Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paleomagnetic of Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretecous volcanic and sedimentary rocks from the western Tarim abd implications for inclination shallowing and absolute dating of the M0 (ISEA) chron.

Stepwise demagnetization isolates a stable magnetic component in 13 sites of basalt flows and baked sediments dated at 113.3±1.6 Ma from the Tuoyun section, western Xinjiang Province, China. Except for one flow from the base of the 300 m thick section, the rest have exclusively reversed polarity. The sequence correlates with chron M-0 in some geomagnetic polarity time scales, which potentially places the section just before the start of the Cretaceous Long Normal polarity superchron. Five of 11 sites of Early Cretaceous red beds that underlie the basalts possess coherent directions that pass both fold and reversals tests. Six sites of Upper Jurassic red beds have a magnetic component that was likely acquired after folding in the Tertiary. The mean paleolatitude of the Lower Cretaceous red beds is 11° lower than that of the Lower Cretaceous basalts suggesting the red beds underestimate the true field inclination. We further test this result by calculating the paleolatitudes to a common point of the available Early Cretaceous to Present paleomagnetic poles from red beds and volcanic rocks from central Asian localities north of the Tibetan Plateau. We find that paleolatitudes of volcanic rocks roughly equal the paleolatitudes calculated from the reference Eurasian apparent polar wander path (APWP) and that paleolatitudes of red beds are generally 10-20° lower than the paleolatitudes of volcanic rocks and those predicted from the reference curve. Our study suggests that central Asian red beds poorly record the Earth's field inclination, which leads to lower than expected paleolatitudes. Good agreement in paleolatitudes from volcanic rocks and the Eurasian APWP argues against proposed canted and non-dipole field models.
A Structural Validation of an Inventory Based on the Abridged Five Factor Circumplex Model (AB5C)

We investigated the structural validity of an inventory from the International Personality Item Pool (Goldberg et al., 2006) that is based on the Abridged Five Factor Circumplex (AB5C) model. In a Swedish sample of 1,080 subjects using confirmatory factor analysis, we found that the majority of investigated facets had a primary loading on 1 of the 5 personality factors and a secondary loading on another factor. These results provide overall support for the inventory and indirect support for the AB5C model. Some of the problems detected in the inventory appear to be rooted at the item level and may be a result of how the AB5C is operationalized. Thus, the inventory still requires some refinement and is not in its final stage of development. Nevertheless, our preliminary results are very promising, and we believe the AB5C model deserves renewed attention in trait psychology.
Identi fi cation of Hic – 5 as a Novel Scaffold for the MKK 4 / p 54 JNK Pathway in the Development of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Background-—Although increased amounts of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are well documented, the precise molecular mechanisms by which reactive oxygen species induce AAAs have not been fully elucidated. This study focused on the role of hydrogen peroxide–inducible clone 5 (Hic-5), which is induced by hydrogen peroxide and transforming growth factor-b, in the cellular signaling of AAA pathogenesis.
Autoethnography of tutoring in the Russian university: from theoretical knowledge to practical implementation

ABSTRACT Unlike traditional teachers, tutors now are much less able to confine their practice to the classroom setting. Herein, we address the challenges of actual tutoring practice at one Master’s degree program comprising offline and online learning activities along with student work placements. Building on the autoethnography and narrative analysis we highlight core themes structuring tutoring experience. We examined the challenges we met. We offer suggestions for tutors supporting students in a blended learning environment, and we argue acknowledgment of different roles and strategies applied by tutors across learning contexts make them more productive and less vulnerable towards conflicting messages of other actors involved in instructional communication.
Intracranial pressure and glaucoma

Purpose of review Glaucoma remains a disease with an unclear basic pathophysiology. The optic nerve travels through two pressurized regions: the intraocular space and the intracranial space. Some authors have suggested that the relationship between intraocular pressure and intracranial pressure may play a fundamental role in the development of glaucoma. Recent findings Recent studies have shown that intracranial pressure is lower in patients with glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma. Conversely, intracranial pressure appears to be elevated in patients with ocular hypertension. Early mathematical modeling studies have suggested that the counterbalance provided by intracranial pressure would be an important factor in the development of glaucoma. Summary The relationship between intraocular pressure and intracranial pressure may play an important role in the development of glaucoma.
Storm Waves at the Shoreline: When and Where Are Infragravity Waves Important?

