Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Matrix Autotransformer Switched-Capacitor Converter for Data Center Application

This article proposes a matrix auto-transformer switched-capacitor dc–dc converter to achieve a high voltage conversion ratio, high efficiency, and high power density for 48-V data-center applications. On the high-voltage side, the proposed converter can fully leverage the benefits of high-performance low voltage stress devices similar to the multilevel modular switched-capacitor converter. Compared with the traditional isolated LLC converter with a matrix transformer, the proposed solution utilized a matrix autotransformer concept with merged primary and secondary side windings, thus leading to reduced transformer winding loss. The resonant inductor could be integrated into the transformer similar to the LLC converter. Because of the matrix autotransformer design, it can achieve a current doubler rectifier on the low voltage side. For less than 8-V low output voltage application, the current doubler rectifier design can fully utilize the best figure-of-merit 25-V device, which is more efficient than the full-bridge rectifier solution using two 25-V devices during the operation. All the devices can achieve zero voltage switching or zero current switching and can be naturally clamped without additional clamping circuits. A 500-W 48-V to 6-V dc–dc converter hardware prototype has been developed with optimized device selection and integrated matrix autotransformer design. Both simulation and experiment results have been provided to validate the features and benefits of the proposed converter. The maximum efficiency of the proposed converter can reach 98.33%.
Severe Heat Stroke Resuscitation Using a Body Bag in a Community Emergency Department

Heat stroke can lead to severe complications such as end-organ damage and death. The primary treatment modality for heat stroke is rapid cold-water immersion to lower the patient’s body temperature. This typically requires a large bath to place the patient in, which may not be available in small or community emergency departments. Although rarely present in the literature, a body bag for cold-water immersion can be used if a bath is not available. Here, we present a case of a 63-year-old male who presented to the emergency department unresponsive with hyperthermia after a heat wave warning was issued. After a thorough workup and imaging, the patient was given IV saline and naloxone, which did not improve his condition. Therefore, the patient was placed in a body bag filled with cold water and ice until his body temperature reduced to 100°F, after which he was removed and closely monitored. The patient was safely discharged and only required repeat lab work three days after discharge. This case highlights a unique technique that emergency physicians can utilize in scenarios where a typical cold-water immersion setup and execution are not possible.
On the Selectivity of Simultaneous CO2 and N2 Reduction Using TiO2/Carbon Sphere Photocatalysts Prepared by Microwave Treatment and Mounted on Silica Cloth

This paper presents new photocatalysts obtained by treating carbon spheres (CS) and TiO2 in a microwave reactor at a pressure of 20 atm and a temperature of up to 300 °C for 15 min and then depositing TiO2/CS composites on glass fibre cloths. Such highly CO2-adsorbing photocatalysts showed photoactivity in the simultaneous water-splitting process, generating H2, reducing CO2 to CO and CH4, and reducing N2 to NH3. In addition, calculations of the hydrogen balance involved in all reactions were performed. Adding 1 g of carbon spheres per 1 g of TiO2 maintained the high selectivity of nitrogen fixation at 95.87–99.5%, which was continuously removed from the gas phase into the water as NH4+ ions.
Hydrogel-based 3D human iPSC-derived neuronal culture for the study of rabies virus infection

Background Rabies is a highly fatal infectious disease that poses a significant threat to human health in developing countries. In vitro study-based understanding of pathogenesis and tropism of different strains of rabies virus (RABV) in the central nervous system (CNS) is limited due to the lack of suitable culture models that recapitulate the complex communication pathways among host cells, extracellular matrices, and viruses. Therefore, a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture that mimics cell-matrix interactions, resembling in vivo microenvironment, is necessary to discover relevant underlying mechanisms of RABV infection and host responses. Methods The 3D collagen-Matrigel hydrogel encapsulating hiPSC-derived neurons for RABV infection was developed and characterized based on cell viability, morphology, and gene expression analysis of neuronal markers. The replication kinetics of two different strains of RABV [wild-type Thai (TH) and Challenge Virus Standard (CVS)-11 strains] in both 2D and 3D neuronal cultures were examined. Differential gene expression analysis (DEG) of the neuropathological pathway of RABV-infected 2D and 3D models was also investigated via NanoString analysis. Results The 3D hiPSC-derived neurons revealed a more physiologically interconnected neuronal network as well as more robust and prolonged maturation and differentiation than the conventional 2D monolayer model. TH and CVS-11 exhibited distinct growth kinetics in 3D neuronal model. Additionally, gene expression analysis of the neuropathological pathway observed during RABV infection demonstrated a vast number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in 3D model. Unlike 2D neuronal model, 3D model displayed more pronounced cellular responses upon infection with CVS-11 when compared to the TH-infected group, highlighting the influence of the cell environment on RABV-host interactions. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment of DEGs in the infected 3D neuronal culture showed alterations of genes associated with the inflammatory response, apoptotic signaling pathway, glutamatergic synapse, and trans-synaptic signaling which did not significantly change in 2D culture. Conclusion We demonstrated the use of a hydrogel-based 3D hiPSC-derived neuronal model, a highly promising technology, to study RABV infection in a more physiological environment, which will broaden our understanding of RABV-host interactions in the CNS.
Response of Ecosystem Productivity to High Vapor Pressure Deficit and Low Soil Moisture: Lessons Learned From the Global Eddy‐Covariance Observations

Although there is mounting concern about how high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and low soil moisture (SM) affect ecosystem productivity, their relative importance is still under debate. Here, we comprehensively quantified the relative impacts of these two factors on ecosystem gross primary production (GPP) using observations from a global network of eddy‐covariance towers and two approaches (sensitivity analysis and linear regression model). Both approaches agree that a higher percentage of sites experience GPP reduction from high VPD than from low SM over the growing season. However, the constraint of high VPD and low SM on GPP reduction is tightly linked with climates and plant functional types. Humid and mesic ecosystems including forests and grasslands are dominated by VPD, while the semi‐arid and arid ecosystems including shrublands and savannas are dominated by SM. The varying dominant role of these two factors on GPP is closely related to plant stomatal behavior, as predicted by a stomatal conductance model. Additionally, we highlight the non‐linear impact of SM on GPP during droughts and the possible underestimation of the SM effects for deep‐rooted plants when only using surface‐layer SM. Our results shed light on a better understanding of the impacts of VPD and SM on vegetation productivity, with important implications for modeling the response and feedback of ecosystem dynamics to current and future climates.
A Game-Based Adversarial DGA Detection Scheme Using Multi-Level Incremental Random Forest

Security vendors can take down botnets by detecting the malicious domain names crafted by attackers. However, the adversarial Domain Generation Algorithms (DGAs) greatly challenge the existing domain detection schemes, in particular, adversarial DGAs can actively compromise arbitrarily specified domain detection systems by crafting the adversarial domain names. To resist adversarial DGAs, we propose a game theory-based defending strategy, which launches adversarial DGA and trains an incremental domain detector alternately. While we find the game-based strategy cannot achieve the expected detection accuracy due to two problems: the failure of incremental training and the problem of the catastrophic forgetting. To this end, we propose a multi-level incremental random forest model, which settles the above problems by splitting the leaf nodes of the decision trees and increasing the levels of the original random forest. The experimental results on the real-life dataset demonstrate the proposed detection method significantly outperforms the competing schemes when detecting adversarial DGAs (improves the detection AUC by 42%) and presents comparable performance when defending against non-adversarial DGAs.
Effectiveness of Induction Training on Newly Joined Employee Knowledge and Hospital Performance

Introduction Every organization needs well-trained employees to perform job activities effectively and efficiently. Training and development is a continuous process that helps to develop skills, knowledge, and abilities in its workers, which leads to better performance of employees. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an induction training program for hospital employees as well as the impact on employee knowledge and performance in the clinical field according quality indicator benchmarks. Methods A sample of individuals (N = 775) who were newly hired, promoted, or re-categorized at our institution in 2021 were included in the program. The effectiveness of the induction training program was assessed with a pre- and post-test and feedback form. Topics covered in the training program will help employees know about the institute and increase knowledge and skills. Results The average pre-test score was 60%, which increased to 84% after the training (p = 0.0001). There was a significantly positive relationship between the quality indicators and the clinical audit results (p = 0.006). Conclusion The induction training program effectively improved the employees' knowledge regarding their rights and responsibilities as well as clinical knowledge (i.e., Infection control and prevention, quality, disaster management, biomedical waste management, and facility safety).
Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia

Caring for people living with dementia often leads to social isolation and decreased support for caregivers. This study investigated the effect of a Virtual Dementia-Friendly Rural Communities (Verily Connect) model on social support and demand for caregivers of people living with dementia. The co-designed intervention entailed an integrated website and mobile application, peer-support videoconference, and technology learning hubs. This mixed-methods, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted with 113 participants from 12 rural communities in Australia. Caregiver data were collected using MOS-SSS and ZBI between 2018 and 2020. The relationship between post-intervention social support with age, years of caring, years since diagnosis, and duration of intervention were explored through correlation analysis and thin plate regression. Google Analytics were analysed for levels of engagement, and cost analysis was performed for implementation. Results showed that caregivers’ perception of social support (MOS-SSS) increased over 32 weeks (p = 0.003) and there was a marginal trend of less care demand (ZBI) among caregivers. Better social support was observed with increasing caregiver age until 55 years. Younger caregivers (aged <55 years) experienced the greatest post-intervention improvement. The greatest engagement occurred early in the trial, declining sharply thereafter. The Verily Connect model improved caregivers’ social support and appeared to ease caregiver demand.
Development of antibodies for life-detection experiment in extreme environments : implications for astrobiology

