Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LONG-TERM APPLICATION OF POULTRY LITTER TO IMPROVE SOIL AGGREGATE STABILITY UNDER COOL AND WARM SEASON GRASSES

Farming practices such as organic and inorganic amendment and soil type can affect aggregation under forage species. We determined the effect of nitrogen rate and soil-litter history on short-term response of aggregate stability under tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.). Nitrogen was applied as ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) at rates 0, 160, 320 kg total N ha -1 in split applications (80 and 160 kg N ha -1 ) to tall fescue, annual ryegrass and bermudagrass grown in 2000g of a litteramended and unamended Bude silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Aquic Fragiudults) and to bermudagrass in a litter-amended and unamended Ruston sandy loam (Fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleudults) in a greenhouse pot experiment. Aggregate stability was measured as water stable macro-aggregate (> 250 µm) and micro-aggregate (125-250 µm) using a wet sieving apparatus. The litter-amended soils produced more dry matter yield per unit of N and had more stable aggregates in comparison to their unamended counterparts. Increasing rate of N decreased aggregate stability in the litter-amended Bude under annual ryegrass and bermudagrass, possibly due to the rapid drying of the soil that resulted from the increase in yield. The results of these studies indicate that the effect of soil type, forage species and fertility management on soil aggregate stability may vary base on environmental condition. Field studies are required to understand the effect of management practices on aggregate stability.
“I Can Remember Sort of Vivid People…but to Me They Were Plasticine.” Delusions on the Intensive Care Unit: What Do Patients Think Is Going On?

Introduction Patients who develop intensive care unit (ICU) acquired delirium stay longer in the ICU, and hospital, and are at risk of long-term mental and physical health problems. Despite guidelines for patient assessment, risk limitation, and treatment in the ICU population, delirium and associated delusions remain a relatively common occurrence on the ICU. There is considerable information in the literature describing the incidence, suspected causes of, and discussion of the benefits and side-effects of the various treatments for delirium in the ICU. But peer-reviewed patient-focused research is almost non-existent. There is therefore a very limited understanding of the reality of delusions in the intensive care unit from the patient’s point of view. Method A secondary analysis of the original interviews conducted by the University of Oxford Health Experiences Research Group was undertaken to explore themes relating specifically to sleep and delirium. Results Patients describe a liminal existence on the ICU. On the threshold of consciousness their reality is uncertain and their sense of self is exposed. Lack of autonomy in an unfamiliar environment prompts patients to develop explanations and understandings for themselves with no foothold in fact. Conclusion Patients on the ICU are perhaps more disoriented than they appear and early psychological intervention in the form of repeated orientation whilst in the ICU might improve the patient experience and defend against development of side-effects.
COMPARISON OF OXIDIZED CARBON NANOTUBES EFFICIENCIES FOR BENZENE AND TOLUENE REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely used as adsorbent in environmental treatment, especially for pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The purpose of this work is to develop materials based on functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for Benzene and Toluene removal. This will exploit adsorption propertiesof modified MWCNTS for Benzene and Toluene. In the first study, adsorption capacity of pristine MWCNTs to Benzene and Toluene in aqueous solution was investigated through isotherm study. The qe values of CNTs for Benzene and Toluene were 45,5 mg.g -1 and 56.3 mg.g -1 , respectively and a contact time of 120 min. The modification of three oxidized MWCNTs were performed with acid solution (HNO 3 /H 2 SO 4 ), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The modified MWCNTs materials (CNT-COOH,CNT-NaOCl,CNT-H 2 O 2 ) were characterized by Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The effects of functional groups on the MWCNTs on the adsorption capacity of Benzene, Toluene in aqueous solution were studied and compared to pristine MWCNTs. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of adsorption was significantly enhanced with oxidized CNTs, and following the order CNTs-NaOCl > CNTs-H 2 O 2 > CNTs-H 2 SO 4 > pristine CNTs.
A laboratory scale bioremediation of Tapis crude oil contaminated soil by bioaugmentation of Acinetobacter baumannii T30C

Microbial degradation of Tapis crude oil contaminated soil by Acinetobacter baumannii T30C was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the selected potential hydrocarbon degrader in stimulating bioremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil with different treatment units in microcosms with 2.5 kg soil. Previously, A. baumannii T30C was isolated from a Tapis crude oil-contaminated soil of oil refinery plant, Terengganu, Malaysia. The reduction of residual hydrocarbons in the soil was observed for a period of about 35 days. The study showed that amendment of nutrients was needed for stimulating the growth of A. baumannii T30C and indigenous microorganism in assisting the degradation of residual hydrocarbons in the soil.
Multigenerational effects of carbendazim in Daphnia magna: From a subcellular to a population level

