Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
All-optical in-band OSNR monitors based on unphase-matched four-wave mixing

This paper presents a novel all-optical in-band optical signal-to-noise (OSNR) monitor. The monitoring ability arises from the power transfer function (PTF) provided by un-phase-matched four-wave mixing (FWM). A much higher output contrast compared to formal methods can be obtained at a much lower required power. Numerical simulations are then used to quantify the sensitivity enhancement for signals with different modulation formats which show that the monitoring sensitivity can be greatly improved by more than 10 dB for NRZ, CSRZ, RZ modulation formats while the required power can be reduced by about 3 dB.
An analytical solution to the economic dispatch problem

This letter treats the basic problem of economic operation of power systems and presents a mathematical derivation that proves that the classic economic dispatch (ED) problem, with quadratic-convex cost functions, can be solved analytically, i.e., without any approximations or need for numerical iterative optimization algorithms. Duality theory is employed to determine both the exact primal and exact dual solutions. All this requires, at most, are 2n function evaluations. It is stated, therefore, that the use of an ED model as an optimization-based electricity auction does not cause any conflict of interest.
The Effects of Three Instructor Participatory Roles on a Small Group’s Collaborative Concept Mapping

Collaborative concept mapping, as one of the widely used computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) modes, has been used to foster students’ meaning making, problem solving, and knowledge construction. Previous empirical research has used varied instructional scaffoldings and has reported different effects of those scaffoldings on collaboration. To further examine the effects of instructional scaffoldings, this research implements three different instructor participatory roles (i.e., cognitive contributor, group regulator, and social supporter) to support online collaborative concept mapping (CCM). We use multiple learning analytics methods to examine the group’s CCM processes from the social, cognitive, and metacognitive dimensions, supplemented with assessments of the concept maps. The research reveals different effects of three instructor participatory roles on the group’s collaborative behaviors, discourses, and performances. When the instructor engaged as a cognitive contributor, the student group achieved a lowly-interactive, low-level metacognitive engagement and behavior-oriented knowledge construction; when the instructor engaged as a group regulator, the student group achieved a socially-balanced, high-level metacognitive engagement and behavior-communication-interrelated knowledge construction; and when the instructor engaged as a social supporter, the student group achieved a highly-interactive, medium-level metacognitive engagement and communication-oriented knowledge construction. Based on the results, this research proposed pedagogical, analytical, and theoretical implications for future empirical research of CSCL.
In vitro antimicrobial activity of douro wines against clinical Helicobacter Pylori Strains

Aim. In vitro antimicrobial activities of seven wines (5 reds and 2 whites) from the Douro region (Iberian Peninsule) against eleven clinical strains of Helicobacter pylori were evaluated. Methods. The disk diffusion method, using Columbia Agar supplemented with horse blood (CAB), were used to determine the antimicrobial properties of some wine components against H. pylori strains. Potential interactions of antioxidants contained in the wines and two antimicrobials (amoxicillin and metronidazole) were studied by the disk diffusion method. Results. All the tested strains showed growth in CAB supplemented with 9% of the tested wines but none of them grew in media supplemented with 45% and 67.5% of wine. Similarly, all the tested strains grew in media with the concentration of proanthocyanidins present in the different types of the studied wines. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of the wine antioxidant components tested (benzoic acid, catechin, quercetin, and resveratrol) indicate that resveratrol was the most powerful inhibitory substance against H. pylori. An effect of potentiation between amoxicillin and metronidazole and the antioxidants tested was also established. The interaction of amoxicillin and resveratrol or metronidazole and catechin increased the antimicrobial activity against H. pylori. Conclusions. The results obtained suggested a potential role of resveratrol as a chemopreventive agent for H. pylori infection.
A study of the utility of red cell distribution width to predict the mortality in patients with sepsis visiting Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital

Background: Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response to infectious and non-infectious causes which elicits same response. Currently available gold standard scoring system for assessment of sepsis is the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation. It is useful in intensive care unit and is not widely adopted for patients with sepsis outside of the intensive care setting. Red cell distribution width is an independent prognostic marker, it has been used in many pathological conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and other inflammatory conditions. Inflammation and oxidative stress reduce RBC survival and suppress their maturation and leads to a release of premature RBC into circulation contributing to elevated RDW. It is an inexpensive, routinely available and rapidly measurable prognostic tools. Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the utility of red cell distribution width to predict the mortality in patients with sepsis visiting Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital. Methods: We conducted a single centre hospital based cross sectional study of 50 random patients with sepsis admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital from November 2019 to October 2021. Results: RDW among non-survivors was 17.1% compared to survivors which was 15.1%. RDW was found to have a significant graded association with APACHE II score at admission showing progressively increasing score along with rising RDW. Thirty-day mortality showed a significant relationship with RDW at admission. Conclusion: RDW can be used as a parameter to predict mortality in patients with severe sepsis.
Current concepts surrounding neonatal hormone therapy for boys with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

ABSTRACT Introduction Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a genetic disorder of reproduction and development, characterized by deficient gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion or action, affecting 1-in-4,000–15,000 males. Micropenis and undescended testes are cardinal features of antenatal GnRH deficiency and could indicate absent minipuberty in the first postnatal months. In this review, we outline the pathophysiology and clinical consequences of absent minipuberty and its implications for optimal approaches to the endocrine management of affected boys. Areas covered Deficient GnRH activity during fetal development and neonatal-infancy phase of minipuberty accounts for the diminished mass of Sertoli cells and seminiferous tubules among CHH males, enduring impairment of reproductive function even during gonadotropin replacement in adult life. In overcoming this obstacle, several clinical studies of neonatal gonadotropin replacement have consistently shown positive results in inducing testicular development and correcting cryptorchidism. Expert opinion A high index of clinical suspicion, combined with hormonal testing undertaken in the postnatal period of 1–4 months, can reliably confirm or refute the diagnosis of CHH. Timely identification of CHH in affected male infants (having characteristic “red flag’ developmental anomalies) opens up the possibility for gonadotropin replacement as a targeted therapy to restore the normal hormonal milieu of minipuberty. Further work is necessary in formulating optimal gonadotropin treatment regimens to be more widely adopted in clinical practice.
Planning local sustainable development in Western Balkans

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to research local sustainable development strategic planning processes and practices in the Drina River Basin (geographical area delineated by the river Drina and shared among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia). Design/methodology/approach – Research methodology included the analysis of the existing country-based strategic documents and processes, as well as the local strategic documents and processes of implementation in 21 municipalities in the Drina River Basin, including interviews with the representatives of central and local governments and civil sector and a questionnaire-based assessment of the situation and needs in municipalities. Findings – The paper argues that local sustainable development planning, although still lacking the proper methodological approach and facing insufficiencies in institutional and implementation capacities is becoming more appreciated by local authorities in the region. Originality/value – The findings should help better.
A review of existing building benchmarks and the development of a set of reference office buildings for England and Wales

The modern built environment has become more complex in terms of building types, environmental systems and use profiles. This complexity causes difficulties in terms of optimizing buildings energy design. In this circumstance, introducing a set of prototypical reference buildings, or so-called benchmark buildings, that are able to represent all or majority parts of the UK building stock may be useful for examination of the effect of national energy policies on building energy consumption. This study proposes a set of reference office buildings for England and Wales based on the information collected from the Non-Domestic Building Stock project and an intensive review of the existing building benchmarks. The proposed building benchmark comprises of 10 prototypical reference buildings, which in relation to built form and size, represent 95% of office buildings in England and Wales. This building benchmark provides a platform for those involved in building energy simulations to evaluate energy-efficiency measures and for policymakers to assess the influence of different building energy policies.
Clinical Evaluation of a New Electronic Periodontal Probe: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Precise measurements of periodontal parameters (such as pocket depths: PPD, gingival margins: GM) are important for diagnosis of periodontal disease and its treatment. Most examiners use manual millimeter-scaled probes, dependent on adequate pressure and correct readouts. Electronic probes aim to objectify and facilitate the diagnostic process. This randomized controlled trial compared measurements of a standard manual (MP) with those of an electronic pressure-sensitive periodontal probe (EP) and its influence on patients’ acceptance and practicability. In 20 patients (2436 measuring points) PPD and GM were measured either with MP or EP by professionals with different levels of experience: dentist (10 patients), 7th and 10th semester dental students (5 patients each). Time needed was measured in minutes and patients’ subjective pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale. Differences were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations approach (GEE) and paired Wilcoxon tests. Mean PPD varied with ΔPPD 0.38 mm between both probes, which was significant (p < 0.001), but GM did not (ΔREC 0.07 mm, p = 0.197). There was a statistically significant correlation of both probes (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient GM: 0.674, PPD: 0.685). Differences can be considered robust (no deviation in either direction). The comparison of time needed and pain sensitivity did not result in statistically significant differences (p > 0.05).
Skeletal Growth Rates in Porites lutea Corals from Pulau Tinggi, Malaysia

Skeletal records of massive Porites lutea corals sampled from reefs around Malaysia have previously shown average decadal declines in growth rates associated with sea warming. However, there was a variability in growth declines between sites that warrant the need for investigations into more site-specific variations. This study analyzed decade-long (December 2004–November 2014) annual growth records (annual linear extension rate, skeletal bulk density, calcification rate) reconstructed from five massive P. lutea colonies from Pulau Tinggi, Malaysia. Significant non-linear changes in inter-annual trends of linear extension and calcification rates were found, with notable decreases that corresponded to the 2010 El Niño thermal stress episode and a pan-tropical mass coral bleaching event. Coral linear extension and calcification were observed to return to pre-2010 rates by 2012, suggesting the post-stress recovery of P. lutea corals at the study site within 2 years. Although no long-term declines in linear extension and calcification rates were detected, a linear decrease in annual skeletal bulk density by ≈9.5% over the 10-year study period was found. This suggests that although coral calcification rates are retained, the skeletal integrity of P. lutea corals may be compromised with potential implications for the strength of the overall reef carbonate framework. The correlation of coral calcification rates with sea surface temperature also demonstrated site-specific thermal threshold at 29 °C, which is comparable to the regional thermal threshold previously found for the Thai-Malay Peninsula.
Decadal Measurements of the First Geostationary Ocean Color Satellite (GOCI) Compared with MODIS and VIIRS Data

The first geostationary ocean color data from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) onboard the Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) have been accumulating for more than ten years from 2010. This study performs a multi-year quality assessment of GOCI chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and radiometric data for 2012–2021 with an advanced atmospheric correction technique and a regionally specialized Chl-a algorithm. We examine the consistency and stability of GOCI, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) level 2 products in terms of annual and seasonal climatology, two-dimensional frequency distribution, and multi-year time series. Overall, the GOCI agrees well with MODIS and VIIRS on annual and seasonal variability in Chl-a, as the central biological pattern of the most transparent waters over the western North Pacific, productive waters over the East Sea, and turbid waters over the Yellow Sea are reasonably represented. Overall, an excellent agreement is remarkable for western North Pacific oligotrophic waters (with a correlation higher than 0.91 for Chl-a and 0.96 for band-ratio). However, the sporadic springtime overestimation of MODIS Chl-a values compared with others is notable over the Yellow Sea and East Sea due to the underestimation of MODIS blue-green band ratios for moderate-high aerosol optical depth. The persistent underestimation of VIIRS Chl-a values compared with GOCI and MODIS occurs due to inherent sensor calibration differences. In addition, the artificially increasing trends in GOCI Chl-a (+0.48 mg m−3 per 9 years) arise by the decreasing trends in the band ratios. However, decreasing Chl-a trends in MODIS and VIIRS (−0.09 and −0.08 mg m−3, respectively) are reasonable in response to increasing sea surface temperature. The results indicate GOCI sensor degradation in the late mission period. The long-term application of the GOCI data should be done with a caveat, however; planned adjustments to GOCI calibration (2022) in the following GOCI-II satellite will essentially eliminate the bias in Chl-a trends.
Endothelium-Independent Relaxation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Induced by Persimmon-Derived Polyphenol Phytocomplex in Rats

The vasorelaxant effect of polyphenols is well known, and the mortality rate due to coronary artery disease is low in people who consume polyphenol-containing foods. We aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which polyphenols derived from persimmon juice (PJ) and persimmon leaves (PLs) induce vasorelaxation and suppress vasocontraction in the superior mesenteric arteries isolated from male Sprague Dawley rats. Vasocontraction was induced with 1 µM phenylephrine, and polyphenol-induced vasorelaxation was expressed as a percentage of the previous tone induced by phenylephrine. PJ powder (100 mg/L) induced higher levels of vasorelaxation (mean ± standard error of the mean, 88.6% ± 4.4%) than PLs powder (1 g/L; 72.0% ± 10.8%). Nitric oxide pathway inhibitors (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester + carboxy-PTIO) did not affect persimmon-derived polyphenol-induced vasorelaxation, whereas potassium chloride, tetraethylammonium, and potassium-channel inhibitors did. Vasorelaxation was endothelium independent with both extracts. Phenylephrine-induced vasocontraction was suppressed by pretreatment with PJ and PLs powder, even when inositol triphosphate-mediated Ca2+ release and extracellular Ca2+ influx were inhibited. These results suggest that persimmon-derived polyphenol phytocomplex cause vasorelaxation and inhibit vasocontraction through hyperpolarization of smooth muscle cells. Persimmon-derived polyphenols may be able to prevent cardiovascular diseases caused by abnormal contraction of blood vessels.
Novel Transcriptional and Translational Biomarkers of Tularemia Vaccine Efficacy in a Mouse Inhalation Model: Proof of Concept

Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis (Ftt) is extremely virulent for humans when inhaled as a small particle aerosol (<5 µm). Inhalation of ≥20 viable bacteria is sufficient to initiate infection with a mortality rate ≥30%. Consequently, in the past, Ftt became a primary candidate for biological weapons development. To counter this threat, the USA developed a live vaccine strain (LVS), that showed efficacy in humans against inhalation of virulent Ftt. However, the breakthrough dose was fairly low, and protection waned with time. These weaknesses triggered extensive research for better vaccine candidates. Previously, we showed that deleting the clpB gene from virulent Ftt strain, SCHU S4, resulted in a mutant that was significantly less virulent than LVS for mice, yet better protected them from aerosol challenge with wild-type SCHU S4. To date, comprehensive searches for correlates of protection for SCHU S4 ΔclpB among molecules that are critical signatures of cell-mediated immunity, have yielded little reward. In this study we used transcriptomics analysis to expand the potential range of molecular correlates of protection induced by vaccination with SCHU S4 ΔclpB beyond the usual candidates. The results provide proof-of-concept that unusual host responses to vaccination can potentially serve as novel efficacy biomarkers for new tularemia vaccines.
Push and Pull Forces Away from Front Porch Use

Observational and survey data were collected from a pre-World War I and a post-1970s neighborhood to assess the influence of push and pull forces away from front porch use. The findings indicate that the most important factors in reducing front porch use are design issues having to do with the small size of porches, the attractiveness of the backyard, and lifestyles that no longer support front porch use. Implications for design, including support of New Urbanist design principles, are discussed.
Late Cretaceous Paleoceanographic Evolution and the Onset of Cooling in the Santonian at Southern High Latitudes (IODP Site U1513, SE Indian Ocean)

The latest Cenomanian to Santonian sedimentary record recovered at IODP Expedition 369 Site U1513 in the Mentelle Basin (SE Indian Ocean, paleolatitude 60°S at 85 Ma) is studied to interpret the paleoceanographic evolution in the Southern Hemisphere. The planktonic foraminiferal assemblage changes, the depth ecology preferences of different species, and the surface and seafloor temperature inferred from the stable isotopic values measured on foraminiferal tests provide meaningful information to the understanding of the Late Cretaceous climate. The hothouse climate during the Turonian‐Santonian, characterized by weak latitudinal temperature gradients and high atmospheric CO2 concentrations, is followed by a progressive cooling during the Campanian. At Site U1513 the beginning of this climatic transition is nicely recorded within the Santonian, as indicated by an ∼1‰ increase in δ18O values of planktonic foraminifera suggesting a decline in surface water paleotemperatures of 4°C. The onset of cooling is mirrored by changes in the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages including extinctions among surface and deep dwellers, appearances and diversification of newly evolving taxa, and changes from predominantly epifaunal oxic to infaunal dysoxic/suboxic taxa among co‐occurring benthic foraminifera. Overall, the data presented here document an interval in the Santonian during which the rate of southern high latitude cooling increased. Both surface and bottom waters were affected, although the cooling signal is more evident in the data for surface waters. This pattern of cooling ascribes the deterioration of the Late Cretaceous climate to decreased CO2 in the atmosphere and changes in the oceanic circulation correlated with enhanced meridional circulation.
Validation of Actuator Disk Simulations of CROR Propulsion Systems at Low-Speed Flight Conditions

In the present investigation, a validation of the Actuator Disk (AD) model implemented in the DLR-TAU Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver is performed for the simulation of Contra-Rotating Open Rotor (CROR) propulsion systems. The analysis focuses on a 12x9 CROR in pusher con�guration at model scale and low speed conditions in isolated and semi-installed arrangements. The actuator disk computations are validated with unsteady computations (uRANS) of the system with rotating blades. For the modeling of the actuator disks, data bases of blade airfoils are computed in 2D to predict the forces produced by the blades at different radial stations of the disk. For this purpose, two approaches for the calculation of the blade forces are performed. The fi�rst approach considers the resulting velocity produced by the free stream velocity and the rotational speed, assuming that the free stream velocity is aligned with the rotor rotation axis. The second approach considers the e�ffect of a deviation of the oncoming flow approaching the rotor planes. For the validation of the model, rotor performance and wake velocity profi�les are extracted and a comparison of both numerical approaches is performed. The results obtained, show a very good agreement between the performance numbers obtained from both numerical methods uRANS and AD. Also a good representation of the flow in the propwake is obtained with the simulation using AD model compared with the uRANS simulation.
Design and performance of Gaussian-profile dispersion-shifted fibers manufactured by VAD process

Design and manufacturing of dispersion-shifted fibers with a Gaussian profile, which is compatible to the VAD process, are studied. From the viewpoint of stable cabling, the parametric analysis is made with emphasis on the bending loss. To make the bending sensitivity of the Gaussian core fibers comparable with the conventional 1.3- μm zero-dispersion fibers, an 0.8 percent or higher index difference is required. In the experiment, the achieved loss at the 1.55-μm dispersionless wavelength is 0.21 dB/km. The effects of a ring profile around the Gaussian core on the fiber transmission characteristics also are examined. While the cutoff wavelengths are greatly lengthened by the ring, the bending sensitivity is not so affected. It is found that the index difference of the main core still dominates the bending loss of the fiber.