Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Northern Hemisphere Extratropical Atmospheric Circulation Response to ENSO: How Well Do We Know It and How Do We Evaluate Models Accordingly?

AbstractApplication of random sampling techniques to composite differences between 18 El Nino and 14 La Nina events observed since 1920 reveals considerable uncertainty in both the pattern and amplitude of the Northern Hemisphere extratropical winter sea level pressure (SLP) response to ENSO. While the SLP responses over the North Pacific and North America are robust to sampling variability, their magnitudes can vary by a factor of 2; other regions, such as the Arctic, North Atlantic, and Europe are less robust in their SLP patterns, amplitudes, and statistical significance. The uncertainties on the observed ENSO composite are shown to arise mainly from atmospheric internal variability as opposed to ENSO diversity. These observational findings pose considerable challenges for the evaluation of ENSO teleconnections in models. An approach is proposed that incorporates both pattern and amplitude uncertainty in the observational target, allowing for discrimination between true model biases in the forced ENSO .
The Implication of the Helium-to-proton Flux Ratio in Galactic Cosmic Rays

The measurement of daily proton and helium fluxes by AMS-02 shows that the helium-to-proton flux ratio (He/H) is negatively correlated with the solar activity at rigidity 1.7–7 GV. What is the behavior of He/H at rigidity lower than 1.7 GV? How can this phenomenon be described quantitatively and linked to the underlying mechanisms? In this work, based on a theoretical derivation, we find that the slope (S) of ln(He/H) versus ln(H) is a good indicator of the variation of He/H. S > 0 means the variation of He/H is anticorrelated with the solar activity, and vice versa. Furthermore, the value of S is quantitatively related to the difference in protons and helium nuclei in the local interstellar spectrum (LIS) and in solar modulation. A 3D time-dependent numerical model is used to reproduce the observed proton and helium data. The results of the simulation show that, with increasing rigidity, the parameter S increases from negative values to positive values at around 1 GV, reaches a maximum value at around 2 GV, and then decreases until it approaches 0. Interestingly, S is equal to 0 at around 1 GV. This means that He/H at this rigidity is almost unchanged with the variation in solar activity. Finally, the expression for S is validated by changing the LIS used in the numerical procedure. This shows that the overall profile of S as a function of rigidity is mainly determined by the mass-to-charge ratio, and the specific value of S is strongly affected by the difference in the LIS between protons and helium nuclei.
Gut microbiota in the short‐beaked echidna (Tachyglossus Aculeatus) shows stability across gestation

Indigenous gut microbial communities (microbiota) play critical roles in health and may be especially important for the mother and fetus during pregnancy. Monotremes, such as the short‐beaked echidna, have evolved to lay and incubate an egg, which hatches in their pouch where the young feeds. Since both feces and eggs pass through the cloaca, the fecal microbiota of female echidnas provides an opportunity for vertical transmission of microbes to their offspring. Here, we characterize the gut/fecal microbiome of female short‐beaked echidnas and gain a better understanding of the changes that may occur in their microbiome as they go through pregnancy. Fecal samples from four female and five male echidnas were obtained from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland and sequenced to evaluate bacterial community structure. We identified 25 core bacteria, most of which were present in male and female samples. Genera such as Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Escherichia‐Shigella, and Lactobacillus were consistently abundant, regardless of sex or gestation stage, accounting for 58.00% and 56.14% of reads in male and female samples, respectively. The echidna microbiome remained stable across the different gestation stages, though there was a significant difference in microbiota composition between male and female echidnas. This study is the first to describe the microbiome composition of short‐beaked echidnas across reproductive phases and allows the opportunity for this novel information to be used as a metric of health to aid in the detection of diseases triggered by microbiota dysbiosis.
Impact of University agricultural research and development spillovers on Chinese agribusiness firms’ performance

The spillover effect of university-based agricultural research and development (R&D) has been recognized as a crucial factor contributing to the enhanced performance of the agricultural industry. Nonetheless, the psychological impact of organizational inertia on individuals and groups may shape the influence of such spillovers for agribusiness firms. To date, there has been limited exploration of the interplay between university agricultural R&D spillovers and agribusiness firms. Utilizing panel data from Chinese listed agribusiness firms between 2009 and 2019, our empirical investigation reveals a negative short-term relationship between university agricultural R&D spillovers and agribusiness firm performance due to the similarity in knowledge backgrounds. In the short term, organizational inertia, stemming from familiar and parallel knowledge, renders university agricultural R&D spillovers unfavorable to agribusiness firm performance, thereby reducing their value to the enterprises. Conversely, the long-term influence of university agricultural R&D spillovers on agricultural enterprise performance is positive, as organizational inertia dissipates over time. Additionally, our findings indicate that university non-agricultural R&D spillovers serve to positively moderate the relationship between agricultural R&D spillovers and agribusiness firm performance in the short term, while exerting a negative moderating effect in the long term. Lastly, our analysis reveals a negative correlation between the effect of university agricultural R&D spillovers and the geographical distance between agribusiness firms and universities. This suggests that proximity to academic institutions may play a role in shaping the impact of R&D spillovers on agribusiness performance. In summary, our study highlights the complex dynamics between university agricultural R&D spillovers and agribusiness firm performance, revealing both short-term and long-term effects. We also underscore the importance of considering the influence of organizational inertia and the moderating role of non-agricultural R&D spillovers. Understanding these relationships is crucial for informing strategic decisions and fostering innovation within the agricultural industry.
Access to Essential Medicines for Diabetes Care: Availability, Price, and Affordability in Central Ethiopia

