Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atmospheric History of H2 Over the Past Century Reconstructed From South Pole Firn Air

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an abundant and reactive constituent of Earth's atmosphere, with links to climate and air quality. Anthropogenic emissions of H2 are expected to rise as the use of H2 as an energy source increases. Documenting past variations in atmospheric H2 will help to validate current understanding of the global H2 budget. The modern instrumental record begins in the 1980s; there is little information about atmospheric H2 prior to that time. Here, we use firn air measurements from a 2001 South Pole campaign to reconstruct atmospheric H2 levels over the 20th century. Inversion of the measurements indicates that H2 over South Pole has increased from 350–540 ppb from 1910–2000. A biogeochemical box model indicates that the atmospheric burden of H2 increased by 37% over that time. The rise in H2 is consistent with increasing H2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and increasing atmospheric production from methane oxidation.
Repeat breeding syndrome in crossbred dairy cows of Bangladesh: some important characteristics and influential factors

Background: Repeat breeding syndrome (RBS), an important reproductive disorder of dairy cattle, results in high economic losses in the dairy industry. The study was conducted to determine the factors of repeat breeding in crossbred dairy cows at selected areas of Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 592 breedable cows from 34 farms were examined from Mymensingh and Chittagong district. Seventy cows were identified as repeat breeder cows and another 23 cows were randomly selected as healthy control cows for the study. Results: The number of calving, the interval between first post-partum heat and last service date, number of services failed and consecutive services failed, the number of medications given, and number of suckling were found significantly higher in repeat breeder cows compared to normal healthy cows. Body weight and Body condition score (BCS) were significantly lower in repeat breeder cows compared to normal healthy cows. There were no significant differences in the estrus cycle length and concentrate feeding in both repeat breeder and healthy cows. The lowest occurrence of repeat breeder was recorded in cows fed with a larger amount of green grass. Remarkably, the highest occurrence of repeat breeder was recorded in cows fed with a significant amount of straw. Conclusion: The identified features of repeat breeding syndrome will help in disseminating awareness on factors affecting the occurrence of repeat breeding syndrome in crossbred cows.
Homogenization of Structural Breaks in the Global ESA CCI Soil Moisture Multisatellite Climate Data Record

The European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI) Soil Moisture (SM) COMBINED product is a more than 40-year-long data record on global SM for climate studies and applications. It merges SM observations derived from multiple active and passive satellite remote sensing instruments in the microwave domain. Differences in sensor characteristics (such as frequency or polarization) can cause structural breaks in the product, which are not completely removed during the merging process. These artificially caused discontinuities can adversely affect studies using the long-term data set. In this article, we compare three adjustment methods in terms of reducing the number of detected breaks in the SM record. We investigate their impact on the data with multiple validation metrics. Their potential (negative) influence is examined by comparing trends in the data before and after homogenization. We find that all three presented methods can reduce the number of detected breaks in ESA CCI SM. Differences between the methods mainly concern their ability to handle inhomogeneities in variance. Evaluation of the corrected data shows the limited impact of homogenization in terms of quantitative validation metrics. Changes in SM trends due to removing breaks are found in some areas. We find that break correction overall improves the already rather homogeneous data set while preserving its climate describing characteristics. Quantile category matching is identified as the preferred method in terms of correcting breaks in ESA CCI SM.
Discrepancy between Needle Biopsy and Radical Prostatectomy Gleason Score among Patients with Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE Gleason score (GS), as well as other prognostic and diagnostic modalities, can predict the possibility of tumor growth and metastasis during the life of patients with prostate cancer. Based on the prostate biopsy GS, clinicians choose the most appropriate therapy for managing patients. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the discrepancy between needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy GS and to identify its predictive factors among the Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1147 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy from 2009 to 2019 were initially enrolled in this study. After consideration of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 439 patients were finally included. The demographic variables and clinical data including age, PSA level, prostate volume, PSA density, GS derived from ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy specimen, and GS derived from radical prostatectomy specimen were collected from the medical records of patients with prostate adenocarcinoma and were reviewed by a urology resident. Statistical analysis was done by using the Social Sciences Software version 21. RESULTS The average age of patients was 64.5 years (range 48-84 years), and the average preoperative PSA level was 14.8 ng/mL. On histopathological examination, no changes in GS were observed in 237 (53.9%) patients, whereas GS was upgraded in 144 (32.8%) patients and downgraded in 58 (13.2%) patients at radical prostatectomy. The number of patients who had extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and positive lymph nodes was significantly higher in the upgraded group compared with the non-upgraded group. Conclusion: In this study, there was a steady decrease in GS upgrading with the prostate size extending up to 49.7 g. There was also an association between downgrading and extending prostate size. Due to the greater risk of high-grade disease in men with small prostates, smaller prostate bulks are most probably upgraded after radical prostatectomy. A higher maximum percentage of involvement per core was an independent predictive factor of upgrading from biopsy grade 1 to grade ≥ 2. Our study showed that patients' age was not predictive of upgrading, which is consistent with other studies. Also, we demonstrated a non-significant relationship between PSA level and upgraded GS. Findings in this study did not demonstrate a significant relationship between PSA level and upgrading.
The Determinants of ESG Rating in the Financial Industry: The Same Old Story or a Different Tale?

