Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Abstinence Interval on Semen Quality and Its Effect on an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Pregnancy: A Case Report

This case report focuses on a couple facing primary infertility, where the male partner exhibited asthenoteratozoospermia and high DNA fragmentation. The treatment approach involved three cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), an assisted reproductive technology (ART), to indicate and address the specific challenges posed by male factor infertility. The initial two attempts failed as DNA fragmentation was high, which was observed on days 4 and 3 of abstinence, respectively. In the third cycle, DNA fragmentation was low on day 2 of the abstinence period, resulting in the successful formation and cryopreservation of embryos. Subsequently, three months later, frozen embryo transfer (ET) was done. This was followed by a positive β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test after 14 days that confirmed biochemical pregnancy, and successful conception was determined by ultrasound detection of the visible sac with fetal pole. This report underscores the critical importance of treatment plans for individual patients, especially considering the impact of abstinence periods on sperm DNA fragmentation. The findings promote a personalized approach to assisted reproductive techniques, enhancing the success rate. It is recommended that further comprehensive studies be conducted to validate and anticipate these observations.
The Present-Day Simulation and Twenty-First-Century Projection of the Climatology of Extratropical Transition in the North Atlantic

AbstractThis study explores the simulations and twenty-first-century projections of extratropical transition (ET) of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the North Atlantic, with a newly developed global climate model: the Forecast-Oriented Low Ocean Resolution (FLOR) version of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) Coupled Model version 2.5 (CM2.5). FLOR exhibits good skill in simulating present-day ET properties (e.g., cyclone phase space parameters). A version of FLOR in which sea surface temperature (SST) biases are artificially corrected through flux-adjustment (FLOR-FA) shows much improved simulation of ET activity (e.g., annual ET number). This result is largely attributable to better simulation of basinwide TC activity, which is strongly dependent on larger-scale climate simulation. FLOR-FA is also used to explore changes of ET activity in the twenty-first century under the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 scenario. A contrasting pattern is found in which regional TC density increas.
Meeting Report of the Second Symposium of the Belgian Society for Viruses of Microbes and Launch of the Phage Valley

The second symposium of the Belgian Society for Viruses of Microbes (BSVoM) took place on 8 September 2023 at the University of Liège with 141 participants from 10 countries. The meeting program covered three thematic sessions opened by international keynote speakers: two sessions were devoted to “Fundamental research in phage ecology and biology” and the third one to the “Present and future applications of phages”. During this one day symposium, four invited keynote lectures, nine selected talks and eight student pitches were given along with thirty presented posters. The president of the Belgian Society for Viruses of Microbes, Prof. Yves Briers, took advantage of this symposium to launch the Phage Valley concept that will put the spotlight on the exceptionally high density of researchers investigating viruses of microbes as well as the successful triple helix approach between academia, industry and government in Belgium.
Are Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Three-Dimensional Histological Reconstructions Reliable for the Assessment of Trabecular Microarchitecture?

Objectives: This study aimed to create a three-dimensional histological reconstruction through the AI-assisted classification of tissues and the alignment of serial sections. The secondary aim was to evaluate if the novel technique for histological reconstruction accurately replicated the trabecular microarchitecture of bone. This was performed by conducting micromorphometric measurements on the reconstruction and comparing the results obtained with those of microCT reconstructions. Methods: A bone biopsy sample was harvested upon re-entry following sinus floor augmentation. Following microCT scanning and histological processing, a modified version of the U-Net architecture was trained to categorize tissues on the sections. Detector-free local feature matching with transformers was used to create the histological reconstruction. The micromorphometric parameters were calculated using Bruker’s CTAn software (version 1.18.8.0, Bruker, Kontich, Belgium) for both histological and microCT datasets. Results: Correlation coefficients calculated between the micromorphometric parameters measured on the microCT and histological reconstruction suggest a strong linear relationship between the two with p-values of 0.777, 0.717, 0.705, 0.666, and 0.687 for BV/TV, BS/TV, Tb.Pf Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp, respectively. Bland–Altman and mountain plots suggest good agreement between BV/TV measurements on the two reconstruction methods. Conclusions: This novel method for three-dimensional histological reconstruction provides researchers with a tool that enables the assessment of accurate trabecular microarchitecture and histological information simultaneously.
Exploring Technological, Safety and Probiotic Properties of Enterococcus Strains: Impact on Rheological Parameters in Fermented Milk

