Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epigallocatechin Gallate-Modified Silver Nanoparticles Show Antiviral Activity against Herpes Simplex Type 1 and 2

(1) Background: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been recognized as a flavonoid showing antiviral activity against various types of DNA and RNA viruses. In this work, we tested if EGCG-modified silver nanoparticles (EGCG-AgNPs) can become novel microbicides with additional adjuvant properties to treat herpes infections. (2) Methods: The anti-HSV and cytotoxic activities of EGCG-AgNPs were tested in human HaCaT and VK-2-E6/E7 keratinocytes. HSV-1/2 titers and immune responses after treatment with EGCG-AgNPs were tested in murine models of intranasal HSV-1 infection and genital HSV-2 infection. (3) Results: EGCG-AgNPs inhibited attachment and entry of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in human HaCaT and VK-2-E6/E7 keratinocytes much better than EGCG at the same concentration. Infected mice treated intranasally (HSV-1) or intravaginally (HSV-2) with EGCG-AgNPs showed lower virus titers in comparison to treatment with EGCG alone. After EGCG-AgNPs treatment, mucosal tissues showed a significant infiltration in dendritic cells and monocytes in comparison to NaCl-treated group, followed by significantly better infiltration of CD8+ T cells, NK cells and increased expression of IFN-α, IFN-γ, CXCL9 and CXCL10. (4) Conclusions: Our findings show that EGCG-AgNPs can become an effective novel antiviral microbicide with adjuvant properties to be applied upon the mucosal tissues.
Conodont colour maturation indices for the Carboniferous of west-central Scotland

Abstract The colour alteration of conodont elements from Carboniferous samples from west-central Scotland is summarized, and most values fall within indices 1 to 1.5. This range corresponds to geothermal temperatures of <50°C to 90°C which lie within the immature (early dry gas) to mature (perhaps mid-oil window) stages of hydrocarbon generation. Where the index values are 1.5, and other necessary geological criteria are satisfied, support is offered here for oil generation through burial maturation.
SEA-Net: Structure-Enhanced Attention Network for Limited-Angle CBCT Reconstruction of Clinical Projection Data

This work aims to improve limited-angle (LA) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) by developing deep learning (DL) methods for real clinical CBCT projection data, which is the first feasibility study of clinical-projection-data-based LA-CBCT, to the best of our knowledge. In radiation therapy (RT), CBCT is routinely used as the onboard imaging modality for patient setup. Compared to diagnostic computed tomography (CT), CBCT has a long acquisition time, e.g., 60 s for a full 360° rotation, which is subject to the motion artifact. Therefore, the LA-CBCT, if achievable, is of great interest for the purpose of RT, for its proportionally reduced scanning time in addition to the radiation dose. However, LA-CBCT suffers from severe wedge artifacts and image distortions. Targeting at real clinical projection data, we have explored various DL methods such as image/data/hybrid-domain methods and finally developed the so-called structure-enhanced attention network (SEA-Net) method that has the best image quality from clinical projection data among the DL methods we have implemented. Specifically, the proposed SEA-Net employs a specialized structure enhancement subnetwork to promote texture preservation. Based on the observation that the distribution of wedge artifacts in reconstruction images is nonuniform, the spatial attention (SA) module is utilized to emphasize the relevant regions while ignoring the irrelevant ones, which leads to more accurate texture restoration.
Origin of the high plateau in the central Andes, Bolivia, South America

