Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interlayer Slope Waveguide Coupler for Multilayer Chalcogenide Photonics

The interlayer coupler is one of the critical building blocks for optical interconnect based on multilayer photonic integration to realize light coupling between stacked optical waveguides. However, commonly used coupling strategies, such as evanescent field coupling, usually require a close distance, which could cause undesired interlayer crosstalk. This work presents a novel interlayer slope waveguide coupler based on a multilayer chalcogenide glass photonic platform, enabling light to be directly guided from one layer to another with a large interlayer gap (1 µm), a small footprint (6 × 1 × 0.8 µm3), low propagation loss (0.2 dB at 1520 nm), low device processing temperature, and a high bandwidth, similar to that in a straight waveguide. The proposed interlayer slope waveguide coupler could further promote the development of advanced multilayer integration in 3D optical communications systems.
Nanocomposites transformed from polystyrene waste/antimony, barium and nickel oxides nanoparticles with improved thermal and electrical properties

In this experiment, the oxide nanoparticles were synthesized via chemical precipitation and the nanocomposites were produced using in situ polymerization method with varying nanoparticles contents ranged from 0.1 g to 1.0 g for electrical conductivity and from 0.05 g to 0.25 g for thermal conductivity. The electrical and thermal conductivities of nanocomposites were investigated and compared with the values obtained for untreated polystyrene. It was observed that the electrical and thermal properties were higher for the nanocomposites and increase with increasing nanoparticle concentrations in the samples. It can be observed that nanocomposite containing NiO nanoparticles gave a better electrical and thermal conductivity followed by nanocomposite containing BaO nanoparticles and nanocomposite containing Sb2O3 nanoparticles respectively. It can also be observed that nanocomposite containing NiO nanoparticle showed increase in rate of heat transfer from 1.60 W to 2.60 W, while nanocomposite containing BaO nanoparticles recorded increase in rate of heat transfer from 1.40 W to 2.45 W and nanoomposite containing Sb2O3 nanoparticle showed increase in rate of heat transfer from 1.07 W to 2.21 W, as concentration of nanoparticles increased from 0.05 g to 0.25 g respectively. Conclusively, with these results, the nanocomposite containing NiO nanoparticles gave a better thermal and electrical conductivity by having a better conducting filler network inside the matrix than nanocomposite containing BaO nanoparticles and nanocomposite containing Sb2O3 nanoparticles. It is recommended that during the production of polymer nanocomposite, PS/NiO, PS/BaO and PS/Sb2O3 nanocomposites could be used in electrically conductive devices as well as suitable materials for heat transfer applications.
Application of a High-Throughput Targeted Sequence AmpliSeq Procedure to Assess the Presence and Variants of Virulence Genes in Salmonella

We have developed a targeted, amplicon-based next-generation sequencing method to detect and analyze 227 virulence genes (VG) of Salmonella (AmpliSeqSalm_227VG) for assessing the pathogenicity potential of Salmonella. The procedure was developed using 80 reference genomes representing 75 epidemiologically-relevant serovars associated with human salmonellosis. We applied the AmpliSeqSalm_227VG assay to (a) 35 previously characterized field strains of Salmonella consisting of serovars commonly incriminated in foodborne illnesses and (b) 34 Salmonella strains with undisclosed serological or virulence attributes, and were able to divide Salmonella VGs into two groups: core VGs and variable VGs. The commonest serovars causing foodborne illnesses such as Enteritidis, Typhimurium, Heidelberg and Newport had a high number of VGs (217–227). In contrast, serovars of subspecies not commonly associated with human illnesses, such as houtenae, arizonae and salame, tended to have fewer VGs (177–195). Variable VGs were not only infrequent but, when present, displayed considerable sequence variation: safC, sseL, sseD, sseE, ssaK and stdB showed the highest variation and were linked to strain pathogenicity. In a chicken infection model, VGs belonging to rfb and sse operons showed differences and were linked with pathogenicity. The high-throughput, targeted NGS-based AmpliSeqSalm_227VG procedure provided previously unknown information about variation in select virulence genes that can now be applied to a much larger population of Salmonella for evaluating pathogenicity of various serovars of Salmonella and for risk assessment of foodborne salmonellosis.
Influence of Compliance and Aging of Artificial Turf Surfaces on Lower Extremity Joint Loading

