Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of airborne soil particulate in transfer of Salmonella spp. to tomato blossoms and consequential fruit contamination

Presence of Salmonella in the field environment might increase risk of contact with produce resulting in contamination. To understand survival of tomato outbreak associated Salmonella serotypes in soil and water, their populations were enumerated over a 40 day period. Differential and non-selective media were used for enumeration purpose to assess growth and to account for cell injury. Based on differences in populations of Salmonella enumerated through dual plating, it was observed that Salmonella serotypes underwent more cell injury during survival in soil than water. No significant differences in population patterns were observed between serotypes. The ability of tomato outbreak associated Salmonella serotypes to produce biofilms was also tested. Cells in the red dry and rough (rdar) colonies are more suited for survival in the environment during transmission between hosts. All serotypes were capable of producing the rdar morphotype. All Salmonella serotypes tested were capable of biofilm based strong attachment on glass coverslips and quartz particles. Differences in rate and quantity of attachment were observed based on material (P<0.0001). Also different patterns of attachment and release of cells were demonstrated between serotypes. The results indicate that Salmonella serotypes associated with tomato outbreaks could be capable of biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces and survival in soil and water, Biofilm based attachment to sand particles might serve as a strategy for environmental survival and dispersal of Salmonella.
Use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery on oil spill detection: A case study on the MV X-Press Pearl container ship incident in 2021 in Sri Lanka

Oil spills on the ocean from ships have a strong impact on the environment as well as on human societies. The MV X-Press Pearl container ship incident in 2021 became the worst marine environmental disaster in Sri Lanka due to its powerful impact. Oil leakage from the ship to the ocean continued for months. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery has the advantage of penetrating cloud cover, as well as day and night operating capabilities. Therefore, SAR imagery can be used to detect as well as observe the temporal changes of oil spills. The study in this article aimed to detect the oil spill caused by the MV X-Press Pearl container ship on Sri Lanka’s west coast from May to August 2021 using Sentinel-1 SAR data and measure the temporal changes of the oil slick. Three SAR imageries with Vertical-Vertical (VV) and Vertical-Horizontal (VH) polarization from June, July, and August of 2021 have been processed by applying the orbit file, running the multi-looking algorithm, and making the ellipsoid correction. The possible oil spills have been identified from each set of imagery as dark linear shapes with lengths of 3.1 ±0.012 km with an average reflectance of 15.6 decibels for June and 3.6 ±0.012 km with an average reflectance of 16.5 decibels for the other two months, and the shapes correspond with the oil slick classifications from other literature. The results indicate that the VV polarization is the most suitable to detect oil spills, and that the oil spill from the X-Press Pearl continued from June to the end of August 2021.
A Novel High‐Resolution In Situ Tool for Studying Carbon Biogeochemical Processes in Aquatic Systems: The Lake Aiguebelette Case Study

Lakes and reservoirs are a significant source of atmospheric methane (CH4), with emissions comparable to the largest global CH4 emitters. Understanding the processes leading to such significant emissions from aquatic systems is therefore of primary importance for producing accurate projections of emissions in a changing climate. In this work, we present the first deployment of a novel membrane inlet laser spectrometer (MILS) for fast simultaneous detection of dissolved CH4, ethane (C2H6) and the stable carbon isotope of methane (δ13CH4). During a 1‐day field campaign, we performed 2D mapping of surface water of Lake Aiguebelette (France). Average dissolved CH4 concentrations and δ13CH4 were 391.9 ± 156.3 nmol L−1 and −67.3 ± 3.4‰ in the littoral area and 169.8 ± 26.6 nmol L−1 and −61.5 ± 3.6‰ in the pelagic area. The dissolved CH4 concentration in the pelagic zone was 50 times larger than the concentration expected at equilibrium with the atmosphere, confirming an oversaturation of dissolved CH4 in surface waters over shallow and deep areas. The results suggest the presence of CH4 sources less enriched in 13C in the littoral zone (presumably the littoral sediments). The CH4 pool became more enriched in 13C with distance from shore, suggesting that oxidation prevailed over epilimnetic CH4 production and it was further confirmed by an isotopic mass balance technique with the high‐resolution data. This new in situ fast response sensor allows one to obtain unique high‐resolution and high‐spatial coverage data sets within a limited amount of survey time. This tool will be useful in the future for studying processes governing CH4 dynamics in aquatic systems.
Immunoinformatics Prediction and Protective Efficacy of Vaccine Candidate PiuA-PlyD4 Against Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Purpose This study was designed to evaluate the immune protective efficacy of the novel Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) protein vaccine PiuA-PlyD4 through immunoinformatics prediction and in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods In this study, we conducted immunoinformatics prediction and protection analysis on the fusion protein PiuA-PlyD4. The epitope composition of the vaccine was analyzed based on the prediction of B-cell and helper T-cell epitopes. Meanwhile, the molecular docking of PiuA and TLR2/4 was simulated. After immunizing C57BL/6 mice with the prepared vaccine, the biological safety, immunogenicity and conservation were evaluated. By constructing different infection models and from the aspects of adhesion inhibition and cytokines, the protective effect of the fusion protein vaccine PiuA-PlyD4 on S. pneumoniae infection was explored. Results PiuA-PlyD4 has abundant B-cell and helper T-cell epitopes and shows a high antigenicity score and structural stability. Molecular docking analysis suggested the potential interaction between PiuA and TLR2/4. The specific antibody titer of fusion protein antiserum was as high as (7.81±2.32) ×105. The protective effect of the immunized mice on nasal and lung colonization was significantly better than that of the control group, and the survival rate against S. pneumoniae infection of serotype 3 reached 50%. Cytokine detection showed that the humoral immune response, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cellular immune pathways were all involved in the process. Conclusion The study indicates that PiuA-PlyD4, whether the results are predicted by immunoinformatics or experimentally validated in vivo and in vitro, has good immunogenicity and immunoreactivity and can provide effective protection against S. pneumoniae infection. Therefore, it can be considered a promising prophylactic vaccine candidate for S. pneumoniae.
Evaluating the impact of cross-institutional teaching enhancement collaborations using a professional capital framework

