Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil water depletion and recharge under different land cover in China's Loess Plateau

Vegetation restoration can greatly influence water infiltration and root water uptake depths in semi‐arid regions. Soil water dynamics within different vegetated/non‐vegetated land cover patterns were studied over time from 2008 to 2013 in an erodible small watershed on the Loess Plateau of China. Results showed that distinct differences in soil water dynamics and water balances existed among different vegetation types. Soil water recharge depths extended deeper than 5 m under bare land and farmland, but introduced forage (alfalfa) and shrub (caragana) species depleted the soil water stores in the 0‐ to 6‐m layers within a few years, prevented deep soil water recharge and exhibited negative water balances. Local food crops can maintain a sustainable soil water balance although there was low productivity. Native grasses should be the best land use type for this region based on the soil water balances observed in this short field study. Because it was difficult to avoid soil desiccation under introduced vegetation, vegetation with high water demands should be combined with shallow rooting plants, and water‐saving methods should be taken into account. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Circulating Microrna-22 As a Biomarker Related to Oxidative Stress in Hyperthyroid Women Patient

Background Recent studies have connected microribonucleic acid (miRNA) to several illnesses as a stimulant or inhibitor. Oxidative stress and thyroid diseases are connected to miRNA-22. The underlying processes remain unknown. In this study, hyperthyroid women’s miRNA-22 expression is linked to oxidative stress. Materials and Methods 40 women suffering from hyperthyroidism and 40 in this study, healthy volunteers who served as controls were included. The levels of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by sandwich assay, While the competitive binding immunoenzymatic assay was used to determine the levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroxine (T4). To assess lipid profiles, an automated analyzer was employed. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), (MDA) malondialdehyde, and levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) assessed using a colorimetric technique. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression of serum miRNA-22. Results Non-significantly increase SOD and significantly increase CAT activity were identified in patient groups than in the control group (P<0.05), also the patient group’s AOPP and MDA concentrations were discovered to significantly rise from those of the control group. (P< 0.05). IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the patient group than in (P<0.05) the control group. The level of miRNA-22 was higher in the sick group as compared to the control groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The pathophysiology of oxidative stress brought on by hyperthyroidism involves miRNA-22 expression, Oxidative stress increases and miRNA-22 gene expression increase in a reciprocal manner, which results in the disease’s development.
Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy in Latin America (Mexico) and the World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the main complications of diabetes, and the management of the main control parameters explains only an 11% reduction in the risk of progressing to DR, leaving 89% to be explained by other factors or correlations between the usual factors that are currently unknown. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the similarities and differences between the possible risk factors for developing DR when comparing the world to Latin American populations. The search was performed first for Latin American (LA) populations and a second search for non-Latin American (Non-LA) populations. Using the PRISMA guidelines, five articles were found to be relevant for each of the groups. The patients who had elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) developed DR more frequently than the patients without retinopathy (Z = 2.1, p = 0.03), an effect measured in the population at a global level (GL), behavior that becomes not significant when the LA and non-LA populations are grouped separately; relevant to this is that the diagnosis of hypertension (HBP) grouped globally and stratified does not present a risk factor for DR (Z = 0.79, p = 0.42). This indicates that SBP is a risk factor for the world population and that, by separating it into different regions, the omission could cause it not to be considered a possible risk factor. In conclusion, the relationship between the increase in DR associated with the risk factors present in different populations, the limited research conducted in Latin America, and the cultural, social, economic, and genetic differences makes for a complex condition, which reflects the necessity of researching in a more integrated way.
Pervasive Permafrost Thaw Exacerbates Future Risk of Water Shortage Across the Tibetan Plateau

Rivers originating from the Tibetan Plateau (TP) provide water to more than 1 billion people living downstream. Almost 40% of the TP is currently underlain by permafrost, which serves as both an ice reserve and a flow barrier and is expected to degrade drastically in a warming climate. The hydrological impacts of permafrost thaw across the TP, however, remain poorly understood. Here, we quantify the permafrost change on the TP over 1980–2100 and evaluate its hydrological impacts using a physically‐based cryospheric‐hydrological model at a high spatial resolution. Using the ensemble mean of 38 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), the near‐surface permafrost area and the total ground ice storage are projected to decrease by 86.4% and 61.6% during 2020–2100 under a high‐emission scenario, respectively. The lowering of the permafrost table and removal of permafrost as a flow barrier would enhance infiltration and raise subsurface storage capacity. The diminished water supply from ground ice melt and enhanced subsurface storage capacity could jointly reduce annual runoff and lead to exacerbated regional water shortage when facing future droughts. If the most severe 10‐year drought in the historical period occurs again in the future, the annual river runoff will further decrease by 9.7% and 11.3% compared with the historical dry period due to vanishing cryosphere in the source area of Yellow and Yangtze River. Our findings highlight the importance to get prepared for the additional water shortage risks caused by pervasive permafrost thaw in future water resources management across the TP.
FRESHWATER DISCHARGE INTO THE EAST FRISIAN WADDEN SEA: GEOCHEMISTRY OF HUMIC MATTER-RICH WATERS

