Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient cycling in a natural beech forest and adjacent planted pine in northern Spain

Summary Above-ground leaf biomass, leaf litterfall, leaf weight loss due to decomposition, redistribution of leaf litter and C and N return to the soil, and seasonal leaf nutrient dynamics have been studied in the Sierra de la Demanda, Spain, a Mediterranean climatic zone. The tree species considered were a climax beechwood (Fagus sylvatica L.) at ‘Tres aguas’ and planted Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at ‘La Rasada’. The above-ground biomass was estimated by cutting and weighing seven trees from each site according to their diameter classes, recording the categories of trunk, branches and leaves. The carbon and nitrogen contents in the different fractions were also analysed. The calculated total biomass ranged from 132.7 Mg ha ‐1 in the beech stand to 152.1 Mg ha ‐1 in the pine stand, and leaf biomass from 3.4 Mg ha ‐1 to 7.0 Mg ha ‐1 in the beech and pine, respectively. The C : N (carbon : nitrogen) ratio was greater in the pine forest leaves. The total litterfall was 5791 kg ha ‐1 per year in the pine forest and 4682 kg ha‐1 per year and the leaf litterfall was 2917 kg ha‐1 per year and 2897 kg ha‐1 per year in the pine and beech sites, respectively. The annual mean amount of N returning to the soil substrate was 29.9 kg ha‐1 per year on the beech and 23.3 kg ha‐1 per year on the pine. Weight loss of leaf litter due to decomposition was monitored for 2 years in the two forest ecosytems studied. The results indicated that weight loss was similar at the end of the experimental period in the two forest stands: 40 per cent in beech and 43 per cent in pine. Jenny’s decomposition index (K) and Olson’s decomposition index (KO) were higher for the pine stand than for the beech stand. The dynamics of total C and N throughout the study period was similar on both experimental plots. The evolution of N in green leaves follows the same pattern in beech and pine stands. The highest leaf N concentration was observed in the spring and summer months, during initial leaf growth. Thereafter, it decreased due to retranslocation during the period of leaf-fall in autumn.
Why Are You Doing Things for the Environment? The Motivation Toward the Environment Scale (MTES)1

This paper presents 4 studies which were conducted for the purpose of constructing and validating a new measure of people's motivation for environmental behaviors, namely the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale (MTES). The MTES consists of subscales that measure an individual's level of intrinsic, extrinsic, and a motivation for environmental behaviors. These subscales correspond to the different forms of motivation identified by Deci and Ryan in their self-determination theory (SDT, 1985, 1991). Results from the first study supported the factor structure of the scale and revealed a satisfactory level of internal consistency. Consistent with the SDT, the more self-determined forms of motivation were associated with more positive responses on the related variables. Implications for the manner in which the public could be encouraged to do environmental behaviors are discussed.
Heterotopic Gastric Mucosa in the Duodenum - Reaction to Congo Red under Fiberscopic Observation

A 64-year-old woman had gastric heterotopic of the duodenal bulb without any specific complaints. The lesion with irregular excrescence was diagnosed by means of target biopsies through endoscopy, and 3 years later, no noteworthy changes were observed in the endoscopic findings of the lesion, and it was also proved by an endoscopic Congo red test that the excrescence had a function of acid output. This is the second report of congenital heterotopic gastric mucosa of the duodenum which was confirmed not only by histological, but also functional examination.
Antibiotics Susceptibility Profile of Listeria species Isolated from Untreated Abattoir Wastewater in Akinyele, Ibadan, Nigeria and Its Implication on Public Health

Introduction: The demand for meat to meet the need of increasing human population has led to increase in the abattoir activities. Untreated abattoir wastewaters which may constitute a public health threat due to the possibility of transmission of pathogens to humans are constantly being discharged into water bodies. Listeria is an emerging pathogen that is commonly associated with food infection and has been found to survive in water. Aim: This study was carried out to determine the occurrence and antibiotic resistant pattern of Listeria species isolated from abattoir wastewater in Akinyele, Ibadan. Materials and Methods: Wastewater samples were collected from the slaughter slab and drainage channels between May and June, 2015. Listeria species were isolated using Listeria Selective Agar Base with Listeria Selective Supplement and identification of the isolates was done using conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay using single antibiotic disks including ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, amoxicillin/clavulanate, ceftriazone, cloxacillin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, tetracycline and Original Research Article Falodun et al.; BMRJ, 16(6): 1-10, 2016; Article no.BMRJ. 28066 2 trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Results: A total of 82 Listeria spp. were isolated comprising 58.5% and 41.5% from the slaughter slab and drainage respectively; all the isolates were resistant to ampicillin while 86.6%, 68.3% and 65.5% were resistant to ceftriaxone, amoxicillin/clavulanate and tetracycline respectively. In addition, 12.2% of the total isolates were resistant to a combination of six antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, ceftriazone, streptomycin, and trimetoprim/sulfamethozaxole) while only one isolate was resistant to eight or more antibiotics. Conclusion: This study revealed that the Akinyele abattoir wastewater is a potential medium for the transmission of multi-drug resistant bacteria to humans. Hence, adequate measures should be put in place for the treatment of the abattoir wastewater before discharge into the environment.
Polyvictimization and trauma in a national longitudinal cohort

