Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the association between hippocampal reactive astrogliosis, anhedonia-like behaviors, and neurogenesis in a monkey model of stress and antidepressant treatment

With the intention to better understand the biological mechanism of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and antidepressants, we looked at the effects of stress and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on a measure of astrocyte reactivity in nonhuman primate (NHP) models of stress. We focused on hippocampal astrocytes because they regulate both neural activity and neurogenesis and have been characterized as a crucial cell type in regulating inflammation in response to stress. During stress, astrocytes become reactive and lose the ability to support neuronal function. In addition, reactive astrocytes can increase inflammatory signals and contribute to behavioral deficits associated with stress. For this project, we hypothesized that stress would lead to astrocyte reactivity in the NHP hippocampus, and that SSRI treatment would be associated with decreased astrocyte reactivity. We also hypothesized that astrocyte reactivity would be positively correlated with anhedonia-like behaviors and reduced neurogenesis in the hippocampus. In this study we show that chronic separation stress in NHPs leads to increased signs of astrogliosis in the NHP hippocampus. Furthermore, we show that measures of increased astrogliosis inversely correlate with adult hippocampal neurogenesis in NHPs, as well as with higher anhedonia scores. Overall, our findings were consistent with our initial hypotheses that hippocampal astrogliosis is an important mechanism in stress-induced cognitive and behavioral deficits. By observing the association between adult separation stress, SSRI treatments, and astrocyte reactivity in the NHP hippocampus, we aimed to provide insight into the non-neuronal cellular changes that occur in the NHP hippocampus during stress and antidepressant treatment.
Comparing Reading Performance Between Xitsonga as The Language of Instruction and as the Second Language

Background: As shown by the Progress in International Reading Study (PIRLS) findings over four successive cycles (2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021), South African Grade 4 learners’ performance in reading literacy is low, irrespective of the language in which reading is assessed. Xitsonga home language (HL) learners are assessed in Grade 4, but very little research on early reading development in this language has been undertaken. Objectives: This article aims to examine whether Xitsonga HL reading develops differently when it is used as the language of instruction compared to being used as the second language (L2). Method: The quantitative case study was conducted in five schools in the Mopani district of Limpopo Province. The early grade reading assessment (EGRA) instrument was adapted to Xitsonga, and 75 Grade 1s were selected in this study simply because Grade 1 is an important reading milestone children have to go through to help them cope with more advanced reading skills in higher grades. Results: The findings showed significant differences between Xitsonga HL and L2 in favour of L2. It was unexpected for Xitsonga HL learners to be outscored by learners who were taught Xitsonga as an L2, given that HL learners often use the language at home. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is evident that teachers need to consider the orthographic nature of African languages when teaching reading in the Foundation Phase (Grades 1-3) classroom. Moreover, teaching reading requires an expert reading teacher who is familiar with the cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds of their learners. Thus, this requires teachers to be constantly professionally developed through suitable, accurate, and updated materials to help them improve their teaching of reading.
Contrasting evaporative moisture sources during the drought of 1988 and the flood of 1993

Using hourly observed precipitation data, National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalyses at 6 hourly intervals, and a quasi-isentropic back-trajectory algorithm, we have examined the transport and surface sources of moisture supplying rainfall during the spring and summer over the United States during the drought year of 1988 and the flood year of 1993. These results are compared to calculations using a bulk-transport approach and monthly mean data. We find that about 41 % of precipitation over the Mississippi River basin originated as evaporation from the same basin during April-July 1988 and 33 % during 1993. During the July peak of the 1993 flood the recycling ratio was considerably lower than in other months, while the source of moisture from the western Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea increased enormously. By contrast, at the June climax of the 1988 drought, the recycling ratio reaches a maximum. We also find a small source region in the eastern subtropical Pacific Ocean during both years, which decreases significantly with the onset of the Mexican monsoon around the beginning of July. The back-trajectory approach represents an improvement over the bulk recycling approach by rejecting the assumption of uniform distributions of rainfall in space and time, instead focusing specifically on the sources and transport of moisture contributing to observed rainfall events.
Gold mineralisation and advanced argillic alteration at the Dobroyde prospect, central New South Wales

