Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Projected climate change impacts on the hydrology and temperature of Pacific Northwest rivers

A dominant river‐tracing‐based streamflow and temperature (DRTT) model was developed by coupling stream thermal dynamics with a source‐sink routing model. The DRTT model was applied using 1/16 degree (∼6 km) resolution gridded daily surface meteorology inputs over a ∼988,000 km2 Pacific Northwest (PNW) domain to produce regional daily streamflow and temperature simulations from 1996 to 2005. The DRTT results showed favorable performance for simulation of daily stream temperature (mean R2= 0.72 and root‐mean‐square error = 2.35°C) and discharge (mean R2 = 0.52 and annual relative error = 14%) against observations from 12 PNW streams. The DRTT was then applied with a macroscale hydrologic model to predict streamflow and temperature changes under historical (1980s) and future (2020s, 2040s, and 2080s) climate change scenarios (IPCC AR4) as they may affect current and future patterns of freshwater salmon habitat and associated productivity of PNW streams. The model projected a 3.5% decrease in mean annual streamflow for the 2020s and 0.6% and 5.5% increases for the 2040s and 2080s, respectively, with projected increase in mean annual stream temperatures from 0.55°C (2020s) to 1.68°C (2080s). However, summer streamflow decreased from 19.3% (2020s) to 30.3% (2080s), while mean summer stream temperatures warmed from 0.92°C to 2.10°C. The simulations indicate that projected climate change will have greater impacts on snow dominant streams, with lower summer streamflows and warmer summer stream temperature changes relative to transient and rain dominant regimes. Lower summer flows combined with warmer stream temperatures suggest a future with widespread increased summertime thermal stress for coldwater fish in the PNW region.
Modelling and supporting learning activities in a computer-integrated classroom

We have implemented ubiquitous computing technology in a primary school setting to support rich classroom activities particularly in the field of early literacy. After initial tests have corroborated the benefit of this technology with respect to attaining curricular goals and to better supporting learner-centred classroom methodologies, we are now exploring specific intelligent support mechanisms, e.g., to inform participants - both teachers and pupils - about automatically assessed learning opportunities.
High Prevalence of the EBER Variant EB-8m in Endemic Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) are the most highly expressed transcripts in all EBV-associated tumors and are involved in both lymphoid and epithelioid carcinogenesis. Our previous study on Chinese isolates from non-endemic area of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) identified new EBER variants (EB-8m and EB-10m) which were less common but relatively more frequent in NPC cases than healthy donors. In the present study, we determined the EBER variants in NPC cases and healthy donors from endemic and non-endemic areas of NPC within China and compared the EBER variants, in relation to the genotypes at BamHI F region (prototype F and f variant), between population groups and between two areas. According to the phylogenetic tree, four EBER variants (EB-6m, EB-8m, EB-10m and B95-8) were identified. EB-6m was dominant in all population groups except for endemic NPC group, in which EB-8m was dominant. EB-8m was more common in endemic NPC cases (82.0%, 41/50) than non-endemic NPC cases (33.7%, 32/95) (p<0.0001), and it was also more frequent in healthy donors from endemic area (32.4%, 24/74) than healthy donors from non-endemic area (1.1%, 1/92) (p<0.0001). More importantly, the EB-8m was more prevalent in NPC cases than healthy donors in both areas (p<0.0001). The f variant, which has been suggested to associate with endemic NPC, demonstrated preferential linkage with EB-8m in endemic isolates, however, the EB-8m variant seemed to be more specific to NPC isolates than f variant. These results reveal high prevalence of EBER EB-8m variant in endemic NPC cases, suggesting an association between NPC development and EBV isolates carrying EB-8m variant. Our finding identified a small healthy population group that shares the same viral strain which predominates in NPC cases. It could be interesting to carry extensive cohort studies following these individuals to evaluate the risk to develop NPC.
The “Science” of Fair Play in Sport: Gender and the Politics of Testing

This essay reflects on the history of gender verification regulations aimed at female athletes in international sport and the justification for this practice under the rationale that it protects fair play in women’s sport. Beginning with the most recent guidelines for women participants proposed in 2011 following the controversy around the 800-meter world champion runner Caster Semenya, this analysis looks at the politics—gendered, scientific, and international in nature—of policing sex in women’s events through the use of scientific testing. To do so, the article traces the ideological underpinnings of fair play in Olympic sport and the development of international guidelines, providing a historiographic reading of the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission’s early work in this field during the 1960s, subsequent changes to this regulation, and their implications. In advancing this argument, I contend that to date the science aimed at preserving a steadfast binary has only provided evidence to the contrary. Science has yet to prove that female sex is definitive, and its recommendations have in part come to reflect that recognition. The recent revisiting of gender verification protocols nonetheless suggests the technocratic desire for a formation of sex that reflects binary constructions of gender, attesting to the continued power of heteronormative orders in this field and beyond.
Rates of deleterious mutation and the evolution of sex in Caenorhabditis

