Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hurricane Isaac brings more than oil ashore: Characteristics of beach deposits following the Deepwater Horizon spill

Prior to Hurricane Isaac making landfall along the Gulf of Mexico coast in August 2012, local and state officials were concerned that the hurricane would mobilize submerged oiled-materials from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill. In this study, we investigated materials washed ashore following the hurricane to determine if it affected the chemical composition or density of oil-containing sand patties regularly found on Gulf Coast beaches. While small changes in sand patty density were observed in samples collected before and after the hurricane, these variations appear to have been driven by differences in sampling location and not linked to the passing of Hurricane Isaac. Visual and chemical analysis of sand patties confirmed that the contents was consistent with oil from the Macondo well. Petroleum hydrocarbon signatures of samples collected before and after the hurricane showed no notable changes. In the days following Hurricane Isaac, dark-colored mats were also found on the beach in Fort Morgan, AL, and community reports speculated that these mats contained oil from the DWH spill. Chemical analysis of these mat samples identified n-alkanes but no other petroleum hydrocarbons. Bulk and δ13C organic carbon analyses indicated mat samples were comprised of marshland peat and not related to the DWH spill. This research indicates that Hurricane Isaac did not result in a notable change the composition of oil delivered to beaches at the investigated field sites. This study underscores the need for improved communications with interested stakeholders regarding how to differentiate oiled from non-oiled materials. This is especially important given the high cost of removing oiled debris and the increasing likelihood of false positives as oiled-materials washing ashore from a spill become less abundant over time.
Home Health Utilization in Assisted Living Settings

Home health agencies (HHAs) are one of the most commonly used third-party providers in the assisted living (AL) setting. One way ALs may be potentially able to meet the needs of their residents despite increased impairment is through supplementing the services offered with those delivered by HHAs. We explore the growth in the delivery of HHA services to Medicare beneficiaries in AL compared with other home settings between 2012 and 2014. We also examine demographic, cognitive, and functional characteristics of beneficiaries; HHA provider characteristics; and the variation in the percentage of home health use in ALs across the country. Our findings suggest that there was a slight growth in the share of HHA services being delivered in AL. HHA recipients in AL were more likely to have cognitive and activities of daily living impairments than those receiving HHA services in other settings. This is among the first studies to examine HHA utilization in AL.
Socio-epidemiological and land cover risk factors for melioidosis in Kedah, Northern Malaysia

Background Melioidosis, a fatal infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is increasingly diagnosed in tropical regions. However, data on risk factors and the geographic epidemiology of the disease are still limited. Previous studies have also largely been based on the analysis of case series data. Here, we undertook a more definitive hospital-based matched case-control study coupled with spatial analysis to identify demographic, socioeconomic and landscape risk factors for bacteremic melioidosis in the Kedah region of northern Malaysia. Methodology/Principal findings We obtained patient demographic and residential information and clinical presentation and medical history data from 254 confirmed melioidosis cases and 384 matched controls attending Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah (HSB), the main tertiary hospital of Alor Setar, the capital city of Kedah, during the period between 2005 and 2011. Crude and adjusted odds ratios employing conditional logistic regression analysis were used to assess if melioidosis in this region is related to risk factors connected with socio-demographics, various behavioural characteristics, and co-occurring diseases. Spatial clusters of cases were determined using a continuous Poisson model as deployed in SaTScan. A land cover map in conjunction with mapped case data was used to determine disease-land type associations using the Fisher’s exact test deploying simulated p-values. Crude and adjusted odds ratios indicate that melioidosis in this region is related to gender (males), race, occupation (farming) and co-occurring chronic diseases, particularly diabetes. Spatial analyses of disease incidence, however, showed that disease risk and geographic clustering of cases are related strongly to land cover types, with risk of disease increasing non-linearly with the degree of human modification of the natural ecosystem. Conclusions/Significance These findings indicate that melioidosis represents a complex socio-ecological public health problem in Kedah, and that its control requires an understanding and modification of the coupled human and natural variables that govern disease transmission in endemic communities.
Cluster Ions in Vapour over Calcium Dichloride: Theoretical Study of Geometrical Structure and Vibrational Spectra

