Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive adaptations of social bonding in birds

The ‘social intelligence hypothesis’ was originally conceived to explain how primates may have evolved their superior intellect and large brains when compared with other animals. Although some birds such as corvids may be intellectually comparable to apes, the same relationship between sociality and brain size seen in primates has not been found for birds, possibly suggesting a role for other non-social factors. But bird sociality is different from primate sociality. Most monkeys and apes form stable groups, whereas most birds are monogamous, and only form large flocks outside of the breeding season. Some birds form lifelong pair bonds and these species tend to have the largest brains relative to body size. Some of these species are known for their intellectual abilities (e.g. corvids and parrots), while others are not (e.g. geese and albatrosses). Although socio-ecological factors may explain some of the differences in brain size and intelligence between corvids/parrots and geese/albatrosses, we predict that the type and quality of the bonded relationship is also critical. Indeed, we present empirical evidence that rook and jackdaw partnerships resemble primate and dolphin alliances. Although social interactions within a pair may seem simple on the surface, we argue that cognition may play an important role in the maintenance of long-term relationships, something we name as ‘relationship intelligence’.
Feasibility and clinical benefit of cognitive–behavioral intervention for preparing patients for transesophageal echocardiography

Objective: Despite premedication, anxiety in patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is prevalent, often causing adverse physiological and psychological effects and contributing to decreased patient compliance. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of cognitive–behavioral intervention (CBI) in patients undergoing TEE and to assess its impact on the severity of anxiety, patient’s and physician’s comfort, and administered dose of sedatives. Methods: Our study was designed as a prospective, single-center, single-blinded, case-controlled pilot study. The study group comprised 49 patients (26 men, 66±8 years old) referred for TEE. Before the examination, 26 randomly selected patients underwent CBI. Sedatives were administered, if necessary. After the examination, patient anxiety and patient’s and physician’s comfort were evaluated using dedicated questionnaires and scores. Intergroup comparison was performed using Student’s t-test for independent variables and Mann–Whitney U test and Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. Results: The mean level of pre-TEE distress and anxiety were significantly lower in patients receiving CBI than in those without intervention (p=0.022). Furthermore, the application of CBI significantly reduced patient’s discomfort (p<0.001) and resulted in increased comfort of physician (p<0.001) during TEE. The need of sedative administration (31% vs. 91%, p<0.001) and its mean dose was significantly lower in patients receiving CBI (1.6±0.5 mg vs. 2.7±1.6 mg midazolam, p=0.009). Conclusions: CBI is feasible in patients undergoing TEE. It decreases patient’s anxiety and discomfort and increases physician’s comfort. It also results in reduced use of sedatives during the examination.
Feeding Behaviour in Galanin Knockout Mice Supports a Role of Galanin in Fat Intake and Preference

It has been widely suggested that saturated fat consumption has fuelled the current obesity epidemic. Macronutrient choices appear to be important not only as potential factors influencing obesity, but also independently as risk factors for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The neuropeptide galanin has previously been implicated in the regulation of fat intake, although its precise role has been contested. The present study investigated mice with targeted knockout of the galanin gene (GKO). We demonstrate that, when only a high fat diet (HFD) was available, wild‐type (WT) animals consumed significantly more energy than the GKO mice (89.85 ± 4.57 kJ/day versus 76.84 ± 3.55 kJ/day, P < 0.001, n = 17 versus 15). Consistent with this, WT animals gained more body weight when fed the HFD than GKO animals (3.48 ± 0.44 g versus 2.02 ± 0.62 g, P < 0.001, n = 17 versus 15). In a macronutrient choice scenario, WT mice ate almost three‐fold more fat than GKO animals (0.63 ± 0.02 g versus 0.23 ± 0.01 g, P < 0.001, n = 18 versus 24). Chronic administration of galanin by mini‐osmotic pumps into the lateral ventricle of GKO animals partially reversed the fat avoidance phenotype. Fat intake was significantly lower in the phosphate‐buffered saline‐treated GKO group compared to galanin‐treated GKO animals (0.32 ± 0.01 g versus 0.38 ± 0.01 g, P < 0.005, n = 17 versus 17). These data are compatible with the hypothesis that galanin specifically regulates fat intake, and implies that an antagonist to one or more of the galanin receptor subtype(s) may be of use in the treatment of some forms of obesity.
Terrestrial impact of abrupt changes in the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation: Early Holocene, UK

