Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Test of a Cirrus Parameterization Scheme Using NCAR CCM3

Abstract Recent research has shown that depending on the cloud properties, cirrus clouds can either increase or decrease the overall heating of the earth–atmosphere system. Hence, the representation of cirrus clouds in GCMs is recognized as an important contemporary problem. In this study a new diagnostic cirrus parameterization scheme is developed with the intention of improving the simulation of cirrus macro- and microphysical properties in large-scale models. The scheme allows both large-scale motions and convective detrainment to be a source of moisture for cirrus. Water vapor depletion is calculated as diffusional growth of ice crystals with known size distributions, and the effective fallout from a model layer is estimated using mass-weighted fall velocities of the bulk precipitation. The scheme was implemented and tested with the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM3). The seasonal means of cirrus cloud cover and ice water contents over the warm pool region, as simulated with the new cirrus parameteri.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy as a Treatment Method Against Anxiety Disorders and Depression-A Structured Literature Review

Abstract Mental illness is a growing global health problem affecting individuals and society. In Sweden, the number of people suffering from mental health illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, is increasing and is expected to be one of the largest public health challenges in 2030. As mental illness increases, the area also needs effective forms of treatment. This study aims to investigate if Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) works as a treatment method for adults suffering from anxiety disorders and depression. A structured literature review based on 24 articles found in the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycInfo. Two reviewers independently reviewed and collectively extracted data from the included articles. The articles have been analyzed by using thematic analysis. The results suggest that Virtual reality exposure therapy can work as an effective treatment method for adults with anxiety disorders. It also indicates that VRET may act as a health-promoting intervention to reduce anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression symptoms. Virtual reality exposure therapy can be an effective treatment method and health-promoting effort against anxiety disorders in adults. An essential factor for the patients who accept VRET as a treatment is the initial information therapists give.
On factorization and solutions of q-dierence equations satised

We derive and factorize the fourth-order q-dierence equations satised by orthogonal polynomials obtained from some perturbations of the recurrence coecients of q-classical orthogonal polynomials. These perturbations include the rth associated, the anti-associated, the general co-recursive, co-recursive associated, co-dilated and the general co-modied q-classical orthogonal polynomials. Moreover we nd a basis of four linearly independent solutions of these fourth-order q-dierence equations and express the modied families in terms of the starting ones.
Blob population dynamics during immiscible two-phase flows in reconstructed porous media

We study the dynamics of nonwetting liquid blobs during immiscible two-phase flows in stochastically reconstructed porous domains predominantly saturated by a wetting fluid. The flow problem is solved explicitly using a Lattice-Boltzmann model that captures both the bulk phase and interfacial dynamics of the process. We show that the nonwetting blobs undergo a continuous life cycle of dynamic breaking up and coalescence producing two populations of blobs, a mobile and a stranded one, that exchange continuously mass between them. The process reaches a “steady state” when the rates of coalescence and breaking up become equal, and the macroscopic flow variables remain practically constant with time. At steady state, mass partitioning between mobile and immobile populations depends strongly on the applied Bond number Bo and the initial nonwetting phase distributions. Three flow regimes are identified: a single-phase flow Darcy-type regime at low Bo numbers, a non-Darcy two-phaseflow regime at intermediate values of Bo, where the capillary number scales as Ca ∝ Bo 2 , and a Darcy-type two-phase flow regime at higher values of Bo. Our numerical results are found to be in good agreement with recent experimental and theoretical works.
Sharper estimates on the eigenvalues of Dirichlet fractional Laplacian

This article is to analyze certain bounds for the sums of eigenvalues of the Dirichlet fractional Laplacian operator $(-\Delta)^{\alpha/2}|_{\Omega}$ restricted to a bounded domain $\Omega\subset{\mathbb R}^d$ with $d=2,$ $1\leq \alpha\leq 2$ and $d\geq 3,$ $0< \alpha\le 2$. A primary topic is the refinement of the Berezin-Li-Yau inequality for the fractional Laplacian eigenvalues. Our result advances the estimates recently established by Wei, Sun and Zheng in [34]. Another aspect of interest in this work is that we obtain some estimates for the sums of powers of the eigenvalues of the fractional Laplacian operator.
Gender Ideology in the Definitions of Contemporary Chinese Dictionary

