Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IceCube’s astrophysical neutrino energy spectrum from C P T violation

The 6-year dataset of high-energy starting events (HESE) at IceCube indicates a spectrum of astrophysical neutrinos much softer than expected from the Fermi shock acceleration mechanism. On the other hand, IceCube's up-going muon neutrino dataset and Fermi-LAT's gamma-ray spectrum point to an $E^{-2}$ neutrino spectrum. If the HESE data above 200 TeV are fit with the latter flux, an excess at lower energies ensues, which then suggests a multicomponent spectrum. We show that the HESE dataset can be explained by a single $E^{-2}$ power-law neutrino flux from a muon-damped $p\gamma$ source if neutrino interactions are modified by CPT violation. The low-energy excess is naturally explained by the pile up of events from superluminal neutrino decay, and there is no cutoff at high energies due to the contribution of subluminal antineutrinos. The best-fit scenario with CPT violation also predicts the observation of Glashow resonance events in the near future.
Effect of aloe vera natural fibre orientation on the mechanical propertiesof epoxy composites

ABSTRACT Natural fibre reinforced polymer composites have found a wide range of applications in the automobile industry, construction industry and toy industry, and so on. In this research work, bidirectional aloe vera fibre mats were used as reinforcement and epoxy as matrix materials. Hand Layup process was applied for fabrication of aloe vera fibre reinforced epoxy matrix composites which contain different fibre orientations such as 45°, 60°, 75°, and 0°/90°. The goal of this research work is to obtain the influence of fibre orientation on mechanical and water absorption properties. The experimental investigations like tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and the water absorption tests were performed. The surface morphology of the tensile failed test specimens were alsoanalysed using afield emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). When compared to other fibre orientation composites, 0°/90° aloe vera fibre orientation has superior mechanical capabilities and 45° fibre orientation obtained minimum mechanical properties, according to the results of the experiment. As compared to 45° fibre orientation, 90° fibre orientation obtained 283.81%, 168.41%, and 202.54% higher tensile, flexural, and impact strength, respectively.
How Slab Age and Width Combine to Dictate the Dynamics and Evolution of Subduction Systems: A 3‐D Spherical Study

Many of the factors expected to control the dynamics and evolution of Earth's subduction zones are under‐explored in an Earth‐like spherical geometry. Here, we simulate multi‐material free‐subduction of a complex rheology slab in a 3‐D spherical shell domain, to investigate the effect of plate age (simulated by covarying plate thickness and density) and width on the evolution of subduction systems. We find that the first‐order predictions of our spherical cases are generally consistent with existing Cartesian studies: (a) as subducting plate age increases, slabs retreat more and subduct at a shallower dip angle, due to increased bending resistance and sinking rates; and (b) wider slabs can develop along‐strike variations in trench curvature due to toroidal flow at slab edges, trending toward a “W”‐shaped trench with increasing slab width. We find, however, that these along‐strike variations are restricted to older, stronger, retreating slabs: Younger slabs that drive minimal trench motion remain relatively straight along the length of the subduction zone. We summarize our results into a regime diagram, which highlights how slab age modulates the effect of slab width, and present examples of the evolutionary history of subduction zones that are consistent with our model predictions.
Measuring openness to political pluralism

In an era of increased political polarization, it is important to measure how receptive US American citizens are to diverse political views. Being more open to diverse political viewpoints—openness to political pluralism—may involve holding emotional and intellectual tolerance, non-rigidity, and proactive motivation to seek out different political perspectives. In three preregistered studies of US residents, we present a new self-report measure of openness to political pluralism (OPP) consisting of 25 items. In Study 1 (MTurk n = 400), we verified a preregistered bifactor model with four facets, conducted initial validity analyses, and created a short five-item version (OPPS). Both OPP and OPPS have high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In Studies 2 and 3, MTurk participants (n = 258) and Qualtrics panel participants (n = 296) completed OPP and measures of related constructs to validate our scale. OPP was modestly correlated with actively open-minded thinking (AOT) and highly correlated with open-minded cognition-political (OMC-P). Greater OPP was associated with an inverted U-shape relation to left-right political orientation. It was also correlated with more politically diverse social networks and varied information seeking. We discuss how our measure of openness to political pluralism can be used in future research.
A tight relation between the age distributions of stellar clusters and the properties of the interstellar medium in the host galaxy

The age distributions of stellar cluster populations have long been proposed to probe the recent formation history of the host galaxy. However, progress is hampered by the limited understanding of cluster disruption by evaporation and tidal shocks. We study the age distributions of clusters in smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of isolated disc galaxies, which include a self-consistent, physical model for the formation and dynamical evolution of the cluster population and account for the variation of cluster disruption in time and space. We show that the downward slope of the cluster age distribution due to disruption cannot be reproduced with a single functional form, because the disruption rate exhibits systematic trends with cluster age (the `cruel cradle effect'). This problem is resolved by using the median cluster age to trace cluster disruption. Across 120 independent galaxy snapshots and simulated cluster populations, we perform two-dimensional power law fits of the median cluster age to various macroscopic physical quantities and find that it scales as $t_{\rm med}\propto \Sigma^{-0.51\pm0.03}\sigma_{\rm 1D}^{-0.85\pm0.10}M_{\rm min}^\gamma$, for the gas surface density $\Sigma$, gas velocity dispersion $\sigma_{\rm 1D}$, and minimum cluster mass $M_{\rm min}$. This scaling accurately describes observed cluster populations and indicates disruption by impulsive tidal shocks from the interstellar medium. The term $M_{\rm min}^\gamma$ provides a model-independent way to measure the mass dependence of the cluster disruption time $\gamma$. Finally, the ensemble-average cluster lifetime depends on the gas density less strongly than the instantaneous disruption time of single clusters. These results reflect the variation of cluster disruption in time and space. We provide quantitative ways of accounting for these physics in cluster population studies.
Determination of miR-373 and miR-204 levels in neuronal exosomes in Alzheimer’s disease

Background/aim NLRP3 inflammasome activation has been known to be involved in the etiology and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Furthermore, AD and diabetes mellitus have common pathomechanisms. It has been shown that P2X7R whose expression is increased in brain tissues with AD and plays a role in the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is suppressed by miR-373 in patients with osteoarthritis. Therefore, the question of whether the suppressive effect of miR-373 on NLRP3 may have a role in the pathophysiology of AD comes to mind. On the other hand, it is known that the miR-204 level increases in response to TXNIP, another NLRP3 inflammasome inducer with high expression in AD. In primary human islets, miR-204 reduces the expression of GLP-1R. It has been discovered that in vivo deletion of miR-204 is protective against diabetes by increasing GLP-1R and insulin secretion. Considering the relationship between miR-204 and TXNIP and the relationship of miR-204 with diabetes suggests investigating the effect of miR-204 on the inflammatory pathway in AD. Based on the common pathophysiological mechanisms between AD and diabetes and the reported changes related to NLRP3 inflammasome, we analyzed miR-373 and miR-204 in neuron-derived serum exosomes in this study. Neuron-derived exosomes in neurodegenerative diseases are considered to be better candidates for developing potential biomarkers. Materials and methods The expression levels of miR-204 and miR-373 were investigated in neuron-derived serum exosomes obtained from 15 patients with mild AD, 18 with moderate AD, and 21 cognitively healthy individuals. Results and discussion The miR-204 and miR-373 expressions were significantly decreased in both patient groups compared to the control group. Therefore, we suggest that miR-204 and miR-373 are potential biomarkers for AD. However, due to the preliminary nature of this study, further large-scale studies are needed to support our findings.
Lower-dimensional Horava-Lifshitz gravity

We consider Ho\ifmmode \check{r}\else \v{r}\fi{}ava\char21{}Lifshitz gravity in both $1+1$ and $2+1$ dimensions. These lower-dimensional versions of Ho\ifmmode \check{r}\else \v{r}\fi{}ava\char21{}Lifshitz gravity are simple enough to be explicitly tractable, but still complex enough to be interesting. We write the most general (nonprojectable) action for each case and discuss the resulting dynamics. In the $1+1$ case we utilize the equivalence with 2-dimensional Einstein-aether theory to argue that, even though nontrivial, the theory does not have any local degrees of freedom. In the $2+1$ case, we show that the only dynamical degree of freedom is a scalar, which qualitatively has the same dynamical behavior as the scalar mode in (nonprojectable) Ho\ifmmode \check{r}\else \v{r}\fi{}ava\char21{}Lifshitz gravity in $3+1$ dimensions. We discuss the suitability of these lower-dimensional theories as simpler playgrounds that could help us gain insight into the $3+1$ theory. As special cases, we also discuss the projectable limit of these theories. Finally, we present an algorithm that extends the equivalence with (higher-order) Einstein-aether theory to full Ho\ifmmode \check{r}\else \v{r}\fi{}ava\char21{}Lifshitz gravity (instead of just the low-energy limit), and we use this extension to comment on the apparent naturalness of the covariant formulation of the latter.
Decrease in Nitric Oxide Production as a Key Mediator in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia and a Potential Therapeutic Target: A Case-Control Study

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (GH) complicates 6–10% of all pregnancies and, in 2019, was responsible for approximately 28,000 deaths. The most common cause of gestational hypertension is pre-eclampsia (PE), which afflicts 2–8% of all pregnancies and is one of the three leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to clarify how NO metabolism changes during the course of PE. Due to the short half-life of NO, we measured the concentrations of its stable metabolites, nitrite and nitrate (NOx). Out of 100 enrolled patients: 58 pregnant women with a diagnosed early form of PE formed a study group, and 42 healthy pregnant women formed a control group. NOx concentrations were significantly lower in the PE group than in the control group, with mean values of 5.33 and 27.64 μmol/L, respectively (p < 0.0001). The decrease in NO is most likely the result and mediator of systemic endothelial dysfunction. The impairment of NO metabolism in PE appears to play an important role in its pathogenesis. Therefore, it is a potential therapeutic target.
Following the Cosmic Evolution of Pristine Gas. III. The Observational Consequences of the Unknown Properties of Population III Stars

We study the observational consequences of several unknown properties of Population III stars using large-scale cosmological simulations that include a subgrid model to track the unresolved mixing of pollutants. Varying the value of the critical metallicity that marks the boundary between Population III and Population II star formation across 2 dex has a negligible effect on the fraction of Population III stars formed and the subsequent fraction of Population III flux from high-redshift galaxies. However, adopting a lognormal initial mass function (IMF) for Population III stars, in place of a baseline Salpeter IMF, results in a Population III star formation rate density that is 1/4 of the baseline rate. The flux from high-redshift galaxies modeled with this IMF is highly bimodal, resulting in a tiny fraction of z ≤ 8 galaxies with more than 75% of their flux coming from Population III stars. However, at z = 9, right before reionization in our simulations, ≈20% of galaxies are Population III-bright with mag, and at least 75% of their flux is generated by Population III stars. Additionally, the lognormal Population III IMF results in a population of carbon-enhanced, metal-poor stars in reasonable agreement with MW halo observations. Our analysis supports the conclusion that the Population III IMF was dominated by stars in the 20–120 range that generate supernovae with carbon-enhanced ejecta.
AN EXTREME X-RAY DISK WIND IN THE BLACK HOLE CANDIDATE IGR J17091−3624

