Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LEAST SQUARES ESTIMATES SYMETRICALLY ADJUSTED WITH NO LOSS OF INFORMATION IN THE TRUNCATED TOBIT MODEL

The objective of this paper is to improve the estimator of Powell (1986) in the truncated Tobit model. The Powell estimator is the least squares alternative to the maximum likelihood estimator for the Tobit model. Only symmetry of the distribution of the error term is assumed, but no distribution function is needed. In order to attain symmetry, our proposal predicts the values of the left hand side of the distribution, using the information contained in the right hand side, instead of eliminating sample information as the Powell estimator does. The paper takes an appropriate family of estimators as the point of departure, deriving the Power estimator as a particular case. The behaviour of the estimates of interest within thefamily is analysed both in terms of the theoretical properties and the small sample properties. El objetivo de este trabajo es mejorar el estimador propuesto por Powell (1986) para el modelo Tobit truncado. El estimador de Powell supone una alternativa al estimador maximo verosimil del modeloTobit y su ventaja es que no necesita admitir ninguna forma funcional conocida para la distribucion deltermino de error. La unica hipotesis distribucional que se impone es la simetria. Para conseguir lasimetria, nuestra propuesta predice los valores de la cola inferior de la distribucion, utilizando lainformacion contenida en la cola derecha, en vez de eliminar informacion muestral como hace elestimador de Powell. El trabajo toma un adecuada familia de estimadores como punto de partida,derivando el estimador de Powell como un caso particular. Se analiza el comportamiento de losestimadores de interes dentro de la familia tanto en terminos de propiedades teoricas comopropiedades en muestras finitas.
Shallow creep on the Haiyuan Fault (Gansu, China) revealed by SAR Interferometry

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar data are used to map the interseismic velocity field along the Haiyuan fault system (HFS), at the north‐eastern boundary of the Tibetan plateau. Two M ∼ 8 earthquakes ruptured the HFS in 1920 and 1927, but its 260 km‐long central section, known as the Tianzhu seismic gap, remains unbroken since ∼1000 years. The Envisat SAR data, spanning the 2003–2009 period, cover about 200 × 300 km2 along three descending and two ascending tracks. Interferograms are processed using an adapted version of ROI_PAC. The signal due to stratified atmospheric phase delay is empirically corrected together with orbital residuals. Mean line‐of‐sight velocity maps are computed using a constrained time series analysis after selection of interferograms with low atmospheric noise. These maps show a dominant left‐lateral motion across the HFS, and reveal a narrow, 35 km‐long zone of high velocity gradient across the fault in between the Tianzhu gap and the 1920 rupture. We model the observed velocity field using a discretized fault creeping at shallow depth and a least squares inversion. The inferred shallow slip rate distribution reveals aseismic slip in between two fully locked segments. The average creep rate is ∼5 mm yr−1, comparable in magnitude with the estimated loading rate at depth, suggesting no strain accumulation on this segment. The modeled creep rate locally exceeds the long term rate, reaching 8 mm yr−1, suggesting transient creep episodes. The present study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of the surface velocity in the vicinity of major seismic gaps in terms of seismic hazard assessment.
The ratio of M1 to M2 microglia in the striatum determines the severity of L‐Dopa‐induced dyskinesias

