Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multilevel modeling analysis of the geographic variability of low birth weight occurrence in Florida

The associations of neighborhood level socioeconomic deprivation and low birth weight were investigated among 1,030,443 singleton live births in the State of Florida between the years 1992 and 1997. Census data for per capita income, unemployment, percent of individuals living below the poverty line, vehicle ownership and educational attainment were used as neighborhood level indicators of socioeconomic status. Additionally, these variables were combined into a deprivation index to measure relative deprivation of neighborhoods across Florida. Birth data were linked to census block groups and tracts, which were used as proxies for low birth weight. Multilevel models were used to model the relationship between the deprivation index and each of the indicators and low birth weight, while adjusting for individual level risk factors. After adjusting for individual level factors no consistent relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic measures and low birth weight could be established. The relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic factors and low birth weight varied across ethnic categories. Among White Non-Hispanics and Hispanics measures of socioeconomic deprivation had a small association with low birth weight. However, for Black Non-Hispanics neighborhood measures had little consistency in predicting the occurrence of low birth weight
A Classification Bias and an Exclusion Bias Jointly Overinflated the Estimation of Publication Biases in Bilingualism Research

A publication bias has been argued to affect the fate of results in bilingualism research. It was repeatedly suggested that studies presenting evidence for bilingual advantages are more likely to be published compared to studies that do not report results in favor of the bilingual advantage hypothesis. This work goes back to the original claim and re-examines both the dataset and the classification of the studies that were employed. We find that the exclusion of published works such as doctoral dissertations, book chapters, and conference proceedings from the original dataset significantly inflated the presumed publication bias. Moreover, the estimation of the publication bias was affected by a classification bias that uses a mega-category that consists of both null and negative outcomes. Yet finding evidence for a bilingual disadvantage is not synonymous with obtaining a result indistinguishable from zero. Consequently, grouping together null and negative findings in a mega-category has various ramifications, not only for the estimation of the presumed publication bias but also for the field’s ability to appreciate the insofar hidden correlations between bilingual advantages and disadvantages. Tracking biases that inflate scientific results is important, but it is not enough. The next step is recognizing the nested Matryoshka doll effect of bias-within-bias, and this entails raising awareness for one’s own bias blind spots in science.
The significance of border training patterns in classification by a feedforward neural network using back propagation learning

Training patterns vary in their importance in image classification. Consequently, the selection and refinement of training sets can have a major impact on classification accuracy. For classification by a neural network, training patterns that lie close to the location of decision boundaries in feature space may aid the derivation of an accurate classification. The role of such border training patterns and their identification is discussed in relation to a series of crop classifications from airborne Thematic Mapper data. It is shown that a neural network trained with a set of border patterns may have a lower accuracy of learning but a significantly higher accuracy of generalization than one trained with a set of patterns drawn from the cores of the classes. Unfortunately, conventional training pattern selection and refinement procedures tend to favour core training patterns. For classification by a neural network, procedures which encourage the inclusion of border training patterns should be adopted as th.
Management Effects on Soil Carbon Dioxide Fluxes under Semiarid Mediterranean Conditions

This research was supported by the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia of Spain (Grants AGL2001-2238-CO2-01 and AGL 2004-07763-C02-02) and the European Union (FEDER funds). J. Alvaro-Fuentes was awarded an FPI fellowship by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education.
A Focus on Aging, HIV/AIDS, and Neurocognitive Challenges: Examining Southern Nevada HIV Sector Providers’ Awareness and Prospective Roles

