hold for projections of subsurface O 2 concentrations in the tropics and global and regional changes in net primary productivity. These high uncertainties in projections of primary productivity and subsurface oxygen prompt us to continue inter-model comparisons to understand these model differences, while calling for caution when using the CMIP5 models to force regional impact models.
A protective role of ciglitazone in ox-LDL-induced rat microvascular endothelial cells via modulating PPARγ-dependent AMPK/eNOS pathway

Thiazolidinediones, the antidiabetic agents such as ciglitazone, has been proved to be effective in limiting atherosclerotic events. However, the underlying mechanism remains elucidative. Ox‐LDL receptor‐1 (LOX‐1) plays a central role in ox‐LDL‐mediated atherosclerosis via endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling and nitric oxide reduction. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that ciglitazone, the PPARγ agonist, protected endothelial cells against ox‐LDL through regulating eNOS activity and LOX‐1 signalling. In the present study, rat microvascular endothelial cells (RMVECs) were stimulated by ox‐LDL. The impact of ciglitazone on cell apoptosis and angiogenesis, eNOS expression and phosphorylation, nitric oxide synthesis and related AMPK, Akt and VEGF signalling pathway were observed. Our data showed that both eNOS and Akt phosphorylation, VEGF expression and nitric oxide production were significantly decreased, RMVECs ageing and apoptosis increased after ox‐LDL induction for 24 hrs, all of which were effectively reversed by ciglitazone pre‐treatment. Meanwhile, phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) was suppressed by ox‐LDL, which was also prevented by ciglitazone. Of interest, AMPK inhibition abolished ciglitazone‐mediated eNOS function, nitric oxide synthesis and angiogenesis, and increased RMVECs ageing and apoptosis. Further experiments showed that inhibition of PPARγ significantly suppressed AMPK phosphorylation, eNOS expression and nitric oxide production. Ciglitazone‐mediated angiogenesis and reduced cell ageing and apoptosis were reversed. Furthermore, LOX‐1 protein expression in RMVECs was suppressed by ciglitazone, but re‐enhanced by blocking PPARγ or AMPK. Ox‐LDL‐induced suppression of eNOS and nitric oxide synthesis were largely prevented by silencing LOX‐1. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ciglitazone‐mediated PPARγ activation suppresses LOX‐1 and moderates AMPK/eNOS pathway, which contributes to endothelial cell survival and function preservation.
Correlation between Compartmental Tenofovir Concentrations and an Ex Vivo Rectal Biopsy Model of Tissue Infectibility in the RMP-02/MTN-006 Phase 1 Study

Objectives This study was designed to assess the dose-response relationship between tissue, blood, vaginal and rectal compartment concentrations of tenofovir (TFV) and tenofovir diphosphate (TFVdp) and ex vivo rectal HIV suppression following oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and rectal administration of TFV 1% vaginally-formulated gel. Design Phase 1, randomized, two-site (US), double-blind, placebo-controlled study of sexually-abstinent males and females. Methods Eighteen participants received a single 300 mg exposure of oral TDF and were then randomized 2∶1 to receive a single then seven-daily rectal exposures of TFV 1% gel (40 mg TFV per 4 ml gel application) or hydroxyethyl-cellulose (HEC) placebo gel. Blood and rectal biopsies were collected for pharmacokinetic TDF and TFVdp analyses and ex vivo HIV-1 challenge. Results There was a significant fit for the TFVdp dose-response model for rectal tissue (p = 0.0004), CD4+ MMC (p<0.0001), CD4− MMC (p<0.0001), and TotalMMC (p<0.0001) compartments with r2 ranging 0.36–0.64. Higher concentrations of TFVdp corresponded with lower p24, consistent with drug-mediated virus suppression. The single oral treatment failed to provide adequate compartment drug exposure to reach the EC50 of rectal tissue TFVdp predicted to be necessary to suppress HIV in rectal tissue. The EC50 for CD4+ MMC was within the single topical treatment range, providing evidence that a 1% topical, vaginally-formulated TFV gel provided in-vivo doses predicted to provide for 50% efficacy in the ex vivo assay. The 7-daily topical TFV gel treatment provided TFVdp concentrations that reached EC90 biopsy efficacy for CD4− MMC, CD4+ MMC and TotalMMC compartments. Conclusion The TFVdp MMC compartment (CD4+, CD4− and Total) provided the best surrogate for biopsy infectibility and the 7-daily topical TFV gel treatment provided the strongest PK profile for HIV suppression. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00984971.
Cytokines and neurohormones relating to body composition alterations in the wasting syndrome of chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND Chronic heart failure is one of a number of disorders associated with the development of a wasting syndrome. The precise mechanisms of this remain unknown, but previous studies have suggested a role for immune and neurohormonal factors. METHODS We aimed to investigate in detail the differences in body composition (dual X-ray absorptiometry) and the relationship to candidate biochemical factors of the immune, neurohormonal and metabolic systems in 15 healthy controls, 36 stable non-cachectic and 18 cachectic patients with chronic heart failure. RESULTS Non-cachectic patients showed reduced leg lean tissue (-9.1%, P<0.01) compared to controls. Cachectic patients had significantly reduced lean (-21.0% vs controls, -19.9% vs non-cachectics), fat (-33.0% vs controls, -37. 0% vs non-cachectics) and bone tissue (-17.5% vs controls, -15.9% vs non-cachectics) (all P<0.0001). Cachectic patients showed a significantly increased cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone ratio (+203% vs controls, P<0.0001; +89% vs non-cachectics, P=0.0011) and increased cytokine levels (TNF-alpha, soluble TNF-receptor 1, interleukin-6). The levels of catabolic hormones and cytokines correlated significantly with reduced muscle and fat tissue content and reduced bone mass. CONCLUSION Peripheral loss of muscle tissue is a general finding in chronic heart failure. The wasting in cardiac cachexia affects all tissue compartments and is significantly related to neurohormonal and immunological abnormalities.
Towards quantum gravity: a framework for probabilistic theories with non-fixed causal structure

