Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Soil Moisture Downscaling Approach for SMAP, SMOS, and ASCAT by Predicting Sub-Grid Variability

Several studies currently strive to improve the spatial resolution of coarse scale high temporal resolution global soil moisture products of SMOS, SMAP, and ASCAT. Soil texture heterogeneity is known to be one of the main sources of soil moisture spatial variability. With the recent development of high resolution maps of basic soil properties such as soil texture and bulk density, relevant information to estimate soil moisture variability within a satellite product grid cell is available. We use this information for the prediction of the sub-grid soil moisture variability for each SMOS, SMAP, and ASCAT grid cell. The approach is based on a method that predicts the soil moisture standard deviation as a function of the mean soil moisture based on soil texture information. It is a closed-form expression using stochastic analysis of 1D unsaturated gravitational flow in an infinitely long vertical profile based on the Mualem-van Genuchten model and first-order Taylor expansions. We provide a look-up table that indicates the soil moisture standard deviation for any given soil moisture mean, available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.878889. The resulting data set helps identify adequate regions to validate coarse scale soil moisture products by providing a measure of representativeness of small-scale measurements for the coarse grid cell. Moreover, it contains important information for downscaling coarse soil moisture observations of the SMOS, SMAP, and ASCAT missions. In this study, we present a simple application of the estimated sub-grid soil moisture heterogeneity scaling down SMAP soil moisture to 1 km resolution. Validation results in the TERENO and REMEDHUS soil moisture monitoring networks in Germany and Spain, respectively, indicate a similar or slightly improved accuracy for downscaled and original SMAP soil moisture in the time domain for the year 2016, but with a much higher spatial resolution.
Inventory of lice of mammals and farmyard chicken in North-eastern Algeria

Background and Aim: Lice are permanent ectoparasites, extremely specific to their hosts. Their great importance in veterinary medicine remain significant, they can cause their direct pathogenic actions like irritability, dermatitis, anemia, decreased weight gain, and milk production. The purpose of this work was to made the first time an inventory of mammalian lice in North-eastern Algeria. Materials and Methods: Our survey of lice infestation was conducted on several animal species from five provinces of North-eastern Algeria. A total of 57 cattle, 83 sheep, 77 goats, 111 wild boars, and 63 farmyard chickens were examined. The collection of lice was carried out much more in mammals and chickens during the winter period. Lice were collected either manually or using brushing and kept in flasks containing 70% ethanol. The identification of lice was achieved in the laboratory using a binocular loupe. Results: Concerning cattle, 63% and 27% of those examined subjects from Souk-Ahras and Guelma study areas, respectively, were carriers of lice. Damalinia bovis was the louse most frequently found on cattle in these two regions. Three other species were identified in Souk-Ahras: Haematopinus eurysternus (25%), Linognathus vituli (10%), and Solenopotes capillatus (5%). Regarding sheep, 39% and 24% of examined animals in Souk-Ahras and Guelma, were carrying lice. Damalinia ovis was the most frequently encountered lice on sheep in both regions. Linognathus ovillus also was identified in Souk-Ahras, representing 0.3% of the collected lice. Concerning goats, 53% and 30% of examined animals in Souk-Ahras and Guelma, were parasitized of lice. Two species of lice were found: Damalinia caprae and Linognathus africanus. For farmyard chickens, 69% and 100% of the farmyard chicken in Souk-Ahras and Mila were parasitized by lice, respectively. Menopon gallinae was the most frequently encountered louse in farmyard chicken in both regions. Eight other species were identified in Mila and four other species only in Souk-Ahras. Finally, 25% and 28% of the wild boars in Annaba and El Tarf were parasitized by lice, respectively. Haematopinus suis was the only species found on wild boars in both regions. Conclusion: These results are to be taken into account for lice control schemes and louse-borne diseases.
County-Scale Distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Continental United States

