Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PIC/DSMC Models for Hall Effect Thruster Plumes: Present Status and Ways Forward

* Director, AIAA Member; Full Professor, Univ. of Pisa e-mail m.andrenucci@cpr.it † Senior Scientist, AIAA Member; e-mail l.biagioni@cpr.it ‡ Graduate Student, AIAA Student Member; e-mail a.passaro@cpr.it Hall Effect Thrusters (HET) represent one of the most promising technologies for application in future space missions. The knowledge of the plasma plume evolution in the space surrounding the thruster exhaust is of fundamental importance, at system design level, for satellites users and manufacturers in order to integrate the propulsive subsystem with other vehicle subsystems. Computer methods for plume modelling and spacecraft contamination and interaction have reached a sufficient level of maturity for being used in actual design processes. A brief review of the various plume and spacecraft interaction models and numerical simulation techniques is performed in the first part of this paper; a description of the Particle In Cell/ Direct Simulation Monte Carlo codes developed at Centrospazio is presented in the second part, along with the presentation of the preliminary results and comparison with experimental data obtained from literature and from Centrospazio’s HET testing facility. Finally, a summary of the foreseen improvements to be implemented in the two codes is presented, with the purpose of better clarifying the main open issues.
Complex Monte Carlo Light-Driven Dynamics of Monomers in Functionalized Bond Fluctuation Model Polymer Chains

We study Monte Carlo dynamics of the monomers and center of mass of a model polymer chain functionalized with azobenzene molecules in the presence of an inhomogeneous linearly polarized laser light. The simulations use a generalized Bond Fluctuation Model. The mean squared displacements of the monomers and the center of mass are analyzed in a period of Monte Carlo time typical for a build-up of Surface Relief Grating. Approximate scaling laws for mean squared displacements are found and interpreted in terms of sub- and superdiffusive dynamics for the monomers and center of mass. A counterintuitive effect is observed, where the monomers perform subdiffusive motion but the resulting motion of the center of mass is superdiffusive. This result disparages theoretical approaches based on an assumption that the dynamics of single monomers in a chain can be characterized in terms of independent identically distributed random variables.
Tobacco Smoking and Pack-Years Are Associated With Frailty Among People With HIV

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Tobacco smoking increases frailty risk among the general population and is common among people with HIV (PWH) who experience higher rates of frailty at younger ages than the general population. Methods: We identified 8608 PWH across 6 Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems sites who completed ≥2 patient-reported outcome assessments, including a frailty phenotype measuring unintentional weight loss, poor mobility, fatigue, and inactivity, and scored 0–4. Smoking was measured as baseline pack-years and time-updated never, former, or current use with cigarettes/day. We used Cox models to associate smoking with risk of incident frailty (score ≥3) and deterioration (frailty score increase by ≥2 points), adjusted for demographics, antiretroviral medication, and time-updated CD4 count. Results: The mean follow-up of PWH was 5.3 years (median: 5.0), the mean age at baseline was 45 years, 15% were female, and 52% were non-White. At baseline, 60% reported current or former smoking. Current (HR: 1.79; 95% confidence interval: 1.54 to 2.08) and former (HR: 1.31; 95% confidence interval: 1.12 to 1.53) smoking were associated with higher incident frailty risk, as were higher pack-years. Current smoking (among younger PWH) and pack-years, but not former smoking, were associated with higher risk of deterioration. Conclusions: Among PWH, smoking status and duration are associated with incident and worsening frailty.
Advances in Alpha Herpes Viruses Vaccines for Human

Alpha herpes simplex viruses are an important public health problem affecting all age groups. It can produce from common cold sores and chicken pox to severe conditions like encephalitis or newborn mortality. Although all three subtypes of alpha herpes viruses have a similar structure, the produced pathology differs, and at the same time, the available prevention measures, such as vaccination. While there is an available and efficient vaccine for the varicella-zoster virus, for herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, after multiple approaches from trivalent subunit vaccine to next-generation live-attenuated virus vaccines and bioinformatic studies, there is still no vaccine available. Although there are multiple failed approaches in present studies, there are also a few promising attempts; for example, the trivalent vaccine containing herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoproteins C, D, and E (gC2, gD2, gE2) produced in baculovirus was able to protect guinea pigs against vaginal infection and proved to cross-protect against HSV-1. Another promising vaccine is the multivalent DNA vaccine, SL-V20, tested in a mouse model, which lowered the clinical signs of infection and produced efficient viral eradication against vaginal HSV-2. Promising approaches have emerged after the COVID-19 pandemic, and a possible nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine could be the next step. All the approaches until now have not led to a successful vaccine that could be easy to administer and, at the same time, offer antibodies for a long period.
Deformations of Fibers of Curves Over k[[ t]]

