Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Realization of High Speed All-Optical Half Adder and Half Subtractor Using SOA Based Logic Gates

In this paper, the scheme of a single module for simultaneous operation of all-optical computing circuits, namely half adder and half subtractor, are realized using semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) based logic gates. Optical XOR gate by employing a SOA based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) configuration is used to get the sum and difference outputs. A carry signal is generated using a SOA-four wave mixing (FWM) based AND gate, whereas, the borrow is generated by employing the SOA-cross gain modulation (XGM) effect. The obtained results confirm the feasibility of our configuration by proving the good level of quality factor i.e. ~5.5, 9.95 and 12.51 for sum/difference, carry and borrow, respectively at 0 dBm of input power.
Human and machine learning pipelines for responsible clinical prediction using high-dimensional data

This protocol aims to develop, validate, and deploy a prediction model using high dimensional data by both human and machine learning. The applicability is intended for clinical prediction in healthcare providers, including but not limited to those using medical histories from electronic health records. This protocol applies diverse approaches to improve both predictive performance and interpretability while maintaining the generalizability of model evaluation. However, some steps require expensive computational capacity; otherwise, these will take longer time. The key stages consist of designs of data collection and analysis, feature discovery and quality control, and model development, validation, and deployment.
The practical salinity scale 1978 and its antecedents

The history of the definition of salinity and the methods of computing It are traced from the beginning of the twentieth century until the present. Difficulties that have arisen in existing practices are discussed, in particular, the situation regarding reduction of in-situ CTD observations. The Practical Salinity Scale 1978 is an attempt to remove the shortcomings; it has been recommended for international acceptance. The basis for this new scale is an equation relating the ratio of the electrical conductivity of the seawater sample to that of a standard potassium chloride solution (KCI) at 15\deg C atmospheric pressure. The samples used were prepared from standard seawater diluted with distilled water or evaporated by weight. Finally, the set of new equations for CTD data reduction is given, based upon the work of authors whose papers are appearing elsewhere in this volume.
Dry Matter Production and Nitrogen Uptake as Influenced by Irrigation and Nitrogen Levels in Maize

A field experiment was conducted at Agro Climate Research Center, Agricultural Research Institute, P.J.T.S Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India during rabi 2019-20. The field experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprising of three irrigation scheduling based on (Depletion of Available Soil Moisture) at 60% DASM, 40% DASM and 20% DASM as main plots and three nitrogen levels viz., 90, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 as sub-plots. The experiment was laid out in split plot design. The results indicated that, among the different treatment combinations, the crop irrigation scheduled at 20 % DASM in conjunction with 240 kg N ha-1 accumulated significantly more dry matter of 34.2 g, 149.2 g, 233.7 g and 284.8 g plant-1, at 6th leaf, silking, dough and physiological maturity stages, respectively. The nitrogen uptake was found to be more when the crop was irrigated at 20 % DASM in conjunction with 240 kg N ha-1 (67.1 g, 231.8 g, 294.7 g and 305.3 g plant-1) at 6th leaf, silking, dough and physiological maturity stages, respectively.
Psychosocial Factors Predict the Level of Substance Craving of People with Drug Addiction: A Machine Learning Approach

This study aimed to explore which factors had a greater impact on substance craving in people with substance use and the direction of the impact. A total of 895 male substance users completed questionnaires regarding substance craving, psychological security, positive psychological capital, interpersonal trust, alexithymia, impulsivity, parental conflict, aggression behavior, life events, family intimacy, and deviant peers. Calculating the factor importance by gradient boosting method (GBM), found that the psychosocial factors that had a greater impact on substance craving were, in order, life events, aggression behavior, positive psychological capital, interpersonal trust, psychological security, impulsivity, alexithymia, family intimacy, parental conflict, and deviant peers. Correlation analysis showed that life events, positive psychological capital, interpersonal trust, psychological security, and family intimacy negatively predicted substance craving, while aggression behavior, impulsivity, alexithymia, parental conflict, and deviant peers positively predicted substance cravings. These findings have important implications for the prevention and intervention of substance craving behavior among substance users.
Trees for livelihoods: Exploring the relationship between community agroforestry and community capitals in rural Haiti

