Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Long-Term Organic Fertilization on Changes in the Content of Various Forms of Sulfur in the Soil under Maize Monoculture

Sulfur nutrition is a crucial part of proper crop growth. In this study, we investigated the influence of organic fertilizers in a long-term field experiment (23 years) with continuous maize monoculture. We focused on: (a) changes in the soil sulfur fraction pools, (b) the balance of total sulfur inputs and outputs, and (c) sulfur uptake by maize. The following treatments were selected: unfertilized control (Control), urea and ammonium nitrate (UAN), UAN and wheat straw (UAN + St), sewage sludge (SS), farmyard manure (FYM), and slurry (Slurry). Using sequential extraction, we determined water-soluble (SW—in water), adsorbed (Sads—in 0.032 mol L−1 NaH2PO4), and available (Sav = SW + Sads) sulfur content. Microwave-assisted digestion in an Aqua regia solution was used to measure the pseudo-total sulfur content (Spt). Organic-bound sulfur (Sorg) was calculated as a difference between Spt and Sav. We found that average biomass yields responded to a uniform 120 kg N ha−1 year−1 dose, rather than the dose of S in fertilizers, with an increase over the Control by 34–49%. The effect of an additional 33.5 kg N ha−1 year−1 on UAN + St treatment was not significant. Average sulfur uptake responded to increased yields (69-121% higher than Control), rather than the sulfur application, with the exception of SS, where the dose of sulfur was high enough to cause an additional uptake. In the topsoil, we discovered a significant decrease over time (from 1997 to 2019) in water-soluble (SW), adsorbed (Sads), available (Sav), and pseudo-total (Spt) fractions on all treatments to 29, 59, 37, and 82% of their initial values, respectively. For all treatments, the proportion of Sorg in Spt increased over time, which was caused by the decrease in mineral fractions (SW, Sads, Sav). The absolute content of Sorg decreased over time for all treatments except SS and FYM to about 85% of the initial value. Using the simple balancing method, we calculated that UAN + St, SS, FYM, and Slurry treatments annually lost 8.04, 66.1, 21.4, and 26.8 kg of S ha−1, respectively. This loss was attributed to the decrease in atmospheric depositions, as well as the release of sulfur from soil organic matter (for UAN + St and Slurry treatments) and a high proportion of easily mineralizable and inorganic sulfur from the SS treatment. Generally, the FYM fertilizer provided the highest potential for maintaining soil Spt status.
Novel interaction prediction approach to hierarchical control of large-scale systems

In this paper, a new interaction prediction approach for hierarchical control of non-linear large-scale systems is presented. The proposed approach uses a new gradient-type coordination scheme which is robust with respect to the parameters' variation, and also has a good convergence rate. In classical coordination strategies, which can be divided into the gradient-type and substitution-type approaches, it is not possible to improve the robustness and the convergence rate at the same time, since by increasing one the other decreases. The proposed approach has the main advantages of the gradient-type algorithms in being independent of the parameter's variation and also the initial guess of the coordination vector. In addition, because of the proposed coordination strategy, in which the update of the coordination vector directly causes the reduction of the coordination error, the number of iterations is considerably reduced. The robustness and convergence rate of the proposed approach against the other interaction prediction approaches are shown through simulations of a benchmark problem. The simulation results also show the effectiveness of the proposed approach in solving constrained optimisation problems having non-quadratic cost functions. Comparisons are also made with the solutions obtained using centralised approach.
Emerging Personalized Opportunities for Enhancing Translational Readthrough in Rare Genetic Diseases and Beyond