A variety of models propose that the accumulation of deleterious mutations plays an important role in the evolution of breeding systems. These models make predictions regarding the relative rates of protein evolution and deleterious mutation in taxa with contrasting modes of reproduction. Here we compare available coding sequences from one obligately outcrossing and two primarily selfing species of Caenorhabditis to explore the potential for mutational models to explain the evolution of breeding system in this clade. If deleterious mutations interact synergistically, the mutational deterministic hypothesis predicts that a high genomic deleterious mutation rate (U) will offset the reproductive disadvantage of outcrossing relative to asexual or selfing reproduction. Therefore, C. elegans and C. briggsae (both largely selfing) should both exhibit lower rates of deleterious mutation than the obligately outcrossing relative C. remanei. Using a comparative approach, we estimate U to be equivalent (and <1) among all three related species. Stochastic mutational models, Muller's ratchet and Hill–Robertson interference, are expected to cause reductions in the effective population size in species that rarely outcross, thereby allowing deleterious mutations to accumulate at an elevated rate. We find only limited support for more rapid molecular evolution in selfing lineages. Overall, our analyses indicate that the evolution of breeding system in this group is unlikely to be explained solely by available mutational models.
Intensive care

the effectiveness of alternative analgesic treatment with ketorolac tromethamine and extrapleural multiple intercostal nerve block using intermittent administration of bupivacaine in postthoracotomy pain. Methods. Thirty-five patients scheduled for pulmonary lobectomy by posterolateral thoracotomy entered the study and were randomly allocated to the following groups: on-demand opioids (group l), ketorolac tromethamine and on-demand opioids (group 2), extrapleural intercostal nerve block with intermittent bupivacaine and on-demand opioids (group 3). Objectiveand subjective pain assessment, consisting in blood gas analysis and respiratory rate detection, Visual Analogue Scale and Mc Gill pain questionnaire, was carried out at 8,16,24 and 48 hours postoperatively. A p <0.05 was considered significant (t-test). Results. Groups 1 and 2 showed no significant differences in blood gas data and pulmonary function tests. Vital Capacity was lower in group 3 (p) than in group 1 after 16 hours. Forced Vital Capacity was higher in group 2 than in group 3 after 16 and 24 hours (p<0.05). Peak expiratory flow was also superior in group 2 than in group 3 after 16 hours (p). On-demand opioids consumption was significantly lower in group 2 (p<O.001) and group 3 (p<0.05). No side effects were observed. Conclusion. Ketorolac tromethamine was more effective than extrapleural intercostal nerve block with intemittent bupivacaine in the treatment of postthoracotomy pain. The combination of both analgesic techniques may increase the therapeutic results. These treatments could be useful when more effective techniques, such as epidural analgesia, are contraindicated.
Contrasting effects of summer and winter warming on body mass explain population dynamics in a food‐limited Arctic herbivore

The cumulative effects of climate warming on herbivore vital rates and population dynamics are hard to predict, given that the expected effects differ between seasons. In the Arctic, warmer summers enhance plant growth which should lead to heavier and more fertile individuals in the autumn. Conversely, warm spells in winter with rainfall (rain‐on‐snow) can cause ‘icing’, restricting access to forage, resulting in starvation, lower survival and fecundity. As body condition is a ‘barometer’ of energy demands relative to energy intake, we explored the causes and consequences of variation in body mass of wild female Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) from 1994 to 2015, a period of marked climate warming. Late winter (April) body mass explained 88% of the between‐year variation in population growth rate, because it strongly influenced reproductive loss, and hence subsequent fecundity (92%), as well as survival (94%) and recruitment (93%). Autumn (October) body mass affected ovulation rates but did not affect fecundity. April body mass showed no long‐term trend (coefficient of variation, CV = 8.8%) and was higher following warm autumn (October) weather, reflecting delays in winter onset, but most strongly, and negatively, related to ‘rain‐on‐snow’ events. October body mass (CV = 2.5%) increased over the study due to higher plant productivity in the increasingly warm summers. Density‐dependent mass change suggested competition for resources in both winter and summer but was less pronounced in recent years, despite an increasing population size. While continued climate warming is expected to increase the carrying capacity of the high Arctic tundra, it is also likely to cause more frequent icing events. Our analyses suggest that these contrasting effects may cause larger seasonal fluctuations in body mass and vital rates. Overall our findings provide an important ‘missing’ mechanistic link in the current understanding of the population biology of a keystone species in a rapidly warming Arctic.
The Effect of Facebook upon Self Directed Learning

