Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aggregate composition and the contact angle of the soil solid phase after incubation with peat gel

Organic matter and soil aggregate structure under virgin vegetation two interdependent and interrelated natural products of soil formation. Architecture of soil aggregate, which provides its agrophysical properties, is a combination of organic and mineral elementary soil particles (ESP), the surface of which differs by water wettability. Organic ESP, which are products of chemical and microbial transformation of organic residues in situ, have hydrophobic surface. The degree of surface wettability of mineral ESP is controlled by organic compounds of various origins sorbed on them the water-soluble humus organic substances, exudates of higher plants roots, products of microorganisms metabolism. In natural soils there is a constant renewal of exposed mineralization both organic ESP and adsorbed organic matter acting in conjunction with natural regulators of the speed of water flow into the machine and its water-holding capacity. The mineralization of humus in soil under tillage leads to a degradation of the aggregate structure and formation of adverse agrophysical properties and thus reduces fertility. Restoration of the natural mechanisms of self-regulation in the agroecosystem that enhance crop yields, based on the concept of Green Chemistry is a solution of environmental problems with the use of cleaner and less polluting processes. The purpose of research was an analysis of changes in the aggregation state and the contact angle of wetting of the solid phase of dark gray forest soil after incubation with peat gel.
Efficacy of statistical model-based pose estimation of rigid objects with corresponding CAD models using commodity depth sensors

Since the emergence of the commodity-priced, small-sized Microsoft Kinect™ sensor, 3D object pose estimation has become prevalent in many applications across a wide variety of disciplines. However, because most current methods require a hard assignment between a measurement point cloud and a given CAD model point cloud for alignment, accurate pose estimation is limited to a small range of sensor noise and resolution, and CAD model precision. This paper therefore presents a MLE algorithm that achieves a statistically optimal global maximum likelihood on the surface of the continuous 6D pose domain by soft assigning all measurement points to all model points. The accuracy in estimation of orientation and position of the MLE algorithm is then compared to a variant of the ICP method that accounts for an anisotropie Gaussian measurement noise distribution. It is finally shown through a series of simulated measurement point clouds and depth images that MLE outperforms the ICP variant, and achieves a monotonie increase in performance with an increase in either points on target or CAD model precision.
Carbon nanotube sensors for exhaled breath components

A new method for the detection of nitric oxide (NO) in gas phase is based on a combination of acidic gas scrubbing, oxidation, and conductivity measurements using a chemically functionalized carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (NTFET) device. Gas mixtures containing NO are passed through an Ascarite scrubber and then an oxidizing material (CrO3) which converts NO into NO2. The latter is delivered to the surface of the NTFET sensor coated with poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) polymer. Interaction of the gas with a chemically functionalized NTFET results in a conductivity change that is proportional to the NO gas concentration. The wide range of NO gas concentrations from about 2 ppb up to 5 ppm was tested. A detection limit of NO has been measured as 5 ppb with a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N = 3) in inert atmosphere at a fixed relative humidity (RH = 30%). Cross-sensitivity to CO2 and O2 was measured in the gas mixture, modeling human breath conditions. Compared to using chemiluminescence, a state-of-the-art technique for monitoring NO concentrations, this method offers the advantages of low cost, compact size and simplicity of set-up for monitoring NO concentrations while overcoming the limitations of cross-contaminants, possibly creating a foundation for enabling self-diagnostics and home care for asthma sufferers.
Actigraphic Sleep Duration and Fragmentation in Older Women: Associations With Performance Across Cognitive Domains

