Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling long‐term (300 ka) upland catchment response to multiple lava damming events

Landscapes respond in complex ways to external drivers such as base level change due to damming events. In this study, landscape evolution modelling was used to understand and analyse long‐term catchment response to lava damming events. PalaeoDEM reconstruction of a small Turkish catchment (45 km2) that endured multiple lava damming events in the past 300 ka, was used to derive long‐term net erosion rates. These erosion rates were used for parameter calibration and led to a best fit parameter set. This optimal parameter set was used to compare net erosion landscape time series of four scenarios: (i) no uplift and no damming events; (ii) no uplift and three damming events; (iii) uplift and no damming events; and (iv) uplift and three damming events. Spatial evolution of net erosion and sediment storage of scenario (iii) and (iv) were compared. Simulation results demonstrate net erosion differences after 250 000 years between scenarios with and without dams. Initially, trunk gullies show less net erosion in the scenario with damming events compared with the scenario without damming events. This effect of dampened erosion migrates upstream to smaller gullies and local slopes. Finally, an intrinsic incision pulse in the dam scenario results in a higher net erosion of trunk gullies while decoupled local slopes are still responding to the pre‐incision landscape conditions. Sediment storage differences also occur on a 100 ka scale. These differences behaved in a complex manner owing to different timings of the migration of erosion and sediment waves along the gullies for each scenario. Although the specific spatial and temporal sequence of erosion and deposition events is sensitive to local parameters, this model study shows the manner in which past short‐lived events like lava dams have long‐lasting effects on catchment evolution. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multi-scale label-map extraction for texture synthesis

Texture synthesis is a well-established area, with many important applications in computer graphics and vision. However, despite their success, synthesis techniques are not used widely in practice because the creation of good exemplars remains challenging and extremely tedious. In this paper, we introduce an unsupervised method for analyzing texture content across multiple scales that automatically extracts good exemplars from natural images. Unlike existing methods, which require extensive manual tuning, our method is fully automatic. This allows the user to focus on using texture palettes derived from their own images, rather than on manual interactions dictated by the needs of an underlying algorithm. Most natural textures exhibit patterns at multiple scales that may vary according to the location (non-stationarity). To handle such textures many synthesis algorithms rely on an analysis of the input and a guidance of the synthesis. Our new analysis is based on a labeling of texture patterns that is both (i) multi-scale and (ii) unsupervised -- that is, patterns are labeled at multiple scales, and the scales and the number of labeled clusters are selected automatically. Our method works in two stages. The first builds a hierarchical extension of superpixels and the second labels the superpixels based on random walk in a graph of similarity between superpixels and a nonnegative matrix factorization. Our label-maps provide descriptors for pixels and regions that benefit state-of-the-art texture synthesis algorithms. We show several applications including guidance of non-stationary synthesis, content selection and texture painting. Our method is designed to treat large inputs and can scale to many megapixels. In addition to traditional exemplar inputs, our method can also handle natural images containing different textured regions.
Impact of memory intensive applications on performance of cloud virtual machine

Cloud computing is a rising distributed computing paradigm that promises to offer cost effective, scalable, on demand services to users without the need for large investments in purchasing and managing the infrastructure. Cloud computing brings significant benefits for both service providers and users because of its characteristics. With virtualization - A key technology for cloud computing, service providers can ensure isolation of multiple user workloads, provision resources in cost effective manner i.e. low resource allocation at lower load and quickly scale up according to load conditions thus optimally utilizing resources.
Elite Haplotypes of a Protein Kinase Gene TaSnRK2.3 Associated with Important Agronomic Traits in Common Wheat

Plant-specific protein kinase SnRK2s play crucial roles in response to various environmental stimuli. TaSnRK2.3, a SnRK2 member, was involved in the response to multiple abiotic stresses in wheat. To facilitate the use of TaSnRK2.3 in wheat breeding, the three genomic sequences of TaSnRK2.3, originating from the A, B, and D genomes of hexaploid wheat, were obtained. Sequence polymorphism assays showing 4 and 10 variations were detected at TaSnRK2.3-1A and at TaSnRK2.3-1B, respectively, yet no variation was identified at TaSnRK2.3-1D. Three haplotypes for A genome, and two main haplotypes for B genome of TaSnRK2.3 were identified in 32 genotypes. Functional markers (2.3AM1, 2.3AM2, 2.3BM1, 2.3BM2) were successfully developed to distinguish different haplotypes. Association analysis was performed with the general linear model in TASSEL 2.1. The results showed that both TaSnRK2.3-1A and TaSnRK2.3-1B were significantly associated with plant height (PH), length of peduncle and penultimate node, as well as 1,000-grain weight (TGW) under different environments. Additionally, TaSnRK2.3-1B was significantly associated with stem water-soluble carbohydrates at flowering and mid-grain filling stages. Hap-1A-1 had higher TGW and lower PH; Hap-1B-1 had higher TGW and stem water-soluble carbohydrates, as well as lower PH, thus the two haplotypes were considered as elite haplotypes. Geographic distribution and allelic frequencies indicated that the two preferred haplotypes Hap-1A-1 and Hap-1B-1 were positively selected in the process of Chinese wheat breeding. These results could be valuable for genetic improvement and germplasm enhancement using molecular marker assisted selection in wheat breeding.
Spatial Resolution Enhancement of Low-Resolution Image Sequences A Comprehensive Review with Directions for Future Research