The Life Marker Chip instrument (LMC) is currently part of the payload on the European Space Agency‘s (ESA) ExoMars rover that is scheduled for launch in 2018. The LMC will use antibody-based assays to detect molecular signatures of life in the shallow subsurface of Mars. For all the antibodies at the heart of the LMC, the ability to resist inactivation due to space radiation will therefore be a prerequisite. The objective of the present work has been to expose a number of LMC-relevant antibodies to simulated Mars mission radiation in the form of proton and neutron radiation produced via a cyclotron source. The proton and neutron components of the mission radiation environment are those that are expected to have the dominant effect on the operation of the LMC. After irradiation, the antibodies were assessed for any loss of functionality. Modelling of the radiation environment for a mission to Mars led to the calculation of nominal mission fluences for proton radiation during the cruise phase of the mission (4 x 10 10 protons/cm 2 ) and neutron radiation during Martian surface operations (2 x 10 7 neutrons/cm 2 ). Various combinations and multiples of these values have been used to demonstrate the effects of radiation on antibody activity both at the actual radiation levels envisaged for the ExoMars mission and at much higher levels (10x and 250x the mission dose). In total, five antibodies were freeze-dried in a variety of protective molecular matrices and were exposed to the various radiation conditions. After exposure, the antibodies‘ ability to bind to their respective antigens was assessed. At radiation levels equal to 1x times the mission dose, four antibodies out of the five maintained the majority of their binding activity, while at 10x and even 250x times the mission dose, the same four out of five antibodies maintained considerable amounts of their binding activity. It was also observed that the preparation and treatment (lyophilisation/rehydration) of the antibody samples had a detrimental impact on their performance, an effect that could be significantly reduced with the use of appropriate protective matrices and handling protocols. These experiments indicate that the expected radiation environment of a Mars mission does not pose a significant risk to antibodies packaged in the form anticipated for the LMC instrument.
C4 plant species and geographical distribution in relation to climate in the desert vegetation of China

Water use efficiency of C4 plants is higher than that of C3 plants, and CAM (Crassulaceae Acid Metabolism) plants have the highest water use efficiency. In the desert regions of China, CAM plants are scarce, and C4 plants, especially C4 woody plants, have an important position and role in the desert ecosystem. There are 45 species of C4 woody plants in the desert regions of China, including semi-woody plants, accounting for 6% of the total desert plant species in China, and most of them are concentrated in the families of Chenopodiaceae and Polygonaceae, which are 19 species and 26 species, respectively. The number of C4 herbaceous plants is 107 species, including 48 monocot species and 59 dicot species. C4 woody plants mainly inhabit the northwestern arid desert regions of China west of the Helan Mountains. The drought-resistance and drought-tolerance of C4 herbaceous plants are worse than C4 woody plants, and C4 herbaceous plants mainly inhabit areas with shallow groundwater depth and better water conditions in the desert regions, and are widely distributed along the margins of oases. The abundance of C4 woody plants is closely correlated with drought, but the abundance of C4 herbaceous plants increases with wet conditions.
The role of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin administration on the risk of dementia in bladder cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Previous cohort studies have found an association between Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) administration and incident dementia. In the systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to summarize the current evidence of the effect of BCG use on the risk of developing dementia. Methods We searched six databases until 20 May 2023 for studies investigating the risk of dementia and BCG administration. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled in the meta-analysis. Meta-regression, subgroup, and sensitivity analysis were conducted as well. Results Of the 4,043 records initially evaluated, five articles were included for final analysis, with a total of 45,407 bladder cancer (BC) patients. All five studies were evaluated and rated as with high quality, and a low possibility of publication bias was indicated. A significant association between BCG and the incidence of dementia in BC patients was found in all five studies. Although a high heterogeneity (I2 = 84.5%, p < 0.001) was observed, the pooled HR was 0.55 (0.42–0.73), indicating that BCG exposure or treatment reduced the risk of incident dementia by 45%. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis showed good robustness of the overall effect with no serious publication bias. Conclusion BCG administration is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing dementia. However, an epidemiological cohort is needed to establish a relationship between BCG use and incident dementia in the normal population. Once the relationship is confirmed, more people may benefit from the association. Systematic review registration identifier: CRD42023428317.
Imprint of Storm Enhanced Density in Ground‐Based OI 630.0 nm Dayglow Measurements

The mid‐latitude upper atmosphere is directly affected by the inner magnetosphere through the interactions at the closed geomagnetic field line boundary. Several space weather phenomena associated with magnetospheric‐plasmaspheric exchanges can be mapped to mid‐latitudes. One such phenomena that occurs over mid‐latitudes during geomagnetic storms is the storm enhanced density (SED). So far, storm time ionospheric features have been studied primarily using radar, GPS and in situ measurements. We present high spectral resolution ground‐based measurements of OI 630.0 nm dayglow emissions obtained from Boston to investigate thermospheric behavior during both geomagnetic quiet and disturbed times, as these are very sensitive to changes in the ionospheric plasma temperatures, and densities. During a geomagnetic storm on 7–9 Nov 2004 (Kp = 9‐), an anomalous enhancement in brightness (>1 kR) was observed in the dayglow for about an hour duration near local sunset (dusk hours), which was not seen on other neighboring days. This enhancement in OI 630.0 nm dayglow observed on 9 Nov 2004 is confirmed to be a SED event as seen from the complimentary datasets, the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar (ISR), Defence Meteorological Satellite Program satellite and GPS total electron content. Further, model estimates of OI 630.0 nm dayglow intensities using ISR measured electron/ion temperature and electron densities as inputs show good agreement with our measurements. These results make this study possibly the first report on the daytime optical signatures of SED.
Expression and Transformation Characteristics of a Novel Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase LcGAD10s and Its Application on Sufu Processing

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an important non-proteinogenic amino acid and a potent bioactive compound with many anti-hypertensive and anti-depressant activities. The bioconversion of GABA by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has been eagerly studied. Herein, novel pyridoxal-5-phosphate monohydrates (PLP)-dependent GAD, which is not quite similar to reporting, was cloned from Latilactobacillus curvatus and efficiently expressed in E. coli. The conveniently purified GAD (designated LcGAD10s) appeared as a single protein on SDS-PAGE with a molecular mass of 52.0 kDa. LcGAD10s exhibited a specific activity of 303.7 U/mg after purification by Ni–IDA affinity chromatography, with optimal activity at 55 °C and pH 5. LcGAD10s displayed excellent temperature (50 °C) and pH (4–8) stability which relative activity above 80% and 70%, respectively. The enzymatic activity was, respectively, increased and depressed by 130%, and 24% in the presence of Mn+ and Cu2+. Enzyme activity over 90% can be achieved by adding at least 25 mM of PLP. LcGAD10s was able to efficiently transform 15 g/L GABA with a single-factor optimized reaction of pH (5), temperature (50 °C), time (2 h), LcGAD10s dosage (0.4 U) and monosodium glutamate level (5 g/L). Additionally, LcGAD10s can be applied to a tofu fermentation system to achieve GABA conversion and achieved 14.9 mg/g of GABA conversion when added at 2 U/mL, which is higher than most of the commercial sufu and previous application reports, increasing its functional substances.
Clinical Outcomes and Patient Experience of Biosimilar to Biosimilar Infliximab Switching in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective, Single-Centre, Phase IV Interventional Study with a Nested Qualitative Study

Background and Aims. Regulatory pathways compare biosimilars with originator molecules only and not with other biosimilars. With the development of multiple infliximab biosimilars, patients may be asked to transition between them. Data is emerging but there is still a gap in the evidence on switching between infliximab biosimilars. Our aim was to conduct a full evaluation of switching a cohort of IBD patients from one biosimilar (CT-P13) to another (SB2) in a real-world setting including clinical and patient experience and molecular and drug immunogenicity aspects of the process. Methods. Prospective, phase IV interventional study of patients on CT-P13 switched to SB2. Demographics, disease history, validated disease activity scores, PROMs, and laboratory measurements were collected. Semistructured qualitative interviews were also conducted. Results. 133 out of 158 patients agreed to participate. Mean disease duration was 9.2 years. There was no difference in mean haemoglobin, platelet count, albumin, and C-reactive protein before and after switching. Mean faecal calprotectin at baseline and at week 30/32 was 306 μg/g versus 210 μg/g. Mean pMCS and mHBI at baseline were 1.54 and 3.14 versus 1.18 and 2.91 at week 30/32, respectively. Thirty-five subjects discontinued. There were 16 serious adverse events. Thematic analysis identified six major themes that reflected the patient experience—trust, clinical status at the point of switching, past experience, general disposition, information provision, and concerns/anxiety. Conclusions. Switching from CT-P13 to SB2 is safe and effective. Certain factors must be considered in supporting patient decision-making. These results support the development of clear, streamlined, and well-monitored biosimilar switching programmes.