Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributions of decadal means of temperature and precipitation change under global warming

[1] There remains uncertainty in the projected climate change over the 21st century, in part because of the range of responses forced by rising greenhouse gas concentrations among global climate models. This paper applies a method of estimating distributions and “probability density functions” (PDFs) for forced change, based on the pattern scaling technique and previously used for Australia, to generate changes in temperature and precipitation at locations over the globe, from simulations of 23 CMIP3 models. Changes for 2030 and 2100, under the A1B scenario for concentrations, for both seasonal and annual cases are presented. The PDFs for temperature have a standard deviation that averages 31% of the mean change, and they tend to be positively skewed. The standard deviation for precipitation averages 15% of the base climate mean, leading to five and 95 percentile estimates that are of opposite sign for most of the globe. A further source of uncertainty of change for a particular period of time, such as a decadal average, is the unforced or internal variability of climate. A joint probability distribution approach is used to produce PDFs for decadal means by adding in an estimate of internal variability. In the decade centered on 2030, this broadens the PDFs substantially. The results are related to time series of observations and projections over 1900–2100 for the agricultural regions of Iowa and the Murray-Darling Basin. For most land areas, warming becomes clearly discernable, allowing for both uncertainties, in the next few decades. Data files of the key results are provided.
Practitioner review: Social (pragmatic) communication disorder conceptualization, evidence and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND DSM-5 sees the introduction of Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder (SPCD), characterized by persistent difficulties using verbal and nonverbal communication for social purposes, in the absence of restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours. There is currently much confusion about the precise diagnostic criteria for SPCD and how this disorder relates to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), previous descriptions of pragmatic language impairment (PLI) and more specific language disorders (LD). METHOD Proposed criteria for SPCD are outlined. A selective review of the evidence considers whether these criteria form a cohesive and distinct diagnostic entity. Approaches to assessment and intervention are discussed. RESULTS Implementing the new diagnosis is currently challenged by a lack of well-validated and reliable assessment measures, and observed continuities between SPCD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. High rates of comorbidity between SPCD and other seemingly disparate disorders (including conduct disorder, ADHD and disorders of known genetic origin) raise questions about the utility of this diagnostic category. CONCLUSIONS SPCD is probably best conceptualized as a dimensional symptom profile that may be present across a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, although there is an urgent need to investigate the latent structure of SPCD using consistent diagnostic criteria. In addition, social communication and aspects of pragmatic language may be dissociated, with the latter heavily influenced by structural language attainments. Finally, there is a dearth of reliable and culturally valid assessment measures with which to make a differential diagnosis, and few rigorously tested intervention programmes. The implications for research and clinical practice are outlined.
Lineage diversification and historical demography of a sky island salamander, Plethodon ouachitae, from the Interior Highlands

Sky islands provide ideal opportunities for understanding how climatic changes associated with Pleistocene glacial cycles influenced species distributions, genetic diversification, and demography. The salamander Plethodon ouachitae is largely restricted to high‐elevation, mesic forest on six major mountains in the Ouachita Mountains. Because these mountains are separated by more xeric, low‐elevation valleys, the salamanders appear to be isolated on sky islands where gene flow among populations on different mountains may be restricted. We used DNA sequence data along with ecological niche modelling and coalescent simulations to test several hypotheses related to diversifications in sky island habitats. Our results revealed that P. ouachitae is composed of seven well‐supported lineages structured across six major mountains. The species originated during the Late Pliocene, and lineage diversification occurred during the Middle Pleistocene in a stepping stone fashion with a cyclical pattern of dispersal to a new mountain followed by isolation and divergence. Diversification occurred primarily on an east–west axis, which is likely related to the east–west orientation of the Ouachita Mountains and the more favourable cooler and wetter environmental conditions on north slopes compared to south‐facing slopes and valleys. All non‐genealogical coalescent methods failed to detect significant population expansion in any lineages. Bayesian skyline plots showed relatively stable population sizes over time, but indicated a slight to moderate amount of population growth in all lineages starting approximately 10 000–12 000 years ago. Our results provide new insight into sky island diversifications from a previously unstudied region, and further demonstrate that climatic changes during the Pleistocene had profound effects on lineage diversification and demography, especially in species from environmentally sensitive habitats in montane regions.
A Review of Design Optimization Methods for Electrical Machines

