Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiscale Processes of Heavy Rainfall over East Asia in Summer 2020: Diurnal Cycle in Response to Synoptic Disturbances

Multiscale processes from synoptic disturbances to diurnal cycles during the record-breaking heavy rainfall in summer 2020 were examined in this study. The heavy rainfall consisted of eight episodes, each lasting about 5 days, and were associated with two types of synoptic disturbances. The Type-1 episodes featured a northwestward extending western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), while the Type-2 episodes had approaching midlatitude troughs with southward retreat in the WPSH. Each heavy rainfall episode had 2–3 occurrences of nocturnal low-level jets (NLLJs), in close association with intense rainfall in the early morning. The NLLJs formed partly due to the geostrophic wind by increased pressure gradients under both types of synoptic disturbances. The NLLJs were also driven by the ageostrophic wind that veered to maximum southerlies at late night due to the boundary-layer inertial oscillation. The diurnal amplitudes of low-level southerlies increased remarkably after the onset of Type-1 episodes, in which the extending WPSH provided strong daytime heating from solar radiation. By contrast, the wind diurnal amplitudes were less changed after the onset of Type-2 episodes. The NLLJs strengthened the mesoscale mean ascent, net moisture flux convergence, and convective instability in elevated warm moist air, which led to the upscale growth of MCSs at the northern terminus of the LLJ after midnight. The MCSs-induced Meiyu rainband was re-established in Central China during the Type-1 episodes with the increased diurnal variations. The findings highlight that the regional diurnal cycles of low-level winds in response to synoptic disturbances can strongly regulate mesoscale convective activities in a downscaling manner, and thus produce heavy rainfall.
A Downside of Increasing Human Capital: The Role of Higher Education in Poverty Segregation in U.S. Cities

City administrations often work hard to attract or retain college-educated residents. Research has consistently demonstrated that increased education in a city is associated with beneficial outcomes, making cities’ efforts to recruit and retain college-educated individuals logical. However, we challenge the notion that rising rates of education is a universal positive by investigating a potential downside of such efforts: poverty segregation. In this article, we ask, how does an increase in higher education rates affect poverty segregation and are all cities at equal risk of this harmful consequence? Using fixed-effects analyses of U.S. cities from 1990 to 2010 to test this relationship, our results show that an increase of college-educated residents is associated with increased poverty segregation. Yet, not all cities are affected equally. Cities with predominantly Black residents and more civil rights organizations have lower or reversed associations between higher education and poverty concentration, especially when the college-educated population is increasingly Black. Recruiting college-educated individuals may help some, while further worsening existing structural inequalities.
Moderating effect of social capital on community empowerment and economic well-being

Improving community economic well-being based on community empowerment plays an important role in rural development. This study aims to determine the ability of social enterprises in Indonesia (Village-Owned Enterprises/BUMDes) to improve the community's economic well-being through empowerment programs and the role of social capital in rural community development. At social conditions at the basic level, very little attention is paid to the development of deprived communities. Starting from the experience of rural community economic empowerment programs through the establishment of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) in Indonesia, this study will test three hypotheses: (1) whether there is an effect between community empowerment and the economic well-being of rural communities; (2) is there an effect between social capital and the economic well-being of rural communities; and (3) is the effect between community empowerment and economic well-being mediated by social capital? Multiple regression analysis is used to examine the effect between community empowerment and community economic well-being. This analysis highlights the central role of social capital in mediating the effect between community empowerment and economic well-being. Community empowerment is significantly related to social capital. These effects between social capital, community empowerment, and economic well-being apply to theories and measures of rural community empowerment.
Wear Experience of a Water Surface Daily Disposable Contact Lens in Existing Silicone Hydrogel Planned Replacement Lens Wearers

Purpose The health benefits of silicone hydrogel lens materials and a daily replacement modality have been demonstrated in previous studies; however, existing planned replacement lens wearers may resist changing to a new lens replacement schedule. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the wear experience of satisfied planned replacement silicone hydrogel wearers when refit into a silicone hydrogel daily disposable lens. Patients and Methods In this open-label, non-comparison study, satisfied wearers of two week planned replacement contact lenses were evaluated for inclusion criteria and refit with optimized prescriptions in their habitual lenses. At a follow-up visit one week later, participants were refit with the study daily disposable lenses and completed visual analog scale (VAS) surveys of initial quality of vision, comfort, and satisfaction. Participants returned for a final visit after two weeks of wearing the study daily disposable lenses. At the final visit, VAS surveys for both overall and end of day (EOD) vision, comfort, and dryness were completed. Overall median and interquartile range (IQR) were assessed for all surveys in the study. Results Thirty individuals completed the study (29.1 ± 7.8 years old; 19 female). Median (IQR) results for the initial impression VAS surveys were 92.50(11.75) for quality of vision, 92.50(18.00) for comfort, and 93.00(18.00) for satisfaction. Final VAS survey results revealed median scores of 87.50(25.00) for EOD quality of vision and 82.50(51.25) for EOD comfort. The median overall quality of vision was 91.00(17.00) and overall comfort was 93.00(28.50). Median (IQR) overall dryness was 28.50(49.00) and median EOD dryness was 30.50(64.25). Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that providers can successfully refit satisfied wearers of early generation silicone hydrogel planned replacement lenses into a new generation silicone hydrogel daily disposable lens while maintaining satisfaction.
Trade Policy Impact on Global Value Chain Participation of the South Asian Countries

