Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The social dimensions of adaptation of climate change in Ghana

The program's objective is to assist decision makers in developing countries in integrating adaptation measures into national development strategies, policies, and budgets. The economics of adaptation to climate change is a new research area and no agreed methodology to assess overall costs has yet emerged. The study is intended to help decision makers in developing countries to better understand and assess the risks posed by climate change and to better design strategies to adapt to climate change and variability. This requires costing, prioritizing, sequencing, and integrating robust adaptation strategies into their development plans and budgets. Furthermore, this requires strategies to deal with high uncertainty, potentially high future damages, and competing needs for investments in social and economic development. The study is further intended to inform the international community's efforts, including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Bali action plan, to provide access to adequate, predictable, and sustainable support, and to provide new and additional resources to help the most vulnerable developing countries meet adaptation costs. This report presents important knowledge on Ghana's vulnerability to climate change and various adaptation options that could be integrated into sectoral and spatial planning. It provides the needed inputs for planning a sustainable future. The need to pay attention to community-level actions/responses through direct support and mainstreaming into national policy cannot be overemphasized
Evaluating cloud microphysics from NICAM against CloudSat and CALIPSO

We describe a method to evaluate cloud microphysics simulated with a global cloud‐resolving model against CloudSat and Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite data. Output from the Nonhydrostatic Icosahedral Atmospheric Model (NICAM) is run through a satellite‐sensor simulator (Joint Simulator for Satellite Sensors), then directly compared to the radar and lidar signals from CloudSat and CALIPSO. The forward approach allows for consistency in cloud microphysical assumption involved in the evaluation. To investigate the dependence of the signals on the temperature, we use temperature extensively as the vertical coordinate. The global statistical analysis of the radar reflectivity shows that the simulation overestimates all the percentiles above −50°C and that snow category contributes significantly to low reflectivity values between −80 and −40°C. The simulated lidar signals have two modes associated with cloud ice and snow categories, though the observations have only one mode. The synergetic use of radar reflectivity and lidar backscatter enables us to determine the relative magnitudes of ice/liquid water contents and effective radii without use of retrievals. The radar‐and‐lidar diagnosis for cloud tops shows that, due to snow category, NICAM overestimates the mass‐equivalent effective radius and underestimates ice water content. Also, the diagnosis was shown to be useful to investigate sensitivities of the parameters of bulk microphysical schemes on the water contents and sizes. The nonspherical scattering of ice particles was shown to affect the above radar‐and‐lidar diagnosis for large reflectivity ranges but not to alter most of the other diagnoses for this simulation.
Impact of Spirometrically Confirmed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Arterial Stiffness and Surfactant Protein D After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. The CATEPOC Study

Background: Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain why chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) impairs the prognosis of coronary events. We aimed to explore COPD variables related to a worse prognosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Patients with an acute coronary event treated by PCI were prospectively included. One month after discharge, clinical characteristics, comorbidities measured with the Charlson index, and prognostic coronary scales (logistic EuroSCORE; GRACE 2.0) were collected. Post-bronchodilator spirometry, arterial stiffness, and serum inflammatory and myocardial biomarkers were measured. Lung plasmatic biomarkers (Surfactant protein D, desmosine, and Clara cell secretory protein-16) were determined with ELISA. COPD was defined by the fixed ratio (FEV1/FVC <70%). Spirometric values were also analyzed as continuous variables using adjusted and non-adjusted ANCOVA analysis. Finally, we evaluated the presence of a respiratory pattern defined by non-stratified spirometric values and pulmonary biomarkers. Results: A total of 164 patients with a mean age of 65 (±10) years (79% males) were included. COPD was diagnosed in 56 (34%) patients (68% previously undiagnosed). COPD patients had a longer smoking history, higher scores on the EuroSCORE (p < 0.0001) and GRACE 2.0 (p < 0.001) scales, and more comorbidities (p = 0.006). Arterial stiffness determined by pulse wave velocity was increased in COPD patients (7.35 m/s vs 6.60 m/s; p = 0.006). Serum values of high sensitive T troponin (p = 0.007) and surfactant protein D (p = 0.003) were also higher in COPD patients. FEV1% remained significantly associated with arterial stiffness and surfactant protein D in the adjusted ANCOVA analysis. In the cluster exploration, 53% of the patients had a respiratory pattern. Conclusion: COPD affects one-third of patients with an acute coronary event and frequently remains undiagnosed. Several mechanisms, including arterial stiffness and SPD, were increased in COPD patients. Their relationship with the prognosis should be confirmed with longitudinal follow-up of the cohort.
A fed back level-set method for moving material – void interfaces 1