Gold mineralisation at the Dobroyde prospect in central New South Wales is hosted by a zoned alteration system characterised by peripheral propylitic alteration, grading inwards through argillic and advanced argillic alteration to a siliceous altered core. Overprinting textures indicate that propylitic, argillic, advanced argillic and siliceous assemblages were successively superimposed on each other. Au grades between 0.3–0.8 ppm are associated with siliceous alteration and cross‐cutting pyrite veinlets. Higher Au grades are associated with barite veins that cut the pyrite veinlets. Native Au, native Te, Au, Pb and Hg tellurides, Pb selenide, chalcopyrite, Zn‐sphalerite and tennantite‐tetrahedrite occur in the barite veins. Microscopic pyrophyllite shears cut the barite veins. The location of the Dobroyde prospect, the orientation of its internal alteration zonation and the orientation of auriferous barite veins in the core of the prospect are controlled by a 330°‐striking fault. Movement on this fault, .
Evaluation of the DEMETER performance for seasonal hindcasts of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall

On the basis of the observed all‐India rainfall (AIR), Climate Prediction Center (CPC) merged analysis of precipitation (CMAP), and the multimodel rainfall simulated in the Development of a European multimodel ensemble system for seasonal to interannual prediction (DEMETER) project, the model performance in terms of forecast quality of the seasonal mean Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) was evaluated. The approach used included the individual model (single‐model ensemble) comparison as well as its comparison with the multimodel ensemble (MME). The results obtained reveal that systematic biases are the main source of the low skill in predicting the ISMR, while improved reproduction of interannual variability may increase the overall forecast quality for the ISMR. The MME shows superior performance in reproducing AIR features than the single‐model ensembles. This improved forecast quality achieved by the MME with respect to the ISMR variations primarily depends on model performance and secondly on ensemble size. The MME has improved capability of simulating the ISMR variations during 1972–1990 decades, whereas it exhibits a lower performance in the 1990s. The reason of this decadal varying forecast quality clearly deserves more investigation. In summary, these results suggest that the MME's increase in skill absolutely depends on enhancing the individual model quality. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Bowhead whales, and not right whales, were the primary target of 16th- to 17th-century Basque Whalers in the Western North Atlantic

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Basque whalers travelled annually to the Strait of Belle Isle and Gulf of St. Lawrence to hunt whales. The hunting that occurred during this period is of primary significance for the North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis (Muller, 1776), because it has been interpreted as the largest human-induced reduction of the western North Atlantic population, with ~12250–21 000 whales killed. It has been frequently reported that the Basques targeted two species in this region: the North Atlantic right whale and the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus L. , 1758. To evaluate this hypothesis and the relative impact of this period of whaling on both species, we collected samples from 364 whale bones during a comprehensive search of Basque whaling ports from the 16th to the 17th century in the Strait of Belle Isle and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Bones were found and sampled at 10 of the 20 sites investigated. DNA was extracted from a subset (n = 218) of these samples. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b region identified five whale species. The identification of only a single right whale bone and 203 bowhead whale bones from at least 72 individuals indicates that the bowhead whale was likely the principal target of the hunt. These results imply that this whaling had a much greater impact (in terms of numbers of whales removed) on the bowhead whale population than on the western North Atlantic right whale population.
The Impact of Strategic Leadership on Organizational Performance with Regard to The Role of Organizational Innovation

