Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lithium isotope variations in Tonga–Kermadec arc–Lau back‐arc lavas and Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 204 sediments

Lithium isotopes have been identified as a promising tracer of subducted materials in arc lavas due to the observable variations in related reservoirs such as subducting sediments and altered oceanic crust. The Tonga–Kermadec arc–Lau back‐arc provides an end‐member of subduction zones with the coldest thermal structure on Earth. Reported here are Li isotope data for 14 lavas from the arc front and 7 back‐arc lavas as well as 12 pelagic and volcaniclastic sediments along a profile through the sedimentary sequence at DSDP Site 204. The arc and back‐arc lavas range from basalts to dacites in composition with SiO2 = 48.3–65.3 wt% over which Li concentrations increase from 2 ppm to 16 ppm. Li/Y ratios range from 0.08 to 0.77 and from 0.24 to 0.65 in the arc and back‐arc lavas, respectively. The majority of the lavas have δ7Li that ranges from 2.5 ‰ to 5.0 ‰ with an average of (3.6 ±0.7) ‰, similar to that reported from other arcs and there is no distinction between the arc front and back‐arc lavas. The pelagic sediments have variable Li concentrations (33–133 ppm) and δ7Li that ranges from 1.2 ‰ to 10.2 ‰ while the volcaniclastic sediments have an even greater range of Li concentrations (3.6–165 ppm) and generally higher δ7Li values (8–14 ‰). However, δ7Li in the lavas does not correlate with commonly used trace element ratio or isotope signatures indicative of slab‐derived fluids or the sediments. This is probably because the range of δ7Li in the lavas and sediments overlap. Calculated sediment mass‐balance models require significantly more sediment than previous estimates based on Th–Nd–Be isotopes. This may indicate that a sizeable proportion of the total Li budget in the lavas is provided by Li‐enriched fluids from the subducting sediments and/or altered oceanic crust.
Technical Issues of Forensic Investigations in Cloud Computing Environments

Cloud Computing is arguably one of the most discussed information technologies today. It presents many promising technological and economical opportunities. However, many customers remain reluctant to move their business IT infrastructure completely to the cloud. One of their main concerns is Cloud Security and the threat of the unknown. Cloud Service Providers (CSP) encourage this perception by not letting their customers see what is behind their virtual curtain. A seldomly discussed, but in this regard highly relevant open issue is the ability to perform digital investigations. This continues to fuel insecurity on the sides of both providers and customers. Cloud Forensics constitutes a new and disruptive challenge for investigators. Due to the decentralized nature of data processing in the cloud, traditional approaches to evidence collection and recovery are no longer practical. This paper focuses on the technical aspects of digital forensics in distributed cloud environments. We contribute by assessing whether it is possible for the customer of cloud computing services to perform a traditional digital investigation from a technical point of view. Furthermore we discuss possible solutions and possible new methodologies helping customers to perform such investigations.
Systematic literature studies: Database searches vs. backward snowballing

Systematic studies of the literature can be done in different ways. In particular, different guidelines propose different first steps in their recommendations, e.g. start with search strings in different databases or start with the reference lists of a starting set of papers. In software engineering, the main recommended first step is using search strings in a number of databases, while in information systems, snowballing has been recommended as the first step. This paper compares the two different search approaches for conducting literature review studies. The comparison is conducted by searching for articles addressing “Agile practices in global software engineering”. The focus of the paper is on evaluating the two different search approaches. Despite the differences in the included papers, the conclusions and the patterns found in both studies are quite similar. The strengths and weaknesses of each first step are discussed separately and in comparison with each other. It is concluded that none of the first steps is outperforming the other, and the choice of guideline to follow, and hence the first step, may be context-specific, i.e. depending on the area of study.
Association between childhood adversities and adulthood depressive symptoms in South Korea: results from a nationally representative longitudinal study

