Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Asian dust aerosol effect on cloud radiation forcing using Fu-Liou radiative model and CERES measurements

The impact of Asian dust on cloud radiative forc- ing during 2003-2006 is studied by using the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy Budget Scanner (CERES) data and the Fu-Liou radiative transfer model. Analysis of satellite data shows that the dust aerosol significantly reduced the cloud cooling effect at TOA. In dust contaminated cloudy regions, the 4-year mean values of the instantaneous short- wave, longwave and net cloud radiative forcing are 138.9, 69.1, and 69.7 Wm 2 , which are 57.0, 74.2, and 46.3%, respectively, of the corresponding values in pristine cloudy regions. The satellite-retrieved cloud properties are signif- icantly different in the dusty regions and can influence the radiative forcing indirectly. The contributions to the cloud ra- diation forcing by the dust direct, indirect and semi-direct ef- fects are estimated using combined satellite observations and Fu-Liou model simulation. The 4-year mean value of com- bination of dust indirect and semi-direct shortwave radiative forcing (SWRF) is 82.2 Wm 2 , which is 78.4% of the total dust effect. The dust direct effect is only 22.7 Wm 2 , which is 21.6% of the total effect. Because both first and second indirect effects enhance cloud cooling, the aerosol-induced cloud warming is mainly the result of the semi-direct effect of dust.
A Gender Gap Not Closed by Quotas

The article argues that while legislation on sex quotas can be seen as a renegotiation of the public sphere at macro level, suggesting a formal recognition of gender equality and a subsequent redistribution of power positions, it does not necessarily imply recognition of the issue at micro level. Nearly a decade after the first sex quotas act had been adopted, a survey among Flemish politicians reveals a gender gap on such quotas. Male and female politicians differ in their acceptance and perception of sex quotas. They also differ in their explanations of women's under-representation in politics, and relate these explanations to the need for these quotas. This distinction between a macro and a micro level might offer clues as to the dynamics explaining why sex quotas remain controversial, even when they have been adopted.
EDEN and EDEN‐BP, a cis element and an associated factor that mediate sequence‐specific mRNA deadenylation in Xenopus embryos

During Xenopus early development, gene expression is regulated mainly at the translational level by the length of the poly(A) tail of mRNAs. The Eg family and c‐mos maternal mRNAs are deadenylated rapidly and translationally repressed after fertilization. Here, we characterize a short sequence element (EDEN) responsible for the rapid deadenylation of Eg5 mRNA. Determining the core EDEN sequence permitted us to localize the c‐mos EDEN sequence. The c‐mos EDEN confered a rapid deadenylation to a reporter gene. The EDEN‐specific RNA‐binding protein (EDEN‐BP) was purified and a cDNA obtained. EDEN‐BP is highly homologous to a human protein possibly involved in myotonic dystrophy. Immunodepleting EDEN‐BP from an egg extract totally abolished the EDEN‐mediated deadenylation activity, but did not affect the default deadenylation activity. Therefore, EDEN‐BP constitutes the first trans‐acting factor for which an essential role in the specificity of mRNA deadenylation has been directly demonstrated.
Low Power Electronics and Applications Sub-threshold Standard Cell Sizing Methodology and Library Comparison

Scaling the voltage to the sub-threshold region is a convincing technique to achieve low power in digital circuits. The problem is that process variability severely impacts the performance of circuits operating in the sub-threshold domain. In this paper, we evaluate the sub-threshold sizing methodology of [1,2] on 40 nm and 90 nm standard cell libraries. The concept of the proposed sizing methodology consists of balancing the mean of the sub-threshold current of the equivalent N and P networks. In this paper, the equivalent N and P networks are derived based on the best and worst case transition times. The slack available in the best-case timing arc is reduced by using smaller transistors on that path, while the timing of the worst-case timing arc is improved by using bigger transistors. The optimization is done such that the overall area remains constant with regard to the area before optimization. Two sizing styles are applied, one is based on both transistor width and length tuning, and the other one is based on width tuning only. Compared to super-threshold libraries, at 0.3 V, the proposed libraries achieve 49% and 89% average cell timing improvement and 55% and 31% power delay product improvement at 40 nm and 90 nm respectively. From ITC (International Test Conference 99) benchmark circuit synthesis results, at 0.3 V the proposed library achieves up to 52% timing improvement and 53% power savings in the 40 nm technology node.
Prognostic significance of overexpression and phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the presence of truncated EGFRvIII in locoregionally advanced breast cancer.

