Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of JAXA/MODIS sea surface temperature in water around Taiwan using the Terra and Aqua satellites

The research vessel-based Conductivity Temperature Depth profiler (CTD) provides underwater measurements of the bulk sea surface temperature (SST) at the depths of shallower than 5 m. The CTD observations of the seas around Taiwan provide useful data for comparison with SST of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers) aboard Aqua and Terra satellites archived by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). We produce a high-resolution (1 km) MODIS SST by using Multi-Channel SST (MCSST) algorithm. There were 1516 cloud-free match-up data pairs of MODIS SST and in situ measurements during the period from 2003 - 2005. The difference of the root mean square error (RMSE) of satellite observations from each platform during the day and at night was: 0.88°C in Aqua daytime, 0.71°C in Aqua nighttime, 0.71°C in Terra daytime, and 0.60°C in Terra nighttime. The total analysis of MODIS-derived SST shows good agreement with a bias of 0.03°C and RMSE of 0.75°C. The analyses indicate that the bias of Aqua daytime was always positive throughout the year and the large RMSE should be attributed to the large positive bias (0.45°C) under diurnal warming. It was also found that the bias of Terra daytime was usually negative with a mean bias of -0.41°C; its large RMSE should be treated with care because of low solar radiation in the morning. Key word: SST, Taiwan, MODIS, Satellite observation
Morphology of Inner Hair Cell Stereocilia in C57BL/6J Mice as Studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy

The observation that hair cell tuning curves exhibit frequency selectivity as sharply tuned as that seen in auditory nerve fibers has prompted closer examination of the sensory hairs or stereocilia. The present study was designed to examine the morphologic organization of inner hair cell stereocilia in a mammalian species, the neonatal C57BL/6J mouse. The cochleae of mice were fixed in OSO4, dehydrated, dissected, and prepared for scanning electron microscopy. An examination of the number of stereocilia per inner hair cell revealed an orderly decrease from base to apex. Conversely, there was a 300% increase in the height of the tallest stereocilia, a 100% increase in the height of the middle row stereocilia, and a 30% increase in shortest stereocilia from base to apex. The total surface area of the stereocilia, per hair cell, was shown to increase by approximately 250% from the base to the apex of the cochlea.
In vitro antifungal activity of pneumocandin L-743,872 against a variety of clinically important molds

The in vitro activity of the new antifungal drug pneumocandin L-743,872 against 55 isolates of clinically important molds was examined by an adapted macrobroth dilution method for yeasts. Pneumocandin L-743,872 exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against Alternaria sp. , Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Curvularia lunata, Exophiala jeanselmei, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Paecilomyces variotii, and Scedosporium apiospermum. The drug appeared to lack significant in vitro inhibitory activity against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Rhizopus arrhizus, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Scedosporium prolificans.
Learning curve of a trainee ophthalmologist in manual small incision cataract surgery: A self-appraisal

Purpose: To appraise the learning pattern in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) of a trainee ophthalmologist. Setting: Sankara Eye Hospital, Pammal, Chennai, India. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Case files of patients who underwent MSICS during the training were reviewed. Surgical complications, nucleus density, extent of supervisors’ intervention in surgeries and visual acuity were either tabulated or graphically presented. Two-way ANOVA and multiple regressions were used to compare dependent variables. Results: There were 123 eyes of 123 patients {males 49 (39.8%), females 74 (60.2%)}. The mean age was 63.19 + 6.6 years with a range of 40-80 years. The worst post-operative visual acuity (VA) was in the first month of training. With an overall complication rate of 30.9%, posterior capsular rent (PCR) was most prevalent in eyes operated in the first month of training (3 of 18 eyes, 16.7%). Supervisors’ intervention in surgeries was highest in the first month of training and declined as training progressed. Fischer’s Exact test for intraoperative complications and extents of supervision showed a statistically significant (P = 0.012). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that density of nucleus was statistically significant (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Three months appear sufficient for learning the surgical rudiments of MSICS for a trainee with a modest competence in Extra-capsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE), especially if surgeries are performed on a continuous basis during the period.
Coaxial Electrospinning and Characterization of Core-Shell Structured Cellulose Nanocrystal Reinforced PMMA/PAN Composite Fibers

