Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Rain Gauges Distribution on the Runoff Simulation of a Small Mountain Catchment in Southern Ecuador

In places with high spatiotemporal rainfall variability, such as mountain regions, input data could be a large source of uncertainty in hydrological modeling. Here we evaluate the impact of rainfall estimation on runoff modeling in a small páramo catchment located in the Zhurucay Ecohydrological Observatory (7.53 km2) in the Ecuadorian Andes, using a network of 12 rain gauges. First, the HBV-light semidistributed model was analyzed in order to select the best model structure to represent the observed runoff and its subflow components. Then, we developed six rainfall monitoring scenarios to evaluate the impact of spatial rainfall estimation in model performance and parameters. Finally, we explored how a model calibrated with far-from-perfect rainfall estimation would perform using new improved rainfall data. Results show that while all model structures were able to represent the overall runoff, the standard model structure outperformed the others for simulating subflow components. Model performance (NSeff) was improved by increasing the quality of spatial rainfall estimation from 0.31 to 0.80 and from 0.14 to 0.73 for calibration and validation period, respectively. Finally, improved rainfall data enhanced the runoff simulation from a model calibrated with scarce rainfall data (NSeff 0.14) from 0.49 to 0.60. These results confirm that in mountain regions model uncertainty is highly related to spatial rainfall and, therefore, to the number and location of rain gauges.
The Impact of Parallel Fiber Background Activity on the Cable Properties of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

Neurons in the mammalian CNS receive 104-105 synaptic inputs onto their dendritic tree. Each of these inputs may fire spontaneously at a rate of a few spikes per second. Consequently, the cell is bombarded by several hundred synapses in each and every millisecond. An extreme example is the cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) receiving approximately 100,000 excitatory synapses from the parallel fibers (p.f.s) onto dendritic spines covering the thin dendritic branchlets. What is the effect of the p.f. s activity on the integrative capabilities of the PC? This question is explored theoretically using analytical cable models as well as compartmental models of a morphologically and physiologically characterized PC from the guinea pig cerebellum. The input of individual p.f. s was modeled as a transient conductance change, peaking at 0.4 nS with a rise time of 0.3 msec and a reversal potential of +60 mV relative to rest. We found that already at a firing frequency of a few spikes per second the membrane conductance is several times larger than the membrane conductance in the absence of synaptic activity. As a result, the cable properties of the PC significantly change; the most sensitive parameters are the system time constant (0) and the steady-state attenuation factor from dendritic terminal to soma. The implication is that the cable properties of central neurons in freely behaving animals are different from those measured in slice preparation or in anesthetized animals, where most of the synaptic inputs are inactive. We conclude that, because of the large conductance increase produced by the background activity of the p.f. s, the activity of the PC will be altered from this background level either when the p.f. s change their firing frequency for a period of several tens of milliseconds or when a large population of the p.f. s fires during a narrow time window.
Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC-1): Mutant truncation prevents binding to NudE-like (NUDEL) and inhibits neurite outgrowth

Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC-1) is a gene whose mutant truncation is associated with major psychiatric illness with a predominance of schizophrenic symptomatology. We have cloned and characterized rodent DISC-1. DISC-1 expression displays pronounced developmental regulation with the highest levels in late embryonic life when the cerebral cortex develops. In yeast two-hybrid analyses, DISC-1 interacts with a variety of cytoskeletal proteins. One of these, NudE-like (NUDEL), is associated with cortical development and is linked to LIS-1, the disease gene for a form of lissencephaly, a disorder of cortical development. The disease mutant form of DISC-1 fails to bind NUDEL. Expression of mutant, but not wild-type, DISC-1 in PC12 cells reduces neurite extension. As schizophrenia is thought to reflect defects in cortical development that are determined by cytoskeletal protein activities, the cellular disturbances we observe with mutant DISC-1 may be relevant to psychopathologic mechanisms.
Sedimentary architecture and depositional controls of a Holocene wave‐dominated barrier‐island system

