Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activation of Persulfate by Biochars from Valorized Olive Stones for the Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole

Biochars from spent olive stones were tested for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in water matrices. Batch degradation experiments were performed using sodium persulfate (SPS) as the source of radicals in the range 250–1500 mg/L, with biochar as the SPS activator in the range 100–300 mg/L and SMX as the model micro-pollutant in the range 250–2000 μg/L. Ultrapure water (UPW), bottled water (BW), and secondary treated wastewater (WW) were employed as the water matrix. Removal of SMX by adsorption only was moderate and favored at acidic conditions, while SPS alone did not practically oxidize SMX. At these conditions, biochar was capable of activating SPS and, consequently, of degrading SMX, with the pseudo-first order rate increasing with increasing biochar and oxidant concentration and decreasing SMX concentration. Experiments in BW or UPW spiked with various anions showed little or no effect on degradation. Similar experiments in WW resulted in a rate reduction of about 30%, and this was attributed to the competitive consumption of reactive radicals by non-target water constituents. Experiments with methanol and t-butanol at excessive concentrations resulted in partial but generally not complete inhibition of degradation; this indicates that, besides the liquid bulk, reactions may also occur close to or on the biochar surface.
Screening for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

TO THE EDITOR: Selph and colleagues' meta-analysis (1) asks whether screening for type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, or impaired glucose tolerance among asymptomatic adults improves health care outcomes. Unfortunately, the authors seem to have lost focus in their selection of a title and provide an unbalanced assessment on the troubling consequences of type 2 diabetes and its association with an excess of morbidities and deaths, disability, and a shortened lifespan (2). Pervasive in such unbalanced analyses is the formulaic concept that no true observation exists except for recent randomized, controlled trials. To date, although strong evidence shows that improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes will reduce or delay the progression of microvascular disease, studies of macrovascular events done over decades in these patients have failed to show the same beneficial effect (3). The authors presume that evaluating cardiovascular events and mortality for a short period can determine the relative benefits of diabetes screening. Treatment of diabetes clearly reduces blindness and delays end-stage renal disease (4). Although some may consider loss of vision or renal function softer end points, they can be more debilitating than nonfatal cardiovascular events to our patients. Failure to screen even asymptomatic persons for diabetes creates a harm that this review does not imagine. Treatment of impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance also clearly delays the complications of diabetes. As statistical analyses and meta-analyses become more complicated and populations studied and morbidities and deaths more limited, study results may derive fewer benefits and may inadvertently create risk for harm. Such harm may be magnified if results are inappropriately generalized; morbidities and deaths are limited to 1 system, and the research becomes unfocused or underpowered. We believe that this review is an example.
Comparative Rate-Distortion-Complexity Analysis of HEVC and AVC Video Codecs

This paper analyzes the rate-distortion-complexity of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) reference video codec (HM) and compares the results with AVC reference codec (JM). The examined software codecs are HM 6.0 using Main Profile (MP) and JM 18.0 using High Profile (HiP). These codes are benchmarked under the all-intra (AI), random access (RA), low-delay B (LB), and low-delay P (LP) coding configurations. In order to obtain a fair comparison, JM HiP anchor codec has been configured to conform to HM MP settings and coding configurations. The rate-distortion comparisons rely on objective quality assessments, i.e., bit rate differences for equal PSNR. The complexities of HM and JM have been profiled at the cycle level with Intel VTune on Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The coding efficiency of HEVC is drastically better than that of AVC. According to our experiments, the average bit rate decrements of HM MP over JM HiP are 23%, 35%, 40%, and 35% under the AI, RA, LB, and LP configurations, respectively. However, HM achieves its coding gain with a realistic overhead in complexity. Our profiling results show that the average software complexity ratios of HM MP and JM HiP encoders are 3.2× in the AI case, 1.2× in the RA case, 1.5× in the LB case, and 1.3× in the LP case. The respective ratios with HM MP and JM HiP decoders are 2.0×, 1.6×, 1.5×, and 1.4×. This paper also reveals the bottlenecks of HM codec and provides implementation guidelines for future real-time HEVC codecs.
Perceptually Shaded Slope Maps for the Visualization of Digital Surface Models