Corporate social performance (CSP) and, in particular, environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings became a focal point for scholars, practitioners and policy makers over the last decade. In order to better understand the dynamics underlying CSP within the financial industry, we investigate its determinants. Adding to the debate regarding CSP antecedents, we draw on a world-wide sample of 727 financial firms operating in twenty-two countries within the period 2006–2017 and look for firm, country and temporal factors that affect CSP. The main results of our empirical analyses provide evidence that financial firms’ ESG scores are growing on a linear trend over time, and such tendency is enhanced by their size and profitability, together with the economic and social development of the country within which they operate. Our findings also show that the environmental, social and governance pillars follow independent patterns.
Effects of larval density on a natural population of Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae): no evidence of compensatory mortality

1. This study investigated the effects of strong density dependence on larval growth, development, and survival of the mosquito Culex restuans (Theobald). It also tested the hypothesis that density reduction early in larval development could result in as many or more individuals surviving to adulthood (compensation or over‐compensation, respectively), or increased reproductive performance via rapid development and greater adult size.
Challenges in primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis diagnosis: from the diagnostic algorithm to novel biomarkers

Abstract Primary or idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a kidney entity that involves the podocytes, leading to heavy proteinuria and in many cases progresses to end-stage renal disease. Idiopathic FSGS has a bad prognosis, as it involves young individuals who, in a considerably high proportion (∼15%), are resistant to corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive treatments as well. Moreover, the disease recurs in 30–50% of patients after kidney transplantation, leading to graft function impairment. It is suspected that this relapsing disease is caused by a circulating factor(s) that would permeabilize the glomerular filtration barrier. However, the exact pathologic mechanism is an unsettled issue. Besides its poor outcome, a major concern of primary FSGS is the complexity to confirm the diagnosis, as it can be confused with other variants or secondary forms of FSGS and also with other glomerular diseases, such as minimal change disease. New efforts to optimize the diagnostic approach are arising to improve knowledge in well-defined primary FSGS cohorts of patients. Follow-up of properly classified primary FSGS patients will allow risk stratification for predicting the response to different treatments. In this review we will focus on the diagnostic algorithm used in idiopathic FSGS both in native kidneys and in disease recurrence after kidney transplantation. We will emphasize those potential confusing factors as well as their detection and prevention. In addition, we will also provide an overview of ongoing studies that recruit large cohorts of glomerulopathy patients (Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network and Cure Glomerulonephropathy, among others) and the experimental studies performed to find novel reliable biomarkers to detect primary FSGS.
Investigating Land-Use and Land-Cover Changes of Failaka Island: A Study in Geography and Geoarchaeology

Failaka Island is located 20 kilometers east of the Kuwait mainland. The island includes archaeological sites dating back to the Bronze, Hellenistic, Christian, and Islamic ages. To develop the island as a tourist attraction the state is pursuing a new urban plan based on the island's environmental potential. This study is the basis of the urban plan depends on environmental criteria from the view of Geoarchaeology. The study analysis the land-use and land-cover changes of Failaka Island between 1958- 2018. It provides a topographic survey of the island's coastline and a classification of its geomorphological features and a state of the art identification of its archaeological sites by using a drone to make a terrain model. The study used a medium to high-resolution image analysis of the land-use and land-cover changes: WorldView2-50cm 2010 and 2018; Landsat 8; aerial photography; Drone images and a digital elevation model (DEM), to analysis the expected sea level changes by the end of this century. This study also created a geodatabase of the island that can be adapted for future studies. The results emphasize the importance of preserving the historical and ecological features of the island while developing its infrastructure.
AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF WHEEL SLIP IN SOIL TILLAGE

