Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential contributions of inferior frontal gyrus subregions to sentence processing guided by intonation

Auditory sentence comprehension involves processing content (semantics), grammar (syntax), and intonation (prosody). The left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) is involved in sentence comprehension guided by these different cues, with neuroimaging studies preferentially locating syntactic and semantic processing in separate IFG subregions. However, this regional specialisation has not been confirmed with a neurostimulation method. Consequently, the causal role of such a specialisation remains unclear. This study probed the role of the posterior IFG (pIFG) for syntactic processing and the anterior IFG (aIFG) for semantic processing with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in a task that required the interpretation of the sentence's prosodic realisation. Healthy participants performed a sentence completion task with syntactic and semantic decisions, while receiving 10 Hz rTMS over either left aIFG, pIFG, or vertex (control). Initial behavioural analyses showed an inhibitory effect on accuracy without task‐specificity. However, electric field simulations revealed differential effects for both subregions. In the aIFG, stronger stimulation led to slower semantic processing, with no effect of pIFG stimulation. In contrast, we found a facilitatory effect on syntactic processing in both aIFG and pIFG, where higher stimulation strength was related to faster responses. Our results provide first evidence for the functional relevance of left aIFG in semantic processing guided by intonation. The stimulation effect on syntactic responses emphasises the importance of the IFG for syntax processing, without supporting the hypothesis of a pIFG‐specific involvement. Together, the results support the notion of functionally specialised IFG subregions for diverse but fundamental cues for language processing.
Workplace violence against Bangladeshi registered nurses: A survey following a year of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract Aims To investigate the prevalence of workplace violence and its associated factors among Bangladeshi registered nurses. Background Workplace violence is prevalent among nurses, particularly in developing countries. However, the issue has never been examined in Bangladeshi nurses. Methods Between February 26 and July 10, 2021, this cross‐sectional survey involving 1264 registered nurses was conducted. Workplace violence was determined by the Workplace Violence Scale (WVS). A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to find the factors associated with workplace violence. This study complies with the EQUATOR (STROBE) checklist. Results Of the 1264 nurses, 885 (70%) nurses reported being exposed to workplace violence in the previous year. Three hundred twenty‐four (324; 25.6%) nurses reported physical violence, whereas 902 (71.4%) nurses reported nonphysical violence. According to the multivariable logistic regression model, male nurses, nurses in the Sylhet division, emergency department nurses, nurses working extended hours, and non trained nurses to tackle workplace violence were prone to physical violence. Furthermore, public hospital nurses and non trained nurses to tackle workplace violence were more likely to be exposed to nonphysical violence. Nurses who had not been exposed to workplace violence were satisfied with their current job, but those who had been exposed to workplace violence were dissatisfied and intended to leave their current job. Conclusions and implications for nursing and health policy High prevalence of workplace violence underscores nurses’ current working conditions, which are particularly poor in public hospitals and emergency departments. Moreover, the COVID‐19 pandemic put unprecedented pressure on the whole healthcare system and caused various difficulties for healthcare workers. To develop a zero‐violence practice environment, health authorities should implement policy‐level interventions. Healthcare staff should be guided to deal more successfully with patients and coworkers to create a positive working environment.
Quantum Predictive Filtering

How can relevant information be extracted from a quantum process? In many situations, only some part of the total information content produced by an information source is useful. Can one then find an efficient encoding, in the sense of retaining the largest fraction of relevant information? This paper offers one possible solution by giving a generalization of a classical method designed to retain as much relevant information as possible in a lossy data compression. A key feature of the method is to introduce a second information source to define relevance. We quantify the advantage a quantum encoding has over the best classical encoding in general, and we demonstrate using examples that a substantial quantum advantage is possible. A main result, however, is that if the relevant information is purely classical, then a classical encoding is optimal.
Application of phytoremediation on soil polluted by heavy metals from sewage sludge

Abstract Soil pollution by heavy metals (HM) has become a problem in Algeria, in particular that caused by the discharge of untreated sewage sludge due to the lack of means at the level of sewage treatment plants (WWTP). The objective of our work was to study the possibility of reducing HM pollution of the soil of the WWTP site of Reghaia (Algeria) by phytoremediation. The results obtained showed the decrease in plant growth parameters (maize, rapeseed and alfalfa) grown on the polluted soil. However, on polluted soil amended with fertilizer, improved growth of these plants was noted. It has also been observed that the cultivation of plants in polluted soils (amended and unamended) made it possible to have attenuation rates for HMs (Cd, Zn and Cr) higher than those obtained in the absence of plant cultivation. However, these rates were not very high (less than 40%), and the fertilizer amendment did not increase these rates, despite the improvement in the production of plant biomass. This would be mainly due to the decrease in the bioavailability of HMs for plants. It was concluded that the tested plants do not allow the phytoextraction of HM but their phytostabilization in the polluted soil of the Reghaia WWTP site. Novelty statement In Algeria, studies on the treatment of polluted soils by phytoremediation are few. The novelty of our study is due to the fact that the polluted soil of the site of the Reghaia wastewater treatment plant (Algeria) has not been the subject of another study. In addition, the results obtained from studies carried out on polluted soil following human activities such as the discharge of sewage sludge cannot be extrapolated to our polluted soil because the conditions which affect the performance of phytoremediation are not the same (type of soil, age of pollution, type and content of heavy metals, temperature, pH, content of organic matter… etc.).
Topological phase transitions with SO(4) symmetry in (2+1)D interacting Dirac fermions

