Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clutter Filtering and Spectral Moment Estimation for Doppler Weather Radars Using Staggered Pulse Repetition Time (PRT)

Abstract In this paper, a new algorithm for the estimation of spectral parameters from the signal time series, collected using the staggered pulse repetition time (PRT) transmission in a Doppler weather radar, is presented. The algorithm uses the Fourier transform and a magnitude deconvolution procedure to reconstruct the signal spectrum, and then the spectral parameters are estimated from the reconstructed spectrum. There is a significant improvement in the variance of the spectral parameter estimates compared to previously published methods of processing staggered PRT sequences. Further, a novel spectral domain clutter filtering procedure allows 1) accurate velocity estimation even if the clutter-to-signal power ratio is as high as 40 dB and 2) does not incur the loss of velocity information in certain Doppler bands experienced by other clutter filtering techniques. With this algorithm, the staggered PRT technique becomes a practical contender for implementation on Doppler weather radars in the quest to.
Helping the self help others: self-affirmation increases self-compassion and pro-social behaviors

Reflecting on an important personal value in a self-affirmation activity has been shown to improve psychological functioning in a broad range of studies, but the underlying mechanisms for these self-affirmation effects are unknown. Here we provide an initial test of a novel self-compassion account of self-affirmation in two experimental studies. Study 1 shows that an experimental manipulation of self-affirmation (3-min of writing about an important personal value vs. writing about an unimportant value) increases feelings of self-compassion, and these feelings in turn mobilize more pro-social behaviors to a laboratory shelf-collapse incident. Study 2 tests and extends these effects by evaluating whether self-affirmation increases feelings of compassion toward the self (consistent with the self-compassion account) or increases feelings of compassion toward others (an alternative other-directed compassion account), using a validated storytelling behavioral task. Consistent with a self-compassion account, Study 2 demonstrates the predicted self-affirmation by video condition interaction, indicating that self-affirmation participants had greater feelings of self-compassion in response to watching their own storytelling performance (self-compassion) compared to watching a peer’s storytelling performance (other-directed compassion). Further, pre-existing levels of trait self-compassion moderated this effect, such that self-affirmation increased self-compassionate responses the most in participants low in trait self-compassion. This work suggests that self-compassion may be a promising mechanism for self-affirmation effects, and that self-compassionate feelings can mobilize pro-social behaviors.
Endometrium and Ovarian cancer synchronous to endometriosis –A retrospective study of our experience of 7 years–

Purpose: Although endometriosis is a benign disorder, recent studies suggest that endometriosis could be viewed as a neoplastic process. The objective of this study is to explore the epidemiology of synchronous neoplasms (SPN) in women with severe endometriosis. Patients and Methods: The prevalence of SPN in cases with endometriotic ovarian cysts that underwent surgery at ‘Lito’ Maternity Hospital of Athens and at Anticancer Institute of Bucharest was investigated. The review period was from the year 2000 to 2008. The medical records and pathology were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and stage of tumors. Results: Five women with synchronous cancer of the genital tract were identified. All of our patients had a grade–Ⅰ endometrioid carcinoma of the uterus (Ⅰa in 3, Ⅱb in 2). Myometrium was invaded in less than 1/3, in 4 cases, and less than ½ in one case. Similarly, 4 out of 5 ovarian cancers were endometrioid, while one was serum cystadenosarcoma. All of the ovarian malignancies were grade Ⅰ (Ⅰb in 3 and Ⅰa in 2). The median diameter of the ovarian neoplasias was of 4.3cm, as opposed to 4.5cm that was the median diameter of all endometrioid cysts. When the larger ovarian malignant cyst in each patient was accounted, the median diameter was calculated as having 5.8cm. Conclusions: Women with synchronous primary cancers of the endometrium and ovary have distinct clinical characteristics including younger age, premenopausal status, and nulliparity. This suggests that a hormonal ‘field effect’ may account for the development of these simultaneous endometrioid cancers, supporting the theory of estrogen receptors.
Teens’ Perception about Social Networking Sites: Does Facebook Influence Teens’ Self-Esteem?

