Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of the sea surface slope distribution and wind velocity using sun glitter viewed from a synchronous satellite

Abstract This work demonstrates the feasibility of determining the east-west component of the sea surface slope distribution from a synchronous satellite, through quantitative analysis of the sun glitter. The Cox-Munk sun glitter technique, utilizing a single photograph of the whole-sun glitter pattern, taken from an aircraft altitude, is adapted to a much higher altitude. This is done by making a sequence of light intensity measurements, reflected from a single point on the ocean, as this fixed point scans the westward moving sun glitter pattern. Wind velocity is calculated from the slope variance, using the Cox-Munk empirical relation. Calculated wind velocities for three locations in the Pacific, on two separate days, are compared to direct wind measurements taken at these locations during the Line Islands Experiment. The agreement is within ±1 m sec−1.
Analogical translation of unknown words in a statistical machine translation framework

In this paper we address the problem of translating unknown words in a statistical machine translation framework. In data-driven machine translation, words that are not seen in the data may not be translated and are either discarded or left as is in the output. They are refered to as unknown words. The unknown word problem increases when the available bilingual data is scarce. In order to address this problem, we propose to use proportional analogy at the character-level to translate unknown words. We study and report results of the integration of this approach into a statistical machine translation system translating from Japanese to English with relatively scarce resources. Objective evaluation measures suggest that the translated sentences have a higher adequacy than that produced by a baseline system , while their fluency is similar.
A distributed runtime for Java: yesterday and today

Summary form only given. Since the introduction of the Java language less then a decade ago, there have been several attempts to create a runtime system for distributed execution of multithreaded Java applications. The goal of these attempts was to gain increased computational power while preserving Java's convenient parallel programming paradigm. This paper gives a detailed overview of the existing distributed runtime systems for Java and presents a new approach, implemented in a system called JavaSplit. Unlike previous works, which either forfeit Java's portability or introduce unconventional programming constructs, Java-Split is able to execute standard multithreaded Java while preserving portability. JavaSplit works by rewriting the bytecodes of a given parallel application, transforming it into a distributed application that incorporates all the runtime logic. Each runtime node carries out its part of the resulting distributed computation using nothing but its local standard (unmodified) Java virtual machine (JVM).
Duration-embedded bi-HMM for expressive voice conversion

This paper presents a duration-embedded Bi-HMM framework for expressive voice conversion. First, Ward’s minimum variance clustering method is used to cluster all the conversion units (sub-syllables) in order to reduce the number of conversion models as well as the size of the required training database. The duration-embedded Bi-HMM trained with the EM algorithm is built for each sub-syllable class to convert the neutral speech into emotional speech considering the duration information. Finally, the prosodic cues are included in the modification of the spectrum-converted speech. The STRAIGHT algorithm is adopted for high-quality speech analysis and synthesis. Target emotions including happiness, sadness and anger are used. Objective and perceptual evaluations were conducted to compare the performance of the proposed approach with previous methods. The results show that the proposed method exhibits encouraging potential in expressive voice conversion.
Huntingtin Mediates Anxiety/Depression-Related Behaviors and Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Huntington disease (HD) is associated with early psychiatric symptoms including anxiety and depression. Here, we demonstrate that wild-type huntingtin, the protein mutated in HD, modulates anxiety/depression-related behaviors according to its phosphorylation at serines 1181 and 1201. Genetic phospho-ablation at serines 1181 and 1201 in mouse reduces basal levels of anxiety/depression-like behaviors. We observe that the reduction in anxiety/depression-like phenotypes is associated with increased adult hippocampal neurogenesis. By improving the attachment of molecular motors to microtubules, huntingtin dephosphorylation increases axonal transport of BDNF, a crucial factor for hippocampal adult neurogenesis. Consequently, the huntingtin-mediated increased BDNF dynamics lead to an increased delivery and signaling of hippocampal BDNF. These results support the notion that huntingtin participates in anxiety and depression-like behavior and is thus relevant to the etiology of mood disorders and anxiety/depression in HD.
Face Recognition Using Face Patch Networks