General relativity is a deterministic theory with non-fixed causal structure. Quantum theory is a probabilistic theory with fixed causal structure. In this paper, we build a framework for probabilistic theories with non-fixed causal structure. This combines the radical elements of general relativity and quantum theory. We adopt an operational methodology for the purposes of theory construction (though without committing to operationalism as a fundamental philosophy). The key idea in the construction is physical compression. A physical theory relates quantities. Thus, if we specify a sufficiently large set of quantities (this is the compressed set), we can calculate all the others. We apply three levels of physical compression. First, we apply it locally to quantities (actually probabilities) that might be measured in a particular region of spacetime. Then we consider composite regions. We find that there is a second level of physical compression for a composite region over and above the first level physical compression for the component regions. Each application of first and second level physical compression is quantified by a matrix. We find that these matrices themselves are related by the physical theory and can therefore be subject to compression. This is the third level of physical compression. The third level of physical compression gives rise to a new mathematical object which we call the causaloid. From the causaloid for a particular physical theory we can calculate everything the physical theory can calculate. This approach allows us to set up a framework for calculating probabilistic correlations in data without imposing a fixed causal structure (such as a background time). We show how to put quantum theory in this framework (thus providing a new formulation of this theory). We indicate how general relativity might be put into this framework and how the framework might be used to construct a theory of quantum gravity.
Incidental Histological Diagnosis of Acute Rheumatic Myocarditis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Rheumatic fever (RF) remains endemic in many countries and frequently causes heart failure due to severe chronic rheumatic valvular heart disease, which requires surgical treatment. Here, we report on a patient who underwent an elective surgical correction for mitral and aortic valvular heart disease and had a post-operative diagnosis of acute rheumatic carditis. The incidental finding of Aschoff bodies in myocardial biopsies is frequently reported in the nineteenth-century literature, with prevalences as high as 35%, but no clinical or prognostic data on the patients is included. The high frequency of this finding after cardiac surgery in classical reports suggests that these patients were not using secondary prophylaxis for RF. We discuss the clinical diagnosis of acute rheumatic myocarditis in asymptomatic patients and the laboratorial and imaging methods for the diagnosis of acute rheumatic carditis. We also discuss the prognostic implications of this finding and review the related literature.
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE USE OF METAPHOR IN THE rube? PARADIGM

have been my guides in both technical and political matters throughout my time here in their gentle patience and support, I could not have succeeded in many of my endeavors. They have been an inspiration to me both professionally and personally. Thanks also go to Dr. Fishwick's other research assistants whom I have had the pleasure of working with: Linda Dance and Taewoo Kim. Over time, we became more than a collection of individuals researching similar problems-we became a team. Our interactions gave me the creative spark and moral support that I required from day to day. My wife, Jennifer, has been a constant source of emotional support, comfort, and practical assistance in all of my affairs. She has been my best friend, confidante, and constant companion. Of all the blessings and honors that have been bestowed upon me, I value her love the most.
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders Do Not Use Social Stereotypes in Irony Comprehension

