Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arsenic and Uranium in Four Aquifer Settings: Occurrence, Distribution, and Mechanisms for Transport to Supply Wells

A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study of the transport of anthropogenic and natural contaminants to public-supply wells (PSWs) in four aquifer systems documents the occurrence and distribution of arsenic and uranium, and determines some of the mechanisms for their mobilization and movement. The study areas include a glacial aquifer system in Woodbury, Connecticut (referred to herein as CT); the Floridan aquifer system and overlying units in Tampa, Florida (referred to herein as FL); the High Plains aquifer in York, Nebraska (referred to herein as NE); and the Central Valley aquifer system in Modesto, California (referred to herein as CA). Chemical analyses of solid-phase material indicated geologic sources of arsenic and uranium, but did not always correspond to their relative concentrations in ground water. In CT, low extracted concentrations of arsenic and uranium in most glacial deposits corresponded to low concentrations in ground water. Arsenic and uranium concentrations in sediment were highest in NE and among the lowest in CA, yet dissolved concentrations at both sites were similar. The predominance of calcium-uranyl-carbonate complexes, which can inhibit uranium adsorption, probably contributes to uranium mobility in NE, CA, and FL. Shallow, high-bicarbonate water is drawn downward by pumping and irrigation recharge at both sites. Arsenic correlates well with orthophosphate in shallow ground water in both areas, possibly indicating a tendency for competitive desorption of arsenic by phosphate. In FL, the highest concentrations of arsenic and uranium in depth-dependent samples from the public supply well were found in a highly transmissive zone in the Suwannee Limestone. The arsenic likely results from reactions between oxic water from the surficial aquifer system and arsenic-rich pyrite in parts of the limestone. Evidence of short-circuit pathways were observed in all four aquifer systems, and those in FL, NE, and CA result in sporadic exceedances of drinkingwater standards for arsenic and (or) uranium in PSWs. At the FL, NE, and CA sites, these pathways resulted from human-induced changes in the flow system.
Face-Based Automatic Personality Perception

Automatic Personality Perception is the task of automatically predicting the personality traits people attribute to others. This work presents experiments where such a task is performed by mapping facial appearance into the Big-Five personality traits, namely Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. The experiments are performed over the pictures of the FERET corpus, originally collected for biometrics purposes, for a total of 829 individuals. The results show that it is possible to automatically predict whether a person is perceived to be above or below median with an accuracy close to 70 percent (depending on the trait).
The Effects of Reputation and Ethics on Budgetary Slack

This experimental study tests the effects on budgetary slack of two potential controls for opportunistic self‐interest—reputation and ethics. I manipulate the level of information asymmetry between the subordinate and the superior regarding productive capability and measure the subordinate's reputation and ethical concerns regarding budgetary slack. In this setting, I examine how information asymmetry affects reputation and ethical concerns, and test the effects of these concerns on budgetary slack. Consistent with prior findings, subordinates restrict the slack in their budgets to well below the maximum under a slack‐inducing pay scheme, even after five periods of experience. Budgetary slack is negatively associated with a measure of ethical responsibility from a pre‐experiment personality questionnaire as well as reputation and ethical concerns expressed in an exit questionnaire. Subordinates express lower reputation concerns as information asymmetry regarding productive capability increases, thereby re.
Practical aspects of managing diabetes in adolescents

In 1988 and 1990 screening for HbA1c and albumin excretion rate in diabetic children was carried out throughout Denmark. Each study included approximately 1000 diabetic patients. Raised levels of HbA1c (9.5‐10%) were found despite 60% of these young people receivin6g three or more insulin injections daily. The prevalence of persistent microalbuminuria was 4.3%, which was associated only with age and diastolic blood pressure. A recent international survey of HbA 1c and insulin treatment involving 2873 children found an average HbA1c of 8.6%± 1.7%, which varied significantly (p < 0. 0001) between centres. Severe hypoglycaemia was related to a young age (0‐8 y) and low HbA 1c. There were no significant differences in glycaemic control between adolescents treated with two, three, four or more insulin injections daily. Adolescents on four or more injections received significantly (p < 0:001) more insulin. Girls receiving four or more injections had a significantly (p < 0:01) higher body mass index than girls on twice‐daily insulin. Preadolescent children on premixed insulin showed similar HbA 1c levels to those on a combination of short‐ and long‐acting insulin, whereas in adolescents, significantly better HbA 1c values were achieved with individual combinations. Despite intensive diabetes management, particularly in adolescence, near normoglycaemia is achieved only in a few individuals.
Properties of human glycine receptors containing the hyperekplexia mutation α1(K276E), expressed in Xenopus oocytes

