Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interdecadal Dynamics of the North Pacific Ocean

Abstract An isopycnal ocean model forced by NCEP–NCAR reanalysis wind stresses and heat fluxes is used to study the interdecadal variability of the Pacific Ocean in the 1958–97 period. A reasonable agreement is found between the model's modes of variability and those obtained by other researchers from both 100 years of observations and theoretical predictions. In agreement with previous observational work, decadal and interdecadal timescales have different descriptions, and from this study it is suggested that they indeed have different dynamics. This study focuses on the dynamics of the ocean's interdecadal variability, that is, of timescales of about 20 yr. The decadal timescale, that is, 10 yr, is briefly outlined and compared with previous studies. It is found that atmospheric heat fluxes play a key role in establishing the interdecadal SST pattern in the midlatitudinal North Pacific. These fluxes would excite a high baroclinic mode, igniting a series of events that move around the basin. In midlatitu.
Early Ear, Nose and Throat Manifestations in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Poliangioitis: Results from Our Cohort Group and Literature Review

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare, systemic necrotizing vasculitis affecting small-to-medium-sized vessels. EGPA’s clinical manifestations are heterogeneous, affecting different organs and systems, and the upper respiratory tract can be affected by ear, nose and throat (ENT) involvement. The aim of our study was to assess type manifestations at the time of diagnosis in a cohort of EGPA patients and correlate findings with baseline variables (sex, age, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies—ANCA-status) and literature reports. The main ENT manifestations in our patients at the time of diagnosis were: chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) (52%), turbinate hypertrophy (48%), nasal swelling (40%), rhinorrhea (40%), chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) (32%), nasal bone deformities (32%), nasal crusts (20%), nasal mucosal ulcers (12%), corditis (12%), hoarseness/dysphonia (12%), hearing loss (12%), mucoceles (4%) and eosinophilic rhinitis (4%). No correlations were found between sex, age, ANCA status and ENT clinical manifestations. A polymorphic ENT involvement is often observed in the early stages of EGPA. The presence of nasal, sinus, ear and/or laryngeal manifestations in patients with asthma and hypereosinophilia, independently of sex, age or ANCA status, should raise an alert for further investigation and differential diagnosis for EGPA. ENT specialists should be aware of their leading position in this diagnostic race.
Benchmarking attenuation correction procedures for six years of single-polarized C-band weather radar observations in South-West Germany

ABSTRACT Rainfall-induced attenuation is a major source of underestimation for radar-based precipitation estimation at C-band. Unconstrained gate-by-gate correction procedures are known to be inherently unstable and thus not suited for unsupervised attenuation correction. In this study, we evaluate three different procedures to constrain gate-by-gate attenuation correction using reflectivity as the only input. These procedures are benchmarked against rainfall estimates from uncorrected radar data, using six years of radar observations from the single-polarized C-band radar in South-West Germany. The precipitation estimation error is obtained by comparing the radar-based estimates to rain gauge observations. All attenuation correction procedures benchmarked in this study lead to an effective improvement of precipitation estimation. The first method caps the corrections if the rain intensity increase exceeds a factor of two. The second method decreases the parameters of the attenuation correction iteratively for every radar beam calculation until attaining a stability criterion. The second method outperforms the first method and leads to a consistent distribution of path-integrated attenuation along the radar beam. As a third method, we propose a slight modification of Kraemer's approach which allows users to exert better control over attenuation correction by introducing an additional constraint that prevents unplausible corrections in cases of dramatic signal losses.
Relationship between Munsell color value and organic carbon content in Montana soils

Soil color has been successfully used to estimate soil organic carbon content of cultivated surface horizons in several states and countries. •. Amount of soil organic carbon can influence soil classification, interpretation of soil properties, and pesticide application rates and effectiveness. Soil forming factors vary tremendously in Montana, and weak correlations betweenMurisell soil color and organic carbon on a statewide basis indicate that other factors may require consideration when attempting to explain variability in organic carbon. Soil organic carbon and Munsell color data sets were analyzed on a statewide basis and at a landscape scale. The relationship between organic carbon and Munsell color, elevation, mean annual precipitation, mean annual soil temperature, and percent clay was evaluated for grassland and cropland soils across the state using multiple regression analysis. Regression models explain approximately 50% of the variation using Munsell color and easily measured climate variables on a statewide basis. Color value alone was sufficient to estimate organic carbon (r2 = 0.90) when the relationship was calibrated for a soil landscape. The regression models provide a feasible means of predicting soil organic carbon from easily measured soil and climate characteristics for Montana cropland and grassland soils.
Characterization of goat production systems in two agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso, West Africa

