Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How do stratospheric perturbations influence North American weather regime predictions?

Observational evidence shows changes to North American weather regime occurrence depending on the strength of the lower-stratospheric polar vortex. However, it is not yet clear how this occurs or to what extent an improved stratospheric forecast would change regime predictions. Here we analyze four North American regimes at 500 hPa, constructed in principal component (PC) space. We consider both the location of the regimes in PC space and the linear regression between each PC and the lower-stratospheric zonal-mean winds, yielding a theory of which regime transitions are likely to occur due to changes in the lower stratosphere. Using a set of OpenIFS simulations, we then test the effect of relaxing the polar stratosphere to ERA-Interim on subseasonal regime predictions. The model start dates are selected based on particularly poor subseasonal regime predictions in the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts CY43R3 hindcasts. While the results show only a modest improvement to the number of accurate regime predictions, there is a substantial reduction in Euclidean distance error in PC space. The average movement of the forecasts within PC space is found to be consistent with expectation for moderate-to-large lower-stratospheric zonal wind perturbations. Overall, our results provide a framework for interpreting the stratospheric influence on North American regime behavior. The results can be applied to subseasonal forecasts to understand how stratospheric uncertainty may affect regime predictions, and to diagnose which regime forecast errors are likely to be related to stratospheric errors.
Youth’ Co-Creation Behavior in Casual Dining Restaurants in Bandung City, Indonesia

This study aims to identify the co-creation behavior especially students who have experiences of casual dining restaurants. This study also analyses the relationship between co-creation behavior, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. The research applied a quantitative method with survey design, and it was conducted for 6 months. It applied the purposive sampling method and the questionnaires were distributed to 1,970 respondents. The collected data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results indicate that two types of co-creation behavior of students who have experiences of casual dining restaurants in Bandung, namely customer participant behavior and customer citizenship behavior.Keywords: consumer behaviour; culinary; co-creation behaviour; satisfaction; loyalty
GlycoTAIL and FlexiTAIL as Half-Life Extension Modules for Recombinant Antibody Fragments

Many therapeutic proteins are small in size and are rapidly cleared from circulation. Consequently, half-life extension strategies have emerged to improve pharmacokinetic properties, including fusion or binding to long-lasting serum proteins, chemical modifications with hydrophilic polymers such as PEGylation, or, more recently, fusion to PEG mimetic polypeptides. In the present study, two different PEG mimetic approaches, the GlycoTAIL and the FlexiTAIL, were applied to increase the hydrodynamic radius of antibody fragments of different sizes and valencies, including scFv, diabody, and scFv-EHD2 fusion proteins. The GlycoTAIL and FlexiTAIL sequences of varying lengths are composed of aliphatic and hydrophilic residues, with the GlycoTAIL furthermore comprising N-glycosylation sites. All modified proteins could be produced in a mammalian expression system without reducing stability and antigen binding, and all modified proteins exhibited a prolonged half-life and increased drug disposition in mice. The strongest effects were observed for proteins comprising a FlexiTAIL of 248 residues. Thus, the GlycoTAIL and FlexiTAIL sequences represent a flexible and modular system to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of proteins.
Effects of 16 weeks of Unilateral or Bilateral Resistance Training with Varying Movement Velocity on Measures of Power and Performance in Elite Women’s Handball Players

