Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of ice particle model on satellite ice cloud retrieval: lessons learned from MODIS and POLDER cloud product comparison

Abstract. The influence is investigated of the assumed ice particle microphysical and optical model on inferring ice cloud optical thickness (τ) from satellite measurements of the Earth's reflected shortwave radiance. Ice cloud τ are inferred, and subsequently compared, using products from MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and POLDER (POLarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances). POLDER τ values are found to be substantially smaller than those from collocated MODIS data. It is shown that this difference is caused primarily by the use of different ice particle bulk scattering models in the two retrievals, and more specifically, the scattering phase function. Furthermore, the influence of the ice particle model on the derivation of ice cloud radiative forcing (CRF) from satellite retrievals is studied. Three sets of shortwave CRF are calculated using different combinations of the retrieval and associated ice particle models. It is shown that the uncertainty associated with an ice particle model may lead to two types of errors in estimating CRF from satellite retrievals. One stems from the retrieval itself and the other is due to the optical properties, such as the asymmetry factor, used for CRF calculations. Although a comparison of the CRFs reveals that these two types of errors tend to cancel each other, significant differences are still found between the three CRFs, which indicates that the ice particle model affects not only optical thickness retrievals but also CRF calculations. In addition to CRF, the effect of the ice particle model on the derivation of seasonal variation of τ from satellite measurements is discussed. It is shown that optical thickness retrievals based on the same MODIS observations, but derived using different assumptions of the ice particle model, can be substantially different. These differences can be divided into two parts. The first-order difference is mainly caused by the differences in the asymmetry factor. The second-order difference is related to seasonal changes in the sampled scattering angles and therefore dependent on the sun-satellite viewing geometry. Because of this second-order difference, the use of different ice particle models may lead to a different understanding of the seasonal variation of τ.
AVATAR Modulo Theories

This paper introduces a new technique for reasoning with quantiﬁers and theories. Traditionally, ﬁrst-order theorem provers (ATPs) are well suited to reasoning with ﬁrst-order problems containing many quantiﬁers and satisﬁability modulo theories (SMT) solvers are well suited to reasoning with ﬁrst-order problems in ground theories such as arithmetic. A recent development in ﬁrst-order theorem proving has been the AVATAR architecture which uses a SAT solver to guide proof search based on a propositional abstraction of the ﬁrst-order clause space. The approach turns a single proof search into a sequence of proof searches on (much) smaller sub-problems. This work extends the AVATAR approach to use an SMT solver in place of a SAT solver, with the effect that the ﬁrst-order solver only needs to consider ground-theory-consistent sub-problems. The new architecture has been implemented using the Vampire theorem prover and Z3 SMT solver. Our experimental results, and the results of recent theorem proving competitions, show that such a combination can be highly effective.
A Study on Impact of macroeconomic variables in the stock market

Stock market is influenced by macroeconomic variable factors. There are lot of empirical studies on the macro-economic variable factors, and how do they impact on the stock market of any economy. These cross-impacts create ripples in stock market, and thereby investor confidence levels are being tested, every now and then. A healthy and flourishing stock market has been considered relevant for national economic growth by channelizing capital toward investors and entrepreneurs. An economy is said to be efficient if it has a good banking and good stock market exhibiting upward trend. Earlier a country was considered strong and efficient if it exhibited a sustained growth of GDP (gross domestic product) and per capita income.
Failure analysis informing intelligent asset management

