Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intermodel Variability and Mechanism Attribution of Central and Southeastern U.S. Anomalous Cooling in the Twentieth Century as Simulated by CMIP5 Models

AbstractSome parts of the United States, especially the southeastern and central portion, cooled by up to 2°C during the twentieth century, while the global mean temperature rose by 0.6°C (0.76°C from 1901 to 2006). Studies have suggested that the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) may be responsible for this cooling, termed the “warming hole” (WH), while other works reported that regional-scale processes such as the low-level jet and evapotranspiration contribute to the abnormity. In phase 3 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3), only a few of the 53 simulations could reproduce the cooling. This study analyzes newly available simulations in experiments from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) from 28 models, totaling 175 ensemble members. It was found that 1) only 19 out of 100 all-forcing historical ensemble members simulated negative temperature trend (cooling) over the southeast United States, with 99 members underp.
Variability of Indian summer monsoon rainfall in daily data from gauge and satellite

It has long been thought that tropical rainfall retrievals from satellites have large errors. Here we show, using a new daily 1 degree gridded rainfall data set based on about 1800 gauges from the India Meteorology Department (IMD), that modern satellite estimates are reasonably close to observed rainfall over the Indian monsoon region. Daily satellite rainfalls from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP 1DD) and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) are available since 1998. The high summer monsoon (June-September) rain over the Western Ghats and Himalayan foothills is captured in TMPA data. Away from hilly regions, the seasonal mean and intraseasonal variability of rainfall (averaged over regions of a few hundred kilometers linear dimension) from both satellite products are about 15% of observations. Satellite data generally underestimate both the mean and variability of rain, but the phase of intraseasonal variations is accurate. On synoptic timescales, TMPA gives reasonable depiction of the pattern and intensity of torrential rain from individual monsoon low-pressure systems and depressions. A pronounced biennial oscillation of seasonal total central India rain is seen in all three data sets, with GPCP 1DD being closest to IMD observations. The new satellite data are a promising resource for the study of tropical rainfall variability.
Climate change impacts on wind speeds and wind energy density in northern Europe: empirical downscaling of multiple AOGCMs

We present empirical downscaling of 5 state-of-the-art AOGCMs (Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models) to investigate potential changes in wind speeds and energy density in northern Europe. The approach is based on downscaling the Weibull parameters of wind speed prob- ability distributions from AOGCM-derived 500 hPa relative vorticity and sea-level pressure gradi- ents, and is demonstrated to generate accurate depictions of the wind climate during the transfer function conditioning period. Bootstrapping is used to develop 100 realizations for each downscaling period and these are used to assess the uncertainty in the results due to stochastic effects in the AOGCM-derived downscaling predictors. Projected changes in the wind speed probability distribu- tion vary with the AOGCMs from which the predictors are derived, but generally it is shown that mean wind speeds, 90th percentile wind speeds and energy density are slightly lower in the 2081-2100 climate projection period than during 1961-1990 at the majority of the 46 stations studied. Conversely it is found that there is no significant difference between conditions during 2046-2065 and 1961-1990 based on the ensemble of downscaling results. Equally, the winter time of 2046-2065 is largely indistinguishable from 1961-1990 for the majority of stations, while the winters of 2081-2100 appear to be associated with lower mean and 90th percentile wind speeds and energy density.
A randomized crossover trial

Objective To determine whether training with a brain–computer interface (BCI) to control an image of a phantom hand, which moves based on cortical currents estimated from magnetoencephalographic signals, reduces phantom limb pain. Methods Twelve patients with chronic phantom limb pain of the upper limb due to amputation or brachial plexus root avulsion participated in a randomized single-blinded crossover trial. Patients were trained to move the virtual hand image controlled by the BCI with a real decoder, which was constructed to classify intact hand movements from motor cortical currents, by moving their phantom hands for 3 days (“real training”). Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after training, and at follow-up for an additional 16 days. As a control, patients engaged in the training with the same hand image controlled by randomly changing values (“random training”). The 2 trainings were randomly assigned to the patients. This trial is registered at UMIN-CTR (UMIN000013608). Results VAS at day 4 was significantly reduced from the baseline after real training (mean [SD], 45.3 [24.2]–30.9 [20.6], 1/100mm; p= 0.009 < 0.025), but not after random training (p= 0.047 >0.025). Compared to VAS at day 1, VAS at days 4 and 8 was significantly reduced by 32% and 36%, respectively, after real training and was significantly lower than VAS after random training (p < 0.01). Conclusion Three-day training to move the hand images controlled by BCI significantly reduced pain for 1 week. Classification of evidence This study provides Class III evidence that BCI reduces phantom limb pain. MORE ONLINE
Electrical Microstimulation of the Superior Colliculus in Strabismic Monkeys

