Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunolocalization of Sphingolipid Catabolism Enzymes along the Nephron: Novel Early Urinary Biomarkers of Renal Damage

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the activity of enzymes involved in sphingolipid catabolism could be biomarkers to predict early renal damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension rats. Diabetic and hypertensive rats had no changes in plasma creatinine concentration. However, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed slight ultrastructural changes in the glomeruli and tubular epithelial cells from diabetic and hypertensive rats. Our results show that the acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) and neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) activity increased in the urine of diabetic rats and decreased in hypertensive rats. Only neutral ceramidase (nCDase) activity increased in the urine of diabetic rats. Furthermore, the immunofluorescence demonstrated positive staining for the nSMase, nCDase, and sphingosine kinase (SphK1) in glomerular mesangial cells, proximal tubule, ascending thin limb of the loop of Henle, thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop, and principal cells of the collecting duct in the kidney. In conclusion, our results suggest that aSMase and nCDase activity in urine could be a novel predictor of early slight ultrastructural changes in the nephron, aSMase and nCDase as glomerular injury biomarkers, and nSMase as a tubular injury biomarker in diabetic and hypertensive rats.
Is Anosognosia for Left-Sided Hemiplegia Due to a Specific Self-Awareness Defect or to a Poorly Conscious Working Mode Typical of the Right Hemisphere?

This review aimed to evaluate whether the association between ‘anosognosia for hemiplegia’ and lesions of the right hemisphere points to a special self-awareness role of the right side of the brain, or could instead be due to a working mode typical of the right hemisphere. This latter viewpoint is consistent with a recently proposed model of human brain asymmetries that assumes that language lateralization in the left hemisphere might have increased the left hemisphere’s level of consciousness and intentionality in comparison with the right hemisphere’s less conscious and more automatic functioning. To assess these alternatives, I tried to ascertain whether anosognosia is greater for left-sided hemiplegia than for other disorders provoked by right brain lesions, or whether unawareness prevails in tasks more clearly related to the disruption of the right hemisphere’s more automatic (and less conscious) functioning. Data consistent with the first alternative would support the existence of a specific link between anosognosia for hemiplegia and self-awareness, whereas data supporting the second option would confirm the model linking anosognosia to a poorly conscious working mode typical of the right hemisphere. Analysis results showed that the incidence of anosognosia of the highly automatic syndrome of unilateral neglect was greater than that concerning the unawareness of left hemiplegia, suggesting that anosognosia for left-sided hemiplegia might be due to the poorly conscious working mode typical of the right hemisphere.
Role of the microtubules in the electrical activity of the primary cilium of renal epithelial cells

The primary cilium is a non-motile sensory organelle that transduces environmental cues into cellular responses. It comprises an axoneme, a core of nine doublet microtubules (MTs) coated by a specialized membrane populated by receptors, and a high density of ion channels. Dysfunctional primary cilia generate the pathogenesis of several diseases known as ciliopathies. However, the electrical role of MTs in ciliary signaling remains largely unknown. Herein, we determined by the patch clamp technique the electrical activity of cytoplasmic and axonemal MTs from wild-type LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells. We observed electrical oscillations with fundamental frequencies at ∼39 Hz and ∼93 Hz in sheets of cytoplasmic MTs. We also studied in situ and isolated, intact and Triton X-permeabilized primary cilia, observing electrical oscillations with peak frequencies at either 29–49 Hz (non-permeabilized) or ∼40–49 Hz (permeabilized) and ∼93 Hz (both). We applied Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), and Cross-Correlation Analysis (CCA) to assess the differences and the coherence in the Time-Frequency domains of electrical oscillations between cytoplasmic and axonemal MTs. The data indicate that axonemal and cytoplasmic MTs show different patterns of electrical oscillations preserving coherence at specific frequency peaks that may serve as electromagnetic communication between compartments. Further, the electrical behavior of axonemal MTs was modified by siRNA deletion of polycystin-2 (PC2), which lengthens primary cilia, thus linking ciliary channels to the morphological and electrical behavior of cilia in ciliopathies. The encompassed evidence indicates that the primary cilium behaves as an electrical antenna, with an excitable MT structure that produces electrical oscillations whose synchronization and propagation constitute a novel cell signaling mechanism.
Prehistoric Maritime Adaptations of the Subarctic and Subantarctic Zones: The Aleutian/Fuegian Connection Reconsidered

