Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Population-Based Study in Northeast China

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has attracted increasing attention worldwide. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of HFpEF and analyze its correlates in a sample of residents of northeast China; Methods: A population-based study of 2230 participants ≥35 years old was conducted in rural areas of Liaoning Province from January 2012 through August 2013. Information about lifestyle and other potential risk factors was obtained. HFpEF was diagnosed according to the recommendations of European Society of Cardiology; Results: The overall prevalence of HFpEF was 3.5% (1.8% in men and 4.9% in women). The prevalence of HFpEF increased with age in both genders and was greater in women than in men for every age group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that female gender (OR, 3.575; 95% CI, 1.761–7.256), hypertension (OR, 3.711; 95% CI, 2.064–6.674), and history of heart disease (2.086; 95% CI, 1.243–3.498) were associated factors for prevalent HFpEF; Conclusions: In a general population from rural northeast China, we found that female gender, hypertension, and history of heart disease were risk factors for prevalent HFpEF.
One-third of the new paediatric patients with sickle cell disease in The Netherlands are immigrants and do not benefit from neonatal screening

Objectives To estimate the prevalence of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in The Netherlands. To estimate the annual number of children newly diagnosed as having SCD and the proportion with diagnoses through neonatal screening To estimate the proportion of children with SCD receiving paediatric care in a comprehensive care setting. Design Data from two sources, a survey of paediatric practices (n=107) and a laboratory database (n=20), were analysed by the capture–recapture method. Participants Children with SCD aged <18 years, either born before 2003 or newly diagnosed as having SCD between 2003 and 2007. Main outcome measures Prevalence, annual number of children newly diagnosed as having SCD, proportion of children with diagnoses through neonatal screening, proportion of children receiving paediatric care. Results The prevalence of SCD in children living in The Netherlands on 1 January 2003 was 1:5152 (95% CI 1:4513 to 1:6015). In the next 4 years, the annual incidence was 1:2011 (95% CI 1:1743 to 1:2376). Nearly one-third (27%) of the children newly diagnosed as having SCD immigrated to The Netherlands after birth and would, therefore, be missed by the neonatal screening programme. Approximately 60% of all children with SCD were not reported by paediatricians. Conclusion The number of children with SCD in The Netherlands is much higher than previously estimated, and the majority of these children seem not to be reviewed regularly by a paediatrician. Children born abroad (27% of new cases) do not benefit from neonatal screening and are at high risk of life-threatening complications before SCD is diagnosed. As this introduces disparities in healthcare, the initiation of adequate measures should be considered.
Prevalence of Active Trachoma and Its Associated Factors among Rural and Urban Children in Dera Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Trachoma is the most common infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Once an epidemic in most parts of the world, it has largely now disappeared from developed countries. However, it continues to be endemic in many developing countries like Ethiopia. Even if several studies were conducted in different parts of Ethiopia, most of them did not show the independent predictors for rural and urban children separately. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma in urban and rural children. Methods. Community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Dera woreda. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 671 children of one up to nine years of age. Data were collected by face to face interview and observation using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Binary Logistic Regression Model was fitted to consider adding independent predictors of outcome. Results. Out of 671 children, 20 (9.3%) of urban and 85 (18.6%) of rural children were positive for active trachoma. Having discharge on eye (AOR = 6.9, 95% CI: 1.79–27.89), presence of liquid waste around the main house (AOR = 5.6, 95% CI: 1.94–16.18), and living in households without latrine (AOR = 4.39, 95% CI: 1.39–13.89) were significantly associated with active trachoma of urban children. Rural children who had discharge on their eye (AOR = 5.86, 95% CI: 2.78–12.33), those who had unclean face (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI: 2.24–9.81), and those living in households with feces around their main houses (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.04–3.62) were significantly associated with active trachoma. Conclusion. The result showed that the prevalence of active trachoma in urban areas of the district was below WHO threshold of 10% to determine trachoma as public health problem. However, in rural areas of the district it is far from elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. Thus, in order to improve awareness of the community there is a need of health education programs regarding facial cleanliness, utilization of latrine, and proper solid waste and liquid waste disposal using multidisciplinary approach.
Quantifying Optical Microangiography Images Obtained from a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography System