This report is a feasibility study of a level-set method for the computation of moving material–void interfaces in an Eulerian formulation. The report brie y introduces level-set methods and focuses on the development of such a method, that does not just accurately resolve the geometry of the interface, but also the physical quantities at and near the interface. Results are presented for illustrative model problems. As concerns its ability to improve the geometrical resolution of free boundaries, as expected, the level-set method performs excellently. Concerning the improvement of physical (all other than merely geometrical) free-boundary properties, the method performs very well for downstream-facing fronts and is promising for upstream-facing ones. c © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. AMS classi cation: 65M20; 65M99; 76M99; 76T05
Lateralizing Ability of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Diffusion Tensor imaging in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Background : Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of intractable and partial epilepsies. The only standard treatment for seizure-free status with manifest TLE is surgical, which includes amygdalohippocampectomy. The majority of temporal lobe seizures originates in the mesial temporal structures, primarily in the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and amygdala. Objectives : To compare the lateralizing ability of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients with TLE. Patients and methods : The study recruited 50 participants who were assigned into two groups: the ﬁ rst group included 25 epileptic cases and the second group included 25 normal controls. Age showed a mean ± SD of 24.22 ± 9.7 years. All participants were subjected to the following, clinical assessment, electroencephalography, and radiological assessment including MRI epilepsy protocol, MRS, and DTI. Data were collected, revised, then extracted, and coded in Excel ﬁ les. Results : MRS has demonstrated consistent metabolic abnormalities in partial seizures. Semiology showed the highest and the most perfect diagnostic ability indices for epilepsy (100%), followed by MRS (accuracy ¼ 92%), and DTI difference more than or equal to 0.014 (accuracy ¼ 86%). Conclusion : Semiology showed the highest and the most perfect diagnostic ability indices for epilepsy (100%). MRS is a highly sensitive tool to predict the TLE (accuracy ¼ 92%). DTI difference more than or equal to 0.014 (accuracy ¼ 86%), so it has high value also in the diagnosis of TLE.
First Episode Psychosis: Principles & Philosophy

Aims: For early psychosis services to be effective, it is essential to have staff that are trained in evidence-based interventions in this area. In this paper, we report on research undertaken by The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre’s (EPPIC) Statewide Services (ESW) team. The focus was on assessing knowledge acquisition in early psychosis clinicians that had attended ESW's specialist training. Methods: Between October 2012 and October 2017, data was collected from a large cohort of clinicians that had attended 46 ESW workshops covering topics identified in international guidelines as key components of early psychosis service provision. Participants were asked to complete between three and eleven pre-and post-workshop short answer and/ or multiple-choice questions that related to learning outcomes for the workshop. The percentage of correct responses before and after the workshop were compared for each participant, with a cumulative measure taken to provide information regarding knowledge acquisition across each workshop
Prevalence of Zidovudine Induced Megaloblastic Anemia among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Patients Attending University of Gondar Hospital Antiretroviral Therapy Clinic

Background: The use of antiretroviral treatment containing Zidovudine in HIV infected patients is associated with hematological toxicity to varying degrees of cytopenia particularly megaloblastic anemia. However, there is scarcity of data which assesses prevalence of AZT induced megaloblastic anemia among HIV patients taking
A model for cavity growth and resource recovery during underground coal gasification

A model describing cavity growth and gas production during underground coal gasification (UCG) has been developed. It is applicable to UCG of shrinking coals in which oxidant injection is maintained at a fixed point low in the coal seam. It is based on a few fundamental assumptions; namely that the cavity is axisymmetric about the injection point, all resistance to injected gas flow is through ash and overburden rubble that accumulates on the cavity floor, thermal radiation dominates in the well-mixed void space, and the coal and overburden spall or rubblize on a small scale du to parameterized thermal effects. The model calculates water influx from the coal aquifer, flow dispersion trough the rubble piles, radiant and convective heat transfer, gas/solid, gas-phase and simple pyrolysis reactions to calculate, through mass and energy balances, recession rates of cavity surfaces and generation rates of major product species. Model predictions are shown to compare very well with process and geometrical data from two UCG field tests, and the model is used to simulate UCG Of other coals of UCG interest.
Strategic Disclosure of Research Results: The Cost of Proving Your Honesty

PCT No. PCT/EP92/00856 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 4, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 4, 1993 PCT Filed Apr. 16, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/19370 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 12, 1992.The invention relates to a thin-film evaporator equipped with a heatable tubular evaporator body in whose product charged interior a driven rotor is disposed which is equipped with essentially radially oriented vanes. The invention is formed from an evaporator body of at least one thick-wall graphite tube with a plurality of essentially axially extending bores disposed in the tube walls, each one of the bores open at the tube ends into an annular channel which is in communication with a connecting pipe stub for a heating medium. Since the treatment of corrosive media, for example acids charged with solids, places high demands on corrosion resistance of the materials employed and additionally high demands for accuracy of the work, it is proposed to form the evaporator body (1) of at least one thick-wall graphite tube (2); to dispose a plurality of essentially axially extending bores (14) in the tube walls; and to have each one of the bores (14) open at the tube ends into an annular channel (15, 16) which is in communication with a connecting pipe stub (6, 9) for a heating medium.
Intra-arterial prourokinase for acute ischemic stroke. The PROACT II study: a randomized controlled trial. Prolyse in Acute Cerebral Thromboembolism.