Abrupt cooling events are features of Holocene climate and may recur in the future. We use lake records from Hawes Water, NW England, to quantify the impact of two prominent early Holocene climatic events. Subdecadal oxygen isotope records from sedimentary carbonate (18δOc), dated using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) U-series analyses, provide evidence for abrupt cold events, lasting ∼50 and ∼150 yr at 9350 and 8380 yr ago, which correlate with the 9.3 ka and 8.2 ka events recognized in Greenland ice cores. At Hawes Water, mean July air temperatures, inferred from chirono-mid assemblages, decreased by ∼1.6 °C during each event. Calculations show that the isotopic excursions were dominantly caused by decreases in the isotopic composition of meteoric precipitation (18δOp) by ∼1.3‰; this is interpreted as a direct downstream response to cooling and freshening of northeast Atlantic surface water by melting ice sheets. Intermediate in magnitude between events observed in Greenland and central Europe, the effects are consistent with a partial shutdown of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation.
CFD MODELING OF SOLIDS SUSPENSIONS IN STIRRED TANKS

An understanding of the parameters that govern the just-suspended impeller speed, Njs, and the distribution of solids, is critical to the efficient operation of hydrometallurgical and other processes involving solid-liquid suspensions. In this paper, the distribution of solids in stirred tanks under a range of solids loadings (0.5 to 50 vol%) was predicted using CFD and validated against experimental data obtained from the literature. The multiphase flow is modeled using the Eulerian Granular Multiphase model. This paper will also review the established design parameter Njs in the context of scale-up and compare it to the quality of solids dispersion as a means of assessing correct scale-up in suspension tank design. The results of this study will describe a straightforward procedure to obtaining comprehensive information about reactor behavior with complex CFD models. The performance of hydrofoil impellers and a 45° pitched-blade turbine at suspending solids under different agitation speeds was studied. Both single and dual impeller operation have been evaluated. The settled solids fraction for speeds below Njs, and the cloud height for impeller speeds above Njs were predicted. The CFD predictions are in good agreement with experimental literature data on velocity distribution and cloud height.
Density forecasts based on disaggregate data: nowcasting Polish inflation

The paper investigates gains in performance of density forecasts from models using disaggregate data when forecasting aggregate series. The problem is considered within a restricted VAR framework with alternative sets of exclusion restrictions. Empirical analysis of Polish CPI m-o-m inflation rate (using its 14 sub-categories for disaggregate modelling) is presented. Exclusion restrictions are shown to improve density forecasting performance (as evaluated using log-score and CRPS criteria) relatively to aggregate and also disaggregate unrestricted models.
Inactivation of Arx, the Murine Ortholog of the X-Linked Lissencephaly with Ambiguous Genitalia Gene, Leads to Severe Disorganization of the Ventral Telencephalon with Impaired Neuronal Migration and Differentiation

ARX loss-of-function mutations cause X-linked lissencephaly with ambiguous genitalia (XLAG), a severe neurological condition that results in profound brain malformations, including microcephaly, absence of corpus callosum, and impairment of the basal ganglia. Despite such dramatic defects, their nature and origin remain largely unknown. Here, we used Arx mutant mice as a model to characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the basal ganglia alterations. In these animals, the early differentiation of this tissue appeared normal, whereas subsequent differentiation was impaired, leading to the periventricular accumulation of immature neurons in both the lateral ganglionic eminence and medial ganglionic eminence (MGE). Both tangential migration toward the cortex and striatum and radial migration to the globus pallidus and striatum were greatly reduced in the mutants, causing a periventricular accumulation of NPY+ or calretinin+ neurons in the MGE. Arx mutant neurons retained their differentiation potential in vitro but exhibited deficits in morphology and migration ability. These findings imply that cell-autonomous defects in migration underlie the neuronal localization defects. Furthermore, Arx mutants lacked a large fraction of cholinergic neurons and displayed a strong impairment of thalamocortical projections, in which major axon fiber tracts failed to traverse the basal ganglia. Altogether, these results highlight the critical functions of Arx in promoting neural migration and regulating basal ganglia differentiation in mice, consistent with the phenotype of XLAG patients.
Detrital zircon U‐Pb geochronology of Cambrian to Triassic miogeoclinal and eugeoclinal strata of Sonora, Mexico

