Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
C-band RISAT-1 imagery for geospatial mapping of cryospheric surface features in the Antarctic environment

Cryospheric surface feature classification is one of the widely used applications in the field of polar remote sensing. Precise surface feature maps derived from remotely sensed imageries are the major requirement for many geoscientific applications in polar regions. The present study explores the capabilities of C-band dual polarimetric (HH & HV) SAR imagery from Indian Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) for land cryospheric surface feature mapping. The study areas selected for the present task were Larsemann Hills and Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica. RISAT-1 Fine Resolution STRIPMAP (FRS-1) mode data with 3-m spatial resolution was used in the present research attempt. In order to provide additional context to the amount of information in dual polarized RISAT-1 SAR data, a band HH+HV was introduced to make use of the original two polarizations. In addition to the data calibration, transformed divergence (TD) procedure was performed for class separability analysis to evaluate the quality of the statistics before image classification. For most of the class pairs the TD values were comparable, which indicated that the classes have good separability. Fuzzy and Artificial Neural Network classifiers were implemented and accuracy was checked. Nonparametric classifier Support Vector Machine (SVM) was also used to classify RISAT-1 data with an optimized polarization combination into three land-cover classes consisting of sea ice/snow/ice, rocks/landmass, and lakes/waterbodies. This study demonstrates that C-band FRS1 image mode data from the RISAT-1 mission can be exploited to identify, map and monitor land cover features in the polar regions, even during dark winter period. For better landcover classification and analysis, hybrid polarimetric data (cFRS-1 mode) from RISAT-1, which incorporates phase information, unlike the dual-pol linear (HH, HV) can be used for obtaining better polarization signatures.
Grazing reclaimed mined land seeded to native grasses in Wyoming.

ABSTRACT: Methods mandated for evaluating mined-land reclamation success often involve comparisons of vegetative cover, species diversity, and productivity between reclaimed lands and undisturbed reference areas. An alternative utilitarian approach, used in this study, addresses the capability of reclaimed land to properly function and sustain its intended post-mining use. A 5-year grazing study was conducted to evaluate the success of reclamation on uranium-mined land in Wyoming. Stocking rates of 0.25 and 0.5 steers ha−1 were replicated on 12 ha pastures to evaluate the effect of grazing on the vegetative community and animal response. Forage production and plant community composition of the pastures were not affected by stocking rate. However, the percentage of bare ground decreased 43% and litter cover increased 82 % under both stocking rates. Native perennial grasses in the plant community increased 110%. Yearling steer gains were significantly greater on the low stocking rate, averaging 0.94 kg day−1 for the 0.25-steers-ha−1 and 0.81 kg day−1 for the 0.50-steers-ha−1 stocking rate. The increase in perennial native grasses and litter cover and the decrease in bare ground demonstrate that the ecosystem was not harmed and my have been improved by grazing.
Hypertension doctors’ awareness and practice of medication adherence in hypertensive patients: a questionnaire-based survey

Background Poor adherence to antihypertensive drugs is a major cause of unsatisfactory blood pressure control. Hypertension doctors play an integral role in improving medication adherence in hypertensive patients. Although most existing studies have recognized the status quo and influencing factors of medication adherence, little attention has been paid to hypertension doctors’ awareness and practice in hypertension management. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate hypertension doctors’ awareness and practice of medication adherence in hypertensive patients. Methods This is a cross-sectional survey. A self-reported questionnaire was developed and sent to hypertension doctors in Hunan province, China, between May 1, 2022 and July 1, 2022. Univariate and generalized linear models were used to identify the factors influencing hypertension doctors’ awareness and practice. The correlation between awareness and practice was determined using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results In total, 236 valid questionnaires were collected (valid response rate, 73.5%). Of the respondents, 44.1% were chief physicians and 64.4% were females. Approximately half of the respondents were ≥40 years old and had over 14 years of working experience. Most respondents (87.7%) did not have hypertension, but 54.2% had a family history of hypertension. The average awareness and practice scores were 29.8 ± 8.8 and 39.4 ± 7.1, respectively, out of 50, with higher scores indicating higher levels of awareness or practice. More hypertension consultations and more antihypertensive prescriptions issued were associated with better awareness and practice among respondents (ps < 0.05). Respondents with higher education and professional titles had higher awareness (ps < 0.05). Moreover, respondents with 6–13 years of work experience had better practice than those with <5 years of work experience (p = 0.017). There was a significant correlation between hypertension doctors’ awareness and practice of medication adherence in hypertensive patients (R = 0.682, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that misconceptions persist in hypertension doctors’ awareness and practice of patient medication adherence. Conclusion Hypertension doctors lack sufficient and correct awareness and practice of medication adherence in hypertensive patients.
Diagenetic evolution of a fractured evaporite deposit (Vilobi Gypsum Unit, Miocene, NE Spain)

