Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shifting patterns of dengue three years after Zika virus emergence in Brazil

Dengue virus circulation was unusually low in Brazil in 2015-2018 following the emergence of Zika virus, but subsequently resurged causing large outbreaks with a lower mean age of infection. Here, the authors use mathematical modelling to investigate the links between dengue dynamics and prior Zika infection. In 2015, the Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in Brazil, leading to widespread outbreaks in Latin America. Following this, many countries in these regions reported a significant drop in the circulation of dengue virus (DENV), which resurged in 2018-2019. We examine age-specific incidence data to investigate changes in DENV epidemiology before and after the emergence of ZIKV. We observe that incidence of DENV was concentrated in younger individuals during resurgence compared to 2013-2015. This trend was more pronounced in Brazilian states that had experienced larger ZIKV outbreaks. Using a mathematical model, we show that ZIKV-induced cross-protection alone, often invoked to explain DENV decline across Latin America, cannot explain the observed age-shift without also assuming some form of disease enhancement. Our results suggest that a sudden accumulation of population-level immunity to ZIKV could suppress DENV and reduce the mean age of DENV incidence via both protective and disease-enhancing interactions.
A polycistronic transgene design for combinatorial genetic perturbations from a single transcript in Drosophila

Experimental models that capture the genetic complexity of human disease and allow mechanistic explorations of the underlying cell, tissue, and organ interactions are crucial to furthering our understanding of disease biology. Such models require combinatorial manipulations of multiple genes, often in more than one tissue at once. The ability to perform complex genetic manipulations in vivo is a key strength of Drosophila, where many tools for sophisticated and orthogonal genetic perturbations exist. However, combining the large number of transgenes required to establish more representative disease models and conducting mechanistic studies in these already complex genetic backgrounds is challenging. Here we present a design that pushes the limits of Drosophila genetics by allowing targeted combinatorial ectopic expression and knockdown of multiple genes from a single inducible transgene. The polycistronic transcript encoded by this transgene includes a synthetic short hairpin cluster cloned within an intron placed at the 5’ end of the transcript, followed by two protein-coding sequences separated by the T2A sequence that mediates ribosome skipping. This technology is particularly useful for modeling genetically complex diseases like cancer, which typically involve concurrent activation of multiple oncogenes and loss of multiple tumor suppressors. Furthermore, consolidating multiple genetic perturbations into a single transgene further streamlines the ability to perform combinatorial genetic manipulations and makes it readily adaptable to a broad palette of transgenic systems. This flexible design for combinatorial genetic perturbations will also be a valuable tool for functionally exploring multigenic gene signatures identified from omics studies of human disease and creating humanized Drosophila models to characterize disease-associated variants in human genes. It can also be adapted for studying biological processes underlying normal tissue homeostasis and development that require simultaneous manipulation of many genes.
MIRD Pamphlet No. 28, Part 1: MIRDcalc—A Software Tool for Medical Internal Radiation Dosimetry

Medical internal radiation dosimetry constitutes a fundamental aspect of diagnosis, treatment, optimization, and safety in nuclear medicine. The MIRD committee of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging developed a new computational tool to support organ-level and suborgan tissue dosimetry (MIRDcalc, version 1). Based on a standard Excel spreadsheet platform, MIRDcalc provides enhanced capabilities to facilitate radiopharmaceutical internal dosimetry. This new computational tool implements the well-established MIRD schema for internal dosimetry. The spreadsheet incorporates a significantly enhanced database comprising details for 333 radionuclides, 12 phantom reference models (International Commission on Radiological Protection), 81 source regions, and 48 target regions, along with the ability to interpolate between models for patient-specific dosimetry. The software also includes sphere models of various composition for tumor dosimetry. MIRDcalc offers several noteworthy features for organ-level dosimetry, including modeling of blood source regions and dynamic source regions defined by user input, integration of tumor tissues, error propagation, quality control checks, batch processing, and report-preparation capabilities. MIRDcalc implements an immediate, easy-to-use single-screen interface. The MIRDcalc software is available for free download (www.mirdsoft.org) and has been approved by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Material jetting of carbon nano onions for printed electronics

