Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for the Josephson Effect in Quantum Hall Bilayers

This thesis presents tunneling measurements on bilayer two-dimensional (2D) electrons systems in GaAs/AlGaAs double quantum wells. 2D-2D tunneling is applied here as a probe of the inter-layer correlated quantum Hall state at total Landau level filling factor nu = 1. This bilayer state is theoretically expected to be an excitonic superfluid with an associated dissipationless current and Josephson effect. In addition to the conventional signatures of the quantum Hall effect ? a pronounced minimum in Rxx and associated quantization of Rxy ? the strong inter-layer correlations lead to a step-like discontinuity in the tunneling I ? V. Although reminiscent of the DC Josephson effect, the tunneling discontinuity has a finite extent even at the lowest temperatures (the peak in conductance, dI/dV, is strongly temperature dependent even below 15 mK. The correlations develop when the inter- and intra-layer Coulomb interactions become comparable. The relative importance of which is determined by the ratio of layer separation to average electron spacing. Although this state is theoretically expected to be an excitonic superfluid, the degree to which intra-layer tunneling is Josephson-like is controversial. At a critical layer separation the zero-bias tunneling feature is lost, which we interpret as signaling the quantum phase transition to the uncorrelated state. We study the dependence of the phase transition on electron density and relative density imbalance. In the presence of a parallel magnetic field tunneling probes the response of the spectral function at finite wave vector. These tunneling spectra directly detect the expected linearly dispersing Goldstone mode; our measurement of this mode is in good agreement with theoretical expectations. There remains deep theoretical and experimental interest in this state, which represents a unprecedented convergence in the physics of quantum Hall effects and superconductivity.
Influence of Sweeteners (Sucrose, Sucralose, and Stevia) on Bioactive Compounds in a Model System Study for Citrus–Maqui Beverages

Recently, new formulations of beverages with low sugar and high bioactive compound contents are being demanded because of their association with metabolic health. However, the sweeteners’ influences on the bioactive compounds remain underexplored. In this sense, this work aims to evaluate the interactions between different bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, vitamin C, and sweeteners (sucrose, stevia, and sucralose) in a functional citrus–maqui beverage. For this purpose, the phytochemical behavior was studied, in model system solutions, during one-month storage at 4 °C. The results obtained corroborated previous descriptions of the interactions between these compounds. However, when studying the bioactives in the model solutions, the loss of flavanones in the citrus solution increased up to 29%, while anthocyanin losses decreased to 27%. The vitamin C losses ranged from 100% (beverage) to 46% (ascorbic acid solution). Regardless, an influence of the sweeteners was observed. Sucrose reduced the anthocyanin and flavanone losses in both model solutions and the beverage, while sucralose increased flavanone loss. Finally, all sweeteners increased vitamin C degradation (up to 75%) when compared to the model solution. In conclusion, sweeteners added to beverages should be taken into account, depending on the bioactive compounds that should be preserved during storage.
Development and Validation of a Novel Robot-Based Assessment of Upper Limb Sensory Processing in Chronic Stroke

Upper limb sensory processing deficits are common in the chronic phase after stroke and are associated with decreased functional performance. Yet, current clinical assessments show suboptimal psychometric properties. Our aim was to develop and validate a novel robot-based assessment of sensory processing. We assessed 60 healthy participants and 20 participants with chronic stroke using existing clinical and robot-based assessments of sensorimotor function. In addition, sensory processing was evaluated with a new evaluation protocol, using a bimanual planar robot, through passive or active exploration, reproduction and identification of 15 geometrical shapes. The discriminative validity of this novel assessment was evaluated by comparing the performance between healthy participants and participants with stroke, and the convergent validity was evaluated by calculating the correlation coefficients with existing assessments for people with stroke. The results showed that participants with stroke showed a significantly worse sensory processing ability than healthy participants (passive condition: p = 0.028, Hedges’ g = 0.58; active condition: p = 0.012, Hedges’ g = 0.73), as shown by the less accurate reproduction and identification of shapes. The novel assessment showed moderate to high correlations with the tactile discrimination test: a sensitive clinical assessment of sensory processing (r = 0.52–0.71). We conclude that the novel robot-based sensory processing assessment shows good discriminant and convergent validity for use in participants with chronic stroke.
A Dual-Position Loop LLADRC Control Method Based on Harmonic Gear Drive

