Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of resource overlap on bacterial reproductive success in the phyllosphere

The phyllosphere is colonized by rich microbial communities, despite sparse and heterogeneously distributed resources. This resource limitation is expected to drive bacterial competition, resulting in either exclusion or coexistence based on the fitness differences and resource overlap between species. Here, we investigated the impact of competition in bacterial colonization and growth of the epiphyte Pantoea eucalypti 299R (Pe299R). To that end, pairwise competition experiments between Pe299R and diverse phyllosphere-colonizing bacteria were performed in vitro and in the Arabidopsis thaliana phyllosphere. Resource overlap was determined as the similarity in resource utilization in vitro. We found an effect of both resource overlap and phylogenetic relationships in the competition outcome between Pe299R and individual competitors in vitro. To account for bacterial individuality in the phyllosphere, we employed a single cell bioreporter to determine the number of divisions that individual cells from Pe299R populations underwent when challenged with individual bacterial competitors. We observed that at the single-cell level, resource utilization similarities and phylogenetic relationships were weakly correlated with Pe299R reproductive success. We observed contrasting results for two strains (Arthrobacter sp. Leaf145 and Sphingomonas melonis Fr1) that, despite sharing either a high or low resource overlap with Pe299R, both negatively affected the reproductive success of Pe299R. Interestingly, we also observed facilitative effects of Methylobacterium sp. Leaf85. This work furthers the understanding of bacterial assembly processes in heterogenous environments. Our high-resolution observations are important to build an ecological framework to predict competition outcomes in the phyllosphere and to design future bacterial biocontrol applications.
Continuous displacement monitoring of rockfill dam during earthquakes by using global positioning system

Exterior deformation is one of the most important items to measure when managing the safety of embankment dams. A conventional surveying method, using targets installed on the crest and the slopes of the embankment dams, is usually employed to measure exterior deformation. It is difficult, however, to measure the deformation by such a method immediately after an earthquake or other emergency. A displacement monitoring system using GPS (Global Positioning System) was developed to continuously monitor the deformation of dams. The system can provide three-dimensional displacements at many points simultaneously with high accuracy at the millimeter level. Ishibuchi Dam is a concrete-face rock-fill dam; it is one of the oldest rock-fill dams in Japan. After the large settlement caused by the Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake of 2008, the above GPS displacement monitoring system was installed to continuously monitor the deformation behavior. On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck near the northeast coast of Honshu Island. This paper describes the results of the deformation monitoring of Ishibuchi Dam before, during, and after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and discusses the validity of the system for the safe management of dams after earthquakes. Language: ja
Cellular Senescence in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review

Aging is a prominent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of death around the world. Recently, cellular senescence has received potential attention as a promising target in preventing cardiovascular diseases, including acute myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, cardiac aging, pressure overload-induced hypertrophy, heart regeneration, hypertension, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Here, we discuss the mechanisms underlying cellular senescence and describe the involvement of senescent cardiovascular cells (including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts/myofibroblasts and T cells) in age-related cardiovascular diseases. Then, we highlight the targets (SIRT1 and mTOR) that regulating cellular senescence in cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore, we review the evidence that senescent cells can exert both beneficial and detrimental implications in cardiovascular diseases on a context-dependent manner. Finally, we summarize the emerging pro-senescent or anti-senescent interventions and discuss their therapeutic potential in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Fine attitude maneuvering by reaction wheel via sliding mode speed driver

The objective of this paper was to design a set of proper speed controllers for reaction wheels in the presence of unknown coulomb friction and parametric uncertainties. The controller goal was to change the rotational speed of reaction wheels to adjust the satellite to a desired attitude. The mathematical model of a satellite that utilizes three reaction wheels as actuators was developed by angular kinematics and kinetic equations. Variable-structure control theory was then applied on the reaction wheel via a real-time microcontroller-based Hardware in the Loop. The simulated satellite response to wheel speed shows that the sliding mode speed controller is effective, and a small attitude angle could be tracked more effectively than with a Proportional–Integral–Derivative speed controller.
The effect of organisational culture on technology commercialisation performance: a conceptual framework

Commercialisation activities are crucial for technology based companies to make sure that there is income to support continuing R&D activities, pay back their investors, and make a profit. Technology commercialisation performance can vary among companies, with some companies succeed in commercialising their technology, while others fail. Therefore it is important to understand the drivers of technology commercialisation performance, in order to increase the success rate and reduce the failure rate. The success of technology commercialisation can be influenced by both individual and organisational factors. Among organisational factors, the culture of the organisation is hypothesised to play an important role. Organisational culture represents the implicit aspect of the organisation. This paper will develop a conceptual model which explores this factor and its impact on commercialisation performance.
Real Convergence in the European Union. Bridging the Gap between the New and Old Member States

