Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concentrations of Nickel in Sediment and Periwinkleof Eagle Island River, Port Harcourt

The study was carried out in Eagle Island River, located in Mgbuosimini community, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. In this study, the concentration of Nickel (Ni) in sediments and periwinkles (Tympanotonos fuscatus) were determined from 25 sampling stations in Eagle Island River. The portion of the periwinkle that was assayed was the edible part. The assay was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean±SD of Ni concentrations in sediments and periwinkles were 2.77±1.05 mg/kg and 6.25±1.98 mg/kg respectively. The mean concentration of Ni was higher in periwinkles than in sediments. The correlation coefficient between Ni concentrations in sediment and periwinkle was 32.7%. Following the increasing industrial activities and waste disposal in the water body, the need to regularly determine the concentrations of this heavy metal in the water, aquatic lives and sediments is imperative in order to uphold environmental and human health protection. Original Research Article
Variation in Summer and Winter Microclimate in Multi-Chambered Bat Boxes in Eastern Australia: Potential Eco-Physiological Implications for Bats

Bat boxes are commonly used as a conservation tool. Detailed knowledge on the influence of box elements on microclimate is lacking, despite eco-physiological implications for bats. Summer and winter box temperature and relative humidity patterns were studied in narrow multi-chambered plywood and wood-cement boxes in eastern Australia. Box exteriors were black or white and plywood boxes comprised vents. Relative humidity was higher in white boxes than black boxes and box colour, construction material, chamber sequence and vents influenced temperatures. Maximum box temperature differences between designs varied by up to 9.0 °C in summer and 8.5 °C in winter. The black plywood box consistently recorded the warmest temperatures. This design comprised a temperature gradient between chambers and within the front chamber (influenced by vent). During the 32-day summer sampling period, the front chamber rarely recorded temperatures over 40.0 °C (postulated upper thermal tolerance limit of bats), while the third and fourth chamber never reached this threshold. At the study site, the tested black boxes are considered most thermally suitable for bats during average summer conditions. However, during temperature extremes black boxes likely become too hot. Wood-cement, a durable material not previously tested in Australia should be considered as an alternative construction material.
NFIL3 contributes to cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated killing

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are key effectors of the adaptive immune system that recognize and eliminate virally infected and cancerous cells. In naive CD8+ T cells, T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement drives a number of transcriptional, translational and proliferation changes over the course of hours and days leading to differentiation into CTLs. To gain a better insight into this mechanism, we compared the transcriptional profiles of naive CD8+ T cells to those of activated CTLs. To find new regulators of CTL function, we performed a selective clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screen on upregulated genes and identified nuclear factor IL-3 (NFIL3) as a potential regulator of cytotoxicity. Although NFIL3 has established roles in several immune cells including natural killer, Treg, dendritic and CD4+ T cells, its function in CD8+ CTLs is less well understood. Using CRISPR/Cas9 editing, we found that removing NFIL3 in CTLs resulted in a marked decrease in cytotoxicity. We found that in CTLs lacking NFIL3 TCR-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, immune synapse formation and granule release were all intact while cytotoxicity was functionally impaired in vitro. Strikingly, NFIL3 controls the production of cytolytic proteins as well as effector cytokines. Thus, NFIL3 plays a cell intrinsic role in modulating cytolytic mechanisms in CTLs.
Flow and Pollutant Dispersion Model in a 2D Urban Street Canyons Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