In the NW German Wadden Sea a high variability of many physical (e. g., salinity and temperature) and chemical parameters (e. g., DOM, Mn and Fe) of the water column can be observed on tidal as well as seasonal time scales. To understand these dynamics it is of vital importance to know the sources for dissolved and particulate major and trace elements, nutrients and dissolved organic matter (DOM) of the Wadden Sea water column. The backbarrier tidal flats have three main water sources: (i) the North Sea, (ii) pore water draining off the tidal flats during ebb tide, (iii) freshwater discharge from small coastal tributaries. The freshwater is low in salinity, but specifically enriched in some trace metals. Furthermore, it represents an important source for terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM). DOM is a ubiquitous component of natural surface waters. Organic substances are transported from land to coastal marine environments via river discharge and contribute significantly to the carbon-pool of coastal waters. Moreover, DOM in natural waters is of environmental importance for processes such as dissolution and mobilization of xenobiotics and heavy metals.
The Effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 on Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice

Influenza A virus infection is a major global disease requiring annual vaccination. Clinical studies indicate that certain probiotics may support immune function against influenza and other respiratory viruses, but direct molecular evidence is scarce. Here, mice were treated with a placebo or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 (Bl-04) orally via food (cereal) and also by gavage and exposed to Influenza A virus H1N1 (H1N1). The symptoms of the infection were observed, and tissues and digesta were collected for viral load RT-qPCR, transcriptomics, and microbiomics. The treatment decreased the viral load by 48% at day 3 post-infection in lungs and symptoms of infection at day 4 compared to placebo. Tissue transcriptomics showed differences between the Bl-04 and placebo groups in the genes in the Influenza A pathway in the intestine, blood, and lungs prior to and post-infection, but the results were inconclusive. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene profiling and qPCR showed the presence of Bl-04 in the intestine, but without major shifts in the microbiome. In conclusion, Bl-04 treatment may influence the host response against H1N1 in a murine challenge model; however, further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of action.
Factors of Gig Job Involvement and the Effect on B40 and M40 Socio-economic Sustainability

The emergence of information and communication technology (ICT) creates new means that permit interaction between employers and employees via apps and systems. The gig economy has arisen as a key theme in a recent independent review of modern employment practices. However, most of the existing literature focused on the implications of growth in these arrangements for workers and their families. Realizing the importance of the research on job involvement for Malaysian citizens specifically among B40 and M40 to opt for gig work is still largely unexplored, hence, this study aims to explore the factors influencing the involvement of a gig worker among B40 and M40 while examining the effect on the enhancement of the B40 and M40 segment’s socio-economic sustainability. Using a purposive sampling method, the data were collected through a survey among gig workers in Malaysia. A total of 1415 valid questionnaires were gathered from the gig workers in 14 states of Malaysia. Additionally, SPSS 28.0 was applied to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that circumstances, earnings, risk, prospects, and workload had a positive relationship with the B40 and M40 socio-economic sustainability while flexibility is not significant toward B40 and M40 socio-economic sustainability. The result also shows that there is a significant difference between B40 and M40 income groups toward socio-economic sustainability. Findings from this study contributed new knowledge on the gig economy in Malaysia. The research also assists policymakers in understanding holistically the current job scenario of gig workers to formulate policies, incentives, and development programs.
Anxiety, Depression, Perceived Stress, and Burnout Among Chinese Researchers: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Study

Purpose Depression and anxiety have a significant impact on an individuals’ work and personal life alike. The mental health of researchers is a significant concern worldwide. This study investigated the mental health status of Chinese researchers specifically and explored the moderating effects of perceived stress on the influence of low self-accomplishment on anxiety and depression. Methods The online survey platform “Survey Star” was used to create a questionnaire to be distributed to researchers, with 949 questionnaires retrieved. The general information questionnaire, 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS) were used for this investigation. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to investigate correlations among the relevant variables. Model 8 of PROCESS 3.3 program was used to analyze the moderating effects of perceived stress. Results Among the 949 participants, 570 (60.1%) reported symptoms of depression and 431 (45.4%) had symptoms of anxiety, with about one in six reporting symptoms of self-harm or suicidal ideation. Perceived stress was found to moderate the effect of low self-accomplishment on depression and anxiety. Conclusion Here we show that researchers exhibit a high rate of depression and anxiety symptoms. Perceived stress is also shown to play a moderating role on the influence of low self-accomplishment on anxiety and depression. Thus, reducing perceived stress levels can help to improve the mental health of researchers.
Antecedents of credit card usage behaviour: An Indian perspective

