Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climate and Water Quality Policy Design for Agriculture with Environmental Co-Benefits

Many Agro-environmental practices, such as reduced fertilizer use or establishment of green set-asides, which are incentivised by policy instruments, may have simultaneous positive effects on multiple environmental goods. These environmental co-benefits increase the social desirability of a given policy instrument. In this paper we focus on water quality and GHG emissions and examine how climate and water quality policy instruments affect both their primary target emission and co-benefit emissions. We trace out especially the relative role of land use versus input use in emissions reduction. To facilitate this comparison, we define the socially optimal policy instruments when environmental co-benefits are either accounted for or omitted. Simulations for the Finnish agriculture show that if only water quality damage is internalised then the divergence from social optimum where both damages are internalised is not very large, while if only GHG emissions damage is internalised then the difference to the social optimum internalising both externalities is much larger. The optimal fertilizer tax rate is uniform (19%) when GHG emission damages are internalised but is differentiated when water quality damage or both externalities are internalised. The optimal fertilizer taxes vary from 19% to 58% and depend on soil type, soil quality and tillage method. Optimal tax on soil emissions vary from €15/ha in clay soils to €231/ha in organic soils. The analysis further demonstrates that land use has stronger effect on reducing water quality and GHG emission damages than changes in input use and thus extensive margin impact dominates intensive margin impact. Finally, policy-related transactions costs (PRTCs) affect the net tax revenue ranking of policy scenarios. Policy scenario focusing on water quality results in the highest net tax revenues, but consideration of PRTCs can change the net tax revenue ranking of policies as policies targeting water quality have relatively strong reduction in the net tax revenue due to the requirement to implement differentiated fertilizer tax that entails relatively high PRTCs. These results show that in the case of no-till cultivation climate policy internalising CO 2 -eq damage also achieves socially optimal nitrogen runoff in almost all cases, while in the case of conventional tillage water quality objectives are only partially met with climate policy. Overall, however, climate policy results in significant water co-benefits.
Regularized Multitask Learning for Multidimensional Log-Density Gradient Estimation

Log-density gradient estimation is a fundamental statistical problem and possesses various practical applications such as clustering and measuring nongaussianity. A naive two-step approach of first estimating the density and then taking its log gradient is unreliable because an accurate density estimate does not necessarily lead to an accurate log-density gradient estimate. To cope with this problem, a method to directly estimate the log-density gradient without density estimation has been explored and demonstrated to work much better than the two-step method. The objective of this letter is to improve the performance of this direct method in multidimensional cases. Our idea is to regard the problem of log-density gradient estimation in each dimension as a task and apply regularized multitask learning to the direct log-density gradient estimator. We experimentally demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed multitask method in log-density gradient estimation and mode-seeking clustering.
Monotherapy With Major Antihypertensive Drug Classes and Risk of Hospital Admissions for Mood Disorders

Major depressive and bipolar disorders predispose to atherosclerosis, and there is accruing data from animal model, epidemiological, and genomic studies that commonly used antihypertensive drugs may have a role in the pathogenesis or course of mood disorders. In this study, we propose to determine whether antihypertensive drugs have an impact on mood disorders through the analysis of patients on monotherapy with different classes of antihypertensive drugs from a large hospital database of 525 046 patients with follow-up for 5 years. There were 144 066 eligible patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria: age 40 to 80 years old at time of antihypertensive prescription and medication exposure >90 days. The burden of comorbidity assessed by Charlson and Elixhauser scores showed an independent linear association with mood disorder diagnosis. The median time to hospital admission with mood disorder was 847 days for the 299 admissions (641 685 person-years of follow-up). Patients on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers had the lowest risk for mood disorder admissions, and compared with this group, those on &bgr;-blockers (hazard ratio=2.11; [95% confidence interval, 1.12–3.98]; P=0.02) and calcium antagonists (2.28 [95% confidence interval, 1.13–4.58]; P=0.02) showed higher risk, whereas those on no antihypertensives (1.63 [95% confidence interval, 0.94–2.82]; P=0.08) and thiazide diuretics (1.56 [95% confidence interval, 0.65–3.73]; P=0.32) showed no significant difference. Overall, our exploratory findings suggest possible differential effects of antihypertensive medications on mood that merits further study: calcium antagonists and &bgr;-blockers may be associated with increased risk, whereas angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may be associated with a decreased risk of mood disorders.
Joint connection admission control and routing in IEEE 802.16-based mesh networks