In 1975, Allen P. McCartney proposed that Aleutian and Fuegian populations shared a number of common subsistence and technology features, resulting from convergence in adaptation to maritime resources in cold archipelagos. As a result of recent excavations on the north Beagle Channel in Argentine Tierra del Fuego, as well as reconsideration of the historic and ethnographic records, it is now possible to flesh out such a comparative analysis in much greater detail. Both Aleutian and Fuegian populations exploited pinnipeds (sea lions and fur seals) and shellfish (mussels and limpets) in a cold, windy coastal zone, and both regions show an intriguing convergence in the history of subsistence, with a shift from sea mammal hunting to shellfish use occurring around 4,000 years ago. Although differences in resource use (i.e., greater dependence on terrestrial mammals [guanaco] in Tierra del Fuego versus the use of storable anadromous fish in the Aleutians) led to the development of greater sociopolitical complexity among the Aleuts, there is now archaeological evidence to suggest that greater complexity existed in precontact Fuegian populations as well. Most of the differences observed between the groups are probably the result of historical transformations brought about by the depredations of European sealers and whalers beginning in the late eighteenth century.
Effects of arrival time errors on traveltime tomography

Summary The ISC Bulletin is the most widely used data set for traveltime tomography since it comprises the largest collection of arrival times. The large number of stations and events gives the best ray path coverage of the Earth’s mantle currently available, but the data also contain a considerable amount of noise. The effects of noise are supposedly reduced by averaging delay times for similar paths, choosing a suitable parametrization and damping the tomographic inversions. In this article we focus on two types of errors in body wave arrival times and estimate their effects on global tomographic models using synthetic tests. The first type of error stems from the finite reading precision of arrival times and is equivalent to a round-off error. This yields a random contribution to delay times. We show that the reading precision inferred here often does not coincide with that reported in the Bulletin. The influence on tomography of a reading precision of 1 s or better is almost insignificant since (1) its variance is very small compared to the total variance of ISC delay times and (2) less than 5 per cent of that variance maps into the tomographic model. A few stations report some arrival times with an indicated reading precision of 0.1 s that are in reality only picked to the closest 10 s or 1 min. This results in a S/N ratio much lower than 1 and these data should be removed. The second type of error causes systematic variations of delay times as a function of time. A large amount of this error maps into the tomographic model, but, luckily, the size of the error in the input data is one order of magnitude smaller than the standard deviation of the ISC delay times. A test reveals that the rms amplitude due to these systematic errors is between 4.2 per cent (0–35 km depth) and 14.4 per cent (1800–2000 km depth) of the model rms amplitude. This blurs the tomographic model to some degree but does not change the overall amplitude or shape of seismic anomalies.
Ground‐Motion Prediction Equations for The Geysers Geothermal Area based on Induced Seismicity Records

Abstract The Geysers geothermal field in Northern California, which has been actively exploited since the 1960s, is the world’s largest geothermal field. The continuous injection of fluids and the consequent stress perturbations induce seismicity that is clearly felt in the surrounding communities. In order to evaluate seismic hazard due to induced seismicity and the effects of seismicity rate level on the population and buildings in the area, reliable ground‐motion prediction equations (GMPEs) must be developed. This paper introduces the first GMPEs specific for The Geysers area in terms of peak ground velocity (PGV), peak ground acceleration (PGA), and 5% damped spectral acceleration SA( T ) at T =0.2 s, 0.5 s, and 1.0 s. The adopted non‐linear mixed‐effect regression technique to derive the GMPE includes both fixed and random effects, and it permits to account for both inter‐event and intra‐event dependencies in the data. Site‐specific effects are also estimated from the data and are corrected in the final ground‐motion model. We used data from earthquakes recorded at 29 stations of the Berkeley‐Geysers network during the period September 2007 through November 2010. The magnitude range is 1.3≤ M w ≤3.3, whereas the hypocentral distances range between 0.5 km and 20 km. The comparison of our new GMPE for The Geysers with a standard model derived in a different tectonic context shows that our model is more robust when predictions have to be made for induced earthquakes in this geothermal area.
The Impact of Tracheostomy Timing (Early and Late) on Severe Head Injury Patients Toward Clinical Outcomes