Although abundant research has been carried out to investigate the underlying mechanisms that may cause neurocognitive challenges among middle-aged and older people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), to monitor the prevalence rates of HIV-related neurocognitive deficits, and to identify factors related to the improvement of diagnostic screening tools, classification and nosology, and clinical and rehabilitative treatment of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND); to date, there have been only a few studies that have explored and examined the awareness and work experiences HIV sector healthcare and service providers have related to HAND. To address this research gap, we conducted a qualitative, community-based participatory research study and interviewed 12 HIV sector providers in Southern Nevada, USA, from January to April 2022. After performing a thematic analysis of our interviews, we were able to identify two major themes and several sub-themes. Under our first major theme, provider awareness and knowledge, we identified four sub-themes: (1) prior knowledge and current awareness; (2) lived experiences of patients and clients with neurocognitive challenges; (3) lack of knowledge as a barrier to providing needed care; and (4) continuing education and professional development. Under our second major theme, prospective provider roles, we identified three sub-themes: (1) early detection; (2) direct and practical support; and (3) appropriate and timely referrals. In this article, we discuss our findings and lessons learned from our study, as well as their implications for the future work of researchers and providers in the HIV sector related to improving care and support for people aging with HIV/AIDS and experiencing neurocognitive challenges.
Major and trace element chemistry and D/H, 18O/16O, 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd ratios of rocks from the spreading center of the Okinawa Trough, a marginal back-arc basin

Basalts (OKTB) from the Okinawa Trough (OKT), which is a now opening marginal back-arc basin, are chemically quite similar to those from the intra-oceanic back-arc basins such as the Mariana Trough. Both olivine-normative and quartz-normative basalts occur, and major and trace element concentrations show a systematic variation, probably derived by differentiation of the magma. D/H, 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd ratios are almost identical in the dacite and basalts, and the 18O/16O ratio in the former is only slightly higher than in the latter, suggesting that the dacites are ultimately cognate with basalts. Concentrations of Al2O3, total iron, MgO, CaO, Na2O, Ni, Cr, and V in OKTB are within the range of variation in normal type mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORB), whereas OKTB have significantly higher K2O, Rb and Sr contents and D/H, 18O/16O and 87Sr/86Sr ratios and a lower 143Nd/144Nd ratio than N-MORB have. These chemical and isotopic features of OKTB can be well explained by the concept, which has been proposed by many authors for magma genesis in the intraoceanic back-arc basins, that the H2O-rich primary magma is generated from normal-type mantle peridotite modified by component from the subducted slab. Compared with those from intra-oceanic back-arc basins, the rocks from the OKT have distinctly higher 87Sr/86Sr and lower 143Nd/144Nd ratios, reflecting the higher contribution of continent-derived sedimentary components to the magma source. Oxygen, Sr and Nd isotopic characteristics of the rocks of the OKT are fitted well with paired two-component mixing models: one for the source-mixing and another for the crustal contamination.
Impact of catalysis on n-butane oxidation in an RF atmospheric pressure plasma

The plasma catalytic oxidation of n-butane diluted in a helium oxygen RF plasma jet is used to study volatile organic compound removal to unravel plasma catalytic synergisms. The plasma conversion is tested for a stoichiometric n-butane oxygen mixture for varying plasma power and using a manganese oxide catalyst. It is shown that the interplay between plasma and catalyst is very complex. The catalyst enhances the power coupling, but also serves as a sink for oxygen atoms due to surface recombination. The surface processes are dominated by reactions of radicals and excited species from the plasma. The oxidation of n-butane at the catalyst surface is slightly enhanced. In total, however, n-butane oxidation without the catalyst is more efficient than with the catalyst, which constitutes an anti-synergism.
Climate Change—Beyond the Hype

In the last 12 months we have been literally bombarded with media reports on climate change. As a result, the awareness of climate change by the general public including tourists has increased dramatically. This is desirable, of course, as climate change is a serious issue and we are likely to already lag behind with what should be achieved in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. Similarly, there is a great urgency to develop and implement cost-effective adaptation measures to assist those destinations that are mostly affected by climate change impacts, for example small island states. In the following, however, I will largely focus on GHG emissions and mitigation.
Applying a SPA model to examine the impact of climate change on GPP of open woodlands and the potential for woody thickening

