Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intercomparison of atmospheric water vapour measurements at a Canadian High Arctic site

Abstract. Water vapour is a critical component of the Earth system. Techniques to acquire and improve measurements of atmospheric water vapour and its isotopes are under active development. This work presents a detailed intercomparison of water vapour total column measurements taken between 2006 and 2014 at a Canadian High Arctic research site (Eureka, Nunavut). Instruments include radiosondes, sun photometers, a microwave radiometer, and emission and solar absorption Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers. Close agreement is observed between all combination of datasets, with mean differences ≤ 1.0 kg m−2 and correlation coefficients ≥ 0.98. The one exception in the observed high correlation is the comparison between the microwave radiometer and a radiosonde product, which had a correlation coefficient of 0.92. A variety of biases affecting Eureka instruments are revealed and discussed. A subset of Eureka radiosonde measurements was processed by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN) for this study. Comparisons reveal a small dry bias in the standard radiosonde measurement water vapour total columns of approximately 4 %. A recently produced solar absorption FTIR spectrometer dataset resulting from the MUSICA (MUlti-platform remote Sensing of Isotopologues for investigating the Cycle of Atmospheric water) retrieval technique is shown to offer accurate measurements of water vapour total columns (e.g. average agreement within −5.2 % of GRUAN and −6.5 % of a co-located emission FTIR spectrometer). However, comparisons show a small wet bias of approximately 6 % at the high-latitude Eureka site. In addition, a new dataset derived from Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) measurements is shown to provide accurate water vapour measurements (e.g. average agreement was within 4 % of GRUAN), which usefully enables measurements to be taken during day and night (especially valuable during polar night).
The Third Wave: Chinese Students' Values in Effective Mathematics Teaching in Two Secondary Schools

In the last few decades there has been much interest in how mathematics can be effectively taught and learnt. The Third Wave is a unique ongoing international collaborative mathematics education research project, which aims to explore the relevant values of effective school mathematics teaching from both the teacher and student perspectives. As part of this project, this study investigates the related findings from students on the Chinese mainland. Multiple data were collected through classroom observations, focus group interviews, and written, open-ended questions. Twenty-four students from junior and senior secondary schools were invited to write down their views on an effective lesson, a good mathematics teacher, and how to do well in mathematics learning. Results showed that among the eight values determined in the study, the values of involvement, explanation, and examples were embraced by students across all grades. Students preferred teacher-led mathematics teaching. Junior secondary students placed more value on teachers` personalities, whereas senior students placed more value on teachers` teaching manners.
Fourier Series Approximations and Low Pass Filtering: Facilitating Learning of Digital Signal Processing for Biomechanics Students

Filtering raw biomechanical data to remove noise is a key first step that must be performed prior to further biomechanical analysis. Raw biomechanical data are usually filtered to remove noise above a specified cutoff frequency, a process known as “low pass filtering”. The concept of frequency content within a signal may be difficult for students to grasp, and authors of biomechanics textbooks often use Fourier series approximations to introduce this concept. To facilitate student learning, we have created an Excel spreadsheet that allows students to observe several orders of Fourier series approximations to a representative set of biomechanical data. In this paper, we provide a short tutorial on Fourier series approximations and instructions for using the Excel spreadsheet. The Fourier series coefficients are determined iteratively with a firstprinciples approach of minimizing the sum of squared error between the original data and the approximation using the Solver function in Excel. The user can reset these coefficients and run Solver to observe the iterative process. This first-principles approach may be helpful in a broad range of applications because it allows users to perform non-linear regression within an Excel spreadsheet. The Excel spreadsheet also includes a fourth-order zero-lag Butterworth low pass filter with adjustable cutoff frequency so that the effects of filtering can be observed and compared with the Fourier series approximations. We believe this tutorial and Excel spreadsheet will be helpful to those teaching and learning digital signal processing in biomechanics. KEYWORDS: Butterworth, Excel, filter, Fourier, frequency, noise, solver, spreadsheet. Reprint pdf · Reprint doc · Spreadsheet.xls · Spreadsheet.xlsx
Cerebrospinal fluid parameters influencing the outcome of Cryptococcal meningitis: Indian experience

