Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
East Asian SO 2 pollution plume over Europe – Part 1: Airborne trace gas measurements and source identification by particle dispersion model simulations

Abstract. A large SO 2 -rich pollution plume of East Asian origin was detected by aircraft based CIMS (Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry) measurements at 3–7.5 km altitude over the North Atlantic. The measurements, which took place on 3 May 2006 aboard of the German research aircraft Falcon, were part of the INTEX-B ( In tercontinental Chemical T ransport Ex periment-B) campaign. Additional trace gases (NO, NO y , CO, H 2 O) were measured and used for comparison and source identification. The atmospheric SO 2 mole fraction was markedly increased inside the plume and reached up to 900 pmol/mol. Accompanying lagrangian FLEXPART particle dispersion model simulations indicate that the probed pollution plume originated at low altitudes from densely populated and industrialized regions of East Asia, primarily China, about 8–12 days prior to the measurements.
Product Attributes and Models of Multiple Discreteness

Demand for product characteristics is examined within the context of models that allow for both corner and interior solutions corresponding to zero and non-zero demand. Product attribute information is associated with marginal utility and curvature (satiation) parameters of various utility functions. Empirical applications demonstrate the need for incorporating characteristics in a fairly general way. We also compare our approach to an ideal point and pure Lancasterian versions of our nonlinear utility model. The data support our model over either the ideal point or Lancasterian variants.
A Sub-optimal Eigenvalue-Based Adaptive Modulation Scheme for Broadband MIMO-OFDM Systems

The ability to provide high data rate is a key measure in 3GPP long term evolution (LTE). Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) has emerged as an technique that increases the data rates in 3G systems. In this paper we study MIMO-OFDM system based on adaptive modulation and investigate the preceding technology. We present a method for adaptive modulation based on eigenvalues and a preceding matrix will be used at the transmitter according to singular value decomposition. A low complexity ratio-based algorithm with good performance is proposed to decide which modulation scheme to be used. The achieved results show that the proposed scheme outperforms basic beamforming with adaptive modulation.
Symbiotic Efficiency of Native Rhizobia Nodulating Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Soils of Western Kenya

This study was conducted to determine the abundance and symbiotic efficiency of native rhizobia nodulating common bean in Kisumu and Kakamega, Kenya. Soil sampling was carried out in three farms that had been used for growing common bean for at least two seasons and one fallow land with no known history of growing common bean or inoculation. Abundance of soil rhizobia and symbiotic efficiency (SE) were determined in a greenhouse experiment. Native rhizobia populations ranged from 3.2 × 101 to 3.5 × 104 cells per gram of soil. Pure bacterial cultures isolated from fresh and healthy root nodules exhibited typical characteristics of Rhizobium sp. on yeast extract mannitol agar media supplemented with Congo red. Bean inoculation with the isolates significantly (p < 0.05) increased the shoot dry weight and nitrogen (N) concentration and content. The SE of all the native rhizobia were higher when compared to a reference strain, CIAT 899 (67%), and ranged from 74% to 170%. Four isolates had SE above a second reference strain, Strain 446 (110%). Our results demonstrate the presence of native rhizobia that are potentially superior to the commercial inoculants. These can be exploited to enhance bean inoculation programmes in the region.
The Relationship between College Student Attitudes towards Online Learning Based on Reading Self-Efficacy, Ethnicity, and Age

The convenience of online programs has revolutionized education to make it available for more people interested in seeking to further their education. Students enrolling into various online, higher education programs have different aptitudes and factors that play a role in their experiences and successful completion of the program. The study aims to determine relationships between factors that may influence the students’ attitudes towards online programs. The factors include reading self-efficacy, ethnicity, and the age of the college students. The present study examines these relationships between self-reported self-efficacy, ethnicity, and age, as related to attitudes toward online learning. The participants consisted of 295 post-secondary students enrolled in online courses. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data and determine which variables had the greatest amount of impact on the students’ attitudes toward online learning. The analysis of the data found a significant relationship between reading selfefficacy and a student’s attitude toward online learning. No statistically significant evidence was found for the relationships between age nor ethnicity.
Mobile Fabrication

We present an exploration into the future of fabrication, in particular the vision of mobile fabrication, which we define as "personal fabrication on the go". We explore this vision with two surveys, two simple hardware prototypes, matching custom apps that provide users with access to a solution database, custom fabrication processes we designed specifically for these devices, and a user study conducted in situ on metro trains. Our findings suggest that mobile fabrication is a compelling next direction for personal fabrication. From our experience with the prototypes we derive hardware requirements to make mobile fabrication also technically feasible.
Atorvastatin Treatment for Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

