Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Needle in the Haystack: Analyzing the Right of Access According to GDPR Article 15 Five Years after the Implementation

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was implemented in 2018 to strengthen and harmonize the data protection of individuals within the European Union. One key aspect is Article 15, which gives individuals the right to access their personal data in an understandable format. Organizations offering services to Europeans had five years’ time to optimize their processes and functions to comply with Article 15. This study aims to explore the process of submitting and receiving the responses of organizations to GDPR Article 15 requests. A quantitative analysis obtains data from various websites to understand the level of conformity, the data received, and the challenges faced by individuals who request their data. The study differentiates organizations operating worldwide and in Germany, browser website- and app-based usage, and different types of websites. Thereby, we conclude that some websites still compile the data manually, resulting in longer waiting times. A few exceptions did not respond with any data or deliver machine-readable data (GDRP Article 20). The findings of the study additionally reveal ten patterns individuals face when requesting and accessing their data.
SoK: Practical Detection of Software Supply Chain Attacks

Detecting malicious packages used in software supply chain attacks has become increasingly important in recent years. Researchers are constantly developing and evaluating different tools and approaches. However, a comparison of all scientific publications on this topic does not yet exist. This paper examines existing publications and points out their characteristics, advantages and limitations. We identified and analyzed 20 publications that deal with malicious package detection. For those, we summarize the key points of each approach, present the experiments performed, discuss the features and limitations of each, and finally compare them to each other. We show that some tools and approaches are outdated, not fully evaluated, or not feasible for production use. Promising approaches for automatic detection of attacks in the software supply chain are outlined as well.
Tomato Response Evaluation through Fertilization and PGRs application Under Temperature Differentiation in late Winter

This study evaluated the exogenous application of PGRs substitute chemical fertilization without compromising the growth and yield of tomato in fluctuated day-night temperature and humidity stressed late winter. Two-factor experiment comprising chemical fertilizers at 100, 110, 90 and 80 % of recommended doses besides control and PGRs of GA3; NAA, 4-CPA and SA @ 50 ppm including control was conducted where treatments were assigned in triplicates. Results revealed no significant variation among the fertilizer doses (80% to 110% of recommendation) regarding growth and yield contributing traits while among the PGRs, GA3 @ 50 ppm produced maximum number of flower clusters plant-1 (16.85), flowers (8.80) and fruits (5.79) cluster-1, single fruit weight (67.83 g) and fruit yield (6.61 kg plant-1) of tomato that was statistically identical with the findings of SA. But significant reduction in yield was noted in NAA and 4-CPA (1.20 kg and 1.21 kg plant-1, respectively). Interestingly, GA3 and SA in combination with any doses of the studied fertilizers maximize the tomato morphological and reproductive traits while fertilizer plus NAA and 4-CPA interaction gave the inferior results. Further, correlation matrix and PCA findings revealed that five fertilizer doses have no distinctiveness whereas GA3 and SA has distinct position than other PGRs with the maximum dependent variables those were contributed positively in the total variations. The study findings suggested that 20% fertilizer requirement could be reduced with the substitution of GA3 and SA @ 50 ppm for successful cultivation of tomato in late winter having the extreme environmental issues.
Biodiesel synthesis from mixed non-edible oil feedstock using K2CO3 in NH4OH Catalyst mixture

ABSTRACT In the present study, a new approach has tried to synthesize and optimize biodiesel production from mixed oils (Pongamia and Mahua) using an in-situ generated KOH from K2CO3 in an NH4OH catalyst mixture using response surface methodology (RSM). A maximum biodiesel yield of 96.5 v/v% was obtained at a catalyst concentration (CC) of 1.5 g K2CO3 in 0.75 g of NH4OH, oil to methanol molar ratio (M:O) of 7:1 at a reaction temperature (RT) of 55°C in 75 min reaction time (Rt). The obtained biodiesel yield is compared and found to be maximum (96.5 v/v%) for K2CO3 in NH4OH catalyst mixture than K2CO3 in H2O, direct K2CO3 and Conventional KOH methods. Furthermore, the presence of carbonate and ammonium ions in the reaction medium resulted in an increased biodiesel yield due to the less possibility for free water molecules formation and with a minimal amount of KOH to drive the reaction toward the right-hand side. The GC-MS, 1HNMR and FTIR techniques were used to confirm the conversion of esters.
Performance analysis of monofacial and bifacial over-canal solar photovoltaic (PV) system and assessment of water and land conservation potential

