Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of patients with COVID-19 requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and continuous renal replacement therapy in the United States

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Some patients develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and kidney failure requiring the combination of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Methods Retrospective cohort study of 127 consecutive patients requiring combined ECMO and CRRT support in intensive care units at an ECMO center in Marietta, GA, United States. Results Sixty and 67 patients with and without COVID-19, respectively, required ECMO-CRRT support. After adjusting for confounding variables, patients with COVID-19 had increased mortality at 30 days (hazard ratio [HR], 5.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.51–10.7; P<0.001) and 90 days (HR, 6.23; 95% CI, 2.60–14.9; P<0.001). Conclusions In this retrospective study, patients with COVID-19 who required ECMO-CRRT had increased mortality when compared to patients without COVID-19.
Spatial Differences between Family and Non-Family Farming in Brazilian Agriculture

Brazilian agriculture has grown enormously during the past three decades. An interesting aspect of this growth is the respective roles of family and non-family farming, and the seeming importance of this distinction to Brazilian agricultural policy, reflected in the existence of separate agencies in Federal Government with responsibility for each sector. The paper presents multivariate and spatial analyses examining the family and non-family farming sectors to try to quantify how different they actually are. It employs factor analysis to compare both sectors (family and non-family farming) by homogeneous micro-region in terms of productivity, degree of mechanization, intensity of labour use, and investment. The results show that both sectors are not structurally different to each other; both have been administrated according to the same broad agricultural policies, both are overwhelmingly market-oriented, and both tend to cleave to regional differences rather than being importantly different to each other.
Selected Human Resource Management Practices and Employee Retention: A Case of Deposit Taking Microfinance Institutions in Nairobi, Kenya

Retention of employees is increasingly becoming a real challenge in organizations. While past studies have demonstrated the importance of employee retention in organizations, few have empirically examined the effect of human resource management practices on employee retention. The overall objective of this study was to examine the effect of selected human resource management practices on employee retention in deposit-taking microfinance institutions in Nairobi, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to establish the effect of career development, learning, and development on employee retention in deposit-taking microfinance institutions in Nairobi, Kenya. A census survey of twelve (12) licensed deposit-taking microfinance institutions was conducted in the study. The study adopted an explanatory research design. The target population comprised 320 employees from the institutions’ headquarters in Nairobi. Stratified sampling was used to select the respondents from different departments of the licensed deposit-taking microfinance institutions. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data was summarized using the mean and standard deviation. Pearson’s correlation was used to examine the relationship between career development, learning and development, and employee retention. Simple and multiple regression analyses were used to test the research hypotheses. Pearson correlation results revealed that career development and employee retention (r = 0.161, p value 0.002) were positively and significantly correlated, with a significant positive correlation between learning and development and employee retention (r = 0.672, p < 0.000). Further, regression analysis results show that career development, learning, and development have a significant effect on employee retention. The study also revealed that career development, learning, and development have a significant effect on employee retention. The study recommends that to enhance employee retention, organizations need to invest in career development, learning, and development.
Case report: Concomitant EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), two key genetic alterations, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements, are commonly believed to be mutually exclusive. Studies have reported that concurrent EGFR/ALK co-mutation in non-small cell lung cancer patients is rare, with a prevalence ranging from 0.1% to 1.6%. However, the clinical and pathological characteristics of these patients are not well-defined, and the optimal treatment approach for such cases remains controversial. In this report, we present a case of stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with both epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase mutations, along with high PD-L1 expression. The patient initially received treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but the disease progressed. However, following a switch to ALK-TKI therapy and local radiotherapy, the lesion showed regression. Our report also provides a comprehensive summary of the clinical and pathological features, as well as treatment strategies, for non-small cell lung cancer patients with concurrent epidermal growth factor receptor mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement.
The Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as Microbial Biostimulant, Sustainable Approaches in Modern Agriculture