One of the fundamental pillars of the European Union aims at the convergence of economic performances among its Member States. This objective has become increasingly challenging with the advancement of the integration process from the customs union to the economic and monetary union, from the six founding Members to twenty-seven European states. The aim of this paper is to study real convergence in the European Union between 2000 and 2019 and conducting also a comparative analysis between the New and the Old Members. The methodological tools imply absolute and conditional βand σ-convergence. By using cross-sectional regressions, we have found evidence in favour of the absolute β-convergence hypothesis, as the initially poorer Members experienced higher GDP per capita growth rates than the developed economies. The average catching-up speed in the European Union was 2.5%, while the Central and Eastern Members experienced a higher convergence rate, which reached 3.6%. Moreover, by applying panel regressions, we have found evidence supporting the conditional convergence hypothesis, the study emphasising the role of macroeconomic, social, and governance-related variables in promoting economic growth. Our research suggests that investment and trade had a major role in enhancing economic growth both at the aggregate and subgroup level. Finally, the paper illustrates that β-convergence was accompanied by a reduction of disparities within the European Union. However, the global financial crisis hampered the convergence process among the Old Members. The paper suggests that although the Central and Eastern European countries made important progress in terms of catching-up, convergence of economic performance in the European Union has not been reached so far. By contrast, the modest growth rates and the exacerbation of income differentials between the Old Members might call into question the perspective to achieve this objective in the short term.
Theoretical Investigation of Optical WDM Network Performance in the Presence of FWM and ASE Noise

Abstract In this article, for an optical star wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network, with quality factor (Q-factor) as performance metric, we investigate the performance degradation due to the combined effects of four-wave mixing (FWM) and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. A mathematical model is developed, and the simulations are performed based on the optical frequency grid defined by the ITU-T Recommendation G.692. Further, the analysis is conducted for the optical fibers that are ITU-T compliant viz. G.652, G. 652D, G. 653, G. 654 and G.655. The simulation results show that, compared to the other fiber types, performance of the G. 652D and G.652 fibers is the “best”, thus justifying the preferred use of fibers with high dispersion and effective area values. The simulation results also highlight that with the use of a fiber having low dispersion and effective area value, it may not be possible to obtain the desired performance.
A fault detection method for pitch actuators faults in wind turbines

The paper presents a model-based fault detection method for pitch actuators faults using the normalized gradient method to estimate the parameters of the pitch actuator. One major difficulty is that the input signal to the parametric estimation method must be a persistent excitation. To circumvent this, a chattering term is added to the pitch control law and the usual low-pass filters are not used for the parametrization in the normalized gradient method (thus acceleration information is used). In order to verify the proposed method, simulations are conducted within a Hardware in the Loop (HiL) platform using the wind turbine simulation software FAST (Fatigue, Aerodynamics, Structures, and Turbulence).
Improvement of Machining Characteristics with Polarity-Changed Pulse in EDM Processes.

In this paper, a new type of discharge current waveform, named polarity-changed pulse, is proposed in order to improve the machining characteristics in the EDM process. The principle of the method is to alter the polarity so that a greater instantaneous removal rate of the workpiece can be obtained, since the removal rates of the anode and cathode change with the development of the plasma arc. The polarity of the workpiece is set to positive when the discharge takes place, and then the polarity is changed to negative at a certain time after the discharge ignition. At first the removal amount of the workpiece and the tool wear ratio with respect to the polarity-changed pulse were calculated on the basis of the experimental results obtained with the conventional pulse. The removal rate and tool wear ratio were then investigated when the polarity-changed pulse was used. It is found from both experimental and calculated results that the use of polarity-changed pulse can decrease the tool wear ratio and increase the workpiece removal rate.
The Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Serum Liver Enzymes in Baghdad

Smoking is the most noticeably horrible human conduct; it is rehearsed by individuals dependent on nicotine numerous hurtful sicknesses, for example, cancer and liver disorder are brought about by smoking cigarettes. So this study aimed to study some of the liver function represented by the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST or GOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT or GPT) in smokers and non-smokers for 50 persons in a group consists of 25 smokers and 25 non-smokers of different ages and to study the effectiveness of cigarette smoking on liver enzymes by checking the secretion of (AST) (35.84Â± 4.1)U/ 1 (ALT)(51.08Â±7.286 ) U/1(p<0.05) relative to non-smokers were significantly correlated with heavy cigarette smoking.
Plant-scale studies of thermophilic digestion at Los Angeles