L‐Dopa, while treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, can lead to debilitating L‐Dopa‐induced dyskinesias, limiting its use. To investigate the causative relationship between neuro‐inflammation and dyskinesias, we assessed if striatal M1 and M2 microglia numbers correlated with dyskinesia severity and whether the anti‐inflammatories, minocycline and indomethacin, reverse these numbers and mitigate against dyskinesia. In 6‐OHDA lesioned mice, we used stereology to assess numbers of striatal M1 and M2 microglia populations in non‐lesioned (naïve) and lesioned mice that either received no L‐Dopa (PD), remained non‐dyskinetic even after L‐Dopa (non‐LID) or became dyskinetic after L‐Dopa treatment (LID). We also assessed the effect of minocycline/indomethacin treatment on striatal M1 and M2 microglia and its anti‐dyskinetic potential via AIMs scoring. We report that L‐Dopa treatment leading to LIDs exacerbates activated microglia numbers beyond that associated with the PD state; the severity of LIDs is strongly correlated to the ratio of the striatal M1 to M2 microglial numbers; in non‐dyskinetic mice, there is no M1/M2 microglia ratio increase above that seen in PD mice; and reducing M1/M2 microglia ratio using anti‐inflammatories is anti‐dyskinetic. Parkinson's disease is associated with increased inflammation, but this is insufficient to underpin dyskinesia. Given that L‐Dopa‐treated non‐LID mice show the same ratio of M1/M2 microglia as PD mice that received no L‐Dopa, and, given minocycline/indomethacin reduces both the ratio of M1/M2 microglia and dyskinesia severity, our data suggest the increased microglial M1/M2 ratio that occurs following L‐Dopa treatment is a contributing cause of dyskinesias.
Signaling pathways regulating the extracellular digestion of lipoprotein aggregates by macrophages

The interaction between aggregated low-density lipoprotein (agLDL) and macrophages in arteries plays a major role in atherosclerosis. Macrophages digest agLDL and generate free cholesterol in an extracellular, acidic, hydrolytic compartment known as the lysosomal synapse. Macrophages form a tight seal around agLDL through actin polymerization and deliver lysosomal contents into this space in a process termed digestive exophagy. Our laboratory has identified TLR4 activation of MyD88/Syk as critical for digestive exophagy. Here we use pharmacological agents and siRNA knockdown to characterize signaling pathways downstream of Syk that are involved in digestive exophagy. Syk activates Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2). We show that PLCγ2 and to a lesser extent BTK regulate digestive exophagy. PLCγ2 cleaves PI(4,5)P2 into diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). Soluble IP3 activates release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We demonstrate that Ca2+ release from the ER is upregulated by agLDL and plays a key role in digestive exophagy. Both DAG and Ca2+ activate protein kinase Cα (PKCα). We find that PKCα is an important regulator of digestive exophagy. These results expand our understanding of the mechanisms of digestive exophagy, which could be useful in developing therapeutic interventions to slow development of atherosclerosis.
Intensity‐based source inversion of the destructive earthquake of 1694 in the southern Apennines, Italy

We inverted the regional pattern of intensities of the catastrophic earthquake of 1694 in the southern Apennines and determined the geometrical and kinematic characteristics of its source, including the double‐couple orientation (strike angle 299° ± 10°, dip 54° ± 12°, and rake 309° ± 11°; pure dip‐slip solution not precluded). The objective nonlinear inversion was performed using the simple 11 parameter kinematic‐function model (KF) with a niching genetic algorithm technique. The similarity between the pattern of the field intensities of the 1694 earthquake and the synthetic pattern is striking. This result is supported by the fact that our inversion technique was verified in the study area, where it was able to again find the source of the Ms 6.9 Irpinia 1980 earthquake, known from instruments and from field surveys of the rupture. This type of inversion enables researchers to exploit the extensive intensity data from Italy and other countries to extend the knowledge of seismotectonic activity to preinstrumental times. New paleoseismological evidence and even published descriptions of the fault rupture by witnesses of the 1694 earthquake were found, confirming our results. We also present and apply a new algorithm, of general interest, to calculate disorientations between double‐couples via standard linear algebra. The 3‐D rotations that bring the pairwise orthogonal unit vectors that were estimated by our intensity inversion into the instrumental triples of the 1980 Irpinia earthquake, assumed as benchmarks, provide verification of our algorithm.
SOURCE CHARACTERISTICS AND TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS OF MODERATE EARTHQUAKE, NORTHEASTERN CAIRO PREFECTURE

