Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Overview on Recent Advances in Biomimetic Sensors for the Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of materials that have been widely used in the industrial production of a wide range of products. After decades of bioaccumulation in the environment, research has demonstrated that these compounds are toxic and potentially carcinogenic. Therefore, it is essential to map the extent of the problem to be able to remediate it properly in the next few decades. Current state-of-the-art detection platforms, however, are lab based and therefore too expensive and time-consuming for routine screening. Traditional biosensor tests based on, e.g., lateral flow assays may struggle with the low regulatory levels of PFAS (ng/mL), the complexity of environmental matrices and the presence of coexisting chemicals. Therefore, a lot of research effort has been directed towards the development of biomimetic receptors and their implementation into handheld, low-cost sensors. Numerous research groups have developed PFAS sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) or aptamers. In order to transform these research efforts into tangible devices and implement them into environmental applications, it is necessary to provide an overview of these research efforts. This review aims to provide this overview and critically compare several technologies to each other to provide a recommendation for the direction of future research efforts focused on the development of the next generation of biomimetic PFAS sensors.
Prophylactic Interventions for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risks and Mortality in BRCA1/2 Carriers

Simple Summary Prophylactic interventions are critical for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers to reduce the risks of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes data on the efficacy of various preventative strategies. The analysis incorporated 21 studies involving risk-reducing surgeries (RRS), chemoprevention, and screening. Findings indicate a substantial reduction in breast and ovarian cancer incidence and mortality among BRCA1/2 carriers following RRS, particularly mastectomy and oophorectomy, compared to chemoprevention. This study underscores the necessity of tailored interventions, especially considering the varied protective effects between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. This review aids in informing clinical decisions and underscores the importance of context-specific uptake rates in cost-effective evaluations. Abstract Background: Hereditary breast and ovarian cancers (HBOCs) pose significant health risks worldwide and are mitigated by prophylactic interventions. However, a meta-analysis of their efficacy and the impact of different genetic variants on their effectiveness is lacking. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, adhering to Cochrane guidelines. The review encompassed studies that involved prophylactic interventions for healthy women with BRCA variants, focusing on cancer incidence and mortality outcomes. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used for risk of bias assessment. We pooled the extracted outcomes using random effects models and conducted subgroup analyses stratified by intervention, variant, and cancer types. Results: A total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that prophylactic interventions significantly reduced cancer risk and mortality. The subgroup analysis showed a greater protective effect for BRCA2 than BRCA1 variant carriers. Risk-reducing surgeries (RRS) were more effective than chemoprevention, with RRS notably reducing cancer risk by 56% compared to 39% for chemoprevention. Prophylactic oophorectomy significantly reduced HBOC risks, while the effect of prophylactic mastectomy and chemoprevention on mortality was less conclusive. Conclusions: Prophylactic interventions significantly reduce the risk of HBOC and associated mortality. This comprehensive analysis provides insights for future economic evaluations and clinical decision-making in HBOC interventions.
D(HE)at: A Practical Denial-of-Service Attack on the Finite Field Diffie–Hellman Key Exchange

In this paper, D(HE)at, a practical denial-of-service (DoS) attack targeting the finite field Diffie-Hellman (DH) key exchange protocol, is presented, allowing remote users to send non-public keys to the victim, triggering expensive server-side DH modular-exponentiation calculations. The attack was disclosed in November 2021 with an assigned CVE-2002-20001 number. Additionally, the “long exponent” issue, an implementation flaw in cryptographic libraries where unreasonably large private keys are used, deviating from the recommended NIST guidelines, and making D(HE)at more effective, is presented. This issue was disclosed in November 2022 with an assigned CVE-2022-40735 number. A thorough analysis of the D(HE)at attack, along with proof of concept code that has the potential to compromise all existing protocols employing DH key exchange, such as TLS or SSH, is presented in this paper, highlighting the necessity of additional security measures for effective safeguarding. The potential of reaching full 100% CPU utilization by the D(HE)at attack is demonstrated, even on the most up-to-date operating systems, without any significant computation on the client side. With minimal bandwidth and a low request rate per second (rps), the D(HE)at attack can be carried out against target machines from a single laptop. In this study, the consequences of these issues are explored, and a comparative security and performance analysis is conducted among the most commonly used general-purpose cryptographic libraries, including OpenSSL, BoringSSL, LibreSSL, GnuTLS, NSS, Mbed TLS, OpenJDK, Oracle JDK, and WolfSSL. Based on Shodan measurements, it has been found that 87% of servers worldwide support DH key exchange in the SSH protocol, and according to our scan, 55% of the top 1 million websites support DH in TLS. As a result of this study, it is recommended that developers and administrators consider exclusively enabling Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH), a significantly more efficient protocol, in their server configurations.
Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy and Low-Grade Intestinal T-Cell Lymphoma Are Associated with Altered Microbial Tryptophan Catabolism in Cats

