Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining InSAR and Hydraulic Head Measurements to Estimate Aquifer Parameters and Storage Variations of Confined Aquifer System in Cangzhou, North China Plain

Groundwater storage (GWS) depletion and land subsidence caused by groundwater overexploitation threaten water supply and infrastructure security in the North China Plain. However, the aquifer system responses to groundwater changes are poorly understood in this region, although it is extremely important for groundwater management and land subsidence control. In this study, aquifer parameters and GWS variations of the confined aquifer system in central Cangzhou are quantified by using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and hydraulic head measurements. We apply the multitemporal InSAR method to detect land deformation time series with Envisat Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) data from 2003 to 2010. Seasonal signals in land deformation and head data are isolated by multichannel singular spectrum analysis to derive the elastic skeletal storativity (Ske). The results reveal a spatially heterogeneous Ske pattern with values ranging from 1.7 × 10−4 to 4.4 × 10−3 that agree well with those derived from pumping tests. An abnormal Skezone is found in the land uplift zone, and a gradual increase of Ske is revealed in the eastern coastal plain, which are likely attributed to the hydrological properties in the aquifer systems. Additionally, we characterize spatiotemporal variations in the total GWS, recoverable GWS, and irreversible GWS. The annual depletion rates of recoverable GWS and irreversible GWS are −0.52 ± 1.27 × 107 and −7.68 ± 2.68 × 107 m3/year, accounting for 6.4% and 93.6% of annual total GWS depletion, respectively, suggesting that previous groundwater pumping practices are unsustainable in this region. Finally, we find a 1‐year lag of the IGWS depletion variations behind the head changes due to low vertical hydraulic conductivities in aquitards.
Causes of preventable death among children of female sex worker mothers in low- and middle-income countries: A community knowledge approach investigation

Background Female sex workers (FSW) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are disproportionately vulnerable to poor health, social, and economic outcomes. The children of female sex workers (CFSW) experience health risks based on these challenging circumstances and the unique conditions to which they are exposed. Although country child mortality data exist, little is known about the causes of death among CFSW specifically, thereby severely limiting an effective public health response to the needs of this high-risk group of children. Methods The Community Knowledge Approach (CKA) was employed between January and October 2019 to survey a criterion sample of 1280 FSW participants across 24 cities in eight LMIC countries. Participants meeting pre-determined criteria provided detailed reports of deaths among the CFSW within their community of peers. Newborn deaths were gleaned from FSW maternal death reports where the infants also died following birth. Results Of the 668 child deaths reported, 589 were included in the analysis. Nutritional deficiencies comprised the leading cause of mortality accounting for 20.7% of deaths, followed closely by accidents (20.0%), particularly house fires, overdoses (19.4%), communicable diseases (18.5%), and homicides (9.8%). Other reported causes of death included neonatal conditions, respiratory illnesses, and suicides. Conclusions The causes of CFSW death in these eight countries are preventable with improved protections. Governments, intergovernmental organisations like the United Nations, nongovernmental stakeholder organisations (e.g. sex worker organisations), and funders can implement targeted policies and programmes to protect CFSW and assist vulnerable FSW who are pregnant and raising children. Further research is needed to identify effective child welfare safeguards for CFSW.
Impact of measurable residual disease in combination with CD19 on postremission therapy choices for adult t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission

Abstract Background The post‐remission therapy (PRT) choices for adult t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR1) need to be further explored. Aims We aimed to investigate the impact of measurable residual disease (MRD) combined with CD19 on PRT choices for adult t(8;21) AML in CR1. Methods A total of 150 t(8;21) AML patients were enrolled, including 67 underwent chemotherapy (CMT) and 83 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT) as PRT in CR1. Subgroup analyses were performed according to MRD level after three cycles of chemotherapy combined with CD19 expression. Results Multivariate analysis indicated MRDhigh after three courses of treatment (HR, 0.14 [95% CI, 0.03–0.66]; p = 0.013) and CD19 negativity (HR, 0.14 [95% CI, 0.02–0.96]; p = 0.045) were risk factors for relapse, while allo‐SCT was protective factor for relapse (HR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.15–0.75]; p = 0.008). Grouped by MRD after three courses of chemotherapy, allo‐SCT had lower CIR (p < 0.001) and better OS (p = 0.003) than CMT for MRDhigh patients, CMT showed a higher CIR (35.99% vs. 15.34%, p = 0.100) but comparable OS (p = 0.588) than allo‐SCT for MRDlow patients. Grouped by CD19 expression, allo‐SCT demonstrated lower CIR (p < 0.001) and better OS (p = 0.002) than CMT for CD19− patients. CMT had a higher CIR (41.37% vs. 10.48%, p = 0.007) but comparable OS (p = 0.147) than allo‐SCT for CD19+ patients. Grouped by MRD combined with CD19, MRDhigh/CD19+ subsets were identified out of CD19+ patients benefiting from allo‐SCT with lower CIR (p = 0.002) and superior OS (p = 0.020) than CMT. CMT preserved comparable CIR (p = 0.939) and OS (p = 0.658) with allo‐SCT for MRDlow/CD19+ patients. MRDlow/CD19− subsets were also identified from MRDlow patients requiring allo‐SCT with lower CIR (p < 0.001) and superior OS (p = 0.008) than CMT. Allo‐SCT maintained lower CIR (p < 0.001) and superior OS (p = 0.008) than CMT for MRDhigh/CD19− patients. Conclusions MRD combined with CD19 might optimize PRT choices for adult t(8;21) AML patients in CR1.
Assessment of Solid Waste Management Practices in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia

Even though solid waste management has become a major public health and environmental concern in urban areas of Ethiopia, only 2% of the population receive solid waste management services. The primary objective of this study is to assess solid waste management practices of Bahir Dar City. The technique of multistage random sampling has been employed to draw 350 households for this study, with both quantitative and qualitative primary data put into good use. Finally, the quantitative data has been analyzed by means of descriptive statistics with the results indicating that 78% of the respondents feel that the current solid waste management service is far below the required level; whereas, 22% of the respondents show satisfaction with the existing waste management service. The municipality has planned to provide solid waste management service for the residents once a week, but the survey results demonstrate that only 29% of the sample households received solid waste management services weekly, indicating that the performance of solid waste management service is low. Among 350 households, a sum of 66.6% practice illegal solid waste disposal with the remaining 33.4% waiting until solid waste collectors come to the area to take the waste away. Therefore, participation of urban households, micro and small enterprises, and governmental and non-governmental organizations plays a great role to upgrade the existing low status of solid waste management services.
Regulatory RNAs in immunosenescence

Abstract Background Immunosenescence is a multifactorial stress response to different intrinsic and extrinsic insults that cause immune deterioration and is accompanied by genomic or epigenomic perturbations. It is now widely recognized that genes and proteins contributing in the process of immunosenescence are regulated by various noncoding (nc) RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs, and circular RNAs. Aims This review article aimed to evaluate the regulatore RNAs roles in the process of immunosenescence. Methods We analyzed publications that were focusing on the different roles of regulatory RNAs on the several aspects of immunosenescence. Results In the immunosenescence setting, ncRNAs have been found to play regulatory roles at both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional levels. These factors cooperate to regulate the initiation of gene expression programs and sustaining the senescence phenotype and proinflammatory responses. Conclusion Immunosenescence is a complex process with pivotal alterations in immune function occurring with age. The extensive network that drive immunosenescence‐related features are are mainly directed by a variety of regulatory RNAs such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. Latest findings about regulation of senescence by ncRNAs in the innate and adaptive immune cells as well as their role in the immunosenescence pathways, provide a better understanding of regulatory RNAs function in the process of immunosenescence.
Teachers’ Perceptions on Agricultural Science Curriculum Evolvement, Infrastructure Provision and Quality Enhancement in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract This study was conducted in Limpopo Province of South Africa focusing on Agricultural Scienceteachers. From a population of about 243 teachers, 88 who attended the Provincial conference organized by theAssociation of South African Agricultural Educators participated in the study. The study aimed at responding toteachers’ demographic characteristics, availability of land for agricultural purposes, Senior Certificate subject passrates and teachers’ perceptions regarding evolvement of subject content, teacher qualifications and quality ofoutput and infrastructure support. A quantitative, multistage clustered non-probability sampling design was employedto solicit responses from teachers. Data was collected using Likert scale questionnaires and analyzed through nonparametricordinal level statistical techniques. The study recommends the retraining of teachers who are expectedto remain in the system for at least 10 years, provision of support that would assist in transmitting practicalknowledge and arrangement of workshops on restructuring the Agricultural Science syllabus to relevant stakeholders.
PD‐L1 on large extracellular vesicles is a predictive biomarker for therapy response in tissue PD‐L1‐low and ‐negative patients with non‐small cell lung cancer

