Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of wind on precipitation catch over a small hill

Studies of the effect of wind on precipitation distribution in areas of low hill relief by Geiger in Germany and Balchin and Pye in England stimulated a similar investigation in western Oregon. Precipitation gages located on the windward and leeward sides of a hill were checked weekly and compared with wind speed data from a nearby U. S. Weather Bureau station. During the 3-month study period, January through March 1962, the windward precipitation gage recorded only 92 percent of the total of the leeward gage. The leeward gage received more precipitation than the windward gage during 9 of the 11 weeks in which precipitation occurred during the 13-week study period. It was also noted that the higher the wind velocities during precipitation the greater the catch on the leeward side of the hill except during a period of snowfall with moderate winds, when this distribution was reversed.
Tissue Engineering of Pulmonary Heart Valves on Allogenic Acellular Matrix Conduits: In Vivo Restoration of Valve Tissue

Background—Tissue engineering using in vitro-cultivated autologous vascular wall cells is a new approach to biological heart valve replacement. In the present study, we analyzed a new concept to process allogenic acellular matrix scaffolds of pulmonary heart valves after in vitro seeding with the use of autologous cells in a sheep model. Methods and Results—Allogenic heart valve conduits were acellularized by a 48-hour trypsin/EDTA incubation to extract endothelial cells and myofibroblasts. The acellularization procedure resulted in an almost complete removal of cells. After that procedure, a static reseeding of the upper surface of the valve was performed sequentially with autologous myofibroblasts for 6 days and endothelial cells for 2 days, resulting in a patchy cellular restitution on the valve surface. The in vivo function was tested in a sheep model of orthotopic pulmonary valve conduit transplantation. Three of 4 unseeded control valves and 5 of 6 tissue-engineered valves showed normal function up to 3 months. Unseeded allogenic acellular control valves showed partial degeneration (2 of 4 valves) and no interstitial valve tissue reconstitution. Tissue-engineered valves showed complete histological restitution of valve tissue and confluent endothelial surface coverage in all cases. Immunohistological analysis revealed cellular reconstitution of endothelial cells (von Willebrand factor), myofibroblasts (&agr;-actin), and matrix synthesis (procollagen I). There were histological signs of inflammatory reactions to subvalvar muscle leading to calcifications, but these were not found in valve and pulmonary artery tissue. Conclusions—The in vitro tissue-engineering approach using acellular matrix conduits leads to the in vivo reconstitution of viable heart valve tissue.
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the relief of pain in laboratory rodents and rabbits

The data concerning the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and evidence for their efficacy in laboratory rats and mice are reviewed. This information is then extrapolated to clinical situations and dose rates that take account of ulcerogenic side effects are recommended. NSAIDs have the potential to be a very useful group of analgesics and should always be considered when attempting to provide pain relief in laboratory animals.
Alpha-recoil damage in natural zirconolite and perovskite.

Zirconolite (CaZrTi2O7) and perovskite (CaTiO3) are key minerals in SYNROC, a ceramic material developed for the immobilization of high level nuclear reactor wastes. When these are incorporated in SYNROC, the long-lived radioactive actinide elements are preferentially partitioned into zirconolite and perovskite which are therefore subjected to the effects of alpha-recoil, resulting from the decay of these elements. These effects have been studied via X-ray and electron diffraction investigations of natural samples of zirconolite and perovskite of varying ages and varying uranium and thorium contents. The samples studied have received cumulative alpha doses ranging from 1.0 × 1018 to 1.1 × 1020α/g. The upper limit corresponds to the alpha irradiation which would be received by the zirconolite in SYNROC containing 10 percent of high level waste over a period of 5 × 108 years. These studies show that zirconolites remain crystalline up to and beyond alpha doses of 2 × 1019α/g. This dose would have accumulated in such a SYNROC zirconolite after a million years of storage. Electron microscopy revealed that the grains were composed of small crystalline domains which possessed the defect fluorite-type structure. After a dose exceeding that which would be received by SYNROC in 100 million years, zirconolites appeared metamict when studied by X-ray diffraction. However, the electron micrographs and diffraction patterns clearly demonstrate that the mineral continues to retain a large degree of short range order and in no way resembles a glass. The density changes produced in these zirconolites by irradiation are small and range from 0 to 3 % at saturation. Perovskite samples which have SYNROC ages up to 20, 000 years decrease in density by 1.8 ± 0.1 %. Their X-ray powder patterns are essentially unaffected. Comparative studies show that the perovskite lattice is even more resistant to the effects of alpha-recoil than the zirconolite lattice. The results demonstrate that zirconolite and perovskite are extremely resistant to the effects of nuclear radiation and will provide stable crystal structures for the containment of the radioactive waste elements during the time required for the radioactivity to decay to safe levels (typically 105-106 years).
A universal method for single character type recognition

