Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Four Variants of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) Classification in Patients with Multinodular Goitre — initial study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of four variants of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) in the differentiation of focal lesions in individuals with multinodular goitre. Materials and methods: The study was approved by the Local Bioethical Committee. Each patient gave informed consent before enrolment. A total of 163 nodules in 124 patients with multinodular goitre were evaluated by ultrasound. B-mode and PD imaging and strain elastography were performed. Archived images were evaluated via retrospective analysis using four different proposed TIRADS classifications. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of the Horvath, Park, Kwak, and Russ classifications were 0.625 and 0.769, 0.813 and 0.864, 0.938 and 0.667, and 0.875 and 0.293, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 0.227 and 0.95, 0.394 and 0.977, 0.234 and 0.99, and 0.119 and 0.956, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggests that the best differentiation potential was demonstrated by the Kwak classification with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.896, followed by the Park (AUC = 0.872), Horvath (AUC = 0.774), and Russ (AUC = 0.729) classifications. Conclusions: The TIRADS classification proposed by Kwak can be a useful tool in daily practice for the evaluation of thyroid cancer in individuals with multinodular goitre, particularly for selecting cases that require biopsy, which may improve and simplify clinical decision making. To adopt a definitive, comprehensive variant of the TIRADS classification with potential for universal, practical application, further prospective studies that include improvement of the lexicon and evaluation of the full spectrum of thyroid malignancy are warranted. (Endokrynol Pol 2018; 69 (2): 156–162)
Diverse and abundant arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in ecological �oating beds used to treat eutrophic water

An increasing number of investigations have demonstrated the universal existence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the accurate distribution and functions of AMF inhabiting aquatic ecosystems, especially ecological �oating bed (EFB) which was constructed for the remediation of polluted waterbodies. In this study, we collected root samples of Canna generalis, Cyperus alternifolius and Eichhornia crassipes from three EFBs �oating on two eutrophic lakes in Wuhan, China, to investigate the resources and distribution of AMF in EFBs using Illumina Mi-seq technology. A total of 229 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 21 taxon from 348,799 Glomeromycota sequences were detected. Glomus was the most dominant AMF in the three EFBs while the second dominant AMF was related to Acaulospora. Different aquatic plant species exhibited varying degrees of AMF colonization (3.83%~71%), diversity (6~103 OTUs, 3~15 virtual taxa) and abundance (14~57551 sequences). Low AMF abundance but relatively high AMF diversity were found in C. alternifolius which is usually considered as non-mycorrhizal, demonstrating the high accuracy of Illumina sequencing. In addition, results from this study suggested a lognormal species abundance distribution was observed across AMF taxa in the three plant species, and the AMF community composition was closely related to pH, nitrogen and phosphorus. Overall, our data demonstrated that diverse and abundant AMF communities were living in EFBs, and the AMF community composition was closely related to the water quality of eutrophic lakes treated by EFBs, providing potential possibility for the applications of AMF in plant-based bioremediation of wastewater.
An Eight-Month Sample of Marine Stratocumulus Cloud Fraction, Albedo, and Integrated Liquid Water

Abstract As part of the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Regional Experiment (FIRE), a surface meteorology and shortwave/longwave irradiance station was operated in a marine stratocumulus regime on the northwest tip of San Nicolas island off the coast of Southern California. Measurements were taken from March through October 1987, including a FIRE Intensive Field Operation (IFO) held in July. Algorithms were developed to use the longwave irradiance data to estimate fractional cloudiness and to use the shortwave irradiance to estimate cloud albedo and integrated cloud liquid water content. Cloud base height is estimated from computations of the lifting condensation level. The algorithms are tested against direct measurements made during the IFO; a 30% adjustment was made to the liquid water parameterization. The algorithms are then applied to the entire database. The stratocumulus clouds over the island are found to have a cloud base height of about 400 m, an integrated liquid water content .
Representative Elementary Volume Analysis of Sands Using X-Ray Computed Tomography