1 Inherited defects in human glycine receptors give rise to hyperekplexia (startle disease). We expressed human glycine receptors in Xenopus oocytes, in order to examine the pharmacological and single‐channel properties of receptors that contain a mutation, α1(K276E), associated with an atypical form of hyperekplexia. 2 Equilibrium concentration‐response curves showed that recombinant human α1(K276E)β receptors had a 29‐fold lower glycine sensitivity than wild‐type α1β receptors, and a greatly reduced Hill coefficient. The maximum response to glycine also appeared much reduced, whereas the equilibrium constant for the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine was unchanged. 3 Both wild‐type and mutant channels opened to multiple conductance levels with similar main conductance levels (33 pS) and weighted mean conductances (41.5 versus 49.8 pS, respectively). 4 Channel openings were shorter for the α1(K276E)β mutant than for the wild‐type α1β, with mean overall apparent open times of 0.82 and 6.85 ms, respectively. 5 The main effect of the α1(K276E) mutation is to impair the opening of the channel rather than the binding of glycine. This is shown by the results of fitting glycine dose‐response curves with particular postulated mechanisms, the shorter open times of mutant channels, the properties of single‐channel bursts, and the lack of an effect of the mutation on the strychnine‐binding site.
RendezView: Look at Meanings of an Encounter Region over Local Social Flocks

Social media data provide insight into people's opinions, thoughts, and reactions about real-world events such as hurricanes, infectious diseases, or urban crimes. In particular, the role of location-embedded social media is being emphasized to monitor surrounding situations and predict future effects by the geography of data shadows. However, it brings big challenges to find meaningful information about dynamic social phenomena from the mountains of fragmented, noisy data flooding. This paper proposes a data model to represent local flock phenomena as collective interests in geosocial streams and presents an interactive visual analysis process. In particular, we show a new visualization tool, called RendezView, composed of a three-dimensional map, word cloud, and Sankey flow diagram. RendezView allows a user to discern spatio-temporal and semantic contexts of local social flock phenomena and their co-occurrence relationships. An explanatory visual analysis of the proposed model is simulated by the experiments on a set of daily Twitter streams and shows the local patterns of social flocks with several visual results.
Classification of vestibular symptoms: towards an international classification of vestibular disorders.

Alexandre Bisdorffa,∗, Michael Von Brevernb, Thomas Lempertc and David E. Newman-Tokerd Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch, L-4005 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Vestibular Research Group Berlin, Department of Neurology, Park-Klinik Weissensee, Berlin, Germany Vestibular Research Group Berlin, Department of Neurology, Schlosspark-Klinik, Berlin, Germany Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
Moisture-Sensitive and Stress-Dependent Behavior of Unbound Pavement Materials from in Situ Falling Weight Deflectometer Tests

In an instrumented flexible pavement with a subsurface drainage system, a field study was performed to investigate the influence of water on the response of the pavement structure. The drainage system of the structure was clogged for 3 months; this condition allowed the groundwater to rise and the structure to undergo high moisture conditions. Reopening of the drainage system permitted the structure to approach its previous draining hydrological state. Along with monitoring of subsurface groundwater level and moisture content, the structural response of the pavement was studied by conducting frequent falling weight deflectometer tests with multilevel loads. The stress sensitivity of the unbound layers and the influence of moisture on their stiffness were studied, with the intent of using the data to determine the unbound materials' nonlinear parameters through a backcalculation algorithm. The groundwater level rose rapidly after the drainage system was clogged. This rise in groundwater level significantly affected the overall stiffness of the pavement structure, and the backcalculated stiffness of the unbound layers decreased as their moisture content increased. Furthermore, the unbound layers exhibited stress-dependent behavior to multilevel loads. The subgrade showed a stress-softening response in an unsaturated condition and stress-independent behavior in a saturated state. The granular layer exhibited stress-hardening behavior. Backcalculation of the unbound nonlinear parameters determined by the universal extended k–θ model revealed that the k1 parameter decreased with increasing moisture content for both the unbound granular layer and the unsaturated fine-grained subgrade material.
Strength Properties of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Fibres Modified with Carbon Nanotubes with Respect to their Porous and Supramolecular Structure

**Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGHUniversity of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland Abstract This work was dedicated to the investigation of the influence of the effect of carbon nanotubes on the porous and supramolecular structure of precursor polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres. A relationship was found between the structure of the fibers produced in a two-stage and three-stage drawing process and the strength properties of those fibres. The structural parameters and properties of PAN fibres modified with carbon nanotubes were compared with corresponding values for the fibres without nanoadditives. It was found that the introduction of carbon nanotubes into the material of PAN fibres increases their deformability at successive stages of drawing to a degree depending on the type of nanotube. This was the main reason for their higher strength properties in comparison with the fibres without a nanoadditive.
A New Search Space Reduction Technique for Acquisition of UWB Signals in Multipath Channels

