Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
isocalcR: An R package to streamline and standardize stable isotope calculations in ecological research

The use of stable isotopes to characterize ecosystem dynamics and infer leaf gas exchange processes has become increasingly prevalent over the last few decades within the ecological community. While advancements in theory and our understanding of the physiological processes controlling isotopic signatures in plants has been well‐documented, no standardized tool currently exists to facilitate the computation of common isotope‐derived plant physiological indices. Here, we present isocalcR, an R package intended to facilitate the use of stable isotope data from plant tissues by providing an integrated collection of functions and recommended reference data. The isocalcR R package contains a suite of functions that compute leaf carbon isotope discrimination (∆13C), leaf intercellular [CO2], the ratio of leaf intercellular to atmospheric [CO2], the difference between atmospheric and leaf intercellular [CO2], and intrinsic water use efficiency from carbon isotope signatures in leaf or wood tissue with minimal inputs from the user. isocalcR also implements and provides recommended input atmospheric [CO2] (ppm) and atmospheric δ13CO2 (‰) data for the period 0–2021 C.E. A major goal of isocalcR is to provide a standardized, open‐source tool to streamline the calculation of reproducible physiological indices from stable isotope signatures in plant tissues, incorporating the most up‐to‐date theory, while simultaneously eliminating potential errors associated with complex calculations. isocalcR can be used for any location globally as long as the user provides information regarding temperature and elevation to the main workhorse functions.
Prehabilitation of Cardiac Surgical Patients, Part 1: Anemia, Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, Sleep Apnea, and Cardiac Rehabilitation

The concept of “prehabilitation” consists of screening for and identification of pre-existing disorders followed by medical optimization. This is performed for many types of surgery, but may have profound impacts on outcomes particularly in cardiac surgery given the multiple comorbidities typically carried by these patients. Components of prehabilitation include direct medical intervention by preoperative specialists as well as significant care coordination and shared decision making. In this two-part review, the authors describe existing evidence to support the optimization of various preoperative problems and present a few institutional protocols utilized by our center for cardiac presurgical care. This first installment will focus on the management of anemia, obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes, and cardiac rehabilitation prior to surgery. The second will focus on frailty, malnutrition, respiratory disease, alcohol and smoking cessation, and depression.
Comparison of replicating and nonreplicating vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

Most gene-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are nonreplicating vectors. They deliver the gene or messenger RNA to the cell to express the spike protein but do not replicate to amplify antigen production. This study tested the utility of replication in a vaccine by comparing replication-defective adenovirus (RD-Ad) and replicating single-cycle adenovirus (SC-Ad) vaccines that express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. SC-Ad produced 100 times more spike protein than RD-Ad and generated significantly higher antibodies against the spike protein than RD-Ad after single immunization of Ad-permissive hamsters. SC-Ad–generated antibodies climbed over 14 weeks after single immunization and persisted for more than 10 months. When the hamsters were challenged 10.5 months after single immunization, a single intranasal or intramuscular immunization with SC-Ad-Spike reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and damage in the lungs and preserved body weight better than vaccination with RD-Ad-Spike. This demonstrates the utility of harnessing replication in vaccines to amplify protection against infectious diseases.
Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis in Gurage Zone Enemorena Ener Woreda, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Enemorena Ener woreda of Southern Nation Nationalities of Ethiopia to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis. First questioner survey was conducted from 100 farmers from different peasant association and 67(67%) of the asked people says it is predominant disease in the study area and then Blood samples were taken from a total of 384 indigenous cattle managed under small holder mixed crop livestock production, Blood Buffy coat dark ground phase appear contrast microscopic technique was used for detection of the trypanosomes in the blood samples, Packed Cell Volume (PCV) to degree of anemia caused by trypanosomosis, the overall prevalence of 20 (5.2%) bovine trypanosomosis was recorded in the study area. Predominant species of trypanosome encountered during the study period were Trypanosoma congolonsce with prevalence of 17(85%) followed by Trypanosoma vivax 3(15%) but there was no mixed infection observed. PCV evaluation showed that 90(23.4) were <24% and 294(76.6%) were >24% the mean PCV of parasetemic animals indicating the importance of bovine trypanosomosis in causing anemia. The result of the questioners and present study revealed that trypanosomosis is important problem for agricultural activity and animal production in the study area. There for a high commitment of the community is required to fully and willingly participate in the operation to effectively control and finally eradicate trypanosomosis and make the land free for agriculture and livestock production.
77Se NMR Investigation of the KxFe2−ySe2 high-Tc Superconductor (Tc = 33 K)

