Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survey of the Intestinal Bacterial Compositions of Three Sympatric Passeriformes Species

Aims: The gut microbiota of avian species, especially wild birds, is studied less than that of mammals. Moreover, due to ethical concerns, a vast majority of microbiota studies have been limited to their feces. In this study, we investigated the microbial composition in the upper intestinal tract of sympatric, heterospecific bird species. Study Design: We obtained samples from three wild bird species belonging in the same Order Passeriformes: Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), American Robin (Turdus migratorius) and Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). The samples were obtained from wild birds soon after they died due to physical injury. Microbial diversity was analyzed via high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Place and Duration of Study: Indiana University Kokomo campus, Indiana. United States, between October 2019 and December 2020. Methodology: Illumina Miseq sequencing of V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to determine microbial composition. The α and β diversity were determined by Shannon’s diversity index and principal coordinate analysis, respectively. Pair-wise comparison of Bray-Curtis dissimilarity between birds of same species, different species, collection dates and years were analyzed. Results: The proteobacterial sequences were predominant in all samples. However, the comparison at the level of bacterial class revealed a significant intraspecies variation in both α and β diversity. Additionally, some microbiota exhibited higher interspecies similarity than intraspecies similarity, despite these birds not sharing the same foraging guilds. Conclusion: Our study revealed high variability in the microbial compositions within the upper part of the digestive tract of closely related Passeriform birds in their natural environment.
Biopolymer-Based Films Reinforced with Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Nowadays, biopolymer-based films are being developed as an alternative to conventional plastic-based films, mainly because they are non-toxic, flexible, inexpensive, and widely available. However, they are restricted in their applications due to several deficiencies in their properties. Accordingly, the reinforcement of these materials with nanoparticles/nanofillers could overcome some of their shortcomings, especially those processed by green methods. Green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are highly suggested to overcome these deficiencies. Therefore, the main aim of this work was to develop different biopolymer-based films from cellulose acetate (CA), chitosan (CH), and gelatin (GE) reinforced with ZnO-NPs prepared by casting, and to assess their different properties. The results show the improvements produced by the incorporation of ZnO-NPs (1% w/w) into the CA, CH, and GE systems. Thus, the water contact angles (WCAs) increased by about 12, 13, and 14%, while the water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased by about 14, 6, and 29%, the water solubility (WS) decreased by about 23, 6, and 5%, and the transparency (T) increased by about 19, 31, and 20% in the CA, CH, and GE systems, respectively. Furthermore, the mechanical properties were enhanced by increasing the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (by about 39, 13, and 26%, respectively) and Young’s modulus (E) (by about 70, 34, and 63%, respectively), thereby decreasing the elongation at the break (εmax) (by about 56, 23, and 49%, respectively) and the toughness (by about 50, 4, and 30%, respectively). Lastly, the antioxidant properties were enhanced by 34, 49, and 39%, respectively.
Tests for noncorrelation of two multivariate ARMA time series

In many situations, we want to verify the existence of a relationship between multivariate time series. In this paper, we generalize the procedure developed by Haugh (1976) for univariate time series in order to test the hypothesis of noncorrelation between two multivariate stationary ARMA series. The test statistics are based on residual cross‐correlation matrices. Under the null hypothesis of noncorrelation, we show that an arbitrary vector of residual cross‐correlations asymptotically follows the same distribution as the corresponding vector of cross‐correlations between the two innovation series. From this result, it follows that the test statistics considered are asymptotically distributed as chi‐square random variables. Two test procedures are described. The first one is based on the residual cross‐correlation matrix at a particular lag, whilst the second one is based on a portmanteau type statistic that generalizes Haugh's statistic. We also discuss how the procedures for testing noncorrelation can be adapted to determine the directions of causality in the sense of Granger (1969) between the two series. An advantage of the proposed procedures is that their application does not require the estimation of a global model for the two series. The finite‐sample properties of the statistics introduced were studied by simulation under the null hypothesis. It led to modified statistics whose upper quantiles are much better approximated by those of the corresponding chi‐square distribution. Finally, the procedures developed are applied to two different sets of economic data.
Lattice dynamics of NiTi austenite, martensite, and R phase

