Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A short-term intervention with selenium affects expression of genes implicated in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the prostate

In parallel with the inconsistency in observational studies and chemoprevention trials, the mechanisms by which selenium affects prostate cancer risk have not been elucidated. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to examine the effects of a short-term intervention with selenium on gene expression in non-malignant prostate tissue. Twenty-three men received 300 μg selenium per day in the form of selenized yeast (n=12) or a placebo (n=11) during 5 weeks. Prostate biopsies collected from the transition zone before and after intervention were analysed for 15 participants (n=8 selenium, n=7 placebo). Pathway analyses revealed that the intervention with selenium was associated with down-regulated expression of genes involved in cellular migration, invasion, remodeling and immune responses. Specifically, expression of well-established epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin and epithelial cell adhesion molecule EPCAM, was up-regulated, while the mesenchymal markers vimentin and fibronectin were down-regulated after intervention with selenium. This implies an inhibitory effect of selenium on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, selenium was associated with down-regulated expression of genes involved in wound healing and inflammation; processes which are both related to EMT. In conclusion, our explorative data showed that selenium affected expression of genes implicated in EMT in the transition zone of the prostate.
Conjugate Fracture Pairs in the Molina Member of the Wasatch Formation, Piceance Basin, Colorado: Implications for Fracture Origins and Hydrocarbon Production/Exploration

The sandstones of the Molina Member of the Wasatch Formation in the Piceance basin of northwestern Colorado contain a suite of fractures that have a conjugate-pair geometry. The fractures are vertical and intersect at an acute angle of between 20 and 40 degrees. Although direct evidence of shear is rare, the fracture surfaces commonly display small steps. The fracture geometries suggest that the maximum compressive stress during fracturing was in the plane of the acute angle of the conjugate fractures: the steps are interpreted as broken-face manifestations of very low angle en echelon fractures, formed within exceptionally narrow zones of incipient shear. In contrast to the highly anisotropic permeability enhancement created by subparallel vertical extension fractures in the underlying Mesaverde Formation, the conjugate pairs in the Molina sandstones should create a well connected and relatively isotropic mesh of fracture conductivity. Increases in stress magnitudes and anisotropy during production drawdown of reservoir pressures should cause shear offsets along the fractures, initially enhancing permeability.
Patterns of Displacement Along Large Normal Faults: Implications for Basin Evolution and Fault Propagation, Based on Examples from East Africa

Seismic reflection data across six boundary faults from east Africa have revealed information about the way boundary faults develop with respect to the synkinematic basin fill. Previous models of basin fill assume that lateral fault propagation and deposition occur simultaneously, which gives rise to along-axis onlap of the basin fill onto the prerift basement (propagating basin model). Seismic reflection data from boundary faults in east Africa show only rare evidence for along-axis broadening of the basins. Instead, the basin margins appear to be fixed from a very early stage in the basin history (nonpropagating basin model). Depocenters shift not by gradual lateral propagation, but by abrupt changes in location. Such observations indicate that boundary fault propagation to near-maximum length occurs rapidly during the very early stages of rifting, probably by linkage of numerous small faults. Displacement then builds (following the b-value earthquake model) along the fault during basin development, out of phase with the main propagation phase. Mature fault systems may have experienced several phases of jumps in fault length or the location of fault activity. Major boundary faults exhibit three basic patterns of evolution; these patterns of evolution can have many variants and include (1) simple displacement, where maximum displacement is approximately at the center of the fault and decreases gradually toward the fault tips, (2) variable along-strike displacement that incorporates linkage of in-line or en-echelon, relatively large-displacement faults of similar age leaving transverse anticlines and synclines, and (3) asymmetric propagation where one tip of a fault remains more or less fixed while the other tip propagates a relatively long distance. Asymmetric propagation can occur smoothly and gradually or, alternatively, there can be a jump in the location of the fault, and a new fault of different age can form along-strike from the older fault. Eventually the new fault propagates and links with the older fault segment, reactivating the older fault to some extent. Addition ally, long-lived faults may be composites of fault types 1-3.
Profile of fluency in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling of texts by adults who stutter

