Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution Characteristics of Inclusions along the Surface Sliver Defect on Automobile Exposed Panel by Quantitative Electrolysis Method

In this paper, for clarifying the formation mechanism of the sliver defect on the surface of automobile exposed panel, the specific distribution characteristics of inclusions along the sliver defect were studied in detailed. The three-dimensional morphology, size, composition, quantity, and distribution of inclusions in the defect and non-defect zone of automobile exposed panel were compared and analyzed with quantitative electrolysis method. It is found that the Al2O3 inclusions are in aggregated or chain-like shape along the sliver defect with the size of 3-10 μm. The Al2O3 inclusion aggregation parts are distributed discretely along the rolling direction, with 3-7 mm in spacing, 6-7 mm in length, and about 3 mm in width. The inclusion area fraction is 0.04-0.16% with an average value of 0.08%, the number density of 2 inclusions is 40/mm and the average inclusion spacing is 25.13 μm. The inclusion spacing in chain-like inclusion parts is 40-160 μm with an average value of 68.76 μm. In the non-defect zone, the average area fraction and number density of inclusions are decreased to about 0.002% and 1-2/mm, respectively, with the inclusion spacing of 400 μm, and the size of Al2O3 is 1-3 μm.
Characterization and Function Analysis of the Beta-Carotene Oxygenase-like Genes in Carotenoids Metabolism of the Ridgetail White Prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda

Carotenoids are almost universally distributed in living organisms. The oxidative metabolism by carotene oxygenase contributes to the metabolic processes of carotenoids. 15,15ʹ-beta-carotene oxygenase (BCO1) and 9ʹ,10ʹ-beta-carotene oxygenase (BCO2) are two important carotenoid oxygenases. In order to understand the function of carotenoid oxygenases in crustaceans, seven genes encoding carotenoid oxygenases (named EcBCO-like) were isolated from the transcriptome database of Exopalaemon carinicauda. After phylogenetic analysis with carotenoid oxygenases reported in other species, EcBCO-like1, EcBCO-like3, and EcBCO-like6 were chosen for further functional study. The prawns after EcBCO-like1 knockdown suffered continuous death, which suggested its important role for the survival of the animals. For the prawns after EcBCO-like3 knockdown, no phenotype change was observed. The prawns after EcBCO-like6 knockdown showed color changes in their hepatopancreas when they were fed with carotenoids-containing diet, and the content of carotenoid in their hepatopancreas was much higher than that in the control prawns. The present study will pave the way for further understanding the carotenoids metabolism in the prawns.
Using gradient-free local search within MOEAs for the treatment of constrained MOPs

Evolutionary algorithms are widely used for the treatment of multi-objective optimization problems due to their global nature, robustness, and their minimal assumptions on the model. In turn, it is widely accepted that they still need quite a few resources in order to obtain a suitable finite size approximation of the Pareto set/front of a given problem. In this work, we make a first effort to study the effect of computing multi-objective descent directions for local search within evolutionary algorithms without explicitly using gradient information. Numerical results on some bi-objective problems show the benefit of the chosen approach.
Cortical Activation During Shoulder and Finger Movements in Healthy Adults: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study

Characterization of cortical activation patterns during movement of the upper extremity in healthy adults is helpful in understanding recovery mechanisms following neurological disorders. This study explores cortical activation patterns associated with movements of the shoulder and fingers in healthy adults using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twelve healthy right-handed participants were recruited. Two motor tasks (shoulder abduction and finger extension) with two different trial lengths (10 s and 20 s) were performed in a sitting position at a rate of 0.5 Hz. The hemodynamic response, as indicated by oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) and deoxy-hemoglobin (HbR), over both hemispheres was acquired using a 54-channel fNIRS system. We found a generalized bilateral cortical activation during both motor tasks with greater activation in the contralateral compared to the ipsilateral primary motor cortex. Particularly in the more medial part of the contralateral hemisphere, significant higher activation was found during the shoulder compared to finger movements. Furthermore, cortical activation patterns are affected not only by motor tasks but also by trial lengths. HbO is more sensitive to detect cortical activation during finger movements in longer trials, while HbR is a better surrogate to capture active areas during shoulder movement in shorter trials. Based on these findings, reporting both HbO and HbR is strongly recommended for future fNIRS studies, and trial lengths should be taken into account when designing experiments and explaining results. Our findings demonstrating distinct cortical activation patterns associated with shoulder and finger movements in healthy adults provide a foundation for future research to study recovery mechanisms following neurological disorders.
Antimander: open source detection of gerrymandering though multi-objective evolutionary algorithms