A modified coaxial electrospinning process was used to prepare composite nanofibrous mats from a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) solution with the addition of different cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as the sheath fluid and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution as the core fluid. This study investigated the conductivity of the as-spun solutions that increased significantly with increasing CNCs addition, which favors forming uniform fibers. This study discussed the effect of different CNCs addition on the morphology, thermal behavior, and the multilevel structure of the coaxial electrospun PMMA + CNCs/PAN composite nanofibers. A morphology analysis of the nanofibrous mats clearly demonstrated that the CNCs facilitated the production of the composite nanofibers with a core-shell structure. The diameter of the composite nanofibers decreased and the uniformity increased with increasing CNCs concentrations in the shell fluid. The composite nanofibrous mats had the maximum thermal decomposition temperature that was substantially higher than electrospun pure PMMA, PAN, as well as the core-shell PMMA/PAN nanocomposite. The BET (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller) formula results showed that the specific surface area of the CNCs reinforced core-shell composite significantly increased with increasing CNCs content. The specific surface area of the composite with 20% CNCs loading rose to 9.62 m2/g from 3.76 m2/g for the control. A dense porous structure was formed on the surface of the electrospun core-shell fibers.
EEG-based Valence Level Recognition for Real-Time Applications

Emotions are important in human-computer interaction. Emotions could be classified based on 3-dimensional Valence-Arousal-Dominance model which allows defining any number of emotions even without discrete emotion labels. In this paper, we proposed a real-time EEG-based subject-dependent valence level recognition algorithm, where the thresholds were used to identify different levels of the valence dimension of the human emotion. The algorithm was tested by using the EEG data labeled with valence levels. The algorithm could identify valence levels continuously. The algorithm was tested with the experiment data and with the benchmark affective EEG database DEAP where up to 9 levels of valence dimension with high/low dominance were recognized. Then, the algorithm was applied to recognize 16 emotions defined by high/low arousal, high/low dominance and 4 levels of valence. At least 14 electrodes should be used to get the better accuracy. The proposed algorithm could be implemented in different real-time applications such as emotional avatar and E-learning systems.
The Effect of Physical Activity on Physical Fitness in Early Childhood

In the era of digital life, it provides convenience in various aspects of life. Children familiar with gadgets tend to prefer playing with them or choosing to watch. This raises sedentary behaviour in children so that children do less physical activity and can trigger other diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, respiratory, psychological, etc. This research is a literature study that discusses the effects of physical activity on children's health. The primary literature consists of 15 national and international journals. The results showed that physical activity has a positive effect in terms of health and academics.
Resistance to thermal stress in corals without changes in symbiont composition

Discovering how corals can adjust their thermal sensitivity in the context of global climate change is important in understanding the long-term persistence of coral reefs. In this study, we showed that short-term preconditioning to higher temperatures, 3°C below the experimentally determined bleaching threshold, for a period of 10 days provides thermal tolerance for the symbiosis stability between the scleractinian coral, Acropora millepora and Symbiodinium. Based on genotypic analysis, our results indicate that the acclimatization of this coral species to thermal stress does not come down to simple changes in Symbiodinium and/or the bacterial communities that associate with reef-building corals. This suggests that the physiological plasticity of the host and/or symbiotic components appears to play an important role in responding to ocean warming. The further study of host and symbiont physiology, both of Symbiodinium and prokaryotes, is of paramount importance in the context of global climate change, as mechanisms for rapid holobiont acclimatization will become increasingly important to the long-standing persistence of coral reefs.
Knowledge of patients with cancer about palliative care: a bibliometric study

Abstract This research seeks to characterize the bibliometric indicators regarding cancer patients’s knowledge about palliative care. Bibliographic search associating the descriptors “ patient, ” “ palliative care, ” “ knowledge ” and “ neoplasm ” found low publication ratio and limited conexion among authors. Asian countries account for most publications, but the level of knowledge on the topic was limited given its strong association with end-of-life care aimed at hospitalized cancer patients without possibility of cure. Mapping the main bibliometric indicators on knowledge about palliative care pointed out the need for further publications on the topic to provide better understanding.
DAN directs endolymphatic sac and duct outgrowth in the avian inner ear

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are expressed in the developing vertebrate inner ear and participate in inner ear axial patterning and the development of its sensory epithelium. BMP antagonists, such as noggin, chordin, gremlin, cerberus, and DAN (differential screening‐selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma) inhibit BMP activity and establish morphogenetic gradients during the patterning of many developing tissues and organs. In this study, the role of the BMP antagonist DAN in inner ear development was investigated. DAN‐expressing cell pellets were implanted into the otocyst and the periotic mesenchyme to determine the effects of exogenous DAN on otic development. Similar to the effects on the inner ear seen after exposure of otocysts to the BMP4 antagonist noggin, semicircular canals were truncated or eliminated based upon the site of pellet implantation. Unique to the DAN implantations, however, were effects on the developing endolymphatic duct and sac. In DAN‐treated inner ears, endolymphatic ducts and sacs were merged with the crus or grew into the superior semicircular canal. Both the canal and endolymphatic duct and sac effects were rescued by joint implantation of BMP4‐expressing cells. Electroporation of DAN antisense morpholinos into the epithelium of stage 15–17 otocysts, blocking DAN protein synthesis, resulted in enlarged endolymphatic ducts and sacs as well as smaller semicircular canals in some cases. Taken together, these data suggest a role for DAN both in helping to regulate BMP activity spatially and temporally and in patterning and partitioning of the medial otic tissue between the endolymphatic duct/sac and medially derived inner ear structures. Developmental Dynamics 229:219–230, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High-efficiency on-line haemodiafiltration improves conduit artery endothelial function compared with high-flux haemodialysis in end-stage renal disease patients.

