Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Natural versus anthropogenic climate change: Swedish farmers’ joint construction of climate perceptions

While previous research into understandings of climate change has usually examined general public perceptions, this study offers an audience-specific departure point. This article analyses how Swedish farmers perceive climate change and how they jointly shape their understandings. The agricultural sector is of special interest because it both contributes to and is directly affected by climate change. Through focus group discussions with Swedish farmers, this study finds that (1) farmers relate to and understand climate change through their own experiences, (2) climate change is understood either as a natural process subject to little or no human influence or as anthropogenic and (3) various communication tools contribute to the formation of natural and anthropogenic climate change frames. The article ends by discussing frame resonance and frame clash in public understanding of climate change and by comparing potential similarities and differences in how various segments of the public make sense of climate change.
The Local Ly α Forest IV : STIS G 140 M Spectra and Results on the Distribution and Baryon Content of H I Absorbers

We present HST STIS/G140M spectra of 15 extragalactic targets, which we combine with GHRS/G160M data to examine the statistical properties of the low-z Lyα forest. With STIS, we detect 109 Lyα absorbers at significance level (SL) ≥ 4σ over 0.002 < z < 0.069, with a total redshift pathlength ∆z = 0.770. Our combined sample consists of 187 Lyα absorbers with SL ≥ 4σ over ∆z = 1.157. We evaluate the physical properties of these Lyα absorbers and compare them to their high-z counterparts. Using two different models for Lyα forest absorbers, we determine that the warm, photoionized IGM contains 29 ± 4% of the total baryon inventory at z = 0 (assuming J0 = 1.3 × 10 ergs cm s Hz sr). We derive the distribution in column density, NHI −1.65±0.07 for 12.5 ≤ log [NHI(cm)] ≤ 14.5, breaking to a flatter slope above log [NHI] ≈ 14.5. As with the high equivalent width (W > 240 mÅ) absorbers, the number density of low-W absorbers at z = 0 is well above the extrapolation of dN /dz from z > 2. However, log [(dN /dz)z=0] = 1.40 ± 0.08 for W > 240 mÅ is 25% below the value obtained by the HST QSO Key Project, a difference that may arise from line blending. The slowing of the number density evolution of high-W Lyα clouds is not as great as previously measured, and the break to slower evolution may occur later than previously suggested (z ∼ 1.0 rather than 1.6). We find a 7. 2σ excess in the two-point correlation function (TPCF) of Lyα absorbers for velocity separations ∆v ≤ 260 km s, which is exclusively due to the higher column density clouds. From our previous result that higher column density Lyα clouds cluster more strongly with galaxies, this TPCF suggests a physical difference between the higher and lower column density clouds in our sample. also at JILA, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on photostress recovery, glare disability, and chromatic contrast.

PURPOSE Past studies have shown that higher macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) supplementation are related to improvements in glare disability, photostress recovery, and chromatic contrast. This study assessed those links using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. METHODS The visual effects of 1 year of supplementing L (10 mg/d) and Z (2 mg/d) were investigated. One hundred fifteen young, healthy subjects were recruited and randomized into the study (58 received placebo, 57 L+Z). Several dependent measures were collected at baseline and then once every 3 months: serum L and Z measured by HPLC chromatography; MPOD measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry; photostress recovery assessed by measuring the time needed to recover visual acquisition of a grating target after 30 seconds of an intense xenon white flash exposure; glare disability evaluated as the energy in a surrounding annulus necessary to veil a central grating target; and chromatic contrast assessed by measuring thresholds for a yellow grating target superposed on a 460-nm background. RESULTS Macular pigment optical density increased significantly versus placebo at all eccentricities (10, 30, 60, and 105 minutes from the center of the macula). Serum L and Z also increased significantly by the first follow-up visit (at 3 months), and remained elevated throughout the intervention period of 1 year. Chromatic contrast and photostress recovery time improved significantly versus placebo. Glare disability was correlated with macular pigment density throughout the study period but did not increase significantly in the treated group. CONCLUSIONS Daily supplementation with L+Z resulted in significant increase in serum levels and MPOD and improvements in chromatic contrast and recovery from photostress. These results are consistent with past studies showing that increasing MPOD leads to improved visual performance. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00909090.).
Barrier recovery rate varies time‐dependently in human skin

The recovery in cutaneous barrier functions, assessed in terms of transepidermal water loss, 1 h after tape stripping of volar forearm skin in human volunteers, was investigated at different times over the 24 h day. The barrier recovery rate was significantly lower between 20:00 h and 23:00 h than that at other time points. The skin surface temperature and the basal transepidermal water loss reached their highest values at about 03:00 h (33·6 °C and 0·30 mg cm−2 h−1), while the cortisol level in the saliva was highest at 09:00 h (7·8 pmol mL−1). These results suggest significant time‐dependent variation in cutaneous barrier repair independent of changes in skin temperature and cortisol level.
Caspase-1 regulates Escherichia coli sepsis and splenic B cell apoptosis independently of interleukin-1beta and interleukin-18.

