Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Monsoon Evolution and Its Linkages with Soil Moisture

The evolution of plateau monsoons is essential to synoptic climatology processes over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Based on ERA-Interim Reanalysis data covering 1979–2014 from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), we propose a new plateau monsoon index (ZPMI) that can effectively reflect the evolution of monsoons and compare this new index with the existing Plateau Monsoon Indices (PMI), i.e., the Traditional Plateau Monsoon Index (TPMI), the Dynamic Plateau Monsoon Index (DPMI), and the PMI proposed by Qi et al. (QPMI). The results show that the onset and retreat of plateau monsoons determined by the TPMI are approximately 1–2 months earlier than those of the ZPMI and DPMI and that the ZPMI can better reflect seasonal and inter-annual variations in precipitation over the plateau. The plateau summer and winter monsoons have similar inter-annual and inter-decadal variation characteristics and show a rising trend, but the increasing trend of the summer monsoon is more significant. The ZPMI is also capable of effectively reflecting meteorological elements. In stronger plateau summer monsoon years, more (less) precipitation and a higher (lower) air temperature appear over the eastern and central (western) plateau. The ZPMI and soil moisture in April and May are used to explore the influence of soil moisture on plateau monsoons, and a significant correlation is found between the plateau soil moisture in the spring (April–May) and plateau summer monsoons. It is found that when the soil moisture over the central and eastern plateau is higher (lower) than normal (while the soil moisture over the western plateau is lower (higher)), the plateau summer monsoon may be stronger (weaker).
Immune‐related mechanisms participating in resistance and susceptibility to glutamate toxicity

Glutamate is an essential neurotransmitter in the CNS. However, at abnormally high concentrations it becomes cytotoxic. Recent studies in our laboratory showed that glutamate evokes T cell‐mediated protective mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to examine the nature of the glutamate receptors and signalling pathways that participate in immune protection against glutamate toxicity. We show, using the mouse visual system, that glutamate‐induced toxicity is strain dependent, not only with respect to the amount of neuronal loss it causes, but also in the pathways it activates. In strains that are genetically endowed with the ability to manifest a T cell‐dependent neuroprotective response to glutamate insult, neuronal losses due to glutamate toxicity were relatively small, and treatment with NMDA‐receptor antagonist worsened the outcome of exposure to glutamate. In contrast, in mice devoid of T cell‐dependent endogenous protection, NMDA receptor antagonist reduced the glutamate‐induced neuronal loss. In all strains, blockage of the AMPA/KA receptor was beneficial. Pharmacological (with α2‐adrenoceptor agonist) or molecular intervention (using either mice overexpressing Bcl‐2, or DAP‐kinase knockout mice) protected retinal ganglion cells from glutamate toxicity but not from the toxicity of NMDA. The results suggest that glutamate‐induced neuronal toxicity involves multiple glutamate receptors, the types and relative contributions of which, vary among strains. We suggest that a multifactorial protection, based on an immune mechanism independent of the specific pathway through which glutamate exerts its toxicity, is likely to be a safer, more comprehensive, and hence more effective strategy for neuroprotection. It might suggest that, because of individual differences, the pharmacological use of NMDA‐antagonist for neuroprotective purposes might have an adverse effect, even if the affinity is low.
Consumer ethnocentrism and attitudes toward domestic and foreign products

Investigates the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and consumer attitudes toward foreign manufactured products in product categories in which domestic alternatives are not available. Such decision situations (i.e. product choice in categories with no domestic alternative) are common for consumers in many smaller countries throughout Europe, and thus important for marketing managers to understand. It was hypothesised that individuals with high levels of consumer ethnocentrism would have more favourable attitudes toward products from culturally similar countries in comparison to products from culturally dissimilar countries. The values classification of culture proposed by Schwartz was used to establish cultural similarity, and the attitudes of a representative sample of New Zealand consumers were assessed using a nation‐wide mail survey. Our results suggest that cultural similarity is an important consideration for highly ethnocentric consumers in the evaluation of foreign products. A number of theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Modulation of corticospinal activity by strong emotions evoked by pictures and classical music: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation and skin conductance responses, we sought to clarify if, and to what extent, emotional experiences of different valences and intensity activate the hand–motor system and the associated corticospinal tract. For that purpose, we applied a newly developed method to evoke strong emotional experiences by the simultaneous presentation of musical and pictorial stimuli of congruent emotional valence. We uncovered enhanced motor-evoked potentials, irrespective of valence, during the simultaneous presentation of emotional music and picture stimuli (Combined conditions) compared with the single presentation of the two modalities (Picture/Music conditions). In contrast, vegetative arousal was enhanced during both the Combined and Music conditions, compared with the Picture conditions, again irrespective of emotional valence. These findings strongly indicate that arousal is a necessary, but not sufficient, prerequisite for triggering the motor system of the brain. We offer a potential explanation for this discrepant, but intriguing, finding in the paper.
A Sequential, Implicit, Wavelet-Based Solver for Multi-Scale Time-Dependent Partial Differential Equations