The concept of a representative elementary volume (REV) provides an effective means of developing macroscopic measures in the description of granular materials. However, due to the difficulties associated with the measurement and characterization of granular microstructure the existence and size of an REV has remained largely conjectural. This study presents a systematic method to examine the characteristics of the REV using X-ray computed tomography images. The 3-D images of spherical glass beads, Silica sand, and Ottawa sand have been characterized using advanced image processing techniques. An interactive computer program is developed to study porosity variation within a sphere with increasing radius from the images of these materials. The porosity variation of Silica sand and Ottawa sand showed three characteristic regions: an initial fluctuation region due to microscopic variations, a constant plateau region, and a region with a monotonic increase/decrease due to heterogeneity. The homogenous medium of glass beads did not show the last region. The results show that for a random packing of spherical glass beads the REV is about two to three times of the identical average diameter. The radius for Silica sand composed mainly of elongated particles is between 5 to 11 times of d50 and for Ottawa sand composed mainly of subrounded particles is between 9 to 16 times of d50.
Biodiversity Patterns in Arid, Variable Environments

Abstract Despite its importance for tourism and rural development, the biogeographic status of semi-desert and savanna transition inselbergs and mountains in central Namibia is poorly known. This study therefore investigates 11 inselbergs and their mountain flora in the central Namib Desert with regard to biogeographic patterns. Variation between seasons in variable environments is one of the most critical factors biasing global biodiversity analyses, and often results in lack of biogeographic analysis in these areas altogether. This study shows that patterns in floristic measures were largely maintained when a subset of the data was analyzed that contained only perennial plants (which are visible at these sites also during a poor rainy reason). This approach may hence be adapted in other areas that experience similar problems in data coverage related to seasonal differences.
Cluster statistics of thin current sheets in the Earth magnetotail: Specifics of the dawn flank, proton temperature profiles and electrostatic effects

[1] In this paper we use the statistics of 70 crossings by the Cluster mission to study and compare properties of thin current sheets observed at the dawn and dusk flanks of the Earth magnetotail. Special attention is devoted to the current sheet embedding: we define the degree of the current sheet embedding as be = Bext/B0 (B0 and Bext are magnetic field magnitudes at the thin current sheet boundary and in the lobes). We determine the current density by curlometer technique and calculate the current sheet thickness. We demonstrate that the current sheets at the dawn flank have larger be, smaller magnitude of the current density and larger relative thicknesses in Larmor radii than the current sheets at the dusk flank. Protons in thin current sheets are divided into two populations (the current-carrying particles and the background) and the temperatures of these populations have been estimated. The distribution of the proton temperature p inside typical current sheet is approximated as p ≈ Tp(1 − αT(Bx/Bext)2), where Tp is the p value in the central region of the current sheet. The average value 〈αT〉 ≈ 0.8. The proton current density (flow velocity in Y) is positive at the dusk flank and negative at the dawn flank, while the electron current density is positive at both flanks. This difference of the proton current density at two flanks is explained by the E × B drift due to the presence of the earthward electrostatic field Ex. We develop a simple model of the earthward electrostatic field to incorporate the influence of the embedding and the dawn-dusk magnetic field component.
Global relationships of total inorganic carbon with temperature and nitrate in surface seawater

High quality total inorganic carbon (CT) measurements made in the major ocean basins as part of the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Ocean Atmosphere Carbon Exchange Study (NOAA/OACES), and the Department of Energy/World Ocean Circulation Experiment (DOE/WOCE) programs are related to sea surface temperature (SST) and nitrate (NO3−). A simple two‐parameter function with SST and NO3− of the form NCT = a + b SST + c SST2 + d NO3− fits salinity (S)‐normalized surface CT (NCT = CT × 35/S) data for different parts of the oceans within an area‐weighted error of ±7 μmol kg−1 (1σ). Estimated values of NCT using the derived algorithms with NO3− and SST are compared with values calculated from the surface partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2sw) [Takahashi et al.,1997] and total alkalinity (AT) [Millero et al., 1998] fields using thermodynamic models. Comparisons of the estimated values of NCT with measurements not used to derive the same algorithms, and comparisons with the values calculated from global AT and pCO2sw fields, give a realistic uncertainty of ±15 μmol kg−1 in estimated CT. The derived correlations of NCT with SST and NO3− presented here make it possible to estimate surface CT over the ocean from climatological SST, S, and NO3− fields.
Risk of stroke after unilateral or bilateral TKA in 327,438 matched patients using data from the National Health Insurance Claims