We report a comprehensive 77Se NMR study of the structural, magnetic, and superconducting properties of a single crystalline sample of the newly discovered FeSe-based high temperature superconductor K(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2) (Tc=33K) in a broad temperature range up to 290 K. We will compare our results with those reported for FeSe (Tc=9K) and FeAs-based high Tc systems.
Pathogenomics and clinical recurrence influence biofilm capacity of Escherichia coli isolated from canine urinary tract infections

Biofilm formation enhances bacteria’s ability to colonize unique niches while protecting themselves from environmental stressors. Escherichia coli that colonize the urinary tract can protect themselves from the harsh bladder environment by forming biofilms. These biofilms promote persistence that can lead to chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). While biofilm formation is frequently studied among urinary E. coli, its association with other pathogenic mechanisms and adaptations in certain host populations remains poorly understood. Here we utilized whole genome sequencing and retrospective medical record analysis to investigate associations between the population structure, phenotypic resistance, resistome, virulome, and patient demographic and clinical findings of 104 unique urinary E. coli and their capacity to form biofilms. We show that population structure including multilocus sequence typing and Clermont phylogrouping had no association with biofilm capacity. Among clinical factors, exposure to multiple antibiotics within that past 30 days and a clinical history of recurrent UTIs were positively associated with biofilm formation. In contrast, phenotypic antimicrobial reduced susceptibility and corresponding acquired resistance genes were negatively associated with biofilm formation. While biofilm formation was associated with increased virulence genes within the cumulative virulome, individual virulence genes did not influence biofilm capacity. We identified unique virulotypes among different strata of biofilm formation and associated the presence of the tosA/R-ibeA gene combination with moderate to strong biofilm formation. Our findings suggest that E. coli causing UTI in dogs utilize a heterogenous mixture of virulence genes to reach a biofilm phenotype, some of which may promote robust biofilm capacity. Antimicrobial use may select for two populations, non-biofilm formers that maintain an arsenal of antimicrobial resistance genes to nullify treatment and a second that forms durable biofilms to avoid therapeutic insults.
Psychometric properties of the person-centred coordinated care experience questionnaire (P3CEQ) in a Norwegian radiotherapy setting

Abstract Background The number of older adults with cancer is increasing. Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality for cancer and may cause side effects and distress. Patient-reported experience measures aim to measure patients’ experiences with health care. This can help healthcare services to improve in line with patients’ needs. To assess how Norwegian patients receiving radiotherapy experience their care, a valid and reliable tool is required. We selected the person-centred coordinated care experience questionnaire as a tool. Objective The aim of the study is to validate the Norwegian version of the person-centred coordinated care experience questionnaire in a radiotherapy setting. Methods A feasibility study of the person-centred coordinated care experience questionnaire and a cross-sectional study—testing psychometric properties of the questionnaire in a Norwegian radiotherapy setting—were conducted. Participants were recruited from two different hospitals in Norway. Patient characteristics and item scores are described using descriptive statistics. We performed an exploratory factor analysis and applied principal component analysis with a varimax rotation. Cronbach’s α was used to assess internal consistency. Results In total, 24 patients participated in the feasibility test, and 176 were included in the cross-sectional study where we explored the psychometric properties of the person-centred coordinated care experience questionnaire. Three factors were identified. Internal consistency was established for the 10-item scale, with Cronbach’s α = 0.698. Conclusions Conclusions must consider the Norwegian setting and healthcare context. We found that the Norwegian version of the person-centred coordinated care experience questionnaire is a relevant, valid and reliable tool to provide insight into different areas of patients’ experiences upon receiving radiotherapy. However, further testing on a larger sample is necessitated.
Population Pharmacokinetic Meta-Analysis and Dosing Recommendation for Meropenem in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

