Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Marine redox stratification during the early Cambrian (ca. 529‐509 Ma) and its control on the development of organic‐rich shales in Yangtze Platform

High resolution geochemical data from nine sections representing shelf to basinal environments in the Yangtze Platform were analyzed to reconstruct the marine redox environment during early Cambrian. Based on Fe species and Mo/TOC ratios, we have supplemented marine redox stratification during Stage 4 (late Canglangpuian‐Longwangmiaoan, ∼514‐509 Ma) on basis of the previously studied Stage 2‐Stage 3 (Meishucunian‐Qiongzhusian, ∼529‐514 Ma). A new proposed marine stratified redox model indicates that the middepth “euxinic wedge” developed at the base of slope during ∼514‐509 Ma in contrast to that the “euxinic wedge” prevailed at the shelf margin during ∼529‐514 Ma, even though these middepth euxinic waters both occurred between the oxic surface waters and ferruginous deep waters. This marine redox stratification resulted in high production and good preservation of organic matter during early Cambrian. TOC values in euxinic waters in the middle are generally higher than in ferruginous waters due to upwelling in slope. Therefore, the lower Cambrian organic‐rich shales in the Yangtze Platform are inferred to be deposited under the anoxic‐ferruginous and euxinic bottom waters with moderate‐strong restriction.
Enabling seamless migration of optical metro-urban networks to the multi-band: unveiling a cutting-edge 6D planning tool for the 6G era

The relentless demand for high-bandwidth services and applications in the beyond-5G/6G era necessitates optical networks to provide ample spectral resources to accommodate the increasing traffic loads. This requirement is especially pronounced in metro and regional segments, where a projected traffic compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 40%, driven by content delivery network (CDN) traffic concentrated near the end users, threatens to push the fiber capacity to its limits on a number of heavily utilized links in the short to medium term. This limitation cannot be circumvented despite the utilization of spectrally efficient modulation formats designed for short-distance transmission. Thus, it is imperative to explore migration strategies to solutions that allow the expansion of spectral resources beyond the current usage of the extended C-band (4.8 THz). In this article, we present a comprehensive evaluation of multi-homed edge-to-core routing, modulation-level selection, and spectrum assignment simulations conducted over reference metropolitan area networks (MANs) by leveraging on a novel network planner called 6D-MAN, which we have developed to adapt to heterogeneous multi-layer networks based on multi-band and multi-fiber transmission. Our simulations consider coherent transmission with flexible modulation format transponders operating at capacities ranging from 100 to 400 Gbps on the 50 GHz grid and explore link-by-link migration strategies restricted to the C + L-band, ensuring optimal performance in terms of the generalized signal-to-noise ratio (GSNR). The obtained results demonstrate that deploying L-band equipment on a selected number of links effectively extends the lifespan of existing networks, enabling congestion-free operation with minimal intervention. In their entirety, our findings underscore the importance of contemplating alternative spectral resources beyond the conventional C-band. They unequivocally accentuate the potential of L-band equipment strategic deployment to tackle capacity constraints in MANs, resulting in a 60% reduction in fiber length and a remarkable 45% decrease in new fiber-pair link deployment needs. The profound implications of efficient fiber capacity utilization manifest themselves in substantial OPEX and optical total cost of ownership savings, amounting to approximately 71% and 17%–27%, respectively, over a 10-year period. This research provides valuable insights for MAN operators seeking sustainable strategies to support the growing demands of future beyond-5G/6G services.
Dynamic Behavior of A Full Scale Wind Turbine Tower Under Seismic Loading

This paper presents the dynamic investigation of an existing wind turbine tower. Both experimental and numerical analyses were performed to assess the structural response of the tower under seismic load. Field ambient vibration test was applied to identify the actual dynamic properties experimentally. A vibration based finite element model was built in ANSYS to conduct the seismic response analysis. The tower shown to survive moderate earthquakes as it is located in Zafarana wind farm in Egypt, a zone lies by the red sea known for its historical seismic activity. Keywords—Wind turbine tower, modal analysis, finite element model, seismic response analysis.
Plasticity-Induced Heating: Revisiting the Energy-Based Variational Model

Temperature evolution during plastic deformation is of great importance for the design of manufacturing processes, as well as for the analysis and prediction of tool wear. However, the results from experimental- and numerical-type research are still often contradictory. In this paper, we analyze methods for estimating plasticity-induced heating directly from displacement fields that can be recorded during experiments or extracted from simulation results. In terms of computational methodology, the thermodynamically motivated energy-based variational formulation of the coupled thermo-mechanical boundary-value problem is adapted to the problem at hand. Since an analysis of this variational formulation exhibits challenges and distinct inconsistencies with respect to the problem at hand, an alternative approach is proposed. This alternative approach is essentially a purely thermal finite element simulation, and it is conducted using a heat source term that is empirically based on the fraction of irreversible deformation work converted to heat. Our approach estimates plasticity-induced heating based on the strain and strain rate data derived from displacement fields. We therefore incorporate thermo-visco-plastic constitutive behavior (Johnson–Cook) with a thermodynamically motivated model that specifies the fraction of plastic work converted to heat (the Taylor–Quinney coefficient).
Efficacy and Safety of Thermal Ablation after Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: Large colonic polyps during colonoscopy can be managed by Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). To decrease the polyp recurrence rate, thermal ablation methods like argon plasma coagulation (APC) and snare tip soft coagulation (STSC) have been introduced. We performed this network meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of these modalities. (2) Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature review, through 5 January 2024, of databases including Embase, PubMed, SciELO, KCI, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science. Using a random effects model, we conducted a frequentist approach network meta-analysis. The risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Safety and efficacy endpoints including rates of recurrence, bleeding, perforation, and post polypectomy syndrome were compared. (3) Results: Our search yielded a total of 13 studies with 2686 patients. Compared to placebo, both APC (RR: 0.33 CI: 0.20–0.54, p < 0.01) and STSC (RR: 0.27, CI: 0.21–0.34, p < 0.01) showed decreased recurrence rates. On ranking, STSC showed the lowest recurrence rate, followed by APC and placebo. Regarding individual adverse events, there was no statistically significant difference between either of the thermal ablation methods and placebo. (4) Conclusions: We demonstrated the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation after EMR for decreasing recurrence of adenoma.
The Acute, Short-, and Long-Term Effects of Endurance Exercise on Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Profiles

A better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are involved in skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise is fundamentally important to take full advantage of the enormous benefits that exercise training offers in disease prevention and therapy. The aim of this study was to elucidate the transcriptional signatures that distinguish the endurance-trained and untrained muscles in young adult males (24 ± 3.5 years). We characterized baseline differences as well as acute exercise-induced transcriptome responses in vastus lateralis biopsy specimens of endurance-trained athletes (ET; n = 8; VO2max, 67.2 ± 8.9 mL/min/kg) and sedentary healthy volunteers (SED; n = 8; VO2max, 40.3 ± 7.6 mL/min/kg) using microarray technology. A second cohort of SED volunteers (SED-T; n = 10) followed an 8-week endurance training program to assess expression changes of selected marker genes in the course of skeletal muscle adaptation. We deciphered differential baseline signatures that reflected major differences in the oxidative and metabolic capacity of the endurance-trained and untrained muscles. SED-T individuals in the training group displayed an up-regulation of nodal regulators of oxidative adaptation after 3 weeks of training and a significant shift toward the ET signature after 8 weeks. Transcriptome changes provoked by 1 h of intense cycling exercise only poorly overlapped with the genes that constituted the differential baseline signature of ETs and SEDs. Overall, acute exercise-induced transcriptional responses were connected to pathways of contractile, oxidative, and inflammatory stress and revealed a complex and highly regulated framework of interwoven signaling cascades to cope with exercise-provoked homeostatic challenges. While temporal transcriptional programs that were activated in SEDs and ETs were quite similar, the quantitative divergence in the acute response transcriptomes implicated divergent kinetics of gene induction and repression following an acute bout of exercise. Together, our results provide an extensive examination of the transcriptional framework that underlies skeletal muscle plasticity.
Use of Biomaterials in 3D Printing as a Solution to Microbial Infections in Arthroplasty and Osseous Reconstruction

The incidence of microbial infections in orthopedic prosthetic surgeries is a perennial problem that increases morbidity and mortality, representing one of the major complications of such medical interventions. The emergence of novel technologies, especially 3D printing, represents a promising avenue of development for reducing the risk of such eventualities. There are already a host of biomaterials, suitable for 3D printing, that are being tested for antimicrobial properties when they are coated with bioactive compounds, such as antibiotics, or combined with hydrogels with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, such as chitosan and metal nanoparticles, among others. The materials discussed in the context of this paper comprise beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), hydroxyapatite, lithium disilicate glass, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF), poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), and zirconia. While the recent research results are promising, further development is required to address the increasing antibiotic resistance exhibited by several common pathogens, the potential for fungal infections, and the potential toxicity of some metal nanoparticles. Other solutions, like the incorporation of phytochemicals, should also be explored. Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of certain orthopedic implants and the potential use of AI against bacterial infections might represent viable solutions to these problems. Finally, there are some legal considerations associated with the use of biomaterials and the widespread use of 3D printing, which must be taken into account.
Ranchers’ Perceptions of Vegetation Heterogeneity in the Northern Great Plains