Interaction-driven topological phase transitions in Dirac semimetals are investigated by means of large-scale quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations. The interaction among Dirac fermions is introduced by coupling them to Ising spins that realize the quantum dynamics of the two-dimensional transverse field Ising model. The ground state phase diagram, in which the tuning parameters are the transverse field and the coupling between fermion and Ising spins, is determined. At weak and intermediate coupling, a second-order Ising quantum phase transition and a first-order topological phase transition between two topologically distinct Dirac semimetals are observed. Interestingly, at the latter, the Dirac points smear out to form nodal lines in the Brillouin zone, and collective bosonic fluctuations with SO(4) symmetry are strongly enhanced. At strong coupling, these two phase boundaries merge into a first-order transition.
The clusters Abell 222 and Abell 223: a multi-wavelength view

Context. The Abell 222 and 223 clusters are located at an average redshift z ∼ 0.21 and are separated by 0.26 deg. Signatures of mergers have been previously found in these clusters, both in X-rays and at optical wavelengths, thus motivating our study. In X-rays, they are relatively bright, and Abell 223 shows a double structure. A filament has also been detected between the clusters both at optical and X-ray wavelengths. Aims. We analyse the optical properties of these two clusters based on deep imaging in two bands, derive their galaxy luminosity functions (GLFs) and correlate these properties with X-ray characteristics derived from XMM-Newton data. Methods. The optical part of our study is based on archive images obtained with the CFHT Megaprime/Megacam camera, covering a total region of about 1 deg 2 , or 12.3 x 12.3 Mpc 2 at a redshift of 0.21. The X-ray analysis is based on archive XMM-Newton images. Results. The GLFs of Abell 222 in the g' and r' bands are well fit by a Schechter function; the GLF is steeper in r' than in g'. For Abell 223, the GLFs in both bands require a second component at bright magnitudes, added to a Schechter function; they are similar in both bands. The Serna & Gerbal method allows to separate well the two clusters. No obvious filamentary structures are detected at very large scales around the clusters, but a third cluster at the same redshift, Abell 209, is located at a projected distance of 19.2 Mpc. X-ray temperature and metallicity maps reveal that the temperature and metallicity of the X-ray gas are quite homogeneous in Abell 222, while they are very perturbed in Abell 223. Conclusions. The Abell 222/Abell 223 system is complex. The two clusters that form this structure present very different dynamical states. Abell 222 is a smaller, less massive and almost isothermal cluster. On the other hand, Abell 223 is more massive and has most probably been crossed by a subcluster on its way to the northeast. As a consequence, the temperature distribution is very inhomogeneous. Signs of recent interactions are also detected in the optical data where this cluster shows a "perturbed" GLF. In summary, the multiwavelength analyses of Abell 222 and Abell 223 are used to investigate the connection between the ICM and the cluster galaxy properties in an interacting system.
Adaptive Filtering Framework to Remove Nonspecific and Low-Efficiency Reactions in Multiplex Digital PCR Based on Sigmoidal Trends

Real-time digital polymerase chain reaction (qdPCR) coupled with machine learning (ML) methods has shown the potential to unlock scientific breakthroughs, particularly in the field of molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases. One promising application of this emerging field explores single fluorescent channel PCR multiplex by extracting target-specific kinetic and thermodynamic information contained in amplification curves, also known as data-driven multiplexing. However, accurate target classification is compromised by the presence of undesired amplification events and not ideal reaction conditions. Therefore, here, we proposed a novel framework to identify and filter out nonspecific and low-efficient reactions from qdPCR data using outlier detection algorithms purely based on sigmoidal trends of amplification curves. As a proof-of-concept, this framework is implemented to improve the classification performance of the recently reported data-driven multiplexing method called amplification curve analysis (ACA), using available published data where the ACA is demonstrated to screen carbapenemase-producing organisms in clinical isolates. Furthermore, we developed a novel strategy, named adaptive mapping filter (AMF), to adjust the percentage of outliers removed according to the number of positive counts in qdPCR. From an overall total of 152,000 amplification events, 116,222 positive amplification reactions were evaluated before and after filtering by comparing against melting peak distribution, proving that abnormal amplification curves (outliers) are linked to shifted melting distribution or decreased PCR efficiency. The ACA was applied to assess classification performance before and after AMF, showing an improved sensitivity of 1.2% when using inliers compared to a decrement of 19.6% when using outliers (p-value < 0.0001), removing 53.5% of all wrong melting curves based only on the amplification shape. This work explores the correlation between the kinetics of amplification curves and the thermodynamics of melting curves, and it demonstrates that filtering out nonspecific or low-efficient reactions can significantly improve the classification accuracy for cutting-edge multiplexing methodologies.
Recherche de leptoquarks de troisième génération dans l’expérience CMS au LHC

