Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HELIUM SHELL DETONATIONS ON LOW-MASS WHITE DWARFS AS A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR SN 2005E

Recently, several Type Ib supernovae (SNe; with the prototypical SN 2005E) have been shown to have atypical properties. These SNe are faint (absolute peak magnitude of ∼ − 15) and fast SNe that show unique composition. They are inferred to have low ejecta mass (a few tenths of a solar mass) and to be highly enriched in calcium, but poor in silicon elements and nickel. These SNe were therefore suggested to belong to a new class of calcium-rich faint SNe explosions. Their properties were proposed to be the result of helium detonations that may occur on helium accreting white dwarfs. In this paper, we theoretically study the scenario of helium detonations and focus on the results of detonations in accreted helium layers on low-mass carbon–oxygen (CO) cores. We present new results from one-dimensional simulations of such explosions, including their light curves and spectra. We find that when the density of the helium layer is low enough the helium detonation produces large amounts of intermediate elements, such as calcium and titanium, together with a large amount of unburnt helium. Alternatively, enough carbon enrichment of the accreted helium as a result of convective undershoot at the early stages of the runaway can avoid the production of iron group elements as the alpha particles are consumed avoiding iron production. Our results suggest that the properties of calcium-rich faint SNe could indeed be consistent with the helium-detonation scenario on small CO cores. Above a certain density (larger CO cores) the detonation leaves mainly 56Ni and unburnt helium, and the predicted spectrum will unlikely fit the unique features of this class of SNe. Finally, none of our studied models reproduces the bright, fast-evolving light curves of another type of peculiar SNe suggested to originate in helium detonations (SNe 1885A, 1939B, and 2002bj).
A Eucalyptus Pht1 Family Gene EgPT8 Is Essential for Arbuscule Elongation of Rhizophagus irregularis

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) formation in host root cortical cells is initiated by exchanges of diffusible molecules, among which Pi uptake is known as the important feature of AM fungi on symbiosis functioning. Over the last two decades, it has been repeatedly proven that most vascular plants harbor two or more AM-specific Pht1 proteins; however, there is no direct evidence regarding the potential link among these Pi transporters at the symbiotic interface. ABSTRACT The majority of vascular flowering plants can establish arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with AM fungi. These associations contribute to plant health and plant growth against various environmental stresses. In the mutualistic endosymbiosis, the AM fungi deliver phosphate (Pi) to the host root through highly branched hyphae called arbuscules. The molecular mechanisms of Pi transfer from AM fungi to the plant have been determined, which are dominated by AM-specific Pi transporters belonging to the PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER 1 (Pht1) family within the subfamily I. However, it is unknown whether Pht1 family proteins are involved in other regulations in AM symbiosis. Here, we report that the expression of EgPT8 is specifically activated by AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and is localized in root cortical cells containing arbuscules. Interestingly, knockdown of EgPT8 function does not affect the Eucalyptus grandis growth, total phosphorous (P) concentration, and arbuscule formation; however, the size of mature arbuscules was significantly suppressed in the RNAi-EgPT8 lines. Heterogeneous expression of EgPT4, EgPT5, and EgPT8 in the Medicago truncatula mutant mtpt4-2 indicates that EgPT4 and EgPT5 can fully complement the defects of mutant mtpt4-2 in mycorrhizal Pi uptake and arbuscule formation, while EgPT8 cannot complement the defective AM phenotype of the mtpt4-2 mutant. Based on our results, we propose that the AM fungi-specific subfamily I transporter EgPT8 has novel functions and is essential to arbuscule elongation. IMPORTANCE Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) formation in host root cortical cells is initiated by exchanges of diffusible molecules, among which Pi uptake is known as the important feature of AM fungi on symbiosis functioning. Over the last two decades, it has been repeatedly proven that most vascular plants harbor two or more AM-specific Pht1 proteins; however, there is no direct evidence regarding the potential link among these Pi transporters at the symbiotic interface. This work revealed a novel function of a structurally conserved protein involved in lateral arbuscule development. In total, we confirmed that three AM-specific Pht1 family proteins are nonredundant in Eucalyptus grandis and that EgPT8 is responsible for fungal arbuscule elongation of Rhizophagus irregularis.
Top triangle moose: Combining Higgsless and topcolor mechanisms for mass generation

Author(s): Chivukula, RS; Christensen, ND; Coleppa, B; Simmons, EH | Abstract: We present the details of a deconstructed model that incorporates both Higgsless and top-color mechanisms. The model alleviates the tension between obtaining the correct top quark mass and keeping Δρ small that exists in many Higgsless models. It does so by singling out the top quark mass generation as arising from a Yukawa coupling to an effective top Higgs which develops a small vacuum expectation value, while electroweak symmetry breaking results largely from a Higgsless mechanism. As a result, the heavy partners of the SM fermions can be light enough to be seen at the LHC. After presenting the model, we detail the phenomenology, showing that for a broad range of masses, these heavy fermions are discoverable at the LHC. © 2009 The American Physical Society.
Draft Genome Sequences for 6 Isolates of Endospore-Forming Class Bacilli Species Isolated from Soil from a Suburban, Wooded, Developed Space