Infragravity waves (frequency, f = 0.005–0.05 Hz) are known to dominate hydrodynamic and sediment transport processes close to the shoreline on low-sloping sandy beaches, especially when incident waves are large. However, in storm wave conditions, how their importance varies on different beach types, and with different mixes of swell and wind-waves is largely unknown. Here, a new dataset, comprising shoreline video observations from five contrasting sites (one low-sloping sandy beach, two steep gravel beaches, and two compound/mixed sand and gravel beaches), under storm wave conditions (deep water wave height, H0 up to 6.6 m, and peak period, Tp up to 18.2 s), was used to assess: how the importance and dominance of infragravity waves varies at the shoreline? In this previously unstudied combination of wave and morphological conditions, significant infragravity swash heights (Sig) at the shoreline in excess of 0.5 m were consistently observed on all five contrasting beaches. The largest infragravity swash heights were observed on a steep gravel beach, followed by the low-sloping sandy beach, and lowest on the compound/mixed sites. Due to contrasting short wave breaking and dissipation processes, infragravity frequencies were observed to be most dominant over gravity frequencies on the low-sloping sandy beach, occasionally dominant on the gravel beaches, and rarely dominant on the compound/mixed beaches. Existing empirical predictive relationships were shown to parameterize Sig skillfully on the sand and gravel beaches separately. Deep water wave power was found to accurately predict Sig on both the sand and gravel beaches, demonstrating that, under storm wave conditions, the wave heights and periods are the main drivers of infragravity oscillations at the shoreline, with the beach morphology playing a secondary role. The exception to this was the compound/mixed beach sites where shoreline infragravity energy remained low.
Weight loss improves reproductive outcomes in obese women undergoing fertility treatment: a randomized controlled trial

For women attempting pregnancy, obesity reduces fertility and is an independent risk factor for obstetric and neonatal complications. The aim of this evaluator‐blinded, randomized controlled trial was to evaluate a weight loss intervention on pregnancy rates in obese women undertaking fertility treatment. Forty‐nine obese women, aged ≤37 years, presenting for fertility treatment were randomized to either a 12‐week intervention (n = 27) consisting of a very‐low‐energy diet for the initial 6 weeks followed by a hypocaloric diet, combined with a weekly group multidisciplinary programme; or a control group (n = 22) who received recommendations for weight loss and the same printed material as the intervention. Anthropometric and reproductive parameters were measured at baseline and at 12 weeks. The 22 women who completed the intervention had greater anthropometric changes (–6.6 ± 4.6 kg and −8.7 ± 5.6 cm vs. −1.6 ± 3.6 kg and −0.6 ± 6.3 cm) compared with the control group (n = 17; P < 0.001). The intervention group achieved a pregnancy rate of 48% compared with 14% (P = 0.007), took a mean two fertility treatment cycles to achieve each pregnancy compared with four in the control group (P = 0.002), and had a marked increase in the number of live births (44% vs. 14%; P = 0.02). A group weight loss programme, incorporating dietary, exercise and behavioural components, is associated with a significant improvement in pregnancy rates and live births in a group of obese women undergoing fertility treatment.
Ranibizumab alone or in combination with photodynamic therapy vs photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

AIM To compare the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) alone or in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs PDT in patients with symptomatic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS A systematic search of a wide range of databases (including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science) was searched to identify relevant studies. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCT studies were included. Methodological quality of included literatures was evaluated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RevMan 5.2. 7 software was used to do the Meta-analysis. RESULTS Three RCTs and 6 retrospective studies were included. The results showed that PDT monotherapy had a significantly higher proportion in patients who achieved complete regression of polyps than IVR monotherapy at months 3, 6, and 12 (All P≤0.01), respectively. However, IVR had a tendency to be more effective in improving vision on the basis of RCTs. The proportion of patients who gained complete regression of polyps revealed that there was no significant difference between the combination treatment and PDT monotherapy. The mean change of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline showed that the combination treatment had significant superiority in improving vision vs PDT monotherapy at months 3, 6 and 24 (All P<0.05), respectively. In the mean time, this comparison result was also significant at month 12 (P<0.01) after removal of a heterogeneous study. CONCLUSION IVR has non-inferiority compare with PDT either in stabilizing or in improving vision, although it can hardly promote the regression of polyps. The combination treatment of PDT and IVR can exert a synergistic effect on regressing polyps and on maintaining or improving visual acuity. Thus, it can be the first-line therapy for PCV.
Locally adaptive bivariate shrinkage algorithm for image denoising based on Nonsubsampled Contourlet Transform

The Nonsubsampled Contourlet Transform (NSCT) is a new image representation approach that has sparser representation at both spatial and directional resolution as well as captures smooth contours in images. There are strong correlations between the parent and child coefficients of NSCT. Considering inter-scale and intra-scale dependency, in this paper, a method for image denoising in NSCT domain by using locally adapt bivariate shrinkage algorithm is proposed. This scheme achieved estimation results for images that are corrupted by additive Gaussian white noise (AGWN) and compares with NSCT-LAS, BivShrink and BLS-GSM. Experimental results show the proposed scheme can receive better denoising results.
Efficacy of protaper next and protaper universal retreatment systems in removing gutta-percha in curved root canals during root canal retreatment