Redrawing congressional district boundaries for political advantage (i.e. gerrymandering) is a recognized problem in the United States. Legal cases opposing gerrymandering have been stymied by the lack of objective measures showing that a districting is unnecessarily biased relative to other viable designs, given a set of competing considerations (such as fairness, compactness, and competitiveness). As a result, there is interest in methods that can show that a candidate districting's fairness could be significantly improved without sacrificing any other considerations. We propose multi-objective evolutionary algorithms as a promising approach for identifying gerrymandering, and districting as a real-world benchmark for the field. Our contributions are (1) to design an encoding and operators appropriate to the problem, and explore enhancements such as novelty search and feasible-infeasible search, (2) to set baseline results, and (3) to release an open-source tool called Antimander, with the hope of inspiring future research aimed at solving an important political problem.
Di- and Tri-nuclear VIII and CrIII Complexes of Dipyridyltriazoles: Ligand Rearrangements, Mixed Valency and Ferromagnetic Coupling

The first dinuclear and trinuclear chromium(III) and dinuclear vanadium(III) complexes of N4-R-substituted-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole (Rdpt) ligands have been prepared by solvothermal complexations under inert atmospheres, and characterized. The reactions of CrIII and VIII with adpt (R = amino) resulted in deamination of the ligand and yielded the dinuclear doubly-triazolate bridged complexes [V2III(dpt−)2Cl4] (1) and [Cr2III(dpt−)2Cl4] (2). In the case of the CrIII complex 2 this bridging results in a rare example of ferromagnetic coupling for a dinuclear CrIII compound. DFT studies confirm that in 2 the ferromagnetic coupling pathways dominate over the antiferromagnetic pathways, whereas in 1 the reverse occurs, consistent with the observed overall antiferromagnetic coupling in that case. It was also found that the use of different additives in the reaction allows the nuclearity of the CrIII product to be manipulated, giving either the dinuclear system, or the first example of a trinuclear circular helicate for a Rdpt complex, [Cr3III(dpt)3Cl6]·1¾MeCN·¼DCM (3). Reaction of N4-pydpt (R = 4-pyridyl) with VIII led to an unusual shift of the pyridyl substituent from N4 to N1 of the triazole, forming the ligand isomer N1-pydpt, and giving a dinuclear doubly-triazole bridged complex, [V2III(N1-pydpt)2Cl6]·2MeCN (4). Reaction with CrIII results in loss of the 4-pyridyl ring and a mixture of the di- and trinuclear complexes, 2 and 3. Interestingly, partial oxidation of the VIII in dinuclear complex 4 to vanadyl VIV=O was identified by crystallographic analysis of partially oxidized single crystals, [(VIVO)0.84(VIII)1.16(N1-pydpt)2Cl5.16]·0.84H2O·1.16MeCN (5).
Type I Interferon Regulates the Survival and Functionality of B Cells in Rainbow Trout

Interferons (IFNs) orchestrate antiviral responses in jawed vertebrates and can be classified into three types based on different aspects of their genomic organization, structure and receptors through which they signal and function. Generally, type I and type III IFNs include cytokines that directly induce an antiviral response, whereas type II IFNs are well-known for their immunomodulatory role during viral infections. In mammals, type I IFNs have been shown to also regulate many aspects of B cell development and differentiation. Yet, these functions have been only faintly investigated for teleost IFNs. Thus, in the current study, we have examined the effects of a model type I rainbow trout IFN molecule (IFNa) on blood naïve (IgM+IgD+) B cells, comparing them to those exerted by type II IFN (IFNγ). Our results demonstrate that IFNa increases the survival of naïve rainbow trout B cells, in the absence of lymphoproliferative effects, by rescuing them from spontaneous apoptosis. Additionally, IFNa increased the phagocytic capacity of blood IgM+IgD+ B cells and augmented the number of IgM-secreting cells in blood leukocyte cultures. IFNγ, on the other hand, had only minor effects up-regulating IgM secretion, whereas it increased the phagocytic capacity of IgM− cells in the cultures. Finally, given the recent identification of 9 mx genes in rainbow trout, we have also established which of these genes were transcriptionally regulated in blood naïve B cells in response to IFNa. This study points to a previously undescribed role for teleost type I IFNs in the regulation of B cell responses.
Short Communication IDENTIFICATION OF CYTOCHROME P450 ENZYMES INVOLVED IN THE METABOLISM OF 4-METHYL--PYRROLIDINOPROPIOPHENONE, A NOVEL SCHEDULED DESIGNER DRUG, IN HUMAN LIVER MICROSOMES

