Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ozone production in transpacific Asian pollution plumes and implications for ozone air quality in California

[1] We examine the ozone production efficiency in transpacific Asian pollution plumes, and the implications for ozone air quality in California, by using aircraft and surface observations in April–May 2002 from the Intercontinental Transport and Chemical Transformation 2002 (ITCT 2K2) campaign off the California coast and the Pacific Exploration of Asian Continental Emission–B (PEACE-B) campaign over the northwest Pacific. The observations are interpreted with a global three-dimensional chemical transport model (GEOS-CHEM). The model reproduces the mean features observed for CO, reactive nitrogen oxides (NOy), and ozone but underestimates the strong (20 ppbv) stratospheric contribution to ozone in the middle troposphere. The ITCT 2K2 aircraft sampled two major transpacific Asian pollution plumes, one on 5 May at 5–8 km altitude with CO up to 275 ppbv but no elevated ozone and one on 17 May at 2.5–4 km altitude with CO up to 225 ppbv and ozone up to 90 ppbv. We show that the elevated ozone in the latter plume is consistent with production from peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN) decomposition during subsidence of the plume over the northeast Pacific. This production is particularly efficient because of the strong radiation and low humidity of the subsiding environment. We argue that such PAN decomposition represents a major and possibly dominant component of the ozone enhancement in transpacific Asian pollution plumes. Strong dilution of Asian pollution plumes takes place during entrainment in the U.S. boundary layer, greatly reducing their impact at U.S. surface sites. California mountain sites are more sensitive to Asian pollution because of their exposure to the free troposphere. Model results indicate a mean Asian pollution enhancement of 7 ppbv ozone at Sequoia National Park in May 2002 on those days when the 8-hour average ozone concentration exceeded 80 ppbv. INDEX TERMS: 0368 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—constituent transport and chemistry; 0365 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—composition and chemistry; 0345 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution—urban and regional (0305); KEYWORDS: ozone, Asian pollution, ITCT 2K2, PEACE-B, transpacific transport
Different sensitivity to wortmannin of two vacuolar sorting signals indicates the presence of distinct sorting machineries in tobacco cells

Vacuolar matrix proteins in plant cells are sorted from the secretory pathway to the vacuoles at the Golgi apparatus. Previously, we reported that the NH2-terminal propeptide (NTPP) of the sporamin precursor and the COOH-terminal propeptide (CTPP) of the barley lectin precursor contain information for vacuolar sorting. To analyze whether these propeptides are interchangeable, we expressed constructs consisting of wild-type or mutated NTPP with the mature part of barley lectin and sporamin with CTPP and mutated NTPP in tobacco BY-2 cells. The vacuolar localization of these constructs indicated that the signals were interchangeable. We next analyzed the effect of wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of mammalian phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase on vacuolar delivery by NTPP and CTPP in tobacco cells. Pulse-chase analysis indicated that 33 microM wortmannin caused almost complete inhibition of CTPP-mediated transport to the vacuoles, while NTPP-mediated transport displayed almost no sensitivity to wortmannin at this concentration. This indicates that there are at least two different mechanisms for vacuolar sorting in tobacco cells, and the CTPP-mediated pathway is sensitive to wortmannin. We compared the dose dependencies of wortmannin on the inhibition of CTPP-mediated vacuolar delivery of proteins and on the inhibition of the synthesis of phospholipids in tobacco cells. Wortmannin inhibited PI 3- and PI 4-kinase activities and phospholipid synthesis. Missorting caused by wortmannin displays a dose dependency that is similar to the dose dependency for the inhibition of synthesis of PI 4-phosphate and major phospholipids. This is different, however, than the inhibition of synthesis of PI 3- phosphate. Thus, the synthesis of phospholipids could be involved in CTPP-mediated vacuolar transport.
Apparent Superluminal Behavior in Wave Propagation

Abstract: The apparent superluminal propagation of electromagnetic signals seen in recent experiments is shown to be the result of simple and robust properties of relativistic field equations. Although the wave front of a signal passing through a classically forbidden region can never move faster than light, an attenuated replica of the signal is reproduced ``instantaneously'' on the other side of the barrier. The reconstructed signal, causally connected to the forerunner rather than the bulk of the input signal, appears to move through the barrier faster than light.
Information and Communication Technologies in Development: Contextuality and Promise

Implementation of projects aimed at harnessing information and communication technologies (ICTs) for socio-economic development in Africa are inevitably affected by the state of basic infrastructure. This explains the mixed results of ICT adoption as emerging evaluative research indicates. However, through recurrent practices, users of ICTs in many places have devised coping mechanisms to navigate through existing infrastructural constraints. These processes have significantly altered the nature and functionalities of some ICTs in ways that differ from the initial conceptualization and design. The outcomes produce new ways of thinking and practice. This paper adopts an integrated model of contextualist and structurational analyses to show how the unintended outcomes represent interesting new sites for research and analysis. It suggests the need to examine the nature of the reconstituted products and functionalities and how they evolve into distinct ontological realities. The analysis is demonstrated by a case study of the patterns of usage and conceptions of some ICTs and processes in Nigeria.
A Case Study on Undergraduates' Informal Learning Supported by QQ

