Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiopulmonary, functional, cognitive and mental health outcomes post COVID, across the range of severity of acute illness, in a physically active working age population

Objectives: To investigate cardiopulmonary, functional, cognitive, and mental health post-COVID-19 outcomes in a young, physically active working-age population, across the spectrum of acute COVID-19 severity. Methods: Observational cohort study of 4 groups; hospitalised, community illness with on-going symptoms (community-symptomatic), community illness now recovered (community-recovered) and controls. Participants underwent extensive clinical assessment involving cardiopulmonary imaging, submaximal and maximal exercise testing, pulmonary function, cognitive assessment, blood tests, electrocardiogram and questionnaires on mental health and physical function. Results: 113 participants (aged 39±9 and 86% male) were recruited into four groups, Hospitalised (n=35), community-symptomatic (n=34), community-recovered (n=18) and control (n=26), at 159±72days following acute illness. Hospitalized and community-symptomatic groups were older, with a higher body mass index, and worse mental health, fatigue, and quality of life scores. Hospitalised and community-symptomatic participants also performed less well on sub-maximal and maximal exercise testing. Hospitalised individuals had impaired ventilatory efficiency (higher VE/V̇CO2 slope), achieved less work at the anaerobic threshold and at peak than other groups and had a significantly reduced forced vital capacity. Clinically significant abnormal cardiopulmonary imaging findings were present in 6% of hospitalised participants. Those who recovered from COVID-19 had no significant differences when compared with controls.Conclusion: Recovered individuals who suffered mild-moderate COVID-19 do not differ from an age, sex and job-role matched control population. Individuals who were hospitalised or continue to suffer symptoms require a specific, comprehensive assessment prior to a return to full physical activity.
Ecology of Merriam's turkeys in relation to burned and logged areas in southeastern Montana

Merriam's turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) were captured, equipped with radio transmitters, and monitored via telemetry to study their ecology in relation to burned (1988 wildfire) and logged areas in southeastern Montana, 1989-1991. Neither burned nor logged areas appeared to restrict seasonal movements of monitored turkeys during spring and fall. However, males and subadult hens in the burned study division moved farther than those in the unburned during spring/fall. Hens tended to nest more in burned areas with each subsequent year following the fire. Nest success was highest during the spring with largest amounts of precipitation. High levels of precipitation during spring likely promoted understory plant growth and increased nesting cover especially where fire opened the canopy to more sunlight and increased nutrient release to soils. Only 1 of 49 nests occurred in logged areas. Clearcut logging may be more detrimental to nesting habitat in xeric (for example, southeastern Montana) than mesic regions because of slower vegetational growth and lower habitat structural diversity. Nests generally occurred in cover >6.5 dm high and on >20% slopes. Summer home range sizes were not correlated with percent burned or logged area that they contained. Roost trees within burned areas were larger in diameter than those in unburned areas. More "large" trees in severely burned areas may have become attractive to roosting turkeys through loss of dense canopy and simplified branch structure. Turkeys usually roosted in the taller (mean = 18 m) and larger diameter (mean = 41 cm dbh) trees available. On average,, roosts occurred on 25% slopes with easterly or northeasterly aspects. Severely burned trees used for roosting may be lost over time because of their breakage and falling. No roosts occurred in forest stands subjected to any type of timber harvesting scheme. Survival rates of monitored turkeys were similar between burned and unburned areas. Overall, habitat quality for turkeys likely was lowered during the first year or 2 following the fire, but should generally increase (except roosting habitat) in subsequent years. The effects of logging on turkey habitat in southeastern Montana remain unclear; however, logged areas were rarely used by monitored turkeys during this study. ECOLOGY OF MERRIAM'S TURKEYS IN RELATION TO BURNED AND LOGGED AREAS IN SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA BY William Lawrence Thompson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biological Sciences ' MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana May 1993
Planetary period oscillations in Saturn’s magnetosphere: Phase relation of equatorial magnetic field oscillations and SKR modulation

We examine the planetary-period oscillations in Saturn’s magnetic field observed by the Cassini spacecraft on 23 near-equatorial periapsis passes spanning a 635-day interval from October 2004 to July 2006. We find as a first approximation that the phase of the rotating magnetic field perturbations are well organised throughout by the modulation phase of Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR) determined during the same interval by Kurth et al . [2007]. The relative phases of the spherical polar field components are such that the θ component is in phase with r , while the ϕ component is in quadrature with both lagging by 90 ° , with no reversal in sign in any of the components being observed across the equatorial plane within ~ ± 20 ° in latitude. The phasing of the r and ϕ components implies the presence of a quasi-uniform equatorial ‘cam’ field rotating near the SKR period, while the sense of the θ component indicates that the perturbation field lines have the form of loops with apices in the northern hemisphere.
Sectoral water use responses to droughts and heatwaves: analyses from local to global scales for 1990–2019

