Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling soil carbon and nitrogen cycles during land use change . A review

Forested soils are being increasingly transformed to agricultural fields in response to growing demands for food crop. This modification of the land use is known to result in deterioration of soil properties, in particular its fertility. To reduce the impact of the human activities and mitigate their effects on the soil, it is important to understand the factors responsible for the modification of soil properties. In this paper we reviewed the principal processes affecting soil quality during land use changes, focusing in particular on the effect of soil moisture dynamics on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. Both physical and biological processes, including degradation of litter and humus, and soil moisture evolution at the diurnal and seasonal time scales were considered, highlighting the impact of hydroclimatic variability on nutrient turnover along with the consequences of land use changes from forest to agricultural soil and vice-versa. In order to identify to what extent different models are suitable for long-term predictions of soil turnover, and to understand whether some simulators are more suited to specific environmental conditions or ecosystems, we enumerated the principal features of the most popular existing models dealing with C and N turnover. Among these models, we considered in detail a mechanistic compartment-based model. To show the capabilities of the model and to demonstrate how it can be used as a predictive tool to forecast the effects of land use changes on C and N dynamics, four different scenarios were studied, intertwining two different climate conditions (with and without seasonality) with two contrasting soils having physical properties that are representative of forest and agricultural soils. The model incorporates synthetic time series of stochastic precipitation, and therefore soil moisture evolution through time. Our main findings in simulating these scenarios are that (1) forest soils have higher concentrations of C and N than agricultural soils as a result of higher litter decomposition; (2) high frequency changes in water saturations under seasonal climate scenarios are commensurate with C and N concentrations in agricultural soils; and (3) due to their different physical properties, forest soils attenuate the seasonal climate-induced frequency changes in water saturation, with accompanying changes in C and N concentrations. The model was shown to be capable of simulating the long term effects of modified physical properties of agricultural soils, being thus a promising tool to predict future consequences of practices affecting sustainable agriculture, such as tillage (leading to erosion), ploughing, harvesting, irrigation and fertilization, leading to C and N turnover changes and in consequence, in terms of agriculture production. soil organic matter / biogeochemical cycles / agricultural soil / forest soil / soil nutrients / soil moisture dynamics / soil restoration
Long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 ( GAS 5 ) protects ovarian cancer cells from apoptosis

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a main cause of death in malignant tumor of women genital system. This study aims to investigate the underlying role of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) in EOC. In vivo expression of GAS5 in 60 EOC specimens was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription QRT-PCR, which used to study the differences of GAS5 expression between EOC tissues and normal ovarian epithelium. There were no significant differences of GAS5 expression between normal ovarian epithelium and benign epithelial lesions; however, GAS5 expression was lower in EOC tissues compared with normal ovarian epithelial tissues (6.44-fold), which was closely related to lymph node metastasis (P=0.025) and tumor node metastasis stage (P=0.035). Moreover, exogenous GAS5-inhibited proliferation promoted apoptosis and decreased migration and invasion in ovarian cancer cells. Finally, through Western blot analysis, overexpression of GAS5 protein could decrease the expression of Cyclin A, Cyclin D, Cyclin E, and PCNA. Conclusions: This study revealed that GAS5 is down-regulated in EOC specimens, and GAS5 inhibits EOC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promotes the cell apoptosis. GAS5 can serve as a novel therapeutic target in patients with EOC.
Unusual dicentric chromosome 22 associated with a 22q13 deletion

Tina Babineau, Heather L. Wilson, Angelika J. Dawson, Bernard N. Chodirker, Vazken M. Der Kaloustian, Suzanne Demczuk, and Heather E. McDermid* Department of Human Genetics, Montreal Children’s Hospital, Division of Medical Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Department of Pediatrics and Child Health and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
EXPERIMENTAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDIES ON THE STRENGTHENING OF RC FRAMES

Due to various deficiencies and inadequate lateral stiffness many reinforced concrete buildings are highly damaged or collapsed in Turkey during the last major earthquakes. To improve the behavior of such buildings and to prevent total collapse, necessary amount of strengthening must be provided. To investigate and to compare the two types of strengthening techniques of reinforced concrete frames, namely introducing an infill RC wall, and CFRP strengthened hollow clay tile wall, two 1/3 scaled, 2story, 3-bay test specimens are prepared. The frame of the specimens is detailed such that it has the common deficiencies of existing buildings in Turkey. The test specimens are subjected to reversed cyclic quasi-static loading. By means of special transducers, axial force, shear force and bending moment at the base of the exterior columns are measured. Strength, stiffness, and story drifts of the test specimen are determined. Analytical studies are also conducted. Top displacement response envelope curves of the both specimens are verified with the analytical pushover results obtained using Ansys 7.0
Mycological study of dermatophytosis in a part of South India