High-resolution imaging has become a development trend and is widely used in military and civil fields. As the carrying equipment of imaging system, the speed stability of tracking turntable is the basis of high-resolution and stable imaging. At present, in the aerospace field, there are high requirements for peak power dissipation and holding torque, so flexible joints such as harmonic gear drive are mostly used to realize the function. The characteristics of flexible load have a great impact on the characteristics of motion control, which is easy to cause mechanical resonance, lead to system instability, and have a great impact on speed stability and position tracking accuracy. Therefore, it is necessary to study the servo system of flexible load. In order to solve the problems of high-precision position control and speed stability at low speed of flexible turntable with uncertain load, on the one hand, we comprehensively consider the advantages and disadvantages of semi-closed-loop and full closed-loop control and design a dual-position loop feedback control system combined with the analysis of dynamic equation to realize speed stability and high-precision position control. On the other hand, according to the requirements of the speed stability at low speed of the turntable, the tracking differentiator (TD) is designed innovatively through the language three-point interpolation subdivision and five-point pre-deduction calculation method. Finally, a dual-position loop LLADRC (language linear active disturbances rejection controller) control method based on harmonic gear drive is studied. By comparing the semi-closed loop, dual-position loop, dual-position loop LADRC (linear active disturbances rejection controller, ADRC), and dual-position loop LLADRC methods through simulation analysis, it can be shown that the double position LLADRC control method is obviously superior to other schemes in terms of rapidity, speed stability at low speed, and position tracking accuracy. The theoretical research is verified by experimental test. When the given speed is 0.1 ° / s , taking the pitch axis as an example, the pitch speed error is 0.0039 ° / s (3σ). When the maximum speed of the given curve is 20 ° / s and the maximum acceleration is 16 ° / s , the position tracking error is 0.0025° (3σ). This control method solves the problems of system instability and low-speed stability in high-precision control of turntable system based on harmonic gear drive and provides a method for high-precision control of high-resolution imaging turntable.
Factors Affecting Soybean Crude Urease Extraction and Biocementation via Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) for Soil Improvement

Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is a new biogeotechnical ground improvement technique that uses calcium carbonate (CaCO3) formed by biochemical processes to increase soil strength and stiffness. In this paper, crude urease extracted from soybeans was employed to catalyze the precipitation of CaCO3 in sand. To optimize the urease extraction efficiency, factors affecting the soybean crude urease extraction, including the powdered soybean particle size, concentration, soaking time, and soaking temperature, were addressed. This paper also provided further insight regarding the impact of the urease activity of soybean crude extract on the chemical conversion efficiency and the biocementation performance in EICP. The findings revealed that the powdered soybean concentration and the particle size were the two most important factors affecting the urease activity of the soybean crude extract. The enzyme activity utilized in the EICP process might further lead to different reactant efficiencies of urea-CaCl2 solution, and consequently, the improvement in the physical and mechanical properties of biocemented sand. Considering the chemical conversion efficiency and the biocementation performance, 60 g/L of powdered soybean was concluded as the preferred quantity for extracting the crude urease, with an enzyme activity of 6.62 mM urea min−1. Under this condition, a chemical conversion efficiency of approximately 95% for 0.5 M urea-0.5 M CaCl2 could be obtained in merely 12 h, and the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the EICP-treated sand exceeded 4 MPa with a CaCO3 content of ~8%. As a high-efficient cost-effective alternative to the purified enzyme for carbonate precipitation, the soybean crude urease showed great potential for ground improvement.
The First Identification in Italy of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 Harboring KSF141_del: A Genomic Comparison with Omicron Sub-Variants

The rapid emergence and worldwide detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant underscore the importance of robust genomic surveillance systems and prompt information sharing among global public health partners. The Omicron variant has rapidly replaced the Delta variant as a dominating SARS-CoV-2 variant because of natural selection, favoring the variant with higher infectivity and stronger vaccine breakthrough capability. The Omicron variant is also known as B.1. 1.529. It has four sub-variants, indicated as BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4. Among them, BA.1 is the currently prevailing sub-variant, and BA.2 has been found to be able to alarmingly re-infect patients initially infected by Omicron BA.1. The BA.3 sub-variant is a combination of mutations of BA.1 and BA.2, especially in the spike protein. Today, the BA.4 variant is emerging, which is herein described, and it was the first detected in Italy. Via bioinformatic analysis, we are reporting that the BA.4 that was identified harbors a new mutation, specifically a deletion in the ORF1ab gene, corresponding to KSF141_del in non-structural protein 1 (nsp1), a critical virulence factor able to suppress host translation. The bioinformatics comparison analysis with the other three sub-variants reveals that the deletion was not present before and was never reported until now. Therefore, we can speculate that Omicron BA.4 will become a new dominating “variant of concern” and may also break vaccine protection. Moreover, we show that other proteins are mutated in the BA.4. In particular, seven mutations are recognized in the nucleocapsid (N) protein, and the capability of five different types of rapid antigenic tests are used to identify it.
The Association of Life Events Outside the Workplace and Burnout: A Cross-Sectional Study on Nursing Assistants

