Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Critically Ill Children Using a Custom TaqMan Array Card

Bacteria are identified in only 22% of critically ill children with respiratory infections treated with antimicrobial therapy. Once an organism is isolated, antimicrobial susceptibility results (phenotypic testing) can take another day. A rapid diagnostic test identifying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes could help clinicians make earlier, informed antimicrobial decisions. Here we aimed to validate a custom AMR gene TaqMan Array Card (AMR-TAC) for the first time and assess its feasibility as a screening tool in critically ill children. An AMR-TAC was developed using a combination of commercial and bespoke targets capable of detecting 23 AMR genes. This was validated using isolates with known phenotypic resistance. The card was then tested on lower respiratory tract and faecal samples obtained from mechanically ventilated children in a single-centre observational study of respiratory infection. There were 82 children with samples available, with a median age of 1.2 years. Major comorbidity was present in 29 (35%) children. A bacterial respiratory pathogen was identified in 13/82 (16%) of children, of which 4/13 (31%) had phenotypic AMR. One AMR gene was detected in 49/82 (60%), and multiple AMR genes were detected in 14/82 (17%) children. Most AMR gene detections were not associated with the identification of phenotypic AMR. AMR genes are commonly detected in samples collected from mechanically ventilated children with suspected respiratory infections. AMR-TAC may have a role as an adjunct test in selected children in whom there is a high suspicion of antimicrobial treatment failure.
Understanding Obesity in African American Women Using Leininger’s Theory

In the United States, African American (AA) women suffer from higher rates of obesity as compared with Caucasians or Asians. Unfortunately, most weight management interventions have been unsuccessful in maintaining weight loss. Prior research has revealed that AA women face unique barriers in managing obesity; therefore, more research is warranted to address this problem. Leininger’s theory is used to understand obesity through a cultural lens. The constructs of the sunrise model are defined as a means to intervene when providing nursing care through cultural preservation, accommodation, and repatterning. We conclude that culture care theory offers a theoretical framework to assist nurses in providing culturally sensitive care to Black women with obesity. Nurses caring for this population can utilize this theory to tailor interventions specific to the cultural needs of women to improve outcomes in the management of obesity. In this article, we use AA and Black interchangeably to represent Americans whose ancestors originate from Africa.
GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF LACUSTRINE OIL SHALE IN THE LUNPOLA BASIN (TIBET): IMPLICATIONS FOR PALEOENVIRONMENT AND PALEOCLIMATE

The Dingqinghu Formation oil shale, located in the centre of the Lunpola basin, represents a potential large lacustrine oil shale resource in Tibet. A geochemical investigation of the oil shale was performed to reconstruct paleoenvironment and paleoclimate during deposition. The total organic carbon (TOC) contents (1.46-11.85%), S2 values (4.79-115.80 mg HC/mg rock) and HI (328-1040 mg HC/mg TOC) of oil shale samples are high, and indicate that the oil shale has a good oil source rock potential. The thermal maturity assessed from PI (0.01-0.09) and Tmax (429-440 °C) shows an immature to early mature stage of the organic matter. The oil shale exhibits characteristics of odd-over-even predominance, maximum n-alkanes peak at nC25 or nC23, a higher proportion of C29 sterane, low δ 13 Corg values (-29.9 to -26.7‰), a low Pr/Ph ratio (0.03-0.40), high values of the gammacerane index (up to 25.24), and presence of β-carotane, which is consistent with a reducing, stratified and hypersaline palaeo-lake with the main contribution of algae and bacteria to the organic matter (OM). The development history of palaeo-lakes from the Oligocene to the Early Miocene indicates that the climate of the Lunpola basin region during the deposition of oil shale was arid.
Impact of Stratospheric Ozone Zonal Asymmetries on the Tropospheric Circulation