Background: Limited data is available regarding the incidence rate and risk factors for stroke associated with unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and bilateral TKA. This study aims to investigate the incidence rate and risk factors of stroke in patients treated with bilateral TKA compared with patients with unilateral TKA.Methods: In this retrospective nationwide cohort study, we compared patients undergoing unilateral TKA or bilateral TKA using data from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database between January 1, 2009 and August 31, 2017 and included patients older than 40 years of age who underwent primary TKA by the index date as documented primary diagnosis and first additional diagnosis without a history of stroke during the preceding 1 year. We used matched Cox regression models to compare the incidence rate and risk factors of newly acquired stroke among patients treated with unilateral TKA or bilateral TKA after propensity score (PS) matching.Results: In the present study, 163,719 patients who received unilateral TKA were matched to163,719 patients with bilateral TKA based on PS. The risk of stroke during the study period was lower in patients treated with bilateral TKA than in patients with unilateral TKA (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.79). Patients who received bilateral TKA were at decreased risk of stroke when the following variables were present: advanced age (70-79 years, HR 0.76), female sex (HR 0.75), rural area (HR 0.77), small- or medium-sized hospital (HR 0.75), health insurance (HR 0.77), history of hypertension drug use (HR 0.75), congestive heart failure (HR 0.70), connective tissue disease (HR 0.71), diabetes (HR 0.77), and diabetes with complication (HR 0.76). Conclusions: The risk of stroke was lower in patients treated with bilateral TKA than in patients with unilateral TKA. Patients treated with bilateral TKA were at decreased risk of stroke when the following variables were present: age (70-79 years), female sex, health insurance, history of hypertension drug use, and comorbidities, such as congestive heart failure, connective tissue disease, and diabetes. More importantly, we do state that those with simultaneous bilateral TKA and staged bilateral TKA without discharge could have been healthier. Therefore, those who underwent 2 unilateral TKAs could have been at more risk of stroke, especially in the 2nd unilateral TKA.
Perceptual Discrepancy Profiles of Social Competence and Their Interrelations With Depressive Symptoms Among Early Adolescents Topalli,

We examined the perceptual discrepancy profiles between selfand others' (peer, teacher) evaluations of adolescents' social competence (SC) and the interrelations of these profiles with self-reported depressive symptoms. The participants were 390 Finnish lower secondary school students. Latent profile analysis (LPA) revealed five classes of discrepancy profiles; adolescents with congruent perceptions, quite congruent perceptions, and positively discrepant perceptions of SC reported lower depressive symptoms, whereas those with negatively and extremely positively discrepant perceptions of SC reported the highest number of depressive symptoms. The larger the discrepancy between the selfand others' evaluations of SC were, the more depressive symptoms were reported. The results indicate that interventions designed to mitigate depression cannot be unilateral but need to be tailored to individual needs.
Environmental isotopes and hydrochemical study applied to surface water and groundwater interaction in the Awash River basin

