Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Snow Height Determination by Polarimetric Phase Differences in X-Band SAR Data

The copolar phase difference (CPD) between VV and HH polarization of X-band SAR acquisitions shows a significant dependence on the depth of fresh snow. Phase differences of 5-15 deg/10 cm fresh snow were determined at a frequency of 9.65 GHz by comparing spatial and temporal variations of snow depth (SD) with the CPD. Spatial correlations were derived from snow transect measurements during January 2012 and TanDEM-X acquisitions. Temporal correlations were derived from weather station data and TerraSAR-X acquisitions between December 2012 and April 2013. All measurements were done at a test field near the city Sodankylae, Finland. To explain the observed CPD, a model derives birefringent properties from the microstructure of snow, which is described as aligned elliptical particles. The microscopic description is based on computer tomography observations. Different incidence angles were analyzed in consistency with the model. The temporal evolution of the CPD was linked to the temperature-gradient-driven recrystallization process. Sudden increases in the CPD indicate fresh snow. Slow decreases indicate the subsequent recrystallization process. The background signal of wet soil was considered and causes a small negative offset to the CPD. A quantitative determination of the depth of fresh snow is possible, because the specific CPD per meter of snow can be estimated. Spatial resolutions below 100×100 m are achievable with sensors such as TerraSAR-X or TanDEM-X. This paper presents a theoretical relationship between the microstructure of snow and the CPD and relates the CPD theoretically and empirically to the depth of fresh snow.
Artifact Processing in Computerized Analysis of Sleep EEG – A Review

Quantitative analysis of sleep EEG data can provide valuable additional information in sleep research. However, analysis of data contaminated by artifacts can lead to spurious results. Thus, the first step in realizing an automatic sleep analysis system is the implementation of a reliable and valid artifact processing strategy. This strategy should include: (1) high-quality recording techniques in order to minimize the occurrence of avoidable artifacts (e.g. technical artifacts); (2) artifact minimization procedures in order to minimize the loss of data by estimating the contribution of different artifacts in the EEG recordings, thus allowing the calculation of the ‘corrected’ EEG (e.g. ocular and ECG interference), and finally (3) artifact identification procedures in order to define epochs contaminated by remaining artifacts (e.g. movement and muscle artifacts). Therefore, after a short description of the types of artifacts in the sleep EEG and some typical examples obtained in different sleep stages, artifact minimization and identification procedures will be reviewed.
Functional analysis of neurovascular adaptations to exercise in the dentate gyrus of young adult mice associated with cognitive gain

The discovery that aerobic exercise increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis and can enhance cognitive performance holds promise as a model for regenerative medicine. This study adds two new pieces of information to the rapidly growing field. First, we tested whether exercise increases vascular density in the granular layer of the dentate gyrus, whole hippocampus, and striatum in C57BL/6J mice known to display procognitive effects of exercise. Second, we determined the extent to which new neurons from exercise participate in the acute neuronal response to high levels of running in B6D2F1/J (F1 hybrid of C57BL/6J female by DBA/2J male). Mice were housed with or without a running wheel for 50 days (runner vs. sedentary). The first 10 days, they received daily injections of BrdU to label dividing cells. The last 10 days, mice were tested for performance on the Morris water maze and rotarod and then euthanized to measure neurogenesis, c‐Fos induction from running and vascular density. In C57BL/6J, exercise increased neurogenesis, density of blood vessels in the dentate gyrus and striatum (but not whole hippocampus), and enhanced performance on the water maze and rotarod. In B6D2F1/J, exercise also increased hippocampal neurogenesis but not vascular density in the granular layer. Improvement on the water maze from exercise was marginal, and no gain was seen for rotarod, possibly because of a ceiling effect. Running increased the number of c‐Fos positive neurons in the granular layer by fivefold, and level of running was strongly correlated with c‐Fos within 90 min before euthanasia. In runners, ∼3.3% (±0.008 S.E.) of BrdU‐positive neurons in the middle of the granule layer displayed c‐Fos when compared with 0.8% (±0.001) of BrdU‐negative neurons. Results suggest that procognitive effects of exercise are associated with increased vascular density in the dentate gyrus and striatum in C57BL/6J mice, and that new neurons from exercise preferentially function in the neuronal response to running in B6D2F1/J. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Amateur ice hockey coaching and the role of video feedback