Teenagers use social networks on a daily basis; they provide communication and information services and offer the chance to establish new relationships or maintain existing ones. Self-esteem, the esteem we have for our abilities and for what we can achieve, is affected by the comparison with others and by whether we are accepted by them or not. Since social networks enable their users to accept people or not, and they are also spaces highlighting social comparisons, it is important to investigate whether they have impact on teenagers’ self-esteem. This paper examines the perceptions of teenagers about social networks and investigates whether Facebook, as a representative of social networks, has impact on teenagers’ self-esteem. The survey was conducted among students in Athens, aged 16 (N = 71) and the Self Perception Profile for Adolescents (Harter, 1988) questionnaire was used, in its Greek version PATEM IV, adding questions regarding the opinions of teenagers for the use of social networks and their acceptance and popularity, which were correlated with the PATEM IV sub-scales. The study showed that self-esteem is not connected with the frequency with which students use Facebook or the level of acceptance or popularity of the users. It appears that teenagers primarily seek recognition and establishing relationships with their peers through social networks. The closer the relationships, the more they use social networks to communicate and less for self-promotion. The number of “likes” is positively correlated with relationships with the opposite sex. Teenagers with more “likes” on their profile pictures have developed better relationships with the opposite sex. Percentage of 51.6% expresses the need of higher acceptance and social recognition by others and uses “tags” in order to increase the “likes” received. 87.1% uses social networks on a daily basis and 57.1% two hours and more daily, but the majority finds enough time to go out. It is alarming that 53% of the teenagers sacrifice their sleeping and studying time to find time to use social networks. In general, our research reaffirms the need of teenagers to belong to a group, and also the importance of relationships among peers during adolescence. The vast majority belongs to communities with known persons, using social networks safely, and they believe that they are beneficial. Finally, it appears that Facebook contributes to the establishment of relationships, particularly with the opposite sex.
Assessment of group work in initial teacher education and training

This study records findings of a study carried out in a group of 100 students at a South African university. This study examines the group’s assignments as a way of gathering evidence about pre-service teachers’ achievements in the process of education and training. The empirical study was based on comparative analysis of scores obtained by students in group tasks and scores obtained by the same students doing the same task. The results indicated a discrepancy between marks obtained in the group task and marks earned through individual effort. Findings based on assessment of the results are displayed in the frequency distribution tables: inconsistency in the scores, trustworthiness of group assessment, and equitable allocation of marks to undeserving individuals in groups. High marks are allocated to students who did not warrant them. Moderation of marks (obtained by a group on the task is necessary to validate the reality of students’ performance in a group assignment). Findings highlighted that group assignments do not provide a valid reflection of student performance which could mean that some fourth-year students obtain the qualification without earning it. Keywords : assessment; group work; moderation; pre-service teachers; progression
Asymmetric dimethylarginine may mediate increased heat pain threshold in experimental chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND Thermal sensitivity in uraemia is decreased. Non-selective synthetic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors significantly attenuate thermal hyperalgesia in preclinical models. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of experimental uraemia, which is associated with an increase of the endogenous NOS inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), on thermal sensitivity in rats. Furthermore, we intended to study the effect of chronic ADMA infusion alone on thermal sensitivity. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 54), 10 weeks old, weight 370-430 g, were randomly assigned to three groups receiving either (i) isotonic saline or (ii) ADMA via osmotic mini pumps or (iii) underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx). After 14 days, 50% of all animals from all groups underwent thermal sensitivity testing and terminal blood draw. After 28 days, the remaining animals underwent the same procedures. Thermal sensitivity examination was performed by the hot-plate test, measuring time from heat exposition to first paw licking or jumping of the animal. RESULTS While the median [interquartile range] latency time between heat exposition to first paw licking or jumping of the animal in the NaCl infusion group remained unchanged between Day 14 (8.4 [6.75-11.50] s) and Day 28 (7.35 [6.10-7.90] s) both, ADMA infusion and 5/6 nephrectomy tended to increase the thermal pain threshold at Day 14 (9.25 [6.55-12.18] s) and (9.50 [5.8 ± 11.0] s), respectively, compared to NaCl on Day 14 (8.4 [6.75-11.50] s). This difference became statistical significant at Day 28 where the median latency time in the ADMA group (13.10 [11.85-15.95] s) and in the 5/6 Nx group (13.50 [10.85-17.55] s) were significantly higher than in the NaCl group (7.35 [6.10-7.90] s). CONCLUSIONS Induction of progressive renal failure in rats by 5/6 nephrectomy, which is accompanied by a marked increase of the serum levels of the endogenous NOS inhibitor ADMA, leads to a significantly increased heat pain threshold at 28 days. The sole infusion of ADMA into healthy rats leads to the same increase in heat pain threshold.
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Working Paper Series Do Banks Price Their Informational Monopoly? Do Banks Price Their Informational Monopoly? Do Banks Price Their Informational Monopoly?

