Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the interannual variability of the middle atmosphere during winter

Reference atmospheres such as the new CIRA (COSPAR International Reference Atmosphere), which will be based on global satellite data form a very useful basis for climatological studies. When using such climatologies it is important to be aware of the interannual variability which in the middle atmosphere is particularly large during the northern winters and southern springs. For a comparison of the two polar regions, the monthly mean temperature data for 90 deg N and 90 deg S are shown in the form of frequency distributions. The main features to be noted are: (1) in the middle stratosphere the variability during the northern midwinters is much larger than during the southern midwinters due to the major midwinter warmings which take place only during the northern winters (the largest variations over Antarctics are observed during late spring, i.e., October and November when very intense final warmings bring about the transition into summer); (2) the variability in the middle stratosphere is very small in summer when the planetary waves of the troposphere cannot propagate upwards into the stratosphere due to the prevailing easterly winds (this is true for both polar regions); and (3) the annual temperature range is larger over the South Pole, because winters are colder and summers warmer than over the North Pole. In addition, the Canadian, midwinter, and final warmings occurring during northern winters are characterized and the recent cooling trend in the arctic is discussed.
Title: Ubiquitin-dependent chloroplast-associated protein degradation in plants

‡Present addresses: UK Research and Innovation, 58 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DS, UK (W.B.); Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 23, DE67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany (R.T.); Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 460, SE-40530 Göteborg, Sweden (M.T.); Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harran University, 63300 Sanliurfa, Turkey (T.D.S.); Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark (P.L.); School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK (A.B.).
The experience of living with stroke in low urban and rural socioeconomic areas of South Africa

The effects of stroke on stroke survivors are profound and affecttheir quality of life. The aim of this study was to establish the experience of peopleliving with stroke in low socioeconomic urban and rural areas of South Africa.A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was used to collect data.Participants were identified from stroke registers and recruited from PHC clinicsin Soweto, Gauteng and Limpopo provinces. Participants had to have had a stroke,be above the age of 18 and had lived in the community six months to a year followingtheir stroke. The researcher or research assistant conducted the interviews ofparticipants who had had strokes as well as their caregivers in the home language of the participants. The interviewswere audio taped, transcribed and translated into English. A thematic content analysis was done.Thirty two participants were interviewed, 13 from Soweto, Gauteng, and 19 from rural Limpopo provinces. Theresults suggest that the sudden, overwhelming transformation as a result of a stroke forms a background for loss ofcommunity mobility, social isolation, role reversal within the family and community, loss of role within the family andcommunity, loss of meaningful activities of daily living, loss of hope and threat to livelihood amongst stroke survivorsliving in low socioeconomic areas of South Africa.An overwhelming picture of despondency was found, with few positive stories told in both settings. The themesidentified from the interviews reflected the experience and issues that a patient with stroke has to deal with in lowsocioeconomic areas of South Africa.
Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part I.

OBJECTIVE To provide a single source for the best available estimates of the US prevalence of and number of individuals affected by arthritis overall, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, the spondylarthritides, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and Sjögren's syndrome. A companion article (part II) addresses additional conditions. METHODS The National Arthritis Data Workgroup reviewed published analyses from available national surveys, such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). For analysis of overall arthritis, we used the NHIS. Because data based on national population samples are unavailable for most specific rheumatic conditions, we derived estimates from published studies of smaller, defined populations. For specific conditions, the best available prevalence estimates were applied to the corresponding 2005 US population estimates from the Census Bureau, to estimate the number affected with each condition. RESULTS More than 21% of US adults (46.4 million persons) were found to have self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis. We estimated that rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3 million adults (down from the estimate of 2.1 million for 1995), juvenile arthritis affects 294,000 children, spondylarthritides affect from 0.6 million to 2.4 million adults, systemic lupus erythematosus affects from 161,000 to 322,000 adults, systemic sclerosis affects 49,000 adults, and primary Sjögren's syndrome affects from 0.4 million to 3.1 million adults. CONCLUSION Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions continue to be a large and growing public health problem. Estimates for many specific rheumatic conditions rely on a few, small studies of uncertain generalizability to the US population. This report provides the best available prevalence estimates for the US, but for most specific conditions, more studies generalizable to the US or addressing understudied populations are needed.
The impact of smoking on response to TNF inhibitors in axial spondyloarthritis: methodological considerations for longitudinal observational studies

