Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanosynthesis of the Whole Y1−xBixMn1−xFexO3 Perovskite System: Structural Characterization and Study of Phase Transitions

Perovskite BiFeO3 and YMnO3 are both multiferroic materials with distinctive magnetoelectric coupling phenomena. Owing to this, the Y1−xBix Mn1−xFexO3 solid solution seems to be a promising system, though poorly studied. This is due to the metastable nature of the orthorhombic perovskite phase of YMnO3 at ambient pressure, and to the complexity of obtaining pure rhombohedral phases for BiFeO3-rich compositions. In this work, nanocrystalline powders across the whole perovskite system were prepared for the first time by mechanosynthesis in a high-energy planetary mill, avoiding high pressure and temperature routes. Thermal decomposition temperatures were determined, and structural characterization was carried out by X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy on thermally treated samples of enhanced crystallinity. Two polymorphic phases with orthorhombic Pnma and rhombohedral R3c h symmetries, and their coexistence over a wide compositional range were found. A gradual evolution of the lattice parameters with the composition was revealed for both phases, which suggests the existence of two continuous solid solutions. Following bibliographic data for BiFeO3, first order ferroic phase transitions were located by differential thermal analysis in compositions with x ≥ 0.9. Furthermore, an orthorhombic-rhombohedral structural evolution across the ferroelectric transition was characterized with temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction.
Non-relativistic metrics with extremal limits

We present solutions of type IIB supergravity with z = 2 Schrodinger asymptotics that admit an extremal limit, i.e. the black hole horizon has a double zero. These solutions are obtained as TsT transformations of the charged planar black hole in AdS 5 × S 5. Unlike the uncharged solution, the Ramond-Ramond two-form is turned on. We study the thermodynamic properties of these new solutions, and we show that the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density is 1/4π even in the extremal limit. We also consider the TsT-transformed soliton and show that, for a special radius of the compact circle, there is a confinement-deconfinement phase transition at zero temperature between the soliton and black hole phases. © SISSA 2009.
Injury Incidence in Youth, High School, and NCAA Men’s Lacrosse

With this epidemiological study, we use sports injury surveillance data to describe and compare the incidence of injury in youth boys’, HS boys’, and NCAA men’s lacrosse. BACKGROUND: We compared injury incidence and mechanisms among youth, high school (HS), and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) boys’ and men’s lacrosse athletes for the 2014–2015 to 2016–2017 lacrosse seasons. METHODS: Multiple injury surveillance systems were used to capture 21 youth boys’, 22 HS boys’, and 20 NCAA men’s lacrosse team-seasons of data during the 2014–2015 to 2016–2017 seasons. Athletic trainers reported game and practice injuries and athlete exposures (AEs). Injuries included those occurring during a game and/or practice and requiring evaluation from an athletic trainer and/or physician. Injury counts, rates per 1000 AEs, and injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The injury rate in youth was higher than those reported in HS (10.3 vs 5.3 per 1000 AEs; IRR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.6–2.4) and the NCAA (10.3 vs 4.7 per 1000 AEs; IRR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.9–2.5). When considering time loss injuries only (restricted participation of ≥24 hours), the injury rate in youth was lower than those reported in HS (2.0 vs 2.9 per 1000 AEs; IRR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.95) and the NCAA (2.0 vs 3.3 per 1000 AEs; IRR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4–0.8). The concussion rate in youth was higher than those in HS (0.7 vs 0.3 per 1000 AEs; IRR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1–5.2) and the NCAA (0.7 vs 0.3 per 1000 AEs; IRR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2–3.7). Injuries at the youth, HS, and NCAA levels were most commonly associated with stick contact, inflammatory conditions (including bursitis, tendonitis, and other unspecified inflammation), and noncontact mechanisms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the time loss injury rate was lowest in youth boys’ lacrosse, the concussion rate was the highest. Injury prevention approaches should be specific to the mechanisms associated with each level of play (eg, equipment skill development in youth).
Enteral lactoferrin for the treatment of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates (Review)

Neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) cause signiﬁcant neonatal mortality and morbidity despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. Enhancing host defense and modulating inﬂammation by using lactoferrin as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of sepsis, NEC, or both, may improve clinical outcomes.
Adaptive SLA monitoring of service choreographies enacted on the Cloud

The deployment and the execution of applications on dynamic Cloud infrastructures introduces new requirements of adaptability with respect to monitoring. Specifically, the governance of service choreographies enacted over Cloud-based solutions relies on the observation and analysis of events happening at different abstraction layers. Adaptability requirements are even more evident when monitoring deals with Service Level Agreements (SLA) established among the choreography participants. In fact, as the Cloud paradigm offers on-demand solutions as a service, often monitoring rules cannot be completely defined off-line. Thus also the monitoring infrastructure must keep track of the continuous evolution of the underlying environment, and adapt itself accordingly. This paper proposes an adaptive multi-source monitoring architecture that can synthesize on-the-fly SLA monitoring rules following the evolution of the Cloud infrastructure. We demonstrate the idea on a case study and discuss limitations as well as planned further advancements.
The Use of Antifreeze Proteins in the Cryopreservation of Gametes and Embryos

The cryopreservation of gametes and embryos is a technique widely used in reproductive biology. This technology helps in the reproductive management of domesticated animals, and it is an important tool for gene banking and for human-assisted reproductive technologies. Antifreeze proteins are naturally present in several organisms exposed to subzero temperatures. The ability for these proteins to inhibit ice recrystallization together with their ability to interact with biological membranes makes them interesting molecules to be used in cryopreservation protocols. This mini-review provides a general overview about the use of antifreeze proteins to improve the short and long term storage of gametes and embryos.
Rituximab Treatment for Membranous Nephropathy: A French Clinical and Serological Retrospective Study of 28 Patients

The development of well-tolerated and effective therapies that target the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy (MN) would be useful. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of rituximab in MN. We analyzed the outcome of 28 patients treated with rituximab for idiopathic MN. Anti-PLA2R antibodies in serum and PLA2R antigen in kidney biopsy were assessed in 10 and 9 patients, respectively. Proteinuria was significantly decreased by 56, 62 and 87% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. At 6 months, 2 patients achieved complete remission (CR) and 12 partial remission (PR; overall renal response, 50%). At 12 months (n = 23), CR was achieved in 6 patients and PR in 13 patients (overall renal response, 82.6%). Three patients suffered a relapse of nephrotic proteinuria 27–50 months after treatment. Univariate analysis suggested that the degree of renal failure (MDRD estimated glomerular filtration rate <45/ml/min/1.73 m2) is an independent factor that predicts lack of response to rituximab. Anti-PLA2R antibodies were detected in the serum of 10 patients, and PLA2R antigen in immune deposits in 8 of 9 patients. Antibodies became negative in all 5 responsive patients with available follow-up sera. In this retrospective study, a high rate of remission was achieved 12 months after treatment.
Effects of Low-Protein Diets and Exogenous Protease on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Intestinal Morphology, Cecal Volatile Fatty Acids and Serum Parameters in Broilers