Study Objectives To determine the association of actigraphic sleep duration and fragmentation with cognition in community‐dwelling older women. Methods We studied 782 women (mean age = 87.4) of varied cognitive status from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures who completed wrist actigraphy and the Modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (3MS), California Verbal Learning Test‐II‐Short Form, digit span, verbal fluency tests, and the Trailmaking Test, Part B (Trails B). Total sleep time (TST) and wake after sleep onset (WASO) tertiles were our primary predictors. Results There were few significant associations in adjusted analyses. Compared to women with intermediate TST (mean = 430.1 minutes), those with the longest (508.7 minutes) had significantly poorer performance on the 3MS and phonemic and semantic fluency. Compared to women with the least WASO (31.5 minutes), those in the middle tertile (61.5 minutes) had significantly poorer delayed recall and those in the middle tertile and highest tertile (126.2 minutes) had poorer total recall and semantic fluency. We observed significant adjusted associations of TST with impaired 3MS performance and of WASO with impaired delayed recall, semantic fluency, and digit span. After excluding participants with adjudicated dementia diagnoses or indeterminate cognitive status, some adjusted associations remained but decreased in magnitude, others became nonsignificant, and a new association emerged. Conclusions In community‐dwelling older women, longer objectively measured sleep duration and greater sleep fragmentation are associated with poorer performance and impairment in only a subset of cognitive domains. Some of these associations may be driven by women with dementia in whom disturbed sleep and cognitive performance share an underlying neuropathological basis.
A national survey of lung cancer specialists’ views on low-dose CT screening for lung cancer in Korea

Lung cancer specialists play an important role in designing and implementing lung cancer screening. We aimed to describe their 1) attitudes toward low-dose lung computed tomography (LDCT) screening, 2) current practices and experiences of LDCT screening and 3) attitudes and opinions towards national lung cancer screening program (NLCSP). We conducted a national web-based survey of pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiological oncologists who are members of Korean Association for Lung Cancer (N = 183). Almost all respondents agreed that LDCT screening increases early detection (100%), improves survival (95.1%), and gives a good smoking cessation counseling opportunity (88.6%). Most were concerned about its high false positive results (79.8%) and the subsequent negative effects. Less than half were concerned about radiation hazard (37.2%). Overall, most (89.1%) believed that the benefits outweigh the risks and harms. Most (79.2%) stated that they proactively recommend LDCT screening to those who are eligible for the current guidelines, but the screening propensity varied considerably. The majority (77.6%) agreed with the idea of NLCSP and its beneficial effect, but had concerns about the quality control of CT devices (74.9%), quality assurance of radiologic interpretation (63.3%), poor access to LDCT (56.3%), and difficulties in selecting eligible population using self-report history (66.7%). Most (79.2%) thought that program need to be funded by a specialized fund rather than by the National Health Insurance. The opinions on the level of copayment for screening varied. Our findings would be an important source for health policy decision when considering for NLCSP in Korea.
Failure of fluconazole in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania guyanensis in the Brazilian Amazon: An open, nonrandomized phase 2 trial

Background The treatment of Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis is based on a weak strength of evidence from very few clinical trials and some case series reports. Current treatment guidelines recommend pentamidine isethionate or meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) as the first-line choices. Both are parenteral drugs with a low therapeutic indexes leading to a high risk of undesired effects. Imidazole derivatives interfere with the production of leishmanial ergosterol, an essential component of their membrane structure. One drug that has been studied in different clinical presentations of Leishmania is fluconazole, a hydrophilic bis-triazole, which is easily absorbed through the oral route with a low toxicity profile and is considered safe for children. This drug is readily available in poor countries with a reasonable cost making it a potential option for treating leishmaniasis. Methods and findings An adaptive nonrandomized clinical trial with sequential groups with dose escalation of oral fluconazole was designed to treat adult men with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) in Manaus, Brazil. Eligible participants were patients with LCL with confirmed Leishmania guyanensis infection. Results Twenty adult male patients were treated with 450 mg of fluconazole daily for 30 days. One patient (5%) was cured within 30 days of treatment. Of the 19 failures (95%), 13 developed a worsening of ulcers and six evolved lymphatic spreading of the disease. Planned dose escalation was suspended after the disappointing failure rate during the first stage of the trial. Conclusion/Significance Oral fluconazole, at the dose of 450mg per day, was not efficacious against LCL caused by Leishmania guyanensis in adult men. Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trial Registration (ReBec)—RBR-8w292w; UTN number—1158-2421
Testing Cluster Structure of Graphs

