Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relating the strength of the tropospheric biennial oscillation (TBO) to the phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO)

The phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) can influence the Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation (TBO) such that a shift from a negative to positive phase of the IPO was associated with a weakening of the TBO after the mid‐1970s. Here it is shown that the most recent transition in the late 1990s of the IPO from positive to negative was associated with a larger‐amplitude TBO in the Indo‐Pacific region, thus confirming and strengthening the previous results by extending them to the opposite phase of the IPO. A major contributor to this change in the TBO has been an ongoing increase of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Indian Ocean that contributes to stronger trade winds in the Pacific, one of the processes previously identified with strengthening the TBO. Such modulation of interannual variability by decadal timescale processes has implications for understanding possible skill of decadal climate predictions.
Intention-based scoring: an approach to measuring success at solving the composition problem

Traditional methods of evaluating student programs are not always appropriate for assessment of different instructional interventions. They tend to focus on the final product rather than on the process that led to it. This paper presents intention-based scoring (IBS), an approach to measuring programming ability that looks at intermediate programs produced over the course of an implementation rather than just the one at the end. The intent is to assess a student's ability to produce algorithmically correct code on the first attempt at achieving each program goal. In other words, the goal is to answer question "How close was the student to being initially correct? " but not to speak to a student's debugging skills or ability to ultimately produce a working program. To produce an IBS, it is necessary to inspect a student's online protocol, which is simply the collection of all programs submitted to a compiler. IBS involves a three-phase process of (1) identification of the subset of all programs in a protocol that represent the initial attempts at achieving programming goals, (2) bug identification, and (3) rubric-based scoring. We conclude with an example application of IBS in the evaluation of a tutoring system for beginning programmers and also show how an IBS can be broken down by the underlying bug categories to reveal more subtle differences.
L1157: Interaction of the molecular outflow with the class 0 environment

We present high angular resolution interferometric observations of the dust continuum at 2.7 and 1.3 mm, and of the HC 3 N ($J=12\to11$) and C 18 O ($J=2\to1$) emission around L1157-mm, a Class 0 object that drives a spectacular molecular outflow. The millimeter dust emission is clearly resolved into two components, a flattened compact source of ~$450\times250$ AU at 1.3 mm, and mass ~0.1 $M_\odot$, plus an extended envelope of ~3000 AU at 1.3 mm, and mass ~1.1 $M_\odot$. The millimeter spectral index varies throughout the region, with the lower value found toward the compact protostar, possibly indicating grain growth in the denser regions. A strong interaction between the molecular outflow and the close protostellar environment is taking place and affects the structure of the innermost parts of the envelope. This is shown by the spatial coincidence between the molecular outflow and the dust (1.3 mm continuum) and HC 3 N emission: both tracers show structures associated to the edges of the outflow lobes. Basically, the global picture sketched for the Class 0 object L1157-mm by Gueth et al. ([CITE]) is supported. We find possible evidence of infall, but we do not detect any velocity gradient indicative of a rotating circumstellar disk.
Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle Clusters for Cancer Theranostics Combining Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Hyperthermia Treatment

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) could enable cancer theranostics if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic hyperthermia treatment (MHT) were combined. However, the particle size of SPIONs is smaller than the pores of fenestrated capillaries in normal tissues because superparamagnetism is expressed only at a particle size <10 nm. Therefore, SPIONs leak from the capillaries of normal tissues, resulting in low accumulation in tumors. Furthermore, MHT studies have been conducted in an impractical way: direct injection of magnetic materials into tumor and application of hazardous alternating current (AC) magnetic fields. To accomplish effective enhancement of MRI contrast agents in tumors and inhibition of tumor growth by MHT with intravenous injection and a safe AC magnetic field, we clustered SPIONs not only to prevent their leakage from fenestrated capillaries in normal tissues, but also for increasing their relaxivity and the specific absorption rate. We modified the clusters with folic acid (FA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to promote their accumulation in tumors. SPION clustering and cluster modification with FA and PEG were achieved simultaneously via the thiol-ene click reaction. Twenty-four hours after intravenous injection of FA- and PEG-modified SPION nanoclusters (FA-PEG-SPION NCs), they accumulated locally in cancer (not necrotic) tissues within the tumor and enhanced the MRI contrast. Furthermore, 24 h after intravenous injection of the NCs, the mice were placed in an AC magnetic field with H = 8 kA/m and f = 230 kHz (Hf = 1.8×109 A/m∙s) for 20 min. The tumors of the mice underwent local heating by application of an AC magnetic field. The temperature of the tumor was higher than the surrounding tissues by ≈6°C at 20 min after treatment. Thirty-five days after treatment, the tumor volume of treated mice was one-tenth that of the control mice. Furthermore, the treated mice were alive after 12 weeks; control mice died up to 8 weeks after treatment.
Fusion Moves for Markov Random Field Optimization

