Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rough faults, distributed weakening, and off-fault deformation

[1] We report systematic spatial variations in fault rocks along nonplanar strike-slip faults cross-cutting the Lake Edison Granodiorite, Sierra Nevada, California (Sierran wavy fault) and Lobbia outcrops of the Adamello Batholith in the Italian Alps (Lobbia wavy fault). In the case of the Sierran fault, pseudotachylyte formed at contractional fault bends, where it is found as thin (1–2 mm) fault-parallel veins. Epidote and chlorite developed in the same seismic context as the pseudotachylyte and are especially abundant in extensional fault bends. We argue that the presence of fluids, as illustrated by this example, does not necessarily preclude the development of frictional melt. In the case of the Lobbia fault, pseudotachylyte thickness varies along the length of the fault, but the pseudotachylyte veins thicken and pool in extensional bends. We conduct a quantitative analysis of fault roughness, microcrack distribution, stress, and friction along the Lobbia fault. Numerical modeling results show that opening in extensional bends and localized thermal weakening in contractional bends counteract resistance encountered by fault waviness, resulting in an overall weaker fault than suggested by the corresponding static friction coefficient. The models also predict static stress redistribution around bends in the faults which is consistent with distribution of microcracks, indicating significant elastic and inelastic strain energy is dissipated into the wall rocks due to nonplanar fault geometry. Together these observations suggest that damage and energy dissipation occurs along the entire nonplanar fault during slip, rather than being confined to the region close to the dynamically propagating crack tip.
Systematic design for optimization of high-resolution pipelined ADCs

Pipelining is the promising approach to implement high-speed medium-to-high resolution analog-to-digital converters with minimum power consumption. In this paper, the most important specifications of a pipelined ADC including the signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio and spurious-free dynamic range as well as the total current consumption of the converter are presented in closed-form equations and an optimization methodology for design of pipelined ADCs is suggested. Simulation results confirming the effectiveness of the methodology are presented.
The patient-centredness of consultations and outcome in primary care.

BACKGROUND There is general support for general practitioners (GPs) using patient-centred styles. However, there is limited British evidence of beneficial outcomes for patients from such styles. AIM To explore whether, for patients presenting for new episodes of care, the GP's consulting style, specifically the patient-centredness of the consultation, is related to five generic outcomes. METHOD General practitioners in South Wales were recruited, and one surgery consulting session was audiotape recorded for each participating clinician. Questionnaires were given to consenting patients before their consultations, immediately afterwards, and, by post, at two weeks to measure the following outcomes: doctor-patient agreement (on the nature of the problem and management), patient satisfaction, resolution of symptoms, resolution of concerns, and functional health status. From the patients consulting for a new episode of care and completing all three questionnaires, one patient was selected at random for each GP and the audiotape of their consultation rated for patient-centredness. Statistical analysis employed correlation coefficients and t-tests, followed by multiple regression and logistic regression to control for potential confounders. RESULTS In total, 143 patients consulting 143 GPs were studied. The patient-centred score was positively and statistically significantly associated with patient satisfaction (Pearson correlation = 0.28; P = 0.002). No other associations were found with the other outcomes measured. CONCLUSION The study presents evidence that patient-centred styles of consulting produce benefits in terms of increased patient satisfaction for patients consulting for new episodes of care in Britain.
Arabidopsis flower specific defense gene expression patterns affect resistance to pathogens

We investigated whether the Arabidopsis flower evolved protective measures to increase reproductive success. Firstly, analyses of available transcriptome data show that the most highly expressed transcripts in the closed sepal (stage 12) are enriched in genes with roles in responses to chemical stimuli and cellular metabolic processes. At stage 15, there is enrichment in transcripts with a role in responses to biotic stimuli. Comparative analyses between the sepal and petal in the open flower mark an over-representation of transcripts with a role in responses to stress and catalytic activity. Secondly, the content of the biotic defense-associated phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) in sepals and petals is significantly higher than in leaves. To understand whether the high levels of stress responsive transcripts and the higher SA content affect defense, wild-type plants (Col-0) and transgenic plants defective in SA accumulation (nahG) were challenged with the biotrophic fungus Golovinomyces cichoracearum, the causal agent of powdery mildew, and the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea. NahG leaves were more sensitive than those of Col-0, suggesting that in leaves SA has a role in the defense against biotrophs. In contrast, sepals and petals of both genotypes were resistant to G. cichoracearum, indicating that in the flower, resistance to the biotrophic pathogen is not critically dependent on SA, but likely dependent on the up-regulation of stress-responsive genes. Since sepals and petals of both genotypes are equally susceptible to B. cinerea, we conclude that neither stress-response genes nor increased SA accumulation offers protection against the necrotrophic pathogen. These results are interpreted in the light of the distinctive role of the flower and we propose that in the early stages, the sepal may act as a chemical defense barrier of the developing reproductive structures against biotrophic pathogens.
Gender on definite pronouns

