Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cloud water contents and hydrometeor sizes during the FIRE Arctic Clouds Experiment

During the year-long Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Experiment (1997- 1998) the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory operated a 35-GHz cloud radar and the DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program operated a suite of radiometers at an ice station frozen into the drifting ice pack of the Arctic Ocean. The NASA/FIRE Arctic Clouds Experiment took place during April-July 1998, with the primary goal of investigating cloud microphysical, geometrical, and radiative properties with aircraft and surface-based measurements. In this paper, retrieval techniques are utilized which combine the radar and radiometer measurements to compute height- dependent water contents and hydrometeor sizes for all-ice and all-liquid clouds. For the spring and early summer period, all-ice cloud retrievals showed a mean particle diameter of about 60 mm and ice water contents up to 0.1 g/m 3 , with the maximum sizes and water contents at approximately one fifth of the cloud depth from the cloud base. The all-liquid cloud retrievals had a mean effective particle radius of 7.4 mm, liquid water contents up to 0.7 g/m 3 , and a mean droplet concentration of 54 cm 23 . Maximum retrieved liquid drop sizes, water contents, and concentrations occurred at three fifths of the cloud depth from the cloud base. As a measure of how representative the FIRE-ACE aircraft flight days were of the April-July months in general, retrieval statistics for flight-day clouds are compared to the mean retrieval statistics. From the retrieval perspective the ice particle sizes and water contents on flight days were ;30% larger than the mean retrieved values for the April-July months. Retrieved liquid cloud parameters during flight days were all about 20% smaller. All-ice and/or all-liquid clouds acceptable for these retrieval techniques were observed about 34% of the time clouds were present; at all other times, mixed-phase clouds precluded the use of these single-phase retrieval techniques.
Comprehensive Pattern of Deep Convective Systems over the Tibetan Plateau–South Asian Monsoon Region Based on TRMM Data

AbstractDiurnal and seasonal variation, intensity, and structure of deep convective systems (DCSs; with 20-dBZ echo tops exceeding 14 km) over the Tibetan Plateau–South Asian monsoon region from the Tibetan Plateau (TP) to the ocean are investigated using 14 yr of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data. Four unique regions characterized by different orography are selected for comparison, including the TP, the southern Himalayan front (SHF), the South Asian subcontinent (SAS), and the ocean. DCSs and intense DCSs (IDCSs; with 40-dBZ echo tops exceeding 10 km) occur more frequently over the continent than over the ocean. About 23% of total DCSs develop into IDCSs in the SHF, followed by the TP (21%) and the SAS (15%), with the least over the ocean (2%). The average 20-dBZ echo-top height of IDCSs exceeds 16 km and 9% of them even exceed 18 km. DCSs and IDCSs are the most frequent over the SHF, especially in the westernmost SHF, where the intensity—in terms of strong radar echo-top (viz., 40 dBZ) he.
Effects of Triheptanoin on Mitochondrial Respiration and Glycolysis in Cultured Fibroblasts from Neutral Lipid Storage Disease Type M (NLSD-M) Patients

Neutral lipid storage disease type M (NLSD-M) is an ultra-rare, autosomal recessive disorder that causes severe skeletal and cardiac muscle damage and lipid accumulation in all body tissues. In this hereditary pathology, the defective action of the adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) enzyme induces the enlargement of cytoplasmic lipid droplets and reduction in the detachment of mono- (MG) and diglycerides (DG). Although the pathogenesis of muscle fiber necrosis is unknown, some studies have shown alterations in cellular energy production, probably because MG and DG, the substrates of Krebs cycle, are less available. No tests have been tried with medium-chain fatty acid molecules to evaluate the anaplerotic effect in NLSD cells. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro effect of triheptanoin (Dojolvi®), a highly purified chemical triglyceride with seven carbon atoms, in fibroblasts obtained from five NLSD-M patients. Glycolytic and mitochondrial functions were determined by Seahorse XF Agylent Technology, and cellular viability and triglyceride content were measured through colorimetric assays. After the addition of triheptanoin, we observed an increase in glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in all patients compared with healthy controls. These preliminary results show that triheptanoin is able to induce an anaplerotic effect in NLSD-M fibroblasts, paving the way towards new therapeutic strategies.
Sex and Age Differences in a Progressive Synucleinopathy Mouse Model