A two-dimensional model is used to simulate temperature distribution, wind speed and pollutants dispersion within an isolated two-dimensional street canyon using SIMPLE algorithm in ANSYS Fluent version 16.2. The simulation is based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations coupled with a series of standard, RNG and realizable k-e turbulence models. Simulation domain consisted of a street canyon with two buildings enclosing a street with the aspect ratio of 1. The wind is assumed to be perpendicular to the direction of the street and the source of the pollution is assumed to be liner. The results showed that the RNG k-e turbulence model is the most optimum model by comparing with the calculated data under different wind speed patterns and pollutant dispersion model. The improvement of turbulent viscosity term of the RNG k-e turbulence model provides a more accurate and reliable numerical solution for the present study regarding to the pollution dispersion in a street canyon. The simulation results also showed that the dimensionless pollutant concentrations, P, is larger on the leeward side of the buildings and decrease exponentially from floor to top of the upstream buildings. Furthermore, the results showed that the pollutant concentrations on the leeward side of building are more than that on the windward side due to the pollutant transportation of vortex circulation.
Possible Markers for Distinguishing benign and Malignant Thyroid Tumors and Predicting Malignancy in Patients with Genetic Predisposition to Cancer.

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that mutations in several genes disrupt oxidative metabolism, increasing the risk of developing tumors and their malignancy in patients with a family predisposition to cancer. The purpose of our study was to assess the characteristics of oxidative metabolism in patients with malignant and benign tumor with and without a family history of cancer and identify the marker predicting the likelihood of malignancy. METHODS We conducted a study on patients with thyroid pathology (thyrotoxicosis, benign tumor pathology of the thyroid gland, and thyroid cancer) who underwent treatment at LLC "Oncology Scientific Research Center" in Tbilisi, Georgia between 2020-2021. In patients' blood the thyroid hormones content, the oxidative metabolism parameters (activity of nonenzymatic antioxidant system (TAA), malondialdehyde (MDA) content), geometrical and rheological (deformability index (EDI), membrane proteins content) characteristics of erythrocytes were determined. RESULTS in the patient's blood serum with benign tumor (47 patients) MDA exceeded (p<0.005) and TAA decreased (p<0.005) in comparison to the control level; in patients with thyroid cancer (35 patients), MDA also exceeded (p<0.005), while TAA increased (p<0.005) up to the control level. In patients with benign and malignant tumors, the size of erythrocytes increased compared to the control indicators (p<0.005); in patients with thyroid cancer and benign tumors with a family history of cancer (29 patients) EDI increased (p<0.005), content of GLUT1 in erythrocyte membranes decreased (p<0.005) compared to the control level. CONCLUSIONS Alterations in redox metabolism play a crucial role in tumor formation; an imbalance between anti-/pro-oxidant systems may contribute to tumor formation and support its progression into a more malignant state. Thyroid cancer is characterized by a reduction in erythrocyte deformability, related to TSH levels. These alterations are less detectable in patients with benign thyroid tumors with a family history of cancer.
Novel Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block Provided Satisfactory Analgesia after Breast Cancer Surgery: Two Case Reports

The serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block is a novel technique recently described for thoracic analgesia. This study presents two cases using this technique for postoperative pain after mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. The SPSIP block was administered to the patients in the preoperative period as part of multimodal analgesia, and postoperative pain was monitored using the numeric rating scale (NRS). In both patients, the NRS pain scores were below 3/10. SPSIP provided adequate postoperative analgesia in these cases without the need for any opioid agents. Thus, an SPSIP block can be a valuable treatment option for postoperative pain after breast surgery.
Flash Suppression Reveals an Additional Nonvisual Extrastriate Contribution for Amblyopic Suppression

Purpose A growing body of evidence suggests that anomalous binocular interactions underlie the deficits in amblyopia, but their nature and neural basis are still not fully understood. Methods We examined the behavioral and neural correlates of interocular suppression in 13 adult amblyopes and 13 matched controls using a flash suppression paradigm while recording steady-state visual evoked potentials. The strength of suppression was manipulated by changing the contrast (10%, 20%, 30%, or 100%) of the flash stimulus, or the suppressor, presented either in the dominant (fellow) or nondominant (amblyopic) eye. Results At the behavioral level, interocular suppression in normal observers was found, regardless of the eye origin of the flash onset. However, the pattern of suppression in the amblyopes was not symmetric, meaning that the suppression from the dominant eye was stronger, supporting a putative chronic suppression of the amblyopic eye. Interestingly, the amblyopic eye was able to suppress the dominant eye but only at the highest contrast level. At the electrophysiology level, suppression of the steady-state visual evoked potential responses in both groups in all conditions was similar over the occipital region, but differed over the frontal region. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, although suppression in amblyopia involves an imbalanced interaction between the inputs to the two eyes in the visual cortex, there is also involvement of nonvisual extrastriate areas.
Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction: A Diagnosis in Evolution.

Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is a rapidly evolving diagnosis that can represent early or variant achalasia. Since the publication of the Chicago Classification version 4.0, the criteria for this diagnosis have been more stringent. Currently, the criteria include an elevated median integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) in both the supine and upright positions, elevated intrabolus pressure in at least 20% of supine swallows, dysphagia and/or chest pain, as well as an abnormal timed barium esophagram and/or impedance planimetry testing. Additionally, other secondary causes may result in an elevated IRP and must be excluded. The management of conclusive EGJOO is targeted therapy to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), although treatment is not straightforward. Overall, adjuvant testing and data should be scrutinized for appropriateness of LES disruption. The spectrum of treatment options includes simple monitoring as well as more invasive therapies such as endoscopic dilation and myotomy. This article explores the newest criteria and management options for clinically relevant EGJOO.
Total Effective Xenoestrogen Burden in Serum Samples and Risk of Endometrial Cancer in the Spanish Screenwide Case–Control Study

Background: Endometrial cancer is a hormone-dependent cancer, and estrogens play a relevant role in its etiology. However, little is known about the effects of environmental pollutants that act as xenoestrogens or that influence estrogenic activity through different pathways. Objective: We aimed to assess the relationship between the combined estrogenic activity of mixtures of xenoestrogens present in serum samples and the risk of endometrial cancer in the Screenwide case–control study. Methods: The total effective xenoestrogen burden (TEXB) attributable to organohalogenated compounds (TEXB-α) and to endogenous hormones and more polar xenoestrogens (TEXB-β) was assessed in serum from 156 patients with endometrial cancer (cases) and 150 controls by combining chemical extraction and separation by high-performance liquid chromatography with the E-SCREEN bioassay for estrogenicity. Results: Median TEXB-α and TEXB-β levels for cases (0.30 and 1.25 Eeq pM/mL, respectively) and controls (0.42 and 1.28 Eeq pM/mL, respectively) did not significantly differ (p=0.653 and 0.933, respectively). An inverted-U risk trend across serum TEXB-α and TEXB-β levels was observed in multivariate adjusted models: Positive associations were observed for the second category of exposure in comparison to the lowest category of exposure [odds ratio (OR)=2.11 (95% CI: 1.13, 3.94) for TEXB-α, and OR=3.32 (95% CI: 1.62, 6.81) for TEXB-β], whereas no significant associations were observed between the third category of exposure and the first [OR=1.22 (95% CI: 0.64, 2.31) for TEXB-α, and OR=1.58 (95% CI: 0.75, 3.33) for TEXB-β]. In mutually adjusted models for TEXB-α and TEXB-β levels, the association of TEXB-α with endometrial cancer risk was attenuated [OR=1.45 (95% CI: 0.61, 3.47) for the second category of exposure], as well as estimates for TEXB-β (OR=2.68; 95% CI: 1.03, 6.99). Most of the individual halogenated contaminants showed no associations with both TEXB and endometrial cancer. Conclusions: We evaluated serum total xenoestrogen burden in relation to endometrial cancer risk and found an inverted-U risk trend across increasing categories of exposure. The use of in vitro bioassays with human samples may lead to a paradigm shift in the way we understand the negative impact of chemical mixtures on human health effects. These results are relevant from a public health perspective and for decision-makers in charge of controlling the production and distribution of chemicals with xenoestrogenic activity. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13202
Penetrance interactions of colour pattern loci in the African Monarch and their implications for the evolution of dominance