Background. Handball is a fast paced sport, with high velocity movements performed in a predominantly unilateral plane. In order to make training as specific as possible to on court movements, resistance training programmes should involve exercises that reflect the speed and stance of how they will be performed during gameplay however, working velocities are rarely prescribed due to the lack of research in the area. Aim. The aim of this study was (1) to determine the effect of three different training modes; unilateral high velocity (UHV), bilateral high velocity (BHV) and bilateral slow velocity (BSV) on vertical loaded and unloaded jumps, sprint, agility and balance. (2) To determine if any of these interventions had more of an effect when compared to each other. Methods. 29 women from four teams in the Swedish Elitserien participated in a 16-week intervention study. Teams were assigned to either UHV, who performed unilateral exercises with a high intended movement velocity, BHV, bilateral exercises at a high intended movement velocity, or BSV, who continued their regular bilateral slow velocity training. Power was assessed pre- and post-intervention by loaded vertical squat jump and countermovement jump (CMJ) both unilaterally and bilaterally. Performance assessments were conducted through 20m Sprints, agility T-test and Y-balance test. Effect sizes were calculated to determine the magnitude of differences from pre- to post-intervention in three training modes. One-way ANOVA determined if the group interactions were significant. Results. All three training modes increased their power output to varying levels and effect sizes. The UHV group demonstrated large effect sizes for all improvements in power output, whilst the BHV and BSV groups ranged from trivial to large. UHV got significantly faster at reaching time to peak velocity in unilateral and bilateral measures compared to both BHV and BSV (p=<0.05). Conclusion. The results suggest that a 16-week resistance training intervention regardless of stance improves power however to varying magnitudes. The high velocity groups showed greater improvements in measures of power and performance. This study suggests that resistance training at a high intended movement velocity may be beneficial for improving power and performance in elite women’s handball players.
Identification of Requirements for FE Modeling of an Adaptive Joining Technology Employing Friction-Spun Joint Connectors (FSJC)

The adaptive joining process employing friction-spun joint connectors (FSJC) is a promising method for the realization of adaptable joints and thus for lightweight construction. In addition to experimental investigations, numerical studies are indispensable tools for its development. Therefore, this paper includes an analysis of boundary conditions for the spatial discretization and mesh modeling techniques, the material modeling, the contact and friction modeling, and the thermal boundary conditions for the finite element (FE) modeling of this joining process. For these investigations, two FE models corresponding to the two process steps were set up and compared with the two related processes of friction stir welding and friction drilling. Regarding the spatial discretization, the Lagrangian approach is not sufficient to represent the deformation that occurs. The Johnson-Cook model is well suited as a material model. The modeling of the contact detection and friction are important research subjects. Coulomb’s law of friction is not adequate to account for the complex friction phenomena of the adaptive joining process. The thermal boundary conditions play a decisive role in heat generation and thus in the material flow of the process. It is advisable to use temperature-dependent parameters and to investigate in detail the influence of radiation in the entire process.
Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD): From process understanding to effective implementation at LNAPL-impacted sites

This paper describes the proceedings of a Special Session on Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD) at the AquaConSoil conference, held virtually in June 2021. It spans research across Europe, the United States of America and Australia.NSZD has been described as the “combination of processes that reduce the mass of [light non-aqueous phase liquid] LNAPL in the subsurface”. LNAPL NSZD research and investigations have been focused on a range of hydrocarbon products, such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, as well as crude oil. Key NSZD processes include aerobic biodegradation, fermentation and methanogenesis of LNAPL constituents, dissolution of LNAPL constituents into groundwater and volatilization of LNAPL constituents into the unsaturated zone. In turn the generated methane, carbon dioxide and dissolved / volatilized constituents can be cycled and biodegraded in the unsaturated and saturated zones. Importantly these physical, chemical, and biological processes can act without human intervention to reduce the NAPL mass and toxicity. Over time NSZD can both reduce LNAPL mass, and change its chemical composition resulting in risk reduction, and ultimately source depletion.Methanogenesis of organic materials has long been recognised in municipal landfills and natural anoxic environments, such as peat and wetlands. Recognition of similar processes in LNAPL source zones in the past decade along with high rates of aerobic biodegradation observed in unsaturated zones above LNAPL-impacted areas, has significantly revised the conceptual model of LNAPL source zone behaviour and persistence. Several NSZD monitoring approaches have been developed and are being applied in field studies. While the quantitative NSZD rates derived can vary between techniques, they all demonstrate that NSZD LNAPL removal can exceed that delivered by engineered LNAPL recovery techniques, particularly for mature LNAPL bodies.
Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis in Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum Cav.) Involves Increases in the Endogenous Auxin Indole-3-Acetic Acid

