Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis of RNA sequencing data from 534 skin samples shows substantial IL-17 effects in non-lesional psoriatic skin

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by disturbed interactions between infiltrating immune cells and keratinocytes. To enhance our understanding of the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms driving psoriasis pathobiology, and to identify potential biomarkers for disease severity, we conducted RNA sequencing of skin biopsies from 75 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 46 non-psoriatic controls. To increase the robustness of the results, we meta-analysed our data with four publicly available datasets, bringing the total number of samples to 534. By comparing lesional psoriatic (PP) to healthy control (NN) skin, we identified 2269 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (|log2FC|>1.0, FDR <0.1), and 58 DEGs when comparing non-lesional psoriatic (PN) to NN skin. We also identified 54 DEGs associated with disease severity (PASI [≥] 10 vs. PASI <10). Cellular deconvolution analysis showed that differentiated keratinocytes emerged as the most prominent cell type among the DEGs in PP/NN. Functional enrichment analysis in PN/NN revealed several IL-17 related pathways and confirmed a previously reported "pre-inflammatory signature" across all psoriatic skin. This study provides insights into the psoriasis transcriptome and identifies a severity-specific signature, which may serve as candidate for future studies aimed at identifying psoriasis biomarkers and predicting disease progression.
A multiple resource

Steam railways were the standard log hauling technology throughout California in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Most of the old growth redwood of the sort depicted here has since been cut and today the industry relies largely on younger, smaller trees. within California lie some of the most diverse forests to be found anywhere in the world. Forty million acres (two-fifths of the state) bear forest cover. Included are the oldest known trees (whitebark pines), the largest (Sierra big trees), the tallest (coast redwood), and a remarkable pygmy forest where trees reach full maturity at heights of no more than six or eight feet. In addition to such scientific highlights, California forests are of vital importance as a source of wood products, as protective cover for major watersheds, as habitat for characteristic and important fish and wildlife, and as outdoor playgrounds for millions of people. About 16 million acres of commercial forest provide raw material for the production of lumber, plywood, pulp, and various other forest products. Each year about 900 million cubic feet of such products are removed from the forests to meet consumer needs for housing, packaging materials, and many other end uses. The industry is concentrated in a great horseshoe which extends northward along the coast from Santa Cruz County to the Oregon border, eastward to Modoc County, and thence south along the Sierra Nevada to Tulare County. Within this area, forest products industries provide annual employment for about 100,OOO people and generate annual payrolls of $1.25 billion. They provide the principal economic base for 16 of the state’s 58 counties. Slightly more than half the commercial forest is publicly owned, most of it in National Forests. Only one-sixth of the commercial forest is owned by the forest products industry. The remainder is held by farm and other owners, much of it in small holdings of 20 to 80 acres. History
AVO simultaneous inversion using Markov Chain Monte Carlo

Summary A Bayesian model is developed to estimate P-wave reflection coefficient, S-wave reflection coefficient and density reflection coefficient using pre-stack seismic data. Using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, many samples of each unknown variable are obtained from the Bayesian model, which subsequently are used to infer the unknown variable. Generating S-wave velocity at random, and making use of Aki equation to get a simple model for the purpose of test the method. Moreover, a study based on seismic AVO data collected from an oil field located in South China, shows that the improved method is more precious for parameter estimation than traditional methods.
Effect of negative emotions in consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study from Peru

