Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends and variability of daily precipitation and extremes during 1960–2012 in the Yangtze River Basin, China

Trends and variability of extreme precipitation events are important for water‐related disaster prevention and mitigation as well as water resource management. Using daily precipitation dataset from 143 meteorological stations in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB), a suite of heavy and extreme precipitation indices recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices, which has rarely been applied in this region, were analysed during 1960–2012. Results showed that simple daily intensity index, very wet day precipitation, extremely wet day precipitation, extremely heavy precipitation days, maximum 1‐day precipitation, maximum 5‐day precipitation and maximum consecutive dry days all increased significantly during 1960–2012. In contrast, ≥10 mm precipitation days and maximum consecutive wet days decreased significantly, implying that the precipitation processes in YRB were dominated by precipitation events with shorter durations. Geographically, a wetting tendency was observed in the eastern Tibet Plateau and the middle and lower YRB, while the other regions experienced precipitation deficits. The increasing precipitation was mainly due to the intensification of extreme precipitation events and the decreasing precipitation may be attributed to the decrease of ≥10 mm precipitation days or moderate precipitation events. In addition, the regional trends were of greater magnitudes in the middle and lower YRB, indicating more frequent extreme precipitation events in these sub‐regions. Time series analysis revealed that most precipitation indices exhibited neither a stable nor a gradual pattern during 1960–2012, but a clearly upward trend, although non‐monotonous, since the late‐1980s was evident.
AGING EFFECTS ON SENTENCE-LENGTH VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TONGUE AND JAW

This study aimed to identify aging effects on articulatory performance of the posterior tongue and jaw to better understand physiological factors that contribute to the slowing of speaking rate in older adults. Tongue and jaw movements of 15 younger and 15 older speakers were recorded during sentence repetitions using electromagnetic articulography. Based on each articulator’s sentence-length velocity signal, histograms of velocity values were generated to determine direction-specific performance differences between groups. The following characteristics of the resulting velocity distributions were determined for each utterance and each speaker: mean, median, interquartile range, range, minimum, maximum, skewness, and kurtosis. Between-group comparison yielded significant differences for median and skewness with median values being greater and skewness values being more negative in younger speakers than older speakers. These findings suggest that younger speakers spend less time to execute tongue and jaw lowering (opening) movements than older adults. Potential factors underlying such group differences were discussed.
First ﬁnding of a dual-meaning X wave for phloem and xylem ﬂuid ingestion: Characterization of Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) EPG waveforms

The leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae), an invasive deltocephaline species introduced into Europe from North America, is the vector of the most important phytoplasma disease in European viticulture, ﬂavescence dorée. In this ﬁrst electropenetrography (EPG) study of S. titanus , we characterized its feeding waveforms and deﬁned their biological meanings. Four typical waveform phases (pathway, X wave, sustained ingestion, and interruption) and four families within those phases (A, B, C, and N) were characterized using DC EPG technology. We proposed biological meanings for these waveforms based on excreta pH-ingestion correlations, presence of X waves, and comparison with previous AC, DC, and AC-DC EPG waveforms conducted on Cicadomorpha. We observed that sustained (i.e., >10 min) ingestion by a deltocephaline leafhopper can occur from both xylem and phloem vascular cells. Waveform C2x represented ingestion of xylem ﬂuid, and two waveforms represented behaviors when stylets were inserted into phloem sieve elements: C2p variant 1 (C2p-1), which may represent sali-vation (perhaps simultaneous with ingestion), and C2p variant 2 (C2p-2), which represented active ingestion. Furthermore, we found that the EPG-recorded X wave has a dual meaning by occurring prior to sustained ingestion from either phloem or xylem. This X wave was very similar in appearance to the model X wave of sharpshooters, an entirely different leafhopper subfamily, Cicadellinae. All cicadellines are obligate xylem-ingesters. Such a ‘‘dual-meaning X wave” will provide insights into how the feeding tactics of S. titanus relate to other sheath-feeding hemipterans, and will provide support for future research to clarify the role of this leafhopper as a vector of plant pathogens.
AN ARTICULATORY STUDY OF ESTONIAN PALATALIZATION

