Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water masses, mass transport and variability of the Canary current in autumn

CTD casts from four separate autumn cruises in 1997, 2003, 2006, and 2009 sampled the Canary Basin in order to describe the autumn characteristics of the Canary Current. To calculate geostrophic velocities and transport, a reference level of no motion of ƴn = 28.072 kg m (approximately 3000 m depth) was chosen to integrate the thermal wind equation, as supported from LADCP data used from the ORCA 2009 campaign. In autumn, the average section shows a Canary Current flowing to the south at a rate of -3.6 Sv (1 Sv = 10 kg s) in the surface layer (0-700 m) at the latitude of the Canary Islands, from the African coast to 18oW. This net flow is divided into a northward component of 1.1 Sv in the Lanzarote Passage (LP) and a southward component to the west of Lanzarote Island of -4.7 Sv transporting North Atlantic Central Water (NACW). In the intermediate layers (700 – 1600 m depth), Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) is transported northward in the LP with 0.7 Sv. West of Lanzarote Island, the intermediate layer transport is nearly negligible although there are high energetic eddies with warm, salty Mediterranean Water (MW) presumably flowing toward the south. Deep water layers have negligible transport fluctuations, consisting of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) properties. While the autumn tendency is flow to the north at the surface layers in the LP, fluctuations exist from 2.2 to -1.9 Sv. However, in the intermediate layers the transport is rather consistent with variations from 0.1 to 0.7 Sv to the north, as all show AAIW features in each of the stations sampled in the LP. West of Lanzarote Island, all four cruises show a surface Canary Current component to the south ranging from -4.1 to 5.0 Sv, with the exception of 2009 where the transport is -1.5 Sv.
The Effects of a Free Bus Program on Travel Behaviour of Older Adults: A Case Study of a Canadian Suburban Municipality

Public transit can be a potentially attractive alternative to driving for older adults, particularly for those who cannot drive due to health decline. Encouraging the shift of older adult travel behaviour from automobiles to transit could be accomplished through incentive programs. An example is the free bus/transit programs, which are more commonplace in Europe and are recently gaining popularity in Canada and the US. In this paper, short surveys (n = 131) and semi-structured interviews (n = 16) were utilized to explore older adults’ travel behaviour and experiences related to a recently introduced free transit program in the suburban municipality of Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Results from logistic regression models suggest that older adults with lower incomes, those who drive more during the week, and who live closer to downtown are more likely to have benefited from Oakville’s free bus program. The common reasons for using the program related to scheduling, the opportunity to produce and maintain social capital, financial savings and declining health. Some older adults did not use the program because they already had a subsidized monthly pass or when using bus was inconvenient. This research expands on a limited North American literature on the impacts of free bus programs among older adults. The North American population is aging rapidly, and most older adults would live in suburban communities in coming decades. In this context, the findings from this research may help planners and policy makers accommodate for older adults’ travel needs and preferences in suburban municipalities.
Companion Diagnostics and Cancer Biomarkers Proteomics of Cancer Cell Lines Resistant to Microtubule-Stabilizing Agents

Despite the clinical success of microtubule-interacting agents (MIA), a significant challenge for oncologists is the inability to predict the response of individual patients with cancer to these drugs. In the present study, six cell lines were compared by 2D DIGE proteomics to investigate cellular resistance to the class of MIAs known as microtubule-stabilizing agents (MSA). The human lung cancer cell line A549 was compared with two drug-resistant daughter cell lines, a taxol-resistant cell line (AT12) and an epothilone B (EpoB)-resistant cell line (EpoB40). The ovarian cancer cell line Hey was compared with two drug-resistant daughter cell lines, an EpoB-resistant cell line (EpoB8) and an ixabepilone-resistant cell line (Ixab80). All 2D DIGE results were validated by Western blot analyses. A variety of cytoskeletal and cytoskeleton-associated proteins were differentially expressed in drug-resistant cells. Differential abundance of 14-3-3s, galectin-1 and phosphorylation of stathmin are worthy of further studies as candidate predictive biomarkers for MSAs. This is especially true for galectin-1, a b-galactose–binding lectin that mediates tumor invasion and metastasis. Galectin-1 was greatly increased in EpoBand ixabepilone-resistant cells and its suppression caused an increase in drug sensitivity in both drug-sensitive and -resistant Hey cells. Furthermore, the growth medium from resistant Hey cells contained higher levels of galectin-1, suggesting that galectin-1 could play a role in resistance to MSAs. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(1); 260–9. 2013 AACR.
Reading from Farmers' Scripts: Local Perceptions of Climate Variability and Adaptations in Laikipia, Rift Valley, Kenya

