Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the mystery of the perennial carbon dioxide cap at the south pole of Mars

A perennial ice cap has long been observed near the south pole of Mars. The surface of this cap is predominantly composed of carbon dioxide ice. The retention of a CO_2 ice cap results from the surface energy balance of the latent heat, solar radiation, surface emission, subsurface conduction, and atmospheric sensible heat. While models conventionally treat surface CO_2 ice using constant ice albedos and emissivities, such an approach fails to predict the existence of a perennial cap. Here we explore the role of the insolation-dependent ice albedo, which agrees well with Viking, Mars Global Surveyor, and Mars Express albedo observations. Using a simple parameterization within a general circulation model, in which the albedo of CO_2 ice responds linearly to the incident solar insolation, we are able to predict the existence of a perennial CO_2 cap at the observed latitude and only in the southern hemisphere. Further experiments with different total CO_2 inventories, planetary obliquities, and surface boundary conditions suggest that the location of the residual cap may exchange hemispheres favoring the pole with the highest peak insolation.
Symplastic Leiomyomas of the Scrotum: A Comparative Study to Usual Leiomyomas and Leiomyosarcomas

Smooth muscle tumors of the scrotum are very uncommon, and those with degenerative-appearing atypia, variably designated as “atypical,” “symplastic,” or “bizarre” leiomyomas, are extremely rare with only 11 cases in the literature. Given their rarity, the diagnostic criteria and prognosis of symplastic leiomyomas are not well established. We describe 9 cases of scrotal symplastic leiomyomas and compare their histopathologic characteristics to 10 usual leiomyomas and 5 leiomyosarcomas of the scrotum. The preoperative diagnosis was scrotal tumor or cyst in all cases. The mean age was 46 years (range, 32 to 60 y) for usual, 59 (range, 48 to 79) for symplastic leiomyomas, and 57 (range, 49 to 65) for leiomyosarcoma. Submitting diagnoses for symplastic leiomyomas were: atypical spindle cell lesion (n=3); probably leiomyosarcoma (n=1); leiomyosarcoma (n=1); and none given (n=4). Symplastic leiomyomas were diagnosed when there was moderate-severe cytologic atypia, yet was degenerative-appearing with multinucleation or smudged chromatin in the setting of low nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, low cellularity, and no mitotic activity. The mean size was 1.0 cm for usual leiomyomas, 1.0 cm for symplastic leiomyomas, and 2.0 cm for leiomyosarcomas. Leiomyosarcomas had high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, high cellularity, nuclear pleomorphism, and hyperchromasia. Five of 10 usual and 3/9 symplastic leiomyomas showed at least 1 ill-defined border simulating infiltrative growth. Three leiomyosarcomas were grade 1, and 2/5 were grade 2. Resection margins were positive in 5/10 usual and 3/9 symplastic leiomyomas and in 1/5 leiomyosarcoma. Ki67 labeling in usual leiomyomas was on average 2.4% (range, 1% to 5%) and in symplastic leiomyomas was 1.8% (range, 1% to 5%). Mitoses were absent in all cases of usual and symplastic leiomyomas. Mitotic figures averaged 4.7 (range, 1 to 7) and 13.5 (range, 7 to 20) per 10 HPF for the grade 1 and 2 leiomyosarcomas, respectively. None of the symplastic leiomyomas recurred after a median follow-up of 27 months. The 2 patients with grade 2 leiomyosarcoma had no evidence of metastases at 6 and 7 months follow-up, respectively. Scrotal symplastic leiomyomas may have an ill-defined infiltrative border, which along with their atypia mimic malignancy. Ki67 is low in symplastic leiomyomas, which along with their favorable follow-up and experience in other organs justifies a benign diagnosis. High cellularity and high mitotic activity are the most reliable features for the diagnosis of scrotal leiomyosarcoma.
How can weight-loss app designers' best engage and support users? A qualitative investigation.

