Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Origin and distribution pattern of pelvic limb nerves of a Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a species belonging to the Felidae family. In Argentina, tigers are currently only found in captivity. The longevity of individual animals in human‐controlled environments depends on proper management and practices that prioritize animal welfare. Regular veterinary care is essential to maintain optimal health conditions. Professionals must have a comprehensive understanding of the anatomy and physiology of tigers to effectively perform medical procedures and administer treatments. The study described in the text focuses on the trajectory and distribution of nerves in the pelvic limb of a Bengal tiger specimen, providing detailed dissection findings. The results revealed that the lumbosacral plexus is formed from the ventral rami of the LIV, LV, LVI, LVII, SI, SII and SIII nerves. Among the observations to highlight is the great development of the nerves N. cutaneus femoris lateralis and N. cutaneus femoris caudalis some differences were observed in the distribution of the N. femoralis and N. obturatorius; the N. ischiadicus, together with its division into the fibularis communis and tibialis nerves, showed the same configuration observed in other cats. Finally, it was observed that the nerves N. gluteus cranialis and N. gluteus caudalis also originated from the truncus lumbosacralis. The similarities and differences with studies carried out on other cats are relevant and provide anatomical data for medical procedures in the Bengal tiger.
Reconstruction of the molecular evolution of Usutu virus in Germany: Insights into virus emersion and circulation

Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is widely distributed in southern and central Europe. The zoonotic virus circulates primarily between birds and mosquitoes, can, however, in rare cases infect other mammals including humans. In the past, USUV has been repeatedly associated with mass mortalities in birds, primarily blackbirds and owls. Birds commonly succumb either due to the peracute nature of the infection or due to severe encephalitis. In Germany, USUV has spread rapidly since its first detection in 2010 in mosquitoes under the presence of susceptible host and vector species. Nonetheless, there is to date limited access to whole genome sequences resulting in the absence of in-depth phylogenetic and phylodynamic analyses. In this study, 118 wild and captive birds were sequenced using a nanopore sequencing platform with prior target enrichment via amplicons. Due to the high abundancy of Europe 3 and Africa 3 in Germany an ample quantity of associated whole genome sequences was generated and the most recent common ancestor could be determined for each lineage. The corresponding clock phylogeny revealed an introduction of USUV Europe 3 and Africa 3 into Germany three years prior to their first isolation in the avifauna in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Based on the clustering and temporal history of the lineages, evidence exists for the genetic evolution of USUV within Germany as well as new introductions thereof into the country.
SmartSpring: A Low-Cost Wearable Haptic VR Display with Controllable Passive Feedback

With the development of virtual reality, the practical requirements of the wearable haptic interface have been greatly emphasized. While passive haptic devices are commonly used in virtual reality, they lack generality and are difficult to precisely generate continuous force feedback to users. In this work, we present SmartSpring, a new solution for passive haptics, which is inexpensive, lightweight and capable of providing controllable force feedback in virtual reality. We propose a hybrid spring-linkage structure as the proxy and flexibly control the mechanism for adjustable system stiffness. By analyzing the structure and force model, we enable a smart transform of the structure for producing continuous force signals. We quantitatively examine the real-world performance of SmartSpring to verify our model. By asymmetrically moving or actively pressing the end-effector, we show that our design can further support rendering torque and stiffness. Finally, we demonstrate the SmartSpring in a series of scenarios with user studies and a just noticeable difference analysis. Experimental results show the potential of the developed haptic display in virtual reality.
Brain functional connectivity of hypnosis without target suggestion. An intrinsic hypnosis rs-fMRI study.

During hypnosis, significant changes in the BOLD signal associated with the anterior default mode network (DMN) and prefrontal attentional systems have been reported as evidence of dissociation defined since Charcot. However, it remains uncertain whether these changes are mainly attributable to the hypnotic state per se or to the target suggestions used to verify subject's state during neuroimaging studies. The aim of the present study is to evidence the brain in hypnosis, contrasting the common resting state versus neutral hypnosis (hypnosis in the absence of target suggestions). Twenty-four healthy right-handed volunteers (age 28.3 y.o., 12 females) rated moderate hypnotic responsiveness underwent resting state fMRI at 3.0 T in two sessions, once in neutral hypnosis and the other in the common resting state. Each subject's functional data were analyzed for low-frequency BOLD signal correlations seed-to-voxel for the whole brain in the first-level analysis, and seed-to-voxel in a second-level analysis to estimate group results using seeds for five resting state networks: the default mode (DMN), the central executive (CEN), the salience (SaN), the dorso-lateral attention (DAN), and the sensorimotor (SMN) networks. In general, all network maps of the hypnotic condition presented higher connectivity than those of the resting condition. However, only contrasts for the DAN, SaN, and SMN were statistically significant, including correlated out-of-the-network regions. Parietal and occipital regions displayed increased connectivity across networks, implying dissociation from the frontal cortices. This is the first fMRI intrinsic study of hypnosis without target suggestion.
A Predictive Model to Identify the Effects of Transcutaneous Sacral Nerve Stimulation With Pelvic Floor Exercises in Fecal Incontinence After Surgery for Anorectal Malformation

