Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of climate change and natural disasters on vulnerable populations: A systematic review of literature

ABSTRACT Climate change is acknowledged as being a crucial determinant of public health. The United States is experiencing an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters as a result of climate change activity, influencing the ways federal, state, and local governments are addressing the growing issue. Individuals who are vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather, namely the poor, the elderly/disabled, children, prisoners, and substance abusers have experienced heightened levels of mental, emotional, and bodily stress due to natural disaster exposure. Researchers from a variety of disciplines, public health, social science, and environmental studies, in particular, are examining how natural disasters are impacting mental and physical health functioning while noting the demographic factors leaving certain groups more susceptible to harm. A systematic literature review was conducted on the past 12 years of research that examined natural disaster-related experiences and psychological and physiological health outcomes on populations who are more vulnerable to adverse weather impacts. It was found that the mental and physical health of marginalized populations during and after a natural disaster were elevated and/or exacerbated by circumstances pertaining to the weather event and the lack of disaster-response actions. It was also found that fostering social capital is a way to combat stressors in disadvantaged communities. It is imperative that clinicians and policy makers confront the issue of climate change and natural disasters, developing relief efforts and preventative measures to secure the well-being of underserved groups who may not have many resources at their disposal.
Anterior chamber-associated immune deviation elicited via primate eyes.

PURPOSE To determine whether injection of a soluble antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), into the anterior chamber of cynomolgus monkey eyes would impair the ability of these animals to subsequently develop delayed hypersensitivity when confronted by this antigen in immunogenic form. METHODS OVA or phosphate-buffered saline was injected into the anterior chamber of adult cynomolgus monkeys that were subsequently immunized with OVA in adjuvant and then skin challenged for delayed hypersensitivity with OVA. RESULTS Recipients of intracameral OVA proved unable to acquire antigen-specific delayed hypersensitivity when they received an immunogenic regimen of OVA in adjuvant. Since the flow of aqueous humor through the uveoscleral pathway of primate eyes can be promoted by topical treatment with PGF2 alpha isopropylester, a preliminary experiment is described in which induction of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation by OVA was prevented when the antigen was first introduced into monkey eyes treated with PGF2 alpha isopropylester. CONCLUSIONS Monkeys resemble rodents in displaying anterior chamber associated immune deviation (impaired ability to acquire antigen-specific delayed hypersensitivity) when they first encounter an antigen via the anterior chamber. The findings suggest that the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune privilege, recently described in rodents, may apply to immune responses to intraocular antigens and pathogens in primates, including humans. Primate eyes offer an opportunity to explore the mechanisms of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation using pharmacologic agents that modify the aqueous outflow tracts.
Corporate Fraud and Business Conditions: Evidence from IPOs

We examine how a firm’s incentive to commit fraud when going public varies with investor beliefs about industry business conditions. Fraud propensity increases with the level of investor beliefs about industry prospects but decreases in the presence of extremely high beliefs. Evidence suggests that two mechanisms are at work: monitoring by investors, and short-term executive compensation, both of which vary with investor beliefs about industry prospects. We also find evidence that monitoring incentives of investors and underwriters differ. Our results are consistent with the predictions of recent models of investor beliefs and corporate fraud, and suggest that regulators and auditors should be especially vigilant for fraud during booms.
About Absolute Galois Group

Absolute Galois Group defined as Galois group of algebraic numbers regarded as extension of rationals is very difficult concept to define. The goal of classical Langlands program is to understand the Galois group of algebraic numbers as algebraic extension of rationals - Absolute Galois Group (AGG) - through its representations. Invertible adeles -ideles - define Gl1 which can be shown to be isomorphic with the Galois group of maximal Abelian extension of rationals (MAGG) and the Langlands conjecture is that the representations for algebraic groups with matrix elements replaced with adeles provide information about AGG and algebraic geometry. I have asked already earlier whether AGG could act is symmetries of quantum TGD. The basis idea was that AGG could be identified as a permutation group for a braid having infinite number of strands. The notion of quantum adele leads to the interpretation of the analog of Galois group for quantum adeles in terms of permutation groups assignable to finite l braids. One can also assign to infinite primes braid structures and Galois groups have lift to braid groups. Objects known as dessins d'enfant provide a geometric representation for AGG in terms of action on algebraic Riemann surfaces allowing interpretation also as algebraic surfaces in finite fields. This representation would make sense for algebraic partonic 2-surfaces, and could be important in the intersection of real and p-adic worlds assigned with living matter in TGD inspired quantum biology, and would allow to regard the quantum states of living matter as representations of AGG. Adeles would make these representations very concrete by bringing in cognition represented in terms of p-adics and there is also a generalization to Hilbert adeles.
Maximizing masquerading as matching : Statistical learning and decision-making in choice behavior