Electrical machines are the hearts of many appliances, industrial equipment and systems. In the context of global sustainability, they must fulfill various requirements, not only physically and technologically but also environmentally. Therefore, their design optimization process becomes more and more complex as more engineering disciplines/domains and constraints are involved, such as electromagnetics, structural mechanics and heat transfer. This paper aims to present a review of the design optimization methods for electrical machines, including design analysis methods and models, optimization models, algorithms and methods/strategies. Several efficient optimization methods/strategies are highlighted with comments, including surrogate-model based and multi-level optimization methods. In addition, two promising and challenging topics in both academic and industrial communities are discussed, and two novel optimization methods are introduced for advanced design optimization of electrical machines. First, a system-level design optimization method is introduced for the development of advanced electric drive systems. Second, a robust design optimization method based on the design for six-sigma technique is introduced for high-quality manufacturing of electrical machines in production. Meanwhile, a proposal is presented for the development of a robust design optimization service based on industrial big data and cloud computing services. Finally, five future directions are proposed, including smart design optimization method for future intelligent design and production of electrical machines.
Physiotherapy management of the adult , medical , spontaneously breathing patient Web

Complementary therapy and alternative medicine are terms used to describe treatments outside the usual medical remit. Such modalities may promote physical fitness, relaxation, improve posture and/or encourage good breathing technique. Some of the commonest therapies described as complementary include Pilates, the Alexander Technique, massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture or acupressure, Yoga, Tai Chi and the Buteyko Breathing Technique. Since studies of the latter have used physiotherapy as the control condition, this technique is discussed in the main document in section 2, 'Asthma and Disordered Breathing'.
A Jazz Session System for Interplay Among All Players - VirJa Session (Virtual Jazz Session System)

This paper presents a jazz session system in which each player is independent and can interplay with all other players. In most previous systems, computer players only reacted to human player’s performance with a fixed leader-follower relationship. Our system enables computer players to listen to other computer players’ performances as well as human’s performance and to interact with each other. Moreover, all players can communicate not only by listening to other players’ performances but also by seeing each others’ bodies and gestures. In our current implementation, the system deals with a jazz piano trio consisting of a human pianist, a computer bassist, and a computer drummer. These computer players have been implemented as separate processes on several distributed workstations.
Indoor PTZ Camera Calibration with Concurrent PT Axes

The introduction of active (pan-tilt-zoom or PTZ) cameras in Smart Rooms in addition to fixed static cameras allows to improve resolution in volumetric reconstruction, adding the capability to track smaller objects with higher precision in actual 3D world coordinates. To accomplish this goal, precise camera calibration data should be available for any pan, tilt, and zoom settings of each PTZ camera. The PTZ calibration method pro- posed in this paper introduces a novel solution to the problem of computing extrinsic and intrinsic parameters for active cameras. We first determine the rotation center of the camera expressed under an arbitrary world coordinate origin. Then, we obtain an equation relating any rotation of the camera with the movement of the principal point to define extrinsic parameters for any value of pan and tilt. Once this position is determined, we compute how intrinsic parameters change as a function of zoom. We validate our method by evaluating the re-projection error and its stability for points inside and outside the calibration set.
Rationale for Monitoring Discharge on the Ground