Here, we report draft genome sequences of Bacillus pseudomycoides SC107, Rossellomorea sp. SC111, Peribacillus frigoritolerans SC112, Priestia megaterium SC114, Paenibacillus sp. SC116, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis SC117, isolated from a campus wooded area in Loudonville, NY. Genomes were sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq system. The genomes range between 4,381,526 and 6,065,181 bp with GC contents between 35.33% and 43.46%. ABSTRACT Here, we report draft genome sequences of Bacillus pseudomycoides SC107, Rossellomorea sp. SC111, Peribacillus frigoritolerans SC112, Priestia megaterium SC114, Paenibacillus sp. SC116, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis SC117, isolated from a campus wooded area in Loudonville, NY. Genomes were sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq system. The genomes range between 4,381,526 and 6,065,181 bp with GC contents between 35.33% and 43.46%.
The entry of unclosed autophagosomes into vacuoles and its physiological relevance

It is widely stated in the literature that closed mature autophagosomes (APs) fuse with lysosomes/vacuoles during macroautophagy/autophagy. Previously, we showed that unclosed APs accumulated as clusters outside vacuoles in Vps21/Rab5 and ESCRT mutants after a short period of nitrogen starvation. However, the fate of such unclosed APs remains unclear. In this study, we used a combination of cellular and biochemical approaches to show that unclosed double-membrane APs entered vacuoles and formed unclosed single-membrane autophagic bodies after prolonged nitrogen starvation or rapamycin treatment. Vacuolar hydrolases, vacuolar transport chaperon (VTC) proteins, Ypt7, and Vam3 were all involved in the entry of unclosed double-membrane APs into vacuoles in Vps21-mutant cells. Overexpression of the vacuolar hydrolases, Pep4 or Prb1, or depletion of most VTC proteins promoted the entry of unclosed APs into vacuoles in Vps21-mutant cells, whereas depletion of Pep4 and/or Prb1 delayed the entry into vacuoles. In contrast to the complete infertility of diploid cells of typical autophagy mutants, diploid cells of Vps21 mutant progressed through meiosis to sporulation, benefiting from the entry of unclosed APs into vacuoles after prolonged nitrogen starvation. Overall, these data represent a new observation that unclosed double-membrane APs can enter vacuoles after prolonged autophagy induction, most likely as a survival strategy.
Cardiovascular and renal protective effects of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation

Aim Data on the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in relation to the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and renal protection among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), are relatively sparse. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of NOACs with those of warfarin for vascular protection in a large-scale, nationwide Asian population with AF. Methods and results Patients with AF who were prescribed oral anticoagulants according to the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database between 2014 and 2017 were analyzed. The warfarin and NOAC groups were balanced using propensity score weighting. Clinical outcomes included ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, peripheral artery disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), CV death, and all-cause death. NOAC use was associated with a lower risk of angina pectoris (HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.69–0.89] p<0.001), CKD stage 4 (HR, 0.5 [95% CI, 0.28–0.89], p = 0.02), and ESRD (HR, 0.15[95% CI, 0.08–0.32], p<0.001) than warfarin use. NOACs and warfarin did not significantly differ with respect to stroke reduction (HR, 1.05 [95% CI, 0.88–1.25], p = 0.19). NOAC use was associated with a lower risk of intracranial hemorrhage (HR, 0.6 [95% CI, 0.44–0.83], p = 0.0019), CV death (HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.43–0.70], p<0.001), and all-cause death (HR, 0.6 [95% CI, 0.52–0.69], p<0.001) than warfarin use. Conclusion NOACs were associated with a significantly lower risk of adverse CV and renovascular outcomes than warfarin in patients with AF.
Enhancing parameter precision of optimal quantum estimation by direct quantum feedback

Various schemes have been proposed to overcome the drawback of the decoherence on quantum-enhanced parameter estimation. Here we suggest an alternative method, quantum feedback, to enhance the parameter precision of optimal quantum estimation of a dissipative qubit by investigating its dynamics of quantum Fisher information. We find that compared with the case without feedback, the quantum Fisher information of the dissipative qubit in the case of feedback has a large maximum value in time evolution and a smaller decay rate in the long time.
Opioid use during Pregnancy: An Analysis of Comment Data from the 2016 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Survey

ABTSTRACT Background: Opioid misuse during pregnancy has been associated with adverse infant outcomes including preterm birth, stillbirth, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is an on-going state-based surveillance system of maternal behaviors, attitudes, and experiences prior to, during, and after pregnancy. Methods: We analyzed qualitative comments related to opioid use during pregnancy collected in 2016 from an open-ended prompt at the end of the PRAMS survey in 35 states (N = 40,408). Key word searches were conducted on the open-ended responses (n = 9,549) to identify opioid-related content with an automated function using Microsoft Excel. All responses from the initial screening (n = 1,035) were manually reviewed, and 69 responses were confirmed to relate to the respondent's personal experience with opioid use during pregnancy. Content analysis was conducted by 3 independent coders; key themes were compiled, discussed, and finalized by the coding team. Results: Five key themes related to opioid use during pregnancy were identified: (1) gratitude for treatment, recovery, and healthy infants; (2) pregnancy as motivation to seek treatment; (3) difficulty finding prenatal care providers with training in substance use disorders; (4) concern about the effects of treatment on the infant; and (5) experiences of discrimination and stigma in the hospital around the time of delivery. Conclusions: Women may be aware of the potential impact of opioid use during pregnancy on the health of their infants and motivated to seek treatment. Findings may help inform new and ongoing initiatives designed to improve care and reduce stigma for women needing or seeking treatment.
The magic ingredient: masters students’ interest in their dissertation topics

ABSTRACT The concept of acknowledging students’ interests – both what they may be interested in and what is in their interest – is gaining increasing purchase in the new competitive economy of higher education. In addition to the obvious benefits of boosting student success in higher education institutions (HEIs), there are well-established educational advantages of foregrounding students’ interests. The philosophical and psychological literature abounds with justificatory explanations of why interest is so crucial to learning of all kinds. Apart from the clear motivational benefits, organising learning around interests helps educators to realise the goal of Bildung, the education of the whole person. However, notwithstanding the obvious value of utilising interest in teaching and learning, there is a dearth of relevant research on the topic of relevance to HEIs. This research aims to help redress the balance by investigating how the interests of learners may be utilised effectively in the guidance and supervision of postgraduate students undertaking masters’ dissertations in education.
An analysis of Universal Design for Learning at collegial level: effective ways to maximise learning outcomes, inclusion, and equity

ABSTRACT Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is considered to provide equitable opportunities for all learners with or without disabilities. This study aimed to examine the extent to which UDL was implemented in ESL classrooms at the university level. A mixed-method approach was conducted to explore the effective ways to maximise learning outcomes, inclusion, and equity regarding UDL principles; both students’ and teachers’ voices were addressed. Online questionnaires for students and semi-structured interviews for teachers were used to probe the UDL application in the classrooms. The findings revealed that teachers employed UDL principles in their classrooms to varying degrees. They also explored various strategies to enhance levels of engagement, representation, action, and expression. However, they experienced different tensions during the process. The study concluded with implications for researchers, teachers, and policymakers in developing a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.
AI chatbots sociotechnical research: An overview and future directions

AI chatbots present a specific class of AI systems. They are conversational, personalized and exhibit social presence to users. Their adoption and use in the workplace is increasing. This study provides a systematic literature review of the state of art publications on the collaboration of AI chatbots in the workplace and paves the way for potential new areas of research in the IS field. The review includes not only journals but also conference proceedings. There are three themes that emerged from our literature review namely value co-creation, ethics and user experience. Finally, the study provides recommendations for further research in the increasingly important subject of AI chatbots.
Towards managing analytics for incumbent banks: A maturity model

Analytics improves organizational performance and becoming data-driven with analytics is therefore a vision for many incumbent banks. However, successful deployment and management of analytics in banks are often hindered by legacy systems, processes, and organizational challenges associated with lack of a data-driven mindset and resistance to change. Therefore, this research-in-progress paper presents a preliminary design of a conceptual maturity model for managing analytics in the context of incumbent banks. By using existing maturity model design and development guidelines, analytics-related literature from the banking sector and related fields, and empirical evidence from one incumbent bank, this research-in-progress paper presents a model with 4 dimensions, 13 sub-dimensions and 4 maturity levels. The research-in-progress paper also provides the basis for future development, and validation.
Semen rheology and its relation to male infertility

Infertility affects 15% of couples of reproductive age worldwide. In spite of many advances in understanding and treating male infertility, there is still a number of issues that need further investigation and translation to the clinic. Here, we review the current knowledge and practice concerning semen rheology and its relation with pathological states affecting male infertility. Although it is well recognized that altered rheological properties of semen can impair normal sperm movement in the female reproductive tract, routine semen analysis is mostly focused on number, motility and morphology of spermatozoa, and includes only an approximate, operator-dependent measure of semen viscosity. The latter is based on the possible formation of a liquid thread from a pipette where a semen sample has been aspirated, a method that is sensitive not only to viscosity but also to elongational properties and surface tension of semen. The formation of a liquid thread is usually associated with a gel-like consistency of the sample and changes in spermatozoa motility in such a complex medium are still to be fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to point out that a more quantitative and reliable characterization of semen rheology is in order to improve the current methods of semen analysis and to develop additional tools for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
Frustrated ‘run and tumble’ of swimming Escherichia coli bacteria in nematic liquid crystals

