Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Weed Removal Practices on Soil Organic Carbon in Apple Orchards Fields

: The accelerated climate crisis has exacerbated the existing water and soil management challenges in the Mediterranean region, which are usually attributed to the combination of both irrational irrigation and unsustainable farming practices. The current conditions and future projections indicate that water-related risks are expected to intensify during the coming decades. Moreover, farmers often do not possess high environmental awareness; they adopt non-sustainable farming practices such as the extensive use of herbicides instead of mowing/mulching for the weeds, thus affecting soil hydraulic characteristics and fertility. To investigate the effects of different weed-management practices on soil organic carbon and thus on soil water holding capacity and inﬁltrability, an extensive soil-sampling campaign was performed in the semi-arid Mediterranean agricultural pilot basin of Agia—Greece. The pilot is located in the Pinios river basin, which constitutes the most highly productive agricultural plain in the country. The Agia basin was selected since it presents the uneven spatiotemporal distribution of groundwater resources and the wide application of herbicides, while an urgent need exists to sustain and improve agricultural production, with the main crops being apples and cherries. Moreover, the Agia basin constitutes a highly instrumented area where the Pinios Hydrologic Observatory belonging to the International Long Term Ecological Research network has been developed, and thus additional ﬁeld measurements could contribute to the overall data-collection framework. Soil sampling was conducted in apple orchards in April 2022, just before the beginning of the growing season. Ninety six soil samples in total were collected from eight different ﬁelds; half of them applied systematic herbicides treatment, and others mulching. For the upper soil proﬁle (0–10 cm depth), the results indicate that soil organic carbon in the ﬁelds applying mowing was found to be higher by more than 30% compared to the ﬁelds applying herbicides. The corresponding difference for soil depth of 10–30 cm was 7%, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of mulching in increasing soil organic carbon. The results of the current study could be upscaled at a larger scale in the context of adapting agricultural water-stressed regions to climate change, whilst contributing signiﬁcantly to the production cost and the preservation of the ecosystemic values of the regional nexus.
Effects of Ingesting Food Containing Heat-Killed Lactococcus lactis Strain Plasma on Fatigue and Immune-Related Indices after High Training Load: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Parallel-Group Study

Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) is a unique lactic acid bacterium that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). We evaluated the effect of LC-Plasma on fatigue indices and dendritic cells activity in athletes after 14 days’ continuous exercise load. Thirty-seven participants were divided into two groups and consumed placebo (PL) or LC-Plasma capsules (containing 100 billion cells) daily for 14 days. Maturation markers on dendritic cells, blood parameters, physiological indices, and fatigue-related indices were recorded on days 1 and 15 (before and after exercise). Cumulative days of symptoms relating to physical conditions were also recorded during the continuous exercise period. We observed that CD86 as a maturation marker on pDCs was significantly higher and that cumulative days of fatigue were significantly fewer in the LC-Plasma group than in the Placebo group on day 15. We also conducted 2 h ergometer exercise on day 15 to evaluate fatigue. The results showed that autonomic fatigue parameters (LF/HF) were significantly lower in the LC-Plasma group. These results suggest that LC-Plasma supplementation alleviates fatigue accumulation and increases pDC activity caused by a continuous high training load.
Diagnostic value of homogenous delayed enhancement in contrast-enhanced computed tomography images and endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for patients with focal autoimmune pancreatitis

Background/Aims We aimed to investigate (1) promising clinical findings for the recognition of focal type autoimmune pancreatitis (FAIP) and (2) the impact of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) on the diagnosis of FAIP. Methods Twenty-three patients with FAIP were involved in this study, and 44 patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were included in the control group. Results (1) Multivariate analysis revealed that homogeneous delayed enhancement on contrast-enhanced computed tomography was a significant factor indicative of FAIP compared to PDAC (90% vs. 7%, p=0.015). (2) For 13 of 17 FAIP patients (76.5%) who underwent EUS-TA, EUS-TA aided the diagnostic confirmation of AIPs, and only one patient (5.9%) was found to have AIP after surgery. On the other hand, of the six patients who did not undergo EUS-TA, three (50.0%) underwent surgery for pancreatic lesions. Conclusions Homogeneous delayed enhancement on contrast-enhanced computed tomography was the most useful clinical factor for discriminating FAIPs from PDACs. EUS-TA is mandatory for diagnostic confirmation of FAIP lesions and can contribute to a reduction in the rate of unnecessary surgery for patients with FAIP.
A New Specimen of cf. Isanacetus laticephalus (Baleen Whale) from the Oi Formation, Ichishi Group (Late Early Miocene) in Japan

