Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative estimation and vertical partitioning of the soil carbon dioxide fluxes at the hillslope scale on a loess soil

Both modelling and experimental approaches have been applied to assess C exchange fluxes at large spatial scales. Yet, these approaches are subjected to substantial limitations and uncertainties. Here, we aim to highlight two key mechanisms able to improve the estimation of the hillslope aggregated CO2 fluxes: (i) the persistence of soil organic carbon (OC) in deep colluvium deposits; and (ii) the physical controls on CO2 fluxes along soil profiles. This study focuses on a sloping cropland in the central loess belt of Belgium. On two contrasted soil types along the studied hillslope, we recorded timeseries of CO2 concentration, water content and temperature along 1m long soil profiles during two periods of 6 months. Then, we calculated profiles of CO2 fluxes using the gradient method. To extrapolate these fluxes to entire yearly periods (2011–2013), we performed simulation using the SOILCO2RothC model. The vertical partitioning of the soil CO2 fluxes shows that ca. 90 to ca. 95% of the surface CO2 fluxes originates from the 10 first centimeters of the soil profile at the foot slope. We show that high water filled pore space at this slope position disables the transfer of biotic CO2 along the soil profile. However, the total annual flux averaged along 3 years of simulation show that the top soil layer (0–10 cm) of the footslope generâtes CO2 fluxes (870±64 CO2-Cm−2 year−1) which exceed those observed at the summit position (583±61 CO2-Cm−2 year−1). Hence, our results reconcile two seem ingly contradictory hypotheses, i.e. (i) these support that soil OC at such a footslope is stored along the main part of the soil profile and submitted to a long-term stabilization, and (ii) at the same time these support that the depositional footslope profile emits more CO2 than the summit, due to its high amount and quality of OC. Our results support the need to consider slopes when modeling soil-atmosphere C exchanges. If landscapes dynamic processes are not accounted for, we pointed out a risk to underestimate annual soil-atmosphere CO2 exchanges by ca. 20 %.
Adia: Achieving High Link Utilization with Coflow-Aware Scheduling in Data Center Networks

Link utilization has received extensive attention since data centers become the most pervasive platform for data-parallel applications. A specific job of such applications involves communication among multiple machines. The recently proposed coflow abstraction depicts such communication through a group of parallel flows, and captures application performance through corresponding communication requirements. Existing techniques to improve link utilization, however, either restrict themselves to achieving work conservation, or merely focus on flow-level metrics and ignore coflow-level performance. In this paper, we address the coflow-aware scheduling problem with the objective of maximizing link utilization. Through theoretic analyses, we formulate the coflow-aware scheduling problem as a NP-hard open shop scheduling problem with heterogeneous concurrency. We design Adia, a hierarchical scheduling framework to conduct both inter- and intra- link scheduling. The design of Adia leverages priority-based scheduling while guarantees work-conserving and starvation-free bandwidth allocation at the same time. We also prove Adia's algorithm is two-approximate in terms of link utilization. Extensive simulation results on ns3 further show that Adia outperforms both per-flow mechanisms coflow schemes in terms of link utilization, and achieves similar coflow performance in comparison with the state-of-art coflow scheduling schemes.
Twelve-month prevalence, severity, and unmet need for treatment of mental disorders in metropolitan China

Background. Psychiatric epidemiological surveys in China have repeatedly found much lower prevalence estimates than in most other parts of the world. Method. Face-to-face household interviews of 5201 subjects (2633 in Beijing and 2568 in Shanghai respectively) were conducted from November 2001 to February 2002 using a multistage household probability sampling method. A Chinese version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used for assessment. Results. Twelve-month prevalence of any DSM-IV mental disorder in metropolitan China is estimated to be 7·0%, with major depressive disorder (2·0%), specific phobia (1·9%), and intermittent explosive disorder (1·7%) the most common disorders. Of these, 13·9% are classified as serious, 32·6% moderate, and 53·5% mild. Only 3·4% of respondents with any disorder sought treatment within the previous 12 months. Conclusions. Although the general pattern of disorders, risk factors, and unmet need for treatment are similar to those in other countries, a low prevalence of mental disorders is found in metropolitan China. Resolving methodological problems that cause downward bias in estimates, such as stigma-related under-reporting and diagnostic incongruity with a somatopsychic mode of symptom presentation may lead to more accurate and probably higher prevalence estimates in future epidemiological studies. As a low prevalence still translates into an enormous number of people in China, measures are urgently needed to address the huge unmet need for treatment of mental disorders.
Technical Aspects of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is becoming a standard method for invasive mediastinal staging and for the diagnosis of paratracheal and peribronchial lesions. It is essential to understand the technical aspects of EBUS-TBNA to ensure safe and efficient procedures. In this review, we discuss the practical aspects to be considered during EBUS-TBNA, including anesthesia, manipulation of equipment, understanding mediastinal ultrasound images, target selection, number of aspirations needed per target, sample handling, and complications.
Recommendations for management of diabetes during Ramadan: update 2015