Let k denote an algebraically closed field, and let V-W=Speck[[t]] be a proper curve with a smooth geometrically connected general fiber. Assume V is regular. In this paper we study the infinitesimal deformation theory of the closed fiber X over k by comparing it with the deformation theory of V over W. Let Defv and Defnx denote the functors whose values on an artinian local k algebra A are the isomorphism classes of deformations of V to schemes VA over SpecA[[t]] and of the divisor nX to schemes nXA over SpecA[t]/tn. "Setting tn =0" gives a natural transformation n: Defv--Defnx, and one has (Proposition 1.6)
Biofouling occlusion of ships’ internal seawater systems: operational, economic, and biosecurity consequences

Abstract Biofouling of ships’ internal seawater systems (ISS) can cause significant operational issues and is a potential transfer mechanism for marine nonindigenous species. This study used an engine room simulator and economic evaluation to quantify impacts on commercial ship performance of biofouling occlusion within various ISS nodes (sea chest, strainer, and heat exchangers). A characteristic hockey-stick relationship between occlusion and impact emerged, whereby engine room systems could tolerate up to 55% occlusion of a single node without operational impact, followed by rapid performance deterioration. The relative magnitude of impacts varied by ISS node and in response to changes in ambient seawater temperatures. System tolerance was much lower when simultaneous occlusion of multiple nodes was assessed. In economic terms, consequences included required freight rate increases of 1–26% prior to forced (automatic) slowdown of the ship and up to 82% increases if slowdown conditions were required.
Viable Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Colonizes Peripheral Blood of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Pathobionts, particularly Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and Escherichia coli isolates with adherence/invasive ability (AIEC) have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn’s disease (CD). This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of viable MAP and AIEC in a cohort of IBD patients. As such, MAP and E. coli cultures were established from faecal and blood samples (with a total n = 62 for each) of patients with CD (n = 18), ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 15), or liver cirrhosis (n = 7), as well as from healthy controls (HC, n = 22). Presumptive positive cultures were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for a positive confirmation of MAP or E. coli identity. E. coli-confirmed isolates were then tested for AIEC identity using adherence and invasion assays in the epithelial cell line of Caco-2 and survival and replication assays in the macrophage cell line of J774. MAP sub-culture and genome sequencing were also performed. MAP was more frequently cultured from the blood and faecal samples of patients with CD and cirrhosis. E. coli presumptive colonies were isolated from the faecal samples of most individuals, in contrast to what was registered for the blood samples. Additionally, from the confirmed E. coli isolates, only three had an AIEC-like phenotype (i.e., one CD patient and two UC patients). This study confirmed the association between MAP and CD; however, it did not find a strong association between the presence of AIEC and CD. It may be hypothesized that the presence of viable MAP in the bloodstream of CD patients contributes to disease reactivation.
Identification of NOL-Ring Composite Materials’ Damage Mechanism Based on the STOA-VMD Algorithm

This research utilized the sooty tern optimization algorithm–variational mode decomposition (STOA-VMD) optimization algorithm to extract the acoustic emission (AE) signal associated with damage in fiber-reinforced composite materials. The effectiveness of this optimization algorithm was validated through a tensile experiment on glass fiber/epoxy NOL-ring specimens. To solve the problems of a high degree of aliasing, high randomness, and a poor robustness of AE data of NOL-ring tensile damage, the signal reconstruction method of optimized variational mode decomposition (VMD) was first used to reconstruct the damage signal and the parameters of VMD were optimized by the sooty tern optimization algorithm. The optimal decomposition mode number K and penalty coefficient α were introduced to improve the accuracy of adaptive decomposition. Second, a typical single damage signal feature was selected to construct the damage signal feature sample set and a recognition algorithm was used to extract the feature of the AE signal of the glass fiber/epoxy NOL-ring breaking experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of the damage mechanism recognition. The results showed that the recognition rates of the algorithm in matrix cracking, fiber fracture, and delamination damage were 94.59%, 94.26%, and 96.45%, respectively. The damage process of the NOL-ring was characterized and the findings indicated that it was highly efficient in the feature extraction and recognition of polymer composite damage signals.
State of the art on microbubble cavitation monitoring and feedback control for blood-brain-barrier opening using focused ultrasound

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive and highly promising method for targeted and reversible blood-brain barrier permeabilization. Numerous preclinical studies aim to optimize the localized delivery of drugs using this method in rodents and non-human primates. Several clinical trials have been initiated to treat various brain diseases in humans using simultaneous BBB permeabilization and drug injection. This review presents the state of the art of in vitro and in vivo cavitation control algorithms for BBB permeabilization using microbubbles (MB) and FUS. Firstly, we describe the different cavitation states, their physical significance in terms of MB behavior and their translation into the spectral composition of the backscattered signal. Next, we report the different indexes calculated and used during the ultrasonic monitoring of cavitation. Finally, the different in vitro and in vivo cavitation control strategies described in the literature are presented and compared.
How reliable is restaging MRI after neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer?

