Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cirrus and water vapor in the tropical tropopause layer observed by Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS)

[1] The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is sensitive to water vapor and ozone in the lower stratosphere. The Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES), another of the instruments on UARS, has a spatial and temporal coverage similar to that of MLS and can be used to indicate the presence of cirrus. We examine the relationships among water vapor, ozone, and cirrus in the tropical region at 68 and 83 hPa during December–February 1991/1992, an El Nino period. For most longitudes at 68 hPa, three-dimensional trajectories show that the cirrus form predominately in air which ascends slowly through the tropical tropopause layer. Cirrus form in air which has travelled a long way in the horizontal, in the westerly jet, before heading equatorward in subtropical anticyclones. In the Indonesian region, however, a greater proportion is found in air which is sinking than in air which is ascending. The western Pacific region sees the highest proportion of cirrus which may have been influenced by convection, and the possible contribution from convection is greater at 83 hPa than at 68 hPa. In cloudy regions, the air is likely to have a high relative humidity. Mixing ratios of ozone from MLS have a tendency to be lower, and this may indicate that ozone is destroyed on the ice particles that comprise the clouds.
Rounding via trees: deterministic approximation algorithms for group Steiner trees and k-median

Most optimization problems on an undirected graph reduce in complexity when restricted to instances on a t.ree. A recent result [3] for probabiistically approsimating graph metrics by trees such that no edge &retches (in an expected sense) by more than a factor of O(log2 n) has resulted in several approximation algorithms which exploit the ease of solving problems on trees. The tree construct,ion in [3] is inherently randomized and a natural question to ask is whether approximation algorithms which use this construction can be derandomized. We present a general framework for derandomizing approximation algorithms which use the above t.ree construction as a primitive. Let II be a graph optimization problem which can be expressed as an integer program with O-l variables Z(e) for each edge and with an objective function expressible as *Supported by a Stanford Graduate Fellowship, an AR0 MURI Grant DAAH04961-0007 and NSF Award GGR-9357849, with matching funds from IBM, Schhnnberger Foundation, Shell Foundation, and Xerox Corporation. Email: mosesQcs.stanford. edu. tsupported by an IBM Cooperative Fellowship, an AR0 MURI Grant DAAHO496-1-0007 and NSF Award GGR-9357849, with matching funds from IBM, Schhnnberger Foundation, Shell Foundation, and Xerox Corporation. Email: chekuriQcs.atauford. edu. *Supported by Center for Telecommunications at Stanford, AR0 Grants DAAHO495-l-0121/ DAAG55-97-l-0221, and NSF Grants GGR9304971/ GGR9307045. Email: agorlQcs.stanford. edu. %upported by an AR0 MURI Grant DAAH0496-1-0007 and NSF Award GGR-9357349, with matching funds from IBM, Schlumberger Foundation, Shell Foundation, and Xerox Corporation. Email: sudiptoOcs.stauford. edu. CeEE%(e) . c(e). Given an optimal solution to LP relaxation of the integer program, we show that we can map the solution to a tree approximation of t,he graph with at most an O(logn loglogn) blow-up in the value of the objective function. This can then be coupled with a deterministic LP rounding procedure on the tree to obtain a completely deterministic approximation algorithm for II. We apply this framework to the group Steiner tree problem, the k-median problem and the minimum communication cost spanning tree problem. We obtain the first deterministic approximation algorithms for these problems which match t,he best known randomized approsimations. To do this, we design novel deterministic schemes to round the LP solution for t.hese problems on trees. For the group Steiner tree problem we obtain an approximation ratio of O(log2 n log k log log n), and for the k-median problem we obtain a ratio of O(log k log log k). We believe that our rounding procedure on trees for the group Steiner tree problem is of independent interest.
Use Pursuant to Company Instructions Stable Internet Routing without Global Coordination 2

Interdomain routing in the Internet is coordinated by the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). BGP allows each autonomous system (AS) to apply diverse local policies for selecting routes and propagating reachability information to others. This exibility is crucial in the decentralized and commercial environment of today's Internet. However, BGP permits ASes to have connicting policies that can lead to route divergence, which can cause an AS to oscillate between two or more routes to a particular destination. In this paper, we propose a set of guidelines for an AS to follow in setting its routing policies, without requiring coordination with other ASes. Our approach exploits the Internet's hierarchical structure and the commercial relationships between ASes to impose a partial order on the set of routes to each destination. The guidelines conform to conventional traac-engineering practices of ISPs, and provide each AS with signii-cant exibility in selecting its local policies. Furthermore, the guidelines ensure route convergence even under changes in the topology and routing policies. We present a formal model of BGP that includes ASes with multiple BGP speakers, both interior BGP (iBGP) and exterior BGP (eBGP), and additional BGP attributes. Drawing on this model, we prove that following our proposed policy guidelines guarantees route convergence. We also describe how our methodology can be applied to new types of relationships between ASes, how to verify the hierarchical AS relationships, and how to realize our policy guidelines. Our approach has signiicant practical value since it preserves the ability of each AS to apply complex local policies without divulging its BGP conngurations to others.
Improving imbalanced predictions via a novel watershed-based oversampling method: Application to sickle cell disease

