Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comment on Montagna, et al. Evaluation of Legionella air contamination in healthcare facilities by different sampling methods: An Italian multicenter study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 670

In their recent article, Montagna et al. describe a multicenter study investigating the presence ofLegionella in water and air samples of Italian healthcare facilities [1]. This is an interesting study thathighlights some important gaps in our basic understanding of Legionella.One of the limitations of the study regarded the lack of information on the tap outlets (e.g., designof tap, ﬂow rates, temperature of the water) and the bathrooms (ambient temperature, humidity, airmovements, etc.) as these factors can inﬂuence aerosols produced and may facilitate the interpretationof aerosol data. For future studies it may be advantageous to characterise the aerosols produced bythese outlets, using for example an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) [2]. Furthermore, caution shouldbe advised as some of the conclusions from the culture data are based on the detection of just 1 colonyforming unit (CFU)/m
Flow of Canary mantle plume material through a subcontinental lithospheric corridor beneath Africa to the Mediterranean: Reply

We present geochemical data of lavas from northwest Africa, allowing us for the fi rst time to carry out large-scale “mapping” of sublithospheric mantle fl ow beneath the northwest African plate. Our study indicates that Canary mantle plume material traveled laterally along a subcontinental lithospheric corridor (i.e., at depths that are usually occupied by continental lithospheric mantle) more than 1500 km to the western Mediterranean, marking its route over the last 15 m.y. through a trail of intraplate volcanism. A three-dimensional geodynamic reconstruction, integrating results from geophysical studies, illustrates that long-distance lateral fl ow of mantle material into and through a subcontinental lithospheric corridor can be caused by a combination of (1) defl ection of upwelling plume material along the base of the lithosphere, (2) delamination of subcontinental mantle lithosphere beneath northwest Africa, and (3) subduction suction related to the rollback of the subducting oceanic plate in the western Mediterranean. Although the fl ow of plume material beneath oceanic lithosphere to mid-ocean ridges or along the base of continental rifts has been previously shown, this study demonstrates that plume material can also fl ow large lateral distances through subcontinental corridors from suboceanic to nonrifting subcontinental settings, generating continental intraplate volcanism without the need for a plume to be located directly beneath the continent.
Could Interaction with Social Robots Facilitate Joint Attention of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

This research addressed whether interactions with social robots could facilitate joint attention of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Two conditions of initiators, namely 'Human' vs. 'Robot' were measured with 15 children with ASD and 15 age-matched typically developing (TD) children. Apart from fixation and gaze transition, a new longest common subsequence (LCS) approach was proposed to analyze eye-movement traces. Results revealed that children with ASD showed deficits of joint attention. Compared to the human agent, robot facilitate less fixations towards the targets, but it attracted more attention and allowed the children to show gaze transition and to follow joint attention logic. This results highlight both potential application of LCS analysis on eye-tracking studies and of social robot to intervention.
Fuzzy logic PD controller for trajectory tracking of an autonomous differential drive mobile robot (i.e. Quanser Qbot)

Purpose The aim of this paper is to propose a robust robot fuzzy logic proportional-derivative (PD) controller for trajectory tracking of autonomous nonholonomic differential drive wheeled mobile robot (WMR) of the type Quanser Qbot. Design/methodology/approach Fuzzy robot control approach is used for developing a robust fuzzy PD controller for trajectory tracking of a nonholonomic differential drive WMR. The linear/angular velocity of the differential drive mobile robot are formulated such that the tracking errors between the robot’s trajectory and the reference path converge asymptotically to zero. Here, a new controller zero-order Takagy–Sugeno trajectory tracking (ZTS-TT) controller is deduced for robot’s speed regulation based on the fuzzy PD controller. The WMR used for the experimental implementation is Quanser Qbot which has two differential drive wheels; therefore, the right/left wheel velocity of the differential wheels of the robot are worked out using inverse kinematics model. The controller is implemented using MATLAB Simulink with QUARC framework, downloaded and compiled into executable (.exe) on the robot based on the WIFI TCP/IP connection. Findings Compared to other fuzzy proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers, the proposed fuzzy PD controller was found to be robust, stable and consuming less resources on the robot. The comparative results of the proposed ZTS-TT controller and the conventional PD controller demonstrated clearly that the proposed ZTS-TT controller provides better tracking performances, flexibility, robustness and stability for the WMR. Practical implications The proposed fuzzy PD controller can be improved using hybrid techniques. The proposed approach can be developed for obstacle detection and collision avoidance in combination with trajectory tracking for use in environments with obstacles. Originality/value A robust fuzzy logic PD is developed and its performances are compared to the existing fuzzy PID controller. A ZTS-TT controller is deduced for trajectory tracking of an autonomous nonholonomic differential drive mobile robot (i.e. Quanser Qbot).
Comparing functional MRI protocols for small, iron‐rich basal ganglia nuclei such as the subthalamic nucleus at 7 T and 3 T

