Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinematics and timing of continental block deformation from margins to interiors

During the deformation of continental blocks, the magnitude of tectonic stress generally decreases with increasing distance from the margin of the block. However, the timing and kinematics of stress transmission from the margins to the interiors of continents are poorly resolved, even though this information is critical to our understanding of the dynamics of continental deformation. Here, we present a case study of Mesozoic deformation of the North China Craton (NCC). Field investigations of Mesozoic thrust faults and folds, granitic intrusions and dykes, combined with zircon SHRIMP and LA–ICP–MS dating and muscovite 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages, reveal the age of the NE–SW‐trending tectonic belts as ~180–155 Ma, where the deformation of the craton margin occurred 10–20 Ma earlier than that of the craton's interior. Although the kinematics of deformation are similar for the interior and the margin of the NCC, strain decreases with increasing distance from the margin. Notably, the bulk of the strain in the cratonic interior was focused in zones of pre‐existing weakness. Overall, we determined that the NCC deformed under conditions of uniaxial compression, a conclusion that is compatible with simple rheological models, and that the stress magnitude attained in the cratonic interior was much less than that along its margin.
A Translational Pharmacology Approach to Predicting Outcomes of Preexposure Prophylaxis Against HIV in Men and Women Using Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate With or Without Emtricitabine.

BACKGROUND A novel translational pharmacology investigation was conducted by combining an in vitro efficacy target with mucosal tissue pharmacokinetic (PK) data and mathematical modeling to determine the number of doses required for effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). METHODS A PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) model was developed by measuring mucosal tissue concentrations of tenofovir, emtricitabine, their active metabolites (tenofovir diphosphate [TFVdp] and emtricitabine triphosphate [FTCtp], respectively), and competing endogenous nucleotides (dATP and dCTP) in 47 healthy women. TZM-bl and CD4(+) T cells were used to identify 90% effective concentration (EC90) ratios of TFVdp to dATP and FTCtp to dCTP (alone and in combination) for protection against HIV. Monte-Carlo simulations were then performed to identify minimally effective dosing strategies to protect lower female genital tract and colorectal tissues. RESULTS The colorectal TFVdp concentration was 10 times higher than that in the lower female genital tract, whereas concentrations of endogenous nucleotides were 7-11 times lower. Our model predicted that ≥98% of the population achieved protective mucosal tissue exposure by the third daily dose of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus emtricitabine. However, a minimum adherence to 6 of 7 doses/week (85%) was required to protect lower female genital tract tissue from HIV, while adherence to 2 of 7 doses/week (28%) was required to protect colorectal tissue. CONCLUSIONS This model is predictive of recent PrEP trial results in which 2-3 doses/week was 75%-90% effective in men but ineffective in women. These data provide a novel approach for future PrEP investigations that can optimize clinical trial dosing strategies.
Regulation of Kv4.2 channels by glutamate in cultured hippocampal neurons

Somatodendritic voltage‐dependent K+ currents (Kv4.2) channels mediate transient A‐type K+ currents and play critical roles in controlling neuronal excitability. Accumulating evidence has indicated that Kv4.2 channels are key regulatory components of the signaling pathways that lead to synaptic plasticity. In contrast to the extensive studies of glutamate‐induced AMPA [(±) α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid hydrate] receptors redistribution, less is known about the regulation of Kv4.2 by glutamate. In this study, we report that brief treatment with glutamate rapidly reduced total Kv4.2 levels in cultured hippocampal neurons. The glutamate effect was mimicked by NMDA, but not by AMPA. The effect of glutamate on Kv4.2 was dramatically attenuated by pre‐treatment of NMDA receptors antagonist MK‐801 [(5S,10R)‐(+)‐5‐methyl‐10,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten‐5,10‐imine hydrogen maleate] or removal of extracellular Ca2+. Immunocytochemical analysis showed a loss of Kv4.2 clusters on the neuronal soma and dendrites following glutamate treatment, which was also dependent on the activation of NMDA receptors and the influx of Ca2+. Furthermore, whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings revealed that glutamate caused a hyperpolarized shift in the inactivation curve of A‐type K+ currents, while the activation curve remained unchanged. These results demonstrate a glutamate‐induced alteration of Kv4.2 channels in cultured hippocampal neurons, which might be involved in activity‐dependent changes of neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity.
Early exclusive breastfeeding and maternal attitudes towards infant feeding in a population of new mothers in San Francisco, California.

