Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changing Amazon biomass and the role of atmospheric CO2 concentration, climate, and land use

The Amazon tropical evergreen forest is an important component of the global carbon budget. Its forest floristic composition, structure, and function are sensitive to changes in climate, atmospheric composition, and land use. In this study biomass and productivity simulated by three dynamic global vegetation models (Integrated Biosphere Simulator, Ecosystem Demography Biosphere Model, and Joint UK Land Environment Simulator) for the period 1970–2008 are compared with observations from forest plots (Rede Amazónica de Inventarios Forestales). The spatial variability in biomass and productivity simulated by the DGVMs is low in comparison to the field observations in part because of poor representation of the heterogeneity of vegetation traits within the models. We find that over the last four decades the CO2 fertilization effect dominates a long‐term increase in simulated biomass in undisturbed Amazonian forests, while land use change in the south and southeastern Amazonia dominates a reduction in Amazon aboveground biomass, of similar magnitude to the CO2 biomass gain. Climate extremes exert a strong effect on the observed biomass on short time scales, but the models are incapable of reproducing the observed impacts of extreme drought on forest biomass. We find that future improvements in the accuracy of DGVM predictions will require improved representation of four key elements: (1) spatially variable plant traits, (2) soil and nutrients mediated processes, (3) extreme event mortality, and (4) sensitivity to climatic variability. Finally, continued long‐term observations and ecosystem‐scale experiments (e.g. Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment experiments) are essential for a better understanding of the changing dynamics of tropical forests.
Treatment of advanced stages of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia with interferon-alpha and low-dose cytarabine.

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of interferon-alpha (IFN-A) and low-dose cytarabine (ara-C) combination chemotherapy in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty patients with advanced phases of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive CML received combination therapy with IFN-A 5 x 10(6) U/m2 daily, and low-dose ara-C 15 mg/m2 daily for 2 weeks every 4 weeks until remission, then for 1 week every month as maintenance. Forty patients were in late chronic-phase CML, and 20 were in accelerated-phase CML (16 with clonal evolution only, four with other criteria). Their outcome was compared with 58 patients (39 late chronic-phase CML and 19 accelerated-phase CML) who had been previously treated with IFN-A alone in the same dose schedule. RESULTS In late chronic-phase CML, patients receiving IFN-A plus ara-C had a better complete hematologic response (CHR) rate compared with those treated with IFN-A alone (55% v 28%; P = .02), a trend for better Ph suppression (15% v 5%; P = .13), and a longer survival (3-year survival rate 75% v 48%; P less than .01). These differences do not seem to be caused by imbalances in prognostic factors between the two treatment groups. In accelerated-phase CML, the addition of ara-C to IFN-A did not improve the response rate of treated patients, and the difference in survival was accounted for by different patient characteristics. Suppression of clonal evolution was observed in five patients (25%). Patients with clonal evolution as the only criterion for disease acceleration had a longer survival than those with other or additional accelerated-phase criteria (3-year survival rate 67% v 22%; P less than .01). CONCLUSION The results with the combination of IFN-A plus ara-C in late chronic-phase CML are encouraging, and suggest the need for its evaluation in early chronic-phase CML.
Comparison of the standard and Adams desaturated D‐15 tests with congenital colour vision deficiencies

