Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An improved watershed-based SAR image segmentation algorithm

The watershed transform is a well-established tool for image segmentation. However, watershed segmentation is often not effective for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images which are generally corrupted by coherent speckle noise. This paper presents a novel approach for SAR image segmentation using watershed segmentation algorithm combined with Otsu. The aim of this study is to improve the generalization of watershed techniques and to construct a well segmentation of SAR images. Typically, Otsu is used to produce inner mark and external mark. Then we use the mark to modify the gradient image of the SAR image. Additionally, rather than flooding the gradient image, we use the gradient image modified by the mark as input to the watershed algorithm. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the improved watershed-based SAR segmentation.
A global high‐resolution emission inventory for ammonia

A global emissions inventory for ammonia (NH3) has been compiled for the main known sources on a 1° × 1° grid, suitable for input to global atmospheric models. The estimated global emission for 1990 is about 54 Tg N yr−1. The major sources identified include excreta from domestic animals (21.6 Tg N yr−1) and wild animals (0.1 Tg N yr−1), use of synthetic N fertilizers (9.0 Tg N yr−1), oceans (8.2 Tg N yr−1), biomass burning (5.9 Tg N yr−1), crops (3.6 Tg N yr−1), human population and pets (2.6 Tg N yr−1), soils under natural vegetation (2.4 Tg N yr−1), industrial processes (0.2 Tg N yr−1 ), and fossil fuels (0.1 Tg N yr−1). About half of the global emission comes from Asia, and about 70% is related to food production. The regions with highest emission rates are located in Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and China, reflecting the patterns of animal densities and type and intensity of synthetic fertilizer use. The overall uncertainty in the global emission estimate is 25%, while the uncertainty in regional emissions is much greater. As the global human population will show considerable growth in the coming decades, food production and associated NH3 emissions are likely to increase as well.
Meditation's impact on default mode network & hippocampus in mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study

Those with high baseline stress levels are more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). While meditation may reduce stress and alter the hippocampus and default mode network (DMN), little is known about its impact in these populations. Our objective was to conduct a “proof of concept” trial to determine whether Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) would improve DMN connectivity and reduce hippocampal atrophy among adults with MCI. 14 adults with MCI were randomized to MBSR vs. usual care and underwent resting state fMRI at baseline and follow-up. Seed based functional connectivity was applied using posterior cingulate cortex as seed. Brain morphometry analyses were performed using FreeSurfer. The results showed that after the intervention, MBSR participants had increased functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and bilateral medial prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus compared to controls. In addition, MBSR participants had trends of less bilateral hippocampal volume atrophy than control participants. These preliminary results indicate that in adults with MCI, MBSR may have a positive impact on the regions of the brain most related to MCI and AD. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer-follow-up are needed to further investigate the results from this pilot study.
Use of tangible, educational and psychological support services among Chinese American dementia caregivers

Background and Objectives Though many studies have examined the service utilization of dementia caregivers, there is limited empirical evidence from Asian Americans in this field. Guided by Andersen’s behavioral model of health services use, we aimed to understand what factors were associated with utilizing multiple types of services among Chinese American dementia caregivers. Research Design and Methods We collected survey data from 134 Chinese dementia caregivers in New York City. Logistic regression models were conducted to test the associations between predisposing, enabling, and need factors and the likelihood of using tangible (home health aide, adult daycare, respite care), educational (lectures and workshops), and psychological (peer support groups and psychological counseling) support services. Results Several variables conceptualized by Andersen’s model, including caregiver’s knowledge about services, caring tasks, length of care and burden, and care recipient’s physical and cognitive deteriorations, were significantly associated with higher possibilities of using multiple types of services. Three sociocultural factors—residing in Chinatown, availability of alternative family caregivers, and diagnosis of cognitive deterioration—were also associated with higher likelihood of using educational or psychological services. Discussion and Implications The findings extend the existing literature on service utilization of caregivers by highlighting the importance of distinguishing types of services and considering sociocultural factors in future research and practice.
Targeted monitoring of air pollution and climate change impacts on biodiversity

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OX10 8BB Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Lancaster, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland, Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 2LS British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU Targeted Monitoring of Air Pollution and Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity
Smartphone-Based Virtual Agents to Help Individuals With Sleep Concerns During COVID-19 Confinement: Feasibility Study