Abstract Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). High expression of tissue PD‐L1 (tPD‐L1) is currently the only approved biomarker for predicting treatment response. However, even tPD‐L1 low (1‐49%) and absent (<1%) patients might benefit from immunotherapy but, to date, there is no reliable biomarker, that can predict response in this particular patient subgroup. This study aimed to test whether tumour‐associated extracellular vesicles (EVs) could fill this gap. Using NSCLC cell lines, we identified a panel of tumour‐related antigens that were enriched on large EVs (lEVs) compared to smaller EVs. The levels of lEVs carrying these antigens were significantly elevated in plasma of NSCLC patients (n = 108) and discriminated them from controls (n = 77). Among the tested antigens, we focused on programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1), which is a well‐known direct target for immunotherapy. In plasma lEVs, PD‐L1 was mainly found on a population of CD45−/CD62P+ lEVs and thus seemed to be associated with platelet‐derived vesicles. Patients with high baseline levels of PD‐L1+ lEVs in blood showed a significantly better response to immunotherapy and prolonged survival. This was particularly true in the subgroup of NSCLC patients with low or absent tPD‐L1 expression, thus identifying PD‐L1‐positive lEVs in plasma as a novel predictive and prognostic marker for immunotherapy.
The Middle Triassic procolophonid Kapes bentoni: computed tomography of the skull and skeleton

Procolophonids were diverse small reptiles through the late Permian and Triassic. Relatively complete specimens of various taxa are known from the Early and Late Triassic, but the 10 or so Middle Triassic taxa, from South Africa, Russia, China and the UK, are mostly incomplete, being known only from skulls or partial and poorly preserved isolated elements. Because of their small size, it has often been difficult to establish details of anatomy using physical preparation methods, so application of scanning technology can massively improve knowledge. Here, we describe the first substantial portion of a skull and anterior postcranial skeleton of the genus Kapes, known from Russia and the UK. CT scanning and 3D digital restoration of the new specimen from the Anisian Otter Sandstone of Devon, UK, reveal anatomical details previously unknown for this taxon, most notably the enlarged quadratojugal processes. This is also one of the few mature procolophonid specimens with a preserved postcranium, and it gives valuable insight into ossification patterns. Fused sutures of the skull, fused scapulocoracoid, and heavily worn teeth show evidence of the common reptilian ossification pattern with a possible limitation in tooth replacement. There is sufficient anatomical information to include Kapes bentoni for the first time in a cladistic analysis, which shows that it is sister to the Russian Kapes majmesculae and part of a clade of Anisian taxa phylogenetically more basal than Procolophon. Inferences on the function of the quadratojugal spines and fossorial mode of life are also considered.
A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:We first introduced this meta-analysis was to assess the accuracy of arterial spin labeling (ASL) in the differentiating high-grade gliomas (HGG) from brain solitary metastases (BSM). Methods:The PubMed,Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Libraries and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched up to August 31, 2018. The pooled weighted sensitivity and specificity, summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC), sensitivity analysis, and threshold effect analysis were performed on Stata version 12.0 and Meta-Disc version 1.4. Deeks’ funnel plot asymmetry test was performed to assess publication bias. Results:Of 5 eligible articles, of the 346 lesions from 346 patients, 274 were HGG, and 72 were BSM. The forest pooled sensitivity of 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65, 0.96) and specificity of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.92) of ASL were reported in this metaanalysis. The pooled area under the curve of SROC was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89, 0.94). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the pooled estimates were reliable. No evident publication bias was obtained (P= .38). Conclusion: The parameters derived from ASL with high accuracy in differentiating HGG from BSM. However, results must be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size considered. Large sample prospective studies were necessary to assess and confirm its clinical value. Abbreviations: ASL = arterial spin labeling, AUC = area under the curve, BSM = brain solitary metastases, CNKI = China Knowledge Resource Integrated database, CI = confidence interval, DOR = diagnostic odds ratio, FN = false-negative, FP = falsepositive, HGG = high-grade gliomas, rCBF = related cerebral blood flow, SEN = sensitivity, SPE = specificity, SROC = summary receiver operating characteristic curve, TP = True-positive, TN = true-negative.
Mathematical Modelling of Arctic Polygonal Tundra with Ecosys: 1. Microtopography Determines How Active Layer Depths Respond to Changes in Temperature and Precipitation

