Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Good Stress , Bad Stress — The Delicate Balance in the Vasculature

Nature as the Optimal Organizer In their article, the authors (1) say that antioxidants don’t work—but that is not true. The specialist literature contains many descriptions of different enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants that work synergistically in a network very effectively and are available exactly where they are required—optimally organized by nature (2). Interestingly, Wingler et Schmidt confirm elsewhere in the article the effectiveness of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants from among the secondary plant substances in tea, dark chocolate, and red grapes. With regard to vitamins C and E, the authors cite a negative selection of studies whose quality is very much doubted by experts: neither study design nor the results are consistent with today’s requirements (for example, Bjelakovic [reference e16 in the article] and Ristow [reference 10 in the article]). It is not the case that most studies into antioxidants have yielded mostly negative results. The authors did not mention many studies with positive outcomes that were conducted according to the criteria of evidence based medicine and that confirmed significant and physiologically based benefits of antioxidants for a wide range of disorders (3, 4). Further, we wish to draw attention to the fact that there are indeed different markers for oxidative stress—for example, hydroperoxide, malondialdehyde, and desoxyguanosine—and that these can be easily measured in clinical practice or in the laboratory. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2010. 0224a
Plate-like regime of a numerically modeled thermal convection in a fluid with temperature-, pressure-, and stress-history-dependent viscosity

[1] A series of numerical models are presented for two-dimensional thermal convection in a fluid with viscosity that nonlinearly depends on “degree of damage” ω as well as temperature and pressure; ω increases and viscosity decreases with time when the convection induces strong viscous dissipation. The convecting fluid recovers from the damage with a characteristic time that depends on temperature. The ω dependence of viscosity induces a stress-viscosity relationship that consists of two branches, the “intact branch” at low stress and the “damaged branch” at high stress, with a hysteresis between the two branches; ω is small (large) and viscosity is high (low) on the intact (damaged) branch. The hysteresis lets the viscosity depend on stress history. The dependence of viscosity on stress history due to the hysteresis induces a regime where the numerically modeled lithosphere along the surface boundary is fragmented into smaller pieces that are on the intact branch and rigidly move. The pieces of lithosphere are separated by narrow mechanically weak zones that are on the damaged branch. Each piece of lithosphere is further fragmented and mechanically weak zones are newly formed only when the piece is tapped by particularly strong hot uprising plumes. This “plate-like” regime is the only regime, among the convective regimes searched here, where each piece of lithosphere rigidly moves and still is not ruptured by the forces that drive the piece. The Earth's mantle is suggested to be on the plate-like regime.
Bladder Management after Spinal Cord Injury in the United States 1973-2005

Hypothesis / aims of study Many studies have confirmed that bladder management in spinal cord injury (SCI) with an indwelling catheter (IC) versus no indwelling catheter (sphincterotomy, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), or spontaneous voiding) is associated with more urologic complications such as renal failure, bladder and renal stones, urinary infection, urethral fistulas, strictures and erosions, and bladder cancer. Several published guidelines on bladder management after SCI all consider CIC to be the ideal management or gold standard for the neurogenic bladder if patient is physically and mentally able [1]. Despite this published data, little is known about the actual bladder management patterns of these patients in clinical practice. Many studies have indirectly reported bladder management method, with the use of CIC ranging from 16 to 96% depending on the population studied [2,3]. The goals of the current study were to examine patterns of bladder management at discharge from rehabilitation and over the long term in SCI patients in the United States and determine factors associated with these patterns.
Real-World Outcomes of Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment and Retreatment in United Kingdom–Based Patients Infected With Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes/ Subtypes Endemic in Africa

