Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forecasting parasite sharing under climate change

Species are shifting their distributions in response to climate change. This geographic reshuffling may result in novel co-occurrences among species, which could lead to unseen biotic interactions, including the exchange of parasites between previously isolated hosts. Identifying potential new host–parasite interactions would improve forecasting of disease emergence and inform proactive disease surveillance. However, accurate predictions of future cross-species disease transmission have been hampered by the lack of a generalized approach and data availability. Here, we propose a framework to predict novel host–parasite interactions based on a combination of niche modelling of future host distributions and parasite sharing models. Using the North American ungulates as a proof of concept, we show this approach has high cross-validation accuracy in over 85% of modelled parasites and find that more than 34% of the host–parasite associations forecasted by our models have already been recorded in the literature. We discuss potential sources of uncertainty and bias that may affect our results and similar forecasting approaches, and propose pathways to generate increasingly accurate predictions. Our results indicate that forecasting parasite sharing in response to shifts in host geographic distributions allow for the identification of regions and taxa most susceptible to emergent pathogens under climate change. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe’.
Electrical Properties of Composites Based on Low-Pressure Polyethylene and Carbon-Containing Fillers

We have obtained polymer composites based on low-pressure polyethylene and carbon-containing fillers: carbon black, carbon nanotubes. The electrical properties of the obtained polymer composites have been investigated. Obtained polymer composites have electrically conductive properties. This article shows that the electrical properties significantly depend on the concentration, type of carbon-containing filler, as well as on temperature and voltage. It was found that containment of a certain amount of carbon-containing fillers leads to a formation of conductive paths composites, leading to the manifestation of a positive temperature coefficient in electrical resistance by the material.
Mesogenic Properties of Aromatic Oligoesters Derived from Kink-Structured Monomers

Novel liquid crystalline oligomers were prepared using different compositions of kink-structured aromatic dicarboxylic acids, aromatic diols, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid via high-temperature polycondensation. The reaction products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarized optical microscopy. As a result, the samples containing kinked units with phenyl or naphthalene moiety had a broad processing window limited by the melting process and the isotropization, whereas one based on diphenic acid was almost entirely in an amorphous state. The surface properties of the oligomers were evaluated by wetting measurements using a static contact angle analysis.
General design of N-way Bagley power dividers with arbitrary unequal output power splitting ratios using a new iterative algorithm

ABSTRACT The general design of N-way Bagley Power Divider (BPD) with unequal output power splitting ratio is presented through this paper for the first time. Design equations are systematically derived based on microwave engineering, transmission line, and circuit theories after considering perfect input port matching (theoretically S 11 = 0). An iterative algorithm for computing the characteristic impedances of the lines between adjacent output ports and the scattering parameters (S-parameters) for N-way BPD design is developed in this article. For validation, two multi-port examples, 11-way BPD and 13-way BPD are presented to confirm the design procedure. S-parameters have been calculated theoretically and using the presented algorithm to find the value of the design impedances. After that, these values are evaluated using both ADS and HFSS. A detailed flowchart is given through this paper to implement this N-way BPD iterative algorithm for any output port number (N). A very good agreement between theoretical, simulated, and experimental results is noted. This indicates the accuracy of the presented algorithm and the derived design equations. Besides, it gives the flexibility to design BPDs with any odd number of output ports for arbitrary output power splitting ratio, which is considered as a tangible additive in BPD design.
Physical and Chemical Fundamentals of Building the Structure of Dispersed Filled Polymer Composite Materials and Nanocomposites

Questions of the construction of dispersed structures of polymer composite materials using a generalized model of dispersed filled polymer composite materials (DFPCM) are studied. Using the parameter of maximum proportion of filler (φm) allows you to take into account the size, shape, and distribution of part of the dispersed filler at the same time. The transition to generalized and specified parameters when describing the structure of the DFPCM leads to the possibility of highlighting the optimal criteria for obtaining systems with the highest strength characteristics. The transition to generalized and reduced parameters when describing the structure of DFPCM leads to the possibility of selecting optimal criteria that ensure obtaining systems with the necessary level of rheological, electrochemical, physico-mechanical and other characteristics.
Spanish speakers’ English schwar production: Does orthography play a role?

