Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantifying biomass and carbon stocks in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in Northeastern Brazil

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a major raw material for biofuel and food industries in the world. In Brazil, cultivation of this species has evolved much in recent years, but basic information on its growth in the country is still scarce. This study analyzes the biomass and carbon storage in plants selected in three stands located in southern state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, considering the full rotation cycle. Plants aging 3 to 36 years were cut and measured at biometric variables: Diameter at 50 cm from the ground level, crown diameter, stipe length and total height. Relationships among the biometric variables and the stipe, foliage, root, and total biomasses were analyzed. The Chapman & Richards model was fitted to the total biomass and carbon as a function of age. All the linear correlations between variables were significant at 95% probability. Total height and stipe length were more strongly correlated with age than with the diameter at 50 cm and crown diameter. The total biomass was highly correlated with the stipe variables and age. The percentage participation of stipe and total biomasses increases with age unlike the biomass foliage. The proportion of roots does not change with age. The total dry biomass and carbon stocks at the age of 25 years were estimated at ca. 90 and 35 t.ha-1, respectively. It was concluded that oil palm, because of its rapid growth and due to the fact that it is a permanent culture, is able to stock a high amount of biomass and carbon per unit area. If implemented in appropriate places, oil palm cannot be considered a carbon debt crop and represent an important alternative to regional socioeconomics. Key words: Growth, oil palm, biomass expansion factor, biomass partitioning, biometric relationships.
Relaxed Multivariate Bernoulli Distribution and Its Applications to Deep Generative Models

Recent advances in variational auto-encoder (VAE) have demonstrated the possibility of approximating the intractable posterior distribution with a variational distribution parameterized by a neural network. To optimize the variational objective of VAE, the reparameterization trick is commonly applied to obtain a low-variance estimator of the gradient. The main idea of the trick is to express the variational distribution as a differentiable function of parameters and a random variable with a ﬁxed distribution. To extend the reparameterization trick to inference involving discrete latent variables, a common approach is to use a continuous relaxation of the categorical distribution as the approximate posterior. However, when applying continuous relaxation to the multivariate cases, multiple variables are typically assumed to be independent, making it suboptimal in applications where modeling dependency is crucial to the overall performance. In this work, we propose a multivariate generalization of the Relaxed Bernoulli distribution, which can be reparameterized and can capture the correlation between variables via a Gaussian copula. We demonstrate its effectiveness in two tasks: density estimation with Bernoulli VAE and semi-supervised multi-label classiﬁcation.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of West Nile Virus Infection in Patients with Lymphoid Neoplasms: An Italian Multicentre Study

nfections represent the most common and potentially lifedevelops a flu-like syndrome, while almost 1% experiencesWNV I threatening complication in patients with haematological malignancies, particularly in subjects with a lymphoid neoplasm. The increased risk of infections is ascribed to inherent disease-related immunological impairment, and can be worsened by chemo-immunotherapy and targeted agents. While bacterial and mycotic infections are known to be recurrent in haematological patients, viral infections were often overlooked but recently they became a world-wide concern. West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne virus commonly transmitted to humans mainly by Culex mosquitoes, although transmission through blood transfusion or organ transplantation has been reported. WNV is maintained in a continuous cycle within mosquitos and birds, wherein mosquitos are the vectors and the birds are the reservoir. Humans, just like horses and other mammalians, act as dead-end hosts and do not contribute to the spreading of the infection. In most immunocompetent patients WNV infection is usually asymptomatic, 20% of infected people
Alternative sampling methods to estimate structure

Aleppo pine had a large forest cover in North Africa and along the Mediterranean basin which management is not fully developed and new forest tools are required. In this research, the forest structure, epidometric characteristics and allometric relationships were studied in 79 plots covering four bioclimatic zones from natural even aged forests of Aleppo pine located between eastern Algeria to the western coastal part of Tunisia. To characterize the forest structure three sampling methods were carried out: classical inventories (recording all pine trees), and two simplified approach using one average size or five dominant pine tree per plot. Annual growth increment and cone production were only calculated for the average size tree. Furthermore, the analysis of variance showed non-significant differences recorded between bioclimatic zones in trunk or crown diameter using the two simplified approach. Moreover, a significant decrease from wetter to drier areas in total height, crown height, cone seed production was observed only for average size tree method. However, the analysis of covariance showed significant differences between both approaches in total height, trunk diameter and crown coverage which were largely influenced by the pine tree density. In future investigations, we confirmed previous research that the dominant tree is a good sampling method to examine the site fertility, whereas the average size tree constitutes a valuable approach to study the population growth and reproduction.
Adaptive and Dark Personality in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Predicting Health-Behavior Endorsement and the Appeal of Public-Health Messages

