Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvement in the decadal prediction skill of the northern
hemisphere extra-tropical winter circulation through increased
model resolution

Abstract. In this study the latest version of the MiKlip decadal hindcast system is analyzed and the effect of different horizontal and vertical resolutions on the prediction skill of the northern hemisphere extra-tropical atmospheric circulation is assessed. Four metrics – the stormtrack, blocking frequencies, cyclone frequencies and windstorm frequencies – are analyzed with respect to the anomaly correlation of their winter averages. The model bias and hindcast skill are evaluated in both, a lower resolution version (LR, atm: T63L47, ocean: 1.5° L40) and a higher resolution version (HR, atm: T127L95, ocean: 0.4° L40) of the MPI-ESM system, for the lead years 2–5 using initializations between 1978 and 2012. While the LR version shows common shortcomings of lower resolution climate models, e.g. a too zonal stormtrack and a negative bias of blocking frequencies over the eastern North Atlantic and Europe, the HR version works against these biases. As a result, a functional chain of significantly improved decadal prediction skill between all four metrics is found with the increase of the spatial resolution. While the stormtrack, is significantly improved primarily over the main source region of synoptic activity – the North Atlantic Current, the other extra-tropical measures experience a significant improvement downstream thereof. Thus, the skill of the cyclone frequencies is significantly improved over the central North Atlantic and Northern Europe, the skill of the blocking frequencies is significantly improved over the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe and the skill of the windstorms is significantly improved over Newfoundland and Central Europe. Not only is the skill improved with the increase in resolution, but the HR system itself exhibits significant skill over large areas of the North Atlantic and European sector for all four circulation metrics. These results are particularly promising regarding the high socio-economic impact of European winter windstorms and blocking situations.
French Immersion “So Why Would You Do Something Like That to a Child?”: Issues of Advocacy, Accessibility, and Inclusion

French Immersion (FI) continues to grow in popularity and diversity across Canada. However, the suitability of immersion for academically challenged students has often been questioned. This study explored English teachers’ beliefs and practices, particularly as they relate to the suitability of French immersion for various learners. It also explored ways by which English teachers frame issues of accessibility to FI for students at risk for academic difficulties. Data revealed that myths about second language education still permeate the system in ways that potentially impact who as access to the FI program. Findings also highlight that the sociocultural and sociopolitical context of this study influences and is being influenced by beliefs about and attitudes toward second language learning. The widespread existence of beliefs and practices grounded in myths or traditional views about second language acquisition points to a need for greater education about issues that potentially limit access to FI. KEYWoRDS Academically Challenged Students, At Risk, Language Policy, Learning Difficulties, Myths, Second Language, Suitability
A Bayesian method to support global out-scaling of water-efficient rice technologies from pilot project areas

ABSTRACT This article present a Bayesian probabilistic method to support out-scaling of technologies from pilot projects. The method is applied to aerobic rice, a water-saving technology with probable global potential. The method assumes that areas similar to pilot sites are more likely to adopt than those that are different or unfavourable. Similarity is defined from climate, landscape and socio-economic attributes. Favourability is further evaluated by project specialists. Scaling out is not a simple linear process, so the method is proposed as a complement to learning processes. Results can support prioritization and strategic planning over specific geographic areas.
Incidence of common respiratory viral infections related to climate factors in hospitalized children in Hong Kong

SUMMARY Hong Kong has a subtropical climate and an influenza seasonality lying approximately mid-way (March–June) between those of the Northern (November–March) and Southern (June–September) hemispheres. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shares a similar seasonality to that of influenza in Hong Kong and is another important respiratory infection of childhood. Daily virus incidence data from public hospitals in Hong Kong's New Territory East Cluster, together with Hong Kong climate data were obtained for 2000–2007. Statistical time-series analysis using monthly time windows showed that influenza A and RSV incidence increased with higher environmental relative humidity, whereas influenza B incidence decreased with higher environmental temperatures. The other climate variables (including vapour pressure as a measure of absolute humidity) were not significantly related to the incidence of these respiratory viruses. Data from this study further reinforces the concept that the relationship between climate factors and respiratory virus incidence differ between subtropical/tropical and temperate countries.
Red blood cell survival in chronic renal failure.