Methyl--pyrrolidinopropiophenone (MPPP) is a new drug of abuse. It is believed to have an abuse potential similar to that of amphetamines. Previous studies with Wistar rats had shown that MPPP was metabolized mainly by hydroxylation in position 4 fol- lowed by dehydrogenation to the corresponding carboxylic acid. The aim of the study presented here was to identify the human hepatic cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes involved in the biotransformation of MPPP to 4-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidinopropiophenone. Baculovi- rus-infected insect cell microsomes and human liver microsomes were used for this purpose. Only CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 catalyzed this hydroxylation. The apparent Km and Vmax values for the latter were 9.8 2.5 M and 13.6 0.7 pmol/min/pmol P450, respectively. CYP2C19 was not saturable over the tested substrate range (2-1000 M) and interestingly showed a biphasic kinetic profile with apparent Km,1 and Vmax,1 values of 47.2 12.5 M and 8.1 1.4 pmol/min/pmol P450, respectively. Experiments with pooled human liver microsomes also revealed biphasic nonsaturable kinetics with apparent Km,1 and Vmax,1 values of 57.0 20.9 M and 199.7 59.7 pmol/min/mg of protein for the high affinity enzyme, respectively. Incubation of 2 M MPPP with 3 M of the CYP2D6-specific inhibitor quinidine resulted in significant (p < 0.01) turnover inhibition (11.8 1.6% of control). Based on kinetic data corrected for the relative activity factors, CYP2D6 is the enzyme mainly responsible for MPPP hydroxylation, confirmed by CYP2D6 inhibition studies.
Time-dependent automatic parameter configuration of a local search algorithm

In combinatorial optimization, where problems are often NP-hard, metaheuristics and other approximation algorithms frequently have many parameters in order to adapt to a wide range of scenarios. Very often, obtaining good values for these parameters is a long and tedious manual task but automatic algorithm configuration has been shown to overcome this issue. At the same time, it may also be useful for parameter values to change during the search in order to fine-tune the search process. These parameters include low-level heuristic components. In this article, we propose to use automatic parameter configuration coupled with a control mechanism that switches between parameter configurations at specific times during the search, as an in-between classic parameter tuning and selection hyperheuristics. We test this idea on a local search algorithm, whose parameters allow for selecting different design components, and three combinatorial problems: the Permutation Flowshop Problem, the Traveling Salesman Problem, and the Quadratic Assignment Problem. In comparisons with traditional static automatic parameter configuration, the proposed approach time-dependent is shown to perform better. Additionally, better-performing local search component configurations are identified and discussed.
Combined kriging surrogate model for efficient global optimization using the optimal weighting method

When solving design optimization problems using evolutionary algorithms, the optimization process can be computationally expensive. To accelerate the optimization process, ordinary Kriging (OK) surrogate models are often used with the efficient global optimization (EGO) framework. However, in some cases the EGO framework can lead to a globally inaccurate OK surrogate model when many sample points are close to each other. One way to tackle this issue is to use a regression OK model instead of an interpolation OK model. In this paper, we propose an interpolation method which solve the issue by combining a local and a global OK model fitted to different set of the sample points. This paper describes the optimal weighting method used to combine the different Kriging models and compares the performance of the new method to interpolation and regression OK for the modified Branin test function. We find that when many sample points exist close to each other, the combined Kriging method outperform both the interpolation and the regression OK.
Use of stump diameter to estimate diameter at breast height and tree volume for major pine species in El Salto, Durango (Mexico)

Summary Foresters may require to estimate the diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) and the volume of trees that have been cut, and may only have available the stumps as an indicator of the size of the trees. In the present study, equations for predicting both d.b. h. and volume from stump diameter inside bark were developed for major pine species in the forest region of El Salto, Durango (Mexico). The d.b. h. was estimated with relatively high accuracy with a simple linear model. The tree volume was also estimated with high precision by use of an allometric equation. Weighted linear and non-linear least squares methods were used to take into account the problem of heteroscedasticity observed in the volume – stump diameter relationships. The results of the non-linear extra sum of squares method and of the F tests indicated that species-based equations for estimating both d.b. h. and volume from stump diameter are required.
Modulation of Brain Functional Connectivity and Efficiency During an Endurance Cycling Task: A Source-Level EEG and Graph Theory Approach