Social and communication impairments are part of the essential diagnostic criteria used to define Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Difficulties in appreciating non-literal speech, such as irony in ASDs have been explained as due to impairments in social understanding and in recognizing the speaker’s communicative intention. It has been shown that social-interactional factors, such as a listener’s beliefs about the speaker’s attitudinal propensities (e.g., a tendency to use sarcasm, to be mocking, less sincere and more prone to criticism), as conveyed by an occupational stereotype, do influence a listener’s interpretation of potentially ironic remarks. We investigate the effect of occupational stereotype on irony detection in adults with High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome (HFA/AS) and a comparison group of typically developed adults. We used a series of verbally presented stories containing ironic or literal utterances produced by a speaker having either a “sarcastic” or a “non-sarcastic” occupation. Although individuals with HFA/AS were able to recognize ironic intent and occupational stereotypes when the latter are made salient, stereotype information enhanced irony detection and modulated its social meaning (i.e., mockery and politeness) only in comparison participants. We concluded that when stereotype knowledge is not made salient, it does not automatically affect pragmatic communicative processes in individuals with HFA/AS.
What caused the significant increase in Atlantic Ocean heat content since the mid‐20th century?

As the upper layer of the world ocean warms gradually during the 20th century, the inter‐ocean heat transport from the Indian to Atlantic basin should be enhanced, and the Atlantic Ocean should therefore gain extra heat due to the increased upper ocean temperature of the inflow via the Agulhas leakage. Consistent with this hypothesis, instrumental records indicate that the Atlantic Ocean has warmed substantially more than any other ocean basin since the mid‐20th century. A surface‐forced global ocean‐ice coupled model is used to test this hypothesis and to find that the observed warming trend of the Atlantic Ocean since the 1950s is largely due to an increase in the inter‐ocean heat transport from the Indian Ocean. Further analysis reveals that the increased inter‐ocean heat transport is not only caused by the increased upper ocean temperature of the inflow but also, and more strongly, by the increased Agulhas Current leakage, which is augmented by the strengthening of the wind stress curl over the South Atlantic and Indian subtropical gyre.
General Responsivity Adherence in Juvenile Drug Treatment Court

Although the number of juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTC) in operation has increased since the first JDTCs were implemented in the 1990s, research continues to lag regarding the effectiveness of the treatment interventions that are provided. The purpose of the present study was to explore how the risk-need-responsivity models’ general responsivity principle could be used to inform the effectiveness of the interventions provided to 1,176 participants in nine JDTCs in the United States. Responsivity adherence was measured using the number of general responsivity-adherent techniques included in each intervention. The results indicated that an increase in general responsivity adherence was associated with an increase in substance-use severity score, which suggests that the effect of the JDTC model on treatment outcomes could vary by the type of interventions provided to participants. In addition, the findings suggest the need to further specify adherence to the general responsivity principle, particularly among substance-involved juvenile offenders.
Design of spread-spectrum sequences using chaotic dynamical systems and ergodic theory

A new design methodology for the design of optimal spread-spectrum sequences for asynchronous code-division multiple access (A-CDMA) and chip-synchronous CDMA (CS-CDMA) systems is proposed. We derive general results on the partial auto-correlation function of the optimal spreading sequences for CS-CDMA and A-CDMA systems with respect to the minimization of the average bit error rate under the standard-Gaussian-approximation condition without assuming the spreading sequences as independent stationary random processes. Based on the ergodic theory, a practical implementation of the optimal spreading sequence by using chaotic dynamical systems with Lebesgue spectrum is provided and the corresponding system performance is analyzed.
Computational macroscopic approximations to the 1-D relaxation-time kinetic system for semiconductors

We study comparisons of deterministic computational methods for 1-D relaxation charged transport in submicron channel devices. Our analysis focuses on the appropriate macroscopic approximations under regimes associated to diierent devices with similar geometries. We show, when taking standard parameters corresponding to Si devices, that the kinetic one-dimensional relaxation model can be approximated by a multi-uid domain decomposition technique that incorporates classical drift-diiusion equations with corrections in the current. In addition, when considering physical dimensions corresponding to GaAs devices, the technique requires new hydrodynamics that we propose and compute. Our comparison involves detailed computations of local distribution function solution of the kinetic equation , its rst three moments compared with the computed uid variables, and the presentation of all corresponding current-voltage characteristic curves.
ANT3D: Simultaneous Partitioning and Placement for 3-D FPGAs based on Ant Colony Optimization