Connection admission control and routing are two important mechanisms in the provision of quality of service (QoS) in IEEE 802.16-based wireless mesh networks. In this paper, we propose a joint admission control and routing scheme for multiple service classes with the objective to maximize the overall revenue from all carried connections. QoS constraints such as handoff dropping probability can be guaranteed. Multiple service classes can be prioritized by imposing different reward rates. We formulate the problem as a decision process, and apply optimization techniques to obtain the optimal admission control policies. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated by numerical and simulation results. We show that the proposed joint admission control and routing scheme can produce maximum revenue obtainable by the system under QoS constraints.We also show that the optimal joint admission control policy is a randomized policy, i.e., connections are admitted to the system with some probabilities when the system is in some states.
On-line error detection and BIST for the AES encryption algorithm with different S-box implementations

In this paper we experimentally investigate the efficiency of concurrent checking for the AES encryption algorithm (Rijndael) by parity modification according to K. Wu et al. (2004). Also we propose a simple BIST method. For BIST the implementation of the AES algorithm itself is used as well as a pseudo-random test input generator and a compactor of the test results. Thereby we utilized the property of the AES algorithm that arbitrarily given plain texts are encrypted by the successive rounds into "pseudo-random" cipher texts which are the (test) inputs for the next round. The complete data path of the AES algorithm is simulated as a netlist of AND-, NAND-, OR-, NOR- and XOR-gates. All possible single stuck-at faults are injected and simulated. For a special implementation of the S-boxes all errors within the data path of the AES algorithm due to single stuck-at faults are immediately detected.
Effects of the Food-to-Microorganism (F/M) Ratio on N2O Emissions in Aerobic Granular Sludge Sequencing Batch Airlift Reactors

The present study investigated the effect of the food-to-microorganism (F/M) ratio on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch airlift reactors. Three identical sequencing batch airlift reactors were fed with sodium acetate-based wastewater at different chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations, resulting in F/M ratios from 0.2 to 0.67 g COD/g SS. The results indicated that N2O emissions increased with an increase of the F/M ratio. N2O emissions at the high F/M ratio of 0.67 g COD/g SS were the highest (4.4 ± 0.94 mg/d). The main source of the high N2O emissions at the F/M ratio of 0.67 g COD/g SS was nitrifier denitrification, rather than heterotrophic denitrification, confirmed by the qPCR (quantitative real-time PCR) results. The heterotrophic denitrification was destroyed by the DO (dissolved oxygen) diffusing into the sludge particles with porous structures. This study offers theoretical support to study the N2O emissions in aerobic granular sludge, and can provide guidance for conducting risk assessment and enhancing our ability to predict N2O production in aerobic granular sludge at different F/M ratios.
Development of an evaluation model for Question Answering Systems

Question Answering Systems (QAS) are receiving increasing attention from information systems researchers, particularly those in the information retrieval and natural language processing communities. Evaluation of an information system’s success and user satisfaction are important issues in information systems research, especially for emerging online service systems on the Internet. Although many QAS have been implemented, little work has been done on the development of an evaluation model for them. The purpose of this study is to develop an evaluation model for question answering systems from user’s perspective. We have established the theoretical foundation and conceptualization of the constructs for user satisfaction with question answering systems. We have developed a general instrument capable of reliably and accurately measuring user satisfaction in the context of question answering systems. The proposed evaluation model provides a framework for the design of question answering systems from the user’s perspective to enhance user satisfaction and acceptance of QAS.
Hexakis(μ3-1-methylthiourea-κ3 S:S:S)hexakis[iodidocopper(I)]

The title compound, [Cu6I6(C2H6N2S)6], was obtained from the reaction of copper(I) iodide with N-methylthiourea (Metu) in equimolar amounts in acetonitile. The complex consists of two six-membered trinuclear Cu3S3I3 cores that combine through triply bridging Metu, forming a hexanuclear core which has -3 symmetry. The CuII atom is coordinated by three S atoms of Metu and one iodide ion in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The crystal structure is stabilized by N—H⋯I hydrogen bonds and cuprophilic interactions [Cu⋯Cu = 3.0264 (9) Å].
Small Colony Variants of Staphylococcus aureus and Pacemaker-related Infection

We describe the first known case of a device-related bloodstream infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants. Recurrent pacemaker-related bloodstream infection within a 7-month period illustrates the poor clinical and microbiologic response to prolonged antimicrobial therapy in a patient infected with this S. aureus subpopulation.
Activation of myosin V–based motility and F-actin–dependent network formation of endoplasmic reticulum during mitosis

It is widely believed that microtubule- and F-actin–based transport of cytoplasmic organelles and membrane fusion is down-regulated during mitosis. Here we show that during the transition of Xenopus egg extracts from interphase to metaphase myosin V–driven movement of small globular vesicles along F-actin is strongly inhibited. In contrast, the movement of ER and ER network formation on F-actin is up-regulated in metaphase extracts. Our data demonstrate that myosin V–driven motility of distinct organelles is differently controlled during the cell cycle and suggest an active role of F-actin in partitioning, positioning, and membrane fusion of the ER during cell division.
Advantages of signal-adaptive approaches for the nonlinear, time-variant analysis of heart rate variability of children with temporal lobe epilepsy