Rapid acquisition of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals in multipath channels is a challenging task due to the following reasons. First, fine time resolution of UWB signals introduces a large search space. Second, due to the very low power of the received signal, it needs to be observed for a long time to make a reliable decision. These two problems make the process of acquisition unacceptably slow. In this paper, we introduce a new two-stage algorithm to reduce the search space and consequently the acquisition time. The performance of the proposed method is analytically evaluated in terms of mean acquisition time and the results are validated through simulations. The results show a significant improvement in the speed of acquisition with no additional complexity.
A Survey on Adaptable Middleware for Wireless Sensor Networks

The use of sensor networks in different kinds of sophisticated applications is emerging due to several advances in sensor technologies and embedded systems and the increased demand from users. These systems run in highly dynamic and heterogeneous environments, in which changes occur very frequently, creating the need for adaptation support to environment changes and changes imposed by the users. An approach to allow the use of sensor networks in such complex and sophisticated applications is the use of middleware, especially adaptable middleware, which provides efficient response to the environment changes, adapting the middleware behaviour according to new requirements. In this survey we present a study of the state of the art in adaptable middleware for sensor networks, in which we analyse the main trends represented by important projects in the area, analysing their main features and providing a comparison among them.
Systematics of stalked jellyfishes (Cnidaria: Staurozoa)

Staurozoan classification is highly subjective, based on phylogeny-free inferences, and suborders, families, and genera are commonly defined by homoplasies. Additionally, many characters used in the taxonomy of the group have ontogenetic and intraspecific variation, and demand new and consistent assessments to establish their correct homologies. Consequently, Staurozoa is in need of a thorough systematic revision. The aim of this study is to propose a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for Staurozoa, providing the first phylogenetic classification for the group. According to our working hypothesis based on a combined set of molecular data (mitochondrial markers COI and 16S, and nuclear markers ITS, 18S, and 28S), the traditional suborders Cleistocarpida (animals with claustrum) and Eleutherocarpida (animals without claustrum) are not monophyletic. Instead, our results show that staurozoans are divided into two groups, herein named Amyostaurida and Myostaurida, which can be distinguished by the absence/presence of interradial longitudinal muscles in the peduncle, respectively. We propose a taxonomic revision at the family and genus levels that preserves the monophyly of taxa. We provide a key for staurozoan genera and discuss the evolution of the main characters used in staurozoan taxonomy.
Fluorogenic assays for immediate confirmation of Escherichia coli

Rapid assays for Escherichia coli were developed by using the compound 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronide (MUG), which is hydrolyzed by glucuronidase to yield a fluorogenic product. The production of glucuronidase was limited to strains of E. coli and some Salmonella and Shigella strains in the family Enterobacteriaceae. For immediate confirmation of the presence of E. coli in most-probable-number tubes, MUG was incorporated into lauryl tryptose broth at a final concentration of 100 micrograms/ml. Results of both the presumptive test (gas production) and the confirmed test (fluorescence) for E. coli were obtained from a variety of food, water, and milk samples after incubation for only 24 h at 35 degrees C. Approximately 90% of the tubes showing both gas production and fluorescence contained fecal coliforms (they were positive in EC broth incubated at 45 degrees C). Few false-positive reactions were observed. The lauryl tryptose broth-MUG-most-probable-number assay was superior to violet red bile agar for the detection of heat- and chlorine-injured E. coli cells. Anaerogenic strains produced positive reactions, and small numbers of E. coli could be detected in the presence of large numbers of competing bacteria. The fluorogenic assay was sensitive and rapid; the presence of one viable cell was detected within 20 h. E. coli colonies could be distinguished from other coliforms on membrane filters and plates of violet red bile agar if MUG was incorporated into the culture media. A rapid confirmatory test for E. coli that is amenable to automation was developed by using microtitration plates filled with a nonselective medium containing MUG. Pure or mixed cultures containing E. coli produced fluorescence within 4 h (most strains) to 24 h (a few weakly positive strains).
A study on bilateral teleoperation with input saturation and systems

In bilateral teleoperation systems, stability and synchronization have been important problems in control engineering. Several control architectures have been developed to solve these problems. In addition to them, we consider an effect of input saturation on the system. Saturation generally can destroy synchronization within the established architecture. In this paper, we propose a new control scheme guaranteeing that all signals are ultimately bounded in the time delayed system. Furthermore, if there is no time delay, synchronization can be proved. Simulation results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed architecture.
Pre-design empiricism for information visualization: scenarios, methods, and challenges

