Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The predictability of the downward vs. non-downward propagation of sudden stratospheric warmings in S2S hindcasts

Roughly one-third of sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events lack a strong canonical surface impact, and this can lead to a forecast bust if a strong impact had been predicted. Hence, it is important to predict before the SSW onset if an event will propagate downward. The predictability of the downward impact of SSWs is considered in 7 subseasonal-to-seasonal forecast models for 16 major SSWs between 1998 and 2022, a larger sample size than considered by previous works. The models successfully predict which SSWs have a stronger downward impact to 100hPa, however they struggle to predict which have a stronger tropospheric impact. The downward impact is stronger if the deceleration of the 10hPa winds is better predicted. Downward impact is stronger for split and for absorbing SSWs, and is better predicted in high-top models. In contrast, there is little relationship between SSWs with above-average predictability and the subsequent downward impact.
Consensus Messaging Using Scholarly Literature: Impacts on Students' Conceptions of Global Climate Change

Despite near-unanimous consensus among climate scientists, the misconception of substantial scientific disagreement over the reality of human-induced global climate change persists among members of the general public. Within the research literature on climate science, there exists robust work which quantifies and reviews the scientific consensus on human-induced climate change. This study evaluated the efficacy of using such research literature as a tool for consensus messaging among undergraduates taking an introduction to biological research course at a large, private, research-intensive university in the northeastern United States. Outcomes investigated include the potential impact that reading and discussing such research literature may have had on students’ perceptions of the scientific consensus on human-induced climate change among climate scientists, students’ key beliefs about climate change, students’ support for threatreduction actions and climate policy, and students’ confidence in their own ability to communicate to others about the degree of scientific consensus on climate change. The findings suggest that using scholarly literature as a mode of consensus messaging is effective at aligning participants’ perceptions with the actual level of scientific consensus around climate change as well as their self-reported confidence in communicating the consensus. There was also an overall increase in the degree to which participants were worried about climate change and evidence of increased acceptance of human-induced climate change after reading and discussing these articles. Additional findings include that participants overwhelmingly perceived benefits from participation in the introduction to biology course itself, which focuses on primary literature and interacting with biology research faculty about their scientific work. Participants’ self-reported benefits included improved biology content knowledge, enhanced data analysis skills, and improved ability to read and understand primary literature.
Quantum Ergodicity for compact quotients of SLd(R)/SO(d) in the Benjamini-Schramm limit

We study the limiting behavior of Maass forms on sequences of large volume compact quotients of SL d ( R ) / SO( d ), d ≥ 3, whose spectral parameter stays in a ﬁxed window. We prove a form of Quantum Ergodicity in this level aspect which extends results of Le Masson and Sahlsten to the higher rank case
The Last Mile: An Empirical Study of Timing Channels on seL4

Storage channels can be provably eliminated in well-designed, high-assurance kernels. Timing channels remain the last mile for confidentiality and are still beyond the reach of formal analysis, so must be dealt with empirically. We perform such an analysis, collecting a large data set (2,000 hours of observations) for two representative timing channels, the locally-exploitable cache channel and a remote exploit of OpenSSL execution timing, on the verified seL4 microkernel. We also evaluate the effectiveness, in bandwidth reduction, of a number of black-box mitigation techniques (cache colouring, instruction-based scheduling and deterministic delivery of server responses) across a number of hardware platforms. Our (somewhat unexpected) results show that while these defences were highly effective a few processor generations ago, the trend towards imprecise events in modern microarchitectures weakens the defences and introduces new channels. This demonstrates the necessity of careful empirical analysis of timing channels.
Bdnf Deletion or TrkB Impairment in Amygdala Inhibits Both Appetitive and Aversive Learning