RATIONALE Caspase-1 processes interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-18 but may also contribute to apoptosis. In this context, caspase-1 knockout mice have been shown to be protected from endotoxin-induced mortality, whereas IL-1beta knockout mice are not protected. OBJECTIVES We therefore sought to delineate the mechanisms responsible for the differential responses between caspase-1 and IL-1beta knockout mice. METHODS Caspase-1 knockout, IL-1beta knockout, and IL-1beta/IL-18 double knockout mice were compared with wild-type mice for survival after intraperitoneal challenge with live Escherichia coli. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Caspase-1 knockout animals were protected from bacterial challenge, whereas wild-type, IL-1beta knockout, and IL-1beta/IL-18 double knockout animals were not. Wild-type animals and both IL-1beta knockout and IL-1beta/IL-18 double knockout mice demonstrated significant splenic B lymphocyte apoptosis, which was absent in the caspase-1 knockout mice. Importantly, IL-1beta/IL-18 double knockout mice were protected from splenic cell apoptosis and sepsis-induced mortality by the caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. Furthermore, wild-type but not caspase-1 knockout splenic B lymphocytes induced peritoneal macrophages to assume an inhibitory phenotype. CONCLUSION Taken together, these findings suggest that caspase-1 is important in the host response to sepsis at least in part via its ability to regulate sepsis-induced splenic cell apoptosis.
p-voltages: Laplacian Regularization for Semi-Supervised Learning on High-Dimensional Data

We investigate the p-voltages algorithm, which labels nodes in a graph based on their theoretical voltages in a reformulated system of electricity. Building on previous work concerning p-electric networks, we prove that the p-voltage solution is well-formed and has desirable properties for semisupervised learning. Our experiments conrm that the pvoltages algorithm does not suer from the same weaknesses as the Laplacian Regularization algorithm (equivalent to p = 2) and therefore improves classication performance. However, our p-voltages algorithm does not outperform the state-of-the-art iterated Laplacian algorithm.
Do Sensory Preferences of Children with Autism Impact an lmitation Task with a Robot?

Imitation is of major importance during social interactions, would it be between humans or between a human and a robot. This is even more true when considering users with special needs. In this paper, we describe an experimental imitation task protocol using a robot Nao that we designed to assess whether sensory profiles of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) influence their capabilities to imitate or to initiate gestures that are going to be imitated. We based our work on the hypothesis that children with an overreliance on proprioceptive cues and hyporeactivity to visual cues have a greater difficulty imitating and improve their skills more slowly than children with an overreliance on visual cues and hyporeactivity to proprioceptive cues. Twelve children and teenagers with ASD participated in seven imitation sessions over eight weeks. As expected, we observed that children with an overreliance on proprioceptive cues and hyporeactivity to visual cues had more difficulties imitating the robot than the other children. Moreover, the repeated sessions revealed to have positive effects on social behaviors displayed by all children (gaze to the partner, imitations) toward a human partner after the sessions with the robot. We conclude on the possible impacts of such results on the design of social human-robot interactions for users with ASD.
Preventive effects of Morus alba L. anthocyanins on diabetes in Zucker diabetic fatty rats

The mulberry plant (Morus alba L.) contains abundant anthocyanins (ANCs), which are natural antioxidants. The aim of this study was to determine the ANC composition of Thai Morus alba L. fruits and to assess the effect of an ANC extract on blood glucose and insulin levels in male leptin receptor-deficient Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. The major components of the ANC extract were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. ZDF and lean rats were treated with 125 or 250 mg ANCs/kg body weight, or 1% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) twice daily for 5 weeks. Neither ANC dose had an effect on body weight. Following 5 weeks of treatment, glucose levels were observed to increase from 105.5±8.7 to 396.25±21 mg/dl (P<0.0001) in the CMC-treated ZDF rats; however, the glucose levels were significantly lower in the rats treated with 125 or 250 mg/kg ANCs (228.25±45 and 131.75±10 mg/dl, respectively; P<0.001 versus CMC). The administration of 250 mg/kg ANCs normalized glucose levels in the ZDF rats towards those of the lean littermates. Insulin levels were decreased significantly in the ZDF rats treated with CMC or 125 mg/kg ANCs (P<0.0001), but not in the rats treated with 250 mg/kg ANCs. Histologically, 250 mg/kg ANCs was observed to prevent islet degeneration compared with the islets in CMC-treated rats. This study, demonstrated that ANCs extracted from Morus alba L. were well tolerated and exhibited effective anti-diabetic properties in ZDF rats. ANCs represent a promising class of therapeutic compounds that may be useful in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Nutrition and depression at the forefront of progress

