Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial and temporal CO 2 exchanges measured by Eddy Covariance over a temperate intertidal flat and their relationships to net ecosystem production

Abstract. Measurements of carbon dioxide fluxes were performed over a temperate intertidal mudflat in southwestern France using the micrometeorological Eddy Covariance (EC) technique. EC measurements were carried out in two contrasting sites of the Arcachon flat during four periods and in three different seasons (autumn 2007, summer 2008, autumn 2008 and spring 2009). In addition, satellite images of the tidal flat at low tide were used to link the net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) with the occupation of the mudflat by primary producers, particularly by Zostera noltii meadows. CO2 fluxes during the four deployments showed important spatial and temporal variations, with the flat rapidly shifting from sink to source with the tide. Absolute CO2 fluxes showed generally small negative (influx) and positive (efflux) values, with larger values up to −13 μmol m−2 s−1 for influxes and 19 μmol m−2 s−1 for effluxes. Low tide during the day was mostly associated with a net uptake of atmospheric CO2. In contrast, during immersion and during low tide at night, CO2 fluxes where positive, negative or close to zero, depending on the season and the site. During the autumn of 2007, at the innermost station with a patchy Zostera noltii bed (cover of 22 ± 14% in the wind direction of measurements), CO2 influx was −1.7 ± 1.7 μmol m−2 s−1 at low tide during the day, and the efflux was 2.7 ± 3.7 μmol m−2 s−1 at low tide during the night. A gross primary production (GPP) of 4.4 ± 4.1 μmol m−2 s−1 during emersion could be attributed to microphytobenthic communities. During the summer and autumn of 2008, at the central station with a dense eelgrass bed (92 ± 10%), CO2 uptakes at low tide during the day were −1.5 ± 1.2 and −0.9 ± 1.7 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively. Night time effluxes of CO2 were 1.0 ± 0.9 and 0.2 ± 1.1 μmol m−2 s−1 in summer and autumn, respectively, resulting in a GPP during emersion of 2.5 ± 1.5 and 1.1 ± 2.0 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively, attributed primarily to the seagrass community. At the same station in April 2009, before Zostera noltii started to grow, the CO2 uptake at low tide during the day was the highest (−2.7 ± 2.0 μmol m−2 s−1). Influxes of CO2 were also observed during immersion at the central station in spring and early autumn and were apparently related to phytoplankton blooms occurring at the mouth of the flat, followed by the advection of CO2-depleted water with the flooding tide. Although winter data as well as water carbon measurements would be necessary to determine a precise CO2 budget for the flat, our results suggest that tidal flat ecosystems are a modest contributor to the CO2 budget of the coastal ocean.
Early neurological deterioration during the acute phase as a predictor of long-term outcome after first-ever ischemic stroke

Abstract Early neurological deterioration (END) is associated with increased risk of functional disability and mortality. However, data are limited regarding the long-term risk of poor functional outcomes. Thus we explored the association between END and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. A total of 1064 patients were enrolled with acute ischemic stroke who were consecutively admitted to the 3 stroke units of Huai-He Hospital, Kaifeng, China. END was defined as an increment change of at least one point in motor power or total National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score deterioration ≥2 points within the first week after admission. We retrospectively assessed the risk factors of END and prospectively explored the relationship between END and the long-term outcomes by multivariable regression models after adjusting the potential confounding factors. Outcomes were evaluated at 18 months based on modified Rankin scale (MRS) scores. Approximately 32% of first-ever ischemic stroke patients experienced END during the acute phase. END was associated with diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 2.218; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.619–3.037), NIHSS score at admission (OR, 1.052; 95% CI 1.023–1.082), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (OR, 1.224; 95% CI 1.066–1.406]), and homocysteine (HCY) levels (OR, 1.203; 95% CI 1.061–1.365) after adjusting related factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, NIHSS at admission, and some blood laboratory values, including direct bilirubin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, glucose, CRP, HCY, and D-dimer levels. During the follow-up period, 52 (4.9%) patients died, 160 (15.0%) recrudesced, and 317 (29.8%) suffered poor outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that poor outcome was associated with END (OR, 3.366; 95% CI 2.495–4.542), age (OR, 1.028; 95% CI 1.015–1.041), body mass index (OR, 1.096; 95% CI 1.051–1.144), coronary heart disease (OR, 1.637; 95% CI 1.108–2.416), and CRP (OR, 2.474; 95% CI 1.840–3.326). The risk factors of END are multifaceted. Diabetes, NIHSS score at admission, CRP, and HCY are independent predictors of END. In addition, the results of this study indicate that END is an important predictor of poor functional outcome.
Application of Structural and Topological Features to Recognize Online Handwritten Bangla Characters

