Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
37. STRONTIUM ISOTOPIC RATIOS AS FLUID TRACERS IN MESSINIAN EVAPORITES OF THE TYRRHENIAN SEA (WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA)1

Strontium isotopic ratios of gypsums recovered from upper Miocene (Messinian) evaporites at ODP Leg 107 Holes 652A, 653B, and 654A (Tyrrhenian Sea) are lower than expected. The values for the Messinian balatino-like gypsum, single gypsum crystals, and anhydrites range from 0.70861 to 0.70886 and are approximately 25 x I0 -5 less than would be expected for evaporites precipitated from Messinian seawater (0.70891-0.70902). Pre-evaporitic planktonic foramini­ fers from Hole 654A show variable degrees of dolomitizatio n and 87Sr/86Sr values that irregularly decrease upward from normal marine values approximately 81m below the lowest evaporite occurrence. This suggests diagenetic altera­ tion by advecting interstitial water with a low 87Sr/86Sr ratio or that the lower Sr isotopic ratios for the Messinian evapo­ rites could have resulted from a greater influence of fresh water on the Sr isotopic composition of the desiccating Tyr­ rhenian Sea. Fluctuations of the 87Sr/86Sr-ratio for evaporites in the sedimentary cycles recognized for Holes 653B and 654A, the generally low Sr isotopic ratio of river water entering the Mediterranean Sea, and the presence of dwarf ma­ rine microfossils suggest that the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of the evaporites responded to hydrologic variations in a very restricted basin with variable rates of marine and fresh water input. The strontium isotopic ratios of the Messinian anhydrites from the proposed lacustrine sequence at Hole 652A fall in the same range as the marine evaporites from Holes 654A and 653B. This suggests a common or similar origin of the brines at the three locations. The complex depositional and hydrologic conditions in the Mediterranean during the Messinian salinity crisis pre­ clude the use of Sr isotopic values from the evaporites for stratigraphic correlation and dating. They are, however, very useful in the interpretation of the depositional history of the basin. General calculations assuming a closed system sug­ gest that the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of Messinian seawater (-0.7090) could be reduced to that of the evaporites (-0.7087) by mixing with fresh water (e.g., Nile River) in times of I0 4 to I0 5 yr.
Spatial Differences in the Demands for Local Public Goods

Differences in the mix of public goods across locations are apparent. Particularly sharp are the differences between public spending habits of central cities and suburbs. For 37 of the largest SMSAs in 1977, the ratio of per capita educational expenditures in central cities to the per capita education expenditures in suburban areas was . 93 and the comparable ratio for per capita noneducational expenditures was 2.01. 1 Relative to suburban areas, central cities have spent more of their revenue on noneducational public goods and less on education. Although these differences have been attributed to various demandand supply-side factors, analysts have placed considerable emphasis on the demand-side determinants of local expenditures. Researchers such as Borcherding and Deacon (1972) have estimated the demands for local public goods by focusing on the consumption behavior of the median voter. The partial equilibrium nature of these earlier models, however, missed the potential interdependencies between the demands for public and private goods. More recently there have been attempts to develop a more complete general equilibrium model of public choice which incorporates the interaction between public and private goods. Perkins (1977) presents a general equilibrium extension of the Borcherding and Deacon framework by testing the cross-price effects between various local public goods. His empirical results strongly suggest that there is substitutability among certain local public
A More Robust Corpus of Büchi Automata

Formal verification is a process that proves computational systems adhere to a specification. The automata-theoretic model uses automata, in our case Büchi automata, to model programs and specify how the programs should behave. A core part of formal verification is to check that the program is contained in its specification. Checking the containment of Büchi automata is PSPACE-complete: in the worst case taking time exponential in the size of the automata. Such terrible worst cases are not always present in practice, so researchers wish to test algorithms on more practical cases. To date, the field has used the Tabakov-Vardi random model of automata as a corpus for experiments. However, the Tabakov-Vardi model produces unstructured automata that thus do not strongly resemble real-world problems. We define 7 new models of random automata, most of which are based on structured graph models from other disciplines. Additionally, we define two properties that a random model should possess to be useful for experiments: texture and stability. We empirically examine the models. Six of the models are textured, and we found promising stability in two models. Acknowledgments Thanks to Dr. Seth Fogarty, my thesis advisor, and Drs. Paul Myers and Matt Hibbs, my thesis committee, for teaching me and giving me feedback. Thanks to my grandparents for providing laundry service and a place to retreat to for good food and conversation. Thanks to Dr. Moshe Vardi and Rice University for allowing me to use the DAVinCI cluster for my research. This work was funded in part by the Data Analysis and Visualization Cyberinfrastructure funded by NSF under grant OCI-0959097, as well as a Murchison Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and a Mach Fellowship.
Motion Control and Stability Improvement of Autonomous Mobile Robots with Suspended Wheels