This paper analyzes the effect of palatalization on the articulation and duration of Estonian /s/, /t/, /n/, /l/, and the vowels preceding them in phonologically contrastive word pairs. The experiment with 21 native Estonian participants was carried out using an electromagnetic articulograph (EMA). The results show that in the case of palatalization, the back of the tongue was already raised, and the tongue blade was more fronted during the preceding vowel. The position was maintained through the palatalized consonants. The height of the tongue blade was not affected by palatalization. There was a positive correlation between higher tongue position and longer vowel duration. With consonants, the duration was shorter with higher tongue position, but this effect was inconsistent.
How speech rate, syllabic complexity and diversity affect the emergence of speech rhythm in speeded syllable repetition

Speech rhythm has been related to the grouping of nearby syllables, which for several authors depends on features of the language’s phonology. However, most evidence of stable relations between rhythmic features and structural features relies on perceptual judgments, which are affected by non-phonological factors like speech rate. We studied how speaker-specific performances and syllable-complexity affect the rhythmic structure emerging in the repetition of the same syllable or of different syllables at maximal speed for 177 French speakers. We found that the degree of coordination between the production of syllables and the production of word-level prominence, determining syllables grouping in a way that reflects French metrical structure, depends on syllabic complexity and on the presence of different syllables in the same sequence. Moreover, speakers reaching higher rates coordinate better syllables and supra-syllabic prominence, supporting the idea that speech rhythm emerges from the interaction between structural features and general coordination principles.
Attention to Digital Innovation: Exploring the Impact of a Chief Information Officer in the Top Management Team

We draw on the attention-based view of the firm to examine whether and when the presence of a CIO in the TMT has a positive effect on both firms’ ideated digital innovation (IDI) (i.e., the intensity of firms’ digital patenting activity) and commercialized digital innovation (CDI) (i.e., the digital sophistication of firms’ new products). Building on the idea that attention processes are context dependent, we also explore the moderating roles of CEO characteristics (IT background and role tenure) as well as environmental characteristics (the industry’s IT attention). We analyze data from a cross-industry panel of U.S. S&P 500 firms over eight years that includes up to 2,852 firm-year observations. The results indicate that CIO presence in the TMT is positively related to a firm’s IDI and CDI. Furthermore, they show that the organizational context related to CEO characteristics moderates the CIO-CDI relationship and that the environmental context related to the industry’s IT attention moderates the CIO-IDI relationship. Our research contributes to the information systems literature by providing robust evidence that CIO presence in the TMT positively influences a firm’s digital innovation outcomes, showing how internal and external boundary conditions affect the work of CIOs, and elaborating the role of managerial attention as an underlying mechanism explaining digital innovation.
The phonetics and phonology of corrective focus in Xiangshan Wu Chinese: interaction with disyllabic tone sandhi

Exploring the interaction between tones and prosodic focus has been an important topic in prosodic studies in tonal languages, as f 0 multi-tasks, both cueing prosodic focus and realizing tonal contrasts. This study provides novel data on the phonetic realisations of corrective focus and its interaction with tone sandhi in Xiangshan dialect, an under-documented Chinese dialect spoken in the Northern Wu region in China. Thirty-eight disyllabic lexical compounds and phrases were selected for this study. Corrective focus was elicited on either the whole disyllable or one of the two syllables. Results show that prosodic focus can be realised via gradient acoustic cues: raised intensity and lengthened duration. Meanwhile, focus can also be optionally realised by phonological re-phrasing as evidenced in tone sandhi changes. The cue-trading relations between tone sandhi changes and gradient acoustic cue changes are also investigated.
ASSESSING REGISTER VARIATION IN LOCAL SPEECH RATE