Nonsense mutations trigger premature translation termination and often give rise to prevalent and rare genetic diseases. Consequently, the pharmacological suppression of an unscheduled stop codon represents an attractive treatment option and is of high clinical relevance. At the molecular level, the ability of the ribosome to continue translation past a stop codon is designated stop codon readthrough (SCR). SCR of disease-causing premature termination codons (PTCs) is minimal but small molecule interventions, such as treatment with aminoglycoside antibiotics, can enhance its frequency. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of translation termination (both at PTCs and at cognate stop codons) and highlight recently discovered pathways that influence its fidelity. We describe the mechanisms involved in the recognition and readthrough of PTCs and report on SCR-inducing compounds currently explored in preclinical research and clinical trials. We conclude by reviewing the ongoing attempts of personalized nonsense suppression therapy in different disease contexts, including the genetic skin condition epidermolysis bullosa.
Homogeneous Photometry. III. A Star Catalog for the Open Cluster NGC 6791

We present broadband BVI photometry for the open cluster NGC 6791, based upon analysis of 1764 individual CCD images. We discuss in detail the transformation of the instrumental magnitudes to the standard photometric system of Landolt and then discuss methods for selecting a subset of cluster stars whose photometric indices are most likely to be of high reliability. Color‐magnitude and color‐color diagrams for the cluster are presented and discussed. A detailed comparison of this photometry with the results of previous observational studies is presented. We make preliminary comparisons with theoretical isochrones provided by D. A. VandenBerg and conclude that an excellent match can be achieved if the metal abundance and age of the cluster are both near the upper end of the range of recent estimates ([Fe/H] ≈ +0.3, age ≈ 12 Gyr) and the reddening and true distance modulus are both near the low end of the range of recent estimates [E(B−V) ≈ 0.09 mag and (m−M)0 ≈ 12.79 mag] if the isochrone predictions are reliable. A companion paper will discuss candidate variable stars and stars possibly showing planetary transits. Data tables listing measured magnitudes and standard errors, image‐quality indices, a variability index, and equinox J2000.0 equatorial coordinates for 14,342 stars to V∼24 have been made available to the public through the services of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre. Equatorial coordinates only have been provided for a further 1916 stars, the photometry for which we were unable to calibrate because of lack of color information.
An Evaluation of Multiple Choice Test Questions Deliberately Designed to Include Multiple Correct Answers

An Evaluation of Multiple Choice Test Questions Deliberately Designed to Include Multiple Correct Answers Scott Thayn Department of Instructional Psychology and Technology Doctor of Philosophy The multiple-choice test question is a popular item format used for tests ranging from classroom assessments to professional licensure exams. The popularity of this format stems from its administration and scoring efficiencies. The most common multiple-choice format consists of a stem that presents a problem to be solved accompanied by a single correct answer and two, three, or four incorrect answers. A well-constructed item using this format can result in a high quality assessment of an examinee’s knowledge, skills and abilities. However, for some complex, higher-order knowledge, skills and abilities, a single correct answer is often insufficient. Test developers tend to avoid using multiple correct answers out of a concern about the increased difficulty and lower discrimination of such items. However, by avoiding the use of multiple correct answers, test constructors may inadvertently create validity concerns resulting from incomplete content coverage and construct irrelevant variance. This study explored an alternative way of implementing multiple-choice questions with two or more correct answers by specifying in each question the number of answers examinees should select instead of using the traditional guideline to select all that apply. This study investigated the performance of three operational exams that use a standard multiple-choice format where the examinees are told how many answers they are to select. The collective statistical performance of multiple-choice items that included more than one answer that is keyed as correct was compared with the performance of traditional single-answer, multiple-choice (SA) items within each exam. The results indicate that the multiple-answer, multiple-choice (MA) items evaluated from these three exams performed at least as well as to the single-answer questions within the same exams.
Characteristics of Fatal, Pedestrian-Involved, Motor Vehicle Crashes in West Virginia: A Cross-Sectional and Spatial Analysis

Fatal, pedestrian-involved, motor vehicle collisions are increasing in the United States yet remain lower in rural states such as West Virginia. This study’s purpose was to investigate the overall risk factors of pedestrian fatalities by rurality and sex in West Virginia. Data were obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The fatality had to occur within West Virginia between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2019. Risk factors of rural vs. urban and male vs. female crashes were determined using multivariable logistic regression models. Clustering of crash locations was analyzed using kernel density estimation and Ripley’s K. Among the 254 fatalities, most victims were male (70%). Most crashes occurred at night (76%), on highways (73%), on level (71%), non-curved (84%), dry (82%) roads during fair weather conditions (82%). Nearly 34% of the victims tested positive for alcohol. Men were 2.5 times as likely to be hit in a rural area (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.2, 5.4), on curved roads, and 57% less likely (OR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.2, 0.9) to test positive for drugs compared to women. Crash characteristics, including location, were similar between the sexes. As many risk factors were modifiable behaviors, public health interventions to ensure pedestrian safety may be necessary.
Biomimetic Soft Underwater Robot Inspired by the Red Muscle and Tendon Structure of Fish

Underwater robots are becoming increasingly important in various fields. Fish robots are attracting attention as an alternative to the screw-type robots currently in use. We developed a compact robot with a high swimming performance by mimicking the anatomical structure of fish. In this paper, we focus on the red muscles, tendons, and vertebrae used for steady swimming of fish. A robot was fabricated by replacing the red muscle structure with shape memory alloy wires and rigid body links. In our previous work, undulation motions with various phase differences and backward quadratically increasing inter-vertebral bending angles were confirmed in the air, while the swimming performance in insulating fluid was poor. To improve the swimming performance, an improved robot was designed that mimics the muscle contractions of mackerel using a pulley mechanism, with the robot named UEC Mackerel. In swimming experiments using the improved robot, a maximum swimming speed of 25.8 mm/s (0.11 BL/s) was recorded, which is comparable to that of other soft-swimming robots. In addition, the cost of transport (COT), representing the energy consumption required for robot movement, was calculated, and a minimum COT of 0.08 was recorded, which is comparable to that of an actual fish.
Efficacy of Different Bacillus of Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Strains on Recurrence Rates among Intermediate/High-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancers (NMIBCs): Single-Arm Study Systematic Review, Cumulative and Network Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary Bacillus of Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the gold standard as per adjuvant intravesical treatment for intermediate and high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Nevertheless, drug-related toxicity, compliance, and a shortage of BCG availability make the completion of the planned treatment schedule challenging in many patients, thus possibly impacting survival outcomes. No one specific BCG strain out of the several available ones worldwide has so far demonstrated its superiority profile in prolonging time to recurrence and progression. In our systematic review and network meta-analysis, we compared to most widely adopted BCG strains and demonstrated that BCG strain Tice, RIVM, and Tokyo 172 could display potential enhanced benefits, thus possibly supporting the use of such strains for future BCG trials in NMIBCs. Abstract Background: In an era of Bacillus of Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortages, the comparative efficacy from different adjuvant intravesical BCG strains in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has not been clearly elucidated. We aim to compare, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, the cumulative BC recurrence rates and the best efficacy profile of worldwide available BCG strains over the last forty years. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from 1982 up to 2022. A meta-analysis of pooled BC recurrence rates was stratified for studies with ≤3-y vs. >3-y recurrence-free survival (RFS) endpoints and the strain of BCG. Sensitivity analysis, sub-group analysis, and meta-regression were implemented to investigate the contribution of moderators to heterogeneity. A random-effect network meta-analysis was performed to compare BCG strains on a multi-treatment level. Results: In total, n = 62 series with n = 15,412 patients in n = 100 study arms and n = 10 different BCG strains were reviewed. BCG Tokyo 172 exhibited the lowest pooled BC recurrence rate among studies with ≤3-y RFS (0.22 (95%CI 0.16–0.28). No clinically relevant difference was noted among strains at >3-y RFS outcomes. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses highlighted the influence of NMIBC risk-group classification and previous intravesical treated categories. Out of the n = 11 studies with n = 7 BCG strains included in the network, BCG RIVM, Tice, and Tokyo 172 presented with the best-predicted probability for efficacy, yet no single strain was significantly superior to another in preventing BC recurrence risk. Conclusion: We did not identify a BCG stain providing a clinically significant lower BC recurrence rate. While these findings might discourage investment in future head-to-head randomized comparison, we were, however, able to highlight some potential enhanced benefits from the genetically different BCG RIVM, Tice, and Tokyo 172. This evidence would support the use of such strains for future BCG trials in NMIBCs.
The Crack Problem in Piezoelectric Strip Under Thermoelectric Loading

