Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal and annual variability of the diurnal cycle of clouds

Eight years of cloudiness data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) were analyzed to study the diurnal variation and its annual variation. An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis technique was used to analyze the ISCCP C-2 monthly hourly data. Results show that most of the diurnal variation is explained by the first two dominant EOF modes, which explain the diurnal cycle of clouds. On the basis of this analysis, two modes of diurnal cycle of clouds are defined. Mode 1 as defined by the first EOF indicates that cloudiness maximum occurs at 0500 or 1500 local solar time (LST); Mode 2 as defined by the second EOF indicates that cloudiness maximum occurs at 1000 or 2000 LST. In a broad sense, Mode 1 explains the diurnal cycle of low-level cloudiness, and Mode 2 explains the diurnal variation of high-level cloudiness. Mode 1 explains 58.5% of the normalized variance, and Mode 2 explains 25% of the normalized variance. Both modes of the diurnal cycle show annual variation. The Mode 1 annual variation is large along the western boundary currents over the oceanic regions and moist convective regions over the continents. Interestingly, this annual variation of the diurnal cycle of cloudiness bears some relationship with the annual variation of the surface temperature. This relationship is such that the cloudiness is maximum in the early morning when the annual surface temperature is at its minimum and in the afternoon when the annual surface temperature is at its maximum.
Dostarlimab: Novel paradigm shift in cancer therapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The rising global death from cancer requires novel approaches for treating various types of cancer. Numerous malignancies are now being treated more effectively by immunotherapy. Dostarlimab is an example of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) that works by blocking the programmed cell death protein-1 receptor (PD-1). Dostarlimab has shifted the paradigm of treatment of cancer from using conventional therapies to a new, promising approach. This new approach increases the options of therapies and chances to achieve a higher response rate. Dostarlimab is a novel antibody, that prevents the binding of ligands to PD-1 on T-cells. Dostarlimab has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in the treatment of various cancers such as endometrial cancer, rectal cancer, and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The cure rate with dostarlimab in some types of cancer, such as rectal cancer, is 100 %. This review presents a recent understanding of the use of dostarlimab in clinical trials and opens up the doors for clinicians and investigators about future possibilities of using dostarlimab either alone or combined with other anticancer medications to treat various cancers.
Magnetoimpedance Effect in Cobalt-Based Amorphous Ribbons with an Inhomogeneous Magnetic Structure

The results of a computer simulation and experimental study of the magnetoimpedance effect (MI) in amorphous Co68.5Fe4. 0Si15.0B12.5 and Co68.6Fe3. 9Mo3.0Si12. 0B12.5 ribbons in the ac frequency range from 0.01 to 100 MHz are presented. It was found that the maximum MI value exceeds 200%, which may be of interest in the development of magnetic field sensors. It is also shown that practically significant characteristics of the MI response strongly depend on the ac frequency, which is due to the inhomogeneous distribution of magnetic properties over the ribbon cross section. This distribution was studied using magnetoimpedance tomography based on the analysis of the experimental dependences of the reduced impedance on the ac frequency.
A technique for horizontal measurement of soil mechanical impedance.

ABSTRACT Two prototype horizontal operating soil penetrometers, a prismatic tip and a cone tip, were developed and compared to a vertically operated standard Delmi penetrometer. A sandy soil and a clay soil at two moisture contents and two penetration rates, 3 and 9 cm/s, were employed to evaluate the penetrometers in a laboratory soil bin. Experimental tests were arranged in a randomized complete block design with six replications. Both penetrometer tips performed satisfactorily and could serve as a basis for on-the-go penetration resistance measurements throughout a field. The penetration resistance (60-152 kPa) recorded by the horizontal penetrometers were well correlated to those given by a Delmi penetrometer with correlation coefficients from 0.742 to 0.988.
Obesity Is Associated with the Severity of Periodontal Inflammation Due to a Specific Signature of Subgingival Microbiota

The aim of this study was to analyze the link between periodontal microbiota and obesity in humans. We conducted a cohort study including 45 subjects with periodontitis divided into two groups: normo-weighted subjects with a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 25 kg/m2 (n = 34) and obese subjects with a BMI > 30 kg/m2 (n = 11). Our results showed that obesity was associated with significantly more severe gingival inflammation according to Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA index). Periodontal microbiota taxonomic analysis showed that the obese (OB) subjects with periodontitis were characterized by a specific signature of subgingival microbiota with an increase in Gram-positive bacteria in periodontal pockets, associated with a decrease in microbiota diversity compared to that of normo-weighted subjects with periodontitis. Finally, periodontal treatment response was less effective in OB subjects with persisting periodontal inflammation, reflecting a still unstable periodontal condition and a risk of recurrence. To our knowledge, this study is the first exploring both salivary and subgingival microbiota of OB subjects. Considering that OB subjects are at higher periodontal risk, this could lead to more personalized preventive or therapeutic strategies for obese patients regarding periodontitis through the specific management of oral microbiota of obese patients.
Descriptive Study of Oral Health in an Indigenous Child Population of Baka Pygmies in Cameroon