Background Diabetes is a major global public health burden. Effective diabetes management is highly dependent on the availability of affordable and quality-assured essential medicines (EMs) which is a challenge especially in low-and-middle-income countries such as Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 60 selected public and private medicine outlets in central Ethiopia from January to February 2022 using the World Health Organization/Health Action International (WHO/HAI) standard tool to assess access to EMs. We included EMs that lower glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol as these are all critical for diabetes care. Availability was determined as the percentage of surveyed outlets per sector in which the selected lowest-priced generic (LPG) and originator brand (OB) products were found. The number of days’ wages required by the lowest paid government worker (LPGW) to purchase a one month’s supply of medicines was used to measure affordability while median price was determined to assess patient price and price markup difference between public procurement and retail prices. Results Across all facilities, availability of LPG and OB medicines were 34.6% and 2.5% respectively. Only two glucose-lowering (glibenclamide 5mg, metformin 500mg) and two blood pressure-lowering medications (nifedipine 20mg and hydrochlorothiazide 25mg) surpassed the WHO’s target of 80% availability. The median price based on the least measurable unit of LPG diabetes EMs was 1.6 ETB (0.033 USD) in public and 4.65 ETB (0.095 USD) in private outlets, respectively. The cost of one month’s supply of diabetes EMs was equivalent to 0.3 to 3.1 days wages in public and 1.0 to 11.0 days wages in private outlets, respectively, for a typical LPGW. Thus, 58.8% and 84.6% of LPG diabetes EMs included in the price analysis were unaffordable in private and public outlets, respectively. Conclusion There are big gaps in availability and affordability of EMs used for diabetes in central Ethiopia. Relevant stakeholders should work to improve access to EMs.
Response of water yield to silvicultural treatments in a temperate forest in northern Mexico

Forest management modifies tree cover, directly influencing various ecosystem services, such as water regulation. Evapotranspiration, water interception, surface runoff, stemflow, and throughfall are among those processes that depend on tree cover. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in water yield, defined as the difference between precipitation and evapotranspiration, after the application of silvicultural treatments in a temperate forest ecosystem in northern Mexico. Fifteen experimental plots were established in which the following treatments were applied: intensive management (clearcutting), semi-intensive management (selection, tree cutting of 59–61% of basal area), conservative management (selection, tree cutting of 29–31% of basal area), and no treatment (control group). Incident precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, net precipitation, interception, and surface runoff were analyzed. Results show that conservative management treatments increase water yield between 2 to 3.6 mm per m-2 ha-1 of tree basal area removed. Water flow distribution, in relation to the incident precipitation, ranged from 72.3 to 91.8% for throughfall, 0.2 to 0.4% for stemflow, 72.7 to 91.8% for net precipitation, 8.19 to 27.42% for interception or evaporation, and 0.54 to 1.93% for surface runoff. The conservative management treatment was the most viable alternative for increasing water yield without compromising timber harvesting and loss of soil due to hydric erosion.
Biomarker potential of the LEF1/TCF family members in breast cancer: Bioinformatic investigation on expression and clinical significance

Abstract The LEF1/TCF transcription factor family is related to the development of diverse tissue types, including the mammary tissue, and dysregulation of its expression and function has been described to favor breast tumorigenesis. However, the clinical and biological relevance of this gene family in breast cancer is still poorly understood. Here, we used bioinformatics approaches aiming to reduce this gap. We investigated its expression patterns in molecular and immune breast cancer subtypes; its correlation with immune cell infiltration, and its prognostic values in predicting outcomes. Also, through regulons construction, we determined the genes whose expression is influenced by these transcription factors, and the pathways in which they are involved. We found that LEF1 and TCF3 are over-expressed in breast tumors regarding non-tumor samples, while TCF4 and TCF7 are down-expressed, with the gene’s methylation status being associated with its expression dysregulation. All four transcription factors presented significance at the diagnostic and prognostic levels. LEF1, TCF4, and TCF7 presented a significant correlation with immune cell infiltration, being associated with the immune subtypes of less favorable outcomes. Altogether, this research contributes to a more accurate understanding of the expression and clinical and biomarker significance of the LEF1/TCF transcription factors in breast cancer.
Dysregulation of the Immune System in a Natural History Study of 1299 Individuals with Down Syndrome