OBJECTIVES This study explored young adults' experiences of using e-health internet-based computer or mobile phone applications (apps) and what they valued about those apps. DESIGN AND METHODS A qualitative design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a community sample of 19 young adults who had used a publicly available phone or internet-based application. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants valued an attractive user interface. Structure, ease of use, personalised features and accessibility (including dual phone-computer access) were all important to participants and users indicated that continued use depended on these design features. Many believed that a focus on calorie counting was too limiting. Some users mentioned behaviour change strategies and known behaviour change techniques utilised by apps including; self-monitoring, goal setting and behavioural feedback. Only a few users reported positive changes in physical activity levels. CONCLUSIONS Use of particular design features and application of evidence-based behaviour change techniques could optimise continued use and the effectiveness of internet/smart phone interventions. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? E-health is increasingly used to deliver weight loss/control programs. Most e-health programs have not been founded on evidence-based designs and it is unclear what features and functions users find useful or not so useful. What does this study add? Weight loss app users valued structure, ease of use, personalised features and accessibility. Goal setting and feedback on calorie intake/energy balance were the most widely used behaviour change techniques. Designers should consider an extensive food database, a food scanner, and provision of diaries.
Development of Auditory Selective Attention: Why Children Struggle to Hear in Noisy Environments

Children’s hearing deteriorates markedly in the presence of unpredictable noise. To explore why, 187 school-age children (4–11 years) and 15 adults performed a tone-in-noise detection task, in which the masking noise varied randomly between every presentation. Selective attention was evaluated by measuring the degree to which listeners were influenced by (i.e., gave weight to) each spectral region of the stimulus. Psychometric fits were also used to estimate levels of internal noise and bias. Levels of masking were found to decrease with age, becoming adult-like by 9–11 years. This change was explained by improvements in selective attention alone, with older listeners better able to ignore noise similar in frequency to the target. Consistent with this, age-related differences in masking were abolished when the noise was made more distant in frequency to the target. This work offers novel evidence that improvements in selective attention are critical for the normal development of auditory judgments.
Distance-related energy consumption analysis for mobile/relay stations in heterogeneous wireless networks

While the availability of more than one mobile or wireless technologies is enhancing the ubiquity of the Internet access, the corresponding energy consumption effects on mobile station battery for connection selection has not been investigated in depth yet. In this paper, a heterogeneous wireless network, which consists of three constituent networks, is studied with respect to the amount of data communicated and the battery operation time. Four alternative hybrid paths for separate uplink and downlink traffic, each involving more than one network, are analyzed with respect to energy consumption aspects of the mobile (and relay) station. The energy in these paths is analyzed mainly by considering the distance between communication stations while maintaining the available capacity in a sub-link at a constant level. The obtained results can be used for path selection as well as location placement for the MS/RS in order to achieve optimum amount of transferred data and battery lifetime.
Impact of Vehicular Networks on Emergency Medical Services in Urban Areas

The speed with which emergency personnel can provide emergency treatment is crucial to reducing death and disability among acute and critically ill patients. Unfortunately, the rapid development of cities and increased numbers of vehicles are preventing emergency vehicles from easily reaching locations where they are needed. A significant number of researchers are experimenting with vehicular networks to address this issue, but in most studies the focus has been on communication technologies and protocols, with few efforts to assess how network applications actually support emergency medical care. Our motivation was to search the literature for suggested methods for assisting emergency vehicles, and to use simulations to evaluate them. Our results and evidence-based studies were cross-referenced to assess each method in terms of cumulative survival ratio (CSR) gains for acute and critically ill patients. Simulation results indicate that traffic light preemption resulted in significant CSR increases of between 32.4% and 90.2%. Route guidance was found to increase CSRs from 14.1% to 57.8%, while path clearing increased CSRs by 15.5% or less. It is our hope that this data will support the efforts of emergency medical technicians, traffic managers, and policy makers.
Endoscopic papillectomy for early ampullary tumors: long-term results from a large multicenter prospective study

