Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and mediators of a group cognitive-behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder: A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE Hoarding disorder (HD) is a common and potentially debilitating psychiatric disorder. Thus far, psychological treatments have yielded modest effects and/or were time-consuming and costly to deliver. The aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of a brief group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with HD and to test hypothesized mediators of treatment outcome. METHOD Eighty-seven adults with a primary diagnosis of HD were randomized to either immediate CBT or wait list. CBT consisted of 16 weekly, 90-min group sessions that emphasized in-session practice of discarding and refraining from acquiring, decision-making and problem-solving training, emotional distress tolerance, motivational interviewing strategies, and contingency management. Participants were assessed at pretreatment, midtreatment, and posttreatment by an independent evaluator unaware of treatment condition. RESULTS CBT was efficacious for the symptoms of HD compared with wait list. Saving-related cognitions, but not subjective cognitive impairment, partially mediated treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION Brief Group CBT is an efficacious and feasible treatment for adults with HD, and is partially mediated by reductions in maladaptive beliefs about possessions. Superiority trials comparing CBT to active treatments, and additional research into mechanisms of treatment outcome, are warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Table-top soft x-ray polarimetry setup with rotatable linearly polarized light source

Abstract. A table-top soft x-ray polarimetry setup has been developed at the Institute of Precision Optical Engineering for characterizing the polarization properties of mirrors designed for the lightweight asymmetry and magnetism probe project. Based on a Co/C multilayer polarizer mirror, linearly polarized soft x-rays were generated at a wavelength of 4.48 nm, which could be rotated around the beam-propagation direction by using a differentially pumped rotary feedthrough. The setup design and the alignment method are described in detail. The capabilities of this spectrometer were demonstrated through a polarization test on a twin Co/C multilayer polarizer sample, and the results agree well with the expected sine wave.
Kappa and Its Dependence on Marginal Rates

The kappa statistic is a widely used measure for quantifying agreement between raters using nominal scales. It is advocated on the grounds that it “corrects” for a level of agreement that would be expected by chance alone based on the marginal rates. The operating characteristics of kappa, however, show that it responds in a complicated and unintuitive way to subject-specific and marginal agreement. Modifications to kappa and supplementary statistics, which have been proposed to help interpret kappa are discussed. Remarks are made as to why the kappa statistic has such problematic features. Keywords: agreement; association; contingency table; kappa; margins; reliability
Mangroves on the Move: Predictions of Storm Surge Effects on Coastal Vegetation

The landward coastal zones of the low-lying habitats are characterized by sharp ecotones between salinity-tolerant (halophytic) vegetation types, such as mangroves, and salinity-intolerant (glycophytic) vegetation types, such as freshwater marsh and hardwood hammocks. Empirical studies show a gradual landward migration of these ecotones in some areas, due to sea level rise (SLR), and evidence in some areas of rapid change from glycophytic to halophytic vegetation, possibly as regime shifts resulting from salinity overwash from storm surges. In this dissertation work, the plausibility of storm surge related regime shifts of glycophytic vegetation was investigated using a coupled hydrological and ecological simulation model, and the resilience of the ecotone was studied using a mathematical model. In view of potential effects of storm surge associate with SLR on Everglades ecosystems, particularly the consequences these pose for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, both empirical and modeling studies on coastal vegetation are underway. In this dissertation work, the Spatially Explicit Hammock/Mangrove (SEHM) computer simulation model of the ecotone between those vegetation types was used to show the influence of both abiotic (elevation gradient, groundwater salinity, tidal amplitude, precipitation, freshwater flow) and biotic factors (plant physiology, competitive abilities, dispersal, positive feedbacks between plants and soil salinity) on the mechanisms of ecotone formation. The model simulation results indicate that an environmental gradient of salinity, caused by tidal flux, is the key factor separating vegetation communities, while positive feedback involving the interactions of vegetation types with the vadose zone salinity increases the sharpness of boundaries, and maintains the ecological resilience of mangrove/ hammock ecotones against minor disturbances. The model also shows that the dry season, with its low precipitation, has a strong effect on the position of the mangrove/hammock ecotone. Using a mathematical model of an ecotone vulnerable to possible future changes, I estimated the resilience of the ecotone to disturbances. The specific ecotone is that between two different vegetation types, salinity-tolerant and salinity-intolerant, along a gradient in groundwater salinity. In the case studied, each vegetation type, through soil feedback loops, promoted local soil salinity levels that favor itself in competition with the other type. Alternative stable equilibria, one for salinity-tolerant and one for salinity intolerant vegetation, were shown to exist over a region of the groundwater salinity gradient, bounded by two bifurcation points. This region was shown to depend sensitively on parameters such as the rate of upward infiltration of salinity from groundwater into the soil due to evaporation. I showed also that increasing diffusion rates of vegetation can lead to shrinkage of the range between the two bifurcation points. Sharp ecotones are typical of salt-tolerant vegetation (mangroves)…
GIS modeling of bison habitat in southwestern Montana : a study in ranch management and conservation

