Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical changes in lakes in urbanizing watersheds and lake return frequencies adjusted for trend and initial stage utilizing generalized extreme value theory

v 1.0 Regional Scale Spatio-temporal Consistency of Precipitation Variables Related to Water Resource Management and Planning 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Materials and Methods 5 1.2.1 Data 5 1.2.2 Precipitation Variables 8 1.2.3 Gamma Distribution 10 1.2. 4 GEV Distribution 11 1.2. 5 Spatial Analysis 13 1.2. 6 Temporal Analysis 13 1.3 Results and Discussion 15 1.3. 1 Spatial Analysis 17 1.3. 1.1 Annual Rainfall 18 1.3. 1.2 Rainfall Days per Year 20 1.3. 1.3 Event Rainfall Annual Maximum 23 1.3. 1.4 Annual Maximum Interevent Days 25 1.3. 2 Temporal Analysis 28 1.4 Conclusions 33 2.0 Statistical Changes of Lake Stages in Urbanizing Watersheds 35 2.1 Background 35 2.2 Materials and Methods 39 2.2.1 Lake Information and Data 39 2.2.2 Time Series Analysis 45 2.2.3 Autocorrelation and Variance 48 2.2. 4 Regression 49 2.3 Results and Discussion 51 2.3. 1 Time Series Modeling 53 2.3. 2 Autocorrelation and Variance 58
Tree-ring based reconstruction of summer temperatures at the Columbia Icefield, Alberta, Canada, AD 1073-1983

April-August temperatures are reconstructed from maximum latewood density and ring-width data for a tree-line site in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta close to Athabasca Glacier. The chronology primarily utilizes Picea engelmannii with some Abies lasiocarpa snags. This reconstruction (AD 1073-1983) is the longest densitometrically based summer temperature record from boreal North America. Mean temperatures from 1101- 1900 were 0.71°C below the 1961-1990 reference period and 0.33°C below the 1891-1990 mean of the instru mental record. The coldest interval was the first half of the nineteenth century and the major cold intervals, c. 1200-1350, 1690s and the nineteenth century, coincide with local and regional periods of glacier expansion. Warmer periods, c. 1350-1440 and in the present century, are also periods of higher tree-line or tree-line advance at the site. The 1961-1990 reference period is clearly warmer than any equivalent-length period over the last 800 years. This record of summer warmth reinforces evidence of significant warming at several high- altitude and high-latitude sites around the Northern Hemisphere in the late twentieth century. The reconstruction also indicates that glacier advances of the 'Little Ice Age' in the Rockies occurred during a period of fluctuating climatic conditions rather than a long period of sustained cold of several centuries duration.
Climate control on the evolution of Late Pleistocene alluvial‐fan and aeolian sand‐sheet systems in NW Germany

The Late Pleistocene was characterized by rapid climate oscillations with alternation of warm and cold periods that lasted up to several thousand years. Although much work has been carried out on the palaeoclimate reconstruction, a direct correlation of ice‐core, marine and terrestrial records is still difficult. Here we present new data from late Middle Pleniglacial to Lateglacial alluvial‐fan and aeolian sand‐sheet deposits in northwestern Germany. Records of Late Pleniglacial alluvial fans in central Europe are very rare, and OSL dating is used to determine the timing of fan aggradation. In contrast to fluvial systems that commonly show a delay between climate change and incision/aggradation, the small alluvial‐fan systems of the Senne area responded rapidly to climatic changes and therefore act as important terrestrial climate archives for this time span. The onset of alluvial‐fan deposition correlates with the climate change from warm to cold at the end of MIS 3 (29.3±3.2 ka). Strong fan progradation started at 24.4±2.8 ka and may be related to a period of higher humidity. The vertical stacking pattern of sedimentary facies and channel styles indicate a subsequrent overall decrease in water and sediment supply, with less sustained discharges and more sporadic runoffs from the catchment area, corresponding to an increasing aridity in central Europe during the Late Pleniglacial. Major phases of channel incision and fan aggradation may have been controlled by millennial‐scale Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles. The incision of channel systems is attributed to unstable climate phases at cold–warm (dry–wet) or warm–cold (wet–dry) transitions. The alluvial‐fan deposits are bounded by an erosion surface and are overlain by aeolian sand‐sheets that were periodically affected by flash‐floods. This unconformity might be correlated with the Beuningen Gravel Bed, which is an important marker horizon in deposits of the Late Pleniglacial resulting from deflation under polar desert conditions. The deposition of aeolian sand‐sheet systems (19.6±2.1 to 13.1±1.5 ka) indicates a rapid increase in aridity at the end of the Late Pleniglacial. Intercalated flash‐floods deposits and palaeosols (Finow type) point to temporarily wet conditions during the Lateglacial. The formation of an ephemeral channel network probably marks the warm‐cold transition from the Allerød to the Younger Dryas.
Work performance incentivization in the Philippine public educational organization

