Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accurate and Precise Prediction of Soil Properties from a Large Mid-Infrared Spectral Library

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is emerging as a rapid and cost-effective alternative to routine laboratory analysis for many soil properties. However, it has primarily been applied in project-specific contexts. Here, we provide an assessment of DRS spectroscopy at the scale of the continental United States by utilizing the large (n > 50,000) USDA National Soil Survey Center mid-infrared spectral library and associated soil characterization database. We tested and optimized several advanced statistical approaches for providing routine predictions of numerous soil properties relevant to studying carbon cycling. On independent validation sets, the machine learning algorithms Cubist and memory-based learner (MBL) both outperformed random forest (RF) and partial least squares regressions (PLSR) and produced excellent overall models with a mean R2 of 0.92 (mean ratio of performance to deviation = 6.5) across all 10 soil properties. We found that the use of root-mean-square error (RMSE) was misleading for understanding the actual uncertainty about any particular prediction; therefore, we developed routines to assess the prediction uncertainty for all models except Cubist. The MBL models produced much more precise predictions compared with global PLSR and RF. Finally, we present several techniques that can be used to flag predictions of new samples that may not be reliable because their spectra fall outside of the calibration set.
Cognitive Function in Early Onset Schizophrenia: A Selective Review

Schizophrenia is widely regarded as the clinical outcome of aberrant neurodevelopment caused by a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors. Early Onset Schizophrenia (EOS) manifests in childhood or adolescence and represents a more severe variant of the Adult Onset form of the disorder (AOS). EOS offers a unique opportunity of exploring the impact of disease related mechanisms on the developmental trajectory of cognitive function. The present review focused on the domains of general intellectual ability (IQ), attention, executive function and memory. Significant methodological variability was noted across the different studies that examined these aspects of cognition in EOS patients. Despite this, a consistent pattern emergent from the data suggesting that (a) EOS patients compared to healthy children and adolescents show impairments of medium to large effect size in IQ, attention, memory and executive function (b) despite increased clinical severity, the cognitive profile of EOS patients is comparable to that of AOS patients (c) healthy adolescents show age-related improvement in their ability to perform tests of attention, memory and executive function; this is not present in EOS patients thus resulting in increased age-related deviance in patients’ performance. This apparent decline is mostly attributable to patients’ failure to acquire new information and to use more sophisticated cognitive strategies.
Prolonged marital stress is associated with short-lived responses to positive stimuli.

Marital stress is associated with a higher incidence of psychiatric disorders, in particular major depression. One pathway through which marital stress may impact emotional health is by compromising emotion-responding processes. We examined a longitudinal sample of adults (N = 116; 59 males; 39-84 years) to verify how marital stress predicts reactivity to, and recovery from, emotional provocation. Individuals watched positive, neutral, and negative pictures while an objective measure of affective state, corrugator supercilii muscle activity, was recorded continuously. Our results indicate that marital stress is associated with short-lived responses to positive pictures, indexed by a less persistent decrease in corrugator activity after picture offset. Extending beyond the prior focus on negative emotional processes, these results suggest that social stress may impact health by influencing the time course of responding to positive events.
Elevated Thermostatic Setpoint in Postoperative Patients