Using local seismograms of the Egyptian National Seismological Network (ENSN), source characteristics of a moderate earthquake Mw = 4.5 (28 December 1999) are analyzed. In this analysis, the Empirical Green’s Function (EGF) deconvolution technique is applied. The records of an appropriate aftershock are taken as the EGF and are used to deconvolve the mainshock seismograms, thus obtaining a Relative Source Time Function (RSTF) at each station. The deconvolution is performed using P waves in frequency domain. From the time-domain analysis of the RSTF, the resulting source time functions indicate a simple rupture process. The azimuthal dependencies of the RSTF pulse amplitudes and widths are used to estimate rupture velocity and rupture direction for the mainshock. The azimuth of rupture direction is obtained using a global optimization method. We found that the rupture direction of the main event propagated toward S175°E with an averaged rupture velocity around 0.75 Vs. The result obtained for rupture direction is in agreement with one of the nodal planes of focal mechanism. From the rupture directivity analysis, focal mechanism and geological evidence it follows that the investigated event reflects a reactivation of a NW-SE Oligocene deep-seated normal faulting with sinistral movement. Source parameters were estimated using RSTFs of the mainshock, including seismic moment of 2.85×10 15 N·m, fault radius of 344 m, fault length 1460 m, and static stress drop of 3.071 MPa.
Nanodiscoidal Nucleic Acids for Gene Regulation

Therapeutic nucleic acids represent a powerful class of drug molecules to control gene expression and protein synthesis. A major challenge in this field is that soluble oligonucleotides have limited serum stability, and the majority of nucleic acids that enter the cells are trapped within endosomes. Delivery efficiency can be improved using lipid scaffolds. One such example is the nanodisc (ND), a self-assembled nanostructure composed of phospholipids and peptides and modeled after high density lipoproteins (HDLs). Herein, we describe the development of the nanodiscoidal nucleic acid (NNA) which is a ND covalently modified with nucleic acids on the top and bottom lipid faces as well as the lateral peptide belt. The 13 nm ND was doped with thiolated phospholipids and thiol-containing peptides and coupled in a one-pot reaction with oligonucleotides to achieve ∼30 DNA/NNA nucleic acid density. NNAs showed superior nuclease resistance and enhanced cellular uptake that was mediated through the scavenger receptor B1. Time-dependent Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis of internalized NNA confirmed that NNAs display increased stability. NNAs modified with clinically validated antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that target hypoxia inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1-α) mRNA showed enhanced activity compared with that of the soluble DNA across multiple cell lines as well as a 3D cancer spheroid model. Lastly, in vivo experiments show that ASO-modified NNAs are primarily localized into livers and kidneys, and NNAs were potent in downregulating HIF-1-α using 5-fold lower doses than previously reported. Collectively, our results highlight the therapeutic potential for NNAs.
An Investigation of the Dynamics of the East Greenland Current in Fram Strait Based on a Simple Analytical Model

Abstract The East Greenland Current (EGC) in Fram Strait is examined in summer, based on the hydrographic data from the MIZEX 84 experiment, and its dynamics is further analyzed using a simple analytical model. From the observed density field, the southward geostrophic transport relative to the bottom in the EGC is estimated to be about 4 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) at 78.4°N, which, assuming a ratio 1:1 between the bottom and the relative transports as suggested in the literature, allows one to postulate a 4 Sv bottom transport. The hydrographic data also reveal a northward gradient of potential energy along the East Greenland slope, between 77.5°N and 80.5°N. Such a gradient is the prerequisite for the existence of the joint effect of baroclinicity and relief (JEBAR), which is here proposed as a driving mechanism for the bottom transport in the EGC. A model with idealized topography and a density distribution prescribed from the above data is constructed based on a steady-state vorticity equation in which the .
An eHealth Prevention Program for Substance Use, Sexual Assault, and Sexual Risk Behaviors for Adolescents in Primary Care: Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial of Teen Well Check

