Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of solar activity on the 2015/16 El Niño event

Abstract Recent SST and atmospheric circulation anomaly data suggest that the 2015/16 El Niño event is quickly decaying. Some researchers have predicted a forthcoming La Niña event in late summer or early fall 2016. From the perspective of the modulation of tropical SST by solar activity, the authors studied the evolution of the 2015/16 El Niño event, which occurred right after the 2014 solar peak year. Based on statistical and composite analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between sunspot number index and El Niño Modoki index, with a lag of two years. A clear evolution of El Niño Modoki events was found within 1–3 years following each solar peak year during the past 126 years, suggesting that anomalously strong solar activity during solar peak periods favors the triggering of an El Niño Modoki event. The patterns of seasonal mean SST and wind anomalies since 2014 are more like a mixture of two types of El Niño (i.e. eastern Pacific El Niño and El Niño Modoki), which is similar to the pattern modulated by solar activity during the years following a solar peak. Therefore, the El Niño Modoki component in the 2015/16 El Niño event may be a consequence of solar activity, which probably will not decay as quickly as the eastern Pacific El Niño component. The positive SST anomaly will probably sustain in the central equatorial Pacific (around the dateline) and the northeastern Pacific along the coast of North America, with a low-intensity level, during the second half of 2016.
Electrocardiography versus Echocardiography in Severe Aortic Stenosis with the Consideration of Coexistent Coronary Artery Disease

(1) Background: Coexistent coronary artery disease (CAD) might influence the ability of electrocardiogram (ECG) to identify echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECHO-LVH) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to assess the relation between ECG–LVH (by the Sokolov–Lyon or Cornell criteria) and ECHO-LVH considering coexistent CAD. (2) Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 74 patients (36 males) with severe AS who were hospitalized in the University Hospital in Cracow from 2021 to 2022. (3) Results: ECHO-LVH was present in 49 (66%) patients, whereas 35 (47.3%) patients had ECG-LVH. There was no difference between the rate of ECG-LVH in patients with vs. without ECHO-LVH. Single-vessel and multi-vessel CAD were diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography in 18% and 11% of patients, respectively. The sensitivity of the classical ECG-LVH criteria with regard to ECHO-LVH was low, reaching at best 41% for the Sokolov–Lyon and Cornell criteria. The results were similar and lacked a pattern when considering patients without significant stenosis, with single- and multi-vessel disease separately. Correlations between the left ventricular mass index and ECG-derived parameters were weak and present solely for the Lewis index (r = 0.31), R wave’s amplitude >1.1 mV in aVL (r = 0.36), as well as the Cornell (r = 0.32) and Sokolov–Lyon (r = 0.31) voltage criteria (p < 0.01). The presence, location of stenoses, and CAD extent were not associated with the presence of either ECHO-LVH or ECG-LVH, irrespective of individual ECG-LVH criteria. (4) Conclusions: The sensitivity of classical ECG criteria for echocardiographic LVH in severe AS is low, regardless of coexistent CAD or its angiographic extent.
Over-The-Horizon Autonomous Rover Navigation: Experimental Results

This paper presents the approach for autonomous over-the-horizon rover navigation developed at the Canadian Space Agency. The adopted sensing modality is the one of LIDAR range sensors due to their robustness in the harsh lighting conditions of space. Irregular triangular meshes (ITM) are used for representing the environment providing with an accurate yet compact spatial representation. The ITM is directly usable by path planning algorithms based on efficient graph search such as A*. Experimental results from the 2006 and 2007 extensive field-testing campaigns are provided.
Approaching Personalized Medicine: The Use of Machine Learning to Determine Predictors of Mortality in a Population with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need to develop strategies to control a new viral infection. However, the different characteristics of the health system and population of each country and hospital would require the implementation of self-systems adapted to their characteristics. The objective of this work was to determine predictors that should identify the most severe patients with COVID-19 infection. Given the poor situation of the hospitals in the first wave, the analysis of the data from that period with an accurate and fast technique can be an important contribution. In this regard, machine learning is able to objectively analyze data in hourly sets and is used in many fields. This study included 291 patients admitted to a hospital in Spain during the first three months of the pandemic. After screening seventy-one features with machine learning methods, the variables with the greatest influence on predicting mortality in this population were lymphocyte count, urea, FiO2, potassium, and serum pH. The XGB method achieved the highest accuracy, with a precision of >95%. Our study shows that the machine learning-based system can identify patterns and, thus, create a tool to help hospitals classify patients according to their severity of illness in order to optimize admission.
Risk Factors for Non-Healing Wounds—A Single-Centre Study

