Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metabarcoding Reveals Impact of Different Land Uses on Fungal Diversity in the South-Eastern Region of Antioquia, Colombia

Changes in soil fungal communities caused by land use have not been sufficiently studied in South American Andosols, which are considered key food production areas. Since fungal communities play an important role in soil functionality, this study analysed 26 soil samples of Andosols collected from locations devoted to conservation, agriculture and mining activities in Antioquia, Colombia, to establish differences between fungal communities as indicators of soil biodiversity loss using Illumina MiSeq metabarcoding on nuclear ribosomal ITS2 region. A non-metric multidimensional scaling allowed to explore driver factors of changes in fungal communities, while the significance of these variations was assessed by PERMANOVA. Furthermore, the effect size of land use over relevant taxa was quantified. Our results suggest a good coverage of fungal diversity with a detection of 353,312 high-quality ITS2 sequences. We found strong correlations of Shannon and Fisher indexes with dissimilarities on fungal communities (r = 0.94). These correlations allow grouping soil samples according to land use. Variations in temperature, air humidity and organic matter content lead to changes in abundances of relevant orders (Wallemiales and Trichosporonales). The study highlights specific sensitivities of fungal biodiversity features in tropical Andosols, which may serve as a basis for robust assessments of soil quality in the region.
Full-disk magnetic oscillations in the solar photosphere

Photospheric observations of the magnetic oscillations have been carried out to research magneto-acoustic waves in spots. The coupling between the magnetic field and the p-modes has been studied using reduced areas on the solar disk, but a global scenario is still missing. Four hour full-disk magnetograms (at 4 arcsec/pix spatial resolution) obtained in the sodium D-lines were analysed pixel-by-pixel (locally) and using the spherical harmonics decomposition (globally). Magnetic oscillations were detected at different frequencies and identified on the solar disk. The global properties of the magnetic oscillations, shown via the � − ν diagrams, are for the first time presented and discussed.
Coupled Chemical Oscillators

We analyze the interaction between a pair of coupled chemical oscillators. Using singular perturbation techniques, we derive an equation that governs the time evolution of the phase shift, which is a measure of how much the oscillators are out of phase. This result is the key to understanding experimental observations on coupled reactor systems. In particular, our model accounts for synchronization, and its bifurcation into rhythm splitting.
Generalized linear mixed models for ordered responses in complex multilevel structures: effects beneath the school or college in education

Summary. The complexities of educational processes and structure and the need for disentangling effects beneath the level of the school or college are discussed. Ordinal response multilevel crossed random‐effects models for educational grades are introduced. Weighted random effects for teacher contributions are then added. Estimation methodology is reviewed. Specially written macros for quasi‐likelihood with second‐order terms are described. The application discusses General Certificate of Education at advanced level grades cross‐classified by student and teaching group within a number of institutions. The methods handle teacher effects where several teachers contribute to provision and where each teacher deals with several groups. Some methodological lessons are drawn for sparse data and the use of extra‐multinomial variation. Developments of the analysis yield conclusions about the sources of variation in educational progress, and particularly the effect of teachers.
Evaluation Index of Visibility in Tunnel Lighting

The revealing power was proposed as an index to evaluate visibility in road lighting. However, applicability in tunnel lighting has not been studied. We evaluate the tunnel lighting visibility on the basis of the revealing power in this paper. Our simulation and field experiment, made clear the relationship between the brightness and overall uniformity of the road surface and revealing power. This result confirms tunnel lighting can reduce the road surface luminance while maintaining visibility and can also save energy.
The optical light curve of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 9 + 9

The detection of a small modulation in the light curve of the GX 9 + 9 optical counterpart at the same period as determined from the X-ray data is reported. The optical variability is roughly sinusoidal in shape with a period of 4.198 + or - 0.0094 hours and an average peak-to-peak amplitude in the B of 0.19 mag with comparable amplitudes in the V and R bandpasses, and has superposed flickering with a typical amplitude of six percent. The mass of the companion star is deduced to be 0.4 solar mass, which corresponds to an early M-type star. The bulk of the optical light arises in the accretion disk, while the variability arises from orbital modulation of the light reprocessed off the companion star and a bright spot. It is suggested that the X-ray modulation might be due to the asymmetries of X-rays reflected off the bright spot. 34 refs.
Liver Transplantation in Recipients With a Positive Crossmatch: A Retrospective Single-Center Match-Pair Analysis

