Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Jatropha curcas Genotypes for Rehabilitation of Degraded Sodic Lands

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) is recently introduced in several states as a source of biomass and bioenergy in India. It can withstand and survive on a wide range of soils. However, information related to identification of a genotype tolerant to certain levels of sodicity is lacking. Five Jatropha genotypes (BTP 1‐K, BTP 1‐N, BTP 1‐A, GCC‐1, and TNM‐5) collected from different ecological regions of the country were screened and evaluated for three years (2007–2010) at Lucknow, India, in sodic soils having four (20, 40, 60, and 80) exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) levels. A large variation in plant growth, seed yield, and oil content was observed among genotypes owing to sodicity levels. Plant mortality of all the genotypes increased significantly beyond ESP of 40. Among the genotypes screened, BTP 1‐A recorded the maximum plant height (240 cm), girth (34·0 cm), biomass yield (14·00 ± 1·43 kg plant−1), and number of fruits per plant (14·8) up to ESP 40. The highest seed oil content was found in BTP 1‐K and BTP 1‐N followed by BTP 1A and the minimum in TMN‐5 and GCC‐1. Soil amelioration in terms of soil pH, ESP, organic carbon, and microbial biomass was higher under genotype BTP 1‐A than BTP 1‐K, GCC‐1, and TNM‐5. Genotype BTP 1‐A was found to be suitable for producing more biomass and bioenergy and rehabilitation of degraded lands. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Massage Therapy in Infants and Children under 5 Years of Age: Protocol for an Overview of Systematic Reviews and A Systematic Review

Introduction: Massage is a popularly used complementary and alternative therapy. Previous randomised controlled trials have examined the effects of massage on children, and several systematic reviews have been conducted to synthesise these data. This study aims to assess and summarise the current evidence from published systematic reviews of controlled clinical trials on the practice of paediatric massage, specifically in infants and children aged < 5 years. Methods and analysis: This protocol was developed based on the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols. The online databases MEDLINE, Embase, Health Technology Assessment Database, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Allied and Complementary Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data will be searched from the inception to June 2020 for evidence of the treatment effects. We will include systematic reviews of randomised control trials in infants and children aged < 5 years. Two reviewers will independently screen the articles for inclusion as per the eligibility criteria. They will extract information from the included studies and assess the methodological quality of the included studies. In addition, a systematic review of the adverse effects of massage on infants and children aged < 5 years will be included in this overview. We will present the treatment effects and adverse effects narratively. The pooled effect estimates for meta-analysed outcomes from the included studies will be extracted when possible. Additionally, we will generate a figure to show the recommendation level of massage therapy for each condition included according to the evidence quality of the studies included in the systematic reviews.Discussion: This overview of systematic reviews will summarise the current evidence on massage, specifically for infants and children aged < 5 years. We will comprehensively present the positive effects and adverse effects of this intervention.Trial registration number: CRD42020186003
Improving Power and Accuracy in Randomized Controlled Trials of Pain Treatments by Accounting for Concurrent Analgesic Use: Statistical Simulations and Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trial Data

The 0 to 10 numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain intensity is a standard outcome in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pain treatments. For individuals taking analgesics, there may be a disparity between 'observed' pain intensity (the NRS, irrespective of concurrent analgesic use), and 'underlying' pain intensity (what the NRS would be had concurrent analgesics not been taken). Using a contemporary causal inference framework, we compare analytic methods that can potentially account for concurrent analgesic use, first in statistical simulations, and second in analyses of real (non-simulated) data from an RCT of lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESI). The default analytic method was ignoring analgesic use, which is the most common approach in pain RCTs. Compared to ignoring analgesic use and other analytic methods, simulations showed that a quantitative pain and analgesia composite outcome based on adding 1.5 points to observed pain intensity for those who were taking an analgesic (the QPAC1.5) optimized power and minimized bias. Analyses of real RCT data supported the results of the simulations, showing greater power with analysis of the QPAC1.5 as compared to ignoring analgesic use and most other methods examined. We propose alternative methods that should be considered in the analysis of pain RCTs.
Disease awareness in patients with COPD: measurement and extent

perception. Disease knowledge was positively associated with COPD severity, while the impact of symptoms on daily life was negatively associated with disease acceptance, awareness of treatment needs, and overall awareness. Conclusion: DACQ proved to be a reliable tool to assess awareness in COPD patients. Awareness of COPD patients need to be improved. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID# NCT02689492.
Exploring the time-domain deep attractor network with two-stream architectures in a reverberant environment

