Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of an Unusually Shallow Earthquake Sequence in Mogul, NV from a Discrimination Perspective (Postprint): Annual Report 1

Abstract : Distinction between very shallow (1-4 km deep) earthquakes and underground nuclear explosions remains an important issue in discrimination research. This is because very shallow earthquakes are seldom well-recorded and documented. As a consequence, their source parameters, scaling and their local and regional propagation characteristics are not well understood. Thus, unlike for deeper events, the effectiveness of the discrimination algorithms when applied to unusually shallow earthquakes has been only rarely determined. The primary objective of this study is a detailed investigation of a sequence of earthquakes that occurred during 2008 west of Reno, Nevada, in Mogul. This sequence consisted of over 1700 earthquakes with ML of 1.0 or greater, concentrated in depth between 1 and 4 km and ranging in magnitude up to Mw 5.0 (the main shock ). Preliminary analyses of the main shock have revealed uncharacteristically high amplitude near-field ground motions and uncharacteristically rapid attenuation with distance, which could affect the magnitude estimates and the discrimination metrics. For our investigations, we use a unique broadband and strong-motion recording database, from stations as close as 1 km from the epicenter of the main shock and most of the smaller events.
Activity based energy demand modeling for residential buildings

Statistics reveal that almost one-fourth of the overall power consumption in the US is by residential buildings; this number is only increasing. In order to manage the growing demand for energy, there is a need for energy system optimization, which would require a realistic, high resolution energy-demand model. To achieve this goal, we propose a modeling framework aimed at generating household energy demand profiles based on individual-level energy consuming activities. The model associates appliance usage for each household activity and calculates energy consumption based on the appliance energy rating and duration of activity. We use this information to generate a household level energy demand profile for roughly 63,000 households and discuss the possible uses of generating residential energy demand patterns. This paper provides a novel way to resolve correlational and consistency problems in the generation of individual-level and household-level “shared” activities which occur due to household members' interactions.
Real-Time Detection of Abandoned and Removed Objects in Complex Environments

We present a new framework to robustly and efficiently detect abandoned and removed objects in complex environments for real-time video surveillance. In our system, the background is modeled by a mixture of Gaussians. Similar to Tian et al. [18], this mixture model is employed to detect the static foreground regions (i.e., static blobs potentially corresponding to abandoned or removed objects) without extra computation cost. Several improvements are implemented to the background subtraction method for shadow removal, quick lighting change adaptation, reduction of fragmented foreground regions, and stable background update rate for video streams with inconsistent frame rates. Then, the types of the static regions (either abandoned or removed) are determined by using a method that exploits context information about the static foreground masks, significantly outperforming previous edge-based techniques. Based on the type of the static regions and several userdefined parameters, a matching method is proposed to trigger alerts indicating abandoned and removed objects. Our method can handle occlusions in complex environments with crowds. The robustness and efficiency of the method was tested on our real time video surveillance system for public safety application in big cities and evaluated by several public databases such as i-Lids and PETS2006 datasets.
pH Dependence of the Fluorescence Lifetime of FAD in Solution and in Cells

We have studied physiological parameters in a living cell using fluorescence lifetime imaging of endogenous chromophores. In this study, pH dependence of the fluorescence lifetime of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), that is a significant cofactor exhibiting autofluorescence, has been investigated in buffer solution and in cells. The fluorescence lifetime of FAD remained unchanged with pH 5 to 9 in solution. However, the fluorescence lifetime in HeLa cells was found to decrease with increasing intracellular pH, suggesting that pH in a single cell can be estimated from the fluorescence lifetime imaging of FAD without adding exogenous fluorescent probes.
Growth in Transition: What We Know, What We Don't and What We Should

This essay surveys macroeconomic issues that marked the transition from centrally planned to market economy in Central and Eastern European and former Soviet Union countries. We first establish a set of stylized facts of the transition so far, namely: (1) output fell, (2) capital shrank, (3) labor moved, (4) trade reoriented, (5) the structure changed, (6) institutions collapsed, and (7) transition costs. We then critically survey the theoretical literature on transition, discussing various explanations for the initial output fall as well as medium term issues, such as optimal speed of transition, disorganization, institutions and sectoral reallocation as a source of output dynamics. Last, we review the empirical literature to assess how well it translates the theoretical models and explains the stylized facts. The essay concludes with a succinct list of suggestions for future research.
Role of bacteriophage MAV1 as a mycoplasmal virulence factor for the development of arthritis in mice and rats.

