Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dog and Cat Interactions in a Remote Aboriginal Community

Simple Summary Australian remote Aboriginal communities commonly have large, free-roaming dog populations and relatively small cat populations. However, cats are becoming increasingly popular pets in these communities and it is essential to determine their potential impacts on wildlife to inform animal management practices. In a small island community, this study provided baseline population demographics and investigated dog and cat roaming behaviours and interspecific interactions. The dog population, estimated at 343 dogs, showed active periods at dawn and dusk. The cat population had doubled in 6 months to approximately 83 cats. Cats were observed roaming mainly from dawn until dusk, possibly avoiding periods when dogs were most active. The majority of cats were observed nonroaming. Three cats, however, were captured roaming during the night when all flightless wildlife were observed on our camera traps, suggesting potential impact on local wildlife through their hunting activities. These baseline data provide evidence on which to base management programs that include cats and their impacts on native wildlife. Further research using the multiple methods piloted in this study are warranted to monitor dog and cat populations and their interactions in this island community. Abstract This study examined dog and cat demographics, roaming behaviours, and interspecific interactions in a remote Aboriginal island community using multiple methods. Our results revealed temporal differences between the roaming behaviours of dogs, cats, and wildlife. Dogs showed crepuscular behaviour, being active around dawn (5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) and dusk (6:00 p.m. and 11:35 p.m.). The majority of cats were active between dawn (6:30 a.m.) and dusk (7:30 p.m.) and travelled shorter distances than dogs. However, some cats were also observed roaming between dusk and dawn, and were likely to be hunting since flightless wildlife were also recorded on our remote-sensing cameras during this time. These baseline data provide evidence to suggest that new management programs are needed to reduce the number of roaming cats and therefore their potential impacts on native wildlife. Collaborations between Aboriginal owners and other stakeholders is necessary to design innovative and effective animal management and policy on the island.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW A WELFARE ANALYSIS OF SPECTRUM ALLOCATION POLICIES

Economic analysis of spectrum allocation policies focuses on competitive bidding for wireless licenses. Auctions generating high bids, as in Germany and the UK, are identified as “successful,” while those producing lower receipts, as in Switzerland and the Netherlands, are deemed “fiascoes. ” Yet, even full and costless extraction of license rents does not map directly to social welfare, because spectrum policies creating rents impose social costs. For example, rules favoring monopoly market structure predictably increase license values, but reduce welfare. This paper attempts to shift analytical focus to the relationship between spectrum policy (including license auctions) and efficiency in output markets. In cross-country comparisons of performance metrics in mobile telephone service markets, empirical estimates suggest that countries allocating greater bandwidth to licensed operators and achieving more competitive market structures realize demonstrable social welfare benefits. These gains generally dominate efficiencies associated with license sales. Spectrum policies and rules intended to increase auction receipts (e.g. reserve prices and subsidies for weak bidders), should be evaluated in this light.
Use of the mechanical in-exsufflator in pediatric patients with neuromuscular disease and impaired cough.

BACKGROUND Impaired cough secondary to weakness from neuromuscular disease (NMD) can cause serious respiratory complications, including atelectasis, pneumonia, small airway obstruction, and acidosis. The mechanical in-exsufflator (MI-E) delivers a positive-pressure insufflation followed by an expulsive exsufflation, thereby simulating a normal cough. Use of the MI-E in adults with impaired cough results in improved cough flows and enhanced airway clearance. However, only limited reports of MI-E use in children exist. OBJECTIVE To determine the safety, tolerance, and effectiveness of the MI-E in a pediatric population. METHOD Retrospective medical record review. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-two patients (34 male patients) observed in a pediatric pulmonary program with NMD and impaired cough in whom MI-E therapy was initiated. Median age at initiation of MI-E use was 11.3 years (range, 3 months to 28.6 years). Diagnoses included the following: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (17 patients); spinal muscular atrophy, types I and II (21 patients); myopathy (12 patients); other nonspecific NMD (12 patients). Mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy was used in 29 patients, and 25 patients used noninvasive ventilation. RESULTS The median duration of use was 13.4 months (range, 0.5 to 45.5 months). One infant died before using MI-E at home. Five patients chose not to continue MI-E therapy. Complications were reported in two patients, but ultimately they used the MI-E device. Chronic atelectasis resolved in four patients after beginning MI-E therapy, and five patients experienced a reduction in the frequency of pneumonias. CONCLUSION In 90% of our study population, the use of an MI-E was safe, well-tolerated, and effective in preventing pulmonary complications.
La Détresse Psychologique dans la Population du Québec non Institutionnalisée: Résultats Normatifs de L'enquête Santé Québec

Based on the results of the Santé Québec survey, this article describes the normative values of the psychological distress indices developed as part of the Santé Québec survey (IDPESQ-29 and IDPESQ-14) for the reference population as a whole, women and men separately, and for certain age groups.
Association of serum vitamin D level with age in individuals with normal renal function

