Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Periodic dynamics of coupled cell networks II: cyclic symmetry

A coupled cell network is a directed graph whose nodes represent dynamical systems and whose directed edges specify how those systems are coupled to each other. The typical dynamic behaviour of a network is strongly constrained by its topology. Especially important constraints arise from global (group) symmetries and local (groupoid) symmetries. The H/K theorem of Buono and Golubitsky characterises the possible spatio-temporal symmetries of time-periodic states of group-equivariant dynamical systems. A version of this theorem for group-symmetric networks has been proved by Josić and Török. In networks, spatial symmetries correspond to synchrony of cells, and spatio-temporal symmetries correspond to phase relations between cells. Associated with any coupled cell network is a canonical class of admissible ODEs that respect the network topology. A pattern of synchrony or phase relations in a hyperbolic time-periodic state of such an ODE is rigid if the pattern persists under small admissible perturbations. We characterise rigid patterns of synchrony and rigid phase patterns in coupled cell networks, on the assumption that the periodic state is fully oscillatory (no cell is in equilibrium) and the network has a basic property, the rigid phase property. We conjecture that all networks have the rigid phase property, and that in any path-connected network an admissible ODE with a hyperbolic periodic state can always be perturbed to make the perturbed periodic state fully oscillatory. Our main result states that in any path-connected network with the rigid phase property, every rigid pattern of phase relations can be characterised in two stages. First, sets of cells form synchronous clumps according to a balanced equivalence relation. Second, the corresponding quotient network has a cyclic group of automorphisms, and the phase relations are induced by associating a fixed phase shift with a generator of this group. Thus the clumps of synchronous cells form a discrete rotating wave. As a corollary, we prove an analogue of the H/K theorem for any path-connected network. We also discuss the non-path-connected case.
The Star Formation Histories of the Bulge and Disk of M31 from Resolved Stars in the Near-Infrared

We discuss H and K observations of three fields in the bulge and disk of M31 obtained with the ALTAIR adaptive optics system and NIRI instrument on Gemini North. These are the highest resolution and deepest near-infrared observations obtained to date of the inner regions of M31 and demonstrate the promise of ground-based adaptive optics for studying the crowded regions of nearby galaxies. We have combined our observations with previously published Hubble Space Telescope Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer observations of nine M31 fields and have derived the coarse star formation histories of M31's bulge and inner disk. From fits to the MK luminosity functions, we find the stellar population mix to be dominated by old, nearly solar-metallicity stars. The old populations, which we define as having age ≳6 Gyr, indeed dominate the star formation histories at all radii independent of the relative contributions of bulge and disk stars. Although all of our fields contain some bulge contribution, our results suggest that there is no age difference between the bulge and disk to the limit of our precision.
Correlation between DNA Methylation and Cell Proliferation Identifies New Candidate Predictive Markers in Meningioma

Simple Summary In adults, meningioma is the most common primary tumor of the brain. It is classified into three clinical grades of aggressiveness. Whereas disease recurrence after surgery and survival are associated with grade, it is worth investigating proliferation at a molecular level to identify markers capable of improving the clinical management of meningioma. In this study, we explore the DNA methylation profiles of 48 tumors of various grades and conduct statistical analyses on several proliferation indices and markers, such as mitotic index, grade, and Ki-67 or MCM6 expression levels. We identify differential methylation profiles between grades, loci highly correlated with cell growth and division, and a specific methylation signature of regulatory regions persistently associated with proliferation indices, grade, and survival. Finally, we report candidate genes under the control of these regions with potential prognostic and therapeutic value and deserving clinical evaluation. Abstract Meningiomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. Based on the 2021 WHO classification, they are classified into three grades reflecting recurrence risk and aggressiveness. However, the WHO’s histopathological criteria defining these grades are somewhat subjective. Together with reliable immunohistochemical proliferation indices, other molecular markers such as those studied with genome-wide epigenetics promise to revamp the current prognostic classification. In this study, 48 meningiomas of various grades were randomly included and explored for DNA methylation with the Infinium MethylationEPIC microarray over 850k CpG sites. We conducted differential and correlative analyses on grade and several proliferation indices and markers, such as mitotic index and Ki-67 or MCM6 immunohistochemistry. We also set up Cox proportional hazard models for extensive associations between CpG methylation and survival. We identified loci highly correlated with cell growth and a targeted methylation signature of regulatory regions persistently associated with proliferation, grade, and survival. Candidate genes under the control of these regions include SMC4, ESRRG, PAX6, DOK7, VAV2, OTX1, and PCDHA-PCDHB-PCDHG, i.e., the protocadherin gene clusters. This study highlights the crucial role played by epigenetic mechanisms in shaping dysregulated cellular proliferation and provides potential biomarkers bearing prognostic and therapeutic value for the clinical management of meningioma.
Effect of LDHA Inhibition on TNF-α-Induced Cell Migration in Esophageal Cancers