Major aim of our study is to demonstrate that signal-adaptive approaches improve the nonlinear and time-variant analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) of children with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Nonlinear HRV analyses are frequently applied in epileptic patients. As HRV is characterized by components with oscillatory properties frequency-selective methods are in the focus, whereby application of nonlinear analysis to linear filtered signals seems to be doubtful. Signal-adaptive methods that preserve nonlinear properties and utilize only the signal data for an automatic computation of the result could benefit to nonlinear analysis of HRV. Combinations of (1) the signal-adaptive Matched Gabor Transform with time-variant nonlinear bispectral analysis and of (2) signal-adaptive Empirical Mode Decomposition methods with time-variant nonlinear stability analysis are investigated with regard to their application in the analysis of specific HRV components (respiratory sinus arrhythmia and Mayer wave associated low-frequency HRV components) of 18 children with TLE. Changes of timing and coordination of both HRV components during preictal, ictal and postictal periods occur which can be better quantified by advanced signal-adaptive methods. Both approaches contribute with specific importance to the analysis.
Title: Pan-retinal Characterization of Light Responses from Ganglion Cells in the Developing 1 Mouse Retina 2

Word Count: 246 17 Introduction Word Count: 506 18 Discussion Word Count: 1438 19 20 Conflict of Interest 21 The authors declare no competing financial interests. 22 23 Acknowledgements 24 This work was supported by RENVISION (EU Grant FP7-FET-NBIS). We thank Alessandro 25 Maccione, Stefano di Marco and Luca Berdondini for designing and providing the visual stimulation 26 system. 27 28 not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was . http://dx.doi. org/10.1101/050393 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Apr. 26, 2016;
The Effect of Corneal Edema on Dynamic Contour and Goldmann Tonometry

Purpose. To determine the effect of contact lens-induced corneal edema on measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP) using the Pascal dynamic contour tonometer (DCT), compared with the Goldmann tonometer. Methods. Thirty young healthy subjects (23.0 ± 3.0 years) were recruited from the student population at the University of New South Wales. Thick hydroxyethyl methacrylate contact lenses were worn monocularly for 2 hours under closed-eye conditions to induce corneal edema via hypoxia. IOP (Goldmann and Pascal DCT), ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured in both eyes before and after lens wear. Paired t-tests, Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman plots were used to identify changes in, and relationships between, these parameters resulting from corneal edema. Results. Lens wear resulted in statistically significant changes in CCT (+48.3 ± 14.4 &mgr;m, p < 0.001), Goldmann IOP (+1.5 ± 2.8 mm Hg, p = 0.007), and Pascal DCT IOP (−0.7 ± 1.1 mm Hg, p = 0.001) but not OPA (0.0 ± 0.3 mm Hg, p = 0.721, two-tailed paired t-test). The Pascal DCT provided IOP readings that were 1.3 ± 2.0 mm Hg higher than the Goldmann IOP readings when hydration was normal, but the Goldmann tonometer provided readings that were 0.8 ± 2.5 mm Hg higher than the Pascal DCT readings when the cornea was edematous. The variation between the two instruments was weakly correlated to the change in CCT (r = −0.261, p = 0.044). Conclusions. Contact lens-induced corneal edema caused a small underestimation error in IOP measurements by the Pascal DCT, and an overestimation error in Goldmann tonometry measurements. The OPA measurement provided by the Pascal DCT is insensitive to corneal edema-induced changes in corneal properties.
Fehiman Eminer Near East University Argentina : Feeding on Food Crisis ?

This article uses a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) framework to estimate simultaneously the short-run and long-run relationship between food price inflation and poverty reduction in Argentina. Results from the cointegration tests reveal that economic growth, food price inflation and poverty reduction exhibit a long-run relationship. The results from the VECM support the argument that there exists a uni-directional causality running from food price inflation and economic growth to poverty reduction, but not the other way around. Argentina has, in fact, witnessed substantial poverty reduction as a response to the global food crisis by maintaining its position as a net exporter of food products. Department of Economics Nicosia, Cyprus E-mail: feminer@neu.edu. tr
Spherical deconvolution high order tensor multi-fiber reconstruction method