Simple Summary Chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) and low-grade intestinal T-cell lymphoma (LGITL) are common chronic intestinal disorders in cats. Gut bacteria are implicated in the initiation and progression of chronic intestinal disorders, and changes in the composition of gut bacteria have been associated with CIE and LGITL in cats. Microbial indole catabolites of tryptophan (MICT) are chemicals produced by gut bacteria that support intestinal health. We hypothesized that, compared with healthy cats, blood concentrations of MICTs would be decreased in cats with CIE and LGITL. Using archived blood samples, we measured tryptophan and eleven of its derivatives, including eight MICTs, and compared them among cats with CIE, LGITL, and healthy controls. Consistent with our hypothesis, the concentrations of tryptophan and five different MICTs (indolepropionate, indoleacrylate, indolealdehyde, indolepyruvate, indolelactate) were decreased in cats with CIE and LGITL compared with those in healthy controls. Our findings are likely explained by changes in tryptophan metabolism related to disturbances in gut bacterial communities and intestinal inflammation and in cats with CIE and LGITL. These findings suggest that MICTs are promising biomarkers that can be used to understand how intestinal bacteria contribute to chronic intestinal disorders such as CIE and LGITL in cats. Abstract Chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) and low-grade intestinal T-cell lymphoma (LGITL) are common chronic enteropathies (CE) in cats. Enteric microbiota dysbiosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of CE; however, the mechanisms of host–microbiome interactions are poorly understood in cats. Microbial indole catabolites of tryptophan (MICT) are gut bacterial catabolites of tryptophan that are hypothesized to regulate intestinal inflammation and mucosal barrier function. MICTs are decreased in the sera of humans with inflammatory bowel disease and previous studies identified altered tryptophan metabolism in cats with CE. We sought to determine whether MICTs were decreased in cats with CE using archived serum samples from cats with CIE (n = 44) or LGITL (n = 31) and healthy controls (n = 26). Quantitative LC-MS/MS was used to measure serum concentrations of tryptophan, its endogenous catabolites (kynurenine, kynurenate, serotonin) and MICTs (indolepyruvate, indolealdehyde, indoleacrylate, indoleacetamide, indoleacetate, indolelactate, indolepropionate, tryptamine). Serum concentrations of tryptophan, indolepropionate, indoleacrylate, indolealdehyde, indolepyruvate, indolelactate were significantly decreased in the CIE and LGITL groups compared to those in healthy controls. Indolelactate concentrations were significantly lower in cats with LGITL compared to CIE (p = 0.006). Significant correlations were detected among serum MICTs and cobalamin, folate, fPLI, and fTLI. Our findings suggest that MICTs are promising biomarkers to investigate the role of gut bacteria in the pathobiology of chronic enteropathies in cats.
Exceptional-point-enhanced phase sensing

: Optical sensors have become indispensable in various fields, ranging from gravitational wave detection to biomedical imaging and structural health monitoring. Target information is commonly encoded in the phase changes of optical signals. Enhancing the sensitivity to phase changes is crucial for detecting weak signals and 10 extracting valuable data. Recently, exceptional points (EPs), a spectral singularity in non-Hermitian systems, have been explored in various physical systems for sensitivity enhancement. However, it requires precisely controlling the sensor parameters, which restricts the applicability of EP enhancement to certain types of sensors. To overcome this limitation, we propose a novel configuration to implement EP-enhanced sensing. In this approach, a conventional sensor is connected to a microresonator operated at EPs via an optical waveguide. The EP 15 microresonator amplifies optical phase changes from the sensor, converting them into distinct and quantifiable resonance splitting in the transmission spectra of the system. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate a six-fold enhancement in the detection limit of fiber-optic strain sensing using this EP-enhanced configuration. By separating the EP control from the sensor to eliminate the need to finely tune the sensor, our configuration enables EP enhancement for a wide range of conventional sensors. This work provides a promising universal platform to 20 apply EP enhancement to diverse phase-dependent structures for ultrahigh-sensitivity sensing in various applications.
in-Denaverine hydrochloride and carbetocin increased welfare during and after parturition and enhanced subsequent fertility in cattle