BackgroundThe mechanism and clinical relevance of increased core temperature (Tc) after surgery are poorly understood. Because fever is used as a diagnostic sign of infection, it is important to recognize what constitutes the normal postoperative thermoregulatory response. In the current study the authors tested the hypothesis that a regulated increase in Tc setpoint occurs after surgery. MethodsThe authors prospectively studied 271 patients in the first 24 h after a variety of vascular, abdominal, and thoracic surgical procedures. Tc measured in the urinary bladder, skin-surface temperatures, thermoregulatory responses (vasoconstriction and shivering), and total leukocyte counts were assessed. In a subset of 34 patients, plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 were measured before and after surgery. ResultsIn the early postoperative period, the maximum increase in Tc above the preoperative baseline averaged 1.4 ± 0.8°C (2.5 ± 1.4°F), with the Tc peak occurring 11.1 ± 5.8 h after surgery. Fifty percent of patients had a maximum Tc greater than or equal to 38.0°C (100.4°F) and 25% had a maximum Tc greater than or equal to 38.5°C (101.3°F). The progressive postoperative increase in Tc was clearly associated with cutaneous vasoconstriction and shivering, indicating a regulated elevation in Tc setpoint. The elevated Tc was associated with an increased IL-6 response but not with leukocytosis. Maximum postoperative Tc was positively correlated with duration and extent of the surgical procedure. ConclusionsA regulated elevation in Tc setpoint (fever) occurs normally after surgery. The association between Tc elevation, extent and duration of surgery, and the cytokine response suggests that early postoperative fever is a manifestation of perioperative stress.
Subjective Memory Complaints: Presence, Severity and Future Outcome in Normal Older Subjects

Background/Aims: Subjective memory complaint (SMC) in normal individuals may predict future cognitive decline. The goal of this study was to examine whether the probability of decline increases with growing intensity of complaint. Methods: Normal subjects over the age of 50 years were included in a longitudinal retrospective study (mean follow-up time = 8 years). All subjects (n = 230) underwent cognitive and medical examination at baseline. The presence of SMC was determined based on Global Deterioration Scale staging. A subgroup of 83 participants also received baseline assessment for the intensity of SMC. Logistic regression was used to predict outcome from baseline variables. Three outcome groups were established at the final visit: nondeclining, declining and diagnostically unstable (i.e. the diagnosis changed over time: from normal to mild cognitive impairment, then back to normal). Results: The presence of SMC was a predictor of future decline but also increased the likelihood of the unstable diagnosis. Increasing intensity of SMC did not further raise the risk for decline. High intensity of complaints and more pronounced affective symptoms predicted the unstable clinical diagnosis. Conclusions: The presence of SMC contributes to the risk of future decline, however, the increasing intensity of the perceived impairment does not further enhance the risk.
Mass spectrometric protein maps for biomarker discovery and clinical research

Among the wide range of proteomic technologies, targeted mass spectrometry (MS) has shown great potential for biomarker studies. To extend the degree of multiplexing achieved by selected reaction monitoring (SRM), we recently developed SWATH MS. SWATH MS is a variant of the emerging class of data-independent acquisition (DIA) methods and essentially converts the molecules in a physical sample into perpetually re-usable digital maps. The thus generated SWATH maps are then mined using a targeted data extraction strategy, allowing us to profile disease-related proteomes at a high degree of reproducibility. The successful application of both SRM and SWATH MS requires the a priori generation of reference spectral maps that provide coordinates for quantification. Herein, we demonstrate that the application of the mass spectrometric reference maps and the acquisition of personalized SWATH maps hold a particular promise for accelerating the current process of biomarker discovery.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Leishmania infantum Infection of Dogs from an Urban Area of Brazil as Identified by Molecular Methods

Background Various factors contribute to the urbanization of the visceral leishmaniasis (VL), including the difficulties of implementing control measures relating to the domestic reservoir. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in an urban endemic area in Brazil and the factors associated with Leishmania infantum infection among seronegative and PCR-positive dogs. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 1,443 dogs. Serology was carried out by using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Biomanguinhos/FIOCRUZ/RJ and “in house”), and molecular methods were developed, including PCR-RFLP. To identify the factors associated with early stages of infection, only seronegative (n = 1,213) animals were evaluated. These animals were divided into two groups: PCR-positive (n = 296) and PCR-negative (n = 917) for L. infantum DNA. A comparison of these two groups of dogs taking into consideration the characteristics of the animals and their owners was performed. A mixed logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with L. infantum infection. Principal Findings Of the 1,443 dogs examined, 230 (15.9%) were seropositive in at least one ELISA, whereas PCR-RFLP revealed that 356 animals (24.7%) were positive for L. infantum DNA. Results indicated that the associated factors with infection were family income<twice the Brazilian minimum salary (OR 2.3; 95%CI 1.4–3.8), knowledge of the owner regarding the vector (OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.1–3.4), the dog staying predominantly in the backyard (OR 2.2; 95%CI 1.1–4.1), and a lack of previous serological examination for VL (OR 1.5; 95%CI 1.1–2.3). Conclusions PCR detected a high prevalence of L. infantum infection in dogs in an area under the Control Program of VL intervention. Socioeconomic variables, dog behavior and the knowledge of the owner regarding the vector were factors associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). The absence of previous serological examination conducted by the control program was also associated with L. infantum infection. It is necessary to identify the risk factors associated with CVL to understand the expansion and urbanization of VL.
Is Cr-Spinel Geochemistry Enough for Solving the Provenance Dilemma? Case Study from the Palaeogene Sandstones of the Western Carpathians (Eastern Slovakia)