Since the first ADA working group report on the recommendations for management of diabetes during Ramadan in 2005 and our update in 2010, we received many inquiries asking for regular updates on information regarding education, nutritional habits and new oral and injectable agents that may be useful for the management of patients with diabetes during Ramadan. Patients can be stratified into their risk of hypoglycemia and/or complications prior to the start of the fasting period of Ramadan. Those at high risk of hypoglycemia and with multiple diabetic complications should be advised against prolonged fasting. Even in the lower hypoglycemia risk group, adverse effects may still occur. In order to minimize adverse side effects during fasting in patients with diabetes and improve or maintain glucose control, education and discussion of glucose monitoring and treatment regimens should occur several weeks prior to Ramadan. Agents such as metformin, thiazolidinediones and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors appear to be safe and do not need dose adjustment. Most sulfonylureas may not be used safely during Ramadan except with extreme caution; besides, older agents, such as chlorpropamide or glyburide, should not be used. Reduction of the dosage of sulfonylurea is needed depending on the degree of control prior to fasting. Misconceptions and local habits should be addressed and dealt with in any educational intervention and therapeutic planning with patients with diabetes. In this regard, efforts are still needed for controlled prospective studies in the field of efficacy and safety of the different interventions during the Ramadan Fast.
Emulsified Phosphatidylserine, Simple and Effective Peptide Carrier for Induction of Potent Epitope-Specific T Cell Responses

Background To induce potent epitope-specific T cell immunity by a peptide-based vaccine, epitope peptides must be delivered efficiently to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in vivo. Therefore, selecting an appropriate peptide carrier is crucial for the development of an effective peptide vaccine. In this study, we explored new peptide carriers which show enhancement in cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) induction capability. Methodology/Principal Findings Data from an epitope-specific in vivo CTL assay revealed that phosphatidylserine (PS) has a potent adjuvant effect among candidate materials tested. Further analyses showed that PS-conjugated antigens were preferentially and efficiently captured by professional APCs, in particular, by CD11c+CD11b+MHCII+ conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) compared to multilamellar liposome-conjugates or unconjugated antigens. In addition, PS demonstrated the stimulatory capacity of peptide-specific helper T cells in vivo. Conclusions/Significance This work indicates that PS is the easily preparable efficient carrier with a simple structure that delivers antigen to professional APCs effectively and induce both helper and cytotoxic T cell responses in vivo. Therefore, PS is a promising novel adjuvant for T cell-inducing peptide vaccines.
Sibling Relationships in Early Adulthood

The purposes of this study were to describe the nature of sibling relationships in young adulthood and to examine correlates of individual differences in adults' sibling relationships. A new measure, the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ; R. P. Lanthier & C. Stocker, 1992), was developed with 2 samples (N = 383). The factor structure of the ASRQ indicated that sibling relationships in early adulthood were characterized by 3 independent dimensions: warmth, conflict, and rivalry. Individual differences in adults' warmth, conflict, and rivalry with siblings were somewhat associated with family structure variables and were linked to the amount of contact between siblings and to siblings' mental health.
The IPCRG Guidelines: developing guidelines for managing chronic respiratory diseases in primary care.