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author IM performed computations, wrote the first draft of the manuscript and managed literature searches. Author TPP performed corrections and some selected computations regarding the structure and vibrational spectra. Author AMP performed some selected computations and thermodynamic calculations. All authors analyzed and discussed the results and approved the final manuscript. ABSTRACT Geometrical structure and vibrational spectra for CaCl 3– , Ca 2 Cl 3+ , Ca 3 Cl 5+ , Ca 4 Cl 7+ , and Ca 5 Cl 9+ ions have been studied by employing density functional theory and the second order Møller– Plesset perturbation theory. The equilibrium geometrical structures are as follows: the planar D 3h for CaCl 3– , triple-bridged bipyramid D 3h for Ca 2 Cl 3+ , hexa-bridged bipyramid D 3h for Ca 3 Cl 5+ , polyhedral C 2v for Ca 4 Cl 7+ , and polyhedral D 3h for Ca 5 Cl 9+ . No isomers have been confirmed to exist.
Association of serum adiponectin levels and body mass index with worsening depressive symptoms in elderly individuals: a 10-year longitudinal study

Abstract Objectives: Data regarding the association between adiponectin levels and body mass index (BMI) and long-term changes in depressive symptoms are limited and inconsistent. Thus, we investigated whether circulating adiponectin levels and BMI were independently and combinedly correlated to longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated 269 elderly Japanese individuals aged ≥70 years who participated in the Tsurugaya Project conducted between 2002 and 2012. A short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to assess depressive status. Serum adiponectin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or a latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay. BMI was calculated as body weight (kg)/height (m2). Results: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline serum adiponectin levels were positively associated with changes in GDS scores (β = 0.14, P = 0.035). However, no association was observed after adjusting for BMI (β = 0.09, P = 0.185). Low BMI was associated with increased GDS scores at the 10-year follow-up (β = -0.14, P = 0.033). Participants with a combination of high adiponectin levels and low BMI had a 3.3-fold higher risk of worsening depressive symptoms than those with low adiponectin levels and high BMI (odds ratio: 3.35, 95% confidence interval: 1.60–7.00; P = 0.001). Conclusions: This longitudinal study indicated that high serum adiponectin levels and low BMI were both associated with worsening depressive symptoms among older Japanese individuals. Furthermore, the combination of high adiponectin levels and low BMI was associated with worsening depressive symptoms.
Endothelial Insulin Resistance of Freshly Isolated Arterial Endothelial Cells From Radial Sheaths in Patients With Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Background Endothelial insulin resistance is insulin‐insensitivity in the vascular endothelium and can be observed in experimental models. This study aimed to investigate endothelial insulin resistance in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. To this end, a novel method of obtaining freshly isolated arterial endothelial cells from a radial catheter sheath was developed. Methods and Results Freshly isolated arterial endothelial cells were retrieved from catheter sheaths placed in radial arteries for coronary angiography (n=69, patient age 64±12 years). The endothelial cells were divided into groups for incubation with or without insulin, vascular endothelial growth factor, or acetylcholine. The intensity of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase at Ser1177 (p‐eNOS) was quantified by immunofluorescence microscopy. The percentage increase of insulin‐induced phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase correlated negatively with derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites, an oxidative stress test (r=−0.348, n=53, P=0.011), E/E′, an index of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in Doppler echocardiography (ρ=−0.374, n=49, P=0.008), and log‐transformed brain natriuretic peptide (r=−0.266, n=62, P=0.037). Furthermore, percentage increase of insulin‐induced p‐eNOS was an independent factor for the cardio‐ankle vascular index (standardized coefficient β=−0.293, n=42, P=0.021) in the multivariate regression analysis of adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Conclusions Our results suggested that endothelial insulin resistance is associated with oxidative stress, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and arterial stiffness.
Altered Low-Frequency EEG Connectivity in Mild Cognitive Impairment as a Sign of Clinical Progression.

