Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Breeding success of pied flycatchers in artificial forest edges: The effect of a suboptimally shaped foraging area

We conducted an experimental study of nest-site selection and breeding suc- cess of Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in artificial forest edges. The nest-site selection experiment revealed a clear pattern in the order of occupancy of nest boxes by males: boxes situated at the edge between the forest stand and the clearcut were consistently avoided by the earliest-arriving males, which preferentially selected boxes 50 to 100 m from the edge. We also wanted to assess the possible fitness consequences associated with the observed nest location by moving randomly selected breeding pairs to a new location with respect to dis- tance from the edge. The body mass of offspring was lower in nests moved to the edge than in nests moved into the interior of the forest stand. Body mass may be correlated with the lower feeding rate observed at edge nests compared with interior nests. We present evidence that pairs nesting at the extreme edge were forced to use suboptimal foraging areas (i.e. a semicircle of habitat), whereas interior pairs had a complete circle of suitable habitat in which to forage. Pied Flycatchers did not use clearcuts for foraging. Birds may try to com- pensate for suboptimal foraging area by increasing their food-search efficiency, or they may try to enlarge their foraging area by increasing its radius. Both strategies may increase the energy consumption of adults and the time spent searching for food, which may, in turn, decrease feeding frequency. However, we found no support for increased energy consump- tion. Nest-predation rate, food availability, and survival of parents were not associated with the distance of the nest from the edge. Our results indicate a harmful edge effect from forest fragmentation for Pied Flycatchers because offspring mass is related to fitness through brood survival to the next breeding season. Received 15 December 1997, accepted 31 October 1998.
Isolation and screening of alkaline protease producing bacteria and induction of overproducing Bacillus licheniformis mutants through UV irradiation

Screening was done from soil samples collected from black cotton soil, groundnut field, milk processing unit, Kotappakonda hill area in Guntur Dist,and Tirumala in Chittur District, A.P. Indian soils are best for alkaline protease producing bacteria that resulted in isolation of 21 alkaline protease producing alkaliphilic bacterial strains. MS6 showed the highest production (110U/ml) after 48h. This isolate was identified as Bacillus licheniformis by Microbial Type Culture Collection center (MTCC) and gene bank, Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, India. This strain was used to examine the changes in alkaline protease production following UV irradiation. Induction of mutation in Bacillus licheniformis strain was carried out by 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 20 min with 30-W germicidal lamp that has radiation at 2540 - 2550A 0 at a distance of 15cm in dark and irradiated. A total of 17 mutants were selected. They were designated as Bl1 to Bl9 and Bl10 to Bl17. Among these only three strains viz., Bl2, Bl11, and Bl16 did exhibit high efficiency in production on the basis of relative growth production (C/G). Of the seventeen mutants of Bacillus licheniformis, ten were chosen to assay their productivity. Mutants no Bl8, Bl3, Bl16 were the most effective in enzyme production under submerged conditions being 180, 140,128U/ml respectively. Results revealed that alkaline protease activity assay under submerged culture conditions was more accurate than the relative growth production (C/G) method because there is no correlation between zone diameter and the ability to produce the enzyme in submerged cultures. High level of productivity increased with Bl8 mutant of B.licheniformis, indicating that the enzyme is to be thermo-alkaliphilic protease.
Epidemiological Study of Hereditary Hemolytic Anemia in the Korean Pediatric Population during 1997–2016: a Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Hereditary hemolytic anemia (HHA) is a rare disease characterized by premature red blood cell (RBC) destruction due to intrinsic RBC defects. The RBC Disorder Working Party of the Korean Society of Hematology established and updated the standard operating procedure for making an accurate diagnosis of HHA since 2007. The aim of this study was to investigate a nationwide epidemiology of Korean HHA. Methods We collected the data of a newly diagnosed pediatric HHA cohort (2007–2016) and compared this cohort's characteristics with those of a previously surveyed pediatric HHA cohort (1997–2006) in Korea. Each participant's information was retrospectively collected by a questionnaire survey. Results A total of 369 children with HHA from 38 hospitals distributed in 16 of 17 districts of Korea were investigated. RBC membranopathies, hemoglobinopathies, RBC enzymopathies, and unknown etiologies accounted for 263 (71.3%), 59 (16.0%), 23 (6.2%), and 24 (6.5%) of the cases, respectively. Compared to the cohort from the previous decade, the proportions of hemoglobinopathies and RBC enzymopathies significantly increased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively). Twenty-three of the 59 hemoglobinopathy patients had immigrant mothers, mostly from South-East Asia. Conclusion In Korea, thalassemia traits have increased over the past 10 years, reflecting both increased awareness of this disease and increased international marriages. The enhanced recognition of RBC enzymopathies is due to advances in diagnostic technique; however, 6.5% of HHA patients still do not have a clear diagnosis. It is necessary to improve accessibility of diagnosing HHA.
The Relationship between Risk Event Involvement and Risk Perception during the COVID‐19 Outbreak in China

