Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Earth and Planetary

Titanium isotopes recorded in glacial diamictites with depositional ages between 2.9 and 0.3 Ga show that the upper continental crust became signiﬁcantly more felsic relative to the present-day crust during the amalgamation of the Paleoproterozoic Nuna and the Neoproterozoic Gondwana supercontinents. This can be attributed to the continental collisions involved in the assembly of Nuna and Gondwana. The resulting high topographic relief of Nuna and Gondwana orogens must have resulted in an enhanced erosional supply from the continents to oceans. The step changes in the development of organismal complexity from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, and eventually metazoans, appear to be temporally correlated to instances where collisional mountain-building sustained an elevated nutrient supply from the continents to oceans. The nutrient surge associated with the rise of the Gondwana mountains likely provided the necessary impetus for the Neoproterozoic ecological expansion of eukaryotes and the eventual radiation of metazoans. A similar link between the enhanced nutrient supply from Nuna mountains and the radiation of early eukaryotes is plausible, although its mechanistic underpinnings remain unclear. The termination of Nuna orogeny and its transition to Rodinia without signiﬁcant breakup and subsequent collisional orogenesis corresponds to the long lull in Earth’s redox and biological evolution in its middle age. © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons .org /licenses /by /4 .0/).
Preconception Helicobacter pylori infection might adversely affect pregnancy outcome

Background: The association between H. pylori infection, and adverse pregnancy outcomes is still controversial, and no available guidelines recommend screening for H. pylori infection before and/or during pregnancy. Objectives: To detect the incidence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in Egyptian pregnant women, and the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with H. pylori infection. Methods: Data of 305 pregnant women with regular antenatal follow-up, and complete delivery records were �nally analyzed in study to detect the incidence of H. pylori in Egyptian pregnant women, and the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with H. pylori infection. The collected blood samples from the studied participants during the antenatal care were used for detection of anti-H. Pylori IgG. Participants were categorized according to anti-H. Pylori IgG to either H. Pylori-positive (study group), or H. Pylori-negative controls. Participants were followed-up in the antenatal clinics till delivery to detect any adverse outcome either during pregnancy and/or during delivery [i.e., hyperemesis gravidarum, iron de�ciency anemia, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preterm deliveries]. Results: The incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum, iron de�ciency anemia, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preterm deliveries was signi�cantly higher in the studied H. Pylori-positive group (8.5%, 34.9%, 6.98%,13.18%, and 10.9% respectively) compared to H. Pylori-negative controls (1.14%, 19.3%, 1.7%, 3.4%, and 3.98%respectively), (P=0.002, 0.01, 0.02, 0.003, and 0.02, respectively). The H. Pylori-positive group had signi�cantly higher odds, and risks of hyperemesis gravidarum [OR 8.1 (P=0.007), and RR 7.5 (P=0.008)], iron de�ciency anemia [
Comparison of SDI, LEPA, and Spray Irrigation Efficiency

The SDI, LEPA, and spray irrigation methods were compared for irrigation of grain sorghum on a fine textured soil in the southern High Plains. Full irrigation was defined as that required to meet evapotranspiration calculated using grass reference ET computed with a Penman-Monteith equation and locally derived crop coefficients. With deficit irrigation at 25 and 50% of full irrigation, grain yields with SDI were significantly larger than with the other irrigation methods. At the 75% and full irrigation levels, however, the grain yields with spray irrigation exceeded 10.0 Mg/ha and were significantly larger than those for the SDI, and LEPA methods.
SCARB1 downregulation in adrenal insu�ciency with Allgrove Syndrome

