Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UC San Francisco UC San Francisco Previously Published Works Title Brain perfusion in polysubstance users : Relationship to substance and tobacco use , cognition , and self-regulation

Background: Brain perfusion is altered in both alcohol dependence and stimulant dependence. Although most substance users also abuse/depend on alcohol concurrently (polysubstance users; PSU), rigorous perfusion research in PSU is limited. Also, the relationships of perfusion abnormalities with cognition, impulsivity, or decision making are not well known. Methods: Arterial spin labeling MRI and neuropsychological measures assessed perfusion levels and neurocognition in 20 alcohol-dependent individuals with comorbid-stimulant dependence (PSU), 26 individuals dependent on alcohol only (ALC), and 31 light/non-drinking controls (LD). The patient groups included smokers and non-smokers. Results: ALC had lower perfusion than LD in subcortical and cortical brain regions including the brain reward/executive oversight system (BREOS). Contrary to our hypothesis, regional perfusion was generally not lower in PSU than ALC. However, smoking PSU had lower perfusion than smoking ALC in several regions, including BREOS. Lower BREOS perfusion related to greater drinking severity in smoking substance users and to greater smoking severity in smoking ALC. Lower regional perfusion in ALC and PSU correlated with worse performance in different cognitive domains; smoking status affected perfusion–cognition relationships in ALC only. Lower BREOS perfusion in both substance using groups related to higher impulsivity. Conclusion: Although regional perfusion was not decreased in PSU as a group, the combination of cigarette smoking and polysubstance use is strongly related to hypoperfusion in important cortical and subcortical regions. As lower perfusion relates to greater smoking severity, worse cognition and higher impulsivity, smoking cessation is warranted for treatment-seeking PSU and ALC.
Modeling to improve environmental system management: Klamath River thermal refugia and the Sacramento -San Joaquin Delta

As the problems facing water resource planners become increasingly complex, the people involved in decision-making and management need new tools to help them identify, manage, and evaluate potential options. It is not often feasible or prudent to experiment directly with the physical system to assess the impacts of various management options. Instead, computer models have become commonplace. Computer models enable managers to evaluate the impacts of changes, both large and small, on their system prior to implementing those changes in the field, identify changes that have the most promise, and integrate knowledge of a problem in a way that promotes practical understandings and potential management insights. Managers should become familiar and comfortable with both simulation and optimization modeling. This will allow them to use a wide range of models, and to use models that are more applicable to particular problems and conditions. This dissertation focuses on gathering data and developing computer models to aid decision makers in managing systems for environmental purposes. Two environmentally sensitive areas are focused on: the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, part of the San Francisco Estuary, and thermal refugia for salmonids on the Klamath River in Northern California. A basic background on thermal refugia is provided, followed by the results from an intensive monitoring study at two refugia on the Klamath River. The results from a preliminary UnTRIM modeling effort of the Beaver Creek site indicate that the refuge can be modeled if sufficient data is available. Two optimization models representing a system of refugia were developed to maximize the number of fish reaching the spawning ground (in-migration model) and the estuary (out-migration model). The results from the model could be used to identify which refugia provide the most benefit. Finally, a CALVIN modeling study of different Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta management options is presented. Management of the Delta requires a balancing of the interests that rely on it, but results from CALVIN indicate that there is sufficient economical adaptability in the California water system to allow for changes in Delta water policies.
Credit Models and the Crisis, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the CDOs

We follow a long path for Credit Derivatives and Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) in particular, from the introduction of the Gaussian copula model and the related implied correlations to the introduction of arbitrage-free dynamic loss models capable of calibrating all the tranches for all the maturities at the same time. En passant, we also illustrate the implied copula, a method that can consistently account for CDOs with different attachment and detachment points but not for different maturities. The discussion is abundantly supported by market examples through history. The dangers and critics we present to the use of the Gaussian copula and of implied correlation had all been published by us, among others, in 2006, showing that the quantitative community was aware of the model limitations before the crisis. We also explain why the Gaussian copula model is still used in its base correlation formulation, although under some possible extensions such as random recovery. Overall we conclude that the modeling effort in this area of the derivatives market is unfinished, partly for the lack of an operationally attractive single-name consistent dynamic loss model, and partly because of the diminished investment in this research area.
The effects of El Niño and La Niña on snow and avalanche patterns in British Columbia, Canada, and central Chile