1 There has been a long-running debate over whether humans match or maximize when faced with differentially rewarding options under conditions of uncertainty. While maximizing, i.e. consistently choosing the most rewarding option, is theoretically optimal, humans have often been observed to match, i.e. allocating choices stochastically in proportion to the underlying reward rates. Previous models assumed matching behavior to arise from biological limitations or heuristic decision strategies; this, however, would stand in curious contrast to the accumulating evidence that humans have sophisticated machinery for tracking environmental statistics. It begs the questions of why the brain would build sophisticated representations of environmental statistics, only then to adopt a heuristic decision policy that fails to take full advantage of that information. Here, we revisit this debate by presenting data from a novel visual search task, which are shown to favor a particular Bayesian inference and decision-making account over other heuristic and normative models. Specifically, while subjects' first-fixation strategy appears to indicate matching in aggregate data, they actually maximize on a finer, trial-by-trial timescale, based on continuously updated internal beliefs about the spatial distribution of potential target locations. In other words, matching-like stochasticity in human visual search is neither random nor heuristics-based, but due specifically to fluctuating beliefs about stimulus statistics. These results not only shed light on the matching versus maximizing debate, but also more broadly on human decision-making strategies under conditions of uncertainty.
Metacognition and attribution of difficulty for self and others in Alzheimer's disease

A common feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is lack of awareness of neuropsychological deficit or illness, including poor appreciation of impaired task performance. Nevertheless, it has been shown in different clinical groups that levels of awareness may vary according to whether appraisal of symptoms is made in a first-or third-person perspective. This study explored this issue further in two experiments in which people with AD and control participants completed tests of memory and reaction time and had to judge both how difficult the tasks were for them and also for other people if they attempted the same tasks. Results showed that the AD group systematically indicated that others would do as well as they themselves had done. In comparison, control participants indicated other people would perform worse than they did themselves on the reaction time tasks, but similarly on the memory tasks. In addition, attribution of difficulty for self/other correlated with pre-morbid personality traits, such as neuroticism and agreeableness, in the AD group. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Low Complexity 3D Ultrasound Imaging Using Synthetic Aperture Sequential Beamforming

Synthetic aperture sequential beamforming (SASB) is a technique to achieve range-independent resolution in 2D images with lower computational complexity compared to synthetic aperture ultrasound (SAU). It is a two stage process, wherein the first stage performs fixed-focus beamforming followed by dynamic-focus beamforming in the second stage. In this work, we extend SASB to 3D imaging and propose two schemes to reduce its complexity:(1) reducing the number of elements in both transmit and receive and (2) implementing separable beamforming in the second stage. Our Field-II simulations demonstrate that reducing transmit and receive apertures to 32×32 and 16×16 elements, respectively, and using separable beamforming reduces 3D SASB computational complexity by 15× compared to the 64×64 aperture case with almost no loss in image quality. We also describe a hardware architecture for 3D SASB that performs first-stage beamforming in the scan head, reducing the amount of data that must be transferred for offchip processing in the second stage beamformer by up to 256×. We describe an implementation approach for the second stage that performs an optimized in-place update for both steps of separable beamforming and is well suited for GPU.
The bradykinin B2 receptor induces multiple cellular responses leading to the proliferation of human renal carcinoma cell lines

Background The vasoactive peptide bradykinin (BK) acts as a potent growth factor for normal kidney cells, but there have been few studies on the role of BK in renal cell carcinomas. Purpose In this study, we tested the hypothesis that BK also acts as a mitogen in kidney carcinomas, and explored the effects of BK in human renal carcinoma A498 cells. Methods The presence of mRNAs for BK B1 and BK B2 receptors in A498 cells was demonstrated by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. To study BK signaling pathways, we employed fluorescent measurements of intracellular Ca2+, measured changes in extracellular pH as a reflection of Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) with a Cytosensor microphysiometer, and assessed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation by Western blotting. Results Exposure to 100 nM of BK resulted in the rapid elevation of intracellular Ca2+, caused a ≥30% increase in NHE activity, and a ≥300% increase in ERK phosphorylation. All BK signals were blocked by HOE140, a BK B2 receptor antagonist, but not by a B1 receptor antagonist. Inhibitor studies suggest that BK-induced ERK activation requires phospholipase C and protein kinase C activities, and is Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent. The amiloride analog 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)-amiloride (MIA) blocked short-term NHE activation and inhibited ERK phosphorylation, suggesting that NHE is critical for ERK activation by BK. BK induced an approximately 40% increase in the proliferation of A498 cells as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine uptake. This effect was blocked by the ERK inhibitor PD98059, and was dependent on NHE activity. Conclusion We conclude that BK exerts mitogenic effects in A498 cells via the BK B2 receptor activation of growth-associated NHE and ERK.
Interannual Relationship between the Boreal Spring Arctic Oscillation and the Northern Hemisphere Hadley Circulation Extent