The basal ganglia (BG) form a network of subcortical nuclei. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the BG could provide insight in its functioning and the underlying mechanisms of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). However, fMRI of the BG with high specificity is challenging, because the nuclei are small and variable in their anatomical location. High resolution fMRI at field strengths of 7 Tesla (T) could help resolve these challenges to some extent. A set of MR protocols was developed for functional imaging of the BG nuclei at 3 T and 7 T. The protocols were validated using a stop‐signal reaction task (Logan et al. [ ]: J Exp Psychol: Human Percept Perform 10:276–291). Compared with sub‐millimeter 7 T fMRI protocols aimed at cortex, a reduction of echo time and spatial resolution was strictly necessary to obtain robust Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) sensitivity in the BG. An fMRI protocol at 3 T with identical resolution to the 7 T showed no robust BOLD sensitivity in any of the BG nuclei. The results suggest that the subthalamic nucleus, as well as the substantia nigra, red nucleus, and the internal and external parts of the globus pallidus show increased activation in failed stop trials compared with successful stop and go trials. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3226–3248, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Eye-Hand Behavior in Human-Robot Shared Manipulation

Shared autonomy systems enhance people’s abilities to perform activities of daily living using robotic manipulators. Recent systems succeed by first identifying their operators’ intentions, typically by analyzing the user’s joystick input. To enhance this recognition, it is useful to characterize people’s behavior while performing such a task. Furthermore, eye gaze is a rich source of information for understanding operator intention. The goal of this paper is to provide novel insights into the dynamics of control behavior and eye gaze in human-robot shared manipulation tasks. To achieve this goal, we conduct a data collection study that uses an eye tracker to record eye gaze during a human-robot shared manipulation activity, both with and without shared autonomy assistance. We process the gaze signals from the study to extract gaze features like saccades, fixations, smooth pursuits, and scan paths. We analyze those features to identify novel patterns of gaze behaviors and highlight where these patterns are similar to and different from previous findings about eye gaze in human-only manipulation tasks. The work described in this paper lays a foundation for a model of natural human eye gaze in human-robot shared manipulation.
Natural Selection in the Great Apes

Natural selection is crucial for the adaptation of populations to their environments. Here, we present the first global study of natural selection in the Hominidae (humans and great apes) based on genome-wide information from population samples representing all extant species (including most subspecies). Combining several neutrality tests we create a multi-species map of signatures of natural selection covering all major types of natural selection. We find that the estimated efficiency of both purifying and positive selection varies between species and is significantly correlated with their long-term effective population size. Thus, even the modest differences in population size among the closely related Hominidae lineages have resulted in differences in their ability to remove deleterious alleles and to adapt to changing environments. Most signatures of balancing and positive selection are species-specific, with signatures of balancing selection more often being shared among species. We also identify loci with evidence of positive selection across several lineages. Notably, we detect signatures of positive selection in several genes related to brain function, anatomy, diet and immune processes. Our results contribute to a better understanding of human evolution by putting the evidence of natural selection in humans within its larger evolutionary context. The global map of natural selection in our closest living relatives is available as an interactive browser at http://tinyurl.com/nf8qmzh.
Predicting personality in adulthood from college MMPI scores: implications for follow‐up studies in psychosomatic medicine.

&NA; To assess the long‐term predictive utility of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) content scales, 1,960 individuals who had completed the MMPI in college in 1964 or 1965 were administered two measures of adult personality, the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO‐PI) and the Cook and Medley MMPI Hostility scale, in 1988. A comparison group of 274 men and women in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging were given both MMPI and NEO‐PI between 1981 and 1987. Predictive correlations between MMPI scales and NEO‐PI factors were qualitatively similar to concurrent correlations, but approximately half as large in magnitude. Theoretically, these correlations were interpreted to mean that about half the variance in basic dimensions of personality is stable from college age into middle adulthood. Practically, the relatively modest correlations suggest that predictive studies of medical outcomes probably require large samples, and that baseline data from adults (e.g., over age 30) may be more useful for future studies. The combination of stability and change suggests that the decade of the 20s may be a particularly fruitful time to conduct research on interventions to alter personality and their effects on health outcomes.
A uniform, quality controlled Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT)