Abstract. In the history of baleen whales, the early Miocene is one of not a well-known time. Many baleen whales from the Miocene are known as “cetotheres”. The “cetothere” Isanacetus laticephalus was a baleen whale from the early to middle Miocene that is only known from Japan. The holotype and paratype of I. laticephalus are well-preserved, and the age of the species I. laticephalus makes it one of the earlier basal plicogulans; however, its phylogenetic position is unclear. Here, a new cranium including the periotic from an early Miocene deposit (about 18.5 to 17.0 Ma) of the Oi Formation, Ichishi Group in Mie, Japan is reported as cf. I. laticephalus. The specimen displays a combination of four periotic features: (i) a large lateral tuberosity; (ii) a rectangular pars cochlearis; (iii) a robust neck of the posterior process, and (iv) a cerebral aperture of the facial canal that is smaller than that of the dorsal vestibular area. This combination of features could be diagnostic for I. laticephalus, among basal plicogulans from the early and middle Miocene. Adding more referred specimens will expand the diagnoses of I. laticephalus, and firmly support phylogenetic trees with this species.
A Comprehensive Review of Artificial Neural Network Techniques Used for Smart Meter-Embedded forecasting System

The recent developments in computational science and smart metering have led to a gradual replacement of the traditional load forecasting methods by artificial intelligent (AI) technology. The smart meters for residential buildings have become available on the market, and since then, various studies on load forecasting have been published. Contingency planning, load shedding, management strategies and commercialization strategies are all influenced by load forecasts. Predicting a lower load than the actual load results in utilities not committing the necessary generation units and therefore incurring higher costs due to the use of peak power plants; on the other hand, predicting a higher load than actual will result in higher costs because unnecessary baseline units are stated and not used . Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) provide an accurate approach to the problem of energy forecasting and have the advantage of not requiring the user to have a clear, understanding of the underlying mathematical relationship between input and output. The aim of this work is to a carry-out Comprehensive Review of Artificial Neural Network Techniques Used for Smart MeterEmbedded forecasting System. Keywords: Artificial Neural Network, Smart Meter, Artificial Intelligent, Energy, forecasting.
Interactions between the lung microbiome and host immunity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic respiratory disease and the third leading cause of death worldwide. Developments in next‐generation sequencing technology have improved microbiome analysis, which is increasingly recognized as an important component of disease management. Similar to the gut, the lung is a biosphere containing billions of microbial communities. The lung microbiome plays an important role in regulating and maintaining the host immune system. The microbiome composition, metabolites of microorganisms, and the interactions between the lung microbiome and the host immunity profoundly affect the occurrence, development, treatment, and prognosis of COPD. In this review, we drew comparisons between the lung microbiome of healthy individuals and that of patients with COPD. Furthermore, we summarize the intrinsic interactions between the host and the overall lung microbiome, focusing on the underlying mechanisms linking the microbiome to the host innate and adaptive immune response pathways. Finally, we discuss the possibility of using the microbiome as a biomarker to determine the stage and prognosis of COPD and the feasibility of developing a novel, safe, and effective therapeutic target.
Optimal Deployment of Electric Vehicles’ Fast-Charging Stations

As climate change has become a pressing concern, promoting electric vehicles’ (EVs) usage has emerged as a popular response to the pollution caused by fossil-fuel automobiles. Locating charging stations in areas with an expanding charging infrastructure is crucial to the accessibility and future success of EVs. Nonetheless, suitable planning and deployment for EV fast-charging stations is one of the most critical determinants for large-scale EV adoption. Installing charging stations in existing fuel/gas stations in the city may be an effective way to persuade people to adopt EVs. In this paper, we aim to optimally locate a fast-charging station in an existing gas station in the real-world scenario of Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The purpose is to locate and size fast-charging stations in such ways that drivers can get access to these charging facilities within a rational driving range while considering real-world constraints. Furthermore, we include the investment cost and the EVs users' convenience cost. This problem is formulated by five integer linear programming using a weighted set covering models. The developed model determines where to locate charging stations as well as how many chargers should be installed in each charging station. The experimental results demonstrate that an appropriate location scheme can be obtained using the model M 5 . A computational experiment identifies the best infrastructure solutions for policymakers to consider in the context of growing environmental policies.
Selenium in Peptide Chemistry

