Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical Spectral Evolution of the Gamma-Ray Binary PSR J2032+4127/MT91 213 Toward Its 2017 Periastron Passage

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Dilution Reduces Sample Matrix Effects for Rapid, Direct, and Miniaturised Phenotypic Antibiotic Susceptibility Tests for Bovine Mastitis

The time-consuming nature of current methods for detecting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to guide mastitis treatment and for surveillance, drives innovation towards faster, easier, and more portable technology. Rapid on-farm testing could guide antibiotic selection, reducing misuse that contributes to resistance. We identify challenges that arise when developing miniaturized antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) for rapid on-farm use directly in milk. We experimentally studied three factors: sample matrix (specifically milk or spoiled milk); the commensal bacteria found in fresh bovine milk; and result time on the performance of miniaturised AST. Microfluidic “dip-and-test” devices made from microcapillary film (MCF) were able to monitor Gram-negative bacterial growth colourimetrically even in the presence of milk and yoghurt (used to simulate spoiled milk samples), as long as this sample matrix was diluted 1:5 or more in growth medium. Growth detection kinetics using resazurin was not changed by milk at final concentrations of 20% or lower, but a significant delay was seen with yoghurt above 10%. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ciprofloxacin and gentamicin was increased in the presence of higher concentrations of milk and yoghurt. When diluted to 1% all observed MIC were within range, indicating dilution may be sufficient to avoid milk matrix interfering with microfluidic AST. We found a median commensal cell count of 6 × 105 CFU/mL across 40 healthy milk samples and tested if these bacteria could alter microfluidic AST. We found that false susceptibility may be observed at early endpoint times if testing some pathogen and commensal mixtures. However, such errors are only expected to occur when a susceptible commensal organism is present at higher cell density relative to the resistant pathogen, and this can be avoided by reading at later endpoints, leading to a trade-off between accuracy and time-to-result. We conclude that with further optimisation, and additional studies of Gram-positive organisms, it should be possible to obtain rapid results for microfluidic AST, but a trade-off is needed between time-to-result, sample dilution, and accuracy.
Development of a new vowel feature from coarticulation: Biomechanical modeling of rhotic vowels in Kalasha

Coarticulation is an important source of new phonological contrasts. When speakers interpret effects such as nasalization, glottalization, and rhoticization as an inherent property of a vowel, a new phonological contrast is born. Studying this process directly is challenging because most vowel systems are stable and phonological change likely follows a long transitional period in which coarticulation is conventionalized beyond its mechanical basis. We examine the development of a new vowel feature by focusing on the emergence of rhotic vowels in Kalasha, an endangered Dardic (Indo-Aryan) language, using biomechanical and acoustic modeling to provide a baseline of pure rhotic coarticulation. Several features of the Kalasha rhotic vowel system are not predicted from combining muscle activation for non-rhotic vowels and bunched and retroflex approximants, including that rhotic back vowels are produced with tongue body fronting (shifting the backness contrast to principally a rounding contrast). We find that synthesized vowels that are about 30% plain vowel and 70% rhotic are optimal (i.e., they best approximate observed rhotic vowels and also balance the acoustic separation among rhotic vowels with the separation from their non-rhotic counterparts). Otherwise, dispersion is not generally observed, but the vowel that is most vulnerable to merger differs most from what would be expected from coarticulation alone.
Reverse Factoring for MSMEs: A Financial Tool for Supply Chain Development?

Since the 2008 financial crisis, attention to supply chain finance has increased, as companies seek alternative funding sources. In this context, one scheme for accessing short-term credit has emerged as a promising option for suppliers, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs): reverse factoring (RF). Under RF, suppliers sell their accounts receivable to financial intermediaries to get access to instant cash, while buyers (anchor companies) make an irrevocable payment guarantee (confirmation) to those financial intermediaries, with the objective of increasing the credibility of the payment obligation and reducing risks. This paper discusses relevant concepts and reviews theoretical and empirical evidence related to RF. RF may be a beneficial financing tool for both suppliers and buyers, contributing to supply chain development. However, there are potential trade-offs to this approach which need to be carefully assessed. Overall, more specific data on the use of RF and quantitative research on its impacts is needed both for advancing the academic and managerial literature on this topic and for designing better-targeted public and private interventions in this area.
Re ﬂ ections on Carbon Leakage ∗

