Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Perception of the Late Bronze Age Chronology in Belgium

Since Marcel Edouard Mariën and his 1952 masterpiece synthesis Oud-België van de eerste landbouwers tot de komst van Caesar, the beginning of the Late Bronze Age in Belgium has been situated around 1100 BC, corresponding to the phase Ha A2. The scarcity of artifacts from Reinecke's phases Bz C and Ha Al seemed to confirm this theory. Based on an axe's hoard (Maaseik, Belgium) and the presence of grooved ware, the potential existence of a Bz D/Ha Al phase has been suggested but certainly not certified. Currently, a large campaign of analyses on bones from several Late Bronze Age sites is shedding new light on Bronze Age chronology.
Nuclear ERK1/2 signaling potentiation enhances neuroprotection and cognition via Importinα1/KPNA2

Cell signaling is central to neuronal activity and its dysregulation may lead to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Here, we show that selective genetic potentiation of neuronal ERK signaling prevents cell death in vitro and in vivo in the mouse brain, while attenuation of ERK signaling does the opposite. This neuroprotective effect mediated by an enhanced nuclear ERK activity can also be induced by the novel cell penetrating peptide RB5. In vitro administration of RB5 disrupts the preferential interaction of ERK1 MAP kinase with importinα1/KPNA2 over ERK2, facilitates ERK1/2 nuclear translocation, and enhances global ERK activity. Importantly, RB5 treatment in vivo promotes neuroprotection in mouse models of Huntington's (HD), Alzheimer's (AD), and Parkinson's (PD) disease, and enhances ERK signaling in a human cellular model of HD. Additionally, RB5‐mediated potentiation of ERK nuclear signaling facilitates synaptic plasticity, enhances cognition in healthy rodents, and rescues cognitive impairments in AD and HD models. The reported molecular mechanism shared across multiple neurodegenerative disorders reveals a potential new therapeutic target approach based on the modulation of KPNA2‐ERK1/2 interactions.
Immune cell kinetics and antibody response in COVID‐19 patients with low‐count monoclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis

Low‐count monoclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis (MBLlo) has been associated with an underlying immunodeficiency and has recently emerged as a new risk factor for severe COVID‐19. Here, we investigated the kinetics of immune cell and antibody responses in blood during COVID‐19 of MBLlo versus non‐MBL patients. For this study, we analyzed the kinetics of immune cells in blood of 336 COVID‐19 patients (74 MBLlo and 262 non‐MBL), who had not been vaccinated against SARS‐CoV‐2, over a period of 43 weeks since the onset of infection, using high‐sensitivity flow cytometry. Plasma levels of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies were measured in parallel by ELISA. Overall, early after the onset of symptoms, MBLlo COVID‐19 patients showed increased neutrophil, monocyte, and particularly, plasma cell (PC) counts, whereas eosinophil, dendritic cell, basophil, and lymphocyte counts were markedly decreased in blood of a variable percentage of samples, and with a tendency toward normal levels from week +5 of infection onward. Compared with non‐MBL patients, MBLlo COVID‐19 patients presented higher neutrophil counts, together with decreased pre‐GC B‐cell, dendritic cell, and innate‐like T‐cell counts. Higher PC levels, together with a delayed PC peak and greater plasma levels of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibodies (at week +2 to week +4) were also observed in MBLlo patients. In summary, MBLlo COVID‐19 patients share immune profiles previously described for patients with severe SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, associated with a delayed but more pronounced PC and antibody humoral response once compared with non‐MBL patients.
Incorporating Data from Multiple Endpoints in the Analysis of Clinical Trials: Example from RSV Vaccines