Background. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 71 million individuals, mostly residing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) give high rates of sustained virological response (SVR) in high-income countries where a restricted range of HCV genotypes/subtypes circulate. Methods. We studied United Kingdom–resident patients born in Africa to examine DAA effectiveness in LMICs where there is far greater breadth of HCV genotypes/subtypes. Viral genome sequences were determined from 233 patients. Results. Full-length viral genomic sequences for 26 known subtypes and 5 previously unidentified isolates covering 5 HCV genotypes were determined. From 149 patients who received DAA treatment/retreatment, the overall SVR was 93%. Treatment failure was associated primarily with 2 subtypes, gt1l and gt4r, using sofosbuvir/ledipasvir. These subtypes contain natural resistance-associated variants that likely contribute to poor efficacy with this drug combination. Treatment failure was also significantly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions. DAA combinations give high SVR rates despite the high HCV diversity across the African continent except for subtypes gt1l and gt4r, which respond poorly to sofosbuvir/ledipasvir. These subtypes are widely distributed across Western, Central, and Eastern Africa. Thus, in circumstances where accurate genotyping is absent, ledipasvir and its generic compounds should not be considered as a recommended treatment option.
Heat contents, thermal stabilities and Birgean wind work in Dystrophic Tasmanian Lakes and Reservoirs

Values of whole-lake standard energy parameters (heat content, thermal stability and Birge's work of the wind) for ten dystrophic standing waters from western Tasmania were lower than expected for lakes of their depth and area. Although controlled principally by morphometric factors, the degree of shelter from wind and the extent of each lake's dystrophy also had considerable effects. These factors allowed only surface waters to contribute to the annual heat exchange cycle, thereby reducing the magnitude of each lake's heat budgets and influencing stability and wind work values. The lakes show considerable short- and long-term fluctuations in heat content, stability and wind work values in response to the capricious maritime meteorological conditions of the area. However, long periods between successive samplings may have caused some underestimation of the ranges of these three parameters. Despite this, the study reveals that these standard energy parameters are effective in describing the annual energy input and resistance to wind-induced mixing of these dystrophic Tasmanian lakes.
Stratigraphic correlation of the Devonian sequence in the Blantyre Sub-basin, Darling Basin, western New South Wales

Seismic sections and the analysis of lithostratigraphic units from well-log data were used to develop a new stratigraphic correlation of the Winduck, Snake Cave and Ravendale Intervals for the Blantyre Sub-basin. The stratigraphic boundaries of the intervals were defined at marked changes in well-log characteristics, and depth estimates of the boundaries were derived from the well-log data in Mt Emu 1, Blantyre 1 and Kewell East 1. Six seismic-stratigraphic boundaries have been identified in the seismic sections to show the continuity of the latest Silurian to Holocene sediments throughout the Blantyre Sub-basin; from bottom to top they are: H-1, base of the Winduck Interval; H-2, base of the Snake Cave Interval; H-3, base of the Ravendale Interval; H-4/5 base of the undifferentiated Upper Carboniferous/Permian sediments; and H-6 base of the undifferentiated Cenozoic sediments. All stratigraphic boundaries are based on good continuous markers, with strong amplitudes throughout the whole sub-basin. A three-dimensional geological model was developed from the seismic data to map out the geometry of the key reflectors, and hence the structure and stratigraphy of the Winduck, Snake Cave and Ravendale Intervals in the areas where these intervals have been preserved. This model has better defined the Wilcannia High and two smaller highs around the Mt Emu 1 and Snake Flat 1 wells, and further defines the relationships between the stratigraphy, sub-basin geometry and development of complex structures in the Blantyre Sub-basin.
Late Quaternary Upwelling Intensity and East Asian Monsoon Forcing in the South China Sea

Abstract Foraminifera from two cores off eastern Vietnam and the northwestern Philippines, where modern summer and winter monsoon-driven upwelling occurs in the South China Sea, respectively, were analyzed to evaluate the changes in paleoproductivity and upper water structure over the last 220,000 yr. We observed enhanced organic carbon flux and a shoaled thermocline when upwelling intensified off eastern Vietnam during interglacial ages and off the northwestern Philippines during glacial ages. This indicates that the East Asian summer monsoon increased while the winter monsoon decreased during interglacial ages. Particularly, the upwelling reached a maximum off eastern Vietnam during late marine isotopic stage (MIS) 5 and off the northwestern Philippines during MIS 2, implying that the summer monsoon decreased gradually since MIS 5 while the winter monsoon displayed an opposite trend. The variations in upwelling proxies exhibit a distinct cyclicity with frequencies near 41,000 yr and 23,000 yr off eastern Vietnam, in contrast to a strong frequency peak near 100,000 yr off the northwestern Philippines. We suggest that the East Asian summer monsoon has been forced by changes in solar insolation associated with precession and obliquity, while ice-volume forcing is probably a primary factor in determining the strength and timing of the East Asian winter monsoon but with less important insolation forcing.
A grid-based distributed flood forecasting model for use with weather radar data: Part 1. Formulation

Abstract. A practical methodology for distributed rainfall-runoff modelling using grid square weather radar data is developed for use in real-time flood forecasting. The model, called the Grid Model, is configured so as to share the same grid as used by the weather radar, thereby exploiting the distributed rainfall estimates to the full. Each grid square in the catchment is conceptualised as a storage which receives water as precipitation and generates water by overflow and drainage. This water is routed across the catchment using isochrone pathways. These are derived from a digital terrain model assuming two fixed velocities of travel for land and river pathways which are regarded as model parameters to be optimised. Translation of water between isochrones is achieved using a discrete kinematic routing procedure, parameterised through a single dimensionless wave speed parameter, which advects the water and incorporates diffusion effects through the discrete space-time formulation. The basic model routes overflow and drainage separately through a parallel system of kinematic routing reaches, characterised by different wave speeds but using the same isochrone-based space discretisation; these represent fast and slow pathways to the basin outlet, respectively. A variant allows the slow pathway to have separate isochrones calculated using Darcy velocities controlled by the hydraulic gradient as estimated by the local gradient of the terrain. Runoff production within a grid square is controlled by its absorption capacity which is parameterised through a simple linkage function to the mean gradient in the square, as calculated from digital terrain data. This allows absorption capacity to be specified differently for every grid square in the catchment through the use of only two regional parameters and a DTM measurement of mean gradient for each square. An extension of this basic idea to consider the distribution of gradient within the square leads analytically to a Pareto distribution of absorption capacity, given a power distribution of gradient within the square. The probability-distributed model theory (Moore, 1985) can then be used directly to obtain the integrated runoff production for the square for routing to the catchment outlet. justification for the simple linkage function is in part sought through consideration of variants on the basic model where (i) runoff production is based on a topographic index control on saturation and (ii) absorption capacity is related to the Integrated Air Capacity of the soil, as obtained from soil survey. An impervious area fraction is also introduced based on the use of Landsat classified urban areas. The Grid Model and its variants are assessed in Part 2 (Bell and Moore, 1998), first as simulation models and then as forecasting models, following the development of updating procedures to accommodate recent observations of flow so as to improve forecast performance in a real-time context.
Late Quaternary uplift of the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus: Uranium-series dating of Pleistocene coral

In an attempt to constrain the timing and mode of tectonic uplift of the classic Troodos ophiolite, colonial corals were collected from Quaternary littoral raised terraces in coastal southern Cyprus and dated using the uranium-series disequilibrium method. A total of 28 samples of Cladocora caespitosa were collected at five localities from the 8-11-m-high and <3-m-high marine terraces. The corals yield systematic ages of 185-192 ka (ka = 103 yr) and 116-130 ka for the 8-11 m and <3 m terraces, respectively. When correlated with the global oxygen isotope stages, the results suggest that southern Cyprus was uplifted by 18 m during the past 185-192 ka, as a single tectonic entity. Of this uplift, 13 m took place between 130 and 185 ka (at ∼24 cm/ka), and a maximum of 6 m of uplift (at 5 cm/ka) took place over the past 116 ka, but with some evidence of coastal subsidence in more recent time. An exception, the extreme southeast of Cyprus (Cape Greco), was perhaps uplifted faster during the past 141 ka, at a rate of 12 cm/ka.
Geochemical Evidence for a Rift-Related Origin of Bimodal Volcanism at Meseta Rio San Juan, North-Central Mexican Volcanic Belt

