SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Diagnosing shortwave cryosphere radiative effect and its 21st century evolution in CESM

We incorporate a new diagnostic called the cryosphere radiative effect (CrRE), the instantaneous influence of surface snow and sea ice on the top-of-model solar energy budget, into two released versions of the Community Earth System Model (CESM1 and CCSM4). CrRE offers a more climatically relevant metric of the cryospheric state than snow and sea ice extent and is influenced by factors such as the seasonal cycle of insolation, cloud masking, and vegetation cover. We evaluate CrRE during the late 20th century and over the 21st century, specifically diagnosing the nature of CrRE contributions from terrestrial and marine sources. The radiative influence of ice sheets and glaciers is not considered, but snow on top of them is accounted for. Present-day global CrRE in both models is −3.8 W m−2, with a boreal component (−4.2 to −4.6 W m−2) that compares well with observationally derived estimates (−3.9 to −4.6 W m−2). Similar present-day CrRE in the two model versions results from compensating differences in cloud masking and sea ice extent. Over the 21st century, radiative forcing in the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario causes reduced boreal sea ice cover, austral sea ice cover, and boreal snow cover, which all contribute roughly equally to enhancing global absorbed shortwave radiation by 1.4–1.8 Wm−2. Twenty-first century RCP8.5 global cryospheric albedo feedback are +0.41 and +0.45 W/m2/K, indicating that the two models exhibit similar temperature-normalized CrRE change.
Quantum computing and communications – Introduction and challenges

Computer engineers are continuously seeking new solutions to increase available processing speed, achievable transmission rates, and efficiency in order to satisfy users' expectations. While multi-core systems, computing clouds, and other parallel processing techniques dominate current technology trends, elementary particles governed by quantum mechanics have been borrowed from the physicists' laboratory and applied to computer engineering in the efforts to solve sophisticated computing and communications problems. In this paper, we review the quantum mechanical background of quantum computing from an engineering point of view and describe the possibilities offered by quantum-assisted and quantum-based computing and communications. In addition to the currently available solutions, the corresponding challenges will also be surveyed.
A Predictive Likelihood Approach to Bayesian Averaging

Multivariate time series forecasting is applied in a wide range of economic activities related to regional competitiveness and is the basis of almost all macroeconomic analysis. In this paper we combine multivariate density forecasts of GDP growth, inflation and real interest rates from four various models, two type of Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) models, a New Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model of small open economy and DSGE-VAR model. The performance of models is identified using historical dates including domestic economy and foreign economy, which is represented by countries of the Eurozone. Because forecast accuracy of observed models are different, the weighting scheme based on the predictive likelihood, the trace of past MSE matrix, model ranks are used to combine the models. The equal-weight scheme is used as a simple combination scheme. The results show that optimally combined densities are comparable to the best individual models.
The Preservation of Ancient Arabic Manuscripts: A Reflection on Some Selected Public Repositories in Northern Nigeria

The three repositories covered by this paper, the Arewa House Arabic Manuscript repository, the National Jos Museum Arabic Manuscript Collection, and the Gidan Dan Hausa Arabic Manuscripts Collection in Kano, maintain great collections of ancient Arabic manuscripts on diverse subjects. The repositories are in jeopardy due to poor storage systems, lack of capacity building on the part of the staff, and above all laxity on the part of policy makers. The question of procuring and preserving Nigerian Arabic manuscripts for proper utilization by researchers has been a major source of concern to both Nigerian and foreign scholars in the last fifty years or so. Although a lot of progress has been made in this regard since the pioneering days of Professors Abdullahi Smith, K. O. Dike, Murray Last, and others, the three Arabic manuscript repositories covered by this study continue to function in bad conditions, ranging from a lack of paper conservation supplies, poor storage systems, and a complete absence of digitization equipment for proper archiving. However, there is now a defi nite consensus among researchers and other stakeholders in this field on the urgency of the matter and, happily, a decisive change of attitude towards the fate of the Arabic / Ajami Manuscripts in most of the repositories of northern Nigeria. A spate of conferences and workshops were organized in quick succession in the last two years and an impressive number of research publications were presented for serious discussions on virtually all aspects of the problems facing the Arabic manuscripts repositories.
Extrinsic and intrinsic controls on mouth bar and mouth bar complex architecture: Examples from the Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous) of the central Appalachian Basin, Kentucky, USA