PURPOSE The prognostic value of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in breast cancer and more specifically, in patients with locoregionally advanced disease, is still undefined. We hypothesized that EGFR status plays a major prognostic role in this setting, through expression, activation, or the presence of its mutated variant EGFRvIII. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed tumor samples of 225 patients treated uniformly in prospective trials of high-dose chemotherapy for four to nine positive axillary nodes, > or = 10 positive nodes, or inflammatory carcinoma, and observed for a median of 9 years (range, 3 to 13 years). We analyzed the effect on outcome of expression of EGFR, phosphorylated EGFR (phospho-EGFR), and EGFRvIII, as studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS EGFR expression, phospho-EGFR, and mutated EGFRvIII were detected in 43%, 54%, and 4% of the patients, respectively. EGFR expression correlated with negative hormone receptor status, and was associated with significantly worse relapse-free survival (59% v 79%; P < .001) and overall survival (61% v 81%; P = .001) than no expression. There was no association of phospho-EGFR or EGFRvIII with outcome. Multivariate models confirmed the prognostic effect of EGFR independent of other known prognostic variables in this population. The prognostic value of EGFR was most prominent in the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) -positive and the estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-negative subgroups. CONCLUSION EGFR expression, but not phospho-EGFR or EGFRvIII expression, is an independent adverse prognostic factor in patients with high-risk primary breast cancer, particularly when it is coexpressed with HER-2. Our results suggest the potential benefit of dual EGFR/HER-2 receptor targeting in this setting.
Respiratory Consequences of Mild-to-Moderate Obesity: Impact on Exercise Performance in Health and in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

In many parts of the world, the prevalence of obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. The association between obesity, multiple comorbidities, and increased mortality is now firmly established in many epidemiological studies. However, the link between obesity and exercise intolerance is less well studied and is the focus of this paper. Although exercise limitation is likely to be multifactorial in obesity, it is widely believed that the respiratory mechanical constraints and the attendant dyspnea are important contributors. In this paper, we examined the evidence that critical ventilatory constraint is a proximate source of exercise limitation in individuals with mild-to-moderate obesity. We first reviewed existing information on exercise performance, including ventilatory and perceptual response patterns, in obese individuals who are otherwise healthy. We then considered the impact of obesity in patients with preexisting respiratory mechanical abnormalities due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with particular reference to the effect on dyspnea and exercise performance. Our main conclusion, based on the existing and rather sparse literature on the subject, is that abnormalities of dynamic respiratory mechanics are not likely to be the dominant source of dyspnea and exercise intolerance in otherwise healthy individuals or in patients with COPD with mild-to-moderate obesity.
Hepatitis C virus infection: establishment of chronicity and liver disease progression

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) often causes persistent infection, and is an important factor in the etiology of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are no preventive or therapeutic vaccines available against HCV. Treatment strategies of HCV infection are likely to improve with recently discovered direct antiviral agents (DAAs). However, a proportion of patients still progress to liver failure and/or HCC despite having been cured of the infection. Thus, there is a need for early diagnosis and therapeutic modalities for HCV related end stage liver disease prevention. HCV genome does not integrate into its host genome, and has a predominantly cytoplasmic life cycle. Therefore, HCV mediated liver disease progression appears to involve indirect mechanisms from persistent infection of hepatocytes. Studying the underlying mechanisms of HCV mediated evasion of immune responses and liver disease progression is challenging due to the lack of a naturally susceptible small animal model. We and other investigators have used a number of experimental systems to investigate the mechanisms for establishment of chronic HCV infection and liver disease progression. HCV infection modulates immune systems. Further, HCV infection of primary human hepatocytes promotes growth, induces phenotypic changes, modulates epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) related genes, and generates tumor initiating stem-like cells (TISCs). HCV infection also modulates microRNAs (miRNAs), and influences growth by overriding normal death progression of primary human hepatocytes for disease pathogenesis. Understanding these ob-servations at the molecular level should aid in developing strategies for additional effective therapies against HCV mediated liver disease progression.
The Reflex Mechanism of the Insect Leg