Abstract This study examines how input mode – whether written or auditory – interacts with orthography in the production of North American English (NAE) schwar (/ɝ/, found in fur, heard, bird) by native Spanish speakers. Greater orthographic interference was predicted for written input, given the obligatory activation of orthographic representations in the execution of the task. Participants were L1 Mexican Spanish/L2 English speakers (L2, n = 15) and NAE (n = 15, rhotic dialect speakers). The target items were 10 schwar words and 10 words matched in graphemes to the onset and nucleus of the schwar words (e.g., bird was matched with big), for a total of 20 items. The degree of overlap between schwar productions across group and input mode (L2 only) was analyzed, followed by a generalized additive mixed model analysis of F3, one of the acoustic cues to rhotacization. Results showed that L2 schwar productions were different from the NAE productions in both the overlap and F3 measures, and the written input mode showed greater L1 orthographic interference than the auditory input mode, supporting the hypothesis that L1 orthography–phonology correspondences affect L2 productions of English schwar words.
Implications of a Mortgage Interest Credit for the United States

The US mortgage interest deduction (MID) allows homeowners to deduct the interest paid on their mortgages from their federal tax returns, provided that they itemize deductions. Since the benefit depends on a taxpayer’s marginal tax rate, which increases with income, the MID is an “upside-down subsidy” that becomes more valuable for higher-income homeowners. I analyze the implications of converting the US MID to a mortgage interest credit (MIC) and evaluate the effects on federal revenue and the distribution of income. I argue that a MIC could be better targeted at low- and middle-income taxpayers on the margin of homeownership while also being more progressive and less expensive than the current MID.
Psychological prices at retail gasoline stations: the policies of 0-, 5-, and 9-ending prices

ABSTRACT Psychological prices are known to impact consumer behaviour and to depend on retailers’ characteristics. Less understood is last digit pricing, especially in the context of retail gasoline stations. We study price endings in the French gasoline market with 11,471 gas stations and 4,775,300 prices for oil companies, supermarkets, and independent retailers during five years. Raw data suggest that 0-ending prices are more expensive. Yet, these last digit effects do not survive careful scrutiny focusing on the individual behaviour/distribution of each gas station. Plus, 9-, 0-, and 5-ending prices are over-represented. Our evidence better informs administrative authorities investigating market irregularities and consumers interested in better deals.
Microscopy and Histochemistry of Leaves and Stems of Baccharis Subgenus Coridifoliae (Asteraceae) Through LM and SEM-EDS

Abstract This research reports for the first time the anatomical characteristics of all species belonging to Baccharis subgenus Coridifoliae (Asteraceae). The anatomy and micro-morphology of aerial vegetative organs of ten species: B. albilanosa, B. artemisioides, B. bicolor, B. coridifolia, B. erigeroides, B. napaea, B. ochracea, B. pluricapitulata, B. scabrifolia, and B. suberectifolia are investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. The number of secretory ducts, crystal morphology, presence or absence of conical nonglandular trichomes, leaves cross-section shape, margin morphology, anticlinal epidermal cell walls shape, and cuticle structure were identified as characters with diagnostic value for species. Similarity cluster analysis allows the formation of three groups based on a percentage of similarity between 45 and 84%. Some species showed differential characteristics as the presence of up to four secretory ducts in the midrib in B. albilanosa; smooth cuticles onboth sides of the leaf epidermis in B. erigeroides; flat midrib shape on both sides of the leaves in B. napaea; and convex–flat midrib shape in B. suberectifolia. The remaining species can be differentiated by a set of anatomical features. Anatomical and histochemical characteristics of stems and leaves provided data to support species identification.
Moral Judgement and Moral Progress: The Problem of Cognitive Control

ABSTRACT We propose a fundamental challenge to the feasibility of moral progress: most extant theories of progress, we will argue, assume an unrealistic level of cognitive control people must have over their moral judgments for moral progress to occur. Moral progress depends at least in part on the possibility of individual people improving their moral cognition to eliminate the pernicious influence of various epistemically defective biases and other distorting factors. Since the degree of control people can exert over their moral cognition tends to be significantly overestimated, the prospects of moral progress face a formidable problem, the force of which has thus far been underappreciated. In the paper, we will provide both conceptual and empirical arguments for this thesis, and explain its most important implications.
Searching for Significance During a Pandemic: A Muslim Perspective

The authors in this article seek to describe the importance of keeping one’s beliefs and spiritual practices alive during the COVID-19 pandemic from a Muslim perspective, and it considers this challenge in light of the theory of religious coping and the growing literature on the benefits of mindfulness. It provides nurses and other healthcare providers a view into the beliefs and practices of a Muslim-American family and shows how faith practices can help people not only cope but grow in difficult times. Implications for nursing and healthcare are discussed.
The MIT-LL/AFRL IWSLT-2007 MT system

