Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Borehole Equilibration: Testing a New Method to Monitor the Isotopic Composition of Tree Xylem Water in situ

Forest water use has been difficult to quantify. One promising approach is to measure the isotopic composition of plant water, e.g., the transpired water vapor or xylem water. Because different water sources, e.g., groundwater versus shallow soil water, often show different isotopic signatures, isotopes can be used to investigate the depths from which plants take up their water and how this changes over time. Traditionally such measurements have relied on the extraction of wood samples, which provide limited time resolution at great expense, and risk possible artifacts. Utilizing a borehole drilled through a tree's stem, we propose a new method based on the notion that water vapor in a slow-moving airstream approaches isotopic equilibration with the much greater mass of liquid water in the xylem. We present two empirical data sets showing that the method can work in practice. We then present a theoretical model estimating equilibration times and exploring the limits at which the approach will fail. The method provides a simple, cheap, and accurate means of continuously estimating the isotopic composition of the source water for transpiration.
Insufficient Antigen Presentation Due to Viral Immune Evasion Explains Lethal Cytomegalovirus Organ Disease After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Reactivation of latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) poses a clinical problem in transiently immunocompromised recipients of hematopoietic cell (HC) transplantation (HCT) by viral histopathology that results in multiple organ manifestations. Compared to autologous HCT and to syngeneic HCT performed with identical twins as HC donor and recipient, lethal outcome of CMV infection is more frequent in allogeneic HCT with MHC/HLA or minor histocompatibility loci mismatch between donor and recipient. It is an open question if a graft-vs.-host (GvH) reaction exacerbates CMV disease, or if CMV exacerbates GvH disease (GvHD), or if interference is mutual. Here we have used a mouse model of experimental HCT and murine CMV (mCMV) infection with an MHC class-I mismatch by gene deletion, so that either HCT donor or recipient lack a single MHC class-I molecule, specifically H-2 Ld. This particular immunogenetic disparity has the additional advantage that it allows to experimentally separate GvH reaction of donor-derived T cells against recipient's tissues from host-vs.-graft (HvG) reaction of residual recipient-derived T cells against the transplanted HC and their progeny. While in HvG-HCT with Ld-plus donors and Ld-minus recipients almost all infected recipients were found to control the infection and survived, almost all infected recipients died of uncontrolled virus replication and consequent multiple-organ viral histopathology in case of GvH-HCT with Ld-minus donors and Ld-plus recipients. Unexpectedly, although anti-Ld-reactive CD8+ T cells were detected, mortality was not found to be associated with GvHD histopathology. By comparing HvG-HCT and GvH-HCT, investigation into the mechanism revealed an inefficient reconstitution of antiviral high-avidity CD8+ T cells, associated with lack of formation of protective nodular inflammatory foci (NIF) in host tissue, selectively in GvH-HCT. Most notably, mice infected with an immune evasion gene deletion mutant of mCMV survived under otherwise identical GvH-HCT conditions. Survival was associated with enhanced antigen presentation and formation of protective NIF by antiviral CD8+ T cells that control the infection and prevent viral histopathology. This is an impressive example of lethal viral disease in HCT recipients based on a failure of the immune control of CMV infection due to viral immune evasion in concert with an MHC class-I mismatch.
Nine Things Genomics Can Tell Us About Candida auris

Candida auris is a recently emerged multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen causing severe illness in hospitalized patients. C. auris is most closely related to a few environmental or rarely observed but cosmopolitan Candida species. However, C. auris is unique in the concern it is generating among public health agencies for its rapid emergence, difficulty to treat, and the likelihood for further and more extensive outbreaks and spread. To date, five geographically distributed and genetically divergent lineages have been identified, none of which includes isolates that were collected prior to 1996. Indeed, C. auris’ ecological niche(s) and emergence remain enigmatic, although a number of hypotheses have been proposed. Recent genomic and transcriptomic work has also identified a variety of gene and chromosomal features that may have conferred C. auris with several important clinical phenotypes including its drug-resistance and growth at high temperatures. In this review we discuss nine major lines of enquiry into C. auris that big-data technologies and analytical approaches are beginning to answer. Graphical Abstract An overview of the nine chapters of this review.
Corneal Biomechanical Characteristics and Their Correlation in an Iranian Adult Myopic Population

