Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal monitoring of the iceberg D28 using SCATSAT-1 data

Abstract The study of the icebergs and their movements is one of many applications of scatterometer data in the study of the ecosystems of polar regions. SCATSAT-1 is the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) Ku-band (13.515625 GHz) scatterometer. Using enhanced resolution Gamma0H (horizontally polarised incidence angle normalised backscattering coefficient) data of SCATSAT-1, we observed the movement of iceberg D28 and its interaction with wind, ocean currents and sea ice for one and a half years of its journey (JD 269, 2019 to JD 051, 2021). The data sets used are as follows: (1) SCATSAT-1 level-4 Gamma0H; (2) OSCAR (Ocean Surface Current Analysis Real-time) third-degree resolution ocean surface currents; (3) hourly wind speed data of ERA5; 4) NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data Center) sea ice concentration data; and (5) NSIDC Polar Path-finder Daily EASE-Grid Sea Ice Motion Vectors, Version-3. For this study, we divide the continent into five different regions/sectors. It is found that the trajectory of the iceberg is influenced by the resultant of the wind and ocean current, at different scales in these regions. Moreover, sea ice motion can also change the course of iceberg. From the on-screen digitisation of the iceberg, the average area of the iceberg is found to be approximately 1509.82 km2 with approximate dimensions of 27 km × 55.5 km. We conclude that spatial and temporal behaviours of the iceberg can be ascertained from the scatterometer data.
Transdermal Drug Delivery System forAtomoxetine Hydrochloride – In vitro and Ex vivo Evaluation

Monolithic matrix type transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) of atomoxetine hydrochloride (A-HCl) were prepared by the film casting on a mercury substrate and characterized by physicochemical characteristics like thickness, weight variation, drug content, flatness, folding endurance and in vitro drug release studies, ex vivo skin permeation studies. Eight formulations (carrying Eudragit RL100 and Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 15 cps in the ratios of 8:2, 6:4, 4:6, 2:8 in formulations A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and Eudragit RS 100 and Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 15 cps in the same ratios in formulations B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 respectively) were prepared. All formulations carried 20 mg of drug, A-HCl, 10% w/w of propylene glycol as penetration enhancer, 10% w/w of dibutyl phthalate as plasticizer in ethanol. The formulations exhibited uniform thickness, weight and good uniformity in drug content. The maximum drug release in 24 hrs for A-series formulations was 95.52% (A3) and for B-series, it was 89.55% (B-4). Again formulations A-3 (Kp = 3.53 X 10−2 cm h−1) and B-4 (Kp = 3.20 X 10−2 cm h−1) exhibited the best skin permeation potential in the respective series. On the basis of in vitro drug release and ex vivo skin permeation performance, formulation A-3 was found to be better than the other seven formulations. The results of the study show that A-HCl could be administered transdermally through the matrix type TDDS for effective control of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents, and adults.
A Survey on Run-time Power Monitors at the Edge

Effectively managing energy and power consumption is crucial to the success of the design of any computing system, helping mitigate the efficiency obstacles given by the downsizing of the systems while also being a valuable step towards achieving green and sustainable computing. The quality of energy and power management is strongly affected by the prompt availability of reliable and accurate information regarding the power consumption for the different parts composing the target monitored system. At the same time, effective energy and power management are even more critical within the field of devices at the edge, which exponentially proliferated within the past decade with the digital revolution brought by the Internet of things. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive conceptual framework to classify the different approaches to implementing run-time power monitors for edge devices that appeared in literature, leading the reader toward the solutions that best fit their application needs and the requirements and constraints of their target computing platforms. Run-time power monitors at the edge are analyzed according to both the power modeling and monitoring implementation aspects, identifying specific quality metrics for both in order to create a consistent and detailed taxonomy that encompasses the vast existing literature and provides a sound reference to the interested reader.
Securing Scalable Real-time Multiparty Communications with Hybrid Information-centric Networking

In this article, we consider security aspects of online meeting applications based on protocols such as WebRTC that leverage the Information-centric Networking (ICN) architecture to make the system fundamentally more scalable. If the scalability properties provided by ICN have been proved in recent literature, the security challenges and implications for real-time applications have not been reviewed. We show that this class of applications can benefit from strong security and scalability jointly without any major tradeoff and with significant performance improvements over traditional WebRTC systems. To achieve this goal, some modifications to the current ICN architecture must be implemented in the way integrity and authentication are verified. Extensive performance analysis of the architecture based on the open source implementation of Hybrid-ICN proves that real-time applications can greatly benefit from this novel network architecture in terms of strong security and scalable communications.
Model for Resonant Plasma Probe

This report constructs simple circuit models for a hairpin shaped resonant plasma probe. Effects of the plasma sheath region surrounding the wires making up the probe are determined. Electromagnetic simulations of the probe are compared to the circuit model results. The perturbing effects of the disc cavity in which the probe operates are also found.
Cellulose acetate cigarette filter is hazardous to human health