Microtopographic variation that develops among features (troughs, rims, and centers) within polygonal landforms of coastal arctic tundra strongly affects movement of surface water and snow and thereby affects soil water contents (θ) and active layer depth (ALD). Spatial variation in ALD among these features may exceed interannual variation in ALD caused by changes in climate and so needs to be represented in projections of changes in arctic ALD. In this study, increases in near‐surface θ with decreasing surface elevation among polygon features at the Barrow Experimental Observatory (BEO) were modeled from topographic effects on redistribution of surface water and snow and from lateral water exchange with a subsurface water table during a model run from 1981 to 2015. These increases in θ caused increases in thermal conductivity that in turn caused increases in soil heat fluxes and hence in ALD of up to 15 cm with lower versus higher surface elevation which were consistent with increases measured at BEO. The modeled effects of θ caused interannual variation in maximum ALD that compared well with measurements from 1985 to 2015 at the Barrow Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) site (R2 = 0.61, RMSE = 0.03 m). For higher polygon features, interannual variation in ALD was more closely associated with annual precipitation than mean annual temperature, indicating that soil wetting from increases in precipitation may hasten permafrost degradation beyond that caused by soil warming from increases in air temperature. This degradation may be more rapid if increases in precipitation cause sustained wetting in higher features.
Growth and nutrition of Corymbia citriodora seedlings using doses of liquid swine waste

The experiment was installed in a greenhouse with the aimed to verify the influence of liquid swine waste in the development and nutrition of Corymbia citriodora seedlings. The swine waste was mixed with a commercial substrate in order to analyze the effects of five doses, in a randomized block design, considering the N requirement of the species, which were T1 – 0%; T2 – 50%; T3 – 100%; T4 – 150% and; T5 – 200% and one treatment with mineral fertilization for comparison. The Corymbia citriodora seeds were germinated in plastic tubes with a commercial substrate plus swine waste. As the seedlings reached about five centimeters the thinning was performed, and when the plants reached 15 cm in length the growth analysis was started. At the end of the experiment the seedlings were measured, weighed and milled for macro and micronutrients determination. The best doses of liquid swine waste were 150% and 200% which showed the highest growth average values of the Corymbia citriodora seedlings, to the detriment of the nutritional and physical improvement of the substrate.
Deep5hmC: Predicting genome-wide 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine landscape via a multimodal deep learning model

5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), a critical epigenetic mark with a significant role in regulating tissue-specific gene expression, is essential for understanding the dynamic functions of the human genome. Using tissue-specific 5hmC sequencing data, we introduce Deep5hmC, a multimodal deep learning framework that integrates both the DNA sequence and the histone modification information to predict genome-wide 5hmC modification. The multimodal design of Deep5hmC demonstrates remarkable improvement in predicting both qualitative and quantitative 5hmC modification compared to unimodal versions of Deep5hmC and state-of-the-art machine learning methods. This improvement is demonstrated through benchmarking on a comprehensive set of 5hmC sequencing data collected at four time points during forebrain organoid development and across 17 human tissues. Notably, Deep5hmC showcases its practical utility by accurately predicting gene expression and identifying differentially hydroxymethylated regions in a case-control study of Alzheimer’s disease.
Microbial nitrogen guilds in the oceans: from the bathypelagic to the ocean surface