The ongoing changes in today’s business environment have led to a new kind of required leadership style that helps companies move successfully towards a dynamic and uncertain environment in which they compete. This style of leadership is called strategic leadership. Empirical evidence shows that strategic leadership affects many organizational variables. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the impact of strategic leadership on organizational performance with regard to the mediating role of organizational innovation among managers and experts of Iran Khodro Company. In terms of research method, this study is based on the descriptive-survey method with applied nature and in terms of time is based on a cross-sectional time. The statistical population of this study included all managers and senior experts of Iran Khodro Company and its subsidiaries companies in Tehran, which was estimated to be about 370 people. According to Cochran’s formula, the sample size was calculated to be 190. The sa mpling method was also a simple random method. A standard questionnaire was employed as the data collection tool, with experts confirming its validity. The reliability of the tool was calculated and confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha. SPSS22 and smartPLS sof tware were used for data analysis. The results of this research showed that strategic leadership has a positive effect on organizational innovation and organizational performance. Also, the effect of strategic leadership with the mediating role of organizational innovation on organizational performance was positive.
Water level forecasting through fuzzy logic and artificial neural network approaches

Abstract. In this study three data-driven water level forecasting models are presented and discussed. One is based on the artificial neural networks approach, while the other two are based on the Mamdani and the Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy logic approaches, respectively. All of them are parameterised with reference to flood events alone, where water levels are higher than a selected threshold. The analysis of the three models is performed by using the same input and output variables. However, in order to evaluate their capability to deal with different levels of information, two different input sets are considered. The former is characterized by significant spatial and time aggregated rainfall information, while the latter considers rainfall information more distributed in space and time. The analysis is made with great attention to the reliability and accuracy of each model, with reference to the Reno river at Casalecchio di Reno (Bologna, Italy). It is shown that the two models based on the fuzzy logic approaches perform better when the physical phenomena considered are synthesised by both a limited number of variables and IF-THEN logic statements, while the ANN approach increases its performance when more detailed information is used. As regards the reliability aspect, it is shown that the models based on the fuzzy logic approaches may fail unexpectedly to forecast the water levels, in the sense that in the testing phase, some input combinations are not recognised by the rule system and thus no forecasting is performed. This problem does not occur in the ANN approach.
Late Quaternary Vegetation and Climate Change in the Amazon Basin Based on a 50,000 Year Pollen Record from the Amazon Fan, ODP Site 932

Abstract Hemipelagic sediments from the Amazon deep-sea fan, ODP Site 932 (5° 12.7′N, 47° 1.8′W), and continental shelf provide a 50,000-yr-long pollen record of Amazon Basin vegetation. The age model for Hole 932A is constrained by eight magnetic remanence intensity features, one paleomagnetic excursion, and three AMS14C dates.Alchornea,Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, and Moraceae/Urticaceae are dominant taxa in the pollen record between 40,200 and 19,800 cal yr B.P. Andean taxa, such asPodocarpusandHedyosmum,increase in abundance between 19,800 and 11,000 cal yr B.P. and prior to 40,200 cal yr B.P. The Holocene pollen assemblage, derived from Amazon River and continental shelf sediments, is dominated by secondary growth taxa, such asCecropia.Climatic factors influencing the development of glacial and interglacial tropical vegetation are considered by comparing marine with terrestrial records of vegetation change. This comparison shows that the Amazon Basin forests were not extensively replaced by savanna vegetation during the glacial period, contradicting the refugia hypothesis.
Salmonella infection among the pediatric population at a tertiary care children’s hospital in central Nepal: a retrospective study

