Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Homological Eigenvalues of graph p-Laplacians

Inspired by persistent homology in topological data analysis, we introduce the homological eigenvalues of the graph $p$-Laplacian $\Delta_p$, which allows us to analyse and classify non-variational eigenvalues. We show the stability of homological eigenvalues, and we prove that for any homological eigenvalue $\lambda(\Delta_p)$, the function $p\mapsto p(2\lambda(\Delta_p))^{\frac1p}$ is locally increasing, while the function $p\mapsto 2^{-p}\lambda(\Delta_p)$ is locally decreasing. As a special class of homological eigenvalues, the min-max eigenvalues $\lambda_1(\Delta_p)$, $\cdots$, $\lambda_k(\Delta_p)$, $\cdots$, are locally Lipschitz continuous with respect to $p\in[1,+\infty)$. We also establish the monotonicity of $p(2\lambda_k(\Delta_p))^{\frac1p}$ and $2^{-p}\lambda_k(\Delta_p)$ with respect to $p\in[1,+\infty)$. These results systematically establish a refined analysis of $\Delta_p$-eigenvalues for varying $p$, which lead to several applications, including: (1) settle an open problem by Amghibech on the monotonicity of some function involving eigenvalues of $p$-Laplacian with respect to $p$; (2) resolve a question asking whether the third eigenvalue of graph $p$-Laplacian is of min-max form; (3) refine the higher order Cheeger inequalities for graph $p$-Laplacians by Tudisco and Hein, and extend the multi-way Cheeger inequality by Lee, Oveis Gharan and Trevisan to the $p$-Laplacian case. Furthermore, for the 1-Laplacian case, we characterize the homological eigenvalues and min-max eigenvalues from the perspective of topological combinatorics, where our idea is similar to the authors' work on discrete Morse theory.
C0,α boundary regularity for the pressure in weak solutions of the 2d Euler equations

The purpose of this article is to give a complete proof of a C0,α regularity result for the pressure for weak solutions of the two-dimensional ‘incompressible Euler equations’ when the fluid velocity enjoys the same type of regularity in a compact simply connected domain with C2 boundary. To accomplish our result, we realize that it is compulsory to introduce a new weak formulation for the boundary condition of the pressure, which is consistent with, and equivalent to, that of classical solutions. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.
Fluctuations for linear eigenvalue statistics of sample covariance matrices

We prove a central limit theorem for the difference of linear eigenvalue statistics of a sample covariance matrix W̃ and its minor W . We find that the fluctuation of this difference is much smaller than those of the individual linear statistics, as a consequence of the strong correlation between the eigenvalues of W̃ and W . Our result identifies the fluctuation of the spatial derivative of the approximate Gaussian field in the recent paper by Dumitru and Paquette. Unlike in a similar result for Wigner matrices, for sample covariance matrices the fluctuation may entirely vanish.
Phase I IASC-ASCE Structural Health Monitoring Benchmark Problem Using Simulated Data

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a promising field with widespread application in civil engineering. Structural health monitoring has the potential to make structures safer by observing both long-term structural changes and immediate postdisaster damage. However, the many SHM studies in the literature apply different monitoring methods to different structures, making side-by-side comparison of the methods difficult. This paper details the first phase in a benchmark SHM problem organized under the auspices of the IASC–ASCE Structural Health Monitoring Task Group. The scale-model structure adopted for use in this benchmark problem is described. Then, two analytical models based on the structure—one a 12 degree of freedom (DOF) shear-building model, the other a 120-DOF model, both finite element based—are given. The damage patterns to be identified are listed as well as the types and number of sensors, magnitude of sensor noise, and so forth. MATLAB computer codes to generate the response data for the various cases are explained. The codes, as well as details of the ongoing Task Group activities, are available on the Task Group web site at .
Ultimate strength characteristics of aluminium plates for high-speed vessels

Marine-grade aluminium alloy is an established structural material for medium- to high-speed commercial craft and has also been used as the primary hull material for several naval vessels. The analysis of large high-speed craft operating in deep ocean environments requires rigorous methodologies to evaluate the ultimate strength of the hull girders. Representative plate load-shortening curves form part of simplified hull girder ultimate strength methodologies; for the case of a high-speed aluminium vessel, the curves need to account for the effects of parameters including alloy type, geometric imperfection, softening in the heat-affected zone, residual stresses, lateral pressure and biaxial load. This paper examines the strength of a series of unstiffened aluminium plates with material and geometric parameters typical of the midship scantlings of a high-speed vessel, using a non-linear finite element approach. The parametric studies show that these factors can have a significant influence on the strength behaviour of the plates both prior to and after the collapse point has been attained.
OPTIMISTIC AND ABILITY BIASES IN PILOTS' DECISIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF RISK REGARDING VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC

Aircraft accidents resulting from attempted visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) continue to be one of the leading causes of fatalities in aviation. The aim of this study is to determine the role which two decision biases— optimistic bias and ability bias—may play in pilots’ decisions and perceptions of risk regarding VFR flight into IMC. A questionnaire designed to test for the presence of these biases was administered to 57 pilots enrolled in a university flight-training program and 103 general aviation pilots attending two FAA aviation safety seminars. Respondents were asked to rate their chances of experiencing an accident due to inadvertent VFR flight into IMC and their ability to avoid or successfully fly out of such conditions. Results indicate that VFR pilots are overly optimistic regarding their chances of experiencing a VFR-into-IMC accident, and are overconfident in their ability to both avoid and successfully fly out of IMC.
New Onset of Smell and Taste Loss Are Common Findings Also in Patients With Symptomatic COVID‐19 After Complete Vaccination

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical profile of patients who developed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) after full vaccination. Demographic, epidemiological and clinical data were collected through medical records and online patient‐reported outcome questionnaire from patients who developed symptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab, at least 2 weeks after completion of vaccination. A total of 153 subjects were included. The most frequent symptoms were: asthenia (82.4%), chemosensory dysfunction (63.4%), headache (59.5%), runny nose (58.2%), muscle pain (54.9%), loss of appetite (54.3%), and nasal obstruction (51.6%). Particularly, 62.3% and 53.6% of subjects reported olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, respectively. Symptom severity was mild or moderate in almost all cases. Chemosensory dysfunctions have been observed to be a frequent symptom even in subjects who contracted the infection after full vaccination. For this reason, the sudden loss of smell and taste could continue to represent a useful and specific diagnostic marker to raise the suspicion of COVID‐19 even in vaccinated subjects. In the future, it will be necessary to establish what the recovery rate is in these patients.
Effectiveness and safety of Ivermectin in COVID‐19 patients: A prospective study at a safety‐net hospital

Ivermectin has been found to inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) replication in vitro. It is unknown whether this inhibition of SARS‐CoV‐2 replication correlates with improved clinical outcomes. To assess the effectiveness and safety of ivermectin in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19. A total of 286 patients with COVID‐19 were included in the study. Univariate analysis of the primary mortality outcome and comparisons between treatment groups were determined. Logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust for confounders. Patients in the ivermectin group received 2 doses of Ivermectin at 200 μg/kg in addition to usual clinical care on hospital Days 1 and 3. The ivermectin group had a significantly higher length of hospital stay than the control group; however, this significance did not maintain on multivariable logistic regression analysis. The length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and duration of mechanical ventilation were longer in the control group. However, a mortality benefit was not seen with ivermectin treatment before and after PSM (p values = 0.07 and 0.11, respectively). ICU admission, and intubation rate were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.49, and p = 1.0, respectively). No differences were found between groups regarding the length of hospital stay, ICU admission, intubation rate, and in‐hospital mortality.
The expression pattern of β‐carotene ketolase gene restricts the accumulation of astaxanthin in Dunaliella under salt stress

Dunaliella salina can accumulate a large amount of β‐carotene which is generally considered to be its terminal product of carotenoid metabolism. In this study, it was proved that D. salina has the ketolase (DsBKT) of catalyzing the synthesis of astaxanthin, the downstream products of β‐carotene. Therefore, the reason why D. salina does not synthesize astaxanthin is the purpose of this study. The enzymatic activity of DsBKT was detected by functional complementation assays in Escherichia coli, results showed that DsBKT had efficient ketolase activity toward β‐carotene and zeaxanthin to produce astaxanthin, indicating that there were complete astaxanthin‐producing genes in Dunaliella. Unlike the induced expression of Lycopene cyclase (catalyzing β‐carotene synthesis) under salt stress, the expression of DsBKT was very low under both normal and stress conditions, which may be the main reason why D. salina cannot accumulate astaxanthin. On the contrary, with the astaxanthin‐rich Haematococcus pluvialis as a control, its BKT gene was significantly upregulated under salt stress. Further study showed that DsBKT promoter had strong promoter ability and could stably drive the expression of ble‐egfp in D. salina. Obviously, DsBKT promoter is not the reason of DsBKT not being expressed which may be caused by Noncoding RNA.
Evaluating Vitamin D and foxp3 mRNA levels in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion

Objective This current survey investigated the role of the Forkhead 3 box protein (foxp3) gene and serum vitamin D levels in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Methods The mRNA level of the foxp3 gene in peripheral blood was evaluated in women with a history of RSA (N=40) and in controls (N=40) via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We employed the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess the serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2 D) in both groups. The Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to statistically compare study groups between and within themselves, respectively. Results Although mRNA levels of foxp3 were higher in women with RSA than in controls, we observed no significant change in mRNA levels of foxp3 between the two groups (p=0.16). An important positive correlation was observed between foxp3 mRNA levels and 1,25(OH)2 D in controls (p=0.003). In contrast, the correlation between foxp3 expression and 1,25(OH)2 D was not significant in the case group (p=0.14). Serum vitamin D levels were lower in women with RSA than in controls (p<0.001). Conclusions Our ﬁndings demonstrated that 1,25Vitamin D3 along with other molecules might help prevent RSA by providing for an anti-inflammatory state not necessarily through foxp3 expression or T cell differentiation.
High performance current processing allpass filters