Anthropogenic activities such as the use of pesticides may affect aquatic biota populations, due to potential agricultural runoffs or disposals. Carbendazim is one example of a widely used fungicide with a high potential to end up in aquatic ecosystems through runoff. Deleterious effects observed at the individual level are possibly explained by changes in homeostasis at the cellular level, and both factors can then be used to predict effects at the population level. In the present study, an isoclonal population of Daphnia magna (clone K6) was exposed to a concentration that mimics relevant levels of carbendazim in the environment over 12 generations. The effects of carbendazim were assessed in some generations using the following endpoints: biochemical biomarkers (cholinesterase, catalase, and glutathione‐S‐transferase), lipid peroxidation and energy‐related parameters (carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins along with available energy and energy consumption), parental longevity, and population growth (r). Long‐term exposure to carbendazim had no effect on the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) of adult D. magna, but longevity was decreased at the F12 generation compared to that of control. Differences between the exposed and nonexposed populations were found for cholinesterase, glutathione‐S‐transferase, and lipid peroxidation. However, for catalase and energy‐related parameters, no differences were observed between these 2 populations. Natural variability was seen throughout the test period, under control conditions, within the 12 generations. Overall, carbendazim induced some effects at the subcellular level that translated into changes in longevity but these later vanished in terms of population effects. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:412–422. © 2018 SETAC
Cycling for Sustainable Transportation in Urban Ghana: Exploring Attitudes and Perceptions among Adults with Different Cycling Experience

Attitudinal and perceptual factors are important determinants of bicycle use as a mode of transportation. Understanding how attitudes and perceptions vary across different population is critical for successful cycling promotion interventions. Drawing on research from the context of an African city, this paper examines attitudes and perceptions about utility cycling in the general population, and determines if there are differences in how males and females who have different cycling experience perceive cycling for commuting purposes. Using non-parametric test, the study found that attitudes and perceptions regarding the environmental, financial, exercise and potential health benefits of cycling for transportation were very positive generally, and slightly stronger in females who had never cycled before than in males in the same group. Cycling was also not perceived as the most comfortable, safe, easy, convenient and flexible mode of transportation suitable for long distance travel among the majority of the respondents. These perceptions and attitudes were pronounced in females in the sub-group of respondents who had never cycled before and those who cycled previously than in males in the same groups. Among frequent cyclists, males perceived cycling for commute as a less tiring activity than females. Moreover, cycling’s public image as a less prestigious mode of transport that could not be taken to important social events was prevalent among the respondents, although this perception was found to be stronger in males than in females who had not cycled before. The findings could inform tailored cycling promotion programmes within the general population and across specific groups.
A Comparison of Breastfeeding Exclusivity and Duration Rates Between Immediate Postpartum Levonorgestrel Versus Etonogestrel Implant Users: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Objective: This study compares breastfeeding outcomes after immediate postpartum initiation of single-rod etonogestrel (ENG) versus two-rod levonorgestrel (LNG) contraceptive implants. Outcomes assessed include the following: (1) breastfeeding continuation through 24 months after delivery and (2) exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months after delivery, at Kasungu District Hospital, Malawi. Methods: We used Kaplan–Meier survival analysis to compare breastfeeding continuation through 24 months and exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months after delivery for ENG versus LNG implant users. We described infant feeding practices up to 6 months after delivery. Results: We analyzed 140 women: 28 (20%) ENG and 112 (80%) LNG impalnt users. Eighty-seven percent (n = 122) of women completed the 24-month study visit. Twenty-four months breastfeeding continuation proportions were 54.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 32.7–71.4) and 74.7% (95% CI = 64.9–82.2) for ENG and LNG implant users, respectively (p = 0.10). Breastfeeding continuation was high in both groups at 21 months: 100% and 93.2% (95% CI = 86.2–96.7) for ENG and LNG implant users, respectively (p = 0.18). Seventy-one percent (20/28, 95% CI = 51.0–84.6) of ENG and 72% (78/108, 95% CI = 62.4–79.7) of LNG implant users exclusively breastfed their infants until 6 months postpartum (p = 0.89). Conclusions: Continuation of breastfeeding until 24 months and exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months were high among users of both types of progestin implant initiated immediately postpartum and similar to proportions among the general population of postpartum women in the Central region of Malawi.
Chain organization of human interphase chromosome determines the spatiotemporal dynamics of chromatin loci