The Adams desaturated D‐15 was designed to be administered to patients with acquired colour vision defects by simply reducing the chroma of the Munseli colours by 2 for each cap in the test. In this study, the performance of the Adams desat D‐15 in the assessment of congenital colour vision deficiencies is evaluated. The standard D‐15 and Adams desat D‐15 tests were administered to 75 congenital red‐green colour deficient subjects who had been diagnosed on the basis of their performance on the Nagel anomaloscope Mark 1. The results were analysed in terms of the direction, extent and specificity of errors and compared with the diagnosis on the Nagel anomaloscope. Of the 13 colour‐deficient subjects who made no errors on the standard D‐15, 1 failed the Adams desat D‐15 and 2 made single crossings. No colour‐deficient subject who failed the standard D‐15 made anything less than a simple inversion of adjacent caps on the Adams desat D‐15. The Adams desat D‐15 did not perform as well as the standard D‐15 in identification of the type of defect in dichromats. On the basis of these data, it is predicted that about 5% of dichromats will be mis‐classified by the Adams desat D‐15 whilst under 0.1% will be mis‐classified by the standard D‐15. However, with the anomalous trichomats, more crossings were made on the Adams desat D‐15, particularly by the milder anomals, and a diagnosis was possible in more cases. Where a diagnosis was possible, it was also correct more often with the Adams desat D‐15. The Adams desat D‐15 provides a useful sub‐classification of those who pass the standard D‐15. A choice of Munseli colours lying on confusion lines rather than by a simple universal reduction of chroma by two steps should provide a more reliable diagnosis of type of hereditary red‐green colour deficiency.
Hyperinsulinism and hyperammonemia in infants with regulatory mutations of the glutamate dehydrogenase gene.

BACKGROUND A new form of congenital hyperinsulinism characterized by hypoglycemia and hyperammonemia was described recently. We hypothesized that this syndrome of hyperinsulinism and hyperammonemia was caused by excessive activity of glutamate dehydrogenase, which oxidizes glutamate to alpha-ketoglutarate and which is a potential regulator of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells and of ureagenesis in the liver. METHODS We measured glutamate dehydrogenase activity in lymphoblasts from eight unrelated children with the hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome: six with sporadic cases and two with familial cases. We identified mutations in the glutamate dehydrogenase gene by sequencing glutamate dehydrogenase complementary DNA prepared from lymphoblast messenger RNA. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to express the mutations in COS-7 cells. RESULTS The sensitivity of glutamate dehydrogenase to inhibition by guanosine 5'-triphosphate was a quarter of the normal level in the patients with sporadic hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome and half the normal level in patients with familial cases and their affected relatives, findings consistent with overactivity of the enzyme. These differences in enzyme insensitivity correlated with differences in the severity of hypoglycemia in the two groups. All eight children were heterozygous for the wild-type allele and had a mutation in the proposed allosteric domain of the enzyme. Four different mutations were identified in the six patients with sporadic cases; the two patients with familial cases shared a fifth mutation. In two clones of COS-7 cells transfected with the mutant sequence from one patient, the sensitivity of the enzyme to guanosine 5'-triphosphate was reduced, findings similar to those in the child's lymphoblasts. CONCLUSIONS The hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome is caused by mutations in the glutamate dehydrogenase gene that impair the control of enzyme activity.
Attitudes to statistics in primary health care physicians, Qassim province

Aim To investigate primary health care (PHC) physicians’ attitudes to statistics, their self-reported knowledge level, and their perceived training needs in statistics. Background In spite of realization of the importance of statistics, inadequacies in physicians’ knowledge and skills have been found, underscoring the need for in-service training. Understanding physicians’ attitudes to statistics is vital in planning statistics training. Methods The study was based on theory of planned behavior. A cross-sectional survey of all PHC physicians was conducted in Qassim province, from August to October 2014. Attitudes to statistics were determined by a self-administered questionnaire. The attitudes were assessed on four subscales including general perceptions; perceptions of knowledge and training; perceptions of statistics and evidence-based medicine; and perceptions of future learning. Findings Of 416 eligible participants, 338 (81.25%) responded to the survey. On a scale of 1–10, the majority (73.6%) of the participants self-assessed their level of statistics knowledge as five or below. The attitude scores could have a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 100, with higher scores showing a positive attitude. The participants showed a positive attitude with the mean score of 71.14 (±7.73). Out of the four subscales, ‘perceptions of statistics and evidence-based medicine’ subscale scored the highest, followed by ‘perceptions of future learning’. Conclusion PHC physicians have a positive attitude to statistics. However, they realize their gaps in knowledge in statistics, and are keen to fill these gaps. Statistics training, resulting in improved statistics knowledge is expected to lead to clinical care utilizing evidence-based medicine, and thus improvement to health care services.
Safety of anticoagulation for cerebral venous thrombosis associated with intracerebral hematoma