Improving the management of goat in rural areas and enhancing its ability to alleviate smallholder poverty requires a better understanding of the existing production systems. This study has been undertaken to characterize the diversity of goat farming systems and identify major constraints and opportunities for their sustainability in two agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso, namely Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian, as input for community-based breeding programs. Therefore, data of 372 goat keepers and their herd characteristics were collected in a questionnaire. Two quantitative and 12 qualitative variables were used to perform multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The results indicated that farmers were largely illiterate, with men slightly outnumbered by women. The surveys were divided into 3 clusters. The first 2 clusters were composed of sedentary agropastoral systems. These 2 clusters, which include over 85% of all respondents, represented subsistence crop and livestock productions. Livestock is reared for multiple purposes including income, meat, manure, saving and socio-cultural reasons. The third and smallest cluster (14.5%) was composed entirely of Fulani people in both areas Sudano-Sahelian (85%) and Sudanian (15%). This cluster was the only one containing transhumant production system, with 85% of these farmers practicing seasonal mobility of their herds. Fifteen constraints of goat production were identified, the main ones including conflicts, feed shortage, diseases, lack of workforce and abortions. Although our results showed diversity on goat farming systems among identified groups. Given the lack of formal breeding scheme and institutional support, community-based breeding approaches, which harness the indigenous knowledge and farmers’ full commitment, should be explored to improve smallholder production system while conserving genetic diversity.
Kolmogorov Problems on Equations for Stationary and Transition Probabilities of Diffusion Processes

The paper gives a survey of several directions of research connected with the works of A. N. Kolmogorov on parabolic and elliptic Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equations for transition and stationary probabilities of diffusion processes. We present the fundamental results on existence of solutions, their uniqueness, and the properties of solution densities. Open questions in this area are mentioned.
Evolving understanding of rumen methanogen ecophysiology

Production of methane by methanogenic archaea, or methanogens, in the rumen of ruminants is a thermodynamic necessity for microbial conversion of feed to volatile fatty acids, which are essential nutrients for the animals. On the other hand, methane is a greenhouse gas and its production causes energy loss for the animal. Accordingly, there are ongoing efforts toward developing effective strategies for mitigating methane emissions from ruminant livestock that require a detailed understanding of the diversity and ecophysiology of rumen methanogens. Rumen methanogens evolved from free-living autotrophic ancestors through genome streamlining involving gene loss and acquisition. The process yielded an oligotrophic lifestyle, and metabolically efficient and ecologically adapted descendants. This specialization poses serious challenges to the efforts of obtaining axenic cultures of rumen methanogens, and consequently, the information on their physiological properties remains in most part inferred from those of their non-rumen representatives. This review presents the current knowledge of rumen methanogens and their metabolic contributions to enteric methane production. It also identifies the respective critical gaps that need to be filled for aiding the efforts to mitigate methane emission from livestock operations and at the same time increasing the productivity in this critical agriculture sector.
To Walk or not to Walk? Teenagers' Travel Behavior and Perceptions Towards Walkability Constraints

The aim of this paper is to investigate the interrelationship between urban environment and walking to school, and how teenagers’ perceptions towards walkability constraints affect their mode choice. An advanced hybrid mode choice model is developed, where the utilities of the alternative modes depend on the modes’ characteristics, teenagers’ socioeconomic characteristics, as well as a latent variable, referring to walking constraints. The indicators of the latent variable include perceptions regarding the existence of stray animals, poor lighting, narrow sidewalks, parked cars that obscure visibility, nonsignalized intersections, and probability of attack and safety en route. A case study is presented based on a questionnaire survey that took place at high schools of three distinct geographic Greek areas (an urban area, a rural and an insular area) during 2011-2012. 1,988 high-school students, aged between 12 to 18 years old participated in the survey. Adolescents in rural areas walk greater distance than urban and insular adolescents. Model estimation results show that teenagers from each geographical area perceive in different ways the built environment, indicating how significant is the sense of place. The incorporation of the latent variable improved the overall goodness-of-fit of the model and its explanatory power. The results of the study provide insights on policies and campaigns that may help the next generation to develop a greener travel behavior.
APPLICATION OF A HYBRID CELLULAR AUTOMATON-MARKOV MODEL IN LAND USE CHANGE DETECTION AND PREDICTION IN FLOOD-PRONE AREA, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

Changes in land use can significantly impact natural resource sustainability, socioeconomic activities, and flood risks. Cellular Automata-Markov model (CA-Markov) is utilized in this study to predict land use changes by modeling the spatial dynamics and transitions of land use categories over time in one of the flood-prone area in Segamat district, Johor. Satellite images obtained from Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper and Satellite Pour I’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) 5, 6, and 7 for years 2006, 2011, and 2016 were utilized to assess the magnitude of the land use change via unsupervised and supervised classification. Additionally, ancillary data such as residential, road, water bodies, and slopes were used as input to forecast future land use. The findings revealed that between 2006 to 2026, there was an increase in built-up areas and mixed agriculture up to 26%. The expansion of built-up areas and mixed agricultures involves the removal of forests, further exacerbating flood risks. This fundamental research can provide valuable insights for effective land management and urban planning.
Giant stromatolites and associated vertical tubes from the upper Proterozoic Noonday Dolomite, Death Valley region, eastern California