Abstract El Niño and La Niña affect global climate and atmospheric circulation to determine winter temperature and precipitation patterns. Both winter temperatures and the associated precipitation patterns have effects on mountain snow deposition and snow avalanche occurrences. Approximately 25 000 slab avalanches from 30 winters were analyzed in relation to snowfall patterns contrasted for El Niño and La Niña winters for two avalanche areas with different snow climates in British Columbia (BC), Canada. La Niña winters were shown to produce more snow, more avalanches and a higher percentage of dry avalanches than wet avalanches. The data and analysis show that the avalanche patterns depend on the altitude and snow climate. Analysis of snowfall and accident data from the Andes of Chile suggests behavior opposite to BC. El Niño winters in central Chile produced the most snow and, by inference, the most avalanches. This paper is the first to show the links of El Niño and La Niña to snow avalanche activity.
ray wolf ( Canis lupus ) is a natural definitive host for Neospora caninum

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was found to be a new natural definitive host for Neospora caninum. Neospora-like oocysts were found microscopically in the feces of three of 73 wolves from Minnesota examined at necropsy. N. caninum-specific DNA was amplified from the oocysts of all three wolves. Oocysts from one wolf were infective for the gamma interferon gene knock out (KO) mice. Viable N. caninum (designated NcWolfUS1) was isolated in cell cultures seeded with tissue homogenate from the infected mouse. Typical thick walled eospora caninum
Length-weight relationships of 14 fish species from Tajan River, Southern Caspian Sea basin, Iran

The length-weight relationships, (LWRs) were calculated for 14 fish species belonging to five families (Cyprinidae, Cobitidae, Nemacheilidae, Salmonidae, and Gobiidae) collected from the Tajan River, north of Iran. Significant length-weight relationships with high correlation coefficients were found for all species.
enotoxicity investigations on nanomaterials : Methods , preparation and haracterization of test material , potential artifacts and limitations — Many uestions , some answers

Nanomaterials display novel properties to which most toxicologists have not consciously been exposed before the advent of their practical use. The same properties, small size and particular shape, large surface area and surface activity, which make nanomaterials attractive in many applications, may contribute to their toxicological profile. This review describes what is known about genotoxicity investigations on nanomaterials published in the openly available scientific literature to-date. The most frequently used test was the Comet assay: 19 studies, 14 with positive outcome. The second most frequently used test was the micronucleus test: 14 studies, 12 of them with positive outcome. The Ames test, popular with other materials, was less frequently used (6 studies) and was almost always negative, the bacterial cell wall possibly being a barrier for many nanomaterials. Recommendations for improvements emerging from analyzing the reports summarized in this review are: Know what nanomaterial has been tested (and in what form); Consider uptake and distribution of the nanomaterial; Use standardized methods; Recognize that nanomaterials are not all the same; Use in vivo studies to correlate in vitro results; Take nanomaterials specific properties into account; Learn about the mechanism of nanomaterials genotoxic effects. It is concluded that experiences with other, non-nano, substances (molecules and larger particles) taught us that mechanisms of genotoxic effects can be diverse and their elucidation can be demanding, while there often is an immediate need to assess the genotoxic hazard. Thus a practical, pragmatic approach is the use of a battery of standard genotoxicity testing methods covering a wide range of mechanisms. Application of these standard methods to nanomaterials demands adaptations and the interpretation of results from the genotoxicity tests may need additional considerations. This review should help to improve standard genotoxicity testing as well as investigations on the underlying mechanism and the interpretation of genotoxicity data on nanomaterials. 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
August 2000

Shown above is the new 20+ year GPCP monthly precipitation for 1979 to present. See examples on the back for the corresponding 5-day data set, along with an example of the new 1x1 degree daily product available for the last 3 years. Figures provided by NASA/GSFC. See http://orbit-net.nesdis. noaa.gov/ arad/gpcp. New results show monthly averaged diurnal range (max-min) of the surface net flux. Example above shortwave A, positive to surface, and longwave B, positive from surface for July 1986 for tropical/subtropical Atlantic and Mediterranean Basins. See Page 4.
Operationalizing an ecosystem services-based approach using Bayesian Belief

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University of Groningen Targeted next-generation sequencing can replace Sanger sequencing in clinical diagnostics