The mutation and overexpression of the alpha-synuclein protein (αSyn), described as synucleinopathy, is associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD)-like pathologies. A higher prevalence of PD is documented for men versus women, suggesting female hormones’ implication in slowing PD progression. The nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons in rodent males are more vulnerable to toxins than those in females. The effect of biological sex on synucleinopathy remains poorly described and was investigated using mice knocked out for murine αSyn (SNCA-/-) and also overexpressing human αSyn (SNCA-OVX) compared to wildtype (WT) mice. All the mice showed decreased locomotor activity with age, and more abruptly in the male than in the female SNCA-OVX mice; anxiety-like behavior increased with age. The SNCA-OVX mice had an age-dependent accumulation of αSyn. Older age was associated with the loss of nigral DA neurons and decreased striatal DA contents. The astrogliosis, microgliosis, and cytokine concentrations increased with aging. More abrupt nigrostriatal DA decreases and increased microgliosis were observed in the male SNCA-OVX mice. Human αSyn overexpression and murine αSyn knockout resulted in behavioral dysfunctions, while only human αSyn overexpression was toxic to DA neurons. At 18 months, neuroprotection was lost in the female SNCA-OVX mice, with a likely loss of estrus cycles. In conclusion, sex-dependent αSyn toxicity was observed, affecting the male mice more significantly.
Digital Literacy of the State Civil Apparatus in the Administrative Services Unit (ULA) of the Ministry of Home Affairs

Background: Digital literacy is crucial for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in providing excellent services. Meanwhile, Administrative Services Unit (ULA) has obtained several awards in recognition of outstanding performance, serving as a significant foundation for the current finding. Purpose: This research aimed to describe the digital literacy competency of ASN in ULA to provide excellent services to the public and local governments. Method: A qualitative method with a descriptive approach was selected with the concept of digital literacy competency of ASN to analyze data. In addition, the validity of the findings was tested through data triangulation. Results: The digital literacy results among ASN showed that a fairly good insight with knowledge imbalances, good digital skills, and deficiencies in understanding the risks and the ability to control the dangers of digital technology use. Conclusion: Digital literacy among ASN in ULA shows a commendable level of proficiency and offers opportunities for improvement in certain domains. Keywords: State Civil Apparatus (ASN); Digital Literacy; Administrative Services Unit (ULA) Abstrak Latar Belakang: Literasi digital sangat penting bagi Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) dalam memberikan pelayanan prima. Sementara itu, Unit Pelayanan Administrasi (ULA) telah memperoleh beberapa penghargaan sebagai pengakuan atas kinerjanya yang luar biasa, yang menjadi landasan penting bagi temuan saat ini. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan kompetensi literasi digital ASN di ULA dalam memberikan pelayanan prima kepada masyarakat dan pemerintah daerah. Metode: Metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif dipilih dengan konsep kompetensi literasi digital ASN untuk menganalisis data. Selain itu, validitas temuan diuji melalui triangulasi data. Hasil: Literasi digital di kalangan ASN menunjukkan bahwa wawasan yang cukup baik dengan ketimpangan pengetahuan, keterampilan digital yang baik, dan kurangnya pemahaman risiko dan kemampuan mengendalikan bahaya penggunaan teknologi digital. Kesimpulan: Literasi digital pada ASN di ULA menunjukkan tingkat kemahiran yang patut dipuji dan menawarkan peluang perbaikan pada domain tertentu. Kata kunci: Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN); Literasi Digital; Unit Pelayanan Administrasi (ULA)
Numerical simulations of dust fluxes to the eastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau: Comparison of model results with a Holocene peat record of dust deposition

