Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Calibration Method for the Quantification of Respirable Particles in Mining Scenarios Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The exposure of mining workers to crystalline particles, e.g., alpha quartz in respirable dust, is a ubiquitous global problem in occupational safety and health at surface and underground operations. The challenge of rapid in-field monitoring for direct assessment and adoption of intervention has not been solved satisfactorily to date, as conventional analytical methods such as X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy require laboratory environments, complex system handling, tedious sample preparation, and are limited by, e.g., addressable particle size. A novel monitoring approach was developed for potential in-field application enabling the quantification of crystalline particles in the respirable regime based on transmission infrared spectroscopy. This on-site approach analyzes samples of dust in ambient air collected onto PVC filters using respirable dust sampling devices. In the present study, we demonstrate that portable Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in combination with multivariate data analysis provides a versatile tool for the identification and quantification of minerals in complex real-world matrices. Without further sample preparation, the loaded filters are immediately analyzed via transmission infrared spectroscopy, and the mineral amount is quantified in real-time using a partial least squares regression algorithm. Due to the inherent molecular selectivity for crystalline as well as organic matrix components, infrared spectroscopy uniquely allows to precisely determine the particle composition even in complex samples such as dust from coal mines or clay-rich environments. For establishing a robust partial least squares regression model, a method was developed for generating calibration samples representative in size and composition for respirable mine dust via aerodynamic size separation. Combined with experimental design strategies, this allows tailoring the calibration set to the demands of air quality management in underground mining scenarios, i.e., the respirable particle size regime and the matrix of the target analyte.
In vitro antioxidant activity of pericarp of Cucurbita maxima Duch. ex Lam.

Cucurbita maxima Duch. ex Lam. ( Cucurbitaceae )known as Dadhiphala in Sanskrit, contains triterpenoids ,flavonoids, coumarins, saponines, cucurbitacins, carotenoid, vitamins, minerals and amino acid. The present study was undertaken to evaluate in vitro antioxidant activities of petroleum ether, chloroform and methanolic extract of pericarp of C.maxima . Total polyphenolic, flavonoid and flavonol content of MECM found12mg /gm (gallic acid equivalent),3.8 mg/gm and 0.8 mg/gm (rutin equivalent) respectively.All extract were tested for DPPH radical scavenging, Nitric oxide radical scavenging and Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity.IC-50 value for DPPH method of PECM,CECM and MECM were found to be 393ug/ml, 355ug/ml and 155ug/ml , while for nitric oxide scavenging activity 280ug/ml, 303ug/ml and 211ug/ml and for hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity 545ug/ml, 273ug/ml and 619ug/ml respectively.MECM shows good antioxidant activity as compare to PECM and CECM.
Strain-based work-to-family conflict as a predictor of lumbar and cervical pain in Tunisian nursing staff

Objective. This study aimed to examine the association of the different dimensions and forms of work–family conflict with the occurrence of neck and lower back pain (LBP) in Tunisian nurses. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study on nurses assigned to a district hospital in Tunisia. The work–family interface was assessed with the work–family conflict scale of Carlson et al. Psychosocial and organizational constraints at work were assessed through the nursing work index – extended organization in its specific version designed for nurses. Assessment of neck and lumbar pain was carried out with the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Results. Seventy-two nurses participated in the present study (participation rate = 100%) with a mean age of 42.38 ± 10.85 years. Binary logistic regression analyses retained strain-based work-to-family conflict as a significant determinant of both LBP (p < 10−3; odds ratio [OR] = 5.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.1, 11.7]) and neck pain (p = 0.001; OR = 6.8; 95% CI [2.13, 22]). Conclusions. Strain-based work-to-family conflict was found to predict lumbar and cervical pain more than the other types of conflict in nursing staff. Thus, reducing strain in health-care settings should be a central component of the preventive approach of musculoskeletal disorders in nursing staff.
Recurrence quantification analysis in the study of online coordination in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus).

In social animals, studying interactions with conspecifics is crucial for understanding even basic physiological, behavioral, and cognitive processes. Due to a visible "ecological turn" in behavioral research, we observe a rapid development of novel methods devoted to studying interaction. In this article, we offer a case study of an animal interactive behavior, which uses new methods of video-recorded motion capturing combined with time-series analysis called recurrence quantification analysis. We apply the method to the video-recorded behavioral sequence observed in Rattus norvegicus to evidence the fine-grained structure of this behavior. We show how such dynamical analyses can lead to insights about the processes behind such behavioral patterns and their change. Finally, we show how this approach can be successfully applied to other examples of highly coordinated behaviors in the animal world. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Phylogenetic Network of Mitochondrial COI Gene Sequences Distinguishes 10 Taxa Within the Neotropical Albitarsis Group (Diptera: Culicidae), Confirming the Separate Species Status of Anopheles albitarsis H (Diptera: Culicidae) and Revealing a Novel Lineage, Anopheles albitarsis J

