Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Classification of Hydrological Relevant Parameters by Soil Hydraulic Behaviour

Soil water simulations on hydrological meso- or macroscale require parameters that describe the physical characteristics of the soil. At these scales, information regarding soil properties is mostly only available on very coarse spatial resolutions with texture based soil characterisations, where it is difficult to select representative soil hydraulic parameters. We improved the parameter estimation by introducing a new soil classification system, which is based on soil hydraulic behaviour in order to realistically reproduce the soil water interaction within meso-scaled hydrological models. The time series of soil water flux were simulated based on one million different parameterisations, which were then utilised for similarity analyses while applying the k-means clustering. The resulting classes show a different pattern when compared to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) texture based classes. Representative time series of water flux representative of the new classes were compared to time series of the USDA texture classification. The new classes show remarkably lower uncertainties. The bandwidth of the time series within a class is orders of magnitudes higher for the USDA system when compared to the new system. The evaluation of similarity of the simulated water flux time series within one and the same class were also clearly better for the new system.
Ventricular Premature Beats in Triathletes: Still a Physiological Phenomenon?

Sudden death is a tragic fact, unexpectedly arising in all age groups. Ventricular arrhythmias are the main cause. At the end of a maximal exercise test more ventricular premature beats were noted in a group of well trained triathletes compared with a similar control group. The etiology is multifactorial. When these ventricular premature beats are associated with specific structural and functional heart adaptations, echocardiographically and electrocardiographically well-documented, then those ‘banal’ ventricular premature beats cannot longer be considered as a physiological phenomenon. In these circumstances the involved subject is a candidate for dangerous arrhythmias and ‘sudden cardiac death’. Purpose: The principal cause of ‘Sudden cardiac death’ is ventricular arrhythmias. We explore the incidence of ventricular premature beats (VPB) in triathletes, who engage in enforced endurance sports. Methods: Fifty-two triathletes were compared with twenty-two control subjects with comparable anthropometric parameters in function of structural and functional cardiac adaptations. Maximal exercise tests were conducted on a stationary bicycle and a treadmill. During the last two minutes of each test, the VPB were registered. Results: Statistically significant differences emerged in the cardiac structure and function between the triathletes and the controls. There were signs of cardiac hypertrophy and arguments for a supernormally diastolic left ventricular function in the triathletes. The performance capacity was also significantly higher in the triathletes. The maximal heart rate was significantly higher in the control group. The number of VPB was significantly higher in the triathletes. The increased risk of VPB in the triathlon group is caused by several factors: the degree of cardiac hypertrophy, the increased diastolic reserve, the duration of the exercise, the existence of an aortic insufficiency jet and some specific electrocardiographic findings. Conclusions: The triathlete has an increased risk of VPB during maximal efforts. We doubt the traditionally accepted view of the physiological nature of those VPB and suspect that the limit of physiological cardiac adaptations to sport efforts is exceeded with the appearance of VPB. The triathlete with VPB and with specific electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings is a candidate for ‘sudden cardiac death’.
Spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea arising from the middle cranial fossa: CT demonstration.

When patients present with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea the primary diagnostic goal is localizing the site of leakage so that an appropriate approach for surgical repair can be selected. Metrizamide computed to­ mography (CT) has become the preferred method for inves­ tigating CSF rhinorrhea for several reasons [1-4]. CT provides superb bone detail so that fractures or areas of bony discon­ tinuity can be identified. If the patient is actively leaking at the time of the examination, opacified CSF can often be visualized directly as it passes through the fistula, providing the sine qua non for localization. CT also allows examination of the paranasal sinuses for evidence of air-fluid levels and abnor­ malities that may be associated with CSF rhinorrhea, such as hydrocephalus or empty sella. The most common sites of spontaneous CSF leak occur in the anterior fossa, sella, and parasellar regions, allowing communication with the paranasal sinuses or nasal fossa. The petro us bone is also a potential source of rhinorrhea via CSF carried by way of the eustachian tube [5]. We report a case of CSF rhinorrhea arising from a relatively uncommon site, the middle cranial fossa, accurately demonstrated by metrizamide CT and confirmed surgically. Bone/dura/arach­ noid defects at the floor of the middle fossa formed a fistula between the subarachnoid space and the pterygoid recess of the sphenoid sinus. Although such fistulae have been de­ scribed [6-9], they have not been demonstrated by metriza­ mide CT. Our case emphasizes the importance of examining the full lateral extent of the sphenoid sinus and appreciating the morphology of the middle cranial fossa floor when study­ ing patients with CSF rhinorrhea. The CT findings also lend credence to the hypothesis that middle fossa fistulae can be formed by spontaneous rupture of congenital "pits" at the skull base rather than as the result of previous trauma [8, 9].
Brand equity in the Pakistani hotel industry