The provenance of the Proč and Strihovce sandstones is crucial for understanding the relationship between the Pieniny Klippen (PKB) and Flysch (FB) belts in the easternmost part of the Western Carpathian realm. Detrital Cr-spinels in these tectonic units were assertively interpreted as sourced from the southern sources representing the Meliata mélange. In this study, we use the geochemistry of detrital chromian spinels to identify the mafic and ultramafic source of the sediments and to compare them each other. Simultaneously, we compare their chemical compositions with those from the different Western Carpathian geological units, which could feed the Proč and Krynica basins during the Paleogene, where the Proč and Strihovce formations (fms), respectively, were deposited. Chromian spinels from the Proč and Strihovce fms exhibit similar geochemical characteristics (Cr# = 0.44–0.88 and 0.29–0.89, Mg# = 0.17–0.68 and 0.2–0.72, TiO2 = 0.0–3.67 and 0.01–2.08 wt.%, respectively). The spinels show both supra-subduction zone (SSZ) peridotite signatures and volcanic origin. Whereas volcanic spinels from the Proč Formation (Fm.) were formed under an ocean island basalt (OIB) and back-arc basin basalt (BABB) geodynamic setting, those from the Strihovce Fm. suggest a predominantly mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) origin. To avoid mistakes in the provenance interpretations, the data from garnet geochemistry of both formations is supplied. The analysed Cr-spinels do not absolutely overlap with spinels reported from the Meliata Unit, and their composition indicates at least two independent sources.
Increased adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with COPD: insights from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute dynamic registry.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with COPD are at higher risk for death after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but other clinical outcomes and possible associations with adverse events have not been described. METHODS Using waves 1 through 5 (1999-2006) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry, patients with COPD (n = 860) and without COPD (n = 10,048) were compared. Baseline demographics, angiographic characteristics, and in-hospital and 1-year adverse events were compared. RESULTS Patients with COPD were older (mean age 66.8 vs 63.2 years, P < .001), more likely to be women, and more likely to have a history of diabetes, prior myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, renal disease, and smoking. Patients with COPD also had a lower mean ejection fraction (49.1% vs 53.0%, P < .001) and a greater mean number of significant lesions (3.2 vs 3.0, P = .006). Rates of in-hospital death (2.2% vs 1.1%, P = .003) and major entry site complications (6.6% vs 4.2%, P < .001) were higher in pulmonary patients. At discharge, pulmonary patients were significantly less likely to be prescribed aspirin (92.4% vs 95.3%, P < .001), β-blockers (55.7% vs 76.2%, P < .001), and statins (60.0% vs 66.8%, P < .001). After adjustment, patients with COPD had significantly increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01-1.67) and repeat revascularization (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.02-1.46) at 1 year, compared with patients without COPD. CONCLUSIONS COPD is associated with higher mortality rates and repeat revascularization within 1 year after PCI. These higher rates of adverse outcomes may be associated with lower rates of guideline-recommended class 1 medications prescribed at discharge.
Geometrical Versions of improved Berezin-Li-Yau Inequalities

