Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between sea‐ice motion and geostrophic wind in the northern hemisphere

This paper presents maps showing the relationship between sea‐ice motion derived from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) imagery and the geostrophic wind in the Northern Hemisphere for seven winters (1991/92–1997/98). The sea‐ice motion is highly correlated with the geostrophic wind except for some coastal regions. Overall the direction of the ice motion is nearly parallel to the wind. An obvious contrast between seasonal ice zones and the interior of the Arctic is observed in the speed reduction factor (ratio of ice speed to wind speed), which is probably caused by the spatial variation of internal ice stress. Surface ocean currents are also derived by subtracting the wind effect from the ice motion.
The Temperature-Dependent Functional Response and Mutual Interference of Cyanopterus ninghais (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Parasitizing Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Cyanopterus ninghais (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a newly discovered parasitoid on the 3rd-5th instar larvae of the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). We investigated the functional response of C. ninghais at three temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C) and examined mutual interference. Results showed that C. ninghais had a Holling Type II functional response at all temperatures. By increasing the density of the M. alternatus larvae, the number of parasitized larvae increased until a maximum was reached. The parasitoid was most effective (a′/Th) at 30 °C (0.270) and an individual female wasp’s attack rate (a′) was 0.158, the handling time (Th) was 0.587, and the maximum theoretical parasitization rate per day (T/Th) was 11.927. However, the per capita parasitized level and per capita searching efficiency decreased significantly when the parasitoid density ranged from one to five. These findings suggest that intraspecific mutual interference and competition occur when multiple females search for a host in the same area. This study demonstrates that C. ninghais serves as an effective biocontrol agent, displaying strong control capabilities against M. alternatus larvae, with the potential for further development in the context of biological pest management targeting M. alternatus.
OPTIKS: An Optimized Key Transparency System

Key Transparency (KT) refers to a public key distribution system with transparency mechanisms proving its correct operation, i.e. , proving that it reports consistent values for each user’s public key. While prior work on KT systems have offered new designs to tackle this problem, relatively little attention has been paid on the issue of scalability. Indeed, it is not straightforward to actually build a scalable and practical KT system from existing constructions, which may be too complex, inefficient, or non-resilient against machine failures. In this paper, we present OPTIKS, a full featured and optimized KT system that focuses on scalability. Our system is simpler and more performant than prior work, supporting smaller storage overhead while still meeting strong notions of security and privacy. Our design also incorporates a crash-tolerant and scalable server architecture, which we demonstrate by presenting extensive benchmarks. Finally, we address several real-world problems in deploying KT systems that have received limited attention in prior work, including account decommissioning and user-to-device mapping.
Are the mandible shapes of common (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and golden (Paradoxurus zeylonensis) palm civets different? A pilot study

: In this study adult common and golden palm civet mandibles were analysed by geometric morphometric method. For this purpose, the materials were photographed in accordance with the procedure and analysed using computer programs. No allometric component was detected in the comparison of the mandibles. The first principal component defined 28.657% of the total shape variation in the mandibles of the two groups that were analysed with a total of 19 landmarks. The samples were largely separated from each other in the principal component analysis. The shape differences were mostly in the caudal of the mandible. Also, in the common palm civet mandible, the mental foramina were located more ventrally from the premolars edge than in the golden palm civet. It is thought that the information obtained as a result of the study will contribute to the studies of understanding the taxonomic difference or similarities in terms of two species.
Cerebrovascular Pathologies in Women during Pregnancy and Postpartum In the Neurology Departments of the Yalgado Ouédraogo and Bogodogo University Hospitals

Introduction: Pregnancy and post-partum are periods of risk for cerebrovascular complications in women. These pathologies can affect the vital prognosis of the woman. Objectives: To describe the determinants of cerebrovascular pathologies during pregnancy and postpartum in the neurology departments of the CHU-YO and CHU-B. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study collected retrospectively over a period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. Results: We included 113 patients, mean age 23.35 years with extremes of 15 and 45 years. Eclampsia predominated in 64.60% of cases. Other etiologies were stroke (18.58%), cerebral venous thrombosis (11.51%), reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome (3.54%) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (1.77%). Factors associated with the occurrence of cerebrovascular pathology were young age [15-19 years] (p=0.001), high blood pressure (p=0.001). The mortality rate was 8.85%. Conclusion: Cerebrovascular pathologies during pregnancy and postpartum with regard to their morbidity and mortality constitute a reproductive health problem and therefore require a multidisciplinary approach.
Low pulse pressure is independently related to elevated natriuretic peptides and increased mortality in advanced chronic heart failure.