The lysogenic bacteriophage MAV1 has been shown to be a virulence factor for the development of arthritis in rats infected with Mycoplasma arthritidis. In the present study, arthritis was evaluated by histopathologic examination to demonstrate that MAV1 is a virulence factor not only in the rat but also in the mouse. Specifically, the MAV1 lysogen 158L3-1 was more virulent than the nonlysogen strain 158 in DBA/2NCr, C3H/HeNCr, C3H/HeJ, and C3Smn.CB17-Prkdc(scid)/J mice, as well as in LEW rats.
Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals

Senala los lineamientos para las precauciones de aislamientos en los hospitales. Describe los razonamientos y responsabilidades para las precauciones del aislamiento, las tecnicas, recomendaciones y modificaciones. Dichas precauciones estan disenadas para prevenir la difusion de microorganismos entre pacientes, personal y visitantes
Anticipating posttraumatic growth from cancer: A patient and collateral perspective

Research suggests that individuals experience Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) from chronic health conditions, such as the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. How PTG is perceived at early time points following stressful events and whether PTG reflects a coping process or actual outcome remains uncertain. Researchers have implemented research methodologies to validate reports of PTG (e.g., corroboration by partners/significant others), although most research designs are cross-sectional, which limit conclusions and subsequent implications. The current longitudinal study examined cancer patients’ and significant others’ perceptions of Anticipated Posttraumatic Growth (APTG), dispositional and situational coping, and PTG at three time points spanning pre-treatment to 9 months later. Participants consisted of 87 mixed-cancer patients and 55 collaterals (e.g., spouses, family members, friends, or other community members). At pre-treatment, patients and collaterals completed a modified Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) to assess APTG. Collaterals also completed a modified PTGI for patients. Results revealed that patients and collaterals reported high levels of APTG for themselves compared to reports of PTG in the literature. Patients’ APTG was significantly higher than collaterals’ APTG, although patients and collaterals experienced similar levels of PTG. Overall, patients over-anticipated PTG for all growth scales, and with the exception of the PTG scale of new possibilities, collaterals under-anticipated the level of growth they reported. For corroboration of growth, collaterals were accurate in anticipating the amount of PTG patients would experience, with the exception of the PTG scale of new possibilities. For patients, dispositional planning coping moderated a relationship between PTG and APTG, and situational planning coping mediated a relationship between APTG and PTG. Results of the current study provide evidence for APTG as a possible illusory phenomena, a coping process, and an
Nutritional rickets in African American breast-fed infants.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the characteristics of infants and children diagnosed with nutritional rickets at two medical centers in North Carolina in the 1990s. STUDY DESIGN The physical and radiographic findings, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of infants and children diagnosed with nutritional rickets at two medical centers were reviewed. Breast-feeding data were obtained from the North Carolina Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). RESULTS Thirty patients with nutritional rickets were first seen between 1990 and June of 1999. Over half of the cases occurred in 1998 and the first half of 1999. All patients were African American children who were breast fed without receiving supplemental vitamin D. The average duration of breast-feeding was 12.5 months. The age at diagnosis was 5 to 25 months, with a median age of 15.5 months. Growth failure was common: length was <5th percentile in 65% of cases, and weight was <5th percentile in 43%. CONCLUSION Factors that may have contributed to the increase in referrals of children with nutritional rickets include more African American women breast-feeding, fewer infants receiving vitamin D supplements, and mothers and children exposed to less sunlight. We recommend that all dark-skinned breast-fed infants and children receive vitamin D supplementation.
Practical strategies for the teaching of thinking

the participants and their school sys tems commit themselves, for at least three years, to trying the specialization idea. Such a commitment would mean participants would teach only mathe matics and, perhaps, have some free time to help teachers of other grades improve their teaching of mathemat ics. The specialists probably could also act as leaders in setting goals and choosing textbooks and tests for mathematics. An institute should continue over an extended period of time (two sum mers and an intervening inservice aca demic year, for example) so that teach ers could work as specialists during their participation and so that institute faculty could visit their schools. If the United States is to compete in the world marketplace and if our citi zens are to contribute capably to the welfare of the world, our precollege schools must prepare many more peo ple in mathematics far better than is now the case. Preparing and employ ing elementary mathematics special ists is a cost-effective way for the feder al government and local school systems to work with universities to improve both the quality and the quantity of precollege mathematics education.Q
Chromosome translocations and covert leukemic clones are generated during normal fetal development