I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . II DECLARATION STATEMENT. III TABLE OF CONTENTS . IV TABLE OF FIGURES . V TABLE OF EQUATIONS . VI LIST OF TABLES . VI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE . 4 THE CASE FOR ADVANCED PROGNOSTICS AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT (PHM) IN THE POWER SECTOR . 4 A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF PHM TECHNOLOGIES . 9 DATA DRIVEN PROGNOSTICS . 10 FEATURE EXTRACTION . 11 DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSTICS . 12 PHYSICS OF FAILURE PROGNOSTICS . 16 CANARY PROGNOSTICS . 18 FUSION PROGNOSTICS . 19 CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF CM AND PHM IN POWER SYSTEMS . 20 NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS . 20 GENERATING SETS . 21 TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION EQUIPMENT . 22 IMPLEMENTATION OF A PHM INFORMED SMART GRID. 25 INTELLIGENT SENSING SYSTEMS . 25 INTEGRATION OF SMART SENSORS INTO THE SMART GRID ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 29 IMPROVING THE OVERALL OPERATION OF THE GRID USING INTELLIGENT ASSET MANAGEMENT . 32 CHAPTER 3: THEORY AND CONSTRUCTION OF RELAYS . 35
Determinants of Morphologic Cardiac Adaptation in Elite Athletes: The Role of Athletic Training and Constitutional Factors

Endurance sports lead to physiological enlargement of the heart and to an increase in wall thickness, depending on the kind of endurance sport and on the intensity and extent of training. The adaptation of the heart is modified by several factors. Antropometric parameters (height, body composition), sex and genetic traits are potential mechanism.
CUSTOMER VALUE PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN A CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT

in English iii ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH Consumer opinion plays an increasing role in the success of new products and the technologies behind them. Consumers demand full and transparent information, and will not buy products they associate with negative attributes. These negative inferences can be avoided through a number of ways, with increasing level of interference with consumer decision-making. In this respect, a major issue needs to be addressed: is the shifting of attention from technologies to the resulting new products, and the provision of information about the postulated benefits of those products a way to create positive consumer perceptions, thereby enhance positive consumer reaction? Besides technology-oriented knowledge enhancement and its ambiguous effects, a way forward with regards to new product acceptance would be their backing up with information about the gains and losses customers should expect from the purchasing and mere use of the new products. The trade-off between these perceived gains and losses defines the concept of (perceived) ‘customer value’. In this respect, Customer Value becomes an essential selling proposition for the successful marketing of new products. The current thesis addresses the general issue of consumer perceptions of values and costs towards, and overall acceptance of new products resulting from emerging technologies, the way customer value associated with the new products develops, and how customer value can generate a range of positive customer-product relational and behavioural outcomes that define the acceptance of the products by the market. Accordingly, the aim of this thesis is two-fold: first, to study the topic of market acceptance of new products resulting from emerging technologies
Language: On the Phenomenology of Linguistic Experience in Schizophrenia (Ancillary Article to EAWE Domain 4)

Anomalies of language use and comprehension are common in schizophrenia. However, they are typically studied only from a diagnostic or behavioral perspective and viewed simply as deficits or disruptions of normal functioning. Such approaches ignore what it is like to experience language, and thus are at risk of missing aspects of these linguistic anomalies that may be crucial for understanding them. The Examination of Anomalous World Experience (EAWE) provides one way to inquire into the experiential changes related to and underlying these disturbances. This paper offers a summary of a number of theoretical and clinical works that informed the development of EAWE Domain 4, Language, to better contextualize and elaborate on the items that make up this domain. The forms of anomalous linguistic experience included in the EAWE can be generally classified into four groups: (1) Diminished interpersonal orientation, (2) Dissociation between language and experience, (3) Shifts of attention and context-relevance, and (4) Unusual attitudes toward language. We suggest that these kinds of experiential changes indicate a far richer and more complex relationship to language than that suggested by standard deficit models and theories. We hope that by considering and inquiring about the subjective experience of language, researchers and clinicians may develop a greater awareness of and appreciation for the variety of language-related experiences in schizophrenia.
Initiation of protein synthesis by internal entry of ribosomes into the 5' nontranslated region of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA in vivo

