Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ENSEMBLES: A new multi‐model ensemble for seasonal‐to‐annual predictions—Skill and progress beyond DEMETER in forecasting tropical Pacific SSTs

A new 46‐year hindcast dataset for seasonal‐to‐annual ensemble predictions has been created using a multi‐model ensemble of 5 state‐of‐the‐art coupled atmosphere‐ocean circulation models. The multi‐model outperforms any of the single‐models in forecasting tropical Pacific SSTs because of reduced RMS errors and enhanced ensemble dispersion at all lead‐times. Systematic errors are considerably reduced over the previous generation (DEMETER). Probabilistic skill scores show higher skill for the new multi‐model ensemble than for DEMETER in the 4–6 month forecast range. However, substantially improved models would be required to achieve strongly statistical significant skill increases. The combination of ENSEMBLES and DEMETER into a grand multi‐model ensemble does not improve the forecast skill further. Annual‐range hindcasts show anomaly correlation skill of ∼0.5 up to 14 months ahead. A wide range of output from the multi‐model simulations is becoming publicly available and the international community is invited to explore the full scientific potential of these data.
Resource management of task oriented distributed sensor networks

In this paper we provide a foundation for a unified analysis of both the decision fusion and congestion avoidance aspects of a task-oriented distributed sensor network (DSN). Such a framework allows network resource management to be carried out in a manner that is sensitive to the overall objectives of the DSN rather than decoupling them via perhaps simple fairness strategies. The proposed approach associates importance measures related to the degradation and relevance of incoming data lines at each network node. These are then used to carry out intelligent resource management and avoid congestion in a manner which is implicitly related to the decision objectives of the DSN and explicitly related to the resource availability. To achieve this, we propose a 'per-flow' technique that decouples data flow among nodes at different hierarchical levels of the DSN. The resulting framework allows seamless integration of the importance measures providing resource management decisions that are sensitive to the overall DSN objectives.
Achieving privacy and security in multi-owner data outsourcing

Existing solutions for data protection and privacy in data outsourcing scenario generally emphasize on the access control model integrated with the advanced cryptographic techniques. However, the complexity of key management is still a recurrent problem when the environment composes of enormous numbers of users and several resource owners. In addition, the administrative capabilities to control the policies enforced in the collaborative cloud environment where several owners and users have not been explicitly provided by the existing works. In this paper, we propose a privacy enhancing access control model to address the scalability and fine-grained access control for outsourced data in multi-owner setting. The focus is to serve the privacy and integrity of outsourced data as well as the accountability. To this end, we employ a PKI key management and access control scheme to serve the security and privacy for the data, policy, and communication. We employ multi-agent system to accommodate multi-policy enforcement and support parallel processing of authorization requests. Our model supports both read and write access control and integrity of all access operations is served by signature-based that enables a full accountability of all accesses.
Estrogen and progesterone metabolism in the cervix during pregnancy and parturition.

CONTEXT Experimental and clinical studies in a variety of nonprimate species demonstrate that progesterone withdrawal leads to changes in gene expression that initiate parturition at term. Mice deficient in 5alpha-reductase type I fail to undergo cervical ripening at term despite the timely onset of luteolysis and progesterone withdrawal in blood. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to test the hypothesis that estrogen and progesterone metabolism is regulated in cervical tissues during pregnancy, even in species in which parturition is not characterized by progesterone withdrawal in blood. DESIGN Estradiol and progesterone metabolism was quantified in intact cervical tissues from nonpregnant and pregnant women at term before or after labor. SETTING The study was conducted at a university hospital. PATIENTS Tissues were obtained from five nonpregnant and 21 pregnant women (nine before labor and 12 in labor). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Enzyme activity measurements, Northern blot analysis, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry were used to quantify steroid hormone metabolizing enzymes in cervical and myometrial tissues. RESULTS During pregnancy, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 was induced in glandular epithelial cells to catalyze the conversion of estradiol to estrone and stroma-derived 20alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to progesterone. During parturition, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 was down-regulated in endocervical cells, thereby creating a microenvironment favorable for cervical ripening. CONCLUSIONS Together, the data indicate that cervical ripening during parturition involves localized regulation of estrogen and progesterone metabolism through a complex relationship between cervical epithelium and stroma, and that steroid hormone metabolism in cervical tissues from pregnant women is unique from that in mice.
Circulating tumor cell assays for the prognosis of prostate and colon cancers.

