Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathogenic Roles of MicroRNA in the Development of Asthma

Asthma is a common and chronic inflammatory disease. Pathogenic mechanism underlying asthma is complicated. The inflammatory reactions in asthma have been recognized to involve mast cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes (T cells, B cells), macrophages, and dendritic cells. MicroRNA (miRNA, miR) is a group of small noncoding RNAs with 21–25 nucleotides (nt) in length, which impact biologic responses through the regulation of mRNA transcription and/or translation. MicroRNAs are related to developmental processes of many immunologic diseases. Most studies showed that regulation of miRNAs to their targeting genes appears to play an important role in the development of asthma. This chapter has discussed altered expression of miRNAs in cells and tissues from patients with asthma, in order to better understand the mechanics of pathogenesis of asthma. In addition, the regulation of miRNAs as a novel therapeutic approach will require a deeper understanding of their function and mechanism of action.
Wavefield separation using a volume distribution of three component recordings

By making multiple three component (3C) measurements around a volume so that the rate of change of the wavefield in all directions can be estimated, it is possible to calculate the divergence and the curl of the wavefield which in turns corresponds to P‐ and S‐waves. The volume may be of arbitrary shape, but the equations for wavefield separation are simplified if the volume has a known shape such as that of a tetrahedron. The dimensions of the volume should be smaller than approximately one fifth of the minimum wavelength of the recorded wavefield.
Opportunities for Competency Support of Virginia Cooperative Extension Professionals at the Colleague Stage

This study focused on the professional development needs of Cooperative Extension agents and specialists with between four and seven years of experience, placing them roughly within the colleague career stage. Data were collected through focus groups and validated through member checking and the use of a modified World Café approach. A research team collaborated, increasing the reliability of the findings through intentional reflection in the development of the findings. Areas of competency strength and weakness vary for agents and specialists, and specific topic areas within competencies vary. While many of the emergent competencies identified in this study fit within the competency framework of Harder et al. (2011) and previous competency studies, more specific topic areas were identified. However, the top priorities identified for professional development focus included communication, educational design, leadership, and budget and fiscal management. Attention to these areas can increase the ability of these professionals to work more effectively and productively. Providing professional development in areas of need for both agents and specialists can support the development of collegiality within the Extension organization. Supporting professionals in this stage of their career growth will position them well for advancing to additional career stages within Cooperative Extension.
Las tipologías de turismo en Córdoba (España): una revisión de la literatura científica

Tourism is a major economic sector worldwide, generating significant benefits for the destinations, although it is important to do proper planning of this activity to control negative impacts. The aim of this article is to review the scientific literature on tourism in the province of Cordoba, in order to know which are the main tourist typologies that exist in this province, and to subsequently establish future research. The main results show that wine and culinary tourism are the two most analyzed fields in the province, and therefore being configured as two major tourist typologies for Cordoba. Also, note that the oleotourism has great potential for the province according to the scientific literature.
Destination Image Literature - 2001 to 2007

The topic of destination image has become one of the most popular in the tourism literature. A review of 120 destination image articles published in the literature between 2001 and 2007 was undertaken to provide researchers with a reference guide to the context, method and focus of previous studies. The analysis follows a previous study by Pike (2002), which reviewed 142 destination image papers published during the period 1973 -2000. Collectively, the two analyses categorize over 260 papers from the first 35 years of published destination image research. Key issues to emerge from the current review include: the exponential increase in studies related to destination image, a continued lack of qualitative methods, lack of an explicit travel situation, and the risk of uninformed responses.
Case report: Cardiac intimal sarcoma in a young child

Undifferentiated mesenchymal tumors from the intimal layer (intimal sarcomas) are rare within the ventricles and exceptional in children. A rare case of an intimal sarcoma located in the right ventricle in a young child is presented with need for urgent surgical resection due to mechanical flow obstruction. Tumor cells showed amplification of MDM2 gene and a homozygous loss of CDKN2A on 9p21. A review of the literature regarding primary cardiac malignancies and intimal sarcoma in children is provided.
Official control of pesticide residues in crops from the north-eastern Poland in 2012

Summary This paper presents results of official control of pesticide residues conducted in the samples from the north‐eastern Poland. In total 117 samples were tested in the year 2012 (62.4% vegetables, 26.5% fruit and 11.1% cereals grain). Among 167 pesticides, 11 active substances were detected, mainly fungicides (91.9% of detection). Pesticide residues most often were detected in samples of fruit (32.3%), especially in strawberries (25.8%). 18.8% (22) samples contained pesticide residues below maximum residue levels (MRLs). MRLs exceedances were not found.
Application of Intelligence Binocular Vision Sensor: Mobility Solutions for Automotive Perception System

