Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association Between the Diabetic Foot Ulcer and the Bacterial Colony of the Skin Based on 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing: An Observational Study

Objective Microorganisms have been the main cause of refractory and high recurrence of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). This study attempted to observe the skin bacterial colony in healthy skin, diabetic skin and DFU skin. Methods Forty-eight diabetes patients were recruited at Panyu Central Hospital from March 2021 to March 2022 and divided into DFU group (T group, n = 22), diabetes without foot ulcer group (TW group, n = 26). Besides, a healthy control group (H group, n = 10) was recruited at the same time. The swab samples of foot skin in the same position in the three groups were collected. The microorganisms obtained from the skin were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The composition of the skin microorganisms was determined, and the species diversity of the skin microbiota was analyzed by α and β diversity. The species differences in the skin microbiota and the relative abundance of different operational taxonomic units (OUTs) with the most significant abundance were analyzed by linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). Results Significant changes were found in the composition of the skin microbiota in the T and TW groups relative to the H group. However, the species diversity of the skin microbiota was significantly reduced in the T and TW groups, with the lowest one in the T group. The composition of microbial diversity in the T group was significantly different from that of the TW and H groups. Among the skin bacterial colonies, the abundance of Staphylococcus, Enhydrobacter, and Corynebacterium_1 was obviously reduced, while that of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas was significantly increased. Conclusion Changes in the abundance of Staphylococcus, Enhydrobacter, Corynebacterium_1, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas in the skin bacterial colonies can be the main causative factors for DFU. This study indicates that altering the microbiota composition of wounds may help the treatment of DFU.
Dinámica de transmisión y modelos matemáticos en enfermedades transmitidas por vectores

113-134. Modern theory on the dynamics of infectious diseases is infl uenced by ecological theory, especially by demography. Th e study of these dynamics using mathematical models has had a staggering development in recent years, and has proven to be a valuable tool to understand epidemiological patterns and processes, provided that models are as close as possible to real life situations and based on biological knowledge. We discuss the basic concepts of the transmission dynamics of infectious agents aff ecting a host and an insect vector. We specifi cally study mathematical models for the dynamics of human malaria in both spatially homogeneous and fragmented environments. Models for the dynamics of human onchocerciasis are also presented. Finally we discuss the results and their basic and applied importance.
Impairment of exocytotic transmitter release by decynium-22 through an inhibition of ion channels

Introduction: In addition to members of the family of Na+/Cl− dependent monoamine transporters, organic cation transporters (OCTs), in particular OCT3, as well as the plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) may contribute to neuronal reuptake of according neurotransmitters. As opposed to the numerous blockers of monoamine transporters, only a very limited number of specific blockers of OCT3 and PMAT are available. In fact, decynium-22 is the only blocking agent with micromolar affinities for both transport proteins, and this molecule is frequently used to establish roles of OCT3 and/or PMAT as targets for antidepressant drugs and psychostimulants, respectively. Methods/Results: To test for a function of these transporters in the sympathetic nervous system, uptake and release of [3H]1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) was investigated in primary cultures of rat superior cervical ganglia. Uptake was reduced by cocaine or desipramine, blockers of the noradrenaline transporter, by about 70% and by corticosterone or β-estradiol, blockers of OCT3, by about 30%; decynium-22 achieved complete inhibition of uptake with half maximal effects at 3 μM. Depolarization dependent release was enhanced by corticosterone or β-estradiol, but reduced by decynium-22. As the latter effect is unlikely to be related to actions at OCT3 and/or PMAT, electrophysiological recordings were performed to reveal that decynium-22 inhibits action potential firing and currents through voltage activated calcium channels in superior cervical ganglion neurons. Discussion: These results demonstrate that decynium-22 can impair exocytotic neurotransmitter release by interfering with several types of ion channels. Such transporter-independent effects of decynium-22 that my interfere with basic neuronal functions need to be considered when interpreting results obtained with decynium-22 as prototypic inhibitor of transmitter reuptake via OCT3 and/or PMAT.
A parametric study of the vertical electric source

Measurement of the vertical magnetic field caused by a vertical electric source (VES) is an attractive exploration option because the measured response is caused by only 2-D and 3-D structures. The absence of a host response markedly increases the detectability of confined structures. In addition, the VES configuration offers advantages such as alleviating masking resulting from conductive overburden and the option of having a source functioning in a collapsed borehole. Applications of the VES, as in mineral exploration, seafloor exploration, and process monitoring such as enhanced oil recovery, are varied, but we limit this study to a classic mining problem—the location of a confined, conductive target at depth in the vicinity of a borehole. By analyzing the electromagnetic responses of a thin, vertical prism, a horizontal slab and an equidimensional body, we investigate the resolving capabilities, identify survey design problems, and provide interpretational insight for vertical magnetic field responses.
Corrugated V-fold soft actuator with large deformation and high force density