Empirical study can inform visualization design, both directly and indirectly. Pre-design empirical methods can be used to characterize work practices and their associated problems in a specific domain, directly motivating design choices during the subsequent development of a specific application or technique. They can also be used to understand how individuals, existing tools, data, and contextual factors interact, indirectly informing later research in our community. Contexts for empirical study vary and practitioners should carefully consider finding the most appropriate methods for any given situation. This paper discusses some of the challenges associated with conducting pre-design studies by way of four illustrative scenarios, highlighting the methods as well as the challenges unique to the visualization domain. We encourage researchers and practitioners to conduct more pre-design empirical studies and describe in greater detail their use of empirical methods for informing design.
Power flow and inductor current analysis of PWM control for Dual Active Bridge converter

PWM control method is an important method for the optimization operation of Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter. The traditional way which is used to analyze PWM control is not precise and comprehensive. This paper gives the accurate calculation of power flow and RMS value of inductor current by proposing a novel method. Six modes are analyzed based on the control signal distributions. Finally, the simulations and experiments are used to verify the theoretic results.
Interperception on Shared Virtual Environments

In this work we introduces the concept of interdimensional virtual environments and proposes to it creation an architecture based on the client-server model. Our architecture allows the users with different resources sharing the same environment in a transparent way, same that users are connected by a different graphical interfaces. This interdimensionality provides by the system is possible thanks to the use of a component in the serving side that if put in charge to carry through, when necessary, the transformation of the messages of a dimension for another one, removing or adding indispensable information to the different customers of the system
Juveniles exposed to embryonic corticosterone have enhanced flight performance

Exposure to maternally derived glucocorticoids during embryonic development impacts offspring phenotype. Although many of these effects appear to be transiently ‘negative’, embryonic exposure to maternally derived stress hormones is hypothesized to induce preparative responses that increase survival prospects for offspring in low-quality environments; however, little is known about how maternal stress influences longer-term survival-related performance traits in free-living individuals. Using an experimental elevation of yolk corticosterone (embryonic signal of low maternal quality), we examined potential impacts of embryonic exposure to maternally derived stress on flight performance, wing loading, muscle morphology and muscle physiology in juvenile European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Here we report that fledglings exposed to experimentally increased corticosterone in ovo performed better during flight performance trials than control fledglings. Consistent with differences in performance, individuals exposed to elevated embryonic corticosterone fledged with lower wing loading and had heavier and more functionally mature flight muscles compared with control fledglings. Our results indicate that the positive effects on a survival-related trait in response to embryonic exposure to maternally derived stress hormones may balance some of the associated negative developmental costs that have recently been reported. Moreover, if embryonic experience is a good predictor of the quality or risk of future environments, a preparative phenotype associated with exposure to apparently negative stimuli during development may be adaptive.
Characteristics of the Breakdown Voltage of Power MOSFETs after Total Dose Irradiation

The effects of total dose irradiation on the breakdown voltage of p-channel power MOSFETs are examined. Although breakdown voltage for p-channel devices increased at higher dose levels, as expected, some devices exhibited an initial decrease in breakdown at very low levels of total dose. The interaction of ionizing radiation effects with the junction termination methods designed to increase the voltage at which breakdown occurs is analyzed.
The Cycle Consistency Matrix Approach to Absorbing Sets in Separable Circulant-Based LDPC Codes

For low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes operating over additive white Gaussian noise channels and decoded using message-passing decoders with limited precision, absorbing sets have been shown to be a key factor in error floor behavior. Focusing on this scenario, this paper introduces the cycle consistency matrix (CCM) as a powerful analytical tool for characterizing and avoiding absorbing sets in separable circulant-based (SCB) LDPC codes. SCB codes include a wide variety of regular LDPC codes such as array-based LDPC codes as well as many common quasi-cyclic codes. As a consequence of its cycle structure, each potential absorbing set in an SCB LDPC code has a CCM, and an absorbing set can be present in an SCB LDPC code only if the associated CCM has a nontrivial null space. CCM-based analysis can determine the multiplicity of an absorbing set in an SCB code, and CCM-based constructions avoid certain small absorbing sets completely. While these techniques can be applied to an SCB code of any rate, lower rate SCB codes can usually avoid small absorbing sets because of their higher variable-node degree. This paper focuses attention on the high-rate scenario in which the CCM constructions provide the most benefit. Simulation results demonstrate that under limited-precision decoding the new codes have steeper error-floor slopes and can provide one order of magnitude of improvement in the low-frame-error-rate region.
Secure protocol for wireless sensor network

Wireless sensor network is an emerging technology due to its wide range of application. This scheme proposes a new secure protocol with better security and Even-driven cluster formation brings energy efficiency by avoiding the unnecessary formation of clusters, when no event is there in the network The proposed scheme adopts a level based secure hierarchical approach to maintain the energy efficiency. It incorporates light-weight security mechanisms like, nested hash based message authentication codes (HMAC), Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) key exchange scheme and Blowfish symmetric cipher.