Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ancient and recent (post-agricultural) forest communities as indicators of environmental conditions in north-eastern Poland (Masuria and Kurpie region)

The paper analyses three forest types belonging to the following associations: (1) fresh pine forest (Peucedano-Pinetum), (2) mixed pine forest (Querco roboris-Pinetum) and (3) oak-hornbeam forest (Tilio cordatae-Carpinetum betuli). They are located in north-eastern Poland. We compared the indicator value of three sets of data: (1) phytosociological releves representing ancient forests (each type/association), (2) phytosociological releves representing the youngest recent forests with the shortest regeneration period (each type/association) and (3) the ‘abstract pattern’ (representing the core of a specific type of plant community with a characteristic combination of species and clearly representing a separate type of ecosystem/association). Three sets of data together with their indicator values/numbers: light intensity (L), soil moisture (F), soil reaction (R), and nitrogen supply (N) according to the Ellenberg scale, constituted the basic material for comparative indicator analysis. The percentage shares of ecological groups of species have been calculated as well as the average indicator values for each of these within a data set. The results obtained show that the ‘abstract pattern’ can be treated as a good measure for the evaluation of ancient forest habitat conditions; it is clearly visible in the mean L and F indicator values of the Peucedano-Pinetum and Querco-Pinetum associations, and also in the N of Peucedano-Pinetum and R of Querco-Pinetum, which are closer to ancient forest than to recent forest. In all cases, we found ecological differences between the ancient and recent forests based on their indicator values. Statistically significant differences of the mean L indicator values between ancient forest and recent forest have been found in three types of forest community.
Dual Role of Toll-like Receptors in Human and Experimental Asthma Models

Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease that is influenced by the interplay between genetic factors and exposure to environmental allergens, microbes, or microbial products where toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a pivotal role. TLRs recognize a wide range of microbial or endogenous molecules as well as airborne environmental allergens and act as adjuvants that influence positively or negatively allergic sensitization. TLRs are qualitatively and differentially expressed on hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic stromal or structural airway cells that when activated by TLRs agonists exert an immune-modulatory role in asthma development. Therefore, understanding mechanisms and pathways by which TLRs orchestrate asthma outcomes may offer new strategies to control the disease. Here, we aim to review and critically discuss the role of TLRs in human asthma and murine models of allergic airway inflammation, highlighting the complexity of TLRs function in development, exacerbation, or control of airway allergic inflammation.
The costs and outcomes of paediatric tuberculosis treatment at primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa.

BACKGROUND Little up-to-date information is available about the costs of providing drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB) treatment to paediatric patients in South Africa (SA), nor have actual costs incurred at clinics been compared with costs expected from guidelines. OBJECTIVES To estimate actual and guideline treatment costs by means of a retrospective cohort analysis. METHODS We report patient characteristics, outcomes and treatment costs from a retrospective cohort of paediatric and adolescent (<18 years) DS-TB patients registered for treatment from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013 at three primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg, SA. Actual treatment costs in 2015 SA rands and US dollars were estimated from the provider perspective using a standard bottom-up microcosting approach and compared with an estimate of guideline costs. RESULTS We enrolled 88 DS-TB patients (median age 4 years (interquartile range 1.0 - 9.5), 44.3% female, 22.7% HIV co-infected, 92.0% pulmonary TB). Treatment success was high (89.8%; 13.6% cured, 76.1% completed treatment), and the mean (standard deviation (SD)) cost per patient with treatment success was ZAR1 820/USD143 (ZAR593/USD46), comprising fixed costs (44.0%), outpatient visits (30.7%), medication (19.3%) and laboratory investigations (6.0%). This was 17% more than the mean (SD) cost estimated by applying treatment guidelines (ZAR1 553/USD122 (ZAR1 620/USD127)), with differences due mainly to higher laboratory costs and more outpatient visits taking place than were recommended in national guidelines. CONCLUSIONS These results are the first reported estimates of paediatric DS-TB treatment costs in SA and show the potential cost savings of closer adherence to national treatment guidelines. The findings were robust in sensitivity analyses and are lower than previous cost estimates in adults.
A Short-Term Electric Load Forecasting Scheme Using 2-Stage Predictive Analytics