ABSTRACT Installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems over canals is an emerging technology to address the energy-water-food nexus. It can improve water and energy infrastructure, leading to food security. This study compares the energy yield, performance ratio, and capacity factor of monofacial and bifacial solar PV modules for over-canal and overground installations. A 1 MW solar PV system case study is considered for installation in Multan on the Naubahar canal, and the results are compared with overground installation. The performance of the proposed configurations was evaluated through indicators such as energy yield, performance ratio, and capacity factor. Results show that the monofacial modules for over-canal installation and the bifacial modules for overground installation are the most appropriate options under hydrological and environmental conditions. Comparing all four configurations, the monofacial over-canal system has the highest energy yield (1679 MWh), performance ratio (0.813), and capacity factor (19.32%). Moreover, it is estimated that installing a 1 MW solar PV system over the canal can conserve more than 8.9 million liters of water through reduced evaporation losses and free up more than 3 hectares of arable land for agricultural or other purposes.
Evolution des microstructures des serpentinites en contexte convergent : effet du degré de métamorphisme et de la déformation

Ce memoire presente une approche pluridisciplinaire (petrologie, spectroscopie Raman et MET) de l'evolution des microstructures des serpentinites avec les conditions metamorphiques et la deformation afin de preciser leur comportement en contexte de convergence. Experimentalement, les differentes varietes de serpentines se compriment de facon reguliere jusqu'a 10 GPa a temperature ambiante. L'augmentation de pression est principalement ajustee par reduction de l'espace interfoliaire. Les liaisons hydrogene liant les feuillets ne sont pas renforcees avec la pression. L'analyse d'echantillons de serpentinites de HP-BT provenant de Cuba et des Alpes a confirme que l'antigorite est la variete stable a haute pression. Les microstructures de ce mineral varient avec le degre metamorphique. Les antigorites de haut degre, au dela du facies des schistes bleus, ne presentent pas le desordre polysomatique intracristallin qui caracterise les antigorites de bas degre. Une second etape de mise en ordre des microstructures est proposee sous les conditions eclogitiques par l'elimination des defauts microstructuraux. Mais les serpentinites etant tres sensibles a toute deformation retromorphique, cette mise en ordre n'a pu etre observee que sous des conditions de preservation exceptionnelle (Cuba) et n'a pas ete confirmee dans les echantillons alpins. Dans les serpentinite alpines, la deformation se manifeste a bas degre metamorphique (transition SV-SB) par des structures cassantes a l'echelle du cristal. Sous des conditions PT plus severes, la deformation est accommodee principalement par des phenomenes de dissolution recristallisation qui semblent persister jusqu'aux stades eclogitiques. Les defauts plans observes dans les antigorites suggerent aussi une contribution a la deformation par glissement des feuillets le long des plans (001).
Infrared thermography energy performance analysis of a hybrid air photovoltaic-thermal system