Objective To examine how childhood adversity (ie, parental death, parental divorce, suspension of school education due to financial strain or being raised in a relative's house due to financial strain) is associated with prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms and whether this association differs by gender and by age in South Korea. Design Prospective cohort design. Setting Nationally representative longitudinal survey in South Korea. Participants 11 526 participants in South Korea. Outcome measure Prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms were assessed as a dichotomous variable using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in 2006 and 2007. Results In the prevalence analysis, each of the four childhood adversities was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of adulthood depressive symptoms. The higher incidence of depressive symptoms was associated with suspension of school education (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.82) and parental divorce (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.71). In the age-stratified analyses, prevalence of depressive symptoms was associated with all CAs across different adulthoods, except for parental divorce and late adulthood depressive symptoms. After being stratified by gender, the association was significant for parental divorce (OR 3.76, 95% CI 2.34 to 6.03) in the prevalence analysis and for being raised in a relative’s house (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.94) in the incidence analysis only among women. Conclusions This study suggests that childhood adversity may increase prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms, and the impact of parental divorce or being raised in a relative's house due to financial strain on adulthood depressive symptoms may differ by gender.
,a Robabilistic Coverage Rotoco or Wireless Sensor Network S

We propose a new probabilistic coverage protocol (denoted by PCP) that considers probabilistic sensing models. PCP is fairly general and can be used with different sensing models. In particular, PCP requires the computation of a single parameter from the adopted sensing model, while everything else remains the same. We show how this parameter can be derived in general, and we actually do the calculations for two example sensing models: (i) the probabilistic exponential sensing model, and (ii) the commonly-used deterministic disk sensing model. The first model is chosen because it is conservative in terms of estimating sensing capacity, and it has been used before in another probabilistic coverage protocol, which enables us to conduct a fair comparison. Because it is conservative, the exponential sensing model can be used as a first approximation for many other sensing models. The second model is chosen to show that our protocol can easily function as a deterministic coverage protocol. In this case, we compare our protocol against two recent deterministic protocols that were shown to outperform others in the literature. Our comparisons indicate that our protocol outperforms all other protocols in several aspects, including number of activated sensors and total energy consumed. We also demonstrate the robustness of our protocol against random node failures, node location inaccuracy, and imperfect time synchronization.
VgrG and PAAR Proteins Define Distinct Versions of a Functional Type VI Secretion System

The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widespread among bacterial pathogens and acts as an effective weapon against competitor bacteria and eukaryotic hosts by delivering toxic effector proteins directly into target cells. The T6SS utilises a bacteriophage-like contractile machinery to expel a puncturing device based on a tube of Hcp topped with a VgrG spike, which can be extended by a final tip from a PAAR domain-containing protein. Effector proteins are believed to be delivered by specifically associating with particular Hcp, VgrG or PAAR proteins, either covalently (‘specialised’) or non-covalently (‘cargo’ effectors). Here we used the T6SS of the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens, together with integratecd genetic, proteomic and biochemical approaches, to elucidate the role of specific VgrG and PAAR homologues in T6SS function and effector specificity, revealing new aspects and unexpected subtleties in effector delivery by the T6SS. We identified effectors, both cargo and specialised, absolutely dependent on a particular VgrG for delivery to target cells, and discovered that other cargo effectors can show a preference for a particular VgrG. The presence of at least one PAAR protein was found to be essential for T6SS function, consistent with designation as a ‘core’ T6SS component. We showed that specific VgrG-PAAR combinations are required to assemble a functional T6SS and that the three distinct VgrG-PAAR assemblies in S. marcescens exhibit distinct effector specificity and efficiency. Unexpectedly, we discovered that two different PAAR-containing Rhs proteins can functionally pair with the same VgrG protein. Showing that accessory EagR proteins are involved in these interactions, native VgrG-Rhs-EagR complexes were isolated and specific interactions between EagR and cognate Rhs proteins identified. This study defines an essential yet flexible role for PAAR proteins in the T6SS and highlights the existence of distinct versions of the machinery with differential effector specificity and efficiency of target cell delivery.
Working Paper No. 365 Foreign exchange rate risk in a small open economy