The depletion and recovery of Antarctic ozone plays a major role in changes of Southern Hemisphere (SH) tropospheric climate. Recent studies indicate that the lack of polar ozone asymmetries in chemistry climate models (CCM) leads to a weaker and warmer Antarctic vortex, and smaller trends in the tropospheric mid-latitude jet and the surface pressure. However, the tropospheric response to ozone asymmetries is not well understood. In this study we report on a series of integrations of the Goddard Earth Observing System Chemistry Climate Model (GEOS CCM) to further examine the effect of zonal asymmetries on the state of the stratosphere and troposphere. Integrations with the full, interactive stratospheric chemistry are compared against identical simulations using the same CCM except that (1) the monthly mean zonal mean stratospheric ozone from first simulation is prescribed and (2) ozone is relaxed to the monthly mean zonal mean ozone on a three day time scale. To analyze the tropospheric response to ozone asymmetries, we examine trends and quantify the differences in temperatures, zonal wind and surface pressure among the integrations.
Impact of upper ocean processes and air–sea fluxes on seasonal SST biases over the tropical Indian Ocean in the NCEP Climate Forecasting System

The present study aims to examine the role of air–sea interactions and upper ocean processes in determining the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) seasonal sea surface temperature (SST) bias in Climate Forecast System version 1 (CFSv1) and version 2 (CFSv2) free runs. CFSv1 displayed dipole like east–west SST bias over the equatorial Indian Ocean from boreal summer to winter and is consistent with errors (bias) in surface winds and upper ocean advection. Large zonal gradients in sea level pressure (SLP) bias and the associated surface wind biases are primarily responsible for the upper ocean current bias. However, over the southern Indian Ocean and parts of Arabian Sea, strong bias in heat flux and mixed layer depth (MLD) have mainly contributed for the SST biases in CFSv1. Equatorial current system is better represented in CFSv2 compared to CFSv1. Improvement in the representation of land‐surface processes appears to be contributing towards improving atmospheric circulation and SLP gradients in CFSv2, which may be responsible for the improved ocean circulation. Importantly, east–west dipole like SST bias prevalent in CFSv1 is absent in CFSv2. However, there is a prominent systematic basin‐wide TIO cold SST bias in CFSv2. Large biases in surface heat flux (net negative bias) and MLD (deeper) are mainly responsible for SST biases in CFSv2. Negative net heat flux bias in CFSv2 is primarily due to specific humidity bias‐induced excess latent heat flux (LHF). Deepening of MLD is mainly due to strong convective mixing, a resultant of anomalous LHF release, which in turn leads to negative SST bias. Models comparison reveals that although representation of SST in CFSv2 is better than in CFSv1, it is essential to improve further the equatorial ocean dynamics and off‐equatorial thermodynamics in the form of moist processes and radiative parameterization in order to reduce SST bias in CFSv2.
Radiative Fluxes in the ECHAM5 General Circulation Model

Radiative fluxes in the ECHAM5 general circulation model (GCM) are evaluated using both surface and satellite-based observations. The fluxes at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) are generally in good agreement with the satellite data. Larger deviations in simulated cloud forcing are found especially at lower latitudes where the shortwave component within the intertropical convergence zone is overestimated during boreal summer and underestimated in the marine stratocumulus regimes, especially during boreal winter. At the surface the biases in the radiative fluxes are significantly smaller than in earlier versions of the same model and in other GCMs. The shortwave clear-sky fluxes are shown to be in good agreement with newly derived observational estimates. Compared to the preceding model version, ECHAM4, the spurious absorption of solar radiation in the cloudy atmosphere disappears due to the higher resolution in the nearinfrared bands of the shortwave radiation code. This reduces the biases with respect to collocated surface and TOA observations. It is illustrated that remaining biases in atmospheric absorption may be related to the crude aerosol climatology, which does not account for high loadings of absorbing aerosol such as from biomass burning, whereas the biases disappear in areas and seasons where aerosol effects are less important. In the longwave, the introduction of the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model (RRTM) radiation code leads to an increase in the longwave downward flux at the surface at high latitudes, thereby reducing biases typically found in GCMs. The considerable skill in the simulation of the fluxes at the earth’s surface underlines the suitability of ECHAM5 as an atmospheric component of an integrated earth system model.
High-resolution magnetotelluric studies of the Archaean-Proterozoic border zone in the Fennoscandian Shield, Finland