Background Substance use, sexual assault, and sexual risk behaviors are common among adolescents and are interrelated. Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents use substances before sexual encounters, placing these young people at risk for both sexual assault and sexual risk behaviors. Primary care visits present a unique opportunity to address multiple health risk behaviors. Objective Teen Well Check is a web-based integrated prevention program for substance use, sexual assault, and sexual risk behaviors with demonstrated usability and acceptability among patients and providers. The aim of this study was to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess feasibility. Methods Adolescents (n=123) aged 14 to 18 years from diverse backgrounds were recruited from primarily Medicaid-serving pediatric primary care clinics. Participants completed a baseline survey; were randomized to receive Teen Well Check or an assessment-only control; and completed 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up surveys. Feasibility was assessed in terms of recruitment and retention rates. Preliminary changes from baseline to follow-up periods were examined separately in the Teen Well Check and control conditions. Results We recruited 123 participants (Teen Well Check: n=61, 49.6%; control: n=62, 50.4%). Of the 61 participants assigned to the Teen Well Check condition, 55 (90%) completed the full program and viewed all intervention content. Of the 123 participants, 105 (85.4%) were retained across at least 1 follow-up period, and there was no difference in follow-up rates between the conditions (χ21=0.6; P=.43). The completion of Teen Well Check took an average of 6.2 (SD 5.8) minutes. Preliminary analyses revealed that there were significant reductions in perceived peer norms (descriptive norms) for substance use before sex across follow-ups among participants in the Teen Well Check condition (P=.001 from baseline to 6 months), whereas there were significant increases among participants in the control condition (P=.003 from baseline to 6 months). In addition, there were nonsignificant reductions in substance misuse risk from baseline to the 6-month follow-up among participants in the Teen Well Check condition (P=.16). Conclusions These findings support the feasibility of Teen Well Check delivery within pediatric primary care clinics. A randomized clinical trial is needed to assess efficacy. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT3489434; https://www.clinicaltrials. gov/study/NCT03489434
Socially Mediated Shift in Neural Circuits Activation Regulated by Synergistic Neuromodulatory Signaling

Visual Abstract Animals exhibit context-dependent behavioral decisions that are mediated by specific motor circuits. In social species these decisions are often influenced by social status. Although social status-dependent neural plasticity of motor circuits has been investigated in vertebrates, little is known of how cellular plasticity translates into differences in motor activity. Here, we used zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism to examine how social dominance influences the activation of swimming and the Mauthner-mediated startle escape behaviors. We show that the status-dependent shift in behavior patterns whereby dominants increase swimming and reduce sensitivity of startle escape while subordinates reduce their swimming and increase startle sensitivity is regulated by the synergistic interactions of dopaminergic, glycinergic, and GABAergic inputs to shift the balance of activation of the underlying motor circuits. This shift is driven by socially induced differences in expression of dopaminergic receptor type 1b (Drd1b) on glycinergic neurons and dopamine (DA) reuptake transporter (DAT). Second, we show that GABAergic input onto glycinergic neurons is strengthened in subordinates compared with dominants. Complementary neurocomputational modeling of the empirical results show that drd1b functions as molecular regulator to facilitate the shift between excitatory and inhibitory pathways. The results illustrate how reconfiguration in network dynamics serves as an adaptive strategy to cope with changes in social environment and are likely conserved and applicable to other social species.
Storage and mobility of black carbon in permafrost soils of the forest tundra ecotone in Northern Siberia