Mobile manipulators have been given extensive attention in recent years since they have many applications such as materials transport and service for disabled persons. A mobile modular manipulator is normally composed of an m-wheeled mobile platform and an n-degree-of-freedom (DOF) onboard modular manipulator. This combination extends the workspace of the entire robot dramatically. Building up the dynamic model for such kind of robots is a challenging task due to the interactive motions between the manipulator and the mobile platform. Also the vibration control is an important research topic in mobile robots, especially when robots move through rough terrain. As for a mobile manipulator, the trajectory tracking task becomes even more complex and difficult to achieve since the platform and the manipulator move simultaneously. Furthermore, stability is another concerning issue since the probability of tip-over increases due to this kind of mechanical structure. To ensure steady movement of robots on rough terrain, usually suspension systems are installed between the wheels and the platform to absorb the vibration induced by road. Typically, Figs. 1 and 2 show a suspended wheeled robot called Seekur and a suspended manipulator, respectively. Seekur is a large, all-weather robot that can traverse rugged terrain. The suspended mobile manipulator can achieve tasks in the field so that more and more researchers have been devoted to the researches involving this kind of robot. This study focuses on the suspended wheeled mobile robot and deal with the following problems: Firstly, mobile robots with suspension system can absorb vibration induced by rough roads, but due to center-of-gravity (CG) shift and the dynamic of manipulator, the suspended platform is subject to vibration when the robot moves with acceleration. Secondly, trajectory tracking of a mobile platform and a manipulator simultaneously is a challenging work because of its complex nonlinearity and dynamic interaction between the platform and manipulator. Thirdly, when robots move through rough terrain, it is necessary to improve their stability to eliminate external interference that degrades the performance of vision systems. Finally, although teleoperation has been a benefit to remote control, how to generate an intuitive user interface for teleoperation is still a troublesome problem. Fig. 1 Seekur robot.
Pyrosequencing™‐based SNP allele frequency estimation in DNA pools

Association screening involving numerous genetic markers is facilitated by the analysis of pooled DNA samples rather than individual samples. Several genotyping methods have shown high accuracy and precision of allele frequency estimation in pools. Here, we expand the validation of SNP allele frequency estimation in DNA pools using Pyrosequencing™ by analyzing 186 pools for three SNPs representing complex sequencing cases. The correlation coefficient between estimated and true allele frequencies ranged between 0.979 and 0.996 and tended to increase with pool size, whereas the difference between estimated and true allele frequencies was 2.37±0.11%, in post‐PCR pools. The precision was 1.73%. Pool size had no significant effect on accuracy and precision. A comparison between post‐PCR and pre‐PCR pools showed that for pre‐PCR pooling efforts to accurately quantify the genomic DNA samples to be pooled and subsequently amplified are critical. To conclude, Pyrosequencing™ can be used for allele frequency estimation in DNA pools of SNPs with complex sequencing scenarios with accuracy and precision values in ranges comparable with those of other SNP typing techniques. Considering the ease of use, short run and analysis times, and little instrument maintenance requirements, Pyrosequencing™ may even be a preferred option. Hum Mutat 23:92–97, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ocean acidification as one of multiple stressors : growth response of Thalassiosira weissflogii (diatom) under temperature and light stress

Future shifts in phytoplankton composition and productivity are anticipated given that continuing changes are expected in environmental conditions such as temperature, the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and light climate, all of which regulate phytoplankton communities and their physiology through bottom-up control. Culture experiments revealed that future (elevated) pCO2 had no effect on Thalassiosira weissflogii in the absence of environmental stressors, whereas growth rates drastically decreased under future pCO2 when cells were grown under light and temperature stress. Reduction in growth rates and a smaller decline in cellular photosynthesis under high pCO2 were associated with 2to 3-fold increases in the production of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and in the cell quotas of organic carbon, as well as a similar decrease in the C:chl a ratios. Results suggest that under lightand temperature-stressed growth, elevated pCO2 led to increased energy requirements, which were fulfilled by increased light harvesting capabilities that permitted photosynthesis of acclimatized cells to remain relatively high. This was combined with the inability of these cells to acclimatize their growth rate to sub-optimal temperatures. Consequently, growth rate was low and decoupled from photosynthesis, and this decoupling led to large cell sizes and high excretion rates in future pCO2 treatments compared to ambient treatments when growth temperature and light were suboptimal. Under optimal growth conditions, the increased energy demands required to reequilibrate the disturbed acid-base balance in future pCO2 treatments were likely mediated by a variety of physiological acclimatization mechanisms, individually too small to show a statistically detectable response in terms of growth rate, photosynthesis, pigment concentration, or excretion.
Residue Number Systems: Algorithms and Architectures

