Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Searching for Activity Markers that Approximate (VBNC) Legionella pneumophila Infectivity in Amoeba after Ultraviolet (UV) Irradiation

Legionella pneumophila is an increasingly recognized threat to public health via aerosol exposures; with a variety of control measures including: water temperature/flow management and free chlorine used to reduce the risk of infection within healthcare centers. Despite these efforts, L. pneumophila often recolonizes plumbing systems after specific treatments, which prompted us to examine ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for a point-of-use, secondary control measure. Currently, there is no data on the efficacy of high (>254 nm) wavelength UV-C (100–280 nm) light inactivation of L. pneumophila with resuscitation of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) cells. We report for the first time L. pneumophila dose-responses for 268.6 nm and 288.6 nm UV-C, as compared to 256 nm, and demonstrate UV induced VBNC L. pneumophila remaining infectious to Acanthamoeba polyphaga during co-culture experiments. Findings were correlated to molecular-based activity assays to identify additional measures of L. pneumophila viability following UV disinfection compared to culture. A collection of viability markers may provide a more representative measure of risk compared to current culture-based detection, since UV-C irradiated L. pneumophila lose culturability, yet retain activity, increased ATP production, and the ability to be resuscitated by amoeba co-culture. This finding is significant as it identifies potential concern from VBNC cells following UV-C disinfection and the need for further research into the efficacy of UV inactivation as a point-of-use application for L. pneumophila control and management.
Use of Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour for Microbiological Disinfection in Hospital Environments: A Review

Disinfection of nosocomial pathogens in hospitals is crucial to combat healthcare-acquired infections, which can be acquired by patients, visitors and healthcare workers. However, the presence of a wide range of pathogens and biofilms, combined with the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, presents infection control teams in healthcare facilities with ongoing challenges in the selection of biocides and application methods. This necessitates the development of biocides and innovative disinfection methods that overcome the shortcomings of conventional methods. This comprehensive review finds the use of hydrogen peroxide vapour to be a superior alternative to conventional methods. Motivated by observations in previous studies, herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on the utilisation of hydrogen peroxide vapour as a superior high-level disinfection alternative in hospital settings. This review finds hydrogen peroxide vapour to be very close to an ideal disinfectant due to its proven efficacy against a wide range of microorganisms, safety to use, lack of toxicity concerns and good material compatibility. The superiority of hydrogen peroxide vapour was recently demonstrated in the case of decontamination of N95/FFP2 masks for reuse to address the critical shortage caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the significant number of studies demonstrating antimicrobial activity, there remains a need to critically understand the mechanism of action by performing studies that simultaneously measure damage to all bacterial cell components and assess the correlation of this damage with a reduction in viable cell count. This can lead to improvement in antimicrobial efficacy and foster the development of superior approaches.
Comparison of plasma soluble and extracellular vesicles-associated biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease patients and cognitively normal individuals

INTRODUCTION: Amyloid-{beta} (A{beta}) and tau are brain hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) also present in blood as soluble biomarkers or encapsulated in extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our goal was to assess how soluble plasma biomarkers of AD pathology correlate with number and content of EVs. METHODS: Single-molecule enzyme-linked assays were used to quantify A{beta}42/40 and tau in plasma samples and neurally-derived EVs (NDEVs) from a cohort of APOE {varepsilon}4- and APOE {varepsilon}4+ cognitively normal individuals (CN) and AD patients. RESULTS: Soluble plasma A{beta}42/40 ratio is decreased in AD patients compared to CN individuals. The amount and content (A{beta}40, A{beta}42, tau) of plasma NDEVs were similar between groups. Quantity of soluble biomarkers were negatively correlated to NDEVs number only in CN individuals. DISCUSSION: Soluble A{beta}42/40 ratio is the most robust AD plasma biomarker. Analysis of NDEVs and their content pointed toward peculiar mechanisms of A{beta} release in AD.
Analysis of the Association between Copy Number Variation and Ventricular Fibrillation in ST-Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction

Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) during ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEAMI) significantly contributes to cardiovascular-related deaths. Although VF has been linked to genetic factors, variations in copy number variation (CNV), a significant source of genetic variation, have remained largely unexplored in this context. To address this knowledge gap, this study performed whole exome sequencing analysis on a cohort of 39 patients with STEAMI who experienced VF, aiming to elucidate the role of CNVs in this pathology. The analysis revealed CNVs in the form of duplications in the PARP2 and TTC5 genes as well as CNVs in the form of deletions in the MUC15 and PPP6R1 genes, which could potentially serve as risk indicators for VF during STEAMI. The analysis also underscores notable CNVs with an average gene copy number equal to or greater than four in DEFB134, FCGR2C, GREM1, PARM1, SCG5, and UNC79 genes. These findings provide further insight into the role of CNVs in VF in the context of STEAMI.
The effects of combined transcranial brain stimulation and a 4-week visuomotor stepping training on voluntary step initiation in persons with chronic stroke—a pilot study

Purpose Evidence suggests that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance motor performance and learning of hand tasks in persons with chronic stroke (PCS). However, the effects of tDCS on the locomotor tasks in PCS are unclear. This pilot study aimed to: (1) determine aggregate effects of anodal tDCS combined with step training on improvements of the neural and biomechanical attributes of stepping initiation in a small cohort of persons with chronic stroke (PCS) over a 4-week training program; and (2) assess the feasibility and efficacy of this novel approach for improving voluntary stepping initiation in PCS. Methods A total of 10 PCS were randomly assigned to one of two training groups, consisting of either 12 sessions of VST paired with a-tDCS (n = 6) or sham tDCS (s-tDCS, n = 4) over 4 weeks, with step initiation (SI) tests at pre-training, post-training, 1-week and 1-month follow-ups. Primary outcomes were: baseline vertical ground reaction force (B-vGRF), response time (RT) to initiate anticipatory postural adjustment (APA), and the retention of B-VGRF and RT. Results a-tDCS paired with a 4-week VST program results in a significant increase in paretic weight loading at 1-week follow up. Furthermore, a-tDCS in combination with VST led to significantly greater retention of paretic BWB compared with the sham group at 1 week post-training. Clinical implications The preliminary findings suggest a 4-week VST results in improved paretic limb weight bearing (WB) during SI in PCS. Furthermore, VST combined with a-tDCS may lead to better retention of gait improvements (NCT04437251) (https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04437251).
Oral microbiota–host interaction: the chief culprit of alveolar bone resorption

There exists a bidirectional relationship between oral health and general well-being, with an imbalance in oral symbiotic flora posing a threat to overall human health. Disruptions in the commensal flora can lead to oral diseases, while systemic illnesses can also impact the oral cavity, resulting in the development of oral diseases and disorders. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, known as pathogenic bacteria associated with periodontitis, play a crucial role in linking periodontitis to accompanying systemic diseases. In periodontal tissues, these bacteria, along with their virulence factors, can excessively activate the host immune system through local diffusion, lymphatic circulation, and blood transmission. This immune response disruption contributes to an imbalance in osteoimmune mechanisms, alveolar bone resorption, and potential systemic inflammation. To restore local homeostasis, a deeper understanding of microbiota–host interactions and the immune network phenotype in local tissues is imperative. Defining the immune network phenotype in periodontal tissues offers a promising avenue for investigating the complex characteristics of oral plaque biofilms and exploring the potential relationship between periodontitis and associated systemic diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying Porphyromonas gingivalis- and Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced alveolar bone resorption, as well as the immunophenotypes observed in host periodontal tissues during pathological conditions.
COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF SOME EMPIRICAL MODELS TO ESTIMATE SEDIMENT YIELD IN SMALL CATCHMENTS