This study reports new geochemical and Sr and Nd isotope data for 11 samples of hynormative late Miocene (∼6.5 Ma) basalt, basaltic andesite, and rhyolitic volcanic rocks from Meseta Rio San Juan, located in the states of Hidalgo and Queretaro, Mexico, in the north-central part of the Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB). The in situ growth-corrected initial isotopic ratios of these rocks are as follows: 87Sr/86Sr 0.703400-0.709431 and 143Nd/144Nd 0.512524-0.512835. For comparison, the isotopic ratios of basaltic rocks from this area show very narrow ranges as follows: 87Sr/86Sr 0.703400-0.703540 and 143Nd/144Nd 0.512794-0.512835. The available geological, geochemical, and isotopic evidence does not support the generation of the basic and intermediate magmas by direct (slab melting), nor by indirect (fluid transport to the mantle) participation of the subducted Cocos plate. The basaltic magmas instead could have been generated by partial melting of the upper mantle. The evolved basaltic andesite magmas could have originated from such basaltic magmas through assimilation coupled with fractional crystallization. Rhyolitic magmas might represent partial melting of different parts of the underlying heterogeneous crust. Their formation and eruption probably was facilitated by extensional tectonics and upwelling of the underlying mantle. The different petrogenetic processes proposed here for basaltic and basaltic andesite magmas on one hand and rhyolitic magmas on the other might explain the bimodal nature of Meseta Rio San Juan volcanism. Finally, predictions by the author about the behavior of Sr and Nd isotopic compositions for subduction-related magmas is confirmed by published data for the Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA).
Modeling gross primary production of deciduous forest using remotely sensed radiation and ecosystem variables

[1] We explored the potential application of two remotely sensed (RS) variables, the Global Vegetation Moisture Index (GVMI) and the near-infrared albedo (AlbedoNIR), in modeling the gross primary production (GPP) of three deciduous forests. For the Harvard Forest (deciduous) of Massachusetts, it was found that GPP is strongly correlated with GVMI (coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.60) during the growing season, and with AlbedoNIR (R2 = 0.82) throughout the year. Subsequently, a statistical model called the Remotely Sensed GPP (R-GPP) model was developed to estimate GPP using remotely sensed radiation (land surface temperature (LST), AlbedoNIR) and ecosystem variables (enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and GVMI). The R-GPP model, calibrated and validated against the GPP estimates derived from the eddy covariance flux tower of the Harvard Forest, could explain 95% and 92% of the observed GPP variability for the study site during the calibration (2000–2003) and the validation (2004–2005) periods, respectively. It outperformed the primary RS-based GPP algorithm of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), which explained 80% and 77% of the GPP variability during 2000–2003 and 2004–2005, respectively. The calibrated R-GPP model also explained 93% and 94% of the observed GPP variation for two other independent validation sites, the Morgan Monroe State Forest and the University of Michigan Biological Station, respectively, which demonstrates its transferability to other deciduous ecoregions of northeastern United States.
Clinical Profile and Influences on Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Pericarditis