ABSTRACT For decades, various institutions have attempted to improve rural livelihoods in Haiti by implementing agroforestry. While agroforestry provides ecological and economic benefits, little is known about the long-term livelihood outcomes of agroforestry interventions in Haiti. Using the Community Capitals Framework (CCF), this study investigated multiple dimensions of agroforestry outcomes in practicing communities and compared them to communities not practicing agroforestry, in reference to a community-based agroforestry program initiated by the Haiti Timber Reintroduction Program (HTRIP). Data were collected using qualitative research methods of in-depth interviews and focus groups. The results indicate that community agroforestry makes positive contributions to all community capitals–some (social, human, financial, natural, cultural) more than others (built, political). We recommend that institutions pay particular attention to building social, human, and natural capital and how they contribute to financial capital, as this was the entry point for the spiraling up of capitals in rural Haitian communities.
An Analysis of SAW Interdigital Transducers with Internal Reflections and the Application to the Design of Single-Phase Unidirectional Transducers

A new coupling-of-modes (COM) analysis of SAW interdigital transducers (IDTs) is presented. The analysis includes the effects of multiple reflections within a transducer. The fundamental equations are derived and some simple closed-form results a re given. In addition, some general properties having regard to the relative phase of transduction and reflection c oefficients within a transducer are derived. A new class of unidirectional transducers is proposed which require only one matching network and do not have the crossovers required in current three-phase designs. These single-phase unidirectional transducers (SWDTs) utilize internal r eflections within the transducer to achieve unidirectional behavior. Practical SWDT configurations are proposed and some experimental results presented. The application of the new COM analysis to synthesis is discussed.
GELAD chemotherapy with sandwiched radiotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed stage IE/IIE natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma: a prospective multicentre study

Early‐stage natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma (NK/TCL) patients usually receive a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the optimal treatment approach has not yet been established. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety profile of a novel chemotherapy regimen and sandwiched radiotherapy in early‐stage NK/TCL. Patients with newly diagnosed stage IE/IIE disease were eligible. Patients were initially treated with two courses of the GELAD regimen (gemcitabine 1·0 g/m2 day 1, etoposide 60 mg/m2 days 1–3, pegaspargase 2000 units/m2 day 4, and dexamethasone 40 mg days 1–4), followed by intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT; 50–56 Gy in 25–28 fractions) and two additional courses of GELAD chemotherapy. A total of 52 patients were enrolled. The overall response rate and complete response rate per Lugano 2014 criteria were 94·2% and 92·3% respectively. With a median follow‐up of 32 months, the estimated four‐year overall survival rate and progression‐free survival rate were 94·2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 83·2% to 93·1%] and 90·4% (95% CI, 78·4% to 95·9%) respectively. The most common adverse events were related to pegaspargase. Haematological toxicities were mild, with grade 3/4 neutropenia in 15·4% of patients. Our study provides a new approach with high activity and improved safety for the treatment of early‐stage NK/TCL patients. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as NCT02733458.
Antihypertensive Medication Adherence and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Patients Attending a National Referral Hospital in Asmara, Eritrea