ABSTRACT:Most rangelands in the United States are privately owned and managed for beef production. There is little understanding of ranchers’ perceptions about heterogeneity or tools that can be used to increase heterogeneity, such as fire and grazing, even though heterogeneity is crucial for biodiversity conservation. To guide conservationists as they engage with ranchers, we conducted interviews with 12 ranchers in three states to provide a description of ranchers’ worldviews as they relate to heterogeneity and disturbances that maintain heterogeneity in rangeland ecosystems. Ranchers expressed a desire to maintain control over their operations by reducing risks and being careful in selecting trusted advisors. Further, ranchers associated some heterogeneity characteristics (e.g., bare ground) with outcomes of poor management, which is problematic for efforts that aim to increase heterogeneity in rangelands. Ranchers value seeing results of new management methods on university experiment stations or neighbors’ lands, which may provide a roadmap for conservation planners and NGOs to introduce heterogeneity management strategies to ranchers.
The Strip: Las Vegas and the Architecture of the American Dream

In The Strip: Las Vegas and the Architecture of the American Dream, Stefan Al analyzes the development of the Las Vegas Strip through the lenses of its architectural styles, connecting them with different stages of American history, starting from the 1940s. Beautiful pictures and an enjoyable writing style—particularly rich in historical and architectural details—guide the reader through a journey that touches on several aspects. From urban development to gaming regulation, from demographic changes to the dynamism of United States’ economy, Al’s analysis gives an overview that is helpful to understand not only the complexity of the Strip, but also sociological transformations in American society.
Relationship between the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitors in Patients with Brain Tumors

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) play critical roles in regulating processes associated with malignant behavior. These endopeptidases selectively degrade components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors, and their receptors, contributing to cancer cell invasiveness and migratory characteristics by disrupting the basal membrane. However, the expression profile and role of various matrix metalloproteinases remain unclear, and only a few studies have focused on differences between diagnoses of brain tumors. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, we identified the expression pattern of ECM modulators (n = 10) in biopsies from glioblastoma (GBM; n = 20), astrocytoma (AST; n = 9), and meningioma (MNG; n = 19) patients. We found eight deregulated genes in the glioblastoma group compared to the benign meningioma group, with only MMP9 (FC = 2.55; p = 0.09) and TIMP4 (7.28; p < 0.0001) upregulated in an aggressive form. The most substantial positive change in fold regulation for all tumors was detected in matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MNG = 30.9, AST = 4.28, and GBM = 4.12). Notably, we observed an influence of TIMP1, demonstrating a positive correlation with MMP8, MMP9, and MMP10 in tumor samples. Subsequently, we examined the protein levels of the investigated MMPs (n = 7) and TIMPs (n = 3) via immunodetection. We confirmed elevated levels of MMPs and TIMPs in GBM patients compared to meningiomas and astrocytomas. Even when correlating glioblastomas versus astrocytomas, we showed a significantly increased level of MMP1, MMP3, MMP13, and TIMP1. The identified metalloproteases may play a key role in the process of gliomagenesis and may represent potential targets for personalized therapy. However, as we have not confirmed the relationship between mRNA expression and protein levels in individual samples, it is therefore natural that the regulation of metalloproteases will be subject to several factors.
Zonal Wind Indices to Reconstruct CONUS Winter Precipitation

Seasonal precipitation forecasts over the contiguous United States (CONUS) during the 2015–2016 El Niño exhibited significant bias over many regions, especially in the western United States where seasonal information is particularly valuable for reservoir operation. Diagnosing the origin of this bias requires understanding the empirical signal from tropical heating to midlatitude precipitation. In this paper, we find that atmospheric zonal wind indices computed over the region typically associated with the winter jet stream provide a skillful, spatially distributed, linear prediction of precipitation over CONUS, over all winters (January–March; JFM). Furthermore, we show that more (less) central (eastern) Pacific Ocean heating may have contributed to the unexpected 2016 JFM CONUS precipitation and that this was likely predictable based on antecedent (December) sea surface temperatures. The zonal wind indices act as intermediate variables in a causal chain, and our analyses provide support for the potential for empirical prediction and also a diagnostic for physics‐based models to help improve forecasts.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Bioactive Components from Apple Peels and Their Modulation of Complex I Activity in Isolated Mitochondria

