Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Stellar Population and Luminosity Function in M31 Bulge and Inner Disk Fields

We report infrared photometry and stellar identifications for stars in five fields in the M31 bulge located from 2 to 11 arcmin from the nucleus. These fields have been chosen such that the bulge/disk star ratio predicted from Kent's (1989) small bulge model varies from 7:1 to 1:5, allowing a study of near pure disk and near pure bulge stellar populations. We reject the hypothesis of Davies et al. (1991) that luminous stars found within 500 pc of the nucleus are due to a contaminating disk population. We find that the bulge contains stars in excess of M(sub bol) = -5 mag and that the bulge luminosity function has a distinct shape different from the disk fields. We find many stars redder than (J-K) = 2 mag, and suggest that these stars may be the counterparts of the IRAS-selected Galactic bulge Miras studied by Whitelock et at. (1991). The number of bright stars (M(sub bol) is less than -5 mag) falls off more rapidly than the r band surface brightness. By building model fields out of a bulge luminosity function and artificial stars, we are able to show that the change in the luminosity function toward the center cannot be explained simply by the mismeasurement of overcrowded star images. However, these tests also raise the possibility that the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) tip may be approximately equal to 1 mag fainter than actually measured in our most crowded field, reaching only M(sub bol) = -5. We compare observed counts of AGB stars with those predicted from theoretical lifetimes using a technique of general interest for this problem, the Fuel Consumption Theorem of Renzini & Buzzoni (1986) Spectral Evolution of Galaxies (Reidel, Dordrecht). Our methodology is generally applicable to the study of other resolved extragalactic stellar populations. The number of observed stars per magnitude up to a luminosity of M(bol) = -5.5 mag is consistent with AGB evolution of the whole population of the innermost bulge field with the standard lifetime on the AGB of 1.3 Myr/mag. We advance the possibility that the bulge of M31 may be younger than the oldest Galactic globular clusters. We note that M33 has recently been found to have an r(exp 1/4)-law spheroid consisting of intermediate-age stars; bulges can form later than the old halo population.
Design, Development, and Optimisation of Smart Linker Chemistry for Targeted Colonic Delivery—In Vitro Evaluation

Drug targeting is necessary to deliver drugs to a specific site of action at a rate dictated by therapeutic requirements. The pharmacological action of a drug can thereby be optimised while minimising adverse effects. Numerous colonic drug delivery systems have been developed to avoid such undesirable side effects; however, these systems lack site specificity, leaving room for further improvement. The objective of the present study was to explore the potential of amino-alkoxycarbonyloxymethyl (amino-AOCOM) ether prodrugs as a general approach for future colonic delivery. To circumvent inter- and intra-subject variabilities in enzyme activities, these prodrugs do not rely on enzymes but rather are activated via a pH-triggered intramolecular cyclisation–elimination reaction. As proof of concept, model compounds were synthesised and evaluated under various pH conditions, simulating various regions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Probe 15 demonstrated excellent stability under simulated stomach- and duodenum-like conditions and protected 60% of the payload in a small intestine-like environment. Moreover, 15 displayed sustained release at colonic pH, delivering >90% of the payload over 38 h. Mesalamine (Msl) prodrugs 21 and 22 were also synthesised and showed better stability than probe 15 in the simulated upper GIT but relatively slower release at colonic pH (61–68% of Msl over 48 h). For both prodrugs, the extent of release was comparable to that of the commercial product Asacol. This study provides initial proof of concept regarding the use of a cyclisation-activated prodrug for colon delivery and suggests that release characteristics still vary on a case-by-case basis.
Dynamically consistent, quasi-hydrostatic equations for global models with a complete representation of the Coriolis force

The spherical polar components of the Coriolis force consist of terms in sin ϕ and terms in cos ϕ, where ϕ is latitude (referred to the frame-rotation vector as polar axis). The cos ϕ Coriolis terms are not retained in the usual hydrostatic primitive equations of numerical weather prediction and climate simulation, their neglect being consistent with the shallow-atmosphere approximation and the simultaneous exclusion of various small metric terms. Scale analysis for diabatically driven, synoptic-scale motion in the tropics, and for planetary-scale motion, suggests that the cos ϕ Coriolis terms may attain magnitudes of order 10% of those of key terms in the hydrostatic primitive equations. It is argued that the cos ϕ Coriolis terms should be included in global simulation models. A global, quasi-hydrostatic model having a complete representation of the Coriolis force is proposed. Conservation of axial angular momentum and potential vorticity, as well as energy, is achieved by a formulation in which all metric terms are retained and the shallow-atmosphere approximation is relaxed. Distance from the centre of the earth is replaced by a pseudo-radius which is a function of pressure only. This model is put forward as a more accurate alternative to the traditional hydrostatic primitive equations; it preserves the desired conservation laws and may be integrated by broadly similar grid-point methods.
Glycoalkaloid Composition and Flavonoid Content as Driving Forces of Phytotoxicity in Diploid Potato

Despite their advantages, biotechnological and omic techniques have not been applied often to characterize phytotoxicity in depth. Here, we show the distribution of phytotoxicity and glycoalkaloid content in a diploid potato population and try to clarify the source of variability of phytotoxicity among plants whose leaf extracts have a high glycoalkaloid content against the test plant species, mustard. Six glycoalkaloids were recognized in the potato leaf extracts: solasonine, solamargine, α-solanine, α-chaconine, leptinine I, and leptine II. The glycoalkaloid profiles of the progeny of the group with high phytotoxicity differed from those of the progeny of the group with low phytotoxicity, which stimulated mustard growth. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the upregulated flavonol synthase/flavonone 3-hydroxylase-like gene was expressed in the progeny of the low phytotoxicity group, stimulating plant growth. We concluded that the metabolic shift among potato progeny may be a source of different physiological responses in mustard. The composition of glycoalkaloids, rather than the total glycoalkaloid content itself, in potato leaf extracts, may be a driving force of phytotoxicity. We suggest that, in addition to glycoalkaloids, other metabolites may shape phytotoxicity, and we assume that these metabolites may be flavonoids.
REGRESSION WITH NONSTATIONARY VOLATILITY

A new asymptotic theory of regression is introduced for possibly nonstationary time series. The regressors are assumed to be generated by a linear process with martingale difference innovations. The conditional variances of these martingale differences are specified as autoregressive stochastic volatility processes with autoregressive roots that are local to unity. The author finds conditions under which the least squares estimates are consistent and asymptotically normal. A simple adaptive estimator is proposed which achieves the same asymptotic distribution as the generalized least squares estimator without requiring parameter assumptions for the stochastic volatility process. Copyright 1995 by The Econometric Society.
Analysis of the Structure and the Thermal Conductivity of Semi-Crystalline Polyetheretherketone/Boron Nitride Sheet Composites Using All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Thermal transport simulations were performed to investigate the important factors affecting the thermal conductivity based on the structure of semi-crystalline polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and the addition of boron nitride (BN) sheets. The molecular-level structural analysis facilitated the prediction of the thermal conductivity of the optimal structure of PEEK reflecting the best parameter value of the length of amorphous chains, and the ratio of linkage conformations, such as loops, tails, and bridges. It was found that the long heat transfer paths of polymer chains were induced by the addition of BN sheets, which led to the improvement of the thermal conductivities of the PEEK/BN composites. In addition, the convergence of the thermal conductivities of the PEEK/BN composites in relation to BN sheet size was verified by the disconnection of the heat transfer path due to aggregation of the BN sheets.
Durum Wheat Bread with a Potentially High Health Value through the Addition of Durum Wheat Thin Bran or Barley Flour

