Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Late Neogene history of deepwater ventilation in the Southern Ocean

We compiled carbon isotope records from the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Pacific oceans to estimate changes in vertical and interbasinal δ13C gradients for the last 9 Myr. Benthic δ13C values of deep water in the South Atlantic decreased in a series of steps at ∼7, 2.75, and 1.55 Ma away from the North Atlantic and toward the Pacific. The benthic δ13C of intermediate water in the South Atlantic evolved differently from deep waters, resulting in an increase in the intermediate‐to‐deep δ13C gradient (Δ13CID). The Δ13CID increased in steps at ∼2.75 and 1.55 Ma, marking the development and intensification of a chemical divide in the Atlantic Ocean between well‐ventilated intermediate water and poorly ventilated deep water. We suggest these changes in interbasinal and vertical gradients resulted from decreasing Northern Component Water and reduced ventilation of Southern Component Water (SCW). The latter was caused by several interrelated processes in Antarctic sources areas, including increased sea ice cover, enhanced surface water stratification, decreased Ekman‐induced upwelling, and reduced vertical mixing across the thermocline. Because Antarctic surface water processes and deepwater ventilation rates ultimately influence atmospheric CO2 concentration, these processes may have acted as a positive feedback that contributed to the major cooling steps in late Neogene climate.
Seismic inversion through Tabu Search1

Highly non-linear seismic trace inversion problems can be solved efficiently by an implementation of Tabu Search, a meta-heuristic method related to artificial intelligence. The implementation under consideration is a deterministic, global search that combines the advantages of a local search, giving a quick descent to local misfit minima, with an ability to cross misfit barriers in the model space. Once Tabu Search has found an area of low misfit, it performs an extensive exploration of its deepest points. This property makes it possible to use Tabu Search for a semiquantitative resolution and uncertainty analysis of the inverse problem.
Electron Transport Properties of Graphene/WS2 Van Der Waals Heterojunctions

Van der Waals heterojunctions of two-dimensional atomic crystals are widely used to build functional devices due to their excellent optoelectronic properties, which are attracting more and more attention, and various methods have been developed to study their structure and properties. Here, density functional theory combined with the nonequilibrium Green’s function technique has been used to calculate the transport properties of graphene/WS2 heterojunctions. It is observed that the formation of heterojunctions does not lead to the opening of the Dirac point of graphene. Instead, the respective band structures of both graphene and WS2 are preserved. Therefore, the heterojunction follows a unique Ohm’s law at low bias voltages, despite the presence of a certain rotation angle between the two surfaces within the heterojunction. The transmission spectra, the density of states, and the transmission eigenstate are used to investigate the origin and mechanism of unique linear I–V characteristics. This study provides a theoretical framework for designing mixed-dimensional heterojunction nanoelectronic devices.
Seasonal vegetation cover changes as indicators of soil types along a climatological gradient: a mutual study of environmental patterns and controls using remote sensing

Abstract A remote sensing analysis of the temporal changes of vegetation cover in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Judean Desert and Judean Mountains was carried out in order to reveal the controlling factor of the environmental system. Assessment of ditTerent combinations of temperal changes in the region using GIS techniques indicated that it is possible to differentiate between two major patterns of vegetation cover change. The classification of the region according to these patterns has produced a map that is highly correlated to the soil map of the region, thus suggesting that the soil is an important environmental controlling factor in the region. From the remote sensing point of view, the patterns of vegetation cover change may serve as indicators of soil types in similar arid and semi-arid environments.
Darwin would be proud: Bioturbation, dynamic denudation, and the power of theory in science

Charles Darwin's worm book influenced many early researchers who, following his lead, demonstrated how soil biota mechanically generate new strata and soil horizons, as well as blur or destroy them. Such early observations on biomechanical processes failed to find visibility in our models of landscape evolution for several reasons, chief of which are (1) except for ichnology, an Earth sciences tradition of adopting frameworks where biomechanical processes are absent and (2) a lapse of over 100 years after Darwin before a genetic language backed by supporting theory appeared that could showcase the importance of such processes. Examples of influential Earth science frameworks in which biomechanical processes are absent are the V.V. Dokuchaev–USDA–H. Jenny soil formational (five factors) paradigm, W.M. Davis' geographical cycle, the W. Penck–L.C. King–R.V. Ruhe backwasting‐pedimentation concept, the stratigraphic Law of Superposition, and other traditional approaches to archaeology, geomorphology, and pedology. Examples of recent genetic language that serve to ameliorate the problem are soil thickness concepts, biomantle, bioturbation, faunalturbation, floralturbation, and pedoturbation. Examples of recent supporting theory that incorporate biomechanical processes are soil evolution, biomantle evolution, dynamic pedogenesis, and the dynamic denudation framework advocated here. Dynamic denudation is a unified synthesis that elevates bioturbation to parity levels with other major archaeogenic, geomorphogenic, and pedogenic processes. The general framework and its principal elements are summarized and simulated by diagrams and augmented by photographs taken in disparate parts of the world. The model has useful explanatory and predictive value in archaeology, geomorphology, pedology, and other surficial process research. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Bioinformatics Analysis and Experimental Verification of Exercise for Aging Mice in Different Brain Regions Based on Transcriptome Sequencing