The blood vessel morphology is known to correlate with several diseases, such as cancer, and is important for describing several tissue physiological processes, like angiogenesis. Therefore, a quantitative method for characterizing the angiography obtained from medical images would have several clinical applications. Optical microangiography (OMAG) is a method for obtaining three-dimensional images of blood vessels within a volume of tissue. In this study we propose to quantify OMAG images obtained with a spectral domain optical coherence tomography system. A technique for determining three measureable parameters (the fractal dimension, the vessel length fraction, and the vessel area density) is proposed and validated. Finally, the repeatability for acquiring OMAG images is determined, and a new method for analyzing small areas from these images is proposed.
TheMycobacterium tuberculosis Complex-Restricted Genecfp32 Encodes an Expressed Protein That Is Detectable inTuberculosis Patients and Is Positively Correlated with PulmonaryInterleukin-10

ABSTRACT Human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacillus Mycobacteriumtuberculosis, a subspecies of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) of mycobacteria. Postgenomic dissection of the M. tuberculosis proteome is ongoing and critical to furthering our understanding of factors mediating M. tuberculosis pathobiology. Towards this end, a 32-kDa putative glyoxalase in the culture filtrate (CF) of growing M. tuberculosis (originally annotated as Rv0577 and hereafter designated CFP32) was identified, cloned, and characterized. The cfp32 gene is MTC restricted, and the gene product is expressed ex vivo as determined by the respective Southern and Western blot testing of an assortment of mycobacteria. Moreover, the cfp32 gene sequence is conserved within the MTC, as no polymorphisms were found in the tested cfp32 PCR products upon sequence analysis. Western blotting of M. tuberculosis subcellular fractions localized CFP32 predominantly to the CF and cytosolic compartments. Data to support the in vivo expression of CFP32 were provided by the serum recognition of recombinant CFP32 in 32% of TB patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as well as the direct detection of CFP32 by ELISA in the induced sputum samples from 56% of pulmonary TB patients. Of greatest interest was the observation that, per sample, sputum CFP32 levels (a potential indicator of increasing bacterial burden) correlated with levels of expression in sputum of interleukin-10 (an immunosuppressive cytokine and a putative contributing factor to disease progression) but not levels of gamma interferon (a key cytokine in the protective immune response in TB), as measured by ELISA. Combined, these data suggest that CFP32 serves a necessary biological function(s) in tubercle bacilli and may contribute to the M. tuberculosis pathogenic mechanism. Overall, CFP32 is an attractive target for drug and vaccine design as well as new diagnostic strategies.
Projected near-future CO2 levels increase activity and alter defensive behaviours in the tropical squid Idiosepius pygmaeus

ABSTRACT Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels projected to occur in the oceans by the end of this century cause a range of behavioural effects in fish, but whether other highly active marine organisms, such as cephalopods, are similarly affected is unknown. We tested the effects of projected future CO2 levels (626 and 956 µatm) on the behaviour of male two-toned pygmy squid, Idiosepius pygmaeus. Exposure to elevated CO2 increased the number of active individuals by 19–25% and increased movement (number of line-crosses) by nearly 3 times compared to squid at present-day CO2. Squid vigilance and defensive behaviours were also altered by elevated CO2 with >80% of individuals choosing jet escape responses over defensive arm postures in response to a visual startle stimulus, compared with 50% choosing jet escape responses at control CO2. In addition, more escape responses were chosen over threat behaviours in body pattern displays at elevated CO2 and individuals were more than twice as likely to use ink as a defence strategy at 956 µatm CO2, compared with controls. Increased activity could lead to adverse effects on energy budgets as well as increasing visibility to predators. A tendency to respond to a stimulus with escape behaviours could increase survival, but may also be energetically costly and could potentially lead to more chases by predators compared with individuals that use defensive postures. These results demonstrate that projected future ocean acidification affects the behaviours of a tropical squid species.
PRODUTIVIDADE E EFICIENCIA DE USO DE ÁGUA DAS BANANEIRAS ´PRATA ANÃ´ E ´GRAND NAINE´ SOB IRRIGAÇÃO NO TERCEIRO CICLO NO NORTE DE MINAS GERAIS