AIMS An increased pulse pressure (PP) has consistently predicted increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular risk patients and mild chronic heart failure (CHF). In contrast, a decreased PP was related to increased mortality in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. However, the predictive value of PP in patients with advanced CHF is not known. METHODS AND RESULTS PP was analysed for its effect on mortality, adjusting for other modifiers of risk, using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis of data collected from 1901 patients with New York Heart Association Class III or IV CHF (mean age 65 and mean ejection fraction 0.26). Natriuretic peptides were measured in a subgroup. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis demonstrated that lower PP was associated with an increased mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.91 per 10 mmHg; 0.93-0.99], independent of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and other well known prognostic markers. In patients with a PP below the median value of 45 mmHg, PP was a stronger predictor of mortality than MAP (HR for PP 0.80 per 10 mmHg; 0.64-0.99). In patients with a PP above the median value of 45 mmHg, MAP was a stronger predictor of mortality than PP (HR for MAP 0.83 per 10 mmHg increase; 0.72-0.95). In addition, lower PP was independently related to increased atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). CONCLUSION In patients with advanced CHF, low PP is an independent predictor of mortality. In addition, low PP was related to increased levels of ANP and BNP.
A novel approach for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease using deep neural networks with magnetic resonance imaging

Since there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), early detection is essential to mitigate the symptoms. However, early detection is extremely challenging because brain MRI scans during these initial stages look very similar to normal MRI scans to the human eye. To assist in early disease detection, we developed a convolution neural network deep learning model using a transfer learning approach to extract features and a custom dense layer to detect and classify the early stages of AD. We collected MRI scans from Kaggle and ADNI institutes at several stages of AD (mild, moderate, severe) as well as healthy control scans. We used Resnet-50, VGG-16, and DenseNet-169 base models and compared their performances for classifying the stages of AD. The test area under the curve (AUC) for each of the base models Resnet-50, VGG-16 and DenseNet-169 were 0.8334, 0.9047 and 0.8898, respectively, based on 1279 Kaggle MRI images and 0.7332, 0.7383 and 0.7133, respectively, based on 132 ADNI MRI images. VGG-16 outperformed both DenseNet-169 and Resnet-50 models and showed more accurate results. Our deep learning approach also detected and extracted the region of interest (ROI) as the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and the hippocampus for the Kaggle and ADNI brain axial MRI images, respectively.
Frequency dependence of delayed and instantaneous triggering on laboratory and simulated faults governed by rate‐state friction

Earthquake triggering by transient stresses is commonly observed; however, some aspects remain unexplained. The first is the often‐observed delay between the triggered earthquakes and the triggering waves, and the second is the unexpected effectiveness of transient stressing in the seismic frequency band. Previous theoretical and laboratory studies have suggested that seismic transients should have little impact on faults if the duration of the transient is smaller than the timescale for nucleation of slip. We reexamine the dynamics of stress triggering during stick‐slip sliding on a laboratory fault and make three important observations that pertain to earthquake triggering. (1) Delayed triggering (clock advance) occurs for both bare granite surfaces and granular gouge prior to the onset of instantaneous triggering. (2) Triggering occurs much earlier in the stick‐slip cycle than expected for a simple Coulomb stress threshold. (3) Shorter‐period (higher stressing rate) pulses are more effective at triggering than longer‐period pulses of the same stress amplitude. We use numerical simulations to show that rate‐state friction can explain each of the observed features but not all three simultaneously. Only the Ruina slip law for state evolution, in which faults must slip to heal, can reproduce early‐onset and stressing rate‐dependent triggering. The laboratory and numerical experiments show that faults can remain relatively weak over much of the seismic cycle and that the triggered response depends on a competition between healing and weakening during triggered slip. Transient stressing at seismic frequencies may be more effective at triggering earthquakes than previously recognized.
All’s Well that End’s Well in Physical Therapy? The relative importance of Copays in Patients with Low Back Pain attending Physical Therapy

Background: Various factors have been shown to influence attendance to physical therapy (PT), including various psychosocial factors. Anecdotally, it is believed that higher copays are associated with fewer PT visits and shorter duration, but limited research is available to support this. Objective: To determine if higher copays for patients attending outpatient PT for low back pain is associated with lower number of total treatment visits and duration of treatment in months. Design: Retrospective review. Methods: A random sample
Lusitanisuchus, a new generic name for Lisboasaurus mitracostatus (Crocodylomorpha: Mesoeucrocodylia), with a description of new remains from the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) and Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian) of Portugal

Lusitanisuchus mitracostatus is a small mesoeucrocodilian crocodylomorph from the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of GuimarotaLeiria in Portugal, which was originally described as an anguimorph lizard (Lisboasaurus mitracostatus Seiffert, 1970) based on jaw fragments and isolated teeth. A recent reexamination of the crocodylomorph material of Guimarota yielded new skull and dentary remains assignable to Lusitanisuchus mitracostatus. The new skull material not only enables for the first time a skull reconstruction of this taxon, but also leads to renaming and reclassifying Lisboasaurus mitracostatus. Teeth of Lusitanisuchus are also reported from the locality Porto DinheiroLourinha, Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) of Portugal. The presence of this crocodylomorph taxon in two Portuguese localities suggests its occurence in the Lusitanian Basin during the Kimmeridgian to the Berriasian.
Measuring Trans-Atlantic aerosol transport from Africa

An estimated three billion metric tons of mineral aerosols are injected into the troposphere annually from the Saharan desert [Prospero et al., 1996]. Additionally, smoke from biomass burning sites in the savanna grasslands in sub-Saharan Africa contribute significant quantities of smaller-sized aerosols [e.g., Hobbs, 2000]. These windswept aerosols from the African continent are responsible for a variety of climate, health, and environmental impacts on both global and regional scales that span the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately in situ measurements of aerosol evolution and transport across the Atlantic are difficult to obtain, and satellite remote sensing of aerosols can be challenging.
Monitoring overburden layer changes and fault movements from time-lapse seismic data on the Valhall Field

SUMMARY A method developed by Roste et al., which discriminates between layer thickness and velocity changes, is tested on pre-stack time-lapse seismic ocean bottom cable (OBC) data from the Valhall Field. A key parameter in this discrimination process is the dilation factor, α, which is the relative velocity change divided by the relative thickness change within a given layer. The high quality and good repeatability of the OBC data enables us to estimate α with a reasonable accuracy for α-values between 0 and −5. For α-values below −5, complementary information, like for instance geomechanics is required. For the top reservoir horizon we estimate a maximum subsidence of 0.50 m ± 0.29 m and a corresponding velocity decrease for the sequence from the seabed to the top reservoir of 2.0 m s−1± 0.40 m s−1. Time-lapse distortion patterns with characteristic time-shift versus offset signatures are observed. The positions and vertical extents of the distortion zones are determined from ray path considerations and modelling. The distortion zones correlate with buried faults, indicating that a (time-lapse) distortion zone might be produced by a localized slip in a fault zone. We present an extended method which allows for vertical (in addition to lateral) variations in the relative thickness and velocity changes. This method can be viewed as a simplified version of time-lapse tomography, but involving fewer unknown parameters, giving more stability to the estimated changes in thickness and velocity. Using this technique, we are able to estimate α for positions with localized time-lapse distortions.
Snow accumulation variability in Wilkes Land, East Antarctica, and the relationship to atmospheric ridging in the 130°–170°E region since 1930

[1] Wilkes Land annual snow accumulation variability is explored together with ice core chemistry data as proxies for circumpolar atmospheric circulation in the 110°E–135°E sector of the circumpolar trough. Four accumulation time series spanning 1930–1985 show a pattern of accumulation related to maritime air mass incursions over the East Antarctic ice sheet slope, which is regionally consistent on interannual and interdecadal timescales. The temporal accumulation pattern in Wilkes Land shows decadal fluctuations of ±10%. Both these fluctuations and the overall trend of increasing accumulation since the middle 1960s are consistent with a poleward shift and intensification of the circumpolar trough. This is consistent with a shift toward the high index state of the southern annular mode. Interannual variability of snow accumulation rate throughout Wilkes Land was found to be dependent upon shifts in the preferred tracks of cyclones along or across the coast and in the location of cyclolysis regions. Significant differences in this temporal accumulation pattern over Wilkes Land can occur as a result of the time-varying location of atmospheric ridging and the circumpolar long-wave structure south of New Zealand and Australia. Snow accumulation at an additional site (GD09) displays a well-defined interdecadal pattern, and the mean annual nitrate (NO3−) concentration of snow is correlated to the winter sea level pressure gradient between East Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic and the upper geopotential height and zonal wind data over East Antarctica. Strong, surface wind drainage during tropospheric ridging in Wilkes Land produces anomalous snow accumulation and annual mean NO3− concentration in firn at GD09.
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AI in breast imaging is expected to impact both interpretation efficacy and workflow efficiency in radiology as it is applied to imaging examinations being routinely obtained in clinical practice. AI algorithms, including human-engineered radiomics algorithms and deep learning methods, have been under development for multiple decades. AI can have a role in improving breast cancer risk assessment, detection, diagnosis, prognosis, assessing response to treatment, and predicting recurrence. Currently the main use of AI algorithms is in decision support, where computers augment human decision-making as opposed to replacing radiologists.
Vitamin E-diffused liners show less head penetration than cross-linked polyethylene liners in total hip arthroplasty: a ten-year multi-arm randomized trial Aims