Mutation detection through exome sequencing allows simultaneous analysis of all coding sequences of genes. However, it cannot yet replace Sanger sequencing (SS) in diagnostics because of incomplete representation and coverage of exons leading to missing clinically relevant mutations. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), in which a selected fraction of genes is sequenced, may circumvent these shortcomings. We aimed to determine whether the sensitivity and specificity of targeted NGS is equal to those of SS. We constructed a targeted enrichment kit that includes 48 genes associated with hereditary cardiomyopathies. In total, 84 individuals with cardiomyopathies were sequenced using 151 bp paired-end reads on an Illumina MiSeq sequencer. The reproducibility was tested by repeating the entire procedure for five patients. The coverage of ≥30 reads per nucleotide, our major quality criterion, was 99% and in total ∼21,000 variants were identified. Confirmation with SS was performed for 168 variants (155 substitutions, 13 indels). All were confirmed, including a deletion of 18 bp and an insertion of 6 bp. The reproducibility was nearly 100%. We demonstrate that targeted NGS of a disease-specific subset of genes is equal to the quality of SS and it can therefore be reliably implemented as a stand-alone diagnostic test. Hum Mutat 34:1035–1042, 2013. C © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A General Systems Theory of Marriage : Nonlinear Difference Equation Modeling of Marital Interaction

This article describes a new mathematical approach for modeling the prediction of divorce or marital stability from marital interaction using nonlinear difference equations. The approach is quite general for modeling social interaction, and can be applied to any time series data generated over time for two individuals. We pursued a balance model in selecting the dependent variables of this modeling. Both the mathematical methods and the theoretical gains obtained when using this approach are reviewed.
Treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Challenging the concept of a rigid and universal time window.

Acute stroke treatment has recently become a major area for clinical trials. Each year, thousands of patients with first-ever middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory stroke are enrolled in therapeutic trials, testing the hypothesis that the investigational treatment might improve functional outcome. In addition to trials of therapeutic thrombolysis, other classes of agents such as glutamate antagonists, free radical scavengers, anticytokines, and calcium channel blockers are presently being tested for therapeutic efficacy. Whereas most trials in the 1970s and 1980s enrolled patients within 24 or even 48 hours after stroke onset, at the present time it would be almost unthinkable to extend the time of inclusion beyond the “magic limit” of 6 hours. There are four reasons for this: First, experiments conducted in the nonhuman primate that led to the concept of the ischemic penumbra clearly documented that “time is brain,” with apparently only little penumbra remaining beyond 3 hours.1 2 Second, thus far many clinical trials have reported negative, only marginally significant, and/or positive but poorly reproducible findings; late inclusion of patients was considered to be responsible for treatment failure.3 4 Third, recent studies have demonstrated that it is possible to have stroke patients seen in the hospital within 3 to 6 hours after onset.5 6 Fourth, the success of intravenous therapeutic thrombolysis in less than 6 hours after myocardial infarction stimulated a similar design for acute stroke.7 For organizational reasons it has been operationally justified to apply a rigid time window for screened patients in multicenter, international trials. Furthermore, it is reasonable to consider that a cohort of stroke patients recruited within certain time limits may be more homogeneous. We would like to examine this view and call into question that therapy in individual patients within the 6-hour time limit would necessarily …
A Century of Firm-Bank Relationships: Why the Transition to Multiple Banking?

We study how relationships between firms and banks evolved between during the Twentieth century in Britain. We document and explain a remarkable transition from single to multiple firm-bank relationships during the last twenty years of the sample period. Larger, global, or transparent companies with greater needs for bank credit and specialized services are more likely to add a bank. Deregulation and intensifying competition in the banking sector during the 1970s spurred banks to supply credit and services through these multilateral arrangements. Firm size, geographical presence, leverage, and control determine whether a clearer bank, another British bank or a foreign bank is added.
Do floristic composition, plant species abundance and vegetation structure in Sudanian wetlands vary according to conservation status

In Sahel, wetlands are particularly endangered hence practical knowledge for their sustainable management is needed. The aim of this study was to compare plant community structure between protected and unprotected wetland bank stands in eastern Burkina Faso. Phytosociological and dendrometrical parameters were carrying out in adult trees, seedling individuals and herbaceous species. Discrimination of plant communities and diversity indices were calculated for each group. Weibull distribution was used to compare the diameter structures. The results shows that plant communities located in riverbanks of unprotected wetlands have a greater specificheterogeneity. They are rich inannual speciesand in species with a wide distribution. Finally their woody stands are characterized by lower basal areas than unprotected wetland riverbank stands. Plant community stands in riverbanks of protected wetlands were better preserved but some disturbances were noticed. Furthermore, juvenile plants of the two sites were threatened and this may affect in long term, the relative stability of these trees stands as revealed by Weibull distribution. Further study should focus on wetlands riverbanks seedling status in order to propose restoration strategies.
THE LATE ORDOVICIAN AND EARLY SILURIAN PENTAMERIDE BRACHIOPOD HOLORHYNCHUS KIAER, 1902 FROM NORTH CHINA