Expression vectors that yield mono-, di-, and tricistronic mRNAs upon transfection of COS-1 cells were used to assess the influence of the 5' nontranslated regions (5'NTRs) on translation of reporter genes. A segment of the 5'NTR of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) allowed translation of an adjacent downstream reporter gene (CAT) regardless of its position in the mRNAs. A deletion in the EMCV 5'NTR abolishes this effect. Poliovirus infection completely inhibits translation of the first cistron of a dicistronic mRNA that is preceded by the capped globin 5'NTR, whereas the second cistron preceded by the EMCV 5'NTR is still translated. We conclude that the EMCV 5'NTR contains an internal ribosomal entry site that allows cap-independent initiation of translation. mRNA containing the adenovirus tripartite leader is also resistant to inhibition of translation by poliovirus.
A metapopulation model for the introgression from genetically modified plants into their wild relatives

Most models on introgression from genetically modified (GM) plants have focused on small spatial scales, modelling gene flow from a field containing GM plants into a single adjacent population of a wild relative. Here, we present a model to study the effect of introgression from multiple plantations into the whole metapopulation of the wild relative. The most important result of the model is that even very low levels of introgression and selection can lead to a high probability that the transgene goes to fixation in the metapopulation. Furthermore, the overall frequency of the transgene in the metapopulation, after a certain number of generations of introgression, depends on the population dynamics. If there is a high rate of migration or a high rate of population turnover, the overall transgene frequency is much higher than with lower rates. However, under an island model of population structure, this increased frequency has only a very small effect on the probability of fixation of the transgene. Considering these results, studies on the potential ecological risks of introgression from GM plants should look not only at the rate of introgression and selection acting on the transgene, but also at the metapopulation dynamics of the wild relative.
Update on antifungals targeted to the cell wall: focus on β-1,3-glucan synthase inhibitors

Currently available antifungal drugs for serious infections are either fungistatic and vulnerable to resistance (azoles) or fungicidal but toxic to the host (polyenes). Cell wall-acting antifungals are inherently selective and fungicidal, features that make them particularly attractive for clinical development. Three classes of such compounds, targeted respectively to chitin synthase (nikkomycins), β-1,3-glucan synthase (echinocandins) and mannoproteins (pradimicins/benanomicins), have entered clinical development. While nikkomycins and pradimicins/benanomicins are no longer in development, echinocandins have emerged as potentially clinically useful and three compounds, caspofungin (MK-991, L-743,872), micafungin (FK-463) and anidulafungin (LY-303366) are in late clinical development (Phase II and III).
Bayesian Regression Tree Models for Causal Inference: Regularization, Confounding, and Heterogeneous Effects

This paper presents a novel nonlinear regression model for estimating heterogeneous treatment effects from observational data, geared specifically towards situations with small effect sizes, heterogeneous effects, and strong confounding. Standard nonlinear regression models, which may work quite well for prediction, have two notable weaknesses when used to estimate heterogeneous treatment effects. First, they can yield badly biased estimates of treatment effects when fit to data with strong confounding. The Bayesian causal forest model presented in this paper avoids this problem by directly incorporating an estimate of the propensity function in the specification of the response model, implicitly inducing a covariate-dependent prior on the regression function. Second, standard approaches to response surface modeling do not provide adequate control over the strength of regularization over effect heterogeneity. The Bayesian causal forest model permits treatment effect heterogeneity to be regularized separately from the prognostic effect of control variables, making it possible to informatively "shrink to homogeneity". We illustrate these benefits via the reanalysis of an observational study assessing the causal effects of smoking on medical expenditures as well as extensive simulation studies.
Different gap waveguide slot array configurations for mmwave fixed beam antenna application

In this work, we present several gap waveguide planar array antennas for millimeter wave point to point communication systems. The antennas are designed using groove gap waveguide, ridge gap waveguide and inverted microstrip gap waveguide technology. All these three antenna designs are based on the cavity-backed slots as the core radiating elements. There exists a coupling slot in the cavity layer which allows the excitation of the radiating slot elements using three different types of feeding waveguide section. The designed three antennas have 16×16 radiating slot elements and these antennas operate over 15% relative bandwidth from 57-66GHz frequency range with -13 dB reflection coefficient. The simulated directivity for these slot arrays are about 33.3 dBi at the center of the band.
Comparative study of centimetric and millimetric propagation channels in indoor environments

