Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linear stability analysis of a boundary layer with rotating wall-normal cylindrical roughness elements

Abstract Cylinder stubs of finite length, mounted in a wall-normal manner on a flat plate, exert considerable control on their wake when rotating around their central axis. The present paper investigates these effects with linear stability theory and a direct numerical simulation. Three configurations are considered: evenly spaced corotating roughness elements, as well as positive and negative counter-rotating roughness pairs. Here, ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ are defined in accordance with the induced high- and low-speed streaks, respectively. A primary feature of the rotating-cylinder-induced wake is a ‘dominating inner vortex’ (DIV), which intensifies the lift-up effect and creates high-amplitude streaks. Linear stability analysis shows that the modified streaky flow is capable of effectively stabilizing Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) modes. The mechanism of TS mode stabilization, as found by a perturbation kinetic energy analysis, is attributed to the reduction of the wall-normal perturbation production. On the other hand, an inviscid inflectional instability mode related to the presence of the roughness appears which destabilizes the boundary-layer flow, primarily due to an increase in wall-normal perturbation energy production, but also due to increasing spanwise energy production, depending on the case. The inflectional instability roughness mode is more amplified with thicker cylinders since the induced DIV tends to support longer-living inflection points. Regarding an imaginable laminar–turbulent transition delay, positive rotating thinner roughness pairs would be preferable.
Gut Microbiota and Antitumor Immunity: Potential Mechanisms for Clinical Effect

Several landmark preclinical studies have shown an association between the gut microbiota and the effectiveness of immunotherapy for cancer. These studies have sparked clinical trials aimed at modulating the gut microbiota in order to improve clinical response rates to immunotherapy. Despite this, the mechanisms through which the gut microbiota influences the effectiveness of immunotherapy are still incompletely characterized. Preclinical and preliminary clinical findings from numerous types of gut microbiota modulation studies, including fecal transplantation, probiotics, consortia, and diet, demonstrate that favorable microbiota modulation is associated with increased intratumoral infiltration of CD8+ effector T cells. This CD8+ T-cell infiltration is often associated with enhanced intratumoral activity of T-helper type 1 cells and dendritic cells and a lower density of immunosuppressive cells. Herein, we discuss how gut microbiota may affect the activity of immune cells by at least three interlacing mechanisms: activation of pattern recognition receptors, molecular mimicry, and impact of metabolites. We also discuss the therapeutic potential and limitations of the different gut microbiota modulation techniques and their putative mechanisms of immune activation.
Single Cell, Single Nucleus and Spatial RNA Sequencing of the Human Liver Identifies Hepatic Stellate Cell and Cholangiocyte Heterogeneity

The critical functions of the human liver are coordinated through the interactions of hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. Recent advances in single cell transcriptional approaches have enabled an examination of the human liver with unprecedented resolution. However, dissociation related cell perturbation can limit the ability to fully capture the human liver’s parenchymal cell fraction, which limits the ability to comprehensively profile this organ. Here, we report the transcriptional landscape of 73,295 cells from the human liver using matched single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). The addition of snRNA-seq enabled the characterization of interzonal hepatocytes at single-cell resolution, revealed the presence of rare subtypes of hepatic stellate cells previously only seen in disease, and detection of cholangiocyte progenitors that had only been observed during in vitro differentiation experiments. However, T and B lymphocytes and NK cells were only distinguishable using scRNA-seq, highlighting the importance of applying both technologies to obtain a complete map of tissue-resident cell-types. We validated the distinct spatial distribution of the hepatocyte, cholangiocyte and stellate cell populations by an independent spatial transcriptomics dataset and immunohistochemistry. Our study provides a systematic comparison of the transcriptomes captured by scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq and delivers a high-resolution map of the parenchymal cell populations in the healthy human liver.
Evaluation of the effect of hydrocortisone in 2D and 3D HEp-2 cell culture

Cancer is one of the diseases with the highest incidence globally and that associated with the patient’s emotional state, can act positively or negatively in the treatment. Cortisol is a principal primary stress hormone in the human body. The corticoids can increase cell proliferation and reactive oxygen species that contribute to DNA damage. Prolonged exposure to stress can contribute to tissues becoming insensitive to cortisol, the primary human stress hormone. This study explores cortisol’s influence on tumor cell development, particularly in human cells of carcinoma of the human laryngeal (HEp-2). HEp-2 cells were exposed to increasing cortisol (hydrocortisone) concentrations for 24 or 48 hours, and cytotoxicity (MTT assay) proliferation assay (crystal violet assay), and immunolabeled 3D culture for fibronectin and FAK were analyzed. The group treated with hydrocortisone showed a significant increase in mitochondrial activity, as for the evaluation by the violet crystal, the treated group showed similar behavior to the control. The 3D culture showed dispersed cells within 24 hours with reduced FAK labeling; however, no changes were observed within 48 hours. Although some cases favored corticosteroid use in cancer patients, a more detailed analysis is necessary before prescribing them.
Involvement of Denervated Midbrain-Derived Factors in the Formation of Ectopic Cortico-Mesencephalic Projection after Hemispherectomy