Background— The clinical profile with regard to sex and the influences on outcomes in patients who have been hospitalized for acute pericarditis is largely uncharacterized. Methods and Results— We studied all patients aged ≥16 years admitted to the hospital because of acute pericarditis (postpericardiotomy and myocardial infarction associated pericarditis were excluded). Data were collected from a Finnish national registry that included data on all cardiovascular admissions (670 409) during 9.5 years in 29 hospitals nationwide. During the study period, there were 1361 admissions for acute pericarditis. Pericarditis patients were more likely to be male (64.9% of patients) than female (35.1%), with an age-adjusted likelihood ratio of 1.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65–2.06; P<0.0001) for male sex. The standardized incidence rate of hospitalizations for acute pericarditis was 3.32 per 100 000 person-years. Men 16 to 65 years of age were at higher risk for pericarditis (relative risk, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.81–2.26; P<0.0001) than women in the general admitted population, with the highest risk difference among young adults. Acute pericarditis caused 0.20% (95% CI, 0.19%–0.22%) of all cardiovascular admissions. The proportion of pericarditis-caused admissions declined by an estimated 51% per 10-year increase in age. The in-hospital mortality rate for acute pericarditis was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.6%–1.8%). Mortality increased with age (hazard ratio, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.78–5.95 per 10-year increase in age; P=0.0001) and severe coinfection (pneumonia or septicemia; hazard ratio, 13.46; 95% CI, 2.26–80.01; P<0.005) but was not associated with sex in multivariate analysis. Conclusions— Patients hospitalized for acute pericarditis are more commonly male. Increasing age and severe coinfection are associated with greater in-hospital mortality in hospitalized acute pericarditis patients.
Characterisation of mobile radio signals: model description

Following a brief review of multipath propagation models, the major characteristics of mobile radio signals are determined using an adaptation of the generic three-dimensional model proposed by Aulin. The various multipath component waves, which have equal amplitude and random, uniformly-distributed phase are allowed to have spatial angles of arrival with both vertical and horizontal components. The spatial angle of arrival in the horizontal plane is assumed to be uniformly distributed in the interval (0, 2π) but a new PDF is proposed for the vertical angle of arrival, β. The effective scatterers are assumed to form a cyclinder around the mobile with a radius and height that depends on the maximum value βm of the vertical angle of arrival. Suitable values for βm are estimated from published experimental results. The limitations of two-dimensional scattering models are illustrated by considering not only the power spectral density, but also the cross correlation between antennas spatially separated in the vertical plane.
Planetary and synoptic scale adjustment of the Arctic atmosphere to sea ice cover changes

By means of unforced simulations with a global coupled circulation model it is shown that naturally occurring changes between high and low sea ice cover phases of the Arctic Ocean exert a strong influence on the Northern Hemisphere storm tracks. This work emphasizes the nonlinear dynamical feedback between Arctic sea ice cover and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) such as atmospheric response depending upon the wintertime sea ice distribution. Two seven year long time slices, with high and low sea ice cover, were analyzed with respect to the feedbacks between the time‐mean flow, the quasi‐stationary planetary and the baroclinic waves. The wave energy fluxes on time scales of 2 to 6 days increase in the middle troposphere between 30 and 60°N during the high sea ice phase and increase the zonal wind. This increase is compensated by a strong reduction in the Eliassen‐Palm fluxes on time scales from 10 to 90 days between 60 and 70°N during high sea ice phases, accompanied by reduced zonal winds. High sea ice cover phases are related to the zonal wind changes during the positive phases of the AO, especially over the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Spicing up Britain: The Multicultural History of British Food

Among the cuisines of Europe, Britain's has traditionally been regarded as the black sheep kippers, jellied eels and blood pudding rarely elicit the same fond feelings as chocolate mousse or pasta primavera. Yet despite these unfortunate stereotypes, British cuisine is today one of the most interesting and varied in the world. In this remarkable history of British food, Panikos Panayi reveals the transformation and enrichment of British cuisine by diverse international influences. From the arrival of Italian ice-cream vendors and German pork butchers, to the rise of curry as the national dish, "Spicing Up Britain" reveals the fascinating multicultural history of British food over the last 150 years, showing how a combination of immigration, increased wealth and globalization have transformed the eating habits of the British. From the spaghetti bolognese and Thai green curry that Britons eat at home to the dishes from all corners of the world cooked by celebrity chefs on TV, Britain has become a country of great diversity, in which people of different backgrounds are united by their readiness to sample a wide variety of foods introduced by manifold ethnic groups. Even migrant communities themselves adapt their traditional products to the British environment, as Panayi illustrates. Taking in changes to home cooking, restaurants and takeaways, grocery shops and delicatessens and cookbooks, Panayi's flavourful account will appeal to all who enjoy Britain's multicultural cuisine.