Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Animating Statistics: A New Kind of Applet for Exploring Probability Distributions

In this article, I introduce a novel applet (“module”) for exploring probability distributions, their samples, and various related statistical concepts. The module is primarily designed to be used by the instructor in the introductory course, but it can be used far beyond it as well. It is a free, cross-platform, stand-alone interactive application based on Wolfram Research's novel computable document format (CDF) technology. It features over thirty common discrete and continuous distributions and can be used to illustrate concepts such as random samples, population and sample means and medians, histograms, kernel density estimators, boxplots, and cumulative distribution, survival, and hazard functions all while dynamically linking samples and estimators to adjustable distribution parameters in real-time. Additionally, the module includes real-world datasets to aid in communicating the concept of fitting a distribution to data. It is hoped that the module will be helpful to instructors at both the high school and college levels for the conceptual understanding of distributions. A simplified version geared specifically toward out-of-class student learning in the introductory course is also made available for students' use. Both are accessible from http://www.baylor. edu/statistics/disttool.
Alias-Free Generalized Discrete-Time

Many of the bilinear time-frequency representa- tions suggested so far are members of Cohen's class of gener- alized time-frequency distributions. For practical implemen- tation of members of Cohen's class, a generalized discrete-time time-frequency distribution has been defined and used. In this paper, we introduce a new definition of generalized discrete-time time-frequency distribution. Unlike the existing one, the new definition utilizes all of the outer product terms from a data sequence, so that one can avoid aliasing. Further- more, the new approach provides 1) proper implementation of the discrete-time spectrogram, 2) correct evaluation of the in- stantaneous frequency of the underlying continuous-time sig- nal, and 3) correct frequency marginal. The new formulation provides a unified framework for im- plementing members of Cohen's class, which was formulated in the continuous-time domain. We discuss some requirements for the discrete-time kernel in the new approach in association with desirable distribution properties. Some experimental re- sults are provided to illustrate the features of the proposed method.
Global Characteristics of Medium-Scale Tropopausal Waves Observed in ECMWF Operational Data

Global characteristics and seasonal variation of medium-scale (zonal wavelengths of 2000-3000 km) waves observed around the midlatitude tropopause are examined using 6-hourly European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts operational data over four years (1990-93), covering both hemispheres. Medium-scale waves and synoptic-scale waves are extracted using time filters and their characteristics are compared. Hovmoller diagrams indicate the existence of medium-scale waves in the Southern Hemisphere as well as in the Northern Hemisphere. The zonal wavelengths of medium-scale waves are slightly larger in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. Medium-scale waves are mostly active in three regions: the North Atlantic in winter (Dec-Jan-Feb), the North Pacific in spring (Mar-Apr-May, MAM), and the south Indian Ocean in autumn (MAM). These regions are roughly corresponding to and slightly downstream of storm tracks where synoptic waves are dominant. Significant differences in seasonal variation of the intensity between the two kinds of waves are also found. The maximum of wave amplitudes is seen around the tropopause at latitudes slightly higher than the jet stream axis, where the meridional gradient of the quasigeostrophic potential vorticity (QPV) is maximized. The positive large QPV gradient is attributed to the atmospheric structure around the midlatitude tropopause that is located in vertical westerly shear of the jet stream. This fact suggests that the medium-scale waves are waves trapped around the midlatitude tropopause.
Self-convergence of weighted least-squares with applications to stochastic adaptive control

A recursive least-squares algorithm with slowly decreasing weights for linear stochastic systems is found to have self-convergence property, i.e., it converges to a certain random vector almost surely irrespective of the control law design. Such algorithms enjoy almost the same nice asymptotic properties as the standard least-squares. This universal convergence result combined with a method of random regularization then easily can be applied to construct a self-convergent and uniformly controllable estimated model and thus may enable us to form a general framework for adaptive control of possibly nonminimum phase autoregressive-moving average with exogenous input (ARMAX) systems. As an application, we give a simple solution to the well-known stochastic adaptive pole-placement and linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) control problems in the paper.
The sixth painlevé transcendents and the associated schlesinger equation

For the Schlesinger equation associated with the sixth Painlev´e equation (PVI) near the critical point, we present families of solutions expanded into convergent series with matrix coeﬃcients. These families yield four basic solutions of (PVI) in Guzzetti’s table describing the critical behaviours of the sixth Painlev´e transcendents; two of the basic solutions are of complex power type, and two are of logarithmic type. Consequently, the convergence of the logarithmic solutions is veriﬁed. Furthermore we obtain more information on these basic solutions as well as on inverse logarithmic solutions. For complex power solutions, examining related inverse oscillatory ones, we discuss sequences of zeros and poles, non-decaying exponential oscillation and the analytic continuation around the critical point, and show the spiral distribution of poles conjectured by Guzzetti. 2010
Habitat use, survival, and migration of a little‐known East Asian endemic, the yellow‐throated bunting Emberiza elegans

