Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of earthquake source inversions to atmospheric noise and corrections of InSAR data

Tropospheric phase delays pose a major challenge to InSAR (interferometric synthetic aperture radar)‐based studies of tectonic deformation. One approach to the mitigation of effects from tropospheric noise is the application of elevation‐dependent corrections based on empirical fits between elevation and interferometric phase. We quantify the effects of corrections with a range of complexity on inferred earthquake source parameters using synthetic interferograms with known atmospheric characteristics. We infer statistical properties of the stratified component of the atmosphere using pressure, temperature, and water vapor data from the North America Regional Reanalysis model over our region of interest in the Basin and Range province of the western United States. The statistics of the simulated atmospheric turbulence are estimated from InSAR and Global Positioning System data. We demonstrate potentially significant improvements in the precision of earthquake magnitude, depth, and dip estimates for several synthetic earthquake focal mechanisms following a correction for spatially variable atmospheric characteristics, relative to cases where the correction is based on a uniform delay versus elevation relationship or where no correction is applied. We apply our approach to the 1992 M5.6 Little Skull Mountain, Nevada, earthquake and demonstrate that the earthquake source parameter error bounds decrease in size after applying the atmospheric corrections. Our approach for evaluating the impact of atmospheric noise on inferred fault parameters is easily adaptable to other regions and source mechanisms.
Dictionary-Less Defect Diagnosis as Real or Surrogate Single Stuck-At Faults

With Moore’s law prediction already reaching its final stages, the number of transistors present in a chip has already touched more than a billion. At this stage, if a chip fails during manufacturing testing, it is becoming highly difficult to diagnose the root cause of the failure with precision. The other major contributing factor to this problem is that the actual defects are always not the same as the modeled defects considered during diagnosis. A diagnostic procedure should be able to give the possible locations where the defect could be present, given the failing occurrences of a chip. In this thesis, we propose a diagnostic algorithm that identifies classic single stuck-at faults as surrogate fault suspects for non-classical faults like multiple faults by analyzing failing circuits. Several diagnostic procedures have been proposed previously, but not many of them could directly associate the diagnosis results to the actual fault present in the circuit, the reason being, the diagnosis procedure is aimed at diagnosing pre-modeled defects. Few diagnostic procedures that somewhat try to associate with the actual defect are extremely complex. Hence, in this thesis no specific type of defects are assumed. Complexity is kept under control by considering only single stuck-at faults, which are highly analyzable. The single stuck-at faults are identified not as real suspects but as surrogates for actual defects. The diagnostic algorithm, therefore, works with the possibility that the observed behavior of the defective circuit may not exactly match with that produced by the surrogate single stuck-at faults. The algorithm is based on effect-cause analysis and proves to be less complex than existing methods. This diagnostic procedure involves adding or removing faults from a set of suspected faults based on the observed circuit outputs and minimal fault simulation to finally obtain a small set of candidate faults. Since the proposed algorithm does not require
Structure-Function Relationships in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Poly(A) Polymerase

We have constructed deletions in the nonconserved regions at the amino and carboxyl ends of the poly(A) polymerase (PAP) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and examined the effects of these truncations on function of the enzyme. PAP synthesizes a poly(A) tail onto the 3′-end of RNA without any primer specificity but, in the presence of cellular factors, is directed specifically to the cleaved ends of mRNA precursors. The last 31 amino acids of PAP are dispensable for both nonspecific and specific activities. Removal of the next 36 amino acids affects an RNA binding domain, which is essential for the activity of the enzyme and for cell viability. This novel RNA binding site was further localized using additional deletions, cyanogen bromide cleavage of PAP cross-linked with RNA or 8-azido-ATP, and a monoclonal antibody against a COOH-terminal PAP epitope. A deletion that partially disrupts this domain has reduced nonspecific activity but functions in specific polyadenylation. In contrast, deletion of the first 18 amino acids of PAP has no effect on nonspecific polyadenylation but completely eliminates specific activity. This region is essential for enzyme function in vivo and is probably involved in the interaction of PAP with other protein(s) of the polyadenylation machinery.
Circulating tumor cells: a broad perspective