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a worldwide pandemic that continues to spread and the situation continues to deteriorate globally. It is also a risk event for the public in affected areas. However, little is known about the relationship between “being involved/exposed in a risk event at the moment” and people’s risk perception of that event. Methods The mediation model and analysis of covariance method were performed on a Chinese sample (N = 351) during the outbreak of COVID‐19 to test the underlying mechanism between risk event involvement and risk perception. Results Risk event involvement was positively related not only to people’s event‐related risk perception but also their general risk perception (i.e. risk perception towards other events), and negative emotion mediated these relationships. In addition, the residents of Wuhan (vs. non‐Wuhan) exhibited significantly higher event‐related risk perception as well as general risk perception. Conclusions The findings deepen our understanding of risk perception by suggesting that being involved in a risk event at the moment is also a nonnegligible variable positively related to risk perception through increased negative emotion. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications of the result are discussed.
Clinical value of diffusion-weighted MRI for differentiation between benign and malignant gallbladder disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Radiological differentiation between benign and malignant gallbladder disease is important but remains challenging. Furthermore, the clinical value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) remains unclear. Purpose To determine the value of DWI in discriminating benign from malignant gallbladder disease by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Material and Methods The literature was systematically searched. Studies analyzing diagnostic value of DWI in gallbladder disease with histopathology or follow-up as reference standard were included. Study selection and data extraction were done by two reviewers independently. Methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated and displayed in a forest plot. A sensitivity analysis was performed in case of outliers. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of DWI were plotted on a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve. If available, the added value of DWI to conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences was analyzed. Results Out of 2456 articles, eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria; 592 patients with 221 malignant lesions were included. Pooled sensitivity and specificity rates were 0.87 and 0.84, respectively. In two studies, diagnostic accuracy rates improved after adding DWI to conventional MRI (64% and 75% for conventional MRI vs. 89% and 94% after combining conventional MRI with DWI). In another study, the area under the curve increased from 0.92 to 0.95. Conclusion DWI appears to be an accurate imaging technique in discriminating benign from malignant gallbladder disease. To achieve optimal patient care, it should be part of multiparametric MRI and should be combined with other imaging modalities.
A 13C N.M.R. study of some disaccharides from algal polysaccharides

The acid hydrolysis of agar, a partially methylated agar, and K-carrageenan initially gives the disaccharide resulting from cleavage of the link between the anhydrogalactose and the galactose units. A new method for isolating these disaccharides on a preparative scale is described, and their 13C n.m. r. spectra are listed and assigned.
Modeling the Puzzle of Hepatitis C Epidemiology in Romania: A Pathway to Control.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS To combat hepatitis C virus (HCV) and achieve its elimination by 2030, the emphasis should be on public health policies. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of epidemiology of HCV in Romanian risk groups that are characterized by higher occurrence densities with the aid of The Let's End HepC (LEHC) project. METHODS The LEHC project addressed the modelling of HCV epidemiology, being applied in several countries, one of which is Romania. The model comprised an integrated solution of public health policies focused on the disease, using Adaptive Conjoint Analysis and Markov chains systems. This tool allowed the quantitative evaluation of public health policies' impact, for every year until 2030, in five population groups: people who inject drugs (PWID), prisoners, individuals who have received blood products, children at risk for vertical transmission, and the remnant population. RESULTS It appears that Romania was already making great efforts in the context of public policies, allowing the achievement of HCV elimination by 2028 if current policies were maintained. Through additional work and greater efforts in further implementing public policies, the LEHC model estimated the possibility of anticipating this outcome to 2026. CONCLUSION The LEHC model estimated an anticipation of the HCV elimination year in Romania to be 2026 if the twenty-four health policies in the study are fully implemented and consistently maintained over the years.
A novel sophorolipid-producing Candida keroseneae GBME-IAUF-2 as a potential agent in Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR).

The biosurfactants have extensive applications in food and petroleum microbiology. The aims of this research were isolation and characterization of thermo-tolerant biosurfactants from highly producing yeast strains. The Bushnell Hass medium was used for screening the biosurfactant-producing yeasts. Biosurfactant presence was evaluated using oil displacement assay and surface tension test. The best biosurfactant-producing strain was named Candida keroseneae GBME-IAUF-2 and its 5.8s-rDNA sequence was deposited in GenBank, NCBI under the accession number of MT012957.1. The thin layer chromatography and FTIR analysis confirmed that the extracted biosurfactant was sophorolipid with a significant surface activity. The purified sophorolipid decreased the surface tension of water from 72 to 29.1 mN/m. Its maximum emulsification index, E24%, was recorded as 60% and preserved 92.06-97.25% of its original activity at 110-120°C. It also preserved 89.11% and 84.73% of its original activity in pH of 9.3 and 10.5 respectively. It preserved 96.66-100% of its original activity in saline extreme conditions. This is the first report of sophorolipid production by the yeast Candida keroseneae. According to the high thermal, pH and saline stability, the sophorolipid produced by Candida keroseneae GBME-IAUF-2 could be highly recommended for applications in MEOR as well as food industries as an excellent emulsifying agent.
Heart failure in COVID‐19 patients: prevalence, incidence and prognostic implications