This study investigates the impact of Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) in incentivizing the work performance of public-school teachers in the Philippine educational bureaucracy. Using a cross-sectional design, a survey was administered to public school teachers and personnel in 10 selected schools in the Cagayan Valley region, Philippines. The mechanism of incentivizing work performance is found efficient in increasing work productivity. The interplay of top-down and bottom-up management approaches is paramount in the planning and realization of the agency's PBB key result areas. However, there are perceived issues that the PBB scheme needs further clarification and improvement in its implementation. Regardless of how they may feel about the practical difficulties in the PBB implementation, it serves its purpose as a strong incentivizing scheme for employees to perform, which has a good effect on work productivity.
No More Venous Ulcers—What More Can We Do?

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the most severe complication caused by the progression of chronic venous insufficiency. They account for approximately 70–90% of all chronic leg ulcers (CLUs). A total of 1% of the Western population will suffer at some time in their lives from a VLU. Furthermore, most CLUs are VLUs, defined as chronic leg wounds that show no tendency to heal after three months of appropriate treatment or are still not fully healed at 12 months. The essential feature of VLUs is their recurrence. VLUs also significantly impact quality of life and could cause social isolation and depression. They also have a significant avoidable economic burden. It is estimated that the treatment of venous ulceration accounts for around 3% of the total expenditure on healthcare. A VLU-free world is a highly desirable aim but could be challenging to achieve with the current knowledge of the pathophysiology and diagnostic and therapeutical protocols. To decrease the incidence of VLUs, the long-term goal must be to identify high-risk patients at an early stage of chronic venous disease and initiate appropriate preventive measures. This review discusses the epidemiology, socioeconomic burden, pathophysiology, diagnosis, modes of conservative and invasive treatment, and prevention of VLUs.
Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background: Identifying the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Systematic review of original studies published in any language. Protocol published in PROSPERO under number CRD42021240543. The search was carried out in the Web of Science, PsycINFO, Pubmed, Embase, LILACS, and SciELO databases, using the descriptors: anxiety, depression, stress, teacher, faculty, COVID-19, and their synonyms. Narrative synthesis was carried out in line with the synthesis without meta-analysis in systematic reviews. Results: Of the 1372 records identified, 6 studies, all cross-sectional, were included in the review. The studies were carried out in China, Brazil, the United States of America, India, and Spain. Five studies included more women than men. The participants were aged from 24 to 60 years. Three studies included only school teachers, 2 included schools and universities teachers, and 1 only university teachers. Of the 5 studies, all dealt with remote activities and only 1 included teachers who returned to face-to-face classes 1 to 2 weeks ago. The prevalence of anxiety ranged from 10% to 49.4%, and depression from 15.9% to 28.9%, being considerably higher in studies with teachers who worked in schools. The prevalence of stress ranged from 12.6% to 50.6%. Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress was high among teachers during the pandemic, with great variation between studies. Anxiety and stress were more prevalent in the Spanish study. The results show the need for measures for the care of teachers’ mental health, especially when returning to face-to-face classes.
Detection and Assessment of Changing Drought Events in China in the Context of Climate Change Based on the Intensity–Area–Duration Algorithm

