Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determining background concentrations of major atmospheric pollutants using Sentinel-5P TROPOMI data

The increase in concentrations of major atmospheric pollutants such as NO2, CO, CH4 as result of human activities is one of the main causes of the dynamic climate changes observed in recent years. These rapid changes have a strong influence on air quality at local and global levels and directly affect human health. This is one of the main reasons for faster global warming. The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is increasing at an accelerating rate. Three sectors are responsible for most anthropogenic CH4 emissions: fossil fuels, waste and agriculture. Locating, tracking and quantifying all these emissions is an important step towards a more accurate inventory. The use of satellite observations rises at a new label the monitoring process and improves the accuracy of emissions reporting. Medium-resolution satellite data, such as that provided by the TROPOMI sensor on the European Sentinel-5P satellite, is a powerful tool for detecting and tracking large emissions of air pollutants. The methodology presented here enables us to determine background concentrations of CH4, NO2, CO relatively quickly and efficiently. It improves our ability to quickly detect periodic or occasional emissions from unregulated sources, track seasonal and annual variations in concentrations of these air pollutants, etc. Hundreds of cases of high methane, NO2 and CO emissions in coal mining areas have been registered using this methodology. The method is also applicable to lower-intensity emission sources, such as landfills, agriculture or recording methane emissions from wetlands.
Potassium and magnesium and cognitive decline in middle-aged adults

BACKGROUND: Increase in dementias globally is a burden to patients, caregivers, the healthcare system, and the communities in which they live. Understanding nutritional patterns and how they may impact the prevention of these conditions will be critical moving forward. The known impact of minerals such as potassium and magnesium on conditions such as hypertension, oxidative stress, and inflammation – all of which directly impact cognitive health – warrant further study as to their potential direct effects on cognitive function. OBJECTIVE: To determine if low potassium and magnesium blood levels and dietary intakes are associated with cognitive decline in middle-aged adults over a 6-year span. METHODS: Linear regression models were used to describe the associations between potassium and magnesium intakes and cognitive function scores of participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) dataset over 6 years of follow up. Associations with blood values were also assessed. Variables controlled for included total HEI score, a measure of dietary quality. 9,044 participants were included. All linear regression models were run with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Levels of blood potassium and magnesium, in univariate as well as in multivariate analysis were found to have no significant association with cognitive decline. Likewise, intake levels of both minerals were shown to have no significant association with cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS: In 9,044 participants, ages 44 to 66, potassium and magnesium intake and blood serum levels were found to have no significant association with cognitive decline in fully controlled models over 6 years in the ARIC cohort.
OPTIMIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE PROFIT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HALL STRUCTURES

The paper presents the optimization of the sustainable profit in the production of hall buildings. It focuses on single-story halls with either steel or timber frames. The discrete class of optimization is performed with mixed-integer nonlinear programming. The Modified Outer-Approximation/ Equality-Relaxation algorithm is used. Separate optimization models are developed for steel and timber structures, each with two different objectives: sustainable and economic profits, which are subjected to design and dimensioning constraints. The material costs of the structure are defined in detail, while the transportation, machinery and labor costs are calculated as a function of the material costs. The sustainable profit includes eco costs of global warming. A numerical example at the end of the article shows the optimization of sustainable and economic profits in the construction of a hall structure. The calculated sustainable and economic profits in the case of the steel structure are higher than the profits of the timber frame structure due to the high cost of glulam in the market. Nevertheless, the eco costs of global warming in the case of timber construction show a much smaller relative increase compared to the material costs.
Adaptação Transcultural do SATS-36 para Estudantes do 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico Português