Enterococci, known for their resilience, are commonly found in food, the environment, and the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals. In recent research, six strains of enterococcus were isolated from bat guano. These include Enterococcus mundtii SRBG1, Enterococcus gallinarum SRBG3, Enterococcus faecium SRBG2, Enterococcus casseliflavus EC1, and Enterococcus devriesei CAU 1344. Identification was done using 16S DNA analysis. Each strain underwent evaluation for its technological properties (such as tolerances to various NaCl concentrations and temperatures, as well as amylolytic, β-galactosidase, lipolytic, and proteolytic activities, and EPS production) and selected probiotic properties (including safety profile, resistance to 0.3 percent bile salts and gastric juice with a pH of 2.5, lysozyme tolerance, and antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against four foodborne pathogens). The results were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis. This analysis revealed that E. mundtii SRBG1 and E. gallinarum SRBG3, followed by E. faecium SRBG2, were most closely associated with a broad range of technological characteristics and were subsequently used for fermenting skimmed milk. The rheological properties of the samples indicated a shear-thinning or non-Newtonian behavior. Furthermore, during storage of the fermented milk at 4 °C over periods of 1, 7, 14, and 21 days, there were no significant changes in bacterial count (at around 7 log10 CFU/mL) and pH when fermented with the three evaluated strains.
Geophysical Investigation of a Rural Water Point Installation Program in Nampula Province, Mozambique

There are many projects in Mozambique for poverty reduction. One of these projects is funded by Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and is aimed to install a total of 600 rural water points in the province of Nampula and Cabo Delgado in crystalline rock zone. Each water point consists of a drilled well, a water pump and a communal washing basin. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was used for assessing the suitability of the drill sites but despite this many boreholes have come out with an insufficient yield and the failure rates in certain areas are as high as 50%. Continuous Vertical Electrical Sounding (CVES), also known as Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), was carried out in an attempt to explain the high failure rate of boreholes. In total, nine boreholes with sufficient yield, and five boreholes with insufficient yield were investigated. In both VES and ERT, the resistivity values indicate 3 different layers. One surface layer with resistivity between 220-5000+ Ωm, a second layer with lower resistivity value, varying from 10220 Ωm, less than 10 Ωm in some places, and a third layer with high resistivity values, 220-5000+ Ωm, increasing with Depth. Due to lateral variation, the geology in study area is best described in 3D therefore ERT appears to be a suitable method for groundwater exploration and could probably lower the failure rate.
Modeling hydrologic responses to deforestation/forestation and climate change at multiple scales in the Southern US and China

1. Southern Global Change Program, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, Raleigh, NC 27606; Email: Ge-Sun@ncsu.edu 2. USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Coweeta Hydrologic -. Laboratory, 3160 Coweeta Lab Rd, Otto, NC 28763 3. USDA-Forest Service, Center for Forested Wetlands Research, 2730 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 2941 4 4. Southern China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guagzhou, P.R. China 5. College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P.R. China
The role of privacy-related factors in consumer perceptions of smart advertising

