Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Off-pump lung re-transplantation avoiding clamshell thoracotomy is feasible and safe: a single-center experience

Background Lung re-transplantation (re-LTx) is the only therapeutic option for selected patients with advanced allograft dysfunction. This study aims to describe our center’s experience to illustrate the feasibility and safety of off-pump re-LTx avoiding clamshell incision. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 42 patients who underwent bilateral re-LTx between 2007 and 2021. Patients were classified according to their surgical approach and extracorporeal life support (ECLS)-use. Demographics, surgical technique, and short- and long-term outcomes were compared between groups. Continuous data were examined with an independent-sample t-test or non-parametric test. Pearson’s chi-squared and Fisher’s exact were used to analyze categorical data. Results Twenty-six patients (61.9%) underwent re-LTx by anterior thoracotomy without ECLS. Compared to the more invasive approach (thoracotomy with ECLS and clamshell with/without ECLS, n=16, 38.1%), clamshell-avoiding off-pump re-LTx patients had a shorter operative time (471.6±111.2 vs. 704.0±273.4 min, P=0.010) and less frequent grade 3 primary graft dysfunction (PGD-3) at 72 h (7.7% vs. 37.5%, P=0.038). No significant difference was found in PGD-3 incidence within 72 h, mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and the incidence of reoperation within 90 days between groups (P>0.05). In the long-term, the clamshell-avoiding and off-pump approach resulted in similar 1- and 5-year patient survival vs. the more invasive approach. Conclusions Our experience shows that clamshell-avoiding off-pump re-LTx is feasible and safe in selected patients on a case-by-case evaluation.
First-Principles Dynamics Investigation of Germanium as an Anode Material in Multivalent-Ion Batteries

Germanium, a promising electrode material for high-capacity lithium ion batteries (LIBs) anodes, attracted much attention because of its large capacity and remarkably fast charge/discharge kinetics. Multivalent-ion batteries are of interest as potential alternatives to LIBs because they have a higher energy density and are less prone to safety hazards. In this study, we probed the potential of amorphous Ge anodes for use in multivalent-ion batteries. Although alloying Al and Zn in Ge anodes is thermodynamically unstable, Mg and Ca alloys with Ge form stable compounds, Mg2.3Ge and Ca2.4Ge that exhibit higher capacities than those obtained by alloying Li, Na, or K with Ge, corresponding to 1697 and 1771 mA·h·g–1, respectively. Despite having a slightly lower capacity than Ca–Ge, Mg–Ge shows an approximately 150% smaller volume expansion ratio (231% vs. 389%) and three orders of magnitude higher ion diffusivity (3.0 × 10−8 vs. 1.1 × 10−11 cm2 s−1) than Ca–Ge. Furthermore, ion diffusion in Mg–Ge occurs at a rate comparable to that of monovalent ions, such as Li+, Na+, and K+. The outstanding performance of the Mg–Ge system may originate from the coordination number of the Ge host atoms and the smaller atomic size of Mg. Therefore, Ge anodes could be applied in multivalent-ion batteries using Mg2+ as the carrier ion because its properties can compete with or surpass monovalent ions. Here, we report that the maximum capacity, volume expansion ratio, and ion diffusivities of the alloying electrode materials can be understood using atomic-scale structural properties, such as the host–host and host–ion coordination numbers, as valuable indicators.
A New Method for Classifying Scenes for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Using the Boundary Object Function Descriptor on RGB-D Points

Scene classification in autonomous navigation is a highly complex task due to variations, such as light conditions and dynamic objects, in the inspected scenes; it is also a challenge for small-factor computers to run modern and highly demanding algorithms. In this contribution, we introduce a novel method for classifying scenes in simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) using the boundary object function (BOF) descriptor on RGB-D points. Our method aims to reduce complexity with almost no performance cost. All the BOF-based descriptors from each object in a scene are combined to define the scene class. Instead of traditional image classification methods such as ORB or SIFT, we use the BOF descriptor to classify scenes. Through an RGB-D camera, we capture points and adjust them onto layers than are perpendicular to the camera plane. From each plane, we extract the boundaries of objects such as furniture, ceilings, walls, or doors. The extracted features compose a bag of visual words classified by a support vector machine. The proposed method achieves almost the same accuracy in scene classification as a SIFT-based algorithm and is 2.38× faster. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in terms of accuracy and robustness for the 7-Scenes and SUNRGBD datasets.
Invertebrate C1q Domain-Containing Proteins: Molecular Structure, Functional Properties and Biomedical Potential