Background Recent research suggests that poor adherence to antihypertensive medication (AHM) is a major problem in the management of hypertension. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the frequency of AHM and associated risk factors in patients attending a national referral hospital in Asmara, Eritrea. Methods A total of 335 respondents (females: 222 (66.3%) participated in this cross-sectional study. Adherence to Medication was evaluated using a modified version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS). Additional data were abstracted from patients’ medical records and a WHO STEPwise questionnaire. Results The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 59.65 (±12.20) years (females: 56.82 (±9.95) vs males: 57.17 (±9.60) years, p-value=0.001). Similarly, the median (IQR) for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were 85.00 mmHg (IQR: 80.00–90.00 mmHg) and 145.00 mmHg (IQR: 130.00–160.00 mmHg), respectively. Overall, 246 (73.4%) and 244 (72.8%) participants had poor knowledge and poor adherence to AHM, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, factors associated with increased odds of poor adherence to AHM included sex (females: adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.95; 95% CI: 1.52–16.11, p value=0.008); employment status (Ref: employed/NGO) (self-employed: aOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 0.45–8.48, p-value=0.373) (housewife: aOR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.04–0.413, p-value=0.001) (unemployed: aOR: 1.38; 95% CI:0.32–5.98; p-value=0.670); lack of attendance of health talk at the clinic (aOR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.17–4.63; p-value=0.016); high cost of transportation (yes: aOR: 6.87; 95% CI: 3.25–14.52; p-value<0.001); knowledge (poor: aOR: 6.23; 95% CI: 2.36–18.05, p-value<0.001) and hypertension stage (Stage 3: aOR: 5.55; 95% CI, 1.44–21.37, p-value=0.013). Low level of knowledge regarding hypertension-related complications or associated risk factors was also noted. Conclusion The high level of poor adherence to anti-hypertension medications and low level of knowledge on hypertension should raise concern. Overall, decentralization of health care services and educational support are vital intervention pathways in this population.
Competitive Adsorption of H2O and SO2 on Catalytic Platinum Surfaces: a Density Functional Theory Study

ABSTRACT Platinum has been widely used as the catalyst of choice for the production of hydrogen in the hybrid sulphur (HyS) cycle. In this cycle, water (H2O) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) react to form sulphuric acid and hydrogen. However, the surface reactivity of platinum towards H2O and SO2 is not yet fully understood, especially considering the competitive adsorption that may occur on the surface. In this study, we have carried out density functional theory calculations with long-range dispersion corrections [DFT-D3-(BJ)] to investigate the competitive effect of both H2O and SO2 on the Pt (001), (011) and (111) surfaces. Comparing the adsorption of a single H2O molecule on the various Pt surfaces, it was found that the lowest adsorption energy (Eads = -1.758 eV) was obtained for the dissociative adsorption of H2O on the (001) surface, followed by the molecular adsorption on the (011) surface (Eads = -0.699 eV) and (111) surface (Eads = -0.464 eV). For the molecular SO2 adsorption, the trend was similar, with the lowest adsorption energy (Eads = -2.471 eV) obtained on the (001) surface, followed by the (011) surface (Eads = -2.390 eV) and (111) surface (Eads = -1.852 eV). During competitive adsorption by H2O and SO2, the SO2 molecule will therefore preferentially adsorb onto the Pt surface. If the concentration of SO2 increases, self-reaction between two neighbouring SO2 molecules may occur, leading to the formation of sulphur monoxide (SO) and -trioxide (SO3) on the surface, which could lead to sulphur poisoning of the Pt catalytic surface. Keywords: Platinum, water, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen, adsorption, density functional theory.
The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability

Based on his Paul Hawken's article "The Ecology of Commerce" which appeared in the April 1992 issue of "Inc." magazine, this book presents the argument that business is the only mechanism powerful enough to reverse global environmental and social degradation. Hawken's argument rests on the principles of restorative economics - the reconstruction and repair of social and environmental wounds. Restorative economics involves three major components: redesigning and manufacturing products in innovative ways; transforming and re-educating the consumer; and restoring the relationship between business and government. Hawken explores why, until now, business has been unable to sustain the environment, and offers clean and practical methods to solve the dilemma. The book is a practical blueprint that lays a foundation for a prosperous, sustainable future, and the only environmental programme that enhances both business and nature. Paul Hawken is the author of "Growing a Business", "The Next Economy" and "Seven Tomorrows: Toward a Voluntary History".
Hippocampal volume and volume asymmetry prospectively predict PTSD symptom emergence among Iraq-deployed soldiers