The results of studies on thermophilic digestion of sewage sludge are presented. The Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant's digestion system is described. Operation at varying temperatures 85/sup 0/F to 120/sup 0/F are discussed. One-, two-, and three-stage digestion procedures were evaluated. The effects of industrial wastes on the digestion or filtration were investigated. Mixing methods were evaluated. Digestion time for optimum recovery of gas was also discussed. (DC)
Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Mixtures

Mix properties that deviate appreciably from the design properties during the production and construction of asphalt mixtures can lead to premature pavement distress or even failure. The objective of this study was to quantify the differences in the dynamic modulus of specimens prepared during design, production, and construction of dense-graded asphalt pavements and their effects on pavement performance prediction. For the achievement of this objective, Superpave® mixtures were collected from Iowa, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, South Dakota, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin during design [laboratory-mixed and laboratory-compacted (LL)], production [plant-produced and laboratory-compacted (PL)], and construction [plant-produced and field-compacted (PF) specimens]. The nominal maximum aggregate size was kept constant at 12.5 mm. An indirect tension dynamic complex modulus (IDT |E*|) was measured for the three specimen types (i.e., LL, PL, and PF). Results showed that laboratory-compacted and field-compacted specimens exhibited large and significant differences. This finding was attributed to differences in the compaction effort and procedure between the field and the laboratory. Results of the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design showed that the use of dynamic moduli obtained from different specimen types would result in significant differences in pavement performance prediction. This research was part of NCHRP Project 9-48, Field Versus Laboratory Volumetrics and Mechanical Properties.
Pavement maintenance and rehabilitation budget allocation considering multiple objectives and multiple stakeholders

ABSTRACT Highways play an important role in economic and social development at both national and regional levels. As a major component of highway infrastructure, pavements require significant funding to be maintained at an acceptable level of service. Allocating the budget for pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) is a complex decision-making process for a highway agency. This allocation of funding across M&R activities and across districts becomes a challenging process with the presence of multiple stakeholders, constrained budgets, customer satisfaction, agencies' strategic goals, and deteriorating pavement conditions. This paper proposes an extended goal-programming framework for allocating the available pavement M&R budget across multiple management districts of a highway agency over its planning horizon. A case study of applying the proposed model is conducted using data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), where five objectives are considered: maximise the proportion of pavement sections with best conditions, minimise the proportion of pavement sections with worst conditions, minimise crash severities through pavement M&R, minimise energy consumption due to M&R activities, and maximise the total lane mile of pavement sections receiving M&R treatments. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to examine the effect of different parameter values on the results of budget allocation.
Integrated Circuits and 3D-Packaging for Low-Power 24 GHz Front End

ByChafikMeliani, ProdyutTalukder, Jochen Hilsenbeck, Meik Huber, Georg Bock, and Wolfgang Heinrich Abstract Design and experimental results for a low-power monolithic 24 GHz front end are described. As basic circuits, VCO and mixer are presented. The circuits are realized on GaAs using heterobipolar transistors. The VCO reaches 19% efficiency at 4.3 dBm output power and 14.5 mW DC power consumption. The circuits are to be integrated together with a special slot antenna using flip-chip technology. Simulatbn data on this novel antenna approach demonstrate acceptable gain characteristics around 3 dB, despite of its small size.
Risk factors for necrotic cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic: the ChoCO-WSES prospective collaborative study's experience.

Objectives During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have reported a decrease in in the admission surgical patients and emergency surgical procedures, and an increase in more severe septic surgical diseases, such as necrotic cholecystitis. It was probably due to to a critical delay in time-to- diagnosis and time-to-intervention resulting to limited access to the operating theatres as well as intensive care units. Early laparoscopic cholecystec- tomy is the standard of care for acute cholecystitis. Moreover early data from COVID-19 pandemic reported an increase in the incidence of necrotic cholecystitis among COVID-19 patients. The ChoCO-W prospective observational collaborative study was conceived to investigate the incidence and management of acute cholecystitis under the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods The present research protocol was. conceived and designed as a prospective observational international collaborative study focusing on the management of patients with to the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis under the COVID-19 pandemic. The study obtained the approval of the local Ethics Committee (Nimes, France) and meet and conform to the standards outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Eligible patients will be prospectively enrolled in the recruitment period and data entered in an online case report form. Results The ChoCO-W study will be the largest prospective study carried out during the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim to inves- tigate the management of patients with acute cholecystitis, in the lack of studies focusing on COVID-19 positive patients. Conclusion The ChoCO-W study is conceived to be the largest prospective study to assess the management of patients presenting with acute chol- ecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic and risk factors correlated with necrotic cholecystitis to improve the management of high-risk patients.
Immer mehr Schülerinnen und Schüler nehmen Nachhilfe, besonders in Haushalten mit mittleren Einkommen