Although shaded relief, or hillshaded, images are a widely used method to represent high-resolution (~1-m) digital surfaces derived from airborne laser (or LiDAR) scans, such displays may become difficult to interpret when they include surface features like buildings, roadways, and natural vegetation. One possible alternative as a visualization of such surface models is a representation based on slope shading – the steeper, the darker – but attenuated to the perceptual bias of overestimation of slope. The empirical work presented here demonstrates that Perceptually Shaded Slope Maps (PSSMs) perform as well or better than either hillshaded or hypsometric images on map-reading tasks, including profile estimation and mental rotation. Bien que le relief par ombres portées (ou images par estompage) soit largement utilisé pour représenter les surfaces numériques à haute résolution (~1 m) dérivées du balayage laser aéroporté ou de la détection et télémétrie par ondes lumineuses (LiDAR), de telles représentations peuvent être difficiles à interpréter lorsqu’elles présentent certains éléments de surface comme des immeubles, des routes et de la végétation. Il existe une solution de rechange pour visualiser ce type de modèles de surface : il s’agit d’une représentation fondée sur l’ombrage des surfaces inclinées – plus elles sont abruptes, plus elles sont foncées – mais limitée au biais perceptuel qui engendre une surestimation des pentes. Les travaux empiriques présentés dans cet article démontrent que les cartes dont les pentes sont ombragées sur le plan perceptuel donnent des résultats aussi bons, voire meilleurs, que les images hypsométriques ou par estompage pour des tâches de lecture de cartes qui comprennent l’estimation du profil et la rotation mentale.
Evaluation and Modeling of User Performance for Pointing and Scrolling Tasks on Handheld Devices Using Tilt Sensor

We experimentally test the effectiveness and reliability of the accelerometer-based tilt sensor as an interaction device for pointing and scrolling tasks on handheld devices. The touch screen and stylus based interfaces on these devices requires using two hands: one for holding the device and the other for driving the stylus. In our experiment, the participants use only one hand to interact with the same interfaces. In addition to freeing one hand, using the tilt sensor doesn't hide a part of the device's tiny screen. Two different interfaces are used in the experiment: one for testing pointing and targeting without scrolling and the other is for testing them with scrolling. Using the experiment results we developed a model for the prediction of the execution time for both tasks.
Influence of calf genotype on colostral immunoglobulins in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cows and serum immunoglobulins in their calves.

Purebred Bos indicus calves are documented to have lower survival rates than Bos taurus calves. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the possibility that this decreased survival rate may be attributed to dam colostral immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations and subsequent calf serum Ig concentrations. The specific objective was to determine the effect of breed type of calf on colostrum production, immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum and calf serum, and availability and absorption efficiency of Ig. Brahman (B) and Angus (A) cattle were reciprocally mated to produce calves of the following types: A x A (n = 8), A x B (n = 9), B x B (n = 11), and B x A (n = 11). At birth, calves were separated from their dams and a blood sample was collected before feeding pooled colostrum (30 mL/kg birth weight) at 1 and 6 h of age. From 6 to 12 h of age, each calf was placed in a box that allowed interaction with the dam but prevented suckling. At 12 h of age, each calf was fed its dam's colostrum and placed with the dam. Additional blood samples were collected at 12, 24, and 48 h after birth. Serum and colostrum samples were analyzed for IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA using single radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay techniques. The cows were hand-milked after induction of milk letdown with oxytocin at 1 and 12 h after calving. Colostrum volume was recorded, and samples were collected. Brahman cows produced more (P < .001) colostrum at 1 and 12 h than A cows. Total Ig concentrations were obtained by summing IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA concentrations. Total Ig (P < .02), IgG (P < .005), and IgA (P < .01) concentrations in colostrum were greater in cows producing crossbred calves. Total Ig (P < .006), IgG (P < .02), IgG1 (P < .004), and IgG2 (P < .02) available in colostrum were affected by B x B and A x B breed types of calf. Brahman cows had more Ig available at 1 and 12 h than A cows due to increased production of colostrum. Breed type influenced colostral Ig in cattle. Serum concentrations of total Ig, IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA in the calf and efficiency of absorption at 6 and 12 h were not affected by breed type, sex of calf, or any interaction.
Multiple sclerosis is linked to Epstein‐Barr virus infection

