Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Snow Depth and Ice Thickness Measurements From the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas Collected During the AMSR-Ice03 Campaign

In March 2003, a field validation campaign was conducted on the sea ice near Barrow, AK. The goal of this campaign was to produce an extensive dataset of sea ice thickness and snow properties (depth and stratigraphy) against which remote sensing products collected by aircraft and satellite could be compared. Chief among these were products from the Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR) flown aboard a NASA P-3B aircraft and the Aqua Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). The data were collected in four field areas: three on the coastal sea ice near Barrow, AK, and the fourth out on the open ice pack 175 km northeast of Barrow. The snow depth ranged from 9.4-20.8 cm in coastal areas (n=9881 for three areas) with the thinnest snow on ice that had formed late in the winter. Out in the main pack ice, the snow was 20.6 cm deep (n=1906). The ice in all four areas ranged from 138-219 cm thick (n=1952), with the lower value again where the ice had formed late in the winter. Snow layer and grain characteristics observed in 118 snow pits indicated that 44% of observed snow layers were depth hoar; 46% were wind slab. Snow and ice measurements were keyed to photomosaics produced from low-altitude vertical aerial photographs. Using these, and a distinctive three-way relationship between ice roughness, snow surface characteristics, and snow depth, strip maps of snow depth, each about 2 km wide, were produced bracketing the traverse lines. These maps contain an unprecedented level of snow depth detail against which to compare remote sensing products. The maps are used in other papers in this special issue to examine the retrieval of snow properties from the PSR and AMSR-E sensors
HALLP: A Hybrid Active Learning Approach to Link Prediction Task

A new link prediction method using active learning technique, named HALLP, is proposed in this paper. The method provides the user with most useful examples from the large number of unlabeled examples (i.e. unlinked node pairs in the network) for query. Once labeled by users, these examples will be fed to the learner for the improvement of the link predictor in next round. The utility of an example is decided by its uncertainty measure calculated simultaneously by its local structure and its hierarchical structure in networks. Experiments indicate link prediction method can be improved with the use of active learning techniques and both the local structure and global structure are beneficial for selecting examples with high utility.
Primary Thyroid Lymphoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Prognostic Factors and Treatment Outcome for Localized Intermediate and High Grade Lymphoma

&NA; Non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting in the thyroid gland is uncommon. A review of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH & RC) experience was performed to assess treatment outcome and prognostic factors in this rare extranodal presentation of localized lymphoma. Sixty patients treated at KFSH & RC between 1975 and 1995 were identified, and their records were reviewed retrospectively. Eight patients who had stage III or IV disease, low grade, or did not complete their prescribed treatment were excluded from the study. There were 38 female and 14 male patients with a median age of 59.5 years at the time of diagnosis (range: 10—87 years). Thirty‐five of the 52 patients underwent diagnostic partial or total thyroidectomy at other institutions based on a preoperative assumption of thyroid carcinoma. All 52 patients had non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma of intermediate (94%) or high (6%) grade. Detailed staging was carried out in all patients; 16 patients (31%) had disease confined to the thyroid gland (stage IE), whereas 36 (69%) had associated disease in cervical lymph nodes and/or the mediastinum (stage IIE) disease. All patients were treated with curative intent. A total of 18 patients (35%) were treated with a single‐modality treatment—radiotherapy alone in 2, chemotherapy alone in 13, and surgery alone in the remaining 3 patients. The majority of patients (34/52; 65%) were treated with a combined‐modality approach. The overall relapse‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were 72% and 88%, respectively. There were no significant differences in outcome between those treated with single‐modality and those with combined‐modality therapy. A univariate analysis showed that the presence of mediastinal lymph node involvement was the most important prognostic factor affecting both RFS and OS. Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and without “B” symptoms were found to have a significantly higher RFS without influence on the OS. However, patients who had a good performance status (PS) of 0, 1, and 2 were found to have a significantly higher overall survival in comparison to those with poor performance status. Age, sex, stage, histology, lactic acid dehydrogenase level, tumor bulk, and the treatment modality were not found to correlate with RFS or OS. Mediastinal involvement and PS were found to be the most important independent prognostic factors influencing RFS and OS.
The Spatialization of Politics: Local and National Actor-Spaces in Environmental Conflict

Political practice is still not adequately integrated into the geographical study of economic and social change a point illustrated here by reference to the localities debate in which a central tension is evident between structural determination and contingency in socio-spatial relations. However, localities have recently been considered as constituted by networks of relations operating over various spatial scales. This approach requires attention to the ways in which actors in local situations are tied into wider sets of relations. A perspective derived from micro-sociology is introduced to facilitate the analysis of the links, or associations, between actors-in-situations, or actor-spaces. A case study illustrating how such an approach can make sense of political action at both 'national' and 'local' levels is examined. The study of an environmental conflict around minerals development shows that in practice the local and the national become 'mixed up' as actors build associations in pursuit of their goals. It is concluded that the practices of association between actor-spaces leave 'layers' of outcomes in places which contribute to patterns of regional development.
Reduced biceps femoris myoelectrical activity influences eccentric knee flexor weakness after repeat sprint running

