Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deterministic submanifolds and analytic solution of the quantum stochastic differential master equation describing a monitored qubit

This paper studies the stochastic differential equation (SDE) associated with a two-level quantum system (qubit) subject to Hamiltonian evolution as well as unmonitored and monitored decoherence channels. The latter imply a stochastic evolution of the quantum state (density operator), whose associated probability distribution we characterize. We first show that for two sets of typical experimental settings, corresponding either to weak quantum non-demolition measurements or to weak fluorescence measurements, the three Bloch coordinates of the qubit remain confined to a deterministically evolving surface or curve inside the Bloch sphere. We explicitly solve the deterministic evolution, and we provide a closed-form expression for the probability distribution on this surface or curve. Then we relate the existence in general of such deterministically evolving submanifolds to an accessibility question of control theory, which can be answered with an explicit algebraic criterion on the SDE. This allows us to sh.
Precipitation delivery in the tropical high Andes of southern Peru: new findings and paleoclimatic implications

The Cordillera Vilcanota in the southern Peruvian Andes has been the site of significant research focused on paleoclimatic reconstructions from ice cores (Quelccaya), past glaciations, climate–glacier interactions, and ecological and human responses to climate change. In this article, we analyse precipitation patterns in the region from 2004 to 2010 using twice daily precipitation observations from six regional climate stations and hourly observations of precipitation intensity from nearby Cusco International Airport. We also analyse atmospheric fields of temperature, wind, and moisture at 700 and 200 hPa from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis dataset and create 72‐h antecedent upstream air trajectories for the heaviest precipitation events using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. Results indicate that the majority of annual precipitation across the cordilleras and inter‐montane valleys alike occurs from nocturnal, regionally coherent rainfall events, inferred to be stratiform in structure, that occur in association with deep moist convection over adjacent Amazon lowlands. Low‐level moisture (as inferred from the antecedent upstream air trajectories) for precipitation events can be supplied from a number of different regions, including from the northwest and west. The trajectory analysis reveals a strong dominance (83%) of precipitation events occur under weak flow regimes from nearby Amazon basin source regions, with 50% associated with trajectories from the northwest. In addition, the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal reported in previous work in the central Andes is not necessarily representative of the Cordillera Vilcanota, where La Niña years (including 2007–2008) typically experience slightly below normal precipitation and El Niño years (including 2009–2010) are considerably wetter. These results are of particular value in understanding atmospheric signals registered in Andean low latitude ice cores, and point the way towards obtaining greater climatological inference from parameters preserved in annual snow and ice stratigraphy. Copyright © 2013 Royal Meteorological Society
Morphogenesis of rabbit kidney pre-and postnatal.

Mammalian renal development differs from that of most of the other organs in that it proceeds through a series of three successive phases, each is marked by the formation of a more complex pair of kidneys. These kidneys are called the pronephros, mesonephros, and metanephros. The current study has been conducted to elucidate the developmental changes of rabbit kidneys during their pre- and postnatal life. In the present study we used samples, at different ages, of the rabbit kidneys from embryonic day 15 (E15) till maturity for light and scanning electron microscopical investigation. At E15, large mesonephros, occupied a great part of abdominal cavity of rabbit embryo, and undifferentiated metanephros were noticed. At E19 metanephros became differentiated into cortex and medulla with the initiation of nephron-forming stage. Additionally at this stage, the caudal series of mesonephros still detected but in degenerated and atrophied structure. Just before birth, at E30, the kidney demonstrated well-developed renal corpuscles, differentiated proximal and distal convoluted tubules, with apparently detectable loop of Henle and large collecting ducts. Shortly after birth rabbit kidney showed further morphogenesis and at two-months old, the kidney of rabbit with mature histological structure of the renal parenchyma was documented. In conclusion, the development of rabbit kidneys occurred mainly during the prenatal period while their histological maturity occurred from two to three weeks after birth. The present findings were discussed with previous publications.
Equivalence principle and experimental tests of gravitational spin effects

We study the possibility of experimental testing the manifestations of equivalence principle in spin-gravity interactions. We reconsider the earlier experimental data and get the first experimental bound on anomalous gravitomagnetic moment. The spin coupling to the Earth’s rotation may also be explored at the extensions of neutron EDM and g−2 experiments. The spin coupling to the terrestrial gravity produces a considerable effect which may be discovered at the planned deuteron EDM experiment. The Earth’s rotation should also be taken into account in optical experiments on a search for axionlike particles.
Poverty and the Spatial Distribution of Rural Population