As an additive manufacturing process, material jetting techniques allow to selectively deposit droplets of materials in liquid or powder form through a small-diameter aperture, such as a nozzle of a print head. For the fabrication of printed electronics, a variety of inks and dispersions of functional materials can be deposited by drop-on-demand printing on rigid and flexible substrates. In this work, zero-dimensional multi-layer shell-structured fullerene material, also known as carbon nano-onion (CNO) or onion-like carbon, is printed on polyethylene terephthalate substrates using drop-on-demand inkjet printing. CNOs are produced using a low-cost flame synthesis technique and characterized by electron microscopy, Raman, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and specific surface area and pore size measurements. The produced CNO material has an average diameter of ∼33 nm, pore diameter in the range ∼2–40 nm and a specific surface area of 160 m2.g−1. The CNO dispersions in ethanol have a reduced viscosity (∼1.2 mPa.s) and are compatible with commercial piezoelectric inkjet heads. The jetting parameters are optimized to avoid satellite drops and to obtain a reduced drop volume (52 pL), resulting in optimal resolution (220 μm) and line continuity. A multi-step process is implemented without inter-layer curing and a fine control over the CNO layer thickness is achieved (∼180 nm thick layer after 10 printing passes). The printed CNO structures show an electrical resistivity of ∼600 Ω. m, a high negative temperature coefficient of resistance (−4.35 × 10−2 °C−1) and a marked dependency on relative humidity (−1.29 × 10−2 RH% −1). The high sensitivity to temperature and humidity, combined to the large specific area of the CNOs, make this material and the corresponding ink a viable prospect for inkjet-printed technologies, such as environmental and gas sensors.
Phenotyping heart failure by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of cardiac macro- and microscopic structure: state of the art review

Abstract Heart failure demographics have evolved in past decades with the development of improved diagnostics, therapies, and prevention. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has developed in a similar timeframe to become the gold-standard non-invasive imaging modality for characterizing diseases causing heart failure. CMR techniques to assess cardiac morphology and function have progressed since their first use in the 1980s. Increasingly efficient acquisition protocols generate high spatial and temporal resolution images in less time. This has enabled new methods of characterizing cardiac systolic and diastolic function such as strain analysis, exercise real-time cine imaging and four-dimensional flow. A key strength of CMR is its ability to non-invasively interrogate the myocardial tissue composition. Gadolinium contrast agents revolutionized non-invasive cardiac imaging with the late gadolinium enhancement technique. Further advances enabled quantitative parametric mapping to increase sensitivity at detecting diffuse pathology. Novel methods such as diffusion tensor imaging and artificial intelligence-enhanced image generation are on the horizon. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a window into the molecular environment of the myocardium. Phosphorus (31P) spectroscopy can inform the status of cardiac energetics in health and disease. Proton (1H) spectroscopy complements this by measuring creatine and intramyocardial lipids. Hyperpolarized carbon (13C) spectroscopy is a novel method that could further our understanding of dynamic cardiac metabolism. CMR of other organs such as the lungs may add further depth into phenotypes of heart failure. The vast capabilities of CMR should be deployed and interpreted in context of current heart failure challenges.
Targets and study design for symptom-focused trials aimed at patients with cirrhosis: An expert consensus

Background: Symptom-focused trials are critically needed for patients with cirrhosis. However, this work would benefit from standard processes and validated measures. Methods: A writing group was formed among hepatologists, nurses, palliative care providers, pharmacists, and clinical trial experts focused on symptom management in patients with cirrhosis to define the key (1) components of trial design, (2) symptom targets, (3) measurement, and (4) outcomes for each target. From July 2022 to January 2023, panelists participated in an iterative process of developing and arriving at a consensus for each component. The goal was to provide consensus definitions that can be operationalized in future clinical trials, including for patients with cirrhosis. Results: The panel reached a consensus on key reporting features for clinical trials, along with considerations for study design. Nine key symptom targets (muscle cramps, pruritus, pain, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders, depression and anxiety, nausea/vomiting, and dyspnea/breathlessness) were identified. The panel selected instruments that can be considered for clinical trials based on psychometric validation and previous experience. The panel identified ongoing needs, including instrument validation, safety data, evidence about non-pharmacologic interventions, and comparative effectiveness studies. Conclusion: This expert panel identified key design, reporting, and measurement elements to standardize processes and measures in future symptom-focused clinical trials in the context of cirrhosis.
Symmetrical Ray Diagrams of the Optical Pathways in Light Microscopes

We present a new set of symmetrical ray diagrams of the optical pathways in transmitted, reflected and epifluorescence light microscopes equipped with infinitycorrected optics. It is intended that the symmetry and simplicity of these diagrams will aid both novice and experienced microscope users in their understanding of the principles of Kohler illumination and of image formation in the light microscope and will explain the reasons why the correct set-up and alignment of the microscope is so very important for the production of optimal images.
Diagnostic accuracy of swine echinococcosis cytopathological tests and challenges for a differential diagnosis: slaughterhouse data

