Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OH and HO 2 chemistry during NAMBLEX: roles of oxygenates, halogen oxides and heterogeneous uptake

Several zero-dimensional box-models with different levels of chemical complexity, based on the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM), have been used to study the chemistry of OH and HO 2 in a coastal environment in the Northern Hemisphere. The models were constrained to and compared with measurements made during the NAMBLEX campaign (Mace Head, Ireland) in summer 2002. The base models, which were constrained to measured CO, CH 4 and NMHCs, were able to reproduce [OH] within 25%, but overestimated [HO 2 ] by about a factor of 2. Agreement was improved when the models were constrained to oxygenated compounds (acetaldehyde, methanol and acetone), highlighting their importance for the radical budget. When the models were constrained to measured halogen monoxides (IO, BrO) and used a more detailed, measurements-based, treatment to describe the heterogeneous uptake, modelled [OH] increased by up to 15% and [HO 2 ] decreased by up to 30%. The actual impact of halogen monoxides on the modelled concentrations of HO x was dependant on the uptake coefficients used for HOI, HOBr and HO 2 . Better agreement, within the combined uncertainties of the measurements and of the model, was achieved when using high uptake coefficients for HO 2 and HOI (γ HO 2 =1, γ HOI =0.6). A rate of production and destruction analysis of the models allowed a detailed study of OH and HO 2 chemistry under the conditions encountered during NAMBLEX, showing the importance of oxygenates and of XO (where X=I, Br) as co-reactants for OH and HO 2 and of HOX photolysis as a source for OH.
Normalization of the Speech Modulation Spectra for Robust Speech Recognition

In this paper, we study a novel technique that normalizes the modulation spectra of speech signals for robust speech recognition. The modulation spectra of a speech signal are the power spectral density (PSD) functions of the feature trajectories generated from the signal, hence they describe the temporal structure of the features. The modulation spectra are distorted when the speech signal is corrupted by noise. We propose the temporal structure normalization (TSN) filter to reduce the noise effects by normalizing the modulation spectra to reference spectra. The TSN filter is different from other feature normalization methods such as the histogram equalization (HEQ) that only normalize the probability distributions of the speech features. Our previous work showed promising results of TSN on a small vocabulary Aurora-2 task. In this paper, we conduct an inquiry into the theoretical and practical issues of the TSN filter that includes the following. 1) We investigate the effects of noises on the speech modulation spectra and show the general characteristics of noisy speech modulation spectra. The observations help to further explain and justify the TSN filter. 2) We evaluate the TSN filter on the Aurora-4 task and demonstrate its effectiveness for a large vocabulary task. 3) We propose a segment-based implementation of the TSN filter that reduces the processing delay significantly without affecting the performance. Overall, the TSN filter produces significant improvements over the baseline systems, and delivers competitive results when compared to other state-of-the-art temporal filters.
Differences between two estimates of air-sea turbulent heat fluxes over the Atlantic Ocean

Uncertainties in turbulent ocean-atmosphere heat flux estimates, both among the estimates and between them and ground truth, suggest that further comparisons are needed. We analyze estimates from the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Objectively Analyzed air-sea Fluxes (WHOI OAFlux). The IFREMER products are based on satellite observations and the WHOI OAFlux ones on data from satellites, buoys, and ships assimilated into numerical analyses. We focus on the Atlantic sector (70 degrees W-30 degrees E, 45 degrees S-45 degrees N) during 1996-2005, where the variables that enter the bulk formulae for computing fluxes (wind speed, sea surface and air temperature, and specific humidity) can be evaluated against buoys in the Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Atlantic (PIRATA). Since WHOI assimilates PIRATA observations, we have added two independent buoy data sets: FETCH and ROMEO. To examine how each variable contributes to the difference between estimated and buoy fluxes, the method of Bourras (2006) is applied. His so-called Q terms showed that specific air humidity and air temperature contributed the most to the biases of IFREMER latent and sensible heat fluxes, respectively, at both independent buoys. For WHOI OAFlux products, deviations from FETCH values were mainly due to wind speed and sea surface temperature differences, while in comparison with ROMEO fluxes, WHOI OAFlux biases were primarily due to specific humidity and sea surface temperature estimates. Modified estimates of turbulent fluxes with the IFREMER approach using the 10 m specific humidity and air temperature products of Jackson et al. (2009) show significant improvement in three test cases at PIRATA buoys.
Smart Cities in developing economies: A literature review and policy insights