One hundred and eighty two individual detrital zircon grains from Cambrian through Permian miogeoclinal strata, Ordovician eugeoclinal rocks, and Triassic post-orogenic sediments in northwestern Sonora have been analyzed. During Cambrian, Devonian, Permian, and Triassic time, most zircons accumulating along this part of the Cordilleran margin were shed from 1.40–1.45 and 1.62–1.78 Ga igneous rocks that are widespread in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Zircons with ages of approximately 1.11 Ga are common in Cambrian strata and were apparently shed from granite bodies near the sample site. The sources of 225–280 Ma zircons in our Triassic sample are more problematic, as few igneous rocks of these ages are recognized in northwestern Mexico. Such sources may be present but unrecognized, or the grains could have been derived from igneous rocks of the appropriate ages to the northwest in the Mojave Desert region, to the east in Chihuahua and Coahuila, or to the south in accreted(? ) arc-type terranes. Because the zircon grains in our Cambrian and Devonian to Triassic samples could have accumulated in proximity to basement rocks near their present position or in the Death Valley region of southern California, our data do not support or refute the existence of the Mojave-Sonora megashear. Ordovician strata of both miogeoclinal and eugeoclinal affinity are dominated by >1.77 Ga detrital zircons, which are considerably older than most basement rocks in the region. Zircon grains in the miogeoclinal sample were apparently derived from the Peace River arch area of northwestern Canada and transported southward by longshore currents. The eugeoclinal grains may also have come from the Peace River arch region, with southward transport by either sedimentary or tectonic processes, or they may have been shed from off-shelf slivers of continents (perhaps Antarctica? ) removed from the Cordilleran margin during Neoproterozoic rifting. It is also possible that the Ordovician eugeoclinal strata are far traveled and exotic to North America.
Behavior of Fascicle and Tendinous Tissue of Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle during Rebound Exercise of Ankle Joint

This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of mechanical work and power enhancement of muscle-tendon complex (MTC) in rebound exercise by quantifying in vivo behavior of fascicle and tendinous tissue of human medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG). Subjects jumped on a sledge apparatus using only ankle joint with the following two conditions: plantar flexion without counter movement (PFJ) and rebound jumping from a height of 26 cm (RJ). The behavior of fascicle and tendinous tissue of MG in vivo was determined using ultrasonography. The relative contribution of tendinous tissue to the mechanical work of MTC during plantar flexion phase (PF phase) was 85% in RJ. The maximal mechanical power of tendinous tissue during the PF phase in RJ was about three times greater compared to that in PFJ. There was no significant difference in the mechanical power of fascicle during PF phase between the two conditions, while the mechanical work of fascicle in PFJ was less than that in the PF phase of RJ. In RJ, fascicle was stretched during the dorsiflexion phase. These findings indicated that, in rebound exercise using ankle joint, (1) the enhancement of mechanical work and power of MTC was due to the reuse of elastic energy stored in tendinous tissue during dorsiflexion phase, and (2) fascicles were stretched during dorsiflexion phase.
On the molecular basis of uracil recognition in DNA: comparative study of T-A versus U-A structure, dynamics and open base pair kinetics

Uracil (U) can be found in DNA as a mismatch paired either to adenine (A) or to guanine (G). Removal of U from DNA is performed by a class of enzymes known as uracil–DNA–glycosylases (UDG). Recent studies suggest that recognition of U–A and U–G mismatches by UDG takes place via an extra-helical mechanism. In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the structure, dynamics and open base pair kinetics of U–A base pairs relative to their natural T–A counterpart in 12 dodecamers. Our results show that the presence of U does not alter the local conformation of B-DNA. Breathing dynamics and base pair closing kinetics are only weakly dependent on the presence of U versus T, with open T–A and U–A pairs lifetimes in the nanosecond timescale. Additionally, we observed spontaneous base flipping in U–A pairs. We analyze the structure and dynamics for this event and compare the results to available crystallographic data of open base pair conformations. Our results are in agreement with both structural and kinetic data derived from NMR imino proton exchange measurements, providing the first detailed description at the molecular level of elusive events such as spontaneous base pair opening and flipping in mismatched U–A sequences in DNA. Based on these results, we propose that base pair flipping can occur spontaneously at room temperature via a 3-step mechanism with an open base pair intermediate. Implications for the molecular basis of U recognition by UDG are discussed.
Measures of the Degree of Chemical Weathering of Rocks

In humid regions, the silica-to-alumina ratios have been found to provide an easy way to quantify the degree of rock weathering. The reliability of this index depends on the uniformity of the bedrock, the constancy of the alumina content during weathering, the degree of correlation between silica loss and total-element loss, and on the magnitude of the difference between the silica-to-alumina mole-ratio values of fresh and thoroughly weathered rock. Examination of total silicate analyses of fresh and derivative weathered rock from sixty-four non-quartz-bearing volcanic rocks in north-east Papua and forty-eight igneous and metamorphic rocks (some quartz-bearing) from other humid areas revealed extremely good correlation, with a high degree of significance, between the silica loss and the total-element loss, and between the silica-to-alumina mole-ratio and total-element loss. The silica-to-alumina mole-ratio also correlates well with the more complex absolute and relative weathering indices calculated from total-silicate analyses. The simple index should provide a useful guide to the physical, chemical, and engineering properties of weathered rocks.
Coherent Optical 25.8-Gb/s OFDM Transmission Over 4160-km SSMF