Introduction: Severe head injury patients require a specific treatment plan and nursing care to achieve an optimal clinical outcome. Mild head injury patients may need a few days of hospitalisation for close monitoring and conservative medical administrations. However, in severe head injury cases, the patients may require a more extended period of hospitalisation for a series of complex neuro-medical and neurosurgical management. Tracheostomy may be performed on head injury patients with protracted breathing problems. Early tracheostomy (ET) may improve clinical outcomes late tracheostomy. ET is defined as the tracheostomy done seven days after the initiation of endotracheal intubation. Objective : The objective of this study is to determine the impact of ET on a patient's clinical outcome before being discharged. Methodology: This is a retrospective cohort study involving 45 severe head injury patients with tracheostomy done in two Neuro-Centre hospitals in Klang Valley. The clinical outcome was observed before the participants are discharged including the participant's GCS upon discharge, length of stay (LOS) in the ICU and hospital, the incidence of VAP, duration of mechanical ventilation dependency, and decannulation rate. Findings: There are 45 participants in this study as the sample. Crude analysis performed in this study showed that there is a significant association between tracheostomy classification (early and late) toward participant length of stay in the ICU with a p-value of <0.001, LOS in the hospital (p=0.002), and duration on the mechanical ventilation use (p<0.001) with no association with the GCS upon discharge (p=0.057), the incidence of VAP (p=0.374), and decannulation rate (p=0.081). Potential confounding factors in this study were determined statistically. It was done by comparing the model without an additional factor and the model with an additional factor. Multivariate analysis showed that the association between these variables remained significant for the LOS in the hospital (p=0.035) and duration of mechanical ventilation used (p=0.005). Conclusion: The initiation of ET contributes to a favourable clinical outcome in terms of the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay for patients with a severe head injury. However, the association between tracheostomy categorisation and ICU LOS, incidence of pneumonia, decannulation rate, and GCS at discharge was not statistically significant.
How Local are Spatial Density Externalities? evidence from square grid data

We analyze the geographic scale at which density externalities operate and their attenuation with distance. Using square grid data at a fine spatial resolution, we find that a doubling of neighborhood density, measured as the density of 1 km2 squares, yields an increase in the overall wage-level of a square in the order of 3 percent. The density of the wider region to which the neighborhood belongs shows a significantly smaller effect. Highly educated workers gain more from proximity to others, and when we decrease the sizes of the squares the effect is still stronger for such workers. Density effects operate simultaneously at different spatial levels, and we argue that the neighborhood effects are more prone to capture localized non-market effects, such as knowledge spillovers driven by face-to-face interaction.
Associations of diurnal temperature range change with the leading climate variability modes during the Northern Hemisphere wintertime and their implication on the detection of regional climate trends

[1] This study examines associations of diurnal temperature range (DTR) changes in observations at the global, hemispheric, subcontinental, and grid box scales with five leading climate variability modes, including the Arctic Oscillation (AO), hemispheric Pacific–North America (PNA)–like mode, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) during the Northern Hemisphere winter season (Jan–Mar). Winter DTR variability in most subcontinental regions is significantly related to variations in either the AO, or hemispheric PNA-like mode, or ENSO index in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the DTR variability appears closely coupled with variations in the ENSO and AAO. From 1951 to 2000, variations in the circulation patterns account for a significant fraction of the DTR increase at all scales although the strength of these associations varies geographically. After removing the linearly congruent component of leading climate variability modes from the total wintertime DTR trends in the observations, statistically significant residual trends in DTR are still found at the global, hemispheric, and most subcontinental regions. Ensemble mean multimodel averaged DTR trends to major anthropogenic and natural forcing are significantly smaller than not only observed total DTR trends but also residual trends at these large scales. The implication of changes in the leading climate variability modes on the detection of regional DTR trends is discussed. We find that the detection of the regional response to combined anthropogenic and natural forcing is robust to the exclusion of trends related to changes of the five modes considered here.
Zoning Surface Rupture Hazard along Normal Faults: Insight from the 2009 Mw 6.3 L’Aquila, Central Italy, Earthquake and Other Global Earthquakes

Following the observation of surface faulting in populated areas affected by the 2009 M w 6.3 L’Aquila earthquake (central Apennines of Italy), we propose general criteria for delineating zones of surface fault‐rupture hazard (SFRH) along active normal faults. Similar to other countries with surface faulting hazard, Italy does not have explicit and comprehensive codes and/or regulations concerning this important issue. Our proposal, which is explicitly inspired by the California Alquist–Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act (A–P), compares the 2009 coseismic surface faults to surface rupture data collected globally for several normal‐faulting earthquakes. We propose earthquake fault zones and fault setbacks, which are asymmetrically shaped around the fault trace. The zones are wider on the hanging wall, consistent with the observation of wider coseismic rupture zones in the hanging wall block compared to the footwall block. For faults mapped in detail, we suggest a 150‐m‐wide earthquake fault zone (EFZ) on the hanging wall and a 30‐m‐wide EFZ on the footwall. The suggested widths of the fault setback (S) on the hanging wall and footwall are 40 m and 15 m, respectively. Considering the data collected for the L’Aquila fault system and abroad, we are confident that our proposal is conservative enough for Apennine‐like normal faults.
Treeline dynamics: Pattern and process at multiple spatial scales