This paper explores some issues related to the interpretation of gender on definite pronouns. Gender in definite pronouns (i.e. personal and demonstrative pronouns) may either reflect the gender of the noun of the antecedent (grammatical gender) or a property of the referent (natural gender). We can note, across languages, that natural gender may override grammatical gender for persons but not for inanimates. I explain this by assuming that neuter natural gender means lack of descriptive content, the inanimate interpretation arising from an implicature, and that a general principle requires pronouns to bear a descriptive specification whenever possible (this specification can be represented either by nominal anaphora or by the descriptive content of natural gender). It follows that neuter natural gender is only used for entities which do not fall under a nominal concept (propositional objects, denoted by clauses, and uncategorized perceptual objects). In languages with the two-fold opposition masculine/feminine, special pronouns lacking grammatical gender (the so-called call ‘neuter pronouns’) are used for entities which do not fall under a nominal concept. Romanian patterns with these languages, which supports the idea that Romanian does not have a three-gender system, but a two-gender one. Having established that in Romanian the category of Gender does not have more than two values, I discuss several possible analyses of the so-called ‘neuter’ nouns in this language, concluding that genders must be distinguished from nominal agreement classes, as proposed by Corbett (1991). Romanian can be described as having two genders and three nominal classes. A minimalist formalization of this distinction is put forth, which is based on Ritter’s (1993) proposal that Gender is generated on Num in Romance languages.
Natriuretic peptide receptor-3 underpins the disparate regulation of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by C-type natriuretic peptide

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE C‐type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is an endothelium‐derived vasorelaxant, exerting anti‐atherogenic actions in the vasculature and salvaging the myocardium from ischaemic injury. The cytoprotective effects of CNP are mediated in part via the Gi‐coupled natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)3. As GPCRs are well‐known to control cell proliferation, we investigated if NPR3 activation underlies effects of CNP on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell mitogenesis.
Generalized fast on-the-fly composition algorithm for WFST-based speech recognition

This paper describes a Generalized Fast On-the-ﬂy Composition (GFOC) algorithm for Weighted Finite-State Transducers (WFSTs) in speech recognition. We already proposed the original version of GFOC, which yields fast and memory-efﬁcient decoding using two WFSTs. GFOC enables fast on-the-ﬂy composition of three or more WFSTs during decoding. In many cases, it is actually difﬁcult or impossible to organize an entire transduction process of speech recognition using only one or two WFST(s) since some types of models considerably enlarge after written in WFST form. For example, a class n -gram model often results in a large WFST which is several times larger than a word n -gram model for the same vocabulary. GFOC makes it possible to use such a model after decomposing it into small multiple WFSTs. In a spontaneous speech transcription task, we evaluated the size of WFSTs, decoding speed, and word accuracy of several decoding approaches. The results show that GFOC with three or more WFSTs is an efﬁcient algorithm when using a class-based language model.
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Myocardial Infarction in Mice by Late Gadolinium Enhancement Mr Imaging Using an Inversion Recovery Pulse Sequence at 9.4t

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of using an inversion recovery pulse sequence and to define the optimal inversion time (TI) to assess myocardial infarction in mice by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI at 9.4T, and to obtain the maximal contrast between the infarcted and the viable myocardium. Methods: MRI was performed at 9.4T in mice, two days after induction of myocardial infarction (n = 4). For cardiovascular MR imaging, a segmented magnetization-prepared fast low angle shot (MP-FLASH) sequence was used with varied TIs ranging from 40 to 420 ms following administration of gadolinium-DTPA at 0.6 mmol/kg. Contrast-to-noise (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were measured and compared for each myocardial region of interest (ROI). Results: The optimal TI, which corresponded to a minimum SNR in the normal myocardium, was 268 ms ± 27.3. The SNR in the viable myocardium was significantly different from that found in the infarcted myocardium (17.2 ± 2.4 vs 82.1 ± 10.8; p = 0.006) leading to a maximal relative SI (Signal Intensity) between those two areas (344.9 ± 60.4). Conclusion: Despite the rapid heart rate in mice, our study demonstrates that LGE MRI can be performed at 9.4T using a protocol similar to the one used for clinical MR diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
On the extreme rainfall of Typhoon Morakot (2009)