Purpose Visually guided saccades are disconjugate in human and nonhuman strabismic primates. The superior colliculus (SC) is a region of the brain topographically organized in visual and motor maps where the saccade goal is spatially coded. The present study was designed to investigate if a site of stimulation on the topographic motor map was evoking similar or different saccade vectors for each eye. Methods We used microelectrical stimulation (MS) of the SC in two strabismic (one esotrope and one exotrope) and two control macaques under binocular and monocular viewing conditions. We compared the saccade amplitudes and directions for each SC site and each condition independently of the fixating eye and then between each fixating eye. A comparison with disconjugacies of visually guided saccades was also performed. Results We observed different saccade vectors for the two eyes in strabismic monkeys, but conjugate saccades in normal monkeys. Evoked saccade vectors for the left eye when that eye was fixating the target were different from those of the right eye when it was fixating. The disconjugacies evoked by the MS were not identical but similar to those observed for visually guided saccades especially for the dominant eye. Conclusions Our results suggest that, in strabismus, the saccade generator does not interpret activation of a single location of the SC as the same desired displacement for each eye. This finding is important for advancing understanding of the development of neural circuits in strabismus. French Abstract
Intravitreal Neuroglobin Mitigates Primate Experimental Glaucomatous Structural Damage in Association with Reduced Optic Nerve Microglial and Complement 3-Astrocyte Activation

Current management of glaucomatous optic neuropathy is limited to intraocular pressure control. Neuroglobin (Ngb) is an endogenous neuroprotectant expressed in neurons and astrocytes. We recently showed that exogenous intravitreal Ngb reduced inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation in a rodent model of hypoxia. We thus hypothesised that IVT-Ngb may also be neuroprotective in experimental glaucoma (EG) by mitigating optic nerve (ON) astrogliosis and microgliosis as well as structural damage. In this study using a microbead-induced model of EG in six Cynomolgus primates, optical coherence imaging showed that Ngb-treated EG eyes had significantly less thinning of the peripapillary minimum rim width, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, and ON head cupping than untreated EG eyes. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that ON astrocytes overexpressed Ngb following Ngb treatment. A reduction in complement 3 and cleaved-caspase 3 activated microglia and astrocytes was also noted. Our findings in higher-order primates recapitulate the effects of neuroprotection by Ngb treatment in rodent EG studies and suggest that Ngb may be a potential candidate for glaucoma neuroprotection in humans.
Comparison of the Glover Solution with the Simultaneous- Equations Approach for Measuring Hydraulic Conductivity

(…) Using the Glover solution for calculating K sl and K sc for a homogeneous and isotropic medium, an equation is developed for calculating K su based on Q 1 , H 1 , Q 2 , H 2 , and r. This equation is found to be very similar to the equation for calculating K fs by simultaneous-equations approach. It is shown that K sl >K sc whenever the K fs value is negative. Conversely, the matric flux potential calculated by the simultaneous-equations approach (φ m ) is negative only when K sc >K sl (…)
Introduction to the special issue on time and HCI

ABSTRACT This special issue focuses on new perspectives of time within HCI research. We begin by explicating how HCI’s views of time have broadened over the years, going beyond the traditional subjective-objective dichotomy. We describe how the HCI community was originally anchored to clock time, but more recently the field has begun to incorporate the existential, social, and cultural dimensions of time. We introduce the papers in this special issue by contextualizing them according to different research areas. We conclude by identifying open issues and opportunities that should be explored in future HCI research and practice.
Development and characterization of cell models harbouring mtDNA deletions for in vitro study of Pearson syndrome

Pearson syndrome is a rare multisystem disease caused by single large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletions (SLSMDs). The syndrome presents early in infancy and is mainly characterised by refractory sideroblastic anaemia. Prognosis is poor and treatment is supportive, thus the development of new models for the study of Pearson syndrome and new therapy strategies is essential. In this work, we report three different cell models carrying an SLMSD: fibroblasts, transmitochondrial cybrids and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). All studied models exhibited an aberrant mitochondrial ultrastructure and defective oxidative phosphorylation system function, showing a decrease in different parameters, such as mitochondrial ATP, respiratory complex IV activity and quantity or oxygen consumption. Despite this, iPSCs harbouring ‘common deletion’were able to differentiate into three germ layers. Additionally, cybrid clones only showed mitochondrial dysfunction when heteroplasmy level reached 70%. Some differences observed among models may depend on their metabolic profile; therefore, we consider that these three models are useful for the in vitro study of Pearson syndrome, as well as for testing new specific
Analysis of recharge and groundwater flow in parts of a weathered aquifer system in Northern Ghana