The aetiology and pathogenesis of MS are unknown, but environmental agents, genetic susceptibility and stochastic events are likely to be involved. In order to evaluate the possibility that MS is linked to EBV infection, we here evaluate studies on MS‐ and EBV‐epidemiology, prospective and retrospective analysis of EBV‐serology, investigations of EBV DNA sequences in blood and tissues, specificity of antibodies in oligoclonal bands in MS patients and results from antiviral chemotherapy of MS patients. It could be demonstrated that EBV is complying with the epidemiological observations in MS and that all MS patients are seropositive to EBV in contrast to healthy controls. Importantly, despite difficulties in diagnosing child‐MS, the vast majority of these patients are also EBV seropositive. In contrast to control groups, recent EBV infections have never been observed in children or adults with MS. Further prospective studies indicate a 2.8 times higher tendency for development of MS after infectious mononucleosis. In MS patients, unbiased analyses pull out EBV antigens as high‐affinity targets for the antibodies in the oligoclonal bands. Humans are the exclusive natural host for EBV, a finding that may explain why MS is unique to humans. Together these unique observations strongly suggest a linkage between MS and EBV infection. Infection by EBV offers numerable mechanisms to perturb the immune system, including mimicry and superantigen induction, which may potentially participate in the disease mechanisms. In contrast, studies demonstrating higher IgG titres and occurrence of viral DNA in serum/plasma are likely to reflect a consequence of the disease. An explanation for a potential role of respiratory diseases in MS is discussed. It is concluded that the ultimate test to the hypothesis of MS and EBV is the development and application of an EBV vaccine, which is predicted to eradicate the disease. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Estrogen Replacement Therapy on PET Cerebral Blood Flow and Neuropsychological Performance

Reports that estrogen may protect against age-associated memory decline and Alzheimer's Disease have kindled interest in the effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on cognition and brain function. As part of a 9-year study in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we are performing annual magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and neuropsychological assessments to examine brain structure and function in individuals aged 55 and older. PET measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) are obtained under 3 conditions: rest and verbal and figural delayed recognition memory tasks. Fifteen women receiving ERT (with or without the addition of progesterone) were compared with a matched sample of 17 untreated women. There were no significant differences between groups in regional brain volumes or ventricular size. However, ERT users and nonusers showed significant differences in PET-rCBF relative activation patterns during the memory tasks. During verbal memory processing, there were significant interactions in rCBF activations for the right parahippocampal gyrus, right precuneus, right frontal regions, and left hypothalamus. During figural memory processing, significant interactions were observed for right parahippocampal and inferior parietal regions and for left visual association and anterior thalamic regions. ERT users also showed better performance on neuropsychological tests of figural and verbal memory and on some aspects of the PET activation tests, although the two groups did not differ in education, overall verbal ability, or performance on other neuropsychological tests. These findings confirm our previous observation of the beneficial effects of ERT on figural memory. Moreover, differences in rCBF activation patterns between ERT users and nonusers suggest an area for future research to examine mechanisms through which ERT may influence memory and other cognitive abilities.
Pasteurized Autograft for Intercalary Reconstruction: An Alternative to Allograft