The World No Tobacco Day 2022 theme emphasised tobacco’s adverse environmental effects, including through agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, use and the disposal of tobacco product waste. A main concern regarding this toxic waste is the cigarette filter, which is attached to nearly all commercial cigarettes and is predominantly made from a plant-based plastic (cellulose acetate). Laboratory studies have demonstrated the chemical toxicity of discarded cigarette butts, and there is growing public concern regarding environmental plastic pollution resulting from single-use cellulose acetate filters. Important considerations are whether the filter has any protective role against the harms of smoking and whether it should be regulated as a plastic environmental pollutant. There is persistent misunderstanding among smokers and policy makers about the implied value of the cigarette filter. The cellulose acetate filter is simply a marketing tool that encourages smoking initiation and reduces intentions to quit smoking. This is because it makes smoking easier and implies added safety through the presumed filtration of inhaled smoke. The sale of filtered cigarettes should be prohibited to protect public health and the environment.
Somatic GJA4 mutation in intracranial extra-axial cavernous hemangiomas

Objective Extra-axial cavernous hemangiomas (ECHs) are sporadic and rare intracranial occupational lesions that usually occur within the cavernous sinus. The aetiology of ECHs remains unknown. Methods Whole-exome sequencing was performed on ECH lesions from 12 patients (discovery cohort) and droplet digital polymerase-chain-reaction (ddPCR) was used to confirm the identified mutation in 46 additional cases (validation cohort). Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was carried out to capture and characterise subgroups of tissue cells. Mechanistic and functional investigations were carried out in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and a newly established mouse model. Results We detected somatic GJA4 mutation (c.121G>T, p.G41C) in 5/12 patients with ECH in the discovery cohort and confirmed the finding in the validation cohort (16/46). LCM followed by ddPCR revealed that the mutation was enriched in lesional endothelium. In vitro experiments in endothelial cells demonstrated that the GJA4 mutation activated SGK-1 signalling that in turn upregulated key genes involved in cell hyperproliferation and the loss of arterial specification. Compared with wild-type littermates, mice overexpressing the GJA4 mutation developed ECH-like pathological morphological characteristics (dilated venous lumen and elevated vascular density) in the retinal superficial vascular plexus at the postnatal 3 weeks, which were reversed by an SGK1 inhibitor, EMD638683. Conclusions We identified a somatic GJA4 mutation that presents in over one-third of ECH lesions and proposed that ECHs are vascular malformations due to GJA4-induced activation of the SGK1 signalling pathway in brain endothelial cells.
Optimized density and locations of stroke centers for improved cost effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background Despite the proven cost effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion, treatment within 6 hours from symptom onset remains inaccessible for many patients. We aimed to find the optimal number and location of treatment facilities with respect to the cost effectiveness of MT in patients with AIS, first by the most cost effective implementation of comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs), and second by the most cost effective addition of complementary thrombectomy capable stroke centers (TSCs). Methods This study was based on nationwide observational data comprising 18 793 patients with suspected AIS potentially eligible for treatment with MT. The most cost effective solutions were attained by solving the p median facility location–allocation problem with the objective function of maximizing the incremental net monetary benefit (INMB) of MT compared with no MT in patients with AIS. Deterministic sensitivity analysis (DSA) was used as the basis of the results analysis. Results The implementation strategy with seven CSCs produced the highest annual INMB per patient of all possible solutions in the base case scenario. The most cost effective implementation strategy of the extended scenario comprised seven CSCs and four TSCs. DSA revealed sensitivity to variability in MT rate and the maximum willingness to pay per quality adjusted life year gained. Conclusion The combination of optimization modeling and cost effectiveness analysis provides a powerful tool for configuring the extent and locations of CSCs (and TSCs). The most cost effective implementation of CSCs in Sweden entails 24/7 MT services at all seven university hospitals.
Optimized boron fusion with magnetic trapping by laser driven plasma block initiation at nonlinear forced driven ultrahigh acceleration

Fusion reactions of solid density boron-11 with protons after initiation of a fusion flame by very powerful picosecond laser pulses were derived for plane geometry. The problem of lateral energy losses with laser beams was solved by using spherical geometry, where however the gains are limited. The other elimination of losses now available by cylinderaxis symmetric 10 kilotesla magnetic fields is possible needing laser powers in the exawatt range. Estimations are presented by varying parameters for reducing the necessary laser pulse powers to lower values by up to a factor 100.
Description of Multiparticle Production of Charged Particles by Gluon-Dominance Model in Hadron-Hadron and Hadron-Nucleus Collisions

