Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Control Strategies for Non-Domiciliated Triatoma dimidiata, Chagas Disease Vector in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

Background Chagas disease is the most important vector-borne disease in Latin America. Regional initiatives based on residual insecticide spraying have successfully controlled domiciliated vectors in many regions. Non-domiciliated vectors remain responsible for a significant transmission risk, and their control is now a key challenge for disease control. Methodology/Principal Findings A mathematical model was developed to predict the temporal variations in abundance of non-domiciliated vectors inside houses. Demographic parameters were estimated by fitting the model to two years of field data from the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. The predictive value of the model was tested on an independent data set before simulations examined the efficacy of control strategies based on residual insecticide spraying, insect screens, and bednets. The model accurately fitted and predicted field data in the absence and presence of insecticide spraying. Pyrethroid spraying was found effective when 50 mg/m2 were applied yearly within a two-month period matching the immigration season. The >80% reduction in bug abundance was not improved by larger doses or more frequent interventions, and it decreased drastically for different timing and lower frequencies of intervention. Alternatively, the use of insect screens consistently reduced bug abundance proportionally to the reduction of the vector immigration rate. Conclusion/Significance Control of non-domiciliated vectors can hardly be achieved by insecticide spraying, because it would require yearly application and an accurate understanding of the temporal pattern of immigration. Insect screens appear to offer an effective and sustainable alternative, which may be part of multi-disease interventions for the integrated control of neglected vector-borne diseases.
The Asymmetry of Subsurface Temperature Anomalies Associated with ENSO in the Equatorial Western Pacific

Abstract The phenomenon of ENSO asymmetry has been recognized for many years, but most studies have focused on the asymmetry of surface temperature anomalies in the equatorial eastern Pacific. Here, the authors investigate the temperature asymmetry associated with ENSO in the subsurface of the western Pacific through analysis of observations and numerical experiments with an ocean GCM. Both the observation and simulation exhibit significant ENSO asymmetry, characterized by negative temperature skewness in the equatorial western Pacific and positive skewness in the eastern Pacific. Heat budget analysis reveals that nonlinear dynamical heating results in the positive temperature asymmetry in the equatorial eastern Pacific, but tends to weaken the negative temperature asymmetry in the equatorial western Pacific. The climatological meridional current transports the temperature anomalies and corresponding negative asymmetry from the off-equator region to the equator in the subsurface of the western Pacific. Through a sensitivity experiment with reversed wind stress forcing, the authors suggest that the skewness of the wind stress anomalies does not contribute to the negative temperature asymmetry in the western Pacific in the first-order approximation, while the internal nonlinear dynamics does play a key role. The study suggests that, as a result of nonlinear processes, the oceanic responses to anomalous wind stress are nonlinear and asymmetric in the tropical Pacific.
Physicochemical characterization of starches from seven improved cassava varieties: Potentiality of industrial utilization

Objective: The present study, which is in line with tropical crops increased value, aimed to highlight the industrial potential of starches from seven newly improved cassava varieties through their morphological, physicochemical and functional properties. Methodology and results: Starches from seven improved cassava varieties encoded respectively V54, V55, V64, V66, V69, and V73 and V4 . were extracted and their physicochemical and functional characteristics were determined. The whole starches granules were ovoid and conical bearing a hilum on the truncated side. They contained relatively high amount of small granules (<10 μm size) and amylopectin. In addition, all the starches showed very strong water absorption capacity and began gelatinizing early (55 – 60 °C). However, the physicochemical characteristics significantly varied from one starch variety to another. The starches of V54, V64 and V73 varieties showed an exceptional low (0.01 %)? and stable syneresis after four weeks at 4 °C and -15 °C for V54. The highest clarity was topped by varieties V54 (78.54±3.30 %) and V64 (76.27±6.72 %). Three starch varieties encoded V54, V64 and V69 registered the higher amount of small granules (15.8±1.50, 16.60±0.90 and 14.40±0.90 % respectively). In contrast those encoded V55, V66 and V73 with large granules, recorded the higher swelling power (30.10±3.00, 28.21±2.32 and 29.74±2.40 g/g respectively) and high amount of amylose (17.37±2.54, 20.86±2.36 and 19.03±2.45 %) Conclusions and application of findings: The studied cassava starches varieties (particularly V54, V73, V64, V55 and V66) could find a wide range uses in food and non-food industries as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles thanks to their interesting physicochemical and functional properties.
Evaluation of the nutritional status of adolescents in institutionalised secondary schools in Akure, Nigeria