Background and study aims: Endoscopic papillectomy of early tumors of the ampulla of Vater is an alternative to surgery. This large prospective multicenter study was aimed at evaluating the long-term results of endoscopic papillectomy. Patients and methods: Between September 2003 and January 2006, 10 centers included all patients referred for endoscopic papillectomy and meeting the inclusion criteria: biopsies showing at least adenoma, a uT1N0 lesion without intraductal involvement at endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and no previous treatment. A standardized endoscopic papillectomy was done, with endoscopic monitoring with biopsies 4 – 8 weeks later where complications were recorded and complementary resection performed when necessary. Follow-up with duodenoscopy, biopsies, and EUS was done at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months. Therapeutic success was defined as complete resection (no residual tumor found at early monitoring) without duodenal submucosal invasion in the resection specimen in the case of adenocarcinoma and without relapse during follow-up. Results: 93 patients were enrolled. Mortality was 0.9 % and morbidity 35 %, including pancreatitis in 20 %, bleeding 10 %, biliary complications 7 %, perforation 3.6 %, and papillary stenosis in 1.8 %. Adenoma was not confirmed in the resection specimen in 14 patients who were therefore excluded. Initial treatment was insufficient in 9 cases (8 carcinoma with submucosal invasion; 1 persistence of adenoma). During follow-up, 5 patients had tumor recurrence and 7 died from unrelated diseases without recurrence. Finally, 81.0 % of patients were cured (95 % confidence interval 72.3 % – 89.7 %). Conclusion: Endoscopic papillectomy of selected ampullary tumors is curative in 81.0 % of cases. It must be considered to be the first-line treatment for early tumors of the ampulla of Vater without intraductal invasion.
Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Virulence Factors in Leptosphaeria maculans during Compatible and Incompatible Interactions with Canola

Leptosphaeria maculans is a hemibiotrophic fungus that causes blackleg of canola (Brassica napus), one of the most devastating diseases of this crop. In the present study, transcriptome profiling of L. maculans was performed in an effort to understand and define the pathogenicity genes that govern both the biotrophic and the necrotrophic phase of the fungus, as well as those that separate a compatible from an incompatible interaction. For this purpose, comparative RNA-seq analyses were performed on L. maculans isolate D5 at four different time points following inoculation on susceptible cultivar Topas-DH16516 or resistant introgression line Topas-Rlm2. Analysis of 1.6 billion Illumina reads readily identified differentially expressed genes that were over represented by candidate secretory effector proteins, CAZymes, and other pathogenicity genes. Comparisons between the compatible and incompatible interactions led to the identification of 28 effector proteins whose chronology and level of expression suggested a role in the establishment and maintenance of biotrophy with the plant. These included all known Avr genes of isolate D5 along with eight newly characterized effectors. In addition, another 15 effector proteins were found to be exclusively expressed during the necrotrophic phase of the fungus, which supports the concept that L. maculans has a separate and distinct arsenal contributing to each phase. As for CAZymes, they were often highly expressed at 3 dpi but with no difference in expression between the compatible and incompatible interactions, indicating that other factors were necessary to determine the outcome of the interaction. However, their significantly higher expression at 11 dpi in the compatible interaction confirmed that they contributed to the necrotrophic phase of the fungus. A notable exception was LysM genes whose high expression was singularly observed on the susceptible host at 7 dpi. In the case of TFs, their higher expression at 7 and 11 dpi on susceptible Topas support an important role in regulating the genes involved in the different pathogenic phases of L. maculans. In conclusion, comparison of the transcriptome of L. maculans during compatible and incompatible interactions has led to the identification of key pathogenicity genes that regulate not only the fate of the interaction but also lifestyle transitions of the fungus.
Detection of Malicious PDF Files Based on Hierarchical Document Structure