With the success of deep learning in speech signal processing, speaker-independent speech separation under a reverberant environment remains challenging. The deep attractor network (DAN) performs speech separation with speaker attractors on the time-frequency domain. The recently proposed convolutional time-domain audio separation network (Conv-TasNet) surpasses ideal masks in anechoic mixture signals, while its architecture renders the problem of separating signals with variable numbers of speakers. Moreover, these models will suffer performance degradation in a reverberant environment. In this study, we propose a time-domain deep attractor network (TD-DAN) with two-stream convolutional networks that efficiently performs both dereverberation and separation tasks under the condition of variable numbers of speakers. The speaker encoding stream (SES) of the TD-DAN models speaker information, and is explored with various waveform encoders. The speech decoding steam (SDS) accepts speaker attractors from SES, and learns to predict early reflections. Experiment results demonstrated that the TD-DAN achieved scale-invariant source-to-distortion ratio (SI-SDR) gains of 10.40/9.78 dB and 9.15/7.92 dB on the reverberant two- and three-speaker development/evaluation set, exceeding Conv-TasNet by 1.55/1.33 dB and 0.94/1.21 dB, respectively.
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ON THE SHANGHAI LAND USE MASTER PLAN: A SYSTEM DYNAMICS APPROACH

Abstract This study developed a prototype of an environmental assessment tool, SEA_LUP_SD, based on the system dynamics model. SEA_LUD_SD can simulate and evaluate information feedback of land use plan options and three related systems, population change, economic development, and environment conditions. This tool was then applied to the Shanghai land use master plan (1997–2010) and three other hypothetical planning options to compare the corresponding environmental impacts of different plan scenarios. This study proved that the integration of system dynamics and the framework of strategic environment assessment (SEA) has the great potential to provide urban managers and planners an effective technical platform to compare a series of “what if” scenarios for the entire planning horizon and to formulate policy recommendation on the basis of the simulation results. In addition, SEA_LUD_SD can help promote public participation in environmental decision-making processes and to educate decision- and policy-makers about the significance of sustainable development in tangible operational terms rather than through political rhetoric in the context of the China's post-reform political economy.
Design of human-like posture prediction for inverse kinematic posture control of a humanoid robot

A method and system has been developed to solve the kinematic redundancy for a humanoid redundant manipulator based on forward kinematic equation and the optimization of human-like constraints. The Multiple Objective Optimization (MOO) is preformed using a Genetic Algorithms (GA) and implemented using the Genetic and Evolutionary Algorithm Matlab Toolbox. The designed system is illustrated on a simple redundant 3 degree of freedom (dof) manipulator and is set up for a more complicated redundant 7 dof manipulator. The 7 dof manipulator is modeled from the Stan Winston studio's Leonardo, an 61 dof expressive humanoid robot. It has been found that the inverse kinematic solution to a 3dof model arm converged within 1% error of the solution within . 05 mins processor time using the discomfort human-like constraint in 2d space. Similarly, the inverse kinematic solution to a 7 dof model arm consisting of Leonardo's right arm geometry was found to converge within 1% error within . 20 mins processor time using the discomfort human-like constraint in 3D space. The full kinematic model of Leonardo is developed and future efficiency optimizations are posed to move towards the real-time motion control of a redundant humanoid robot by way of human-like posture prediction. Thesis Supervisor: Cynthia Breazeal Title: Assistant Professor
Lidocaine-prilocaine cream for analgesia during circumcision in newborn boys.

BACKGROUND Neonates routinely undergo tissue-damaging interventions as part of medical treatment. The skin is the site of noxious stimulation for many procedures, including circumcision. EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) penetrates intact skin and has the potential to reduce pain associated with circumcision. OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of EMLA compared to placebo or no treatment as an analgesic for circumcision in male newborns. SEARCH STRATEGY The guidelines of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group were followed. No language restrictions were applied. Three reviewers (AT, KO, AO) agreed through a consensus process on the inclusion of a specific study. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy/effectiveness of EMLA to prevent circumcision associated pain. Behavioral and physiological outcome data were accepted for efficacy/effectiveness. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data abstracted from each report included gestational age at birth, timing and dosage regimen of EMLA, control group treatment and outcomes. Abstracted data were verified by the three investigators (AT, KO, AO). MAIN RESULTS During the different stages of the surgical procedure for circumcision, the increase in heart rate was 12 - 27 beats per minute less for the EMLA group compared to placebo. In a single study, neonates treated with EMLA showed a higher oxygen saturation. Although the data from the three studies could not be combined, crying during circumcision was reported as less in the EMLA treated groups. In two studies, facial action was lower in the EMLA treated groups compared to placebo. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS EMLA reduces pain response during circumcision in newborn male infants. Other potentially more effective forms of analgesia for circumcision (such as dorsal penile nerve block, ring block) should be subjected to systematic reviews.
An analysis of the seasonal precipitation forecasts in South America using wavelets