The aim of this study was to determine whether declines in knee flexor strength following overground repeat sprints were related to changes in hamstrings myoelectrical activity. Seventeen recreationally active men completed maximal isokinetic concentric and eccentric knee flexor strength assessments at 180°/s before and after repeat sprint running. Myoelectrical activity of the biceps femoris (BF) and medial hamstrings (MHs) was measured during all isokinetic contractions. Repeated measures mixed model [fixed factors = time (pre‐ and post‐repeat sprint) and leg (dominant and nondominant), random factor = participants] design was fitted with the restricted maximal likelihood method. Repeat sprint running resulted in significant declines in eccentric, and concentric, knee flexor strength (eccentric = 26 ± 4 Nm, 15% P < 0.001; concentric 11 ± 2 Nm, 10% P < 0.001). Eccentric BF myoelectrical activity was significantly reduced (10%; P = 0.035). Concentric BF and all MH myoelectrical activity were not altered. The declines in maximal eccentric torque were associated with the change in eccentric BF myoelectrical activity (P = 0.013). Following repeat sprint running, there were preferential declines in the myoelectrical activity of the BF, which explained declines in eccentric knee flexor strength.
Circulating early biomarkers of atherogenesis in participants of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) without diabetes or cardiovascular disease

ABSTRACT Objective Our aim was to describe the distribution of selected biomarkers according to age and sex, adjusted for HOMA-IR and adiposity, in a subset of middle-aged individuals of Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health-ELSA without diabetes mellitus or CVD. Subjects and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 998 participants of the ELSA-Brasil without diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. In addition to the traditional risk factors, several biomarkers concentrations were compared according to sex, age groups (35-44; 45-54 yrs) and HOMA-IR tertiles. Linear regression was used to examine independent associations of sex and age with selected novel biomarkers, adjusted for body adiposity and HOMA-IR. Results Fifty-five percent were women. Men had higher mean values of body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, plasma glucose, HOMA-IR, worse lipid profile and higher E-selectin and lower leptin concentrations than women; while women had higher levels of HDL-cholesterol and leptin than men. Mean values of waist circumference, systolic BP, plasma glucose and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) increased with age in both sexes. Leptin and E-selectin concentrations increased across HOMA-IR tertiles. Independent associations of Apo B with age were found only in male sex, while of leptin with body mass index and HOMA-IR, and of E-selectin with HOMA-IR in both sexes. Conclusions In conclusion, our data indicate age, sex, adiposity and, consequently, insulin resistance, influence circulating levels of Apo B, leptin and E-selectin, suggesting that those aspects should be taken into consideration when assessing these parameters for research or clinical purposes in individuals at relatively low cardiometabolic risk.
StatAlign 2.0: combining statistical alignment with RNA secondary structure prediction

MOTIVATION Comparative modeling of RNA is known to be important for making accurate secondary structure predictions. RNA structure prediction tools such as PPfold or RNAalifold use an aligned set of sequences in predictions. Obtaining a multiple alignment from a set of sequences is quite a challenging problem itself, and the quality of the alignment can affect the quality of a prediction. By implementing RNA secondary structure prediction in a statistical alignment framework, and predicting structures from multiple alignment samples instead of a single fixed alignment, it may be possible to improve predictions. RESULTS We have extended the program StatAlign to make use of RNA-specific features, which include RNA secondary structure prediction from multiple alignments using either a thermodynamic approach (RNAalifold) or a Stochastic Context-Free Grammars (SCFGs) approach (PPfold). We also provide the user with scores relating to the quality of a secondary structure prediction, such as information entropy values for the combined space of secondary structures and sampled alignments, and a reliability score that predicts the expected number of correctly predicted base pairs. Finally, we have created RNA secondary structure visualization plugins and automated the process of setting up Markov Chain Monte Carlo runs for RNA alignments in StatAlign. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The software is available from http://statalign.github. com/statalign/.
Latent transforming growth factor binding protein 4 (LTBP‐4) is downregulated in human mammary adenocarcinomas in vitro and in vivo

