Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterisation and predictability of a strong and a weak forcing severe convective event – a multi-data approach

Two severe summer-time convective events in Germany are investigated which can be classified by the prevailing synoptic conditions into a strong and a weak forcing case. The strong forcing case exhibits a larger scale precipitation pattern caused by frontal ascent whereas scattered convection is dominating the convective activity in the weak forcing case. Other distinguished differences between the cases are faster movement of convective cells and larger regions with significant loss mainly due to severe gusts in the strong forcing case. A comprehensive set of various observations is used to characterise the two different events. The observations include measurements from a lightning detection network, precipitation radar, geostationary satellite and weather stations, as well as information from an automated cell detection algorithm based on radar reflectivity which is combined with severe weather reports, and damage data from insurances. Forecast performance at various time scales is analysed ranging from nowcasting and warning to short-range forecasting. Various methods and models are examined, including human warnings, observation-based nowcasting algorithms and high-resolution ensemble prediction systems. The analysis shows the advantages of a multi-sensor and multi-source approach in characterising convective events and their impacts. Using data from various sources allows to combine the different strengths of observational data sets, especially in terms of spatial coverage or data accuracy, e.g. damage data from insurances provide good spatial coverage with little meteorological information while measurements at weather stations provide accurate but pointwise observations. Furthermore, using data from multiple sources allow for a better understanding of the convective life cycle. Several parameters from different instruments are shown to have a predictive skill for convective development, these include satellite-based cloud-top cooling rates as measure for intensive convective growth, 3D-radar reflectivity, mesocyclone detection from doppler radar, overshooting top detection or lightning jumps to evaluate storm intensification and formation of severe weather. This synergetic approach can help to improve nowcasting algorihtms and thus the warning process. The predictability of the analysed severe convective events differs with different types of forcing which is reflected in both, convective-scale ensemble prediction system forecasts and human weather warnings. Human warnings show larger false alarm rates in the weak forcing case. Ensemble predictions are able to capture the characteristics of the convective precipitation. The forecast skill is connected strongly to the synoptic situation and the presence of large-scale forcing increases the forecast skill. This has to be considered for potential future warn-on-forecast strategies.
Multiple phosphorylated forms of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mcm1 protein include an isoform induced in response to high salt concentrations

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mcm1 protein is an essential multifunctional transcription factor which is highly homologous to human serum response factor. Mcm1 protein acts on a large number of distinctly regulated genes: haploid cell-type-specific genes, G2-cell-cycle-regulated genes, pheromone-induced genes, arginine metabolic genes, and genes important for cell wall and cell membrane function. We show here that Mcm1 protein is phosphorylated in vivo. Several (more than eight) isoforms of Mcm1 protein, resolved by isoelectric focusing, are present in vivo; two major phosphorylation sites lie in the N-terminal 17 amino acids immediately adjacent to the conserved MADS box DNA-binding domain. The implications of multiple species of Mcm1, particularly the notion that a unique Mcm1 isoform could be required for regulation of a specific set of Mcm1's target genes, are discussed. We also show here that Mcm1 plays an important role in the response to stress caused by NaCl. G. Yu, R. J. Deschenes, and J. S. Fassler (J. Biol. Chem. 270:8739-8743, 1995) showed that Mcm1 function is affected by mutations in the SLN1 gene, a signal transduction component implicated in the response to osmotic stress. We find that mcm1 mutations can confer either reduced or enhanced survival on high-salt medium; deletion of the N terminus or mutation in the primary phosphorylation site results in impaired growth on high-salt medium. Furthermore, Mcm1 protein is a target of a signal transduction system responsive to osmotic stress: a new isoform of Mcm1 is induced by NaCl or KCl; this result establishes that Mcm1 itself is regulated.
Women's Aspiration for Leadership - An Experimental Study on Agency and Gender

The present study examined the effect of manipulated (threatened or affirmed) sense of agency on Swedish students’ preference for leadership, by ease of retrieval. Three hundred and twelve students (Mage = 23.04, SD = 2.70) participated in the experiment. The aim of the study was to investigate whether individuals’ leadership preferences was affected by perceived sense of agency. By contrasting a role as a leader and a role as a problem solver, participants rated their interest for each. In total N = 312 participants were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions (threatened agency, affirmed agency or no agency manipulation). The hypothesis that an agency threat should lead to a decreased preference for a leadership role, as compared to a problem solver role, was not supported by the obtained results. Furthermore, men did not show higher preference, as compared to women, for a role as a leader over a role as a problem solver. Possible methodological improvements are discussed, along with suggestions for further research. (Less)
On Excellence and Equity in Higher Education