Using the local-density approximation, calculating the Hellmann-Feynman forces, and applying the direct method, the phonon-dispersion relations of cubic austenite, trigonal R, orthorhombic and monoclinic martensitic phases of the NiTi intermetallic compound have been derived. In the austenite phase we have found a soft phonon branch with a minimum at the M reciprocal-lattice point. The orthorhombic structure, in turn, shows a shear low-frequency mode favoring a martensitic phase. The phonon-dispersion relations indicate that martensitic and R phases are dynamically stable. For the martensitic and R phases the phonon density of states, free energies, and heat capacities have been calculated. We find that the first-order R-phase\char21{}martensite phase transition temperature occurs at ${T}_{c}=285 \mathrm{K}. $
On the normalized turbulent energy dissipation rate

This paper revisits values of the normalized energy dissipation rate (Cϵ) in different flows (two-dimensional wakes, grid turbulence, and homogeneous shear flow). Previously published as well as new data are considered over a relatively wide range of the Taylor-microscale Reynolds number Rλ. Cϵ exhibits wide scatter (in the range 0.5–2.5 for Rλ>50) although, for a given flow and initial conditions, it is independent of Rλ when the latter is sufficiently large. An alternative definition [B. R. Pearson, P.-A. Krogstad, and W. van de Water, “Measurements of the turbulent energy dissipation rate,” Phys. Fluids 14, 1288 (2002)] of Cϵ has been checked in the same flows but has failed to yield a universal value for the coefficient.
Buoyancy-driven crack propagation: a mechanism for magma migration

A solution has been obtained for steady propagation of a two-dimensional fluid fracture driven by buoyancy in an elastic medium. The problem is formulated in terms of an integro-differential equation governing the elastic deformation, coupled with the differential equation of lubrication theory for viscous flow in the crack. The numerical treatment of this system is carried out in terms of an eigenfunction expansion of the cavity shape, in which the coefficients are found by use of a nonlinear constrained optimization technique. When suitably non-dimensionalized, the solution appears to be unique. It exhibits a semi-infinite crack of constant width following the propagating fracture. For each value of the stress intensity factor of the medium, the width and propagation speed are determined. The results are applied to the problem of the vertical ascent of magma through the earth's mantle and crust. Values obtained for the crack width and ascent velocity are in accord with observations. This mechanism can explain the high ascent velocities required to quench diamonds during a Kimberlite eruption. The mechanism can also explain how basaltic eruptions can carry large mantle rocks (xenoliths) to the surface.
Content of Cadmium and Nickel in Soils and Assimilatory Organs of Park Woody Species Exposed to Polluted Air

The rising level of pollutant emissions is becoming one of the most pressing environmental problems of our time. Therefore, this work is focused on evaluating Cd and Ni contamination of soils and assimilatory organs of two native (Acer platanoides L., Taxus baccata L.) and two non-native (Negundo aceroides Moench, Thuja occidentalis L.) woody species in urban parks of SW Slovakia. The contents of Cd and Ni in soils were determined by the AAS method and, in the assimilatory organs of trees, by the AAS-ETA method. The studied soils (Fluvisol, Phaeozem) have neutral soil reactions and a moderate organic matter content. Cadmium soil contamination is considerable to very high; in the case of Ni, it is moderate to low. Cadmium levels detected in leaves were 31% higher than in needles, while Ni levels were 27% lower. Significant ecological factors in relation to the studied woody species were evaluated using PCA. The first three principal components of PCA significantly correlated with Cd (PC1) and Ni (PC3) contents in soils and Cd content in assimilatory organs (PC2), thus suggesting that these elements could especially originate from industrial and vehicular sources. Knowledge of the factors affecting the accumulation of risk elements in the assimilatory organs of park woody species can be successfully used, especially in the assessment of the quality of the urban environment and the selection of suitable cultivars for planting in areas with air pollution.
Structure of the Mixed Layer and Inversion Layer Associated with Patterns of Mesoscale Cellular Convection During AMTEX 75