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) occurs in 25 to 50% of cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). 1,2⇓ Although there is increasing evidence that treatment with heparin remains safe and is appropriate in patients with hemorrhagic venous infarction,1,2⇓ some uncertainties remain about the use of anticoagulation for CVT in the presence of large intracerebral hemorrhages or hemorrhages located in the temporal lobe.3 The size of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in CVT can range from trivial to massive. However, indication of the volume of ICH has been rare in previously published studies of CVT.3,4⇓ When CVT is treated with combined intrathrombus tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and IV heparin, the risk of recurrent ICH is greater for patients with large ICH compared with those with small or subtle hemorrhages.4 It is not known whether treatment with IV heparin alone is associated with a similar increase in hemorrhage risk for patients with large ICH. We present a series of patients with CVT that …
Irreversible electroporation-mediated shRNA knockdown of the HPV18 E6 gene suppresses cervical cancer growth in vitro and in vivo

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a physical, non-thermal cancer therapy, which leads to cell death via permanent membrane permeability. This differs from reversible electroporation (RE), which is used to transfer macromolecules into target cells via transient membrane permeability. Given the electrical impedance of the electric field, RE co-exists outside the central zone of IRE ablation. In the present study, the feasibility of using IRE at a therapeutic dose to mediate short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of human papillomavirus (HPV)18 E6 in HeLa cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo was investigated. Experimental results indicated that the HeLa cells survived the combined treatment with IRE and shRNA plasmid transfection. Additionally, residual tumor tissue in a nude mouse model demonstrated green fluorescence. Subsequent studies showed that the combined treatment inhibited the growth of HeLa cells and tumors. Western blotting analysis showed marked changes in the growth-associated proteins between the combined treatment group and the control. It was concluded that a therapeutic dose of IRE was able to mediate the transfection of HPV18 E6 shRNA into HeLa cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This combined treatment strategy has promising implications in cancer treatment for the ablation of tumors, and in eliminating microscopic residual tumor tissue.
White matter microstructure in opiate addiction

Heroin addiction has been associated with impaired neuronal connectivity and cognitive deficits. One mechanism that potentially explains these findings is alterations in white matter connectivity secondary to chronic opiate use. However, few studies have quantitavely examined white matter deficits in opiate addiction (OA). Here, we investigated white matter microstructure in OA using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We performed voxel‐wise analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) in 24 participants with OA and 29 healthy controls. The OA group showed reduced FA in multiple pathways including the corpus callosum, thalamic radiation and inferior longitudinal fasciculus. This FA reduction was mainly the result of increased radial diffusivity (λ⊥), indicative of myelin pathology. Longer duration of OA was also associated with axonal diffusivity (λ1), most robustly in superior longitudinal fasciculi and right frontal white matter suggesting axonal injury in long‐term users. Together, the findings indicate that chronic OA use has widespread and diverse effects on neuronal connectivity and function.
11.29: Updates to the ASCE‐41‐13 provisions for the nonlinear modeling of steel wide‐flange columns for performance‐based earthquake engineering

Performance‐based earthquake engineering requires numerical models that are able to reliably predict the expected component behavior of buildings under seismic excitations. The nonlinear modeling guidelines provided in ASCE‐41‐13 have historically been used in this context by practicing engineers. However, for steel wide‐flange columns, the recommendations are primarily based on experimental data that was fairly limited until recently. This paper addresses many of the limitations present in ASCE‐41‐13 for the modeling of steel wide‐flange columns. Recent experimental data from large‐ and full‐scale tests on wide‐flange steel columns, supplemented with detailed finite element studies, has been collected for a wide range of column cross‐sections and applied compressive axial loads. Multiple regression analysis is utilized to develop multivariate predictive equations for the seismic response of steel wide‐flange columns. It is found that the primary contributors that dominate the column response are the local web slenderness, member slenderness and the applied axial load ratio due to gravity loading. Guidelines for developing nonlinear component models for steel columns that can be directly used in both nonlinear static and dynamic analysis procedures are provided. The predicted responses are validated against test data that was not part of the original database. Furthermore, recommendations are proposed for modeling wide‐flange columns subjected to varying axial loads as well as bidirectional loading; and a new limit for force‐controlled elements is proposed for columns under high axial compressive loading and lateral drift demands.
Scimitar Syndrome with Renal Agenesis