Most of the time, real-world data sets are composed of classes with the same number of samples. But sometimes, for example in the case of fraud detection or rare disease diagnosis, the resulting dataset is composed of asymmetric classes. These datasets are called imbalanced datasets. Classification problems based on imbalanced datasets lead to errors and high variability. Thus, methods to deal with have been developed. In this paper, we pro-pose a novel oversampling method, called WSSMOTE, based on the water-shed transformation. We demonstrate that WSSMOTE improves prediction scores in some real-world datasets. In addition, our main goal is to improve prediction scores of an imbalanced dataset composed of sickle cell disease (SCD) biomarkers. SCD is a serious-inherited disease, and patients with SCD can be affected by vaso-occlusive crises, which are the main cause of hospitalization. During these hospitalizations, acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of death. ACS occurs
Annually Laminated Speleothems: a Review

This review of annually laminated speleothems firstly considers the four types of annual laminae found within speleothems: fluorescent laminae formed by annual variations in organic matter flux; visible or petrographic laminae, formed by annual variations in calcite texture or fabric; calcite-aragonite couplets; and finally trace element laminae. The methods available to confirm the annual nature, or otherwise, of lamina deposition are reviewed. We consider the use of annual laminae in chronology building, with particular relevance to palaeoclimate reconstructions. Finally, the use of annual lamina width as a palaeoclimate proxy is reviewed.
Large-scale circulation associated with westerly wind bursts and deep convection over the western equatorial Pacific

The relationship between deep equatorial convection over the western Pacific and atmospheric circulation during November to February, 1986–1992 is studied using cross correlations between outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and National Meteorological Center global analyses. We focus on intraseasonal convective events on the 6- to 30-day timescale over two regions: just east of Borneo and over the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) domain to the northeast of New Guinea. Although comparatively little work has been done on this timescale, we show that the bulk of the intraseasonal variability in both convection and low-level circulation over the tropical western Pacific occurs in this period range. As a comparison with these higher-frequency events, the evolution of COARE convection on the 30- to 70-day timescale is also considered. The results of the historical data analysis are compared to a case study of deep convection associated with strong surface westerly winds during November 1989. This analysis is meant to serve as a benchmark for future case studies from the Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere COARE experiment and other periods. In general, 6- to 30-day equatorial convection in the regions studied occurs in conjunction with low-level equatorial westerly wind anomalies, paired anomalous cyclonic circulations straddling the equator, and a strengthening of the sea level pressure gradient along the equator. The increase in the pressure gradient appears most often tied to the simultaneous equatorward movement of high-pressure systems originating over southeastern Asia and Australia. A surge of trades over the central Pacific also accompanies the development of convection over both study regions. Following the convective peak, the low-level westerlies slowly decay, as the northern cyclone moves northwestward away from the equator in a track characteristic of a tropical depression. It is also observed that low-level westerly anomalies occur frequently without deep convection. The vertical structure during convective events along the equator on the 30- to 70-day timescale and over Indonesia in the 6- to 30-day band is baroclinic, with easterly anomalies at upper levels overlying low-level westerlies. At 200 mbar a strengthened meridional outflow from the OLR signal into a wave train on the equatorward side of the Asian jet is observed to develop following the convective peak, suggesting forcing of this circulation by the convection. Over the COARE domain there is evidence that 6- to 30-day convection often occurs in conjunction with deep westerly flow. It is suggested that these types of events are frequently characterized by vertical propagation of westerlies from the surface to the upper troposphere, as is shown for a case study from November 1989. This westerly burst episode is shown to have many features in common with the “typical” case as defined from historical data.
Active hydrothermal discharge on the submarine Aeolian Arc

