Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Couplings between changes in the climate system and biogeochemistry

The Earth's climate is determined by a number of complex connected physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in the atmosphere, land and ocean. The radiative properties of the atmosphere, a major controlling factor of the Earth's climate, are strongly affected by the biophysical state of the Earth's surface and by the atmospheric abundance of a variety of trace constituents. These constituents include long-lived greenhouse gases (LLGHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}), methane (CH{sub 4}) and nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O), as well as other radiatively active constituents such as ozone and different types of aerosol particles. The composition of the atmosphere is determined by processes such as natural and anthropogenic emissions of gases and aerosols, transport at a variety of scales, chemical and microphysical transformations, wet scavenging and surface uptake by the land and terrestrial ecosystems, and by the ocean and its ecosystems. These processes and, more generally the rates of biogeochemical cycling, are affected by climate change, and involve interactions between and within the different components of the Earth system. These interactions are generally nonlinear and may produce negative or positive feedbacks to the climate system. An important aspect of climate research is to identify potential feedbacks and assess if such feedbacks could produce large and undesired responses to perturbations resulting from human activities. Studies of past climate evolution on different time scales can elucidate mechanisms that could trigger nonlinear responses to external forcing. The purpose of this chapter is to identify the major biogeochemical feedbacks of significance to the climate system, and to assess current knowledge of their magnitudes and trends. Specifically, this chapter will examine the relationships between the physical climate system and the land surface, the carbon cycle, chemically reactive atmospheric gases and aerosol particles. It also presents the current state of knowledge on budgets of important trace gases. Large uncertainties remain in many issues discussed in this chapter, so that quantitative estimates of the importance of the coupling mechanisms discussed in the following sections are not always available. In addition, regional differences in the role of some cycles and the complex interactions between them limit our present ability to provide a simple quantitative description of the interactions between biogeochemical processes and climate change.
Dynamics of Nonlinear Cross-Equatorial Flow. Part I: Potential Vorticity Transformation

Abstract The transformation of potential vorticity within nonlinear deep western boundary currents in an idealized tropical ocean is studied using a shallow-water model. In a rectangular domain forced by a localized, Northern Hemisphere mass source and a distributed sink that require a net, cross-equatorial mass flux, a series of numerical experiments investigate how potential vorticity changes sign as fluid crosses the equator. Dissipation is included as momentum diffusion, and the Reynolds number, defined as the ratio of the mass source per unit depth to the viscosity, determines the nature of the flow. For Re less than a critical value (approximately 30) the flow is laminar and well described by linear theory. For Reynolds numbers just above this value, the system becomes time-dependent with eddies of one sign developing adjacent to the boundary and propagating steadily across the equator. For very large Re, an extensive and complicated network of both positive and negative anomalies emerges. Analysis .
Infrastructure Components for Large-Scale Information Extraction Systems

Large-scale systems for information extraction include many different classifiers and extractors. Experience in building such systems shows that finding an appropriate architecture is both difficult and important: in particular, in systems containing many learned components, it is important to cleanly share information between the components, and to flexibly sequence the actions of the components. In this paper, an architecture for large-scale information extraction systems is described, based a light-weight blackboard system for communication between components, and a declarative control system for automatically sequencing component-level tasks like classification, extraction, and feature computation.
Examining Infants' Cortisol Responses to Laboratory Tasks among Children Varying in Attachment Disorganization: Stress Reactivity or Return to Baseline? Examining Infants' Cortisol Responses to Laboratory Tasks among Children Varying in Attachment Disorganization: Stress Reactivity or Return to Base

iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thanks Mary Dozier, Ph.D. for her guidance, academic support, and encouragement during the past several years. I would also like to thanks my fellow graduate students and colleagues in the Infant Caregiver Project Lab and all of the families who have given their time to make this research possible. Figure 1 Timeline for lab tasks and saliva samples…………………………. 14 Figure 2 Changes in cortisol levels as a function of type of task and attachment disorganization. ………………………………………. 30 vii ABSTRACT Cortisol is a hormone involved in mounting a stress response in humans. During infancy, however, cortisol appears to be relatively unresponsive to a number of stressors. This developmental period of cortisol hypo-reactivity in human infants may be similar to the stress hyporesponsive period (SHRP) in rodent pups. In both rodent and human models, maternal care has been implicated as an important factor in the regulation of infants' physiological responses to stressors. However, findings regarding this effect in humans have been relatively ambiguous due to lack of adequate baseline measures of cortisol activity. In the present study, the order of two laboratory tasks (i.e., Strange Situation and play) was counterbalanced and home saliva samples were obtained in order to control for basal activity of cortisol more systematically. Saliva samples were also collected upon arrival at lab, and at 40, 65, and 80 minutes after arrival. Changes in cortisol were examined using piecewise hierarchical linear modeling, testing whether observed increases reflected a return to baseline or stress reactivity. An interaction between attachment disorganization and task emerged, such that disorganized infants showed increases in cortisol in response to the stressor compared to play, whereas organized infants did not show cortisol reactivity to either task. Implications for the buffering effects of maternal care on the maintenance of hyporesponsivity in infants are discussed.
Using quality metrics with laser range scanners

