Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indirect estimation of soil thermal properties and water flux using heat pulse probe measurements: Geometry and dispersion effects

Traditionally, analytical solutions for heat transport in soils have been used in combination with heat pulse probe (HPP) measurements to estimate soil thermal properties. Although the analytical method has resulted in accurate estimation of soil thermal properties, we suggest that parameter estimation using inverse modeling (IM) provides new and unique opportunities for soil thermal characterization. Moreover, we show that the IM approach provides accurate estimation of soil water flux density in both unsaturated and saturated soil conditions for a wider range of water velocities than originally thought possible. Specifically, we show that accurate soil water velocity is obtained, simultaneously with soil thermal properties, if heat dispersion is included in the heat transport equation. The requirement for including heat dispersivity depends on the value of the newly defined dimensionless Keith Jirka Jan (KJJ) number, which is equal to the ratio of thermal dispersion to thermal conductivity. For example, when KJJ > 1, ignoring thermal dispersivity leads to errors in the water flux density which can exceed 10%. By including thermal dispersivity, water flow velocities were accurately determined for water flux densities ranging from 1.0 to >10 m d−1. We also demonstrate the general application of inverse modeling to estimate soil thermal properties and their functional dependence on volumetric water content in a separate numerical experiment. We suggest that inverse modeling of HPP temperature data may allow simultaneous estimation of soil water retention (when combined with matric potential measurements) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (through water flux estimation) from simple laboratory experiments.
Reducing Disorder, Fear, and Crime in Public Housing: A Case Study of Place-Specific Crime Prevention

Despite the proliferation of programs developed to address crime at a neighborhood level, our knowledge base on the effectiveness of these efforts remains quite limited. This is particularly true of crime prevention efforts in and around public housing facilities. The present study is intended to shed light on the nature and effectiveness of a crime prevention effort centered in a public housing facility in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. Unlike most prior research on crime in public housing that has focused on large facilities, the present study focused on a small facility where the crime problems were centered on the streets surrounding the facility as opposed to crime within the facility itself. The findings suggest that collaborative efforts at reducing fear, crime, and disorder in and around public housing facilities hold promise for improving the quality of life for residents living in smaller public housing sites. These findings are particularly relevant when considering that most public housing facilities are relatively small and in light of the move away from the construction of large, high-rise, public housing facilities for the nation's poor.
Factors Influencing Outcome and Length of Stay in a Stroke Rehabilitation Unit: Part 2. Comparison of 318 Screened and 248 Unscreened Patients

A comparison of outcome and length of stay (LOS) between a control group of 248 unscreened patients (reported in Part 1) and a second group of 318 patients, medically and socially screened prior to admission, - all discharged from the same 30-bed stroke unit over a 33 month period - showed that preadmission medical, neurological, and social service screening did not improve overall outcome or reduce length of stay (LOS). A program aimed at identifying and treating perceptual and cognitive dysfunction did improve functional status and discharge disposition in patients having perceptual but not cognitive deficits. A detailed analysis of the factors influencing outcome and LOS confirmed and extended earlier findings that: 1) severe weakness on admission and long onset-admission intervals were adversely related to outcome as were the presence of perceptual or cognitive dysfunction, poor motivation, a homonymous hemianopsia, multiple neurologic deficits, and poor functional status on discharge; and 2) dysphasia, the presence of a hemisensory loss, age (under 80) and/or the presence of ASHD/hypertension/diabetes were unrelated to outcome. It was again demonstrated that most patients - even those with unfavorable prognostic signs - significantly improved after appropriate treatment programs.
Fyn gene polymorphisms contribute to both trait and state anxieties in healthy Chinese-Han individuals.

Fyn, a member of Src family tyrosine kinases, phosphorylates N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits and regulates emotions, including fearfulness (Yagi, 1999; Isosaka et al. 2008). Fyn-deficient mice showed increased fearfulness and defective maternal behavior (Yagi, 1999). Anxiety and fear are genetically linked, and these emotions are mediated by overlapping neurocircuits. However, there have been no studies analyzing the involvement of Fyn in the biological mechanism of anxiety. Here, we investigated the association between three Fyn gene (FYN) polymorphisms (rs3730353, rs706895, and rs6916861) and anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
Draft Genome Sequences of 64 Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis Isolates Obtained from Wild Mice

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis is a foodborne pathogen of global concern, because it is frequently isolated from foods and patients. Draft genome sequences are reported here for 64 S. Enteritidis strains isolated from the intestines and spleens of mice caught live on chicken farms in the U.S. Northeast. The availability of these genomes provides baseline information on the genomic diversity of S. Enteritidis during the 1990s, when foodborne outbreaks traced to internal contamination of eggs were prevalent.
A new threshold signature scheme based on ECC and factoring

