Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“El Niño Like” Hydroclimate Responses to Last Millennium Volcanic Eruptions

AbstractThe hydroclimate response to volcanic eruptions depends both on volcanically induced changes to the hydrologic cycle and on teleconnections with the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), complicating the interpretation of offsets between proxy reconstructions and model output. Here, these effects are separated, using the Community Earth System Model Last Millennium Ensemble (CESM-LME), by examination of ensemble realizations with distinct posteruption ENSO responses. Hydroclimate anomalies in monsoon Asia and the western United States resemble the El Nino teleconnection pattern after “Tropical” and “Northern” eruptions, even when ENSO-neutral conditions are present. This pattern results from Northern Hemisphere (NH) surface cooling, which shifts the intertropical convergence zone equatorward, intensifies the NH subtropical jet, and suppresses the Southeast Asian monsoon. El Nino events following an eruption can then intensify the ENSO-neutral hydroclimate signature, and El Nino probability is enhan.
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and augmentation index are reduced with an 8-week green- exercise walking programme - Exercise programme, CV risk and MMP-9

Objectives-MMP-9 is involved in degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM); specifically elastin, which provides elasticity to the arterial wall. Elastin degradation and restructuring of the ECM results in increased vascular remodelling and arterial stiffness. Conversely, exercise improves age-related vascular stiffening. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether participation in a green-exercise programme affects vascular haemodynamics and mRNA expression of MMP-9. Methods-Thirty-six healthy, sedentary individuals (44±2yrs; not taking any cardiovascular-acting medication) joining a moderate-intensity, aerobic green-exercise programme, were recruited. At baseline and 8-weeks into the programme, physical activity (measured in weekly MET-minutes [IPAQ]), supine mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), augmentation index (AIx) and aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) data were collected and blood samples were obtained. Leukocytic MMP9 mRNA expression (RT-PCR) and plasma protein levels (ELISA) were analysed; AIx and aPWV were measured via applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor, Atcor Medical, Australia). Results-The cohort was split into those who adhered (n=17) and did not adhere (n=19) to the programme. MMP-9 expression, MAP and AIx all decreased significantly in the exerciseadherent group (cf. the non-adherent group), while significant correlations were seen between: (i) ΔMMP-9 expression and ΔMET-minutes/wk; (ii) ΔMMP-9 expression and ΔAIx; (iii) ΔAIx and ΔMET-minutes/wk (P<0.05 in all cases). aPWV did not change significantly between the groups. Conclusions-These findings suggest that exercise-induced down-regulation of MMP-9 may contribute to reduced ECM degradation and therefore ameliorate vascular remodelling. Additional studies are needed to explore these findings further; however, these data may provide a biomolecular mechanism for aerobic exercise’s ability to delay age-related increases in arterial stiffening.
Dream Content Alalysis at the Initiation of CPAP for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is a condition characterized by repeated episodes of airway obstruction during sleep, causing intermittent asphyxia and sleep fragmentation. The goal of this study was to assess dream content analysis before and during the first night of treatment for OSAHS using Continuous Positive Pressure (CPAP). We included 38 patients diagnosed using complete overnight polysomnography (PSG), who received CPAP therapy during a second night under PSG. Dream content (word count, thematic units, and emotional content) and the percent of REM sleep were analyzed after both nights. There was an increase in the percent of REM under CPAP (from 16,7% to 26,8%). There was an increase in the number of thematic units (1,36 without CPAP versus 1,82 under CPAP) and in the word count (30,52 without CPAP versus 45,22 under CPAP) and a change in the dream content (unpleasant content in 50% without CPAP versus 37,5% under CPAP). Under CPAP, more patients recalled their dreams than without CPAP (94,2% versus 57,9%). In conclusion, at the initiation of CPAP for OSAHS, there is a rebound of REM sleep associated with a quantitative increase in dream recall and a change in dream content.
Modeling of electroporation mediated molecular delivery

OF THE DISSERTATION Modeling of Electroporation Mediated Molecular Delivery by Jianbo Li Dissertation Director: Professor Hao Lin In electroporation, electric fields are used to transiently permeabilize the cellular membrane to facilitate molecular exchange. This technique is extensively employed to deliver biologically active molecules into the cell compartment, to perform a variety of tasks such as electrochemotherapy and directed stem-cell differentiation. Despite its great potential and broad applications, electroporation still suffers from low delivery efficiency and/or significant cell death, in part due to a lack of fundamental understanding and quantitative prediction tools for the complex processes involved. The aim of this dissertation is to overcome these limitations by providing the much need capabilities. We have developed the first spatiallyand temporally-resolved numerical model to predict molecular transport via electroporation. The model framework is used to study the delivery of small molecules such as calcium and propidium iodide. The results are compared directly with experimental data in the literature, and reveal that electrophoresis, not diffusion, is the dominant model of delivery. Furthermore, the maximum achievable concentration within the cell is reciprocally correlated with the extracellular electrical conductivity. This behavior is mediated by an electrokinetic mechanism known as fieldamplified sample stacking. Based on the simulation, we have also developed a compact model to predict delivery with a simple formula. This formula can be conveniently used in place of the complex full-model simulation. This dissertation contributes to the
Innovations in Teaching New Approach to Teaching Basic Science Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Block System of Curricular Design

