Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lasting effects of repeated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vapor inhalation during adolescence in male and female rats

Adolescents are regularly exposed to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) via smoking, and, more recently, vaping, cannabis / extracts. Growing legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes, combined with decreasing perceptions of harm, makes it increasingly important to determine the consequences of frequent adolescent exposure for motivated behavior and lasting tolerance in response to THC. Male and female rats inhaled THC vapor, or that from the propylene glycol (PG) vehicle, twice daily for 30 minutes from postnatal day (PND) 35-39 and PND 42-45 using an e-cigarette system. Thermoregulatory responses to vapor inhalation were assessed by radio-telemetry during adolescence and from PND 86-94; chow intake was assessed in adulthood. Blood samples were obtained from additional adolescent groups following initial THC inhalation and after four days of twice daily exposure. Additional groups exposed repeatedly to THC or PG during adolescence were evaluated for intravenous self-administration of oxycodone as adults. Female, not male, adolescents developed tolerance to the hypothermic effects of THC inhalation in the first week of repeated exposure despite similar plasma THC levels. Each sex exhibited tolerance to THC hypothermia in adulthood after repeated adolescent THC with THC greater potency exhibited in females. Repeated-THC male rats consumed more food than their PG treated control group, in the absence of a significant bodyweight difference. Adolescent THC did not alter oxycodone self-administration in either sex, but increased fentanyl self-administration in females. Repeated THC vapor inhalation in adolescent rats results in lasting consequences observable in adulthood.PG, propylene glycol; THC, Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol;
Understanding the role of destination imagery in mountain destination choice. Evidence from an exploratory research

The present study explores the imagery of mountain tourism destinations. The research is based on customer-based brand equity and destination choice models, and addresses destination imagery through the concepts favourite destination (FD) and autobiographical memory. Through an online, multilingual survey, 711 responses, consisting of words, associated by a self-selected sample of European mountain tourists to their favourite mountain destinations, were collected. Such data was subjected to a deductive content analysis, and the results suggest that the imagery of favourite mountain destinations consists mostly of functional elements. Findings reinforce previous theories regarding the concept of favourite destinations, destination imagery (DY) processing, and destination choice. Future studies should apply such analysis to other tourism products, as well as to different or more representative samples, to verify whether imagery structures differ.
Isotope Shifts in the Atomic Spectrum of Calcium

The isotope shift in several spectral lines of 40Ca and 48Ca has been measured. A triplet of the arc spectrum shows a specific mass effect a little larger than the normal mass effect and in the opposite direction. In the resonance line and a doublet of the spark spectrum the specific mass shift is very small and in the same direction as the normal shift. Comparison with analogous transitions in magnesium indicates that the specific mass effect shows a similar behaviour in both elements.
The crystal structure of a cardiac calsequestrin filament reveals an atomic mechanism of calsequestrin-associated catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

Calcium homeostasis is essential to cardiac and skeletal muscle physiology, where contractile function requires tight but dynamic control of calcium levels across different cellular compartments. The major calcium storage protein in muscle tissues is calsequestrin, a highly acidic protein responsible for buffering up to 50 % of total sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium. Mutations in cardiac calsequestrin cause a highly lethal familial arrhythmia, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), while mutations in skeletal muscle calsequestrin have been linked to myopathies. Calsequestrin’s high density calcium storage is facilitated by homomultimerization of the protein into filaments, but a compelling atomic-resolution structure of a calsequestrin filament is lacking. This gap in knowledge has limited our understanding of calsequestrin biochemistry, SR calcium storage, and molecular mechanisms of calseqestrin-associated diseases. We report here a crystal structure of a cardiac calsequestrin filament with supporting mutation analysis by an in vitro filamentation assay. We also report and characterize a novel disease-associated mutation, S173I, which localizes to the structure’s filament-forming interface. In addition, we show that a previously reported dominant calsequestrin-associated CPVT mutation, K180R, maps to the same multimerization surface. Both mutations disrupt filamentation in vitro, suggesting a model where dominant disease arises from mutations that disrupt multimer formation. Finally, a ytterbium-derivatized structure pinpoints multiple credible calcium sites at filament-forming interfaces, explaining the atomic basis of calsequestrin filamentation in the presence of calcium. This work advances our basic understanding of calsequestrin biochemistry and also provides a unifying structure-function molecular mechanism by which dominant-acting calsequestrin mutations provoke lethal arrhythmias.
Ionic conduction and self-diffusion near infinitesimal concentration in lithium salt-organic solvent electrolytes