SUMMARY The Archaean–Proterozoic collisional zone is a complex mixture of the Archaean complexes [e.g. Iisalmi Complex (IC)], Proterozoic supracrustal belts [e.g. Kainuu Belt (KB) and Savo Belt (SB)] and oceanic arc lithologies in the central Fennoscandian Shield. The zone was formed in the Savo orogeny when the Keitele microcontinent collided with the Archaean Karelian craton in the Palaeoproterozoic time. The crustal architecture of this palaeosuture is studied using new broad-band magnetotelluric data from 104 sites. 2-D conductivity models across the border zone between the Palaeoproterozoic Svecofennian Domain and the Archaean Karelian province are constrained using the recent, partly collocated reflection seismic data from the Finnish Reflection Experiment (FIRE). Dimensionality analyses, in particular the Q-function analysis, show that magnetotelluric data represent reasonably well regional 2-D structure at periods <100 s, which is the longest period used in this study. Strike determinations gave a stable strike of N15W. For the inversions, the data are projected into three parallel profiles with an azimuth of N75E. The determinant inversion is selected as the most suitable method for the data set. Especially the phase data are useable only from the determinant since one of the polarizations have the out-of-quadrant phase at several sites. The interpreted final, geological more appropriate models, where smoother thick conductive areas are replaced by thinner layers, are constructed from the results of the unconstrained smooth inversions with the help of forward modelling, synthetic and prior model inversions and reflection seismic models. The two major sets of crustal conductors are identified. They have an opposite dip and together they form a bowl-shaped conductor. In the west, the eastward dipping SB conductors are located at the bottom of the formation underlain by the Keitele microcontinent. The SB conductors extend to the east possibly cutting the westward dipping conductors of the KB. The conductive KB is flanked above and below by the resistive Archaean IC/Rautavaara and Eastern Finland Complexes and represents the remnants of a basin that was squeezed between two Archaean blocks in the collision. The crustal conductors revealed by the inversion extend to the surface, where they can be associated with the near-surface conductors mapped by airborne electromagnetic surveys. Geological mapping has shown that the near-surface conductors are caused by graphite and/or sulphide-bearing metasedimentary rocks. Thus the deep conductors related with the Proterozoic KB and SB were formed on the surface and transported into the upper and middle crustal levels in the Savo orogeny. The crust in the Karelian Craton is highly resistive having only minor resistivity variations in our research area. Also the Archaean lower crust is resistive on the contrary to the conductive lower crust of the Proterozoic SB and the Keitele microcontinent.
Towards the Integrated Assessment of Human Exposure to Grass Pollen in Urban Environments