[1] In November 2007 we conducted a water column and seafloor mapping study of the submarine volcanoes of the Aeolian Arc in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea aboard the R/V Urania. On 26 conductivity-temperature-depth casts and tows we measured temperature, conductivity, pressure, and light scattering and also collected discrete samples for helium isotopes, methane, and pH. The 3He/4He isotope ratio, an unambiguous indicator of hydrothermal input, showed a clear excess above background at 6 of the 10 submarine volcanoes surveyed. Marsili seamount had the highest anomaly, where the 3He/4He ratio reached a δ3He value of 23% at 610 m depth compared with background values of ∼5%. Smaller but distinct δ3He anomalies occurred over Palinuro, Enarete, Eolo, Sisifo, and Secca del Capo. Although hydrothermal emissions are known to occur offshore of some Aeolian subaerial volcanoes, and hydrothermal deposits have been sampled throughout the arc, our results are the first to confirm active discharge on Marsili, Enarete, Eolo, Sisifo, and Secca del Capo. Samples collected over Lametini, Filicudi North, Alicudi North, and Alcione had δ3He near the regional background values, suggesting either absence of, or very weak, hydrothermal activity on these seamounts. Hydrocasts between the volcanoes revealed a consistent δ3He maximum between 11% and 13% at 2000 m depth throughout the SE Tyrrhenian Sea. The volcanoes of the Aeolian arc and the Marsili back arc, all <1000 m deep, cannot contribute directly to this maximum. This deep 3He excess may be a remnant of tritium decay or may have been produced by an unknown deep hydrothermal source.
The children of Albanian migrants in Europe: ethnic identity, transnational ties and pathways of integration

The study of the integration of the children of migrants, the so-called 'second generation', is a recent trend in migration literature. Their integration is thought to be an important indicator of the degree of integration of immigrants in general into a specific society. This thesis is the first full-length comparative study of the Albanian second generation. Using a variety of field methods, it compares the ethnic identities, transnational ties and integration pathways of Albanian-origin teenagers in three European cities—London, Thessaloniki and Florence—by focusing on intergenerational transmission between the first and the second generation. Greece, Italy and the UK are, in that order, the three main European countries where Albanian migrants have settled during their short but intense migration experience of the past two decades. My study shifts the focus partly to the situation and developments in Southern Europe, where the awareness and interest in issues of the integration of the second generation are still at an initial phase. The research involved fieldwork in each of the above-named cities, where quota samples of three categories of informants were interviewed: parents, their second-generation teenage children, and teachers and other key informants within the host society. Findings show significant differences in the integration patterns of both generations, affected by sharp differences between the three contexts and the history of immigration in each context. They also point to important within- and inter-group differences, based on various socio-economic indicators. Intergenerational transmission appears as a dynamic process affected not only by context and the parents‘ socio-economic background, but also by parents‘ stage of integration. By studying a settling immigrant group and their descendants, the thesis takes a proactive approach towards the integration of ethnic minorities.
: Current perceptional

Background : As perception have been recently highlighted as critical determinants of clinical trials (CTs) in cancer patients, we evaluated current perceptional status of CTs in cancer patients, focusing on differences between common and rare cancers. Materials & Methods : From November 2015 to May 2017, we prospectively surveyed patients who have received anti-cancer treatment at Asan Medical Center using the PARTAKE questionnaires. Results : Among 333 respondents, 70.9% and 29.1% had common and rare cancers, respectively. While 87.7% and 75.3% of patients answered that they heard of and knew about CTs, willingness to participate in CTs was expressed only in approximately 56% of patients although willingness was significantly correlated with awareness and perception. Surprisingly, patients with rare cancers showed significantly lower levels of awareness and perception (64.2% vs 79.9%, p=0.003 and 77.3% vs 91.9%, p<0.001), and consequently less willingness (47.4% vs 58.9%, p=0.06) compared to patients with common cancers. In addition, cancer patients still harbored fear with concerns about safety and reward, and substantial ignorance and mistrust about voluntariness of CTs, which was more predominant in patients with rare cancers. Conclusions: Present study identified relatively less willingness of CTs in cancer patients compared with generally favorable perception, and highlighted relative perceptional poverty in patients with rare cancers than those with common cancers. Further education and encouragement by research and public entities seem essential to raise motivation of CTs in cancer patients beyond good perception, especially for the patients with rare cancers.
Shear at the Base of the Oceanic Mixed Layer Generated by Wind Shear Alignment

Observations are used to evaluate a simple theoretical model for the generation of near-inertial shear spikes at the base of the open ocean mixed layer when the upper ocean displays a two-layer structure. The model predicts that large changes in shear squared can be produced by the alignment of the wind and shear vectors. A climatology of stratification and shear variance in Drake Passage is presented, which shows that these assumptions are most applicable to summer, fall, and spring but are not highly applicable to winter. Temperature, salinity, and velocity data from a high spatial resolution cruise in Drake Passage show that the model does not predict all large changes in shear variance; the model is most effective at predicting changes in shear squared when it arises owing to near-inertial wind-driven currents without requiring a rotating resonant wind stress. The model is also more effective where there is a uniform mixed layer above a strongly stratified transition layer. Rotary spectral and statistical analysis of an additional 242 Drake Passage transects from 1999 to 2011 confirmed the presence of this shear-spiking mechanism, particularly in summer, spring, and fall when stratification is stronger.
Fundamental Value Pricing and Bubbles for Nontraditional Assets: The Case of Cryptocurrencies *