Cell migration is an essential part of the complex and multistep process that is the development of cancer, a disease that is the second most common cause of death in humans. An important factor promoting the migration of cancer cells is TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine that, among its many biological functions, also plays a major role in mediating the expression of MMP9, one of the key regulators of cancer cell migration. It is also known that TNF-α is able to induce the Warburg effect in some cells by increasing glucose uptake and enhancing the expression and activity of lactate dehydrogenase subunit A (LDHA). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the interrelationship between the TNF-α-induced promigratory activity of cancer cells and their glucose metabolism status, using esophageal cancer cells as an example. By inhibiting LDHA activity with sodium oxamate (SO, also known as aminooxoacetic acid sodium salt or oxamic acid sodium salt) or siRNA-mediated gene silencing, we found using wound healing assay and gelatin zymography that LDHA downregulation impairs TNF-α-dependent tumor cell migration and significantly reduces TNF-α-induced MMP9 expression. These effects were associated with disturbances in the activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, as we observed by Western blotting. We also reveal that in esophageal cancer cells, SO effectively reduces the production of lactic acid, which, as we have shown, synergizes the stimulating effect of TNF-α on MMP9 expression. In conclusion, our findings identified LDHA as a regulator of TNF-α-induced cell migration in esophageal cancer cells by the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, suggesting that LDHA inhibitors that limit the migration of cancer cells caused by the inflammatory process may be considered as an adjunct to standard therapy in esophageal cancer patients.
Exercise Adherence and Compliance and Its Related Factors Among Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose To explore exercise adherence and compliance as well as its related factors among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to provide a basis for clinical intervention strategies. Patients and Methods The present study was a cross-sectional study of 205 elderly patients with T2DM who regularly visited a Shanghai community health center from August 2020 to July 2021. Exercise adherence and compliance was measured using an exercise adherence and compliance questionnaire, and potential correlates were explored using multiple linear regression analysis. Results The mean total score of the exercise adherence and compliance questionnaire was 16.72±5.08. The stepwise regression results revealed that exercise adherence and compliance was positively correlated with self-monitoring (F=3.510, P=0.005), exercise knowledge (r=0.784, P<0.001), exercise willingness (r=0.556, P<0.001), professional support (r=0.426, P<0.001), and self-efficiency (r=0.5, P<0.001). There was a negative correlation between hypoglycemia and exercise adherence and compliance (F=−3.672, P<0.001). Conclusion Low exercise adherence and compliance was related to low glucose self-monitoring frequency, increased hypoglycemia, less exercise knowledge, less exercise willingness, less professional support, and less self-efficiency. When developing exercise instructions adapted to the cognitive and volitional needs of diabetic patients, it is essential to focus on their daily self-management habits and extrinsic motivation to improve exercise adherence and compliance.
Generating Grid Multi-Scroll Attractors in Memristive Neural Networks

Memristors are well suited as artificial nerve synapses owing to its unique memory function. This paper establishes a novel flux-controlled memristor model using hyperbolic function series. By taking the memristor as synapses in a Hopfield neural network (HNN), three memristive HNNs are constructed. These memristive HNNs can generate multi-double-scroll chaotic attractors or grid multi-double-scroll chaotic attractors. The number of double scrolls in the attractors is controlled by the memristor. Equilibrium points analysis further reveals the generation mechanism of grid multi-double-scroll chaotic attractors. Moreover, numerical simulations indicate the existence of complex dynamics in the memristive HNNs, including extreme multistability and amplitude control. An approach to physically realize grid multi-double-scroll chaotic attractors is also given. Finally, an encryption scheme based on the proposed memristive HNN is designed to demonstrate application potential of the attractors.
Does the Type Matter? Verification of Different Tea Types’ Potential in the Synthesis of SeNPs

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are gaining popularity due to their potential biomedical applications. This work describes their green synthesis using various types of tea. Black, green, red and white tea infusions were tested for the content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant properties and then used in the synthesis of SeNPs. In each of the syntheses, nanoparticles with dimensions ranging from 3.9 to 12.5 nm, differing in shape and properties, were obtained. All of them were characterized by a very high ability to neutralize hydroxyl radicals, which was about three-times higher than for the tea infusions from which they were obtained. The main inconvenience in obtaining SeNPs was the difficulties with their purification, which should be a further stage in the described research.
On spectral aliasing of the fan-chirp transform

The fan-chirp transform is an ideal method for analyzing and processing harmonically related chirp signals. The spectral aliasing of the fan-chirp transform resulting from the time warping in the fast algorithm proposed by L. Weruaga and M. Képesi has not yet been theoretically resolved. This paper has found the sufficient conditions that lead to aliasing-free spectrum, i.e., the sampling rate satisfies the Nyquist rate and the equivalent sampling rate should be at least twice of the Nyquist rate. And such sufficient conditions have been verified their validity by demonstrations. The spline and sinc interpolation have different aliasing phenomena. Based on comparisons of their interpolation errors and reconstructed errors, the spline interpolation is recommended to be used in the fan-chirp transform.
Super-Resolving Multiple Mainlobe Signals in Jamming

We present a practical, effective algorithm that uses a few (10 to 20) snapshots of uniform line array data to spatially super-resolve multiple narrowband mainlobe signals even in the presence of skirt-jammers. This is done by splitting the array into two sets of sub-apertures and beamforming the data in each set with vectors of adaptive and of fixed weights. The adaptive weights are designed to suppress interferers while preserving a signal-containing spatial-response region of interest. The fixed beams are employed to sample such spatial region and help mollify any sidelobe distortions that may be introduced by the adaptive stage. The eigenvalues of the mapping interrelating the two sets of doubly-beamformed sub-apertures provide the super-resolved spatial locations of the mainlobe signals of interest.
Development of MegaCam, the next-generation wide-field imaging camera for the 3.6-m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

MegaCam is the new wide-field imaging camera currently being built for the new prime focus of the 3.6m Canada-France- Hawaii Telescope. The camera will offer a 1 square degree field of view and is built around a mosaic of 40 2K by 4.5K CCD devices. The delivery of the CCDs is proceeding along the schedule, the project passe dits final design review and the realization phase started, for an expected delivery to CFHT in Summer 2001.
Mannosylated Systems for Targeted Delivery of Antibacterial Drugs to Activated Macrophages

