Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changing Trends in the Global Burden of Cataract Over the Past 30 Years: Retrospective Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Cataracts now account for the largest proportion of the global burden of blindness and vision loss. Understanding the changing trends in the global burden of cataracts over the past 30 years and the next 15 years is of clear significance for the prevention and control of cataracts in key populations. As far as we know, research on the future burden of cataracts is lacking. Objective This study aims to assess the global burden of cataracts over the past 30 years by using age-period-cohort modeling and to estimate trends in the next 15 years. Methods Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, the United Nations Development Programme, and the WHO (World Health Organization) Global Health Observatory data repository. The assessment of trends and disparities in the number and rate of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for cataracts from 1990 to 2019 was conducted. The association between the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) and the socio-demographic index (SDI), human development index (HDI), national levels of particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), and ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) was determined using linear regression analysis. Additionally, we used the Nordpred (Harald Fekjær and Bjørn Møller) age-period-cohort model to predict the cataract burden from 2020 to 2034. Results Globally, the number of DALYs due to cataract increased from 3,492,604 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2,481,846-4,719,629) in 1990 to 6,676,281 (95% UI 4,761,210-9,006,193) in 2019. The ASDRs due to cataract decreased from 93.17 (95% UI 66.14-125.32) in 1990 to 82.94 (95% UI 59.06-111.75) in 2019, with an average annual percentage change of –0.37 (95% CI –0.44 to –0.3; P<.001). Age, female sex, air pollution, smoking, high fasting plasma glucose levels, and a high body mass index were risk factors for the burden of cataracts. SDI and HDI were negatively correlated with ASDRs of cataracts, while PM2.5 and UVR were positively associated with them. Higher DALY rates were also associated with lower SDI (R2=0.1939; P<.001), lower HDI (R2=0.2828; P<.001), national PM2.5 concentration (R2=0.1874; P<.001), and ambient UVR levels (R2=0.2354; P<.001). The prediction model suggested that the number of DALYs due to cataract will continue to rise globally, while the cataract DALY rate will continue to decrease. Conclusions While the ASDR of cataracts has decreased, there has been a notable increase in the number of DALYs over the past 30 years. Projections suggest that the global burden of cataracts will continue to rise over the next 15 years. To address this challenge, appropriate prevention and treatment policies must be implemented.
Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices on water, sanitation and hygiene in Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) are relevant concerns for sustained and effective implementation of WASH programs. This research was conducted in Zaria Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State to Assess the KAP on WASH to avail reliable data for informed interventions. 174 randomly selected households were interviewed. The result reveals four main sources of drinking water, viz borehole (31%), well (19%), pipe-borne (13.1%) and water packaged in sachet (24.7%). The result shows that 34.5% of households dispose solid waste through unauthorized waste collectors, 16.1 % use authorized collectors, 17.2% at public approved dumpsite, 16.1% at unapproved dump sites, 16.1% by burning, 4% bury their waste and 4% dispose waste in open water bodies/ways/drainages. The results shows that 30.5% of households have modern water closets, 42.8 % use pit latrine, and 11.5 % use public toilets. Based on the findings, it is evident that there is high accessibility of improved water to households, availability of improved toilet facility is also high, but waste management practice is poor. In conclusion, Zaria LGA is in need of WASH interventions especially as regards waste management. It is recommended that efforts should be made to intensify awareness about WASH.
Interferon- : an overview of signals, mechanisms and functions

