Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurements of nitrogen oxides and a simple model of NO y fate in the remote North Atlantic marine atmosphere

NO and NOy (total reactive oxidized nitrogen) were measured at a site in the Azores (27.322°W, 38.732°N, 1 km altitude) over a 3 week period in August and September 1993, during the first summer intensive of the North Atlantic Regional Experiment (NARE). These measurements were performed to determine background reactive nitrogen oxides levels and to assess the impact that long-range transport of reactive nitrogen oxides associated with human activities have on these levels. Median NOy mixing ratios during background marine boundary layer (MBL) periods ranged from 59 to 93 parts per trillion by volume (pptv), with an overall median of 73 pptv. Analysis of back trajectories, low and uncorrelated CO and O3 levels, and low levels of MBL NOy indicate that the central North Atlantic region was not influenced by direct transport of anthropogenic emissions during the period of this study. Changes in NOy levels during two MBL periods with adjacent in and out-of-cloud events indicated that up to 45–47% of MBL NOy was scavenged by clouds. However, mean NOy levels during all in-cloud periods (∼70 pptv) and all out-of-cloud periods (∼80 pptv) were not significantly different, apparently because of variability in MBL NOy levels. In addition to the MBL periods, there were two periods when the site was within the free troposphere (FT), as indicated by vertical soundings and weather conditions at the site. FT NOy mixing ratios were ≥280 pptv and ≥400 pptv during these two periods. The median clear-sky FT NO level during the hour centered on solar noon was 16 pptv. A mass balance model considering FT/MBL exchange and MBL removal processes is used to find the NOy MBL effective first-order loss lifetime (∼1.2 days) and the NOy, MBL e-folding response time due to both effective first-order loss processes and subsidence-induced ventilation of the MBL (∼0.9 days). The apparent rapid loss of MBL NOy, implies that it will respond rapidly to changes in the overlying FT, but that correlations of NOy with trace gases with slower MBL removal, such as O3 and CO, will be degraded within the subsidence-influenced MBL.
Quantitative Fidelity of Brachiopod-Mollusk Assemblages from Modern Subtidal Environments of San Juan Islands, USA

Whereas a majority of previous fidelity studies have dealt exclusively with mollusks, this study evaluates the compositional fidelity of mixed brachiopod-mollusk benthic assemblages sampled from the San Juan Islands area (Washington State, USA). A total of ca. 2500 live specimens and over 7500 shells and shell fragments were recovered from nine samples dredged along a subtidal transect. The shell material was dominated by fragments; less than 500 dead specimens were represented by complete valves or shells. The compositional fidelity was high: over 60% of live species and over 70% of live genera were also found in the death assemblage and over 60% of dead species and genera were represented in the life assemblage. These high numbers were consistent for all analyzed size fractions (2.3, 4, and 12mm). The life and death assemblages displayed a significant Spearman rank correlation (r = 0.41, p = 0.0001) suggesting that, despite the biasing action of taphonomic processes and time-averaging, the relative abundance of species in the original communities is at least partly preserved in the resulting death assemblages. The results also indicate that a restrictive analytical approach, with fragments excluded from the datasets, appears to provide more credible estimates of diversity and fidelity than an exhaustive approach, which included all fragments. Differences between the two analytical strategies most likely reflect the presence of several genera (e. G., Chlamys), which were readily identifiable from fragments (the five most abundant species in the exhaustive death assemblage were all identifiable from even small and heavily altered fragments). The ? Chlamys effect? illustrates a general principle, because species often vary in their morphological distinctness, the inclusion of fragments is likely to notably distort the taxonomic composition of the studied death (or fossil) assemblages and may depress estimates of diversity and evenness. This study suggests that mixed brachiopod-mollusk associations are reasonably well preserved in the death assemblage in terms of taxonomic composition and rank abundance of dominant taxa. Moreover, despite considerable microstructural and compositional differences between brachiopod and mollusk shells, the class-level fidelity is excellent when fragments are excluded from the analysis. The results are highly congruent with patterns observed previously in fidelity studies focused exclusively on mollusks.
Identification of cpxS mutational resistome in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa easily produces drug-resistant mutants. A large number of mutational resistome genes exist in the genome of P. aeruginosa. In this study, whole genome sequencing analysis of a multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa strain isolated by in vitro antibiotic treatment showed a mutation in the cpxS gene. Random mutagenesis of cpxS was conducted and introduced into the PA14ΔcpxS strain. Numerous CpxS mutants, including 14 different single amino acid substitutions, were identified, which led to reduced antibiotic susceptibility. Moreover, some of them were also present in the published genomes of P. aeruginosa isolates. Around cpxS, a gene coding for a putative sensor kinase, the nearest gene coding for a response regulator is cpxR in the genome of P. aeruginosa. Deletion of cpxR restored antibiotic susceptibility in the above cpxS mutant strains. As an extension of our previous work, where the expression of the mexAB-oprM operon is directly activated by CpxR in P. aeruginosa, in this study, we showed that the expression of the mexA promoter was increased in the above cpxS mutant strains in a cpxR-dependent manner, and mexA is prerequisite for the reduced antibiotic susceptibility. Therefore, we propose that the putative sensor kinase CpxS, together with CpxR, comprises a two-component regulatory system regulating the expression of the mexAB-oprM operon in P. aeruginosa. Our work indicates that cpxS, as a novel member of mutational resistome, plays important roles on the development of multidrug resistance in P. aeruginosa.
Molecular detection of Schistosoma haematobium in infected Bulinus truncatus snails associated with immune response

Schistosomiasis is one of the most common waterborne parasite illnesses, it is a major public health issue in developing countries. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique is used to find Schistosoma haematobium DNA in Bulinus truncatus, which could speed up the discovery of infections before cercariae are shed. DraI‐PCR detected S. haematobium infection at different infection intervals with bands at 300 bp in shedding snails 40 days after exposure and even on the first day after B. turancuts snails exposure to miracidia. Transmission electron microscopy showed the structure of sporocyst from 1 to 40 days post‐exposure and activated hemocytes in infected non‐shedding snails as well as sporocyst degradation. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of Bax and TGF‐β1 positive stained cells that have been linked with infection progression. In conclusion, molecular tools and immune response play an important role in the strategy of controlling schistosomiasis through the early detection of larval stages in intermediate hosts toward certification of schistosomiasis elimination.
How does loneliness “get under the skin” to become biologically embedded?

ABSTRACT Loneliness is linked to declining physical health across cardiovascular, inflammatory, metabolic, and cognitive domains. As a result, loneliness is increasingly being recognized as a public health threat, though the mechanisms that have been studied do not yet explain all loneliness-related health risk. Potential mechanisms include loneliness having 1. ) direct, causal impacts on health, possibly maintained by epigenetic modification, 2. ) indirect effects mediated through health-limiting behaviors, and 3. ) artifactual associations perhaps related to genetic overlap and reverse causation. In this scoping review, we examine the evidence surrounding each of these pathways, with a particular emphasis on emerging research on epigenetic effects, in order to evaluate how loneliness becomes biologically embedded. We conclude that there are significant gaps in our knowledge of how psychosocial stress may lead to physiological changes, so more work is needed to understand if, how, and when loneliness has a direct influence on health. Hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical axis disruptions that lead to changes in gene expression through methylation and the activity of transcription factor proteins are one promising area of research but are confounded by a number of unmeasured factors. Therefore, wok is needed using causally informative designs, such as twin and family studies and intensively longitudinal diary studies.
Floods over the U.S. Midwest: A Regional Water Cycle Perspective

Abstract The characteristics of situations of extremely high rainfall over the midwestern region of the United States during late spring and summer are investigated from the perspective of the regional water cycle using observations and observationally based analyses. The period of May–July has the greatest mean rainfall rates of the year and higher interannual variability than the periods either before or after. This is also a critical time of year for water resources and cultivation schedules in this agriculturally important region. Large-scale floods during this time of year are usually characterized by an enhanced source of moisture evaporating from low latitudes, specifically the Caribbean Sea. This is part of a fetch of moisture that extends from the Caribbean northward along the coast of Central America, over the Yucatan Peninsula, along the east coast of Mexico and the western Gulf of Mexico, and over Texas, where it links into the Great Plains low-level jet. In fact, heavy rainfall over much of t.
Environmental Pollution and Human Health Risks near a Hazardous Waste Landfill. Temporal Trends

The human health risk assessment associated to the human exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and metals for the population living near a hazardous waste landfill (HWL) in Catalonia (Spain) is here presented. In summer of 2009 and 2010, two monitoring campaigns were performed by analyzing the levels of PCDD/Fs and some elements (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Pb) in air and soil samples around the HWL. Airborne pollutant levels were very low and without tendency found depending the distance to the facility, while higher levels were found in soils inside and close to the facility. Anyhow, current health risks associated with those contaminants were within acceptable ranges. Notwithstanding, it is recommended to continue with the monitoring program to detect any potential future change in the health risks.
Spatiotemporal dedifferentiation of the global brain signal topography along the adult lifespan