There is no sufficient data on the relation between vitamin D status and age in subjects with normal renal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations with age of Iranian healthy individuals. The data were collected from 259 ambulant healthy medical staffs who had the inclusion criteria of the study. Fasting 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was measured. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as having a 25(OH)D concentration <25 nmol/L. The average of persons ages were 20–65 years with mean age of 34±9 years, and about 57.5% of the participants were female. The mean±SD vitamin D level of the subjects was 29±16 nmol/L (median=26 nmol/L). Also 48% of the individuals had vitamin D deficiency. In this study, there was no association between vitamin D level and gender of the participants. A significant positive correlation of age with vitamin D level was found (r =0.002). It seems that for evaluation of 25-OH-vit D status, age should be noticed.
CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein \(\gamma\) Is a Critical Regulator of IL-1\(\beta\)-Induced IL-6 Production in Alveolar Epithelial Cells

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein c (C/EBP c ) is a member of the C/EBP family of transcription factors, which lacks known activation domains. C/EBP c was originally described as an inhibitor of C/EBP transactivation potential. However, previous study demonstrates that C/EBP c augments the C/EBP b stimulatory activity in lipopolysaccharide induction of IL-6 promoter in a B lymphoblast cell line. These data indicate a complexing functional role for C/EBP c in regulating gene expression. Furthermore, the expression and function of C/EBP c during inflammation are still largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that C/EBP c activation was induced by IL-1 b treatment in lung epithelial cells. Importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that C/EBP c plays a critical role in regulating IL-1 b -induced IL-6 expression in both mouse primary alveolar type II epithelial cells and a lung epithelial cell line, MLE12. We further provide the evidence that C/EBP c inhibits IL-6 expression by inhibiting C/EBP b but not NF- k B stimulatory activity in MLE12 cells. These findings suggest that C/EBP c is a key transcription factor that regulates the IL-6 expression in alveolar epithelial cells, and may play an important regulatory role in lung inflammatory responses. for C/EBP c in the AECII inflammatory responses. Inflammatory stimuli in the lung such as IL-1 b trigger activation of AECII. AECII activation is characterized by increased nuclear translocation, DNA binding of transcription factors such as NF- k B and C/EBP b , and subsequent production of the pro- inflammatory mediators such as IL-6. This inflammatory response is endogenously regulated by the dominant-negative members of the same family of transcription factors such as C/EBP c by forming homodimmers themselves and heterodimmers with C/EBP b to compete with C/EBP b : b dimmers to bind to promoter regions.
GEODYNAMIC REGIMES AND TECTONIC SETTINGS FOR METAMORPHISM: RELATIONSHIP TO THE SUPERCONTINENT CYCLE

Metamorphism associated with orogenesis provides a mineral record that may be inverted to yield ambient apparent thermal gradients. On modern Earth, tectonic settings with lower thermal gradients are characteristic of subduction zones whereas those with higher thermal gradients are characteristic of backarcs and orogenic hinterlands. The duality of thermal environments reflects the asymmetry of one-sided subduction, which is the hallmark of modern plate tectonics; a duality of metamorphic belts is the characteristic imprint of one-sided subduction in the geological record. Apparent thermal gradients derived from inversion of age-constrained metamorphic P-T data may be used to identify tectonic settings of ancient metamorphism and to evaluate Precambrian geodynamic regimes. The Neoarchean records the first occurrences of granulite facies ultra-high temperature metamorphism (G-UHTM) and medium-temperature eclogite-high-pressure granulite metamorphism (E-HPGM), signifying a change in geodynamics that generated sites of higher and lower heat flow than those implied by apparent thermal gradients recovered from the older geological record. GUHTM is dominantly a Neoarchean-Cambrian phenomenon inferred to have developed in settings analogous to backarcs and orogenic hinterlands. In addition to Proterozoic occurrences, E-HPGM is common in the Paleozoic Caledonides and Variscides, and is inferred to record subduction-to-collision orogenesis. The occurrence of G-UHTM and E-HPGM belts since the Neoarchean signifies a change to one-sided subduction of oceanic lithosphere, possibly beginning as early as the Paleoarchean, and widespread transfer of water into the upper mantle. This change registers the beginning of a 'Proterozoic plate tectonics regime' that evolved during a Neoproterozoic transition to the 'modern plate tectonics regime' characterized by colder apparent thermal gradients and deep subduction of continental crust. The age distribution of metamorphic belts is not uniform, recording amalgamation of continental lithosphere into supercratons or supercontinents.
On Radial two-species Onsager vortices near the critical temperature