Drought can have a significant impact on both society and the economy, resulting in issues such as scarcity of water and shortages of food and energy, as well as elevated health risks. However, as global temperatures continue to rise, the impact of drought events is increasingly exacerbated, manifested by an increase in the frequency, intensity, duration, and spatial extent of their effects. Therefore, studying the changing characteristics of drought events with the background of climate change is of great significance. Based on the high-precision and high-resolution CN05.1 dataset, this study obtained the monthly Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) dataset from 1961 to 2020, and then identified regional drought events in China using the Intensity–Area–Duration (IAD) method, which considers both temporal continuity and spatial dynamics. On this basis, the spatiotemporal variations in frequency, intensity, duration, and affected area of drought events in China and its seven subregions were analyzed. The results showed that the subregions located in the northern region of China generally have lower mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures than those located in the southern region, but the associated interannual change rate of the subregions in the north is higher than that in the south. As for the annual total precipitation, results show a clear pattern of decreasing southeast–northwest gradient, with an increasing trend in the northern subregions and a decreasing trend in the southern subregions except for the subregion south China (SC). The northeast of China (NE), SC, the southwest of China (SW) and north China (NC) are the regions with a high frequency of drought events in China, while the frequency of drought events in NW and Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), although lower, is on a significantly increasing trend, and the increasing rate is higher than for the other regions. For drought intensity, Xinjiang (XJ) and QTP had greater drought intensity, and the change rate of these regions with greater drought intensity was also greater. The drought impact area in China showed a significant increasing trend, mainly concentrated in QTP, NW and NE. Particular attention needs to be focused on the southwest of QTP, where drought events in this region show a significant increase in frequency, intensity, duration and impact area.
Toxic Effects of Copper Fungicides on the Development and Behavior of Zebrafish in Early-Life Stages

Copper-based fungicides have been used to control various plant diseases for more than one hundred years and play very important roles in agriculture. Accumulation of copper in freshwater and environment pose severe threats to human health and the environment. The current study evaluated the developmental and behavioral toxicity of PEG@Cu NCs (copper nanoclusters), Kocide® 3000 (copper hydroxide), and Cu(CH3COO)2 (copper acetate) to zebrafish in early-life stages. The developmental toxicity was evaluated according to the parameters of mortality, hatching rate, autonomous movement and heartbeat of embryos, and body length of larvae. The 9 dpf (days postfertilization)-LC50 (50% lethal concentration) of embryonic mortality was 0.077, 0.174 or 0.088 mg/L, and the 9 dpf-EC50 (effective concentration of 50% embryos hatching) of hatching rate was 0.079 mg/L, 0.21 mg/L and 0.092 mg/L when the embryos were exposed to PEG@Cu NCs, Kocide® 3000 or Cu(CH3COO)2, respectively. Kocide® 3000 and Cu(CH3COO)2 obviously decreased the spontaneous movements, while PEG@Cu NCs had no adverse effects on that of embryos. The reduced heartbeat can return to normal after exposure to PEG@Cu NCs for 96 h, while it cannot recover from Kocide® 3000. In addition, Kocide® 3000 (≥0.2 mg/L), PEG@Cu NCs and Cu(CH3COO)2 with 0.05 mg/L or higher concentration exhibited obvious behavioral toxicity to zebrafish larvae according to the parameters of movement distance, average velocity, absolute sinuosity, absolute turn angle and absolute angular velocity.
Stiff-Leg Syndrome Associated with Autoimmune Retinopathy and Its Treatment with IVIg—A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) have been predominantly associated with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), which is often accompanied by organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as late-onset type 1 diabetes. Autoimmune retinal pathology in SPS has recently been suggested to coexist in patients suffering from this disease; however, evidence reporting potential treatment options for the neurological and visual symptoms these patients experience remains scarce. We provide a review of the relevant literature, presenting a rare case of a middle-aged woman with autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) followed by stiff-leg syndrome who responded to intravenous immune globulin treatment (IVIg). Our report adds to previously reported data supporting the efficacy of IVIg in SPS spectrum disorders while also proposing the potential effect of IVIg in treating SPS spectrum patients with coexisting AIR.
Penetration of Nanobody-Dextran Polymer Conjugates through Tumor Spheroids