Most of the existing digital signature schemes were developed based on a single hard problem like factoring, discrete logarithm or elliptic curve discrete logarithm problems. In this paper, we proposed a new threshold signature scheme based on multiple hard problems namely factoring and elliptic curve discrete logarithm problems. We combined the two problems into both signing and verifying equations. The new scheme was shown to be secure against the known attacks for signature schemes. The efficiency performance of our scheme is given. Our scheme provides longer and higher security level than that scheme based on one problem.
A Combination of Ex vivo Diffusion MRI and Multiphoton to Study Microglia/Monocytes Alterations after Spinal Cord Injury

Central nervous system (CNS) injury has been observed to lead to microglia activation and monocytes infiltration at the lesion site. Ex vivo diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (diffusion MRI or DWI) allows detailed examination of CNS tissues, and recent advances in clearing procedures allow detailed imaging of fluorescent-labeled cells at high resolution. No study has yet combined ex vivo diffusion MRI and clearing procedures to establish a possible link between microglia/monocytes response and diffusion coefficient in the context of spinal cord injury (SCI). We carried out ex vivo MRI of the spinal cord at different time-points after spinal cord transection followed by tetrahydrofuran based clearing and examined the density and morphology of microglia/monocytes using two-photon microscopy. Quantitative analysis revealed an early marked increase in microglial/monocytes density that is associated with an increase in the extension of the lesion measured using diffusion MRI. Morphological examination of microglia/monocytes somata at the lesion site revealed a significant increase in their surface area and volume as early as 72 hours post-injury. Time-course analysis showed differential microglial/monocytes response rostral and caudal to the lesion site. Microglia/monocytes showed a decrease in reactivity over time caudal to the lesion site, but an increase was observed rostrally. Direct comparison of microglia/monocytes morphology, obtained through multiphoton, and the longitudinal apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), measured with diffusion MRI, highlighted that axonal integrity does not correlate with the density of microglia/monocytes or their somata morphology. We emphasize that differential microglial/monocytes reactivity rostral and caudal to the lesion site may thus coincide, at least partially, with reported temporal differences in debris clearance. Our study demonstrates that the combination of ex vivo diffusion MRI and two-photon microscopy may be used to follow structural tissue alteration. Lesion extension coincides with microglia/monocytes density; however, a direct relationship between ADC and microglia/monocytes density and morphology was not observed. We highlighted a differential rostro-caudal microglia/monocytes reactivity that may correspond to a temporal difference in debris clearance and axonal integrity. Thus, potential therapeutic strategies targeting microglia/monocytes after SCI may need to be adjusted not only with the time after injury but also relative to the location to the lesion site.
Factor XII‐dependent increases in thrombin activity induce carboxypeptidase‐mediated attenuation of pharmacological fibrinolysis

Summary. Activation of the contact system in patients treated with fibrinolytic agents may be an important source of thrombin that activates thrombin‐activated fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and attenuates fibrinolysis. Factor (F)XIIa in plasma increased 2‐fold over 60 min in patients given either tissue plasminogen activator (t‐PA) or streptokinase (SK). To determine whether FXIIa‐mediated generation of thrombin and activated TAFI (TAFIa) attenuates fibrinolysis in vitro, plasma clots were incubated with SK (250 U mL−1) or t‐PA (2.5 g mL−1) and the rate of lysis was measured. Plasma FXIIa impaired lysis judging from marked acceleration when 2.5 µm corn trypsin inhibitor were added (lysis increased by 172 ± 144% for SK and 40 ± 31% for t‐PA vs. no inhibitor, n = 16, P < 0.01). Moreover, inhibition of thrombin with hirudin and TAFIa with carboxypeptidase inhibitor accelerated lysis. We conclude that activation of FXII increases thrombin generation, which promotes TAFIa‐mediated attenuation of fibrinolysis.
Transcriptional Activity and Expression of Liver X Receptor in the Ascidian Halocynthia roretzi

Liver X receptors, LXRs, are ligand-activated transcription factors that belong to the group H nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily. In this study, an LXR (HrLXR) cDNA was cloned from the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi hepatopancreas and characterized to examine the functional conservation of ancestral LXRs in chordates. A phylogenetic analysis of HrLXR showed that it belongs to the tunicate (urochordate) LXR subgroup, which is distinct from vertebrate LXRs. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that HrLXR mRNA was expressed predominantly in the gills, and highly expressed in unfertilized eggs followed by decrease at later embryonic and larval stages. Unexpectedly, HrLXR was not activated by GW3965, whereas a synthetic ligand for a farnesoid X receptor, GW4064, activated HrLXR. This activation was abolished by the deletion of 51 amino acids from the N-terminus. In a mammalian two-hybrid system, HrLXR interacted with HrRXR in the presence of GW4064 or 9-cis retinoic acid. The injection of GW3965 and GW4064 in vivo increased the ATPbinding cassette sub-family G member 4 and HrLXR mRNA levels in the hepatopancreas and gills. These results suggest that the mRNA expression and transcriptional properties of HrLXR are different from those of vertebrate LXRs, although HrLXR is likely responsive to the related NR ligand, GW4064.
Human Memory Retrieval and Inhibitory Control in the Brain: Beyond Correlational Evidence