Studies on monozygotic twins with concordant leukemia and retrospective scrutiny of neonatal blood spots of patients with leukemia indicate that chromosomal translocations characteristic of pediatric leukemia often arise prenatally, probably as initiating events. The modest concordance rate for leukemia in identical twins (≈5%), protracted latency, and transgenic modeling all suggest that additional postnatal exposure and/or genetic events are required for clinically overt leukemia development. This notion leads to the prediction that chromosome translocations, functional fusion genes, and preleukemic clones should be present in the blood of healthy newborns at a rate that is significantly greater than the cumulative risk of the corresponding leukemia. Using parallel reverse transcriptase–PCR and real-time PCR (Taqman) screening, we find that the common leukemia fusion genes, TEL-AML1 or AML1-ETO, are present in cord bloods at a frequency that is 100-fold greater than the risk of the corresponding leukemia. Single-cell analysis by cell enrichment and immunophenotype/fluorescence in situ hybridization multicolor staining confirmed the presence of translocations in restricted cell types corresponding to the B lymphoid or myeloid lineage of the leukemias that normally harbor these fusion genes. The frequency of positive cells (10−4 to 10−3) indicates substantial clonal expansion of a progenitor population. These data have significant implications for the pathogenesis, natural history, and etiology of childhood leukemia.
Supplementary Appendix to Rich Communication, Social Preferences, and Coordinated Resistance against Divide-and- Conquer: a Laboratory Investigation (2013)

In the text, before proceeding to our experimental design, we first discuss how rich communication may affect the behavior of victims and beneficiaries. As background for this discussion, we informally sketch in the text a model developed in Cason and Mui (2013) that was designed to study how incomplete information about social preferences and non-binding restrictive communication (in the form of a binary message) affect behavior in the repeated CR game. We then informally explain how the model can be used to demonstrate that the presence of heterogeneous social preferences transforms the subgame following a DAC transgression (the DAC subgame) into a game of incomplete information. We also state that it can be shown that an informative equilibrium exists in the CR game with social preferences and non-binding restrictive communication, in which restrictive communication can help coordinate resistance between the victim and the (SP-type) beneficiary. This appendix sketches the model that we discussed informally in the text. Detailed discussion of the model and proofs of results are reported in the Technical Appendix of Cason and Mui (2013) that is available at Consider a model in which all agents are of two types. With probability p an agent has standard preferences, and with probability (1-p) the agent has social preferences. An agent's type is her private information. Cox et al. (2007) assume that in a (two-player) sequential move game, when a second-mover with social preferences makes her decision after observing the action chosen by the first-mover, the second-mover's marginal rate of substitution between her income and the income of the first-mover depends on her emotional state toward the first-mover. Following this approach, and for simplicity we assume that the only emotional reaction that can be triggered in the CR game is the negative reaction toward a transgressing leader by the responders. Qualitatively, our main results hold for any social preferences models in which a
Applying Social Media Intelligence for Predicting and Identifying On-line Radicalization and Civil Unrest Oriented Threats

Research shows that various social media platforms on Internet such as Twitter, Tumblr (micro-blogging websites), Facebook (a popular social networking website), YouTube (largest video sharing and hosting website), Blogs and discussion forums are being misused by extremist groups for spreading their beliefs and ideologies, promoting radicalization, recruiting members and creating online virtual communities sharing a common agenda. Popular microblogging websites such as Twitter are being used as a real-time platform for information sharing and communication during planning and mobilization if civil unrest related events. Applying social media intelligence for predicting and identifying online radicalization and civil unrest oriented threats is an area that has attracted several researchers' attention over past 10 years. There are several algorithms, techniques and tools that have been proposed in existing literature to counter and combat cyber-extremism and predicting protest related events in much advance. In this paper, we conduct a literature review of all these existing techniques and do a comprehensive analysis to understand state-of-the-art, trends and research gaps. We present a one class classification approach to collect scholarly articles targeting the topics and subtopics of our research scope. We perform characterization, classification and an in-depth meta analysis meta-anlaysis of about 100 conference and journal papers to gain a better understanding of existing literature.
Successful long-term weight loss maintenance in a rural population

Background Few investigations of successful long-term weight loss beyond two years have been conducted, and none has examined weight changes in medically underserved rural populations of older adults. The purpose of this study was to assess long-term weight loss maintenance 3.5 years after the completion of an initial six-month lifestyle intervention for obesity among women aged 50–75 years residing in rural communities. Methods One hundred and ten obese women with a mean (± standard deviation) age of 60.08 ± 6.17 years and mean body mass index of 36.76 ± 5.10 kg/m2 completed an in-person assessment during which their weight and adherence to behavioral weight management strategies were evaluated. Results Participants showed a mean weight reduction of 10.17% ± 5.0% during the initial six- month intervention and regained 6.95% ± 9.44% from the completion of treatment to follow-up assessment 3.5 years later. A substantial proportion of participants (41.80%) were able to maintain weight reductions of 5% or greater from baseline to follow-up. “Successful” participants (those who maintained losses of 5% or greater at follow-up) reported weighing themselves, self-monitoring their intake and calories, planning meals in advance, and choosing lower calorie foods with greater frequency than “unsuccessful” participants (those who lost less than 5%). Conclusion Collectively, these findings indicate that a large proportion of participants were able to maintain clinically significant weight losses for multiple years after treatment, and that self-monitoring was a key component of successful long-term weight management.
Neighbors' Income, Public Goods, and Well‐Being

