Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collaborative wildlife–snow science: Integrating wildlife and snow expertise to improve research and management

For wildlife inhabiting snowy environments, snow properties such as onset date, depth, strength, and distribution can influence many aspects of ecology, including movement, community dynamics, energy expenditure, and forage accessibility. As a result, snow plays a considerable role in individual fitness and ultimately population dynamics, and its evaluation is, therefore, important for comprehensive understanding of ecosystem processes in regions experiencing snow. Such understanding, and particularly study of how wildlife – snow relationships may be changing, grows more urgent as winter processes become
Mechanical and Durability Properties of High-Performance Concrete Incorporating Fibers and Algerian Natural Pozzolans in Chloride Attack

This study aims to assess the effect of sodium chloride attack on the mechanical and durability properties of high-performance concrete (HPC) based on fibers and natural pozzolans. The resistance of specimens against chemical attack is determined by the unit weight, compressive strength, splitting-tensile strength, chloride ion permeability, apparent gas permeability, and visual inspection after 28, 90, 180, and 365 days of testing. A total of three types of concrete are assessed: reference concrete (RC), HPC, and high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) stored in tap water and aggressive water (i.e., a 10% NaCl solution). The test results demonstrate that the presence of fibers negatively affects the permeability of HPC. However, HPC and HPFRC remain stable and are not influenced by the NaCl solution compared to RC. The natural pozzolans attenuate the side effect of fibers by occupying voids (i.e., the filler effect) and generating denser products (i.e., the pozzolanic reaction) in the cement matrix.
The Curiosity Rover's Exploration of Glen Torridon, Gale Crater, Mars: An Overview of the Campaign and Scientific Results

The Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, explored the clay mineral‐bearing Glen Torridon region for 1 Martian year between January 2019 and January 2021, including a short campaign onto the Greenheugh pediment. The Glen Torridon campaign sought to characterize the geology of the area, seek evidence of habitable environments, and document the onset of a potentially global climatic transition during the Hesperian era. Curiosity roved 5 km in total throughout Glen Torridon, from the Vera Rubin ridge to the northern margin of the Greenheugh pediment. Curiosity acquired samples from 11 drill holes during this campaign and conducted the first Martian thermochemolytic‐based organics detection experiment with the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite. The lowest elevations within Glen Torridon represent a continuation of lacustrine Murray formation deposits, but overlying widespread cross bedded sandstones indicate an interval of more energetic fluvial environments and prompted the definition of a new stratigraphic formation in the Mount Sharp group called the Carolyn Shoemaker formation. Glen Torridon hosts abundant phyllosilicates yet remains compositionally and mineralogically comparable to the rest of the Mount Sharp group. Glen Torridon samples have a great diversity and abundance of sulfur‐bearing organic molecules, which are consistent with the presence of ancient refractory organic matter. The Glen Torridon region experienced heterogeneous diagenesis, with the most striking alteration occurring just below the Siccar Point unconformity at the Greenheugh pediment. Results from the pediment campaign show that the capping sandstone formed within the Stimson Hesperian aeolian sand sea that experienced seasonal variations in wind direction.
Metabolic Potential of the Superphylum Patescibacteria Reconstructed from Activated Sludge Samples from a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

Patescibacteria are widely distributed in various environments and often detected in activated sludge. However, limited information is currently available on their phylogeny, morphology, and ecophysiological role in activated sludge or interactions with other microorganisms. In the present study, we identified microorganisms that interacted with Patescibacteria in activated sludge via a correlation analysis using the 16S rRNA gene, and predicted the metabolic potential of Patescibacteria using a metagenomic analysis. The metagenome-assembled genomes of Patescibacteria consisted of three Saccharimonadia, three Parcubacteria, and one Gracilibacteria, and showed a strong positive correlation of relative abundance with Chitinophagales. Metabolic predictions from ten recovered patescibacterial and five Chitinophagales metagenome-assembled genomes supported mutualistic interactions between a member of Saccharimonadia and Chitinophagales via N-acetylglucosamine, between a member of Parcubacteria and Chitinophagales via nitrogen compounds related to denitrification, and between Gracilibacteria and Chitinophagales via phospholipids in activated sludge. The present results indicate that various interactions between Patescibacteria and Chitinophagales are important for the survival of Patescibacteria in activated sludge ecosystems.
Delivery of 40 Gbit/s W-band signal over 4600 m wireless distance employing advanced digital signal processing