Purpose: Incidence of Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is increasing as prevalence of HIV, long term steroids use and organ transplant increase. The study was done to analyze demographic, clinical and biochemical parameters and to correlate these parameters with mortality. Materials and Method: 50 patients of CM, diagnosed on the basis of India ink positivity, Cryptococcal antigen or Culture. Patients were followed up till discharge or death. Results: Out of the 50 patients, 45 patients were HIV positive. Headache was the most common symptom (100%), followed by vomiting, fever, and altered sensorium, blindness, seizures, diplopia and psychiatric symptoms. The factors associated with a greater risk for mortality were CD4 ? 50 cells/ cu.mm (p=0.012), low GCS ? 8 (p=0.000011), blindness (p =0.034), papilledema (p=0.0009) and low CSF sugar (p=0.0005). There was an association between high CSF pressure (>30 cm of H 2 O) and blindness (p=0.005). Other factors which were associated with a higher trend of mortality but not significant were associated tuberculosis and high CSF pressure. Conclusions: Mortality associated with CM continues to be high in spite of availability of medications. Factors associated with high mortality were low initial CD4, lower GCS at presentation, blindness, papilledema and low CSF sugar.
Light section measurement to quantify the accuracy loss induced by laser light deflection in an inhomogeneous refractive index field

In the manufacturing process of Tailored Forming components, the inline inspection of the joining zone directly after each single process step can yield advantages - such as early error detection and real-time process control. Since measuring times need to be synchronized with the production chain, there is no time to cool down the components in between two hot forming processes. On the one hand, the chosen measurement technique needs to be non-tactile due to the heat of the measurement object. On the other hand, the object's areal surface texture needs to be captured rapidly to realize a fast inline inspection. These requirements are only matched by optical 3d measurement systems. Additional challenges arise due to the high temperature of the Tailored Forming components: the ambient air is heated up and the air's temperature increase results in an inhomogeneous refractive index field surrounding the hot workpiece, effecting the light's path emitted by the illumination unit of the optical sensor. We present a simple measurement setup based on the laser light section method to visualize the measurement accuracy loss induced by the convectional heat flow from a hot cylindrical measurement object. To attain a direct validation of the measurement results, the measurements are performed with and with reduced influence of the inhomogeneous refractive index field induced by the hot object.
Determinants of Growth Retardation in Pakistani Children under Five Years of Age

Ensuring the survival and well being of children is a concern of families, communities, and nations throughout the world. Since the turn of the 20th century infant and child mortality in more developed countries has steadily declined and, currently, has been reduced to almost minimal levels. In contrast, although infant and child mortality has declined in the past three decades in most less developed countries, the pace of change and the magnitude of improvement vary considerably from one country to another. Children are at risk of both mortality and morbidity. The problem of malnutrition is widespread in developing countries and particularly severe in South Asian countries, where almost fifty percent of the undernourished children of the world live [Carlson and Wardlaw (1990)]. Rural populations are especially prone to malnutrition because they are more likely to be poor [Tinger (1998)]. The analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in 19 developing countries shows that children living in rural areas are more likely to be malnourished [Sommerfelt and Stewart (1994)]. A poor diet and exposure to repeated illnesses are two of the major causes of malnutrition in developing countries [Mosley and Chen (1984)]. When the child survives the neonatal period, better child nutrition becomes an important part of child health since nutrition during childhood makes a major contribution to child development, growth, and survival, ultimately influencing the human and social capital of a society. The role of breastfeeding is very important in the post-neonatal period. The mother’s milk not only provides the complete nutritional requirements of the child but also provides protection against infection [Jelliffe and Jelliffe (1978)]. Pregnant women who receive inadequate nutritional levels are likely to give birth to underweight babies who are more likely to get infectious diseases, leading to early death. Furthermore, those who survive but receive inadequate food in their early life are more likely to be exposed to permanent stunting of their physical growth.
Short-Run Effects of Fiscal Policy with Forward-Looking Financial Markets