Background Typhoid fever, an infective bacterial disease, is capable of causing fatal systemic infection in humans, and in an era of antimicrobial resistance, it has become of public health importance. This study aimed to investigate the laboratory diagnosis of Salmonella bloodstream infection, its serotype, antimicrobial resistance pattern, and seasonal variation at a tertiary care children’s hospital. Methods We undertook a retrospective, cross-sectional study by reviewing hospital-based laboratory records of patients whose blood culture samples were submitted from the outpatient department to the laboratory of a tertiary care children’s hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, from January 2017 to January 2019. Results Among the total blood culture samples obtained (n = 39,771), bacterial isolates (n = 1,055, 2.65%) belonged either to the Genus Enterobacteriaceae or Genus Acinetobacter. Altogether (n = 91, 8.63%), isolates were positive for Salmonella spp. , which were further identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Typhi (n = 79, 7.49%), Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Paratyphi A (n = 11, 1.04%), and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Paratyphi B (n = 1, 0.1%). The median age of patients was 6 years (IQR: 4–9), with male and female patients constituting (n = 53, 58.24%; OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.60–1.67) and (n = 38, 41.76%; OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.49–2.05) cases, respectively. The disease was observed throughout the year, with a high prevalence toward the spring season (March–May). An antibiogram showed resistance more toward nalidixic acid with S. Typhi, comprising half the isolates (n = 52, 65.82%; p = 0.11). Resistance toward β-lactams with β-lactamase inhibitors (amoxicillin/clavulanate; 1.27%) was seen in a single isolate of S. Typhi. The multidrug resistance pattern was not pronounced. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was in the range between 0.14 and 0.22 in S. Typhi and 0.22 and 0.23 in S. Paratyphi. Conclusion Salmonella Typhi was the predominant ser. Infection was common among children between 1 and 5 years of age, showing male predominance and with the spring season contributing to a fairly higher number of cases. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of S. Typhi showed more resistance toward nalidixic acid, with only a single isolate resistant to β-lactamase inhibitors (amoxicillin/clavulanate). Alarming multidrug resistance patterns were not observed. The MAR index in this study indicates the importance of the judicious use of antimicrobials and hospital infection prevention and control practices.
Soil deformation around a penetrating cone in silt

Laboratory-scale cone penetration tests (CPTs) in silt were performed with x-ray micro tomography and analysed with three-dimensional digital image correlation. During insertion of the instrumented probe, these tools allow the identification of a contractant bulb of silt close to the tip of the probe surrounded by a larger bulb of dilating material. The results obtained (in particular the failure mechanisms observed) shed new light on the mechanics of cone penetration in silt and consequently reflect on the interpretation of in situ CPTs.
The effect of hot spots on the oceanic age-depth relation

Hot spots located both midplate and on midocean ridges can bias the empirical age-depth relation. Ocean floor bathymetry for seafloor greater than 80 m.y. B.P. in age has been previously used to determine if the oceanic lithosphere behaves as a cooling half space or as a cooling plate. However, large areas of the ocean basins do not fit a simple age-depth relation. Anomalously shallow swells, approximately 1000 km wide and 1 km high surround hot spots such as Iceland, the Azores, and the Cape Verde Islands. By sorting seafloor depth data by distance to the nearest hot spot track, we show that the along-isochron variation in depth in the North Atlantic correlates with distance from a hot spot track. Due to the absence in the North Atlantic of seafloor both old and far from hot spots, we compare depth versus age at constant distance and do not observe flattening of the age-depth relation in any distance range. The age-depth relation, depth (meters) = 2700 + 295 t(m.y.)1/2, derived for seafloor 1200 to 1800 km from a hot spot track represents our best estimate of the age-depth relation appropriate to seafloor unaffected by a hot spot track. In the North Atlantic the previously inferred flattening of the age-depth relation appears to be caused by the inclusion of hot spot swells. This implies that hot spots may be the primary means of heat transfer from the deeper mantle to the base of the lithosphere.
DEFORMATION AND FAILURE MODES OF DRYSTONE RETAINING WALLS

In this paper, the factors controlling the deformation of drystone retaining walls are investigated by means of discrete element analyses. It is shown that toppling failure of unweathered drystone retaining walls is likely to occur in a brittle manner, with wall crest deflections not exceeding 1% of the backfill height until the factor of safety (based on soil strength) falls below 1·05. A compressible sub-base and weathering of the blocks will both tend to reduce the backfill height at failure to below that indicated by a limit equilibrium analysis. Bulging failure is more likely to be associated with a deterioration in block joint stiffness due to weathering than a compressible sub-base, although the latter will decrease the reduction in joint stiffness needed to cause bulging failure. Bulging is much less brittle than toppling, and the proximity to failure of bulging walls could in some circumstances be assessed on the basis of the size of the bulge.
Columnar aerosol properties in Valencia (Spain) by ground‐based Sun photometry