Aims: Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton are the genera of dermatophytes causing superficial mycoses. These infections are on rise due to increase in immunocompromised patients and favorable environmental conditions in countries like India. The present study was undertaken to identify dermatophytes causing superficial fungal infection by microscopy and culture techniques which helps in accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of cases. Methodology and results: Samples were collected from affected sites after cleaning the affected surface with 70% alcohol. All samples were microscopically examined for presence of hyphal structures by digesting in 10% to 40% KOH solution. All samples were inoculated into Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol and Sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol and incubated at room temperature for four weeks. Tease mount technique and slide culture technique were used for identification of dermatophytes. One hundred and ten samples from clinically suspected dermatophytoses which includes 77(70%) from male and 33(30%) from female patients were processed for identification of dermatophytes. Samples were subjected to microscopy and culture. In 61 samples (54.54%) fungal hyphae were seen by direct microscopic examination (KOH). Fifty six samples (50%) yielded dermatophyte growth in culture. Trichophyton rubrum was the predominant species isolated followed by T. violaceum and T. mentagrophytes. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Accurate and rapid diagnosis of superficial fungal infection is essential for proper management of cases. Direct microscopy is very good method for routine diagnosis, however culture remains gold standard.
Evaluation of the Employee Core Competencies Influencing the Performance Appraisal System with Reference to Agriculture Research Institutes, Hyderabad: A Multiple Regression Analysis

In this research study we reported the results on the employee core competencies in-fluencing the evaluation performance appraisal system using multiple regression analysis with reference to Agriculture Research Institutes employees in Hyderabad Metro, India. The primary data were collected from the performance appraisal forms of 400 employees working in the agriculture research institutes in Hyderabad, India consisting of from 300 men and 100 women employees. The seven independent fac-tors, Job knowledge, Skill level, Job execution, Initiative, Client Orientation, Team Work, Compliance to Policies and Practices, one dependent factor outcome of the Performance Appraisal System (PAS), the Rating were measured. The descriptive analysis, correlation techniques and parametric statistics like t-test and multiple regres-sion analysis were carried out to arrive at the conclusions. To measure the reliability of the scale used for this study, and internal consistencies of the instrument, the reliability statistics—Cronbach’s alpha (C-Alpha) was estimated. The overall C-Alpha value is 0.91, and the C-Alpha values for all the factors ranged from 0.81 to 0.89, whereas overall Spearman Brown Split-half is measured at 0.88. The multiple regression analy-sis reveals 74% variance observed in this model and except client orientation all core-competencies are influencing the model and outcome of the performance ap-praisal outcome—the Final Rating.
Audit Committee Characteristics and Earnings Management: Evidence from India

Earnings management is perceived to be a pervasive phenomenon, spread across companies and industries. It distorts earnings quality and portrays an incorrect picture of a firm’s financial performance. Accounting frauds in companies originate from a culture of widespread earnings management. Audit committees are a popular corporate governance tool to improve the credibility of financial statements. The study, evidently the first of its kind in India, seeks to examine the effectiveness of audit committees in constraining earnings management in Indian companies. Secondary data is collected for a sample of 130 companies listed on the BSE and studied for a three-year period 2013-2015. Univariate correlations, multivariate linear regression, and logistic regression models are used to conduct empirical analysis. Evidence suggests significant impact of audit committee size, multiple directorships of audit committee members and frequency of audit committee meetings on earnings quality. Other audit committee characteristics are not found to have a significant impact on the level of earnings management. Findings of the study throw up useful insights for regulators and company boards to evaluate the efficacy of board audit committees and implement additional governance measures to help preserve the integrity of financial statements.
Paediatric nurses' understanding of the process and procedure of double-checking medications.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To understand paediatric nurses' understanding and practice regarding double-checking medication and identify facilitators and barriers to the process of independent double-checking (IDC). BACKGROUND A system of double-checking medications has been proposed as a way of minimising medication error particularly in situations involving high-risk medications, complex processes such as calculating doses, or high-risk patient populations such as infants and children. While recommendations have been made in support of IDC in paediatric settings little is known about nursing practice and the facilitators and barriers to this process. DESIGN A descriptive qualitative design was used. METHODS Data were collected via three focus group interviews. Six to seven paediatric nurses participated in homogenous groups based on level of practice. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that, while IDC is accepted and promoted as best practice in a paediatric setting, there is a lack of clarity as to what this means. This study supports other studies in relation to the influence of workload, distraction and environmental factors on the administration process but highlights the need for more research in relation to the impact of the power dynamic between junior and senior nurses. The issue of automaticity has been unexplored in relation to nursing practice but this study indicates that this may have an important influence on how care is delivered to patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE While the focus of this study was in the paediatric setting, the findings have relevance to other settings and population groups. The adoption of IDC in health care settings must have in place: policy and guidelines that clearly define the process of checking, educational support, an environment that supports peer critique and review, well-designed medication areas and accessible resources to support drug administration.
In situ identification of Legionellaceae using 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Bacteria of the family Legionellaceae form a monophyletic group within the gamma-subclass of Proteobacteria. Based on comparative sequence analysis we constructed two oligonucleotide probes complementary to regions of 16S rRNA characteristic for Legionellaceae. Probe specificities were tested by whole-cell or dot-blot hybridization against 14 serogroups of Legionella pneumophila, 22 different Legionella spp. and 72 non-legionellae reference strains. Using optimized conditions both probes hybridized to all tested strains of L. pneumophila. Probes LEG226 and LEG705 hybridized to 71% and 90% of the Legionella species tested, respectively. With the exception of Methylomonas alba none of the non-target strains showed complete sequence homology within the target molecule. In a preliminary evaluation the results of classical techniques employing selective media, immunofluorescence and the probe assay were in good accordance for routine environmental and clinical isolates. L. pneumophila suspended in drinking water at approximately 10(3)-10(4) c.f. u. ml-1 could be rapidly detected by a combination of membrane filtration on polycarbonate filters and whole-cell hybridization. Even after incubation for 1 year a proportion of the released cells was still detectable. In situ hybridization also facilitated visualization of Legionella spp, cells in model biofilms. A combination of in situ hybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to analyse the three-dimensional arrangement of L. pneumophila within cells of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis. Whole-cell probing with 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotides could, in the future, complement established techniques like immunofluorescence and PCR in ecological and epidemiological studies of Legionellaceae.
Low rate of bleeding and thrombotic complications of oral anticoagulant therapy independent of age in the real‐practice of an anticoagulation clinic