In this study, a control system that automatically adjusts the working depth of the tractor tillage equipment has been developed in order to keep the wheel slip occurring in agricultural tractors during the tillage activities at the determined limit value. The developed automatic control system continuously measured the wheel slip on the tractor drive wheels and reduced the tillage depth adjusted for the wheel slip increase. While the amount of wheel sip was at the allowed level, the tillage equipment worked at the set depth value. In the study, a driver warning system is also designed to alert the driver to reduce the tillage depth when the amount of wheel slip exceeds the specified limit value. The driver warning system warns the driver visually with the help of colored LEDs and audibly with a buzzer according to the measured wheel slip value. The developed automatic control system was compared separately with the designed driver warning system and the operator's own control. The wheel slip value was calculated by comparing the forward speed of the tractor with the speed of the drive wheels. The automatic control system and driver warning system were installed on a New Holland TD110 agricultural tractor and trials were carried out in real field conditions. As a result of the trials, according to the driver warning system and operator control, it was determined that there was a 3-29% reduction in wheel slip and a 22-30% reduction in fuel consumption in soil tillage activities carried out with automatic control system. On the other hand, the draft force decreased by more than 5% compared to the operator control in the automatic control system. However, it was observed that there was almost no change in the average tillage depth between the control methods.
Soil organic carbon allocation and dynamics under perennial energy crops and their feedbacks with soil microbial biomass and activity

The cultivation of perennial instead of annual energy crops has received growing interest. Previous studies identified numerous beneficial effects of perennial energy crop (PEC) cultivation for the agricultural landscape such as promotion of agrobiodiversity, reduced requirements for agrochemicals and fertilizers as well as a large potential for carbon accumulation in soil. However, the mere presence of soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation gives no indication about the persistence of the SOM for example after a recultivation of the stands. Therefore, this study focused on SOM pools of different density fractions and soil microbial parameters. Six different PECs were tested against a typical benchmark system as feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The study has shown that all PEC species increased soil microbial activity and provided an insight how they sequester carbon in soil. Moreover, significant modifications in basic soil properties caused by plant growth were observed. For example, the cultivation of giant knotweed has lowered the soil pH by more than 0.5 pH units compared to the benchmark system. After 5 years of PEC cultivation, total soil organic carbon stocks were increased between 1,500 ± 400 and 4,500 ± 1,500 kg C ha‐1 for the upper 10 centimetres of soil. The distribution among different soil fractions showed species‐specific patterns. Tall wheatgrass and Virginia mallow showed particular high accumulation rates in the mineral‐associated SOM fraction which indicates long residence times of the SOM after a possible recultivation of the fields.
Vitrectomy With Sequential Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling and Flap Formation in Closure of a Large, Traumatic Macular Hole

Purpose: We report the use of sequential vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) flaps in closure of a chronic, large, traumatic macular hole (MH) in a 32-year-old male patient. Methods: The patient underwent vitrectomy using a sequential ILM flap technique. Results: This sequential ILM flap technique resulted in complete closure of the MH and improvement in visual acuity. In this case, a second ILM flap procedure allowed for successful closure of a traumatic MH. Conclusions: This case suggests that the MH's closure may have been facilitated by both relief of tangential traction on the retina as well as glial tissue proliferation from presence of the ILM flap.
Seasonal variations in response of periphytic algal community to nutrient enrichment in the river Ganga (Varanasi, India)

Effect of nutrient enrichment on periphyton was studied using chemical diffusing substrates that released, singly or in combination, PO4 3− -P and nitrogen, both NO3 − -N and NH4 + -N. The study was carried out in March and June 2014 as these two time periods showed abundance of different groups of algae. Whereas diatoms and green algae were abundant in March, cyanobacteria dominated in June. Nitrogen was primarily growth limiting in river water as its enrichment enhanced the growth of periphyton. Phosphate limitation was secondary in nature. Enrichment of NH4 + -N caused greater enhancement of periphytic growth than that of NO3 − -N. Nutrient enrichment reduced species diversity, further enhancing total biovolume of the periphytic group that was predominant at that particular point of time. Nutrient enrichment markedly increased cyanobacterial populations in June due inter alia to high temperature. In spite of nutrient enrichment, the periphytic biomass did not reach the level (chl a ≥ 100–150 mg m−2 ) considered as the nuisance, except in March when combined enrichment of PO4 3− -P and NO3 − -N greatly enhanced the periphytic biomass.
Insider Trading in Rumored Takeover Targets

We examine insider trading surrounding takeover rumors in a sample of 1,642 publicly traded U.S. firms. Using difference-in-differences regressions, we find that insider net purchases increase within the year prior to the first publication of a takeover rumor, particularly when rumor articles are either accurate (lead to a takeover announcement) or informative (provide substantial justification for the rumor’s publication). Moreover, we find abnormal insider trading to be a significant predictor of takeover announcements occurring within the following year. Finally, passive net purchasing (i.e., selling less rather than buying more) is more pronounced among managing insiders than among non-managing insiders.
School Leadership in Spain. Evidence from PISA 2015 assessment and Recommendations