When face images are taken in the wild, the large variations in facial pose, illumination, and expression make face recognition challenging. The most fundamental problem for face recognition is to measure the similarity between faces. The traditional measurements such as various mathematical norms, Hausdorff distance, and approximate geodesic distance cannot accurately capture the structural information between faces in such complex circumstances. To address this issue, we develop a novel face patch network, based on which we define a new similarity measure called the random path (RP) measure. The RP measure is derived from the collective similarity of paths by performing random walks in the network. It can globally characterize the contextual and curved structures of the face space. To apply the RP measure, we construct two kinds of networks: the in-face network and the out-face network. The in-face network is drawn from any two face images and captures the local structural information. The out-face network is constructed from all the training face patches, thereby modeling the global structures of face space. The two face networks are structurally complementary and can be combined together to improve the recognition performance. Experiments on the Multi-PIE and LFW benchmarks show that the RP measure outperforms most of the state-of-art algorithms for face recognition.
Macroalgal-Associated Dinoflagellates Belonging to the Genus Symbiodinium in Caribbean Reefs

Coral-algal symbiosis has been a subject of great attention during the last two decades in response to global coral reef decline. However, the occurrence and dispersion of free-living dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium are less documented. Here ecological and molecular evidence is presented demonstrating the existence of demersal free-living Symbiodinium populations in Caribbean reefs and the possible role of the stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) as Symbiodinium spp. dispersers. Communities of free-living Symbiodinium were found within macroalgal beds consisting of Halimeda spp. , Lobophora variegata, Amphiroa spp. , Caulerpa spp. and Dictyota spp. Viable Symbiodinium spp. cells were isolated and cultured from macroalgal beds and S. viride feces. Further identification of Symbiodinium spp. type was determined by length variation in the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2, nuclear rDNA) and length variation in domain V of the chloroplast large subunit ribosomal DNA (cp23S-rDNA). Determination of free-living Symbiodinium and mechanisms of dispersal is important in understanding the life cycle of Symbiodinium spp.
Sensitive CEST agents based on nucleic acid imino proton exchange: Detection of poly(rU) and of a dendrimer‐poly(rU) model for nucleic acid delivery and pharmacology

It is shown that the exchange properties of the imino and hydroxyl protons of polyuridilic acid (poly(rU)) allow use of this compound as a chemical‐exchange saturation transfer (CEST) contrast agent. A proton/proton sensitivity enhancement factor of over 5000 per imino proton allowed the detection of a few micromolar of polymer (2000 uridine units; 644 kD) with a 50% change in the water signal. The enhancement factor would increase further at even lower concentrations, opening up the submicromolar range. When poly(rU) was complexed to a dendrimer carrying 250 positive charges, the stoichiometry was approximately one RNA for 10 dendrimers. The sensitivity enhancement was reduced but remained large (2300/imino proton), bringing enhanced CEST visibility to the dendrimers. The net charge of the complex was positive, suggesting that the complexed dendrimers would still interact with cell membranes, and that the RNA‐dendrimer complex could provide a model for a gene delivery system with good CEST visibility. Magn Reson Med 49:998–1005, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Archeological Evidence of Parasitic Infection from the 19th Century Company Town of Fayette, Michigan

Archeological deposits from the 19th century company town of Fayette, Michigan were analyzed for evidence of endoparasitic infection in the human population residing in the town between 1867 and 1891. Three privies were associated with upper-income and middle-income neighborhoods; 2 household refuse disposal areas were found in a predominately lower-income immigrant working class neighborhood. Sediment samples from 2 privies associated with dwellings in the middle-income neighborhood were positive for eggs of the human whipworm Trichuris trichiura. The parasite was probably also present among residents of the lower income neighborhood, but the shallow nature of the refuse deposits in that locality precluded preservation of the eggs. Contemporary epidemiologic studies of helminth infections support the belief that T. trichiura may have been a common parasite of 19th century school-age children given the natural inclination of young children to defecate indiscriminately, play freely in the dirt, and eat without washing their hands.
Race in the Treatment of Homeless Mentally Ill Veterans

A multi-site descriptive outcome study examined differences between black and white veterans in admission characteristics, program participation, and outcomes following an episode of treatment in a Veterans Affairs residential program for homeless veterans with psychiatric and substance abuse problems. Admission, discharge, and 6-month and 12-month postdischarge follow-up data were collected on 119 black and 144 white veterans admitted to the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program at three sites. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used to identify differences between racial groups at admission. Factorial repeated-measures analysis of covariance was then used to identify differences between black and white veterans in improvement, controlling for differences that were significant at the time of admission. On admission, blacks were younger and had more problems with drugs and violent behavior, but were less likely than whites to have clinical diagnoses of alcohol abuse or a serious psychiatric disorder, and had fewer suicide attempts. They also had more social contacts and had more frequently experienced a recent disruption in an important relationship. Few differences were found between the two racial groups in measures of program participation. One year after discharge, both black and white veterans had improved in virtually all domains. Black veterans showed greater improvement in medical symptomatology, social contacts, and violence, while white veterans showed a greater increase in outpatient health service use. While both black and white veterans benefited from participation in residential treatment, the data suggest that blacks were more likely to re-establish previously disrupted social ties while whites increased their involvement in the VA health care system.
Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of Water Environment Management with a Focus on Water Recycling