L'experience CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid), construite sur l'anneau du LHC (Large Hadron Collider) a enregistre une quantite colossale de donnees provenant des collisions proton-proton de 2009 a 2012 a des energies dans le centre de masse de 7 TeVet 8 TeV. Cette experience est consacree aux mesures de precision des parametres du modele standard, a l'etude du boson de Higgs ainsi qu'a la mise a l'epreuve de theories au-dela du modele standard. Un certain nombre de ces theories prevoient l'existence de particules appelees leptoquarks, de nouveaux bosons se couplant a la fois aux leptons et au quarks. La premiere partie de cette these est consacree a la presentation du Modele Standard des particules et a une introduction theorique aux leptoquarks. La seconde presente brievement le fonctionnement du LHC et de l'experience CMS. La troisieme partie est dediee au travail effectue dans le groupe generateur de CMS au cours de la premiere annee de ma these. Cette mission consistait principalement a generer et a valider massivement des evenements Monte-Carlo avec le logiciel Madgraph pour l'ensemble de la collaboration CMS. Enfin, la derniere partie porte sur l'analyse de donnees et la recherche de paires de leptoquarks scalaires de troisieme generation. Trois canaux de desintegration des LQ sont envisages : en quark top et lepton tau, en quark top et neutrino et enfin en quark top et muon. Cette etude est basee sur l'ensemble des donnees enregistrees par l 'experience CMS au cours de l'annee 2012. Ce qui represente une luminosite integree totale de 19,7 fb. Differentes selections basees sur au moins un lepton et de nombreux jets sont examinees afin de definir les regions presentant les meilleures efficacites de signal par rapport au fond du Modele Standard. Enfin, une optimisation des coupures sur des variables tres discriminantes est realisee afin d'obtenir les meilleures limites a 95% de confiance sur les sections efficaces de production des leptoquarks. Aucun exces significatif par rapport aux previsions du modele standard n'a pu etre mis en evidence ce qui a permis de poser des limites sur les sections efficaces de production des leptoquarks. Les leptoquarks de troisieme generation sont exclus jusqu'a des masses de 320 GeV a 95 % de niveau de confiance pour le canal top tau, jusqu'a 240 GeV pour le canal top nu et jusqu'a 910 GeV pour le canal top mu
Draft Genome Sequences and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes of Five Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Bovine Milk

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important bacterial pathogens causing bovine mastitis, which leads to huge economic losses worldwide. Here, we report draft genome sequences and antimicrobial resistance gene profiles of five Staphylococcus aureus strains that were isolated from bovine milk in Pakistan. ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important bacterial pathogens causing bovine mastitis, which leads to huge economic losses worldwide. Here, we report draft genome sequences and antimicrobial resistance gene profiles of five Staphylococcus aureus strains that were isolated from bovine milk in Pakistan.
Cosmological singularities and bounce in Cartan-Einstein theory

We consider a generalized Einstein-Cartan theory, in which we add the unique covariant dimension four operators to general relativity that couples fermionic spin current to the torsion tensor (with an arbitrary strength). Since torsion is local and non-dynamical, when integrated out it yields an effective four-fermion interaction of the gravitational strength. We show how to renormalize the theory, in the one-loop perturbative expansion in generally curved space-times, obtaining the first order correction to the 2PI effective action in Schwinger-Keldysh (in-in) formalism. We then apply the renormalized theory to study the dynamics of a collapsing universe that begins in a thermal state and find that—instead of a big crunch singularity—the Universe with torsion undergoes a bounce. We solve the dynamical equations (a) classically (without particle production); (b) including the production of fermions in a fixed background in the Hartree-Fock approximation and (c) including the quantum backreaction of fermions onto the background space-time. In the first and last cases the Universe undergoes a bounce. The production of fermions due to the coupling to a contracting homogeneous background speeds up the bounce, implying that the quantum contributions from fermions is negative, presumably because fermion production contributes negatively to the energy-momentum tensor. When compared with former works on the subject, our treatment is fully microscopic (namely, we treat fermions by solving the corresponding Dirac equations) and quantum (in the sense that we include fermionic loop contributions).
Clinical and Molecular Characterizations of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Causing Bloodstream Infection in a Chinese Hospital