Abstract The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the primary vector to humans in the eastern United States of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, as well as causative agents of anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Its close relative in the far western United States, the western blacklegged tick Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, is the primary vector to humans in that region of the Lyme disease and anaplasmosis agents. Since 1991, when standardized surveillance and reporting began, Lyme disease case counts have increased steadily in number and in geographical distribution in the eastern United States. Similar trends have been observed for anaplasmosis and babesiosis. To better understand the changing landscape of risk of human exposure to disease agents transmitted by I. scapularis and I. pacificus, and to document changes in their recorded distribution over the past two decades, we updated the distribution of these species from a map published in 1998. The presence of I. scapularis has now been documented from 1,420 (45.7%) of the 3,110 continental United States counties, as compared with 111 (3.6%) counties for I. pacificus. Combined, these vectors of B. burgdorferi and other disease agents now have been identified in a total of 1,531 (49.2%) counties spread across 43 states. This marks a 44.7% increase in the number of counties that have recorded the presence of these ticks since the previous map was presented in 1998, when 1,058 counties in 41 states reported the ticks to be present. Notably, the number of counties in which I. scapularis is considered established (six or more individuals or one or more life stages identified in a single year) has more than doubled since the previous national distribution map was published nearly two decades ago. The majority of county status changes occurred in the North-Central and Northeastern states, whereas the distribution in the South remained fairly stable. Two previously distinct foci for I. scapularis in the Northeast and North-Central states appear to be merging in the Ohio River Valley to form a single contiguous focus. Here we document a shifting landscape of risk for human exposure to medically important ticks and point to areas of re-emergence where enhanced vector surveillance and control may be warranted.
Intrinsic Activity in the Fly Brain Gates Visual Information during Behavioral Choices

The small insect brain is often described as an input/output system that executes reflex-like behaviors. It can also initiate neural activity and behaviors intrinsically, seen as spontaneous behaviors, different arousal states and sleep. However, less is known about how intrinsic activity in neural circuits affects sensory information processing in the insect brain and variability in behavior. Here, by simultaneously monitoring Drosophila's behavioral choices and brain activity in a flight simulator system, we identify intrinsic activity that is associated with the act of selecting between visual stimuli. We recorded neural output (multiunit action potentials and local field potentials) in the left and right optic lobes of a tethered flying Drosophila, while its attempts to follow visual motion (yaw torque) were measured by a torque meter. We show that when facing competing motion stimuli on its left and right, Drosophila typically generate large torque responses that flip from side to side. The delayed onset (0.1–1 s) and spontaneous switch-like dynamics of these responses, and the fact that the flies sometimes oppose the stimuli by flying straight, make this behavior different from the classic steering reflexes. Drosophila, thus, seem to choose one stimulus at a time and attempt to rotate toward its direction. With this behavior, the neural output of the optic lobes alternates; being augmented on the side chosen for body rotation and suppressed on the opposite side, even though the visual input to the fly eyes stays the same. Thus, the flow of information from the fly eyes is gated intrinsically. Such modulation can be noise-induced or intentional; with one possibility being that the fly brain highlights chosen information while ignoring the irrelevant, similar to what we know to occur in higher animals.
Loss of HAI-2 in mice with decreased prostasin activity leads to an early-onset intestinal failure resembling congenital tufting enteropathy

Prostasin (CAP1/PRSS8) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored serine protease that is essential for epithelial development and overall survival in mice. Prostasin is regulated primarily by the transmembrane serine protease inhibitor, hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor (HAI)-2, and loss of HAI-2 function leads to early embryonic lethality in mice due to an unregulated prostasin activity. We have recently reported that critical in vivo functions of prostasin can be performed by proteolytically-inactive or zymogen-locked variants of the protease. Here we show that the zymogen form of prostasin does not bind to HAI-2 and, as a result, loss of HAI-2 does not affect prenatal development and survival of mice expressing only zymogen-locked variant of prostasin (Prss8 R44Q). Indeed, HAI-2-deficient mice homozygous for R44Q mutation (Spint2-/-;Prss8R44Q/R44Q) are born in the expected numbers and do not exhibit any obvious developmental abnormality at birth. However, postnatal growth in these mice is severely impaired and they all die within 4 to 7 days after birth due to a critical failure in the development of small and large intestines, characterized by a widespread villous atrophy, tufted villi, near-complete loss of mucin-producing goblet cells, loss of colonic crypt structure, and bleeding into the intestinal lumen. Intestines of Spint2-/-;Prss8R44Q/R44Q mice showed altered expression of epithelial junctional proteins, including reduced levels of EpCAM, E-cadherin, occludin, claudin-1 and -7, as well as an increased level of claudin-4, indicating that the loss of HAI-2 compromises intestinal epithelial barrier function. Our data indicate that the loss of HAI-2 in Prss8R44Q/R44Q mice leads to development of progressive intestinal failure that at both histological and molecular level bears a striking resemblance to human congenital tufting enteropathy, and may provide important clues for understanding and treating this debilitating human disease.
Mechanical Properties of Earlywood and Latewood Sections of Scots Pine Wood