One key issue for stable power supply is to forecast electric load accurately. Since buildings of the same type show similar power consumption patterns, it should be considered for accurate electric load forecast. In particular, university buildings show various electric loads depending on time and other external factors. In this paper, we propose a short-term load forecast model for educational buildings using 2-stage predictive analytics for the effective operation of their power system. To do that, we collect the electric load data of five years from a university campus. Next, we consider the electric load pattern by using the moving average method according to the day of the week. Next, we predict the daily electric load using the random forest method and finally evaluate its performance using the time series cross-validation. The experimental results show that our forecasting model outperforms other competing methods in terms of prediction accuracy.
Is NESTROFT better than the hematological indices for screening of beta-thalassemia trait: an answer in rural scenario

Introduction: Clinical and pathological distinction between beta thalassemia trait (β-TT) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is of paramount importance. On day to day basis, these two are differentiated by many hematological indices which are derived by mathematical calculations. In this scenario, naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT) has been slightly relegated. The aim of the present study was to compare by statistical means the standings of these indicators with NESTROFT and also measure efficiency of both by Youden’s index. Material & Methods: The study was conducted on 225 patients diagnosed with mild microcytic hypochromic anemia on complete blood count and PBF. 12 discrimination indices were calculated with simultaneous NESTROFT and HbA2 levels estimation. The results were compiled and analyzed by statistical means. Results: The Shine & Lal and Ricerca et al indices exhibited the highest sensitivity of 100% each while The England & Fraser index demonstrated the highest specificity of 90.2%. The highest PPV was found for Mentzer index(77.3%). The highest NPV was found for Ricerca et al & Shine & Lal indices of 100% each. The highest Youden’s index was shown by Mentzer index(81.3%). NESTROFT showed a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 98.6%, 83.7%, 74.0%, 99.2% respectively. The Youden’s index for NESTROFT was 82.3%. Conclusion: NESTROFT proved to be a better test than all other hematological indices for detection of β-TT. It scores due to its good statistical end results including good efficiency indicator. Additionally, it is observed that it is a test with good cost benefit ratio, easy performability and does not require tedious and hi-tech equipment. Hence NESTROFT should be the primary screening tool for beta thalassemia trait.
Slot-Gated Modeling for Joint Slot Filling and Intent Prediction

Attention-based recurrent neural network models for joint intent detection and slot filling have achieved the state-of-the-art performance, while they have independent attention weights. Considering that slot and intent have the strong relationship, this paper proposes a slot gate that focuses on learning the relationship between intent and slot attention vectors in order to obtain better semantic frame results by the global optimization. The experiments show that our proposed model significantly improves sentence-level semantic frame accuracy with 4.2% and 1.9% relative improvement compared to the attentional model on benchmark ATIS and Snips datasets respectively
Clinical Outcome Measures and Return-to-Sport Timing in Adolescent Athletes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

CONTEXT Multiple factors are likely associated with an adolescent athlete's ability to return to play after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between self-reported and functional outcome measures on return-to-play timing in an adolescent population, in athletes who returned and those who did not return to sport, and to identify a cutoff value for isometric quadriceps strength that could serve as a clinical target for maximizing the odds of returning to play after ACLR. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Outpatient clinic. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Adolescent athletes who underwent ACLR and completed clinical measures at their 3- and 6-month follow-up appointments were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Clinical measures included functional outcomes of isometric and isokinetic strength tests and the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport After Injury scale and the pediatric version of the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective form. Physician clearance dates for return to play were obtained from patient records. RESULTS Higher strength measures were associated with better scores on the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport After Injury and the pediatric version of the International Knee Documentation Committee instruments at each follow-up. Differences were found in isometric extension strength ( P = .001) and isokinetic extension strength at 180°/s ( P = .03) and 300°/s ( P = .002) between patients who returned to sports and those who did not. A 6-month isometric extension deficit (mean Limb Symmetry Index = 85.48 ± 23.15) displayed high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.68, 0.95) for identifying patients who returned to play after ACLR. CONCLUSIONS Higher strength measures at both 3 and 6 months after ACLR were associated with greater self-reported knee function and greater readiness to return to functional activities at 6 months and ultimately earlier return to sport in adolescent athletes. These results provide evidence that self-reported outcome scores should be used as an additional screening tool in conjunction with quadriceps strength testing to help provide realistic recovery timeframes for adolescent patients.
The ecology of subindividual variability in plants: patterns, processes, and prospects