Partial pulmonary venous connection anomaly is relatively uncommon form of congenital heart diseases. The quite rare combination of this anomaly with hypoplasia of the right lung and dextroposition of the heart is designated as scimitar syndrome. Most cases are presented in infantile period and adult presentation is exceedingly rare. Our patient, a 38-year-old man, was admitted to a doctor with flu-like complaint and because of abnormalities on chest X-ray he was sent to our clinic. He did not have any chronic complaints such as shortness of breath and fatigue. After investigation, scimitar syndrome was diagnosed. Left renal agenesis was determined with abdominal examination. Best of our knowledge in literature we did not detect any case both with Scimitar syndrome and renal agenesis, and we wanted to report the asymptomatic adult Scimitar syndrome case with left renal agenesis.
Activity clusters in dynamical model of the working memory system

A mathematical model of working memory is proposed in the form of a network of neuron-like units interacting via global inhibitory feedback. This network is capable of storing information items in the form of clusters of periodical spiking activity. Several sequentially excited clusters can coexist simultaneously, corresponding to several items stored in the memory. The capacity of the memory is studied as the function of the system parameters.
Sacral Mesh Pullout Strength Based on Suture Location for Sacrocolpopexy

Background: We sought to compare the pullout strengths of the sacral end of the sacrocolpopexy mesh when attached using one suture at the first versus second sacral vertebral level (S1 vs. S2) in female cadaveric pelvises. Methods: The sacral vertebrae were isolated in 9 unembalmed female cadavers, and segments of polypropylene mesh were attached to the sacrum using stitches at either the S1 or S2 level. The free end of the mesh was pulled at a constant rate. Maximum tension prior to system failure was recorded for each specimen. Suture pullout strengths between the two groups were compared using the two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results: In all but one specimen, failure of the system occurred at the point of suture attachment to the anterior longitudinal ligament. Among the nine specimens, median pullout strengths were 7.49 lb (interquartile range 7.95) at S1 and 3.15 lb (interquartile range 2.975) at S2 (p = 0.028). Conclusion: The pullout strength of sutures used to attach the sacrocolpopexy mesh to the sacrum is significantly higher at the S1 level than at the S2 level.
The Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture and Heegner points: A survey

For a (connected) smooth projective curve C over the rational numbers Q, it is known that the rational points C(Q) depends on the genus g = g(C) of C: (1) If g = 0, then the local-global principle holds for C, i.e.: C(Q) = ∅ if and only if C(Qp) = ∅ for all primes p ≤ ∞ (we understand Qp = R when p = ∞). In other words, C is globally solvable if and only if it is locally solvable everywhere. Another way of stating this is: C PQ if and only if CQp PQp for all primes p ≤ ∞. We see that C(Q) is either an empty set or an infinite set. (2) If g = 1, C(Q) may be empty, finite or infinite. This article will focus on this case. (3) If g ≥ 2, Faltings theorem asserts that C(Q) is always finite.
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: an international multi-institutional analysis of prognostic factors and lymph node assessment.