Pollen allergy affects a substantial proportion of the European population, and in many European countries the greatest rates of sensitisation are found for grass pollen allergen. Pollen allergy incidence rates tend to be greater in urban than in rural areas, likely due in part to the effects of urban air pollution on the allergy-causing potential of pollen grains. Background pollen concentrations measured at roof level monitoring stations are typically used as a proxy for exposure, but may differ considerably from the exposure experienced by allergy sufferers. In a 2003 report on phenology, the World Health Organisation highlighted the need for an improved understanding of the relationship between pollen monitoring station data and actual personal exposure. Four studies are presented in this thesis. Three of these address three different aspects of urban exposure to grass pollen, whilst the fourth supporting study concerns pollen sampler effciency. In Study A, the relative efficiency relationships between three models of pollen sampler were established under field conditions, and effciency correction factors derived. These factors enable the quantitative comparison of data collected with different samplers, as is often necessary during exposure assessment. The results contribute to Study B, in which background grass pollen concentrations measured at roof level were compared with those at street level within an urban canyon. A tendency for lower concentrations within the canyon was observed, consistent with the deposition of pollen from the recycling component of within-canyon air, and indicating that monitoring station data typically overestimates exposure in the canyon environment. In Study C, grass pollen dose rates estimated through personal sampling were compared with monitoring station data, and dose rate/background concentration ratios determined. These ratios, which as far as the author is aware have not been reported previously, may be used to estimate inhaled pollen dose from monitoring station data. In Study D, diurnal grass pollen concentration profiles were shown to vary systematically throughout the pollen season, with this variation apparently associated with a succession of different grass species with different flowering patterns dominating pollen emission as the season progresses. Profles averaged over entire seasons are commonly used to advise allergy sufferers on avoidance strategies, however such systematic intra-seasonal variation is not thought to have previously been demonstrated. As far as the author is aware, each of these four studies represents a novel contribution to the area of pollen exposure assessment. As a body of work, this thesis furthermore lays foundations for the development of a human exposure model for grass pollen, an important constituent of an integrated pollen exposure assessment strategy.
An experimental study of multiple grain‐size ejecta produced by collisions of saltating grains with a flat bed

Collision data are presented from coloured high-speed films of three size fractions of sand grains saltating over a bed of the total grain population. Each fraction was colour tagged and the proportion of each size ejected by grains colliding with the surface was recorded on a number of films taken as the bed was progressively eroded. The results confirm earlier findings that V3/V1≅0.5–0.6, Vn/V1≅. 08 and the rebound angle increases with decreasing grain size. Ejected grains are examined in relation to their size, the impactor size, ejection speed and angle and the number of ejecta per collision. In addition, changes in grain parameters are observed with time. For fine impactors, ejection speeds generally increase with a decrease in ejecta size, but the fine fraction does not follow this trend for the coarse and medium impactors. Ejection angles are typically between 40° and 60°, with coarse grains having shallower mean angles than fine ejecta. The number of ejections per collision increases with a decrease in particle size for each impactor size. The general tendency for coarse particles to be ejected at lower speeds and shallower angles than fine particles will lead to sorting of the grain sizes. There is poor correlation between the forward momentum loss of the saltating grams at collision and both the forward momentum of the ejected grains and the number of ejected grains. Much of the forward momentum of the saltating grains is transfered to creeping grains. The composition and geometry of the bed are considered to be important factors in the evolution of the saltation cloud.
Measurements of soil and canopy exchange rates in the Amazon rain forest using 222Rn.

Measurements of the emission of 222Rn from Amazon forest soils, and profiles of 222Rn in air were used to study the ventilation of the soil atmosphere and the nocturnal forest canopy. The emission of 222Rn from the yellow clay soils dominant in the study area averaged 0.38±0.07 atom cm−2 s−1. Nearby sand soils had similar fluxes, averaging 0.30 ± 0.07 atom cm−2 s−1. The effective diffusivity in the clay soil (0.008±0.004 cm2 s−1), was lower than that for the sand soil (0.033±0.030 cm2 s−1). Profiles of 222Rn and CO2 in air showed steepest concentration gradients in the layer between 0 and 3 m above the soil surface. Aerodynamic resistances calculated for this layer from 222Rn and CO2 varied from 1.6 to 18 s cm−1, with greater resistance during the afternoon than at night. Time averaged profiles of222Rn in the forest canopy measured during the evening and night were combined with the soil flux measurements to compute the resistance of the subcanopy to exchange with overlying air. The integrated nocturnal rate of gas exchange between the canopy layer (0 to 41 m) and overlying atmosphere based on 222Rn averaged 0.33±0.15 cm s−1. An independent estimate of gas exchange, based on 13 nights of CO2 profiles, averaged 0.21±0.40 cm s−1. These exchange rates correspond to flushing times for the 41 m canopy layer of 3.4 and 5.5 hours, respectively. Comparison of 222Rn and CO2 profiles show that the nocturnal production of CO2 by above-ground vegetation was about 20% of the soil emission source, consistent with data from eddy-correlation experiments (Fan et al., this issue).
Classifying Winter Habitat and Assessing Genetic Characteristics for Woodland Caribou in the North Interlake Region of Manitoba

