Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of Locking of the El Niño and La Niña Mature Phases to Boreal Winter

The peaks of El Nino in the Cane-Zebiak (CZ) model tend to appear most frequently around November when the ocean Rossby waves, which were amplified during the previous unstable season (February-May), turn back to the eastern Pacific and when the local instability in the eastern Pacific is very weak. The peaks of La Nina in the CZ model occur most frequently in boreal summer, in contrast to the observed counterpart that usually occurs in boreal winter. Sensitivity experiments indicate that the phase locking of the La Nina to boreal summer is primarily caused by seasonal variations of the tropical convergence zone, which regulate convective heating through atmospheric convergence feedback. The observed thermocline and the wind anomalies in the western Pacific exhibit considerable seasonal variations. These were missed in the original CZ model. In a modified CZ model that includes the seasonal variations of the western Pacific wind anomalies and the basic-state thermocline depth, the peaks of La Nina preferably occur in boreal winter, suggesting that the seasonal variation of the western Pacific surface wind anomalies and the mean thermocline depth are critical factors for the phase locking of the mature La Nina to boreal winter. The mechanisms by which these factors affect ENSO phase locking are also discussed.
A Common Molecular Motif Characterizes Extracellular Allosteric Enhancers of GPCR Aminergic Receptors and Suggests Enhancer Mechanism of Action

Several classes of compounds that have no intrinsic activity on aminergic systems nonetheless enhance the potency of aminergic receptor ligands three-fold or more while significantly increasing their duration of activity, preventing tachyphylaxis and reversing fade. Enhancer compounds include ascorbic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, cortico-steroids, opioid peptides, opiates and opiate antagonists. This paper provides the first review of aminergic enhancement, demonstrating that all enhancers have a common, inobvious molecular motif and work through a common mechanism that is manifested by three common characteristics. First, aminergic enhancers bind directly to the amines they enhance, suggesting that the common structural motif is reflected in common binding targets. Second, one common target is the first extracellular loop of aminergic receptors. Third, at least some enhancers are antiphosphodiesterases. These observations suggest that aminergic enhancers act on the extracellular surface of aminergic receptors to keep the receptor in its high affinity state, trapping the ligand inside the receptor. Enhancer binding produces allosteric modifications of the receptor structure that interfere with phosphorylation of the receptor, thereby inhibiting down-regulation of the receptor. The mechanism explains how enhancers potentiate aminergic activity and increase duration of activity and makes testable predictions about additional compounds that should act as aminergic enhancers.
Evaluating Value Added Tax in Morocco

Following trade liberalisation and the resulting loss in government revenues from trade tariffs, governments need to find other sources of revenue to compensate for this loss. Many developing countries have set their hopes on value added tax (VAT). This was also the case for Morocco when it introduced VAT in 1986. Over the years it has become evident that the Moroccan VAT is not sufficiently simple, neutral and equitable as the number of exemptions and differentiated rates have multiplied and the informal sector is substantial. Therefore a VAT-reform was initiated in 2005 with the aim of progressively implementing a modern VAT, in line with the best international practices, by limiting the number of exemptions and moving towards a two-rate system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Moroccan VAT-system, especially following the changes that have been implemented so far in the current reform. Issues of particular interest are the effects on government revenue and on equity indicators. The results of this study show that the government revenue from VAT as a proportion to GDP has increased. There has been a slight decrease in trade tariff revenues in absolute terms, which is by far outweighed by the increase in VAT-revenue. As regards equity indicators, there is a probable decrease in vertical equity following the abolition of some exemptions and reduced rates on basic products that generally benefit the poorer groups relatively more, while there are some indications that horizontal equity has been improved. (Less)
Impact of HIV-1 tropism on the emergence of non-AIDS events in HIV-infected patients receiving fully suppressive antiretroviral therapy

Objective:The impact of HIV-1 tropism on the emergence of non-AIDS events was evaluated in a cohort of 116 antiretroviral therapy (ART) responder patients. Methods:The patients were followed for the emergence of hypertension, renal impairment, metabolic and bone disorders (defined as non-AIDS events) each 8 weeks at standard visits. A V3 plasma sequence genotype analysis was performed at the time of ART initiation and the geno2pheno algorithm with the results that defines the false-positive rate (FPR) was used to infer HIV tropism. The associations between the non-AIDS events and the FPR at baseline were evaluated using the &khgr;2 test for trend. A Cox-regression analysis using the counting process formulation of Andersen and Gill was performed to define whether the emergence of non-AIDS events was correlated to FPR. Results:The prevalence of at least one non-AIDS event resulted higher in patients with a FPR below 10% than in patients with a R5 virus (P = 0.033). Patients with a FPR below 5.0% most frequently developed non-AIDS events during ART (P = 0.01). A higher prevalence of patients with at least two AIDS events was found in the group of patients with a FPR below 5.0% with respect to the others (P < 0.001). At multivariate Cox-regression analysis, having an X4 virus and age were independently associated with a higher probability of non-AIDS event development. Conclusion:This study shows that an X4 virus, particularly a FPR less than 5%, is related to non-AIDS events development. Further studies are warranted to understand the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.
Shared Leadership Improves Team Novelty: The Mechanism and Its Boundary Condition