Interferon(IFN) coordinates a diverse array of cellular programs through transcriptional regulation of immunologically relevant genes. This article reviews the current understanding of IFNligand, receptor, signal transduction, and cellular effects with a focus on macrophage responses and to a lesser extent, responses from other cell types that influence macrophage function during infection. The current model for IFNsignal transduction is discussed, as well as signal regulation and factors conferring signal specificity. Cellular effects of IFNare described, including up-regulation of pathogen recognition, antigen processing and presentation, the antiviral state, inhibition of cellular proliferation and effects on apoptosis, activation of microbicidal effector functions, immunomodulation, and leukocyte trafficking. In addition, integration of signaling and response with other cytokines and pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-4, type I IFNs, and lipopolysaccharide are discussed. J. Leukoc. Biol. 75: 163–189; 2004.
Assessing satellite‐derived start‐of‐season measures in the conterminous USA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)‐series satellites, carrying advanced very high‐resolution radiometer (AVHRR) sensors, have allowed moderate resolution (1 km) measurements of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to be collected from the Earth's land surfaces for over 20 years. Across the conterminous USA, a readily accessible and decade‐long data set is now available to study many aspects of vegetation activity in this region. One feature, the onset of deciduous plant growth at the start of the spring season (SOS) is of special interest, as it appears to be crucial for accurate computation of several important biospheric processes, and a sensitive measure of the impacts of global change.
RESCATE ARQUEOLÓGICO EN EL PARQUE NACIONAL MONTE LEÓN (SANTA CRUZ, ARGENTINA)

Con motivo de la creacion del Parque Nacional Monte Leon (Santa Cruz, Argentina) y para mitigar el impacto producido por diversos procesos naturales y antropicos, se llevo a cabo el Proyecto de Rescate Arqueologico Monte Leon. Se obtuvo informacion artefactual, arqueofaunistica y cronologica, que aporta nuevas evidencias a la discusion del uso humano del espacio en la costa atlantica austral. Se destaca la utilizacion de distintos recursos marinos y de rocas disponibles localmente. No obstante, tambien se registraron variedades de obsidianas que enmarcan a Monte Leon dentro de un circuito mayor de interaccion. Las ocupaciones humanas registradas se habrian sucedido desde el Holoceno medio y muestran un fuerte componente tardio (ultimos 2000 anos AP)
Recurrent Liquefaction Induced by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The Mw 9.0 destructive earthquake that occurred March 11, 2011, in Japan was associated with widespread liquefaction within a 500-km long zone that extended from Iwate to Kanagawa Prefectures in the eastern part of Japan. Based on reconnaissance surveys of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, recurrence of liquefaction at the same sites was identified at sites where liquefaction had occurred during the MJ6.7 Chibaken Toho-oki earthquake of December 17, 1987; the surveys also compared observed liquefaction effects with those of the 1987 earthquake.
Pelagic tidal measurements: A suggested procedure for analysis

There has long existed a need for pelagic tide and current measurements, but the technology for making such observations has been developed only recently. In 1965, an international working group on deep-sea tides was formed (now sponsored by IAPSO, SCOR, and Unesco) that would concern itself with the exchange of information on instrumentation and analysis and with the formulation of a worldwide data acquisition program. Some pelagic tide observations have now been obtained by pressure sensors on the sea bottom connected by cable to the surface [Eyri`es, 1968] or to shore [Nowroozi et al., 1968] and by self-contained bottom instruments that record internally and are recalled to the surface by an acoustic signal [Snodgrass, 1968] and time-release device [Filloux, 1968, and Hicks et al., 1965]. The equipment described by Snodgrass and by Nowroozi include current meters measuring speed and direction. The over-all objectives of the deep-sea tide program are described by Munk and Zetler [1967] and Cartwright [1969].
Non-linearity of geocentre motion and its impact on the origin of the terrestrial reference frame