Background: Artificial turf (AT) has been related to increased injury rates when compared to natural grass (NG). One potential reason for the differences in injury rates is the difference in mechanical characteristics of the surfaces. Over the course of a season on artificial turf, due to heavy use and environmental factors, properties of the surface (such as compliance) may be altered. The purpose was to compare the effects of newly installed versus aged AT on injury risks at the metatarsophalangeal, ankle, and knee joint during soccer-specific movements. Methods: Eleven male soccer players performed three movements on newly installed and ‘aged’ AT. Kinematics and kinetics were collected for the different surfaces. Results: Knee adduction moments were increased during the v-cut (119 Nm vs. 164 Nm, p = 0.02), and knee external rotation joint moments were increased during the circle run (23 Nm vs. 28 Nm, p = 0.04) with the aged surface. No surface effects were seen during the jog-sprint transition. Conclusions: For movements associated with a high risk for non-contact injuries, the age of the AT resulted in greater risk factors for injury potential at the knee joint. Further research comparing injury rates associated with AT should consider mechanical features, specifically surface compliance.
Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Dodola Town, South Ethiopia

Medicinal plant is any plant from which one or more of its organs contain ingredients essential for therapeutic purpose. In Ethiopia, the use of traditional medicines is widely prevalent in the country but ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants in the country are limited when compared to the multiethnic and cultural diversity of the people and diverse flora of the country. The present study aimed to document the medicinal plant species, identify the plant parts used to treat human disease, assess community perception and identify the threats to medicinal plant conservation in Dodola Town, in Ethiopia. The study focused on three kebeles namely, Geneta, Gedira and Tullo Alawanso based on the recommendations of elders and local authorities. Sixty respondents were selected from these three kebeles and 15 key informants (10 males and 5 females) were added based on the recommendations of local knowledgeable elders, local leaders and development agents. Questionnaire distribution, interviews and focus group discussions were the data collection tools. The result indicated a total of 10 wild medicinal trees and shrubs that were identified useful for treating human disease in Dodola Town. The plants and parts used to treat diseases varied from disease to disease. Leaf, fruit, bark and root were widely used for treating human disease but leaves and roots were the frequently used plant parts. Mostly medicinal plants in the area were used in their fresh form. The study also indicated as the majority of respondents have positive perception towards medicinal plants and their use in the area. The medicinal plants of the town are facing threat from intensification of agriculture, wood extraction and over grazing.
Breeding Soundness Inspection and Production Features of Bullocks under Ecological Conditions in Free State Region, South Africa

Assessing the fertility of bullocks preceding to use as breeding animals make apparent economic if it were possible. Fertility is not possible predicted by means of a breeding soundness evaluation (BSE), but by the application of minimum standards to a set of accepted procedures, which supports informed decision makers to the breeding potential of the bullock. An bullocks found to satisfy these criteria in Central Performance Testing (CPT) known as Phase C, is reckoned to be breeding sound (BS). Furthermore, breeding success depends on the reproductive performance of both the cow and the bull. Breeding bull is likely to service a large number of heifers or cows in planned breeding season. The efficiency of a bullock can be based on the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) but poor breeding sound evaluation can be regarded as infertile. Bull breeding soundness evaluations (BSEs) are significant economic management of beef herd management and depends on adequate semen quality, physical soundness and serving capacity. Furthermore, assessment of scrotal circumference (SC), libido, testicular measurement and semen parameters often not done during a routine breeding soundness examination. The aim of this study was to depict using BSE whether bullocks would be fertile under Phase C. The relationship of BSE and production characteristics in central performance testing is challenging to identify fertility in bullocks within 112 given days of CPT. This study investigated performance data extracted from Integrated Registration and Genetic Information System (Intergis) managed by Agricultural Research Council Glen Bull Testing Centre. There were three breeds investigated, namely, Simmentaler, Santa Gertrudis and Limousin for the period of 2007 to 2017, were analysed to determine the dominance and importance of factors affecting breeding soundness classification.
Bacterial Ribosome Rescue Systems

