Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding root-zone soil moisture in agricultural regions of Central Mexico using the ensemble Kalman filter, satellite-derived information, and the THEXMEX-18 dataset

ABSTRACT An Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF)-based assimilation algorithm was implemented to estimate root-zone soil moisture (RZSM) using a Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) model during a complete growing season of corn in Central Mexico. Synthetic and field soil moisture (SM) observations and NASA SMAP SM retrievals were used to understand the effect of vertically spatial updates and uncertainties in meteorological forcings on RZSM estimates. Assimilation of RZSM every 3 days using SM observations at 4 depths lowered the averaged standard deviation (ASD) and the root mean square error (RMSE) by 60 % and 50 %, respectively, compared to the open-loop ASD. The assimilation of synthetic SM at the top 0-5 cm obtained RZSM closer to observations compared to THEXMEX-18 SM measurements and SMAP SM retrievals. Differences between EnKF estimates and SM observations and SMAP SM retrievals are mainly due to misrepresentation of vegetation conditions. The results improved SM estimates up to 10-cm depth using SMAP SM retrievals; however, additional studies are needed to improve SM at deeper layers. The implemented methodology can estimate SM at the top 10 cm of the soil every 3 days to mitigate the impact of the climate change on agricultural production over rainfed areas, particularly in developing countries.
Assessing Operating Team Practices of Surgical Safety Measures Applied to Intraoperative Orthopedic Patients

Promoting patient safety is the fundamental role of health care, yet care-related adverse events can be disastrous for patients, families and health settings. Surgical patient safety is still challenge in operation, in spite of the development of the Universal Protocol. Objective: Assess orthopedic patients’ safety in the operating room. Setting: The operating rooms at ElHadara University Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt. Subjects: 200 intra-operative patients undergoing orthopedic surgery and all surgeons (N=10), anesthetists (N=4) and nurses (N=28). Tool: Surgical Safety Checklist administered to assess operating team practices comprises a pre-operative verification process, sign in, time out, and sign out. Results: The findings revealed that the highest performance items of the operating team were related to patient ID, surgical site marked, patient consent, images, supplies, antibiotics given, and sterile instruments check; the worst performance items were assessing patient for risk of excessive blood loss and difficulty of airway or aspiration (62% and 57%, respectively). Reviewing the key concerns for recovery was undertaken for only 62% of patients. The results also imply that the differences between parts of surgical safety and patients’ age, as well as types of surgeries, were statistically significant. Conclusion: The high mean score of surgical safety applied by operating team was related to phase I (preoperative verification) and phase IV (sign out). Recommendations: The findings highlight the need for using Surgical Safety Checklist in the operating room to maintain safety culture and prevent complications.
Electrical-Level Attacks on CPUs, FPGAs, and GPUs: Survey and Implications in the Heterogeneous Era

Given the need for efficient high-performance computing, computer architectures combining central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are currently prevalent. However, each of these components suffers from electrical-level security risks. Moving to heterogeneous systems, with the potential of multitenancy, it is essential to understand and investigate how the security vulnerabilities of individual components may affect the system as a whole. In this work, we provide a survey on the electrical-level attacks on CPUs, FPGAs, and GPUs. Additionally, we discuss whether these attacks can extend to heterogeneous systems and highlight open research directions for ensuring the security of heterogeneous computing systems in the future.
The influences of covid-19 pandemic on macroeconomic indexes for European countries

ABSTRACT The Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact in the entire world, both sanitary and economic. The purpose of this study is to analyse the European countries from this point of view. The main economic indicators related to import, wages, labour productivity, consumption, taxes, gross domestic product (GDP), as well as variables related to Covid-19 pandemic measures were considered in order to estimate the impact that pandemic measures have in economy. Principal component analysis was performed in order to reduce the dataset dimensionality and to create new indicators. Selected European countries are characterized and compared using principal components analysis outputs while regression is used to identify an influence of independent variables on GDP. The main results show that, comparing European countries economic situation in 2020 with the previous 2 years and considering variables that show the adopted closure measures, the Covid-19 pandemic have influenced the GDP from European countries.
Pax6 limits the competence of developing cerebral cortical cells to respond to inductive intercellular signals