Article Info Background and Objective: Corneal biomechanics is a branch of science that studies deformation and equilibrium of corneal tissue under the application of any force. The objective of the study was to determine the normal values of corneal biomechanical characteristics including corneal resistant factor (CRF) and corneal hysteresis (CH) in an Iranian adult myopic population and their associations with age, gender and ocular biometrical components. Methods: The number of 480 eyes of 480 patients (mean age: 26.73 ± 4.9) with myopia and myopic astigmatism were included in this study. Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) was used to measure corneal biomechanical metrics of CH and CRF. Corneal topographic and pachymetric measurements were obtained using Pentacam Scheimflug topographer. Results: The means of CH and CRF were 10.28 ± 1.49 and 10.49 ± 1.61, respectively. Females showed higher CH and CRF values compared to males (CH: 10.55 ± 1.36 vs. 9.72 ± 1.57, CRF: 10.73 ± 1.46 vs. 9.94 ± 1.74). The CH was significantly positively correlated with central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal volume (CV) and significantly negatively correlated with horizontal and vertical radius of curvatures of the back corneal surface and horizontal radius of curvature of the front corneal surface. The CRF had a significant positive correlation with CCT and CV, whereas significant negative correlations were found between CRF and horizontal and vertical radius of curvatures of the back corneal surface. In the linear multiple regression model, CH was only significantly associated with CV; likewise, CRF showed significant association only with CCT. Conclusion: The mean values of CH and CRF in Iranian population were higher than values reported in East Asian countries, comparable to or higher than values in USA and UK populations. From various ocular dimensions, CH was significantly associated with CV; whereas, CRF was significantly associated with CCT.
Proxy WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 Is Clinically Useful for Assessing Psychosocial Functioning in Severe Mental Illness

Aims This study explores how well the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) assesses problems with psychosocial functioning in patients with severe mental illness (SMI). Further, we assessed the relationships between psychosocial functioning and psychopathology, medication side effects, treatment setting, and quality of life. Methods We performed an observational, cross-sectional study on the island of Curaçao to assess psychosocial functioning in 77 patients with SMI; they mainly had psychotic disorders. We interviewed their healthcare providers using the proxy version of the WHODAS 2.0. In addition, patients were examined for psychiatric symptoms, medication side effects (including drug-induced movement disorders), and quality of life. Associations were examined with Spearman's rank correlation (ρ). Results Difficulties in psychosocial functioning were reported by patients with SMI in the WHODAS 2.0 domains of understanding and communicating [mean (M)=34.5, standard deviation (SD)=18.6), participation in society (M=25.5, SD=15.6), and getting along with people (M=24.1, SD=16.1)]. Notably, outpatients had more problems participating in society than inpatients (M=33.6, SD=18.5 versus M=23.2, SD=14.1, p=0.03). A positive correlation was observed between drug-induced parkinsonism and the WHODAS 2.0 total score (ρ =0.30; p=0.02), as well as with various subscales, getting around, and household activities. Conclusion The proxy version of the WHODAS 2.0 is clinically useful for patients with severe mental illness. The highest scores on the WHODAS 2.0 were found in domains related to interactions with other people and to participation in society. Inpatient status appeared to aid participation in society; this might be due to living in the sheltered clinic environment and its associated daily activities. We further found that drug-induced parkinsonism was associated with a broad spectrum of psychosocial disabilities. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02713672; retrospectively registered in February 2016
Nanocellulose Reinforced Thermoplastic Starch (TPS), Polylactic Acid (PLA), and Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) for Food Packaging Applications

