Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Precision of Place Fields Governs Their Fate across Epochs of Experience

Abstract Spatial memories are represented by hippocampal place cells during navigation. This spatial code is dynamic, undergoing changes across time, known as representational drift, and across changes in internal state, even while navigating the same spatial environment with consistent behavior. A dynamic code may provide the hippocampus a means to track distinct epochs of experience that occur at different times or during different internal states and update spatial memories. Changes to the spatial code include place fields (PFs) that remap to new locations and place fields that vanish, while others are stable. However, what determines place field fate across epochs remains unclear. We measured the lap-by-lap properties of place cells in mice during navigation for a block of trials in a rewarded virtual environment. We then determined the position of the place fields in another block of trials in the same spatial environment either separated by a day (a distinct temporal epoch) or during the same session but with reward removed to change reward expectation (a distinct internal state epoch). We found that place cells with remapped place fields across epochs tended to have lower spatial precision during navigation in the initial epoch. Place cells with stable or vanished place fields tended to have higher spatial precision. We conclude that place cells with less precise place fields have greater spatial flexibility, allowing them to respond to, and track, distinct epochs of experience in the same spatial environment, while place cells with precise place fields generally preserve spatial information when their fields reappear.
TLB & WC-TLB-MM: The Improved Min-Max Algorithms for Multi Targets Indoor Localization

Internet of Things (IoT)-based Indoor localization is the most commonly used system to determine target locations indoors. It applies to various purposes, e.g., indoor navigation, asset tracking in warehouse management, and tracking people in hospitals. Distance-based techniques using the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), e.g., Min-Max, are widely applied because they can be directly implemented without prerequisite work such as site surveys. However, a challenging indoor environment with high numbers of interiors and people can obstruct signal propagation. This obstruction can reduce the accuracy of translating RSSI to distance using the path loss model, which will degrade the localization accuracy. In this paper, we introduce two improved Min-Max (MM) algorithms, i.e., Three Layer Bounding Box Min-Max (TLB-MM) and Weighted Centroid TLB-MM (WC-TLB-MM), to alleviate the issue and achieve higher localization accuracy. The novelty of the proposed TLB-MM is incorporating RSSI error functions to generate three-layer bounding boxes: the inner, middle, and outer in the Min-Max algorithm. Meanwhile, WC-TLB-MM enhanced the TLB-MM algorithm by integrating the Weighted Centroid Localization Algorithm (WCLA) in the calculation process. We validate our proposal by conducting various experiments using Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz deployed in a laboratory room of 10.17 m $\times9.12$ m. Experimental results demonstrate that TLB-MM improved the accuracy performance to 55.78% and 30.86%, while WC-TLB-MM gave 40.93% and 7.65% compared to Min-Max and WCLA, respectively. From these results, our proposed methods are proven simple yet applicable to RSSI-based indoor localization systems.
Understanding hydrologic controls of sloping soil response to precipitation through machine learning analysis applied to synthetic data

Abstract. Soil and underground conditions prior to the initiation of rainfall events control the hydrological processes that occur in slopes, affecting the water exchange through their boundaries. The present study aims at identifying suitable variables to be monitored to predict the response of sloping soil to precipitation. The case of a pyroclastic coarse-grained soil mantle overlaying a karstic bedrock in the southern Apennines (Italy) is described. Field monitoring of stream level recordings, meteorological variables, and soil water content and suction has been carried out for a few years. To enrich the field dataset, a synthetic series of 1000 years has been generated with a physically based model coupled to a stochastic rainfall model. Machine learning techniques have been used to unwrap the non-linear cause–effect relationships linking the variables. The k-means clustering technique has been used for the identification of seasonally recurrent slope conditions in terms of soil moisture and groundwater level, and the random forest technique has been used to assess how the conditions at the onset of rainfall controlled the attitude of the soil mantle to retain much of the infiltrating rainwater. The results show that the response in terms of the fraction of rainwater remaining stored in the soil mantle at the end of rainfall events is controlled by soil moisture and groundwater level prior to the rainfall initiation, giving evidence of the activation of effective drainage processes.
Herpes Zoster and COVID-19 Vaccination: A Narrative Review