ABSTRACT Purpose to describe the profile of fluency concerning the typology of disfluencies, speed, and frequency of disruptions in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling; to compare the fluency profile in adults who stutter in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling of text. Methods The present work is a cross-sectional comparative study with a sample composed of 15 adults who stutter of both sexes, with higher education or equivalent to complete elementary school II. Samples were collected in the tasks of spontaneous speech, reading, and text retelling through video calls made individually with the participants. The first 200 syllables expressed in each task were transcribed and analyzed according to the Fluency Profile Assessment Protocol (FPAP). The study compared the frequency of common and stuttering disfluencies and the speed in the different tasks surveyed. The Kruskal & Wallis test was used together with Duncan's multiple comparisons test to compare the medians and verify possible differences between the tasks researched with a significance level of 5%. Results The reading task presented a lower number of common disfluencies and a percentage of speech discontinuity about spontaneous speech and retelling tasks. No statistically significant differences were found between stuttering disfluencies in the three tasks surveyed. Conclusion This study showed that there are differences in the occurrence of common disfluencies - hesitations, interjections, and revisions - and in the percentage of speech discontinuity during an oral reading of adults who stutter concerning spontaneous speech and text retelling.
Evolução composicional dos filossilicatos no perfil intempérico do complexo ultramáfico Alcalino-carbonatítico de Catalão I (GO)

The compositional evolution of the phyllosilicates in the lateritic profile of the Catalao I ultramafic alkaline-carbonatitic complex (GO) is proposed in this work based on petrographic and X-ray diffraction analysis, as well as, chemical composition obtained by WDS electron microprobe. The micaceous minerals found in unweathered rocks are classified as phlogopites (with different parageneses) and tetraferriphlogopites (metasomatic products). In the levels of altered rocks and isalteritic saprolite, the phyllosilicates derived from micas are vermiculite and regular interstratified phlogopite-vermiculite (which formation and characteristics are similar to hydrobiotite), characterizing a main vermiculitization process in this profile. Subordinately, in the upper portions and punctual areas of isalteritic saprolite, the alteration of the vermiculitized phlogopite generates smectitic products, which are characterized mainly by the occurrence of expansible regular interstratified mineral and even smectite. Kaolinite occurs on the top of the isalteritic saprolite and on the alloteritic level. The evolution sequence of the phyllosilicates in the weathering profile of the Catalao I complex presents the following formation order: phlogopite, interstratified phlogopite-vermiculite, vermiculite, smectitic products (expansible interstratified minerals of local occurrence), smectite and kaolinite, of which, the last two are probably associated to supergene processes. This sequence is compatible with the most recent theories for the formation of clay minerals in soils. The main differences between the phlogopites and their products of vermiculitic alteration are related to a significant decrease of K+ and oxidation of Fe2+, characteristic changes of the vermiculitization process. In the specific case of vermiculites, the interlayer site is filled mainly by Mg2+. In addition to that, the presence of interstratified minerals (intermediate alteration products) is a key indicator of relatively recent and low-altered weathering profiles.
Seasonal and regional responses to changes in Australian soil moisture conditions

This paper addresses the interaction of large scale soil moisture anomalies and the atmospheric circulation. This approach is based on a suite of GCM experiments in which the soil was instantaneously saturated and desiccated over the entire Australian continent. These conditions were imposed on the first day of each of the 12 calendar months and anomaly simulations integrated for 4 months. The ‘memory’ of these changes as reflected in the important climate elements was analysed. The subsequent anomalies of soil moisture exhibited the greatest persistence of up to and beyond 4 months. This persistence was most apparent for the simulations initiated in winter. The surface latent heat flux anomalies showed comparable, if slightly smaller, levels of persistence. Somewhat smaller amounts of perseverance were found for the anomalies of surface air temperature, even less in the precipitation (and indeed none in the desiccated case), and very modest amounts in the mean sea level pressure. The results shown here demonstrate substantial asymmetry in the transient response of the climate system to these wet and dry soil moisture conditions. Also apparent is a seasonal and regional dependence in the way in which the model recovers from the perturbations to the moisture. These three characteristics are seen to be connected to some extent. The explanation for the behaviours lies in the many nonlinear processes in the land-atmosphere system and the complex roles played by convection, cloud, circulation regimes (including the monsoon), thermal conditions, and horizontal moisture transports. © 1998 Royal Meteorological Society.
Late Quaternary (15 ka to present) development of a sandy landscape in the Mol area, Campine region, north‐east Belgium

The geomorphological analysis of two sections cut into a sandy landscape in north‐east Belgium enabled the establishment of a chronology for a sequence of events during the last 15 ka that illustrate the polycyclical nature of the evolution of such landscapes. Field descriptions, analytical sediment and soil characterization, and pollen analysis are combined with the optically stimulated luminescence dating method to unravel the recent geomorphological history of the investigated site. The principal results include apparently discontinuous sand deposition between ∼15 and 12 ka, landscape stabilization and Podzol formation between ∼12 and 1 ka, the development of a drift sand landscape between ∼650 and 200 a, and renewed stabilization over the last two centuries. The results are discussed in the light of climate, land‐use and vegetation changes and compared with findings at similar sites in the European Sand Belt.
Hydrogeological insights from groundwater level hydrographs in SE Ireland

Analysis of groundwater level records from Ireland’s South Eastern River Basin District (SERBD) allowed fundamental information about the nature of bedrock and gravel aquifers to be investigated. The hydrogeological setting of a monitoring point (with respect to, for example, recharge area, discharge area or proximity to a river) is the dominant factor influencing hydrograph character in bedrock aquifers, with aquifer type and subsoil properties producing secondary effects. Analysis of seasonal groundwater levels showed that the fractured bedrock aquifers recharge more quickly and typically have a longer recession period than gravel aquifers. The calculated recession periods for bedrock aquifers are longer than previous estimates for similar aquifers. Hydrograph analysis identified a number of notable phenomena including a gravel aquifer’s interaction with surface water and evidence of rejected recharge. Short-term groundwater level fluctuations caused by global seismic events, recorded via chart recorders, are discussed. Specific yield values were calculated, for a number of settings, from annual average groundwater level variations. The values supported estimates from previous research on similar aquifers. An analysis to investigate if any impacts of climate change were evident showed no consistent change in the timing of groundwater level minima or maxima.
Saving Mothers’ Lives. Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer: 2006–2008

Sir, I recently read with great interest the recently published triennial report into maternal deaths in the UK, Saving Mothers’ Lives 2006–2008. In Chapter 6, Deaths in early pregnancy, one of the report’s recommendations is that the term ‘pregnancy of unknown location’ (PUL) should be abandoned. This recommendation was made following one maternal death that occurred in a woman with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy who was initially classified as a PUL. I strongly disagree with the report’s recommendation to abandon the use of the term ‘PUL’. Such a recommendation would be a retrograde step. I believe that the use of the term PUL as reported in this maternal death was not the reason this woman died but rather her death was a consequence of catastrophic systems failure involving multiple clinicians at two hospitals. The use of the term PUL is not new; in 2005, when the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Special Interest Group published its revised nomenclature for use in early pregnancy events the term ‘PUL’ was recommended for use in modern practice. They suggested that when there is no identifiable pregnancy on ultrasound scan in a woman with a positive pregnancy test, these women should be classified as having a ‘PUL’. In 2006, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) also embraced the term ‘PUL’ and the same definition which was published by the ESHRE Special Interest Group for Early Pregnancy (SIGEP). The RCOG agreed with the ESHRE SIGEP that it was paramount to align terminology used in the early pregnancy published literature. These two authoritative bodies came to such a consensus after more than a decade of peer-reviewed published evidence on women with a PUL. To date, there has not been a single maternal mortality in any of these published studies. The initial use of the term PUL in the woman described was appropriate but this ultrasound classification did not trigger the appropriate follow up in management. All Early Pregnancy Units should have their own evidence-based guidelines for managing women with a PUL. This should include serum human chorionic gonadotrophin follow up and repeat transvaginal ultrasonography when appropriate. The term ‘pregnancy of unknown location’ is descriptive and not a final diagnosis. The use of this terminology is here to stay and should continue as long as there is an appreciation for what it really means. To be dismissive of the term PUL demonstrates a lack of understanding of the significant work that has been and continues to be carried out to improve the basic standards in early pregnancy ultrasound throughout the UK, USA and Australia. Such a move also undermines ongoing efforts to standardise firsttrimester nomenclature throughout the western world. I believe that current nomenclature should not be changed on the basis of this solitary case report in the most recent confidential enquiry into maternal deaths. j
Plasma turbulence of nonspecular trail plasmas as measured by a high‐power large‐aperture radar

High‐power, large‐aperture radars have been used to characterize plasmas formed as meteoroids ablate in Earth's atmosphere. These plasmas are referred to as heads, the plasmas surrounding the meteoroids, and trails, the plasmas left behind by the meteoroids. A subset of trails is nonspecular trails, which are detected when the radar beam is quasi‐perpendicular to the magnetic field. Radar returns from trail plasma are thought to originate from field‐aligned irregularity reflections that form due to turbulence within the trail. In this paper, we present theory and analysis of plasma trail diffusion using nonspecular trails detected by the Advanced Research Project Agency Long‐range Tracking and Identification Radar. These data include dual frequency, dual polarized, and high‐range resolution in‐phase and quadrature returns with azimuth and elevation data. We present turbulence onset times for nonspecular trails and derive comparisons to models. We compare diffusion coefficients calculated from the decay in signal return with ambipolar diffusion coefficients derived for specular meteor trails. These results, in conjunction with an analysis of the diffusion perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field, demonstrate that the ambipolar diffusion coefficient is not a sufficient description of the turbulent diffusion in nonspecular trails and that other influences, such as external electric fields and anomalous cross‐field diffusion, must be considered when calculating the diffusion coefficients of nonspecular trails. In addition, we examined these results with respect to the polarization of the returns and found similar trends between all polarizations with slight differences for the right circular return.
Influence of surface processes and initial topography on lateral fold growth and fold linkage mode