The Bolivian Altiplano, in the Central Andes of South America, is part of the second largest high plateau on Earth. It is an elongate region of subdued relief, ∼1.2 × 105 km2 and ∼4 km above sea level, bounded by the Eastern Cordillera and volcanic arc (Western Cordillera). Here the crust is up to ∼75 km thick. We describe the Cenozoic geological evolution of this region, using a revised chronostratigraphy and an analysis of the crustal and lithospheric structure. Crustal shortening and magmatic addition and, locally, sedimentation are the main mechanisms of Cenozoic crustal thickening, leading to nearly 4 km of surface uplift since the Paleocene. Addition of mafic melts appears to be a first‐order mechanism of Cenozoic crustal growth, contributing ∼40% of the crustal thickening beneath the volcanic arc. Removal of the basal part of the lithosphere may have caused two episodes of widespread arc and behind‐arc mafic volcanism, at ∼23 Ma and 0 – ∼5 Ma, contributing to the surface uplift. The Altiplano originated as a sedimentary basin, several hundred kilometers wide, between the proto‐Western Cordillera and a narrow zone of uplift (proto‐Eastern Cordillera) farther east. The latter zone formed by inversion of the center of a wide lacustrine or marine Cretaceous ‐ Paleocene basin close to sea‐level at ∼45 Ma. A thickness of 2–4 km of Paleogene continental elastics accumulated in the proto‐Altiplano basin. Subsequently, in the Oligocene, we estimate that this region and the western margin of the Eastern Cordillera were technically shortened ∼22% (∼65 km), resulting in ∼9 km of average crustal thickening. The Altiplano basin was rejuvenated at ∼25 Ma and subsequently flooded with up to 8 km thickness of detritus eroded from the uplifting Eastern and Western Cordilleras. Between ∼25 and 5 Ma, folding and thrusting in the western margin of the Eastern Cordillera migrated westward into the center of the Altiplano basin, essentially terminating deposition, except in local subbasins, and accommodating ∼13% (∼30 km) of shortening and an estimated ∼7 km of average crustal thickening. Subsequently, there has been strike‐slip deformation and limited local thrusting (< 5 km of shortening). Geomorphological and geochronological evidence for 1.5–2 km of surface uplift of this region since the Late Miocene suggests ∼14 km of lower crustal thickening beneath an essentially rigid “lid”, and can be explained by ∼100–150 km of underthrusting of the Brazilian shield and adjacent regions beneath the eastern margin of the Central Andes. The present subdued relief in the Altiplano may be a result of ductile flow in the lower crust and sedimentation and erosion in an internal drainage basin.
SF6 Pointer Pressure Meter Reading Method Based on Fusion Attention Feature UNet

Aiming at the problem of decreasing the accuracy of meter reading caused by manual reading, an SF6 pointer-type pressure meter reading method based on the fusion attention feature UNet is proposed to improve the accuracy of pointer-type pressure meter reading. Firstly, design the fusion attention feature UNet neural network to segment the pointer and dense scale of the SF6 pressure meter. The Ghost convolutional module used in the coding layer of the neural network can reasonably utilize redundant features to strengthen the inference ability of the network. Deep semantic information feature fusion module built to extract deep potential feature information. Also, introduce the pyramid split attention mechanism to strengthen the information interaction between the network coding and decoding layers. Then use the minimum outer rectangle algorithm and K-means clustering algorithm to determine the circle’s center of the SF6 pressure meter for the segmented data. Finally, use the circle’s center to fit the initial scale and the pointer in two straight lines. It calculates the angle between the two straight lines. The angle conversion formula obtains the accurate reading of the SF6 pressure meter. It is proved by experiment that the proposed intelligent reading algorithm will not be affected by environmental factors and can better divide the pointer and dense scale in the SF6 pointer pressure meter to complete the accurate reading of the meter.
Target tracking using television-based bistatic radar

The use of a non-co-operative television transmitter as the illuminator for a bistatic radar system is investigated. A signal processing scheme is developed that allows airborne targets to be detected and tracked using only the vision or sound carrier of the television broadcast. This scheme requires no synchronisation with the television transmitter, and uses the Doppler shift and bearing of target echoes to estimate the target's track. The signal processing scheme consists of a two-channel fast Fourier transform, to determine the Doppler and phase characteristics of the received signal, followed by time and frequency acting constant false alarm rate detection schemes to detect the target echoes. These echoes are corrected for phase errors arising from antenna element mutual coupling, and the corresponding bearings are calculated. A Kalman filter based tracking scheme is used to associate the individual Doppler and bearing returns belonging to different targets, resulting in Doppler and bearing profiles for each target. These are used to estimate the Cartesian co-ordinates and velocity of each target using an extended Kalman filter, initialised using a genetic algorithm and Levenberg-Marquardt optimiser. It is shown that targets can be detected and tracked over a large area, at ranges of up to 260 km.
Multimodal Imaging of Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Breast Cancer—A State-of-the-Art Review