According to global spatial data sets in 2000 more than one-third of the rural population in developing countries was located on less favored agricultural land and areas. Less favored agricultural lands are susceptible to low productivity and degradation, because their agricultural potential is constrained biophysically by terrain, poor soil quality, or limited rainfall. Less favored agricultural areas include less favored agricultural lands plus favorable agricultural land that is remote, that is, land in rural areas with high agricultural potential but with limited access. The paper presents tests of whether these spatial distributions of rural population influence poverty directly or indirectly via income growth in 83 developing countries from 2000 to 2012. The analysis finds no evidence of a direct impact on poverty, but there is a significant indirect impact via the elasticity of poverty reduction with respect to growth. Reducing poverty requires targeting rural populations in less favored lands and remote areas, in addition to encouraging out-migration in some areas.
Different Vascular Risk Factors Associated with Cervical and Cerebral Atherosclerotic Steno-occlusions in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Besides race-ethnicity, the role of other risk factors that can be related to the distribution of cerebral atherosclerosis has been controversial. We determined if there were vascular factors related to the extra- and intracranial atherosclerosis in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: We studied 856 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted to our two hospitals over a 5- year period. We excluded patients who had potential cardiogenic source of embolism. The information about potential vascular risk factors, such as age, sex, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption, was obtained from medical records. We determined the location and severity of atherosclerotic lesions on MR angiography (MRA). The presence of atherosclerotic lesion in intracranial cerebral arteries and extracranial carotid artery was defined as 50% or more narrowing of luminal diameter or occlusion on MRA. We compared the vascular risk factors between patients with extra- and/ or intracranial atherosclerosis and those with no atherosclerotic lesion. Results: The intracranial atherosclerotic lesion on MRA was found in 355 patients (41.5%). Of the other patients 61 (7.1%) had steno-occlusive extracranial carotid artery disease, and 78 (9.1%) had combined extracranial carotid and intracranial atherosclerotic lesions. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that hyperlipidemia was associated with the extracranial carotid atherosclerosis (OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.21-9.11; p<0.01), but that diabetes mellitus was only associated with intracranial atherosclerosis (OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.45 – 6.52; p<0.01). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the factors associated with extra- and intracranial artery lesion were different. Diabetes mellitus may be associated with the development of intracranial atherosclerosis, which is predominant in Korean stroke patients.
A finite volume numerical approach for coastal ocean circulation studies: Comparisons with finite difference models

[1] An unstructured grid, finite volume, three-dimensional (3-D) primitive equation coastal ocean model (FVCOM) has been developed for the study of coastal ocean and estuarine circulation by Chen et al. (2003a). The finite volume method used in this model combines the advantage of finite element methods for geometric flexibility and finite difference methods for simple discrete computation. Currents, temperature, and salinity are computed using an integral form of the equations, which provides a better representation of the conservative laws for mass, momentum, and heat. Detailed comparisons are presented here of FVCOM simulations with analytical solutions and numerical simulations made with two popular finite difference models (the Princeton Ocean Model and Estuarine and Coastal Ocean Model (ECOM-si)) for the following idealized cases: wind-induced long-surface gravity waves in a circular lake, tidal resonance in rectangular and sector channels, freshwater discharge onto the continental shelf with curved and straight coastlines, and the thermal bottom boundary layer over the slope with steep bottom topography. With a better fit to the curvature of the coastline using unstructured nonoverlapping triangle grid cells, FVCOM provides improved numerical accuracy and correctly captures the physics of tide-, wind-, and buoyancy-induced waves and flows in the coastal ocean. This model is suitable for applications to estuaries, continental shelves, and regional basins that feature complex coastlines and bathymetry.
Empirical Estimates of the Short-Run Aggregate Supply and Demand Curves for the Post-War U. S. Economy

This paper presents estimates of the short-run aggregate supply and demand curves for the post-war U.S. economy using a structural vector autoregression (SVAR). Following the work of Blanchard and Quah [4] (henceforth BQ) I assume that aggregate demand shocks have no long-run impact on the log of real output. In contrast to BQ I use aggregate output and prices while they use aggregate output and the unemployment rate. By replacing unemployment with prices I can estimate the slopes of the aggregate supply and demand curves for the U.S. economy. My purpose in extending the work of BQ in this direction is threefold. First, to investigate whether the decomposition method proposed by BQ yields "textbook" aggregate demand and supply curves; second, to investigate whether the supply and demand shocks derived from this method correspond to historical demand and supply shocks; and third, to test the stability of the slope of the aggregate supply curve. The once-well-accepted stylized characterization of prices as procyclical has recently been questioned (Kydland and Prescott [13] and Wolf [23]). Procyclical prices were previously thought to be evidence that the cycle was aggregate demand driven. The studies by Kydland and Prescott and Wolf show that prices are either acyclical or countercyclical thus indicating that aggregate supply shocks may play a role in business cycle fluctuations. In this paper I test whether, once output movements and prices are decomposed into demand and supply driven components, the aggregate demand induced movements in prices are procyclical and the aggregate supply induced movements in prices are countercyclical. I find that the aggregate supply curve does slope upward and the aggregate demand curve does slope downward. Thus, the evidence presented here is consistent with the notion that the lack of a consistent cyclical pattern in the price level is due to the fact that both demand and supply shocks generate business cycle fluctuations. Secondly, I extend BQ by investigating whether the movements in output and prices due to aggregate demand and supply shocks correspond to specific episodes of demand and supply shocks during the post-war era as defined by independent sources. For example, does this estimation technique attribute movements in output due to oil price shocks to aggregate supply and
Carbon stocks of trees killed by bark beetles and wildfire in the western United States