This study investigates the interannual relationship and the dynamical linkage between the boreal spring Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the Northern Hemisphere Hadley circulation extent (HCE). The spring AO is positively correlated with the HCE, with one standard positive deviation of the AO index corresponding to approximately 0.42° latitude poleward shift of the HCE. The interaction between the planetary wave and the zonal winds over the subtropics results in an anomalous eddy momentum flux divergence, which shifts the HCE poleward. The AO related transient eddy momentum flux divergence makes nearly 2 times larger contributions than those of the stationary component to the HCE change. The increased equatorward transient wave flux over the subtropics is possibly related to the larger meridional gradient of the transient wave refractive index there. The AO positive phase corresponds to an enhanced planetary wave propagation from the midlatitude Atlantic Ocean to the subtropics, which resembles the North Atlantic Oscillation pattern. The autumn and winter AO–HCE relationship is similar to that during spring, while summer has the weakest relationship, which could be mainly attributed to the far poleward extension of the climatological HCE during summer.
Q-states Potts model on a random planar lattice

We propose a matrix-model derivation of the scaling exponents of the critical and tricritical q-states Potts model coupled to gravity on a sphere. In close analogy with the $O(n)$ model, we reduce the determination of the one-loop-to-vacuum expectation to the resolution of algebraic equations; and find the explicit scaling law for the case q=3.
A Novel Modulation Function-Based Control of Modular Multilevel Converters for High Voltage Direct Current Transmission Systems

In this paper, a novel modulation function-based method including analyses of the modulation index and phase is proposed for operation of modular multilevel converters (MMCs) in high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems. The proposed modulation function-based control technique is developed based on thorough and precise analyses of all MMC voltages and currents in the a-b-c reference frame in which the alternating current (AC)-side voltage is the first target to be obtained. Using the AC-side voltage, the combination of the MMC upper and lower arm voltages is achieved as the main structure of the proposed modulation function. The main contribution of this paper is to obtain two very simple new modulation functions to control MMC performance in different operating conditions. The features of the modulation function-based control technique are as follows: (1) this control technique is very simple and can be easily achieved in a-b-c reference frame without the need of using Park transformation; and (2) in addition, the inherent properties of the MMC model are considered in the proposed control technique. Considering these properties leads to constructing a control technique that is robust against MMC parameters changes and also is a very good tracking method for the components of MMC input currents. These features lead to improving the operation of MMC significantly, which can act as a rectifier in the HVDC structure. The simulation studies are conducted through MATLAB/SIMULINK software, and the results obtained verify the effectiveness of the proposed modulation function-based control technique.
A multilevel job demands–resources model of work engagement: Antecedents, consequences, and boundary conditions

ABSTRACT Grounded on the Job Demands–Resources model, the present study conducted 2 studies to test a multilevel model of work engagement. Using data from 606 leader–employee pairs taken from 40 gas stations of a petroleum company, and a 3-wave data from 145 service teams and 542 leader–employee pairs from a variety of service organizations, convergent evidence suggested that (a) the unit leaders’ autonomy-support climate and psychological capital lead to service performance through work engagement and (b) psychological capital could attenuate the positive effect of unit leaders’autonomy-support climate on work engagement. In addition, the unit leaders’ autonomy-support climate acts as a job resource for boosting work engagement when both workloads and emotional demands or job insecurity are high.
Plankton classification on imbalanced large scale database via convolutional neural networks with transfer learning

Plankton image classification plays an important role in the ocean ecosystems research. Recently, a large scale database for plankton classification with over 3 million images annotated with over 100 classes was released. However, the database suffers from imbalanced class distribution in which over 90% of images belong to only 5 classes. Due to this class-imbalance problem, the existing classification approaches are limited to label the data only to major classes, ignoring the small-sized classes. In this paper, we propose a fine-grained classification method for large scale plankton database based on convolutional neural networks (CNN). To overcome the class-imbalance problem, we incorporate transfer learning by pre-training CNN with class-normalized data and fine-tuning with original data. The class-normalized data is constructed by reducing the number of data via random sampling, for large-sized classes. In experiments, our method showed superior classification accuracy compared to both CNN without transfer learning and CNN with transfer learning via other data augmentation techniques.
Role for ELOVL3 and Fatty Acid Chain Length in Development of Hair and Skin Function*