Intercalary resection and reconstruction for tumors have become increasingly popular. We asked whether pasteurized autologous bone graft was comparable to other reported reconstruction methods regarding union rates, complications, and functional outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 21 intercalary pasteurized bones in lower extremities. Ultimate graft survival, union rate, and union time were evaluated as a function of clinical variables, such as age, gender, body mass index, location of intercalary segment, primary tumor type, use of chemotherapy, percentage and length of resected bone, type of junction, method of fixation, and iliac bone graft at index operation. The overall survival rate of pasteurized bone was 74% at 10 years. We identified no clinical variables associated with graft survival or union time. The union rate was related to length or percentage of resected segment and location of osteotomy. The rates of infection, fracture, and nonunion were three of 21, two of 21, and five of 21, respectively. Our results suggest reconstruction with pasteurized autograft is a simple and easily accessible method in limb salvage and an economic alternative to allograft, with low rates of ultimate failure and graft-related complications.Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Susceptibility of malaria vectors to insecticides in Gadchiroli district (Maharashtra), India.

insecticides 9–10 . In the morning hours (0600 to 0800 hrs) with the help of suction tube, An. culicifacies Giles, An. fluviatilis James and An. annularis Van der Wulp were collected from cattlesheds, human dwellings and mixed dwellings of different villages of Murumgaon PHC. The collected female mosquitoes were provided with 10% glucose solution soaked in cotton pads and transported in caged cloth to the field laboratories at the PHC of Murumgaon, Gadchiroli district. Insecticide-impregnated papers with different diagnostic doses received from University Sans Malaysia were used for detection of resistance to DDT (4%), malathion (5%) and deltamethrin (0.05%). Only full-fed and semi-gravid mosquitoes were used to determine the susceptibility status. Mosquitoes were exposed against the diagnostic doses of insecticides for an hour, as per standard WHO technique 9,10 . Three to four replicates of each vector species containing 15–25 female mosquitoes were taken simultaneously for each insecticide. Two replicates for control were also held parallel to each test. The mosquitoes were exposed for 1 h and kept for observation for 24 h.The percent mortalities were scored after 24 h of recovery period and if the control mortality remained within 5–20%, test mortality was corrected using Abbott’s formula 11 and expressed as corrected percent mortality. If the mortality is >20%, the tests were discarded. Results of susceptibility tests on An. culicifacies, An. fluviatilis and An. annularis against DDT (4%), malathion (5%) and deltamethrin (0.05%) are given in Table 1. The corrected percent mortality of adult An. culicifacies, An. fluviatilis and An. annularis to DDT (4%) ranged between 21 and 36.66%; to malathion (5%) between 90.52 and 96%; and to deltamethrin (0.05%) between 94 and 96.42%. These results indicate that the tested mosquito species are resistant to DDT but tolerant to malathion and
L‐dopa long‐term treatment in Parkinson's disease

One hundred ninety L-dopa-treated parkinsonian patients have been studied according to the age at onset and to age at last examination. The frequency of major mental disturbances was significantly higher in patients older than 60 years, whereas abnormal involuntary movements and on-off phenomenon were more frequent in patients with onset before age 60. The association of normal aging and of Parkinson's disease may be responsible for the prevalence of mental disease in older patients.
Binding of conserved islet peptides by human and murine MHC class II molecules associated with susceptibility to type I diabetes

