Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distinct changes in global brain synchronization in different motor subtypes of Parkinson’s disease

This study investigated alterations in degree centrality (DC) in different motor subtypes of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and analyzed its clinical significance during disease occurrence. A total of 146 subjects were recruited in the study, including 90 patients with PD [51 and 39 with tremor dominant (TD) and akinetic-rigid dominant (ARD) disease, respectively] and 56 healthy controls (HCs). The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of all the subjects were obtained by 3.0 T magnetic resonance scans. The DC values, an indicator of whole brain synchronization, were calculated and compared among the TD, ARD, and HC groups. Disparities in DC values among the three groups were evaluated by analysis of variance and post hoc two-sample t-tests. Correlation between brain regions with DC differences and clinical variables were performed using partial correlation analysis after controlling for age, gender, and disease duration. Compared to the HCs, both TD and ARD groups demonstrated increased DC values bilaterally in the cerebellum; DC values were decreased in the left putamen and paracentral lobule in the TD group and in the left anterior cingulate gyrus and right supplementary motor area in the ARD group. Compared to the ARD group, the TD group showed decreased DC values in bilateral cerebellar hemispheres and increased DC values in the left anterior cingulate gyrus and right supplementary motor area. The DC of the whole brain showed inconsistencies and shared neural bases among patients with the two subtypes of PD. The differences between brain regions with abnormal DC values may be closely related to different clinical presentations of the two motor subtypes. Our findings provide new insights into the clinical heterogeneity of PD with respect to different motor subtypes.
Looking Inwards: Towards a Geographically Sensitive Approach to Occupational Sex Segregation

Perales F. and Vidal S. Looking inwards: towards a geographically sensitive approach to occupational sex segregation, Regional Studies. This article questions implicit assumptions in the literature and explores the issue of occupational sex segregation from a geographical standpoint. Specifically, variation in the gender compositions of occupations, the degree of occupational sex dissimilarity, and the impact of occupational feminization on wages across local labour markets in England and Wales is uncovered and explained. These findings imply that occupational sex segregation and its outcomes are contingent on the local context, that policies aimed at achieving gender equality at work should be channelled through local authorities, and that further research should be devoted to exploring systematically the multiple intersections between geographical space and gender equality at work.
Parameter-Free False Data Injection Attack Model on Power System’s Automatic Generation Control

Automatic generation control (AGC) plays a crucial role in frequency control and economic dispatch of electric power systems. However, AGC systems, relying heavily on frequency and tie-line power measurements, are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. A novel false data injection attack (FDIA) algorithm targeting AGC is proposed, which requires no model information and parameter values. To this end, we first derive the maximum likelihood estimation of the multivariate Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) process, based on which AGC parameters, topology information, and the conditional variance of states can be extracted purely from eavesdropped sensor data (frequency, tie-line power, reference power). Then we will exploit the extracted information to design FDIA vectors by solving an optimization problem, which can bypass conventional AGC defense mechanisms. Numerical studies in 2-area and 3-area systems show that the proposed FDIA algorithm can deteriorate the system’s frequency within several minutes when measurement noise, transmission delay, and computational time are considered.
A Time-Interleaved Digital-to-Analog Converter up to 118 GS/s With Integrated Analog Multiplexer in 28-nm FD-SOI CMOS Technology

To enhance sampling rates of CMOS digital-to-analog converters (DACs), analog multiplexing of several DAC output signals in the time domain provides a solution. In this article, a full CMOS integration of two sub-DACs and an active analog multiplexer (AMUX) on a single chip in 28-nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) CMOS technology is presented for the first time for sampling rates of 100 GS/s and beyond. Sampling rates up to 108 GS/s for broadband pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) signals and up to 118 GS/s for oversampled signals are shown outperforming previously reported data in terms of sampling rate or data rate, respectively. Two 8-bit sub-DACs up to 59 GS/s with CMOS inverter-based output drivers and pseudo-segmentation provide the analog input data for the 2:1 AMUX realized in current-mode topology. An additional on-chip memory of 256 kB completes the system to a universal arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). At 100 GS/s, the total power consumption is about 4 W. Generally, an AMUX is able to shift the limits of DACs in well-established CMOS technologies toward higher frequencies independent on technology advances and opens a second, conceptual path for achieving higher sampling rates with an additional benefit of a principle bandwidth extension by the AMUX operation.
Unlocking the Complexity of Neuromuscular Diseases: Insights from Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neuromuscular Junctions

