Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic performance of 19-gauge endobronchial ultrasound-guided 1 transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in suspected 2 lymphoma: a prospective cohort study 3

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) represents a minimally- 22 invasive approach in the evaluation of mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy. Diagnostic performance of EBUS- 23 TBNA in lymphoma using standard 22-gauge (22G) needle is limited by sample volumes that are often 24 inadequate for histopathological assessment. To evaluate the diagnostic utility of 19-gauge (19G) EBUS-TBNA needle in the evaluation of suspected lymphoma. Diagnostic performance of 19G EBUS-TBNA appears similar to standard 22G needle in detection and definitive 45 diagnosis of lymphoma. Further invasive testing remains necessary following non-diagnostic EBUS-TBNA 46 procedures. 248 categorical variables. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad QuickCalcs. 15 diagnosing recurrent lymphoma compared to de novo diagnosis, 30,31 this may overestimate its overall diagnostic performance within our cohort. Our findings confirm the utility of EBUS-TBNA for evaluation of mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy in patients with suspected lymphoma. The diagnostic performance of 19G EBUS-TBNA for detection and definitive diagnosis of lymphoma appears similar to that of 22G needle. Diagnosis of hypocellular variants on EBUS-TBNA remains challenging. Abnormal flow cytometry is strongly predictive for lymphoma, and demonstrated a sensitivity of 78% (95% CI 44-95) for detection of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Further invasive testing remains necessary following non-diagnostic EBUS-TBNA procedures.
Efficacy and safety evaluation of perindopril–lercanidipine combined therapy in patients with mild essential hypertension

Abstract Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of perindopril–lercanidipine combination versus perindopril or lercanidipine monotherapies in patients with mild essential hypertension. Methods: A total of 180 patients with mild essential hypertension were randomly assigned to three groups: group A (perindopril 2 mg plus lercanidipine 5 mg; n = 60), group B (lercanidipine 10 mg; n = 60) and group C (perindopril 4 mg; n = 60). The treatment efficacy and the incidence of adverse events were evaluated at the end of 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Results: The blood pressure in group A was already lower than in group B and group C at week 4 after treatment initiation. Systolic blood pressure was 148 ± 13 mmHg in group A, 151 ± 14 mmHg in group B, and 153 ± 13 in group C (p < 0.001); diastolic blood pressure was 89 ± 8, 92 ± 7 and 92 ± 6 mmHg, respectively (p < 0.001). At the end of treatment the normalization rate was significantly higher in group A, compared with group B and group C (71.7%, 68.3%, and 48.3%, respectively; p < 0.05). Four adverse events were observed in group A, while seven and nineteen adverse events occurred in group B and in group C, respectively. Statistically significant differences in adverse reaction incidence were reported among three groups. Conclusion: Although its results were collected in an overall limited number of patients in a single center, this study shows that the combination of perindopril and lercanidipine, compared with lercanidipine alone or perindopril alone, was effective in improving blood pressure in mild essential hypertensive patients, and also decreased the incidence of adverse events.
Caractérisation expérimentale des processus d’hydratation et de carbonatation des roches basiques et ultra-basiques