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of four cross-institutional teaching enhancement projects (TEPs), a relatively new form of professional collaboration. The focus is on the impact at departmental, institutional and cross-institutional levels because such impact is the main reason for establishing cross-institutional TEPs.Design/methodology/approachA professional capital framework guided the examination of decisional and social capitals at departmental, institutional and cross-institutional levels. A theory-of-change method was adopted to collect data from 35 sets of documents, 22 project members and 65 stakeholders.FindingsThe authors found five forms of impact, showing the development of decisional and social capitals mostly at institutional and cross-institutional levels, whilst signaling the relatively weak impact at departmental levels. Therefore, the values of cross-institutional TEPs have not been fully realized and future endeavors need to better utilize the capitals in programs.Originality/valueFew studies evaluated the impact of large-scale, cross-institutional TEPs. The authors offered new contributions by gauging the impact of these under-explored forms of complex professional collaborations.
Factors determining the path of digital technologies adoption of Brazilian industrial firms

Este trabalho tem como objetivo identificar os principais fatores que afetam a adoção de tecnologias digitais por 299 empresas industriais brasileiras pesquisadas em 2017 e 2019/20. Usando um modelo probabilístico, foi estimada a probabilidade de características organizacionais, tecnológicas e do ambiente da firma afetarem à decisão de adotar estas tecnologias entre os períodos. O estudo revela que a adoção avançou, mas ainda é incipiente no Brasil. Os resultados econométricos apontam que a adoção atual, o tamanho, pertencer a indústrias de alta intensidade digital, ser exportador e a formação têm um efeito significativo e positivo na adoção. No entanto, a qualificação de habilidades tem um efeito negativo. Esse resultado sugere que a qualificação em tecnologias antigas pode ser mais uma restrição (lock-in) do que um pré-requisito para a digitalização. Essas descobertas devem ser colocadas dentro de condições estruturais econômicas adversas ao crescimento e hostis ao investimento, nas quais as empresas possam reagir em qualquer direção: avançar para sobreviver; permanecer firme para enfrentar a incerteza ou retroceder defensivamente.
Genome-Wide Identification of Proline Transporter Gene Family in Non-Heading Chinese Cabbage and Functional Analysis of BchProT1 under Heat Stress

Non-heading Chinese cabbage prefers cool temperatures, and heat stress has become a major factor for reduced yield. The proline transporter protein (ProT) is highly selective for proline transport, contributing to the heat tolerance of non-heading Chinese cabbage. However, there has been no systematic study on the identification and potential functions of the ProT gene family in response to heat stress in non-heading Chinese cabbage. We identified six BchProT genes containing 11–12 transmembrane helices characteristic of membrane proteins through whole-genome sequencing. These genes diverged into three evolutionary branches and exhibited similarity in motifs and intron/exon numbers. Segmental duplication is the primary driving force for the amplification of BchProT. Notably, many stress-related elements have been identified in the promoters of BchProT using cis-acting element analysis. The expression level of BchProT6 was the highest in petioles, and the expression level of BchProT1 was the highest under high-temperature stress. Subcellular localization indicated their function at cell membranes. Heterologous expression of BchProT1 in Arabidopsis plants increased proline transport synthesis under heat-stress conditions. This study provides valuable information for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying heat tolerance mediated by members of the BchProT family.
Laboratory Study of Analysis of the Effect of ABS Surfactant Injection on Increasing Oil Recovery

