Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Pilot Trial of Botulinum Toxin for Paratonic Rigidity in People with Advanced Cognitive Impairment

Objective Evaluate safety and efficacy of Incobotulinumtoxin A in elderly patients with dementia and paratonia. Setting University-affiliated hospital, spasticity management Clinic. Participants Ten subjects were enrolled. Inclusion criteria: 1) severe cognitive impairment 2) diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, or frontotemporal dementia, and 3) score >3 on the paratonic assessment instrument, with posture in an arm(s) interfering with provision of care. Exclusion criteria: 1) alternate etiologies for increased tone and 2) injection with botulinum toxin within the 6 months preceding the study. Design Single center, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with two treatment cycles of 16 weeks. Assessments occurred at 2, 6, 12 and16 weeks following injections. Subjects received up to 300 U of Incobotulinumtoxin A in arm(s). Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures Primary outcome measure was the modified caregiver burden scale (mCBS); exploratory secondary outcome measures were also performed. Analysis of variance and mixed modeling techniques were used to evaluate treatment effects. Results Incobotulinumtoxin A treatment produced significant improvement in mCBS total score −1.11 (–2.04 to −0.18) (Treatment effect and 95% CI), dressing sub-score −0.36 (–0.59 to 0.12), and cleaning under the left and right armpits sub-score −0.5 (–0.96 to −0.04), −0.41 (–0.79 to −0.04) respectively. PROM in the left and right elbow increased by 27.67 degrees (13.32–42.02) and 22.07 degrees (9.76–34.39) respectively. PROM in the left and right shoulder increased by 11.92 degrees (5.46–18.38) and 8.58 degrees (3.73–13.43) respectively. No significant treatment effect was found for GAS, VAS and PAINAD scales or change in time to perform care. No adverse drug reactions occurred. Conclusions Administration of Incobotulinumtoxin A in elderly people with advanced dementia and paratonia may be an efficacious and safe treatment to increase range of motion and reduce functional burden. Further studies are needed to confirm results. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02212119
The relative age effect in school and federative sport in basketball

The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of birth dates among Portuguese basketball players participating in national competitions (academic and federal). The study sample consisted of 1497 federated athletes (744 female and 753 male), and by 411 athletes (214 female and 382 male.) who participated in the finals of Scholar Sports. We analyzed the distribution of birth dates per quartile in federated and scholar sports by gender. In the federated analysis this distribution depended also on the classification and ranking of the teams. All data were analyzed with SPSS for Windows, version 14.0. The statistical significance level was maintained at p ≤ . 05. The results suggest that there is a prevalence of athletes born in the first months of the year in both scholar and federated sports. However, only in de the sub-14 federated male group were found significant values ( p < .05).
E. camaldulensis Optimal Planting Density in Desert Western Australia in View of Its Photosynthetic Properties

The growth rate of Eucalyptus camaldulensis at an irrigated plantation in a semi-arid area was same as at a non-irrigated plantation near the seashore (450 mmy -1 precip.). The Leaf Area Index (LAI) and planting density at the former site (0.48, 207 trees ha -1 ) were less than at the latter site (0.98, 1667 trees ha -1 ). We surveyed the photosynthetic properties of E. camaldulensis at each site in the summer (dry) and winter (wet) seasons. The leaves were found to have a higher Vcmax than the leaves of other tree species, and Vcmax did not differ between the sites and seasons. Jmax for E. camaldulensis was near the median for investigated tree species. The response of stomatal conductance to soil water potential did not differ between the sites. These findings suggest that E. camaldulensis is highly light-demanding, which means that self-shading of leaves greatly reduces photosynthetic efficiency in the shaded leaves. We conclude that the planting density under semi-arid conditions should be low, to keep the LAI from exceeding 1. The estimated maximum stem and branch biomass production is estimated to be about 3~5 Mg ha -1 y -1 .
Hyperspectral imaging of convective CO2 ice clouds in the equatorial mesosphere of Mars