We present results on phonetic register variation (i.e. conventionalized and socially recurring linguistic patterns of intra-individual speech behavior) in contrasting situated interactions. In this paper, we analyze intra-individual differences in local speech rate. Data was elicited with a novel method where participants talk to a video-taped interlocutor in a simulated tele-conference. Each participant mastered a “formal” situation (e.g. requesting a deadline extension from a superior) and an “informal” one (e.g. describing their favorite recipe to an acquaintance). The silent interlocutor persona appeared in two guises differing in hair style, clothing and make-up. This set-up allows us to systematically and consistently manipulate the experimental condition while eliciting laboratory induced differences in fine phonetic detail. We hypothesize that formal situational requirements slow down speech production due to processing and memory load constraints. Statistical analyses for 45 German participants show a slower speech rate in the formal condition.
eCommons@AKU eCommons@AKU

Introduction: To protect patients and healthcare providers from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), standard precautions have been promoted universally. Nurses are the forefront force in patient care; therefore, evidence-based and up to date knowledge and practices can play a vital role in helping nurses apply standard precautions (SPs). Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study design was used. Through purposive sampling, the data were collected from 320 nurses, via, a self-administered questionnaire, from April to May 2017, from a public tertiary level hospital in Islamabad. The validity and reliability of each section was established. Mean and standard deviation were computed for continuous variables’ whereas; frequencies with percentages were calculated for categorical variables. The Multiple linear regression was applied for inferential statistics, maintaining 95% CI for important associations. Results: Out of 320 participants, the mean age of the participants were 33.04 ± 6.65 years. More than half of the study participants (66.88%) were females’ whereas 33.13% were male nurses. The mean knowledge and practice were 19.6 ±3.3 and 13.00± 5.23, respectively, with a maximum score of 24 and 25. The results showed that the knowledge of the participants were better as compared to practices, though, in general knowledge they were reported as relatively deficient. Continuing training sessions on SPs revealed a significant 0.66 (95% C.I; 1.07, 3.67) relationship with the knowledge score in the final model. Practices were found to be better. Similarly, the Hep. B vaccinated nurses showed a positive impact of 1.49 (95% C.I; 0.07, 2.91) on the level of practices in MLR. Conclusion: The overall level of knowledge and practices among female nurses regarding standard precautions were inadequate. The study findings highlighted the need to continue intensive and in-service trainings sessions on SPs of infection control, using innovative approaches.
LONGITUDINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE AGING VOICE

Acoustic and perceptual research has shown that an individual’s vocal characteristics change with age. In this paper, we report a later-life longitudinal investigation of three male speakers using publicly available archives of speeches given to large audiences on a semi-regular basis (generally with a couple of years between each instance). The collection of speeches was given during the last 40-50 years of each speaker’s life. From each speech, 5-minute samples (recordings and transcripts) were force-aligned to identify word and phoneme boundaries. We investigate non-linear changes in vowel duration, word duration, speech rate, fundamental frequency, and vowel space using Generalized Additive Mixed Models. We describe the vocal changes over the lifespan in the speakers’ later years. The current results do not support expected outcomes from previous research and illustrate idiosyncratic and dynamic effects for individuals in later years.
SOME ASYMMETRICAL PRE-VERSUS POST-FOCAL EFFECTS ON ARTICULATORY REALIZATION OF PROMINENCE DISTRIBUTION IN KOREAN

This study examines how CVC words in non-prominent contexts are kinematically realized in Korean, compared to when focused. Results on lip aperture showed some asymmetric effects between pre-focal and post-focal contexts. While both pre-/post-focal gestures were much more reduced than focal counterparts, the difference tended to be clearer for the pre-focal/focal than the post-focal/focal comparison. There was also some evidence for post-focal gestures being relatively less reduced than pre-focal gestures. We attribute this small asymmetry to differential auditory impacts of non-focal gestures on focal gestures, assuming that gestures are auditory-perceptually more salient with a drastic energy increase from the preceding gesture than the opposite direction. Relatively less reduced post-focal gestures compared to pre-focal gestures suggest that focus-induced accentuation spreads to the following, rather than preceding, gesture. These results imply that although prominence may be phonologically determined, the articulatory realization is fine-tuned, driven by perceptual and articulatory optimization of prominence distribution.
sever-Evaluation of an alternative dosing regimen of a J-5 mastitis vaccine against intramammary Escherichia coli challenge in nonlactating late-gestation dairy cows

