Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluations of Surface PM10 Concentration and Chemical Compositions in MERRA-2 Aerosol Reanalysis over Central and Eastern China

The chemical composition dataset of Aerosol Reanalysis of NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application, version 2 (MERRAero) has not been thoroughly evaluated with observation data in mainland China due to the lack of long-term chemical components data. Using the 5-year data of PM10 mass concentrations and chemical compositions obtained from the routine sampling measurements at the World Meteorological Organization the Global Atmosphere Watch Programme regional background stations, Jing Sha (JS) and Lin’An (LA), in central and eastern China, we comprehensively evaluate the surface PM10 concentrations and chemical compositions such as sulfate (SO42−), organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) derived from MERRAero. Overall, the concentrations of PM10, SO42−, OC and BC from the MERRAero agreed well with the measurements, despite a slight and consistent overestimation of BC concentrations and a moderate and persistent underestimation of PM10 concentrations throughout the study period. The MERRAero reanalysis of aerosol compositions performs better during the summertime than wintertime. By considering the nitrate particles in PM10 reconstruction, MERRAero performance can be significantly improved. The unreasonable seasonal variations of PM10 chemical compositions at station LA by MERRAero could be causative factors for the larger MERRAero discrepancies during 2016–2017 than the period of 2011–2013.
Error Analysis of LAI Measurements with LAI-2000 Due to Discrete View Angular Range Angles for Continuous Canopies

As a widely used ground-based optical instrument, the LAI-2000 or LAI-2200 plant canopy analyzer (PCA) (Li-Cor, Inc., Lincoln, NE) is designed to measure the plant effective leaf area index (Le) by measuring the canopy gap fraction at several limited or discrete view zenith angles (VZAs) (usually five VZAs: 7, 23, 38, 53, and 68°) based on Miller’s equation. Miller’s equation requires the probability of radiative transmission through the canopy to be measured over the hemisphere, i.e., VZAs in the range from 0 to 90°. However, the PCA view angle ranges are confined to several limited ranges or discrete sectors. The magnitude of the error produced by the discretization of VZAs in the leaf area index measurements remains difficult to determine. In this study, a theoretical deduction was first presented to definitely prove why the limited or discrete VZAs or ranges can affect the Le measured with the PCA, and the specific error caused by the limited or discrete VZAs was described quantitatively. The results show that: (1) the weight coefficient of the last PCA ring is the main cause of the error; (2) the error is closely related to the leaf inclination angles (IAs)—the Le measured with the PCA can be significantly overestimated for canopies with planophile IAs, whereas it can be underestimated for erectophile IAs; and (3) the error can be enhanced with the increment of the discrete degree of PCA rings or VZAs, such as using four or three PCA rings. Two corrections for the error are presented and validated in three crop canopies. Interestingly, although the leaf IA type cannot influence the Le calculated by Miller’s equation in the hemispheric space, it affects the Le measured with the PCA using the discrete form of Miller’s equation for several discrete VZAs.
SNR Enhancement of Back Scattering Signals for Bistatic Radar Based on BeiDou GEO Satellites

Using scattering signals of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) for target detection has become one of the research hotspots. This technology faces the difficulty of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) target echoes. Since BeiDou geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites provide the opportunity to form a bistatic radar with some advantages, such as fixed coverage area and quasi monostatic configuration to avoid the interference from the direct signals, the target echoes may have regular phases that are beneficial to SNR enhancement. This study uses BeiDou GEO satellites and ground fixed receivers to form a bistatic radar and analyzes the phase changes in the reflected signal caused by the target, then gives two methods for SNR enhancement corresponding to two applications: deformation monitoring and ship detection. This paper first introduces the basic signal processing including the intermediate frequency (IF) signal collector and the range compression in the software receiver, then describes the basic SNR enhancement method, i.e., increasing coherence integration time (CIT), and shows its limitation by two target cases: static metal reflector on the land and ships in the water. After that, this study provides an improved SNR enhancement method based on Doppler and range compensation in the moving ship detection case. The experiment shows that by the SNR enhancement, the SNRs of target echo signals in range/Doppler domain increase more than 4 dB on average. This study also demonstrates the bistatic radar’s potential for monitoring surface deformation.
Factors Predicting the Presence of Maternal Cells in Cord Blood and Associated Changes in Immune Cell Composition

Background Cord blood (CB) samples are increasingly used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells in transplantation settings. Maternal cells have been detected in CB samples and their presence is associated with a better graft outcome. However, we still do not know what influences the presence of maternal microchimerism (MMc) in CB samples and whether their presence influences CB hematopoietic cell composition. Patients and Methods Here we test whether genetic, biological, anthropometric and/or obstetrical parameters influence the frequency and/or quantity of maternal Mc in CB samples from 55 healthy primigravid women. Mc was evaluated by targeting non-shared, non-inherited Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-specific real-time quantitative PCR in whole blood and four cell subsets (T, B lymphocytes, granulocytes and/or hematopoietic progenitor cells). Furthermore CB samples were analyzed for their cell composition by flow cytometry and categorized according to their microchimeric status. Results MMc was present in 55% of CB samples in at least one cell subset or whole blood, with levels reaching up to 0.3% of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Two factors were predictive of the presence of MMc in CB samples: high concentrations of maternal serological Pregnancy-Associated-Protein-A at first trimester of pregnancy (p=0.018) and feto-maternal HLA-A and/or –DR compatibility (p=0.009 and p=0.01 respectively). Finally, CB samples positive for MMc were significantly enriched in CD56+ cells compared to CB negative for MMc. Conclusions We have identified two factors, measurable at early pregnancy, predicting the presence of maternal cells in CB samples at delivery. We have shown that MMc in CB samples could have an influence on the hematopoietic composition of fetal cells. CD56 is the phenotypic marker of natural killer cells (NK) and NK cells are known to be the main effector for graft versus leukemia reactions early after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These results emphasize the importance of MMc investigation for CB banking strategies.
Long Noncoding RNA Small Nucleolar Host Gene: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Urological Cancers

The incidence of urological cancer has been gradually increasing in the last few decades. However, current diagnostic tools and treatment strategies continue to have limitations. Substantial evidence shows that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in carcinogenesis and the progression, treatment response and prognosis of multiple human cancers, including urological cancers, gastrointestinal tumours, reproductive cancers and respiratory neoplasms. LncRNA small nucleolar RNA host genes (SNHGs), a subgroup of lncRNAs, have been found to be dysregulated in tumour cell biology. In this review, we summarize the impacts of lncRNA SNHGs in urological malignancies and the underlying mechanisms.
Effects of Ocean Acidification on Carbon and Nitrogen Fixation in the Hermatypic Coral Galaxea fascicularis

The supply of metabolites from symbionts to scleractinian corals is crucial to coral health. Members of the Symbiodiniaceae can enhance coral calcification by providing photosynthetically fixed carbon (PFC) and energy, whereas dinitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteria can provide additional nutrients such as diazotrophically-derived nitrogen (DDN) that sustain coral productivity especially when alternative external nitrogen sources are scarce. How these mutualistic associations benefit corals in the future acidifying ocean is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of ocean acidification (OA; pHs 7.7 and 7.4 vs. 8.1) on calcification in the hermatypic coral Galaxea fascicularis with respect to PFC and DDN assimilation. Our measurements based on isotopic tracing showed no significant differences in the assimilation of PFC among different pH treatments, but the assimilation of DDN decreased significantly after 28 days of stress at pH 7.4. The decreased DDN assimilation suggests a nitrogenous nutrient deficiency in the coral holotiont, potentially leading to reduced coral calcification and resilience to bleaching and other stressful events. This contrasting impact of OA on carbon and N flux demonstrates the flexibility of G. fascicularis in coping with OA, apparently by sustaining a largely undamaged photosystem at the expense of N2 fixation machinery, which competes with coral calcification for energy from photosynthesis. These findings shed new light on the critically important but more vulnerable N cycling in hospite, and on the trade-off between coral hosts and symbionts in response to future climate change.
The 2003 Ms6.1 Minle Earthquake: An Earthquake in the Minle-Yongchang Reverse Fault-Related Fold Belt in the Hexi Corridor, NW China

The Minle-Yongchang fault is an active reverse fault-related fold structural belt developed in the Hexi Corridor Basin on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. An earthquake of Ms6.1 occurred near the Minle-Yongchang fault zone in 2003. The deformation pattern of the Minle-Yongchang fault and its relationship with this strong earthquake, however, are still not well known. In this study, we used the methods of HYPOINVERSE absolute location and double-difference location with waveform cross-correlation technology to relocate the 2003 Minle earthquake sequence. In total, 383 earthquakes are precisely relocated. Based on the results of precise seismic relocation, using the method of determining fault planes by small earthquakes, the seismogenic fault is found to be a low-angle thrust with a strike of 311°, a dip of NE, and a dip angle of 14°. It does not rupture the surface, extends to 19–20 km depth, and is hidden beneath the Yonggu Anticline. We also employed the cut-and-paste (CAP) method with a broadband waveform to determine the focal mechanism of the mainshock in 2003: the strike is 311°; the dip is 34°; and the rake is 90°. The fault plane parameters obtained in these two ways are roughly consistent. We also used a digital elevation model (DEM) derived from the SPOT 6 stereo image pair and high-precision differential Global Positioning System (GPS) to measure the displacement of terraces. Topographic profiles along the terraces across the Minle-Yongchang fault show that high alluvial terrain exhibits fold deformation. The vertical offsets of the T2 and T3 terraces along the Tongziba River are approximately 2.3 and 22 m, respectively. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating indicates that the ages of T2 and T3 are 11.3 and 106 ka, respectively. We calculated an average uplift rate of 0.21 ± 0.05 mm/a by dividing the vertical offset by age. According to the spatial distribution of the relocated earthquake sequence and terrace deformation in the study area, the Ms6.1 Minle earthquake in 2003 was caused by the latest activity of a blind reverse fault-related fold in the Hexi Corridor Basin.
Pectobacterium brasiliense 1692 Chemotactic Responses and the Role of Methyl-Accepting Chemotactic Proteins in Ecological Fitness

To adapt to changing environmental niches, bacteria require taxis, a movement toward or away from a stimulus (ligand). Chemotaxis has been studied in some members of the Soft Rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP), particularly members of the genus Dickeya. On the contrary, there are fewer studies on this topic for the other genus in the SRP group, namely Pectobacterium. This study evaluated chemotactic responses in Pectobacterium brasiliense (Pb 1692) to various ligands. A total of 34 methyl-accepting chemotactic proteins (MCPs) were identified in the Pb 1692 genome and the domain architectures of these MCPs were determined. Four Pb 1692 MCPs previously shown to be differentially expressed during potato tuber infection were selected for further functional characterization. Toward this end, Pb 1692 mutant strains each lacking either AED-0001492, AED-0003671, AED-0000304, or AED-0000744 were generated. Two of these mutants (AED-0001492 and AED-0003671), were attenuated in their ability to grow and respond to citrate and are thus referred to as MCPcit2 and MCPcit1, respectively, while the other two, AED-0000304 (MCPxyl) and AED-0000744 (MCPasp), were affected in their ability to respond to xylose and aspartate, respectively. Trans-complementation of the mutant strains restored swimming motility in the presence of respective ligands. The four MCP mutants were not affected in virulence but were significantly attenuated in their ability to attach to potato leaves suggesting that ecological fitness is an important contribution of these MCPs toward Pb 1692 biology.
An App-Based Workplace Mindfulness Intervention, and Its Effects Over Time

We investigated the week-to-week effects of a mindfulness intervention on emotional exhaustion, work engagement, and job satisfaction in a field study involving 218 participants who participated and reported their weekly outcomes during the 8-week program. To examine how mindfulness impacted work outcomes, we used intraindividual modeling of the 8-week data. Mindfulness increased over time, and time also had indirect effects on emotional exhaustion, work engagement, and job satisfaction, through mindfulness. Supplementary growth curve analyses on the improvement of mindfulness over time showed a slight decrease in the positive effect of time on mindfulness.
A Mini-Review of Relationships Between Cannabis Use and Neural Foundations of Reward Processing, Inhibitory Control and Working Memory