Private tutoring is playing an increasingly significant role in the education of many teenagers and children: In 2013, a total of 18 percent of Sekundarstufe I students (approximately ages 10–17) worked with paid tutors; among Grundschule students (approximately ages 6–10), this figure stood at six percent. In the period between 2009 and 2013, an average of 47 percent of 17-year-old respondents indicated that they had received tutoring at least once in the course of their school careers—roughly 20 percentage points more than what had been reported around 15 years earlier, as the present calculations show. Although households with above-average incomes engaged the services of paid tutors most frequently of any group, discrepancies in usage among the various socioeconomic groups have started to fade: An increasing number of students from families with below-average incomes are also working with tutors, though this share remains lower than those of other groups. Bezahlte Nachhilfe ist inzwischen fur viele Kinder und Jugendliche ein wichtiges zusatzliches Lernangebot. In der Sekundarstufe I nutzten im Jahr 2013 insgesamt 18 Prozent aller Schulerinnen und Schuler bezahlte Nachhilfeangebote, in der Grundschule waren es sechs Prozent. Im Zeitraum von 2009 bis 2013 gaben im Mittel 47 Prozent der jeweils 17-jahrigen Befragten an, zumindest einmal im Laufe ihrer Schulzeit Nachhilfe bekommen zu haben – rund 20 Prozentpunkte mehr als etwa funfzehn Jahre zuvor, wie die vorliegenden Berechnungen zeigen. Haushalte mit uberdurchschnittlichem Einkommen nutzten Nachhilfeangebote am haufigsten, allerdings haben sich diese soziookonomischen Unterschiede zuletzt verringert: Auch Schulerinnen und Schuler aus Haushalten mit unterdurchschnittlichem Einkommen nehmen verstarkt Nachhilfe – wenngleich ihr Anteil immer noch geringer ist als bei den anderen Gruppen.
Database as a source of information on the evaluation of scientific papers in medicine

U naucnim krugovima Crne Gore evaluacija naucnog rada se vrednuje putem citatne analize. Ona predstavlja jednu od nekoliko prihvacenih metoda koje se primjenjuju sirom svijeta, a prema bazi podataka Science Citation Index, odnosno ISI Web of Science (WOS), na koju se i mi pozivamo. Cilj rada je da ukaže na alternative ovom, po mnogim misljenjima, zastarelom sistemu vrednovanja. U svijetu su aktuelni novi izvori podataka za citiranost radova, pored komercijalnih kao sto je Scopus (Elsevier), postoje i besplatni kao sto je Google pretraživac – Google Scholar. Napisano je mnostvo studija o prednostima i nedostacima navedena tri izvora. Dalje prevazilaženje sadasnjeg nacina vrednovanja je otvoreni pristup (engl. Open Access) koji podrazumijeva da je neki naucni rad besplatno i neprekidno dostupan svim krajnjim korisnicima Interneta za citanje, preuzimanje i citiranje.
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Therapy With Botanical Products for Melasma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Botanical products have been increasingly popular in topical therapies for melasma, as presumed safer and milder than fully synthetic products. Although the efficacy of different topical botanicals has recently been substantiated through randomized controlled trials (RCTs), there is a lack of sufficiently pooled evidence on their efficacy and safety for the treatment of melasma. Herein, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on the efficacy and safety of topical botanical products for the treatment of melasma, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). All RCTs on the use of topical botanical products for the treatment of melasma in humans were included, except for trials enrolling pregnant patients. The primary outcome was Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) or its variation. The secondary outcomes included Mexameter® reading, melasma improvement evaluated by participants, and any reported adverse events (AEs). As a result, twelve eligible trials comprising 695 patients with melasma from 6 different countries were included. The topical botanical products contained active ingredients which varied among trials as follows: herb-derived molecule, extracts of a single herb, and extracts of compound herbs. Topical therapy with botanical products significantly improved melasma with a large effect on MASI reduction (SMD −0.79, 95% CI −1.14 to −0.44, p < 0.00001), and a moderate effect on Mexameter® reading reduction (SMD −0.52, 95% CI −0.81 to 0.23, p = 0.0005), when compared with placebo. It also showed a similar improvement of melasma with a better safety profile (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.15–0.88, p = 0.02), when compared with active-comparators. Botanical products were well-tolerated across studies, with no serious AEs reported. Despite the limitations such as small sample size, short duration of follow up and varied botanical products, this work still represents the best level of evidence currently available on topical use of botanical products on melasma. Moreover, it should be noted that more well-designed studies are needed before recommending topical botanical products as a viable treatment option for melasma. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42021256328.