A positive crossmatch (XM+) is considered a contraindication to solid abdominal organ transplantation except liver transplantation (LT). Conflicting reports exist regarding the effects of XM+ on post-transplant outcomes. The goal of this retrospective single-center analysis is to evaluate the influence of XM+ on relevant outcome parameters such as survival, graft rejection, biliary and arterial complications. Forty-nine adult patients undergoing LT with a XM+ between 2002 and 2017 were included. XM+ LT recipients were matched 1:2 with crossmatch negative (XM−) LT recipients based on the balance of risk (BAR) score. Patient and graft survival were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test. Comparative analysis of clinical outcomes in XM+ and XM− groups were conducted. Patient and graft survival were similar in XM+ and XM− patients. Rejection episodes did not differ either. Recipients with a strong XM+ were more likely to develop a PCR+ CMV infection. A XM+ was not associated with a higher incidence of biliary or arterial complications. Donor age, cold ischemia time, PCR+ CMV infection and a rejection episode were associated with the occurrence of ischemic type biliary lesions. A XM+ has no effects on patient and graft survival or other relevant outcome parameters following LT. Graphical Abstract
High microwave permittivity of multiwalled carbon nanotube composites

Complex permittivity spectra of the multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-epoxy composites with mass concentrations up to 25.9% were measured from 10 MHz to 20 GHz. The composites exhibit high real and imaginary relative permittivities over broad bandwidth, showing strong dependence on the MWNT loading. It is observed that distinct resonance takes place at ∼1.5 GHz, with the corresponding resonant frequency shifts downward as the MWNT concentration increases. The origin of the dielectric properties is explained in terms of the dielectric relaxation/resonance and electrical conduction behavior of the nanotube composites, substantiated by the agreement between simulation and experimental data.
Comparison of Heart Rate Variability Indices Based on Seismocardiograms from Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Valvular Heart Diseases

Heart rate variability <tex>$(HRV)$</tex> is a physiological variation of intervals between consecutive heart beats that reflects the activity of the autonomic nervous system. This parameter is traditionally evaluated on the basis of electrocardiograms (<tex>$ECG$</tex> signals). Because seismocardiography <tex>$(SCG)$</tex> registers cardiac mechanical activity, it may be used in <tex>$HRV$</tex> analysis and the evaluation of valvular heart diseases (VHDs) simultaneously. In our study, our objective was to compare <tex>$HRV$</tex> indices in the time and frequency domain obtained from seismocardiograms <tex>$(SCG$</tex> signals) in healthy volunteers and patients with valvular heart diseases. The results of the <tex>$HRV$</tex> analysis indicate that there are significant differences between the <tex>$HRV$</tex> indices obtained from the seismocardiograms in healthy volunteers and patients with <tex>$VHD$</tex>, This shows the feasibility and validity of <tex>$HRV$</tex> analysis based on seismocardiograms in healthy volunteers and patients with <tex>$VHD$</tex>.
The exponential Radon transform

The exponential Radon transform, a generalization of the Radon transform, is defined and is studied as a mapping of function spaces. An inversion formula is derived. The exponential Radon transform is represented in terms of Fourier transforms of its domain and range, and this leads to a characterization of the range of the transform.The exponential Radon transform is a model for some reconstruction problems in radionuclide emission computer tomography.
A Simulation Study on the Effect of Antiarrhythmic Drugs During Myocardial Infarction

Cardiovascular diseases can lead to sudden cardiac death, most of which were caused by arrhythmias induced by myocardial infarction (MI). However, current simulation researches mainly focus on the effect of myocardial fibrosis on wave propagation in tissues, and few studies gave attention to antiarrhythmic drugs for the treatment of MI. Therefore, the aim of this study is to simulate the therapeutic effect of antiarrhythmic drugs. Firstly, this paper constructed the human ventricular cell model in MI based on the TP06 model according to the experimental data. Then, the single-cell model was remodeled by adding the change of ion currents after drug action. We simulated the therapeutic effects of the two drugs (telmisartan and nifedipine) at different concentrations, and compared the changes of parameters before and after the drug action. At the same time, the coaction of the two drugs were simulated on the cell model in MI. The simulation results showed INa agonist telmisartan could increase the maximum depolarization rate of cells in MI, but the drug had no effect on APD. On the contrary, ICaL blocker nifedipine mainly affected the APD and had no effect on the depolarization stage. Under the combined action of the two drugs, APA, RP and APD basically returned to normal values, and dV/dtmax returned to 85% of the normal value.
Improvement of the Seminal Characteristics in Rams Using Agri-Food By-Products Rich in Phytomelatonin