The optimal dosing regimen for meropenem in critically ill patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) remains undefined due to small studied sample sizes and uninformative pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) analyses in reported studies. The present study aimed to perform a population PK/PD meta-analysis of meropenem using available literature data to suggest the optimal treatment regimen. ABSTRACT The optimal dosing regimen for meropenem in critically ill patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) remains undefined due to small studied sample sizes and uninformative pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) analyses in reported studies. The present study aimed to perform a population PK/PD meta-analysis of meropenem using available literature data to suggest the optimal treatment regimen. A total of 501 meropenem concentration measurements from 78 adult CRRT patients pooled from nine published studies were used to develop the population PK model for meropenem. PK/PD target (40% and 100% of the time with the unbound drug plasma concentration above the MIC) marker-based efficacy and risk of toxicity (trough concentrations of >45 mg/L) for short-term (30 min), prolonged (3 h), and continuous (24 h) infusion dosing strategies for meropenem were investigated. The impact of CRRT dose and identified covariates on the PD probability of target attainment (PTA) and predicted toxicity was also examined. Meropenem concentration data were adequately described by a two-compartment model with linear elimination. Trauma was identified as a pronounced modifier for endogenous clearance of meropenem. Simulations demonstrated that adequate PK/PD targets and low risk of toxicity could be achieved in non-trauma CRRT patients receiving meropenem regimens of 1 g every 6 h infused over 30 min, 1 g every 8 h infused over 3 h, and 2 to 4 g every 24 h infused over 24 h. The impact of CRRT dose (25 to 50 mL/kg/h) on PTA was clinically irrelevant, and continuous infusion of 3 to 4 g every 24 h was suitable for trauma CRRT patients (MICs of ≤0.5 mg/L). A population PK model was developed for meropenem in CRRT patients, and different dosing regimens were proposed for non-trauma and trauma CRRT patients.
Nonnegative curvature operators: some nontrivial examples

The object of this paper is to study the pointwise behavior of the Riemannian sectional curvature function. More specifically, the Riemannian sectional curvature of a Riemannian manifold M is a real valued function σ on the Grassmann bundle of tangent 2-ρlanes of M. Although there exist many theorems relating the curvature of M to various topological and geometric properties of M, there is little known of a general nature about the behavior of σ itself. In fact the critical point behavior of σ has been analyzed only in very special cases [1], [4]. Let G denote the Grassmann manifold of oriented tangent 2-ρlanes at m E M. G can be made, in a natural way, a submanifold of the vector space Λ of 2-vectors at m. Furthermore, since G is a 2-fold covering space of the manifold of (unoriented) 2-planes at m, we may regard σ as a function on G. We will be interested in the description of the minimum and maximum sets of σ and in the question of characterizing positive sectional curvature in terms of the curvature tensor. Since we are interested in the pointwise behavior of σ, we shall work in the setting of an arbitrary inner product space V. G is then the Grassmann manifold of oriented 2-ρlanes in V. A curvature operator R is a self-adjoint linear transformation of A(V) (e.g., the curvature tensor R of a Riemannian manifold M acting on Λ2(Λfm), where Mm is the tangent space to M at m). For a curvature operator R, its sectional curvature σR: G —»R is given by aR(P) = (RP9 py for P in G. For dimension V < 4, Thorpe has shown [3] that the minimum and maximum sets of σR are intersections with G of linear subspaces of Λ (F), and he has given [2] a simple characterization of positive sectional curvature in terms of the curvature tensor. In fact, Thorpe [3] claimed that this
Development of a facilities management framework for sustainable building practices in Nigeria

There is need for sustainable building practice in Nigeria as buildings generally show signs of poor design for ventilation, natural lighting, energy management, water management, waste management and other building services. These buildings under perform in relation to the purpose for which they have been built. Building users often complain that the buildings do not provide the required services such as functioning air-conditioning systems, effective water and energy management systems and waste management. Facilities management (FM) professionals in Nigeria have recognised the role that they can play in the practice of sustainable building as a way to proffering a solution to the above mentioned problems. Six objectives were set for the study: to identify the constituents of sustainable building with reference to literature and internationally recognised standards; to evaluate the role of FM in relation to the sustainable building at the design, the construction and operations stages of the building life-cycle; to develop a conceptual framework that shows the facilities manager’s role in sustainable buildings; to evaluate the perception of facilities managers in relation to their competence in achieving sustainable buildings; to investigate the drivers and barriers to the facilities manager’s role in achieving sustainable buildings; and finally to develop and validate a framework for sustainable building practice for FM in Nigeria. The methodology adopted for this research included a combination of extensive literature review, content analysis of relevant literature and documents, 20 interviews and a questionnaire survey of 139 members of IFMA Nigeria in order to identify sustainable building constituents and the facilities manager’s role in sustainable buildings. The findings of the research helped in developing a framework for the achievement of sustainable buildings through the facilities manager’s role at the design, construction and operations stages of the building’s life-cycle.
Scaling of many-particle correlations in a dissipative sandpile