Neuronal remodeling after brain injury is essential for functional recovery. After unilateral cortical lesion, axons from the intact cortex ectopically project to the denervated midbrain, but the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. To address this issue, we examined gene expression profiles in denervated and intact mouse midbrains after hemispherectomy at early developmental stages using mice of either sex, when ectopic contralateral projection occurs robustly. The analysis showed that various axon growth-related genes were upregulated in the denervated midbrain, and most of these genes are reportedly expressed by glial cells. To identify the underlying molecules, the receptors for candidate upregulated molecules were knocked out in layer 5 projection neurons in the intact cortex, using the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated method, and axonal projection from the knocked-out cortical neurons was examined after hemispherectomy. We found that the ectopic projection was significantly reduced when integrin subunit β three or neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (also known as TrkB) was knocked out. Overall, the present study suggests that denervated midbrain-derived glial factors contribute to lesion-induced remodeling of the cortico-mesencephalic projection via these receptors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT After brain injury, compensatory neural circuits are established that contribute to functional recovery. However, little is known about the intrinsic mechanism that underlies the injury-induced remodeling. We found that after unilateral cortical ablation expression of axon-growth promoting factors is elevated in the denervated midbrain and is involved in the formation of ectopic axonal projection from the intact cortex. Evidence further demonstrated that these factors are expressed by astrocytes and microglia, which are activated in the denervated midbrain. Thus, our present study provides a new insight into the mechanism of lesion-induced axonal remodeling and further therapeutic strategies after brain injury.
Dopaminergic regulation of vestibulo-cerebellar circuits through unipolar brush cells

While multiple monoamines modulate cerebellar output, the mechanistic details of dopaminergic signaling in the cerebellum remain poorly understood. Here we show that Drd1 dopamine receptors are expressed in unipolar brush cells (UBCs) of the cerebellar vermis. Drd1 activation increases UBC firing rate and postsynaptic NMDA receptor-mediated currents. Using anatomical tracing and in situ hybridization, we tested three hypotheses about the source of cerebellar dopamine. We exclude midbrain dopaminergic nuclei and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive Purkinje cells as potential sources, supporting the possibility of dopaminergic co-release from locus coeruleus (LC) axons. Using an optical dopamine sensor GRABDA, electrical stimulation, and optogenetic activation of LC fibers in the acute slice, we find evidence for monoamine release onto Drd1-expressing UBCs. Altogether, we propose that the LC regulates cerebellar cortex activity by co-releasing dopamine onto UBCs to modulate their response to cerebellar inputs. Purkinje neurons directly inhibit these Drd1-positive UBCs, forming a dopamine-sensitive recurrent vestibulo-cerebellar circuit.
The phosphate starvation response recruits the TOR pathway to regulate growth in Arabidopsis cell cultures

In eukaryotes, TOR (Target Of Rapamycin) is a conserved regulator of growth that integrates both endogenous and exogenous signals. These signals include the internal nutritional status, and in plants, TOR has been shown to be regulated by carbon, nitrogen and sulfur availability. In this study, we show that in Arabidopsis the TOR pathway also integrates phosphorus availability to actively modulate the cell cycle, which in turn regulates the intracellular content of amino acids and organic acids. We observed a substantial overlap between the phenotypic, metabolic and transcriptomic responses of TOR inactivation and phosphorus starvation in Arabidopsis cell culture. Although phosphorus availability modulates TOR activity, changes in the levels of TOR activity do not alter the expression of marker genes for phosphorus status. These data prompted us to place the sensing of phosphorus availability upstream of the modulation of TOR activity which, in turn, regulates the cell cycle and primary metabolism to adjust plant growth in plants.
Gene expression variation in Arabidopsis embryos at single-nucleus resolution