The research examines the negative consumer emotions generated by the perception of social networks or traditional media with consumer behavior during the covid_19 pandemic. The study was developed in Peru with a sample of 220 consumers; the design is quantitative and structural equations were used for data processing. The results indicate that social networks and traditional media are not related to negative emotions, but are related to the change in consumer behavior in the purchase of more products and new products. The research has theoretical implications since it provides evidence to the literature that the negative emotions generated during the covid_19 pandemic are related to changes in consumer behavior, which affect the purchase of more products and new products. The practical implications of the research is for businessmen on the causes of changes in consumer behavior generated during crises. like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effect of Prolong-life-with-nine-turn-method (Yan Nian Jiu Zhuan) Qigong on fatigue and gastrointestinal function in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Introduction Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a physical and mental disorder in which long-term fatigue is the main symptom. CFS patients are often accompanied by functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs), which lead to decreased quality of life and increased fatigue. Prolong-life-with-nine-turn-method (PLWNT) is a kind of physical and mental exercise. Its operation includes adjusting the mind, breathing and cooperating with eight self-rubbing methods and one upper body rocking method. PLWNT was used to improve the digestive function in ancient China and to treat FGIDs such as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome in modern times. Previous studies have shown that PLWNT can reduce fatigue in patients with CFS. But it is unclear whether the effect of PLWNT on CFS fatigue is related to gastrointestinal function. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between PLWNT and fatigue and gastrointestinal function in patients with CFS. Methods This study is a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (RCT). The whole study period is 38 weeks, including 2 weeks of baseline evaluation, 12 weeks of intervention and 6 months of follow-up. Ninety-six CFS patients will be stratified random assigned to the intervention group (PLWNT) and the control group (cognitive behavior treatment) in the ratio of 1:1 through the random number table generated by SPSS. In the evaluation of results, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and Short Form 36 item health survey (SF-36) will be evaluated at week 0 (baseline), week 6 (midterm), week 12 (endpoint) and month 9 (follow up). The intestinal flora will be evaluated at week 0 (baseline) and week 12 (endpoint). The data results will be processed by statistical experts. The data analysis will be based on the intention to treat principle and per-protocol analysis. In the efficacy evaluation, repeated measurement analysis of variance will be used for data conforming to normal distribution or approximate normal distribution. The data which do not conform to the analysis of repeated measurement variance will be analyzed by the generalized estimation equation Linear discriminant analysis will be used to clarify the difference species of intestinal flora. The significance level sets as 5%. The safety of interventions will be evaluated after each treatment session. Discussion This trial will provide evidence to PLWNT exerting positive effects on fatigue and gastrointestinal function of CFS. It will further explore whether the improvement of PLWNT on CFS fatigue is related to gastrointestinal function. Trial registration The trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry http://www.chictr. org.cn/showproj.aspx? proj=151456 (Registration No.: ChiCTR2200056530). Date: 2022-02-07.
Risk factors for developmental vulnerability: Insight from population-level surveillance using the Early Development Instrument

Objectives Population-level studies may elucidate the most promising intervention targets to prevent negative outcomes of developmental vulnerability in children. This study aims to bridge the current literature gap on identifying population-level developmental vulnerability risk factors using combined social and biological/health information. Methods This study assessed developmental vulnerability among kindergarten children using the 2016 Early Development Instrument (EDI) and identified risk factors of developmental vulnerability using EDI data cross-linked to a population-wide administrative health dataset. A total number of 23,494 children aged 5–6 were included (48% female). Prenatal, neonatal, and early childhood risk factors for developmental vulnerability were investigated, highlighting the most important ones contributing to early development. Results The main risk factors for developmental vulnerability were children with a history of mental health diagnosis (risk ratio = 1.46), biological sex–male (risk ratio = 1.51), and poor socioeconomic status (risk ratio = 1.58). Conclusion Our study encompasses both social and health information in a populational-level representative sample of Alberta, Canada. The results confirm evidence established in other geographic regions and jurisdictions and demonstrate the association between perinatal risk factors and developmental vulnerability. Based on these results, we argue that the health system should adopt a multilevel prevention and intervention strategy, targeting individual, family, and community together.
Forest Biomass Diversion - Tracking the Economic Costs and Air Emissions of Forest Biomass Diversion and Allocating the Air Emissions Credits Generated - Emissions Sampling and Determination of Emission Factors

Introduction The objective was to quantify emission factors of major carbon species, PM2.5, Black Carbon, and NO/NOx gases produced from open-air burning of a large pile resulting from forestry activities. This field experiment was conducted at Blodgett Forest Research Station, CA. on January 17, 2014. It was a cloudless sunny day with minimal wind and a temperature in the 40’s at ignition and 60’s later in the afternoon.
The Length-Weight Relationships of Brackish Water/Marine Fish Species Assemblage in a Niger Delta Mangrove Creek, Nigeria

The fish species assemblage in a Niger Delta mangrove creek, Nigeria, of 25 species from 16 families comprising a total of 1163 individuals were determined for the parameters of length-weight relationships, from November, 2004 to June, 2006. The fish samples were collected from three stations at flood tides. The fishing gears used were hooks and lines, and cast net. The estimated values of the exponent (b) ranged between 0.97 (Epinephelus aeneus) and 5.67 (Dasyatis margarita). The mean value of 'b' for all the species was 3.16 (SD = 0.093). Apart from b values of E. aeneus (0.97), L. goreensis (2.15), T. guineensis (4.25) and D. margarita (5.67) which were significantly different from 3, indicating allometric growth pattern, the other species had 'b' values not significantly different from 3, indicating isometric growth pattern. The regression coefficient (r) ranged from 0.22 for E. aeneus to 0.99 for T. lepturus. Except for E. aeneus, the r for the length-weight relationships of the fishes is high which indicate increase in length with increase in weight. Except for E. aeneus, L. agennes and D. margarita, analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was highly significant regression (p<0.001; 0.01; 0.05) of weight on length for the fish species. This study adds more information to the existing data on the management and culture of fish species in Buguma Creek which has the first Brackish Water Experimental Fish Farm in Nigeria.
Adapting a community-based intervention to address social determinants of health influencing pre-exposure prophylaxis services for Black adults in Washington, District of Columbia: A study protocol