&NA; Over past years, there has been a world‐wide increase in oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT). This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of OAT managing in a real‐practice situation. Nine hundred and three consecutive unselected patients referred for the control of OAT to the Anticoagulation Clinic of the University of Florence were studied. The total follow‐up period was 1679 patient‐years. The rate of total, major and fatal bleeding events was 5.0, 1.1 and 0.06 per 100 patient‐years, respectively. In patients with a target International Normalized Ratio (INR)≥3, a significantly higher rate of bleeding (P= 0.02) with respect to patients with a target INR < 3 was observed. The rate of all thrombotic events was 3.8 per 100 patient‐years. The rate of major and fatal thrombotic events were 2.4 and 0.4 per 100 patient‐years, respectively. At INR≥4.5 the rate of bleeding was significantly higher (P= 0.005) than at lower INR. At INR < 2 the rate of all thrombotic events was significantly higher (P=0.00001) with respect to more elevated intensities of anticoagulation. A low incidence of complications may be obtained even in elderly outpatients on OAT followed at an anticoagulation clinic. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 14:269‐275 © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Galactic cosmic ray modulation beyond the heliopause : When will Voyager 1 measure the LIS ?

With the Voyager 1 (V1) crossing of the heliopause (HP) belie v d to happen soon, this paper tries to answer the question: Are galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) modu lated beyond the HP? Using a newly developed hybrid GCR modulation model, where the resulting heliosphe ric geometry and plasma flow fields from a 3D MHD model are coupled to a stochastic differential equation (SDE) based transport model, the modulation of GCRs beyond the HP is studied. We find that a considerable amou nt of modulation may occur beyond the HP and that, based on the assumed transport parameters, V1 may not m easure the pristine LIS for GCRs soon. Moreover, we show that modulation beyond the HP is dependent on the modu lation conditions inside the HP because of the GCRs ability to cross the HP multiple times. Due to the drapin g of the interstellar magnetic field lines along the HP, modulation beyond the HP is determined by the ratio of par allel to perpendicular diffusion.
GROWTH , YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUMMER SESAME AS INFLUENCED BY THE FERTILIZER AND SULPHUR LEVELS