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to have an integral role in establishing stable memories after learning events. The neuroplasticity induced by Pavlovian fear conditioning has likewise been shown to rely on interactions between BDNF and its principal receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), in the amygdala after training. Although the necessity of amygdala bdnf expression and TrkB activation for associative learning within aversive contexts has been explored, it is unclear to what extent this interaction is involved in appetitive learning. It is also unclear whether the noted increases in amygdala BDNF after fear conditioning are due to local gene transcription and translation or anterograde transmission from cortical regions. To address both of these questions, we used two lentiviral approaches in mice, using both fear conditioning and cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP), during acquisition and extinction. First, we decreased expression of bdnf mRNA in the amygdala of homozygous floxed mice with a Cre-expressing virus. In a second set of studies, we infused a virus that expressed a dominant-negative TrkB isoform into the same region. These approaches significantly impaired consolidation of fear conditioning and cocaine-CPP, as well as extinction of CPP. Together, these data suggest that BDNF-TrkB signaling is critical for amygdala-dependent learning of both appetitive and aversive emotional memories.
Association among interleukin-6 gene polymorphism, diabetes and periodontitis in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES Diabetics significantly increase risk for periodontitis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene polymorphism may play certain roles in the progression of periodontitis with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess the association among IL-6 gene polymorphisms, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic periodontitis (CP) in a Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS DNA was obtained from 159 patients with CP, 88 patients with T2DM, 110 patients with CP&T2DM and 135 control subjects. The -174/-572/-597 polymorphisms of IL-6 gene were investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction products. The results were further confirmed by sequencing. Significance was set at P < 0.008 after Bonferroni correction. RESULTS Among four groups, CP&T2DM group showed the lowest IL-6-572 CC genotype and C-allele frequencies (54.5% and 74.1%). In this regard, there were significant differences between CP&T2DM group and the control group [P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) = 0.475, 95% CI: 0.279-0.808 and P = 0.002, OR = 0.502, 95% CI: 0.319-0.788 respectively]. Logistic regression with adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, smoking and stress showed no significant difference in terms of IL-6-572 genotypes (P = 0.058, OR= 0.523, 95% CI: 0.268-1.022). CONCLUSIONS The IL-6-572 genotype and allele distributions are unique to subjects with CP&T2DM in a Chinese population.
A New Approach for the Study of Lung Smooth Muscle Phenotypes and Its Application in a Murine Model of Allergic Airway Inflammation

Phenotypes of lung smooth muscle cells in health and disease are poorly characterized. This is due, in part, to a lack of methodologies that allow for the independent and direct isolation of bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMCs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from the lung. In this paper, we describe the development of a bi-fluorescent mouse that permits purification of these two cell populations by cell sorting. By subjecting this mouse to an acute allergen based-model of airway inflammation that exhibits many features of asthma, we utilized this tool to characterize the phenotype of so-called asthmatic BSMCs. First, we examined the biophysical properties of single BSMCs from allergen sensitized mice and found increases in basal tone and cell size that were sustained ex vivo. We then generated for the first time, a comprehensive characterization of the global gene expression changes in BSMCs isolated from the bi-fluorescent mice with allergic airway inflammation. Using statistical methods and pathway analysis, we identified a number of differentially expressed mRNAs in BSMCs from allergen sensitized mice that code for key candidate proteins underlying changes in matrix formation, contractility, and immune responses. Ultimately, this tool will provide direction and guidance for the logical development of new markers and approaches for studying human lung smooth muscle.
UvA-DARE (

One outstanding problem in the physics of glassy solids is understanding the statistics and properties of low-energy excitations that stem from the disorder that characterizes these systems’ microstructure. In this work we introduce a family of algebraic equations whose solutions represent collective displacement directions (modes) in the multi-dimensional conﬁguration space of a structural glass. We explain why solutions of the algebraic equations, coined nonlinear glassy modes, are quasi-localized low-energy excitations. We present an iterative method to solve the algebraic equations, and use it to study the energetic and structural properties of a selected subset of their solutions constructed by starting from a normal mode analysis of the potential energy of a model glass. Our key result is that the structure and energies associated with harmonic glassy vibrational modes and their nonlinear counterparts converge in the limit of very low frequencies. As nonlinear modes never suffer hybridizations, our result implies that the presented theoretical framework constitutes a robust alternative deﬁnition of ‘soft glassy modes’ in the thermodynamic limit, in which Goldstone modes overwhelm and destroy the identity of low-frequency harmonic glassy modes.
“Buy him some Tesla stocks for his baptism”: Gender differences among young savers

: This paper investigates gender roles in children’s savings. It uses a sample of more than 58,000 children to investigate overall gender roles, specified as differences pertaining to age, capital invested, financial activity and portfolio composition. We conclude that there are gender differences between young female and male account holders. Boys in the sample are significantly older and are more active savers, while girls hold more capital in their accounts. We find that these gender differences increase with age, capital and activity. Focusing on the level of activity, mirroring financial interest, we note that activity interacts significantly with both gender, age and capital, and is decisive in explaining financial behaviour, especially that of boys. Somewhat surprisingly, we conclude that girls have a significantly lower share of saving in direct owned stock compared to boys, already before the age of one. This difference lingers throughout childhood and peaks for children aged 15-17. We discuss our findings within the realms of structuration theory, proposing that our sample enables us to distinguish between the mixture of implicit and explicit parental financial behaviour that prevails among adolescents, and the case where parents take care of saving for their very young children. For policymakers and managers, awareness that substantial gender differences regarding financial behaviour still prevail is an important insight.
Refractive Index Sensing Using a Three-Port Interferometer and Comparison With Ring Resonators