Dysregulation of the immune system in individuals with Down syndrome is thought to play a major role in the pathophysiology of many clinical presentations. This natural history of disease study took a comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of different immune related diagnoses in a cohort of 1299 patients with Down syndrome compared to a 2605 control cohort of patients without Down syndrome at Mount Sinai Health System in NY, NY over the past 18 years. We conducted a stepwise analysis of the odds of receiving a diagnosis at the Chapter, Sub-chapter and Diagnosis level of the ICD-CM-10 code system. Individuals in our Down syndrome cohort had higher odds of a diagnosis with inflammatory and autoimmune presentations such as Alopecia areata (OR 6.06, p = 0.01), Other sepsis (OR 4.79, p < 0.001, Purpura and Other hemorrhagic conditions (OR 2.31, p < 0.001), and Rosacea (OR 3.11, p < 0.001). They also presented with lower odds of a diagnosis of Herpesviral infection (OR 0.42, p = 0.01), and Viral warts (OR 0.51, p = 0.04). We posit that dysregulation of the immune system in individuals with Down syndrome has impact on infectious diseases, including lowering the incidence of viral disease, and increasing its severity. Our data also suggests inflammation and autoimmune mediated diseases, in particular of the skin, is exacerbated in individuals with Down syndrome. Finally, there may be a need for greater clinical attention to non-emergent conditions within the Down syndrome patient population as those can also greatly affect quality of life.
Informal caregivers of children with cerebral palsy ways of coping with the uncertainty of illness

ABSTRACT Objective: To unveil the process of collective construction of interventions for coping by informal caregivers of children with cerebral palsy using the Theory of Uncertainty in Illness. Method: Qualitative action-research in a hybrid format with informal caregivers of children with cerebral palsy registered with the Raros group in Petrolina, Pernambuco. The research followed the planned intervention cycle, going through four phases. The analysis was carried out using the IRAMUTEQ software and content analysis. Results: Interventions were designed collectively, both virtually and in person, which resulted in improvements for informal caregivers in coping with the conditions associated with the disability, promotion of self-care, empowerment and the construction of a sense of belonging to the group. There were 12 participants, all of whom were mothers. Conclusion: There was a facilitation of the process of coping with uncertainty in the disease on the part of the informal caregiver of children with cerebral palsy and it was evidenced that for this a prismatic perspective is necessary, which understands that the uncertainties are not only related to the conditions associated with cerebral palsy, but involve subjective aspects of the caregivers.
Biomarkers predict the efficacy of closed-loop rTMS treatment for refractory depression

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive FDA-approved therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD), specifically for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Though offering promise for those with TRD, its effectiveness is less than one in two patients (i.e., less than 50%). Limits on efficacy may be due to individual patient variability, but to date, there are no established biomarkers or measures of target engagement that can predict efficacy. Additionally, TMS efficacy is typically not assessed until a six-week treatment ends, precluding interim re-evaluations of the treatment. Here, we report results using a closed-loop phase-locked repetitive TMS (rTMS) treatment that synchronizes the delivery of rTMS based on the timing of the pulses relative to a patient’s individual electroencephalographic (EEG) prefrontal alpha oscillation indexed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Among responders, synchronized rTMS produces two systematic changes in brain dynamics: a reduction in global cortical excitability and enhanced phase entrainment of cortical dynamics. These effects predict clinical outcomes in the synchronized treatment group but not in an active-treatment unsynchronized control group. The systematic decrease in excitability and increase in entrainment correlated with treatment efficacy at the endpoint and intermediate weeks during the synchronized treatment. Specifically, we show that weekly biomarker tracking enables efficacy prediction and dynamic adjustments through a treatment course, improving the overall response rates. This innovative approach advances the prospects of individualized medicine in MDD and holds potential for application in other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Detection of Duffy Blood Group Genotypes and Submicroscopic Plasmodium Infections Using Molecular Diagnostic Assays in Febrile Malaria Patients