Barrier‐island system evolution is controlled by internal and external forcing mechanisms, and temporal changes in these mechanisms may be recorded in the sedimentary architecture. However, the precise role of individual forcing mechanisms is rarely well understood due to limited chronological control. This study investigates the relative role of forcing conditions, such as antecedent topography, sea‐level rise, sediment supply, storms and climate changes, on the evolution of a Holocene wave‐dominated barrier‐island system. This article presents temporal reconstruction of the depositional history of the barrier‐island system of Rømø in the Wadden Sea in unprecedented detail, based on ground‐penetrating radar profiles, sediment cores, high‐resolution dating and palynological investigations, and shows that ca 8000 years ago the barrier island formed on a Pleistocene topographic high. During the initial phase of barrier evolution, the long‐term sea‐level rise was relatively rapid (ca 9 mm year−1) and the barrier was narrow and frequently overwashed. Sediment supply kept pace with sea‐level rise, and the barrier‐island system mainly aggraded through the deposition of a ca 7 m thick stack of overwash fans. Aggradation continued for ca 1700 years until sea‐level rise had decreased to <2 mm year−1. In the last ca 6000 years, the barrier prograded 4 to 5 km through deposition of a 10 to 15 m thick beach and shoreface unit, despite a long‐term sea‐level rise of 1 to 2 mm year−1. The long‐term progradation was, however, interrupted by a transgression between 4000 years and 1700 years ago. These results demonstrate that the large‐scale morphology of the Danish Wadden Sea shoreline influences the longshore sediment transport flux and the millennial‐scale dispersal of sediment along the shoreline. On decadal to centennial timescales, major storms induced intense beach and shoreface erosion followed by rapid recovery and progradation which resulted in a highly punctuated beach and shoreface record. Major storms contributed towards a positive sediment budget, and the sustained surplus of sediment was, and still is, instrumental in maintaining the aggradational–progradational state of the barrier island.
Ureteral complications after renal transplant in children: Timing of presentation, and their open and endoscopic management

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 24 consecutive patients undergoing treatment for ureteral complications after RTx in the period 2001–2012 to determine the timing of presentation of the complications, and their open or endoscopic management. Three patients (12%) had a necrosis of the transplanted ureter soon after RTx. All required open urinary diversion in a native ureter. Ten cases (42%) developed ureteral obstruction. Time of presentation was variable mainly in relation to the underlying cause. Endoscopic treatment was successful in two cases with urinary stones and open surgery in two with mid‐ureteral obstruction. Six patients had VUJ stenosis, three underwent open reimplantation, whereas temporary double‐J stent placement was successfully performed in the remainder. Eleven patients (46%) had VUR. It seldom presented in the first year after RTx. Endoscopic treatment was attempted in all and was successful in all the six cases without vs. only one of the five with lower urinary tract pathology (p = 0.01). Endoscopic treatment is an option in patients with VUR in the absence of lower urinary tract pathology. It is an option also for the treatment of stones and can be attempted in case of VUJ stenosis. Ureteral necrosis always requires open treatment.
The mass function and average mass-loss rate of dark matter subhaloes

We present a simple, semi-analytical model to compute the mass functions of dark matter subhaloes. The masses of subhaloes at their time of accretion are obtained from a standard merger tree. During the subsequent evolution, the subhaloes experience mass loss due to the combined effect of dynamical friction, tidal stripping, and tidal heating. Rather than integrating these effects along individual subhalo orbits, we consider the average mass-loss rate, where the average is taken over all possible orbital configurations. Under the Ansatz that the average distribution of orbits is independent of parent halo mass, this allows us to write the average mass-loss rate as a simple function that depends only on redshift and on the instantaneous mass ratio of subhalo and parent halo. After calibrating this model by matching the subhalo mass function (SHMF) of cluster-sized dark matter haloes obtained from high-resolution, numerical simulations, we investigate the predicted mass and redshift dependence of the SHMF. We find that, contrary to previous claims, the subhalo mass function is not universal. Instead, both the slope and the normalization depend on the ratio of the parent halo mass, M, and the characteristic non-linear mass M ∗ . This simply reflects a halo formation time dependence; more massive parent haloes form later, thus allowing less time for mass loss to operate. We predict that galaxy-sized haloes, with a present-day mass of M � 10 12 h −1 M� ,h av ea n average mass fraction of dark matter subhaloes that is a factor of 3 lower than for massive clusters with M � 10 15 h −1 M� . W ealso analyse the halo-to-halo scatter in SHMFs, and show that the subhalo mass fraction of individual haloes depends most strongly on their accretion history in the last ∼1 Gyr. Finally we provide a simple fitting function for the average SHMF of a parent halo of any mass at any redshift and for any cosmology, and briefly discuss several implications of our findings. Ke yw ords: methods: statistical ‐ galaxies: haloes ‐ cosmology: theory ‐ dark matter.
Major Factors Influencing the Health Impacts from Controlling Air Pollutants with Nonlinear Chemistry: An Application to China

