Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seeing Seeing

This paper discusses several key issues concerning consciousness and human vision. A brief overview is presented of recent developments in this area, including issues that have been resolved and issues that remain unsettled. Based on this, three Hilbert questions are proposed. These involve three related sets of issues: the kinds of visual experience that exist, the kinds of visual attention that exist, and the ways that these relate to each other.
The influence of ENSO on winter North Atlantic climate

Although the influence of the El Niño ‐ Southern Oscillation on the extra‐tropical climate is well established for the Pacific basin and North American regions, there is no clear consensus as to whether there are reproducible effects from ENSO on the North Atlantic and West European regions. In this study we present a revised analysis of past El‐Niño teleconnections. By stratifying El‐Niño events according to amplitude, we find a highly non‐linear yet robust response to ENSO that changes sign over the eastern North Atlantic as the amplitude of the El‐Niño anomaly increases. Results from a series of experiments with a general circulation model indicate that the response to strong ENSO events is reproducible given the sea‐surface temperature anomalies in the tropical Pacific. The response to moderate El‐Niño events resembles the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation as found in previous studies.
Genomic signals of local adaptation and hybridization in Asian white birch

Disentangling the numerous processes that affect patterns of genome-wide diversity in widespread tree species has important implications for taxonomy, conservation, and forestry. Here, we investigate the population genomic structure of Asian white birch (Betula platyphylla) in China and seek to explain it in terms of hybridization, demography and adaptation. We generate whole genome sequence data from 83 individuals across the species range in China. Combining this with an existing dataset for 79 European and Russian white birches, we show a clear distinction between B. pendula and B. platyphylla, which have sometimes been lumped taxonomically. Genomic diversity of B. platyphylla in north-western China and Central Russia is affected greatly by hybridization with B. pendula. Excluding these hybridized populations, B. platyphylla in China has a linear distribution from north-eastern to south-western China, along the edge of the inland mountainous region. Within this distribution, three genetic clusters are found, which we model as long diverged with subsequent episodes of gene flow. Patterns of co-variation between allele frequencies and environmental variables in B. platyphylla suggest the role of natural selection in the distribution of diversity at 7,609 SNPs of which 3,767 were significantly differentiated among the genetic clusters. The putative adaptive SNPs are distributed throughout the genome and span 1,633 genic regions. Of these genic regions, 87 were previously identified as candidates for selective sweeps in Eurasian B. pendula. We use the 7,609 environmentally associated SNPs to estimate the risk of non-adaptedness for each sequenced B. platyphylla individual under a scenario of future climate change, highlighting areas where populations may be under future threat from rising temperatures.
Critical Points of Deep Linear Networks in CN

In this thesis, we explore the critical points of the loss function of deep linear networks from an algebraic geometric perspective by viewing these critical points as solutions to a polynomial system associated with the network. We focus on 1-hidden layer networks, for which we identify a new upper bound, BC∗ , on the number of critical points that lie in (C∗)N , where N is the number of weights in the network. We show that this upper bound is smaller (in some cases, orders of magnitude smaller) than the BKK bound on the polynomial system associated with the network. We also identify an upper bound, BC, on the total number of complex critical points of the network. Further, we explore the structure within the critical points of linear networks. In particular, for 1-hidden layer networks, we prove that critical points that lie outside (C∗)N must lie on particular coordinate subspaces. For larger networks, we demonstrate this through experiments.
Spatialised European Nutrient Balance

This report describes the estimation of the spatialised nutrient inputs from agriculture and nutrient surplus at the soil surface. Statistical agricultural data from the Farm Structure Survey (FSS) were linked to the spatial information of the CORINE Land Cover 2000 map, producing a European map (EU15) of land use including the crop spatial distribution, consistent with the official crops areas reported by FSS. Nitrogen and phosphorus inputs on soils originating from agriculture were estimated for EU15, and then spatialised based on the land use map, providing European maps of nitrogen and phosphorus mineral fertiliser input, manure application and gross balance at 10 km resolution. These maps allow the assessment of nutrient pressures originating from agriculture and constitute a reliable data layer for risk analysis and for process-based models, addressing water and soil quality.
An Agricultural Time Series-Cross Section Data Set