Soft pneumatic actuators with a corrugated structure have the advantage of low inflation pressure and a large actuation range and have great potential for use in grippers. However, they are generally difficult to have both large deformation and high force density performance. Inspired by the hydraulic joints of spider legs, this paper designs a multi-cavity soft-pneumatic actuator with a corrugated V-fold structure, which realizes bending through the deformation of the air cavity structure instead of the traditional way of squeezing the air cavities against each other, and has significantly large curvature high force density compared with actuators such as PneuNets. At an inflation pressure of 40 kPa, the proposed soft actuator achieves a bending angle of 306° with a curvature of 0.114 rad mm−1, while at an inflation pressure of 45 kPa, the actuator achieves an actuation force of 5.15 N with a force density of 0.0101 mN (mm3.kPa)−1. The modeling approach based on continuum mechanics modeling of soft materials combined with finite element analysis (FEA) (or experiment) is proposed to achieve accurate modeling of the bending angle and actuation force of actuators with complex corrugated structures. In addition, the proposed actuator has made initial explorations into the application of soft grippers and has achieved fairly good gripping results compared to other types of grippers.
A Canadian Network of Gravity Measurements with Pendulums

Summary From 1968 to 1970, the Canadian pendulum apparatus of the Earth Physics Branch (formerly Dominion Observatory) was used to establish a network of gravity stations within Canada to provide scale control for the Canadian gravimeter net. The pendulum network, adjusted by the method of least squares, has a standard deviation of 0.12mgal. Agreement with Faller's absolute apparatus to - 23 ppm in scale is noted.
High-Resolution Shallow Structure along the Anninghe Fault Zone, Sichuan, China, Constrained by Active Source Tomography

The Anninghe fault (ANHF), located in southwest China, was a major block boundary that hosted M 7.5 earthquakes historically. For seismic hazard assessment, it is critical to investigate fault properties before future earthquakes. To investigate the fault structure, we deployed three linear dense arrays with an aperture of ∼8–9 km across different segments of the ANHF from October 2019 to March 2020. More importantly, we detonated a new methane source to generate seismic waves, which is environmentally friendly and can be used in different regions such as mountainous and urban areas. After data acquisition, we first removed the noise to accurately pick up the first arrivals of seismic waves. Then, we conducted the first-arrival seismic tomography, a method commonly used in the petroleum industry, to obtain the high-resolution P-wave velocity structure. The tomographic results showed distinct low-velocity zones (LVZs) of ∼1000–1500 m in width and ∼300–400 m in depth along the fault, well consistent with the lateral distribution of site amplification that was derived from regional earthquake waveforms. These LVZs may have formed as a combined result of the fault damage zone and ANHF-controlled sediments. As the Anning River Valley is densely populated, our newly identified LVZs shed lights on earthquake hazard in the region. In addition, we demonstrate that using a combination of methane detonation sources, linear dense arrays, and active source tomography can effectively determine the shallow P-wave velocity model in complex environments (i.e., mountains and urban areas).
Pavement Automated Condition Assessment Model Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Convolutional Neural Network

Assessing pavement condition is essential in any efforts to reduce future economic losses and improve the pavement performance. The resulting data are used as a record to evaluate pavement performance and assess their functionality and reliability. Traditional pavement condition assessment approaches rely on expert visual inspection and observational information along with testing using specialized equipment. However, these approaches are challenging because of the cost associated with assessment, safety issues, and the accessibility restrictions, especially after natural hazard events. This paper aims to develop an automated classification model to rapidly assess pavement condition by classifying pavement distresses using image classification that is based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model. High-resolution aerial images representing alligator and longitudinal cracks for flexible pavements are collected using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images. The results of the developed model indicate an accuracy of 96.7% in classifying the two categories of pavement distress, while the use of UAV provides flexibility and manoeuvrability to capture the necessary data without risking personal safety and provides operational benefits in relatively lesser time. The methodology behind the developed model will help to reduce the need for on-site presence, increase safety, and assist emergency response managers in deciding the safest route to take after hurricane events. Additionally, application of the model will enable pavement engineers in rapidly assessing the pavement damage, aid in making quick decisions for road rehabilitation and recovery, and devise a restoration or repair plan.
Polyol process: Combined modification and assessment of morphological changes in PEMFC bimetallic catalysts at all stages of research

