Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by an intense preoccupation with one or more perceived “defects” in physical appearance. Despite the distress and impairment associated with BDD, the disorder remains understudied and poorly understood. In particular, there are limited studies available which give voice to those with firsthand experiences of the disorder. A qualitative approach was employed to study lived experience of BDD. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants with BDD, aiming to understand their subjective experiences of the disorder. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results identified three superordinate themes; (1) consumed by the disorder, (2) the flawed self, and (3) intolerance of uncertainty about appearance. The qualitative findings of this study are discussed in relation to current conceptual understandings of BDD, including the cognitive behavioral model.
How bidialectalism affects non-native speech acquisition: Evidence from Shanghai and Mandarin Chinese

Abstract The current study examines how bidialectalism influences non-native speech production. We compared monodialectal Mandarin Chinese with bidialectal Shanghai-Mandarin Chinese speakers in terms of their ability to produce easy and difficult American English vowels. The results showed a general advantage for the bidialectal group compared with the monodialectal group in the production of the vowel formants and duration of the easy English vowels [i] and [u]. However, for the English vowels [ɪ] and [ʊ] known to be difficult for Chinese learners of English, both groups experienced the same challenges in terms of accurately producing the formants of the target vowels. Nevertheless, the bidialectal Shanghai-Mandarin speakers were still better than the monodialectal Mandarin speakers in the durational aspect of the two difficult English vowels. The results are explained by the Second Language Linguistic Perception (L2LP) model and suggest that the bidialectal advantage in non-native speech acquisition is subject to the modulation of cross-linguistic difficulty of the target speech sounds.
Recent Advancements and Strategies for Overcoming the Blood–Brain Barrier Using Albumin-Based Drug Delivery Systems to Treat Brain Cancer, with a Focus on Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor, and the most prevalent primary malignant tumor affecting the brain and central nervous system. Recent research indicates that the genetic profile of GBM makes it resistant to drugs and radiation. However, the main obstacle in treating GBM is transporting drugs through the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Albumin is a versatile biomaterial for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The efficiency of albumin-based delivery systems is determined by their ability to improve tumor targeting and accumulation. In this review, we will discuss the prevalence of human glioblastoma and the currently adopted treatment, as well as the structure and some essential functions of the BBB, to transport drugs through this barrier. We will also mention some aspects related to the blood–tumor brain barrier (BTBB) that lead to poor treatment efficacy. The properties and structure of serum albumin were highlighted, such as its role in targeting brain tumors, as well as the progress made until now regarding the techniques for obtaining albumin nanoparticles and their functionalization, in order to overcome the BBB and treat cancer, especially human glioblastoma. The albumin drug delivery nanosystems mentioned in this paper have improved properties and can overcome the BBB to target brain tumors.
Can friction coefficient be estimated from cross stream flow structure in tidal channels?

Bottom drag coefficient is usually estimated from vertical structures of horizontal flows. Analytic models have demonstrated that bottom friction causes cross channel variations of velocity such that the amplitude of the along channel velocity increases with depth, and the velocity in shallow water has a phase lead, i.e. flood and ebb occur earlier in shallow water along the same cross channel transect. Based on these facts, we have developed a simple method to estimate the drag coefficient using lateral flow structure. The method is verified by data from a vessel‐towed acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) in unstratified tidal channels of Georgia, US. The cross channel average of the drag coefficient is 4.55 × 10−3 (1 ± 18.6%), a reasonable value compared to previous results.
Earthquake Recurrence, Clustering, and Persistent Segmentation near the Southern End of the 2004 Sunda Megathrust Rupture

The December 2004 moment magnitude (MW) 9.2 earthquake was the largest in the world in four decades. Rupture of the Sunda megathrust in that event produced broad regions of uplift and subsidence. We defined the pivot line separating these regions as a first step in defining the extent of the rupture, relying on the interpretation of satellite imagery and modeled water levels as well as on field measurements of emerged coral microatolls. Uplift in 2004 extended from the middle of Simeulue island, Sumatra, at ~2.5°N, to Preparis island, Myanmar (Burma), at ~14.9°N; thus the 2004 rupture was ~1600 km long. The Sunda megathrust ruptured again in March 2005 in an MW 8.6 earthquake. We focused our efforts on Simeulue, which straddles the boundary of these two ruptures and behaved as a barrier to both. We extracted records of relative sea-level change from coral microatolls on fringing reefs directly above the southern end of the 2004 rupture and the northern end of the 2005 rupture. These records provide a detailed history of tectonic strain accumulation and release. Along the coast of northern Simeulue, coral records reveal that predecessors of the 2004 earthquake occurred in the 10th and 14th–15th centuries AD. In the 14th–15th centuries, northern Simeulue experienced a cluster of large megathrust ruptures, associated with total uplift that was considerably more than in 2004. The strain released in 2004 under northern Simeulue took less than 250 years to accumulate if strain accumulation rates since 1948 can be extrapolated back in time. These observations suggest that re-rupture of at least the southernmost 100–200 km of the 2004 patch is possible in the coming decades. The records from central-southern Simeulue indicate that none of the major uplifts known or inferred on northern Simeulue in the past 1100 years extended to southern Simeulue. In addition, the largest uplifts in the modern or paleogeodetic record in central-southern Simeulue apparently produced little or no uplift in northern Simeulue. These observations suggest that central Simeulue has behaved as a persistent barrier to rupture over at least the past 1100 years.
Determining Factors of the Quality of the Financial Reporting of the Banking Companies Listed in Brazil Bolsa Balcão – B3

