Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term Surface Temperature (LoST) Database as a Complement for Transient and Control Preindustrial Simulations

<div>Estimates of climate sensitivity from Atmosphere-Ocean Coupled General Circulation Model (GCM) simulations present a large spread despite the continued improvements in climate modeling since the 1970s. This variability is partially caused by the dependence of several long-term feedback mechanisms on the reference climate state. However, it is difficult to provide a reference to assess the climatology of preindustrial control simulations as there are no long-term preindustrial observations. <br>In the ground, recent changes in ground surface temperature are observed at shallow depths as perturbations to the quasi-steady state geothermal regime. However, if undisturbed by recent surface temperature changes, the deep ground temperatures vary linearly as a function of depth, and the extrapolation of this linear behavior to the surface can be interpreted as the past long-term surface temperature climatology. </div><div>We assemble a new gridded database of past long-term ground surface temperatures (LoST database) obtained from 514 borehole temperature profiles measured across North America, and we explore its use as a potential reference for the evaluation of GCM preindustrial control simulations and past millennium simulations. All temperature profiles are truncated at 300 m depth, allowing to estimate the ground surface climatology for the period 1300-1700 of the common era. We compare the LoST database with observations from the CRU database, as well as with five past millennium simulations and five preindustrial control simulations from the third phase of the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP3) and the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) archives. Our results suggest that LoST temperatures could be employed as a reference to narrow down the spread of surface temperature climatologies on GCM preindustrial control and past millennium simulations. </div>
A High-Performance Standard Dipole Antenna Suitable for Antenna Calibration

Ideal dipole antennas are desirable for antenna calibration. However, real-world implementation issues introduce inevitable nonideal effects that can significantly affect the quality of calibration. In this communication, a 2 GHz standard dipole (SD) antenna is presented with an excellent overall performance. This result is achieved by an innovative design with an optimized element shape and an embedded (shielded) balun. The designed feeding structure is a balanced structure that transitions from parallel strip lines to coaxial lines. The feeding method avoids the impact of electromagnetic environment asymmetry while achieving an appropriate balance. The measured relative bandwidth of the dipole exceeds 15%, and the antenna gain is approximately 2 dBi. The cross-polarization ratio is greater than 27 dB in the horizontal plane, and the horizontal gain variation is less than 0.2 dB. The dipole has a symmetrical vertical plane pattern, and the maximum gain point does not deviate from the horizontal plane. The high performance of this SD makes it suitable for antenna calibration.
The Role of Morality in Social Cognition

Over the past few decades, two-factor models of social cognition have emerged as the dominant framework for understanding impression formation. Despite the differences in the labels, there is wide agreement that one dimension reflects sociability potential, and the other, competence. One way in which the various two-factor models do clearly differ, however, is in the way the dimensions incorporate or produce evaluations of morality. Aristotle saw morality as the most important basis on which to form positive evaluations, because competence and sociability could only be virtuous, sincere, and trustworthy if expressed through a moral character. This chapter highlights research demonstrating the unique and possibly primary role of morality in social cognition. We clarify the dynamic, interactive, and conjoint effects of morality on social perception, and argue morality, competence, and sociability are three influential and interactive dimensions of social perception.
Analysis of global trends of total column water vapour from multiple years of OMI observations

<p><span>Atmospheric water plays a key role for the Earth&#8217;s energy budget and temperature distribution via radiative effects (clouds and vapour) and latent heat transport. Thus, the distribution and transport of water vapour are closely linked to atmospheric dynamics on different spatiotemporal scales. In this context, global monitoring of the water vapour distribution is essential for numerical weather prediction, climate modelling, and a better understanding of climate feedbacks. </span></p><p><span>Total column water vapour (TCWV), or integrated water vapour, can be retrieved from satellite spectra in the visible &#8220;blue&#8221; spectral range (430-450nm) using Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS). The UV-vis spectral range offers several advantages for monitoring the global water vapour distribution: for instance it allows for accurate, straightforward retrievals over ocean and land even under partly-cloudy conditions. </span></p><p><span>To investigate changes in the TCWV distribution from space, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on board NASA&#8217;s Aura satellite is particularly promising as it provides long-term measurements (late 2004-ongoing) with daily global coverage. </span></p><p><span>Here, we present a global analysis of trends of total column water vapour retrieved from multiple years of OMI observations (2005-2020). Furthermore, we put our results in context to trends of other climate data records and validate the OMI TCWV data by comparisons to additional reference data sets. </span></p>
Prognostic role of the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale in patients with acute heart failure:results from a single-centre retrospective cohort study