Three-dimensional technologies offer great promise in providing improvements in the overall circuit performance. This letter introduces a novel netlist partitioning and placement algorithm, named ANT3D, targeting 3-D reconfigurable architectures, based on ant colony optimization (ACO). Experimental results show the effectiveness of ANT3D algorithm as we achieve performance enhancement by 10% on average, compared to state-of-the-art tools, while using significantly fewer through-silicon vias (TSVs). Finally, by taking benefit from the inherent parallelism found in ACO algorithms, it is feasible to notable reduce the execution run-time of our algorithm.
New Results on Selection Diversity over Fading Channels

(Abstract) This thesis develops a mathematical framework for analyzing the average bit error rate performance of five different selection diversity combining schemes over slow, frequency non-selective Rayleigh, Nakagami-m and Ricean fading channels. Aside from the classical selection diversity, generalized selection combining and the " maximum output " selection methods, two new selection rules based on choosing the branch providing the largest magnitude of log-likelihood ratio for binary phase shift keying signals (with and without phase compensation in the selection process) are also investigated. The proposed analytical framework is sufficiently general to study the effects of dissimilar fading parameter and unequal mean received signal strengths across the independent diversity paths. The effect of branch correlation on the performance of a dual-diversity system is also studied. The accuracies of our analytical expressions have been validated by extensive Monte-Carlo simulation runs. The proposed selection schemes based on the log-likelihood ratio are attractive in the design of low-complexity rake receivers for wideband CDMA and ultra wideband communication systems. I would also like to thank the students and staff of Mobile and Portable Radio Research Group (MPRG) who assisted me through my thesis. Special thank goes to Gautam for his helpful suggestions on my work. love and continuous support during my academic studies.
A singular limit for a system of degenerate Cahn-Hilliard equations

A singular limit is considered for a system of Cahn-Hilliard equations with a degenerate mobility matrix near the deep quench limit. Via formal asymptotics, this singular limit is seen to give rise to geometric motion in which the interfaces between the various pure phases move by motion by minus the surface Laplacian of mean curvature. These interfaces may couple at triple junctions whose evolution is prescribed by Young’s law, balance of fluxes, and continuity of the chemical potentials. Short time existence and uniqueness is proven for this limiting geometric motion in the parabolic Hölder space C 1+ α 4 , 4+α t, p , 0 < α < 1, via parameterization of the interfaces.
Motion Compensated Frame Interpolation Using Adaptive Adjacency Pixel Information

We propose an adaptive motion compensated frame interpolation scheme which is capable of developing a frame rate from a lower number into a higher number and a decoded video quality at the decoder. The proposed algorithm utilizes the preliminary frames of the forward and backward directions using bilateral prediction. In the processing of the preliminary frames, an additional interpolation is performed to fill the occlusion areas. If the calculated values between the reference and current frames are larger than the predetermined threshold, the block is chosen as the occlusion area. In addition, we performed a re-search in order to acquire the best blocks, taking into account the number of available adjacent blocks for the occlusion areas. The experimental results show that the performance of the proposed algorithm has better PSNR and visual quality than those of the conventional methods.
Are faces perceived as configurations more by adults than by children

Abstract Adult face recognition is severely hampered by stimulus inversion. Several investigators have attributed this vulnerability to the effect of orientation on encoding relational aspects of faces. Previous work has also demonstrated that children are less sensitive to orientation of faces than are adults. This has been interpreted as reflecting an increasing reliance on configural aspects of faces with increasing age and expertise. Young, Hellawell, and Hay (1987) demonstrated that for adults the encoding of relations among facial parts is, indeed, sensitive to orientation. When chimeric faces are upright, the top half of one face fuses with the bottom half of the other, making the person depicted in the top half difficult to recognize. This effect (the composite effect) is not seen when the faces are inverted. The present study obtained the composite effect for 6-year-old and 10-year-old children, just as for adults. The composite effect was found to an equal degree at all ages tested and was seen .
OFDM downlink scheduling for delay-optimality: Many-channel many-source asymptotics with general arrival processes

We consider the downlink of an OFDM system for supporting a large number of delay-sensitive users. The OFDM scheduling problem can be modeled as a discrete-time multi-source multi-server queuing system with time-varying connectivity. For such a system, the Max-Weight policy is known to be throughput-optimal and the Server-Side Greedy (SSG) policy has been recently shown to achieve small queue lengths for i.i. d. arrival processes. However, there is often significant difference between queue-length optimality and delay optimality, and there exist arrival patterns such that algorithms with small queue backlog can still lead to large delay. In this work, we propose a new OFDM scheduling algorithm that gives preference to packets with large delay. Assuming ON-OFF channels, we show that for a large class of arrival processes, the proposed policy is rate-function delay-optimal. We substantiate the result via both analysis and simulation.