The development of stable specialized cell types in multicellular organisms relies on mechanisms controlling inductive intercellular signals and the competence of cells to respond to such signals. In developing cerebral cortex, progenitors generate only glutamatergic excitatory neurons despite being exposed to signals with the potential to initiate the production of other neuronal types, suggesting that their competence is limited. Here we tested the hypothesis that this limitation is due to their expression of transcription factor Pax6. We used bulk and single cell RNAseq to show that conditional cortex-specific Pax6 deletion from the onset of cortical neurogenesis allowed some progenitors to generate abnormal lineages resembling those normally found outside the cortex. Analysis of selected gene expression showed that the changes occurred in specific spatiotemporal patterns. We then compared the responses of control and Pax6-deleted cortical cells to in vivo and in vitro manipulations of extracellular signals. We found that Pax6 loss increased cortical progenitors’ competence to generate inappropriate lineages in response to extracellular factors normally present in developing cortex, including the morphogens Shh and Bmp4. Regional variation in the levels of these factors could explain spatiotemporal patterns of fate change following Pax6 deletion in vivo. We propose that Pax6’s main role in developing cortical cells is to minimize the risk of their development being derailed by the potential side-effects of morphogens engaged contemporaneously in other essential functions.
Co-Worker Support and Communities of Practice: Mediating Role of Employee Personal Interaction

Communities of practice foster sharing of knowledge in the organisations. For the creation of such an organisational-level practice community, a motivating environment for the development of such practice communities should be created by the support perspective among co-workers, supervisors, and the organisation. The present study examines the relationship between Co-Worker Support and Communities of Practice with mediating role of Personal Interaction. The data was collected from 178 respondents representing the manufacturing and service sector Indian Organisations with various demographic characteristics. In accordance with the hypotheses developed, the findings supported the hypotheses. The structural equation modelling showed the path from co-worker support to communities of practice is mediated by Personal Interaction with highly significant results. The theoretical and managerial implications concerning the importance of support, most importantly co-worker support, are mentioned in the study. Future scope of research is suggested based on the current findings of this study.
COMBINING ABILITY FOR YIELD AND SOME AGRONOMIC TRAITS IN DIALLEL CROSSES OF TEN NEW YELLOW MAIZE INBRED LINES

A diallel cross among ten newly developed yellow maize inbred lines excluding reciprocals was made during 2009 summer season. These inbred lines were derived from French populations i.e., FP.POP20F10(P1), FP.POP6F15(P2), FP.POP9F19(P3), FP.POP28F21(P4), FP.POP34F13(P5), FP.POP39F31(P6), FP.POP9F40(P7), FP. POP12F41(P8), FP.POP42F50(P9) and FP.POP25F52(P10). The resulting 45 crosses along with three yellow commercial check hybrids; SC162, SC164 and SC166 were evaluated during 2010 summer season at two locations (Gemmeiza and Mallawy). The main objectives of this study were identifying the most superior hybrids for further use in maize breeding program and improving high yielding yellow single cross hybrids. The results showed that the mean squares were highly significant for all the studied traits, except for ears/100 plants for the interactions of location x genotype; location x general combining ability (GCA) and location x specific combining ability (SCA). Variances due to GCA (additive) and SCA (non-additive) were involved in the inheritance of the studied traits, with the additive gene action playing the major role in the inheritance of these traits, except for grain yield and plant height, which were controlled by non additive gene action. Parental inbred lines P5 and P7 had the highest favorable GCA effect for 50% silking, and plant height, respectively. Parent 4 (P4) and P5 were the best donors for more ears/plant, and P1andP9 were the best for high grain yield. Crosses (P3 x P7), (P4 x P8), and (P9 x P10) showed negative and significant SCA effects for silking date (desirable). While, crosses (P2 x P5) and (P6 x P9) significantly outyielded the commercial yellow check hybrids SC 162 and SC 164. Therefore, these crosses may be released as new high yielding single crosses.
Carcass Quality Profiles and Associated Genomic Regions of South African Goat Populations Investigated Using Goat SNP50K Genotypes

Simple Summary South Africa is one of the major goat producing countries on the African continent. However, despite a large number of goats being produced, there is still a growing demand for chevon, which leads to producers being unable to reach demand, resulting in an absence of chevon in retail markets. Carcass quality is an important economic trait that plays a major role in influencing consumer preferences and high nutrient provision. Even though chevon is an easily accessible meat for smallholder farmers and has health benefits, it is still less preferred due to perceptions of low meat quality attributes such as toughness, off-odours and flavour, and unappealing colour. The majority of goat populations are village ecotypes whose genetic potential for meat and carcass quality is unknown. Abstract Carcass quality includes a battery of essential economic meat traits that play a significant role in influencing farmer breed preferences. A preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the carcass quality and the associated genomic regions in a small nucleus of animals that are representative of South African goat genetic resources. Samples of the South African Boer (n = 14), Northern Cape Speckled (n = 14), Eastern Cape Xhosa Lob ear (n = 12), Nguni/Mbuzi (n = 13), and Village (n = 20) were genotyped using the Illumina goat SNP50K and were phenotyped for carcass quality traits. SA Boer goats had heavier warm and cold carcass weights (17.2 ± 2.3 kg and 16.3 ± 2.3 kg). Pella village goats raised under an intensive system had significantly (p < 0.05) heavier warm and cold carcass weights (9.9 ± 1.1 kg and 9.2 ± 1.2 kg) compared to the village goats that are raised extensively (9.1 ± 2.0 kg and 8.4 ± 1.9). A total of 40 SNPs located on chromosomes 6, 10, 12, 13, 19, and 21 were significantly associated with carcass traits at (−log10 [p < 0.05]). Candidate genes that were associated with carcass characteristics (GADD45G, IGF2R, GAS1, VAV3, CAPN8, CAPN7, CAPN2, GHSR, COLQ, MRAS, and POU1F1) were also observed. Results from this study will inform larger future studies that will ultimately find use in breed improvement programs.
INTRAORAL VS EXTEAORAL APPROACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MANDIBULAR ANGLE FRACTURE, A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL

Objective: To compare between the intraoral and extraoral approaches in the management of mandibular angle fractures. Methodology: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in the Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. The study comprised patients with mandibular angle fractures who were divided in two equal groups: Intraoral Group (A) and Extraoral group (B). Patients were followed up post-operatively after 7 days, 14 days, 2 months and 6 months respectively. Patients were followed up to examine the interincisal distance by using a caliper. motor function of the facial nerve using House-Brackmann grading system. Also, the surgical time needed for incision and dissection was recoded intraoperatively. Results: A total of 14 patients with mandibular angle fracture were presented into the study. The age ranged from 18 to 50 years with mean age for group (A) (34.28 ±11.65) while for group (B), it was (39.85±20.61) with no significant difference between both groups (P=0.545). No significant difference was found between the two groups as regarding the mouth opening. Facial nerve function was reserved more in the intraoral group with no significant difference in all follow up intervals. Regarding time needed for incision and reflection measure in minutes, group (A) had a significantly lower time than group (B) which was(P<0.001). However, for the time needed for ORIF there was no significant difference between both group (P=0.198). Conclusion: In the management of mandibular angle fractures, no difference was found in the mouth opening between extraoral and intraoral approach. As regarding the facial nerve injury, it was found that the facial nerve damage was higher in the extraoral approach but with no difference between both groups. However, our study showed statistically lower time needed for incision and reflection in the intraoral than the extraoral approach.
Identification of Favorable Zones of Gas Accumulation via Fault Distribution and Sedimentary Facies: Insights From Hangjinqi Area, Northern Ordos Basin

The Hangjinqi area was explored for natural gas around 40 years ago, but the efficient consideration in this area was started around a decade ago for pure gas exploration. Many wells have been drilled, yet the Hangjinqi area remains an exploration area, and the potential zones are still unclear. The Lower Shihezi Formation is a proven reservoir in the northern Ordos Basin. This study focuses on the second and third members of the Lower Shihezi Formation to understand the controlling factors of faults and sedimentary facies distribution, aimed to identify the favorable zones of gas accumulation within the Hangjinqi area. The research is conducted on a regional level by incorporating the 3D seismic grid of about 2500 km2, 62 well logs, and several cores using seismic stratigraphy, geological modeling, seismic attribute analysis, and well logging for the delineation of gas accumulation zones. The integrated results of structural maps, thickness maps, sand-ratio maps, and root mean square map showed that the northwestern region was uplifted compared to the southern part. The natural gas accumulated in southern zones was migrated through Porjianghaizi fault toward the northern region. Well J45 from the north zone and J77 from the south zone were chosen to compare the favorable zones of pure gas accumulation, proving that J45 lies in the pure gas zone compared to J77. Based on the faults and sedimentary facies distribution research, we suggest that the favorable zones of gas accumulation lie toward the northern region within the Hangjinqi area.
Insulation Design of the 160 kV DC Superconducting Fault Current Limiting Winding

Superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) is a promising device for limiting the short-circuit current of the power system. A 160-kV SFCL is developed for protecting the voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVdc) transmission system in Nanao of China. The main insulation and longitudinal insulation design of the 160-kV superconducting fault current-limiting winding are presented, where the liquid nitrogen (LN2) is used as the cooling and insulation medium. The main insulation simulation results show that the maximum electric field strength of the SFCL winding could be restricted to 1.2 kV/mm during the 252-kV dc voltage withstand test by using optimized grading and shielding ring. The SFCL winding is composed of 96 noninductive-type superconducting bifilar coils, and the turn-to-turn insulation of the bifilar coil is a combination of LN2 and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The turn-to-turn distance of the bifilar coil is optimized based on the longitudinal insulation analysis under the 550-kV lightning impulse withstand voltage test, 450-kV switching impulse withstand voltage test, and 16-kA power switching test. According to the simulation and experimental results, the maximum voltage drop occurs on the first turn of the bifilar coil.
The Analysis of Digital English Dictionary Used by Non-English Major Undergraduate Students

Dictionary has an important role in the language learning process where the dictionary is used as a learning tool. As a learning tool, dictionary can be used independently because there a lot of features in it such as meaning, pronunciation, types of words, word order and structure. At present, dictionaries available in two versions, they are printed and digital versions which can be in the form of websites or applications. The aim of this research is to find out the use of English digital dictionaries by undergraduate students, especially majoring in non-English language program. Based on the results of interviews with informants and a questionnaire administered to 67 students, this study used a qualitative descriptive method with data analysis. The results of the study found that digital dictionaries are used for language learning, translation and to improve English knowledge. It is strongly suggested to government to give access to the internet since those dictionaries sometimes use network. The developer of the application is also encouraged to make it accessible offline. The research team also suggest for future researcher to find out about the effect of using a digital dictionary on English learning.
First molecular-based detection study of Leishmania infantum in the Tapirapé indigenous population in the Brazilian Amazon

Species of the genus Leishmania parasitize mammals and have life cycles that alternate between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Most species develop in a hematophagous arthropod and infect a specific vertebrate host that may belong to diverse orders and families. Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic zoonosis with a wide geographic distribution, affecting 350 million people globally, mostly in areas with a high risk of infection. In Brazil, this disease not only has a high incidence but is also expanding to new areas, both in urban centers and rural areas, including territories with tribal communities, due to increasing human intervention. The objective of this study was to perform cathepsin L-like gene-based molecular diagnosis of Leishmania infantum in the indigenous Tapirapé ethnic group in the state of Mato Grosso. From the 372 individuals assessed, only 0.8% (3/372) tested positive for L. infantum, all from the same village (Urubu Branco). Despite the small number of infected individuals, this study demonstrates the first human cases of Leishmania infantum infection in this population, suggesting the need for regular monitoring of visceral leishmaniasis in the area and leading to a broad discussion on the planning and implementation of public health measures for the indigenous population, while respecting their distinctive territories and culture.
Inflammation Promotes Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Chronic inflammation is characterized by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species, and inflammatory cytokines in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). In addition to these parameters, the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of ROS on the proliferation-related AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and the relationship with inflammatory factors in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase is reduced in erythrocytes while levels of the oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl are elevated in the plasma of patients with CML. In addition, nitrogen species (nitrotyrosine, iNOS, eNOS) and inflammation markers (IL-6, NFkB, and S100 protein) were increased in granulocytes of CML while anti-inflammatory levels of IL-10 were decreased in plasma. CML granulocytes exhibited greater resistance to cytotoxic H2O2 activity compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, phosphorylation of the apoptotic p53 protein was reduced while the activity of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was increased, which was further enhanced by oxidative stress (H2O2) in granulocytes and erythroleukemic K562 cells. IL-6 caused oxidative stress and DNA damage that was mitigated using antioxidant or inhibition of inflammatory NFkB transcription factor in K562 cells. We demonstrated the presence of oxidative and nitrosative stress in CML, with the former mediated by AKT/mTOR signaling and stimulated by inflammation.
Comparative Analysis of Axial Length Measurements by Optical Biometers Based on Partial Coherence Interferometry Versus Optical Low-Coherence Interferometry: An Office Audit

Purpose In this study, we aimed to compare axial length (AL) measurements of the IOLMaster 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany), based on partial coherence interferometry (PCI) versus the Aladdin (Topcon Healthcare, Oakland, NJ), based on optical low-coherence interferometry (OLCI), in a clinical setting. Methods A retrospective analysis of the records of patients presenting for cataract surgery at an ophthalmology practice between October 2019 and March 2020 was performed. All patients had biometry measurements on the IOLMaster 500 and the Aladdin. Data collected included patient demographics, cataract morphology and type, and AL measurements. The IOLMaster 500 and Aladdin measurements were compared using the unpaired t-test and Chi-squared test. Results In total, 393 eyes (197 patients) were included (91 males, 107 females) in the study. The IOLMaster 500 was unable to successfully obtain AL measurements in seven eyes (1.8%) and the Aladdin in 26 eyes (6.6%). The difference was statistically significant (p=0.0007). Advanced and central posterior subcapsular cataracts were common in eyes that had unsuccessful measurements. In the eyes successfully measured, the mean AL for the IOLMaster was 24.04 ±1.32 mm, while it was 24.04 ±1.34 mm for the Aladdin. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.9165). Conclusion The IOLMaster 500 performed better in terms of the number of eyes for which AL measurements were successfully obtained compared to the Aladdin. This may be partly related to high volumes of advanced cataracts treated at our practice. However, this being a retrospective study, a cause-and-effect relationship could not be established.