Previous research has revealed the significant impact of shared leadership on team creativity, yet the mechanism underlying this relationship has rarely been investigated. The current research examined how shared leadership influenced team creativity (novelty and usefulness) across 3 studies using both long-term project teams and temporal task teams in the laboratory. The results showed that shared leadership enhanced the novelty dimension of team creativity by improving constructive controversy. Furthermore, team goal orientation moderated this effect. The indirect effect of constructive controversy holds for teams with learning goal orientation but not for those with performance goal orientation. Such patterns were not found in the usefulness dimension of team creativity.
Monetary Policy and the Zero Bound to Nominal Interest Rates

Some commentators have recently discussed the possibility that certain countries may experience a period of general price deflation. In such a situation, nominal interest rates may reach their lower bound of zero. This article concludes that the evidence available suggests that such a situation is highly unlikely to occur in the United Kingdom. It reviews what the academic literature has to say about the scope for alternatives to cutting interest rates in the improbable event that nominal interest rates do reach zero.
Missing Value Estimation for Mixed-Attribute Data Sets

Missing data imputation is a key issue in learning from incomplete data. Various techniques have been developed with great successes on dealing with missing values in data sets with homogeneous attributes (their independent attributes are all either continuous or discrete). This paper studies a new setting of missing data imputation, i.e., imputing missing data in data sets with heterogeneous attributes (their independent attributes are of different types), referred to as imputing mixed-attribute data sets. Although many real applications are in this setting, there is no estimator designed for imputing mixed-attribute data sets. This paper first proposes two consistent estimators for discrete and continuous missing target values, respectively. And then, a mixture-kernel-based iterative estimator is advocated to impute mixed-attribute data sets. The proposed method is evaluated with extensive experiments compared with some typical algorithms, and the result demonstrates that the proposed approach is better than these existing imputation methods in terms of classification accuracy and root mean square error (RMSE) at different missing ratios.
Relation Extraction Using Convolution Tree Kernel Expanded with Entity Features

This paper proposes a convolution tree kernel-based approach for relation extraction where the parse tree is expanded with entity features such as entity type, subtype, and mention level etc. Our study indicates that not only can our method effectively capture both syntactic structure and entity information of relation instances, but also can avoid the difficulty with tuning the parameters in composite kernels. We also demonstrate that predicate verb information can be used to further improve the performance, though its enhancement is limited. Evaluation on the ACE2004 benchmark corpus shows that our system slightly outperforms both the previous best-reported feature-based and kernel-based
Swift GRBs and the E p,i -E iso correlation

The Ep,i - Eiso correlation is one of the most intriguing and debated observational evidences in Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB) astrophysics. Swift, with its high sensitivity and fast pointing capabilities, is reducing a lot the impact of selection effects in the sample of GRBs with known redshift (and thus Ep,i and Eiso). Moreover, in several cases it allows the detection of the soft tail of the prompt emission, and thus a more accurate estimate of Ep,i with respect to previous satellites. I present and discuss the location in the Ep,i - Eiso plane of Swift GRBs with known redshift and estimated Ep,i, showing that all long events (including peculiar events like GRB060218 and GRB060614) are consistent with the Ep,i - Eiso correlation. In contrast, short GRBs are not consistent with it, an evidence further supporting the hypothesis of different emission mechanisms at work in the two classes of GRBs. I also show, and briefly discuss, the intriguing evidence that the soft tail of the short GRB050724 is consistent with the correlation.
Economic Impact of Growth Management Policies Surrounding the Chesapeake Bay

Where land-use controls are advanced for use in environmental protection programs, strong political objections usually arise. To reduce this threat, Maryland's Critical Area Law was structured to provide landowners with equity preserving options and to present jurisdictions with the opportunity for future development. This paper studies the subject real estate markets during a six-year period before and after the law was implemented. The findings show that these objectives were achieved. Vacant land values did not decline; residential values grew significantly.
Associations between abortion-records in goats and test-positivity to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.

