Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nuclei of dwarf spheroidal galaxies KKs 3 and ESO 269−66 and their counterparts in our Galaxy

We present the analysis of medium-resolution spectra obtained at the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) for nuclear globular clusters (GCs) in two dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs). The galaxies have similar star formation histories, but they are situated in completely different environments. ESO269-66 is a close neighbour of the giant S0 NGC5128. KKs3 is one of the few truly isolated dSphs within 10 Mpc. We estimate the helium abundance $Y=0.3$, $\rm age=12.6\pm1$ Gyr, $[Fe/H]=-1.5,-1.55\pm0.2$ dex, and abundances of C, N, Mg, Ca, Ti, and Cr for the nuclei of ESO269-66 and KKs3. Our surface photometry results using HST images yield the half-light radius of the cluster in KKs3, $\rm r_h=4.8\pm0.2$ pc. We demonstrate the similarities of medium-resolution spectra, ages, chemical compositions, and structure for GCs in ESO269-66 and KKs3 and for several massive Galactic GCs with $[Fe/H]\sim-1.6$ dex. All Galactic GCs posses Extended Blue Horizontal Branches and multiple stellar populations. Five of the selected Galactic objects are iron-complex GCs. Our results indicate that the sample GCs observed now in different environments had similar conditions of their formation $\sim$1 Gyr after the Big Bang.
Drug Stability: ICH versus Accelerated Predictive Stability Studies

The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), along with the World Health Organization (WHO), has provided a set of guidelines (ICH Q1A-E, Q3A-B, Q5C, Q6A-B) intended to unify the standards for the European Union, Japan, and the United States to facilitate the mutual acceptance of stability data that are sufficient for registration by the regulatory authorities in these jurisdictions. Overall, ICH stability studies involve a drug substance tested under storage conditions and assess its thermal stability and sensitivity to moisture. The long-term testing should be performed over a minimum of 12 months at 25 °C ± 2 °C/60% RH ± 5% RH or at 30 °C ± 2 °C/65% RH ± 5% RH. The intermediate and accelerated testing should cover a minimum of 6 months at 30 °C ± 2 °C/65% RH ± 5% RH (which is not necessary if this condition was utilized as a long-term one) and 40 °C ± 2 °C/75% RH ± 5% RH, respectively. Hence, the ICH stability testing for industrially fabricated medicines is rigorous and tedious and involves a long period of time to obtain preclinical stability data. For this reason, Accelerated Predictive Stability (APS) studies, carried out over a 3–4-week period and combining extreme temperatures and RH conditions (40–90 °C)/10–90% RH, have emerged as novel approaches to predict the long-term stability of pharmaceutical products in a more efficient and less time-consuming manner. In this work, the conventional ICH stability studies versus the APS approach will be reviewed, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of both strategies. Furthermore, a comparison of the stability requirements for the commercialization of industrially fabricated medicines versus extemporaneous compounding formulations will be discussed.
Skein algebras and cluster algebras of marked surfaces

This paper defines several algebras associated to an oriented surface $S$ with a finite set of marked points on the boundary. The first is the skein algebra $Sk_q(S)$, which is spanned by links in the surface which are allowed to have endpoints at the marked points, modulo several locally defined relations. The product is given by superposition of links. A basis of this algebra is given, as well as several algebraic results. When $S$ is triangulable, the quantum cluster algebra $A_q(S)$ and quantum upper cluster algebra U_q(S) can be defined. These are algebras coming from the triangulations of S and the elementary moves between them. Natural inclusions $A_q(S)$ into $Sk_q^o(S)$ into $U_q(S)$ are shown, where $Sk_q^o(S)$ is a certain Ore localization of $Sk_q(S)$. When $S$ has at least two marked points in each component, these inclusions are strengthened to equality, exhibiting a quantum cluster structure on $Sk_q^o(S)$. The method for proving these equalities has potential to show $A_q=U_q$ for other classes of cluster algebras. As a demonstration of this fact, a new proof is given that $A_q=U_q$ for acyclic cluster algebras
Dermoscopy and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy to Estimate Breslow Index and Mitotic Rate in Primary Melanoma