This study aimed to analyze the determinants of the quality of accounting information of banks listed on B3. We measured the quality of accounting information through a set of 12 indicators built in the study of Gabriel and Silveira (2011). Subsequently, we used an econometric panel data model for a sample of 20 banks between 2014 and 2017. The results show that the banks audited by the big four have an audit committee, a lower indebtedness, and a lower ROE, reflecting a better quality of accounting information. These findings contribute to Brazilian inspection and regulatory bodies regarding the practices that may qualify the accounting information disclosed by banks to their investors. It also includes Brazilian banks in the empirical studies on the quality of accounting information.
Age Differences in Visual Abilities in Nighttime Driving Field Conditions

This study was conducted to provide field data on age differences in sign legibility and object detection. Two age groups of healthy drivers with normal vision were tested for nighttime visual ability. The older group had an average age of 65.6 years and the younger group averaged 22.5 years. The field study was conducted on a private road with the subjects seated in the front passenger seat. Subjects performed a Landolt ring legibility task for four types of signs; positive and negative contrast, new and worn material. Subjects also performed object detection tasks using a small object and a pedestrian target appearing in average and low reflectance. In addition, sign legibility and object detection were completed for some trials using a simulated inclement weather visor to create a worst-case scenario. The object detection task was also completed in the presence of glare from oncoming headlamps. Results showed that older driver's legibility distances were 65% those of the younger drivers. Age differences in the object detection task ranged from a 20% to a 45% reduction for older drivers across visibility conditions.
The relationship between online learning self-efficacy, informal digital learning of English, and student engagement in online classes: the mediating role of social presence

Introduction This study investigates the interplay between Online Learning Self-Efficacy (OLSE), Informal Digital Learning of English (IDLE), student engagement in online classes, and the mediating effect of Social Presence (SP) among intermediate Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. The research sample consisted of 389 participants enrolled in online English courses within a chain of language schools. Methods Data collection involved the use of validated scales to assess OLSE, IDLE, SP, and online student engagement. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed for data analysis. Results The findings revealed direct influences of OLSE and SP on online student engagement. Additionally, IDLE exhibited a positive impact on online student engagement, with a partial mediation effect through SP. This suggests that informal digital English learning significantly contributes to students’ engagement in online classes, with this influence being facilitated by the sense of social presence experienced by students during virtual interactions. Discussion This research underscores the importance of OLSE, IDLE, and SP in shaping student engagement within online learning environments. The results highlight that fostering informal digital English learning can enhance students’ active participation in online courses, with SP serving as a key mediator in this relationship. These insights provide valuable guidance for educators and institutions seeking to improve student engagement in online educational settings.
The Association of Technology-Based Ageism with Using Digital Technology in Physical Therapy for Older Persons

Integrating digital technologies in healthcare for older adults can enhance their independence and quality of life. Nevertheless, ageism among healthcare professionals impacts treatment decisions and may deprive older patients of technology-based treatment. This study explores whether technology-specific ageism influenced physiotherapists’ use of technology-based healthcare with older patients. Seventy-eight physiotherapists in Luxembourg filled out an online survey. Participants filled out the Attitudes Towards Older Adults Using Technology (ATOAUT-11) scale, Expectations Regarding Aging, attitudes towards technology use in the work environment, and whether they had not offered technology-based treatment in the past because of a patient’s age. Using logistic regression, negative ATOAUT was found to predict not offering technology-based treatment, such that participants with more negative attitudes (1 standard deviation) were two times more likely not to offer treatment. Positive attitudes towards using technology in the work environment were also found to be a significant predictor. All other characteristics (gender, age, experience and percentage of patients over 50) were not predictive of not offering treatment. This study demonstrates that technology-specific ageism may lead to discrimination and deprive older persons of optimal treatment. More research is needed to identify the magnitude of ageism in using technology-based treatment and develop interventions to overcome it.
Characterization of crystalline basement aquifers with MRS : comparison with boreholes and pumping tests data in Burkina Faso

In the Sahelian region of Burkina Faso (Western Africa), groundwater resources are scarce. The hydrogeological context is mainly crystalline basement aquifers that often present a challenge to hydrogeologists when investigating their exploration and management. A magnetic resonance sounding (MRS) survey was conducted to evaluate the ability of the method to answer the following main questions encountered by hydrogeologists in this hard-rock context: Where is the groundwater? How deep and how thick are the water-bearing formations? What are the reserves of groundwater? What is the productivity of the aquifer? MRS measurements were implemented around recent boreholes drilled both in the weathered and in the fissured-fractured units of the reservoirs. In order to evaluate the MRS method, MRS results are compared with borehole and pumping test data. The depths and thicknesses of the saturated aquifers encountered by the boreholes are compared with those estimated by MRS. The T1decay-time constant of the magnetic resonance signal is used for calculating the storativity and transmissivity estimators from geophysical data. These MRS hydrogeological estimators are compared with the local transmissivity and storativity of the aquifer, estimated from pumping test results. The main conclusions of the comparison between the 13 MRS results and the borehole data are: The depths and thicknesses of the saturated alterites are accurately described by the MRS results, and the mean differences with the borehole data are ±12% and ±17%, respectively. The storativity estimated from MRS data is not reliable. The proposed estimators need to be confirmed with larger data sets, and further research needs to be conducted on this matter. The transmissivity can be accurately estimated from MRS data after calibration with pumping test results. The mean difference between MRS and pumping test results is ±41%. The main limiting factors of MRS applied in hard-rock areas are the 1D approximation in a highly heterogeneous context, the screen effect that causes deep weathered-fissured reservoirs to be poorly resolved when topped by shallow alterites reservoirs, and the suppression principle that causes deep narrow fractures to be undetectable. MRS is a useful tool to characterize the saturated alterites and the weathered-fissured zones of aquifers in a crystalline rock context. With knowledge of its limitations, its use within the framework of hydrogeological strategy is promising, both for borehole implementation and for groundwater reserve evaluation.
Transient hydraulic tomography in a fractured dolostone: Laboratory rock block experiments

The accurate characterization of fractured geologic medium, imaging of fracture patterns and their connectivity have been a challenge for decades. Recently, hydraulic tomography has been proposed as a new method for imaging the hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific storage (Ss) distributions of fractured geologic media. While encouraging results have been obtained in the field, the method has not been rigorously assessed in a controlled laboratory setting. In this study, we assess the performance of transient hydraulic tomography (THT) in a fractured dolomitic rock block. The block is characterized through flow‐through tests and multiple pumping tests. The pumping test data were then analyzed with the THT code of Zhu and Yeh (2005) to image the fracture patterns and their connectivity through the delineation of K and Ss distributions (or tomograms). Results show that the THT analysis of pumping tests yields high‐K and low‐Ss zones that capture the fracture pattern and their connectivity quite well and those patterns become more vivid as additional pumping test data are added to the inverse model. The performance of the estimated K and Ss tomograms are then assessed by: (1) comparing the tomograms obtained from synthetic to real data; (2) comparing the tomograms from two different pumping configurations; (3) comparing the estimated geometric mean of the hydraulic conductivity (KG) from the K tomogram to the effective hydraulic conductivity (Keff) estimated from the flow‐through tests; and (4) predicting five independent pumping tests not used in the construction of the K and Ss tomograms. The performance assessment of the K and Ss tomograms reveals that THT is able to image high‐K and low‐Ss zones that correspond to fracture locations in the fractured rock block and that the tomograms can be used to predict drawdowns from pumping tests not used in the construction of the tomograms with reasonable fidelity.
Investigating discrepancies among measurements of traveling and standing wave attenuation

In studies of long-period (150 s to 300 s) seismic wave attenuation, the mean decay reported for surface waves is generally 10 to 15% greater (lower quality factor Q) than that measured from equivalent fundamental modes of oscillation. Towards reconciling this inconsistency, we first establish through forward modeling that observed waveforms are more compatible with the rapid rate of decay inferred from traveling wave analyses. Second, we apply traveling and standing wave measurement techniques to a common set of predicted and observed seismograms and compare the inferred levels of surface wave attenuation. We demonstrate that the discrepancy documented in the literature is a consequence of the measurement techniques applied and not an effect of the individual data sets used in previous studies. Experiments with synthetically generated seismograms illustrate that the presence of noise elevates the mean Q inferred for the standing wave methods considered. This bias is related to the nonrandom influence of noise on the phase spectrum. However, for realistic noise levels, the experiment fails to reproduce the magnitude of the discrepancy present in the literature or observed in this study. The synthetic experiments motivate a new measurement approach based on the decrease of spectral power with time that incorporates the behavior of noise into the parameterization. When this technique is applied to data, the mean observed Q decreases from values consistent with normal mode studies to values consistent with traveling surface wave analysis. We thus conclude that noise is the dominant cause of the discrepancy.
Investigation on the mesopause energetics and its possible implications on the equatorial MLTI processes through coordinated daytime airglow and radar measurements