From the perspective of social semiotics, gender terms are important signs for meaning making in society, in that they not only reflect social norms regarding different genders, but also play an important role in the formation of a range of other equally important semiotic notions. This article studies the gender ideology as reflected in the definitions of a number of headwords in the 7th edition of Contemporary Chinese Dictionary (CCD7). The analyses reveal that CCD7’s definitions serve to construct gender and marriage norms in accordance with the prevalent gender ideology of the society. Based on a binary view of gender, CCD7 constructs a normal-abnormal continuum, which defines heterosexual relationships and heterosexual marriages as the social norms. This study regards the act of defining as a social semiotic process under the influence of the prevailing ideology, and reaffirms the status of gender terms as a significant shaping force in social semiotics.
Prevention of Pneumonia due to Ventilator in Critical Patients with U Shape Oral Hygiene Model: A Systematic Review

Abstract In critical patients, generally, microorganisms originating from nasal cause Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP). This systematic review was aimed to identify the toothbrush U shape model usage, in potentially decrease the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia among patients in intensive care units. Search strategy identified 15 potentially eligible articles, were 7 RCTs, 4 Meta-analysis, and 4 Observational studies. A total of 15 studies demonstrated the use of toothbrushing and chlorhexidine in mechanically ventilator patients in preventing VAP. Ten studies found positive association between toothbrushing and the use of chlorhexidine in preventing VAP. However, there were 5 studies that did not reveal an additional decrease of VAP incidence either of CHX and only toothbrushing or combination thereof. We cautiously assumed that toothbrushing and chlorhexidine might reduce VAP but the implementation of brushing should be taken into reconsideration in the terms of maintaining it.
Rescue intracranial permanent stenting for refractory occlusion following thrombectomy: a propensity matched analysis

Background Rescue intracranial stenting (RIS) can be used in refractory large vessel occlusion (LVO) after mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of RIS versus a propensity matched sample of patients with persistent LVO. Methods We retrospectively analysed a multicenter retrospective pooled cohort of patients with anterior LVO (2015−2021) treated with MT, and identified patients with at least three passes and a modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score of 0 to 2a. Propensity score matching was used to account for determinants of outcome in patients with or without RIS. The study outcomes included 3 months modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (HT). Results 420 patients with a refractory anterior occlusion were included, of which 101 were treated with RIS (mean age 69 years). Favorable outcome (mRS 0–2) was more frequent in patients with a patent stent at day 1 (53% vs 6%, P<0.001), which was independently associated with an early dual antiplatelet regimen (P<0.05). In the propensity matched sample, patients treated with RIS versus without RIS had similar rates of favorable outcomes (36.8% vs 30.3%, P=0.606). Patients with RIS showed a favorable shift in the overall mRS distributions (common adjusted OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.91, P=0.006). Symptomatic HT was marginally more frequent in the RIS group (9% vs 3%, P=0.07), and there was no difference in 3-month mortality. Conclusion In selected patients with a refractory intracranial occlusion despite at least three thrombectomy passes, RIS may be associated with an overall shift towards more favorable clinical outcome, and no significant increase in the odds of symptomatic HT or death.
Gut community structure as a risk factor for infection in Klebsiella-colonized patients

The primary risk factor for infection with members of the Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex is prior gut colonization, and infection is often caused by the colonizing strain. Despite the importance of the gut as a reservoir for infectious Klebsiella, little is known about the association between the gut microbiome and infection. To explore this relationship, we undertook a case-control study comparing the gut community structure of Klebsiella-colonized intensive care and hematology/oncology patients. Cases were Klebsiella-colonized patients infected by their colonizing strain (N = 83). Controls were Klebsiella-colonized patients that remained asymptomatic (N = 149). First, we characterized the gut community structure of Klebsiella-colonized patients agnostic to case status. Next, we determined that gut community data is useful for classifying cases and controls using machine learning models and that the gut community structure differed between cases and controls. Klebsiella relative abundance, a known risk factor for infection, had the greatest feature importance but other gut microbes were also informative. Finally, we show that integration of gut community structure with bacterial genotype or clinical variable data enhanced the ability of machine learning models to discriminate cases and controls. This study demonstrates that including gut community data with patient- and Klebsiella-derived biomarkers improves our ability to predict infection in Klebsiella-colonized patients.
Utilization of Line X Tester Model for Evaluating the Combining Ability of Some New White Maize Inbred Lines