The views in this paper are solely the responsibility of the authors and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. outstanding research assistance, and Anita Todd for help with the draft. The authors also thank Arthur Warga for his help on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' bond database. The views stated herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the Federal Reserve Banks of San Francisco or New York, or the Federal Reserve System. Abstract Modern corporate finance theory argues that although bank monitoring is beneficial to borrowers, it also allows banks banks to use the private information they gain through monitoring to " holdup " borrowers for higher interest rates. In this paper, we seek empirical evidence for this information holdup cost. Since new information about a firm's credit-worthiness is revealed at the time of its first issue in the public bond market, it follows that after firms undertake their bond IPO, banks with an exploitable information advantage will be forced to adjust their loan interest rates downwards, particularly for firms that are revealed to be safe. Our findings show that firms are able to borrow from banks at lower interest rates after they issue for the first time in the public bond market and that the magnitude of these savings is larger for safer firms. We further find that among safe firms, those that get their first credit rating at the time of their bond IPO benefit from larger interest rate savings than those that already had a credit rating when they entered the bond market. Since more information is revealed at the time of the bond IPO on the former firms and since this information will increase competition from uninformed banks, these findings provide support for the hypothesis that banks price their informational monopoly. Finally, we find that while entering the public bond market may reduce these informational rents, it is costly to firms because they have to pay higher underwriting costs on their IPO bonds. Moreover, IPO bonds are subject to more underpricing than subsequent bonds when they first trade in the secondary bond market.
The Utility of Neuroscience for Social Work Research and Practice With Children and Adolescents

Recent advances in understanding the child and adolescent brain provide helpful tools for social work practitioners and researchers interested in improving social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes in young people. We provide a rationale for including neuroscience in social work practice and research, and we offer an overview of brain basics and neuroimaging technologies used in research. Select neuroscience findings related to cognition and emotion that pertain to the identification, prediction, and treatment of physical and mental health of young people in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence are discussed. Finally, we review potential benefits and limitations in the integration of neuroscience and social work, and we identify future directions for neuroscience and social work scholarship aimed at promoting healthy youth development.
Plasma Cortisol and Progression of Dementia in DAT Subjects

Objective Previous studies of subjects with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) have reported correlations between increases in activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and hippocampal degeneration. In this study, we sought to determine whether increases in plasma cortisol, a marker of HPA activity, were associated with clinical and cognitive measures of the rate of disease progression in DAT subjects.
WILL THEY STAY? JOB SATISFACTION AND DISSATISFACTION AMONG NOVICE TEACHERS

Students’ motivation to learn and teach is a symbiotic relationship. Students are motivated and inspired by great teachers. There are many inspiring success stories of students who named their teachers as their role model and icon for success. As such, teaching can be a rewarding or a challenging task to teachers. Lack of motivation from teachers can have a negative impact on students’ learning. Some teachers may begin highly motivated but end up losing the motivation as years go by. There are many factors that can act as satisfaction and dissatisfaction factors among novice teachers. This study looks into the factors affecting novice teachers’ motivation in the workforce. 176 novice teachers responded to survey on what satisfies and dissatisfies them towards teaching. Findings reveal that novice lecturers are satisfied by some factors to become effective at work; yet can be dissatisfied by certain issues surrounding the institution. Article visualizations:
Proteome readjustments in the apoplastic space of Arabidopsis thaliana ggt1 mutant leaves exposed to UV-B radiation

Ultraviolet-B radiation acts as an environmental stimulus, but in high doses it has detrimental effects on plant metabolism. Plasma membranes represent a major target for Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generated by this harmful radiation. Oxidative reactions occurring in the apoplastic space are counteracted by antioxidative systems mainly involving ascorbate and, to some extent, glutathione. The occurrence of the latter and its exact role in the extracellular space are not well documented, however. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the gamma-glutamyl transferase isoform (GGT1) bound to the cell wall takes part in the so-called gamma-glutamyl cycle for extracellular glutathione degradation and recovery, and may be implicated in redox sensing and balance. In this work, oxidative conditions were imposed with Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) and studied in redox altered ggt1 mutants. The response of ggt1 knockout Arabidopsis leaves to UV-B radiation was assessed by investigating changes in extracellular glutathione and ascorbate content and their redox state, and in apoplastic protein composition. Our results show that, on UV-B exposure, soluble antioxidants respond to the oxidative conditions in both genotypes. Rearrangements occur in their apoplastic protein composition, suggesting an involvement of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), which may ultimately act as a signal. Other important changes relating to hormonal effects, cell wall remodeling, and redox activities are discussed. We argue that oxidative stress conditions imposed by UV-B and disruption of the gamma-glutamyl cycle result in similar stress-induced responses, to some degree at least. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001807.
Basins of attraction in fully asynchronous discrete-time discrete-state dynamic networks