Type of funding sources: None. Acute decompensated heart failure carries a poor prognosis and places a significant burden on healthcare resources. Our ability to predict patients at high risk of deterioration is limited. The Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is an established frailty screening tool that stratifies patients on a nine-point scale ranging from 1 (very well) to 9 (terminally ill) providing a useful measure of physiological reserve. CFS is used extensively for general prognostication in geriatric populations, yet its impact on mortality specifically in patients admitted with acute heart failure remains sparsely investigated. We performed a retrospective cohort study to investigate the prognostic role for CFS for short term mortality in patients admitted with acute heart failure. Over a period of 16 weeks (7th January – 27th April 2020), 283 consecutive patients presenting to our hospital with signs and symptoms of acute heart failure were identified. Discharge summaries, electronic notes and shared care networks were manually searched for each patient to determine frailty score, baseline demographics, admission bloods and co-morbidity indices. Short term mortality at 30 days was recorded from electronic hospital and GP records. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify clinical and biochemical predictors of mortality. In total, 283 patients were admitted with acute heart failure over the study period (mean age 81+/-10 years, 46% female. The mean CFS score was 5+/-1 and mean Charlson Comorbidity Index score 8+/-3. 15% of patients died within 30 days. On univariate analysis age, creatinine, Charlson Comorbidity Index and CFS were associated with prognosis. On multivariate analysis, only CFS was found to be an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 1.36, p = 0.029). This study demonstrates a clear relationship between increasing frailty score and short-term mortality in acute heart failure. The CFS is a rapid and easily accessible screening tool used widely throughout the UK. This work highlights its potential for use alongside other parameters in prognostication of patients presenting with acute decompensated heart failure. Further work is needed to explore the impact on longer term mortality and to determine practical implementation in this setting. Abstract Figure.
Mechanical Property Evolution of Silicon Composite Electrodes Studied by Environmental Nanoindentation

Mechanical degradation is largely responsible for the short cycle life of silicon (Si)‐based electrodes for future lithium‐ion batteries. An improved fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of Si electrodes, which evolves, as demonstrated in this paper, with the state of charge (SOC) and the cycle number, is a prerequisite for overcoming mechanical degradation and designing high capacity and durable Si‐based electrodes. In this study, Young's modulus (E) and hardness (H) of Si composite electrodes at different SOCs and after different cycle numbers are measured by nanoindentation under both dry and wet (liquid electrolyte) conditions. Unlike electrodes made of Si alone, E and H values of Si composite electrodes increase with increasing Li concentration. The composite electrodes under wet conditions are softer than that under dry conditions. Both E and H decrease with the cycle number. These findings highlight the effects of porosity, liquid environment, and degradation on the mechanical behavior of composite electrodes. The methods and results of this study on the mechanical property evolution of Si/polyvinylidene fluoride electrodes form a basis for exploring more effective binders for Si‐based electrodes. Furthermore, the evolving nature of the mechanical behavior of composite electrodes should be taken into consideration in future modeling efforts of porous composite electrodes.
Efficiency and Operational Envelop of a Hybrid PM Machine System for HEVs

This paper investigates effect of speed variation of internal combustion engine (ICE) acting as a prime mover to a hybrid PM (HPM) generator system. The HPM generator output of which is passively rectified is used in a series hybrid electric vehicle (SHEV) and supports the vehicle average power. The investigation in this paper intends to evaluate system efficiency at various fixed output powers at predefined variable DC-link voltages. The machine core loss prediction at different ICE speeds for specified DC-link transient within a driving cycles is calculated and presented. This study have been numerically evaluated via a 9-phase HPM generator system dynamic model developed in Matlab/Simulink platform along with 2D Finite Element Analysis (FEA). A laboratory prototype HPM generator system is tested and results are compared with simulations. The comparison shows a good agreement, hence confidence in the models.
Suffrutex grasslands in south-central Angola: belowground biomass, root structure, soil characteristics and vegetation dynamics of the ‘underground forests of Africa’

Despite its importance for carbon stocks accounting, belowground biomass (BGB) has seldom been measured due to the methodological complexity involved. In this study, we assess woody BGB and related carbon stocks, soil properties and human impact on two common suffrutex grasslands (Brachystegia- and Parinari grasslands) on the Angolan Central Plateau. Data on BGB was measured by direct destructive sampling. Soil samples were analysed for select key parameters. To investigate vegetation dynamics and human impact, we used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and fire data retrieved via Google Earth Engine. Mean belowground woody biomass of sandy Parinari grasslands was 17 t/ha and 44 t/ha in ferralitic Brachystegia grasslands of which 50% correspond to carbon stocks. As such, the BGB of Brachystegia grasslands almost equals the amount of aboveground biomass (AGB) of neighbouring miombo woodlands. Almost the entire woody BGB is located in the top 30 cm of the soil. Soils were extremely acid, showing a low nutrient availability. Both grassland types differed strongly in EVI and fire seasonality. The Parinari grasslands burnt almost twice as frequent as Brachystegia grasslands in a 10-year period. Our study emphasizes the high relevance of BGB in suffrutex grasslands for carbon stock accounting.
Calcium Sulfate Versus PMMA in One Stage Repair of Critical-sized Femoral Defects: A Vitro Study