Simple Summary One of the limiting factors in sheep husbandry is reproductive seasonality, which is regulated by nocturnal melatonin secretion. Subcutaneous implants of this hormone have been used to modulate this seasonality. Nowadays, consumers are increasingly concerned about organic, hormone-free production. In order to adapt sheep production to these new demands, it would be of interest to replace synthetic melatonin with phytomelatonin, which is present in plants and can be included in sheep diet. In addition, if phytomelatonin comes from by-products from the food industry, a further step would be taken towards the objectives of the circular economy. Thus, the main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of phytomelatonin-rich diets on ram sperm quality and seminal plasma composition. With this work, we found that a phytomelatonin-rich diet, including a mix of grape pulp, and pomegranate and tomato pomaces, can increase melatonin levels in seminal plasma, improve sperm viability and morphology, and protect sperm cells against oxidative damage. Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a phytomelatonin-rich diet, including by-products from the food industry, on ram sperm quality and seminal plasma composition. Melatonin content in several by-products before and after in vitro ruminal and abomasal digestion was determined by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Finally, 20% of a mix of grape pulp with pomegranate and tomato pomaces was included in the rams’ diet, constituting the phytomelatonin-rich diet. Feeding the rams with this diet resulted in an increase in seminal plasma melatonin levels compared with the control group (commercial diet) in the third month of the study. In addition, percentages higher than those in the control group of morphologically normal viable spermatozoa with a low content of reactive oxygen species were observed from the second month onwards. However, the antioxidant effect does not seem to be exerted through the modulation of the antioxidant enzymes since the analysis of the activities of catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in seminal plasma revealed no significant differences between the two experimental groups. In conclusion, this study reveals, for the first time, that a phytomelatonin-rich diet can improve seminal characteristics in rams.
Characterization of individual interfacial barriers in a ZnO varistor material

The role of different types of interfaces in a ZnO varistor material has been investigated by directly measuring the current/voltage characteristics of individual interfacial junctions. The electrically characterized interfaces were subsequently studied by analytical transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that barriers to electrical conduction form during cooling from the sintering temperature. The ZnO/ZnO junctions exhibited breakdowns at either 3.2 or 3.6 V, where the higher breakdown was observed at boundaries which contained a thin (∼2 nm) intergranular amorphous Bi‐rich film, while the breakdown at 3.2 V was found at boundaries without secondary phases but which contained intergranularly segregated Bi atoms. Junctions between ZnO and intergranular Bi2O3 exhibited asymmetric current/voltage characteristics with breakdowns at 3.2 V for one polarity of the applied voltage and either 0.4 or 0.9 V for the other polarity. No varistor behavior was observed at interfaces between ZnO and pyrochlore, Z.
Predicting behavioral and brain markers of inhibitory control at preschool age from early measures of executive attention

Background Inhibitory control (IC) is the ability to prevent prepotent responses when inappropriate. Longitudinal research on IC development has mainly focused on early childhood and adolescence, while research on IC development in the first years of life is still scarce. To address this gap in the literature, we explored the association between executive attention (EA) and elementary forms of IC in infancy and toddlerhood, with individual differences in IC later at 5 years of age. Method We conducted a five-wave longitudinal study in which children’s EA and IC (n = 96) were tested at the age of 9 and 16 months and 2, 3, and 5 years. Children performed various age-appropriate EA and IC tasks in each wave, measuring inhibition of attention, endogenous control of attention, inhibition of the response, and conflict inhibition. At 5 years of age, IC was measured with a Go/No-go task while recording event-related potentials. After correlation analyses, structural equation model analyses were performed to predict IC at 5 years of age from EA and early IC measures. Results The results revealed that EA at 9 months predicted IC measures at 2 years of age. Likewise, measures of IC at 2 years predicted performance on the Go/No-go task at behavioral and neural levels. No direct association was found between EA at 9 months and IC at 5 years of age. We further observed that some EA and IC measures were not associated across time. Conclusion As we expected, EA skills in infancy and toddlerhood were related to better performance of children on IC tasks, toghether with a more mature inhibition-related brain functioning. Altogether, the results indicate that IC in early childhood could be predicted from EA and IC at 9 months and 2 years of age and suggest that the early emergence of IC relies on the development of particular EA and basic IC skills. However, some discontinuities in the longitudinal development of IC are observed in the first 5 years of life. These findings provide further support for the hierarchical model of IC development.
Interactive effects of depth and differential irrigation on soil microbiome composition and functioning

Two factors that are well-known to influence soil microbiomes are the depth of the soil as well as the level of moisture. Previous works have demonstrated that climate change will increase the incidence of drought in soils, but it is unknown how fluctuations in moisture availability affect soil microbiome composition and functioning down the depth profile. Here, we investigated soil and wheatgrass rhizosphere microbiomes in a single common field setting under four different levels of irrigation (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) and three depths (0-5 cm, 5-15 cm, and 15-25 cm from the surface). We demonstrated that there is a significant interactive effect between depth and irrigation, where changes in soil moisture more strongly affect soil microbiomes at the surface layer than at deeper layers. This was true for not only microbiome community composition and diversity metrics, but also for functional profiles (transcriptomic and metabolomic datasets). Meanwhile, in rhizosphere communities the influence of irrigation was similar across the different depths. However, for the ‘Alkar’ wheatgrass cultivar, the rhizosphere microbial communities responded more strongly to changes in irrigation level than did the communities for the ‘Jose’ cultivar rhizosphere. The lessened response of deeper soil microbiomes to changes in irrigation may be due to higher incidence of slow-growing, stress-resistant microbes. These results demonstrate that the soil microbiome response to moisture content is depth-dependent. As such, it will be optimal for soil microbiome studies to incorporate deeper as well as surface soils, to get a more accurate picture of the soil microbiome response to stress.
Overview of Archaea