The upper Burdigalian Vilob�i Gypsum Unit, located in the VallPenedhalf-grabben (NE Spain), consists of a 60-m thick succession of laminated-to-banded secondary and primary gypsum affected by Neogene extension in the western part of Mediterranean Sea. This Tertiary extensional event is recorded in the evaporitic unit as six fracture sets (faults and joints), which can be linked with basin-scale deformation stages. All fractures are totally or partially infilled by four types of new gypsum precipitates showing a large variety of textures and microstructures. A structural and petrological study of the unit allows us to establish the following chronology of the fracture formation and infill- ing processes, from oldest to youngest: (i) S1 and S2 normal faults sets formation and precipitation of sigmoidal gyp- sum fibres; (ii) S3 joint set formation and growing of perpendicular fibres; (iii) S4 inverse fault development, infilled by oblique gypsum fibres and deformation of the previous fillings; and (iv) S5 and S6 joint formations and later disso- lution processes, infilled by macrocrystalline gypsum cements. The fractures provided the pathway for fluid circula- tion in the Vilob�i Unit. The oxygen, sulphur and strontium isotope compositions of the host rocks and the new precipitates in the fractures suggest clear convective recycling processes from the host-sulphates to the fracture infil- lings, recorded by a general enrichment trend to heavier S-O isotopes, from the oldest precipitates (sigmoidal fibres) to the youngest (macrocrystalline cements) and to the preservation of the strontium signals in the infillings.
Drift features of oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes in deep groundwater in mining area of northern Anhui

In order to recognize the water bursting sources of the mine accurately, using the long observation holes of the groundwater and the distant-discharge holes of the mine in each aquifer distributed in the mining area in northern Anhui, the sampled water in four main deep groundwater (the fourth aquifer, the coal measures, the Taiyuan limestone aquifer and the Ordovician limestone aquifer) was extracted the content of the oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes (δ18O、δD) was measured, to research their composing and drifting features. The research result is that: 18O drift is the main features in the fourth aquifer, but a few spots express a definite drift feature of D; on the contrary, D drift is the main features in the coal measures; the drift features of the Taiyuan limestone aquifer and the Ordovician limestone aquifer are similar, as the 18O drifted, the D drift is formed. The generative mechanisms for D and 18O different drift features were the silicate exchange, the hy-droxyl exchange and the action of old lixiviation infiltration water.
Altered threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) expression is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in breast tumors: An in silico approach

The most common and lethal malignancy in women on a global scale remains breast cancer. Threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) has been shown to be a critical mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) molecule, resulting in correct chromosome segregation and maintenance of genomic stability. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the expression pattern of threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) in breast cancer and its potential prognostic and predictive value for therapeutic response using bioinformatics tools. Web platforms containing clinical information and cDNA microarray data were selected to perform in silico analyzes of the potential threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) marker. The threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) gene was found to be differentially expressed in tumor samples when compared to healthy breast tissue samples (p<0.0001) and the TNBC subtype exhibited the highest expression of threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) relative to the other subtypes (p<0.0001). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that high threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) levels corresponded to an unfavorable outcome for overall survival (p<0.0001), as well as for recurrence-free survival (p<0.0001) and distant metastasis-free survival (p<0.0001). Finally, differential expression of threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) was related to the response of breast cancer patients to different therapies. Our cumulative results demonstrate that threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) may be a promising biomarker for predicting prognosis and therapeutic response in breast cancer patients.
Image Feature Detectors in Agricultural Harvesting: An Evaluation

Image feature detection serves as the cornerstone for numerous vision applications, and it has found extensive use in agricultural harvesting. Nevertheless, determining the optimal feature extraction technique for a specific situation proves challenging, as the Ground Truth correlation between images is exceedingly elusive in harsh agricultural harvesting environments. In this study, we assemble and make publicly available the inaugural agricultural harvesting dataset, encompassing four crops: rice, corn and soybean, wheat, and rape. We develop an innovative Ground Truth-independent feature detector assessment approach that amalgamates efficiency, repeatability, and feature distribution. We examine eight distinct feature detectors and conduct a thorough evaluation using the amassed dataset. The empirical findings indicate that the FAST detector and ASLFeat yield the most exceptional performance in agricultural harvesting contexts. This evaluation establishes a trustworthy bedrock for the astute identification and application of feature extraction techniques in diverse crop reaping situations.
Extracts and Scirpusin B from Recycled Seeds and Rinds of Passion Fruits (Passiflora edulis var. Tainung No. 1) Exhibit Improved Functions in Scopolamine-Induced Impaired-Memory ICR Mice