Background: This review focuses on multimodality imaging of cardiotoxicity in cancer patients, with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of different techniques in detecting and monitoring cardiac changes associated with cancer therapy. Methods: Eight studies were included in the review, covering various imaging modalities such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, and multigated acquisition scanning. Results: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging emerged as the most definitive modality, offering real-time detection, comprehensive assessment of cardiac function, the ability to detect early myocardial changes, and superior detection of cardiotoxicity when compared to the other imaging modalities. The studies also emphasize the importance of parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain in assessing cardiac function and predicting cardiotoxicity. Conclusion: Due to the common use of HER2 agents and anthracyclines within the breast cancer population, the LVEF as a critical prognostic measurement for assessing heart health and estimating the severity of left-sided cardiac malfunction is a commonly used endpoint. CTRCD rates differed between imaging modalities, with cardiac MRI the most sensitive. The use of multimodal cardiac imaging remains a nuanced area, influenced by local availability, the clinical question at hand, body habits, and medical comorbidities. All of the imaging modalities listed have a role to play in current care; however, focus should be given to increasing the provision of cardiac MRI for breast cancer patients in the future to optimize the detection of CTRCD and patient outcomes thereafter.
Some characteristics of the stress field of the 1995 Hyogo‐ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake

We investigate the characteristics of the stress field associated with the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake. We use for the study a tomographic model of the fault slip inferred from the numerous near-field recordings, and we calculate the space and time evolution of shear stress on the fault during the earthquake. We show that the spatial distribution of stress drop is very heterogeneous. The apparent strength of the fault at the onset of the earthquake is low (of the order of 1 MPa or less), which indicates that the pre-earthquake tectonic shear stress was close to the static friction over most of the fault. At many locations the stress drop rotates significantly during sliding. As was originally proposed by Spudich [1992], we use the requirement of colinearity between the directions of maximum shear stress and instantaneous slip to determine the initial stress on the fault at the onset of the earthquake. The pre-earthquake tectonic stress varies greatly over the fault and ranges from about 1 to 10 MPa. Average values of the initial and final shear stresses over the fault are 3.3 and 1.6 MPa, respectively, indicating that about half of the pre-earthquake tectonic stress was released during the earthquake. There is a relatively strong correlation between the initial and final stress distributions, which suggests that intrinsic fault properties, not modified by the earthquake, control the spatial distribution of tectonic stress over the fault. We show that on average over the fault the dynamic friction coefficient is equal to about 40% of the static friction coefficient. Diagrams depicting the evolution of shear stress as a function of slip are consistent with slip-weakening behavior, but their interpretation is questionable because of the poor resolution of the data at high frequency and because of the constraints imposed on the model to perform the inversion.
Critical Overview on Pure Chitosan-based Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: Clinical insights in Dentistry

Bone Tissue Engineering (BTE) is a field of regenerative medicine continuously improving, thanks to the development of new biomaterials used as grafts or scaffolds for repairing bone defects. In recent years, chitosan, a natural biopolymer extracted mainly from crustacean shells, has demonstrated unique and desirable characteristics for BTE applications, such as: biocompatibility, biodegradability, and osteoconductive behavior. Additionally, the presence of numerous active amine groups in its chemical structure allows it to be easily modified. Data suggest that chitosan scaffolds are highly biomimetic, and show an interesting bioactivity, and antibacterial behavior. We have demonstrated, in a critical overview, how chitosan-based scaffolds may hold great interest for BTE applications in medical and dental applications. Future research should be focused on the use of chitosan-scaffolds combined with other biomaterials or bioactive molecules, to increase their overall regenerative potential, also in critical-sized defects. In conclusion, chitosan can be considered a promising biomaterial in BTE and clinical dentistry.
Understanding the performance and reliability of NLP tools: a comparison of four NLP tools predicting stroke phenotypes in radiology reports