This article presents a set of novel features for robust online Bangla handwritten character recognition. Two feature extraction methods are presented here. The first describes the transition from background to foreground pixels and vice versa. The second uses a combination of topological features and centre-of-gravity- (CG) based circular features where global information, local information, and Circular Quadrant Mass Distribution information have been extracted. The impact of each along with their combination have also been analyzed. A total of 15,000 isolated online Bangla character samples have been collected and used for the evaluation. A Support Vector Machine classifier records the best recognition rate when the transition count feature, CG-based circular features, and topological features are combined.
Long-term low-dose tolvaptan treatment in hospitalized male patients aged >90 years with hyponatremia

Abstract The retrospective study aimed at investigating the safety and clinical efficacy of long-term application of tolvaptan in patients >90 years old with hyponatremia. Although tolvaptan has been used to treat hyponatremia, the effect of its long-term use in elderly patients was unknown. Seven patients over 90 with isovolumic or hypervolemic hyponatremia admitted to the PLA Navy General Hospital between October 2011 and October 2013 were enrolled. The patients’ serum sodium levels <135 mmol/L persisted for more than 3 months, and oral treatment with tolvaptan lasted for more than 12 months. Tolvaptan dose started from 7.5 mg once daily, with maximum dose no more than 30 mg daily. Clinical and laboratory data of the patients before and after treatment were compared. Serum sodium and chlorine levels increased significantly in the 1st 3 days after treatment (P < .05). All patients’ serum sodium levels were above 135 mmol/L 1 month after treatment, and sustained through 1 year after treatment, without extra sodium supplementation. No serious complications were observed. The result indicated a significant improvement in the serum sodium levels and no serious adverse effects after long-term use in very elderly patients.
Intelligent Cloud Resource Management with Deep Reinforcement Learning

The cloud provides low-cost and flexible IT resources (hardware and software) across the Internet. As more cloud providers seek to drive greater business outcomes and the environments of the cloud become more complicated, it is evident that the era of the intelligent cloud has arrived. The intelligent cloud faces several challenges, including optimizing the economic cloud service configuration and adaptively allocating resources. In particular, there is a growing trend toward using machine learning to improve the intelligence of cloud management. This article discusses an architecture of intelligent cloud resource management with deep reinforcement learning. The deep reinforcement learning makes clouds automatically and efficiently negotiate the most appropriate configuration, directly from complicated cloud environments. Finally, we give an example to evaluate and conclude the remarkable ability of the intelligent cloud with deep reinforcement learning.
Add-on Antidepressants in the Naturalistic Treatment of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder – When, Who, and How?

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate antidepressant add-on treatment within the acute treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients. Methods Antidepressant add-on was evaluated in 365 patients within a naturalistic multicenter study. Patients with/without antidepressant add-on were compared regarding clinical and treatment-related variables, response and remission, and remission of depressive and negative symptoms. The efficacy of antidepressant add-on treatment was furthermore analyzed applying marginal structure models. Results Twenty-three percent of the patients received antidepressant add-on for a mean duration of 50.28 (33.42) days. Patients with the diagnosis of a schizoaffective disorder, multiple illness episodes, and a longer duration of their illness as well as those with significantly fewer baseline positive symptoms, more negative and depressive symptoms, more side effects, and less subjective well-being were augmented with antidepressants. At discharge no significant effect of antidepressant add-on treatment was observed in terms of a 25% improvement (p=0.2623), a 50% improvement (p=0.3946), remission (p=0.0552), or remission of depressive (p=0.6336) and negative symptoms (p=0.8756). Also, when analyzing marginal structure models considering the diagnostic subgroups, no significant effect was found. Discussion Add-on with antidepressants is common. A final recommendation in terms of this strategy’s efficacy cannot be given.
Effect of different music genre: Attention vs. meditation

It is challenging to quantitatively evaluate the effect of music on human mind. In this paper, effect of music on human mind is studied using brainwaves. Changes in alpha and beta brainwave signal patterns are analyzed for meditation and attention states. Parameters mean, standard deviation and normalized standard deviation are used. First, the effect of 8 different music genres on states of human mind is studied. Next, the effect of music genre selection, i.e., with the subjects choice or random selection is also studied. Effect of classical music is highest for meditation state, across 15 subjects. It indicates quantitatively the effects of classical music on calming the mind and leading to meditation. Average meditation levels are also higher for preferred music for both male and female subjects. It infers that the preferred classical music helps leading the human mind to meditation state faster than the attention state. The study can help studying other affective states as well.
Tailored nanostructured platforms for boosting transcorneal permeation: Box–Behnken statistical optimization, comprehensive in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo characterization