The body mass indices of 606 randomly selected adolescents in institutionalised schools in Akure, Nigeria, was investigated using anthropometric indices. Results showed that the mean age of males (163.37 months) was significantly higher (P 0.05), however the weight-for-height (W/H) and height-for-age (H/A) values were significantly different in the two groups (i.e male and female pupils). Weight, height and age showed positive correlation with W/H (R = 0.959, 0.624, and 0.573 respectively) the Z-score of W/H (WHZ); HAZ showed negative correlation with age and weight (R = - 0.817 and – 0.222). Negative energy balance was observed (-2630.37 kcal male; -2512.32 kcal female). The mean energy intake was 1,266.7 kcal, representing 50% of the total daily energy required for 13 – 15 year olds. BMR is higher (2232.49 kcal) in males than in females (1654.66 kcal). The BMI for males was 17.70 and 18.81 for females. The relationship between age and the anthropometric and nutritional indices measured could be described using either linear or quadratic regression equations.
Hand hygiene knowledge and practice among university students: evidence from Private Universities of Bangladesh

: Hand hygiene has achieved the reputation of being a convenient means of preventing communicable diseases. Although causal links between hand hygiene and rates of infectious disease have also been established earlier, studies focusing on hand hygiene among university-going students are not adequate in number. This study evaluated handwashing knowledge, practice, and other related factors among the selected university students in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 undergraduate students from four selected universities. A pretested, semistructured questionnaire, that included a checklist associated with handwashing practice, was applied to capture all relevant data. The mean ( ± SD) age of the participants was 20.4 ( ± 1.8) years. The majority of the students washed their hands with water, but only 22.5% washed their hands effectively by maintaining the correct steps and frequency of handwashing with water, and soap or hand sanitizer. The mean ( ± SD) score of the participants’ hand hygiene practice was 50.81 ( ± 4.79), while the total score with all perfect answers was considered as 66. Regression coefficient demonstrated that age has a negative influence on hand hygiene practice, as older students have lower scores compared to the younger ones ( P , 0.01). However, the unmarried students were a significant predictor for influencing the incensement of handwashing practice compared to the married ones ( P , 0.01). Findings of this study designate widespread insufficient hand hygiene practice in the university-going students and indicate a need for an extensive public health education program on this topic. Furthermore, availability of soap and sufficient water supply is needed within the university setting to facilitate handwashing. Therefore, supporting quantity and quality of available campus-based public health education programs along with providing health-washing equipment is suggested.
Evolution of a zoonotic pathogen: investigating prophage diversity in enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 by long-read sequencing

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 is a zoonotic pathogen for which colonization of cattle and virulence in humans is associated with multiple horizontally acquired genes, the majority present in active or cryptic prophages. Our understanding of the evolution and phylogeny of EHEC O157 continues to develop primarily based on core genome analyses; however, such short-read sequences have limited value for the analysis of prophage content and its chromosomal location. In this study, we applied Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) sequencing, using the Pacific Biosciences long-read sequencing platform, to isolates selected from the main sub-clusters of this clonal group. Prophage regions were extracted from these sequences and from published reference strains. Genome position and prophage diversity were analysed along with genetic content. Prophages could be assigned to clusters, with smaller prophages generally exhibiting less diversity and preferential loss of structural genes. Prophages encoding Shiga toxin (Stx) 2a and Stx1a were the most diverse, and more variable compared to prophages encoding Stx2c, further supporting the hypothesis that Stx2c-prophage integration was ancestral to acquisition of other Stx types. The concept that phage type (PT) 21/28 (Stx2a+, Stx2c+) strains evolved from PT32 (Stx2c+) was supported by analysis of strains with excised Stx-encoding prophages. Insertion sequence elements were over-represented in prophage sequences compared to the rest of the genome, showing integration in key genes such as stx and an excisionase, the latter potentially acting to capture the bacteriophage into the genome. Prophage profiling should allow more accurate prediction of the pathogenic potential of isolates.
Intensity of the Trough over the Bay of Bengal and Its Impact on the Southern China Precipitation in Winter

Abstract In this study, the intensity of the trough over the Bay of Bengal (BBT) and its association with the southern China precipitation, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the Rossby wave propagation along the African-Asian subtropical Jet stream (AASJ) are investigated on the intraseasonal time scale. The results show that the intensity of the BBT affects the southern China precipitation more directly and to a greater degree than the MJO. The peak amplitude of the BBT tended to occur in phase-3 of the MJO. The strong BBT was substantially modulated by the Rossby wave propagation along the AASJ, which was triggered by the anomalous upstream circulation similar to the pattern of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Therefore, from the perspective of medium and extended-range weather forecasts, the NAO-like pattern may be regarded as a precursory signal for the strong BBT and thus the southern China precipitation.
An Econometric Evaluation of Bank Recapitalization Programs with Bank- and Loan-Level Data

