Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic construction of topological flat-band models by molecular-orbital representation

On the basis of the ``molecular-orbital'' representation which describes generic flat-band models, we propose a systematic way to construct a class of flat-band models with finite-range hoppings that have topological natures. In these models, the topological natures are encoded not into the flat band itself but into the dispersive bands touching the flat band. Such a band structure may become a source of exotic phenomena arising from the combination of flat bands, topology, and correlations.
Valence-bond solids, vestigial order, and emergent SO(5) symmetry in a two-dimensional quantum magnet

We introduce a quantum spin-1/2 model with many-body correlated Heisenberg-type interactions on the 2D square lattice, designed to host a plaquette valence-bond solid (PVBS) ground state breaking $\mathbb{Z}_4$ symmetry. We carry out a detailed quantum Monte Carlo study of the quantum phase transition between the antiferromagnetic (AFM) and PVBS states. We find a first-order transition, in contrast to previously studied continuous 'deconfined' transitions between the AFM and columnar valence-bond solids. We show that the coexistence state at the AFM--PVBS transition is unexpectedly associated with SO(5) symmetry, which may indicate that the transition is connected to a deconfined critical point. We also discuss the first-order transition in the context of a recent proposal of spinons with fracton properties in the PVBS state, concluding that the fracton scenario is unlikely. Further, we discover a novel type of eight-fold degenerate VBS phase that breaks the remaining $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry of the PVBS phase. The PVBS phase can then be regarded as an intermediate 'vestigial' phase, and we develop a general graph-theoretic approach to describe the two-stage discrete symmetry breaking. At finite temperature, we observe fluctuation-induced first-order transitions, which are hallmarks of vestigial phase transitions. We also mention possible connections to the SO(5) theory of high-T$_{\rm c}$ superconductivity.
THE SECOND MINIMUM/MAXIMUM VALUE OF THE NUMBER OF CYCLIC SUBGROUPS OF FINITE $p$-GROUPS

Let $C(G)$ be the poset of cyclic subgroups of a finite group $G$ and let $\mathscr{P}$ be the class of $p$-groups of order $p^{n}$ ($n\geq 3$). Consider the function $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}:\mathscr{P}\longrightarrow (0,1]$ given by $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}(G)=|C(G)|/|G|$. In this paper, we determine the second minimum value of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$, as well as the corresponding minimum points. Since the problem of finding the second maximum value of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$ has been solved for $p=2$, we focus on the case of odd primes in determining the second maximum.
Semileptonic decays of charmed mesons to light scalar mesons

Within the framework of covariant confined quark model, we compute the transition form factors of $D$ and $D_s$ mesons decaying to light scalar mesons $f_0(980)$ and $a_0(980)$. The transition form factors are then utilized to compute the semileptonic branching fractions. We study the channels namely, $D_{(s)}^+ \to f_0(980) \ell^+ \nu_\ell$ and $D \to a_0(980) \ell^+ \nu_\ell$ for $\ell = e$ and $\mu$. For computation of semileptonic branching fractions, we consider the $a_0(980)$ meson to be the conventional quark-antiquark structure and the $f_0(980)$ meson as the admixture of $s\bar{s}$ and light quark-antiquark pairs. Our findings are found to support the recent BESIII data.
Supervised Learning for Non-Sequential Data with the Canonical Polyadic Decomposition

There has been growing interest, both theoretical and practical, in utilizing tensor networks (TNs) for the analysis and design of machine learning systems. TNs have been shown to be able to handle both dense data (e.g., standard regression or classification tasks) and sparse data (e.g., recommender systems and one-hot encoded categorical features), unlike support vector machines and traditional deep learning techniques. Such a tensor-based framework can be interpreted as an application of local feature mappings to the data, which, through the outer product operator, allows for modelling all interactions of functions of the features; the corresponding weights are represented as a tensor network for computational tractability. In this paper, we derive efficient prediction and learning algorithms for supervised learning using the Canonical Polyadic (CP) decomposition, including suitable regularization and initialization schemes. We empirically demonstrate that the CP-based model performs at least on par with the existing models based on the Tensor Train (TT) decomposition on standard non-sequential tasks, while it outperforms TT-based models on MovieLens 100K dataset. Furthermore, in contrast to previous works which apply two-dimensional local feature maps to the data, we generalize the framework to handle arbitrarily high-dimensional maps, which equips the tensor-based models with enhanced expressiveness. We also propose a normalized version of the feature maps to address the stability and generalization capabilities. Our experiments show that this leads to dramatic improvements over the existing unnormalized and/or two-dimensional maps, as well as to a level of performance on non-sequential supervised learning tasks which is comparable with other machine learning models, including fully-connected neural networks.
ABCTracker: an easy-to-use, cloud-based application for tracking multiple objects