We compare two mean field equations describing hydrodynamic turbulence in equilibrium, which are derived under a deterministic vs.\ stochastic assumption on the variable vortex intensity distribution. Mathematically, such equations correspond to non-local Liouville type problems, and the critical temperature corresponds to the optimal Moser-Trudinger constant. We consider the radial case and we assume that the inverse temperature is near its critical value. Under these assumptions we show that, unlike previously existing results, the qualitative properties of the solution set in the deterministic case is more similar to the single vortex intensity case than the stochastic case. Some new variational interpretations of the value explicit values of the critical temperature are also provided.
Improvements in Heart Rate Variability, Baroreflex Sensitivity, and Sleep After Use of Closed-Loop Allostatic Neurotechnology by a Heterogeneous Cohort

Background Heart rate variability (HRV) is an indicator of dynamic adaptability of the autonomic nervous system. Few interventions target upstream, cerebral cortex components of the heart–brain system for autonomic management. We report changes in HRV and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), associated with use of a noninvasive, closed-loop, allostatic, computer-guided, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology. Methods Over 5 years, 220 subjects with heterogeneous neurological, cardiovascular, and psychophysiological conditions consecutively enrolled in a naturalistic, single-arm study exploring clinical effects associated with use of the neurotechnology. Of those, 202 completed the study protocol and 160 had recordings adequate to analyze HRV and BRS. Mean age was 44.0 (SD 19.4), with 130 women. Participants received a mean of 16.1 (5.2) sessions, over 24.2 days (23.3), with 9.5 (3.8) actual intervention days. Sessions included real-time analysis of brain electrical activity and software algorithm-guided translation of selected frequencies into patterns of acoustic stimulation (audible tones of variable pitch and timing), to facilitate auto-calibration of neural oscillations. Outcomes including 10-min supine, at-rest recordings of blood pressure and heart rate, and inventories for insomnia (ISI) and depression (CES-D or BDI-II), were obtained at baseline and 15.3 (16.7) days after the last session. Results Compared to baseline, significant increases (all p < 0.001) were observed for measures of HRV across all participants including the mean percentage change for SDNN 24.2% (SE 0.04), and RMSSD, 42.2% (0.08), and BRS [Sequence Up, 55.5% (0.09), Sequence Down, 77.6% (0.23), and Sequence All, 53.7% (0.07)]. Significant improvements were noted in SAP, MAP, and DAP, as well as natural log of HF, and total power. Self-reported ISI was reduced (ISI, −6.4 points, SD 5.6, p < 0.001). The proportion reporting clinically significant depressive symptoms reduced from 48.2% at baseline to 22.1% at follow-up. Linear regression showed that rightward asymmetry predicted lower SDNN (p = 0.02). Exploratory analysis showed a trend for improved balance of temporal lobe high-frequency amplitudes over the course of initial sessions. Conclusion These findings indicate that use of a noninvasive, allostatic, closed-loop neurotechnology appears to have robust potential for public health efforts to support greater flexibility in autonomic cardiovascular regulation, through self-optimization of electrical activity at the level of the brain.
Long-term macrobioerosion in the Mediterranean Sea assessed by micro-computed tomography

Abstract. Biological erosion is a key process for the recycling of carbonate and the formation of calcareous sediments in the oceans. Experimental studies showed that bioerosion is subject to distinct temporal variability, but previous long-term studies were restricted to tropical waters. Here, we present results from a 14-year bioerosion experiment that was carried out along the rocky limestone coast of the island of Rhodes, Greece, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, in order to monitor the pace at which bioerosion affects carbonate substrate and the sequence of colonisation by bioeroding organisms. Internal macrobioerosion was visualised and quantified by micro-computed tomography and computer-algorithm-based segmentation procedures. Analysis of internal macrobioerosion traces revealed a dominance of bioeroding sponges producing eight types of characteristic Entobia cavity networks, which were matched to five different clionaid sponges by spicule identification in extracted tissue. The morphology of the entobians strongly varied depending on the species of the producing sponge, its ontogenetic stage, available space, and competition by other bioeroders. An early community developed during the first 5 years of exposure with initially very low macrobioerosion rates and was followed by an intermediate stage when sponges formed large and more diverse entobians and bioerosion rates increased. After 14 years, 30 % of the block volumes were occupied by boring sponges, yielding maximum bioerosion rates of 900 g m−2 yr−1. A high spatial variability in macrobioerosion prohibited clear conclusions about the onset of macrobioerosion equilibrium conditions. This highlights the necessity of even longer experimental exposures and higher replication at various factor levels in order to better understand and quantify temporal patterns of macrobioerosion in marine carbonate environments.
#nowplaying Music Dataset: Extracting Listening Behavior from Twitter