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have recently been identified as valuable biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic evaluations, as well for monitoring therapeutic responses to treatments. CTCs are rare cells which may be present as one CTC surrounded by approximately 1 million white blood cells and 1 billion red blood cells per milliliter of peripheral blood. Despite the various challenges in CTC detection, considerable progress in detection methods have been documented in recent times, particularly for methodologies incorporating nanomaterial-based platforms and/or integrated microfluidics. Herein, we summarize the importance of CTCs as biological markers for tumor detection, highlight their mechanism of cellular invasion and discuss the various challenges associated with CTC research, including vulnerability, heterogeneity, phenotypicity and size differences. In addition, we describe nanomaterial agents used for electrochemistry and surface plasmon resonance applications, which have recently been used to selectively capture cancer cells and amplify signals for CTC detection. The intrinsic properties of nanomaterials have also recently been exploited to achieve photothermal destruction of cancer cells. This review describes recent advancements and future perspectives in the CTC field.
Evaluation of cyclic resistance of high quality undisturbed Chiba silty sand samples retrieved by "Gel-Push" sampling technique

This paper focuses on the cyclic resistance assessment of two non-plastic silty sands that likely experienced severe liquefaction during the 2011 Off the Pacific Cost of Tohoku Earthquake (Japan). Several samples were retrieved from fill and alluvial deposits at a site investigation in Chiba. Besides a conventional triple-tube sampler (TB), a cutting-edge sampling technique, namely “Gel-Push sampler” (GP), was adopted to obtain high quality undisturbed samples. In the laboratory, a series of cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on several specimens recovered by both GP and TB samplers. Preliminary results of liquefaction resistance and shear wave velocity compared to field PS logging measurements revealed that that the sampling technique and quality of samples highly affected the evaluation of liquefaction resistance of the investigated sands. Therefore, to address this issue, a classification of sample quality for undisturbed samples was provided, based on change in density and shear velocity/dynamic shear modulus measured in the field and in the laboratory.
This information is current as Production β Dependent IL-1 − Inflammasome Infection Requires ASC abortus Brucella Microvasculature in Response to Elicited Activation of Brain − Glial Cell

Print ISSN: 0022-1767 Online ISSN: 1550-6606. Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2016 by The American Association of 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3994. The American Association of Immunologists, Inc., is published twice each month by The Journal of Immunology at U iv of C alifnia-San D igo Seials/B om ed L ib 0699 on M arch 8, 2016 hp://w w w jim m unl.org/ D ow nladed from
Data Resource Profile: IPUMS-International.

The Integrated Public Use Microdata Series-International (IPUMS-International) disseminates high-precision census microdata samples from around the world. Since its inception in 1999, IPUMS-International has partnered with official statistical agencies to assemble the world’s largest collection of publicly available census microdata. With over 100 national statistical office (NSO) partners, IPUMS-International currently disseminates integrated data on more than one-half billion persons, spanning five continents and provided at no charge to researchers and students worldwide. The data series includes data from 1960 to 2011, with multiple samples available for most countries. IPUMS-International reduces the barriers to comparative research across time and space by converting international census microdata into a uniform format, providing comprehensive documentation and making the data available to researchers through a Web-based access system. The data series includes information on a broad range of population characteristics, including fertility, nuptiality, mortality, migration, disability, labour force participation, occupational structure, education, ethnicity and household composition. Variable coding schemes are standardized across samples (without loss of detail) to provide an integrated database that allows samples to be easily combined for comparisons across years or national boundaries. The IPUMS-International online data access system allows researchers to create customized data extracts that contain only the samples, variables and cases they require. The data access system is fully integrated with the variable and sample documentation in a user-friendly online interface, so researchers can make informed decisions as they define their datasets. Other features include intra-household relationship pointer variables, spatiotemporally harmonized geographical variables and accompanying boundary files (shape files), and an online data tabulator. Researchers who use census microdata disseminated through the IPUMS-International partnership are required to cite the NSOs that contributed their original data as well as IPUMS-International for harmonizing and disseminating the data. For each data extract, researchers receive an e-mail citation format which includes a list of the NSOs for each country in the extract.
Species distribution and depth habitat of recent planktic foraminifera in Fram Strait, Arctic Ocean

To describe the horizontal and vertical distribution of recent planktic foraminifera in Fram Strait (Arctic), plankton samples were collected in the early summer of 2011 using a MultiNet sampler (>63 µm) at 10 stations along a west–east transect at 78°50′N. Five depth intervals were sampled from the sea surface down to 500 m. Additionally, sediment surface samples from the same locations were analysed. The ratio between absolute abundances of planktic foraminifera in the open ocean, at the ice margin and in the ice-covered ocean was found to be approximately 2:4:1. The assemblage was dominated by the polar Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sin.) and the subpolar Turborotalita quinqueloba, which accounted for 76 and 15% of all tests in the warm, saline Atlantic waters and 90 and 5% in the cold and fresh Polar waters, respectively. Both species had maximum absolute abundances between 0 and 100 m water depth, however, they apparently lived shallower under the ice cover than under ice-free conditions. This indicates that the depth habitat of planktic foraminifera in the study area is predominantly controlled by food availability and not by temperature. The distribution pattern obtained by plankton tows was clearly reflected on the sediment surface and we conclude that the assemblage on the sediment surface can be used as an indicator for modern planktic foraminiferal fauna.
The International Journal of Biostatistics Modeling Fetal Weight for Gestational Age : A Comparison of a Flexible Multi-level Spline-based Model with Other Approaches