Soon after fertilization of egg and sperm, plant genomes become transcriptionally activated and drive a series of coordinated cell divisions to form the basic body plan during embryogenesis. Early embryonic cells rapidly diversify from each other, and investigation of the corresponding gene expression dynamics can help elucidate underlying cellular differentiation programs. However, current plant embryonic transcriptome datasets either lack cell-specific information or have RNA contamination from surrounding non-embryonic tissues. We have coupled fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting together with single-nucleus mRNA sequencing to construct a gene expression atlas of Arabidopsis thaliana early embryos at single-cell resolution. In addition to characterizing cell-specific transcriptomes, we found evidence that distinct epigenetic and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms operate across emerging embryonic cell types. These datasets and analyses, as well as the approach we devised, are expected to facilitate the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying pattern formation in plant embryos. Summary statement A transcriptome atlas of Arabidopsis embryos constructed from single nuclei reveals cell-specific epigenetic and transcriptional regulatory features.
Challenges for entrepreneurship development in rural economies: the case of micro and small-scale enterprises in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The question of why some small businesses survive and become profitable while others exit the market continues to attract attention. This study analyzes the role of the institutional environment and business formation process in entrepreneurial activity (defined by total early-stage entrepreneurial activity rate) in the context of a high populous and low institutional trust environment. We find that the government's involvement in entrepreneurship through direct support programmes, differential incentives for enterprises engaged in different sectors, and to achieve social goals and political pluralism may reduce entrepreneurial activity. Also, support programmes aimed at promoting the formation of Micro and Small-Scale Enterprises may encourage the entry of entrepreneurs lacking a business strategy that takes into account risk-return tradeoffs. By focusing on the business formation process, this study adds to the debate on the implication of government intervention programmes in entrepreneurship and small business development.
Following and Avoiding Fear-Inducing News Topics: Fear Intensity, Perceived News Topic Importance, Self-Efficacy, and News Overload

ABSTRACT A critical human need is attending to the information in one’s environment. Recent studies, however, suggest news consumption is decreasing. Many report they intentionally avoid news because of its distressing nature. This study applies an evolutionary psychology approach to explore when people follow fear-inducing news topics and avoid them. A U.S. National survey tests hypotheses on the impact of fear induced by media messages and describes how evolutionary functionality operates to produce responses of following and/or avoiding the topics. Results show fear is important, but so is the perceived significance of the threat, perceived personal efficacy to cope with the threat, perceived news overload, and news consumption habits. Following news is mainly a function of high news use habits and the perceived importance of topics. Finally, following and avoiding news are not on a single dimension, as the two behaviors are most often uncorrelated.
When “Silence is Complicity”: voicing Muslim women’s resistance through reiteration of the veil

ABSTRACT This research challenges mainstream discourses of the Global North through the debate between the activist group, Femen, and some Muslim women. International Topless Jihad Day (ITJD), hosted by Femen, ignited conflict with Muslim women globally. On ITJD, Femen insisted that women removed their veil since, they stated, it was the symbol of oppression used by Muslim males. Femen’s message maintained the illusions of white superiority in public space through its assumption that all Muslim women are helpless and voiceless. Responding to the protest, a group of Muslim women formed the online movement; Muslim Women Against Femen (MWAF). This paper focuses on how MWAF reiterated the veil as agency, transforming Muslim women’s online resistance. In expanding how this reiteration is embraced, this paper will lend post-colonial feminist perspectives to the contestation of the veil in public.
Perspectives on the bioeconomy as an emerging policy field

The term ‘bioeconomy’, or, more precisely, ‘bioeconomics’ was initially introduced in the 1970s by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, a Romanian mathematician and economist, who connected physics and economy. According to the laws of entropy, he argued, all economic activities have to be understood as eventually degrading the physical environment, thereby increasing its entropy while low entropy resources are getting scarcer and scarcer (see, e.g. Georgescu-Roegen, 1971). The concept of ‘bioeconomics’, in this context, ‘continuously highlights the biological origin of economic process and the human problems associated with a limited stock of accessible resources that are unevenly located and unequally appropriated’ (Mayumi, 2001, p. 1). Inferred from this, the bioeconomy of Georgescu-Roegen was supposed to be
Psychological capital and job satisfaction in public-school teachers: the mediating role of prosocial behaviours

ABSTRACT The level of satisfaction teachers experience in their profession not only has an impact on their personal life, but also influences the lives of their students and, thus, indirectly orients greater community at a certain level. This study proposed and tested a model of teacher job satisfaction predicted by self-efficacy, hope, resilience and optimism through the mediating role of prosocial behaviours. The sample included 372 teachers (120 males, 252 females) working in public schools. A path analysis was conducted to analyse the data. The results of the path analysis showed that the goodness of fit values for the proposed model were poor. A second model was generated by excluding hope from the model and adding a direct path from optimism to job satisfaction. The results for the adjusted model showed that self-efficacy, resilience and optimism hold a significantly positive relationship with prosocial behaviours, while prosocial behaviours enjoy a significantly positive relationship with job satisfaction among teachers. The adjusted model was found to explain a 20% variance in job satisfaction in the field, thus encouraging a discussion on the possible implications the study carries for teacher training and skill acquisition programmes.
Measurement of stable species present during filament‐assisted diamond growth