We experimentally built a photonics-aided long-distance large-capacity millimeter-wave wireless transmission system and demonstrated a delivery of 40 Gbit/s W-band 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal over 4600 m wireless distance at 88.5 GHz. Advanced offline digital signal processing algorithms are proposed and employed for signal recovery, which makes the bit-error ratio under 2.4 × 10 − 2 . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first field-trial demonstration of > 4 km W-band 16QAM signal transmission, and the result achieves a record-breaking product of wireless transmission capacity and distance, i.e., 184 (Gbit/s) · km, for high-speed and long-distance W-band wireless communication
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Contributes to Ventilator-Induced Diaphragm Atrophy and Weakness in Rats

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a critical role in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. In recent years, much attention has been given to ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) because it strongly impacts the outcomes of critically ill patients. Current evidence suggests that the enhancement of oxidative stress is essential for the development of VIDD, but there are no data on the effects of ER stress on this pathological process. Methods: VIDD was induced by volume-controlled mechanical ventilation (MV) for 12 h; Spontaneous breathing (SB, for 12 h) rats were used as controls. The ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and the ER stress inducer tunicamycin (TUN) were given before the onset of MV or SB. Diaphragm function, oxidative stress, and ER stress in the diaphragms were measured at the end of the experiments. Results: ER stress was markedly increased in diaphragms relative to that in SB after 12 h of MV (all p < 0.001). Inhibition of ER stress by 4-PBA downregulated the expression levels of proteolysis-related genes in skeletal muscle, including Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, reduced myofiber atrophy, and improved diaphragm force-generating capacity in rats subjected to MV (all p < 0.01). In addition, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and protein level of 4-HNE (4-hydroxynonenal) were decreased upon 4-PBA treatment in rats during MV (all p < 0.01). Interestingly, the 4-PBA treatment also markedly increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1alpha (PGC-1α) (p < 0.01), a master regulator for mitochondrial function and a strong antioxidant. However, the antioxidant NAC failed to reduce ER stress in the diaphragm during MV (p > 0.05). Finally, ER stress inducer TUN largely compromised diaphragm dysfunction in the absence of oxidative stress (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: ER stress is induced by MV and the inhibition of ER stress alleviates oxidative stress in the diaphragm during MV. In addition, ER stress is responsible for diaphragm dysfunction in the absence of oxidative stress. Therefore, the inhibition of ER stress may be another promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of VIDD.
Reinforcement learning in and out of context: The effects of attentional focus.

In reinforcement learning (RL) tasks, decision makers learn the values of actions in a context-dependent fashion. Although context dependence has many advantages, it can lead to suboptimal preferences when choice options are extrapolated beyond their original encoding contexts. Here, we tested whether we could manipulate context dependence in RL by introducing a secondary task designed to bias attention toward either absolute or relative outcomes. Participants completed a learning phase that involved choices between two (Experiment 1; n = 111) or three (Experiment 2; n = 90) options per trial with complete feedback. Choice options were grouped in stable contexts so that only a small set of the possible combinations were encountered. One group of participants rated how they felt about particular options (Feelings condition), and another group reported how much they expected to win from particular options (Outcomes condition) at occasional points throughout the learning phase. A third group (Control condition) made no ratings. In the subsequent transfer test, participants chose between all possible pairs of options without feedback. The experimental manipulation had no effect on learning phase performance but a significant effect on transfer, with the Feelings and Control conditions exhibiting greater context dependence than the Outcomes condition. Further, rated feelings reflected relative valuation whereas expected outcomes were more sensitive to absolute option values. Hierarchical Bayesian modeling was used to summarize the findings from both experiments. Our results suggest that attending to affective reactions versus expected outcomes moderates the effects of encoding context on subsequent choices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Wuwei Qingzhuo San Ameliorates Hyperlipidemia in Mice Fed With HFD by Regulating Metabolomics and Intestinal Flora Composition

Hyperlipidemia is one of the most common metabolic disorders that threaten people’s health. Wuwei Qingzhuo San (WQS) is a traditional Mongolian medicine prescription, which is widely used in Mongolia for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Our previous studies found that it has hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects on hyperlipidemic hamsters. However, the underlying lipid-lowering mechanisms of WQS and its relationship with intestinal flora are not yet clear. In this study, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics were performed to investigate the action mechanism of WQS on hyperlipidemic mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). As a result, metabolic pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the intervention of WQS had obviously modulated the metabolism of α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid and the biosynthesis of bile acids. 16 S rRNA sequencing showed that WQS had altered the composition of the intestinal microbiota in hyperlipidemic mice fed with HFD and, especially, adjusted the relative abundance ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroides. These findings provide new evidence that WQS can improve HFD-induced hyperlipidemia by regulating metabolic disorders and intestinal flora imbalance.
Employee Satisfaction and Competitive Advantage of Virtual Organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria

This study examined the impact of employee satisfaction on the competitive advantage of selected virtual organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the relationship between individual virtual competencies, motivation, organisational identity, autonomy, the nature of the work and the competitive advantage of virtual organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted for this study. The population of the study covered all staff in selected virtual organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 400 copies of questionnaire were distributed and retrieved. Stratified random sampling procedure was used in administering the copies of questionnaire to selected virtual organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. The data collected through questionnaire administration was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the null hypotheses and estimate the research model using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24. The study found out that there is a significant positive relationship between individual virtual competencies, motivation, organisational identity, the nature of the work and competitive advantage while revealing that there is a positive and non-significant relationship between autonomy and the competitive advantage of virtual organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study recommended that virtual organisations employ individuals that have the required skills and competencies needed to perform the various organisational tasks, motivate their employees intrinsically and extrinsically, possess a strong brand image, allow employees experience freedom to do their tasks and duties at their own pace and take cognisance of employees that work in dispersed locations with peculiar difficulties in those varied locations so that they will contribute more to the competitive advantage of the virtual organisation.
Different Types of Mastoid Process Vibrations Affect Dynamic Margin of Stability Differently

The vestibular system is critical for human locomotion. Any deteriorated vestibular system leads to gait instability. In the past decades, these alternations in gait patterns have been majorly measured by the spatial-temporal gait parameters and respective variabilities. However, measuring gait characteristics cannot capture the full aspect of motor controls. Thus, to further understand the effects of deteriorated vestibular system on gait performance, additional measurement needs to be taken into consideration. This study proposed using the margin of stability (MOS) to identify the patterns of dynamic control under different types of mastoid vibrations in walking. This study hypothesized that (1) using the MOS method could facilitate the understanding of another aspect of motor control induced by different types of mastoid vibrations, and (2) applying the mastoid vibrations could induce the asymmetric MOS. Twenty healthy young adults were recruited. Two electromechanical vibrotactile transducers were placed on the bilateral mastoid process to apply different types of vestibular vibrations (bilateral, unilateral, and no vibration). A motion capture system with eight cameras was used to measure the MOSap (margin of stability in the anterior-posterior direction), MOSml (margin of stability in the medial-lateral direction), and respective variabilities. The results were in line with the hypotheses that both bilateral and unilateral mastoid vibrations significantly increased MOSap (p = 0.036, p < 0.001), MOSml (p = 0.012, p < 0.001), and respective variabilities p = 0.001, p < 0.001; p = 0.001, p < 0.01 when compared to the no vibration condition. Also, significantly larger MOSml (p = 0.001), MOSml variability (p < 0.023), MOSap (p < 0.001), and MOSap variability (p = 0.002) were observed under the unilateral vibration condition than that observed under the bilateral vibration condition. The above-mentioned result found that different types of mastoid vibrations affected the MOS differently, suggesting different patterns of control mechanisms under different sensory-conflicted situations. Besides, a significant difference between the dominant and non-dominant legs was observed in MOSml. Moreover, applying the unilateral mastoid vibrations induced a greater symmetric index of MOSml, suggesting that more active control in balance was needed in the medial-lateral than in the anterior-posterior direction.
Altered Functional Network Connectivity of Precuneus and Executive Control Networks in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Without Cognitive Impairment

In epidemiological studies, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, but studies about functional network connectivity in T2DM without cognitive impairment are limited. This study aimed to explore network connectivity alterations that may help enhance our understanding of damage-associated processes in T2DM. MRI data were analyzed from 82 patients with T2DM and 66 normal controls. Clinical, biochemical, and neuropsychological assessments were conducted in parallel with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and the cognitive status of the patients was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-B (MoCA-B) score. Independent component analysis revealed a positive correlation between the salience network and the visual network and a negative connection between the left executive control network and the default mode network in patients with T2DM. The differences in dynamic brain network connectivity were observed in the precuneus, visual, and executive control networks. Internal network connectivity was primarily affected in the thalamus, inferior parietal lobe, and left precuneus. Hemoglobin A1c level, body mass index, MoCA-B score, and grooved pegboard (R) assessments indicated significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.05). Our findings show that key changes in functional connectivity in diabetes occur in the precuneus and executive control networks that evolve before patients develop cognitive deficits. In addition, the current study provides useful information about the role of the thalamus, inferior parietal lobe, and precuneus, which might be potential biomarkers for predicting the clinical progression, assessing the cognitive function, and further understanding the neuropathology of T2DM.
Comparing the prediction performance of logistic model tree with different ensemble techniques in susceptibility assessments of different landslide types

Abstract Susceptibility based on different landslide types has rarely been assessed. Therefore, this paper aims to compare the prediction performance of hybrid approaches by combining the logistic model tree (LMT) with Decorate, random subspace, and rotation forest ensemble techniques (De-LMT, RS-LMT, and RoF-LMT) for susceptibility assessments of different landslide types. The Yuzi River catchment along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau was selected as the study area. In this catchment, 478 rockfalls and 167 landslides were identified, and further partitioned into training (70%) and validation (30%) datasets, respectively. Subsequently, 13 conditioning factors were initially considered, and then 11 and 8, respectively, were selected as the final rockfall and landslide influencing parameters to conduct susceptibility models through multicollinearity analysis and information gain. Finally, the model performances were evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). The obtained results demonstrated that elevation and rainfall were most influential factors for rockfall and landslide. For the rockfall prediction, the De-LMT model achieved the best prediction accuracy with the highest AUC (0.939), followed by the RS-LMT (0.938), RoF-LMT (0.928), and LMT (0.919) models. For the landslide prediction, the De-LMT model (AUC = 0.931) outperformed and outclassed the RoF-LMT (0.926), RS-LMT (0.922), and LMT (0.915) models. Therefore, it is reasoned out that all models exhibited satisfactory performance (AUC > 0.9), and the De-LMT model was superior in rockfall and landslide spatial prediction.
Numerical Study on the Formation and Solidification of LMPA Microdroplet in a Microfluidic Device

LMPA droplets or particles have contributed to many fields such as the application of sensors and valves, and droplet-based microfluidics has been applied to the preparation of LMPA droplets. Understanding how flow rate, interfacial tension, and temperature affect the formation and solidification of droplets is helpful to design a microfluidic platform. In this study, a coupled VOF and enthalpy-porosity method will be used to numerically simulate how these factors affect the LMPA droplet formation and solidification process. We find that increasing the velocity of the continuous phase or decreasing the interfacial tension will reduce the LMPA droplet size and simultaneously increase the frequency of droplet formation. In addition, increasing the interfacial tension will decrease the required solidification time of LMPA droplets, and the solidification time of droplets will first increase and then decrease with the growth of continuous-phase velocity. On the other hand, increasing the continuous-phase temperature or cooling wall temperature will reduce the solidification time of LMPA droplets, but has no obvious influence on the size and frequency of droplet generation.
Ultra-High-Sensitivity Humidity Fiber Sensor Based on Harmonic Vernier Effect in Cascaded FPI

In this study, an ultra-high-sensitivity fiber humidity sensor with a chitosan film cascaded Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) based on the harmonic Vernier effect (HVE) is proposed and demonstrated. The proposed sensor can break the limitation of the strict optical path length matching condition in a traditional Vernier effect (TVE) FPI to achieve ultra-high sensitivity through the adjustment of the harmonic order of the HVE FPI. The intersection of the internal envelope tracking method allows spectra demodulation to no longer be limited by the size of the FSR of the FPI. The sensitivity of the proposed sensor is −83.77 nm/%RH, with a magnification of −53.98 times. This work acts as an excellent guide in the fiber sensing field for the further achievement of ultra-high sensitivity.
Aberrant promoter methylation of CDH13 and MGMT genes is associated with clinicopathological characteristics of primary non small cell lung carcinoma

Introduction: Systemic methylation changes may be a diagnostic marker for tumor development or prognosis. We investigate the relationship between gene methylation in lung tumors relative to normal lung tissue, and whether DNA methylation changes can be detected in paired blood samples. Material and methods: 65 patients were enrolled in a surgical case series of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at a single institution. Using bisulfite pyrosequencing, CpG methylation was quantified at five genes (RASSF1A, CDH13, MGMT, ESR1 and DAPK) in lung tumor, pathologically normal lung tissue, and circulating blood from enrolled cases. Results: The analyses of methylation in tumors compared to normal lung identified higher methylation of CDH13, RASSF1A and DAPK, while ESR1 and MGMT methylation did not differ significantly between these tissue types. We examined whether the three aberrantly methylated genes could be detected in blood. The difference in methylation observed in tumors was not reflected in methylation status of matching blood samples, indicating a low feasibility of detecting lung cancer by analyzing these genes in a blood-based test. Lastly we probed whether tumor methylation was associatied with clinical and demographic characteristics. Histology and gender were associated with methylation at the CDH13, while stage was associated with methylation at MGMT. Conclusion: Our results show higher methylation of RASSF1A, CDH13 and DAPK genes in lung tumors compared to normal lung. The lack of reflection of these methylation changes in blood samples from patients with NSCLC indicate their poorly suitability for a screening test.