PRODUTIVIDADE E EFICIENCIA DE USO DE AGUA DAS BANANEIRAS ´PRATA ANA´ E ´GRAND NAINE´ SOB IRRIGACAO NO TERCEIRO CICLO NO NORTE DE MINAS GERAIS Eugenio Ferreira Coelho1; Edio Luis da Costa2; Carlos Alberto da Silva Ledo1; Sebastiao de Oliveira e Silva1 1Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, Cruz das Almas, BA, ecoelho@cnpmf.embrapa. br2CTNM, Epamig, Nova Porteirinha, BA 1 RESUMO O trabalho teve como objetivo definir o regime de irrigacao mais adequado a cultura da bananeira, no terceiro ciclo, para as condicoes do Norte de Minas Gerais. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em parcelas subdivididas, com tres frequencias de irrigacao na parcela, cinco lâminas de irrigacao para cada frequencia e duas cultivares por lâmina em quatro repeticoes. Os cinco regimes de irrigacao foram definidos em funcao da evapotranspiracao da cultura a partir de variacoes do coeficiente de cultivo fixado em 1,1 em todo o ciclo. A produtividade das cultivares e algumas caracteristicas fisicas dos frutos foram avaliadas para todos os tratamentos. Foi observado resposta das cultivares em todas as variaveis dependentes avaliadas e influencia do regime de irrigacao na produtividade da bananeira para ambas as cultivares. Nao houve efeito da frequencia de irrigacao na produtividade, apenas no diâmetro de frutos. O regime de irrigacao correspondente ao uso da ETc a partir do coeficiente de cultura fixo em 1,1 durante o ciclo foi o mais adequado para ambas as cultivares de banana, tanto em termos de produtividade como em eficiencia de uso de agua. A cultivar Grand Naine e mais eficiente no uso de agua que a cultivar Prata Ana. UNITERMOS: Musa sp. , evapotranspiracao, coeficiente de cultivo, cultivares “Grand Naine” , “Prata Ana”. COELHO, E. F. ; COSTA, E. L. da; LEDO, C. A. da S. ; SILVA, S. de O. e. PRATA ANA´ AND ´GRAND NAINE’ BANANA YIELD UNDER IRRIGATION IN THE NORTH OF MINAS GERAIS 2 ABSTRACT This study aimed to define the most adequate irrigation level for banana crop under Northern Minas Gerais weather conditions. The experiment followed a randomized block design in a split-plot scheme, with three irrigation frequencies, five water depths for each frequency and two cultivars for each water depth. Four replications were adopted. The five irrigation levels were defined according to crop evapotranspiration obtained from variations of a referential crop coefficient (Kc = 1.1). Total yield and some physical fruit characteristics were evaluated for all treatments in both cultivars. All dependant variables and influence of irrigation levels for both cultivars were observed. Irrigation frequency did not affect crop yield, only fruit diameter. The irrigation level based on the referential crop coefficient of 1.1 was the most adequate one for both banana cultivars in relation to yield and water use efficiency. Irrigation is more efficient for Grand Naine cultivar than Prata Ana. KEYWORDS: Musa sp. , evapotranspiration, crop coefficient, “Grand Naine”, “Prata Ana” cultivars.
Pesticides, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Transport in Two Atlantic Coastal Plain Tributaries and Loadings to Chesapeake Bay

