Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Photometric variability of the young star DI Cep

We analyse our new and our previously published optical photometric data on DI Cep, a classical T Tau star. We study the variability of optical brightness with different temporal and amplitude characteristics. On a long-term scale, DI Cep shows 14–19 year cycles of variations with a magnitude of amplitude from 0.1 to 0.5 in different cycles. We also found a period of 9.185 days in the variations in the U-V colour. Probably, this period is connected with the rotation of a hot spot on DI Cep.
Influence of BSA Protein on Electrochemical Response of Genosensors

The bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein is employed in genosensors as nonspecific binding blocker. In this work, the influence of BSA on the electrochemical response of a DNA-based biosensor is explored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and double pulse voltammetry technique. Each buffer component of the hybridization buffer is studied on bare gold electrodes and on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-functionalized electrodes. The BSA is found to have the higher influence on the sensor sensitivity. The superficial modification induced by BSA greatly affects the electrochemical signal due to steric hindrance, which decreases the device sensitivity. Thus, we propose a novel treatment method of the BSA by using the proteinase K. The proteinase K reduces the steric hindrance, improving the charge transfer at the electrode/solution interface and enhancing the genosensor sensitivity. The proposed method is based on a rapid BSA treatment. The BSA solution containing the proteinase K is kept for 1 h at 37 ° C to obtain BSA fragmentation and then heated up to 95 ° C for 2 min to inactivate the enzyme and denature the fragments. The method was tested successfully on a genosensor for the detection of the Campylobacter Jejuni. Double pulse current measurements clearly discriminate the presence of complementary DNA (cDNA) fragments with any other noncomplementary DNA (NcDNA) fragments.
Molecular epidemiology of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus causing outbreaks in Karnataka

We describe the molecular epidemiology of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) involved in outbreaks and massive spread of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in Karnataka state of India during the year 2017. The study involved investigation of outbreaks in three districts.viz, Udupi, Dakshina kannada and Bengaluru in Karnataka. The disease was characterised by large scale piglet mortality with severe respiratory distress and abortions in pregnant sows. The study recorded death of 394 piglets, 131 adults and abortions in 82 pregnant sows. The organ samples collected from dead pigs were found negative for Classical swine fever virus by 5â€™UTR gene based Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR targeting full length ORF5 gene of PRRSV on spleen and lung samples of dead pigs yielded specific amplicon of 803 bp indicating the presence of PRRSV. The phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences derived from ORF5 gene of PRRSV involved in the current outbreaks revealed 99.99% sequence homology with the highly pathogenic PRRSV of genotype 2 (North American type) from China and India (Mizoram state). Since pig husbandry plays a significant role in socio-economic upliftment of the poor and marginalised farmers in the country, itâ€™s time to put in place effective prevention and control measures for PRRS, before it cripples pig industry in India and its surrounding world. Present study is the first epidemiological report of PRRS outbreaks in South India.
Three-parameter active in situ optical measurements: theory, instrumentation, and results from coastal waters

A submersible optical instrument has been designed and constructed which simultaneously measures chlorophyll fluorescence, beam attenuation and wide-angle light scattering in sea water. A theoretical framework is presented which shows that this instrument configuration is capable of quantitatively measuring concentrations of gelbstoff, suspended particles and phytoplankton when all three components are present in a mixture, provided the relevant set of calibration coefficients are known. The inherent variability of natural materials means that the numerical values of these calibration coefficients usually have to be determined at the site of instrument deployment. However, trials in optically complex waters indicate that the instrument can be usefully employed to interpolate between chemical measurements in order to increase the spatial and temporal coverage of survey data while minimizing the resources required for sample analysis.
An upper bound for the probability of a union

The problem of bounding P(∪ Ai ) given P(A i) and P(A i A j) for i ≠ j = 1, …, k goes back to Boole (1854) and Bonferroni (1936). In this paper a new family of upper bounds is derived using results in graph theory. This family contains the bound of Kounias (1968), and the smallest upper bound in the family for a given application is easily derivable via the minimal spanning tree algorithm of Kruskal (1956). The properties of the algorithm and of the multivariate normal and t distributions are shown to provide considerable simplifications when approximating tail probabilities of maxima from these distributions.
EDUCATIONAL CHATBOTS FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING: RESULTS OF A DESIGN EXPERIMENT IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL

Educational chatbots promise many benefits for teaching and learning. Although chatbot use cases in this research field are rapidly growing, most studies focus on individual users rather than on collaborative group settings. To address this issue, this paper investigates how chatbot-mediated learning can be designed to foster middle school students in team-based assignments. Using an educational design research approach, quality indicators of educational chatbots were derived from the literature, which served as a guideline for the development of the chatbot Tubo (meaning tutoring bot). Tubo is part of a web-based team learning environment in which students can chat with each other and collaboratively work on their group assignments. As a team member and tutor of each group, Tubo guides the students through the learning journey by different scaffolding elements and helps with content-related questions the students have. As part of a first design cycle, the chatbot application was tested with a school class of a technical vocational school in Switzerland. The received feedback suggests that the approach of team-based learning with chatbots has a lot of potential from the students' and teachers' point of view. However, the role distribution of the individual group members may have to be further specified to address the different needs of autonomous as well as more control-oriented students.
Optimization of tissue irradiation in optoacoustic imaging using a linear transducer: theory and experiments

Optoacoustic images from rather large tissue samples, such as the human extremities, the breast, or large organs, are preferably obtained in reflection mode. In the past it has been assumed that irradiating the tissue directly below or even better through an acoustic receiver results in an optimum image contrast. Our theoretical and experimental results however show that when a linear array transducer is used, this is not always true. The optimum location of irradiation depends on the depth of the tissue structures to be imaged and on various sources of image background, namely random optical absorption in the bulk tissue surrounding the region of interest, reconstruction artifacts, and acoustic backscattering. It turns out that the influence of absorption in the bulk tissue becomes minimal when irradiating close to the transducer aperture, the opposite however is the case for image artefact background. Its influence becomes minimal if the fluence in the tissue is homogeneously distributed obtained for an irradiation far away from the transducer. Echo background, which results from backscattered optoacoustic transients, additionally limits the imaging depth in reflection mode optoacoustic imaging. Therefore, the irradiation geometry when using a linear array transducer has to be adapted to the depth of the imaged structures.
Immunoreactive polypeptide profiles of Sarcocystis fusiformis using hyperimmune and naturally infected serum

Immunoreactive polypeptide profiles study was made in the whole cyst lysate antigen of Sarcocystis fusiformis which was collected from buffaloes slaughtered at local slaughterhouse, Mathura, U.P. When whole cyst lysate antigen was subjected to SDS-PAGE, twelve major polypeptides (78, 66, 53, 50, 42, 39, 32, 29, 27, 24, 19 and 15kDa) were observed. On western blotting, out of twelve, six (32, 39, 42, 53, 66, 78kDa) and two polypeptides (53kDa and 66kDa) were found to be immunoreactive when probed with homologous hyperimmune and pooled known positive natural serum. No immunoreactivity was seen with pooled known negative natural serum. These two polypeptides (53kDa and 66kDa) bands can be explored for the development of sensitive and specific diagnostic assays.
Nanoparticle delivery of CD40 siRNA suppresses alloimmune responses by inhibiting activation and differentiation of DCs and macrophages

CD40 is an important costimulatory molecule expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and plays a critical role for APC activation, offering a promising therapeutic target for preventing allograft rejection. Here, we developed a biodegradable nanoparticle small interfering RNA delivery system (siCD40/NPs) to effectively deliver CD40 siRNA (siCD40) into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), myeloid progenitors, and mature dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. Injection of siCD40/NPs not only down-regulated CD40 expression in DCs and macrophages but also inhibited the differentiation of HSCs and/or myeloid progenitors into functional DCs and macrophages. Furthermore, siCD40/NPs treatment significantly prolonged allograft survival in mouse models of skin allotransplantation. In addition to reiteration of the role of CD40 in APC activation, our findings highlight a previously unappreciated role of CD40 in DC and macrophage differentiation from their progenitors. Furthermore, our results support the effectiveness of siCD40/NPs in suppressing alloimmune responses, providing a potential means of facilitating tolerance induction and preventing allotransplant rejection.
Orthorexia nervosa - the border between healthy eating and eating disorders.

The term orthorexia nervosa (ON), presented in 1997 in Yoga Journal by Dr. Steven Bratman, sheds new light on the view on healthy eating habits. He showed that persistent thinking about nutrition does not necessarily have to be associated with anorexia or bulimia, and may turn into something so far unknown - obsessive control over the healthiest eating style, resulting in numerous self-imposed restrictions and in the long run, without appropriate therapy, leading to the deterioration of the current state of health. Orthorexia can have many consequences not only on mental health, but also on physical health. For this reason, the development of standard diagnostic and classification criteria for orthorexia nervosa is a priority. The problem of eating disorders should be the subject of epidemiological research, which will take into account demographic, cultural and socio-economic conditions appropriate for a given population, and will also take into account the pressure of factors related to the food market.
Systematic investigation of single- and multi-mode operation in vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We systematically study the single- and multi-mode emission of vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) using streak camera measurements and interferometric measurement techniques. In all experiments, the VECSEL chip is based on (GaIn)As multi-quantum wells as active medium designed for laser emission around 1010 nm. The emission is analyzed in dependence of the pump power, employing two resonator designs as well as different output couplers. We monitor the evolution of emission bandwidth and show that in our setups a stable two-color lasing –with both lasing intensities sharing the same gain region on the chip– is related to a sufficiently high number of longitudinal modes participating in the laser emission.
Primary Care Clinician and Child Characteristics Impacting Autism Surveillance

Early detection of autism provides access to early intervention and subsequently fewer lifelong challenges. However, disparities in screening have been associated with socioeconomic status (SES) and race, and disparities in surveillance have been associated with clinician knowledge and beliefs about autism identification. The present study examines associations between demographic variables and clinician beliefs, and agreement between screening results and clinician surveillance. Surveillance included activities used by the primary care clinicians (PCCs) to assess risk for autism. PCCs reported their beliefs about autism screening and identification, their sex, race, years in practice, and racial distribution of their patient population. Children’s demographic information was also collected. PCCs identified children as having, or not having, an increased likelihood of autism, and parents of children completed an autism screener. Agreement between screening and surveillance results were examined across PCC, practice, and child demographics. Higher confidence in autism knowledge and screening resources, female PCC sex, and majority White practice patient demographics all predicted agreement between screening and surveillance. Female child sex and higher maternal education also predicted agreement between screening and surveillance. These findings highlight the importance of PCC screening beliefs and child and PCC demographics on the autism identification process.
Examination of a bifactor model of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory- Revised

The current study evaluated a bifactor model for the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Revised (OCI-R) in two samples, with (n=188) and without (n=408) obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). Since the OCI-R has been traditionally conceptualized as a correlated six-factor instrument, our goal was to evaluate the fit of a bifactor model against three competing models (one general factor,six correlated factors and a hierarchical model). Results revealed that the bifactor model presented the best fit and that all OCI-R items were influenced by a general factor and by one of the six dimensions. Model-based reliability estimated via Omega hierarchical for the total score suggested that OCI-R items are multidimensional, with the general obsessive-compulsive (OC) factor accounting for little more than half of the variability in the items of the total score, with the remaining variability accounted for by the specific OC domains and other sources of variance. Measurement invariance of the bifactor model was also supported among those with and without OCD. Implications for better understanding the structure and further use of the OCI-R are discussed.
Constrained Control Design for Linear Systems with Geometric Adversary Constraints

Inspired by some practical applications concerning collision avoidance topics, this paper focuses on the optimal control of linear dynamical systems in the presence of a set of adversary constraints. One of the novelties is the type of constraints introduced in the receding horizon optimization problem. These constraints can be considered as “adversary” by their non convex characteristics which make the convergence of the system dynamics towards the “zero” equilibrium position an impossible task. The present paper proposes a dual-mode control strategy which builds on an optimization based controller and a fixed constrained control law whenever the adversary constraints are activated. In order to illustrate the benefits of the proposed method, typical applications involving the control of multi-agent systems are considered.
Constructing confidence and identities of belonging in mathematics at the transition to secondary school

This case study investigates students' perspectives on their mathematics learning experiences and identity constructions, in the context of transition to secondary school. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six girls, halfway through their first year at their new school. Thematic analysis and discourse analysis were used to interpret and deconstruct their narratives. The girls' stories contribute to our understandings of how confidence in mathematics is discursively constructed. The stories also clarify the importance of gaining a sense of belonging in the transition from primary to secondary school mathematics. Through promoting this belonging within the mathematics classroom, teachers may engender confident performances in class and, through this, contribute to the construction of positive mathematical identities.
Efficient Simulation of Nonlinear Heat Transfer during Thermal Spraying of Complex Workpieces

The quality of coatings, produced by thermal spraying processes, considerably decreases with the occurrence of higher residual stresses, which are especially pronounced for complex workpiece geometries. To understand the occurring effects and to aid in the planning of coating processes, simulations of the highly transient energy flux of the HVOF spray gun into the substrate are of great value. In this article, a software framework for the simulation of nonlinear heat transfer during (HVOF) thermal spraying is presented. One part of this framework employs an efficient GPU-based simulation algorithm to compute the time-dependent input boundary conditions for a spray gun that moves along a complex workpiece of arbitrary shape. The other part employs a finite-element model for a rigid heat conductor adhering to the computed boundary conditions. The model is derived from the fundamental equations of continuum thermodynamics where nonlinear temperature-depending heat conduction is assumed. <
ROS Homeostasis Involved in Dose-Dependent Responses of Arabidopsis Seedlings to Copper Toxicity

As an essential element in plant nutrition, copper (Cu) can promote or inhibit plant growth depending on its concentration. However, the dose-dependent effects of copper, particularly on DNA damage associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, are much less understood. In this work, we analyzed the dual effect of Cu (5, 20, and 60 μM) on the reproductive performance of Arabidopsis plants. Whereas Cu5 promoted inflorescence initiation and increased kilo seed weight, two higher concentrations, Cu20 and Cu60, delayed inflorescence initiation and negatively affected silique size. Excess Cu also induced changes in cellular redox homeostasis, which was examined by in situ visualization and measurements of ROS, including superoxide (O2•−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and plasma membrane damage. The most dramatic increases in the production of O2•− and H2O2 along with increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and decreased activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were observed in roots with Cu60. Oxidative stress also modulated the expression levels of a number of genes involved in the DNA damage response (DDR), particularly those related to DNA repair. The Cu-induced chlorosis of Arabidopsis seedlings could be alleviated by exogenous addition of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (Asc), as the chlorophyll content was significantly increased. Overall, internal homeostasis ROS and the associated DDR pathway and the corresponding scavenging mechanisms play a central role in the response of Arabidopsis to oxidative stress induced by inhibitory Cu concentrations. Our results have shown, for the first time, that the biphasic responses of Arabidopsis seedlings to increasing Cu concentrations involve different DNA damage responses and oxidative reactions. They provide the basis for elucidating the network of Cu-induced DDR-related genes and the regulatory mechanism of the complex ROS production and scavenging system.
“Don’t Touch My Body!” Child Sexual Abuse Training Program for Future Pre-School Educators: A Single-Blind, Pre-Test/Post-Test, Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Don’t Touch My Body” Training Program (DTMB-TP) and raise awareness of child sexual abuse (CSA) among future pre-school teachers enrolled in a Turkish university. The study design was quasi-experimental and employed two groups (intervention and control) with pre-test/post-test. Convenience sampling method was used. The study sample included participants (n = 218) enrolled in an academic degree program to become pre-school teachers. Data were collected using a descriptive information form and the “DTMB” awareness form. The data collection forms were administered to the study and control groups at baseline (pre-test) and 4 weeks after the intervention. The intervention applied to the experimental group was conducted face-to-face in one class hour (40 minutes) under the leadership of a nurse. There was a statistically significant increase in the knowledge of the children’s private body parts, good/bad touch, reactions to strangers, and the family security password in the intervention group in the post-test (p < .05). In the post-test, no increase was observed in the control group’s CSA knowledge level score (p > .05). The DTMB-TP effectively increased the awareness of preventing sexual abuse in participants. This study concluded that education effectively raised awareness to prevent CSA and provided basic data for larger-scale studies.
Scanning electron microscopy study of carbon nanotubes heated at high temperatures in air

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were dispersed in 2-butanol and dropped onto a V-ridge, lithographically patterned Si substrate that was coated with a thin layer of gold. These MWNTs were shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to conform to the V-ridge surface topology at room temperature, which is thus useful for introducing kinks (at the apex of the V-ridge and the bottom of the trenches between V ridges). The substrate-supported MWNTs were then heated in air at temperatures from 673 to 1173 K for varying exposure times and were monitored with SEM. A 122 kJ mol−1 activation energy for complete oxidation was obtained, and preferential oxidation at kink sites was observed on some MWNTs at high temperatures. The dominant mode of oxidation was either thinning of the walls of the MWNTs or sequential oxidation of the component tubes in bundles. Some MWNTs, which at room temperature conformed to the V-ridge surface topology, detached (“sprang” away) from the substrate surface, demonstrating that the .
Interaction of the radiation from a Type II supernova with a circumstellar shell

The progenitors of Type II supernovae are expected to be red supergiant stars which have circumstellar shells built up by stellar winds moving at about 10 km s/sup -1/. The interaction of the expanding supernova envelope with the circumstellar matter creates a hot shell which emits bremsstrahlung radiation. While the photospheric emission gives most of the total luminosity near maximum light, the bremsstrahlung emission dominates the photospheric emission at high photon energies (above about 30 eV). The bremsstrahlung emission determines the ionization just outside the hot shell, resulting in the creation of ions such as C IV, Si IV, and N V. These ions, and others, have line transitions which absorb the ultraviolet photospheric emission. The absorption can result in the formation of a radiative precursor to the supernova shock wave in which the gas is radiatively accelerated to velocities of several thousand km s/sup -1/. Lines of C IV, Si IV, and N V produced in this region may have been observed in the ultraviolet spectrum of SN 1979c. The ionized gas in the circumstellar region can also be responsible for the absorption of radio emission from the supernova. If this is the dominant radio absorption process, it predictsmore » the time dependence of the free-free optical depth. « less