In recent years, researchers have been exploring the potential of incorporating selenium into peptides, as this element possesses unique properties that can enhance the reactivity of these compounds. Selenium is a non-metallic element that has a similar electronic configuration to sulfur. However, due to its larger atomic size and lower electronegativity, it is more nucleophilic than sulfur. This property makes selenium more reactive toward electrophiles. One of the most significant differences between selenium and sulfur is the dissociation of the Se-H bond. The Se-H bond is more easily dissociated than the S-H bond, leading to higher acidity of selenocysteine (Sec) compared to cysteine (Cys). This difference in acidity can be exploited to selectively modify the reactivity of peptides containing Sec. Furthermore, Se-H bonds in selenium-containing peptides are more susceptible to oxidation than their sulfur analogs. This property can be used to selectively modify the peptides by introducing new functional groups, such as disulfide bonds, which are important for protein folding and stability. These unique properties of selenium-containing peptides have found numerous applications in the field of chemical biology. For instance, selenium-containing peptides have been used in native chemical ligation (NCL). In addition, the reactivity of Sec can be harnessed to create cyclic and stapled peptides. Other chemical modifications, such as oxidation, reduction, and photochemical reactions, have also been applied to selenium-containing peptides to create novel molecules with unique biological properties.
Sex, Age, and Comorbidities Are Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection, COVID-19 Severity, and Fatal Outcome in a Mexican Population: A Retrospective Multi-Hospital Study

People with comorbidities and the male sex are at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19. In the present study, we aim to investigate the associated factors for infection, severity, and death due to COVID-19 in a population from Nuevo León, México. Epidemiological COVID-19 data were collected from 65 hospitals from December 2020 to May 2022. A total of 75,232 cases were compiled from which 25,722 cases were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Male sex, older age, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension were associated with infection. In addition to the above-mentioned factors, renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and immunosuppression were found to be associated with increased COVID-19 severity. These factors, as well as neurological diseases, are also associated with death due to COVID-19. When comparing the different variants of SARs-CoV-2, the variant B1.1. 519 increased the probability of death by 2.23 times compared to the AY.20 variant. Male sex, older age, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, severity, and death. Along with the aforementioned comorbidities, renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and immunosuppression are also associated with severity and death. Another factor associated with death is the presence of neurological disease. The SARS-CoV-2 B1.1. 519 variant increases the odds of death compared to the SARS-CoV-2 AY.20 variant.
Measurement of the target single-spin asymmetry in quasi-elastic region from the reaction ³He↑(e, e̷̷̷̷)

OF THE DISSERTATION Measurement of the Target Single-Spin Asymmetry in Quasi-Elastic Region from the Reaction 3He↑(e, e′) by Yawei Zhang Dissertation Director: Prof. Ronald Gilman A measurement of the inclusive target single-spin asymmetry, A 3He y , has been performed using the quasi-elastic 3He↑(e, e′) reaction with a vertically polarized He target at Q values of 0.13, 0.46 and 0.97 GeV. This asymmetry vanishes under the one photon exchange assumption. But the interference between two-photon exchange and one-photon exchange gives rise to an imaginary amplitude, so that a non-zero Ay is allowed. The experiment, conducted in Hall A of Jefferson Laboratory in 2009, used two independent spectrometers to simultaneously measure the target single-spin asymmetry, A 3He y . Using the effective polarization approximation, the neutron single-spin asymmetries, Ay , were extracted from the measured He asymmetries. The measurement is the first to firmly establish a non-vanishing Ay. Non-zero asymmetries were observed at all Q points, and the final overall precision is an order of magnitude improved over the existing proton data. The data provide new constraints
Long-Term Consequences of COVID-19: A 1-Year Analysis