Abstract COVID-19 was a worldwide emergency, leading to a global health crisis, which completely revolutionized every aspect of human life. Several strategies were adopted to limit the spreading of the infection such as testing and contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, use of face mask, social distancing, lockdowns, travel restrictions, etc. Of these, vaccines were the most important measures to reduce the transmission of the virus and the severity of the infection, in order to overcome the pandemic. Fortunately, vaccination campaign was a success, showing to be efficient in controlling and preventing the COVID-19, reducing the risk of disease progression, hospitalization, and mortality. Monitoring and addressing vaccine-related adverse events have been essential for maintaining public confidence. Indeed, with the increasing number of vaccines administered, various cutaneous reactions have been reported, making dermatologists key players in their recognition and treatment. Particularly, several cutaneous diseases and cutaneous findings have been reported. Of note, also viral reactivations have been described following COVID-19 vaccination. Among these, varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation has been collected. Globally, an early diagnosis and an accurate treatment of herpes zoster (HZ) is mandatory to reduce possible complications. In this context, we conducted a review of the current literature investigating cases HZ following COVID-19 vaccination with the aim of understanding the possible causal correlation and underlying pathogenetic mechanisms to offer clinicians a wide perspective on VZV reactivation and COVID-19 vaccines.
Quantification and reporting of vitamin D concentrations measured in human milk by LC–MS/MS

Vitamin D is essential for optimal bone health, and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy, growth and developmental outcomes. In early life, and in the absence of endogenous vitamin D production from UVB light, infants are reliant on vitamin D stores established in utero and the vitamin D supply from human milk (HM). However, comprehensive data on vitamin D in HM is lacking. Thus, in this review we explore the application of liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to the assessment of vitamin D in HM. We discuss the challenges of extracting and measuring multiple vitamin D metabolites from HM including the frequent requirement for a large sample volume, and inappropriate poor sensitivity. Shortcomings in the reporting of experimental procedures and data analysis further hinder advances in the field. Data collated from all studies that have applied LC–MS/MS reveal that, in general, cholecalciferol concentration is greater and more variable than 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, and that the vitamin D content of HM is low and less than the currently recommended dietary requirement of infants, although maternal supplementation can increase the vitamin D content of HM. Improvements in analytical methods and their validation and larger, more representative studies are required to better characterize HM milk vitamin D metabolite concentrations and their relationship with maternal status. These data are essential to understand relationships with infant health and to inform public health policies around vitamin D fortification and supplementation.
Integrating Imaging Bioinformatics in Ophthalmology

Imaging informatics collates the multitude of information into data; allowing research to occur, driving data quality, and ultimately improving patient care. Imaging informatics increases the efficiency of imaging workflows by enhancing productivity and making information accessible to multiple users simultaneously. Consistency of critical data is essen - tial for marrying information together through the process, to save the radiologist time, for consistency, billing, and re - search
Phylogeny more than plant height and leaf area explains variance in seed mass

Although variation in seed mass can be attributed to other plant functional traits such as plant height, leaf size, genome size, growth form, leaf N and phylogeny, until now, there has been little information on the relative contributions of these factors to variation in seed mass. We compiled data consisting of 1071 vascular plant species from the literature to quantify the relationships between seed mass, explanatory variables and phylogeny. Strong phylogenetic signals of these explanatory variables reflected inherited ancestral traits of the plant species. Without controlling phylogeny, growth form and leaf N are associated with seed mass. However, this association disappeared when accounting for phylogeny. Plant height, leaf area, and genome size showed consistent positive relationship with seed mass irrespective of phylogeny. Using phylogenetic partial R2s model, phylogeny explained 50.89% of the variance in seed mass, much more than plant height, leaf area, genome size, leaf N, and growth form explaining only 7.39%, 0.58%, 1.85%, 0.06% and 0.09%, respectively. Therefore, future ecological work investigating the evolution of seed size should be cautious given that phylogeny is the best overall predictor for seed mass. Our study provides a novel avenue for clarifying variation in functional traits across plant species, improving our better understanding of global patterns in plant traits.
Biological effects of trans, trans-farnesol in Leishmania amazonensis