The Debye–Huckel–Onsager and Nernst–Einstein equations, which are based on two different conceptual approaches, constitute the most widely used equations for relating ionic conduction to ionic mobility. However, both of these classical (simple) equations are predictive of ionic conductivity only at very low salt concentrations. In the present work the ionic conductivity of four organic solvent-lithium salt-based electrolytes were measured. These experimental conductivity values were then contrasted with theoretical values calculated using the translational diffusion (also known as self-diffusion or intradiffusion) coefficients of all of the species present obtained using pulsed-gradient spin–echo (1H, 19F and 7Li) nuclear magnetic resonance self-diffusion measurements. The experimental results verified the applicability of both theoretical approaches at very low salt concentrations for these particular systems as well as helping to clarify the reasons for the divergence between theory and experiment. In p.
Ultrasonic-Assisted Convective Drying of Apple Slices

A promising approach for the application of ultrasound to assist in convective food drying was developed and tested in this study. The application of ultrasound is based on the transmission of ultrasonic energy as a combination of airborne contacts and through a series of solid contacts between the ultrasound element and the product tray as the ultrasonic vibration transmitting surface. A computer-based ultrasonic drying setup was built to allow continuous recording of the process variables in real time and enabled simulation of dehydration to be accomplished under controlled conditions over a range of drying parameters. Apple slices were dried using the drying setup to study the influence of ultrasound in combination with conventional hot air drying on drying kinetics and product quality. The results from this work indicate that ultrasound can simultaneously be applied to accelerate the processing time (i.e., reduce energy consumption and increase production throughput) in conventional hot air drying without compromising product quality. It appears that the magnitude of influence of ultrasound to enhance the air-drying process depends on the process variables employed. In particular, the ability of ultrasound to improve the efficiency of the convective drying process appears to be maximized when using low temperature and high ultrasonic power level. This finding maybe very useful when there is a need to effectively dehydrate heat-sensitive products or when shorter drying times are required in order to achieve better retention of the functional and nutritional properties of the product.
Alcaparrosaite, K3Ti4+Fe3+(SO4)4O(H2O)2, a new hydrophobic Ti4+ sulfate from Alcaparrosa, Chile