BACKGROUND A decrease in the lifespan of erythrocytes has been accepted universally as one of the contributory factors to anemia in patients with chronic renal failure. This observation was made in the 1950s and 1960s when continuous renal replacement therapy was at its infancy. Based on the premise that a reduced red blood cell (RBC) lifespan in renal disease is primarily caused by the toxic uremic milieu, the purpose of this study is 2-fold: to compare the RBC survival in today's renal patients with that in the existing literature and to explore if there are differential RBC survival benefits with various dialysis dosages. METHODS This is an observational study. Patients with end-stage renal disease were recruited from the dialysis program at the University Health Network and St Michael's Hospital in Toronto. The patients were stratified into 3 groups including conventional thrice-weekly, nocturnal, and short-daily hemodialysis. Healthy subjects were recruited to validate the normal range for RBC lifespan. Red cell survival was assessed using radiolabeled sodium chromate (Na2 51CrO4). RESULTS Twenty-two patients and 2 healthy control subjects were recruited. The average red cell half-lives in thrice-weekly, nocturnal, short-daily, and healthy subjects were 14.5 +/- 1.6, 17.1 +/- 4.7, 15.9 +/- 2.2, and 23.5 days, respectively. All 3 patient groups exhibited reduced RBC lifespan (P < 0.05). Further, the overall RBC lifespan was not different from that reported half a century ago. Despite better urea clearances among the nocturnal and short-daily dialysis groups, no RBC survival benefit was observed. CONCLUSION A reduced RBC lifespan continues to contribute to renal anemia despite technologic advancements and improved uremic environment.
From antenatal to postnatal depression: associated factors and mitigating influences.

INTRODUCTION Postnatal depression has a serious impact on new mothers and their children and families. Risk factors identified include a history of depression, multiparity, and young age. The study aimed to investigate factors associated with experiencing antenatal depression and developing subsequent postnatal depression. METHODS The study utilized survey data from 5332 women about their experience and well-being during pregnancy, in labor, and postnatally up to 3 months. Prespecified sociodemographic and clinical variables were tabulated against the incidence of antenatal depression and postnatal depression. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of the principal underlying variables. RESULTS Risk factors for antenatal depression were multiparity, black and minority ethnic (BME) status, physical or mental health problems, living in a deprived area, and unplanned pregnancy. Different factors for postnatal depression were evident among women who had experienced antenatal depression: multiparity and BME status were protective, whereas being left alone in labor and experiencing poor postnatal health increased the risk of postnatal depression. CONCLUSION This study confirms previous research on risk factors for antenatal depression and stresses the importance of continuous support in labor and vigilance in the postnatal period regarding the potential ill effects of continuing postnatal health problems.
Seeking Sepsis in the Emergency Department- Identifying Barriers to Delivery of the Sepsis 6

The Sepsis 6 is an internationally accepted management bundle that, when initiated within one hour of identifying sepsis, can reduce morbidity and mortality. This management bundle was advocated by the Scottish Patient Safety Programme as part of its Acute Adult campaign launched in 2008 and adopted by NHS Tayside in 2012. Despite this, the Emergency Department (ED) of Ninewells Hospital, a tertiary referral centre and major teaching hospital in Scotland, was displaying poor success in the Sepsis 6. We therefore set out to improve compliance by evaluating the application of all aspects of the NHS Tayside Sepsis 6 bundle within one hour of ED triage time, to identify what human factors may influence achieving the one hour The Sepsis 6 bundle. This allowed us to tailor a number of specific interventions including educational sessions, regular audit and personal feedback and check list Sepsis 6 sticker. These interventions promoted a steady increase in compliance from an initial rate of 51.0% to 74.3%. The project highlighted that undifferentiated patients create a challenge in initiating the Sepsis 6. Pyrexia is a key human factor-trigger for recognising sepsis with initial nursing assessment being vital in recognition and identifying the best area (resus) of the department to manage severely septic patients. EDs need to recognise these challenges and develop educational and feedback plans for staff and utilise available resources to maximise the Sepsis 6 compliance.
A modified Jones procedure for managing clawing of lesser toes in pes cavus: long-term follow-up in 8 patients.

UNLABELLED Pes cavus is a complex foot deformity in which surgical correction remains challenging. We treated lesser-toe clawing in 11 feet of 8 patients (5 women, 1 bilateral; 3 men, 2 bilateral) with a modified Jones procedure and assessed long-term functional outcomes. We reviewed case notes and completed the Bristol Foot Score, the modified American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Midfoot Score, and a patient satisfaction questionnaire by means of telephone interviews. Mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 30 years (range, 10-58 years). Mean time from surgery to the last clinical follow-up was 7 years (range, 0.5-17 years), and mean time from surgery to the telephone interview was 9 years (range, 1-18 years). At the final clinical review, all 11 feet were improved, although 6 had minor complications. The mean Bristol Foot Score was 27 (range, 16-55), and the mean modified American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Midfoot Score was 76 (range, 47-90), indicative of excellent results. Half of the patients had mild persistent foot pain, but all were satisfied with the outcome. Based on our experience with this group of patients, the modified Jones procedure yields satisfactory correction of lesser toe clawing in patients with flexible pes cavus. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE 4.
Decreased Whole-Body Fat Mass Produced by Chronic Alcohol Consumption is Associated with Activation of S6K1-Mediated Protein Synthesis and Increased Autophagy in Epididymal White Adipose Tissue.