This paper utilizes a national longitudinal probability sample of children to demonstrate how important exposure to multiple forms of victimization (polyvictimization) is in accounting for increases in children's symptomatic behavior. The study is based on two annual waves of the Developmental Victimization Survey that began with a nationally representative sample of children and youth ages 2 to 17. A broad range of victimization experiences were assessed using the 34-item Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. Eighteen percent of the children experienced four or more different kinds of victimization (polyvictims) in the most recent year. Polyvictimization in the most recent year was highly predictive of trauma symptoms at the end of the year, controlling for prior victimization and prior mental health status. When polyvictimization was taken into account, it greatly reduced or eliminated the association between most other individual victimizations and symptomatology scores.For the purposes of compliance with Section 507 of PL 104-208 (the “Stevens Amendment”), readers are advised that 100% of the funds for this program are derived from federal sources (US Department of Justice). The total amount of federal funding involved is $353,233.
Justifying an ERP Investment: Critical Success Factors for Transformation Investments

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects often lead to disappointing outcomes, even downright failures, which is not in keeping with the vast investments they require. It is argued in this paper that a lack of managerial focus on the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for ERP implementation at the outset of their project (however well captured they have been in the literature to date) is the root cause of organisations not achieving the expected outcomes from their Transformation investment. This paper examines the ERP project implementations of four organisations where data and observations were collected over a two year period. From this rich body of empirical evidence, we propose to contribute to our collective understanding of the CSFs for ERP implementation that play a key role in ensuring that investments in ERP packages (Transformation investments) have a greater likelihood of producing desired project outcomes. This research paper also contributes to increasing the perceived usefulness of CSFs to managers and practitioners and illustrates the fact that organisations should undertake self-assessment exercises to improve their preparations for ERP project implementations.
The effects of cigarette smoking on the female voice

To investigate voice changes as they develop over time due to cigarette smoking, women who never smoked (NS), women who smoked less than 10 years (S1), and women who smoked 10 or more years (S2) were compared. Acoustic (fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, signal-to-noise ratio), electroglottographic (open, closing, and speed quotients), aerodynamic (subglottal pressure, airflow, laryngeal airway resistance), and perceptual measures were obtained. Fundamental frequency and open quotient significantly decreased and speed quotient significantly increased in S1 and S2; jitter and shimmer significantly increased in S2 only. NS were perceived as non-smokers more reliably than S1 and S2 as smokers. Fundamental frequency, open quotient, and speed quotient were the most sensitive indicators of smoking effects on the female voice.
Unsafe sex in regular partnerships among heterosexual persons living with HIV: evidence from a large representative sample of individuals attending outpatients services in France (ANRS-EN12-VESPA Study)

Objective:Risky sexual behaviour remains frequent among people living with HIV. We analysed factors associated with unsafe sex within serodiscordant couples among heterosexual individuals living with HIV in France. Methods:In 2003, a face-to-face survey was conducted among individuals selected in a random stratified sample of 102 French hospital departments delivering HIV care. This analysis included adults heterosexual participants in a regular partnership for at least 12 months with a seronegative/unknown serostatus partner, HIV-diagnosed for at least 12 months. Unsafe sex was defined as reporting inconsistent condom use in the prior 12 months. Among men and women, participants who reported unsafe sex were compared with those who did not. Results:663 heterosexual adults reported being in a serodiscordant regular partnership. Women accounted for 41% of participants and 26% of the sample were immigrants. Unsafe sex with the steady partner was reported by 26% of men and 34% of women (p = 0.024). For men, factors independently associated with unsafe sex were being in a relationship for more than 10 years, being in a difficult financial situation and reporting regular consumption of alcohol to excess.Among women, having a history of drug use, not being aware of partner's serostatus, and reporting a difficult financial situation were independently associated with unsafe sex. In addition, immigrant women were associated with safer sex. Conclusions:A high number of serodiscordant couples continue to report risky sexual behaviour, and related factors are gender-specific. Couple-level interventions are essential in order to prevent HIV-transmission and to encourage negotiation within couples.
Elizabethkingia meningoseptica: emerging multidrug resistance in a nosocomial pathogen