In this study, how undergraduates use QQ and how their behavior related to academic purposes in informal setting were examined by interview and content analyze. It was found that QQ was used as a learning supporting tool spontaneously by undergraduate. Learners initiated various learning activities, such as peer-to-peer online help, class discussion and academic document sharing by QQ without any requirement by teachers. In addition, QQ also has emotional and affect impact on participants. Finally, the feature of QQ-"class group" created a new tool for learners to communicate after class and bridge class and off-class management. These findings showed the possibility of public IM as learning supported tool and some problem we should consider when use public IM in learning supporting.
Genetic Algorithms for Optimization of Complex Nonlinear System

Reasonable dimension reduction and effective optimization calculation are the basic ways to study the optimization of complex nonlinear system. A method based on the traditional decomposition technology is put forward to solve the optimization problem of complex nonlinear system, of which decision variable is decomposed to independence variable and coupling variable. On the basis of this method, genetic algorithms to solve the coupling variable and the traditional optimization technology to solve the independence variable are also established. This method has been used to a drainage optimal planning of a closed polder system. The result indicates that the method can obtain the optimum relation rapidly. It also can improve the calculation efficiency as well as avoid the difficultly to obtain the global optimal solution of the traditional optimization technology. This method can be applied to solve the similar optimization problem of other complex nonlinear systems.
GraphOps: A Dataflow Library for Graph Analytics Acceleration

Analytics and knowledge extraction on graph data structures have become areas of great interest. For frequently executed algorithms, dedicated hardware accelerators are an energy-efficient avenue to high performance. Unfortunately, they are notoriously labor-intensive to design and verify while meeting stringent time-to-market goals. In this paper, we present GraphOps, a modular hardware library for quickly and easily constructing energy-efficient accelerators for graph analytics algorithms. GraphOps provide a hardware designer with a set of composable graph-specific building blocks, broad enough to target a wide array of graph analytics algorithms. The system is built upon a dataflow execution platform and targets FPGAs, allowing a vendor to use the same hardware to accelerate different types of analytics computation. Low-level hardware implementation details such as flow control, input buffering, rate throttling, and host/interrupt interaction are automatically handled and built into the design of the GraphOps, greatly reducing design time. As an enabling contribution, we also present a novel locality-optimized graph data structure that improves spatial locality and memory efficiency when accessing the graph in main memory. Using the GraphOps system, we construct six different hardware accelerators. Results show that the GraphOps-based accelerators are able to operate close to the bandwidth limit of the hardware platform, the limiting constraint in graph analytics computation.
Long‐term intermittent hypoxia increases sympathetic activity and chemosensitivity during acute hypoxia in humans

We determined the effects of 10 daily exposures of intermittent hypoxia (IH; 1 h day−1; oxyhaemoglobin saturation = 80%) on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, peroneal nerve) and the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) before, during and after an acute 20 min isocapnic hypoxic exposure. We also assessed the potential parallel modulation of the ventilatory and sympathetic systems following IH. Healthy young men (n= 11; 25 ± 1 years) served as subjects and pre‐ and post‐IH measures of MSNA were obtained on six subjects. The IH intervention caused HVR to significantly increase (pre‐IH = 0.30 ± 0.03; post‐IH = 0.61 ± 0.12 l min−1%S aO 2−1). During the 20 min hypoxic exposure sympathetic activity was significantly greater than baseline and remained above baseline after withdrawal of the hypoxic stimulus, even though oxyhaemoglobin saturation had normalized and ventilation and blood pressure had returned to baseline levels. When compared to the pre‐IH trial, burst frequency increased (P < 0.01), total MSNA trended towards higher values (P= 0.06), and there was no effect on burst amplitude (P= 0.82) during the post‐IH trial. Following IH the rise in MSNA burst frequency was strongly related to the change in HVR (r= 0.79, P < 0.05) suggesting that these sympathetic and ventilatory responses may have common central control.
Mindset, grit, optimism, pessimism and life satisfaction in university students with and without anxiety and/or depression

We explored mindset, grit, optimism, and pessimism as predictors of university students' life satisfaction. In consideration of the dual-factor model of mental health, we examined the strength of these predictors on life satisfaction in college students with self-reported anxiety and/or depression and those without. Optimism and pessimism predicted life satisfaction overall, but the relative contribution of each was significantly different based on self-reported anxiety/depression. College students with anxiety and/or depression also demonstrated significantly more fixed mindsets, lower levels of grit, optimism and life satisfaction, and higher levels of pessimism. We discuss the implications of these findings for university wellness programming and initiatives, and future research directions investigating these constructs for university students.
Association of systolic blood pressure with macrovascular and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 36): prospective observational study