C1q domain-containing proteins (C1qDC proteins) unexpectedly turned out to be widespread molecules among a variety of invertebrates, despite their lack of an integral complement system. Despite the wide distribution in the genomes of various invertebrates, data on the structure and properties of the isolated and characterized C1qDC proteins, which belong to the C1q/TNF superfamily, are sporadic, although they hold great practical potential for the creation of new biotechnologies. This review not only summarizes the current data on the properties of already-isolated or bioengineered C1qDC proteins but also projects further strategies for their study and biomedical application. It has been shown that further broad study of the carbohydrate specificity of the proteins can provide great opportunities, since for many of them only interactions with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) was evaluated and their antimicrobial, antiviral, and fungicidal activities were studied. However, data on the properties of C1qDC proteins, which researchers originally discovered as lectins and therefore studied their fine carbohydrate specificity and antitumor activity, intriguingly show the great potential of this family of proteins for the creation of targeted drug delivery systems, vaccines, and clinical assays for the differential diagnosis of cancer. The ability of invertebrate C1qDC proteins to recognize patterns of aberrant glycosylation of human cell surfaces and interact with mammalian immunoglobulins indicates the great biomedical potential of these molecules.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Follow-up:A Global Strategy for Turning Knowledge into Action

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Follow-up is a global strategy for turning knowledge into action,and it will be initiated recently on the basis of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.Its vision is to improve human well-being by halting and reversing the decline in ecosystem services;the goal of this strategy is to make ecosystem service considerations become an integral part of public and private sector decision-making at all levels;and its strategic objectives include: 1) Continue to build and improve the knowledge base on the links between biodiversity,ecosystem functioning,ecosystem services and human well-being,and develop tools for mainstreaming ecosystem services into development and economic decision-making.2) Promote the systematic application of ecosystem service considerations,including improved ecosystem services management for increasing resilience to climate change and strengthening the basis for adaptation in public,civil society and private sector decision-making.3) Disseminate the findings of the MA and its conceptual framework,tools and methodologies to relevant stakeholders through the development of action based media strategies and educational tools.4) Explore needs,options and modalities for a possible second global ecosystem assessment,complementing existing assessment processes and contributing to the development of a more coherent international environmental assessment landscape.
Balloon‐borne measurements of electrical conductivity, mobility, and the recombination coefficient

Balloon-borne measurements of the positive polar conductivity σ+ from near ground level to 35 km are presented. The data were obtained in conjunction with measurements of the ionization rate q and the positive ion density n+. These three parameters are used to calculate the average positive ion mobility profile and the effective recombination coefficient profile. Within the experimental accuracy of about ±10% the reduced mobility is constant with altitude at a value of about 1.5 × 10−4 m2 V−1 s−1. The recombination coefficient profile compares favorably to possible theoretical predictions, but there is some serious question as to whether the theoretical values can in fact be compared directly to the experimental results obtained here.
A 1.3 GHz 100 kW ultra-high efficiency Klystron

Calabazas Creek Research, Inc., in collaboration with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, is developing a high efficiency, 1.3 GHz, 100 kW klystron for driving accelerators. The goal for the efficiency is at least 85%. Designs for the RF circuit, electron gun and collector are presented.
Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties in Nepal: A Case Study of Chitwan District

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal crop in the Nepalese agriculture. This crop occupies a momentous position than other cereal crops since it is used as food, feed, fodder and other industrial raw material. The aim of this study was to identify the socio-economic as well as demographic factors that influence the farmer's decision to adopt improved maize varieties in the Chitwan district of Nepal, using the farm household survey data collected from 180 maize farming households in May-June 2005 for the cropping year 2004-05. The impact of winter maize cultivation, age, family size and education of household head, land type, access to credit, access to extension services and farm yard manure on the adoption of maize varieties were analyzed using the logit regression model. The results from the study indicated that the adoption of improved maize varieties is significantly influenced by winter maize cultivation, education of the household head, lowland area, upland area as well as access to credit and extension services. This study suggests the need to bring more area under maize cultivation during winter season especially in the low lying area. Further, there is the need for special training, seminars, field demonstrations and technical support for the maize farmers. As majority of the households had no formal education, the extension program should be intended to the less educated people. In addition, the credit facility especially the procedure for loan should be made simple to improve the adoption rate of improved maize varieties in the study area.
Potential Effects of Runoff, Fluvial Sediment, and Nutrient Discharges on the Coral Reefs of Puerto Rico