Water use for various sectors (e.g. irrigation, livestock, domestic, energy and manufacturing) is increasing due to a growing global population and economic development. Additionally, increases in frequency and severity of droughts, heatwaves and compound drought-heatwave events, also lead to responses in sectoral water use and a reduction in water availability, intensifying water scarcity. However, limited knowledge exists on the responses in sectoral water use during these hydroclimatic extremes. In this study we quantify the impacts of droughts, heatwaves and compound events on water use of irrigation, livestock, domestic, energy and manufacturing sectors at global, country and local scales. To achieve this, datasets of reported and downscaled sectoral water use (i.e. withdrawal and consumption) were evaluated during these hydroclimatic extremes and compared to normal (non-extreme) periods for 1990–2019. Our analysis shows that these hydroclimatic extremes affect water use patterns differently per sector and region. Reported data show that domestic and irrigation water use increases during heatwaves in Eastern Europe and central continental United States, while water use decreases for thermoelectric sector, particularly in Europe while it increases in north and Eastern Asia. Additionally, global water use response patterns reveal that irrigation and domestic sectors are mostly prioritized over livestock, thermoelectric and manufacturing. Reported local-scale data reveal that for most sectors and regions/locations, stronger water use responses are found for heatwaves and compound events compared to impacts during hydrological droughts. Our outcomes provide improved understanding of sectoral water use behaviour under hydroclimatic extremes. Nonetheless, given the future threats to water availability and the limited accessible information of water use, there is an urgency to collect more monitored-driven data of sectoral water use for improved assessments of water scarcity under these extremes. Consequently, this research reveals the necessity of more realistic water use models to better represent the sectoral responses to hydroclimatic extremes.
Did the EU Transparency Directive improve financial reporting transparency? An examination of stock price informativeness and earnings quality

This paper examines the impact of a transparency regulation on stock price informativeness and earnings quality. Specifically, it focuses on the Transparency Directive (TPD), a key securities regulation implemented by EU countries in recent years, which strives to increase and improve the flow of firm-specific information by mandating broader disclosure requirements, including greater reporting frequency by public companies listed in the EU member countries. I test whether TPD improved stock price informativeness and financial reporting quality. Using a sample of 4,768 firms from 25 EU countries during the 2001-2010 time period, I find stock price informativeness improved following the implementation of TPD and that the positive relation between TPD and stock price informativeness is more pronounced for firms in countries with (i) better staffed regulatory authorities and (ii) stronger implementation and enforcement. The analysis of accrual quality and accounting conservatism is currently in progress. Overall, my findings highlight the role of enforcement in documenting the effects of regulations requiring more transparency. JEL Classification: F30, G15, G30, M4
Pathogens and microorganisms in the mangrove oyster Crassostrea gasar cultivated in an estuarine environment in Northeast Brazil.

Estuaries are important ecosystems due to the ecological services they provide, acting as nurseries for many species of fish and invertebrates, and are also used as environments for the extraction and cultivation of mollusks. Oysters are animals that filter water to obtain oxygen and nutrients. In this process, they can bioaccumulate microorganisms and chemical substances in their tissues. The growth of mollusk culture in Northeastern Brazil requires the health identification of cultivated oysters through the quantification of the potentially harmful microbiota accumulated in the animals. Therefore, the present work aims to quantify and identify bacteria and possible pathogens found in the tissues of cultivated oysters and their culture waters. The Most Probable Number of Coliforms (MPN) in oysters and water were considered suitable according to the Brazilian current legislation, Vibrio sp. obtained low colonization and Salmonella sp. was not observed. The prevalence of microorganisms potentially pathogenic to oysters was 33.7%, highlighting metazoans and Nematopsis sp. , however, the intensity of the infestation of these organisms was moderate. The low contamination of oysters demonstrates that this culture environment is promising for this activity. However, continuous environmental and sanitary monitoring is fundamental to guarantee the safety of the culture waters and the sustainability of aquaculture activities.
The Standard Model: the electroweak sector