AbstractImpact of atorvastatin on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes is still debating.The aim of our study is to investigate atorvastatin as adjuvant treatment on CIMT in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes by conducting a meta-analysis based on the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A systematic search of electronic database of the Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, VIP database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wangfang up to January 2015 was conducted. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing atorvastatin adjuvant treatment to the hypoglycemic therapies or high-dose atorvastatin versus low-dose atorvastatin therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes were selected.A total of 14 RCTs involving 1345 patients were included. Adjuvant treatment with atorvastatin was associated with a significant reduction in CIMT (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −0.17 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.22 to −0.12). Compared with the low-dose atorvastatin, high-dose atorvastatin treatment was associated with a significant reduction in CIMT (WMD = −0.17 mm; 95% CI: −0.32 to −0.02). Adjuvant treatment with atorvastatin reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoproteins, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. However, atorvastatin had no significant impact on blood glucose levels.This meta-analysis demonstrated that treatment with atorvastatin significantly reduced CIMT in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, high-dose atorvastatin appeared to have additional benefits in reducing CIMT than the low-dose atorvastatin.
SUAS: Scalable user authentication scheme for secure accessing to cloud-based environments

Cloud computing is an emerging technology that uses the concepts of virtualization, storage, and sharing to store and share resources between users and enterprises. This newfound technology is still unclear to many security problems and one of the most challenging issues in these environments is the reliability of the user authentication process. Therefore, this paper offers an efficient and scalable user authentication scheme for cloud-based environments. The proposed model uses the concepts of agents, cryptography, and key exchanging to enhance and improve the performance of the user authentication and the rate of scalability in cloud-based environments respectively. For achieving to this purpose, the proposed model has been presented based on three main agents: first user authentication agent, second user authentication agent and key manager agent. These agents have divided the process of user authentication and managing keys into several parts to improve the rate of efficiency in this process. Furthermore, the suggested model tries to resist against possible attacks. SUAS, as the suggested model was introduced and simulated in this paper for evaluating the performance and security of the scheme. In overall, the results show that the proposed model has considerable advantages for using in cloud-based environment to increase the salacity, reliability and efficiency of cloud computing models as an emerging technology.
StoryBlink: a Semantic Web Approach for Linking Stories

Finding relevant content automatically is not straightforward due to the unstructured nature of large text corpora. Moreover, traditional techniques to extract structured information out of these corpora are mostly very fine-grained, which deteriorates the needed high-level overview to compare publications. Also, publishing this information as Linked Data can provide for very important context information. This demo paper describes “StoryBlink”, a Web application that enables the discovery of stories through linked books. By finding paths between stories that are represented by a compact set of semantic concepts, it provides the user with relevant stories, based on previously selected publications. By also returning the common concepts between these stories, it gives the user a quick insight into how certain stories are connected. As such, StoryBlink enables an automatic content-based discovery journey between linked stories.
Routing security in wireless ad hoc networks

A mobile ad hoc network consists of a collection of wireless mobile nodes that are capable of communicating with each other without the use of a network infrastructure or any centralized administration. MANET is an emerging research area with practical applications. However, wireless MANET is particularly vulnerable due to its fundamental characteristics, such as open medium, dynamic topology, distributed cooperation, and constrained capability. Routing plays an important role in the security of the entire network. In general, routing security in wireless MANETs appears to be a problem that is not trivial to solve. In this article we study the routing security issues of MANETs, and analyze in detail one type of attack-the "black hole" problem-that can easily be employed against the MANETs. We also propose a solution for the black hole problem for ad hoc on-demand distance vector routing protocol.
The Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect in superclusters of galaxies using gasdynamical simulations: the case of Corona Borealis