We study the eigenvalues of the Dirichlet Laplace operator on an arbitrary bounded, open set in $\R^d$, $d \geq 2$. In particular, we derive upper bounds on Riesz means of order $\sigma \geq 3/2$, that improve the sharp Berezin inequality by a negative second term. This remainder term depends on geometric properties of the boundary of the set and reflects the correct order of growth in the semi-classical limit. Under certain geometric conditions these results imply new lower bounds on individual eigenvalues, which improve the Li-Yau inequality.
A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of covered expandable metal stents in the palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction at the gastroesophageal junction

OBJECTIVE:Palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction is an important clinical problem. Expandable metal stents are a major advance in therapy, but many stents become obstructed because of tumor ingrowth. The aim of this study was to compare a new, membrane-covered expandable metal stent to conventional prostheses in a randomized controlled trial.METHODS:Sixty-two patients with malignant inoperable esophageal obstruction at the gastroesophageal junction participated in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to covered or uncovered stents. The principal outcome measure was the need for reintervention because of recurrent dysphagia or migration. Secondary endpoints were relief of dysphagia measured by a dysphagia score (grade 0 = no dysphagia, grade 1 = able to eat solid food, grade 2 = semisolids only, grade 3 = liquids only, grade 4 = complete dysphagia) and the rate of complications and functional status. All patients were observed at monthly intervals until death or for 6 months.RESULTS:One week after stenting the dysphagia score improved significantly in both the uncovered (n = 32, 3 ± 0.1 to 1 ± 0.1 [means ± SEMs], p < 0.001) and covered (n = 30, 3 ± 0.1 to 1 ± 0.2 [means ± SEMs], p < 0.001) stents. Obstructing tumor ingrowth was significantly more likely in the uncovered stent group (9/30) than in the covered group (1/32) (p = 0.005). Significant stent migration occurred in 2/30 patients with uncovered stents, as compared with 4/32 patients in the covered group (p = 0.44). Reinterventions for tumor ingrowth were significantly greater in the uncovered stent group (27%), as compared with 0% in the covered group (p = 0.002). Life table analysis showed similar survival in both groups.CONCLUSION:Membrane-covered stents have significantly better palliation than conventional bare metal stents because of decreased rates of tumor ingrowth that necessitate endoscopic reintervention for dysphagia.
Post-Harvest Decision Making Pattern and Marketing Behaviour of Peri Urban Farmers

The changing nature of agriculture warrants a wider range of support including organizational, marketing technologies, financial and entrepreneurial information to the producer to earn better price for products. Marketing decision process as a market led extension technique in vegetables, fruits and other value added products in peri urban area are very important aspect of today’s research studies. Considering all the above factors, the present investigation was carried out to find out the post harvest decision making pattern and marketing behaviour of peri urban farmers in several peri urban areas of northern India. The commodities selected for the study were vegetable, bee keeping, fisheries, food grain/field crops, dairy, flower and seed production. The key issues in this study were determinants influencing farmer’s decision-making with respect to value addition, analyze investment pattern in post-harvest management and marketing efficiency, examination of successful cases to identify the factors promoted their growth and the constraints of existing marketing mechanisms and supply chain along with the hindering factors among the farmers to go for value addition. In order to find out the determinants which influencing the post harvest decisions making of processors and farmers a reliability and validity tested Likert like rating scale which consists of 13 identified factors was adopted. Commodity wise identification of important elements was done on a three point continuum scale. Price of the value added products (seed, milk and vegetable), high market margin (food grain), to avoid distress sale (Honey), increased demand in urban area (Flower) and marketed and marketable surplus availability (Fish) were identified as most important motivating factors for post harvest decision making among peri urban farmers. Correspondence analysis was carried out to find out the association of different motivating elements based on the importance for different commodities. Contingency analysis using Pearson’s Chi-square and significance test using Cramer’s V Correlation revealed that, access to guaranteed market, access to market information, membership in organizations and education level is highly correlated with the decision to take or not to take post harvest and value addition interventions. Different existing market channels present in the study area for different commodities were identified and documented. Producers share on consumers’ price in different commodities in different marketing channels on raw or value added form was calculated. Marketing efficiency of different channel was calculated by using Shepherd’s formula and Acharya’s formula. It was observed that from commodity to commodity and from channel to channel a wide variation in producers share in consumers’ price and marketing efficiency exist. Direct selling channel was identified as most efficient in both terms. Percentage increase
Interactive effect of goat manure, phosphate fertilizer and lime on soil fertility in Embu County, Kenya