This brief introduction to Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model contains the basic building blocks of perturbation theory in quantum field theory, an elementary introduction to gauge theories and the basic classical and quantum features of the electroweak sector of the Standard Model. Some specific aspects like the effective potential, anomalies and extrapolation of Higgs couplings to high energies are discussed, as well as some mysterious aspects of the Standard Model which motivate new physics constructions.
Hepatic Safety of Febuxostat and Allopurinol for Gout Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose This study aims to systematically review the hepatic safety of febuxostat and allopurinol in adult gout patients. Methods We searched for information using the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria were to review all randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compared allopurinol and febuxostat for adult gout patients that had an assessment of liver function outcomes. Non-English studies on case reports, case series, reviews, and abstracts only were excluded. We extracted information from the studies to answer the research question, ie, study design, publication year, population, sample size, patient characterization, duration, Jadad score, and liver function outcomes. Results We screened 512 publications from the databases and identified 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Ten out of 11 included studies were double-blind RCTs. In the majority of the included studies, no statistically significant differences were observed in terms of hepatic safety data between febuxostat and allopurinol. However, in studies where allopurinol titration was used, it posed a challenge to maintain blinding. Notably, consistent adverse events related to liver function findings were observed across all reviewed RCTs. These abnormal liver function test results sometimes led to study withdrawal based on the investigators’ assessment. Nevertheless, the investigators classified most liver function test elevations as mild to moderate in severity. Conclusion Our analysis concluded that adult gout patients enrolled in the included RCTs exhibited similar hepatic safety profiles for both febuxostat and allopurinol treatment. Liver function abnormalities were identified in all RCTs included in this systematic review. Consequently, it is important for the product labeling information of both allopurinol and febuxostat to present and describe the current safety data to guide healthcare practitioners when prescribing these medications to patients. Pharmacovigilance and post-marketing pharmacoepidemiology data are essential in establishing the comprehensive safety profile.
Methods of Soil Enzymology

A variety of methods were developed to measure soil biological activity. All these methods are not suited to produce generally accepted results, but they give relative information about the ecological status of soil. Soil enzymatic activity assays is only one way to measure the ecosystem status of soils. Â Soil enzymology is nowadays of practical importance because the influence of agrochemicals, industrial waste, heavy metals, as well as soil fertility management can be measured. Especially the search for urease inhibitor is of practical interest in order to reduce ammonia losses from soils (Schaller, 2009). Soil Enzymology. Book Â· January 2011 with 77 Reads. How we measure 'reads'. Â Soil enzymes are one of the vital key mediators involved in nutrient recycling and the decomposition of organic matter and thereby in maintaining soil quality and fertility. This Soil Biology volume covers the various facets of soil enzymes, such as their functions, biochemical and microbiological properties and the factors affecting their activities. Enzymes in the rhizosphere, in forest soils, and in volcanic ash-derived soils are described. Soil enzymes covered include phosphohydrolases, lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, phenol oxidases, fungal oxidoreductases, keratinases, pectinases, xyla
Telemedicine Breastfeeding Consultation: The Saudi Experience

Background Telemedicine is widely used in health specialties. Yet, the experience of telemedicine use and its effectiveness in breastfeeding support is a research gap. The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of telemedicine use for breastfeeding support in Saudi Arabia and to explore patients’ satisfaction with the service. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in outpatient settings at Ministry of Health facilities in several Saudi regions. The number of breastfeeding consultations over one year (2021) was analyzed in terms of region, month, method of consultation, and women’s maternity status. Data on patient satisfaction and telemedicine techniques were gathered during 2022. Results Across the 16 regions enrolled in the project, 51,571 remote breastfeeding consultations were conducted, representing 28.2% of the total consultations. The eastern region reported the highest percentage (40.7%), and the southern region reported the lowest (2.4%). Almost two-thirds of the consultations were provided to lactating mothers (62.91%). Most data (90%) were collected from breastfeeding clinics in hospitals, and nurses were the main primary health care providers. The mean was 4,255 consultations per month. In terms of technology, telemedicine consultations were mostly conducted by phone (50%) and WhatsApp (38%). Satisfaction with telemedicine was reported by 80% of the participants, with a statistical difference found in those favoring telemedicine over in-person care (p=0.032), particularly for those using phone consultations and Telegram (p<0.001). WhatsApp respondents had the commonest neutral responses (p<0.001). Conclusion Telemedicine breastfeeding care has been widely established with high patient satisfaction. A national protocol outpatient lactation services with an intergrated hospital and primary care services and involvement of different health care professionals are recommended. Although breastfeeding counselling is proven to have a positive change on breastfeeding indicators, telemedicine tool per se needs further work on its role in breastfeeding indicators. Triage of cases to be evaluated face-to-face or referral to a specialist after telemedicine lactation care is an area for future work.
Estuarine habitat and behavior of winter flounder ( Pseudopleuronectes americanus): An approach using acoustic telemetry in Barnegat Bay, NJ, USA