Malicious PDF files remain a real threat, in practice, to masses of computer users, even after several high-profile security incidents. In spite of a series of a security patches issued by Adobe and other vendors, many users still have vulnerable client software installed on their computers. The expressiveness of the PDF format, furthermore, enables attackers to evade detection with little effort. Apart from traditional antivirus products, which are always a step behind attackers, few methods are known that can be deployed for protection of end-user systems. In this paper, we propose a highly performant static method for detection of malicious PDF documents which, instead of analyzing JavaScript or any other content, makes use of essential differences in the structural properties of malicious and benign PDF files. We demonstrate its effectiveness on a data corpus containing about 660,000 real-world malicious and benign PDF files, both in laboratory conditions and during a 10-week operational deployment with weekly retraining. Additionally, we present the first comparative evaluation of several learning setups with regard to resistance against adversarial evasion and show that our method is reasonably resistant to sophisticated attack scenarios.
Non efficiency and non Gaussianity of a maximum likelihood estimator at high signal-to-noise ratio and finite number of samples

In estimation theory, the asymptotic efficiency of the maximum likelihood (ML) method for independent identically distributed observations and when the number of observations, T, tends to infinity is a well known result. In some scenarios, the number of snapshots may be small, making this result inapplicable. In the array processing framework, for Gaussian emitted signals, we fill this lack at high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this situation, we show that the ML estimation is asymptotically (with respect to SNR) inefficient and non Gaussian.
Cerebral Blood Volume in Acute Brain Infarction

Background and Purpose —The aim of this study was to correlate the abnormality in cerebral blood volume (CBV) measured by dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI with that in cerebral blood flow (CBF) estimated by single-photon emission CT with [ Tc]hexamethylpropylenamine-oxime in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods—Nine patients with unilateral occlusion of either the middle cerebral artery or the internal carotid artery (4 men and 5 women; mean 6SD age, 74.4 611.6 years) were studied within 6 hours after stroke onset. The relative CBV (relCBV) and CBF (relCBF) in the lesions were defined relative to the contralateral mirror regions. Results—In the brain regions with mild (relCBF$0.60), moderate (0.40 #relCBF,0.60), and severe (relCBF,0.40) hypoperfusion, the mean relCBV values were 1.29 60.31, 0.9460. 49, and 0.30 60.22, respectively. The relCBV was significantly elevated in the brain areas with mild hypoperfusion ( P,0.001) and significantly reduced in the brain areas with severe hypoperfusion ( P,0.001). The relCBF was significantly better than the relCBV in predicting the evolution of infarction (P,0.02). The probability of evolving infarction for the hypervolemic (relCBV .1.0) regions was significantly lower than that for hypovolemic (relCBV,1.0) regions in the relCBF range between 0.40 and 0.50 ( P,0.02). Conclusions—In acute ischemic stroke within 6 hours of onset the CBV can be either increased, normal, or decreased, depending on the severity of hypoperfusion. The increased CBV has a protective effect on evolving infarction. Although the CBF is a better predictor of tissue outcome, the CBV measurement may help detect potentially salvageable brain tissue in the penumbra with compromised blood flow. (Stroke. 1999;30:800-806.)
Sediment Bacterial Communities Reflect the History of a Sea Basin

How entire microbial communities are structured across stratified sediments from the historical standpoint is unknown. The Baltic Sea is an ideal research object for historical reconstruction, since it has experienced many fresh- and brackish water periods and is depleted of dissolved oxygen, which increases the sediment's preservation potential. We investigated the bacterial communities, chemical elements (e.g. Cr, Pb Na, P, Sr and U) and sediment composition in a stratified sediment core dated by radiocarbon and spanning 8000 years of Baltic Sea history, using up-to-date multivariate statistics. The communities were analysed by 16S rRNA gene terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. The communities of the deep Early Litorina and surface Late Litorina Sea laminae were separated from the communities of the middle Litorina Sea laminae, which were associated with elevated concentrations of U and Sr trace elements, palaeo-oxygen and palaeosalinity proxies. Thus, the Litorina Sea laminae were characterized by past oxygen deficiency and salinity increase. The communities of the laminae, bioturbated and homogeneous sediments were differentiated, based on the same historical sea phases, with correct classifications of 90%. Palaeosalinity was one of the major parameters that separated the bacterial communities of the stratified sediments. A discontinuous spatial structure with a surprising increase in community heterogeneity was detected in Litorina Sea sediments from 388 to 422 cm deep, which suggests that a salinity maximum occurred in the central Gulf of Finland app. 6200–6600 years ago. The community heterogeneity decreased from the surface down to 306 cm, which reflected downcore mineralization. The plateau of the decrease was in the app. 2000-year-old sediment layers. Bacterial community data may be used as an additional tool in ocean-drilling projects, in which it is important to detect mineralization plateaus both to determine historically comparable portions of sediment samples and historical events, such as sea-level rise culminations.
Using computed tomography enterography to evaluate patients with Crohn's disease: what impact does examiner experience have on the reproducibility of the method?