Summary Echinococcosis disease shows clinical signs similar to many diseases. Hence we report cases that need to be confirmed using appropriate tests. A confirmatory study has been conducted to assess the accuracy of two cytopathological tests, with the histopathology test as the reference standard. The first cytopathological test evaluates the Ziehl Neelsen staining with an epifluorescence microscope (cytopath 1). The second cytopathological test uses the same staining followed by a transmitted light microscope examination (cytopath 2). Of a total of 2524 inspected pigs, 101 suspected cases of echinococcosis were detected, of which 67 were found positive with the two cytopathological tests and the histopathological one. The specificity of cytopath 1 (100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100]) and cytopath 2 (100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) were similar, as well as their respective positive predictive values: 100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100]. The sensitivity of cytopath 1 is 79.66 % [95 % CI 69.39 – 89.93], while cytopath 2 equals 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 – 78.18]. The difference in sensitivity of both tests was not significant. Negative predictive values found for cytopath 1, and cytopath 2 were 40 [95 % CI 18.53 – 61.47] and 28.57 [95 % CI 11.84 – 45.3], leading to the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) Model estimate for an odds ratio of 1.4 [95 % CI 0.41 – 5.2], p = 0.06. Cytopath 1 and cytopath 2 are equivalent in terms of specificity (100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) and positive predictive value (100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100]. Cytopath 1 is more sensitive than cytopath 2 but not significant (79.66 % [ 95 % CI 69.39 – 89.93] vs. 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 – 78.18]). However, the negative predictive value of cytopath 1 is better than that of cytopath 2: 40 % [95 % CI 18.53 – 61.47] vs. 28.57 % [95 % CI 11.84 – 45.3].
The macroevolutionary dynamics of mammalian sexual size dimorphism

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a common phenomenon across the animal kingdom. Mammals are unusual in primarily displaying male-biased SSD, where males of a species are typically larger than females. The driving factors behind the evolution of this SSD have been much debated, with popular hypotheses including the influence of mating system and social organisation via sexual selection, dietary niche divergence, and the role of body size (Rensch’s rule). Here, we investigate the macroevolutionary origins and maintenance of SSD among mammals, using phylogenetic general mixed linear models and a comprehensive global dataset to evaluate correlations of diet, body mass, seasonality, social organisation, and mating system with SSD type. We find that SSD as a whole is lost at a greater rate than it is gained, with female-biased SSD being particularly unstable. Non-monogamy, vertebrate prey consumption, and temperature seasonality correlate with male-biased SSD, while polyandry correlates with female-biased SSD, and both types of SSD are positively correlated with body mass. This is in partial contrast to the predictions of Rensch’s rule, which predicts that female-biased SSD would correlate negatively with body size. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of considering multiple ecological and social drivers when evaluating the macroevolutionary trajectory of sex differences in body size.
Assessment of Blighia sapida on Cholinergic and Antioxidant Enzymes; Possible Use of the Plant Stem-Bark Extract as a Biological Pest Controlling Agent

The harmful effects of synthetic pesticides include neurological, behavioural dysfunctions, hormonal imbalances, and water pollution. Hydro-alcohol extract of the stem bark of B. sapida was studied for pesticidal effects on Glutathione S-transferases (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) using a rat model. Various concentrations of the extract were administered to six different groups, of three male and three female groups of rats (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg bwt. respectively), two synthetic 10% (w/v) groups and a control group. Blood plasma, liver, and brain were obtained at the end of 28 days sub-acute test, from the Wistar rats for biochemical assay. The results showed that there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the brain of female rats while that of males was not significant (P > 0.05) compared to control. Also in GST, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in all the doses in liver but only at 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg in plasma of female rats, was observed compared to control while in male rats, a significant increase in both liver and plasma at 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg but not significant at 50 mg/kg was observed. The non-significant difference was observed in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total protein (TP) activities in both sexes at 50 mg/kg compared to control. It was concluded that hydro-alcohol extract of B. sapida significantly reduced the levels of AChE and GST activities at higher and lower doses respectively. This property of the plant could be exploited in the formulation of agents useful in pest control.
Electric Load Forecast Using Combined Models with HP Filter-SARIMA and ARMAX Optimized by Regression Analysis Algorithm

Electric load in summer has a significant cyclical trend with temperature effects. In general, the parameters of the SARIMA and the SMA turn out to be nonsignificant in most cases. To address this issue, the hybrid time series model is utilized to extract the spectrum sequences with different frequencies. The original electric load series are first decomposed into the trend sequence “G” and the cycle sequence “C. ” After that, a revised ARMAX model is proposed to deal with the two divided sequences. Finally, the combined models are tested by case study. The case study on electric load forecast in one city from China shows that the proposed model outperforms other four comparative models in terms of prediction accuracy. It proves that the combined model proposed by the authors is more accurate than those based on a single forecasting method.
The Relative Efficiency of Some Forest Growth Estimators