Character image contains not only the character information, but also the type information. The character's type information denotes the various category of the character, such as the font families, handwritten or printed, to what language the character belongs, etc. Most of the existent methods for character type recognition are carried out on a group of characters belonging to the same category, and all these methods concentrate on their own specific field. In this paper, a novel universal method for character type recognition is proposed, which is based on a single unknown character and can be used in various fields. We employ a wavelet transform on the character image and extract wavelet features from the transformed image, which are used by a MQDF classifier. Compared with existent methods, our method is much more flexible, robust and effective.
Monitoring the VIIRS ocean color band calibration using the Rayleigh scattering method

Post-launch monitoring of radiometric accuracy and stability of VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) Solar Reflective Bands (RSB) at high gain stage (HGS) is essential for ocean color applications. This study investigates the absolute radiometric calibration accuracy of VIIRS bands M1-M5 at HGS using selected clear-sky dark ocean surfaces where top of atmosphere (TOA) signal is dominated by Rayleigh scattering. Vicarious gains were estimated using ratios between satellite observed and radiative transfer model simulated TOA reflectance. VIIRS TOA reflectance was simulated using 6SV (Second Simulation of a Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum – Vector, version 1.1). Input parameters required by the 6SV, including atmospheric profiles, wind speed and direction, aerosol optical thickness, and chlorophyll-a concentration, were obtained from the NASA Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications reanalysis products, VIIRS aerosol optical thickness product, and previous studies. The Rayleigh scattering method developed in this study was applied to June to August 2014 VIIRS observations over six oceanic sites. Preliminary results indicated that the 3-month averaged vicarious gain for bands M1, M2, and M5 are close to 1. Relatively larger vicarious gains were observed in the other two bands, especially in band M4. The Rayleigh scattering calibration results generally agree with results from the VIIRS deep convective clouds time series analysis.
Prevention of NSAID-Associated Gastroduodenal Injury in Healthy Volunteers-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study Comparing DA-9601 with Misoprostol

In addition to inhibiting cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause gastroduodenal injuries due to reactive oxygen species produced by recruited inflammatory cells. DA-9601 is a novel antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and cyto-protective effects. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of DA-9601 with misoprostol for preventing NSAID-associated gastroduodenal injury. In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter, noninferiority trial we compared the extents of protection of gastric and duodenal mucosae by endoscopy after 4 weeks of treatment with DA-9601 60 mg or misoprostol 200 µg three times daily, in subjects with normal baseline endoscopic findings who received an NSAID twice daily for 4 weeks. A total of 266 subjects were randomized to treatment. At week 4, the gastric protection rates with DA-9601 and misoprostol were 85.1% and 95.2%, respectively; the difference between the groups was -10.1% (var = 0.001), which was shown to indicate noninferiority of DA-9601 compared to misoprostol. Adverse events were lower in the DA-9601 group, 56.4% (95% CI, 48.0%-64.8%) than in the misoprostol group, 69.2% (95% CI, 61.3%-77.0%) (P = 0.031). DA-9601 is not inferior to misoprostol for preventing NSAID-associated gastroduodenal injury, and superior to it with respect to treatment-related side effects.
Do women who undergo further investigation for breast screening suffer adverse psychological consequences? A multi-centre follow-up study comparing different breast screening result groups five months after their last breast screening appointment.