BACKGROUND Positive parental attitudes towards infant feeding are an important component in child nutritional health. Previous studies have found that participants in the Special Supplemental Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program have lower breastfeeding rates and attitudes that do not contribute towards healthy infant feeding in spite of breastfeeding and nutrition education programs targeting WIC participants. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding in the early postpartum period and maternal attitudes towards breastfeeding in a population of mothers at two San Francisco hospitals and in relation to WIC participation status. METHODS We interviewed women who had recently delivered a healthy newborn using a structured interview. RESULTS A high percentage (79.8%) of our sample was exclusively breastfeeding at 1-4 days postpartum. We did not find any significant differences in rates of formula or mixed feeding by WIC participant status. Independent risk factors for mixed or formula feeding at 1-3 days postpartum included Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity (odds ratio [OR] 2.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-7.19). Being a college graduate was associated with a decreased risk of formula/mixed feeding (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.10-0.79). We also found that thinking breastfeeding was physically painful and uncomfortable was independently associated with not breastfeeding (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06-1.89). CONCLUSIONS Future studies should be conducted with Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to better understand the lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding in this population and should address negative attitudes towards breastfeeding such as the idea that breastfeeding is painful or uncomfortable.
Clinico-Radiologic and Spirometric Profile of an Indian Population with Post-Tuberculous Obstructive Airway Disease.

INTRODUCTION Tuberculosis is a public health problem in developing countries and in spite of receiving adequate anti-tuberculous therapy, patients often continues to have several post-tuberculous sequelae, especially airflow limitation. AIM To evaluate pulmonary function by spirometry among post-tuberculosis cases with airway obstruction and their relationship with smoking. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients who presented to the pulmonary medicine Outpatient Department (OPD) with symptoms of obstructive airway disease and had completed adequate anti-tuberculous therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis were taken up for study. They were initially evaluated with sputum smear for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) and chest X-ray. Patients without evidence of active tuberculosis underwent spirometry and those having post-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1)/ Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) FEV1/FVC<0.7 were taken up for final analysis. Spirometric parameters were compared between smokers and non-smokers. RESULTS Out of 138 finally selected cases, 84.06% were male and 71.01% were within age range of 40-69 years. Significant positive association was found between extent of radiologic lesion and severity of airflow obstruction. Purely obstructive pattern was found in 27.54% cases and 72.46% showed mixed pattern. Patients with mixed ventilatory abnormality had worse pulmonary function and poorer bronchodilator reversibility than patients with pure obstruction. Comparison of post-bronchodilator FEV1, FVC, Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) and Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF) 25-75 between smokers and non-smokers did not show statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION Majority of patients with post-tuberculous obstructive airway disease have associated restrictive component. But smoking did not cause significant alteration in pulmonary function among such patients.
Possible structure in the cosmic ray electron spectrum measured by the ATIC-2 and ATIC-4 experiments

A strong excess in a form of a wide peak in the energy range of 300-800 GeV was discovered in the first measurements of the electron spectrum in the energy range from 20 GeV to 3 TeV by the balloon-borne experiment ATIC (J. Chang et al. Nature, 2008). The experimental data processing and analysis of the electron spectrum with different criteria for selection of electrons, completely independent of the results reported in (J. Chang et al. Nature, 2008) is employed in the present paper. The new independent analysis generally confirms the results of (J. Chang et al. Nature, 2008), but shows that the spectrum in the region of the excess is represented by a number of narrow peaks. The measured spectrum is compared to the spectrum of (J. Chang et al. Nature, 2008) and to the spectrum of the Fermi/LAT experiment.
Robust motion correction and outlier rejection of in vivo functional MR images of the fetal brain and placenta during maternal hyperoxia

Subject motion is a major challenge in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (fMRI) of the fetal brain and placenta during maternal hyperoxia. We propose a motion correction and volume outlier rejection method for the correction of severe motion artifacts in both fetal brain and placenta. The method is optimized to the experimental design by processing different phases of acquisition separately. It also automatically excludes high-motion volumes and all the missing data are regressed from ROI-averaged signals. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective in enhancing motion correction in fetal fMRI without large data loss, compared to traditional motion correction methods.
Irritancy ranking of anionic detergents using one‐time occlusive, repeated occlusive and repeated open tests

Discrepancies between the one‐time patch test and the wash test regarding the ranking of irritancy of detergents have been found in the literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the concordance of irritancy rank order of 4 anionic detergents tested by 3 different exposure methods, namely one‐time occlusive, repeated short‐time occlusive and repeated short‐time open tests. These detergents were sodium cocoyl isethionate (ISE), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), soap and disodium lauryl 3‐ethoxysulfosuccinate (SUC). The reactions were evaluated by visual scoring and by transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement. When scored visually, the rank order in the one‐time test was: SOAP≥SLS≥ISE>SUC. The other test methods yielded a different order: SLS>ISE≥SOAP>SUC. A similar rank order was obtained with TEWL measurement for all exposure methods. Generally, the concordance among the different exposure methods was high when evaluated by TEWL. The concordance was lower when evaluation was performed by visual scoring. The present study demonstrates that the choice of exposure model and evaluation method may be important variables influencing the outcome of irritancy testing. It is proposed that the repeated open test is the best way to simulate most in‐use situations where the uncovered skin is exposed to detergents. The repeated occlusive test or the one‐time patch test may be better to simulate situations in which the skin is occluded after irritation by detergents.
Asphyxial Deaths: A Retrospective Study and Review of the Literature