Public capital injections into the banking system are a comprehensive policy program aimed at reducing the financial risks faced by capital-injected banks, thereby stimulating their lending and profitability. This paper evaluates empirically Japan’s two large-scale capital injections in 1998 and 1999. We begin by extracting the treatment effects of the public injections from bank-level panel data. Using a difference-in-difference estimator in two-way fixed-effects regression models, we find that the public injections significantly reduced the financial risks faced by the capital-injected banks but did not stimulate their lending or profitability. Next, we investigate what factors impeded bank lending after the public injections using a matched sample of Japanese banks and their borrowers. By employing three-way fixed-effects regression models corresponding to the matched sample, we provide evidence that the deterioration of borrowers’ creditworthiness inhibited not only the injected banks but also the noninjected banks from lending more.
Engineering retinal-based phototrophy via a complementary photosystem in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

To achieve success in setting up sustainability applications, photosynthetic organisms are required to convert solar energy with the highest efficiency. A widely proposed method to do this is to expand their effective absorption spectrum into the infrared (i.e. beyond 700 nm). Introducing an infrared-absorbing, retinal-based proton pump, as a substitute for PSI, is a promising approach to achieve this. This thesis focuses on expressing two such retinal-based pumps, proteorhodopsin (PR) and Gloeobacter rhodopsin (GR), into Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and its PSI-deletion derivate. In these strains we explored the stimulatory effect of these pumps on the growth of their host. To facilitate expression of PR and GR variants with a modified chromophore, we also investigated retinal metabolism in Synechocystis. Our results show that, upon use of the psbA2 promoter, bacterial rhodopsins (PR or GR) are expressed in Synechocystis, at a level of up to 105 molecules per cell, presumably as pentamers and trimers, respectively, with approximately equal distribution (on a protein-content basis) over the thylakoid and the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. Functional assays have revealed that PR but not GR can enhance the growth rate of Synechocystis and its ΔPSI derivative strain. Notably, the stimulatory effect is most significant in the ΔPSI strain. Moreover, our results confirm that Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has the capacity to synthesize all-trans-retinal, thereby making use of the SynACO enzyme (encoded by sll1541). By supplying a red-shifted retinal analogue to a sll1541-knockout mutant we could show that an infrared-absorbing PR derivative is formed in Synechocystis.
Single-cell profiling of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma reveals RAS pathway inhibitors as cell-fate hijackers with therapeutic relevance

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a group of pediatric cancers with features of developing skeletal muscle. The cellular hierarchy and mechanisms leading to developmental arrest remain elusive. Here, we combined single-cell RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, and high-content imaging to resolve intratumoral heterogeneity of patient-derived primary RMS cultures. We show that the aggressive alveolar RMS (aRMS) subtype contains plastic muscle stem-like cells and cycling progenitors that drive tumor growth, and a subpopulation of differentiated cells that lost its proliferative potential and correlates with better outcomes. While chemotherapy eliminates cycling progenitors, it enriches aRMS for muscle stem-like cells. We screened for drugs hijacking aRMS toward clinically favorable subpopulations and identified a combination of RAF and MEK inhibitors that potently induces myogenic differentiation and inhibits tumor growth. Overall, our work provides insights into the developmental states underlying aRMS aggressiveness, chemoresistance, and progression and identifies the RAS pathway as a promising therapeutic target.
Regulatory T cells may participate in Helicobacter pylori persistence in gastric MALT lymphoma: lessons from an animal model

It has been postulated that the emergence of autoimmune gastritis in neonatal thymectomised (d3Tx) BALB/c mice may be a consequence of post-surgery deficit in Tregs. In this study, previously obtained samples from d3Tx mice were used in order to determine whether thymectomy creates a deficit in this T cell subset thereby allowing the emergence of autoimmune phenomena as a prerequisite for GML. The splenic Treg reserve and the local recruitment of these cells in the gastric mucosa were investigated using complementary molecular and immunohistochemistry approaches. Higher Foxp3/CD3 ratios were found in the spleen of non-infected d3Tx mice compared to non-thymectomised (NTx) controls. These results indicate a relative enrichment of Tregs following thymectomy in adult mice. The absence of Treg depletion in d3Tx mice is in line with the absence of auto-immune gastritis in non-infected d3Tx mice. Higher levels of T cell and Treg infiltration were also found in the stomach of GML-developing d3Tx mice versus NTx mice. Surprisingly, inflammatory scores inversely correlated with the bacterial inoculum. The presence of a small Treg containing compartment among gastric biopsies of GML developing d3Tx mice may play a role in perseverance of a minimal bacterial numbers thereby maintaining an antigen-dependent stimulation and proliferation.
The stability and application of 3-hydroxy fatty acids as biomarkers of airborne endotoxins in the Pearl River Delta region