Ocular drug delivery systems suffer from rapid drainage, intractable corneal permeation and short dosing intervals. Transcorneal drug permeation could increase the drug availability and efficiency in the aqueous humor. The aim of this study was to develop and optimize nanostructured formulations to provide accurate doses, long contact time and enhanced drug permeation. Nanovesicles were designed based on Box–Behnken model and prepared using the thin film hydration technique. The formed nanodispersions were evaluated by measuring the particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency and gelation temperature. The obtained desirability values were utilized to develop an optimized nanostructured in situ gel and insert. The optimized formulations were imaged by transmission and scanning electron microscopes. In addition, rheological characters, in vitro drug diffusion, ex vivo and in vivo permeation and safety of the optimized formulation were investigated. The optimized insert formulation was found to have a relatively lower viscosity, higher diffusion, ex vivo and in vivo permeation, when compared to the optimized in situ gel. So, the lyophilized nanostructured insert could be considered as a promising carrier and transporter for drugs across the cornea with high biocompatibility and effectiveness.
Individual-Specific, Beat-to-beat Trending of Significant Human Blood Loss: The Compensatory Reserve

ABSTRACT Current monitoring technologies are unable to detect early, compensatory changes that are associated with significant blood loss. We previously introduced a novel algorithm to calculate the Compensatory Reserve Index (CRI) based on the analysis of arterial waveform features obtained from photoplethysmogram recordings. In the present study, we hypothesized that the CRI would provide greater sensitivity and specificity to detect blood loss compared with traditional vital signs and other hemodynamic measures. Continuous noninvasive vital sign waveform data, including CRI, photoplethysmogram, heart rate, blood pressures, SpO2, cardiac output, and stroke volume, were analyzed from 20 subjects before, during, and after an average controlled voluntary hemorrhage of ∼1.2 L of blood. Compensatory Reserve Index decreased by 33% in a linear fashion across progressive blood volume loss, with no clinically significant alterations in vital signs. The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve for the CRI was 0.90, with a sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.76. In comparison, blood pressures, heart rate, SpO2, cardiac output, and stroke volume had significantly lower receiver operating characteristic area under the curve values and specificities for detecting the same volume of blood loss. Consistent with our hypothesis, CRI detected blood loss and restoration with significantly greater specificity than did other traditional physiologic measures. Single measurement of CRI may enable more accurate triage, whereas CRI monitoring may allow for earlier detection of casualty deterioration.
Mode of detection: an independent prognostic factor for women with breast cancer

Objectives To investigate breast cancer survival and risk of breast cancer death by detection mode (screen-detected, interval, and detected outside the screening programme), adjusting for prognostic and predictive tumour characteristics. Methods Information about detection mode, prognostic (age, tumour size, histologic grade, lymph node status) and predictive factors (molecular subtypes based on immunohistochemical analyses of hormone receptor status (estrogen and progesterone) and Her2 status) were available for 8344 women in Norway aged 50–69 at diagnosis of breast cancer, 2005–2011. A total of 255 breast cancer deaths were registered by the end of 2011. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate six years breast cancer specific survival and Cox proportional hazard model to estimate hazard ratio (HR) for breast cancer death by detection mode, adjusting for prognostic and predictive factors. Results Women with screen-detected cancer had favourable prognostic and predictive tumour characteristics compared with interval cancers and those detected outside the screening programme. The favourable characteristics were present for screen-detected cancers, also within the subtypes. Adjusted HR of dying from breast cancer was two times higher for women with symptomatic breast cancer (interval or outside the screening), using screen-detected tumours as the reference. Conclusions Detection mode is an independent prognostic factor for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Information on detection mode might be relevant for patient management to avoid overtreatment.
Contribution of uncertainty in estimation of active drag using assisted towing method in front crawl swimming

ABSTRACT Active drag force in swimming can be calculated from a function of five different variables: swim velocity, tow velocity, belt force, power output and exponent of velocity. The accuracy of the drag force value is dependent on the accuracy of each variable, and on the contribution of each variable to drag estimation. To calculate uncertainty in drag value, first the derivatives of the active drag equation with respect to each variable were obtained. Second, these were multiplied by the uncertainty of that variable. Twelve national age and open level swimmers were recruited to complete four free swimming and five active drag trials. The uncertainties for the free and the tow swim velocities, and for the belt force, contributed approximately 5–6% and 2–3% error, respectively, in calculation of drag. The result of the uncertainty of the velocity exponent (1.8–2.6) indicated a contribution of about 6% error in active drag. The contribution of unequal power output showed that if a power changed 7.5% between conditions, it would lead to about 30% error in calculated drag. Consequently, if a swimmer did not maintain constant power output between conditions, there would be substantial errors in the calculation of active drag.
Evaluation of a coccidia vaccine using spray and gel applications

