Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperspectral Counting of Multiplexed Nanoparticle Emitters in Single Cells and Organelles

Nanomaterials are the subject of a range of biomedical, commercial, and environmental investigations involving measurements in living cells and tissues. Accurate quantification of nanomaterials, at the tissue, cell, and organelle levels, is often difficult, however, in part due to their inhomogeneity. Here, we propose a method that uses the diverse optical properties of a nanomaterial preparation in order to improve quantification at the single-cell and organelle level. We developed ‘hyperspectral counting’, which employs diffraction-limited imaging via hyperspectral microscopy of a diverse set of nanomaterial emitters, to estimate nanomaterial counts in live cells and sub-cellular structures. A mathematical model was developed, and Monte Carlo simulations were employed, to improve the accuracy of these estimates, enabling quantification with single-cell and single-endosome resolution. We applied this nanometrology technique to identify an upper-limit of the rate of uptake into cells - approximately 3,000 particles endocytosed within 30 minutes. In contrast, conventional ROI counting results in a 230% undercount. The method identified significant heterogeneity and a broad non-Gaussian distribution of carbon nanotube uptake within cells. For example, while a particular cell contained an average of 1 nanotube per endosome, the heterogenous distribution resulted in over 7 nanotubes localizing within some endosomes, substantially changing the accounting of subcellular nanoparticle concentration distributions. This work presents a method to quantify cellular and subcellular concentrations of a heterogeneous carbon nanotube reference material, with implications for nanotoxicology, drug/gene delivery, and nanosensor fields.
Corona virus-19 preventive practices among primary health workers in Owo local government, Ondo state Nigeria

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease with high mortality. Healthcare workers are at the frontline of COVID-19 response and are prone to infection. Therefore, healthcare workers’ preventive practices cannot be underestimated. The study aimed to determine the COVID-19 preventive practices among primary health workers in Owo, Local Government, Ondo state Nigeria.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Consenting staff of primary health centres completed a pretested self-administered questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: A total of 400 respondents were recruited with 91 (22.8%) males and 309 (77.2%) females giving male to female ratio of 1:3.4. The age range of the respondents was 19-61 years with a mean age of 37.1 (8.1) years. More than half (58.0%) had tertiary level of education and most participant were community health extension workers (36.7%). Majority (99.8%) of the workers were aware of COVID-19 though 212 (53.0%) had good knowledge. The major source of information was the television (94.3%). About 351 (87.8%) had positive attitude despite 383 (95.7%) agreeing that COVID-19 is a problem in Nigeria. More than three-quarter (76.5%) had good practice. There was a significant relationship between knowledge (χ2=29.072, p<0.001), attitude (χ2=35.156, p<0.001) with practice. Educational level was the only factor associated with adherence to COVID-19 guideline (χ2=5.256; p=0.022). The predictors of good practice include knowledge (95% CI =2.296-6.269; p<0.001) and attitude (95% CI =3.079-10.767; p<0.001). Conclusions: The health workers had good knowledge, positive attitude and good preventive practices towards COVID-19.
A Probability-Based Strong Physical Unclonable Function With Strong Machine Learning Immunity

A novel strong physical unclonable function (PUF), called Probability-based PUF (Prob-PUF), is proposed using the stochastic process of trap emission in nano-scaled transistors. For the first time, the information of trap emission probability is used in the PUF design. This new approach offers ideal immunity to machine learning (ML) attacks. Since Prob-PUF only stores a mathematical model, it naturally avoids the dilemma between the requirement of a large number of challenge-response pairs (CRPs) and the limited storage space, making it a potential solution for future secure storage.
8‐hydroxyquinoline and quinazoline derivatives as potential new alternatives to combat Candida spp. biofilm

Often associated to the colonization by Candida spp. biofilm, the catheter‐related infections are a serious health problem since the absence of a specific therapy. Hence, the main objective of this work was to evaluate the activity of 8‐hydroxyquinoline and quinazoline derivatives on Candida spp. biofilms. A quinazoline derivative (PH100) and an 8‐hydroxyquinoline derivative (PH157) were tested against nine strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis, and their biofilms in polystyrene microtitre plates and on polyurethane central venous catheter. The PH157 compound was incorporated into a film‐forming system‐type formulation and its capacity to inhibit biofilm formation on catheters was evaluated. The compounds were active against planktonic and sessile cells, as well as against the tested biofilms. PH157 compound performed better than the PH100 compound. The formulation containing PH157 presented results very similar to those of the compound in solution, which indicates that its activity was preserved. Both compounds showed activity against Candida spp. strains and their biofilm, with better PH157 activity. The formulation preserved the action of the PH157 compound, in addition, it facilitates its application on the catheter. The structural modifications that these compounds allow can generate compounds that are even more active, both against planktonic cells and biofilms.
Soil loss estimated by means of the RUSLE model in a subtropical climate watershed