BACKGROUND In 1995-1996 about 53500 women aged 50-64 attending for routine breast screening were called back for further investigation after an initial mammogram. Even when women were found to be clear after further investigation, significant adverse psychological consequences (PCs) can remain one month later. This follow-up study investigates whether residual emotional effects persisted five months after women received a clear result. METHODS Women who had previously completed a questionnaire one month after their last breast screening appointment, at which they had a clear result, were invited to complete a further postal questionnaire four months later (five months after their last appointment). We compare women who received a clear result after assessment without fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), after assessment with FNAC, after a benign biopsy, and those who had been placed on early recall, with those who received a clear result after mammography (reference group). RESULTS The response rate was 76 per cent (215/284). All groups of women who went on for further investigation suffered significantly greater adverse psychological consequences (PCs) at five months than women who were given a clear result after mammography. Compared with 10 per cent (5/52) of women who received a clear result after a basic mammogram, adverse psychological consequences were experienced by 59 per cent (27/46, p<0.00001) of the women who were placed on six month early recall, 61 per cent (14/23, p<0.0001) of women who had benign surgical biopsy, 44 per cent (18/41, p<0.0001) of women who received a clear result after assessment (with FNAC), and 45 per cent (23/51, p<0.0001) of women who received a clear result after assessment (without FNAC). Whereas all groups who had gone on for further investigations had experienced a significant decrease in PCs between one month and five months, those who were placed on six month early recall showed no significant difference in PCs between these two time periods. Other factors relating to adverse experiences as a result of breast screening are reported. CONCLUSION Despite receiving a clear final result, women who undergo further investigation suffer significantly greater adverse psychological consequences five months after their last screening appointment than women who receive a clear result after mammography.
Genetic and physiological bases for phenological responses to current and predicted climates

We are now reaching the stage at which specific genetic factors with known physiological effects can be tied directly and quantitatively to variation in phenology. With such a mechanistic understanding, scientists can better predict phenological responses to novel seasonal climates. Using the widespread model species Arabidopsis thaliana, we explore how variation in different genetic pathways can be linked to phenology and life-history variation across geographical regions and seasons. We show that the expression of phenological traits including flowering depends critically on the growth season, and we outline an integrated life-history approach to phenology in which the timing of later life-history events can be contingent on the environmental cues regulating earlier life stages. As flowering time in many plants is determined by the integration of multiple environmentally sensitive gene pathways, the novel combinations of important seasonal cues in projected future climates will alter how phenology responds to variation in the flowering time gene network with important consequences for plant life history. We discuss how phenology models in other systems—both natural and agricultural—could employ a similar framework to explore the potential contribution of genetic variation to the physiological integration of cues determining phenology.
Latent membrane protein 1 of Epstein-Barr virus stimulates processing of NF-kappa B2 p100 to p52.

Recent studies have identified a limited number of cellular receptors that can stimulate an alternative NF-kappa B activation pathway that depends upon the inducible processing of NF-kappa B2 p100 to p52. Here it is shown that the latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 of Epstein-Barr virus can trigger this signaling pathway in both B cells and epithelial cells. LMP1-induced p100 processing, which is mediated by the proteasome and is dependent upon de novo protein synthesis, results in the nuclear translocation of p52.RelB dimers. Previous studies have established that LMP1 also stimulates the canonical NF-kappa B-signaling pathway that triggers phosphorylation and degradation of I kappa B alpha. Interestingly, LMP1 activation of these two NF-kappa B pathways is shown here to require distinct regions of the LMP1 C-terminal cytoplasmic tail. Thus, C-terminal-activating region 1 is required for maximal triggering of p100 processing but is largely dispensable for stimulation of I kappa B alpha phosphorylation. In contrast, C-terminal-activating region 2 is critical for maximal LMP1 triggering of I kappa B alpha phosphorylation and up-regulation of p100 levels but does not contribute to activation of p100 processing. Because p100 deletion mutants that constitutively produce p52 oncogenically transform fibroblasts in vitro, it is likely that stimulation of p100 processing by LMP1 will play an important role in its transforming function.
Help-seeking behavior, use, and satisfaction among frequent primary care users in Santiago de Chile.

A survey of 140 low-income, urban consumers of primary health care services provided by the public sector at Santiago, Chile's Villa O'Higgins Clinic suggested that organizational factors are more significant predictors of frequency of clinic use and patient satisfaction than demographic characteristics of the clinic population. 73% of respondents interviewed were female; the mean family size was 5, most were from families that fell well below the official poverty level, and 76% of household income went toward food. 29% of the households represented lacked adult men or had unemployed male workers. 66% were acute care patients; the remainder were receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and alcoholism. 70% had been attending the clinic for the past few years; the mean number of visits per year was 6.4. 53% indicated a preference for a public rather than a private doctor, even if the latter were affordable. Only 51% expressed a dislike of any aspect of the clinic (long waits, 24%; discourteous staff, 19%; and lack of cleanliness, 5%). 84% perceived the quality of the care they received as good; this perception was strongly associated with satisfaction with the physician and receipt of prescription drugs. Multiple regression analysis indicated that 4 organizational variables (travel time to clinic, distance from home to clinic, waiting time at clinic, and travel time-travel distance) and 3 demographic factors (mother bringing child for care, presence of children under 5 years of age, and acute rather than chronic illness) were the best predictors of the frequency of clinic visits. Changes in clinic management by Chile's military government may jeopardize this pattern of high satisfaction with public health services by the poor.
MORPHOLOGY, ULTRASTRUCTURE AND TAXONOMIC STATUS OFTODDIA SP. IN NORTHERN WATER SNAKES(NERODIA SIPEDON SIPEDON) FROM ONTARIO, CANADA