Abstract Scoring the penetrance of heterozygotes in complex phenotypes, like colour pattern, is difficult and complicates the analysis of systems in which dominance is incomplete or evolving. The African Monarch (Danaus chrysippus) represents an example where colour pattern heterozygotes, formed in the contact zone between the different subspecies, show such intermediate dominance. Colour pattern in this aposematic butterfly is controlled by three loci A, B and C. The B and C loci are closely linked in a B/C supergene and significant interaction of B and C phenotypes is therefore expected via linkage alone. The A locus, however, is not linked to B/C and is found on a different chromosome. To study interactions between these loci we generated colour pattern heterozygotes by crossing males and females bearing different A and B/C genotypes, collected from different parts of Africa. We derived a novel scoring system for the expressivity of the heterozygotes and, as predicted, we found significant interactions between the genotypes of the closely linked B and C loci. Surprisingly, however, we also found highly significant interactions between C and the unlinked A locus, modifications that generally increased the resemblance of heterozygotes to homozygous ancestors. In contrast, we found no difference in the penetrance of any of the corresponding heterozygotes from crosses conducted either in allopatry or sympatry, in reciprocal crosses of males and females, or in the presence or absence of endosymbiont mediated male‐killing or its associated neoW mediated sex‐linkage of colour pattern. Together, this data supports the idea that the different colour morphs of the African Monarch meet transiently in the East African contact zone and that genetic modifiers act to mask inappropriate expression of colour patterns in the incorrect environments.
Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Cholangiocarcinoma in a High Prevalence Area of Northeastern Thailand: A 10-Year Large Scale Screening Program.

BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is experiencing a global increase, particularly in Northeast Thailand, which has the highest global incidence rates. However, there is a paucity of studies on CCA screening, especially in high-risk populations. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and spatial patterns of CCA in Northeast Thailand over a ten-year screening period. METHODS The study included CCA patients from the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP) between 2013 and 2022, which encompasses 20 provinces and 282 districts in Northeast of Thailand. CCA data were based on pathological diagnosis to determine the distribution and spatial patterns. RESULTS Of the 2,515 CCA patients, approximately two-thirds were males (63.98%), and the majority were aged over 55 years (72.72%), with a mean age of 61.12 ± 9.13 years. The highest percentage of CCA cases occurred in 2014 at 19.01% of all patients, followed by 2018 at 15.23%. The overall CCA incidence rate in Northeast Thailand over ten years was 32 per 100,000 population. Hotspot statistical analysis identified high-scoring geographic clusters in the upper and middle regions, showing a tendency to expand from hotspot areas into nearby areas. CONCLUSION The distribution of CCA in Northeast Thailand has continued to rise over the past decade, particularly in the upper and middle regions. Targeted screening in high-risk areas and increased awareness of CCA risks are crucial to mitigate its impact.
High‐potassium volcanic rocks from the Okinawa Trough: Implications for a cryptic potassium‐rich and DUPAL‐like source

Major element, trace element, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions of high‐potassium calc‐alkaline rhyolites (the T6 rhyolites) collected from the western slope of the middle Okinawa Trough (MOT) are reported in this article. These high‐potassium rhyolites have similar major and trace elemental compositions as Type 2 rhyolites from the MOT, except that the former contain higher concentrations of K2O, Th, U, and Rb and lower concentrations of Sr and Eu. Experimental data indicate that the T6 rhyolites cannot be sourced from low‐ to mid‐potassium MOT rocks by either fractional crystallization or partial melting processes but are instead derived from a cryptic potassium‐rich source beneath the Okinawa Trough (OT). Considering that high‐potassium volcanic rocks are distributed throughout the East China Sea Shelf, the Ryukyu Arc, and Kyushu Island, the high‐potassium OT rocks could represent an important connection between the OT and its adjacent regions. Compared to volcanic rocks from the MOT axial zone, the T6 rhyolites have more depleted Sr–Nd isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7035–0.7036, 143Nd/144Nd = 0.51291–0.51297) but much more enriched compositions of 207Pb (207Pb/204Pb = 15.60–15.63) and 208Pb (208Pb/204Pb = 38.45–38.57), thus recording a significant DUPAL‐like signature. These isotopic anomalies cannot be explained by the incorporation of subducting sediments or crustal contamination but instead imply the presence of a DUPAL‐like mantle source beneath the OT. The decrease of the DUPAL‐like anomaly from the T6 rhyolites to the MOT axial zone volcanic rocks is consistent with the injection of an normal mid‐ocean ridge basalt (N‐MORB) mantle source, such as asthenospheric material, into pre‐existing DUPAL‐like mantle during back‐arc extension.
HYDROLOGICAL MODELING APPLIED WITH THE IPH2 MODEL IN THE RIVER POXIM AÇU RIO SUB-BASIN, BRAZIL

