Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed Multirobot Coverage Control of Nonconvex Environments With Guarantees

In this article, we revisit the problem of distributed coverage with a fleet of robots in convex and nonconvex environments. In the majority of approaches for this problem, the environment is partitioned, each robot is assigned to a partition and each robot moves toward a location that improves the service quality in its partition. These approaches converge to a locally optimal solution; however, there is no guarantee on the quality of the locally optimal solution with respect to the globally optimal solution. We propose distributed algorithms for the coverage problem in convex continuous, nonconvex continuous, and metric graphs. We consider subadditive sensing functions, which capture scenarios where the service quality of a location is proportional to the distance between the robot and the location. For these sensing functions, we provide the first constant factor approximation algorithms for the distributed coverage problem. We also characterize the time and communication complexity of the proposed algorithm and show that the robots converge to a near-optimal solution in polynomial time. The approximation factor guarantees on the solution quality requires twice the conventional communication range; however, the extensive simulation results show that the proposed algorithm provides a close to optimal solution with the conventional communication range as well, and outperforms several existing algorithms in convex, nonconvex continuous environments and metric graphs.
NUCLEAR STAR-FORMING RING OF THE MILKY WAY: SIMULATIONS

We present hydrodynamic simulations of gas clouds in the central kpc region of the Milky Way that is modeled with a three-dimensional bar potential. Our simulations consider realistic gas cooling and heating, star formation, and supernova feedback. A ring of dense gas clouds forms as a result of X1–X2 orbit transfer, and our potential model results in a ring radius of ∼200 pc, which coincides with the extraordinary reservoir of dense molecular clouds in the inner bulge, the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). The gas clouds accumulated in the CMZ can reach high enough densities to form stars, and with an appropriate choice of simulation parameters, we successfully reproduce the observed gas mass and the star formation rate (SFR) in the CMZ, ∼2 × 107 M☉ and ∼0.1 M☉ yr−1. Star formation in our simulations takes place mostly in the outermost X2 orbits, and the SFR per unit surface area outside the CMZ is much lower. These facts suggest that the inner Galactic bulge may harbor a mild version of the nuclear star-forming rings seen in some external disk galaxies. Furthermore, from the relatively small size of the Milky Way's nuclear bulge, which is thought to be a result of sustained star formation in the CMZ, we infer that the Galactic inner bulge probably had a shallower density profile or stronger bar elongation in the past.
Gre Factors Are Required for Biofilm Formation in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium by Targeting Transcription of the csgD Gene

Rdar biofilm formation of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli is a common ancient multicellular behavior relevant in cell–cell and inter-organism interactions equally, as in interaction with biotic and abiotic surfaces. With the expression of the characteristic extracellular matrix components amyloid curli fimbriae and the exopolysaccharide cellulose, the central hub for the delicate regulation of rdar morphotype expression is the orphan transcriptional regulator CsgD. Gre factors are ubiquitously interacting with RNA polymerase to selectively overcome transcriptional pausing. In this work, we found that GreA/GreB are required for expression of the csgD operon and consequently the rdar morphotype. The ability of the Gre factors to suppress transcriptional pausing and the 147 bp 5′-UTR of csgD are required for the stimulatory effect of the Gre factors on csgD expression. These novel mechanism(s) of regulation for the csgD operon might be relevant under specific stress conditions.
Research Paradigm of Network Approaches in Construction Safety and Occupational Health

Construction safety accidents seriously threaten the lives and health of employees; however, the complexity of construction safety problems continues to increase. Network approaches have been widely applied to address accident mechanics. This study aims to review related studies on construction safety and occupational health (CSOH) and summarize the research paradigm of recent decades. We solicited 119 peer-reviewed journal articles and performed a bibliometric analysis as the foundation of the future directions, application bottlenecks, and research paradigm. (1) Based on the keyword cluster, future directions are divided into four layers: key directions, core themes, key problems, and important methods. (2) The network approaches are not independently applied in the CSOH research. It needs to rely on different theories or be combined with other methods and models. However, in terms of approach applications, there are still some common limitations that restrict its application and development. (3) The research paradigm of network analysis process can be divided into four stages: description, explanation, prediction, and control. When the same network method encounters different research objects, it focuses on different analysis processes and plays different roles.
Triggering Shock Wave Positions by Patterned Energy Deposition