Amateur minor hockey coaches have recently begun to capture and play back video recordings to provide their teams with visual feedback of their play as a learning tool. Yet what is not clear is whether such video feedback is useful and how video feedback systems could be designed to better match the needs of amateur hockey coaches and players. As such, we wanted to understand coaches' current practices for communicating and teaching and their current use of video feedback (if at all). We observed games and practices and conducted in situ interviews with amateur coaches. Our results show that teaching and learning at highly competitive levels of minor hockey focuses on decision-making and comprehension of the game rather than individual physical movement. One-on-one teaching happens opportunistically and in very short time periods throughout games and practices. However, video feedback is currently used in a much different context, often away from the ice because of technological limitations. Based on these findings, we suggest video feedback systems be designed for use within the context of games and practices while balancing the individual needs of players with coaching goals.
ESSnet on common tools and harmonised methodology for SDC in the ESS Overview of methods for Statistical Disclosure Control of Census Frequency Tabular Data

This overview is meant to briefly outline well known methods for disclosure controls for frequency tables, that is tables of counts (or percentages) where each cell value represents the number of respondents in that cell. It is mainly a summary / shortened version of chapter 5 of the ESSNET-SDC handbook (Hundepool et al, 2010) contributed by Jane Naylor (ONS). To some extent this paper presents just extracts from the handbook chapter (partly in the original phrasing). The interested reader is very much invited to look up the respective original sections and paragraphs of the handbook chapter for details, more worked out examples, further reading and literature.
Life Cycle, Individual Thrift, and the Wealth of Nations

One theory of the determinants of individual and national thrift has come to be known as the life cycle hypothesis of saving. The state of the art on the eve of the formulation of the hypothesis some 30 years ago is reviewed. Then the theoretical foundations of the model in its original formulation and later amendment are set forth, calling attention to various implications, some distinctive to it and some counterintuitive. A number of crucial empirical tests, both at the individual and the aggregate level, are presented as well as some applications of the life cycle hypothesis of saving to current policy issues.
Hybrid-Waveguide Ring Resonator for Biochemical Sensing

This paper proposes a hybrid-waveguide ring resonator for on-chip biochemical sensing. Consisting of a low-loss strip-waveguide and a highly sensitive slot-waveguide integrated in a silicon photonic platform, it combines advantages of both waveguide types. In this way, it provides the unique feature to increase the sensitivity while maintaining low optical losses. Thus, this resonator structure may represent a promising alternative approach for future integrated biochemical sensing applications. This is suggested by a theoretical analysis, involving numerical simulation of the hybrid-waveguide ring resonator and an optimization of the slot-waveguide structure with regard to light-analyte-interaction. It is demonstrated that the hybrid-waveguide concept may overcome limitations in terms of overall resonator sensitivity, which is described by a figure of merit, connecting the optical losses with the resonator sensitivity.
Quantitative microspectroscopic imaging reveals viral and cellular RNA helicase interactions in live cells

