Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Future IoT tools for COVID‐19 contact tracing and prediction: A review of the state‐of‐the‐science

In 2020 the world is facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID‐19. To address these challenges, many digital tools are being explored and developed to contain the spread of the disease. With the lack of availability of vaccines, there is an urgent need to avert resurgence of infections by putting some measures, such as contact tracing, in place. While digital tools, such as phone applications are advantageous, they also pose challenges and have limitations (eg, wireless coverage could be an issue in some cases). On the other hand, wearable devices, when coupled with the Internet of Things (IoT), are expected to influence lifestyle and healthcare directly, and they may be useful for health monitoring during the global pandemic and beyond. In this work, we conduct a literature review of contact tracing methods and applications. Based on the literature review, we found limitations in gathering health data, such as insufficient network coverage. To address these shortcomings, we propose a novel intelligent tool that will be useful for contact tracing and prediction of COVID‐19 clusters. The solution comprises a phone application combined with a wearable device, infused with unique intelligent IoT features (complex data analysis and intelligent data visualization) embedded within the system to aid in COVID‐19 analysis. Contact tracing applications must establish data collection and data interpretation. Intelligent data interpretation can assist epidemiological scientists in anticipating clusters, and can enable them to take necessary action in improving public health management. Our proposed tool could also be used to curb disease incidence in future global health crises.
Anomalous X-ray Scattering on Amorphous Al87Y8Ni5 and Al90Y10 Alloys

Abstract The structure of a new amorphous Al87Y8Ni5, indicating high strength and good ductility, was studied by anomalous X-ray scattering (AXS). For comparison, a binary amorphous Al90Y10 alloy was also investigated. The environmental radial distribution functions around Y and Ni as well as the ordinary RDF in the ternary alloy, and the environmental RDF around Y and the ordinary RDF in the binary alloy were determined. From the analysis of these RDFs it is found that the Y atoms are completely surrounded by Al in the binary alloy, and that some of these Al atoms are replaced by Ni atoms in the ternary alloy.
The complete plastome sequence of Tanakaea radicans (Saxifragaceae) and its phylogenetic analysis

Abstract Tanakaea radicans is classified in the monotypic genus Tanakaea in the Saxifragaceae. It is a small, evergreen plant with a disjunct distribution in Japan and China. Here, we report and characterize for the first time the complete plastid genome sequence of T. radicans. The chloroplast genome is 155,265 bp in length and contains a pair of inverted repeats (25,794 bp) separated by a large single copy (86,289 bp) and a small single copy (17,388 bp). A total of 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and four rRNA genes, were annotated. Phylogenetic analysis showed that T. radicans was sister to Leptarrhena pyrolifolia within Huecheroids linage of Saxifragaceae.
Mitochondrial genome of the Antarctic microalga Micractinium simplicissimum KSF0127 (Chlorellaceae, Trebouxiophyceae)

Abstract We report the first mitochondrial genome of the Antarctic microalga Micractinium simplicissimum KSF0127. The circular mitochondrial genome was 67,923 bp in length and contained 45 protein-coding genes, one ribosomal RNA gene, and 60 transfer RNA genes. The phylogenetic tree was constructed with eight previously reported mitogenome sequences and showed the phylogenetic position of M. simplicissimum KSF0127 within the Chlorellaceae family.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Sanghuangporus vaninii Zhehuang-1 (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota)

Abstract In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Sanghuangporus vaninii Zhehuang-1 was determined. Genomic DNA samples individually collected from a population in southeastern China (Qiandaohu, Zhejiang Province, N29°44′24′′, E118°52′48′′) were sequenced with an Illumina NovaSeq 6000. The complete mitochondrial genome was 97,345 bp in length and consisted of 22 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 29 tRNAs, 3 ribosomal RNAs, and a control region. Sanghuangporus vaninii has a mitochondrial gene arrangement that is similar to that of S. sanghuang. Phylogenetic analysis performed using ML methods based on the complete mitogenome sequence showed that S. vaninii is a member of the Polyporaceae. The complete mitogenome sequence provides important data for further study of the Inonotus linteus complex.
The complete mitochondrial genomes of Diplonevra funebris and Diplonevra peregrina (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract Diplonevra is one of the most important genera in the family Phoridae. This genus is mainly distributed in Palearctic region, and its species can be used to estimate the postmortem interval. In this study, we first present two mitochondrial genomes of common necrophagous species of this genus, Diplonevra funebris (Meigen, 1830) and Diplonevra peregrina (Wiedemann, 1830). Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree revealed that the genus Diplonevra is closely related to the genus Dohrniphora within the family Phoridae. This work expands the knowledge about the Phoridae genomes, and contributes to the further study of species identification and phylogenetics of this family.
First report of the mitogenome of Hamaxiella brunnescens (Diptera, Tachinidae) from Beijing, China

