Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A deep Chandra survey of the Groth Strip - I. The X-ray data

We present the results of a 200-ks Chandra observation of part of the Groth Strip region, using the ACIS-I instrument. We present a relatively simple method for the detection of point sources and calculation of limiting sensitivities, which we argue is at least as sensitive and more self-consistent than previous methods presented in the literature. A total of 158 distinct X-ray sources are included in our point-source catalogue in the ACIS-I area. The number counts show a relative dearth of X-ray sources in this region. For example, at a flux limit of 10 -15 erg cm -2 s -1 , around 20 per cent more soft-band sources are detected in the HDF-N and almost 50 per cent more in the ELAIS-N1 field, which we have analysed by the same method for comparison. We find, however, that these differences are consistent with Poisson variations at <2σ significance, and therefore there is no evidence for cosmic variance based on these number counts alone. We determine the average spectra of the objects and find a marked difference between the soft-band-selected sources, which have r = 1.9 typical of unobscured active galactic nuclei (AGN), and the hard-band-selected sources, which have r = 1.0. Reassuringly, the sample as a whole has a mean spectrum of Γ = 1.4 ± 0.1, the same as the X-ray background. None the less, our results imply that the fraction of sources with significant obscuration is only ∼25 per cent, much less than predicted by standard AGN population synthesis models. This is confirmed by direct spectral fitting, with only a handful of objects showing evidence for absorption. After accounting for absorption, all objects are consistent with a mean intrinsic spectrum of r = 1.76 ± 0.08, very similar to local Seyfert galaxies. The survey area is distinguished by having outstanding multiwaveband coverage. Comparison with these observations and detailed discussion of the X-ray source properties will be presented in future papers.
Numerical studies on core collapse supernova in self-interacting massive scalar-tensor gravity

We investigate stellar core collapse in scalar-tensor theory with a massive self-interacting scalar field. In these theories, strong long-lived inverse chirp signals could be induced during the stellar core collapse, which provides us with several potential smoking-gun signatures that could be found using current ground-based detectors. We show that the existence of self-interaction in the potential of the scalar field can significantly suppress spontaneous scalarization and the amplitude of the monopole gravitational-wave radiation. Moreover, this suppression due to self-interaction is frequency dependent and may be discernible in LIGO/Virgo's sensitive band. Therefore, self-interaction should be considered when constraining scalar-tensor coupling parameters with gravitational-wave detections. Alternatively, if such monopole gravitational-wave signals are detected, then one may be able to infer the presence of self-interaction.
Drosophilid flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) of Georgia (Sakartvelo) with new records for the country

Four genera and 12 species of drosophilid flies have been recorded during our survey in five regions of Georgia in 2021. Two genera, Amiota (Loew, 1862) and Gitona Meigen, 1830, and four species (Amiota subtusradiata Duda 1934, Drosophila busckii Coquillett 1901, D. kuntzei Duda, 1924, and Gitona distigma Meigen, 1830) represent new records for the fauna of Georgia (Sakartvelo).
Progress in the lattice simulations of Sp(2N) gauge theories

We report on the status of our programme to simulate Sp($2N$) gauge theories on the lattice. Motivated by the potential realization of an SU($4$)/Sp($4$)$\sim$SO($6$)/SO($5$) composite Higgs model and the applications to self interacting dark matter, we first perform dynamical simulations of Sp($4$) theories with two Dirac flavors in the fundamental representation. Preliminary results of the meson spectrum are presented, along with discussion of the lattice systematics. We also introduce two-index anti-symmetric Dirac fermions. Such fermions are relevant in the context of partial top compositeness, provided they carry SU($3$) color quantum numbers, and hence we introduce three (Dirac) copies of them. We present the quenched meson spectrum and explore the phase space of bare lattice parameters. For all the numerical simulations we use the standard Wilson lattice gauge and fermion actions.
Risk Factors of Infections Due to Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in a Community Hospital in Rural Thailand

Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health concern globally. The most serious antimicrobial resistance problem among pathogenic bacteria is multidrug resistance (MDR). The objectives of this study were to investigate the risk factors of MDR infections and to develop a risk assessment tool for MDR Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) infections at a community hospital in rural Thailand. The study revealed 30.77% MDR-GNB among GNB strains. The most common MDR-GNB strains were 63.02% for Escherichia coli and 11.46% for Klebsiella pneumoniae. A case–control study was applied to collect clinical data between January 2016 and December 2020. Univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors for MDR-GNB and a risk assessment score for each factor was determined based on its regression coefficient. The risk factors for MDR-GNB infections were as follows: the presence of Enterobacteriaceae that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) (ORAdj. 23.53, 95% CI 7.00–79.09), infections occurring within the urinary tract (ORAdj. 2.25, 95% CI 1.44–3.53), and patients with a history of steroid usage (ORAdj. 1.91, 95% CI 1.15–3.19). Based on the assigned risk scores for each associated factor, the newly developed risk assessment tool for MDR-GNB infections achieved 64.54% prediction accuracy (AUC-ROC 0.65, 95% CI 0.61–0.68), demonstrating that the tool could be used to assess bacterial infection cases in community hospitals. Its use should provide practical guidance on MDR evaluation and prevention. This study was part of an antibiotic stewardship program; the study surveyed antibiotic-resistant situations in a hospital and implemented an effective risk assessment tool using key risk factors of MDR-GNB infections.
Electromagnetic radiation from collisions at almost the speed of light: An Extremely relativistic charged particle falling into a Schwarzschild black hole