A well-documented, publicly available, global data set of surface ocean carbon dioxide (CO2) parameters has been called for by international groups for nearly two decades. The Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) project was initiated by the international marine carbon science community in 2007 with the aim of providing a comprehensive, publicly available, regularly updated, global data set of marine surface CO2, which had been subject to quality control (QC). Many additional CO2 data, not yet made public via the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC), were retrieved from data originators, public websites and other data centres. All data were put in a uniform format following a strict protocol. Quality control was carried out according to clearly defined criteria. Regional specialists performed the quality control, using state-of-the-art web-based tools, specially developed for accomplishing this global team effort. SOCAT version 1.5 was made public in September 2011 and holds 6.3 million quality controlled surface CO2 data points from the global oceans and coastal seas, spanning four decades (1968–2007). Three types of data products are available: individual cruise files, a merged complete data set and gridded products. With the rapid expansion of marine CO2 data collection and the importance of quantifying net global oceanic CO2 uptake and its changes, sustained data synthesis and data access are priorities.
Efficacy of NS5A Inhibitors Against Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes 1-7 and Escape Variants.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A protein are a key component of effective treatment regimens, but the genetic heterogeneity of HCV has limited the efficacy of these agents and mutations lead to resistance. We directly compared the efficacy of all clinically relevant NS5A inhibitors against HCV genotype 1-7 prototype isolates and resistant escape variants, and investigated the effects of pre-existing resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) on HCV escape from treatment. METHODS We measured the efficacy of different concentrations of daclatasvir, ledipasvir, ombitasvir, elbasvir, ruzasvir, velpatasvir, and pibrentasvir in cultured cells infected with HCV recombinants expressing genotype 1-7 NS5A proteins with or without RAS. We engineered HCV variants that included RAS identified in escape experiments, using recombinants with or without T/Y93H and daclatasvir, or that contained RAS previously reported from patients. RESULTS NS5A inhibitors had varying levels of efficacy against original and resistant viruses. Only velpatasvir and pibrentasvir had uniform high activity against all HCV genotypes tested. RAS hotspots in NS5A were found at amino acids 28, 30, 31, and 93. Engineered escape variants had high levels of fitness. Pibrentasvir had the highest level of efficacy against variants; viruses with RAS at amino acids 28, 30, or 31 had no apparent resistance to pibrentasvir, and HCV with RAS at amino acid 93 had a low level of resistance to this drug. However, specific combinations of RAS and deletion of amino acid 32 led to significant resistance to pibrentasvir. For the remaining NS5A inhibitors tested, RAS at amino acids 28 and 93 led to high levels of resistance. Among these inhibitors, velpatasvir was more effective against variants with RAS at amino acid 30 and some variants with RAS at amino acid 31 than the other agents. Variants with the pre-existing RAS T/Y93H acquired additional NS5A changes during escape experiments, resulting in HCV variants with specific combinations of RAS, showing high fitness and high resistance. CONCLUSIONS We performed a comprehensive comparison of the efficacy of the 7 clinically relevant inhibitors of HCV NS5A and identified variants associated with resistance to each agent. These findings could improve treatment of patients with HCV infection.
Gfap‐positive radial glial cells are an essential progenitor population for later‐born neurons and glia in the zebrafish spinal cord

Radial glial cells are presumptive neural stem cells (NSCs) in the developing nervous system. The direct requirement of radial glia for the generation of a diverse array of neuronal and glial subtypes, however, has not been tested. We employed two novel transgenic zebrafish lines and endogenous markers of NSCs and radial glia to show for the first time that radial glia are essential for neurogenesis during development. By using the gfap promoter to drive expression of nuclear localized mCherry we discerned two distinct radial glial‐derived cell types: a major nestin+/Sox2+ subtype with strong gfap promoter activity and a minor Sox2+ subtype lacking this activity. Fate mapping studies in this line indicate that gfap+ radial glia generate later‐born CoSA interneurons, secondary motorneurons, and oligodendroglia. In another transgenic line using the gfap promoter‐driven expression of the nitroreductase enzyme, we induced cell autonomous ablation of gfap+ radial glia and observed a reduction in their specific derived lineages, but not Blbp+ and Sox2+/gfap‐negative NSCs, which were retained and expanded at later larval stages. Moreover, we provide evidence supporting classical roles of radial glial in axon patterning, blood–brain barrier formation, and locomotion. Our results suggest that gfap+ radial glia represent the major NSC during late neurogenesis for specific lineages, and possess diverse roles to sustain the structure and function of the spinal cord. These new tools will both corroborate the predicted roles of astroglia and reveal novel roles related to development, physiology, and regeneration in the vertebrate nervous system. GLIA 2016;64:1170–1189
A gradient-domain image enhancement method for traffic signs in nighttime surveillance

Nighttime video surveillance may suffer from nonuniform illumination from artificial light sources. Meanwhile, these light sources which often result in so noticeable amounts of glow that the objects nearby the light sources cannot be seen at all. To solve the above problem, our paper proposed a novel gradient-domain image enhancement method for traffic signs in nighttime surveillance. We found that both of the glow-removal and image fusion can be represented as a kind of gradient adjustment. Therefore, in our method, remove the glow effects via image gradient decomposition at first. Then, complementary details of inter frames can be fused together in the gradient domain. Finally, the enhanced image will be obtained via a Poisson solver. We have done many experiments and the results show that the proposed method can effectively enhance the traffic signs in nighttime traffic videos.
The IκB Kinase Complex Is Required for Plexin-B-Mediated Activation of RhoA

Plexins are widely expressed transmembrane proteins that mediate the cellular effects of semaphorins. The molecular mechanisms of plexin-mediated signal transduction are still poorly understood. Here we show that signalling via B-family plexins leading to the activation of the small GTPase RhoA requires activation of the IκB kinase (IKK)-complex. In contrast, plexin-B-dependent regulation of R-Ras activity is not affected by IKK activity. This regulation of plexin signalling depends on the kinase activity of the IKK-complex, but is independent of NF-κB activation. We confirm that the IKK-complex is active in tumour cells and osteoblasts, and we demonstrate that plexin-B-dependent tumour cell invasiveness and regulation of osteoblast differentiation require an active IKK-complex. This study identifies a novel, NF-κB-independent function of the IKK-complex and shows that IKK directs plexin-B signalling to the activation of RhoA.
Iron catalysis at the origin of life

Iron–sulphur proteins are ancient and drive fundamental processes in cells, notably electron transfer and CO2 fixation. Iron–sulphur minerals with equivalent structures could have played a key role in the origin of life. However, the ‘iron–sulphur world’ hypothesis has had a mixed reception, with questions raised especially about the feasibility of a pyrites‐pulled reverse Krebs cycle. Phylogenetics suggests that the earliest cells drove carbon and energy metabolism via the acetyl CoA pathway, which is also replete in Fe(Ni)S proteins. Deep differences between bacteria and archaea in this pathway obscure the ancestral state. These differences make sense if early cells depended on natural proton gradients in alkaline hydrothermal vents. If so, the acetyl CoA pathway diverged with the origins of active ion pumping, and ancestral CO2 fixation might have been equivalent to methanogens, which depend on a membrane‐bound NiFe hydrogenase, energy converting hydrogenase. This uses the proton‐motive force to reduce ferredoxin, thence CO2. The mechanism suggests that pH could modulate reduction potential at the active site of the enzyme, facilitating the difficult reduction of CO2 by H2. This mechanism could be generalised under abiotic conditions so that steep pH differences across semi‐conducting Fe(Ni)S barriers drives not just the first steps of CO2 fixation to C1 and C2 organics such as CO, CH3SH and CH3COSH, but a series of similar carbonylation and hydrogenation reactions to form longer chain carboxylic acids such as pyruvate, oxaloacetate and α‐ketoglutarate, as in the incomplete reverse Krebs cycle found in methanogens. We suggest that the closure of a complete reverse Krebs cycle, by regenerating acetyl CoA directly, displaced the acetyl CoA pathway from many modern groups. A later reliance on acetyl CoA and ATP eliminated the need for the proton‐motive force to drive most steps of the reverse Krebs cycle. © 2017 The Authors IUBMB Life published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 69(6):373–381, 2017
Differential effects of long‐term slow‐pressor and subpressor angiotensin II on contractile and relaxant reactivity of resistance versus conductance arteries

Vascular reactivity was evaluated in three separate arteries isolated from rats after angiotensin II (Ang II) was infused chronically in two separate experiments, one using a 14‐day high, slow‐pressor dose known to produce hypertension and the other using a 7‐day low, subpressor but hypertensive‐sensitizing dose. There were three new findings. First, there was no evidence of altered vascular reactivity in resistance arteries that might otherwise explain the hypertension due to the high Ang II or the hypertensive‐sensitizing effect of the low Ang II dose. Second, the high Ang II dose exerted a novel differential effect on arterial contractile responsiveness to the sympathetic neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, depending on the level of sympathetic innervation. It clearly enhanced that responsiveness in the sparsely innervated aorta but not in small mesenteric resistance arteries or the proximal (conductance) portion of the caudal artery, both of which are densely innervated. This suggests that the increased expression of alpha adrenergic receptors after long‐term exposure to Ang II as previously reported for aortic smooth muscle, is prevented in densely innervated arteries, likely due to long‐term Ang II‐mediated increase in sympathetic neural traffic to those vessels. Third, the same high dose of Ang II impaired aortic relaxation in response to the nitric oxide (NO) donor nitroprusside without impairing aortic endothelium‐dependent relaxation. NO is the main relaxing substance released by aortic endothelium. Accordingly, it is possible that this dose of Ang II is also associated with enhanced release of and/or enhanced smooth muscle responsiveness to other endothelial relaxing substances in a compensatory capacity.