Simple Summary To maintain sustainability, the poultry production industry uses low-protein diets to minimize the potential for environmental pollution from nitrogen waste. However, reducing dietary crude protein may compromise the performance and health of the chickens. Thus, strategies using crystalline amino acids or exogenous protease added to the low-protein diets, the latter being the more recent trend, have been common practice in the industry, in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for poultry meat in the most sustainable way possible. In the present study, we evaluated a novel protease, produced by the bacterial species Bacillus clausii isolated from the body fluid of a polychaete (Periserrula leucophryna) found only in Korean waters, as an additive in broiler chickens fed the low-protein diets. We found that dietary protease improved growth performance in these broiler chickens. Abstract Dietary exogenous proteases (ENZ) can be used in poultry production to improve the growth of chickens fed low-protein (LP) diets. We hypothesized that ENZ supplemented in an LP diet would improve growth performance and physiological response in broilers for 8–35 days. To investigate this, we used a 2 × 2 factorial design with crude protein (CP, normal diet (NP) and LP) and ENZ. The LP diet contained low in 1% CP and ca. 8–12% amino acids compared to the NP diet and both NP and LP diets were added without or with (1 g/kg of diet) ENZ. We randomly allocated 720 1-week-old Ross 308 male chicks to 48 pens and experimental diets. At 21 days, dietary ENZ, but not CP, increased (p = 0.007) live body weight. Body weight gain from 8–21 days was affected (p = 0.006) by dietary ENZ, but was not affected (p = 0.210) by CP. The feed conversion ratio was affected by both CP and ENZ during the starter period (p < 0.05), by ENZ (p = 0.034) during the finisher period, and by CP (p < 0.001) during the whole period. However, the interaction between CP and ENZ did not significantly affect growth performance (p > 0.05). Dietary ENZ increased (p = 0.013) the relative weight of liver at 21 days. CP and ENZ affected (p = 0.043) total short-chain fatty acids at 21 days. However, this effect was not seen (p = 0.888) at 35 days. Dietary CP increased (p < 0.05) the serum concentrations of both uric acid and creatinine in broilers. We concluded that dietary ENZ is more beneficial to younger broilers, independent of CP levels, and that its effect was restricted to body weight and the feed conversion ratio.
Capacity Scaling of Wireless Ad Hoc Networks: Shannon Meets Maxwell

In this paper, we characterize the information-theoretic capacity scaling of wireless ad hoc networks with randomly distributed nodes. By using an exact channel model from Maxwell's equations, we successfully resolve the conflict in the literature between the linear capacity scaling by Özgür and the degrees of freedom limit given as the ratio of the network diameter and the wavelength by Franceschetti In dense networks where the network area is fixed, the capacity scaling is given as the minimum of and the degrees of freedom limit to within an arbitrarily small exponent. In extended networks where the network area is linear in , the capacity scaling is given as the minimum of and the degrees of freedom limit to within an arbitrarily small exponent. Hence, we recover the linear capacity scaling by Özgür if in dense networks and if in extended networks. Otherwise, the capacity scaling is given as the degrees of freedom limit characterized by Franceschetti For achievability, a modified hierarchical cooperation is proposed based on a lower bound on the capacity of multiple-input multiple-output channel between two node clusters using our channel model.
Bandits with Unobserved Confounders: A Causal Approach

The Multi-Armed Bandit problem constitutes an archetypal setting for sequential decision-making, permeating multiple domains including engineering, business, and medicine. One of the hallmarks of a bandit setting is the agent's capacity to explore its environment through active intervention, which contrasts with the ability to collect passive data by estimating associational relationships between actions and payouts. The existence of unobserved confounders, namely unmeasured variables affecting both the action and the outcome variables, implies that these two data-collection modes will in general not coincide. In this paper, we show that formalizing this distinction has conceptual and algorithmic implications to the bandit setting. The current generation of bandit algorithms implicitly try to maximize rewards based on estimation of the experimental distribution, which we show is not always the best strategy to pursue. Indeed, to achieve low regret in certain realistic classes of bandit problems (namely, in the face of unobserved confounders), both experimental and observational quantities are required by the rational agent. After this realization, we propose an optimization metric (employing both experimental and observational distributions) that bandit agents should pursue, and illustrate its benefits over traditional algorithms.
Submillimetre and near‐infrared observations of galaxies selected at 170 μm

We present results from James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) submillimetre (submm) observations of sources selected from the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) FIRBACK (Far-infrared Background) survey, along with United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) near-infrared imaging of a subsample. This gives valuable insight into the brightest ∼10 per cent of galaxies that contribute to the cosmic infrared background (CIB). We estimate the photometric redshifts and luminosities of these sources by fitting their spectral energy distributions (SEDs). The data appear to show a bimodal galaxy distribution, with normal star-forming galaxies at z ≃ 0, and a much more luminous population at z ∼0.4-0.9. These are similar to the ultraluminous infrared galaxies which are found to evolve rapidly with redshift in other surveys. The detectability threshold of FIRBACK biases the sample away from much higher redshift (z ≃ 1.5) objects. Nevertheless, the handful of z∼0.5 sources that we identify are likely to be the low-z counterparts of the typically higher-z sources found in blank field submm observations. This subsample, being much more nearby than the average Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) galaxies, has the virtue of being relatively easy to study in the optical. Hence their detailed investigation could help elucidate the nature of the submm bright galaxies.
Mitochondrial DNA, a Powerful Tool to Decipher Ancient Human Civilization from Domestication to Music, and to Uncover Historical Murder Cases