Stable isotope data were used to relate recent meteoric water to groundwater in parts of the Nabogo sub-catchment of the Voltaian Basin. Estimates of the rates of evaporation of recharging groundwater in transit were made on the basis of the stable isotope data. This study finds that groundwater recharge within the weathered zone aquifer system in the study area is of recent meteoric origin. There is, however, evidence of significant evaporation of recharging water in the range of 34–70%, as a result of high temperatures and low relative humidities. This high level of evaporation of rainwater prior to or in the process of recharge is attributed partly to slow infiltration due to significant clay content of the intervening material between the saturated zone and the surface. It suggests limited but variable fortunes in terms of groundwater recharge from precipitation in the area and ties in with previous findings in relation to groundwater recharge estimates. This justified the use of previous estimates of groundwater recharge in other parts of the terrain for the conceptualization of the groundwater flow through a numerical model under steady-state conditions. This study determines that the general groundwater flow is controlled by local flow systems with no obvious preferred direction of flow. Calibrated hydraulic conductivity estimates range between 0.35 and 5.14 m/d. This is consistent with the nature of the material of the aquifer, and will provide the basis for assessing the hydrogeological conditions of the weathered zone.
Parenting style and practices in stepfamilies

: There are several studies on the best way to raise a child, ie, what would be the consequences of our actions for our children. We tend to think of how to educate children in a traditional family, but society has undergone many changes and, hence, family structures have undergone changes too. Today, we find a large number of stepfamilies facing the same issues concerning how to educate a child. Stepfamily configuration often entails more than just the addition of a new parent figure. The objective of this study was to shed some light on how these stepfamilies deal with issues of parenting style and practices. We reviewed the Brazilian and international literature concerning parenting styles and practices in stepfamilies. The papers identified were organized and submitted to analysis. We identified very few papers addressing parenting styles and practices, pointing to an important but unaddressed social change as reflected in new family structures. There is a need for longitudinal studies aimed at understanding not only a particular moment in time, but also moments within a context, ie, an analysis with a holistic approach without preconceived ideas.
Ground-Motion Variability and Implementation of a Probabilistic–Deterministic Hazard Method

Abstract A key step in probabilistic seismic-hazard assessment is the prediction of expected ground motions produced by the seismic sources. Most probabilistic studies use a ground-motion prediction model to perform this estimation. The present study aims at testing the use of simulations in the probabilistic analysis instead of ground-motion models. The method used is the empirical Green’s function method of Kohrs-Sansorny et al. (2005), which takes into account the characteristics of the source, propagation paths, and site effects. The recording of only one small event is needed for simulating a larger event. The small events considered here consist of aftershocks from the M 6.4 Les Saintes earthquake, which struck the Guadeloupe archipelago (French Antilles) in 2004. The variability of the simulated ground motions is studied in detail at the sites of the French Permanent Accelerometric Array. Intrinsic variability is quantified: ground motions follow lognormal distributions with standard deviations between 0.05 and 0.18 (log units) depending on the spectral frequency. One input parameter bearing large uncertainties is the ratio of the stress drop of the target event to the small event. Therefore, overall sigma values (and medians) are recomputed, varying stress drop ratio values between 1 and 15. Sigma values increase but remain in general lower or equal to the sigma values of current ground-motion prediction models. A simple application of this hybrid deterministic–probabilistic method is carried out at several sites in Guadeloupe for the estimation of the hazard posed by an M 6.4 occurring in the rupture zone of the Les Saintes event.
Evolution of sex allocation plasticity in a hermaphroditic flatworm genus

Sex allocation theory in simultaneous hermaphrodites predicts that optimal sex allocation is influenced by local sperm competition, which occurs when related sperm compete to fertilize a given set of eggs. Different factors, including the mating strategy and the ability to self‐fertilize, are predicted to affect local sperm competition and hence the optimal SA. Moreover, since the local sperm competition experienced by an individual can vary temporally and spatially, this can favour the evolution of sex allocation plasticity. Here, using seven species of the free‐living flatworm genus Macrostomum, we document interspecific variation in sex allocation, but neither their mating strategy nor their ability to self‐fertilize significantly predicted sex allocation among these species. Since we also found interspecific variation in sex allocation plasticity, we further estimated standardized effect sizes for plasticity in response to (i) the presence of mating partners (i.e. in isolation vs. with partners) and (ii) the strength of local sperm competition (i.e. in small vs. large groups). We found that self‐fertilization predicted sex allocation plasticity with respect to the presence of mating partners, with plasticity being lower for self‐fertilizing species. Finally, we showed that interspecific variation in sex allocation is higher than intraspecific variation due to sex allocation plasticity. Our study suggests that both sex allocation and sex allocation plasticity are evolutionarily labile, with self‐fertilization predicting the latter in Macrostomum.
Effect of Slaughterhouse Effluent and Water Irrigation upon Aggregation in Seasonally Dry New Zealand Soil under Pasture

