Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Just noticeable notch smoothing of head-related transfer functions

To understand the influence of notch depth mismatches in head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) on the subjective perception, an expert listening test was conducted to find the just noticeable difference (JND) of notch smoothing. The findings are also intended to be used for binaural reproduction over loudspeakers to avoid high peaks due to HRTF inversion (e.g. in crosstalk cancellation systems (CTC)). For the determination of the subjective threshold a QUEST procedure was implemented. Six positions on the right hemisphere were tested using individual HRTFs and resulted that notches can be smoothed at least with a factor of 0.5 towards their one octave moving average window smoothed equivalent.
Prevalence and shared risk factors of HIV in three key populations in Vietnam: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract This study aims to estimate the prevalence of HIV among each of the three key populations in Vietnam: people who inject drugs (PWID), female sex workers (FSW), and men who have sex with men (MSM) and quantify their shared risk factors for HIV infection through a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent literature (published in 2001–2017) in the relevant topics. A total of 17 studies consisting of 16,304 participants were selected in this review. The meta-analysis results revealed that the pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) among PWID, FSW, and MSM were: 0.293 (0.164, 0.421), 0.075 (0.060, 0.089), and 0.085 (0.044, 0.126), respectively. The findings also indicated that injecting drug use (OR: 9.88, 95%CI: 4.47–15.28), multiperson use of injecting equipment (OR: 2.91, 95%CI: 1.69, 4.17), and inconsistent condom use (OR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.33, 2.90) were the shared risk factors for HIV infection among these population groups. The findings highlighted the importance of HIV prevention approaches to addressing the shared sexual and drug-related practices among the key populations in consideration of their overlapping social networks.
Culling a Self-Assembled Quantum Dot as a Single-Photon Source Using X-ray Microscopy

Epitaxially grown self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with atom-like optical properties have emerged as the best choice for single-photon sources required for the development of quantum technology and quantum networks. Nondestructive selection of a single QD having desired structural, compositional, and optical characteristics is essential to obtain noise-free, fully indistinguishable single or entangled photons from single-photon emitters. Here, we show that the structural orientations and local compositional inhomogeneities within a single QD and the surrounding wet layer can be probed in a screening fashion by scanning X-ray diffraction microscopy and X-ray fluorescence with a few tens of nanometers-sized synchrotron radiation beam. The presented measurement protocol can be used to cull the best single QD from the enormous number of self-assembled dots grown simultaneously. The obtained results show that the elemental composition and resultant strain profiles of a QD are sensitive to in-plane crystallographic directions. We also observe that lattice expansion after a certain composition-limit introduces shear strain within a QD, enabling the possibility of controlled chiral-QD formation. Nanoscale chirality and compositional anisotropy, contradictory to common assumptions, need to be incorporated into existing theoretical models to predict the optical properties of single-photon sources and to further tune the epitaxial growth process of self-assembled quantum structures.
Isolation and genome sequencing of five lytic bacteriophages from hospital wastewater in the Philippines

ABSTRACT Here, we report the genome sequences of five bacteriophages isolated from hospital wastewater, including two new species and two candidates for therapeutic application. No virulence, temperate marker and antibiotic resistance genes were found in the genomes of Escherichia phage vB_VIPECOOM03 and Klebsiella phage vB_VIPKPNUMC01, making them suitable candidate for therapy.
Afterimage duration depends on how deeply invisible stimuli were suppressed

Quantifying visual responses to stimuli that are outside of awareness is a critical task for the study of visual consciousness. The current study psychophysically investigated whether afterimages reflect visual responses to stimuli that are not consciously visible throughout adaptation due to interocular suppression. A Gabor adaptor was presented to one eye of the observer, and a counterphase-flickering Gabor suppressor was presented to the other eye, thereby rendering the adaptor invisible during adaptation. To manipulate the depth of the suppression of the invisible adaptor, we varied the orientation difference between the adaptor and suppressor. We found that, even though the adaptor was not visible during adaptation, the afterimage duration varied depending on the orientation selectivity of interocular suppression. The duration was the shortest when the orientations of the adaptor and suppressor were identical and lengthened when the orientation differences increased. This finding could not be explained by confounding factors such as potential changes in contrast sensitivity that were caused by the suppressor. Our findings suggest that the magnitude of visual responses to stimuli suppressed below the threshold of awareness can be measured using the afterimage duration. Afterimages could be an effective tool for quantifying visual responses, irrespective of observers’ conscious awareness of a presented stimulus.
Structural basis for binding of Drosophila Smaug to the GPCR Smoothened and to the germline inducer Oskar