Boreal permafrost soils store large amounts of organic carbon (OC). Parts of this carbon (C) might be black carbon (BC) generated during vegetation fires. Rising temperature and permafrost degradation is expected to have different consequences for OC and BC, because BC is considered to be a refractory subfraction of soil organic matter. To get some insight into stocks, variability, and characteristics of BC in permafrost soils, we estimated the benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) method‐specific composition and storage of BC, i.e. BPCA‐BC, in a 0.44 km2‐sized catchment at the forest tundra ecotone in northern Siberia. Furthermore, we assessed the BPCA‐BC export with the stream draining the catchment. The catchment is composed of various landscape units with south‐southwest (SSW) exposed mineral soils characterized by thick active layer or lacking permafrost, north‐northeast (NNE) faced mineral soils with thin active layer, and permafrost‐affected raised bogs in plateau positions showing in part thermokarst formation. There were indications of vegetation fires at all landscape units. BC was ubiquitous in the catchment soils and BPCA‐BC amounted to 0.6–3.0% of OC. This corresponded to a BC storage of 22–3440 g m−2. The relative contribution of BPCA‐BC to OC, as well as the absolute stocks of BPCA‐BC were largest in the intact bogs with a shallow active layer followed by mineral soils of the NNE aspects. In both landscape units, a large proportion of BPCA‐BC was stored within the permafrost. In contrast, mineral soils with thick active layer or lacking permafrost and organic soils subjected to thermokarst formation stored less BPCA‐BC. Permafrost is, hence, not only a crucial factor in the storage of OC but also of BC. In the stream water BPCA‐BC amounted on an average to 3.9% of OC, and a yearly export of 0.10 g BPCA‐BC m−2 was calculated, most of it occurring during the period of snow melt with dominance of surface flow. This suggests that BC mobility in dissolved and colloidal phase is an important pathway of BC export from the catchment. Such a transport mechanism may explain the high BC concentrations found in sediments of the Arctic Ocean.
Wavefield decomposition using ML-probabilities in modelling single-site 3-component records

SUMMARY This paper presents a new approach to the analysis of three-component digital seismograms. Earlier approaches used techniques such as Principal Components to estimate particlemotion using models of P and S waves. In this paper the Maximum-Likelihood (ML) estimator is preferred because this allows the use of X2-probabilities to test whether energy of a specific wave type (P, S, Love or Rayleigh) is present. In addition, this analysis allows the joint estimation of azimuth of approach and in cases of P- and SV-waves also apparent angle of incidence (and, hence, information on apparent velocity). For a single three-component seismogram, the covariance matrix provides only six independent observations, thus restricting analysis to rather simple wave models. The technique works satisfactorily for P-waves whereas shear and surface-wave models sometimes prove cumbersome to handle due to correlation between radial and transverse components reflecting complex propagation characteristics in inhomogeneous media. This technique has been tested on synthetic data and in such cases works perfectly for all wave types. An important aspect of this work has been the visual display of the probability and velocity information as functions of time and azimuth. Displaying the data in this form provides information on the ray path in a manner similar to analysis performed by seismic arrays. Practical examples on a variety of siesmic data are given to illustrate the viability of the technique: the data cover a broad spectrum of frequencies and applications from broad-band teleseismic data (1 Hz), regional seismic data (10-40 Hz), seismic profiling data (125 Hz) and VSP (500 Hz) recordings.
BEECH STATUS IN NEW ENGLAND'S AFTERMATH FORESTS

American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is one of the three most dominant tree species occupying the northern hardwoods forest of New England. We studied Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York to capture those areas with higher concentrations of beech. The status of beech in the northern hardwood forests is important because of the long-term impacts of beech bark disease (BBD) (Neonectria ssp.) on the composition and regeneration of aftermath forests within the region. We assessed the current conditions of beech trees at the stand level by comparing 2011 Forest Inventory and Analysis survey data with the previous survey conducted on the same set of plots (2006). To understand the current impacts of BBD on forests, we compared the number of growing-stock trees, number of rough cull trees, number of rotten cull trees, number of standing dead trees, and number of mortality trees with an important associative species, sugar maple (Acer saccharum). To evaluate the impacts of BBD on stand regeneration, we also assessed the number of sapling-size trees of American beech and three of its close associates, sugar maple, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Beech trees had 40 percent of their stocking classified as defective or dead; sugar maple stocking had less than 15 percent. Mortality tree numbers for American beech were highest in the larger diameter trees (11.0 inches diameter at breast height and larger) where BBD had been detected for less than 37 years, but were more equally distributed in older aftermath forests where BBD had been present for more than 60 years. The number of beech saplings increased while the numbers of its three associate tree species did not change significantly. Net growth of beech was increasing as a proportion of net growth for sugar maple.