Who embraces directions to socially distance, boost hygiene, and protect others during a pandemic of contagious respiratory disease? Do differently phrased public-health messages appeal to different people? I based predictions on the five-factor, triarchic psychopathy, and Dark Triad models of normal-range and dark traits; the extended parallel process model (EPPM); and schema-congruence theory. In a survey of 502 online participants, normal-range traits (esp agreeableness and conscientiousness) predicted endorsement of social distancing and hygiene, as well as the appeal of health messages in general. Consistent with the EPPM, conscientiousness and neuroticism had an interaction. Dark traits (esp psychopathy, meanness, and disinhibition) predicted low endorsement of health behaviors and the intent to knowingly expose others to risk. Most participants preferred a message appealing to compassion (“Help protect the vulnerable…”), but dark traits predicted lower appeal of that message. Personality appears relevant to epidemiology and public-health communication in a contagious-disease context.
Male Incubation and Biparental Care in Mountain Quail

Abstract We examined the reproductive behavior of Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) in two ecologically different regions of Oregon. We used radio-telemetry to locate 57 Mountain Quail nests and determine breeding behavior and incubation patterns. Mountain Quail appeared socially monogamous and displayed few alternative reproductive strategies; only one bird renested and no birds produced consecutive clutches. Twenty-five of 57 nests were incubated exclusively by males, 30 by females, and two by birds of undetermined sex. We observed no nest switching, and males and females had similar clutch and brood sizes. Males brooded chicks, frequently without female assistance. Within six radio-marked pairs, males and females simultaneously incubated separate nests <200 m apart. The average production by females was 22 eggs (range 19–26) with a mean clutch size of 11 eggs (range 7–15). Simultaneous multiple clutches may enhance the reproductive potential of a species when environmental conditions limit double brooding or renesting, and may increase the likelihood that some broods will survive high levels of nest and brood predation. Incubación por Machos y Cuidado Biparental en Oreortyx pictus Resumen. Examinamos el comportamiento reproductivo de Oreortyx pictus en dos regiones ecológicamente diferentes de Oregon. Utilizamos radiotelemetría para localizar 57 nidos de O. pictus y para determinar el comportamiento reproductivo y los patrones de incubación. O. pictus resultó ser socialmente monógamo y mostró unas pocas estrategias de reproducción alternativas; sólo un ave volvió a nidificar y ningún ave produjo nidadas consecutivas. Veinticinco de 57 nidos fueron incubados exclusivamente por machos, 30 por hembras y dos por aves de sexo indeterminado. No observamos intercambio entre nidos y tanto hembras como machos tuvieron nidadas y crías de tamaños similares. Frecuentemente los machos criaron a los polluelos sin la asistencia de las hembras. Considerando seis parejas marcadas con transmisores, hembras y machos incubaron simultáneamente nidos separados por <200 m. La producción promedio por hembra fue de 22 huevos (rango entre 19–26), con un tamaño promedio de nidada de 11 huevos (rango entre 7–15). Las nidadas múltiples simultáneas pueden aumentar el potencial reproductivo de una especie cuando las condiciones ambientales limitan la doble cría o la re-nidificación y aumentar la probabilidad de que algunas crias sobrevivan, dados los altos niveles de depredación de nidos y crías.
Ants as Indicators of Pesticide Impacts in Banana

Abstract Banana plantations are treated with herbicides, nematocides, fungicides, and insecticides to control weeds, nematodes, fungal pathogens, and insect pests. The impact of these pesticides on the organisms within plantations, however, is largely unknown. Because they are integral to terrestrial ecosystems, ants have been widely used as biological indicators in invertebrate biodiversity assessments and studies of habitat rehabilitation. Hence, to evaluate the effects of pesticides on banana plantation invertebrates, ants were surveyed in six conventional plantations treated with the pesticides described above and in two low-input plantations that received reduced applications of herbicides, nematocides, and insecticides. To put banana into perspective relative to other tropical monocultures, ants in banana were also compared with those in four other crops: citrus (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck), heart of palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth), macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche), and Gmelina arborea (L.) Roxb. A total of 23,364 ants comprising 107 species, 48 genera, and 6 subfamilies was collected at the 12 study sites. Species richness was highest in the other crops, being lower in both low-input and conventional banana, which did not differ significantly. Ant species richness correlated with the richness of parasitoids collected concurrently from the same sites, but differences among low-input banana, conventional banana, and the other four monocultures were more pronounced for parasitoids. Species richness in conventional banana, low input banana, and the four other crops was independent of species origin (native or exotic), habitat preference, nest type, diet, or ant functional groups sensu Andersen.
Molecular physiology and pharmacology of the CFTR chloride channel