Predicting the human‐health effects of reducing atmospheric emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from power plants, motor vehicles, and other sources is complex because of nonlinearity in the relevant atmospheric processes. We estimate the health impacts of changes in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone concentrations that result from control of NOx emissions alone and in conjunction with other pollutants in and outside the mega‐city of Shanghai, China. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Modeling System is applied to model the effects on atmospheric concentrations of emissions from different economic sectors and geographic locations. Health impacts are quantified by combining concentration‐response functions from the epidemiological literature with pollutant concentration and population distributions. We find that the health benefits per ton of emission reduction are more sensitive to the location (i.e., inside vs. outside of Shanghai) than to the sectors that are controlled. For eastern China, we predict between 1 and 20 fewer premature deaths per year per 1,000 tons of NOx emission reductions, valued at $300–$6,000 per ton. Health benefits are sensitive to seasonal variation in emission controls. Policies to control NOx emissions need to consider emission location, season, and simultaneous control of other pollutants to avoid unintended consequences.
Involvement of calprotectin (S100A8/A9) in molecular pathways associated with HNSCC

Calprotectin (S100A8/A9), a heterodimeric protein complex of calcium-binding proteins S100A8 and S100A9, plays key roles in cell cycle regulation and inflammation, with potential functions in squamous cell differentiation. While upregulated in many cancers, S100A8/A9 is downregulated in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix, esophagus, and the head and neck (HNSCC). We previously reported that ectopic S100A8/A9 expression inhibits cell cycle progression in carcinoma cells. Here, we show that declining expression of S100A8/A9 in patients with HNSCC is associated with increased DNA methylation, less differentiated tumors, and reduced overall survival. Upon ectopic over-expression of S100A8/A9, the cancer phenotype of S100A8/A9-negative carcinoma cells was suppressed in vitro and tumor growth in vivo was significantly decreased. MMP1, INHBA, FST, LAMC2, CCL3, SULF1, and SLC16A1 were significantly upregulated in HNSCC but were downregulated by S100A8/A9 expression. Our findings strongly suggest that downregulation of S100A8/A9 through epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to increased proliferation, malignant transformation, and disease progression in HNSCC.
A Numerical Study of Stratospheric Gravity Waves Triggered by Squall Lines Observed during the TOGA COARE and COPT-81 Experiments.

A 3D mesoscale model is used to study the structure and intensity of stratospheric gravity waves generated by tropical convection. Two prototypical cases are examined: a squall line observed during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) over the Pacific warm pool and a West African squall line observed during the Convection Profonde Tropicale 1981 (COPT-81) experiment. Gravity waves generated by these two squall lines are compared with those generated by a previously investigated event over northern Australia. Although the individual squall lines vary in intensity, the stratospheric gravity waves generated by the various storms have surprisingly similar amplitudes. The similarity in the wave amplitudes arises because within each storm there is a positive correlation between the updraft intensity and the height of the level of neutral buoyancy. When the level of neutral buoyancy is relatively high, the atmospheric density in the region of wave generation is relatively low, and this reduction in density tends to weaken the convectively triggered waves thereby compensating for the stronger updraft velocities in the more intense storms. The sensitivity of the azimuthal distribution of the convectively generated gravity waves to the upper-tropospheric and lower-stratospheric wind profile is also examined. In the absence of critical-level absorption, the motion of the storm relative to the stratospheric winds appears to be the single most important factor determining the azimuthal distribution of the waves. Stationary storm-relative waves, similar to mountain waves, may also be generated when there is a strong storm-relative stratospheric wind. The interaction of the gravity waves with shear layers representative of the eastward and westward phases of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is also examined. An analysis of the domain-averaged momentum budget supports the claim that the drag exerted by critical-level absorption of convectively generated gravity waves plays a nontrivial role in the downward propagation of the QBO.
Can attending preschool reduce the risk of tobacco smoking in adulthood? The effects of Kindergarten Union participation in South Australia

Background Innovative strategies beyond the health system are required to reduce the prevalence of smoking. Early child development interventions are examples of interventions that can help set children on positive social and educational trajectories, which in turn may also reduce the prevalence of smoking. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of attendance at Kindergarten Union preschools on tobacco smoking in adulthood. Methods Kindergarten Union preschools delivered comprehensive services to children and their families, including education, parenting and health services, with a number of features consistent with contemporary ideas of high-quality service delivery. Using a retrospective cohort design with data from the North West Adelaide Health Study, this study examined different aspects of smoking behaviour in adults aged 34–67 years who attended a Kindergarten Union preschool at some stage between 1940 and 1972. Data were analysed using generalised linear model poisson regression with robust variance estimates, adjusting for both child and adult socio-economic factors and history of parental smoking. Results People who attended preschool had a reduced risk of ever smoking (prevalence ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.98) and a reduced risk of current smoking in adulthood (prevalence ratio 0.77 (95% CI 0.59 to 1.00)), compared with those who did not attend preschool. There was no effect of preschool attendance on age at smoking uptake, age at quitting or the probability of quitting smoking. Conclusion Attendance at the high-quality Kindergarten Union preschools was associated with a reduction in the initial uptake of smoking and thus the probability of being a current smoker. Among their other potential social benefits, high-quality, universal preschool programmes have the potential to help reduce smoking prevalence across the population.
An Eye to a Kill: Using Predatory Bacteria to Control Gram-Negative Pathogens Associated with Ocular Infections