Despite the pivotal role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rectal cancer staging and evaluation, the reliability of restaging MRI after neoadjuvant therapy is still debatable. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of restaging MRI by comparing post‐neoadjuvant MRI findings with those of the final pathology.
Development of a Gene and Nucleic Acid Delivery System for Skeletal Muscle Administration via Limb Perfusion Using Nanobubbles and Ultrasound

Strategies for gene and nucleic acid delivery to skeletal muscles have been extensively explored to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and other neuromuscular diseases. Of these, effective intravascular delivery of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) and nucleic acids into muscles is an attractive approach, given the high capillary density in close contact with myofibers. We developed lipid-based nanobubbles (NBs) using polyethylene-glycol-modified liposomes and an echo-contrast gas and found that these NBs could improve tissue permeability by ultrasound (US)-induced cavitation. Herein, we delivered naked pDNA or antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) into the regional hindlimb muscle via limb perfusion using NBs and US exposure. pDNA encoding the luciferase gene was injected with NBs via limb perfusion into normal mice with application of US. High luciferase activity was achieved in a wide area of the limb muscle. DMD model mice were administered PMOs, designed to skip the mutated exon 23 of the dystrophin gene, with NBs via intravenous limb perfusion, followed by US exposure. The number of dystrophin-positive fibers increased in the muscles of mdx mice. Combining NBs and US exposure, which can be widely delivered to the hind limb muscles via the limb vein, could be an effective therapeutic approach for DMD and other neuromuscular disorders.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy among Migrants, Refugees, and Foreign Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Despite the effectiveness of current vaccines in reducing the spread and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections, many people, including migrants, refugees, and foreign workers, are hesitant to be vaccinated. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) was conducted to determine the pooled prevalence estimate of the acceptance and hesitancy rates of the COVID-19 vaccine among these populations. A comprehensive search of the peer-reviewed literature indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases was conducted. Initially, 797 potential records were identified, of which 19 articles met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis of proportions using data from 14 studies revealed that the overall acceptance rate of COVID vaccination among 29,152 subjects was 56.7% (95% CI: 44.9–68.5%), while the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among 26,154 migrants reported in 12 studies was estimated to be 31.7% (95% CI: 44.9–68.5%). The acceptance rate for the COVID-19 vaccination first declined from 77.3% in 2020 to 52.9% in 2021 and then slightly increased to 56.1% in 2022. The most frequent factors influencing vaccine hesitancy were worries about vaccine efficacy and safety. Intensive vaccination campaigns should be implemented to raise vaccination awareness among migrants, which will increase the acceptance rate for the COVID-19 vaccine and result in herd immunity.
Leaf Proteomic Analysis in Seedlings of Two Maize Landraces with Different Tolerance to Boron Toxicity

Boron (B) toxicity is an important stressor that negatively affects maize yield and the quality of the produce. The excessive B content in agricultural lands is a growing problem due to the increase in arid and semi-arid areas because of climate change. Recently, two Peruvian maize landraces, Sama and Pachía, were physiologically characterized based on their tolerance to B toxicity, the former being more tolerant to B excess than Pachía. However, many aspects regarding the molecular mechanisms of these two maize landraces against B toxicity are still unknown. In this study, a leaf proteomic analysis of Sama and Pachía was performed. Out of a total of 2793 proteins identified, only 303 proteins were differentially accumulated. Functional analysis indicated that many of these proteins are involved in transcription and translation processes, amino acid metabolism, photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, protein degradation, and protein stabilization and folding. Compared to Sama, Pachía had a higher number of differentially expressed proteins related to protein degradation, and transcription and translation processes under B toxicity conditions, which might reflect the greater protein damage caused by B toxicity in Pachía. Our results suggest that the higher tolerance to B toxicity of Sama can be attributed to more stable photosynthesis, which can prevent damage caused by stromal over-reduction under this stress condition.
The Superficial Peroneal Nerve Is at Risk during the “All Inside” Arthroscopic Broström Procedure: A Cadaveric Study