The two dimensional directed sandpile with dissipation is transformed into a (1+1) dimensional problem with discrete space and continuous `time'. The master equation for the conditional probability that K grains preserve their initial order during an avalanche can thereby be solved exactly, and an explicit expression is given for the asymptotic form of the solution for an infinite as well as for a semi-infinite lattice in the horizontal direction. Non-trivial scaling is found in both cases. This conditional probability of the sandpile model is shown to be equal to a K-spin correlation function of the Heisenberg XX spin chain, and the sandpile problem is also shown to be equivalent to the `random-turns' version of vicious walkers.
The potential for the constructive use of a virtual learning environment in a post leaving certificate college in Ireland : a case study

The use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is becoming an increasingly important facility within education in Ireland. The research topic was chosen to reflect and highlight the technological changes happening in the delivery of educational courses where students learning expectations are often influenced by the range of social networking opportunities available. A Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) college in Ireland was chosen and research carried out in order to investigate, analyse and address the potential for the constructive use of a VLE in terms of the opportunities and constraints that directly apply to its current use in Ireland. Existing peer reviewed research was analysed in relation to the communication and pedagogical opportunities offered, through the use of the VLE, in relation to the potential applicable to learning and teaching in a PLC college. Facilities for carrying out course management activities, using the VLE, were also investigated in order to encourage and facilitate online course administration as a means of encouraging teachers to actively use the VLE to streamline existing practice. The case study model enabled a holistic approach and data was collected by combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. A primary objective entailed researching current practice in terms of VLE usage both nationally and internationally in order to inform and to make recommendations which could aid the enhancement of learning and teaching using the VLE as a platform for change in PLC colleges. Findings indicated that although the facilities inherent and the pedagogies implicit in the current use of the VLE were being used successfully by a core group of teachers and students there was the potential to recognize and enhance usage across the board. Recommendations based on research and observations seek to enhance the educational potential for constructive use of the VLE across PLC colleges in Ireland. Table of
Clustering ball possession duration according to players’ role in football small-sided games

This study aimed to explore which offensive variables best discriminate the ball possession duration according to players specific role (defenders, midfielders, attackers) during a Gk+3vs3+Gk football small-sided games. Fifteen under-15 players (age 13.2±1.0 years, playing experience 4.2±1.0 years) were grouped according to their positions (team of defenders, n = 5; team of midfielders, n = 7; team of attackers, n = 3). On each testing day (n = 3), each team performed one bout of 5-min against each team in a random order, accounting for a total of nine bouts in the following scenarios: i) defenders vs midfielders; ii) defenders vs attackers; iii) midfielders vs attackers. Based on video, a notational analysis process allowed to capture individual and collective actions. According to each playing position group, discriminant analysis was used to identify relevant variables that discriminate different ball possession sequences (short, medium, and long). The analysis revealed the existence of three clusters according to ball possession duration, classified as short sequence (~4 seconds), medium sequence (~10 seconds) and long sequence (~18 seconds). The number of touches per possession was the variable that discriminates the ball possession duration from all playing positions while passing actions were related to midfielders and attackers. In addition, different ball possessions sequences in the attackers were also discriminated by the number of players involved per possession. Accordingly, to increase the duration of the offensive phase during small-sided games, coaches should foster the players’ ability to stay on the ball, as it may amplify their opportunities to maintain the ball possession. In addition, coaches may also include reward rules to encourage midfielders and attackers’ passing actions and the number of attackers involved during the attack to promote longer ball possessions durations.
Brands, networks, communities: How brand names are wired in the mind

Brands can be defined as psychological constructs residing in our minds. By analyzing brand associations, we can study the mental constructs around them. In this paper, we study brands as parts of an associative network based on a word association database. We explore the communities–closely-knit groups in the mind–around brand names in this structure using two community detection algorithms in the Hungarian word association database ConnectYourMind. We identify brand names inside the communities of a word association network and explain why these brand names are part of the community. Several detected communities contain brand names from the same product category, and the words in these categories were connected either to brands in the category or to words describing the product category. Based on our findings, we describe the mental position of brand names. We show that brand knowledge, product knowledge and real word knowledge interact with each other. We also show how the meaning of a product category arises and how this meaning is related to brand meaning. Our results suggest that words sharing the same community with brand names can be used in brand communication and brand positioning.