Abstract Concentrations of current-use pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine (OC) insecticides were determined above the reach of tide in the Chesterville Branch and Nanticoke River on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay during base-flow and storm-flow hydrologic regimes to evaluate mass transport to Chesapeake Bay. The two rivers monitored showed relatively high concentrations of atrazine, simazine, alachlor, and metolachlor in comparison to previously investigated western shore tributaries, and reflected the predominant agricultural land use in the eastern shore watersheds. The four current use pesticides showed the greatest seasonal contribution to annual loadings to tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay from the two rivers, and the relative order of annual loadings for the other contaminant classes was PAHs>PCBs>OC insecticides. Annual loadings normalized to the landscape areas of selected Chesapeake Bay watersheds showed correlations to identifiable source areas, with the highest pesticide yields (g/km2/yr) occurring in eastern shore agricultural landscapes, and the highest PAH yields derived from urban regions.
Ceramide Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase-2 Induction in Macrophages: Effects on Protein Kinases and Transcription Factors1

The goal of this study was to elucidate whether triggering the sphingomyelin pathway modulates LPS-initiated responses. For this purpose we investigated the effects of N-acetylsphingosine (C2-ceramide) on LPS-induced production of NO and PGE2 in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages and explored the signaling pathways involved. We found that within a range of 10–50 μM, C2-ceramide inhibited LPS-elicited NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induction accompanied by a reduction in NO and PGE2 formation. By contrast, a structural analog of C2-ceramide that does not elicit functional activity, C2-dihydroceramide, did not affect the LPS response. The nuclear translocation and DNA binding study revealed that ceramide can inhibit LPS-induced NF-κB and AP-1 activation. The immunocomplex kinase assay indicated that IκB kinase activity stimulated by LPS was inhibited by ceramide, which concomitantly reduced the IκBα degradation caused by LPS within 1–6 h. In concert with the decreased cytosolic p65 protein level, LPS treatment resulted in rapid nuclear accumulation of NF-κB subunit p65 and its association with the cAMP-responsive element binding protein. Ceramide coaddition inhibited all the LPS responses. In addition, LPS-induced PKC and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation were overcome by ceramide. In conclusion, we suggest that ceramide inhibition of LPS-mediated induction of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 is due to reduction of the activation of NF-κB and AP-1, which might result from ceramide’s inhibition of LPS-stimulated IκB kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and protein kinase C.
Low-Cost UAV for High-Resolution and Large-Scale Coastal Dune Change Monitoring Using Photogrammetry

In this paper, coastal dune data are collected at Truc Vert, SW France, using photogrammetry via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). A low-cost GoPro-equipped DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter and a 20 MPix camera-equipped DJI Phantom 4 Pro quadcopter UAVs were used to remotely sense the coastal dune morphology over large spatial scales (4 km alongshore, i.e., approximately 1 km2 of beach-dune system), within a short time (less than 2 h of flight). The primary objective of this paper is to propose a low-cost and replicable approach which, combined with simple and efficient permanent Ground Control Point (GCP) set-up, can be applied to routinely survey upper beach and coastal dune morphological changes at high frequency (after each storm) and high resolution (0.1 m). Results show that a high-resolution and accurate Digital Surface Model (DSM) can be inferred with both UAVs if enough permanent GCPs are implemented. The more recent DJI Phantom 4 gives substantially more accurate DSM with a root-mean-square vertical error and bias of 0.05 m and −0.03 m, respectively, while the DSM inferred from the DJI Phantom 2 still largely meets the standard for coastal monitoring. The automatic flight plan procedure allows replicable surveys to address large-scale morphological evolution at high temporal resolution (e.g., weeks, months), providing unprecedented insight into the coastal dune evolution driven by marine and aeolian processes. The detailed morphological evolution of a 4-km section of beach-dune system is analyzed over a 6-month winter period, showing highly alongshore variable beach and incipient foredune wave-driven erosion, together with wind-driven inland migration of the established foredune by a few meters, and alongshore-variable sand deposition on the grey dune. In a context of widespread erosion, this photogrammetry approach via low-cost flexible and lightweight UAVs is well adapted for coastal research groups and coastal dune management stakeholders, including in developing countries where data are lacking.
Categorial Compositionality II: Universal Constructions and a General Theory of (Quasi-)Systematicity in Human Cognition