From the Publisher: "This text is an excellent reference for both professional and academic researchers in the field of VLSI using residue number systems. It is also of interest to those working in the general fields of VLSI design, DSP design, and cryptography. " Residue Number Systems: Algorithms and Architectures is also suitable for a graduate-level course as part of a VLSI curriculum.
Evaluation of WiFi Access Point Switching for Vehicular Communication Using SDN

—The amount of data required by various applications continues to increase due to improved high function terminals. We expect that using Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks will also grow in the future. Networks might become very crowded depending on the places and the times at which people congregate. To reduce network congestion, carriers are ofﬂoading LTE network trafﬁc to WiFi systems. Because the frequency resources of LTE networks are limited, movements that utilize them will increase in the future. When a mobile terminal communicates using a communication system with a narrow coverage area, such as WiFi, the frequency of switching the Access Point (AP) increases compared to using Cellular Networks. Since AP switching frequently occurs, network connections must be made more quickly. Here, the communication disconnection time denotes an efﬁcient switching. Therefore, in this research, we select an AP for connections based on position and speed, both of which are unique to mobile terminals, and utilize the concept of a Software Deﬁned Network (SDN). We propose a method that enables efﬁcient network connections by executing an AP procedure that is connected before the communication is disconnected.
Health Behaviors Among High School Girls

Background: Improving health-related behaviors maintain function and independence and improve the quality of life and reduce health care costs. The characteristics of puberty in girls, their physical and mental conditions during this period, and also their essential role in fertility underline the great importance of health care in adolescent girls. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the health-promoting behaviors in high school students in district 2 of Isfahan. Patients and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 500 high school girl students selected by multi-stage random sampling in district 2 of Isfahan. The data collection was based on standard questionnaire of health promoting behaviors (HPLPII), filled by the participants which was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS win/11. Results: The findings of this study indicated that the total mean score of health promoting behaviors in students was 71.2 ± 21. The highest score gained by the studied population was related to the spiritual growth (19.7 ± 6.1) and the lowest score to physical activity (6.1 ± 4.7). Conclusions: Considering adolescence period as a foundation for the future life and society's health, providing appropriate hygienic, consultation and educational services to adolescents and their families should be emphasized and included in the hygienic schedules of schools.
Recurrent Group B Streptococcal Bacteremia

A 2-month-old male infant presented to the hospital emergency room after suffering an apneic episode at home. Per his mother, the patient had been in a normal state of health until immediately prior to presentation, at which point he had suddenly become irritable and was crying more than usual. As she prepared to breast-feed the patient, she witnessed him cease breathing for almost a minute. He did not turn blue or appear to be choking and spontaneously resumed normal breathing prior to the arrival of emergency medical service. She denied a history of fever or weight loss in the child and stated that the patient had been feeding, urinating, and stooling normally prior to this episode. He had had no signs or symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, no cough, wheezing, apparent shortness of breath, nor prior episodes of apnea or cyanosis at home. The mother also reported no prior difficulties with breast-feeding and no evidence of abnormal nipple discharge, mastitis, or breast infection. The patient’s past medical history was significant for premature birth at 29 weeks gestational age via spontaneous vaginal delivery to a 17-year-old primagravida secondary to preterm labor and possible placental abruption. His mother had received adequate prenatal care and had all negative prenatal labs, with the exception of group B streptococcus (GBS) culture, which was not obtained prior to delivery. Birth weight was appropriate for gestational age (1.465 kg, 73.6 percentile) and Apgar’s were 3, 7, and 8 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively, with the patient being cyanotic and requiring positive pressure ventilation immediately after birth. He was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for higher level of care following delivery, where he remained until 5 days prior to the current presentation. While in the NICU, the patient continued to be fed with the mother’s breast milk. During his NICU hospitalization he suffered from 2 episodes of GBS sepsis, both presenting with signs and symptoms of respiratory distress. The first episode was treated with 14 days of intravenous (IV) antibiotics (vancomycin was used initially and switched to penicillin when sensitivities were obtained). Four days after treatment of the first episode was completed, the patient began to deteriorate clinically and was again found to have blood cultures that were positive for GBS. A central line was placed and the patient completed 16 days of IV penicillin. Two days after completion of this course of antibiotics, the patient was discharged to home from the NICU in good condition, where he had been stable for 5 days prior to his current presentation. The patient was transferred from his home via ambulance to the emergency department where he suffered from several more episodes of apnea and was found to be lethargic and hypothermic. The decision was made to admit the patient to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for evaluation, treatment, and respiratory support.
Head Capsule Width and Instar Determination for Larvae of Streblote panda (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Abstract The moth Streblote panda Hübner (1820) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is an ornamental and fruit plant pest in southwestern Andalusia. Analysis of head capsule width of 387 larvae reared on different host plants (Pistacea lentisco L., Arbutus unedo L., Citrus reticulata Blanco, Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boiss, Spartium junceum L. , Tamarix gallica L. , and Vaccinium spp. ) indicates that growth rate between instars does not fit well to Dyar’s rule. The number of instars varied from 5 to 8. Head capsule width could be used directly to determine developmental stage of individual in almost all host plants used. Only for larvae fed on S. junceum, R. sphaerocarpa, Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Sharpblue’, and Vaccinium ashei Reade ‘Bonita’, beyond third instar, did the range of measurements overlap. These data were analyzed using a combination of statistical methods. A nonlinear least-squares approach was used to determine width means and ranges for each instar, and misclassification probabilities were calculated for each overlapping instar using Z statistics for all head capsule widths. Various factors are discussed to explain the results.
Examining the relationship between poor sleep health and risky driving behaviors among college students