This paper investigates the simultaneous presence of a prominent planetary scale modulations of quasi 16‐day period observed in the daytime mean mesopause temperature and in the phase velocity of Type I electrojet irregularities during January–March 2001 over Trivandrum (8.5°N, 76.5°E, 0.5°N diplat.). The temperature was estimated from the Multiwavelength Dayglow Photometer (MWDPM) measurements of OH (8–3) Meinel band dayglow emissions. The radar measured phase velocity of the irregularities is found not only exhibiting ∼8 and quasi 16‐day modulations, but also exceeding the isothermal ion‐acoustic threshold i.e. ∼360 m/s for Trivandrum. The modulation in the mesopause temperature is attributed to the presence of planetary wave of quasi 16‐day periodicity. Further, it is proposed that the temperature modulations which cause composition changes in the mesopause and equatorial electrojet region manifest as changes in the phase velocity through fluctuations in ion‐neutral collisions corroborating with St.‐Maurice et al. (2003).
Application of Thymol Vapors to Control Postharvest Decay Caused by Penicillium digitatum and Lasiodiplodia theobromae in Grapefruit

Two of the major postharvest diseases impacting grapefruit shelf life and marketability in the state of Florida (USA) are stem-end rot (SER) caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae and green mold (GM) caused by Penicillium digitatum. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of vapors of thymol, a natural compound found in the essential oil of various plants and the primary constituent of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) oil, as a potential solution for the management of GM and SER. Thymol vapors at concentrations lower than 10 mg L−1 significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of both pathogens, causing severe ultrastructural damage to P. digitatum conidia. In in vivo trials, the incidence and lesion area of GM and SER on inoculated grapefruit were significantly reduced after a 5 d exposure to 50 mg L−1 thymol vapors. In addition, the in vitro and in vivo sporulation of P. digitatum was suppressed by thymol. When applied in its vapor phase, thymol had no negative effect on the fruit, neither introducing perceivable off-flavor nor causing additional weight loss. Our findings support the pursuit of further studies on the use of thymol, recognized as safe for human health and the environment, as a promising strategy for grapefruit postharvest disease management.
Reply to comment by Ali and Aitchison on “Restoration of Cenozoic deformation in Asia, and the size of Greater India”

] In our recent paper [van Hinsbergen et al., 2011a], weprovide a kinematic restoration of Cenozoic deformation inAsia based on the currently available kinematic estimates onfault zones and fold-thrust belts in Tibet, the Pamir, the TienShan, Mongolia, Siberia and Indochina. Our reconstructionsuggests that approximately 1050 km (in the Pamir) to600 km (in eastern Tibet) of India-Asia convergence wasaccommodated by intraAsian shortening in the last ! 50 Ma.By comparing this reconstruction with the respective posi-tions of India and Asia constrained by the Eurasia-NorthAmerica-Africa-India plate circuit (using model A of vanHinsbergen et al. [2011b]), we explored the implicationsfor the size for Greater India as a function of collision age,whereby we define Greater India as ‘the area of lithosphereconsumed by northward subduction beneath the Asianmargin since collision of the Tibetan Himalaya with Asia’. Importantly, wedonot aprioridefine thatall thatlithospheremust be continental in nature. Our reconstruction demon-strated that if collision started by 50 Ma, Greater India at thetime of initial collision must have been up to 2600 km wide.Such a 50 Ma collision age follows from the timing of thefirst arrival of Asia-derived detritus in the Tibetan Himalaya[Najman et al., 2010; Wang et al., 2011; Hu et al., 2012] andthe overlap of paleomagnetically determined paleolatitudesfrom the former southern margin of Asia (the Lhasa terrane)[e.g., Dupont-Nivet et al., 2010a; Lippert et al., 2011], withthose from the Tibetan Himalaya [Patzelt et al., 1996; Yiet al., 2011]. Such a large N-S width of Greater India inLate Cretaceous and Paleocene time is consistent with thehigh-quality paleomagnetic data from Tibetan Himalayanrocks of Patzelt et al. [1996], shown to have undergonenegligible inclination shallowing due to compaction byDupont-Nivet et al. [2010b], and recently corroborated by Yiet al. [2011]: When compared to high-quality paleomagneticpoles from India, those paleomagnetic data demonstrate aN-S separation between the Tibetan Himalaya and theIndian craton of 22.0 " 3.0