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement has been used in Masquelet technique to repair bone defects, but it needs additional surgery like bone grafting. This study was to compare the efficacy between PMMA and calcium sulfate (CS) used as a spacer in one-stage reconstruction of critical-sized segmental bone defects. Sprague Dawley rats (n=30) were used to create models of critical-sized femoral defect (5mm) which were then randomized into CS, PMMA and control groups equally. the bone defects were filled with CS, PMMA or nothing. Gross observation, digital radiography, histological observation and micro-computed tomography were conducted at week 20 after surgery for comparison between the three groups. The expression of Osterix, Nestin and Osteocalcin at the bone defects was also detected by immunofluorescent staining. The results of X-Ray and μCT showed that new bone formation in CS group was superior to that in PMMA group. H&E, Safranin O & fast green and Masson staining showed obvious endochondral ossification and fibrocartilage tissues at the ends of bone defects in CS group. Much more new bone tissue formed near the ends of bone defects in CS group. In addition, osteogenic and angiogenic activities were significantly increased in CS and PMMA groups. Compared with PMMA and control groups, the expression of Osteoblast-associated protein at the bone defects in CS group was higher. In general, due to the degradability of CS and superior osteogenesis ability, CS may replace PMMA as a new filling material in clinical application.
Role of glial inflammation and cytokine production in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis in diet-resistant and diet-induced obese rats

The obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemic is escalating and represents one of the most costliest biomedical challenges facing modern society. To counter this growth, the research is centered on the continuous exploration of new therapeutic approaches. The focus of this study is on the mechanisms underlying the role of astrocytes and microglia in the control of eating and body weight. The first aim of this study is to determine the effect of an acute high energy diet (HE) on glial activation and cytokine production in diet induced obese (DIO) and diet resistant (DR) rats and to assess whether sex-differences influence glial inflammation. Second, we aim to investigate the effect of inhibiting the IKKβ signaling pathway in the mediobasal hypothalamus astrocytes of DIO and DR rats on metabolism. Our results revealed no differences in GFAP and Iba1 density between male and female DIO and DR rats on chow and after 3d of HE diet. Further, our in vitro experiment provided evidence that ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) astrocyte cytokine production is increased already 24 hours after the exposure to long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and that unsaturated fatty acids (FA) can elicit a more potent anti-inflammatory response compared to saturated ones, which have instead demonstrated a pro-inflammatory effect. Finally, our data demonstrated the NF-Kβ/IKKβ pathway as a pivotal signal in altering food intake and body weight gain in DIO rats. in Glia-Zellen und von bei der Regulation der Nahrungsaufnahme und der Energiehomöostase
siRNA-Inhibition of TIGAR Hypersensitizes Human Papillomavirus-Transformed Cells to Apoptosis Induced by Chemotherapy Drugs that Cause Oxidative Stress

The high-risk subtype Human Papillomaviruses (hrHPVs), including HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV33, and HPV45, infect and oncogenically transform epithelial cells and cause squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas associated with the development of cervical cancer and subsets of vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anogenital cancers, as well as head-and-neck oropharyngeal carcinomas which often have poor clinical prognoses. Many cancers have been shown to contain elevated levels of the TP53-Induced Glycolysis and Apoptosis Regulator (TIGAR)-a glycolytic enzyme and antioxidant effector which frequently correlates with an aggressive tumor phenotype and serves as a determinant of therapy-resistance. We therefore tested whether siRNA-inhibition of TIGAR protein expression could sensitize HPV18-transformed HeLa cells to genotoxic chemotherapy agents (i.e., cisplatin, etoposide, doxorubicin, and 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide) that induce oxidative stress and DNA-damage. Here we demonstrate that the siRNA-knockdown of TIGAR hypersensitized HeLa cells to low, otherwise sub-inhibitory concentrations of these drugs and markedly induced cellular apoptosis, as compared to a scrambled RNA (scrRNA) oligonucleotide negative control or a non-transformed immortalized human fibroblast cell-line, HFL1. Importantly, these findings suggest that therapeutically inhibiting TIGAR could hypersensitize hrHPV+ cervical tumor cells to low-dosage concentrations of chemotherapy drugs that induce oxidative DNA-damage, which could potentially lead to more favorable clinical outcomes by reducing the adverse side-effects of these anticancer medications and making them more tolerable for patients. Our studies have further shown that siRNA-inhibition of TIGAR sensitizes HPV18+ HeLa cells to apoptosis induced by 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide-a DNA-alkylating agent these cells were reported to have resistance to, alluding to another possible benefit of targeting TIGAR in combinatorial treatment strategies against virus-induced cancers.
The statist neo-institutionalism of Acemoglu and Robinson