The MIT-LL/AFRL MT system implements a standard phrase-based, statistical translation model. It incorporates a number of extensions that improve performance for speechbased translation. During this evaluation our efforts focused on the rapid porting of our SMT system to a new language (Arabic) and novel approaches to translation from speech input. This paper discusses the architecture of the MITLL/AFRL MT system, improvements over our 2006 system, and experiments we ran during the IWSLT-2007 evaluation. Specifically, we focus on 1) experiments comparing the performance of confusion network decoding and direct lattice decoding techniques for machine translation of speech, 2) the application of lightweight morphology for Arabic MT preprocessing and 3) improved confusion network decoding.
Improving the Hierarchical Phrase-Based Translation Model

The classic Hierarchical Phrase-Based Translation Model suffers from 3 defects: 1) an overly large model with a lot of useless or even wrong translation rules; 2) a large search space leading to combinatorial explosion; 3) since there is only one variable, decoder can only choose hierarchical rules through lexical information. This paper presents strategies to mitigate these problems, including rule extraction filtering, decoding optimization and variable refinement. The experiments show that the proposed methods can not only speed the decoding process but also improve the translation quality.
Intelligence Quotient Variability in Klinefelter Syndrome Is Associated With GTPBP6 Expression Under Regulation of X-Chromosome Inactivation Pattern

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) displays a broad dysmorphological, endocrinological, and neuropsychological clinical spectrum. We hypothesized that the neurocognitive dysfunction present in KS relies on an imbalance in X-chromosome gene expression. Thus, the X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) pattern and neurocognitive X-linked gene expression were tested and correlated with intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. We evaluated 11 KS patients by (a) IQ assessment, (b) analyzing the XCI patterns using both HUMARA and ZDHHC15 gene assays, and (c) blood RT-qPCR to investigate seven X-linked genes related to neurocognitive development (GTPBP6, EIF2S3, ITM2A, HUWE1, KDM5C, GDI1, and VAMP7) and XIST in comparison with 14 (male and female) controls. Considering IQ 80 as the standard minimum reference, we verified that the variability in IQ scores in KS patients seemed to be associated with the XCI pattern. Seven individuals in the KS group presented a random X-inactivation (RXI) and lower average IQ than the four individuals who presented a skewed X-inactivation (SXI) pattern. The evaluation of gene expression showed higher GTPBP6 expression in KS patients with RXI than in controls (p = 0.0059). Interestingly, the expression of GTPBP6 in KS patients with SXI did not differ from that observed in controls. Therefore, our data suggest for the first time that GTPBP6 expression is negatively associated with full-scale IQ under the regulation of the type of XCI pattern. The SXI pattern may regulate GTPBP6 expression, thereby dampening the impairment in cognitive performance and playing a role in intelligence variability in individuals with KS, which warrants further mechanistic investigations.
Metagenomics Reveals That Proper Placement After Long-Distance Transportation Significantly Affects Calf Nasopharyngeal Microbiota and Is Critical for the Prevention of Respiratory Diseases

Transportation is an inevitable phase for the cattle industry, and its effect on the respiratory system of transported cattle remains controversial. To reveal cattle’s nasopharyngeal microbiota dynamics, we tracked a batch of beef calves purchased from an auction market, transported to a farm by vehicle within 3 days, and adaptively fed for 7 days. Before and after the transport and after the placement, a total of 18 nasopharyngeal mucosal samples were collected, and microbial profiles were obtained using a metagenomic shotgun sequencing approach. The diversity, composition, structure, and function of the microbiota were collected at each time point, and their difference was analyzed. The results showed that, before the transportation, there were a great abundance of potential bovine respiratory disease (BRD)-related pathogens, and the transportation did not significantly change their abundance. After the transportation, 7 days of placement significantly decreased the risk of BRD by decreasing the abundance of potential BRD-related pathogens even if the diversity was decreased. We also discussed the controversial results of transportation’s effect in previous works and the decrease in diversity induced by placement. Our work provided more accurate information about the effect of transportation and the followed placement on the calf nasopharyngeal microbial community, indicated the importance of adaptive placement after long-distance transport, and is helpful to prevent BRD induced by transportation stress.
Multi-Variate Analyses of Coral Mortality From the 2014–2015 Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Outbreak Off Miami-Dade County, Florida