Knowledge of climate change that increases weather-related risk to agricultural production is critical for communities depending on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture in rural communities in Kenya is highly dependent on rainfall, which has been diminishing over time. Most scientific studies have focused on perceptions and adaptations at the local level; however, limited studies have explored local perceptions in ways that are robust, synergistic, and could have practical application to national policy. This study assesses and compares smallholder farmers' perceptions of climate variability with regard to the local knowledge they employ to measure it and adaptations they use to mitigate it. The study was conducted in Laikipia District, Kenya, with a focus on two specific sublocations: Umande and Muhonia. Qualitative data-collection methods included transect drives, informal and key informant interviews, and focus-group discussions. A content analysis of local perceptions of climatic variability was completed using ATLAS-ti, fol-lowed by an interpretation of the results. Small-holders' climatic perceptions are measured seasonally and yearly, and are linked to observable occurrences of climatic variables, which small-holders apply to their management of agriculture and natural resources. Perceptions are similar in both sites and include reports of erratic rainfalls (locally referred to as majimbo ), droughts, degradation of resources, animal and crop diseases, and a prevalence of pests. Notable differences in adaptations used by farmers exist between the two sites. Basic infrastructural inadequacies in both sites limit smallholders from adapting. We conclude that local knowledge is critical and enables smallholders to grasp and act upon microclimate variability and is therefore a source of relevant adaptation practices. Policy-makers are recommended to do ex-ante analysis of their policies and farmer needs, and tailor the policies to enhance adaptation at the farm level.
Aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna in Lake Takkobu, Kushiro Marsh, northern Japan

2003-2004年に,釧路湿原の南東部に位置する達古武沼の水生大型無脊椎動物相を調べ,94分類群の生息を確認した。 その内訳は次のとおりで,全体として浅い富栄養な海跡湖の特徴を示していた。 ユスリカ科34分類群,貧毛綱18分類群,軟体動物8分類群,トンボ目7種,カメムシ目5分類群,ヒル亜綱,トビケラ目各4分類群,ダニ目,ワラジムシ目,コウチュウ目,ヌカカ科各2分類群,線形動物門,ヨコエビ亜目,エビ目,アミ亜目,カゲロウ目,ヘビトンボ目各1分類群。
Regional differencesin bloodflow in relationto tumourgrowth in the mouse

Summary The regional distribution of radio-isotopes was used to estimate regional differences in the cutaneous and mammary gland blood flow in the mouse. The observed values were greater in the cranial than caudal regions. The association of these findings with the reported higher tumour growth rate in the cranial than caudal aspect of the mouse is discussed. Auerbach, Morrissey & Sidky (1978a) observed that tumour cells inoculated intradermally or subcutaneously. into the cranial region of the lateral trunk of mice appeared to have a greater 'take' incidence and growth rate than comparable injections made more caudally. No such differential was noted when inoculations were made on the right and the corresponding area of the left side of the trunk (Auerbach, Morrissey & Sidky, 1978b). Their findings were not influenced by the sex or the strain of the host, or the type of tumour cells inoculated. A contributory factor for this discrepancy in growth rate was thought to be regional differences in the cutaneous blood flow, but perfusion measurements made using radioactive microspheres failed to show any significant regional differences (Auerbach, Morrissey, Kubai & Sidky, 1978c). More recently Dipersio (1981) reported a similar regional difference in the growth of human tumour xenograftsin nudemice,and,as Auerbach previously, did not consider that vascularity made a significant contribution to the findings. The purpose of this paper is to report the present findings on tissue perfusion based on a different method to that used by Auerbach et al. (l978c) which suggests that there are differences in blood supply between the pectoral (cranial, anterior) and inguinal (caudal, posterior) mammary glands and skin in the mouse.
Remembering the past and imagining the future: A role for nonvisual imagery in the everyday cognition of the blind and sighted