ABSTRACT In this paper, we carried out a thermographic assessment of the hybrid PV/T system at four distinct times in the same day to analyze the behavior of the system and show the factors that can degrade the thermal and electrical performance of this cogeneration device. We utilized the 3D simulation of MATLAB software for temperature readings at each image. Too, the analysis of the heat distribution on the surface of the panel when the PV/T system was first dirty and then after cleaning. Additionally, over a number of days, the thermal and electrical yields of a PV/T system were assessed to ascertain the impact of environmental conditions on the system’s overall output. The impact of uneven temperature distribution on thermal and electrical performance was demonstrated by this experiment. It is worth noting that the system’s electrical efficiency rises with cooling, rising from 13.2% under natural conditions to 14.1% with cooling. When cooling is applied, thermal efficiency can reach 50%. Electrical power increases from 199.64 W in natural cooling to 215 W with forced cooling, an increase of around 7.5%.
The roles of RNA editing in cancer immunity through interacting with interferon

The interferon-activated tumor innate immunity can be primed by specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sensors upon stimulation. A-to-I RNA editing in the dsRNA regions can have a potential function to regulate interferon-related cancer immunity. A systematical analysis of both the editing enzyme and specific enriched editing region in patients, tissues, and cell lines is performed to reveal the underlying mechanisms. We then validate the preferred editing of dsRNA regions, identify the hyper-editing in severe tumors, and discover the negative effect of editing on cancer immunity. Specifically, RNA editing acts as an inhibitor of PKR- and MDA5-related interferon pathways through the regulations of miRNAs and RNA-binding proteins and the deactivation of dsRNA sensors. With the alteration of interferons, subsequently, RNA editing represses the infiltration of CD8 and CD4 T cells and reduces the sensitivities of cancer drugs, such as cisplatin. These analyses on A-to-I RNA editing can improve the knowledge of tumorigenesis, immunology, and cancer-targeted immunotherapy. Highlights The preferred dsRNA region for RNA editing is validated. Upregulation of RNA editing in severe tumors is discovered. RNA editing inhibits PKR- and MDA5-related cancer immunity. RNA editing represses the infiltration of CD8 and CD4 T cells. RNA editing reduces the sensitivities of cancer drugs.
Biomechanical comparison of plate materials and designs for subcondylar fracture fixation: An in silico assessment

The fixation of common mandibular subcondylar fractures is associated with a high complication rate, and the decision of a suitable plate design and material still remains a challenge. Computational models have been developed and verified for understanding mandibular fracture fixation, but most of the investigation has been limited to a simplified model, single force and evaluation of plate-only designs. Using finite elements, we analysed the fracture stability with five materials - Nitinol, Magnesium alloys, two types of Titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr) and Stainless Steel 316L, for four types of fixation plate designs. The soft tissues such as periodontal ligament, were included and molar clenching tasks were considered for accurately mimicking the physiological mastication cycle. The maximum principal tensile strain in the mandible was found to be decreasing with an increase in stiffness for most of the cases, except for the trapezoid and strut plates. We attribute the differences between trapezoid/strut and double mini/lambda to the presence of an additional screw near the sigmoid notch in the proximal segment in case of double mini and lambda plates. As the mandible reconstructed with double mini plates had the least interfragmentary gap, the double mini plate was deemed as the most suitable design. The results such as a lower von Mises stress in plates (compared to yield strength) indicated that the anchorage provided by titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V and TNTZ) is sufficient for load bearing.
Copy number losses of oncogenes and gains of tumor suppressor genes generate common driver events of human cancer

Cancer driver genes can be under positive selection for various types of genetic alterations, including gain-of-function or loss-of-function point mutations (single-nucleotide variants, SNV), small indels, copy number alterations (CNA) and other structural variants. We studied the landscape of interactions between these different types of alterations affecting the same gene by a statistical method, MutMatch, which can test for significant differences in selection, while accounting for various causes of mutation risk heterogeneity. Analyzing ∼18,000 cancer exomes and genomes, we found that known oncogenes simultaneously exhibit signatures of positive selection and also negative selection, where the latter can mask the former. Consistently, focussing on known positively selected regions identifies additional tumor types where an oncogene is relevant. Next, we characterized the landscape of CNA-dependent selection effects, revealing a general trend of increased positive selection on oncogene mutations not only upon CNA gains but also upon CNA deletions. Conversely, we observe a positive interaction between mutations and CNA gains in tumor suppressor genes. Thus, two-hit events involving point mutations and CNA are universally observed on driver genes regardless of the type of CNA, and may signal new therapeutic opportunities that have been overlooked. An explicit focus on the somatic CNA two-hit events can identify additional driver genes relevant to a tumor type. By a global analysis of CNA-selection effects across many driver genes and tissues, we identified at least four independently varying signatures, and thus generated a comprehensive, data-driven classification of cancer genes by mechanisms of (in)activation by genetic alterations.
Unequal genetic redundancy among the rice transcription factors OsMADS2 and OsMADS4 reveals distinct roles in floret organ development

