Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A U.S.‐based analysis of the ability of the Clausius‐Clapeyron relationship to explain changes in extreme rainfall with changing temperature

Numerous papers have shown links between >99th percentile hourly precipitation and daily temperature (Pextreme versus T), often explained using the Clausius‐Clapeyron (CC) relationship. The CC relationship predicts an approximately 7% increase in precipitation intensity per degree celsius. However, recent analyses indicate that the Pextreme versus T rate can be larger than the CC prediction. In this work, we analyze the Pextreme versus T rate with an automated method across the contiguous U.S. using station data aggregated on a 161 km grid. To evaluate controls on Pextreme versus T, we isolate convective storms to evaluate whether greater than CC rates are due to the transition between storm types or are a feature of convective storms at high T. We repeat the analysis using dew point to assess whether T control on extreme P is indeed a matter of moisture availability. When evaluated using both T and dew point, the northeastern U.S. is most likely to exhibit a greater than predicted Pextreme versus T rate (57% of the region when using T). At 56% of these points, the > CC rates appeared to occur entirely because of a transition between frontal and convective storms. At 30% of these sites, a greater than CC relationship appeared to occur entirely because of greater than CC scaling in convective intensity. At 11% of sites neither was found to be significant, and at 3% both were found to contribute significantly. This analysis suggests that > CC scaling is not prevalent everywhere in the contiguous U.S., and in regions where it does occur, it can be due to multiple causes.
Childhood Neglect rather than Abuse Is More Strongly Associated with Anhedonia across Major Depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients and University Students

Background. According to the dimensional model of adversity, the deprivation and threat dimensions of CT influence distinct neural circuits and have different developmental outcomes. The present study compared neglect and abuse subtypes which are representative of deprivation and threat dimensions of CT prediction of anhedonia in MDD and OCD patients and university students. Methods. A total of 305 patients with MDD, 152 patients with OCD, and 2110 university students fulfilled the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to identify neglect and abuse subtypes of CT. Different aspects of anhedonia were measured. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to identify subtypes of trauma as predictors of different aspects of anhedonia in MDD and OCD patients and university students, respectively. Results. Childhood neglect, not abuse, showed association with anticipatory and state anhedonia in OCD patients and anticipatory, consummatory, physical, and state anhedonia in MDD patients and university students. Both childhood neglect and abuse were associated with social anhedonia in university students, but the neglect type showed greater magnitude. In terms of more specific categories, emotional neglect was the type of CT demonstrating strongest magnitude of association with most of the anhedonia aspects. Conclusions. Findings revealed that deprivation, rather than threat, was the more influential adversity dimension for the individuals’ anhedonia presentations.
Explaining the role of the social determinants of health on health inequality in South Africa

Background Action on the social determinants of health (SDH) is relevant for reducing health inequalities. This is particularly the case for South Africa (SA) with its very high level of income inequality and inequalities in health and health outcomes. This paper provides evidence on the key SDH for reducing health inequalities in the country using a framework initially developed by the World Health Organization. Objective This paper assesses health inequalities in SA and explains the factors (i.e. SDH and other individual level factors) that account for large disparities in health. The relative contribution of different SDH to health inequality is also assessed. Design A cross-sectional design is used. Data come from the third wave of the nationally representative National Income Dynamics Study. A subsample of adults (18 years and older) is used. The main variable of interest is dichotomised good versus bad self-assessed health (SAH). Income-related health inequality is assessed using the standard concentration index (CI). A positive CI means that the rich report better health than the poor. A negative value signifies the opposite. The paper also decomposes the CI to assess its contributing factors. Results Good SAH is significantly concentrated among the rich rather than the poor (CI=0.008; p<0.01). Decomposition of this result shows that social protection and employment (contribution=0.012; p<0.01), knowledge and education (0.005; p<0.01), and housing and infrastructure (−0.003; p<0.01) contribute significantly to the disparities in good SAH in SA. After accounting for these other variables, the contribution of income and poverty is negligible. Conclusions Addressing health inequalities inter alia requires an increased government commitment in terms of budgetary allocations to key sectors (i.e. employment, social protection, education, housing, and other appropriate infrastructure). Attention should also be paid to equity in benefits from government expenditure. In addition, the health sector needs to play its role in providing a broad range of health services to reduce the burden of disease.
The feasibility of measuring and monitoring social determinants of health and the relevance for policy and programme – a qualitative assessment of four countries

Background Since the publication of the reports by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), many research papers have documented inequities, explaining causal pathways in order to inform policy and programmatic decision-making. At the international level, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) reflect an attempt to bring together these themes and the complexities involved in defining a comprehensive development framework. However, to date, much less has been done to address the monitoring challenges, that is, how data generation, analysis and use are to become routine tasks. Objective To test proposed indicators of social determinants of health (SDH), gender, equity, and human rights with respect to their relevance in tracking progress in universal health coverage and population health (level and distribution). Design In an attempt to explore these monitoring challenges, indicators covering a wide range of social determinants were tested in four country case studies (Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, and Vietnam) for their technical feasibility, reliability, and validity, and their communicability and usefulness to policy-makers. Twelve thematic domains with 20 core indicators covering different aspects of equity, human rights, gender, and SDH were tested through a review of data sources, descriptive analyses, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. To test the communicability and usefulness of the domains, domain narratives that explained the causal pathways were presented to policy-makers, managers, the media, and civil society leaders. Results For most countries, monitoring is possible, as some data were available for most of the core indicators. However, a qualitative assessment showed that technical feasibility, reliability, and validity varied across indicators and countries. Producing understandable and useful information proved challenging, and particularly so in translating indicator definitions and data into meaningful lay and managerial narratives, and effectively communicating links to health and ways in which the information could improve decision-making. Conclusions This exercise revealed that for monitoring to produce reliable data collection, analysis, and discourse, it will need to be adapted to each national context and institutionalised into national systems. This will require that capacities and resources for this and subsequent communication of results are increased across countries for both national and international monitoring, including the successful implementation of the SDGs.
Phytoprotection Colonization of Heterodera glycines cysts by Fusarium solani form A, the cause of sudden death syndrome, and other fusaria in soybean fields in the midwestern and southern United States

Fusarium solani form A and other fusaria were isolated from surface-disinfested cysts of Heterodera glycines collected from the rhizosphere of soybean {Glycine max) plants symptomatic for sudden death syndrome, collected from fields in the midwestern and southern United States. Two forms of Fusa/van? so/ar? /pathogenicto soybean were isolated : form A, the cause of sudden death syndrome, and form B, the cause of seedling disease and root rot. Fusarium solani form B was more frequently isolated than form A.
Aerosol Inﬂuence on Cloud Microphysics Examined by Satellite Measurements and Chemical Transport Modeling

Anthropogenic aerosols are hypothesized to decrease cloud drop radius and increase cloud droplet number concentration enhancing cloud optical depth and albedo. Here results have been used from a chemical transport model driven by the output of a numerical weather prediction model to identify an incursion of sulfate-laden air from the European continent over the mid–North Atlantic under the inﬂuence of a cutoff low pressure system during 2–8 April 1987. Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) measurements of visible and near-infrared radiance are used to infer microphysical properties of low-altitude ( T (cid:53) 260–275 K) maritime clouds over the course of the event. Examination of the cloud optical depth, drop radius, and drop number concentration on the high-and low-sulfate days has allowed identiﬁcation of the increase in cloud droplet number concentration and decrease in cloud drop radius associated with the sulfate incursion. These observations are consistent with the Twomey mechanism of indirect radiative forcing of climate by aerosols.
Comparison with CT NMR Demonstration of Cerebral Abnormalities:

Sixty-eight patients with a wide spectrum of brain pathology were imaged with both computed tomography (CT) using a G.E. 8800 scanner and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging with a 3.5 kG prototype device. NMR was more advantageous in the detection and/ or characterization of pathology in 20 of the 68 patients, especially - when demyelination was part of the disease rocess or when the lesion was obscured on CT by beam-hardening artifact. Punctate foci of calcification identified on CT were not detected on NMR, but larger calcifications were seen. NMR was sensitive to detection of both normal and abnormal vascular structures. The ability of NMR to differentiate among different pathologic entities remains to be fully evaluated. NMR currently complements CT in the evaluation of many disease entities and may actually supplant CT in some. The full future potential of NMR and its role with respect
Cul p-type thin films for highly transparent thermoelectric p-n modules

Developments in thermoelectric (TE) transparent p -type materials are scarce and do not follow the trend of the corresponding n -type materials – a limitation of the current transparent thermoelectric devices. P -type thermoelectric thin films of CuI have been developed by three different methods in order to maximise optical transparency ( > 70% in the visible range), electrical ( σ = 1.1 × 10 4 Sm − 1 ) and thermoelectric properties (ZT = 0.22 at 300 K). These have been applied in the first planar fully transparent p-n type TE modules where gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) thin films were used as the n -type element and indium thin oxide (ITO) thin films as electrodes. A thorough study of power output in single elements and p - n modules electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel is inclosed. This configuration allows for a whole range of highly transparent thermoelectric applications. Wide band-gap metal oxide semiconductors are often used in transparent applications, such as photodetectors, solar cells, light-emitting diodes, etc . Despite of their potential in novel applications in the field of energy harvesting, p -type transparent semiconductors usually lack the level of performance required in both transparency and electrical conductivity. TE devices are no exception as most established TE materials tend to be optically opaque due to their small band-gap. Thermoelectric properties are usually assessed via a dimensionless figure of merit in which the larger the ZT value the higher the thermoelectric conversion efficiency:
Opinion: Recent developments and future directions in studying the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

Abstract. This article begins with a review of important advances in the chemistry and related physics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region of the atmosphere that have occurred over the past 2 decades, since the founding of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The emphasis here is on chemistry, but we also discuss recent findings on atmospheric dynamics and forcings to the extent that these are important for understanding MLT composition and chemistry. Topics that are covered include observations, with satellite, rocket and ground-based techniques; the variability and connectedness of the MLT on various length scales and timescales; airglow emissions; the cosmic dust input and meteoric metal layers; and noctilucent/polar mesospheric ice clouds. The paper then concludes with a discussion of important unanswered questions and likely future directions for the field over the next decade.
Constructing Leakage-resilient Shamir’s Secret Sharing: Over Composite Order Fields

Probing physical bits in hardware has compromised cryptographic systems. This work investigates how to instantiate Shamir’s secret sharing so that the physical probes into its shares reveal statistically insignificant information about the secret. Over prime fields, Maji, Nguyen, Paskin-Cherniavsky, Suad, and Wang (EUROCRYPT 2021) proved that choosing random evaluation places achieves this objective with high probability. Our work extends their randomized construction to composite order fields – particularly for fields with characteristic 2. Next, this work fully derandomizes this result for some specific cases. Our security analysis of the randomized construction is Fourier-analytic, and the derandomization techniques are combinatorial. Our analysis relies on (1) contemporary B´ezout-theorem-type algebraic complexity results that bound the number of simultaneous zeroes of a system of polynomial equations over composite order fields and (2) characterization of the zeroes of an appropriate generalized Vandermonde determinant.
Synthesis of bio-nanofiber from pectin/polyvinyl alcohol for therapeutic application

Pectin is a natural biopolymer with excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility that is often extracted from the peels of citrus fruits and apples. Pectin isolated from Citrus limon (L.) Burm peels is the primary nanofiber material in this investigation. Pectin: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) ratio, solvent type, voltage, and flow rate were investigated to optimise the electrospinning procedure for producing pectin-based nanofibers. The peels of C. limon (L.) Burm were chemically extracted for their pectin, yielding a 20.5% yield, and subsequently electrospun with varying percentages of PVA. Sample 1, made from 10% pectin and 10% PVA, formed a mat with the best mechanical qualities out of the four samples. Despite being mixed with PVA, The Nanofiber’s Fourier transform infrared spectrum reveals that pectin retained its original chemical structure. Amorphous characteristics of the mat are shown in the X-ray diffractogram. Therapeutic pectin and PVA nanofibers could be made using PVA since they are cheap, biodegradable, and biocompatible.
Biomass and energy productivity of different plant species under Western Lithuania conditions.

Long-term field experiments with different perennial crops were held in Western Lithuania, during 2009-2012. The field trials were composed as two factorial design with the aim to investigate the effect of liming and N fertilization on crops biomass and energy productivity. The soil of the experimental site is naturally acid moraine loamy (Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol), pH 4.2-4.4. Out of seven energy crops, common osier reached the highest annual dry mass (DM) yield and highest energy output (GJ ha-1). Similarly, cup plant DM yield and energy output had superiority over other non-conventional crops as well as reed canary grass – among the perennial grasses. Both, liming and N fertilization had a positive impact to black poplar, cup plant, virginia mallow and cocksfoot productivity. Meanwhile the increase in common osier, common mugwort and reed canary grass DM yield and energy output was basically determined by N fertilization; whereas the role of liming was insufficient in most cases.
PETROLOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY AND RADIOMETRIC AGES OF HIGH SILICA ADAKITIC DOMES OF NEOGENE CONTINENTAL ARC, SOUTH OF QUCHAN

Neogene high silica adakitic domes of south Quchan, cropped out in the northern part of the Quchan-Esfarayen Cenozoic magmatic arc (north of Sabzevar ophiolitic and metamorphic belt). In this volcanic belt, magmatic activities has been started since Eocene (about 40 Ma ago) and continued to Plio-Pleistocene (about 2 Ma ago). The ages of volcanic rocks range from Eocene to Plio-Pleistocene from south (in adjacent to the Sabzevar ophiolitic belt) to north (in south of Quchan) respectively. Northern part of this high silica adakitic arc is composed of pyroclastic units and several domes contain trachyandesites, trachytes, dacites and rhyodacites (2-12 Ma ago) which are usually overlain an olivine basalticbasaltic basement of Eocene to Lower Miocene(19-20 Ma ago). Existence of Eocene volcanic enclaves and gneissic, siltstone, marl and pellitic enclaves, appearance and disappearance of some mineral phases, corrosions and chemical disequilibriums of some phenocrysts and sieve textures are some evidences of magmatic contamination. Sr/Sr ratio ranges from 0.7041 to 0.7057 confirms this contamination. A clear positive anomaly in LREE and LILE and a negative anomaly in HREE found in the rocks of Neogene domes. Negative anomalies in HFSE (e.g. P, Nb, Ti) which is the indicator of arc settings, also found in these rocks. Calc-alkaline nature, continental arc subduction setting, presence of an eclogitic or garnet-amphibolitic source rock (resulted from metamorphism of Sabzevar subducted oceanic crust as a source of magma generation), high silica adakitic nature of magmatism (HAS) and the role of fractional crystallization, assimilation and magmatic contamination in the genesis and evolution of magma in these domes, indicated by the geochemical evidences. These adakitic magmas were the latest melts resulted from partial melting of young and hot Sabzevar Neotethyan subducted oceanic crust and its overlaying mantle wedge, which have been emplaced and manifested in the form of subvolcanic adakitic domes.
Multifarious Characterization and Efficacy of Three Phosphate-Solubilizing Aspergillus Species as Biostimulants in Improving Root Induction of Cassava and Sugarcane Stem Cuttings

Several soil fungi significantly contribute to the enhancement of plant development by improving nutrient uptake and producing growth-promoting metabolites. In the present study, three strains of phosphate-solubilizing fungi, namely, Aspergillus chiangmaiensis SDBR-CMUI4, A. pseudopiperis SDBR-CMUI1, and A. pseudotubingensis SDBR-CMUO2, were examined for their plant-growth-promoting capabilities. The findings demonstrated that all fungi showed positive siderophore production, but only A. pseudopiperis can produce indole-3-acetic acid. All fungi were able to solubilize insoluble phosphate minerals [Ca3(PO4)2 and FePO4] by producing phosphatase enzymes and organic acids (oxalic, tartaric, and succinic acids). These three fungal species were grown at a water activity ranging from 0.837 to 0.998, pH values ranging from 4 to 9, temperatures between 4 and 40 °C, and 16–17% NaCl in order to evaluate their drought, pH, temperature, and salt tolerances, respectively. Moreover, the results indicated that A. pseudopiperis and A. pseudotubingensis were able to tolerate commercial insecticides (methomyl and propargite) at the recommended dosages for field application. The viability of each fungal strain in the inoculum was higher than 50% at 4 and 20 °C after 3 months of storage. Subsequently, all fungi were characterized as plant-growth-promoting strains by improving the root inductions of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) stem cuttings in greenhouse experiments. No symptoms of plant disease were observed with any of the treatments involving fungal inoculation and control. The cassava and sugarcane stem cuttings inoculated with fungal strains and supplemented with Ca3(PO4)2 exhibited significantly increased root lengths, shoot and root dry biomasses, chlorophyll concentrations, and cellular inorganic phosphate contents. Therefore, the application of these phosphate-solubilizing fungi is regarded as a new frontier in the induction of roots and the promotion of growth in plants.
Long Non-Coding RNA LEF1-AS1 Promotes Migration, Invasion and Metastasis of Colon Cancer Cells Through miR-30-5p/SOX9 Axis

Introduction: Aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of colon cancer. Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 antisense RNA 1 (LEF1-AS1), a highly conserved and newly discovered long noncoding RNA, has been reported to be upregulated and correlated with poor prognosis in colon cancer, but the exact role of it remains uncertain. Materials and Methods: In our study, the biological functions of LEF1-AS1 in colon cancer were analyzed by cell viability assay, colony formation assay, scratch wound healing assay, transwell cell invasion assay, soft agar assay, luciferase reporter assay, pull down assay, tumor xenograft model and Western blot. Results: We found that LEF1-AS1 was upregulated in colon cancer patients and correlated with poor overall survival and recurrent-free survival. Besides, enforced expression of LEF1-AS1 in HT29 and T84 cells promoted migration, invasion, anchorage-independent growth, tumor xenograft formation and lung metastasis, while knockdown of LEF1-AS1 in COLO320 cells suppressed cell migration, invasion, anchorage-independent growth and tumor xenograft formation. In addition, LEF1-AS1 was directly interacted and inversely correlated with miR-30-5p in colon cancer, and SOX9 was a downstream target for miR-30-5p. LEF1-AS1 overexpression increased the expression level of SOX9, and restoration of SOX9 attenuated the effects caused by LEF1-AS1 knockdown in cell migration, invasion, anchorage-independent growth and tumor xenograft formation. Conclusion: Our results indicated that LEF1-AS1 promoted migration, invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells partially through miR-30-5p/SOX9 axis. The oncogenic LEF1-AS1 could be a potential prognostic biomarker for colon cancer.
Modelling technical efficiency of horticulture farming in Kosovo: An application of data envelopment analysis

With a view to integration into the European Union, the efficiency and competitiveness of the Kosovo’ different sectors (including agriculture) must be improved. This paper assesses the technical efficiency (TE) of horticultural farms through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) applying output orientation. It was founded that the TE of these farms is positively affected by their size, with large-size farms presenting overall higher technical efficiency. The research findings indicate that the degree of agricultural education does not have a significant impact on TE, whereas public assistance through subsidies and grants has a substantial and negative impact on TE, as confirmed by statistical analysis.