Abstract Hamaxiella brunnescens (Mesnil, 1967) (Diptera, Tachinidae) is a parasitic fly species and of great ecological importance in natural systems as parasitoids of herbivorous insects. The mitogenome of H. brunnescens was sequenced and analyzed here for the first time. The genome is 14,956 bp in length with high A + T content, which consists of 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, two rRNA genes, and a partial non-coding control region. The phylogenetic analyses support a monophyletic Tachinidae. The two subfamilies Exoristinae and Phasiinae are fully supported as monophyletic while Tachininae is inferred to be paraphyletic.
Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of convex reef crab Carpilius convexus (Forskål, 1775)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of convex reef crab Carpilius convexus was determined and characterized for the first time from the South China Sea. The whole mitogenome is 15,766 bp long and consists of 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 1 control region. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome is significantly biased (A, G, T, and C is 36.91%, 17.94%, 34.95%, and 10.19%, respectively) with A + T contents of 71.86%. All PCGs start with a normal initiation codon ATN and terminate with a standard stop codon except ND1 gene end with TTG. Five microsatellites are identified in C. convexus mitogenome sequences. The phylogenetic tree showed that C. convexus was first clustered with Carpilius maculatus, and strongly supports that the recognition of the Carpiliidae as a monophyletic family.
Complete chloroplast genome sequence of Stauntonia hexaphylla (Ranunculales: Lardizabalaceae), a species endemic to Korea

Abstract The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Stauntonia hexaphylla, a monotypic genus native to Korea, was determined. The whole cp genome is 158,390 bp in size, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,115 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,928 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,174 bp. The cp genome encodes 117 genes, including 79 protein-coding, 38 tRNA-coding, and 8 rRNA-coding genes. The overall GC content is 37.8%. A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between S. hexaphylla and S. obovatifoliola subsp. urophylla. The cp genome will provide new insight into the evolution of Lardizabalaceae.
Laser-induced thermal response and controlled release of copper oxide nanoparticles from multifunctional polymeric nanocarriers

ABSTRACT Multifunctional nanocarriers have attracted considerable interest in improving cancer treatment outcomes. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanospheres encapsulating copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are characterized by antitumor activity and exhibit dual-modal contrast-enhancing capabilities. An in vitro evaluation demonstrates that this delivery system allows controlled and sustained release of CuO-NPs. To achieve localized release on demand, an external stimulation by laser irradiation is suggested. Furthermore, to enable simultaneous complementary photothermal therapy, polydopamine (PDA) coating for augmented laser absorption is proposed. To this aim, two formulations of CuO-NPs loaded nanospheres are prepared from PLGA polymers RG-504 H (H-PLGA) and RG-502 H (L-PLGA) as scaffolds for surface modification through in situ polymerization of dopamine and then PEGylation. The obtained CuO-NPs-based multifunctional nanocarriers are characterized, and photothermal effects are examined as a function of wavelength and time. The results show that 808 nm laser irradiation of the coated nanospheres yields maximal temperature elevation (T = 41°C) and stimulates copper release at a much faster rate compared to non-irradiated formulations. Laser-triggered CuO-NP release is mainly depended on the PLGA core, resulting in faster release with L-PLGA, which also yielded potent anti-tumor efficacy in head and neck cancer cell line (Cal-33). In conclusion, the suggested multifunctional nanoplatform offers the integrated benefits of diagnostic imaging and laser-induced drug release combined with thermal therapy. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Activation of Vasopressin System During COVID-19 is Associated With Adverse Clinical Outcomes: An Observational Study