Erosion process occurs naturally, shaping the Earth’s surface. Soil loss can cause harmful effects to the environment when intensive anthropic activities occur. Mathematical models have been used as effective and less costly alternatives for identifying sites highly prone to soil loss, especially at the watershed scale. In Brazil, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is one of the most commonly used soil loss prediction models. The RUSLE requires information on soil erodibility, rainfall erosivity, topography, land use and cover (C), and conservation practices (P) to estimate average annual soil losses. Images derived from remote sensing techniques are generally used to quantify the spatialization of C factor; however, the variation in land use throughout the year is not usually considered. This study aimed to estimate soil losses in an important subwatershed of Candiota river watershed (CRWsub) by using RUSLE, considering land use and rainfall erosivity in different periods of the year. The periods considered were P1 (January, February and March), P2 (April, May and June), P3 (July, August and September) and P4 (October, November and December). Based on the results, the lowest soil losses occurred in P1. Probably, the high vegetation cover in the soil increases its protection against rainfall erosivity. In P3, the heavy rainfall events are predominantly frontal, occurring in the same months as those when the preparation of the soil for later planting takes place; that is, there is no vegetation cover in this period, thus making the soil more prone to erosion. The use of different images to classify and identify land uses is the best way to understand soil losses throughout the year in the study area. It was possible to observe that agricultural areas are generally associated with greater soil losses in the subwatershed. In addition, the land uses were considered to vary quarterly, thereby making it possible to identify the periods most prone to erosion processes throughout the year. Finally, the erosion percentages in the subwatershed can be linked to the tolerance index for different land-uses, soil classes, and slope categories.
Prevalence and Adverse Effects of Maternal Obesity among Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinics at a Metropolitan Hospital in Southern Ghana

Background: Maternal obesity and its associated health complications increase; however, area-specific data is lacking in Ghana. We attempted to assess the prevalence and adverse effects of maternal obesity in Ghana. Methods: Study population were women booking to, and gave birth to infants in Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital, Ghana, during February 2018 to January 2019 (n = 510). Body mass index (BMI) during the first trimester was identi-fied and analyzed in relation with outcomes/complications. Results: Inci-dence of maternal obesity (overweight/obese, BMI ≥ 25) was 37.3%. Of them, 34.4% had maternal complications such as postpartum haemorrhage, foetal distress, and cephalo-pelvic disproportion (in this order). The caesarian rate was 20.5%. Among the non obese women only 20% had maternal complications and the caesarian section rate was 16.2%. Obesity was positively corre-lated with maternal age and parity but was not with low socio-economic sta-tus. Obese women were more likely to have obstetric complications. Conclusions: Obese women were more likely to suffer obstetric complications and to have cesarean. Although present data was a confirmation of the existing data in other parts of the world, we believe that these data may be useful in making area-specific health policy.
Prevalence and characterisation of size and sequence-based microvariant alleles at nine autosomal STR markers in the Central Indian population

Abstract Background Though microvariant alleles are widely reported in global populations, they are not well characterised to date. Aim To study the prevalence and characterisation of size and sequence-based microvariant alleles Subjects and methods Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was used to sequence microvariant alleles at nine autosomal STR markers in 138 samples. Results After sequencing 31 STR markers using Precision ID GlobalFilerTM NGS STR panel v2, only nine markers, i.e. D12S391, D19S433, D1S1656, D21S11, D2S441, D7S820, FGA, Penta D, and TH01 showed the prevalence of microvariant alleles. Occurrence of microvariant alleles was positively correlated with Total Possible Alleles (p < 0.005), Power of Discrimination (p < 0.01), Polymorphic Information Content (p < 0.01), and Power of Exclusion (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the Matching Probability (p < 0.01). The average allele frequency of the microvariant alleles was found to be significantly less than the allele frequency value of the complete alleles (p = 0.88). Further, sequencing of these microvariant alleles reveals the deletion of nucleotides from the start, end, or middle of the repeat unit is responsible for the generation of a microvariant allele. Conclusions Prevalence of microvariant alleles is rare in nature and is limited to 9 STR loci out of 31 STR loci tested in the central Indian population. The occurrence of microvariant alleles in a locus increases its forensic and paternity application.
Recent Patents in Transmultiplexers and Applications

Transmultiplexer is a major component of multicarrier communication system. Traditionally, it was implemented using SSB modulator and analog filters. But due to the limitation of high level of cross talk and interference in analog device, it has been replaced by DFT based transmultiplexer system. DFT based transmultiplexer comprises digital filter bank and multirate devices to provides better reduction in interference and cross talk. However, it provide relatively large overlapping sidelobes (-13dB). An alternative scheme known as cosine modulation where the design of synthesis and analysis part of the transmultiplexer is the cosine modulated filter bank. This paper reviews various recent patents in filter bank, transmultiplexer and its applications.
Accelerometer Signal to Characterize the Combustion Development in Multiple Injection Diesel Engine