We have developed a series of new quality metrics that are generalizable to a variety of laser range scanning systems, including those acquiring measurements in the mid-field. Moreover, these metrics can be integrated into either an automated scanning system, or a system that guides a minimally trained operator through the scanning process. In particular, we represent the quality of measurements with regard to aliasing and sampling density for mid-field measurements, two issues that have not been well addressed in contemporary literature. We also present a quality metric that addresses the issue of laser spot motion during sample acquisition. Finally, we take into account the interaction between measurement resolution and measurement uncertainty where necessary. These metrics are presented within the context of an adaptive scanning system in which quality metrics are used to minimize the number of measurements obtained during the acquisition of a single range image.
Numerical and experimental evaluation of polarimetric calibration using hybird corner reflectors

In this paper, we evaluate the polarimetric calibration method that relies only on the characteristics of the calibration targets and requires no assumptions regarding scene statistics and radar characteristics. It allows the correction of polarimetric distortions of the radar system using only three types of calibration target: trihedral, dihedral, the 22.5° and 45°-rotated dihedral corner reflectors. The method is simple, accurate and yet robust in terms of field deployment in some cases. Evaluation and testing of the algorithm was made at microwave anechoic chamber measurements, numerical simulation, and airborne L-band Pi-SAR data. It is found that the amplitude error can be achieved to as small as 0.5dB, while the phase error is within 5° in high resolution of Pi-SAR system. Due to the sensitivity of 22.5°-rotated dihedral to rotation angle, it is not recommended to use the 22.5° -rotated dihedral for polarimetric calibration.
A 3D Object Retrieval System Based on Multi-Resolution Reeb Graph

This paper proposes a 3D model retrieval system which extended the work of Hilaga in 2001. We apply the pre-processing stage to 3D models in practical use. The demo system with over 450 3D models from the Net is on the web page: http://3dsite.dhs. org/~dynamic, and can also be used in PocketPC with wireless LAN card. There are 445 various models in our database.
Empirical Validation of Complexity and Extensibility Metrics for Software Product Line Architectures

The software product line (PL) architecture (PLA) is one of the most important PL core assets as it is the abstraction of the products that can be generated, and it represents similarities and variabilities of a PL. Its quality attributes analysis and evaluation can serve as a basis for analyzing the managerial and economical values of a PL. We proposed metrics for PLA complexity and extensibility quality attributes. This paper is concerned with the empirical validation of such metrics. As a result of the experimental work we can conclude that the metrics are relevant indicators of complexity and extensibility of PLA by presenting their correlation analysis.
p53-dependent signaling sustains DNA replication and enhances clonogenic survival in 254 nm ultraviolet-irradiated human fibroblasts.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1/SDI1/CAP20) exists in normal human fibroblasts in a quaternary complex with a cyclin, a cyclin-dependent kinase, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. A model was proposed in which, during p53-mediated suppression of cell proliferation following treatment with 254 nm UV radiation (UVC), the enhanced expression of p21 might inhibit DNA replication by virtue of its interactions with proliferating cell nuclear antigen. To test this model, we examined the mechanisms of inhibition of DNA replication in diploid human fibroblasts that express human papillomavirus type 16 E6, which inactivates p53. E6-expressing cells were defective in G1 checkpoint responses of induction of p21 and G1 arrest after ionizing radiation-induced damage to DNA. Accordingly, E6-expressing cells were resistant to inactivation of single-cell colony formation by ionizing radiation. E6 cells also displayed normal S-phase checkpoint responses of inhibition and recovery of replicon initiation following exposure to ionizing radiation and normal ability to bypass pyrimidine dimers during DNA replication soon after UVC irradiation (i.e., postreplication repair). However, DNA replication 6 h after UVC exposure was significantly inhibited in E6 cells in comparison to isogenic controls. This failure to maintain DNA replication in S-phase cells was associated with enhanced sensitivity to inactivation of single-cell colony formation by UVC. These results indicate that the p53-induced p21 pathway is not involved in the immediate S-phase responses to radiation-induced DNA damage of inhibition of replicon initiation and translesion bypass. However, our results demonstrate that p53 and, conceivably, p21 contribute to the ability of normal human fibroblasts to sustain DNA replication activity and form colonies following UVC irradiation.
Patient Ability and Willingness to Participate in a Web-Based Intervention to Improve Hypertension Control