Exposure to bacterial endotoxin has been recognized to be associated with various airway inflammation and allergic responses. However, concentrations of airborne endotoxin in the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR) have not previously been well characterized. Conventional determination of endotoxin concentrations with Limilus Ambocyte Lysate assay suffers from the limitations of significant intraand inter-laboratory variations in the measured endotoxin levels. A biomarker approach thereby has been proposed as an alternative chemical approach to quantify the level of the total airborne endotoxin. However, the stability of using 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) as biomarkers for the quantification of airborne endotoxin levels needs to be addressed before this biomarker approach can be applied for the routine measurement of airborne endotoxin levels. In this research, we investigated the stability of 3-OH FAs under different storage and sampling conditions. The results showed that 3-OH FAs were stable at the storage temperatures ranged from -80°C to 4°C and can be stored up to 6 months at -20°C without significant degradation. 3-OH FAs were also highly stable with respect to the sampling temperatures ranged from 15°C to 45°C and the sampling RH ranged from 30% to 90%. However, endotoxins collected at the flow rates of 16.67 L/min and 7.33 L/min resulted in 2.2-fold and 3.6-fold higher concentrations than those collected at 1.13m 3 /min, respectively. This observation suggests that aerosol samples collected at lower flow rate may lead to overestimated endotoxin levels as a result of bacterial growth during sampling.
An Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field and Global Cerebral Ischemia Affect Pituitary ACTH and TSH Cells in Gerbils

The neuroendocrine system can be modulated by a magnetic field and cerebral ischemia as external and internal stressors, respectively. This study deals with the separate or combined effects of an extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field (50 Hz, average magnetic field of 0.5 mT) for 7 days and global cerebral ischemia for 10 min on the morpho‐functional features of pituitary adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH) and thyrotrophic (TSH) cells in 3‐month‐old gerbils. To determine the immediate and delayed effects of the applied stressors, measurements were made on the 7th and 14th days after the onset of the experiment. The ELF magnetic field and 10‐min global cerebral ischemia, separately and particularly in combination, decreased (P < 0.05) the volume density of ACTH cells, while only in combination were intracellular ACTH content and plasma ACTH concentration increased (P < 0.05) on day 7. The ELF magnetic field elevated serum TSH concentration on day 7 and intracellular TSHβ content on day 14 (P < 0.05). Also, 10‐min global cerebral ischemia alone increased serum TSH concentration (P < 0.05), while in combination with the ELF magnetic field it elevated (P < 0.05) intracellular TSHβ content on day 14. In conclusion, an ELF magnetic field and/or 10‐min global cerebral ischemia can induce immediate and delayed stimulation of ACTH and TSH synthesis and secretion. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020;41:91–103. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
Exchange Rates and Fundamentals: Evidence from Long-Horizon Regression Tests

This article considers the long-run relationship between nominal exchange rates and fundamentals from a different perspective. We apply a long-horizon regression approach proposed by Fisher and Seater (1993) and find evidence supporting the explanatory power of exchange rate models. In particular, the Taylor-rule model outperforms other conventional models. We then use the inverse power function (IPF) proposed by Andrews (1989) to investigate the power of the Fisher–Seater test. The IPF analysis provides additional evidence supporting exchange rate models.
Gravity coring instrument and mechanics of sediment coring

A gravity-type coring apparatus, which is used on the research vessel E. W. Scripps of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for taking sediment samples of the ocean floor, is described. With this instrument more than 200 cores have been taken in many types of sediment. The 174 mud cores have an average length of 6 feet, 3 inches and a maximum length of 16 feet, 9 inches. Data from a number of experiments and from field coring operations were analysed in order to improve the design of the device and to permit proper interpretation of core samples. A detailed study was made to explain the observation that the length of the cores averaged about 50 per cent of the depth of penetration of the core barrel. Laboratory coring experiments using mud of uniform water content show that, as the core barrel penetrates the mud, progressively smaller increments of core are added throughout the entire depth of penetration. However, studies of cores taken on a tidal flat and others obtained in field operations show that the size of core increments per unit of penetration remains practically constant with increasing penetration.
Assessing High House Prices: Bubbles, Fundamentals, and Misperceptions

We construct measures of the annual cost of single-family housing for 46 metropolitan areas in the United States over the last 25 years and compare them with local rents and incomes as a way of judging the level of housing prices. Conventional metrics like the growth rate of house prices, the price-to-rent ratio, and the price-to-income ratio can be misleading because they fail to account both for the time series pattern of real long-term interest rates and predictable differences in the long-run growth rates of house prices across local markets. These factors are especially important in recent years because house prices are theoretically more sensitive to interest rates when rates are already low, and more sensitive still in those cities where the long-run rate of house price growth is high. During the 1980s, our measures show that houses looked most overvalued in many of the same cities that subsequently experienced the largest house price declines. We find that from the trough of 1995 to 2004, the cost of owning rose somewhat relative to the cost of renting, but not, in most cities, to levels that made houses look overvalued.