An environmental isotope and hydrochemical study was carried out to conceptualize the surface water and groundwater interaction and to explore the groundwater flow pattern in relation to the geological setting. More emphasis is given to the Afar Depression where groundwater is a vital source of water supply. Conventional field hydrogeological study and river discharge records support the isotope and hydrochemical analysis. The region is tectonically active, comprising rift volcanic terrain bordered by highlands. The result revealed that recent meteoric water is the major source of recharge. Three distinct groundwater zones were identified associated with the highlands, transitional escarpment and the rift. Towards the rift, the ionic concentration and isotopic enrichment (δ2H and δ18degO) increases following the groundwater flow paths, which is strongly controlled by axial rift faults. The groundwater flow converges to the seismically active volcano–tectonic depressions with internal drainage and to the Awash River. Within the Afar Depression, at least four groundwater regimen are identified: (1) fresh and shallow groundwater associated with alluvial deposits ultimately recharged by isotopically depleted recent highland rainfall and the evaporated Awash River; (2) cold and relatively younger groundwater within localized fractured volcanics showing mixed origin in axial fault zones; (3) old groundwater with very high ionic concentration and low isotopic signature localized in deep volcanic aquifers; and (4) old and hot saline groundwaters connected to geothermal systems. The study demonstrated that dependable groundwater can only be obtained from the first two aquifer types in aerially restricted zones in flat plains following river courses, local wadis and volcano–tectonic depressions. The conventional hydrogeological survey and discharge records indicate substantial channel losses from the Awash River, which becomes a more dominant source of recharge in central and lower Awash valleys. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Water table drawdown due to a pumped well in an unconfined aquifer

A general solution of the water table drawdown for unsteady radial flow to a pumped well is considered. Tabulated values for the free surface function are calculated for the range of parameters occurring in practical situations. A comparison with the available solution of Boulton is made, an appraisal of the assumptions being introduced in the derivation of the solutions. A numerical example of unsteady radial flow in an unconfined aquifer with details of the main part of the computer program is presented.
Altitude conditions seem to determine the evolution of COVID-19 in Brazil: a significance relationship with cases and deaths

Background COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, but the incidence of the disease is showing to be very heterogeneous, affecting cities and regions differently. Thus, there is a gap regarding what factors would contribute to accentuate the differences in the incidence of COVID-19 among Brazilian cities. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of altitude on incidence of COVID-19 in Brazilian cities. Methods We analysed the relative incidence, relative death rate of COVID-19, and air relative humidity in all 154 cities in Brazil with a population above 200 thousand inhabitants, located between 5 and 1,135 m in altitude. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to compare a relationship between altitude with relative incidence (RI) and relative death rate (RDR) and between air relative humidity (RH). Altitudes were classified into three classes (low class, up to 97 m; middle class, 97 m to 795 m; and upper class, 795 m to 1,135 m) for the RI, RDR and RH variables. To compare the three classes of altitude, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test were used to compare media (p < 0.05). Results Our epidemiological analysis found that the IR, RDR and RH were higher in cities located in low (0 to 97 m a.s.l) compared to medium (98 to 790 m a.s.l) and high (791 to 1135 m a.s.l) cities altitudes. Furthermore, it has been shown that there is a negative correlation between the incidence of COVID-19 with altitude and a positive correlation with air relative humidity in the cities analysed. Conclusion Brazilian cities at lower altitudes and greater air relative humidity have higher relative incidence and relative deaths from COVID-19. Thus, higher altitude cities may be favourable to shelter people at risk. This study may be useful for understanding the behaviour of SARS-CoV2, and start point for future studies to establish causality of environmental conditions with SARS-CoV2 contributing to the implementation of measures to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.
Geology of the East Siberian Sea, Russian Arctic, from seismic images: Structures, evolution, and implications for the evolution of the Arctic Ocean Basin