AbstractThe hydrological cycle is receiving increasing attention both as an essential natural resource for humans and ecosystems and as a critical component controlling the earth’s climate system. Better understanding of the water cycle and its interaction with changing climate will require improved monitoring of the various water fluxes and storages in hydrological processes. River discharge is a unique component reflecting an integrated hydrological signal over larger regions. Existing in situ monitoring solutions to monitor discharge are often considered too expensive and the difficulties in data sharing are viewed as insurmountable obstacles, which has led to growing interest in finding an alternative. This paper argues that in situ monitoring is far less expensive than claimed and the obstacles are not necessarily as insurmountable as often stated and a conscious effort to revitalize in situ monitoring will be needed. This paper demonstrates that there is no substitute for in situ discharge monitorin.
Growth Hormone Treatment Improves Cognitive Function in Short Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency

Background/Aims: We investigated the association between cognition and growth hormone (GH) status and GH treatment in short prepubertal children with broadly ranging GH secretion. Methods: A total of 99 children (age 3-11 years), 41 with GH deficiency (GHD) and 58 with idiopathic short stature (ISS), were randomized to a fixed dose (43 µg/kg/day) or a prediction model-guided individualized dose (17-100 µg/kg/day) and followed up for 24 months. In a longitudinal and mixed within- and between-subjects study, we examined clinical effect size changes, measured by Cohen's d, in full-scale IQ (FSIQ) and secondary IQ indices. Results: Significant increases giving medium effect size in FSIQ (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.63), performance IQ (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.65) and processing speed (p = 0.005, Cohen's d = 0.71) were found in the GH-deficient group. In contrast, perceptual organization only increased in the ISS group (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.53). Baseline IQ was normally distributed with small but significant differences between the groups: GH-deficient children had lower FSIQ (p = 0.042) and lower performance IQ (p = 0.021). Using multiple regression analysis, 40% of the variance in delta processing speed scores (0-24 months) was explained by GHmax and IGF-ISDS at baseline. Conclusion: IQ, specifically fluid intelligence, increased in the GH-deficient children. The pretreatment status of the GH/IGF-I axis was significantly predictive for these changes.
Terrestrial heat flow in east and southern Africa

We report 26 new heat flow and 13 radiogenic heat production measurements from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania, together with details and some revisions of 18 previous heat flow measurements by other investigators from Kenya and Tanzania. These measurements come from Archean cratons, Proterozoic mobile belts, and Mesozoic and Cenozoic rifts. Heat flow data from eight new sites in the Archean Zimbabwe Craton are consistent with previous measurements in the Archean Kaapvaal-Zimbabwe Craton and Limpopo Belt (Kalahari Craton) and do not change the mean heat flow of 47±2 mW m−2 (standard error of the mean) in the Kalahari Craton based on 53 previous measurements. Eight new sites in the Archean Tanzania Craton give a mean heat flow of 34±4 mW m−2. The mean heat flow from nine sites in the Proterozoic Mozambique Belt to the east of the Tanzania Craton in Kenya and Tanzania is 47±4 mW m−2. Twelve measurements in the Mesozoic rifted continental margin in east Africa give a mean heat flow of 68±4 mW m−2; four measurements in the Mesozoic Luangwa and Zambezi Rifts range from 44 to 110 mW m−2 with a mean of 76±14 mW m−2. In comparing heat flow in east and southern Africa, we observe a common heat flow pattern of increasing heat flow away from the centers of the Archean cratons. This pattern suggests a fundamental difference in lithospheric thermal structure between the Archean cratons and the Proterozoic and early Paleozoic mobile belts which surround them. Superimposed on this common pattern are two regional variations in heat flow. Heat flow in the Tanzania Craton is lower by about 13 mW m−2 than in the Kalahari Craton, and in the Mozambique Belt in east Africa heat flow is somewhat lower than in the southern African mobile belts at similar distances from the Archean cratonic margin. The two regional variations can be explained in several ways, none of which can as yet be elevated to a preferred status: (1) by variations in crustal heat production, (2) by thin-skinned thrusting of the Mozambique Belt over the Tanzania Cratonic margin, (3) by lateral heat transfer from beneath the rift flanks into the rifts, or (4) by lower mantle heat flow beneath all of eastern Africa prior to the Cenozoic development of the East African rift system.
Street crossing by sighted and blind pedestrians at a modern roundabout