PurposeAs a smart service, location-based advertising (LBA) integrates advanced technologies to deliver personalized messages based on a user’s real-time geographic location and needs. However, research has shown that privacy concerns threaten the diffusion of LBA. This research investigates how privacy-related factors (i.e. LBA type, privacy self-efficacy (PSE) and consumer generation) impact consumers’ value-in-use and their intention to use LBA.Design/methodology/approachThis study developed and examined an LBA value-in-use framework that integrates the role of LBA type, consumers’ PSE and consumer generation into the technology acceptance model (TAM). Data were collected through two experiments in the field with a total of 374 consumers. The proposed relationships were tested using PROCESS modeling.FindingsThe results reveal that pull (vs push) LBA causes higher value-in-use in terms of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, leading to greater usage intention. Further, the differences in the mediated relationship between pull- and push-LBA are larger among consumers of low PSE (vs high PSE) and Generation Z (vs other generations). The findings suggest that the consumer value-in-use brought about by LBA diminishes when using push-LBA for low PSE and Generation Z consumers.Originality/valueThis research is the first to integrate the privacy-related interactions of LBA type and consumer characteristics into TAM to develop a TAM-based LBA value-in-use framework. This study contributes to the literature on service value-in-use, smart services and LBA by clarifying the boundary conditions that determine the effectiveness of LBA in enhancing consumers’ value-in-use.
Nanostructured materials in agriculture: The influence of bismuth ferrite and graphitic carbon nitride on maize growth performances in Samaru, Nigeria

This study explores the application of nanostructured materials, specifically metal-free graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3), magnesium-doped bismuth ferrite (Bi0.7Mg0.3FeO3), and a heterojunction of g-C3N4 and bismuth ferrite (g-C3N4/BiFeO3), in influencing maize growth and performances in Samaru, Nigeria. The study involves the synthesis and characterization of these nanostructured materials, confirming their structural integrity and stability for photocatalytic applications. The greenhouse experiment employs a range of treatments, including a control (no fertilization), +P +K inorganic fertilizer, the recommended farmer's fertilizer rate (120:60:60), and varied levels of the synthesized nanostructured materials (1 g, 2 g and 3 g). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design, and maize (SAMMAZ 15) was used as test crop. Graphitic carbon nitride consistently exhibits the highest plant height, while the recommended rate and magnesium-doped bismuth ferrite exceled in stem girth. Root dry weight was significantly higher in the recommended rate and bismuth ferrite treatments, emphasizing their positive influence on root development. Similar trends were observed in shoot dry weight, with the recommended rate outperforming other treatments. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of treatment levels, identifying level 2 (2 g) as optimal for improved maize performance, aligning with the recommended rate of traditional fertilizer application. While nanostructured materials showed promising performances compared to the control, their impact on growth is comparable to conventional fertilizers. This research provides valuable insights into the potential of nanostructured materials in promoting maize growth, emphasizing the need for further exploration of their mechanisms and optimal application levels in agricultural practices.
Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of Adaptogens: A Mini-Review

Introduction: Adaptogens are a group of plants that exhibit complex, nonspecific effects on the human body, increasing its ability to adapt, develop resilience, and survive in stress conditions. They are found in many traditional medicinal systems and play a key role in restoring the body’s strength and stamina. Research in recent years has attempted to elucidate the mechanisms behind their pharmacological effects, but it appears that these effects are difficult to define precisely and involve multiple molecular pathways. Neuroinflammation: In recent years, chronic inflammation has been recognized as one of the common features of many central nervous system disorders (dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, depression, anxiety, ischemic stroke, and infections). Because of the specific nature of the brain, this process is called neuroinflammation, and its suppression can result in an improvement of patients’ condition and may promote their recovery. Adaptogens as anti-inflammatory agents: As has been discovered, adaptogens display anti-inflammatory effects, which suggests that their application may be broader than previously thought. They regulate gene expression of anti- and proinflammatory cytokines (prostaglandins, leukotriens) and can modulate signaling pathways (e.g., NF-κB). Aim: This mini-review aims to present the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of the most important plants classified as adaptogens: Schisandra chinensis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea and Withania somnifera.
Machine Learning Application for Classification of Brain Tumors Through MR Images to Detect Malignancy