Visual Tactile Auditory Blind 14.46 (5.96) 10.87 (5.86) 9.94 (4.01) 9.47 (3.99) Visual Status Sighted 12.04 (4.77) 6.89 (3.42) 7.46 (3.42) 9.37 (3.63)
A Bayesian nonparametric model for spatially distributed multivariate binary data with application to a multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) study

There has been an increasing interest in the analysis of spatially distributed multivariate binary data motivated by a wide range of research problems. Two types of correlations are usually involved: the correlation between the multiple outcomes at one location and the spatial correlation between the locations for one particular outcome. The commonly used regression models only consider one type of correlations while ignoring or modeling inappropriately the other one. To address this limitation, we adopt a Bayesian nonparametric approach to jointly modeling multivariate spatial binary data by integrating both types of correlations. A multivariate probit model is employed to link the binary outcomes to Gaussian latent variables; and Gaussian processes are applied to specify the spatially correlated random effects. We develop an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for the posterior computation. We illustrate the proposed model on simulation studies and a multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis case study.
Factors Influencing African American Youths' Decisions to Stay in School

The goal of the study was to assess positive factors that contribute to African American students’intentions to stay in school. Two hundred and thirty-one African American students participated in this study.Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a conceptual model, surveys measured student attitudes toward school-year completion, social support for completing the academic year, and their perceptions of personal control over school completion. The contributions of self-esteem and racial self-esteem were also examined for their influence on academic strivings. The TPB was a better predictor of intentions to complete the school year than student grade point averages (GPAs). Selfesteem added only slightly to the variance explained in predicting intentions to complete the school year, but neither self-esteem nor racial self-esteemwas a significant predictor of GPAs.
Effect of head-neck posture on human discomfort during whole-body vibration

Effect of head-neck posture on human discomfort during whole-body vibration. " MS (Master of Science) thesis, ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the people in the 3D Bio-Motion research lab at the Center for Computer Aided Design for their help and support with this thesis project. I would like to thank Sultan Sultan and Ting Xia for their help with the lab setup and preparation. I also express my gratitude to John Meusch and Rosalind Smith for their assistance with the motion capture and data analysis utilized in the 3D Bio-Motion research lab. Finally, I would like to give a special thank you to Salam Rahmatalla for providing his expertise and insights into human dynamics and human discomfort. Figure 2.8 – Comparison between calculated marker acceleration data filtered at 12 Hz and accelerometer data for head test (a) and seat test (b). vii Figure A.1 – Average of difference in subjective reported discomfort between normal posture and each alternative head-neck posture for 10 subjects. Figure A.2 – Comparison of angular velocity transmissibility from average of 6 subjects from Fard et al.
Septic impairment of capillary blood flow requires NADPH oxidase but not NOS and is rapidly reversed by ascorbate through an eNOS-dependent mechanism