Paratuberculosis, is a disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) that affects mainly ruminants. MAP can disseminate from the intestine to the genital tract. Therefore infection has been associated with decreased fertility but not directly with abortion in goats. The aim of this study was to obtain the evidence required to exploit the potential association between MAP-infection and abortion. For this purpose we have focused on three caprine herds geographically unrelated and keeping records of paratuberculosis and abortion of unspecified etiology. We collected in total 178 serum, milk, and fecal samples from 63, 2-4 years old, female goats. This material was processed for cultiva- tion, ELISA, and Real Time PCR (RT-PCR). No statistically significant association was recorded between abortion- record and RT-PCR positivity to MAP of fecal or milk samples. However ELISA - positivity was linked at a statistically significant level (p = 0.0275) with abortion. Goats that reacted positively by ELISA were 3.24 times more likely to abort than those with no detectable antibody titer. This study provides the first indications of the potential association of MAP- infection in goats and abortion-record, and suggests that a more extensive investigation should preferably rely on serol- ogy.
Child Benefit Reform and Labor Market Participation

Summary This paper examines the impact of a change in the German child benefit system in 1996, which led to a large increase in lump sum transfers to families with children.We analyze the impact on the labor force participation of women. Comparing behavioral changes of women with children with behavioral changes of women without children, we find that mothers with a working partner and children above age six considerably reduced the number of working hours (conditional on participation). Participation rates however did not decrease.
Exponential Timestepping with Boundary Test for Stochastic Differential Equations

We present new numerical methods for scalar stochastic differential equations. Successive time increments are independent random variables with an exponential distribution. We perform numerical experiments using a double-well potential. Exponential timestepping algorithms are efficient for escape-time problems because a simple boundary test can be performed at the end of each step.
Discrepancy of Diagnostic and Post-Therapeutic Radioiodine Whole Body Scans in a Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Patient with Multiple Bony Metastases

A large amount of radioiodine-131 (131I) is the main choice for treatment of follicular thyroid carcinoma with multiple bony metastases. However, the curative rate is not encouraging. A 40-year-old woman who had received a thyroidectomy due to follicular thyroid cancer was referred to our department for the 131I cancer workup. She did not have bone pain or other clinical manifestations regarding bony metastases. Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) value in thyroxine withdrawal was 29.9 ng/mL. The diagnostic 131I whole body scan (WBS, 2 mCi) showed multiple bony metastases. A 200 mCi of 131I was thus given. Interestingly, the image pattern of the post-therapeutic WBS was quite different from that seen on the diagnostic scan, which showed a large decrease in numbers of bony metastases. Therapeutic and/or stunning effects of the diagnostic 131I might contribute to the discrepancy. Negative 131I WBS with stimulated serum Tg values less than 2 ng/mL, however, were found at 6 months and at 2 years after therapy.
Cross sectional, community based study of care of newborn infants in Nepal

Abstract Objective: To determine home based newborn care practices in rural Nepal in order to inform strategies to improve neonatal outcome. Design: Cross sectional, retrospective study using structured interviews. Setting: Makwanpur district, Nepal. Participants: 5411 married women aged 15 to 49 years who had given birth to a live baby in the past year. Main outcome measures: Attendance at delivery, hygiene, thermal care, and early feeding practices. Results: 4893 (90%) women gave birth at home. Attendance at delivery by skilled government health workers was low (334, 6%), as was attendance by traditional birth attendants (267, 5%). Only 461 (8%) women had used a clean home delivery kit, and about half of attendants had washed their hands. Only 3482 (64%) newborn infants had been wrapped within half an hour of birth, and 4992 (92%) had been bathed within the first hour. 99% (5362) of babies were breast fed, 91% (4939) within six hours of birth. Practices with respect to colostrum and prelacteals were not a cause for anxiety. Conclusions: Health promotion interventions most likely to improve newborn health in this setting include increasing attendance at delivery by skilled service providers, improving information for families about basic perinatal care, promotion of clean delivery practices, early cord cutting and wrapping of the baby, and avoidance of early bathing. What is already known on this topic Most births in rural south Asia occur at home Neonatal mortality has remained fairly constant in developing countries despite falling infant mortality What this paper adds Only 6% of births in rural Nepal took place in the presence of a skilled attendant Cord cutting implements were often unclean and drying and wrapping of newborn infants was usually delayed 99% of babies were breast fed, 92% of them within six hours of birth, and colostrum was generally given Interventions need to focus on educating women about hygiene, encouraging early wrapping, and delaying bathing of newborn babies
VDub: Modifying Face Video of Actors for Plausible Visual Alignment to a Dubbed Audio Track