The aim of this study was to determine the mechanical properties of earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) sections of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood, and determine the relationship between calculated and measured values. The bending strength, modulus of elasticity in bending, and the tensile strength of EW and LW sections were determined. The mechanical properties were calculated using EW and LW mechanical properties and LW proportion. Also, mechanical properties were determined in standard size samples and compared to the calculated properties. In earlywood and latewood sections, the bending strength was 37.3 MPa and 93.9 MPa, the modulus of elasticity in bending was 1557.6 MPa and 3600.4 MPa, and the tensile strength was 58.6 MPa and 189.6 MPa, respectively. The results showed that the LW section had higher mechanical properties than those of the EW section for all of the measured mechanical properties. The calculated bending strength, modulus of elasticity, and tensile strength values were 53.3 MPa, 2133.7 MPa, and 95.5 MPa, respectively. The calculated bending strength and modulus of elasticity values were lower compared to the measured values, while the calculated tensile strength values were higher than that of the measured values.
Norm compliance affects perceptual decisions through modulation of a starting point bias

Adaptive decisions in social contexts depend on both perceptual information and social expectations or norms. These are potentially in conflict when certain choices are beneficial for an individual, but societal rules mandate a different course of action. To resolve such a conflict, the reliability of information has to be balanced against potentially deleterious effects of non-compliance such as ostracism. In this study, we systematically investigated how interactions between perceptual and social influences affect decision-relevant cognitive processes. In a direction-of-motion discrimination task, participants received perceptual information alongside information on other players' choices. In addition, we created conflict scenarios where players’ choices affected other participants' monetary rewards dependent on whether their choices were in line or against the opinion of the other players. Importantly, we altered the strength of this manipulation in two separate experiments by contrasting motivations of either preventing harm or providing a benefit to others. Behavioural analyses and computational models of perceptual decisions showed that participants successfully integrated perceptual with social information. Participants' reliance on social information was effectively modulated in conflict situations. Critically, these effects were augmented when the strength of social norms was increased, indexing conditions under which social norms effectively influence decisions. These results inform theories of social influence by providing an account of how higher order goals like social norm compliance affect perceptual decisions.
Responses of soil respiration and its temperature/moisture sensitivity to precipitation in three sub

Both long-term observation data and model sim- ulations suggest an increasing chance of serious drought in the dry season and extreme flood in the wet season in south- ern China, yet little is known about how changes in precip- itation pattern will affect soil respiration in the region. We conducted a field experiment to study the responses of soil respiration to precipitation manipulations - precipitation ex- clusion to mimic drought, double precipitation to simulate flood, and ambient precipitation as control (abbr. EP, DP and AP, respectively) - in three subtropical forests in southern China. The three forest sites include Masson pine forest (PF), coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (MF) and mon- soon evergreen broad-leaved forest (BF). Our observations showed that altered precipitation strongly influenced soil res- piration, not only through the well-known direct effects of soil moisture on plant and microbial activities, but also by modification of both moisture and temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. In the dry season, soil respiration and its tem- perature sensitivity, as well as fine root and soil microbial biomass, showed rising trends with precipitation increases in the three forest sites. Contrarily, the moisture sensitivity of soil respiration decreased with precipitation increases. In the wet season, different treatments showed different effects in three forest sites. The EP treatment decreased fine root biomass, soil microbial biomass, soil respiration and its tem- perature sensitivity, but enhanced soil moisture sensitivity in all three forest sites. The DP treatment significantly in- creased soil respiration, fine root and soil microbial biomass in the PF only, and no significant change was found for the soil temperature sensitivity. However, the DP treatment in the MF and BF reduced soil temperature sensitivity significantly in the wet season. Our results indicated that soil respiration would decrease in the three subtropical forests if soil mois- ture continues to decrease in the future. More rainfall in the wet season could have limited effect on the response of soil respiration to the rising of temperature in the BF and MF.
Identification of key genes and pathways associated with classical Hodgkin lymphoma by bioinformatics analysis

The current study aimed to explore the mechanisms associated with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The GES12453 microarray dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database; the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between cHL samples and normal B cell samples by were identified using the limma package. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs gene were performed. Furthermore, construction and analysis of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was performed, and co-expression modules of DEGs were produced. A total of 450 DEGs were identified, comprising 216 upregulated and 234 downregulated genes in cHL compared with normal B cell samples. The DEGs were enriched in biological processes associated with immune response. The upregulated genes were mainly associated with the pathway of transcriptional misregulation in cancer, while downregulated genes were associated with B cell receptor signaling. PPI network analysis demonstrated that IL6 had the highest connectivity degree. Interleukin-6 (IL6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) were demonstrated to be involved with the response to cytokine GO term in co-expression module 1. Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), B-cell linker protein (BLNK), CD79B, phospholipase C γ2 (PLCG2) were enriched in the B cell receptor signaling pathway in module 2. Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C had the highest connectivity degrees in module 3 and module 4, respectively. The results suggested that DEGs, including IL6, STAT1, MMP9, SYK, BLNK, PLCG2 and CD79B, and the pathways of B cell receptor signaling, Epstein-Barr virus infection and transcriptional misregulation in cancer have strong potential to be useful as targets for diagnosis or treatment of cHL.
Calcitriol plays a protective role in diabetic nephropathy through anti-inflammatory effects.