Various methods have been employed to investigate different aspects of brain activity modulation related to the performance of a cycling task. In our study, we examined how functional connectivity and brain network efficiency varied during an endurance cycling task. For this purpose, we reconstructed EEG signals at source level: we computed current densities in 28 anatomical regions of interest (ROIs) through the eLORETA algorithm, and then we calculated the lagged coherence of the 28 current density signals to define the adjacency matrix. To quantify changes of functional network efficiency during an exhaustive cycling task, we computed three graph theoretical indices: local efficiency (LE), global efficiency (GE), and density (D) in two different frequency bands, Alpha and Beta bands, that indicate alertness processes and motor binding/fatigue, respectively. LE is a measure of functional segregation that quantifies the ability of a network to exchange information locally. GE is a measure of functional integration that quantifies the ability of a network to exchange information globally. D is a global measure of connectivity that describes the extent of connectivity in a network. This analysis was conducted for six different task intervals: pre-cycling; initial, intermediate, and final stages of cycling; and active recovery and passive recovery. Fourteen participants performed an incremental cycling task with simultaneous EEG recording and rated perceived exertion monitoring to detect the participants’ exhaustion. LE remained constant during the endurance cycling task in both bands. Therefore, we speculate that fatigue processes did not affect the segregated neural processing. We observed an increase of GE in the Alpha band only during cycling, which could be due to greater alertness processes and preparedness to stimuli during exercise. Conversely, although D did not change significantly over time in the Alpha band, its general reduction in the Beta bands during cycling could be interpreted within the framework of the neural efficiency hypothesis, which posits a reduced neural activity for expert/automated performances. We argue that the use of graph theoretical indices represents a clear methodological advancement in studying endurance performance.
A Maize ZmAT6 Gene Confers Aluminum Tolerance via Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the primary limiting factor that affects crop yields in acid soil. However, the genes that contribute to the Al tolerance process in maize are still poorly understood. Previous studies have predicted that ZmAT6 is a novel protein which could be upregulated under Al stress condition. Here, we found that ZmAT6 is expressed in many tissues and organs and can be dramatically induced by Al in both the roots and shoots but particularly in the shoots. The overexpression of ZmAT6 in maize and Arabidopsis plants increased their root growth and reduced the accumulation of Al, suggesting the contribution of ZmAT6 to Al tolerance. Moreover, the ZmAT6 transgenic maize plants had lower contents of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (ROS), but much higher proline content and even lower Evans blue absorption in the roots compared with the wild type. Furthermore, the activity of several enzymes of the antioxidant system, such as peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), increased in ZmAT6 transgenic maize plants, particularly SOD. Consistently, the expression of ZmSOD in transgenic maize was predominant upregulated by Al stress. Taken together, these findings revealed that ZmAT6 could at least partially confer enhanced tolerance to Al toxicity by scavenging ROS in maize.
Increased Dendritic Branching of and Reduced δ-GABAA Receptor Expression on Parvalbumin-Positive Interneurons Increase Inhibitory Currents and Reduce Synaptic Plasticity at Puberty in Female Mouse CA1 Hippocampus

Parvalbumin positive (PV+) interneurons play a pivotal role in cognition and are known to be regulated developmentally and by ovarian hormones. The onset of puberty represents the end of a period of optimal learning when impairments in synaptic plasticity are observed in the CA1 hippocampus of female mice. Therefore, we tested whether the synaptic inhibitory current generated by PV+ interneurons is increased at puberty and contributes to these deficits in synaptic plasticity. To this end, the spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) was recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques from CA1 pyramidal cells in the hippocampal slice before (PND 28–32) and after the onset of puberty in female mice (~PND 35–44, assessed by vaginal opening). sIPSC frequency and amplitude were significantly increased at puberty, but these measures were reduced by 1 μM DAMGO [1 μM, (D-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol)-enkephalin], which silences PV+ activity via μ-opioid receptor targets. At puberty, dendritic branching of PV+ interneurons in GAD67-GFP mice was increased, while expression of the δ subunit of the GABAA receptor (GABAR) on these interneurons decreased. Both frequency and amplitude of sIPSCs were significantly increased in pre-pubertal mice with reduced δ expression, suggesting a possible mechanism. Theta burst induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), an in vitro model of learning, is impaired at puberty but was restored to optimal levels by DAMGO administration, implicating inhibition via PV+ interneurons as one cause. Administration of the neurosteroid/stress steroid THP (30 nM, 3α-OH, 5α-pregnan-20-one) had no effect on sIPSCs. These findings suggest that phasic inhibition generated by PV+ interneurons is increased at puberty when it contributes to impairments in synaptic plasticity. These results may have relevance for the changes in cognitive function reported during early adolescence.
Performance Evaluation of ACELP CODECs against the Compression Ratio and the Change in the Spoken Language and Accent

Speech coding is the process of digitizing the voice in a few bits as possible. Parametric Coding is the encoding technique at which the parameters of the speech signal will be extracted frame by frame during the encoding process. Code Excited Linear Prediction “CELP” is one major type of that category of CODECs. The comparison between the CODECs is based upon the band width, the speech quality and the associated CODEC delay. It has been proven that the quality is inversely proportional to the compression ratio. But what will happen if the speech is compressed more and at the same time the spoken language changed? This paper is made to answer about this question. In this paper an extensive testing is done on ITU G.723. 1 (5.3 kbps) and 3GPP Adaptive Multi Rate “AMR” (12.2 kbps). The test is made using 3 groups of speech samples (English, Arabic and Cairo accent) with different speakers’ gender. The evaluation method used is the ITU PESQ algorithm. It has been proved that the speech quality dramatically decreases as the compression ratio increases, which will be rather lower and unstable for Arabic and Cairo accent over that of the English language.