Abstract The use of credit cards is closely connected to how well someone is doing financially. It has been associated with behaviors like excessive shopping and materialism. In India, there has been a recent increase in the number of credit cards issued. This research aims to study how Indian consumers use credit cards and how it affects their debt. The study focuses on three factors: power-prestige, credit card features, and ease of use. By understanding these factors, we can gain insights that will help both consumers and credit card issuers improve their financial well-being. The study identified three different groups of consumers based on their motivations for using credit cards. The first group is driven by a desire for power and prestige, while the second group is influenced by credit card features. The third group, which finds credit cards easy to use, has a negative impact on credit card usage. The research discovered several variables that affect how people use credit cards. By classifying consumers based on their motivations, the findings can provide a starting point for both consumers and issuers to better understand their financial well-being.
Stratigraphic nomenclature of the Thirtynine Mile volcanic field, central Colorado

The Thirtynine Mile volcanic field is a deeply dissected andesitic plateau built upon a late Eocene erosion surface of moderately low relief; numerous outliers are present in adjacent physiographic and tectonic settings in central Colorado. The volcanic field is characterized by andesitic rocks of local origin interspersed with rhyolitic to quartz latitic ash-flow tuffs erupted from sources outside the field. Potassium-argon ages on volcanic units range from 36 million years (early Oligocene) to 19 million years (early Miocene), but most of the volcanic pile was emplaced between 36 and 27 million years before the present. Sedimentary deposits of Tertiary age occur in a major graben beneath the field, in paleovalleys on the late Eocene erosion surface and, to a lesser extent, within the volcanic pile, in lake basins formed by blockaded drainages along the northern margin of the field, and in downfaulted basins which postdate the volcanism. Thirteen stratigraphic units are named and described in this report within a chronological framework established by field relationships and potassium-argon dating. Seven units are newly named herein, one unit previously named is adopted, and five units are given informal names. In ascending stratigraphic order, the units are Echo Park Alluvium, Wall Mountain Tuff (formerly named Agate Creek Tuff by De Voto, 1961), Tallahassee Creek Conglomerate (includes Alnwick Lake Beds and High Park Lake Beds of Cross (1894), which are here abandoned), Thirtynine Mile Andesite (formerly termed "Thirtynine Mile volcanic series" by Stark and others (1949) and includes informal members here called the lower member, the tuff of Stirrup Ranch, and the upper member), Badger Creek Tuff, East Gulch Tuff, Thorn Ranch Tuff, Gribbles Park Tuff, conglomerate of Fear Creek (informal name), and the andesite of Waugh Mountain (informal name).
DFT Study of Zn-Modified SnP3: A H2S Gas Sensor with Superior Sensitivity, Selectivity, and Fast Recovery Time

The adsorption properties of Cu, Ag, Zn, and Cd-modified SnP3 monolayers for H2S have been studied using density functional theory (DFT). Based on phonon spectrum calculations, a structurally stable intrinsic SnP3 monolayer was obtained, based on which four metal-modified SnP3 monolayers were constructed, and the band gaps of the modified SnP3 monolayers were significantly reduced. The adsorption capacity of Cu, Zn-modified SnP3 was better than that of Ag, Cd-modified SnP3. The adsorption energies of Cu-modified SnP3 and Zn-modified SnP3 for H2S were −0.749 eV and −0.639 eV, respectively. In addition, Cu-modified SnP3 exhibited chemisorption for H2S, while Zn-modified SnP3 exhibited strong physisorption, indicating that it can be used as a sensor substrate. Co-adsorption studies showed that ambient gases such as N2, O2, and H2O had little effect on H2S. The band gap change rate of Zn-modified SnP3 after adsorption of H2S was as high as −28.52%. Recovery time studies based on Zn-modified SnP3 showed that the desorption time of H2S was 0.064 s at 298 K. Therefore, Zn-modified SnP3 can be used as a promising sensor substrate for H2S due to its good selectivity, sensitivity, and fast recovery time.
The impact of geographical location on taste sensitivity and preference.