Introduction Farnesol, derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate in the sterols biosynthetic pathway, is a molecule with three unsaturations and four possible isomers. Candida albicans predominantly secretes the trans, trans-farnesol (t, t-FOH) isomer, known for its role in regulating the virulence of various fungi species and modulating morphological transition processes. Notably, the evolutionary divergence in sterol biosynthesis between fungi, including Candida albicans, and trypanosomatids resulted in the synthesis of sterols with the ergostane skeleton, distinct from cholesterol. This study aims to assess the impact of exogenously added trans, trans-farnesol on the proliferative ability of Leishmania amazonensis and to identify its presence in the lipid secretome of the parasite. Methods The study involved the addition of exogenous trans, trans-farnesol to evaluate its interference with the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes. Proliferation, cell cycle, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial functionality were assessed as indicators of the effects of trans, trans-farnesol. Additionally, lipid secretome analysis was conducted, focusing on the detection of trans, trans-farnesol and related products derived from the precursor, farnesyl pyrophosphate. In silico analysis was employed to identify the sequence for the farnesene synthase gene responsible for producing these isoprenoids in the Leishmania genome. Results Exogenously added trans, trans-farnesol was found to interfere with the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes, inhibiting the cell cycle without causing DNA fragmentation or loss of mitochondrial functionality. Despite the absence of trans, trans-farnesol in the culture supernatant, other products derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate, specifically α-farnesene and β-farnesene, were detected starting on the fourth day of culture, continuing to increase until the tenth day. Furthermore, the identification of the farnesene synthase gene in the Leishmania genome through in silico analysis provided insights into the enzymatic basis of isoprenoid production. Discussion The findings collectively offer the first insights into the mechanism of action of farnesol on L. amazonensis. While trans, trans-farnesol was not detected in the lipid secretome, the presence of α-farnesene and β-farnesene suggests alternative pathways or modifications in the isoprenoid metabolism of the parasite. The inhibitory effects on proliferation and cell cycle without inducing DNA fragmentation or mitochondrial dysfunction raise questions about the specific targets and pathways affected by exogenous trans, trans-farnesol. The identification of the farnesene synthase gene provides a molecular basis for understanding the synthesis of related isoprenoids in Leishmania. Further exploration of these mechanisms may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies against Leishmania infections.
Narrow-band Circularly Polarized Antenna for Medical Microwave Imaging and Health Monitoring Applications

In this paper, a circularly polarized printed monopole antenna (CPPMA) is proposed for medical microwave imaging and health monitoring applications. The proposed CPPMA is optimized to operate at the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. A prototype of the designed antenna is fabricated and printed on the low-cost FR-4 substrate that has a compact size of 34 × 28 × 1.5 mm3. The simulated results indicate that the designed CPPMA operates between 2.425 GHz and 2.475 GHz while the measured results range between 2.32 GHz and 2.515 GHz. The designed CPPMA also reveals a circular polarization performance at 2.45 GHz (2.4386 GHz - 2.4633 GHz). The suitability of CPPMA for microwave imaging is confirmed by checking its aptitudes to detect the presence of breast tumors and brain strokes. A great detection capability is achieved for breast tumors and brain strokes of various sizes inserted at different positions with a high sensitivity to changes or anomalies in the dielectric properties of human tissues. In addition, the usefulness of the proposed CPPMA for wearable application is justified experimentally. Excellent agreement is achieved between the simulated results and the measured ones.
Magellanic System Stars Identified in SMACS J0723.3-7327 James Webb Space Telescope Early Release Observations Images