Significance In many animals, early embryonic development relies on maternally deposited gene products. Smaug protein is a key regulator of posterior patterning and crucial for the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) of gene expression of the early Drosophila embryo. However, molecular insight into how Smaug binds to its protein interaction partners was lacking. Here, we present the crystal structure of a previously uncharacterized protein domain and provide the structural basis for binding of Smaug to the Hedgehog signaling transducer Smoothened and to the germline inducer Oskar. Molecular insight into these complexes should facilitate future mechanistic studies of Smaug and its partners for a better understanding of their functions during early development.
Deubiquitinase inhibitor PR‐619 potentiates colon cancer immunotherapy by inducing ferroptosis

A substantial number of colon cancer patients do not benefit from immunotherapy using programmed cell death 1 (PD1) antibodies. Therefore, combination therapy drugs are required to improve the efficacy of colon cancer immunotherapy. Recent studies have shown that deubiquitinases are negative regulators of anti‐tumour immunity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the deubiquitinase inhibitor PR‐619 in combination with anti‐PD1 for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The results revealed that co‐treatment with PR‐619 and anti‐PD1 significantly inhibited tumour growth in tumour‐bearing BALB/c mice compared to monotherapy with a single drug. In addition, PR‐619/anti‐PD1 combined therapy inhibited cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, induced intratumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells, and enhanced the release of anti‐tumour cytokines. Moreover, PR‐619 induced ferroptosis in colon cancer cells, thereby inducing the release of damage‐associated molecular patterns that triggered anti‐tumour immunity. Finally, we discovered that PR‐619 could degrade the GPX4 protein, the high expression of which was associated with poor prognosis and blocked CD8+ T cells infiltration in colon cancer. In conclusion, PR‐619 may potentiate immunotherapy by inducing ferroptosis, and thereby promoting CD8+ T cells‐mediated anti‐tumour immunity, providing a potential strategy for colon cancer treatment.
Air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of atrial fibrillation: A large prospective cohort study

Significance Previous studies have typically concentrated on the independent associations between air pollutants or genetic susceptibility and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, these studies have largely ignored the joint effects or interactions of genetics and air pollutants. In addition to the joint effects of genetic factors and air pollutants, our study estimated the potential interactions and revealed additive interactions between genetic susceptibility and air pollutants exposure on the development of AF. Our findings suggest that improving air quality will benefit the entire population, especially those at high level of genetic risk, which has a potential guiding significance for the primary prevention of AF.
Energy Conversion and Collisionless Plasma Dissipation Channels in the Turbulent Magnetosheath Observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

Analysis of high-resolution Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission plasma and magnetic field data directly reveals the exchanges of energy between electromagnetic and flow energy and between microscopic flows and random kinetic energy in the inhomogeneous turbulent magnetosheath. The computed rates of exchange are based on exact results from the collisionless Vlasov model of plasma dynamics, without appeal to viscous or other closures. The description includes analyses of several structures observed in intervals of burst mode data in the magnetosheath, revealing pathways of energy exchange at sub-ion scales. Time-series of the work done by the electromagnetic field, and the pressure–stress interaction, enable description of the pathways to dissipation in this low-collisionality plasma. This method does not require any specific mechanism for its application, such as reconnection or a selected mode, although with increased experience it will be useful for distinguishing between proposed possibilities.
Carbon–cement supercapacitors as a scalable bulk energy storage solution

Significance The extent and pace of the transition from our current fossil fuel-based economy to one based on renewable energy will strongly depend on the availability of bulk energy storage solutions. Herein, we investigate one such candidate technology, using chemical precursors which are inexpensive, abundant, and widely available, specifically cement, water, and carbon black. The energy storage capacity of these carbon-cement supercapacitors is shown to be an intensive quantity, and their high rate capability exhibits self-similarity. These properties point to the opportunity for employing these structural concrete-like supercapacitors for bulk energy storage in both residential and industrial applications ranging from energy autarkic shelters and self-charging roads for electric vehicles, to intermittent energy storage for wind turbines.
Letter from Nepal