Macrophages are a promising target for drug delivery to influence macrophage-associated processes in the body, namely due to the presence of resistant microorganisms in macrophages. In this work, a series of mannosylated carriers based on mannan, polyethylenimine (PEI) and cyclodextrin (CD) was synthesized. The molecular architecture was studied using FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The particle size, from small 10–50 nm to large 500 nm, depending on the type of carrier, is potentially applicable for the creation of various medicinal forms: intravenous, oral and inhalation. Non-specific capture by cells with a simultaneous increase in selectivity to CD206+ macrophages was achieved. ConA was used as a model mannose receptor, binding galactosylated (CD206 non-specific) carriers with constants of the order of 104 M−1 and mannosylated conjugates of 106–107 M−1. The results of such primary “ConA-screening” of ligands are in a good agreement in terms of the comparative effectiveness of the interaction of ligands with the CD206+ macrophages: non-specific (up to 10%) absorption of highly charged and small particles; weakly specific uptake of galactosylated polymers (up to 50%); and high affine capture (more than 70–80%) of the ligands with grafted trimannoside was demonstrated using the cytometry method. Double and multi-complexes of antibacterials (moxifloxacin with its adjuvants from the class of terpenoids) were proposed as enhanced forms against resistant pathogens. In vivo pharmacokinetic experiments have shown that polymeric carriers significantly improve the efficiency of the antibiotic: the half-life of moxifloxacin is increased by 2–3 times in conjugate-loaded forms, bio-distribution to the lungs in the first hours after administration of the drug is noticeably greater, and, after 4 h of observation, free moxifloxacin was practically removed from the lungs of rats. Although, in polymer systems, its content is significant—1.2 µg/g. Moreover, the importance of the covalent crosslinking carrier with mannose label was demonstrated. Thus, this paper describes experimental, scientifically based methods of targeted drug delivery to macrophages to create enhanced medicinal forms.
Internal structure of 0.9 GHz microplasma

Argon microplasmas generated at 0.9 GHz by a split-ring resonator form a single filament-shaped nonequilibrium glow discharge. The internal structure of these microplasmas is probed using laser diode absorption and imaging emission spectrometry. These two-dimensional diagnostics are then Abel inverted to reveal that the core of the filament has a strongly depleted central metastable argon population. The microdischarges are approximately 0.2 mm in width at 1 atm and expand with increasing input power between 0.05–1.5 W. The relative electron density and the Ar(4p) density are estimated from the emission detected by a CCD camera through various bandpass filters. Absolute Ar(4s) densities, on the other hand, are determined by Ar 801.4 nm absorption. The Ar(4s) profile transitions from center-peaked at low power (0.05 W) to center-depleted above 0.25 W, saturating at 1019 m - 3 . The electron density profile within the microplasma, however, remains center-peaked regardless of the power. The spatially-resolved gas temperature was estimated from the broadening of the Ar 801.4 nm absorption profile. The error in this gas temperature measurement due to the depletion of the metastable atoms is corrected using numerical heat transfer models and shown to be 1650 K if the plasma power is 1.2 W. Differences between the peak and average temperatures based on the nitrogen rotational spectrum are also explained using nitrogen emission imaging.
A new algorithm for detecting the optimal number of substructures in the data

A new clustering algorithm is proposed. This algorithm uses a weighted Mahalanobis distance (WMD) as a distance metric to perform partitional clustering. This WMD prevents the generation of unusually large or unusually small clusters. Properties of the new algorithm are presented by examining the clustering quality for codebooks designed with the proposed method and two common methods that use Euclidean distance. The new algorithm provides better results than the competing methods on a variety of data sets. Application of this algorithm to the problem of estimation the optimal number of subgroups present in the data set is discussed.
Liquid crystal templates of mesoporous silica materials

The paper considers the mesophases of lyotropic liquid crystals and their role in creating the scaffold of mesoporous silica materials. It was in 1992 that a Mobil Research group disclosed a method to produce silica particles having a regular network of pores with hexagonal and cubic symmetries. The method was proposed as based on a liquid-crystal 'templating' mechanism. Since the symmetries resulting from the templating of silica scaffolds are those observed in the mesophases of lyotropic liquid crystals, the Mobil Research group supposed the presence of a mesophase directly in a stage of the templating mechanism. Here we discuss the method as it was reported in 1992 and what is today defined as a true liquid-crystal templating approach. It will be stressed that, in any case, the templating is a surfactant-assisted method, that can be better defined as supramolecular templating method. The template mainly happens in the form of a modified Stöber process. In this framework, the cubic phases of liquid crystals will be analyzed in depth. The related surfaces with zero mean curvature will be discussed in detail. Among them the gyroid will by approached through a Ginzburg-Landau model too.
The Impact of Knowledge Management Activities on Employee Performance in Vietnamese Banks

