Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crustal structure across the Narmada-Son lineament, Central India from deep seismic soundings

The crustal structure along Ujjain-Mahan profile reveals a layered structure in the vertical direction and block structure in the lateral direction. This profile from north to south is divided into four crustal blocks: I (Ujjain-Sanwer), II (Indore-Dorwa), III (Dorwa-Tapti) and IV (Tapti-Mahan) which were relatively displaced up or down during different times along deep faults bounding them and extending up to the Moho discontinuity. The depth to Moho varies between 37 to 42 km along the entire length of the profile with a velocity jump of 7.3 to 7.8 km/sec across the boundary. It is concluded that during Precambrian, blocks I and II north of Dorwa were downthrown with respect to block III leading to the development of the Vindhyan basin in that region. Blocks III and IV being uplifted at that time, formed the land part and hence no Vindhyan sedimentation took place there. Subsequently during Gondwana times, reverse tectonic movement resulted in downfaulting of block III where Gondwana sedimentation took place. During this period, blocks I and II formed the land part and hence no Gondwanas were deposited there. A shallow refraction boundary at a depth of 8 to 12 km has also been observed along this profile with a velocity jump from 6.0 to 6.9 km/sec, which may represent the Conrad discontinuity in this region. In the Ujjain-Dorwa section comprising blocks I and II, under a thin cover of about 100 m of Deccan Traps, there lie Cretaceous Lameta beds (200m thick) and Vindhyan quartzites (lOa m thick) and Bijawars (200 to 300 m thick). Thus the total sedimentary thickness above the crystalline basement is hardly 600metres in this region. On the other hand, the Dora-Mahan section, consisting of blocks III and IV, has a maximum thickness of about 1.7 km Gondwana sediments underlying 400 metres of Deccan Traps. This hidden Gondwana basin is believed to be a northwestward continuation under the Deccan Trap of the exposed Gondwana-Godavari graben.
Non-linear analysis methods applied to observational and simulated climatic time series

The results of a simulated CO2 (C) and a global ice volume (V ) time series, derived from a simple relaxation model of the glacialinterglacial cycles[1], have been analyzed using non-linear techniques. On a first approximation, we have compared simulated time series with the corresponding observational time series, obtaining correlations of 0.88 between the proxy-record O([2]) and simulated V , and 0.79 between the reconstructed atmospheric CO2 concentration([2–7]) and simulated C, used to quantify the maximum observational variance that this simple model is able to explain. Fourier transform, wavelet transform, cross-wavelet transform, wavelet coherence and cross-recurrence analysis are useful tools to quantify the performance of a model at reproducing the dynamics embedded in observational time series. The analysis shows that the model reproduces closely the dynamics embedded in the ice volume time series, but for the CO2 case the coherence between simulated and observational CO2 is only sporadic, indicating that both time series do not follow the same dynamical behavior, although, in the deglacial periods the two carbon series become dynamically close. The analysis reinforces the hypothesis that some specific mechanisms included in the model are able to closely reproduce the glacial-interglacial oscillations and thus suggests which specific mechanisms should be more seriously investigated in the climate system. These techniques may be applied to other climatic time series to quantify the performance of a model simulating the dynamics of the climate system.
Highly Anthropomorphic Finger Design With a Novel Friction Clutch for Achieving Human-Like Reach-and-Grasp Movements

In the design of prosthetic hand fingers, achieving human-like movement while meeting anthropomorphic demands such as appearance, size, and lightweight is quite challenging. Human finger movement involves two distinct motion characters during natural reach-and-grasp tasks: consistency in the reaching stage and adaptability in the grasping stage. The former one enhances grasp stability and reduces control complexity; the latter one promotes the adaptability of finger to various objects. However, conventional tendon-driven prosthetic finger designs typically incorporate bulky actuation modules or complex tendon routes to reconcile the consistency and adaptability. In contrast, we propose a novel friction clutch consisting of a single tendon and slider, which is simple and compact enough to be configurated within the metacarpal bone. Through tactfully exploiting the friction force to balance the gravity effect on each phalanx during finger motion, this design effectively combines both consistency and adaptability. As a result, the prosthetic finger can maintain consistent motion unaffected by any spatial posture during reaching, execute adaptive motion during grasping, and automatically switch between them, resulting in human-like reach-and-grasp movements. Additionally, the proposed finger achieves a highly anthropomorphic design, weighing only 18.9 g and possessing the same size as an adult’s middle finger. Finally, a series of experiments validate the theoretical effectiveness and motion performance of the proposed design. Remarkably, the mechanical principle of the proposed friction clutch is beneficial to achieve highly anthropomorphic design, providing not only a new strategy to prosthetic hand design but also great potential in hand rehabilitation.
Quality of lean body mass and jump capacity in high performance young basketball players lean body mass and jump capacity

ABSTRACT The lean body mass (LBM) components have been suggested as important predictors of anaerobic performance, which is highly involved in basketball. We explored with descriptive cross-sectional design the relationship between anaerobic performance and full molecular and cellular body composition profile in young male basketball players. Twenty-one players (age = 16.8 ± 1.6 years; body mass = 76.3 ± 15.7 kg, height = 189.3 ± 12.6 cm) were recruited, 11 elite and 10 local level. Participants were evaluated on multicomponent body composition [LBM, appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST), bone mineral content (BMC), total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW)] and field-based anaerobic performance (vertical jump, linear sprint, and handgrip strength). The stepwise regression analyses adjusted for confounders showed significant relationships of whole-body and regional body composition components with handgrip and jump performance (P ≤ 0.03). Prediction models combining body composition variables assessed by bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and double-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) revealed that lean mass and hydration ratios (ICW/ECW and ECW/TBW) were strongly associated with jump performance (CMJ and CMJ25kg), independently of the competition level (P < 0.01). The novel finding in this study was that water quality (ICW/ECW) and water distribution (ECW/TBW, ICW) of total and regional LBM were the main predictors of vertical jump capacity in young basketball players.
The Influence of School Climate on Secondary Schools’ Performance in Mvomero District, Morogoro, Tanzania

This study assessed the climate of eight secondary schools in Mvomero district, Morogoro. It also examined the relationship and influence between school climate and students’ academic achievement. The study employed quantitative approach within ex post facto research design using three climate questionnaires for secondary schools. A random sample of 160 teachers was drawn, however, only 74 teachers responded to the research tools. The study revealed that the climates of all secondary schools were non-conducive or negative. In determining the relationship, the subtest of intimate teachers’ behaviour indicated a significant strong positive correlation (r = 0.821, p < 0.05) with division II and (r = 0.868, p < 0.01) with division III. However, the frustrated teachers’ behaviour subtest was significantly negatively correlated (r = - 0.779, p < 0.05) with division IV. The subtest of institutional integrity indicated a strong correlation (r = 0.887, p < 0.05) with division IV, while initiating structure showed a strong positive correlations (r = 0.824, p < .05) with division I. Lastly, the subtests of headmaster/mistress influence and academic emphasis both indicated a strong significant (r = 0.848 and r = 0.860, p <0.05) correlation with division I and II, respectively. In testing whether the school climate predicts school performance, the study indicated that some of the variance in division categories can be explained by school climate. Surprisingly, all school climates did not significantly correlate with division categories. However, on using the beta weighting, there were noticeable effects (weak to strong) of independent variables on dependent variables. This study showed that, students’ academic achievement is related and influenced by the school climate. Therefore, school climates need to be conducive or positive as necessary for the survival and well-being of such schools.
Open Innovation Towards Secondary School Innovation Performance in Kulai District

Open innovation is vital for every countries development which is consist of economy, political and social development. Besides, open innovation enhances these three categories of development as well. Studies related on open innovation in education sector far behind compare to the business world, the industrial sector. This is because, open innovation not fully focused on strategy and its implementation in the education sector. Furthermore, there is not enough empirical evidence of open innovation in education ecosystem. This study is focuses to fill this gap by studying open innovation in secondary schools due to their strong contribution to development of education. Further, this study will analyse the activities of in determining the innovative capabilities of secondary schools in Kulai district. The results, however, were generated based on a sample of 120 school teachers in the Kulai district of Johor region. The results are based on descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using mean values, standard deviation, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The discussion of results was also carried out considering the focus of the study in mind and context of the study as well. Based on quantitative results outcome indicates that all the variables of the study are significantly related to each other generating a strong Cronbach alpha outcome of the variables. Based on this, further analysis was made and the outcome have help in drawing some conclusions in addition to putting forth some recommendations for the school top management and the government (Ministry of Education) to further re-examine innovation policies to encourage more the activities of innovation, mainly on open ecosystem.
The Lewisian Geology of Gairloch, Nw Scotland