We explore the short-run effects of fiscal policy using simulations of an empirical, rational-expectations, open-economy macromodel developed at the Federal Reserve Board. Based on this model, we find that tax cuts and spending increases generally stimulate economic activity in the short run, contrary to the extreme view that forward-looking financial markets more than offset the direct expansionary impulse of those actions. However, the magnitude of the stimulus is greatly attenuated by the financial-market feedback. For example, a sustained cut in personal income taxes raises output by less than the amount of the tax cut itself, and it likely reduces output (relative to baseline) in the first several years if phased in gradually over time. Our results also show that the estimated stimulus imparted by fiscal policy is sensitive to reasonable variation in the model's parameters.
On a degenerate problem in the calculus of variations

We establish the uniqueness of the solutions for a degenerate scalar problem in the multiple integrals calculus of variations. The proof requires as a preliminary step the study of the regularity properties of the solutions and of their level sets. We exploit the uniqueness and the regularity results to explore some of their qualitative properties. In particular, we emphasize the link between the supports of the solutions and the Cheeger problem.
Person-independent facial expression analysis by fusing multiscale cell features

Abstract. Automatic facial expression recognition is an interesting and challenging task. To achieve satisfactory accuracy, deriving a robust facial representation is especially important. A novel appearance-based feature, the multiscale cell local intensity increasing patterns (MC-LIIP), to represent facial images and conduct person-independent facial expression analysis is presented. The LIIP uses a decimal number to encode the texture or intensity distribution around each pixel via pixel-to-pixel intensity comparison. To boost noise resistance, MC-LIIP carries out comparison computation on the average values of scalable cells instead of individual pixels. The facial descriptor fuses region-based histograms of MC-LIIP features from various scales, so as to encode not only textural microstructures but also the macrostructures of facial images. Finally, a support vector machine classifier is applied for expression recognition. Experimental results on the CK+ and Karolinska directed emotional faces databases show the superiority of the proposed method.
Influence of Porosity on the Critical Currents of Trifluoroacetate-MOD YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 Films

The influence of porosity on the superconducting properties have been investigated on YBa 2Cu3O7 thin films deposited on LaAlO3 (100) substrates by the so-called Trifluoroacetate (TFA) route. Micro-Raman spectroscopy have been used to determine the concentration of -axis grains in different samples and their influence on the final film porosity as observed from SEM imaging. This has been compared with measurements of resistivity and critical currents in the same samples. We prove that this fraction is the main parameter controlling the porosity and hence the normal-state resistivity of the thin films. The optimization of the microstructure of these YBa2Cu3O7 TFA films allow to have high critical currents : = 3 106 A cm at 77 K.
Anti-retroviral therapy adherence and its determinants among adult patients living with HIV/AIDS in South West Ethiopia: a facility-based cross sectional study

Adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regimen is essential for successful treatment and sustained viral control. Optimal adherence is the compliance to ART that achieves a sustained plasma drug concentration that suppresses viral replication. The objective of this study is to assess ART adherence and its determinants at Agaro Health Center ART Clinic, South Western Ethiopia. Facility-based cross sectional study was conducted from June 9-29, 2011. Patients were interviewed to collect adherence related information by using pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Subsequent charts of prescribed medications were reviewed using a pretested data collection format. A total of 209 respondents were included in the study, of which 127 (60.8%) were females and 82 (39.2%) were males. The average adherence rate was 98.1% among males and 99.5% among females. The overall average adherence rate among the respondents was 98.8%. One hundred sixty one (77.0%) respondents had a 100% adherence rate, 15 (7.2%) patients had a 93.3% adherence rate and the remaining 33 (15.8%) patients had adherence rate between 95 and 98% on average. The common reasons for missing of the prescribed doses were forgetting 27 (39.7%), being too busy 20 (29.4%), away from home 17 (25.0%) and being extremely ill 4 (5.9%). Of all the variables, sex, living alone, monthly income, use of stimulants and medications in addition to ART were significantly associated with non-adherence. The
Factors predictive of complicated or severe alcohol withdrawal in alcohol dependent inpatients