Since the near extinction of American bison (Bison bison) at the turn of the century free-ranging herds exist in only a few locations. However, bison ranching has become increasingly common on fenced private lands. An example, is a privately owned bison ranch located in southwestern Montana that maintains their herd using a minimal management approach. The ranch manager’s intent is to allow the bison operation to be largely defined by natural processes. Selective range utilization by bison, however, has affected range quality resulting in overutilization and underutilization. The objectives of this research were to determine if biophysical differences existed between areas of bison overutilization and underutilization, and to provide ranch managers with information regarding whether more intensive management could alleviate impacts associated with differential bison utilization. The methods employed were to (I) determine and collect data regarding bison utilization, (2) to develop a database of biophysical variables that could be measured and that might influence bison habitat selection, (3) to perform an exploratory data analysis using Classification and regression tree analysis, (4) to analyze nutritional, physical environmental, and behavioral variables independently using Bayesian probability analysis, and (5) to model the results of the analysis geographically for the ranch. Classification and regression tree analysis and Bayesian probability analysis were used to identify differences in biophysical variables and to produce bison habitat use models. Of the 14 variables studied, significant differences existed in areas underutilized and overutilized for 5 nutritional variables (forage type, forage productivity, soil mineralogy, soil pH, and soil salinity), 3 physical environmental variables (elevation, slope, and surface soil texture), and 2 behavioral variables (nearest neighbor distance and viewshed). The digital database, analysis and results were intended to provide ranch managers with information regarding the characteristics of the sites utilized and not utilized by bison throughout the ranch.
Harvey Cushing and medulloblastoma.

History is in essence the telling of a story. The story of our current understanding of medulloblastoma, or cerebellar primitive neuroectodermal tumor, as it is now known, begins with the formidable and exhaustive work of Harvey Cushing, MD (18691939). The first recorded foray into the treatment of brain tumors in the United States began in 1888 with the resection of a meningioma by William W. Keen. Surgery at the time was greatly hampered by several conditions that limited the physician encountering a patient suspected of harboring a brain tumor. Little if any progress beyond that of pre-Columbian trepanation was made with regards to neurosurgery until the entry of Cushing into the surgical theaters of The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md, and later Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Mass. As Matson and German 1 wrote in his biography: “Cushing lived at a time when medicine and surgery had progressed from the primitive era of bleedings and purgings and had reached the early period of its modern strid e. asepsis was in its infancy and anesthesia consisted of pouring ether onto a sea sponge. ”
The Effects of Entry on Incumbent Innovation and Productivity

How does firm entry affect innovation incentives in incumbent firms? Microdata suggest that there is heterogeneity across industries. Specifically, incumbent productivity growth and patenting is positively correlated with lagged greenfield foreign firm entry in technologically advanced industries, but not in laggard industries. In this paper we provide evidence that these correlations arise from a causal effect predicted by Schumpeterian growth theorythe threat of technologically advanced entry spurs innovation incentives in sectors close to the technology frontier, where successful innovation allows incumbents to survive the threat, but discourages innovation in laggard sectors, where the threat reduces incumbents' expected rents from innovating. We find that the empirical patterns hold using rich micro panel data for the United Kingdom. We control for the endogeneity of entry by exploiting major European and U.K. policy reforms, and allow for endogeneity of additional factors. We complement the analysis for foreign entry with evidence for domestic entry and entry through imports.
Información cúantica relativista: desarrollos en información cuántica en escenarios relativistas generales

La tesis se centra en el estudio del entrelazamiento y los problemas de la informacion cuantica en escenarios relativistas generales. En nuestra exploracion de este nuevo campo llamado informacion cuantica relativista hemos obtenido resultados en tre s categorias diferentes: -Desde el punto de vista fundamental, analizando el impacto de la estadistica (fermionica o bosonica) en el comportamiento del entrelazamiento en sistemas de referencia no inerciales; construyendo el formalismo para analiza r el entrelazamiento de diferentes grados de libertad (espin, numero de ocupacion, .) y estudiando como se comportan las correlaciones en las proximidades de un horizonte de sucesos. -Desde el punto de vista aplicado, demostrando como el entrelaza miento puede ser util para estudiar la expansion del Universo, el proceso de colapso estelar, o para servir de testigo del efecto Unruh o del efecto Hawking, que no han sido detectados aun. -Desde el punto de vista de las propuestas experimentales, proponiendo maneras de usar el entrelazamiento para distinguir entre el efecto Hawking cuantico del clasico; o aprovechando la fase geometrica adquirida por detectores en movimiento para medir directamente el efecto Unruh para aceleraciones mucho men
Potential Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution of Dove Trees(Davidia Involucrata Baill) in China