The aim of this research was to investigate the extent of using Facebook in self- directed learning (SDL) among university students. The sample consisted of 415 students (205 males, 210 females); representing all colleges and all students from 1 st to 4 th college year's. They represent 8.3 % from the total study population. The researchers built a questionnaire to measure the extent of using Facebook in self- directed learning among university students. The results indicated a low use of Facebook in self- directed learning (average=2.03/5, while the standard deviation =0.60). They also indicated that there is no statistically significant differences (P = 0.05) attributed to gender and college and the interactions between them in using Facebook by university students in SDL. The study concluded that: Facebook is considered as the most popular social communication media among students. The results of the study indicated that a few number of students in TTU use it in SDL. The efficacy of using it could be through increasing the number of faculties who employ it in teaching different academic subjects. In addition to that; faculties should encourage students to invest their use of Facebook in areas that support their academic performance.
Behavioural Activation Interventions for Depression and Well-being

Behavioural activation (BA) treatments for depression require patients to change their overt behaviour so that they may have more rewarding experiences in their lives. Since one of the most promising ways to increase psychological wellbeing is to increase engagement in valued and enjoyable activities, there is good reason to believe that BA may also be an effective intervention to increase wellbeing. Enhancing well-being is an important goal because there is increasing recognition of the positive impact well-being has on many desirable life outcomes such as career success, marriage and health. Although BA has existed since the 1970s there have been surprisingly few quantitative reviews of the literature, and little research on the impact of BA on well-being. Thus, the overall aim of this project was to consolidate our understanding of the impact of BA and investigate the potential of BA interventions for enhancing well-being. Specifically, the goals were to (a) review the existing empirical research on the utility of BA for treating depression, (b) review the existing research on BA related to well-being, and (c) investigate the potential of this approach to increase the well-being of individuals who are not suffering from a mental health problem. Thus this research is unique in not only focusing on clinical, depressed, individuals, but also integrating research from the field of positive psychology as it looks at improving the well-being of individuals without depression. The first study consisted of a meta-analysis which sought to identify all randomised controlled trials of BA for depression. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of this approach, and examine the differential effectiveness of variants. Forty studies with 2,401 participants reporting symptoms of depression were included. The pooled effect size (Hedges’s g) indicated the difference between BA and control conditions at posttest was 0.91. For participants who satisfied the criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) the overall effect size of 0.82 remained large and significant. No differences in effectiveness between BA and cognitive therapy were found. This is an important finding given that BA is a comparatively simple intervention that does not require difficult or complex skills from patients or therapists. Although more recent versions of the BA approach, such as Jacobson and colleagues’ contextual BA, generally yielded greater intervention effects compared with earlier variants, all variants produced effects of similar magnitude and
Genetic alterations and protein expression in combined small cell lung cancers and small cell lung cancers arising from lung adenocarcinomas after therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

There are 2 hypotheses regarding the mechanism underlying the adenocarcinoma (AD) to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) transition in patients receiving Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy: 1) AD gives rise to SCLC owing to the pressure of the TKI therapy, and 2) the SCLC coexists with the AD de novo, but is not detected in biopsy specimens of the heterogeneous tumor. In this study, we try to address this issue by examination the genetic alteration and protein expression profile between SCLC arising from AD, and SCLC in combined small cell lung cancers (CSCLC). In the former, the SCLC had the same genetic profile as the AD, and we strongly suggest that the transition was a consequence of TKI therapy. In the latter, genetic alterations and protein expression tended to differ between the NSCLC and SCLC components of the CSCLC. The results showed that EGFR and KRAS mutation were found in 1 but not both component of CSCLC, and the NSCLC component usually expressed the EGFR and RB1 proteins, whereas the SCLC component did not. This finding indicates that the NSCLC and SCLC components arose separately and that CSCLC are unsuitable for TKI therapy despite the presence of sensitive EGFR mutations.
RpoS Contributes to Phagocyte Oxidase-Mediated Stress Resistance during Urinary Tract Infection by Escherichia coli CFT073