i Acknowledgments . iii List of Tables . vi List of Figures . viii List of Plates . x 1.0 Introduction . 1 1.1 Context . 1 1.2 Problem Statement . 4 1.3 Objectives . 6 1.4 Thesis Organization . 6 2.0 Background . 8 2.1 Characteristics of Woodland Caribou . 8 2.1.1 Habitat Requirements . 9 2.1.2 Effects of Disturbance . 10 2.2 Landscape Ecology . 13 2.2.1 Composition . 14 2.2.2 Configuration . 15 2.2.3 Landscape Connectivity . 16 2.3 Assessing Genetic Characteristics of Wildlife Populations . 18 2.3.1 Laboratory Analyses . 19 2.3.2 Genetic Measures and Statistical Analyses . 21 2.3.2.1 Measures of Genetic Diversity . 22 2.3.2.2 F-Statistics as a Measure of Genetic Differentiation . 23 2.3.3 Application to Woodland Caribou Populations . 25 3.0 The Derivation of a Winter Habitat Classification Scheme for Woodland Caribou in Manitoba’s Northern Interlake Region . 28 3.1 Introduction . 28 3.2 Study Area . 31 3.3 Methods of Field Survey and Analysis . 34 3.3.1 Reclassification of FRI Data for Vegetative Field Sampling . 34 3.3.2 Vegetative Sampling . 38 3.3.2.1 Site Selection . 38 3.3.2.2 Vegetative Sampling Methods . 44 3.3.3 Differentiation of Forest Stand Types . 46 3.3.3.1 Data Preparation . 46 3.3.3.2 Multivariate Statistical Analysis . 47 3.3.4 Woodland Caribou Winter Habitat Reclassification . 47 3.4 Results . 47 3.4. 1 Initial Reclassification of Forest Stand Types for Field Survey . 47 3.4. 2 Comparing FRI Stand Type to Field Observations of Stand Composition . 50 3.4. 3 Comparing FRI Cut Class to Field Observations of Tree Size . 53 3.4. 4 Effect of Regional Variation and Substrate on Site Characteristics . 58
Firing transformations of a carbonatic clay from the High-Atlas, Morocco

Abstract The firing transformations of a Triassic calcareous clay were investigated, in the rangje 800-1075°C, by using X-ray diffraction and by measuring some ceramic properties (linear shrinkage, density and porosity). It was found that gehlenite and wollastonite are the only neoformed crystalline phases, when anorthite is also expected. The occurrence of these phases is discussed, emphasizing the role of the activity of free silica and calcite concentration. Moreover, new reaction paths for anorthite and wollastonite are envisaged.
Social representations of European history by the European youth: A cross-country comparison

The present manuscript examines the way young Europeans represent Europe’s history. A study conducted in 11 European countries (N = 1406 students in social sciences) shows that the characters considered most important in the history of Europe are mostly men linked either to WW2, authoritarianism, or conquests and empires. Although these appear later in the rankings and despite some imbalance between countries, Europe’s history is also associated with religious figures, artists, scientists, and philosophers. These results show that the representations of the history of Europe currently shared by young Europeans correspond, in part, to historical narratives based on a specific set of experiences, events, and values supposedly common to the peoples of Europe that were promoted by European elites throughout the integration process. Further, these results suggest that beyond the negative narrative of war and the crimes of totalitarianism, the history of Europe is also embodied by positive characters transcending national boundaries and associated with a set of key elements of the EU identity: democracy, tolerance, solidarity, humanism, and the Enlightenment. Finally, we also highlight the near-total absence of characters unambiguously related to colonization and, especially, decolonization, and a strong overall under-representation of women.