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an alternative vaccination regimen of a J-5 bacterin against intramammary Escherichia coli challenge in nonlactating late-gestation dairy cows. The parameters analyzed to assess the effect of vaccination were milk yield, milk conductivity, somatic cell count, J-5-specific serum IgG titers, and clinical signs. Twenty multiparous Holstein cows from the Cornell teaching and research dairy herd were paired by days in milk and were randomly selected to receive either the alternative off-label regimen of commercial J-5 bacterin or act as nonvaccinated controls. Cows received a first dose of bacterin 15 d before dry off, a second dose with the same product at the day of dry off, and the third dose 2 wk after dry off. The cows in both groups were challenged 10 d before the expected calving date. Serum IgG (total, IgG1 and IgG2) levels were higher in vaccinates compared with control cows. Eighty-five percent of challenged quarters became infected between both groups of animals. Eight of the 10 vaccinated and 9 of the 10 control cows showed signs of clinical mastitis postfreshening. A non-severe clinical mastitis was observed 24 to 48 h postparturition, characterized by flakes or clots in milk and mild swelling or pain. Off-label vaccination did reduce the clinical severity of clinical mastitis in the vaccinated group of cows as evidenced by reduced California mastitis test score, fewer flakes and lower overall clinical mastitis score. No significant differences between vaccinated and control groups were detected for rectal temperature. In conclusion, the alternative off-label vaccination scheme used in our study and evaluated in a novel E. coli challenge model did not prevent new intramammary infections but reduced clinical severity of experimentally induced E. coli mastitis.
Hydrogen sulfide-releasing naproxen suppresses colon cancer cell growth and inhibits NF- κ B signaling

: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death due to cancer and the third most common cancer in men and women in the USA. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF- κ B) is known to be activated in CRC and is strongly implicated in its development and progression. Therefore, activated NF- κ B constitutes a bona fide target for drug development in this type of malignancy. Many epidemiological and interventional studies have established nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a viable chemopreventive strategy against CRC. Our previous studies have shown that several novel hydrogen sulfide-releasing NSAIDs are promising anticancer agents and are safer derivatives of NSAIDs. In this study, we examined the growth inhibitory effect of a novel H 2 S-releasing naproxen (HS-NAP), which has a repertoire as a cardiovascular-safe NSAID, for its effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle phase transitions, and apoptosis using HT-29 human colon cancer cells. We also investigated its effect as a chemopreventive agent in a xenograft mouse model. HS-NAP suppressed the growth of HT-29 cells by induction of G 0 /G 1 arrest and apoptosis and downregulated NF- κ B. Tumor xenografts in mice were significantly reduced in volume. The decrease in tumor mass was associated with a reduction of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and decreases in NF- κ B levels in vivo. Therefore, HS-NAP demonstrates strong anticancer potential in CRC.
Transcriptional Regulation of Ovarian Steroidogenic Genes: Recent Findings Obtained from Stem Cell-Derived Steroidogenic Cells