Abstract Coral reefs, the foundation and primary structure of many highly productive and diverse tropical marine ecosystems, have been degraded by human activity in much of the earth's tropical oceans. To contribute to improved understanding of this problem, the potential relation between river sediment and nutrient discharges and degradation of coral reefs surrounding Puerto Rico was studied using streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water-quality data. Mean annual runoff for the 8711 km2 island is 911 mm, about 57% of mean annual precipitation (1600 mm). Mean annual suspended-sediment discharge from Puerto Rico to coastal waters is estimated at 2.7–9.0 million metric tonnes. Storm runoff transports a substantial part of sediment: the highest recorded daily sediment discharge is 1–3.6 times the mean annual sediment discharge. Hurricane Georges (1998) distributed an average of 300 mm of rain across the island, equivalent to a volume of about 2.6 billion m3. Runoff of more than 1.0 billion m3 of water and as much as 5 to 10 million metric tonnes of sediment were discharged to the coast and shelf. Nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in river waters are as much as 10 times the estimated presettlement levels. Fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus concentrations in many Puerto Rico rivers are near or above regulatory limits. Unlike sediment discharges, which are predominantly episodic and intense, river-borne nutrient and fecal discharge is a less-intense but chronic stressor to coral reefs found near the mouths of rivers. Negative effects of river-derived sediment and nutrient discharge on coral reefs are especially pronounced on the north, southwest, and west coasts.
INTEGRATED MONITORING SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION SUBSTATIONS

EDP Distribuição is testing and implementing solutions to perform online monitoring of a wide set of variables coming from scattered physical assets. EDP Distribuição as a DSO has significant number of unattended HV/MV substations that require inspections and maintenance operations in order to maintain their operational capabilities. Due to this large number of HV/MV substations, currently near 400, scheduling and performing maintenance and inspections activities is a very time intensive process which can lead to the detection of defects in an advanced state. In electrical installations hot spots and insulation breakage are key aspects in for predictive maintenance, since the evolution of these defects can lead to service interruptions in the worst case, degrading the quality of service. This paper presents an autonomous integrated inspection system to be installed in substations, including thermal and corona inspection, as well as intrusion detection. The development of this system came from the market absence of a solution that could integrate all of the components, considering the DSO requirements: low cost, autonomous and with minimal intervention from the operator.
Challenges Facing Agricultural Extension Agents in Disseminating Climate Change Innovations to Farmers: Insight from Anambra State, Nigeria

The study investigated the challenges which agricultural extension agents in Anambra State face with regards to the dissemination of climate change innovations to farmers. A sample of sixty (60) respondents randomly selected was used for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed with percentage and factor analysis. Statistical analysis of the data shows that the mean age of the respondents was forty seven (47) years. The majority (43%) of the respondents were HND/BSc Degree holders and have spent a mean year of 22 in the State ADP. The challenges facing the respondents range from manpower (-.067), organizational (0.54) to poor motivational (0.65) problems. The work recommends adequate capacity building for the workers in the area of climate change. Further, there is need to incorporate climate change subject matter specialist in the state ADP.
MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES AND ENZYME KINETICS USED AS INDEX OF RECLAMATION IN A CHRONOSEQUENCE COAL MINE OVERBURDEN SPOIL

Restoration ecology is required to access the role(s) of microorganisms in facilitating mine spoil genesis, activity, biodiversity, ecosystem function, and metabolic response as a measure of reclamation in a chronosequence coal mine overburden spoil. Differentiation between six mine spoil and native forest soil was determined based on microbial enumeration and enzyme activity. The relationship between microbial populations and enzyme activity was analyzed. Kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) have greater significance as early and sensitive indicators to assess changes in microbial activity representing quantity and affinity of soil enzymes (amylase: 2.013- 12.629; invertase: 8.193-411.528; protease: 2.949-75.942; urease: 2.544-29.307; phophatase; 3.106-53.608 and dehydrogenase: 0.225-2.129). The catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km) was estimated to be higher in NF as compared to mine spoil, which reflects an impression on microbial community with a change in soil enzymes. Principal component analysis was performed to discriminate soil profiles, which holds potential as complementary criteria for evaluating the progress of reclamation.
EFERENCE-A WARE L ANGUAGE M ODELS

We propose a general class of language models that treat reference as an explicit stochastic latent variable. This architecture allows models to create mentions of entities and their attributes by accessing external databases (required by, e.g., dialogue generation and recipe generation) and internal state (required by, e.g. language models which are aware of coreference). This facilitates the incorporation of information that can be accessed in predictable locations in databases or discourse context, even when the targets of the reference may be rare words. Experiments on three tasks show our model variants outperform models based on deterministic attention.
Evidence for Bartonella quintana in Lice Collected from the Clothes of Ethiopian Homeless Individuals