Background: The COVID-19 crisis and consequent confinement restrictions have caused significant psychosocial stress and reports of sleep complaints, which require early management, have increased during recent months. To help individuals concerned about their sleep, we developed a smartphone-based app called KANOPEE that allows users to interact with a virtual agent dedicated to autonomous screening and delivering digital behavioral interventions. Objective: Our objective was to assess the feasibility of this app, in terms of inclusion rate, follow-up rate, perceived trust and acceptance of the virtual agent, and effects of the intervention program, in the context of COVID-19 confinement in France. Methods: The virtual agent is an artificial intelligence program using decision tree architecture and interacting through natural body motion and natural voice. A total of 2069 users aged 18 years and above downloaded the free app during the study period (April 22 to May 5, 2020). These users first completed a screening interview based on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Recall of B cell memory depends on relative locations of prime and boost

Re-entry of memory B cells to recall germinal centers (GCs) is essential for updating their B-cell antigen receptors (BCRs). Using single B-cell culture and fate-mapping, we have characterized BCR repertoires in recall GCs following boost immunizations at sites local or distal to the priming. Local boosts with homologous antigen recruit to recall GCs progeny of primary GC B cells more efficiently than do distal boosts. Recall GCs following local boosts contain significantly more B cells with elevated levels of Ig mutations and higher avidity BCRs. This local preference is unaffected by blockade of CD40:CD154 interaction that terminate active, primary GC responses. Local boosts with heterologous antigens elicit secondary GCs with B-cell populations enriched for cross-reactivity to the priming and boosting antigens; in contrast, cross-reactive GC B cells are rare following distal boosts. Our findings indicate the importance of locality in humoral immunity and inform serial vaccination strategies for evolving viruses. One Sentence Summary The participation of memory B cells in recall germinal centers depends on whether the boost is local or distal to the priming site.
Chronic Exposure to Leucine in vitro Induces β-Cell Dysfunction in

29 Chronic hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia cause deleterious effects on β-cell function. 30 Interestingly, increased circulating amino acid levels are also a characteristic of the prediabetic and 31 diabetic state. The chronic effects of amino acids on β-cell function remain to be determined. 32 Isolated mouse islets and INS-1E cells were incubated with or without excess leucine. After 72 h, 33 leucine increased basal insulin secretion and impaired glucose stimulated insulin secretion in both 34 mouse islets and INS-1E cells, corroborating the existence of aminoacidotoxicity induced β-cell 35 dysfunction. This took place concomitantly with alterations in proteins and genes involved in 36 insulin granule transport, trafficking (e.g. collapsin response mediator protein 2 and GTP-binding 37 nuclear protein Ran), insulin signal transduction (proteasome subunit α type 6), and the oxidative 38 phosphorylation pathway (cytochrome c oxidase). Leucine down-regulated insulin 1 gene 39 expression but up-regulated pancreas duodenum homeobox 1 and insulin 2 mRNA expressions. 40 Importantly, cholesterol accumulated in INS-1E cells concomitantly with up-regulation of enzymes 41 involved in cholesterol biosynthesis [e.g. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, mevalonate 42 (diphospho) decarboxylase, squalene epoxidase] and low density lipoprotein receptor, whereas 43 triglyceride content was decreased. Our findings indicate that chronic exposure to elevated levels of 44 leucine may have detrimental effects on both β-cell function and insulin sensitivity. Aminoacidotoxicity 45 may play a pathogenic role in the development of type 2 diabetes. 46 47 Introduction 48 49 Type 2 diabetes (T2D) involves both defective insulin secretion and insulin resistance (IR). In T2D, 50 hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia exert deleterious effects on β-cell function referred to as glucotoxicity 51 and lipotoxicity (Xiao et al. 2001, El-Assaad et al. 2010), with increased basal insulin secretion (BIS) and 52 impaired glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or in 53 Page 2 of 29
Carbon oxidation state as a metric for describing the chemistry of atmospheric organic 1 aerosol 2 3