This study aims to examine the impact of knowledge management (KM) activities on employee performance (EP) in the banking sector. Our research can be considered as one of the few studies on the KM-EP nexus. The focus of this study is to find out which activities of the KM process have a significant effect on EP in Vietnamese banks. Data collected through questionnaire survey from 60 employees in four major banks in Vietnam was analysed by using factor analysis, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The results determined that two KM activities (knowledge dissemination and knowledge application) significantly and positively influence the EP of Vietnamese banks. This study also proposes some practical implications related to KM strategy for the banks to improve the performance of bank employees.
Impacts of Medical Security Level on Treatment Outcomes of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Evidence from Wuhan City, China

Background Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is an increasingly serious global issue. DR-TB has a lower success rate and more severe interruption of treatment than ordinary tuberculosis. Incomplete treatment not only reduces recovery rate in DR-TB patients but also increases the spread of DR-TB. Optimizing medical security policies for DR-TB can reduce the economic burden of patients and can thereby improve treatment success rate. Methods Patients with DR-TB who were registered in Wuhan Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention from January 2016 to December 2019 were selected as research subjects. General descriptive statistical analysis methods were used in analyzing patients’ treatment outcomes and medical security compensation rate. The binary logistic regression was used in analyzing the impacts of medical security level on treatment outcomes of DR-TB. Results A total of 409 DR-TB patients were included in the study, and the refusal rate was 12.47%. The treatment success rate was only 37.09% for patients who started treatment and had treatment outcomes. The total out-of-pocket expenses (OOPs) per capita for DR-TB patients were 13,005.61 Chinese yuan. The outpatient effective compensation ratio (ECR) of DR-TB patients was only 51.04%. The outpatient ECR of DR-TB with subsidies of public health projects (SPHPs) were nearly 80% higher than those without SPHP. high outpatient ECR helped optimize treatment outcomes (P < 0.001, OR = 1.038). The inpatient ECR had no effect on patients’ treatment outcomes (P = 0.158, OR = 0.986). Conclusion Many DR-TB patients did not receive complete treatment. The key breakthrough point in improving DR-TB treatment outcomes is to optimize the outpatient medical insurance compensation policy. Including the costs of DR-TB in expenses for severe diseases in outpatient care is recommended, and financial investment should be appropriately increased to ensure the high coverage ratio of subsidies for public health projects.
Embryo Grading after In Vitro Fertilization using YOLO

In vitro fertilization is an implementation of Assistive Reproductive Technology. This technology can produce embryos outside the mother's womb by manipulating gametes outside the human body. The success rate of in vitro fertilization is the selection of good-grading embryos. In this study, the authors used Yolo Version 3 to perform object detection objectively by introducing grades for each embryo image. The author uses an embryo image sourced from the Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute with information on the quality of the embryo. In this study, the author separated the data into two schemes. The first scheme separates data into training data of 70%, 15% validation data, and 15% for testing data. The second scheme uses a Stratified K-Fold Cross-Validation with a fold value =3. In training, the writer configures the values ? of Max Batches=6000, Steps=4800,5400, Batch=64, and Subdivision=16 by doing image augmentation (saturation=1.5, exposure=1.5, hue=0.1, jitter=0.3, random=1). For each of the obtained mAP (Mean Average Precision) values ? for data separation schemes, one is 100.00% in the 6000th iteration, while for the two-data separation scheme, the highest mAP is 97.33%. % in the fold=3 and 5000th iteration. It means that both separation schemes are sufficient in terms of mAP.