In this paper, we compare ring resonator and three-port Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) devices fabricated on silicon-on-insulator for the purpose of refractive index sensing. Their respective sensitivities and limits of detection (LOD) were determined with NaCl solutions. A sensitivity of 113.07 nm per refractive index unit (RIU) and LOD of 2.47e-6 RIU was reached for the ring resonators. The most sensitive three-port MZI has a sensitivity of 13051 rad/RIU, and an LOD of 2.76e-8 RIU is shown to be attainable. A three-port MZI combines several advantages of both ring resonators and normal MZI devices, including a constant and scalable sensitivity, high-bandwidth readout, no directional ambiguity, and a simple interrogation setup. Such a device is promising for applications such as pressure, gas, and biosensing.
A Theory-Based Video Messaging Mobile Phone Intervention for Smoking Cessation: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Advances in technology allowed the development of a novel smoking cessation program delivered by video messages sent to mobile phones. This social cognitive theory-based intervention (called “STUB IT”) used observational learning via short video diary messages from role models going through the quitting process to teach behavioral change techniques. Objective The objective of our study was to assess the effectiveness of a multimedia mobile phone intervention for smoking cessation. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 6-month follow-up. Participants had to be 16 years of age or over, be current daily smokers, be ready to quit, and have a video message-capable phone. Recruitment targeted younger adults predominantly through radio and online advertising. Registration and data collection were completed online, prompted by text messages. The intervention group received an automated package of video and text messages over 6 months that was tailored to self-selected quit date, role model, and timing of messages. Extra messages were available on demand to beat cravings and address lapses. The control group also set a quit date and received a general health video message sent to their phone every 2 weeks. Results The target sample size was not achieved due to difficulty recruiting young adult quitters. Of the 226 randomized participants, 47% (107/226) were female and 24% (54/226) were Maori (indigenous population of New Zealand). Their mean age was 27 years (SD 8.7), and there was a high level of nicotine addiction. Continuous abstinence at 6 months was 26.4% (29/110) in the intervention group and 27.6% (32/116) in the control group (P = .8). Feedback from participants indicated that the support provided by the video role models was important and appreciated. Conclusions This study was not able to demonstrate a statistically significant effect of the complex video messaging mobile phone intervention compared with simple general health video messages via mobile phone. However, there was sufficient positive feedback about the ease of use of this novel intervention, and the support obtained by observing the role model video messages, to warrant further investigation. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12606000476538; http://www.anzctr. org.au/trial_view. aspx? ID=81688 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5umMU4sZi)
A Machine Learning Approach for Identifying Amino Acid Signatures in the HIV Env Gene Predictive of Dementia

The identification of nucleotide sequence variations in viral pathogens linked to disease and clinical outcomes is important for developing vaccines and therapies. However, identifying these genetic variations in rapidly evolving pathogens adapting to selection pressures unique to each host presents several challenges. Machine learning tools provide new opportunities to address these challenges. In HIV infection, virus replicating within the brain causes HIV-associated dementia (HAD) and milder forms of neurocognitive impairment in 20–30% of patients with unsuppressed viremia. HIV neurotropism is primarily determined by the viral envelope (env) gene. To identify amino acid signatures in the HIV env gene predictive of HAD, we developed a machine learning pipeline using the PART rule-learning algorithm and C4.5 decision tree inducer to train a classifier on a meta-dataset (n = 860 env sequences from 78 patients: 40 HAD, 38 non-HAD). To increase the flexibility and biological relevance of our analysis, we included 4 numeric factors describing amino acid hydrophobicity, polarity, bulkiness, and charge, in addition to amino acid identities. The classifier had 75% predictive accuracy in leave-one-out cross-validation, and identified 5 signatures associated with HAD diagnosis (p<0.05, Fisher’s exact test). These HAD signatures were found in the majority of brain sequences from 8 of 10 HAD patients from an independent cohort. Additionally, 2 HAD signatures were validated against env sequences from CSF of a second independent cohort. This analysis provides insight into viral genetic determinants associated with HAD, and develops novel methods for applying machine learning tools to analyze the genetics of rapidly evolving pathogens.
The Unemployment Volatility Puzzle: Is Wage Stickiness the Answer?

