Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Évaluation des effets de site topographiques dans les pentes soumises à des sollicitations dynamiques par simulations numériques

Les seismes sont connus comme des catastrophes naturelles destructrices et meurtrieres. Particulierement dans les regions montagneuses, les effets des seismes sont encore beaucoup plus aggraves a cause des effets de site topographiques. La presence d'une pente est a l'origine d'une amplification du signal sismique notamment dans le voisinage de la crete. De nombreux seismes anciens tels que le seisme de Lambesc (1909, Ms=6.2) qui a conduit a la destruction du village de Rognes (Bouches-du-Rhone, France), ou plus recemment le seisme d'Athenes en Grece (1999, Ms=5.9) qui a endommage la ville d'Adames ainsi que les seismes de Chichi a Taiwan (1999, Mw=7.6), du Salvador (2001, Mw=7.6) et du Sichuan (2008, Mw=7.9) responsables de tres nombreux glissements de terrain particulierement catastrophiques sont des exemples representatifs. Les investigations post-sismiques ont montre une contribution importante des effets de site topographiques au bilan des dommages humains et materiels. Dans le but d'ameliorer les connaissances de ce phenomene, de nombreuses simulations numeriques ont ete realisees sur des modeles de versant isoles en utilisant le logiciel FLAC 2D (Itasca). Les resultats obtenus ont ete analyses en considerant plusieurs criteres comme les facteurs d'amplification, les surfaces et les dimensions des zones d'amplification ainsi que la distribution spatiale de ces zones dans le massif de versant. Des etudes parametriques ont permis de mettre en evidence le role principal de la frequence adimensionnelle, rapport de la hauteur du versant a la longueur d'onde du signal sismique, dans l'evaluation des effets de site topographiques. Ces resultats montrent egalement que la pente est le deuxieme parametre important, suivie du coefficient de Poisson et de la geometrie de la crete et du pied de la pente.Ces resultats numeriques ont egalement permis de definir des relations empiriques, nommees ANS, qui permettent d'estimer les effets de site topographiques selon les differents criteres d'interpretation. Ces formules sont adaptees pour les signaux sismiques avec une bande de frequences predominantes relativement etroite. Pour les autres cas, la Methode de Decomposition des ondes (MD) a ete developpe dans ce travail. Cette methode est basee sur la decomposition du signal complexe multi-frequentiel en plusieurs ondes mono-frequentielles par transformee de Fourier. L'effet du signal complexe est alors evalue en faisant une combinaison des effets individuels de chaque onde elementaire. Ces approches developpees dans ce travail (ANS et MD) permettent d'evaluer les effets de site topographiques, en tenant compte de plusieurs parametres geomorphologiques et sismiques du massif de versant ainsi que du contenu frequentiel du signal sismique, sans avoir recours a des simulations numeriques.
Aminoglycoside uptake, stress, and potentiation in Gram-negative bacteria: new therapies with old molecules

SUMMARY Aminoglycosides (AGs) are long-known molecules successfully used against Gram-negative pathogens. While their use declined with the discovery of new antibiotics, they are now classified as critically important molecules because of their effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria. While they can efficiently cross the Gram-negative envelope, the mechanism of AG entry is still incompletely understood, although this comprehension is essential for the development of new therapies in the face of the alarming increase in antibiotic resistance. Increasing antibiotic uptake in bacteria is one strategy to enhance effective treatments. This review aims, first, to consolidate old and recent knowledge about AG uptake; second, to explore the connection between AG-dependent bacterial stress and drug uptake; and finally, to present new strategies of potentiation of AG uptake for more efficient antibiotic therapies. In particular, we emphasize on the connection between sugar transport and AG potentiation.
Microbiology of the built environment: harnessing human-associated built environment research to inform the study and design of animal nests and enclosures