A general configuration for a first order current processing allpass filter is described. It requires an active element having unity current gain in conjunction with two passive components only (i.e., one resistance and one capacitance). Two implementations using the following translinear circuits as active elements: (a) a negative impedance converter with current inversion (I-NIC) and (b) a current controlled current source (CCCS) have been inspected and experimentally compared. Because of the high performances obtained, they appear to be suitable for wideband applications.
Elevated source/drain by sacrificial selective epitaxy for high performance deep submicron CMOS: Process window versus complexity

The continuous downscaling of CMOS devices aims at cost reduction and performance improvement. Process development constantly faces new constraints and integrates breakthroughs to overcome them. In deep submicron CMOS generations, scalability is in part limited by conflicting needs for shallow silicided junctions and low junction leakage. Both requirements can be met using elevated source/drain (/sup E/S/D) architecture. Although this solution has long been established, its avoidable extra complexity has delayed its introduction in industrial mainstream technologies. However, as device scaling continues, process windows are reducing critically. As a result, /sup E/S/D architecture is attracting a growing interest. This paper reports on a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology featuring /sup E/S/D made with sacrificial selective epitaxy. This technology is examined from the standpoints of manufacturability and performance improvement. In contrast to most /sup E/S/D approaches, the selective epitaxy is done after junction formation, resulting in increased process window. Our /sup E/S/D process leads to dc and rf device performance enhancements. Nevertheless, the same functionality gains were achieved by a fine-tuning of the reference conventional low-cost process. Process window reduction will require /sup E/S/D for generations below 0.13 /spl mu/m.
The mammalian brain under domestication: Discovering patterns after a century of old and new analyses

Abstract Comparisons of wild and domestic populations have established brain reduction as one of the most consistent patterns correlated with domestication. Over a century of scholarly work has been devoted to this subject, and yet, new data continue to foster its debate. Current arguments, both for and against the validity of brain reduction occurring in domestic taxa, have repeatedly cited a small set of reviews on this subject. The original works, their sampling, methodological details, and nuances of results that would be key to establishing validity, particularly in light of new data, have not been investigated. To facilitate and encourage a more informed discussion, we present a comprehensive review of original brain reduction literature for four mammalian clades: Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, and Glires. Among these are studies that generated the most cited brain reduction values in modern domestication literature. In doing so, we provide a fairer stage for the critique of traits associated with domestication. We conclude that while brain reduction magnitudes may contain error, empirical data collectively support the reduction in brain size and cranial capacity for domestic forms.
Matrix Gla Protein Levels Are Associated With Arterial Stiffness and Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objective: Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). MGP (matrix Gla protein) is implicated in vascular calcification in animal models, and circulating levels of the uncarboxylated, inactive form of MGP (ucMGP) are associated with cardiovascular disease-related and all-cause mortality in human studies. However, the role of MGP in arterial stiffness is uncertain. Approach and Results: We examined the association of ucMGP levels with vascular calcification, arterial stiffness including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), and incident heart failure in community-dwelling adults from the Framingham Heart Study. To further investigate the link between MGP and arterial stiffness, we compared aortic PWV in age- and sex-matched young (4-month-old) and aged (10-month-old) wild-type and Mgp+/− mice. Among 7066 adults, we observed significant associations between higher levels of ucMGP and measures of arterial stiffness, including higher PWV and pulse pressure. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated an association between higher ucMGP levels and future increases in systolic blood pressure and incident HFpEF. Aortic PWV was increased in older, but not young, female Mgp+/− mice compared with wild-type mice, and this augmentation in PWV was associated with increased aortic elastin fiber fragmentation and collagen accumulation. Conclusions: This translational study demonstrates an association between ucMGP levels and arterial stiffness and future HFpEF in a large observational study, findings that are substantiated by experimental studies showing that mice with Mgp heterozygosity develop arterial stiffness. Taken together, these complementary study designs suggest a potential role of therapeutically targeting MGP in HFpEF.
Evaluation of Early Warning, Alert and Response System for Ebola Virus Disease, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018–2020