Objective—To determine the roles of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NADPH oxidase in the impairment of capillary blood flow in sepsis and in the reversal of this impairment by ascorbate. Design—Prospective, controlled laboratory study. Setting—Animal laboratory in research institute. Subjects—Adult male wild type (WT), nNOS−/−, iNOS−/−, eNOS−/−, and gp91phox−/−mice. Interventions—Sepsis was induced by feces injection into peritoneum (FIP). A bolus of ascorbate or NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin was injected intravenously at 6 hrs post-FIP. Alternatively, NOS cofactor (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (BH4) or nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-Nacetylpenicillamine (SNAP) was superfused on the surface of extensor digitorum longus muscle. Measurements and Main Results—Capillary blood flow impairment and NOS activity in extensor digitorum longus muscle were measured by intravital microscopy and by enzymatic assay, respectively. Sepsis at 6 hrs impaired flow in WT mice. Apocynin, and knockout of gp91phox but not of any NOS isoforms, rescued this impairment. Constitutive NOS activity was unaffected by sepsis, but it was abolished by nNOS knockout (iNOS activity was negligible in all mice). Ascorbate rapidly (10 mins) rescued impaired flow in WT, nNOS−/−, iNOS−/− but not eNOS−/− mice. Ascorbate also improved survival of WT mice after FIP. BH4 and SNAP rescued flow in WT mice, while BH4 failed to rescue it in eNOS−/− mice. Conclusion—Capillary blood flow impairment in septic skeletal muscle requires NADPH oxidase but not NOS, and it is rapidly reversed by ascorbate and BH4 through an eNOS-dependent mechanism.
A Robust Method for Estimating Optimal Treatment Regimes

Summary A treatment regime is a rule that assigns a treatment, among a set of possible treatments, to a patient as a function of his/her observed characteristics, hence “personalizing” treatment to the patient. The goal is to identify the optimal treatment regime that, if followed by the entire population of patients, would lead to the best outcome on average. Given data from a clinical trial or observational study, for a single treatment decision, the optimal regime can be found by assuming a regression model for the expected outcome conditional on treatment and covariates, where, for a given set of covariates, the optimal treatment is the one that yields the most favorable expected outcome. However, treatment assignment via such a regime is suspect if the regression model is incorrectly specified. Recognizing that, even if misspecified, such a regression model defines a class of regimes, we instead consider finding the optimal regime within such a class by finding the regime that optimizes an estimator of overall population mean outcome. To take into account possible confounding in an observational study and to increase precision, we use a doubly robust augmented inverse probability weighted estimator for this purpose. Simulations and application to data from a breast cancer clinical trial demonstrate the performance of the method.
Macrodispersion of sorbing solutes in heterogeneous porous formations with spatially periodic retardation factor and velocity field

Expressions for the macroscopic velocity vector and dispersion tensor for sorbing solute transport in heterogeneous porous formations whose hydrogeologic properties are repeated at intervals were derived via Taylor-Aris-Brenner moment analysis. An idealized three-dimensional porous formation of infinite domain with spatially periodic retardation factor, velocity field, and microdispersion coefficients in all three directions was considered. Sorption was assumed to be governed by a linear equilibrium isotherm under local chemical equilibrium conditions. The analytical expressions presented are based on a perturbation method where all of the spatially periodic parameters employed were assumed to have “small” fluctuations. It was shown that the effective velocity vector is given by the volume-averaged interstitial velocity vector divided by the volume-averaged retardation factor, and the effective dispersion dyadic (second-order tensor) is given by the volume-averaged microdispersion dyadic divided by the volume-averaged dimensionless retardation factor plus a dyadic expressing the increase in solute spreading caused by the spatial variability of the parameters.
Value Timing : Risk and Return Across Asset Classes ☆

Returns to value strategies in individual equities, commodities, currencies, global bonds and stock indexes are predictable by the value spread. Common and asset-class-specific components of the value spread contribute equally to this predictability. Return variation due to common value is closely associated with standard proxies for risk premia, such as dividend yield, intermediary leverage and illiquidity, but it is at odds with models that exclusively generate a value premium in equities. Return variation due to asset-classspecific value presents another challenge for asset pricing models. The outperformance of value timing and rotation strategies indicates that investors can benefit from the value spread in real-time.
Promoting climate change transformation with young people in Brazil: participatory action research through a looping approach