This paper gives a formulation of the basins of fixed point states of fully asynchronous discrete-time discrete-state dynamic networks. That formulation provides two advantages. The first one is to point out the different behaviors between synchronous and asynchronous modes and the second one is to allow us to easily deduce an algorithm which determines the behavior of a network for a given initialization. In the context of this study, we consider networks of a large number of neurons (or units, processors, etc.), whose dynamic is fully asynchronous with overlapping updates . We suppose that the neurons take a finite number of discrete states and that the updating scheme is discrete in time. We make no hypothesis on the activation functions of the nodes, so that the dynamic of the network may have multiple cycles and/or basins. Our results are illustrated on a simple example of a fully asynchronous Hopfield neural network.
Exemplar-based unit selection for voice conversion utilizing temporal information

Although temporal information of speech has been shown to play an important role in perception, most of the voice conversion approaches assume the speech frames are independent of each other, thereby ignoring the temporal information. In this study, we improve conventional unit selection approach by using exemplars which span multiple frames as base units, and also take temporal information constraint into voice conversion by using overlapping frames to generate speech parameters. This approach thus provides more stable concatenation cost and avoids discontinuity problem in conventional unit selection approach. The proposed method also keeps away from the over-smoothing problem in the mainstream joint density Gaussian mixture model (JD-GMM) based conversion method by directly using target speaker’s training data for synthesizing the converted speech. Both objective and subjective evaluations indicate that our proposed method outperforms JD-GMM and conventional unit selection methods. Index Terms: Voice conversion, unit selection, multi-frame exemplar, temporal information
The Longitudinal Effect of Structural Brain Measurements on Cognitive Abilities

Loss of brain tissues and cognitive abilities are natural processes of aging, and they are related to each other. These changes in cognition and brain structure are different among the cognitively normal elderly and those with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite the great development in the longitudinal study of decline in brain volume and cognitive abilities, previous studies are limited by their small number of data collection waves and inadequate adjustments for important factors (such as a genetic factor). These limitations diminish the power to detect changes in brain tissues and cognitive abilities over a longer period of time. In this study, firstly, we aimed to explore the longitudinal association between cognitive abilities and global and regional structural brain variables among individuals with normal cognitive status, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD using mixed effects models. Secondly, we investigated the effect of education on the relationship between cognition and brain structure. Lastly, we utilized latent class growth analysis in order to study the change in cognition between different MCI sub-classes based on their functional abilities. The data in this study were obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)which contained 6 time points over three years (n=686). The results showed that cognitive abilities decreased over time across different groups, and the rate of decline in cognition depended on the whole brain volume. Importantly, the effect of brain volume on the rate of decline in cognitive abilities was greater among MCI subjects who progressed to AD (pMCI) and participants with AD. Ventricle enlargement in the pMCI group also showed a significant influence on the rate of cognitive decline . Lastly, based on an assessment of functional abilities at baseline, this study demonstrated an efficient methodology to identify MCI subjects who are most at-risk for cognitive impairment progression.
Regular reconfiguration of light-trees in multilayer optical networks

In this paper we study dynamically changing multicast trees (light-trees) in double-layer optical networks. In this scenario, the continuous changing of multicast endpoints causes the degradation of the tree. Therefore a huge amount of network resources can be spared by regular reconfiguration. The benefit of reconfiguration is investigated for different routing algorithms and reconfiguration periods.
Glances in Immunology of HIV and HCV Infection

Since the identification of HIV and HCV much progress has been made in the understanding of their life cycle and interaction with the host immune system. Despite these viruses markedly differ in their virological properties and in their pathogenesis, they share many common features in their immune escape and survival strategy. Both viruses have developed sophisticated ways to subvert and antagonize host innate and adaptive immune responses. In the last years, much effort has been done in the study of the AIDS pathogenesis and in the development of efficient treatment strategies, and a fatal infection has been transformed in a potentially chronic pathology. Much of this knowledge is now being transferred in the HCV research field, especially in the development of new drugs, although a big difference still remains between the outcome of the two infections, being HCV eradicable after treatment, whereas HIV eradication remains at present unachievable due to the establishment of reservoirs. In this review, we present current knowledge on innate and adaptive immune recognition and activation during HIV and HCV mono-infections and evasion strategies. We also discuss the genetic associations between components of the immune system, the course of infection, and the outcome of the therapies.