The overarching goal for curricular content in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was to enable students apply basic science material to the clinical setting. The traditional curricular delivery system was modified to allow students to immerse themselves in one topic, to enable students to achieve a 90 percent competency level, to encourage peer teaching, and to enhance communication skills. Students received 216 contact hours in two blocks. Educational activities included lecture, case-based learning, presentations, and role-playing. All activities sought to apply basic scientific principles to clinically relevant situations. Novel methods of curricular delivery were designed to enhance student achievement. Student evaluations revealed the ability to apply basic science principles to clinical situations. They demonstrated a deeper understanding of the subject matter as evidenced by the achievement of 90 percent competency. Additionally, they showed improvement in social and academic skills. Curricular redesign can contribute to achieving desired educational outcomes. Nontraditional teaching methods can foster greater depth of knowledge and enhance the integration of basic and clinical sciences.
Employee Spinoff s and the Choice of Technology

Most existing models of employee spinoffs assume they are driven by a desire to implement new ideas. However, history is replete with examples of spinoffs that were launched to continue with old ideas that their parents were in the process of aban-doning. We develop a model of technology choice in which spinoffs may form to implement new or old technologies. A team of managers engaged in production using technology x , is considering switching to technology y . The value of y is not known and disagreements may emerge among team members. Managers who develop sufficiently strong disagreements with their colleagues choose to form new companies to implement their preferred strategy. Two distinct classes of spinoffs arise. A type 1 spinoff forms when an employee comes to believe it is worth adopting y but the firm does not. A type 2 spinoff arises when an employee sufficiently disagrees with the firm’s decision to adopt y that he is willing to invest in order to continue with x . We explore the implications of the model for the comparative dynamics of spinoff formation, and the performance of firms.
Does a functional SNP variance in interleukin-6 lead to increased physiology of delirium in ICU patients?

Delirium is an acute alteration in mental status that impairs cognitive and physical functions. It presents with inattention, hallucinations, agitation, and overall cognitive and perceptual disturbances. Although older populations tend to experience delirium more frequently, the incidence of delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) occurs in up to 80% of the population regardless of age. ICU delirium not only creates acute consequences for patients, but also may negatively affect patient outcomes in the long-term. Studies have associated ICU delirium with longer hospital stay, longer period of mechanical ventilation, increased incidence of cognitive impairment at discharge, and increased mortality risk regardless of age, sex, race, and severity of illness. Nonetheless, current delirium prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are inadequate due to a lack of understanding of its pathology. This study aimed to explore a relationship between the biomarker interleukin-6 (IL-6) and delirium. Specifically, IL-6 has a polymorphism at position -174 of C/G that has shown to have effects on IL-6 production in different disease processes. This polymorphism was examined in relation to delirium for a relationship that may help explain delirium’s pathogenesis. The first specific aim was to explore if higher frequencies of a specific allele of IL-6 were present in patients who developed delirium. The second aim was to explore if a specific allele is also associated with more days of delirium. DNA was extracted from blood samples collected by a parent study and analyzed utilizing allelic discrimination in the Applied Biosystems ™ QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square tests, univariate analyses, t-tests comparing genotype and days of delirium experienced, and a binary logistic regression model. These tests were utilized to find any association between IL-6 -174 genotypes (alleles C/G) with delirium and delirium positive days. We did not find statistically significant conclusions to support a specific genotype as being associated with delirium and delirium positive days. Additional studies that explore biomarkers in the role of delirium are needed to further investigate the biology and pathology of delirium to promote the development of proper prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in ICU patients and improve patient outcomes.
Comparison of Blind , Ultrasound and Computed Tomographic-Guided Injection Techniques for Nerve Block of the Head in One-Humped Camel ( Camelus dromedaries ) Cadavers