The terrestrial reference frame is a cornerstone for modern geodesy and its applications for a wide range of Earth sciences. The underlying assumption for establishing a terrestrial reference frame is that the motion of the solid Earth's figure centre relative to the mass centre of the Earth system on a multidecadal timescale is linear. However, past international terrestrial reference frames (ITRFs) showed unexpected accelerated motion in their translation parameters. Based on this underlying assumption, the inconsistency of relative origin motions of the ITRFs has been attributed to data reduction imperfection. We investigated the impact of surface mass loading from atmosphere, ocean, snow, soil moisture, ice sheet, glacier and sea level from 1983 to 2008 on the geocentre variations. The resultant geocentre time-series display notable trend acceleration from 1998 onward, in particular in the z-component. This effect is primarily driven by the hydrological mass redistribution in the continents (soil moisture, snow, ice sheet and glacier). The acceleration is statistically significant at the 99 per cent confidence level as determined using the Mann-Kendall test, and it is highly correlated with the satellite laser ranging determined translation series. Our study, based on independent geophysical and hydrological models, demonstrates that, in addition to systematic errors from analysis procedures, the observed non-linearity of the Earth-system behaviour at interannual timescales is physically driven and is able to explain 42 per cent of the disparity between the origins of ITRF2000 and ITRF2005, as well as the high level of consistency between the ITRF2005 and ITRF2008 origins.
STANDARDIZED CATCH RATE OF SWORDFISH (XIPHIAS GLADIUS) CAUGHT BY SANTOS LONGLINERS OFF SOUTHERN BRAZIL (1971-2005)

SUMMARY Catch rate data from commercial fisheries have been used as relative index of abundance of fish stocks. Catch rate of swordfish caught off Southern Brazil by the tuna fleet based in Santos from 1971 to 2005 was standardized using Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and log-normal error distribution. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and deviance analysis were used to select the relevant factors. The selected model includes “Year”, “Target” and “Quarter”as main factors. Factor “Year” was the most significant followed by “Target”. Proportion of the variation of response variable explained by the model was 0.77. Estimations of standardized catch rates showed no clear trend across the years. As far as catch rates are useful indexes of abundance, the results suggest that biomass of swordfish caught in southwest of the South Atlantic did not change remarkably during the last years. Although results are speculative and in the sense data is not ideal, they might be taken into account when discussing the assessment of the South Atlantic stock of the swordfish.
Resource Allocation: Targeting Funding for Maximum Impact

Some have argued that despite increases in spending over the past 30 years, student SAT scores have been flat or, in some cases, have even declined. It is true that per-student spending, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), doubled between the late 1960s and early 1990s. But based on their findings in a multi-case study, Rothstein and Miles (1995) argue that using CPI to gauge the rise in education expenditures overstates the amount of the expenditure increase, in part because education is an extremely labor-intensive discipline, with much of the cost attributable to human capital. By Rothstein and Miles’ estimate, March 2002
Antarctic ice-sheet response to atmospheric CO2 and insolation in the Middle Miocene

Abstract. Foraminiferal oxygen isotopes from deep-sea sediment cores suggest that a rapid expansion of the Antarctic ice sheet took place in the Middle Miocene around 13.9 million years ago. The origin for this transition is still not understood satisfactorily. One possible cause is a drop in the partial pressure of atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO2) in combination with orbital forcing. A complication is the large uncertainty in the magnitude and timing of the reconstructed pCO2 variability and additionally the low temporal resolution of the available pCO2 records in the Middle Miocene. We used an ice sheet-climate model of reduced complexity to assess variations in Antarctic ice sheet volume induced by pCO2 and insolation forcing in the Middle Miocene. The ice-sheet sensitivity to atmospheric CO2 was tested for several scenarios with constant pCO2 forcing or a regular decrease in pCO2. This showed that small, ephemeral ice sheets existed under relatively high atmospheric CO2 conditions (between 640–900 ppm), whereas more stable, large ice sheets occurred when pCO2 was less than ~600 ppm. The main result of this study is that the pCO2-level must have declined just before or during the period of oxygen-isotope increase, thereby crossing a pCO2 glaciation threshold of around 615 ppm. After the decline, the exact timing of the Antarctic ice-sheet expansion depends also on the relative minimum in summer insolation at approximately 13.89 million years ago. Although the mechanisms described appear to be robust, the exact values of the pCO2 thresholds are likely to be model-dependent.
Aleutian Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii leucopareia use of pastures in relation to livestock management