Over the past decade, hundreds of studies have characterized the microbial communities found in human-associated built environments (BEs). These have focused primarily on how the design and use of our built spaces have shaped human-microbe interactions and how the differential selection of certain taxa or genetic traits has influenced health outcomes. It is now known that the more removed humans are from the natural environment, the greater the risk for the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases, and that indoor spaces can be harsh, selective environments that can increase the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant and virulent phenotypes in surface-bound communities. However, despite the abundance of research that now points to the importance of BEs in determining human-microbe interactions, only a fraction of non-human animal structures have been comparatively explored. It is here, in the context of human-associated BE research, that we consider the microbial ecology of animal-built natural nests and burrows, as well as artificial enclosures, and point to areas of primary interest for future research. SUMMARY Over the past decade, hundreds of studies have characterized the microbial communities found in human-associated built environments (BEs). These have focused primarily on how the design and use of our built spaces have shaped human-microbe interactions and how the differential selection of certain taxa or genetic traits has influenced health outcomes. It is now known that the more removed humans are from the natural environment, the greater the risk for the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases, and that indoor spaces can be harsh, selective environments that can increase the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant and virulent phenotypes in surface-bound communities. However, despite the abundance of research that now points to the importance of BEs in determining human-microbe interactions, only a fraction of non-human animal structures have been comparatively explored. It is here, in the context of human-associated BE research, that we consider the microbial ecology of animal-built natural nests and burrows, as well as artificial enclosures, and point to areas of primary interest for future research.
Sharing the range: the challenges and opportunities for sustainable ranching and habitat conservation in the municipal district of Pincher Creek

The broad scope and intent of this thesis is to contribute to the body of research and writing about the loss of agricultural land due to development and the transformation of rural agricultural communities. At the more specific level, through interviews and secondary research, this thesis considers municipal land use planning in Alberta under the revised 1995 Municipal Government Act in the Municipal District (MD) of Pincher Creek No. 9, where cattle ranching, wildlife, and now, acreages vie for land resources. The critical questions addressed are: What are the conflicts between ranching and habitat conservation, and conversely, what opportunities do they share? What role can and does a municipality play in promoting sustainable ranching and conservation through its land use policy and jurisdiction? Set in southwest corner of Alberta, the M D of Pincher Creek is endowed with a remarkable history of ranching, ample resource wealth, and a unique climate and topography that supports a spectacular, rich, diverse ecosystem. Within the past few years, private agricultural land near Waterton Lakes National Park and the Castle River wilderness in the M D has come under speculative and development pressure predominantly for country residences, often retirement homes, and for tourism interests. Recent Municipal Act amendments have delegated substantially more land use control to rural municipalities, as a result the M D of Pincher Creek has more authority to make decisions that shape its future community profile, to mediate between competing land use interests, and to impact local ranching and habitat. The thesis analysis explores how the best practices of ranching or "sustainable ranching" can help to conserve and enhance habitat and how ranchers' attitudes can evolve to be more tolerant of wildlife. This thesis also explores and supports the efforts of a budding local land trust, SALTS, which plans to protect local agricultural land and habitat through conservation easements. Finally, the thesis concludes by envisioning ways the M D government can encourage habitat preservation, conservation easements, sustainable and economically viable ranching, as well as the control and direction of country residential development, all with a view to ensuring that future economic development opportunities remain available for local residents.
Changes in decision‐making function in patients with subacute mild traumatic brain injury

Although awareness regarding patients with mild traumatic brain injury has increased, they have not received sufficient attention in clinics; hence, many patients still experience only partial recovery. Deficits in decision‐making function are frequently experienced by these patients. Accurate identification of impairment in the early stages after brain injury is particularly crucial for timely intervention and the prevention of long‐term cognitive consequences. Therefore, we investigated the changes in decision‐making ability under tasks of ambiguity and risk in patients with mild traumatic brain injury with a rule‐based neuropsychological paradigm. In this study, patients (n = 39) and matched healthy controls (n = 38) completed general neuropsychological background tests and decision‐making tasks (Iowa Gambling Task and Game of Dice Task). We found that patients had extensive cognitive impairment in general attention, memory and information processing speed in the subacute phase, and confirmed that patients had different degrees of impairment in decision‐making abilities under ambiguity and risk. Furthermore, the decline of memory and executive function may be related to decision‐making dysfunction.
Conservation Tillage - Gateway to Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development Impact of Conservation Tillage on Soil Quality