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐ß) is able to inhibit proliferation of epithelial cells and is involved in the carcinogenesis of human mammary tumours. Three latent transforming growth factor‐ß binding proteins (LTBP‐1, ‐3 and ‐4) are involved in TGF‐ß function. The aim of the study was to analyze the expression profiles of TGF‐ß 1 and 2 and LTBP‐4 in human mammary carcinoma cell lines as well as in human mammary tumours. Expression analysis was performed at the transcription and protein level under in vivo and in vitro conditions. LTBP‐4 expression was quantitatively analysed in human carcinomas of the mammary gland and in healthy mammary tissues of the same patients. Downregulation of LTBP‐4 in all investigated human mammary tumours compared to normal tissues could be demonstrated. Results also revealed that protein levels of TGF‐ß 1 are downregulated and of TGF‐ß 2 are upregulated in human mammary carcinoma cell lines compared to primary (normal) human mammary epithelial cells. LTBP‐4 reduction in neoplasms leads to a possible decrease of TGF‐ß 1 extracellular deposition with reduced TGF‐ß 1 bioavailability. TGF‐ß 2 was upregulated, which indicates a possible compensatory mechanism. This study demonstrated a possible functional role of LTBP‐4 for TGF‐ß bioavailability with respect to carcinogenesis of human mammary tumours in vivo and in vitro.
Neuro-evolutionary system for FOREX trading

This paper proposes a neuro-genetic system for trading on Forex market. The main idea is to apply evolutionary methods for selection of the most suitable, in a given macro-economic context, set of variables, whose usefulness is subsequently validated based on a short and simplified training of several perceptron-type networks. Once the indicative training for this selected input data proves effective, the final, more sophisticated and more detailed training is performed on the ensemble of neural predictors. The proposed method was tested on 170 five-day investment periods (spanning over 3 years) with very promising results of both average and worst case performance. Furthermore, an investigation into the way the evolutionary component of the system selects input variables in subsequent trading periods has been performed, leading to interesting observation about the usefulness of particular data sources, as well as their repeatability across independent runs of the system.
Preserving the Documentary Structure of Source Code in Language-Based Transformation Tools

Language-based tools necessarily translate textual source code into grammar-based representations. During translation, tools such as compilers and analyzers are generally free to discard comments and white space, which have no impact on the code's formal meaning. Tools that produce transformed source code for human consumption enjoy no such freedom. Comments and white space are crucial to the comprehensibility and maintainability of source code and thus to its ultimate value. However, it is not always practical or desirable for transformation tools to replicate comments and white space in their entirety. An analysis of the documentary (as opposed to linguistic) structure of source code leads to a practical strategy for preserving its comprehensibility when processed by such tools.
Dissecting the cost of insecticide resistance genes during the overwintering period of the mosquito Culex pipiens

In several insects, there appears to be a high fitness cost associated with insecticide resistance genes during the overwintering period. In order to understand when and how this cost operates, all mosquitoes entering a natural cave for overwintering were regularly sampled, and their resistance genes at two loci (Ester and Ace.1) were individually identified. During the main period of entry (October and November), susceptible mosquitoes were first observed, followed by resistant ones, this trend being similar for both loci. This observation is best explained by a migration phenomenon, northern and more susceptible populations starting to overwinter first, followed by southern and more resistant ones. During the remaining part of the winter (December–March), mosquitoes entering the cave were still caught and they probably corresponded to individuals leaving a former overwintering site in search of a more suitable one. A lower overall frequency of resistant phenotypes was found in the second part of the winter at Ester, suggesting that a large fitness cost (42%) had operated. A decreasing frequency of resistant phenotypes was also found at Ace.1, indicating a large survival cost of resistant mosquitoes (7% for the homozygote Ace.1R) in their former overwintering site. These results are discussed in the light of the local evolution of these resistance genes in southern France.
Model-based DSL frameworks

More than five years ago, the OMG proposed the Model Driven Architecture (MDA™) approach to deal with the separation of platform dependent and independent aspects in information systems. Since then, the initial idea of MDA evolved and Model Driven Engineering (MDE) is being increasingly promoted to handle separation and combination of various kinds of concerns in software or data engineering. MDE is more general than the set of standards and practices recommended by the OMG's MDA proposal. In MDE the concept of model designates not only OMG models but a lot of other artifacts like XML documents, Java programs, RDBMS data, etc. Today we observe another evolutionary step. A convergence between MDE and DSL (Domain Specific Language) engineering is rapidly appearing. In the same way as MDE is a generalization of MDA, the DSL engineering may be viewed as a generalization of MDE. One of the goals of this paper is to explore the potential of this important evolution of engineering practices. In order to anchor the discussion on practical grounds, we present a set of typical problems that could be solved by classical (object-oriented and others), MDE, or DSL-based techniques. Solutions to these problems will be based on current platforms (EMF, AMMA, GME, etc.). This paper illustrates how powerful model-based frameworks, allowing to use and build a variety of DSLs, may help to solve complex problems in a more efficient way.
Study of the Chemotactic Response of Multicellular Spheroids in a Microfluidic Device