The recovered Aleutian Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii leucopareia population nowadays relies during spring on livestock-grazed pastures along the coast of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, northern California, USA. Selection of these foraging sites has however put geese in direct competition with livestock, which in turn has led to increased actions to reduce economic impacts to local farmers. We assessed forage characteristics between the two primary livestock grazing regimes that shape this landscape of beef cattle ranches and dairy cow farms. Peak counts and densities of Aleutian Cackling Geese were associated with the chronology of highest crude protein concentrations and low forage heights, but the timing did not coincide with greatest spatial distribution of use across this staging area. Grass crude protein concentrations peaked in February and were generally higher in dairy pastures than in beef pastures. However, use of dairy pastures was not observed until a month after staging commenced in this region. We encourage wildlife land managers to provide a successional range of short sward high protein pasture, by improving areas subject to invasion by salt tolerant plants, low in digestibility, in the coastal region and by irrigation in the uplands. These two mechanisms are likely to deliver more grassland of better quality for Aleutian Geese, and to encompass temporal and spatial shifts that occur on this landscape throughout the spring staging period.
Changes in infiltration under alfalfa as influenced by time and wheel traffic

Infiltration rates were measured for alfalfa, (Medicago saliva L., cv. WL514) subjected to treatments where wheel traffic was varied in terms of area covered and time of application on a Wasco sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed, nonacid thermic Xeric Torriorthent). Traffic treatments were (i) No-traffic, (ii) Preplant, MO Repeated, and (iv) traffic similar to what a grower would apply. Infiltration rates increased for all treatments, with increases being 240% for treatments without harvest traffic and 140% for treatments with harvest traffic Increases in infiltration were related to decreases in stand density. Slight packing (traffic) applied before the soil was flood-irrigated in 1983 increased infiltration rates 20% compared to flooding loosened soil (no traffic). Harvest traffic resulted in slower water movement in the soil.
Fractured reservoirs with fracture corridors

Outcrop studies reveal a common occurrence of tabular zones of significantly‐increased fracture intensity affecting otherwise well‐lithified rocks. These zones, called fracture corridors, can have a profound effect on multi‐phase fluid flow in the subsurface. Using standard geo‐modelling tools, it is possible to generate 3D realizations of reservoirs that contain distributions of such fracture corridors that are consistent with observations, including the vertical frequency in pseudo‐wells inserted into the model at random locations. These models can generate the inputs to flow simulation. The approach adopted here is to run the flow simulations in a single‐porosity representation where the flow effects of fractures are upscaled into equivalent cell‐based properties, preserving a clear spatial relationship between the input geology and the resulting cellular model. The simulated reservoir performance outcomes are very similar to those seen in real oilfields: extreme variability between wells, early water breakthrough, disappointing recoveries and patchy saturation distributions. Thus, a model based on fracture corridors can provide an explanation for the observed flow performance of a suitable field. However, the use of seismics to identify fracture corridors is not an easy task. New work is needed to predict the seismic responses of fracture corridor systems to be able to judge whether it is likely that we can robustly detect and characterize these flow‐significant features adequately.
Light Field Photography with a Hand-held Plenoptic Camera

This paper presents a camera that samples the 4D light field on its sensor in a single photographic exposure. This is achieved by inserting a microlens array between the sensor and main lens, creating a plenoptic camera. Each microlens measures not just the total amount of light deposited at that location, but how much light arrives along each ray. By re-sorting the measured rays of light to where they would have terminated in slightly different, synthetic cameras, we can compute sharp photographs focused at different depths. We show that a linear increase in the resolution of images under each microlens results in a linear increase in the sharpness of the refocused photographs. This property allows us to extend the depth of field of the camera without reducing the aperture, enabling shorter exposures and lower image noise. Especially in the macrophotography regime, we demonstrate that we can also compute synthetic photographs from a range of different viewpoints. These capabilities argue for a different strategy in designing photographic imaging systems. To the photographer, the plenoptic camera operates exactly like an ordinary hand-held camera. We have used our prototype to take hundreds of light field photographs, and we present examples of portraits, high-speed action and macro close-ups.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the Chinese tree shrew

