Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partition and Fate of Phthalate Acid Esters (PAEs) in a Full-Scale Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland Treating Polluted River Water

When used as highly produced chemicals and widely used plasticizers, Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) have potential risks to human life and the environment. In this study, to assess the distribution and fate of PAEs, specifically inside a full-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland, four PAEs including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were investigated. In effluent, PAEs concentration decreased 19.32% (DMP), 19.18% (DEP), 19.40% (DBP), and 48.56% (DEHP), respectively. Within the wetland, PAEs partitioned in water (0.18–1.12 μg/L, 35.38–64.92%), soil (0.44–5.08 μg/g, 1.02–31.33%), plant (0.68–48.6 μg/g, 0.85–36.54%), air and biological transformation (2.72–33.21%). The results indicated that soil and plant adsorption contributed to the majority of PAE removal, digesting DMP (19.32%), DEP (19.18%), DBP (19.40%), and DEHP (48.56%) in constructed wetlands. Moreover, the adsorption was affected by both octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow) and transpiration stream concentration factors (TSCF). This work, for the first time, revealed the partition and fate of PAEs in constructed wetlands to the best of our knowledge.
Combination of Sclerotherapy and Dual-Wavelength Laser in the Management of Infantile Hemangiomas in Chinese Infants.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with sclerotherapy and dual-wavelength pulsed dye laser (PDL) & Nd:YAG for infantile hemangiomas (IHs). PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-nine patients with IH received treatment with sclerotherapy and dual-wavelength PDL & Nd:YAG treatment at 4-week intervals. Observers assessed the size and color of IH using a size rating scale and color rating scale before and after treatments. RESULTS The study showed that IH improved significantly after several sessions of treatment. Sclerotherapy reduced the size of IH, whereas dual-wavelength laser lightened the color of IH. No serious adverse effects occurred. CONCLUSION Combined sclerotherapy and dual-wavelength laser treatment is an effective and safe option for IH.
Transcatheter Aortic‐Valve Replacement with a Balloon‐Expandable Valve in Low‐Risk Patients

BACKGROUND Among patients with aortic stenosis who are at intermediate or high risk for death with surgery, major outcomes are similar with transcatheter aortic‐valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic‐valve replacement. There is insufficient evidence regarding the comparison of the two procedures in patients who are at low risk. METHODS We randomly assigned patients with severe aortic stenosis and low surgical risk to undergo either TAVR with transfemoral placement of a balloon‐expandable valve or surgery. The primary end point was a composite of death, stroke, or rehospitalization at 1 year. Both noninferiority testing (with a prespecified margin of 6 percentage points) and superiority testing were performed in the as‐treated population. RESULTS At 71 centers, 1000 patients underwent randomization. The mean age of the patients was 73 years, and the mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score was 1.9% (with scores ranging from 0 to 100% and higher scores indicating a greater risk of death within 30 days after the procedure). The Kaplan–Meier estimate of the rate of the primary composite end point at 1 year was significantly lower in the TAVR group than in the surgery group (8.5% vs. 15.1%; absolute difference, ‐6.6 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], ‐10.8 to ‐2.5; P<0.001 for noninferiority; hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.79; P=0.001 for superiority). At 30 days, TAVR resulted in a lower rate of stroke than surgery (P=0.02) and in lower rates of death or stroke (P=0.01) and new‐onset atrial fibrillation (P<0.001). TAVR also resulted in a shorter index hospitalization than surgery (P<0.001) and in a lower risk of a poor treatment outcome (death or a low Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score) at 30 days (P<0.001). There were no significant between‐group differences in major vascular complications, new permanent pacemaker insertions, or moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with severe aortic stenosis who were at low surgical risk, the rate of the composite of death, stroke, or rehospitalization at 1 year was significantly lower with TAVR than with surgery. (Funded by Edwards Lifesciences; PARTNER 3 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02675114.)
A Functional Electrical Stimulation System of High-Density Electrodes With Auto-Calibration for Optimal Selectivity

Surface functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a well-recognized technique for motor function rehabilitation of some paralyzed patients. Finding the proper positions of the electrodes on the forearm for selective control of finger movements is a challenge for FES applications. This work developed a FES system towards hand rehabilitation based on customised high-density electrodes in order to achieve optimal selective stimulation. The proposed system is composed of a customised multi-channel electronic stimulator, an electrode array of 32 electrode pads with each electrode pad size of 1.2 cm $\times1.5$ cm, and motion feedback sensors. An auto-calibration algorithm was developed to determine the optimal stimulation parameters and electrode pads automatically. The algorithm was based on the prior knowledge gained through manual stimulation. The FES system was tested on eight healthy subjects. The results indicated that the auto-calibration algorithm could obtain the optimal electrode pads for the activation of at least three fingers for six subjects in an isolated manner, and the time required for optimal electrode pads and stimulation parameters detection was significantly reduced, demonstrating the potential for finger movement control in hand rehabilitation.
Tectonic Uplift Destabilizes Subsea Gas Hydrate: A Model Example From Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand

Rising ocean temperatures and falling sea level are commonly cited as mechanisms of marine gas hydrate destabilization. More recently, uplift—both isostatic and tectonic—has been invoked. However, the effect of tectonic shortening and uplift on gas hydrate stability zone extent has not been validated via integrated computational modeling. Here, modeling along the Hikurangi margin of New Zealand illustrates the mechanism of tectonic uplift as a driver of gas hydrate destabilization. We simulate how tectonic uplift and shortening affect the presence and decrease the extent of a gas hydrate stability zone. We suggest that resultant gas hydrate destabilization in the marine realm may impact the global carbon cycle and oceanic chemistry over geologic time.
Respiratory syncytial virus infections in India: Epidemiology and need for vaccine

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been identified as a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in young children and elderly. It is an enveloped negative-sense RNA virus belonging to Genus Orthopneumovirus. The clinical features of RSV infection range from mild upper-respiratory-tract illnesses or otitis media to severe lower-respiratory-tract illnesses. Current estimates show that about 33.1 million episodes of RSV-acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) occurred in young children in 2015, of these majority that is, about 30 million RSV-ALRI episodes occurred in low-middle-income countries. In India, the rates of RSV detection in various hospital- and community-based studies mostly done in children vary from 5% to 54% and from 8% to 15%, respectively. Globally, RSV epidemics start in the South moving to the North. In India, RSV mainly peaks in winter in North India and some correlation with low temperature has been observed. Different genotypes of Group A (GA2, GA5, NA1 and ON1) and Group B (GB2, SAB4 and BA) have been described from India. The burden of RSV globally has kept it a high priority for vaccine development. After nearly 50 years of attempts, there is still no licensed vaccine and challenges to obtain a safe and effective vaccine is still facing the scientific community. The data in this review have been extracted from PubMed using the keywords RSV and Epidemiology and India. The data have been synthesised by the authors.
Effect of Applying Cold Gel Pack to the Sternum Region on the Postoperative Pain after Open-Heart Surgery

Aim: The present study was performed at investigating the effects of cold gel pack applied to the sternum on the pain associated with deep breathing and coughing after open-heart surgery. Material-Methods : The study sample included 46 participants. While the study data were collected, the “Patient Information Form” prepared by the researcher based on the pertinent literature was used to question the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, the “Visual Analogue Scale-VAS” was used to assess the severity of the patient's pain, and the “Pain Monitoring Form” was used to record the patient's pain associated with deep breathing and coughing exercises before and after cold gel pack application. Pain scores after deep breathing and coughing were measured and compared warm (room temperature) (placebo) gel pack, with (intervention) and without (control) the gel pack. Results: The intergroup analysis showed that the difference between the experimental, control and placebo groups in terms of their mean VAS scores obtained before the procedure and after the procedure was not statistically significant. But in the experimental group; in terms of their mean VAS scores obtained before the procedure and after the procedure was determined statistically significant. Conclusions : The results of this study showed that cold therapy is an effective method for management of sternal incision pain associated with coughing and deep breathing in open heart surgery patients. Key words: Postoperative Pain , Breathing Exercises, Cardiac Surgery , Post-Surgical Nursing .
The Flex-OeCoS—a Novel Optically Accessible Test Rig for the Investigation of Advanced Combustion Processes under Engine-Like Conditions

A new test rig has been designed, built and commissioned, and is now jointly pursued to facilitate experimental investigations into advanced combustion processes (i.e., dual fuel, multi-mode) under turbulent conditions at high, engine-like temperature and pressure levels. Based on a standard diesel engine block, it offers much improved optical access to the in-cylinder processes due to its separated and rotated arrangement of the compression volume and combustion chamber, respectively. A fully variable pneumatic valve train and the appropriate preconditioning of the intake air allows it to represent a wide range of engine-like in-cylinder conditions regarding pressures, temperatures and turbulence levels. The modular design of the test rig facilitates easy optimizations of the combustion chamber/cylinder head design regarding different experimental requirements. The name of the new test rig, Flex-OeCoS, denotes its Flexibility regarding Optical engine Combustion diagnostics and/or the development of corresponding Sensing devices and applications. Measurements regarding in-cylinder gas pressures, temperatures and the flow field under typical operating conditions are presented to complete the description and assessment of the new test rig.
Listener Factors Explain Little Variability in Self-Adjusted Hearing Aid Gain