This investigation was carried out to study the combining ability effects of 18 parents of maize (15 inbred lines and 3 testers) crossed in line x tester scheme for phonological, plant and yield characteristics. A yield trial included the 45 top crosses, 15 inbred lines, 3 testers along with the two check hybrids S.C. 10 and TWC 310. The experiment was conducted at two planting dates on 29 April and 17 June at the Agric. Res. and Experimental Station of the Fac. of Agric. , Moshtohor Benha University. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with three replications. Mean squares due to crosses (C) inbred lines (L), testers (T) and line x tester (LxT) were significant for most studied traits of both sowing dates as well as for the combined analysis. Significance of interaction variance for C, L, T and LxT with sowing dates on the most studied traits was detected. δ 2 SCA played the major role in determining the inheritance of all traits, revealing that the largest part of the total genetic variability associated with these traits was a result of nonadditive gene action. The magnitude of the interaction of δ 2 SCA x sowing date (SD) was generally higher than for δ 2 GCA x SD. This finding indicates that non-additive type of gene action is more affected by SD than additive and additive x additive types of gene action. The top crosses L3, L6, L9, L10 and L15 x T1 (L 2060), L14 and L15 xT2 (SC Hw1) and L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L9, L11, L14 and L15 x T3 (Giza 2) did not differ significantly from SC10. Also, all TWC's (all inbred lines xT2) had higher grain yield plant -1 than TWC 310. Inbred lines No 6, 9, 14 and 15 were good general combiners for grain yield plant -1 and L4, L5 and L7 for earliness. For grain yield plant -1 and earliness the top-cross L4xT3 gave the best ij S ^ effects.
Inter-generational nuclear crosstalk links the control of gene expression to programmed genome rearrangement during the Paramecium sexual cycle

Multinucleate cells are found in many eukaryotes, but how multiple nuclei coordinate their functions is still poorly understood. In the cytoplasm of the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia, two micronuclei (MIC) serving sexual reproduction coexist with a somatic macronucleus (MAC) dedicated to gene expression. During sexual processes, the MAC is progressively destroyed while still ensuring transcription and new MACs develop from copies of the zygotic MIC. Several gene clusters are successively induced and switched off before vegetative growth resumes. Concomitantly, programmed genome rearrangements (PGR) remove transposons and their relics from the new MACs. Development of the new MACs is controlled by the old MAC, since the latter expresses genes involved in PGR, including the PGM gene encoding the essential PiggyMac endonuclease that cleaves the ends of eliminated sequences. Using RNA deep sequencing and transcriptome analysis, we show that impairing PGR up-deregulates key PGR genes, together with ∼600 other genes possibly also involved in PGR. Among these genes, 42% are no longer induced when no new MACs are formed, including 180 genes that are co-expressed with PGM under all tested conditions. We propose that bi-directional crosstalk between the two coexisting generations of MACs links gene expression to the progression of MAC development.
Variability in Donor Lung Culture and Relative Humidity Impact the Stability of 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus on Nonporous Surfaces

Seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics of influenza cause a large public health burden. Although influenza viruses disseminate through the environment in respiratory secretions expelled from infected individuals, they can also be transmitted by contaminated surfaces where virus-laden expulsions can be deposited. ABSTRACT Respiratory viruses can be transmitted by multiple modes, including contaminated surfaces, commonly referred to as fomites. Efficient fomite transmission requires that a virus remain infectious on a given surface material over a wide range of environmental conditions, including different relative humidities. Prior work examining the stability of influenza viruses on surfaces has relied upon virus grown in media or eggs, which does not mimic the composition of virus-containing droplets expelled from the human respiratory tract. In this study, we examined the stability of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) virus on a variety of nonporous surface materials at four different humidities. Importantly, we used virus grown in primary human bronchial epithelial cell (HBE) cultures from different donors to recapitulate the physiological microenvironment of expelled viruses. We observed rapid inactivation of H1N1pdm09 on copper under all experimental conditions. In contrast to copper, viruses were stable on polystyrene plastic, stainless steel, aluminum, and glass, at multiple relative humidities, but greater decay on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic was observed at short time points. However, the half-lives of viruses at 23% relative humidity were similar among noncopper surfaces and ranged from 4.5 to 5.9 h. Assessment of H1N1pdm09 longevity on nonporous surfaces revealed that virus persistence was governed more by differences among HBE culture donors than by surface material. Our findings highlight the potential role of an individual’s respiratory fluid on viral persistence and could help explain heterogeneity in transmission dynamics. IMPORTANCE Seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics of influenza cause a large public health burden. Although influenza viruses disseminate through the environment in respiratory secretions expelled from infected individuals, they can also be transmitted by contaminated surfaces where virus-laden expulsions can be deposited. Understanding virus stability on surfaces within the indoor environment is critical to assessing influenza transmission risk. We found that influenza virus stability is affected by the host respiratory secretion in which the virus is expelled, the surface material on which the droplet lands, and the ambient relative humidity of the environment. Influenza viruses can remain infectious on many common surfaces for prolonged periods, with half-lives of 4.5 to 5.9 h. These data imply that influenza viruses are persistent in indoor environments in biologically relevant matrices. Decontamination and engineering controls should be used to mitigate influenza virus transmission.
Loss-of-function mutation in Omicron variants reduces spike protein expression and attenuates SARS-CoV-2 infection