Received: Revised: Accepted: Published online: July 13, 2016 December 23, 2016 December 28, 2016 January 16, 2017 The present study was designed to assess the efficacy of ultrasound (US) and computed tomographic (CT)-guided injection techniques versus conventional blind technique for various nerve blocks of the head in one-humped camel cadavers. Eighteen cadaver heads of adult one-humped camels enrolled were randomly assigned to blind (n=6), US-guided (n=6), and CT-guided (n=6) injections of mental, infraorbital, supraorbital and retrobulbar nerves. Injections were made with 2.5 mL of lidocaine HCl mixed with equal volume of Iopaminol contrast agent. Injection criteria (needle localization, correct penetration, difficulty of injection and performance time) were assessed, scored and statistically compared among three techniques of injection. Collectively, the summation of injection criteria scores showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the US and CT-guided nerve block injection techniques compared with the blind technique. Imaging-guided injection could precisely discriminate each target nerve (sensitivity: 72.2-94.4%; specificity: 27.8-83.3%; odds ratio: 6.5-85; CI: 15.03-389; P<0.0001). The highest specificity for imaging-guided nerve block injection technique was 83.3% for US and CTguided techniques, whilst the lowest specificity was recorded for CT versus USguided technique (27.8%). In conclusion, the US and CT-guided injection techniques offers considerable advantages for characterization of the anatomical landmarks, needle placement and selectivity of the head nerve block technique which is difficult to obtained using conventional blind technique. ©2017 PVJ. All rights reserved
Quantification of photoinduced and spontaneous quantum-dot luminescence blinking

Photoluminescence blinking of ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{0.42}{\mathrm{Cd}}_{0.58}\mathrm{Se}$ colloidal quantum dots was investigated experimentally as a function of the excitation intensity and modeled via a Monte Carlo method. In order to test the current blinking model of electron tunneling to states external to the quantum dot, experiments were performed with quantum dots on (insulating) glass and (conducting) indium-tin-oxide substrates. Comparison of simulated and experimental data allows one to extract characteristic parameters of the blinking free of artifacts and shows that the blinking can be understood in terms of two independent processes. First, a process is active for switching between the on and off states and has a power-law probability distribution for the length of both on and off periods. Second, a single-rate transition from the on to the off state is evoked. The power-law blinking process is found to be insensitive to excitation intensity and the electronic states of the substrate and presents identical statistics for the two switching directions, pointing to an intrinsic symmetry. The single-rate on\ensuremath{\rightarrow}off transition can account for all experimentally observed photoinduced and environmental (substrate) effects. On glass, its behavior is well described by a one-photon process in agreement with earlier studies on insulators. In contrast, a different behavior is found on the conducting substrates.
Electrocardiographic parameters in clinically healthy Balouchi sheep

Electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and cardiac rhythms have been evaluated and published in different breeds of beef and dairy cattle but there is limited information regarding these parameters in healthy sheep. This study is aimed to investigate the ECG parameters in Balouchi sheep. The ECG parameters including the amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves, duration of P, QRS and T waves and P-R, Q-T and R-R intervals were evaluated in 44 male and female clinically healthy Balouchi sheep in standard and augmented limb leads (I, II, III, AVR, AVL, and AVF) and base-apex lead. The mean heart rate was 89.6 beats/minute which had a significant correlation with age (r=-0.269, p=0.014). Different configurations of P-wave, QRS complex and T wave were observed in different ECG leads. It was found that age and gender affects some ECG parameters. In some leads, rams had significantly higher amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves and longer duration of PRR interval than ewes. Also in some leads, the amplitudes of P, R and S waves were significantly higher and the duration of QRS complex was shorter in sheep less than one year old than sheep with age three years or older. The most common cardiac dysrhythmia observed on the ECG traces was Sinus arrhythmia. Sheep with this dysrhythmia had a significantly lower heart rate (p<0.05). Also, it was concluded that the base-apex lead was the most suitable lead for ECG evaluation in sheep.
PARALLEL EFFECTS OF LAND‐USE HISTORY ON SPECIES DIVERSITY AND GENETIC DIVERSITY OF FOREST HERBS

The two most fundamental levels of biodiversity, species diversity and ge- netic diversity, are seldom studied simultaneously despite a strikingly similar set of pro- cesses that underlie patterns at the two levels. Agricultural land use drastically reduces populations of forest herbs in the north-temperate zone, so that bottlenecks or founder events in forests on abandoned agricultural land (i.e., secondary forests) may have a long- term impact on both species diversity and genetic diversity. Using forest-herb community surveys and molecular-genetic analysis of populations of Trillium grandiflorum, a repre- sentative species of forest herb, I investigated the influence of land-use history, landscape context, and environmental conditions on diversity and divergence at the population and community levels. Secondary forests (70-100 years old) had reduced diversity of both genes and species relative to primary forests (i.e., stands never cleared for agriculture). The community in secondary forests had an overrepresentation of the most common species in the landscape, though divergence in species' relative abundances within stands suggested an influence of community drift via local bottlenecks. Secondary-forest populations of T. grandiflorum were more genetically divergent than those in primary forests, again indicating drift in small populations. Land-use history and the size of populations and communities drove correlations between species diversity and genetic diversity (and community diver- gence 3 genetic divergence), though the strength of correlations was relatively weak. These results extend the generality of positive species-genetic diversity correlations previously observed for islands, and they demonstrate a long-term legacy of land-use history at multiple levels of biodiversity.
IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF HYDRO ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF OPUNTIA ELATIOR FRUIT AS WELL AS QUERCETIN