Visual multi-object tracking has the potential to accelerate many forms of quantitative analyses, especially in research communities investigating the motion, behavior, or social interactions within groups of animals. Despite its potential for increasing analysis throughput, complications related to accessibility, adaptability, accuracy, or scalable application arise with existing tracking systems. Several iterations of prototyping and testing have led us to a multi-object tracking system -- ABCTracker -- that is: accessible in both system as well as technical knowledge requirements, easily adaptable to new videos, and capable of producing accurate tracking data through a mixture of automatic and semi-automatic tracking features.
Analysis of Road Accidents Lethality in Lebanon using Machine Learning

Road accidents amount to a significant loss of life in Lebanon. Hence an insight on the contributing factors of fatal accidents is of paramount importance. In this paper, Ensemble machine learning structured from Support Vector Machine and bagging of Decision Trees was applied to road accident data to analyze road accidents lethality on Lebanese roads. A sensitivity analysis was also carried to examine the influence of multiple factors on fatality occurrence in an accident. The model was constructed, trained, tested, and validated using 8,482 accident samples. Accident type, severity, and location were found to have the strongest impact on accident casualty.
Semi-martingale driven variational principles

Spearheaded by the recent efforts to derive stochastic geophysical fluid dynamics models, we present a general framework for introducing stochasticity into variational principles through the concept of a semi-martingale driven variational principle and constraining the component variables to be compatible with the driving semi-martingale. Within this framework and the corresponding choice of constraints, the Euler–Poincaré equation can be easily deduced. We show that the deterministic theory is a special case of this class of stochastic variational principles. Moreover, this is a natural framework that enables us to correctly characterize the pressure term in incompressible stochastic fluid models. Other general constraints can also be incorporated as long as they are compatible with the driving semi-martingale.
WISDoM: a framework for the Analysis of Wishart distributed matrices

WISDoM (Wishart Distributed Matrices) is a new framework for the characterization of symmetric positive-definite matrices associated to experimental samples, like covariance or correlation matrices, based on the Wishart distribution as a null model. WISDoM can be applied to tasks of supervised learning, like classification, even when such matrices are generated by data of different dimensionality (e.g. time series with same number of variables but different time sampling). In particular, we show the application of the method for the ranking of features associated to electro encephalogram (EEG) data with a time series design, providing a theoretically sound approach for this type of studies.
Howard Harry Rosenbrock. 16 December 1920—21 October 2010

Howard H. Rosenbrock was a major figure in automatic control. His career started in R&D in post-war industry, working on diverse challenging applications. He then moved to research in universities, where he made fundamental contributions to algebraic systems theory and to control design methods assisted by interactive computing. He established the Control Systems Centre at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, which became a centre of excellence under his leadership.
Facile preparation of high conductive silver electrodes by dip-coating followed by quick sintering

With polyol-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as raw materials, the silver electrodes with high conductivity were fabricated via a dip-coating method followed by sintering process, and the effects of the dip-coating and sintering process on the conductivity and surface roughness of silver electrodes were investigated in detail. The silver film with a thickness of 1.97 µm and a roughness of about 2 nm can be prepared after dip-coating at a pulling rate of 500 µm s−1 for 40 coating times. The non-conductive dip-coated silver films are transformed into conductive silver electrodes after conventional sintering in a muffle oven, infrared sintering and microwave sintering, respectively. Compared with high sintering temperature and long sintering time of conventional sintering and infrared sintering, microwave sintering can achieve quick sintering of silver films to fabricate high conductive silver electrodes. The silver electrodes with a sheet resistance of 0.75 Ω sq−1 and a surface roughness of less than 1 nm can be obtained after microwave sintering at 500 W for 50 s. The adjustable dip-coating method followed by quick microware sintering is an appropriate approach to prepare high conductive AgNPs-based electrodes for organic light-emitting diodes or other devices.
The histone H3K4 demethylase JARID1A directly interacts with haematopoietic transcription factor GATA1 in erythroid cells through its second PHD domain

Chromatin remodelling and transcription factors play important roles in lineage commitment and development through control of gene expression. Activation of selected lineage-specific genes and repression of alternative lineage-affiliated genes result in tightly regulated cell differentiation transcriptional programmes. However, the complex functional and physical interplay between transcription factors and chromatin-modifying enzymes remains elusive. Recent evidence has implicated histone demethylases in normal haematopoietic differentiation as well as in malignant haematopoiesis. Here, we report an interaction between H3K4 demethylase JARID1A and the haematopoietic-specific master transcription proteins SCL and GATA1 in red blood cells. Specifically, we observe a direct physical contact between GATA1 and the second PHD domain of JARID1A. This interaction has potential implications for normal and malignant haematopoiesis.
Mechanisms of endothelial cell coverage by pericytes: computational modelling of cell wrapping and in vitro experiments