Data on the impact of COVID‐19 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and its potential to trigger acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. The aim of this work was to study characteristics, cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with confirmed COVID‐19 infection and a prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF). Further aims included the identification of predictors and prognostic implications for AHF decompensation during hospital admission and the determination of a potential correlation between the withdrawal of HF guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) and worse outcomes during hospitalization.
Relational Sequelae of Fetal Death During the First Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study on the Subjective Perceptions of the Relationship Between Mothers and Their Adult Subsequent Firstborn Children

Perinatal loss may deeply affect the attachment relationships of mothers and their next-born children. The aim was to explore the subjective perceptions of mothers, who had fetal death during the first pregnancy, and their adult subsequent firstborn children regarding the impact of the perinatal loss on the mother-child relationship and children’s self-perception. Fifteen mothers who experienced a fetal death during the first pregnancy and their adult subsequent firstborn children were interviewed. A Grounded Theory approach was used. Five main themes were identified: fetal death as a real loss producing prolonged grief; the importance of the communication about the dead sibling; creating and maintaining a relationship with the lost sibling; the mother-subsequent child relationship: between detachment and overprotection; significant effects of fetal death on adult subsequent children’s self-perception. Results highlighted a deep impact of fetal death on the subsequent mother-child relationship, as perceived by both mothers and adult children.
How telemedicine integrated into China’s anti-COVID-19 strategies: case from a National Referral Center

Introduction We present the integration of telemedicine into the healthcare system of West China Hospital of Sichuan University (WCH), one of the largest hospitals in the world with 4300 inpatient beds, as a means for maximising the efficiency of healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Implemented on 22 January 2020, the telemedicine technology allowed WCH providers to conduct teleconsultations, telerounds, teleradiology and tele-intensive care unit, which in culmination provided screening, triage and treatment for COVID-19 and other illnesses. To encourage its adoption, the government and the hospital publicised the platform on social media and waived fees. Discussion From 1 February to 1 April 2020, 10557 online COVID-19 consultations were conducted for 6662 individuals; meanwhile, 32676 patients without COVID completed virtual follow-ups. We discuss that high-quality, secure, affordable and user-friendly telemedical platforms should be integrated into global healthcare systems to help decrease the transmission of the virus and protect healthcare providers from infection.
Movement and habitat use of striped marlin Kajikia audax in the Western Indian Ocean.

Striped marlin Kajikia audax are globally Near Threatened and their stock in the Indian Ocean was last assessed as "overfished and subject to overfishing". Significant gaps in our understanding of their ecology remain, hampering the efforts of fisheries managers to ensure stock sustainability. There is a particular lack of fisheries-independent data. Here we present the results from the first large-scale satellite tracking study of K. audax in the Indian Ocean. We tagged 49 K. audax with pop-up archival satellite-linked tags off the Kenyan coast from 2015-2019. Individuals were highly mobile, covering horizontal distances of up to 9,187 km over periods ranging up to 183 days, with a mean daily distance of ~48 km. Long-distance movements were recorded to the east and north of East Africa, with the most distant tracks extending north to the Arabian Sea and east to near the Maldives. None of the K. audax swam south of East Africa. Kernel utilisation distributions of fish locations demonstrated their shifting seasonal activity hotspots. Over the sport-fishing season (and tagging period) in Kenya, from Dec-Mar, K. audax typically stayed off the East African coast. After March, the activity hotspot shifted north to a region close to the Horn of Africa and Socotra Island. Remotely-sensed sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a maps indicated that this seasonal movement could be driven by a shift in prey availability. Our results show the high mobility of K. audax in the Western Indian Ocean, and that individuals seasonally range between two major fishing areas.
Description of health-related rehabilitation service provision and delivery in randomized controlled trials: A topic review.

