Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ARRIVAL TIME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GRAVITATIONAL WAVES AND ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS DUE TO GRAVITATIONAL LENSING

In this study we demonstrate that general relativity predicts arrival time differences between gravitational wave (GW) and electromagnetic (EM) signals caused by the wave effects in gravitational lensing. The GW signals can arrive earlier than the EM signals in some cases if the GW/EM signals have passed through a lens, even if both signals were emitted simultaneously by a source. GW wavelengths are much larger than EM wavelengths; therefore, the propagation of the GWs does not follow the laws of geometrical optics, including the Shapiro time delay, if the lens mass is less than approximately 105 M⊙(f/Hz)−1, where f is the GW frequency. The arrival time difference can reach ∼0.1 s (f/Hz)−1 if the signals have passed by a lens of mass ∼8000 M⊙(f/Hz)−1 with the impact parameter smaller than the Einstein radius; therefore, it is more prominent for lower GW frequencies. For example, when a distant supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) in a galactic center is lensed by an intervening galaxy, the time lag becomes of the order of 10 days. Future pulsar timing arrays including the Square Kilometre Array and X-ray detectors may detect several time lags by measuring the orbital phase differences between the GW/EM signals in the SMBHBs. Gravitational lensing imprints a characteristic modulation on a chirp waveform; therefore, we can deduce whether a measured arrival time lag arises from intrinsic source properties or gravitational lensing. Determination of arrival time differences would be extremely useful in multimessenger observations and tests of general relativity.
The influence of social capital in the utilisation of sexual reproductive health services among the youth in Ghana. A community-based cross-sectional study

Background Social capital, often seen as the resources accessed through social connections, is currently gaining much attention in public health. However, limited studies have focused on the relationship between social capital and reproductive health services. Besides, while the factors associated with the use of reproductive health services among the youth are well documented in the literature, most studies have focused on aspects at the individual level. Yet, it is known that these behaviours can be influenced by social factors, which may be beyond the individual's control partly because the youth are embedded in social organisations. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between social capital and the youth's utilisation of reproductive health services. Method The study population comprised adolescents and young adults aged 15 - 24 years who were both in and out of school at the time of the survey. The study used a cross-sectional quantitative design involving a community-based household survey method to sample 792 respondents through multi-stage cluster sampling. The chi-square test examined the relationship between sociodemographic, social capital variables and reproductive health services. To account for potential confounding factors, a multivariable logistic regression model included variables from the binary logistic regression analysis with a p-value less than 0.05. Results In general, access to higher social capital was observed among 493 (62.2%). Almost half, 385 (48.6%) of the respondents have ever used at least one of the reproductive services examined in this study. After controlling for sex, marital status, age and access to valid National Health Insurance Card, the following social capital variables remained associated with increased utilisation of SRH services: higher trust in neighbourhood (AOR = 1.8; CI = 1.22 - 2.66), higher trust in people/institutions (AOR = 2.66; CI = 1.82 - 3.99), higher social cohesion (AOR = 3.35; CI = 2.21 - 5.08), stronger network (AOR = 7.55; CI = 4.43 - 12.87). Conclusion Access to some social capital dimensions led to increased use of reproductive health services. However, any intervention meant to address social capital needs in sexual and reproductive health should consider the efficacy of each social capital dimension and the intervention's environment.
Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the Carina Nebula: The steady march of feedback-driven star formation

