Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-Dependent Reduction in Neutralization against Alpha and Beta Variants of BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Immunity

Since mRNA vaccines utilize wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as an antigen, there are potential concerns about acquiring immunity to variants of this virus. The neutralizing activity in BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals was higher against the wild-type virus than against its variants; this effect was more apparent in older age groups. ABSTRACT Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 have been introduced. To investigate the relationship between vaccine-induced humoral immunity and patient age, we measured antibody levels and neutralization in vaccinated sera. Sera from 13 to 17 days after the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine were collected from health care workers at the University of Toyama (n = 740). Antibody levels were measured by the anti-receptor binding domain antibody test (anti-RBD test), and neutralization against wild-type (WT), α- and β-variant pseudotyped viruses were assayed using a high-throughput chemiluminescent reduction neutralizing test (htCRNT; positivity cutoff, 50% neutralization at serum dilution 1:100). Basic clinical characteristics were obtained from questionnaires. Antibodies were confirmed in all participants in both the anti-RBD test (median, 2,112 U/ml; interquartile range [IQR], 1,275 to 3,390 U/ml) and the htCRNT against WT (median % inhibition, >99.9; IQR, >99.9 to >99.9). For randomly selected sera (n = 61), 100.0% had positive htCRNT values against the α- and β-derived variants. Among those who answered the questionnaire (n = 237), the values of the anti-RBD test were negatively correlated with age in females (P < 0.01). An age-dependent decline in neutralization was observed against the variants but not against the wild-type virus (wild type, P = 0.09; α, P < 0.01; β, P < 0.01). The neutralizing activity induced by BNT162b2 was obtained not only against the wild-type virus, but also against the variants; however, there was an age-dependent decrease in the latter. Age-related heterogeneity of vaccine-acquired immunity is a concern in preventive strategies in the era dominated by variants. IMPORTANCE Since mRNA vaccines utilize wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as an antigen, there are potential concerns about acquiring immunity to variants of this virus. The neutralizing activity in BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals was higher against the wild-type virus than against its variants; this effect was more apparent in older age groups. This finding suggests that one of the weaknesses of the mRNA vaccine is the high risk of variant infection in the elderly population. Because the elderly are at a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the age-dependent decline of neutralization against viral variants should be considered while planning vaccination programs that include boosters.
Farmers’ protests in India: introduction to the JPS Forum

ABSTRACT Since the summer of 2020, Indian farmers have been protesting three laws that aim to liberalize agricultural markets and encourage contract farming. In doing so, they have also mounted the largest challenge to an authoritarian Hindu nationalist government to date. The contributions to this JPS Forum provide deep and diverse insights into these farmer protests, including their social composition and political character, as well as their roots in long-term transformations in markets, ecology, and agrarian—and non-agrarian—political economy. In this introduction, we put these contributions into dialogue with older debates in JPS over India’s ‘new farmers’ movements,’ which reached their zenith in the 1980s, in order to throw into relief what has changed in rural India and in agrarian studies over the subsequent decades. We argue that the polarized terms of the earlier debates—between Marxists and populists—are no longer adequate for the transformed agrarian milieu of the twenty-first century, which is increasingly defined by agrarian distress, ecological crisis, semi-proletarianization and diversification of occupations amidst jobless and exclusionary growth. This new agrarian reality, combined with the significance of the protests in challenging an authoritarian regime, helps to explain not only the broad coalition behind the current farmers’ protests, but their far more sympathetic treatment by agrarian scholars.
Damped shape oscillations of a viscous compound droplet suspended in a viscous host fluid

Abstract A study of small-amplitude shape oscillations of a viscous compound droplet suspended in a viscous host fluid is performed. A generalized eigenvalue problem is formulated and is solved by using the spectral method. The effects of the relevant non-dimensional parameters are examined for three cases, i.e. a liquid shell in a vacuum and a compound droplet in a vacuum or in a host fluid. The fundamental mode $l=2$ is found to be dominant. There exist two oscillatory modes: the in phase and the out of phase. In most situations, the interfaces oscillate in phase rather than out of phase. For the in-phase mode, in the absence of the host, as the viscosity of the core or the shell increases, the damping rate increases whereas the oscillation frequency decreases; when the viscosity exceeds a critical value, the mode becomes aperiodic with the damping rate bifurcating into two branches. In addition, when the tension of the inner interface becomes smaller than some value, the in-phase mode turns aperiodic. In the presence of the unbounded host fluid, there exists a continuous spectrum. The viscosity of the host may decrease or increase the damping rate of the in-phase mode. The mechanism behind it is discussed. The density contrasts between fluids affect oscillations of the droplet in a complicated way. Particularly, sufficiently large densities of the core or the host lead to the disappearance of the out-of-phase mode. The thin shell approximation predicts well the oscillation of the compound droplet when the shell is thin.
Measurement of Total Radiated Power in Reverberation Chamber for 5G Millimeter Wave Base Station

In this paper, the total radiated power (TRP) measurement of a 5G millimeter wave base station (BS) in reverberation chamber (RC) is presented. Firstly, the features of the RC such as dimensions, mode-stirrers, and test accessories are introduced. Secondly, the configuration of the BS and test instruments are discussed. At the end, the path loss and TRP measurement are implemented in both RC and compact antenna test range (CATR) systems. The results demonstrate that the RC test method provides the same TRP measurement results as the CATR method, but it can obtain a better noise floor and reduce time consumption.
Malicious Domain Name Detection Model Based on CNN-GRU-Attention

Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA) domain name detection is one of the key technologies for detecting botnet C&C communications. It is well known that malicious websites can cause great harm, and from individuals to countries will be affected to varying degrees. Aiming at the problems of low detection accuracy and high complexity of traditional detection methods, this paper proposes a malicious domain name detection model (CNN-GRU-Attention). The model first used the CNN neural network to extract the spatial features of the domain name data; then used the GRU neural network to extract the temporal features of the domain name data; finally used the attention mechanism to improve the detection accuracy of the domain name. In the experiment, this article used Bigrams, LSTM artificial neural network, GRU neural network, LSTM-GRU four models to compare with the CNN-GRU-Attention model. The experimental results showed that the CNN-GRU-Attention model had better convergence and higher accuracy.
Designing a collaborative business model for SMEs

Objectives . Drawing from a collaborative network approach grounded on the S-D logic perspective (Vargo and Lusch, 2008), this study aims to contribute to the literature on business model. Specifically the paper describes and analyzes the successful business model recently set up by Formabilio; an Italian company that is built up both on network and digital technologies. Methodology . The Social Network Analysis (SNA) based approach (Wasserman and Faust, 1994) has been employed. It is a suitable methodology for understanding complex patterns of interaction (Streeter and Gillespie, 1992) by analysing different actors who are interlinked in the relationship of the network. Findings . The study suggests a more holistic and strategic approach to renew business model. It identifies the foundational elements of a collaboration-based business model to sustain the SMEs competitiveness in a complex and more and more digital-based ecosystem. Specifically, the analysis of the Formabilio network discloses new possible business configurations that a company can adopt to create value for all the actors engaged in the business ecosystem. Research limits . The main limitation of the empirical study relates to its explorative nature and the analysis of a single collaborative network. Practical implications . The study discloses possible business configurations as the pivotal factors for the designing of value co-creation oriented business model are defined. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the effects of collaboration and networking on a traditional business context as the Italian manufacturing ecosystem. Originality of the study . The paper adds value to the existing literature by providing a broader perspective of analysis that merges the managerial perspective on business model and the marketing perspective of interaction and resources integration, to understand, but mainly to orient the managerial behaviour.
Utilization of IoT: Automated Seed Plantation based Smart Agriculture

Agriculture plays an indispensable role in developing one nation, and water is the primary resource for agriculture. So, using IoT, properly utilizing adequate water in the irrigation process is possible through our smart agri-bot (bot specifically used in smart-agriculture). The soil moisture sensor is used to get moisture data, and as per the microcontroller programming, it automatically ON/OFF the motor of a water pump. Agri-bot is controlled from anywhere as it is connected through the cloud. The bot runs for a specified time, then plants the seeds and covers the field area. The soil moisture status is identified and displayed on board. The Arduino UNO will gather and handle the information got from the sensors. When a limited moisture level of the soil is reached, the water will supply for proper seed plantation. This research is dedicated to farmers, and nursery experts as the utilization of automated smart seed planters replace the conventional techniques for the irrigation process and make a revolutionary change.
COVID-19 Pandemic-Associated Changes in the Acuity of Brain MRI Findings: A Secondary Analysis of Reports Using Natural Language Processing

Rationale and Objectives We aimed to assess early COVID-19 pandemic-associated changes in brain MRI examination frequency and acuity of imaging findings acuity. Methods Using a natural language processing model, we retrospectively categorized reported findings of 12,346 brain MRI examinations performed during 6-month pre-pandemic and early pandemic time periods across a large metropolitan health system into three acuity levels: 1, normal or near normal; 2, incidental or chronic findings not requiring a management change; and 3, new or progressive findings requiring a management change. Brain MRI frequency and imaging finding acuity level were compared over time. Results Between March and August of 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020 (early pandemic), our health system brain MRI examination volumes decreased 17.0% (6,745 vs. 5,601). Comparing calendar-matched 6-month periods, the proportion of higher acuity findings increased significantly (p <0.001) from pre-pandemic (22.5%, 43.6% and 34.0% in acuity level 1, 2, and 3, respectively) to early pandemic periods (19.1%, 40.9%, and 40.1%). During the second three months of the early pandemic period, as MRI volumes recovered to near baseline, the proportion of higher acuity findings remained high (42.6% vs. 34.1%) compared with a similar pre-pandemic period. In a multivariable analysis, Black (B coefficient, 0.16) and underinsured population (B coefficient, 0.33) presented with higher acuity findings (p < 0.05). Conclusion As the volume of brain MRI examinations decreased during the early COVID-19 pandemic, the relative proportion of examinations with higher acuity findings increased significantly. Pandemic-related changes in patient outcomes related to reduced imaging access merits further attention.
Two Perspectives of Mental Distress

ABSTRACT This article explores an imbalance between two perspectives on mental distress. The Broken Brain perspective sees mental distress as largely caused by discrete mechanical failures of organic brain function. In tension with this, the Symphonic perspective of mind (encompassing, but not limited to, psychodynamic models) refers to a non-local, wholistic and distributed process spread across the entirety of the mental capacity in which mental distress results from the impacts of tragic life experience on the normally functioning mind. While overlapping in some areas, these two perspectives often lead to dramatically different ways of understanding and treating mental distress. While the Broken Brain perspective has had preeminence in recent decades, it is suffering from increasingly serious scientific and clinical obstacles. Conversely, the Symphonic perspective is increasingly supported both theoretically and clinically by emerging scientific evidence as an efficacious, reasonable, and cost-effective treatment approach.
Reducing Herbicide Rate in Combination with Allelopathic Sorgaab for Weed Control in Cotton

A field trial to determine suitable combination of concentrated sorgaab with reduced rates of two pre-emergence herbicides for weed control in cotton was carried out. Concentrated sorgaab @ 10 L ha -1 was combined with pre-emergence herbicides pendimethalin and S-metolachlor at reduced rates as 333, 500, 667; 667, 1000 and 1330 g a.i. ha -1 , respectively and were compared with pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha -1 and S-metolachlor @ 2 kg a.i. ha -1 at sowing and two hand weedings at 20 and 45 DAS. A weedy check was maintained as control. Results of the study showed that 1/3 rd of the recommended dose of Smetolachlor @ 667 g a.i. ha -1 combined with concentrated sorgaab @ 10 L ha -1 at sowing reduced total weed dry weight by 58-71% and 1/3 dose of pendimethalin @ 333 g a.i. ha -1 (1/3 rd of the recommended dose) combined with concentrated sorgaab @ 10 L ha -1 reduced total weed dry weight by 50-74%. The increase in seed cotton yield with the later treatment was maximum (25.4%) and it was the only economical treatment.
Anticipating future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern through ab initio quantum mechanical modeling

Evolved SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently challenging the efficacy of first-generation vaccines, largely through the emergence of spike protein mutants. Among these variants, Delta is presently the most concerning. We employ an ab initio quantum mechanical model based on Density Functional Theory to characterize the spike protein Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) interaction with host cells and gain mechanistic insight into SARS-CoV-2 evolution. The approach is illustrated via a detailed investigation of the role of the E484K RBD mutation, a signature mutation of the Beta and Gamma variants. The simulation is employed to: predict the depleting effect of the E484K mutation on binding the RBD with select antibodies; identify residue E484 as a weak link in the original interaction with the human receptor hACE2; and describe SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strand binding to the bat Rhinolophus macrotis ACE2 as more optimized than the human counterpart. Finally, we predict the hACE2 binding efficacy of a hypothetical E484K mutation added to the Delta variant RBD, identifying a potential future variant of concern. Results can be generalized to other mutations, and provide useful information to complement existing experimental datasets of the interaction between randomly generated libraries of hACE2 and viral spike mutants. We argue that ab initio modeling is at the point of being aptly employed to inform and predict events pertinent to viral and general evolution.
Fast Maturation of Splenic Dendritic Cells Upon TBI Is Associated With FLT3/FLT3L Signaling

Systemic inflammatory consequences remain a significant burden after traumatic brain injury (TBI), with almost all organs affected. The spleen is connected with the brain by autonomic innervation and by soluble mediators, and the cross-talk between brain and spleen may be important to establish the systemic inflammatory response to TBI. Ethanol intoxication, the most common comorbidity of TBI, is posited to influence the peripheral inflammatory response either directly or through the brain-spleen cross-talk. Here we show that TBI causes a substantial change in transcription of genes associated with dendritic cells activation in the spleen, in particular a FLT3/FLT3L induction 3h after TBI, which was enhanced by EI. The FLT3L induction was associated with the phosphorylation of FLT3 receptor in CD11c+ dendritic cells, which enhanced the protein synthesis of a subset of mRNAs, as shown by the increase in pS6, peIF2A levels in dendritic cells. This corresponded to the upregulation of proteins associated with maturation process and immunostimulatory properties such MHC-II, LAMP1 and CD68, and of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα. Notably, EI enhanced the maturation of dendritic cells. However, whereas TBI decreases expression of the adrenergic 2b receptors on dendritic cells, EI increased it, thus augmenting the chances of cross-talk regulation of immune function by the autonomic system. In conclusion, this data indicates that TBI induces a fast maturation of the immunomodulatory functions of dendritic cells which is associated by FLT3/FLT3L signaling and which is enhanced by EI prior to TBI.
Applied-Information Technology in Passengers’ Check-In System of Airport Terminal Based on the Enterprise Dynamics

Airport managers and airlines all had a common problem that how to use the passengers’ check-in counters effectively. In order to improve the comfort level of the air passenger transportation, reduce the queue time of the passengers near the passengers’ check-in counters and improve the efficiency of the passengers’ check-in system, the passengers’ check-in system of airport terminal was studied based on the Enterprise Dynamics in this paper. The results indicated that the open system of the passengers’ check-in system could shorten the queue time of the passengers near the passengers’ check-in counters and improve the quantity of the service. Furthermore, the airport should control the number of the passengers’ check-in counters dynamically based on the number of the passengers arriving the airport terminal so as to save the airport operating costs without affecting the service level to the passengers.
An Experimental Study of a Redundantly Actuated Parallel Manipulator for a 5-DOF Hybrid Machine Tool

This paper deals with the experimental study of a redundantly actuated parallel manipulator for a 5-DOF hybrid machine tool. Based on the kinematics of the redundantly actuated parallel manipulator, the inverse dynamics is derived by using the virtual work principle. A position and force switching control strategy is used for the two extendible chains of the parallel manipulator. Further, the difference predictive control is presented for the extendible chain with force mode. The parallel manipulator is incorporated into a 5-DOF hybrid machine tool. Linear and circular contouring experiments of both the hybrid machine tool as well as its corresponding nonredundant counterpart with the redundant limb removed are conducted to evaluate the machine performance. Finally, the machine experiment is used to demonstrate the machine's applicability.
Collaboration in teacher teams

In order to deal with innovations and the associated complexity of work, ongoing collaboration between teachers has become more important in secondary education. Teacher collaboration is one of the factors that contribute to the successful implementation of innovations in secondary schools. However, there is no consensus regarding the definition of the concept of collaboration. As a consequence, there is little agreement as to whether and to what degree collaborative processes actually occur in schools. Hence, the general research question of this dissertation was formulated as: What is the nature of collaboration in teacher teams? Four empirical studies were conducted in the context of seven interdisciplinary teacher teams from an innovative secondary school in the Netherlands. The first study reports on different perspectives on collaboration. The aim of this study was to conceptualise the nature of collaboration in teacher teams. We explored the usefulness of four existing conceptual frameworks for research on collaboration in teacher teams: the social network perspective, the interpersonal perspective, the interdependence perspective, and the community of practice perspective. The community of practice perspective was most useful because it’s discriminative potential and intervention potential. The second study reports on the status quo of collaboration in teacher teams using the community of practice perspective. The first aim of this study was to explore the extent to which communities of practice occur in schools. We concluded that the overall degree of community in the teacher teams was moderate. The second aim was to explore the relationship between the degree of community and diversity in team composition. We concluded that diversity in terms of the educational level and gender was positively related to the degree of community, while diversity in terms of tenure and work experience was negatively related to the degree of community. Study 3 reports on ways to stimulate collaboration between teachers. The aim of this study was to formulate a set of design principles in order to foster community development of teacher teams. We concluded that the set of design principles should be aimed at developing group goals, developing group norms, organising group roles, stimulating a critical reflective attitude, promoting trust, promoting perceived interdependence, promoting ownership, and organising a collective memory. Study 4 reports on the design principles that teacher teams have already integrated into their daily practice. The first aim of this study was to explore whether and to what extent the community development of teacher teams takes place. We concluded that the community development of the seven teacher teams was limited. The second aim of this study was to investigate what community-building efforts teacher teams undertake themselves. We concluded that, in spite of limited support from the school management, the teacher teams made a considerable amount and range of community-building efforts.