BACKGROUND Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with clinical progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) but not all patients with MCI convert to AD. However, it is important to have methods that can differentiate between patients with MCI who progress (pMCI) and those who remain stable (sMCI), i.e., for timely administration of disease-modifying drugs. OBJECTIVE In the current study, we wanted to investigate whether quantitative EEG coherence and imaginary part of coherency (iCoh) could be used to differentiate between pMCI and sMCI. METHODS 17 patients with AD, 27 patients with MCI, and 38 older healthy controls were recruited and followed for three years and 2nd year was used to determine progression. EEGs were recorded at baseline and coherence and iCoh were calculated after thorough preprocessing. RESULTS Between pMCI and sMCI, the largest difference in total coherence was found in the theta and delta bands. Here, the significant differences for coherence and iCoh were found in the lower frequency bands involving the temporal-frontal connections for coherence and parietal-frontal connections for iCoh. Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between theta coherence and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE) (p = 0.0378; rho = -0.2388). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that low frequency coherence and iCoh can be used to determine, which patients with MCI will progress to AD and is associated with the ACE score. Low-frequency coherence has previously been associated with increased hippocampal atrophy and degeneration of the cholinergic system and may be an early marker of AD pathology.
Comparison of Various Implant Provisional Resin Materials for Cytotoxicity and Attachment to Human Gingival Fibroblasts.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of human gingival fibroblast (HGF-1) in contact with provisional materials with various chemical compositions and fabricated using different methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 210 specimens in eight experimental groups were used. Groups were divided by chemical compositions (poly[ethyl methacrylate], poly[methyl methacrylate], bis-acryl, and hybrid ceramic) and fabricating methods (direct, indirect, and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing [CAD/CAM]). To evaluate the surface characteristics of each group, roughness, water contact angle, and degree of conversion were measured. The responses of HGF-1 to provisional materials were evaluated with cytotoxicity and cell attachment assay. The roughness, surface energy, degree of conversion, level of cytotoxicity, and cell attachment were compared between groups using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's multiple comparison (α = .05). RESULTS The poly(ethyl methacrylate)-direct/indirect and poly(methyl methacrylate)-direct/indirect groups showed higher roughness than the bis-acryl-direct/indirect, poly(methyl methacrylate)-CAD/CAM, and hybrid ceramic-CAD/CAM groups with statistical significance (P < .05). The poly(ethyl methacrylate)-direct group showed the significantly highest water contact angle, and the hybrid ceramic-CAD/CAM group showed the lowest water contact angle (P < .05). The groups that used indirect fabrication methods showed a higher degree of conversion than those that used direct fabrication methods, regardless of chemical composition (P < .05). The poly(ethyl methacrylate) groups showed significantly lower cell viability than the other groups regardless of fabricating methods (P < .05). The poly(ethyl methacrylate)-direct method group showed the lowest cell attachment, and the hybrid ceramic-CAD/CAM method group showed the highest cell attachment (P < .05). CONCLUSION Poly(methyl methacrylate) and bis-acryl have lower cytotoxicity to HGF-1 than poly(ethyl methacrylate). Indirect fabrication and CAD/CAM are recommended to prevent residual monomer and achieve high cell attachment. To use direct fabrication methods, the auto-mix system is beneficial for the favorable cell response, as it derives a smooth surface.
Detection of A2142G and A2143G Substitutions among Clarithromycin-resistant Helicobacter pylori Strains Isolated from Egyptian Patients

Background: Clarithromycin is the most commonly recommended antibiotic in Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) eradication regimens, but the prevalence of clarithromycin-resistant H . pylori is increasing. Clarithromycin-resistance is associated with mutations in the 23S rRNA gene. The study aimed to examine gene mutations (A2142G and A2143G) of H. pylori 23S rRNA responsible for resistance to clarithromycin. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out by collecting 53 H. pylori isolates. Isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility to clarithromycin were done by standardized methods. Resistant strains were analysed for mutations in the 23S rRNA gene by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing. Results: H. pylori isolates were recovered from 91.4% of studied patients. About 64% were clarithromycin-resistant strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of all clarithromycin-resistant isolates ranged from 1.5 to 8 µ g/ml. Primary clarithromycin-resistant isolates only showed a single type of point mutation (A2143G). In contrast, secondary isolates had dual diversity of 23S rRNA gene mutation types (A2142G and A2143G). Conclusion: Secondary clarithromycin-resistant isolates show a greater variety of 23S rRNA gene mutation types than primary isolates.
The Homeodomain Transcription Factor NKX2.1 Is Essential for the Early Specification of Melanocortin Neuron Identity and Activates Pomc Expression in the Developing Hypothalamus