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is one of the most important legume crops being introduced into the smallholder farming systems of the Central Highlands of Kenya (CHK) to improve income and household nutrition of farmers. However, nutrient mining resulting from crop uptake and erosion; and soil acidity which affects plant nutrients less available through different means such as RESEARCH Vol. 4, January, 2018 Agriculture ISSN 2347–3819 EISSN 2347–386X DISCOVERY
Elevated Levels of IL-10 and G-CSF Associated with Asymptomatic Malaria in Pregnant Women

In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 30 million pregnant women are at risk of contracting malaria annually. Nearly 36% of healthy pregnant women receiving routine antenatal care tested positive for Plasmodium falciparum HRP-II antigen in Ghana. We tested the hypothesis that asymptomatic HRP II positive pregnant women expressed a unique Th1 and Th2 phenotype that differs from healthy controls. Plasma from healthy (n = 15) and asymptomatic (n = 25) pregnant women were evaluated for 27 biomarkers (IL-1b, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL- 17, Eotaxin, bFGF-2, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, PDGF-bb, RANTES, TNF, and VEGF) associated with Th1 and Th2 cytokine homeostasis. IL-10 and G-CSF levels were elevated in the asymptomatic group when compared with the healthy group (P = .031 and .041, resp.). The median ratios of IL-1β:5, IL-1β:10, IL-1β:G-CSF, IL-1β:Eotaxin, IL-12:G-CSF, IL-15:10, IL-17:G-CSF, IL-17:Eotaxin, TNF:IL-4, TNF:IL-5, and TNF:G-CSF were significantly different among the two groups. Thus, asymptomatic malaria carriage may be linked to circulating levels of IL-10 and G-CSF.
Intracellular localization of the P21rho proteins

The three mammalian ras proteins associated specifically with the plasma membrane and this is essential for their biological activity. Two signals encoded within the extreme COOH terminus of the proteins specify this cellular localization; a CAAX box in combination with either a polybasic domain (p21K-rasB) or a palmitoylation site (p21Ha- ras and p21N-ras). All members of the ras-like and rho-like subfamilies of the ras superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins also have CAAX boxes with potential second site sequences resembling either p21K-rasB or P21N-ras/Ha-ras. However it is not at all clear that they are each located at the plasma membrane, and in fact one of the ras-like proteins, rap1, has been localized to the Golgi (Beranger et al., 1991). None of the mammalian rho-like subfamily has yet been localized. Three forms (A, B, and C) of p21rho, the prototype of this family are known; the COOH termini of p21rhoA and p21rhoC resemble p21K-rasB with a polybasic domain, whereas p21rhoB resembles p21N-ras/Ha-ras with two cysteine residues as potential palmitoylation sites. Despite this similarity to the p21ras proteins, rho proteins have been purified from both particulate and cytosolic fractions of a variety of tissues. In order to localize definitively the three rho proteins we have used an epitope tagging approach coupled to microinjection of living cells. We show that a small fraction of all three proteins is localized to the plasma membrane but the majority of p21rhoA and p21rhoC is cytosolic whereas p21rhoB is associated with early endosomes and a pre-lysosomal compartment. Along with the results obtained with chimeric molecules using heterologous proteins attached to rho COOH termini, this suggests that the p21rho proteins cycle on and off the plasma membrane and this may have important implications for their biological function.