Purpose: Physical exercise mitigates the effects of aging and cognitive decline. However, the precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of exercise on age-related memory deficits in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus using bioinformatic analysis and biochemical verification. Methods: Young and aging mice were subjected to natural feeding or treadmill exercise (12 m/min, 8 weeks). Cognitive function was accessed using the Barnes maze and novel object recognition. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify co-expressed genes in different groups and brain regions. The selected genes and pathways were validated using RT-qPCR. Results: Regular exercise significantly ameliorated age-related cognitive deficits. Four up-regulated targets (Ifi27l2a, Irf7, Oas1b, Ifit1) and one down-regulation (Septin2) were reversed by exercise, demonstrating the underlying mechanisms of cognitive functions induced by aging with exercise in the hippocampus and PFC. The Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway was inhibited in the neuroinflammation effects of exercise in aging mice in both brain regions. Conclusion: Exercise enhances age-related learning and memory deficits. This beneficial effect may be attributed to the changes in five up/down-regulated genes and the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway in both the hippocampus and PFC. These findings establish the modulation of neuroinflammation as a pivotal molecular mechanism supporting exercise intervention in the brain aging process.
ADEMU WORKING PAPER SERIES Breaking the Spell with Credit-Easing Self-Confirming Credit Crises in Competitive Search Economies

We show that credit crises can be Self-Confirming Equilibria (SCE), which provides a new rationale for policy interventions like, for example, the FRB’s TALF credit-easing program in 2009. We introduce SCE in competitive credit markets with directed search. These markets are efficient when lenders have correct beliefs about borrowers’ reactions to their offers. Nevertheless, credit crises – where high interest rates self-confirm high credit risk - can arise when lenders have correct beliefs only locally around equilibrium outcomes. Policy is needed because competition deters the socially optimal degree of information acquisition via individual experiments at low interest rates. A policy maker with the same beliefs as lenders will find it optimal to implement a targeted subsidy to induce low interest rates and, as a by-product, generate new information for the market. We provide evidence that the 2009 TALF was an example of such Credit Easing policy. We collect new micro-data on the ABS auto loans in the US before and after the policy intervention, and we test, successfully, our theory in this case.
Tides, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are caused primarily by plate tectonics. But as Kasahara explains in his Perspective, several recent studies provide evidence that tidal forces influence earthquakes associated with volcanic activity. This idea was first suggested in the 1930s, but the forces involved were long considered too weak and the evidence too limited. Recent results from the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the Pacific show a particularly clear diurnal pattern attributed to ocean tides.
Are General Intelligence and Implicit Memory Related?: The Effect of Age *

This study investigated the relationship between general intelligence and implicit memory performance in conjunction with aging. Data have been collected from 95 volunteers (49 young-46 older adults). General intelligence was measured by the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) test. Participants’ implicit memory performance was measured by the Word Stem Completion (WSC) task, in which the participants were presented with first three letters of a word and asked to complete this stem with the first word that comes to their mind. Explicit memory performance was also measured to be able to make a comparison with implicit memory performance and to document the differentiation between implicit and explicit memory. Although the same WSC task was used to measure implicit and explicit memory performance separately, the different instructions were used to deduce the different memory types. According to the results of factorial ANOVA, the main effect of age on general intelligence score was found to be statistically significant. After running further analyses by Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, results indicated that RSPM test total correct score had a tendency to decrease with increasing age and RSPM test completion time had a tendency to increase with aging. Results also showed that implicit WSC task score and RSPM test total correct score were positively correlated. Similarly, explicit WSC task score and RSPM test total correct score were positively correlated, too. However, RSPM test completion time did not differ depending on implicit and explicit memory performances which were measured by WSC task. The present study indicated the relation between implicit WSC task and general intelligence. Within this context, this study is important to draw attention to the contribution of implicit memory measurement which is in the shadow of traditional explicit memory measurements to general intelligence, especially in older population.
Vitamin D effects on androgen levels in men

Background. Accumulating evidence from animal and human studies suggests that vitamin D is involved in many functions of the reproductive system. Considering the potential link between vitamin D and human fertility, authors performed this review summarizing current literature on vitamin D and possible mechanisms explaining the link of vitamin D with androgen metabolism in men. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview on the effects of vitamin D on androgen metabolism in men. Methods. Author performed a systematic literature search in
Using AHP Process for Scheduling Problem Based on Smart Lots and Their Quality Prediction Capability