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the cleanliness of root canal walls after retreatment using ProTaper Next (PTN), ProTaper Universal Retreatment (PTR) nickel-titanium (NiTi) systems and Hedström hand files in curved mesial canals of mandibular molar teeth and the time required for gutta-percha and sealer removal. Materials and Methods: Ninety mandibular molar teeth with curved mesial roots were instrumented up to #35.04 with Mtwo NiTi rotary instruments and obturated using the continuous wave of condensation technique. Removal of gutta-percha and sealer was performed using one of the following: PTN and PTR NiTi systems and Hedström hand files. Samples were placed on the VistaScan phosphor plates in the mesio-distal direction and the radiographs were taken. The digital radiographs were analyzed using AutoCAD software. Also, the total time required for gutta-percha removal was calculated by a chronometer. Results: The total retreatment time was significantly shorter in the PTN and PTR groups compared with the manual group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the groups according to the total residual gutta-percha and sealer (p<0.05). The PTN and PTR groups left significantly less gutta-percha and sealer remnant than the manual group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the PTN and PTR groups showed less residual gutta-percha and sealer than the manual group. The NiTi rotary systems were significantly faster than the manual group in the time required for gutta-percha and sealer removal.
Benefit of Sustained Virological Response to Combination Therapy on Graft Survival of Liver Transplanted Patients with Recurrent Chronic Hepatitis C

Recurrent hepatitis C infection is an important cause of progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis and graft loss after liver transplantation. Treatment for post‐transplant recurrence results in sustained virological response (SVR) in up to 30% of cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of SVR on patients and graft survival. Thirty‐four patients with an SVR to IFN‐ribavirin were included. Forty‐six nonresponders to the combination formed the control group. Follow‐up data were recorded every 6 months and included HCV RNA, and the occurrence of clinical problems (cirrhosis, decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, death). A graft biopsy was performed every year. The mean follow‐up duration was 52 months in responders and 57 months in nonresponders. Two patients died in each group of patients. Two patients with SVR developed late virological relapse. Fibrosis decreased in 38% of patients with SVR, remained stable in 44% and worsened in 18%. In contrast, fibrosis increased in the majority of nonresponder patients (74%, p < 0.001). At the end of follow‐up, no patient without cirrhosis at inclusion developed cirrhosis of the graft versus 9 among nonresponder patients (p = 0.009). No difference in patient survival was observed in the two groups. In conclusion, this study shows that HCV eradication has a positive impact on graft survival.
Lack of association between the C3435T MDR1 gene polymorphism and inflammatory bowel disease in two independent Northern European populations.

Morelli A. Gastrointestinal safety of NO-aspirin (NCX-4016) in healthy human volunteers: a proof of concept endoscopic study. Gastroenterology 2003;124:600–607. 2. Wallace JL, Ignaro Li, Fiorucci S. Potential cardioprotective actions of no-releasing aspirin. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2002;1:375–382. 3. Peura DA. Mandate to modify a medicinal mantra: may be not yet. Gastroenterology 2003;124:842–843. 4. Spirili C, Fabris L, Duner E, Fiorotto R, Ballardini G, Roskams T, LaRusso NF, Sonzogni A, Okolicsanyi L, Strazzabosco M. Cytokinestimulated nitric oxide production inhibits adenylyl cyclase and CAMP-dependent secretion in cholangiocytes. Gastroenterology 2003;124:737–753. 5. Wallace JL, Miller MJ. Nitric oxide in mucosal defense: a little goes a long way. Gastroenterology 2000;119:512–520. 6. Trauner M. When bile ducts say NO: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Gastroenterology 2003;124:847–851.
The Yin and Yang of host-commensal mutualism

The human body is populated by an extremely diverse group of microbes that live in a symbiotic relationship with their host. Among these, intestinal commensals are the most abundant, induce homeostatic mucosal immune responses, and fulfill physiologic functions that benefit the host. In some cases, gut symbionts, including Escherichia coli, may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic intestinal inflammation by causing dysregulated immune activation in genetically susceptible hosts. Although immune responses to bacterial products are well-characterized, the impact of intestinal inflammation on the function of commensal luminal microbes is only beginning to be elucidated. We recently reported that chronic intestinal inflammation induces commensal E. coli to upregulate stress response genes that paradoxically limit their growth in vivo. Herein, we discuss our findings in the context of host-microbial interactions in health and disease and a developing paradigm that may distinguish pathogens from commensals.
To What Extent Does Bilingualism Affect Children's Performance on the NEPSY?