[1] Typhoon Morakot (2009), a devastating tropical cyclone (TC) that made landfall in Taiwan from 7 to 9 August 2009, produced the highest recorded rainfall in southern Taiwan in the past 50 years. This study examines the factors that contributed to the heavy rainfall. It is found that the amount of rainfall in Taiwan was nearly proportional to the reciprocal of TC translation speed rather than the TC intensity. Morakot's landfall on Taiwan occurred concurrently with the cyclonic phase of the intraseasonal oscillation, which enhanced the background southwesterly monsoonal flow. The extreme rainfall was caused by the very slow movement of Morakot both in the landfall and in the postlandfall periods and the continuous formation of mesoscale convection with the moisture supply from the southwesterly flow. A composite study of 19 TCs with similar track to Morakot shows that the uniquely slow translation speed of Morakot was closely related to the northwestward-extending Pacific subtropical high (PSH) and the broad low-pressure systems (associated with Typhoon Etau and Typhoon Goni) surrounding Morakot. Specifically, it was caused by the weakening steering flow at high levels that primarily resulted from the weakening PSH, an approaching short-wave trough, and the northwestward-tilting Etau. After TC landfall, the circulation of Goni merged with the southwesterly flow, resulting in a moisture conveyer belt that transported moisture-laden air toward the east-northeast. Significant mesoscale convection occurred on a long-lived east-west-oriented convergence line and on the mountain slope in southern Taiwan. This convective line was associated with large low-level moisture flux convergence caused by the northwesterly circulation of Morakot and the southwesterly flow. It is thus suggested that the long duration of Typhoon Morakot in the Taiwan area, the interaction of southwest monsoon and typhoon circulation, the mesoscale convection, and the presence of terrain are the key factors in generating the tremendous rainfall.
Low‐frequency meandering of the Atlantic North Equatorial Countercurrent

Four 19-month time series of indirect measurements of dynamic height were obtained in the tropical Atlantic along 28°W at 0°, 3°, 6°, and 9°N with three inverted echo sounders and one current meter mooring. The series were analyzed to study the time-latitude variability of the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC). The eastward flow associated with the NECC was present at 28°W from 3° to 9°N during most of the observed period except in March-April 1983 and April-May 1984, periods that coincided with the onset of the wind at the equator. The amplitude of the NECC's annual cycle was maximum at 6°N and was larger in 1983 than in 1984. The analysis of the time-latitude variability of differences in dynamic height shows a long-period meridional shift of the NECC. The core of the current attains its northernmost location during August-September in both years and its southernmost location during March-April in 1983 and March in 1984. The location of the core is directly related to the position of the intertropical convergence zone. From the time series of dynamic height obtained from the indirect measurements, geostrophic velocities and transports were estimated and compared with direct observations of currents and values obtained from hydrographic casts.
Contrasting Metabolism in Perenniating Structures of Upland and Lowland Switchgrass Plants Late in the Growing Season

Background Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is being developed as a bioenergy crop for many temperate regions of the world. One way to increase biomass yields is to move southern adapted lowland cultivars to more northern latitudes. However, many southerly adapted switchgrass germplasm can suffer significant winter kill in northerly climes. Materials and Methods Here, we have applied next-generation sequencing in combination with biochemical analyses to query the metabolism of crowns and rhizomes obtained from two contrasting switchgrass cultivars. Crowns and rhizomes from field-grown lowland (cv Kanlow) and upland (cv Summer) switchgrass cultivars were collected from three randomly selected post-flowering plants. Summer plants were senescing, whereas Kanlow plants were not at this harvest date. Results Principal component analysis (PCA) differentiated between both the Summer and Kanlow transcriptomes and metabolomes. Significant differences in transcript abundances were detected for 8,050 genes, including transcription factors such as WRKYs and those associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Gene-set enrichment analyses showed that a number of pathways were differentially up-regulated in the two populations. For both populations, protein levels and enzyme activities agreed well with transcript abundances for genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway that were up-regulated in Kanlow crowns and rhizomes. The combination of these datasets suggests that dormancy-related mechanisms had been triggered in the crowns and rhizomes of the Summer plants, whereas the crowns and rhizomes of Kanlow plants had yet to enter dormancy. Conclusions Delayed establishment of dormancy at more northerly latitudes could be one factor that reduces winter-survival in the high-yielding Kanlow plants. Understanding the cellular signatures that accompany the transition to dormancy can be used in the future to select plants with improved winter hardiness.
Existential needs of people with psychotic disorders in Pôrto Alegre, Brazil