Scheduling problem in manufacturing companies with high rework rates remains an actual complex research source. This paper presents a method combining a predictive schedule to a proactive decision making based on smart lots. Each batch embed an algorithm allowing it to predict its quality on the next workstation. As soon as a lot determines that its process is too hazardous a collaborative re-scheduling decision, using analytic hierarchical process, is initiated with its peer. A simulation model, inspired from a lacquering robot case study is described. Then, the results of different scenarios are presented and discussed.
VLSI Architecture for Depth Invariant Real-time Fixed/Random Valued Impulse Noise Removal Algorithm for Back-end of Ultrasonography Systems

Ultrasound images often get distorted by impulse noise during data acquisition and processing in the Back-end of the system, which overlay the ﬁner details of the scanned body parts. Generally, a portable low-cost USG system doesn’t have an impulse noise-cleaning module which hinders detections of smaller details in the images. A Depth Invariant Impulse Noise Removal (DIINoR) algorithm and its hardware architecture for real-time impulse noise removal from the corrupt USG image are proposed in this paper. In this decision-based algorithm, the corrupt pixel is ﬁrst detected depending on the homogeneity of the processing window and is restored with the median of the window or previous pixel value. Testing of the DIINoR algorithm on diﬀerent USG images establishes that the denoised images have superior quantitative performance compared to those of existing schemes. Implementation of this architecture in VIRTEX-7 FPGA gives a maximum clock frequency of 357.96 MHz. Synthesis of this architecture using UMC 90nm
Alexander disease

Alexander disease has always been considered a classic leukodystrophy (the term literally meaning abnormal white matter nutrition, but usually used more broadly to indicate any hereditary or metabolic white matter abnormality). Although rare (the true incidence is not yet known), the disease is always included in the differential diagnosis when encountering an infant with macrocephaly, delayed development, and an abnormal neuroimaging study primarily affecting the frontal lobes. Confirmation of the diagnosis previously required brain biopsy or autopsy, and demonstration of protein aggregates known as Rosenthal fibers within the cytoplasm of astrocytes. MRI criteria for diagnosis, as refined by van der Knaap et al.,1 noted additional features besides frontal white matter defects (a periventricular rim with high signal on T1-weighted images and low signal on T2-weighted images, abnormalities of the basal ganglia and thalami, brainstem abnormalities, and contrast enhancement of particular gray and white matter structures) and are now highly reliable benchmarks for clinical practice. The realization that mutations in the astrocyte intermediate filament GFAP are responsible for nearly all cases transformed the clinical approach for the most common, infantile, form. …
WATCH: A Distributed Clock Time Offset Estimation Tool on the Platform for Open Wireless Data-Driven Experimental Research

OF THE THESIS WATCH: A Distributed Clock Time Offset Estimation Tool on the Platform for Open Wireless Data-Driven Experimental Research by Cassie Jeng Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 Professor Neal Patwari, Chair The synchronization of the clocks used at different devices across space is of critical importance in wireless communications networks. Each device’s local clock differs slightly, affecting the times at which packets are transmitted from different nodes in the network. This thesis provides experimentation and software development on POWDER, the Platform for Open, Wireless Data-driven Experimental Research, an open wireless testbed across the University of Utah campus. We build upon Shout, a suite of Python scripts that allow devices to iteratively transmit and receive with each other and save the collected data. We introduce WATCH, an experimental method to estimate clock differences using cross-correlation between the transmitted and received packets and considering both propagation delay and noise in the channel. WATCH sets up a matrix of node interactions for the chosen seven POWDER campus rooftop radios to find the difference between each node’s local clock from the network’s global clock, as well as any additional delay at each node before sending the transmitted packet. We set up a linear matrix equation to represent the node relationships and allow for the estimation of the clock offsets and transmit delays. WATCH was tested with collected data from transmitting both plain-text messages and PN codes. Several methods for reducing and analyzing error were used to evaluate the results, including the methods
Characterization of LGR5 expression in poorly differentiated colorectal carcinoma with mismatch repair protein de�ciency

Background: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is a promising intestinal stem cell and carcinoma stem cell marker. We examined the relationship between mismatch repair (MMR) protein de�ciency and LGR5 expression in poorly differentiated (PD) colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Methods: In 29 cases of PD-CRC, de�ciencies in MMR proteins (MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6) and β-catenin expression were identi�ed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). LGR5 expression was examined by the RNAscope assay in tissue microarrays. Results: LGR5 H-scores in MMR-decient (MMR-D) cases were signi�cantly lower than those in MMR-procient (MMR-P) cases (P=0.0033). Nuclear β-catenin IHC scores in MMR-D cases were signi�cantly lower than those in MMR-P cases (P=0.0024). In all cases, there was a positive correlation between LGR5 H-score and nuclear β-catenin IHC score (r=0.6796, P<0.001). Even in MMR-D and MMR-P cases, there was a positive correlation between LGR5 H-score and nuclear β-catenin IHC score (r=0.7180, P<0.0085 and r=0.6574, P<0.003, respectively). MMR-D CRC cases showed low expression of LGR5, which may be due to low activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusions: Our results reveal the relationship between LGR5 expression and MMR protein pro�les in PD-CRC. A further study is warranted to con�rm these �ndings.
The use of left atrial strain to predict left ventricular functions in asymptomatic children with mitral valve regurgitation.