Objective. Observational data facilitate examination of treatment-effect heterogeneity, but the risk of bias is substantial. We highlight methodological considerations through an analysis of whether smoking affects response to TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods. We used longitudinal data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Participants fulfilling the ASAS criteria for axSpA, who started their first TNFi were eligible for analysis. To compare the impact of smoking status, weighted generalised estimating equations were used to examine changes in several continuous outcome measures, including BASDAI and ASDAS. Inverse-probability weights were used to account for differences in baseline covariates and excluded participants. We separately assessed response in the first 3 months to account for non-random dropout. A cc ep te d A rt ic le This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Results. Of 840 participants that started on TNFi, 1,641 assessments from 627 individuals were analysed (69% male, mean age 46 years). 33% were current smokers and 30% ex-smokers. Exand current smokers had worse disease than never smokers at baseline. Accounting for these differences, response did not differ according to smoking status. Compared against never smokers, ex-smokers (β=-0.6; 95%CI -1.4, 0.3) and current smokers (β=-0.4; 95%CI -1.1, 0.4) had similar response in BASDAI, and ASDAS (ex: β=-0.1; 95%CI -0.5, 0.3; current: β=-0.01; 95%CI -0.4, 0.4), at 3 months. Conclusions. TNFi response did not differ according to baseline smoking status in this UK cohort. Conflicting results from previous studies were likely due to methodological differences. This analysis highlights potential sources of bias that should be addressed in future studies.
Leakage and Contaminant Transport through a Single Hole in the Geomembrane Component of a Composite Liner

AbstractThe migration of contaminants through a 10-mm-diameter hole (0.785 cm2) in a geomembrane in direct contact with a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) and adjacent silty sand is examined. Experiments were conducted in four 0.6-m-diameter cells at a vertical stress of 100 kPa and hydraulic head differences of 0.3 and 1 m. The system was first permeated with distilled water until steady-state flow was attained (the reference case). After 280 days the permeant was changed to a NaCL solution. After 800 days of permeation with 0.14 M NaCl solution there was only a 3% increase in the flow (leakage) compared with the reference case despite up to almost an order of magnitude increase in GCL permeability near the hole. The wetted radius at the end of the experiments was inferred by injection of dye and was found to be about 0.1–0.15 m. This provides the first experimental evidence in support of theoretical predictions that, when the geomembrane is in direct contact with a GCL, leakage through a hole is primarily .
Preliminary Remarks on Enigmatic “White Casing Limestone” from Saqqara Archaeological Site in Egypt

Abstract Saqqara is one of the famous archaeological sites in the world. There is the oldest stone pyramid build by pharaoh Djoser from the Third Dynasty (around 4600 yrs BP) The components of his funerary complex were constructed of a characteristic creamish-white limestone of relatively great solidity, connected in archaeological literature with the white casing limestone from Saqqara. A source of this stone has remained so far a mystery. An extensive geological survey and other research has failed to identify any outcrops of such limestone in the vicinity of Saqqara. Preliminary results of examination of fossils from relevant rock samples of the white Saqqara limestone are presented, supplemented with discussion of current opinions concerning its origin and probable stratigraphic setting.
Thermospheric gravity wave modes over low and equatorial latitudes during daytime

[1] The small-scale intensity fluctuations obtained from 56 days of observations of OI 630.0 nm dayglow emission intensities from Mount Abu (24.6°N, 73.7°E, dip latitude 19.09°N), a station under the crest of equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), have been subjected to harmonic analysis to unravel different modes of atmospheric gravity waves (AGW). Similar analysis is carried out for 26 days of dayglow intensity data recorded from Waltair (17.7°N, 83.3°E, dip latitude 10.09°N), a low-latitude station, and for 8 days of available data from Thumba (8.68°N, 77.0°E, dip latitude 0.45°N), an equatorial station with the same objective. The analysis reveals the relative dominance (“preferred mode”) of 0.5–1.0 hour periodic component over Mount Abu, 2.0–2.5 hour periodic component over Waltair, and 1.0–1.5 hour component over Thumba during geomagnetically quiet periods. Qualitative arguments have been propounded to explain the differences in the preferred modes over these places, and it is suggested that the source responsible for the preferred modes may lie in the lower atmosphere. Further, the analysis also indicates the presence of additional preferred modes over low latitudes during geomagnetically disturbed periods.
Variability of aerosol optical depth over east Asia and its possible impacts

[1] On the basis of monthly aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data set from March 2000 to May 2006, the present study analyzes the variability of the AOD over east Asia and its plausible relationship with cloud, surface shortwave radiation, and sea surface temperature (SST) over the North Pacific. Climatologically, the AOD over east Asia peaks around April or May, before the start of rainy season. The AOD decreases seasonally during May to August, likely because of the removal of aerosol from the atmosphere by precipitation. The leading mode of interannual AOD variations has large loading from east Asia to the North Pacific north of 30°N, with largest amplitudes often in May–June. The second mode has the same sign loading over eastern China, and the corresponding time series displays an obvious linear trend during the study period. Correlation analyses show that interannual variations of the AOD over east Asia may have important impacts on cloud and shortwave radiation over the western North Pacific, which, in turn, may induce SST anomalies.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease

To the Editor: Dr Rizos and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation and cardiovascular disease events. While the overall conclusion of the article was omega-3 PUFA intake was not associated with lower cardiovascular risk, the dietary or supplemental intake and source of omega-3 PUFAs are 2 factors that may not have been adequately addressed. The mean omega-3 PUFA intake of 1.51 g per day (0.77 g/d of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and 0.60 g/d of docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) of all studies analyzed was approximately half of the 2000 Food and Drug Administration recommendation of 3 g per day of EPA plus DHA to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Only 5 of the 20 included studies in this analysis tested consumption levels of more than 2 g per day, of which 3 studies had intakes of more than 3 g per day. Thus, it is possible the dietary interventions used in many of the analyzed studies might have been insufficient to provoke the intended cardioprotective outcome that omega-3 consumption or supplementation has been hypothesized to elicit. Studies with means favoring omega-3 PUFAs for allcause mortality in Figure 4 in the article seem to be those with higher omega-3 consumption in Table 2, particularly those of Sacks et al (6 g/d) and von Schacky et al (3.3 g/d for 3 months and 1.7 g/d for 21 months). However, the small sample size of these studies, wide confidence intervals, and their weight in analysis, 0.03% and 0.06%, respectively, lowered the impact of these studies on the outcome of the analysis. The source of omega-3 PUFAs could also potentially influence the study results. Examination of omega-3 structure from different marine sources reveals a difference in stereochemistry between omega-3 PUFAs from fish and mammalian oils (ie, harp seal or harbor seal). In fish oil, omega-3 fatty acid occupies the sn-2 position on the triacylsn-glycerol molecule. In comparison, omega-3 fatty acid from marine mammals occupies the sn-1,3 positions. This difference may alter omega-3 PUFA metabolism, causing lower circulating levels of triacylglycerols, and may explain different results from observational studies examining the prevalence of heart disease in the Greenland Eskimo population that cannot be replicated in Western trials. While this systematic review and meta-analysis provided evidence against omega-3 PUFA supplementation, future meta-analyses should consider omega-3 PUFA intake level and source in their analysis.
Cover: The calving event of the Drygalski Ice Tongue of February 2005

The Drygalski Ice Tongue (DIT) is the seaward extension of David Glacier, the largest outlet glacier in Victoria Land, east Antarctica. DIT marks the southern border of Terra Nova Bay and plays a decisive role in the development of Terra Nova Bay polynya. A sketch map of the area around Terra Nova Bay is shown in figure 1. DIT is a major ‘landmark’ in any (cloud-free) satellite image of the Ross Sea, allowing an immediate recognition of the area of Terra Nova Bay. As measured from an Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) wide swath (WS) image of Terra Nova Bay of January 2005, the DIT was 96 km long and its width was 22.5 km at 50 km from the coast and 14.1 km across at the snout; these three figures compare with those of a US Geological Survey (USGS) map of 1956 which were 110, 22 and 13 km, respectively (Frezzotti and Mabin 1994). The evolution of DIT in the twentieth century was studied by Frezzotti and Mabin (1994) who showed that DIT experienced two major calving events, both of the order of 40 km in length, with a time interval of about 50 years: the first one at the beginning of the century, the second one between the end of 1956 and December 1957, most probably in June 1957. In the recent years we have been following sea-ice conditions at Terra Nova Bay in the framework of a European Space Agency (ESA) project on the use of near real time (NRT) ASAR images to assist ship-routing in Antarctica. From a pair of ASAR WS images of Terra Nova Bay, the first of 15 January (see figure 2(a)) and the second of 19 March 2005 (see figure 2(b)) we noticed how DIT had undergone a moderate calving event during this two month interval. From the quick-look collection of ASAR images in the ESA catalogue, we can state that the calving event occurred in the second half of February 2005. In order to obtain a measure of the ice loss by this event, the following processing steps were carried out.
Temporal, spatial and pulse instabilities of the Gulf Stream

Abstract : This thesis addresses the issue, 'Which approach to instabilities - temporal, spatial or pulse theory - is the most appropriate model for the Gulf Stream? ' I also address the question of how the observations might be compared to theory. This thesis consists of two closely related parts: analytical studies that compare the three types of instability using the same realistic velocity and topography profiles; and numerical modeling that uses a continuous forcing function to examine the three types of theory in the direct context of the Gulf Stream.
Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 4 (Rxfp4) expressing hypothalamic neurons modulate food intake and preference in mice

