Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biogeochemical Controls on the Release and Accumulation of Mn and As in Shallow Aquifers, West Bengal, India

The prevalence of manganese (Mn) in Southeast Asian drinking water has recently become a topic of discussion, particularly when concurrent with elevated arsenic (As). Although Mn groundwater geochemistry has been studied, the link between dissolved organic matter (DOM) quality and Mn release is less understood. This work evaluates characteristics of DOM, redox chemistry, and the distribution of Mn within Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. Shallow aquifer samples were analyzed for cations, anions, dissolved organic carbon, and DOM properties using 3-dimensional fluorescence excitation emission matrices followed by parallel factor modeling analyses. Two biogeochemical regimes are apparent, separated geographically by the river Bhagirathi. East of the river, where Eh and nitrate (NO3-) values are low, humic-like DOM coexists with high dissolved Mn, As, and Fe. West of the river, lower dissolved As and Fe concentrations are coupled with more protein-like DOM and higher NO3- and Eh values. Dissolved Mn concentrations are elevated in both regions. Based on the distribution of available electron acceptors, it is hypothesized that groundwater east of the Bhagirathi, which are more reducing and enriched in dissolved Fe and Mn but depleted in NO3-, are chemically dominated by Mn(IV) / Fe(III) reduction processes. West of the river where NO3- is abundant yet dissolved Fe is absent, NO3- and Mn(IV) likely buffer redox conditions such that Eh values are not sufficiently reducing to release Fe into the dissolved phase. The co-occurrence of humic-like DOM with dissolved As, Fe, and Mn in the more reducing aquifers may reflect complex formation between humic DOM and metals, as well as electron shuttling processes involving humic DOM, which may enhance metal(loid) release. Saturation indices of rhodochrosite (MnCO3) suggest that precipitation is thermodynamically favorable in a greater proportion of the more reducing sites, however humic DOM–Mn complexes may be inhibiting MnCO3 precipitation. Where dissolved arsenic concentrations are low, it is postulated that Mn(IV) reduction is oxidizing As(III) to As(V), increasing the potential for re-adsorption of As(V) onto relatively stable, un-reduced or newly precipitated Fe-oxides. Manganese release appears to be independent of DOM quality, as it persists in both humic and protein-like DOM environments.
Investigation of Proton and X-Ray Irradiation Effects on Nanocrystal and Floating Gate Memory Cell Arrays

We compared the radiation tolerance of nanocrystal and floating gate memories, fabricated with the same technology. We investigated the effects of 5-MeV proton and 10-keV X-ray irradiations, focusing on the charge loss, the permanent degradation of the electrical characteristics, and the data retention. We also presented a first order model of the charge loss and the permanent threshold voltage shift. The model and the experimental results show that nanocrystal memories feature improved radiation robustness against total ionizing dose. Nanocrystal memories can withstand a radiation dose 3 and 10 times larger than floating gate memories, in terms of charge loss and data retention, respectively.
PTPN 22 and TYK 2 genes polymorphisms contribute to neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus ( NPSLE ) in Chinese Han