Abstract Basic information on the ecology of species is key for their conservation. Here we study the ecology of the little‐known yellow‐throated bunting Emberiza elegans based on a multi‐year study on its breeding grounds in the Russian Far East. For the first time in this species, we quantified breeding habitat parameters, calculated sex‐specific apparent survival, and determined individual nonbreeding locations using light‐level geolocation. We found that the habitat around song posts of male yellow‐throated buntings is characterized by tree and shrub layers on richly littered moist ground. Habitat use overlaps with co‐occurring Tristram's Buntings Emberiza tristrami and Black‐faced Buntings E. spodocephala, but territories differ especially in tree cover and litter cover. Based on 4 years of color‐ringing data of 72 individuals, we calculated an apparent survival rate of 36%, with higher survival estimates for male than for female yellow‐throated buntings. We found no effect of carrying a geolocator on survival. We retrieved six geolocators from males. All birds migrated south‐westward during autumn and spent the nonbreeding season at locations in China 700–1700 km away from their breeding sites. At least two individuals spent the boreal winter outside of the known range in northern or central China. Birds left the breeding area between early October and early November and returned between mid‐March and mid‐April. Our data on habitat use, survival rate, and migratory connectivity will help to assess threats to the populations of this enigmatic species, which might include habitat loss due to forest fires on the breeding grounds, and unsustainable harvest for consumption during the nonbreeding season.
Roughness Effect on the Turbulent Boundary Layers under Asymmetric Waves

An appearance of roughness is often occurred in the seabed. The shape of the near bed wave orbital velocity is a key parameter for cross-shore sediment transport under breaking and near-breaking waves. Waves may have highly asymmetric or non-linear when propagates into shallow water. Therefore, the turbulent boundary layer study under asymmetric waves over in variation of the bed roughness may overcome the wave boundary layer behavior in the near-shore. It envisaged that the higher roughness will yield the higher turbulence kinetic energy and bottom shear stress that will then give a big impact on the sediment transport keeping it in suspension, especially for settling and pick up suspension sediment through turbulence. In the present paper, effect of the roughness in the turbulent boundary layer for asymmetric waves is investigated by using the BSL k-ω model. This model could predict the turbulent boundary layer properties under asymmetric waves. After the validation of this model with the experimental data, for determining the roughness effect characteristics BSL k-ω model simulated asymmetric wave velocity flows with various of the roughness parameter ( am/ks) which increase gradually, namely from am/ks = 35 to am/ks = 963. Moreover, the effect of the roughness on the mean velocity, bottom shear stress and the turbulent kinetic energy is examined.
Method Development and Validation for Estimation of Related Compounds Present in Lansoprazole Bulk Drug by Ultra High Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Objective: Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor which prevents the stomach from producing acid. Lansoprazole contains not more than 0.7% of total impurities of which Sulphone (related compound A) is 0.3%, N-Oxide (related compound B) is 0.1%, Sulphide (related compound C) is 0.1% and any other unknown impurities 0.1%. The aim of the present investigation is to develop a precise and accurate method for the separation and quantification of related substances present with Lansoprazole using Ultra high pressure Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). Materials and Methods: The separation was achieved on Hypersil Gold C18, (2.1 x 100 mm, 1.8 μ) column. Solvent A water and solvent B acetonitrile: water: tryethylamine (80: 20: 0.005), the pH of the solvent B adjusted to 7 with ortho phosphoric acid were used as gradient elution mobile phase components. The flow rate was set at 0.3 mL/min and eluent was monitored at 285 nm. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines. Results: All related substances were well separated from Lansoprazole in optimized chromatographic conditions. Linearity of the method was studied between 25%-150% targeted concentration regression coefficients found to be as 0.9996, 9991, 09998 and 09995 for N-Oxide, Sulphone, Sulphide and Lansoprazole respectively. % Relative Standard Deviation (%RSD) for Precision, Recovery studies, Accuracy studies at quantification level was less than 2. Conclusions: The developed method is linear, accurate, precise, robust and specific, being able to separate the related substances from Lansoprazole. It may find application for the routine analysis of the related substances of Lansoprazole.
On the Average Value of Correlated Time Series, with Applications in Dendroclimatology and Hydrometeorology