Here we report the generation of nanobody dextran polymer conjugates (dextraknobs) that are loaded with small molecules, i.e., fluorophores or photosensitizers, for potential applications in cancer diagnostics and therapy. To this end, the molecules are conjugated to the dextran polymer which is coupled to the C-terminus of an EGFR-specific nanobody using chemoenzymatic approaches. A monovalent EGFR-targeted nanobody and biparatopic version modified with different dextran average molecular weights (1000, 5000, and 10,000) were probed for their ability to penetrate tumor spheroids. For monovalent Cy5-labeled dextraknobs, the utilization of smaller sized dextran (MW 5000 vs. 10,000) was found to be beneficial for more homogeneous penetration into A431 tumor spheroids over time. For the biparatopic dual nanobody comprising MW 1000, 5000, and 10,000 dextran labeled with photosensitizer IRDye700DX, penetration behavior was comparable to that of a direct nanobody-photosensitizer conjugate lacking a dextran scaffold. Additionally, dextraknobs labeled with IRDye700DX incubated with cells in 2D and 3D showed potent cell killing upon illumination, thus inducing photodynamic therapy (PDT). In line with previous results, monovalent nanobody conjugates displayed deeper and more homogenous penetration through spheroids than the bivalent conjugates. Importantly, the smaller size dextrans did not affect the distribution of the conjugates, thus encouraging further development of dextraknobs.
Genetic Distinctness and Diversity of American Aberdeen Cattle Compared to Common Beef Breeds in the United States

American Aberdeen (AD) cattle in the USA descend from an Aberdeen Angus herd originally brought to the Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, New South Wales, AUS. Although put under specific selection pressure for yearling growth rate, AD remain genomically uncharacterized. The objective was to characterize the genetic diversity and structure of purebred and crossbred AD cattle relative to seven common USA beef breeds using available whole-genome SNP data. A total of 1140 animals consisting of 404 purebred (n = 8 types) and 736 admixed individuals (n = 10 types) was used. Genetic diversity metrics, an analysis of molecular variance, and a discriminant analysis of principal components were employed. When linkage disequilibrium was not accounted for, markers influenced basic diversity parameter estimates, especially for AD cattle. Even so, intrapopulation and interpopulation estimates separate AD cattle from other purebred types (e.g., Latter’s pairwise FST ranged from 0.1129 to 0.2209), where AD cattle were less heterozygous and had lower allelic richness than other purebred types. The admixed AD-influenced cattle were intermediate to other admixed types for similar parameters. The diversity metrics separation and differences support strong artificial selection pressures during and after AD breed development, shaping the evolution of the breed and making them genomically distinct from similar breeds.
Molecular Phylogenomics Reveals the Deep Evolutionary History of Carnivory across Land Plants

Plastid molecular phylogenies that broadly sampled angiosperm lineages imply that carnivorous plants evolved at least 11 times independently in 13 families and 6 orders. Within and between these clades, the different prey capture strategies involving flypaper and pitfall structures arose in parallel with the subsequent evolution of snap traps and suction bladders. Attempts to discern the deep ontological history of carnivorous structures using multigene phylogenies have provided a plastid-level picture of sister relationships at the family level. Here, we present a molecular phylogeny of the angiosperms based on nuclear target sequence capture data (Angiosperms-353 probe set), assembled by the Kew Plant Trees of Life initiative, which aims to complete the tree of life for plants. This phylogeny encompasses all carnivorous and protocarnivorous families, although certain genera such as Philcoxia (Plantaginaceae) are excluded. This study offers a novel nuclear gene-based overview of relationships within and between carnivorous families and genera. Consistent with previous broadly sampled studies, we found that most carnivorous families are not affiliated with any single family. Instead, they emerge as sister groups to large clades comprising multiple non-carnivorous families. Additionally, we explore recent genomic studies across various carnivorous clades that examine the evolution of the carnivorous syndrome in relation to whole-genome duplication, subgenome dominance, small-scale gene duplication, and convergent evolution. Furthermore, we discuss insights into genome size evolution through the lens of carnivorous plant genomes.
Stable isotope and Ar/Ar evidence of prolonged multiscale fluid flow during exhumation of orogenic crust: Example from the Mont Blanc and Aar Massifs (NW Alps)