To maintain proteostasis, the cell employs multiple ribosome rescue systems to relieve the stalled ribosome on problematic mRNA. One example of problematic mRNA is non-stop mRNA that lacks an in-frame stop codon produced by endonucleolytic cleavage or transcription error. In Escherichia coli, there are at least three ribosome rescue systems that deal with the ribosome stalled on non-stop mRNA. According to one estimation, 2–4% of translation is the target of ribosome rescue systems even under normal growth conditions. In the present review, we discuss the recent findings of ribosome rescue systems in bacteria.
Semi-isotropic design of a Stewart platform through constrained optimization

The isotropic property at home configuration for a semi-regular Stewart platform manipulator with equal leg lengths has been found to be nonachievable by kinematic design optimization study. In this context, a new approach of design optimization has been formulated here for achieving semi-isotropicity through variable transformation that has rendered the constrained optimization over a finite workspace to infinite workspace in the transformed domain. The proposed minimization methodology of a positive definite function for all the angular and translational motion has exhibited strong convergence to zero for values of the design parameters that can be worked out as a closed-form solution only for the cases of linear translation. Finally, the variations of the condition number over the permissible range of all single-degree-of-freedom motions have been carried out. The absence of any other minima in the entire workspace has clearly established the home position as globally optimized.
The Impact of an Incidental Dose on Axillary Tumor Control and Toxicity in Localized Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis

Simple Summary The incidental axillary dose varies according to the whole breast irradiation technique. However, this dose has not been shown to be a prognostic factor for locoregional recurrence. The objectives of our retrospective study are to dosimetrically evaluate the incidental axillary dose according to the different irradiation techniques and the risk factors of axillary recurrence. We confirmed that the irradiation technique has an influence on the incidental dose delivered to the axillary area, but has no influence on the risk of axillary recurrence. The risk of lymphoedema could be related to the use of high tangential beams and the mean dose delivered at level II. Abstract Purpose: The dosimetric analysis of the incidental axillary dose delivered to axillary lymph node levels I–III by different techniques of whole breast irradiation and the analysis of prognostic factors of axillary recurrence of breast cancer. Methods: We perform a retrospective analysis that includes 171 patients with localized breast carcinoma irradiated at Centre Paul Strauss. To be included in the study, patients had to have a histological confirmation of breast cancer diagnosis, surgical treatment without axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), whole breast irradiation without axillary irradiation by a specific field, and a treatment plan available. Results: Three patients had lymph node recurrence. There was no significant correlation between the maximal or mean dose delivered at the three axillary levels and the risk of axillary lymph node recurrence. There was no significant correlation between the irradiation technique and the risk of axillary lymph node recurrence. Two patients, both in the HT group, had lymphoedema. There was significantly more lymphoedema in the HT group than in the ST and IMRT groups (p < 0.048). The mean dose in level II was significantly higher in the group of patients with lymphoedema (3.45 Gy (1.08; 9.62) vs. 23.4 Gy (23.1; 23.6)) (p < 0.02). Conclusion: The irradiation technique has an influence on the incidental dose delivered to the axillary area, but has no influence on the risk of axillary recurrence. The risk of lymphoedema could be related to the use of HT and the mean dose delivered at level II.
Demonstration projects and sustainable housing: The significance of demonstration projects as a so called second generation steering instrument is examined by the use of case studies

Etant donne la complexite de structure de l'environment bati il est souvent difficile d'obtenir de bons resultats dans le cadre de projets d'amenagement durable. Aux Pays-Bas le gouvernement a fait appel a une serie de nouveaux outils d'evaluation qui ont eu pour effet de permettre la mise en oeuvre d'idees innovatrices dans le cadre d'une economie de marche. Le processus mis en place par le gouvernement neerlandais se sert de dispositions contractuelles, de gestion de reseau et surtout de projets de demonstration pour evaluer la faisabilite d'amenagements innovateurs. Les auteurs expliquent ce processus et presentent des exemples tires de programmes de construction de logements durables, offrant un haut niveau de rendement energetique. Ils soulignent par ailleurs limportance, dans ce domaine, d'objectifs bien definis.
Soyauxinine, a New Indolopyridoquinazoline Alkaloid from the Stem Bark of Araliopsis soyauxii Engl. (Rutaceae)