Ocular infections are a leading cause of vision loss. It has been previously suggested that predatory prokaryotes might be used as live antibiotics to control infections. In this study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens ocular isolates were exposed to the predatory bacteria Micavibrio aeruginosavorus and Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. All tested S. marcescens isolates were susceptible to predation by B. bacteriovorus strains 109J and HD100. Seven of the 10 P. aeruginosa isolates were susceptible to predation by B. bacteriovorus 109J with 80% being attacked by M. aeruginosavorus. All of the 19 tested isolates were found to be sensitive to at least one predator. To further investigate the effect of the predators on eukaryotic cells, human corneal-limbal epithelial (HCLE) cells were exposed to high concentrations of the predators. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that predatory bacteria do not damage ocular surface cells in vitro whereas the P. aeruginosa used as a positive control was highly toxic. Furthermore, no increase in the production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNF-alpha was measured in HCLE cells after exposure to the predators. Finally, injection of high concentration of predatory bacteria into the hemocoel of Galleria mellonella, an established model system used to study microbial pathogenesis, did not result in any measurable negative effect to the host. Our results suggest that predatory bacteria could be considered in the near future as a safe topical bio-control agent to treat ocular infections.
The role of cardiac output monitoring in obstetric anesthesia

Purpose of review Haemodynamic monitoring in obstetric patients has evolved during the last decade, with the development of minimally invasive and noninvasive continuous cardiac output (CO) monitors. This review focuses on recent articles that improve our understanding of physiology and haemodynamic changes during spinal anaesthesia in healthy pregnant women, and pathophysiology in women with preeclampsia and other cardiovascular disease. Recent findings Recent research findings in healthy women focus on the haemodynamic changes due to aortocaval compression, fluid administration, vasopressor therapy, and oxytocin during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. In preeclampsia, the haemodynamics of early versus late-onset disease and fluid management have been the subject of considerable investigation. Case reports suggest that invasive monitoring in combination with echocardiography is preferable for clinical management of high-risk obstetrics cases with unstable haemodynamics. Summary In healthy women, left lateral tilt remains an important clinical intervention during caesarean delivery, and phenylephrine is an essential early adjunct to fluid therapy. Noradrenaline may have a clinical benefit in selected patients. Carbetocin has similar haemodynamic effects to oxytocin. Haemodynamic changes associated with delivery per se may be minor compared with those due to oxytocin. Uncomplicated severe preeclampsia is usually associated with a normal to raised CO. Early-onset preeclampsia may be associated with more vasoconstriction and lower CO than late-onset disease. Passive leg raising may be useful to judge fluid responsiveness, and lung ultrasound may predict pulmonary oedema in preeclampsia. Further research is warranted to study the area of circulatory changes during delivery and the postpartum period, in healthy and preeclamptic women.
Mobile Agents for Integration of Internet of Things and Wireless Sensor Networks

We demonstrate interoperable mobile agents to integrate Internet of Things and wireless sensor networks with resource-constrained low-power embedded networked devices. We introduce adaptable composition for the mobile agent, complying with the Representational State Transfer principles, which are then used for agent migration, controlling the agent and exposing the data, system resources, tasks and services, to the Web. We gather requirements for the system and heterogeneous networked devices and present an application programming interface to enable mobile agents in these systems. The agents are demonstrated in a real-world prototype with smartphones and embedded networked devices, where we utilize a proxy component to expose system resources to the Web for human-machine interactions. Spanning over disparate networks and protocols, the proxy translates messages including the agent composition, between HTTP and Constrained Application Protocol. Lastly, we suggest an evaluation method for the agent communication and migration costs, considering the different types of system resources and utilization.
Glyoxylate Regeneration Pathway in the Methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1

ABSTRACT Most serine cycle methylotrophic bacteria lack isocitrate lyase and convert acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) to glyoxylate via a novel pathway thought to involve butyryl-CoA and propionyl-CoA as intermediates. In this study we have used a genome analysis approach followed by mutation to test a number of genes for involvement in this novel pathway. We show that methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, an R-specific crotonase, isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase, and a GTPase are involved in glyoxylate regeneration. We also monitored the fate of 14C-labeled carbon originating from acetate, butyrate, or bicarbonate in mutants defective in glyoxylate regeneration and identified new potential intermediates in the pathway: ethylmalonyl-CoA, methylsuccinyl-CoA, isobutyryl-CoA, methacrylyl-CoA, and β-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA. A new scheme for the pathway is proposed based on these data.