Environmental compliance monitoring associated with the Port Miami dredging project (2013–2015), designed to assess the impact of project-generated sediments on the local coral community, fortuitously captured a thermal bleaching event and the first reports of an emergent, highly contagious, white-plague-like coral disease outbreak in the fall of 2014. The disease, now termed stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), has decimated reefs throughout Florida and is now spreading across the Caribbean. The high prevalence of disease, the number of affected species, and the high mortality of corals affected suggests SCTLD may be the most lethal coral disease ever recorded. Previous analyses of the dredge monitoring data have reached mixed conclusions about the relative impact of dredging on coral mortality and has often parsed out disease susceptible individuals to isolate the impacts of dredging only. We use multi-variate analyses, including time-based survival analyses, to examine the timing and impacts of dredging, coral bleaching, and disease on local coral mortality. By examining the status of corals monthly from the October 2013 to July 2015 observational period, we found that coral mortality was not significantly affected by a coral’s proximity to the dredge site or sediment burial. Instead, coral mortality was most strongly impacted by disease and the emergence of SCTLD during the monitoring period. During the 2-year monitoring period, 26.3% of the monitored corals died, but the only conditions significantly affected by the dredge were partial burial and partial mortality. The strongest link to mortality was due to disease, which impacted coral species differently depending on their susceptibility to SCTLD. The focus on disturbances associated with dredging created a circumstance where the greater impacts of this emergent disease were downplayed, leading to a false narrative of the resulting mortality on the local coral communities. The results of this study reveal that while local events such as a dredging project do have quantifiable effects and can be harmful to corals, regional and global threats that result in mass coral mortality such as thermal stress and disease represent an existential threat to coral reefs and must be urgently addressed.
Prediction of Metastasis in the Axillary Lymph Nodes of Patients With Breast Cancer: A Radiomics Method Based on Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography

Background The use of traditional techniques to evaluate breast cancer is restricted by the subjective nature of assessment, variation across radiologists, and limited data. Radiomics may predict axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) of breast cancer more accurately. Purpose The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a radiomics model based on ALNs themselves that used contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to detect ALNM of breast cancer. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 402 patients with breast cancer confirmed by pathology from January 2016 to October 2019. Three hundred and ninety-six features were extracted for all patients from axial CECT images of 825 ALNs using Artificial Intelligent Kit software (GE Medical Systems, Version V3.1.0.R). Next, the radiomics model was trained, validated, and tested for predicting ALNM in breast cancer by using a support vector machine algorithm. Finally, the performance of the radiomics model was evaluated in terms of its classification accuracy and the value of the area under the curve (AUC). Results The radiomics model yielded the best classification accuracy of 89.1% and the highest AUC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.91-0.93, p=0.002) for discriminating ALNM in breast cancer in the validation cohorts. In the testing cohorts, the model also demonstrated better performance, with an accuracy of 88.5% and an AUC of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.93-0.95, p=0.005) for predicting ALNM in breast cancer. Conclusion The radiomics model based on CECT images can be used to predict ALNM in breast cancer and has significant potential in clinical noninvasive diagnosis and in the prediction of breast cancer metastasis.
Efficacy and Safety of Ablation for Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Age affects the efficacy of pharmacological treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Catheter ablation, including radiofrequency (RF) or cryoballoon ablation, is an effective strategy for symptomatic AF. This meta-analysis aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of AF ablation in elderly patients with AF compared to non-elderly patients with AF. Methods: We searched several databases for articles published between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2020. Eighteen observational studies with 21,039 patients were analyzed. Data including recurrence of AF or atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA), complications, procedural time, and fluoroscopic time were compared between the elderly and non-elderly groups. Results: The elderly patients had significantly higher incidences of recurrent AF or ATA after AF ablation compared to the non-elderly patients (<60 years old) (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–1.33). The elderly patients had significantly higher incidences of complications of AF ablation compared to the non-elderly patients (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.14–1.64). However, elderly AF patients with age ≥75 years old had similar incidence of recurrent AF or ATA and complication after AF ablation compared to non-elderly patients with AF. Conclusions: The elderly patients had significantly higher incidences of recurrent AF or ATA and complications after ablation for non-paroxysmal AF compared to non-elderly patients with AF (<60 years old), except in patients ≥75 years old.