Forests are major components of the carbon cycle, and disturbances are important influences of forest carbon. Our objective was to contribute to the understanding of forest carbon cycling by quantifying the amount of carbon in trees killed by two disturbance types, fires and bark beetles, in the western United States in recent decades. We combined existing spatial data sets of forest biomass, burn severity, and beetle-caused tree mortality to estimate the amount of aboveground and belowground carbon in killed trees across the region. We found that during 1984–2010, fires killed trees that contained 5–11 Tg C year−1 and during 1997–2010, beetles killed trees that contained 2–24 Tg C year−1, with more trees killed since 2000 than in earlier periods. Over their periods of record, amounts of carbon in trees killed by fires and by beetle outbreaks were similar, and together these disturbances killed trees representing 9% of the total tree carbon in western forests, a similar amount to harvesting. Fires killed more trees in lower-elevation forest types such as Douglas-fir than higher-elevation forest types, whereas bark beetle outbreaks also killed trees in higher-elevation forest types such as lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce. Over 15% of the carbon in lodgepole pine and spruce/fir forest types was in trees killed by beetle outbreaks; other forest types had 5–10% of the carbon in killed trees. Our results document the importance of these natural disturbances in the carbon budget of the western United States.
Rouse Dynamics of Polymer Networks Bearing Dendritic Wedges

We present a theoretical study of a new class of polymer materials of much recent experimental interest: polymer networks bearing dendritic wedges in the middle of long network strands. We focus on the Rouse dynamics of such cross-linked polymers and perform our study in three steps, considering first single dendritic wedges, then linear chains bearing dendritic wedges (CBDWs), and finally networks formed by end-linked CBDWs. Using analytical and numerical calculations we find that for linear CBDWs increasing the generation number g of dangling dendritic wedges decreases the storage shear modulus G'(ˆ) in the low-frequency domain, i.e., makes the large-scale relaxation more rapid. The zero shear viscosity also decreases with g, indicating a trend opposite to that of dendrimers with small g. Our findings are in qualitative agreement with recent rheological experimental data on side chain dendritic polymers. On the contrary, increasing g for dendritic wedges attached to regular networks slows down the low-frequency relaxation; this goes so far as to lead for large g in the intermediate frequency domain to a tendency toward a plateau in G'(ˆ). We relate these effects to the presence in CBDW systems of the dangling dendritic wedges, which lower the mobility of the linear chains.
Particleboard from coir pith

This study aimed to find out the feasibility of coir pith as a raw material for particleboard production. Considering particle size, an attempt was taken to produce resin bonded coir pith particleboard and binder-less coir pith particleboard as well. The physical and mechanical properties of the board were examined. The particleboard made from medium size particle showed the best performance in aspect of properties. The particleboards made with 16% Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF) had better product quality than binder-less coir pith board. The MOR, MOE, TS and IB were respectively 24.65, 2398, 22.55 and 1.52 N/mm 2 . Coir pith board may be a sustainable, cheap and durable building and packaging materials and timber substitute. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 51(3), 239-245, 2016
Medical Paternalism or Parental Autonomy in Decision Making: A Portuguese Study in Premature Newborns

Health care providers and parents may have distinctive roles in the decision-making process regarding the care and treatment of premature babies. In this paper, we explore the process of decision making among doctors, nurses, and parents in premature care units (neonatal intensive care unites, NICUs) located in the central region of Portugal. Forty-one semistructured interviews with doctors, nurses, and mothers were conducted and analyzed. There is evidence that the medical teams provide a considerable amount of information to parents of premature babies, although sometimes unfavorable prognostic data are omitted. Mothers showed a high degree of confidence in the skill and knowledge of the medical professionals and accepted the latter's role in making decisions regarding the care and treatment of their premature babies. Only when invasive procedures or surgery were serious possibilities was something resembling written informed consent obtained. Ethics committees were seldom consulted. The results show that in the region surveyed, parents neither are invited nor appear to demand a role in making medical decisions that affect their babies. No conflicts between medical providers and parents were detected, suggesting that informed consent and the participation of parents in medical decisions regarding the care and treatment of their babies are not considered necessary or useful in this particular area by the respective parties, in contrast with the tenets of autonomy-based ethics.
CORPORATE FINANCIAL DISTRESS PREDICTION OF SLOVAK COMPANIES : Z-SCORE MODELS VS . ALTERNATIVES