The primary outcome was investigating differences in wear, as measured by femoral head penetration, between cross-linked vitamin E-diffused polyethylene (vE-PE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) acetabular component liners and between 32 and 36 mm head sizes at the ten-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included acetabular component migration and patient-­reported­outcome­measures­(PROMs)­such­as­the­EuroQol­five-­dimension­ques-tionnaire, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Harris Hip Score, and University of California, Los Angeles Activity Scale (UCLA).
Deglutition Disorders during Stroke: Clinical, Paraclinical and Prognostic Aspects in the Neurology Department of Conakry University Hospital

Introduction: Swallowing disorders are a significant factor in mortality and morbidity in patients with acute stroke. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, clinical course and prognosis of swallowing disorders during stroke in the Neurology Department of Conakry University Hospital. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study lasting 6 months from 1er July to 31 December 2020. All patients hospitalised for stroke confirmed by brain imaging were included. All patients hospitalised for stroke with a swallowing disorder assessed by the Deppipo test were included. Results: During our study period, 76 of 187 patients (40.6%) presented with swallowing disorders. Women predominated (71.1%). Coughing during swallowing was the main symptom observed in 69.7% of patients, followed by the absence of a nausea reflex in 52.6%. The mean NIHSS was 13.5 ± 3.4. A good outcome was observed in 48.6%, with 38.1% of patients developing inhalation pneumonitis. This was strongly associated with mortality (p? 0.001). The mortality rate secondary to swallowing disorders was 28.90%. Conclusion: Swallowing disorders during stroke are common and lead to complications and high mortality.
Empirical Investigation into ICT Services Evaluation Within a Public Institution

The aim of the paper is to investigate the quality of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services provided to employees in a public administration organization. The Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) was chosen as the examined enterprise/organization. The provider of these services is exclusively the Department for Transparency and eGovernment (DTeG). After a presentation of the theory behind service quality measurement in general and in ICTs specifically, a quantitative research was carried out, utilizing a SERVPERF-derived, ICT-adapted, short form 13-item/4-dimension instrument approach. This research indicated that RCM employees value both the quality of the ICT services, as well as the satisfaction from them, as provided by DTeG, highly. The adapted SERVPERF instrument exhibited high internal consistency values, as well as strong correlation between its items and the overall perceived quality and satisfaction. Dimensionality tests indicated that two dimensions of the service quality constructs are measured: a combined “reliability”, “responsiveness” and “assurance” dimension and an “empathy” one. the findings can be used by the targeted organization to improve the quality of ICT services and better meet the needs of their users.
Epizoans on late Ordovician brachiopods from Southeastern Indiana

The frequency of epizoans (cornulitids, inarticulate brachiopods, bryozoans, solitary and colonial rugosan corals) on over 8000 specimens of articulate brachiopods (four strophomenids, five orthids, one rhynchonellid) was calculated for four stratigraphic horizons in the Dillsboro Formation of southeastern Indiana. Frequency of shells encrusted correlates significantly with the surface area of the valves. Punctae in brachiopod shells (Onniella meeki) may have deterred larval settlement of epizoans. Coarse ribbing on articulates deterred encrustation by the inarticulate brachiopod. The horn coral shows a preference for attachment to the anterior of Hiscobeccus capax. Bryozoans show a preference for the incurrent lateral margins of inferred living hosts, suggesting rheotropic behavior by settling larvae. Inarticulate brachiopods are concentrated around the sloping commissure of the brachial valve of strophomenids, suggesting geotropic behavior and/or selective survival of settling larvae. Inarticulates dete.
Testing antimicrobial properties of common household spices in a real-world scenario

Proper disinfection of household items is essential to prevent illness, especially with respect to kitchen items. However, many currently used household cleaners are toxic. Accidental poisonings from common chemical cleaners thus represent a significant threat to humans and have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Thus, there is a pressing need to find safer alternatives to these cleaning products. Spices could be useful in this respect, given their relative safety when ingested, wide availability, and potent antimicrobial properties. To date, studies have tested antimicrobial properties of a variety of spices in conditions that are different from how they would be implemented as cleaners. We therefore sought to test antimicrobial properties of spices in a real-world scenario, by quantifying microbial growth before and after cleaning a cutting board with garlic, nutmeg, or paprika. These spices were found to be relatively ineffective at cleaning cutting boards, as evidenced by similar levels of microbial growth before and after cleaning, though some of these effects appeared to be microbe and spice dependent. Overall, we demonstrate caution with the currently described method of repurposing spices for cleaning purposes but encourage further work to this end.