Human cells detect RNA viruses through a set of helicases called RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) that initiate the interferon response via a mitochondrial signaling complex. Many RNA viruses also encode helicases, which are sometimes covalently linked to proteases that cleave signaling proteins. One unresolved question is how RLRs interact with each other and with viral proteins in cells. This study examined the interactions among the hepatitis C virus (HCV) helicase and RLR helicases in live cells with quantitative microspectroscopic imaging (Q-MSI), a technique that determines FRET efficiency and subcellular donor and acceptor concentrations. HEK293T cells were transfected with various vector combinations to express cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) or YFP fused to either biologically active HCV helicase or one RLR (i.e. RIG-I, MDA5, or LGP2), expressed in the presence or absence of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), which elicits RLR accumulation at mitochondria. Q-MSI confirmed previously reported RLR interactions and revealed an interaction between HCV helicase and LGP2. Mitochondria in CFP-RIG-I:YFP-RIG-I cells, CFP-MDA5:YFP-MDA5 cells, and CFP-MDA5:YFP-LGP2 cells had higher FRET efficiencies in the presence of poly(I:C), indicating that RNA causes these proteins to accumulate at mitochondria in higher-order complexes than those formed in the absence of poly(I:C). However, mitochondria in CFP-LGP2:YFP-LGP2 cells had lower FRET signal in the presence of poly(I:C), suggesting that LGP2 oligomers disperse so that LGP2 can bind MDA5. Data support a new model where an LGP2-MDA5 oligomer shuttles NS3 to the mitochondria to block antiviral signaling.
Molecular Comparison of Bacterial Communities within Iron-Containing Flocculent Mats Associated with Submarine Volcanoes along the Kermadec Arc

ABSTRACT Iron oxide sheaths and filaments are commonly found in hydrothermal environments and have been shown to have a biogenic origin. These structures were seen in the flocculent material associated with two submarine volcanoes along the Kermadec Arc north of New Zealand. Molecular characterization of the bacterial communities associated with the flocculent samples indicated that no known Fe-oxidizing bacteria dominated the recovered clone libraries. However, clones related to the recently described Fe-oxidizing bacterium Mariprofundus ferrooxydans were obtained from both the iron-containing flocculent (Fe-floc) and sediment samples, and peaks corresponding to Mariprofundus ferrooxydans, as well as the related clones, were observed in several of our terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles. A large group of epsilonproteobacterial sequences, for which there is no cultured representative, dominated clones from the Fe-floc libraries and were less prevalent in the sediment sample. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that several operational taxonomic units appeared to be site specific, and statistical analyses of the clone libraries found that all samples were significantly different from each other. Thus, the bacterial communities in the Fe-floc samples were not more closely related to each other than to the sediment communities.
Fast modal sounds with scalable frequency-domain synthesis

Audio rendering of impact sounds, such as those caused by falling objects or explosion debris, adds realism to interactive 3D audiovisual applications, and can be convincingly achieved using modal sound synthesis. Unfortunately, mode-based computations can become prohibitively expensive when many objects, each with many modes, are impacted simultaneously. We introduce a fast sound synthesis approach, based on short-time Fourier Tranforms, that exploits the inherent sparsity of modal sounds in the frequency domain. For our test scenes, this "fast mode summation" can give speedups of 5--8 times compared to a time-domain solution, with slight degradation in quality. We discuss different reconstruction windows, affecting the quality of impact sound "attacks". Our Fourier-domain processing method allows us to introduce a scalable, real-time, audio processing pipeline for both recorded and modal sounds, with auditory masking and sound source clustering. To avoid abrupt computation peaks, such as during the simultaneous impacts of an explosion, we use crossmodal perception results on audiovisual synchrony to effect temporal scheduling. We also conducted a pilot perceptual user evaluation of our method. Our implementation results show that we can treat complex audiovisual scenes in real time with high quality.
Interval Estimation for Bivariate t-Copulas via Kendall ’ s Tau by

Copula models have been popular in risk management. Due to the properties of asymptotic dependence and easy simulation, the t-copula has often been employed in practice. A computationally simple estimation procedure for the t-copula is to first estimate the linear correlation via Kendall’s tau estimator and then to estimate the parameter of the number of degrees of freedom by maximizing the pseudo likelihood function. In this paper, we derive the asymptotic limit of this two-step estimator which results in a complicated asymptotic covariance matrix. Further, we propose jackknife empirical likelihood methods to construct confidence intervals/regions for the parameters and the tail dependence coefficient without estimating any additional quantities. A simulation study shows that the proposed methods perform well in finite sample.
Diversity and Conservation of Butterflies in the New York City Metropolitan Area

•Ward Pound Ridge (Westchester County) •Hook Mountain (Rockland County) •Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx County) •Chappaqua "power cut", Chappaqua (Westchester County) •Various parks in Staten Island including Blue Heron, Clay Pit Ponds, etc. (Richmond County) •Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Breezy Point/Rockaway Peninsula (Kings/Queens County) •Central Park (New York County) •Botanical, private, and community gardens (throughout)
Long survival and therapeutic responses in patients with histologically disparate high-grade gliomas demonstrating chromosome 1p loss.