The general equilibrium e ﬀ ects of stricter environmental policy might reinforce or moderate the partial equilibrium e ﬀ ects. In some cases, the general equilibrium e ﬀ ects can overwhelm the partial equilibrium e ﬀ ects, leading to negative leakage. A partial equilibrium model helps to assess the likely magnitude of leakage, and the magnitude of border tax adjustments needed to o ﬀ set it. I discuss recent simulation and econometric papers that attempt to measure leakage and the e ﬀ ects of border tax adjustments
Evolution post-rift et enregistrement des mouvements verticaux le long des marges passives : Effets des processus intrinsèques aux marges passives

Les marges passives sont des structures lithospheriques intra-plaques, assurant la transition entre une croute continentale non amincie et une croute oceanique. Ces marges se forment a la suite de l’etirement et de l’amincissement d’une lithosphere continentale soumise a des contraintes extensives au cours du rifting. Elles naissent de la rupture de la lithosphere continentale qui marque la fin du rifting et le debut de l’expansion oceanique. Du fait de leur position en bordure des continents, les marges passives sont 1°) soumises a des flux sedimentaires externes au systeme, produits par l’erosion de reliefs continentaux en amont de la marge, et 2°) elles sont affectees par une deformation complexe et de faible intensite qui integre la deformation produite par les processus intrinseques au systeme (ex : isostasie flexurale, subsidence thermique, processus de surface) mais aussi les deformations intraplaques (ex : topographie dynamique produite par un point chaud), et enfin les deformations en limite de plaque (ex : flambage lithospherique produit par l’action conjuguee de la compression exercee au niveau des zones de convergence et du ridge-push exerce au niveau des dorsales oceaniques). Les bassins sedimentaires des marges passives en domaine marin et les donnees de denudation en domaine continental enregistrent donc, de maniere independante, des processus locaux (ex : isostasie flexurale, reequilibrage thermique, processus de surface), regionaux (ex : zone de subduction, collision, point chaud, climat) ou globaux (ex : climat, eustatisme) (voir Figure 1). Seulement les enregistrements de ces processus par le bassin sedimentaire et par la denudation se font de maniere cumulee. Pour acceder a l’enregistrement des processus regionaux ou globaux, il est donc d’abord necessaire de connaitre 1°) les consequences des differents processus intrinseques aux marges passives sur l’evolution post-rift des mouvements verticaux (surrection et subsidence) le long des marges et 2°) l’enregistrement de ces mouvements verticaux par la denudation et par le bassin sedimentaire le long des marges passives.
A Model for Predicting the Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults in South Korea

This study examined factors related to the psychological well-being of older adults and built and veri ﬁ ed a model for predicting psychological well-being. The participants were 350 older adults aged over 60 years who lived in South Korea and were active in the local community. The model proposed in this study was found to be suitable. Depression, self-ef ﬁ cacy, and social support had a direct effect on the psychological well-being of older adults, while depression, activities of daily living (ADLs), and self-ef ﬁ cacy had an indirect effect. Self-ef ﬁ cacy and social support mediated the relationship between depression and psychological well-being, and self-ef ﬁ cacy mediated the relationship between ADLs and psychological well-being. It is necessary to develop and implement a program that can help alleviate depression and improve self-ef ﬁ cacy and social support among older adults in order to enhance their psychological well-being. Additionally, to establish a model that predicts the psychological well-being of older adults, a study is needed to verify the model not only in Korea but also in other countries.
Impact of e-ASPECTS software on the performance of physicians compared to a consensus ground truth: a multi-reader, multi-case study

Background The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) is used to quantify the extent of injury to the brain following acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to inform treatment decisions. The e-ASPECTS software uses artificial intelligence methods to automatically process non-contrast CT (NCCT) brain scans from patients with AIS affecting the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory and generate an ASPECTS. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of e-ASPECTS (Brainomix, Oxford, UK) on the performance of US physicians compared to a consensus ground truth. Methods The study used a multi-reader, multi-case design. A total of 10 US board-certified physicians (neurologists and neuroradiologists) scored 54 NCCT brain scans of patients with AIS affecting the MCA territory. Each reader scored each scan on two occasions: once with and once without reference to the e-ASPECTS software, in random order. Agreement with a reference standard (expert consensus read with reference to follow-up imaging) was evaluated with and without software support. Results A comparison of the area under the curve (AUC) for each reader showed a significant improvement from 0.81 to 0.83 (p = 0.028) with the support of the e-ASPECTS tool. The agreement of reader ASPECTS scoring with the reference standard was improved with e-ASPECTS compared to unassisted reading of scans: Cohen's kappa improved from 0.60 to 0.65, and the case-based weighted Kappa improved from 0.70 to 0.81. Conclusion Decision support with the e-ASPECTS software significantly improves the accuracy of ASPECTS scoring, even by expert US neurologists and neuroradiologists.
Dynamic monitoring and analysis of factors influencing ecological quality in rapidly urbanizing areas based on the Google Earth Engine