In most countries, primary care clinicians treat the vast majority of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. In the UK [1] and in the Netherlands [2], for example, approximately 85% of all patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are managed almost entirely by general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses. An estimated 1 in 20 people in the world now have asthma [3], and COPD is predicted to be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2020 [4]. Many patients with asthma also have allergic rhinitis [5]. The management of chronic respiratory diseases therefore constitutes a significant proportion of the total workload in primary care. Twenty years ago, it was clear that considerable improvements were needed in the management of respiratory disease in primary care, particularly the management of asthma. There was clear evidence of delayed diagnosis [6,7], under treatment [8], and ongoing concerns regarding preventable asthma deaths [9], often in patients with identifiable psychosocial and behavioural risk factors [10,11]. This need for improvement in primary care management led to the development of GP specialinterest groups (such as the General Practice Airways Group (GPIAG) in the UK [12]) and an evolution in the role of the primary care asthma nurse [13,14]. This development was replicated in many other countries worldwide, culminating in the formation of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) in 2000, an organisation which now has thousands of members in 34 countries who have a special interest in primary care respiratory medicine. At the same time, national asthma management guidelines (for example [15,16]) were being written with the explicit aim of improving the quality of care given to patients. Subsequently, we now have evidence-based, well established, highly respected global guidelines available worldwide for the management of asthma, COPD and rhinitis: the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention (GINA) guidelines [3]; the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines [17]; and the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guideline [18], respectively. The question is, therefore, whether or not these easily accessible international guidelines are impacting on the quality of care provided in primary care for patients with asthma, COPD and rhinitis. The answer is a guarded yes — but not much. As regards asthma, the Executive Chair of GINA, Paul O’Byrne, writes in his editorial [19] that, despite declining death rates, the depressing evidence is that asthma guidelines are still not being fully implemented and that asthma morbidity remains unacceptably high [20]. Part of the reason may be poor symptom perception by patients [21] as well as their low expectations of what can be achieved by good asthma management [22]. Recently published data from the UK confirm that up to 80% of
Corrosion at the head-neck taper as a cause for adverse local tissue reactions after total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Corrosion at the modular head-neck junction of the femoral component in total hip arthroplasty has been identified as a potential concern, although symptomatic adverse local tissue reactions secondary to corrosion have rarely been described. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of ten patients with a metal-on-polyethylene total hip prosthesis, from three different manufacturers, who underwent revision surgery for corrosion at the modular head-neck junction. RESULTS All patients presented with pain or swelling around the hip, and two patients presented with recurrent instability. Serum cobalt levels were elevated prior to the revision arthroplasty and were typically more elevated than were serum chromium levels. Surgical findings included large soft-tissue masses and surrounding tissue damage with visible corrosion at the femoral head-neck junction; the two patients who presented with instability had severe damage to the hip abductor musculature. Pathology specimens consistently demonstrated areas of tissue necrosis. The patients were treated with debridement and a femoral head and liner exchange, with use of a ceramic femoral head with a titanium sleeve in eight cases. The mean Harris hip score improved from 58.1 points preoperatively to 89.7 points at a mean of 13.0 months after the revision surgery (p=0.01). Repeat serum cobalt levels, measured in six patients at a mean of 8.0 months following revision, decreased to a mean of 1.61 ng/mL, and chromium levels were similar to prerevision levels. One patient with moderate hip abductor muscle necrosis developed recurrent instability after revision and required a second revision arthroplasty. CONCLUSIONS Adverse local tissue reactions can occur in patients with a metal-on-polyethylene bearing secondary to corrosion at the modular femoral head-neck taper, and their presentation is similar to the adverse local tissue reactions seen in patients with a metal-on-metal bearing. Elevated serum metal levels, particularly a differential elevation of serum cobalt levels with respect to chromium levels, can be helpful in establishing this diagnosis.
Impacts of Soil Faunal Community Composition on Model Grassland Ecosystems

Human impacts, including global change, may alter the composition of soil faunal communities, but consequences for ecosystem functioning are poorly understood. We constructed model grassland systems in the Ecotron controlled environment facility and manipulated soil community composition through assemblages of different animal body sizes. Plant community composition, microbial and root biomass, decomposition rate, and mycorrhizal colonization were all markedly affected. However, two key ecosystem processes, aboveground net primary productivity and net ecosystem productivity, were surprisingly resistant to these changes. We hypothesize that positive and negative faunal-mediated effects in soil communities cancel each other out, causing no net ecosystem effects.
Batch, fed‐batch, and microcarrier cultures with CHO cell lines in a pressure‐cycle driven miniaturized bioreactor

Miniaturized bioreactors for suspension cultures of animal cells, such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, could improve bioprocess development through the ability to cheaply explore a wide range of bioprocess operating conditions. A miniaturized pressure‐cycled bioreactor for animal cell cultures, described previously (Diao et al., 2008 ), was tested with a suspension CHO cell line producing commercially relevant quantities of human IgG. Results from the suspended CHO cell line showed that the cell growth was comparable to conventional flask controls and the target protein production was enhanced in the minibioreactor, which may be due to the relatively high oxygen transfer rate and the moderate shear stress, measured and simulated previously. Microcarrier culture using an anchorage‐dependent CHO cell line and Cytodex 3 also showed a similar result: comparable growth and enhanced production of a model protein (secreted alkaline phosphatase or SEAP). Various fed‐batch schemes were applied to the CHO cells producing human IgG, yielding cell numbers (1.1 × 107/mL) at day 8 and titers of human IgG (2.3 g/L) at day 14 that are typical industrial values for CHO cell fed‐batch cultures. The alteration of the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient is a key parameter for viability of the CHO cell line producing human IgG. We conclude that the minibioreactor can provide favorable cell culture environments; oxygen transfer coefficient and mixing time can be altered to mimic values in a larger scale system allowing for potential prediction of response during scale‐up. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012;109: 137–145. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MLL‐rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukaemia stem cell interactions with bone marrow stroma promote survival and therapeutic resistance that can be overcome with CXCR4 antagonism