This article provides an empirical analysis on the relationship between trade policy and global value chain (GVC) participation of the South Asian countries using Asian Development Bank’s country-sector Wang, Wei and Zhu decomposed exports data. We employ theoretically grounded three-way fixed effects gravity model with bias correction for incidental parameter problem to get unbiased and consistent coefficients for trade policy variables. This study finds strong evidence for the depressing effect of border tariffs on bilateral exports and forward and backward GVC participation. The negative effects are most prominent in the agriculture and food sectors. Moreover, we find that the regional trade agreements (RTAs) of South Asian countries have a negligible impact on trade and GVC participation in most sectors. However, we find evidence for the phasing-in effect of RTAs and a strong negative effect on bilateral food trade and GVC participation. Reformulating trade policy priorities and restructuring the RTAs to remove strict general regulatory measures like sensitive lists and rules of origin (ROO) should be South Asian policymakers’ priorities for robust trade lead growth. JEL Classification: F14, L23, O11, O55, Q17
University American Sign Language Learners: Self-Awareness and Error Analysis within a Narrative Context

Abstract:Second-language learners of American Sign Language (ASL) often struggle in the acquisition of more complex ASL aspects, such as role shift, constructed action, and eye gaze to represent characters and their actions with narratives. These learners also often overestimate their ASL skill level. This study investigated errors in second modality, second language (M2L2) university learners' ASL narrative retellings through rating comparisons (i.e., agreements and disagreements) between learners themselves and their instructor. Learners engaged in repeated viewings of ASL models of two Signing Naturally stories, Timber and Gum, paired with instructor analysis, modeling, and feedback on learners' productions within a sociocultural framework. Learners' self-evaluations were compared to instructor evaluations using an itemized list of narrative episode details and options for how they were produced to identify where these evaluations were in agreement or not. Overall agreement was high (i.e., M = 92%), however, agreement across specific ASL aspects, including role shift, constructed action, and accurate sign production, varied to a greater extent (i.e., 89–94%). Two types of disagreements occurred: those in which learners rated a detail as absent while the instructor rated it as present, and those in which learners rated a detail as present while the instructor rated it as absent. Omissions occurred infrequently, in which both the learner and instructor agreed that a detail was absent. The specific instructional framework used in this study and implications for university-level ASL instruction are discussed in this article.
Managerial academic experience and tone management: evidence from China

ABSTRACT We examine the effect of managerial academic experience on tone management in the corporate annual report. We find that managerial academic experience reduces the likelihood of upward tone management. Furthermore, we find that the impact of academic experience on tone management is intensified when managers have stronger incentives to upwardly manage financial reporting tone and when the outside monitoring environment is weaker. The results hold under a variety of robustness tests. This study enriches the relevant research on executive characteristics and tone management, and the conclusion of this paper provides practical implications to improve the quality of information disclosure.
Incidence, Persistence, and Clearance of Anal Human Papillomavirus among Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: An Observational Cohort Study

(1) Background: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study to measure incidence, persistence, and clearance of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. (2) Methods: MSM were recruited in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuxi, China in 2017. A tablet-based questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. An anal brush sample was collected for HPV testing and genotyping. Participants were followed up 12 months after enrolment. (3) Results: A total of 196 participants completed two HPV tests with a median age of 27.3 (interquartile range (IQR) 24.0–32.8) years. Rate of incidence, persistence, and clearance for HPV among MSM were 31.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 24.7–39.2), 47.9 (36.8–61.3), and 122.5 (104.3–143.0) per 1000 person months (pm), respectively. HPV 16 (4.1/1000 pm) had the highest incidence rate, and HPV 6 (47.4/1000 pm) had the highest persistence rate. Having lower education and engaging in receptive anal intercourse were potential risk factors of HPV incidence. A higher incidence rate was observed among younger MSM. (4) Conclusions: The high incidence and low clearance of anal HPV highlight the necessity of HPV vaccination among MSM. Further studies are needed to clarify the HPV dynamics at multiple anatomical sites and the burden of HPV-related diseases among MSM.
The Effect of Teachers' Quality of Work Life on Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intentions