(1) In this paper, we present a climatological study of atmospheric aerosols in coastal eastern Spain, by means of experimental measurements using a Cimel CE318-2 Sun photometer. The aerosol optical depth, Angstrom wavelength exponent, size distribution, complex refractive index, asymmetry parameter, and single scattering albedo have been retrieved from these measurements. The columnar water content, as an important parameter for understanding aerosol growth, has also been retrieved. Statistical results of the annual and seasonal variability analysis, mainly related to the usual summer maximum turbidity found in the Mediterranean and European regions, are also shown. The results are linked to the character of the site, located in an urban environment, near the Mediterranean Sea, and frequently affected by dusty air masses of Saharan origin.
Age of the Ballachulish and Glencoe Igneous Complexes (Scottish Highlands), and paragenesis of zircon, monazite and baddeleyite in the Ballachulish Aureole

U–Pb zircon ages are presented for the Ballachulish Igneous Complex (207Pb–206Pb age 427 ± 1 Ma; 206Pb–238U age 423 ± 0.3 Ma) and Glencoe Volcanic Complex (207Pb–206Pb age 406 ± 6 Ma) of the Scottish Highlands. These ages are significantly more precise than pre-existing age constraints, and discriminate a previously unresolved age difference of c. 20 Ma between the two complexes. This difference in age provides an explanation for the c. 10 km difference in crustal level between the two magmatic events, and constrains exhumation rates for the Argyll region to be on average c. 0.4 km Ma−1 over the period c. 425–405 Ma. With improved age constraints on the Ballachulish Igneous Complex in place, the associated metamorphic aureole is used as a type locality to investigate the metamorphic behaviour of the U-bearing accessory minerals baddeleyite, zircon and monazite. Baddeleyite formed in impure dolomites by the reaction of detrital zircon with dolomite and gives the same U–Pb age as the intrusive complex, consistent with its contact metamorphic origin. Detrital zircon appears to be inert throughout much of the metamorphic aureole, with contact metamorphic zircon growth being restricted to migmatite-grade rocks. A possible exception is the development of enigmatic, very narrow overgrowths at temperatures between c. 500 and 600 °C. Monazite exhibits a variety of textures in lower-grade parts of the aureole (<550 °C), but occurs as distinctive clusters and trails of tiny ovoid grains at temperatures above about 560–600 °C. Monazite thus appears sensitive to metamorphism at lower temperatures than zircon and may therefore be a better target for metamorphic age measurements in rocks that reach mid-amphibolite facies but do not experience partial melting.
Hydrologic forcing of submarine groundwater discharge: Insight from a seasonal study of radium isotopes in a groundwater‐dominated salt marsh estuary

A seasonal study of radium‐derived submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and associated nitrogen fluxes was carried out in a salt marsh estuary between 2001 and 2003 (Pamet River Estuary, Massachusetts). Twelvehour time series of salinity and radium at the estuary inlet were used to determine the relative importance of fresh versus saline SGD, respectively. The distinct radium (228Ra : 226Ra) isotopic signature of marsh peat pore water and aquifer‐derived brackish groundwater was used to further partition the Ra‐derived SGD estimate. Of these three groundwater sources, only the marsh‐derived groundwater was constant across time. The ratio of brackish to fresh SGD was inversely correlated with water table elevation in the aquifer, suggesting that Ra‐derived SGD was enhanced during dry periods. The various SGD fluxes were responsible for an average annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) input of between 1.7 mol m−2 yr−1 and 7.1 mol m−2 yr−1 and a soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) flux of 0.13‐0.54 mol m−2 yr−1. Approximately 30% of the SGD‐derived DIN and SRP flux is exported to coastal waters (Cape Cod Bay), whereas 70% is retained by the salt marsh ecosystem.