&NA; Coccidiosis is an economically significant disease of poultry caused by species of Eimeria, a parasitic protozoan. Disease can result in poor feed conversion, reduced weight gain, and can lead to the development of necrotic enteritis. For prevention of coccidiosis, poultry are commonly vaccinated with a live, sporulated oocysts mass applied with a vaccination cabinet in the hatchery. Traditionally, coccidia vaccines have been applied by coarse spray in a water based diluent, however, new technology using gel diluents has entered the US market. Gel diluents can have variable viscosities and are “dropped” onto chicks with an applicator bar. It is thought that gel droplets remain intact on the birds for longer than water based droplets, allowing more time for preening and ingestion of oocysts. In this experiment, the efficacy of a commercial coccidia vaccine applied with a water based diluent, a more viscous gel diluent, and a less viscous gel diluent was compared. Fecal samples were collected at multiple time points post‐vaccination to quantify vaccine oocyst shedding. Shedding in the first cycle (days 5 to 8 post‐vaccination) was related to the number of oocysts received from each application method, where the groups receiving higher doses shed more oocysts. However, a decrease in shedding was seen for the more viscous gel group in the second cycle (days 12 to 15 post‐vaccination). Chickens were challenged with Eimeria maxima oocysts and 7 days post‐challenge body weight gains and gross and microscopic lesions were recorded to evaluate protection levels for the different vaccine applications. All vaccinated groups appeared to be protected based on body weight gain and lesion scoring. The results of this project indicate that all vaccine applications are effective at protecting against Eimeria maxima challenge when using a proper dose of vaccine that allows for repeated oocyst cycling in the litter post‐vaccination.
Chikungunya virus–associated encephalitis

Objective: To estimate the cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV)–associated CNS disease during the La Réunion outbreak, and assess the disease burden and patient outcome after 3 years. Methods: CHIKV-associated CNS disease was characterized retrospectively in a cohort of patients with positive CHIKV reverse transcriptase PCR or anti-CHIKV immunoglobulin M antibodies in the CSF and fulfilling International Encephalitis Consortium criteria for encephalitis or encephalopathy. Neurologic sequelae were assessed after 3 years. Results: Between September 2005 and June 2006, 57 patients were diagnosed with CHIKV-associated CNS disease, including 24 with CHIKV-associated encephalitis, the latter corresponding to a CIR of 8.6 per 100,000 persons. Patients with encephalitis were observed at both extremes of age categories. CIR per 100,000 persons were 187 and 37 in patients below 1 year and over 65 years, respectively, both far superior to those of cumulated causes of encephalitis in the United States in these age categories. The case-fatality rate of CHIKV-associated encephalitis was 16.6% and the proportion of children discharged with persistent disabilities estimated between 30% and 45%. Beyond the neonatal period, the clinical presentation and outcomes were less severe in infants than in adults. Conclusions: In the context of a large outbreak, CHIKV is a significant cause of CNS disease. As with other etiologies, CHIKV-associated encephalitis case distribution by age follows a U-shaped parabolic curve.
The Cost of Joint Replacement: Comparing Two Approaches to Evaluating Costs of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Background: In an era of mandatory bundled payments for total joint replacement, accurate analysis of the cost of procedures is essential for orthopaedic surgeons and their institutions to maintain viable practices. The purpose of this study was to compare traditional accounting and time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) methods for estimating the total costs of total hip and knee arthroplasty care cycles. Methods: We calculated the overall costs of elective primary total hip and total knee replacement care cycles at our academic medical center using traditional and TDABC accounting methods. We compared the methods with respect to the overall costs of hip and knee replacement and the costs for each major cost category. Results: The traditional accounting method resulted in higher cost estimates. The total cost per hip replacement was $22,076 (2014 USD) using traditional accounting and was $12,957 using TDABC. The total cost per knee replacement was $29,488 using traditional accounting and was $16,981 using TDABC. With respect to cost categories, estimates using traditional accounting were greater for hip and knee replacement, respectively, by $3,432 and $5,486 for personnel, by $3,398 and $3,664 for space and equipment, and by $2,289 and $3,357 for indirect costs. Implants and consumables were derived from the actual hospital purchase price; accordingly, both methods produced equivalent results. Conclusions: Substantial cost differences exist between accounting methods. The focus of TDABC only on resources used directly by the patient contrasts with the allocation of all operating costs, including all indirect costs and unused capacity, with traditional accounting. We expect that the true costs of hip and knee replacement care cycles are likely somewhere between estimates derived from traditional accounting methods and TDABC. TDABC offers patient-level granular cost information that better serves in the redesign of care pathways and may lead to more strategic resource-allocation decisions to optimize actual operating margins.