A fundamental architectural element of deltas is the mouth bar. Although process-based facies models have been developed to reconstruct the influence of different external controls on mouth bar geomorphology, depositional architecture, and grain-size distribution, few studies have documented the internal architecture of ancient mouth bars and mouth bar complexes, in order to analyze extrinsic and intrinsic controls on these parameters. Two exceptionally well-exposed ancient examples show that the increasing influence of inertial forces in friction-dominated mouth bars results in increasing deposition from gravity flows (hyperpycnites and turbidites), with increasing bypass of the mouth bar foreset and deposition in a detached frontal lobe on the basin floor ahead of the mouth bar. The increasing influence of inertial forces also results in increased bed length, and the better development of clinothem bottomset beds. Within these friction-dominated mouth bars, following initiation and aggradational-progradational growth, choking results in lateral accretion on the mouth bar flanks, but discharge may not be maintained symmetrically on both flanks. Additionally, “choking” of the feeding distributary can result in its upstream avulsion and abandonment of the mouth bar. This process generates laterally accreted fining-up successions that downlap onto the floor of the receiving basin, contrasting with standard coarsening-up facies successions predicted for mouth bars. Within mouth bar complexes, superposition of individual mouth bars causes gradual shallowing of the water column, reducing gradients in, and increasing confinement of successive mouth bars. Hence, early mouth bars are more strongly influenced by inertia, flows have long runout distances, and they are more likely to develop a succession of detached prodelta turbidite lobes. Later mouth bars are more strongly dominated by friction, and flows have short runout distances, since they are less able to achieve autosuspension. Earlier mouth bars display more “normal” aggradation-progradation, lateral accretion, and retrogradation in an unconfined setting, whereas later mouth bars are more strongly confined and progradational. The two case studies presented here illustrate that upward changes in mouth bar architecture and facies distributions within a mouth bar complex are a predictable product of shallowing and increasing confinement during delta progradation.
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REPAIRABLE PRECAST MOMENT-RESISTING BUILDINGS

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to reinforced concrete moment-resisting buildings with precast beams, precast columns, and replaceable buckling restrained reinforcements. Modular channels and pins or boxes are provided that allow for the replacement and repair of the precast moment-resisting beams and columns. Replaceable buckling restrained reinforcements are used to attach the beams and columns via embedded reinforcements and couplers.
Effect of post-GBE strain on weld decay resistance of grain boundary engineered 304 austenitic stainless steel

AbstractWeld decay, a severe type of intergranular corrosion in the heat affected zone (HAZ), is a common and serious problem during welding of austenitic stainless steels. Grain boundary engineering (GBE) has been attracting attention as an effective method to prevent weld decay. Remarkably high resistance to weld decay has been reported for grain boundary engineered (GBEed) austenitic stainless steels. In practical applications, however, deformation and welding after the GBE process during manufacturing may alter the grain boundary character distribution and the resistance to weld decay. This study examined the effect of strain plus welding on the intergranular corrosion resistance in the weld HAZ of GBEed 304 austenitic stainless steel. The results show that the GBEed steel retained a much higher corrosion resistance than as received and non-GBEed steel during the same strain plus welding process, even though for both steels the corrosion resistance exhibited a gradual decrease with increasing strain.
EUV actinic blank inspection: from prototype to production

The availability of actinic blank inspection is one of the key milestones for EUV lithography on the way to high volume
manufacturing. Placed at the very beginning of the mask manufacturing flow, blank inspection delivers the most critical data set for the judgment of the initial blank quality and final mask performance. From all actinic metrology tools proposed and discussed over the last years, actinic blank inspection (ABI) tool is the first one to reach the pre-production status. In this paper we give an overview of EIDEC-Lasertec ABI program, provide a description of the system and share the most recent performance test results of the tool for 16 nm technology node.
AP301, a synthetic peptide mimicking the lectin-like domain of TNF, enhances amiloride-sensitive Na+ current in primary dog, pig and rat alveolar type II cells