Abstract In a number of areas of applied climatology, time series are either averaged to enhance a common underlying signal or combined to produce area averages. How well, then, does the average of a finite number (N) of time series represent the population average, and how well will a subset of series represent the N-series average? We have answered these questions by deriving formulas for 1) the correlation coefficient between the average of N time series and the average of n such series (where n is an arbitrary subset of N) and 2) the correlation between the N-series average and the population. We refer to these mean correlations as the subsample signal strength (SSS) and the expressed population signal (EPS). They may be expressed in terms of the mean inter-series correlation coefficient r as SSS ≡ (Rn,N)2 ≈ n(1 + (N − 1)r)/ N(1 + (N − 1)r), EPS ≡ RN)2 ≈ Nr/1 + (N − 1)r.Similar formulas are given relating these mean correlations to the fractional common variance which arises as a parameter in a.
GUN4 appeared early in cyanobacterial evolution

Abstract Photosynthesis relies on chlorophylls, which are synthesized via a common tetrapyrrole trunk pathway also leading to heme, vitamin B12, and other pigmented cofactors. The first committed step for chlorophyll biosynthesis is insertion of magnesium into protoporphyrin IX by magnesium chelatase. Magnesium chelatase is composed of H-, I-, and D-subunits, with the tetrapyrrole substrate binding to the H-subunit. This subunit is rapidly inactivated in the presence of substrate, light, and oxygen, so oxygenic photosynthetic organisms require mechanisms to protect magnesium chelatase from similar loss of function. An additional protein, GUN4, binds to the H-subunit and to tetrapyrroles. GUN4 has been proposed to serve this protective role via its ability to bind linear tetrapyrroles (bilins). In the current work, we probe the origins of bilin binding by GUN4 via comparative phylogenetic analysis and biochemical validation of a conserved bilin-binding motif. Based on our results, we propose that bilin-binding GUN4 proteins arose early in cyanobacterial evolution and that this early acquisition represents an ancient adaptation for maintaining chlorophyll biosynthesis in the presence of light and oxygen.
Gut Microbiota and Acylcarnitine Metabolites Connect the Beneficial Association between Estrogen and Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Ovariectomized Mice

Our findings establish a role for gut microbes in the progression of estrogen deficiency-induced lipid metabolism disorders and reveal key target bacteria that may have the potential to regulate acylcarnitine synthesis. These findings suggest a possible route for the use of microbes or acylcarnitine to regulate disorders of lipid metabolism induced by estrogen deficiency. ABSTRACT Decreased estrogen level is one of the main causes of lipid metabolism disorders and coronary heart disease in women after menopause. Exogenous estradiol benzoate is effective to some extent in alleviating lipid metabolism disorders caused by estrogen deficiency. However, the role of gut microbes in the regulation process is not yet appreciated. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of estradiol benzoate supplementation on lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and metabolites in ovariectomized (OVX) mice and to reveal the importance of gut microbes and metabolites in the regulation of lipid metabolism disorders. This study found that high doses of estradiol benzoate supplementation effectively attenuated fat accumulation in OVX mice. There was a significant increase in the expression of genes enriched in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and a concomitant decrease in the expression of genes enriched in unsaturated fatty acid metabolism pathways. Further screening of the gut for characteristic metabolites associated with improved lipid metabolism revealed that estradiol benzoate supplementation influenced major subsets of acylcarnitine metabolites. Ovariectomy significantly increased the abundance of characteristic microbes that are significantly negatively associated with acylcarnitine synthesis, such as Lactobacillus and Eubacterium ruminantium group bacteria, while estradiol benzoate supplementation significantly increased the abundance of characteristic microbes that are significantly positively associated with acylcarnitine synthesis, such as Ileibacterium and Bifidobacterium spp. The use of pseudosterile mice with gut microbial deficiency greatly facilitated the synthesis of acylcarnitine due to estradiol benzoate supplementation and also alleviated lipid metabolism disorders to a greater extent in OVX mice. IMPORTANCE Our findings establish a role for gut microbes in the progression of estrogen deficiency-induced lipid metabolism disorders and reveal key target bacteria that may have the potential to regulate acylcarnitine synthesis. These findings suggest a possible route for the use of microbes or acylcarnitine to regulate disorders of lipid metabolism induced by estrogen deficiency.
Lagrangian computations of radiating fire plumes