Empirical models have been developed to estimate erosion for a certain area and their calibration is essential for use in off-site conditions. Empirical modeling with high accuracy and efficiency for estimating sediment load can lead to better estimates of sediment load, resulting in a more appropriate design of soil and water conservation practices. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of FSM, MPSIAC and PSIAC models in estimating erosion and sedimentation. In this study, 10 small watersheds were selected with areas between 14.3 and 556 hectares as the field of research. The model parameters were determined using available maps, satellite images and field operations. The amount of watershed sediment was estimated using empirical models described above. Observed sediment was calculated by determining sediment volume in check dam by field method. The minimum, average and maximum observed sediment were respectively 0.41, 0.82 and 1.18 mha year. The correlation coefficients between the observed sediment and the estimated sediment by the empirical models of FSM, MPSIAC and PSIAC, respectively, were 0.56, 0.47 and 0.54. The estimated sediment data of the empirical models were compared with the observed sediment data of the relative error test. Values of the relative error estimated for FSM, MPSIAC and PSIAC models were 38.67, 1.22 and 2.35. Efficiency index of Nash and Sutcliffe for FSM, PSIAC and MPSIAC models were, respectively, -17386.37, -45.46 and -11.48. These results indicated that the FSM model compared with the other two models had more errors, and this model with the baseline coefficients has no efficiency to estimate the sediment of small watersheds, and the two PSIAC and MPSIAC models also faced with sediment overestimation, but the MPSIAC model showed relatively acceptable results.
Modeling metallic single crystal plastic hardening through the evolution of dislocation subgrain structures

A single crystal plasticity theory for insertion into finite element simulation is formulated using sequential laminates to model subgrain dislocation structures. It is known that local models do not adequately account for latent hardening, as latent hardening is not only a material property, but a nonlocal property (e.g., grain size and shape). The addition of the nonlocal energy from the formation of subgrain structure dislocation walls and the boundary layer misfits provide both latent and self hardening of crystal slip. Latent hardening occurs as the formation of new dislocation walls limit motion of new mobile dislocations, thus hardening future slip systems. Self hardening is accomplished by evolution of the subgrain structure length scale. No multiple slip hardening terms are included. The substructure length scale is computed by minimizing the nonlocal energy. The minimization of the nonlocal energy is a competition between the dislocation wall and boundary layer energy. The nonlocal terms are also directly minimized within the subgrain model as they impact deformation response. The geometrical relationship between the dislocation walls and slip planes affecting dislocation mean free path is accounted for giving a first-order approximation to shape effects. A coplanar slip model is developed due to requirements when modeling the subgrain structure. This subgrain structure plasticity model is noteworthy as all material parameters are experimentally determined rather than fit. The model also has an inherit path dependency due to the formation of the subgrain structures. Validation is accomplished by comparison to single crystal tension test results.
Ecological and physiological adaptations of malaria vectors in a semi-arid area in Baringo district, Kenya

Longitudinal entomological sampling was executed to study physiological and ecological adaptations of malaria vectors at two semi-arid villages (Kamarimar and Tirion) in Kenya. Adult mosquitoes were sampled using CDC light traps and pyrethrum spray catch collections. Mosquito larvae were sampled using standard dipping methods. Parity rates, length of gonotophic cycle duration and insemination rates of female mosquitoes were assessed. Host choice and sporozoite rates were determined by ELISAs. Sub-species of the Anopheles gambiae complex were identified by PCR. Out of 16,683 mosquitoes collected in both villages An. gambiae si was most predominant followed by An. pharoensis , An. funestus and An. coustani. An. arabiensis was the most predominant member of the An. gambiae complex. Only 13.77% of all adults were blood-fed and 0.02% were Plasmodium falciparum-infected. Some 30.44% of the mosquitoes had fed on humans; 28.46% and 42% had fed on bovines and goats, respectively. Larval productivity was low all year. During the wet season, larvae occupied all habitats but more so in pan dams. All hoof prints, stream beds, tyre tracks, concrete tanks and ditches were rain-fed and produced larvae for short periods only. Habitat stability was positively associated with larval density. Duration of gonotrophic cycles varied significantly between wet and dry seasons. Christopher stage I incidence differed significantly between dry and wet seasons. Prevalence of stage II, III, IV and V did not vary with season. There was no significant difference in insemination frequency between seasons. Breeding of malaria vectors was predominantly driven by human factors. An. arabiensis and An. funestus bred at low levels in permanent breeding sites throughout the year. Permanent water sources available during the dry season served as innocula that provided “larval seed” to fresh habitats formed during the rainy season. The vectors fed mainly on humans and to a lesser but substantial extent on goats and bovines. Malaria transmission was undetectable through most of the year but occurred at low-level in a few wet months. The duration of gonotrophic cycles was longer during the wet than the dry season indicating that these vectors adapt to hot dry weather by ovipositing more frequently. Shortened gonotrophic cycles during peak dry seasons apparently compensated for the low vector densities.
Dimensions of Accessibility and Use of Information Communication Technology Among Cocoa Farmers in Atwima Mponua District, Ghana