Retrieving information from long-term memory can result in the episodic forgetting of related material. One influential account states that this retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) phenomenon reflects inhibitory mechanisms called into play to decrease retrieval competition. Recent neuroimaging studies suggested that the prefrontal cortex, which is critically engaged in inhibitory processing, is also involved in retrieval competition situations. Here, we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to address whether inhibitory processes could be causally linked to RIF. tDCS was administered over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during the retrieval-practice phase in a standard retrieval-practice paradigm. Sixty human participants were randomly assigned to anodal, cathodal, or sham-control groups. The groups showed comparable benefits for practiced items. In contrast, unlike both the sham and anodal groups, the cathodal group exhibited no RIF. This pattern is interpreted as evidence for a causal role of inhibitory mechanisms in episodic retrieval and forgetting.
Density and element-size tapering for the design of arrays with a reduced number of control points and high efficiency

In the design of Direct Radiating Arrays for satellite communications, where the constraints are generally given in terms of a directivity mask, solutions using a reduced number of uniformly excited radiating elements are particularly attractive because they allow to reduce the array cost and weight and maximize the amplifiers efficiency. In this communication, an innovative architecture exploiting both a density and an element-size tapering is presented, as well as two innovative and computationally effective synthesis strategies. Examples demonstrating the effectiveness of both the proposed architectures and of the relative synthesis techniques are also provided, with reference to an actual problem.
The interpretation of, and responses to, changes in internal states: An integrative cognitive model of mood swings and bipolar disorders.

A cognitive approach to understanding mood swings and bipolar disorders is provided, with the interpretation of changes in internal state as a central explanatory factor. The model explains how attempts at affect regulation are disturbed through the multiple and conflicting extreme personal meanings that are given to internal states. They prompt exaggerated efforts to enhance or exert control over internal states, which paradoxically provoke further internal state changes, thereby feeding into a vicious cycle that can maintain or exacerbate symptoms. Counterproductive attempts at control are classified as either ascent behaviours (increasing activation), or descent behaviours (decreasing activation). It is suggested that appraisals of extreme personal meaning are influenced by specific sets of beliefs about affect and its regulation, and about the self and relations with others, leading to an interaction that raises vulnerability to relapse. Pertinent literature is reviewed and found to be compatible with such a model. The clinical implications are discussed and compared to existing interventions.
A decade of discourse analysis of environmental politics: Achievements, challenges, perspectives

Abstract This article assesses the contribution of discourse analysis to the study of environmental politics over the period of the past decade. Defining discourse as a particular linguistic regularity that can be found in conversations distinguishes it from ‘deliberation’ and ‘discussion’. Discourse analysis is seen as focused on situational logics studying ‘language-in-use’. Three strengths of discourse analysis are highlighted: its capacity to reveal the role of language in politics, its capacity to reveal the embeddedness of language in practices and its capacity to answer ‘how’ questions and to illuminate mechanisms. The article concludes by sketching some of the challenges lying ahead of discourse analysis. Given the changing nature of policy making, discourse analysts are supposed to have a task in identifying the new sites of politics and analysing the political dynamics therein.
Comics as a Cognitive Training Medium for Expert Decision Making

The purpose of this research was to determine how effective comics are when used as a cognitive training medium for expert military decision making. Concepts utilized in comics, such as image schemas, are presented in relation to trainees’ reliance on a universal human language. U.S. Navy submarine officers, ranks O-1 to O-4, participated in two studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of comics relative to traditional text based training (Experiment 1) and the relative effectiveness of low, medium, and high-abstract comics (Experiment 2). Results for Experiments 1 and 2 did not show better decision making skills or speed after cognitive training using a comic medium than after using a text-based medium or with levels of symbolic abstraction within comic presentations. In Experiment 1, the time (seconds) that participants viewed the comic media was significantly faster than text-based media. With significant view time results in Experiment 1, participants were twice as fast when viewing comics as reading text. This result could lead to reduced training time, optimizing manpower, and cost savings for the military. Future studies are needed to further assess the use of comics in training in terms of performance to better understand the implications of the reduced training time such as cost savings potential.
Functional Development and Plasticity of Parvalbumin Cells in Visual Cortex: Role of Thalamocortical Input