Depuis le milieu des annees 90, la mineralisation in situ du CO2 est envisagee comme une solution durable et efficace pour limiter ses emissions anthropiques vers l'atmosphere. Il s'agit de recuperer le CO2 emis par certaines industries pour le pieger en profondeur sous forme minerale (carbonates) dans les aquiferes mafiques et ultramafiques naturels (de type basaltes et peridotites). La carbonatation du CO2 a ete largement decrite dans les systemes naturels ou elle apparait a travers une serie de reactions chimiques couplees au transport des especes reactives dans le fluide. Plusieurs experiences en reacteurs fermes ont ete menees depuis une quinzaine d'annees afin de mieux comprendre les parametres physico-chimiques controlant ces reactions. Mais tres peu d'etudes n'ont encore caracterise les processus de transport-reactif au cours de l'injection et de la mineralisation in situ du CO2 dans ces roches.Ces travaux visent a repondre a 3 principaux objectifs : (i) caracteriser l'evolution des chemins reactifs lors de l'injection de CO2 dans des roches (ultra-)mafiques, (ii) mesurer les effets en retour des reactions sur les proprietes hydrodynamiques du milieu et (iii) quantifier le rendement et la perennite des processus sur le long terme. Ils s'appuient sur le developpement de protocoles experimentaux pour (i) reproduire l'injection de CO2 dans les roches (ultra-)mafiques et (ii) caracteriser les reactions a l'aide d'une serie d'outils geochimiques et analytiques de l'echelle atomique a centimetrique. Trois series d'experiences de percolation reactive ont ete realise sur des agregats (ultra-)mafiques relativement simples (olivines de San Carlos et d'Hawaii) et plus complexes (basaltes de Stapafell) dans des conditions de P-T-confinement in situ (Ptot=10-25 MPa ; T=180-185°C;Pconf=15-28 MPa). Les resultats obtenus ont permis de differencier plusieurs chemins reactifs dans ces systemes en fonction du transport du fluide, de la porosite du milieu, des heterogeneites locales de la roche, de la mineralogie et/ou des variations locales de la composition chimique du fluide. Les calculs du bilan de masse ont revele une mineralisation efficace du CO2 controlee par les proprietes chimiques et hydrodynamiques du milieu. Mais certaines reactions associees a l'alteration des roches (ultra-)mafiques (hydratation) ont des effets en retour negatifs sur les proprietes reservoirs de la roche (porosite, permeabilite) pouvant compromettre la perennite du stockage du CO2 dans les aquiferes naturels sur le long terme.Ces nouvelles donnees permettront aux modeles numeriques de mieux simuler la carbonatation des roches (ultra-)mafiques en connaissant les proprietes hydrodynamiques du milieu et les heterogeneites structurales du reservoir. Elles suggerent aussi qu'un meilleur controle de certains parametres d'injection, comme le debit ou la composition du fluide injecte (ex: pCO2), permettrait d'ameliorer le taux et le rendement de la carbonatation.
Exercise therapy for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND No intervention has proven effective in modifying long-term disease prognosis in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but exercise therapy is considered to be an important part of symptomatic and supportive treatment for these patients. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of exercise therapy for patients with MS in terms of activities of daily living and health-related quality of life. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane MS Group Specialised Register (searched: March 2004), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (from 1966 to March 2004), EMBASE (from 1988 to March 2004 ), CINAHL (from 1982 to March 2004), PEDro (from 1999 to March 2004) . Manual search in the journal 'Multiple Sclerosis' and screening of the reference lists of identified studies and reviews. We also searched abstracts published in proceedings of conferences. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) that reported on exercise therapy for adults with MS, not presently experiencing an exacerbation; outcomes that include measures of activity limitation or health-related quality of life or both. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently extracted data and methodological quality of the included trials. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. The results were analysed using a best-evidence synthesis based on methodological quality. MAIN RESULTS Nine high-methodological-quality RCTs(260 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Six trials focussed on comparison of exercise therapy versus no exercise therapy, whereas three trials compared two interventions that both met our definition of exercise therapy. Best evidence synthesis showed strong evidence in favour of exercise therapy compared to no exercise therapy in terms of muscle power function, exercise tolerance functions and mobility-related activities. Moderate evidence was found for improving mood. No evidence was observed for exercise therapy on fatigue and perception of handicap when compared to no exercise therapy. Finally, no evidence was found that specific exercise therapy programmes were more successful in improving activities and participation than other exercise treatments. No evidence of deleterious effects of exercise therapy was described in included studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The results of the present review suggest that exercise therapy can be beneficial for patients with MS not experiencing an exacerbation. There is an urgent need for consensus on a core set of outcome measures to be used in exercise trials. In addition, these studies should experimentally control for 'dose' of treatment, type of MS and should include sufficient contrast between experimental and control groups.
Do climate models underestimate snow accumulation on the Antarctic plateau? A re-evaluation of/from in situ observations in East Wilkes and Victoria Lands