Pericytes (PCs) wrap around endothelial cells (ECs) and perform diverse functions in physiological and pathological processes. Although molecular interactions between ECs and PCs have been extensively studied, the morphological processes at the cellular level and their underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. In this study, using a simple cellular Potts model, we explored the mechanisms for EC wrapping by PCs. Based on the observed in vitro cell wrapping in three-dimensional PC–EC coculture, the model identified four putative contributing factors: preferential adhesion of PCs to the extracellular matrix (ECM), strong cell–cell adhesion, PC surface softness and larger PC size. While cell–cell adhesion can contribute to the prevention of cell segregation and the degree of cell wrapping, it cannot determine the orientation of cell wrapping alone. While atomic force microscopy revealed that PCs have a larger Young’s modulus than ECs, the experimental analyses supported preferential ECM adhesion and size asymmetry. We also formulated the corresponding energy minimization problem and numerically solved this problem for specific cases. These results give biological insights into the role of PC–ECM adhesion in PC coverage. The modelling framework presented here should also be applicable to other cell wrapping phenomena observed in vivo.
Comparative evaluation of natural enamel wear against polished yitrium tetragonal zirconia and polished lithium disilicate – An in vivo study

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare wear of the natural teeth against polished yttrium tetragonal zirconia and polished lithium disilicate crowns. Study Setting and Design: Experimental type of study. Materials and Methods: Polished yttrium tetragonal zirconia and polished lithium disilicate crowns were fabricated and given to 15 patients each (n=15). Crowns were fabricated opposing natural tooth. Patients were recalled after 1year and impression were recorded with opposing arch and baseline and final cast were scanned and superimposed using 3 D scanner. Statistical Analysis Used: Data collected by experiments were computerized and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. The normality of the data was checked using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The data were normally distributed. Statistical analysis was done by using tools of descriptive statistics such as Mean, and Standard Deviation for representing quantitative data (enamel wear measured in μm) Parametric tests: Student t-test for intergroup comparison was done. Results: No statistical difference were found between wear of opposing enamel for polished yttrium tetragonal and polished lithium disiliacte crowns [p=0.446]. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that polished lithium disilicate showed better clinical outcome than polished yttrium tetragonal zirconia, though the evaluated data was statistically non significant.
Interdisciplinary management of root perforation along with regeneration of bony fenestrations and dehiscence

A surface alveolar bony defect communicating with the root canal perforation can be either endodontic or periodontal origin. Breach in the continuity of the cortical plate may lead to the development of dehiscence and fenestration alveolar defects. This case report discusses the regeneration of periodontal tissues in fenestration and dehiscence defects that had developed around traumatized incisors, using a type I collagen membrane and bone graft along with root perforation repair emphasizing the requirement of an interdisciplinary approach for the management of endodontic-periodontal lesions. The alveolar defects such as fenestration and dehiscences profoundly affect the prognosis of both periodontal and endodontic treatment outcomes; therefore, it should be carefully diagnosed and managed.
Dental age estimation methods in adult dentitions: An overview

Age estimation is one of the essential factors in human identification. Teeth bestowed with features such as hardness and resilience to external factors such as chemicals, putrefaction, and fire explosions serve as a durable source in age estimation. Concurrently, they present with peculiar and comparable features of age-associated regressive changes along with dental procedures, which make them a mirror reflection of age changes from cradle to the grave of an individual. Age estimation in adults poses an enigma to the forensic dentists because as the age advances, the dentitions get influenced by numerous exogenous and endogenous factors which may lead to discrepancies between dental age and chronologic age. Since 1950, many authors have presented various methods for assessing age of individuals above 18 years. Here is an overview of the different methods with their application and limitations along with a mention of newer methods developed and tested with the formulation of population-specific formulas by Indian authors. The data have been sourced from different journal articles retrieved through Google Scholar and PubMed Central and articles received as study materials during the fellowship program in forensic odontology using keywords such as age estimation, adult dentitions, dentin translucency, and cementum annulations.
Role of Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Receptor on the Proliferation and Survival of Microglia Following Systemic Nerve and Cuprizone-Induced Injuries