Abstract Alcaparrosaite, ideally K3Ti4+Fe3+(SO4)4O(H2O)2, is a new mineral from the Alcaparrosa mine, Cerritos Bayos, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile (IMA2011-024). The mineral occurs on and intergrown with coquimbite, and is also associated with ferrinatrite, krausite, pertlikite, pyrite, tamarugite and voltaite. It is a relatively early phase which forms during the oxidation of pyritic masses under increasingly arid conditions. Alcaparrosaite crystallizes from hyperacidic solutions in a chemical environment that is consistent with its association with coquimbite. It occurs as pale yellow blades and tapering prisms up to 4 mm in length, flattened on {010} and elongated along [100]. The observed crystal forms are {010}, {110}, {1.13. 0} and {021}. The mineral is transparent and has a white streak, vitreous lustre, Mohs hardness of about 4, brittle tenacity, conchoidal fracture and no cleavage. The measured and calculated densities are 2.80(3) and 2.807 g cm−3, respectively. It is optically biaxial (+) with α = 1.643(1), β = 1.655(1), γ = 1.680(1) (white light), 2Vmeas = 70(2)º and 2Vcalc = 70.3°. The mineral exhibits strong parallel dispersion, r < v. The optical orientation is X = b; Y^c = 27° in the obtuse angle β. No pleochroism was observed. Electron-microprobe analyses (average of 4) provided: Na2O 0.32, K2O 20.44, Fe2O3 11.58, TiO2 11.77, P2O5 0.55, SO3 47.52, H2O 5.79 (calc); total 97.97 wt. %. The empirical formula (based on 19 O) is (K2.89Na0.07)∑2.96Ti4+0.98Fe3+0.97(S0.99P0.01O4)4O0.72 (OH)0.28(H2O)2. The mineral is hydrophobic, insoluble in cold and hot water, very slowly soluble in acids and decomposes slowly in bases. Alcaparrosaite is monoclinic, C2/c, with the cell parameters a = 7.55943(14), b = 16.7923(3), c = 12.1783(9) Å, b = 94.076(7)°, V = 1542.01(12) Å3 and Z = 4. The eight strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [dobs in Å (Irel) (hkl)] are 6.907 (41) (021,110); 3.628 (34) (023,1̅ 13); 3.320 (32) (2̅02); 3.096 (100) (202,1̅33,150); 3.000 (40) (1̅51); 2.704 (38) (2̅23,152); 1.9283 (30) (1. 55); 1.8406 (31) (3.53,2.06). In the structure of alcaparrosaite (R1 = 2.57% for 1725 Fo > 4σF), Ti4+ and Fe3+, in roughly equal amounts, occupy the same octahedrally coordinated site. Octahedra are linked into dimers by corner sharing. The SO4 tetrahedra link the dimers into chains parallel to [001] and link the chains into undulating sheets parallel to {010}. The sheets link via 10- and 11-coordinated K atoms in the interlayer region. The structure shares some features with that of goldichite.
Organic Matter Dynamics, Aggregation, and Carbon Sequestration in Mine Tailings Amended with Humic Substances

Mechanisms of macroaggregation, carbon dynamics, and carbon sequestration were investigated in degraded mine tailings. Humic substances (HSs), wheat straw, lime, and their various combinations were added to the mine tailings and then incubated at 20 °C for 24 weeks. A significant increase (up to 79%) of water‐stable macroaggregates was observed in the HS‐amended tailings after the incubation. During the macroaggregation, 20–33% sand of the mine tailings was bound by HS‐derived active carbon pool. The organic carbon concentration of the macroaggregates significantly increased in the HS‐amended mine tailings compared to the control. Mineral‐associated organic matter carbon derived from the HSs was mainly responsible for the increased concentration of macroaggregate carbon and the increased amount of macroaggregates as well. This active pool of added organic matter was sequestered in aggregates during the process of macroaggregation and thus improved the structure of the mine tailings.
Biodegradation of cyanide via recombinant cyanide dehydratase from Bacillus pumilus expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli

A pesar de su alta toxicidad, el cianuro es usado en diversos procesos industriales, y como resultado, grandes volumenes de aguas residuales de cianuro deben ser tratados antes de su descarga. Una alternativa atractiva a los metodos quimicos convencionales de descontaminacion es la degradacion enzimatica por la enzima cianuro dihidratasa, la cual es capaz de convertir cianuro en amonio y acido formico. No obstante, la inactivacion de esta enzima a pH superior a 8.5 y su poca termoestablidad han sido el principal impedimento para la implementacion exitosa de esta alternativa de biorremediacion. En el presente estudio, las propiedades cataliticas de celulas completas de E. coli que sobre expresan el gen de cianuro dihidratasa de B. pumilus se estudian bajo condiciones similares a las encontradas en aguas residuales industriales de cianuro y los resultados se discuten en comparacion con las de la enzima purificada. Ademas, se determino la capacidad de las celulas completas para degradar el cianuro libre en aguas residuales resultantes del proceso de extraccion de oro. Las caracteristicas de la enzima intracelular, relativa a la enzima purificada, incluyeron un incremento en la termoestabilidad, asi como mayor tolerancia a metales pesados y en menor medida al pH. Por otra parte, la degradacion enzimatica del 70% del cianuro libre en la muestra industrial se logro solo despues de la dilucion de la muestra. Sin embargo, el incremento en la termoestabilidad observado para CynD intracelular sugiere que las celulas completas de E. coli que sobreexpresan CynD son adecuadas para procesos que operan a temperaturas elevadas, una limitacion observada para la enzima purificada.
Formation mechanism of metal embedded amorphous silicate nanoparticles by induction thermal plasmas