Accurate characterization of multipath channels at millimeter wave bands has gained significant interest both from industry and academia. An understanding of frequency dependence of channel characteristics is important. A channel measurement campaign was conducted in an indoor environment at three different frequency bands, i.e. 2-4 GHz, 14-16 GHz and 28-30 GHz, respectively. Two representative scenarios, i.e. a line-of-sight (LOS) and an obstructed-LOS (O-LOS) were considered during the measurement. Multipath characteristics at different frequency bands are compared. Furthermore, 3-D Ray tracing (RT) model is used to compare with the measurement results, and an excellent agreement is achieved.
A Sperm Membrane Protein That Binds in a Species-specific Manner to the Egg Extracellular Matrix Is Homologous to von Willebrand Factor (*)

We have purified a sperm membrane protein, designated zonadhesin, that binds in a species-specific manner to the extracellular matrix (zona pellucida) of the egg, and cloned its cDNA. The cDNA encodes a novel protein with a single transmembrane segment separating a 36 amino acid, highly basic intracellular C terminus from a 2418-amino acid extracellular region. The extracellular sequence specifies a mosaic protein comprising a unique N-terminal domain, a mucin-like domain, and five tandem domains proximal to the membrane that are homologous to prepro von Willebrand factor. The N-terminal and mucin-like domains were absent from zonadhesin that bound to the egg extracellular matrix, suggesting that processing occurs during sperm maturation and/or capacitation. By Northern blotting and in situ hybridization, zonadhesin mRNA was detected only within the testis, where it was expressed primarily in haploid spermatids. The unique domain structure of zonadhesin suggests multiple functions, one of which is to mediate sperm adhesion to the zona pellucida.
Inferenz von Kreuzungsinformationen aus Flottendaten

Kunftige Fahrerassistenzsysteme und hochautomatisierte Fahrfunktionen basieren auf digitalen Karten. Um den hohen Anforderungen an die Korrektheit und Aktualitat der enthaltenen Informationen gerecht zu werden, stellt die vorliegende Arbeit neuartige automatisierte Verfahren zur Extraktion aktueller Karteninformationen aus Flottendaten vor. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf der Inferenz von statischen Kreuzungsinformationen mittels maschinellen Lernens und statistischer Verfahren.
HUBUNGAN ANTARA ISO 14001, ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE DAN ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURE TERHADAP ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

This research purposed to determine the relationship between ISO 14001, environmental performance and environmental disclosure to economic performance. Environmental performance is measured using the Performance Rating in Environmental Management (PROPER) are disclosed in the annual report and the company's economic performance is measured using the Return On Asset (ROA). Sampling method with purposive sampling to obtain samples of 15 companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange 2011-2013. Methods of data analysis in this study is the Spearman rank correlation and contingency coefficient C. The results showed that: 1) ISO 14001 has no significant positive relationship to economic performance (ROA). 2) environmental performance (PROPER) has a significant positive relationship to economic performance (ROA). 3) environmental disclosure has a significant positive relationship to economic performance (ROA). Keywords: ISO 14001, environmental performance, environmental disclosure, economic performance
Autologous Cardiomyocyte Transplantation in an Ovine Myocardial Infarction Model