Over the past 20 years, the use of pluripotent stem cells to mimic the complexities of the human neuromuscular junction has received much attention. Deciphering the key mechanisms underlying the establishment and maturation of this complex synapse has been driven by the dual goals of addressing developmental questions and gaining insight into neuromuscular disorders. This review aims to summarise the evolution and sophistication of in vitro neuromuscular junction models developed from the first differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into motor neurons to recent neuromuscular organoids. We also discuss the potential offered by these models to decipher different neuromuscular diseases characterised by defects in the presynaptic compartment, the neuromuscular junction, and the postsynaptic compartment. Finally, we discuss the emerging field that considers the use of these techniques in drug screening assay and the challenges they will face in the future.
Identification of Key Immune-Related Genes in the Treatment of Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction with Empagliflozin Based on RNA-Seq

Purpose Heart failure is a serious complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is crucial to investigate the mechanism of action of empagliflozin in the treatment of heart failure. Methods A total of 20 wild type (WT) male C57BL6/J mice were used to establish a model of heart failure after myocardial infarction and randomly divided into 2 groups: treatment group and control group. The treatment group was treated with empagliflozin, and the control group was treated with placebo. After 8 weeks of treatment, mouse heart tissues were collected for next generation sequencing. Bioinformatics methods were used to screen the key genes. Finally, the correlation between clinical data and gene expression was analyzed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the expression of key genes. Results A mouse model of heart failure was successfully constructed. By DEG analysis, a total of 740 DEGs in the treatment group vs the control group were obtained. Dendritic cells, granulocytes, follicular B, plasma cell, cDC1, cDC2, pDC and neutrophils were 8 different immune cells identified by immunoinfiltration analysis. Through WGCNA, the turquoise module with the highest correlation with the above differential immune cells was selected. One hundred and forty-two immune-related DEGs were obtained by taking intersection of the DEGs and the genes of the turquoise module. Col17a1 and Gria4 were finally screened out as key immune-related genes via PPI analysis and machine learning. Col17a1 was significantly up-regulated, while Gria4 was significantly down-regulated in the treatment group. At the same time, the expression level of Col17a1 was significantly correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular internal dimension systole (LVIDs). Conclusion Col17a1 and Gria4 are key immune-related genes of empagliflozin in the treatment of heart failure after myocardial infarction. This study provides a scientific basis for elucidating the mechanism of action of empagliflozin in treating heart failure after myocardial infarction.
Quad Element MIMO Antenna for C, X, Ku, and Ka-Band Applications