We discuss coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) as a suitable modulation technique for long-haul transmission systems. Several design and implementation aspects of a CO-OFDM system are reviewed, but we especially focus on phase noise compensation. As conventional CO-OFDM transmission systems are very sensitive to laser phase noise a novel method to compensate for phase noise is introduced. With the help of this phase noise compensation method we show continuously detectable OFDM transmission at 25.8 Gb/s data rate (20 Gb/s after coding) over 4160-km SSMF without dispersion compensation.
Effect of Prescribed Burning of Forest Litter on Total Soil Nitrogen1

The effect of prescribed burning of ponderosa pine forest floor on soil nitrogen was investigated. Standardized soil columns were placed under the forest floor and subjected to three burning treatments: no burn, light burn, and intense burn. One-third of the columns were removed immediately after burning, one-third 4 months later, and the remainder 16 months later. All burning and post-burning treatments showed net gains of nitrogen, those of no-burn and light-burn being greater than that for intense burning. The gain of nitrogen in the first inch of soil for the no-burn and light-burn treatments was 11.1 pounds per acre per year. This gain is attributed to leaching of the decomposing forest floor remaining after treatment and indicates a decomposition rate of 3.0%. The combined effects of light and intense burning reduced the nitrogen in the forest floor by 124 pounds per acre.
A Probabilistic Rip Current Forecast Model

ABSTRACT Dusek, G. and Seim, H. , 2013. A probabilistic rip current forecast model A probabilistic rip current forecast model is created using a logistic regression formulation. Given input variables of nearshore significant wave height, vector mean wave direction, tidal elevation, and whether the forecast occurs in a 72-hour postwave event window, the probabilistic model predicts the likelihood of hazardous rip current occurrence. The model is trained using rip current observations made by lifeguards at Kill Devil Hills (KDH), North Carolina, in 2008–2009. Validation uses a hindcast at KDH over the summers of 2001–2007 and is compared with a hindcast of the National Weather Service (NWS) rip current model presently used at KDH. Using rip current rescues to indicate hazardous rip current occurrence, the probabilistic model has a Brier Score of 0.15 (0 is perfect prediction), compared with a minimum Brier Score of 0.45 for the NWS model, and represents a 67% or better improvement in prediction. Utilizing deepwater wave observations, instead of those collected nearshore, decreases model improvement by roughly half. The probabilistic model also outperforms the NWS model during high rescue instances, particularly on days with large tidal ranges. Functional improvements of the probabilistic model include the output of a true probabilistic forecast compared with a categorical forecast (low-medium-high) and the inclusion of only physically and statistically significant predictors.
Acoustic backscattering experiments in a well characterized sand sediment: data/model comparisons using sediment fluid and Biot models

As part of the sediment acoustics experiment 1999 (SAX99), backscattering from a sand sediment was measured in the 20- to 300-kHz range for incident grazing angles from 10/spl deg/ to 40/spl deg/. Measured backscattering strengths are compared to three different scattering models: a fluid model that uses the mass density of the sediment in determining backscattering, a poroelastic model based on Biot theory and an "effective density" fluid model derived from Biot theory. These comparisons rely heavily on the extensive environmental characterization carried out during SAX99. This environmental characterization is most complete at spatial scales relevant to acoustic frequencies from 20 to 50 kHz. Model/data comparisons lead to the conclusions that rough surface scattering is the dominant scattering mechanism in the 20-50-kHz frequency range and that the Biot and effective density fluid models are more accurate than the fluid model in predicting the measured scattering strengths. For 50-150 kHz, rough surface scattering strengths predicted by the Biot and effective density fluid models agree well with the data for grazing angles below the critical angle of the sediment (about 30/spl deg/) but above the critical angle the trends of the models and the data differ. At 300 kHz, data/model comparisons indicate that the dominant scattering mechanism may no longer be rough surface scattering.
URBANIZATION, FLOOD FREQUENCY, AND SALMON ABUNDANCE IN PUGET LOWLAND STREAMS 1

ABSTRACT: Urbanization history and flood frequencies were determined in six low‐order streams in the Puget Lowlands, Washington, for the period between the 1940150s and the 1980190s. Using discharge records from USGS gauging stations, each basin was separated into periods prior to and after urban expansion. Four of the study basins exhibited significant changes in urbanized area, whereas two of the study basins exhibited only limited change in urbanized area and effectively serve as control basins. Each of the basins that experienced a significant increase in urbanized area exhibited increased flood frequency; pre‐urbanization 10‐year recurrence interval discharges correspond to 1 to 4‐year recurrence interval events in post‐urbanization records. In contrast, no discernible shift in flood frequency was observed in either of the control basins. Spawner survey data available for three of the study basins reveal systematic declines in salmon abundance in two urbanizing basins and no evidence for decreases in a control basin. These data imply a link between ongoing salmon population declines and either increased flood frequency or associated changes in habitat structure.