CRKP-BSI is demonstrated to cause high mortality. In this study, we demonstrated that ST11 CRKP strains might carry many virulent genes. ABSTRACT Bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a serious and urgent threat for hospitalized patients. This study aims to describe the clinical and molecular characteristics of CRKP causing BSI in a tertiary-care hospital in Beijing, China. A total of 146 CRKP strains and 39 carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae (CSKP) strains collected in the hospital from 2017 to 2020 were sent for whole-genome sequencing. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate risk factors for in-hospital mortality of CRKP-BSI cases. Thirty (20.5%) of 146 CRKP-BSI patients and three (7.7%) of 39 CSKP-BSI patients died at discharge (χ2 = 3.471, P = 0.062). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age and use of urinary catheters were independent risk factors for the death of CRKP-BSI. The 146 CRKP isolates belonged to 9 sequence types (STs) and 11 serotypes, while the 39 CSKP isolates belonged to 23 STs and 27 serotypes. The mechanism of carbapenem resistance for all the CRKP strains was the acquisition of carbapenemase, mainly KPC-2 (n = 127). There were 2 predominant serotypes for ST11 CRKP, namely, KL47 (n = 82) and KL64 (n = 42). Some virulent genes, including rmpA2, iucABCD and iutA, and repB gene, which was involved in plasmid replication, were detected in all ST11-KL64 strains. Evolutionary transmission analysis suggested that ST11 CRKP strains might have evolved from KL47 into KL64 and were accompanied by multiple outbreak events. This study poses an urgent need for enhancing infection control measures in the hospital, especially in the intensive care unit where the patients are at high-risk for acquiring CRKP-BSI. IMPORTANCE CRKP-BSI is demonstrated to cause high mortality. In this study, we demonstrated that ST11 CRKP strains might carry many virulent genes. Meanwhile, outbreak events occurred several times in the strains collected. Carbapenemase acquisition (mainly KPC-2 carbapenemase) was responsible for carbapenem resistance of all the 146 CRKP strains. As 2 predominant strains, all ST11-KL64 strains, but not ST11-KL47 strains, carried rmpA2, iucABCD, iutA, as well as a plasmid replication initiator (repB). Our study suggested that the occurrence of region-specific recombination events manifested by the acquisition of some virulence genes might contribute to serotype switching from ST11-KL47 to ST11-KL64. The accumulation of virulent genes in epidemic resistant strains poses a great challenge for the prevention and treatment of BSI caused by K. pneumoniae in high-risk patients.
Prospective evaluation of wipe-out after glaucoma filtration surgery in eyes with split fixation

Purpose: To assess the incidence and cause of idiopathic, irreversible loss of vision (“wipe-out”) in the early post-operative period after glaucoma-filtration surgery in advanced glaucoma. Methods: It was a prospective, interventional cohort study. Patients with advanced glaucoma and macular split fixation underwent either only trabeculectomy (group A) or combined phaco-emulsification with trabeculectomy (group B). The incidence and cause of visual loss, changes in intra-ocular pressure, visual acuity, and visual field indices during 2 months post surgery were assessed. Results: Thirty patients (30 eyes) were divided in two groups. No significant difference was noted between the pre-operative and post-operative mean deviations in both groups (P = 0.41, P = 0.65). Two eyes in group A and one eye in group B had visual loss of two lines or more at the end of 2 months because of cataract and choroidal detachment. None of the eyes showed “wipe-out”. Conclusion: “Wipe-out” is a rare phenomenon after surgery in advanced glaucoma.
iBench: A ground truth approach for advanced validation of mass spectrometry identification method

The discovery of many noncanonical peptides detectable with sensitive mass spectrometry inside, outside, and on cells shepherded the development of novel methods for their identification, often not supported by a systematic benchmarking with other methods. We here propose iBench, a bioinformatic tool that can construct ground truth proteomics datasets and cognate databases, thereby generating a training court wherein methods, search engines, and proteomics strategies can be tested, and their performances estimated by the same tool. iBench can be coupled to the main database search engines, allows the selection of customized features of mass spectrometry spectra and peptides, provides standard benchmarking outputs, and is open source. The proof‐of‐concept application to tryptic proteome digestions, immunopeptidomes, and synthetic peptide libraries dissected the impact that noncanonical peptides could have on the identification of canonical peptides by Mascot search with rescoring via Percolator (Mascot+Percolator).