[1] A unique feature of the Martian climate is the possibility for carbon dioxide, the main atmospheric constituent, to condense as ice. CO2 ice is usually detected as frost but is also known to exist as clouds. This paper presents the first unambiguous observation of CO2 ice clouds on Mars. These images were obtained by the visible and near-infrared imaging spectrometer OMEGA on board Mars Express. The data set encompasses 19 different occurrences. Compositional identification is based on the detection of a diagnostic spectral feature around 4.26 μm which is produced by resonant scattering of solar photons by mesospheric CO2 ice particles in a spectral interval otherwise dominated by saturated gaseous absorption. Observed clouds exhibit a strong seasonal and geographic dependence, concentrating in the near-equatorial regions during two periods before and after northern summer solstice (Ls 45° and 135°). Radiative transfer modeling indicates that the 4.26 μm feature is very sensitive to cloud altitude, opacity, and particle size, thereby explaining the variety of spectra associated with the cloud images. On two orbits, the simultaneous detection of clouds with their shadow provides straightforward and robust estimates of cloud properties. These images confirm the conclusions established from modeling: clouds are thick, with normal opacities greater than 0.2 in the near infrared, and are lofted in the mesosphere above 80 km. The mean radius of CO2 ice crystals is found to exceed 1 μm, an unexpected value considering this altitude range. This finding implies the existence of high-altitude atmospheric updrafts which are strong enough to counteract the rapid gravitational fall of particles. This statement is consistent with the cumuliform morphology of the clouds which may be linked to a moist convective origin generated by the latent heat released during CO2 condensation.
Effects of irrigation, time of sowing, and cultivar on yield of vining peas

Abstract Several experiments with vining peas were undertaken from 1976 to 1979 at Templeton, 19km west of Christchurch. In the first experiment, ‘Greenfeast’ peas were sown on 3 dates and grown under 3 levels of irrigation. In the second experiment, 6 cultivars were grown under 2 levels of irrigation and in the third, 3 cultivars were sown on 3 dates and grown under 2 levels of irrigation. Irrigation had no effect on yields in the first experiment and increased yields by 52% in the second. Yield increases in the third were 8.2%, -1.5%, and 19.9% respectively for the 3 sowing dates. Inconsistent effects of sowing date between the first and third experiments occurred. ‘Pania’ was the highest yielding cultivar in the second and third trials, and in some of the treatments, ‘Patea’ yielded as well as, or better than, ‘Greenfeast’.
Analysis of digenic epistatic effects and QE interaction effects QTL controlling grain weight in rice

Immortalized F2 population of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was developed by randomly mating F1 among recombinant inbred (RI) lines derived from (Zhenshan 97B×Minghui 63),which allowed replications within and across environments.QTL (quantitative trait loci) mapping analysis on kilo-grain weight of immortalized F2 population was performed by using newly developed software for QTL mapping,QTL Mapper 2.0. Eleven distinctly digenic epistatic loci included a total of 15 QTL were located on eight chromosomes.QTL main effects of additive,dominance,and additive×additive,additive×dominance,and dominance×dominance interactions were estimated.Interaction effects between QTL main effects and environments (QE) were predicted.Less than 40% of single effects,most of which were additive effects,for identified QTL were significant at 5% level.The directional difference for QTL main effects suggested that these QTL were distributed in parents in the repulsion phase.This should make it feasible to improve kilo-grain weight of both parents by selecting appropriate new recombinants. Only few of the QE interaction effects were significant.Application prospect for QTL mapping achievements in genetic breeding was discussed.
Effects of the fast plasma sheet flow on the geosynchronous magnetic configuration : Geotail and GOES coordinated study