CONTEXT Intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator can be beneficial to some patients when given within 3 hours of stroke onset, but many patients present later after stroke onset and alternative treatments are needed. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of intra-arterial (IA) recombinant prourokinase (r-proUK) in patients with acute stroke of less than 6 hours' duration caused by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. DESIGN PROACT II (Prolyse in Acute Cerebral Thromboembolism II), a randomized, controlled, multicenter, open-label clinical trial with blinded follow-up conducted between February 1996 and August 1998. SETTING Fifty-four centers in the United States and Canada. PATIENTS A total of 180 patients with acute ischemic stroke of less than 6 hours' duration caused by angiographically proven occlusion of the MCA and without hemorrhage or major early infarction signs on computed tomographic scan. INTERVENTION Patients were randomized to receive 9 mg of IA r-proUK plus heparin (n = 121) or heparin only (n = 59). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome, analyzed by intention-to-treat, was based on the proportion of patients with slight or no neurological disability at 90 days as defined by a modified Rankin score of 2 or less. Secondary outcomes included MCA recanalization, the frequency of intracranial hemorrhage with neurological deterioration, and mortality. RESULTS For the primary analysis, 40% of r-proUK patients and 25% of control patients had a modified Rankin score of 2 or less (P = .04). Mortality was 25% for the r-proUK group and 27% for the control group. The recanalization rate was 66% for the r-proUK group and 18% for the control group (P<.001). Intracranial hemorrhage with neurological deterioration within 24 hours occurred in 10% of r-proUK patients and 2% of control patients (P = .06). CONCLUSION Despite an increased frequency of early symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, treatment with IA r-proUK within 6 hours of the onset of acute ischemic stroke caused by MCA occlusion significantly improved clinical outcome at 90 days.
Mitigating a TDP-43 proteinopathy by targeting ataxin-2 using RNA-targeting CRISPR effector proteins

The TDP-43 proteinopathies, which include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, are a devastating group of neurodegenerative disorders that are characterized by the mislocalization and aggregation of TDP-43. Here we demonstrate that RNA-targeting CRISPR effector proteins, a programmable class of gene silencing agents that includes the Cas13 family of enzymes and Cas7-11, can be used to mitigate TDP-43 pathology when programmed to target ataxin-2, a modifier of TDP-43-associated toxicity. In addition to inhibiting the aggregation and transit of TDP-43 to stress granules, we find that the in vivo delivery of an ataxin-2-targeting Cas13 system to a mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy improved functional deficits, extended survival, and reduced the severity of neuropathological hallmarks. Further, we benchmark RNA-targeting CRISPR platforms against ataxin-2 and find that high-fidelity forms of Cas13 possess improved transcriptome-wide specificity compared to Cas7-11 and a first-generation effector. Our results demonstrate the potential of CRISPR technology for TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Modeling natural fracture networks: Establishing the groundwork for flow simulation at Teapot Dome, Wyoming

Modeling Natural Fracture Networks: Establishing the Groundwork for Flow Simulation at Teapot Dome, Wyoming Valerie L. Smith Local properties of a fractured reservoir are characterized using borehole geophysical logs. These properties are extrapolated to reservoir scale for future use in flow simulation and history matching exercises. The development of a reservoir scale fracture model is undertaken using data for the Tensleep oil reservoir at Teapot Dome, Wyoming. The Tensleep reservoir intervals at Teapot Dome are formed in tight eolian sands that produce primarily from open fracture systems. On the local scale, FMI logs were used to define the dominant systematic fracture sets existing in the reservoir. FMI logs reveal the presence of open fracture systems that consist predominantly of two hinge-oblique sets and one hingeparallel. The local structural hinge trends about N30W. Fractures with the NW hinge-oblique orientation are more numerous than the hinge-parallel and NE-hinge-oblique sets. Dominant hinge-oblique fractures have an average N71W strike that closely parallel the strike of drilling induced fractures (N74W). Spacing, length and aperture distributions are also estimated for the fracture sets comprising the fracture network. Local fracture characteristics are combined with 3D seismic analysis to produce a layered starting model of the reservoir scale fracture systems suitable for flow simulation. A 3D model has been developed that incorporates both the matrix and fracture properties for the reservoir. The reservoir model consists of 54648 cells that are 100 x 100 feet in size and distributed in five geologic zones corresponding to major stratigraphic subdivisions of the reservoir including a water drive. Each zone includes a uniquely defined open fracture network. The matrix portion of the model is characterized by matrix porosity and permeability, relative permeability, oil-water contact depth, and initial reservoir pressure. The fracture portion of the model consists of eleven fracture sets distributed among Tensleep sandstones A and B, and an intervening Dolomite B. The fracture sets are based on FMI log observations and are distributed within the reservoir model using Petrel’s ant tracking 3D seismic attribute. In future work, these analyses can be used to refine simulation models for accurately matching production histories in the field. Preliminary flow simulation results for both a single porosity matrix model and single porosity fracture network model significantly underestimate historical oil and water production from the Tensleep reservoir. Future work will require refinement of both matrix and fracture network properties and additional development activities on the part of Schlumberger to successfully run a true dual permeability simulation.
Children of Divorce