Background: Chronic wounds present a significant clinical, social, and economic challenge. This study aimed to objectify the risk factors of healing outcomes and the duration of chronic wounds from various etiologies. Methods: Patients treated for non-healing wounds at the surgical outpatient clinic of the Olomouc Military Hospital were involved. Data from patients treated between 8/2021 and 9/2023 were selected. Patients were mostly treated as outpatients, with microbiological follow-up indicated in cases of advanced signs of inflammation. Results: There were 149 patients who met our selection criteria (the mean age was 64.4 years). Predominant causes of wounds involved diabetes (30.9%), post-trauma (25.5%), pressure ulcers (14.8%), surgical site infections (14.8%), and vascular ulcers (14.1%). Patient outcomes included wound resolution in 77.2% of patients (with a mean healing time of 110.9 days), amputation in 14.1%, and wound-related death in 8.7% of patients. Non-healing cases (amputation/death) were predicted by several local factors including an initial depth greater than 1 cm, wound secretion, inflammatory base, and a maximum wound size. Systemic factors included most strongly clinically manifested atherosclerosis and its risk factors. Of the 110 swabs performed, 103 identified at least 1 bacterial genus. The dominant risk factor for a prolonged healing duration was bacterial infection. Wounds contaminated by Proteus or Pseudomonas had prolonged healing times of 87 days (p = 0.02) and 72 days (p = 0.045), respectively. Conclusions: The early identification of local and systemic risk factors contributes to the successful resolution of chronic wounds and a reduced duration of healing.
Time reference in aphasia: are there differences between tenses and aphasia fluency type? A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

Time reference is used to build the temporal framework of discourse and is essential in ensuring efficient communication. Several studies have reported time reference deficits in fluent and non-fluent aphasia and have shown that tenses (past, present, future) are not all impaired to the same extent. However, there is little consensus on the dissociations between tenses, and the question of the influence of the type of aphasia (fluent vs. non-fluent) on time reference remains open. Therefore, a systematic review and an individual participant data meta-analysis (or mega-analysis) were conducted to determine (1) whether one tense is more impaired than another in fluent and non-fluent aphasia and, if so, (2) which task and speaker-related factors moderate tense effects. The systematic review resulted in 35 studies reporting the performance in time reference of 392 participants. The mega-analysis was then performed on 23 studies for a total of 232 participants and showed an alteration of past tense compared to present and future tenses in both types of aphasia. The analysis also showed a task and an age effect on time reference but no gender effect, independently of tenses. These results add to our knowledge of time reference in aphasia and have implications for future therapies.
Parametric Amplification of Acoustically Actuated Micro Beams Using Fringing Electrostatic Fields

We report on theoretical and experimental investigation of parametric amplification of acoustically excited vibrations in micromachined single-crystal silicon cantilevers electrostatically actuated by fringing fields. The device dynamics are analyzed using the Mathieu–Duffing equation, obtained using the Galerkin order reduction technique. Our experimental results show that omnidirectional acoustic pressure used as a noncontact source for linear harmonic driving is a convenient and versatile tool for the mechanical dynamic characterization of unpackaged, nonintegrated microstructures. The fringing field’s electrostatic actuation allows for efficient parametric amplification of an acoustic signal. The suggested amplification approach may have applications in a wide variety of micromechanical devices, including resonant sensors, microphones and microphone arrays, and hearing aids. It can be used also for upward frequency tuning.
ESIZEREG: Stata module for computing the effect size based on a linear regression coefficient

esizereg is a postestimation command that calculates Cohen's d effect size (Cohen 1988) for the adjusted mean difference of a continuous variable between two groups. esizereg uses the unstandardized regression coefficient of the treatment variable as the numerator (which is equivalent to the difference between two covariate adjusted means) and estimates the within groups pooled standard deviation as the denominator. Estimation models currently supported by esizereg are regress, tobit, truncreg, hetregress, and xtreg. When aweights are specified in the estimation model, esizereg produces a weighted effect size estimate. esizeregi is the immediate form of esizereg.
Effects of the urban matrix on avian assemblages in forest fragments