Background: Neuropsychiatric manifestations pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the PTPN22, IRF5 and TYK2 polymorphisms are involved in the development of NPSLE. Material and methods: The association was investigated between three immune-associated genes (PTPN22, IRF5 and TYK2) polymorphisms and SLE patients with/without NP symptoms in Chinese Han population. And the relationship between clinical manifestations of neuropsychiatic SLE and SNPs were also assessed. Results: The allele distributions of TYK2 rs280500 and PTPN22 rs1217418 in the NPSLE group was significantly lower than that in the non-NPSLE group (rs280500: OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.27-0.74, P = 0.001, Padj = 0.005; rs1217418: OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.23-0.74, P = 0.002, Padj = 0.014). Significant association were detected between the allele distributions of TYK2 rs280500 and PTPN22 rs1217418 and SLE (NPSLE and non-NPSLE) compared with the controls (rs280500: OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.47-0.83, P = 0.0009, Padj = 0.0045; rs1217418: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.47-0.84, P = 0.001, Padj = 0.007). HapGAGGT in TYK2 might confer protective effect on NPSLE compared to non-NPSLE group (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.09-1.99, P = 0.006, Padj = 0.042). Moreover, no correlation between any clinical manifestations (Polyneuropathy, Cognitive disorders, Seizures, Anxiety disorders, Psychosis, Autonomic disorder, headache) and the allele frequencies for PTPN22, TYK2 and IRF5 polymorphisms was detected. Conclusions: Our findings implied that the genetic polymorphisms (rs280500 in TYK2 and rs1217418 in PTPN22) might be protective factors in the development of NPSLE in Chinese Han.
On Triggering Control of Single-Input Linear Systems Under Pulse-Width Modulated DoS Signals

This paper studies the stability of remotely controlled and observed single-input controllable linear systems under power-constrained pulse-width modulated denial-of-service (DoS) signals. The effect of a DoS jamming signal is to corrupt the communication channels, thus preventing the data from being received at its destination. In this work, we first assume that the DoS signal is partially known, i.e., a uniform lower bound for the off time intervals and the on-to-off transiting time instants are known. We then propose a first type of resilient control and triggering strategies which is provably capable of beating partially known jamming signals. Building on this, we then present our joint control and identification algorithms, ${\sc JAMCOID for Periodic Signals}$ and ${\sc JAMCOID}$, which are provably able to guarantee the system stability under unknown jamming signals. More precisely, the ${\sc JAMCOID for Periodic Signals}$ algorithm is able to partly identify a periodic DoS signal with known uniform.
CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and TP53 polymorphisms: do they indicate susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and non-small-cell lung cancer?

Gene polymorphisms of phase I (CYP1A1 and CYP2E of cytochrome P,) and phase II (GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 of glutathione-S-transferase,) enzymes and the TP53 tumor suppressor gene were studied as markers in a sample of 262 Brazilians of European descent, the sample consisting of 97 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 75 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 90 control individuals. For NSCLC, we found no significant relationship between any of the markers studied and susceptibility to this disease. With respect to COPD, although the distribution of the CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTT1 and TP53 genotypes was similar to that of the controls the frequency of the CYP2E1*1A/*5B heterozygote was about 6 times higher in COPD patients than in controls (OR= 6.3; CI = 1.1-35.5 for p = 0.04). Individuals who presented the GSTT1 null phenotype and GSTP1 Ile/Val genotype had a risk about four times higher (OR= 4.0; CI = 1.2–14.6 for p = 0.02) of having COPD than individuals without these genotypes, the same being true for individuals having the GSTT1 null phenotype and CYP1A1*1A/*2A genotype (OR= 3.7; 1.1–14.6 for p = 0.04). These results suggest that the CYP2E1 and GSTT1 + GSTP or GSTT1 + CYP1A1 polymorphisms may be predictive of susceptibility to COPD, at least in this population of European ancestry.
Distribution of Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Thyroid Glands of Human Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

The autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is an organ‐specific autoimmune disease characterized by the breakdown of self‐tolerance to thyroid antigens. Some lymphocytes have been identified to be related notably to the pathogenesis of AITD. This article evaluated the distribution of the lymphocytic subpopulation in thyroid glands in order to develop the immunospecific forms of therapy for AITD.
THE NATURE OF THE GLASSY STATE: STRUCTURE AND GLASS TRANSITIONS