A 46-year-old male patient presented with complaints of burning micturition for 2 days. Initial history, physical examination and laboratory investigations were consistent with the diagnosis of congestive cardiac failure (CCF) and concomitant urinary tract infection. CCF was treated with diuretics and a urine culture/sensitivity (C/S) was sent which returned growing Elizabethkingia meningoseptica resistant to all tested drugs. Intravenous cefotaxime which had been started empirically 3 days earlier was withheld at this point, and a repeat urine C/S was sent revealing resistance to all tested drugs (including reserved drugs) barring minocycline. The patient was treated with oral minocycline for 14 days after which he was symptomatically better with sterile urine. The patient was subsequently discharged.
A new approach to non-fragile H ∞ observer-based control for discrete-time fuzzy systems

In this article, a new approach regarding H ∞ and non-fragile stability analysis and observer-based controller synthesis problem for a class of discrete-time fuzzy systems is investigated. The multiplicative gain variations under consideration are contained in both the controller gain and observer gain. By defining a basis-dependent Lyapunov function and introducing some additional matrix variables, new sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the stability of the non-fragile H ∞ observer-based control system. Seeking computational convenience, the developed results are cast in the format of linear matrix inequalities and two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the feasibility of theoretical developments.
High incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Australia: A prospective population‐based Australian incidence study

Background: To date, there have been no population‐based epidemiological studies published from Australia concerning the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our hypothesis was that the incidence of IBD in Australia is at least as high as other industrialized countries, given similar genetic and environmental risk factors. Methods: A prospective, population‐based IBD incidence study was conducted between April 2007 and March 2008 in Greater Geelong, Victoria, Australia. According to 2006 Australian Census data, this comprises an at‐risk population of 259,015. Cases were ascertained from multiple overlapping sources. All local general practitioners, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and pediatricians were contacted every 2 months to identify new IBD cases. The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, local endoscopy and pathology centers were also searched to ensure completeness of case capture. Standard IBD case definitions were used with clinical, endoscopic, and histological criteria. Results: In all, 76 new cases of IBD were identified during the 1‐year period. There were 45 cases of Crohn's disease, 29 of ulcerative colitis, and 2 of indeterminate colitis. The crude annual incidence rates for IBD overall, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis were 29.3 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.5–36.7 per 100,000), 17.4 per 100,000, 11.2 per 100,000, and 0.8 per 100,000, respectively. When directly age‐standardized to the World Health Organization standard population the overall IBD incidence rate was 29.6 per 100,000. Conclusions: This is the first prospective, Australian population‐based IBD incidence study. The incidence rates are among the highest reported in the literature of IBD. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009)
Phase and Elemental Distributions in Alnico Magnetic Materials

Insight into microstructural features in commercial alnico alloys is revealed through electron microscopy. Significant differences were found in the chemical make-up of the primary phases and their distributions for the different classes of the alloys. Changes in the Co + Fe : Al + Ni and minor alloying elements shift the matrix phase from an ordered B2 phase found in alnico 5-7 to a L21 phase found in alnico 8 and 9. The question whether the FeCo-rich phase has a B2 or body-centered cubic structure remains open. The grain-aligned 5-7 alloy shows a well ordered array of prismatic cells of the FeCo-rich phase that is 20-40 nm in width, 100's nm in length and epitaxial with the B2 matrix. Cu is uniformly distributed in the matrix phase for alnico 5-7 whereas for alnico 8 and 9, pure Cu precipitates locate along the phase boundaries. Ti-rich precipitates and non-spinodal FeCo-rich precipitates are observed.
Hypothermic Osborn waves without shivering artifacts: causes and implications