A post‐processing technique was applied to statistically correct the seasonal rainfall forecasts over South America (SA). The aim of this work was to reduce errors in the seasonal climate simulations obtained from the Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC) atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) which was run with different deep cumulus convection parameterizations. One of the main contributions of this study is the discussion of the super‐ensemble approach to reduce errors in the seasonal rainfall prediction for SA. A novel aspect here is the use of the wavelet technique to compare forecast and observed time series by investigating their time‐frequency structures. This methodology has not yet been applied to super‐ensemble model validations. The statistical algorithm used in the super‐ensemble technique was based on the linear multiple regression method. The time series of the super‐ensemble forecast (FCT), arithmetic averaged forecast (MEM) and individual model forecasts and the observed (OBS) ones for selected areas of SA were compared by calculating the root mean square errors (RMSEs) and by applying the wavelet technique on these time series. In general, for the analysed areas we obtained a super‐ensemble skill superior to that for the MEM. The wavelet analysis proved to be very useful to compare forecast and observed time series. In fact, differences and similarities among the time series such as the dominant scale of variability and the time location of the largest variances in the time series were detected with the wavelet analyses. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Probability, Populations, Phylogenetics, and Hominin Speciation

abstract:A number of recent articles have appeared on the hominin Denisova fossil remains. Many of them focus on attempts to produce DNA sequences from the extracted samples. Often these project mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from the fossils of a number of Neandertals and the Denisovans in an attempt to understand the evolution of Middle Pleistocene human ancestors. These articles introduce a number of problems in the interpretation of speciation in hominins. One concerns the degradation of the ancient DNA and its interpretation as authentic genetic information. Another problem concerns the ideas of “species” versus “population” and the use of these ideas in building evolutionary diagrams to indicate ancestry and extinction. A third issue concerns the theory of haplotypes in the mtDNA. Given the severe constraints on mutations in the mtDNA genome to maintain functionality and the purifying processes to reduce such mutations in the ovaries, putative geographic and historical variations seem contradictory. Local diversity and variations in supposed “macrohaplotypes” are explained as back migrations or back mutations, which dilutes the robust nature of the theory. A central issue involves what human variation means, how much population variation there has been in the past, and whether this variation distinguishes hominid speciation or is simply a process of anagenesis. This brings up the question of how much can be interpreted from the analysis of DNA. Some businesses today claim to be able to use DNA analysis to discover past ethnic identities, and a new niche in restaurants is producing “DNA” menus. Perhaps some caution is in order.
(2019). Polygenic Prediction of Weight and Obesity Trajectories from Birth to Adulthood. Cell , 177 (3), 587-596.e9.

Study cohorts. The UK Biobank is a large observational study that enrolled 502,617 individuals aged 40 to 69 years of age from across the United Kingdom beginning in 2006 (Sudlow et al., 2015). We identified 407,969 individuals of European ancestry with genotyping array and BMI data available. Individuals in the UK Biobank underwent genotyping with one of two closely related genotyping arrays consisting of over 800,000 genetic markers scattered across the genome (Bycroft et al., 2018). Additional genotypes were imputed centrally using the Haplotype Reference Consortium panel version 1.1, the UK10K panel, and the 1000 Genomes panel. To analyze individuals with a relatively homogenous ancestry and owing to small percentages of non-British individuals, the present analysis was restricted to the white British ancestry individuals. This subpopulation was constructed centrally using a combination of self-reported ancestry and genetic confirmation by principal components of ancestry. Additional exclusion criteria included outliers for heterozygosity or genotype missing rates, discordant reported versus genotypic sex, putative sex chromosome aneuploidy, or withdrawal of informed consent, derived centrally as previously reported (Bycroft et al., 2018). The genome-wide polygenic score was validated within 119,951 participants of the UK Biobank Phase 1 validation dataset, and subsequently tested in the remaining 288,016 participants. Avoidance of sample overlap between the validation and testing datasets prevents test statistic inflation (Vilhjalmsson et al., 2015). Whole exome sequencing was performed Broad Institute MIT Harvard MA, USA) in a subset of 6,552 UK Biobank participants. Libraries were constructed as previously reported et 2011) and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq sequencer with the use of 151 bp paired-end reads. In-solution hybrid selection was performed
Insights into magma and fluid transfer at Mount Etna by a multiparametric approach: A model of the events leading to the 2011 eruptive cycle