Materials in the glassy state have become an increasing focus of research and development and are found in a variety of commercial products and applications. While non-crystalline materials are not new, their often unpredictable properties and behavior continue to elude neat systems of classification. For purposes of teaching, there is presently a need for further explication of glasses, especially given their high importance and the wide extent of glassy materials in existence. This work is thus intended to address that need. Voronoi polyhedra have been used to represent amorphous (glassy) structures with considerable success; however, the system and procedure are not well taught and understood as, for example, are Miller Indices for describing crystals. The present article provides a practical update on results extracted from Voronoi polyhedra analyses of simulated and real physical systems. There is an alternative approach to characterization of amorphous and liquid structures, namely the binary radial distribution function, which is explained. Above all this article discusses the nature of the glassy state.
Participation in Decision Making, Productivity and Job Satisfaction among Managers of Fish Farms in Greece

A survey of production Managers in Greek fish farms was used to evaluate their level of job satisfaction and factors affecting it. Production Managers in Greek Fish farms exhibited high level of job satisfaction with more than 44% of them exhibiting job satisfaction levels >70. The majority (77.7%) of the sample had age>30 and 44% of them had postgraduate qualifications. The length of service varied between 6 and 20 years with an average 13.72 years of service. The annual salary ranged between 22K and 38K with an average of 30,670 Euros. The perceived level of participation of the staff in the decision making process of the company was high with values ranging from 3 (a low degree of participation) to 7(high degree of participation). The results indicate that job satisfaction is mostly increased with increasing level of participation in the decision making, wages and age and less by the productivity of the fish farm. Interestingly, the data presented here, indicate a negative effect of the length of stay (Spearman’s correlation= -0.24, P<0.05) on job satisfaction. This is an alarming result, production managers may be experience difficulties in coping with the current difficult economic conditions that Greek fish farms are exposed to as a results of the financial crisis. Under these adverse economic conditions of Greece, several businesses including the fish farms reduced the volume of production, the number of their employees and the wages and bonuses.
A short-time multifractal approach for arrhythmia detection based on fuzzy neural network

The authors have proposed the notion of short-time multifractality and used it to develop a novel approach for arrhythmia detection. Cardiac rhythms are characterized by short-time generalized dimensions (STGDs), and different kinds of arrhythmias are discriminated using a neural network. To advance the accuracy of classification, a new fuzzy Kohonen network, which overcomes the shortcomings of the classical algorithm, is presented. In the authors' paper, the potential of their method for clinical uses and real-time detection was examined using 180 electrocardiogram records [60 atrial fibrillation, 60 ventricular fibrillation, and 60 ventricular tachycardia]. The proposed algorithm has achieved high accuracy (more than 97%) and is computationally fast in detection.
Genetic variation in STAT4 predicts response to interferon‐α therapy for hepatitis B e antigen‐positive chronic hepatitis B

Interferon (IFN)‐α is a first‐line therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients but only initiates a response in a minority of patients. A genetic variant, rs7574865 in STAT4, was recently reported to be associated with risk of developing CHB and hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to determine whether this variant is associated with the response to IFNα treatment for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive CHB patients. We studied 466 HBeAg‐positive CHB patients who received either IFNα‐2b (n = 224) or pegylated IFNα‐2a (n = 242) therapy for 48 weeks and were followed for an additional 24 weeks. The rate of sustained virologic response (SVR), defined as HBeAg seroconversion along with hepatitis B virus DNA level <2000 copies/mL at week 72, was compared among patients with different genotypes of rs7574865. After 48 weeks of treatment and 24 weeks off treatment, the SVR rates in the IFNα‐2b and pegylated IFNα‐2a therapy groups were 30.4% and 28.9%, respectively. Compared to the rs7574865 GT/TT genotype, the GG genotype (a risk factor of CHB and hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma) was significantly associated with a reduced SVR rate in both patients who received IFNα‐2b therapy (21.1% versus 37.2%, P = 0.01) and those who received pegylated IFNα‐2a therapy (18.0% versus 41.2%, P = 9.74 × 10‐5). In joint analysis of the 466 patients, the GG genotype was associated with an approximately half SVR rate compared to the GT/TT genotype (19.3% versus 39.1%, P = 4.15 × 10‐6). A multivariate logistic regression model including rs7574865 and clinical variables showed that rs7574865 was the most significant factor for the prediction of SVR. Conclusion: STAT4 rs7574865 is a reliable predictor of response to IFNα therapy for HBeAg‐positive CHB patients and may be used for optimizing the treatment of CHB. (Hepatology 2016;63:1102–1111)
Problem-Based Learning as an Effective Learning Tool in Community Medicine: Initiative in a Private Medical College of a Developing Country