Abstract Aerological data from the Air Mass Transformation Experiment (AMTEX) conducted during the period 14 February–1 March 1975 have been analyzed to study the mixed layer and capping inversion layer associated with mesoscale cellular convection (MCC) created in a cold continental air mass heated from below by a warm ocean surface. Six horizontal analyses of the depth of the mixed layer were superimposed on their respective satellite images which contained MCC events in the AMTEX region. In all six cases, open cells tended to lie in the troughs and closed cells in the ridges of the convective depth contour pattern. Vertical cross sections revealed that the actual transition from a coexisting region of open cells to an adjacent region of closed cells may actually occur at a point of inflection where the mixed layer depth contour pattern changes from a plano-concave shape to a plano-convex shape. Mean convective depths for open and closed cells were 1529 and 2066 m, respectively, based on 15 soundings in.
Insights into Molecular Structure of Pterins Suitable for Biomedical Applications

Pterins are an inseparable part of living organisms. Pterins participate in metabolic reactions mostly as tetrahydropterins. Dihydropterins are usually intermediates of these reactions, whereas oxidized pterins can be biomarkers of diseases. In this review, we analyze the available data on the quantum chemistry of unconjugated pterins as well as their photonics. This gives a comprehensive overview about the electronic structure of pterins and offers some benefits for biomedicine applications: (1) one can affect the enzymatic reactions of aromatic amino acid hydroxylases, NO synthases, and alkylglycerol monooxygenase through UV irradiation of H4pterins since UV provokes electron donor reactions of H4pterins; (2) the emission properties of H2pterins and oxidized pterins can be used in fluorescence diagnostics; (3) two-photon absorption (TPA) should be used in such pterin-related infrared therapy because single-photon absorption in the UV range is inefficient and scatters in vivo; (4) one can affect pathogen organisms through TPA excitation of H4pterin cofactors, such as the molybdenum cofactor, leading to its detachment from proteins and subsequent oxidation; (5) metal nanostructures can be used for the UV-vis, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy detection of pterin biomarkers. Therefore, we investigated both the biochemistry and physical chemistry of pterins and suggested some potential prospects for pterin-related biomedicine.
Dying with Cancer and COVID-19, with Special Reference to Lung Cancer: Frailty as a Risk Factor

Simple Summary Frailty has been strongly associated with deaths from COVID-19 in the general population, especially in the elderly, but it is rarely studied in the context of cancer. In this study of 4312 patients who died with cancer, of whom 282 also had concomitant COVID-19, we found that established risk factors, such as older age, male gender, and being a nursing home resident, were also significant risk factors for patients with cancer. Among the risk factors, frailty, as measured using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS), was the strongest one, as well as when controlling for age, sex, comorbidities, and socioeconomic factors. In conclusion, frailty should be addressed in cancer care to a greater extent. Abstract Older age and frailty have been associated with COVID-19 deaths, but frailty has seldom been studied in the context of cancer. The aim of this paper was therefore to study frailty (measured using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score) and other risk factors in patients who died with advanced cancer and a concomitant COVID-19 infection, with special reference to lung cancer. Of 4312 patients who died with cancer, 282 had concomitant COVID-19 (within the last 30 days), and these patients were significantly older, more often men, and residents of nursing homes. They often had less access to specialized palliative care, and they died more often in acute hospital settings. Patients with cancer who died with COVID-19 were more often frail (57% vs. 45%, p = 0.0002), and frailty was independently associated with COVID-19-related deaths, both in univariable and multivariable regression models, as well as when controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic factors on an area level, and comorbidity (measured using the Charlson Comorbidity Index). In the final multivariable model, where patients with cancer who died in nursing homes were excluded, belonging to the high-risk frailty group (OR 2.07 (1.31–3.27), p = 0.002) was the strongest prognostic variable in the model. In a separate analysis of a subgroup of deaths due to lung cancer (n = 653, of which 45 deaths occurred with concomitant COVID-19), the above associations were not significant, possibly due to too-few cases. In conclusion, frailty is a strong predictor of cancer deaths and should be addressed in cancer care.
Disease-Modifying Activity of Huperzine A on Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence from Preclinical Studies on Rodent Models