This paper describes and tests a wavelet-based implicit numerical method for solving partial differential equations. Intended for problems with localized small-scale interactions, the method exploits the form of the wavelet decomposition to divide the implicit system created by the time-discretization into multiple smaller systems that can be solved sequentially. Included is a test on a basic non-linear problem, with both the results of the test, and the time required to calculate them, compared with control results based on a single system with fine resolution. The method is then tested on a non-trivial problem, its computational time and accuracy checked against control results. In both tests, it was found that the method requires less computational expense than the control. Furthermore, the method showed convergence towards the fine resolution control results.
Machiavellianism: Dimensionality of the Mach IV and its Relation to Self-Monitoring in a Spanish Sample

The aim of this study was to assess the measurement model of a Spanish version of the Mach IV Scale (Christie, 1970b), used to measure Machiavellianism, and its relation with the Self-Monitoring Scale (Snyder & Gangestad, 1986). 346 undergraduate students (70 males and 276 females) filled in both scales. The results of confirmatory factor analyses showed a four-factor structure to be the most adequate model for the Mach IV, with the following factors: Positive Interpersonal Tactics, Negative Tactics, Positive View of Human Nature, and Cynical View of Human Nature. These results are not in accordance with the original factor structure but are consistent with other authors' findings. A structural model between Machiavellianism and self-monitoring was tested, showing statistically significant paths between interpersonal tactics and one self-monitoring subscale. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el modelo de medida de una versión española de la escala Mach IV (Christie, 1970b), utilizada para medir el maquiavelismo, y su relación con la escala de Auto-observación (Snyder & Gangestad, 1986). 346 estudiantes universitarios (70 hombres y 276 mujeres) completaron ambas escalas. Los resultados de los análisis factoriales confirmatorios realizados mostraron que, para el Mach IV, el modelo más adecuado era una estructura de cuatro factores: Tácticas Interpersonales Positivas, Tácticas Interpersonales Negativas, Visión Positiva de la Naturaleza Humana y Visión Cínica de la Naturaleza Humana. Estos resultados difieren de la estructura factorial original, pero son congruentes con las aportaciones de otros autores. Se sometió a prueba un modelo estructural entre maquiavelismo y auto-observación, encontrando relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre tácticas interpersonales y una subescala de auto-observación.
Interstellar Dust Models Consistent with Extinction, Emission, and Abundance Constraints

We present new interstellar dust models that have been derived by simultaneously fitting the far-ultraviolet to near-infrared extinction, the diffuse infrared (IR) emission and, unlike previous models, the elemental abundance constraints on the dust for different interstellar medium abundances, including solar, F and G star, and B star abundances. The fitting problem is a typical ill-posed inversion problem, in which the grain size distribution is the unknown, which we solve by using the method of regularization. The dust model contains various components: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), bare silicate, graphite, and amorphous carbon particles, as well as composite particles containing silicate, organic refractory material, water ice, and voids. The optical properties of these components were calculated using physical optical constants. As a special case, we reproduce the Li & Draine results; however, their model requires an excessive amount of silicon, magnesium, and iron to be locked up in dust: about 50 ppm (atoms per million of H atoms), significantly more than the upper limit imposed by solar abundances of these elements, about 34, 35, and 28 ppm, respectively. A major conclusion of this paper is that there is no unique interstellar dust model that simultaneously fits the observed extinction, diffuse IR emission, and abundance constraints. We find several classes of acceptable interstellar dust models that comply with these constraints. The first class is identical in composition to the Li & Draine model, consisting of PAHs, bare graphite and silicate grains, but with a different size distribution that is optimized to comply with the abundance constraints. The second class of models contains in addition to PAHs bare graphite and silicate grains also composite particles. Other classes contain amorphous carbon instead of graphite particles, or no carbon at all, except for that in PAHs. All classes are consistent with solar and F and G star abundances but have greater difficulty fitting the B star carbon abundance, which is better fitted with the latter (no carbon) models. Additional observational constraints, such as the interstellar polarization, or X-ray scattering may be able to discriminate between the various interstellar dust models.
Self-healing concrete with a microencapsulated healing agent