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants emerged in 2022 with >30 novel amino acid mutations in the spike protein alone. While most studies focus on receptor binding domain changes, mutations in the C-terminus of S1 (CTS1), adjacent to the furin cleavage site, have largely been ignored. In this study, we examined three Omicron mutations in CTS1: H655Y, N679K, and P681H. Generating a SARS-CoV-2 triple mutant (YKH), we found that the mutant increased spike processing, consistent with prior reports for H655Y and P681H individually. Next, we generated a single N679K mutant, finding reduced viral replication in vitro and less disease in vivo. Mechanistically, the N679K mutant had reduced spike protein in purified virions compared to wild-type; spike protein decreases were further exacerbated in infected cell lysates. Importantly, exogenous spike expression also revealed that N679K reduced overall spike protein yield independent of infection. Although a loss-of-function mutation, transmission competition demonstrated that N679K had a replication advantage in the upper airway over wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters, potentially impacting transmissibility. Together, the data show that N679K reduces overall spike protein levels during Omicron infection, which has important implications for infection, immunity, and transmission.
Unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of a translating rigid wing at low Reynolds number

Rectilinearly surging wings are investigated under several different velocity profiles and incidence angles. The primary wing studied here was an aspect ratio 4 rectangular flat plate. Studies on acceleration distance, ranging from 0.125c to 6c, and incidence angles 5°–45° were performed to obtain a better understanding of the force and moment histories during an extended surge motion over several chord-lengths of travel. Flow visualization and particle image velocimetry were performed to show the flow structures responsible for variations in force and moment coefficients. It was determined that the formation and subsequent shedding of a leading edge vortex correspond to oscillations in force coefficients for wings at high angle of attack. Comparing unsteady lift results to static force measurements, it was determined that for cases with large flow separation, even after 14 chords traveled at a constant velocity, the unsteady forces do not converge to the fully developed values. Forces were then broken up.
Associations between in vitro, in vivo and in silico cell classes in mouse primary visual cortex

The brain consists of many cell classes yet in vivo electrophysiology recordings are typically unable to identify and monitor their activity in the behaving animal. Here, we employed a systematic approach to link cellular, multi-modal in vitro properties from experiments with in vivo recorded units via computational modeling and optotagging experiments. We found two one-channel and six multi-channel clusters in mouse visual cortex with distinct in vivo properties in terms of activity, cortical depth, and behavior. We used biophysical models to map the two one- and the six multi-channel clusters to specific in vitro classes with unique morphology, excitability and conductance properties that explain their distinct extracellular signatures and functional characteristics. These concepts were tested in ground-truth optotagging experiments with two inhibitory classes unveiling distinct in vivo properties. This multi-modal approach presents a powerful way to separate in vivo clusters and infer their cellular properties from first principles. Understanding functional role of different neuronal cell types is challenging. Here the authors associate multi-modal in vitro cell properties with in vivo physiology of mouse visual cortex.
A single inactivating amino acid change in the SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 Mac1 domain attenuates viral replication and pathogenesis in vivo

Despite unprecedented efforts, our therapeutic arsenal against SARS-CoV-2 remains limited. The conserved macrodomain 1 (Mac1) in NSP3 is an enzyme exhibiting ADP-ribosylhydrolase activity and a possible drug target. To determine the therapeutic potential of Mac1 inhibition, we generated recombinant viruses and replicons encoding a catalytically inactive NSP3 Mac1 domain by mutating a critical asparagine in the active site. While substitution to alanine (N40A) reduced catalytic activity by ∼10-fold, mutations to aspartic acid (N40D) reduced activity by ∼100-fold relative to wildtype. Importantly, the N40A mutation rendered Mac1 unstable in vitro and lowered expression levels in bacterial and mammalian cells. When incorporated into SARS-CoV-2 molecular clones, the N40D mutant only modestly affected viral fitness in immortalized cell lines, but reduced viral replication in human airway organoids by 10-fold. In mice, N40D replicated at >1000-fold lower levels compared to the wildtype virus while inducing a robust interferon response; all animals infected with the mutant virus survived infection and showed no signs of lung pathology. Our data validate the SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 Mac1 domain as a critical viral pathogenesis factor and a promising target to develop antivirals.