We study the thermal (tSZ) and kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (kSZ) effect associated with superclusters of galaxies using the MareNostrum (MNU) universe smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulation. In particular, we consider superclusters with characteristics (total mass, overdensity and number density of cluster members) similar to those of the Corona Borealis Supercluster (CrB-SC). This paper has been motivated by the detection at 33 GHz of a strong temperature decrement in the cosmic microwave background towards the core of this supercluster (Genova-Santos et al.). Multifrequency observations with Very Small Array (VSA) and Millimetre & Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory (MITO) suggest the existence of a tSZ effect component in the spectrum of this cold spot, with a Comptonization parameter value of y = 7.8 +4.4 -5.3 × 10 -6 (Battistelli et al.), which would account for roughly 25 per cent of the total observed decrement. From the SPH simulation, we identify nine (50 h -1 Mpc) 3 regions containing superclusters similar to CrB-SC, obtain the associated SZ maps and calculate the probability of finding such SZ signals arising from hot gas within the supercluster. Our results show that the warm/hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) lying in the intercluster regions within the supercluster produces a tSZ effect much smaller than the observed value by MITO/VSA. Neither can, summing the contribution of small clusters and galaxy groups (M < 5 x 10 13 h -1 M ⊙ ) in the region, explain the amplitude of the SZ signal. Our synthetic maps show peak y-values significantly below the observations. Less than 0.3 per cent are compatible at the lower end of the 1σ level, even when considering privileged orientations in which the filamentary structures are aligned along the line of sight (LOS). When we take into account the actual posterior distribution from the observations, the probability that WHIM can cause a tSZ signal like the one observed in the CrB-SC is < 1 per cent, rising up to a 3.2 per cent when the contribution of small clusters and galaxy groups is included. If the simulations provide a suitable description of the gas physics, then we must conclude that the tSZ component of the CrB spot most probably arises from an unknown galaxy cluster along the LOS. On the other hand, the simulations also show that the kSZ signal associated with the supercluster cannot provide an explanation for the remaining 75 per cent of the observed cold spot in CrB.
Motivation to Persist: The Role of Hope, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Sense of Belonging on First Generation Latinx College Students and Their Intent to Persist.

MOTIVATION TO PERSIST: THE ROLE OF HOPE, ACADEMIC SELF-EFFICACY, AND SENSE OF BELONGING ON FIRST GENERATION LATINX COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR INTENT TO PERSIST by Deanna Peck The landscape of higher education is changing. More diverse students are attending universities at higher numbers, yet these students are not graduating. This quantitative study uses linear regression, stepwise regression, and then exploratory factor analysis to examine three constructs hope, academic self-efficacy, and sense of belonging in first generation Latinx college students to see if these constructs made a difference in their intent to persist. While these constructs were positively statistically significant, their effect sizes were weak and do not explain the all the reasons why first generation Latinx college students intend to persist to graduation. In addition, there were differences in the role the constructs played when intersectional identities were concerned. More research, both quantitative and qualitative, must be done to validate and refine current theories in order to discover programs and environments that will motivate and support diverse students attending higher education to their final degree.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence in dissociative disorder patients

Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a risk factor for subsequent intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood, with high rates of retrospectively reported CM among IPV victims and perpetrators. A theorized mechanism of the link between CM and IPV is dissociation. Dissociation may allow perpetrators of violence to remain emotionally distant from their behavior and minimize empathy toward those they victimize, enabling them to commit acts of violence similar to their own experiences. Indeed, elevated rates of dissociation and dissociative disorders (DD) have been found among IPV survivors and perpetrators. In addition, in pilot studies, DD clinicians have reported high levels of violent behavior among DD patients. Objective: The present study investigates IPV among DD patients with Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, a group with CM rates of 80 95% and severe dissociative symptoms. Methods: DD clinicians reported on rates of CM and IPV among 275 DD patients in outpatient treatment. DD patients also completed a self-report measure of dissociation. Analyses assessed the associations between CM typologies and IPV, as well as trait dissociation and IPV. Results: Physical and emotional child abuse were associated with physical IPV, and childhood witnessing of domestic violence (DV) and childhood neglect were associated with emotional IPV. Conclusions: The present study is the first to provide empirical support for a possible CM to adult IPV developmental trajectory among DD patients. Future research is needed to better understand the link between CM and IPV among those with trauma and DD.
On High Spatial Reuse Broadcast Scheduling in STDMA Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Graph-based algorithms for point-to-multipoint broadcast scheduling in Spatial reuse Time Division Multiple Access (STDMA) wireless ad hoc networks often result in a significant number of transmissions having low Signal to Interference and Noise density Ratio (SINR) at intended receivers, leading to low throughput. To overcome this problem, we propose a new algorithm for STDMA broadcast scheduling based on a graph model of the network as well as SINR computations. The performance of our algorithm is evaluated in terms of spatial reuse and computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs significantly better than existing graph-based algorithms.
Bayesian Inference for Generalized Additive Regression based on Dynamic Models

We present a general approach for Bayesian inference via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation in generalized additive, semiparametric and mixed models. It is particularly appropriate for discrete and other fundamentally non-Gaussian responses, where Gibbs sampling techniques developed for Gaussian models cannot be applied. We use the close relation between nonparametric regression and dynamic or state space models to develop posterior sampling procedures that are based on recent Metropolis-Hasting algorithms for dynamic generalized linear models. We illustrate the approach with applications to credit scoring and unemployment duration.
Surface-Induced Ordering on Model Liquid Crystalline Dendrimers