In a long review of Acemoglu and Robinson’s 2019 The Narrow Corridor McCloskey praises their scholarship but criticizes their relentless statism—their enthusiasts for a bigger and bigger Stato, so long as it is somehow “caged. ” Their case is mechanical, materialist, and structuralist, none of which is a good guide to history or politics. Their theory of social causation mixes up necessary with sufficient conditions, though they are not unusual among political scientists an economists in doing so. They downplay the role of ideas, which after all made the modern world through liberalism. They recognize how dangerous the modern “capable” state can be, what they call The Leviathan, after Hobbes. But their construal of “liBerty” is the provision of goodies to children by a beneficent Leviathan. It is not the adultism that in fact made the modern world of massive enrichment and true liberty. Their vision is deeply illiberal, and mistaken as science.
Contributions from Remote Sensing to Policy Development Related to Genetically Modified Crops in US Agriculture

In recent years, the use of Plant Incorporated Protectant (PIP) maize by American producers has been increasing dramatically. PIP maize contains genetically inserted traits that produce toxins in the plant that provide narrowly targeted protection against specific insect pests. The plant producing toxins can offer significant reductions in the application of broad-spectrum pesticides that have ecological and human health consequences. PIP maize as a percentage of total maize acreage planted in the US is expected to continue to increase as these protective traits are "stacked" with other desirable traits by seed companies, and producers are seeing considerable increases in yield as a result. The introduction of maize as a bio-fuel source for ethanol has increased production by over 6 million hectares in 2007. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which is responsible for the registration of PIP crops under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, views the use of PIP maize as positive. Broad spectrum pesticide use has declined since the PIP traits have been introduced. As the agricultural landscape sees a higher percentage of maize acres using the PIP technology, the risk of the targeted insect pest populations developing resistance to the toxins, thereby rendering them useless will increase as well. This result would negate the effectiveness of the PIP maize traits and could reduce production of a US field maize crop valued at $33 billion dollars in 2006 and place US food and now energy security at risk.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh: Does Population Density Matter?

Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a density of about 1,265 persons per km2 having a limited land area with high development potential. Being able to accomplish noteworthy achievements in MDGs, Bangladesh is heading towards achieving the targets of the SDGs amid several challenges like high population, resource constraints, poverty etc. This study aims at addressing the challenges and prospect of increasing population density in achieving the SDGs. An exploratory approach has been applied to address how the density of population might influence the achievement of the SDGs. Data on population and other relevant parameters have been identified from census, published documents and articles. The current progress of SDGs attainment shows some of the goals are on track, but more progress could have been achieved unless being hindered by the high density of population. Feeding and providing the basic amenities to this huge population is quite a big challenge with limited resources, in contrast, optimum utilization of the demographic dividend by ensuring effective participation of the young active population in the current development process can also expedite the progress of attainment of SDGs. The adversities of the high density of population can essentially be offset by redistribution of urban population and decentralization of economic activities from major cities. Alongside appropriate and precise policy measures, comprehensive study on quantifying how the density of population is affecting the attainment of SDGs is recommended. The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 8(2), 2019, P 1-15
Effect of concentration of crosslinked chitosan on ciprofloxacin release from biodegradable implantable matrices

The purpose of this investigation was to develop and characterize a biodegradable implants containing Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (HCl) for the localized treatment of osteomyelitis. Chitosan is widely investigated biodegradable polymer and has reactive hydroxyl groups that can be modified chemically for various biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. In this study the reactive hydroxyl groups of Chitosan were modified using epichlorohydrin & crosslinked Chitosan matrices were used as carrier to formulate different Ciprofloxacin implants. The developed formulations were evaluated for different In vitro parameters. The formulations having 40% drug loading (EC4) was found to be optimum in terms of various evaluation parameters. The present work concluded that, the concentration of crosslinked chitosan plays crucial role in retardation of drug release from biodegradable implantable matrices.
Diazepam TiO 2 Photodegradation along with Metabolites Obtained from the Kinetic Study in Sludge

This study aims to show the stability of diazepam, a member of the benzodiazepines and psychoactive drug, in the environment. Two experiments were carried out: biological degradation by using activated sludge and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). AOPs process was proposed and applied. TiO2, used as catalyst, has two important properties: high photo-catalytic activity and low cost. Photodegradation of diazepam was much faster under light irradiation in the presence of TiO2 (half-life = 6 hours) than under Suntest irradiation (half-life = 34 hours). Considering that the photo-catalytic process started after the biological treatment on the water body containing a very little amount of contaminants, the removal of this pharmaceutical compound was quite complete and the degradation products were detected below the legal limit.