This study proposes using the modified polyol synthesis method to obtain state-of-the-art bimetallic catalysts for PEMFCs. One-step and multi-step implementation of the polyol process in an acceptable temperature range, without any hard-to-remove surfactants, requires no complex equipment and allows for the efficient reduction of precursors to nanoparticles. The high-performance catalysts based on the PtCu nanoparticles were obtained by the one-step strategy. These catalysts exhibited an excellent ORR activity that was twice as high as that of commercial Pt/C. The multi-step strategy was used to obtain the gradient-architecture PtCu nanoparticles with an increased stability during stress testing. HR-TEM, EDX, STEM, XRD, and TXRF were used for a detailed study of the catalysts’ microstructure. The key feature of this study consists in monitoring the materials’ characteristics at different stages of their evolution: from the moment of synthesizing them to the state corresponding to the completion of certain stages of the electrochemical measurements.
The 1997 core drilling through Ordovician and Silurian strata at Röstånga, S. Sweden: Preliminary stratigraphic assessment and regional comparison

Abstract A core drilling at Rostanga, the first such drilling ever undertaken in this classical Lower Paleozoic outcrop area in W-central Scania, penetrated an approximately 96 m thick succession of Lower Silurian-upper Middle Ordovician marine rocks. The drilling was stopped at a depth of 132.59 m in an interval of crushed rocks, probably a prominent fault zone, that proved impossible to drill through. The core contains a stratigraphical sequence from the basal Upper Llandoverian (Telychian Stage) to the upper Middle Ordovician (Harjuan Stage). The following units are recognized in descending stratigraphic order (approximate thickness in parenthesis): Kallholn Formation (35 m), Lin-degard Mudstone (27 m), Fjacka Shale (13 m), Mossen Formation (0.75 m), Skagen Formation (2.5 m), and Sularp Shale (19 m+). Except for the Skagen Formation, the drilled sequence consists of shales and mudstones with occasional thin limestone interbeds and is similar to coeval successions elsewhere in Scania. There are 11 K-ben.
Photovoltaics: Boom of the Rising Sun

2010 was an extraordinary year for solar power. The global photovoltaic market reached a cumulative installed capacity of almost 40 GW (see EPIA 2011). This corresponds to the electrical output of 80 mediumsized coal-fired power stations. With a capacity of 17.2 GW or 43.5 percent of the global market, Ger many was by far the most important location for solar power, followed by Spain (3.8 GW or 9.6 percent), Japan (3.6 GW or 9.2 percent) and Italy (3.5 GW or 8.8 percent). Pho to voltaic capacity in the Unit ed States amounted to 2.5 GW (6.4 percent), while that of the Czech Republic reached 2 GW (4.9 percent) and France’s capacity totalled 1 GW (2.6 percent). In China photovoltaic capacity remained fairly low and accounted for a mere 0.9 GW (2.3 percent) (see Fi gure 1). 1
Progress in selected areas of rhizosphere research on P acquisition

Large reserves of P have accumulated in soils of developed countries because additions of P fertiliser to sustain agricultural production have exceeded crop removal. By contrast, in many developing countries in the tropics and subtropics, soil P reserves are gravely low and large additions are required before maintenance requirements begin to decline. In addition, the cost of P fertiliser will increase as the currently accessible deposits of high-grade phosphate rock (PR) diminish. Developing plants that efficiently tap soil P reserves and low grade PR is therefore a priority for agricultural research. For the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand Soil Science Society, this paper reviews research on P efficiency in plants, conducted by staff, students, and research associates of Massey University, in the context of other research into plant mechanisms that enhance P uptake, including effects of root geometry, mycorrhizal associations, and root-induced changes in the soil. Techniques for fractionation of soil P are highlighted.
Spectral boundary integral equation method for simulation of 2D and 3D slip ruptures at bi‐material interfaces

This paper presents a 3D spectral numerical scheme that can accurately model planarcracks of any shape residing on an interfacial plane between two elastic solids. The cracks propagate dynamically under the action of interfacial loads and interfacial constitutive laws. The scheme is a spectral form of the boundary integral equations (BIE) that relate the displacement discontinuity fields along the interfacial plane to the stress fields at the plane. In the BIE, the displacement discontinuities are expressed as a spatio‐temporal convolution of the traction components at the interface. This is in contrast with most previous studies which use a spatio‐temporal convolution of the displacement discontinuities or of the displacements at the interface. Due to the continuity of tractions across the interface, the present formulation is simpler, resulting in convolution kernels that can be written in closed‐form. Previous studies have relied on numerically obtained convolution kernels. The accuracy of the proposed scheme is validated with the known analytical solution of the 3D Lamb problem. Furthermore, new algorithms are developed for coupling the BIE with a slip‐weakening friction law, both for homogeneous materials as well as for bi‐material interfaces. This results in a widely applicable formulation for studying spontaneous rupture propagation. The algorithms are validated by comparing rupture simulation exercises to benchmark problems from Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). Finally, the methodology is used to simulate 3D frictional rupture propagation along a bi‐material interface.
Exploring the ITO/PET Extended-Gate Field-Effect Transistor (EGFET) for pH Sensing