Biostimulant application can be considered an effective, practical, and sustainable nutritional crop supplementation and may lessen the environmental problems related to excessive fertilization. Biostimulants provide beneficial properties to plants by increasing plant metabolism, which promotes crop yield and improves the quality of crops; protecting plants against environmental stresses such as water shortage, soil salinization, and exposure to sub-optimal growth temperatures; and promoting plant growth via higher nutrient uptake. Other important benefits include promoting soil enzymatic and microbial activities, changing the architecture of roots, increasing the solubility and mobility of micronutrients, and enhancing the fertility of the soil, predominantly by nurturing the development of complementary soil microbes. Biostimulants are classified as microbial, such as arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF), plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), non-pathogenic fungi, protozoa, and nematodes, or non-microbial, such as seaweed extract, phosphite, humic acid, other inorganic salts, chitin and chitosan derivatives, protein hydrolysates and free amino acids, and complex organic materials. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are among the most prominent microbial biostimulants and have an important role in cultivating better, healthier, and more functional foods in sustainable agriculture. AMF assist plant nutrient and water acquisition; enhance plant stress tolerance against salinity, drought, and heavy metals; and reduce soil erosion. AMF are proven to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of crop supplements. The current manuscript gives many examples of the potential of biostimulants for the production of different crops. However, further studies are needed to better understand the effectiveness of different biostimulants in sustainable agriculture. The review focuses on how AMF application can overcome nutrient limitations typical of organic systems by improving nutrient availability, uptake, and assimilation, consequently reducing the gap between organic and conventional yields. The aim of this literature review is to survey the impacts of AMF by presenting case studies and successful paradigms in different crops as well as introducing the main mechanisms of action of the different biostimulant products.
Processes driving the forest transition in China: perspectives from a livelihood-centres appproach with empirical focus on Daxi Village, Anji County

China’s forest policies play a key role in environmental conservation, being essential for the cohesion of its whole society. As in other regions of the world, population growth and increasing per capita consumption have led to a surge in the demand of forest products and pressures on forest ecosystems, which have resulted in forest loss and degradation. This article analyses the historical process of a forest transition in China, featured by a long term decrease in forests followed by a recent process of recovery. The causes of the forest transition lie in an unprecedented ecological crisis that has prompted an environmental awareness and the implementation of an active conservation policy. The forest transition in China has led to a displacement of impacts over other regions.
Screening of Ginkgo Individuals with Superior Growth Structural Characteristics in Different Genetic Groups Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) Data

With the concept of sustainable management of plantations, individual trees with excellent characteristics in plantations have received attention from breeders. To improve and maintain long-term productivity, accurate and high-throughput access to phenotypic characteristics is essential when establishing breeding strategies. Meanwhile, genetic diversity is also an important issue that must be considered, especially for plantations without seed source information. This study was carried out in a ginkgo timber plantation. We used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for genetic background analysis and high-density terrestrial laser scanning for growth structural characteristic extraction, aiming to provide a possibility of applying remote sensing approaches for forest breeding. First, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure, and grouped individual trees according to the genetic distance. Then, the growth structural characteristics (height, diameter at breast height, crown width, crown area, crown volume, height to living crown, trunk volume, biomass of all components) were extracted. Finally, individual trees in each group were comprehensively evaluated and the best-performing ones were selected. Results illustrate that terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) point cloud data can provide nondestructive estimates of the growth structural characteristics at fine scale. From the ginkgo plantation containing high genetic diversity (average polymorphism information content index was 0.719) and high variation in growth structural characteristics (coefficient of variation ranged from 21.822% to 85.477%), 11 excellent individual trees with superior growth were determined. Our study guides the scientific management of plantations and also provides a potential for applying remote sensing technologies to accelerate forest breeding.
IDRes: Identity-Based Respiration Monitoring System for Digital Twins Enabled Healthcare

Currently, powerful and ubiquitous mobile devices provide an opportunity to map physical conditions to cyberspace and realize Digital Twins enabled Healthcare (DTeH). Especially, the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic renders it necessary to keep an eye on the changing trend of respiration. Long-term respiration monitoring helps to assess personal health status and thus becomes an important issue in DTeH. However, previous mobile device-assistant methods mostly implement the monitoring via short-time detection in a best-effort way and with less consideration of identity recognition, the only mean to bind physical vital signs into personal profiles in digital twins space. Thus, it is necessary to introduce the identification to complete string multiple short-time detections and form long-term personal monitoring. To this end, we propose IDRes, an identity-based respiration monitoring system for DTeH. This system employs mobile devices to generate a high-frequency sonar signal to complete respiration detection and identity recognition. As well as it also estimates the respiration rate by tracking the phase change of the sonar signal and recognizes identity via the Doppler frequency shift of the signal to capture characteristics of chest movement. Moreover, via band-pass filtering to remove the low-frequency voice component of the received signals, the usage of the high-frequency sonar signal also enhances security at the physical level. At last, we conduct a series of experiments under different conditions. Experimental results illustrate that IDRes achieves the mean detection error of 0.49bpm with over 93.3% recognition accuracy, and manifest that IDRes can satisfy the requirements of mapping the accurate vital sign data to the personal profile of DTeH.
Energy Harvesting Device for Smart Monitoring of MV Overhead Power Lines—Theoretical Concept and Experimental Construction

Modern technological advancements have opened avenues for innovative low-energy sources in construction, with electric field energy harvesting (EFEH) from overhead power lines serving as a prime candidate for empowering intelligent monitoring sensors and vital communication networks. This study delves into this concept, presenting a physical model of an energy harvester device. The prototype was meticulously designed, simulated, constructed, and tested, to validate its foundational mathematical model, with implications for future prototyping endeavors. The findings illustrate the potential of harnessing ample power from this device when deployed on medium-voltage (MV) overhead power lines, facilitating the monitoring of electric and meteorological parameters and their seamless communication through the Internet of Things (IoT) network. The study focused on the medium voltage applications of the harvester. Two dielectric materials were tested in the present experiments: air and polyurethane. The measurement results exhibited satisfactory alignment, particularly with the air dielectric. Nevertheless, deviations arose when employing polyurethane rubber as the dielectric, due to impurities and defects within the material. The feasibility of generating the requisite 0.84 mW output power to drive process electronics, sensors, and IoT communications was established. The novelty of this work rests in its comprehensive approach, cementing the theoretical concept through rigorous experimentation, and emphasizing its application in enhancing the efficacy of overhead power line monitoring.
A New Morphodynamical Modeling Platform: Application to Characteristic Sandy systems of the Aquitanian Coast, France

ABSTRACT B RUNEAU , N. ; B ONNETON , P.; P EDREROS , R. ; D UMAS , F. and I DIER , D. , 2007. A New Morphodynamic Modelling Platform: Application to Characteristic Sandy systems of the Aquitanian Coast, France. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 50 (Proceedings of the 9th International Coastal Symposium), 932 – 936. Gold Coast, Australia, ISSN 0749.0208 Along coasts, waves and wave-induced currents are the main factors of morphological evolution. A morphodynamic model is constructed to take into account tide changes, wind conditions and waves in the computation of the induced currents and morphological evolution. The spectral wave model SWAN, the shallow-water model MARS and a sedimentary module are coupled to create the morphodynamic model. First, we validate the hydrodynamics of the model on two characteristic complex bathymetries: an idealised subtidal crescentic bar and an intertidal ridge and runnel system. The crescentic bar induces wave energy focalisation zones which could give rise to transverse bars. Thus, we investigate the morphology evolution of the intertidal area. Simulations appear to show the formation of inner bars that connect the subtidal bar with the intertidal area.
The shared parental leave framework: Failing to fit working-class families?

Shared Parental Leave has the potential to tackle a traditional gendered binary of roles within the family, by encouraging more men to care. Such legal provisions can operate to shape behaviour, both in terms of what they permit practically, but also from a normative perspective, conveying ideas around the best way to perform ‘family. ’ However, placing particular focus on the latter, we assert that Shared Parental Leave does not speak to working-class parents. We initially consider whether the ‘heteronormative’ family may, in itself, be a middle-class problem, before highlighting the incompatibility of legislative ambitions of ‘equal parenting’ with working-class ways of living. ‘Equal parenting,’ as embodied within the legislation, imposes ideals that sit at odds with working-class people’s attitudes, whilst assuming a two-parent family which is often incongruous with working-class family forms. Ultimately, we favour a more holistic approach towards breaking down ‘heteronormative’ notions of women’s and men’s roles, to enable people to make more meaningful choices about their lives that are not constrained by gender.
A Hybrid Real/Synthetic Aperture Scheme for Multichannel Radar Forward-Looking Superresolution Imaging

Conventional monostatic SAR or DBS technology cannot realize forward-looking imaging due to Doppler symmetry ambiguity. Although the ambiguity can be resolved using multiple channels in azimuth, its azimuth resolution in the vicinity of flight path is usually poor due to the small angle variation. To solve the above problems, a hybrid real/synthetic aperture scheme for multichannel radar forward-looking imaging is proposed in this letter. In the scheme, the synthetic aperture imaging result with left/right ambiguity is obtained first using the information of platform motion. Then the real aperture superresolution imaging with regularized iterative adaptive approach (RIAA) is achieved using the instantaneous data of multiple channels. Finally, the two imaging results are fused to obtain the forward-looking superresolution image without left/right ambiguity. Simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Cell cycle arrest and apoptotic studies of Terminalia chebula against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line: an in vitro and in silico approach

Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in women, and alternative therapies with fewer side effects are actively being explored. Breast cancer is a significant global health concern, and conventional treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy often have side effects. Medicinal plant extracts offer a promising avenue for the development of effective and safe anticancer therapies. Terminalia chebula, a plant known for its medicinal properties, was selected for investigation in this study. We aimed to assess the antiproliferative effects of TCF extract on breast cancer cells and explore the potential role of saccharopine, a phytochemical found in TCF, as an anticancer agent. MCF7 breast cancer cell lines were exposed to TCF extract, and cell viability and apoptosis assays were performed to evaluate the antiproliferative and apoptogenic effects. Molecular docking studies were conducted to assess the binding affinity of saccharopine with EGFRs. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding energy calculations were employed to analyze the stability of the EGFR-saccharopine complex. The TCF extract exhibited significant antiproliferative effects on MCF7 breast cancer cells and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking analysis revealed that saccharopine demonstrated a higher binding affinity with EGFR compared to the reference compound (17b-estradiol). The subsequent MDS simulations indicated stable binding patterns and conformation of the EGFR-saccharopine complex, suggesting a potential role in inhibiting EGFR-mediated signaling pathways. The investigation of Terminalia chebula fruit extract and its phytochemical saccharopine has revealed promising antiproliferative effects and a strong binding affinity with EGFR. These findings provide a foundation for future research aimed at isolating saccharopine and conducting in vivo studies to evaluate its potential as a targeted therapy for breast cancer. The development of novel anticancer agents from plant sources holds great promise in advancing the field of oncology and improving treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients.
Désertification au Sahel : Crise climatique ou anthropique ?

MOTS-CLES. — Sahel; Desertification; Secheresse; Pression anthropique; Degradation environnementale. RESUME. — Le Sahel, au cours de ces dernieres decennies, a connu deux crises majeures de secheresse presque contigues. Actuellement, et depuis le debut des annees 1990, la tendance pluviometrique montre un retour vers les normes anterieures aux annees 1970 avec, cependant, une intensite des pluies nettement plus importante et une longueur de la saison des pluies qui semble ne pas s’ameliorer par rapport aux decennies de secheresse. Par ailleurs, depuis la moitie du 20 siecle, la population sahelienne a plus que triple et les previsions pour 2050 avancent un facteur de croissance de l’ordre de 10. Les taux de croissance urbaine sont encore plus impressionnants et entrainent chaque jour d’importants bouleversements environnementaux. Une telle pression anthropique engendre un deboisement incontrole pour satisfaire les besoins en energie des populations, la demande en bois d’œuvre et l’expansion agricole. En outre, le cheptel toujours plus nombreux et devant se satisfaire de parcours continuellement reduits engendre un surpâturage. Le tout provoque donc une degradation de la couverture vegetale du sol, une diminution constante des rendements des cultures, mais egalement une forte reduction de la biodiversite. L’une des consequences se marque dans la reactivation des dunes anciennes mises en place au cours du dernier interpluvial (18 000 BP). L’article fait le point sur la controverse actuelle qui entoure les processus de desertification avant de conclure que si les crises de secheresse des annees 1970 et 1980 ont ete catastrophiques pour les populations du Sahel, les croissances anthropiques actuelle et future vont engendrer une desertification grandissante dans la bordure sud du Sahara.
Unmasking the Mask Issue on Reddit: An Investigation of Online Public Deliberation around the Mask Controversy in the United States

The aim of this investigation was to explore U.S. Americans’ mask attitude and their public deliberation processes on Reddit during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the assistance of “Key Features of Deliberative Conversation and Discussion” variables developed by Gastil and Black, the current project used content analysis method to analyze 524 Reddit posts on mask-wearing issues during two time periods of 2020 (February–March and July). The results showed that Reddit users’ attitude changed over time and there was a significant association between user attitude and most analytical and social deliberation process except for creating information base. The above results were generally supported when different time periods were considered. The present study also revealed that at the time of great uncertainty, users demonstrated a “deficit mode,” which results from expertise knowledge deficits and calls for expert enhancement in information dissemination and problem-solving. Besides the positive correlation between public attitude and policy agenda, there was a general lack of interest in social factors, thus harming the quality of online public deliberation processes. Limitations and implications were discussed.