Numerical model simulations provide a useful platform for investigating the interactions between the atmospheric dust cycle and environmental change in Asia. However, model validation is still limited by the scarcity of ground observations of past terrestrial dust deposition fluxes. Here we apply a regional atmosphere‐chemistry/aerosol climate model to simulate Asian dust emissions, transport, and deposition over East Asia during the years 1996–1998 and compare the present‐day deposition fluxes and dominant dust sources obtained from the numerical simulations to those measured in a high‐resolution Holocene palaeodust peat record on the eastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. The model was found to produce reasonable dust emission fluxes from the Chinese dust sources, with average annual emissions of 179 Mt y−1, and successfully reproduced both the dominant dust sources and average deposition fluxes to the peat core, with modeled and observed fluxes of 6.1 g m−2 y−1. Sensitivity tests show that modeled dust fluxes are sensitive to the parameterization of erodible surfaces, and future development of the regional model to simulate dust emissions in Asia should include an improved scheme for the soil surface properties. The results presented here suggest that the regional model holds the potential to study past and present dust cycles in Asia but evidence the need for both further refinement of the model's dust parameterizations in this region and more high‐resolution terrestrial validation data sets such as peat archives. This study demonstrates how present‐day simulations, for which reanalysis data is available as boundary conditions, are useful tools to explore the relationship between the dust cycle and environmental change during the Holocene.
Social customer relationship management and organizational resilience of Brazilian microenterprises during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract Purpose: To measure the impact of using social media as a management tool (social customer relationship management) on the organizational resilience of Brazilian microenterprises during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. Originality/value: Organizational resilience has been a widely investigated topic during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. In this context, the relationship with the customer via social media was paramount. However, the elements that explain the different results obtained with social media use are still unclear, especially in Brazil, a gap that the present study seeks to decrease. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative research was carried out and operationalized by questionnaires made available through digital channels. The return of 100 respondents (non-probabilistic sample) was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics tools, non-parametric means test, and structural equation modeling by partial least squares method. Findings: The results corroborate the importance of developing organizational resilience in microenterprises in times of crisis. According to the hypothesis test, the model suggests that the mere use of social media is not enough to trigger positive developments in organizational resilience. However, when mediated by management tools, the relationship becomes significant. Therefore, an explanation is offered for the different results obtained by microenterprises using social media for strategic purposes.
Cooperative constrained inversion of multiple electromagnetic data sets

ABSTRACTWe evaluated a method for cooperatively inverting multiple electromagnetic (EM) data sets with bound constraints to produce a consistent 3D resistivity model with improved resolution. Field data from the Antonio gold deposit in Peru and synthetic data were used to demonstrate this technique. We first separately inverted field airborne time-domain EM (AEM), controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT), and direct current resistivity measurements. Each individual inversion recovered a resistor related to gold-hosted silica alteration within a relatively conductive background. The outline of the resistor in each inversion was in reasonable agreement with the mapped extent of known near-surface silica alteration. Variations between resistor recoveries in each 3D inversion model motivated a subsequent cooperative method, in which AEM data were inverted sequentially with a combined CSAMT and DC data set. This cooperative approach was first applied to a synthetic inversion over an Antonio-l.
Numerical simulation of the Weddell Sea pack ice

To investigate the role of ice dynamics on the seasonal cycle of Antarctic sea ice, a series of 2-year simulations of the Weddell Sea pack ice are carried out. The simulations employ the dynamic thermodynamic model developed by Hibler (1979) and use a 1-day time step on an 18×15 grid with a resolution of 222 km. Daily atmospheric data from 1979 are used to drive the simulations. With atmospheric temperature fields modified to reflect buoy observations, the simulations yield a seasonal cycle of ice with maximum and minimum extents close to that observed. Except for portions of the western Weddell, the advance of the ice is found to be primarily thermodynamic in nature, while the rapid decay depends critically on the presence of both leads and lateral ice advection. The average fraction of open water is substantial even in winter, and varies from a minimum of 10% in September to a maximum of 35% in March. These values are in general agreement with estimates from satellite microwave data. In early summer the ice motion causes a residual tongue of ice to extend eastward from the Antarctic Peninsula in agreement with observations. Mean ice thicknesses are consistent with observations and vary from about 3 m in the perennial ice in the western Weddell to 1 m in first-year ice in the eastern Weddell. Possible feedback between the ice extent and atmosphere are investigated by simulations with the surface air temperatures constrained to below-freezing values in the presence of ice. These ‘coupled’ simulations yield a more realistic rapid decay in summer with dynamics included, but an unrealistically small decay without dynamics. Simulated ice drift results yield mean drift rates of about 5 km/day, in good agreement with buoy drift observations but with slightly inadequate northward transport in the western Weddell. Near the ice edge the drift rates are relatively insensitive to the ice strength. Near the coast, however, lower strengths are found to yield a decrease in northward drift rates.
The ICT4D 2.0 Manifesto: Where Next for ICTs and International Development?

ICT4D – the application of information and communication technologies for international development – is moving to a new phase. This will require new technologies, new approaches to innovation and implementation, new intellectual perspectives and, above all, a new view of the world's poor. All these must be understood if we are to harness digital technologies in the service of some of our world's most pressing problems. <br><br>This paper explains the phase change – from "ICT4D 1.0" to "ICT4D 2.0" – and its implications. The background to these phases is reviewed, charting the logic and chronology of applying ICTs in developing countries. The implications of the phase change are then analysed. First, in terms of new technology and application priorities. Then, in relation to new models of innovation we may need to embrace: from laboratory to collaborative to grassroots innovation. Next, in relation to new implementation models for funding, managing, and applying digital technology. Finally, the paper looks at necessary new worldviews to guide our thinking and our policies in this field; integrating perspectives from computer science, information systems and development studies. Additional commentaries and models provide a further set of rich insights into the future of ICT4D.
Geology of the orogenic Cheminis gold deposit along the Larder Lake – Cadillac deformation zone, Ontario

The Larder Lake – Cadillac deformation zone (LLCDZ) is one of two major, auriferous, deformation zones in the southern Abitibi subprovince of the Archean Superior Province. It hosts the Cheminis and the giant Kerr Addison – Chesterville deposits within a strongly deformed band of Fe-rich tholeiitic basalt and komatiite of the Larder Lake Group (ca. 2705 Ma). The latter is bounded on both sides by younger, less deformed, Timiskaming turbidites (2674–2670 Ma). The earliest deformation features are F1 folds affecting the Timiskaming rocks, which formed either during D1 extensional faulting or during early D2 north–south shortening related to the opening and closure, respectively, of the Timiskaming basin. Continued shortening during D2 imbricated the older volcanic rocks and turbidites and produced regional F2 folds with an axial planar S2 cleavage. D2 deformation was partitioned into the weaker band of volcanic rocks, producing the strong S2 foliation, L2 stretching lineation, and south-side-up shear sense indicators, which characterize the LLCDZ. Gold is present in quartz–carbonate veins in deformed fuchsitic komatiites (carbonate ore) and turbiditic sandstone (sandstone-hosted ore), and in association with disseminated pyrite in altered Fe-rich tholeiitic basalts (flow ore). All host rocks underwent strong mass gains in CO2, S, K2O, Ba, As, and W, during sericitization, carbonatization, and sulphidation of the host rocks, suggesting that they interacted with the same hydrothermal fluids. Textural relationships between alteration minerals and S2 cleavage indicate that mineralization is syn-cleavage. Thus, gold was deposited as hydrothermal fluids migrated upward along the LLCDZ during contractional, D2 south-side-up shearing. The gold zones were subsequently modified during D3 reactivation of the LLCDZ as a dextral transcurrent fault zone.
NASA astronaut photography depiction of the spatial and temporal characteristics of biomass burning