Background: The arthroscopic Broström procedure is a promising treatment for chronic ankle instability. However, little is known regarding the location of the intermediate superficial peroneal nerve at the level of the inferior extensor retinaculum; knowledge about this location is important for procedural safety. The purpose of this cadaveric study was to clarify the anatomical relationship between the intermediate superficial peroneal nerve and the sural nerve at the level of the inferior extensor retinaculum. Methods: Eleven dissections of cadaveric lower extremities were performed. The origin of the experimental three-dimensional axis was defined as the location of the anterolateral portal during ankle arthroscopy. The distances from the standard anterolateral portal to the inferior extensor retinaculum, sural nerve, and intermediate superficial peroneal nerve were measured using an electronic digital caliper. The location of inferior extensor retinaculum, the tract of sural nerve, and intermediate superficial peroneal nerve were checked using average and standard deviations. For the statistical analyses, data are presented as average ± standard deviation, and then they are reported as means and standard deviations. Fisher’s exact test was used to identify statistically significant differences. Results: At the level of the inferior extensor retinaculum, the mean distances from the anterolateral portal to the proximal and distal intermediate superficial peroneal nerve were 15.9 ± 4.1 (range, 11.3–23.0) mm and 30.1 ± 5.5 (range, 20.8–37.9) mm, respectively. The mean distances from the anterolateral portal to the proximal and distal sural nerve were 47.6 ± 5.7 (range, 37.4–57.2) mm and 47.2 ± 4.1 (range, 41.0–51.8) mm), respectively. Conclusions: During the arthroscopic Broström procedure, the intermediate superficial peroneal nerve may be damaged by the anterolateral portal; the proximal and distal parts of the intermediate superficial peroneal nerve were located within 15.9 and 30.1 mm, respectively, at the level of the inferior extensor retinaculum in cadavers. These areas should be considered danger zones during the arthroscopic Broström procedure.
Optimization Conditions to Obtain Cationic Polyacrylamide Emulsion Copolymers with Desired Cationic Degree for Different Wastewater Treatments

The synthesis of cationic polyacrylamides (CPAMs) with the desired cationic degree and molecular weight is essential for various industries, including wastewater treatment, mining, paper, cosmetic chemistry, and others. Previous studies have already demonstrated methods to optimize synthesis conditions to obtain high-molecular-weight CPAM emulsions and the effects of cationic degrees on flocculation processes. However, the optimization of input parameters to obtain CPAMs with the desired cationic degrees has not been discussed. Traditional optimization methods are time-consuming and costly when it comes to on-site CPAM production because the input parameters of CPAM synthesis are optimized using single-factor experiments. In this study, we utilized the response surface methodology to optimize the synthesis conditions, specifically the monomer concentration, the content of the cationic monomer, and the content of the initiator, to obtain CPAMs with the desired cationic degrees. This approach overcomes the drawbacks of traditional optimization methods. We successfully synthesized three CPAM emulsions with a wide range of cationic degrees: low (21.85%), medium (40.25%), and high (71.17%) levels of cationic degree. The optimized conditions for these CPAMs were as follows: monomer concentration of 25%, content of monomer cation of 22.5%, 44.41%, and 77.61%, respectively, and initiator content of 0.475%, 0.48%, and 0.59%, respectively. The developed models can be utilized to quickly optimize conditions for synthesizing CPAM emulsions with different cationic degrees to meet the demands of wastewater treatment applications. The synthesized CPAM products performed effectively in wastewater treatment, with the treated wastewater meeting the technical regulation parameters. 1H-NMR, FTIR, SEM, BET, dynamic light scattering, and gel permeation chromatography were employed to confirm the structure and surface of the polymers.
Genomic and Pathogenicity Mechanisms of the Main Theobroma cacao L. Eukaryotic Pathogens: A Systematic Review

A set of diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes are responsible for large losses in annual world cocoa production. Managing the impact caused by these diseases is very complex because a common solution has yet to be found for different pathogens. In this context, the systematic knowledge of Theobroma cacao L. pathogens’ molecular characteristics may help researchers understand the possibilities and limitations of cocoa disease management strategies. This work systematically organized and summarized the main findings of omics studies of T. cacao eukaryotic pathogens, focusing on the plant–pathogen interaction and production dynamics. Using the PRISMA protocol and a semiautomated process, we selected papers from the Scopus and Web of Science databases and collected data from the selected papers. From the initial 3169 studies, 149 were selected. The first author’s affiliations were mostly from two countries, Brazil (55%) and the USA (22%). The most frequent genera were Moniliophthora (105 studies), Phytophthora (59 studies) and Ceratocystis (13 studies). The systematic review database includes papers reporting the whole-genome sequence from six cocoa pathogens and evidence of some necrosis-inducing-like proteins, which are common in T. cacao pathogen genomes. This review contributes to the knowledge about T. cacao diseases, providing an integrated discussion of T. cacao pathogens’ molecular characteristics, common mechanisms of pathogenicity and how this knowledge is produced worldwide.