We study the problem of recognizing the cluster structure of a graph in the framework of property testing in the bounded degree model. Given a parameter ε, a d-bounded degree graph is defined to be (k, φ)-clusterable, if it can be partitioned into no more than k parts, such that the (inner) conductance of the induced subgraph on each part is at least φ and the (outer) conductance of each part is at most cd,kε4φ2, where cd,k depends only on d,k. Our main result is a sublinear algorithm with the running time ~O(√n ⋅ poly(φ,k,1/ε)) that takes as input a graph with maximum degree bounded by d, parameters k, φ, ε, and with probability at least 2/3, accepts the graph if it is (k,φ)-clusterable and rejects the graph if it is ε-far from (k, φ*)-clusterable for φ* = c'd,kφ2 ε4}/log n, where c'd,k depends only on d,k. By the lower bound of Ω(√n) on the number of queries needed for testing graph expansion, which corresponds to k=1 in our problem, our algorithm is asymptotically optimal up to polylogarithmic factors.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate for longitudinal follow-up of living kidney donors

Background Living kidney donor safety requires reliable long-term follow-up of renal function after donation. The current study aimed to define the precision and accuracy of post-donation estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slopes compared with measured GFR (mGFR) slopes. Methods In 349 donors (age 51 ± 10, 54% female), we analysed eGFR according to the 2009 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Cockcroft-Gault/body surface area (CG/BSA), creatinine clearance (CrCl) and mGFR (125I-iothalamate) changes from 3 months until 5 years post-donation. Results Donors had a pre-donation mGFR of 116 ± 23 mL/min, at 3 months post-donation mGFR was 73 ± 14 mL/min and at 5 years it was 79 ± 16 mL/min. Between 3 months and 5 years post-donation, 28% of donors had a declining mGFR (-0.82 ± 0.79 mL/min/year), 47% were stable and 25% had an increasing mGFR. Overall, eGFR equations showed good slope estimates (bias eGFRCKD-EPI 0.13 ± 2.16 mL/min/year, eGFRMDRD 0.19 ± 2.10 mL/min/year, eGFRCG/BSA -0.08 ± 2.06 mL/min/year, CrCl -0.12 ± 4.75 mL/min/year), but in donors with a decreasing mGFR the slope was underestimated (bias eGFRCKD-EPI 1.41 ± 2.03 mL/min/year, eGFRMDRD 1.51 ± 1.96 mL/min/year, eGFRCG/BSA 1.20 ± 1.87 mL/min/year). The CrCl had a high imprecision [bias interquartile range -1.51-3.41 mL/min/year]. Conclusions All eGFR equations underestimated GFR slopes in donors with a declining GFR between 3 months and 5 years post-donation. This study underlines the value of mGFR in the follow-up of donors with risk of progressive GFR loss.
Synergetic Use of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Data for Soil Moisture Mapping at 100 m Resolution