We report the first results of imaging the Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, providing a photometry catalog of over 44,000 point sources as well as a catalog of over 900 candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) based on fits to their spectral energy distributions (SEDs). We discuss several aspects of the extended emission, including the structure of dozens of dust pillars that result when a clumpy molecular cloud is shredded by feedback from massive stars. There are surprisingly few of the “extended green objects” (EGOs) that are normally taken as signposts of outflow activity in Spitzer data, and not one of the dozens of Herbig-Haro jets detected optically are seen as EGOs. EGOs are apparently poor tracers of outflow activity in strongly irradiated environments, due to the e! ects of massive star feedback. A population of “extende dr ed objects” tends to be found around late O-type and early B-type stars, some with clear bow-shock morphology. These are dusty shocks where stellar winds collide with photoevaporative flows o! nearby clouds. Finally, the relative distributions of O-type s tars, small star clusters, and sub-clusters of YSOs as compared to the dust pillars shows that while some YSOs are located within dust pillars, many more stars and YSOs reside just outside pillar heads. We suggest that pillars are transient phenomena, part of a continuous outwardly propagating wave of star formation driven by feedback from massive stars. As the pillars are destroyed, they leave newly formed stars in their wake, and these are then subsumed into the young OB association. The YSOs are found predominantly in the cavity between pillars and massive stars, arguing that their formation was in fact triggered. Altogether, the current generation of YSOs shows no strong deviation from a normal initial mass function (IMF). The number of YSOs is consistent with a roughly constant star-formation rate over the past ! 3 Myr, implying that propagating star formation in pillars constitutes an important mechanism to construct unbound OB associations. These accelerated pillars may give birth to massive O-type stars that, after several Myr, could appear to have formed in isolation.
Quantification and modeling of the dynamic changes in the absorption coefficient of water at /spl lambda/ = 2.94 /spl mu/m

A stable, high-energy Q-switched Er:YAG laser operating at 2.94 /spl mu/m with a nearly diffraction-limited spatial beam profile was used to quantify the dynamic changes in the absorption coefficient of liquid water as a function of incident fluence. The data from transmission measurements across water layers of known thicknesses shows that the effective absorption coefficient of water decreases by almost an order of magnitude for fluence levels less than 2 J/cm/sup 2/. From the measured transmission data, we have developed a phenomenological, finite-difference absorption model (the dynamic saturable absorption model) that can, at least to a first-order approximation, accurately predict the dynamic and effective absorption coefficient of water at the wavelength /spl lambda/ = 2.94 /spl mu/m. The model developed in the present study should prove useful in efforts to understand the underlying mechanisms of laser-tissue interaction in applications such as skin resurfacing and corneal sculpting, wherein Er:YAG lasers are used to target water as the dominant chromophore.
Genomic differences between sequence types 1 and 104 of Streptococcus suis Serotype 2

Background Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen that can cause invasive infections in humans who are in close contact with infected pigs or contaminated pork-derived products. S. suis serotype 2 sequence type (ST) 1 strains are mostly associated with meningitis, whereas ST104 strains are mostly recovered from sepsis cases in humans. No data are available for comparison of the ST1 and ST104 strains at the genomic level, particularly concerning virulence-associated genes. Thus, genomic comparison of both STs was performed in this study. Methods An ST1 isolate (ID26154) from the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with meningitis and an ST104 isolate (ID24525) from the blood of a patient with sepsis were subjected to shotgun pyrosequencing using the 454 GS Junior System. Genomic comparison was conducted between the ST1 isolate and the ST104 isolate using the Artemis Comparison Tool (ACT) to identify the region of differences (RDs) between ST1 and ST104. Results Fifty-eight RDs were unique to the ST104 genome and were mainly involved in metabolism and cell functional activities, cell wall anchored proteins, bacteriophages and mobile genetic elements, ABC-type transporters, two-component signal transductions, and lantibiotic proteins. Some virulence genes mostly found in ST1 strains were also present in the ST104 genome. Whole-genome comparison is a powerful tool for identifying genomic region differences between different STs of S. suis serotype 2, leading to the identification of the molecular basis of virulence involved in the pathogenesis of the infection.
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Food Perceptions, Food Preferences, Diet Quality, and Health in a Food Desert Campus