Depression is a debilitating disorder estimated to become the second cause of morbidity worldwide by the year 2020. The limited efficacy of antidepressant therapy, as well as the major negative consequences of this disorder, has stimulated additional research in order to determine possible adjunctive treatments. There is mounting evidence linking dietary patterns to major depression development. This article presents some of the most significant findings concerning the role of nutrition in major depressive disorder. Although more focused and clear results are needed, the correlation between nutrition and mental health is gaining attention. Now, there is evidence supporting the importance of nutrition in maintaining good mental health. We emphasize multiple findings that support adherence to healthy dietary patterns, taking into account that the production of neurotransmitters need, among others, right amounts of nutrients, a lot of which can only be supplied through diet. Not only certain nutrients are needed for proper brain functioning, but also others can be harmful, promoting depression. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to a low prevalence of depression while fast-food consumption has been found to increase the risk of developing and aggravating this disorder, hence the need for nutritional interventions. From the perspective of discovering modifiable risk factors, the role of nutrition in psychiatry could be more important than it was initially considered.
On the Time Course of Visual Word Recognition: An Event-related Potential Investigation using Masked Repetition Priming

The present study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine the time course of visual word recognition using a masked repetition priming paradigm. Participants monitored target words for occasional animal names, and ERPs were recorded to nonanimal critical items that were full repetitions, partial repetitions, or unrelated to the immediately preceding masked prime word. The results showed a strong modulation of the N400 and three earlier ERP components (P150, N250, and the P325) that we propose reflect sequential overlapping steps in the processing of printed words.
Clostridium difficile Infection in Ohio Hospitals and Nursing Homes During 2006

Context. Healthcare data suggest that the incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in hospitals are increasing. However, the overall burden of disease and the mortality rate associated with CDI, including the contribution from cases of infection that occur in nursing homes, are poorly understood. Objective. To describe the epidemiology, disease burden, and mortality rate of healthcare-onset CDI. Methods. In 2006, active public reporting of healthcare-onset CDI, using standardized case definitions, was mandated for all Ohio hospitals and nursing homes. Incidence rates were determined and stratified according to healthcare facility characteristics. Death certificates that listed CDI were analyzed for trends. Results. There were 14,329 CDI cases reported, including 6,376 cases at 210 hospitals (5,217 initial cases [ie, cases identified more than 48 hours after admission to a healthcare facility in patients who had not had CDI during the previous 6 months] and 1,159 recurrent cases [ie, cases involving patients who had had CDI during the previous 6 months]) and 7,953 cases at 955 nursing homes (4,880 initial and 3,073 recurrent cases). After adjusting for missing data, the estimated total was 18,200 cases of CDI, which included 7,000 hospital cases (5,700 initial and 1,300 recurrent cases) and 11,200 nursing homes cases (6,900 initial and 4,300 recurrent cases). The rate for initial cases was 6.4-7.9 cases/10,000 patient-days for hospitals and 1.7-2.9 cases/10,000 patient-days for nursing homes. The rate for initial cases in nursing homes decreased during the study (P < .001). Nonpediatric hospital status (P = .011), a smaller number of beds (P = .003), and location in the eastern or northeastern region of the state (P = .011) were each independently associated with a higher rate of initial cases in hospitals. Death certificates for 2006 listed CDI among the causes of death for 893 Ohio residents; between 2000 and 2006, this number increased more than 4-fold. Conclusion. Healthcare-onset CDI represents a major public health threat that, when considered in the context of an increasing mortality rate, should justify a major focus on prevention efforts.
Axon-glia interaction and membrane traffic in myelin formation

In vertebrate nervous systems myelination of neuronal axons has evolved to increase conduction velocity of electrical impulses with minimal space and energy requirements. Myelin is formed by specialized glial cells which ensheath axons with a lipid-rich insulating membrane. Myelination is a multi-step process initiated by axon-glia recognition triggering glial polarization followed by targeted myelin membrane expansion and compaction. Thereby, a myelin sheath of complex subdomain structure is established. Continuous communication between neurons and glial cells is essential for myelin maintenance and axonal integrity. A diverse group of diseases, from multiple sclerosis to schizophrenia, have been linked to malfunction of myelinating cells reflecting the physiological importance of the axon-glial unit. This review describes the mechanisms of axonal signal integration by oligodendrocytes emphasizing the central role of the Src-family kinase Fyn during central nervous system (CNS) myelination. Furthermore, we discuss myelin membrane trafficking with particular focus on endocytic recycling and the control of proteolipid protein (PLP) transport by soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins. Finally, PLP mistrafficking is considered in the context of myelin diseases.
A process for text recognition of generic identification documents over cloud computing