Ovaries represent one of the primary steroidogenic organs, producing estrogen and progesterone under the regulation of gonadotropins during the estrous cycle. Gonadotropins fluctuate the expression of various steroidogenesis-related genes, such as those encoding steroidogenic enzymes, cholesterol deliverer, and electronic transporter. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1)/adrenal 4-binding protein (Ad4BP)/NR5A1 and liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) play important roles in these phenomena via transcriptional regulation. With the aid of cAMP, SF-1/Ad4BP and LRH-1 can induce the differentiation of stem cells into steroidogenic cells. This model is a useful tool for studying the molecular mechanisms of steroidogenesis. In this article, we will provide insight into the transcriptional regulation of steroidogenesis-related genes in ovaries that are revealed from stem cell-derived steroidogenic cells. Using the cells derived from the model, novel SF-1/Ad4BP- and LRH-1-regulated genes were identified by combined DNA microarray and promoter tiling array analyses. The interaction of SF-1/Ad4BP and LRH-1 with transcriptional regulators in the regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis was also revealed.
Révision de quelques Odontaspididae (Neoselachii: Lamniformes) du Paléocène et de l'Eocène du Bassin de la mer du Nord

The revision of some Odontaspididae species from the Paleocene and the Eocene of the North sea Basin has clarified the generic status of some of them and to precise their dental morphologies. A species from the Lutetian of Belgium, Carcharias sp. , can be considered as the first representative of the lineage leading to the Recent species C. taurus. Three new genera are described: Brachycarcharias nov. gen. (Lutetian of Belgium), Orpodon nov. gen. (Selandian of Belgium) and Sylvestrilamia nov. gen. (Ypresian of England). The validity of the genus Hypotodus is confirmed and it is recommended that the poorly defined species hopei is abandoned in favour of the species verticalis in order to avoid confusion.
E-cadherin mediates adherens junction organization through E-cadherin mediates adherens junction organization through protein kinase C protein kinase C

adherens junctions form very rapidly. The formation of a junction involves the coordinate organization of intracellular and extracellular components. Cadherins have been shown to mediate this coordinate organization. In this report we show that E-cadherin organizes the various junctional components by signalling through protein kinase C.
PERCEPTION OF VOICING DISTINCTION IN SYLLABLE-INITIAL STOPS BY MULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS

The objective of the current study is to explore how multilingual learners categorise fortis and lenis stops in the three languages they know. In particular, we aim to investigate whether patterns of categorisation of VOT continua are specific to a language and place of articulation (PoA), as well as whether trilinguals experience boundary shifts in any of the languages and PoA. The study was conducted on L1 Polish-L2 English-L3 Norwegian speakers (n=22, aged 20), who had just started studying Norwegian as part of intensive formal training. The experiment included preparation of three continua (/b-p/, /d-t/, /g-k/) in Polish, English and Norwegian and was run in PsychoPy. The participants listened to the words from the continua and decided whether they hear a voiced or voiceless sound at the beginning of each word. The results point to rather unique patterns of VOT categorisation across languages and PoA with possible L1-L2 and L1-L3 interference.
Physical modeling and analysis of P-wave attenuation anisotropy in transversely isotropic media

The amplitudes and frequency content of seismic waves propagating through anisotropic formations may be strongly distorted by directionally dependent attenuation. Here, we present physical-modeling measurements of the P-wave attenuation coefficient in a transversely isotropic phenolic sample. Using the spectral-ratio method, we estimated the group (effective) attenuation coefficient of P-waves transmitted through the sample for a wide range of propagation angles (from 0◦ to 90◦) with the symmetry axis. Correction for the difference between the group and phase angles was used to obtain the normalized phase attenuation coefficient A that was inverted for the Thomsen-style attenuation-anisotropy parameters Q and δ Q . Whereas the symmetry axes of the angle-dependent coefficient A and of the velocity function have close orientations, the magnitude of attenuation anisotropy far exceeds that of velocity anisotropy. The quality factor Q increases more than tenfold from the symmetry (slow) direction to the isotropy plane (fast direction). The robustness of our results depends critically on several factors, such as the availability of an accurate anisotropic velocity model and the adequacy of the “homogeneous” concept of wave propagation. The methodology discussed here can be extended to field measurements of anisotropic attenuation needed for AVO (amplitude variation with offset) analysis and seismic fracture detection.