Carbon oxidation state as a metric for describing the chemistry of atmospheric organic 1 aerosol 2 3 Jesse H. Kroll*, Neil M. Donahue, Jose L. Jimenez, Sean H. Kessler, Manjula R. 4 Canagaratna, Kevin R. Wilson, Katye E. Altieri, Lynn R. Mazzoleni, Andrew S. Wozniak, 5 Hendrik Bluhm, Erin R. Mysak‡, Jared D. Smith†, Charles E. Kolb, and Douglas R. 6 Worsnop 7 8 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge MA 10 Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA 11 Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA 12 Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences and Department of Chemistry 13 and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 14 Center for Aerosol and Cloud Chemistry, Aerodyne Research, Inc., Billerica MA 15 Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley CA 16 Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 17 Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, Houghton MI 18 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk VA 19 Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland 20 Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland 21 Department of Physics, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland 22 23 * Corresponding author. E-mail: jhkroll@mit.edu 24 † present address: L.J. Smith and Associates, Rogers AR; ‡ present address: Straus Center for 25 Conservation and Technical Studies, Harvard Art Museum, Cambridge MA 26 27 Abstract 28
A Sparse Grid Stochastic Collocation Method for Partial Differential Equations with Random Input Data

This work proposes and analyzes a Smolyak-type sparse grid stochastic collocation method for the approximation of statistical quantities related to the solution of partial differential equations with random coefficients and forcing terms (input data of the model). To compute solution statistics, the sparse grid stochastic collocation method uses approximate solutions, produced here by finite elements, corresponding to a deterministic set of points in the random input space. This naturally requires solving uncoupled deterministic problems as in the Monte Carlo method. If the number of random variables needed to describe the input data is moderately large, full tensor product spaces are computationally expensive to use due to the curse of dimensionality. In this case the sparse grid approach is still expected to be competitive with the classical Monte Carlo method. Therefore, it is of major practical relevance to understand in which situations the sparse grid stochastic collocation method is more efficient than Monte Carlo. This work provides error estimates for the fully discrete solution using $L^q$ norms and analyzes the computational efficiency of the proposed method. In particular, it demonstrates algebraic convergence with respect to the total number of collocation points and quantifies the effect of the dimension of the problem (number of input random variables) in the final estimates. The derived estimates are then used to compare the method with Monte Carlo, indicating for which problems the former is more efficient than the latter. Computational evidence complements the present theory and shows the effectiveness of the sparse grid stochastic collocation method compared to full tensor and Monte Carlo approaches.
NSrp70 suppresses metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer by modulating Numb/T R1/EMT axis

Metastasis is a major cause of death in individuals suffering from triple-negative breast cancer. Alternative splicing of mRNA precursor allows cancer cells to create different protein isoforms which may promote metastasis. Quantitative proteomic analysis of primary and metastatic breast cancer cells revealed that nuclear speckle-related protein 70 (NSrp70) was significantly downregulated in highly metastatic cells. Downregulation of NSrp70 promoted the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo . Mechanistically, we found that NSrp70 inhibited the skipped exon alternative splicing of NUMB, promoted the degradation of TGF receptor 1(T R1) through lysosome pathway, and regulated TGF /SMAD-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, high NSrp70 expression correlated with better prognosis in breast cancer patients. Our findings revealed that splicing regulator NSrp70 may serve as a metastasis suppressor.
Lithostratigraphy and paleomagnetism of pre-Fraser glacial deposits in south-central British Columbia

Lithostratigraphic records spanning considerable parts of the Pleistocene were studied at three sites in south-central British Columbia. A sedimentary succession near Pavilion includes three distinctly different till units. While the surface till can be associated with the last glaciation (the Fraser Glaciation δ18O stage 2), the ages of the two older till units are presently unknown. However, optical dating of outwash silt resting on the oldest till indicates that this outwash unit and all the overlying units are younger than ~160 ka. In Big Bar Creek valley, about 50 km north of Pavilion, an aggradational sequence of indurated glaciofluvial sand, gravel, and till is exposed. A silt unit and a sand lens within an overlying till bed near the top of the section have reversed magnetization, indicating deposition prior to 780 ka, probably during the Matuyama chron. The Big Bar Creek sequence also includes glacio(? )fluvial sediments near the base that are normally magnetized, suggesting that they were deposit.
Climate change impacts on bedload transport in alpine drainage basins with hydropower exploitation

Sediment transport is known to have a significant impact on hydropower infrastructures and changes in sediment transport rates are important for sediment management measures and hydroelectricity production. In this study, we present how climate change may affect bedload transport in 66 high alpine catchments used by hydropower companies in the Valais, Switzerland. Future sediment yield is estimated with a runoff‐based sediment transport model for the two future 30 year time periods 2021–2050 and 2070–2099. The analysis is integrated into a modelling chain in which error‐corrected and downscaled climate scenarios generated in the framework of the ENSEMBLES project are coupled to the hydrological model PREVAH, glacier retreat and bedload transport. To calibrate the sediment transport model, we used the observed sediment volumes in water intakes and reservoirs if such data were available. The results obtained show on average a decrease of sediment yield due to the reduced runoff generation during summer, especially for the scenario period 2070–2099. A shift of the seasonal sediment transport regime with a current maximum during July and August to earlier months in the year is predicted. Projections of future sediment yield rely on the accuracy of the individual modeling chain elements. The different sources of uncertainty are discussed qualitatively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Buurten en geweldscriminaliteit: een multilevel-analyse