[1] The present study statistically examines how (or if) the geosynchronous (GOES) magnetic field responds to fast earthward flow observed by the Geotail satellite in the plasma sheet. The change of the GOES H (north-south) component within 15 min of the detection of fast flows, ΔH, is used as a primary measure of the geosynchronous response. It is found that following the detection of fast flows, the geosynchronous magnetic field rarely dipolarizes, but it often becomes more stretched, which is manifested by negative ΔH. This H decrease is not accompanied by any correlated variation of the D (azimuthal) component, suggesting that the associated stretching is not an edge effect of the substorm current wedge formation, but it can be attributed to the intensification of the local tail current. No systematic dependence of ΔH on the satellite separation can be found. On the other hand, the geosynchronous magnetic field tends to dipolarize if it is already stretched significantly, although the associated changes in the H and V (radial) components are not much larger than those in events that are not preconditioned. The flow intensity does not seem to be a controlling factor, either. However, caution needs to be exercised because the present study is not able to address the azimuthal structure of the fast flow. It is concluded that in most events the fast plasma flow does not reach geosynchronous orbit and that the generation of the fast plasma flow in the plasma sheet is not sufficient for causing geosynchronous dipolarization.
Social networks and spreading of epidemics

Epidemiological processes are studied within a recently proposed social network model using the susceptible-infected-refractory dynamics (SIR) of an epidemic. Within the network model, a population of individuals may be characterized by H independent hierarchies or dimensions, each of which consists of groupings of individuals into layers of subgroups. Detailed numerical simulations reveals that for H > 1, the global spreading results regardless of the degree of homophily α of the individuals forming a social circle. For H = 1, a transition from a global to a local spread occurs as the population becomes decomposed into increasingly homophilous groups. Multiple dimensions in classifying individuals (nodes) thus make a society (computer network) highly susceptible to large scale outbreaks of infectious diseases (viruses). The SIR-model can be extended by the inclusion of waiting times resulting in modified distribution function of the recovered.
Increasing carbon inventory of the intermediate layers of the Arctic Ocean

Concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (TA), nutrients, and oxygen in subsurface waters of the central Arctic Ocean have been investigated for conceivable time trends over the last two decades. Data from six cruises (1991–2011) that cover the Nansen, Amundsen, and Makarov Basins were included in this analysis. In waters deeper than 2000 m, no statistically significant trend could be observed for DIC, TA, phosphate, or nitrate, but a small rate of increase in apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) was noticeable. For the individual stations, differences in concentration of each property were computed between the mean concentrations in the Arctic Atlantic Water (AAW) or the upper Polar Deep Water (uPDW), i.e., between about 150 and 1400 m depth, and in the deep water (assumed invariable over time). In these shallower water layers, we observe significant above-zero time trends for DIC, in the range of 0.6–0.9 µmol kg-1 yr-1 (for AAW) and 0.4–0.6 µmol kg-1 yr-1 (for uPDW). No time trend in nutrients could be observed, indicating no change in the rate of organic matter mineralization within this depth range. Consequently, the buildup of DIC is attributed to increasing concentrations of anthropogenic carbon in the waters flowing into these depth layers of the Arctic Ocean. The resulting rate of increase of the column inventory of anthropogenic CO2 is estimated to be between 0.6 and 0.9 mol C m-2 yr-1, with distinct differences between basins.
Assessment of competence in local anaesthetic thoracoscopy: development and validity investigation of a new assessment tool

Background The aims of the study were to develop an assessment tool in local anaesthetic thoracoscopy (LAT), investigate validity evidence, and establish a pass/fail standard. Methods Validity evidence for the assessment tool was gathered using the unified Messick framework. The tool was developed by five experts in respiratory medicine and medical education. Doctors with varying experience performed two consecutive procedures in a standardized, simulation-based setting using a newly developed thorax/lung silicone model. Performances were video-recorded and assessed by four expert raters using the new tool. Contrasting groups’ method was used to set a pass/fail standard. Results Nine novices and 8 experienced participants were included, generating 34 recorded performances and 136 expert assessments. The tool had a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha =0.94) and high inter-rater reliability (Cronbach’s alpha =0.91). The total item score significantly correlated with the global score (rs=0.86, P<0.001). Participants’ first performance correlated to second performance (test-retest reliability) with a Pearson’s r of 0.93, P<0.001. Generalisability (G) study showed a G-coefficient of 0.92 and decision (D) study estimated that one performance assessed by two raters or four performances assessed by one rater are needed to reach an acceptable reliability, i.e., G-coefficient >0.80. The tool was able to discriminate between the two groups in both performances: experienced mean score =30.8±4.2; novice mean score =15.8±2.3, P<0.001. Pass/fail standard was set at 22 points. Conclusions The newly developed assessment tool showed solid evidence of validity and can be used to ensure competence in LAT.
Relationship between capillary pressure, saturation, and interfacial area from a model of mixed‐wet triangular tubes