I discuss the failure of the canonical search and matching model to match the cyclical volatility in the job finding rate. I show that job creation in the model is influenced by wages in new matches. I summarize microeconometric evidence and find that wages in new matches are volatile and consistent with the model's key predictions. Therefore, explanations of the unemployment volatility puzzle have to preserve the cyclical volatility of wages. I discuss a modification of the model, based on fixed matching costs, that can increase cyclical unemployment volatility and is consistent with wage flexibility in new matches. Copyright 2009 The Econometric Society.
Food Science of Animal Resources

Deterioration of jerky during storage is a major concern; this is usually combated with natural or synthetic antioxidants. This study aimed to evaluate the quality characteristics of semi-dried restructured jerky with and without loquat leaf extract (LE) powder and ascorbic acid (AA) during storage for 180 days. The jerkies were formulated with 0%, 0.15%, and 0.3% LE and/or 0.05% AA (Control, no antioxidant; AA, 0.05% AA; LE 0.15, 0.15% loquat LE; LE 0.15-AA, 0.15% loquat LE+0.05% AA; LE 0.3, 0.3% loquat LE; LE0.3-AA, 0.3% loquat LE+0.05% AA). LE is a phenolic compound, whose 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydarzyl radical scavenging activity and metal chelating activity were found to be higher than AA. All antioxidant combinations having higher LE concentration and containing AA were effective in delaying protein and lipid oxidation compared to the control or AA. At the end of storage period, LE 0.15-AA and AA had higher CIE a* and lower shear force than the control. Therefore, the combination of 0.15% LE and 0.05% AA can result in reduced protein and lipid oxidation without any negative effect on the quality characteristics of semi-dried restructured jerky.
Phytomedicine Plus

Background: 20-hydroxyecdysone is an ecdysteroid which is abundant in plants and insects and has anabolic potentials in mammals. It was recently shown to have aﬃnity for estrogen ER-𝛽 receptor, which could potentially make it vasodilatory. Yet this possibility has not been previously investigated. Such an activity in muscle arterioles could have huge implications for muscle blood ﬂow and performance. Hypothesis/Purpose: We hypothesized that 20-hydroxyecdysone would dilate muscle arterioles by activating estrogen ER-𝛽 receptors. To test this, we investigated its vasodilatory properties in ovine muscle arterioles and further explored the mechanisms in human tissues and cells. Study Design: The study was carried out experimentally, employing functional recording of arteriolar reactivity in intact ovine muscle arterioles and gene and protein expression analysis in human tissues and cells. Methods: Direct eﬀects of the compound on arteriolar tone were assessed by wire myography in abdominal muscle and mesenteric arterioles isolated from samples obtained from male sheep. The roles of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3), cyclooxygenase (COX) and estrogen ER-𝛽 receptor (ER-𝛽 ), and their eﬀects were determined with speciﬁc blockers. The NOS3 mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) and humanized liver of uPA + / + -SCID mice, before and after 20-hydroxyecdysone administration. Results: Comparable dose-dependent relaxations were recorded for 20-hydroxyecdysone in both muscle and mesenteric arterioles with maximum relaxations of 46.94 ± 5.84% and 56.88 ± 7.04% respectively, which were not statistically diﬀerent. Similar relaxation was recorded for 𝛽 -estradiol in both arterioles. NOS inhibition with 100 μM L-NAME attenuated the relaxation to 20-hydroxyecdysone (p < 0.001) and 𝛽 -estradiol (p < 0.001) in muscle arterioles. Neither COX inhibition with 10 μM indomethacin nor ER blockade with 1 μM PHTPP or 1 μM ICI182780 had any noticeable eﬀect on 20-hydroxyecdysone relaxation in these arterioles. Transcriptome analysis revealed elevated NOS3 gene in the humanized liver of 20-hydroxyecdysone-treated mice, and, elevation of both NOS3 mRNA and protein in HCAECs treated with 20-hydroxyecdysone. Conclusion: The data suggest that 20-hydroxyecdysone has a nitric oxide-dependent, but ER 𝛽 -independent, vasodilatory property in muscle arterioles. The beneﬁts to muscle blood ﬂow would however be dependent on the impact of its eﬀects on other vascular beds.
Minireview Gut Microbiome Integration in Drug Discovery and Development of Small Molecules S

Human microbiomes, particularly in the gut, could have a major impact on the efficacy and toxicity of drugs. However, gut microbial metabolism is often neglected in the drug discovery and development process. Medicen, a Paris-based human health innovation cluster, has gathered more than 30 international leading experts from pharma, academia, biotech, clinical research organizations
Critical appraisal of bepotastine in the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis

: Bepotastine besilate 1.5% solution is an H 1 -antihistamine recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the topical treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Several clinical studies have demonstrated its safety as well as its efficacy versus placebo. This review finds that bepotastine besilate 1.5% solution is a suitable alternative to other agents within the class of H 1 -antihistamines, but there are no clinical trial data to suggest that it holds any specific advantages over other agents.
Task-space adaptive setpoint control for robots with uncertain kinematics and actuator model

In this paper, we proposed a new task-space setpoint control scheme for robots with uncertainties in kinematics, actuators and dynamics. The stability problem of the robot in the presence of these uncertainties is formulated and solved. Sufficient conditions for choosing the feedback gains and approximate models are given to guarantee the convergence of the task-space position error. Simulation results based on a 3-link robot are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme.