Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of a conversion from grassland to cropland on soil physical-chemical properties in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia:analysis of a 50-year chronosequence

The study investigated the long time effect of a conversation from grasslands to croplands on soil physical-chemical properties in the farming-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia using direct field samplings. We determined a land use history for the 1955—2002 from field survery. This land use history was used to build a chronosequence of cropland sites with a different age since the conversation from grassland. Results showed that 50 years of reclamation induced a reduction of soil organic carbon (SOC) content,total nitrogen (TN) content,soil available kalium content,pH levels,clay content and soil bulk density. It was founded that there was clear dependency of soil properties (dissolved organic carbon content; soil available kalium content; pH levels; clay content and soil bulk density) on cropland age. It was expected that this research would provide information for suitably using land and avoiding environmental degradation.
Effects of controlled flow reductions on the insect community of an Oregon coastal stream

approved: Redacted for Privacy N. $: Anderson Controlled flow reductions of 75% apportioned over four two-week intervals were studied during the summers of 1975 and 1976 on the North an Oregon coastal stream. The effects of reduced flows on invertebrate drift, insect benthos, and the available food for juvenile salmonids were measured. Invertebrate drift showed a two-phased pattern from reduced flows. This was: 1) a decrease in drift immediately following flow reductions, and 2) an increase in drift after a two-week interval. Chironomid larvae and Baetis nymphs were the dominant taxa in the drift. The riffle benthos was sampled by artificial substrate and Hess samplers, while the pool benthos was sampled with a core sampler. Benthes density and biomass were not significantly affected by reduced flows. Differences between the artificial substrates and Hess samples were observed, with artificial substrates generally collecting more but smaller invertebrates than Hess samples. Greater numbers and biomass of invertebrates were collected in the pools than in the riffles. Stomach samples from 99 age 0+ coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) showed they fed primarily on subsurface drift until the end of the lowest experimental flow, when their diet changed to surface foods. This change in diet coincided with a decrease in subsurface drift. Fifteen age 1+ cutthroat (Salmo clarki) also fed primarily on surface foods during the lowest flow. Only age 0+ cutthroat fed mainly on subsurface food during the lowest flow, possibly because they were restricted to riffle areas while 0+ coho and 1+ cutthroat inhabited pool areas. Overall, the effects of reduced flows were minor. Flooding during the study and variability of the data precluded definitive results. Effects of Controlled Flow Reductions on the Insect Community of an Oregon Coastal Stream by Richard E. Hafele A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Completed August 11, 1978 Commencement June 1979
A Novel Transformer-Based Approach for Simultaneous Recognition of Hand Movements and Force Levels in Amputees Using Flexible Ultrasound Transducers

Accurate hand motion intention recognition is essential for the intuitive control of intelligent prosthetic hands and other human-machine interaction systems. Sonomyography, which can detect the changes in muscle morphology and structure precisely, is a promising signal source for fine hand movement recognition. However, sonomyography measured by traditional rigid ultrasound probes may suffer from poor acoustic coupling because the rigid probe surfaces cannot accommodate the curvilinear shape of the human body, particularly in the case of small and irregular residual limbs in amputees. In this study, we used a self-designed lightweight, flexible, and wearable ultrasound transducer to acquire muscle ultrasound images, and proposed a sonomyography transformer (SMGT) model for simultaneous recognition of hand movements and force levels. The performance of SMGT was systematically compared to two commonly used image processing methods, HOG and Gray Gradient, as well as a deep CNN model, in simultaneously recognizing ten classes of hand/finger movements and three force levels. Additionally, ten subjects including seven non-disabled subjects and three trans-radial amputees who are the end users of prosthetic hands were recruited to evaluate the effectiveness of SMGT. Results showed that our proposed method achieved average classification accuracies of 98.4% ± 0.6% and 96.2% ± 3.0% in non-disabled subjects and amputee subjects, respectively, which are much higher than those of other methods. This study provided a valuable approach for ultrasound-based hand motion recognition that may promote the applications of intelligent prosthetic hands.
Summary of Data, Assumptions and Methods for New Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (WIC) Population Projections by Age, Sex and Level of Education for 195 Countries to 2100

This paper describes the base-line data and summarizes the methodology that underlies the projections presented for 195 countries of the world by age, sex, and educational attainment, based on detailed data on education for 171 countries. These multi-dimensional cohort-component projections require a large amount of empirical information, ranging from base-year data on populations disaggregated by levels of educational attainment by age and sex, to data on educational differentials of fertility and mortality. The paper also summarizes the procedures by which the assumed trajectories for future fertility, mortality and migration were derived by combining structured expert judgments with statistical models. It also describes in detail the procedures by which assumptions on aggregate fertility, mortality and migration trends were translated into education-specific trajectories in order to then calculate the implications of alternative education scenarios.
Haptoglobin gene polymorphism and iron profile in sickle cell disease patients with inflammation in Yaounde, Cameroon

Abstract Background Major sickle cell syndromes are the most common hemoglobinopathy in the world. The sickle cell patients are subjected to several factors causing inflammation, and the genetic identification of each individual allows to focus the possibility of allelic variations influence of a specific gene and then the polymorphism. This study aims at determining the distribution of HP gene (OMIM#140100) and their involvement on hematological parameters and the iron profile in the sickle cell patients presenting an inflammation condition during major sickle cell syndromes in Cameroun. Methods A case–control analytical study has been conducted over a period of 6 months. Cases consisting of sickle cell patients in a situation of inflammation and control of non‐inflamed sickle cell patients. The patients presenting major sickle cell syndromes, interned and/or followed at the Hematology Department of the Regional Hospital of Bafoussam and the Central Hospital of Yaoundé have been recruited. HP genotyping was carried out at the Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies (LAPHER‐Biotech) in Yaoundé using allele‐specific PCR. Also, inflammatory, hematological parameters and martial assessment were explored by standard methods. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the statistical tool R version 4.1. 1. The comparison of proportions of alleles was made with the chi‐square test, and the Wilcoxon test was used to compare the median between different groups using the statistical tool R version 4.1. 1. Results We analyzed the samples of 149 patients. The HP polymorphism describes a significant frequency of the “1F” allele (69.8%) followed by the “2” allele (46.31%). In addition, 80 patients (53.69%), 48 (32.21%), and 21 (14.09%) presented the genotype HP 1‐1, HP 2‐1, and HP 2‐2, respectively. And eighty‐one percent (81%) patients with genotype HP 2‐2 showed a significant higher relative frequency of thrombocytosis compared with the genotype HP 1‐1 and HP 2‐1, respectively (51.2% and 68.8%, p = 0.087). The proportion of inflammation in the HP 2‐2 group was higher (57.1%) compared with the other groups (respectively 42.5% and 35.4% in the HP 1‐1 and HP 2‐1 groups). Furthermore, the median CRP was significantly higher in the HP 2‐2 group compared with the other groups (p = 0.039). Moreover, the entire population of the HP 2‐2 group showed an elevation of ferritin and IL6 unlike the HP 1‐1 and HP 2‐1 groups. Conclusion This study demonstrates a higher frequency of genotype HP 1‐1 followed by the HP 2‐2 genotype in patients with major sickle cell syndromes. However, a larger proportion of patients with genotype HP 2‐2 are associated with hematological profile disorders, inflammation, and dysregulation of iron metabolism. Then, the haptoglobin polymorphism contributes to the severity of major sickle cell syndromes.
Serum trace element levels and activity of enzymes associated with oxidative stress in endometriosis and endometrial cancer

Endometriosis and endometrial cancer are closely related to oxidative stress. However, the direct relationship between copper and zinc levels and oxidative stress in the extracellular and intracellular space remains unclear. The presented study is focused on the determination of serum Zn and Cu levels, glutathione concentration and enzyme activity in three groups: patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EC), patients diagnosed with endometriosis (EM), and a healthy control group. Spectrophotometric determination of trace elements revealed that levels of zinc and copper were lower in blood plasma of patients with endometriosis as compared with the other groups; however, there were no significant differences in the Cu/Zn ratio. Furthermore, significantly increased blood serum glutathione levels were detected in both EM and EC groups compared with the control group. While the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was similar across the studied groups, we observed differences in the activity of other enzymes associated with oxidative stress, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S‐transferase (GST), between the control group and the EM and EC patients. Additionally, analysis of gene expression based on free circulating mRNA indicated significant differences in the expression of SOD isoenzymes between the patient groups and the control group; expression of GPx isoenzymes was also altered. Obtained results may have potential application in diagnostics as well as monitoring of endometriosis and endometrial cancer.
Fluid flow in porous media with rough pore‐solid interface

Quantifying fluid flow through porous media hinges on the description of permeability, a property of considerable importance in many fields ranging from oil and gas exploration to hydrology. A common building block for modeling porous media permeability is consideration of fluid flow through tubes with circular cross section described by Poiseuille's law in which flow discharge is proportional to the fourth power of the tube's radius. In most natural porous media, pores are neither cylindrical nor smooth; they often have an irregular cross section and rough surfaces. This study presents a theoretical scaling of Poiseuille's approximation for flow in pores with irregular rough cross section quantified by a surface fractal dimension Ds2. The flow rate is a function of the average pore radius to the power 2(3‐Ds2) instead of 4 in the original Poiseuille's law. Values of Ds2 range from 1 to 2, hence, the power in the modified Poiseuille's approximation varies between 4 and 2, indicating that flow rate decreases as pore surface roughness (and surface fractal dimension Ds2) increases. We also proposed pore length‐radius relations for isotropic and anisotropic fractal porous media. The new theoretical derivations are compared with standard approximations and with experimental values of relative permeability. The new approach results in substantially improved prediction of relative permeability of natural porous media relative to the original Poiseuille equation.
The interaction and mediation effects between the host genetic factors and Epstein–Barr virus VCA‐IgA in the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Previous studies have demonstrated strong associations between host genetic factors and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) VCA‐IgA with the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the specific interplay between host genetics and EBV VCA‐IgA on NPC risk is not well understood. In this two‐stage case–control study (N = 4804), we utilized interaction and mediation analysis to investigate the interplay between host genetics (genome‐wide association study‐derived polygenic risk score [PRS]) and EBV VCA‐IgA antibody level in the NPC risk. We employed a four‐way decomposition analysis to assess the extent to which the genetic effect on NPC risk is mediated by or interacts with EBV VCA‐IgA. We consistently found a significant interaction between the PRS and EBV VCA‐IgA on NPC risk (discovery population: synergy index [SI] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.85–3.10; replication population: SI = 3.10, 95% CI = 2.17–4.44; all pinteraction < 0.001). Moreover, the genetic variants included in the PRS demonstrated similar interactions with EBV VCA‐IgA antibody. We also observed an obvious dose–response relationship between the PRS and EBV VCA‐IgA antibody on NPC risk (all ptrend < 0.001). Furthermore, our decomposition analysis revealed that a substantial proportion (approximately 90%) of the genetic effects on NPC risk could be attributed to host genetic‐EBV interaction, while the risk effects mediated by EBV VCA‐IgA antibody were weak and statistically insignificant. Our study provides compelling evidence for an interaction between host genetics and EBV VCA‐IgA antibody in the development of NPC. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing measures to control EBV infection as a crucial strategy for effectively preventing NPC, particularly in individuals at high genetic risk.
In situ hybridization to detect Escherichia coli in canine granulomatous colitis

Canine granulomatous colitis (histiocytic ulcerative colitis) is an uncommon disease, predominantly of young French Bulldogs and Boxer dogs, that manifests from a dysregulated immune response, primarily to adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC). In conjunction with histopathology and periodic acid–Schiff staining, the diagnosis of granulomatous colitis currently relies on fluorescence in situ hybridization (ISH) or immunohistochemistry to identify and localize AIEC organisms within macrophages in the mucosa and/or submucosa. We investigated the utility of ISH for E. coli using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens collected from 29 cases of suspected granulomatous colitis. Most confirmed cases of granulomatous colitis were in French Bulldogs (12 of 20; 60%) and Boxers (3 of 20; 15%), and the mean age was 25 ± 6 mo with no sex predilection. E. coli ISH signal localized bacterial genetic material within the mucosa in 20 of 29 (69%) cases, supporting the diagnosis. ISH signal was limited to the lumen in 8 of 29 (28%) cases, which did not support the identification of these organisms as AIEC. The remaining case had no hybridization signal, and the diagnosis of granulomatous colitis was not supported. Our results revealed that ISH is a quick and specific detection method that can effectively confirm the diagnosis of canine granulomatous colitis.
Investigation of microbiological safety of dry cat foods marketed in Poland.

Pets are inhabiting more and more human homes every year. In 2020, the cat population in Europe was 110 million, including 6.8 million in Poland. Dry food is the most popular dietary model for cats because of its easy storage and efficient satisfaction of pet needs. The high processing temperature of dry food reduces the chance of microbial contamination, but this can occur later, during post-production or storage in the pet's caregiver's home or, in the case of weighed foods, in the store. The purpose of this study was to investigate the microbiological safety of dry feed sold in the original manufacturer's packaging and the same feed from the same manufacturers sold in a retail store by weight. Six discriminants, presence of Salmonella spp. , number of coliforms, number of coagulase-positive staphylococci, determination of yeast and mould counts, Enterobacteriaceae count, Listeria monocytogenes and determination of total aerobic microbial count were used for the analysis. Then, cat food was then stored for 45 days according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Based on the samples tested both after opening and after storage, it was concluded that the dry cat food analyzed posed a law microbiological risk to animals and humans.
Iron Deposition in the Bone Marrow and Spleen of Nonhuman Primates with Acute Radiation Syndrome

The risk of exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation from nuclear weapons or radiological accidents is an increasing world concern. Partial- or total-body exposure to high doses of radiation is potentially lethal through the induction of acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Hematopoietic cells are sensitive to radiation exposure; white blood cells primarily undergo apoptosis while red blood cells (RBCs) undergo hemolysis. Several laboratories demonstrated that the rapid hemolysis of RBCs results in the release of acellular iron into the blood. We recently demonstrated using a murine model of ARS after total-body irradiation (TBI) and the loss of RBCs, iron accumulated in the bone marrow and spleen, notably between 4–21 days postirradiation. Here, we investigated iron accumulation in the bone marrow and spleens from TBI nonhuman primates (NHPs) using histological stains. We observed trends in increased intracellular and extracellular brown pigmentation in the bone marrow after various doses of radiation, especially after 4–15 days postirradiation, but these differences did not reach significance. We observed a significant increase in Prussian blue-staining intracellular iron deposition in the spleen 13–15 days after 5.8–8.5 Gy of TBI. We observed trends of increased iron in the spleen after 30–60 days postirradiation, with varying doses of radiation, but these differences did not reach significance. The NHP model of ARS confirms our earlier findings in the murine model, showing iron deposition in the bone marrow and spleen after TBI.
Do the Effects of Krebs Cycle Intermediates on Oxygen-Dependent Processes in Hypoxia Mediated by the Nitric Oxide System Have Reciprocal or Competitive Relationships?

BACKGROUND/AIMS Currently, it is proven that the cellular metabolism of nitric oxide is necessary to maintain optimal health and adaptation of the organism to the impact of various environmental factors. The aim of this work was to reveal the biological role of nitric oxide, its metabolic changes, and its mechanism of action in tissues under hypoxia, as well as the possibility of tissue metabolism correction through NO-dependent systems under the influence of Krebs cycle intermediates. METHODS A systematic assessment of the effect of succinate (SC, 50 mg/kg b.w.) and α-ketoglutarate (KGL, 50 mg/kg b.w.) in the regulation of oxygendependent processes in rats (mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, microsomal oxidation, intensity of lipid peroxidation processes, and the state of the antioxidant defense system) depending on functional changes in nitric oxide production during hypoxia was evaluated. The state of the nitric oxide system was estimated spectrophotometrically by determination of the concentration of its stable nitrite anion metabolite (NO2 -). The levels of catecholamines were estimated from the content of epinephrine and norepinephrine using the differentially fluorescent method. The activity of cytochrome P450-dependent aminopyrine-N-demethylase was determined with the Nash reagent. RESULTS Tissue hypoxia and metabolic disorders caused by this condition through changes in the content of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPA) as well as the cholinesterase-related system (acetylcholine content and acetylcholinesterase activity) were the studied experimental parameters under acute hypoxia (AH, 7% O2 in N2, 30 min). The activation of lipid peroxidation and oxidatively modified proteins and an increase in the epinephrine content in AH are associated with an increased role of SC and a decrease in KGL as substrates of oxidation in mitochondria. A more pronounced effect of exogenous KGL, compared to SC, on the content of nitrite anion as a stable metabolite of nitric oxide in the liver under acute hypoxia against the background of a decrease in the intensity of lipid peroxidation processes was revealed. The activation of SC-dependent mitochondrial oxidative processes caused by AH was found to decrease in animals after an intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) course. IHT (7% O2 in N2, 15-min, 5 times daily, 14 days) prevented the activation of oxidative stress in tissues and blood after the AH impact and increased the efficiency of energy-related reactions in the functioning of hepatic mitochondria through increased oxidation of KGL. CONCLUSION The studied effects of adaptation are mediated by an increase in the role of NO-dependent mechanisms, as assessed by changes in the pool of nitrates, nitrites, carbamides, and total polyamines.
Cognitive symptoms progress with limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy stage and co-occurrence with Alzheimer disease

Abstract Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) is a neuropathologic entity characterized by transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43-kDa (TDP-43)-immunoreactive inclusions that originate in the amygdala and then progress to the hippocampi and middle frontal gyrus. LATE-NC may mimic Alzheimer disease clinically and often co-occurs with Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC). This report focuses on the cognitive effects of isolated and concomitant LATE-NC and ADNC. Cognitive/neuropsychological, neuropathologic, genetic, and demographic variables were analyzed in 28 control, 31 isolated LATE-NC, 244 isolated ADNC, and 172 concurrent LATE-NC/ADNC subjects from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Cases with LATE-NC and ADNC were significantly older than controls; cases with ADNC had a significantly higher proportion of cases with at least one APOE ε4 allele. Both LATE-NC and ADNC exhibited deleterious effects on overall cognition proportional to their neuropathological stages; concurrent LATE-NC/ADNC exhibited the worst overall cognitive effect. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined an independent risk of cognitive impairment for progressive LATE-NC stages (OR 1.66; p = 0.0256) and ADNC levels (OR 3.41; p < 0.0001). These data add to the existing knowledge on the clinical consequences of LATE-NC pathology and the growing literature on the effects of multiple concurrent neurodegenerative pathologies.
A case of junctional epidermolysis bullosa intermediate with collagen XVII deficiency treated with dupilumab

Abstract Inherited epidermolysis bullosa is a heterogeneous group of hereditary skin diseases characterized by skin (mucosa) fragility, which leads to blistering. Junctional epidermolysis bullosa is associated with mutations in genes expressing proteins of the dermo-epidermal junction. Dupilumab, an antibody that directly targets interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha, may be an effective treatment for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. We describe a case of junctional epidermolysis bullosa that improved with dupilumab.