The purpose of this is to determine the relationships between teachers' quality of work, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. The relational survey model with quantitative research design was used for the study. The sample of the study composed of 368 teachers working in primary schools in the central district of Bolu, Turkey.In the study, the scale of teachers’ quality of work; the scale of the turnover intentions and the scale of job satisfaction were used. Parametric tests were used in the research as the data were suitable for normal distribution. According to the findings, teachers’ perceptions of the quality of work are moderate in the whole scale in terms of career satisfaction, stress in work life, working conditions, and work-family life balance dimensions and weak in terms of self-control over the work higher than the overall well-being. It is significant that teachers do not have enough self-control over their work. The fact that teachers' perceptions of job satisfaction and turnover intentions are moderate should be considered although the intentions of teachers to leave work are not high. There is a strong positive relationship between all dimensions except for the whole scale of teachers’ quality of work and the dimensions of stress in work life and job satisfaction; a moderate negative relationship between the dimensions of stress in work life and job satisfaction; a high level of negative relationship between the scale of quality of work and all dimensions except for the dimensions of stress in work life and the turnover intention; a positive high relationship between the dimensions of stress in work life and turnover intentions. The quality of work and all dimensions are the predictors of job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Pearson Correlation Coefficient results for the relationships between Teachers’ Quality of Work, Turnover Intention and Perceptions of Job
Methods for supporting digital timber trade

Information on timber assortment recovery and wood quality is crucial for wood procurement planning, as the various tree species and wood dimensions and qualities may be utilized and refined in separate mills. The aim of this thesis is to improve our understanding of the timber trade in digital environments in order to support the planning of harvesting operations. The work for the thesis was carried out in three areas, two of which (discussed in Papers I and II) were located in Eastern Finland and one (Paper III) in Southern Finland. The field data comprised tree characteristics obtained from 79, 99 and 665 sample plots (Papers I, II and III, respectively), 249 harvested stands (Paper III) and a stem quality database (Papers I and III), whereas the remote sensing material consisted of aerial imagery (Papers I and III) and airborne laser scanning (ALS) data (Papers I, II and III) covering all the sites. With the stated overarching aim, we set out in Papers I and III to estimate timber assortment volumes, economic values and wood paying capabilities (WPC) for plots (Paper I) or stands (Paper III) with different bucking scenarios, and used the resulting timber assortment estimates to assess logging recoveries. The alternative bucking scenarios investigated were (1) bucking-to-value using maximum sawlog and pulpwood volumes but excluding quality (theoretical maximum), and (2) bucking-to-value using sawlog lengths at 30 cm intervals for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L., Papers I and III) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst, Paper III) and veneer logs of lengths 4.7 m, 5.0 m, 6.0 m and 6.7 m for birch (Betula spp., Paper III), either excluding or including wood quality indicators. The first approach resembled the state-of-the-art in Nordic forestry business circles and the second approach went beyond that. The commercial value of timber stands is substantially affected by the quantity of understorey trees, and pre-harvest clearing is typically needed when forest stands have an understorey vegetation that hinders harvesting operations. We therefore proposed a method in Paper II for estimating this need for the pre-harvest clearing of small trees (diameters at breast height < 7 cm). The results showed that use of the methods developed in this thesis could support wood procurement practices by (1) locating valuable stands with the desired timber assortment distributions (Papers I and III), (2) identifying understorey vegetation that needs to be removed before harvesting (Paper II), and (3) reducing costs, as the number of field visits needed before harvesting will diminish (Papers I, II and III). In conclusion, the present findings may make timber markets more competent, since the methods developed here provide detailed pre-harvest information that can be used as a decision support tool by either buyers or sellers of timber in traditional and digital marketplaces.
Bioactivity of Mupirocin Nanoparticle-Loaded Hydrogel against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

This novel study investigated the loading of mupirocin nanoparticles into a hydrogel which was expected to enhance the antibacterial activity of mupirocin. The inhibition of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase and global gene expression in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by the mupirocin nanoparticle-loaded hydrogel (MLH) and by pure mupirocin was compared. MLH and mupirocin rapidly inhibited the growth of bacterial populations after 1 h of treatment. At 12 h, mupirocin and MLH inhibited isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase in MRSA. Transcriptome profiles of MRSA showed that gene expression alterations after treatment with mupirocin were similar to those after treatment with MLH at MICs. These alterations included changes to DNA transcription, translation, and replication pathways, and the fold changes in these genes decreased more rapidly with MLH than with mupirocin only after 1 h of treatment. MLH released the mupirocin from the nanoparticles and hydrogel systems and then the drug permeated the cell wall and bound to bacterial isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. The research also showed that MLH could be further developed for use in clinics for infected wounds.
Decrease in Ca2+ Concentration in Quail Cardiomyocytes Is Faster than That in Rat Cardiomyocytes