Archaea were separated from Eubacteria after discovery of their specifics in cell outer membrane that usually not affected by common antibiotics. Phylogenetic analysis introduced by Karl Wöese supported this separation. Presently, only two phyla Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota include the valid representatives. Another three phyla that were proposed based on the sequence analysis of environmental samples, do not contain validly published species, and for this reason they are not included in this review. The phylum Euryarchaeota currently includes eight classes and ten orders, while the Crenarchaeota phylum contains the only class with five orders. Members of the phyla Crenarchaeota have two or three family B and no family D DNA polymerases, but members of the Euryarchaeota contain the only family B polymerases and the only family D polymerases, and it is still not clear, which is the main functional enzyme in the replication process. In this article, we are present an update and comparative analysis for this domain, discussing unique features of this group and Evolution, estimating their physiology within the matrix of physic-chemical factors, and outlining future perspectives in their study. Rules of the diagonal for the diagrams with all Archaea are presented and discussed.
A nonlinear partial differential system arising in thermoelectricity

In this paper we prove the existence of a solution for a system of nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations arising from thermoelectric modelling of metallurgical electrodes undergoing a phase change. The model consists of an electromagnetic problem for eddy current computation coupled with a Stefan problem for temperature. The proof uses a regularized problem obtained by truncating the source term in temperature equation. Passing to the limit requires fine a priori estimates leading to compactness.
Infections in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase G6PD-Deficient Patients; Predictors for Infection-Related Mortalities and Treatment Outcomes

Disturbances in the count or maturity of blood cells weaken their microbial defensive capacity and render them more susceptible to infections. Glucose-6-phosphate deficient patients are affected by a genetic disease that affects cell integrity with increased liability to infections and death. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for infection mortality in this patient population. We retrospectively examined the records of G6PD adult patients with confirmed infections and collected data related to demographics, infections (pathogens, types, and treatment regimens) in addition to mortality and length of stay outcomes. Data were statistically analyzed using R Programming language to identify contributing factors to mortality and treatment regimens association with outcomes. Records of 202 unique patients over 5 years were included, corresponding to 379 microbiologically and clinically confirmed infections. Patients > 60 years [p = 0.001, OR: 5.6], number of comorbidities 4 (2–5) [p < 0.001, OR: 1.8], patients needed blood transfusion [p = 0.003, OR: 4.3]. Respiratory tract infections [p = 0.037, OR: 2.28], HAIs [p = 0.002, OR: 3.9], polymicrobial infections [p = 0.001, OR: 10.9], and concurrent infection Gram-negative [p < 0.001, OR: 7.1] were significant contributors to 28-day mortality. The history of exposure to many antimicrobial classes contributed significantly to deaths, including β-lactam/β-lactamase [p = 0.002, OR: 2.5], macrolides [p = 0.001, OR: 3.34], and β-lactams [p = 0.012, OR: 2.0]. G6PD patients are a unique population that is more vulnerable to infections. Prompt and appropriate antimicrobial therapy is warranted to combat infections. A strict application of stewardship principles (disinfection, shortening the length of stay, and controlling comorbid conditions) may be beneficial for this population. Finally, awareness of the special needs of this patient group may improve treatment outcomes.
Gaia and variable stars

Abstract The study of variable phenomena (periodic, irregular or transient) provides a unique way to acquire knowledge about objects in our Universe. Currently, we are going through a rapid expansion of time-domain astrophysics. One reason for this expansion is the technological developments materialised in small to medium size observational projects such as HAT, OGLE, Catalina, PTF and upcoming very large projects such as Gaia or LSST. In this article, we are focusing on the ESA cornerstone mission Gaia. This spacecraft will provide astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic measurements for one billion stars. Among the existing and planned multi-epoch projects Gaia is unique because it will provide exquisite astrometric measurements for all objects it observes. We provide a brief overview of the literature concerning this mission and its expected contribution to variability studies.
On the Sectional Geometric Genus of Quasi-Polarized Varieties. I

Abstract Let (X, L) be a quasi-polarized variety of dim X = n. In this paper we give a new invariant (the i-th sectional geometric genus) of (X, L), which is a generalization of the degree and the sectional genus of (X, L). Furthermore we study some properties of the sectional geometric genus.