We study the fundamental value pricing relationship for nontraditional assets, for which yields and rare event crash risk are unobservable, and not well understood. We introduce a novel test for deviations from fundamental value pricing for such assets. Simulations show that our test performs well for some benchmark examples that bubble tests based on unit roots or explosive behavior may ﬁnd hard to handle. For traditional stocks and stock indexes, our test typically does not detect bubbles. When applied to cryptocurrencies, our test suggests suggests the presence of a bubble for multiple large cryptocurrencies at risk adjusted discount rates up to 25% per year, and even at 50% per year. For Ethereum, extremely high risk adjusted discount rates, above 71% per year, are needed for our test to fail to reject the no-bubble null hypothesis. For Stellar, the null is rejected even at the very high risk adjusted discount rate of 100% per year.
Microearthquake characteristics and crustal velocity structure at 29°N on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge: The architecture of a slow spreading segment

We report the results of a microearthquake and seismic tomography experiment conducted along the southern half of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge segment at 29°N and aimed at investigating the relationship of earthquake and seismic structural characteristics to spreading processes. The seismic velocity structure is obtained from two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) tomographic inversions of travel times from shots along an axial refraction line. Inversion solutions indicate that the velocity structure in the lower crust is heterogeneous, with higher velocities and relatively thin crust near the segment end and lower velocities and a thicker layer 3 near the central bathymetrie high. The thickness of the lower crust at the segment end is asymmetric across axis, with thinner crust beneath the inside corner. The indicated variations in crustal thickness are consistent with those inferred from mantle Bouguer gravity anomalies. The microearthquakes located along axis during the 41-day recording period cluster in three separate along-axis regions: (1) the southern segment end near 28°55′N, (2) the central along-axis topographic high at 29°11′N, near and north of the Broken Spur hydrothermal vent field, and (3) a region midway between, beneath a volcano near 29°02′N. The greatest level of microearthquake activity was in a diffuse zone off axis beneath the inside corner of a nontransform offset. This pattern of off-axis microearthquake activity, and the cross-axis asymmetry in crustal thickness at the segment end, support tectonic models in which normal faulting and consequent crustal thinning occur preferentially at inside corner regions. Anomalous focal mechanisms for microearthquakes beneath the along-axis volcano and the significant seismicity beneath the axial volcanic ridge at the segment center, in contrast, may be the result of volcanic and hydrothermal processes, such as magma movement or thermal stresses generated near cooling plutons. A comparison of microearthquake characteristics with residual gravity data and velocity structure leads to the hypothesis that microearthquakes associated with areas of thin crust near the segment end and inside corner are dominantly tectonic in nature, whereas microearthquakes associated with volcanic and hydrothermal processes are more likely to occur toward the segment center in areas of greater rates of magma supply and thicker crust. Along axis, well-resolved focal depths determined with a 3-D velocity model range from 3 to 6 km beneath the seafloor and do not shoal toward the segment center. These observations indicate that the thermal structure of the crust along this slow spreading ridge segment is not in steady state.
The future of geography in English universities

Geography in England is one of many university subjects that will be significantly restructured – with almost immediate effect – because of powerful external drivers altering research and teaching. In this commentary I want to speculate on the likely changes ahead, and to consider how university-based geographers in England might respond to them. Given the considerable international influence that geographers in England exert within the wider subject, this commentary ought to interest those working in other countries. Notwithstanding the perils of futurology, I consider some possible scenarios in the midst of a formative moment for higher education in the UK’s largest country.
Mountain and Glacier Terrain Study and Related Investigations in the Juneau Icefield Region, Alaska-Canada

Abstract : Contents: Glacio-Climatology: Investigations in glacio-hydrology; Glaciology; Photogrammetry and surveying; Geophysical studies; Continuum mechanics and structural glaciology; Patterns of recent glacier variation and neve regimes on the Juneau Icefield; Periglacial investigations-landforms and processes; Quaternary terrain features; Wisconsinan and Holocene chronology for the Northern Boundary Range; Regional considerations and the landform dictum.
BPP has subexponential time simulations unless EXPTIME has publishable proofs

It is shown that BPP can be simulated in subexponential time for infinitely many input lengths unless exponential time collapses to the second level of the polynomial-time hierarchy, has polynomial-size circuits, and has publishable proofs (EXPTIME=MA). It is also shown that BPP is contained in subexponential time unless exponential time has publishable proofs for infinitely many input lengths. In addition, it is shown that BPP can be simulated in subexponential time for infinitely many input lengths unless there exist unary languages in MA/P. The proofs are based on the recent characterization of the power of multiprover interactive protocols and on random self-reducibility via low degree polynomials. They exhibit an interplay between Boolean circuit simulation, interactive proofs and classical complexity classes. An important feature of this proof is that it does not relativize. <<ETX>>