In many countries, foreign movies and TV productions are dubbed, i.e., the original voice of an actor is replaced with a translation that is spoken by a dubbing actor in the country's own language. Dubbing is a complex process that requires specific translations and accurately timed recitations such that the new audio at least coarsely adheres to the mouth motion in the video. However, since the sequence of phonemes and visemes in the original and the dubbing language are different, the video‐to‐audio match is never perfect, which is a major source of visual discomfort. In this paper, we propose a system to alter the mouth motion of an actor in a video, so that it matches the new audio track. Our paper builds on high‐quality monocular capture of 3D facial performance, lighting and albedo of the dubbing and target actors, and uses audio analysis in combination with a space‐time retrieval method to synthesize a new photo‐realistically rendered and highly detailed 3D shape model of the mouth region to replace the target performance. We demonstrate plausible visual quality of our results compared to footage that has been professionally dubbed in the traditional way, both qualitatively and through a user study.
Lecturer receptivity to a major educational change in the context of planned change at Rajabhats in Thailand

In accordance with the National Education Act of 1999, the educational system in Thailand wa·:i changed after 1999, the largest educational change in Thailand in 50 years. The achievable aims of the change were divided into eight main aspects covering, primary, secondary and higher education. TI1ese were; (1) ensuring access to basic edu~ation for all; (2) rdonn of the curriculum and learning processes; (3) encouraging participation and partnership in education; (4) restructuring of educational administration; (5) enhancing cducatio11al standards and quality assurnncc; (6) refonn oftcachcrs; l"aculty staff, and educational personnel; (7) mobilisation ofresourees and investment for education; and (8) utilisation of technologies for education. This study focuses on higher education and aims to: (I) investigate lecturer receptivity to the major change, in the context of planned educational change at Rajabhat Universities, (2) investigate the relationships between \cctui~r receptivity, and nine aspects lo the change, and (3) investigate why Thai lecturers at Rajabhats hold the attitudes that they do. Lecturer receptivity Willi conceptualised as composed of nine asp~cts,jointly influencing receptivity. T~ey were: (I) attitude to the change in comparison with the previous system, (2) prac1icality in the clillisroom, {3) alleviation of concerns, (4) learning about the change, (5) participation in decisionmaking. {6) personal cost appraisal, (7) collabor~'. ion with other lecturers, (8) opportunities for lecturer improvement, and {9) perceived value for students. For each aspect. lcc1urcrs would have developed expectations that would, in part, influence their behaviours, and their receptivity to the change. Data for the study were collected in two parts. Part one involved a survey questionnaire (N=659), and part two Willi face-to-face interviews (N=30). Initial findings from part one, the survey questionnaire became the billiis for planning part tv . •o, the face-to-face interviews. The 2000 Rasch Unidimensional ~1easurement Model (RUMM) Computer
Fuzzy Hysteresis Control and Parameter Optimization of a Shunt Active Power Filter

This paper presents the optimization of shunt active power filter parameters based on fuzzy logic control. The current active filter control is based on constant, fuzzy hysteresis band techniques, which are employed to derive the switching signals and also to choose the optimal value of the decoupling inductance. The DC voltage controller optimizes the energy storage of the DC capacitor, where proportional integral and fuzzy logic controllers are employed. Simulation results, obtaining using MATLAB/SIMULINK under several loads configurations, are presented and discussed. They show the effectiveness of fuzzy logic controllers in optimizing the PWM technique and the values of the passive parameters of the active filter.
Classification of moving objects in atmospherically degraded video

Abstract. Classification of moving objects in imaging through long-distance atmospheric path may be affected by distortions such as blur and spatiotemporal movements caused by air turbulence. This work aims to study and quantify the effects of these distortions on the ability to classify moving objects in atmospherically degraded video signals. For this purpose, we perform simulations and examine real long-range thermal video cases. In the simulation, we evaluate various geometrical (shape-based) object features for classification at different distortion levels. Furthermore, we examine the influence of image restoration on the classification performances in the real-degraded videos, using geometrical and textural features (combined and in separate) of the objects. Principal component analysis together with both k-nearest neighbor and support vector machines is used for the classification process. Results show how classification performances decrease as the level of blur increases, and how successful digital image restoration for real cases can significantly improve the classification performances.
Discovery of Potential Parallelism in Sequential Programs

Although multicore CPUs are dominating the market of desktops and servers, writing programs that utilize the available hardware parallelism on these architectures still remains a challenge. In this paper, we present a dynamic approach for automatically identifying potential parallelism in sequential programs. Our method is based on the notion of computational units, which are small sections of code following the read-compute-write pattern that can form the atoms of concurrent scheduling. In contrast to earlier approaches, our method can identify parallelism between code sections of arbitrary granularity and does not rely on a predefined notion of language constructs subject to parallelization. Experimental results show that reasonable speedups can be achieved by parallelizing sequential programs manually according to our findings. By comparing our findings to known parallel implementations of sequential programs, we demonstrate that we are able to detect the most important code locations to be parallelized.