Microbial nitrogen guilds play crucial roles in the oceanic nitrogen cycle, but their composition and importance across specific depths and conditions remain unclear. In this study, we examine the guilds participating in nitrogen transformations within the low and mid-latitude ocean ecosystems, from the surface down to 4000 m, using data obtained from 75 samples belonging to 11 stations in the Malaspina (MP) dataset. In particular, we used a quantitative approach to investigate the stability of nitrogen acquisition and nitrogen-redox guilds separately. Our results showed that nitrogen acquisition guilds are more stable and redundant than nitrogen-redox guilds across depths and conditions related to specific water columns. However, differential conditions such as nitrogen depletion and oxygen availability affected the two groups of guilds in different ways. These findings have significant implications for the understanding of global nutrient fluxes and the biosphere’s functional diversification.
Individualized fMRI neuromodulation enhances visuospatial perception: a guided approach targeted towards the neuro-rehabilitation of cortical blindness and deceleration of subjective cognitive impairment

Neuromodulation is a growing precision-medicine approach to modulating neural activity that can be used to treat neuropsychiatric, and general pathophysiologic conditions. We developed individualized fMRI neuromodulation (iNM) to study the mechanisms of visuospatial perception modulation with the long-term goal of applying it in low-vision patient populations having cortical blindness or visuospatial impairment preceding subjective cognitive impairment. To determine these mechanisms, we developed a direction and coherence discrimination task to engage visual perception (VP), visual imagery (VI), selective extero-intero-ceptive attention (SEIA), and motor planning (MP) networks. Participants discriminated up and down direction, at full and subthreshold coherence under iNM or control (no iNM). We determined the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) magnitude as area under the curve (AUC) for VI, SEIA, and MP encoded networks and used a decoder to predict the stimulus from brain maps. The increased AUC BOLD magnitude under iNM across directions and coherences ranged from: 48-76% for SEIA, 26-59% for MP, 20-47% for VI, and 100% for strong VP coherences, but decreased for weak coherences. iNM increased classification performance. Our results imply a causal role of iNM-induced visuospatial mechanisms in strengthening these networks and provide a pathway for more accurate encoding models and effective treatment.
Forskolin reverses the O-GlcNAcylation dependent decrease in GABAAR current amplitude at hippocampal synapses possibly at a neurosteroid site on GABAARs

GABAergic transmission is influenced by post-translational modifications, like phosphorylation, impacting channel conductance, allosteric modulator sensitivity, and membrane trafficking. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification involving the O-linked attachment of β–N-acetylglucosamine on serine/threonine residues. Previously we reported an acute increase in O-GlcNAcylation elicits a long-term depression of evoked GABAAR inhibitory post synaptic currents (eIPSCs) onto hippocampal principal cells. Importantly, O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation can co-occur or compete for the same residue; whether they interact in modulating GABAergic IPSCs is unknown. We tested this by recording IPSCs from hippocampal principal cells and pharmacologically increased O-GlcNAcylation, before or after increasing serine phosphorylation using the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin. Although forskolin had no significant effect on baseline eIPSC amplitude, we found that a prior increase in O-GlcNAcylation unmasks a forskolin-dependent increase in eIPSC amplitude, reversing the O-GlcNAc-induced eIPSC depression. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase or protein kinase A did not prevent the potentiating effect of forskolin, indicating serine phosphorylation is not the mechanism. Surprisingly, increasing O-GlcNAcylation also unmasked a potentiating effect of the neurosteroids 5α-pregnane-3α,21-diol-20-one (THDOC) and progesterone on eIPSC amplitude, mimicking forskolin. Our findings show under conditions of heightened O-GlcNAcylation, the neurosteroid site on synaptic GABAARs is accessible to agonists, permitting strengthening of synaptic inhibition.