This research examined the drivers of accessibility and use of information communication technologies (ICTs) by cocoa farmers. A sample size of four hundred (400) cocoa farmers was selected using a multi-stage random sampling procedure. Data were analysed using percentage, means, standard deviation, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and multiple linear regression model. The study revealed that mobile phones, radio and television are the most available (=4.99, 4.95 and 4.85 respectively), accessible (=4.97, 4.83 and 4.40 respectively) and utilised (=4.97, 4.81 and 4.30 respectively) ICT tools by cocoa farmers. There is a relatively high level of availability of ICT (=3.57), a moderate level of accessibility (=2.90) and low use (=2.19) of ICT tools. Cocoa farmers mainly used ICT tools to acquire information on their cocoa farm activities (=4.82). Gender, age, education and farmer-based organisation participation affected farmers' accessibility of ICT tools. Age, education and farm experience significantly affected farmers’ use of ICT tools. The greatest challenge faced by cocoa farmers in accessing and using ICT tools is a lack of skills in operating the tools ( rank=2.24). Training on ICT use should be intensified by all relevant stakeholders to enable cocoa farmers to increase their use of ICT tools.
On the Dynamical Mechanisms Governing El Niño–Southern Oscillation Irregularity

This study investigates the mechanisms by which short time-scale perturbations to atmospheric processes can affect El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in climate models. To this end a control simulation of NCAR’s Community Climate System Model is compared to a simulation in which the model’s atmospheric diabatic tendencies are perturbed every time step using a Stochastically Perturbed Parameterized Tendencies (SPPT) scheme. The SPPT simulation compares better with ECMWF’s twentieth-century reanalysis in having lower interannual sea surface temperature (SST) variability and more irregular transitions between El Niño and La Niña states, as expressed by a broader, less peaked spectrum. Reduced-order linear inverse models (LIMs) derived from the 1-month lag covariances of selected tropical variables yield good representations of tropical interannual variability in the two simulations. In particular, the basic features of ENSO are captured by the LIM’s least damped oscillatory eigenmode. SPPT reduces the damping time scale of this eigenmode from 17 to 11 months, which is in better agreement with the 8 months obtained from reanalyses. This noise-induced stabilization is consistent with perturbations to the frequency of the ENSO eigenmode and explains the broadening of the SST spectrum (i.e., the greater ENSO irregularity). Although the improvement in ENSO shown here was achieved through stochastic physics parameterizations, it is possible that similar improvements could be realized through changes in deterministic parameterizations or higher numerical resolution. It is suggested that LIMs could provide useful insight into model sensitivities, uncertainties, and biases also in those cases.
The radiological effects of dust storms in Baghdad- Ramadi area