Smith, Ryan R. M.S., Purdue University, May 2016. Effects of the Urban Matrix on Avian Assemblages in Forest Fragments. Major Professor: Bruce A. Kingsbury. Habitat loss due to anthropogenic development is one of the greatest threats to birds, particularly in urban and suburban areas. While it is clear that avian assemblages are adversely affected by unsuitable habitat in such situations, there is less known about which aspects of this type of development are the important ones affecting birds. In order to explore anthropogenic impacts on birds influenced by cities, I monitored bird diversity at 25 woodlot study sites in and around Fort Wayne, Indiana, over the course of a breeding season. Point counts were conducted in each site and visited 3 times to obtain a species richness list. Study sites were characterized by area, the area to perimeter ratio, percent canopy cover, and midand overstory vegetation. The identity, number, and size of the vegetation was measured. The landscape matrix around the sites was characterized by distance to woodlots larger than the site itself, and distance to rivers, lakes/ponds, and wetlands. To obtain measurements of the urban matrix, the densities of habitable structures, distances of roads, and volume of vehicle traffic were measured in 5 concentric buffers ranging from 100 m to 3 km distance from the site.
Seeking borophene on Ni3Al(111): an experimental characterization of boron segregation and oxidation

Synthesis of a stable, well ordered honeycomb borophene phase has been achieved to date by exploiting Al(111) as a growth substrate, which provides the necessary charge doping to compensate the high hexagonal-holes density. However, B/Al(111) is governed by a strong B-Al interaction so to yield the actual formation of an AlB2 honeycomb borophene phase. Dilution of aluminum by alloying could then in principle weaken the boron-support bonding. By means of a combined spectroscopy and microscopy experimental approach, we find instead that the growth of boron layers on the Ni3Al(111) alloy termination is driven by B dissolution into the bulk and surface segregation mechanisms. While no long-range ordered boron-induced phase is observed, locally ordered superstructural units with triangular appearance are stabilized by substrate pinning, following the chemical p(2  2) surface order. Oxidation involves both boron and aluminum, inducing surface segregation of B, while nickel remains in its metallic form.
RSK/GSK3–mediated phosphorylation of FilGAP regulates chemotactic cancer invasion

Abstract Cell migration plays a crucial role in various biological processes, such as gastrulation, immune response, and cancer metastasis. In response to chemoattractant-like growth factors, cells form protrusions and migrate toward the source of the signal. Rho family small GTPase Rac is a key regulator of cell migration by stimulating actin polymerization to generate lamellipodia, flat membrane protrusions at the leading edge of migrating cells. FilGAP (ARHGAP24), a Rac-specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP), suppresses lamellipodia formation, and controls tumor cell migration. In this study, we found that FilGAP is phosphorylated downstream of epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling. Upon EGF stimulation, FilGAP is phosphorylated at Ser625 by p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) and then at Ser621 by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). Phosphorylation of FilGAP induces its dissociation from actin filaments. We identified a novel actin-localization domain of FilGAP that is essential for stabilizing cell adhesion. Additionally, we found that phosphorylation of FilGAP inhibits its lamellipodia suppression activity. Finally, we showed the expression of nonphosphorylatable FilGAP mutant, but not wild-type FilGAP, reduced cell migration speed and persistence toward the EGF gradient. Taken together, our results suggest that phosphorylation of FilGAP downstream of EGF-signaling plays a critical role in regulating chemotactic tumor cell migration by controlling cell–matrix adhesion and protrusion formation.
Analysis of the Rheological Properties of Natural Hydraulic Lime-Based Suspensions for Sustainable Construction and Heritage Conservation

Natural hydraulic lime (NHL)-based binders play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage structures, ensuring integrity and longevity. Beyond traditional uses, these binders exhibit potential for integration into both non-structural and structural components, being compatible with innovative manufacturing processes such as digital fabrication. Meticulously designed grouts, with applicability in their fresh and hardened states, are essential for heritage stability. This study explores the relationships between mineral additions, chemical admixtures, and lime for grout formulations, aiming to advance our understanding and inform the optimization of materials for heritage restoration. Key questions include the influence of natural volcanic pozzolan (NVP) and metakaolin (MK) on rheology and the impact of varying ratios of superplasticizer on NHL-based grout’s rheological behavior. This systematic evaluation of rheological parameters aims to innovate mix designs, expanding NHL-based binders’ applicability in construction and science. Our hypotheses suggest that well-designed lime grout formulations, incorporating NVP and MK, can enhance rheological properties, addressing challenges in sustainable construction and heritage conservation. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing lime-based materials, fostering advancements in heritage restoration, and promoting wider NHL-based binder adoption in diverse construction applications.
Web-Based Food Delivery Management System

The process of ordering meal in an organization is still using a conventional system or in other words, the civitas organization must come to the cafeteria to order the desired menu. The conventional system uses paper to orderrecording process. So the problem happens repetitively, such as redundancy of order data, lack of good data report, and also stacking of order notes. This study aims to build a web-based food delivery in the organization environment which focuses on the admin (=the representative who manages all accounts and transaction data in the system) and financialsection. Web application eatime! is built by using the iterativeincremental methodology and uses the MVC concept that utilizes the PHP programming language with CI framework and MySQL database. The application is expected to provide the ease of organization in the process ofordering delivery food with several features available, such asfood orders, the search of food menu, view balance, recap history of purchase and sale transactions, and printof thesales transaction history report. Usability tests performed on this application are using the McCall method to know the quality of web application eatime! Keywords—iterative incremental, Mc Call, Web-based Food Delivery Management System
A zebrafish model to elucidate the impact of host genes on the microbiota