NASA astronaut photographs of the Earth's surface, in the Space Shuttle Earth Observation Photographic database, have been examined for their ability to provide information on remote sensing of temporal and spatial distributions of biomass burning. Over 4554 photos of biomass burning are identified in a dataset containing 347 678 photos accumulated since 1961. Distributions of the entire database, and of the biomass burning photos it contains, are displayed by mission, month, year, season, latitude and hemisphere. The relative frequency of biomass burning photos was determined by removing the effects of the number of days in space and the number of photos taken. Distributions of the photos of burning are shown in relation to characteristics of global climatic and vegetation characteristics which favor biomass burning. The strengths and weaknesses of the photographic database as a tool for remote sensing of biomass burning are also discussed briefly.
Classification-based emissivity for land surface temperature measurement from space

Classification-based global emissivity is needed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Earth Observing System Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (NASA EOS/MODIS) satellite instrument land surface temperature (LST) algorithm. It is also useful for Landsat, the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and other thermal infrared instruments and studies. For our approach, a pixel is classified as one of fourteen 'emissivity classes' based on the conventional land cover classification and dynamic and seasonal factors, such as snow cover and vegetation index. The emissivity models we present provide a range of values for each emissivity class by combining various spectral component measurements with structural factors. Emissivity statistics are reported for the EOS/MODIS channels 31 and 32, which are the channels that will be used in the LST split-window algorithm.
Storm‐enhanced plasma density features investigated during the Bastille Day Superstorm

Field‐aligned passes track true profiles. Such Defense Meteorological Satellite Program passes permitted investigating storm‐enhanced plasma density (SED) feature development during the Bastille Day Superstorm in a comprehensive way. We tracked equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and SED features and their underlying forward fountain circulation and downward SED plume plasma flows, respectively. Northward subauroral polarization stream E fields detaching plasma and producing SED plumes were also detected. We assessed the effects of South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly and summer‐towinter interhemispheric plasma flows on the EIA and found a southward dipping gradient in drift/flow when no storm/evening‐related fountain strengthening occurred. We investigated the relative importance of different plasma sources in SED development. An extremely large plasma enhancement seen over Florida at 2200 UT on 15 July 2000 was a SED feature that was tracked by many GPS total electron content (TEC) maps as a 200 TEC unit(TECU) enhancement. We tracked its equally large conjugate pair over Trelew (Argentine Patagonia) and unraveled their development. Their underlying SED plume supplied most of the plasma. Appearing between these two SED features, a small and highly asymmetrical EIA offered on each side a low baseline upon which the downward streaming SED plume plasma piled up. Contradicting a currently accepted explanation, there was no enhanced fountain action detected to contribute 150 TECU to the 200 TECU. Later (∼2400 UT), there was enhanced fountain action, but SED plume contribution still dominated. Proven by observational evidence, SED development is a complex process of SED plume plasma flows and equatorward wind effects that cannot be described by one single explanation.
Conversational Agents and Natural Language Interaction : Techniques and Effective Practices

Recent research has established the potential for computer generated virtual characters to act as virtual patients (VP) for the assessment and training of novice clinicians in interpersonal skills, interviewing, and diagnosis. These VPs are embodied interactive conversational agents who are designed to simulate a particular clinical presentation of a patient’s illness with a high degree of consistency and realism. In this chapter we describe the architecture developed for virtual patients, and the application of the system to subject testing with virtual patients that exhibit a set of clinical conditions called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The primary goal of these conversational agents was evaluative: can a VP generate responses that elicit user questions relevant for PTSD categorization? The results of the interactions of clinical students with the VP will be discussed. This chapter also highlights a set of design goals for increasing the visual, physical and cognitive realism when building VP systems including the design of the language, scenarios and artwork that is important when developing these characters. Finally, future research directions and challenges will be discussed for conversational virtual patients. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-617-6.ch011