Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glial response to hypoxia in trachealess mutants induces synapse remodeling

Synaptic structure and activity are sensitive to environmental alterations. Modulation of synaptic morphology and function is often induced by signals from glia. However, the process by which glia mediate synaptic responses to environmental perturbations such as hypoxia remains unknown. Here, we report that, in the Drosophila trachealess (trh) mutant, smaller synaptic boutons form clusters named bunch boutons appear at larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), which is induced by the reduction of internal oxygen levels due to defective tracheal branches. Thus, the bunch bouton phenotype in the trh mutant is suppressed by hyperoxia, and recapitulated in wild-type larvae raised under hypoxia. We further show that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α/Similar (Sima) is critical in mediating hypoxia-induced bunch bouton formation. Sima upregulates the level of the Wnt/Wingless (Wg) signal in glia, leading to reorganized microtubule structures within presynaptic sites. Finally, hypoxia-induced bunch boutons maintain normal synaptic transmission at the NMJs, which is crucial for coordinated larval locomotion. Author summary Oxygen is essential for animals to maintain their life such as growth, metabolism, responsiveness, and movement. It is therefore important to understand how animal cells trigger hypoxia response and adapt to hypoxia thereafter. Both mammalian vascular and insect tracheal branches are induced to enhance the oxygen delivery. However, the study of hypoxia response in the nervous system remains limited. In this study, we assess the morphology of Drosophila neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), a model system to study development and function of synapses, in two hypoxia conditions, one with raising wild-type larvae in hypoxia, and the other in the trachealess (trh) mutant in which the trachea is defective, causing insufficient oxygen supply. Interestingly, glia, normally wrapping the axons of NMJs, invade into synapse and trigger Wg signals to reconstitute the synaptic structure under hypoxia. This synaptic remodeling maintains the synaptic transmission of synapse, which associate the locomotor behavior of larvae.
Satellite altimetry observations of the Black Sea level

The paper is devoted to the application of satellite altimetry from the TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS-1 missions to the Black Sea. We use the NASA Ocean Altimeter Pathfinder Project collinear data set and monthly climatic hydrography to restore the dynamical sea level, that which connected with the Black Sea circulation. Two realizations are created from collinear and grid data sets. The Black Sea hydrographic survey data collected by the Cooperative Marine Science Programme for the Black Sea are used for validation of both products. The estimated rms accuracy of the Black Sea dynamical level is about 3 cm. The grid data product is used for the analysis of seasonal and mesoscale variability of the Black Sea level. The observations show that the Black Sea circulation has strong seasonal variation. It attenuates in summer to autumn and intensifies in winter to spring. This variability is accompanied by a western-phase propagation of the sea level. A simple two-layer model of the wind-induced circulation in the rectangular basin provides an interpretation of these results. It is shown that the seasonal variability of the geostrophic circulation is most likely produced by the annual changes of the wind stress curl. The western phase propagation is treated as the radiation of Rossby waves from the eastern coast of the basin. Typical periods of the mesoscale oscillations of the dynamical sea level are estimated from the TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter time series in different parts of the Black Sea by means of a spectral analysis. The strongest mesoscale oscillations have periods of about 120 days and are located in the southeastern part of the basin, where the Rim Current bifurcates, and off the Crimean peninsula, where the Rim Current meanders as a result of the local orography.
Longest crab trackways from the Bay of Bengal Coast, India: their geological and geotechnical applications

Neoichnological appraisal of amphibious side-runner crab Ocypode produced on the Bakkhali beach in eastern India has revealed how animal physiology, life-habits and substrate decide architecture, orientation, continuity, morphological variations and preservation potential of their typically asymmetric trackways. About 100 m long, seaward moving, parallel and cross-coast trackways that constitute the world’s longest ever known invertebrate trackways amongst modern and ancient records are generated selectively by adults while herding down beach slope in quest of life-saving seawater to moisten their gills. Smaller, freely-wandering and self-crossing trackways in the moist intertidal flat are produced by young while searching food, making pellets and runways, and escaping from predators. The unnamed asymmetric crustacean trackways of Eocene of Andaman and Quaternary Banas Basin of India constitute ancient analogues of the Ocypode trackways. The analogy and fossil arthropod trackways as delicate as the present ones justify their preservation potential. The palaeoichnological applications include ichnotaxonomic revisions, creation of new ichnotaxon as taphonomic and ethological variants, and taxonomic identification of ancient trace makers, besides palaeoecological and palaeogeomorphic interpretations. It relates animal physiology with ichnotaxonomy in detail, provides new information to the existing database, and bears application potential in coastal geotechnical programmes as a new ichnological tool. Chirananda De. Geological Survey of India, Palaeontology Division, Western Region, 15 – Jhalana Dungri, Jaipur 302015, Rajasthan, India. chirananda@rediffmail.com
Impact of climate change on 24‐h design rainfall depth estimation in Qiantang River Basin, East China