This paper investigates the thermoelectromechanical fracture behavior of a parallel crack in a piezoelectric strip under thermoelectric loading. The crack faces are supposed to be insulated thermally and electrically. By using the Fourier transform, the thermal and electromechanical problems are reduced to a system of singular integral equations, respectively, which are solved numerically. Numerical calculations are carried out, and the energy density factor as well as the stress and electric displacement intensity factors are presented for various values of dimensionless parameters representing the size and the location of the crack and the magnitude of the electric loading.
A Comparison of the First-Guess Dependence of Precipitable Water Estimates from Three Techniques Using GOES Data

Abstract This paper evaluates and intercompares three existing algorithms for calculating precipitable water (PW) using infrared radiances from the GOES-7 VISSR (Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer) Atmospheric Sounder (VAS). The study exclusively uses simulated, rather than observed, VAS radiances in all retrievals. The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service simultaneous physical algorithm utilizes data from all 12 VAS channels and produces a vertical profile of temperature and dewpoint from which PW can be calculated. The Chesters technique and Jedlovec’s physical split-window technique retrieve PW from radiances in the two split window channels without first computing a dewpoint profile. All three algorithms also can be used with GOES-8 and GOES-9 data. These algorithms have not been intercompared previously. Each is applied on case days having wide variations in temperature and moisture. The algorithms are supplied with first-guess information of varying accuracy to asse.
Effective Grain Pinning Revealed by Nanoscale Electron Tomography

The grain pinning behavior of TiC particles in a rapidly solidified MRE-Fe-B (MRE = Nd + Y + Dy) nanocrystalline hard magnet was studied using electron tomography (ET). The 3D reconstruction overcomes the inherent 2D nature of conventional transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) to reveal how this grain boundary phase controls the nanoscale structure in the rapidly solidified alloy. The 3D reconstruction was performed on the optimally annealed alloy (750 °C/15 min) with hard magnetic properties of Mr = 8.1 kGs, Hc = 6.2 kOe, (BH)max = 11.2 MGOe measured at 300 k. The sampled volume, 425 × 425 × 92.5 nm3, contains more than 20 grains of the RE2-14-1 phase and more than 70 TiC nanoparticles. The TiC grains’ shapes depend on their sizes and locations along the grain boundary. Most of the TiC particles are oval or short rod like shapes and range from 5 nm to 10 nm. TiC particles less than 10 nm formed between adjacent 2-14-1 grains, while the largest ones formed at triple junctions. There are ∼1.7 × 108 TiC par.
Associations of levels of peripheral blood leukocyte and subtypes with type 2 diabetes: A longitudinal study of Chinese government employees