An increasing death rate as a result of violence constitutes a large group in medicolegal autopsies. Specially, deaths due to asphyxia are one of the most important causes in violence deaths. During the 21-year period from January 1984 to October 2004, there were 134 asphyxial deaths autopsied by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey. Asphyxial deaths comprise 15.7% of all forensic autopsies; 20.8% of the cases are aged between 30 and 39 years, and the average age was 41.9 years. Males constitute 79.8% of all the cases. The most frequent method of asphyxiation death is hanging (56 cases, 41.8%), followed by drowning (30.5%) and carbon monoxide poisoning (8.2%). More violent methods, such as ligature or manual strangulations, constitute 2.9% and 2.3% of all asphyxial deaths, respectively. Although it was varying according to the methods of asphyxiation, suicide was found to be the manner of death in the majority of the cases.
Early home-based group education to support informed decision-making among patients with end-stage renal disease: a multi-centre randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND The aim was to test the effectiveness of early home-based group education on knowledge and communication about renal replacement therapy (RRT). METHODS We conducted a randomized controlled trial using a cross-over design among 80 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Between T0 and T1 (weeks 1-4) Group 1 received the intervention and Group 2 received standard care. Between T1 and T2 (weeks 5-8) Group 1 received standard care and Group 2 received the intervention. The intervention was a group education session on RRT options held in the patient's home given by social workers. Patients invited members from their social network to attend. Self-report questionnaires were used at T0, T1 and T2 to measure patients' knowledge and communication, and concepts from the Theory of Planned Behaviour such as attitude. Comparable questionnaires were completed pre-post intervention by 229 attendees. Primary RRT was registered up to 2 years post-intervention. Multilevel linear modelling was used to analyse patient data and paired t-tests for attendee data. RESULTS Statistically significant increases in the primary targets knowledge and communication were found among patients and attendees after receiving the intervention. The intervention also had a significant effect in increasing positive attitude toward living donation and haemodialysis. Of the 80 participants, 49 underwent RRT during follow-up. Of these, 34 underwent a living donor kidney transplant, of which 22 were pre-emptive. CONCLUSIONS Early home-based group education supports informed decision-making regarding primary RRT for ESRD patients and their social networks and may remove barriers to pre-emptive transplantation.
Global Performance of a Fast Parameterization Scheme for Estimating Surface Solar Radiation From MODIS Data

A fast parameterization scheme named SUNFLUX is first used in this paper to estimate instantaneous surface solar radiation (SSR) based on products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor onboard both Terra and Aqua platforms. The scheme mainly takes into account the absorption and scattering processes due to clouds, aerosols, and gas in the atmosphere. The estimated instantaneous SSR is evaluated against surface observations obtained from seven stations of the surface radiation budget network (SURFRAD), four stations in the North China Plain (NCP) and 40 stations of the baseline surface radiation network (BSRN). The statistical results for evaluation against these three data sets show that the relative root-mean-square error (RMSE) values of SUNFLUX are less than 15%, 16%, and 17%, respectively. Daily SSR is derived through temporal upscaling from the MODIS-based instantaneous SSR estimates, and is validated against surface observations. The relative RMSE values for daily SSR estimates are about 16% at the seven SURFRAD stations, four NCP stations, 40 BSRN stations, and 90 China Meteorological Administration (CMA) radiation stations. The accuracy of the scheme is generally higher than those of previous algorithms, and thus can be potentially applied on geostationary satellites for mapping high-resolution SSR data in the future.
Physical activity and ethnicity: evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey.