We report the first application of a microfluidic device to observe chemotactic migration in multicellular spheroids. A microfluidic device was designed comprising a central microchamber and two lateral channels through which reagents can be introduced. Multicellular spheroids were embedded in collagen and introduced to the microchamber. A gradient of fetal bovine serum (FBS) was established across the central chamber by addition of growth media containing serum into one of the lateral channels. We observe that spheroids of oral squamous carcinoma cells OSC–19 invade collectively in the direction of the gradient of FBS. This invasion is more directional and aggressive than that observed for individual cells in the same experimental setup. In contrast to spheroids of OSC–19, U87-MG multicellular spheroids migrate as individual cells. A study of the exposure of spheroids to the chemoattractant shows that the rate of diffusion into the spheroid is slow and thus, the chemoattractant wave engulfs the spheroid before diffusing through it.
Medical audit data: counting is not enough.

(excluding the six children who had moved away or had no records). Doctors who are enthusiastic immunisers in practices with a high turnover of children therefore have to work exceptionally hard, as immunised children who move away tend to be replaced by those who have not been immunised. Unfortunately, not even enthusiasts can give preschool boosters to children who have not completed the primary course. The practice's overall uptake of the preschool booster was disappointing at 68%, well below that of the primary course, which then averaged 85% across the new contract's three immunisation groups. The uptake has since been improved to 77% and can no doubt be improved further. For many practices, however, a target of 90% seems even more unreasonable for the preschool booster than for the primary course.
The Dynamics of Debtor-in-Possession Financing: Bankruptcy Resolution and the Role of Prior Lenders

Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) financing is a unique form of financing that is allowed to firms filing under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. The legal provisions confer enhanced seniority on this financing. It is argued that such financing leads to excessive investment in risky, (even negative NPV) projects. Defenders of DIP financing, on the other hand, argue that it allows funding for positive NPV projects. We examine this issue empirically. Using a large sample of bankruptcy filings, we find little evidence of systematic overinvestment by firms that obtain DIP financing. The firms receiving DIP financing are more likely to emerge successfully and, on average, spend a shorter time in bankruptcy reorganization than the firms that do not receive such financing. Further, we find that relationships are important. In particular, when a lender with a prior lending relationship with the borrower is also the DIP lender, it is more likely to finance smaller firms. These firms also have a significantly shorter reorganization period than firms that secure DIP financing from a new lender. Our results suggest a positive role for DIP financing, which is strengthened when it is combined with a prior lending relationship with the firm.
Developmental dyslexia: an overview

First described over 100 years ago, developmental dyslexia (reading disability) has been a controversial subject. There has been much confusion regarding the definition, the psychological basis, the conceptualisation and even the name. Recent research has helped us to understand the main underlying cognitive deficits that lead to poor reading. Brain imaging studies conducted during the performance of reading tasks have shed light on its biological basis and genetic studies have identified a number of genes that are associated with reading difficulties. Together, these studies have led to a redefinition and new understanding of developmental dyslexia. This article examines these recent findings. A second article to appear in Advances will focus on clinical aspects of the disorder.
Vitamin K prior to preterm birth for preventing neonatal periventricular haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Preterm infants are at risk of periventricular haemorrhage. This can be a sign of brain damage that might lead to neurodevelopmental abnormalities, including cerebral palsy. It has been suggested that vitamin K might improve coagulation in preterm infants. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to assess the effects of vitamin K administered to women at risk of imminent very preterm birth to prevent periventricular haemorrhage and associated neurological injury in the infant. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and bibliographies up to September 2000. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised or quasi-randomised trials of vitamin K administered parenterally or orally to women at risk of imminent preterm birth. The primary outcomes were neonatal mortality, neonatal neurological morbidity, as measured by the presence of periventricular haemorrhage (PVH) on ultrasound during the first week of life, and long term neurodevelopment. Secondary outcomes included other neonatal morbidity and any maternal side effects. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Eligibility, trial quality assessment and data extraction were done independently by two reviewers. MAIN RESULTS Five trials were included, involving more than 420 women. The trials were of variable quality. Antenatal vitamin K was associated with a non-significant trend to a reduction in all grades of periventricular haemorrhage (relative risk (RR) 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-1.00) and in severe PVH (grades 3 and 4) (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.45-1.25) for babies receiving prenatal vitamin K compared with control babies. This trend disappeared when poorer quality trials were excluded. Information on neurodevelopment was only given for a small sample of children in one trial with discrepancy in results given in the two reports. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Vitamin K administered to women prior to very preterm birth has not been shown to significantly prevent periventricular haemorrhages in preterm infants.