Resumo A atitude dos estudantes em relação à Estatística é um tema amplamente investigado a nível do ensino universitário, mas escasso em estudantes do 3º ciclo do ensino básico (idade esperada: 12-15 anos). Neste trabalho, foi efetuada uma adaptação transcultural, do inglês para o português (europeu) e para estudantes daquele ciclo de escolaridade, da escala de atitudes em relação à Estatística SATS-36© (Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics, versão Post). Com base numa amostra de 215 estudantes de escolas da região centro de Portugal, foram demonstradas propriedades psicométricas e validade do tipo consistência interna da escala adaptada. Contudo, aplicando análise fatorial confirmatória (AFC), a estrutura de seis fatores sugeridos para a SATS-36© não foi ajustada aos dados. Conduzindo uma análise fatorial exploratória (AFE), é proposto e validado um modelo com os quatro fatores: Afetação , Interesse , Valor e Esforço . O modelo proposto pode ser comparado em número de fatores (quatro) com o modelo publicado para estudantes do mesmo nível de ensino na Estónia. No entanto, o modelo proposto apresenta melhores resultados nos índices de ajustamento da AFC considerados. Os itens não incluídos da SATS-36© em ambos os modelos se devem à sua não adequação a estudantes do ensino pré-universitário. A adaptação e validação deste instrumento será profícua na gestão de estratégias de atuação no ensino da Estatística. Espera-se que a monitorização das atitudes dos estudantes por parte do professor permita uma melhoria na sua aprendizagem em Estatística.
Using GPS to Track Tourists Spatial Behaviour in Urban Destinations

The collection and evaluation of data on tourists’ spatial behavior can be difficult because of the labor intensive nature of methods such as large surveys, traffic and people counts, travel diaries, and observation. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology affords the opportunity to accurately track paths tourists take and to provide greater understanding of the spatial behavior of tourists. This paper presents results from a study conducted in 2007 that used GPS to track 76 participants from seven accommodation venues in Sydney and Canberra, Australia. GPS tracking makes data visually appealing and animates the urban space – the viewer can ‘walk in the shoes’ of the tourist. This study demonstrates that spatial technologies have much to offer in the management and planning of destinations.
Discovery of VIP236, an αvβ3-Targeted Small-Molecule–Drug Conjugate with Neutrophil Elastase-Mediated Activation of 7-Ethyl Camptothecin Payload for Treatment of Solid Tumors