Recent years have seen growing interest in the problem of super-resolution restoration of video sequences. Whereas in the traditional single image restoration problem only a single input image is available for processing, the task of reconstructing super-resolution images from multiple undersampled and degraded images can take advantage of the additional spatiotemporal data available in the image sequence. In particular, camera and scene motion lead to frames in the source video sequence containing similar, but not identical information. The additional information available in these frames make possible reconstruction of visually superior frames at higher resolution than that of the original data. In this paper we review the current state of the art and identify promising directions for future research. The authors are with the Laboratory for Image and Signal Analysis (LISA), University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556. E-mail: rls@nd.edu .
Abundant ribonucleotide incorporation into DNA by yeast replicative polymerases

Measurements of nucleoside triphosphate levels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveal that the four rNTPs are in 36- to 190-fold molar excess over their corresponding dNTPs. During DNA synthesis in vitro using the physiological nucleoside triphosphate concentrations, yeast DNA polymerase ε, which is implicated in leading strand replication, incorporates one rNMP for every 1,250 dNMPs. Pol δ and Pol α, which conduct lagging strand replication, incorporate one rNMP for every 5,000 or 625 dNMPs, respectively. Discrimination against rNMP incorporation varies widely, in some cases by more than 100-fold, depending on the identity of the base and the template sequence context in which it is located. Given estimates of the amount of replication catalyzed by Pols α, δ, and ε, the results are consistent with the possibility that more than 10,000 rNMPs may be incorporated into the nuclear genome during each round of replication in yeast. Thus, rNMPs may be the most common noncanonical nucleotides introduced into the eukaryotic genome. Potential beneficial and negative consequences of abundant ribonucleotide incorporation into DNA are discussed, including the possibility that unrepaired rNMPs in DNA could be problematic because yeast DNA polymerase ε has difficulty bypassing a single rNMP present within a DNA template.
The Role of Ultrasonography in the Management of Tumors of the Neck

By themselves, clinical examination and palpation do not provide an accurate assessment of metastatic neck nodes. They do not yield sufficient information to ascertain the benign or malignant nature of nodes or to determine the presence of extracapsular spread and vascular invasion. The use of real-time ultrasonography with high-frequency transducers can significantly improve the evaluation of patients with neck masses. We studied the use of ultrasound in evaluating metastatic neck disease in 25 patients. We found that it is useful not only in detecting neck nodes, but in assessing their characteristics and the degree of vascular invasion. We recommend that ultrasonography be routinely performed as part of the evaluation of all patients with head and neck masses. It is also valuable in the postoperative or postirradiation followup of patients whose necks are otherwise difficult to evaluate.
Helicobacter pylori eradication to prevent gastric cancer in a high-risk region of China: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Although chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastric cancer, the effect of H pylori treatment on prevention of gastric cancer development in chronic carriers is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine whether treatment of H pylori infection reduces the incidence of gastric cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, population-based primary prevention study of 1630 healthy carriers of H pylori infection from Fujian Province, China, recruited in July 1994 and followed up until January 2002. A total of 988 participants did not have precancerous lesions (gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, or gastric dysplasia) on study entry. INTERVENTION Patients were randomly assigned to receive H pylori eradication treatment: a 2-week course of omeprazole, 20 mg, a combination product of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium, 750 mg, and metronidazole, 400 mg, all twice daily (n = 817); or placebo (n = 813). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was incidence of gastric cancer during follow-up, compared between H pylori eradication and placebo groups. The secondary outcome measure was incidence of gastric cancer in patients with or without precancerous lesions, compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Among the 18 new cases of gastric cancers that developed, no overall reduction was observed in participants who received H pylori eradication treatment (n = 7) compared with those who did not (n = 11) (P =.33). In a subgroup of patients with no precancerous lesions on presentation, no patient developed gastric cancer during a follow-up of 7.5 years after H pylori eradication treatment compared with those who received placebo (0 vs 6; P =.02). Smoking (hazard ratio [HR], 6.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-16.5; P<.001) and older age (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.15; P<.001) were independent risk factors for the development of gastric cancer in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS We found that the incidence of gastric cancer development at the population level was similar between participants receiving H pylori eradication treatment and those receiving placebo during a period of 7.5 years in a high-risk region of China. In the subgroup of H pylori carriers without precancerous lesions, eradication of H pylori significantly decreased the development of gastric cancer. Further studies to investigate the role of H pylori eradication in participants with precancerous lesions are warranted.
Lurbinectedin (PM01183), a New DNA Minor Groove Binder, Inhibits Growth of Orthotopic Primary Graft of Cisplatin-Resistant Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Purpose: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fifth leading cause of death in women diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies. The low survival rate is because of its advanced-stage diagnosis and either intrinsic or acquired resistance to standard platinum-based chemotherapy. So, the development of effective innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome cisplatin resistance remains a high priority. Experimental Design: To investigate new treatments in in vivo models reproducing EOCs tumor growth, we generated a preclinical model of ovarian cancer after orthotopic implantation of a primary serous tumor in nude mice. Further, matched model of acquired cisplatin-resistant tumor version was successfully derived in mice. Effectiveness of lurbinectedin (PM01183) treatment, a novel marine-derived DNA minor groove covalent binder, was assessed in both preclinical models as a single and a combined-cisplatin agent. Results: Orthotopically perpetuated tumor grafts mimic the histopathological characteristics of primary patients' tumors and they also recapitulate in mice characteristic features of tumor response to cisplatin treatments. We showed that single lurbinectedin or cisplatin-combined therapies were effective in treating cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant preclinical ovarian tumor models. Furthermore, the strongest in vivo synergistic effect was observed for combined treatments, especially in cisplatin-resistant tumors. Lurbinectedin tumor growth inhibition was associated with reduced proliferation, increased rate of aberrant mitosis, and subsequent induced apoptosis. Conclusions: Taken together, preclinical orthotopic ovarian tumor grafts are useful tools for drug development, providing hard evidence that lurbinectedin might be a useful therapy in the treatment of EOC by overcoming cisplatin resistance. Clin Cancer Res; 18(19); 5399–411. ©2012 AACR.
Flocking ferromagnetic colloids

Energized by a vertical alternating magnetic field, colloidal particles roll and flock together. Assemblages of microscopic colloidal particles exhibit fascinating collective motion when energized by electric or magnetic fields. The behaviors range from coherent vortical motion to phase separation and dynamic self-assembly. Although colloidal systems are relatively simple, understanding their collective response, especially under out-of-equilibrium conditions, remains elusive. We report on the emergence of flocking and global rotation in the system of rolling ferromagnetic microparticles energized by a vertical alternating magnetic field. By combing experiments and discrete particle simulations, we have identified primary physical mechanisms, leading to the emergence of large-scale collective motion: spontaneous symmetry breaking of the clockwise/counterclockwise particle rotation, collisional alignment of particle velocities, and random particle reorientations due to shape imperfections. We have also shown that hydrodynamic interactions between the particles do not have a qualitative effect on the collective dynamics. Our findings shed light on the onset of spatial and temporal coherence in a large class of active systems, both synthetic (colloids, swarms of robots, and biopolymers) and living (suspensions of bacteria, cell colonies, and bird flocks).
Pairing gaps in atomic gases at the BCS–BEC crossover

Strong evidence for pairing and superfluidity has recently been found in atomic Fermi gases at the BCS–BEC crossover both in collective modes and radio frequency (RF) excitation energies. It is argued that the scale for the effective pairing gaps measured in RF experiments is set by the lowest quasiparticle in-gap excitation energies. These are calculated at the BCS–BEC crossover from semiclassical solutions to the Bogoliubov–deGennes equations. The strong damping of the radial breathing mode observed in the BCS limit occurs when the lowest quasiparticle excitation energies coincide with the radial frequency, which indicates that a coupling between them takes place.
An illumination compensation algorithm for face images based on line scanning

The difference among faces under different illumination is a bottleneck in face recognition. This paper presents an illumination compensation algorithm based on two-dimensional image information for human faces. On the assumption that the human face shares a similar shape with spherical surface, the algorithm mainly consists of two illumination estimation processes and one illumination compensation process. We first estimate the face information under even illumination along the symmetrical axis of faces so as to build a standard illumination model by data fitting to the prior statistic information. Then, we analyze the statistical distributions of the face image grayscale along the direction of lighting. At last, using the standard model combined with linear transform and non-linear transform, we can rectify the face image under uneven illumination to standard. The simulation results on the Yale B face database have shown that the proposed method can realize effectively illumination compensation under wide-angle oblique lighting and very dark lighting. In addition to simple computation, the algorithm surpasses other methods in visual effect and information correlation.
CogNet: A network management architecture featuring cognitive capabilities