In many situations, bacteria move in complex environments, as soils, oceans or the human gut-track, where carrier fluids show complex structures associated with non-Newtonian rheology. Many fundamental questions concerning the ability to navigate in such environments remain unsolved. Recently, it has been shown that the kinetics of bacterial motion in structured fluids as liquid crystals (LCs) is constrained by the orientational molecular order (or director field) and that novel spatio-temporal patterns arise. A question unaddressed so far is how bacteria change swimming direction in such an environment. In this work, we study the swimming mechanism of a single bacterium, Esherichia coli, constrained to move along the director field of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal confined to a planar cell. Here, the spontaneous ‘run and tumble’ motion of the bacterium gets frustrated: the elasticity of the LC prevents flagella from unbundling. Interestingly, to change direction, bacteria execute a reversal motion along the director field, driven by the relocation of a single flagellum, a ‘frustrated tumble’. We characterize this phenomenon in detail experimentally, exploiting exceptional spatial and temporal resolution of bacterial and flagellar dynamics, using a two colour Lagrangian tracking technique. We suggest a possible mechanism accounting for these observations.
Rotating black holes in massive gravity

We present a solution for rotating black holes in massive gravity. We first give a solution of massive gravity with one dynamical metric. Both metrics of this solution are expressed in the advanced Eddington-Finkelstein-like coordinates: the physical metric has the original Kerr line element, while the fiducial metric is flat, but written in a rotating Eddington-Finkelstein form. For the bi-gravity theory we give an analogue of this solution: the two metrics have the original Kerr form, but, in general, different black hole masses. The generalisation of the solution to include the electric charge is also given, it is an analogue of the Kerr-Newman solution in General Relativity. We also discuss further possible ways to generalise the solutions.
Experimental challenges in determining the rheological properties of bacterial biofilms

Bacterial biofilms are communities living in a matrix consisting of self-produced, hydrated extracellular polymeric substances. Most microorganisms adopt the biofilm lifestyle since it protects by conferring resistance to antibiotics and physico-chemical stress factors. Consequently, mechanical removal is often necessary but rendered difficult by the biofilm’s complex, viscoelastic response, and adhesive properties. Overall, the mechanical behaviour of biofilms also plays a role in the spreading, dispersal and subsequent colonization of new surfaces. Therefore, the characterization of the mechanical properties of biofilms plays a crucial role in controlling and combating biofilms in industrial and medical environments. We performed in situ shear rheological measurements of Bacillus subtilis biofilms grown between the plates of a rotational rheometer under well-controlled conditions relevant to many biofilm habitats. We investigated how the mechanical history preceding rheological measurements influenced biofilm mechanics and compared these results to the techniques commonly used in the literature. We also compare our results to measurements using interfacial rheology on bacterial pellicles formed at the air–water interface. This work aims to help understand how different growth and measurement conditions contribute to the large variability of mechanical properties reported in the literature and provide a new tool for the rigorous characterization of matrix components and biofilms.
Ascending non-Newtonian long drops in vertical tubes

Abstract We report on theoretical and experimental studies describing the buoyancy-driven ascent of a Taylor long drop in a circular vertical pipe where the descending fluid is Newtonian, and the ascending fluid is non-Newtonian yield shear thinning and described by the three-parameter Herschel–Bulkley model, including the Ostwald–de Waele model as a special case for zero yield. Results for the Ellis model are included to provide a more realistic description of purely shear-thinning behaviour. In all cases, lubrication theory allows us to obtain the velocity profiles and the corresponding integral variables in closed form, for lock-exchange flow with a zero net flow rate. The energy balance allows us to derive the asymptotic radius of the inner current, corresponding to a stable node of the differential equation describing the time evolution of the core radius. We carried out a series of experiments measuring the rheological properties of the fluids, the speed and the radius of the ascending long drop. For some tests, we measured the velocity profile with the ultrasound velocimetry technique. The measured radius of the ascending current compares fairly well with the asymptotic radius as derived through the energy balance, and the measured ascent speed shows a good agreement with the theoretical model. The measured velocity profiles also agree with their theoretical counterparts. We have also developed dynamic similarity conditions to establish whether laboratory physical models, limited by the availability of real fluids with defined rheological characteristics, can be representative of real phenomena on a large scale, such as exchanges in volcanic conduits. Appendix B contains scaling rules for the approximated dynamic similarity of the physical process analysed; these rules serve as a guide for the design of experiments reproducing real phenomena.