Every host species and organism provides a unique environmental niche contributing to the overall diversity of microbial ecosystems from the intestine of an animal to the oceans and forests of our planet. The study of host–microbiota interactions has long focused on the well‐established effects the microbiota has on its host. In contrast, little focus has been allocated to the role of the host in these intricate interactions. However, understanding the role of the host may well be an essential key to understanding the complexity of the relationship between the host and its microbiota. In this study, we present a model in which the effects of host genes on the microbiota can be elucidated and how such genetic effects may shape host‐associated microbiota. We demonstrate a hologenomic approach implementing the CRISPR/Cas system in the zebrafish model to combine the effects of a host gene with 16S metabarcoding and metabolomics data. We show that knocking out the gene coding for the rate‐limiting enzyme in melanogenesis, tyrosinase (tyr), correlates with changes in the intestinal microbiota of zebrafish and differences in the abundance of specific metabolites illustrating the value of our model for studying the impact of host genes on the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota.
Anti-oxidant and neuro-modulatory effects of bioactive Byttneria pilosa leaf extract in swiss albino mice using behavioral models

Byttneria pilosa, a flowering plant from the Malvaceae family traditionally used to treat ailments such as boils and scabies, is here investigated for its potential health benefits. The study focused on evaluating its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties in vitro, as well as the in vivo anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of the methanol extract of B. pilosa leaf (MEBP). The study employed various assays to evaluate antioxidant activity, including 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power capacity, and quantification of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of MEBP. Additionally, anxiolytic and antidepressant activities were evaluated through four tests: elevated plus-maze test (EPMT), light–dark box test (LDBT), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). Antidiabetic effect was determined using α-amylase inhibition assay. Docking analysis was performed using BIOVIA and Schrödinger Maestro (v11.1), and the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion/toxicity (ADME/T) properties of bioactive substances were investigated using a web-based technique. MEBP exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power capacity assays, with a dose-dependent response. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents measured were 70 ± 1.53 mg and 22.33 ± 1.20 mg, respectively. MEBP demonstrated significant effects in α-amylase inhibition comparable to acarbose. In behavioral tests, MEBP dose-dependently altered time spent in open arms/light box and closed arms/dark box, indicating anxiolytic effects. Moreover, MEBP significantly reduced immobility duration in FST and TST, suggesting antidepressant properties. Molecular docking analysis revealed favorable interactions between beta-sitosterol and specific targets, suggesting the potential mediation of anxiolytic and antidiabetic effects. Overall, MEBP exhibits notable anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, along with moderate antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.
Outer-Membrane Permeabilization, LPS Transport Inhibition: Activity, Interactions, and Structures of Thanatin Derived Antimicrobial Peptides

Currently, viable antibiotics available to mitigate infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are highly limited. Thanatin, a 21-residue-long insect-derived antimicrobial peptide (AMP), is a promising lead molecule for the potential development of novel antibiotics. Thanatin is extremely potent, particularly against the Enterobacter group of Gram-negative pathogens, e.g., E. coli and K. pneumoniae. As a mode of action, cationic thanatin efficiently permeabilizes the LPS-outer membrane and binds to the periplasmic protein LptAm to inhibit outer membrane biogenesis. Here, we have utilized N-terminal truncated 16- and 14-residue peptide fragments of thanatin and investigated structure, activity, and selectivity with correlating modes of action. A designed 16-residue peptide containing D-Lys (dk) named VF16 (V1PIIYCNRRT-dk-KCQRF16) demonstrated killing activity in Gram-negative bacteria. The VF16 peptide did not show any detectable toxicity to the HEK 293T cell line and kidney cell line Hep G2. As a mode of action, VF16 interacted with LPS, permeabilizing the outer membrane and binding to LptAm with high affinity. Atomic-resolution structures of VF16 in complex with LPS revealed cationic and aromatic surfaces involved in outer membrane interactions and permeabilization. Further, analyses of an inactive 14-residue native thanatin peptide (IM14: IIYCNRRTGKCQRM) delineated the requirement of the β-sheet structure in activity and target interactions. Taken together, this work would pave the way for the designing of short analogs of thanatin-based antimicrobials.