O valor da marca e considerado o aspecto mais importante da marca, que e um conjunto de responsabilidades e ativos das marcas, seu simbolo ou nome que subtraem de ou adicionam o valor fornecido por um produto ou servico para uma empresa e clientes. Dessa forma, o esforco da pesquisa atual foi identificar a inter-relacao das dimensoes de valor da marca baseadas no cliente (reconhecimento da marca, fidelidade a marca, imagem da marca e qualidade do servico) na industria hoteleira paquistanesa. Os dados foram coletados de 821 consumidores que experimentaram os servicos dos hoteis cinco estrelas paquistaneses de varios locais. Mediar a regressao e as analises de regressao em etapas foram aplicada para investigacao das hipoteses do estudo. Os resultados apontaram as influencias significativas e positivas da qualidade do servico em todas as outras dimensoes do valor da marca, enquanto as mediacoes parciais foram aprovadas entre as variaveis. As implicacoes dos pesquisadores e profissionais sao discutidas.
Changes in productivity and carbon storage of grasslands in China under future global warming scenarios of 1.5°C and 2°C

The impacts of future global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C on the productivity and carbon (C) storage of grasslands in China are not clear yet, although grasslands in China support ~45 million agricultural populations and more than 238 million livestock populations, and are sensitive to global warming. This study used a process-based terrestrial ecosystem model named ORCHIDEE to simulate C cycle of alpine meadows and temperate grasslands in China. This model was driven by high-resolution (0.5° × 0.5°) climate of global specific warming levels (SWL) of 1.5°C and 2°C (warmer than pre-industrial level), which is downscaled by EC-EARTH3-HR v3.1 with sea surface temperature and sea-ice concentration as boundary conditions from IPSL-CM5-LR (low spatial resolution, 2.5° × 1.5°) Earth system model (ESM). Compared with baseline (1971–2005), the mean annual air temperature over Chinese grasslands increased by 2.5°C and 3.7°C under SWL1.5 and SWL2, respectively. The increase in temperature in the alpine meadow was higher than that in the temperate grassland under both SWL1.5 and SWL2. Precipitation was also shown an increasing trend under SWL2 over most of the Chinese grasslands. Strong increases in gross primary productivity (GPP) were simulated in the Chinese grasslands, and the mean annual GPP (GPPMA) increased by 19.32% and 43.62% under SWL1.5 and SWL2, respectively. The C storage increased by 0.64 Pg C and 1.37 Pg C under SWL1.5 and SWL2 for 50 years simulations. The GPPMA was 0.670. 390.88 (0.82) (model meanminmax (this study)), 0.850. 451.24 (0.97) and 0.940. 611.30 (1.17) Pg C year−1 under baseline, SWL1.5 and SWL2 modeled by four CMIP5 ESMs (phase 5 of the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Earth System Models). In contrast, the mean annual net biome productivity was −18.55−40.374. 47 (−3.61),18.65−2.0364. 03 (10.29) and 24.158. 3838.77 (24.93) Tg C year−1 under baseline, SWL1.5 and SWL2 modeled by the four CMIP5 ESMs. Our results indicated that the Chinese grasslands would have higher productivity than the baseline and can mitigate climate change through increased C sequestration under future global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C with the increase of precipitation and the global increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration.
Psychosocial Outcomes of Children and Adolescents With Early-Onset Spinal Cord Injury and Those With Spina Bifida

Purpose: To describe psychosocial outcomes of children and adolescents with early-onset spinal cord injury (SCI) and spina bifida (SB) and identify differences between them. Methods: Eighty-three participants had acquired SCI before age 3 years (mean age 10.6 ± 3.8 yrs), and 54 had SB (mean age 11.7 ± 4.1 yrs). The participants completed standardized assessments of participation, quality of life (QOL), anxiety, and depression. Independent-sample t tests and Mann-Whitney tests were used to assess group differences. Results: Participants with SCI reported higher school QOL (P = .016) and lower anxiety with social concerns/concentration (P = .037) than did participants with SB. The subgroup of participants with SCI with paraplegia reported higher school (P = .014) and overall (P = .034) QOL, and they participated in more activities (P = .015) than participants with SB. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with SCI with paraplegia have greater school and overall QOL and participate in more activities than children and adolescents with SB. Children and adolescents with SB would benefit from increased support at school and in social participation.
[The treatment of pathologic calcification of shoulder tendons with E.D.T.A. bisodium salt by mesotherapy].

The Authors treated at the Physiotherapy Service of the Clinic Orthopedic in Parma, 31 patients affected by shoulder's calcific tendonpathie++ were treated with E.D. T.A. bisodium salt they were painful and showed functional restriction besides they all shared a crystal's hydroxyapatite deposition. It was considered the pain by the Scott-Huskisson analogous--visual scale and the radiographic variation of calcification. It was noticed that with minimum pharmacological doses satisfying therapeutical results were achieved. That was not only as far as pain was concerned (disappeared in 29 patients (93.5%), but it was also obtained a significant reduction (4 patients 13%) or in some cases the disappearing of calcifications (25 patients 80%).
Factor structure of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory.