http://tae.sagepub. com 229 A 27-year-old gentleman with history of substance abuse was sent to the emergency department (ED) after he was found unresponsive outside his apartment by bystanders. Paramedics administered naloxone in the field without improvement and they reported that there was a bag of white powdered substance in his pocket. On arrival to the ED he had a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3/15. His rectal temperature was 28.5°C (83.4°F), blood pressure was 103/75 mm Hg, pulse was 88/min and respiratory rate was 14/ min. Laboratory workup was significant for an arterial pH of 7.07 (normal 7.35–7.45), PCO2 of 63.2 mm Hg (normal 35–45 mm Hg), PO2 of 56.2 mm Hg, HCO3 of 18.3 mmol/l (normal 22– 28 mmol/l) on 100% fraction of inspired oxygen, a serum lactic acid of 9.1 mmol/l (normal 0.5–1.9 mmol/l), white blood cell count of 23,200 cmm (normal 4800–10,800 cmm), blood urea nitrogen 26 mg/dl (normal 8–20 mg/dl), creatinine 2.43 mg/dl (normal 0.7–1.2 mg/dl), sodium 142 meq/l (normal 135–145 meq/l), potassium 4.9 meq/l (normal 3.3–5.3 meq/l), calcium 9.4 mg/dl (normal 8.6–10.3 mg/dl), magnesium 3 mg/dl (normal 1.8–2.5 mg/dl) and troponin <0.02 ng/ml (normal 0.02–0.03 ng/ml). Urine drug screen was positive for benzodiazepine, opiate, amphetamine and tetrahydrocannabinoid. Chest X-ray showed left lower lobe pneumonia and computed tomography scan of the brain showed no intracranial bleed. Upon arrival to the ED, the trachea was intubated and the patient was mechanically ventilated. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (rate 107/min), widening of the QRS duration to 164 ms, and Osborn waves with highest amplitude recorded in precordial leads V4–V6 (8 mm amplitude) without any shivering artifacts (Figure 1). For comparison, Figure 2 is an ECG performed a year earlier, after the patient presented to the ED for palpitation. The patient made a successful recovery. Verbal informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case. Primary hypothermia also known as ‘accidental hypothermia’ is due to environmental exposure, and secondary hypothermia results from other medical illnesses unrelated to cold exposure. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 16,911 deaths in the USA due to excessive cold exposure with an average of 1301 per year from 1999 to 2011 and approximately 67% of these hypothermia-related deaths among males [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013]. Hypothermia is divided into degrees of severity according to the core body temperature as follows: mild (temperature 32– 35°C), moderate (28–32°C) and severe (<28°C). Another classification of hypothermia is the Swiss staging system which grades hypothermia based on the presenting symptoms and this is preferred when it is not possible to determine an accurate core temperature. This is defined as stage 1 (awake and shivering), stage 2 (drowsy and nonshivering) and stage 3 (unconscious and nonshivering) [Brown et al. 2012]. Our case is graded as stage 3 hypothermia (unconscious and nonshivering).
High Numbers of Stromal Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Are Associated With a Shorter Survival Time in Cats With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are fibroblastic cells that express α–smooth muscle actin and have been identified in the stroma of numerous epithelial tumors. The presence of CAFs within the tumor stroma has been associated with a poorer prognosis in some human cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Cats frequently develop oral SCCs, and although these are generally highly aggressive neoplasms, there is currently a lack of prognostic markers for these tumors. The authors investigated the prognostic value of the presence of CAFs within the stroma of oral SCC biopsy specimens from 47 cats. In addition, several epidemiologic, clinical, and histologic variables were also assessed for prognostic significance. A CAF-positive stroma was identified in 35 of 47 SCCs (74.5%), and the median survival time (ST) of cats with CAF-positive SCCs (35 days) was significantly shorter than that of cats with CAF-negative SCCs (48.5 days) (P = .031). ST was also associated with the location of the primary tumor (P = .0018): the median ST for oropharyngeal SCCs (179 days) was significantly longer than for maxillary (43.5 days; P = .047), mandibular (42 days; P = .022), and sublingual SCCs (22.5 days; P = .0005). The median ST of sublingual SCCs was also shorter compared with maxillary SCCs (P = .0017). Furthermore, a significant association was identified between site and the presence of stromal CAFs (P = .025). On the basis of this retrospective study, evaluating the tumor stroma for CAFs in feline oral SCC biopsy specimens may be of potential prognostic value.
Classification of Alzheimer Disease Based on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging by Kernel Support Vector Machine Decision Tree

In this paper we proposed a novel classiflcation system to distinguish among elderly subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal controls (NC). The method employed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 178 subjects consisting of 97NCs, 57MCIs, and 24ADs. First, all these three dimensional (3D) MRI images were preprocessed with atlas-registered normalization. Then, gray matter images were extracted and the 3D images were under-sampled. Afterwards, principle component analysis was applied for feature extraction. In total, 20 principal components (PC) were extracted from 3D MRI data using singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm, and 2 PCs were extracted from additional information (consisting of demographics, clinical examination, and derived anatomic volumes) using alternating least squares (ALS). On the basic of the 22 features, we constructed a kernel support vector machine decision tree (kSVM-DT). The error penalty parameter C and kernel parameter ae were determined by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The weights ! and biases b were still obtained by quadratic programming method. 5-fold cross validation was employed to obtain the out-of-sample estimate. The results show that the proposed kSVM-DT achieves 80% classiflcation accuracy, better than 74% of the method without kernel. Besides, the PSO exceeds the random selection method in choosing the parameters of the classifler. The computation time to predict a new patient is only 0.022s.