Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dissipative Quantum Feedback in Measurements Using a Parametrically Coupled Microcavity

Micro- and nanoscale optical or microwave cavities are used in a wide range of classical applications and quantum science experiments, ranging from precision measurements, laser technologies to quantum control of mechanical motion. The dissipative photon loss via absorption, present to some extent in any optical cavity, is known to introduce thermo-optical eﬀects and thereby impose fundamental limits on precision measurements. Here, we theoretically and experimentally reveal that such dissipative photon absorption can result in quantum feedback via in-loop ﬁeld detection of the absorbed optical ﬁeld, leading to the intracavity ﬁeld ﬂuctuations to be squashed or antisquashed. A closed-loop dissipative quantum feedback to the cavity ﬁeld arises. Strikingly, this modiﬁes the optical cavity susceptibility in coherent response measurements (capable of both increasing or decreasing the bare cavity linewidth) and causes excess noise and correlations in incoherent interferometric optomechanical measurements using a cavity, that is parametrically coupled to a mechanical oscillator. We experimentally observe such unanticipated dissipative dynamics in optomechanical spectroscopy of sideband-cooled optomechanical crystal cavi-tiess at both cryogenic temperature (approximately 8 K) and ambient conditions. The dissipative feedback introduces eﬀective modiﬁcations to the optical cavity linewidth and the optomechanical scattering rate and gives rise to excess imprecision noise in the interferometric quantum measurement of mechanical motion. Such dissipative feedback diﬀers fundamentally from a quantum nondemolition feedback, e.g., optical Kerr squeezing. The dissipative feedback itself always results in an antisqueezed out-of-loop optical ﬁeld, while it can enhance the coexisting Kerr squeezing under certain conditions. Our result applies to cavity spectroscopy in both optical and superconducting microwave cavities, and equally applies to any dissipative feedback mechanism of diﬀerent bandwidth inside the cavity. It has wide-ranging implications for future dissipation engineering, such as dissipation enhanced sideband cooling and Kerr squeezing, quantum frequency conversion, and nonreciprocity in photonic systems.
Designing the world's best badminton racket

From its humble beginnings in wood to its current slim geometry in highquality lightweight carbon fiber composites, improvements in the badminton racket have largely been due to material advancements. The link between design and performance remains relatively poorly understood. Current rackets are designed heuristically, based on experience of the manufacturer and the player. The objective of this thesis is to add a scientific perspective to the design of badminton rackets, by studying the underlying physics of the game. The design of a badminton racket requires an understanding of the player, the racket, and how they interact in generating a stroke. The dynamics of the stroke can be used to assess their performance. Performance can be characterized in terms of power and control, which can respectively be quantified by the shuttlecock speed and the consistency of the stroke. Since the stroke involves both rigid-body and flexible-body dynamics of the racket, it can be characterized by several stroke parameters: racket head speed at impact from the rigid-body motion, and elastic deflection and elastic velocity at impact from the deformation behavior. We find that motion capture at a frame rate of 500 Hz and strain gage recordings at 2400 Hz are adequate for reliable measurements of the rigid-body and flexible-body dynamics, respectively, of the racket during the stroke. A promising new device consisting of accelerometers and gyroscopes is also presented, as an alternative to motion capture. The effects of the racket’s mechanical properties on the dynamics of the stroke can be summarized by the decrease in racket head speed with increasing racket moment of inertia and the reduction in stroke consistency with increasing racket compliance. Stroke consistency also decreases with increasing racket moment of inertia, and power can increase slightly with greater racket compliance. In performance terms, this translates to lower power and lower control with a racket of large moment of inertia, and lower control and slightly higher power with a more flexible racket. Some effects of the skill level of the player are also observed. Advanced players exhibit higher racket head speeds at impact and generally greater stroke consistency. The high impact head speed can largely be attributed to the high peak angular velocity, not observed in recreational players.
Radiation Hardness Study of Single-Photon Avalanche Diode for Space and High Energy Physics Applications

The radiation hardness of 180 nm complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) and 55 nm bipolar–CMOS–double-diffused MOS single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) is studied using 10 MeV and 100 MeV protons up to a displacement damage dose of 1 PeV/g. It is found that the dark count rate (DCR) levels are dependent on the number and the type of defects created. A new stepwise increase in the DCR is presented. Afterpulsing was found to be a significant contributor to the observed DCR increase. A new model for DCR increase prediction is proposed considering afterpulsing. Most of the samples under test retain reasonable DCR levels after irradiation, showing high tolerance to ionizing and displacement damage caused by protons. Following irradiation, self-healing was observed at room temperature. Furthermore, high-temperature annealing shows potential for accelerating recovery. Overall, the results show the suitability of SPADs as optical detectors for long-term space missions or as detectors for high-energy particles.
Cellular Computational Logic Using Toehold Switches