Does divorce typically produce clinically significant problems in children? This paper reports the results of a study of a non-clinical sample of children of divorce using criteria to assess clinically significant levels of problems in school age children. Data gathered 0-4 months after divorce filing (at least 12 months after separation in North Carolina) from 86 families with 112 children aged 7-12 were compared to data from normal reference groups. Results showed that divorced and normal school age children were comparable in anxiety, self-esteem, school adjustment and behavior, and family environment. Only parent-reported home behavior problems differed from that for normal comparison groups. Children with clinically significant levels of behavior problems were less likely to have regular visitation and were more likely to have parents in conflict about child rearing. A small group of children with multiple problems appears to be at risk. The results suggest children may adapt to divorce much better t.
Determination of Shape Factors and Volume Coefficients of Seeds from Selected Coniferous Trees

The thickness, width and length of seeds from selected coniferous trees was measured. The obtained data was used to determine six shape factors (as proposed by Grochowicz, Mohsenin, Donev and Wrobel). The seeds were assigned nine simple geometric shapes, and the total volume of seeds from a given tree species was compared using a pycnometer. Based on the results, a geometric model of seed volume was selected for every analyzed species. It was concluded that the shape of seeds from coniferous trees can be described with the application of shape factors proposed by Mohsenin, Donev and Wrobel, used interchangeably or collectively. The volume of seeds from coniferous trees can be modeled with the use of an ellipsoid for Scots pine, European black pine, Norway spruce and English yew seeds, and a double right quadrangular pyramid for silver fir and Douglas-fir seeds.
Mineralogical and geochemical characterisation of surficial sediments from the Southwestern Iberian Continental shelf

The main goal of the research being carried out, whose results are herein disclosed, is to contribute to the better understanding of sediment transport and deposition processes taking place in the Southwestern Iberian Continental Shelf (Gulf of Cadiz), based upon mineralogical (silt and clay fractions composition) and geochemical (rare earth elements nature and concentration) data. In the fine fraction (<38 μm) of the shelf sediments the major non-clay minerals, mica, chlorite, quartz, feldspars and calcite, were identified. In the clay fraction (<2 μm) of the same shelf sediments, illite (I), kaolinite (K), smectite (S), illite-smectite interstratifications (I-S) and chlorite (C), were identified. When clay minerals distribution patterns in the transepts of Guadiana, Tinto-Odiel and Guadalquivir rivers are compared, the first two show enrichments in I and C, being the last one enriched in K, S and I-S. Clay mineral assemblages found, either in river estuaries, or in the continental shelf reflect the composition of clay mineral assemblages corresponding to river inputs. As a matter of fact, most of the identified clay minerals are inherited or detrital, and only a very small part would be authigenic or diagenetic. Nature, concentration and distribution of clay minerals on the continental shelf, indicates that the riverine clay minerals assemblage, consisting of illite, kaolinite and chlorite, changes to a marine clay minerals suite, which besides these clay minerals, contains smectite and illite-smectite mixed-layers too. REE distribution patterns show lower REE contents in sediments of the Guadalquivir transept, fact that could be related with the higher contents of biogenic particles found in these sediments. Moderate positive correlations between REE, mineralogical composition Phyllosilicates (Phyl), Quartz (Q), Chlorite (C) and illite (I) and coarse fraction content, suggest that rock fragments or gravel are responsible for hosting REE. Clay content control on REE concentration is probably less important than the rock fragments content. The highest REE concentrations are found in shallow sea sediments, mainly from Guadiana and Tinto-Odiel transepts. (1) MIA, Centro de Investigação "Minerais Industriais e Argilas", Universidade de Aveiro, PT 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal, ameliamachado@portugalmail.pt, frocha@geo.ua. pt, cgomes@geo.ua. pt (2) ITN, Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Química, E. N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal, faraujo@itn1.itn. pt (3) CIACOMAR, Centro de Investigação das Ciências Costeiras e do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, 8000 Faro, Portugal, jdias@ualg.pt Thalassas, 2005, 21 (1): 67-76 An International Journal of Marine Sciences