Mammals and birds have quicker heart rates compared to other species. Mammalian cardiomyocytes have T-tubule membranes that facilitate rapid changes in Ca2+ concentrations. In contrast, bird cardiomyocytes do not possess T-tubule membranes, which raises the question of how birds achieve fast heartbeats. In this study, we compared the changes in Ca2+ concentration in cardiomyocytes isolated from adult quails and rats to elucidate the mechanism resulting in rapid heart rates in birds. Cardiomyocytes isolated from quails were significantly narrower than those isolated from rats. When Ca2+ concentration changes in the entire cardiomyocytes were measured using Fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester (AM), the time to peak was statistically longer in quails than in rats. In contrast, the decay time was markedly shorter in quails than in rats. As a result, the total time of Ca2+ concentration change was shorter in quails than in rats. A spatiotemporal analysis of Ca2+ concentration changes in quail cardiomyocytes showed that the decrease in Ca2+ concentration was faster in the center of the cell than near the cell membrane. These results suggest that avian cardiomyocytes achieve rapid changes in Ca2+ concentration by increasing the Ca2+ removal capacity in the central part of the cell compared to mammalian cardiomyocytes.
Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of pumpkin seed oil as affected by different origins and extraction methods

Irnawati Irnawati1 , Sugeng Riyanto2, Sudibyo Martono2, Anjar Windarsih3, Abdul Rohman2,4* 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Indonesia. 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 3Research Division for Natural Product Technology BPTBA, Indonesian Institute of Sciences LIPI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 4Center of Excellence, Institute for Halal Industry and Systems (IHIS), Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Using ANSYS Workbench Computer Environment in Turbomachinery Design Process

Author: Patricia Lynn Bowlds Title: Using ANSYS Workbench Computer Environment in Turbomachinery Design Process Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Degree: Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering Year: 2008 The main focus of designing turbomachinery is to analyze and optimize the aerodynamic efficiency and structural integrity of the machine. The preferred way to perform aerodynamic and structural analysis is to connect the analyses and shorten the analysis time as much as possible. ANSYS, Inc. provides a comprehensive approach to model fluid structure interaction phenomenon in turbomachinery within the ANSYS Workbench environment. This environment combines a number of software components that conduct blade design, fluid dynamic and structural analyses, and preand postprocessing including mesh generation and overall performance estimation. The focus of this study is to apply the ANSYS Workbench environment to two turbomachinery applications: a low speed fan design and a propeller design for high altitude flight. The entire process is successfully implemented for the low speed fan analysis and provides verification that the ANSYS Workbench environment works properly, with CFD predictions obtained within 1% of the previous research. On the other hand, the environment fails for the high altitude propeller blade analysis because the blade creation program in ANSYS Workbench does not support creating highly twisted propeller blades, and some essential design information is missing from the blade design source. Overall, it appears that the ANSYS Workbench environment is a highly useful tool for connecting CFD and structural analysis in the turbomachinery design process.
Concordance of TST and QFT-Plus, Sensitivity and Specificity of TST and QFT-Plus in Detection of LTBI in MDR TB Contact

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease and the main cause of world health problems. Not all individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) develop active TB. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state of persistent immune response to stimulation of the Mtb antigen with no evidence of clinically manifest active TB. Closed contact and household contact with MDR TB patients increases the risk of MDR TB transmission. There is no gold-standard test for LTBI. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Quantiferon Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) examinations are used for LTBI diagnosis.Methods: A cross-sectional diagnostic test of 32 MDR TB contacts, consisting of 16 household contacts and 16 close contacts, was conducted in April 2020 at Dr. Moewardi Surakarta Hospital.Results: Positive TST results among MDR TB contacts were 18.8%, while QFT-Plus positive was 25%. The concordance level of TST and QFT-Plus was nearly perfect (κ=0.818, p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of QFT-Plus with household contacts as the gold standard were 37.5% and 87.5%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of TST with household contacts as the gold standard were 25% and 87.5%, respectively.Conclusion: The concordance level of TST and QFT-Plus in the detection of LTBI in MDR TB contacts was very good. The TST can be used in place of QFT-Plus although QFT-Plus has better sensitivity. Both tests are useful for confirming TB infections. Both of these tests are not diagnostic, however they can be used to screen for LTBI in MDR TB contacts.