The frequency and magnitude of extreme meteorological or hydrological events such as floods and droughts in China have been influenced by global climate change. The water problem due to increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme events in the humid areas has gained great attention in recent years. However, the main challenge in the evaluation of climate change impact on extreme events is that large uncertainty could exist. Therefore, this paper first aims to model possible impacts of climate change on regional extreme precipitation (indicated by 24‐h design rainfall depth) at seven rainfall gauge stations in the Qiantang River Basin, East China. The Long Ashton Research Station‐Weather Generator is adopted to downscale the global projections obtained from general circulation models (GCMs) to regional climate data at site scale. The weather generator is also checked for its performance through three approaches, namely Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, comparison of L‐moment statistics and 24‐h design rainfall depths. Future 24‐h design rainfall depths at seven stations are estimated using Pearson Type III distribution and L‐moment approach. Second, uncertainty caused by three GCMs under various greenhouse gas emission scenarios for the future periods 2020s (2011–2030), 2055s (2046–2065) and 2090s (2080–2099) is investigated. The final results show that 24‐h design rainfall depth increases in most stations under the three GCMs and emission scenarios. However, there are large uncertainties involved in the estimations of 24‐h design rainfall depths at seven stations because of GCM, emission scenario and other uncertainty sources. At Hangzhou Station, a relative change of −16% to 113% can be observed in 100y design rainfall depths. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of antiviral therapy on patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aim Studies suggest that antiviral therapy performed after curative resection improves the postoperative prognosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the evidence has been contradictory. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of antiviral therapy with nucleoside analogs (NAs) after curative resection on the long-term postoperative survival of patients with HBV-related HCC. Materials and methods MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to August 2017 with no limits. Outcome measures were the primary parameter of overall survival (OS) after radical resection of HBV-related HCC and the secondary parameter of postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results A total of 9,009 patients (2,546 of whom received antiviral therapy and 6,463 received no treatment) were included. The pooled analysis revealed that antiviral therapy was associated with significantly improved OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51–0.67; P<0.00001) and RFS (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.63–0.74; P<0.00001). Moderate heterogeneity among studies for both OS and RFS was observed, which disappeared or decreased after pooling studies using one type of NA as antiviral drug. In the subgroup analysis, anti-viral therapy significantly prolonged both OS (HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.52–0.92; P=0.01) and RFS (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.49–0.70; P<0.00001) in patients with high baseline HBV DNA level (≥20,000 IU/mL) with no heterogeneity, but not in patients with low baseline HBV DNA level (<20,000 IU/mL). Conclusion Antiviral therapy with NAs confers significant survival benefits in patients with HBV-related HCC after curative resection, especially in patients with high baseline HBV DNA level (≥20,000 IU/mL).
The effect of antiviral therapy on patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aim: Studies suggest that antiviral therapy performed after curative resection improves the postoperative prognosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the evidence has been contradictory. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of antiviral therapy with nucleoside analogs (NAs) after curative resection on the long-term postoperative survival of patients with HBV-related HCC. Materials and methods: MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to August 2017 with no limits. Outcome measures were the primary parameter of overall survival (OS) after radical resection of HBV-related HCC and the secondary parameter of postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: A total of 9,009 patients (2,546 of whom received antiviral therapy and 6,463 received no treatment) were included. The pooled analysis revealed that antiviral therapy was associated with significantly improved OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51–0.67; P , 0.00001) and RFS (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.63–0.74; P , 0.00001). Moderate heterogeneity among studies for both OS and RFS was observed, which disappeared or decreased after pooling studies using one type of NA as antiviral drug. In the subgroup analysis, anti-viral therapy significantly prolonged both OS (HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.52–0.92; P = 0.01) and RFS (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.49–0.70; P , 0.00001) in patients with high baseline HBV DNA level ( $ 20,000 IU/mL) with no heterogeneity, but not in patients with low baseline HBV DNA level ( , 20,000 IU/mL). Conclusion: Antiviral therapy with NAs confers significant survival benefits in patients with HBV-related HCC after curative resection, especially in patients with high baseline HBV DNA level ( $ 20,000 IU/mL).
Microplate tectonics, oblique collisions, and evolution of the Hercynian orogenic systems