Age‐related variations in many regions and/or networks of the human brain have been uncovered using resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging. However, these findings did not account for the dynamical effect the brain's global activity (global signal [GS]) causes on local characteristics, which is measured by GS topography. To address this gap, we tested GS topography including its correlation with age using a large‐scale cross‐sectional adult lifespan dataset (n = 492). Both GS topography and its variation with age showed frequency‐specific patterns, reflecting the spatiotemporal characteristics of the dynamic change of GS topography with age. A general trend toward dedifferentiation of GS topography with age was observed in both spatial (i.e., less differences of GS between different regions) and temporal (i.e., less differences of GS between different frequencies) dimensions. Further, methodological control analyses suggested that although most age‐related dedifferentiation effects remained across different preprocessing strategies, some were triggered by neuro‐vascular coupling and physiological noises. Together, these results provide the first evidence for age‐related effects on global brain activity and its topographic‐dynamic representation in terms of spatiotemporal dedifferentiation.
Regionalization of precipitation models in EastAfrica using meteosat data

The following article outlines the possibilities, prospects and limitations of estimating precipitation on the basis of high temporal resolution METEOSAT Real Time Window satellite data for the region of East Africa and the adjacent Indian Ocean. We regionalized the study area for both the typical dry season (September 1993) and the rainy season (April 1994) using two distinct precipitation models. These are the statistical METEOSAT Precipitation Index (MPI) model and the physical Convective Stratiform Technique (CST) model. The variation of input values for the respective models were first examined using the threshold temperature of cloud surfaces for the MPI model or the dividing straight line for the classification into either convective or stratiform clouds for the CST model. In addition, we discuss natural conditions of topography, land-water ratio and the interrelation between highland and lowland areas within the study area as well as climatic/ geographic factors of air-mass transport and cloud systems and we evaluate the effects of these variables. By using regression analysis, the relationship between estimated MPI model index values and monthly precipitation is analysed for a maximum of 129 rainfall stations. Subsequent correlation coefficients vary between r=0·87 for September 1993 and r=0·49 for April 1994. For the physical CST model, the correlation coefficients reach values of 0·83 for September 1993 and 0·36 for April 1994. In addition, the study area was segmented on the basis of precipitation/ climatological considerations. By using this procedure, we developed four subregions: 1) WEST, the area around Lake Victoria and the Kenyan highlands; 2) CENTER, the lowlands of northern and eastern Kenya; 3) EAST, the coastal area along the Indian Ocean; and 4) SEA, from the Indian Ocean coastline eastward to longitude 56°E. Although this division leads to a dramatic improvement of the precipitation-index-relation within the WEST region for April 1994, it also results index-relation within the WEST region for April 1994, it also results in a further reduction of the already weak values, as seen in the extremely dry core CENTER region during September 1993. © 1997 The Royal Meteorological Society.
Efetividade de áreas protegidas para a conservação da biodiversidade: padrões de ocupação de mamíferos no Parque Nacional do Iguaçu

Protected areas are widely recognized as the main strategy for biodiversity conservation, with the global system covering today ~12% of the Earth‟s surface. Despite the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of these areas, most studies albeit focusing on global or regional scales did not include information on biodiversity. This detailed information is particularly urgent in countries as Brazil that harbors the largest protected area system worldwide, and in biomes such as the Atlantic Forest where protected areas are forest islands within human-modified landscapes. We here focus on the Iguaçu National Park – one of the most important Atlantic Forest protected areas and on terrestrial large mammals as a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas in conserving biodiversity. We monitored 300 km 2 with 37 cameras traps during five years to access if hunting, proximity to tourism attractions and distance from the edge of the park affect species distribution. While many species that are rare or locally extinct in most Atlantic Forest remnants presented high occupancy, the distribution of 11 species across the park was affected mainly by distance from the edge and proximity to tourism attractions. These negative effects are expected to be even stronger on smaller/ more isolated protected areas, which are the majority in highly altered biomes such as the Atlantic Forest. Reestablishing and properly managing buffer zones, restricting tourism to localized areas, combating illicit activities and reducing human-wildlife conflicts are essential to ensure the effectiveness of protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the long run. Key-words: Atlantic Forest, conservation units, edge effect, hunting, mammals,
Detection of a landslide movement as geometric misregistration in image matching of SPOT HRV data of two different dates

A landslide movement was detected as geometric misregistration in image matching between two SPOT HRV panchromatic image data of different acquisition dates. The test site is an active landslide in Itaya area, Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan. The average rate of the landslide movement is approximately 1 cm per day based upon differential GPS measurements. Pixel level and subpixel level image matching was applied to an HRV image pair obtained on 1 November 1987 and 29 October 1993. As a result, the landslide movement was successfully detected as misregistration vectors between the two HRV scenes. The displacement is approximately 20 m to 30 m over the 6-year period between 1987 and 1993 and is consistent with the landslide movement inferred from the GPS measurements.
Sample Matrices for Mass Spectrometry–Based Adherence Monitoring: A Systematic Critical Review