Intelligent sensors serve as crucial elements in the realm of smart car mobility solutions and urban sensing technology. This article presents a novel automotive environment perception system that uses a binocular vision sensor. The binocular camera is used to capture images and obtain cloud points for obstacle perception and environment positioning. The proposed system is built on a low-power embedded platform but maintains a high perception performance. It can accurately identify and locate obstacles, such as vehicles and pedestrians. The complete system is comprehensively described, encompassing the hardware structure, software architecture, and algorithm program. Furthermore, the process of the obstacle detection algorithm, which relies on disparity space and deep learning (DL), is thoroughly presented. The feasibility of the fast stereo-matching algorithm is demonstrated theoretically and validated through experimental verification. Extensive experimental results indicate that the system is capable of delivering reliable and precise real-time environmental perception for intelligent vehicles. Consequently, the system can be readily implemented in commercial real-time intelligent driving applications. As a pertinent research in urban sensing applications, this system holds promise as a viable solution for enhancing smart mobility.
Hydrocortisone Mitigates Alzheimer’s-Related Cognitive Decline through Modulating Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an age-related degenerative disorder, is characterized by β-amyloid deposition, abnormal phosphorylation of tau proteins, synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Despite extensive research, there are no medications or therapeutic interventions to completely treat and reverse AD. Herein, we explore the potential of hydrocortisone (HC), a natural and endogenous glucocorticoid known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties, in an Aβ1–42-induced AD mouse model. Our investigation highlights the beneficial effects of HC administration on cognitive impairment, synaptic function enhancement, and neuronal protection in Aβ1–42-induced AD mice. Notably, HC treatment effectively suppresses the hyperactivation of microglia and astrocytes, leading to a reduction in proinflammatory factors and alleviation of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, HC intervention demonstrates the capacity to mitigate the generation of ROS and oxidative stress. These compelling findings underscore the potential therapeutic application of HC in AD and present promising opportunities for its utilization in AD prevention and treatment. The implications drawn from our findings indicate that hydrocortisone holds promise as a viable candidate for adjunctive use with other anti-AD drugs for the clinical management of patients presenting with moderate to severe AD.
Automatic mapping of sediment layers

A pattern growing technique is proposed in the automatic picking of sediment layers an sub-bottom profile images. An heuristic approach is presented using direction, proximity and reflection strength criteria. The contribution of multiresolution is discussed. This image processing algorithm is tested on real data. Automatic mapping of sub-bottom layers should significantly speed up data analysis, and sedimentary data base building. Furthermore such a mapping provides a kind of data compression.
High-resolution Heat-Flow Measurements in the Southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Abstract In June 1999, I undertook a series of heat-flow measurements in the Gascoyne Region of Western Australia. The measurements involved precision temperature logging of stratigraphic boreholes, and thermal conductivity measurements on core samples. Results indicate that the surface heat flow in the onshore Southern Carnarvon Basin is about 55 mW/m2. This is 3.5 mW/m2 less than the average heat flow in the Dampier Sub-basin, suggesting that the lithosphere beneath the Dampier Sub-basin may still retain heat from the Mid-Jurassic rifting event. The precision temperature logs suggest that the ground surface temperature across the Gascoyne Region is about 6°C warmer than the average air temperature, implying a relatively high absorption of solar radiation or relatively low surface albedo. The logs also suggest that the thermal diffusivity of the surface alluvium is about 1.4 × 10-6 m2/s. Observations near the eastern margin of the Southern Carnarvon Basin support the prediction of elevated heat flow resulting from heat refraction and extra heat input from an underlying, heat-generating body of granite.
A priori evaluation of two-stage cluster sampling for accuracy assessment of large-area land-cover maps

Two-stage cluster sampling reduces the cost of collecting accuracy assessment reference data by constraining sample elements to fall within a limited number of geographic domains (clusters). However, because classification error is typically positively spatially correlated, within-cluster correlation may reduce the precision of the accuracy estimates. The detailed population information to quantify a priori the effect of within-cluster correlation on precision is typically unavailable. Consequently, a convenient, practical approach to evaluate the likely performance of a two-stage cluster sample is needed. We describe such an a priori evaluation protocol focusing on the spatial distribution of the sample by land-cover class across different cluster sizes and costs of different sampling options, including options not imposing clustering. This protocol also assesses the two-stage design's adequacy for estimating the precision of accuracy estimates for rare land-cover classes. We illustrate the approach using two large-area, regional accuracy assessments from the National Land-Cover Data (NLCD), and describe how the a priori evaluation was used as a decision-making tool when implementing the NLCD design.
UNRAVELING THE GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF COMPLEX TRAITS IN PLANTS