The spatial and temporal scales and the geometry of fluid pathways in a collisional orogen are investigated using stable isotope analysis (O, C, and H) and 40Ar/39Ar dating of vein minerals formed at circa 11–16 Ma in the Mont Blanc and the Aar External Crystalline Massifs. In both massifs 40Ar/39Ar dating of veins adularia provides evidence for progressive crystallization from 16 to 9 Ma, and mainly at 11–12 Ma following veins opening during shear zone activity. The fluid flow duration thus ranges from 4 to 5 Ma in the two massifs. The δ18O values of vein quartz and calcite are similar to those of undeformed crystalline and sedimentary host rocks, suggesting rock buffering, while carbon isotope ratios of vein calcites fall into three compositional groups. A‐type veins have δ13C values that are buffered by the Helvetic metasediments, which suggests that these veins formed in a closed system from a locally derived CO2‐rich fluid. The fluid in equilibrium with C‐type veins has depleted δ13C values similar to mantle‐CO2, while the intermediate δ13C values of B‐type veins suggest mixing between the A‐type and C‐type fluids. These results are in agreement with crustal‐ to lithosphere‐scale upward vertical fluid flow along vertical shear zones related to the strike‐slip system bounding the Adriatic block since 16–20 Ma, connecting a deep‐seated fluid to some downward flow in the sedimentary cover of External Crystalline Massifs.
The Invention of Enterprise: Entrepreneurship from Ancient Mesopotamia to Modern Times

Whether hailed as heroes or cast as threats to social order, entrepreneurs--and their innovations--have had an enormous influence on the growth and prosperity of nations. The Invention of Enterprise gathers together, for the first time, leading economic historians to explore the entrepreneur's role in society from antiquity to the present. Addressing social and institutional influences from a historical context, each chapter examines entrepreneurship during a particular period and in an important geographic location. The book chronicles the sweeping history of enterprise in Mesopotamia and Neo-Babylon; carries the reader through the Islamic Middle East; offers insights into the entrepreneurial history of China, Japan, and Colonial India; and describes the crucial role of the entrepreneur in innovative activity in Europe and the United States, from the medieval period to today. In considering the critical contributions of entrepreneurship, the authors discuss why entrepreneurial activities are not always productive and may even sabotage prosperity. They examine the institutions and restrictions that have enabled or impeded innovation, and the incentives for the adoption and dissemination of inventions. They also describe the wide variations in global entrepreneurial activity during different historical periods and the similarities in development, as well as entrepreneurship's role in economic growth. The book is filled with past examples and events that provide lessons for promoting and successfully pursuing contemporary entrepreneurship as a means of contributing to the welfare of society. The Invention of Enterprise lays out a definitive picture for all who seek an understanding of innovation's central place in our world.
The Effects of UV-C Irradiation and Low Temperature Treatment on Microbial Growth and Oxidative Damage in Fresh-Cut Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are convenient and retain maximum nutrients. However, even minimal processing accelerates product deterioration and reduces food safety due to microbial infection. In this study, the effects of UV-C irradiation, low temperature treatment, and their combination on the microbial risk of fresh-cut bitter gourd were evaluated. Firstly, next-generation sequencing technology was utilized to identify microorganisms on the surface of fresh-cut bitter gourd after 12 h of exposure to room temperature, and a total of 34 bacterial species were identified. Subsequently, fresh-cut bitter gourd treated with UV-C or/and 4 °C and then kept at room temperature for 6 h was assessed for its viable bacterial count. The results showed that both 0.5 and 1.5 kJ·m−2 UV-C irradiation significantly inhibited microbial growth compared to 4 °C and the no treatment control. Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed between UV-C and the combined treatments. Lower doses of UV-C irradiation reduced hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content, increased the proline level, and improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and critical enzymes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway, such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polyphenol oxidase. This suggests that UV-C irradiation alone can effectively reduce bacterial contamination in fresh-cut bitter gourd to an acceptable level.