Modeling and simulation of fires are useful in determining their impact on nearby and distant objects, quantifying their environmental impact, improving fire suppression techniques, etc. Fires, essentially naturally aspirated combustion phenomena, are buoyancy driven diffusion flames in which the fuel supply rate is governed by the burn rate itself. It has been observed experimentally that the complex interaction between the flow, transport process and chemistry in a fire leads to large scale "puffing"; an unsteady phenomenon manifested in the periodic ejection of bellowing smoke. The complexity of the phenomenon defies analytical treatment except at the very coarse grain level essentially using similarity principles. Numerical solutions based on ensemble averaging/closure and flow-combustion interaction models are encumbered by uncertainty and unproven hypotheses. A viable alternative is a numerical simulation of the unsteady governing equations with sufficient resolution to capture the important scales. In this work, contributions to a grid-free Lagrangian approach to simulate numerically fire plumes are suggested. The physical model incorporates unsteady buoyancy dynamics, transport of heat and mass by diffusion and convection, radiative transport of heat, and a single-step, infinite-rate chemical reaction with exothermic heat release. The numerical approach is based on the vortex method in which the unsteady conservation equations of vorticity, chemical species and energy are solved using a set of moving computational elements carrying time dependent quantities. A compatible approach is proposed to solve the radiative transport equations. Simulations of an axisymmetric plume are used to identify the dynamic mechanisms leading to "puffing", the processes which govern entrainment into the rising unsteady plume, burn rate, and overall observable quantities such as the flame height, radiation flux, etc. Thesis Supervisor: Ahmed F. Ghoniem Title: Professor
Effect of enhanced nutrition services with community‐based nutrition services on the diet quality of young children in Ethiopia

Abstract Poor diet quality related to inadequate complementary feeding is a major public health problem in low and middle‐income countries including Ethiopia. Low dietary diversity has been linked to negative health outcomes in children. To provide a package of interventions to close nutritional gaps through agriculture, the Sustainable Undernutrition Reduction in Ethiopia (SURE) programme was set up as a multi‐sectoral initiative and the results of combined effects of community‐based and enhanced nutrition services, compared to community‐based alone, on diet diversity and diet quality of complementary feeding of young children are presented. The study used pre‐ and post‐intervention design. Baseline (n = 4980) data were collected from May to July 2016, and follow‐up (n = 2419) data from December 2020 to January 2021. From 51 intervention districts having the SURE programme, 36 intervention districts were randomly selected for baseline and 31 for the follow‐up survey. The primary outcome was diet quality: minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Comparing endline to baseline over the 4.5‐year intervention, the use of standard community‐based nutrition services of growth monitoring and promotion increased (16%–46%), as did enhanced nutrition services of infant and young child feeding counselling, and agricultural advising (62%–77%). Women involved in home gardening significantly increased (73%–93%); however, household production of food decreased yet consumption of most own‐grown foods increased. Importantly, MAD and MDD increased four‐fold. The SURE intervention programme was associated with improvements in complementary feeding and diet quality through enhanced nutrition services. This suggests programmes targeted at nutrition‐sensitive practices can improve child feeding in young children.
Computational approaches for circRNAs prediction and in silico characterization

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded and covalently closed non-coding RNA molecules originated from RNA splicing. Their functions include regulatory potential over other RNA species, such as microRNAs, messenger RNAs and RNA binding proteins. For circRNA identification, several algorithms are available and can be classified in two major types: pseudo-reference-based and split-alignment-based approaches. In general, the data generated from circRNA transcriptome initiatives is deposited on public specific databases, which provide a large amount of information on different species and functional annotations. In this review, we describe the main computational resources for the identification and characterization of circRNAs, covering the algorithms and predictive tools to evaluate its potential role in a particular transcriptomics project, including the public repositories containing relevant data and information for circRNAs, recapitulating their characteristics, reliability and amount of data reported.
The need to change: Is there a critical role of midlife adaptation in mental health later in life?

Although late-life depression (LLD) is a serious health problem and more common than dementia in people over 60, it is underdiagnosed and undertreated. The cognitive-emotional etiology of LLD is particularly poorly understood. This is in contrast to the now extensive literature from psychology and cognitive neuroscience on the characteristics of emotionally healthy aging. This research consistently shows a change in emotional processing in older adults that is modulated by prefrontal regulation. Lifespan theories explain this change in terms of neurocognitive adaptation to limited opportunities and resources that typically occur in the second half of life. Epidemiological data on an increase in well-being after a low point around age 50 suggest that the majority of people seem quite capable of making this adaptation, even though empirical evidence for a causal modulation of this so called ‘paradox of aging’ and for the role of the midlife dip is still lacking. Intriguingly, LLD is associated with deficits in emotional, cognitive, and prefrontal functions similar to those shown to be crucial for healthy adaptation. Suspected causes of these deficits, such as white matter lesions or affective instability, become apparent as early as midlife when internal and external changes as well as daily challenges set in. Based on these findings, we propose that some individuals who develop depression at older ages may not have been able to successfully implement self-regulatory adaptation at midlife. Here, we review the current evidence and theories on successful aging, the neurobiology of LLD, and well-being across the lifespan. Drawing on recent advances in lifespan theories, emotion regulation research, and cognitive neuroscience, we propose a model of successful versus unsuccessful adaptation that emphasizes the increasing need for implicit habitual control and resource-based regulatory choice during midlife.