Pulmonary permeability oedema is a frequent complication in a number of life-threatening lung conditions, such as ALI and ARDS. Apart from ventilation strategies, no specific therapy yet exists for treatment of these potentially fatal illnesses. The oedema-reducing capacity of the lectin-like domain of TNF (TIP) and of synthetic peptides, mTIP and hTIP, which mimic the TIP domain of mouse and human TNF, have been demonstrated in various studies in rodents. Cell-based electrophysiological studies have revealed that the alveolar fluid clearing capacity of TNF and the TIP peptides is due to activation of the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) current in alveolar epithelial cells and that the primary site of action is on the apical side of these cells. AP301, a synthetic cyclic peptide mimicking the TIP domain of human TNF is currently undergoing clinical trials as a therapy for pulmonary permeability oedema. AP301 has been shown to improve alveolar liquid clearance and lung function in a porcine model of ALI. For non-clinical regulatory assessment, dog, pig and rat are standard animal models; accordingly, pre-clinical toxicological and pharmacological safety studies have been conducted with AP301 in dogs and rats. Hitherto, no studies have assessed the pharmacodynamic effect of AP301 on primary canine or porcine type II AEC. The current study describes the effect of AP301 on the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) current in type II AEC isolated from dog, pig and rat lungs. In whole cell patch clamp experiments with dog type II AEC, an increase in the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) current from 3.7 pA to 49.4 pA was observed in the presence of AP301; in pig type II AEC, an increase from 10.0 pA to 159.6 pA was observed, and in rat AEC, from 6.9 pA to 62.4 pA. In whole cell patch clamp experiments in A549 cells, AP301-induced enhancement of the amiloride-sensitive current was eliminated when Na(+) in the bath solution was replaced with N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG), and when the cells were pre-incubated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an inhibitor of ENaC, but enhancement was unaffected by addition of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel inhibitors Zn(2+) or l-cis-diltiazem prior to AP301. These results provide strong evidence that AP301 activates the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) current through ENaC in type II AEC from dog, pig and rat. To our knowledge, this is the first cell-based analysis of the oedema-clearing effect of AP301 observed in the porcine model of pulmonary oedema. Furthermore, the results validate the dog and pig models in non-clinical assessment of AP301.
De-Enigma: multi-modal human-robot interaction for teaching and expanding social imagination in autistic children

Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC, frequently defined as ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorders) are neurodevelopmental conditions, characterized by social communication difficulties and restricted and repetitive behaviour patterns. There are over 5 million people with autism in Europe – around 1 in every 100 people, affecting lives of over 20 million people each day. Alongside their difficulties, individuals with ASC tend to have intact and sometimes superior abilities to comprehend and manipulate closed, rule-based, predictable systems, such as robot-based technology.
 
Over the last couple of years, this has led to several attempts to teach emotion recognition and expression to individuals with ASC, using humanoid robots. This has been shown to be very effective as an integral part of the psychoeducational therapy for children with ASC. The main reason for this is that humanoid robots are perceived by children with autism as being more predictable, less complicated, less threatening, and more comfortable to communicate with than humans, with all their complex and frightening subtleties and nuances.
 
The proposed project aims to create and evaluate the effectiveness of such a robot-based technology, directed for children with ASC. This technology will enable to realise robust, context-sensitive (such as user- and culture-specific), multimodal (including facial, bodily, vocal and verbal cues) and naturalistic human-robot interaction (HRI) aimed at enhancing the social imagination skills of children with autism. The proposed will include the design of effective and user-adaptable robot behaviours for the target user group, leading to more personalised and effective therapies than previously realised. Carers will be offered their own supportive environment, including professional information, reports of child’s progress and use of the system and forums for parents and therapists.
Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by lateral DXA scanning may be cost-effective when used as part of fracture liaison services or primary care screening

We identified that use of VFA may be cost-effective in either selected women from primary care or women attending after a low trauma fracture.Lateral DXA scanning of the spine for vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) is used for research, but its wider role is unclear. We aimed to establish whether VFA is cost-effective in women based on two different scenarios: following a low-trauma fracture, and after screening of high-risk women identified in primary care.The fracture cohort (FC) consisted of 377 women and the primary care cohort (PCC) of 251. Vertebral fractures were identified on VFA images by quantitative morphometry (QM). Outcome was cost-effectiveness of VFA, based on predicted change in clinical management defined as the identification of a vertebral fracture in a patient who otherwise falls below the threshold for treatment. FRAX treatment thresholds assessed were (1) 20/3 % thresholds and (2) National Osteoporosis Guidelines Group (NOGG) thresholds.As a result, 9.8 % from FC and 13.9 % from PCC were identified with vertebral fractures. Management was changed in 21 to 22/377 (5.6-5.8 %) in FC and 12 to 26/251 (4.8-10.4 %) from PCC depending on which thresholds were used. Sensitivity analyses identified medication adherence as the assumption which most influenced the model. The best-estimate cost-per-QALY for use of VFA in FC was £3,243 for 20/3 threshold and £2,130 for NOGG; for PCC, this was £7,831 for 20/3 and was cost-saving for NOGG. Further analyses to adjust for potential false-positive vertebral fracture identification with QM showed VFA was no longer cost-effective.VFA appears to be cost-effective in routine clinical practise, particularly when relatively inaccurate methods of identification of vertebral fractures are used such as QM.
Widespread Structural and Functional Connectivity Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Insights from Advanced Neuroimaging Research

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disease principally affecting motor neurons. Besides motor symptoms, a subset of patients develop cognitive disturbances or even frontotemporal dementia (FTD), indicating that ALS may also involve extramotor brain regions. Both neuropathological and neuroimaging findings have provided further insight on the widespread effect of the neurodegeneration on brain connectivity and the underlying neurobiology of motor neurons degeneration. However, associated effects on motor and extramotor brain networks are largely unknown. Particularly, neuropathological findings suggest that ALS not only affects the frontotemporal network but rather is part of a wide clinicopathological spectrum of brain disorders known as TAR-DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathies. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge concerning the neuropsychological and neuropathological sequelae of TDP-43 proteinopathies, with special focus on the neuroimaging findings associated with cognitive change in ALS.
CONTAINERS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF CHEMICALS

Containers used for the distribution of agrichemicals need to be carefully cleaned after use and then must either be disposed of or recycled. In either case, the space occupied by the empty containers presents a problem. The problem is solved by using a collapsible container made from a multi-layer sheet material, resistant to penetration of the chemicals. The sheet material is welded along lines 8, 14 and 16 so as to form a container whose interior has either no corners or corners defining only obtuse angles. This allows the 10 container to be easily cleaned after use. The container is also formed with a gusset (12) at the bottom that allows it to stand upright when filled.
Assessment of dynamic balance via measurement of lower extremities tortuosity

Tortuosity describes how twisted or how much curvature is present in an observed movement or path. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in segmental tortuosity between Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) reach directions. Fifteen healthy participants completed this study. Participants completed the modified three direction (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral) SEBT with three-dimensional motion analysis using an 8 camera BTS Smart 7000DX motion analysis system. The tortuosity of stance limb retro-reflective markers was then calculated and compared between reach directions using a 1 × 3 ANOVA with repeated measures, while the relationship between SEBT performance and tortuosity was established using Pearson product moment correlations. Anterior superior iliac spine tortuosity was significantly greater (p < 0.001) and lateral knee tortuosity was lesser (p = 0.018) in the anterior direction compared to the posteromedial and posterolateral directions. In addition, second metatarsal tortuosity was greater in the anterior reach direction when compared to posteromedial direction (p = 0.024). Tortuosity is a novel biomechanical measurement technique that provides an assessment of segmental movement during common dynamic tasks such as the SEBT. This enhanced level of detail compared to more global measures of joint kinematic may provide insight into compensatory movement strategies adopted following lower extremity joint injury.
PowerPoint: Know Your Medium

To make the most of PowerPoint in professional presentations, presenters need to understand some basic principles that transcend the software. These include a thorough grasp of the message a presenter wants to convey; the backgrounds, interests, and needs of the audience; and the best approaches to fitting the medium of delivery to the content of the material. PowerPoint is a useful tool, but like any tool, whether a stethoscope, a scalpel, or a CT scanner, it can be used well or ill. Using it to its full capabilities requires that we regard it less as a crutch that can compensate for our deficiencies and more as a springboard with which to vault our presentations higher. At its best, PowerPoint can serve us just as brushes and pigments serve an artist, but it can never substitute for a fertile imagination and a discerning eye.
AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR LOW TEMPERATURE CATALYTIC PROCESSES

An air filter assembly for removing particulate contaminants, chemical contaminants, or both, from an incoming dirty air stream. The resulting filtered or clean air is supplied to catalytic equipment, such as a fuel cell. The filter assembly can include a physical filter portion for removing physical and particulate contaminants, a chemical filter portion for removing chemical contaminants, or can have both portions.
Estimation of digraph costs for keyboard layout optimization

Abstract The main aim of this study was to estimate the digraph costs (interkey-stroke times) based on the digraph (two consecutive keys) tapping rates for the optimization of keyboard layouts considering the touch typing principles. The study also investigated the effects of column, row, hand and period on digraph-tapping rate. For the purpose, a laboratory experiment was performed with seven subjects using a conventional keyboard. Digraph-tapping rates of a total of 241 same hand digraphs were recorded for a duration of 2-min. The interkey-stroke times were calculated as the digraph costs for the same hand digraphs using the estimated mean digraph-tapping rates. The different hand digraph costs were calculated based on the same hand digraph costs and the results of a previous study. The results indicated significant column, row, hand and period effect on the digraph-tapping rate. Using the digraph costs and the digraph frequencies of the considered language in a quadratic assignment problem, an optimal touch typing keyboard layout can be developed to satisfy all but one of Dvorak's touch typing criteria. As an application, an optimal keyboard layout, called Turkish I-layout, is developed for Turkish language. The comparison results between I and existing Turkish F and Q layouts showed that the I-layout is superior both according to the results of the optimization and Dvorak's criteria. Relevance to industry Optimal and ergonomic keyboard layouts improve typing performance and reduce the likelihood of upper extremity disorders. The digraph-tapping rates estimated through this study are essential for the development of such layouts.