Introduction Non-invasive imaging techniques offer the possibility to optimize the first approach to melanoma. Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM) has a promising role in predicting the main prognostic events in the dermo-epidermal and papillary dermis. Objectives To identify pre-surgical criteria that can predict the main prognostic features of melanoma. Methods A retrospective cohort-study evaluated dermoscopic, confocal and histopathological characteristics of consecutively diagnosed sporadic melanomas. RCM-melanoma patterns classified into 1) dendritic-cell, 2) round-cell, 3) dermal nest and 4) combined type. Acral, facial and mucosal locations were excluded. Results Ninety-two primary melanomas were included: 44 males and 48 females (mean age 60.4 years, standard deviation [SD] 16.2) with a mean Breslow of 1.43 mm (SD 1.6). The most frequent dermoscopic presentation was the multicomponent pattern, the predominant confocal pattern was dendritic-cell type (44.6%). The presence of pigmented network on dermoscopy was related to lower Breslow and mitotic rates (both P = 0.002); in contrast to the presence of visible vessels, which was related to higher Breslow and mitotic indexes (both P = 0.001). Confocal observation of dermal nests or atypical cells in the papillary dermis was related to a higher mitotic rate (P = 0.006 and P = 0.03, respectively). Similarly, diffuse inflammatory infiltrates visible in the superficial dermis was associated with higher Breslow (P = 0.04) and mitotic index (P = 0.04). Conclusions Dermoscopic and RCM in vivo findings on primary melanoma correlate with histopathologic Breslow index, mitotic rate and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. The architecture and cytology of primary melanoma can be estimated by combining dermoscopy and RCM prior to excision.
X-shooter spectroscopy of young stellar objects in Lupus

With the purpose of performing a homogeneous determination of elemental abundances for members of the Lupus T association, we analyzed three chemical elements: lithium, iron, and barium. The aims were: to derive the Li abundance for ~90% of known class II stars in the Lupus I, II, III, IV clouds; to perform chemical tagging of a region where few Fe abundance measurements have been obtained in the past, and no determination of the Ba content has been done up to now. We also investigated possible Ba enhancement, as this element has become increasingly interesting in the last years following the evidence of Ba over-abundance in young clusters, the origin of which is still unknown. Using X-shooter@VLT, we analyzed the spectra of 89 cluster members, both class II and III stars. We measured the strength of the Li line and derived the abundance of this element through equivalent width measurements and curves of growth. For six class II stars we also measured the Fe and Ba abundances using the spectral synthesis and the code MOOG. The veiling contribution was taken into account for all three elements. We find a dispersion in the strength of the Li line at low Teff and identify three targets with severe Li depletion. The nuclear age inferred for these highly Li-depleted stars is around 15 Myr, which exceeds the isochronal one. As in other star-forming regions, no metal-rich members are found in Lupus, giving support to a recent hypothesis that the Fe abundance distribution of most of the nearby young regions could be the result of a common and widespread star formation episode involving the Galactic thin disk. We find that Ba is over-abundant by ~0.7 dex with respect to the Sun. Since current theoretical models cannot reproduce this Ba abundance pattern, we investigated whether this unusually large Ba content might be related to effects due to stellar parameters, stellar activity, and accretion.
The Role of Anthocyanin in Modulating Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease and Its Potential to Be Developed as a Nutraceutical

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is directly linked to diabetes mellitus (DM), and its morbidity and mortality are rising at an alarming rate. Individuals with DM experience significantly worse clinical outcomes due to heart failure as a CVD consequence than non-diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia is the main culprit that triggers the activation of oxidative damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis pathways that aggravate diabetic CVD progression. In recent years, the development of phytochemical-based nutraceutical products for diabetic treatment has risen due to their therapeutic properties. Anthocyanin, which can be found in various types of plants, has been proposed for preventing and treating various diseases, and has elicited excellent antioxidative, anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, and anti-apoptosis effects. In preclinical and clinical studies, plants rich in anthocyanin have been reported to attenuate diabetic CVD. Therefore, the development of anthocyanin as a nutraceutical in managing diabetic CVD is in demand. In this review, we unveil the role of anthocyanin in modulating diabetic CVD, and its potential to be developed as a nutraceutical for a therapeutic strategy in managing CVD associated with DM.
Time-Dependent Effects of Physical Activity on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adults: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Physical activity is an important non-drug-related method to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, but how exercise duration affects the cardiovascular metabolic risk factors in adults remains uncertain. This review systematically examines the time-dependent effects of physical activity on cardiovascular risk factors in adults and aims to further the understanding of the temporal therapeutics of exercise. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and CNKI databases were systematically searched for relevant scientific studies from January 2000 to June 2022. Results: A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. The sample size ranged from 11–275 participants who were diagnosed with obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM), and Coronary Heart Disease (CAD), while the subjects in four studies did not report any metabolic or cardiovascular disease. Four studies conducted trials of acute exercise interventions, while the remaining intervention periods ranged from 12 days to 12 weeks. The exercise interventions included aerobic training, resistance training, aerobic training that was combined with resistance training, compound exercise, and high-intensity interval exercise, and the training frequency varied from 2–5 times/week. Conclusions: Overall, this review found some evidence that the cardiovascular risk factors in adults may be time-dependent in response to physical activity. However, it is limited by the small sample size for each of the outcomes and several methodological issues, leading to poor comparability between studies. A randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size is supposed to be designed for the relevant population to completely test whether synchronizing the exercise time point in the day with the individual’s circadian rhythm can amplify the benefits of the exercise for improving cardiovascular health.
Existence of solutions of nonlinear third-order two-point boundary value problems

We study various two-point boundary value problems for the equation x′′′ = f (t, x, x′, x′′). Using barrier strips type conditions, we give sufficient conditions guaranteeing positive or non-negative, monotone, convex or concave C3[0, 1]-solutions.
A fast direct matrix solver for surface integral equation methods for electromagnetic wave scattering from non‐penetrable targets

The implementation details of a fast direct solver is described herein for solving dense matrix equations from the application of surface integral equation methods for electromagnetic field scatterings from non‐penetrable targets. The proposed algorithm exploits the smoothness of the far field and computes a low rank decomposition of the off‐diagonal coupling blocks of the matrices through a set of skeletonization processes. Moreover, an artificial surface (the Huygens' surface) is introduced for each clustering group to efficiently account for the couplings between well‐separated groups. Furthermore, a recursive multilevel version of the algorithm is presented. Although asymptotically the algorithm would not alter the bleak outlook of the complexity of the worst case scenario,O(N3) for required CPU time where N denotes the number of unknowns, for electrically large electromagnetic (EM) problems; through numerical examples, we found that the proposed multilevel direct solver can scale as good as O(N1.3) in memory consumption and O(N1.8) in CPU time for moderate‐sized EM problems. Note that our conclusions are drawn based on a few sample examples that we have conducted and should not be taken as a true complexity analysis for general electrodynamic applications. However, for the fixed frequency (h‐refinement) scenario, where the discretization size decreases, the computational complexities observed agree well with the theoretical predictions. Namely, the algorithm exhibits O(N) and O(N1.5) complexities for memory consumption and CPU time, respectively.
Kinematic Distances: A Monte Carlo Method

Distances to high-mass star-forming regions (HMSFRs) in the Milky Way are a crucial constraint on the structure of the Galaxy. Only kinematic distances are available for a majority of the HMSFRs in the Milky Way. Here, we compare the kinematic and parallax distances of 75 Galactic HMSFRs to assess the accuracy of kinematic distances. We derive the kinematic distances using three different methods: the traditional method using the Brand & Blitz rotation curve (Method A), the traditional method using the Reid et al. rotation curve and updated solar motion parameters (Method B), and a Monte Carlo technique (Method C). Methods B and C produce kinematic distances closest to the parallax distances, with median differences of 13% (0.43 ) and 17% (0.42 ), respectively. Except in the vicinity of the tangent point, the kinematic distance uncertainties derived by Method C are smaller than those of Methods A and B. In a large region of the Galaxy, the Method C kinematic distances constrain both the distances and the Galactocentric positions of HMSFRs more accurately than parallax distances. Beyond the tangent point along ℓ = 30°, for example, the Method C kinematic distance uncertainties reach a minimum of 10% of the parallax distance uncertainty at a distance of 14 . We develop a prescription for deriving and applying the Method C kinematic distances and distance uncertainties. The code to generate the Method C kinematic distances is publicly available and may be utilized through an online tool.
Comparable Benefits of Stingless Bee Honey and Caffeic Acid in Mitigating the Negative Effects of Metabolic Syndrome on the Brain

There is mounting evidence that metabolic syndrome (MetS) contributes to the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Honey, which has been used for generations, is high in antioxidants and has been demonstrated to benefit the brain and mental health by reducing oxidative stress and boosting cognitive outcomes. Honey from the stingless bees of Heterotrigona itama has been found to have higher phenolic content compared to other types of honeys. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of stingless bee honey (SBH) supplementation and to compare it with a pure form of antioxidant, caffeic acid (CA), on MetS parameters and inflammatory markers in the brains of MetS-induced rats. A total of 32 male Wistar rats were divided equally into groups of control, high-carbohydrate high-fructose (HCHF) diet (MetS), HCHF + SBH supplemented (1 g/kg) (SBH), and HCHF + CA supplemented (10 mg/kg) (CA) groups. The total duration for SBH and CA supplementation was eight weeks. The HCHF diet was found to promote hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia, and to increase brain TNF-α levels. Supplementation with SBH and CA significantly reversed (p < 0.05) the hyperglycemic and hypertensive effects of the HCHF diet. Although both supplemented groups showed no significant changes to serum HDL or TG, SBH significantly reduced (p < 0.05) brain TNF-α levels and increased (p < 0.05) brain BDNF levels. Immunohistochemistry investigations of neurogenesis (EdU) and apoptosis (TUNEL) on the cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus (DG) areas of the hippocampus showed no changes with SBH and CA supplementation compared to the control. These findings suggest that SBH and CA have the potential to mitigate HCHF-induced MetS effects and possess neuroprotective abilities.
Electrophysiological Evidence for A Number–Action Mapping in Infancy

In the last decades, a growing body of literature has focused on the link between number and action. Many studies conducted on adult participants have provided evidence for a bidirectional influence between numerosity processing and grasping or reaching actions. However, it is not yet clear whether this link is functional in early infancy. Here, we used the event-related potential (ERP) technique to record electrical activity of the brain in response to number–hand pairings. We implemented a cueing paradigm where 3- to 4-month-old infants observed images showing either congruency (e.g., a large numerosity primed by a large hand opening) or incongruency (e.g., a large numerosity primed by a small hand opening). Infants’ brain activity was modulated by the congruency of the pairings: amplitudes recorded over frontal and parietal-occipital scalp positions differed for congruent versus incongruent pairings. These findings suggest that the association between number and hand action processing is already functional early in life.
POLICAN: A Near-infrared Imaging Polarimeter at the 2.1m OAGH Telescope

POLICAN is a near-infrared imaging linear polarimeter developed for the Cananea Near-infrared Camera (CANICA) at the 2.1 m telescope of the Guillermo Haro Astrophysical Observatory (OAGH) located in Cananea, Sonora, México. POLICAN is mounted ahead of CANICA and consist of a rotating super-achromatic (1–2.7 μm) half-wave plate (HWP) as the modulator and a fixed wire-grid polarizer as the analyzer. CANICA has a 1024 × 1024 HgCdTe detector with a plate scale of 0.32 arcsec/pixel and provides a field of view of 5.5 × 5.5 arcmin2. The polarimetric observations are carried out by modulating the incoming light through different steps of half-wave plate angles (0°, 22.°5, 45°, 67.°5) to establish linear Stokes parameters (I, Q, and U). Image reduction consists of dark subtraction, polarimetric flat fielding, and sky subtraction. The astrometry and photometric calibrations are performed using the publicly available data from the Two Micron All Sky Survey. Polarimetric calibration includes observations of globular clusters and polarization standards available in the literature. Analysis of multiple observations of globular clusters yielded an instrumental polarization of 0.51%. Uncertainties in polarization range from 0.1% to 10% from the brightest 7 mag to faintest 16 mag stars. The polarimetric accuracy achieved is better than 0.5% and the position angle errors less than 5° for stars brighter than 13 mag in H-band. POLICAN is mainly being used to study the scattered polarization and magnetic fields in and around star-forming regions of the interstellar medium.
Bystanders or not? Microglia and lymphocytes in aging and stroke