Abstract It has been suggested that meteorological and climate models underestimate snow accumulation on the Antarctic plateau, because accumulation (or surface mass balance (SMB)) is dominated by clear-sky precipitation while this process is not properly taken into account in the models. Here, we show that differences between model and field SMB data are much reduced when the in situ SMB reports used to evaluate the models are filtered through quality-control criteria and less reliable reports are subsequently left out. We thus argue that, although not necessarily unsupported, model biases and their interpretations in terms of clear-sky vs synoptic precipitation on the Antarctic plateau may have been overstated in the past. To avoid such misleading issues, it is important that in situ SMB reports of insufficient or unassessed reliability are discarded, even at the cost of a strong reduction in spatial sampling and coverage.
University of Birmingham Molecular mechanism of central nervous system repair by the Drosophila NG2 homologue kon-tiki

(NG2)–positive glia are repair cells that proliferate upon central nervous system (CNS) damage, promoting functional recovery. However, repair is limited because of the failure of the newly produced glial cells to differentiate. It is a key goal to discover how to regulate NG2 to enable glial proliferation and differentiation conducive to repair. Drosophila has an NG2 homologue called kon-tiki ( kon ), of unknown CNS function. We show that kon promotes repair and identify the underlying mechanism. Crush injury up-regulates kon expression downstream of Notch. Kon in turn induces glial proliferation and initiates glial differentiation by activating glial genes and prospero ( pros ). Two negative feedback loops with Notch and Pros allow Kon to drive the homeostatic regulation required for repair. By modu-lating Kon levels in glia, we could prevent or promote CNS repair. Thus, the functional links between Kon, Notch, and Pros are essential for, and can drive, repair. Analogous mechanisms could promote CNS repair in mammals.
Relating estimates of CaCO3 production, export, and dissolution in the water column to measurements of CaCO3 rain into sediment traps and dissolution on the sea floor: A revised global carbonate budget

The global CaCO3 budget is constrained by new estimates of standing stocks, fluxes through the water column, and dissolution in the water column and on the sea floor. Previous estimates of carbonate production and export are indistinguishable within a large range of values, 0.4–1.8 Gt PIC yr−1. Globally, excess alkalinity (TA*) and water mass tracers indicate dissolution of 1.0 Gt PIC yr−1 between 200 and 1500 m, suggesting production and export must at least equal this amount. Most water column dissolution occurs at high latitudes, and alkalinity fluxes from outer shelf and upper slope sediments (100–1500 m) only support 5–10% of the TA* inventory. Below 2000 m, the sinking flux of PIC (0.6 Gt PIC yr−1) is consistent with the rate of sea floor dissolution (0.4 Gt PIC yr−1) plus burial (0.1 Gt PIC yr−1). This rain rate constrains the export value to >1.6 Gt PIC yr−1. Satellite‐based estimates of standing stocks of CaCO3 indicate a decrease equatorward, which is opposite in trend to sediment trap fluxes. This observation may be explained by an equatorward decrease in sinking particle dissolution, systematic changes in PIC residence time with latitude, or satellite retrieval problems. Globally averaged euphotic zone standing stock (5.4 mmol m−2) and export estimates indicate PIC residence times of 5–18 days.
Contrasting patterns of variation in weedy traits and unique crop features in divergent populations of US weedy rice (Oryza in and