Self-adjustment of hearing aid gain can provide valuable information about the gain preferences of individual listeners, but these preferences are not well understood. Listeners with mild-to-moderate hearing loss used self-adjustment to select amplification gain and compression parameters in real time on a portable touch screen device while listening in quiet and noisy backgrounds. Adjustments to gain prescribed by the National Acoustics Laboratories' non-linear fitting procedure (NAL-NL2) showed large between-subject variability. Known listener characteristics (age, gender, hearing thresholds, hearing aid experience, acceptable noise level, and external ear characteristics) and listener engagement with the self-adjustment software were examined as potential predictors of this variability. Neither listener characteristics nor time spent adjusting gain were robust predictors of gain change from NAL-NL2. Listeners with less than 2 years of hearing aid experience and who also had better hearing thresholds tended to select less gain, relative to NAL-NL2, than experienced hearing aid users who had poorer thresholds. Listener factors explained no more than 10% of the between-subject variance in deviation from NAL-NL2, suggesting that modifying prescriptive fitting formulae based on the factors examined here would be unlikely to result in amplification parameters that are similar to user-customized settings. Self-adjustment typically took less than 3 min, indicating that listeners could use comparable technology without a substantial time commitment.
Fuzzy ARTMAP driven features selection: towards a system to design information fusion for the geographic discovery

The availability of ground-level and overhead images is increasing fast. However, the potentialities of joint usage of these images on information fusion systems for in-deep geographic discovery, by answering the typical binomial quest: what and where are still to be completely evaluated. It is, therefore, necessary to establish a variety of procedures to study these potentialities including on how to assess domain-invariance between this imagery related to ground-level and overhead capture domains for example. We addressed in this paper a novel framework for one prospect for an optimal set of handcrafted domain-invariant features for ground the optimized usage of multiple sources of information on a feature level based fusion system. All of this was done framed by the usage of small datasets and, also, of interpretable classifiers (human-centered computing) and it paves the way towards the proposition of application software to be used potentially as a didactic tool with emphasis on the botanic domain. The results also endorse a domain-invariance that was already implicit on the results of previously published papers. Broadly evaluating, these results connecting image datasets on contrasting scales can launch new investigations in the scope of scale-free phenomena.
Perubahan Mikroklimatik Amonia pada Zona Berbeda dalam Kandang Closed House Ayam Broiler di Musim Kemarau terhadap Tampilan Karkas

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi dampak perubahan mikroklimatik amonia pada penempatan` zona yang berbeda didalam closed house terhadap tampilan karkas ayam broiler. Penelitian menggunakan 720 ekor ayam broiler strain cobb unsexed dengan bobot Day Old Chick (DOC) 49,25 ± 1,13 gram yang dipelihara di kandang closed house berukuran 60 x 12 meter. Perlakuan yang diterapkan yaitu posisi penempatan ayam di dalam kandang closed house pada zona berbeda yaitu zona 1 (tepat pada inlet), zona 2 (¼ panjang closed house dari inlet), zona 3 (½ panjang closed house dari inlet) dan zona 4 (¾ panjang closed house dari inlet). Parameter yang diamati terdiri dari bobot hidup, bobot karkas, persentase karkas, bobot non karkas dan persentase non karkas. Sebagai data pendukung kondisi mikroklimat termasuk perubahan mikroklimatik amonia akibat penempatan pada zona diamati pada penelitian ini untuk memberikan gambaran kondisi aktual mikroklimat didalam closed house. Data yang didapatkan dianalisis ragam dan uji Duncan. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pada zona yang semakin jauh dari inlet terdapat perubahan kondisi mikroklimatik termasuk peningkatan mikroklimatik amonia. Penempatan ayam saat menjauhi inlet nyata (P < 0,05) menurunkan bobot hidup, bobot karkas dan bobot viscera namun tidak mempengaruhi bobot non karkas, bobot giblet, bobot viscera, persentase karkas, persentase non karkas dan persentase viscera secara nyata. Disimpulkan bahwa penempatan zona pada jarak ¼ panjang kandang dari inlet diikuti dengan peningkatan mikroklimatik amonia sudah mulai menurunkan tampilan karkas broiler.
Prioritizing habitat core areas and corridors for a large carnivore across its range

