Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of InGaN thin films using high-resolution x-ray diffraction

Wurtzite InGaN thin films grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on sapphire substrates with and without GaN buffer layers are investigated by high-resolution x-ray diffraction measurements. The structural quality, lattice constants, strain, and indium composition of 100 nm thick films with In concentrations up to 33% are evaluated by measuring symmetric (00.2) and asymmetric (20.5) reflexes. The quality of the InGaN layers with widely different biaxial stress is measured and compared. An analytical solution for the determination of the In content of strained epitaxial layers is introduced. The results show that neglecting the strain can result in a severe miscalculation of the In concentration.
A Bioengineering Strategy to Control ADAM10 Activity in Living Cells

A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 10, also known as ADAM10, is a cell surface protease ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells where it cuts several membrane proteins implicated in multiple physiological processes. The dysregulation of ADAM10 expression and function has been implicated in pathological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although it has been suggested that ADAM10 is expressed as a zymogen and the removal of the prodomain results in its activation, other potential mechanisms for the ADAM10 proteolytic function and activation remain unclear. Another suggested mechanism is post-translational modification of the cytoplasmic domain, which regulates ADAM10-dependent protein ectodomain shedding. Therefore, the precise and temporal activation of ADAM10 is highly desirable to reveal the fine details of ADAM10-mediated cleavage mechanisms and protease-dependent therapeutic applications. Here, we present a strategy to control prodomain and cytosolic tail cleavage to regulate ADAM10 shedding activity without the intervention of small endogenous molecule signaling pathways. We generated a series of engineered ADAM10 analogs containing Tobacco Etch Virus protease (TEV) cleavage site (TEVcs), rendering ADAM10 cleavable by TEV. This strategy revealed that, in the absence of other stimuli, the TEV-mediated removal of the prodomain could not activate ADAM10. However, the TEV-mediated cleavage of the cytosolic domain significantly increased ADAM10 activity. Then, we generated ADAM10 with a minimal constitutively catalytic activity that increased significantly in the presence of TEV or after activating a chemically activatable TEV. Our results revealed a bioengineering strategy for controlling the ADAM10 activity in living cells, paving the way to obtain spatiotemporal control of ADAM10. Finally, we proved that our approach of controlling ADAM10 promoted α-secretase activity and the non-amyloidogenic cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP), thereby increasing the production of the neuroprotective soluble ectodomain (sAPPα). Our bioengineering strategy has the potential to be exploited as a next-generation gene therapy for AD.
NEW EDUCATION POLICY AND ACADEMIC REFORMS: CHALLENGES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIS)

Post-Independence Indian higher education has grown phenomenally in terms of its size. But barring few higher education institutions, majority of the institutions are not at the level of international ranking. The reasons maybe they have not changed themselves in functioning and undervalues the changing needs of the students, market and society as whole. In fact, many of the higher educational institutions have not changed their curriculum for decades. As a result, students coming out these HEIs, found themselves unfit for today global challenges. NEP-2020 has identified academic areas that needs to be radically changed so that higher education become relevant. NEP-2020, has recommended that Choice-Based Credit system (CBCS), Multiple Entry and Exit system, Research intensive undergraduate and postgraduate programs, skill integrated educational programmes, Academic Bank of Credits etc. are some of the academic reforms that needs to implemented in higher education institutions so that institutions and their products can compete globally. But these academic reforms are not easy to implement especially at state funded universities and colleges because it requires support from governments. There are challenges and present paper discuss few of those challenges which would be faced by the higher education institutions
Instantaneous line heat source near a plane interface

A model comprising an instantaneous line heat source situated parallel to the interface between two semi-infinite heat-conductive media in perfect thermal contact is studied theoretically. The Green functions to this problem have been derived recently using the Cagniard–de Hoop method. Here we apply another method of derivation based on the R. Bellman, R. E. Marshak, and G. M. Wing [Philos. Mag. 40, 297 (1949)] approach developed for an instantaneous point source. The Green functions derived by this method have a great advantage in numerical computation in comparison with the Green functions obtained by the Cagniard–de Hoop method. The results of calculations of temperature fields and heat fluxes in space and their interpretation with the use of wave diagrams are presented.
Functionalization Routes for Keratin from Poultry Industry Side-Streams—Towards Bio-Based Absorbent Polymers