This article presents a quad-element MIMO antenna designed for multiband operation. The prototype of the design is fabricated and utilizes a vector network analyzer (VNA-AV3672D) to measure the S-parameters. The proposed antenna is capable of operating across three broad frequency bands: 3–15.5 GHz, encompassing the C band (4–8 GHz), X band (8–12.4 GHz), and a significant portion of the Ku band (12.4–15.5 GHz). Additionally, it covers two mm-wave bands, specifically 26.4–34.3 GHz and 36.1–48.9 GHz, which corresponds to 86% of the Ka-band (27–40 GHz). To enhance its performance, the design incorporates a partial ground plane and a top patch featuring a dual-sided reverse 3-stage stair and a straight stick symmetrically placed at the bottom. The introduction of a defected ground structure (DGS) on the ground plane serves to provide a wideband response. The DGS on the ground plane plays a crucial role in improving the electromagnetic interaction between the grounding surface and the top patch, contributing to the wideband characteristics of the antenna. The dimensions of the proposed MIMO antenna are 31.7 mm × 31.7 mm × 1.6 mm. Furthermore, the article delves into the assessment of various performance metrics related to antenna diversity, such as ECC, DG, TARC, MEG, CCL, and channel capacity, with corresponding values of 0.11, 8.87 dB, −6.6 dB, ±3 dB, 0.32 bits/sec/Hz, and 18.44 bits/sec/Hz, respectively. Additionally, the equivalent circuit analysis of the MIMO system is explored in the article. It’s worth noting that the measured results exhibit a strong level of agreement with the simulated results, indicating the reliability of the proposed design. The MIMO antenna’s ability to exhibit multiband response, good diversity performance, and consistent channel capacity across various frequency bands renders it highly suitable for integration into multi-band wireless devices. The developed MIMO system should be applicable on n77/n78/n79 5G NR (3.3–5 GHz); WLAN (4.9–5.725 GHz); Wi-Fi (5.15–5.85 GHz); LTE5537.5 (5.15–5.925 GHz); WiMAX (5.25–5.85 GHz); WLAN (5.725–5.875 GHz); long-distance radio telecommunication (4–8 GHz; C-band); satellite, radar, space communications and terrestrial broadband (8–12 GHz; X-band); and various satellite communications (27–40 GHz; Ka-band).
The role of matrix stiffness in breast cancer progression: a review

The significance of matrix stiffness in cancer development has been investigated in recent years. The gradual elastic force the extracellular matrix imparts to cells, known as matrix stiffness, is one of the most important types of mechanical stimulation. Increased matrix stiffness alters the biological activity of cells, which promotes the growth of numerous malignancies, including breast cancer. Comprehensive studies have demonstrated that increasing matrix stiffness activates molecular signaling pathways that are closely linked to breast cancer progression. There are many articles exploring the relationship between mechanism hardness and breast cancer, so we wanted to provide a systematic summary of recent research advances. In this review, we briefly introduce the mechanism of matrix stiffness in breast cancer, elaborate on the effect of extracellular matrix stiffness on breast cancer biological behavior and signaling pathways, and finally, we will talk about breast cancer treatment that focuses on matrix stiffness.
Assessing the Impact of Rural Multifunctionality on Non-Point Source Pollution: A Case Study of Typical Hilly Watershed, China

In the context of rural development and transformation, it is crucial to identify the impact of rural multifunctionality on non-point source (NPS) pollution. This study applies the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), geographical detector, and principal component analysis in Liyang, a typical hilly subbasin in China, in order to assess the rural multifunctional development that influences the spatial differentiation of NPS pollution and detect the interactive effects of rural multifunctionality. The R2 and NSE demonstrated that the calibrated SWAT model successfully simulated NPS pollution in Liyang. The village scale was identified as the optimal research scale for examining the rural multifunctional development on NPS pollution distribution. The rural multifunctional indicators, such as the proportion of vegetable farming, sowing area, and grain farming, would influence NPS distribution. The number of family farming cooperatives, the area of pond farming, and the nature reserves area were also significant. The rural multifunctionality in Liyang could be classified into five categories: grain production, mixed agriculture, ecological conservation, leisure tourism, and industry and business function. The superposition of rural multifunctionality has a strengthening effect on NPS pollution, especially when the ecological conservation function is combined with the grain production or modern agriculture function. The study could provide NPS pollution control strategies for policymaking in rural multifunctional development.
Determining marine particulate and dissolved material properties from measurements of their inherent optical properties in situ