AIMS To ascertain the protective role of calcitriol in the development of diabetic nephropathy and unravel the mechanism of the protective effects. METHODS In this prospective study, 69 patients were screened for type 1 diabetes, and 31 patients with type 1 diabetes were enrolled. Among these 31 patients, 24 patients had insufficient or deficient levels of serum vitamin D and 21 patients complied with calcitriol and were followed up. At baseline, these 21 patients who suffered from vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency displayed elevated inflammation markers and urinary albumin excretion in contrast with patients with sufficient vitamin D. Simultaneously, serum 25(OH)D3 level was negatively associated with serum and urinary inflammation markers, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and ICAM-1. Six months later, even though glycol-metabolism was not alleviated, all the serum and urinary inflammation markers decreased significantly. Meanwhile, proteinuria declined with inflammation markers. RESULTS Calcitriol supplementation alleviated inflammation and proteinuria in patients with type 1 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Calcitriol might delay the development of diabetic nephropathy through suppressing inflammation.
A source term formulation for the non linear euler equations in a conservative and perturbation form

The numerical simulation of aerodynamic noise is a complex task that can hardly be conducted through a single method / solver. Thus, one generally uses hybrid techniques that associate CFD and CAA computations, the latter being devoted respectively to the generation and the propagation of acoustics events. Such a methods / solvers association requires a coupling that can be achieved by two distinct approaches; the first one is the “surfacic coupling” that was initially developed at ONERA, and successfully applied within the framework of airframe noise. However, such a coupling presents some drawbacks that may render it inapplicable to realistic (and, thus, complex) configurations. Then, recently, another approach has been investigated, which is the “volumic coupling” technique. If such an technique is potentially more promising than the previous one, it however asks for more formulation / implementation work. In particular, it requires the establishment of a source term that can suit the CAA formulation and solver to be used with. In the present case, it then was necessary to derive a proper source term for the specific formulation ( Conservative, Perturbed, Non linear Euler’s equations ) and numerical tool (sAbrinA) that are used at ONERA for all the CAA purposes. This (innovative) source term constitutes the matter of the present paper; after a necessary reminder about the CFD / CAA hybrid approach and coupling techniques, a brief state-of-the-art of the ‘source term’ question will be made. After what the specific source term this paper is about will be detailed, the “volumic coupling” it allows being then illustrated / early validated with two academic test cases applications.
Efficiency of certain insecticides against the black vine thrips, Retithrips syriacus (Mayet) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) under laboratory and field conditions

The quantity and quality of grapevine fruit is very important to local and export productions. Black vine thrips (BVT), Retithrips syriacus (Mayet) (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) injured the leaves from seedling to the blooming fall. Insecticides are the main strategy to grapevine insect control. There is a little information about the susceptibility of BVT to insecticides. This study carried out to test the potency and residual activity of six insecticides with different mode of action under laboratory and field conditions. The LC 50 values for leaf dip after 24 hours with the insecticides were different. The emamectin benzoate was the most toxic against nymphs, and teflubenzuron was the least one, LC 50s value decreased significantly after 48, 72 hours post treatments. For teflubenzuron, the LC 50 values recorded were 11900, 7.05, 2.58 µg a.i./ ml after 24, 48 and 72 hours from treatment respectively. Based on the laboratory potency ratios, emamectin benzoate , malathion, and mineral oil showed higher effect against nymphs than adults by 3.11, 1.79, 1.18 folds after 24 hours, being 1.63, 12.73 folds for emamectin benzoate and teflubenzuron after 48 hours, and 1.68 for teflubenzuron after 72 hours. King Roby grapevine variety showed the most significant susceptibility to thrips infestation, while the Flaim was the most tolerant one. Emamectin benzoate was the highest in reduction ratios of nymphs thrips, where 92.30, 93.19 and 93.83% reduction at Flaim, Banaty, and King Roby varieties respectively. These results could be used in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for thrips control in grapevine.