We proposed a spherical deconvolution algorithm to recover the multi-fiber structure. We introduced the high order tensor as the fiber orientation distribution function model which is able to represent complex functions on the sphere and has advantage of simple polynomial form. The spherical doconvolution method regard the diffusion weighted signal as the convolution of the response function with a fiber orientation distribution function on the sphere, then use deconvolution algorithm to recover the fiber orientation distribution function from the diffusion weighted signal. As the common problem of ill condition in the spherical deconvolution, we propose a heuristic algorithm to solve it. We studied the algorithm using simulated diffusion weighted signals of two fibers crossing at different angles and different noise levels. We compared our algorithm to the CSD algorithm and the experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm has higher angular resolution.
Learning Autonomic Security Reconfiguration Policies

We explore the idea of applying machine learning techniques to automatically infer risk-adaptive policies to reconfigure a network security architecture when the context in which it operates changes. To illustrate our approach, we consider the case of a MANET where nodes carrying sensitive services (e.g., web servers, key repositories, etc.) should consider relocating themselves into a different node to guarantee proper functioning. We use simulation to derive properties from a candidate policy, and then apply Genetic Programming and Multi-Objective Optimisation techniques to search for optimal candidates. The inferred policies take the form of risk-aware service relocation algorithms that autonomously dictate when and how to relocate services with the aim of keeping risk to a minimum. Since security policies often have implications in dimensions other than security, we force the learning process to consider also the consequences (performance, usability) of a given policy.
Fiber intake and all-cause mortality in the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED) study.

BACKGROUND Few observational studies have examined the effect of dietary fiber intake and fruit and vegetable consumption on total mortality and have reported inconsistent results. All of the studies have been conducted in the general population and typically used only a single assessment of diet. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association of fiber intake and whole-grain, fruit, and vegetable consumption with all-cause mortality in a Mediterranean cohort of elderly adults at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by using repeated measurements of dietary information and taking into account the effect of a dietary intervention. DESIGN We followed up 7216 men (55-75 y old) and women (60-75 y old) at high CVD risk in the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED) trial for a mean of 5.9 y. Data were analyzed as an observational cohort. Participants were initially free of CVD. A 137-item validated food-frequency questionnaire administered by dietitians was repeated annually to assess dietary exposures (fiber, fruit, vegetable, and whole-grain intakes). Deaths were identified through the continuing medical care of participants and the National Death Index. An independent, blinded Event Adjudication Committee adjudicated causes of death. Cox regression models were used to estimate HRs of death during follow-up according to baseline dietary exposures and their yearly updated changes. RESULTS In up to 8.7 y of follow-up, 425 participants died. Baseline fiber intake and fruit consumption were significantly associated with lower risk of death [HRs for the fifth compared with the first quintile: 0.63 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.86; P = 0.015) and 0.59 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.82; P = 0.004), respectively]. When the updated dietary information was considered, participants with fruit consumption >210 g/d had 41% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.78). Associations were strongest for CVD mortality than other causes of death. CONCLUSION Fiber and fruit intakes are associated with a reduction in total mortality. PREDIMED was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN35739639.
A Phrase-Based Hidden Semi-Markov Approach to Machine Translation

Statistically estimated phrase-based models promised to further the state-of-the-art, however, several works reported a performance decrease with respect to heuristically estimated phrase-based models. In this work we present a latent variable phrase-based translation model inspired by the hidden semi-Markov models, that does not degrade the system. Experimental results report an improvement over the baseline. Additionally, it is observed that both Baum-Welch and Viterbi trainings obtain the very same result, suggesting that most of the probability mass is gathered into one single bilingual segmentation.
Individual tree segmentation from a leaf-off photogrammetric point cloud

ABSTRACT The proliferation of small unmanned aerial vehicles and structure from motion photogrammetry provides simple, repeatable, and inexpensive techniques for creating high-resolution aerial imagery and 3D data. These methods have been quickly adopted within the forestry realm for mapping forest canopies, among other tasks. Here, we present a workflow to capture sub-canopy structure in a leaf-off deciduous forest with a hobby-level drone and geographical information system software, and a toolkit for segmenting and measuring individual tree diameter from the resultant point cloud. Our methods, which build on steps from several previously published approaches (layer stacking for identifying vertical features and iterative neighborhood searches), rely solely on structural characteristics and could therefore be applied to dense photogrammetric and laser-scanning point clouds. Across four variable study sites, the toolkit correctly identified 279 trees (recall = 0.89, precision = 0.97, F-score = 0.93) and correctly segmented 90.9% of points in the point cloud (r = 0.98, p = 0.93, F = 0.95). Point cloud measures of diameter at breast height generally correlated with field measurements (Pearson’s r = 0.82, root mean square error = 0.11 m), but were typically higher than field measurements. These results demonstrate the capacity for assessing forest structure and conducting inventories using widely accessible hardware and software.