We investigate the electromagnetic radiation released during the high energy collision of a charged point particle with a four-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole. We show that the spectra is flat, and well described by a classical calculation. We also compare the total electromagnetic and gravitational energies emitted, and find that the former is suppressed in relation to the latter for very high energies. These results could apply to the astrophysical world in the case that charged stars and small charged black holes are out there colliding into large black holes, and to a very high energy collision experiment in a four-dimensional world. In this latter scenario the calculation is to be used for the moments just after black hole formation, when the collision of charged debris with the newly formed black hole is certainly expected. Since the calculation is four dimensional, it does not directly apply to TeV-scale gravity black holes, as these inhabit a world of six to eleven dimensions, although our results should qualitatively hold when extrapolated with some care to higher dimensions.
2MASS J0516288+260738: Discovery of the first eclipsing late K + Brown dwarf binary system?

We report the discovery of a new eclipsing system less than one arcminute south of the pulsating DB white dwarf KUV 05134+2605. The object could be identified with the point source 2MASS J0516288+260738 published by the Two Micron All Sky Survey. We present and discuss the first light curves as well as some additional colour and spectral information. The eclipse period of the system is 1.29 d, and, assuming this to be identical to the orbital period, the best light curve solution yields a mass ratio of m2/m1 = 0.11, a radius ratio of r2/r1 ≈ 1 and an inclination of 74 ◦ . The spectral anaylsis results in a Teff = 4200 K for the primary. On this basis, we suggest that the new system probably consists of a late K + Brown dwarf (which would imply a system considerably younger than ≈0.01 Gyr to have r2/r1 ≈ 1), and outline possible future observations.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Suppressed tunnelling ionization of the ? molecule in an intense Ti:sapphire laser pulse

The multiphoton ionization of was studied using linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. Comparing the ion signal versus intensity curve of the singly charged molecular ion with that of an Ar atom with a similar ionization potential, it was found that the rate of ionization of the molecule is much lower than that of the atom. The observation is explained based on the fact that due to the two-centre nature of the potential which produces the barrier for tunnelling, and the orientation of the molecular axis with respect to the laser polarization, the effective barrier is equivalent to that produced by an atom with an effective charge of less than unity. Accordingly, a model is developed which agrees very well with the experimental observation.
Serum and CSF Biomarkers Predict Active Early Cognitive Decline Rather Than Established Cognitive Impairment at the Moment of RRMS Diagnosis

(1) Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) begins early in the evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS) but may only become obvious in the later stages of the disease. Little data is available regarding predictive biomarkers for early, active cognitive decline in relapse remitting MS (RRMS) patients. (2) Methods: 50 RRMS patients in the first 6 months following diagnosis were included. The minimum follow-up was one year. Biomarker samples were collected at baseline, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and 12-month follow-up; (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found for patients undergoing active cognitive decline for sNfL z-scores at baseline and 3 months, CSF NfL baseline values, CSF Aβ42 and the Bremso score as well. The logistic regression model based on these 5 variables was statistically significant, χ2(4) = 22.335, p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.671, with a sensitivity of 57.1%, specificity of 97.4%, a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of 92.6%. (4) Conclusions: Our study shows that serum biomarkers (adjusted sNfL z-scores at baseline and 3 months) and CSF biomarkers (CSF NfL baseline values, CSF Aβ42), combined with a clinical score (BREMSO), can accurately predict an early cognitive decline for RRMS patients at the moment of diagnosis.
Pre-procedural Antimicrobial Mouth Rinse: A Concise Review