ABSTRACT There is important empirical evidence that shows that quality of leadership at a school level is one of the factors with the greatest impact on students’ performance. The purpose of this article is to provide territorialized diagnosis of quality of school leadership in Spain and its regions based onPISA2015 Spanish sample. Several quantitative indicators of leadership are defined for this purpose. The relationship between school leadership and economic, social, and cultural status (ESCS), because of its interest in defining new educational compensation policies has been analyzed. In addition, leadership indicators by type of school (public, charter, and private school) to compare the predominant leadership models in each of them, have been considered. Our main results reveal: (a) low percentages for principals who apply key forms of school leadership with sufficient frequency; (b) the weakness of public versus private schools, whether sustained by public funds or not, in leadership practices with the greatest impact; (c)significant differences between regions for all the leadership indicators considered; (d) an association between leadership and academic performance whose strength is close to 20%. From these empirical results, different recommendations are made in the field of educational policies and practices.
Advances in Omics Technologies in GBM

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most lethal human cancers and poses a great challenge in the therapeutic interventions of GBM patients worldwide. Despite prominent recent advances in oncology, on an average GBM patients survive 12–15 months with conventional standard of care treatment. To understand the pathophysiology of this disease, recently the research focus has been on omics-based approaches. Advances in high-throughput assay development and bioinformatic techniques have provided new opportunities in the molecular analysis of cancer omics technologies including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Further, the enormous addition and accessibility of public databases with associated clinical demographic information including tumor histology, patient response and outcome, have profoundly improved our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms driving cancer. In GBM, omics have significantly aided in defining the molecular architecture of tumorigenesis, uncovering relevant subsets of patients whose disease may require different treatments. In this review, we focus on the unique advantages of multifaceted omics technologies and discuss the implications on translational GBM research.
Energy Price Policies and Food Prices: Empirical Evidence from Iran

During the last decade, the rising trend in energy prices and its potential effect on food prices have become a controversial issue between policy-makers and economists. Therefore, research addressing the relationship between food and macroeconomic variables, such as energy prices, will be useful in providing information for the design of appropriate economic policies. This study uses data from Iran to examine the impacts (short- and long-term) of exchange rate and energy prices on food prices. Iran is a good case study as in recent years its consumers have faced a rapid increase in both fuel and food prices. The variables employed in this study are the prices of ten food products, exchange rate (the value of Iranian rial per US dollar), and petroleum prices. All data in this study are from the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI). We employ the panel unit root test, Pedroni co-integration tests, Pooled Mean Group (PMG), Mean Group (MG), and Dynamic Fixed Effects (DFE) estimation techniques, applied to a panel of monthly prices for ten food products for the period of March 1995 to February 2018. Results show that in both the short- and long-run, food prices would increase in response to an increase in energy prices. Findings also suggest that the appreciation of the United States Dollar (USD) in terms of the Iranian rial exerts a positive and significant impact on food prices in the long run.
Reduced placental transfer of antibodies against microbial and vaccine antigens in HIV-infected women in Mozambique

Antibody transplacental transfer is essential for conferring protection in newborns against infectious diseases. This transfer may be affected by gestational age and maternal infections, although the effects are not consistent across studies. We measured total IgG and IgG subclasses by quantitative suspension array technology against fourteen pathogens and vaccine antigens, including target of maternal immunization, in 341 delivering HIV− and HIV+ mother-infant pairs from southern Mozambique. Maternal antibody levels were the main determinant of cord antibody levels. HIV broadly reduced the placental transfer and cord levels of IgG and IgG1, but also IgG2 to half of the antigens. Plasmodium falciparum exposure and prematurity were negatively associated with cord antibody levels and placental transfer but this was antigen-subclass dependent. These findings suggest maternal infections may impact the efficacy of maternal immunization and confirm the lower transfer of antibodies as one of the causes underlying increased susceptibility to infections in HIV-exposed infants.
BioMar‐ACG: A successful partnership to inventory and promulgate marine biodiversity

Initiated in 2015, the marine inventory of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (BioMar‐ACG) is rapidly advancing knowledge of biodiversity. Key aspects include synergizing with parataxonomists, barcoding specimens and making information available. After 85 years, 594 species were reported. Now, after four years, BioMar‐ACG documented 1,123 species, for a total of 1,479.