Abstract Background Activation of the vasopressin system plays a key role for the maintenance of osmotic, cardiovascular, and stress hormone homeostasis during disease. We investigated levels of copeptin, the C-terminal segment of the vasopressin prohormone, that mirrors the production rate of vasopressin in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods We measured levels of copeptin on admission and after days 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 in 74 consecutive hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients and compared its prognostic accuracy to that of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (n = 876) and acute or chronic bronchitis (n = 371) from a previous study by means of logistic regression analysis. The primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day mortality. Results Median admission copeptin levels in COVID-19 patients were almost 4-fold higher in nonsurvivors compared with survivors (49.4 pmol/L [iterquartile range (IQR) 24.9–68.9 pmol/L] vs 13.5 pmol/L [IQR 7.0–26.7 pmol/L]), resulting in an age- and gender-adjusted odds ratio of 7.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–40.3), p < 0.03 for mortality. Higher copeptin levels in nonsurvivors persisted during the short-term follow-up. Compared with the control group patients with acute/chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, COVID-19 patients did not have higher admission copeptin levels. Conclusions A pronounced activation of the vasopressin system in COVID-19 patients is associated with an adverse clinical course in COVID-19 patients. This finding, however, is not unique to COVID-19 but similar to other types of respiratory infections.
Cardiac Injury Biomarkers and the Risk of Death in Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Cardiac complications may develop in a proportion of patients with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which may influence their prognosis. Objectives To assess the role of cardiac injury biomarkers measured on admission and during hospitalization as risk factors for subsequent death in COVID-19 patients. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out involving cohort studies that compared the levels of cardiac injury biomarkers in surviving and dead COVID-19 patients. Cardiac injury is defined as an elevation of the definitive markers (cardiac troponin (cTnI and cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)) above the 99th percentile upper reference limit. Secondary markers included creatine kinase-myocardial bound (CK-MB), myoglobin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). The risk of death and the differences in marker concentrations were analyzed using risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs), respectively. Results Nine studies met the inclusion criteria (1799 patients, 53.36% males, 20.62% with cardiac injury). The risk of death was significantly higher in patients with elevated cTn than those with normal biomarker levels (RR = 5.28, P < 0.0001). Compared to survivors, dead patients had higher levels of cTn (SMD = 2.15, P=0.001), IL-6 (SMD = 3.13, P=0.03), hs-CRP (SMD = 2.78, P < 0.0001), and CK-MB (SMD = 0.97, P < 0.0001) on admission and a significant rise of plasma cTnT during hospitalization. Conclusion COVID-19 patients with elevated cTn on admission, possibly due to immune-mediated myocardial injury, are at increased risk for mortality. This requires further radiographic investigations, close monitoring, and aggressive care to reduce the risk of severe complications and death.
Limiting the Pitch Count in Youth Baseball Pitchers Decreases Elbow Pain

Background: Reducing the number of pitches thrown is regarded as the most effective way to prevent throwing injuries in youth baseball pitchers. However, few studies have compared the effectiveness of limiting the pitch count versus the limiting the number of innings pitched in terms of elbow injuries. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that, compared with inning limits, pitch count limits would lead to greater decreases in elbow pain, range of motion deficits, positive moving valgus stress test results, and the risk of capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed baseball pitchers aged 8 to 12 years in 2017 and 2018. Inning and pitch count limits in games were set to a daily maximum of 7 innings in 2017 and 70 pitches in 2018. Elbow pain, range of motion, and moving valgus stress test results were evaluated. The presence of capitellar OCD was assessed on ultrasonographic and radiographic images. Results: A total of 352 pitchers in 2017 and 367 pitchers in 2018 participated. The mean pitch count per game was lower in the pitch count limit (CL) group (52.5 ± 16.0) than in the inning limit (IL) group (98.2 ± 19.5) (P < .001). Compared with the IL group, the CL group had significantly lower rates of elbow pain (40.9% vs 31.9%, respectively; P = .01) and reduced flexion (19.0% vs 10.6%, respectively; P = .001). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between elbow pain and age in both the IL and the CL groups (P < .0001 and P = .02, respectively) and between OCD and elbow pain in the CL group (P = .04). Conclusion: A pitch count limit of ≤70 pitches per day for baseball pitchers ≤12 years could be more protective against elbow pain and reduced flexion than a limit of ≤7 innings per day, but it may not be effective for reducing the risk of capitellar OCD.
Hybrid coffee cultivars may enhance agroecosystem resilience to climate change

Abstract Anthropogenic climate change is predicted to cause shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns that will be detrimental for global agriculture. Developing comprehensive strategies for building climate resilient agroecosystems is critical for maintaining future crop production. Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) is highly sensitive to the quantity and timing of precipitation, so alterations in precipitation patterns that are predicted under climate change are likely to be a major challenge for maintaining coffee agroecosystems. We assessed cultivar selection as a potential component of more resilient coffee agroecosystems by evaluating water stress responses among five Arabica coffee cultivars (clonal hybrids H10 and H1 and seedling lines Catuai 44, Catuai, and Villa Sarchi) using a precipitation reduction experiment in the highlands of Tarrazú, Costa Rica. During the first harvest (eighteen months after planting), plants under the rainout treatment had 211 % greater total fruit weight and over 50 % greater biomass than under the control treatment, potentially due to protection from unusually high rainfall during this period of our experiment. At the second harvest (30 months after planting), after a year of more typical rainfall, plants under rainout still produced 66 % more fruit by weight than under control. The magnitude of the responses varied among cultivars where, at the first harvest, H10 and H1 had approximately 92 % and 81 % greater fruit production and 18 % and 22 % greater biomass, respectively, and at the second harvest H10 had 60 % more fruit production than the overall average. Thus, our findings suggest that the hybrid lines H10 and H1 are more resilient than the other cultivars to the stress of high soil moisture. Overall, our results indicate that stress due to higher than average rainfall could impair coffee plant growth and production, and that cultivar selection is likely to be an important tool for maintaining the viability of coffee production, and the resilience of global agroecosystems more generally, under climate change.
Ebola Virus Transmission Initiated by Systemic Ebola Virus Disease Relapse