Functional diversification of transcription factors and of their downstream targets contributes to the emergence of new organ morphologies. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying floral organ specification in rice, we investigated the function of OsMADS2 and OsMADS4, the rice PISTILLATA (PI) paralogs controlling lodicule and stamen formation. The morphological characterization of osmads2 null mutants generated by CRISPR/Cas9 reiterated OsMADS2’s nonredundant role in lodicule development. Furthermore, it uncovered unreported roles in controlling flowering time, floral meristem size, floral organ number, cell wall metabolism, and sterile lemma development. Although downregulation of OsMADS4 did not affect floral organ development, doubly perturbed osmads2d8/d8 osmads4kd florets exhibited more severe abnormalities than the osmads2 single mutant. Doubly perturbed inflorescences also exhibited defective rachis extension and parthenocarpy. Remarkably, ubiquitous overexpression of OsMADS4 in osmads2 rescued the different abnormalities of the osmads2 mutant but resulted in defective anther development and reduced seed set, phenotypes also observed when Arabidopsis PI was overexpressed in wild-type rice. These findings suggest that increased ubiquitous PI activity is detrimental to anther development. To uncover genes whose (in)direct regulation may contribute to these phenotypes, we combined the genome-wide identification of OsMADS2 binding regions (ChIP-Seq) with transcriptome profiling (RNA-Seq). These analysis uncovered several OsMADS2 target genes that are implicated in lodicule and stamen development and in controlling floral organ number, e.g., PECTIN METHYLESTERASE 24 (PME24), GLYCOSIDE HYDROLASE 9B16 (GH9B16), TAPETUM DEGENERATION RETARDATION (TDR), SPOROCYTELESS (SPL), FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER 1 (FON1), YUCCA3 and YUCCA7. Altogether, our results provide insights on the underlying molecular mechanisms of rice PI paralogs in floral organ specification, thereby expanding our understanding of their function as well as their conservation and diversification.
Large-scale population genomics of Malayan pangolins reveals deep diversification and a new species

Background Archipelagos and oceanic islands often present high percentage of endemism due to rapid speciation. The Malayan pangolin is a species distributing at both mainland (southern Yunnan, China) and oceanic islands via Malayan peninsula, which may result in deep differentiation among populations. In-depth investigation of population structure and genetic consequences for such species is of vital importance for their protection and conservation, practically for the critically endangered Malayan pangolin that is suffering from poaching, illegal trade, and habitat loss. Results Here we carried out a large-scale population genomic analysis for Malayan pangolins, and revealed three highly distinct genetic populations in this species, two of which are now being reported for the first time. Based on multiple lines of genomic and morphological evidence, we postulate the existence of a new pangolin species (Manis_1). Genetic diversity and recent inbreeding were both at a moderate level for both Malayan pangolins and Manis_1, but mainland Malayan pangolins presented relatively lower genetic diversity, higher inbreeding and fitness cost than island populations. Conclusions We found extremely deep and graded differentiation in Malayan pangolins, with two newly discovered genetic populations and a new pangolin species that is closely related to the Philippine pangolin than the typical Malayan pangolin, but a distant relative of the Indian pangolin. Anthropogenic factors did not significantly weaken the basis of genetic sustainability for Malayan pangolins, but mainland Malayan pangolins should be paid more attention for conservation due to higher genetic risks than island populations.
A kinome-wide synthetic lethal CRISPR/Cas9 screen reveals that mTOR inhibition prevents adaptive resistance to CDK4/CDK6 blockade in HNSCC