Background Needs for care in service users with schizophrenia are often defined by professionals and focus on basic needs for health and social care rather than broader existential issues. Aims To examine the perceptions of users and formal and informal carers of the needs of people with non-affective psychosis. Method A qualitative study was conducted involving focus groups of service users and informal and formal carers in a major Brazilian city Results Existential needs were the most important theme for people with psychotic disorders. Informal and formal carers mainly regarded such needs as secondary to needs for health, housing, leisure and work. Carers usually reduced the existential questioning of the ill person to symptoms or the result of a privation such as lack or failure of medication and its consequences. Conclusions We require an approach to service users wherein respect and understanding are prized as the first needs from which all others will naturally follow. We also need to give greater priority to existential issues in validated schedules that measure needs in clinical work and research.
Laparoscopic gastric banding in older patients.

HYPOTHESIS Older patients experience the same benefits from a laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB) operation as younger patients. DESIGN A case series of 320 morbidly obese and superobese patients who underwent LGB within a 46-month period. SETTING University Hospital Innsbruck, General Surgical Department, Innsbruck, Austria. PATIENTS A consecutive sample of 320 patients who met the criteria for a bariatric procedure and were aged 18 years or older. Patients were divided into the following 2 age groups: younger patients (group A, 18-49 years) and older patients (group B, > or =50 years). INTERVENTION Laparoscopic gastric banding with an adjustable gastric band. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinicopathologic features, including weight loss, complications, length of hospital stay, and operative times, were reviewed retrospectively, and a multivariate analysis was carried out. RESULTS Of 320 patients, we identified 68 older patients (21.5%, group B). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 12 months (range, 6-28 months). The average preoperative weight was 127.8 kg (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], 44.29). The average total weight loss was 4.3 kg per month for the first 3 months, reaching an average total of 31.0 kg after 1 year. The excess weight loss after 12 months was 68%. Complications requiring reoperation occurred in 10.3% of patients. Ninety-seven percent of the patients reported an improvement in their comorbid conditions. CONCLUSIONS Older patients receive the same benefits from LGB as younger patients, with an acceptable postoperative complication rate. Presently, our upper age limit is 70 years.
Production of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antigens in Plants Using Bamboo Mosaic Virus-Based Vector

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is among the major threats to public health in Asia. For disease control and prevention, the efficient production of safe and effective vaccines against JEV is in urgent need. In this study, we produced a plant-made JEV vaccine candidate using a chimeric virus particle (CVP) strategy based on bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) for epitope presentation. The chimeric virus, designated BJ2A, was constructed by fusing JEV envelope protein domain III (EDIII) at the N-terminus of BaMV coat protein, with an insertion of the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A peptide to facilitate the production of both unfused and epitope-presenting for efficient assembly of the CVP vaccine candidate. The strategy allowed stable maintenance of the fusion construct over long-term serial passages in plants. Immuno-electron microscopy examination and immunization assays revealed that BJ2A is able to present the EDIII epitope on the surface of the CVPs, which stimulated effective neutralizing antibodies against JEV infection in mice. This study demonstrates the efficient production of an effective CVP vaccine candidate against JEV in plants by the BaMV-based epitope presentation system.
Improving quality and use of data through data-use workshops: Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania.

PROBLEM In Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, as in many developing countries, health managers lack faith in the national Health Management Information System (HMIS). The establishment of parallel data collection systems generates a vicious cycle: national health data are used little because they are of poor quality, and their relative lack of use, in turn, makes their quality remain poor. APPROACH An action research approach was applied to strengthen the use of information and improve data quality in Zanzibar. The underlying premise was that encouraging use in small incremental steps could help to break the vicious cycle and improve the HMIS. LOCAL SETTING To test the hypothesis at the national and district levels a project to strengthen the HMIS was established in Zanzibar. The project included quarterly data-use workshops during which district staff assessed their own routine data and critiqued their colleagues' data. RELEVANT CHANGES The data-use workshops generated inputs that were used by District Health Information Software developers to improve the tool. The HMIS, which initially covered only primary care outpatients and antenatal care, eventually grew to encompass all major health programmes and district and referral hospitals. The workshops directly contributed to improvements in data coverage, data set quality and rationalization, and local use of target indicators. LESSONS LEARNT Data-use workshops with active engagement of data users themselves can improve health information systems overall and enhance staff capacity for information use, presentation and analysis for decision-making.