Human lice, Pediculus humanus, can transmit various pathogens, including Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii. Xenosurveillance is an epidemiological approach to assessing human infection risks performed by screening vectors of infectious disease agents. In the proof-of-principle study reported herein, the DNA of 23 human lice was collected from the clothes of 30 homeless Ethiopian individuals. These samples were assessed using 16S rRNA gene-specific pan-eubacterial PCR for screening, followed by Bartonella genus 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence-specific PCR, Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR, and 16S rRNA gene PCR with specificity for relapsing-fever-associated Borrelia spp. with subsequent sequencing of the amplicons. In one sample, the pan-eubacterial 16S rRNA gene-specific screening PCR, the Bartonella genus 16S-23S ITS sequence-specific PCR, and the Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR allowed for the sequencing of B. quintana-specific amplicons. In two additional samples, Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR also provided sequences showing 100% sequence identity with B. quintana. In total, 3/23 (13.0%) of the assessed lice were found to be positive for B. quintana. Correlating clinical data were not available; however, the assessment confirmed the presence of B. quintana in the local louse population and thus an associated infection pressure. Larger-sized cross-sectional studies seem advisable to more reliably quantify the infection risk of lice-infested local individuals. The need for prevention by providing opportunities to maintain standard hygiene for Ethiopian homeless individuals is stressed by the reported findings, especially in light of the ongoing migration of refugees.
SEX RATIO AT SIZE OF BLUE MARLIN (MAKAIRA NIGRICANS) FROM THE VENEZUELAN FISHERY OFF THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND ADJACENT WATERS

1 SUMMARY Information on sex ratio at size of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) from the Venezuelan pelagic longline fishery and the artisanal drift gillnet fishery is presented for the period 1991-2009. The document analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution of 1935 fish from the pelagic longline fishery and 19037 fish from the artisanal drift gillnet fishery. Results indicate sex ratio vary between fisheries; in the pelagic longline fishery sex ratio favored males throughout the season; but as not much in the artisanal drift gillnet fishery. Sex ratio at size was strongly favored towards males in specimens <200 cm LJFL in both fisheries and throughout the season. Spatial distribution of males and females is presented. RESUME Des informations sur le ratio des sexes par taille du makaire bleu (Makaira nigricans) provenant des palangriers pelagiques et des pecheries artisanales de filet maillant du Venezuela sont presentees pour la periode comprise entre 1991 et 2009. Le document analyse la distribution spatio-temporelle de 1.935 specimens captures par les palangriers pelagiques et 19.037 specimens captures par les pecheries artisanales de filet maillant. Les resultats indiquent que le ratio des sexes varie d'une pecherie a l'autre ; le ratio des sexes presentait davantage de mâles pendant toute la saison dans la pecherie palangriere pelagique mais dans une moindre mesure dans la pecherie artisanale de filet maillant. Le ratio des sexes par taille presentait davantage de mâles de maniere prononcee pour les specimens de <200 cm LJFL pour les deux pecheries et pendant toute la saison. La distribution spatiale des mâles et des femelles est presentee. RESUMEN
Assessing the effect of land-cover changes on species distribu- tions: application of habitat models to conservation of Mediter- ranean bird communities

11 frontiers of biogeography 2.1, 2010 — © 2010 the authors; journal compilation © 2010 The International Biogeography Society Land-cover changes since the last decades of 20th century are leading to important declines in habitat quality, which are responsible for negative impacts on global biodiversity and shifts in species distributions (Steffen et al. 2004). Species distribution models (SDM), which map probabilities of a species’ presence based on the correlation between occurrences and several environmental predictors, are thus becoming of prime importance for assessing the response of species to environmental changes (Guisan & Thuiller 2005). SDM-derived maps are also being applied in the selection of priority areas for conservation, an approach that has been encouraged under a global conservation perspective (Rodriguez et al. 2007). Land-cover changes are geographically variable depending on the ecological and socioeconomical context where they occur (Foley et al. 2005). More concretely, in Mediterranean European countries, recent socio-economical transformations have altered traditional agricultural practices and caused the abandonment of less fertile and/or remote rural areas. In these landscapes, the abandonment of human activities leads to shrubland and forest encroachment (Preiss et al. 1997). As a result, fire is becoming the main cause of large-scale habitat disturbance and a major agent in maintaining open habitats and landscape heterogeneity (Lloret et al. 2002). Habitat changes induced by these opposing driving forces (i.e. land abandonment and fire) are expected to be critical in determining future biodiversity patterns (Herrando et al. 2003, Moreira & Russo 2007). This is particularly important for birds, because several open-habitat species have declined alarmingly and many of them have been designated as species of conservation concern in Europe (BirdLife International 2004). Nevertheless, little is known about how land-cover changes affect patterns of species distribution, and further studies at a landscape scale are needed to assess changes in species occurrence in dynamic landscapes.