Background: Knowledge of community medicine is essential for health care professionals to function as efficient primary health care physicians. Medical students learning Community Medicine as a subject are expected to be competent in critical thinking and generic skills so as to analyze community health problems better. However, current teaching by didactic lectures fails to develop these essential skills. Problem-based learning (PBL) could be an effective strategy in this respect. This study was hence done to compare the academic performance of students who were taught Community Medicine by the PBL method with that of students taught by traditional methods, to assess the generic skills of students taught in a PBL environment and to assess the perception of students toward PBL methodology. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among seventh-semester final-year medical students between June and November 2014. PBL was introduced to a randomly chosen group of students, and their performance in an assessment exam at the end of postings was compared with that of the remaining students. Generic skills and perception toward PBL were also assessed using standardized questionnaires. Results: A total of 77 students took part in the brainstorming session of PBL. The correlation between self-assigned scores of the participants and those assigned by the tutor in the brainstorming session of PBL was significant (r = 0.266, P = 0.05). Out of 54 students who took part in the presentation session, almost all 53 (98.1%) had good perception toward PBL. Demotivational scores were found to be significantly higher among males (P = 0.024). The academic performance of students (P < 0.001) and success rates (P = 0.05) in the examination were higher among students who took part in PBL compared to controls. Conclusion: PBL helped improve knowledge of students in comparison to those exposed only to didactic lectures. As PBL enabled students to identify the gaps in their knowledge and enhanced their group functioning and generic skills, we recommend PBL sessions: They would help optimize the training in Community Medicine at medical schools. Good correlation of tutor and self-assessment scores of participants in the brainstorming session suggests that the role of tutors could be restricted to assessment in presentation sessions alone. Demotivation, which hinders group performance in PBL, needs to be corrected by counselling and timely feedback by the tutors.
QIM data hiding for tamper detection and correction in digital images using wavelet transform

This paper proposes a tamper detection and correction scheme using semi-fragile data hiding that aims to achieve high perceptual quality of images at the end-user even after malicious modification. The objective is achieved by embedding an external binary signature as well a low-resolution version of the image (image digest) by modulating integer wavelet coefficients using quantization index modulation (QIM). Half-toning technique is used to obtain image digest from the low-resolution version of the image. The receiver extracts the binary signature from the watermarked image for tamper detection while the extracted image digest is used to correct the tampered region. Unlike previously proposed techniques, this novel approach distinguishes malicious changes from various common image processing operations more efficiently and also correct tapered regions effectively. We compare the performance of the proposed method in term of probability of miss and false alarm with the same for the some of the existing semi-fragile watermarking techniques to demonstrate the success and potential of the present one.
Chemical characterization of particle emissions from controlled burns of biomass fuels using a high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer

A total of forty-nine burns were conducted at the Missoula Fire Sciences Lab consisting of nine fuel types; i.e., chamise scrub oak, ceanothus, maritime chaparral, coastal sage scrub, California sage brush, Manzanita, oak savanna, oak woodland and masticated mesquite. This paper focuses on the chemical characterization of fine particle emissions collected for flaming, mixed and smoldering phases using a HR ToF-AMS. The evolution of OM/OC, H/C, O/C and N/C from fire ignition to extinction was measured to capture the transient and integrated chemical composition of the non-refractory portion of bulk particles. Real time elemental ratios and empirical formulas derived with respect to modified combustion efficiency (MCE) are reported. For each fuel, the hydrogen fragment ions dominate the unit mass resolution (UMR) mass spectra with no specific fragment ions attributable to an individual ecological combination. An interference ion in the UMR m/z 73, a fragment normally attributed to levoglucosan, is noted. Therefore, the results imply that C 2 H 4 O 2 + ( m/z 60.021) plus C 3 H 5 O 2 + ( m/z 73.029) are more sufficient to estimate the contribution of levoglucosan. The results did not show significant variations of levoglucosan content in the organic particle with the overall average contribution fraction ranging from 0.74% for coastal sage to 1.93% for chamise.
Subjective sleepiness, simulated driving performance and blink duration: examining individual differences