BACKGROUND Middle molecular weight uraemic toxins are considered to play an important role in vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular outcomes in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Recent dialysis techniques based on convection, specifically high-efficiency on-line haemodiafiltration (HDF), enhance the removal of middle molecular weight toxins and reduce all-cause mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the mechanisms of these improved outcomes remain to be established. METHODS This prospective study randomly assigned 42 ESRD patients to switch from high-flux HD to high-efficiency on-line HDF (n=22) or to continue HD (n=20). Brachial artery endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation, central pulse pressure, carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), internal diastolic diameter and distensibility and circulating markers of uraemia, inflammation and oxidative stress were blindly assessed before and after a 4-month follow-up. RESULTS Brachial flow-mediated dilatation and carotid artery distensibility increased significantly in the HDF group compared with HD, while carotid IMT and diameter remained similar. HDF decreased predialysis levels of the uraemic toxins β2-microglobulin, phosphate and blood TNFα mRNA expression. Oxidative stress markers were not different between the HD and HDF groups. Blood mRNA expression of protein kinase C β2, an endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) inhibitor, decreased significantly with HDF. CONCLUSIONS High-efficiency on-line HDF prevents the endothelial dysfunction and stiffening of the conduit arteries in ESRD patients compared with high-flux HD. HDF decreases uraemic toxins, vascular inflammation, and is associated with subsequent improvement in eNOS functionality. These results suggest that reduced endothelial dysfunction may be an intermediate mechanism explaining the beneficial outcomes associated with HDF.
Characterization of Induced Seismicity near an Injection Well at the Northwest Geysers Geothermal Field, California

We investigate the temporal and spatial dependence of source parameters of micro-earthquakes (<M3) before and during water injection at the Northwest Geysers between 2005 and 2010. Our objective is to understand the relation among injection, production and source mechanisms of micro-earthquakes. We examine a small area that surrounds an injection well (Prati 9) that extends into the deep zone. We utilize three approaches to determine the source parameters of the micro-earthquakes; the Empirical Green’s Function (EGF) method (Viegas et al., 2010), NetMoment method (Hutchings 2002), and moment tensor inversion (Minson and Dreger, 2008). We first compare the source parameters of 30 earthquakes determined using the three approaches for validation purposes, and then we determine the source parameters for all the earthquakes located within a small volume around the well head before and during injection. We find a good correlation coefficient of 91% between the monthly water injection-rate and the number of induced micro-earthquakes located inside the small volume, with a zero time lag, indicating that the seismic response to water injection is less than a month time. We find the b-value in the Gutenberg−Richter law, which equates the proportion of small earthquakes to large ones, increased from 1.3 to 1.6 with the start of water injection, indicating an increase of the number of small earthquakes relative to larger earthquakes due to reservoir stimulation. Our results indicate that micro-earthquakes at the Northwest Geysers have on average stress drops (mean of 11 MPa) comparable to the ones of natural occurring tectonic earthquakes in the region (around 17 MPa). We notice that the shape of the earthquake cloud is slightly elongated in the SW-NE direction, consistent with the preferential alignment direction of microcracks found in anisotropic studies, indicating that slip is being facilitated in pre-existing cracks. The study of micro-seismicity is a useful tool in reservoir exploration management, as it can be used to track the release of strain and the injected fluid flow paths, and to characterize the permeability of the reservoir. The source information has implications for understanding the physics of faulting and the principal mechanisms involved in induced seismicity.
Molecular analysis of ancient caries

An 84 base pair sequence of the Streptococcus mutans virulence factor, known as dextranase, has been obtained from 10 individuals from the Bronze Age to the Modern Era in Europe and from before and after the colonization in America. Modern samples show four polymorphic sites that have not been found in the ancient samples studied so far. The nucleotide and haplotype diversity of this region have increased over time, which could be reflecting the footprint of a population expansion. While this segment has apparently evolved according to neutral evolution, we have been able to detect one site that is under positive selection pressure both in present and past populations. This study is a first step to study the evolution of this microorganism, analysed using direct evidence obtained from ancient remains.
Flora Endemic Rare and Bioclimate of Palestine