The decline in oil recovery in oil and gas fields is a problem that must be faced now and in the future along with the increasing need for petroleum energy. Increasing oil recovery reserves requires an advanced method, namely Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Surfactants are one of the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods to increase oil recovery. This laboratory research will use a surfactant solution, namely ABS Surfactant (Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate). There are five concentrations for each surfactant, namely 0.3; 0.5; 0.75; 0.9; and 1% with the same salinity of 7,000 ppm. In this study, ABS surfactant was used because the surfactant has the characteristic of being able to reduce interfacial tension. This research carried out a phase behavior test to determine the stability of the emulsion with a measurement time of 7 days at a temperature of 80 °C. Making an ABS surfactant solution, 70% ABS fluid is available where the surfactant raw material will be mixed with brine with a salinity of 7,000 ppm. There are several stages carried out, namely density test, phase behavior, interfacial tension, and core flooding. After making a sample of the ABS surfactant solution, the second step was to carry out a density test using a DMA-4100 densitometer to determine the density of the ABS surfactant solution at temperatures of 30 °C and 80 °C. The third is a phase behavior test where the surfactant solution will be mixed with oil and then placed in an oven at a temperature of 80 °C for 336 hours to obtain emulsion results that are close to the midpoint so that the stability of the emulsion is more optimal. The fourth is to determine the IFT value with a surfactant sample that has the highest volume of microemulsion stability. Finally, the core flooding test is to determine how much oil is recovered from the sandstone when surfactant injection is carried out. In the IFT results, the ABS surfactant solution was able to reduce the interfacial tension well between oil and formation water in the reservoir, where the interfacial tension value was 0.0055654 dyne/cm. The results of core flooding with ABS surfactant with a concentration of 0.9% salinity of 7,000 ppm obtained a recovery factor of 14.545%.
Survey of Sustainable Development to Make Great Man-Made River Producing Energy and Food

The Great Man-Made River (GMR) is the world largest irrigation project, consisting of a network of pipes that supplies water from Libyan desert in the south to the coastal areas in the north. This paper studies the possibility of taking advantage of GMR to generate energy and produce food through agriculture. Hydro-kinetic power generation, would be carried out by generating energy from water movements across Great Man-Made River pipelines using appropriate sizes of turbines. It’s known that the length of the GMR pipeline is about 4000 km with a diameter of 4 m. Pipeline of such magnitude with great water flow rate would make a turbine to produce hundreds of Kilowatts of clean energy. The most significant reasons that force us to take advantage of GMR to generate energy are: a) The needs to sustainable environmental energy source; b) Power System uses energy of flowing water to provide a consistent, controllable, non-weather-dependent source of electricity, such as other types of renewable energy, which are depend on the weather. The conversion of GMR, from supplying freshwater to coastal cities, to huge agricultural project after the establishment of many seawater desalination plants (solar powered) would cover the needs of cities for fresh water. Thus it would become possible to convert thousands of desert hectares around the pipelines to huge agricultural project irrigated from GMR.
Ordovician (Whiterock) calymenid and encrinurid trilobites from the Precordillera of Argentina

Phacopida from upper Whiterock (Lower Caradoc) horizons in the Las Aguaditas Formation of San Juan Province, Argentina, include the calymenid Platycalymene trapezoidalis (Baldis and Pöthe, 1995) and the encrinurids Frencrinuroides edseli new species, Lasaguaditas oweni new genus and species, and Walencrinuroides? new species A. Sulcocalymene Baldis and Pöthe, 1995, a purported subgenus of Flexicalymene, is a junior subjective synonym of Platycalymene Shirley, 1936. Platycalymene is now known from Avalonia, Baltica, Laurentia (Scotland), and the Precordillera. Emending the cladistic analysis of Ordovician Encrinurinae by Lespérance and Desbiens (1995), the monophyly and membership of Frencrinuroides and Walencrinuroides are ambiguous. Frencrinuroides edseli is closely related to species from eastern Laurentia. Lasaguaditas new genus is superficially cybelinid-like in some respects but shares several derived characters with the Encrinurinae. All three encrinurinid species in the Las Aguaditas Formation possess two instars in the protaspid period, a general pattern in Ordovician encrinurinid ontogeny.
The Role of Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Ovarian Cancer