A simple bundle of triangular tubes model is employed to calculate specific interfacial area for primary drainage, imbibition, and secondary drainage for mixed‐wet conditions. In this model, only the interfaces between bulk and corner fluid are contributory to the interfacial area. Accurate expressions for the capillary entry pressures are employed, which account for the possibility of hinging interfaces in the corners due to contact angle hysteresis. The results show that very different trends in the specific interfacial area versus saturation curves can occur during imbibition, depending on the advancing contact angle and the reversal point after primary drainage. For water‐wet conditions, interfacial area scanning curves coincide with the bounding imbibition curve, while for oil‐wet conditions, the scanning curves may cross each other because of the impact that hinging interfaces in the pore corners have on the invasion order of the pore sizes. Analytical expressions for specific interfacial area as a function of saturation and capillary pressure are derived for primary drainage of triangular tubes. Approximate correlations for interfacial area as a function of saturation are suggested for the subsequent imbibition and drainage processes. The correlations are fitted to the simulated data, and good agreement is obtained. We also demonstrate that hysteresis remains present in the relationship between interfacial area, capillary pressure, and saturation when contact angle hysteresis is assumed. Hysteresis may be significant for both water‐wet and mixed‐wet conditions. A more sophisticated model is required to examine if this is also the case when hysteresis is caused by phase entrapment.
The impact of land reform in Zimbabwe on the conservation of cheetahs and other large carnivores

Prior to 2000 Zimbabwe was hailed as a conservation success story, with large areas of commercial (private) land outside of national parks being used to support wildlife. In 2000, however, a Fast-Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) was initiated, resulting in the resettlement of most commercial land. This had well known socio-economic impacts, but to date little research has been conducted on the effects on wildlife and human-wildlife conflict. This study aimed to determine the impact of the FTLRP on the conservation of large carnivores and on human-carnivore conflict, focussing on the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). A case study compared three land use types (LUTs): commercial (Save Valley Conservancy private wildlife reserve); resettlement (area of the conservancy that had been resettled); and neighbouring communal land. Spoor density of large carnivores was on average 98% lower in the resettlement LUT than the commercial LUT, while sighting reports and historical written records showed that the abundance of large carnivores had declined since the onset of the FTLRP. Aerial census data demonstrated a reduction in carnivore carrying capacity in both the commercial and resettlement areas. Habitat loss and fragmentation, alongside poaching, appeared to be the main mechanisms affecting changes in carnivore abundance. Interviews revealed that in the resettlement LUT, rates of livestock losses to large carnivores were perceived to be greater than in the communal LUT, and attitudes towards carnivores were more negative than the commercial LUT. It appears that the FTLRP had a significant negative impact on wildlife conservation and human-carnivore conflict, and is estimated to have driven a 70% decline in Zimbabwe’s cheetah population. It is recommended that future resettlement is carefully planned to mitigate these problems, and that schemes are established to allow communities to benefit from wildlife while minimising the impact of resettlement on human-wildlife conflict.
High Spectral Resolution Lidar and MPLNET Micro Pulse Lidar aerosol optical property retrieval intercomparison during the 2012 7-SEAS field campaign at Singapore