An integrated water environment management system is necessary in improving water quality, properly allocating water resources, and supporting socio-economic development. Specifically, dynamic modeling can be an efficient approach to accomplish this system. This paper aims to construct a dynamic linear optimization model to reflect a water environment management system which includes three sub-models with consideration of their interrelationships (a socio-economic model based on dynamic Input-Output model, a water resources cycle model, and a water pollutants flow model). Based on simulation, the model can precisely estimate trends of water utilization, water quality, and economic development under certain management targets, and propose an optimal plan. Taking Tianjin as a target area, this study utilized the model to analyze the potential of using reclaimed water to accomplish local water environment management and sustainable development plan while exploring the applicable approaches. This study indicates that the constructed water environment management system can be effective and easily adopted to assess water resources and environment while improving the trade-off between economic and environment development, as well as formulate regional development plan.
Accelerating thinning of Kenai Peninsula glaciers, Alaska

Temperate mountain glaciers are thinning at high rates and significantly contributing to sea level rise. Due to these glaciers' remote locations, remote sensing and digital elevation models (DEMs) are an effective way to calculate their thinning rates and contribution to sea level rise. Comparisons of 1950s United States Geological Survey (USGS) and 2000 Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) DEMs with DEMs produced from Lidar profiles of glacier center‐lines indicate thinning rates from the mid‐1990s to 1999 (−0.72 ± 0.13 m y−1) accelerated by a factor of 1.5 as compared with 1950 to mid‐1990s (−0.47 ± 0.01 m y−1) for glaciers on the Harding Icefield. Overall, comparison of USGS and SRTM DEMs indicate the Harding Icefield and Grewingk‐Yalik Glacier Complex, Alaska, are thinning −0.61 ± 0.12 m y−1 from 1950 to 1999.
The model of happyability

These terms “functionality”, “usability” and “pleasurability” are being studied for many years. There are many standards or scales to evaluate, but there are fewer to discuss how to assess pleasurability. What's pleasurability? People are aware of the importance of living quality both materially and spiritually, `Happiness' also rises as a goal that people are pursuing nowadays. Therefore, the research focus of HCI has gradually shifted from usability to a more human-centered focus which involves pleasurability of emotion feedback. It's also called emotional design. User's needs usually increase from functionality, usability to pleasurability. To distinguish the variables of pros and cons of human-computer interaction(HCI), it involves different levels of inter-discussion. According to some literatures, `pleasurability' is part of `happiness', therefore, this paper concludes happyability is a collection of people's positive emotion which is provided by products, including four categories: satisfaction, emotion, engagement and social connection. The developing model of happyability will provide reference for HCI design.
The Early-type Dwarf-to-Giant Ratio and Substructure in the Coma Cluster

We have obtained new CCD photometry for a sample of $\simeq 800$ early-type galaxies (dwarf and giant ellipticals) in the central 700 arcmin$^2$ of the Coma cluster, complete in color and in magnitude to $R = 22.5$ mag ($M_R \simeq -12$ mag for $H_0 = 86$ km/sec/Mpc). The composite luminosity function for all galaxies in the cluster core (excluding NGC 4874 and NGC 4889) is modeled as the sum of a Gaussian distribution for the giant galaxies and a Schechter function for the dwarf elliptical galaxies. We determine that the early-type dwarf-to-giant ratio (EDGR) for Coma is identical to that measured for the less rich Virgo cluster; i.e., the EDGR does not increase as predicted by the EDGR-richness correlation. We postulate that the presence of substructure is an important factor in determining the cluster's EDGR; that is, the EDGR for Coma is consistent with the Coma cluster being built up from the merger of multiple less-rich galaxy clusters.
Investment and Growth in the Middle East and North Africa