Domestication is the hallmark of evolution and civilization and harnesses biodiversity through selection for specific traits. In regions where domesticated lines are grown near wild relatives, congeneric sources of aggressive weedy genotypes cause major economic losses. Thus, the origins of weedy genotypes where no congeneric species occur raise questions regarding management effectiveness and evolutionary mechanisms responsible for weedy population success. Since eradication in the 1970s, California growers avoided weedy rice through continuous flood culture and zero-tolerance guidelines, preventing the import, presence, and movement of weedy seeds. In 2003, after decades of no reported presence in California, a weedy rice population was confirmed in dry-seeded fields. Our objectives were to identify the origins and establishment of this population and pinpoint possible phenotypes involved. We show that California weedy rice is derived from a different genetic source among a broad range of AA genome Oryzas and is most recently diverged from O . sativa temperate japonica cultivated in California. In contrast, other weedy rice ecotypes in North America (Southern US) originate from weedy genotypes from China near wild Oryza , and are derived through existing crop-wild relative crosses. Analyses of morphological data show that California weedy rice subgroups have phenotypes like medium-grain or gourmet cultivars, but have colored pericarp, seed shattering, and awns like wild relatives, suggesting that reversion to non-domestic or wild-like traits can occur following domestication, despite apparent fixation of domestication alleles. Additionally, these results indicate that preventive methods focused on incoming weed sources through contamination may miss burgeoning weedy genotypes that rapidly adapt, establish, and proliferate. Investigating the common and unique evolutionary mechanisms underlying global weed origins and subsequent interactions with crop relatives sheds light on how weeds evolve and addresses broader questions regarding the stability of selection during domestication and crop improvement.
A chemical indicator of trade wind reversal in corals from the western tropical Pacific

Historical levels of manganese have been measured in the annual rings of a reef coral from Tarawa atoll (1°30′N, 173°E) in order to assess the temporal variability of this trace element in surface waters of the western tropical Pacific. Seasonal variability associated with vertical mixing is not apparent as is the case in the eastern Pacific; however, Mn/Ca ratios are highly perturbed during three El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events (1965, 1972, 1976) that occurred within the growth period 1960–1977. For approximately 6 months during each of these events, Mn/Ca ratios increase by 50–80% from a background of 27 nmol Mn/mol Ca. These features co-occur with negative δ18O pulses recorded in the same coral which result from anomalously abundant rainfall. Wet deposition of Mn, however, does not appear to be an adequate source to account for the inferred surface ocean enrichments. The most plausible explanation has to do with the transient appearance of westerly winds along the equator during ENSO periods. Particularly vigorous westerly wind “bursts” (sometimes averaging 10 m/sec or more over 16 hours) during the aforementioned years may have generated wind waves of sufficient strength to create an aura of particulate and diagenetically remobilized Mn from within the shallow westward facing lagoon of Tarawa. This interpretation is supported by relatively high Mn concentrations measured in pore waters of Tarawa lagoon sediments. The results suggest a useful new chemical tracer of historical ENSO conditions in the western Pacific basin.
Zinc Distribution and Speciation in Arabidopsis Halleri · Arabidopsis Lyrata Progenies Presenting Various Zinc Accumulation Capacities

• The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the chemical form and localization of zinc (Zn) in plant leaves and their Zn accumulation capacity. • An interspecific cross between Arabidopsis halleri sp. halleri and Arabidopsis lyrata sp. petrea segregating for Zn accumulation was used. Zinc (Zn) speciation and Zn distribution in the leaves of the parent plants and of selected F 1 and F 2 progenies were investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and chemical analyses. • A correlation was observed between the proportion of Zn being in octahedral coordination complexed to organic acids and free in solution (Zn–OAs + Zn aq) and Zn content in the leaves. This pool varied between 40% and 80% of total leaf Zn depending on the plant studied. Elemental mapping of the leaves revealed different Zn partitioning between the veins and the leaf tissue. The vein : tissue fluores-cence ratio was negatively correlated with Zn accumulation. • The higher proportion of Zn–OAs + Zn aq and the depletion of the veins in the stronger accumulators are attributed to a higher xylem unloading and vacuolar sequestration in the leaf cells. Elemental distributions in the trichomes were also investigated, and results support the role of carboxyl and ⁄ or hydroxyl groups as major Zn ligands in these cells.
Simulating the sea-level imprint on marine oxygen-isotope records during the Middle Miocene using an ice sheet-climate model