The efficient application of graph cuts to Markov Random Fields (MRFs) with multiple discrete or continuous labels remains an open question. In this paper, we demonstrate one possible way of achieving this by using graph cuts to combine pairs of suboptimal labelings or solutions. We call this combination process the fusion move. By employing recently developed graph-cut-based algorithms (so-called QPBO-graph cut), the fusion move can efficiently combine two proposal labelings in a theoretically sound way, which is in practice often globally optimal. We demonstrate that fusion moves generalize many previous graph-cut approaches, which allows them to be used as building blocks within a broader variety of optimization schemes than were considered before. In particular, we propose new optimization schemes for computer vision MRFs with applications to image restoration, stereo, and optical flow, among others. Within these schemes the fusion moves are used 1) for the parallelization of MRF optimization into several threads, 2) for fast MRF optimization by combining cheap-to-compute solutions, and 3) for the optimization of highly nonconvex continuous-labeled MRFs with 2D labels. Our final example is a nonvision MRF concerned with cartographic label placement, where fusion moves can be used to improve the performance of a standard inference method (loopy belief propagation).
Contact-Force Control of a Flexible Timoshenko Arm

This technical note discusses a contact-force control problem for a flexible arm. This flexible arm includes a Timoshenko beam, and thus we call it the flexible Timoshenko arm. The aim of the force control is to control the contact force at the contact point. To solve this problem, we propose a simple boundary controller and show the exponential stability of the closed-loop system by the frequency domain method. Finally, we describe simulation results carried out to investigate the validity of the proposed controller for the force control problem.
EFFECT OF MONITORING TIME INTERVAL ON THE RESULTS OF STOCHASTIC ANALYSIS OF KARST WATER RESOURCES

Abstract – Data monitoring is important in the study and analysis of hydrological behaviors of karstic systems. Monitoring shows the various regimes of groundwater flow (laminar or turbulent), depletion, filling, filtration and karstification degree of karst aquifers. In recent years, analyses of these data had considerable advances using stochastic time series analyses. An important problem related to these analyses is the constraint of financial and technical human support. If we can increase the time intervals, the costs are lowered and development of new monitoring networks will be possible. In this research, the effect of monitoring time intervals on the results of time series analysis and calculated hydrologic delay times are studied, using bivariate analyses in spectral domain. The first (shorter) and the second (longer) delay times are related to the flow of groundwater through the larger and smaller fractures of the karstic system, respectively. Daily groundwater level data of three piezometers and the discharge of a spring in the Maharlu karst basin in Iran ( 2 1 52 ′ to E 8 2 53 ′ and 1 29 ′ to N 6 30 ′ ) were acquired and then six different time series having different time intervals (1, 3, 7, 10, 14 and 30 days) were extracted and analyzed. The results show that the variation of the computed stochastic parameters with increasing time intervals is unpredictable, but the variation of time (period) corresponding to the frequency at the peak of amplitude function (curve) shows a linear and predictable relationship, which is unique for every kind of karstic aquifer having different degrees of karstification.
A cost-effective shuffling-based defense against HTTP DDoS attacks with SDN/NFV

Software-Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualisation (SDN/NFV) can provide flexible resource allocation to support innovative security solutions in a central manner. To mitigate HTTP DDoS attacks, shuffling-based moving target defense has been regarded as one of the most effective ways by redirecting user traffic among a group of virtualized service functions. However, previous work did not notice that frequent changes of user traffic will significantly intensify the control overhead of SDN. In this paper, therefore, we first model the effectiveness and cost for shuffling in SDN/NFV networking with Multi-Objective Markov Decision Processes to find the optimal tradeoff between the effectiveness and cost. We then propose a cost-effective approximation algorithm with a guarantee performance bound to solve the problem. Simulation and implementation on an experimental SDN/NFV network manifest that, given 100 attackers among 1000 users and 50 virtualized functions of a web service, our algorithm achieves the approximation ratio of 0.68 and imposes only 2.4s rule modification latency for each shuffle.
EVALUATION OF OXYGEN ISOTOPE AND SR/CA RATIOS FROM A MALDIVIAN SCLERACTINIAN CORAL FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY IN THE NORTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN

ABSTRACT Corals are important marine archives for high-resolution reconstructions of low-latitude climate variability in preinstrumental and historical periods. Herein, we present monthly-resolved records of &dgr;18O and Sr/Ca for the 20th century (1917–2007) from a Porites lutea colony from the Maldives (northwestern Indian Ocean). Previous studies of annual mean extension rates of this coral revealed a distinct dependency of coral growth on variations of sea surface temperature (SST) and hydraulic energy, driven by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and southwestern Indian monsoon forcing. This enables the investigation of coral &dgr;18O and Sr/Ca ratios from the Maldives as archives of historical ENSO and Indian monsoon variability. Unlike other locations in the Indian Ocean, correlation of &dgr;18O and SST is weak (r = −0.42; p < 0.001), suggesting interferences of SST and seawater &dgr;18O at the location. These interferences probably caused significantly weaker interannual ENSO signatures in &dgr;18O as evident in the extension rates of our coral and in geochemical proxies measured at other sites in the northwestern Indian Ocean. Sr/Ca ratios show bias by nontemperature effects, and were not used to estimate seawater &dgr;18O and salinity. Strong decadal variability (10–14 years) in &dgr;18O, indicative of a Pacific ENSO signal, is not found in instrumental SST, and could be explained by variations in salinity. Interannual and decadal monsoon variability (6–7 yrs and 18–19 yrs), found in the extension rates, was not found in &dgr;18O, suggesting, in agreement with other studies, that geochemical coral proxy records from the northwestern Indian Ocean do not capture temporal variations of the Indian monsoon strength.
Characterization of Soybean Genetically Modified for Drought Tolerance in Field Conditions

Drought is one of the most stressful environmental factor causing yield and economic losses in many soybean-producing regions. In the last decades, transcription factors (TFs) are being used to develop genetically modified plants more tolerant to abiotic stresses. Dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) and ABA-responsive element-binding (AREB) TFs were introduced in soybean showing improved drought tolerance, under controlled conditions. However, these results may not be representative of the way in which plants behave over the entire season in the real field situation. Thus, the objectives of this study were to analyze agronomical traits and physiological parameters of AtDREB1A (1Ab58), AtDREB2CA (1Bb2193), and AtAREB1 (1Ea2939) GM lines under irrigated (IRR) and non-irrigated (NIRR) conditions in a field experiment, over two crop seasons and quantify transgene and drought-responsive genes expression. Results from season 2013/2014 revealed that line 1Ea2939 showed higher intrinsic water use and leaf area index. Lines 1Ab58 and 1Bb2193 showed a similar behavior to wild-type plants in relation to chlorophyll content. Oil and protein contents were not affected in transgenic lines in NIRR conditions. Lodging, due to plentiful rain, impaired yield from the 1Ea2939 line in IRR conditions. qPCR results confirmed the expression of the inserted TFs and drought-responsive endogenous genes. No differences were identified in the field experiment performed in crop season 2014/2015, probably due to the optimum rainfall volume during the cycle. These field screenings showed promising results for drought tolerance. However, additional studies are needed in further crop seasons and other sites to better characterize how these plants may outperform the WT under field water deficit.
Empirical mode decomposition based denoising of partial discharge signals

Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) has recently been introduced as a local and fully data-driven technique aimed at analyzing nonstationary signals, by decomposing nonstationary signals into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs). In this contribution, we employ it to process the signals of partial discharge, a typical type of nonstationary signal. Based on the IMFs extracted from the corrupted signal, together with the vector threshold, we propose a novel scheme for denoising. By processing of simulation signals and on-site data, it is demonstrated that the proposed method is effective. What is more, the preliminary comparison with wavelet- based denoising is performed.
Region-based Segmentation and Object Detection

Object identification and multi-object picture separation are two firmly related processes and it can be enhanced when understood jointly by supporting data from one assignment to the next. Be that as it may, current best in object models are different portrayal for each space creation joint objects and leaving the categorization of numerous part of the scene uncertain. Picture element appearance highlights enable us to do well on classifying formless foundation classes, while the express portrayal of districts encourage the calculation of increasingly complex highlights essential for object detection. Vitally, our model gives a solitary bound together portrayal of the scene we clarify each picture elements of image and authorize it contains in the web between every random variable in our model.
A short-time objective intelligibility measure for time-frequency weighted noisy speech

Existing objective speech-intelligibility measures are suitable for several types of degradation, however, it turns out that they are less appropriate for methods where noisy speech is processed by a time-frequency (TF) weighting, e.g., noise reduction and speech separation. In this paper, we present an objective intelligibility measure, which shows high correlation (rho=0.95) with the intelligibility of both noisy, and TF-weighted noisy speech. The proposed method shows significantly better performance than three other, more sophisticated, objective measures. Furthermore, it is based on an intermediate intelligibility measure for short-time (approximately 400 ms) TF-regions, and uses a simple DFT-based TF-decomposition. In addition, a free Matlab implementation is provided.
Neuro-Genetic Hybrid Approach for Rainfall Forecasting