BACKGROUND Chronic alcohol consumption leads to a loss of white adipose tissue (WAT) but the underlying mechanisms for this lipodystrophy are not fully elucidated. This study tested the hypothesis that the reduction in WAT mass in chronic alcohol-fed mice is associated with a decreased protein synthesis specifically related to impaired function of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). METHODS Adult male mice were provided an alcohol-containing liquid diet for 24 weeks or an isonitrogenous isocaloric control diet. In vivo protein synthesis was determined at this time and thereafter epididymal WAT (eWAT) was excised for analysis of signal transduction pathways central to controling protein synthesis and degradation. RESULTS While chronic alcohol feeding decreased whole-body and eWAT mass, this was associated with a discordant increase in protein synthesis in eWAT. This increase was not associated with a change in mTOR, 4E-BP1, Akt, or PRAS40 phosphorylation. Instead, a selective increase in phosphorylation of S6K1 and its downstream substrates, S6 and eIF4B was detected in alcohol-fed mice. Alcohol also increased eEF2K phosphorylation and decreased eEF2 phosphorylation consistent with increased translation elongation. Alcohol increased Atg12-5, LC3B-I and -II, and ULK1 S555 phosphorylation, suggesting increased autophagy, while markers of apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3 and -9, and PARP) were unchanged. Lipolytic enzymes (ATGL and HSL phosphorylation) were increased and lipogenic regulators (PPARγ and C/EBPα) were decreased in eWAT by alcohol. Although alcohol increased TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β mRNA, no change in key components of the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, ACS, and cleaved caspase-1) was detected suggesting alcohol did not increase pyroptosis. Plasma insulin did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that the alcohol-induced decrease in whole-body fat mass resulted in part from activation of autophagy in eWAT as protein synthesis was increased and mediated by the specific increase in the activity of S6K1.
Development of New Zealand's deprivation index (NZDep) and its uptake as a national policy tool.

OBJECTIVES To outline the development and uses of the census-based New Zealand small-area index of relative socio-economic deprivation, NZDep. METHODS NZDep has been created from four 5-yearly censuses using theory developed from international deprivation research, a standard statistical procedure (principal component analysis) and both construct and criterion validation. RESULTS The latest index was based on nine socio-economic deprivation variables available for just over 4 million people. It was calculated from a basis of 24,000 small areas containing a median of approximately 90 people. The deprivation index has a value from 1 (low) to 10 (high). It is mapped to standard administrative areas and is available free of charge. The index is easy to visualize, and deprivation maps are widely used. The index is used in many applications in research and social epidemiology, and routinely by the country's Ministry of Health, both to explore health variations across the country and to allocate central government funds to local health care providers. Geographers in local government were quick to recognize the index as a good tool for visualizing the diversity and neediness of local communities, and hence as a tool for town and service planning. CONCLUSION The national NZDep index of small-area deprivation has been used widely in research on mortality, morbidity and determinants of ill health, and in needs assessment, resource allocation and advocacy.
The main effect of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide on hypothalamic neuronal activity depends on the nutritional state of rats.

OBJECTIVES The anorectic and catabolic action of CART is primarily mediated by the hypothalamus. The study proved the hypothesis that neurons of the hypothalamic regulatory system of body weight differentially react to CART in dependence of the nutritional state of the animal: overweight, fed or short-term fasting. DESIGN AND SETTING Single unit activity was extracellularly recorded in brain slices. The action of CART was studied in brains of 1. overweight adult rats previously subjected to early postnatal overfeeding in small litters (SL), compared to control litters, 2. normal rats that were deprived of food for 24 h, compared to fed rats. RESULTS Hypothalamic dorsomedial neurons of controls, but not SL rats were significantly excited by CART, ventromedial neurons of SL rats were significantly inhibited. Also neurons of hungry rats were significantly inhibited. MAIN FINDINGS Controls and overweight SL as well as fed and hungry rats differed significantly in the neuronal effects of CART. The predominant effect of the peptide did neither depend on weight nor on age of animals, but on neonatal development or nutritional state. CONCLUSION The increase in inhibition by CART of ventromedial and dorsomedial neuronal activity could in vivo contribute to increased food intake and reduced energy expenditure of overweight SL as of hungry rats. Since leptin is able to change synaptic wiring and the expression of excitatory and inhibitory synapses already within short time, the increased expression of inhibitory responses to CART may reflect a general mechanism in adaptation of neuronal regulatory systems to the nutritional state, in fed, adult small-litter rats acquired during the postnatal critical differentiation period, thus leading to permanently altered function.
Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology on Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity Statistics in Europe

Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death in adults and the elderly in the majority of the developed countries and in many developing countries. Cardiovascular diseases result in substantial disability and loss of productivity and contribute in large part, to the escalating costs of health care, especially in the presence of an ageing population. Papers published by the World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) and others have previously reported trends in cardiovascular mortality over time. These reports showed large international between-country differences both in the levels and in the trends in mortality from cardiovascular diseases, especially from ischaemic heart disease. More recent analysis of mortality data points to a substantial increase in cardiovascular diseases in countries of Central and Eastern Europe concomitant with recent nutritional, economical and political changes. Although most European countries perform analysis of mortality at the sub-national (regional) level, international analysis using sub-national data have been made only for selected diseases, for example cancer mortality by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon. The advantage of this type of analysis is that spatial variability in mortality patterns can be shown across borders. This may help in identifying factors responsible for this variation. The importance of population control of cardiovascular diseases was highlighted by the European Union in article 129 of the Treaty on European Union, which contains specific provisions on public health and focuses on the ‘prevention of disease, in particular the major health scourges’. The Council Resolution recognized the need for monitoring and surveillance of cardiovascular diseases within the general framework of health monitoring. Accordingly, the Board of the European Society of Cardiology upon recommendation from the Committee for Scientific and Clinical Initiatives, set up a Task Force to study the latest available data on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in order to assess the burden of these diseases in Europe. This report reviews total cardiovascular, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular and all causes mortality in European countries for the years 1990–1992. Regional mortality rates are presented for the years 1990–1991. Finally, the country mortality trends for the period 1970 to 1992 are analysed.
Contrast sensitivity following amblyopia treatment in children.

P rior studies have found a reduction in contrast sensitivity in eyes with amblyopia using sinusoidal gratings, whereas minimal loss has been reported with Pelli-Robson charts. Most studies have evaluated contrast sensitivity at the time of diagnosis of amblyopia or after short-term treatment. A follow-up study of an earlier randomized trial provided us the opportunity to evaluate contrast sensitivity using Pelli-Robson low-contrast letter charts at age 10 years, several years after treatment of amblyopia. A B
Enterprise the view of managerial theories of the firm

The dominant role of corporations in modern economy and observed widespread oligopolization are the sources of practical need for the theoretical concept of the enterprise explaining the operations of large companies, with a particular focus on their primary objectives and aims, and the role they play in the markets. In this paper three concepts of the enterprise are discussed that take into account the changing conditions of the company. All the discussed concepts were formu-lated based on the managerial theory approach: the model of an enterprise that maximizes the sustainable growth rate of R. Marris, the model of an enterprise that maximizes revenue from the sales of W.J. Baumol and the model of O.E. Wil-liamson that describes the preferences of managers in discretionary decision-making process. The aim of the publication is to present the managerial theory of the firm, which is alternative to traditional neoclassical concept of enterprise, their critical evaluation and an indication of application possibilities.
Severe Gardner syndrome in families with mutations restricted to a specific region of the APC gene.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is associated with a number of extraintestinal manifestations, which include osteomas, epidermoid cysts, and desmoid tumors, often referred to as "Gardner syndrome. " Recent studies have suggested that some of the phenotypic features of FAP are dependent on the position of the mutation within the APC gene. In particular, the correlation between congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) and APC genotype indicates that affected families may be divided into distinct groups. We have investigated the association between the dentoosseous features of GS on dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) and APC genotype in a regional cohort of FAP families. DPRs were performed on 84 affected individuals from 36 families, and the dento-osseous features of FAP were quantified by a weighted scoring system. Significant DPR abnormalities were present in 69% of affected individuals. The APC gene mutation was identified in 27 of these families, and for statistical analysis these were subdivided into three groups. Group 1 comprised 18 affected individuals from seven families with mutations 5' of exon 9; these families (except one) did not express CHRPE. Groups 2 comprised 38 individuals from 16 families with mutations between exon 9 and codon 1444, all of whom expressed CHRPE. Group 3 comprised 11 individuals from four families with mutations 3' of codon 1444, none of whom expressed CHRPE. Families with mutations 3' of codon 1444 had significantly more lesions on DPRs (P < .001) and appeared to have a higher incidence of desmoid tumors. These results suggest that the severity of some of the features of Gardner syndrome may correlate with genotype in FAP.