The Agricultural Time Series-Cross Section (ATICS) dataset described in this Working Paper is based on the annual crop and livestock statistics collected by the United States Department of Agriculture. These statistics, scattered through a wide assortment of published and unpublished USDA bulletins and circulars, are extensive in their coverage of the agricultural sector, are highly disaggregated, and span a time period over one hundred years in length. Yet these rich sources have never been unified into a single compilation of data which is accessible, uniform, and machine readable. The ATICS dataset is an attempt to fill this gap.
Nitrate attenuation in soil and shallow groundwater under a bottomland hedgerow in a European farming landscape

In many agricultural areas, hedgerows give rise to strong expectations of reducing the inputs of excess nitrate to the groundwater and rivers. This study aims to analyse the spatial and seasonal influences of a hedgerow on nitrate dynamics in the soil and groundwater. Nitrate (NO3−) and chloride (Cl−) concentrations were measured with spatially dense sampling in the unsaturated soil and in the groundwater along a transect intersecting a bottomland oak (Quercus rubor) hedgerow after the growing season and during the dormant season. We explain NO3− dynamics by using Cl− as an index of tree‐root extension and water transfer. At the end of the growing season, NO3− is entirely absorbed by the trees over a large and deep volume corresponding to the rooting zone, where, in contrast Cl− is highly concentrated due to root exclusion. However, these observed patterns in the soil have no influence on the deep groundwater composition at this season. During the dormant season, water transfer processes feeding the shallow groundwater layer are different upslope and downslope from the hedgerow in relation to the thickness of the unsaturated zone. Upslope, the shallow groundwater is fed by rainwater infiltration through the soil which favours Cl− dilution. Right under the hedge and downslope, the rapid ascent of the groundwater near the ground surface prevents rainwater input and Cl− dilution. Under the hedgerow the highest concentrations of Cl− coincide with the absence of NO3− in the shallow groundwater layer and with high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon. The absence of NO3− during the dormant season seems to be due to denitrification in the hedgerow rooting zone when it is rapidly saturated by groundwater. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homogenous and heterogeneous logical proportions

Commonsense reasoning often relies on the perception of similarity as well as dissimilarity between objects or situations. Such a perception may be expressed and summarized by means of analogical proportions, i.e., statements of the form “A is to B as C is to D”. Analogy is not a mere question of similarity between two objects (or situations), but rather a matter of proportion or relation between objects. This view dates back to Aristotle and was enforced by Scholastic philosophy. Indeed, an analogical proportion equates a relation between two objects with the relation between two other objects. As such, the analogical proportion “A is to B as C is to D” poses an analogy of proportionality by (implicitly) stating that the way the two objects A and B, otherwise similar, differ is the same way as the two objects C and D, which are similar in some respects, differ.
Assessment of Solar Irradiation Models in A Coruña by Multifractal Analysis

The physical processes taking place in the ground are influenced by solar radiation. This climatic variable presents a strong local behavior; therefore local models to estimate irradiation are usually more adequate than others which are more global. The aim of this study was to develop models for global, diffuse and direct radiation in A Coruña (Northwest of Spain), and to apply Multifractal Detrending Fluctuation Analysis (MFDFA) as tool for the assessment of model quality, complementing traditional validation parameters. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) methodology was used to obtain daily radiation models. The global irradiation series model explained over 55% of the variance. The model for diffuse radiation showed the lowest prediction errors, and the direct radiation model offered the worst outcomes with the highest errors and the lowest R2. MFDFA allowed us to check that the model for global irradiation reproduced the main statistical characteristics of the data series: scale exponent values and points of slope change, and, in general, the multifractal behavior. The diffuse model presented a similar behavior of the series for short‐term large fluctuations, whereas the model for direct irradiation was not capable to reflect the multifractality of the data series. MFDFA can be used as a complement for model assessment, since it offers an analysis of model behavior at different timescales.
Predicting diagnostic conversion from major depressive disorder to bipolar disorder: an EHR based study from Colombia