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a complex biological process regulated by several factors, such as the action of plant growth regulators, namely auxins, of which the most physiologically relevant is indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In tamarillo, an optimized system for induction of SE creates, after an induction process, embryogenic (EC) and non-embryogenic callus (NEC). In this work the endogenous levels of auxin along the induction phase and in the calli samples were investigated using chemical quantifications by colorimetric reactions and HPLC as well as immunohistochemistry approaches. Differential gene expression (IAA 11, IAA 14, IAA 17, TIR 1, and AFB3) analysis during the induction phase was also carried out. The results showed that the endogenous IAA content is considerably higher in embryogenic than in non-embryogenic calli, with a tendency to increase as the dedifferentiation of the original explant (leaf segments) evolves. Furthermore, the degradation rates of IAA seem to be related to these levels, as non-embryogenic tissue presents a higher degradation rate. The immunohistochemical results support the quantifications made, with higher observable labeling on embryogenic tissue that tends to increase along the induction phase. Differential gene expression also suggests a distinct molecular response between EC and NEC.
Five-Year Analysis of Surgical Site Infections in Three Orthopaedics and Trauma Wards under HAI-Net from the South of Poland in 2014–2018 Considering the Standardized Infection Ratio

Background and Objectives: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in surgical wards. The highest risk of developing SSI is carried by operations involving implants, such as: hip prosthesis (HPRO), knee prosthesis (KPRO), open reduction of fracture (FX), and closed reduction of fracture with internal fixation (CR). Objectives. The objective of the study was to assess the incidence of SSI in patients subjected to HPRO, KPRO, FX, and CR procedures in orthopaedics and trauma wards in 2014–2018 considering risk factors included in the SIR index. Materials and Methods: The study included 6261 patients who were subjected to orthopaedic surgery in 2014–2018. The investigation covered three hospitals with orthopaedics and trauma wards. The research was conducted in the framework of the national HAI surveillance programme according to the methodology of the HAI-Net, ECDC. Results: A total of 6261 surgeries were investigated, of which 111 cases of SSI were detected. The incidence was 1.8%; HPRO (incidence 2.1%, median (Me) surgery duration 90 min, and standardized infection ratio (SIR) above 1 in all units tested); KPRO (incidence 2.0%, Me 103 min, and SIR above 1 for all units tested); FX (incidence 1.9%, Me 70 min, and SIR above 1 for two units tested and below 1 in one unit); CR (incidence 1.0%, Me 55 min, and SIR—not calculated). The etiological agents that were most frequently isolated from patients with SSI were Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusions: HPRO, KPRO, and FX operations performed in the studied wards carried a higher risk of developing SSI than that predicted by SIR. SSIs accounted for a significant percentage of the overall infection pool in CR surgeries. Actions should be undertaken to reduce the incidence of SSI in these surgeries. There should be a hospital network which facilitates cooperation in order to better monitor and analyse the incidence of SSI.
The Role of Dietary Intake in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Importance of Macro and Micronutrients in Glucose Homeostasis

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing worldwide. Genetics and lifestyle, especially diet, are contributing factors. Analyses of macro- and micronutrient intake across global populations may help to explain their impact on glucose homeostasis and disease development. To this end, 420 Tunisians were enrolled in a prospective cross-sectional study of daily food consumption. Various data were collected and blood samples were drawn for biochemical assay. A 24-h recall questionnaire was obtained from participants to evaluate dietary intake. Statistical analyses were conducted using Nutrilog and R software. Biochemical analyses stratified the studied population (n = 371) into three groups: diabetics (n = 106), prediabetics (n = 192) and controls (n = 73); 49 subjects were excluded. Our results showed that Tunisians had hypercaloric diets high in carbohydrates and fat with variability in the levels of some vitamins and minerals, including riboflavin and niacin, that were statistically different among groups. The lower intake of vitamin D was associated with a greater risk of T2D. Higher vitamin A and sodium intake were associated with poor glucose homeostasis, although protein intake may improve it. In perspective, nutrigenomic studies can provide insight into problematic diets and poor eating habits and offer opportunities to analyze the effects of behavioral changes that can mitigate T2D development and progression.
Detection and identification of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs presented to veterinary clinics in Abeokuta, South-western Nigeria