Background Natural language processing (NLP) has the potential to automate the reading of radiology reports, but there is a need to demonstrate that NLP methods are adaptable and reliable for use in real-world clinical applications. Methods We tested the F1 score, precision, and recall to compare NLP tools on a cohort from a study on delirium using images and radiology reports from NHS Fife and a population-based cohort (Generation Scotland) that spans multiple National Health Service health boards. We compared four off-the-shelf rule-based and neural NLP tools (namely, EdIE-R, ALARM+, ESPRESSO, and Sem-EHR) and reported on their performance for three cerebrovascular phenotypes, namely, ischaemic stroke, small vessel disease (SVD), and atrophy. Clinical experts from the EdIE-R team defined phenotypes using labelling techniques developed in the development of EdIE-R, in conjunction with an expert researcher who read underlying images. Results EdIE-R obtained the highest F1 score in both cohorts for ischaemic stroke, ≥93%, followed by ALARM+, ≥87%. The F1 score of ESPRESSO was ≥74%, whilst that of Sem-EHR is ≥66%, although ESPRESSO had the highest precision in both cohorts, 90% and 98%. For F1 scores for SVD, EdIE-R scored ≥98% and ALARM+ ≥90%. ESPRESSO scored lowest with ≥77% and Sem-EHR ≥81%. In NHS Fife, F1 scores for atrophy by EdIE-R and ALARM+ were 99%, dropping in Generation Scotland to 96% for EdIE-R and 91% for ALARM+. Sem-EHR performed lowest for atrophy at 89% in NHS Fife and 73% in Generation Scotland. When comparing NLP tool output with brain image reads using F1 scores, ALARM+ scored 80%, outperforming EdIE-R at 66% in ischaemic stroke. For SVD, EdIE-R performed best, scoring 84%, with Sem-EHR 82%. For atrophy, EdIE-R and both ALARM+ versions were comparable at 80%. Conclusions The four NLP tools show varying F1 (and precision/recall) scores across all three phenotypes, although more apparent for ischaemic stroke. If NLP tools are to be used in clinical settings, this cannot be performed “out of the box. ” It is essential to understand the context of their development to assess whether they are suitable for the task at hand or whether further training, re-training, or modification is required to adapt tools to the target task.
Glacier‐Derived Particles as a Regional Control on Marine Dissolved Pb Concentrations

Higher than expected concentrations of dissolved lead (dPb) have been consistently observed along glaciated coastlines and it is widely hypothesized that there is a net release of dPb from glacier‐derived sediments. Here we further corroborate that dPb concentrations in diverse locations around west Greenland (3.2–252 pM) and the Western Antarctic Peninsula (7.7–107 pM) appear to be generally higher than can be explained by addition of dPb from glacier‐derived freshwater. The distribution of dPb across the salinity gradient is unlike any other commonly studied trace element (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Al) implying a dynamic, reversible exchange between dissolved and labile particulate Pb. Incubating a selection of glacier‐derived particles from SW Greenland (Ameralik and Nuup Kangerlua) and Svalbard (Kongsfjorden), with a range of labile particulate Pb (LpPb) content (11–113 nmol g−1), the equivalent of 2–46% LpPb was released as dPb within 24 hr of addition to Atlantic seawater. Over longer time periods, the majority of this dPb was typically readsorbed. Sediment loading was the dominant factor influencing the net release of dPb into seawater, with a pronounced decline in net dPb release efficiency when sediment load increased from 20 to 500 mg L−1. Yet temperature also had some effect with 68 ± 22% higher dPb release at 11°C compared to 4°C. Future regional changes in dPb dynamics may therefore be more sensitive to short‐term suspended sediment dynamics, and potentially temperature changes, than to changing interannual runoff volume.
Receiver-function studies in the Trans-Hudson Orogen, Saskatchewan