The sensory properties of foods guide food choices and intake, importantly determining nutritional and health status. In communities that have inconsistent access to nutritious foods, such as food deserts, the food taste perceptions and preferences have yet to be explored. The paucity of data pertaining to food perceptions, preferences, and choices and the complex relationship of socioeconomic status (SES), race/ethnicity, and sex on cardiometabolic and cognitive health warrants further examination. Two hundred fifty participants (aged 18-24 years) living in a food desert campus were recruited for this cross-sectional study where participants underwent taste tests on selected fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and clinical tests (anthropometrics, blood glucose, blood pressure, and endothelial function), cognitive function tests (memory and attention), diet quality assessment (HEI), and food preference and perception assessments. Food taste intensities were influenced by sex with bitter and umami taste intensities of several foods being perceived more intensely by males. Moreover, food liking was largely influenced by ethnicity with Hispanics having higher liking ratings for several foods compared with non-Hispanics. Both, Hispanics and females, had higher total fruit HEI scores and lower attention scores than non-Hispanics and males respectively. Females also had lower blood pressure, reactive hyperemia index, and fasting blood glucose. Food-insecure individuals rated cost and convenience as more important factors for overall food consumption and had lower attention scores than those with higher food-security status. Future research should consider the complex interactions of factors such as taste and flavor perception, sex, ethnicity, prior exposure to foods, and other environmental factors when studying food preferences and health in young adults.
Immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection with residual post COVID symptoms

BACKGROUND In a number of patients, post-acute COVID syndrome develops after acute infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Long COVID [LC]). Here, we examined the immune responses and clinical characteristics of individuals with LC compared to age- and gender-matched healthy recovered COVID individuals (HC) during the Omicron pandemic. Immune responses following BNT162b2 (Pfizer) booster are also determined. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 292 patients (LC, 158; HC, 134) confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection from January to August 2022. We determined anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G (anti-RBD IgG), surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT), T-cell subsets, and neutralization of wild-type, BA.1 and BA.5. A subset of patients was voluntarily recruited for booster vaccination with BNT162b2 vaccine and immunogenicity was assessed 4weeks after vaccination. RESULTS Cycle thresholds were higher in the HC group than in the LC group (20.7 vs. 19.7; P<0.039). Anti-RBD IgG was higher at [≤]56 days after COVID-19 onset (PC) in 3-dose vaccines compared with 2-dose vaccines in the LC group (P=0.02) and after 57-84 days PC in 3-dose vaccines in the HC group (P<0.001). The sVNT in LC was significantly high against Wuhan and sVNT was 30% lower against the Omicron than the Wuhan. sVNT was relatively sustained in 3-dose vaccines than [≤] 2-dose vaccines. sVNT in the HC group reached its peak at 57-84 days PC as compared with the LC group. CONCLUSIONS These findings imply that LC produced increased neutralizing antibody responses than those with HC. During the Omicron pandemic, immunity after LC has still waned; therefore, a booster vaccine may be needed after 2-3 months from last infection. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05484700)
Biases for neutron star mass, radius and distance measurements from Eddington-limited X-ray bursts

Eddington-limited X-ray bursts from neutron stars can be used in conjunction with other spectroscopic observations to measure neutron star masses, radii and distances. In order to quantify some of the uncertainties in the determination of the Eddington limit, we analysed a large sample of photospheric radius-expansion thermonuclear bursts observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. We identified the instant at which the expanded photosphere 'touches down' back on to the surface of the neutron star and compared the corresponding touchdown flux to the peak flux of each burst. We found that for the majority of sources, the ratio of these fluxes is smaller than ≃ 1.6, which is the maximum value expected from the changing gravitational redshift during the radius expansion episodes (for a 2 M ⊙ neutron star). The only sources for which this ratio is larger than ≃ 1.6 are high-inclination sources that include dippers and Cyg X-2. We discuss two possible geometric interpretations of this effect and show that the inferred masses and radii of neutron stars are not affected by this bias. On the other hand, systematic uncertainties as large as ∼50 per cent may be introduced to the distance determination.
Relationship between mucosa-associated gut microbiota and human diseases