The surface alignment of liquid crystalline dendrimers (LCDrs) is a key factor for many of their potential applications. Here, we present results from Monte Carlo simulations of LCDrs adsorbed on flat, impenetrable aligning substrates. A tractable coarse-grained force field for the inter-dendritic and the dendrimer-substrate interactions is introduced. We investigate the conformational and ordering properties of single, end-functionalized LCDrs under homeotropic, random (or degenerate) planar and unidirectional planar aligning substrates. Depending on the anchoring constrains to the mesogenic units of the LCDr and on temperature, a variety of stable ordered LCDr states, differing in their topology, are observed and analyzed. The influence of the dendritic generation and core functionality on the surface-induced ordering of the LCDrs are examined.
Robust Window Detection from 3D Laser Scanner Data

In this paper we propose a robust system for window detection using popular descriptive statistics and image based methods, making use of 3D information from a laser scanner. The scanner generates 3D point clouds containing intensity and distance information in a spherical coordinate system, with optional additional RGB texture information. The applied descriptive statistical method exploits basic local features such as mean, variance and standard deviation of the distance measurement data. The laser distance information shows high variability in windows region, due to specular reflections on window screens on one hand, and screen penetration on the other hand. Therefore we determine an adaptive threshold on the basis of local absolute differences of adjacent laser-measured distances in the image formed by the angular coordinate system of the scanner. For window segmentation the image is binarized using the derived threshold, and morphological operations such as closing using adaptive (i.e. distance - dependent) structural elements are performed. After contour analysis the resulting bounding rectangles are used to retrieve the positions and global shapes of windows in the image. The system provides a sufficient windows detection rate for direct application in a deformation measurement system.
Measuring the Geometrical Parameters of Slub Yarn Using a Computer Vision Based Image Sequencing Technique

This article presents a computer vision method for measuring the geometrical parameters of slub yarn based on yarn sequence images captured from a moving slub yarn. An image segmentation method proposed by our earlier work was applied to segment sequence slub yarn images to obtain overlapping diameter data. Then an image stitching method was proposed to remove the overlapped data based on the normalised cross correlation (NCC) method. In order to detect the geometrical parameters of slub yarn, the frequency histogram , curve fitting, and spectrogram methods were adopted to analyse the sequence diameter data obtained. Four kinds of slub yarn with different geometrical parameters were tested using the method proposed and Uster method. The experimental results show that the detection results for slub amplitude, slub length, slub distance, and slub period obtained using the method proposed were consistent with the set values and Uster results.
Analysis of the Mechanism of Loss of Trophic Factor Dependence Associated with Neuronal Maturation: A Phenotype Indistinguishable fromBax Deletion

During development, sympathetic neurons are critically dependent on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival. Neurons isolated from the superior cervical ganglia (SCG) of embryonic rodents and maintained for 1 week in vitro undergo programmed cell death in response to NGF deprivation. As the cells mature in vitro and in vivo, however, these neurons develop a resistance to NGF deprivation and become much less acutely dependent on NGF for survival. Using an in vitro model of neuronal maturation, we confirmed that SCG neurons maintained in culture for 3–4 weeks did not experience a dramatic loss in viability after NGF removal, yet they did undergo the initial biochemical and genetic changes elicited by NGF deprivation of young neurons. NGF deprivation of mature neurons produced rapid decreases in glucose uptake and protein and RNA synthesis rates, increased phosphorylation of c-Jun, and an increase in c-jun mRNA. Mature neurons, however, experienced a block in the cell death program before the final stages of the pathway activated in young neurons, which includes the induction of c-fos mRNA and characteristic apoptotic nuclear changes. This maturation-induced block was indistinguishable by these criteria from the block produced by Baxdeficiency. Expression of Bax in mature neurons restored the apoptotic pathway, such that after NGF removal,Bax-overexpressing mature neurons resumed the apoptotic program, including the induction of c-Fos and passage through a caspase checkpoint. Thus, a block in the apoptotic program at or near the BAX checkpoint accounts for the decreased dependence of mature neurons on neurotrophic factor to maintain survival.
THE ROLE OF SATISFACTION AS MEDIATING FACTOR BETWEEN PERCEIVED SERVICE QUALITY AND LOYALTY

This study introduces satisfaction as a mediating factor between perceived service quality and customer loyalty. To confirm its role as a mediator, this study compared results between the no use and the use of satisfaction in a model. This study takes 155 customers of a bakery branch located in Jakarta respondents and this study uses path analysis technique to measure the mediating effect. The result shows that satisfaction mediates nicely to the model and while it plays as a mediating factor, perceived service quality significantly affect to customer loyalty with indirect relationship. The comparison result with the no-use of mediating factor shows that the role of satisfaction as mediating factor increases the power or explanation.