The recent deployment of ESA’s Sentinel operational satellites has established a new paradigm for remote sensing applications. In this context, Sentinel-1 radar images have made it possible to retrieve surface soil moisture with a high spatial and temporal resolution. This paper presents two methodologies for the retrieval of soil moisture from remotely-sensed SAR images, with a spatial resolution of 100 m. These algorithms are based on the interpretation of Sentinel-1 data recorded in the VV polarization, which is combined with Sentinel-2 optical data for the analysis of vegetation effects over a site in Urgell (Catalunya, Spain). The first algorithm has already been applied to observations in West Africa by Zribi et al., 2008, using low spatial resolution ERS scatterometer data, and is based on change detection approach. In the present study, this approach is applied to Sentinel-1 data and optimizes the inversion process by taking advantage of the high repeat frequency of the Sentinel observations. The second algorithm relies on a new method, based on the difference between backscattered Sentinel-1 radar signals observed on two consecutive days, expressed as a function of NDVI optical index. Both methods are applied to almost 1.5 years of satellite data (July 2015–November 2016), and are validated using field data acquired at a study site. This leads to an RMS error in volumetric moisture of approximately 0.087 m3/m3 and 0.059 m3/m3 for the first and second methods, respectively. No site calibrations are needed with these techniques, and they can be applied to any vegetation-covered area for which time series of SAR data have been recorded.
Time perception of simultaneous and sequential events in early-onset schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Timing disorders in schizophrenia are a well-known phenomenon. However, no studies have yet assessed the role of temporal distortions in early-onset schizophrenia (EOS), despite evidence that distorted time perception may share genetic risk factors with schizophrenia and may be a useful indicator in identifying individuals at risk for schizophrenia. In the present study, we investigated the ability of 10 patients with EOS (mean age = 21.5 years, SD = 6) matched with 20 healthy control participants (mean age = 25.3 years, SD = 4.6) in order to compare the durations of two visual events, presented either sequentially or overlapping in time, along with neuropsychological assessments of attention, working memory, and executive functions. Each participant had to judge a total of 336 stimuli. We found that temporal overlap had a greater negative effect on ability to judge the duration of a pair of stimuli in EOS patients than in healthy control participants. In addition, EOS patients showed impairments in attention and executive functions. Furthermore, in EOS patients, the scores for executive and attentional functions were significantly correlated with accuracy of temporal estimation in the overlap condition (r = 0.31, p < 0.05 and r = 0.57, p < 0.05, respectively). These preliminary results suggest that impairments in neuropsychological functions participate in the deficit in time estimation observed in patients with EOS. These conclusions highlight the importance of testing time perception in patients with EOS and could contribute to the development of cognitive remediation-based therapy for these patients.
A novel hirudin derivative inhibiting thrombin without bleeding for subcutaneous injection

Summary Currently, anticoagulants would be used to prevent thrombosis. Thrombin is an effector enzyme for haemostasis and thrombosis. We designed a direct thrombin inhibitor peptide (DTIP) using molecular simulation and homology modelling and demonstrated that the C-terminus of DTIP interacts with exosite I, and N-terminus with the activity site of thrombin, respectively. DTIP interfered with thrombin-mediated coagulation in human, rat and mouse plasma (n=10 per group) and blocked clotting in human whole blood in vitro. When administered subcutaneously, DTIP showed potent and dose-dependent extension of aPTT, PT, TT and CT in rats (n=10 per group). The antithrombotic dose of DTIP induced significantly less bleeding than bivalirudin determined by transecting distal tail assay in rats. Furthermore, DTIP reached peak blood concentration in 0.5–1 hour and did not cause increased bleeding after five days of dosing compared to dabigatran etexilate. The antithrombotic effect of DTIP was evaluated in mice using lethal pulmonary thromboembolism model and FeCl3-induced mesenteric arteriole thrombus model. DTIP (1.0 mg/kg, sc) prevented deep venous thrombosis and increased the survival rate associated with pulmonary thromboembolism from 30 % to 80 %. Intravital microscopy showed that DTIP (1.0 mg/kg, sc) decelerated mesenteric arteriole thrombosis caused by FeCl3 injury. These data establish that DTIP is a novel antithrombotic agent that could be used to prevent thrombosis without conferring an increased bleeding risk. Supplementary Material to this article is available at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Characterization of cyclophilin D in freshwater pearl mussel (Hyriopsis schlegelii)

Cyclophilin D (referred to as HsCypD) was obtained from the freshwater pearl mussel (Hyriopsis schlegelii). The full-length cDNA was 2 671 bp, encoding a protein consisting of 367 amino acids. HsCypD was determined to be a hydrophilic intracellular protein with 10 phosphorylation sites and four tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains, but no signal peptide. The core sequence region YKGCIFHRIIKDFMVQGG is highly conserved in vertebrates and invertebrates. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that CypD from all species had a common origin, and HsCypD had the closest phylogenetic relationship with CypD from Lottia gigantea. The constitutive mRNA expression levels of HsCypD exhibited tissue-specific patterns, with the highest level detected in the intestines, followed by the gonads, and the lowest expression found in the hemocytes.
Sinus floor elevation utilizing the transalveolar approach.