Background Allgrove disease is a rare genetic syndrome characterized by adrenal insu�ciency, alacrimia, achalasia and complex neurological involvement. Allgrove disease is due to recessive mutations in the AAAS gene, which encodes for the nucleoporin Aladin, implicated in the nucleocytoplasmic transport. The adrenal insu�ciency has been suggested to rely on adrenal gland-ACTH resistance. However, the link between the molecular pathology affecting the nucleoporin Aladin and the glucocorticoid de�ciency is still unknown. Results By analyzing postmortem patient’s adrenal gland, we identi�ed a downregulation of Aladin transcript and protein. We found a downregulation of Scavenger receptor class B-1 (SCARB1), a key component of the steroidogenic pathway, and SCARB1 regulatory miRNAs (mir125a, mir455) in patient’s tissues. With the hypothesis of an impairment in the nucleocytoplasmic transport of the SCARB1 transcription enhancer cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), we detected a reduction of nuclear Phospho-PKA and a cytoplasmic mislocalization in patient’s samples.
Nanshanophyllum and Shensiphyllum (Silurian Rugosa) from the Kurosegawa Terrane, Southwest Japan, and Their Paleobiogeographic Implications

Abstract Three rugose species in two genera—Nanshanophyllum hamadai n. sp. , N. gokasense n. sp. , and Shensiphyllum sp. —are described for the first time from the Kurosegawa Terrane, Southwest Japan. These species occur in the Middle Member of the Gionyama Formation, which is Late Llandovery to Early Ludlow (Silurian) in age. The two genera, Nanshanophyllum and Shensiphyllum, formerly were known only from South China and Qaidam. The occurrence of these two genera in Japan may indicate a paleogeographic connection between ‘Proto-Japan’ and the South China Block during the Silurian.
Association of HLA-A*11:01, -A*24:02, and -B*18:01 with Prostate Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci, the most polymorphic regions within the human genome, encode protein complexes responsible for antigen presentation and CD4+ and CD8+ cell activation. In prostate cancer (PCa), the second most diagnosed cancer in the male population, MHC loci undergo significant changes in their expression patterns, which affect the ability of the immune system to attack and eliminate malignant cells. The purpose of this study was to explore the genetic diversity of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A and HLA-B in patients with PCa and healthy controls (HCs) by performing HLA genotyping using NGS technology. The analysis highlighted statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of three alleles (A*11:01, A*24:02, and B*18:01). Among the HCs analyzed, 14.89% had A*11:01, 20.21% had A*24:02, and 30.61% had B*18:01; while 5.21% of patients with PCa presented A*11:01, 9.38% presented A*24:02, 18.08% presented B*18:01. Odds ratio (OR) calculations underlined a negative association between the three alleles and the risk of PCa (OR < 1). The results presented in this study suggest a protective role of A*11:01, A*24:02, and B*18:01 in PCa.
Decision-Making Considerations for Aesthetic Damage Caused by Pests

The lack of decision-making guidelines for pest causing aesthetic damage continues to be a serious impediment to the development and implementation of integrated pest management programs for many systems. A common ornamental shrub, American arborvitae, and a key insect pest of woody ornamentals, the bagworm, were used to demonstrate a methodology for estimating a modified economic injury level (ElL) based on aesthetic perceptions of customers at retail nurseries. A similar approach, based on customer perceptions of damage, was used to estimate an aesthetic injury level (AIL). Both the ElL and AIL are relatively low for the model system; this confirms previous suggestions about pests that cause aesthetic damage. The possibility of estimating aesthetic thresholds (AT) is discussed, as are some of the limitations to estimating and applying these decision-making rules.
Constraints on seasonal load variations and regional rigidity from continuous GPS measurements in Iceland, 1997–2014

Vincent Drouin,1 Kosuke Heki,2 Freysteinn Sigmundsson,1 Sigrún Hreinsdóttir3 and Benedikt G. Ófeigsson4 1Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, IS-101 Reykjavı́k, Iceland. E-mail: vjp1@hi.is 2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan 3GNS Science, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand 4Icelandic Meteorological Office, IS-101 Reykjavı́k, Iceland
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 8 production by human whole blood is enhanced by epinephrine and inhibited by hydrocortisone