Abstract The Neotropical Albitarsis Group is a complex assemblage of essentially isomorphic species which currently comprises eight recognized species—five formally described (Anopheles albitarsis Lynch-Arribalzaga, An. deaneorum Rosa-Freitas, An. janconnae Wilkerson and Sallum, An. marajoara Galvao and Damasceno, An. oryzalimnetes Wilkerson and Motoki) and three molecularly assigned (An. albitarsis F, G & I)—and one mitochondrial lineage (An. albitarsis H). To further explore species recognition within this important group, 658 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) were analyzed from 988 specimens from South America. We conducted statistical parsimony network analysis, generated estimates of haplotype, nucleotide, genetic differentiation, divergence time, and tested the effect of isolation by distance (IBD). Ten clusters were identified, which confirmed the validity of the eight previously determined species, and confirmed the specific status of the previous mitochondrial lineage An. albitarsis H. High levels of diversity were highlighted in two samples from Pará (= An. albitarsis J), which needs further exploration through additional sampling, but which may indicate another cryptic species. The highest intra-specific nucleotide diversity was observed in An. deaneorum, and the lowest in An. marajoara. Significant correlation between genetic and geographical distance was observed only in An. oryzalimnetes and An. albitarsis F. Divergence time within the Albitarsis Group was estimated at 0.58–2.25 Mya, during the Pleistocene. The COI barcode region was considered an effective marker for species recognition within the Albitarsis Group and a network approach was an analytical method to discriminate among species of this group.
Species diversity and ecological release in Caribbean land bird faunas

Communities of breeding, non-raptorial land birds were studied in nine major habitat types (secondary grassland and scrub, young and old secondary forest, mature lowland forest, cloud forest, mangroves, savanna, residential land) in each of five Caribbean areas (Panama, Trinidad, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts). In each habitat, the frequency of occurrence of individual species was determined in ten 20-min observation periods. Foliage height profiles were determined for all areas except St. Kitts. Data on frequency of occurrence were converted to indices of absolute abundance. Ecological release, involving both increase in the average number of habitats occupied per species and increase in within-habitat abundance, was extensive, and complete density compensation or overcompensation occurred in Jamaica, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts. Dropout of species along the species diversity gradient from Panama to St. Kitts appeared to be random with respect to generic or familial status. Habitat distribution appeared to shift from-being strongly influenced by interspecific relations in Panama to being largely independent of such influence in St. Kitts.
FREQMAX provides an alternative approach for determining high‐resolution allele frequency thresholds in carrier screening

As whole‐genome data become available for increasing numbers of individuals across diverse populations, the list of genomic variants of unknown significance (VOUS) continues to grow. One powerful tool in VOUS interpretation is determining whether an allele is too common to be considered pathogenic. As genetic and epidemiological parameters vary across disease models, so too does the pathogenic allele frequency threshold for each disease gene. One threshold‐setting approach is the maximum credible allele frequency (MCAF) method. However, estimating some of the input values MCAF requires, especially those involving heterogeneity, can present nontrivial statistical challenges. Here, we introduce FREQMAX, our alternative approach for determining allele frequency thresholds in carrier screening. FREQMAX makes efficient use of the data available for well‐studied traits and exhibits flexibility for traits where information may be less complete. For cystic fibrosis, more alleles are excluded as benign by FREQMAX than by MCAF. For less‐comprehensively characterized traits like ciliary dyskinesia and Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome, FREQMAX is able to set the allele frequency threshold without requiring a priori estimates of maximum genetic and allelic contributions. Furthermore, though we describe FREQMAX in the context of carrier screening, its classical population genetics framework also provides context for adaptation to other trait models.
The yeast FIT2 homologs are necessary to maintain cellular proteostasis and membrane lipid homeostasis