Abstract Objective: To determine the relation between systolic blood pressure over time and the risk of macrovascular or microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: 23 hospital based clinics in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Participants: 4801 white, Asian Indian, and Afro-Caribbean UKPDS patients, whether randomised or not to treatment, were included in analyses of incidence; of these, 3642 were included in analyses of relative risk. Outcome measures: Primary predefined aggregate clinical outcomes: any complications or deaths related to diabetes and all cause mortality. Secondary aggregate outcomes: myocardial infarction, stroke, lower extremity amputation (including death from peripheral vascular disease), and microvascular disease (predominantly retinal photocoagulation). Single end points: non-fatal heart failure and cataract extraction. Risk reduction associated with a 10 mm Hg decrease in updated mean systolic blood pressure adjusted for specific confounders Results: The incidence of clinical complications was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure, except for cataract extraction. Each 10 mm Hg decrease in updated mean systolic blood pressure was associated with reductions in risk of 12% for any complication related to diabetes (95% confidence interval 10% to 14%, P<0.0001), 15% for deaths related to diabetes (12% to 18%, P<0.0001), 11% for myocardial infarction (7% to 14%, P<0.0001), and 13% for microvascular complications (10% to 16%, P<0.0001). No threshold of risk was observed for any end point. Conclusions: In patients with type 2 diabetes the risk of diabetic complications was strongly associated with raised blood pressure. Any reduction in blood pressure is likely to reduce the risk of complications, with the lowest risk being in those with systolic blood pressure less than 120 mm Hg.
Clustering-based control of active contour model

To extract object regions from images, the methods using region-based active contour model (ACM) have been proposed. By controlling ACM with the statistical characteristics of the image properties, these methods effect robust region extraction. However the existing methods require redundant processing and cannot adapt to complex scene images. To overcome these problems, we propose a new method for controlling region-based ACM. In the proposed method, a definite area is set along an object boundary. This area is partitioned into several subareas, and they, are iteratively deformed to make the image properties be uniform in each subarea. As a result of this clustering on the definite area, the image properties in a necessary and sufficient area can be effectively reflected on ACM control, and efficient and accurate region extraction can be achieved.
Analysis of the effects of coumarin on Lens culinaris Medik by some biochemical parameters using real-time polymerase chain reaction

This study aimed to reveal the effects of coumarin on Lens culinaris Medik. The germinated and ungerminated seed counts of the experimental groups were determined and the EC50 value was calculated by probit analysis. In biochemical studies, catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities were investigated together with lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide quantities. The results demonstrated an increase in the amount of malondialdehyde, a measure of lipid peroxidation, a decrease in the amount of H2O2 and EC50 value in the CAT activity and an increase in the EC50 x 2 value. In real-time PCR analysis, three different genetic expressions related to abiotic stress (CAT, Cu / Zn SOD and Mn SOD gene expression) were examined. It was determined that coumarin caused genotoxic and biochemical damage on L. culinaris.
A barium central star binary in the Type I diamond ring planetary nebula Abell 70

Abell 70 (PN G038.1−25.4, hereafter A 70) is a planetary nebula known for its diamond ring appearance due to a superposition with a background galaxy. The previously unstudied central star is found to be a binary consisting of a G8IV–V secondary at optical wavelengths and a hot white dwarf at ultraviolet wavelengths. The secondary shows Ba II and Sr II features enhanced for its spectral type that, combined with the chromospheric Hα emission and possible 20– 30 km s −1 radial velocity amplitude, firmly classifies the binary as a Barium star. The proposed origin of Barium stars is intimately linked to planetary nebulae (PNe) whereby wind accretion pollutes the companion with dredged-up material rich in carbon and s-process elements when the primary is experiencing thermal pulses on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). A 70 provides further evidence for this scenario together with the other very few examples of Barium central stars. The nebula is found to have Type I chemical abundances with helium and nitrogen enrichment, which when combined with future abundance studies of the central star, will establish A 70 as a unique laboratory for studying s-process AGB nucleosynthesis. We also discuss guidelines to discover more binary central stars with cool secondaries in large orbits that are needed to balance our knowledge of binarity in PNe against the currently better studied post-common-envelope binary central stars.
Fault tolerance in networked control systems under intermittent observations