In this project we investigated the extended-gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) structure used with ITO (Indium Tin Oxide)/PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) sensitive films acting as the extended-gate part of an EGFET obtained from a combination of FETs from the CD4007 chip. We tested the device as a pH sensor by immersing the ITO/PET electrode in several chemical solutions of acidic and basic nature, including hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and ammonium hydroxide, at different concentrations. Using a Tektronix 4200A sourcemeter, we plotted the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics for the different chemical solutions, and we established a correlation to the pH changes. Results from the plotted I–V characteristics show a great dependance of the drain current (ID) on solution concentration. Furthermore, we measured the pH of each of the used solutions, and we established a relationship between the drain current and the pH value. Our results show a consistent decrease in the current with an increase in the pH value, although with different rates depending on the solution. The device showed high voltage sensitivity at 0.23 V per pH unit when tested in sulfuric acid.
Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of Synchronous Motion Control for Dual-Motor Driving Steer-by-Wire System Integrated With Optimal Finite Preview Path-Tracking Control

Recently, to produce a large steering torque or ensure fault-tolerant control (FTC), dual motorized actuators for a steering system in automobiles have been emerged. In particular, the commercial vehicle requires an electrical-powered multiple motor based steering system generating large steering torque, which can replace the existing hydraulic steering one. However, the control of such system become more complicate than controlling of a single actuator and must deal with the unavoidable non-synchronous nature of multiple motors. In line with the trends and issues, many automobile manufacturers are currently paying attention to the robust and efficient motion controls of a dual-motor driving steer-by-wire (DSBW). Therefore, we proposed a novel synchronous motion control system of DSBW using passive decomposition and sliding mode control (SMC) techniques guaranteeing the passivity and robustness of the overall synchronized motion. Furthermore, the performance of proposed control system is validated through HILS of an actual DSBW using a developed vehicle model and an optimal finite preview control (OFPC) scheme tracking a specific test scenario, Double Lane Change (DLC). It is found that the motor-to-motor synchronization error and tracking one for the target reference trajectory are less than 1 degree, which sufficiently meets the requirement of automobiles manufacture company and is comparable to other existing approaches. We also investigated the tracking performance of the control system based on the different steering characteristics of OFPCs generated by the several preview times. Moreover, we investigated the tolerance level of proposed technique (without any additional FTC) against a partial fault condition in one of the motors and compared it with other control schemes in terms of tracking performance. This work will be valuable asset for those who wish to design the robust synchronous motion control of DSBW and construct the corresponding HILS of system considering different steering characteristics.
Prospects for the transfer of innovation in the rural world – the case of the innovation platform “Champs d’innovation” in Normandy Region, France

This study focuses on the evaluation of the transfer of innovation by taking the example of the ‘Innovation Platform’ (IP) called “Champs d’innovation”, a project initiated by the Normandy region, France. The study focuses mainly on the modalities of innovation transfer and the complementarities between the different interfaces for the transfer of innovative solutions in the agricultural world. The first results of the study highlight the determinants of the transfer of innovative solutions. Furthermore, from an empirical point of view, the study provides a better understanding of innovation systems in general and in agriculture in particular, and more specifically of the different facets of innovation transfer and the measurement of the transferability of innovative solutions between different stakeholders.
Comparing surface effective saturation and depth‐to‐water‐level as predictors of plant composition in a restored riparian wetland

Depth‐to‐water‐level (DTWL) measurements in shallow groundwater piezometers are commonly used to develop predictive relationships between wetland plant composition and the water regime. These analyses, however, implicitly use DTWL as a surrogate for the soil water regime within the root zone. We collected bi‐weekly field measurements of DTWL and surface effective saturation (SES) at a riparian wetland (3–4 years after restoration) in southwestern Wisconsin during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. Plant species composition was also sampled at the same locations (N = 62). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and nonparametric multiplicative regression (NPMR) were used to compare how effectively the two hydrological metrics explain the overall plant community ordination space (NMS) and predict the probability of presence of certain dominant species (NPMR). In addition, we performed each statistical method on each year's data separately in order to estimate the robustness of the metrics to predict species composition. Both SES and DTWL metrics were significantly correlated with one NMS axis for both years, although correlations were higher and more significant (p < 0·001) with the SES metrics. NPMR‐generated models were created for six representative species using the SES and DTWL metrics as predictor variables. Models created using the SES metrics had consistently higher evaluation metrics for both years as compared with the DTWL metrics. While the metrics that consistently led to models with the highest evaluation metric (logβ > 2·2) for each of the species were mean and minimum SES, models that used mean SES were more temporally consistent and, therefore, more generally applicable. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.