(1) Background: Huperzine A, a natural cholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor isolated from the Chinese herb Huperzia Serrata, has been used as a dietary supplement in the United States and a drug in China for therapeutic intervention on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This review aims to determine whether Huperzine A exerts disease-modifying activity through systematic analysis of preclinical studies on rodent AD models. (2) Methods: Sixteen preclinical studies were included based on specific criteria, and the methodological qualities were analyzed by SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool. Some outcomes were meta-analyzed: latencies and time spent in quadrant of Morris water maze, soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) level measured by ELISA in the cortex and hippocampus, Aβ plaque numbers measured by immunohistochemistry in hippocampus, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and AChE activity. Finally, the mechanisms of Huperzine A on AD models were summarized. (3) Conclusions: The outcomes showed that Huperzine A displayed AChE inhibition, ChAT activity enhancement, memory improvement, and Aβ decreasing activity, indicating the disease-modifying effect of Huperzine A. However, due to the uneven methodological quality, the results need to be rationally viewed, and extensively repeated.
Application of data distribution metrics for soft sensors in industrial scenarios

Industry 4.0 requires the implementation of efficient plant monitoring and control policies to improve automation, communication and self-monitoring in traditional manufacturing and industrial practices [1]. Soft Sensors (SSs) are nonlinear dynamical models, often adopted in industrial environments, to perform the prediction of process variables based on their relation with easily accessible ones [2]. SSs allow implementing real-time control and monitoring of the plants, measuring system back-up, what-if analysis, sensor validation and fault diagnosis, presenting several advantages in terms of costs and efforts. They are, for instance, necessary when some variables cannot be measured online due to the lack of ad-hoc instruments or because of hostile environments.
Generalized Lyapunov–Schmidt Reduction Method and Normal Forms for the Study of Bifurcations of Periodic Points in Families of Reversible Diffeomorphisms

We introduce a general reduction method for the study of periodic points near a fixed point in a family of reversible diffeomorphisms. We impose no restrictions on the linearization at the fixed point except invertibility, allowing higher multiplicities. It is shown that the problem reduces to a similar problem for a reduced family of diffeomorphisms, which is itself reversible, but also has an additional ℤ q -symmetry. The reversibility in combination with the ℤ q -symmetry translates to a 𝕋 q -symmetry for the problem, which allows to write down the bifurcation equations. Moreover, the reduced family can be calculated up to any order by a normal form reduction on the original system. The method of proof combines normal forms with the Lyapunov–Schmidt method, and makes repetitive use of the Implicit Function Theorem. As an application we analyze the branching of periodic points near a fixed point in a family of reversible mappings, when for a critical value of the parameters the linearization at the fixed point has either a pair of simple purely imaginary eigenvalues that are roots of unity or a pair of non-semisimple purely imaginary eigenvalues that are roots of unity with algebraic multiplicity 2 and geometric multiplicity 1.
Synapsin III Regulates Dopaminergic Neuron Development in Vertebrates