We have developed a concrete material exhibiting self-healing properties and corrosion inhibition. This system involves a sodium silicate solution stored in polyurethane microcapsules present in the concrete matrix. The sodium silicate, released when the capsules are ruptured by propagating cracks, reacts with the calcium hydroxide in cement and produces a C-S-H gel that partially heals the cracks. Compressive strength is unaffected by the presence of capsules. Samples are stressed to the point of incipient failure in a three-point bend system, and retested after one week. The load at failure in the capsule-containing samples is 26% of the original value, while the samples without capsules displayed a recovery of 10%. The capsule-containing samples displayed ductility, in contrast to brittle failure in the control samples. They also show a significant reduction in corrosion. The flexural strength recovery, the improved toughness and the attenuation of corrosion make it a promising material for construction.
Mind over Matter: Exploring the Power of a Positive Body Image

This dissertation examines positive body image and its relationship with appearance-related commentary, body weight, and impression formation among young adult women. It explores how women’s unique individual experiences are constructed within social interactions. The present dissertation examined weight using a dynamic approach weight trajectory (i.e., whether someone is gaining, losing, or maintaining weight). In study 1, body appreciation and a body image coping strategy (i.e., positive rational acceptance coping), which are characteristics associated with positive body image, were tested as mediators in the relationship between the frequency of positive appearance-related commentary and the effect elicited from those compliments. Only body appreciation produced indirect effects, as the frequency of appearance compliments only impacted the effect felt from those comments through body appreciation as the processing mechanism. In study 2, women were interviewed about their body image experiences with appearance-related commentary at differing weight trajectories. Women described how their body image was influential in filtering appearance-related commentary both while a higher and lower body weight. A more positive mindset (e.g., body acceptance), rather than weight loss, fostered positive effects from positive appearance-related commentary. Study 3 determined whether information provided about a female target’s weight trajectory and/or body image altered the participants’ impression of that target. The target described as on a weight loss trajectory compared to a weight gain trajectory was rated more favourably on certain personality and physical characteristics. Further, the target described as having a positive body image (including high self-esteem) compared to a
Increasing Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Recent data show that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence has increased by ∼10–100% in several race/ethnicity groups during the past 20 years. A true increase in the prevalence of GDM, aside from its adverse consequences for infants in the newborn period, might also reflect or contribute to the current patterns of increasing diabetes and obesity, especially in the offspring. Therefore, the public health aspects of increasing GDM need more attention. The frequency of GDM usually reflects the frequency of type 2 diabetes in the underlying population (1,2). Established risk factors for GDM are advanced maternal age, obesity, and family history of diabetes (3). Unquestionably, there are ethnic differences in the prevalence of GDM (4–15). In the U.S., Native Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and African-American women are at higher risk for GDM than non-Hispanic white women (4–6,8–11,13–15). In Australia, GDM prevalence was found to be higher in women whose country of birth was China or India than in women whose country of birth was in Europe or Northern Africa (7). GDM prevalence was also higher in Aboriginal women than in non-Aboriginal women (12). In Europe, GDM has been found to be more common among Asian women than among European women (16). The proportion of pregnancies complicated by GDM in Asian countries has been reported to be lower than the proportion observed in Asian women living in other continents (17). In India, GDM has been found to be more common in women living in urban areas than in women living in rural areas (18). The trend toward older maternal age (19), the epidemic of obesity (20) and diabetes (21), and the decrease in physical activity (22) and the adoption of modern lifestyles in developing countries (23) may all …
Light-induced termination of spiral wave arrhythmias by optogenetic engineering of atrial cardiomyocytes.

AIMS Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and often involves reentrant electrical activation (e.g. spiral waves). Drug therapy for AF can have serious side effects including proarrhythmia, while electrical shock therapy is associated with discomfort and tissue damage. Hypothetically, forced expression and subsequent activation of light-gated cation channels in cardiomyocytes might deliver a depolarizing force sufficient for defibrillation, thereby circumventing the aforementioned drawbacks. We therefore investigated the feasibility of light-induced spiral wave termination through cardiac optogenetics. METHODS AND RESULTS Neonatal rat atrial cardiomyocyte monolayers were transduced with lentiviral vectors encoding light-activated Ca(2+)-translocating channelrhodopsin (CatCh; LV.CatCh∼eYFP↑) or eYFP (LV.eYFP↑) as control, and burst-paced to induce spiral waves rotating around functional cores. Effects of CatCh activation on reentry were investigated by optical and multi-electrode array (MEA) mapping. Western blot analyses and immunocytology confirmed transgene expression. Brief blue light pulses (10 ms/470 nm) triggered action potentials only in LV.CatCh∼eYFP↑-transduced cultures, confirming functional CatCh-mediated current. Prolonged light pulses (500 ms) resulted in reentry termination in 100% of LV.CatCh∼eYFP↑-transduced cultures (n = 31) vs. 0% of LV.eYFP↑-transduced cultures (n = 11). Here, CatCh activation caused uniform depolarization, thereby decreasing overall excitability (MEA peak-to-peak amplitude decreased 251.3 ± 217.1 vs. 9.2 ± 9.5 μV in controls). Consequently, functional coresize increased and phase singularities (PSs) drifted, leading to reentry termination by PS-PS or PS-boundary collisions. CONCLUSION This study shows that spiral waves in atrial cardiomyocyte monolayers can be terminated effectively by a light-induced depolarizing current, produced by the arrhythmogenic substrate itself, upon optogenetic engineering. These results provide proof-of-concept for shockless defibrillation.
Service-Learning: Implications for the Academic, Personal, and Professional Development of Criminal Justice Majors

Abstract An exploratory senior and alumni survey was administered to better assess the experiential learning opportunities, including Service-Learning, offered to students in a criminal justice department. This article highlights the academic, personal and professional development of students, based on the perception of criminal justice majors in the department who completed a Service-Learning course. Educators continue to assess the academic outcomes for students and the benefits to the community. What may be less appreciated is how Service-Learning can also benefit students in their professional skills development. This article illustrates these potential benefits, and also discusses why Service-Learning courses are a critical part of development for criminal justice majors.
APT: Arabic Part-of-speech Tagger

Arabic is the language of mil lions of people all over the world, yet a publicly available grammatically tagged corpus of Arabic still does not exist. In this paper, I describe some of the initial findings in the development of a n Arabic part-of-speech tagger. For this tagger I have compiled a tagset containing 131 tags that is derived from traditional Arabic grammatical theory. I have used this tagger to manually tag a corpus and I have extracted a lexicon from this corpus. Because Arabic is a morphologically complex language, some preprocessing is necessary before automatic tagging can take place. The results I have obtained so far highlight some of the characteristics of the Arabic language that need to be addressed to improve tagging.
Long-term spectral changes in the partial-covering candidate narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0707¿495

We compare two XMM-Newton observations of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0707–495 separated by two years, and discuss the results in terms of the partialcovering phenomenon. The second longer observation once again displays a sharp (< 200 eV) spectral drop above 7 keV; however, in comparison to the first observation, the edge depth and energy have changed significantly. In addition to changes in the edge parameters, the high-energy spectrum appears steeper. The changes in the highenergy continuum can be adequately explained in terms of a partial-covering absorber outflowing from the central region. The low-energy spectrum also shows significant long-term spectral variability, including: a substantial increase in the disc temperature; detection of a � 0.9 keV emission feature; and the presence of warm absorption that was also detected during the ASCA mission, but not seen during the first XMMNewton observation. The large increase in disc temperature, and more modest rise in luminosity, can be understood if we consider the slim-disc model for 1H 0707–495. In addition, the higher disc luminosity could be the driving force behind the outflow scenario and the re-appearance of a warm medium during the second XMM-Newton observation.
Best-evidence based physiotherapy and occupational therapy intervention for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder ( DCD ) : a systematic review

Objective: To systematically review the best-evidence regarding physiotherapy and occupational therapy interventions for children with DCD. Method: Studies published between 1995-2010, describing a systematic review or (randomized-) clinical trial about physiotherapy or occupational therapy intervention for children with DCD or motor impairment (not due to a medical condition) with a test score of at least 1 standard deviation below the mean, were included. Studies were processed in an evidence table. Results: 31 differently titled interventions were investigated. Sensory Integration Therapy is most frequently researched (9). Followed by Perceptual Motor Training (8). Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance and Neuromotor Task Training were both researched in 3 separate studies. Conclusion: The positive effect of physiotherapy and occupational therapy interventions in children with DCD is strongly supported in all available literature. Individualized, functional and specific skill interventions appear to be the most effective.