This study was carried out to determine recognition threshold and taste preference for three basic tastes (sweetness, saltiness and sourness) based on location (interior and coastal) among the Kadazandusun ethnic in Sabah, Malaysia. One hundred and ninety four (194) volunteers aged 20 to 55 years were selected randomly (stratified) as subject. Three Alternative ForcedChoice (3AFC) and hedonic test were used to determine the taste threshold and preference. The interior group had lower taste threshold for all tastes; sweet (10.97 g/L ± 3.69), salty (1.14 g/L ± 0.38), sour (0.0095 g/L ± 0.011) compared to the coastal group; sweet (11.56 g/L ± 3.71), salty (1.23 g/L ± 0.39), sour (0.0012 g/L ± 0.0034). For intensity and hedonic rating, the patterns of response varied based on location for sweet and sour taste. No significant different (p>0.05) was observed for salty taste. However, both groups preferred the base stimulus which concentration similar to the commercially available products tested. There is a correlation between taste threshold and optimum concentration. Individuals with preferred high taste intensity tend to have higher taste threshold. Location and culture can influenced individual taste preference. However, exposure and experience to taste sensation was the major factor on individual’s taste preference.
23. GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AN ISOTOPIC RECORD FROM THE NEW JERSEY COASTAL PLAIN: LINKAGE BETWEEN THE SHELF AND DEEP SEA IN THE LATE PALEOCENE TO EARLY EOCENE 1

Stratigraphic correlation between shallow-water and deep-sea sections has proven notoriously difficult because of hiatuses, diachrony of marker species, and diagenesis on the shelf. Isotope stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and magnetostratigraphy reveal that sedimentation on the New Jersey Margin (Island Beach borehole) was relatively continuous during the late Paleocene and early Eocene (~58-52.5 Ma). All planktonic foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil zones are represented at Island Beach. However, two disconformities are recognized in the upper Paleocene to lower Eocene section: a physical surface (lithologic change) at the Vincentown/Manasquan contact (uppermost Paleocene), which has a hiatus of ~0.3 m.y. , and a ~0.4-m.y. gap associated with a paraconformity in the lower Eocene section. Stable isotopic data from the New Jersey Margin indicate that this neritic section can be successfully correlated to the deep sea using δ 13 C and δ 18 O of benthic foraminiferal calcite. Comparison between the Island Beach and global isotopic records (as represented by deep Pacific Site 577) shows that Island Beach parallels the global trend in both δ 18 O and δ 13 C. All major features of the late Paleocene to early Eocene global isotopic record are preserved, including general δ 18 O decrease, step-like δ 13 C decrease, and the well-known latest Paleocene δ 13 C excursion. We recognize three 1- to 1.5-m.y. δ 13 C steps over our interval of study at both Island Beach and the deep Pacific (~56.6 -55.8 Ma; ~55.5-54 Ma; ~53.6-52.6 Ma). These steps are correlative with intervals of increased paleodepth, as indicated by benthic foraminiferal biofacies studies, and decreased δ 18 O values. We suggest a link between increased temperature and sea level, and reduced organic carbon burial in the deep sea. Previous workers identified a latest Paleocene benthic foraminiferal faunal change on the New Jersey Margin (Clayton borehole). They suggested that this faunal turnover was the neritic correlative of the well-known latest Paleocene benthic extinction event. Our data indicate that at Island Beach, uppermost Paleocene δ 13 C and δ 18 O excursions occur above the disconformity and the associated shallow-water benthic foraminiferal faunal change. This isotopic excursion may be synchronous with the deep-sea extinction event or with a younger δ 13 C decrease. We suggest that the benthic foraminiferal event on the New Jersey Margin was the result of a dramatic water-depth increase on the shelf and was unrelated to the deep-sea extinction.
reexamination of the relationship between the prevalence of hepatitis C virus and parenteral antischistosomal therapy among Egyptians resident in Qatar

: Egypt has the highest prevalence of recorded hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide, estimated nationally at 14.7%, which is attributed to extensive iatrogenic transmission during the era of parenteral antischistosomal therapy (PAT) mass-treatment campaigns. The objective of our study was to attempt to highlight to what extent HCV transmission is ongoing and discuss the possible risk factors. We studied the prevalence of HCV among 7.8% of Egyptians resident in Qatar in relation to age, socioeconomic status, and PAT and discuss the possible risk factors. HCV testing was conducted in 2,335 participants, and results were positive for 13.5%, and 8.5% for those aged below 35 years. The prevalence of HCV in the PAT-positive population was 23.7% (123 of 518, 95% confidence interval [CI] 20.2%–27.6%) compared with 11.2% in the PAT-negative group. Significantly higher HCV prevalence occurred in participants who were older than 50 years (23%, 95% CI 19.3%–27.1%) compared to those aged 45–50 years (19.3%, 95% CI 15.2%–23.8%), 35–45 years (11.1%, 95% CI 8.9%–13.7%), and less than 35 years (8.5%, 95% CI 6.8%–10.4%) ( P , 0.0001). Insignificant higher prevalence occurred in the low socioeconomic group (14.2%, 95% CI 11.3%–17.4%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that increasing age, history of PAT, bilharziasis, and praziquantel were common risk factors, but there was no relation with dental care. Host genetic predisposition seems to be a plausible underlying factor for susceptibility among Egyptians and intense ongoing infection.