Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) Home Range and Habitat Use in Late Winter and Early Breeding Season in Coastal Texas, USA

Abstract. Habitat use by the Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) in coastal Texas, USA is poorly understood. To provide data for effective management of the subspecies in Texas, home range size was estimated and habitat use was examined. From February-May of 2017 and 2018, regular locations of 13 radio-transmitted Eastern Black Rails were obtained at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. The mean fixed kernel home range for birds with ≥ 24 relocations was 2.3 ha, with a mean core area of 0.43 ha. Average 95% MCP home range was 0.98 ha with a mean core area of 0.12 ha. During radio tracking, an Eastern Black Rail nest was found on 19 March 2018, the earliest on record for the state. Birds used the Salt and Brackish High Tidal Marsh, Salty Prairie, and Baccharis (Baccharis spp.) Shrubland, and avoided Salt and Brackish Low Tidal Marsh. Home ranges contained a gently sloping elevation gradient suggesting the importance of on-foot access to higher ground. Protection and restoration of Salty Prairie, and Salt and Brackish High Tidal Marsh is recommended for maintaining Eastern Black Rail populations in coastal Texas.
Decreased MIP-3α Production from Antigen-Activated PBMCs in Symptomatic HIV-Infected Subjects

CD4+ CCR6+ T cells are highly susceptible to HIV infection, and a high cytokine producing CCR6+ T cell subset is selectively lost during HIV infection. The CCR6 chemokine MIP-3α (CCL20) is produced at sites of infection in SIV animal models. Recently, we have shown that MIP-3α inhibits HIV replication. This inhibition of HIV infection is mediated by CCR6 signaling and eventuates in increased APOBEC3G expression. Since there are few existing reports on the role of MIP-3α in health or disease, we studied its production by PBMCs from HIV-seronegative and HIV+ subjects. We evaluated the ability of PBMCs to produce MIP-3α in response to antigen stimulation using cells obtained from two groups: one composed of HIV-seronegative subjects (n = 16) and the other composed of HIV+ subjects (n = 58), some asymptomatic and some with clinically defined AIDS. Antigens included fragment C of the tetanus toxin, Candida albicans, whole-inactivated HIV, and HIV p24. MIP-3α was detected by ELISA in tissue culture supernatants of antigen-stimulated PBMCs. MIP-3α production by antigen-stimulated PBMCs was readily measured for HIV-negative subjects and for HIV-seropositive asymptomatic subjects, but not for patients with AIDS. These results suggest that subversion of the MIP-3α-CCR6 axis by HIV during the course of infection contributes to the loss of immune function that eventually leads to AIDS.
Brief Communication: Critical Infrastructure impacts of the 2021 mid-July western European flood event

Abstract. Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands were hit by extreme precipitation and flooding in July 2021. This Brief Communication provides an overview of the impacts to large-scale critical infrastructure systems and how recovery has progressed during the first six months after the event. The results show that Germany and Belgium were particularly affected, with many infrastructure assets severely damaged or completely destroyed. Impacts range from completely destroyed bridges and sewage systems, to severely damaged schools and hospitals. We find that large-scale risk assessments, often focused on larger (river) flood events, do not find these local, but severe, impacts. This may be the result of limited availability of validation material. As such, this study will not only help to better understand how critical infrastructure can be affected by flooding, but can also be used as validation material for future flood risk assessments.
Implementing a Low-End Disruption Strategy through Multiproject Lineage Management: The Logan Case

This paper analyzes how multiproject management can build up and develop a low-end disruptive strategy. It is based on a deep longitudinal analysis of a case within the automotive industry, namely, the Logan case developed by the Renault group. The results bring new insights into both the multiproject management and innovation strategy fields. On the project organizing side, it characterizes the complex and in some way ambiguous relations between the firm governance and the pilot project initiating the disruptive strategy. The case also formalizes project-lineage management as a way to expand the initial move into a diversified range of products and a multi-continent deployment, while keeping the key specificities of the pilot project. On the innovation strategy side, it demonstrates how disruptive strategy and organizational ambidexterity research fields can benefit from input from the project organizing domain.
Comparing Map Learning between Touchscreen-Based Visual and Haptic Displays: A Behavioral Evaluation with Blind and Sighted Users