DETERMINING MARINE PARTICULATE AND DISSOLVED MATERIAL PROPERTIES FROM MEASUREMENTS OF THEIR INHERENT OPTICAL PROPERTIES IN SITU by Eufemia Palomino Particle and dissolved absorption, ap and ay, and particle scattering, bp, coefficients were determined using an AC-9 and particle backscattering, bbp, coefficients were measured with a HydroScat-6, along a section of the central California coast. The composition (whether living algal cells, detritus, or dissolved material), relative concentration of particulate and dissolved material and relative particle size distribution were determined from optical profiles within and below the mixed layer in coastal waters and within and below the mixed layer in oceanic waters. Within the coastal mixed layer, the dominant constituent was living algal cells as evidenced by a strong chlorophyll spectrum, a high ap:ay ratio (66:34, n=5, s=10.0) , and a system dominated by larger particles (bbp/bp(488 nm) = [0.01] and γ = 0.5 (gamma, γ, is the slope relating the backscattering coefficient to the wavelength). Below the coastal mixed layer, detritus and dissolved material became more important: ap:ay ratio was relatively lower (45:55, n=5, s=9.3) and the system was dominated by smaller particles (bbp/bp(488 nm) = 0.03 and γ = [1-1.3]). In oceanic waters, constituents were equally comprised of living algal cells and dissolved material (ap:ay = 55:45) and the system was dominated by smaller particles (γ = 1.3). Below the oceanic mixed layer dissolved and detritus became more important once passed the subsurface chlorophyll maximum.
Microseismic activity and fluid fault interactions: some results from the Corinth Rift Laboratory (CRL), Greece

The Gulf of Corinth, in western-central Greece, is one of the fastest continental rifts in the world. In its western section near the city of Aigion, the previous work has outlined the existence of a shallow dipping seismogenic zone between 5 and 12 km. This seismic activity has been monitored with a network of 12 three-component stations for the period 2000– 2007. Three, few months long, seismic swarms have been observed. They mobilize a complex structural fault system that associates both shallow dipping elements and subvertical structures with very different azimuths, some of which extend to depths greater than that of the shallow dipping zone. The swarm activity associates intensely active, short crises (a few days) with more quiescent periods. The long-term growth velocity of the seismically activated domains is compatible with a fluid diffusion process. Its characteristics are discussed in the context of the results from the 1000 m deep AIG10 well that intersects the Aigion Fault at 760 m. The vertical growth directions of the seismically activated volumes outline two different sources for the fluid and imply non-steady pressure conditions within the seismic domain. The diffusivity along the cataclastic zone of the faults is in the order of 1 m2s−1, while faults act as hydraulic barrier in the direction perpendicular to their strike. If the vertical direction is a principal stress component, the high pore pressure values that must be reached to induce slip on the shallowly dipping planes can result only from transitory dynamic conditions. It is argued that the shallow dipping active seismic zone is only local and does not correspond to a 100 km scale decollement zone. We propose to associate the localization process with deep fluid fluxes that have progressively modified the local stress field and may be the cause for the quiescence of the West Heliki Fault presently observed.
Effects of Standing after a Meal on Glucose Metabolism and Energy Expenditure

In the past decade, university students have become more sedentary. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Methods that decrease sedentary lifestyles, such as the use of standing desks to increase physical activity, have been extensively examined. However, the effects of postprandial standing and sitting on energy metabolism have not yet been compared. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of standing after a meal on energy expenditure and glucose metabolism. Ten males participated in the present study. The experiment was initiated with 300 g of rice ingested as a carbohydrate load. The subjects maintained a standing or sitting position for 120 min after the meal. Energy expenditure was calculated from VO2 and VCO2 using the indirect calorimetry method. Glucose metabolism was assessed by measuring blood glucose levels and the exogenous glucose metabolic rate. Energy expenditure through standing after eating was approximately 0.16 ± 0.08 kcal/min higher than that through sitting. Blood glucose dynamics did not significantly differ between the standing and sitting positions. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the dynamics of the exogenous glucose metabolic rate between the standing and sitting positions. Standing for 2 h after a meal increased energy expenditure by 10.7 ± 4.6% without affecting glucose metabolism.
S100a16 Deficiency Prevents Alcohol-induced Fatty Liver Injury via Inducing MANF Expression in Mice