[1] The kinematics and history of the opening of the Amerasia Basin are closely linked to the geology of the wide shelves surrounding the Arctic Ocean. In this context, multichannel seismic reflection data from the virtually unexplored shelf of the East Siberian Sea, Russian Arctic, are discussed in combination with potential field data. Three seismic marker horizons were defined and mapped. Their ages were linked to main tectonic and regional events and to onshore findings. The data reveal that there is no continuation of the large rift basins from the Laptev Shelf onto the East Siberian Shelf and there are no indications for the previously defined several hundred kilometers wide Blagoveshchensk Basin. The East Siberian Shelf is best described as an epicontinental platform that synsedimentarily subsided continuously since Late Cretaceous times with stronger subsidence to the northeast, resulting in the formation of a large depocenter. Some form of extensional/transtensional stresses affected the area and created relatively small ESE–WNW striking basins within this depocenter. These basins are filled with >6 km thick Late Cretaceous to Tertiary sediments. The general dip of the platform of the East Siberian Shelf toward the northeast may be explained by dip-slip movements along a major transform fault that is proposed by the rotation model for the opening of the Amerasia Basin. For the evolution of small sag-shaped basins within the East Siberian Depocenter we suggest a link to the opening of the Eurasia Basin instead of to the opening of the Makarov Basin.
Analysis of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extent using quantile regression

A number of recent studies have examined trends in sea ice cover using ordinary least squares regression. In this study, quantile regression is applied to analyse other aspects of the distribution of sea ice extent. More specifically, trends in the mean, maximum, and minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic and Antarctic are investigated. While there is a significant decreasing trend in mean Arctic sea ice extent of − 4.5% per decade from 1979 through 2010, the Antarctic results show a small positive trend of 2.3% per decade. In some cases such as the Antarctic minimum ice cover, selected quantile regressions yield slope estimates that differ from trends in the mean. It was also found that the variability in Antarctic sea ice extent is higher than that in the Arctic. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Diversity Is in the Eye of the Beholder

The reported studies suggest that concern for the in-group motivates Asian Americans and African Americans to define diversity specifically, that is, as entailing both minorities’ numerical and hierarchical representation, while motivating White Americans to define diversity broadly, that is, as entailing either minorities’ high numerical and/or hierarchical representation in an organization. Studies 2–4 directly assess if a concern for the in-group affects conceptions of diversity by measuring Black and White participants’ racial identity centrality, an individual difference measure of the extent to which individuals define themselves according to race. These studies suggest that the tendency to conceive diversity in ways protective of the in-group is especially pronounced among individuals who identify strongly with their racial in-group.
Vegetation history, fire history and lake development recorded for 6300 years by pollen, charcoal, loss on ignition and chironomids at a small lake in southern Kyrgyzstan (Alay Range, Central Asia)

Analyses of pollen, microscopic charcoal, loss on ignition (LOI) and chironomids in the sediment of the small sub-alpine lake Kichikol (2541 m a.s.l.; 39°59'N, 73°33'E; Alay Range, Kyrgyzstan) provide new data to reconstruct the vegetational and lacustrine history during the past 6300 years. From 6300—5100 calibrated 14C years BP (cal. yr BP) semi-deserts with Chenopodiaceae and Ephedra and rather open Juniperus stands persisted around the lake. At 5100—4000 cal. yr BP dense Juniperus forest established. Around 4000 cal. yr BP the forest retreated and was probably restricted to north-facing slopes, as is the case today. Changes in the hydrology of Kichikol are inferred from lithological properties, pollen of aquatic plants and remains of aquatic invertebrates. The lacustrine development of Kichikol suggests a step-wise increase in humidity during the mid and late Holocene, with major shifts recorded at 5000 and 4000 cal. yr BP. At the beginning of the record Kichikol was a very shallow, possibly temporary pond. An initial rise in water-table is registered at c. 5000 cal. yr BP, followed by a second rise to near present levels at c. 4000 cal. yr BP. These hydrological shifts could be related to an increase of westerly moisture transport from the Mediterranean region as a consequence of a late-Holocene weakening of the Central Asian High and Indian monsoon systems. Moderate human impact in the region is recorded after 2100 cal. yr BP, as indicated by pollen of Plantago lanceolata-type and a slight increase of charcoal accumulation rates. Considering the general course of climate as well as human impact we conclude that the present forest composition is natural or quasi-natural.