The enrichment of semolina bread with prebiotic ingredients such as β-glucans may exert health-promoting effects. This work presents the results of a general recipe development aimed at improving the nutritional value of bakery products. In this study, increasing amounts (0%, 2%, 5%, 7%, and 10%) of thin bran or barley flour were added into re-milled durum wheat semolina to prepare breads. The technological quality of doughs and breads was investigated. In general, the Farinograph water absorption of flour and dough stability increased with increasing inclusion levels of barley flour or thin bran (up to 73.23% and 18.75 min, respectively), contrarily to the increase of dough development time only in barley inclusion (4.55 min). At the same time, the softening index decreased for almost all of these, except for 2% of thin bran or barley flour inclusion. At Mixograph, mixing time increased (up to 5.13 min) whilst the peak height decreased. The specific volume and hardness of loaf differently decreased for almost all thesis (ranges 12.6–24.0% and 39.4–45.5%, respectively). The other quality parameters remained unchanged compared with semolina bread. After baking, β-glucan levels increased differently at all the inclusion levels (2.35-fold, on average). The breadcrumb color was deep brown, while the crust became lighter in color. The breads contain β-glucans even at low percentages of barley/bran inclusions while maintaining their technological performance. In conclusion, the results show an interesting potential of barley flour or thin bran as ingredients in breadmaking to increase the β-glucans daily intake, but further investigations are needed to achieve improved quality features.
School Attendance, Chronotype, and Day-of-the-Week Effect in Adolescent Male Basketball Players

Adolescents’ conflict between circadian rhythm and early school start time is more pronounced in evening chronotypes, who tend to reduce sleep duration during school days compensating during the free days by oversleeping (i.e., social jetlag). Cumulative weekly sleep debt may impair sport performance, which relies on physical and cognitive skills modulated by sleep. We hypothesized that chronotype predicts sport performance, and that it may interact with the day of the week. Moreover, given the role sleep plays in motor memory consolidation, we tested the hypothesis that school attendance, and the related chronic sleep deprivation, might be detrimental for participants in a training phase. Ninety-three adolescent male basketball players performed multiple free throw sessions (n = 7880) during both the school and holiday periods. Chronotype and its interaction with the day of the week significantly predicted shooting accuracy when attending school, but not on holidays. Evening types’ performance gradually decreased from Monday to Friday. Participants with a more unstable performance (i.e., who did not complete the acquisition of the free throw motor scheme) worsened their accuracy when attending school. Our results suggest that the impact of chronotype and day of the week on sport performance is related to the presence of an externally imposed sleep/wake schedule and is consistent with evening types’ increased likelihood of experiencing social jetlag. Possibly due to early school start time, attending school worsened the performance of participants in a training phase. Further investigations are required to assess whether reducing the mismatch between biological and social clocks might improve sport performance, along with other aspects of adolescents’ life.
The Actigraphy-Based Identification of Premorbid Latent Liability of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

(1) Background and Goal: Several studies have investigated the association of sleep, diurnal patterns, and circadian rhythms with the presence and with the risk states of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The goal of our study was to examine actigraphic measures to identify features that can be extracted from them so that a machine learning model can detect premorbid latent liabilities for schizotypy and bipolarity. (2) Methods: Our team developed a small wrist-worn measurement device that collects and identifies actigraphic data based on an accelerometer. The sensors were used by carefully selected healthy participants who were divided into three groups: Control Group (C), Cyclothymia Factor Group (CFG), and Positive Schizotypy Factor Group (PSF). From the data they collected, our team performed data cleaning operations and then used the extracted metrics to generate the feature combinations deemed most effective, along with three machine learning algorithms for categorization. (3) Results: By conducting the training, we were able to identify a set of mildly correlated traits and their order of importance based on the Shapley value that had the greatest impact on the detection of bipolarity and schizotypy according to the logistic regression, Light Gradient Boost, and Random Forest algorithms. (4) Conclusions: These results were successfully compared to the results of other researchers; we had a similar differentiation in features used by others, and successfully developed new ones that might be a good complement for further research. In the future, identifying these traits may help us identify people at risk from mental disorders early in a cost-effective, automated way.
A local compactness theorem for Maxwell's equations