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to extract bioactive compounds from apple (Malus domestica) peel waste from three different Italian cultivars. The bioactive fractions were extracted applying a temperature of 60 °C and a pressure of 250 bar for 15 min with 20% ethanol as co-solvent, at a flow rate of 2 mL/min. The total polyphenol (TP), anthocyanin (TA), ascorbic acid (AA), and antioxidant activity contents (TACs) were measured, while chromatographic analyses were performed to highlight the differences between the extracts. The Stark cultivar had the highest levels of polyphenols, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid, while the Royal Gala cultivar showed the highest total antioxidant activity. SFE extracts were then tested for their effect on the mitochondrial NADH–ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) activity on mitochondria isolated from human embryonic kidney cells (HEK239). The Stark extract showed the most positive response in terms of NADH oxidation. The results obtained in this work highlight the potential of apple peel waste as a source of functional phytocompounds and suggest that Stark cultivar extracts may be exploited for pharmacological applications. This study supports the circular bioeconomy by promoting the use of waste products as a valuable resource.
Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Bepotastine for Determination of Optimal Dosage Regimen in Pediatric Patients with Allergic Rhinitis or Urticaria

Bepotastine, a second-generation antihistamine for allergic rhinitis and urticaria, is widely used in all age groups but lacks appropriate dosing guidelines for pediatric patients, leading to off-label prescriptions. We conducted this study to propose an optimal dosing regimen for pediatric patients based on population pharmacokinetic (popPK) and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models using data from two previous trials. A popPK model was built using NONMEM software. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and absorption lag time described our data well, with body weight incorporated as the only covariate. A PBPK model was developed using PK-Sim software version 10, and the model well predicted the drug concentrations obtained from pediatric patients. Furthermore, the final PBPK model showed good concordance with the known properties of bepotastine. Appropriate pediatric doses for different weight and age groups were proposed based on the simulations. Discrepancies in recommended doses from the two models were likely due to the incorporation of age-dependent physiological factors in the PBPK model. In conclusion, our study is the first to suggest an optimal oral dosing regimen of bepotastine in pediatric patients using both approaches. This is expected to foster safer and more productive use of the drug.
BACARDI: A System to Track Space Debris

We present the "Backbone Catalogue of Relational Debris Information" (BACARDI) as an effort of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to keep track of cooperative and uncooperative orbital objects. Key features of BACARDI are a database storing information about all known orbital objects, and a set of processing services that produce orbit information and different products like collision warnings.
Comparison of the Microstructural, Mechanical and Corrosion Resistance Properties of Ti6Al4V Samples Manufactured by LENS and Subjected to Various Heat Treatments

In this paper, the influences of two post-heat treatments on the structural, mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of additively manufactured Ti6Al4V alloys were discussed in detail. The materials were produced using the laser engineering net shaping (LENS) technique, and they were subjected to annealing without pressure and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) under a pressure of 300 MPa for 30 min at temperatures of 950 °C and 1050 °C. Annealing without pressure led to the formation of a thin plate structure, which was accompanied by decreasing mechanical properties and increasing elongation and corrosion resistance values. For the HIP process, the formation of a thick plate structure could be observed, resulting in the material exhibiting optimal mechanical properties and unusually high elongation. The best mechanical and corrosion resistance properties were obtained for the material subjected to HIP at 950 °C.
Muskmelon fruit response to k source and method of application

'Athena' muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) was grown in 1999 in Gainesville, Fla. , on polyethylenemulched raised beds with drip irrigation to evaluate effects of K source and method of K application on fruit yield. The soil was low in Mehlich-1 K and 160 lbs per acre (4-ft bed centers) K were applied for the season from KCI, K2SO4, or KNO3. The K was applied either 100% preplant incorporated in the bed or in 12 equal weekly injections through the drip irrigation system. N was supplied at 190 lbs per acre from NH4NO3 (and KNO3), with a combination of incorporated and injected N. All muskmelons received Mg and S from MgSO4. Early yield (first harvest) was not affected by K source. Total-season (five harvests) yield averaged 470 cwt per acre (23.5 tons per acre) and was not affected by K source. Early yield was not affected by K application method, but total-season fruit production was greater with fertigation than with preplant incorporation of K.