Woody thickening is a global phenomenon that influences landscape C density, regional ecohydrology and biogeochemical cycling. The aim of the work described here is to test the hypothesis that increased atmospheric CO2 concentration, with or without photosynthetic acclimation, can increase gross primary production (GPP) and that this can explain woody thickening. We examine mechanisms underlying the response of GPP and highlight the importance of changes in soil water content by applying a detailed soil–plant–atmosphere model. Through this model, we show that CO2 enrichment with decreased or increased D and photosynthetic acclimation results in decreased canopy water use because of reduced gs. The decline in water use coupled with increased photosynthesis resulted in increased GPP, water‐use efficiency and soil moisture content. This study shows that this is a valid mechanism for GPP increase because of CO2 enrichment coupled with either a decrease or an increase in D, in water‐limited environments. We also show that a large increase in leaf area index could be sustained in the future as a result of the increased soil moisture content arising from CO2 enrichment and this increase was larger if D decreases rather than increases in the future. Large‐scale predictions arising from this simple conceptual model are discussed and found to be supported in the literature. We conclude that woody thickening in Australia and probably globally can be explained by the changes in landscape GPP and soil moisture balance arising principally from the increased atmospheric CO2 concentration. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variability in Specific Yield under Shallow Water Table Conditions

Investigation is provided concerning the variable behavior of specific yield ( SY ) under shallow water table conditions ( <2 m below land surface). Traditionally, specific yield has been defined as the water released from pumping of a phreatic aquifer down by a unit head. It is often used as a fixed value in groundwater flow models. This study seeks to elucidate SY variability due to natural processes of evapotranspiration (ET) and recharge. SY variability is of fundamental importance for modeling hydrologic response from stresses and for determination of water budget of a catchment. HYDRUS 1D—a numerical model solving Richard’s equation for saturated—unsaturated flow in one dimension is used to simulate the behavior of specific yield for a soil type representative of west central Florida. It was found, that for various cases examined (e.g., ET and infiltration), the magnitude of specific yield varied with depth to water table. For infiltration response, the variation in the specific yield exhibited stro.
Knowledge and Attitudes towards HIV and HCV among the Population Attending the Fast-Track Cities Mobile Unit in Brescia, Italy

The Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department of the University of Brescia organized free rapid screening tests for HIV and HCV as part of the Fast-Track City commitment. A cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire that was administered to individuals who underwent the screening or consultation. The study aimed to compare knowledge and attitudes towards HIV and HCV between age groups (18–40 vs. >40) and sexual orientations (heterosexual vs. LGBTQ+). Overall, 333 questionnaires were completed. Overall, only 107 (32%) of respondents knew how HIV is transmitted. Major differences were shown between different age groups, where people under the age of 40 had a significantly higher correct response rate than people over 40 (n = 101; 39% versus n = 6; 7.8%, p < 0.00001). Similarly, almost half of LGBTQI+ people (n = 28; 44.4%) gave the correct answer, versus 30% (n = 79) of heterosexuals (p = 0.0359). Only 9.6% of the population demonstrated high levels of knowledge for both HIV and HCV. Our study highlights that misconceptions about HIV and HCV should be addressed in prevention and education programs, whose target should also be specific populations.
Numerical Simulation of Equatorial Ocean Circulation. Part I: A Basic Case in Turbulent Equilibrium

Abstract An equatorial ocean experiment has been carried out, using the primitive equation model of Semtner and Mintz (1977) with a highly conservative differencing scheme, with high horizontal resolution (Δx = 0.50°, Δy=0.25°) and with 14 levels in the vertical. A turbulent equilibrium state has been reached for a 3300 km × 2200 km equatorial ocean, driven by constant 0.5 dyn cm−2 wind stress, heated at the surface and cooled at the northern and southern walls. The predicted surface temperature field shows an upwelling-induced cold region along the equator. The temperatures at the equator near the eastern wall are as much as 6°C colder than in the subequatorial regions. Westward moving waves occur in the temperature field a few degrees north and south of the equator. These waves have periods of 33 days, wavelengths of 800 km, and are symmetric about the equator. Their structure is similar to that of equatorially trapped Rossby waves with n=1 in the vertical and m=1 in the horizontal. Shorter wavelength d.
Active geodynamics of the central Mediterranean Sea: Tensional tectonic evidences in western Sicily from mantle‐derived helium

We report results on the measured high 3He/4He isotope ratio in western Sicily, interpreted together with the heat data. The study of this sector of the Europe‐Africa interaction is crucial to a better understanding of the tectonics and the geodynamical evolution of the central Mediterranean area. The estimated mantle‐derived helium fluxes in the investigated areas are up to 2–3 orders of magnitude greater than those of a stable continental area. The highest flux, found in the southernmost area near the Sicily Channel, where recent eruptions of the Ferdinandea Island occurred 20 miles out to sea off Sciacca, has been associated with a clear excess of heat flow. Our results indicate that there is an accumulation of magma below the continental crust of western Sicily that is possibly intruding and out‐gassing through roughly N‐S trending deep fault systems linked to the mantle, that have an extensional component. Although the identification of these faults is not sufficiently constrained by our data, they could possibly be linked to the pre‐existing faults that originated during the Mesozoic extensional‐transtensional tectonic phases.
Decaying equatorial F region plasma depletions

We analyze plasma density data from the AE-E satellite to determine how F region irregularities decay. This satellite had a low inclination orbit that was ultimately circular at an altitude of 434 km. It frequently observed plasma depletions in the postsunset regime during spread F condi-tions, sometimes along a trajectory affording a horizontal cut perspective through the field-aligned irregularities. On one occasion, the satellite passed through nearly the same region of depleted flux tubes on sequential orbits. Data from these orbits imply that the irregularities decay at a constant rate over a broad range of horizontal scale sizes. We introduce a statistical model of the intermediate-scalp (10 km - 100 m) plasma irregularities and use it to infer a value for the perpendicular ambipolar diffusion coefficient from the measured decay rate. The value we estimate (2 m 2 /s) is close to the expected classical value. The uniform decay rate and the quasi-universal nature of the intermediate-scale spectra hint that the irregularities themselves maintain a characteristic shape as they decay. High-resolution satellite density measurements show that irregularities have the form of kilometer-scale quasi-periodic depletions. We propose a one-dimensional, nonlinear model of the collisional interchange instability which admits a closed-form, steady state solution predicting the shape of the depletions. Computer simulations of the model produce kilometer-scale waves that resemble the in situ observations.
History of glacial terminations from the Tiber River, Rome: Insights into glacial forcing mechanisms

[1] We document the aggradational history of the Tiber River delta through the last 17,000 years by means of 17 new 14C ages from peat or wood collected from the delta sediment. An abrupt change in sediment clast size, grading from gravel to clay, occurred between 13.63 (±0.20) and 12.80 (±0.15) ka, indicating that it was synchronous with the last glacial termination, with no appreciable phase lag. Knowing this phase relationship enables us to reduce the magnitudes of age uncertainties for aggradational sections corresponding to glacial terminations IX through III, which we had dated previously by 40Ar/39Ar methods. Glacial terminations VIII, VI, and IV precede beyond 95% confidence the ages predicted by Northern Hemisphere summer insolation maxima. Additionally, we find that each of these seven glacial terminations follows particularly mild insolation minima, which we suggest may be regarded as the preconditioning factor to trigger a glacial termination.
Volatils mineurs (S, Cl, F) et éléments traces dans les magmas pré-éruptifs et les gaz volcaniques

Une etude sur les inclusions magmatiques (MIs) a permis de suivre l'evolution des volatils dissous dans les systemes magmatiques des volcans Hekla et Masaya au cours de la differenciation magmatique (cristallisation fractionnee). Les concentrations en volatils dissous ''attendues'' dans les liquides pre-eruptifs ont donc pu etre estimees, permettant ainsi de ne pas sous-estimer les concentrations des liquides pieges dans les MIs et d'ameliorer les contraintes sur la masse de volatils emise dans l'atmosphere. La chimie des phases gazeuses de ces volcans a egalement ete etudiee. Ceci a montre que l'enrichissement des elements traces volatils est lie a un processus de degazage sous forme d'halogenures et sulfates a Hekla et sous forme de chlorures, sulfates et chloro-sulfates au Masaya. En revanche, l'enrichissement des elements refractaires a Hkla est explique par un processus de dissolution non-stoechiometrique des tephras par la phase gazeuse riche en fluor au sein du panache eruptif
Immune checkpoint blockade induced shifts in cytokine expression patterns in peripheral blood of head and neck cancer patients are linked to outcome

Background Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) of programmed-death-1 (PD-1) with pembrolizumab or nivolumab is approved for treating recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). NadiHN and ADRISK are phase IIB trials investigating in locally advanced (LA) HNSCC having low or high risk of recurrence the potential benefits from adding nivolumab to post-operative radiotherapy or pembrolizumab to cisplatin-based radio-chemotherapy. Methods Along five randomized controlled ICB trials including NadiHN and ADRISK, blood samples were taken before and after starting ICB in n=25 patients. Concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF), CCL2 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and CXCL10 (IP-10) pre- and post-ICB in EDTA-anticoagulated plasma and serum were compared. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to identify optimal cutoff for defining subgroups before analyzing overall survival (OS) applying Kaplan–Meier plots and multivariate Cox regression. Results We detected huge heterogeneity between cytokine patterns in pre-and post-ICB plasma and serum. We observed high correlation between concentrations of some cytokines. Despite absent systematic OS differences after ICB with pembrolizumab or nivolumab or between LA-HNSCC versus R/M HNSCC patients, we noticed improved outcome of patients having lower IFN-γ concentrations pre- and post-ICB and following ICB reduced concentrations of VEGF, IL-6, and IL-8 but not MCP-1. Contrarily, increases in IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF levels correlated with impaired outcome. Multivariate Cox regression revealed five independent OS predictors among cytokines; using natural logarithms of their hazard ratios to estimate an individual’s risk of dying, three cytokine-expression pattern (CEP)-risk groups with no death within mean (95% confidence interval) follow-up of 29.2 (22.1–36.2) months and median OS of 11.3 (8.8–13.8) and 2.9 (0.4-5.4) months were found. Conclusion Whereas individual pre- or post-ICB cytokine concentrations in serum or plasma alone failed to predict the survivor group, CEP-risk groups may support the identification of individual patients with long-lasting benefit from ICB.
Rapid evolution of the Eocene accretionary complex (Hyuga Group) of the Shimanto terrane in southeastern Kyushu, southwestern Japan

Abstract Detailed geologic examination of the Eocene accretionary complex (Hyuga Group) of the Shimanto terrane in southeastern Kyushu revealed that the oceanic plate was composed of Paleocene to Lower Eocene mudstone and siliceous mudstone, lower Middle Eocene red mudstone, and mid‐Middle Eocene trench‐fill turbidite with siltstone breccia, successively overlying the pre‐Eocene oceanic plate. This oceanic plate sequence was overlain by Upper Eocene siltstone. Deposition of the lower Middle Eocene red mudstone was accompanied by basalt flows and it is interbedded with continental felsic tuff, which indicates that the basalt and red mudstone were deposited near the trench just before accretion. The Hyuga Group has very similar geological structure to that of the chert–clastic complexes found in the Jurassic accretionary complexes in Japan: that is, a decollement fault formed in the middle of an oceanic plate sequence, and an imbricate structure formed only in the upper part of the sequence. Thus, it appears that the Hyuga Group was formed by the same accretionary process as the Jurassic accretionary complexes. No accretion occurred before the Middle Eocene, and the rapid accretion of the Hyuga Group was commenced by the supply of coarse terrigenous sediments in the mid‐Middle Eocene, when the direction of movement of the Pacific Plate changed. The pre‐Eocene oceanic basement and lower Middle Eocene volcanic activity suggest that the oceanic plate partly preserved in the Hyuga Group was very similar to the northern part of the present West Philippine Sea Plate.