The paper gives a proof, valid for a large class of bounded domains, of the following compactness statements: Let G be a bounded domain, β be a tensor-valued function on G satisfying certain restrictions, and let {n} be a sequence of vector-valued functions on G where the L2-norms of {n}, {curl n}, and {div(β n)} are bounded, and where all n either satisfy x n = 0 or (β Fn) = 0 at the boundary ∂G of G ( = normal to ∂G): then {n} has a L2-convergent subsequence. The first boundary condition is satisfied by electric fields, the second one by magnetic fields at a perfectly conducting boundary ∂G if β is interpreted as electric dielectricity ϵ or as magnetic permeability μ, respectively. These compactness statements are essential for the application of abstract scattering theory to the boundary value problem for Maxwell's equations.
The Effect of Nerolidol Renal Dysfunction following Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in the Rat

Efforts to decrease the deleterious effects of renal ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) are ongoing. Recently, there has been increasing interest in using natural phytochemical compounds as alternative remedies in several diseases. Nerolidol is a natural product extracted from plants with floral odors and has been proven to be effective for the treatment of some conditions. We investigated the effect of nerolidol in a rat model of renal IRI. Nerolidol was dissolved in a vehicle and administered orally as single daily dose of 200 mg/kg for 5 days prior to IRI and continued for 3 days post IRI. G-Sham (n = 10) underwent sham surgery, whereas G-IRI (n = 10) and G-IRI/NR (n = 10) underwent bilateral warm renal ischemia for 30 min and received the vehicle/nerolidol, respectively. Renal functions and histological changes were assessed before starting the medication, just prior to IRI and 3 days after IRI. Nerolidol significantly attenuated the alterations in serum creatinine and urea, creatinine clearance, urinary albumin and the urinary albumin–creatinine ratio. Nerolidol also significantly attenuated the alterations in markers of kidney injury; proinflammatory, profibrotic and apoptotic cytokines; oxidative stress markers; and histological changes. We conclude that nerolidol has a renoprotective effect on IRI-induced renal dysfunction. These findings might have clinical implications.
Evaluation for the Seasonal Evolution of the Summer Monsoon over the Asian and Western North Pacific Sector in the WCRP CMIP3 Multi-model Experiments

Based on the World Climate Research Programme's (WCRP's) Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) multi-model dataset, evaluation for the summer monsoon over the Asian and western North Pacific (WNP) sectors is made in terms of reproducibility of the seasonal mean structure. Also investigated is a stepwise eastward progress of convection center from the Indian Ocean toward the WNP in the course of the maturing process of the continental and oceanic monsoons.Most models roughly reproduce seasonal mean broad-scale features on the Asian summer monsoon (ASM), but lower-tropospheric circulation over East Asia (EA) through the WNP and the location and intensity of the North Pacific subtropical high exhibit large inter-model variability. Some of the models fail to reproduce a reversal of the upper-tropospheric meridional temperature gradient over the South Asia and the North Indian Ocean sector. Metrics on the reproducibility of lower-tropospheric circulation of the ASM are also presented, in order to evaluate the reproducibility of the ASM circulation quantitatively.The large inter-model variability over the EA-WNP domains could be attributed to insufficient reproducibility of the oceanic monsoon. In most of the models, the stepwise eastward progress of convection over the South China Sea and WNP commences in May almost concurrently with large-scale circulation, whereas the eastward progress of convection is faster in most of the models than in the observation over the WNP. It is suggested that a teleconnection pattern associated with an intensification of convective activity over the WNP in mid-July is one of the key phenomena in both the observation and the coupled models, given the withdrawal of the Baiu rainy season around Japan. The analysis based on metrics concerning the stepwise eastward progress of convection over the WNP and its vicinity suggests that these models still have some difficulties in reproducing the stepwise eastward progress of convection accurately.
Multiple S-Layer Proteins of Brevibacillus laterosporus as Virulence Factors against Insects

