Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lenhos de Ginkgophyta em florestas petrificadas no TriássicoSuperior sul-rio-grandense, Brasil

GINKGOPHYTA WOOD IN PETRIFIED FOREST OF THE UPPER TRIASSIC FROM RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL. The anatomic analysis of an assemblage of silicified fossil wood fragments from the Santa Maria Formation, southern Paraná Basin, Brazil, led to the identification of parameters compatible with the morphospecies Baieroxylon cicatricum, registered and described here for the first time for the Brazilian Gondwana. The secondary wood is homogeneous, picnoxylic and characterized by the presence of growth zones. In the radial walls of the tracheids there are bordered pits in a predominantly uniserial arrangement. Typical spiral thickening is present in longitudinal radial and tangential sections. The rays are in a uniserial arrangement and homogeneous. The cross-field pits, one to four per crossfield, are inconspicuous, circular, small and randomly arranged. Phloem and cortex are unpreserved. A common pattern found on the external surface of the wood fragments corresponds to simple eye-shaped scars, which would correspond to branch connections, and hollow, double and triple eye-shaped scars in alternating arrangement, which would correspond to leaf insertions.
Emerging applications for multi/many-core processors

There has always been a strong relationship between computer applications and computer architectures. Advances in computer architecture enable new usage models; new usage models challenge new architectures. For many decades, the interplays between applications and architectures have resulted in significant progress in the computer technologies. Recently, the computer industry adopts the multi/many-core architecture for better performance, energy efficiency and reliability. This industry-wide movement towards multi/many-core architectures opens up many opportunities for developing new classes of applications. This paper uses a few emerging applications as examples to illustrate the interplay between applications and architecture. It further discusses the key characteristics of emerging applications and how multi/many-core architecture addresses the needs of the new applications. The paper closes with recommendations for new application developers to allow better utilization of new multi/many-core processors.
Why do North American climate anomalies differ from one El Niño event to another?

This study explores the cause of the appreciable variations in North American climate from one El Niño event to another. Two competing sources of inter‐El Niño variations are examined; one associated with differences in sea surface temperature (SST) forcing between El Niño events, and the other associated with purely internal atmospheric processes that operate independently of El Niño. The analysis is based upon a large ensemble of atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) simulations that are forced with the observed variations in global SSTs during 1950–1994. From investigation of the seven strongest warm events in this record, the AGCM is shown to possess only one dominant large‐scale pattern over the Pacific‐North American region. The case‐to‐case variability seen in nature is thus claimed to be primarily due to atmospheric processes, and the inter‐El Niño differences in SST appear to be of secondary importance. The significance of these results for an atmosphere‐ocean forecasting system are discussed.
Computation and Communication Aware task graph Scheduling on multi-GPU systems

GPUs have emerged as popular throughput computing platforms due to the massively parallel computing capability and low cost. To attain further performance enhancement beyond single GPU, there is a growing interest in exploiting systems with multiple GPUs. Attaining superior performance in a multi-GPU system involves three main design challenges, namely load balance, memory utilization, and data transfer. Imbalanced loading across a system could cause idling of GPUs while poor data reuse would trigger excessive memory accesses. The inefficient data transfer between a host and a device becomes a considerable performance overhead during high throughput computing. This paper aims at addressing the above design issues by proposing a Computation and Communication Aware task graph Scheduling (CCAS) for multi-GPU systems. The proposed scheduling approach (CCAS) adopts an effective heuristic algorithm that considers both data reuse and load balance in a multi-GPU system. The data transfer overhead is hidden by extensively overlapping computation and data communication. The experimental results of the proposed CCAS have demonstrated an average of 22.15% performance enhancement when compared with a previous work.
A smartphone-based energy efficient and intelligent multi-technology system for localization and movement prediction

Nowadays we are assisting to a noticeable proliferation of new generation smart-phones, as well as to the growth of mobile applications development. We are fairly surrounded by a huge number of proactive applications, which automatically provide users with relevant information exactly at the right time and at the right place when they need it. This ability is generally given by the exploitation of context information, and mainly Location Information. However, a location service running onto a smartphone has to deal with a great challenge, which is to manage the trade-off between the service's resources usage and its accuracy. In my work I investigate efficient localization strategies: these include, in addition to the standard location tracking techniques, the support of other technologies already available on mobile phones (i.e., sensors), as well as the integration of either Human Mobility Modelling and Machine Learning techniques. The main purposes of this work are: to reduce the impact that the service has on the device's resources usage in the case of continuous localization; to preserve the privacy of the user by running the whole system on the mobile device without relying on a back-end server; and to offer an ubiquitous coverage.
Low carbon development assessment of Fujian Province, China based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and forest carbon sinks information