A process for accurate text recognition of generic identification documents (ID) over cloud computing is presented. It consists of two steps, first, a smartphone camera takes a picture of the ID, which is sent to a cloud server; second, the image is processed by the server and the results are sent back to the smartphone. In the cloud server, image rectification, text detections and word recognition methods are combined to extract all non-manuscript information from the ID. Rectification is based on an improved Hough Transform and the text detection approach consists of a contrast-enhanced Maximally Stable Extremal Region (MSER), using heuristics constraints to remove non-text regions. Experimental results demonstrate several advantages in the proposed process.
High levels of dopamine activity in the basal ganglia of cigarette smokers.

OBJECTIVE The authors' goal was to study presynaptic dopamine activity in smoking and nonsmoking human subjects in vivo. METHOD [(18)F]Fluorodopa ([(18)F]DOPA) uptake K(i) values in the basal ganglia of nine smoking and 10 nonsmoking healthy men were measured with positron emission tomography. RESULTS Significantly higher [(18)F]DOPA uptake was observed in both the putamen (average 17.3% higher) and the caudate (average 30.4% higher) of smokers than in those of nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS Smoking is related to greater dopamine activity in the human basal ganglia. Nicotine-induced dopamine activity may be a relevant mechanism in dependence on cigarette smoking.
Accuracy and Quality Assessment of EUS-FNA: A Single-Center Large Cohort of Biopsies

Introduction. Thorough quality control (QC) study with systemic monitoring and evaluation is crucial to optimizing the effectiveness of EUS-FNA. Methods. Retrospective analysis was composed of investigating consecutive patient files that underwent EUS-FNA. QC specifically focused on diagnostic accuracy, impacts on preexisting diagnoses, and case management. Results. 268 patient files were evaluated. EUS-FNA cytology helped establish accurate diagnoses in 92.54% (248/268) of patients. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 83%, 100%, 100%, 91.6%, and 94%, respectively. The most common biopsy site was the pancreas (68%). The most accurate location for EUS-FNA was the esophagus, 13/13 (100%), followed by the pancreas (89.6%). EUS-FNA was least informative for abdominal lymph nodes (70.5%). After FNA and followup, eight false negatives for tumors were found (3%), while 7.5% of samples still lacked a definitive diagnosis. Discussion. QC suggests that the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA might be improved further by (1) taking more FNA passes from suspected lesions, (2) optimizing needle selection (3) having an experienced echo-endoscopist available during the learning curve, and (4) having a cytologist present during the procedure. QC also identified remediable reporting errors. In conclusion, QC study is valuable in identifying weaknesses and thereby augmenting the effectiveness of EUS-FNA.
The role of a group coach in the professional learning of school leaders

ABSTRACT Group coaching has the potential to foster social learning for school leaders. In this article, we investigate the role of the coach in a group coaching process drawing on data from interviews and observations in a pilot study. The Professional Learning through Feedback and Reflection (PROFLEC) study ran in 10 countries and was funded by the European Commission. We report on data from two countries which took part in the study: Norway and Australia. We examine the steps used in an established group coaching protocol and identify critical aspects of the coaching role. We discuss the complexities of the role of the group balancing a goal-oriented coaching process along with the facilitation process. We suggest that the coaching role requires a unique set of skills and argue that research is needed to support the development of evidence-based training programmes to prepare coaches for this complex and challenging role.
Information Rigidities in Economic Growth Forecasts: Evidence from a Large International Panel

We examine the behavior of forecasts for real GDP growth using a large panel of individual forecasts from 30 advanced and emerging economies during 1989–2010. Our main findings are as follows. First, our evidence does not support the validity of the sticky information model (Mankiw and Reis, 2002) for describing the dynamics of professional growth forecasts. Instead, the empirical evidence is more in line with implications of "noisy" information models (Woodford, 2002; Sims, 2003). Second, we find that information rigidities are more pronounced in emerging economies than advanced economies. Third, there is evidence of nonlinearities in forecast smoothing. It is less pronounced in the tails of the distribution of individual forecast revisions than in the central part of the distribution.
EAN consensus review on prevention, diagnosis and management of tick‐borne encephalitis

Tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and transmitted by ticks, with a variety of clinical manifestations. The incidence of TBE in Europe is increasing due to an extended season of the infection and the enlargement of endemic areas. Our objectives are to provide recommendations on the prevention, diagnosis and management of TBE, based on evidence or consensus decisions.