OBJECT Allelic loss of chromosome 1p is a powerful predictor of tumor chemosensitivity and prolonged survival in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. Chromosome 1p loss also occurs in astrocytic and oligoastrocytic gliomas, although less commonly than in pure oligodendroglial tumors. This observation raises the possibility investigated in this study that chromosome 1p loss might also provide prognostic information for patients with high-grade gliomas with astrocytic components. METHODS The authors report on seven patients with high-grade gliomas composed of either pure astrocytic or mixed astrocytic-oligodendroglial phenotypes, who had remarkable neuroradiological responses to therapy or unexpectedly long survivals. All of the tumors from these seven patients demonstrated chromosome 1p loss, whereas other genetic alterations characteristic of high-grade gliomas (p53 gene mutations, EGFR gene amplification, chromosome 10 loss, chromosome 19q loss, or CDKN2A/p16 deletions) were only found in occasional cases. The authors also assessed the frequency of chromosome 1p loss in a series of anonymous high-grade astrocytoma samples obtained from a tumor bank and demonstrate that this genetic change is uncommon, occurring in only 10% of cases. CONCLUSIONS Although any prognostic importance of chromosome 1p loss in astrocytic or mixed astrocytic-oligodendroglial gliomas can only be determined in larger and prospective series, these findings raise the possibility that some high-grade gliomas with chromosome 1p loss, in addition to pure anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, may follow a more favorable clinical course.
High Desert Paleolithic Survey at Abydos, Egypt

Abstract In the winters of 2000 and 2002–2003 we surveyed a portion of the high desert immediately adjacent to the Nile Valley at Abydos, Egypt. The initial field season assessed the area's potential to contribute to the existing database of Paleolithic landscapes. Limited work done prior to our initial survey indicated that such Paleolithic sites in this region, while present, were relatively infrequent. Contrary to this expectation, we found the desert landscape densely littered with Paleolithic artifacts. Our subsequent work documented the extent of the distribution and the nature of Paleolithic artifacts. The goal of this work is to develop models of desert landscape use, particularly during the Middle Paleolithic, which can be integrated into those existing for the Nile Valley. In doing this, we provide a more complete picture of hominid adaptations in a place and time period critical to our understanding of the origins of modern human behaviors.
Assessment of heavy metal concentrations in water and sediment of dams in Central Namibia and bioaccumulation of copper in locally occuring crabs and fish

Mining is a major contributor to water pollution, which can lead to accumulation of heavy metals in aquatic systems. Mining activities in the Karstveld, specifically in the Tsumeb-Grootfontein-Otavi area, may potentially result in heavy metal pollution of water sources. A seasonal study was conducted to assess the concentration of heavy metals in aquatic systems that receive water from the Karstveld aquifer. The potential of locally occurring fish and crab species as bio-indicators of copper pollution was also investigated. Water samples were collected from Omatako and Von Bach dams as well as along the Eastern National Water Carrier, while sediment samples were collected from the two dams. Concentrations of Copper, Lead and Zinc in sediment and water samples were measured with Inductive Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). No significant temporal difference (p > 0.05) in metal concentrations was found. Omatako dam had significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentrations of Copper (0.68 mg/L) and Zinc (1.0 mg/L) in the sediment than Von Bach dam. Water at the start of the canal had significantly (p < 0.05) higher Zinc concentrations (1.4 mg/L) compared to the canal’s mid-section (0.01 mg/L). Low copper and lead concentrations (< 0.1 mg/L) were found throughout the canal. An exposure study using Tilapia fish and freshwater crabs were done to determine at what concentrations and in which parts of the body bioaccumulation takes place. Organisms were exposed to different Copper concentrations (0, 20, 40 and 80 mg/L) for 8 weeks. Concentration of Cu in the gills, liver and muscle tissue in the fish and gills, muscle tissue and hepatopancreas in the crabs were determined by ICP-OES. Concentrations of up to 9.6 mg/L of Cu were found in liver tissue of the fish at 80
Anticipated, momentary, episodic, remembered: the many facets of User eXperience