In this paper, the seeds and rinds of passion fruit, which are the agricultural waste of juice processing, were recycled to investigate their biological activities for sustainable use. De-oiled seed powders (S) were successively extracted by refluxing 95% ethanol (95E), 50E, and hot water (HW), respectively, to obtain S-95EE, S-50EE, and S-HWE. Dried rind powders were successively extracted by refluxing HW and 95E to obtain rind-HWE and rind-95EE, respectively. S-50EE and S-95EE showed the most potent extracts, such as anti-amyloid-β1-42 aggregations and anti-acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and they exhibited neuroprotective activities against amyloid-β25-35-treated or H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Scirpusin B and piceatannol were identified in S-95EE, S-50EE, and rind-HWE, and they showed anti-acetylcholinesterase activity at 50% inhibitory concentrations of 62.9 and 258.9 μM, respectively. Daily pretreatments of de-oiled seed powders and rind-HWE (600 mg/kg), S-95EE, and S-50EE (250 mg/kg) or scirpusin B (40 mg/kg) for 7 days resulted in improved learning behavior in passive avoidance tests and had significant differences (p < 0.05) compared with those of the control in scopolamine-induced ICR mice. The seeds and rinds of passion fruit will be recycled as materials for the development of functional foods, promoting neuroprotection and delaying the onset of cognitive dysfunctions.
Distributed model of hydrological cycle system in Heihe River basin II.Applications

The water budgets and spatial-temporal variations of hydrological cycle components in the Heihe river basin are studied by using the distributed hydrological model developed by the authors.The river flow including the monthly runoff in a year and the flow in dry season and flood season are forecasted.Furthermore,the model is also utilized to forecast the discharges of small rivers in front of mountains and lateral infiltration of groundwater from mountains,and predict the possible changes of the water budgets in the basin when the underlying conditions is changed.The results show that the model can systematically describe the water budgets and their spatial-temporal variations in the basin and precisely forecast river flows in dry season.The predicted water budgets for changed underlying conditions by using this model show that in spite of the forest for water conservation may cause the slight increase of interception evaporation but it reduces the evaporation of soil,so that the total evapotranpiration will not significantly increase.The forest for water conservation makes the runoff outcome from mountains slightly decreased but the storage of soil water and groundwater will increase.The countermeasure of changing the cultivated farmland into grassland is effective in increasing the river flow and decreasing the deficit of groundwater storage caused by over exploitation in the middle reaches area of the basin.
The Modern Environment: The New Secondary Cause of Hypertension?

The most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, is hypertension. Although most cases of hypertension are thought to be essential, the multifactorial associations of the environmental influence on blood pressure seem to play an important role and should be more closely investigated. This review attempts to focus on the recent literature that examines the environmental effects on arterial blood pressure and its management. Seasonal variability and the role of ambient temperature, either occupational or recreational noise pollution, as well as obesity due to environment-caused dietary habits, are recognized as important risk factors, affecting the onset as well as the regulation of hypertension. Furthermore, the effects of seasonal fluctuations in blood pressure, noise pollution, and obesity seem to share a similar pathogenesis, and as such to all further react together, leading to increased blood pressure. The activation of the autonomous nervous system plays a key role and causes an increase in stress hormones that generates oxidative stress on the vascular system and, thus, vasoconstriction. In this review, by focusing on the association of the environmental impact with arterial blood pressure, we come to the question of whether most cases of hypertension—if not all—should, indeed, be considered primary or secondary.
Flexor Hallucis Longus Transfer And V-Y Plasty: An Effective Treatment Modality for Chronic Achilles Rupture - A Case Series

Introduction To assess outcomes of FHL transfer and V-Y plasty for chronic Achilles rupture due to insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Materials and methods A case series of 12 patients was conducted between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2018. The patients had short flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer with gastrocnemius lengthening by V-Y plasty for Achilles tendon rupture. Patients were allowed full weight bearing at six weeks post-operatively, and were followed up at three months and six months post-operatively, when the range of motion of the ankle was examined, and the outcome was assessed using the EFAS score. Results Of the 12 patients in the study, the majority were males; the mean age was 50.6±8.96 years. A significant improvement in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was noted at the six-month follow-up compared to the three-month follow-up (P=<0.001 for both). When compared to the normal side, dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the affected ankle were significantly less at three months but were comparable at six months post-operatively. A significant improvement was noted in the mean EFAS score at the six-month follow-up (25.5±5.71) compared to three months (18.6±0.90) post-surgery (P=0.001). Males were also noted to have significantly higher EFAS scores at their six-month follow-up than females (P=0.022). In contrast, a negative correlation was noted between the European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS) score at the final follow-up and age (P=0.011). Conclusion FHL tendon transfer with V-Y plasty in chronic Achilles rupture due to insertional Achilles tendinopathy is an effective procedure resulting in the restoration of the ankle range of motion and improvement in functional scores.
Blood Coagulation Activities of Cotton–Alginate–Copper Composites