Background: Analytical monitoring of adherence using mass spectrometry (MS) plays an important role in clinical toxicology. Unambiguous detection of drugs (of abuse) and/or their metabolites in body fluids is needed to monitor intake of medication as prescribed or to monitor abstinence as a follow-up to detoxification procedures. This study focused on the advantages and disadvantages of different sample matrices used for MS-based adherence monitoring. Methods: Relevant articles were identified through a literature search in the PubMed database. English articles published between January 01, 2017, and December 31, 2022, were selected using the keywords “adherence assess*” or “adherence monit*” or “compliance assess*” or “compliance monit*” in combination with “mass spectrom*” in the title or abstract. Results: A total of 51 articles were identified, 37 of which were within the scope of this study. MS-based monitoring was shown to improve patient adherence to prescribed drugs. However, MS analysis may not be able to assess whether treatment was rigorously followed beyond the last few days before the sampling event, except when hair is the sample matrix. For medication adherence monitoring, blood-based analyses may be preferred because reference plasma concentrations are usually available, whereas for abstinence control, urine and hair samples have the advantage of extended detection windows compared with blood. Alternative sample matrices, such as dried blood samples, oral fluid, and exhaled breath, are suitable for at-home sampling; however, little information is available regarding the pharmacokinetics and reference ranges of drug (of abuse) concentrations. Conclusions: Each sample matrix has strengths and weaknesses, and no single sample matrix can be considered the gold standard for monitoring adherence. It is important to have sufficient information regarding the pharmacokinetics of target substances to select a sample matrix in accordance with the desired purpose.
Boosting 2-photon vision with adaptive optics

The 2-photon effect in vision occurs when two photons of the same wavelength are absorbed by cone photopigment in the retina and create a visual sensation matching the appearance of light close to half their wavelength. This effect is especially salient for infrared light, where humans are mostly insensitive to 1-photon isomerizations and thus any perception is dominated by 2-photon isomerizations. This phenomenon can be made more readily visible using short-pulsed lasers, which increase the likelihood of 2-photon excitation by making photon arrivals at the retina more concentrated in time. Adaptive optics provides another avenue for enhancing the 2-photon effect by focusing light more tightly at the retina, thereby increasing the spatial concentration of incident photons. This article makes three contributions. First, we demonstrate through color-matching experiments that an adaptive optics correction can provide a 25-fold increase in the luminance of the 2-photon effect—a boost equivalent to reducing pulse width by 96%. Second, we provide image-based evidence that the 2-photon effect occurs at the photoreceptor level. Third, we use our results to compute the specifications for a system that could utilize 2-photon vision and adaptive optics to image and stimulate the retina using a single infrared wavelength and reach luminance levels comparable to conventional displays.
Submandibular Skinfold Thickness Cut–off Values in Relation to Body Mass Index and Percentage Body Fat Among Chilean Adolescents

ABSTRACT The present study evaluates submandibular skinfold (SMS) cutoff values to estimate excess weight for BMI and percentage body fat (%BF) among Chilean adolescents. The results show an optimal area under the cutoff curve value of 83% among girls and 91% in boys to estimate SMS concerning %BF and BMI. The SMS cutoff value estimating obesity by %BF was 10 mm among girls and 9 mm among boys, 10 mm among girls, and 7 mm among boys by BMI. Our results showed that SMS is significantly associated with anthropometric parameters for obesity.
Transcription factor CreA is involved in the inverse regulation of biofilm formation and asexual development through distinct pathways in Aspergillus fumigatus

The exopolysaccharide galactosaminogalactan (GAG) contributes to biofilm formation and virulence in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Increasing evidence indicates that GAG production is inversely linked with asexual development. However, the mechanisms underlying this regulatory relationship are unclear. In this study, we found that the dysfunction of CreA, a conserved transcription factor involved in carbon catabolite repression in many fungal species, causes abnormal asexual development (conidiation) under liquid‐submerged culture conditions specifically in the presence of glucose. The loss of creA decreased GAG production independent of carbon sources. Furthermore, CreA contributed to asexual development and GAG production via distinct pathways. CreA promoted A. fumigatus GAG production by positively regulating GAG biosynthetic genes (uge3 and agd3). CreA suppressed asexual development in glucose liquid‐submerged culture conditions via central conidiation genes (brlA, abaA, and wetA) and their upstream activators (flbC and flbD). Restoration of brlA expression to the wild‐type level by flbC or flbD deletion abolished the abnormal submerged conidiation in the creA null mutant but did not restore GAG production. The C‐terminal region of CreA was crucial for the suppression of asexual development, and the repressive domain contributed to GAG production. Overall, CreA is involved in GAG production and asexual development in an inverse manner.