Very little is known about the in vivo regulation of mammalian fatty acid chain elongation enzymes as well as the role of specific fatty acid chain length in cellular responses and developmental processes. Here, we report that the Elovl3 gene product, which belongs to a highly conserved family of microsomal enzymes involved in the formation of very long chain fatty acids, revealed a distinct expression in the skin that was restricted to the sebaceous glands and the epithelial cells of the hair follicles. By disruption of the Elovl3 gene by homologous recombination in mouse, we show that ELOVL3 participates in the formation of specific neutral lipids that are necessary for the function of the skin. The Elovl3-ablated mice displayed a sparse hair coat, the pilosebaceous system was hyperplastic, and the hair lipid content was disturbed with exceptionally high levels of eicosenoic acid (20:1). This was most prominent within the triglyceride fraction where fatty acids longer than 20 carbon atoms were almost undetectable. A functional consequence of this is that Elovl3-ablated mice exhibited a severe defect in water repulsion and increased trans-epidermal water loss.
A Comparison of Surrogate Tests for Phase Synchronization Analysis of Neural Signals

Various studies show that advanced cognitive function is integrated by multiple interacted cortical regions. To investigate this mechanism, various measures, such as phase synchronization (PS) and partial directed coherence, has been applied to evaluate the pattern of neural connectivity among brain regions. However, some problems on quantifying neural connectivity are still open to be answered. For example, how to determine whether an estimated PS index (PSI) is significant big or not? Surrogate test is one main way to provide a threshold of significance for reference. Though many surrogate methods have been proposed, but which one is more suitable for PS analysis is not known yet. To deal with this question, this study performed a comparison of surrogate tests for the mean phase coherence based PSI with Electroencephalography (EEG) signals. Four different surrogate methods were compared, and results showed that among these methods, the rank-shuffled surrogate method is the most suitable one in providing significance test for PS analysis.
Analysis differences and error variance estimates from multi-centre analysis data

NWP forecast performance has made great progress during the past decade due to a few important factors. First, the numerical forecast models at major numerical weather prediction (NWP) centres have improved tremendously due to more accurate physics parametrisation schemes and increased computing power, which permits the use of higher resolution forecast models. Second, more observations, more accurate observing systems and improved data assimilation (DA) methods have been developed, such as 4D-Var (Rabier et al. 2000) and ensemble Kalman filters (Whitaker and Hamill 2002; Tippett et al. 2003; Whitaker et al. 2007). More accurate DA systems have played a key role in providing more accurate initial conditions for the NWP models, which have improved weather forecasts, particularly over the short and medium ranges. Analysis differences and error variance estimates from multi-centre analysis data
The winding road to fair value accounting in China: a social movement analysis

The purpose of this paper is to examine China’s stop-start adoption of fair value accounting (FVA) into its national accounting standards. The paper analyzes how FVA standards promoted by transnational organizations were eventually adopted in China despite its conservative accounting traditions. ,The study uses archival records and an analytic framework adapted from the studies of social movements to identify the institutional factors that differ between China’ first unsuccessful attempt to adopt FVA and its second successful attempt. ,Shared interests of elite national and international groups, creation of social infrastructure, marshaling of key resources, and specific actions to frame FVA standards are found to be crucial factors supporting FVA reform in China. ,The study helps advance our understanding of dissemination of international accounting regulations in non-Western societies. The findings can help accounting standard setters to avoid costly failures. ,The study provides a structured analysis of the propagation of global accounting regulations. It exposes the factors in the failure and success of FVA adoption in China.
Machiavellianism, Job Autonomy, and Counterproductive Work Behaviouramong Indian Managers

The present study explored the relationship between Machiavellianism and counterproductive work behaviour (CWB) through the lens of the social exchange theory. The present research further aimed at exploring the relationship between the two by introducing job autonomy as the mediator following trait activation theory. The Machiavellian personality scale was used to assess Machiavellianism, whereas a job autonomy scale was used to assess job autonomy, and counterproductive work behaviour was assessed with the help of the CWB questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21 and Smart PLS version 2. Results showed that Machiavellianism is positively associated with counterproductive work behaviour and job autonomy did not act as a moderator in the relationship between the two.