It is expected that the fifth generation mobile networks (5G) will support both human-to-human and machine-to-machine communications, connecting up to trillions of devices and reaching formidable levels of complexity and traffic volume. This brings a new set of challenges for managing the network due to the diversity and the sheer size of the network. It will be necessary for the network to largely manage itself and deal with organisation, configuration, security, and optimisation issues. This paper proposes an architecture of an autonomic self-managing network based on Network Function Virtualization, which is capable of achieving or balancing objectives such as high QoS, low energy usage and operational efficiency. The main novelty of the architecture is the Cognitive Smart Engine introduced to enable Machine Learning, particularly (near) real-time learning, in order to dynamically adapt resources to the immediate requirements of the virtual network functions, while minimizing performance degradations to fulfill SLA requirements. This architecture is built within the CogNet European Horizon 2020 project, which refers to Cognitive Networks.
The fostering of cross-disciplinary science as a result of the IPY: “connectivity” created by the Canada Three Oceans project

The fourth International Polar Year (IPY), which ended in March 2009, represented a ca. 50% increase in the funding of polar science, a major expansion of the observing effort across polar and subpolar seas, the deployment of a wide range of new and complex observing techniques and a gratifying new degree of international collaboration in their use. As a result, the IPY has revolutionized our polar data sets to provide our first real glimpse of the ocean–atmosphere–cryosphere operating as a complete system. Here we focus on one particular aspect of the emerging results—the “connectivities” that may develop between individual research projects over time, developing the complexity of our understanding in real if unexpected ways as new findings emerge, ramify and mesh within projects or between them. For simplicity, we illustrate this valuable but unpredictable process by using one particular Arctic–sub-Arctic project—Canada Three Oceans—as our initial reference point and attempting to trace out a small subset of its inter-connections across space, time, projects and disciplines.
Global lateral variations of shear wave attenuation in the upper mantle

We analyze several thousand high-quality, globally recorded SS - S differential waveforms to constrain the lateral variation of shear wave attenuation (Q β ) in the upper mantle. We use a multitaper frequency domain technique to measure attenuation, parameterized by a t* operator, and implement a robust estimation technique to compute t* and its variance. The differential waveform technique minimizes the effect of factors such as finite source duration and structural complexity near the source and receiver so the differential SS - S waveforms are mainly sensitive to the shear attenuation in the upper mantle under the SS bounce point. We use seismograms recorded at ranges of 45° to 100° and compute the SS - S differential t* from the broadening of the SS waveform relative to the Hilbert transform of the S waveform. A careful choice of fitting windows allows us to reduce the biasing effects of interfering phases which can affect t* by up to 0.5 s. The t* residuals (with respect to preliminary reference Earth model (PREM)) vary by ±1.5 s with an average of 0.24 s. Our study suggests an average Q β value of 112 (most of the lateral variations of Q β are within 30% of this value) in the top 400 km of the mantle, slightly lower than the PREM value of 128. There is a qualitative correlation of t* residual with tectonic region with distinctly higher attenuation observed under young oceans compared to platforms and shields. Also, the lateral variations of the residuals are similar in trend to those observed in studies of the attenuation of ScS multiples. At long wavelengths, the Qp map shows a modest correlation with shear wave attenuation maps computed from surface wave analyses and with the patterns of lateral variations of shear velocities at certain upper-mantle depths predicted by the model S16B30. The correlation with the velocity model is highest at 300-500 km depth indicating that there may be a contribution to long-wavelength attenuation from relatively deep regions. Formal inversion for an upper mantle Q β model shows that while lateral resolution is quite good, depth resolution is poor as might be expected. Better depth resolution must await combined body wave and surface wave inversions.
Metaheuristic Algorithms for Task Assignment in Distributed Computing Systems : A Comparative and Integrative Approach

We consider the assignment of program tasks to processors in distributed computing systems such that system cost is minimized and resource constraints are satisfied. Several formulations for this task assignment problem (TAP) have been proposed in the literature. Most of these TAP formulations, however, are NP-complete and thus finding exact solutions is computationally intractable. Recently, some approximation methods like simulated annealing have been proposed, and simulation results exhibited the potential to solve the TAP using metaheuristics. In order to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of various metaheuristics applied to the TAP, we first propose two alternative metaheuristics—one using genetic algorithm and the other reinforcement learning algorithm—as well as their implementation details. Extensive computational evidences of the two heuristic algorithms against that of simulated annealing are presented, compared and discussed. Based on these experimental results, a hybrid strategy employing both metaheuristics is then proposed in order to solve the TAP more effectively and efficiently.