Inclusions characteristic of an infection caused by Toddia sp. were found in the erythrocytes and erythroblasts of 15 of 26 northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) collected near Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Erythrocytes contained translucent inclusions, small acidophilic bodies, and square-shaped crystalloid structures. Erythrocytes infected with Toddia sp. were more rounded than uninfected erythrocytes and had pycnotic nuclei. We observed icosahedral virus particles measuring 195 to 210 nm formed from a membrane-bounded viral assembly site in the cytoplasm of the host erythrocyte. As a result of the viral identity of this parasite, we recommend that the etiologic agent of Toddia sp. infections from this and other species of North American snakes be renamed Snake Erythrocytic Virus.
A Suggested Revision of the Community Oriented Program Environmental Scale (COPES) for Measuring the Psychosocial Environment of Supported Housing Facilities for Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities

The aim of the present study is to address issues of construct validity and reliability of a revised short version of the COPES instrument to measure the psychosocial environment of supported housing facilities for persons with psychiatric disabilities. The results revealed that the division into subscales is not sufficiently reliable for use in measuring the psychosocial environment, although the three higher order dimensions can possibly be used for the descriptive and comparative purposes. A factor analysis based on the revised short version generated new factor solutions, differing from the COPES subscales, but with sufficient psychometric properties.
Can Hedge-Fund Returns Be Replicated?: The Linear Case

In contrast to traditional investments such as stocks and bonds, hedge-fund returns have more complex risk exposures that yield additional and complementary sources of risk premia. This raises the possibility of creating passive replicating portfolios or “clones” using liquid exchange-traded instruments that provide similar risk exposures at lower cost and with greater transparency. By using monthly returns data for 1610 hedge funds in the TASS database from 1986 to 2005, we estimate linear factor models for individual hedge funds using six common factors, and measure the proportion of the funds’ expected returns and volatility that are attributable to such factors. For certain hedge-fund style categories, we find that a significant fraction of both can be captured by common factors corresponding to liquid exchange-traded instruments. While the performance of linear clones is often inferior to their hedge-fund counterparts, they perform well enough to warrant serious consideration as passive, transparent, scalable, and lower-cost alternatives to hedge funds.
Livin, a Novel Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein Family Member*

A novel human inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family member termed Livin was identified, containing a single baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domain and a COOH-terminal RING finger domain. The mRNA for livin was not detectable by Northern blot in most normal adult tissues with the exception of the placenta, but was present in developmental tissues and in several cancer cell lines. Highest levels were observed in two melanoma-derived cell lines, G361 and SK-Mel29. Transfection of livin in HeLa cells resulted in protection from apoptosis induced by expression of FADD, Bax, RIP, RIP3, and DR6. Similar to other IAP family members, the anti-apoptotic activity of Livin was dependent on the BIR domain. Livin was also capable of inhibiting DEVD-like caspase activity triggered by tumor necrosis factor-α. In vitrobinding studies demonstrated a direct interaction between Livin and the active form of the downstream caspases, caspase-3 and -7, that was dependent on the BIR domain of Livin. In addition, the unprocessed and cleaved forms of caspase-9 co-immunoprecipitated with Livin in vivo, and recombinant Livin could inhibit the activation of caspase-9 induced by Apaf-1, cytochrome c, and dATP. The subcellular distribution of the transfected Livin was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Both Livin and Survivin were expressed in the nucleus and in a filamentous pattern throughout the cytoplasm. In contrast to the apoptotic activity, the COOH-terminal RING domain mediated its subcellular localization patterning. Further studies found that transfection of an antisense construct against livincould trigger apoptosis specifically in cell lines expressinglivin mRNA. This was associated with an increase in DNA fragmentation and in DEVD-like caspase activity. Thus, disruption of Livin may provide a strategy to induce apoptosis in certain cancer cells.