The comprehensive genomic analysis of the head and neck cancer (HNSCC) oncogenome revealed frequent loss of p16INK4A (CDKN2A) in most HPV negative HNSCC lesions, often concomitant with amplification of the cyclin D1 (CCND1) gene locus. However, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors as single agents have shown modest effect in the clinic, even when combined with cetuximab. The aberrant activation of PI3K/mTOR pathway is highly prevalent in HNSCC, and recent clinical trials targeting mTOR showed promising results in terms of objective responses and progression free survival. However, the clinical efficacy of mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) for advanced HNSCC patients may be limited due to intrinsic or acquired resistance. By a kinome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen, we identified cell cycle inhibition as a synthetic lethal target for mTORi. Combination of mTORi and palbociclib, a CDK4/6 specific inhibitor, showed strong synergism in HNSCC-derived cells in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, we found that adaptive increase in cyclin E1 (CCNE1) expression upon palbociclib treatment underlies the rapid acquired resistance to this CDK4/6 inhibitor in HNSCC. Mechanistically, mTORi inhibits the formation of eIF4G-CCNE1 mRNA complexes, with the consequent reduction in mRNA translation and CCNE1 protein expression. Our findings suggest that concomitant mTOR blockade reverts the adaptive resistance to palbociclib, thereby providing a novel multimodal therapeutic option for HNSCC patients by co-targeting mTOR and CDK4/6. Our findings may have broad implications to halt the emergence of palbociclib resistance.
Fungal-bacteria interactions provide shelter for bacteria in Caesarean 1 section scar diverticulum

12 Caesarean section scar diverticulum (CSD) is a significant cause of infertility among 13 women who have previously had a Caesarean section, primarily due to persistent 14 inflammatory exudation associated with this condition. Even though abnormal bacterial 15 composition is identified as a critical factor leading to this chronic inflammation, 16 clinical data suggests that a long-term cure is often unattainable with antibiotic 17 treatment alone. In our study, we employed metagenomic analysis and mass 18 spectrometry techniques to investigate the fungal composition in CSD and its 19 interaction with bacteria. We discovered that local fungal abnormalities in CSD can 20 disrupt the stability of the bacterial population and the entire microbial community by 21 altering bacterial abundance via specific metabolites. For instance, Lachnellula suecica 22 reduces the abundance of several Lactobacillus spp. , such as Lactobacillus jensenii , by 23 diminishing the production of metabolites like Goyaglycoside A and Janthitrem E . 24 Concurrently, Clavispora lusitaniae and Ophiocordyceps australis can synergistically 25 impact the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. by modulating metabolite abundance. Our 26
A contrastive coding account of category selectivity in the ventral visual stream

Modular and distributed theories of category selectivity along the ventral visual stream have long existed in tension. Here, we present a reconciling framework, based on a series of analyses relating category-selective tuning within biological and artificial neural networks. We discover that, in models trained with contrastive self-supervised objectives over a rich natural image diet, visual category-selective tuning naturally emerges for classic categories of faces, bodies, scenes, and words. Further, lesions of these model units lead to selective, dissociable recognition deficits. Finally, these pre-identified units from a single model can predict neural responses in all corresponding face-, scene-, body-, and word-selective regions of the human visual system, even under a constrained sparse-positive encoding procedure. The success of this model indicates that the nature of category-selective tuning in the human brain (e.g. for faces or scenes) is dependent on the learning diet, and best understood in the context of the full scope of experienced visual input. Broadly, we offer a unifying theoretical account where category-selective tuning naturally emerges as a consequence of positive information routing through hierarchical population codes, in order to disentangle the statistics of visual experience.