There is something wrong about the excellence movement in education in the United States today. Fundamentally, it is concerned with how to exclude rather than with how to include. The democratic nation to which we pledge allegiance has as its goal liberty and justice for all. This is an inclusive, not an exclusive, goal. In this age when only one-third of high school graduates go on to college, and only one-fourth of all students in higher education are studying at the doctoral level, the National Commission on Excellence in Education recommended that standardized tests should be used in evaluating students, that such tests should be given annually to all graduating students, and that colleges and universities should raise their standards (presumably to increase their excluding tendencies). ' A recipe for self-destruction is for schools of good learning, including graduate schools, to drive away students who are hungry for learning. We know on the basis of evidence that standardized aptitude tests disproportionately exclude minorities. Some years ago, the University of California system proposed to give more weight to standardized aptitude tests in its admissions decisions. Fortunately at that time, Vilma Martinez, then director of the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, was a regent. She requested that the University of California study the impact of this proposal on students already enrolled, since most had taken standardized aptitude tests anyway, although not required. The new admissions standard would have excluded 10 percent of Hispanics, 9 percent of blacks, and only 2
Protein dynamics and motions in relation to their functions: several case studies and the underlying mechanisms

Proteins are dynamic entities in cellular solution with functions governed essentially by their dynamic personalities. We review several dynamics studies on serine protease proteinase K and HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein to demonstrate the importance of investigating the dynamic behaviors and molecular motions for a complete understanding of their structure–function relationships. Using computer simulations and essential dynamic (ED) analysis approaches, the dynamics data obtained revealed that: (i) proteinase K has highly flexible substrate-binding site, thus supporting the induced-fit or conformational selection mechanism of substrate binding; (ii) Ca2+ removal from proteinase K increases the global conformational flexibility, decreases the local flexibility of substrate-binding region, and does not influence the thermal motion of catalytic triad, thus explaining the experimentally determined decreased thermal stability, reduced substrate affinity, and almost unchanged catalytic activity upon Ca2+ removal; (iii) substrate binding affects the large concerted motions of proteinase K, and the resulting dynamic pocket can be connected to substrate binding, orientation, and product release; (iv) amino acid mutations 375 S/W and 423 I/P of HIV-1 gp120 have distinct effects on molecular motions of gp120, facilitating 375 S/W mutant to assume the CD4-bound conformation, while 423 I/P mutant to prefer for CD4-unliganded state. The mechanisms underlying protein dynamics and protein–ligand binding, including the concept of the free energy landscape (FEL) of the protein–solvent system, how the ruggedness and variability of FEL determine protein’s dynamics, and how the three ligand-binding models, the lock-and-key, induced-fit, and conformational selection are rationalized based on the FEL theory are discussed in depth.
Perception of Congruence between Music and Movement in a Rhythmic Gymnastic Routine

For sports that involve a routine or choreography, music is used either as a background sonic accompaniment or to enhance and synchronize the movement of the athletes. This paper aims to investigate the perception of congruence between movements and music in a rhythmic gymnastics routine from a musical perspective. Contrary to the conventional method of choreographing a routine based on selected music, this research aims to investigate the quality of the routine with existing choreography accompanied by a newly-composed music. A routine performed by a gymnast was recorded and music composed to match the existing choreography based on the recording. Fifty-two participants from a tertiary institution, all music majors, were asked to evaluate two videos which had the same rhythmic gymnastics routine, one with the athlete’s original music and the other edited with the new music. The result shows that a significantly higher percentage of respondents chose the new accompaniment as having better congruence between the music and movement. Most of the respondents also perceived the new composition to be the original music used by the gymnast.
Interaction of Allium sativum leaf agglutinin with midgut brush border membrane vesicles proteins and its stability in Helicoverpa armigera

Allium sativum leaf agglutinin (ASAL) binds to several proteins in the midgut of Helicoverpa armigera and causes toxicity. Most of these were glycosylated. Six ASAL‐binding proteins were selected for identification. PMF and MS/MS data showed their similarity with midgut aminopeptidase APN2, polycalins and alkaline phosphatase of H. armigera, cadherin‐N protein (partial AGAP009726‐PA) of Acyrthosiphon pisum, cytochrome P450 (CYP315A1) of Manduca sexta and alkaline phosphatase of Heliothis virescens. Some of the ASAL‐binding midgut proteins were similar to the larval receptors responsible for the binding of δ‐endotoxin proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis. Galanthus nivalis agglutinin also interacted with most of the ASAL‐binding proteins. The ASAL showed resistance to midgut proteases and was detected in the larval hemolymph and excreta. Immunohistochemical staining revealed the presence of ASAL in the body tissue also.
Electroencephalogram-based control of an electric wheelchair

This paper presents a study on electroencephalogram (EEG)-based control of an electric wheelchair. The objective is to control the direction of an electric wheelchair using only EEG signals. In other words, this is an attempt to use brain signals to control mechanical devices such as wheelchairs. To achieve this goal, we have developed a recursive training algorithm to generate recognition patterns from EEG signals. Our experimental results demonstrate the utility of the proposed recursive training algorithm and the viability of accomplishing direction control of an electric wheelchair by only EEG signals.
Black-box $\alpha$-divergence Minimization

Black-box alpha (BB-$\alpha$) is a new approximate inference method based on the minimization of $\alpha$-divergences. BB-$\alpha$ scales to large datasets because it can be implemented using stochastic gradient descent. BB-$\alpha$ can be applied to complex probabilistic models with little effort since it only requires as input the likelihood function and its gradients. These gradients can be easily obtained using automatic differentiation. By changing the divergence parameter $\alpha$, the method is able to interpolate between variational Bayes (VB) ($\alpha \rightarrow 0$) and an algorithm similar to expectation propagation (EP) ($\alpha = 1$). Experiments on probit regression and neural network regression and classification problems show that BB-$\alpha$ with non-standard settings of $\alpha$, such as $\alpha = 0.5$, usually produces better predictions than with $\alpha \rightarrow 0$ (VB) or $\alpha = 1$ (EP).
Processes by which relationships shape responses to sexual assault disclosures

ii PREFACE . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . viii DEDICATION . x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 PROBLEM SPECIFICATION . 1 CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK . 9 2.1 OVERVIEW . 9 2.2 SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM . 10 2.3 INTERACTIONAL MODEL OF RELATIONSHIPS . 16 2.4 SELF-DISCLOSURE . 18 2.5 SUMMARY . 21 CHAPTER THREE: LITERATURE REVIEW . 22 3.1 SOCIAL REACTIONS . 22 3.2 RELATIONSHIP CHARACTERISTICS AND DISCLOSURE RESPONSES . 22 3.3 CONTEXTUAL FACTORS AND DISCLOSURE RESPONSES . 33 3.4 SUMMARY . 34 3.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS . 35 CHAPTER FOUR: METHOD . 38 4.1 STUDY 1 . 38 4.2 STUDY 2 . 45 4.3 CONCLUSION . 56 CHAPTER FIVE: RESULTS . 57 5.1 OVERVIEW . 57 5.2 STUDY 1 . 57 5.3 STUDY 2 . 70 5.4 SUMMARY . 132 CHAPTER SIX: DISCUSSION . 134 6.1 MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS . 134 6.2 STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS . 144 6.3 PRACTICE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS. 153 6.4 DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH . 160 6.5 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . 163 REFERENCES . 165
Does Firm Innovation Affect Corporate Social Responsibility?

This study examines the relationship between firm innovation and CSR. Stakeholders’ concern over transaction-specific investments exacerbates when firms engage heavily in innovation activities. To secure stakeholders’ support, firms adopt CSR effectively as an ex ante signal of sustainability and goodwill. As CSR is endogenous to a firm’s innovation activities, we rely on an instrumental variable (IV) approach to test our hypothesis. Using a sample of 3,315 U.S. publicly-listed firms from 2001 through 2011, we find that more innovative firms also engage more in CSR activities. This effect is stronger for firms of higher risk and/or operating in a less munificent environment. Additionally, firms with higher innovation reap greater financial benefits from their CSR activities.
American neopaganism : The participants' social identities

Social characteristics of Neopagans from across the United States are described on the basis 643 self-administered questionnaires. A majority of these new religionists are young to middle-aged adults; a slight majority are women; and most of them are white, working-class to middle-class, urbanites. Except for their rejection of traditional religion and selection of this innovative alternative, they are rather ordinary Americans. Neopaganism cannot be explained away by socially marginal participants. Yet, much more research and interpretation will be needed for an adequate scholarly understanding of this increasingly significant and intriguing new American religion.
Discovery of biomarkers predictive of GSI response in triple-negative breast cancer and adenoid cystic carcinoma.

UNLABELLED Next-generation sequencing was used to identify Notch mutations in a large collection of diverse solid tumors. NOTCH1 and NOTCH2 rearrangements leading to constitutive receptor activation were confined to triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC; 6 of 66 tumors). TNBC cell lines with NOTCH1 rearrangements associated with high levels of activated NOTCH1 (N1-ICD) were sensitive to the gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) MRK-003, both alone and in combination with paclitaxel, in vitro and in vivo, whereas cell lines with NOTCH2 rearrangements were resistant to GSI. Immunohistochemical staining of N1-ICD in TNBC xenografts correlated with responsiveness, and expression levels of the direct Notch target gene HES4 correlated with outcome in patients with TNBC. Activating NOTCH1 point mutations were also identified in other solid tumors, including adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Notably, ACC primary tumor xenografts with activating NOTCH1 mutations and high N1-ICD levels were sensitive to GSI, whereas N1-ICD-low tumors without NOTCH1 mutations were resistant. SIGNIFICANCE NOTCH1 mutations, immunohistochemical staining for activated NOTCH1, and HES4 expression are biomarkers that can be used to identify solid tumors that are likely to respond to GSI-based therapies.
Adult BMI Change and Risk of Colon Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