Mouth rinses are therapeutic solutions utilized for gargling and rinsing the oral cavity. Several oral disorders need a mouth rinse, which can differ from halitosis to diseases of the periodontium. It is essential for the management of secondary infections, for example, oral mucositis. A mouth rinse may be suggested as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial agent, topical analgesic, or for caries prevention. Several different mouth rinses are accessible nowadays. Selection of a suitable mouth rinse depends on the patient’s requirement, disease threat and competence, and safety of mouth rinse. The application of antiseptics to the skin or mucous membranes before surgery or injections has been practised for many years. The goal of such an application is to reduce the number of microorganisms on the surface to prevent their entry into underlying tissues, which could cause bacteremia, septicemia, or harmful local infections. A similar idea of minimizing oral bacteria underlies the patient's usage of an antibiotic mouthwash before dental treatments. This decrease in microflora also reduces the possibility of pathogens entering the patient's mouth through direct contact, splatter, or aerosols during dental treatment. The main aim of this review is to aid oral health care professionals in making the correct selection of mouthwash while dealing with different conditions of the oral cavity.
Prognostic Value of Plasma Presepsin and Pneumonia Severity Index in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Emergency Department

Background and Objectives: Presepsin (PSS) is an independent predictor for estimating disease severity and prognosis in septic patients. Few studies have reported the associations between plasma PSS and the severity and prognosis in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We investigated whether a high plasma PSS level was associated with 30-day mortality in CAP patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-center study was conducted in an emergency department. The PSS level was measured in 211 adult CAP patients admitted to the hospital and followed for up to 30 days. We recorded the pneumonia severity index (PSI) and the CURB-65 score. The primary outcome was death from any cause within 30 days. Results: The plasma PSS levels were significantly elevated in the high-risk group (PSI > 130) compared with the low- (PSI < 91) or moderate-risk groups (PSI 91–130). Forty-four patients (20.9%) died within 30 days of admission. Non-survivors had significantly higher plasma PSS levels than survivors among CAP patients: 1083 (697–1736) pg/mL vs. 385 (245–554) pg/mL (p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) to predict 30-day mortality was highest for PSS (0.867), followed by procalcitonin (0.728) and lactate (0.616). The cutoff level of plasma PSS for 30-day mortality was >754 pg/mL. The combination of PSI and plasma PSS level improved the predictive ability for 30-day mortality (AUC = 0.892). Cox regression analysis showed that higher PSS levels (>754 pg/mL) and higher PSI (>126) were associated with 30-day mortality in CAP patients (hazard ratios of 19.472 and 6.375, respectively). Conclusion: Elevated plasma PSS is associated with severity and 30-day mortality in hospitalized CAP patients. Combining plasma PSS level and PSI could significantly improve the predictive ability of PSS for 30-day mortality.
The Characterization of Binding between Aptamer and Bisphenol A and Developing Electrochemical Aptasensors for Bisphenol A with Rationally Engineered Aptamers

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacture of polycarbonate and epoxy-resin-based products, and BPA contamination often happens in a variety of types of environment and food stuffs. BPA can cause many harmful effects to health due to its high toxicity. The rapid detection of BPA is of great significance in environmental monitoring and food safety. Nucleic acid aptamers show advantages in biosensors due to good chemical stability, the ease of labeling functional groups, and target binding that induces conformation change. Here, we performed a thorough characterization of the binding performance of one 60-nt anti-BPA DNA aptamer with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). We found the crucial region of the aptamer sequence for affinity binding with BPA, and the aptamer was able to be truncated to 29-nt DNA without losing affinity. We then developed a simple reagent-less electrochemical aptamer-based sensor for rapid BPA detection with this engineered aptamer. The truncated aptamer with a redox tag methylene blue (MB) was immobilized on a gold electrode. BPA-binding induced the conformation change of the MB-labeled aptamer, moving the MB close to the electrode surface and causing a significant current increase in MB in square wave voltammetry (SWV). Under optimized conditions, we achieved the quantitative detection of BPA with a detection limit of BPA at 0.1 μM. This sensor showed quick response to BPA and could be regenerated by washing with deionized water. This sensor was selective, and it allowed detecting BPA in complex samples, showing its potential in practice. This study will help in further applications of the aptamers of BPA.
Spatial Distribution of the Milky Way Hot Gaseous Halo Constrained by Suzaku X-Ray Observations

The formation mechanism of the hot gaseous halo associated with the Milky Way is still under debate. We report new observational constraints on the gaseous halo using 107 lines of sight of the Suzaku X-ray observations at 75° < l < 285° and with a total exposure of 6.4 Ms. The gaseous halo spectra are represented by a single-temperature plasma model in collisional ionization equilibrium. The median temperature of the observed fields is 0.26 keV (3.0 × 106 K) with a typical fluctuation of ∼30%. The emission measure varies by an order of magnitude and marginally correlates with the Galactic latitude. Despite the large scatter of the data, the emission measure distribution is roughly reproduced by a disk-like density distribution with a scale length of ∼7 kpc, a scale height of ∼2 kpc, and a total mass of ∼5 × 107 M☉. In addition, we found that a spherical hot gas with the β-model profile hardly contributes to the observed X-rays but that its total mass might reach ≳109 M☉. Combined with indirect evidence of an extended gaseous halo from other observations, the hot gaseous halo likely consists of a dense disk-like component and a rarefied spherical component; the X-ray emissions primarily come from the former, but the mass is dominated by the latter. The disk-like component likely originates from stellar feedback in the Galactic disk due to the low scale height and the large scatter of the emission measures. The median [O/Fe] of ∼0.25 shows the contribution of the core-collapse supernovae and supports the stellar feedback origin.
Gene Regulatory Network of the Noncoding RNA Qrr5 Involved in the Cytotoxicity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus during Infection

Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria are important regulatory molecules for controlling virulence. In Vibrio spp. , Qrr sRNAs are critical for quorum-sensing pathways and regulating the release of some virulence factors. However, the detailed role of Qrr sRNAs in the virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a Vibrio sRNA Qrr5 that positively regulates cytotoxicity and adherence in Caco-2 cells by primarily regulating the T3SS1 gene cluster. A number of 185, 586, 355, and 74 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) detected at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h post-infection, respectively, were mainly associated with ABC transporters and two-component system pathways. The DEGs exhibited a dynamic change in expression at various time points post-infection owing to the deletion of Qrr5. Accordingly, 17 related genes were identified in the co-expression network, and their interaction with Qrr5 was determined based on weighted co-expression network analysis during infection. Taken together, our results provide a comprehensive transcriptome profile of V. parahaemolyticus during infection in Caco-2 cells.
Safety Management and Safety Performance Nexus: Role of Safety Consciousness, Safety Climate, and Responsible Leadership

Drawing from social system theory, social identity theory, and social exchange theory, this study examines how safety management practices are linked with employee safety performance through safety consciousness and safety climate. Furthermore, responsible leadership is introduced as a boundary condition in the safety consciousness—safety performance and safety climate—safety performance relationships. Data were collected from employees belonging to pharmaceutical firms located in different industrial zones of Lahore, Pakistan. The support is found for full mediation of safety consciousness and safety climate for the safety management and safety performance relationships. Responsible leadership moderates the safety consciousness—safety performance and safety climate—safety performance relationships so that when the safety climate is weak or the safety consciousness is low, a high level of responsible leadership enhances safety performance.
Netrin-1 Stimulates Migration of Neogenin Expressing Aggressive Melanoma Cells

Netrin-1 is a neural guidance factor that regulates migration and positioning of neural crest-derived cells during embryonic development. Depending on the type of Netrin-1 receptor expression, cells are either attracted or repulsed by Netrin-1. Postnatal expression of Netrin-1 is detected in brain, colon, liver, and kidney, which are common sites of cancer metastasis, including melanoma. Thus, understanding the dynamics between Netrin-1 and its receptors could explain the attraction of melanoma towards these Netrin-1-expressing tissues. Here, we investigate whether the Netrin-1-attractive receptor Neogenin can affect migration of melanoma cells towards a Netrin-1 source. Results from Western blot (WB) analysis show higher expression of Neogenin in aggressive compared to non-aggressive melanoma cells. Cell migration experiments show increased migration of Neogenin-expressing aggressive melanoma cells towards exogenous, soluble recombinant human Netrin-1 and towards a Netrin-1-expressing cell line. Furthermore, WB reveals ERK1/2 activation and increased N-cadherin expression in Neogenin-expressing aggressive melanoma cells treated with rhNetrin-1. Moreover, treatment with anti-Neogenin blocking antibody caused decreased migration towards Netrin-1-expressing cells and reduced ERK1/2 activity in Neogenin-expressing aggressive melanoma cells. These results suggest Neogenin may play a role during migration of melanoma cells towards Netrin-1 via ERK1/2 signaling.
Effects of Aging and Fitness on Hopping Biomechanics

Physical exercise promotes healthy aging and is associated with greater functionality and quality of life. Muscle strength and power are established factors in the ability to perform daily tasks and live independently. Stiffness, for mechanical reasons, is another important constituent of running performance and locomotion. This study aims to analyze the impact of age and training status on one-legged hopping biomechanics and to evaluate whether age-related power decline can be reduced with regular physical exercise. Forty-three male subjects were recruited according to their suitability for one of four groups (young athletes, senior athletes, young controls and senior controls) according to their age (young between 21 and 35, vs. older between 59 and 75) and training status (competing athletes vs. non-physically active). The impact of age and training status on one-legged hopping biomechanics were evaluated using the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Significant differences among groups were found for hopping height (p < 0.05), ground contact time (p < 0.05), peak ground reaction force (p < 0.05) and peak power (p < 0.01). No differences among groups were found in ground-phase vertical displacement and vertical stiffness (p > 0.05). Young athletes and older non-physically active people achieved the best and worst performance, respectively. Interestingly, there were not any differences found between young non-physically active people and senior athletes, suggesting that chronic training can contribute to partly offset effects that are normally associated with aging.