An experiment was conducted at Agriculture College, Nagpur during summer season of 2011-2012. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three fertilizer levels as main plot treatments viz., 100% RDF, 125% RDF, 150% RDF and five sulphur levels as subplot treatments viz., 0 kg S ha -1 , 10 kg S ha -1 , 20 kg S ha -1 , 30 kg S ha -1 and 40 kg S ha -1 . There were fifteen treatment combinations replicated three times. The soil was clayey in texture with pH 7.76 indicating slightly alkaline in reaction.Treatment 150% RDF recorded maximum and significantly higher plant height, number of branches plant -1 , dry matter accumulation plant -1 , number of capsules plant -1 (80.7), number of grains capsule -1 and seed yield plant -1 . Test weight was not influenced significantly. Seed yield (kg ha -1 ) were also significantly more due to 150% RDF over 100% RDF but 125% RDF was at par with it. Oil content (%) and oil yield (kg ha -1 ) were also significantly more due to 150% RDF over 100% RDF but 125% RDF was at par with it. The plant height, number of branches plant -1 was not significantly influenced by sulphur application. Dry matter accumulation recorded highest due to 40 kg S ha -1 application and was at par with 30 kg S ha -1 and 20 kg S ha -1 . Application of 40 kg S ha -1 recorded maximum and significantly higher number of capsules plant -1 , number of grains capsule -1 and seed yield plant -1 . Test weight was not influenced significantly. Seed yield (kg ha -1 ) was recorded maximum in 40 kg S ha -1 (471 kg ha -1 ) and was at par with 30 kg S ha -1 (465 kg ha -1 ). Oil content (%) and oil yield (kg ha -1 ) were also significantly more due to application of 40 kg S ha -1 over control and 10 kg S ha -1 . But application of 20 kg S ha -1 and 30 kg S ha -1 were found at par with 40 kg S ha -1 . Interaction effects of fertilizer levels with sulphur were found to be not significant in respect of all growth characters, yield attributes and yield of sesame. (
Effect of the previous diet, body weight, and duration of starvation of the assay bird on the true metabolizable energy value of corn.

Two experiments were conducted with 36 adult White Leghorn roosters to determine the effect of previous intake of protein (Experiment 1) or purified cellulose (Experiment 2), body weight, and duration of starvation of the assay bird on the true metabolizable energy (TME) value of ground yellow corn. The mean TME value (+/- SE) of the corn was 4.06 +/- . 03 and 4.06 +/- . 04 kcal/g of dry matter in Experiment 1 and 2, respectively. Dietary levels of 10, 20, and 30% protein or 0, 7.5, and 15.0% supplementary cellulose, and body weight distribution had no significant (P greater than .05) effect on the TME value of the corn. Starvation for 12 hr before force feeding resulted in a significant (P less than .05) decrease of 4% in the TME value of the corn, whereas fasting periods of 24 or 48 hr had no significant effect. It is suggested that the assay birds be paired on the basis of body weight and starved for a minimum period of 24 hr prior to force feeding to reduce the variation associated with the estimate of TME.
Caregivers ’ perspective on non-fatal deliberate self harm

Background: Non-fatal suicidal behaviour (NFSB) includes all these behaviour except the competed suicide. Deliberate self-harm (DSH) or parasuicide is an umbrella term for any self-harm behaviour with or without the intent to kill self, while suicide attempt has definite intent to kill self. Research suggests that if you have selfharmed before then you are likely to repeat some form of self-harm. A significant association was found between repetition of an act of deliberate self-harm and the perception of an unsympathetic attitude within the family. Method: Fifty consecutive patients from tertiary care hospital were included in study. They were evaluated using a semi structured proforma which included socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profile of patients including any DSM-IV-TR psychiatric diagnosis with details of treatment and any comorbid medical illness. Beck’s Suicide Intent Scale was used to measure intensity and characteristic of suicide attempt. Caregivers/family member’s attitude towards suicide attempt was measured with a 15-item questionnaire. Results: Common characteristics of NFDSH were patients attempted when somebody was in visual or vocal contact(64%), absence of suicide note (94%), no history of previous attempt (90%), alleged purpose were to escape, surcease, solve problem(54%), to manipulate environment, to get attention, revenge (30%).
Variations of Geomagnetic Response Functions before the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

Induction vectors have been extensively calculated using data from 19 Japanese observatories for a dozen years preceding the huge 2011 Tohoku earthquake (EQ). At 6 observatories anomalous variations of induction vectors were separated in the years of 2008-2010 that can be identified as middle-term precursors. These observatories are located not at the shortest distance from the EQ epicenter, that is in agreement with the widely known phenomenon of spatial selectivity of EQ precursors. The analysis of horizontal tensors reveals a conductivity anomaly under the central part of the Boso peninsula (at 30 km from Tokyo) with a WNW-ESE strike coinciding both with the Sagami trough strike and the strike of well conducting 3 km thick sediments. A joint analysis of geoelectric and tectonic data leads to a preliminary conclusion that the Boso conductivity anomaly connects two large scale conductors: Pacific sea water and a deep magma reservoir beneath a volcanic belt. Between two so different conductors an unstable transition zone can be expected which should be sensitive to changes of stress. Applying our original processing including two steps analysis and elimination of annual and monthly periods, a short-term two-month-long precursor of bay-like form was successfully separated at the observatory of Kanozan, KNZ (over the Boso anomaly) despite its strong noise. All the results were obtained with advanced multi-windows multi-rr (remote reference) robust programs with a coherency control. Dependence of the results of induction vector calculation on geomagnetic activity was carefully studied, and this dependence is relatively strong when the magnetotelluric field and noise have approximately the same magnitude. But even in this case we could identify the precursor field.