OBJECTIVE To determine how health-related rehabilitation services have been described in recently published randomized clinical trials, using the International Classification System for Service Organization in Health-Related Rehabilitation (ICSO-R 2.0) as a framework. METHODS Medline was searched for English-language randomized clinical trials between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018. Randomized clinical trials were eligible if the primary goal was to provide rehabilitation services to targeted patient populations. Two authors independently screened and extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of eligible trials. Descriptive analysis was used to compare service descriptions between eligible trials and the ICSO-R 2.0 framework (23 categories, 9 categories for provider, 14 categories for delivery). RESULTS Twenty-nine randomized clinical trials, with a wide range of organizational units and target groups, were included. The median number of categories reported in the provider dimension was 4 (range 3-5). The median number of categories reported in the service delivery dimension was 8 (range 6-12). None of the randomized clinical trials described all ICSO-R recommended categories. CONCLUSION Descriptions of service organization in rehabilitation varied widely among recently published randomized clinical trials. Use of the framework for the classification of service organization and standardization of description of services is recommended in future randomized clinical trials, to facilitate better comparisons in service research across studies.
Modeling the growth of recruits of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea with generalized additive models

The views and opinions expressed or implied in this article are those of the author (or authors) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Abstract—In this study, the growth pattern of juvenile European hake (Merluccius merluccius) was analyzed in relation to oceanographic and ecological factors in the Ligurian Sea and northern Tyrrhenian Sea, both part of the Mediterranean Sea. The ages of juvenile European hake, collected during a trawl survey in June 2011, were estimated by reading otolith daily growth rings. The growth pattern (length–age relationship) of juvenile European hake recruited to the population (<1 year old) was analyzed by fitting a multivariate generalized additive model with explanatory variables: depth, bottom temperature, sea-surface temperature, scalar wind speed, chlorophyll-a concentration, and fish density (number of individuals per square kilometer). A significant effect of density on the length–age relationship was found, and an increased growth rate at densities >3000 individuals km−2. This observed positive effect of density on growth could be argued to be a consequence of favorable environmental conditions, such as food availability and temperature, where both fish density and growth are maximized. Conversely, areas of lower density correspond to habitats of low suitability, where growth is impaired.
High Voltage Vertical GaN-on-GaN Schottky Barrier Diode with High Energy Fluorine Ion Implantation Based on Space Charge Induced Field Modulation (SCIFM) Effect

Electric field crowding at the Schottky edge and Schottky barrier lowering induced leakage current are two major problems that limit the performance of GaN-on-GaN vertical SBD. In this paper, we try to solve these issues. On one hand, a planar edge termination method based on high-energy fluorine ion implantation is explored for high voltage vertical GaN SBD. The space charge induced field modulation effect (SCIFM) is discovered in the ion implanted region. The electrons injected in the implanted region could effectively reduce the surface electric field, alleviating the field crowding at the metal edge. The SBD terminated with high-energy fluorine implanted region presents a breakdown voltage of 1300 V. Utilizing the depletion effect of space charges, the leaky path through the implanted region is partially blocked by the high-energy fluorine ion implanted guard rings. The reverse leakage current of SBD with guard rings is reduced by nearly 3 orders at the reverse bias of 300 V without the deterioration of forward characteristics. On the other hand, the fluorine ion implantation based quasi-JBS structure is investigated to shield the electric field seen by the Schottky contact and reduce the Schottky barrier lowering induced leakage current. The turn-on voltage modulation effect and improved breakdown voltage are observed in the fabricated quasi-JBS diodes, confirming the validity of the SCIFM mechanism in the ion implanted region.
Hierarchical Multi-Granularity Attention- Based Hybrid Neural Network for Text Classification

Neural network-based approaches have become the driven forces for Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks. Conventionally, there are two mainstream neural architectures for NLP tasks: the recurrent neural network (RNN) and the convolution neural network (ConvNet). RNNs are good at modeling long-term dependencies over input texts, but preclude parallel computation. ConvNets do not have memory capability and it has to model sequential data as un-ordered features. Therefore, ConvNets fail to learn sequential dependencies over the input texts, but it is able to carry out high-efficient parallel computation. As each neural architecture, such as RNN and ConvNets, has its own pro and con, integration of different architectures is assumed to be able to enrich the semantic representation of texts, thus enhance the performance of NLP tasks. However, few investigation explores the reconciliation of these seemingly incompatible architectures. To address this issue, we propose a hybrid architecture based on a novel hierarchical multi-granularity attention mechanism, named Multi-granularity Attention-based Hybrid Neural Network (MahNN). The attention mechanism is to assign different weights to different parts of the input sequence to increase the computation efficiency and performance of neural models. In MahNN, two types of attentions are introduced: the syntactical attention and the semantical attention. The syntactical attention computes the importance of the syntactic elements (such as words or sentence) at the lower symbolic level and the semantical attention is used to compute the importance of the embedded space dimension corresponding to the upper latent semantics. We adopt the text classification as an exemplifying way to illustrate the ability of MahNN to understand texts. The experimental results on a variety of datasets demonstrate that MahNN outperforms most of the state-of-the-arts for text classification.