Keratin is a largely available protein that can be obtained from the ca. 3 million tons of feathers that the European poultry industry produces as a side-stream. Here, the functionalization of keratin from poultry feathers was evaluated using a one- versus two-stage process using two functionalization agents (succinic anhydride-SA and ethylene dianhydride-EDTAD). The functionalization resulted in the keratin having improved liquid swelling capacities, reaching up to 400%, 300%, and 85% increase in water, saline, and blood, respectively, compared to non-functionalized keratin. The highest swelling was obtained for samples functionalized with EDTAD (one-stage process), while the highest saline uptake was noted for samples processed with 25 wt% SA (two-stage process). Swelling kinetics modeling indicated that the water uptake by the functionalized samples takes place in two steps, and the EDTAD samples showed the highest diffusivity. It is demonstrated that the one-stage functionalization of keratin utilizing EDTAD results in better performance than two-stages, which allows for resource-saving and, thereby, protecting the environment. The results show some potential for the keratin to be utilized as liquid absorbent materials in water, saline, and blood uptake applications. Using keratin from side-streams is an advantage from a sustainability perspective over biomacromolecules that need to be extracted from virgin biomass.
The impact of public bike-sharing systems on mobility patterns: Generating or replacing trips?

Abstract Bike-sharing systems allow occasional and regular users to travel by replacing other transport modes for the same trip or generating a new journey. Our research assesses the demand for Lisbon’s public dock-based bike-sharing system (BSS), named GIRA. This paper aims to identify the determinant factors that influence the potential of the BSS to generate new trips or replace previous modes using a conditional logit model based on a survey of 3112 BSS users. The survey results indicate that GIRA generated approximately 20% of the BSS trips, i.e., they would not have been realized if GIRA did not exist. The remaining BSS trips replaced other motorized (55%) and non-motorized (25%) trips. The main determinants explaining a higher likelihood of replacing different modes are having a yearly GIRA pass and a bike-sharing station within a 5-min walk. In contrast, regular car users are more likely to generate new trips, suggesting they use bike-sharing for recreational purposes. The findings provide policymakers with an assessment of determinants which may influence bike-sharing users to generate or replace trips from other modes and, consequently, define policies to potentially increase bike-sharing.
A secure communication using multifactor authentication and key agreement techniques in internet of medical things for COVID‐19 patients

Currently, Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) gained popularity because of an ongoing pandemic. A few developed countries plan to deploy the IoMT for improving the security and safety of frontline workers to decrease the mortality rates of COVID‐19 patients. However, IoMT devices share the information through an open network which leads to increased vulnerability to various attacks. Hence, electronic health management systems remain many security challenges, like recording sensitive patient data, secure communication, transferring patient information to other doctors, providing the data for future medical diagnosis, collecting data from WBAN, etc. In addition, the sensor devices attached to the human body are resource‐limited and have minimal power capacity. Hence, to protect the medical privacy of patients, confidentiality and reliability of the system, the register sensor, doctor and server need to authenticate each other. Therefore, rather than two factors, in this work, a multifactor authentication protocol has been proposed to provide more secure communication. The presented scheme uses biometric and fuzzy extractors for more security purposes. Furthermore, the scheme is proved using informal and formal security verification BAN logic, ProVerif and AVISPA tools. The ProVerif simulation result of the suggested scheme shows that the proposed protocol achieves session key secrecy and mutual authentication
Electronic and optical properties of carbon nitride thin films synthesized by laser ablation under ion beam bombardment

Carbon nitride thin films were deposited by 532 nm Nd:YAG laser ablation of graphite assisted by a nitrogen ion beam bombardment on silicon substrates. Different nitrogen ion beam energies (200, 400, and 600 eV) were used while the laser parameters remained fixed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ellipsometry measurements were carried out to analyze the electronic and optical properties. The XPS C 1s spectrum for the C–N binding is at 286.5 eV while the N 1s spectrum has a corresponding peak of C–N binding at 396.9 eV. The optical gap Eopt is on the order of magnitude of 10−1 eV and increases with the N/C ratio in the deposited film. Linear dependence of the refractive index n and the extinction coefficient k on photon energy E in the range of 1.5–3.5 eV are established.
Retrospectives on Three Decades of Safe Clinical Experience with Allogeneic Dermal Progenitor Fibroblasts: High Versatility in Topical Cytotherapeutic Care

Allogeneic dermal progenitor fibroblasts constitute cytotherapeutic contenders for modern cutaneous regenerative medicine. Based on advancements in the relevant scientific, technical, and regulatory fields, translational developments have slowly yet steadily led to the clinical application of such biologicals and derivatives. To set the appropriate general context, the first aim of this study was to provide a current global overview of approved cell and gene therapy products, with an emphasis on cytotherapies for cutaneous application. Notable advances were shown for North America, Europe, Iran, Japan, and Korea. Then, the second and main aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis on the various applications of dermal progenitor fibroblasts and derivatives, as clinically used under the Swiss progenitor cell transplantation program for the past three decades. Therein, the focus was set on the extent and versatility of use of the therapies under consideration, their safety parameters, as well as formulation options for topical application. Quantitative and illustrative data were summarized and reported for over 300 patients treated with various cell-based or cell-derived preparations (e.g., progenitor biological bandages or semi-solid emulsions) in Lausanne since 1992. Overall, this study shows the strong current interest in biological-based approaches to cutaneous regenerative medicine from a global developmental perspective, as well as the consolidated local clinical experience gathered with a specific and safe allogeneic cytotherapeutic approach. Taken together, these current and historical elements may serve as tangible working bases for the further optimization of local and modern translational pathways for the provision of topical cytotherapeutic care.
3D+1 Lorentz type soliton in air