As the average age of the world population increases, more people will face debilitating aging-associated conditions, including dementia and stroke. Not only does the incidence of these conditions increase with age, but the recovery afterward is often worse in older patients. Researchers and health professionals must unveil and understand the factors behind age-associated diseases to develop a therapy for older patients. Aging causes profound changes in the immune system including the activation of microglia in the brain. Activated microglia promote T lymphocyte transmigration leading to an increase in neuroinflammation, white matter damage, and cognitive impairment in both older humans and rodents. The presence of T and B lymphocytes is observed in the aged brain and correlates with worse stroke outcomes. Preclinical strategies in stroke target either microglia or the lymphocytes or the communications between them to promote functional recovery in aged subjects. In this review, we examine the role of the microglia and T and B lymphocytes in aging and how they contribute to cognitive impairment. Additionally, we provide an important update on the contribution of these cells and their interactions in preclinical aged stroke.
Narrow vs. broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies: X-ray, optical, and mid-infrared AGN characteristics

We investigated narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) at optical, mid-infrared (MIR) and X-ray wavelengths, comparing them to the broad line active galactic nuclei (BLAGNs). We found that black hole mass, coronal line luminosities, X-ray hardness ratio and X-ray, optical and MIR luminosities are higher for the BLAGNs than for NLS1s, while policyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contribution and the accretion rates are higher for the NLS1s. Furthermore, we found some trends among spectral parameters that NLS1s have and BLAGNs do not have. The evolution of FWHM(H$\beta$) with the luminosities of MIR and coronal lines, continuum luminosities, PAH contribution, H$\beta$ broad line luminosity, FWHM[O\,III] and EW(H$\beta$NLR), are important trends found for NLS1s. That may contribute to the insight that NLS1s are developing AGNs, growing their black holes, while their luminosities and FWHM(H$\beta$) consequently grow, and that BLAGNs are mature, larger objects of slower and/or different evolution. Black hole mass is related to PAH contribution only for NLS1s, which may suggest that PAHs are more efficiently destroyed in NLS1s.
Long-Term Outcomes in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Associated Factors: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: The presence of focal lesion (FL) after a severe traumatic brain injury is an important factor in determining morbidity and mortality. Despite this relevance, few studies show the pattern of recovery of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with FL within one year. The objective of this study was to identify the pattern of recovery, independence to perform activities of daily living (ADL), and factors associated with mortality and unfavorable outcome at six and twelve months after severe TBI with FL. Methodology: This is a prospective cohort, with data collected at admission, hospital discharge, three, six, and twelve months after TBI. RESULTS: The study included 131 adults with a mean age of 34.08 years. At twelve months, 39% of the participants died, 80% were functionally independent by the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended, 79% by the Disability Rating Scale, 79% were independent for performing ADLs by the Katz Index, and 53.9% by the Lawton Scale. Report of alcohol intake, sedation time, length of stay in intensive care (ICU LOS), Glasgow Coma Scale, trauma severity indices, hyperglycemia, blood glucose, and infection were associated with death. At six and twelve months, tachypnea, age, ICU LOS, trauma severity indices, respiratory rate, multiple radiographic injuries, and cardiac rate were associated with dependence. Conclusions: Patients have satisfactory functional recovery up to twelve months after trauma, with an accentuated improvement in the first three months. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were associated with post-trauma outcomes. Almost all victims of severe TBI with focal lesions evolved to death or independence.