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a severe and chronic disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of depression, mania, and/or hypomania. Most BD patients initially present with depressive symptoms, resulting in a delayed diagnosis of BD and poor clinical outcomes. This study leverages electronic health record (EHR) data from the Clinica San Juan de Dios Manizales in Colombia to identify features predictive of the transition from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) to BD. Analyzing EHR data from 13,607 patients diagnosed with MDD over 15 years, we identified 1,610 cases of conversion to BD. Using a multivariate Cox regression model, we identified severity of the initial MDD episode, the presence of psychosis and hospitalization at first episode, family history of mood or psychotic disorders, female gender to be predictive of the conversion to BD. Additionally, we observed associations with medication classes (prescriptions of mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants) and clinical features (delusions, suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, use of marijuana and alcohol use/abuse) derived from natural language processing (NLP) of clinical notes. Together, these risk factors predicted BD conversion within five years of the initial MDD diagnosis, with a recall of 72% and a precision of 38%. Our study confirms many previously identified risk factors identified through registry-based studies (such as female gender and psychotic depression at the index MDD episode), and identifies novel ones (specifically, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt extracted from clinical notes). These results simultaneously demonstrate the validity of using EHR data for predicting BD conversion as well as underscore its potential for the identification of novel risk factors and improving early diagnosis.
Refuting Causal Relations in Epidemiological Time Series

Causal detection is an important problem in epidemiology. Specifically in infectious disease epidemiology, knowledge of causal relations facilitates identification of the underlying factors driving outbreak dynamics, re-emergence, and influencing immunity patterns. Moreover, knowledge of causal relations can help to direct and target interventions, aimed at mitigating outbreaks. Infectious diseases are commonly presented as time series arising from nonlinear dynamical systems. However, tools aiming to detect the direction of causality from such systems often suffer from high false-detection rates. To address this challenge, we propose BCAD (Bootstrap Comparison of Attractor Dimensions), a novel method that focuses on refuting false causal relations using a dimensionality-based criterion, with accompanying bootstrap-based uncertainty quantification. We test the performance of BCAD, demonstrating its efficacy in correctly refuting false causal relations on two datasets: a model system that consists of two strains of a pathogen driven by a common environmental factor, and a real-world pneumonia and influenza incidence time series from the United States. We compare BCAD to Convergent Cross Mapping (CCM), a prominent method of causal detection in nonlinear systems. In both datasets, BCAD correctly refutes the vast majority of spurious causal relations which CCM falsely detects as causal. The utility of BCAD is emphasized by the fact that our models and data displayed synchrony, a situation known to challenge other causal detection methods. In conclusion, we demonstrate that BCAD is a useful tool for refuting false causal relations in nonlinear dynamical systems of infectious diseases. By leveraging the theory of dynamical systems, BCAD offers a transparent and flexible approach for discerning true causal relations from false ones in epidemiology and may also find applicability beyond infectious disease epidemiology.
A Syndrome of Joint Hypermobility, Autonomic Dysfunction, Gastrointestinal Dysfunction and Autoimmune markers (JAG-A: Clinical Associations and Response to Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy

Background and aims. We examined autoimmunity markers (AIMs) in patients with unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, their relationship to joint hypermobility/hypermobility spectrum disorder (JH/HSD) and the response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Methods. The study comprised of three cohorts, consisting of adolescent or adult patients with gastrointestinal symptoms affecting more than one region of the gut who underwent laboratory tests, whole gut transit studies, and autonomic testing. AIM positive patients were defined based on a diagnosis of known rheumatic disease with one positive seromarker of autoimmunity or at least two positive seromarkers. The three cohorts were (a) Retrospective (n = 300); (b) Prospective validation cohort (n =133); and (c) Patients with AIM (n=32) prospectively treated with IVIG and followed with standardized questionnaires. Results. AIMs were found in 39% of the retrospective cohort, of which the majority had a known rheumatic disorder. In the prospective cohort AIMs were noted in 35% overall but the rate was much higher in patients with JH/HSD (49% versus 21%, p=0.001). Significantly more patients with AIMs had elevations of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate along with trends in tilt table test and HLADQ8 positivity. IVIG treatment was associated with a significantly greater overall treatment effect than controls and robust improvement over baseline in pain, gastrointestinal and autonomic symptoms. Conclusions. Autoimmune markers and autonomic dysfunction are common in patients with unexplained gastrointestinal dysmotility, especially in those with joint hypermobility. IVIG treatment was associated with symptomatic improvement in both gastrointestinal and autonomic symptoms. These results need to be corroborated by randomized clinical trials of immunomodulators but suggest that an autoimmune etiology may be important to diagnose in such patients.
Number of Tables : 2 An Implantable ENG Detector with In-System Velocity Selective Recording ( VSR ) Capability

Detection and classification of electroneurogram (ENG) signals in the peripheral nervous system can be achieved by velocity selective recording (VSR) using multi-electrode arrays. This paper describes an implantable VSR-based ENG recording system representing a significant development in the field since it is the first system of its type that can record naturally-evoked ENG and be interfaced wirelessly using a low data rate trans-cutaneous link. The system consists of two CMOS ASICs one of which is placed close to the multielectrode cuff array (MEC) while the other is mounted close to the wireless link. The digital ASIC provides the signal processing required to detect selectively ENG signals based on velocity. The design makes use of an original architecture that is suitable for implantation and reduces the required data rate for transmission to units placed outside the body. Complete measured electrical data from samples of the ASICs are presented that show that the system has the capability to record signals of amplitude as low as 0.5 μV, which is adequate for the recording of naturally evoked ENG. In addition, measurements of electrically evoked ENG from the explanted sciatic nerves of Xenopus Laevis frogs are presented. Index Terms (keywords)— Biomedical signal processing, Biomedical transducers, Microelectronic implants, Neural prosthesis The authors would like to acknowledge funding support from the following sources: 1. European Commission Project title: Implantable Multi-contact Active Nerve Electrode (IMANE), project no. 026602; 2. Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) grant no. MOST 103-2221-E-110-026-MY2.
Applications de la transformée en ondelettes et de l'analyse multirésolution au traitement des images de télédétection

Apres une presentation de la transformee en ondelettes et de l'analyse multiresolution ainsi que de leur mise en oeuvre, nous presentons, dans ce memoire, les apports de ces deux outils a deux problemes de teledetection : la fusion de donnees issues de capteurs de resolutions spatiales et spectrales differentes et le traitement du speckle dans l'imagerie radar. Dans le cadre de la fusion de donnees, nous avons developpe une methode, basee sur ces deux outils et permettant d'obtenir des images ayant la meilleure des resolutions spatiales presentes dans le groupe d'images a fusionner tout en preservant la qualite de l'information spectrale pour les phenomenes qu'ils representent. L'utilisation de ces deux outils pour le traitement du speckle dans l'imagerie radar a permis l'amelioration des performances d'un filtre du point de vue de la qualite radiometrique. La demarche employee n'est pas limitee a un seul filtre et permettra d'obtenir une reduction importante du speckle dans les zones homogenes tout en preservant l'information geometrique presente dans l'image. Les apports de la transformee en ondelettes et de l'analyse multiresolution et les perspectives de l'utilisation de ces outils dans le cadre de la teledetection sont discutes.
Preseason preparation training and endothelial function in elite professional soccer players