Plate boundaries are rarely straight lines, and interplate movements are rarely at right angles. The consequences of oblique interactions at both continent-ocean and continent-continent irregular margins are considered theoretically, and the results are compared with various active plate boundaries. We use an oblique-collision model to explain the evolution of the late Paleozoic orogens of the “Atlantic-Mediterranean‘ region. In particular, the model reconciles paleontologic requirements for a “Central European Ocean” with the lack of geotectonic evidence for closure of such an ocean. In addition, the model explains the inhomogeneous nature of these orogens, from the southern Appalachians and the Mauritanides to the Urals. The model is highly speculative, but it does rationalize the irregular distributions (in time and in space) of ophiolite, island-arc sequences, major strike-slip faults, and metallogenic belts.
Magnetic properties of the Alnön Complex

Abstract The plutonic rocks, sovite ring dykes and alnoite dykes belonging to the (Cambrian) Alnon Complex have been analysed for palaeomagnetic study. Total NRM's residing in magnetite and pyrrhotite are locally very high in the plutonic facies and variable in the sovite dykes; all the alkaline phases have NRM's dominated by low coercivity components. Alternating field demagnetisation isolates a range of remanence directions, but a principal mean of D = 107°, I = 2°(α95 = 9°) in the bulk of the sovite and alnoite dykes is defined by both polarities and confirmed by thermal cleaning. A subsidiary direction of D =350°, I = 15° (α95 = 11°) is recognised predominantly in the plutonic rocks. The data contribute to the sparse Cambrian palaeomagnetic record from the Fennoscandian Shield and support earlier suggestions of large apparent polar wander motion in Cambrian times.
Declining importance of trilobites in Ordovician nearshore communities: dilution or displacement

Declining importance of trilobites was a key feature of Ordovician community evolution. Previous work has shown that replacement of trilobitedominated paleocommunities by molluscand brachiopod-rich paleocommunities was diachronous, and began in nearshore environments. However, the processes responsible for these changes remain unclear. New data from northern North America indicate that trilobite species diversity in nearshore settings maintained a constant, low level between the Late Cambrian (Marjuman) and Middle Ordovician (Whiterockian). As the total number of species of other groups, especially molluscs, increased in nearshore environments, the relative importance of trilobites in these paleocommunities declined through a process of dilution, rather than actual displacement. The apparent offshore retreat of trilobite-dominated paleocommunities is also at least partly a reflection of this dilution process: through OFFSHOREI the Cambrian and Ordovician, trilobite assemblages tended to be most speciose in offshore environments, so that the apparent rate of dilution proceeded more slowly than in the nearshore. Thus, trilobite-dominated paleocommunities maintained their integrity longer in the offshore, and this produced an overall pattern of diachronous replacement. Similarly, progressive offshore replacements of other community types in younger strata may also be dilution phenomena related to species diversity gradients.
Constant-Phase-Element Behavior Caused by Resistivity Distributions in Films

A normal power-law distribution of local resistivity with a uniform dielectric constant was found to be consistent with the constant-phase element CPE. An analytic expression, based on the power-law resistivity distribution, was found that relates CPE parameters to the physical properties of a film. This expression worked well for such diverse systems as aluminum oxides, oxides on stainless steel, and human skin. Good values for film thickness were obtained, even when previously proposed expressions could not be used or yielded incorrect results. The power-law model yields a CPE impedance behavior in an appropriate frequency range, defined by two characteristic frequencies. Ideal capacitive behavior is seen above the upper characteristic frequency and below the lower characteristic frequency. A symmetric CPE response between the characteristic frequencies can be obtained by adding a parallel resistive pathway.
Current convective instability in the diffuse aurora

A stable E x B gradient drift geometry can become destabilized by a current along the magnetic field. This type of instability is generically called the current convective instability. This instability may be responsible for the diffuse auroral scintillation causing F region irregularities observed by the DNA Wideband satellite. In these phenomena the northward TEC gradient dominates the altitude electron density gradient. We have investigated a simple plasma fluid model and found that instability results for -kxV/sub d/>kx (cE/sub o//B/sub o/) (.nu./sub i//.cap omega./sub i/) where V/sub d/ is the relative drift (precipitation current) between ions and electrons along B/sub o/, E/sub o/ is the westward ambient electric field (perpendicularB/sub o/), and . nu. /sub i/ and . cap omega. /sub i/ are the F region ion-neutral collision frequency and ion gyrofrequency.
Systolic and Diastolic LV Mechanics During and Following Resistance Exercise

Purpose To improve the current understanding of the impact of resistance exercise on the heart, by examining the acute responses of left ventricular (LV) strain, twist and untwisting rate (‘LV mechanics’). Methods LV echocardiographic images were recorded in systole and diastole before, during and immediately after (7-12 s) double leg press exercise at two intensities (30% and 60% of maximum strength, 1-repetition-maximum, 1RM). Speckle tracking analysis generated LV strain, twist and untwisting rate data. Additionally, beat-by-beat blood pressure was recorded and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and LV wall stress were calculated. Results Responses in both exercise trials were statistically similar ( P > 0.05). During effort, stroke volume decreased while SVR and LV wall stress increased ( P < 0.05). Immediately following effort, stroke volume returned to baseline while SVR and wall stress decreased ( P < 0.05). Similarly, acute exercise was accompanied by a significant decrease in systolic parameters of LV muscle mechanics ( P < 0.05). However, diastolic parameters, including LV untwisting rate, were statistically unaltered ( P > 0.05). Immediately following exercise, systolic LV mechanics returned to baseline levels ( P < 0.05) but LV untwisting rate increased significantly ( P < 0.05). Conclusions A single, acute bout of double leg-press resistance exercise transiently reduces systolic LV mechanics, but increases diastolic mechanics following exercise, suggesting that resistance exercise has a differential impact on systolic and diastolic heart muscle function. The findings may explain why acute resistance exercise has been associated with reduced stroke volume but chronic exercise training may result in increased LV volumes.
Minimizing the difference of convex and weakly convex functions via bundle method

: We consider optimization problems with objective and constraint being the difference of convex and weakly convex functions. This framework covers a vast family of nonsmooth and nonconvex optimization problems, particularly those involving certain classes of composite and nonconvex value functions. We investigate several stationary conditions and extend the proximal bundle algorithm of [van Ackooij et al., Comput. Optim. Appl. , 78 (2021), pp. 451–490 ] to compute critical points for problems in this class. Our modifications on that algorithm boil down to a different master program and an original rule to update the proximal parameter to ensure convergence in this more general setting. Thanks to this new rule, no pre-estimation of the underlying weakly-convex moduli is needed, opening the way to deal with optimization problems for which no practical and mathematically sound algorithms exist. Numerical experiments on some nonconvex stochastic problems illustrate the practical performance of the method.
Understanding Societal Perspectives on African Interventions

In defending and enforcing continental and sub-regional norms, African regional organizations are increasingly present in their member states. This holds particularly true for the area of peace and security, in which the norms and instruments of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) have been regularly applied across the continent. However, despite this presence on the ground, how people and groups living in countries affected by the policies and interventions of African regional organizations experience and evaluate such endeavors has so far been largely ignored in the scholarly debate about African regional organizations. In order to address this lacuna, this working paper presents a methodological agenda for studying societal perspectives on African regional interventions. In so doing, I discuss the strengths and weaknesses of three different methodological approaches – media analysis, survey research, and focus group/interview research – and show how each of these approaches sheds new light on societal consequences of and reactions to African interventions. With this discussion, I demonstrate the methodological feasibility and value-added of studying societal perspectives on African interventions. I also show that the choice of method is not only a matter of available resources and skills, but has a crucial impact on what kind of society and societal perspectives are made visible.
Evaluación de la calidad de suelos mediante el uso de indicadores e índices

The expansion of agriculture in areas with a certain degree of fragility, make it necessary to evaluate the state of soil system by means of indicators. The aim of this paper was to develop and apply a minimum set of indicators of the state of the resource to assess soil quality in agroecosystems with low to moderate development Mollisols. The methodology was tested in a homogeneous environmental unit (with Typic Hapludolls) under different uses and management systems in a piedmont basin in SW Cordoba province. Quality ranges were established for the measured properties (organic carbon, pH, base saturation, water stable aggregates, infiltration rate, bulk density, A horizon depth) to normalize the indicators. Selected indicators constitute a minimum number of variables with a high aggregation degree, easy to measure and repeatable, representing the local conditions. These soil resource state indicators are not universal since they were selected in function of the environment and soil type in the studied region.
Estimation of surface albedo from space: A parameterization for global application

This study proposes a simple parameterization to derive surface broadband albedo from satellite observations, using the results of detailed radiative transfer computations for a variety of atmospheric and surface conditions. The end result is a single equation that directly yields surface albedo from observed albedo at the top of the atmosphere, solar zenith angle, and total precipitable water. It was demonstrated that the parameterization is valid for retrieval of both instantaneous and daily mean surface albedo. Sensitivity tests were conducted for precipitable water, aerosol, CO2, O3, and temperature profile. Preliminary validation using collocated satellite and tower measurements indicates that the absolute accuracy requirement of 5% for climate studies is well satisfied. A global monthly climatology (excluding polar areas) of surface albedo is then developed from 5 years of Earth Radiation Budget Experiment clear-sky satellite data and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts humidity analysis data. Examination of month-to-month differences for specific 2.5°×2.5° areas indicate that the absolute random error on monthly estimates is less than 1%. Seasonal variation of surface albedo exceeding 1% can thus be detected. Comparisons with other satellite estimates show much closer agreement than with the values used in some general circulation models and numerical weather prediction models especially over snow/ice and deserts.