Chandra spectroscopy of transient stellar-mass black holes in outburst has clearly revealed accretion disk winds in soft, disk-dominated states, in apparent anti-correlation with relativistic jets in low/hard states. These disk winds are observed to be highly ionized, dense, and to have typical velocities of ∼1000 km s−1 or less projected along our line of sight. Here, we present an analysis of two Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating spectra of the Galactic black hole candidate IGR J17091−3624 and contemporaneous Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) radio observations, obtained in 2011. The second Chandra observation reveals an absorption line at 6.91 ± 0.01 keV; associating this line with He-like Fe xxv requires a blueshift of 9300+500−400 km s−1 (0.03c, or the escape velocity at 1000 RSchw). This projected outflow velocity is an order of magnitude higher than has previously been observed in stellar-mass black holes, and is broadly consistent with some of the fastest winds detected in active galactic nuclei. A potential feature at 7.32 keV, if due to Fe xxvi, would imply a velocity of ∼14, 600 km s−1 (0.05c), but this putative feature is marginal. Photoionization modeling suggests that the accretion disk wind in IGR J17091−3624 may originate within 43,300 Schwarzschild radii of the black hole and may be expelling more gas than it accretes. The contemporaneous EVLA observations strongly indicate that jet activity was indeed quenched at the time of our Chandra observations. We discuss the results in the context of disk winds, jets, and basic accretion disk physics in accreting black hole systems.
X-ray timing and spectral observations of galactic black hole candidate XTE J1550-564 during outburst

Soft X-ray transients (SXTs), a sub-class of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), provide a unique opportunity to test General Relativity and to probe fundamental physics under conditions terrestrially unattainable. SXT outbursts are of great interest because they allow the study of LMXBs under a wide range of accretion rates. The majority of known SXTs contain black holes, therefore SXT outbursts are key to understanding accretion physics around black holes and in active galactic nuclei, which are thought to contain supermassive, M {approx} 10{sup 6} - 10{sup 10} M{circle_dot}, where M{circle_dot} is one solar mass, central compact objects. These compact objects are most likely black holes, which exhibit, on a much larger scale, accretion physics similar to that around black holes in SXTs. In this work, the timing and spectral properties of the SXT and microquasar XTE J1550-564 during outburst are studied. Observations made by the Unconventional Stellar Aspect (USA) Experiment on board the Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS) are emphasized. USA data show a low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation (LFQPO) with a centroid frequency that tends to increase with increasing USA flux and a fractional rms amplitude which is correlated with the USA hardness ratio (4-16 keV/1-4 keV). Several high-frequency quasi-periodicmore » oscillations (HFQPOs) were detected by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), during periods where the LFQPO is seen to be weakening or not detectable at all. The evolution of the USA hardness ratio with time and source flux is examined. The hardness-intensity diagram shows counterclockwise cyclical evolution and possibly indicates the presence of two independent accretion flows: a geometrically thin, optically thick accretion disk and a hot sub-Keplerian flow. « less
HST SPECTRAL MAPPING OF L/T TRANSITION BROWN DWARFS REVEALS CLOUD THICKNESS VARIATIONS

Most directly imaged giant exoplanets are fainter than brown dwarfs with similar spectra. To explain their relative underluminosity, unusually cloudy atmospheres have been proposed. However, with multiple parameters varying between any two objects, it remained difficult to observationally test this idea. We present a new method, sensitive time-resolved Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared spectroscopy, to study two rotating L/T transition brown dwarfs (2M2139 and SIMP0136). The observations provide spatially and spectrally resolved mapping of the cloud decks of the brown dwarfs. The data allow the study of cloud structure variations while other parameters are unchanged. We find that both brown dwarfs display variations of identical nature: J- and H-band brightness variations with minimal color and spectral changes. Our light curve models show that even the simplest surface brightness distributions require at least three elliptical spots. We show that for each source the spectral changes can be reproduced with a linear combination of only two different spectra, i.e., the entire surface is covered by two distinct types of regions. Modeling the color changes and spectral variations together reveal patchy cloud covers consisting of a spatially heterogeneous mix of low-brightness, low-temperature thick clouds and brighter, thin, and warm clouds. We show that the same thick cloud patches seen in our varying brown dwarf targets, if extended to the entire photosphere, predict near-infrared colors/magnitudes matching the range occupied by the directly imaged exoplanets that are cooler and less luminous than brown dwarfs with similar spectral types. This supports the models in which thick clouds are responsible for the near-infrared properties of these “underluminous” exoplanets.
Bromoditerpenes from the Red Seaweed Sphaerococcus coronopifolius as Potential Cytotoxic Agents and Proteasome Inhibitors and Related Mechanisms of Action