The extraction of information from online social networks has become popular in both industry and academia as these data sources allow for innovative applications. However, in the area of music recommender systems and music information retrieval, respective data is hardly exploited. In this paper, we present the #nowplaying dataset, which leverages social media for the creation of a diverse and constantly updated dataset, which describes the music listening behavior of users. For the creation of the dataset, we rely on Twitter, which is frequently facilitated for posting which music the respective user is currently listening to. From such tweets, we extract track and artist information and further metadata. The dataset currently comprises 49 million listening events, 144,011 artists, 1,346,203 tracks and 4,150,615 users which makes it considerably larger than existing datasets.
The efficacy of local infiltration analgesia in the early postoperative period after total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) has emerged as an alternative treatment for postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Its efficacy remains inconclusive with inconsistent results from previous studies and meta-analyses. There is no agreement on which local anaesthetic agent and infiltration technique is most effective and well tolerated. OBJECTIVE The objective was to compare LIA after primary TKA with placebo or no infiltration in terms of early postoperative pain relief, mobilisation, length of hospital stay (LOS) and complications when used as a primary treatment or as an adjunct to regional anaesthesia. The role of injection sites, postoperative injection or infusion and multimodal drug injection with ketorolac were also explored. DESIGN A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES A literature search was performed using PubMed and SCOPUS up to September 2015. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA RCTs comparing LIA with placebo or no infiltration after primary TKA in terms of pain score and opioid consumption at 24 and 48 h, mobilisation, LOS and complications were included. RESULTS In total 38 RCTs were included. LIA groups had lower pain scores, opioid consumption and postoperative nausea and vomiting, higher range of motion at 24 h and shorter LOS than no injection or placebo. After subgroup analysis, intraoperative peri-articular but not intra-articular injection had lower pain score at 24 h than no injection or placebo with the pooled mean difference of pain score at rest of −0.89 [95% CI (−1.40 to −0.38); I2 = 92.0%]. Continuing with postoperative injection or infusion reduced 24-h pain score with the pooled mean difference at rest of −1.50 [95% CI (−1.92 to −1.08); I2 = 60.5%]. There was no additional benefit in terms of pain relief during activity, opioid consumption, range of movement or LOS when LIA was used as an adjunct to regional anaesthesia. Four out of 735 patients receiving LIA reported deep knee infection, three of whom had had postoperative catheter placement. CONCLUSION LIA is effective for acute pain management after TKA. Intraoperative peri-articular but not intra-articular injection may be helpful in pain control up to 24 h. The use of postoperative intra-articular catheter placement is still inconclusive. The benefit of LIA as an adjunctive treatment to regional anaesthesia was not demonstrated.
Convergence of Limited Communication Gradient Methods

Distributed optimization increasingly plays a central role in economical and sustainable operation of cyber-physical systems. Nevertheless, the complete potential of the technology has not yet been fully exploited in practice due to communication limitations posed by the real-world infrastructures. This work investigates fundamental properties of distributed optimization based on gradient methods, where gradient information is communicated using a limited number of bits. In particular, a general class of quantized gradient methods are studied, where the gradient direction is approximated by a finite quantization set. Sufficient and necessary conditions are provided on such a quantization set to guarantee that the methods minimize any convex objective function with Lipschitz continuous gradient and a nonempty and bounded set of optimizers. A lower bound on the cardinality of the quantization set is provided, along with specific examples of minimal quantizations. Convergence rate results are established that connect the fineness of the quantization and the number of iterations needed to reach a predefined solution accuracy. Generalizations of the results to a relevant class of constrained problems using projections are considered. Finally, the results are illustrated by simulations of practical systems.
Wellbeing and Engagement in Policing: The Key to Unlocking Discretionary Effort?

In a rapidly changing policing landscape in the UK, this research seeks to test the relationships between wellbeing, engagement, and discretionary effort. Data were garnered from the use of a wellbeing psychometric instrument known as A Short Stress Evaluation Tool, which measures job perceptions, attitudes towards work, and general health. It is also used to construct an engagement metric that draws out behaviours considered congruent with discretionary effort attributes. Regression models show that employees feel that if they have better Control, Job Conditions, and feel more Secure in their job, and that their job does not Change for Changes Sake; that they are more likely to offer up greater levels of discretionary effort. Interestingly, there were significant differences in the categories of Workload and Job Conditions dependent on age. In this study dimensions that had no significant effect on discretionary effort were found to be Resources and Communications, Work Relationships, and having a Balanced Workload. Rather than assume what seems to be the commonly accepted case, this research provides an evidence-base for policing that supports the notion that high levels of discretionary effort are an outcome of successful workplace wellbeing and engagement practices; giving police leaders a valuable insight into what works.
Sarcopenia among patients receiving hemodialysis: weighing the evidence

There is no consensus on how best to define low muscle mass in patients with end‐stage renal disease. Use of muscle mass normalized to height‐squared has been suggested by geriatric societies but may underestimate sarcopenia, particularly in the setting of excess adiposity. We compared four definitions of low muscle mass in a prevalent hemodialysis cohort.