It is crucial to understand the effects of climate change on the distribution of plant species for the conservation of biodiversity.The effects of climate change on the distribution of dove trees(Davidia involucrata Baill) in China were analyzed using the CART(classification and regression tree) niche model under climate change scenarios A1,A2,B1 and B2.The results showed that climate change in China will cause a large decrease in the current suitable distribution region of dove trees,while it will cause an increase in new suitable or total suitable distribution regions of the plant.The suitable distribution region of dove trees will decrease over the period 19912100.It will decrease highest under the A1 scenario and lowest under the B1 scenario among the four climate change scenarios A1,A2,B1 and B2.Additionally,following climate change,some regions in the east,south,north,north-east and south-east of the current distribution region of dove trees will reduce,while new expanding distribution regions of the plant will expand towards the west or south-west of its current distribution region.Therefore,the current suitable distribution region of dove trees will be fragmented following climate change.Additionally,the effect of changing the annual mean air temperature in China on the distribution region of dove trees will be higher than that of changing annual precipitation in China.
Pentoxifylline: An Immunomodulatory Drug for the Treatment of COVID-19

Rapidly spreading outbreak of the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing serious health concerns worldwide. It started as an epidemic in Wuhan, Hubei province, central China, and has now become a pandemic, spreading over most of the continents of the planet. The major clinical symptoms of the infection are dry cough, fever, pneumonia, respiratory failure, hypoxia, and in certain cases, even death. Alveolar damage and respiratory system failure are observed in severe cases. Initial mild infection leads to activation of the immune system in the lungs and accumulation of various inflammatory cells and molecules. At a later phase during the infection, a “cytokine storm” causes an Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), leading to an increase in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, migration of a large number of immune cells to the site of infection, and ultimately pulmonary damage. The rapid and uncontrolled outbreak requires putative therapeutic drugs for treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19. Amongst the currently used antiviral drugs, such as hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, remdesivir etc. we would like to present an update on another effective drug, pentoxifylline. Pentoxifylline has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-viral, and bronchodilatory properties. Pentoxifylline is known to reduce cytokine production, immune cell migration, and suppress certain signal transduction pathways (e.g. NF-κβ and STAT3). Thus, it minimizes inflammatory damage in the lung tissues.
Noise controls for vibrating screen mechanisms

U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studies show that 43.5% of surveyed coal preparation plant workers had noise exposures exceeding the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure level of 90 dB(A). Sound levels around vibrating screens in these plants often exceed 90 dB(A). NIOSH is currently developing noise controls for horizontal vibrating screens. To characterize noise sources, NIOSH researchers performed sound pressure level (SPL) measurements on a vibrating screen at their Office of Mine Safety and Health Research laboratory in Pittsburgh. The results show that the entire screen contributes to noise below 1 kHz, and the vibration mechanism housings are most significant above 1 kHz. Constrained layer damping (CLD) treatments and an enclosure were used to reduce mechanism housing noise in this range from 1-10 kHz. These were evaluated using sound power level measurements according to ISO 3744. The CLD treatments reduced the A-weighted sound power level by 3.1 dB in the 1 to 10 kHz one-third-octave bands. A panel-on-frame vibration mechanism enclosure using various types of panels further reduced the A-weighted sound power level from the CLD configuration in the 1 to 10 kHz one-third-octave bands by 3.7, 4.0, and 3.9 dB for aluminum, steel, and DynalamTM panels, respectively. The combination yielded a 7 dB reduction from baseline in A-weighted sound power for the same frequency range.
White Paper on Seamless Prediction

The global coupled atmosphere-ocean-land-cryosphere system exhibits a wide range of physical and dynamical phenomena with associated physical, biological and chemical feedbacks that collectively result in a continuum of temporal and spatial variability. The traditional boundaries between weather and climate are, therefore, somewhat artificial. The large scale climate, for instance, determines the environment for microscale and mesoscale processes that govern weather and local climate, and these small scale processes likely have significant impacts on the evolution of the large scale circulation (Fig. 1, from Meehl et al. 2001).
Considérations sur le genre Buthus Leach, 1815 en Espagne, et description de deux nouvelles espèces (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Se describen dos nuevas especies del genero Buthus Leach de la zona del puerto de la Ragua y Cerro Pelado, en Sierra Nevada (provincias de Granada y Almeria), y San Jose del Valle (provincia de Cadiz), en Espana. Buthus montanus sp. n. y Buthus ibericus sp. n. representan la segunda y tercera especies europeas descritas del genero Buthus. Se presentan diversos comentarios sobre aspectos biogeograficos de las especies del genero.
Development of Global Cortical Networks in Early Infancy