INTRODUCTION: Although the combination of transcutaneous sacral nerve stimulation (tSNS) and pelvic floor exercises (PFEs) has shown significant effectiveness in treating fecal incontinence (FI) after surgery for congenital anorectal malformation (CARM), not all patients achieve satisfactory continence. Therefore, identifying which individuals will benefit from this method is crucial. METHODS: A prospective cohort study enrolled 92 children with FI. All patients underwent tSNS with PFE treatment, and an improved outcome was defined as a Wexner score ≤4. A predictive model to identify the effects of tSNS with PFEs in FI was developed based on the analysis of magnetic resonance imaging and high-resolution anorectal manometry with area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve to evaluate the predictive value of external anal sphincter (EAS) thickness index and anal squeezing pressure (ASP). RESULTS: tSNS with PFEs improved outcomes in 72 patients and led to poor outcomes in 20 (4 had their rectums deviate from the puborectalis muscle center or puborectal muscle ruptures while 16 lacked EAS with a lower ASP). The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for EAS thickness index and ASP in predicting the effects of tSNS with PFEs were 0.915 (95% confidence interval 0.846–0.983, P = 0.000) and 0.886 (95% confidence interval 0.819–0.952, P = 0.000), respectively. By applying cutoff values of 0.076 for EAS thickness index and 21.95 mm Hg for ASP, tSNS with PFEs was found to be ineffective. DISCUSSION: tSNS with PFEs is effective for most patients with FI after CARM surgery, except when the rectum deviates from the puborectal muscle center, puborectal muscle rupture occurs, or EAS is absent with a low ASP.
Efficient stochastic generators with spherical harmonic transformation for high-resolution global climate simulations from CESM2-LENS2

Earth system models (ESMs) are fundamental for understanding Earth's complex climate system. However, the computational demands and storage requirements of ESM simulations limit their utility. For the newly published CESM2-LENS2 data, which suffer from this issue, we propose a novel stochastic generator (SG) as a practical complement to the CESM2, capable of rapidly producing emulations closely mirroring training simulations. Our SG leverages the spherical harmonic transformation (SHT) to shift from spatial to spectral domains, enabling efficient low-rank approximations that significantly reduce computational and storage costs. By accounting for axial symmetry and retaining distinct ranks for land and ocean regions, our SG captures intricate non-stationary spatial dependencies. Additionally, a modified TGH transformation accommodates non-Gaussianity in high-temporal-resolution data. We apply the proposed SG to generate emulations for surface temperature simulations from the CESM2-LENS2 data across various scales, marking the first attempt of reproducing daily data. These emulations are then meticulously validated against training simulations. This work offers a promising complementary pathway for efficient climate modeling and analysis while overcoming computational and storage limitations.
High-pressure study of stability of magnetite by thermodynamic analysis and synchrotron X-ray diffraction

[1] Thermodynamic analysis and synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments aimed at the investigation of stability of magnetite were carried out in the pressure-temperature ranges 0–36 GPa and 300–800 K, respectively. Thermodynamic assessment shows that at 298 K, the equilibrium pressure for the breakdown of magnetite to hematite and wustite is 13.3 GPa, while pressure for the backward synthesis FeO + Fe2O3 h-Fe3O4 is between 35 and 47 GPa, depending on the choice of equation of state. The stability field for the mixture of oxides Fe2O3 + FeO narrows with temperature increase, reaching a maximum temperature of only ∼850 K at pressure 14.6 GPa. The calculations predict that the high-pressure phase of magnetite (h-Fe3O4) becomes unstable with respect to h-Fe2O3 + FeO at pressures higher than 50 GPa. The 298 K pressure-volume isotherm of magnetite derived from the compression experiment is given by KT = 217(7) GPa for the fixed K′0 = 4. The 1σ confidence ellipsoid shows large and negative correlations for the fit parameters KT, K′0, and V0. The thermodynamically predicted breakdown of magnetite to hematite and wustite was not observed, but the trace amounts of hematite detected in the sample assemblage may signify a presence of nucleation centers of breakdown products, the growth of which is kinetically hindered because of the energetic requirements for the reaction. The transformation of magnetite to a dense polymorph evolves gradually above 19 GPa. Rietveld refinement of the diffraction pattern of h-Fe3O4 is consistent with the CaTi2O4-type structure. The values of Gibbs formation energies at standard conditions for h-Fe3O4 and h-Fe2O3 were estimated to be −962 and −610 kJ mol−1, respectively. The standard state entropy of h-Fe3O4 is 172.4 J K−1 mol−1.
Thermal remote sensing of land surface temperature from satellites: Current status and future prospects