This work constitutes one of the last steps of a comprehensive research program in which vibration sensors are used with the purpose of developing and setting up a methodology that is able to perform a real time control of the combustion process by means of non-intrusive measurements.Previous obtained and published results have demonstrated that a direct relationship exists between in-cylinder pressure and engine block vibration signals. The analysis of the processed data have highlighted that the block vibration signal may be used to locate, in the crank–angle domain, the combustion phases (the start of the combustion, the crank angle value corresponding to the beginning of main combustion and to the in-cylinder pressure maximum value) and to quantify the in-cylinder pressure development by evaluating the pressure peak value and the pressure rise rate caused by the combustion process.The aim of this work is to extend and validate the developed methodology when a multiple-injection strategy is imposed on the engine.The paper presents the results obtained during the experimentation of a two cylinder diesel engine equipped with a common rail injection system, that was performed in the Laboratory of the Mechanical and Industrial Department of ‘ROMA TRE’ University. During the tests, a wide variation of the injection parameters settings is imposed on the engine (timing and duration) in its complete operative field.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Static Balance in Participants with Temporomandibular Joint Disc Displacement without Reduction Versus Healthy Participants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background There is no consensus on the association between body posture and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study aimed to assess differences in static balance between healthy participants and patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction. Material/Methods Sixteen patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction and 14 healthy participants were included. Static balance tests were performed in the rest and “cotton rolls” (participants biting 2 cotton rolls with their upper and lower teeth) mandibular positions. The mean body’s center of gravity (COG) sway velocity was tested in each mandibular position on a firm surface with and without eyes open and on a foam surface with and without eyes open. Results The COG sway velocity did not differ between the TMD and healthy groups regarding mandibular position or testing condition (P>0.05). However, in the control group, the COG sway velocity in the mandibular rest position was significantly higher than that in the “cotton rolls” mandibular position when standing on a foam surface with the eyes closed (P=0.024). In the TMD group, there was no difference in the COG sway velocity between the 2 mandible positions under any condition (P>0.05). Conclusions This study provides new evidence for static balance alterations in patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction. Further studies are needed to investigate postural control changes in patients with arthrogenous TMDs. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (no. ChiCTR1800018369).
Software Requirements Engineering: What, Why, Who, When, and How

If software requirements are not right, companies will not end up with the software they need. This article will discuss: • What: The various levels and types of requirements that need to be defined • Why: The benefits of having the right software requirements • Who: The stakeholders of the software requirements and getting them involved in the process • When: Requirements activities throughout the software development life cycle • How: Techniques for eliciting, analyzing, specifying, and validating software requirements
A new fish-based index of biotic integrity for lowland rivers in Flanders (Belgium)

The first fish-based index to assess the ecological quality of lowland rivers in Flanders (Belgium) is based on data obtained from different fishing techniques without considering the gear specificity. As a consequence, this index could not be intercalibrated with other European indices which concentrate on one gear type only. In order to comply with the European Water Framework Directive, we developed a new fish-based index using data obtained from surveys in rivers with electric gear only. All 293 selected rivers belonged to the bream or barbel zone. An updated reference list of fish species was compiled based on previous work and recent data. Abiotic data were collected according to standard methods and habitat quality of all surveyed sites was pre-classified using pressure indicators. To develop the new index candidate metrics were selected from the literature and metric values were calculated. Linear mixed regression models selected metrics based on their response to the pre-classified habitat status. Correlation tests were performed to avoid redundancy among responsive metrics. Boundaries for metric scores were defined based on the calculated metric values. The new index of biotic integrity (IBI) was calculated by summation of the metric scores, and transformed to an ecological quality ratio (EQR), ranging between 0 and 1. Five integrity classes, ranging from bad to maximal ecological potential, were attributed and compared to the pre-classified habitat status of the site. In addition, the new index was also validated with an independent set of data. The new IBI proved to successfully assess the ecological status of the rivers.
Mandarin adaptations of voiced alveolar fricative [z] in English loanwords