Background Malaria remains a severe parasitic disease, posing a significant threat to public health and hindering economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia, a malaria endemic country, is facing a resurgence of the disease with a steadily rising incidence. Conventional diagnostic methods, such asmicroscopy, have become less effective due to low parasite density, particularly among Duffy-negative human populations in Africa. To develop comprehensive control strategies, it is crucial to generate data on the distribution and clinical occurrence of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum infections in regions where the disease is prevalent. This study assessed Plasmodium infections and Duffy antigen genotypes in febrile patients in Ethiopia. Methods Three hundred febrile patients visiting four health facilities in Jimma town of southwestern Ethiopia were randomly selected during the malaria transmission season (Apr–Oct). Sociodemographic information was collected, and microscopic examination was performed for all study participants. Plasmodiumspecies and parasitemia as well as the Duffy genotype were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for all samples. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test and kappa statistics. Results The Plasmodium infection rate by qPCR was 16% (48/300) among febrile patients, of which 19 (39.6%) were P. vivax, 25 (52.1%) were P. falciparum, and 4 (8.3%) were mixed (P. vivax and P. falciparum) infections. Among the 48 qPCR-positive samples, 39 (13%) were negative by microscopy. The results of bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that agriculture-related occupation, relapse and recurrence were significantly associated withPlasmodium infection (P<0.001). Of the 300 febrile patients, 85 (28.3%) were Duffy negative, of whom two had P. vivax, six had P. falciparum, and one had mixed infections.Except for one patient with P. falciparum infection, Plasmodium infections in Duffy-negative individuals were all submicroscopic with low parasitemia. Conclusions The present study revealed a high prevalence of submicroscopic malaria infections. Plasmodium vivax infections in Duffy-negative individuals were not detected due to low parasitemia. Here, we recommend an improved molecular diagnostic tool to detect and characterize plasmodium infections, with the goal of quantifyingP. vivax infection in Duffy-negative individuals.
Beta arrestin‐related signalling axes are influenced by dexamethasone and metformin in vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in high glucose condition

Abstract Background Metformin (Met) and dexamethasone (Dexa) are known to reduce blood sugar levels and anti‐inflammatory effects, respectively. Based on the acceleration of atherosclerosis process in diabetes, the β‐arrestin 2 (BARR2) gene and protein expression levels were evaluated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) treated with Met and Dexa in high glucose conditions in this study. Methods and Materials Human VSMCs were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium/Nutrient Mixture F‐12 (DMEM‐F12) medium and, were treated with different values of Met (1 mM, 5 mM and 7 mM) and Dexa (10−7 M, 10−6 M and 10−5 M) in 24‐ and 48‐h periods. The BARR2 gene and protein expression levels were identified with RT‐qPCR and western blotting techniques, respectively. The signalling axes were predicted from gene network made using Cytoscape software and, were annotated with Gene Ontology. Results The BARR2 gene and protein expression levels reduced in VSMCs treated with Dexa and Met after 24‐ and 48‐h periods. These results were more changed after 48 h. Furthermore, many BARR2‐related signalling axes were found from the network genes. Conclusion Met and Dexa suppressed the BARR2 protein and gene expression levels in the VSMCs. Moreover, the gene network suggested some the cellular signalling axes related to BARR2 that may be affected by Met and Dexa.
UAV photogrammetry for mapping vegetation in the low-Arctic

Plot-scale field measurements are necessary to monitor changes to tundra vegetation, which has a small stature and high spatial heterogeneity, while satellite remote sensing can be used to track coarser changes over larger regions. In this study, we explored the potential of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photographic surveys to map low-Arctic vegetation at an intermediate scale. A multicopter was used to capture highly overlapping, subcentimetre photographs over a 2 ha site near Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. Images were processed into ultradense 3D point clouds and 1 cm resolution orthomosaics and vegetation height models using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) methods. Shrub vegetation heights measured on the ground were accurately represented using SfM point cloud data (r2 = 0.96, SE = 8 cm, n = 31) and a combination of spectral and height predictor variables yielded an 11-class classification with 82% overall accuracy. Differencing repeat UAV surveys before and after manually trimming shrub patches sho.
Exogenous abscisic acid treatment regulates protein secretion in sorghum cell suspension cultures

ABSTRACT Drought stress adversely affects plant growth, often leading to total crop failure. Upon sensing soil water deficits, plants switch on biosynthesis of abscisic acid (ABA), a stress hormone for drought adaptation. Here, we used exogenous ABA application to dark-grown sorghum cell suspension cultures as an experimental system to understand how a drought-tolerant crop responds to ABA. We evaluated intracellular and secreted proteins using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification. While the abundance of only ~ 7% (46 proteins) intracellular proteins changed in response to ABA, ~32% (82 proteins) of secreted proteins identified in this study were ABA responsive. This shows that the extracellular matrix is disproportionately targeted and suggests it plays a vital role in sorghum adaptation to drought. Extracellular proteins responsive to ABA were predominantly defense/detoxification and cell wall-modifying enzymes. We confirmed that sorghum plants exposed to drought stress activate genes encoding the same proteins identified in the in vitro cell culture system with ABA. Our results suggest that ABA activates defense and cell wall remodeling systems during stress response. This could underpin the success of sorghum adaptation to drought stress.