The chemical investigation of the total alkaloid extract (TAE) of the stem bark of Araliopsis soyauxii (Rutaceae) afforded an unreported indolopyridoquinazoline (compound 1) along with nine previously known alkaloids 2–10. In addition, six semi-synthetic derivatives 3a–c, 4b, 5a and 6a were prepared by allylation and acetonidation of soyauxinium nitrate (5), edulinine (3), ribalinine (4) and arborinine (6). The structures and spectroscopic data of five of them are reported herein for the first time. The suggested mechanism for the formation of the new N-allylindolopyridoquinazoline 5a is presented. The structures of natural and derived compounds were determined employing extensive NMR and MS techniques. The absolute configuration of stereogenic centers in compounds 2–4 were determined using NOESY technique and confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) technique. The use of SC-XRD further enabled us to carry out a structural revision of soyauxinium chloride recently isolated from the same plant to soyauxinium nitrate (5). The TAE, fractions, compounds 1–7 and 9, and semi-synthetic derivatives 3a–c, 4b, 5a and 6a were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity towards the cervix carcinoma cell line KB-3-1. No significant activity was recorded for most of the compounds except for 9, which showed moderate activity against the tested cancer cell lines.
Unemployment risk-sharing in the EU: How policy design influences citizen support for European unemployment policy

This article explores public preferences for European unemployment programs explicitly discussed in actual policymaker debate. European policymakers have been considering European-level Unemployment Risk Sharing (EURS) to stabilize member-state economies and provide a safety net for the unemployed. Using a conjoint experiment conducted in 13 European member states, we analyze public support across six crucial policy dimensions of EURS. The findings reveal that (a) overall support for EURS policies is broad and substantial, but sensitive to particular policy mixes; (b) citizen support is conditional on the program being generous and on coverage being limited to countries providing education and training and individual beneficiaries looking for and accepting work; and (c) cross-country variation is modest and most prominent with respect to cross-country redistribution.
Toxicity (acute and subacute) assessment and in-vivo antiurolithiatic activity of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonducella seed in albino Wistar rat

INTRODUCTION Urolithiasis also termed kidney stone or nephrolithiasis, is a common worldwide disease with a high prevalence and recurrence rate. Chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, obesity, kidney disease, metabolic disorder, and hypertension, have a high tendency to form stones compared with healthy people (Besiroglu and Ozbek, 2019). It causes pyelonephritis or acute renal failure and severe acute back pain (Namburu et al., 2017; Yasui et al., 2017). Urolithiasis typically occurs between the age of 20 and 60 years and is more occurrences in hot climates. It affects nearly 10% of men and 6% of women over their lifetime. The recurrence rate is 50% within 5–10 years and 75% within 20 years of initial treatment (Dawson and Tomson, 2012; Yasui et al., 2017). The overall recurrence rate is high in male (70%–80%) as compared with female (47%–60%) (Ahmed et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2019). Approximately, 80% of stones are calcium-containing stones which are found as pure calcium oxalate (CaOx) (50%), pure calcium phosphate (1%), or a mixture of both (45%), and other stones are struvite (10%), uric acid (9%), and cystine (1%) (Bashir and Gilani, 2009; Namburu et al., 2017). CaOx (CaC2O4) stones are found as CaOx monohydrate or CaOx dehydrate form. Struvite stones are also called triple phosphate or infection stones or magnesium ammonium phosphate and develop Toxicity (acute and subacute) assessment and in-vivo antiurolithiatic activity of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonducella seed in albino Wistar rat
An outline of Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic crustal evolution of the NW Amazon craton and implications for the Columbia Supercontinent