Resolving the forward premium puzzle requires a volatile foreign exchange rate risk premium that covaries negatively with the expected depreciation rate. Earlier work has shown how models featuring consumption habits can generate such premia when either trade costs or ‘deep habits’ are assumed. We show that as long as consumption habits are slow-moving and shocks are highly persistent, a standard small open endowment economy — without any additional features — can address the puzzle. Moreover endogenising the labour supply decision in the small open economy can improve the model’s ability to match risk premia observations so long as it makes business cycles less synchronised. (1) Monetary Assessment and Strategy Division, Bank of England. Email: bianca.depaoli@bankofengland.co.uk (2) Monetary Assessment and Strategy Division, Bank of England. Email: jens.sondergaard@bankofengland.co.uk The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Bank of England. We have benefited from helpful comments from Mark Astley, Andy Blake, Hafedh Bouakez, Ester Faia, Adrien Verdelhan, Peter Westaway, Pawel Zabczyk and seminar participants at the Bank of England, Dallas Fed, Danmark’s Nationalbank, the 2007 Computing in Economics and Finance conference and the 2007 Dynare workshop. All remaining errors are our own. This paper was finalised on 5 February 2009. The Bank of England’s working paper series is externally refereed. Information on the Bank’s working paper series can be found at www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/workingpapers/index.htm Publications Group, Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH Telephone +44 (0)20 7601 4030 Fax +44 (0)20 7601 3298 email mapublications@bankofengland.co.uk © Bank of England 2009 ISSN 1749-9135 (on-line)
The effects of sample size on population genetic diversity estimates in song sparrows Melospiza melodia

To empirically determine the effects of sample size on commonly used measures of average genetic diversity, we genotyped 200 song sparrows Melospiza melodia from two populations, one genetically depauperate (n100) and the other genetically diverse (n100), using eight microsatellite loci. These genotypes were used to randomly create 10,000 datasets of differing sizes (5 to 50) for each population to determine what the effects of sample size might be on several estimates of genetic diversity (number of alleles per locus, average observed heterozygosity, and unbiased average expected heterozygosity) in natural populations of conservation concern. We found that at small sample sizes of 5 to 10 individuals, estimates of unbiased heterozygosity outperformed those based on observed heterozygosity or allelic diversity for both low- and high-diversity populations. We also found that when comparing across populations in which different numbers of individuals were sampled, rarefaction provided a useful way to compare estimates of allelic diversity. We recommend that standard errors should be reported for all diversity estimators, especially when sample sizes are small. We also recommend that at least 20 to 30 individuals be sampled in microsatellite studies that assess genetic diversity when working in a population that has an unknown level of diversity. However, research on critically endangered populations (where large sample sizes are impossible or extremely difficult to obtain) should include measures of genetic diversity even if sample sizes are less than ideal. These estimates can be useful in assessing the genetic diversity of the population.
Interferon‐induced programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1/B7‐H1) expression increases on human acute myeloid leukemia blast cells during treatment

While current treatment for acute myeloid leukemia is characterized by high response rates, patients' long‐term outcome is still disappointing, due to frequent relapse and ineligibility of the often elderly patients for stem cell transplantation approaches. Considerable efforts have, thus, been made to incorporate immunotherapeutic approaches in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) consolidation, with so far disappointing clinical benefit. The B7 family ligand programmed‐death receptor‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1, B7‐H1, CD274) has been recently described (with conflicting results) to be expressed on AML blast cells, and interaction with its receptor on T cells, programmed death receptor‐1 (PD‐1, CD279), has been shown to suppress T‐cell functions and to allow survival of dormant AML cells in animal models.
Circulating miR-192 and miR-193b are markers of prediabetes and are modulated by an exercise intervention.

CONTEXT Diabetes is frequently diagnosed late, when the development of complications is almost inevitable, decreasing the quality of life of patients. However, early detection of affected individuals would allow the implementation of timely and effective therapies. OBJECTIVE Here we set to describe the profile of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in prediabetic patients with the intention of identifying novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. DESIGN We used real-time RT-PCR to measure the abundance of 176 miRNAs in serum of a cohort of 92 control and prediabetic individuals with either impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, as well as newly diagnosed diabetic patients. We validated the results in a second cohort of control and prediabetic subjects undergoing a therapeutic exercise intervention, as well as in a mouse model of glucose intolerance. RESULTS We identified two miRNAs, miR-192 and miR-193b, whose abundance is significantly increased in the prediabetic state but not in diabetic patients. Strikingly, these miRNAs are also increased in plasma of glucose-intolerant mice. Moreover, circulating levels of miR-192 and miR-193b return to baseline in both prediabetic humans and glucose-intolerant mice undergoing a therapeutic intervention consisting in chronic exercise, which succeeded in normalizing metabolic parameters. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that the pattern of circulating miRNAs is modified by defects in glucose metabolism in a similar manner in mice and humans. This circulating miRNA signature for prediabetes could be used as a new diagnostic tool, as well as to monitor response to intervention.
Stroke Incidence Is Decreasing in Whites But Not in Blacks: A Population-Based Estimate of Temporal Trends in Stroke Incidence From the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