Seaweeds are a great source of compounds with cytotoxic properties with the potential to be used as anticancer agents. This study evaluated the cytotoxic and proteasome inhibitory activities of 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol, 12S-hydroxy-bromosphaerol, and bromosphaerol isolated from Sphaerococcus coronopifolius. The cytotoxicity was evaluated on malignant cell lines (A549, CACO-2, HCT-15, MCF-7, NCI-H226, PC-3, SH-SY5Y, and SK-MEL-28) using the MTT and LDH assays. The ability of compounds to stimulate the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and to induce mitochondrial dysfunction, the externalization of phosphatidylserine, Caspase-9 activity, and changes in nuclear morphology was also studied on MCF-7 cells. The ability to induce DNA damage was also studied on L929 fibroblasts. The proteasome inhibitory activity was estimated through molecular docking studies. The compounds exhibited IC50 values between 15.35 and 53.34 µM. 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol and 12S-hydroxy-bromosphaerol increased the H2O2 levels on MCF-7 cells, and bromosphaerol induced DNA damage on fibroblasts. All compounds promoted a depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, Caspase-9 activity, and nuclear condensation and fragmentation. The compounds have been shown to interact with the chymotrypsin-like catalytic site through molecular docking studies; however, only 12S-hydroxy-bromosphaerol evidenced interaction with ALA20 and SER169, key residues of the proteasome catalytic mechanism. Further studies should be outlined to deeply characterize and understand the potential of those bromoditerpenes for anticancer therapeutics.
IGR J19552+0044: A new asynchronous short period polar: "Filling the gap between intermediate and ordinary polars"

Based on XMM--Newton X-ray observations IGR J19552+0044 appears to be either a pre-polar or an asynchronous polar. We conducted follow-up optical observations to identify the sources and periods of variability precisely and to classify this X-ray source correctly. Extensive multicolor photometric and medium- to high-resolution spectroscopy observations were performed and period search codes were applied to sort out the complex variability of the object. We found firm evidence of discording spectroscopic (81.29+/-0.01m) and photometric (83.599+/-0.002m) periods that we ascribe to the white dwarf (WD)\ spin period and binary orbital period, respectively. This confirms that IGR J19552+0044 is an asynchronous polar. Wavelength-dependent variability and its continuously changing shape point at a cyclotron emission from a magnetic WD with a relatively low magnetic field below 20 MG. The difference between the WD spin period and the binary orbital period proves that IGR J19552+0044 is a polar with the largest known degree of asynchronism (0.97 or 3%).
Carvacrol Selective Pressure Allows the Occurrence of Genetic Resistant Variants of Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e

Essential oils and their constituents, such as carvacrol, are potential food preservatives because of their great antimicrobial properties. However, the long-term effects of these compounds are unknown and raise the question of whether resistance to these antimicrobials could emerge. This work aims to evaluate the occurrence of genetic resistant variants (RVs) in Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e by exposure to carvacrol. Two protocols were performed for the RVs selection: (a) by continuous exposure to sublethal doses, where LmSCar was isolated, and (b) by reiterative exposure to short lethal treatments of carvacrol, where LmLCar was isolated. Both RVs showed an increase in carvacrol resistance. Moreover, LmLCar revealed an increased cross-resistance to heat treatments at acid conditions and to ampicillin. Whole-genome sequencing identified two single nucleotide variations in LmSCar and three non-silent mutations in LmLCar. Among them, those located in the genes encoding the transcriptional regulators RsbT (in LmSCar) and ManR (in LmLCar) could contribute to their increased carvacrol resistance. These results provide information regarding the mode of action of this antimicrobial and support the importance of knowing how RVs appear. Further studies are required to determine the emergence of RVs in food matrices and their impact on food safety.