S-layers are involved in the adaptation of bacteria to the outside environment and in pathogenesis, often representing special virulence factors. Vegetative cells of the entomopathogenic bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus are characterized by an overproduction of extracellular surface layers that are released in the medium during growth. The purpose of this study was to characterize cell wall proteins of this bacterium and to investigate their involvement in pathogenesis. Electron microscopy observations documented the presence of multiple S-layers, including an outermost (OW) and a middle (MW) layer, in addition to the peptidoglycan layer covering the plasma membrane. After identifying these proteins (OWP and MWP) by mass spectrometry analyses, and determining their gene sequences, the cell wall multilayer-released fraction was successfully isolated and used in insect bioassays alone and in combination with bacterial spores. This study confirmed a central role of spores in bacterial pathogenicity to insects but also detected a significant virulence associated with fractions containing released cell wall multilayer proteins. Taken together, S-layer proteins appear to be part of the toxins and virulence factors complex of this microbial control agent of invertebrate pests.
Combined Omics Analysis Further Unveils the Specific Role of Butyrate in Promoting Growth in Early-Weaning Animals

Abnormal mutations in the microbial structure of early-weaning mammals are an important cause of enteritis. Based on the multiple known beneficial functions of butyrate, we hypothesized that butyrate would alleviate the imbalance of intestinal homeostasis induced by early weaning in animals. However, the mechanisms of action between butyrate and intestinal microbes are still poorly explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether butyrate exerts beneficial effects on the structure of the intestinal flora of weanling rabbits and their intestinal homeostasis, growth and development, and we attempted to elucidate the potential mechanisms of action through a combined omics analysis. We found that dietary butyrate upregulated the transcription of tight junction-related proteins in the epithelial barrier and improved the intestinal microbial structure by suppressing harmful bacteria and promoting beneficial ones. Intestinal and plasma metabolomes were also altered. The bile acid secretion, α-linolenic acid, apoptotic, and prostate cancer pathways responded to the positive dietary butyrate-induced metabolic changes in the weanling rabbits, resulting in the inhibition of inflammation, improved antioxidant capacity, increased rates of cell proliferation and survival, and decreased levels of apoptosis. Additionally, dietary butyrate suppressed the release of pro-inflammatory factors and enhanced positive appetite regulation, which increased the average daily gain of the rabbits. These results demonstrated that dietary butyrate can help maintain the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier, improve the structural composition of the intestinal microflora, enhance organismal metabolism, inhibit inflammation, reduce post-weaning anorexia, and promote growth and development in early-weaning rabbits. These positive effects of dietary butyrate were exerted via the modulation of the microbe–gut–brain axis.
The Effectiveness of Whole-Body Vibration and Heat Therapy on the Muscle Strength, Flexibility, and Balance Abilities of Elderly Groups

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a novel exercise training measure that promotes the muscle strength, flexibility, and balance abilities of elderly groups. The feasibility and applicability of 20–30 min (lowering a heat pack at 73 °C by wrapping it in multiple layers of towels to 40–43 °C before it touched the skin) thermotherapy are increasingly being demonstrated by applications and clinical trials. Studies show that it increases the flexibility of macules and ligament. However, no studies have examined the interactions between the pre-exercise and post-exercise application of heat therapy (duration a training course). Therefore, this study investigates the effects of WBV and heat therapy on the muscle strength, flexibility, and balance abilities of elderly groups. Eighty middle-age and elderly participants with no regular exercise habits were enrolled in this study. They were randomly assigned to a WBV group, a WBV plus heat therapy group, a heat therapy alone group, and a control group. The WBV groups underwent 5-min, fixed-amplitude (4 mm), thrice-weekly WBV training sessions for 3 consecutive months on a WBV training machine. Participants’ balance was measured using the limits of stability (LOS) test on a balance system. The pretest and posttest knee extensor and flexor strength were tested using an isokinetic lower extremity dynamometer. Pretest and posttest flexibility changes were measured using the sit-and-reach test. Significantly larger pretest and posttest differences in flexibility and muscle strength were observed in the WBV and WBV plus heat therapy groups. The addition of heat therapy to WBV resulted in the largest flexibility improvements.