Abstract Holorhynchus giganteus Kiaer, 1902, a common Late Ordovician (mid-Ashgill) pentameride brachiopod in the Baltic region, Kazakhstan, and southern Tien Shan, is documented for the first time from the Badanjilin Formation (mid-Ashgill) of western Inner Mongolia (Alxa block), North China. Serial sections of the Chinese material confirm the presence of a vestigial ventral median septum in the early growth stage of H. giganteus, but the septum becomes embedded in the secondary shell thickening at the adult growth stage. A survey of the type material from Norway and additional material from other regions indicates that the incipient ventral median septum is a much more commonly developed structure than was previously believed. The presence of a well-developed pseudodeltidium in the Tien Shan material of H. giganteus and the absence of such a structure in conspecific material from many other regions require a systematic revision of the generic group. Holorhynchus has rodlike crura (=brachial processes) that do not form flanges at their junctions with the inner hinge plates (=outer plates = crural plates) and outer hinge plates (inner plates). This, together with the development of a crude spondylial comb structure, points to its affinity to the Virgianidae rather than to the Stricklandiidae. Holorhynchus can be regarded as a Lazarus taxon because of its absence during the crisis (Hirnantian) and survival (early-middle Rhuddanian) intervals associated with the Late Ordovician mass extinction and its reappearance in Kazakhstan and North China during the Early Silurian (late Rhuddanian-early Aeronian). The mid-Ashgill Holorhynchus fauna, typified by a number of large-shelled pentamerides, was common in the Baltic region, the Urals, Kazakhstan, Tien Shan, Alxa, Qaidam, Kolyma, and east-central Alaska, but largely absent from Laurentia and Siberia (except for Taimyr) in the ancient tropical-subtropical regions. This paleobiogeographic pattern agrees with the general pattern of the Late Ordovician brachiopod provincialism.
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

This paper replicates and analyses a study by Hoover and Pecorino (2005) on federal spending in US states. H&P followed on path-breaking research by Atlas et al. (1995) in which evidence was claimed in favour of the “small state effect;” namely, that since every state is represented by two senators, small states have a disproportionate influence relative to their population size. Using H&P’s data, we both replicate their results, and demonstrate strong support for the small state effect when we formally test their predictions. The contribution of this study is that we demonstrate that this empirical support vanishes when we (i) employ cluster robust standard errors rather than conventional OLS standard errors, and (ii) include a variable for population growth as suggested in a recent study by Larcinese et al. (2013). Our results lead us to conclude that there is no evidence to support the hypothesis of a “small state effect. ”
The Λ-BMS4 group of dS4 and new boundary conditions for AdS4

Using the dictionary between Bondi and Fefferman–Graham gauges, we identify the analogues of the Bondi news, Bondi mass and Bondi angular momentum aspects at the boundary of generic asymptotically locally (A)dS4 spacetimes. We introduce the -BMS4 group as the residual symmetry group of the metric in Bondi gauge after boundary gauge fixing. This group consists of infinite-dimensional non-abelian supertranslations and superrotations and it reduces in the asymptotically flat limit to the extended BMS4 group. Furthermore, we present new boundary conditions for asymptotically locally AdS4 spacetimes which admit times the group of area-preserving diffeomorphisms as the asymptotic symmetry group. The boundary conditions amount to fix two components of the holographic stress-tensor while allowing two components of the boundary metric to fluctuate. They correspond to a deformation of a holographic CFT3 which is coupled to a fluctuating spatial metric of fixed area.
The Limits of Flexibility: Comments on the Post-Fordist Vision of Production and Its Geography

Recently some economic geographers have drawn our attention to what are alleged to be fundamental changes in production, based on the adoption of more flexible machines and labour within firms, and more flexible relations between firms. Certain spatial implications such as reagglomeration of production are said to have resulted from these changes, or are believed to be underway. This paper critically examines these contentions by setting out the fundamental elements of these changes, considering the degree of their pervasiveness throughout western economies, and the extent to which such changes really do represent a distinct break with the past history and geography of production. In doing so, this paper seeks to uncover the true motivations underlying technological change in the workplace, exposing some common misconceptions about the new flexible production methods and their impacts.