A hydrological model is one of the tools developed by science to better understand and represent the behavior of the river basin. The IPH2 model aims to use it for projects in urban and rural basins. It is a model that uses few parameters and it is based on known methodologies. The objective of the research was to analyze the hydrological flow behavior in the Poxim Açu River sub-basin through modeling with the IPH2 model, as well as to model the flow of the Poxim River basin with a model that does not require a lot of input data and to calibrate the IPH2 model for the studied basin. After the automatic and manual calibration phases, parameters for hydrological simulation were found. After the simulation, the value found for NSE was 0.73 for the coefficient of determination (RSR) the value generated was 0.74, PBIAS found after calibration was –7.44, the value of the RMSE was 0.95, and the RSR value found was 0.07. According to the results of the present study, it was possible to conclude that the calibration process for the flow behavior of the Poxim-Açu River basin responds positively to what the literature considers satisfactory.
Coupled Precambrian crustal evolution and supercontinent cycles: Insights from in-situ U-Pb, O- and Hf-isotopes in detrital zircon, NW india

Oxygen and hafnium isotopic compositions, measured in-situ on U-Pb dated zircon grains from Paleoproterozoic to early Cambrian successions in NW India have implication for regional crustal evolution and supercontinent cycles. Analyzed zircon grains have high Th/U ratios (>0.1), display strongly fractionated REE patterns, metamorphic overprint, and evidence of interaction with low temperature fluids. Their positive Ce and negative Eu anomalies preclude any Pb loss after zircon crystallization. The U-Pb age spectra (concordance between 90 and 110%) indicate prominent peaks at 2.6 to 2.4 Ga, 1.9 to 1.7 Ga, 1.6 to 1.5 Ga, 1.2 to 1.0 Ga and 0.9 to 0.7 Ga that coincide with the assembly and breakup of Precambrian supercontinents. The Hf model ages of zircon grains with mantle like δ18O values reveal continuous generation of the continental crust from 3.3 to 1.3 Ga in NW India with major episodes during 3.3 to 2.7 Ga and 1.7 to 1.5 Ga. These ages correspond well with the 3.4 to 2.9 Ga and 2.2 to 1.6 Ga age peaks recognized in detrital zircon populations from eastern Australia and North America, underlining the significance of these time brackets in continental crust generation during the global continental evolution. Magmatic episodes at 1.9 to 1.7, 1.2 to 1.0 and 0.9 to 0.7 Ga are considered to represent crustal reworking rather than juvenile addition and the former two phases correspond with periods of supercontinent assembly. However, a progressive depletion in 18O from supra-mantle to mantle values in the 1.7 to 1.5 Ga zircons, coupled with their mantle-like εHf(t) values, indicate at least some juvenile input. Moreover, the 1344 to 1120 Ma zircon grains with low δ18O (3.7–1.5‰) but high εHf(t) (+8.1− +1.9 with one exception of −2.5) values signify rapid reworking of mantle derived materials in an extensional setting during this period. The 0.9 to 0.7 Ga peak, corresponding to the fragmentation of Rodinia supercontinent, documents crustal reworking that is in contradiction to the generally considered juvenile crustal addition in extensional setting associated with supercontinent breakup.