The ubiquity of multimodal smart devices affords new opportunities for eyes-free applications for conveying graphical information to both sighted and visually impaired users. Using previously established haptic design guidelines for generic rendering of graphical content on touchscreen interfaces, the current study evaluates the learning and mental representation of digital maps, representing a key real-world translational eyes-free application. Two experiments involving 12 blind participants and 16 sighted participants compared cognitive map development and test performance on a range of spatio-behavioral tasks across three information-matched learning-mode conditions: (1) our prototype vibro-audio map (VAM), (2) traditional hardcopy-tactile maps, and (3) visual maps. Results demonstrated that when perceptual parameters of the stimuli were matched between modalities during haptic and visual map learning, test performance was highly similar (functionally equivalent) between the learning modes and participant groups. These results suggest equivalent cognitive map formation between both blind and sighted users and between maps learned from different sensory inputs, providing compelling evidence supporting the development of amodal spatial representations in the brain. The practical implications of these results include empirical evidence supporting a growing interest in the efficacy of multisensory interfaces as a primary interaction style for people both with and without vision. Findings challenge the long-held assumption that blind people exhibit deficits on global spatial tasks compared to their sighted peers, with results also providing empirical support for the methodological use of sighted participants in studies pertaining to technologies primarily aimed at supporting blind users.
Status of InP HEMT technology for microwave receiver applications

The current status of InP-based high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) technology for low noise amplification at frequencies up to more than 100 GHz is presented. Following a review of recent advances industry-wide in both device and circuit performance, two issues which will pace the rate at which this new technology can be inserted into microwave systems-material/process maturity and long-term reliability-are discussed.
Expression of adipokine ghrelin and ghrelin receptor in human colorectal adenoma and correlation with the grade of dysplasia

BACKGROUND Ghrelin is an adipokine that plays an important role in energy balance. Expression of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor has been investigated in different tissues and tumors. Studies regarding expression of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor in colorectal tumors are scarce and no data on expression of ghrelin and its receptor in colorectal adenomas has been published. Ghrelin and ghrelin receptor were highly expressed in colon carcinoma cells while expression was decreased in less differentiated tumors, presuming that ghrelin might be important in early phases of tumorigenesis. AIM To investigate the expression of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor in human colorectal adenomas and adjacent colorectal tissue. METHODS In this prospective study (conducted from June 2015 until May 2019) we included 92 patients (64 male and 28 female) who underwent polypectomy for colorectal adenomas in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Sestre milosrdnice” Clinical Hospital Center in Zagreb, Croatia. After endoscopic removal of colorectal adenoma, an additional sample of colon mucosa in the proximity of the adenoma was collected for pathohistological analysis. Adenomas were graded according to the stage of dysplasia, and ghrelin and ghrelin receptor expression were determined immunohistochemically in both adenoma and adjacent colon tissue using the polyclonal antibody for ghrelin (ab150514, ABCAM Inc, Cambridge, United States) and ghrelin receptor (ab48285, ABCAM Inc, Cambridge, United States). Categorical and nominal variables were described through frequencies and proportions and the difference between specific groups were analyzed with Fisher’s and Fisher-Freeman-Halton’s method respectively. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was determined for correlation of expression of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor in adenoma and adjacent colon tissue with the grade of adenoma dysplasia. RESULTS Among 92 patients with colorectal adenoma 43 had adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (46.7%). High expression of ghrelin was 7 times more common in high-grade adenoma compared to low-grade adenomas (13.95% to 2.04%, P = 0.048), while the expression of ghrelin in adjacent colon tissue was low. We found no correlation between ghrelin receptor expression in adenoma and adjacent colon tissue and the grade of colorectal adenoma dysplasia. The most significant correlation was found between ghrelin and ghrelin receptor expression in adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (rho = 0.519, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Ghrelin and ghrelin receptor are expressed in colorectal adenoma and adjacent tissue with ghrelin expression being more pronounced in high grade dysplasia as a possible consequence of increased local synthesis.
Traffic and Highway Engineering THIRD EDITION

The book is designed for students in engineering programs where introductory courses in transportation, highway, or traffic engineering are offered. The emphasis of this book is the area of traffic and highway engineering. The following chapters are included: The Profession of Transportation Engineering; Transportation Systems and Organizations; Characteristics of the Driver, the Pedestrian, the Vehicle, and the Road; Traffic Engineering Studies; Highway Safety; Fundamental Principles of Traffic Flow; Intersection Design; Intersection Control; Capacity and Level of Service of Two-Lane Highways, Multilane Highways, and Freeway Segments; Capacity and Level of Service at Signalized Intersections; the Transportation Planning Process; Forecasting Travel Demand; Evaluating Transportation Alternatives; Transportation Systems Management; Highway Surveys and Location; Geometric Design of Highway Facilities; Highway Drainage; Soil Engineering for Highway Design; Bituminous Materials; Design of Flexible Pavements; Design of Rigid Pavements; Pavement Management.
Cross-lagged associations between cognitive dispositions, identity processing styles, and identity commitments