The purpose of this paper was to synthesize metal embedded amorphous silicate nanoparticles by induction thermal plasmas. Powder of Fe, Ni, Sn, and Zn were used as precursor as well as SiO2 and MgO. In the case of Fe, Ni, and Sn, metal embedded nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. While most of Zn nanoparticles were attached on the surface of the amorphous silicate nanoparticles. Internal rate of each metal in the synthesized nanoparticles and nucleation temperature were evaluated to understand the formation mechanism of the metal embedded amorphous silicate nanoparticles. Results indicated that the relationship between the nucleation temperature of silicon and the melting temperature of each metal has important role on the metal embedded nanoparticles formation.
Fabrication of InP-based two-dimensional photonic crystal membrane

The fabrication process of a InP-based two-dimensional photonic crystal membrane structure is developed. The process includes a well-calibrated electron-beam (e-beam) lithography and InGaAsP/InP etching using methane–hydrogen–argon reactive ion etching. The photonic crystal blocks with ten rows of a hexagonal array of holes with various lattice constants and filling factors are successfully fabricated and characterized by optical transmission measurement. The sensitivity of the band gap to the systematic fabrication error is determined.
Extensive transcriptional changes in the aphid species Myzus cerasi under different host environments associated with detoxification genes

Aphids are phloem-feeding insects that cause yield losses to crops globally. These insects feature complex life cycles, which in the case of many agriculturally important species involves the use of primary and secondary host plant species. Whilst host alternation between primary and secondary host can occur in the field depending on host availability and the environment, aphid populations maintained as laboratory stocks generally are kept under conditions that allow asexual reproduction by parthenogenesis on secondary hosts. Here, we used Myzus cerasi (black cherry aphid) to assess aphid transcriptional differences between populations collected from primary hosts in the field and those adapted to secondary hosts under controlled environment conditions. Adaptation experiments of M. cerasi collected from local cherry tress to reported secondary host species resulted in low survival rates. Moreover, aphids were unable to survive on secondary host Land cress, unless first adapted to another secondary host, cleavers. Transcriptome analyses of populations collected from primary host cherry in the field and the two secondary host plant species in a controlled environment showed extensive transcriptional plasticity to a change in host environment, with predominantly genes involved in redox reactions differentially regulated. Most of the differentially expressed genes across the M. cerasi populations from the different host environments were duplicated and we found evidence for differential exon usage. In contrast, we observed only limited transcriptional to a change in secondary host plant species.
Fisher Information on the Performance of Dynamic Systems

Recent attempts to develop sustainability theory propose the use of Fisher information as a sustainability index. The approach has been shown to be suitable for the analysis of ecological models, including dynamic simulations as well as optimal control problems where the objective function involves maximizing or minimizing Fisher information. Nevertheless, Fisher information can also be interpreted as a measure of the degree of variability of a dynamic system. The goal of this work is two-fold. First, we study the scope of using the concept of Fisher information as a sustainability index in dynamic systems different in nature from ecological systems. Then we study the behavior of Fisher information in terms of the variability and performance of the dynamic system rather than using it as a sustainability index. The results of three case studies are presented, including two chemical engineering applications (a continuous crystallization system and a series of three continuous stirred tank reactors) and a dynamic model of immunotherapy (therapeutic optimization). We perform parametric analyses, evaluating the behavior of the value of Fisher information against significant model parameters. In general, although its usefulness as a sustainability index might be difficult to interpret and elucidate in some cases, Fisher information not only can indeed be related to the degree of variability of any dynamic system, but also provides useful insights with potential application in process control.
Blocking and Filtering Techniques for Entity Resolution