Simple Summary The goal of this work was to improve the tumor selectivity of chemotherapy to reduce side effects and improve efficacy. We designed a drug called VIP236 that delivers chemotherapy directly to tumors due to a specialized “homing feature” that binds to αvβ3 integrins. Solid tumors express high levels of αvβ3 integrins. In contrast, expression of αvβ3 is low in healthy tissues. This difference in expression levels leads to preferential homing of the chemotherapy to tumor cells over healthy tissue to reduce side effects. In human cancer models conducted in mice, VIP236 was shown to substantially accumulate in tumors compared with normal tissue. The high accumulation of VIP236 in the tumors resulted in high and long-lasting tumor regression and reduced metastasis formation in brain and lung in cancer models. Abstract The emerging field of small-molecule–drug conjugates (SMDCs) using small-molecule biomarker-targeted compounds for tumor homing may provide new perspectives for targeted delivery. Here, for the first time, we disclose the structure and the synthesis of VIP236, an SMDC designed for the treatment of metastatic solid tumors by targeting αvβ3 integrins and extracellular cleavage of the 7-ethyl camptothecin payload by neutrophil elastase in the tumor microenvironment. Imaging studies in the Lewis lung mouse model using an elastase cleavable quenched substrate showed pronounced elastase activity in the tumor. Pharmacokinetics studies of VIP236 in tumor-bearing mice demonstrated high stability of the SMDC in plasma and high tumor accumulation of the cleaved payload. Studies in bile-duct-cannulated rats showed that biliary excretion of the unmodified conjugate is the primary route of elimination. Treatment- and time-dependent phosphorylation of H2AX, a marker of DNA damage downstream of topoisomerase 1 inhibition, verified the on-target activity of the payload cleaved from VIP236 in vivo. Treatment with VIP236 resulted in long-lasting tumor regression in subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from patients with non-small-cell lung, colon, and renal cancer as well as in two orthotopic metastatic triple-negative breast cancer PDX models. In these models, a significant reduction of brain and lung metastases also was observed.
Expression of High Mobility Group Box 1 and Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products in the Gingival Tissues of Periodontitis Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontitis (PD) share similar pathophysiology including altered immune-inflammatory responses, and evidence implicates high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) axis in amplifying inflammation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate their expression in gingival tissues from individuals with Stage III/IV PD with and without type 2DM (T2DM). Materials and Methods: Thirty-three gingival tissue samples were taken from Group I: Systemically and periodontally healthy, Group II: Systemically healthy with PD and Group III: PD with T2DM. Tissue and gene expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction. The staining intensity distribution (SID) and the mean percentage of positive stained cells (MPPC) scores were reported. Results: When compared to group I, the gene expression of HMGB1 and RAGE were 2.85 and 2.50 times higher in PD+T2DM, respectively (p<0.001). MPPC and SID for HMGB1 and RAGE expression were high in Groups II and III, with increased expression in PD+T2DM. Furthermore, when compared to Group I, the expression was significantly higher (p<0.001). In the 33 samples, MPPC and SID scores for HMGB1 and RAGE in the epithelium and connective tissue significantly correlated with clinical parameters (p<0.001). With a diagnostic accuracy of 87.88% [95% confidence interval (CI): 72.67-95.18] and a positive and negative predictive value of 95% and 76.92%, respectively, HMGB1 was able to distinguish between periodontal health and disease. RAGE had a diagnostic accuracy of 93.94% (95% CI: 80.39-98.32) with a positive and negative predictive values of 91.67% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Increased HMGB1 and RAGE expression underscores their significance in amplifying inflammation in PD associated with T2DM. Furthermore, both can be used as diagnostic biomarkers.
A New α + β Ti-15Nb Alloy with Low Elastic Modulus: Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation on Osteogenic Phenotype

This study aimed to produce Ti-15Nb alloy with a low elastic modulus, verify its biocompatibility, and determine whether the alloy indirectly influences cellular viability and morphology, as well as the development of the osteogenic phenotype in cells cultured for 2, 3, and 7 days derived from rat calvarias. Two heat treatments were performed to modify the mechanical properties of the alloy where the Ti-15Nb alloy was heated to 1000 °C followed by slow (−5 °C/min) (SC) and rapid cooling (RC). The results of structural and microstructural characterization (XRD and optical images) showed that the Ti-15Nb alloy was of the α + β type, with slow cooling promoting the formation of the α phase and rapid cooling the formation of the β phase, altering the values for the hardness and elastic modulus. Generally, a more significant amount of the α phase in the Ti-15Nb alloy increased the elastic modulus value but decreased the microhardness value. After the RC treatment, the results demonstrated that the Ti-15Nb alloy did not present cytotoxic effects on the osteogenic cells. In addition, we did not find variations in the cell quantity in the microscopy results that could suggest cell adhesion or proliferation modification.
Microbial signature profiles of Penaeus vannamei larvae in low-survival hatchery tanks affected by vibriosis