Background: Burnout, by definition, is related to adverse chronic workplace stressors. Life events outside the workplace have been associated with an increased risk of psychiatric morbidity. However, it is unknown whether life events outside the workplace increase the severity of burnout. Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between burnout and life events outside the workplace in nursing assistants. Methods: In an observational, cross-sectional, single-site study of 521 nursing assistants at a university hospital, we assessed burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, and life events with the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. We constructed equations of multiple linear regression analyses that included each burnout subscale as the dependent variable and a domain of life events as the independent variable. Results were adjusted for potential confounders, including gender, no religion or faith, years of work, and depression. Results: An increase in the number of life events in the domain of personal changes or difficulties (e.g., personal injury or illness, sexual difficulties, change in recreation, church activities, social activities, sleeping habits, eating habits and revision of personal habits) was associated with increased severity of emotional exhaustion. An increase in the number of life events in the domain of changes in familial situation and in the domains of death of relatives or friends were associated with increased severity of depersonalization. Those associations were independent of work-related life events and other potential confounders. Conclusions: Life events outside the workplace may increase the levels of burnout in nursing assistants.
Association of atrial fibrillation with diabetic nephropathy: A meta-analysis

Background: Many studies have provided evidence for an increased risk of atrial fibrillation among diabetic patients as compared to the nondiabetic population. It is also well known that diabetes predisposes a person to an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy. A few reviews and studies have hinted towards an increased risk of atrial fibrillation among diabetic nephropathy patients; however, there is no concrete evidence at present. Aim: To conduct a meta-analysis to explore if there is an association between diabetic nephropathy and atrial fibrillation. Methods: The available literature was searched for relevant studies from the period of January 1995 to November 2020. The following quality assessment criteria were considered for study shortlisting: clearly defined comparison groups, same outcome measured in both comparison groups, known confounders addressed, and a sufficiently long and complete (more than 80%) follow-up of patients. Two independent reviewers searched the databases, formed their search strategies, and finalized the studies. The data were analyzed to obtain a summary odds ratio along with a forest plot by Cochrane’s RevMan 5.3. Results: Only four studies were found to meet the inclusion criterion for this meta-analysis (total number of study participants: 307330, diabetic nephropathy patients: 22855). Of these, two were retrospective cross-sectional studies, one was a prospective cohort study, and one was a case-control study. Three studies had provided the odds ratio as the measure of effect (two retrospective cross-sectional studies and one case-control study), with the one cohort study reporting the hazards ratio as the measure of effect. Therefore, the meta-analysis was done excluding the cohort study. The summary odds ratio in the present study was 1.32 (0.80–2.18), which was not statistically significant. Due to large heterogeneity among the included studies and their small sample sizes, it was found that the summary estimate shifted towards the null value. Conclusion: The present meta-analysis found no significant association between atrial fibrillation and diabetic nephropathy. However, more studies with large sample sizes are required to strengthen the evidence for an association.
Identification of Pneumonia in Chest X-Ray Image Based on Transformer

The research of application models based on traditional convolutional neural networks has gradually entered the bottleneck period of performance improvement, and the improvement of chest X-ray image models has gradually become a difficult problem in the study. In this paper, the Swin Transformer is introduced into the application model of pneumonia recognition in chest X-ray images, and it is optimized according to the characteristics of chest X-ray images. The experimental results based on the model in this paper are compared with those of the model built with the traditional convolutional neural network as the backbone network, and the accuracy of the model is proved to be greatly improved. After the comparison experiments on two different datasets, the experimental results show that the accuracy of the model in this paper improves from 76.3% to 87.3% and from 92.8% to 97.2%, respectively. The experiments show that the accuracy of image enhancement based on the features of chest X-ray images in this model will be higher than the accuracy without image enhancement. In the experiments of this paper, the identification decision factors in the chest X-ray images were extracted by grad-cam combined with a transformer to find the corresponding approximate lesion regions.
Inhibition of Candida glabrata Biofilm by Combined Effect of Dendritic Compounds and Amphotericin