User experience (UX) has been defined in several ways. In general terms, it refers to everything that is individually encountered, perceived, or lived through. The literature on UX reports studies mostly focused on specific interaction events, which may have an impact on the user's emotions and feelings. This paper provides a reflection on how UX evolves over time. We performed a medium term study comparing four types of UX: Anticipated, Momentary, Episodic and Remembered (or Cumulative) experience. Anticipated UX refers to the period of time before first use, and focuses on the expectations a person has on the product, service or system. Momentary UX refers to any perceived change during the interaction in the very moment it occurs. Episodic UX is an appraisal of a specific usage episode extrapolated from a wider interaction event. Remembered UX is the memory the user has after having used the system for a while. The different facets of UX have been analysed in a medium term research spanning over four weeks. The study compared the experience of ten users of a pedometer/fitness app that counts steps and burned calories all day long. The results show that the experience of use changed over time decreasing significantly before, during and after the interaction. The evaluative judgment related to the overall satisfaction with the product, was largely formed on the basis of an initial high expectation on pragmatic aspects (i.e. utility and usability) before and during the first encounters. After four weeks of use, the problems related to usability, reliability of data, and battery drain became a dominant aspect of how good the product was perceived. Hedonic qualities and Attractiveness were negatively impacted as well. The continuous reflection on the use, documented in online diaries, made the problematic aspects prevailing on the overall UX in particular on the evaluation of Episodic and Remembered UX. This prevented any change in behaviour in the participants.
Regional variation in the Amitsoq gneisses related to crustal levels during late Archean granulite facies metamorphism: Southern west Greenland

The dominant lithology at Kangimut sangmissoq is described as nebulitic tonalitic gneiss containing highly distended plagioclase phyric amphibolites. The gneiss amphibolite complex was intruded by Nuk gneiss between 3.05 and 2.90 Ga and later (2.6 to 2.7 Ga) by post granulite facies granitoid sheets. The amphibolites are though to be Ameralik dikes and the older gray gneiss are then Amitsoq by definition. The problem arises when the isotopic data are considered, none of which indicate rocks older that about 3.0 Ga.
Orthogonality and Cooperation in Collaborative Spectrum Sensing through MIMO Decision Fusion

This paper deals with spectrum sensing for cognitive radio scenarios where the decision fusion center (DFC) exploits array processing. More specifically, we explore the impact of user cooperation and orthogonal transmissions among secondary users (SUs) on the reporting channel. To this aim four protocols are considered: (i) non-orthogonal and non-cooperative; (ii) orthogonal and non-cooperative; (iii) non-orthogonal and cooperative; (iv) orthogonal and cooperative. The DFC employs maximum ratio combining (MRC) rule and performance are evaluated in terms of complementary receiver operating characteristic (CROC). Analytical results, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations, are presented.
Crystal Structure of a Coiled-Coil Domain from Human ROCK I

The small GTPase Rho and one of its targets, Rho-associated kinase (ROCK), participate in a variety of actin-based cellular processes including smooth muscle contraction, cell migration, and stress fiber formation. The ROCK protein consists of an N-terminal kinase domain, a central coiled-coil domain containing a Rho binding site, and a C-terminal pleckstrin homology domain. Here we present the crystal structure of a large section of the central coiled-coil domain of human ROCK I (amino acids 535–700). The structure forms a parallel α-helical coiled-coil dimer that is structurally similar to tropomyosin, an actin filament binding protein. There is an unusual discontinuity in the coiled-coil; three charged residues (E613, R617 and D620) are positioned at what is normally the hydrophobic core of coiled-coil packing. We speculate that this conserved irregularity could function as a hinge that allows ROCK to adopt its autoinhibited conformation.