Vibriosis is caused by some pathogenic Vibrio and produces significant mortality in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei larvae in commercial hatcheries. Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is an emerging vibriosis affecting shrimp-producing countries worldwide. Zoea 2 syndrome is another type of vibriosis that affects the early stages of P. vannamei larvae. Although the pathogenesis of AHPND and zoea 2 syndrome is well known, there is scarce information about microbial composition and biomarkers of P.vannamei larvae affected by AHPND, and there is no study of the microbiome of larvae affected by zoea 2 syndrome. In this work, we characterized the microbiome of P. vannamei larvae collected from 12 commercial hatchery tanks by high-throughput sequencing. Seven tanks were affected by AHPND, and five tanks were affected by zoea 2 syndrome. Subsequently, all samples were selected for sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the16S rRNA gene. Similarity analysis using the beta diversity index revealed significant differences in the larval bacterial communities between disease conditions, particularly when Vibrio was analyzed. Linear discriminant analysis with effect size determined specific microbial signatures for AHPND and zoea 2 syndrome. Sneathiella, Cyclobacterium, Haliea, Lewinella, among other genera, were abundant in AHPND-affected larvae. Meanwhile, Vibrio, Spongiimonas, Meridianimaribacter, Tenacibaculum, among other genera, were significantly abundant in larvae affected by zoea 2 syndrome. The bacterial network at the phylum level for larvae collected from tanks affected by AHPND showed greater complexity and connectivity than in samples collected from tanks affected by zoea 2 syndrome. The bacterial connections inter Vibrio genera were higher in larvae from tanks affected by zoea 2 syndrome, also presenting other connections between the genera Vibrio and Catenococcus. The identification of specific biomarkers found in this study could be useful for understanding the microbial dynamics during different types of vibriosis.
Project-Based Learning and Perceived Overlap of Self-Regulation and Project-based Learning Techniques for Students with Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Case Study

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perception of educators transitioning from a traditional learning environment to a project-based learning (PBL). Teachers’ perception of student self-regulation in ages from 8 to 17 were captured. Data were collected from 1-1 interviews with five participants with Missouri teacher certification ranging in grade levels from elementary to high school working with a total of 175 students within a mental health residential school throughout Missouri. Additional data were collected from daily logs, participant interviews, behavioral logs, and regulation logs from classrooms of students with the same background as teacher participants over the last four school years, 2018-22, of teachers who have taught project-based learning units. Daily logs, regulation logs, behavioral logs, and participant interview responses were manually coded twice and then coded a third time using electronic coding via NVivo to ensure bias from Dr Foster was not present. This study supports using project-based learning units with students who have a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). While study findings support the teacher perception that project-based learning activities increase self-regulation from interview responses, regulation logs, and daily logs data could not triangulate this perceived relationship. These findings support the importance of relationships with students with ACEs during PBL to increase self-regulation.
Heterogeneity and potential therapeutic insights for triple-negative breast cancer based on metabolic‐associated molecular subtypes and genomic mutations

Objective: Due to a lack of effective therapy, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is extremely poor prognosis. Metabolic reprogramming is an important hallmark in tumorigenesis, cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Categorizing metabolic patterns in TNBC is critical to combat heterogeneity and targeted therapeutics. Methods: 115 TNBC patients from TCGA were combined into a virtual cohort and verified by other verification sets, discovering differentially expressed genes (DEGs). To identify reliable metabolic features, we applied the same procedures to five independent datasets to verify the identified TNBC subtypes, which differed in terms of prognosis, metabolic characteristics, immune infiltration, clinical features, somatic mutation, and drug sensitivity. Results: In general, TNBC could be classified into two metabolically distinct subtypes. C1 had high immune checkpoint genes expression and immune and stromal scores, demonstrating sensitivity to the treatment of PD-1 inhibitors. On the other hand, C2 displayed a high variation in metabolism pathways involved in carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. More importantly, C2 was a lack of immune signatures, with late pathological stage, low immune infiltration and poor prognosis. Interestingly, C2 had a high mutation frequency in PIK3CA, KMT2D, and KMT2C and displayed significant activation of the PI3K and angiogenesis pathways. As a final output, we created a 100-gene classifier to reliably differentiate the TNBC subtypes and AKR1B10 was a potential biomarker for C2 subtypes. Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified two subtypes with distinct metabolic phenotypes, provided novel insights into TNBC heterogeneity, and provided a theoretical foundation for therapeutic strategies.
Lipid profile, ox‐LDL, and LCAT activity in patients with endometrial carcinoma and type 2 diabetes: The effect of concurrent disease based on a case–control study