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is the only ATP binding cassette (ABC) protein that functions as an ion channel. The clinical importance of CFTR lies in the fact that its malfunction causes the lethal genetic disease, cystic fibrosis (CF). Like other ABC proteins, CFTR contains four canonical domains— two transmembrane domains (TMDs) that form the ion permeation pathway and two nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) that utilize the free energy from ATP-hydrolysis to drive the gating cycle. The prevailing model in the field dictates that ATP hydrolysis and the gating cycle are strictly coupled. In this study, we have identified a post-hydrolytic state by using non-hydrolytic ATP analogs as baits. As this state may accommodate an ATP molecule to initiate another hydrolysis reaction without the necessity of gate closure, a non-integral stoichiometry between ATP hydrolysis and gating cycle is posited. This hypothesis was reaffirmed by studying a mutant CFTR that allows us to visualize ATP hydrolysis. Based on our new findings, we proposed an energetic coupling model for CFTR gating. Importantly, understanding the gating mechanism of CFTR may help us to decipher the pathogenesis of CF at a molecular level. We discovered that the most common CF-associated mutant, ∆F508-CFTR, destabilizes the NBD dimer, which likely links to its low open probability. Furthermore, the energetic coupling model could explain the action of the now clinically applied CF potentiator, Vx-770 (Kalydeco).
Incidence and Predictors of Recurrence among Breast Cancer Patients in Black Lion Specialized Hospital Adult Oncology Unit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Retrospective Follow-up Study with Survival Analysis

Currently, breast cancer is becoming a major public health problem for developing countries. In Ethiopia, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women, and constitutes a major public health concern. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the incidence and predictor of recurrence among breast cancer clients at Black Lion Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, in 2018. We analyzed 513 patients out of 835 women breast cancer patients treated at Black Lion Specialized Hospital. Recurrent-free survival was determined using the Kaplan–Meier method, with comparisons between groups through the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify predictors of recurrence among breast cancer clients. The incidence rate of recurrence among breast cancer was 6.5% per (95% CI = 6.49-12.47) follow-up. The median recurrent-free survival time was 60.33 months (95% CI = 54.46-62.30). Predictors of recurrence were negative estrogen receptor (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.53-7.62), high histologic grade (HR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.14-10.31), positive lymph node status (HR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.14-10.31), clinical staging III (HR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.26-9.42), and involved deep surgical margin (HR = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.14-8.61). This research showed that incidence of recurrence was high. Advanced clinical stage, positive nodal status, high histologic grade, negative estrogen receptor, and involved deep surgical margin were associated with higher recurrence rates. In contrast, hormonal therapy has a great role in decreasing the development of recurrence.
Recent advances of GOLM1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common liver malignancies and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and current treatments show poor therapeutic efficacy. It is particularly urgent to explore early diagnosis methods and effective treatments of HCC. There are a growing number of studies that show GOLM1 is one of the most promising markers for early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. It is also involved in immune regulation, activation and degradation of intracellular signaling factors and promotion of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. GOLM1 can promote HCC progression and metastasis. The understanding of the GOLM1 regulation mechanism may provide new ideas for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of HCC.
The Clinical and Radiological Manifestations in Coronavirus Disease 2019 With Negative Nucleic Acid Results

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a new emerging disease with high infectiousness. Its diagnosis primarily depended on real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results. This study investigated epidemiological, clinical, and radiological characteristics of COVID-19 with negative RT-PCR results before confirmation. Methods Patients with COVID-19 were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: a negative group with negative RT-PCR results before confirmation and a positive group with positive results at the first detection. Epidemiological and clinical features were compared. Dynamic chest computerized tomography (CT) images of the negative group were evaluated. Results Ninety-nine laboratory-confirmed patients with COVID-19 including 8 patients (8%) with negative RT-PCR results were included. Patients from the negative group had similar epidemiological features: the average age (50.25 ± 13.27 years in the negative group and 53.70 ± 16.64 years in the positive group) and gender distribution (males made up 50% of the negative group and 62.6% of the positive group) were comparable. No significant differences were observed in clinical symptoms between the 2 groups. We found that fever was the most common symptom for both groups, followed by cough, expectoration, chest distress, fatigue, and gastroenterological symptoms. Moreover, ground-glass opacities and consolidations were the main manifestation in chest CT of patients with COVID-19 with or without confirmed RT-PCR results. Conclusions Regardless of initial RT-PCR results, patients with COVID-19 had similar epidemiological, clinical, and chest CT features. Our study suggests value from early chest CT scans in COVID-19 screening and dynamic significance of radiology in disease monitoring should guide clinical decisions.
Phototaxis of Fungus Gnat, Bradysia sp. nr coprophila (Lintner) (Diptera: Sciaridae), Adults to Different Light