Now-a-days all the cities of developed and developing countries feel the need to provide public services in a most effective and efficient way. It is also noted that a considerable number of rural population is converging to the cities to relish the fruits of development and this pace of migration is increasing rapidly. From global experience it is seen that pace of growth of urbanization up to 30% is not very fast but thereafter at least up to 60-65% this pace of growth increases rapidly. Statistics highlights that now the urban population in India is 31%. As a result, pace of urbanization would speed-up to combat the need of inhabitants of those cities. In this context the Government of India has decided to set up 100 “Smart Cities” in India (as observed from the budget speech of Finance Minister of India in 2014) to face the situation since if this is right now not achieved, the existing cities would very soon become unlivable. However to achieve this, “Smart Technology” is essential which in particular, means improvement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) along with other essential services. Now some basic principles are required to be adopted by the cities marked for converting them as “Smart Cities”. These are Coalescence, Practicality and Involvement. In this paper a sincere attempt has been taken to characterize the essentials of “Smart Cities” in the context of developing countries and to find out the main constraints apprehended to stand on the way to convert cities to “Smart Cities” or to denevo create “Smart Cities”. Criteria have been proposed to identify as to which cities would be construed to be fit for conversion to “Smart Cities”. In the conclusion part it has been inferred that out of other barriers literacy and fund constraint are the principal barriers and it has been suggested that Government should sincerely pique the people to come out from the veil of illiteracy and Government should essay to explore wealth resources needed for establishing “Smart Cities”.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor is upregulated in the cervical dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord and contributes to the maintenance of pain from facet joint injury in the rat

The facet joint is commonly associated with neck and low back pain and is susceptible to loading‐induced injury. Although tensile loading of the cervical facet joint has been associated with inflammation and neuronal hyperexcitability, the mechanisms of joint loading‐induced pain remain unknown. Altered brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are associated with a host of painful conditions, but the role of BDNF in loading‐induced joint pain remains undefined. Separate groups of rats underwent a painful cervical facet joint distraction or a sham procedure. Bilateral forepaw mechanical hypersensitivity was assessed and BDNF mRNA and protein levels were quantified in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord at days 1 and 7. Facet joint distraction induced significant (P < 0.001) mechanical hypersensitivity at both time points. Painful joint distraction did not alter BDNF mRNA in the DRG compared with sham levels but did significantly increase (P < 0.016) BDNF protein expression over sham in the DRG at day 7. Painful distraction also significantly increased BDNF mRNA (P = 0.031) and protein expression (P = 0.047) over sham responses in the spinal cord at day 7. In a separate study, intrathecal administration of the BDNF‐sequestering molecule trkB‐Fc on day 5 after injury partially attenuated behavioral sensitivity after joint distraction and reduced pERK in the spinal cord at day 7 (P < 0.045). Changes in BDNF after painful facet joint injury and the effect of spinal BDNF sequestration in partially reducing pain suggest that BDNF signaling contributes to the maintenance of loading‐induced facet pain but that additional cellular responses are also likely involved. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gonadal Steroids Exert Facilitating and “Buffering” Effects on Glucocorticoid-Mediated Transcriptional Regulation of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Corticosteroid Receptor Genes in Rat Brain

Gonadal steroids profoundly influence several brain functions and are apparently responsible for gender-specific differences in the regulation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) secretions. In this study, we examined the so-called “activational” effects of gonadal steroids on the glucocorticoid-mediated regulation of the gene transcription of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and corticosteroid receptors in brain areas of relevance for the control of pituitary–adrenal secretion. The efficacy of adrenalectomy (ADX) and chronic treatment with high doses of corticosterone (B) to regulate the gene transcription of CRH and corticosteroid receptors in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and hippocampus was studied in male and female rats under the conditions of deprivation of gonadectomy (GDX) and replacement with different gonadal steroids, such as estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In both sexes, ADX alone or in combination with GDX increased, and B treatment suppressed, the steady-state levels of CRH and corticosteroid receptor mRNAs, whereas GDX alone failed to affect any of the parameters studied. Administration of gonadal hormones to steroid-deprived (ADX/GDX) animals partially attenuated the upregulation of mRNAs encoding corticosteroid receptors in the hippocampus. Supplementation with gonadal steroids modified the effects of B on the gene transcription of CRH and corticosteroid receptors. Whereas P alone or in combination with E2counteracted the B-induced downregulation of GR and CRH gene transcription in females, DHT and E2 administration further potentiated the effects of B on these parameters in a sex-specific manner. Taken together, the results indicate that gonadal steroids have minor influence on MR, GR, and CRH gene transcription under basal conditions, exert “glucocorticoid-like” effects on the transcription of corticosteroid receptors in the hippocampus of steroid-deprived animals, and interact with glucocorticoid-mediated mechanisms of regulation in the HPA axis through gender-specific “buffering” and “potentiating” effects.
Sparse Convolutional Networks using the Permutohedral Lattice