PURPOSE To identify factors associated with outcome after surgical management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and examine the impact of lymph node (LN) assessment on survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS From an international multi-institutional database, 449 patients who underwent surgery for ICC between 1973 and 2010 were identified. Clinical and pathologic data were evaluated using uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Median tumor size was 6.5 cm. Most patients had a solitary tumor (73%) and no vascular invasion (69%). Median survival was 27 months, and 5-year survival was 31%. Factors associated with adverse prognosis included positive margin status (hazard ratio [HR], 2.20; P < .001), multiple lesions (HR, 1.80; P = .001), and vascular invasion (HR, 1.59; P = .015). Tumor size was not a prognostic factor (HR, 1.03; P = .23). Patients were stratified using the American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer T1, T2a, and T2b categories (seventh edition) in a discrete step-wise fashion (P < .001). Lymphadenectomy was performed in 248 patients (55%); 74 of these (30%) had LN metastasis. LN metastasis was associated with worse outcome (median survival: N0, 30 months v N1, 24 months; P = .03). Although patients with no LN metastasis were able to be stratified by tumor number and vascular invasion (N0; P < .001), among patients with N1 disease, multiple tumors and vascular invasion, either alone or together, failed to discriminate patients into discrete prognostic groups (P = .34). CONCLUSION Although tumor size provides no prognostic information, tumor number, vascular invasion, and LN metastasis were associated with survival. N1 status adversely affected overall survival and also influenced the relative effect of tumor number and vascular invasion on prognosis. Lymphadenectomy should be strongly considered for ICC, because up to 30% of patients will have LN metastasis.
Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy

The concept of organ‐ and function‐preserving surgery without compromising the primary goal of complete tumour removal has been recently applied in adrenal surgery. This has been accomplished by open surgery in the past. With recent advancements in minimally invasive surgery, partial adrenalectomy by laparoscopic approach has become feasible. The indications, contraindications and worldwide experience have been reviewed for this article.
Emergent risks in business process change projects

Purpose – Even today still many business process change (BPC) initiatives fail and cause high overruns for organizations undergoing BPC initiatives. It is therefore important that BPC practitioners and researchers understand the risks inherent in BPC projects, and that they adapt their risk management processes to account for and mitigate these risks. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate which emergent risks matter in BPC project. Design/methodology/approach – The authors adopted case survey methodology and investigated data from 130 case studies to show the nature and magnitude of relationships between organizational support risks, volatility risks, and BPC project and process performance. Findings – The results show that organizational support risks influence both the overall BPC project performance and process performance. Whereas, volatility risks influence project performance but appear to have no direct impact on the process performance. Both organizational support risks and volatility .
Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of Bisoprolol-14C in Three Animal Species and in Humans

&NA; The pharmacokinetic properties of bisoprolol‐14C were studied in Wistar rats, beagle dogs, and Cynomolgus monkeys. Bisoprolol is well absorbed in these species; independent of the route of administration (i.v. or p.o.), 70‐90% of the 14C‐dose was recovered in urine. Faecal excretion was ˜20% in rats and <10% in dogs and monkeys. Rats excreted ˜ 10% of the dose in bile after i.v. as well as after oral administration. The plasma half‐life of the unchanged drug was ˜ 1 h in rats, 3 h in monkeys, and 5 h in dogs. The bioavailability was 40‐50% in monkeys, ˜80% in dogs, and 10% in rats. Studies in rats have shown that the drug is rapidly taken up by the tissues. After i.v. administration, high levels of radioactivity were found in lung, kidneys, liver, adrenals, spleen, pancreas, and salivary glands. After oral administration, the highest concentration occurred in the liver and kidneys. With the exception of plasma and liver, unchanged bisoprolol was the major radioactive constituent in all tissues studied. Both the blood‐brain and placental barriers were penetrated, but only to a small degree. No accumulation of radioactivity in tissues was observed after repeated dosing (1 mg/kg/day). The metabolism of bisoprolol was studied in the same three animal species and in humans. The major metabolites are the products of O‐dealkylation and subsequent oxidation to the corresponding carboxylic acids. The amount of bisoprolol excreted unchanged in the urine is 50‐60% of the dose in humans, 30‐40% in dogs, and ˜10% in rats and monkeys.