The present study was carried out to evaluate in-vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of hydro alcoholic extract of Opuntia elatior fruit as well as quercetin. Phytochemical screening of Opuntia elatior fruit revealed the presence of carbohydrate, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin, phenols, sterol, protein and tannins. In-vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of hydro alcoholic extract of Opuntia elatior fruit as well as quercetin at various concentrations were evaluated by using DPPH inhibition and α-amylase inhibition assay. Hydro-alcoholic extract of Opuntia elatior fruit and quercetin showed the antioxidant activity as 38.14 ± 1.07 and 37.74 ± 1.06 % DPPH inhibition, respectively at 200 μg/mL concentration and produced α-amylase inhibition up to 54.68 ± 0.11 and 54.64 ± 0.20 %, respectively, 500 μg/mL concentration. The extract of Opuntia elatior fruit as well as quercetin showed good antioxidant and antidiabetic activities in a dose dependent manner respectively.
The Use of Island Soleus Muscle Flap in Reconstruction of Pretibial Skin Defects

The use of distally based hemisoleus flap is well known option in reconstruction of distal leg defects. However, its use is usually associated with a high failure rate due to variation of the vascular anatomy of its distal minor pedicles. The reversed flow hemisoleus flap supplied by the posterior tibial artery is another alternative in reconstruction of lower third leg skin defects but it has the great disadvantage of sacrificing a major leg blood vessel. To overcome the problems associated with these two techniques, the island soleus muscle flap was described. This flap is directly nourished by one or two perforators arising from the posterior tibial artery and it can be used to cover small and large leg defects. This article will further describe the use of this flap in coverage of leg defects. Another modification of the flap by raising it on many perforators is also described. The flap and its newer modification are used in reconstruction of various pretibial skin defects in 28 patients. The technique of flap elevation, the versatility of the flap in coverage of any pretibial leg defect whatever its site or size is demonstrated.
Are men getting more emotional? Critical sociological perspectives on men, masculinities and emotions

Sociological research, influenced by feminist and other critical perspectives, has noted how men’s emotional inexpressiveness was influenced, and supported, by patriarchal privilege. Such approaches have argued that ‘inexpression’ needs to be broken down in order to build gender equality and improve men’s own wellbeing. Emerging research has, however, challenged the argument that men are ‘emotionally inexpressive’ on two main premises: that, as a result of feminist critiques, many men now practise ‘softer’ or ‘more emotional’ forms of masculinity; second, that emotions always influence social action and so need to be better incorporated into sociological accounts of men’s behaviour. Yet these approaches entail some conceptual confusion as to what emotions are, how they link to social action and whether men’s emotions are inherently transformative for gender relations. This article first details how emotions and masculinity have been theorized in feminist-inspired approaches. It outlines recent work on emotions, men and masculinities before arguing for an understanding of emotions that engages with both physiologically grounded and postconstructionist debates. It finally suggests incorporating a material-discursive approach to men’s emotions, through feminist work on affect, which is attentive to the political dimensions of ‘increasing emotionality’ in order to contribute to a developing field of sociological research.
Un sistema de clasificación de los diseños de investigación en psicología

Title: A classification system for research designs in psychology. Abstract: In this work we devise a conceptual framework and develop some basic principles to promove a classification system for the most usual research designs in psychology based on three strategies (manipulative, as- sociative and descriptive) from which emerge different types of studies, three for manipulative strategy (experimental, quasi-experimental and sin- gle-case), three for associative strategy (comparative, predictive and expla- natory) and two for descriptive strategy (observational and selective).
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in interstitial lungs diseases

Deficiency of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency (AAT) and higher CRP level are known biomarker for Lungs diseases. The purpose of this investigation was to estimate probable relations of AAT and CRP levels in the Lungs diseases. The sera of 27 patients of Emphysema, 20 patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and 17 patients of asthma along with 28 healthy volunteers were analysed. Age of patients and healthy volunteers was between 23 to 46 and male and female percentage was 71% and 29 % respectively. Serum AAT in asthma (0.401 ± 0.340), COPD (0.556 ± 0.310) and of emphysema (0.421 ± 0.311) is significant (P<0.001) lower than healthy control (1.01± 0.17). Serum CRP in asthma (3.930 ± 0.906), COPD (3.830 ± 0.666) and of emphysema (3.996 ± 1.049) is higher than healthy control (1.01 ± 0.17). Thus, serum AAT and CRP measurement can be helpful in predicting asthma control and treatment response.