acid-fast bacilli was also demonstrated in three cases. In four cases, cytology revealed granulomatous lymphadenitis which in the appropriate clinical context was diagnosed to be sarcoidosis. Resource constraints led to the reuse of EBUS needles. The needles were reused after cleaning with organic cleaning solution, disinfection with 2.4% glutaraldehyde solution followed by ethylene oxide sterilization. 4 In some cases, the same needle was employed in up to four patients. This stems from the fact that EBUS needles are expensive and not easily available. Our experience has been that more force is needed to enter target node/lesion on repeated use of EBUS needles. No cases of mediastinitis were recorded and the diagnosis in cases with reused needles were clinically consistent. The expertise learned is being passed on, with other members of our team also being able to perform EBUS independently. Thus, the formalized training, in time, not only gave us the confidence to go ahead with our EBUS services, but has also helped ensure the transfer of knowledge and fine-tuning of skills such that multiple operators are proficient in performing the procedure
Association of Neuropsychiatric Symptom Profiles With Cognitive Decline in Patients With Parkinson Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background and Objectives Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are closely associated with cognitive decline in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). We investigated which profiles of NPS are associated with the risk of dementia in PD with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). Methods We retrospectively assessed 338 patients with PD-MCI from a single tertiary hospital, who underwent neuropsychological tests and a neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) questionnaire. We conducted a factor analysis of the dichotomized presence of 12 NPI symptoms, yielding 3 NPI factors: factor 1, mood symptoms; factor 2, hyperactivity-related symptoms; and factor 3, psychotic symptoms. Factor analysis of the severity of NPI symptoms also identified similar NPI factors. The neuropsychiatric correlates of NPI factors were evaluated using general linear models for cognitive tests. Subsequently, we evaluated the hazard ratio (HR) of NPI factors on conversion to dementia. Results A higher prevalence factor 1 score was associated with lower scores in the verbal memory (β = −0.15; 95% CI −0.24 to −0.06; p = 0.001) and executive domains (β = −0.16; 95% CI −0.28 to −0.04; p = 0.007), whereas higher severity factor 2 scores were associated with lower scores in the naming (β = −0.16; 95% CI −0.28 to −0.03; p = 0.012), visuospatial (β = −0.24; 95% CI −0.41 to −0.07; p = 0.005), and verbal memory domains (β = −0.15; 95% CI −0.24 to −0.05; p = 0.005). A higher severity factor 3 score was associated with lower scores in the visuospatial domain (β = −0.25; 95% CI −0.46 to −0.07; p = 0.007). Cox regression models demonstrated that the risk of dementia was increased in those with higher prevalence factor 1 (HR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.17–1.88, p = 0.001) and factor 2 scores (HR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.07–1.51, p = 0.007) and severity factor 3 score (HR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.29–1.80, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, education, disease duration, scores for cognition and parkinsonism, and levodopa equivalent dose. Discussion This study demonstrated that a higher burden of NPS is associated with dementia conversion in patients with PD-MCI.
Review of generic scenario environmental release and occupational exposure models used in chemical risk assessment

Abstract Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is required to determine whether a new chemical substance poses an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment before the chemical is manufactured in or imported into the United States. This manuscript provides a review of the process used to evaluate the risk associated with a chemical based on the scenarios and models used in the evaluation. Specifically, the Generic Scenarios and Emission Scenario Documents developed by the USEPA were reviewed, along with background documentation prepared by USEPA to identify the core elements of the environmental release and occupational exposure scenarios used to assess the risk of the chemical being evaluated. Additionally, this contribution provides an overview of methods used to model occupational exposures and environmental releases as part of the chemical evaluation process used in other jurisdictions, along with work being performed to improve these models. Finally, the alternative methods to evaluate occupational exposures and environmental releases that may be used as part of the decision-making process regarding a chemical are identified. The contribution provides a path forward for reducing the time required and improving the chemical evaluation of the unreasonable risk determination regarding the manufacture or import of a chemical.
Loss of flockmates weakens winter site fidelity in golden-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla)

Significance Animals may be faithful to specific locations (site fidelity) due to the benefits of finding resources in familiar spaces or due to maintaining familiar flockmates. However, separating social fidelity and site fidelity remains challenging. To test if social relationships can drive high site fidelity, we examined natural turnover events in a long-term winter study population of migratory golden-crowned sparrows. This population maintains stable flocking partnerships across years, and we show that returning individuals generally increase winter site fidelity with each subsequent winter. However, we found that losing previous flockmates reduces otherwise extraordinary winter site fidelity, particularly among older birds. Our results demonstrate the close connection between social and spatial dynamics, and provide evidence that social fidelity can promote site fidelity.
Breath analysis combined with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and echocardiography for monitoring heart failure patients: the AEOLUS protocol

This paper describes the AEOLUS pilot study which combines breath analysis with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and an echocardiographic examination for monitoring heart failure (HF) patients. Ten consecutive patients with a prior clinical diagnosis of HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction were prospectively enrolled together with 15 control patients with cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, type II diabetes or chronic ischemic heart disease. Breath samples were collected at rest and during CPET coupled with exercise stress echocardiography (CPET-ESE) protocol by means of needle trap micro-extraction and were analyzed through gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The protocol also involved using of a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometer for a breath-by-breath isoprene and acetone analysis during exercise. At rest, HF patients showed increased breath levels of acetone and pentane, which are related to altered oxidation of fatty acids and oxidative stress, respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between acetone and the gold standard biomarker NT-proBNP in plasma (r = 0.646, p < 0.001), both measured at rest. During exercise, some exhaled volatiles (e.g., isoprene) mirrored ventilatory and/or hemodynamic adaptation, whereas others (e.g., sulfide compounds and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone) depended on their origin. At peak effort, acetone levels in HF patients differed significantly from those of the control group, suggesting an altered myocardial and systemic metabolic adaptation to exercise for HF patients. These preliminary data suggest that concomitant acquisition of CPET-ESE and breath analysis is feasible and might provide additional clinical information on the metabolic maladaptation of HF patients to exercise. Such information may refine the identification of patients at higher risk of disease worsening.
Adaptive Image Fusion Method Based on Non-subsampled Contourlet Wavelet Transform

Adaptive Image Fusion Method Based on Non-subsampled Contourlet Wavelet Transform Liang-liang Wang, Gui-cang Zhang and Wen-xiao Jia Department of Computational Mathematics, Northwest Normal University Lan'zhou – 730070, Lan'zhou, China. E-mail: 944209619@qq.com Department of Computational Mathematics, Northwest Normal University Lan'zhou – 730070, Lan'zhou, China. E-mail: zhanggc@nwnu.edu. cn Department of Computational Mathematics, Northwest Normal University Lan'zhou – 730070, Lan'zhou, China. E-mail: 110312456@qq.com
Deep Learning Ultrasound Computed Tomography Under Sparse Sampling

Ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) is a fast-emerging imaging modality that is expected to help detect and characterize breast tumors by quantifying the distribution of the speed of sound (SOS) and acoustic attenuation in breast tissue. High-quality quantitative SOS reconstruction in USCT requires a large number of transducers, which incurs high system costs and slow computation. In contrast, sparsely distributed arrays are low-cost and fast but significantly degrade image quality. Thus, we propose a framework to achieve high-quality SOS reconstruction under sparse sampling based on a convolutional neural network (SRSS-Net) with faster computation. We first apply the bent-ray algorithm to sparsely sampled data and then apply the SRSS-Net to efficiently improve the image quality. Experimental results on synthetic and real datasets demonstrate that the proposed SRSS-Net provides reconstructions that are superior to those of state-of-the-art methods in terms of artifact suppression, structural preservation, quantitative restoration, and computational speed. As demonstrated in our experiments, the fine-tuning training strategy is suggested when applying SRSS-Net to real-world circumstances. The imaging and computational performance of SRSS-Net on the inhomogeneous breast phantom further demonstrates that SRSS-Net has great potential in real-time breast cancer detection.
Electronic properties of edge-terminated zigzag hexagonal boron nitride nanoribbons

The electronic properties of edge-terminated zigzag hexagonal boron nitride nanoribbons (ZBNNRs) are studied with a tight-binding model which utilizes extended Hückel theory. The nanoribbons are terminated with F, Cl, O, S and P atoms, respectively. In all cases, the energy band structure and density of states are studied. Band properties and band gaps for each system are also reported. It is found that F and Cl atoms produce semiconducting properties when used as terminating atoms to the ZBNNRs and O, S and P atoms produce metallic properties when used as terminating atoms. The addition of the terminating atoms changes localized edge states and creates new ones, the effects of which can be seen across all available bonding orbitals.
Exploring the potential of magnesium oxychloride, an amorphous magnesium phosphate, and newberyite as possible bone cement candidates

Magnesium phosphate-based bone cements, particularly struvite (MgNH4PO4∙6H2O)-forming cements, have attracted increased scientific interest in recent years because they exhibit similar biocompatibility to hydroxyapatite while degrading much more rapidly in vivo. However, other magnesium-based minerals which might be promising are, to date, little studied. Therefore, in this study, we investigated three magnesium-based bone cements: a magnesium oxychloride cement (Mg3(OH)5Cl∙4H2O), an amorphous magnesium phosphate cement based on Mg3(PO4)2, MgO, and NaH2PO4, and a newberyite cement (MgHPO4·3H2O). Because it is not sufficiently clear from the literature to what extent these cements are suitable for clinical use, all of them were characterized and optimized regarding setting time, setting temperature, compressive strength and passive degradation in phosphate-buffered saline. Because the in vitro properties of the newberyite cement were most promising, it was orthotopically implanted into a partially weight-bearing tibial bone defect in sheep. The cement exhibited excellent biocompatibility and degraded more rapidly compared to a hydroxyapatite reference cement; after 4 months, 18% of the cement was degraded. We conclude that the newberyite cement was the most promising candidate of the investigated cements and has clear advantages over calcium phosphate cements, especially in terms of setting time and degradation behavior.
Noninvasive ECG imaging of the intrinsic atrial pacemaker and atrial activation in surgically repaired or palliated congenital heart disease

Sinus node location, function, and atrial activation are often abnormal in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), due to anatomical, surgical, and acquired factors. We aimed to perform noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) of the intrinsic atrial pacemaker and atrial activation in patients with surgically repaired or palliated CHD, compared with control patients with structurally normal hearts.