Unlike principal excitatory neurons, cortical interneurons comprise a diverse group of distinct subtypes. They can be classified by their morphology, molecular content, developmental origins, electrophysiological properties and specific connectivity patterns. The parvalbumin-positive (PV), large basket interneuron has been implicated in two cortical functions: 1) the control and shaping of the excitatory response, and 2) the initiation of critical periods for plasticity. Disruptions in both phenomena have been implicated in the etiology of cognitive developmental disorders. Careful characterization of PV cell function and plasticity in response to their primary afferent, the thalamocortical synapse, is needed to directly relate their vital contribution at a synapse-specific or network level to whole animal behavior. Here, I used electrophysiological, anatomical and molecular genetic techniques in a novel slice preparation to elucidate PV circuit development and plasticity in mouse visual cortex. I found that GFP-positive PV cells in layer 4 undergo a rapid maturation after eye opening just prior to onset of the critical period. This development occurs across a number of intrinsic physiological properties that shape their precise, fast spiking. I further optimized and characterized a visual thalamocortical slice to examine the primary afferent input onto both pyramidal and PV cells. Thalamic input onto PV cells
Leading Article

Human health and well-being depends upon an interaction between genetic endowment or constitution on the one hand and environmental factors like nutrition, ecology (environmental sanitation, safe drinking water, pollutants, toxins etc) and life style (physical exercise, mental poise, peace, positive thinking, art of living, spirituality etc) on the other. Good nutrition and sound health go hand-inhand. It has been known since the time of Hippocrates, that a person with good nutrition is able to ward off infections much more effectively than a person who is "fragile and weak". During most of the 20th century, the focus of research in nutrition was how to improve intake of total calories and protein in children. Therefore, the florid cases of kwashiorkor, severe protein-energy malnutrition and severe deficiencies of single micronutrients like scurvy, beriberi, pellagra and keratomalacia have significantly declined or disappeared. However, there is still widespread prevalence of diseases of public health relevance due to deficiencies of single micronutrients like iron deficiency anaemia, goitre and other iodine-deficiency disorders and milder forms of vitamin A deficiency 1 . But, of late, there has been an increasing awareness that subclinical or biochemical deficiency of certain micronutrients ("hidden hunger") is widely prevalent in developing countries which is adversely affecting the quality of human life and leading to frequent occurrence of common day-to-day gastrointestinal and respiratory infections 2 . It has been documented in developing countries that impaired immunocompetence due to nutritional deficiencies precedes overt infections and may even occur before growth failure is evident.
Key Information Requirements for Process Audits - an Expert Perspective

In the audit domain it is agreed that a comprehensive understanding of business processes is crucial for the effectiveness and efficiency of internal and external audits on financial reporting or regulatory compliance. However, a review of current modeling methods revealed that domain specific concepts are not comprehensively supported and only little empirical research has been performed on what modeling concepts are required to support an understanding of business processes from an audit perspective. For this reason, we conducted 17 semistructured expert interviews to reconstruct key concepts of the audit domain especially focusing on process audits. As a result we present twelve relevant audit concepts and their relations in a concept map. Unlike for concepts, the expert understanding of concept relations was quite diverse. We interpret this result as an indication of complexity for the topic in focus. The presented concept map is a first step towards a domain specific modeling language.
Regulation of emotion and psychological symptoms in people with spinal cord injury

This cross-sectional study examined the contribution of regulation of emotion on depression, symptoms of traumatic and general distress, perceived disability, and somatic symptoms following spinal cord injury. Depressed and non-depressed participants (N = 264, mean age = 46 years) differed in their use of adaptive and maladaptive ways of regulating emotions. In addition to somatic symptoms and symptoms of traumatic stress, maladaptive emotional regulation (avoidance and distortion of awareness) accounted for 8% of the total variance of depression. It is concluded that adaptive and maladaptive ways of regulating emotions are important factors in dealing with negative feelings. Regulation of emotion appears to influence perceived disability mainly via depression. Limitations of the study and implications for rehabilitation are discussed.
Intercomparison of multispectral imagers over natural targets

Aqua MODIS, AATSR, MERIS and POLDER-3 data are directly compared at top of the atmosphere level for nearly concomitant observation carried out under nearly identical or reciprocal geometries. Comparisons are carried out over the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and the Libyan desert. The results of the here presented simple methodology show that MERIS and A-MODIS are radiometrically in line. Intercomparison between MERIS and AATSR indicate that the radiometry of the instrument has significantly changed since late 2005: +0.5%/year (+/-2.9%/year) at 865 nm, -7.5%/year (+/-2.4%/year) at 670 nm and -9.4%/year (+/-1.5%/year) at 560 nm. The intercomparison of A-MODIS and POLDER-3 indicates a possible early degradation of the POLDER-3 sensitivity of -1.9%/year (+/-1.69%/year) and -0.47%/year (+/-1.3%/year) respectively at 560 nm and 865 nm.