ABSTRACT Lipid droplets (LDs) are implicated in conditions of lipid and protein dysregulation. The fat storage-inducing transmembrane (FIT; also known as FITM) family induces LD formation. Here, we establish a model system to study the role of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae FIT homologues (ScFIT), SCS3 and YFT2, in the proteostasis and stress response pathways. While LD biogenesis and basal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced unfolded protein response (UPR) remain unaltered in ScFIT mutants, SCS3 was found to be essential for proper stress-induced UPR activation and for viability in the absence of the sole yeast UPR transducer IRE1. Owing to not having a functional UPR, cells with mutated SCS3 exhibited an accumulation of triacylglycerol within the ER along with aberrant LD morphology, suggesting that there is a UPR-dependent compensatory mechanism that acts to mitigate lack of SCS3. Additionally, SCS3 was necessary to maintain phospholipid homeostasis. Strikingly, global protein ubiquitylation and the turnover of both ER and cytoplasmic misfolded proteins is impaired in ScFITΔ cells, while a screen for interacting partners of Scs3 identifies components of the proteostatic machinery as putative targets. Together, our data support a model where ScFITs play an important role in lipid metabolism and proteostasis beyond their defined roles in LD biogenesis. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Highlighted Article: In yeast, FIT2 homologs play a dual role in maintaining cellular proteostasis and membrane lipid homeostasis. The unfolded protein response is necessary to replace their function if they are ablated.
NOTE ON MISMODELLING OF POLICYHOLDER’S AGE IN CLAIM FREQUENCY MODEL: A MATTER OF GENDER IN VEHICLE INSURANCE

Using the motor hull insurance data of Czech insurer, the paper deals with how mismodelling of policyholder? s age can induce misleading conclusions about the gender differences in claim frequency within vehicle insurance. This study is based on individual data with unit policy duration and puts the emphasis on correct modelling of functional form of the age to show that mismodelling as well as categorization yields misleading conclusions and, finally, we demonstrate how the inferences depend on categorization itself. Thus, we showed that linear form as well as the categorization increases the type I error to detect the obvious interaction between gender and age. By involving fractional polynomials, the results partially support the judgement of European Court of Justice to ban using gender as a rating factor, in particular for young policyholders. We concluded that, if another relevant data are not available, the gender as well as interaction with the age should be considered in the claim frequency model although such model cannot be used for setting premium.
Automation Approaches for Embedded Systems Design Flows Based on Formal Models of Computation Estratégias de Automação para Desenvolvimento de Projetos de Sistemas Embarcados Baseados em Modelos Formais de Computação

Sophisticated and high performance embedded systems are present in an increasing number of application domains. As the complexity grows, it gets harder to satisfy the requirement of getting the most optimized system using less development resources. In this context, formalbased design methods have been studied to make the development process robust and scalable, using the correct-by-construction approach. Models of computation (MoC), which consists on modeling an application at a high abstraction level by using a formal base, enables a systematic application analysis before its implementation. Different tools and frameworks have been developed supporting MoCs. Some of them can simulate the models and also verify its functionality and feasibility before the next design steps. As MoC elevates the abstraction level, the implementation steps get more complex, creating an abstraction gap. In view of this, the present research aims to identify possible automation approaches for embedded systems design flows.
Nanog fluctuations in embryonic stem cells: functional noise, reporter artifacts and the problem of measurement in live cells

1Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. 2Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. 3Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, UK. 4Department of Mathematics, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, UK. 5Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK. 6Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
Microsaccades Distinguish Looking From Seeing

Understanding our visual world requires both looking and seeing. Dissociation of these processes can result in the phenomenon of inattentional blindness or ‘looking without seeing‘. Concomitant errors in applied settings can be serious, and even deadly. Current visual data analysis cannot differentiate between just ‘looking‘ and actual processing of visual information, i.e., ‘seeing‘. Differentiation may be possible through the examination of microsaccades; the involuntary, smallmagnitude saccadic eye movements that occur during processed visual fixation. Recent work has suggested that microsaccades are post-attentional biosignals, potentially modulated by task. Specifically, microsaccade rates decrease with increased mental task demand, and increase with growing visual task difficulty. Such findings imply that there are fundamental differences in microsaccadic activity between visual and nonvisual tasks. To evaluate this proposition, we used a high-speed eye tracker to record participants in looking for differences between two images or, doing mental arithmetic, or both tasks in combination. Results showed that microsaccade rate was significantly increased in conditions that require high visual attention, and decreased in conditions that require less visual attention. The results support microsaccadic rate reflecting visual attention, and level of visual information processing. A measure that reflects to what extent and how an operator is processing visual information represents a critical step for the application of sophisticated visual assessment to real world tasks.
Effects of early rearing history on selected endocrine and immune functions in juvenile Pacific salmonids