The problem considered in this work is shock wave (SW) positioning control in shock-dominated flows. Experiments are conducted to investigate the triggering effect of patterned near-surface electrical discharges on SW reflection from plane walls. In the wind tunnel, M=4, P0 = 4 bar, a solid wedge SW generator is mounted on the upper wall. Q-DC filamentary electrical discharges were arranged on the opposite wall, so that the SW from the wedge impinged on the plasma filaments that are arranged flow-wise in either a row of three or a single central filament. Within the supersonic flow, narrow subsonic areas are actuated by electrical discharge thermal deposition, resulting in pressure redistribution, which, in turn, relocates the reflection of impinging SW to a predefined position. Mie scattering, schlieren imaging, and wall pressure measurements are used to explore the details of plasma-SW interaction. Using Mie scattering, the three-dimensional shape of the SW structure is mapped both before and after electrical discharge activation. Plasma-based triggering mechanisms are described in terms of the physical principles of flow control and a criterion for determining the effectiveness of the flowfield control.
The Flavonoid Molecule Procyanidin Reduces Phase Separation in Model Membranes

Procyanidin extracted from fruits, such as apples, has been shown to improve lipid metabolization. Recently, studies have revealed that procyanidin interacts with lipid molecules in membranes to enhance lipid metabolism; however, direct evidence of the interaction between procyanidin and lipid membranes has not been demonstrated. In this study, the phase behaviors and changes in the membrane fluidity of cell-sized liposomes containing apple procyanidin, procyanidin B2 (PB2), were demonstrated for the first time. Phase separation in 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC)/cholesterol ternary membranes significantly decreased after the addition of PB2. The prospect of applying procyanidin content measurements, using the results of this study, to commercial apple juice was also assessed. Specifically, the PB2 concentrations were 50%, 33%, and 0% for pure apple juice, 2-fold diluted apple juice, and pure water, respectively. The results of the actual juice were correlated with PB2 concentrations and phase-separated liposomes ratios, as well as with the results of experiments involving pure chemicals. In conclusion, the mechanism through which procyanidin improves lipid metabolism through the regulation of membrane fluidity was established.
Validation of a new instrument for measuring disease-specific quality of life: A pilot study among patients with chronic kidney disease and hyperkalemia

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND To prepare for a longitudinal study of the effects of potassium-lowering treatment on quality of life (QOL), we quantified the validity of a new disease-specific instrument for measuring QOL, using data from patients who had hyperkalemia (HK) due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic heart failure, and were also being treated with potassium binders (PBs). METHODS In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 98 patients at five outpatient clinics in Japan. The outcome measures were the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form (SF-36), a widely used generic measure of QOL, and the Quality of Life Disease-specific Impact Scale (QDIS-7), a recently-developed disease-specific measure of QOL. Internal-consistency reliability was quantified, and factor analysis was done to confirm hypothesized QOL dimensions. Validation tests used two external criteria: CKD stage, and PB formulation. PB formulation was used because different formulations are associated with different degrees of patients’ burden. Using a previously-described method, we computed the relative validity (RV) of the two measures. RESULTS Two factor scoring of the SF-36 and one factor scoring of the QDIS-7, as standardized from previous studies, were confirmed. The RVs showed that the QDIS-7 was much more valid than the SF-36, for discriminating between groups defined clinically (by CKD stage), and also between groups defined by PB formulation. Reliability was satisfactory: 0.73–0.95 for the SF-36 and 0.86 for the QDIS-7. CONCLUSIONS The QDIS-7 with CKD or PB attributions was more valid than the SF-36 for measuring the effects of CKD and of PB formulation on QOL.
Wearable Robotics for Impaired Upper-Limb Assistance and Rehabilitation: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Despite more than thirty-five years of research on wearable technologies to assist the upper-limb and a multitude of promising preliminary results, the goal of restoring pre-impairment quality of life of people with physical disabilities has not been fully reached yet. Whether it is for rehabilitation or for assistance, nowadays robotics is still only used in a few high-tech clinics and hospitals, limiting the access to a small amount of people. This work provides a description of the three major “revolutions” occurred in the field (end-effector robots, rigid exoskeletons, and soft exosuits), reviewing forty-eight systems for the upper-limb (excluding hand-only devices) used in eighty-nine studies enrolling a clinical population before June 2022. The review critically discusses the state of the art, analyzes the different technologies, and compares the clinical outcomes, with the goal of determine new potential directions to follow.
Hot Jupiters and the evolution of stellar angular momentum

Abstract A close-in massive planet affects the angular momentum of its host star through tidal and magnetic interactions. The transiting planets allow us to study the distribution of the spin and orbital angular momenta in star-planet systems. Considering a sample of about 70 systems, we find that stars having an effective temperature between 6000 and 6700 K and a rotation period shorter than 10 days show a rotation synchronized with the orbit of their hot Jupiters or have a rotation period twice the orbital period of their planets. Such rotational behaviours cannot be explained on the basis of tidal interactions alone. Besides, the gyrochronology relationship for those systems holds if an angular momentum loss rate smaller by about 30 percent than in stars without hot Jupiters is assumed.
IL17F Expression as an Early Sign of Oxidative Stress-Induced Cytotoxicity/Apoptosis