Background and Purpose— Although other studies (in largely white populations) have found that stroke incidence declined during the 1990s, we previously reported that stroke incidence in our population (18% of which was black) did not change during that decade and that incidence rates in blacks were significantly higher than in whites. We sought to update temporal trends in stroke incidence by adding new data obtained from our large, biracial population in 2005. The objective of this study was to examine temporal trends in stroke incidence and case-fatality within a large biracial population over time by comparing stroke incidence rates from 1993 to 1994, 1999, and 2005. Methods— Within the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky population of 1.3 million, all strokes among area residents were ascertained at all local hospitals during July 1993 to June 19/94 and calendar years 1999 and 2005. A sampling scheme was used to ascertain cases in the out-of-hospital setting. Only first-ever strokes were included in this analysis. Race-specific incidence rates, standardized to the 2000 US Census population, and case-fatality rates were calculated. Results— The number of physician-confirmed first-ever strokes in patients ≥20 years of age was 1942 in 1993 to 1994, 2041 in 1999, and 1921 in 2005. In all study periods, blacks had higher stroke incidence than whites, and case-fatality rates were similar between races. In contrast to previous study periods, we found a significant decrease in overall stroke incidence in 2005. When stratified by race and stroke subtype, this change was driven by a decrease in ischemic stroke incidence among whites, whereas ischemic stroke incidence in blacks was unchanged. Hemorrhagic stroke incidence was unchanged in both races. Conclusions— For the first time, we report a significant decrease in stroke incidence within our population, which is consistent with other reports in the literature. This decrease was found only among whites, which suggests a worsening of the racial disparity in stroke incidence.
Flow cytometry is a promising and rapid method for differentiating between freely suspended Escherichia coli and E. coli attached to clay particles

A standard procedure does not exist to distinguish between attached and unattached micro‐organisms. In this study, we compared two methods to quantify between Escherichia coli attached to clay particles and E. coli freely suspended in solution: flow cytometry (attachment assay and viability assay) and settling (or centrifugation followed by settling).
Learning Possibilistic Logic Theories from Default Rules

We introduce a setting for learning possibilistic logic theories from defaults of the form "if alpha then typically beta". We first analyse this problem from the point of view of machine learning theory, determining the VC dimension of possibilistic stratifications as well as the complexity of the associated learning problems, after which we present a heuristic learning algorithm that can easily scale to thousands of defaults. An important property of our approach is that it is inherently able to handle noisy and conflicting sets of defaults. Among others, this allows us to learn possibilistic logic theories from crowdsourced data and to approximate propositional Markov logic networks using heuristic MAP solvers. We present experimental results that demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.
Lobbes: An Algorithm for Sparse-Spike Deconvolution

This letter proposes an algorithm for solving the sparse-spike deconvolution problem, named Lobbes (Lasso-based binary search for parameter selection). It improves the fast iterative shrinkage and threshold algorithm for Toeplitz-sparse matrix factorization by performing three steps to find a suitable regularization parameter: 1) a normalization procedure over the input data; 2) a binary search step based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator; and 3) the elimination of consecutive peaks similar to non-maximum suppression. Such parameter allows us to find a solution with a specified sparsity. We compare our results against the original algorithm and with the known sparse-inducing greedy approach of orthogonal matching pursuit. Relative to state-of-the-art, results demonstrate that Lobbes generates better results: better signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstructed signal and better result for reflectivity peaks. We also derive a new way to measure the quality of the deconvolution.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RESIDENTIAL RADON TESTING INTENTIONS AMONG KENTUCKY HOMEOWNERS

Kentucky leads the nation in both lung cancer incidence and percent smoking. In addition, many of the counties have average radon levels above the Environmental Protection Agency recommended action level. Guided by the Precaution Adoption Process Model, the purposes of this study were to: 1) examine the relationship between synergistic risk perception (radon plus tobacco smoke) and intention to test for radon; and 2) investigate the association between situational factors, smoking status, and intention to test for radon. A cross-sectional study design was utilized to survey two groups: 1) a convenience sample of those requesting radon test kits through the Kentucky Radon Program; and 2) randomly selected homeowners from five Kentucky counties. Test kit requests from the random group were then tracked. Results from multivariate logistic regression analysis examining factors associated with radon testing intention will be presented. This study will be useful in planning interventions to increase radon testing in Kentucky.