Abstract Background Evidence suggests a link between smaller hippocampal volume (HV) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, there has been little prospective research testing this question directly and it remains unclear whether smaller HV confers risk or is a consequence of traumatization and PTSD. Methods U.S. soldiers (N = 107) completed a battery of clinical assessments, including structural magnetic resonance imaging pre-deployment. Once deployed they completed monthly assessments of traumatic-stressors and symptoms. We hypothesized that smaller HV would potentiate the effects of traumatic stressors on PTSD symptoms in theater. Analyses evaluated whether total HV, lateral (right v. left) HV, or HV asymmetry (right – left) moderated the effects of stressor-exposure during deployment on PTSD symptoms. Results Findings revealed no interaction between total HV and average monthly traumatic-stressors on PTSD symptoms b = −0.028, p = 0.681 [95% confidence interval (CI) −0.167 to 0.100]. However, in the context of greater exposure to average monthly traumatic stressors, greater right HV was associated with fewer PTSD symptoms b = −0.467, p = 0.023 (95% CI −0.786 to −0.013), whereas greater left HV was unexpectedly associated with greater PTSD symptoms b = 0.435, p = 0.024 (95% CI 0.028–0.715). Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of considering the complex role of HV, in particular HV asymmetry, in predicting the emergence of PTSD symptoms in response to war-zone trauma.
Efficacy of Mobiderm® Bandage in Compression Therapy for Venous Ulcers: A Prospective Case Series

Background: Venous leg ulcers severely affect patients’ quality of life due to its high morbidity and recurrent nature. Currently, compression therapy is the first-line treatment for venous leg ulcers. Aim: This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of the Mobiderm® technology developed by Thuasne in a prospective case series of venous leg ulcers. Methods: Nine patients (N = 9) with venous leg ulcers were enrolled into this case series. Mobiderm® bandage was applied on to the affected limbs of the patients in the multi-component bandages system. The bandages were changed as frequent as the patients had their wound dressing for their standard treatment in a 12-week duration. Wound size and calf circumference were measured at week 0 and week 12. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the mean values of wound size and calf circumference pre- and post-treatment. Results: Reductions in wound size and calf circumference were observed in all nine patients (100%). Five patients were evaluable at week 12. The wound sizes significantly reduced by 27.2% to 53.2% (p = 0.02), and the calf circumferences significantly reduced by 3.2% to 26.0% (p = 0.02) after 12 weeks (N = 5). Safety was unremarkable, with no occurrence of treatment-emergent-related adverse event. Conclusion: Mobiderm® bandage was reported to be effective in promoting wound healing and reducing swelling, suggesting it to be integrated in the compression therapy for the management of venous leg ulcers.
Seismic Fragility Assessment of Concrete Bridge Pier Reinforced with Superelastic Shape Memory Alloy

In an attempt to reduce permanent displacement and damage, a hybrid reinforced concrete (RC) bridge pier configuration is considered in the present study. The plastic hinge region of the bridge pier is reinforced with superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) and the remaining portion with regular steel. This paper focuses on fragility-based seismic vulnerability assessment for a SMA-RC bridge pier considering residual displacement, displacement ductility, and performance criteria as the demand parameters. Fragility curves are developed to assess the relative vulnerability of a SMA-RC bridge pier and a conventional steel-RC bridge pier using probabilistic seismic demand model (PSDM). The fragility curves are developed with a suite of 20 near-fault ground motions using incremental dynamic analysis. The fragility curves provide insight into the failure probability of the bridge piers and aid in expressing the impact of SMA on the bridge pier vulnerability.
Changes in Runoff and Sediment Yield along the Yellow River during the Period from 1950 to 2006