In the search for a leishmaniasis vaccine, extensive studies of cutaneous leishmaniasis have been carried out. Investigations in this regard with the visceral form are limited. As an initial step in the identiﬁcation of the protective molecules, leishmanial antigens extracted from the membranes of Leishmania donovani promastigotes, alone or in association with liposomes, were evaluated for their immunogenicity and ability to elicit a protective immune response against challenge infection. Intraperitoneal immunization of hamsters and BALB/c mice with the leishmanial antigens conferred protection against infection with the virulent promas-tigotes. Encapsulation in positively charged liposomes signiﬁcantly enhanced the protective efﬁcacy of these antigens. The splenic parasite burden of hamsters was reduced by 97% after 6 months of infection. BALB/c mice exhibited 87 and 81.3% protection in the liver and spleen, respectively, after 4 months of infection. These protected animals elicited profound delayed-type hypersensitivity and increased levels of Leishmania -speciﬁc immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Protection in mice also coincided with elevated levels of IgM and IgA antibodies, which decreased with disease progression in the control-infected animals. Although both IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies were present in the sera of infected mice, IgG1 appeared to be the predominant isotype, suggesting a preferential induction of the Th2 type of immune response over that of Th1. Effective stimulation of all the IgG isotypes, particularly IgG2a, after immunization with liposome encapsulated
Actual birth weight Prediction at term using Clinical and Ultrasound methods at Federal Medical Centre, Ke�, Nasarawa State: A comparative Approach

Objective: The study sought to compare the predictive accuracy of clinical and ultrasound fetal weight estimation in predicting the actual birth weight of pregnant women at term at the FMC, Ke�, North central Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 360 consecutive pregnant women at term (37 weeks + 0day - 41weeks +6days), who met the inclusion criteria between 10 th December 2018 to 25 th July 2019. Informed consent was obtained from participants and a proforma was interviewer-administered. The clinical estimate was done using the Dare’s formula in the lying-in ward and labour ward. The ultrasound fetal weight estimation was done using an ultrasound scan machine imputed with the Hadlock formula mode (BPD, HC, AC, and FL) while the actual birth weight was measured in the labour room using the infant weighing scale. The data collected were analyzed using the Pearson’s Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate, Pearson’s correlation analysis and student’s t test. Accuracy was determined using percentage error, absolute error, and proportion of estimates within 10% of actual birth weight; and compared using the Poisson’s z-test for two proportions. All analyses were performed, using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0. (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) and Minitab, version 18. Results: Analysis showed that the clinical fetal weight estimation within 10% of the actual birth weight was not signi�cantly lower than that of ultrasound fetal weight estimation for babies of all birth weight ( 41.5% vs. 55.0%, P = 0.064). The actual birth weight had a strong correlation with both clinical and ultrasound fetal weight estimation (r = 0.53, P <0.001 and r = 0.55, P < 0.001 respectively). The mean percentage error and mean absolute percentage error for normal weight babies (2.5-3.99kg) was signi�cantly higher in clinical method than ultrasound method (-13.29kg vs. 4.49 kg, P< 0.001) and (14.14kg vs. 9.47 kg, P< 0.001) respectively. Overall in most cases, the clinical method of fetal weight estimation
Using eddy covariance, remote sensing, and in situ observations to improve models of springtime phenology in temperate deciduous forests

Phenological events in temperate forests, such as bud burst and senescence, exert strong control over seasonal fluxes of water, energy and carbon. The timing of these transitions is influenced primarily by air temperature and photoperiod, although the exact nature and magnitude of these controls is poorly understood. In this dissertation, I use in situ and remotely sensed observations of phenology in combination with surface meteorological data and measurements of biosphere-atmosphere carbon exchanges to improve understanding and develop models of canopy phenology in temperate forest ecosystems. In the first element of this research I use surface air temperatures and eddy covariance measurements of carbon dioxide fluxes to evaluate and refine widely used approaches for predicting the onset of photosynthesis in spring that account for geographic variation in thermal and photoperiod constraints on phenology. Results from this analysis show that the refined models predict the onset of spring photosynthetic activity with significantly
Assessment of the Effects of Commercial or Locally Engineered Biochars Produced from Different Biomass Sources and Differing in Their Physical and Chemical Properties on Rumen Fermentation and Methane Production In Vitro