ABSTRACT The developmental interplay among cognitive dispositions (need for cognition and faith in intuition), identity processing styles (informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant), and identity commitments was examined. Participants (N = 269 university students) completed measures of the study variables twice separated by a three-month interval. A rational cognitive disposition at T1 predicted increases in informational style scores and decreases in normative style scores at T2. The informational style also predicted increases in rational reasoning scores over time. High informational and normative scores at T1 predicted increases in identity commitment. Commitment scores at T1 predicted decreased diffuse-avoidant scores at T2. Implications of the findings for the role cognitive processes and identity styles play in identity formation are considered.
Mass of different snow crystal shapes derived from fall speed measurements

Abstract. Meteorological forecast and climate models require good knowledge of the microphysical properties of hydrometeors and the atmospheric snow and ice crystals in clouds, for instance, their size, cross-sectional area, shape, mass, and fall speed. Especially shape is an important parameter in that it strongly affects the scattering properties of ice particles and consequently their response to remote sensing techniques. The fall speed and mass of ice particles are other important parameters for both numerical forecast models and the representation of snow and ice clouds in climate models. In the case of fall speed, it is responsible for the rate of removal of ice from these models. The particle mass is a key quantity that connects the cloud microphysical properties to radiative properties. Using an empirical relationship between the dimensionless Reynolds and Best numbers, fall speed and mass can be derived from each other if particle size and cross-sectional area are also known. In this study, ground-based in situ measurements of snow particle microphysical properties are used to analyse mass as a function of shape and the other properties particle size, cross-sectional area, and fall speed. The measurements for this study were done in Kiruna, Sweden, during snowfall seasons of 2014 to 2019 and using the ground-based in situ Dual Ice Crystal Imager (D-ICI) instrument, which takes high-resolution side- and top-view images of natural hydrometeors. From these images, particle size (maximum dimension), cross-sectional area, and fall speed of individual particles are determined. The particles are shape-classified according to the scheme presented in our previous study, in which particles sort into 15 different shape groups depending on their shape and morphology. Particle masses of individual ice particles are estimated from measured particle size, cross-sectional area, and fall speed. The selected dataset covers sizes from about 0.1 to 3.2 mm, fall speeds from 0.1 to 1.6 m s−1, and masses from 0.2 to 450 µg. In our previous study, the fall speed relationships between particle size and cross-sectional area were studied. In this study, the same dataset is used to determine the particle mass, and consequently, the mass relationships between particle size, cross-sectional area, and fall speed are studied for these 15 shape groups. Furthermore, the mass relationships presented in this study are compared with the previous studies. For certain crystal habits, in particular columnar shapes, the maximum dimension is unsuitable for determining Reynolds number. Using a selection of columns, for which the simple geometry allows the verification of an empirical Best-number-to-Reynolds-number relationship, we show that Reynolds number and fall speed are more closely related to the diameter of the basal facet than the maximum dimension. The agreement with the empirical relationship is further improved using a modified Best number, a function of an area ratio based on the falling particle seen in the vertical direction.
Dual Passive Reactive Brain-Computer Interface: A Novel Approach to Human-Machine Symbiosis

The present study proposes a novel concept of neuroadaptive technology, namely a dual passive-reactive Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), that enables bi-directional interaction between humans and machines. We have implemented such a system in a realistic flight simulator using the NextMind classification algorithms and framework to decode pilots’ intention (reactive BCI) and to infer their level of attention (passive BCI). Twelve pilots used the reactive BCI to perform checklists along with an anti-collision radar monitoring task that was supervised by the passive BCI. The latter simulated an automatic avoidance maneuver when it detected that pilots missed an incoming collision. The reactive BCI reached 100% classification accuracy with a mean reaction time of 1.6s when exclusively performing the checklist task. Accuracy was up to 98.5% with a mean reaction time of 2.5s when pilots also had to fly the aircraft and monitor the anti-collision radar. The passive BCI achieved a F1 − score of 0.94. This first demonstration shows the potential of a dual BCI to improve human-machine teaming which could be applied to a variety of applications.
Hydrated Lime Stabilization of Sulfate-Bearing Vertisols in Texas

Sulfate-bearing subgrade soils treated with calcium-based stabilizers often experience heaving problems (three-dimensional swell) caused by chemical reactions with the sulfate or sulfide minerals. Two research questions were addressed: (a) what sulfate content results in deleterious chemical reactions using traditional (no mellowing) lime stabilization and (b) how effective mellowing, double lime application and increased moisture content are at reducing swell in high-sulfate soils. To determine what concentrations of sulfate are too high for stabilization with lime in Texas, a soil from the Vertisol order was selected for three-dimensional swell measurements. This soil did not contain any detectable sulfates. Two different compounds were added to the soil: sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O). The sulfates were added to individual samples at concentrations of 0; 1,000; 2,000; 3,000; 5,000; 7,000; and 12,000 parts per million (ppm). The samples were then subjected to a three-dimensional swell test for a minimum of 45 days. Results of systematic swell experiments revealed that sulfate contents up to 3,000 ppm could safely be treated with traditional lime stabilization. Coarse-grained sulfates take longer to swell, but still swell and form deleterious reaction products. Mellowing is effective at treating sulfate concentrations up to at least 7,000 ppm, higher molding moisture contents (2% above optimum moisture) reduce swell better than optimum moisture, and single application of lime reduces swell better than double application. With systematic laboratory experiments, empirical field observations of sulfate limits presented by other investigators were confirmed.
Sustainable Design Approach for Modeling Bioprocesses from Laboratory toward Commercialization: Optimizing Chitosan Production