How does neighbors' income affect individual well‐being? Our analysis is based on rich U.S. local data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which contains information on where respondents live and their self‐reported well‐being. We find that the effect of neighbors' income on individuals' self‐reported well‐being varies with the size of the neighborhood included. In smaller areas such as ZIP codes, we find a positive relationship between median income and individuals' life satisfaction, whereas it is the opposite at the county, MSA, and state levels. We provide evidence that local public goods and local area characteristics such as unemployment, criminality, and poverty rates drive the association between satisfaction and neighbors' income at the ZIP code level. The neighbors' income effects are mainly concentrated among poorer individuals and are as large as one quarter of the effect of own income on self‐reported well‐being.
Opportunity “Nox”: A Novel Approach to Preventing Endothelial Dysfunction in the Context of Insulin Resistance

Cardiovascular complications are more prevalent in individuals with conditions associated with insulin resistance. Knowledge is evolving concerning the mechanistic link between insulin resistance and vascular disease, but complete clarity does not exist. This is a high-priority area of investigation because individual and societal costs associated with diabetic vascular complications are increasing, and the need to elucidate effective therapeutic targets and intervention strategies with minimal off-target side effects is urgent. Insulin-resistant conditions such as type 2 diabetes and diet-induced obesity are associated with an altered endothelial cell phenotype, i.e., endothelial dysfunction. A crucial component of endothelial cell dysfunction is reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Reduced NO bioavailability contributes importantly to pathologies specific to large (atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy) and small (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy) blood vessels (1). Oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, lipotoxicity, activation of the renin-angiotensin system, and increased proinflammatory cytokines are systemic disturbances in patients with conditions associated with insulin resistance. Each of these factors contributes independently and synergistically to decreasing NO bioavailability by impairing its synthesis and/or by enhancing its degradation (2). In this issue of Diabetes , Sukumar et al. (3) demonstrate that endothelial cell–specific insulin resistance increases NADPH oxidase (Nox) isoform 2 (Nox2) expression to an extent that elevates superoxide anion (O2·−) production and precipitates endothelial dysfunction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive metabolites of oxygen that participate in oxidation-reduction reactions (4). A traditional definition of oxidative stress is when ROS accumulation overwhelms the cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms and the redox state of the biological compartment is shifted toward one that is more oxidizing (5,6). Cellular sources of ROS include NADPH-dependent oxidases, xanthine oxidase, lipoxygenases, mitochondrial oxidases, and NO synthases (7). Nox is a major source of O2·− in insulin-resistant humans (8,9) and …
Manipulating biological and mechanical micro-objects using LIGA-microfabricated end-effectors

We first discuss some general aspects of micromanipulation and possible different approaches. Then, we present new results in the micromanipulation of mechanical and biological objects. The apparatus we use is a purposely developed workstation comprising macro- and micro-manipulators. The most innovative component of the workstation is a micro-gripper fabricated using LIGA technology and actuated by piezoelectric actuators. We describe the design, fabrication and performance of a few prototypes of LIGA micro-grippers. Results are presented which demonstrate the ability of the system to manipulate effectively both micro-mechanical and biological micro-objects.
Cytoplasmic pH recovery in acid-loaded haemocytes of squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana).

Cytoplasmic pH (pHi) of haemocytes of bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana Lesson) was determined with the fluorescent probe, 2',7'-biscarboxyethyl-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). The pHi of haemocytes suspended in nominally HCO3(-)-free medium (extracellular pH 7.4) averaged (+/- S.E.) 7.32 +/- 0.02. Intracellular pH was independent of external Na+ concentration and varied only slightly with changes in extracellular pH (pHe) (delta pHi/delta pHe = 0.16 over the pHe range 6.8-7.8). Addition of weak acids (sodium propionate, potassium acetate) to haemocyte suspensions resulted in a rapid decrease in pHi. Haemocyte pHi then recovered with an average half-time of 3-4 min. Recovery of pHi was independent of external Na+ concentration and insensitive to amiloride, but was abolished by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). These results argue against the involvement of plasma membrane Na+/H+ exchange or other Na(+)-dependent transport mechanisms in the pHi recovery of acid-loaded haemocytes. The results suggest that there is an NEM-sensitive proton extrusion mechanism in the plasma membrane of squid haemocytes.
Preventive medicine in people at high risk for chronic disease: the value of identifying and treating diabetes.

CMAJ • JUNE 1, 1999; 160 (11) 1593 There is no evidence that screening the entire adult population over the age of 45 for diabetes will decrease morbidity or mortality. What is certain is that screening will do a great deal of harm. Not only will thousands of Canadians who thought they were well find out they are sick, but our society as a whole will be subjected to yet another voice fostering our burgeoning and anxiety-provoking obsession with health.