Simple Summary This in vitro study was undertaken to assess the effects of seven biochars (four commercial and three locally engineered) on rumen microbial fermentation and methane production. The biochars were produced via the pyrolysis of different biomass sources and differed in their chemical and physical properties. They were evaluated at 1%, 2%, or 5% of the substrate’s dry matter using batch cultures of ruminal fluid (with 24 h incubation). Despite the contrasting physical and chemical characteristics of the biochars evaluated, neither rumen fermentation (pH, volatile fatty acids, and ammonia-nitrogen) nor methane production were affected. At the examined doses and under the experimental conditions, biochar was ineffective, and it is not a viable option for mitigating enteric methane production. Abstract In recent years, interest in using biochar as feed additives to mitigate enteric methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants has increased. It has been suggested that the mitigating potential of biochar is influenced by its physical (e.g., porosity-related) and chemical (e.g., redox-potential-related) properties. Thus, the aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of commercial or locally engineered biochars, produced from different biomass sources and differing in their physical and chemical characteristics, on rumen fermentation and CH4 production. For this purpose, a 24 h batch culture of ruminal fluid incubations was conducted in a complete randomized block design (repeated three times) that included a negative control (no additive), a positive control (monensin, 10 mg/mL), and four commercial and three locally engineered biochars, each evaluated at 1%, 2%, or 5% of the substrate’s (i.e., the total mixed ration) dry matter. The evaluated biochars greatly differ in their chemical (i.e., moisture, ash, pH, redox potential, volatiles, carbon, fixed carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur) and physical (i.e., fine particles < 250 µm, bulk density, true density, porosity, electrical conductivity, specific surface area, and absorbed CO2) properties. Despite these differences and compared with the negative control, none of the biochars evaluated (regardless of the inclusion rate) influenced gas and CH4 production, volatile fatty acid characteristics (total concentration and profile), or ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations. As expected, monensin (i.e., the positive control) decreased (p < 0.05) CH4 production mainly because of a decreased (p < 0.05) acetate-to-propionate ratio. The results of this study reveal that despite the large differences in the physical and chemical properties of the biochars evaluated, their inclusion at different rates in vitro failed to modify rumen fermentation and decrease CH4 production. Based on these in vitro findings, it was concluded that biochar does not represent a viable strategy for mitigating enteric CH4 emissions.
Effects of Thrombin-Based Hemostatic Agent in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Meta-Analysis

The effectiveness of Floseal, a thrombin-based hemostatic matrix, in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in minimizing blood loss and transfusion requirements remains a topic of debate. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the up-to-date randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy and safety of Floseal in TKA. A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases to identify relevant RCTs. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed, and data extraction was performed. The pooled effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean difference (SMD) or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Eight studies involving 904 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The use of a thrombin-based hemostatic agent significantly reduced hemoglobin decline (SMD = −0.49, 95% CI: −0.92 to −0.07) and the risk of allogenic transfusion (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.81) but showed no significant difference in the volume of drainage or total blood loss. Funnel plots showed no evidence of publication bias. This meta-analysis provides robust evidence supporting the effectiveness of Floseal in reducing hemoglobin decline and transfusion in TKA. Further well-designed RCTs with longer follow-up periods are warranted to assess long-term efficacy and safety.
Taphonomy of a Petrified Forest in the Two Medicine Formation (Campanian), Northwest Montana: Implications for Palinspastic Restoration of the Boulder Batholith and Elkhorn Mountains Volcanics