Synthetic plastics are severely detrimental to the environment because non-biodegradable plastics do not degrade for hundreds of years. Nowadays, these plastics are very commonly used for food packaging. To overcome this problem, food packaging materials should be substituted with “green” or environmentally friendly materials, normally in the form of natural fiber reinforced biopolymer composites. Thermoplastic starch (TPS), polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) were chosen for the substitution, because of their availability, biodegradability, and good food contact properties. Plasticizer (glycerol) was used to modify the starch, such as TPS under a heating condition, which improved its processability. TPS films are sensitive to moisture and their mechanical properties are generally not suitable for food packaging if used alone, while PLA and PBS have a low oxygen barrier but good mechanical properties and processability. In general, TPS, PLA, and PBS need to be modified for food packaging requirements. Natural fibers are often incorporated as reinforcements into TPS, PLA, and PBS to overcome their weaknesses. Natural fibers are normally used in the form of fibers, fillers, celluloses, and nanocelluloses, but the focus of this paper is on nanocellulose. Nanocellulose reinforced polymer composites demonstrate an improvement in mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties. The addition of compatibilizer as a coupling agent promotes a fine dispersion of nanocelluloses in polymer. Additionally, nanocellulose and TPS are also mixed with PLA and PBS because they are costly, despite having commendable properties. Starch and natural fibers are utilized as fillers because they are abundant, cheap and biodegradable.
Metabolic profile and quality of life in obese children with sleep-disordered breathing

Introduction: Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) in adults have been associated to an increase in cardiovascular risks for inducing changes in the metabolism. Current literature has scarce and conflicting data concerning the changes in the metabolic profile found in children with SDB. Objective: The objectives were to evaluate the metabolic profile in obese children with SDB and the to analyze repercussions on their quality of life. Methods: A total of 73 children were included and grouped according to their body mass index and the presence or absence of respiratory symptoms. Each child answered an OSA-18 questionnaire for quality-of-life evaluation, and fasting serum levels of metabolic profile markers were analyzed. The results were compared between Group I obese children with SDB, Group II obese children without SDB and Group III (Control) non-obese children without SDB. Results: In the analysis (Group I vs. Group II vs. Group III), the amount of insulin, the glucose/insulin ratio and the HOMA showed significant metabolic changes in both obese groups (Group I and Group II) when compared to those of the control group (Group III), without showing the influence of SDB. The obese group without SDB (Group II) presented higher TGL values. The OSA-18 questionnaire showed that SDB jeopardizes the quality of life of children with respect to sleep disturbances, physical suffering and parents’ concern. Conclusion: SDB jeopardizes the quality of life of children without changing their metabolic profile. Obesity seems to be the most significant risk factor in developing insulin resistance in the studied population. of obstructive sleep apnea and possibly contributes to the relationship between obesity and OSAS in children [10]. In depth investigations about childhood obesity should be performed because it has been considered a global epidemic, reaching 7 to 22% of the child population in occidental countries [11,12]. Increasing obesity indexes in the child population has been associated with an increase in the risk of apnea, which puts SDB in a prominent position as a relevant public health issue [11-13]. Increased insulin and adiposity values in childhood are predictors of obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia in adulthood and contribute to a later increase in cardiovascular risk [14]. There are few studies that analyze the metabolic profile of children with sleep-related breathing disorders. We have suggested the hypothesis that children exposed to two metabolic dysfunction risk factors, SDB and obesity, suffer exacerbated changes in their metabolic profile. Thus, considering the known systemic repercussions of SDB, *Correspondence to: Silke Anna Theresa Weber, Distrito de Rubiao Junior, S/N Zip Code 18618-970 Botucatu SP, Brazil, Tel: +55 14 3811-6256, +5514 -3880-1524, E-mail: silke@fmb.unesp. br
Monocular VO Based on Deep Siamese Convolutional Neural Network