Left atrial (LA) dilatation is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. LA longitudinal strain parameters evaluating reservoir, conduit and contractile strain can represent LA functions. We investigated the association between LA strain and left ventricular (LV) functions using speckle-tracking echocardiography in children with mitral regurgitation in 45 asymptomatic mitral regurgitation patients graded as mild, moderate and severe. LV strain was lower in the moderate group (–17.8±3.7%) and further reduced in the severe regurgitation group (-16±2.14%) in comparison with the reference group (-20.5±6.2%). Regarding LA functions, reservoir strain was higher in the severe and moderate mitral regurgitation groups (38±12.9% and 40.7±9.5%, respectively) in comparison with the controls (40.0±7.2%; p<0.0001). A milder depression of contraction was observed in the severe group (12.2%) than in the moderate group (13±7.2%). In the moderate and severe groups, LV strain correlated signiﬁcantly with the vena contracta (r=–0.858; p=0.04). Vena contracta was the only independent association for LV longitudinal strain. ROC curve analysis predicted LV longitudinal strain as shown by vena contracta, with a cut-oﬀ value >5.65 mm. Vena contracta had a positive predictive value of 75% for predicting LV function. We propose the use of LA and ventricular strain during the follow-up of asymptomatic children with mitral regurgitation. Also, a vena contracta diameter of >5.6 mm can be used as a threshold for LV function impairment.
Neonatal sequential organ failure assessment score within 72 h after delivery reliably predicts bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very preterm infants

Background The neonatal sequential organ failure assessment (nSOFA) score is an operational definition of organ dysfunction employed to predict sepsis-associated mortality. However, the relationship between the nSOFA score and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has not been investigated clearly. This study evaluates whether the nSOFA score within 72 h after delivery could be used to predict the occurrence of BPD in very preterm infants. Methods In this retrospective, single-center cohort study, preterm infants born between 2019 and 2021 were investigated, the nSOFA score was calculated from medical records after admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within 72 h after delivery, and the peak value was used for calculation. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between the nSOFA score and BPD. Propensity score matching and subgroup analysis were performed to verify the reliability of the results. Results Of 238 infants meeting the inclusion criteria, 93 infants (39.1%) were diagnosed with BPD. The receiver operating characteristic curve of the nSOFA score in predicting BPD was 0.790 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.731–0.849]. The logistic regression model showed that an increment of one in the nSOFA score was related to a 2.09-fold increase in the odds of BPD (95% CI: 1.57–2.76) and 6.36-fold increase when the nSOFA score was higher than 1.5 (95% CI: 2.73–14.79). Conclusions The nSOFA score within 72 h after delivery is independently related to BPD and can be used to identify high-risk infants and implement early interventions.
Vibration Response of Manual Wheelchairs According to Loads, Propulsion Methods, Speeds, and Ground Floor Types

Manual wheelchair (MWC) users are daily exposed to vibration during propulsion. The impact of such exposure on the MWC user’s health has yet to be proven. To date, no agreement has been reached, presumably on the account of the wide variety of experimental parameters that need to be controlled. A possible solution relies on the implementation of a User/MWC model to point out the effect of propelling conditions (MWC loads, propulsion methods, speeds, and ground floor types) on the vibration exposure and eventually on the MWC user’s health. To feed such a model, the evaluation of the MWC vibration response during propulsion is required. Following a necessary MWC experimental modal analysis under laboratory conditions, this study presents the vibration response of an MWC under various propelling conditions. For each investigated condition, the identified set of modal parameters was provided and the effect on the MWC response to vibration at the User/MWC interfaces was highlighted. Results mostly underline that the response to vibration is highly dependent on the propelling conditions. The speed and the ground floor type greatly affect the vibration response: doubling speed and increasing ground surface roughness imply threefold and eightfold vibration levels, respectively. Finally, the main outcome is that an empty MWC or an MWC loaded with a dummy generates vibration outside the range measured for an MWC loaded with a human body, resulting in a lower frequency content and an almost two-fold vibration level increase. The findings of this study will help enhance the understanding of the health risks that wheelchair users encounter as a result of vibrations.