Background: To meet regulatory approval, interventions must demonstrate efficacy against a primary outcome in randomized clinical trials. However, when there are multiple clinically relevant outcomes, selecting a single primary outcome is challenging. Incorporating data from multiple outcomes may increase statistical power in clinical trials. We examined methods for analyzing data on multiple endpoints, inspired by real-world trials of interventions against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Method: We developed a novel permutation test representing a weighted average of individual outcome test statistics (wavP) to evaluate intervention efficacy in a multiple endpoint analysis. We compared the power and type I error rate of this approach to the Bonferroni correction (bonfT) and the minP permutation test. We evaluated the different approaches using simulated data from three hypothetical trials varying the intervention efficacy, correlation, and incidence of the outcomes, and data from a real-world RSV clinical trial. Results: When the vaccine efficacy against different outcomes was similar, wavP yielded higher power than bonfT and minP; in some scenarios the improvement in power was substantial. In settings where vaccine efficacy was notably larger against one endpoint compared with the others, all three methods had similar power. We developed an R package, PERmutation basEd ANalysis of mulTiple Endpoints (PERMEATE), to guide the selection of the most appropriate method for analyzing multiple endpoints in clinical trials. Conclusions: Analyzing multiple endpoints using a weighted permutation method can increase power, whereas controlling the type I error rate compared with established methods under conditions mirroring real-world RSV clinical trials.
The Alpine Fault, New Zealand: Surface Geology and Field Relationships

The Alpine Fault forms part of the on-land Pacific-Australian plate boundary. Generally the fault has a simple straight trace, striking ca. 055° and dipping moderately eastwards, but in central areas it is serially partitioned. Late Quaternary strike-slip rates are 23-25 mm/yr, but dip-slip rates range from ca. 10 mm/yr in the central part, reducing north and south and reaching zero southwest of Jackson Bay. Due to oblique-slip, mylonites are exhumed from ca. 25 km in a ca. 1 km wide fault zone east of the present trace, undergoing intense cataclasis close to the fault at shallow levels. Pseudotachylytes are generated by preferential melting of phyllosilicaterich assemblages. Ductile shear strain is high, reaching 200-300 in ultramylonites. Displacement of metamorphic zones and a pegmatite swarm, with respect to their location in the hanging wall is consistent with ca. 100 km of dextral ductile shear within the mylonites since ca. 5 Ma.
Intrusion of UHP metamorphic rocks into the upper crust of Kyrgyzian Tien-Shan : P-T path and metamorphic age of the Makbal Complex

Coesite occurs in garnets from quartz schists and pelitic schists in the Makbal Complex of Kyrgyzian Tien-Shan. The thick quartz schists interbedded with pelitic schists are the transitional facies after coesite schists. Quartz-pseudomorph after coesite also appears widely in pelitic schists and quartz schists, but is rare in eclogitic rocks. The growth zoning of garnets and Na-Ca amphiboles in eclogites and the garnet-omphacite geothermometry indicate that the metamorphic P-T paths of eclogites are different from each. Ultra-high (UHP) pressure metamorphic rocks of the Makbal Complex are mainly composed of pelitic and quartz schists. All eclogite lenses are included in the host UHPM rocks, although most of them do not contain UHP metamorphic (UHPM) evidences. The K-Ar ages of phengite in a host pelitic schist and of paragonite in an eclogite are approximately 500 Ma, while those of biotite and phengite in a biotite-bearing mica schist and of winchite in a winchite schist are approximately 769-717 Ma and 881 Ma, respectively. The evidence indicates that this complex is a tectonic melange. These geological relationships suggest that the ascending substances must be pelitic and quartz schists. The UHPM rocks in the ascending material capture many exotic blocks as xenoliths during intrusion into the upper crust.
Mosaic surface storages of a small boreal catchment

Recent studies have suggested that the hydrologic connectivity of northern headwater catchments is likely controlled by antecedent moisture conditions and land cover patterns. A water storage model (EWS), based on water levels (WLs), specific yield (Sy) and surface elevation (SE) changes, was compared with a basic water budget of a small, boreal, patterned fen (13 ha) during the ice‐free period. Results showed that the EWS model reproduced well storage variations derived from the water budget. These results suggest that storage variations can be properly represented by the fluctuations of WLs when we consider the heterogeneous soil properties. However, storage deviations occurred at the daily scale and could be explained by a lack of information on water retention in unsaturated layers, canopy interceptions and preferential flows. Despite the significant impact of SE changes on the different peatland cover storage budgets (strings and lawns), using Sy mean values had a low impact on storage estimations. This can be explained by the large proportion of pools and high WLs throughout the fen. At the fen scale, high storage in the pools seemed to reduce the Sy difference between strings and lawns. The results of this study provide new insights about the complex hydrological behaviour of northern catchments and allow for conceiving new hydrological modelling perspectives. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Medication Safety Events After Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Veterans Treated at VA Versus Non-VA Hospitals

Introduction: Fragmentation of health care across systems can contribute to mistakes in prescribing and filling medications among patients treated for myocardial infarction (MI). We sought to compare omissions, duplications, and delays in outpatient medications used for secondary prevention among veterans treated for MI at Veterans Affairs (VA) versus non-VA hospitals. Methods: We utilized national VA and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data (2012–2018) to identify veterans 65 years or older hospitalized for MI and measured the use of outpatient medications for secondary prevention in the 30 days after MI among those treated at VA versus non-VA hospitals. Results: A total of 118,456 veterans experiencing MI were included; of which 102,209 were hospitalized at non-VA hospitals. An omission in any medication class occurred more frequently among veterans treated at non-VA versus VA hospitals (82.8% vs 67.8%, P < 0.001). In multivariable modeling, the odds of omissions in any medication class were higher among those treated at non-VA versus VA hospitals (odds ratio: 3.04; 95% CI: 2.88–3.20). Duplications occurred more frequently in veterans treated at non-VA versus VA hospitals: 1.9% versus 1.6% had 1 or more for non-VA versus VA hospitals (P < 0.001). Veterans treated at non-VA hospitals were more likely to have delays of 3 days or more in prescription fills after hospital discharge (88.4% vs 70.6% across all classes, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Omissions, duplications, and delays in outpatient prescribing of secondary prevention medications were more common among 118,456 veterans treated at non-VA versus VA hospitals for MI. Interventions aimed at improving care transitions and optimizing medication use among veterans treated at non-VA hospitals should be implemented.
The Renland ice core. A Northern Hemisphere record of aerosol composition over 120,000 years

The Renland ice core from East Greenland covers a full glacial cycle from the Holocene into the previous Eem interglacial. The first northern hemispheric record of both anions (Cl - , NO 3 - , SO 4 2- , CH 3 SO 3 - ), cations (Na + , NH 4 + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ ), total amount of insoluble dust and acidity (measured as solid electrical conductivity) is extracted from this ice core in continuous profiles between 10 and 120 ka b.p. and from the 19th century. The ions measured are in balance during the interglacials but there is a large deficiency of anions during the glacial period. The ice is alkaline during most parts of the glacial period and Ca 2+ is the totally dominating ion therefore the deficiency of anions is probably due to carbonates (not measured). The concentration of most impurities is higher during glacial stages than the interglacials. The largest increase is found for crustally derived impurities (up to a factor of 10) while the sea salt elements are only slightly enhanced (less than a factor of 2). The concentration of impurities with a strong biogenic component is generally lower during glacial stages than the interglacials. A simple model tests the effect of changes in the physical conditions of the atmosphere influencing transport and deposition processes while keeping the source area and production rate constant. The model results show that the increased glacial concentrations observed for some impurities can be explained entirely by changes in transport and deposition, while the decrease in others may indicate a change in source emissions. The total content of impurities in the glacial atmosphere is higher if physical changes in the atmosphere rather than source emission changes are responsible for the variations observed in the Renland ice core. Thus, physical changes in the atmosphere can have a large impact on the radiative properties of the atmosphere and a climate forcing mechanism may be found in the dynamics of the atmosphere. However, a better understanding of the hydrological cycle and the general circulation of the atmosphere during glacial conditions has to be attained to be able to interpret influences on the global climate of a changed composition of the atmosphere from ice core data. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1994. t01-4-00005.x
Honokiol ameliorates cigarette smoke‐induced damage of airway epithelial cells via the SIRT3/SOD2 signalling pathway