The parameters of Gluon-Dominance Model (GDM) for  - mesons and charged particles are obtained in the multiplicity distributions of hadron-hadron and hadron-nucleus interactions. We have made an attempt to give a description of different processes of multiparticle production by means of a unifed approach based on quark-gluon picture using phenomenological hadronization. We have obtained agreement of GDM with experimental data in a very wide energy range. © 2011 Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci.
Modulation of macrophage polarization by iron-based nanoparticles

Abstract Macrophage polarization is an essential process involved in immune regulation. In response to different microenvironmental stimulation, macrophages polarize into cells with different phenotypes and functions, most typically M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory) macrophages. Iron-based nanoparticles have been widely explored and reported to regulate macrophage polarization for various biomedical applications. However, the influence factors and modulation mechanisms behind are complicated and not clear. In this review, we systemically summarized different iron-based nanoparticles that regulate macrophage polarization and function and discussed the influence factors and mechanisms underlying the modulation process. This review aims to deepen the understanding of the modulation of macrophage polarization by iron-based nanoparticles and expects to provide evidence and guidance for subsequent design and application of iron-based nanoparticles with specific macrophage modulation functions.
Fever-like temperature bursts promote competence development via an HtrA-dependent pathway in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is well known for its ability to develop competence for natural DNA transformation. Competence development is regulated by an autocatalytic loop driven by variations in the basal level of transcription of the comCDE and comAB operons. These genes are part of the early gene regulon that controls expression of the late competence genes known to encode the apparatus of transformation. Several stressful conditions are known to promote competence development, although the induction pathways are remain poorly understood so far. To date there have been no reports of the response of the pneumococcal competence regulon to changes in the physical conditions of the environment, oxidative potential and temperature. Here we demonstrate that transient temperature elevation induces an immediate increase in the basal expression level of the comCDE operon and early genes that, in turn, stimulates its full induction, including that of the late competence regulon. This thermal regulation depends on the HtrA chaperone/protease and its proteolytic activity. We find that certain other competence induction stimuli are not conveyed by the HtrA-dependent pathway. This finding strongly supports that competence can be induced by any of several independent pathways and thus reinforces the view that competence is a general stress response system in the pneumococcus. Authors’ summary Streptococcus pneumoniae is a commensal bacterium and an opportunistic pathogen of humans. Certain environmental stimuli, such as a variety of antibiotics targeting distinct cellular functions, trigger the induction of the distinct physiological state of competence, in which cells can, among other things, import and integrate external DNA. Competence is thus considered a general stress response in this highly adaptable species. To understand the role of competence in pneumococcal interaction with its host and in pathogenicity, we attempted to decipher the pathways that enable appropriate reactions to environmental stress, and have focused here on induction of competence by elevation of temperature to levels similar to that of a host in fever. We found that elevated temperature raises the basal expression level of the competence control operon, and thus lowers the threshold of transition to full competence induction. By genetic characterisation of the thermal induction pathway of competence, we demonstrated that the chaperone/protease HtrA is essential to relaying of the thermal signal but is not involved in transmitting other stimuli such as those arising from the presence of certain antibiotics. Our work supports the view that competence can be induced through various pathways in response to distinct aggressions, but also by fever-like bursts of temperature that the pneumococcus could face in its natural habitat.
Imbalanced expression of clustered protocadherins in pre- and post-synaptic compartments of CA1 pyramidal cells during hippocampal development

Clustered protocadherins (cPcdhs) are candidates for the neural circuit formation; however, the localization of cPcdhs in pre- and post-synaptic compartments has not been well characterized. Here we examined the localization of cPcdhγ proteins in the mouse hippocampal CA1 region using light and electron microscopy. From postnatal day 7 to 21, cPcdhγ immunosignals were detected in approximately 40–60% of spines of pyramidal cells. SDS-digested freeze-fracture replica labelling revealed that cPcdhγ immunolabeling was found in 50% of PSD 95-positive postsynaptic profiles but only in less than 10% of vGluT1-positive pre-synaptic terminals. Interestingly, cPcdhγ-positive pre-synaptic terminal was exclusively accompanied by cPcdhγ-positive postsynaptic counterpart. In addition, electrophysiological investigations revealed that the miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency in cPcdhγ cKO mice was significantly higher than that in wild-type mice. These results suggest that cPcdhγ proteins are unequally distributed in the pre- and post-synaptic membrane during neural circuit development and regulate the number of excitatory synapses.
I-Spin live: An open-source software based on blind-source separation for decoding the activity of spinal alpha motor neurons in real-time