This article examines the degree to which differences in the level of violent crime between neighbourhoods can be explained by differences between the neighbourhoods themselves in terms of sociostructural characteristics and population composition. The study is based on individual-level survey data (N = 197,538) and official neighbourhood-level data (N = 3,726). Logistic multilevel analyses were used to analyse the data. An often-heard assumption is that low economic status, ethnic heterogeneity and residential mobility of a neighbourhood affect the risk of violent victimisation, regardless of the demographic and social characteristics of the respondents. The study shows that the assumed mechanism at the neighbourhood level cannot be fully traced back to the individual level. The sociostructural characteristics of a neighbourhood appear to play an important role. Furthermore, the results show an effect for the size of the city to which the neighbourhood belongs, with higher risks of violent victimisation in large cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of Mens en Maatschappij is the property of Amsterdam University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
The impacts of multiple stresses on the replenishment of coral communities

Coral reefs are threatened by multiple stresses and have been suffering severe degradation world-wide. Replenishment processes are thus important to the resilience of coral reefs and their ability to recover from human and natural disturbances. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effects of multiple stresses on the replenishment of coral communities. This thesis focuses on the impacts of fishing, sedimentation and hurricanes on coral communities, juvenile coral assemblages, their growth and mortality, and coral larval settlement. The study was conducted on reefs on the west coast of St. Lucia, West Indies. Several no-take marine reserves in the study area provided sites with exposure to different levels of fishing. Rivers caused sediment input along two coastal stretches. A tropical storm and hurricane caused sediment runoff and reef destruction prior to and during my research. Although chronic sediment input was continuous throughout the study period, the greatest coral mortality occurred after the storm and hurricane events. However, especially in deeper water on reefs close to the river mouths, sedimentation was responsible for a steady decline in coral cover and inhibited reef recovery. Generally, coral losses were immediately replaced by algal cover. Juvenile coral numbers, diversity and growth rates were negatively affected by sedimentation. Also juvenile species composition was modified by sediment input. Coral larval settlement increased with decreasing sedimentation on both natural and artificial substrata. Juvenile coral mortality was lowest on reefs with intermediate levels of sediment input. Herbivorous fish may increase coral settlement and post-settlement survival by grazing on algae, but their role on these reefs remains unclear. Even in marine reserves, where herbivorous fish stocks tripled in biomass over the study period, macroalgal cover was not affected. Longer-term studies are needed to investigate whether marine reserves are successful management tools in reversing phase shifts between coral and algal dominated states. In addition, land-based management is required to reduce sources of sediment which as this study shows are detrimental to the replenishment of coral populations.
Evaluation of nine large‐scale hydrological models with respect to the seasonal runoff climatology in Europe

Large‐scale hydrological models, simulating the terrestrial water cycle on continental and global scales, are fundamental for many studies in earth system sciences. However, due to imperfect knowledge of real world systems, the models cannot be expected to capture all aspects of large‐scale hydrology equally well. To gain insights in the strengths and shortcomings of nine large‐scale hydrological models, we assessed their ability to capture the mean annual runoff cycle. Unlike most other studies that rely on discharge observations from continental scale river basins, our study is based on observed runoff from a large number of small, near‐natural catchments in Europe. We evaluated the models' ability to capture the average magnitude, the amplitude, as well as the timing of the mean annual runoff cycle. Our study revealed large uncertainties when modeling runoff from these small catchments. We identified large differences in model performance, however, the ensemble mean (mean of all model simulations) yielded rather robust predictions. Model performance varied systematically with climatic conditions and was best in regions with little influence of snow. In cold regions, many models exhibited low correlations between observed and simulated mean annual cycles, which can be associated with shortcomings in simulating the timing of snow accumulation and melt. Local (grid cell) scale differences between observed and simulated runoff can be large and local biases often exceeded 100%. These local uncertainties are contrasted by a relatively good regional average performance, ultimately reflecting the purpose of the models, i.e., to capture regional hydroclimatology.