The mucus layer covering the gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays a critical role in maintaining gut homeostasis. In the colon, the inner mucus layer ensures commensal microbes are kept at a safe distance from the epithelium while mucin glycans in the outer mucus layer provide microbes with nutrients and binding sites. Microbes residing in the mucus form part of the so-called ‘mucosa-associated microbiota’ (MAM), a microbial community which, due to its close proximity to the epithelium, has a profound impact on immune and metabolic health by directly impacting gut barrier function and the immune system. Alterations in GI microbial communities have been linked to human diseases. Although most of this knowledge is based on analysis of the faecal microbiota, a growing number of studies show that the MAM signature differs from faecal or luminal microbiota and has the potential to be used to distinguish between diseased and healthy status in well-studied conditions such as IBD, IBS and CRC. However, our knowledge about spatial microbial alterations in pathogenesis remains severely hampered by issues surrounding access to microbial communities in the human gut. In this review, we provide state-of-the-art information on how to access MAM in humans, the composition of MAM, and how changes in MAM relate to changes in human health and disease. A better understanding of interactions occurring at the mucosal surface is essential to advance our understanding of diseases affecting the GI tract and beyond.
On the Quality of Space-Filling Curve Induced Partitions

The solution of partial diierential equations on a parallel computer is usually done by a domain decomposition approach. The mesh is split into several partitions mapped onto the processors. However, partitioning of unstructured meshes and adaptive reened meshes in general is an NP-hard problem and heuristics are used. In this paper space-lling curve based partition methods are analysed and bounds for the quality of the partitions are given. Furthermore estimates for parallel numerical algorithms such as multigrid and wavelet methods on these partitions are derived. 1 The partition problem Finite-Element, Finite-Volume and Finite-Diierence methods for the solution of partial differential equations are based on meshes. The solution is represented by degrees of freedoms attached to certain locations on the mesh. Numerical algorithms operate on these degrees of freedom during steps like the assembly of a linear equation system or the solution of an equation system. A natural way of porting algorithms to a parallel computer is the data distribution approach. The mesh with attached degrees of freedom is decomposed into several partitions and mapped to the processors of the parallel computer. Accordingly also the operations on the data are partitioned. Goals of a partitioning scheme are load-balancing and little communication between the processors. Sometimes also singly-connected partitions are required. If the partitions are determined during run-time, furthermore a fast partitioning scheme itself is sought. This is e.g. the case within adaptive mesh reenement of a PDE solver. The partitioning problem in general is NP-hard 18]. There are many heuristics based on graph connectivity or geometric properties to address this problem 2,6,12,13,19]. In practice fast heuristics are known. However, there is not much known about general quality of these methods. In contrary there exist examples, where single heuristics give really bad results. In this paper we analyse a speciic geometry based heuristic based on space-lling curves. It is cheap and helps to simplify the implementation of parallel algorithms 9,15,16,17,20,23]. We are interested in bounds for the quality of the partitions. This will lead us to general estimates on the parallel performance of advanced numerical algorithms on these partitions.
Production of Tone 2 in disyllabic words in Mandarin Chinese speaking children aged 3-5 with a cochlear implant and a contralateral hearing aid