In the last decade, Candida glabrata has become an important emerging opportunistic pathogen not only because of the increase in nosocomial infections frequency but also because of its ability to form biofilms and its innate resistance to commercial antifungals. These characteristics make this pathogen a major problem in hospital settings, including problems regarding equipment, and in immunosuppressed patients, who are at high risk for candidemia. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of and search for new antifungal drugs. In this study, the efficacy of two dendritic wedges with 4-phenyl butyric acid (PBA) at the focal point and cationic charges on the surface ArCO2G2(SNMe3I)4 (1) and ArCO2G3(SNMe3I)8 (2) was studied against C. glabrata strain to inhibit the formation of biofilms and eliminate established biofilm. For this, MBIC (minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration), MBDC (minimum biofilm damaging concentrations), as well as MFCB (minimum fungicidal concentration in biofilm) and MBEC (minimum biofilm eradicating concentration) were determined. In addition, different combinations of dendrons and amphotericin B were tested to study possible synergistic effects. On the other hand, cytotoxicity studies were performed. C. glabrata cells and biofilm structure were visualized by confocal microscopy. ArCO2G2(SNMe3I)4 (1) and ArCO2G3(SNMe3I)8 (2) dendrons showed both an MBIC of 8 mg/L and a MBDC of 32 mg/L and 64 mg/L, respectively. These dendrons managed to eradicate the entirety of an established biofilm. In combination with the antifungal amphotericin, it was possible to prevent the generation of biofilms and eradicate established biofilms at lower concentrations than those required individually for each compound at these conditions.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Fusidic Acid Derivatives as Two-in-One Agent with Potent Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Fusidic acid (FA), a narrow-spectrum antibiotics, is highly sensitive to various Gram-positive cocci associated with skin infections. It has outstanding antibacterial effects against certain Gram-positive bacteria whilst no cross-resistance with other antibiotics. Two series of FA derivatives were synthesized and their antibacterial activities were tested. A new aromatic side-chain analog, FA-15 exhibited good antibacterial activity with MIC values in the range of 0.781–1.563 µM against three strains of Staphylococcus spp. Furthermore, through the assessment by the kinetic assay, similar characteristics of bacteriostasis by FA and its aromatic derivatives were observed. In addition, anti-inflammatory activities of FA and its aromatic derivatives were evaluated by using a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced mouse ear edema model. The results also indicated that FA and its aromatic derivatives effectively reduced TPA-induced ear edema in a dose-dependent manner. Following, multiform computerized simulation, including homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation and QSAR was conducted to clarify the mechanism and regularity of activities. Overall, the present work gave vital clues about structural modifications and has profound significance in deeply scouting for bioactive potentials of FA and its derivatives.
Media Coverage of Pedophilia and Its Impact on Help-Seeking Persons with Pedophilia in Germany—A Focus Group Study

The public stigma associated with pedophilia, the sexual attraction to prepubescent children, is tremendous. Previous research indicates that undifferentiated media coverage plays an essential role in perpetuating the public stigma by falsely equating pedophilia and child sexual abuse (CSA) and thus may stop persons suffering from a pedophilic disorder from seeking professional help. Until now, a comprehensive examination of positive as well as negative media effects on affected individuals is missing. Therefore, the present study explores if and how media coverage impacts the lives of help-seeking persons with pedophilia by conducting four qualitative focus group discussions with a clinical sample (N = 20) from the German Prevention Network “Kein Täter werden”. Present results demonstrate that media coverage of pedophilia was perceived as mostly undifferentiated, even though participants observed an increase in fact-based reporting over the years. Moreover, it seems that media coverage has strong emotional and behavioral consequences for patients (e.g., negative reporting reduced self-esteem). In sum, our results highlight that differentiated media coverage could play a key role in supporting help-seeking persons with pedophilic disorder, while the impact of undifferentiated media coverage appears to be mostly negative. Therefore, our results point to the need to reframe pedophilia using differentiated media coverage to help affected persons receive treatment efficiently and thereby prevent CSA.
Unravelling the Inflammatory Processes in the Early Stages of Diabetic Nephropathy and the Potential Effect of (Ss)-DS-ONJ

Inflammatory processes play a central role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the early stages of the disease. The authors demonstrate that the glycolipid mimetic (Ss)-DS-ONJ is able to abolish inflammation via the induction of autophagy flux and provokes the inhibition of inflammasome complex in ex vivo and in vitro models, using adult kidney explants from BB rats. The contribution of (Ss)-DS-ONJ to reducing inflammatory events is mediated by the inhibition of classical stress kinase pathways and the blocking of inflammasome complex activation. The (Ss)-DS-ONJ treatment is able to inhibit the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression, but only when the IL18 levels are reduced by the treatment. These findings suggest that (Ss)-DS-ONJ could be a novel, and multifactorial treatment for DN.