The e f f e c t s of d i f f e r e n t early rearing conditions on plasma C o r t i s o l concentration, immune function, hematological p r o f i l e , and disease resistance were examined i n populations of hatcheryreared and wild Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and hatchery-reared, wild, and colonized coho salmon (0. kisutch). These features were examined during s m o l t i f i c a t i o n and a f t e r an acute s t r e s s . The e f f e c t of i n i t i a t i n g feeding with a wild-type di e t as compared to a commercially prepared d i e t was also examined i n chinook salmon f r y as one aspect of rearing history that i s d i f f e r e n t between f i s h reared i n the hatchery and those i n the wild. During s m o l t i f i c a t i o n and following periods of acute stress, wild chinook salmon and wild and colonized coho salmon had s i g n i f i c a n t l y higher concentrations of plasma C o r t i s o l . Hatchery-reared juveniles showed less s e n s i t i v i t y to stress and lower concentrations of plasma C o r t i s o l during the s m o l t i f i c a t i o n period and a f t e r an acute stress. Antibody producing c e l l (APC) number and disease resistance to Vibrio anguillarum were not s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t between the hatchery and wild chinook salmon. These features were also s i m i l a r among the hatchery, wild and colonized coho salmon smolts, despite s i g n i f i c a n t l y higher leve l s of c i r c u l a t i n g C o r t i s o l i n the wild and colonized smolts. White blood c e l l to red blood c e l l (wbc/rbc) r a t i o s were s l i g h t l y higher i n wild f i s h than i n t h e i r hatchery-reared counterparts i n chinook and coho salmon juveniles. S i g n i f i c a n t elevations i n plasma C o r t i s o l concentration a f t e r an acute stress was s t i l l evident retained i n the wild and colonized coho salmon juveniles even a f t e r holding them for 6 months i n an a r t i f i c i a l rearing environment. Disease resistance i n the wild f i s h s i g n i f i c a n t l y decreased over that time. Following the 6-month rearing period, the i n i t i a l numbers of APC i n the wild f i s h were s i g n i f i c a n t l y higher than those i n t h e i r hatchery counterparts. This difference precludes the a b i l i t y to conclude that a cause-effect r e l a t i o n s h i p exists between a high C o r t i s o l response and decreased s p e c i f i c immune function. The use of a l i v e d i e t to i n i t i a t e feeding i n chinook salmon f r y compares favorably to feeding a commercial d i e t i n that the a c t i v i t y of lysozyme and wbc/rbc r a t i o s were higher i n th i s group. S p e c i f i c immune function was correlated with body weight while non-specific immune defense was not. There appear to be physiological differences between hatchery-reared, wild and colonized coho and chinook salmon. Rearing history may be a determinant i n the s u r v i v a l of hatcheryreared salmonids released into the natural environment.
18th International Conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes

Large Eddy Simulation with two sub-grid-scale models are used to simulate gas dispersion, utilizing alternatively constant values and synthetic turbulence at inflow boundaries. The results are compared with data from the JU2003 Atmospheric Dispersion Study in Oklahoma City. Turbulence statistics of the simulation is presented at two probe locations, one inside the city-core and one outside. In addition, comparisons with the measured concentration-data and maximum-values are conducted. It was found that in the core of the city, modeled turbulence is mainly determined by buildings and their configurations, and is only weakly affected by model type and assumed turbulence at inflow boundaries. Within the predicted flow-path, the tested models produce similar predictions of maximum concentration values, which in turn are similar to the experimental data. The results indicate that synthetic turbulence at the inflow boundary is less important when building generated turbulence dominate but it is important if not a local boundary layer is developed.
Role of the Ebolavirus Glycoprotein in Countering Tetherin During Viral Budding

Ebola virus (EBOV) is the causative agent of Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever and initiates sporadic outbreaks with very high mortality rates of up to 90%. The only viral surface protein on EBOV virions, the EBOV Glycoprotein (GP1,2), is a known antagonist of the intrinsic innate immune effector Tetherin, which prevents release of budded virions by “tethering” them to the cell. Unlike other Tetherin antagonists, GP1,2 does not degrade Tetherin, remove Tetherin from the cell surface, or sequester Tetherin in intracellular compartments. Thus, the mechanism of how GP1,2 counters Tetherin is not well understood. This study utilizes methods in molecular biology and microbiology to focus on the different domains of GP1,2 and understand their role in countering Tetherin. Using VP40 or HIV-1 Gag to produce virus-like particles (VLP), we show that the GP1,2 glycan cap and transmembrane domain are necessary for GP1,2 anti-Tetherin activity. Chimeric proteins containing alternative transmembrane domains in place of the GP1,2 transmembrane domain fail to counteract Tetherin and release VLP. Additionally, using widefield microscopy, alternative transmembrane domains do not change the surface localization of Tetherin and GP1,2, suggesting that surface interactions may not be important for understanding how GP1,2 counters Tetherin. Other observations and experiments suggest an active role for GP1,2 in the formation of viral particles. In conclusion, we propose a model where the GP1,2 transmembrane domain assists in a budding process that does not allow for incorporation of Tetherin into the budding virions. The model suggests that the GP1,2 transmembrane domain functions to avoid Tetherin mediated restriction and to form viral particles independent of VP40 budding. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Cell & Molecular Biology First Advisor Paul F. Bates