We identify 71 distant stars in James Webb Space Telescope/NIRCam early release observations (ERO) images of the field of galaxy cluster SMACS J0723.3-7327 (SMACS 0723). Given the relatively small (∼10°) angular separation between SMACS 0723 and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), it is likely that these stars are associated with the LMC outskirts or the Leading Arm. This is further bolstered by a spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis, which suggests an excess of stars at a physical distance of 40–100 kpc, consistent with being associated with or located behind the Magellanic system. In particular, we find that the overall surface density of stars brighter than 27.0 mag in the field of SMACS 0723 is ∼2.3 times that of stars in a blank field with similar Galactic latitude (the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field), and that the density of stars in the SMACS 0723 field with SED-derived distances consistent with the Magellanic system is ∼6.1 times larger than that of the blank field. The candidate stars at these distances are consistent with a stellar population at the same distance modulus with [Fe/H] = −1.0 and an age of ∼5.0 Gyr. On the assumption that all of the 71 stars are associated with the LMC, then the stellar density of the LMC at the location of the SMACS 0723 field is ∼740 stars kpc−3, which helps trace the density of stars in the LMC outskirts.
LA DIETA DEL COYOTE EN UN BOSQUE DE ENCINO-PINO DE LA SIERRA MADRE OCCIDENTAL DE DURANGO, MEXICO

La dieta estacional y anual del coyote Canis iatransiue determinada mediante el análisis de 330 excrementos colectados en la Reserva de la Biosfera la Michilía, Durango, México. Se consideraron sólo aquellas muestras cuyo diámetro máximo fuera entre 18.1 mm y 31 mm, diámetros menores o mayores se consideraron de otros carnívoros diferentes a los coyotes en esta área de estudio. los mamíferos fueron las categorías de alimentos más consumidos por el coyote, seguido por los frutos; estos suman el 91% de los alimentos consumidos durante el año, las aves, reptiles e insectos constituyen un 9%. Se observó una marcada variación estacional (P < 0.001) en el consumo de los diferentes tipos de alimento que componen la dieta del coyote en la zona. los mamíferos fueron el principal alimento durante Invierno y Primavera (época seca), mientras que los frutos lo fueron en el Verano (época húmeda). los índices de diversidad trófica obtenidos estacionalmente no presentan amplias variaciones, van de 1.17 a 1.52, y acentúan la importancia de los mamíferos y los frutos en la dieta estacional y anual del coyote en el área de estudio. Se discute el comportamiento de forrajeo de este depredador
Cognitive bias modification of interpretations for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents: A meta‐analysis

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that cognitive bias modification of interpretations (CBM‐I) is effective in modifying interpretation biases and has a small effect on reducing anxiety in children and adolescents. However, most evidence to date is based on studies which report anxiety or general distress using ad‐hoc Likert‐type or Visual Analogue Scales, which are useful but do not reliably index symptoms of clinical importance. This meta‐analysis aimed to establish the effects of CBM‐I for children and adolescents on both anxiety and depression using psychometrically validated symptom measures, as well as state negative affect and negative and positive interpretation bias. Methods We identified studies through a systematic search. To be eligible for inclusion, studies needed to target interpretation biases, not combine CBM‐I with another intervention, randomly allocate participants to CBM‐I or a control condition, assess a mental health outcome (i.e., anxiety or depression symptoms using validated measures or state measures of negative affect) and/or interpretation bias and have a mean age less than 18 years. Results We identified 36 studies for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. CBM‐I had a small and non‐significant unadjusted effect on anxiety symptoms (g = 0.16), no effect on depression symptoms (g = −0.03), and small and non‐significant unadjusted effects on state negative affect both at post‐training (g = 0.16) and following a stressor task (g = 0.23). In line with previous findings, CBM‐I had moderate to large unadjusted effects on negative and positive interpretations (g = 0.78 and g = 0.52). No significant moderators were identified. Conclusions CBM‐I is effective at modifying interpretation bias, however there were no effects on mental health outcomes. The substantial variability across studies and paucity of studies using validated symptom measures highlight the need to establish randomized controlled trial protocols that evaluate CBM‐I in clinical youth samples to determine its future as a clinical intervention.
Measuring and understanding carbon storage in afforested soils by physical fractionation