We investigate spatiotemporal dynamics of human interphase chromosomes by employing a heteropolymer model that incorporates the information of human chromosomes inferred from Hi-C data. Despite considerable heterogeneities in the chromosome structures generated from our model, chromatins are organized into crumpled globules with space-filling (SF) statistics characterized by a single universal scaling exponent (ν = 1/3), and this exponent alone can offer a quantitative account of experimentally observed, many different features of chromosome dynamics. The local chromosome structures, whose scale corresponds to that of topologically associated domains (∼ 0.1 − 1 Mb), display dynamics with a fast relaxation time (≲ 1 − 10 sec); in contrast, the long-range spatial reorganization of the entire chromatin (≳O(102) Mb) occurs on a much slower time scale (≳ hour), providing the dynamic basis of cell-to-cell variability and glass-like behavior of chromosomes. Biological activities, modeled using stronger isotropic white noises added to active loci, accelerate the relaxation dynamics of chromatin domains associated with the low frequency modes and induce phase segregation between the active and inactive loci. Surprisingly, however, they do not significantly change the dynamics at local scales from those obtained under passive conditions. Our study underscores the role of chain organization of chromosome in determining the spatiotemporal dynamics of chromatin loci.
An Experimental Evaluation of the Force Requirements for Robotic Mastoidectomy

Hypothesis During robotic milling of the temporal bone, forces on the cutting burr may be lowered by choice of cutting parameters. Background Robotic bone removal systems are used in orthopedic procedures, but they are currently not accurate enough for safe use in otologic surgery. We propose the use of a bone-attached milling robot to achieve the required accuracy and speed. To design such a robot and plan its milling trajectories, it is necessary to predict the forces that the robot must exert and withstand under likely cutting conditions. Materials and Methods We measured forces during bone removal for several surgical burr types, drill angles, depths of cut, cutting velocities, and bone types (cortical/surface bone and mastoid) on human temporal bone specimens. Results Lower forces were observed for 5-mm diameter burrs compared with 3-mm burrs for a given bone removal rate. Higher linear cutting velocities and greater cutting depths independently resulted in higher forces. For combinations of velocities and depths that resulted in the same overall bone removal rate, lower forces were observed in parameter sets that combined higher cutting velocities and shallower depths. Lower mean forces and higher variability were observed in the mastoid compared with cortical/surface bone. Conclusion Forces during robotic milling of the temporal bone can be predicted from the parameter sets tested in this study. This information can be used to guide the design of a sufficiently rigid and powerful bone-attached milling robot and to plan efficient milling trajectories. To reduce the time of the surgical intervention without creating very large forces, high linear cutting velocities may be combined with shallow depths of cut. Faster and deeper cuts may be used in mastoid bone compared with the cortical bone for a chosen force threshold.
Regulatory actions of ToxR and CalR on their own genes and type III secretion system 1 in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of seafood-associated gastroenteritis. Type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1) is one of the virulence determinants of this bacteria. T3SS1 expression is regulated by ToxR and CalR. ToxR represses the transcription of T3SS1 genes via activation of CalR, which acts as a transcriptional repressor of T3SS1 genes. However, the transcriptional regulation mechanisms have not been elucidated. As showing in the present work, ToxR binds to the promoter DNA region of calR to activate its transcription. CalR occupies the promoter-proximal regions of each detected target operons in T3SS1 loci to repress their transcription, and thereby inhibiting T3SS1-dependent cytotoxicity. Moreover, a feedback CalR inhibits toxR and its own gene in a direct manner. Collectively, this work reported an interesting gene regulatory network involving the reciprocal regulation of ToxR and CalR, and their regulation on T3SS1 genes transcription in V. parahaemolyticus.
Differential Effects of Tra2ß Isoforms on HIV-1 RNA Processing and Expression

Balanced processing of HIV-1 RNA is critical to virus replication and is regulated by host factors. In this report, we demonstrate that overexpression of either Tra2α or Tra2β results in a marked reduction in HIV-1 Gag/ Env expression, an effect associated with changes in HIV-1 RNA accumulation, altered viral splice site usage, and a block to export of HIV-1 genomic RNA. A natural isoform of Tra2β (Tra2ß3), lacking the N-terminal RS domain, also suppressed HIV-1 expression but had different effects on viral RNA processing. The functional differences between the Tra2β isoforms were also observed in the context of another RNA substrate indicating that these factors have distinct functions within the cell. Finally, we demonstrate that Tra2ß depletion results in a selective reduction in HIV-1 Env expression as well as an increase in multiply spliced viral RNA. Together, the findings indicate that Tra2α/β can play important roles in regulating HIV-1 RNA metabolism and expression.
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and select aldehydes in cloud and fog water: the role of the aqueous phase in impacting trace gas budgets