The short term effect of tillage, especially of ploughing, is remarkable. Yield increases of 20 – 50% were reported for such crops as millet sorghum or maize in West Africa (PIERI, 1989). This can be attributed mainly to the deeper loosening of the soil (15-20 cm instead of 5-10 cm by hand hoeing), which allows for increased water storage and exploitation of a greater soil volume by the plant roots. However, with time undesirable long-term effects are observed like the formation of hoe or plough pans and the compaction of the subsoil. The exhaustion of soil organic matter (SOM) leads to a deterioration of the soil structure, the crusting and sealing of the soil surface, a reduced water infiltration and storage on the one side and on the other side an increased water runoff and soil erosion. The results are declining yields and more pronounced impact of droughts.
Bird species richness in the Cacaluta river micro-basin, Oaxaca, Mexico

The bird species richness in the Cacaluta river micro-basin, Oaxaca, is recorded including the results obtained during 33 days of sampling. We recorded 110 species of 40 families and 16 orders. Of these, 78 (71%) were resident and 32 (29%) migrants. Forty-five species were registered in all the sampling sites, whereas 16 were observed in only one. This inventory represents 37% of the richness reported previously, however, the recording of four species not found in previous studies is noted. This adds to the knowledge of the birds of this region in particular.
A quest for an integrated management system of children following a drowning incident: A review of the literature.

PURPOSE Management of children following a drowning incident is based on specific interventions which are used in the prehospital environment, the emergency department (ED) and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). This paper presents a review of the literature to map and describe the management and interventions used by healthcare professionals when managing a child following a drowning incident. Of specific interest was to map, synthesise and describe the management and interventions according to the different clinical domains or practice areas of healthcare professionals. DESIGN AND METHODS A traditional review of the literature was performed to appraise, map and describe information from 32 relevant articles. Four electronic databases were searched using search strings and the Boolean operators AND as well as OR. The included articles were all published in English between 2010 and 2022, as it comprised a timeline including current guidelines and practices necessary to describe management and interventions. RESULTS Concepts and phrases from the literature were used as headings to form a picture or overview of the interventions used for managing a child following a drowning incident. Information extracted from the literature was mapped under management and interventions for prehospital, the ED and the PICU and a figure was constructed to display the findings. It was evident from the literature that management and interventions are well researched, evidence-informed and discussed, but no clear arguments or examples could be found to link the interventions for integrated management from the scene of drowning through to the PICU. Cooling and/or rewarming techniques and approaches and termination of resuscitation were found to be discussed as interventions, but no evidence of integration from prehospital to the ED and beyond was found. The review also highlighted the absence of parental involvement in the management of children following a drowning incident. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Mapping the literature enables visualisation of management and interventions used for children following a drowning incident. Integration of these interventions can collaboratively be done by involving the healthcare practitioners to form a link or chain for integrated management from the scene of drowning through to the PICU.
The effect of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on anthropometric, glycemic, lipid, oxidative stress, and hormonal parameters in individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on various cardiometabolic risk factors and hormonal parameters in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases without language restrictions until May 2023 to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the impact of ALA supplementation on anthropometric, glycemic, lipid, oxidative stress, and hormonal parameters in women with PCOS. Outcomes were summarized using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects model. An I2 statistic of >60% established significant between-study heterogeneity. The overall certainty of the evidence for each outcome was determined using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluations system. Seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The ALA group had significant reductions in fasting blood sugar (fasting blood sugar (FBS), n=7 RCTs, SMD, −0.60; 95% CI, −1.10 to −0.10; I2=63.54%, moderate certainty of evidence) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), n=4 RCTs, SMD, −2.03; 95% CI, −3.85 to −0.20; I2=96.32%, low certainty of evidence) compared with the control group. However, significant differences were observed between the groups in body mass index, insulin, estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, malondialdehyde, or total antioxidant capacity profiles. ALA supplementation improves FBS and HOMA-IR levels in women with PCOS. ALA consumption is an effective complementary therapy for the management of women with PCOS.
Stevioside attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting the NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathways

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of stevioside (STE) on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and the potential mechanisms. Methods: In this study, a mouse model of PF was established by a single intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM, 3 mg/kg). The experiment consisted of four groups: control group, BLM group, and STE treatment groups (STE 50 and 100 mg/kg). ELISA and biochemical tests were conducted to determine the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NO, hydroxyproline (HYP), SOD, GSH, and MDA. Histopathological changes and collagen deposition in lung tissues were observed by HE and Masson staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the levels of collagen I-, collagen III-, TGF-β1- and p-Smad2/3-positive cells. Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, including α-SMA, vimentin, E-cadherin, and ZO-1, as well as proteins related to the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway in lung tissues. Results: STE significantly alleviated BLM-induced body weight loss and lung injury in mice, decreased HYP levels, and reduced the levels of collagen I- and collagen III-positive cells, thereby decreasing extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Moreover, STE markedly improved oxidative stress (MDA levels were decreased, while SOD and GSH activity were enhanced), the inflammatory response (the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and NO were reduced), and EMT (the expression of α-SMA and vimentin was downregulated, and the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1 was upregulated). Further mechanistic analysis revealed that STE could activate the Nrf2 pathway and inhibit the NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathways. Conclusion: STE may alleviate oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2 pathway, suppress the inflammatory response by downregulating the NF-κB pathway, and inhibit EMT progression by blocking the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway, thereby improving BLM-induced PF.
Dying to Defend: Neutrophil Death Pathways and their Implications in Immunity

Abstract Neutrophils, accounting for ≈70% of human peripheral leukocytes, are key cells countering bacterial and fungal infections. Neutrophil homeostasis involves a balance between cell maturation, migration, aging, and eventual death. Neutrophils undergo different death pathways depending on their interactions with microbes and external environmental cues. Neutrophil death has significant physiological implications and leads to distinct immunological outcomes. This review discusses the multifarious neutrophil death pathways, including apoptosis, NETosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, and outlines their effects on immune responses and disease progression. Understanding the multifaceted aspects of neutrophil death, the intersections among signaling pathways and ramifications of immunity will help facilitate the development of novel therapeutic methods.
Real-time transition texture synthesis for terrains.

Depicting the transitions where differing material textures meet on a terrain surface presents a particularly unique set of challenges in the field of real-time rendering. Natural landscapes are inherently irregular and composed of complex interactions between many different material types of effectively endless detail and variation. Although consumer grade graphics hardware is becoming ever increasingly powerful with each successive generation, terrain texturing remains a trade-off between realism and the computational resources available. Technological constraints aside, there is still the challenge of generating the texture resources to represent terrain surfaces which can often span many hundreds or even thousands of square kilometres. To produce such textures by hand is often impractical when operating on a restricted budget of time and funding. This thesis presents two novel algorithms for generating texture transitions in realtime using automated processes. The first algorithm, Feature-Based Probability Blending (FBPB), automates the task of generating transitions between material textures containing salient features. As such features protrude through the terrain surface FBPB ensures that the topography of these features is maintained at transitions in a realistic manner. The transitions themselves are generated using a probabilistic process that also dynamically adds wear and tear to introduce high frequency detail and irregularity at the transition contour. The second algorithm, Dynamic Patch Transitions (DPT), extends FBPB by applying the probabilistic transition approach to material textures that contain no salient features. By breaking up texture space into a series of layered patches that are either rendered or discarded on a probabilistic basis, the contour of the transition is greatly increased in resolution and irregularity. When used in conjunction with high frequency detail techniques, such as alpha masking, DPT is capable of producing endless, detailed, irregular transitions without the need for artistic input.
Biogeochemical processes in frozen soils Unfrozen water in frozen soils and factors regulating carbon mineralization at low temperatures

High latitude ecosystems are important for global carbon (C) balances and are among the most sensitive ecosystems to climate change. Microbial CO2 production in soil is known to proceed at temperatures 0oC. At -4oC, this adaptation was associated with increased cell membrane fluidity, and resulted in significant increases in CO2 production. The findings contribute to the general understanding of low temperature microbial processes; indicating that the hierarchy of controlling factors changes as soil freezes, but microbial metabolism is similar in frozen and unfrozen soil. The results have important implications for the conceptualization of processes related to soil C dynamics.