The present study aimed to provide subject‐specific estimates of the relation between subjective sleepiness measured with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and blink duration (BLINKD) and lane drifting calculated as the standard deviation of the lateral position (SDLAT) in a high‐fidelity moving base driving simulator. Five male and five female shift workers were recruited to participate in a 2‐h drive (08:00–10:00 hours) after a normal night sleep and after working a night shift. Subjective sleepiness was rated on the KSS in 5‐min intervals during the drive, electro‐occulogram (EOG) was measured continuously to calculate BLINKD, and SDLAT was collected from the simulator. A mixed model anova showed a significant (P < 0.001) effect of the KSS for both dependent variables. A test for a quadratic trend suggests a curvilinear effect with a steeper increase at high KSS levels for both SDLAT (P < 0.001) and BLINKD (P = 0.003). Large individual differences were observed for the intercept (P < 0.001), suggesting that subjects differed in their overall driving performance and blink duration independent of sleepiness levels. The results have implications for any application that needs prediction at the subject level (e.g. driver fatigue warning systems) as well as for research design and the interpretation of group average data.
The Optimal Motor Response for Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

BACKGROUND: In this prospective study we compared the success of the infraclavicular brachial plexus block using double-stimulation in regard to the second nerve response elicited with neurostimulation. METHODS: Six-hundred-twenty-eight patients undergoing emergency upper limb surgery using infraclavicular brachial plexus block were included in this study. The musculocutaneous nerve was initially blocked and the groups were then evaluated according to the second nerve located, which was radial in 54%, median in 35%, and ulnar in 11% of patients. Blocks were performed using lidocaine 1.5% with 1/400,000 epinephrine 40 mL in all cases. The block was assessed every 5 min for 30 min after completion of the block. RESULTS: The success rate was 96% for the radial response group, 89% for the median response group, and 90% for the ulnar response group (P < 0.05). Time to perform the block and the onset time were not significantly different among groups. No serious complications were observed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that having initially located and blocked the musculocutaneous nerve, subsequent injection on a radial response resulted in a slightly more reliable success rate than injection with an ulnar or median response.
Evaluation of inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers in children with well-controlled congenital hypothyroidism

Abstract Objective: To investigate well-controlled congenital hypothyroidism on the markers associated with early kidney injury and oxidative DNA damage. Methods: Twenty-three children with euthyroid congenital hypothyroidism aged 3–6 years and 19 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled. Serum levels of albumin, C-reactive protein, cysteine C, globulin, pre-albumin, and total protein were detected. Urine levels of albumin, fibrin degradation products, IgG, β2-microglobulin, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were also measured. Clinical and biochemical characteristics were evaluated between the two groups. Results: Serum levels of C-reactive protein were higher, but pre-albumin was lower in patients with congenital hyperthyroidism compared with the controls (all p<0.001). Urinary levels of IgG were higher in patients with congenital hyperthyroidism than in the controls (p=0.011). However, urinary levels of albumin excretion and 8-OHdG were similar to those in the controls. Serum pre-albumin levels were negatively correlated with urinary 8-OHdG levels (r=−0.479, p=0.016) in patients with congenital hypothyroidism. Conclusion: It is concluded that inflammatory and oxidative markers were slightly altered in well-controlled congenital hypothyroidism. The levels of urinary 8-OHdG and albumin excretion were not significantly different.