Stromatolitic domes having apparent growth reliefs up to 100 m or more characterize the lower member of the Noonday Dolomite, late Proterozoic, Death Valley region, eastern California. Long to short, subparallel, initially subvertical tubes penetrate the bedding of these structures at angles that range from 90° where stratification was initially horizontal to downslope angles up to 110° (and acute upslope angles) as initial dips increase. Tubes generally are missing where initial dips exceed 20°. They are common in the larger buildups and most abundant in the upper and central parts of these. They may be open or filled with coarsely sparry secondary dolomite, medium-gray ultra microgranular dolomite, silty brown dolomite, or drusy quartz. They pinch and swell irregularly along their length from a mean diameter of 1.5 cm and are subcircular to irregular in horizontal cross section. Secondary crystalline growths similar to those in many tubes are common along lamination surfaces and as irregular vug fillings. Weathering along intersecting fracture sets locally produces a subvertical lineation in the same orientation as associated tubes. Possible origins considered for the tubes and found improbable are: (1) metazoan burrows, (2) interspaces of columnar stromatolites, (3) columnar stromatolites, (4) solution pipes, and (5) root casts. Instead the spaces now represented by filled vugs, sparry lamination surfaces, and tubes are interpreted as having, in general, a common origin caused by the upward movement of fluids through the stromatolite mounds.
Estratigrafía y evolución del Complejo Volcánico Cerro Blanco, Puna Austral, Argentina

Cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex is located in Catamarca Province in the southern limit of Andean plateau. It corresponds to a system of nested calderas, with associated domes and pyroclastic deposits. All erupted products are rhyolitic/rhyodacitic in composition and constitute the youngest (Middle Pleistocene-Holocene) collapse calderas system in the Southern Central Andes based on the available radiometric ages. The Cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex hosts an active, small geothermal field and is subsiding with an average velocity of 0.87 cm/year. Despite the existence of numerous studies on regional volcanism of the southern edge of the Andean plateau, the stratigraphy of most of eruptive centers in the region is poorly understood. This study presents a new stratigraphic scheme for the Cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex using a combination of lithostratigraphic units and Unconformity Bounded Stratigraphic Units, plus the application of volcanic activity units and lithosome concept. The results allowed to reconstruct the Cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex evolution in three main eruptive epochs that constitute an eruptive period: i) the Cortaderas eruptive epoch (Middle Pleistocene) is represented by the homonymous synthem and characterized by explosive boiling over eruptions with the generation of huge volumes of pyroclastic density currents (Barranca Blanca and Carachi ignimbrites). The source of these eruptions remains unknown. ii) The Campo de la Piedra Pomez eruptive epoch (Upper Pleistocene), represented by the homonymous synthem and formed by at least one boiling over, explosive eruption. This eruption had two main eruptive phases represented by synthems UI and UII and was characterized by the generation of huge volumes of pyroclastic density currents (Ignimbrita Campo de la Piedra Pomez). A preliminary model is proposed in which the Campo de la Piedra Pomez eruptive epoch is associated with a volcano-tectonic depression. iii) The Cerro Blanco eruptive epoch (Holocene), represented by the homonymous synthem which includes the pre-, syn- and post-Cerro Blanco Caldera collapse (subsynthems CB1, CB2 and CB3 respectively). The pre-caldera activity was effusive and is indirectly represented by block and ash flow deposits. The syn-caldera activity was explosive with a plinian/subplinian eruptive style with simultaneous pyroclastic density currents generation, represented by Cerro Blanco Ignimbrite and associated pyroclastic fall deposits. The post-caldera activity was effusive/explosive and is represented by post-caldera domes and associated block and ash and vulcanian fall deposits. The results indicate that over the past 100000 years the Cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex had at least two large-scale eruptions (Volcanic Explosivity Index ≥ 6). Particularly, the caldera-forming Cerro Blanco eruption constitutes one of the greatest Holocene volcanic events in the Central Andes. Finally, the results presented in this study could contribute to the evaluation of the potential hazard associated with a possible renewal of explosive activity at Cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex.
Studying macro-and microvascular responses to major surgery to develop preventive strategies for perioperative complications