Objective To assess the impact that examiner experience has on the reproducibility and accuracy of computed tomography (CT) enterography in the detection of radiological signs in patients with Crohn's disease. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study involving the analysis of CT enterography scans of 20 patients with Crohn's disease. The exams were analyzed independently by two radiologists in their last year of residence (duo I) and by two abdominal imaging specialists (duo II). The interobserver agreement of each pair of examiners in identifying the main radiological signs was calculated with the kappa test. The accuracy of the examiners with less experience was quantified by using the consensus among three experienced examiners as a reference. Results Duo I and duo II obtained a similar interobserver agreement, with a moderate to good correlation, for mural hyperenhancement, parietal thickening, mural stratification, fat densification, and comb sign (kappa: 0.45-0.64). The less experienced examiners showed an accuracy > 80% for all signs, except for lymph nodes and fistula, for which it ranged from 60% to 75%. Conclusion Less experienced examiners have a tendency to present a level of interobserver agreement similar to that of experienced examiners in evaluating Crohn's disease through CT enterography, as well as showing satisfactory accuracy in identifying most radiological signs of the disease.
Beyond duty cycling: Wake-up radio with selective awakenings for long-lived wireless sensing systems

Emerging wake-up radio technologies have the potential to bring the performance of sensing systems and of the Internet of Things to the levels of low latency and very low energy consumption required to enable critical new applications. This paper provides a step towards this goal with a twofold contribution. We first describe the design and prototyping of a wake-up receiver (WRx) and its integration to a wireless sensor node. Our WRx features very low power consumption (<; 1.3μW), high sensitivity (up to -55dBm), fast reactivity (wake-up time of 130μs), and selective addressing, a key enabler of new high performance protocols. We then present ALBA-WUR, a cross-layer solution for data gathering in sensing systems that redesigns a previous leading protocol, ALBA-R, extending it to exploit the features of our WRx. We evaluate the performance of ALBA-WUR via simulations, showing that the use of the WRx produces remarkable energy savings (up to five orders of magnitude), and achieves lifetimes that are decades longer than those obtained by ALBA-R in sensing systems with duty cycling, while keeping latencies at bay.
Agronomic and morphologic analysis of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) under nitrogen fertilizer and plant density via factor analysis

2 ) as sub-plots were investigated. The maximum seed yield (1468 kg/ha) produced by using 75 kg N/ha. The seed yield had the highest correlation with biological yield. The maximum biological yield was obtained from N4 (6336 Kg/ha) and D4 (6227 Kg/ha), respectively. Factor analysis of data after varimax rotation indicated four factors that accounted for 80.924% of total variance. The scatter plot of treatments based on the two first factors (characteristics of reproductive organ factor- height and yield factor) showed that N3D3 had the desirable seed yield and N4D4 had the desirable forage yield.
Why Synchronous Tree Substitution Grammars?

Synchronous tree substitution grammars are a translation model that is used in syntax-based machine translation. They are investigated in a formal setting and compared to a competitor that is at least as expressive. The competitor is the extended multi bottom-up tree transducer, which is the bottom-up analogue with one essential additional feature. This model has been investigated in theoretical computer science, but seems widely unknown in natural language processing. The two models are compared with respect to standard algorithms (binarization, regular restriction, composition, application). Particular attention is paid to the complexity of the algorithms.