ABSTRACT The Rio Negro Province in the NW Amazon craton is composed of three domains (northeastern, central, and southwestern) in turn separated into several regional terrains, showing main NE-SW and WNW-ESE structures and being composed of high-grade polydeformed basement with 1840–1700 Ma protolith ages. The Northeastern Domain shows basements dominated by high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic metagranitoids, orthogneisses, migmatites, augen gneisses, and local A-type leucogneisses (1810–1760 Ma, Cauaburi Complex). In Venezuela, this basement is not widely known, but encompasses the oldest rocks of the province (1840–1820 Ma, San Carlos Metamorphic Terrane). The Southwestern Domain comprises medium- to high-K calc-alkaline orthogneisses (Querari Complex) with an extended compositional range (diorite to granite), NE-trending main foliation, and 1740–1700 Ma protolith ages. The Central Domain comprises peraluminous crustal-derived granites (1520–1480 Ma), supracrustal rocks, paragneisses, and some Cauaburi Complex inliers. The Nd isotope data for the basement rocks indicates mantle sources with decreasing crustal contributions and younger TDM ages from east (2.54–1.96 Ga) to west (1.97–1.82 Ga). The Rio Negro Province is interpreted as an accretionary orogen formed by a long-lived magmatic arc system active during three phases: 1.84–1.82 Ga, 1.81–1.76 Ga (main flare up) and 1.75–1.70 Ga. Later, this arc system was affected by collisional orogenies at ~1500 Ma (Içana Orogeny) and ~1300 Ma (Putumayo Orogeny), as showed by the Ar–Ar step heating plateau ages (biotite, hornblende) and U-Pb SHRIMP ages (zircon, titanite) recording two main metamorphic events at 1520–1480 Ma (medium–high T) and 1400–1310 Ma (low–medium T), with important tectonothermal effects also further east in the Tapajós-Parima Province. Based on similar accretionary histories, the Rio Negro Province has also apparent long-lived connections with Laurentia and Baltica (Transscandinavian Belt), forming the core of the Columbia Supercontinent.
Gender-Specific Impact of Metabolic Obesity Phenotypes on the Risk of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Retrospective Data Analysis Using a Health Check-Up Database

Background Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is recognized as the most common autoimmune thyroid disease, often accompanied by the diffuse enlargement of thyroid with abundant blood flow and elevated level of thyroid autoantibodies. As obesity had a positive association with the risk of HT. Thus, this retrospective study was established to further explore the gender relationship between metabolic obesity phenotypes and the risk of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Materials and Methods Data for 3697 subjects aged ≥18 years were randomly collected from a Health check-up database from April to December 2019. Obesity was defined by general obesity (GO; body mass index [BMI] ≥28 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (AO; waist circumstance, male ≥90 cm, female ≥85 cm). Metabolic unhealthy was defined as having at least one metabolic syndrome component and a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ≥2.5. Obesity phenotypes were divided into three groups: GO, AO, compound obesity (GO+AO). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between metabolic obesity phenotypes and risk of HT by sex and explore the correlation between different obesity patterns and HT risk by metabolic health status. Results The incidence of HT was 23.5% and significantly higher among females than males with different metabolic phenotypes (26.2% vs 20.5%, p<0.05), except metabolically healthy AO. Compared with non-obese subjects, different metabolic obesity phenotypes were independent risk factors among males (p<0.05). Among females, unhealthy metabolic status with GO (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=2.62) or AO (adjusted OR=2.87) and metabolically healthy non-GO (adjusted OR=2.05) were risk factors of HT (p<0.05). Increasing BMI categories and waist circumstance quartiles were positively correlated with HT risk (p for trend <0.05). Subgroup analyses indicated that GO+AO (adjusted OR=2.52) or only AO (adjusted OR=2.41) were risk factors for HT for those with unhealthy metabolic status. Moreover, GO+AO (adjusted OR=2.37) was an independent risk factor for HT under healthy metabolic status. Conclusion GO+AO was associated with an increased risk of HT, identifying higher BMI/WC as a significant risk factor for HT. Males with unhealthy metabolic state or obesity and metabolically unhealthy females with obesity are high-risk group for HT. Additionally, only AO and GO+AO conferred increased risk of HT for individuals with metabolic abnormalities.