AMERICANUS): AN APPROACH USING ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY IN BARNEGAT BAY, NJ, USA By JOAN H. PRAVATINER A thesis submitted to the Graduate School-New Brunswick Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Graduate Program in Oceanography written under the direction of Dr. Kenneth W. Able and approved by ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
Design and Evaluation of a Generic Visual SLAM Framework for Multi Camera Systems

Multi-camera systems have been shown to improve the accuracy and robustness of SLAM estimates, yet state-of-the-art SLAM systems predominantly support monocular or stereo setups. This paper presents a generic sparse visual SLAM framework capable of running on any number of cameras and in any arrangement. Our SLAM system uses the generalized camera model, which allows us to represent an arbitrary multi-camera system as a single imaging device. Additionally, it takes advantage of the overlapping fields of view (FoV) by extracting cross-matched features across cameras in the rig. This limits the linear rise in the number of features with the number of cameras and keeps the computational load in check while enabling an accurate representation of the scene. We evaluate our method in terms of accuracy, robustness, and run time on indoor and outdoor datasets that include challenging real-world scenarios such as narrow corridors, featureless spaces, and dynamic objects. We show that our system can adapt to different camera configurations and allows real-time execution for typical robotic applications. Finally, we benchmark the impact of the critical design parameters - the number of cameras and the overlap between their FoV that define the camera configuration for SLAM. All our software and datasets are freely available for further research.
Assessment of the Negative Impact of Urban Air Pollution on Population Health Using Machine Learning Method

This study focuses on assessing the level of morbidity among the population of Almaty, Kazakhstan, and investigating its connection with atmospheric air pollution using machine learning algorithms. The use of these algorithms is aimed at analyzing the relationship between air pollution levels and the state of public health, as well as the correlations between COVID-19 infection and the development of respiratory diseases. This study analyzes the respiratory diseases of the population of Almaty and the level of air pollution as a result of suspended particles for the period of 2017–2022. The study includes recommendations to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere using machine learning methods. The results of the study show that air pollution is a critical factor affecting the increase in the number of diseases of the respiratory system. The study recommends taking measures to reduce air pollution and improve air quality in order to prevent the development of chronic respiratory diseases. The study offers recommendations to industrial enterprises, traffic management organizations, thermal power plants, the Department of Environmental Protection, and local executive bodies in order to reduce respiratory diseases among the population.
Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Disease Severity and Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Purpose Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) poses a life-threatening risk with high mortality rates. While the coexistence of PE and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is gaining recognition, its influence on PE severity and prognosis remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the associations between OSA and disease severity, as well as outcomes, in patients with acute PE. Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients diagnosed with acute PE who had undergone previous cardiorespiratory polygraphy. OSA severity was assessed using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) derived from cardiorespiratory polygraphy. The severity of acute PE was evaluated using the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) score. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the associations between AHI and the risk of belonging to the sPESI≥1 group. Cox regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between AHI and long-term adverse events, defined as a composite of all-cause mortality and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Results Among 145 acute PE patients (mean age 62.2 years, 49.7% male), 94 (64.8%) had OSA. Patients with OSA had a significantly higher proportion of sPESI≥1 (89.4% vs 68.6%, p=0.002) than non-OSA patients. Each unit increase in AHI was associated with a 15% increased risk of severe PE (sPESI≥1) (odds ratio: 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.26, p=0.002) after adjusting for confounders. During a median follow-up of 15.2 months, 27 (18.6%) patients experienced adverse events. Increased AHI independently predicted a higher risk of adverse events (hazard ratio: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.05, p=0.026), even after adjusting for potential confounders. AHI ≥8 events/h was associated with a significantly higher adjusted hazard ratio of 2.56 (95% CI: 1.15–5.72, p=0.022) for adverse events compared to AHI <8 events. Conclusion OSA is common in acute PE patients and is linked to increased disease severity and adverse outcomes. Implementing routine OSA screening and management may aid risk stratification and improve outcomes in acute PE patients.