Microglia are the innate immune cells of the CNS and their proliferation, activation, and survival have previously been shown to be highly dependent on macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (CSF1R). Here we investigated the impact of the receptor in such processes using two different models of nerve injuries, namely hypoglossal axotomy and cuprizone-induced demyelination. Both models are associated with a robust microgliosis. The role of CSF1R was investigated using the gene deletion Cre/Lox system, which allows the conditional knock-out following tamoxifen administration. We found that after 5 weeks of cuprizone diet that CSF1R suppression caused a significant impairment of microglia function. A reduced microgliosis was detected in the corpus collosum of CSF1R knock-out mice compared to controls. In contrast to cuprizone model, the overall number of Iba1 cells was unchanged at all the times evaluated following hypoglossal axotomy in WT and cKO conditions. After nerve lesion, a tremendous proliferation was noticed in the ipsilateral hypoglossal nucleus to a similar level in both knock-out and wild-type groups. We also observed infiltration of bone-marrow derived cells specifically in CSF1R-deficient mice, these cells tend to compensate the CSF1R signaling pathway suppression in resident microglia. Taking together our results suggest a different role of CSF1R in microglia depending on the model. In the pathologic context of cuprizone-induced demyelination CSF1R signaling pathway is essential to trigger proliferation and survival of microglia, while this is not the case in a model of systemic nerve injury. M-CSF/CSF1R is consequently not the unique system involved in microgliosis following nerve damages.
Disrupted Brain Structural Connectivity Network in Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Cognitive Impairment With No Dementia

The alteration of the functional topological organization in subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (SIVCIND) patients has been illuminated by previous neuroimaging studies. However, in regard to the changes in the structural connectivity of brain networks, little has been reported. In this study, a total of 27 subjects, consisting of 13 SIVCIND patients, and 14 normal controls, were recruited. Each of the structural connectivity networks was constructed by diffusion tensor tractography. Subsequently, graph theory, and network-based statistics (NBS) were employed to analyze the whole-brain mean factional anisotropy matrix. After removing the factor of age, gender, and duration of formal education, the clustering coefficients (Cp) and global efficiency (Eglob) were significantly decreased and the mean path length (Lp) was significantly increased in SIVCIND patients compared with normal controls. Using the combination of four network topological parameters as the classification feature, a classification accuracy of 78% was obtained by leave-one-out cross-validation for all subjects with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 86%. Moreover, we also found decreased structural connections in the SIVCIND patients, which mainly concerned fronto-occipital, fronto-subcortical, and tempo-occipital connections (NBS corrected, p < 0.01). Additionally, significantly altered nodal centralities were found in several brain regions of the SIVCIND patients, mainly located in the prefrontal, subcortical, and temporal cortices. These results suggest that cognitive impairment in SIVCIND patients is associated with disrupted topological organization and provide structural evidence for developing reliable biomarkers related to cognitive decline in SIVCIND.
Early Maternal and Social Deprivation Expands Neural Stem Cell Population Size and Reduces Hippocampus/Amygdala-Dependent Fear Memory

Early life stress can exert detrimental or beneficial effects on neural development and postnatal behavior depending on the timing, duration, strength, and ability to control the stressors. In this study, we utilized a maternal and social deprivation (MSD) model to investigate the effects of early life stress on neural stem cells (NSCs) and neurogenesis in the adult brain. We found that MSD during the stress-hyporesponsive period (SHRP) (early-MSD), when corticosterone secretion is suppressed, increased the size of the NSC population, whereas the same stress beyond the SHRP abrogated these effects. Early-MSD enhanced neurogenesis not only in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, one of the classic neurogenic regions, but also in the amygdala. In addition, mice exposed to early-MSD exhibited a reduction in amygdala/hippocampus-dependent fear memory. These results suggest that animals exposed to early life stress during the SHRP have reinforced stress resilience to cope with perceived stressors to maintain a normal homeostatic state.
Co-production of Nisin and γ-Aminobutyric Acid by Engineered Lactococcus lactis for Potential Application in Food Preservation

Microbiological contamination and oxidative damage are the two main challenges in maintaining quality and improving shelf-life of foods. Here, we developed a Lactococcus lactis fermentation system that could simultaneously produce nisin, an antimicrobial peptide, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an antioxidant agent. In this system, we metabolically engineered a nisin producing strain L. lactis F44 for GABA production by expression of glutamate decarboxylase and glutamate/GABA antiporter. GABA biosynthesis could facilitate nisin production through enhancing acid resistance of the strain. By applying a two-stage pH-control fermentation strategy, the engineered strain yielded up to 9.12 g/L GABA, which was 2.2 times higher than that of pH-constant fermentation. Furthermore, we demonstrated the potential application of the freeze-dried fermentation product as a preservative to improve the storage performance of meat and fruit. These results suggested that the fermentation product of nisin–GABA co-producing strain could serve as a cost-effective, easily prepared, and high-performance food preservative.