The assessment of anger has received increased attention because of growing evidence that anger and hostility are related to heart disease. Research on anger assessment has also been stimulated by the development of psychometric measures for evaluating different facets of anger, such as the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). In this study, factor analyses of the responses of a large sample of university students to the 44 STAXI items identified 7 factors. Of these, the first 6 factors closely corresponded with the 6 STAXI scales and subscales: State Anger (S-Anger); Trait Anger Temperament and Reaction; and Anger-In, Anger-Out, and Anger-Control. All 10 STAXI S-Anger items had salient loadings on the 1st factor for both sexes; the 7th factor also consisted primarily of S-Anger items. Factor analyses of responses to the 10 S-Anger items clearly confirmed two S-Anger factors for both sexes: Feeling Angry (e.g., "I am furious") and Feel Like Expressing Anger (e.g., "I feel like hitting someone").
HIV-associated nephropathy is a late, not early, manifestation of HIV-1 infection.

BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) can be the initial presentation of HIV-1 infection. As a result, many have assumed that HIVAN can occur at any point in the infection. This issue has important implications for appropriate therapy and, perhaps, for pathogenesis. Since the development of new case definitions for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and better tools to assess infection, the relationship of HIVAN to the time of AIDS infection has not been addressed. In this study, we reassessed the stage of infection at the time of HIVAN diagnosis in 10 patients, and we reviewed all previously published cases applying the new case definitions to assess stage of infection. METHODS HIVAN was confirmed by kidney biopsy in HIV seropositive patients with azotemia and/or proteinuria. CD4+ cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number were measured. We also reviewed all published cases of HIVAN to determine if AIDS-defining conditions, by current Centers for Disease Control definitions, were present in patients with biopsy-proven HIVAN. RESULTS Twenty HIV-1 seropositive patients with proteinuria and an elevated creatinine concentration were biopsied. HIVAN was the single most common cause of renal disease. CD4+ cell count was below 200/mm3 in all patients with HIVAN, fulfilling Centers for Disease Control criteria for an AIDS-defining condition. HIV-1 plasma RNA was detectable in all patients with HIVAN. In reviewing previous reports, an AIDS-defining condition was present in virtually all patients with HIVAN. CONCLUSION HIVAN develops late, not early, in the course of HIV-1 infection following the development of AIDS. This likely accounts for the poor prognosis noted in previous publications and has implications for pathogenesis. In addition, given the detectable viral RNA levels, highly active antiretroviral therapy is indicated in HIVAN. Highly active antiretroviral therapy may improve survival as well as alter the natural history of HIVAN.
Analysis of an antigen‐specific, H‐2‐restricted cell‐free product(s) made by “I‐J−” Ly‐2 cells (Ly‐2 TsF) that suppresses Ly‐2 cell‐depleted spleen cell activity

Immune Ly‐1−,2+ splenic T cells release material(s) (Ly‐2 TsF) into culture supernatants which (a) are antigen‐specific and (b) do not contain gene products of the I‐region of the MHC (major histocompatibility complex) (within the limits of our detection system) and which can lead to antigen‐specific suppression of spleen cell cultures depleted of all Ly‐2+ (Ly‐2 and Ly‐1,2) cells. The cells which make Ly‐2 TsF possess no detectable I region‐ or Qa‐1‐encoded determinants. Nonetheless, the ability of the material(s) to suppress target cells is restricted by genes closely linked to the MHC. No demonstrable evidence for a role of the polymorphic portion of genes linked to the Ig locus for this suppressive interaction to occur could be found. It is suggested that this material(s) may be the final effector moiety of the suppressor circuit because (a) it does not require the presence of any Ly‐2+ cells to work, and (b) in contrast to material(s) which induce suppression, there is no latent period; i.e. the Ly‐2 TsF suppresses both the early and late phases of the immune response in primary Mishell‐Dutton cultures. The MHC restriction that is imparted to the biologically active material is likely to be due to its “anti‐MHC” activity.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Community: New Battlefronts, or Are the Battles Lost?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Interpretation of community MRSA trends is problematical, in that the term is ill-defined, and related data are difficult to put into context. There are four relevant battlefronts, all of interest to risk assessment and prevention. These comprise the following: the issues relating to an increasing pool of patients with MRSA discharged from hospitals into the community; MRSA spreading to patients in nursing and residential homes; and MRSA spreading from patients and healthcare workers to others in the community. There are often difficulties in determining whether the fourth issue, MRSA arising apparently de novo in the community, is in fact due to one of these other fronts. All these battlefronts are important and not yet lost. However, we must agree on definitions and design-appropriate surveillance strategies, so that we can best inform prevention and control activities to contain these emerged or emerging problems.
Evaluating Stratification Alternatives to Improve Software Defect Prediction

Numerous studies have applied machine learning to the software defect prediction problem, i.e. predicting which modules will experience a failure during operation based on software metrics. However, skewness in defect-prediction datasets can mean that the resulting classifiers often predict the faulty (minority) class less accurately. This problem is well known in machine learning, and is often referred to as “learning from imbalanced datasets. ” One common approach for mitigating skewness is to use stratification to homogenize class distributions; however, it is unclear what stratification techniques are most effective, both generally and specifically in software defect prediction. In this article, we investigate two major stratification alternatives (under-, and over-sampling) for software defect prediction using Analysis of Variance. Our analysis covers several modern software defect prediction datasets using a factorial design. We find that the main effect of under-sampling is significant at α = 0.05, as is the interaction between under- and over-sampling. However, the main effect of over-sampling is not significant.
Prospective randomized comparison of controlled release ionic silver hydrophilic dressings and medicated honey-impregnated dressings in treating neuropathic diabetic foot ulcer

Background and Aim of the Work: Recent studies proved that ionic silver hydrogel is a cost-effective and clinically effective method of the treatment of wounds and in particular diabetic foot ulcer; in addition, the antibacterial and tissue-healing properties of manuka honey (MH) had been proved by various investigators. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the use of controlled release ionic silver hydrophilic dressing with that of MH-impregnated dressings in patients with diabetic neuropathic plantar ulcers. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized comparative clinical trial conducted in diabetic foot care unit at the King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Seventy-one patients were enrolled from January 2015 to December 2017. Patients with neuropathic plantar ulcers were included in the study with exclusion of ischemic and neuroischemic ulcers. Patients who met the inclusion criteria of this study were subdivided and randomized into two groups: Group I (honey group) and Group I (silver hydrogel group); in both the groups after drainage of any collection and surgical debridement of hyperkeratotic and necrotic tissues and irrigating the ulcers, in Group I, MH-impregnated dressing containing 35 g of Unique Manuka Factor-13 was applied, and in Group II, controlled release ionic silver hydrophilic dressings were used to cover the ulcer. The mean time required for eradicating infection, hospital length of stay (LOS), and the mean time of complete healing of the ulcers were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcome was to correlate the mean time of ulcer healing with duration of diabetes, hemoglobin A1c, and presence of nephropathy or neuropathy. Results: There was no significant difference in the demographic data, size of the ulcers, mean duration of diabetes, and clinical and laboratory data between both the groups (P > 0.05). The mean time to eradicate infection and hospital LOS were reduced in the silver treatment group compared to honey treatment group, but the difference does not reach a statistical significance (P > 0.05); the table shows also that the mean time required for complete ulcer healing was shorter in MH group than the silver hydrophilic dressing group (P > 0.05, insignificant). In both the groups, the duration of healing was significantly correlated with the patient age, pretreatment level of HbA1c, pretreatment duration of the ulcer, and the ulcer size; however, there was no significant correlation with gender and duration of diabetes. Conclusions: The present study verified the effectiveness of MH-impregnated dressings and the controlled release silver hydrophilic dressings in controlling wound infection and promoting the complete healing of neuropathic ulcers.
Assessment of ferritin content in multiple sclerosis brains using temperature‐induced R*2 changes

Current MRI techniques cannot reliably assess iron content in white matter due to the confounding diamagnetic effect of myelin. The purpose of this study was to validate with histology a novel iron mapping technique that uses the temperature dependency of the paramagnetic susceptibility in multiple sclerosis (MS) brains, where white matter has been reported to show significant variations in iron content.
Anisotropic poly (glycerol sebacate)-poly (ϵ-caprolactone) electrospun fibers promote endothelial cell guidance

Topographical cell guidance is utilized to engineer highly organized and aligned cellular constructs for numerous tissue engineering applications. Recently, electrospun scaffolds fabricated using poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) have shown a great promise to support valvular interstitial cell functions for the development of tissue engineered heart valves. However, one of the major drawbacks of PGS-PCL scaffolds is the lack of control over cellular alignment. In this work, we investigate the role of scaffold architecture on the endothelial cell alignment, proliferation and formation of organized cellular structures. In particular, PGS-PCL scaffolds with randomly oriented and highly aligned fibers with tunable mechanical properties were fabricated using electrospinning technique. After one week of culture, endothelial cells on the aligned scaffolds exhibited higher proliferation compared to those cultures on randomly oriented fibrous scaffolds. Furthermore, the endothelial cells reorganized in response to the topographical features of aligned scaffolds forming highly organized cellular constructs. Thus, topographical contact guidance, provided by aligned PGS-PCL scaffolds, is envisioned to be useful in developing cellular structures for vascular tissue engineering.