Background To evaluate the possibility of autologous cardiomyocyte transplantation, we transplanted cultured autologous cells into an infarct region developed by coronary artery ligation in an ovine model. Materials and Methods A chronic heart failure model with a considerable portion of myocardial infarction was created in sheep using sequential ligation of the homonymous artery and its diagonal branch. Autologous cardiomyocytes were cultured and isolated from the right ventricular infundibulum. After a predetermined interval (one animal for two months and the other for three months), the two animals were reanesthetized and a suspension of cultured autologous vetricular cells in 0.3 ml of culture medium (1.2 × 107 cells) was injected into the center of three out of the four sites in the infarcted area using a tuberculin syringe. The same amount of culture medium was injected with an identical procedure into the center of the remaining site, as control. The animals were kept alive for a further month, and then sacrificed for postmortem heart examinations. Light microscopic analysis and immunohistochemical study for myoglobin were done. Results and Conclusions On postmortem gross examination, well-demarcated thin-walled anteroseptal infarcts with chamber enlargement were clearly seen in specimens from the two animals. Microscopic analysis showed homogenous fibrosis throughout the infarcted areas. In both animals, one of the three sites of cardiomycyte injection showed an islet of cardiomyocytes in the mid-myocardium, while none were observed in the control site of either animal. A layer of cardiomyocytes was observed in subendocardial regions, as it was in the control areas. In conclusion, cardiomyocyte transplantation into the infarct regions developed by coronary artery ligation in an ovine model was achieved with only limited success. An understanding of why only 33% of cardiomyocyte-injection sites demonstrated viable cardiomyocytes, in the form of tiny cell islets, remains to be elucidated.
CEO dominance, family control and modified audit opinions in Hong Kong

This study using Hong Kong data examines the linkages between CEO dominance (CEO and Chairman is the same individual), family ownership and control, and the likelihood that firms receive modified audit opinions. Logistic regression results using a matched pair design of 89 firm-years with modified audit opinions for 1997 to 1999 and 89 firm-years with unqualified audit opinions (control sample), show that family controlled firms are less likely to receive modified audit opinions than non-family controlled firms, and the positive association between CEO dominance and modified audit opinions is evident only for non-family controlled firms. This suggests that the abuse of power arising from CEO dominance may be mitigated by the presence of family ownership and control.
The Future of YOUR Education: Using Positive Psychology for Career Planning

Career uncertainty has been cited as a major factor impacting academic success and persistence in post-secondary studies [1]. Traditionally, career planning has focused on uncovering personal preferences and interests, often drawing from personality indicators, interest inventories and aptitude testing. However, research has indicated that individuals who select careers that are aligned with their personal values tend to experience greater life satisfaction [2], career satisfaction [3], happiness [4] and work productivity [5]. This paper will outline several ways that Positive Psychology approaches can be used in secondary and post-secondary settings to enhance the career planning process. These approaches include using interview strategies that draw out themes of optimism, hope, love of learning, justice, enthusiasm and persistence to support students to consider their career choice within the greater context of their identity. Identification of signature strengths using the Values in Action survey (VIA-IS) [6] will be discussed and the authors will outline how this measure is being compared with results of traditional career interest inventories. Initial results from a quantitative study will be presented along with case illustrations of positive psychology career practices. Finally, recommendations for enhancing values that are correlated with academic success in the postsecondary context will be provided. It is our hope that these interventions will make significant contributions to the future success of our students.
Sulphated compounds attenuate β-amyloid toxicity by inhibiting its association with cells

Agents that interfere with the toxic effects of β-amyloid protein may be therapeutically useful against Alzheimer's disease. We reported recently that several sulphated glycosaminoglycans and sulphonated dyes attenuate the toxic effects of β-amyloid fragments β25-35 and β1-40 in two clonal cell lines. We now demonstrate that this protective effect is due to interference with β-amyloid cell association rather than effects on β-amyloid structure. Using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbance assay to detect cell-associated β1-40, we found in a range of compounds a strong correlation between inhibition of HeLa cell association of β1-40 and attenuation of cellular toxicity as measured by inhibition of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction. In contrast, effects on peptide structure, as measured by Congo red binding, were generally inconsistent with the attenuating effects of the compounds on cellular toxicity. These results suggest that by binding β-amyloid these agents prevent its interaction with cells.