The objectives of the current study were to investigate the influence of denaverine hydrochloride and carbetocin on softening and dilatation of the birth canal, the need for assistance during parturition, calf mortality, retention of fetal membranes, endometritis, and subsequent fertility. Altogether 200 animals (100 cows and 100 heifers) of the Simmental breed were divided into 2 groups: treatment (n = 100) and control (n = 100). Animals in the treatment group received de-naverine hydrochloride and carbetocin (a maximum of twice for each, depending on the progression of labor) during delivery over a maximum of 4 waiting periods (30 min each), whereas control animals experienced the same waiting periods but received no treatment. The treatment protocol had a positive influence on the ease of calving and postpartum reproductive health. The treatment increased the number of animals with the birth canal dilated by more than 25 cm, and halved the need for any assistance at parturition. In addition, treatment decreased the occurrence of difficult calving, the need for episiotomy, the appearance of birth canal lesions, and clinical endometritis. The treatment protocol had an effect throughout the entire puerperal period, as treated animals conceived with fewer artificial inseminations (1.3 vs. 1.6 artificial inseminations/pregnancy) and sooner (67 vs. 78 d open) compared with control animals. Denaverine hydrochloride and carbe-tocin administered in combination during parturition affected the progression and ease of calving, and thus the welfare of cows in labor and subsequently. However, further studies are needed to confirm the findings and to establish best practices.
Intestinal bile acid reabsorption in health and disease

Scope: Inhibition of the intestinal apical sodium-dependent (ASBT, SLC10A2 ) decreases ileal absorption and enterohepatic cycling of bile acids (BAs). ASBT inhibition can improve apsects of the metabolic syndrome, but the mechanisms underlying these improvements are not fully elucidated. Here we investigated the mechanism by which ASBT inhibition mitigates diet-induced obesity, hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin sensitivity. Methods and results: Intestinal fat absorption was determined in mice receiving an ASBT inhibitor. In addition, Asbt -/- mice and littermate controls were challenged with a low fat control diet or high fat diets (HFD) rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA) or PUFAs. ASBT inhibition reduced fat absorption, particularly of mono-unsaturated and SFAs on all diets. Asbt -/- mice had lower bodyweight gain and improved insulin sensitivity when fed a HFD rich in SFA but not PUFA. Hepatic lipid accumulation was reduced in Asbt -/- mice fed both diets. Conclusions: ASBT inhibition reduced diet-induced hepatic steatosis independently of dietary fatty acid composition and was associated with an increase in fecal fat excretion. The effects of ASBT inhibition on diet-induced obesity and insulin sensitivity were only observed on the HFD rich in SFA. The HFD rich in PUFA induced less overall bodyweight gain compared to the HFD rich in SFA, possibly due to different handling and obesogenic potential of dietary PUFA compared to SFA. These effects highlight the importance of dietary fatty acid composition in diet induced obesity models and the potential of ASBT inhibition in treatment of diet-induced metabolic disorders.
Towards walkable streets: the case study of Talaat Harb Street, Downtown, Cairo

: Walking is the most sustainable mode of transportation and one which has the least impact on the environment. Unfortunately, walking as a mode of transport is still often underrepresented in the overall transport system. Since sustainability is a worldwide trend, walkability is one of the highlighted aspects which need more consideration. Unfortunately, the present urban development is marginalizing the role of the pedestrian environment. There is a gap between theory and practice in academic research and practical implementation of urban street design. This research aims to understand the challenges facing users in the pedestrian environment in Talaat Street, Downtown, Cairo. An analytic approach will be used on mixed Random samples from the people using the case study area, containing distinct categories which differ in age, gender, job title, education level…etc. mixed research method is used for both data collection and analysis. The walkability framework is deduced from a summarized cross-sectional literature review about walkability, its definitions, importance, and indicators. Applying and testing this verified framework on the case study area by using a survey to assess the study area based on users' opinions to determine users' satisfaction level and needs. This research explores the difficulties encountered by users and highlights the significant findings obtained thoroughly analyzing their concerns and issues.
phar-Minimum inhibitory concentrations of selected antimicrobials against Escherichia coli and Trueperella pyogenes of bovine uterine origin

Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 9 anti-microbials for isolates of 2 common bovine intrauterine bacterial pathogens, Escherichia coli (n = 209) and Trueperella pyogenes (n = 35), were determined using broth microdilution methodology. The isolates were recovered from dairy cows from 7 herds postpartum using the cytobrush technique. The pathogens were initially identified using phenotypic techniques. Additionally, PCR was used to confirm the identity of T. pyogenes isolates and to categorize the E. coli isolates into phylogenetic groups A, B1, B2, and D. Minimum inhibitory concentrations in excess of published cut-points or bi-modal distributions of MIC indicated potential antimicrobial resistance to ampicillin, cefuroxime, cephapirin, and oxytetracycline for E. coli , and to oxytetracycline for T. pyogenes . Of the antimicrobials tested, ticarcil-lin/clavulanic acid, ceftiofur, and enrofloxacin had the lowest MIC for these 2 pathogens. Differences in MIC of some antimicrobials were found between herds, age, breeds, and E. coli phylogenetic groups. Isolation of E. coli with an MIC ≥8 μg/mL of oxytetracycline at 23 d postpartum was associated with a lower probability of pregnancy within 6 wk of commencement of breeding compared with those isolates with an MIC <8 μg/mL (relative risk = 0.66). Minimum inhibitory concentrations for uterine pathogens were determined for isolates from New Zealand dairy cows. However, in the absence of either epidemiological or clinical interpretive criteria, the interpretation of these MIC remains unclear. Further studies are required to define interpretative criteria, including
high-Characterization of a cryptic plasmid isolated from Lactobacillus casei CP002616 and construction of shuttle vectors based on its replicon