Deep learning-based visual odometry systems have shown promising performance compared with geometric-based visual odometry systems. In this paper, we propose a new framework of deep neural network, named Deep Siamese convolutional neural network (DSCNN), and design a DL-based monocular VO relying on DSCNN. The proposed DSCNN-VO not only considers positive order information of image sequence but also focuses on the reverse order information. It employs supervised data-driven training without relying on any modules in traditional visual odometry algorithm to make the DSCNN to learn the geometry information between consecutive images and estimate a six-DoF pose and recover trajectory using a monocular camera. After the DSCNN is trained, the output of DSCNN-VO is a relative pose. Then, trajectory is recovered by translating the relative pose to the absolute pose. Finally, compared with other DL-based VO systems, we demonstrate the proposed DSCNN-VO achieve a more accurate performance in terms of pose estimation and trajectory recovering through experiments. Meanwhile, we discuss the loss function of DSCNN and find a best scale factor to balance the translation error and rotation error.
Outcome in elderly individuals with moderate and severe head injury: a tertiary centre experience

Background: The prognosis of patients with moderate and severe head injuries is poor in elderly individuals which affects not only their families and also the society. An accurate and early prediction of survival and functional outcome becomes essential and important to decide the aggressiveness of treatment after the informed counseling of relatives. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of the age on the outcome of the elderly individual with moderate and severe head injury and to compare it with the outcome of younger age group.Methods: Authors retrospectively evaluated 250 patients with moderate (GCS 9-13) and severe (GCS 3-8) TBI after categorizing them into group A (above 60 years of age) and group B (20-59 years of age). Age, sex, mode of injury, level of consciousness as in GCS, management and CT findings were assessed for outcome and comparisons were made.Results: The mean age for good outcome in elderly group is 66.8 and for bad outcome is 70.1 years. The mean age for good outcome in younger group is 33.2 and for bad outcome is 47.5 years. Elderly patients fare worse in all factors assessed when compared to younger group.Conclusions: Head injuries in old age associated with poor GCS serves as a basis for making early prediction for the likelihood of poor outcome.
Protein complementation assay as a display system for screening protein libraries in the intracellular environment

A wide range of screening strategies have been employed to isolate antibodies and other proteins with specific attributes, including binding affinity, specificity, stability and improved expression. However, there remains no high-throughput system to screen for target-binding proteins in a mammalian, intracellular environment. Such a system would allow binding reagents to be isolated against intracellular clinical targets such as cell signalling proteins associated with tumour formation (p53, ras, cyclin E), proteins associated with neurodegenerative disorders (huntingtin, betaamyloid precursor protein), and various proteins crucial to viral replication (e.g. HIV-1 proteins such as Tat, Rev and Vif-1), which are difficult to screen by phage, ribosome or cell-surface display. This study used the β-lactamase protein complementation assay (PCA) as the display and selection component of a system for screening a protein library in the cytoplasm of HEK 293T cells. The colicin E7 (ColE7) and Immunity protein 7 (Imm7) *Escherichia coli* proteins were used as model interaction partners for developing the system. These proteins drove effective β-lactamase complementation, resulting in a signal-to-noise ratio (9:1 – 13:1) comparable to that of other β-lactamase PCAs described in the literature. The model Imm7-ColE7 interaction was then used to validate protocols for library screening. Single positive cells that harboured the Imm7 and ColE7 binding partners were identified and isolated using flow cytometric cell sorting in combination with the fluorescent β-lactamase substrate, CCF2/AM. A single-cell PCR was then used to amplify the Imm7 coding sequence directly from each sorted cell. With the screening system validated, it was then used to screen a protein library based the Imm7 scaffold against a proof-of-principle target. The wild-type Imm7 sequence, as well as mutants with wild-type residues in the ColE7- binding loop were enriched from the library after a single round of selection, which is consistent with other eukaryotic screening systems such as yeast and mammalian cell-surface display. In summary, this thesis describes a new technology for screening protein libraries in a mammalian, intracellular environment. This system has the potential to complement existing screening technologies by allowing access to intracellular proteins and expanding the range of targets available to the pharmaceutical industry.
HUBUNGAN KEJADIAN PERDARAHAN POSTPARTUM DENGAN KARAKTERISTIK IBU BERSALIN DI RB HARAPAN KITA