Background Patient-shared electronic health records provide opportunities for care outside of office visits. However, those who might benefit may be unable to or choose not to use these resources, while others might not need them. Objective Electronic Communications and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (e-BP) was a randomized trial that demonstrated that Web-based pharmacist care led to improved blood pressure (BP) control. During recruitment we attempted to contact all patients with hypertension from 10 clinics to determine whether they were eligible and willing to participate. We wanted to know whether particular subgroups, particularly those from vulnerable populations, were less willing to participate or unable to because they lacked computer access. Methods From 2005 to 2006, we sent invitation letters to and attempted to recruit 9298 patients with hypertension. Eligibility to participate in the trial included access to a computer and the Internet, an email address, and uncontrolled BP (BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg). Generalized linear models within a modified Poisson regression framework were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of ineligibility due to lack of computer access and of having uncontrolled BP. Results We were able to contact 95.1% (8840/9298) of patients. Those refusing participation (3032/8840, 34.3%) were significantly more likely (P < .05) to be female, be nonwhite, have lower levels of education, and have Medicaid insurance. Among patients who answered survey questions, 22.8% (1673/7354) did not have computer access. Older age, minority race, and lower levels of education were risk factors for lack of computer access, with education as the strongest predictor (RR 2.63, 95% CI 2.30-3.01 for those with a high school degree compared to a college education). Among hypertensive patients with computer access who were willing to participate, African American race (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.40), male sex (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.18-1.38), and obesity (RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.31-1.79) were risk factors for uncontrolled BP. Conclusion Older age, lower socioeconomic status, and lower levels of education were associated with decreased access to and willingness to participate in a Web-based intervention to improve hypertension control. Failure to ameliorate this may worsen health care disparities. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00158639; http://www.clinicaltrials. gov/ct2/show/NCT00158639 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5v1jnHaeo)
The Human Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 as a Potential Treatment for Polymicrobial Infected Wounds

Diabetic patients often have ulcers on their lower-limbs that are infected by multiple biofilm-forming genera of bacteria, and the elimination of the biofilm has proven highly successful in resolving such wounds in patients. To that end, antimicrobial peptides have shown potential as a new anti-biofilm approach. The single human cathelicidin peptide LL-37 has been shown to have antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity against multiple Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens, and have wound-healing effects on the host. The combination of the anti-biofilm effect and wound-healing properties of LL-37 may make it highly effective in resolving polymicrobially infected wounds when topically applied. Such a peptide or its derivatives could be a platform from which to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat biofilm-mediated infections of wounds. This review summarizes known mechanisms that regulate the endogenous levels of LL-37 and discusses the anti-biofilm, antibacterial, and immunological effects of deficient vs. excessive concentrations of LL-37 within the wound environment. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the therapeutic potential of this peptide and other clinically advanced peptides as a potential topical treatment for polymicrobial infected wounds.
Texture-based expression modelling for a virtual talking head

The human face plays a vital role in everyday human-to-human communication as it has the capability of conveying a vast amount of different social, emotional and conversational cues, which influence the meaning and the flow of interaction. Of particular importance is the ability of the face to express inner emotional states, such as emotions of happiness and anger, through different facial expressions. Since the human face has such an important function in interpersonal communication, the utilisation of expressive heads in computer-mediated interaction has come to be looked upon as an effective way of evolving and improving information exchange in the virtual domain, enriching it with new emotional and social dimensions. To date, facial expressions of emotion of virtual heads have mainly been created through deformation of the three-dimensional head models. A problem with this approach is that small facial features, such as wrinkles at the corners of the eyes and the mouth, which are vital to include if one wants to create natural-looking facial expressions, are difficult to model and control. A possible solution to this problem is to apply emotion-expressing textures, which contain graphical representations of these important features, to the virtual heads. In this way, high detail and realism can be attained without increasing the complexity of the head models themselves. This project has focused on the creation and the study of five textured virtual heads, each conveying a particular facial expression of emotion. These expressions of emotion were happiness, anger, sadness, surprise and neutrality. The emotion-expressing virtual heads were created by deforming an already existing virtual head with the help of facial data captured from a real-life actress conveying the different facial expressions of emotion. These facial data were recorded with Qualisys, an optical motion tracking system. In addition, digital photographs were taken of the actresses’ face, while conveying the facial expressions of emotion. These images were utilised for the creation of photo-realistic textures, which were then mapped to the corresponding virtual heads. The study of the textured virtual heads had two different purposes. The first and most important aim was to examine the ability of the virtual heads to convey their facial expressions of emotion. By adding emotion-expressive speech and movements to the virtual heads, there was also a wish to investigate how people’s perception of the facial expressions of the virtual heads would influence and also be influenced by their perception of these other emotion-expressing channels of information. The findings of the study indicate that the virtual heads were fairly efficient in conveying their facial expressions of emotion. The results also show that when speech and movements were added to the virtual heads, these channels of information, particularly the emotion-conveying speech, clearly had a dominant influence on people’s perception of the emotional state of the virtual heads. Texturbaserad emotionsmodellering för ansiktssyntes
Large-Scale Silicon Photonic MEMS Switch