Community-based HIV treatment initiation and continuation helps to address social determinants of health (SDOH) barriers to care and increase antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake and adherence. Similarly, community-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (cbPrEP) services can help address SDOH barriers such as transportation costs and stigma. However, few studies have examined cbPrEP programming in the Washington, District of Columbia (DC) area where more Blacks are disproportionately affected by HIV and have low PrEP uptake. This study aims to adapt and pilot a community-based ART intervention (cbART) intervention for cbPrEP service delivery for Black adults in the Washington, DC area. The adaptation of the cbART intervention will be informed by the ADAPT-ITT framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. For Aim 1, in-depth and key informant interviews will be conducted with PrEP program managers at community-based organizations (N = 10), DC health department representatives (N = 8), PrEP providers (N = 10) and current and potential Black PrEP users (n = 24). The interviews will provide an initial assessment of barriers and facilitators to PrEP services and inform the decisions on how to adapt the cbART intervention for cbPrEP services. In Aim 2, we will train and pilot test the cbPrEP intervention for acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness with Black adults (n = 60). Enrolled participants will complete a survey at baseline and at 45 days post-enrollment. In-depth interviews will be conducted with a subset (N = 16) of participants, those who did not enroll (N = 10) and providers implementing the cbPrEP intervention (N = 8). Alternative strategies to PrEP service delivery are needed to increase PrEP uptake among those most in need in the DC area. If cbPrEP delivery is found to be acceptable, feasible, and appropriate, it could have a significant impact on DC’s Ending the HIV Epidemic efforts and will inform future efforts to investigate the intervention’s efficacy on PrEP uptake and continuation among Black adults in DC.
Using cereal grain winter cover crops to reduce groundwater nitrate contamination in the mid-Atlantic coastal plain

ABSTRACT: Nitrate contamination of shallow groundwater has been widely documented in association with agriculture in the Coastal Plain region of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Elevated groundwater nitrate levels limit the use of shallow groundwater for human consumption and also result in elevated nonpoint source nitrogen (N) loads to Chesapeake Bay via elevated stream base-flow nitrate concentrations. This study investigated the effects of cereal grain winter cover crops on nitrate leaching rates, profile nitrate storage, and nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater in two field-scale watersheds planted continuously in corn (Zea mays L) from 1984 through 1996. Winter-fallow conditions were maintained following the 1984 through 1987 growing seasons and cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) as a cover crop was planted immediately after grain harvest from 1988 through 1996. Cover crop effects on nitrate leaching rates also were evaluated in continuous no-till corn plots from 1990 through 1995. Nitrate leaching losses from the root zone and recharge of ‘shallow aquifers occurred primarily during winter months under conditions of law evapotranspiration’. The potential for nitrate leaching losses was determined primarily by the availability of nitrate in the root zone at the onset of the winter groundwater recharge period. Rye winter cover crops planted after corn harvest consistently reduced nitrate-N concentrations in root zone leachate to less than 1 mg/L during most of the groundwater recharge period, and reduced annual nitrate leaching losses by approximately 80% relative to winter-fallow treatments. Shallow groundwater nitrate-N concentrations under long-term continuous corn production decreased from the 10 to 20 mg/L range to less than 5 mg/L after seven years of cover crop use. Cover crops appeared to increase corn yields under adverse growing season conditions, but limited residual nitrate availability during the growing season relative to winter-fallow settings. Cover crop growth was generally N limited, suggesting that increased N inputs would have little effect on nitrate leaching, but would increase cover crop contributions to soil carbon pools.
Characterization and expression analysis of SnRK2, PYL, and ABF/ AREB/ ABI5 gene families in sweet potato

Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in plants is essential to several aspects of plant development, such as tolerance to environmental stresses and growth. ABA signaling is also important for storage organ formation in crops, such as sweet potato. However, the repertoire of I. batatas ABA signaling gene families has not yet been fully characterized, so that it is unclear which members of these families are necessary for tuberization. Therefore, genome-wide identification of the sweet potato ABF/ AREB/ ABI5, SnRK2, and PYL gene families was performed, along with phylogenetic, motif, cis-regulatory element (CRE), and expression analyses. Nine ABF, eight SnRK2, and eleven PYL gene family members were identified, and there was high sequence conservation among these proteins that were revealed by phylogenetic and motif analyses. The promoter sequences of these genes had multiple CREs that were involved in hormone responses and stress responses. In silico and qRT-PCR expression analyses revealed that these genes were expressed in various tissues and that IbABF3, IbABF4, IbDPBF3, IbDPBF4, IbPYL4, IbSnRK2.1, and IbSnRK2.2 were significantly expressed during storage root development. These results are an important reference that can be used for functional validation studies to better understand how ABA signaling elicits storage root formation at the molecular level.
Analysis and Remediation of the Salinized, Damour Coastal (Dolomitic) Limestone Aquifer in Lebanon