This Memoir presents a detailed account of one of the most critical and interesting parts of the Lewisian complex of NW Scotland; a detached fragment of a supercontinent made up of Laurentia, Siberia and Baltica, which existed at the end of the early Proterozoic period. The Gairloch area, together with neighbouring Loch Maree, is the only part of the mainland Lewisian outcrop where Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal rocks (the Loch Maree Group] and their relationships to the Archaean basement can be studied, and has been the subject of a considerable amount of research, spanning a period of more than forty years. The Loch Maree Group represents an amalgamation of oceanic, trench, and arc assemblages with continental basement, and forms part of a Palaeoproterozoic collisional orogen stretching from Labrador through South Greenland to Scandinavia. The author is Emeritus Professor of Tectonic Geology at Keele University, England, and has studied the structural geology of Precambrian terrains in many parts of the world. He has mapped the area covered by the Memoir in detail, at a scale of 1:10 000, and has an intimate knowledge of the geology, acquired over many years.
Microwave properties of geological materials: Studies of penetration depth and moisture effects

Summarized are the results of two of a series of controlled experiments performed during the summer of 1970. The first series of experiments to determine penetration depth showed the value of having a modeled response and data reduced in real time for examination in the field. The results suggest a radiometric method for measuring the microwave properties of materials in bulk and are applicable to studies of sea ice and other naturally layered media. The sensitivity of the microwave emission to changes in moisture content has inspired a number of airborne and ground based investigations. Although the effect is dominent under certain conditions, the complicating factors of soil type, roughness, vegetation, etc. seem to govern the conclusions regarding its application at this time.
A Comparison Study between Traditional and Deep-Reinforcement-Learning-Based Algorithms for Indoor Autonomous Navigation in Dynamic Scenarios

At the beginning of a project or research that involves the issue of autonomous navigation of mobile robots, a decision must be made about working with traditional control algorithms or algorithms based on artificial intelligence. This decision is not usually easy, as the computational capacity of the robot, the availability of information through its sensory systems and the characteristics of the environment must be taken into consideration. For this reason, this work focuses on a review of different autonomous-navigation algorithms applied to mobile robots, from which the most suitable ones have been identified for the cases in which the robot must navigate in dynamic environments. Based on the identified algorithms, a comparison of these traditional and DRL-based algorithms was made, using a robotic platform to evaluate their performance, identify their advantages and disadvantages and provide a recommendation for their use, according to the development requirements of the robot. The algorithms selected were DWA, TEB, CADRL and SAC, and the results show that—according to the application and the robot’s characteristics—it is recommended to use each of them, based on different conditions.
Geographic Information Systems and Science (second edition)

The Third Edition of this bestselling textbook has been fully revised and updated to include the latest developments in the field and still retains its accessible format to appeal to a broad range of students.Now divided into five clear sections the book investigates the unique, complex and difficult problems that are posed by geographic information and together they build into a holistic understanding of the key principles of GIS.This is the most current, authoritative and comprehensive treatment of the field, that goes from fundamental principles to the big picture of:GIS and the New World Ordersecurity, health and well-beingdigital differentiation in GIS consumptionthe core organizing role of GIS in Geographythe greening of GISgrand challenges of GISciencescience and explanationKey features:Four-colour throughoutAssociated website with free online resourcesTeachers manual available for lecturersA complete learning resource, with accompanying instructor links, free online lab resources and personal syllabiIncludes learning objectives and review boxes throughout each chapterNew in this edition:Completely revised with a new five part structure: Foundations; Principles; Techniques; Analysis; Management and PolicyAll new personality boxes of current GIS practitionersNew chapters on Distributed GIS, Map Production, Geovisualization, Modeling, and Managing GIS
Canonical NOTCH signaling controls the early progenitor state and emergence of the medullary epithelial lineage in fetal thymus development

Thymus function depends on the epithelial compartment of the thymic stroma. Cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) regulate T cell lineage commitment and positive selection, while medullary (m) TECs impose central tolerance on the T cell repertoire. During thymus organogenesis, these functionally distinct sub-lineages are thought to arise from a common thymic epithelial progenitor cell (TEPC). The mechanisms controlling cTEC and mTEC production from the common TEPC are not however understood. Here, we show that emergence of the earliest mTEC lineage-restricted progenitors requires active NOTCH signaling in progenitor TEC and that, once specified, further mTEC development is NOTCH-independent. In addition, we demonstrate that persistent NOTCH activity favors maintenance of undifferentiated TEPC at the expense of cTEC differentiation. Finally, we uncover a direct interaction between NOTCH and FOXN1, the master regulator of TEC differentiation. These data establish NOTCH as a potent regulator of TEPC and mTEC fate during fetal thymus development and are thus of high relevance to strategies aimed at generating/regenerating functional thymic tissue in vitro and in vivo.
Focal temporal pole atrophy and network degeneration in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia

A wealth of neuroimaging research has associated semantic variant primary progressive aphasia with distributed cortical atrophy that is most prominent in the left anterior temporal cortex; however, there is little consensus regarding which region within the anterior temporal cortex is most prominently damaged, which may indicate the putative origin of neurodegeneration. In this study, we localized the most prominent and consistent region of atrophy in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia using cortical thickness analysis in two independent patient samples (n = 16 and 28, respectively) relative to age-matched controls (n = 30). Across both samples the point of maximal atrophy was located in the same region of the left temporal pole. This same region was the point of maximal atrophy in 100% of individual patients in both semantic variant primary progressive aphasia samples. Using resting state functional connectivity in healthy young adults (n = 89), we showed that the seed region derived from the semantic variant primary progressive aphasia analysis was strongly connected with a large-scale network that closely resembled the distributed atrophy pattern in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia. In both patient samples, the magnitude of atrophy within a brain region was predicted by that region’s strength of functional connectivity to the temporopolar seed region in healthy adults. These findings suggest that cortical atrophy in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia may follow connectional pathways within a large-scale network that converges on the temporal pole.
Turmeric Powder Counteracts Oxidative Stress and Reduces AFB1 Content in the Liver of Broilers Exposed to the EU Maximum Levels of the Mycotoxin

The most frequent adverse effects of AFB1 in chicken are low performance, the depression of the immune system, and a reduced quality of both eggs and meat, leading to economic losses. Since oxidative stress plays a major role in AFB1 toxicity, natural products are increasingly being used as an alternative to mineral binders to tackle AFB1 toxicosis in farm animals. In this study, an in vivo trial was performed by exposing broilers for 10 days to AFB1 at dietary concentrations approaching the maximum limits set by the EU (0.02 mg/kg feed) in the presence or absence of turmeric powder (TP) (included in the feed at 400 mg/kg). The aims were to evaluate (i) the effects of AFB1 on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant parameters, histology, and the expression of drug transporters and biotransformation enzymes in the liver; (ii) the hepatic accumulation of AFB1 and its main metabolites (assessed using an in-house-validated HPLC-FLD method); (iii) the possible modulation of the above parameters elicited by TP. Broilers exposed to AFB1 alone displayed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation in the liver, which was completely reverted by the concomitant administration of TP. Although no changes in glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities were detected in any treatment group, AFB1 significantly upregulated and downregulated the mRNA expression of CYP2A6 and Nrf2, respectively. TP counteracted such negative effects and increased the hepatic gene expression of selected antioxidant enzymes (i.e., CAT and SOD2) and drug transporters (i.e., ABCG2), which were further enhanced in combination with AFB1. Moreover, both AFB1 and TP increased the mRNA levels of ABCC2 and ABCG2 in the duodenum. The latter changes might be implicated in the decrease in hepatic AFB1 to undetectable levels (
Association of the polymorphisms of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene with coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis

Aims This meta-analysis aimed to assess the association of the polymorphisms of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) rs708272 (G>A), rs5882 (G>A), rs1800775 (C>A), rs4783961 (G>A), rs247616 (C>T), rs5883 (C>T), rs1800776 (C>A), and rs1532624 (C>A) with coronary artery disease (CAD) and the related underlying mechanisms. Methods A comprehensive search was performed using five databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus to obtain the appropriate articles. The quality of the included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using STATA 17.0 software. The association between CETP gene polymorphisms and risk of CAD was estimated using the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The association of CETP gene polymorphisms with lipids and with CETP levels was assessed using the pooled standardized mean difference and corresponding 95% CI. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 70 case-control studies with 30,619 cases and 31,836 controls from 46 articles were included. The results showed the CETP rs708272 polymorphism was significantly associated with a reduced risk of CAD under the allele model (OR = 0.846, P < 0.001), the dominant model (OR = 0.838, P < 0.001) and the recessive model (OR = 0.758, P < 0.001). AA genotype and GA genotype corresponded to higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in the blood compared with GG genotype across the studied groups (all P < 0.05). The CETP rs5882 and rs1800775 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with CAD under the allele model (P = 0.802, P = 0.392), the dominant model (P = 0.556, P = 0.183) and the recessive model (P = 0.429, P = 0.551). Similarly, the other mentioned gene polymorphisms were not significantly associated with CAD under the three genetic models. Conclusions The CETP rs708272 polymorphism shows a significant association with CAD, and the carriers of the allele A are associated with a lower risk of CAD and higher HDL-C concentrations in the blood compared to the non-carriers. The CETP rs5882, rs1800775, rs4783961, rs247616, rs5883, rs1800776, and rs1532624 are not significantly associated with CAD. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/display_record. php? ID=CRD42023432865, identifier: CRD42023432865.