Purpose. We recently reported an association of adult BMI change with colon cancer risk. Here, we sought to further explore this association with respect to postmenopausal HRT use in a larger study population. Methods. We included 1,457 postmenopausal women participating in an ongoing population-based case-control study of colon cancer. Results. We confirmed a previously reported association of adulthood weight gain and increased risk of colon cancer: compared to those with <5 kg/m2 change of BMI, women who reported moderate (5–10 kg/m2) and large (>10 kg/m2) BMI changes since their 20s had OR estimates of 1.54 (95% CI = 1.09–2.19) and 1.45 (95% CI = 0.90–2.33), respectively (P for trend = 0.05). Stratified analyses showed that this association was limited to HRT nonusers: ORs were 1.77 (95% CI = 1.02–3.05) and 2.21 (95% CI = 1.09–4.45), respectively (P for trend = 0.03), for BMI changes occurring between the 20s decade and time of recruitment among non-users. Similar associations were observed for BMI changes since the 30s decade. There was no association among HRT users. Conclusion. Our results suggest early adulthood weight gain increases colon cancer risk in postmenopausal women who do not use HRT.
Functional outcomes of outpatient balance training following total knee replacement in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate whether balance training after total knee replacement surgery improves functional outcomes and to determine whether postoperative balance is associated with mobility. Design: A prospective intervention study and randomized controlled trial with an intention-to-treat analysis. Setting: The rehabilitation center of a university-based teaching hospital. Participants: A total of 130 patients with knee osteoarthritis who had undergone total knee replacement surgery were recruited to attend an outpatient rehabilitation program. They were randomly allocated to additional balance rehabilitation and functional rehabilitation groups. Interventions: During the eight-week outpatient rehabilitation program, both groups received general functional training. Patients in the balance rehabilitation group received an additional balance-based rehabilitation program. Primary outcome measures: The functional reach test, single-leg stance test, 10-m walk test, Timed Up and Go Test, timed chair-stand test, stair-climb test, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index were measured at baseline, eight weeks (T1), and 32 weeks (T2). Results: The balance rehabilitation group patients demonstrated significant improvement in the results of the functional reach test at T1 (37.6 ±7.8 cm) and T2 (39.3 ±9.7 cm) compared with the baseline assessment (11.5 ±2.9 cm) and Timed Up and Go Test at T1 (8.9 ±1.2 seconds) and T2 (8.0 ±1.9 seconds) compared with the baseline assessment (12.5 ±1.8 seconds). Moreover, the balance rehabilitation group patients exhibited significantly greater improvements in balance and mobility than did the functional rehabilitation group patients (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, improved balance was significantly associated with improved mobility at T2. Conclusion: Postoperative outpatient rehabilitation with balance training improves the balance, mobility, and functional outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis after total knee replacement.
Drosophila Niemann-Pick Type C-2 genes control sterol homeostasis and steroid biosynthesis: a model of human neurodegenerative disease

Mutations in either of the two human Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) genes, NPC1 and NPC2, cause a fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with abnormal cholesterol accumulation in cells. npc1a, the Drosophila NPC1 ortholog, regulates sterol homeostasis and is essential for molting hormone (20-hydroxyecdysone; 20E) biosynthesis. While only one npc2 gene is present in yeast, worm, mouse and human genomes, a family of eight npc2 genes (npc2a-h) exists in Drosophila. Among the encoded proteins, Npc2a has the broadest expression pattern and is most similar in sequence to vertebrate Npc2. Mutation of npc2a results in abnormal sterol distribution in many cells, as in Drosophila npc1a or mammalian NPC mutant cells. In contrast to the ecdysteroid-deficient, larval-lethal phenotype of npc1a mutants, npc2a mutants are viable and fertile with relatively normal ecdysteroid level. Mutants in npc2b, another npc2 gene, are also viable and fertile, with no significant sterol distribution abnormality. However, npc2a; npc2b double mutants are not viable but can be rescued by feeding the mutants with 20E or cholesterol, the basic precursor of 20E. We conclude that npc2a functions redundantly with npc2b in regulating sterol homeostasis and ecdysteroid biosynthesis, probably by controlling the availability of sterol substrate. Moreover, npc2a; npc2b double mutants undergo apoptotic neurodegeneration, thus constituting a new fly model of human neurodegenerative disease.