We have measured mole fractions of two of the major stable species at the surface of a silicon substrate during filament‐assisted diamond growth as a function of the filament‐to‐substrate distance. Input gases were methane and hydrogen. A quartz probe withdrew gases at the growing surface, and the gases were sampled with an on‐line mass spectrometer. Close to the filament the methane is largely consumed, with most of the remaining gas phase carbon in the form of acetylene. Mass spectral results are compared to compositions calculated with a detailed chemical kinetics model. Our initial analysis suggests that diamond growth comes mainly from reaction of acetylene, ethylene, methane, or methyl radical.
Seasonality of biomass production of irrigated Mombaça ‘Guinea grass’

ABSTRACT Seasonality in tropical forage production is common in tropical and subtropical regions and should be identified for decision making on the stocking rate for each period. This study aimed to evaluate the variability of dry matter production of Megathyrsus maximum cv. Mombaça ‘Guinea grass’ over two years. The experiment was carried out from February 2016 to August 2018, under a randomised block design in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme, with four replications. Treatments consisted of (i) two growing years (2016/2017 and 2017/2018) and (ii) four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The grass was fertilised with 1,000 kg N ha−1 year−1 and sprinkler irrigated, with soil moisture monitored by tensiometry. The evaluated parameters consisted of leaf dry matter, stem dry matter and total dry matter production. The results showed that the irrigated Guinea grass reached an elevated production of dry matter (DM), with the highest yields occurring in the spring/summer period, evidencing the yiel gap in the autumn/winter. The grass showed high daily forage accumulation, expressing high productive potential, demonstrating a good indicator for animal production in intensive systems with irrigated and fertilised pastures for regions of tropical climate. Thus, Guinea grass showed great potential for use in livestock.
Experimental Study and DEM Simulation of Micro–Macro Behavior of TATB Granules During Compaction Using X‐ray Tomography

In this study, a noninvasive experimental method and a discrete element method (DEM) model were used to investigate the micro–macro behavior of TATB granules including global deformations, contact forces, stress distributions, local coordination number, local pore ratio, particle kinematics, and granule displacement during compacting process. The TATB granule deformation and structural evolution during compaction process were studied by X-ray tomography and the deformation characteristics of deformable material. The size and number of granules with different sizes were determined from the CT images. The digital microstructure can be directly used for the numerical simulation setup. The DEM method was used for the numerical simulation of TATB granules during compaction. The contact forces and displacement vectors in compaction process were obtained. The behaviors and stress distributions at different pressures were also derived from the simulation. This study evaluated the possibility to better describe the behaviors of TATB granules.
Avoided global warming emissions with the adoption of biofuel policies in Spain

The objective of this study is to assess the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the production and use of biofuels in Spain considering different crop production alternatives, including the possible import of raw materials. Avoided GHG emissions due to the substitution of conventional transport fuels with biofuels are then quantified. The studied biofuels are bioethanol from cereal crops and biodiesel from crude vegetable oil and waste vegetable oil. Several blends of these biofuels with gasoline and diesel are also studied. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of these fuels is carried out. The stakeholders were involved early in the process, setting the scope of the analysis and providing the relevant data. The results shown are GHG emissions in the production and distribution of these fuels. The benefits, in terms of GHG savings, of the adoption of the biofuel introduction objectives at the national and European levels are also quantified.
Assessment-as-learning in classrooms: the challenges and professional development

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify teachers’ perceived challenges in implementing assessment-as-learning (AaL) in classrooms, and evaluate the impact of a one-year professional development programme (PDP) designed for 47 teachers in a Hong Kong primary school to promote AaL implementation. Findings showed that the PDP increased the frequency and appropriateness of AaL implementation when on-site support was also provided, otherwise changes were not substantial. It suggests that systematic supporting measures should be provided together with PDPs to address the challenges teachers encountered in implementing AaL.
Is the relationship between working capital management and firm profitability non-linear in Indian SMEs?

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between working capital management (WCM) and firm profitability for a sample of 2122 Indian SMEs. The study is based on secondary financial data obtained from electronic database PROWESS of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), pertaining to a period of 12 years. The study employs two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation to arrive at the results. The estimates of two-step GMM confirm an inverted U-shape relationship between WCM and firm profitability.