The 10th and largest Ebola virus disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was declared in North Kivu Province in August 2018 and ended in June 2020. We describe and evaluate an Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) implemented in the Beni health zone of DRC during August 5, 2018–June 30, 2020. During this period, 194,768 alerts were received, of which 30,728 (15.8%) were validated as suspected cases. From these, 801 confirmed and 3 probable cases were detected. EWARS showed an overall good performance: sensitivity and specificity >80%, nearly all (97%) of alerts investigated within 2 hours of notification, and good demographic representativeness. The average cost of the system was US $438/case detected and US $1.8/alert received. The system was stable, despite occasional disruptions caused by political insecurity. Our results demonstrate that EWARS was a cost-effective component of the Ebola surveillance strategy in this setting.
Management of Utah Highway Culverts

More than 47,000 culverts have been installed under the highways of Utah. The Utah Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains these culverts but has no comprehensive system for assessing condition and planning maintenance activities. Utah DOT initiated a study to determine the condition of its culverts by field surveys. The objective was to develop a system of qualitative and quantitative performance measures to assess both the long- and short-term behavior of highway culverts and to support the Utah DOT effort to modify and populate a computerized database designed to store culvert inspection data that can be used for statewide culvert asset management. Culvert management practices currently used by Utah DOT and other agencies are described. A total of 272 culvert inspections conducted during this project showed the inventory to be aging but not generally in need of immediate maintenance. The Utah DOT database, developed to track culvert condition, is effective but could be improved. Improvements would streamline both culvert inspections and priority ranking of culvert repairs. The FHWA system for rating culvert maintenance action was adopted, with a new proposed table for rating thermoplastic pipe. Culvert ratings were adjusted with an importance modifier that focused inspection and maintenance activity on critical culverts with higher consequence of failure. Critical culverts should be placed on a regular inspection schedule, whereas other culverts can be inspected during periodic roadway repaving or rehabilitation. Culvert inspection results will be added to the database to provide more insight eventually into culvert service life than is now possible.
The IRE1/XBP1 signaling axis promotes skeletal muscle regeneration through a cell non-autonomous mechanism

Skeletal muscle regeneration is regulated by coordinated activation of multiple signaling pathways. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a major mechanism that detects and alleviates protein-folding stresses in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, the role of individual arms of the UPR in skeletal muscle regeneration remain less understood. In the present study, we demonstrate that IRE1α (also known as ERN1) and its downstream target, XBP1, are activated in skeletal muscle of mice upon injury. Myofiber-specific ablation of IRE1α or XBP1 in mice diminishes skeletal muscle regeneration that is accompanied with reduced number of satellite cells. Ex vivo cultures of myofiber explants demonstrate that ablation of IRE1α reduces the proliferative capacity of myofiber-associated satellite cells. Myofiber-specific ablation of IRE1α dampens Notch signaling and canonical NF-κB pathway in skeletal muscle of adult mice. Finally, targeted ablation of IRE1α also reduces Notch signaling, abundance of satellite cells, and skeletal muscle regeneration in the mdx mice, a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Collectively, our experiments suggest that the IRE1α-mediated signaling promotes muscle regeneration through augmenting the proliferation of satellite cells in a cell non-autonomous manner.
Identification of megacerotonic acid and a quinazoline derivative from Universal Natural Product Database as potential inhibitors of Trypanosoma brucei brucei alternative oxidase: molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation and MM/PBSA analysis

Abstract African trypanosomiasis is caused by Trypanosoma brucei subspecies and available drugs against it, are unsatisfactory due to poor pharmacokinetic properties. Trypanosomal Alternative Oxidase (TAO) is an attractive target for anti-trypanosome rational drug discovery because it is essential for parasite-specific ATP generation and absent in the mammalian host. In this study, 360 filtered ligands from the Universal Natural Product Database were virtually screened and docked on T. brucei brucei TAO (PDB-ID 3VVA). From the virtual screening, 10 ligands with binding energy from −10.6 to −9.0 kcal/mol were selected as hits and further subjected pharmacokinetic and toxicity analyses where all of them passed Lipinski’s rule of five. Also, the compounds were non-mutagenic, non-tumorigenic and could cross the blood brain barrier. The two topmost hits (UNPD29179; megacerotonic acid and UNPD41551; a quinazoline derivative) interacted with `four glutamates (Glu123, Glu162, Glu213 and Glu266) close to di-iron (2 iron elements) at the catalytic site of the enzyme. Subsequently, 100 ns MD simulations of the two topmost hits were performed using GROMACS where high RMSD values of 0.75 nm (TAO-UNPD29179) and 0.52 nm (TAO- UNPD41551), low residues fluctuations and consistent values of radius of gyration were observed. Moreover, Solvent Accessible Surface Area showed a consistent value of 160 nm2 for both complexes while TAO-UNPD29179 had higher number of hydrogen bonds than the TAO-UNPD41551. Similarly, MM/PBSA calculations indicated that UNPD29179 had higher free binding energy with TAO than UNPD41551. The data suggest that megacerotonic acid and a quinazoline derivative could be potential inhibitors of TAO with improved pharmacokinetic properties. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma