Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal Distribution of Rainfall Erosivity for Water Erosion District in Upper Reaches of Yangtze River

Spatiotemporal characteristics of rainfall erosivity are very important for the understandings of soil erosion processes.Daily rainfall data from 704 weather stations of seven provinces in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in past 30 years(1980—2010) were used to calculate the average annual rainfall erosivity,average annual half-month rainfall erosivity and the proportion of the annual rainfall erosivity,so as to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of erosive rainfall.Results showed that the highest R value was found to be 11 394 MJ·mm/(hm2·h·a) and the lowest,273 MJ·mm/(hm2·h·a). As influenced by terrain,rainfall erosivity presented three high value areas of the Emei Mountains in Sichuan Province,Bijie region in Guizhou Province and Yichang City in Hubei Province.There was a significant correlation between rainfall erosivity and average annual rainfall,with a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.80. In the study area,the seasonal distribution of rainfall erosivity had a concentration percentage of 69% and was mainly concentrated from May to October.
Short-Term Effects of 3D-Printed Occlusal Splints and Conventional Splints on Sleep Bruxism Activity: EMG–ECG Night Recordings of a Sample of Young Adults

(1) Background: This study aims to compare the effects of 3D-printed splints and conventional manufactured splints on sleep bruxism (SB) EMG activity. (2) Methods: Twenty-six patients (19 M, 7 F, 25.8 ± 2.6 years) were randomly allocated to a study group (3D splints) and a control group (conventional manufactured splints) and followed for a period of three months with night EMG–ECG recordings. Samples of the involved materials were analyzed for nanoindentation. The outcomes of interest considered were the overall SB index, the total amount of surface masseter muscle activity (sMMA), and general and SB-related phasic and tonic contractions. A statistical evaluation was performed with a confidence interval (CI) between 2.5% and 97.5%. (3) Results: Differences between groups with OAs were observed for general tonic contraction (p = 0.0009), while differences between recording times were observed for general phasic contractions (p = 0.002) and general tonic contractions (p = 0.00001). Differences between recording times were observed for the total amount of sMMA (p = 0.01), for general phasic contractions (p = 0.0001), and for general tonic contractions (p = 0.000009) during night recordings without OAs. (4) Conclusions: Three-dimensional splints seem to have a higher impact on SB-related electromyographic activity but not on the overall sleep bruxism index. The more regular surfaces offered by 3D splints could be related to phasic contraction stabilization.
Toward an Analytical Framework for the Governance of Natural Resources

The issue of groundwater management challenges the paradigm upon which the concept of good governance has developed since the 1990s. We show that in contexts involving multiple power structures, the exploitation of natural resources requires hybrid modes of governance that combine the coordination of individual actions imposed or promoted by the state with forms of collective action in the public or community interest. Original forms of coordination between these different modes most often remain on the drawing board. However, the failure in the field of purely market-based or purely public institutional arrangements makes them necessary. Taking the Azraq aquifer in Jordan as an example, we show how local management and negotiated rules of a “commons” type makes it possible to mutually strengthen both collective and public action through the reciprocal recognition of their legitimacy and of their failures or difficulties.JEL Codes: H41, H82, O13, Q11, Q15, Q21, Q25.
Perception of robotic actions and the influence of gender

In our society interaction with robots is becoming more and more frequent since robots are not only used in the industry, but increasingly often in assistance and in health system. Perception of robots and their movements is crucial for their acceptance. Here we shortly review basic mechanisms of perception of actions, and then of perception of robotic and human movements. The literature demonstrates that there are commonalities, but also differences in the perception of human and robotic movements. Especially interesting are biologic gender differences in the perception of robotic movements. The results show that males seem to be more sensitive to the differences between robotic and anthropomorphic movements, whereas females seem not to perceive such differences. However, females transfer more anthropomorphic features to robotic movements. While looking at the brain activation during perception of humanoid and robotic movements in different genders one can conclude that different strategies are used; female seem to analyse robotic movements online, while male seem to use previous knowledge from interaction with robots. Further research is needed to specify more such gender differences.
Analysis of the Influence of Breastfeeding and Bottle-Feeding upon the Origin of Posterior Crossbites

(1) Introduction. An analysis was made of posterior crossbites in deciduous dentition and their relation to the type of feeding received by the child, with the objective of determining the influence of the way in which the child is fed in the early stages of life on the development of posterior crossbites. (2) Material and methods. A total of 1401 preschool children between 3 and 6 years of age from Seville (Spain) were included in the study. An intraoral exploration was carried out to assess the presence of crossbites (uni- or bilateral, and functional or not). The study was completed with a parent or legal guardian questionnaire exploring the type of feeding received by the child in the first stages of life, as well as the presence of bad oral habits and their duration. (3) Results. A total of 276 children (19.7%) presented posterior crossbite in occlusion. Uponn centering the midlines, 197 were maintained, indicating that 79 were due to premature contacts (functional crossbites). There were no significant differences in crossbites among the children who had received breastfeeding, though bottle-feeding was seen to favor crossbite. (4) Conclusions. No statistically significant relationship was found between posterior crossbites and breastfeeding, though an association between posterior crossbites and bottle-feeding was observed, with the number of crossbites increasing with the duration of bottle-feeding.
Enhancing Ocular Surface in Dry Eye Disease Patients: A Clinical Evaluation of a Topical Formulation Containing Sesquiterpene Lactone Helenalin

The aim of this work was to assess the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of an ophthalmic topical formulation containing helenalin from Arnica montana and hyaluronic acid 0.4% (HA) in patients with mild-to-moderate Dry Eye Disease (DED) exhibiting positive Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) test results. Tolerability and safety were evaluated in 24 healthy subjects. Participants were instructed to apply one drop of the formulation three times a day in the study eye, for 2 weeks, followed by a clinical follow-up of 21 days. Efficacy was studied in 48 DED patients randomized into Study (Group 1/receiving the studied formulation) or Control (Group 2/Receiving HA 0.4% eye lubricant) groups for 1 month. Assessments included an MMP-9 positivity test, conjunctival impression cytology (CIC), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non-invasive film tear breakup time (NIBUT), non-invasive average breakup time (NIAvg-BUT), ocular surface staining, Schirmer’s test, and meibomiography. A crossover design with an additional 1-month follow-up was applied to both groups. Healthy subjects receiving the studied formulation exhibited good tolerability and no adverse events. Regarding the efficacy study, Group 1 exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the MMP-9 positivity rate compared to Group 2 (p < 0.001). Both Group 1 and Group 2 exhibited substantial improvements in OSDI and NIBUT scores (p < 0.001). However, Group 1 demonstrated a significant improvement in NI-Avg-BUT and Schirmer’s test scores (p < 0.001), whereas Group 2 did not (p > 0.05). Finally, after the crossover, the proportion of MMP-9-positive subjects in Group 1 increased from 25% to 91.6%, while Group 2 showed a significant decrease from 87.5% to 20.8%. Overall, the topical formulation containing sesquiterpene helenalin from Arnica montana and hyaluronic acid was well tolerated and exhibited a favorable safety profile. Our formulation reduces DED symptomatology and modulates the ocular surface inflammatory process; this is evidenced by the enhancement of CIC, the improvement of DED-related tear film status, and the reduction of the MMP-9 positivity rate.
The Don Valley in Prehistory:Upland and Lowland Developments and Interactions

This thesis fills a lacuna in the sequence of regional archaeologies in Britain. No work of synthesis exists for the Mesolithic to Bronze Age of the study area, consisting of South Yorkshire and much of the north midlands. Is it possible to detect regional senses of identity using archaeological methodologies? The nature of regional identity is well attested in the recent past. Rooted in familiar landscapes, environments and locales, identity at the regional scale is related to and expressed through the undertaking of particular or routine tasks with familiar people. In this thesis a relational approach accounts for the complex and sophisticated interaction between people and materiality. The sources for this include the databases of HERs, museums and national datasets. They also include both publications and unpublished reports. Most importantly, the largely untapped resource of museum collections have been a crucially important source of information. This has resulted in a database for the thesis consisting of 12,234 individual records. All classes of artefacts and structures have been considered in historical sequence, together with and in relation to the landscapes and environments within which they were deposited. In the Mesolithic, different home ranges overlapped on the southwest side of the study area on the Gritstone uplands. The home ranges were probably centred in the Peak District and to the northeast of the study area respectively. Groups predominantly journeyed along river valleys. In the Neolithic, tasks related to pastoral lifeways became concentrated on the higher and drier areas flanking the middle reaches of the major rivers and the Humberhead Levels. The Magnesian Limestone Plateaux acted as the centre of gravity of communities, expressed through the material remains of their activities, and the structures they built. This continued in the Bronze Age, but the Gritsone uplands to the west became settled once more. People expressing affinities both to the southwest and northeast occupied locales that were connected in both directions by river valleys. The Magnesian Limestone plateaux, however, remained a strong focus for communities established between low lying wetlands.
Mammal body size evolution in North America and Europe over 20 Myr: similar trends generated by different processes

Because body size interacts with many fundamental biological properties of a species, body size evolution can be an essential component of the generation and maintenance of biodiversity. Here we investigate how body size evolution can be linked to the clade-specific diversification dynamics in different geographical regions. We analyse an extensive body size dataset of Neogene large herbivores (covering approx. 50% of the 970 species in the orders Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla) in Europe and North America in a Bayesian framework. We reconstruct the temporal patterns of body size in each order on each continent independently, and find significant increases of minimum size in three of the continental assemblages (except European perissodactyls), suggesting an active selection for larger bodies. Assessment of trait-correlated birth-death models indicates that the common trend of body size increase is generated by different processes in different clades and regions. Larger-bodied artiodactyl species on both continents tend to have higher origination rates, and both clades in North America show strong links between large bodies and low extinction rate. Collectively, our results suggest a strong role of species selection and perhaps of higher-taxon sorting in driving body size evolution, and highlight the value of investigating evolutionary processes in a biogeographic context.
Summer Temperature Drives Radial Growth of Alpine Shrub Willows on the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau

ABSTRACT Shrub willows (Salix species) are widespread beyond the latitudinal and altitudinal treelines. Their ring width has been shown to be a reliable ecological indicator for changes in the harsh cold conditions in the Arctic, but little is known on their growth in alpine conditions. The shrubby Salix oritrepha grows above the treeline on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (TP), making it an interesting woody species to explore responses of alpine communities to ongoing climate warming in this area. Since precipitation increases with increasing elevation (until 4670 m) in the study area, we hypothesize that the growth of S. oritrepha is mainly constrained by cold summer temperature. We sampled 35 S. oritrepha individuals above the juniper treeline (4200 m), and took basal wood cross sections for dendrochronological analyses. Few missing rings were detected at the shoot base when serial sectioning was applied. Ring width (RW) and basal area increment (BAI) standard chronologies were established. We found that BAI reflected a stronger climatic signal than RW. The radial growth was constrained by low July to August temperatures. We expect that climate warming would enhance the growth of alpine willows, which could alter the services provided by these high-elevation ecosystems.
Seria czertezicka - nowa seria skałkowa Pienin

A new Klippen Series in the Pieniny Mts. , Carpathians -the Czertezik Series A new Klippen Series named the Czertezik Series is reported from the Pieniny Klippen Belt of Poland. This series has been formed in the Pieniny Klippen Series geosyncline probably between the sedimentary regions of the Czorsztyn Series and of the Niedzica Series.
Bioproduction of Diosgenin in Callus Cultures of Balanites aegyptiaca: Effect of Growth Regulators, Explants and Somatic Embryogenesis

This study describes the effects of plant growth regulators, explants, and somatic embryogenesis on in vitro production of the steroidal sapogenin, diosgenin, in callus cultures of the Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. (desert date). Root, shoot, hypocotyl, and epicotyl callus culture of B. aegyptiaca, were raised on MS basal media supplemented with various combinations of either 2,4-D and NAA alone, or with BAP. The diosgenin content (on a dry weight basis) was found to be highest when calli were cultured in MS basal medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l−1 2,4-D alone and/or in combination with 0.5 mg l−1 BAP. However, the callus growth was highest in media supplemented with 2.5 or 3.0 mg l−1 2,4-D. MS basal media supplemented with 2,4-D 2.5 mg l−1 alone and in combination with 0.5 mg l−1 BAP induced pre-embryogenic callus formation on root cultures. When these pre-embryogenic callus cultures were used to establish cell suspension cultures, two growth densities were obtained in embryogenic suspension cultures, inducing clusters of somatic embryos at various stages of development. The maximum number of somatic embryos were obtained at the fifth week on the medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l−1 2,4-D. However, the diosgenin content in these somatic cells was found to be lower compared to the explant calluses. This study revealed that production of diosgenin in callus cultures of B. aegyptiaca is possible, but the amount is significantly affected by the growth regulators, type of explants, and somatic embryogenesis.
Zingiber officinale mitigates diazinon-induced testicular toxicity via suppression of oxidative stress and apoptosis in mice model

Diazinon (DZN), as an organophosphate insecticide, induces testicular toxicity through oxidative stress. Ginger, a herbal medicine, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was designed to investigate the effects of ginger against DZN-induced testicular toxicity. In this experimental study, thirty-two adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups. The control group; ginger group (100 mg/kg); DZN group (10 mg/kg); ginger + DZN group. Ginger and DZN received for 30 consecutive days by gavage, and DZN has been treated one hour after receiving ginger. Sperm parameters (including motility, sperm count, sperm viability rate and morphological sperm abnormalities), biochemical (MDA and GSH), testosterone levels, histopathological and immunohistochemical assays of testis were evaluated. The results revealed that treatment with DZN caused significant damage of sperm parameters (sperm motility, count, viability rate and abnormalities), increased oxidative stress (increased MDA and decreased GSH level), significant histopathological changes and decreased Johnsen’s Score, testosterone level and increased caspase-3 immunoreactivity. Ginger preserved sperm parameters and mitigated the toxic effects of DZN. Also, treatment with ginger significantly reduced caspase-3 immunoreactivity. Our results concluded that the ginger with anti-apoptotic and antioxidant activity and with scavenging free radicals protect testis against DZN-induced toxicity.
CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CALIFORNIA LOW-LEVEL TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

xi 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Data Sources 2 2.1. Radiosonde Measurements 2 2.2. Surface Temperature Measurements 4 2.3. Large‐Scale and Regional Model Data 6 3.0 Inversion Characteristics and Measures 6 3.1. Frequency of Strong and Weak Inversions 8 3.2. Persistence of Strong and Weak Inversions 8 4.0 Results 9 4.1. Inversion Climatology 9 4.1. 1. Relationship Between DTINV and Dθ850 12 4.1. 2. How Representative are the Oakland and San Diego Radiosondes of the Wider Air Basins? 14 4.2. Large‐Scale Circulation Patterns Associated with Strong and Weak Inversions . 17 4.2.1. Physical Mechanisms and Inversion Characteristics 22 4.3. Impact of Local Sea Surface Temperature on Inversion Measures 25 4.4. Temporal Variations of Inversion Measures 26 4.4.1. Time Series of Inversion Strength and Inversion Depth 26 4.4.2. Time Series of Strong and Weak Inversion Frequency 37 4.4.3. Persistence of Strong and Weak Inversions 39 5.0 Summary and Conclusions 40 6.0 References 44 7.0 Glossary 46
The dependence of DUS (distinctness, uniformity and stability) decisions concerning white mustard and oilseed rape varieties on the number of measurements

Summary An analysis is made of the possibility of reducing numbers of measurements in DUS (distinctness, uniformity and stability) trials on varieties of white mustard and oilseed rape, based on the results of DUS trials performed in the years 2005–2009 by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing. It is shown that, when decisions are taken after three years of testing, it is possible to decrease the number of measurements by 50%, with the decisions practically unchanged for both considered species. For so-called early decisions (after two years of testing) the distinctness decisions are again practically the same for full and reduced data, although the decisions concerning uniformity differ significantly. This means that the number of measurements can be reduced only in cases where DUS testing is continued for three years.
A comparison of DEM-based methods for fluvial terrace mapping and sediment volume calculation: Application to the Sheepscot River watershed, Maine

Fluvial terraces form in both erosional and depositional landscapes and are important recorders of land-use, climate, and tectonic history. Terrace morphology consists of a flat surface bounded by valley walls and a steep-sloping scarp adjacent to the river channel. Combining these defining characteristics with high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) surveys, several methods have been developed to identify and map terraces. This research introduces a newly developed objective terrace mapping method and compares it with three existing DEM-based techniques to determine which is most applicable over entire watersheds. This work also tests multiple methods that use lidar DEMs to quantify the thickness and volume of fill terrace deposits identified upstream of dam sites. The preliminary application is to the Sheepscot River watershed, Maine, where strath and fill terraces are present and record Pleistocene deglaciation, Holocene eustatic forcing, and Anthropocene land-use change. Terraces were mapped at four former dam sites along the river using four separate methodologies and compared to manually delineated area. The methods tested were: (1) edge detection using MATLAB, (2) feature classification algorithms developed by Wood (1996), (3) spatial relationships between interpreted terraces and surrounding natural topography (Walter et al., 2007), and (4) the TerEx terrace mapping toolbox developed by Stout and Belmont (2013). Thickness and volume estimates of fill sediment were calculated at two of the study sites using three DEM-based models and compared to in situ data collected from soil pits, cut bank exposures, and ground penetrating radar surveys. The results from these comparisons served as the basis for selecting methods to map terraces throughout the watershed and quantify fill sediment upstream of current and historic dam sites. Along the main stem and West Branch of the Sheepscot River, terraces were identified along the longitudinal profile of the river using an algorithm developed by Finnegan and Balco (2013), which computes the elevation frequency distribution at regularly spaced cross-sections normal to the channel, and then mapped using the feature classification (Wood, 1996) method. For terraces upstream of current or historic dam sites, thickness and volume estimates were calculated using the two best performing datum surfaces. If all analyzed terraces are composed of impounded sediment, these DEM-based results suggest that terraces along the main stem and West Branch of the Sheepscot River potentially contain up to 1.5 x 106 m3 of fill. These findings suggest powerful new ways to quickly analyze landscape history over large regions using high-resolution, LiDAR DEMs while relying less heavily on the need for detailed and costly field data collection.
Prostate Cancer Liver Metastasis: An Ominous Metastatic Site in Need of Distinct Management Strategies

Prostate cancer liver metastasis (PCLM), seen in upwards of 25% of metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC) patients, is the most lethal site of mCRPC with a median overall survival of 10–14 months. Despite its ominous prognosis and anticipated rise in incidence due to longer survival with contemporary therapy, PCLM is understudied. This review aims to summarize the existing literature regarding the risk factors associated with the development of PCLM, and to identify areas warranting further research. A literature search was conducted through Ovid MEDLINE from 2000 to March 2023. Relevant subject headings and text words were used to capture the following concepts: “Prostatic Neoplasms”, “Liver Neoplasms”, and “Neoplasm Metastasis”. Citation searching identified additional manuscripts. Forty-one studies were retained for detailed analysis. The clinical risk factors for visceral/liver metastasis included <70 years, ≥T3 tumor, N1 nodal stage, de novo metastasis, PSA >20 ng/mL, and a Gleason score >8. Additional risk factors comprised elevated serum AST, LDH or ALP, decreased Hb, genetic markers like RB1 and PTEN loss, PIK3CB and MYC amplification, as well as numerous PC treatments either acting directly or indirectly through inducing liver injury. Further research regarding predictive factors, early detection strategies, and targeted therapies for PCLM are critical for improving patient outcomes.