This paper explores the adaptation of English voiced fricative [z]E into Mandarin. The principal findings are that the adaptation of [z]E depends on its position in the source word. If [z]E occupies the word initial or middle position, it tends to be borrowed as Mandarin [ts]M or [s]M. If [z]E is in the ending position, more variations would be observed as it may correspond to [ts]M, [s]M, [ʈʂ]M or [ʂ]M. Moreover, adapting [z]E into Mandarin is also heavily influenced by the orthography. The English [z]E can be spelled with 
 or <z>. The letters of 
 and <z> are also listed in Mandarin Pinyin, a Romanization system that transcribes the sounds of Chinese characters using Roman alphabets. Specifically, 
 is pronounced as [s]M, while [z] is pronounced as [ts]M. It turns out that [s]M sounds different from [z]E, while [ts]M is perceptually similar to [z]E. Generally, there emerged two major adaptation patterns, that is, <z> [z]E  <z> [ts]M and 
 [z]E  
 [s]M. The latter is based on the spelling similarity, rather than perceptual similarity. It is therefore concluded that the loanword adaptation is not only determined by the speech perception, phonology and legitimacy of sound structures, but also systematically interfered with the orthography, that is, the source-loan spelling similarity.
Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Characterization of Microplastic Pollution in The Three Main Freshwater Systems (Aksu and Köprü Streams, Manavgat River) And Fishing Grounds Located in Their Vicinities in The Antalya Bay

Microplastic pollution is one of the pressing environmental issues over the world that pose risks to aquatic ecosystems and humans. Significant amount of anthropogenic plastic litter known to be transported with freshwater systems to marine environment. The aim of the present study is to reveal the abundance and spatio-temporal distribution of MPs pollution in the three main freshwater systems (Aksu and Köprü Streams, Manavgat River), located through the costal line of the Antalya Bay. 106 water samples obtained from these three freshwater systems and fishing grounds located in the vicinities of these systems were evaluated. A total of 2444 MPs with a mean size of 1777.16±1168.81 µm detected within these samples. A homogeneous MPs pollution was observed in the area. Four colours (Black-27.3%, White-19.4%, Red18.7% and Blue-16.2%) found to composed more than 80% of the detected MPs. Majority of MPs detected within the framework of the study were fiber (57.1%) and fragment (32.6%). Most common polymer type was Polyproplene-(PP) with 50%. Results obtained from this study have the potential to form the basis for future studies that take into account the terrestrial use and the prevailing physical factors in the region in the study area.
Relationship Between Personality Measures and Perceived Mental Fatigability

Objective Examine the association between personality measures and perceived mental fatigability. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis in N=1670 men, age 84.3±4.1 years. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the covariate adjusted association between personality measures (conscientiousness, optimism, goal reengagement, and goal disengagement) and perceived mental fatigability (measured with the validated 10-item Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale, PFS). Results One standard deviation lower conscientiousness (β=−0.91, p<.0001) and optimism (β=−0.63, p<.0001), and higher goal reengagement (β=0.51, p=.01) scores were independently associated with higher PFS Mental scores adjusted for age, cognitive function, self-reported health status, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, physical activity, and goal disengagement. Discussion Lower conscientiousness, optimism, and higher goal reengagement were linked with more severe perceived mental fatigability in older men. Personality traits may potentially contribute to early risk assessment for fatigability in later life. Future work should be longitudinal in nature and include personality assessments to confirm the temporality of the relationships observed.
Age of acquisition effects on the decomposition of compound words

ABSTRACT Age of acquisition (AoA) is a measure of learning experience and a strong predictor of lexical retrieval. The integrated account predicts that the AoA effect should be shown in the early processes of word recognition and the AoA effect should increase in tasks requiring greater semantic processing. The present study investigates the integrated account in compound words, which differ from monomorphemic words regarding ease of mapping and semantic processes in lexical retrieval. Forty-eight participants completed a compound lexeme segmentation (CLS) task, in which participants named either the head or modifier depending on the number above the compound word, to establish how semantics are involved in processing the head and the modifier. The results demonstrated that semantics influenced the naming of the modifier to a greater extent than the head, with the AoA effect being larger in the modifier than the head. This indicates that the AoA effect has multiple origins.
Total-dose characterization of CMOS/SOI-ZMR technology

Presents the total dose radiation characterization of an unhardened SOI/ZMR technology of CNET/CNS (Centre National d'Etudes des Telecommunications-France). Various bias conditions are applied on front gate oxide and buried oxide during gamma irradiation in order to define the worst and best case configurations for different devices: transistors, capacitors and ring oscillator. The author compares the radiation responses of transistors with different structures to allow clear separation of device conduction on top channel, back channel and edge channel along the sidewalls of the island. MOS structure with body contact shows improved subthreshold characteristics before and after dose radiation. A good correlation is observed between n-substrate capacitor and p-channel transistors irradiated at -5 V back-gate bias. Radiation induced 'kink' effects are observed on PMOS transistors for a positive back gate bias (+5 V) during irradiation. This original phenomena has been confirmed by 2D numerical device simulator TITAN of CNET/CNS. Satisfactory total dose response of a ring oscillator is obtained. <<ETX>>