Infants with MLL‐rearranged (MLL‐R) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) have a dismal prognosis. While most patients achieve remission, approximately half of patients recur with a short latency to relapse. This suggests that chemotherapy‐resistant leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) survive and can recapitulate the leukaemia. We hypothesized that interactions between LSCs and the bone marrow microenvironment mediate survival and chemotherapy resistance in MLL‐R ALL. Using primary samples of infant MLL‐R ALL, we studied the influence of bone marrow stroma on apoptosis, proliferation, and cytotoxicity induced by the FLT3 inhibitor lestaurtinib. MLL‐R ALL were differentially protected by stroma from spontaneous apoptosis compared to non‐MLL‐R ALL. Co‐culture of bulk MLL‐R ALL in direct contact with stroma or with stroma‐produced soluble factors promoted proliferation and cell cycle entry. Stroma also protected bulk MLL‐R ALL cells and MLL‐R ALL LSCs from lestaurtinib‐mediated cytotoxicity. Previous studies have demonstrated that CXCR4 mediates bone marrow microenvironment signalling. Using a xenograft model of MLL‐R ALL, we demonstrated that CXCR4 inhibition with AMD3100 (plerixafor) led to markedly enhanced efficacy of lestaurtinib. Therefore, the bone marrow microenvironment is a mediator of chemotherapy resistance in MLL‐R ALL and targeting leukaemia‐stroma interactions with CXCR4 inhibitors may prove useful in this high‐risk subtype of paediatric ALL.
The Use of Neuromarketing in the Study of Brand Related Mental Processes. Case Study - Romanian Food Brands

The aim of our study was to see if there is a correlation between declared consumption of a food product and the activation of specific brain regions measured with fMRI when consumers are presented images with package of their preferred product. The study included 50 participants divided into approximately equal age groups and sex categories. We found that hemodynamic changes in the precuneus area of the brain were found to be positively correlated with whether or not participants consumed a certain brand, suggesting the brand triggered personal relevance. Also we found that there was a significant association between cerebral activations in the caudate nucleus and participants’ responses on the consumption questionnaire, proving the brand’s capacity to generate emotions. Our study is consistent with data indicating striatum activation as a brain correlate for consumption and/or preference. In addition, activation found in precuneus is a confirmation of the involvement of this brain area in the recollection and processing of self-relevant information and can be used for evaluating the personal relevance of a commercial, or other marketing-related stimuli. Neuromarketing tools demonstrate that can provide critical inputs to marketers and decision makers.
The Effects of Level of Competition, Sport, and Sex on the Incidence of First-Time Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are disabling and are associated with the early onset of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Little is known regarding the incidence rate of first-time noncontact ACL injuries sustained during athletic events and how they are independently influenced by level of competition, type of sport, and the participant’s sex. Hypothesis: Level of competition (college or high school), type of sport (soccer, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, football, rugby, volleyball), and the athlete’s sex independently influence the incidence rate of first-time noncontact ACL injuries. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Between fall 2008 and spring 2012, first-time noncontact ACL injury data were collected from 8 colleges and 18 high schools across 7 sports. Athlete exposure was computed retrospectively using team rosters and numbers of scheduled practices and games. Injury incidence rates (IRs) were computed per 1000 athlete exposures. The independent effects of level of competition, sport, and sex on ACL injury risk were estimated by Poisson regression. Results: Colleges reported 48 ACL injuries with 320,719 athlete exposures across all sports studied (IR = 0.150 per 1000 person-days), while high schools reported 53 injuries with 873,057 athlete exposures (IR = 0.061). After adjustment for differences in sport and sex, college athletes had a significantly higher injury risk than did high school athletes (adjusted relative risk [RR], 2.38; 95% CI, 1.55-3.54). The overall IR for female athletes was 0.112 compared with 0.063 for males. After adjustment for sport and level of play, females were more than twice as likely to have a first-time ACL injury compared with males (RR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.34-3.27). With lacrosse as the reference group, risk of first-time noncontact ACL injury was significantly higher for soccer players (RR, 1.77) and for rugby players (RR, 2.23), independent of level of play and sex. Conclusion: An athlete’s risk of having a first-time noncontact ACL injury is independently influenced by level of competition, the participant’s sex, and type of sport, and there are no interactions between their effects. Female college athletes have the highest risk of having a first-time noncontact ACL injury among the groups studied.