Twenty-seven monolingual and 27 bilingual children aged between 6 and 7 years were assessed using the core subtests of the NEPSY, a children's neuropsychological assessment. Bilingual children scored lower than monolingual children in the Language domain and their performance was comparable with the monolingual children in the domains of Attention/Executive Functioning, Sensorimotor, Visuospatial, and Memory. The NEPSY correlates well with measures of academic achievement. It is concluded that the NEPSY is relatively insensitive to cultural factors and appears to be insensitive to bilingualism in the neuropsychological assessment of bilingual children in the United Kingdom.
The assessment of placental blood vessels by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound

Abstract Objective: This study was performed in order to compare the performance of classical two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) ultrasound, both with power Doppler technology, in the visualization of the placental vascular network during ongoing pregnancy. Methods: 15 pregnant volunteers in the third trimester of pregnancy were examined by 2D and 3D power Doppler ultrasound. The aim of the study was to follow the branching of the main stem vessel as far as possible distally in the placenta. In addition, we assessed the visualization rate of terminal parts of uteroplacental circulation, radial and spiral arteries. Results: There was no difference in the visualization of primary placental stem vessels by 2D and 3D power Doppler. However, 3D power Doppler performs better distally, with statistically significant differences at the level of secondary stem (p = 0.03), and even more prominent differences at the level of tertiary stem vessels (p = 0.0008). There was no difference in the visualization rate of radial and spiral arteries (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We found 3D superior to 2D ultrasound with power Doppler technology in the determination of the distal vascular branches of the fetal placental blood vessels.
Harnessing Checker Hierarchy for Reliable Microprocessors

Mircoprocessors are becoming increasingly susceptible to soft errors due to the current trends of semiconductor technology scaling. Traditional fault-tolerant multi-threading architectures provide good fault tolerance by re-executing all the computations. However, such a full re-execution significantly increases the demand on the processor resources, resulting in severe performance degradation. To address this problem, this dissertation presents Active Verification Management (AVM) approaches that utilize a checker hierarchy to increase its performance with a minimal effect on the overall reliability. Based on a simplified queueing model, AVM employs a filter checker which prioritizes the verification candidates so as to selectively do verification. This dissertation proposes three filter checkers—based on (1) result usage, (2) result bitwidth, and (3) result anomaly—that exploit correctness-criticality metrics and anomaly speculation. Binary Correctness Criticality (BCC) and Likelihood of Correctness Criticality (LoCC) are metrics that quantify whether an instruction is important for reliability or how likely an instruction is correctness-critical, respectively. Based on the BCC, a result-usage-based filter checker mitigates the verification workload by bypassing instructions that are unnecessary for correct execution. Computing the LoCC is accomplished by exploiting information redundancy of compressing computationally useful data bits. Numerical significance hints let the result-bitwidth-based filter checker guide a verification priority effectively before the re-execution process starts. Extensive measurements prove that the LoCC yields quite a wide distribution of values, indicating that it has the potential to differentiate diverse degrees of correctness-criticality. A result-anomaly-based filter checker exploits a value similarity property, which is defined by a frequent occurrence of partially identical values. Based on the biased distribution of similarity distance measure, this dissertation further investigates another application to exploit similar values for soft error tolerance with anomaly speculation. Extensive measurements show that the majority of instructions produce values that are different from the previous result value only in a few bits. Experimental results show that the proposed schemes accelerate the processor to be 180% faster than traditional fully-fault-tolerant processor, with a minimal impact on the overall soft error rate. With no AVM, congestion at the checker badly affects performance, to the tune of 57%, when compared to that of a non-fault-tolerant processor. These results explain that the proposed AVM has the potential to solve the verification congestion problem when perfect fault coverage is not needed.
The Relationship Between Self-Regulations and Online Learning in an ESL Blended Learning Context

Technology has changed the social landscape and the nature of social interaction. Education has been affected by these changes, as technology has facilitated the creation and Implementation of new educational environments and delivery methods (e.g., distance and blended-learning structures). While the prevalence of such approaches has increased over time, little is known about the learning skills that promote academic success; consequently, the ability of instructors and administrators to implement appropriate methods to foster these skills is hindered. This study examines distance education and focuses on the self-regulation literature to identify skills that can predict ESL learning success in a blended educational environment. Data were collected from 70 students attending a blended English language course. Using subscales from Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, five Self-regulatory attributes likely to predict academic performance were identified: intrinsic goal orientation, self-efficacy for learning and performance, time and study environment management, help seeking, and Internet self-efficacy.
Matched median filtering

A class of median type filters, called matched median filters, is defined for the estimation of the information which is carried by the amplitude of a noisy signal. These filters form the natural counterpart of linear matched filters in the class of median type filters and are maximum likelihood estimators if the noise is biexponential. Matched median filters are defined both for baseband and passband systems. Their statistical properties are analyzed and simulation results presented. >