Interleukin 17F (IL17F) has been found to be involved in various inflammatory pathologies and has recently become a target for therapeutic purposes. In contrast to IL17F secreted by immune cells, the focus of this study is to describe the triggers of IL17F release in non-immune cells with a particular focus on IL17F-induced fibrosis. IL17F induction was examined in human lung epithelial (BEAS-2B) and myeloid cell lines as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after in vitro exposure to aqueous cigarette smoke extract (CSE), inorganic mercury, cadmium or the apoptosis inducer brefeldin A. Fibrosis was examined in vitro, evaluating the transition of human primary dermal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. We observed that all stressors were able to induce IL17F gene expression regardless of cell type. Interestingly, its induction was associated with cytotoxic/apoptotic signs. Inhibiting oxidative stress by N-acetylcysteine abrogated CSE-induced cytotoxic and IL17F-inducing effects. The induction of IL17F was accompanied by IL17F protein expression. The transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts was not influenced by either recombinant IL17F or supernatants of CSE-exposed BEAS-2B. In addition to IL17F secretion by specialized or activated immune cells, we underscored the cell type-independent induction of IL17F by mechanisms of inhibitable oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity. However, IL17F was not involved in dermal fibrosis under the conditions used in this study.
Integrative System Biology Analysis of Transcriptomic Responses to Drought Stress in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Drought is a major abiotic stressor that causes yield losses and limits the growing area for most crops. Soybeans are an important legume crop that is sensitive to water-deficit conditions and suffers heavy yield losses from drought stress. To improve drought-tolerant soybean cultivars through breeding, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of drought tolerance in soybeans. In this study, we applied several transcriptome datasets obtained from soybean plants under drought stress in comparison to those grown under normal conditions to identify novel drought-responsive genes and their underlying molecular mechanisms. We found 2168 significant up/downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 8 core modules using gene co-expression analysis to predict their biological roles in drought tolerance. Gene Ontology and KEGG analyses revealed key biological processes and metabolic pathways involved in drought tolerance, such as photosynthesis, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and cytokinin dehydrogenase activity, and regulation of systemic acquired resistance. Genome-wide analysis of plants’ cis-acting regulatory elements (CREs) and transcription factors (TFs) was performed for all of the identified DEG promoters in soybeans. Furthermore, the PPI network analysis revealed significant hub genes and the main transcription factors regulating the expression of drought-responsive genes in each module. Among the four modules associated with responses to drought stress, the results indicated that GLYMA_04G209700, GLYMA_02G204700, GLYMA_06G030500, GLYMA_01G215400, and GLYMA_09G225400 have high degrees of interconnection and, thus, could be considered as potential candidates for improving drought tolerance in soybeans. Taken together, these findings could lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying drought responses in soybeans, which may useful for engineering drought tolerance in plants.
Effectiveness and Tolerability of Anlotinib Plus PD-1 Inhibitors for Patients with Previously Treated Metastatic Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

Objective This study was to investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of anlotinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for patients with previously treated metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Methods Patients with previously treated metastatic STS who were administered with anlotinib plus PD-1 inhibitors in clinical practice were included for analysis retrospectively. All the common subtypes of advanced STS were appropriate for analysis. Efficacy of the regimen was assessed according to the change of target lesion radiologically, and all the patients were followed up regularly. Safety profile during the combination administration was recorded and documented specifically. Clinical significance according to different STS subtypes was analyzed accordingly. Results From September 2018 to January 2022, a total of 32 patients with previously treated metastatic STS who received anlotinib plus PD-1 blockades were screened for the analysis in this study. The best overall response during the combination administration indicated that partial response was observed in 11 patients, stable disease was noted in 16 patients and progressive disease was found in 6 patients, yielding an objective response rate (ORR) of 34.4% (95% CI: 18.6–53.2%) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 84.4% (95% CI: 67.2–94.7%). Furthermore, the median PFS of 32 patients with metastatic STS was 7.6 months (95% CI: 3.31–11.89) and the median OS was 14.9 months (95% CI: 8.36–21.44). Besides, adverse reactions related to the treatment during anlotinib plus PD-1 inhibitors administration were observed in 29 patients (90.6%), of whom, a total of 13 patients (40.6%) were deemed as grade 3–4 adverse reactions and no grade 5 adverse reaction was found. Specifically, the most common adverse reactions were fatigue, hypertension, hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea and dermal toxicity. Conclusion Anlotinib plus PD-1 inhibitors demonstrated durable and promising efficacy and tolerable safety for patients with metastatic STS in real world. Further prospective clinical trials were warranted to validate the feasibility of anlotinib plus PD-1 blockades clinically.
Quantitative Comparison of Tree Ensemble Learning Methods for Perfume Identification Using a Portable Electronic Nose