Elongation of randomly distributed fold segments and their potential linkage are important for hydrocarbon exploration because it can greatly influence the morphology of the reservoir and both migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons in antiformal traps. Here we study the effects of surface processes and the presence of a topographic slope on the different linkage modes that can occur, and how these parameters affect the required horizontal offset for perturbations to link. The proposed numerical model represents a sedimentary cover detached over a much weaker basal décollement layer. The upper surface is modified by mass redistribution, which is achieved by a combination of fluvial and hillslope processes. Several series of simulations were performed: (1) without surface processes or regional slope, (2) with regional slope only, (3) with fluvial incision and hillslope processes, and (4) with hillslope processes only. Model results show that the presence of a regional slope reduces the critical distance required for the transition between linkage and no linkage modes, whereas erosion and redeposition of sediments, on the contrary, increase this distance. The location of the saddle point, where fold segments link, and its vertical distance to the crests of the anticlines are different compared to the case without erosion or initial topographic slope, which potentially can affect the morphology of hydrocarbon traps. Moreover, both erosion and redeposition of sediments enhance the fold elongation (growth along the fold axis), once the erosion velocity exceeds the folding velocity. Model results have been compared to the Zagros Fold Belt.
Sources and transport of nitrate constrained by the isotopic technique in a karst catchment: an example from Southwest China

The concentration and isotopic composition of nitrate were analyzed to improve an understanding of nitrate sources and transformation processes in a typical karstic agricultural field in the Houzhai catchment, Guizhou Province, Southwest China. The results revealed that no distinct spatial pattern of content and isotopic composition of nitrate exists in this karst catchment. Nitrate in surface stream (SFS) had slightly lighter isotopic composition and lower concentration compared with nitrate in subterranean stream (STS) during the dry season. Concentrations of SFS nitrate increased to concentrations similar to those of STS during the wet season. The isotopic values indicated that nitrate were mainly impacted by manure sources during the dry season and influenced by a mix of chemical fertilizer and manure during the wet season. The denitrification rates were roughly estimated based on the isotopic compositions of nitrate after considering volatilization and ignoring assimilation. The calculated result showed that approximately one fifth of nitrate load was removed by denitrification in the catchment. Annual nitrate flux from the outlets accounted for 14.2% of applied total fertilizers used in the catchment, approximately 85% of total transported flux from the catchment in the wet season. Furthermore, chemical weathering processes were enhanced by using nitrogen fertilizer because liberated protons and enhanced HCO3− flux were produced through by nitrification. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Campylobacter jejuni benefits from the bile salt deoxycholate under low-oxygen condition in a PldA dependent manner

ABSTRACT Enteric bacteria need to adapt to endure the antibacterial activities of bile salts in the gut. Phospholipase A (PldA) is a key enzyme in the maintenance of bacterial membrane homeostasis. Bacteria respond to stress by modulating their membrane composition. Campylobacter jejuni is the most common cause of human worldwide. However, the mechanism by which C. jejuni adapts and survives in the gut environment is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the roles of PldA, bile salt sodium deoxycholate (DOC), and oxygen availability in C. jejuni biology, mimicking an in vivo situation. Growth curves were used to determine the adaptation of C. jejuni to bile salts. RNA-seq and functional assays were employed to investigate the PldA-dependent and DOC-induced changes in gene expression that influence bacterial physiology. Survival studies were performed to address oxidative stress defense in C. jejuni. Here, we discovered that PldA of C. jejuni is required for optimal growth in the presence of bile salt DOC. Under high oxygen conditions, DOC is toxic to C. jejuni, but under low oxygen conditions, as is present in the lumen of the gut, C. jejuni benefits from DOC. C. jejuni PldA seems to enable the use of iron needed for optimal growth in the presence of DOC but makes the bacterium more vulnerable to oxidative stress. In conclusion, DOC stimulates C. jejuni growth under low oxygen conditions and alters colony morphology in a PldA-dependent manner. C. jejuni benefits from DOC by upregulating iron metabolism in a PldA-dependent manner.