In the recent paper "The portability of Altman’s Z-score model to predicting corporate financial distress of Slovak companies" published in 2016 in Technological and Economic Development of Economy, its authors claim that, under some assumptions, "Altman’s bankruptcy formula is portable into the Slovak economic conditions and useful for predicting financial difficulties". The main goal of our paper is to compare the ported Z-score prediction models from their paper, which are based on linear discriminant analysis, to prediction models based on other standard supervised classification methods, e.g. logistic regression, decision trees, random forests. In our comparison, we take into account accuracy as well as interpretability of the models. In order to assure comparability of results we use the same data set as it was utilized in the abovementioned paper.
Rising Above the Standard: Variation in L+H* contour use across 5 varieties of American English

This study examines the rate and quality of L+H* contours in five varieties of American English. Reading passage data from 30 female participants (10 Jewish English (JE), 10 African American English (AAE) and 10 Appalachian English (ApEng)) was coded using MAE-ToBI conventions. Mixed-effects modeling was used to compare the number of instances of L+H* and H*/! H* contours, and peak contour height, slope, and peak offset of the L+H* contours. ApEng speakers use the highest number of L+H* contours in their speech. JE speakers use fewer L+H* contours than ApEng speakers, but more than the AAE speakers. The phonetic implementation of the contour was also examined. ApE and JE speakers have higher peaks, wider rise spans, and steeper rises than AAE speakers, in parallel with the results for rate of use of L+H*. When compared to data for white speakers of Southern and Midland English (data from [1] ), the three groups of interest all use a higher proportion of L+H* contours. These results represent an important theoretical contribution by demonstrating that suprasegmental features are ethnolinguistically and regionally conditioned by rate of use and different realizations, in a manner similar to what has been previously observed for segmental phonological features.
Morphological and Sedimentological Impacts of Hurricane Ivan and Immediate Poststorm Beach Recovery along the Northwestern Florida Barrier-Island Coasts

Abstract Ivan, a strong Category 4 hurricane (downgraded to a Category 3 at landfall), caused widespread erosion and overwash along the northwestern Florida barrier-island beaches. This study examines the storm impact and short-term post-storm recovery along a 200-km stretch of coast from Fort Walton Beach eastward to St. George Island. One prestorm and three poststorm beach-profile surveys were conducted to quantify the storm-induced morphological changes and poststorm recovery. Forty-six trenches were excavated to study the characteristics and thickness of subaerial storm deposits. Extensive inundation and overwash occurred within 100 km from the storm center at landfall. Significant beach/dune erosion was measured as far as 300 km east of the storm center. The highest elevation of beach erosion extended considerably above the measured storm-surge level, indicating that storm-wave setup and swash run-up played significant roles in controlling the elevation of beach erosion. A simple empirical formula reproduced the wave setup and swash run-up reasonably well. Beach recovery began immediately after the storm. Within 90 days, the berm crest recovered to its prestorm elevation, although it was now located approximately 15 m landward for nonoverwashed sites and 30 to 40 m for overwashed sites. The steep prestorm foreshore slope was restored from the gentle storm profile within 30 days. An apparent erosional surface was observed along the impacted foredune and backbeach, extending over 300 km eastward from the storm center. This erosional surface represents a net elevation loss ranging from 0.5 to over 2.0 m. A storm layer of up to 50 cm thick was deposited above the erosional surface. Generally, the storm-layer thickness decreases away from the storm center, as well as landward from the high tide line. Local factors such as beach width and orientation, and sediment properties and supply caused variations in the thickness of storm deposit.
Tropospheric Volcanic Aerosol

Volcanic emissions represent an important source of aerosol to the global troposphere, and have important implications for the Earth’s radiation budget at various temporal and spatial scales. Volcanogenic aerosol can also transport trace metals and other pollutants, with impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and human health. We provide here a primer on the current understanding of the origins and transformations of volcanogenic particles in the troposphere, covering their fluxes, size distribution, composition and morphology, and focusing on sulfur, halogen, and trace metal compounds. Such an understanding is essential to investigations of the atmospheric, environmental and human health impacts of volcanic volatile emissions.