Abstract In this paper we review the current status for deriving land surface temperatures (LSTs) by remote sensing from satellites in the thermal infrared. Because of its widespread use and global applicability, we concentrate on the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The theoretical framework and methodologies used to derive LSTs are reviewed and amplified. Practical algorithms are described and their accuracy and application critically evaluated through sensitivity studies and by inter‐comparison. The important effects of the atmosphere, surface emissivity and instrument noise are considered and the current practice for removing these effects is specified. The accuracy currently attainable from the AVHRR for the LST algorithms studied lies between 1 and 2 K, depending critically upon the surface characteristics and the atmospheric structure. Suggestions about what improvements could be made to reduce the errors in LST estimation from space and the directions of future research are summar.
Physical Symptoms, Depressive Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure

Background Physical and psychological symptoms are prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF) and are associated with poor quality of life (QOL) and high hospitalization rates. Thus, it is critical to identify symptom clusters to better manage patients with high-risk symptom cluster(s) and to reduce adverse effects. Objective The aims of this study were to identify clusters of physical HF symptoms (ie, dyspnea during daytime, dyspnea when lying down, fatigue, chest pain, edema, sleeping difficulty, and dizziness) and depressive symptoms and to examine their association with QOL in patients with HF. Methods In this secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study, data on physical HF symptoms (Symptom Status Questionnaire), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and general QOL (European Quality of Scale-Visual Analog Scale) were collected. We identified clusters based on the physical HF symptoms and depressive symptoms using 2-step and k-means cluster analysis methods. Results Chest pain was removed from the model because of the low importance value. Two clusters were revealed (cluster 1, severe symptom cluster, vs cluster 2, less severe symptom cluster) based on the 7 symptoms. In cluster 1, all of the 7 symptoms were more severe, and QOL was poorer than those in cluster 2 (all Ps < .001). All the mean and median scores of the 7 symptoms in cluster 1 were higher than those in cluster 2. Conclusions Patients with HF were clearly divided into 2 clusters based on physical HF symptoms and depressive symptoms, which were associated with QOL. Clinicians should assess these symptoms to improve patient outcomes.
The physician gender pay gap in Maryland: current state and future directions

Abstract Background Over the last few decades, more attention has been paid to the physician gender pay gap and more interventions have been attempted. This paper discusses the physician gender pay gap between 2017 and 2021 in Maryland. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to over 10,000 physicians in the Maryland Medical Society, featuring questions regarding employment characteristics, compensation, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and educational debt. Using descriptive and regression analyses, we explored cross-sectional associations between gender and employment characteristics. Results Male physicians reported a significantly higher average 2020 pre-tax income ($333,732 per year) than female physicians ($225,473 per year, p < 0.001), amounting to a nearly 50% difference in raw income, consistent with a previously reported pay gap in 2016. Women physicians earned 31.5% less than their male colleagues in 2020 and were projected to earn 28.7% less in 2021. Female physicians were also more likely to have educational debt (33.6% vs.12.9%, p < 0.001) and also more likely to have a high burden of debt, with 36% owing over $200,000 in education loans, compared to 14.7% of men (p < 0.01). Conclusion The physician gender pay gap in Maryland has remained relatively stable over four years, including the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surface Water Pollution

The surface water pollution in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, coastal areas, and other surface water resources may occur mainly because of point-source pollution and nonpoint-source pollution. The term point-source pollution refers to pollutants discharged from one discrete location or point, such as an industry or municipal wastewater treatment plant, to surface water resources (Fig. 1). The effluent out-fall from factories, refineries, waste treatment plants, etc. emits fluids of varying quality directly into surface waters. The term nonpoint-source pollution refers to the discharge of pollutants that cannot be identified as coming from one discrete location or point. The pollution outflow from nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, or diffuse pollution, include contaminants that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater systems and from the atmosphere via rain water. Soils and groundwaters contain the residue of human agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and improperly disposed of industrial wastes. Keywords: point-source pollution; nonpoint-source pollution; diffuse pollution; water scarcity in India
Major Optical Depth Perturbations to the Stratosphere from Volcanic Eruptions: Stellar-Extinction Period, 1961-1978

A revised chronology of stratospheric aerosol extinction due to volcanic eruptions has been assembled for the period 1961–1978, which immediately precedes the era of dedicated satellite measurements. On the whole, the most accurate data consist of published observations of stellar extinction, supplemented in part by other kinds of observational data. The period covered encompasses the important eruptions of Agung (1963) and Fuego (1974), whose dust veils are discussed with respect to their transport, decay, and total mass. The effective (area-weighted mean) radii of the aerosols for both eruptions are found to be 0.3–0.4 μm. It is confirmed that, among known tropical eruptions, Agung's dust was unique for a low-latitude eruption in remaining almost entirely confined to the hemisphere of its production. A new table of homogeneous visual optical depth perturbations, listed by year and by hemisphere, is provided for the whole period 1881–1978, including the pyrheliometric period before 1961 that was investigated previously.
Membrane protein chaperone and sodium chloride modulate the kinetics and morphology of amyloid beta aggregation