Complex traits are those whose inheritance does not follow simple and predictable patterns. They are not governed by a single locus, instead, they are determined by several loci and are influenced by the environment. Most of the traits with agronomic interest and economic importance such as resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, and yield, among others, are quantitative traits and their study is based on dissecting the underlying genetic architecture, the number of loci responsible for the variance of a quantitative trait, the relevant contribution made by each locus and their interaction with the environment. This review provides the most relevant conceptual bases for the study of the genetic architecture of complex quantitative traits in plants. The methodologies that allow identifying the loci and candidate genes that govern this type of traits are described, such as QTL mapping by linkage and association mapping. In addition, the incorporation of these loci in phenotype prediction strategies such as marker-assisted selection and genomic selection, exhibits the benefits and limitations of these approaches. Finally, the challenges and perspectives facing the study of the genetic architecture of complex traits in plants are discussed.
Title: Auricular acupressure: Reducing side-effects of chemotherapy in women with ovarian cancer

Purpose Many women with ovarian cancer may experience adverse effects from adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. Non-pharmacological interventions can be used to reduce these side-effects. We tested auricular acupressure to reduce treatment side-effects in this population. Methods A prospective, quasi-randomized controlled trial was carried out at a publicly-funded hospital in southern Taiwan. Thirty-four women in the intervention group received auricular acupressure at four points (Shenmen, Subcortex, Endocrine, and Heart), three times per day for three minutes per time, for 6 weeks. Thirty-one women in the control group received routine nursing care alone. The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) was completed at four time points. Results After receiving the third cycle of chemotherapy, side-effect severity was elevated among both groups. Auricular acupressure reduced side-effects such as disturbed sleep ( t = -11.99; p <.001, Eta Squared = .69), fatigue ( t = -2.57; p <.01, Eta Squared = .10), and lack of appetite ( t = -2.37; p = .024, Eta Squared = .08). Conclusion Auricular acupressure can reduce adverse side-effects of chemotherapy in women with ovarian cancer. Future studies with a larger sample and using some laboratory-based tests (such as C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6) are warranted to confirm the results.
Globalizing land use transitions: the soybean acceleration

Abstract This note presents the recent global development trends in soybean cultivation as derived from the FAO statistics. It focuses on the change over the course of the last thirty years, when significant new allocations of the global production have occurred, which have turned South America into a leading player on the global scale. It takes point of departure in a land change science approach and employs the notions of underlying and proximate drivers and teleconnections to characterize the process of land use change in relation to the accelerating use of land for soybean cultivation.
Evaluation of an integrated biogeochemical model (PnET‐BGC) at a northern hardwood forest ecosystem

An integrated biogeochemical model (PnET‐BGC) was formulated to simulate chemical transformations of vegetation, soil, and drainage water in northern forest ecosystems. The model operates on a monthly time step and depicts the major biogeochemical processes, such as forest canopy element transformations, hydrology, soil organic matter dynamics, nitrogen cycling, geochemical weathering, and chemical equilibrium reactions involving solid and solution phases. The model was evaluated against soil and stream data at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Model predictions of concentrations and fluxes of major elements generally agreed reasonably well with measured values, as estimated by normalized mean error and normalized mean absolute error. Model output of soil base saturation and stream acid neutralizing capacity were sensitive to parameter values of soil partial pressure of carbon dioxide, soil mass, soil cation exchange capacity, and soil selectivity coefficients of calcium and aluminum. PnET‐BGC can be used as a tool to evaluate the response of soil and water chemistry of forest ecosystems to disturbances such as clear‐cutting, climatic events, and atmospheric deposition.
Making use of naturally occurring variation within the Arabidopsis thaliana

1 Wageningen Seed Lab, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, 6708 PB 5 Wageningen, The Netherlands 6 2 Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The 7 Netherlands 8 3 Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands 9 4 Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The 10 Netherlands 11 5 Molecular Plant Physiology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The 12 Netherlands 13 6 Plant Stress Resilience, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands 14
A mechanosensing mechanism controls plasma membrane shape 3 homeostasis at the nanoscale