BACKGROUND Diagnostic testing for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood is making the transition from the research setting to clinical practice. Measurement of CTCs may assist clinicians in making important clinical decisions, such as adjuvant therapies, timing of chemotherapy and abandoning ineffective therapies. If sensitivity of the tests could increase, CTCs might be useful for screening and early disease. OBJECTIVES To review clinical studies measuring CTCs in prostate and colorectal cancers, and to outline emerging CTC measurement techniques. METHOD A Medline review of selected 2007 - 2008 articles focusing on CTC measurement in prostate and colorectal cancers. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS The CellSearch CTC test has been studied in several clinical settings and has shown useful sensitivity for advanced disease, and may become a surrogate marker for survival in advanced disease. At present, it is the only regulatory body-approved system for clinical CTC measurement in metastatic cancer. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction techniques have a longer history and have identified interesting markers, but are still used only in a research setting. Newer CTC detection methods have been reported that may increase sensitivity and allow testing in early disease.
CA150 Expression Delays Striatal Cell Death in Overexpression and Knock-In Conditions for Mutant Huntingtin Neurotoxicity

Transcriptional dysregulation caused by expanded polyglutamines (polyGlns) in huntingtin (htt) may be central to cell-autonomous mechanisms for neuronal cell death in Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis. We hypothesized that these mechanisms may involve the dysfunction of the transcriptional regulator CA150, a putative modifier of onset age in HD, because it binds to htt and accumulates in an HD grade-dependent manner in striatal and cortical neurons. Consistently, we report herein that CA150 expression rescues striatal cell death in lentiviral overexpression (rats) and knock-in (mouse cells) conditions for mutant htt neurotoxicity. In both systems, rescue was dependent on the (Gln-Ala)38 repeat normally found in CA150. We excluded the possibility that rescue may be caused by the (Gln-Ala)38 repeat interacting with polyGlns and, by doing so, blocking mutant htt toxicity. In contrast, we found the (Gln-Ala)38 repeat is required for the nuclear restriction of exogenous CA150, suggesting that rescue requires nuclear CA150. Additionally, we found the (Gln-Ala)38 repeat was dispensable for CA150 transcriptional repression ability, suggesting further that CA150 localization is critical to rescue. Finally, rescue was associated with increased neuritic aggregation, with no reduction of nuclear inclusions, suggesting the solubilization and nuclear export of mutant htt. Together, our data indicate that mutant htt may induce CA150 dysfunction in striatal neurons and suggest that the restoration of nuclear protein cooperativity may be neuroprotective.
A Recombinant Fragment of Human Surfactant Protein D Lacking the Short Collagen‐Like Stalk Fails to Correct Morphological Alterations in Lungs of SP‐D Deficient Mice

Emphysema‐like pathology is a characteristic feature of surfactant protein D (SP‐D) knock‐out mice. Treatment with a recombinant fragment of human SP‐D consisting of a short collagen‐like stalk (but not the entire collagen‐like domain of native SP‐D), neck, and carbohydrate recognizing domain (CRD) inhibits development of emphysema‐like pathology in SP‐D deficient mice. On the other hand, it has been shown that the entire collagen‐like domain is necessary for preventing SP‐D knock‐out mice from pulmonary emphysema development. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to elucidate the role of the short collagen‐like stalk for the function of the recombinant fragment of human SP‐D. We treated SP‐D knock‐out mice with a fragment of human SP‐D lacking the short collagen‐like stalk and compared the effects on lung morphology with results from untreated wild‐type and SP‐D knock‐out mice and from SP‐D knock‐out mice treated with a recombinant fragment of human SP‐D including the short collagen‐like stalk. The fragment of SP‐D lacking the short collagen‐like stalk failed to correct pulmonary emphysematous alterations demonstrating the importance of the short collagen‐like stalk for the biological activity of the recombinant fragment of human SP‐D. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Organizing Digital Libraries by Automated Text Categorization ∗

Text Categorization (TC) is the discipline concerned with the construction of automatic text classifiers, i.e. programs capable of assigning to a document one or more among a set of ∗This is an extended version of an invited paper presented by the third author at the Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Cultural Heritage and Digital Libraries, co-located with the 7th Conference of the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence, Bari, IT, September 2001.
Structure of optimal strategies for remote estimation over Gilbert-Elliott channel with feedback

We investigate remote estimation over a Gilbert-Elliot channel with feedback. The channel is modelled as an ON/OFF channel, where the state of the channel evolves as a Markov chain. The channel state is observed by the receiver and fed back to the transmitter with one unit delay. In addition, the transmitter gets ACK/NACK feedback for successful/unsuccessful transmission. Using ideas from team theory, we establish the structure of optimal transmission and estimation strategies and identify a dynamic program to determine optimal strategies with that structure. We then consider first-order autoregressive sources where the noise process has unimodal and symmetric distribution. Using ideas from majorization theory, we show that the optimal transmission strategy has a threshold structure and the optimal estimation strategy is Kalman-filter like.
Scattering and Doppler Spectral Analysis for Two-Dimensional Linear and Nonlinear Sea Surfaces