ABSTRACT To investigate Mandarin Tone 2 production of disyllabic words of prelingually deafened children with a cochlear implant (CI) and a contralateral hearing aid (HA) and to evaluate the relationship between their demographic variables and tone-production ability. Thirty prelingually Mandarin-speaking preschoolers with CI+HA and 30 age-matched normal-hearing (NH) children participated in the study. Fourteen disyllabic words were recorded from each child. A total of 840 tokens (14 × 60) were then used in tone-perception tests in which four speech therapists participated. The production of T2-related disyllabic words of the bimodal group was significantly worse than that of the NH group, as reflected in the overall accuracy (88.57% ± 16.31% vs 99.29% ± 21.79%, p < 0.05), the accuracy of T1+T2 (93.33% vs 100%), the accuracy of T2+T1 (66.67 ± 37.91% vs 98.33 ± 9.13%), and the accuracy of T2+T4 (78.33 ± 33.95% vs 100%). In addition, the bimodal group showed significantly inferior production accuracy of T2+T1 than T2+T2 and T3+T2, p < 0.05. Both bimodal age and implantation age were significantly negatively correlated with the overall production accuracy, p < 0.05. For the error patterns, bimodal participants experienced more errors when T2 was in the first position of the tone combination, and T2 was most likely to be mispronounced as T1 and T3. Bimodal patients aged 3–5 have T2-related disyllabic lexical tone production defects, and their performances are related to tone combination, implantation age, and bimodal age.
SENSITIVITY OF THE CHERENKOV TELESCOPE ARRAY TO THE DETECTION OF INTERGALACTIC MAGNETIC FIELDS

Very high energy (VHE; energy E ≳ 100 GeV) γ-rays originating from extragalactic sources undergo pair production with low-energy photons of background radiation fields. These pairs can inverse-Compton-scatter background photons, initiating an electromagnetic cascade. The spatial and temporal structure of this secondary γ-ray signal is altered as the pairs are deflected in an intergalactic magnetic field (IGMF). We investigate how VHE observations with the future Cherenkov Telescope Array, with its high angular resolution and broad energy range, can potentially probe the IGMF. We identify promising sources and simulate γ-ray spectra over a wide range of values of the IGMF strength and coherence length using the publicly available ELMAG Monte Carlo code. Combining simulated observations in a joint likelihood approach, we find that current limits on the IGMF can be significantly improved. The projected sensitivity depends strongly on the time a source has been γ-ray active and on the emitted maximum γ-ray energy.
Ultrasound‐guided injection of the long head of the biceps tendon sheath with concomitant subacromial bursa injection through the same needlestick

Sonography and specific shoulder positions allow for injections into both the long head of the biceps tendon sheath (LHBTS) and the subacromial space (SS) with one needlestick. We validated this technique using cadavers. An experienced proceduralist injected latex solution into 12 unembalmed cadaveric shoulders, aiming for the LHBTS and SS, using an ultrasound‐guided injection technique that employs a single‐needle entry point. An experienced surgeon dissected each specimen and graded latex location as: (1) completely accurate (in both the SS and LHBTS); (2) partially accurate (in either the SS or LHBTS); (3) accurate with overflow (in both locations, but also elsewhere); (4) partially accurate with overflow (in either location, but also somewhere else); or (5) completely inaccurate (no latex in either location). All 12 ultrasound‐guided injections using the technique accurately placed latex into both LHBTS and SS (100% accuracy). Latex was also found in adjacent regions after two (17%) injections: one within the shoulder joint and one within the deltoid musculature. This newly described technique allows highly accurate access to the LHBTS and SS with single‐needle entry. This technique could become a favored alternative to subjecting patients to two needlesticks and preparing separate injections to address often concomitant pathologies.
Larvicidal potential of extracts and isolated compounds from Piper cubeba fruits against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae

Abstract Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of virus transmission that causes dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and zika. The primary prevention method has been vector control and synthetic insecticides that can cause environmental side effects. Thus, the work aimed to evaluate the larvicidal potential of extracts and isolated compounds from Piper cubeba against A. aegypti larvae. The larvicidal activity method was executed according to the World Health Organization protocol. The larvae were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Through molecular docking, the action mechanism was investigated. The hydroalcoholic and hexane extracts showed similar larvicidal activity with LC50 of 191.1 μg/mL and 185.84 μg/mL, respectively. Between isolated compounds, hinokinin presented LC50= 97.74 μg/mL. The SEM analysis showed structural damage to the larva’s tegument caused by extracts and isolated compounds. Therefore, the results demonstrate the larvicidal action of hinokinin and extracts, which can lead to the development of new natural larvicides. Graphical Abstract