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most important susceptibility locus for type I diabetes in humans and NOD mice. NOD mice express a single MHC class II molecule (I‐Ag7) which carries a unique β chain sequence. In humans, DQ alleles that encode DQ8 and DQ2 confer the highest risk for the disease. Soluble DQ8 and I‐Ag7 were used to directly compare the binding specificity of these MHC molecules. Peptides from three islet antigens – insulin, GAD 65 and HSP 60 – bound to both CQ8 and I‐Ag7. These peptides included epitopes that are immunodominant in NOD mice, namely insulin (9 – 23), GAD (206 – 220) and HSP 60 (441 – 460). All of these peptide sequences are highly conserved between the human and murine antigens. The binding specificity of DQ8 and I‐Ag7 was similar, but not identical, since two peptides eluted from splenocytes of NOD mice did not bind to DQ8. DQ8 formed long‐lived complexes with the majority of these peptides, indicating that DQ8 is not a poor peptide binder. These results demonstrate functional similarities between human and murine MHC class II molecules that confer susceptibility to type I diabetes.
Improved influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in rheumatology patients taking immunosuppressants using an electronic health record best practice alert.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether an electronic health record (EHR) best practice alert (BPA), a clinical reminder to help guideline adherence, improved vaccination rates in rheumatology patients receiving immunosuppressants. Guidelines recommend yearly influenza and pneumococcal vaccination with revaccination for patients age >65 years who are taking immunosuppressive medications. METHODS A vaccination BPA was developed based on immunosuppressant treatment, age, and prior vaccinations. At site 1, a hospital-based academic practice, physicians ordered vaccinations. At site 2, a community-based practice, physicians signed orders placed by nurses. Demographics, vaccination rates, and documentation (vaccination or no administration) were obtained. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test analysis compared vaccination and documentation rates for October 1 through December 31, 2006 (preBPA), and October 1 through December 31, 2007 (postBPA). Breslow-Day statistics tested the odds ratio of improvement across the years between the sites. RESULTS PostBPA influenza vaccination rates significantly increased (47% to 65%; P < 0.001), with significant improvement at both sites. PostBPA pneumococcal vaccination rates likewise significantly increased (19% to 41%; P < 0.001). PostBPA documentation rates for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations also increased significantly. Site 2 (nurse-driven) had significantly higher preBPA vaccination rates for influenza (69% versus 43%; P < 0.001) than pneumococcal (47% versus 15%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The use of a BPA significantly increased influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and documentation rates in rheumatology patients taking immunosuppressants. A nurse-driven process offered higher efficacy. An EHR programmed to alert providers is an effective tool for improving quality of care for patients receiving immunosuppressants.
Soaring unemployment in Czechia during the global economic crisis

ABSTRACT This study presents an analysis and visualisation of the evolutionary dynamics of unemployment at the municipal level in Czechia during the global economic crisis. The analysis is based on a monthly time series of unemployment data at a detailed territorial level. Namely, there are 6,258 municipalities in Czechia, which makes it particularly suitable for a detailed investigation of the unfolding and evolution of the recent crisis. Our focus is on analysing and mapping the spatiotemporal patterns of unemployment using variability and autocorrelation measures. Given the detailed territorial level of our analysis, large-scale maps will be presented to assist with interpretation and analytical conclusions. The Main Map (1:600 000) shows the categories of municipalities according to the rate of unemployment and its evolutionary dynamics. Three additional maps (1:1 400 000) visualise the results of spatiotemporal analyses.
Enhancing DSSS-signals channel estimation through compressive sensing

A new approach for channel estimation, based on the concept of compressive sensing is presented for situations where signals are DSSS transmitted. Compressive sensing encompasses elegant mathematical background where the information of the sparse characteristic of the signal is used to create an efficient representation of it using fewer measurements than required by the Shannon-Nyquist criterion. The reconstruction is performed through linear programming or greedy algorithms. In this paper, we demonstrate that compressive sensing can enable reduction in the analog-to-digital sampling rate, allowing the design of simpler and cheaper receivers, while keeping or improving resolution in the DSSS channel estimation.
[Studies on the chemical constituents from aerial parts of Gynura divaricata].

OBJECTIVE To study the chemical constituents from aerial parts of Gynura divaricata. METHODS The constituents were isolated on silica gel column chromatography, preparative TLC and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, identified by physicochemical properties and the structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. RESULTS 10 compounds were isolated and identified as 2-(1', 2', 3', 4'-tetrahydroxybutyl)-6-(2", 3", 4"-trihydroxybutyl)-pyrazine (1), 2-(1', 2', 3', 4'-tetrahydroxybutyl)-5-(2", 3", 4"-trihydroxybutyl) -pyrazine (2), nicotinic acid (3), 5-hydroxy-picolinic acid(4), methyl-5-hydroxy-2- pyridinecarboxylate (5), adenosine (6), uridine (7), stigmasterol-5-O- beta-D-glucoside (8), dibutyl terephthalate (9), methyl chlorogenate (10). CONCLUSION Compounds 1, 2, 5, 9, 10 are obtained from this genus for the first time, Compounds 3, 4 are obtained from this plant for the first time.