Long-lasting symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection have been described many times in the literature and are referred to as Long COVID. In this prospective, longitudinal, monocentric, observational study, we collected the health complaints of 474 patients (252 ambulatory and 222 hospitalized) at Lausanne University Hospital 1 year after COVID-19 diagnosis. Using a self-reported health survey, we explored cardiopulmonary, vascular, neurological, and psychological complaints. Our results show that age, Charlson comorbidity index, and smoking habits were associated with hospital admission. Regarding the vascular system, we found that having had thromboembolism before SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly associated with a higher risk of recurrence of thromboembolism at 1 year. In the neurologic evaluation, the most frequent symptom was fatigue, which was observed in 87.5% of patients, followed by “feeling slowed down”, headache, and smell disturbance in 71.5%, 68.5%, and 60.7% of cases, respectively. Finally, our cohort subjects scored higher overall in the STAI, CESD, Maastricht, and PSQI scores (which measure anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep, respectively) than the healthy population. Using cluster analysis, we identified two phenotypes of patients prone to developing Long COVID. At baseline, CCS score, prior chronic disease, stroke, and atrial fibrillation were associated with Long COVID. During COVID infection, mechanical ventilation and five neurological complaints were also associated with Long COVID. In conclusion, this study confirms the wide range of symptoms developed after COVID with the involvement of all the major systems. Early identification of risk factors associated with the development of Long COVID could improve patient follow-up; nevertheless, the low specificity of these factors remains a challenge to building a systematic approach.
On Schwartz’s theorem for the motion group

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Comparative Investigation on Cancer-Related Factors in Chinese Medical X Ray Workers

This is the comparative study of 2304 paired persons from X ray workers and the control group in the cohort study 'cancer incidence among medical diagnostic X ray workers in China'. The distribution of most factors associated with cancer risk were equal between two groups. The unequal distribution of some factors such as tea drinking, smoking only existed after 1970 for the employment calendar year or under 40 years of age at 1990. Unbalanced factors were therefore considered to have little effect on the relative risk of cancers found in the cohort study. Abnormal white cell counting could explain the significant leukaemia risk due to the dose-effect relationship between abnormal white cell counting and annual average dose (mGy.y -1 ). Unbalanced distribution of hepatitis and cirrhosis and infection of hepatitis B might have relevance to the significant RR of liver cancer in the cohort study.
Life stories of graduate students in Chile and the United States: influences on becoming a scientist from childhood to adulthood

ABSTRACT The ways in which children and adolescents become interested in science have been well studied. However, little is known from a lifespan perspective about how this process continues from childhood through adulthood. This cross-national study builds an understanding of doctoral students in the sciences in the Chile and the United States and how they choose to pursue careers in the life sciences from childhood to adulthood. Fifteen Chilean and 15 U.S. doctoral students were interviewed using the life story approach. The qualitative analysis indicates that the main difference between the two groups when pursuing science across their lifespans was their valuation of and experience with different learning approaches, with ‘collectivist’ approaches being more typical for the Chilean students and ‘individualist’ approaches for the U.S. students. On the other hand, the principal similarities between the two groups were related to participants’ experiences and perceptions of science at each life stage: ‘playing science’ as children, ‘studying science’ as adolescents, ‘doing science’ as young adults and undergrads, and ‘labouring in science’ and ‘practising science’ as professionals and doctoral students. Implications for pedagogical practice and planning for science teaching and teacher training are addressed.
Recombinant Human Interleukin-2 Corrects NK Cell Phenotype and Functional Activity in Patients with Post-COVID Syndrome

Post-COVID syndrome develops in 10–20% of people who have recovered from COVID-19 and it is characterized by impaired function of the nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Previously, it was found that patients who recovered from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus had a decrease in the number and functional activity of NK cells. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2) administered to correct NK cell phenotype and functional activity in patients with post-COVID syndrome. Patients were examined after 3 months for acute COVID-19 of varying severity. The phenotype of the peripheral blood NK cells was studied by flow cytometry. It was found that disturbances in the cell subset composition in patients with post-COVID syndrome were characterized by low levels of mature (p = 0.001) and cytotoxic NK cells (p = 0.013), with increased release of immature NK cells (p = 0.023). Functional deficiency of NK cells in post-COVID syndrome was characterized by lowered cytotoxic activity due to the decreased count of CD57+ (p = 0.001) and CD8+ (p < 0.001) NK cells. In the treatment of patients with post-COVID syndrome with recombinant IL-2, peripheral blood NK cell count and functional potential were restored. In general, the effectiveness of using rhIL-2 in treatment of post-COVID syndrome has been proven in patients with low levels of NK cells.