Gastrointestinal parasites of dogs have been incriminated in cases of morbidity and mortality; hence, this study was undertaken to investigate the presence and distribution of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs presented to different veterinary clinics in Abeokuta, Ogun State. One hundred and twenty faecal samples were collected between February to September 2018 from three different veterinary clinics into universal sample bottles that were properly labeled with the age, sex and breed. Samples were processed with Mini-FLOTAC® kit using salt and sugar solution at a specific gravity of 1.3. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Chi square test was used to determine the association between variables. Of the 120 dogs screened, 37(30.8%) were positive for one or more gastrointestinal helminths: males had a prevalence of 24(20%) while females had a prevalence of 13(10.8%). Prevalence of 29(24.1%) and 8(6.7%) was reported in young and adult dogs respectively. Of the different breeds of dogs sampled; the Nigerian local breed had the highest prevalence 21(17.5%) of gastrointestinal helminths, followed by German shepherd 8(6.7%), Rottweiller 5(4.2%), Boerboel 1(0.8%) Samoyed 1(0.8%) and Pitbull 1(0.8%). A statistically significant association (p<0.05) was recorded between gastrointestinal helminth infection and breed while no statistically significant association (p>0.05) was observed between age, sex and gastrointestinal helminth infection. Six different genera of helminths were recorded in this study: Ancylostoma caninum (17.5%), Toxocara canis (14.1%), Toxascaris leonina (2.5%), Dipylidium caninum (2.5%), Trichuris vulpis (1.7%) and Taenia spp (1.7%). The findings from this study indicated moderate prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infection. The presence of Ancylostoma caninum, Toxocara canis and Dipylidium caninum infection in this study raises concern about the zoonotic potential of these parasites due to the close relationship between man and dogs.
Causes of Shoulder Dysfunction in Diabetic Patients: A Review of Literature

Objective: Understanding the underlying mechanisms behind shoulder dysfunctions in patients with diabetes mellitus. Study Design: Systematic qualitative literature review. Participants: Patients with shoulder dysfunctions and diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus. Intervention: Published scientific literature containing evidence about the mechanisms of shoulder dysfunctions in the diabetic population. Articles were selected based on criteria containing diabetic population, shoulder dysfunction, methodological quality ≥ 6/9 and >20 subjects. Main Outcome measures: range of motion; questionnaires (QoL, UCLA-m, SPADI, DASH); blood glucose, blood HbA1C; calculated capsular stiffness (Kcap); calcification shoulder joint; shoulder dysfunction in patients with glucose metabolism disorders and diabetes mellitus. Results: We found 17 published articles with level 2 and 3 evidence. Multiple factors such as age, duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), advanced glycation end products (AGE), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) were shown to be associated with tendon changes and increased capsular stiffness (Kcap) conceivably leading to limited range of motion (ROM) or frozen shoulder. Decreased ROM and frozen shoulder have a significantly higher prevalence in DM than in non-DM. Conclusions: Based on the current literature we confirm a high prevalence of shoulder dysfunctions in patients with diabetes mellitus. The cause of the shoulder complications is unknown, and more research is mandatory to shed more light on the complex interplay between the multifactorial causes of shoulder dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.
Bioprospecting for Thermozymes and Characterization of a Novel Lipolytic Thermozyme Belonging to the SGNH/GDSL Family of Hydrolases