Abstract Rapid urbanization poses significant challenges to ecological preservation in karst ecologically fragile regions. Systematically monitor and evaluate of its urban ecological pattern change and driving factors are the basis for achieving regional sustainable development. Taking Gui’an New Area (GNA) of China as the object, using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform, the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) method and Geodetector to study ecological quality (EQ) changes between 2010 and 2020. The results show that: (1) An overall increase in RSEI (0.12), with changes concentrated in the +1 to 0 range, revealing spatial autocorrelation. (2) Comparing LU/LC types, forest showed the highest RSEI, followed by shrub, cropland, impervious, grassland, and barren areas. (3) Among factors considered, interaction with greenness had the most significant influence, and LU/LC was the primary external factor affecting EQ. The result provides a reference for decision makers to formulate ecological protection policies and implement regional coordinated development strategies.
Geochemical tracers of surface water and ground water contamination from road salt

Title: Geochemical tracer of surface water and ground water contamination from road salt Author: Jacob Anderson Advisor: Rudolph Hon The application of road de-icers has lead to increasing solute concentrations in surface and ground water across the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. In a public water supply well field in southeastern Massachusetts, USA, chloride concentrations in ground water from an unconfined aquifer have steadily risen for the past twenty years. The objectives of this study are to understand spatial and temporal trends in road salt concentrations in order to identify contamination sources and fate. To this end, the methods of this project include field and lab work. Water samples were collected from surface, near-surface, and ground water from March 2012 to March 2013. The other major field data are specific conductance measurements from probes located in three piezometers. In the lab, all samples were analyzed for major ions with ion chromatography analysis. Additionally, trace elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma analysis on a
Mechanistic insights into the role of herpes simplex virus 1 in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is an aging-associated neurodegenerative disorder, threatening millions of people worldwide. The onset and progression of AD can be accelerated by environmental risk factors, such as bacterial and viral infections. Human herpesviruses are ubiquitous infectious agents that underpin numerous inflammatory disorders including neurodegenerative diseases. Published studies concerning human herpesviruses in AD imply an active role HSV-1 in the pathogenesis of AD. This review will summarize the current understanding of HSV-1 infection in AD and highlight some barriers to advance this emerging field.
Variable source areas, soil moisture and active microwave observations at Zwalmbeek and Coët-dan

The variable source area concept is now widely accepted to explain storm runoff production in humid regions. The concept was first introduced by Hewlett and Hibbert (1967): ‘‘The yielding proportion of the catchment expands and shrinks depending on rainfall amount and antecedent wetness of the soil’’. A major feature of variable source areas is that the area over which return flow and direct precipitation are generated vary seasonally and throughout a storm. The theory was developed because of inadequacies with the Hortonian runoff production mechanism (Horton, 1933) for describing storm runoff in humid catchments. In most humid regions, infiltration capacities are high because the vegetation cover protects the soil from rain packing, and because the supply of humus creates an open soil structure. Under such conditions, rainfall intensities generally do not exceed infiltration capacities. Therefore, Hortonian overland flow does not occur on large areas of the catchment. Research in the 60s and 70s on the variable source area concept was supported by intensive field studies in small catchments (Hewlett and Hibbert, 1967; Dunne et al., 1975; Dunne, 1978). These authors mapped the spatial patterns of saturated areas and their seasonal fluctuations (e.g. Dunne et al, 1975, show seasonal variation of the saturated zone in a small catchment at Randboro, Quebec). Since then a number of modelling strategies, based on terrain analysis, have been developed to explain and predict these spatial patterns of saturated areas (Beven and Kirkby, 1979; Sivapalan et al., 1987; Barling et al., 1994). These modelling efforts recognise the control that catchment topography, soils, antecedent storage capacity and rainfall characteristics exert on the spatial extent of the contributing areas. To link these hydrologic and geomorphologic characteristics of the catchment to variable source areas, static and/or quasi-dynamic wetness indices were introduced. Wetness indices have been used to define, at a moment prior to storm rainfall, the readiness of a catchment to produce storm runoff through the saturation excess mechanism.
Spectral sensitivity of the compound eyes and behavioral attraction to light stimuli with different intensities and wavelengths in Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) from Colombia

Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a synanthropic fly with a worldwide distribution that pollinates plants and is relevant in medical, veterinary, and forensic sciences. L. sericata is a diurnal species whose vision plays an important role in spatial orientation. Here we evaluated the electrophysiological responses (ERG) of L. sericata’s compound eyes in adults of both sexes from Colombia and their behavioral attraction to LED lights with different wavelengths. The ERG revealed a dichromatic vision with peaks at blue (450 nm) and green (510-530 nm) wavelengths in individuals of both sexes. Behavioral experiments with a two-sided light tunnel showed that both sexes were mainly attracted to blue, white, and red lights of different intensities (0.34, 0.15, and 0.034 μW/cm2). Attraction to the lights decreased at lower intensities; however, attraction to blue, white, and red lights was still observed. The electrophysiological and behavioral results we obtained in the laboratory were complementary and explain how Colombian untrained L. sericata adults interact with their environment using mainly the sunlight wavelengths reflected under natural conditions.
A High-Performance Circularly Polarized and Harmonic Rejection Rectenna for Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting

This paper presents a novel circularly polarized rectenna designed for efficient electromagnetic energy harvesting at the 2.45 GHz ISM band. A compact antenna structure is designed to achieve high performance in terms of radiation efficiency, axial ratio, directivity, effective area, and harmonic rejection over the entire bandwidth of the ISM frequency band. The optimized rectifier circuit enhances the RF harvested energy efficiency, with an AC-to-DC conversion efficiency ranging from 36% to 70% for low-level input power ranging from −10 dBm to 0 dBm. The stable output of DC power confirms the suitability of this design for various practical applications, including wireless sensor networks, energy harvesting power supplies, medical implants, and environmental monitoring systems. Experimental validation, which includes both the reflection coefficient and radiation patterns of the designed antenna, confirms the accuracy of the simulation. The study found that the proposed energy harvesting system has a high total efficiency ranging from 53% to 63% and is well-suited for low-power energy harvesting (0 dBm) from ambient electromagnetic radiation. The proposed circularly polarized rectenna is a competitive option for efficient electromagnetic energy harvesting, both as a standalone unit and in an array, due to its high performance, feasibility, and versatility in meeting various energy harvesting requirements. This makes it a promising and cost-effective solution for various wireless communication applications, offering great potential for efficient energy harvesting from ambient electromagnetic radiation.
Ocimum sanctum Alters the Lipid Landscape of the Brain Cortex and Plasma to Ameliorate the Effect of Photothrombotic Stroke in a Mouse Model

Stroke-like injuries in the brain result in not only cell death at the site of the injury but also other detrimental structural and molecular changes in regions around the stroke. A stroke-induced alteration in the lipid profile interferes with neuronal functions such as neurotransmission. Preventing these unfavorable changes is important for recovery. Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi extract) is known to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. It is possible that Tulsi imparts a neuroprotective effect through the lipophilic transfer of active ingredients into the brain. Hence, we examined alterations in the lipid profile in the cerebral cortex as well as the plasma of mice with a photothrombotic-ischemic-stroke-like injury following the administration of a Tulsi extract. It is also possible that the lipids present in the Tulsi extract could contribute to the lipophilic transfer of active ingredients into the brain. Therefore, to identify the major lipid species in the Tulsi extract, we performed metabolomic and untargeted lipidomic analyses on the Tulsi extract. The presence of 39 molecular lipid species was detected in the Tulsi extract. We then examined the effect of a treatment using the Tulsi extract on the untargeted lipidomic profile of the brain and plasma following photothrombotic ischemic stroke in a mouse model. Mice of the C57Bl/6j strain, aged 2–3 months, were randomly divided into four groups: (i) Sham, (ii) Lesion, (iii) Lesion plus Tulsi, and (iv) Lesion plus Ibuprofen. The cerebral cortex of the lesioned hemisphere of the brain and plasma samples were collected for untargeted lipidomic profiling using a Q-Exactive Mass Spectrometer. Our results documented significant alterations in major lipid groups, including PE, PC, neutral glycerolipids, PS, and P-glycerol, in the brain and plasma samples from the photothrombotic stroke mice following their treatment with Tulsi. Upon further comparison between the different study groups of mice, levels of MGDG (36:4), which may assist in recovery, were found to be increased in the brain cortexes of the mice treated with Tulsi when compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Lipid species such as PS, PE, LPG, and PI were commonly altered in the Sham and Lesion plus Tulsi groups. The brain samples from the Sham group were specifically enriched in many species of glycerol lipids and had reduced PE species, while their plasma samples showed altered PE and PS species when compared to the Lesion group. LPC (16:1) was found in the Tulsi extract and was significantly increased in the brains of the PTL-plus-Tulsi-treated group. Our results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of Tulsi on cerebral ischemia may be partially associated with its ability to regulate brain and plasma lipids, and these results may help provide critical insights into therapeutic options for cerebral ischemia or brain lesions.