Abstract Objective: Risky driving behaviors, such as texting while driving, are common among young adults and increase risk of traffic accidents and injuries. We examine the relationship between poor sleep and risky driving behaviors among college students as potential targets for traffic injury prevention. Methods: Data for this study were obtained from a cross-sectional survey administered to a college student sample in the United States Midwest (n = 1,305). Sleep was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Risky driving behaviors were measured, including sending texts/emails; reading texts/emails while driving; talking on the phone while driving; falling asleep while driving; and driving under the influence. Risky driving behavior was defined as a response of “just once,” “rarely,” “sometimes,” “fairly often” or “regularly” (reference = “never”). Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between sleep and risky driving, after adjusting for confounders. Results: Among participants, 75% reported sending texts/emails while driving, 82% reported reading texts/emails while driving, and 84% reported phone talking while driving; 20% reported falling asleep while driving; 8% reported driving under the influence; and 62% reported 3 or more risky behaviors. Compared to those reporting no sleep disturbance, those with sleep disturbance “once or twice a week” were more likely to report sending a text/email while driving (aOR: 2.9, 95%CI:1.7-4.9), reading a text/email while driving (aOR:3.1,95%CI:1.5-5.5), talking on the phone while driving (aOR:1.9, 95%CI:1.0-3.4), and falling asleep while driving (aOR:3.4,95%CI:1.5-7.4). Compared to those reporting no daytime dysfunction, those reporting issues “once or twice a week” were more likely to report talking on the phone while driving (aOR:1.7, 95%CI:1.1-2.7) and falling asleep while driving (aOR:3.6,95%CI:2.3-5.6). Conclusions: Future research may consider designing behavioral interventions that aim to improve sleep, reduce drowsy driving among young adults.
HiDDen: Hierarchical Dense Subgraph Detection with Application to Financial Fraud Detection

Dense subgraphs are fundamental patterns in graphs, and dense subgraph detection is often the key step of numerous graph mining applications. Most of the existing methods aim to find a single subgraph with a high density. However, dense subgraphs at different granularities could reveal more intriguing patterns in the underlying graph. In this paper, we propose to hierarchically detect dense subgraphs. The key idea of our method (HiDDen) is to envision the density of subgraphs as a relative measure to its background (i.e., the subgraph at the coarse granularity). Given that the hierarchical dense subgraph detection problem is essentially a nonconvex quadratic programming problem, we propose effective and efficient alternative projected gradient based algorithms to solve it. The experimental evaluations on real graphs demonstrate that (1) our proposed algorithms find subgraphs with an up to 40% higher density in almost every hierarchy; (2) the densities of different hierarchies exhibit a desirable variety across different granularities; (3) our projected gradient descent based algorithm scales linearly w.r. t the number of edges of the input graph; and (4) our methods are able to reveal interesting patterns in the underlying graphs (e.g., synthetic ID in financial fraud