Enhancing the biochemical supply chain towards sustainable development requires more efforts to boost technology innovation at early design phases and avoid delays in industrial biotechnology growth. Such a transformation requires a comprehensive step-wise procedure to guide bioprocess development from laboratory protocols to commercialization. This study introduces a process design framework to guide research and development (R&D) through this journey, bearing in mind the particular challenges of bioprocess modeling. The method combines sustainability assessment and process optimization based on process efficiency indicators, technical indicators, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and process optimization via Water Regeneration Networks (WRN). Since many bioprocesses remain at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), the process simulation module was examined in detail to account for uncertainties, providing strategies for successful guidance. The sustainability assessment was performed using the geometric mean-based sustainability footprint metric. A case study based on Chitosan production from shrimp exoskeletons was evaluated to demonstrate the method’s applicability and its advantages in product optimization. An optimized scenario was generated through a WRN to improve water management, then compared with the case study. The results confirm the existence of a possible configuration with better sustainability performance for the optimized case with a sustainability footprint of 0.33, compared with the performance of the base case (1.00).
Echinacea purpurea Alleviates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice

Echinacea purpurea (EP) has been widely used to treat upper respiratory infections, influenza, and the common cold. It can also exert various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. However, the potential of EP to modulate immune reactions remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the immunostimulatory effects of EP in cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced immunosuppressed mice. In this study, EP extract (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg) was orally administered to cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. Then, indexes of immune organs, including the spleen and thymus, were recorded. Splenocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activities were measured by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Subsets of T cells, such as CD4+ and CD8+, were measured by flow cytometry, and immuno-cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The immunosuppressed mice showed decreased thymus and spleen indexes and immune cell activities. Treatment of EP elevated the indexes of immune organs, splenocyte proliferation, and NK cell activities in CP-induced immunosuppressed mice. Simultaneously, administration of EP reversed the CP-induced decrease in T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4+ and CD8+) and immunocytokines (IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ). Taken together, these findings suggest that EP could be used to enhance health and immunity in immunosuppressed conditions.
Investigation of Temperature Sensing Capabilities of GaN/SiC and GaN/Sapphire Surface Acoustic Wave Devices

This paper proposes high sensitivity temperature sensors based on single port surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with GHz resonance frequencies, developed on GaN/SiC and GaN/Sapphire, which permit wide range, accurate temperature determinations. In contrast with GaN/Si SAW based temperature sensors, SiC and Sapphire substrates enable the proper functionality of these devices up to 500°C (773 K), as the high resistivity Si substrate becomes conductive at temperatures exceeding 250°C (523 K) due to the relative low bandgap (and high intrinsic carrier concentrations). Low temperature measurements were carried out using a cryostat between -266°C (7 K) and room temperature (RT) while the high temperature measurements are made on a modified RF probe station. A polynomial fit was used below RT and a linear approximation was evidenced between RT and 500°C (773 K). The structures were simulated at different selected temperatures based on a method that couples Finite Element Method (FEM) and Coupling of Modes (COM). The measured temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) is about 46 ppm/°C for GaN/SiC SAWs and reaches values of 96 ppm/°C for GaN/Sapphire SAW in the temperature range 25 – 500°C (298 K – 773 K).
Private 5G Networks: Concepts, Architectures, and Research Landscape

A private fifth generation (5G) network is a dedicated 5G network with enhanced communication characteristics, unified connectivity, optimized services, and customized security within a specific area. By subsuming the advantages of both public and non-public 5G networks, private 5G networks have found their applications across industry, business, utilities, and the public sector. As a promising accelerator for Industry 4.0, the concept of a private 5G network has recently attracted significant research attention from industry and academia. This article provides a comprehensive review of research on private 5G networks. Specifically, this paper first provides an overview of the concept and architecture of private 5G networks. It then discusses implementation issues and key enabling technologies for private 5G networks, followed by their more appealing use cases and existing real-life demonstrations. Finally, it examines some research challenges and future directions regarding private 5G networks.