Up to now the long range filaments have been considered as a balance between Kerr focusing and defocusing by plasma generation in the nonlinear focus. However, it is difficult to apply the above explanation of filamentation in far-field zone. There are basically two main characteristics which remain the same at these distances - the super broad spectrum and the width of the core, while the power in a stable filament drops to the critical value for self-focusing. At such power the plasma and higher-order Kerr terms are too small to prevent self-focusing. We suggest here a new mechanism for stable soliton pulse propagation in far-away zone, where the power of the laser pulse is slightly above the critical one, and the pulse comprises super-broad spectra. For such pulses the diffraction is not paraxial and an initially symmetric Gaussian pulse takes parabolic form at several diffraction lengths . The stable soliton propagation appears as a balance between the divergent parabolic type diffraction of broadband optical pulses and the convergent nonlinear refractive index due to the intensity profile. We investigate more precisely the nonlinear third order polarization, using into account the carrier-to envelope phase. This additional phase transforms the third harmonic term to THz or GHz one, depending on the spectral width of the pulse.
A Novel Toolbox for Induced Voltage Prediction on Rail Tracks Due to AC Electromagnetic Interference Between Railway and Nearby Power Lines

AC electromagnetic interference (EMI) between railway and nearby power lines causes serious concerns about railway personnel and equipment safety. The AC EMI analysis is usually conducted by complex computer simulation software to estimate induced voltages on rail tracks, and induced voltages can be further used for safety evaluation. However, such analysis becomes especially difficult at the transmission line routing stage when only limited information of railway and power lines is available. To overcome this challenge, a novel regression model-based toolbox is developed in this paper to predict induced voltages on rail tracks. To develop this toolbox, the dataset acquisition is critical due to very limited research done in this area. The novel dataset is produced by our newly developed AC EMI study method, where variations of several essential factors are considered, including the power line's current, the separation distance between power lines and railway, the ballast resistance, and the length of rail tracks. Two models are eventually chosen to predict induced voltages: “Gaussian process regression” with “matern 3/2” kernel function; and a tri-layered “neural network” model with “sigmoid” activation function. To improve the accuracy, hyperparameters of the regression algorithms are optimized by Bayesian optimization. The toolbox is accurate and easy-to-use, and is currently in use by Manitoba Hydro, Canada.
Shell model simulations by adiabatic dynamics

A method is introduced by which molecular dynamics simulations of ionic materials can incorporate the shell model of ionic polarizability. The shells are given a small mass and their motion integrated in the same way as that of the cores, by numerical integration of the classical equations of motion. The authors argue that results should be in agreement with the conventional massless shell model providing that the frequency of the spring linking the core and the shell is much higher than the lattice vibrational frequencies. It is always possible to satisfy this condition by making an appropriate choice of the shell mass. The method is tested in simulations of diffusion in molten NaCl and superionic CaF2, and of phonon frequencies in MgO. The method works well, is easy to implement, and is computationally efficient.
Analytical Analysis of a Budyko-Type Climate Model

Abstract For a given value of the solar constant we have found that the Budyko-type climate model gives two positions for the edge of the polar ice sheet. The results of the Budyko model suggest that with a decrease in the solar constant of about 1.6%, the ice cap reaches a latitude of about 50°. At this point the model breaks down and the solution for the position of the edge of the polar ice sheet becomes complex. We have based our conclusions on analytic investigations. Numerical calculations were used only to support our analytic results.
Discovery of novel Mamastroviruses in Bactrian camels and dromedaries reveals complex recombination history