In the present paper classification of Brain Tumours through MRI imaging as Fine, Medium and Coarse textures is proposed. The other methods of classification of brain tumours that are frequently used are based on size, shape and spread of the tumour. The importance of classifying tumours based on texture is that there is correlation between malignancy of the tumour and the texture of the tumour. The other methods normally don't give this information. In this paper relation between texture of the tumour and it's malignancy has been explored. Four methods of feature extraction have been used, in order to obtain texture information of the tumour. They are, Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), Gradient Matrix (GM), Laplacian Of Gaussian (LoG) and the Run-Length Matrix (RLM). Once the features are extracted, they are passed to Decision Tree classification algorithm. The classification algorithms classified the extracted features as having Fine, Medium or Coarse textures. The result obtained showed correlation between texture of the tumour and its malignancy. If the texture is predicted as Fine, then it is most likely a non-malignant, or benign tumour, and its diagnosis is most likely going to give a Complete response. A Medium texture would most likely give a Partial response, and is not very malignant. This is important, since knowing this information can benefit the patient and clinicians. This improves the diagnostic confidence of the clinicians and allows them to diagnose and report multiple patients that results in lower cost of the examination as well as access to diagnostics to people living in remote areas.
Potential Predictability during a Madden–Julian Oscillation Event

AbstractThe Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is an important source of predictability. The boreal 2004/05 winter is used as a case study to conduct predictability experiments with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. That winter season was characterized by an MJO event, weak El Nino, strong North Atlantic Oscillation, and extremely wet conditions over the contiguous United States (CONUS). The issues investigated are as follows: 1) growth of forecast errors in the tropics relative to the extratropics, 2) propagation of forecast errors from the tropics to the extratropics, 3) forecast error growth on spatial scales associated with MJO and non-MJO variability, and 4) the relative importance of MJO and non-MJO tropical variability on predictability of precipitation over CONUS.Root-mean-square errors in forecasts of normalized eddy kinetic energy (NEKE) (200 hPa) show that errors in initial conditions in the tropics grow faster than in the extratropics. Potential predictability extends out to about.
Joint Exposure to Multiple Air Pollutants, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Analysis in the UK Biobank Cohort

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the joint effects of multiple air pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx with dementia and examined the modifying effects of genetic susceptibility. Methods: This study included 220,963 UK Biobank participants without dementia at baseline. Weighted air pollution score reflecting the joint exposure to multiple air pollutants were constructed by cross-validation analyses, and inverse-variance weighted meta-analyses were performed to create a pooled effect. The modifying effect of genetic susceptibility on air pollution score was assessed by genetic risk score and APOE ε4 genotype. Results: The HR (95% CI) of dementia for per interquartile range increase of air pollution score was 1.13 (1.07∼1.18). Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1) of air pollution score, the HR (95% CI) of Q4 was 1.26 (1.13∼1.40) (P trend = 2.17 × 10−5). Participants with high air pollution score and high genetic susceptibility had higher risk of dementia compared to those with low air pollution score and low genetic susceptibility. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that joint exposure to multiple air pollutants substantially increases the risk of dementia, especially among individuals with high genetic susceptibility.
Comparative Study of Two Standard Septic Tank Drain Fields Using Different Sand with Recirculation for Nutrient Removal

On-site Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) using a septic tank followed by a recirculating sand filter (RSF) with effluent discharged to an unlined standard drain field is a typical performance-based treatment facility for nutrient removal. The type of effluent distribution in the standard drain field systems include gravity systems, low pressure dosed systems, drip irrigation systems, etc. The standard drain field that is constructed by a series of parallel, underground, perforated pipes allows the septic tank effluent to percolate into the surrounding soil in the vadose (unsaturated) zone where most of the residual nutrients may be assimilated. The inclusion of RSF may improve the nitrification to some extent so as to promote denitrification in the drain field. With such design, most residual nutrients in wastewater are expected to be consumed as the wastewater passes through the soil. This author’s aim of this paper is to present the effectivenss of RSF and a comparative study with these two different drain field sands for nutrient removal in vadose zone. They include astatula sand (i.e., citrus grove sand) and washed building sand, popular in Central Florida for drain field use. The use of a gene identification method is novel in supporting the biological removal. Research findings show that the performance of washed building sand and the astatula sand in terms of ultimate nutrient removal is about the same. Because astatula sand is less costly it can possibly be considered for replacement of the more expensive washed building sand.
Predicting average wintertime wind and wave conditions in the North Atlantic sector from Eurasian snow cover in October