Cigarette smoking can cause damage of airway epithelial cells and contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Honokiol is originally isolated from Magnolia obovata with multiple biological activities. Here, we investigated the protective effects of honokiol on cigarette smoke extract (CSE)‐induced injury of BEAS‐2B cells. BEAS‐2B cells were treated with 300 mg/L CSE to construct an in vitro cell injury model, and cells were further treated with 2, 5 and 10 μM honokiol, then cell viability and LDH leakage were analysed by CCK‐8 and LDH assay kits, respectively. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry analysis. ELISA was used to measure the levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐ɑ, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8 and MCP‐1. The results showed that honokiol (0.5–20 μM) showed non‐toxic effects on BEAS‐2B cells. Treatment with honokiol (2, 5 and 10 μM) reduced CSE (300 mg/L)‐induced decrease in cell viability and apoptosis in BEAS‐2B cells. Honokiol also decreased CSE‐induced inflammation through inhibiting expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF‐ɑ, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8 and MCP‐1. Moreover, honokiol repressed CSE‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decrease of ATP content and mitochondrial biogenesis, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential. Mechanistically, honokiol promoted the expression of SIRT3 and its downstream target genes, which are critical regulators of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. Silencing of SIRT3 reversed the protective effects of honokiol on CSE‐induced damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in BEAS‐2B cells. These results indicated that honokiol attenuated CSE‐induced damage of airway epithelial cells through regulating SIRT3/SOD2 signalling pathway.
Changes in the glymphatic system before and after dialysis initiation in patients with end-stage kidney disease

Abstract Introduction The aims of this study were to evaluate 1) glymphatic system function in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) before initiating dialysis compared to healthy controls, and 2) changes in the glymphatic system function after kidney replacement therapy including dialysis in patients with ESKD using the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) method. Materials and methods This study was prospectively conducted at a single hospital. We enrolled 14 neurologically asymptomatic patients who first initiated hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for ESKD and 17 healthy controls. Patients had magnetic resonance imaging scans before initiating dialysis and again 3 months after initiating dialysis and the DTI-ALPS index was calculated. We compared the DTI-ALPS index before and after the initiation of dialysis and compared the DTI-ALPS index between the patients with ESKD and healthy control. Results There were differences in the DTI-ALPS index between ESKD patients before initiating dialysis and healthy controls (1.342 vs. 1.633, p = 0.003). DTI-ALPS index between ESKD patients before initiating dialysis and those after dialysis were not different (1.342 vs. 1.262, p = 0.386). There was a positive correlation between DTI-ALPS index and phosphate (r = 0.610, p = 0.020) in patients with ESKD. Conclusion We confirmed the presence of glymphatic dysfunction in patients with ESKD. However, there was no difference in the glymphatic system before and after dialysis initiation. This finding may be related to uremic toxins that are not removed by dialysis in patients with ESKD. This study can be used for the development of pathophysiology of patients with ESKD.
Expansion microscopy resolves the thylakoid structure of spinach

Abstract The light-harvesting reactions of photosynthesis take place on the thylakoid membrane inside chloroplasts. The thylakoid membrane is folded into appressed membranes, the grana, and nonappressed membranes that interconnect the grana, the stroma lamellae. This folding is essential for the correct functioning of photosynthesis. Electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy are commonly used to study the thylakoid membrane, but these techniques have limitations in visualizing a complete chloroplast and its organization. To overcome this limitation, we applied expansion microscopy (ExM) on isolated chloroplasts. ExM is a technique that involves physically expanding a sample in a swellable hydrogel to enhance the spatial resolution of fluorescence microscopy. Using all-protein staining, we visualized the 3D structure of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) thylakoids in detail. We were able to resolve stroma lamellae that were 60 nm apart and observe their helical wrapping around the grana. Furthermore, we accurately measured the dimensions of grana from top views of chloroplasts, which allow for precise determination of the granum diameter. Our results demonstrate that ExM is a fast and reliable technique for studying thylakoid organization in great detail.
Test results and empirical formulas of rock mechanical parameters of rhyolitic tuff samples from Eger's cellars