From August 2012 to February 2013 a High Resolution Spectral Lidar (HSRL; 532 nm) was deployed at that National University of Singapore near a NASA Micro Pulse Lidar NETwork (MPLNET; 527 nm) site. A primary objective of the MPLNET lidar project is the production and dissemination of reliable Level 1 measurements and Level 2 retrieval products. This paper characterizes and quantifies error in Level 2 aerosol optical property retrievals conducted through inversion techniques that derive backscattering and extinction coefficients from MPLNET elastic single-wavelength datasets. MPLNET Level 2 retrievals for aerosol optical depth and extinction/backscatter coefficient profiles are compared with corresponding HSRL datasets, for which the instrument collects direct measurements of each using a unique optical configuration that segregates aerosol and cloud backscattered signal from molecular signal. The intercomparison is performed, and error matrices reported, for lower (0-5km) and the upper (>5km) troposphere, respectively, to distinguish uncertainties observed within and above the MPLNET instrument optical overlap regime.
Auditory Short-Term Memory Activation during Score Reading

Performing music on the basis of reading a score requires reading ahead of what is being played in order to anticipate the necessary actions to produce the notes. Score reading thus not only involves the decoding of a visual score and the comparison to the auditory feedback, but also short-term storage of the musical information due to the delay of the auditory feedback during reading ahead. This study investigates the mechanisms of encoding of musical information in short-term memory during such a complicated procedure. There were three parts in this study. First, professional musicians participated in an electroencephalographic (EEG) experiment to study the slow wave potentials during a time interval of short-term memory storage in a situation that requires cross-modal translation and short-term storage of visual material to be compared with delayed auditory material, as it is the case in music score reading. This delayed visual-to-auditory matching task was compared with delayed visual-visual and auditory-auditory matching tasks in terms of EEG topography and voltage amplitudes. Second, an additional behavioural experiment was performed to determine which type of distractor would be the most interfering with the score reading-like task. Third, the self-reported strategies of the participants were also analyzed. All three parts of this study point towards the same conclusion according to which during music score reading, the musician most likely first translates the visual score into an auditory cue, probably starting around 700 or 1300 ms, ready for storage and delayed comparison with the auditory feedback.
Influence of the changing lunar orbit on the astronomical frequencies of pre-Quaternary insolation patterns

The sensitivity of the frequencies of the Earth's orbital elements, involved in the astronomical theory of paleoclimates (obliquity and climatic precession), to the Earth-Moon distance and consequently to the length of the day and to the dynamical ellipticity of the Earth is investigated for the last billions of years. But the new frequencies have been computed for the last 440 million years only, a time interval over which data and a model of the Earth were available. Moreover, we consider only the impact of the changing precessional parameter, assuming that the fundamental frequencies of the planetary motion are steady at the geological time scale. Under such hypotheses, the shortening of the Earth-Moon distance and of the length of the day back in time induces a shortening of the fundamental astronomical periods for obliquity and precession, a shortening that is larger for longer periods.
Examining the Nutritional Quality of Canadian Packaged Foods and Beverages with and without Nutrition Claims

Nutrient content claims, health claims, and front-of-pack symbols (henceforth referred to as “nutrition claims” in the present study) are often found on food labels in Canada. However, it is currently unknown whether foods and beverages (F&Bs) carrying nutrition claims have a more favourable nutritional profile than those without such claims. This study examined differences in the global nutritional quality, as determined by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion (FSANZ-NPSC), of Canadian F&B bearing nutrition claims as compared to those without, as well as in their nutritional composition. Data (n = 15,184) was obtained from the University of Toronto 2013 Food Label Information Program. Forty-two percent of F&Bs carrying nutrition claims (n = 2930/6990) were found to be ineligible to carry claims based on the FSANZ-NPSC, in comparison to 66% of F&Bs without (n = 5401/8194, p < 0.001). Sugars and sweets, and miscellaneous products were the food categories with larger proportions of foods carrying nutrition claims not meeting the FSANZ-NPSC eligibility criteria. F&Bs with nutrition claims had fewer calories, less saturated fat, sodium, and sugar, and higher content of protein and fibre than comparable products without nutrition claims (p < 0.05 in all cases). In conclusion, nearly half of F&Bs carrying nutrition claims in Canada did not meet the FSANZ-NPSC threshold, although Canadian products carrying nutrition claims have an overall “healthier” profile than their counterparts without such claims.