This paper introduces an efficient, non-linear image adaptive filtering as a generalization of the standard spatial convolution of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). We build on the bilateral filtering operation, a commonly used edge-aware image processing technique. Our implementation of bilateral filters uses specialized data structures, and in this paper we demonstrate how these lead to generalizations and make the filters amendable to learning. This development enriches the convolutional operation found in CNNs, which becomes image adaptive, can process sparse input data, and produce continuous output. Our result also generalizes a class of densely connected graphical models with tractable mean field inference. It has previously been shown that mean field approximations in the subclass of models with Gaussian edge potentials reduce to a bilateral filtering operation. Here, we generalize this to the non-Gaussian case and allow highly parameterized potential functions. A diverse set of experiments validates the empirical performance and highlights the different aspects of the proposed operation.
Investigating white matter perfusion using optimal sampling strategy arterial spin labeling at 7 Tesla

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is an informative physiological marker for tissue health. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a noninvasive MRI method of measuring this parameter, but it has proven difficult to measure white matter (WM) CBF due to low intrinsic contrast‐to‐noise ratio compared with gray matter (GM). Here we combine ultra‐high field and optimal sampling strategy (OSS) ASL to investigate WM CBF in reasonable scan times.
Relative Language Proficiency Modulates BOLD Signal Change when Bilinguals Perform Semantic Judgments

Abstract The effect of relative language proficiency on the spatial distribution and magnitude of BOLD signal change was evaluated by studying two groups of right-handed English–Mandarin bilingual participants with contrasting language proficiencies as they made semantic judgments with words and characters. Greater language proficiency corresponded to shorter response times and greater accuracy in the semantic judgment task. Within the left prefrontal and parietal regions, the change in BOLD signal was smaller in a participant's more proficient language. The least proficient performance was associated with right, in addition to left, inferior frontal activation. The results highlight the importance of taking into consideration nature of task and relative language proficiency when drawing inferences from functional imaging studies of bilinguals.
Novel Hybrid Gels Made of High and Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Induce Proliferation and Reduce Inflammation in an Osteoarthritis In Vitro Model Based on Human Synoviocytes and Chondrocytes

High molecular weight hyaluronan (H-HA) has a pivotal role in the maintenance of normal functions of synovial fluid and structure of the articular joint, but it has been shown that its concentration is reduced in patients affected by degenerative cartilage diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and properties of hybrid cooperative complexes based on high and low molecular weight hyaluronan (HCC) compared to H-HA on human primary cells derived by pathological joints. In addition, the rheological behavior of HCC was evaluated in order to define their potential as viscosupplement gel in degenerated joints. The experiments were performed using an in vitro model of OA based on human chondrocytes and synoviocytes isolated from degenerated joints of patients hospitalized for surgical replacement. In order to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of HCC, we evaluated NF-kB, COMP-2, IL-6, and IL-8 as specific markers at the transcriptional and/or protein level. Moreover, the proliferative properties of HCC were assessed using time lapse video microscopy. We showed that chondrocytes and synoviocytes clearly presented an altered cytokine profile compatible with a severe ongoing inflammation status. H-HA and, above all, HCC significantly reduced levels of the specific biomarkers evaluated and improved cartilage healing. The rheological profile indicated HCC suitability for intra-articular injection in joint diseases. HCC viscoelastic properties and the protective/anti-inflammatory effect on human chondrocytes and synoviocytes suggest the novel HCC-based gels as a valid support for OA management.
Thermoelectric Microconverter for Energy Harvesting Systems

This paper presents a solution for energy microgeneration through energy harvesting by taking advantage of temperature differences that are converted into electrical energy using the Seebeck effect. A thermoelectric microconverter for energy scavenging systems that can supply low-power electronics was fabricated using thin films of bismuth and antimony tellurides. Thin films of n-type bismuth (Bi2Te3) and p-type antimony (Sb2Te3) tellurides were obtained by thermal coevaporation with thermoelectric figures of merit (ZT) at room temperature of 0.84 and 0.5 and power factors (PF × 10-3 [W · K-1 ·m-2]) of 4.87 and 2.81, respectively. The films were patterned by photolithography and wet-etching techniques. The goal for this thermoelectric microconverter is to supply individual electroencephalogram (EEG) modules composed by an electrode, processing electronics, and an antenna, where the power consumption ranges from hundredths of microwatts to a few milliwatts. Moreover, these wireless EEG modules allow patients to maintain their mobility while simultaneously having their electrical brain activity monitored.
Undoing Normativities and Creating Family: A Queer Stepfamily’s Experience

Abstract Although the stepfamily literature is well developed, most examines heterosexual stepfamilies and fails to note the presence of those headed by same-gender couples. This especially is true of male couples assumed unlikely to have children. Our case study uses a queer lens to examine a stepfamily headed by gay men. Family, couple, and focal child interviews were coded using thematic analysis. Findings indicate family members rejected normative family labels (e.g., stepfamily) and wanted to be thought of only as a family. These stepfamily members also performed family in ways that defied heteronormativity; however, they described struggling to do so within legal contexts that favored biological mothers, especially those in heterosexual families.
Formal and Informal Risk Sharing in LDCs: Theory and Empirical Evidence