Fast optical circuit switches with large port count will allow flexible bandwidth allocation in datacenter networks by augmenting electrical packet switching. Reported herein is the development of a microsecond-speed optical circuit switch with 50×50 port counts implemented on silicon photonics platform using MEMS-actuated directional couplers. The switch contains a number of innovative enhancements: fast switching speed (2.5 μs response time) and high on-off extinction ratio (25 dB), which are complimented by a small footprint (9×9 mm2) and simple fabrication process (only three lithography steps). This prototype switch port-count appears capable of being scaled up to 100×100 and beyond.
Radially convergent groundwater flow in sloping terrain

Abstract The groundwater flow equation governing the elevation (h) of the steady-state phreatic surface in a sloping aquifer fed by constant recharge over a bi-circular sector is rhh′ − r 2 Bh′ + Pr 2 − PR 2 = 0, where r is the radial coordinate, P is a constant involving recharge and aquifer properties, and B is the slope of the aquifer—bedrock boundary. The derived flow equation describes radially convergent flow through a sloping aquifer that discharges to a water body of fixed head. One important simplification is that in which the width of the bi-circular sector is constant, and the draining land becomes a rectangular aquifer. The bi-circular sector and rectangular-strip groundwater flow problems are solved in terms of implicit equations. The solutions for the steady-state phreatic surfaces depend on the ratio of recharge to hydraulic conductivity, the slope of the aquifer-bedrock, and the downstream constant-head boundary. Computational examples illustrate the application of the solutions.
Predicting the Level of Text Standardness in User-generated Content

Non-standard language as it appears in user-generated content has recently attracted much attention. This paper proposes that non-standardness comes in two basic varieties, technical and linguistic, and develops a machine-learning method to discriminate between standard and nonstandard texts in these two dimensions. We describe the manual annotation of a dataset of Slovene user-generated content and the features used to build our regression models. We evaluate and discuss the results, where the mean absolute error of the best performing method on a three-point scale is 0.38 for technical and 0.42 for linguistic standardness prediction. Even when using no language-dependent information sources, our predictor still outperforms an OOVratio baseline by a wide margin. In addition, we show that very little manually annotated training data is required to perform good prediction. Predicting standardness can help decide when to attempt to normalise the data to achieve better annotation results with standard tools, and provide linguists who are interested in nonstandard language with a simple way of selecting only such texts for their research.
Who Does What on the Web: A Large-Scale Study of Browsing Behavior

As the Web has become integrated into daily life, understanding how individuals spend their time online impacts domains ranging from public policy to marketing. It is difficult, however, to measure even simple aspects of browsing behavior via conventional methods---including surveys and site-level analytics---due to limitations of scale and scope. In part addressing these limitations, large-scale Web panel data are a relatively novel means for investigating patterns of Internet usage. In one of the largest studies of browsing behavior to date, we pair Web histories for 250,000 anonymized individuals with user-level demographics---including age, sex, race, education, and income---to investigate three topics. First, we examine how behavior changes as individuals spend more time online, showing that the heaviest users devote nearly twice as much of their time to social media relative to typical individuals. Second, we revisit the digital divide, finding that the frequency with which individuals turn to the Web for research, news, and healthcare is strongly related to educational background, but not as closely tied to gender and ethnicity. Finally, we demonstrate that browsing histories are a strong signal for inferring user attributes, including ethnicity and household income, a result that may be leveraged to improve ad targeting.