Forested ecosystems have been identified as potential C sinks. However, the accuracy of measurement and understanding of the underlying mechanisms for soil organic C (SOC) storage in forested ecosystems needs to be improved. The objective of this study was to use aggregate and soil organic matter (SOM) fractionation techniques to identify SOC pools that preferentially stabilize SOC in the long term and elucidate SOC sequestration mechanisms in forested soils. At two sites (Wildlife area, Ohio and Kemptville, Ontario) representing two different soils (Hapludalf and Hapludoll), we sampled soils under agriculture, afforestation, and forest and separated them into aggregates. Different size classes of intra-aggregate particulate organic matter (iPOM) fractions were isolated by dqnsity flotation, dispersion, and sieving. At both sites, aggregation and whole SOC content were greater in the forested than in the agricultural ecosystems. The greater aggregation in forested ecosystems resulted in greater iPOM C concentrations, especially The iPOM C fractions associated with microaggregates (53-250 μm) and microaggregates occluded within macroaggregates (mM) (250-2000 μm). The sum of C in these fractions (microaggregate protected C) was 468 ± 29, 696 ± 171, 673 ± 70 g C m -2 in the agricultural, afforested, and forested soils at Kemptville, respectively. The difference in the microaggregate protected C between the agricultural and the afforested soils accounted, on average, for 20% of the difference in whole SOC stocks between the soils. We conclude, SOC is stabilized for a relatively longer term within microaggregates formed in afforested and forest systems. Therefore, we suggest a new fractionation scheme to isolate this microaggregate associated SOC for assessing the impact of land use, land management, and climate change on C storage.
The High-Efficiency Optimization Design Method for Two-Stage Miller Compensated Operational Amplifier

In this brief, a high-efficiency optimization design method is proposed for a two-stage Miller-compensated operational amplifier (TSMCOA). In the proposed method, the parameters and performance metrics of TSMCOA are simulated by Cadence software. Then, the neural network (NN) models are utilized to describe the relationship between its parameters and performance metrics, which can greatly improve simulation efficiency. Based on the performance metrics of TSMCOA, a multi-objective function is established. Then, according to the NN models and multi-objective function, the parameters of TSMCOA are optimized by particle swarm optimization algorithm with linearly decreasing inertia weight (PSO-LDIW). The optimized area is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.1371 \mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>m2<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$72.09 \mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 20803
Long-term carbon accumulation in two tropical mountain peatlands, Andes Mountains, Ecuador

SUMMARY Tropical peatlands form in at least two distinct altitudinal zones, namely lowlands and high mountains. Unlike lowland tropical peatlands, which are typically forested, tropical mountain peatlands are dominated by cushion plants, bryophytes and herbaceous plants. Tropical mountain peatlands are poorly understood and little information is available on their ages, whether their peat bodies are relicts or actively accumulating carbon, the amount of carbon they contain, or the rate at which they can accumulate carbon. Our objective in this paper is to quantify carbon accumulation rates in two peatlands in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, South America. At each site, we collected peat cores which were analysed for bulk density, mineral content and % C and we calculated the amount of carbon stored. Due to the high amount of mineral sediment in the Cotopaxi peatland, carbon dating was not done at this site. The Cayambre-Coca peat body was 4 m thick, ca . 3,000 years old, and had accumulated 140 kgC m