The present study assesses the lead–lag teleconnection between Eurasian snow cover in October and the December-to-February mean boreal winter climate with respect to the predictability of 10 m wind speed and significant wave heights in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas. Lead–lag correlations exceeding a magnitude of 0.8 are found for the short time period of 1997/98–2012/13 (n = 16) for which daily satellite-sensed snow cover data is available to date. The respective cross-validated hindcast skill obtained from using linear regression as a statistical forecasting technique is similarly large in magnitude. When using a longer but degraded time series of weekly snow cover data for calculating the predictor variable (1979/80–2011/12, n = 34), hindcast skill decreases but yet remains significant over a large fraction of the study area. In addition, Monte-Carlo field significance tests reveal that the patterns of skill are globally significant. The proposed method might be used to make forecast decisions for wind and wave energy generation, seafaring, fishery and offshore drilling. To exemplify its potential suitability for the latter sector, it is additionally applied to DJF frequencies of significant wave heights exceeding 2 m, a threshold value above which mooring conditions at oil platforms are no longer optimal.
Rodent-based age appraisal of the Lower Siwalik Subgroup of Kalaunta, Ramnagar, Jammu, India

Parmar, V. , Magotra, R. , Norboo, R. & Prasad, G.V. R. , July 2016. Rodent-based age appraisal of the Lower Siwalik Subgroup of Kalaunta, Ramnagar, Jammu, India. Alcheringa 41, xx-xx. ISSN 0311-5518. Rocks of the Lower Siwalik Subgroup exposed around Ramnagar town in Jammu, India, have been known for more than 90 years to yield Chinji-equivalent (14.2–11.2 Ma) hominoid fossils. In 1997, the fossil ape Sivapithecus reported near Kalaunta village in the vicinity of Ramnagar was argued to be about 18 Ma old by its discoverers. This had implications for hominoid evolutionary studies, as molecular clock calibrations are commonly based on Sivapithecus first appearance datum (FAD). In a paper published in 2010, the identification of this hominoid tooth was questioned and reassigned to a suid. Recently, based upon the discovery of an indeterminate fossil bovid from the supposedly hominoid-yielding site near Kalaunta, an age estimate between ca 13.9 and 10.8 Ma was provided. As rodent biochronology has proven to be useful in age assignment of upper Cenozoic terrestrial sequences, the age of the fossil-bearing Lower Siwalik Subgroup of Kalaunta is re-assessed based upon newly recovered cricetid taxa. The cricetid rodents from this site comprise Punjabemys downsi and P. mikros. These two species are known to exist in the well-dated Potwar Siwalik Group succession between 14.3 and 12.6 Ma and between 16.3 and 13.0 Ma, respectively. Based on the overlapping temporal ranges of the cricetid taxa and an indeterminate Bovidae (ca 13.9–10.8 Ma) reported previously from this area, an age of 13.9–13.0 Ma is inferred for rocks occurring in the vicinity of Kalaunta. The new finds refute earlier claims of rocks in the area extending back to ca 18 Ma or as young as 10.8 Ma. Varun Parmar [varunparmarvp@gmail.com], Rahul Magotra [rahulmagotra01@gmail.com] and Rigzin Norboo [norboo04@gmail.com], Post Graduate Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu, 180 006, India; Guntupalli Veera Raghavendra Prasad [guntupalli.vrprasad@gmail.com], Department of Geology, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India.