Two-dimensional linear and second-order Creamer [Creamer (2)] nonlinear sea-surface models are combined with the second-order small-slope approximation method to comparatively study the electromagnetic scattering and the Doppler spectral characteristics from sea surfaces. Due to nonlinear hydrodynamics, the bistatic normalized radar cross section (NRCS) calculated from Creamer (2) surfaces is slightly larger than its linear surface counterpart for scattering angles departing from the specular direction, and the Creamer (2) surface backscattering coefficient increases as well for wind direction angles around upwind and downwind, whereas, for the crosswind direction, it is interesting to note that the observations are contrary. However, as was pointed out by Toporkov in a 1-D surface case, the effect of the nonlinear surface model on the average NRCS is minute. In particular, the Doppler spectra of the backscattered echoes are compared for the linear and Creamer (2) surfaces at various incident angles. It is seen, as expected, that the Doppler shifts and spectral widths of 2-D Creamer (2) surfaces exhibit different features compared with those of the linear surfaces, agreeing with the 1-D cases. However, for larger incident angles, the Doppler spectral broadening for Creamer (2) surfaces is not as severe as was reported in previous 1-D studies that used full Creamer model. The reason for this discrepancy appears to be the reduced nature of the Creamer (2) approximation. Moreover, studies of the Doppler characteristics for different wind directions demonstrate that nonlinear effects become weaker as the wind direction varies from upwind to crosswind.
Forming Coalitions for Breaking Deadlocks

When multiple agents solve their own problems while they interact with each other, it is helpful to form a coalition, which is a group of agents working together. Previous approaches to coalition formation have proposed to define the utility of coalitions and to use a strategy that agents form coalitions for getting higher utility. However, in some problems, the utility of coalitions is not easily obtainable because it might depend on various uncertain things. This paper describes a model of coalition formation where agents form coalitions for breaking deadlocks. In this model, agents solve Distributed Constraint Satisfaction Problems with a.n iterative repair method, and form coalitions when they get stuck at local minima. This model is suggested to realize a new approach to coalition formation. We also present problem solving strategies in coalitions: the self ish aad the altruistic. These two strategies differ in the way to build a domain of variables. From our experimental results on distributed 3-coloring problems, the altruistic group performed better than the selfish group.
The effect of post-exercise application of either graduated or uniform compression socks on the mitigation of delayed onset muscle soreness

A series of studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that compression socks (uniform or graduated compression) worn after exercise mitigate exercise-induced pain. Fifty-nine (59) participants took part in three separate exercise protocols to induce a degree of muscle soreness from low to severe. Participants wore either ankle height socks with no compression (NoCo), knee height socks with uniform (UNI) or graduated compression (GRAD) for 8 h/day following exercise. Before, immediately after and during recovery, we measured muscle strength, flexibility and the perception of pain. The three exercise protocols were as follows. (1) Hike: compared the effects of GRAD and NoCo socks following a 10-km treadmill hike with a 1000 m ascent and descent. (2) Trail Run: compared the effect of GRAD and UNI following a 14-km trail run with 250 m ascent and descent. (3) Calf Exercise: compared the effect of GRAD and UNI socks with a predominately eccentric calf exercise. GRAD socks significantly mitigated the perception of calf pain compared to NoCo (Hike). The UNI socks were superior to the GRAD socks in mitigating the perception of pain during recovery in the Trail Run. No statistical difference was noted between UNI and GRAD socks after the Calf Exercise. Compression socks mitigated the perception of calf muscle pain (Hike trial), with UNI providing more benefit compared to GRAD socks (Trail Run trial). No differences between the UNI and GRAD socks were observed in the Calf Exercise trial. Compression socks aid in the perception of recovery following low to moderate pain from delayed onset muscle soreness.
O(1) -scheduling

Both O(1) time complexity and good proportional sharing accuracy are very desirable features for schedulers. Unfortunately, good proportional sharing accuracy used to come with the cost of a high computational overhead, so that one could choose only one of them. However, this has changed with the publication of the algorithms VTRR [NVZ01] and GR [CCN05]. This term paper examines both algorithms in detail and provides a quick overview of the Linux scheduler for comparison purposes.
NIPS 2016 Tutorial: Generative Adversarial Networks

This report summarizes the tutorial presented by the author at NIPS 2016 on generative adversarial networks (GANs). The tutorial describes: (1) Why generative modeling is a topic worth studying, (2) how generative models work, and how GANs compare to other generative models, (3) the details of how GANs work, (4) research frontiers in GANs, and (5) state-of-the-art image models that combine GANs with other methods. Finally, the tutorial contains three exercises for readers to complete, and the solutions to these exercises.
Clinical review: Current scientific rationale for the use of somatostatin analogs and mTOR inhibitors in neuroendocrine tumor therapy.