Perfume identification (PI) based on an electronic nose (EN) can be used for exposing counterfeit perfumes more time-efficiently and cost-effectively than using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry instruments. During the past five years, decision-tree-based ensemble learning methods, also called tree ensemble learning methods, have demonstrated excellent performance when solving multi-class classification problems. However, the performance of tree ensemble learning methods for the EN-based PI problem remains uncertain. In this paper, four well-known tree ensemble learning classification methods, random forest (RF), stagewise additive modeling using a multi-class exponential loss function (SAMME), gradient-boosting decision tree (GBDT), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), were implemented for PI using our self-designed EN. For fair comparison, all the tested classification methods used as input the same feature data extracted using principal component analysis. Moreover, two benchmark methods, neural network and support vector machine, were also tested with the same experimental setup. The quantitative results of experiments undertaken demonstrated that the mean PI accuracy achieved by XGBoost was up to 97.5%, and that XGBoost outperformed other tested methods in terms of accuracy mean and variance based on our self-designed EN.
A Molecular Systematics and Taxonomy Research on Trechispora (Hydnodontaceae, Trechisporales): Concentrating on Three New Trechispora Species from East Asia

Trechispora are an important genus of wood-inhabiting fungi that have the ability to decompose rotten wood in the forest ecosystem. In this study, we reported three new species of Trechispora: T. murina, T. odontioidea, T. olivacea from a subtropical region of Yunnan Province, China. Species descriptions were based on a combination of morphological features and phylogenetic analyses of the ITS and LSU region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Trechispora murina is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata, grandinioid hymenial surface with a greyish tint, monomitic hyphal system and ellipsoid, thick-walled, ornamented basidiospores; T. odontioidea has an odontioid hymenial surface with cylindrical to conical, blunt aculei and subglobose to globose, colorless, slightly thick-walled, ornamented basidiospores; T. olivacea has a farinaceous hymenial surface with olivaceous tint, basidia clavate and thick-walled, ornamented, broadly ellipsoid to globose basidiospores. Sequences of the ITS and nLSU rDNA markers of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. After a series of phylogenetic analyses, the 5.8S+nLSU dataset was constructed to test the phylogenetic relationship of Trechispora with other genera of Hydnodontaceae. The ITS dataset was used to evaluate the phylogenetic relationship of the three new species with other species of Trechispora. Using ITS phylogeny, the new species T. murina was retrieved as a sister to T. bambusicola with moderate supports; T. odontioidea formed a single lineage and then grouped with T. fimbriata and T. nivea; while T. olivacea formed a monophyletic lineage with T. farinacea, T. hondurensis, and T. mollis.
Extended radical cholecystectomy with curative potential for well selected locally advanced carcinoma gall bladder: a case report and review of literature

Gallbladder cancer is an aggressive malignancy that is associated with a poor prognosis. While surgical resection provides the only curative option, the majority of patients are not considered resectable due to locally advanced disease and presence of metastatic disease at the time of presentation. Here we presented a case of 46-year-old female with symptoms and initial workup suggestive of obstructive jaundice with cholestasis. PET-CT demonstrated heterogeneously enhancing mass lesion arising from neck of gallbladder and involving adjacent liver parenchyma with FDG avid para-aortic nodes. Liver biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma, ERCP revealed tight hilar structure and CBD stent was placed. Patient was diagnosed with cT4, N2 carcinoma gall bladder and received two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with gemcitabine and cisplatin. In view of localized and stable disease following NACT, patient underwent radical cholecystectomy with wide liver resection involving segment 4b and 5 with hepatoduodenal, portocaval and aortocaval lymph node dissection. Patient had post-operative complications, managed conservatively. On follow up patient had improved appetite, gained weight adequately, received adjuvant chemotherapy and is disease free till date. Carefully selected patients may benefit from an aggressive surgical approach following upfront systemic chemotherapy.
Quasinormal modes of black holes in anti-de Sitter space: A numerical study of the eikonal limit

Using series solutions and time-domain evolutions, we probe the eikonal limit of the gravitational and scalar-field quasinormal modes of large black holes and black branes in anti-de Sitter backgrounds. These results are particularly relevant for the AdS/CFT correspondence, since the eikonal regime is characterized by the existence of long-lived modes which (presumably) dominate the decay time scale of the perturbations. We confirm all the main qualitative features of these slowly damped modes as predicted by Festuccia and Liu [G. Festuccia and H. Liu, arXiv:0811.1033. ] for the scalar-field (tensor-type gravitational) fluctuations. However, quantitatively we find dimensional-dependent correction factors. We also investigate the dependence of the quasinormal mode frequencies on the horizon radius of the black hole (brane) and the angular momentum (wave number) of vector- and scalar-type gravitational perturbations.