Entity Resolution (ER), a core task of Data Integration, detects different entity profiles that correspond to the same real-world object. Due to its inherently quadratic complexity, a series of techniques accelerate it so that it scales to voluminous data. In this survey, we review a large number of relevant works under two different but related frameworks: Blocking and Filtering. The former restricts comparisons to entity pairs that are more likely to match, while the latter identifies quickly entity pairs that are likely to satisfy predetermined similarity thresholds. We also elaborate on hybrid approaches that combine different characteristics. For each framework we provide a comprehensive list of the relevant works, discussing them in the greater context. We conclude with the most promising directions for future work in the field.
Repair, resilience and asymmetric segregation of damage in the context of replicative ageing: it is a balancing act

Accumulation of damaged proteins is a hallmark of ageing, occurring in organisms ranging from bacteria and yeast to mammalian cells. During cell division in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, damaged proteins are retained within the mother cell, resulting in a new daughter cell with full replicative potential and an ageing mother with a reduced replicative lifespan (RLS). The cell-specific features determining the lifespan remain elusive. It has been suggested that the RLS is dependent on the ability of the cell to repair and retain pre-existing damage. To deepen the understanding of how these factors influence the life span of individual cells, we developed and experimentally validated a dynamic model of damage accumulation accounting for replicative ageing. The model includes five essential properties: cell growth, damage formation, damage repair, cell division and cell death, represented in a theoretical framework describing the conditions allowing for replicative ageing, starvation, immortality or clonal senescence. We introduce the resilience to damage, which can be interpreted as the difference in volume between an old and a young cell. We show that the capacity to retain damage deteriorates with high age, that asymmetric division allows for retention of damage, and that there is a trade-off between retention and the resilience property. Finally, we derive the maximal degree of asymmetry as a function of resilience, proposing that asymmetric cell division is beneficial with respect to replicative ageing as it increases the RLS of a given organism. The proposed model contributes to a deeper understanding of the ageing process in eukaryotic organisms.
3D Packing Defects in Lipid Membrane as a Function of Membrane Order

Lipid membrane packing defects are considered as essential parameter that regulates specific membrane binding of several peripheral proteins. In absence of direct experimental characterization, lipid packing defects and their role in the binding of peripheral proteins are generally investigated through computational studies, which have been immensely successful in unraveling the key steps of the membrane-binding process. However, packing defects are calculated using 2-dimensional projections and the crucial information on their depths is generally overlooked. Here we present a simple yet computationally efficient algorithm, which identifies these defects in 3-dimensions. We employ the algorithm to understand the nature of packing defects in flat bilayer membranes exhibiting liquid-ordered (Lo), liquid-disordered (Ld) and co-existing Lo/Ld phases. Our results indicate the presence of shallower and smaller defects in the Lo phase membranes as compared to the defects in Ld and mixed Lo/Ld phase membranes. Such analyses can elucidate the molecular scale mechanisms that drive the preferential localization of certain proteins to either of the liquid phases or their interface. Moreover, on the methodology front, our analyses suggest that the projection based 2-dimensional calculation of packing defects might result in inaccurate quantification of their sizes - a very important feature for membrane association of protein motifs, thus advocating the importance of the 3-dimensional calculations.
Evaporation of fuel droplets in turbulent combustor flow

Detailed measurements of a recirculating, droplet charged air flow within a model combustor are compared with predictions based on three different evaporation models. Similar results are obtained with the simplified d2-law, the uniform temperature model and thin skin model for relatively short droplet-heatup phases. Discrepancies, however, are observed under conditions where the droplet heating phase is relatively long, i.e. at low temperature conditions. Extended evaporation models, therefore, are necessary when the ignition performance is to be analysed.Copyright © 1988 by ASME