Objectives Available evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes (T2D) may be associated with inflammation and that leukocytes are a topical clinical, biological indicator of inflammation. This study investigates the associations between peripheral blood leukocyte and subtypes levels with T2D. Methods A total of 5,475 individuals were included in the baseline examination from January 2018 to April 2020, with incidence data updated to April 30, 2021, and follow-up to 5,362 individuals. T2D was defined according to the Chinese guidelines for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes. Physiological and biochemical indicators, including leukocyte and subtypes, were obtained from the physical examination results of the tertiary care hospitals relied on at the cohort sites. Covariates such as demographic characteristics and lifestyle were collected by questionnaire. Binary logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore the correlations. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and time-dependent ROC curves were used to estimate the predictive diagnosis of T2D across the subtype of leukocytes. Results The mean follow-up time was 12 months, and the cumulative incidence density of T2D was 4.0/1000 person-years. Cross-sectional results at baseline showed that the levels of peripheral blood leukocyte and its subtypes were higher in the T2D group than in the non-T2D group. Total leukocyte count and subtypes levels were grouped by quintile. After adjusting for age, sex, family history of diabetes, lifestyle score, and triglyceride levels, all were compared with the lowest quintile of each group. Logistic regression model results showed that the corrected OR for those with the highest quintile level of leukocyte was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.02-3.98). The longitudinal analysis showed that the adjusted HR was 8.43 (95%CI: 1.06-66.92) for those with the highest quintile level of leukocytes at baseline after controlling for the effects of the above covariates. For those with the highest quintile level of neutrophils at baseline, the adjusted HR was 5.05 (95%CI: 1.01-25.29). The leukocyte and subtypes had predictive values for T2D. Conclusion Patients with T2D have a higher level of peripheral blood leukocyte and subtypes than those without the disease. Elevated leukocyte and neutrophil counts may link to a higher risk of T2D.
Determining the risk of miscarriage in genetic forms of thrombophilia

The aim: to study the distribution and influence of coagulation factor gene polymorphisms and endothelial dysfunction on the development of recurrent pregnancy loss. Materials and methods: a prospective case-control study included 109 pregnant women in the 1st trimester with habitual miscarriage and 34 conditionally healthy pregnant women with an uncomplicated obstetrical anamnesis without risk factors for miscarriage. Genetic polymorphisms of coagulation and fibrinolysis factors (1691 G→A FVL, 20210 G→A prothrombin, 675 5G/4G PAI-1, 455 G→A fibrinogen β), as well as endothelial dysfunctions (192 Q→R PON-1, 677 C → T MTHFR) were investigated using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Results: Pathological polymorphisms of the genes of the hemostasis system and endothelial dysfunction play a significant role in the development of miscarriage, namely such pathological genotypes as 1691 GA of factor V Leiden - increases the risk by 5.3 times (95 % CI 1.5-18.5), 20210 GA of prothrombin - by 26.47 times (1.6-445.7), 675 4G/4G PAI-1 - by 7, 5 times (1.7-33.79), -455AA fibrinogen β - 9.7 times (1.3-74.16), 677 CT MTHFR - 2.6 times (1.0-6.2), 677 TT MTHFR - 21.7 times (1.3-368.6). Multigenic forms of thrombophilia predominate in the majority of patients with miscarriage and account for 76.1 % (p<0.001, OR=12.31, 95 % CI 4.8-31.55). It was determined that the simultaneous presence of two pathological polymorphisms increases the risk of miscarriage by 3.88 times (OR 3.38; 95 % CI 1.26-9.97), and three ones - more than 2.5 times (OR 2.66; 95 % CI 1.02-7.19). Conclusions: the course of pregnancy against the background of pathological polymorphisms of the genes of the hemostasis system and endothelial dysfunction significantly increases the risk of habitual miscarriage, which should be considered when planning a pregnancy in women with habitual miscarriage
RADIAL BASIS FUNCTION NETWORKS AS CHAOTIC GENERATORS FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

This paper improves upon a new class of discrete chaotic systems (i.e. chaotic maps) recently introduced for effective information encryption. The nonlinearity and adaptability of these systems are achieved by designing proper radial basis function networks. The potential for automatic synchronization, the lack of periodicity and the extremely large parameter spaces of these chaotic maps offer robust transmission security. The Radial Basis Function (RBF) networks offer a large number of parameters (i.e. the centers and spreads of the RBF kernels and the weights of the linear layer) while at the same time as universal approximators they have the flexibility to implement any function. The RBF networks can learn the dynamics of chaotic systems (maps or flows) and mimic them accurately by using many more parameters than the original dynamical recurrence. Since the parameter space size increases exponentially with respect to the number of parameters, the RBF based systems greatly outperform previous designs in.