Decoding the activity of individual neural cells during natural behaviours allows neuroscientists to study how the nervous system generates and controls movements. Contrary to other neural cells, the activity of spinal motor neurons can be determined non-invasively (or minimally invasively) from the decomposition of electromyographic (EMG) signals into motor unit discharge activities. For some interfacing and neuro-feedback investigations, EMG decomposition needs to be performed in real-time. Here, we introduce an open-source software that performs real-time decoding of spinal motor neurons using a blind-source separation approach for multichannel EMG signal processing. Separation vectors (motor unit filters) are identified for each motor unit from a baseline contraction and then re-applied in real-time during test contractions. In this way, the discharge activity of multiple motor units can be provided as visual feedback in real-time. We provide a complete framework with guidelines and examples of recordings to guide researchers who aim to study movement control at the motor neuron level. We tested the software on data collected using either grids of surface electrodes or intramuscular electrode arrays from five lower limb muscles (gastrocnemius lateralis and medialis, vastus lateralis and medialis, and tibialis anterior). We assessed how the muscle, or variation of contraction intensity between the baseline contraction and the test contraction impacted the accuracy of the real-time decomposition. This open-source interface provides a set of tools for neuroscientists to design experimental paradigms where participants can receive real-time feedback on the output of the spinal cord circuits.
STING activation of IRF3 is tuned by PELI2 to suppress basal activation and reinforce the anti-viral response

The STING pathway is the first line of defense against a variety of threats. STING activation leads to two main signaling branches, IRF3 signaling and NF-κB signaling, that have differential roles in anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial immunity and autoimmunity. However, it is unknown how these two signaling branches are differentially regulated depending on context. Here, we identify PELI2 as a regulator of STING that preferentially inhibits IRF3 signaling while enhancing NF-κB signaling. Mechanistically, we show that PELI2 inhibits IRF3 signaling by binding to phosphorylated Thr354 and Thr356 on the C-terminal tail of STING, leading to ubiquitination and function switching of TBK1. PELI2 is expressed under basal conditions to suppress IRF3 signaling and prevent interferonopathies. During viral infection, however, STING signaling rapidly downregulates PELI2 to unleash production of anti-viral type-I interferons. Normally, PELI2 levels are restored following viral clearance. However, lupus patients have insufficient PELI2 levels and high basal interferon production, suggesting dysregulation of PELI2 may have a causative role in lupus and other interferonopathies.
Tau regulates Arc stability in neuronal dendrites via a proteasome-sensitive but ubiquitin-independent pathway

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the deposition of aggregates of the microtubule associated protein tau, a main component of neurofibrillary tangles. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of tauopathy and dementia, with amyloid-beta pathology as an additional hallmark feature of the disease. Besides the role of tau in stabilizing microtubules, it is localized at postsynaptic sites and can disrupt synaptic plasticity when knocked out or overexpressed. The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc), is an immediate early gene that plays a key role in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Arc has been implicated in AD pathogenesis, where it was found to regulate activity-dependent release of amyloid-beta (Aβ). Here we show that Arc protein is upregulated in the hippocampus of tau knockout (Tau KO) mice and in dendrites of Tau KO primary hippocampal neurons. Conversely, overexpression of tau decreased Arc stability exclusively in neuronal dendrites and was coupled to an increase in the expression of dendritic and somatic surface GluA1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors. The Tau-dependent decrease in Arc was proteasome sensitive, yet independent of Arc ubiquitination and required the endophilin-binding domain of Arc, which is essential for promoting the endocytosis of AMPA receptors. Importantly, these effects on Arc stability and GluA1 localization were not observed in the commonly studied tau mutant, P301L. Our findings show a physiological role for tau in regulating Arc and implicate specific variants of tau in regulating Arc stability and AMPA receptor targeting, which may in part explain observed deficits in synaptic plasticity in select types of tauopathies.
Stromal netrin 1 coordinates renal arteriogenesis and mural cell differentiation

The kidney vasculature has a uniquely complex architecture that is essential to proper renal function. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that direct where and when blood vessels form during kidney development. We identified a regionally-restricted, stroma-derived signaling molecule, netrin-1 (Ntn1), as a putative regulator of vascular patterning. We generated a stromal progenitor-specific knockout of netrin-1 (Ntn1SPKO) that resulted in smaller postnatal kidneys with altered epithelial development and profound defects in arterial and capillary architecture. We also found significant loss of arterial vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) coverage and ectopic smooth muscle cell deposition at the kidney cortex. Transcriptomic analysis of Ntn1SPKO kidneys revealed downregulation of Klf4, which we find expressed in stromal progenitors. Deletion of Klf4 in the stroma largely phenocopies loss of Ntn1, and expression of Klf4 in Ntn1SPKO kidneys rescues ectopic vSMC deposition. Vascular defects observed in Ntn1SPKO are transient, as both arterial and smooth muscle coverage defects resolve late in development, however ectopic peripheral smooth muscle perdures perinatally. These data suggest a stromal-intrinsic Ntn1-Klf4 axis acting as an essential mediator of stromal crosstalk and vascular progenitor differentiation.