We present a model for longitudinal measures of fetal weight as a function of gestational age. We use a linear mixed model, with a Box-Cox transformation of fetal weight values, and restricted cubic splines, in order to flexibly but parsimoniously model median fetal weight. We systematically compare our model to other proposed approaches. All proposed methods are shown to yield similar median estimates, as evidenced by overlapping pointwise confidence bands, except after 40 completed weeks, where our method seems to produce estimates more consistent with observed data. Sex-based stratification affects the estimates of the random effects variancecovariance structure, without significantly changing sex-specific fitted median values. We illustrate the benefits of including sex-gestational age interaction terms in the model over stratification. The comparison leads to the conclusion that the selection of a model for fetal weight for gestational age can be based on the specific goals and configuration of a given study without affecting the precision or value of median estimates for most gestational ages of interest.
The International Journal of Biostatistics On Causal Mediation Analysis with a Survival Outcome

Suppose that having established a marginal total effect of a point exposure on a time-to-event outcome, an investigator wishes to decompose this effect into its direct and indirect pathways, also known as natural direct and indirect effects, mediated by a variable known to occur after the exposure and prior to the outcome. This paper proposes a theory of estimation of natural direct and indirect effects in two important semiparametric models for a failure time outcome. The underlying survival model for the marginal total effect and thus for the direct and indirect effects, can either be a marginal structural Cox proportional hazards model, or a marginal structural additive hazards model. The proposed theory delivers new estimators for mediation analysis in each of these models, with appealing robustness properties. Specifically, in order to guarantee ignorability with respect to the exposure and mediator variables, the approach, which is multiply robust, allows the investigator to use several flexible working models to adjust for confounding by a large number of pre-exposure variables. Multiple robustness is appealing because it only requires a subset of working models to be correct for consistency; furthermore, the analyst need not know which subset of working models is in fact correct to report valid inferences. Finally, a novel semiparametric sensitivity analysis technique is developed for each of these models, to assess the impact on inference, of a violation of the assumption of ignorability of the mediator.
Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Natural Direct Effect

In many causal inference problems, one is interested in the direct causal effect of an exposure on an outcome of interest that is not mediated by certain intermediate variables. Robins and Greenland (1992) and Pearl (2000) formalized the definition of two types of direct effects (natural and controlled) under the counterfactual framework. Since then, identifiability conditions for these effects have been studied extensively. By contrast, considerably fewer efforts have been invested in the estimation problem of the natural direct effect. In this article, we propose a semiparametric efficient, multiply robust estimator for the natural direct effect of a binary treatment using the targeted maximum likelihood framework of van der Laan and Rubin (2006) and van der Laan and Rose (2011). The proposed estimator is asymptotically unbiased if either one of the following holds: i) the conditional outcome expectation given exposure, mediator, and confounders, and the mediated mean outcome difference are consistently estimated; (ii) the exposure mechanism given confounders, and the conditional outcome expectation are consistently estimated; or (iii) the exposure mechanism given confounders, and a ratio of conditional mediator densities are consistently estimated. Moreover, case (iii) implies in particular that estimation of the conditional mediator density may be replaced by consistent estimation of the exposure mechanism and the conditional distribution of exposure given confounders and mediator. If all three conditions hold, then the effect estimate is asymptotically efficient.
Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saúde Pública