Simple Summary This manuscript focuses on cancer stem cells and the diagnostic potential of selected biomarkers of these cells in ovarian cancers. Ovarian cancer has nonspecific clinical symptoms. Also, there are no reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. For these reasons, nearly 70% of patients are diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the metastatic stage. The role of CSCs in ovarian cancer initiation and progression and their impact on resistance to therapy are still the subjects of many studies; however, the results are sometimes conflicting due to the heterogeneity and plasticity of CSCs. The identification of CSC phenotypes could contribute to the development of more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer. This is especially important since strategies to overcome resistance to conventional treatments and prolong patient survival are highly awaited. Abstract Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer and the eighth most common female cancer. The early diagnosis of ovarian cancer remains a clinical problem despite the significant development of technology. Nearly 70% of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with stages III–IV metastatic disease. Reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are currently lacking. Ovarian cancer recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy pose vital problems and translate into poor outcomes. Cancer stem cells appear to be responsible for tumour recurrence resulting from chemotherapeutic resistance. These cells are also crucial for tumour initiation due to the ability to self-renew, differentiate, avoid immune destruction, and promote inflammation and angiogenesis. Studies have confirmed an association between CSC occurrence and resistance to chemotherapy, subsequent metastases, and cancer relapses. Therefore, the elimination of CSCs appears important for overcoming drug resistance and improving prognoses. This review focuses on the expression of selected ovarian CSC markers, including CD133, CD44, CD24, CD117, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, which show potential prognostic significance. Some markers expressed on the surface of CSCs correlate with clinical features and can be used for the diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer. However, due to the heterogeneity and plasticity of CSCs, the determination of specific CSC phenotypes is difficult.
Data-driven traffic incident detection in urban roads based on machine learning algorithms

Known issues such as traffic congestion, pollution, and travel delays are mainly caused by incidents in urban roads, so incidents need to be detected for better management. This paper describes various machine learning algorithms for incident detection, like Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF) and long short-term memory network (LSTM). To assess the effectiveness of these models, simulated data were generated through the utilization of the open-source software SUMO. And the obtained results show that the LSTM achieve a good performance when it’s compared to SVM and Random Forest.
The Value of Sexuality

Relying upon feminist and queer theory, this article explores feminist pedagogy in art education practices. More specifically, the research investigates how engaging with sexuality and gender in education relates to the uncovering of social structures, power dynamics, and normativity. This arts-based action research dives into the praxis of the three-day course entitled Sexuality and Art with university student participants from degree programs in art education, graphic design, applied visual arts, and industrial design. By integrating values from feminist pedagogy, such as ethics, agency, contextuality, and the interconnectedness of individuals, art education can create equitable environments that challenge dominant societal narratives.
Efficacy of Probiotic Supplements on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Inflammatory Biomarkers, Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Function in Patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia: A 12-Week Randomized, Double-Blind Active-Controlled Study

The role of neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been explored. Animal studies have reported the positive effects of probiotics on these factors. Some clinical studies also support the potential role of probiotics in improving cognitive function via the gut–brain axis in older adults. However, clinical experimental studies evaluating the efficacy of probiotics targeting the neurotrophic factors and inflammatory biomarkers, particularly among AD patients, remain very limited. In this randomized, double-blinded, active-controlled trial, we used multi-strain probiotic supplements, including Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis BLI-02, B. breve Bv-889, B. animalis subsp. lactis CP-9, B. bifidum VDD088, and Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 as the intervention. Participants were divided into an active control group (received probiotic supplements containing 5 × 107 colony-forming units per day, CFU/day) and a treatment group (1 × 1010 CFU/day). Student’s t test was applied as the main method of statistical analysis. After 12 weeks of intervention, the treatment group demonstrated a 36% increase in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (* p = 0.005), a reduction in IL-1β (* p = 0.041), and an increase in antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) (* p = 0.012). No significant change was found in the active control group. A trend toward less cognitive deterioration was observed, but not statistically significant. In conclusion, this study presents evidence supporting the benefits of multi-strain probiotics in enhancing BDNF, ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress in AD patients.
«normal» and ««chaotic» deposits in the Messinian Gessoso-solfifera Fm. at the north-eastern border of the Langhe domain (Tertiary Piedmont basin)

Geological mapping and stratigraphic analysis of the upper Miocene sediments of the north-eastern sector of the Langhe basin have allowed both to distinguish, within the Gessoso-solfifera Formation, a «normal» succession and a «chaotic» interval of sediments and to define their stratigraphic relationships. The former was deposited during the evaporitic stage, even if the almost complete absence of primary evaporite deposits and the lack of any proof of subaerial exposure indicate that the effects of the sea level drop related to the Messinian salinity crisis were more subdued in the studied area that never experienced a complete prolonged desiccation. The chaotic sediments are quite similar to the chaotic complexes already recognized in other sectors of the Tertiary Piedmont basin. The observed stratigraphic relationships suggest that the chaotic interval was deposited at the beginning of the post-evaporitic stage. Intra-Messinian tectonic deformation probably played a fundamental role in the genesis of mass-wasting processes, that affected large portion of the Messinian succession. These data confirm that remarkable heterogeneities exist between Messinian deposits of the different areas of the Tertiary Piedmont basin and that good similarities can be drawn with the Messinian succession of the Apennine foredeep.