Indigenous populations around the world experience a disproportionate burden of oral diseases and health conditions. These inequalities are likely due to a complex web of socioeconomic, cultural, and health determinants. The Baka pygmies of southern Cameroon find themselves in this context of an indigenous population with health inequities. The purpose of this study was to describe the oral health status, diet, hygiene habits, and access to health services of the Baka pygmy children, from which different care needs will emerge in order to develop health strategies. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 Baka pygmy camps randomly selected. The study population consisted of children aged 5–6 years and 11–12 years chosen by a consecutive sampling technique. The examination was performed using a data sheet based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and recommendations which consisted of an oral health questionnaire for children and an oral health assessment form for children. A total of 120 children participated in the study. Extraoral examination of the study population revealed the presence of noma (1%) in the age range of 5–6 years. A total of 2713 teeth were examined, and the DMFT/dft index of the sample was 0.71 with a predominant caries component. The periodontal status showed 87% bleeding on probing. Seven percent of the sample presented a need for immediate urgent treatment due to pain and/or infection. Eighty-seven percent of the sample reported never having been examined by a dentist. The examination and oral care they received was only from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The conclusion of this descriptive study is that the precarious oral health situation of pygmy children combined with the absence of care services in general for the Baka pygmies generate a situation of great vulnerability.
Passionate hearts, torn loyalties: navigating the interplay between fandom and romance

Introduction The current study presents a thorough investigation of the attitudes and emotions expressed by the spouses and girlfriends of sports fans within the context of their long-term relationships. Its primary objective is to explore the potential ramifications that surface when individuals become deeply invested in a competitive sport, demonstrating intense emotional connections, broad knowledge, unwavering loyalty, and active engagement in fan-related activities. Methods The research methodology applied in this study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a sample of twelve spouses and girlfriends of fans. Results The principal findings elucidate four distinct themes that shed light on the intersection of fandom and romantic relationships. These themes include: “that’s what I signed up for”; “fandom as a gendered activity”; “the good, the bad, and the ugly”; and “sports fandom as an addiction. ” Discussion The study concludes by highlighting the crucial cultural context at work. The social criticism expressed by the interviewees toward non-traditional gender behaviors displayed by their partners serves as a cautionary message. These criticisms aim to preserve and uphold male dominance in sports, thereby reinforcing the notion of their unquestioned supremacy. Consequently, we argue that, within this context, latent aggressive behavior in men is perceived as a strategy to maintain their monopolistic control over sports domains.
The impacts of fine sediment on riverine fish

Elevated fine sediment input from terrestrial and aquatic sources as a result of anthropogenic activity is widely recognized to impact negatively on aquatic ecosystems. In rivers, freshwater fish are exposed to a range of impacts resulting from fine sediment pressures. To date, research on the effects of fine sediments on fish has been concentrated within relatively few families, notably the salmonidae. This paper reviews the literature describing indirect and direct impacts of fine sediment on freshwater fish as a contribution towards enhancing the understanding of the impacts of anthropogenic activities on freshwater ecosystems. We identify the causal mechanisms that underpin the observed negative response exhibited by fish populations to enhanced fine sediment loads, and the variability across different fish species. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Warm water formation and escape in the upper tropical Atlantic Ocean: 2. A numerical model study

We seek the simplest mass and heat balance scenario within the upper tropical Atlantic Ocean using a 2.5-layer numerical model, with the help of a newly suggested entrainment formula. The model ocean is driven by the seasonal wind and heat flux associated with the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The entrainment rate is scaled by the product of wind stress and shear at the bottom of the mixed layer. On an annual average, the northward transport of the tropical warm water is about 11 Sv, with roughly 10 Sv associated with entrainment of upper thermocline water. Out of the total 10 Sv of the needed upper thermocline water, 9 Sv enters the equatorial cell from the South Atlantic. The seasonal response to the ITCZ movement is most striking in the entrainment rate and the northward warm water escape rate. The entrainment is significant during May/December and ceases between January and March. The locally forced equilibrium response between the interface shear and the zonal wind stress east of 30°W appears to be responsible for this cycle. The warm water escape toward the North Atlantic takes place mainly from October to June and nearly stops during July/September. As a result of seasonal variations of the two key processes, namely, the entrainment and the northward warm water escape, the tropical warm water pool stores heat during May/October and lets heat escape in November/April.
Synoptic climatology of the Ross Ice Shelf and Ross Sea region of Antarctica: k‐means clustering and validation

The surface wind regime of the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS) is dominated by northward outflow influenced by drainage from both East and West Antarctica and synoptic disturbances over the Ross Sea. To quantify the effects of the wind regime on the climate of the region, we produce a synoptic climatology of the RIS and Ross Sea via a k‐means clustering technique applied to surface (10 m) winds from the ERA Interim reanalysis (1979–2011). We describe the generation of the climatology and discuss composites of surface winds, mean sea‐level pressure and temperature, which show a high degree of internally consistent structure and are similar to previous synoptic climatologies. While some small‐scale features are not fully resolved by the reanalysis, such as the channelling of katabatic flows, we identify a high degree of coherence between clustering results and available in situ data sources, suggesting that the ERA Interim represents the region well. We find that the surface wind field of the ice shelf is highly sensitive to the strength and position of cyclonic disturbances in the Ross Sea, the presence of which can aid outflow from the continental interior. Temperature displays a high level of sensitivity to circulation conditions due to the effects of steep temperature gradients surrounding the shelf and advective heat transport. Cold temperatures on the ice shelf coincide with drainage from East Antarctica, while warmer periods coincide with West Antarctic drainage; this is particularly clear during RIS air stream (RAS) events. The warmest periods occur during southward transport from the Ross Sea. The sensitivity of temperature to the origin of flows suggests circulation changes in the region are likely to significantly impact surface climate. Analysis of the frequency of varying synoptic events and their persistence confirms RAS is a very common and persistent feature of the region.
Geophysical and Geological Exploration of Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts: An Attempt of Small-Scale Mapping on a Micronesian Seamount

Ferromanganese crusts in the Pacific Ocean are potential economic resources of cobalt, nickel and platinum. Previous shipboard geological and geophysical exploration has been directed towards innovation in effective methods of mapping the abundance and grade of manganese nodules on the seafloor for evaluation and mine site selection. However, any simple techniques have not been valid for complicated and variable nature of the crusts and topography. This study attempts to establish a distribution pattern of ferromanganese deposits on a Micronesian seamount using conventional narrow-beam and SSS mapping, dredge sampling Cand TV/camera monitoring with a geological interpretation. We tried to correlate acoustic remote sensing data with the surface geology, and decipher the regional-scale distribution of crusts in relation to large-scale mass wasting that took place in the early Miocene or before. The general distribution pattern of crusts over the surface of the seamount indicates that only about 40% of the apparent “acoustic outcrop” represents actual ferromanganese crust coverage. The combined method outlined here is the most useful in evaluating ferromanganese deposits, prior to possible hi-tech fine-scale mapping using submersibles, ROV and AUV.
Phytoplankton communities of two floodplain lakes of the Dibru Saikhowa biosphere reserve, Tinsukia, Assam (Northeast India): Ecology, richness, and abundance

Phytoplankton communities of Dibru Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve (DSBR) beels were studied from October 2013 to September 2015 in two floodplain lakes (beels), namely Maghuri beel and No.11 beel in Tinsukia district, upper Assam, Northeast India. Phytoplankton reveal a richness of (61 species) belonging to five groups: Chlorophyta (35 species) > Bacillariophyta (13 species) > Euglenophyta (7 species) > Cyanophyta (5 species) > Dinophyta (1). The monthly phytoplankton richness indicated 13–32 (25 ±6) species) and 21–39 (30 ±5) and with distinct species importance of Chlorophyta (5-17) 12 ±4 and (10-24) 15 ±3 species in Maghuri beel and No.11 beel respectively. Phytoplankton abundance ranged between 162 ±157 n/L and 138 ±39 n/L and comprised a sub-dominant component of net plankton, i.e., between 39.7 ±15.8% and 41.0 ±9.9% in Maghuri beel and No.11 beel respectively. Seventeen abiotic factors recorded relatively limited influence on the phytoplankton richness and abundance of the sampled bells. The canonical correspondence analysis asserted higher cumulative influence along the first two axes of 17 abiotic factors on phytoplankton assemblages of Maghuri beel (76.46%) than in No.11 beel (61.73%) beels.
Weichselian history of the Fennoscandian ice sheet in southern Sweden and the southwestern Baltic Basin

This study presents the Weichselian stratigraphy on Kriegers Flak in the southwestern Baltic Sea, and correlates it to new sections in southernmost Sweden and to previously published stratigraphic sequences from SW Skåne. A total of four Weichselian advances are identified based on our correlations. The oldest till, observed only on Kriegers Flak, is dated to the Early or Middle Weichselian and tentatively correlated to the Ristinge advance, previously identified in Denmark. It is overlain by three interstadial sediment units, starting with brackish clay and followed by terrestrial and lacustrine deposits, which have been dated to 42–36 ka, and finally by glaciolacustrine clay dated to 28.5–26 ka. After 30 ka, the Fennoscandian ice sheet advanced through the Baltic Basin and into the coastal areas of southernmost Sweden where the Allarp Till was deposited, followed by a deglaciation sequence. The uppermost tills, the Dalby Till and the Lund till, were deposited during the LGM advance and the subsequent re‐advances through the Baltic Basin. Based on the new evidence it has been possible to identify and date a Middle and Late Weichselian till succession in southern Sweden and provide a strong correlation to the established glacial stratigraphies in Sweden and Denmark.
Representation of dry tropical layers and their origins in ERA-40 data

[1] The focus of this paper is the occurrence of dry intrusions in the tropical atmosphere and their origin. Dry layers are observed to have a wide range of thicknesses, so as guidance on the scales of interest the radiative impact of dry intrusions is investigated. Typically such intrusions would contribute an increase in OLR of 3 Wm -2 per 100 hPa thickness in a clear-sky scenario and less if clouds are present. The velocity fields from ERA-40 are used to calculate the back trajectories of air masses from radiosonde profiles. The humidity observed by the sondes is compared with humidity profiles reconstructed by taking ERA-40 specific humidity from the origin of the trajectories, reducing the value only if saturation occurs along the trajectory. The agreement found provides a validation of the trajectory technique used, which is then used to infer the origin of dry air masses during November and December 1992 at Kapingamarangi, in the tropical West Pacific. A variety of behaviors is found, with many dry events clearly associated with air masses descending from the extratropics. Four particular dry events are discussed.
Investigation of the Gas Permeation Properties Using the Volumetric Analysis Technique for Polyethylene Materials Enriched with Pure Gases under High Pressure: H2, He, N2, O2 and Ar

Polyethylene (PE) is widely used as a gas-sealing material in packing films and gas transport pipes. A technique for evaluating the permeability of water-insoluble gases has recently been developed. This technique is a volumetric analysis that is used to calculate the gas permeability by measuring the gas uptake and diffusivity. With this technique, we investigated the permeability of pure gases, such as H2, He, N2, O2 and Ar, enriched under high pressure up to 9 MPa in low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The gas uptake showed a linear pressure-dependent behavior that followed Henry’s law, and the diffusivity was independent of the pressure. Furthermore, the logarithmic diffusivity values of the five gases linearly decreased as their molecular kinetic diameters increased. The logarithmic solubility values linearly increased as the critical temperatures of the gases increased. The calculated permeability results were correlated with the volume fraction of the amorphous phase and the fractional free volume. This result newly showed that the amorphous phase was directly correlated to the fractional free volume.
Comparing MODIS and AERONET aerosol optical depth over China

The newest daily and monthly Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depths (AOD or τ) dataset over land, C005, retrieved using the second-generation operational algorithm, were evaluated using a ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) dataset from 13 sites over China. The dataset covers the period 2003–2006. Daily MODIS C005 AODs over China were found to have a positive bias with a relationship of τMODIS = 0.135 + 1. 022τAERONET, for which the offset is larger than reported global validation results. However, the relationship τMODIS = 0.021 + 0. 929τAERONET showed that monthly MODIS C005 AODs were an overestimation for small AOD and underestimation for high AOD. Both daily and monthly MODIS AOD retrievals showed poor performance in extreme aerosol conditions, e.g. under dust events or heavy urban/industrial haze. Nevertheless, both daily and monthly MODIS C005 AOD datasets can be used for investigation of aerosol spatial distribution and temporal variation over China.
Modulation of Influenza A virus NS1 expression reveals prioritization of host response antagonism at single-cell resolution

Influenza A virus (IAV) is an important human respiratory pathogen that causes significant seasonal epidemics and potential devastating pandemics. As part of its life cycle, IAV encodes the multifunctional protein NS1, that, among many roles, prevents immune detection and limits interferon (IFN) production. As distinct host immune pathways exert different selective pressures against IAV, as replication progresses, we expect a prioritization in the host immune antagonism by NS1. In this work, we profiled bulk transcriptomic differences in a primary bronchial epithelial cell model facing IAV infections at distinct NS1 levels. We further demonstrated that, at single cell level, the intracellular amount of NS1 in-part shapes the heterogeneity of the host response. We found that modulation of NS1 levels reveal a ranking in its inhibitory roles: modest NS1 expression is sufficient to inhibit immune detection, and thus the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including IFNs), but higher levels are required to inhibit IFN signaling and ISG expression. Lastly, inhibition of chaperones related to the unfolded protein response requires the highest amount of NS1, often associated with later stages of viral replication. This work demystifies some of the multiple functions ascribed to IAV NS1, highlighting the prioritization of NS1 in antagonizing the different pathways involved in the host response to IAV infection.