Multiple-choice experimental arenas, with sample compartments, were used to assess the response of fungus gnat, Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila (Lintner) (Diptera: Sciaridae), adults to varying light intensities in environmentally controlled walk-in chambers. Each sample compartment contained a yellow sticky card (2.5 · 2.5 cm) to capture fungus gnat adults. Under conditions of darkness, fungus gnat adults migrated randomly with no significant differences among the six sample compartments. Fungus gnat adults were observed to positively respond to light intensities less than 0.08374 mmolm -2 s -1 . In addition, adults responded to light intensities that were below the detection threshold of a photosynthetically active radiation light sensor. A higher percentage of fungus gnat adults (22% to 39%) were captured on yellow sticky cards in the sample compartments that were closest to a directional light source compared with sample compartments that were located further away from the light source (2% to 9%). Fungus gnat adults exhibited a significant response when exposed to two distinct ranges of light intensities (0.12 to 0.26 versus 0.87 to 1.02 mmolm -2 s -1 ) with adults significantly more attracted to the highest light intensities (0.87 to 1.02 mmolm -2 s -1 ). The results obtained in this study indicate that fungus gnat adults are positively phototactic, and as light intensity increases, they display a preference for those higher light intensities. It is possible that modifications in light intensity may be a feasible management strategy for alleviating problems with fungus gnats in greenhouses.
Should Contact Bans Have Been Lifted More in Germany?

Abstract Many countries consider the lifting of restrictions of social contacts (RSC). We quantify the effects of RSC for Germany. We initially employ a purely statistical approach to predicting prevalence of Covid-19 if RSC had been upheld after 20 April. We employ these findings and feed them into our theoretical model. We find that the peak of the number of sick individuals would have been reached already end of April. The number of sick individuals would have fallen below 1000 at the beginning of July. If restrictions had been lifted completely on April 20, the number of sick should have risen quickly again from around 27 April. A balance between economic and individual costs of RSC and public health objectives consists in lifting RSC for activities that have high economic benefits but low health costs. In the absence of large-scale representative testing of CoV-2 infections, these activities can most easily be identified if federal states of Germany adopted exit strategies that differ across states.
Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Agricultural Loan Acquisition among Small-Scale Rice Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the socio-economic determinant of loan acquisition among small-scale rice farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 227 rice farmers in six Local Government Areas using multi-stage sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit model. The findings of the study showed that majority (64.3%) of the respondents were male and married (74.9%) with average age of 35.23 years, with a mean annual income of N98,552. The findings also revealed that a total of N14,216.87 was applied. Out of this amount, N9,486,000 was acquired, giving 66.7% acquisition of loan among the respondents. The result of the logit model shows that age, household size, education, farm size, membership of cooperative and annual income were significant factors affecting the likelihood of farmers access to loan. Based on the findings, it was recommended that there should be a deliberate policy to ensure easy access to loans at soft interest rate, while agricultural extension education on loan acquisition should be intensified.
Effects of oil contamination on nickel concentration in muscle tissues of Brachirus orientalis in Persian Gulf waters

In order to examine and compare nickel accumulation levels in muscle tissues of Brachirus orientalis in Persian Gulf waters (Bushehr province region), sampling the fish was done in both Bushehr and Asalouyeh stations during the summer 2013. After biometry, muscle tissues of the samples were separated and chemical digestion was done. Nickel accumulation levels in tissues were measured by using graphite furnace atomic absorption instrument. Based on the obtained results, mean concentrations of Nickel in muscle tissues were 1.378 ± 1.656 mgkg -1 dw in Bushehr station and 2.208 ± 2.445 mgkg -1 dw in Asalouyeh station, and it indicated no statistically significant differences between the two stations (P>0.05). The obtained concentrations and analysis done indicate that based on the WHO standard, the amount of nickel was higher than the standard levels and its use poses risks to human.
The Impact of Nurse Continuity on Biosocial Survey Participation

Biological measurements (or biomeasures) are increasingly being collected in large longitudinal biosocial surveys, enabling researchers to exploit the advantages of social science data with objective health measures to better understand how health and social behaviour interact over time. However, not all survey respondents are willing to take part in the biomeasure component of biosocial surveys, even when the measures are administered by certified medical professionals, such as nurses. Thus, understanding factors which affect participation in biomeasure collection is essential for making valid biosocial inferences about the population. Previous research has shown that interviewer continuity can be useful for optimizing longitudinal survey participation, but it is yet unknown if nurse continuity impacts the likelihood of participation in biomeasure collection. We investigated the impact of nurse continuity on nonresponse to biomeasure collection in waves 4 and 6 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Using cross-classified multilevel models, we find that switching nurses between waves does not negatively impact participation in biomeasure collection, and sometimes can be beneficial, particularly for previous wave nonrespondents. The practical implication is that biosocial surveys may not need to employ strict nurse continuity protocols to maximize participation in subsequent waves of biomeasure data collection.