Mitochondria are unique organelles carrying their own genetic material, independent from that in the nucleus. This review will discuss the nature of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and its levels in the cell, which are the key elements to consider when trying to achieve molecular identification in ancient and degraded samples. mtDNA sequence analysis has been appropriately validated and is a consistent molecular target for the examination of biological evidence encountered in forensic cases—and profiling, in certain conditions—especially for burnt bodies and degraded samples of all types. Exceptional cases and samples will be discussed in this review, such as mtDNA from leather in Beethoven’s grand piano, mtDNA in mummies, and solving famous historical criminal cases. In addition, this review will be discussing the use of ancient mtDNA to understand past human diet, to trace historical civilizations and ancient trade routes, and to uncover geographical domestication origins and lineage relationships. In each topic, we will present the power of mtDNA and how, in many cases, no nuclear DNA was left, leaving mitochondrial DNA analysis as a powerful alternative. Exploring this powerful tool further will be extremely useful to modern science and researchers, due to its capabilities in providing us with previously unattainable knowledge.
Single phage T4 DNA packaging motors exhibit large force generation, high velocity, and dynamic variability

Terminase enzyme complexes, which facilitate ATP-driven DNA packaging in phages and in many eukaryotic viruses, constitute a wide and potentially diverse family of molecular motors about which little dynamic or mechanistic information is available. Here we report optical tweezers measurements of single DNA molecule packaging dynamics in phage T4, a large, tailed Escherichia coli virus that is an important model system in molecular biology. We show that a complex is formed between the empty prohead and the large terminase protein (gp17) that can capture and begin packaging a target DNA molecule within a few seconds, thus demonstrating a distinct viral assembly pathway. The motor generates forces >60 pN, similar to those measured with phage φ29, suggesting that high force generation is a common property of viral DNA packaging motors. However, the DNA translocation rate for T4 was strikingly higher than that for φ29, averaging ≈700 bp/s and ranging up to ≈2,000 bp/s, consistent with packaging by phage T4 of an enormous, 171-kb genome in <10 min during viral infection and implying high ATP turnover rates of >300 s−1. The motor velocity decreased with applied load but averaged 320 bp/s at 45 pN, indicating very high power generation. Interestingly, the motor also exhibited large dynamic changes in velocity, suggesting that it can assume multiple active conformational states gearing different translocation rates. This capability, in addition to the reversible pausing and slipping capabilities that were observed, may allow phage T4 to coordinate DNA packaging with other ongoing processes, including viral DNA transcription, recombination, and repair.
Contribution of Functional Antimalarial Immunity to Measures of Parasite Clearance in Therapeutic Efficacy Studies of Artemisinin Derivatives