Title 1 2 A mechanosensing mechanism controls plasma membrane shape 3 homeostasis at the nanoscale 4 Authors 5 6 Xarxa Quiroga, Nikhil Walani, Andrea Disanza, Albert Chavero, Alexandra 7 Mittens, Francesc Tebar, Xavier Trepat, Robert G. Parton, Maria Isabel 8 Geli, Giorgio Scita, Marino Arroyo, Anabel-Lise Le Roux, Pere Roca9 Cusachs 10 11 Affiliations 12 13 1 Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, the Barcelona Institute of 14 Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain 15 2 Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas 110016, New Delhi, 16 India 17 3 IFOM ETS The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan 20139, Italy 18 4 Departament de Biomedicina, Unitat de Biologia Cel·lular, Facultat de 19 Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Centre de Recerca Biomèdica CELLEX, Institut 20 d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de 21 Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona. 22 5 Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Centre for Microscopy and 23 Microanalysis, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia 24 6 Institute for Molecular Biology of Barcelona (CSIC), Baldiri Reixac 15, 08028 25 Barcelona, Spain 26 7 Department of Oncology and Haemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Italy 27 8 Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Campus Nord, Carrer de Jordi 28 Girona, 1, 3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain 29 9 Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en Enginyeria (CIMNE), 08034 30 Barcelona, Spain 31
45nm High-k + metal gate strain-enhanced transistors

Two key process features that are used to make 45 nm generation metal gate + high-k gate dielectric CMOS transistors are highlighted in this paper. The first feature is the integration of stress-enhancement techniques with the dual metal-gate + high-k transistors. The second feature is the extension of 193 nm dry lithography to the 45 nm technology node pitches. Use of these features has enabled industry-leading transistor performance and the first high volume 45 nm high-k + metal gate technology.
Surface wave dispersion and upper mantle structure beneath southern Germany from joint inversion of network recorded teleseismic events

We have determined the dispersion of fundamental mode Rayleigh waves in Southern Germany in the frequency range 4–50 mHz by simultaneously inverting data from 66 teleseismic events recorded at a network of up to 9 broadband stations. Three different inversion experiments were performed: determination of (1) isotropic phase velocity, of (2) azimuthally anisotropic phase velocity assuming a plane wave traveling across the network, and (3) isotropic phase velocity but now allowing for non-plane properties of the wavefield. In experiments (1) and (2), for each event amplitude, phase and deviation from the great circle azimuth were estimated as well. We have obtained remarkably stable results for phase velocity over the whole frequency range. Between 7 and 25 mHz azimuthal anisotropy is definitely below 0.5 percent. Below 7 and above 25 mHz we found up to 3 percent anisotropy but with negligible variance reduction compared to the isotropic inversion experiment (1). Admitting non-plane wavefields in the inversion still yields nearly identical phase velocities. On inversion of the phase velocity curve in terms of shear-wave velocity we obtained a rather shallow asthenosphere with minimum υS of 4.28 km/s at about 130 km depth covered by a thin lid with υS of 4.63 km/s.
Upper mantle structure below the European continent: Constraints from surface-wave tomography and GRACE satellite gravity data

[1] We here exploit fundamental mode Rayleigh and Love seismic wave information and the high resolution satellite global gravity model GGM02C to obtain a 1° × 1° 3-D image of: (a) upper-mantle isotropic shear-wave speeds; (b) densities; and (c) density-vScoupling below the European plate (20°N–90°N) (40°W–70°E). The 3-D image of the density-vScoupling provides unprecedented detail of information on the compositional and thermal contributions to density structures. The accurate and high-resolution crustal model allows us to compute a reliable residual topography to understand the dynamic implications of our models. The correlation between residual topography and mantle residual gravity anomalies defines three large-scale regions where upper mantle dynamics produce surface expression: the East European Craton; the eastern side of the Arabian Plate; and the Mediterranean Basin. The effects of mantle convection are also clearly visible at: (1) the Eastern Sirt Embayment; (2) the West African Craton northern margins; (3) the volcanically active region of the Canarian Archipelago; (4) the northern edge of the Central European Volcanic Province; and (5) the Northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and Iceland. Strong connections are observed among areas of weak radial anisotropy and areas where the mantle dynamics show surface expression. Although both thermal and additional dependencies have been incorporated into the density model, convective down-welling in the mantle below the East European Craton is required to explain the strong correlation between the estimated negative mantle residual anomalies and the negative residual topography.