Palestine was subject to classification study through the period from February to May 2017. This area has a characteristic of flora and biodiversity and belongs to dry, arid, semi-arid, sub-humid and humid climates, and locates in Mediterranean region. We took 400 samples of different plant species from Hebron (Idna, Althahreiyeh, Yatta villages and Hebron city); Jenin (Jenin city, Al-Yamon, Maysalon and Yabod); Jericho (Wadi Al-Qalt, Ain or Tal Sultan and Al-Nwehmeh) and Ramallah (Safa, Turmus Aya and Qibia). The absence of classification studies on the areas led us to run a statistical treatment on the 400 sampled flora of Palestine. Moreover, the classification was made following Braun-Blanquet in 1979; we transformed the Braun-Blanquet species abundance-dominance values into those of Van der Maarel in 1979. In the statistical treatment we obtained more than 53 plant species (Endemic rare) as Paronychia palaestina Eig , Trifolium palaestinum Boiss. , Trifolium philistaeum Zohary, Suaedaphilistaeum Zoharyand, and others, representing forests, copses, herbaceous and high shrublands influenced by climate (climatophilous), and edaphohygrophilic, and bioclimate factors as ombrotype and thermotype. However, according to study area we indicated that the flora endemic rare has 53 species, which of them 13% belong to Compositae family, 7.54% Poaceae, Liliaceae & Papilionaceae families, and 5.66% Iridaceae family.
Genetic Types and Metallogenic Model for the Polymetallic Copper–Gold Deposits in the Tongling Ore District, Anhui Province, Eastern China

The Tongling ore district is one of the most economically important ore areas in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, eastern China. It contains hundreds of polymetallic copper–gold deposits and occurrences. Those deposits are mainly clustered (from west to east) within the Tongguanshan, Shizishan, Xinqiao, Fenghuangshan, and Shatanjiao orefields. Until recently, the majority of these deposits were thought to be skarn‐ or porphyry–skarn‐type deposits; however there have been recent discoveries of numerous vein‐type Au, Ag, and Pb‐Zn deposits that do not fall into either of these categories. This indicates that there is some uncertainty over this classification. Here, we present the results of several systematic geological studies of representative deposits in the Tongling ore district. From investigation of the ore‐controlling structures, lithology of the host rock, mineral assemblages, and the characteristics of the mineralization and alteration within these deposits, three genetic types of deposits (skarn‐, porphyry‐, and vein‐type deposits) have been identified. The spatial and temporal relationships between the orebodies and Yanshanian intrusions combined with the sources of the ore‐forming fluids and metals, as well as the geodynamic setting of this ore district, indicate that all three deposit types are genetically related each other and constitute a magmatic–hydrothermal system. This study outlines a model that relates the polymetallic copper–gold porphyry‐, skarn‐, and vein‐type deposits within the Tongling ore district. This model provides a theoretical basis to guide exploration for deep‐seated and concealed porphyry‐type Cu (–Mo, –Au) deposits as well as shallow vein‐type Au, Ag, and Pb–Zn deposits in this area and elsewhere.
Analysis and Expansion of the Role of the Escherichia coli Protein ProQ

The decrease in proline transport by the proline porter ProP in a ΔproQ strain has been well documented; however, the reason for this phenotype remains undefined. Previous studies have speculated that ProQ facilitates translation of proP mRNA. Here, we demonstrate that ProQ is enriched in the polysome fractions of sucrose gradient separations of E. coli lysates and the 30S fractions of lysates separated under conditions causing ribosomal subunit dissociation. Thus, ProQ is a bona fide ribosome associated protein. Analysis of proQ constructs lacking predicted structural domains implicates the N-terminal domain in ribosome association. Association with the ribosome appears to be mediated by an interaction with the mRNA being translated, as limited treatment of lysates with Micrococcal Nuclease maintains ribosome integrity but disrupts ProQ localization with polysomes. ProQ also fails to robustly bind to mRNA-free 70S ribosomes in vitro. Interestingly, deletion of proP does not disrupt the localization of ProQ with translating ribosomes, and deletion of proP in combination with the proU operon has no effect on ProQ localization. We also demonstrate that ProQ is necessary for robust biofilm formation, and this phenotype is independent of ProP. Binding studies were carried out using tryptophan fluorescence and in vitro transcribed proP mRNAs. proP is transcribed from two differentially regulated promoters, and ProQ interacts with proP mRNA transcribed from both promoters, as well as a control mRNA with similar affinities. In total, these data suggest that ProQ is positioned to function as a novel translational regulator, and its cellular role extends beyond its effects on proline uptake by ProP.