Abstract Background Antibodies to the blood stages of malaria parasites enhance parasite clearance and antimalarial efficacy. The antibody subclass and functions that contribute to parasite clearance during antimalarial treatment and their relationship to malaria transmission intensity have not been characterized. Methods Levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses and C1q fixation in response to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite antigens (erythrocyte-binding antigen [EBA] 175RIII-V, merozoite surface protein 2 [MSP-2], and MSP-142) and opsonic phagocytosis of merozoites were measured in a multinational trial assessing the efficacy of artesunate therapy across 11 Southeast Asian sites. Regression analyses assessed the effects of antibody seropositivity on the parasite clearance half-life (PC½), having a PC½ of ≥5 hours, and having parasitemia 3 days after treatment. Results IgG3, followed by IgG1, was the predominant IgG subclass detected (seroprevalence range, 5%–35% for IgG1 and 27%–41% for IgG3), varied across study sites, and was lowest in study sites with the lowest transmission intensity and slowest mean PC½. IgG3, C1q fixation, and opsonic-phagocytosis seropositivity were associated with a faster PC½ (range of the mean reduction in PC½, 0.47–1.16 hours; P range, .001–.03) and a reduced odds of having a PC½ of ≥5 hours and having parasitemia 3 days after treatment. Conclusions The prevalence of IgG3, complement-fixing antibodies, and merozoite phagocytosis vary according to transmission intensity, are associated with faster parasite clearance, and may be sensitive surrogates of an augmented clearance capacity of infected erythrocytes. Determining the functional immune mechanisms associated with parasite clearance will improve characterization of artemisinin resistance.
Patterns of Apoptosis and Proliferation throughout the Biennial Reproductive Cycle of Viviparous Female Typhlonectes compressicauda (Amphibia, Gymnophiona)

Typhlonectes compressicauda is an aquatic gymnophionan amphibian living in South America. Its breeding cycle is linked to seasons, characterized by a regular alternation of rainy and dry seasons. During a complex biennial cycle, the female genital tract undergoes a series of alternations of increasing and decreasing, governed by equilibrium of proliferation and apoptotic phenomena. Immunohistochemical methods were used to visualize cell proliferation with the detection of Ki67 antibody, a protein present in proliferative cells; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and Apostain were performed to detect apoptotic cells on sections of ovaries and oviducts. In ovaries, both phenomena affect the germinal nests and follicles according to the cycle period. In the oviduct, the balance was in favor of proliferation during preparation for reproduction, and in favor of apoptosis when genital ducts regress. Apoptosis and proliferation are narrowly implicated in the remodeling of the genital tract and they are accompanied by the differentiation of tissues according to the phase of the breeding cycle. These variations permit the capture of oocytes at ovulation, always at the same period, and the parturition after 6–7 months of gestation, at a period in which the newborns live with their mother, protected in burrows in the mud. During the intervening year of sexual inactivity, the female reconstitutes body reserves.
Planning and control during reach to grasp using the three predominant UB hand IV postural synergies

In this paper, a method to derive the three predominant synergies and their temporal weights for planning grasps of the UB Hand IV (University of Bologna Hand, version IV) is proposed. The method adopted to define the postural synergies from experiments is based on the kinematic structure of the robotic hand and on the taxonomy of the grasps of common objects. The control strategy, exploiting postural synergies, that drives the hand during reach to grasp is further described. During prehension the hand moves continuously in a configuration space of highly reduced dimensionality with respect to its degrees of freedom. The experiments confirm that the UB Hand IV works efficiently in a synergy based framework for grasp planning and prehension control. It is shown that the introduction of the third predominant synergy significantly improves the grasping synthesis and performance, especially for the adduction/abduction motion of the thumb.
Parental mosaicism in epilepsies due to alleged de novo variants

Severe early onset epilepsies are often caused by de novo pathogenic variants. Few studies have reported the frequency of somatic mosaicism in parents of children with severe epileptic encephalopathies. Here we aim to investigate the frequency of mosaicism in the parents of children with epilepsy caused by alleged de novo variants. We tested parental genomic DNA derived from different tissues for 75 cases using targeted next‐generation sequencing. Five parents (6.6%) showed mosaicism at minor allele frequencies of 0.8%‐29% for the pathogenic variant detected in their offspring. Parental mosaicism was observed in the following genes: SCN1A, SCN2A, SCN8A, and STXBP1. One of the identified parents had epilepsy himself. Our results show that de novo events can occur already in parental tissue and in some cases can be detected in peripheral blood. Consequently, parents affected by low‐grade mosaicism are faced with an increased recurrence risk for transmitting the pathogenic variant, compared to the overall recurrence risk for a second affected child estimated at approximately 1%. However, testing for parental somatic mosaicism will help identifying those parents who truly are at higher risk and will significantly improve genetic counseling in the respective families.