The low carbon development assessment can provide valid information to support decision making in regional sustainable development. With the support of forest carbon sinks information simulated from remote sensing data, the low carbon development assessment index framework of Fujian Province, China was constructed. After indices weighting by the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), the low carbon development of Fujian in 2005 was assessed. The assessment result indicates that low carbon development index (LCD) of county or city in Fujian Province, China has relatively high correlation with the percentage of tertiary industry and per capita forest net primary productivity (NPP). So development tertiary industry and improvement forest carbon carrying capacity are important approaches for low carbon development in Fujian presently.
Spatial variations in stress within the 1987 Whittier Narrows, California, aftershock sequence: New techniques and results

The ML = 5.9 Whittier Narrows, California, earthquake of October 1, 1987, triggered a complex aftershock sequence. The aftershocks had many different focal mechanisms including thrusting on E-W striking, north dipping planes (similar to the main shock), right-lateral motion on NW-SE striking planes (similar to the ML = 5.3 aftershock on October 4, 1987), thrusting on N-S striking planes, and left-lateral motion on N-S striking planes. I attempt to interpret these mechanisms in terms of a stress field that may have caused them. Previously, stress inversion methods based on focal mechanisms assumed that the stress field was spatially uniform. In order to test for the spatially varying effect of the main shock's dislocation on the aftershocks' focal mechanisms a new inversion technique was developed that solves for a uniform stress field that is superimposed on a given spatially varying stress field. A series of simulations were performed to test both the new method and an older method that uses only the uniform component of the stress field. These simulations show that both techniques work but will be limited by the amount of noise in the data and the accuracy to which the given spatially varying stress field resembles the actual spatially varying stresses. Most importantly, the simulations show that the older methods do work when the stress field has a uniform component that is at least as large as the spatially varying component. The simulations also show that when applying the older stress inversion techniques, one can determine if the results are valid, and the amount of spatially varying stresses present, by examining the misfit between the data and the model. Application of these techniques to the Whittier Narrows aftershocks suggests that the uniform component of the stress field, and the complex faulting, corresponds to the response of an elastic halfspace to a simple regional N-S compression. The misfit between the data and the uniform model demonstrate the presence of spatially varying stresses at Whittier Narrows; however, their form, as shown by the simulations, can not be determined with this data set and these techniques.
IT and organizational change: an institutionalist perspective

This article challenges the tendency of the information systems literature to subsume IT innovation in processes of organizational change, either with the role of “enabler” of organizational objectives, or as an instrument appropriated by situated organizational actors. Using institutionalist theory, the relationship between information systems development and organizational transformation is studied as the interaction of two institutionalization processes: the increasing momentum and legitimation of IT innovation; and the organizational efforts for the substitution of established structures and activities with new ones which often do not command adequate legitimacy. Such analysis suggests that IT innovation in organizations is to a large extent sustainable by its own institutional forces, irrespective of contribution to the processes of organizational change. This perspective is demonstrated with the case study of the Mexican oil company, Pemex, where IT projects have played a large part in its transformation from a state‐owned to private enterprise.
A World Model for Multi-Robot Teams with Communication

In principle, a robot member of a multi-robot team with teammates that can communicate their own sensing can build a more accurate world model by incorporating shared information from its teammates than by relying only on its own sensing. However, in practice, building a consistent world model that combines a robot’s own sensing with information communicated by teammate robots is a challenging task. In this paper, we present in detail our approach to constructing such a world model in a multi-robot team. We introduce two separate world models, namely anindividual world modelthat stores one robot’s state, and ashared world modelthat stores the state of the team. We present procedures to effectively merge information in these two world models. We overcome the problem of high communication latency by using shared information on an as-needed basis. The success of our world model approach is validated by experimentation in the robot soccer domain. The results show that a team using a world model that incorporates shared information is more successful and robust at tracking a dynamic object in its environment than a team that does not use shared information. The paper includes a comprehensive description of the data structures and algorithms, as implemented for our CM-Pack’02 team, which because the RoboCup 2002 world champion in the Sony legged-robot league.
Cognitive development of term small for gestational age children at five years of age

AIM To assess the relative significance for cognitive development of small for gestational age, parental demographic factors, and factors related to the child rearing environment. METHODS IQ of a population based cohort of 338 term infants who were small for gestational age (SGA) and without major handicap, and a random control sample of 335 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants were compared at 5 years of age. RESULTS The mean non-verbal IQ was four points lower, while the mean verbal IQ was three points lower for the children in the SGA group. The results were not confounded by parental demographic or child rearing factors. However, parental factors, including maternal non-verbal problem solving abilities, and child rearing style, accounted for 20% of the variance in non-verbal IQ, while SGA versus AGA status accounted for only 2%. The comparable numbers for verbal IQ were 30 and 1%. Furthermore, we found no evidence that the cognitive development of SGA children was more sensitive to a non-optimal child rearing environment than that of AGA children. Maternal smoking at conception was associated with a reduction in mean IQ comparable to that found for SGA status, and this effect was the same for SGA and AGA children. The cognitive function of asymmetric SGA was comparable to that of symmetric SGA children. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that child cognitive development is strongly associated with parental factors, but only marginally associated with intrauterine growth retardation.
Observing lingering hyporheic storage using electrical resistivity: variations around stream restoration structures, Crabby Creek, PA

Time‐lapse geophysical surveys can map lingering hyporheic storage by detecting changes in response to saline tracer. Tracer tests were conducted in Crabby Creek, an urban stream outside Philadelphia, to examine the influence of stream restoration structures and variable sediment thickness. We compared electrical resistivity surveys with extensive well sampling (57 wells) in two 13.5‐m‐long reaches, each with a step drop created by a J‐hook. The two step drops varied in tracer behaviour, based on both the well data and the geophysical data. The well data showed more variation in arrival time where the streambed sediment was thick and was more uniform where sediment was thin. The resistivity in the reach with thin sediment showed lingering tracer in the hyporheic zone both upstream and downstream from the J‐hook. In the second reach where the sediment was thicker, the lingering tracer in the hyporheic zone was more extensive downstream from the J‐hook. The contrasting results between the two reaches from both methods suggested that sediments influenced hyporheic exchange more than the step at this location. Resistivity inversion differed from well data in both reaches in that it showed evidence for tracer after well samples had returned to background, mapping lingering tracer either upstream or downstream of a step. We conclude that resistivity surveys may become an important tool for hyporheic zone characterization because they provide information on the extent of slow moving fluids in the hyporheic zone, which have the potential to enhance chemical reactions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevalence and treatment of eating disorders among Hispanics/Latino Americans in the United States

Purpose of review We reviewed the recent literature on prevalence rates, and application of evidence-based treatments for eating disorders among Hispanics/Latinos residing in the United States. Recent findings Lifetime prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa are lower among Hispanic/Latinos than non-Hispanic Whites. There are comparable rates of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED) among Hispanic/Latinos and non-Hispanic Whites. BED is the most common eating disorder among Hispanic/Latinos. Evidence-based treatments have begun to be implemented with Hispanics/Latinos. The core concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa and BED apply to this population. Culture-specific adaptations include strengthening the collectivistic framework within an individualistic treatment, psychoeducation of immediate and extended family, and adjustment of meal plans that incorporated cultural foods. Summary There are more similarities than differences in the prevalence of eating disorders across Hispanics/Latinos and non-Hispanic Whites. However, the social context such as immigration status and acculturation is important to consider in the development of eating disorders. In addition, the Westernization of Latin America may change the future relationship of immigration status and development of eating disorder within the United States. Overall, cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments involved the inclusion of family within treatment, acculturation-related issues, and managing family conflicts that arise because of the changes in eating patterns.
Inhibition of Neighboring Motoneurons in Conscious Control of Single Spinal Motoneurons

Multiple fine-wire electrodes were implanted in the biceps brachii of five subjects, and artificial electronic feedback was provided to subjects from only one electrode. By this technique, it was shown that neighboring units progressively stop firing as subjects concentrate on activating an isolated unit. The inhibition of neighboring spinal motoneurons in the same pool further indicates that selective inhibition is an automatic part of single motor-unit training.
On the relationship between cloud contact time and precipitation susceptibility to aerosol

The extent to which the rain rate from shallow, liquid‐phase clouds is microphysically influenced by aerosol, and therefore drop concentration Nd perturbations, is addressed through analysis of the precipitation susceptibility, So. Previously published work, based on both models and observations, disagrees on the qualitative behavior of So with respect to variables such as liquid water path L or the ratio between accretion and autoconversion rates. Two primary responses have emerged: (i) So decreases monotonically with increasing L and (ii) So increases with L, reaches a maximum, and decreases thereafter. Here we use a variety of modeling frameworks ranging from box models of (size‐resolved) collision‐coalescence, to trajectory ensembles based on large eddy simulation to explore the role of time available for collision‐coalescence tc in determining the So response. The analysis shows that an increase in tc shifts the balance of rain production from autoconversion (a Nd‐dependent process) to accretion (roughly independent of Nd), all else (e.g., L) equal. Thus, with increasing cloud contact time, warm rain production becomes progressively less sensitive to aerosol, all else equal. When the time available for collision‐coalescence is a limiting factor, So increases with increasing L whereas when there is ample time available, So decreases with increasing L. The analysis therefore explains the differences between extant studies in terms of an important precipitation‐controlling parameter, namely the integrated liquid water history over the course of an air parcel's contact with a cloud.
Modulation of the Shaker K+Channel Gating Kinetics by the S3–S4 Linker

In Shaker K+ channels depolarization displaces outwardly the positively charged residues of the S4 segment. The amount of this displacement is unknown, but large movements of the S4 segment should be constrained by the length and flexibility of the S3–S4 linker. To investigate the role of the S3–S4 linker in the ShakerH4Δ(6–46) (ShakerΔ) K+ channel activation, we constructed S3–S4 linker deletion mutants. Using macropatches of Xenopus oocytes, we tested three constructs: a deletion mutant with no linker (0 aa linker), a mutant containing a linker 5 amino acids in length, and a 10 amino acid linker mutant. Each of the three mutants tested yielded robust K+ currents. The half-activation voltage was shifted to the right along the voltage axis, and the shift was +45 mV in the case of the 0 aa linker channel. In the 0 aa linker, mutant deactivation kinetics were sixfold slower than in ShakerΔ. The apparent number of gating charges was 12.6 ± 0.6 e o in ShakerΔ, 12.7 ± 0.5 in 10 aa linker, and 12.3 ± 0.9 in 5 aa linker channels, but it was only 5.6 ± 0.3 e o in the 0 aa linker mutant channel. The maximum probability of opening (P o max) as measured using noise analysis was not altered by the linker deletions. Activation kinetics were most affected by linker deletions; at 0 mV, the 5 and 0 aa linker channels' activation time constants were 89× and 45× slower than that of the ShakerΔ K+ channel, respectively. The initial lag of ionic currents when the prepulse was varied from −130 to −60 mV was 0.5, 14, and 2 ms for the 10, 5, and 0 aa linker mutant channels, respectively. These results suggest that: (a) the S4 segment moves only a short distance during activation since an S3–S4 linker consisting of only 5 amino acid residues allows for the total charge displacement to occur, and (b) the length of the S3–S4 linker plays an important role in setting ShakerΔ channel activation and deactivation kinetics.
Constraints on Phenotypic Evolution

Constraints on phenotypic evolution can take a variety of forms. Constraints can arise from inheritance, selection, development, and design limits. Contemporary visions of the evolutionary process often focus on one or two of these varieties and ignore the others. A unifying framework that considers all four major varieties of constraint is emerging within the discipline of quantitative genetics. I attempt to sketch that emerging framework and summarize recent efforts toward unification. Although couched in the technical language of quantitative genetics, the ongoing search for a common framework promises a rapprochement among the approaches of optimality theorists, population geneticists, and developmental biologists.
Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: Current Treatment Options and Emerging Therapies

Severe ocular surface disease can result in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a condition leading to decreased visual acuity, photophobia, and ocular pain. To restore the ocular surface in advanced stem cell deficient corneas, an autologous or allogenic limbal stem cell transplantation is performed. In recent years, the risk of secondary LSCD due to removal of large limbal grafts has been significantly reduced by the optimization of cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET). Despite the great successes of CLET, there still is room for improvement as overall success rate is 70% and visual acuity often remains suboptimal after successful transplantation. Simple limbal epithelial transplantation reports higher success rates but has not been performed in as many patients yet. This review focuses on limbal epithelial stem cells and the pathophysiology of LSCD. State-of-the-art therapeutic management of LSCD is described, and new and evolving techniques in ocular surface regeneration are being discussed, in particular, advantages and disadvantages of alternative cell scaffolds and cell sources for cell based ocular surface reconstruction.
An analytical formula for the longitudinal resonance frequencies of a fluid‐filled crack

The fluid‐filled crack model has been widely used to interpret the peak frequencies of long‐period (LP) seismic events at volcanoes. Up to now, numerical methods have been used to compute resonant frequencies in the model. We propose a simple analytical formula for the longitudinal resonance frequencies of a fluid‐filled crack. We evaluated the formula by comparing its results with the resonant frequencies computed by finite difference method code. The comparison revealed that the formula well describes the resonant frequencies of both 2‐D and 3‐D cracks. The formula enables simple and rapid estimates of the fluid properties and geometries of LP source cracks.