Abstract The taphonomy of a newly discovered petrified forest in the Two Medicine Formation, south of Choteau, Montana, provides new constraints on the pre-thrusting position of the Boulder batholith and Elkhorn Mountains Volcanics. The petrified forest consists of more than 200 charcoalified, subaligned trees encased in an ash flow tuff and an immediately overlying bentonite. The ash flow tuff has been dated at 80.002± 0.114Ma (39Ar/40Ar on plagioclase). The ash flow and bentonite are interpreted to record a single catastrophic eruptive event that toppled and entombed the forest. The mean azimuth of the prostrate trunks, which are interpreted as the direction of travel of the ash flow, is 037° (2σ = 35°). Based upon age, mineralogy, and the absence of other contemporaneous volcanic centers, it is concluded that the Late Cretaceous Elkhorn Mountains Volcanics were the most likely source of the tuff and bentonite that encase the trees. The mean azimuth of the tree trunks is consistent with palinspastic restorations of the northern Rocky Mountain fold-thrust belt that place the Elkhorn Mountains Volcanics and their plutonic equivalent, the Boulder batholith, ∼65–110 km northwest of their present position during Campanian time. This restored position is ∼150–200 km from the petrified forest, making the ash flow one of the farthest-traveled documented flows with enough power to topple mature trees.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Sprouty 2 Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Breast Cancer and May Be Useful in Stratifying Patients for Trastuzumab Therapy

Background: Resistance to trastuzumab is a clinical problem, partly due to overriding activation of MAPK/PI3K signalling. Sprouty-family proteins are negative regulators of MAPK/PI3K signalling, but their role in HER2-therapy resistance is unknown. PatientsandMethods: Associations between Sprouty gene expression and clinicopathological features were investigated in a breast cancer microarray meta-analysis. Changes in expression of Spry2 and feedback inhibition on trastuzumab resistance were studied in SKBr3 and BT474 breast carcinoma cell lines using cell viability assays. Spry2 protein expression was measured by quantitative immunofluorescence in a cohort of 122 patients treated with trastuzumab. Results: Low gene expression of Spry2 was associated with increased pathological grade, high HER2 expression, and was a significant independent prognostic factor. Overexpression of Spry2 in SKBr3s resulted in enhanced inhibition of cell viability after trastuzumab treatment, and the PI3K-inhibitor LY294002 had a similar effect. Low Spry2 expression was associated with increased risk of death (HR =2.28, 95% CI 1.22–4.26; p =0.008) in trastuzumab-treated patients, including in multivariate analysis. Stratification of trastuzumab-treated patients using PTEN and Spry2 was superior to either marker in isolation. Conclusion: In breast cancers with deficient feedback inhibition, combinatorial therapy with negative regulators of growth factor signalling may be an effective therapeutic strategy.
On the role of wind-evaporation-SST feedbacks in the sub-seasonal variability of the east Pacific ITCZ

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a zonally elongated band of near–surface convergence and precipitation near the equator. During boreal spring, the eastern Pacific ITCZ migrates latitudinally on daily to sub-seasonal time scales, and climate models exhibit the greatest ITCZ biases during this time of the year. In this work, we investigate the air-sea interactions associated with the variability in the eastern Pacific ITCZ’s latitudinal location for consecutive days when the ITCZ is only located north of the equator (nITCZ events) compared to when the ITCZ is on both sides of the equator or south of the equator (dsITCZ events) during February-April. The distribution of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and surface latent heat flux (SLHF) anomalies during the nITCZ and dsITCZ events follow the classic wind-evaporation-SST (WES) positive feedback mechanism. However, an alternative mechanism, embracing the effect of SST anomalies on vertical stratification and momentum mixing, gives rise to a negative WES feedback. Our results show that in the surface layer, there is a general progression of positive WES feedbacks happening in the weeks leading to the events followed by negative WES feedbacks occurring after the ITCZ events, with an alternate mechanism involving air-sea humidity differences limiting evaporation occurring in between. Additionally, the spatial structures of the components of the feedbacks are nearly mirror images for these opposite ITCZ events over the east Pacific during boreal spring. In closing, we find that understanding the air-sea interactions during daily to weekly varying ITCZ events (nITCZ and dsITCZ) help to pinpoint how fundamental processes differ for ITCZs in different hemispheres.