The development of computational logic that carries programmable and predictable features is one of the key requirements for next-generation synthetic biological devices. Despite considerable progress, the construction of synthetic biological arithmetic logic units presents numerous challenges. In this paper, utilizing the unique advantages of RNA molecules in building complex logic circuits in the cellular environment, we demonstrate the RNA-only bitwise logical operation of XOR gates and basic arithmetic operations, including a half adder, a half subtractor, and a Feynman gate, in Escherichia coli. Specifically, de-novo-designed riboregulators, known as toehold switches, were concatenated to enhance the functionality of an OR gate, and a previously utilized antisense RNA strategy was further optimized to construct orthogonal NIMPLY gates. These optimized synthetic logic gates were able to be seamlessly integrated to achieve final arithmetic operations on small molecule inputs in cells. Toehold-switch-based ribocomputing devices may provide a fundamental basis for synthetic RNA-based arithmetic logic units or higher-order systems in cells.
Health-related quality of life and its demographic, clinical and psychosocial determinants among male patients with hypertension in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital

Summary Objectives This study aimed to evaluate Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among male patients with hypertension and its associated demographic, clinical and psychosocial factors. Design This was a facility-based cross-sectional study Setting This study was carried out at the outpatient department in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Participants Three hundred and fifty-eight hypertensive patients were recruited for this study Data collection Information on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical features, insomnia, medication adherence, psychological distress, sexual dysfunction and HRQoL were obtained through patient-reported measures using structured questionnaires and standardised instruments. Statistical analysis/Main outcome measure The study assessed HRQoL among male hypertensive patients. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the average scores of the various domains of HRQL across the independent variables. Multivariate linear regression models with robust standard errors were used to determine factors associated with quality of life. Results Participants with poor perceived overall HRQoL was 14.0%. Comparatively, HRQoL (mean ± SD) was the least in the physical health domain (56.77±14.33) but the highest in the psychological domain (58.7 ± 16.0). Multivariate linear regression showed that income level, educational level, insomnia, overall satisfaction, sexual desire and medication adherence were significant predictors of HRQoL. Average scores of HRQoL domains reduced with a higher level of sexual desire dysfunction. Conclusion HRQoL among male hypertensive patients was negatively affected by insomnia, sexual desire dysfunction, educational level and adherence to antihypertensive medications but positively affected by income level. Clinical practice and policy processes should be directed at these factors to improve HRQoL. Funding No external funding
Quiet eye training during the rugby union goal-kick: Practice and transfer effects in low- and high-pressure conditions

The present study aimed to examine the effect of a quiet eye training (QET) intervention compared to a technical training (TT) intervention on the visual control and performance of rugby union goal-kickers. Male rugby union players (n = 18, Mage = 21.35 years, SD = 2.03) were randomly assigned into a QET or TT group. Participants completed a pre-test, retention test 1, pressure test, and retention test 2 over six weeks, including a two-week intervention programme. The QET focussed on the QE and performance, while TT focussed on technical aspects of rugby goal-kicking. Each participant performed a total of 50 kicks that consisted of 15 kicks during the pre-test, retention test 1, and retention test 2, and five kicks during the pressure test. Using a Dikablis eye-tracker the QE was measured before (QE-pre), and during (QE-online), the run-up of the goal-kick. The results indicated that QE-pre durations increased from the pre-test to both retention tests and the pressure test for the QET group only (all p's < 0.05, all d's ≥ 0.08). The QET group also displayed longer QE-pre durations during the pressure and retention tests (all p's < 0.05, all d's ≥ 0.80), and longer QE-online durations during the pressure test (d = 0.73), compared to the TT group. Finally, the QET group outperformed the TT group during the pressure test (d = 0.72). Thus, overall, our results revealed that a short QET intervention benefitted attentional control and goal-kicking performance, particularly under high-pressure.
Incidence of Monomicrobial Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Population-Based Study in Olmsted County, Minnesota—2006 to 2020