Abstract Virus emergence may occur through interspecies transmission and recombination of viruses coinfecting a host, with potential to pair novel and adaptive gene combinations. Camels are known to harbor diverse ribonucleic acid viruses with zoonotic and epizootic potential. Among them, astroviruses are of particular interest due to their cross-species transmission potential and endemicity in diverse host species, including humans. We conducted a molecular epidemiological survey of astroviruses in dromedaries from Saudi Arabia and Bactrian camels from Inner Mongolia, China. Herein, we deployed a hybrid sequencing approach coupling deep sequencing with rapid amplification of complementary deoxyribonucleic acid ends to characterize two novel Bactrian and eight dromedary camel astroviruses, including both partial and complete genomes. Our reported sequences expand the known diversity of dromedary camel astroviruses, highlighting potential recombination events among the astroviruses of camelids and other host species. In Bactrian camels, we detected partially conserved gene regions bearing resemblance to human astrovirus types 1, 4, and 8 although we were unable to recover complete reading frames from these samples. Continued surveillance of astroviruses in camelids, particularly Bactrian species and associated livestock, is highly recommended to identify patterns of cross-species transmission and to determine any epizootic threats and zoonotic risks posed to humans. Phylogenomic approaches are needed to investigate complex patterns of recombination among the astroviruses and to infer their evolutionary history across diverse host species.
Influences of PM2.5 pollution on the public’s negative emotions, risk perceptions, and coping behaviors: a cross-national study in China and Korea

Abstract This study is a cross-national study and aimed to investigate how perception of PM2.5 air pollution influences public’s avoidant and protective behaviors, whether there are correlations between the public’s PM2.5 negative emotions, risk perception and coping behaviors, and whether there are significant differences between China and Korea. To better understand the mechanisms of coping behaviors related to the risk of PM2.5 exposure, the study divided coping behaviors into avoidant behaviors, which reduce exposure to PM2.5, and protective behaviors, which reduce the health hazards of PM2.5, for more specific analysis. Three hypotheses were proposed. The results of a comparative analysis showed differences in the mechanisms mediating the relationship between PM2.5 risk perceptions and coping behaviors, between the Chinese and Korean participants. The positive correlation between risk perception and coping behaviors was partially supported, and the ‘negative emotions-risk perception-risk coping behavior’ explanatory pathway was partially supported as well. The results of this study provide valuable insight into the psychology of the public affected by PM2.5 and aid in better communicating the risks of and effective response to the impact of PM2.5 pollution.
Acidic oxygen evolution reaction: Mechanism, catalyst classification, and enhancement strategies

As the most desirable hydrogen production device, the highly efficient acidic proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWE) are severely limited by the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode. Rutile IrO2 is a commercial acid‐stable OER catalyst with poor activity and high cost, which has motivated the development of alternatives. However, hitherto most of the designed acidic OER catalysts have disadvantages of low activity or stability, which cannot meet the requirement of industrial applications. Thus, exploring suitable strategies to enhance the activity and stability of cost‐effective acidic OER catalysts is crucial for developing the PEMWE technique. In this review, the main OER mechanisms, different types of catalysts, and their activity and stability characteristics are summarized and discussed, and then possible strategies to improve activity and stability are proposed. Finally, the problems and prospects of such catalysts are generalized to shed some light on the future research of advanced catalysts for acidic OER.
Post-partum Fever of Unknown Origin: An Inaugural Flare of Severe Lupus With Multisystemic Involvement and Hemophagocytic Syndrome

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect almost every organ. Lupus protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is one of the rarest manifestations of gastrointestinal involvement. Lupus flare as initial presentation is rare and the disease can act as a trigger to other pathologic immune syndromes like Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), although this association is rare. We report the case of a previously healthy African 39-year-old female patient, with a recent history of cesarean section. Admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with diffuse abdominal pain and fever, having completed a cycle of antibiotic therapy for initially suspected endometritis. The clinical picture progressed with sustained high fever, new-onset lymphadenopathies, systemic rash, acute pulmonary edema and seizures. Laboratory findings included hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. The auto-immune panel was positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA, anti-SSA and anti-SSB, anti-PL7, anti-RNP, anti-U1-SnRNP, and anti-Pm-Scl75. She also presented hypocomplementemia. An inaugural flare of SLE with multisystemic involvement and concomitant secondary Hemophagocytic Syndrome was considered and therapy with methylprednisolone pulses, Anakinra and Cyclophosphamide was started. By the end of the first cycle of cyclophosphamide, the patient presented clinical worsening with abdominal pain recrudescence and profuse diarrhea. After the exclusion of an infectious process, a Lupus PLE was assumed and Cyclophosphamide protocol was resumed, with sustained clinical improvement after the induction protocol. Despite initially suspected gynecological infection, the clinical progression with multisystemic involvement together with the auto-immune panel made the diagnosis of SLE possible, with other laboratory findings raising the suspicion of HLH. This case represents a rare report of severe SLE with multiple organ involvement accompanied by HLH. Gastrointestinal involvement with PLE added rarity and morbidity to the clinical picture. The case reinforces the idea that when organ dysfunction is due to a severe autoimmune response, supportive treatment can be lifesaving until immunosuppressive drugs reach their full effect.