Abstract. Diversification of ecology into subdisciplines that run from macroecology to landscape, community, and population ecology largely reflects its specialization on different segments of the spatial gradient over which recognizable ecological patterns and processes occur. In all these cases, the elemental units involved in the patterns and processes of interest to ecologists are individuals from the same or different species. No distinct flavor of ecology has yet emerged that focuses on patterns and processes revolving around the lowermost end of the spatial gradient, which in the case of plants corresponds to the within-individual domain. Intraindividual heterogeneity in organ traits, however, is quantitatively important and has multiple consequences for plant individuals, populations, and communities, and for animal consumers as well. This paper first provides an overview of current knowledge on plant traits that vary subindividually, the magnitude of subindividual variation, and its spatial patterning. Examples will then be presented on the consequences of subindividual variation for plants and animal consumers at individual, population, or community levels. Finally, the recently emerging links between genetics, epigenetics, subindividual variation, and population ecology will be illustrated using results on variation in seed size, a functional plant trait playing an important role in plant population dynamics. Further observational and experimental studies are needed which link ecological and phenotypic measurements of plants to their epigenetic and genetic characteristics, in order to understand the three-way relationships between subindividual variability, genetic features, and epigenetic mosaicism. Another proposed line of inquiry should focus on evaluating whether subindividual epigenetic mosaics eventually translate into epigenetically heterogeneous progeny, thus contributing to the maintenance of population and community functional diversity.
heoretical study of the hydrolysis mechanism of-pyrone-4 , 6-dicarboxylate ( PDC ) catalyzed by LigI hujun

2-Pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate lactonase (LigI) is the first identified enzyme from amidohydrolase superfamily that does not require a divalent metal ion for catalytic activity. It catalyzes the reversible hydrolysis of 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate (PDC) to 4-oxalomesaconate (OMA) and 4-carboxy-2-hydroxymuconate (CHM) in the degradation of lignin. In this paper, a combined quantum mechanics and molecule mechanics (QM/MM) approach was employed to study the reaction mechanism of LigI from Sphingomonas paucimobilis. According to the results of our calculations, the whole catalytic reaction contains three elementary steps, including the nucleophilic attack, the cleavage of C O of lactone (substrate) and the intramolecular proton transfer. The intermediate has two intramolecular proton transfer pathways, due to which, two final hydrolysis products can be obtained. The energy profile indicates that 4-carboxy-2-hydroxymuconate (CHM) is the main hydrolysis product, therefore, the isomerization ydrolysis mechanism between 4-carboxy-2-hydroxymuconate (CHM) and 4-oxalomesaconate (OMA) is suggested to occur in solvent. During the catalytic reaction, residue Asp248 acts as a general base to activate the hydrolytic water molecule. Although His31, His33 and His180 do not directly participate in the chemical process, they play assistant roles by forming electrostatic interactions with the substrate and its involved species in activating the carbonyl group of the substrate and stabilizing the intermediates and transition states. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Early and late abdominal surgeries after lung transplantation: incidence and outcome.

OBJECTIVES Abdominal surgery after lung transplantation is an important factor for major morbidity and mortality. Herein, we describe the incidence and outcome of abdominal surgery occurring early or late after transplantation. METHODS Overall, 315 patients who underwent lung transplantation between January 2000 and December 2013 at our institution were included in a prospective database. Perioperative parameters were assessed, and complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification. RESULTS Among 315 patients after lung transplantation, 52 patients underwent abdominal surgery, 16 during the early postoperative phase and 42 at later time points. Bowel ischaemia and perforation of the right colon were the most common reason for early surgery, with a median interval of 7 days after lung transplantation. The median survival time for patients with early abdominal surgery was 31 months compared to 40 and 90 months for patients with no or late abdominal surgery (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). The most common late indications for surgery were perforated diverticulitis, ileus and hernia, with a median interval of 37.9 months after lung transplantation and a median survival comparable with patients without any abdominal surgery (P = 0.9). However, prior hospitalization due to a non-abdominal disease was associated with increased morbidity (P = 0.006) after late surgery. CONCLUSIONS Early abdominal surgeries after lung transplantation are associated with a significant mortality risk. Abdominal operations at late time points have a favourable outcome unless patients were hospitalized prior to the abdominal complication. Clinical trial registration number ZH-KEK-Nr. 2014-0244.
Qualitative, multimethod study of behavioural and attitudinal responses to cochlear implantation from the patient and healthcare professional perspective in Australia and the UK: study protocol