Abstract Background Population-based studies of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) in the United States are limited. We provide a contemporary evaluation of SAB incidence in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 2006 to 2020. Methods This was a retrospective population-based study of all adult patients with SAB residing in Olmsted County from 1 January 2006 through 31 December 2020. Initial episodes of SAB were identified using the microbiology laboratory databases at both Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Rochester. Results Overall, 541 incident SAB cases were identified with a median age of 66.8 (interquartile range, 54.4–78.5) years, and 60.4% were male. Among these cases, 298 (56.2%) were due to methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) and 232 (43.8%) cases of methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). The overall age- and sex-adjusted SAB incidence rate (IR) was 33.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.0–36.8) cases/100 000 person-years (PY). Males had a higher age-adjusted IR of 46.0 (95% CI, 41.0–51.0) cases/100 000 PY compared to females (IR, 24.4 [95% CI, 21.1–27.7] cases/100 000 PY). Age- and sex-adjusted SAB IRs due to MSSA and MRSA were 18.7 and 14.6 cases/100 000 PY, respectively, and the percentage of incident SAB cases due to MRSA fluctuated across the study period. There was no apparent temporal trend in SAB incidence over the study period (P = .093). Conclusions Our investigation represents the only contemporary population-based study in the United States. Despite the impression that SAB incidence may have increased based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance data, our finding of no change in SAB incidence was somewhat unanticipated.
Triceps brachii muscle architecture, upper-body rate of force development, and bench press maximum strength of strong and weak trained participants

Purpose. the study aim was: (a) to investigate the relationship between triceps brachii muscle architecture and upper-body isometric rate of force development (rFD), isometric peak force (IPF), and maximum strength (one-repetition maximum, 1-rM) in bench press and (b) to explore whether triceps brachii architecture might determine rFD, IPF, and 1-rM strength in stronger and weaker participants. Methods. the study involved 21 males (age: 22.6 ± 4.7 years, weight: 76.6 ± 10.2 kg, height: 1.79 ± 0.07 m) with 3.4 ± 2.1 years of experience in resistance training. they were divided into a strong and weak group depending on their relative 1-rM strength in bench press. Measurements included triceps brachii muscle architecture, upper-body isometric rFD, IPF, and 1-rM strength in bench press. Results. Moderate to large correlations were found for triceps brachii thickness and fascicle angle with upper-body rFD ( r : 0.379–0.627), IPF ( r : 0.582 and 0.564, respectively), and 1-rM strength in bench press ( r : 0.530 and 0.412, respectively). Maximum strength in bench press was largely correlated with IPF ( r = 0.816); moderate to very large correlations were observed with rFD ( r : 0.499–0.725). the strong group presented significantly higher 1-rM relative strength, rFD, and IPF ( p < 0.05) than the weak group, but no significant between-group difference was found for triceps brachii architecture ( p > 0.05). Conclusions. triceps brachii architecture correlates with 1-rM strength, upper-body rFD, and IPF in trained participants. However, triceps brachii architecture may not distinguish upper-body strength and rFD between stronger and weaker male participants.
Esophageal Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma: A Review of 58 Cases

Background Esophageal mucoepidermoid carcinoma (EMEC) is a rare disease. The biological behavior and treatment of this malignancy are not well established. Methods Data from 58 patients with EMEC who underwent esophagectomy were retrospectively analyzed and compared with 5028 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association between clinicopathological factors and survival. Results The study cohort included 36 males and 22 females with a median age of 59 years (range, 40-78 years). Of the 47 patients who underwent preoperative esophagoscopic biopsy, only 1 patient was diagnosed with EMEC. EMEC was more often found in female patients (39.7% versus 25.8%, P=0.036) and patients with EMEC had a significantly lower rate of lymph node metastasis (25.0% versus 49.4%, P<0.001) than patients with ESCC. After 1:1 propensity score matching, the 5-year overall survival rate of 55.2% for patients with EMEC was similar to that of 61.9% for patients with ESCC (P=0.399). Conclusions EMEC is a rare disease that more often affects females and these patients has less lymph node metastasis than patients with ESCC. Preoperative esophagoscopic biopsy has difficulty obtaining an accurate pathological diagnosis for EMEC patients. The prognosis for EMEC is similar to that for ESCC.
Moderating Impact of Strategic Vision To The Relationship of Strategic Involvement With Environmental Uncertainty, Competitive Strength, Job Involvement, and Organizational Commitment

This research aims to understand the moderating impact of strategic vision to the relationship of strategic involvement with environment uncertainty, competitive strength, job involvement, and organizational commitment. The sample of this research are 72 officials of Muhammadiyah universities in Indonesia which are called Rector, Chief, Director, Vice of Rector, Vice of Chief, Vice of Director, and Dean. This research use survey method with questionnaire as research instrument and nonprobability sampling method, specifically purposive sampling in particular. To test the validity we use confirmatory factor analysis and to test reliability we use coefficient of cronbach’s alpha. To test the hypotheses we use moderated regression analysis. The result of this research shows that strategic involvement is positively related and significant to environment uncertainty, competitive strength, job involvement, and organizational commitment. Strategic vision does not moderate the relationship of strategic involvement with environment uncertainty, but it moderates the relationship of strategic involvement with competitive strength, job involvement, and organizational commitment.
Treatment of sore throat and hoarseness with Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630: a meta-analysis