Beltrán, SL. Work accident analysis in an oil refinery: disagreements between the behavioural and organizational safety [Masters dissertation] São Paulo: University of São Paulo, School of Public Health, 2015. 175p. Introduction Work accidents in oil refineries stand out for leading several incidence and mortality indicators within the manufacturing industry in Brazil. The approach of the analysis of accidents has evolved from a conception of human error to the interorganizational relations. Companies continue to use traditional approaches in the investigation of accidents that do not help in effective prevention. In-depth studies on industry accidents that show the relationship of organizational factors are scarce. On September 2014, in a refinery in the south-eastern region of Brazil, six workers suffered burns multiples as a result of a fire by pouring Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) which came into contact with an ignition source. One of the victims died two months later. Aim To contribute to the diffusion of an organizational approach to analyzing this work accident beyond human error, technical causes and the prospects indicated by the standard rules. Method The empirical data are based on a qualitative study of a work accident. This case study used interviews, Collective Labour Analysis, participant observation and document analysis. Then we conducted an event organizational analysis and we applied the Model Analysis and Accident Prevention (MAPA). Results For work that caused the accident the operation technician was changed and some contractors were also new to the activity. A torque wrench with electric pump was used instead of the hand tools used in previous releases. The release began three hours before recommended and was made without complete purge in the line. Risk analysis and insulation measures documents were designed with more than one year prior. Trainings for contractors are defective. The shutdown of the alarms and the lack of safety technician during the release, competes with the lack of training, with the customary character of work without some equipment and the low valuation of alarms. There were no meetings between direct and contract workers to discuss the technical details of the release. Fire hoses system or escape route during the opening of the flange were inexistent. The
RADARSAT: the Antarctic Mapping Project

The international research community is providing guidance to the Antarctic Mapping Project through the Antarctic Mapping Advisory Group. AMAG is tasked with helping assure that science opportunities envisioned for the program can be achieved with the mission plan, data reduction algorithms and final product suite. These opportunities include studying the dynamics and variability of the Antarctic ice sheet including studies of regions like the Wordie Ice Shelf and the Larsen Ice Shelf which have recently experienced unexplained and very rapid retreat. Geologic applications include large scale mapping of faults, volcanic features, and studies of mountain building processes, particularly the Transantarctic Mountains. Data are also expected to assist in the development and implementation of policies for managing the Antarctic environment. Finally, there is simply the unprecedented opportunity to use these digital maps in studies of many previously unexplored areas of the Southern Continent.
OULU BUSINESS SCHOOL

Empirical studies have analyzed how investors trade and perform in the financial markets. The studies show that rational trading needs do not explain the excessive manner of trading shown by the investors. Theoretical models offer overconfidence as one of the explanations for irrational trading behavior. Overconfidence is a psychological trait, argued to cause the investors to misinterpret useful information, which leads to an increase in trading activity and hurts their performance. In this study we analyze over 1.5 million Finnish trading records from the beginning of 1995 to the end of 2010. We evaluate the differences in trading behavior between males and females and with investors of diverse ages. We find that men trade securities more frequently and with higher turnover than females. Consistently with our reference studies we find that the level of turnover decreases as the investors age. We also analyze the profitability effects of trading by calculating raw returns and abnormal returns. The abnormal returns are adjusted with a passive benchmark portfolio. Earlier studies show that the more active trading of males reduces their abnormal returns. Our abnormal return ratios do not support this finding. However, we find consistently that the raw returns are higher for females than males. Females also hold portfolios with lower volatility than males. Finally, we find consistently with the models of overconfidence by Odean (1998b) and Gervais and Odean (2001) that the trading skill seems to get better with experience. Older investors receive higher raw returns and trade less, resulting in lower portfolio turnover. The transition in trading behavior may be an outcome of learning.
THE USE OF POLITICAL RISK ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES IN JORDANIAN MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS

This paper describes and explains the use of political risk assessment techniques in Jordanian multinational corporations (MNCs). A multi-method approach to collect data was followed. A self-report questionnaire was delivered by hand to the general managers of all Jordanian MNCs which were identified as operating internationally. Semi-structured interviews were used as a means of elaborating on the findings from the questionnaire. The study identified the extensive use of heuristic political risk assessment techniques (due to their flexibility, simplicity and low cost). Scientific techniques, on the other hand, were used by only a minority of MNCs. As has been the case in earlier studies, flexibility, simplicity and cost considerations were all found to be influential in this regard. However, the study also found that key decision makers in Jordanian MNCs believe that official data is subject to censorship and is therefore not reliable. This undermines the efficiency of using highly sophisticated scientific techniques. Since there are a number of other countries in the Middle East and elsewhere – in which these considerations also apply, this finding has important implications for international businesses which operate in these countries, whatever their home country.
COMPARING STUDENTS' AND TEACHERS' STATISTICAL KNOWLEDGE IN BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA: SOME PRELIMINARY RESULTS

The development of instruments used to compare students’ and teachers’ knowledge in South Africa and Botswana countries is examined. The hypothesis is that there are differences in the performance of statistics items within students as well as within teachers given that one country has a higher allocation of resources for education and higher level of teacher preparation in statistics. A total of 140 sixth grade teachers were surveyed from randomly selected schools in border providences of both countries. Data has been collected and analysis of the items is in progress. Preliminary results from South Africa show low levels of performance.