In recent years, the Chinese tree shrew has been considered to be a promising experimental animal for numerous diseases. Yet the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in Chinese tree shrew is still unknown. We infected Chinese tree shrews with a high dose (2.5 9 10 CFU) or a low dose (2.5 9 10 CFU) of the H37Rv strain via the femoral vein to cause severe or mild disease. Disease severity was determined by clinical signs, pathologic changes and bacteria distribution in organs. Furthermore, among lung samples of the uninfected, mildly and seriously ill Chinese tree shrews, differentially expressed protein profiles were analyzed through iTRAQ and validated by qPCR. Tuberculous nodules, skin ulceration, pleural effusion and cerebellum necrosis could be observed in seriously ill animals. Regulation of the actin cytoskeleton was newly defined as a possible MTB-related pathway correlated with disease progression. This comprehensive analysis of the experimental infection and the depiction of the proteomics profiles in the Chinese tree shrew provide a foundation for the establishment of a new animal model of tuberculosis and provide a better understanding of the mechanism of tuberculosis.
A polymorphic graptolite from concealed Tremadoc rocks of England

Summary Abundant specimens from the middle or upper Tremadoc beds in the Napton Fields Borehole, Warwickshire, are referred to one variable species, Kiaerograptus? quasimodo sp.nov. Two-stiped forms typical of Kiaerograptus co-exist with ‘one-stiped’ forms in which the first stipe consists only of Th 11. Rare specimens with three primary thecae gave rise to forms with one, two? or three stipes.
Wound healing and Cadmium detoxification in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris – a potential case for coelomocytes?

Earthworms are affected by physical stress, like injury, and by exposure to xenobiotics, such as the toxic metal cadmium (Cd), which enters the environment mainly through industry and agriculture. The stress response to the single and the combination of both stressors was examined in regenerative and unharmed tissue of Lumbricus terrestris to reveal if the stress response to a natural insult like injury (amputation) interferes with Cd detoxification mechanisms. We characterized the roles of metallothionein 1 (MT1) and MT2 isoforms, heat shock protein 70 as well as immune biomarkers such as the toll-like receptors (TLR) single cysteine cluster TLR and multiple cysteine cluster TLR. The role of the activated transcription factors (ATFs) ATF2, ATF7, and the cAMP responsive element binding protein as putative regulatory intersection as well as a stress-dependent change of the essential trace elements zinc and calcium was analyzed. Phosphorylated AMP activated protein kinase, the cellular energy sensor, was measured to explore the energy demand, while the energy status was determined by detecting carbohydrate and protein levels. Taken together, we were able to show that injury rather than Cd is the driving force that separates the four treatment groups – Control, Cd exposure, Injury, Cd exposure and injury. Interestingly, we found that gene expression differed regarding the tissue section that was analyzed and we hypothesize that this is due to the migration of coelomocytes, earthworm immune cells, that take over a key role in protecting the organism from a variety of environmental challenges. Surprisingly, we discovered a role for MT1 in the response to multiple stressors and an isoform-specific function for the two newly characterized TLRs. In conclusion, we gathered novel information on the relation of innate immunity, wound healing, and Cd detoxification mechanisms in earthworms.
Resonance magnetoelectric effect in a three-layer non-symmetric ring structure Ni/PZT/Metglas

The resonant magnetoelectric (ME) effect in a ring-type structure of nickel–lead zirconate titanate–Metglas amorphous alloy (Metglas 2605SA1) has been studied. The use of ring geometry and magnetic layers with different signs of magnetostriction and comparable saturation fields led to a noticeable enhancement in the ME coefficient and a decrease in the optimal bias field, as compared with two-layer planar heterostructures. At the frequency of radial acoustic oscillations of the structure and under circular magnetization, the ME coefficient of 6.4 V (Oe·cm)−1 and ac field sensitivity of 0.6 V Oe−1 were obtained for a permanent bias field of 2 Oe.