Postpartum hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 800 women die each day from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Approximately 99% of all maternal mortality occur in developing countries. Based on the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) in 2012, Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Indonesia reached 359 per 100.000 live births. This study aimed to find out the relationship between the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage with maternity mother characteristics which include parity, maternal age, distance of pregnancy, and anemia in Harapan Kita Maternity Hospital during the period of 2013-2017. Methods: This was an analytic study with cross sectional design. Population were all the mothers who gave birth in Harapan Kita Maternity Hospital during the period of 2013-2017. Of the total population, 43 cases were selected as sample using the total sampling method. Data obtained using secondary data with complete medical records as a criteria for inclusion, bivariate analyzis were peformed using chi square. Results: The results of this study indicate, most postpartum hemorrhage is caused by uterine atony (46.51%). For the characteristics that influence consists of ages between 20-35 years (55.90%), pregnancy ≥ 2 years (86.05%), parity 2-3 (53.50%) and those with Hb level ≥ 11 g/dl% (76.74%). The results of the statistical test chi square shows a mother's gestational age between 20-35 years and parity had a close relationship with the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage due to the rest of the placenta with p value = 0.032 (p <0.05) for the age and p value = 0.030 (p < 0.05) to parity. Conclusion: The conclusion obtained that there is a relationship between maternal characteristics based on age and parity with postpartum haemorrhage, and there is no relationship between maternal characteristics based on the distance of the pregnancy and Hb levels (anemia) with postpartum haemorrhage in Harapan Kita Maternity Hospital during the period of 2013-2017. Keywords : Maternity mother, Mother Characteristics, Postpartum hemorrhage
Sensor Fusion and Decision-making in the Cooperative Search by Mobile Robots

: The paper addresses the problem of probabilistic search and detection of multiple targets by the group of mobile robots that are equipped by a variety of sensors and are communicating with each other at different levels. The goal is to define the trajectories of the robots in the group such that the targets are chased in minimal time. The suggested solution model follows the occupancy grid approach, and sensor fusion is implemented using a general Bayesian scheme with varying sensitivity of the sensors. The created control algorithm was verified in three settings with different levels of communication and information sharing between the robots and different levels of sensors' sensitivity. The suggested algorithms were implemented in a software simulation to analyze and compare the different policies.
A Multi-Criteria Group Decision-Making Approach Based on Improved BWM and MULTIMOORA with Normal Wiggly Hesitant Fuzzy Information

Multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problems are widespread in real life. However, most existing methods, such as hesitant fuzzy set (HFS), hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set (HFLTS) and inter-valued hesitant fuzzy set (IVHFS) only consider the original evaluation data provided by experts but fail to dig the concealed valuable information. The normal wiggly hesitant fuzzy set (NWHFS) is a useful technique to depict experts’ complex evaluation information toward MCGDM issues. In this paper,onthebasisofthescorefunctionofNWHFS,weproposethelinearbest-worstmethod(BWM)-basedweight-determining modelswithnormalwigglyhesitantfuzzy(NWHF)informationtocomputetheoptimalweightsofexpertsandcriteria.In addition,wepresentsomenoveldistancemeasuresbetweenNWHFSsanddiscusstheirproperties.Afterfusingtheindividual evaluationmatrices,theNWHF-rankingpositionmethodisputforwardtodevelopthegroupMULTIMOORAmethod,which canbedeterminedbythefinaldecisionresults.Moreover,weinvestigatetheSpringFestivaltravelrushphenomenondeeplyandapplyourmethodologytosolvethetrainselectionproblemduringtheSpringFestivalperiod.Finally,theapplicability andsuperiorityoftheproposedapproachisdemonstratedbycomparingwithtraditionalmethodsbasedontwoaggregation