Summary During the 2018-2020 Nord Kivu Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an individual who had received the Merck rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine was diagnosed with EVD. His treatment included an Ebola virus-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb114), and he recovered within 14 days but re-presented six months later with severe EVD-like illness and Ebola virus viremia and died. We initiated an epidemiological and genomic investigation that showed the patient had a relapse of acute EVD, which led to a transmission chain that resulted in 91 cases spanning six health zones over four-months.
Complete mitochondrial genome of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans, Testudines: Emydidae) in Korea

Abstract The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Trachemys scripta elegans in Korea was sequenced and characterized. The mt genome is constituted of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes) and a noncoding control region. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete mt genome showed that T. s. elegans Korea has closer relationship with T. scripta Canada than T. s. elegans China. This is the first complete mt genome from T. s. elegans in Korea, which provides information for biogeographical studies and management plan for invasive species.
Revisiting sustainable development Goal 4 in the context of COVID‐19 Pandemic: A case study of online teaching in Algerian higher education institutions

ABSTRACT The unanticipated transition from traditional/on‐campus to distance learning has not only posed challenges in different contexts at the global level, but it also caused disparity in terms of access to education. As a mandate, Goal 4 of Sustainable Development Goals states that by 2030 all member states should work to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (UNESCO, 2015). In practice, however, the responses of different international education institutions during the Covid‐19 confinement indicate that the achievement of this equity plan at the global level is rather unfeasible. To address this issue from a local lens, this study seeks to examine the plan implemented for online teaching in the Algerian higher education institutions. It draws on a key body of literature on online infrastructure and pedagogy to explore (1) the different online teaching models that were implemented, (2) Algerian higher education teachers' practices within the framework of this new model of teaching, and (3) the different challenges encountered by teachers during this transition. To achieve this end, a qualitative study that is based on an analysis of teachers' interviews is conducted to explore teachers' practices in different higher education institutions in Algeria. The results of this research will not only highlight the prevailing disparities, but will also serve to offer recommendations that could be relevant to future teachers' professional development programs.
The Impact of Trust on the Willingness of Co-Tenancy Behavior: Evidence from China

Introduction Nowadays, more and more people choose to rent houses in first-tier cities together with other people, which can alleviate certain economic pressure. Therefore co-tenancy has become an important field of academic research in recent years and a number of previous studies have discussed the phenomenon. However, fewer studies explore the influence of different variables on the willingness of co-tenancy behavior through quantitative methods. Methods This study conceptualizes and implements concepts such as trust, positive emotion, relationship strength, satisfaction, income, duration of co-tenancy required and the willingness of co-tenancy behavior(WOCB). We designed and collected a questionnaire and finally a questionnaire survey of users (n=525) was conducted, and a basic description and comparison of research objects’ willingness of co-tenancy behavior were made in terms of trust, and positive emotion, relationship strength and monthly income also affect the willingness of co-tenancy behavior. Results The trust effects have a positive impact on the WOCB, Trust effect will affect Relationship Strength and Positive Emotion, and will further affect the WOCB. However, this influence is negative when people are in high Monthly Income and negative when people are in low Monthly Income. Discussion Trust, relationship strength and positive emotion are key factors for people to rent houses with others. That is to say, the intensity of people’s willingness to rent houses with others depends on the degree of trust in others, the relationship strength and positive emotion. When the post-90s drifters in Shenzhen do not believe others, they will tend to live alone rather than the new model of co-tenancy. We also suspect that a person with negative emotion far greater than positive emotion prefers to live alone, rather than living in the same place with his roommates. It provided certain group implications for their willingness of co-tenancy behavior.
Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Syzygium nervosum

Abstract Syzygium nervosum A.Cunn. ex DC (also named as Cleistocalyx operculatus) is a member of genus Syzygium mainly distributed in China, Vietnam and some other tropical countries and belongs the family of Myrtaceae. Syzygium nervosum is a popular medicinal plant, some species of genus Syzygium have been used in folk medicine. In this study, we sequenced the sample of Syzygium nervosum and determined its complete chloroplast genome. The complete chloroplast genome of Syzygium nervosum is 158,979 bp in length, and contained a large single copy (LSC) with 88,099 bp in length, a small single copy (SSC) with 18,756 bp in length and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,062 bp each. It includes 85 protein coding genes, 8 rRNA and 37 tRNA, and 37% overall GC content. Each of trnK-UUU, rps16, trnG-UCC, atpF, rpoC1, trnL-UAA, trnV-UAC, petB, petD, rpl16, rpl2, ndhB, trnI-GAU, trnA-UGC and ndhA genes contain an intron, the gene clpP and ycf3 contain 2 introns. The phylogenetic position shows that Syzygium nervosum has the closest relationship with Syzygium aromaticum.