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses conditions ranging from simple steatosis to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. It has gained significant global attention in recent years. Despite this, effective pharmacological treatments for ALD remain elusive, and the core mechanisms underlying the disease are not yet fully comprehended. S100A16, a newly identified calcium-binding protein, is linked to lipid metabolism. Our research has discovered elevated levels of the S100A16 protein in both serum and liver tissue of ALD patients. A similar surge in hepatic S100A16 expression was noted in a Gao-binge alcohol feeding mouse model. S100a16 knockdown alleviated ethanol-induced liver injury, steatosis and inflammation. Conversely, S100a16 transgenic mice showed aggravating phenomenon. Mechanistically, we identify mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) as a regulated entity downstream of S100a16 deletion. MANF inhibited ER-stress signal transduction induced by alcohol stimulation. Meanwhile, MANF silencing suppressed the inhibition effect of S100a16 knockout on ethanol-induced lipid droplets accumulation in primary hepatocytes. Our data suggested that S100a16 deletion protects mice against alcoholic liver lipid accumulation and inflammation dependent on upregulating MANF and inhibiting ER stress. This offers a potential therapeutic avenue for ALD treatment.
Natural fuel loadings in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests of the Southwest

Natural dead fuel loading in 62 undisturbed southwestern ponderosa pine stands averaged 21.9 tons per acre, 12.7 tons per acre s I-inch diameter. Sixteen mixed conifer stands averaged 44.1 tons per acre of dead fuel. Heavy hu�us loads contributed to loading of 22.2 tons per acre of fuel' s I-inch diameter. Research Paper RM-213 December 1979 Natural Fuel Loadings in Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer Forests of the Southwest Stephen S. Sackett, Research Forester Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station 'Central headquarters is at Fort Collins, in cooperation with Colorado State University; author is at the Station's Research Work Unit at Tempe, in cooperation with Arizona State University.
TEBAKA: a technological platform for Apulian crop monitoring

Precision farming and remote sensing have seen an unprecedented development in the last decade. The growing interest in this domain has led to the development of robust and accurate processing pipelines to evaluate nutrient management and irrigation practices, among others. Problems such as crop classification have gained significant attention in Southern Italy due to unique challenges such as water scarcity and the spread of cultivar-specific diseases (i.e., Xylella fastidiosa). Here, we present a technological platform hosted by the ReCaS HTC/HPC cluster based in Bari, Italy, for the automated segmentation of common crops in Southern Italy, specifically the Apulia region, in very high-resolution aerial (VHR) RGB images. In particular, we discuss the adoption of a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) which uses a lightweight EfficientNet-B0 architecture, for patch-wise land cover classification and compare its performance with a standard machine learning algorithm (Random Forest) fed with Haralick features. The DCNN, pre-trained on ImageNet-1000 and fine-tuned on a 4-class problem, including vineyard, olive groves, arable land, and “no-crop”, had the highest performance with an overall accuracy of 77±5 % when performing a repeated spatial cross-validation. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in achieving high accuracy in land cover classification, although a misclassification between arable land and “no-crop” was observed, as they share similar vegetation textural patterns. The lightweight EfficientNet-B0 architecture provides a good balance between accuracy and computational efficiency, making it a suitable choice for processing very high-resolution aerial images. The processing pipeline has been successfully implemented and deployed on the high-performance computing (HPC) platform, leveraging Apache Mesos as the underlying framework. To ensure efficient execution of tasks, the Chronos job scheduler has been employed to submit the execution of Docker containers. By utilizing specialized hardware, including Nvidia V100 and A100 GPUs, the pipeline can effectively handle and process substantial volumes of data within tight timeframes. The proposed approach is highly versatile and can be easily adapted to various precision farming applications. The use of Docker technology facilitates easy deployment and portability across different environments. Additionally, the adoption of a lightweight DCNN architecture allows to efficiently exploit parallel computing resources enabling seamless scalability and, therefore, handling of massive computational tasks across broader regions of interest.