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by alterations in the mesocorticolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways. Polymorphisms in the Synapsin III (Syn III) gene can associate with ADHD onset and even affect the therapeutic response to the gold standard ADHD medication, methylphenidate (MPH), a monoamine transporter inhibitor whose efficacy appears related with the stimulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Interestingly, we previously showed that MPH can bind Syn III, which can regulate neuronal development. These observations suggest that Syn III polymorphism may impinge on ADHD onset and response to therapy by affecting BDNF-dependent dopaminergic neuron development. Here, by studying zebrafish embryos exposed to Syn III gene knock-down (KD), Syn III knock-out (ko) mice and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived neurons subjected to Syn III RNA interference, we found that Syn III governs the earliest stages of dopaminergic neurons development and that this function is conserved in vertebrates. We also observed that in mammals Syn III exerts this function acting upstream of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)- and cAMP-dependent protein kinase 5 (Cdk5)-stimulated dendrite development. Collectively, these findings own significant implications for deciphering the biological basis of ADHD.
Channel width effect on the spin-orbit interaction parameter in a two-dimensional electron gas

The spin splitting energy obtained from the Shubnikov–de Haas oscillation increases with decreasing channel width (w) of the InAs-based heterostructure. Since the surface charge concentration depends only weakly on w, the channel width dependence of the spin splitting energy is attributed to variations in the spin-orbit interaction strength. The spin-orbit interaction parameter was found to be inversely proportional to w in the range of w=2–64μm. Our findings indicate that a strong spin-orbit interaction is induced in a narrow channel due to suppression of the spin precession length for a thin quantum well layer system.The spin splitting energy obtained from the Shubnikov–de Haas oscillation increases with decreasing channel width (w) of the InAs-based heterostructure. Since the surface charge concentration depends only weakly on w, the channel width dependence of the spin splitting energy is attributed to variations in the spin-orbit interaction strength. The spin-orbit interaction parameter was found to be inversely proportional to w in the range of w=2–64μm. Our findings indicate that a strong spin-orbit interaction is induced in a narrow channel due to suppression of the spin precession length for a thin quantum well layer system.
Knowledge Graph Aided Network Representation and Routing Algorithm for LEO Satellite Networks

The compelling applications of Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks in our daily lives have been witnessed in recent years, ranging from weather forecasts to military monitoring. LEO satellite networks have grown in importance as a complement to terrestrial networks aiming at delivering global, ubiquitous communication. However, due to the LEO network topology keeps changing dynamically, the development of efficient routing algorithms becomes one of the challenges in the LEO network. Traditional routing policies hardly solve the rerouting problem caused by link switchover and the high calculation cost caused by large-scale irregular satellite topology. In this paper, we propose a knowledge graph-aided representation of satellite network topologies and routing architecture to optimize path selection and calculation cost for lower packet loss ratio and average delay. Moreover, we generate a routing policy by predicting potential relations between data packets and nodes to select the best relay nodes with the maximum probability of forwarding relations. Finally, extensive simulations are performed to evaluate the performance and availability of our proposed algorithm.
Assessment of the Prescriptions of Systemic Antibiotics in Primary Dental Care in Germany from 2017 to 2021: A Longitudinal Drug Utilization Study

(1) Background: Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, the frequency of antibiotic use should be questioned in dentistry and attention paid to the choice of the best suited substance according to guidelines. In Germany, overprescribing of clindamycin was noteworthy in the past. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the trend of antibiotic prescriptions in primary dental care. (2) Methods: Prescriptions of antibiotics in German primary dental care from 2017 to 2021 were analysed using dispensing data from community pharmacies, claimed to the statutory health insurance (SHI) funds, and compared with all antibiotic prescriptions in primary care. Prescriptions were analysed based on defined daily doses per 1000 SHI-insured persons per day (DID). (3) Results: Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic (0.505 DID in 2017, 0.627 in 2021, +24.2%) in primary dental care, followed by clindamycin (0.374 DID in 2017, 0.294 in 2021, −21.4%). Dental prescriptions still made up 56% of all clindamycin prescriptions in primary care in 2021. (4) Conclusions: Our study suggests that the problem of overuse of clindamycin in German dentistry has improved, but still persists.