Coastal aquifer management has recently emerged as a main scope in groundwater hydrology, especially in arid and semi-arid zones. About two thirds of the human population are currently gathered close to shorelines relying on coastal groundwater resources. Worldwide, these systems are subject to quality deterioration due to a multitude of anthropogenic impacts and subsequent saltwater intrusion (SWI). Many hydrological and hydrochemical features of SWI have been disclosed during the past century through numerous case studies, column studies, scale models, flow and reactive transport modeling. Yet, many scientific and engineering challenges remain, some of which need to be addressed for a better prospecting of future coastal freshwater reserves. The scope of this thesis is to contribute to the analysis and remediation of SWI by studying the following aspects: (1) response of carbonate aquifers with varying Ca/Mg content to SWI, (2) behavior of trace elements (TEs) where fresh and intruded seawater mix, (3) derivation of groundwater baseline levels in polluted settings, notably salinized aquifers, (4) identification and quantification of major hydrogeochemical processes stimulated by SWI, (5) reliability of complex models (especially in karst) with variable-density and solute transport formulations, and (6) feasibility of SWI mitigation strategies. In order to reach the scope, some existing tools have been adapted and new tools developed. All together, they offer an interesting toolbox for investigating SWI anywhere. They were successfully applied to a stressed dolomitic limestone aquifer system in Lebanon (Eastern Mediterranean), suffering from salinization and other minor anthropogenic impacts.
Specific autobiographical memories are a resource for identity strength among mature but not emerging adults

ABSTRACT Four studies, three pre-planned on Open Science Framework, with 2296 participants explored the potential role of recollecting autobiographical memories in enhancing the sense of identity. Among emerging adults (college students under age 25), recollecting important autobiographical memories did not strengthen sense of identity. Autobiographical memories failed to strengthen identity among emerging adults despite inducing low self-clarity first; despite attempts to prime self-consistent memories by having emerging adults report their stable self-aspects first; and despite attempts to inspire self-event connections by asking emerging adults to explain how the memories exemplified something enduring about the self. Among mature adults (age 25 and older), recollecting important autobiographical memories strengthened sense of identity. Identity was strengthened regardless of whether mature adults were asked to explain how the memories exemplified something enduring about the self. Differences in types of memories or motivation did not account for the differential effects of recollecting autobiographical memories in identity. In short, mature adults appear to readily use autobiographical memories as a resource for identity in a way that emerging adults have not yet mastered.
Effects of Burial of Rice Straw in Furrows on Soil Environment of Wheat Field

A field experiment was carried out to have all the straws of the preceding rice crop returned to the field by burying them into furrows to the depth of 20,30,40 and 50 cm,separately,at a rate of 2 kg·m-1.The experiment was designed to study effects of this practice on moisture,temperature,bulk density and porosity of the soil in the wheat field.It was found that 12 days after rainfall,soil moisture was significantly lower in the plots with straws buried into furrows 20 and 30 cm in depth than in the plot without straw buried,but not so significant in the plots of with straws buried into furrows 40 and 50 cm in depth.Temperature of the soil underneath the straw did not vary much in all the straw burial plots,demonstrating that the buried straw has an insulating effect to the soil below.Straw burial could also significantly lower bulk density and increase total porosity of the soil,except in the plot with straw buried only 20 cm in depth,thus making the plaw layer of the soil looser.
Lithium Transport Studies on Chloride-Doped Argyrodites as Electrolytes for Solid-State Batteries

In this study, the activation energy and ionic conductivity of the Li6PS5Cl material for all-solid-state batteries were investigated using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the activation energy values estimated from nuclear relaxation rates are significantly lower than those obtained from impedance measurements. The total ionic conductivities for long-range lithium diffusion in Li6PS5Cl calculated from EIS studies depend on the crystal size and unit cell parameter. The study also presents a new sample preparation method for measuring activation energy using temperature-dependent EIS and compares the results with the solid-state NMR data. The activation energy for a thin-film sample is equivalent to the long-range lithium dynamics estimated from NMR measurements, indicating the presence of additional limiting processes in thick pellets. Additionally, a theoretical model of Li-ion hopping based on results obtained using density-functional theory methods in comparison with experimental findings was discussed. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of sample preparation methods in determining accurate activation energy and ionic conductivity values for solid-state lithium batteries and the significance of solid-state electrolyte thickness in new solid-state battery design for faster Li-ion diffusion.