The cryptic plasmid pLC2W was isolated from Lactobacillus casei CP002616. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that 4 putative open reading frames (ORF) were responsible for DNA replication. Four Escherichia coli-Lactobacillus shuttle vectors were constructed us-ing different lengths of the pLC2W replicon to identify the shortest functional replicon. The length of the pLC2W replicon did not affect the stability of the plasmids. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter was expressed successfully in several lactobacilli using our constructed vectors. The results suggested that the expression vectors pUE-F0GFP and pUE-F1GFP are potential molecular tools for heterologous gene cloning and expression in lactobacilli. Moreover, 2 plasmid-curing methods were used to eliminate pLC2W from L. casei . We detected no difference between L. casei CP002616 and L. casei CP002616 pLC2WΔ-IC (mutant strain cured by plasmid incompatibility method) in production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) or acid. However, EPS and acid production were both reduced in L. casei CP002616 pLC2WΔ-HT (mutant strain cured by high-temperature heat treatment method), demonstrating a difference between these 2 curing methods. Sequence analysis of pLC2W and plasmid curing data suggest that plasmid pLC2W is not involved in EPS synthesis.
Paradigm Shift from Feature-Based Machine Learning to End-to-End Deep Residual Neural Networks for Pediatric Age Classification from 12-Lead ECG

ECG criteria vary significantly by age in early years of childhood. Accurate knowledge of age is vital to select appropriate ECG criteria for the patient. Two machine learning and deep learning models were trained on three different inputs from a dataset of 151, 725 recordings of 12-lead ECGs. The feature-based machine learning model utilizing multi-layer perceptron (MLP) was trained with handcrafted features. The end-to-end residual network (ResNet) model received two inputs: a 10-second raw ECG (RawECG) signal and a 1.2-second average representative beat (RepBeat) signal. The ResNet was trained with four data augmentation techniques using RandAugment. The feature-based MLP achieved an F1 score of 0.72 for pediatric detection (age < 16 years) and an average F1 score of 0.65 for classifying pediatric groups (neonate, infant, child, and adolescent) and adult. The end-to-end ResNet achieved an F1 score of 0.88 for pediatric detection from RawECG input and an F1 score of 0.82 from RepBeat input. The model also achieved an average F1 score of 0.78 for classifying pediatric groups and adult from RawECG input, and an F1 score of 0.74 from RepBeat input. The proposed end-to-end ResNet achieves the highest F1 score and outperforms the feature-based MLP, making it the best choice for pediatric age classification.
Periodic Service Behavior Strain Analysis-Based Intrusion Detection in Cloud

: The problem of intrusion detection in cloud environments has been well studied. The presence of adversaries would challenge data security in the cloud by generating intrusion attacks towards the cloud data and should be mitigated for the development of the cloud environment. In mitigating intrusion attacks, there exist several techniques in the literature. The method uses different features like frequency of access, payload details, protocol mapping, etc. However, the methods need to improve to achieve the expected performance in detecting intrusion attacks. An efficient Periodic Service Behavior Strain Analysis (PSBSA) is presented to handle this issue. Unlike earlier methods, the PSBSA model analyzes the behavior of users in various time frames like historical, recent, and current spans. The model focused on identifying intrusion attacks in several constraints, not just considering the current nature. The performance of intrusion detection can be improved by viewing the user's behavior in historical, present, and recent timespan. Unlike other approaches, the proposed PSBSA model considers the user's behavior at different times in measuring the user's trust towards intrusion detection. Accordingly, the proposed PSBSA model analyzes the behavior of users under various situations. It examines the behavior in accessing the services at historical, current, and recent times. The method performs Historical Strain Analysis (HSA) Current Strain Analysis (CSA) and Recent Strain Analysis (RSA). HSA analysis is performed according to the historical data, CSA is performed based on the current access data and RSA is performed with the recent access data. The model estimates various legitimacy support values on each analysis to conclude the trust of any user. According to the support values, intrusion detection has been performed. The proposed PSBSA model introduces higher accuracy in intrusion detection in a cloud environment.
Example-Based Microstructure Rendering with Constant Storage

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 Example-Based Microstructure Rendering with Constant Storage