Functional screenings were conducted on two metagenomic libraries from hot springs in order to find novel thermozymes with potential biotechnological applications. These included enzymes acting on plant cell walls such as endoglucanases and exoglucanases, β-glucosidases, xylanases, and β-xylosidases, and broad application enzymes such as proteases and lipolytic hydrolases. Of all the enzymes found by this bioprospection, we selected a novel lipolytic enzyme for further characterization. The protein was found to belong to the SGNH/GDSL family of hydrolases. It was purified and its biochemical parameters determined. We found that the enzyme was most active at 60 °C and pH 9 using pNP-laurate as substrate and was highly thermostable. It also showed preference for short-chained substrates and activation with temperature and with certain detergents such as Tween 80. Proteins of this family of hydrolases are relevant for their broad substrate specificity, that coupled with this protein’s high temperature optima, broad pH range, and thermostability further highlights its biotechnological potential.
The Hegemonic Politics of ‘Strategic Autonomy’ and ‘Resilience’: COVID‐19 and the Dislocation of EU Trade Policy

Abstract The outbreak of COVID‐19 in March 2020 led to substantial upheaval in the EU's trade policy. Over the course of a year, EU Trade Policy as a field witnessed the launch of hitherto unthinkable ideas; the proliferation of a range of new buzzwords such as resilience, autonomy, and reshoring; and ultimately the arrival of a new consensus in the Trade Policy Review of February 2021. This article uses a discourse‐theoretical approach (PDT) to retrace the political process that unfolded throughout this year, from the start of the COVID‐19 crisis, to a fundamental dislocation of EU trade politics, and ultimately to the consolidation of a partial, temporary, and frail new hegemony within the policy field. Our goal is to explain the trajectory and the dynamics of this process by studying the discourses, the framings, and the political strategies that comprised the hegemonic struggle underlying it.
Performance of the Linear Model Scattering of 2D Full Object with Limited Data

Inverse scattering problems stand at the center of many important imaging applications, such as geophysical explorations, radar imaging, and synthetic-aperture radar (SAR). Several methods have been proposed to solve them when the full data are available, usually providing satisfactory reconstructions. However, it is impossible to acquire the full data in many practical circumstances, such as target detection and ground penetrating radar (GPR); consequently, only limited data are available. Thus, this paper focuses on the mathematical analysis and some numerical simulations to estimate the achievable resolution in reconstructing an object from the knowledge of the scattered far-field when only limited data are available, with multi-view excitations at a single frequency. We focus on 2D full rectangular geometry as the investigation domain (ID). We also examine the number of degrees of freedom (NDF) and evaluate the point spread function (PSF). In particular, the NDF of the considered geometry can be estimated analytically. An approximated closed-form evaluation of the PSF is recalled, discussed, and compared with the exact one. Moreover, receiving, transmission, and angle sensing modes are considered to apply the analysis to more realistic scenarios to highlight the difference between the corresponding NDF and the resulting resolution performances. Finally, interesting numerical applications of the resolution analysis for the localization of a collection of point-like scatterers are presented to illustrate how it matches the expectations.
Understanding Physical Activity and Exercise Behavior in China University Students: An Application of Theories of the Flow and Planned Behavior

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine a extended model of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model by adding the variables of the flow theory and to investigate Chinese university students' exercise behavior and its influence factors. Methods The hypothesized model was validated through testing three competing models using a sample collected from 248 Chinese university students involving 165 males and 83 females. Results The three competitive models fitted well and predicted exercise behavior significantly. Among them, the enjoyment + TPB model is the optimal model. Conclusions Enjoyment and concentration can all predicting exercise behavior directly or indirectly. Enjoyment is stronger than concentration in predicting TPB constructs and exercise behavior, and it is a more important predictor than concentration in the field of exercise behavior research. Values. Research provides insights to better understand the exercise behavior of Chinese university students as well as useful information for designing exercise interventions and developing university students' education and training.