Since the second half of the 1990s, the eruptive activity of Mount Etna has provided evidence that both explosive and effusive eruptions display periodic variations in discharge and eruption style. In this work, a multiparametric approach, consisting of comparing volcanological, geophysical, and geochemical data, was applied to explore the volcano's dynamics during 2009–2011. In particular, temporal and/or spatial variations of seismicity (volcano‐tectonic earthquakes, volcanic tremor, and long‐period and very long period events), ground deformation (GPS and tiltmeter data), and geochemistry (SO2 flux, CO2 flux, CO2/SO2 ratio) were studied to understand the volcanic activity, as well as to investigate magma movement in both deep and shallow portions of the plumbing system, feeding the 2011 eruptive period. After the volcano deflation, accompanying the onset of the 2008–2009 eruption, a new recharging phase began in August 2008. This new volcanic cycle evolved from an initial recharge phase of the intermediate‐shallower plumbing system and inflation, followed by (i) accelerated displacement in the volcano's eastern flank since April 2009 and (ii) renewal of summit volcanic activity during the second half of 2010, culminating in 2011 in a cyclic eruptive behavior with 18 lava fountains from New Southeast Crater (NSEC). Furthermore, supported by the geochemical data, the inversion of ground deformation GPS data and the locations of the tremor sources are used here to constrain both the area and the depth range of magma degassing, allowing reconstructing the intermediate and shallow storage zones feeding the 2011 cyclic fountaining NSEC activity.
Variability of degree results in geography in United Kingdom universities 1973–90: Preliminary results and policy implications

ABSTRACT Variability in degree results, especially in the proportion of good (i.e. first class and upper second class) degrees awarded, between subjects and institutions is well-documented. Relatively little work has examined variability within a single discipline. Analysis of degree results in geography in United Kingdom universities between 1973 and 1990 reveals persistent and systematic variations between departments in the proportion of good degrees awarded. Differences in entry qualification provide some explanation, but important questions remain. These questions have implications for various areas of current policy concern including the validity of value added performance indicators and the future of the external examiner system.
The lakes and seas of Titan

Analogous to Earth's water cycle, Titan's methane-based hydrologic cycle supports standing bodies of liquid and drives processes that result in common morphologic features including dunes, channels, lakes, and seas. Like lakes on Earth and early Mars, Titan's lakes and seas preserve a record of its climate and surface evolution. Unlike on Earth, the volume of liquid exposed on Titan's surface is only a small fraction of the atmospheric reservoir. The volume and bulk composition of the seas can constrain the age and nature of atmospheric methane, as well as its interaction with surface reservoirs. Similarly, the morphology of lacustrine basins chronicles the history of the polar landscape over multiple temporal and spatial scales. The distribution of trace species, such as noble gases and higher-order hydrocarbons and nitriles, can address Titan's origin and the potential for both prebiotic and biotic processes. Accordingly, Titan's lakes and seas represent a compelling target for exploration.
A Polyfocal Projection for Statistical Surfaces

Abstract The evolution of a continuous projection for portraying the area of territorial units in proportion to a thematic variable has, in the past, eluded the cartographer. The present paper—resulting from postgraduate research in cartography by the second author under the supervision of the first—describes the development of such a projection and some of the possible applications.
NEW DATA ON THE ANATOMY OF CONULARIA MILWAUKEENSIS CLELAND, 1911 (MIDDLE DEVONIAN, IOWA AND WISCONSIN)

Reexamination of previously described conulariids has shown that the morphology of steeply pyramidal, generally four-sided conulariid exoskeletons is more complex than was realized by earlier generations of conulariid specialists (e.g., Van Iten, 1992a, 1992b; Jerre, 1994; Van Iten et al., 1996). Much of this complexity is expressed as variation in the anatomy of the corners and midlines (Van Iten, 1992a). In nearly all conulariids, the corners are sulcate, and in some genera (e.g., Archaeoconularia Bouček, 1939 and Pseudoconularia Bouček, 1939) the longitudinal center line, or midline, of the faces also is sulcate or is marked by a straight or zigzagged ridge. In the oldest known conulariid, Baccaconularia Hughes, Gunderson, and Weedon, 2000 (Cambrian: Furongian Series), the midlines are marked by a series of elongate invaginations. Corners and/or midlines of many other conulariids exhibit subtle or pronounced internal thickening (e.g., Van Iten, 1992a; Jerre, 1994). Most such conulariids exhibit one or two sets of longitudinal ridges, or carinae, with a single carina at each corner and/or a single carina or a pair of carinae at each midline. The height of the carinae varies considerably between species, ranging from less than one-fiftieth to over one-half the distance to the center of the exoskeletal cavity. Both corner and midline carinae may be continuous or (less frequently) seriated. Also, the abaxial edge of single midline carinae may have a single crest or (rarely) it may be weakly or strongly bifurcate.