Cannabis is commonly used, and use may be increasing in the setting of increasing legalization and social acceptance. The scope of the effects of cannabis products, including varieties with higher or lower levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), on domains related to addictive behavior deserves attention, particularly as legalization continues. Cannabis use may impact neural underpinnings of cognitive functions linked to propensities to engage in addictive behaviors. Here we consider these neurocognitive processes within the framework of the dual-process model of addictions. In this mini-review, we describe data on the relationships between two main constituents of cannabis (THC and CBD) and neural correlates of reward processing, inhibitory control and working memory.
Computerized Symbol Digit Modalities Test in a Swiss Pediatric Cohort Part 1: Validation

Objective The objective of this study was to validate the computerized Symbol Digit Modalities Test (c-SDMT) in a Swiss pediatric cohort, in comparing the Swiss sample to the Canadian norms. Secondly, we evaluated sex effects, age-effects, and test–retest reliability of the c-SDMT in comparison to values obtained for the paper and pencil version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Methods This longitudinal observational study was conducted in a single-center setting at the University Children’s Hospital of Bern. Our cohort consisted of 86 children (45 male and 41 female) aged from 8 to 16 years. The cohort included both healthy participants (n = 38) and patients (n = 48) hospitalized for a non-neurological disease. Forty eight participants were assessed during two testing sessions with the SDMT and the c-SDMT. Results Test–retest reliability was high in both tests (SDMT: ICC = 0.89, c-SDMT: ICC = 0.90). A reliable change index was calculated for the SDMT (RCIp = −3.18, 14.01) and the c-SDMT (RCIp = −5.45, 1.46) corrected for practice effects. While a significant age effect on information processing speed was observed, no such effect was found for sex. When data on the c-SDMT performance of the Swiss cohort was compared with that from a Canadian cohort, no significant difference was found for the mean time per trial in any age group. Norm values for age groups between 8 and 16 years in the Swiss cohort were established. Conclusion Norms for the c-SDMT between the Swiss and the Canadian cohort were comparable. The c-SDMT is a valid alternative to the SDMT. It is a feasible and easy to administer bedside tool due to high reliability and the lack of motor demands.
Day-Ahead Economic Optimal Dispatch of Microgrid Cluster Considering Shared Energy Storage System and P2P Transaction

With the increasing popularity of renewable energy, energy storage systems (ESSs) have now been used as an essential way to reduce energy bills and mitigate the impact of the uncertainty of renewable generators on the energy network. However, the high investment cost of ESS limits its application. This article proposes the concept of shared ESS (Shared-ESS) for microgrid owner/operator and applies it to the economic optimal dispatch of a microgrid cluster. In addition to the energy storage, the microgrids can achieve the peer-to-peer (P2P) transaction among each other with the use of the Shared-ESS, which significantly improves the energy utilization efficiency. The numerical analysis shows that the Shared-ESS can significantly reduce the energy bills of microgrid owner/operator, shift the usage of energy during peak time, and facilitate the renewable energy consumption.
Fluorescence-Based Ratiometric Analysis of Sperm Centrioles (FRAC) Finds Patient Age and Sperm Morphology Are Associated With Centriole Quality

A large proportion of infertility and miscarriage causes are unknown. One potential cause is a defective sperm centriole, a subcellular structure essential for sperm motility and embryonic development. Yet, the extent to which centriolar maladies contribute to male infertility is unknown due to the lack of a convenient way to assess centriole quality. We developed a robust, location-based, ratiometric assay to overcome this roadblock, the Fluorescence-based Ratiometric Assessment of Centrioles (FRAC). We performed a case series study with semen samples from 33 patients, separated using differential gradient centrifugation into higher-grade (pellet) and lower-grade (interface) sperm fractions. Using a reference population of higher-grade sperm from infertile men with morphologically standard sperm, we found that 79% of higher-grade sperm of infertile men with substandard sperm morphology have suboptimal centrioles (P = 0.0005). Moreover, tubulin labeling of the sperm distal centriole correlates negatively with age (P = 0.004, R = −0.66). These findings suggest that FRAC is a sensitive method and that patient age and sperm morphology are associated with centriole quality.
Non-specific Lipid Transfer Proteins in Legumes and Their Participation During Root-Nodule Symbiosis

Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) constitute a large protein family in plants characterized by having a tunnel-like hydrophobic cavity, which allows them to transfer different lipid molecules. LTPs have been studied in various model plants including those of agronomic interest. Recent studies have demonstrated that LTPs play key functions in both biotic and abiotic stress. In plants-pathogen interaction, they act as either positive or negative regulators of defense responses. However, little is known about the roles of LTPs in symbiotic interactions, especially in root nodule symbiosis. Here, we performed a broad genome analysis of LTP family members in legumes and other important model plants, focusing on their possible roles in legume-rhizobium symbiosis. In silico analysis showed that legumes contain large LTP families, with at least 70 LTP members clustered into four clades. Although the structures of LTP genes and proteins are conserved among species, differences were observed between clades from different species. LTPs are widely expressed in different plant tissues. In general, genes of the LTP1 and LTP2 classes are highly expressed in shoot and reproductive tissues in all analyzed species. Furthermore, genes of the different classes are also expressed in roots inoculated with rhizobia and nodules of legumes. RT-qPCR expression profile analysis of seven PvLTP genes in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) revealed that these genes are differentially expressed during the early and late stages of nodulation and they are genetically regulated by PvRbohA. These findings provide insight into the putative roles of LTP family members in legume-rhizobium symbiosis and their possible interactions with RBOH-dependent ROS production.
Long Non-coding RNA DLEU2L Targets miR-210-3p to Suppress Gemcitabine Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer Cells via BRCA2 Regulation

Gemcitabine (GEM) resistance remains a challenging clinical issue to overcome in chemotherapy against pancreatic cancer. We previously demonstrated that miR-210 derived from pancreatic cancer stem cells enhanced the GEM-resistant properties of pancreatic cancer cells, thus identifying miR-210 as an oncogenic miRNA. Herein, we report the existence of an upstream effector that acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to miR-210. Bioinformatic screening was performed to identify lncRNAs with a binding relationship to miR-210. Overexpression and interference vectors were constructed to demonstrate the effect of ceRNA activity in pancreatic cell behavior, both in vitro and in vivo. DLEU2L (deleted in lymphocytic leukemia 2-like), which is expressed at low levels in pancreatic cancer tissues, was shown to exhibit a binding relationship with miR-210-3p. Overexpression of DLEU2L and silencing of miR-210-3p suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells while promoting apoptosis. These effects occurred via the inhibition of the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis) and AKT/mTOR signaling. In addition, we showed that BRCA2 is a target gene of miR-210-3p, and the downregulation of miR-210-3p by DLEU2L effectively induced an upregulation of BRCA2 via the ceRNA mechanism. In vivo, DLEU2L overexpression and miR-210-3p interference suppressed pancreatic tumor progression, consistent with the results of in vitro studies. The findings of our study establish DLEU2L as a ceRNA to miR-210-3p and reveal the critical role of the DLEU2L/miR-210-3p crosstalk in targeting GEM resistance.
Neural Mechanisms of Observational Learning: A Neural Working Model

Humans and some animal species are able to learn stimulus-response (S-R) associations by observing others' behavior. It saves energy and time and avoids the danger of trying the wrong actions. Observational learning (OL) depends on the capability of mapping the actions of others into our own behaviors, processing outcomes, and combining this knowledge to serve our goals. Observational learning plays a central role in the learning of social skills, cultural knowledge, and tool use. Thus, it is one of the fundamental processes in which infants learn about and from adults (Byrne and Russon, 1998). In this paper, we review current methodological approaches employed in observational learning research. We highlight the important role of the prefrontal cortex and cognitive flexibility to support this learning process, develop a new neural working model of observational learning, illustrate how imitation relates to observational learning, and provide directions for future research.