CONTEXT Among the innovative molecules used to manage neuroendocrine tumors, there is growing interest in combining the somatostatin analogs octreotide or pasireotide (SOM230) and everolimus (RAD001), an inhibitor that targets the protein kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The aims of this review were to describe the signaling pathways targeted independently by somatostatin analogs and everolimus and to summarize the scientific rationale for the potential additive or synergistic antitumor effects of combined therapy. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The somatostatin analogs (octreotide and lanreotide) have potent inhibitory effects on hypersecretion, thereby alleviating the symptoms associated with neuroendocrine tumors. Furthermore, the antitumor potential of octreotide is now well documented. Pasireotide, a somatostatin analog, has the advantage of targeting a wider range of somatostatin receptors (subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 5) than the analogs previously used in clinical practice (which preferentially target subtype 2) and thus has a broader spectrum of activity. Everolimus is a rapamycin analog that inhibits mTOR, but it is more soluble than rapamycin and can be administered orally. mTOR is a protein kinase involved in many signaling pathways, primarily those initiated by tyrosine kinase receptors. Sustained mTOR activity leads to the induction of cell growth, proliferation, and cell survival. Everolimus therefore has obvious potential in cancer therapy. CONCLUSIONS The combination of somatostatin analogs and everolimus in therapeutic trials offers a promising treatment option for neuroendocrine tumors.
How to Distinguish a Kidney Theft from a Death Car? Experiments in Clustering Urban-Legend Texts

This paper discusses a system for automatic clustering of urban-legend texts. Urban legend (UL) is a short story set in the present day, believed by its tellers to be true and spreading spontaneously from person to person. A corpus of Polish UL texts was collected from message boards and blogs. Each text was manually assigned to one story type. The aim of the presented system is to reconstruct the manual grouping of texts. It turned out that automatic clustering of UL texts is feasible but it requires techniques different from the ones used for clustering e.g. news articles.
Nanofibers: Emerging Progress on Fabrication Using Mechanical Force and Recent Applications

Abstract Nanofibers have attracted extensive interest over the few decades due to their unique physicochemical properties. Tremendous efforts have been made to explore their applications, and many articles have been published in the literature to date. These studies of nanofibers have focused on two main issues, that is, how to make nanofibers and how they can be used. This review summarizes the current status of nanofiber fabrication and applications of nanofibers. In the fabrication area, we focused on recently developed methods for fabricating nanofibers, which is based on mechanical force. This approach has accelerated the development of new types of nanofibers, and it has made commercial opportunities available for the hundreds of ideas that have been developed in academic fields. This review also presents information concerning the current applications and potential applications of nanofibers in medical engineering, the generation of energy, and the remediation of areas affected by environmental pollution. We have introduced the concept and technology for achieving target applications of nanofibers in the various fields, and this is followed by discussing several highlighted works. We believe that this review could help advance the progress in the development of strategies for the synthesis of nanofibers and broaden their academic and commercial applications.
Linear type theory for asynchronous session types

Abstract Session types support a type-theoretic formulation of structured patterns of communication, so that the communication behaviour of agents in a distributed system can be verified by static typechecking. Applications include network protocols, business processes and operating system services. In this paper we define a multithreaded functional language with session types, which unifies, simplifies and extends previous work. There are four main contributions. First is an operational semantics with buffered channels, instead of the synchronous communication of previous work. Second, we prove that the session type of a channel gives an upper bound on the necessary size of the buffer. Third, session types are manipulated by means of the standard structures of a linear type theory, rather than by means of new forms of typing judgement. Fourth, a notion of subtyping, including the standard subtyping relation for session types (imported into the functional setting), and a novel form of subtyping between standard and linear function types, which allows the typechecker to handle linear types conveniently. Our new approach significantly simplifies session types in the functional setting, clarifies their essential features and provides a secure foundation for language developments such as polymorphism and object-orientation.
Age of Acquisition, Word Frequency, and Picture–Word Interference

In two experiments participants named pictures superimposed with unrelated words. The age of acquisition (AoA) of the picture names was manipulated. Additionally, the word frequency (WF, Experiment 1) or AoA (Experiment 2) of the interfering distractor words was manipulated. Early-acquired pictures were named faster than their late-acquired counterparts. Both WF and AoA modulated the degree of interference from the irrelevant word; low-frequency and late-acquired words produced most interference. In neither case did the WF or AoA of the distractor word interact with the AoA of the picture. The results show that in the context of word processing both WF and AoA have similar effects.