Fault tolerance in networked control systems under intermittent observations This paper presents an approach to fault tolerant control based on the sensor masking principle in the case of wireless networked control systems. With wireless transmission, packet losses act as sensor faults. In the presence of such faults, the faulty measurements corrupt directly the behaviour of closed-loop systems. Since the controller aims at cancelling the error between the measurement and its reference input, the real outputs will, in such a networked control system, deviate from the desired value and may drive the system to its physical limitations or even to instability. The proposed method facilitates fault compensation based on an interacting multiple model approach developed in the framework of channel errors or network congestion equivalent to multiple sensors failures. The interacting multiple model method involved in a networked control system provides simultaneously detection and isolation of on-line packet losses, and also performs a suitable state estimation. Based on particular knowledge of packet losses, sensor fault-tolerant controls are obtained by computing a new control law using fault-free estimation of the faulty element to avoid intermittent observations that might develop into failures and to minimize the effects on system performance and safety.
False Killer Whale Dorsal Fin Disfigurements as a Possible Indicator of Long-Line Fishery Interactions in Hawaiian Waters1

ABSTRACT Scarring resulting from entanglement in fishing gear can be used to examine cetacean fishery interactions. False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are known to interact with the Hawai‘i-based tuna and swordfish long-line fishery in offshore Hawaiian waters. We examined the rate of major dorsal fin disfigurements of false killer whales from nearshore waters around the main Hawaiian Islands to assess the likelihood that individuals around the main islands are part of the same population that interacts with the fishery. False killer whales were encountered on 11 occasions between 2000 and 2004, and 80 distinctive individuals were photographically documented. Three of these (3.75%) had major dorsal fin disfigurements (two with the fins completely bent over and one missing the fin). Information from other research suggests that the rate of such disfigurements for our study population may be more than four times greater than for other odontocete populations. We suggest that the most likely cause of such disfigurements is interactions with longlines and that false killer whales found in nearshore waters around the main Hawaiian Islands are part of the same population that interacts with the fishery. Two of the animals documented with disfigurements had infants in close attendance and were thought to be adult females. This implies that even with such injuries, at least some females may be able to produce offspring, despite the importance of the dorsal fin in reproductive thermoregulation.
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as a marker of chronic alcohol abuse: a critical review of preanalysis, analysis, and interpretation.

BACKGROUND Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is used for diagnosis of chronic alcohol abuse. Some 200-300 reports on CDT have been published in impact factor-listed journals. The aims of this review were to condense the current knowledge and to resolve remaining issues on CDT. APPROACH The literature (1976-2000) was searched using MEDLINE and Knowledge Server with "alcohol and CDT" as the search items. The data were reviewed systematically, checked for redundancy, and organized in sequence based on the steps involved in CDT analysis. CONTENT The review is divided into sections based on microheterogeneity of human serum transferrin (Tf), definition of CDT, structure of human serum CDT, pathomechanisms of ethanol-induced CDT increase, preanalysis, analysis, and medical interpretation (postanalysis). Test-specific cutoff values for serum CDT and causes of false positives and negatives for chronic alcohol abuse are discussed and summarized. SUMMARY Asialo- and disialo-Fe(2)-Tf, which lack one or two complete N-glycans, and monosialo-Fe(2)-Tf (structure remains unclear) are collectively referred to as CDT. Diminished mRNA concentration and glycoprotein glycosyltransferase activities involved in Tf N-glycan synthesis and increased sialidase activity most likely account for alcohol-induced increases in CDT. Knowledge about in vivo and in vitro effects on serum CDT is poor. Reliable CDT and non-CDT fractionation is needed for CDT measurement. Analysis methods with different analytical specificities and recoveries decreased the comparability of values and statistical parameters of the diagnostic efficiency of CDT. CDT is the most specific marker of chronic alcohol abuse to date. Efforts should concentrate on the pathomechanisms (in vivo), preanalysis, and standardization of CDT analysis.
Morebitni medsebojni vpliv prozodije slovenskega govora in slovenske ljudske pesmi

The article tackles the popular topic of the potential interaction of music and language by comparing the prosody of Slovene speech and the melodic and rhythmic properties of the Slovene folk song. The study shows potential connections between tonemicity and interval range, the predictability of word stress and rhythmic accent, and different dialects and their musical traditions. The article thus presents a preliminary study of potential similarities between a specific language and music. Although, due to a lack of research for other languages, it is difficult to guarantee that the results are not coincidental, the study presents a promising first attempt at such a comparison.
A Pandemonium Can Have Goals

AKIRA is an open-source framework for agent-based cognitive and socio-cognitive modeling and simulation. In this introductory paper we explain the underlying theoretical assumptions that lead to its central features, e.g. hybridism of the components, access to a common pool of resources, homeostasis of the system. In order to show the potentiality of AKIRA for cognitive modeling, we provide and example of a Goal Directed Agent. However, we are not focused on a single agent model, mechanism or computational tool; we use AKIRA as an “experimental laboratory” for modeling and implementing many cognitive functions (e.g. belief and goal dynamics, epistemic actions, anticipation, attention), exploring how higher-order cognition emerges from the interplay of many specialized agents and coalitions that compete, cooperate and learn how to exploit each other.