Human cognition and behaviors are subserved by global networks of neural mechanisms. Although the organization of the brain is a subject of interest, the process of development of global cortical networks in early infancy has not yet been clarified. In the present study, we explored developmental changes in these networks from several days to 6 months after birth by examining spontaneous fluctuations in brain activity, using multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy. We set up 94 measurement channels over the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital regions of the infant brain. The obtained signals showed complex time-series properties, which were characterized as 1/f fluctuations. To reveal the functional connectivity of the cortical networks, we calculated the temporal correlations of continuous signals between all the pairs of measurement channels. We found that the cortical network organization showed regional dependency and dynamic changes in the course of development. In the temporal, parietal, and occipital regions, connectivity increased between homologous regions in the two hemispheres and within hemispheres; in the frontal regions, it decreased progressively. Frontoposterior connectivity changed to a “U-shaped” pattern within 6 months: it decreases from the neonatal period to the age of 3 months and increases from the age of 3 months to the age of 6 months. We applied cluster analyses to the correlation coefficients and showed that the bilateral organization of the networks begins to emerge during the first 3 months of life. Our findings suggest that these developing networks, which form multiple clusters, are precursors of the functional cerebral architecture.
Isolation of Progenitors that Exhibit Myogenic / Osteogenic Bipotency In Vitro by Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting from Human Fetal Muscle

Citation Castiglioni, Alessandra, Simone Hettmer, Matthew D. Lynes, Tata Nageswara Rao, Daria Tchessalova, Indranil Sinha, Bernard T. Lee, Yu-Hua Tseng, and Amy J. Wagers. 2014. “Isolation of Progenitors that Exhibit Myogenic/Osteogenic Bipotency In Vitro by Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting from Human Fetal Muscle. ” Stem Cell Reports 2 (1): 92-106. doi:10.1016/j.stemcr. 2013.12. 006. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.stemcr. 2013.12. 006.
"Foraminíferos bentónicos del Cenozoico del pozo Estrella x-l, Cuenca del Colorado, plataforma continental argentina"

"In the Estrella x-I a sedimentary succession between 540-1,890 meters below surface, comprises strata of Paleocene-Pleistocene age, where 169 taxa were identified. Seven sections may be recognized, each one equivalent to formal stratigraphic units known in the area. The first (540 mbs) bears the Buccella peruoiana f. campsi assemblage of Pleistocene age. The second (630? -990 mbs) has the Cassidulina spp. assemblage of late Middle Miocene to Pliocene age. The third (1,080-1,170 mbs) bears an arenaceous assemblage of probable Middle Miocene age. The fourth (1,260-1,620 mbs) has the Uvigerina spp. assemblage of Early Miocene age. The fifth (1,710 mbs) has abundant glauconite, scarce forarninifera, and is Early Oligocene in age. The sixth (1,800 mbs) has glauconite, poorly preserved forarninifera, scarce radiolarians, and is Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene in age. Finally, the seventh (1,890 mbs) has Buliminella isabelleana f. procera of Paleocene age. A paleoecological interpretation for each section is proposed. "
Architecture and Globalisation in the Persian Gulf Region

© The editors and contributors 2013. All rights reserved. This is the first book ever to examine the architecture and urbanism of the Persian Gulf as a complete entity, dealing equally with conditions on the eastern Iranian shoreline as in Arabic countries on the western side. By inviting a range of architects and scholars to write about historical and contemporary influences on 14 cities along both Gulf coastlines, the book traces the changes in architecture and human settlement in relation to environmental factors and particularity of place. It provides an innovative contribution to the study of architecture and globalisation through a detailed investigation of this particular region, investigating how buildings and cities are being shaped as a result. A set of thematic essays at the end offer important insights into issues of globalisation, urbanism and environmental design, drawing from the experience of the Persian Gulf. The outcome is a unique record of the Gulf in the early-21st century at a point when global capitalism is making major inroads and yet questions of architectural design, climate change, ecological sustainability, cultural identity and so-called 'Facebook Democracy' are likewise shaking up the Middle Eastern region. The book thus offers a fresh reading of the architecture and urbanism of a fascinating and often contradictory region, while also showing how globalisation can be analysed in a more engaged and integrated manner.