Twelve storm dust samples were collected from three cities in Iraq. The samples were collected in the same time during big storms which hit Iraq in summer, 2012 and 2013. The deposited dust on 4 by 4 nylon sheet on surfaces of selected buildings in cities of Baghdad, Fallujah and Al-Ramadi were collected. Each sample was put in sealed Marinilli beaker and kept for 4 weeks to reach the equilibrium state between radium and its short half-life daughters. Gamma spectrometry system based on HPGe was used for analysis of natural and artificial radionuclides in the dust. The activities of natural radionuclides were found to be ranged between 13-19 Bq/kg, 9-14 Bq/kg and 200-240 Bq/kg for Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 respectively, while Cs-137 was found in all the samples to be ranged between 3-10 Bq/kg. The current study includes the estimation of doses caused by external and internal exposure and inhalation dose of these radionuclides and discusses the potential sources of these relatively elevated concentrations of radionuclides
Effect of Grip strength on Work Efficiency in Hand Tools Tasks

The overarching goal of ergonomics is to enhance performance and ensure workplace safety during physical tasks, simultaneously minimizing musculoskeletal disorders and energy expenditure. Recently, concerns have arisen about body measurements contributing not only to musculoskeletal issues but also to a potential decline in energy and work efficiency. Hence, this study aimed to explore the impact of maximum grip strength (MGS) on activity energy expenditure (AEE) and work efficiency. AEE measurements, conducted using the Actiheart, were carried out with 10 subjects performing a drilling task in 12 coordinated postures involving the shoulder, trunk, and leg. Analysis through independent samples t-test and mean differences revealed that AEE decreased as subject's MGS increased. Individuals with higher MGS exhibited lower in AEE, suggesting greater efficiency in their performance.
The Penetration of Draped Magnetic Field Into the Martian Upper Ionosphere and Correlations With Upstream Solar Wind Dynamic Pressure

Open and draped magnetic field topologies are important at Mars because they can provide ionospheric particles a path to escape to space. Four years of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN data are analyzed in this study, demonstrating that the altitude at which the ionospheric density drops below 102 cm−3 is essentially coincident with the altitude down to which open and draped magnetic field lines are observed in the ionosphere. During times of enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure, a greater fraction of the magnetic topology was observed as open or draped (as opposed to closed) above densities of 102 cm−3. The altitudes at which the ionospheric density fell below 102 cm−3, and the magnetic field topology transitioned from closed to open or draped, also decreased during higher dynamic pressure conditions. Times of enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure thus appear to drive greater penetration of draped magnetic field into the ionosphere, enhancing the rate of reconnection between draped and crustal magnetic fields and producing more open field. Such observations may have implications for the long‐term evolution of the Martian ionosphere; the historic solar wind is thought to have been denser and faster than present‐day conditions, and “quiet time” conditions may have been equivalent to extreme dynamic pressure events today. Depending on past atmospheric conditions at Mars, draped topology may have routinely penetrated deep into the ionosphere, and quiet time rates of ionospheric escape to space may thus have been much greater for early Mars than today.
Using collaborative genealogy data to study migration: a research note

ABSTRACT The digital age allows data collection to be done on a large scale and at low cost. This is the case of genealogy trees, which flourish on numerous digital platforms thanks to the collaboration of a mass of individuals wishing to trace their origins and share them with other users. The family trees constituted in this way contain information on the links between individuals and their ancestors, which can be used in historical demography, and more particularly to study migration phenomena. The case of 19th century France is taken as an example, using data from the family trees of 238,009 users of the Geneanet website, or 2.5 million (unique) individuals. Using the geographical coordinates of the birthplaces of 25,485 ancestors born in France between 1800 and 1804 and those of their descendants (24,516 children, 29,715 grandchildren and 62,165 great-grandchildren), we study migration between generations at several geographical scales. We start with a broad scale, that of the departments, to reach a much finer one, that of the cities. Our results are consistent with those of the literature traditionally based on the parish or civil status registers. The results show that the use of collaborative genealogy data not only makes it possible to support previous findings of the literature, but also to enrich them.