Amid research into the mounting social and environmental threats presented by climate change, young people’s everyday experiences and knowledges are often overlooked, despite being the generation that will be most affected by climate change. We present a ‘looping’ methodology, developed through collaborative work between two distinct but complementary research projects wherein young people in the Paraíba do Sul watershed, São Paulo state, Brazil shared their perspectives on (respectively) climate-related disasters and the food–water–energy nexus. The approach brings together the theoretical framings of citizen science and nexus thinking under the aegis of participatory action research, to identify points of mutual learning in relation to the knowledge, action and critique co-produced with young people. This ‘looping methodology’ enables meta-analytic insights into how participatory action research, looped with other forms of action-oriented research, can enable young people and other protagonists to articulate and act upon the complex, multi-scalar processes that characterise what it means to live in uncertain social, political and environmental times.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Premenopausal Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus : Prevalence , Characters and Related Morbidity

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous condition characterized by anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and metabolic derangements including insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. Both PCOS and type 2 DM are linked through insulin resistance. Women with PCOS are, therefore at higher risk of type 2 DM. Aim of the Work: The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of PCOS in premenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Setting: Diabetes clinic in Kasr Al Aini teaching hospital. Gynaecological assessment was conducted in the gynaecology clinic of Kasr al Aini teaching hospital, Cairo university. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Type 2 diabetic women of reproductive age who were either on oral hypoglycemic drugs or diet control were included in the study. Baseline demographic characteristics were obtained and body mass index, waist/hip ratio and F/G scores were determined. PCOS was initially diagnosed using the criteria proposed by the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society (AEPS). Laboratory investigations included hormonal and lipid profiles. The main outcome measure was prevalence of PCOS calculated according to AEPS criteria. Reanalysis of data and recalculation of the prevalence rate according to the Rotterdam and NIH criteria was also done. Results: Seventy one diabetic women enrolled in the study. Nine (12.68%) had clinical symptoms of PCOS according to the AEPS criteria. The prevalence rate of PCOS in women with type 2 DM according to the Rotterdam criteria was also 12.68%. According to the NIH criteria the observed prevalence rate was 9.86%. The mean age of subjects with PCOS at diagnosis of DM was significantly lower than that of non-PCOS diabetics (33.89 ±3.55 Vs 39.84±2.68 years, p= <0.0001). Diabetics with PCOS had significantly higher BMI and WHR than diabetics without PCOS (32.73 ±2.67 versus 30.48± 1.92, p=0.017 and 0.895±0.036 versus 0.865 ±0.031, p=0.015, respectively). The incidence of gestational diabetes and stillbirths was not significantly different between the two groups. Both PCOSand non-PCOS diabetics reported a high incidence of family history of DM, however there was no significant difference between the two groups. No difference in lipid profile, was observed between the two groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of PCOS in diabetic women is not higher than the general population. Hyperandrogenic women with PCOS show the highest risk of developing DM. Patients with PCOS are at risk of developing type 2 DM at a younger age than non PCOS diabetics. Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is an important risk factor for developing DM in women with PCOS.
Influence of sewer network models on urban flood damage assessment based on coupled 1D/2D models

One of the main steps in assessing flood risk in urbanised areas is the quantification of damage costs. Damage is often estimated based on depth‐damage curves for which depth maps are obtained (ideally) from coupled flood models. While the comparative analysis of flood damage models has been extensively researched in the literature, the influence of the underlying sewer network model has not been investigated. In this study, a 2D locally inertial equations flood risk analysis model (GWM) is coupled with two stormwater models (SWMM, tested with three different configurations, and SIPSON). The assessment of the network performance is made through the total exchanged volume between the surface and stormwater system, the surcharged conduits and manholes, maximum overland inundation and costs using a stepped version of the multi‐coloured manual depth‐damage curves for continuous urban fabric. The models behave similarly; however, they do show differences in the head pressures, number of surcharged manholes and maximum depth in some locations. The case study results show that despite the good agreement in damage between the four configurations (≈6% maximum disagreement), some localised high differences in maximum depth observed [0.25 (m)] exist. It was also shown that SWMM needs to be calibrated in order to perform similarly to Preissmann slot models.