Objective. — In a department of hepatology and gastroenterology, a significant number of patients are hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify factors predictive of severe or complicated alcohol withdrawal in order to improve patient management. Methods. — Between June 2002 and June 2005, 182 patients admitted for alcohol dependence according to the DSM-IV classification were enrolled in this study. A unique management protocol for alcohol withdrawal was applied for all patients. The Cushman score was recorded on day 1, 2 and 3 to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal. We searched for correlations between epidemiological, clinical and biological data and the Cushman score. Result. — The study population included 136 (74.7%) men and 46 (25.3%) women, mean age 47.6 ± 10.1 years. One hundred and eighteen patients (64.8%) were referred from a specialized outpatient clinic and 64 (35.2%) patients were referred from the emergency unit. The mean and median Cushman scores on day 1, 2 and 3 were: 5.1 and 5; 3.9 and 4; 2.3 and 2, respectively. Twenty patients (11.0%) and five patients (2.7%) had scores greater than or equal to 8 and greater than 12, respectively. The proportion of patients with Cushman score greater than or equal to 8 on day 1 was significantly greater in patients referred from the emergency unit than in those referred from a specialized outpatient clinic (p = 0.002). Mean alanine aminotransferase level on day 1 was significantly higher in patients with a score greater than or equal to 8 than in those who had a score less than 8 (112.1 ± 44.4 UI/L versus 78.4 ± 11.8 UI/L; p = 0.046). Referral via an emergency unit as well as an alanine aminotransferase level greater than 1.5 fold the upper limit of the normal range were independent predictive factors for a Cushman score greater than or equal to 8.
Interference in and Ecological Strategies to Mobile Financial Services Developed by Commercial Banks

Internet-based mobile finance developed by commercial banks makes for the innovations of finance operation modes, and, as a result, can sharpen the competitive edge of the banks in the new normal economy. On the way to the development of mobile financial services, commercial banks may come up against roadblocks such as imperfect laws and regulations, intensive horizontal competition and shortage of talent, etc. In this regard, supportive national policies are crucial to the development of mobile finance. Only by enhancing financial innovations, attaching importance to talent and market analysis and collaborating with other organizations can the banks suppress the interference and build a mobile finance ecosphere suitable for their own development. In this study, the diamond model is used to analyze problems with qualitative analysis.
Serological Characterization of Streptococcus iniae Strains Isolated from Cultured Fish in Japan

Streptococcus iniae is known as an important marine and freshwater fish pathogen worldwide. In this paper, we characterized two serological phenotypes in Japanese S. iniae isolates, mainly from Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. The two phenotypes, designated K+ and K-, were distinguished by the presence or absence of capsule. K- cells agglutinated both with anti-K- and K+ type sera, whereas K+ cells agglutinated only with anti-K+ type serum. These two types were indistinguishable by any ordinary biological or biochemical characterization tests. Immunodiffusion test demonstrated the common antigens and a K+ type-specific antigen in the autoclave-extracts of cells. Capsule was observed on the K+ cells, from which acidic polysaccharides were detected. Strains of K+ type were virulent for Japanese flounder, whereas those of K- type were avirulent. There is a direct relationship between the serological phenotypes and the existence of capsule in S. iniae with link to its virulence.
The Psychopathic Personality: Measurement, Variants, And Utility Of The Construct