Major surgery induces systemic inflammation leading to pro-inflammatory activation of endothelial cells. Endothelial inflammation is one of the drivers of postoperative organ damage, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α ) is an important component of surgery-induced pro-inflammatory activation of endothelial cells. Kinases, the backbone of signalling cascades, can be targeted by pharmacological inhibition. This is a promising treatment option to interfere with excessive endothelial inflammation. In this study, we identified activated kinases as potential therapeutic targets. These targets were pharmacologically inhibited to reduce TNF-α -induced pro-inflammatory signalling in endothelial cells. Kinome profiling using PamChip arrays identified 64 protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and 88 serine-threonine kinases, the activity of which was determined at various timepoints (5-240 minutes) following stimulation with 10 ng/mL TNF-α in HUVEC in vitro . The PTKs Axl and Fyn were selected based on high kinase activity profiles. Co-localisation experiments with the endothelial-specific protein CD31 showed Axl expression in endothelial cells of glomeruli and Fyn in arterioles and glomeruli of both control and TNF-α -exposed mice. Pharmacological inhibition with Axl inhibitor BMS-777607 and Fyn inhibitor PP2 significantly reduced TNF-α -induced pro-inflammatory activation of E-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, IL-6 and IL-8 at mRNA and VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and IL-6 at protein level in HUVEC in vitro . Upon pharmacological inhibition with each inhibitor, leukocyte adhesion
Assessing Reliability and Validity of the Oxford Depression Questionnaire (ODQ) in a Japanese Clinical Population

Purpose Originally developed in English, the Oxford Depression Questionnaire (ODQ) is a patient-reported scale specifically developed for assessing emotional blunting in people with major depressive disorder (MDD). We aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the ODQ. Patients and methods This was a prespecified analysis of a prospective, 24-week, multicenter, observational cohort study of employed Japanese outpatients with MDD initiating treatment with vortioxetine according to the Japanese label (JRCT1031210200). Participants were assessed using the Japanese version of the ODQ and other clinical rating scales at baseline and Weeks 8, 12 and 24. Results One hundred and sixteen patients initiated vortioxetine and had ≥1 post-baseline visit. Directionally, the associations between ODQ scores and other clinical measures were as expected and demonstrated good concurrent validity. Factor analysis shows that the scale has a good fit for three factors. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.912, and the scale also showed good test–retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients for the ODQ total score and domains ranging between 0.69 and 0.82. ODQ scores had strong positive correlations with symptom severity assessed using the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and were moderately correlated with work productivity, overall functioning, and quality of life scales. Conclusion Data from this prospective analysis confirm that the Japanese version of the ODQ retains the good validity and reliability of the original English scale and is suitable for use in prospective studies wanting to capture treatment effects on emotional blunting in MDD.
Accurate Evaluation of High-k HZO/ZrO2 Films by Morphotropic Phase Boundary

This study evaluates HfxZr1-xO2 (HZO)-based high-k dielectrics, where dielectric constant (k) is significantly enhanced through structural engineering. The investigation focuses on their dielectric characteristics by pulse operation for DRAM applications. HZO/ZrO2 (HZZ) films with different superlattice structures display different dielectric behaviors, including ferroelectricity, morphotropic phase boundary (MPB), and anti-ferroelectricity. The HZZ film at the MPB condition exhibits exceptionally high k value of 62 even at voltage of 1 V, which is attributed to the abundance of phase boundaries facilitating phase transition in the superlattice structure. Conversely, the HZZ films with ferroelectric and anti-ferroelectric properties exhibit lower-than-expected k values compared to capacitance measurement, due to overestimation caused by polarization switching. Furthermore, the HZZ film at the MPB condition demonstrates robust endurance above 1012 cycles (k>45 @1015 cycles, extrapolation). These findings highlight the potential of HZZ films at the MPB to replace conventional DRAM capacitors, offering superior dielectric properties.
Juglans regia and Carya illinoinensis: safety, chemical composition, and preference

This study aimed to investigate the global scientific production of Chilean walnuts and pecans, analyze the efficiency of hygienic-sanitary treatments, compare both nuts for chemical composition and preference, perform chemical analyses of the pecan nutshell, prepare food bars with nuts and shells, and test their acceptability. Studies were consulted in the Scopus database and then directed to bibliometric analysis. Hygienic-sanitary treatments were performed by placing the nuts in the shell in hot water, cold water with hypochlorite, hot water with hypochlorite, and microwave. The proximate composition followed the official methods, and the sensorial analysis of the nuts was performed through a bilateral paired affective test. Food bars were prepared, tested by an affective acceptability test, and analyzed for chemical composition. After refining the research, we observed more publications for the walnut and its satisfactory hygienic-sanitary treatment with hot water of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, molds, yeasts, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and mycotoxins. Regarding the physicochemical composition, the results differed significantly except for the ether extract; the untrained tasters preferred pecans. The pecan nutshell showed expressive amounts of carbohydrates and fiber, and the food bars were accepted by the tasters.