Introduction The growing prevalence of adults with ‘severe or greater’ hearing loss globally is of great concern, with hearing loss leading to diminished communication, and impacting on an individual’s quality of life (QoL). Cochlear implants (CI) are a recommended device for people with severe or greater, sensorineural hearing loss, who obtain limited benefits from conventional hearing aids (HA), and through improved speech perception, CIs can improve the QoL of recipients. Despite this, utilisation of CIs is low. Methods and analysis This qualitative, multiphase and multimethod dual-site study (Australia and the UK) explores patients’ and healthcare professionals’ behaviours and attitudes to cochlear implantation. Participants include general practitioners, audiologists and older adults with severe or greater hearing loss, who are HA users, CI users and CI candidates. Using purposive time frame sampling, participants will be recruited to take part in focus groups or individual interviews, and will each complete a demographic questionnaire and a qualitative proforma. The study aims to conduct 147 data capture events across a sample of 49 participants, or until data saturation occurs. Schema and thematic analysis with extensive group work will be used to analyse data alongside reporting of demographic and participant characteristics. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval for this study was granted by Macquarie University (HREC: 5201700539), and the study will abide by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council ethical guidelines. Study findings will be published through peer-reviewed journal articles, and disseminated through public and academic conference presentations, participant information sheets and a funders’ final report.
Statistical Problems with Planted Structures: Information-Theoretical and Computational Limits

Over the past few years, insights from computer science, statistical physics, and information theory have revealed phase transitions in a wide array of high-dimensional statistical problems at two distinct thresholds: One is the information-theoretical (IT) threshold below which the observation is too noisy so that inference of the ground truth structure is impossible regardless of the computational cost; the other is the computational threshold above which inference can be performed efficiently, i.e., in time that is polynomial in the input size. In the intermediate regime, inference is information-theoretically possible, but conjectured to be computationally hard. This article provides a survey of the common techniques for determining the sharp IT and computational limits, using community detection and submatrix detection as illustrating examples. For IT limits, we discuss tools including the first and second moment method for analyzing the maximal likelihood estimator, information-theoretic methods for proving impossibility results using rate-distortion theory, and methods originated from statistical physics such as interpolation method. To investigate computational limits, we describe a common recipe to construct a randomized polynomial-time reduction scheme that approximately maps instances of the planted clique problem to the problem of interest in total variation distance.
Burnout in NSW School Counsellors: Relationships between mindfulness, career-sustaining practices and work setting

Burnout, a multifaceted psychological construct, is associated with a diverse range of undesirable physical and psychological consequences. School counsellor, employed in New South Wales (NSW) public schools, like other mental health professionals and teachers, are vulnerable to burnout that may negatively affect their work with students. While there is some international research into burnout within school counsellors, no studies have examined this within NSW school counsellors. This study, therefore, replicated Australian research by Di Benedetto and Swadling (2014), who investigated the relationships among burnout in psychologists, work-setting, mindfulness and career-sustaining behaviours (CSBs). One hundred and thirty-one NSW Department of Education (NSW DoE) school counsellors (M = 44.08, SD=11.99) were surveyed to assess self-reported burnout, mindfulness and CSB preferences. Moderate levels of burnout were reported among these school counsellors. School counsellors working in rural areas reported significantly higher burnout compared to counsellors working in Sydney metropolitan or urban (Wollongong, Newcastle, Central Coast) areas. There was a strong negative relationship between mindfulness and burnout. Specific CSBs had small to medium associations with lower burnout. Some CSB preferences were linked to higher burnout. Increasing mindfulness practices may help in the prevention and management of burnout in NSW school counsellors.
An Energy Efficient Charging Technique for Switched Capacitor Voltage Converters With Low-Duty Ratio

Charging a capacitor array of a switched-capacitor (SC) dc-dc converter, supplying load circuits with a very short active period, can be pivotal to achieve high energy efficiency of its operation. This is because the capacitors may lose most of the stored energy during a long sleep period, and thus every sleep-to-active transition requires full recharging of the capacitors. In this brief, we present an energy efficient capacitor charging technique called split-capacitor charging, which charges a capacitor array in a step-wise fashion. Circuit simulations demonstrate that the proposed technique can reduce the energy wastage during sleep-to-active transition up to 66%. When tested on load circuits with a short active period, a voltage converter employing the proposed charging method shows up to 24% improvement in energy efficiency over conventional SC converters.