1. Variations in the frequency of the motor discharges to the leg muscles of Periplaneta americana are followed in the intact animal under different types of sensory stimulation by electrical recording from the muscles. 2. Two main reflexes are described: the depressor reflex, evoked by stimulation of the campaniform sensilla on the legs, and a levator response to touch on the upper side of the leg. 3. There is a direct antagonism in the excitation of the depressor and levator sets of muscles: also between similar muscles in the two legs of a segment. 4. Reflex effects are not transmitted up or down the animal to other segments. 5. The conditions for the reflex excitation of the two types of motor fibre are discussed. 6. A suggestion is put forward for the explanation of rhythmic movements.
A Review on Hybrid Intrusion Detection System using Artificial Immune System Approaches

With the growing advances in the technology the uses of computer systems and the internet is also growing at a rapid rate, and with the increase in their usage vulnerabilities and threats are also increasing tremendously. A large number of approaches have been proposed till now for improving the security of a host system and a network. One of the proposed approach is an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). An IDS works for a system is referred as Host IDS and the one that works for a network is referred as Network IDS. But their functionality is specific to particular host and a network, one does not work as an alternative to another. Thus, an IDS is needed that overcomes the drawbacks of both the systems and combines their advantages to form a Hybrid Intrusion Detection System. An Hybrid IDS captures both host and network data and thereby apply an analysis approach. In order to make these systems robust and effective biologically inspired Artificial Immune System (AIS) approaches can be used that makes the system flexible enough to work in every scenario. This paper provides a review of various IDS and application of various AIS approaches to them.
Behavior capture and test: automated analysis of component integration

Component-based technology is increasingly adopted to speed up the development of complex software through component reuse. Unfortunately, the lack of complete information about reused components, and the complex interaction patterns among components can lead to subtle problems that throw new verification challenges. Good components are often re-used many times, sometimes within product lines, in other cases across different products. The reuse of components provides a lot of information that could be useful for verification. In this paper, we show how to automatically analyze component interactions by collecting information about components' behavior during testing and field execution, and then using the collected information for checking the compatibility of components when updated or reused in new products. The paper illustrates the main problems in developing the idea, proposes original solutions, and presents a preliminary experience that illustrates the effectiveness of the approach.
Relationships of occupational stress to insomnia and short sleep in Japanese workers.

STUDY OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to (a) examine the association between occupational stress and insomnia and short sleep in Japanese workers and (b) demonstrate the difference between 2 occupational stress models-Effort Reward Imbalance and the Demand Control Model. DESIGN All data were obtained via self-administrated questionnaires and annual health checkups. Insomnia was evaluated by the Athens Insomnia Scale, and short sleep was defined as less than 6 hours sleep per day. SETTING Employees at local governments and a transit company who had annual health checkups during the period from April 2003 to March 2004. PARTICIPANTS After excluding participants without complete data, data from 6,997 men and 1,773 women were analyzed. INTERVENTION N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS In men, high occupational stresses were significantly associated with insomnia, especially a high level of Effort Reward Imbalance (defined as the presence of high effort and low reward), had a remarkably higher odds ratio. In women, high occupational stresses were significantly associated with insomnia as well. High occupational stresses were significantly associated with short sleep in men. However, in women, only Effort Reward Imbalance showed a significant association with short sleep. CONCLUSIONS This study suggested that occupational stress is a possible risk factor for insomnia and short sleep.
Absorption in music: Development of a scale to identify individuals with strong emotional responses to music

Despite the rise in research investigating music and emotion over the last decade, there are no validated measures of individual differences in emotional responses to music. We created the Absorption in Music Scale (AIMS), a 34-item measure of individuals’ ability and willingness to allow music to draw them into an emotional experience. It was evaluated with a sample of 166 participants, and exhibits good psychometric properties. The scale converges well with measures of similar constructs, and shows reliability over time. Importantly, in a test of criterion validity, emotional responses to music were correlated with the AIMS scale but not correlated with measures of empathy or music training.
The contribution of type of daily activity to loading across the hip and knee joints in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE In the elderly, we evaluated loading across the hip or knee joints during different daily activities. METHODS Elderly people drawn from the community entering an exercise study underwent a full kinetic and kinematics analysis of five different activities, standing, walking, arising from a chair, going downstairs and bending over. Inverse dynamic equations were used to compute forces and torques across the knees and hips during all of these activities. RESULTS 132 elderly people, mean age 75, participated. Compressive forces across the knees and hips were, by far, the greatest vector forces and were highest during stair descent and, to a lesser extent, during walking. Compressive forces were lowest during standing. The highest moments were flexion and adduction moments, and these were maximal during stair descent. CONCLUSION Of the five activities we studied, descending stairs was associated with the highest calculated forces and torques across the knees and hips, and that may account for its tendency to cause joint symptoms and for its possible association with osteoarthritis incidence.
Infiltrative Keratitis Associated with Extended Wear of Hydrogel Lenses and Abiotrophia defectiva

