Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
WAVE OVERTOPPING CHARACTERISTICS FOR A DOUBLE VERTICAL WALL AND THE EFFECT OF PARAPETS

The mean wave overtopping discharge and extreme overtopping volumes were assessed for a double vertical wall solution, including the combined effect of the mutual distance and effect of parapets, also known as wave return walls or bullnoses. New empirical functions were derived for predicting the mean overtopping discharge and maximum overtopping volumes applicable for this design case. This study demonstrates the importance of analyzing the statistical characteristics of extreme overtopping volumes, especially for cases with low number of overtopping waves and steep volume distributions. It is argued that derivation of these statistics is essential for design of coastal structures and required drainage system at the hinterland. The analysis has shown that performing repetition tests is valuable, especially with cases of low number of overtopping waves. Generating more data allows for the derivation of more reliable statistics and in turn enables better quantification of the associated uncertainties. Statistical parameters of wave overtopping volumes showed that it provides critical design input for drainage and enable the generation of synthetic overtopping events with realistic distributions of wave overtopping volumes.
Development of Automatic Source Code Evaluation Tests Using Grey-Box Methods: A Programming Education Case Study

Increasing the effectiveness of programming education has emerged as an important goal in teaching programming languages in the last decade. Automatic evaluation of the correctness of the student’s source code saves teachers time and effort and allows a more comprehensive focus on the preparation of assignments with integrated feedback. The study aims to present an approach that will enable effective testing of students’ source codes within object-oriented programming courses while minimising the demands on teachers when preparing the assignment. This approach also supports variability in testing and preventing student cheating. Based on the principles of different types of testing (black-box, white-box, grey-box), an integrated solution for source code verification was designed and verified. The basic idea is to use a reference class, which is assumed to be part of every assignment, as the correct solution. This reference class is compared to the student solution using the grey-box method. Due to their identical interface (defined by assignment), comparing instance states and method outputs is a matter of basic programming language mechanisms. A significant advantage is that a random generation of test cases can be used in such a case, while the rules for their generation can be determined using simple formulas. The proposed procedure was implemented and gradually improved over 4 years on groups of bachelor students of applied informatics with a high level of acceptance.
Adaptive differentiable grids for cryo-electron tomography reconstruction and denoising

Abstract Motivation Tilt-series cryo-electron tomography is a powerful tool widely used in structural biology to study 3D structures of micro-organisms, macromolecular complexes, etc. Still, the reconstruction process remains an arduous task due to several challenges: The missing-wedge acquisition, sample misalignment and motion, the need to process large data, and, especially, a low signal-to-noise ratio. Results Inspired by the recently introduced neural representations, we propose an adaptive learning-based representation of the density field of the captured sample. This representation consists of an octree structure, where each node represents a 3D density grid optimized from the captured projections during the training process. This optimization is performed using a loss that combines a differentiable image formation model with different regularization terms: total variation, boundary consistency, and a cross-nodes non-local constraint. The final reconstruction is obtained by interpolating the learned density grid at the desired voxel positions. The evaluation of our approach using captured data of viruses and cells shows that our proposed representation is well adapted to handle missing wedges, and improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstructed tomogram. The reconstruction quality is highly improved in comparison to the state-of-the-art methods, while using the lowest computing time footprint. Availability and implementation The code is available on Github at https://github.com/yuanhaowang1213/adaptivediffgrid_ex.
A Posteriori Error Control for Three Typical Force-Based Atomistic-to-Continuum Coupling Methods for an Atomistic Chain

We consider the problem of a posteriori error estimates and adaptivity for three typical force-based atomistic-to-continuum coupling methods. Combining the residual and the stability estimates, we derive computable a posteriori error estimators for the three methods in the energy norm and formulate adaptive algorithms using these estimators. Our numerical experiments show optimal convergence rates of these algorithms. The efficiency of the estimators are also demonstrated numerically. AMS subject classifications: 65N12, 65N15, 70C20, 82D25
Elements of Spiritual Leadership and its Relations to Leadership Communication in Imran Khan’s Speeches at International Forums

The study employs Western spiritual leadership theories yet is supposed to be from an Asian-Pakistani perspective. Associating Imran Khan’s (IK) political communication with these spiritual leadership theories would transform them into the eastern-cum-Asian context. IK and other world leaders may communicate distinctively in public interaction. Because political/religious leaders in Pakistan frequently utilise religious references in their communication to persuade their supporters, mediating or moderating political communication or leadership communication accordingly. Thus, spiritual leadership ideas influence attitudes and behaviours religiously. This qualitative study analysed textual speeches employing a directed qualitative content method enhancing trustworthiness. Researchers transcribed IK’s video speeches (2008-2022) using Notta Premium. In the findings, IK cited Islam and Islamic history, knowing that his audience values a spiritual leader who speaks about religious teachings alongside political communication and understands the importance of religious spirituality. His communication may inspire local trust and optimism. However, religious implications in political communication may confound international audiences. Thus, IK utilised local spiritual/religious leadership elements to pursue Pakistanis’ devotedly influenced audience in his speeches.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L): A Fruitful Fountain of Remedial Potential

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has long been used for medical purposes. Punica protopunicas and Punica granatum L. are two prominent species of pomegranate, generally known as "Anar" and farmed worldwide. Its medicinal value is documented in several ancient texts. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the remedial uses of pomegranate in traditional and modern medicine. The methodology employed for this review involves a systematic literature search, collection of relevant articles, and critical analysis of their content. The review covers the botanical properties, phytochemical composition, and diverse remedial applications of pomegranate, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardiovascular, antimicrobial, and dermatological properties. The gathered data emphasizes the potential benefits of pomegranate-derived compounds in managing a range of health issues. This review sheds light on the importance of pomegranate as a valuable natural resource for various therapeutic interventions and encourages further research to unlock its full remedial potential. Traditional medicine is gaining popularity to restore health to individuals with few negative effects. Due to the existence of key phytochemical elements such as flavonoids, punic acid, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, ellagitannins, flavones, and estrogenic flavonoids, it has a wide range of clinical applications.
Using quantitative storytelling to identify constraints in resource supply: The case of brown seaweed

Seaweed is increasingly considered a promising resource to produce high‐value products such as bioplastics due to potential environmental benefits such as carbon uptake and no land‐use change. However, the environmental assessment of emerging technologies for producing bioplastic from seaweed remains challenging due to the difficulties in modeling future seaweed supply and demand. Within the consequential approach to life cycle assessment, an increase in demand for seaweed is met by the marginal suppliers in the market: those that are not constrained in their capacity to increase supply in response to an increase in demand. Current methods to identify marginal suppliers are however based on quantitative information and do not consider qualitative aspects and uncertainties inherent in the study of emerging technologies. This study, therefore, proposes and tests the use of quantitative storytelling to identify marginal suppliers. The results show that there are two main groups of countries that are expected to be the marginal suppliers of brown seaweed for different reasons. Asian countries are currently the main brown seaweed suppliers and are expected to keep increasing and be marginal suppliers in the future. However, these countries have well‐established brown seaweed aquaculture and their growth is expected to be steady. On the other hand, brown seaweed suppliers in Northern Europe and North America are still emerging but are expected to grow faster in the future due to their production capacity and technological development.
ANALYSIS OF FLOW ALONG THE MEANDER PATH OF A HIGHLY SINUOUS RIGID CHANNEL

Despite substantial research on various aspects of velocity distribution in curved meander rivers, no systematic effort has been made to analyse the variation of velocity profile along a meander path. In this research work, variation of velocity profile along the width and depth of the channel has been methodically analysed at different cross-sections (13 sections) along a meander path of a sinuous channel of 120° cross-over angle. The meander path considered is from one bend apex to the next bend apex which changes its course at the cross-over. Bend apex is the position of maximum curvature and cross-over represents the section at which the sinuous channel changes its sign. The study is thoroughly done to find the changes in the water surface profile throughout the meander path, where the height of water always remaining higher towards the outer wall of the curved channel. Longitudinal velocity distributions along the width and depth of the channel, i.e., the horizontal and vertical velocity profiles are investigated with the higher velocity remaining towards the inner wall of the channel unlike straight channels. As the channel changes its curvature, so does the movement of higher velocity which moves from one bank towards the other. Boundary shear stress distribution along different points of the wetted perimeter on the channel bed is also obtained at all the above sections to investigate its deviation along the meander path. This helped to compute the total shear force at each of these sections. Hence these features can be considered by engineers and researchers in the field of sediment erosion, deposition, etc.
RF Design of the X-band Linac for the EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB Project

We illustrate the RF design of the X-band linac for the upgrade of the SPARC_LAB facility at INFN-LNF (EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB). The structures are travelling wave (TW) cavities, working on the 2π/3 mode, fed by klystrons with pulse compressor systems. The tapering of the cells along the structure and the cell profiles have been optimized to maximize the effective shunt impedance keeping under control the maximum value of the modified Poynting vector, while the couplers have been designed to have a symmetric feeding and a reduced pulsed heating. In the paper we also present the RF power distribution layout of the accelerating module and a preliminary mechanical design.
Exploring the Interaction of New Pyridoquinazoline Derivatives with G-Quadruplex in the c-MYC Promoter Region

Novel amino-substituted pyridoquinazolinone derivatives have been designed and synthesized as potential c-MYC G-quadruplex (G4) ligands, employing an efficient methodology. All the new compounds exhibited moderate to good antiproliferative activity against the human osteosarcoma U2OS cell line. NMR and docking experiments revealed that the recently synthesized compounds interact with the Pu22 G-quadruplex in the c-MYC promoter region, establishing a 2:1 complex, with each molecule positioned over the tetrads at the 3′- and 5′-ends.
The role of contextual factors on neurocognitive processing: a systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of response types in cognitive tasks

ABSTRACT Cognitive performance depends on contextual elements, such as the response type (“Go/No-Go” (GNG) or “Two-Alternative Choice” (TAC)) used in experimental tasks. In general, it is assumed that GNG shows faster response times and lower error rates than TAC. To systematically analyze these effects, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of GNG and TAC on cognitive processing across experimental paradigms. After examination of diverse databases, 24 scientific articles were included. We found eight different cognitive tasks, presentling results mainly of behavioural variables, with only three studies including neural recordings. We found that GNG shows faster response times and lower error rates than TAC, although this changes depending on task configurations. The scarce neural evidence suggests that the differences might occur at early processing stages. Future simultaneously recorded behavioural and electrophysiological data is needed to gain better understanding of these contextual effects.
C-type lectin receptor expression is a hallmark of neutrophils infiltrating the skin in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

Introduction Inflammatory epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is characterized by a neutrophilic response to anti-type VII collagen (COL7) antibodies resulting in the development of skin inflammation and blistering. The antibody transfer model of EBA closely mirrors this EBA phenotype. Methods To better understand the changes induced in neutrophils upon recruitment from peripheral blood into lesional skin in EBA, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of whole blood and skin dissociate to capture minimally perturbed neutrophils and characterize their transcriptome. Results Through this approach, we identified clear distinctions between circulating activated neutrophils and intradermal neutrophils. Most strikingly, the gene expression of multiple C-type lectin receptors, which have previously been reported to orchestrate host defense against fungi and select bacteria, were markedly dysregulated. After confirming the upregulation of Clec4n, Clec4d, and Clec4e in experimental EBA as well as in lesional skin from patients with inflammatory EBA, we performed functional studies in globally deficient Clec4e−/− and Clec4d−/− mice as well as in neutrophil-specific Clec4n−/− mice. Deficiency in these genes did not reduce disease in the EBA model. Discussion Collectively, our results suggest that while the upregulation of Clec4n, Clec4d, and Clec4e is a hallmark of activated dermal neutrophil populations, their individual contribution to the pathogenesis of EBA is dispensable.
Evaluation of hydration with lactoferrin on late-instar Tenebrio molitor larvae performance and functional properties of obtained meal

Abstract Insects represent a promising alternative protein source as food and feed. This study evaluated the use of lactoferrin as a hydration source in Tenebrio molitor larvae rearing, on animal performance, nutritional and functional characteristics of insect meals. Seven-week-old larvae were reared for 14 days and randomly divided into two experimental groups: control group (CTRL, n = 8) reared on wheat bran; treatment group (TRT, n = 8) reared on wheat bran and supplemented with lactoferrin solution as a hydration source at days 0, 4, 8, 12. Larvae weight and feed consumption were recorded weekly to calculate growth performance. At the end of the trial, larvae were collected for meal production, whose main nutritional characteristics and colour were analysed as well as antibacterial activity against O138 Escherichia coli. The results showed a lower larval mortality in the TRT group compared to the CTRL (p < 0.05). The nutritional composition of the insect meals revealed higher content of proteins (p < 0.05) in the TRT group. After 3 h (p < 0.05), the meals hydrated with lactoferrin demonstrated a higher E. coli inhibitory activity compared to the CTRL group. In conclusion, the functionality of insect meals was enhanced by using innovative ingredients as hydration sources capable of transferring bioactive properties. HIGHLIGHTS Insects are a sustainable alternative source of protein with nutritional and functional properties. Water supplemented with lactoferrin as a hydration source for Tenebrio molitor larvae reduces the mortality rate. Lactoferrin supplementation increases the antimicrobial activity of meal obtained from Tenebrio molitor.
Representing buildings and urban features in hydrodynamic flood models

Flood risk in cities and built‐up areas is a major threat which is likely to grow due to increased urbanisation and climate change. It is a priority for urban planning, civil defence and insurance to accurately represent buildings and urban features in hydrodynamic models to assess flood risk to people, properties, assets and infrastructure in an uncertain future. The correct representation of urban features in models is currently blocked by the lack of detailed and accurate techniques and has become a priority for the improvement of urban flood modelling now that better data and computational resources are available. This study has reviewed the available approaches for the representation of buildings and urban features and implemented the widely used ‘stubby building’ approximation as well as a more realistic and innovative ‘building hole’ approach using the hydrodynamic model CityCAT. The city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, was used as a case study, allowing independent validation of the methods and direct, systematic comparison of performance. Shortcomings of the approximate method are described, and guidance given on limits to its reliable application and scope for improvement.
microRNA as a Maternal Marker for Prenatal Stress-Associated ASD, Evidence from a Murine Model

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been associated with a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Prenatal stress exposure has been identified as a possible risk factor, although most stress-exposed pregnancies do not result in ASD. The serotonin transporter (SERT) gene has been linked to stress reactivity, and the presence of the SERT short (S)-allele has been shown to mediate the association between maternal stress exposure and ASD. In a mouse model, we investigated the effects of prenatal stress exposure and maternal SERT genotype on offspring behavior and explored its association with maternal microRNA (miRNA) expression during pregnancy. Pregnant female mice were divided into four groups based on genotype (wildtype or SERT heterozygous knockout (Sert-het)) and the presence or absence of chronic variable stress (CVS) during pregnancy. Offspring behavior was assessed at 60 days old (PD60) using the three-chamber test, open field test, elevated plus-maze test, and marble-burying test. We found that the social preference index (SPI) of SERT-het/stress offspring was significantly lower than that of wildtype control offspring, indicating a reduced preference for social interaction on social approach, specifically for males. SERT-het/stress offspring also showed significantly more frequent grooming behavior compared to wildtype controls, specifically for males, suggesting elevated repetitive behavior. We profiled miRNA expression in maternal blood samples collected at embryonic day 21 (E21) and identified three miRNAs (mmu-miR-7684-3p, mmu-miR-5622-3p, mmu-miR-6900-3p) that were differentially expressed in the SERT-het/stress group compared to all other groups. These findings suggest that maternal SERT genotype and prenatal stress exposure interact to influence offspring behavior, and that maternal miRNA expression late in pregnancy may serve as a potential marker of a particular subtype of ASD pathogenesis.
Embodying a Virtual Agent in a Self-Driving Car

This article considers the visual appearance of a virtual agent designed to take over the driving task in a highly automated car, to answer the question of which visual appearance is appropriate for a virtual agent in a driving role. The authors first selected five models of visual appearance thanks to a picture sorting procedure (N = 19). Then, they conducted a survey-based study (N = 146) using scales of trust, anthropomorphism, and likability to assess the appropriateness of those five models from an early-prototyping perspective. They found that human and mechanical-human models were more trusted than other selected models in the context of highly automated cars. Instead, animal and mechanical-animal ones appeared to be less suited to the role of a driving assistant. Learnings from the methodology are discussed, and suggestions for further research are proposed.
Feasibility of Anti-reflux Gastric Bypass for Massive Paraesophageal Hernia in Obese Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Background The objective of this study is to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of anti-reflux gastric bypass (ARGB) as a treatment for symptomatic massive paraesophageal hernias (PEH) in the obese population. Both gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and PEH are particularly prevalent in the obese patient population, and obesity adversely affects the long-term outcomes of all anti-reflux procedures. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective review of 17 obese adults who underwent ARGB for the treatment of massive PEH between September 2019 and December 2021. Massive PEH was defined as >5 cm in a singular direction, and obesity as BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Patients without preoperative diagnostic testing were excluded. We reviewed and analyzed patient demographic data, postoperative symptom resolution, weight loss, and complications using descriptive statistics, change from baseline, and comparison of proportions. Results Sixteen of the 17 subjects were female. The median age was 48, and the median BMI was 39.10 kg/m2 (30.0-49.3 kg/m2). The average PEH size on imaging was 6.48 (H) x 6.25 (W) cm. The resolution of heartburn was 93.8% (p<0.001), and the resolution of nausea and vomiting was 80.0%. The mean postoperative length of follow-up was 9.12 months. Median excess body weight loss percentages at one, three, six, and 12 months were 16.43% (p<0.001), 35.92% (p<0.001), 40.64% (p=0.001), and 58.58% (p<0.01), respectively. Five patients experienced adverse events requiring additional intervention or hospitalization. There were no symptomatic hernia recurrences or mortality. Conclusion This study demonstrates that ARGB is feasible and potentially effective in treating symptomatic massive paraesophageal hernias in the obese patient population. Further investigation is needed to determine efficacy and long-term outcomes compared to standard surgical repair.