With increasing loss and fragmentation of habitats driving the emerging global extinction crisis, paired with limited resources for conservation, there is an immense need to identify and prioritize the most important areas for conservation actions. The goal of this study was to measure, map and rank core areas and corridors for mainland clouded leopard (a forest indicator species) across its entire range in Southeast Asia. We used an empirically based landscape resistance model developed from range‐wide camera survey data, cumulative resistant kernel analysis to define core areas and least‐cost network analysis to identify corridors for long‐distance dispersal. We then ranked core areas based on their strength and size, and corridors based on their strength and the strength of core areas they connect. We found that the most important core areas and corridors are concentrated in Southeast Asia, largely in Myanmar, Laos and Malaysia. Myanmar contains nearly the entirety of the first and third highest ranked core areas, as well as the most important network of corridors in SE Asia. Almost the entire territory of Laos constitutes one large potential core area, ranked as the second most important across the clouded leopard’s range. A large number (22) of very small (<8000 km2) and fairly isolated core areas are in China. Only 24% of clouded leopard core areas and 17% of corridors are protected. This is the first example of using empirical models to prioritize conservation actions across the full range of a large carnivore. Our analysis identifies the location, size and connectivity of the most important remaining habitats of the clouded leopard across its range, which could provide quantitative guidance in the efforts to maximize the efficacy of regional conservation initiatives to conserve this species and the ecosystems it inhabits.
Editorial: Towards an Understanding of Tinnitus Heterogeneity

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy, Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, Nottingham, United Kingdom, Hearing Sciences, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany, Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza, Economia, Politica e Lingue Moderne, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta, Rome, Italy, Neuroplasticity
Cellulose microfibers (CMFs) as a smart carrier for autonomous self-healing in epoxy coatings

Synthesized cellulose microfibers (CMFs) were used as a smart carrier for the loading of inhibitor-dodecylamine (DOC) and inhibitor/self-healing polyethyleneimine (PEI). The loaded CMFs were thoroughly dispersed into the polymeric matrix to develop smart self-healing epoxy coatings. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirm the successful loading of inhibitors and self-healing agents on CMFs. UV-vis analysis indicates the pH sensitivity and time-dependent release of the loaded inhibitor. The inhibition mechanism and chemical interaction of the protective surface film layer on steel elucidated their role in autonomous self-healing. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements for a scratched coating sample demonstrate the increase in the impedance value for the smart coatings as compared to the reference coatings. This improvement is attributed to the efficient release of corrosion inhibitor and the development of a stable, protective film due to the self-healing effect. The synergetic effect of DOC and PEI revealed the self-healing ability of a smart epoxy coating.
Blood pressure and glaucoma: At the crossroads between cardiology and ophthalmology

Glaucoma is an optic nerve neuropathy of undetermined cause. Although many mechanisms are thought to be involved in the development and progression of the disease, only an increased intraocular pressure has been established as a clinically significant modifiable risk factor. Nevertheless, up to 40% of patients develop glaucoma without evidence of increased intraocular pressure. Ample evidence suggests that alterations in the control of arterial blood might negatively affect optic nerve function. However, evidence-based guidelines on the management of arterial blood pressure in glaucoma patients are lacking. Regrettably, intraocular pressure is generally not included as a secondary end-point in clinical trials on arterial hypertension. Considering the relative simplicity of intraocular pressure measurements and large number of patients included in hypertension studies, the benefits of including intraocular pressure as a secondary end-point could be of a great value for improving care for glaucoma patients. Therefore, closer collaboration between cardiologists and ophthalmologists is needed.
Dual-Polarized Omnidirectional Antenna With Simple Feed and Ultrawide Bandwidth

A dual-polarized omnidirectional antenna with simple feed and ultrawide operational bandwidth is presented. The antenna is a combination of four vertical monopoles and four horizontal dipoles. The four vertical monopoles are printed on two thin FR4 substrates arranged orthogonally to each other. This arrangement not only makes the design easy to fabricate, but also significantly simplifies the feed and design of the horizontal dipoles. To avoid the feeding intersection, the feedline of the horizontal dipoles is placed at an off-center position. This allows placing three additional metallic posts, which makes the system mechanically stable while preserving the design symmetry for a high isolation. The final design with 0.23<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{\text{min}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> profile was realized (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{{\min}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> is the free-space wavelength at the minimum operating frequency). An overlapped bandwidth of 78.6% (1.70–3.90 GHz) with a measured isolation of more than 34 dB is achieved. Satisfactory omnidirectional patterns in the horizontal plane in both modes are obtained with the peak gains of 6.9 and 5.4 dBi, respectively.
Past, Present, and Future Strategies for Enhanced Assessment of Embryo's Genome and Reproductive Competence in Women of Advanced Reproductive Age

Recent advancements in genomic analysis allow testing of an increasing number of genetic features in human preimplantation embryos. Typical single gene mutation and whole chromosomes testing can now be integrated with assessment of mitochondrial DNA and polygenic conditions. Diagnostic expansion into epigenetic and transcriptomic assessment in the near future are potential technological targets which may improve the prognostic outlook of patients of advanced reproductive age and overall in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment outcomes. In this review, we discuss the technological progress of recent years and their future applications in preimplantation genetic testing in IVF.