Studies of the long-term (>25 years) treatment of a silt loam soil under pasture with slaughterhouse effluent showed that effluent did not affect macroaggregate stabilities as measured by wet-sieving, but increased the stability of clay aggregation as measured after selective disaggregation treatments. Highly humified organic matter was associated with the soil clays as a result of slaughterhouse effluent treatment. Studies of the similarly long-term irrigation of the same soil type with water showed that water decreased the stabilities of macroaggregates as long as they were kept wet, but increased their stabilities after air-drying. Scanning electron microscopy showed a web that became firmly bound to soils only after drying. Stabilities of aggregated clays were largely unchanged by water irrigation, though their sensitivity to the removal of polysaccharides and organically bound cations was increased by this treatment. Changes in stabilities could not be related to earthworm numbers or to the extent of mycorrhizal infection. Macroaggregate stabilities did not reflect obvious visual changes that occurred to the soil structure upon a major change in composition of the effluent. The effects of seasonal drying processes were very likely obscured by the stabilising effects of air-drying prior to wet sieving analyses for macroaggregate stabilities.
Poor immunological recovery among severely immunosuppressed antiretroviral therapy-naïve Ugandans

However, the rate of CD4 cell change differs among patients, and the factors responsible are inadequately documented. Objective: This study investigated the relationship between HIV severity and ART outcomes among ART-naïve Ugandans, with the primary outcome of complete immunological recovery among patients of different baseline CD4 counts. Methods: Patients’ records at two HIV/ART sites – the Joint Clinic Research Centre (JCRC) in the Kampala region and Mbarara Hospital in Western Uganda – were reviewed. Records of 426 patients – 68.3% female and 63.2% from JCRC – who initiated ART between 2002 and 2007 were included. HIV severity was based on baseline CD4 cell counts, with low counts considered as severe immunosuppression, while attaining 418 CD4 cells/ µ L signified complete immunological recovery. Incidence rates of complete immunological recovery were calculated for, and compared between baseline CD4 cell categories: , 50 with $ 50, , 100 with $ 100, , 200 with $ 200, and $ 200 with $ 250 cells/ µ L. Results: The incidence of complete immunological recovery was 158 during 791.9 person-years of observation, and patients with baseline CD4 $ 200 cells/ µ L reached the end point of immunological recovery 1.89 times faster than the patients with baseline CD4 , 200 cells/ µ L. CD4 cell change also differed by time, sex, and site, with a faster increase observed during the first year of treatment. CD4 cell increase was faster among females, and among patients from Mbarara. Conclusion: Initiating ART at an advanced HIV stage was the main reason for poor immunological recovery among Ugandans. Earlier ART initiation might lead to better immunological responses.
Oxygen Isotope Synthesis: A Cretaceous Ice-House?

A Cretaceous (Aptian) to Cenozoic composite oxygen isotope curve is presented and correlated to eustatic records and to global tectonic events. The curve was built using deep water benthonic foraminifera from DSDP/ODP sites. In addition, well-dated outcrop and subsurface whole rock samples were used. This composite record provides insight about the evolution of deep-water temperatures and/or ice volume changes from the Aptian to the present. Two important observations can be made from the isotope record. First, three low-frequency isotope cycles are recognized, encompassing most of the Upper Cretaceous (named Uki), most of the Paleogene (named Pi) and most of the Neogene (named Ni) period. These low-frequency cycles correspond well with the sequence stratigraphic supercycle sets Upper Zuni A, Tejas B and Tejas A, respec- tively. Second, oxygen isotope values for deep-water benthonic foraminifera during the Aptian to lower Albian and Campanian to Maastrichtian are similar to those observed during middle Eocene. Due to the evidence for middle Eocene Antarctic glaciation, similarity between Cretaceous and Eocene isotope values could indicate the presence of polar ice as early as the Aptian.
How Inefficient Really Are the Small-Scale Rice Farmers in Eastern India?: Examining the Effects of Microtopography on the Estimation of Technical Efficiency

We focus on the impact of failing to control for differences in land types defined along toposequence on estimates of farm technical efficiency for small-scale rice farms in eastern India. In contrast with the existing literature, we find that those farms may be considerably more technically efficient than they appear from more aggregated analysis without such control. Farms planted with modern rice varieties are technically efficient. Furthermore, farms planted with traditional rice varieties operate close to the production frontier on less productive lands (upland and mid-upland), but significant technical inefficiency exists on more productive lands (medium land and lowland).