We develop and estimate a model of dynamic interactions in which commitment is limited and contracts are incomplete to explain the patterns of income and consumption growth in village economies of less developed countries. Households can insure each other through both formal contracts and informal agreements, that is, self-enforcing agreements specifying voluntary transfers. This theoretical setting nests the case of complete markets and the case where only informal agreements are available. We derive a system of non-linear equations for income and consumption growth. A key prediction of our model is that both variables are affected by lagged consumption as a consequence of the interplay of formal and informal contracting possibilities. In a semi-parametric setting, we prove identification, derive testable restrictions and estimate the model with the use of data from Pakistan villages. Empirical results are consistent with the economic arguments. Incentive constraints due to self-enforcement bind with positive probability and formal contracts are used to reduce this probability.
New Developments in Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibitors for the Treatment of Sarcoma

Although sarcomas account for a small portion of solid malignancies, currently, there are few treatment options for sarcomas, particularly for advanced disease. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine‐threonine protein kinase in the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase Akt signaling pathway, has an important role in the regulation of protein synthesis, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metabolism. Alterations of the mTOR signaling pathway are common in malignancies, including several types of sarcoma. Therefore, mTOR is a potentially important therapeutic target in these diseases. Rapamycin and its analogs (rapalogs) are effective anticancer agents in a broad range of preclinical models. Clinical trials with these agents alone and in combination with other anticancer agents, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies, have demonstrated potential clinical benefit in several types of sarcoma. The evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies supports further study of mTOR‐targeting rapalogs in the treatment of various subtypes of sarcoma. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
How does proactive personality promote creativity? A multilevel examination of the interplay between formal and informal leadership

Based on the social perspective on creativity, which highlights the importance of social network parameters for individual creativity, this study examines the relationship between employees’ proactive personality and their individual creativity in the context of visionary leadership behaviour. Using survey data from 247 employees and their direct supervisors from54work teams inChina,wefind that informal leadership statusmediates the relationship between an employee’s proactive personality and his/her creativity. We also demonstrate that the link between an employee’s informal leadership status and his/ her individual creativity is moderated by formal leaders’ visionary behaviour. Overall, a moderated-mediation model is established such that, when a formal leader shows a high level of visionary behaviour, the relationship between an employee’s proactive personality and his/her creativity via informal leadership status is stronger than with a low level of visionary leader behaviour.
Analyzing Brain Networks Associated with Social Evaluation and Uncertainty in Subclinical Social Anxiety

In interpersonal interactions, socially anxious individuals continuously monitor for social threats and fear negative evaluation from their peers. We know little about whether these cognitive biases correlate with patterns of brain function in relevant regions that have been associated with evaluation of self and others. Recent evidence implicates neural structures critical to perspectivetaking and the processing of uncertainty may function atypically in those who are anxious. In the present study, we examined neural activity in two such regions of the brain—the temporoparietal junction and the anterior midcingulate cortex — during Prisoner’s Dilemma game play. There were no significant group differences in activation in both regions during the processing of partner choice and anticipation of outcome during gameplay. However, there were significant differences in the processing of social feedback. These findings provide evidence that Prisoner’s Dilemma researchers should begin to consider how social and monetary context affects decisionmaking in diverse populations. INDEX WORDS: fMRI, Social Anxiety, Social Evaluation, Uncertainty, Theory of Mind, Prisoner’s Dilemma ANALYZING BRAIN NETWORKS ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL EVALUATION AND UNCERTAINTY IN SUBCLINICAL SOCIAL ANXIETY
A closure model for intermittency in three‐dimensional incompressible turbulence

A simplified Lagrangian closure for the Navier–Stokes equation is used to study the production of intermittency in the inertial range of three‐dimensional turbulence. This is done using localized wave packets following the fluid rather than a standard Fourier basis. In this formulation, the equation for the energy transfer acquires a noise term coming from the fluctuations in the energy content of the different wave packets. Assuming smallness of the intermittency correction to scaling allows the adoption of a quasi‐Gaussian approximation for the velocity field, provided a cutoff on small scales is imposed and a finite region of space is considered. In these approximations, the amplitude of the local energy transfer fluctuations can be calculated self‐consistently in the model. Definite predictions on anomalous scaling are obtained in terms of the modified structure functions: 〈〈E(l,a)〉qR〉, where 〈E(l,a,r,t)〉R is the part of the turbulent energy coming from Fourier components in a band (a−1)k around k∼l−1.