Relaxin/insulin-like-family peptide receptor-4 (RXFP4), the cognate receptor for insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5), has been implicated in feeding behaviour as Rxfp4 knockout mice display shorter meal durations and reduced high fat diet (HFD) intake. Here, we generated transgenic Rxfp4-Cre mice to explore Rxfp4 expression and physiology. Using this model, we identified Rxfp4 expression in the central nervous system, including in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). Intra-VMH infusion of INSL5 increased HFD and highly palatable liquid meal intake (HPM) of ad libitum fed wildtype mice. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of VMH Rxfp4-expressing cells (RXFP4VMH) defined a cluster of Rxfp4-labelled neurons expressing Esr1, Tac1 and Oxtr, alongside known appetite-modulating neuropeptide receptors (Mc4r, Cckar and Nmur2). Viral tracing demonstrated RXFP4VMH neural projections to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, paraventricular hypothalamus, paraventricular thalamus and central nucleus of the amygdala. Utilising designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), we found that whole body chemogenetic inhibition (Di) of Rxfp4-expressing cells, mimicking native INSL5-RXFP4 signalling, increased intake of HFD and HPM, whilst activation (Dq), either at whole body level or specifically within the VMH, reduced HFD and HPM intake and altered food preference. Ablating VMH Rxfp4-expressing cells recapitulated the lower HFD intake phenotype of Rxfp4 knockout mice, resulting in reduced body weight. These findings identify a discrete Rxfp4-expressing neuronal population as a key regulator of food intake and preference and reveal hypothalamic RXFP4 signalling as a target for feeding behaviour manipulation.
Questionnaire Design: How to Plan, Structure and Write Survey Material for Effective Market Research

Questionnaires are vital for the market researcher: they draw accurate information from respondents, give structure to interviews, provide a standard form on which facts, comments and attitudes can be recorded, and facilitate data processing. Questionnaire Design explains the role of questionnaires in market research and looks at different types of questionnaire, examining when and how they should be deployed. The book explains how to plan, structure and compose the right questionnaire for the research you are undertaking. Fully updated with new content on encouraging respondent involvement, this new edition also includes the latest information on online and mobile questionnaires, their problems and potential. This book will be a useful addition to the bookshelf of every student or practitioner of market research.
Deformation of Graptolites and Sandstones in Slates from Victoria, Australia

The deformation of fossils in slates has been studied by many investigators, generally with a view to obtaining data on the strain to which the enclosing rock has been subjected. In the examples previously dealt with it has been necessary to assume an arbitrary length for one of the three principal axes of strain, since the absolute dimensions of the fossils before deformation were unknown. With graptolites, however, the spacing of thecae is a specific characteristic, and, since under favourable circumstances the species of a deformed specimen may be determined by a palaeontologist familiar with the graptolite faunas of a district, comparison of the thecal spacing with that normally characteristic of the species can give a measure of the deformation in absolute units. In some instances generic determination may be sufficient for the purpose. Furthermore, since graptolite rhabdosomes are delicate structures it is reasonable to assume that the amount of deformation they indicate closely approximates to that for the rock matrix as a whole, whereas it is doubtful if such an assumption can be made with more massive fossils. Unfortunately, however, graptolites are so thin that they afford practically only a two-dimensional picture, although it is possible to obtain some data from cross-sections.
Effect of Lavender Cream with or without Foot-bath on Anxiety, Stress and Depression in Pregnancy: a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION Psychological disorders are associated with maternal and neonatal morbidities. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Lavender cream with or without foot-bath on depression, anxiety and stress of pregnant women. METHODS In this trial, 141 women at 25 to 28 weeks gestation were randomly assigned into three groups (47 at each group); receiving Lavender cream with foot-bath, only Lavender cream, or placebo, 2g every night for two months. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed at baseline, and 4(th) and 8(th) weeks after intervention, using DASS-21. General linear model was used to compare the groups. RESULTS There were three losses to follow-up at the 4(th) and one more at the 8(th) week. Scores of all three outcomes in both Lavender and foot-bath and only Lavender groups were significantly lower than those in the placebo group at the 8(th) week; adjusted difference of depression score -3.3, 95% confidence interval -4.6 to -1.9;-2.4, -3.7 to -1.0, respectively, anxiety score -1.4, -2.6 to -0.2; -1.7,-2.9 to -0.5 and stress score -3.1, -4.7 to -1.5; -2.7, -4.3 to -1.1. At the 4(th) week, only score of anxiety in the lavender group (-2.3, -3.9 to -0.8) and stress in the both groups (-2.3, -4.1 to -0.5; -1.9, -3.7 to -0.1) were significantly less than those in the placebo group. There were not statistically significant differences between the two experimental groups in terms of the outcomes. CONCLUSION Lavender cream with foot-bath or alone can be used for pregnant women for reducing their stress, anxiety and depression.