BACKGROUND A large proportion of the Canadian population lives a sedentary lifestyle. Few data are available describing the physical activity behaviours among specific ethnic groups in Canada, so the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between ethnicity and the level of self-reported physical activity. METHODS Pooled data from cycles 1.1 (2000/01) and 2.1 (2003) of the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey (ages 20-64 yrs; N = 171,513) were used for this study. Weighted prevalences of self-reported leisure-time moderate (> or = 1.5 kcal x kg(-1) day(-1) (kkd)); moderate to high (> or = 3 kkd) and high physical activity (> or = 6 kkd) were calculated, and multiple logistic regression models were used to quantify the odds of being physically active across ethnic groups, after adjustment for several covariates (White referent group). RESULTS The rank order of prevalence of being moderately physically active by ethnicity was: White (49%), Other (48%), NA Aboriginal (47%), Latin American (40%), East/Southeast Asian (39%), Black (38%), West Asian/Arab (36%), South Asian (34%). Aboriginal men and women had the highest prevalences of being physically active at > or = 3 kkd (M = 32%, F = 22%) while East/Southeast Asian (19%) and East Asian/Arab men (19%), and South Asian women (12%) had the lowest prevalences. After accounting for covariates, Aboriginal men were at elevated odds of being physically active compared to Whites (> or = 3 kkd, OR=1.6, p < 0.05; > or = 6 kkd, OR = 2.7, p < 0.05). Only 7% and 3% of Canadian men and women, respectively, were active at > or = 6 kkd. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the prevalence of physically active Canadian adults varies by ethnicity. Strategies to promote physical activity and prevent physical inactivity should consider these findings.
Some Organic Farming Practices for the Production of Eggplant (Solanum melongena) and Okra (Abelomoschus esculentus) in Central Sudan

In an attempt to produce eggplant and okra plants organically in central Sudan, (compost) as organic fertilizer, (neem seeds and hargal leaves water extracts) as organic insecticides, in different levels and concentrations were evaluated using split plot design. The results showed that mostly no significant differences were observed between the application of organic fertilizer, compost, and inorganic fertilizer, nitrophoska, in yield and yield components of eggplant and okra.Only in season 2002-2003, number of okra pods per feddan was significantly increased with compost application compared to nitrophoska application. All sprayed organic insecticides, neem and hargal, or inorganic insecticides, endosulfan and sumicidin, generally, did not significantly differ in their effects in yield and yield components of eggplant and okra. However, hargal spraying significantly increased the eggplant fresh weight in season 2001-02, compared to sumicidin treatment. In season 2002-03. , neem treatment significantly increased the leaf area index, fresh and dry weights of okra plants compared to all other treatments.The total yield and number of okra pods per feddan was significantly increased with neem and hargal treatments compared to endosulfan, sumicidin and control treatments. The efficacy of organic insecticides and inorganic insecticides in reducing jassid population in eggplant and okra plants had followed the general trend of endosulfan, sumicidin, neem then hargal, mostly in all seasons. However, all tested organic and inorganic insecticides gave better results compared to control treatments. Sumicidin residues were detected in all tested samples of eggplant and okra fruits ranging from 18.70. 26 mg/ml. and were found up to 14 days after spraying. No significant differences were observed between the applications of 10 or 15 tons of compost per feddan in okra yield and yield components in season 2004-05, but generally, the application of 15 tons gave better results compared to 10 tons. In addition, the difference between the effects of all tested neem and hargal concentrations and their interactions in yield and yield components of okra were not significant. However, it was found that interaction of spraying of neem at 1.5 kg/40 L water and hargal at 0.88 Kg/16 L water significantly increased okra plant height compared to neem sprayed at 1 kg/40 L water and hargal at 0.44 Kg/16 L water.
Text vs. space: efficient geo-search query processing

Many web search services allow users to constrain text queries to a geographic location (e.g., yoga classes near Santa Monica). Important examples include local search engines such as Google Local and location-based search services for smart phones. Several research groups have studied the efficient execution of queries mixing text and geography; their approaches usually combine inverted lists with a spatial access method such as an R-tree or space-filling curve. In this paper, we take a fresh look at this problem. We feel that previous work has often focused on the spatial aspect at the expense of performance considerations in text processing, such as inverted index access, compression, and caching. We describe new and existing approaches and discuss their different perspectives. We then compare their performance in extensive experiments on large document collections. Our results indicate that a query processor that combines state-of-the-art text processing techniques with a simple coarse-grained spatial structure can outperform existing approaches by up to two orders of magnitude. In fact, even a naive approach that first uses a simple inverted index and then filters out any documents outside the query range outperforms many previous methods.
Analysis of the ocean dynamics in a wind-jet region using high-resolution models

The water currents and the wave field at the Catalan coast (in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea) are investigated. However, the main research is focused at the northern margin of the Ebro Shelf, where there is a relatively high amount of data for study purposes and where episodes of strong northwesterly wind occur. In such cases, the wind is channeled through the Ebro Valley and intensifies upon reaching the sea, resulting in a wind jet. The research has been divided into four parts: (1) the study of the water circulation induced by a wind jet, by means of the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) numerical model; (2) the study of the waves dynamics induced by a wind jet, using the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) numerical model; (3) the study of the wave-current interactions during wind-jet events, coupling the numerical models used formerly; and (4) the implementation and validation of a waves and currents forecasting system at the Catalan coast, based on the knowledge gained during the research performed in the previous parts.