The role of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL) in endometrial cancer (EC) or EC with concurrent type 2 diabetes is still unclear. This study investigated the LCAT activity, ox‐LDL, and lipid profile in EC patients with or without type 2 diabetes and compared them with healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes alone.
Nucleophilic C4-selective (hetero) arylation of pyridines for facile synthesis of heterobiaryls

The synthesis of heterobiaryl compounds holds significant value in organic chemistry due to their extensive range of applications. Herein, we report a highly efficient strategy for conducting C4-selective (hetero) arylation of pyridines using N-aminopyridinium salts. The reaction proceeds readily at room temperature in the presence of a base, thus eliminating the requirement for catalysts or oxidants. This method allows for the installation of various electron-rich (hetero) aryl groups on pyridines, resulting in the streamlined synthesis of highly valuable C4-(hetero) aryl pyridine derivatives, which are otherwise challenging to acquire via conventional methods. This simple and straightforward method will facilitate access to a range of heterobiaryl compounds thereby promoting their application in various scientific disciplines.
Geometry-Based Shim Coil Design Applied on an Ultralow-Field MRI System

In an ultralow-field magnetic resonance imaging (ULF-MRI) system, the uniformity of static magnetic field <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$B_{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is essential for maintaining good imaging quality. However, achieving high <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$B_{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> homogeneity is difficult due to the low magnitude. This article proposes a flexible active shimming approach for ULF <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$B_{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> optimization, where an original geometry-based method is presented for first- and second-order shim coil designs. Different types of shim coils are approximated by combinatorial geometric curves, where no additional wire is needed for overall connection. An optimization problem is established to ensure that each shim coil generates a high-purity harmonic magnetic field, which is comparable to the optimization results obtained using the conventional stream function method. A computer-controlled multichannel current source is designed to drive the second-order shim coils, where the current output reaches an accuracy of 1 mA. The performance of optimized coils is verified by imaging experiments. It is demonstrated that <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$B_{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> homogeneity is improved from 157 to 111 ppm following the implementation of second-order shimming. The in vivo experiment shows that imaging quality is improved after shimming with the local signal-to-noise ratio increasing 1.16–1.92 folds.
Three Ablation Techniques for Atrial Fibrillation during Concomitant Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is a frequent procedure used in concomitant cardiac surgery. However, uncertainty still exists concerning the optimal extent of lesion sets. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the results of various ablation techniques, aiming to offer a reference for clinical decision making. This review is listed in the prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) under ID CRD42023412785. A comprehensive search was conducted across eight databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, EBSCOHost, PubMed, Medline, Wiley, ProQuest, and Embase) up to 18 April 2023. Studies were critically appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 for randomized control trials (RCTs) and the Newcastle Ottawa Scale adapted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for cohort studies. Forest plots of pooled effect estimates and surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) were used for the analysis. Our analysis included 39 studies and a total of 7207 patients. Both bi-atrial ablation (BAA) and left atrial ablation (LAA) showed similar efficacy in restoring sinus rhythm (SR; BAA (77.9%) > LAA (76.2%) > pulmonary vein isolation (PVI; 66.5%); LAA: OR = 1.08 (CI 0.94–1.23); PVI: OR = 1.36 (CI 1.08–1.70)). However, BAA had higher pacemaker implantation (LAA: OR = 0.51 (CI 0.37–0.71); PVI: OR = 0.52 (CI 0.31–0.86)) and reoperation rates (LAA: OR = 0.71 (CI 0.28–1.45); PVI: OR = 0.31 (CI 0.1–0.64)). PVI had the lowest efficacy in restoring SR and a similar complication rate to LAA, but had the shortest procedure time (Cross-clamp (Xc): PVI (93.38) > LAA (37.36) > BAA (13.89)); Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB): PVI (93.93) > LAA (56.04) > BAA (0.03)). We suggest that LAA is the best surgical technique for AF ablation due to its comparable effectiveness in restoring SR, its lower rate of pacemaker requirement, and its lower reoperation rate compared to BAA. Furthermore, LAA ranks as the second-fastest procedure after PVI, with a similar CPB time.