In this paper, the changes in runoff and sediment yield have been assessed by using long-term observation data from 9 gauging stations on the Yellow River and 12 climate stations in the Yellow River watershed in China. It was observed that the annual precipitation depth at 3 climate stations in the headwater region of the Yellow River has an upward trend. However, in the lower section of the Upper Reach sub-watershed of the Yellow River, the annual precipitation depth has a slightly downward trend. In the Middle Reach sub-watershed, annual precipitation depth has a clear downward tendency. In the Lower Reach sub-watershed of the Yellow River, annual precipitation depth has a slightly upward tendency. Results indicate that, both annual sediment yield and annual runoff depth have a tendency of reduction in the past half century. The annual sediment yield in the Middle Reach is extremely high, with a long-term annual sediment yield of 1543.65 t/km 2 at the Longmen station and 1631.39 t/km 2 at the Tongguan station. In the Lower Reach, both annual runoff depth and sediment yield have a clearly downward trend. However, the long-term average annual sediment yield in the Lower Reach varies from 1035 to 1330 t/km 2 which is still extremely high but less than those at gauging stations on the Middle Reach. The average annual sediment yield decreased significantly in recent 10 years. Examplewise, for the Yellow River at Lijin Station, the average runoff depth of the recent 10 years is only 1/3 of the long-term average value, and the average annual sediment yield of the recent 10 years is only 1/4 of the long-term average value. Additionally, the impacts of human activities on both runoff depth and sediment yield have been discussed.
Experimental Analysis of Visco-Plastic Properties of the Aluminium and Tungsten Alloys by Means of Hopkinson Bars Technique

The main aim of studies on dynamic behaviour of construction materials at high strain rates is to determine the variation of mechanical properties (strength, plasticity) as a function of the strain rate and temperature. On the basis of results of dynamic tests on the properties of constructional materials the constitutive models are formulated to create numerical codes applied to solve constructional problems with computer simulation methods. In the case of military applications connected with the phenomena of gunshot and terminal ballistics it's particularly important to develop a model of strength and armour penetration with KE projectile founded on reliable results of dynamic experiments and constituting the base for further analyses and optimization of projectile designs in order to achieve required penetration depth. Static and dynamic results of strength investigations of the EN AW-7012 aluminium alloy (sabot) and tungsten alloy (penetrator) are discussed in this paper. Static testing was carried out with the INSTRON testing machine. Dynamic tests have been conducted using the split Hopkinson pressure bars technique at strain rates up to 1,2·104 s-1 (for aluminium alloy) and 6·103 s-1 (for tungsten alloy).
Photogrammetric monitoring of the construction of a solar energy dish concentrator

Close-range photogrammetry has been used to control the construction of a jig used in the assembly of a new generation solar concentrator and the validation of the final, mirrored surface. The concentrator is a concave paraboloid dish with an area of a 489 m(2). The typical photogrammetric relative precision realized was 1:175,000, corresponding to an accuracy of better than 1 mm at the jig reference points. The validation of the mirrored surface achieved a relative precision of 1:300,000. Photogrammetry was also used to characterize the dish mirror panels. The rear surface of the panels was mapped, as it made possible a denser target array and quicker image capture than if the reflective surface was used. The targets were produced with a digital projector, and the typical measurement precision attained was 1:150,000. This paper describes the equipment and techniques required to provide the required accuracy and precision for the jig and panel surfaces.
Fast and Faultless? Quantity and Quality Feedback in Order Picking

Many operations are characterized by a trade‐off between speed and quality. This calls for an exploration of effective strategies to balance the two metrics. This study investigates the separate and joint effect of quantity and quality feedback on both performance metrics in order picking. We collected data from two real‐effort experiments with in total 212 participants, who conducted an order picking task in an experimental warehouse. The results of the main experiment show that giving only quantity feedback improves productivity performance, without compromising on quality. No significant effects of quality feedback were identified. Furthermore, combining quantity and quality feedback does not create a synergistic or a weakening effect on both performance dimensions. The second experiment was used as a robustness check in a different setting, and its results show that quantity feedback not only positively impacts productivity, but can also improve quality. We further decompose the aggregate productivity improvement into the separate impact on pickers who perceive different relative positions. We find that the top‐ranked and middle‐ranked workers in their group accelerate less relative to themselves than the bottom‐ranked workers do, and the acceleration gap between the top‐ranked and the bottom‐ranked pickers is smaller when quantity feedback is present. Our findings show that managers can achieve both fast and faultless performance by carefully designing the performance feedback to their employees.