Purpose. Infiltrative keratitis is a common complication associated with extended wear of hydrogel lenses. Causative bacteria are often isolated from the lens at the time of an event. We report a case where three repeated occurrences of infiltrative keratitis were associated with contamination of the contact lenses by Abiotrophia defectiva. Methods. A 34-year-old man participating in a clinical trial of extended wear hydrogel contact lenses experienced three episodes of infiltrative keratitis. The clinical presentation was observed using a biomicroscope. At the time of each event, the contact lenses were removed aseptically and ocular swabs were taken for bacterial identification and enumeration. The condition was monitored until full resolution. Results. The condition was characterized by irritation, marked bulbar and limbal injection, and multiple focal subepithelial infiltrates. Many of the infiltrates also showed overlying staining with fluorescein. In each of the three events of infiltrative keratitis, A. defectiva was cultured from the contact lens and ocular swabs. Conclusion. This is the first reported occurrence of infiltrative keratitis associated with A. defectiva contamination of contact lenses.
Improved selective encryption techniques for secure transmission of MPEG video bit-streams

This paper presents three new selective encryption techniques for secure transmission of MPEG-I video bit-streams. These techniques maintain higher security levels than previously proposed selective encryption techniques while maintaining reasonable processing times. In the first of these methods, the encryption is applied to the data associated with every n/sup th/ I-macroblock. In the second method, the encryption is applied to the headers of all the predicted macroblocks as well as to the data associated with every n/sup th/ I-macroblock. In the third method, encryption is applied to every n/sup th/ I-macroblock as well as the header of every n/sup th/ predicted macroblock. The last method, with n=2, is found to be the most efficient of the three proposed methods. This method achieves a 60-82% reduction in the processing time over "total" encryption, and simulation results show that the encrypted/decoded video is fully disguised.
Influence of dietary nonstructural carbohydrate concentration on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Holstein steers

Objective Since very little information exists about the topic; in this experiment we compare, in a long-term finishing program, the growth-performance responses and carcass characteristics of Holstein steers where non-structural carbohydrate concentration of the diet is reduced from 64% to 51% (dry matter basis). Methods Sixty Holstein steer calves (129±2.2 kg) were blocked by initial weight into five groups and randomly assigned within weight groupings to 10 pens. Calves were fed with a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets containing 51% higher fiber (HF) or 64% lower fiber (LF) nonstructural carbohydrates. Non-structural carbohydrates concentrations were manipulated substituting dried distiller grain with solubles and alfalfa hay for flaked corn. Cattle were weighed every 112 days and at the end of the experiment (day 308) when the cattle were harvested and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Results Steers fed the HF diet showed improvement (8.8%) in average daily gain (ADG) during the initial 112-d period. This effect was followed by a numerical trend for greater ADG throughout the remainder of the study so that overall ADG tended to be greater (4.9%, p = 0.06) for the HF than for LF. There were no treatment effects on dry matter intake. Gain efficiency and estimated dietary net energy (NE) were greater 8.3% and 5.2%, respectively for HF during the initial 112-d period. Overall (308-d) gain efficiency and estimated dietary NE were similar for both dietary treatments. However, due to differences in tabular dietary NE, the ratio of observed:expected dietary NE tended to be greater (4.1%, p = 0.06) for the HF vs LF diet. There were no treatment effects on carcass characteristics except for a tendency toward a slightly greater (0.5%, p = 0.09) estimated carcass yield. Conclusion Reducing the non-structural carbohydrate concentration of a conventional steam-flaked corn-based growing finishing diet for Holstein steers can effectively enhance growth performance, particularly during the early growing and late finishing phases.
Using the parameters of the respiration cycle in the functional status of the organism evaluating

The paper is devoted to identification and evaluation of promising areas of development methods of the functional status of the organism assessment on the basis of processing and analyzing of the respiratory cycle parameters. Different methods of the respiratory signal recording applicable for monitoring the human condition in the course of his daily activity are considered. Software for registration and analysis of respiration signal is developed. The possibility of the parameters of the respiratory cycle using to assess the degree of involvement in human mental activity is experimentally approved.