Protein aggregation is a biological phenomenon caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins. Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are derived from the cleavage of a larger membrane protein molecule and accumulate to form plaques extracellularly. According to the amyloid hypothesis, accumulation of Aβ aggregates in the brain is primarily responsible for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, the disassembly of Aβ aggregates may provide opportunities for alleviating or treating AD. Here, we show that the novel protein targeting machinery from chloroplast, chloroplast signal recognition particle 43 (cpSRP43), is an ATP‐independent membrane protein chaperone that can both prevent and reverse Aβ aggregation effectively. Using of thioflavin T dye, we obtained the aggregation kinetics of Aβ aggregation and determined that the chaperone prevents Aβ aggregation in a concentration‐dependent manner. Size exclusion chromatography and sedimentation assays showed that 10‐fold excess of cpSRP43 can keep Aβ in the soluble monomeric form. Electron microscopy showed that the fibril structure was disrupted in the presence of this chaperone. Importantly, cpSRP43 utilizes the binding energy to actively remodel the preformed Aβ aggregates without assistance by a co‐chaperone and ATP, emphasizing its unique function among protein chaperones. Moreover, when sodium chloride concentration is higher than 25 mm, the Aβ aggregation rate increases drastically to form tightly associated aggregates and generate more oligomers. Our results demonstrate that the presence of cpSRP43 and low NaCl levels inhibit or retard Aβ peptide aggregation, potentially opening new avenues to strategically develop an effective treatment for AD.
HPC2 lusterScape: Increasing Transparency and Efficiency of Shared High-Performance Computing Clusters for Large-scale AI Models

The emergence of large-scale AI models, like GPT-4, has significantly impacted academia and industry, driving the demand for high-performance computing (HPC) to accelerate workloads. To address this, we present $HPC^{2}lusterScape$, a visualization system that enhances the efficiency and transparency of shared HPC clusters for large-scale AI models. $HPC^{2}lusterScape$ provides a comprehensive overview of system-level (e.g., partitions, hosts, and workload status) and application-level (e.g., identification of experiments and researchers) information, allowing HPC operators and machine learning researchers to monitor resource utilization and identify issues through customizable violation rules. The system includes diagnostic tools to investigate workload imbalances and synchronization bottlenecks in large-scale distributed deep learning experiments. Deployed in industrial-scale HPC clusters, $HPC^{2}lusterScape$ incorporates user feedback and meets specific requirements. This paper outlines the challenges and prerequisites for efficient HPC operation, introduces the interactive visualization system, and highlights its contributions in addressing pain points and optimizing resource utilization in shared HPC clusters.
Subduction tectonics and exhumation of high pressure metamorphic rocks in the Mediterranean orogens

Using the peri-Mediterranean blueschist belts as a case study we discuss the mechanisms of syn-orogenic exhumation of high-pressure (HP) and ultra-highpressure (UHP) rocks. The Mediterranean examples, within an overall convergent zone, show variations in the rates of convergence, rates of slab retreat, available space, and various stages of maturation of accretionary complexes. After a compilation of the deformation history and the kinematic boundary conditions and their evolution through time, we discuss P-T-t paths. Most of the structures found in the field today relate to the exhumation stage and often to quite superficial events related to syn-orogenic detachments. However a significant vertical motion occurred from the depth of eclogites (or UHP eclogites) to the depth of the blueschist or greenschist facies along cold P-T paths. Two types of mountain belts are described: those where a single thermal gradient was recorded throughout its' history, like the Franco-Italian Alps, which suggest a steady-state evolution; and those where the thermal gradient has changed through time (and space), such as the Aegean region, which suggest a non-steady-state evolution. Slab retreat within a subduction complex does not lead to the exhumation of UHP rocks because the open subduction channel allows for fast circulation and detachment of sediments from the subducting basement. Subducted sediments lubricate the subduction channel and the basement is thus not involved in the return flow. Early exhumation is fast and the thermal regime in the subduction channel is partly controlled by the velocity of convergence and the velocity of slab retreat as well as by the nature of the subducted material. Final exhumation occurs within the accretionary complex at a much slower rate below extensional detachments. The removal of the overburden is achieved primarily by extension in the upper part of the accretionary complex. Extensional faults and shear zones are rooted in the brittle-ductile transition of the accretionary complex. Deeper "extensional" shear zones result from shearing along the base of the upper plate. We discuss a model with several levels of circulation of subducted material and compare it with available thermo-mechanical models.