Antisocial behaviors (AB), which place an enormous burden on society, are committed by a heterogeneous population, including psychopaths (Poythress et al., 2010). Psychopathy denotes a more serious and entrenched pattern of AB (Hare, 1996) and appears to be a heterogeneous construct as well. In fact, Primary and Secondary psychopathic variants are consistently identified in a variety of samples using person-centered analysis (Drislane et al., 2014; Gill & Stickle, 2016). Both Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (Gray & McNaughton, 2000) and the Triarchic Model of Psychopathy (Patrick, Fowles, & Krueger, 2009) provide useful frameworks to understand the etiology of the psychopathic variants. The current study identified Primary and Secondary Trait groups in a sample of criminally justice involved adults (N = 377), which differed on measures of negative emotionality. However, the Psychopathic trait groups did not differ on the boldness or meanness domains of the Triarchic Model (Patrick, Fowles & Kreuger). The disinhibition domain of the Triarchic model was significantly associated with aggression, and this association was partially mediated by levels of anxiety. Anxiety is an important dimension to assess in research, evaluation, and treatment of individuals with high levels of antisocial behavior.
Stabilization of model-based networked control systems

A class of networked control systems called Model-Based Networked Control Systems (MB-NCSs) is considered. Stabilization of MB-NCSs is studied using feedback controls and simulation of stabilization for different feedbacks is made with the purpose to reduce the network trafic. The feedback control input is applied in a compensated model of the plant that approximates the plant dynamics and stabilizes the plant even under slow network conditions. Conditions for global exponential stabilizability and for the choosing of a feedback control input for a given constant time between the information moments of the network are derived. An optimal control problem to obtain an optimal feedback control is also presented.
Eukaryotic Signature Proteins

Eukaryotic Signature Proteins (ESPs) are proteins that delineate the eukaryotes from the archaea and bacteria. They have no recognisable homologues in any prokaryotic genome, but their homologues are present in all main branches of eukaryotes. ESPs are thus likely to have descended from ancient proteins that have existed since the first eukaryotic cell. The last dataset of ESPs was calculated more than a decade ago, thus with advances in technology and the rapid completion of many evolutionary important genomes, this dataset required recalculating. This study recalculated the Giardia lamblia ESP dataset and provides a procedure to calculate signature proteins beginning with any species. The G. lamblia ESP dataset contained a range of proteins including many associated with the membrane, cytoskeleton, nucleus and protein synthesis. ESP datasets have implications on current models of eukaryotic evolution, having high importance in phylogenetic analysis due to ESPs’ consistency and conservation in all eukaryotic species. Corresponding author: Jian Han , Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, Email: jian272@hotmail.com* Running title: ESP’s of Giardia
Accumulation of organic and inorganic solutes in NaCl-stressed sorghum seedlings from aged and primed seeds

Although it has been known that the seed's physiological potential affects its response to osmoconditioning and abiotic stresses, researches involving seed aging and priming associated to abiotic stresses are scarce. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of seed priming on salt tolerance in sorghum seedlings from seeds with two vigor levels (aged or non-aged) and to verify the organic and inorganic solute contributions as osmoregulators in NaCl-stressed seedlings from aged and primed seeds. The combinations of two seed vigor levels (aged or not), two seed types (primed or not) and two salinity levels (exposed to NaCl at 100 mM or not) were evaluated. In low physiological quality seeds (aged seeds), priming provided an attenuation of salinity's negative effects (0 or NaCl at 100 mM) on seedling growth. The accumulation of Na+ and Cl- ions in NaCl-stressed sorghum seedling shoot from primed seeds indicate a plant osmotic adjustment induced by seed priming, which was efficient in reducing the osmotic stress caused by salinity. Proline was the main organic solute that contributed to osmoregulation in NaCl-stressed sorghum seedling shoot and its levels increased due to seed priming. Changes in inorganic and organic solute contents, in both shoot and roots, could have been induced by seed priming and as a function of salt stress tolerance, although the changes in these organs were poorly related to each other.