SUMMARY The extract EPs 7630 from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides has been proven safe and effective in the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections (aRTI). The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis on the efficacy of EPs 7630 in patients suffering from acute non-streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis (ATP) or common cold (CC) regarding the symptoms sore throat and hoarseness. This meta-analysis encompasses double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials investigating the efficacy of EPs 7630 in ATP or CC. Relevant publications were identified by searching PubMed and clinical trial registries (ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov; search terms: acute tonsillopharyngitis, common cold, EPs 7630, Umckaloabo, hoarseness, and sore throat) and the assessment report on Pelargonium sidoides of the European Medicines Agency. Clinical study reports of unpublished trials were provided by the manufacturer of EPs 7630. Meta-analysis was performed separately for both indications, for formulations found, and for patient groups. Efficacy analyses were based on the change of symptom severity of ‘sore throat’ and ‘hoarseness’ as assessed by the respective indication-specific symptom scores, and on complete remission. Disease-related quality of life was also analyzed. Seven trials with a total of 1,099 participants could be included into the meta-analysis. Clinical trials investigating EPs 7630 in CC comprised adults only, whereas those in ATP only included children. Results showed EPs 7630 to be superior to placebo in reducing both symptom severity and time until complete recovery for the symptoms ‘sore throat’ and ‘hoarseness’ in the indications investigated. These findings suggest that EPs 7630 is effective in reducing severity and time to remission of the symptoms sore throat and hoarseness in ATP and CC, respectively.
Development of a Lyophilized Off-the-Shelf Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Acellular Therapeutic

The therapeutic activities elicited by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are in part mediated through paracrine action by the release of extracellular vesicles (EV) and secreted proteins. Collectively, these MSC-derived factors, referred to as the secretome product (SP), are intrinsically therapeutic and represent an attractive alternative to cell-based therapies. Herein, we developed a lyopreservation protocol to extend the shelf-life of the MSC-SP without compromising the structural or functional integrity of the vesicular components. The SP isolated from normoxia- and anoxia-exposed MSC elicited protective effects in an in vitro model of oxidative injury and the bioactivity was retained in the lyophilized samples. Three separate formulations of MSC-SP were isolated by tangential flow filtration using sucrose, trehalose, and mannitol as lyoprotectant agents. The MSC-SPs were lyophilized using a manifold protocol and the structural and functional integrity were assessed. The trehalose formulation of SP exhibited the highest EV and protein recovery after manifold-based lyophilization. To facilitate development as a therapeutic, a shelf lyophilization protocol was developed which markedly enhanced the recovery of EV and proteins. In conclusion, lyophilization represents an efficient method to preserve the structural and functional integrity of the MSC-SP and can be used to develop an off-the-shelf therapeutic.
Polymersomes Based Versatile Nanoplatforms for Controlled Drug Delivery and Imaging

Drug delivery systems made based on nanotechnology represent a novel drug carrier system that can change the face of therapeutics and diagnosis. Among all the available nanoforms polymersomes have wider applications due to their unique characteristic features like drug loading carriers for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, longer shelf life in the bloodstream and ease of surface modification by ligands. Polymersomes are defined as the artificial vesicles which are enclosed in a central aqueous cavity which are composed of self-assembly with a block of amphiphilic copolymer. Various techniques like film rehydration, direct hydration, nanoprecipitation, double emulsion technique and microfluidic technique are mostly used in formulating polymersomes employing different polymers like PEO-b-PLA, poly (fumaric/sebacic acid), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), and poly(butadiene) (PBD), PTMC-b-PGA (poly (dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid)) etc. Polymersomes have been extensively considered for the conveyance of therapeutic agents for diagnosis, targeting, treatment of cancer, diabetes etc. This review focuses on a comprehensive description of polymersomes with suitable case studies under the following headings: chemical structure, polymers used in the formulation, formulation methods, characterization methods and their application in the therapeutic, and medicinal filed.
Punched-top chamber for moderately raising air temperature during the ripening period in rice

ABSTRACT Rice growth at an elevated air temperature (T air) during the ripening period is often evaluated using a semi-closed chamber (SCC). However, the water vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and CO2 concentration inside SCCs get lower than at ambient air plot, and these changes affect panicle temperature and photosynthesis. We developed a punched-top chamber (PTC), that is, an SCC with numerous pores on the top, and compared meteorological environments inside the two chambers and of ambient air plot. When solar radiation was >200 W m-2, ΔT air (SCC – Ambient) was 3.1°C–5.3°C, and ΔT air (PTC – Ambient) was 2.2°C–3.7°C. Excessively high T air > 38°C were more frequent inside the SCC than the PTC. The changes in VPD and CO2 concentration inside the PTC were less pronounced compared with those of the SCC, and thus PTC can be a better treatment for safely assessing the direct effect of elevated T air. Graphical abstract