The relative efficiencies of permanent-plot and point sampling estimators of forest volume growth are derived for completely random and clustered random tree spatial distributions. The relative efficiencies are found to be dependent on the spatial distribution and the relationship between tree volume growth and basal area. However, the relative efficiencies are independent of the area of the sample plot, the basal area factor of the sample point, and the average number of trees per unit land area. The plot sampling estimator is always more efficient if tree volume growth is independent of, or tends to vary inversely with, basal area. If tree volume growth tends to vary in proportion to basal area, there exists a critical coefficient of correlation that determines which estimator is more efficient. The point sampling estimator is more efficient if and only if the coefficient of correlation between tree volume growth and basal area exceeds the critical coefficient. The critical coefficient, which is always greater than zero and less than one, approaches zero as the spatial distribution becomes more clustered.
Four-Dimensional (4D) Millimeter Wave-Based Sensing and Its Potential Applications in Digital Construction: A Review

Digital construction relies on effective sensing to enhance the safety, productivity, and quality of its activities. However, current sensing devices (e.g., camera, LiDAR, infrared sensors) have significant limitations in different aspects. In light of the substantial advantages offered by emerging 4D mmw technology, it is believed that this technology can overcome these limitations and serve as an excellent complement to current construction sensing methods due to its robust imaging capabilities, spatial sensing abilities, velocity measurement accuracy, penetrability features, and weather resistance properties. To support this argument, a scientometric review of 4D mmw-based sensing is conducted in this study. A total of 213 articles published after the initial invention of 4D mmw technology in 2019 were retrieved from the Scopus database, and six kinds of metadata were extracted from them, including the title, abstract, keywords, author(s), publisher, and year. Since some papers lack keywords, the GPT-4 model was used to extract them from the titles and abstracts of these publications. The preprocessed metadata were then integrated using Python and fed into the Citespace 6.2. R3 for further statistical, clustering, and co-occurrence analyses. The result revealed that the primary applications of 4D mmw are autonomous driving, human activity recognition, and robotics. Subsequently, the potential applications of this technology in the construction industry are explored, including construction site monitoring, environment understanding, and worker health monitoring. Finally, the challenges of adopting this emerging technology in the construction industry are also discussed.
Preconditioning of discontinuous Galerkin methods for second order elliptic problems

Preconditioning of Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for Second Order Elliptic Problems. (December 2007) Veselin Asenov Dobrev, B.S., Sofia University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Raytcho Lazarov We consider algorithms for preconditioning of two discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods for second order elliptic problems, namely the symmetric interior penalty (SIPG) method and the method of Baumann and Oden. For the SIPG method we first consider two-level preconditioners using coarse spaces of either continuous piecewise polynomial functions or piecewise constant (discontinuous) functions. We show that both choices give rise to uniform, with respect to the mesh size, preconditioners. We also consider multilevel preconditioners based on the same two types of coarse spaces. In the case when continuous coarse spaces are used, we prove that a variable V-cycle multigrid algorithm is a uniform preconditioner. We present numerical experiments illustrating the behavior of the considered preconditioners when applied to various test problems in three spatial dimensions. The numerical results confirm our theoretical results and in the cases not covered by the theory show the efficiency of the proposed algorithms. Another approach for preconditioning the SIPG method that we consider is an algebraic multigrid algorithm using coarsening based on element agglomeration which is suitable for unstructured meshes. We also consider an improved version of the algorithm using a smoothed aggregation technique. We present numerical experiments using the proposed algorithms which show their efficiency as uniform preconditioners. For the method of Baumann and Oden we construct a preconditioner based on an orthogonal splitting of the discrete space into piecewise constant functions and
On Phase Contrast Imaging of the Inner Retina

v Preface . vi Symbols and abbreviations . viii 1 Imaging the retina 1 1.1 Resolution and contrast . 1 1.2 The retina . 3 1.3 Observing the fundus oculi . 8 1.4 The fundal image . 8 1.5 High-resolution imaging of the retina . 11 1.6 Depth-resolved imaging of the retina . 14 1.7 Contrast mechanisms . 17 2 The phase 20 2.1 Monochromatic light . 20 2.2 Phase objects . 22 2.3 The coherence of quasi-monochromatic light . 24 2.4 Phase sensitive techniques . 29 2.5 The phase contrast method of Zernike . 38 3 Imaging retinal phase structures 45 3.1 The retina as a phase object . 45 3.2 Different approaches to phase imaging of the retina . 55 3.3 The aims of this work . 60 3.4 Secondary point source illumination . 60 4 Experiments with ex vivo objects 66 4.1 Finite source to object distance . 67 4.2 Reflection . 72