Alginate-based materials have gained significant attention in the medical industry due to their biochemical properties. In this article, we aimed to synthesize Cotton–Alginate–Copper Composite Materials (COT-Alg(−)Cu(2+)). The main purpose of this study was to assess the biochemical properties of new composites in the area of blood plasma coagulation processes, including activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). This study also involved in vitro antimicrobial activity evaluation of materials against representative colonies of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and antifungal susceptibility tests. The materials were prepared by immersing cotton fibers in an aqueous solution of sodium alginate, followed by ionic cross-linking of alginate chains within the fibers with Cu(II) ions to yield antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the obtained cotton–alginate–copper composites were promising materials to be used in biomedical applications, e.g., wound dressing.
A Trust-Based Cooperative System for Efficient Wi-Fi Radio Access Networks

This paper proposes a novel trust-based cooperative system to facilitate efficient Wi-Fi network access trading to solve the network congestion problem in a beneficial manner for both service providers and customers. The proposed system enables service providers to improve their users’ application performance through a novel cooperative Access Point (AP) association solution. The system is based on a Software-Defined Wireless Network (SDWN) controller, which has a global view of users’ devices, requirements, and APs. The SDWN controller is supported by Smart Contracts (SCs) as code of law, to liaise control among service providers according to the terms of their mutual agreements. Evaluation results in dense Wi-Fi network environments show how the system can significantly improve the overall performance for the cooperating network. Specifically, the results have been compared against the standard AP association approach and other centralised algorithms dealing with the same problem, in terms of the data bit rate provided to the users’ stations (STAs), Quality of Experience (QoE), bandwidth and energy consumed by the APs.
TOWARDS GREEN ECONOMY: BALANCING MARKET AND SEASONALITY OF DEMAND INDICATORS IN SERBIAN MOUNTAIN TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Purpose – Green economy concept set forth reduction of the seasonality of tourism demand as one of the main goals. Overreliance of mountain tourism on alpine ski tourism can be overcome through diversification of tourism offer and development of summer season. Design –The research was designed to compare the basic market and seasonality of demand indicators of Kopaonik and Zlatibor mountains, in order to give recommendations for product development. The tourist parameters compared were integrated into a coherent sustainable development indicators model. The primary data was collected through survey, which was conducted as a component of the EU financed project: “Support to implementation of the National Strategy for Tourism” 07SER01/23/11. Methodology – The research methodology used for comparing age, length of stay, level of daily spending, and satisfaction of tourists was independent samples t-test processed in SPSS, while methodology for image attributes, expense levels by categories and seasonality of demand was descriptive statistics. Approach – The research combines market indicators with seasonality of demand indicators in order to give recommendations for sustainable product development, through benchmarking of 2 major mountain destinations. Findings – The research showed that demographic segmentation is the single most important criteria for summer season mountain tourism market segmentation in the 2 mountain destinations in Serbia. Analysis of the image attributes expense categories showed that both mountain destinations (Zlatibor and Kopaonik) offer different value propositions to tourists and have different competitive advantages. Seasonality of demand analysis demonstrated highly unsustainable destination development on Kopaonik mountain. Originality of the research – The research combines market data with the seasonality of demand indicators in order to offer novel product development solutions that would support development of green, sustainable tourism.
Small Antibodies with Big Applications: Nanobody-Based Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Simple Summary Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly one in six deaths. The most common cancers are lung, breast, colon, rectum and prostate cancers. In recent years, antibodies against immune checkpoints have been rapidly developed. Compared to monoclonal antibodies, nanobodies have a much smaller size and subsequently have the ability to penetrate deeper into solid tissues, clear faster from the bloodstream and are easier to conjugate with specific carriers. Utilizing these characteristics, nanobodies have been widely used in cancer imaging and treatment. In this review, we focus on the up-to-date studies either in lab research or clinical trials. Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have exhibited substantial potential as targeted therapeutics in cancer treatment due to their precise antigen-binding specificity. Despite their success in tumor-targeted therapies, their effectiveness is hindered by their large size and limited tissue permeability. Camelid-derived single-domain antibodies, also known as nanobodies, represent the smallest naturally occurring antibody fragments. Nanobodies offer distinct advantages over traditional mAbs, including their smaller size, high stability, lower manufacturing costs, and deeper tissue penetration capabilities. They have demonstrated significant roles as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools in cancer research and are also considered as the next generation of antibody drugs. In this review, our objective is to provide readers with insights into the development and various applications of nanobodies in the field of cancer treatment, along with an exploration of the challenges and strategies for their prospective clinical trials.