Pedestrian behavior and safety at roundabouts are not well understood, particularly for pedestrians with sensory or mobility impairments. A previous study in which participants indicated when they would cross suggested that blind pedestrians miss more crossing opportunities and make riskier judgments than sighted pedestrians. The present study replicated these findings and analyzed actual street crossings. Six blind and six sighted pedestrians negotiated a double-lane urban roundabout under high and low traffic volumes. Blind participants waited three times longer to cross than sighted participants. About 6% of the blind participants' crossing attempts were judged dangerous enough to require intervention, compared to none for sighted pedestrians. Drivers yielded frequently on the entry lanes but not the exit lanes. Sighted participants accepted drivers' yields, whereas blind participants rarely did so. Blind-sighted differences are interpreted in terms of auditory access to information about traffic, and policy implications are discussed regarding accessibility of transportation systems.
The role of CELF proteins in neurological disorders

CELF (CUG-BP and ETR-3-like factors) proteins are structurally related RNA-binding proteins involved in various aspects of RNA processing including splicing and mRNA stability. The first member of the family, CELF1/CUG-BP1, was identified through its role in myotonic dystrophy, type 1. Several recent studies have uncovered the recurrent implication, to various extents, of CELF proteins or of the functionally related muscleblind-like 1 protein in a number of neurological conditions. This is particularly clear for inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by expansions of translated or untranslated triplet repeats in the causative gene. Here we review the role played by CELF proteins, at least as modifiers of the pathological phenotype, in a number of neurological diseases. The involvement of CELF proteins suggest that individual pathogenic pathways in a number of neurological conditions overlap at the level of RNA processing.
Interference between an earth station of a communication-satellite system and the stations of terrestrial line-of-sight radio-relay systems

The paper gives a simple method of estimating the mutual interference that may arise between an earth station of a communication-satellite system and neighbouring line-of-sight radio-relay stations using the same frequency band, and suggests criteria for deciding whether a proposed mode of earth-station operation is compatible with the maximum permissible values of telephone-channel interference noise recommended by the CCIR. The effect on the interference of the motion of the earth-station aerial is considered in some detail for the principal types of orbit that the satellites being tracked might occupy. A number of examples are included to illustrate the application of the method to an earth station handling high-capacity f.d. m. /f.m. transmissions in the 4Gc/s and 6Gc/s communication bands.
The Importance of Single-Mode Behavior in Silicon-On-Insulator Rib Waveguides With Very Large Cross Section for Resonant Sensing Applications

Control of light properties through propagation in large cross section optical rib waveguides is of utmost importance to obtain the desired behavior, especially with resonant cavities. We have simulated, fabricated, and experimentally tested optical rib waveguides to evaluate the advantages of single-mode properties against multimode. Modal analysis of very large cross section rib waveguides showed that only particular dimensions allow a single-mode behavior. Furthermore, on-chip Fabry-Perot cavities were coupled to rib waveguides to assess impacts for a typical resonator. Experimental results are in good agreement with simulation guidelines, effectively highlighting the importance of single-mode behavior for resonant sensing applications.
Synapsin I deficiency results in the structural change in the presynaptic terminals in the murine nervous system

Synapsin I is one of the major synaptic vesicle-associated proteins. Previous experiments implicated its crucial role in synaptogenesis and transmitter release. To better define the role of synapsin I in vivo, we used gene targeting to disrupt the murine synapsin I gene. Mutant mice lacking synapsin I appeared to develop normally and did not have gross anatomical abnormalities. However, when we examined the presynaptic structure of the hippocampal CA3 field in detail, we found that the sizes of mossy fiber giant terminals were significantly smaller, the number of synaptic vesicles became reduced, and the presynaptic structures altered, although the mossy fiber long-term potentiation remained intact. These results suggest significant contribution of synapsin I to the formation and maintenance of the presynaptic structure.
Rainfall, total water, ice water, and water vapor over sea from polarized microwave simulations and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager data