Food intake is tightly regulated by a group of neurons present in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, which release Pomc-encoded melanocortins, the absence of which induces marked hyperphagia and early-onset obesity. Although the relevance of hypothalamic POMC neurons in the regulation of body weight and energy balance is well appreciated, little is known about the transcription factors that establish the melanocortin neuron identity during brain development and its phenotypic maintenance in postnatal life. Here, we report that the transcription factor NKX2.1 is present in mouse hypothalamic POMC neurons from early development to adulthood. Electromobility shift assays showed that NKX2.1 binds in vitro to NKX binding motifs present in the neuronal Pomc enhancers nPE1 and nPE2 and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays detected in vivo binding of NKX2.1 to nPE1 and nPE2 in mouse hypothalamic extracts. Transgenic and mutant studies performed in mouse embryos of either sex and adult males showed that the NKX motifs present in nPE1 and nPE2 are essential for their transcriptional enhancer activity. The conditional early inactivation of Nkx2.1 in the ventral hypothalamus prevented the onset of Pomc expression. Selective Nkx2.1 ablation from POMC neurons decreased Pomc expression in adult males and mildly increased their body weight and adiposity. Our results demonstrate that NKX2.1 is necessary to activate Pomc expression by binding to conserved canonical NKX motifs present in nPE1 and nPE2. Therefore, NKX2.1 plays a critical role in the early establishment of hypothalamic melanocortin neuron identity and participates in the maintenance of Pomc expression levels during adulthood. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Food intake and body weight regulation depend on hypothalamic neurons that release satiety-inducing neuropeptides, known as melanocortins. Central melanocortins are encoded byPomc, and Pomc mutations may lead to hyperphagia and severe obesity. Although the importance of central melanocortins is well appreciated, the genetic program that establishes and maintains fully functional POMC neurons remains to be explored. Here, we combined molecular, genetic, developmental, and functional studies that led to the discovery of NKX2.1, a transcription factor that participates in the early morphogenesis of the developing hypothalamus, as a key player in establishing the early identity of melanocortin neurons by activating Pomc expression. Thus, Nkx2.1 adds to the growing list of genes that participate in body weight regulation and adiposity.
Genome-wide association analyses for yield and yield-related traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under pre-anthesis combined heat and drought stress in field conditions

Understanding the genetic basis of heat and drought stress tolerance in wheat is prerequisite for wheat breeding program. In the present study, a wheat panel comprising of 192 elite bread wheat genotypes was phenotyped in eight environments for yield and related traits in field conditions. Four stress environments were created by implying four different treatments differing in sowing date and water availability, panel was evaluated for two years in field conditions. The panel was genotyped with 15K Illumina chip and 9236 polymorphic markers concentrated on B genome were employed in GWAS analysis. Consistent, fast LD decay was observed on D genome and structure analysis germplasm divided panel into three major populations. GWAS was performed using BLUEs values of combined environment data in R package GAPIT using log10(P) = 3.96 as significance threshold. The significance of association was further checked using FDR<0.05 threshold. The GWAS identified 487 loci associated with the traits and were significant at log10(p) threshold out of these 350 loci were significant at FDR threshold. For two stress indices 108 associations were significant at FDR threshold. Nine genomic regions were shared among all treatment, while multiple pleiotropic regions were present on chromosome 7D followed by unmapped chromosome. The present study validated many marker trait associations for yield and other traits, MTAs significant under combined drought and heat stress were novel. These regions are important and can be used for fine mapping and marker assisted selection to discover new genes responsible for heat and drought tolerance in wheat.
Lightweight, flaw-tolerant, and ultrastrong nanoarchitected carbon

Significance A long-standing challenge in modern materials manufacturing and design has been to create porous materials that are simultaneously lightweight, strong, stiff, and flaw-tolerant. Here, we fabricated pyrolytic carbon nanolattices with designable topologies by a two-step procedure: direct laser writing and pyrolysis at high temperature. The smallest characteristic size of the nanolattices approached the resolution limits of the available 3D lithography technologies. Due to the designable unit-cell geometries, reduced feature sizes, and high quality of pyrolytic carbon, the created nanoarchitected carbon structures are lightweight, can be made virtually insensitive to fabrication-induced defects, attain nearly theoretical strength of the constituent material, and achieve specific strength up to one to three orders of magnitude above that of all existing micro/nanoarchitected materials. It has been a long-standing challenge in modern material design to create low-density, lightweight materials that are simultaneously robust against defects and can withstand extreme thermomechanical environments, as these properties are often mutually exclusive: The lower the density, the weaker and more fragile the material. Here, we develop a process to create nanoarchitected carbon that can attain specific strength (strength-to-density ratio) up to one to three orders of magnitude above that of existing micro- and nanoarchitected materials. We use two-photon lithography followed by pyrolysis in a vacuum at 900 °C to fabricate pyrolytic carbon in two topologies, octet- and iso-truss, with unit-cell dimensions of ∼2 μm, beam diameters between 261 nm and 679 nm, and densities of 0.24 to 1.0 g/cm3. Experiments and simulations demonstrate that for densities higher than 0.95 g/cm3 the nanolattices become insensitive to fabrication-induced defects, allowing them to attain nearly theoretical strength of the constituent material. The combination of high specific strength, low density, and extensive deformability before failure lends such nanoarchitected carbon to being a particularly promising candidate for applications under harsh thermomechanical environments.