A transalveolar approach for sinus floor elevation with subsequent placement of dental implants was first suggested by Tatum in 1986. In 1994, Summers described a different transalveolar approach using a set of tapered osteotomes with increasing diameters. The transalveolar approach of sinus floor elevation, also referred to as 'osteotome sinus floor elevation', the 'Summers technique' or the 'Crestal approach', may be considered as being more conservative and less invasive than the conventional lateral window approach. This is reflected by the fact that more than nine out of 10 patients who experienced the surgical procedure would be willing to undergo it again. The main indication for transalveolar sinus floor elevation is reduced residual bone height, which does not allow standard implant placement. Contraindications for transalveolar sinus floor elevation may be intra-oral, local or medical. The surgical approach utilized over the last two decades is the technique described by Summers, with or without minor modifications. The surgical care after implant placement using the osteotome technique is similar to the surgical care after standard implant placement. The patients are usually advised to take antibiotic prophylaxis and to utilize antiseptic rinses. The main complications reported after performing a transalveolar sinus floor elevation were perforation of the Schneiderian membrane in 3.8% of patients and postoperative infections in 0.8% of patients. Other complications reported were postoperative hemorrhage, nasal bleeding, blocked nose, hematomas and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Whether it is necessary to use grafting material to maintain space for new bone formation after elevating the sinus membrane utilizing the osteotome technique is still controversial. Positive outcomes have been reported with and without using grafting material. A prospective study, evaluating both approaches, concluded that significantly more bone gain was seen when grafting material was used (4.1 mm mean bone gain compared with 1.7 mm when no grafting material was utilized). In a systematic review, including 19 studies reporting on 4388 implants inserted using the transalveolar sinus floor elevation technique, the 3-year implant survival rate was 92.8% (95% confidence interval: 87.4-96.0%). Furthermore, a subject-based analysis of the same material revealed an annual failure rate of 3.7%. Hence, one in 10 subjects experienced implant loss over 3 years. Several of the included studies demonstrated that transalveolar sinus floor elevation was most predictable when the residual alveolar bone height was ≥ 5 mm and the sinus floor anatomy was relatively flat.
Development, Survival, and Fecundity of Amblypelta lutescens lutescens (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on Distinct Phenological Stages of Different Fruit-Crop Host Plants

Abstract The banana-spotting bug, Amblypelta lutescens lutescens Distant (Hemiptera: Coreidae), is native to Australia and a major polyphagous pest of many tropical and subtropical horticultural crops in the east and north of the country. Different plant structures (flowers, vegetative flush, and different sized fruit) of avocado, lime, and papaya crops and green bean pods (a known suitable host) were evaluated for their suitability as hosts for A. l. lutescens. Neonate to imago survivorship, the time taken to complete neonate to imago development, preovi-positional period, and fecundity were assessed for each crop. Of all the different phenological stages of the plants investigated, A. l. lutescens could complete development to imago on vegetative flush of papaya and lime, papaya flowers, and green bean pods but on no other structures tested. There was higher survivorship to the second instar when neonates fed on green bean pods or flowers or vegetative flush of avocado, lime, or papaya crops than when neonates fed on small, medium, or large fruit of these crops. Insects that developed to the imago on green bean pods were significantly heavier than insects that developed on papaya flowers or papaya vegetative flush. The mean preoviposition period was shorter, and adult females more fecund, if they completed immature development and then fed as adults on papaya vegetative flush or green beans rather than papaya flowers. The data indicate that avocado is not a suitable host for A. l. lutescens, suggesting that adult populations that cause significant pest damage to the fruit of this crop originate elsewhere.