Abstract. Cloud and fog droplets efficiently scavenge and process water-soluble compounds and, thus, modify the chemical composition of the gas and particle phases. The concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the aqueous phase reach concentrations on the order of ~ 10 mgC L −1 which is typically on the same order of magnitude as the sum of inorganic anions. Aldehydes and carboxylic acids typically comprise a large fraction of DOC because of their high solubility. The dissolution of species in the aqueous phase can lead to (i) the removal of species from the gas phase preventing their processing by gas phase reactions (e.g., photolysis of aldehydes) and (ii) the formation of unique products that do not have any efficient gas phase sources (e.g., dicarboxylic acids). We present measurements of DOC and select aldehydes in fog water at high elevation and intercepted clouds at a biogenically-impacted location (Whistler, Canada) and in fog water in a more polluted area (Davis, CA). Concentrations of formaldehyde, glyoxal and methylglyoxal were in the micromolar range and comprised ≤ 2% each individually of the DOC. Comparison of the DOC and aldehyde concentrations to those at other locations shows good agreement and reveals highest levels for both in anthropogenically impacted regions. Based on this overview, we conclude that the fraction of organic carbon (dissolved and insoluble inclusions) in the aqueous phase of clouds or fogs, respectively, comprises 2–~ 40% of total organic carbon. Higher values are observed to be associated with aged air masses where organics are expected to be more highly oxidised and, thus, more soluble. Accordingly, the aqueous/gas partitioning ratio expressed here as an effective Henry's law constant for DOC ( K H * DOC ) increases by an order of magnitude from 7 × 10 3 M atm −1 to 7 × 10 4 M atm −1 during the ageing of air masses. The measurements are accompanied by photochemical box model simulations. These simulations are used to contrast two scenarios, i.e., an anthropogenically vs. a more biogenically impacted one as being representative for Davis and Whistler, respectively. Since the simplicity of the box model prevents a fully quantitative prediction of the observed aldehyde concentrations, we rather use the model results to compare trends in aldehyde partitioning and ratios. They suggest that the scavenging of aldehydes by the aqueous phase can reduce HO 2 gas phase levels significantly by two orders of magnitude due to a weaker net source of HO 2 production from aldehyde photolysis in the gas phase. Despite the high solubility of dicarbonyl compounds (glyoxal, methylglyoxal), their impact on the HO 2 budget by scavenging is
The Robo4–TRAF7 complex suppresses endothelial hyperpermeability in inflammation

ABSTRACT Roundabout guidance receptor 4 (Robo4) is an endothelial cell-specific receptor that stabilizes the vasculature in pathological angiogenesis. Although Robo4 has been shown to suppress vascular hyperpermeability induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis, the role of Robo4 in inflammation is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Robo4 in vascular hyperpermeability during inflammation. Endotoxemia models using Robo4−/− mice showed increased mortality and vascular leakage. In endothelial cells, Robo4 suppressed tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced hyperpermeability by stabilizing VE-cadherin at cell junctions, and deletion assays revealed that the C-terminus of Robo4 was involved in this suppression. Through binding and localization assays, we demonstrated that in endothelial cells, Robo4 binds to TNF receptor-associated factor 7 (TRAF7) through interaction with the C-terminus of Robo4. Gain- and loss-of-function studies of TRAF7 with or without Robo4 expression showed that TRAF7 is required for Robo4-mediated suppression of hyperpermeability. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the Robo4–TRAF7 complex is a novel negative regulator of inflammatory hyperpermeability. We propose this complex as a potential future target for protection against inflammatory diseases. Summary: Endothelial cell-specific receptor Robo4 interacts with TRAF7 to stabilize VE-cadherin at endothelial cell junctions, and suppress endothelial hyperpermeability induced by inflammatory stimuli.
An Optimum Currency Crisis

This paper presents an ex-post assessment of the current situation of the EMU in light of the conditions prescribed by the theory of Optimum Currency Areas (OCA). The analysis shows that some of those conditions were satisfied at the inception of the EMU, others were missing at the beginning, but improved over time as expected by the endogenous approach to the OCA theory. The common fiscal capacity was the main missing element of the initial construction of the Eurozone, and still is. The common budget is so exiguous that its effectiveness as shock absorption mechanism is negligible. The analysis then shows how some of the concerns raised on the eve of the euro did actually materialize, even if not immediately. First, in its first decade the Eurozone did not experience major turbulences, because growing financial integration was compensating the need for fiscal transfers, channelling the excess of saving from the â€˜coreâ€™ to the â€˜peripheryâ€™. Second, the mechanism generated record-high private indebtedness in the â€˜peripheryâ€™ and exposure of the banks in the â€˜coreâ€™, making the whole system more fragile as it relied upon financial marketsâ€™ stability. Third, once the long-feared shock hit, the mechanism proved weak and non-resilient. The inherent weaknesses of the EMU became evident. Fourth, as it had been foreseen, the cost of the adjustment after the shock fell mainly on labour, with much higher and longer unemployment in the Eurozone than both non-Eurozone EU and the US. Fifth, as the theory suggested, the lack of common mechanisms of adjustment dramatically increased the socio-economic divergences within the EMU. The paper finally presents a simulation for a common budget of the Eurozone, linked to the relative current account positions of the member states.