Treeline dynamics: Pattern and process at multiple spatial scales by Melanie Ann Harsch The primary hypothesis of treeline formation, low growing season temperature limitation of growth, predicts that treeline position will track climatic changes. These hypotheses were generated from broad treeline patterns, which may overlook critical local variability. To assess the hypothesis that all treelines are limited by low temperature and will respond in kind, treeline response over the last 100 years was evaluated at 166 treeline sites in a metaanalysis. Treeline advance was variable and not related to climate warming in the way expected. Treelines that experienced strong winter warming were more likely to have advanced and treelines with a diffuse form were more likely to have advanced than those with an abrupt, Krummholz or island form. Diffuse treelines may be more responsive to warming because they are more strongly growth limited, whereas other treeline forms may be subject to additional constraints. The results suggest that mechanisms other than growing season temperature, such as winter dieback and recruitment failure, may also determine treeline position and dynamics. As treeline responses worldwide confirm a close link between form and dynamics, variability in treeline response may be explained by identifying the mechanisms controlling treeline form. The varying dominance of three mechanisms affecting tree performance growth limitation, seedling mortality and dieback – modified by species traits, local climatic conditions, stressors and neighbour interactions is proposed to result in different treeline forms and the expected response of treelines to climatic change. The proposed mechanisms controlling treeline form and expected responses to climate warming were subsequently tested at the abrupt Nothofagus treeline in New Zealand. The role of growth, mortality (across all size classes) and recruitment in controlling treeline dynamics were evaluated using long-term data collected along seven abrupt Nothofagus treeline transects in the South Island, New Zealand. Demographic parameters were modelled
Educational Quality Management at Inpres Kema III Primary School

This research aims to analyze and describe: the quality planning process, quality implementation, and quality evaluation at SD INpres Kema III, North Minahasa Regency. This research uses a naturalistic qualitative method, where data collection uses techniques: participant observation, interviews, and documentation studies. Based on the results of data analysis, it was concluded that 1) the process of improving the quality at SD Inpres Kema III went through stages: first, evaluation and analysis of the implementation of learning in the previous academic year by the principal, second, preparation of a quality improvement plan based on the results of the evaluation of the implementation of learning in the previous year, third, presentation of the evaluation results in the principal and the new quality improvement program plan at the meeting at the beginning of the school year (attended by the teacher council and school committee), the fourth discussion of the work program plan for the new school year, 2) quality implementation is by the quality improvement plan. In the process, the school principal acts as a "guardian" for the harmonization of organizational performance. This role is carried out in the form of 1) ensuring student security by ensuring that the fence is locked so that no one comes in and out without the principal's knowledge, 2) monitoring the presence of teachers in teaching, 3) ensuring the creation of education without violence (harmonious education), 4 ) motivator for teachers, 5) liaison between schools and parents/committees, 6) as a monitor for program implementation, 7) director when there is an imbalance in the implementation of activities, 8) counselor for teacher problems at school. Apart from the role of school principals and teachers, environmental support has a strategic role in improving the quality of SD Inpres Kema III. Groups that play a role include 1) government, 2) school committees, 3) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and 4) National Companies operating in North Minahasa Regency.
Interlobate ice‐sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum at Whitburn Bay, County Durham, England

This research reconstructs ice‐sheet processes operating during the Late Devensian in northeast England. The article assesses the lithostratigraphy of the Devensian glacial tills of Whitburn Bay, eastern County Durham, and presents the first detailed analysis of petrological, geochemical and biostratigraphical data to reconstruct lithostratigraphy, provenance and iceflow pathways. Two Devensian tractions tills (the Blackhall and Horden tills) are separated by a boulder pavement, pointing to a switch in ice‐bed conditions and the production of a melt‐out lag prior to deposition of the upper traction till, the Horden Till. The Blackhall Till contains Magnesian Limestone, Carboniferous Limestone, Whin Sill dolerite and Old Red Sandstone, suggesting a northwesterly source, probably from the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The Horden Till contains erratics and heavy minerals derived from crystalline bedrock sources in the Cheviot Hills and northeast Scotland. Within the Horden Till are numerous sand, clay and gravel‐filled canals incised downwards into the diamicton which are attributed to a low‐energy, distributed, subglacial canal drainage system. Coupled with hydro‐fractures and the boulder pavement, this suggests that a partially decoupled, fast‐flowing ice stream deposited the Horden Till. The uphill, landward direction of ice movement indicates that the ice stream was confined in the North Sea Basin, possibly by the presence of Scandinavian Ice.
Analysis on the exploitability of medium-term quantitative precipitation forecasts by global forecasting system

Mid-term quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF) provides updating information for rainfall-runoff forecast and hydropower scheduling. This paper makes a statistical evaluation of QPF published by global forecasting system (GFS) in consideration of the runoff and operation of Ertan hydropower station,and analyzes the quantitative and qualitative applications to runoff forecast by exploiting GFS-QPF data. Results show that the qualitative GFS-QPF information of ten-days forecast is valuable to the scheduling of Ertan hydropower.