A complete theory of cognitive architecture (i.e., the basic processes and modes of composition that together constitute cognitive behaviour) must explain the systematicity property—why our cognitive capacities are organized into particular groups of capacities, rather than some other, arbitrary collection. The classical account supposes: (1) syntactically compositional representations; and (2) processes that are sensitive to—compatible with—their structure. Classical compositionality, however, does not explain why these two components must be compatible; they are only compatible by the ad hoc assumption (convention) of employing the same mode of (concatenative) compositionality (e.g., prefix/postfix, where a relation symbol is always prepended/appended to the symbols for the related entities). Architectures employing mixed modes do not support systematicity. Recently, we proposed an alternative explanation without ad hoc assumptions, using category theory. Here, we extend our explanation to domains that are quasi-systematic (e.g., aspects of most languages), where the domain includes some but not all possible combinations of constituents. The central category-theoretic construct is an adjunction involving pullbacks, where the primary focus is on the relationship between processes modelled as functors, rather than the representations. A functor is a structure-preserving map (or construction, for our purposes). An adjunction guarantees that the only pairings of functors are the systematic ones. Thus, (quasi-)systematicity is a necessary consequence of a categorial cognitive architecture whose basic processes are functors that participate in adjunctions.
Global change: The nitrogen cycle and rivers

The hydrologic sciences must play a major role in improving our understanding of the transport and fate of the vast amount of reactive nitrogen that is being added to the environment by human activities. Detailed understanding of the function of different landscape units will help predict watershed losses of nitrogen. A better understanding of the processes that control denitrification in surface and groundwaters is essential to ascertain total gaseous N loss and the percentage that is nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is accumulating in Earth's atmosphere.
High-risk mitral valve surgery: what is the role of risk calculators?

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of established risk scores in assessing patient outcomes following high-risk mitral valve surgery. Recent findings The use of risk calculators has become increasingly popular in cardiac surgery, particularly in assessing risk for sick patients for whom percutaneous therapies may be advantageous. A review of the available literature suggests that validated algorithms, namely, the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II and Society of Thoracic Surgeons models, may have poor discriminatory power in assessing risk for patients undergoing high-risk mitral surgery. Therefore, the limitations of these risk scores in this population must be taken into consideration. Summary Current risk models provide important insight into the perioperative risk to the patient. Further refinement of established risk scores, however, may provide better risk prognostication for patients undergoing high-risk mitral valve surgery.
A Wide-Band Power-Efficient Inductive Wireless Link for Implantable Microelectronic Devices Using Multiple Carriers

This paper presents a novel inductive link for wireless transmission of power and data to biomedical implantable microelectronic devices using multiple carrier signals. Achieving higher data bandwidth without compromising the power efficiency is the driving force behind using multiple separate carriers. Two separate pairs of coils have been utilized for inductive power and forward data transmission, plus a pair of miniature antennas for back telemetry. One major challenge, however, is to minimize the interference among these carriers especially on the implantable side, where size and power are highly limited. Planar power coils with spiral shape are optimized in geometry to provide maximum coupling coefficient k. The data coils are designed rectangular in shape and wound across the power coils diameter to be oriented perpendicular to the power coil planes. The goal is to maximize data coils direct coupling, while minimize their cross-coupling with the power coils. The effects of coils geometry, orientation, relative distance, and misalignments on the coupling coefficients have been modeled and experimentally evaluated.