The paper considers investment and growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Notwithstanding cross-country differences, investment as a whole has been too low, too heavily tilted toward the public sector, too highly dependent on external influences, and less productive than in many other regions. Improving the region`s investment performance is critical if policymakers are to succeed in increasing the region`s economic growth rate. After discussing the relationship between investment and growth, the paper analyzes the investment responsiveness of various countries in the region and notes the policy priorities for strengthening the basis for rapid and sustained economic growth.
Internal wave induced dispersion and mixing on a sloping boundary

A fluorescent dye‐tracer was released in a stratified water column above a sloping boundary revealing profound dispersive asymmetry. Initially the dye spread symmetrically in the vertical until the deeper portion became influenced by the bottom boundary layer (BBL). The shallower portion then spread rapidly up‐slope in a thin boundary layer influenced by highly non‐linear isopycnal distortions. The deeper, down‐slope portion of dye subsequently became detached from the boundary and intruded into the basin interior in three distinct layers along isopycnal surfaces. The intrusions result from the gravitational collapse of mixing patches created by baroclinic flow over an irregular boundary. The vertical separation of the layers matches the inverse topographic wavenumber. Up‐slope displacement of the dye is consistent with an advective/diffusive balance near the sloping boundary, controlled by slope angle and roughness. Horizontal diffusivities increased from 1.4 m2s−1 to 18.4 m2s−1 during the 4‐day experiment.
A northern hemispheric climatology of cross‐tropopause exchange for the ERA15 time period (1979–1993)

[1] A 15-year climatology of cross-tropopause exchange in the extratropical Northern Hemisphere is presented based upon a previously developed Lagrangian methodology and reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for the years 1979–1993. For this time period, no apparent trends exist for upward (troposphere-to-stratosphere, TST) and downward (stratosphere-to-troposphere, STT) cross-tropopause transport. The seasonal cycles of hemispherically integrated TST and STT and the zonally integrated meridional exchange distributions show relatively little interannual variability. The 15-year averaged geographical distribution of STT reveals significant deviations from zonal symmetry and pronounced seasonal variability. STT occurs predominantly over the Atlantic and Pacific storm track regions during winter, spring, and autumn and also over the Mediterranean in winter and spring. In contrast, during summer, STT maxima are located over the continents, particularly over southeastern Europe and central Asia. TST is less variable and is strongest near the southern tip of Greenland and the Aleutian Islands during all seasons. Aspects of the interannual variability of the geographical exchange distributions are investigated. Over the Atlantic, STT varies significantly in line with the changing storm tracks during different phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), whereas TST does less so. Special consideration is given to vertically deep exchange, where the exchange air parcels transfer rapidly from the lowermost stratosphere to the boundary layer (or vice versa). These processes occur mainly during winter and exhibit pronounced maxima over the North American west (deep STT) and east (deep TST) coasts.
In Vivo Interaction Proteomics in Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos Provides New Insights into P Granule Dynamics*

Studying protein interactions in whole organisms is fundamental to understanding development. Here, we combine in vivo expressed GFP-tagged proteins with quantitative proteomics to identify protein-protein interactions of selected key proteins involved in early C. elegans embryogenesis. Co-affinity purification of interaction partners for eight bait proteins resulted in a pilot in vivo interaction map of proteins with a focus on early development. Our network reflects known biology and is highly enriched in functionally relevant interactions. To demonstrate the utility of the map, we looked for new regulators of P granule dynamics and found that GEI-12, a novel binding partner of the DYRK family kinase MBK-2, is a key regulator of P granule formation and germline maintenance. Our data corroborate a recently proposed model in which the phosphorylation state of GEI-12 controls P granule dynamics. In addition, we find that GEI-12 also induces granule formation in mammalian cells, suggesting a common regulatory mechanism in worms and humans. Our results show that in vivo interaction proteomics provides unique insights into animal development.
Mining frequent spatio-temporal sequential patterns

Many applications track the movement of mobile objects, which can be represented as sequences of timestamped locations. Given such a spatiotemporal series, we study the problem of discovering sequential patterns, which are routes frequently followed by the object. Sequential pattern mining algorithms for transaction data are not directly applicable for this setting. The challenges to address are: (i) the fuzziness of locations in patterns, and (ii) the identification of non-explicit pattern instances. In this paper, we define pattern elements as spatial regions around frequent line segments. Our method first transforms the original sequence into a list of sequence segments, and detects frequent regions in a heuristic way. Then, we propose algorithms to find patterns by employing a newly proposed substring tree structure and improving a priori technique. A performance evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.