Aim: To examine whether a high volume of soccer-specific training can lead to endothelial activation and/or dysfunction in professional soccer players due to exercise-induced oxidative stress. Methods: Twenty-three (15 nonsmokers and eight smokers) healthy, elite male professional soccer players (mean age: 25.2 ± 4.3 years, BMI: 23.1 ± 1.3 kg/m 2 , fat: 7.8% ± 2.6%) were selected for this study. All participants had a full clinical and laboratory evaluation. von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf Ag) plasma levels were measured on two different occasions: 1 day before the beginning of the preseason preparation period and after 7 weeks of strenuous exercise. Results: Mean vWf Ag plasma levels were significantly decreased from 95.1% ± 26% to 88.3% ± 27.2% at the end of the experimental period ( P = 0.018), suggesting a potential beneficial effect on the endothelium of these athletes. Further analysis showed that age greater than 29 years with an age range from 29 to 34 years can not impair this effect ( P  0.05). Conclusion: Strenuous exercise did not lead to endothelium activation or dysfunction in well-trained elite soccer players. On the contrary, it seemed to produce a beneficial effect on the endothelium of these players.
Noninvasive Field‐Scale Characterization of Gaseous‐Phase Methane Dynamics in Peatlands using the Ground‐Penetrating Radar Method

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a promising technology for investigating methane cycling in peatlands over a wide range of spatial scales. Unlike most commonly applied techniques that seek to ascertain information on the vertical distribution of peat structure and/or gas content, GPR can be employed entirely noninvasively with minimal disruption to the in situ gas regime. We discuss the following applications of the GPR method in peatlands research: (1) imaging the lateral continuity of confining layers that may permit free-phase gas (FPG) accumulation and regulate methane emissions; (2) estimation of vertical profiles of FPG content using surface and cross-hole measurements; and (3) noninvasive temporal monitoring of FPG production and emissions from a peat column. We present new GPR results that demonstrate how 1-D velocity profiles from the glacial Lake Agassiz peatland (GLAP) complex support the suggestion of accumulation of FPG below confining layers at 3-4 m depth. Using cross-borehole GPR data collected from a peatland in Maine, we show how GPR tomography (previously unapplied in peatlands) can image the spatial distribution of FPG content in Caribou Bog, with minimal invasiveness. We also present results of 3-D surface reflection amplitude analysis suggesting that reflection amplitudes, in addition to travel times, may yield insights into changes in methane production and emissions (e.g., via ebullition) from peat soils. We finish by discussing limitations of the technique (e.g., petrophysical conversion) and recommendations for further research to improve the application of this technology in studies of methane cycling in northern peatlands.
A precipitation climatology of 5-day periods

Abstract A precipitation climatology has been developed for the relative frequencies of zero, one, or two or more days with measurable precipitation within 5-day periods. In addition, the distribution of precipitation amounts is given for the one wet day in five and for the more than one wet day in five categories. The purpose of the climatology is to provide background for the development and introduction of extended-range (6–10 day forecast period) precipitation forecasts in terms of the probabilities of the three categories. The climatology is based on 36 years of precipitation data at 146 stations in the contiguous United States. Details of the treatment of the data are provided. Diagrams are developed to display the seasonal patterns of frequency and amount for individual stations. The frequency diagram is a nomogram based on a simple Markov chain model for precipitation occurrences. It can be used to infer—from the frequencies of 0 and exactly 1 wet day in 5—single-day climatological precipitation p.
The NICMOS Data Handbook

The Data Handbook contains important information on the HST data GOs and GTOs receive, including explanations on the data format, on the data reduction steps performed by the automatic pipelines, on sources of uncertainties in the data, and on available tools for data analysis. The NICMOS sections of the Data Handbook will soon be available, and a draft can be already retrieved from the NICMOS WWW Documentation Page. In this Poster we present the organization of the NICMOS sections of the Data Handbook, and the relevant topics there covered.