ABSTRACT Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common causative agent of community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI). In order to cause UTI, UPEC must endure stresses ranging from nutrient limitation to host immune components. RpoS (σS), the general stress response sigma factor, directs gene expression under a variety of inhibitory conditions. Our study of rpoS in UPEC strain CFT073 began after we discovered an rpoS-frameshift mutation in one of our laboratory stocks of “wild-type” CFT073. We demonstrate that an rpoS-deletion mutation in CFT073 leads to a colonization defect during UTI of CBA/J mice at 48 hours postinfection (hpi). There is no difference between the growth rates of CFT073 and CFT073 rpoS in urine. This indicates that rpoS is needed for replication and survival in the host rather than being needed to address limitations imposed by urine nutrients. Consistent with previous observations in E. coli K-12, CFT073 rpoS is more sensitive to oxidative stress than the wild type. We demonstrate that peroxide levels are elevated in voided urine from CFT073-infected mice compared to urine from mock-infected mice, which supports the notion that oxidative stress is generated by the host in response to UPEC. In mice that lack phagocyte oxidase, the enzyme complex expressed by phagocytes that produces superoxide, the competitive defect of CFT073 rpoS in bladder colonization is lost. These results demonstrate that σS is important for UPEC survival under conditions of phagocyte oxidase-generated stress during UTI. Though σS affects the pathogenesis of other bacterial species, this is the first work that directly implicates σS as important for UPEC pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE UPEC must cope with a variety of stressful conditions in the urinary tract during infection. RpoS (σS), the general stress response sigma factor, is known to direct the expression of many genes under a variety of stressful conditions in laboratory-adapted E. coli K-12. Here, we show that σS is needed by the model UPEC strain CFT073 to cope with oxidative stress provided by phagocytes during infection. These findings represent the first report that implicates σS in the fitness of UPEC during infection and support the idea of the need for a better understanding of the effects of this global regulator of gene expression during UTI. UPEC must cope with a variety of stressful conditions in the urinary tract during infection. RpoS (σS), the general stress response sigma factor, is known to direct the expression of many genes under a variety of stressful conditions in laboratory-adapted E. coli K-12. Here, we show that σS is needed by the model UPEC strain CFT073 to cope with oxidative stress provided by phagocytes during infection. These findings represent the first report that implicates σS in the fitness of UPEC during infection and support the idea of the need for a better understanding of the effects of this global regulator of gene expression during UTI.
When School Desegregation Fuels Educational Reform: Lessons from Suburban St. Louis

This article examines the impact of a metropolitan-wide school desegregation plan on the attitudes and experiences of a handful of suburban school teachers. Instead of resisting the change that came with a sudden influx of African American students from the inner city into their once all-White suburban schools and classrooms, these educators embraced the new racial and ethnic diversity. The findings presented here focus on the voices of these reform minded, or visionary, teachers and demonstrate ways in which the desegregation plan increased teachers' critical awareness of the status quo; that is, the Eurocentric curriculum, the tracking system, and the ways in which students, particularly Black students, are treated by teachers in their schools. We also explain why the presence of racially distinct students into previously all-White schools led these visionary teachers to focus more intently on the individual needs of all students and why such a change helped them better serve many White students whom they had not reached before.
A scalable network port scan detection system on FPGA

With ever increasing network speed, scalable and reliable detection of network port scans has become a major challenge. In this paper, we present a scalable and flexible architecture and a novel algorithm, to detect and block port scans in real time. The proposed architecture detects fast scanners as well as stealth scanners having large inter-probe periods. FPGA implementation of the proposed system gives an average throughput of 2 Gbps with a system clock frequency of 100 MHz on Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGA. Experimental results on real network trace show the effectiveness of the proposed system in detecting and blocking network scans with very low false positives and false negatives.
Dopamine, Behavioral Economics, and Effort

There are numerous problems with the hypothesis that brain dopamine (DA) systems, particularly in the nucleus accumbens, directly mediate the rewarding or primary motivational characteristics of natural stimuli such as food. Research and theory related to the functions of mesolimbic DA are undergoing a substantial conceptual restructuring, with the traditional emphasis on hedonia and primary reward yielding to other concepts and lines of inquiry. The present review is focused upon the involvement of nucleus accumbens DA in behavioral activation and effort-related processes. Viewed from the framework of behavioral economics, the effects of accumbens DA depletions and antagonism on food-reinforced behavior are highly dependent upon the work requirements of the instrumental task, and DA depleted rats are more sensitive to increases in response costs (i.e., ratio requirements). Moreover, interference with accumbens DA transmission exerts a powerful influence over effort-related choice behavior. Rats with accumbens DA depletions or antagonism reallocate their instrumental behavior away from food-reinforced tasks that have high response requirements, and instead these rats select a less-effortful type of food-seeking behavior. Nucleus accumbens DA and adenosine interact in the regulation of effort-related functions, and other brain structures (anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, ventral pallidum) also are involved. Studies of the brain systems regulating effort-based processes may have implications for understanding drug abuse, as well as energy-related disorders such as psychomotor slowing, fatigue or anergia in depression and other neurological disorders.
Gender and the Development of Wisdom.

Recent psychological research into the realms and processes of growing wiser can be linked to gender theory and research documenting variation in human development. Drawing on an integrative model of wisdom including components in three domains (personality, cognition, and conation) and across three levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, and transpersonal), we highlight potential differences in the ways that women and men attain and express wisdom, and we initiate a search for interactive patterns across the components of wisdom. Although it would be premature to claim that men and women differ globally in wisdom, there is sufficient evidence of divergences across the sexes to warrant more systematic inquiry.