Recently, due to population increase in urban areas, underground excavations increasingly influenced the development of cities, parallel with traffic organization. One of the best examples is Eger in North Hungary: several kilometer-long wine-cellars were dug over the centuries beneath the city, which influences further construction; sometimes they present a danger due to the increased weight of surface vehicles as well. Therefore, nowadays the prediction of the stability of these cellars is a question of utmost importance here. The goal of this paper is to statistically analyze the results of strength investigations of the excavated rocks, in order to predict their strength (both compressive and tensile) and Young's modulus. The results of 19 sample blocks are statistically analyzed here in different petrophysical states (air-dry, semi-saturated and fully saturated). The relationships between the different petrophysical constants are also determined and analyzed in this paper. On the basis of these corre.
A broadly immunogenic polyvalent Shigella multiepitope fusion antigen protein protects against Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri lethal pulmonary challenges in mice

ABSTRACT There are no licensed vaccines for Shigella, a leading cause of children’s diarrhea and a common etiology of travelers’ diarrhea. To develop a cross-protective Shigella vaccine, in this study, we constructed a polyvalent protein immunogen to present conserved immunodominant epitopes of Shigella invasion plasmid antigens B (IpaB) and D (IpaD), VirG, GuaB, and Shiga toxins on backbone protein IpaD, by applying an epitope- and structure-based multiepitope-fusion-antigen (MEFA) vaccinology platform, examined protein (Shigella MEFA) broad immunogenicity, and evaluated antibody function against Shigella invasion and Shiga toxin cytotoxicity but also protection against Shigella lethal challenge. Mice intramuscularly immunized with Shigella MEFA protein developed IgG responses to IpaB, IpaD, VirG, GuaB, and Shiga toxins 1 and 2; mouse sera significantly reduced invasion of Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri serotype 2a, 3a, or 6, Shigella boydii, and Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and neutralized cytotoxicity of Shiga toxins of Shigella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in vitro. Moreover, mice intranasally immunized with Shigella MEFA protein (adjuvanted with dmLT) developed antigen-specific serum IgG, lung IgG and IgA, and fecal IgA antibodies, and survived from lethal pulmonary challenge with S. sonnei or S. flexneri serotype 2a, 3a, or 6. In contrast, the control mice died, became unresponsive, or lost 20% of body weight in 48 h. These results indicated that this Shigella MEFA protein is broadly immunogenic, induces broadly functional antibodies, and cross-protects against lethal pulmonary challenges with S. sonnei or S. flexneri serotypes, suggesting a potential application of this polyvalent MEFA protein in Shigella vaccine development.
Parthenogenesis affects interspecific competition between Megalurothrips usitatus and Frankliniella intonsa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in changing environment: evidence from life table study

The thrips Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall and Frankliniella intonsaTrybom (Thysanoptera:Thripidae) are important pests in cowpea-growing areas of south China. Parthenogenesis is an important reproductive form of thysanopterans, and plays an important role in maintaining population growth. To understand the developmental and reproductive characteristics of these 2 thrips species during parthenogenesis, we compared the age–stage life tables of M. usitatus and F. intonsa on cowpea pods under natural regimes during the summer and winter.The results showed that the total preadult period and total preoviposition period of M. usitatus were significantly longer than those of F. intonsa in both seasons. Moreover, longevity of adult M. usitatus (29.53 days) was shorter compared with adult F. intonsa (34.00 days) in summer, whereas higher fecundity (220.8 eggs/female) and more oviposition days (37.83 days) were observed in M. usitatus compared with F. intonsa in winter (fecundity = 179.83 eggs/female, oviposition days = 33.03 days). The net and gross reproductive rates of M. usitatus were significantly greater than those of F. intonsa during winter. In addition, the intrinsic and finite rates of increase of M. usitatus were significantly lower than those of F. intonsa, and the mean generation time of M. usitatus was significantly longer than that of F. intonsa both in summer and winter.These results indicated that parthenogenesis has species specificity among thrips, which in turn affects population development, especially under changing environments.