Teleseismic events were recorded on an array of three-component broadband and short-period seismographs in the Trans-Hudson Orogen over a period of almost 3 years. Receiver functions calculated from these data were used in a forward-modelling study to derive the local shear-wave velocity structure beneath 20 stations. Station FFC (Flin Flon), located within the Flin Flon belt, was one of two stations situated on bedrock and produced the highest quality receiver functions. The FFC velocity model correlates well with an interpretation of nearby reflection data and features a distinct lower crust interpreted as Archean basement which cores the entire Reindeer Zone. Both radial and tangential receiver functions at FFC show strong evidence for a northeasterly dipping shallow boundary within rocks of the Flin Flon belt with a dip angle of 20°. Total crustal thickness is 37 km. Eighteen stations are situated on Phanerozoic sedimentary cover ranging in thickness from 0.4 km to greater than 2 km. Receiver function.
FDG PET/CT and Endoscopic Ultrasound for Preoperative T-Staging of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performances of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and FDG PET/CT in the preoperative T-staging of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and determine whether their innovative coordination achieves better prediction. In total, 100 patients diagnosed with ESCC, 57 without (CRT[−]sub) and 43 with (CRT[+]sub) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, undergoing EUS and FDG PET/CT, followed by surgical resection of the tumor, were included in this analysis. EUS classified T-stages based on the depth of primary tumor invasion, and FDG PET/CT used thresholded maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) classifications. By employing pathology results as the reference standard, we assessed the accuracy of EUS and FDG PET/CT, evaluated their concordance using the κ statistic, and conducted a comparative analysis between the two modalities through McNemar’s chi-square test. FDG PET/CT had higher overall accuracy than EUS (for CRT[−]sub: 71.9%, κ = 0.56 vs. 56.1%, κ = 0.31, p = 0.06; for CRT[+]sub: 65.1%, κ = 0.50 vs. 18.6%, κ = 0.05, p < 0.01) in predicting pT- and ypT-stage. Our proposed method of incorporating both FDG PET/CT and EUS information could achieve higher accuracies in differentiating between early and locally advanced disease in the CRT[−]sub group (82.5%) and determining residual viable tumor in the CRT[+]sub group (83.7%) than FDG PET/CT or EUS alone. FDG PET/CT had a better diagnostic ability than EUS to predict the (y)pT-stage of ESCC. Our complementary method, which combines the advantages of both imaging modalities, can deliver higher accuracy for clinical applications of ESCC.
Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Emissions Following Green Manure and Compost Fertilization in Corn

Alternative N fertilizers that stimulate low greenhouse gas emissions from soil are needed to reduce the impact of agriculture on global warming. Corn (Zea mays L.) grown in a calcareous silt loam soil in northwestern Italy was fertilized with a municipal solid waste compost and vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) green manure. Their potential to reduce N 2 O and CO 2 emissions was compared with that of urea (130 kg N ha -1 ). Gaseous fluxes were measured for 2 yr in the spring (after soil incorporation of fertilizers) and in summer. In spring, the slow mineralization of compost reduced N 2 O emissions (0.11% of supplied N) relative to urea (3.4% of applied N), without an increase in CO 2 fluxes. Nitrous oxide (2.31% of fixed N) and CO 2 emissions from rapid vetch decomposition did not differ from urea. When N 2 O and CO 2 fluxes were combined, compost reduced by 49% the CO 2 equivalent emitted following urea application. Vetch did not show such an effect. In summer, no fertilizer effect was found on N 2 O and CO 2 emissions. Compost proved to be potentially suitable to reduce the CO 2 equivalent emitted after soil incorporation while vetch did not. For a thorough evaluation, net greenhouse gas emissions assessment should be extended to the entire N life cycle. Differences between calculated N 2 O emission factors and the default Tier 1 value of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( 1 %) confirmed the need for site- and fertilizer-specific estimations.
BALINESE TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPE

Balinese traditional landscape defend is an important effort to preseve a vernacular traditional landscape, which is can give calamity, beauty, peaceful, comfort feeling, for healthy, happiness as well as to give Balinese identity. It is also supported by the government program of “ Bali to head for Garden Island”. Principally, Balinese traditional landscape is soul by the philosophy of Balinese culture such as Tri Hita Karana concept, Rwa Bhineda concept, Desa Kala Patra concept, Sekala Niskala concept, etc. Structurally, Balinese traditional landscape can divide into five types as follows Regional landscape, Villages landscape, City landscape, highway landscape and Inheritance Garden. Balinese landscape can begin firstly through the landscaping in the house, where we can placed the garden. The most uniqueness of landscape in the traditional housing of Bali, there are including natah as an orientation of buildings, its garden, back yard/teba, lebuh and telajakan.