A radiative-transport model has been developed to study the emitted radiation from variable cloud and rain systems at the frequencies of the special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I). The model is based on the matrix operator method and takes into account multiple scattering as well as polarization. The simulations are based on a multivariate approach using globally distributed atmospheric profiles of pressure, temperature, humidity, and different cloud types in multiple layers. The inhomogeneous vertical distributions of water and ice in clouds and rain are modeled by bulk analytical formulae. Fractional coverages of cloud and rain clusters are incorporated into the analysis to account for the low spatial resolution of microwave radiometers, which decreases the correlations between the brightness temperatures and the microphysical parameters. Retrieval algorithms are developed for the water vapor, total water, and ice paths as well as for surface rain rates. By the exclusion of strong convective conditions, the retrieval of ice paths is found to be problematic owing to the strong gradient of scattering efficiency with sizes. The water vapor paths are also derived for cloudy and raining conditions with limited spatial coverages. The theoretical standard errors of the retrievals lie in the range of 0.1–0.2 g/cm2 for vapor paths of 0–7 g/cm2, 0.02–0.03 g/cm2 for total water paths of 0–1.2 g/cm2, 0.015 g/cm2 for ice paths of 0–0.25 g/cm2, and 1.3 mm/h for rain rates of 0–30 mm/h. The algorithms are applied to global sets of SSM/I data for August 1987. The resulting fields of monthly rain amounts are compared to those of satellite infrared measurements, a surface climatology, and a general circulation model (GCM) experiment. The results are found to be mainly consistent with the climatology, whereas the IR data and the GCM experiment produce questionable inconsistencies. The water vapor path estimations are compared to colocated radiosonde measurements showing deviations below 0.78 g/cm2 including cloudy and rainy situations, whereas our total water path estimations show the best results for inhomogeneous scenes compared to those calculated by algorithms taken from the literature.
Facilitando el desarrollo de software dirigido por modelos en Eclipse mediante la generación automática de vistas de control

Este trabajo presenta un entorno de modelado que permite generar automaticamente vistas de control para herramientas de Desarrollo de Software Dirigido por Modelos (DSDM) en Eclipse. Estas vistas muestran, a traves de un diagrama de flujo, el proceso que deben seguir los usuarios para llevar a cabo una determinada tarea. El proposito de las vistas generadas es facilitar la integracion de varias herramientas relacionadas con la gestion (creacion, validacion, transformacion, etc.) de modelos, mejorando su usabilidad, sobre todo, para usuarios no expertos en los procesos de DSDM con Eclipse.
Ultrasound enhanced drug delivery to the brain and central nervous system

There is an increasing interest in the use of ultrasound to enhance drug delivery to the brain and central nervous system. Disorders of the brain and CNS historically have had poor response to drug therapy due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Techniques for circumventing the BBB are typically highly invasive or involve disrupting large portions of the BBB, exposing the brain to pathogens. Ultrasound can be non-invasively delivered to the brain through the intact skull. When combined with preformed microbubbles, ultrasound can safely induce transient, localised and reversible disruption of the BBB, allowing therapeutics to be delivered. Investigations to date have shown positive response to ultrasound BBB disruption combined with therapeutic agent delivery in rodent models of primary and metastatic brain cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Recent work in non-human primates has demonstrated that the technique is feasible for use in humans. This review examines the current status of drug delivery to the brain and CNS both by disruption of the BBB, and by ultrasound enhancement of drug delivery through the already compromised BBB. Cellular and physical mechanisms of disruption are discussed, as well as treatment technique, safety and monitoring.