-Weather is certainly the most important factor over which man has no control, and hence it has created dominance on the success or the failure of agricultural enterprises. Most important efforts since long time have been on weather and rain forecasting. However, the unpredictable nature of rainfall has not changed. Meteorologists can neither solve nor evaluate the problem of effective rainfall merely from tables of frequency, amount and intensity of rainfall or from physical phenomena in the atmosphere. It is a task in which several disciplines and sub-disciplines overlap. The present study investigates the ability of hybrid approach of artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) in forecasting rainfall. A standard feed forward network (FFN) is utilized for performing the prediction task. Moreover GA is used to determine the optimal structure of ANN.
Multimodal Public Speaking Performance Assessment

The ability to speak proficiently in public is essential for many professions and in everyday life. Public speaking skills are difficult to master and require extensive training. Recent developments in technology enable new approaches for public speaking training that allow users to practice in engaging and interactive environments. Here, we focus on the automatic assessment of nonverbal behavior and multimodal modeling of public speaking behavior. We automatically identify audiovisual nonverbal behaviors that are correlated to expert judges' opinions of key performance aspects. These automatic assessments enable a virtual audience to provide feedback that is essential for training during a public speaking performance. We utilize multimodal ensemble tree learners to automatically approximate expert judges' evaluations to provide post-hoc performance assessments to the speakers. Our automatic performance evaluation is highly correlated with the experts' opinions with r = 0.745 for the overall performance assessments. We compare multimodal approaches with single modalities and find that the multimodal ensembles consistently outperform single modalities.
Multiple Arkadia/RNF111 Structures Coordinate Its Polycomb Body Association and Transcriptional Control

ABSTRACT The RING domain protein Arkadia/RNF111 is a ubiquitin ligase in the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway. We previously identified Arkadia as a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-binding protein with clustered SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs) that together form a SUMO-binding domain (SBD). However, precisely how SUMO interaction contributes to the function of Arkadia was not resolved. Through analytical molecular and cell biology, we found that the SIMs share redundant function with Arkadia's M domain, a region distinguishing Arkadia from its paralogs ARKL1/ARKL2 and the prototypical SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) RNF4. The SIMs and M domain together promote both Arkadia's colocalization with CBX4/Pc2, a component of Polycomb bodies, and the activation of a TGFβ pathway transcription reporter. Transcriptome profiling through RNA sequencing showed that Arkadia can both promote and inhibit gene expression, indicating that Arkadia's activity in transcriptional control may depend on the epigenetic context, defined by Polycomb repressive complexes and DNA methylation.
Catalytic wittig reactions of semi- and nonstabilized ylides enabled by ylide tuning.

The first examples of catalytic Wittig reactions with semistabilized and nonstabilized ylides are reported. These reactions were enabled by utilization of a masked base, sodium tert-butyl carbonate, and/or ylide tuning. The acidity of the ylide-forming proton was tuned by varying the electron density at the phosphorus center in the precatalyst, thus facilitating the use of relatively mild bases. Steric modification of the precatalyst structure resulted in significant enhancement of E selectivity up to >95:5, E/Z.
Aerosolized beclomethasone in chronic bronchitis. Improved pulmonary function and diminished airway inflammation.

Chronic bronchitis is associated with airways obstruction and inflammation. In order to determine whether aerosolized beclomethasone can modulate airway inflammation and diminish airway obstruction, subjects with chronic bronchitis performed spirometry and underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) before and after receiving 6 wk of therapy (five puffs four times a day) with either aerosolized beclomethasone (n = 20) or placebo (n = 10) in a double-blinded, randomized fashion. All subjects received aerosolized albuterol before each use of the study medications. Before BAL, the airways were visually assessed for the appearance of inflammation and assigned a score, the bronchitis index. BAL was performed by instilling five 20-ml aliquots of saline into each of three sites and pooling and separately analyzing the returns from the first aliquots to yield a "bronchial sample. " The bronchial lavages were repeated in an additional three sites to increase the volume of fluid available for analysis. The fluid was prepared for cytologic examination by cytocentrifugation. Albumin (as a measure of epithelium permeability) and lactoferrin and lysozyme (as measures of serous cell activity) were measured in unconcentrated BAL fluid by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and concentrations in epithelial lining fluid were estimated using urea as an internal marker for dilution. After treatment, the beclomethasone group, but not the placebo group, showed improvement in FVC (p = 0.02), FEV1 (p = 0.002), and 25 to 75% forced expiratory flow (p = 0.006). Associated with the improvement in spirometry, the bronchitis index fell (13.5 +/- 1.0 versus 10.75 +/- 1.1, p = 0.02) in the beclomethasone-treated group, but not the placebo-treated group. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)