[1] Oxygen isotopic ratios are implemented in an ice sheet–climate model in order to directly compare the modeled isotopic ratio of the seawater to the high‐resolution isotopic records from deep‐sea sediment cores in the middle Miocene. The isotopic depletion resulting from the modeled ice sheet expansion explains the mean oxygen isotope step found in deep‐sea sedimentary records of ∼0.5‰. Approximately 85% of the modeled increase in the isotopic composition of seawater is caused by an increase in ice volume; the remainder is due to a stronger depletion in oxygen isotopes in the large ice sheet. Furthermore, we also investigated the relation between sea level (or global ice volume) and the isotopic composition of seawater. Our experiments confirm the validity of the relation of approximately 1‰ enrichment per 100 m sea level lowering. We further show that this relationship is r estricted by the mean ocean depth and the assumed oxygen isotopic composition of the ice sheet. Small deviations (±10%) from this general relationship occur depending on the size and the mean isotopic content of the ice sheet. Large continental ice sheets are more depleted in heavy oxygen isotopes and therefore reach a slightly higher ratio. In contrast, small ice sheets have a less depleted isotopic composition and correspondingly have a smaller effect on the isotopic composition of the ocean.
Surface energy balance of shrub vegetation in the Sahel

Recently, the development and use of Global Circulation Models, employed for climate change prediction, has taken off. These models provide us with the current and future status of the surface, expressed by the surface energy and water balances. In order to obtain reliable climate-predictions there is an urgent need for reliable input data from all major biomes covering our Globe. The Sahel has been one of the most important areas of application for GCMs, in order to understand the reasons for its declining rainfall, a process that started in the early seventies. It is therefore of paramount importance to monitor the surface conditions of this vulnerable area, where drought and land use interact to create surface conditions able of altering the regional climate. This thesis describes the surface energy balance of Sahelian shrub vegetation (fallow savannah and tiger-bush) by using micrometeorological data obtained in the framework of the HAPEX-Sahel and SEBEX project. The surface energy balance defines how net radiation is partitioned over the atmospheric fluxes (sensible and latent heat flux) and the soil heat flux. The energy balance is studied on a diurnal, seasonal and interannual scale. In addition the CO 2 flux of savannah is described. The fallow savannah is part of a rotation scheme (usually millet) and consists of scattered shrubs (Guiera senegalensis) interspersed by a sparse undergrowth of grasses and herb species. The tiger-bush takes its name, when viewed from the sky, from the resemblance to a tiger skin. It is composed of elongated vegetation patches, mainly consisting of Guiera senegalensis with an occasional tree, growing on bare, crusted, practically impenetrable soil. To study the exchange between the (Sahelian) land surface and the atmosphere, various surface parameterizations have been developed. These soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer schemes (SVATs, in their simplified form being the basis of the large-scale models) require detailed input of surface parameters (e.g. albedo, roughness length for momentum, or soil thermal conductivity) and the resistances encountered by the fluxes. This thesis provides the various input parameters and surface and aerodynamic resistances of the savannah and tigerbush and their possible temporal variability. Various SVATs have been tested and it can be concluded that simple parameterizations of soil heat flux give results comparable to elaborate soil models. Of major importance are the surface resistances and the aerodynamic resistance describing the transport within the understorey. Simple relationships, in which the roughness length and the displacement height are characterized by canopy height only, do not work satisfactorily for these sparse canopies. They require a relatively detailed drag partition model, applying roughness density. If simple, one-layer, bulk transfer models are used (e.g. for remote sensing) the excess resistance has to be taken into account. It appears that the resistance for this shrub-dominated vegetation is much larger than the usually applied value.
Tassel: Software for Association Mapping of Complex Traits in Diverse Samples

Association analyses that exploit the natural diversity of a genome to map at very high resolutions are becoming increasingly important. In most studies, however, researchers must contend with the confounding effects of both population and family structure. TASSEL (Trait Analysis by aSSociation, Evolution and Linkage) implements general linear model and mixed linear model approaches for controlling population and family structure. For result interpretation the program allows for linkage disequilibrium statistics to be calculated and visualized graphically. Database browsing and data importation is facilitated by integrated middleware. Other features include analyzing insertions/deletions, calculating diversity statistics, integration of phenotypic and genotypic data, imputing missing data, and calculating principal components. Availability: The TASSEL executable, user manual, example data-sets and tutorial document are freely available at