Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrodynamic equations for rapid flows of smooth inelastic spheres, to Burnett order

The Chapman–Enskog expansion is generalized in order to derive constitutive relations for flows of inelastically colliding spheres in three dimensions – to Burnett order. To this end, the pertinent (nonlinear) Boltzmann equation is perturbatively solved by performing a (double) expansion in the Knudsen number and the degree of inelasticity. One of the results is that the normal stress differences and the ‘temperature anisotropy’, characterizing granular fluids, are Burnett effects. The constitutive relations derived in this work differ, both qualitatively and quantitatively, from those obtained in previous studies. In particular, the Navier–Stokes (order) terms have a different dependence on the degree of inelasticity and the number density than in previously derived constitutive relations; for instance, the expression for the heat flux contains a term which is proportional to ε∇ log n, where ε is a measure of the degree of inelasticity and n denotes the number density. This contribution to the heat flux is of zeroth order in the density; a similar term, i.e. one that is proportional to ε∇n, has been previously obtained by using the Enskog correction but this term is O(n) and it vanishes in the Boltzmann limit. These discrepancies are resolved by an analysis of the Chapman–Enskog and Grad expansions, pertaining to granular flows, which reveals that the quasi-microscopic rate of decay of the temperature, which has not been taken into account heretofore, provides an important scale that affects the constitutive relations. Some (minor) quantitative differences between our results and previous ones exist as well. These are due to the fact that we take into account an isotropic correction to the leading Maxwellian distribution, which has not been considered before, and also because we consider the full dependence of the corrections to the Maxwellian distribution on the (fluctuating) speed.
Deep learning on lateral flow immunoassay for the analysis of detection data

Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is an important detection method in vitro diagnosis, which has been widely used in medical industry. It is difficult to analyze all peak shapes through classical methods due to the complexity of LFIA. Classical methods are generally some peak-finding methods, which cannot distinguish the difference between normal peak and interference or noise peak, and it is also difficult for them to find the weak peak. Here, a novel method based on deep learning was proposed, which can effectively solve these problems. The method had two steps. The first was to classify the data by a classification model and screen out double-peaks data, and second was to realize segmentation of the integral regions through an improved U-Net segmentation model. After training, the accuracy of the classification model for validation set was 99.59%, and using combined loss function (WBCE + DSC), intersection over union (IoU) value of segmentation model for validation set was 0.9680. This method was used in a hand-held fluorescence immunochromatography analyzer designed independently by our team. A Ferritin standard curve was created, and the T/C value correlated well with standard concentrations in the range of 0–500 ng/ml (R2 = 0.9986). The coefficients of variation (CVs) were ≤ 1.37%. The recovery rate ranged from 96.37 to 105.07%. Interference or noise peaks are the biggest obstacle in the use of hand-held instruments, and often lead to peak-finding errors. Due to the changeable and flexible use environment of hand-held devices, it is not convenient to provide any technical support. This method greatly reduced the failure rate of peak finding, which can reduce the customer’s need for instrument technical support. This study provided a new direction for the data-processing of point-of-care testing (POCT) instruments based on LFIA.
Neuron arbor geometry is sensitive to the limited-range fractal properties of their dendrites

Fractal geometry is a well-known model for capturing the multi-scaled complexity of many natural objects. By analyzing three-dimensional images of pyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampus CA1 region, we examine how the individual dendrites within the neuron arbor relate to the fractal properties of the arbor as a whole. We find that the dendrites reveal unexpectedly mild fractal characteristics quantified by a low fractal dimension. This is confirmed by comparing two fractal methods—a traditional “coastline” method and a novel method that examines the dendrites’ tortuosity across multiple scales. This comparison also allows the dendrites’ fractal geometry to be related to more traditional measures of their complexity. In contrast, the arbor’s fractal characteristics are quantified by a much higher fractal dimension. Employing distorted neuron models that modify the dendritic patterns, deviations from natural dendrite behavior are found to induce large systematic changes in the arbor’s structure and its connectivity within a neural network. We discuss how this sensitivity to dendrite fractality impacts neuron functionality in terms of balancing neuron connectivity with its operating costs. We also consider implications for applications focusing on deviations from natural behavior, including pathological conditions and investigations of neuron interactions with artificial surfaces in human implants.
Effects of concurrent training sequence on VO2max and lower limb strength performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of concurrent strength and endurance training sequences on VO2max and lower limb strength performance to provide scientific guidance for training practice. We searched PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science (WOS), Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases up to December 2022. The included articles were randomized controlled trials that allowed us to compare the strength–endurance (S-E) sequence and endurance–strength (E-S) sequence on VO2max, maximum knee extension strength, maximum knee flexion strength, and lower limb power. The Cochrane bias risk tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included literature, and Stata 12.0 was used for the heterogeneity test, subgroup analysis, draw forest map, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias evaluation. The results have been presented as standardized mean differences (SMDs) between treatments with 95% confidence intervals and calculations performed using random effects models. Significance was accepted when p < 0.05. The studies included 19 randomized controlled trials (285 males and 197 females), 242 subjects in S-E sequence, and 240 subjects in E-S sequence in the analyses. No difference changes between S-E and E-S sequences has been observed on VO2max in the overall analysis (SMD = 0.02, 95% CI: −0.21–0.25, p = 0.859). The S-E sequence shows a greater increase in lower limb strength performance than does the E-S sequence (SMD = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.02–0.37, p = 0.032), which was manifested in the elderly (p = 0.039) and women (p = 0.017); in training periods >8 weeks (p = 0.002) and training frequencies twice a week (p = 0.003); and with maximum knee flexion (p = 0.040) and knee extension strength (p = 0.026), while no difference was found in lower limb power (p = 0.523). In conclusion, the effect of VO2max will not change with different concurrent training sequences. The S-E sequence improves lower limb strength more significantly, mainly in the improvement of knee flexion and knee extension. This advantage is more related to factors such as age, gender, training period, and training frequency.
Transcriptomic profiling revealed FZD10 as a novel biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma recurrence

Background Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of cancers that develops in the nasopharynx, the very upper part of the throat behind the nose. NPC is typically diagnosed in later stages of the disease and has a high rate of recurrence due to the location of the tumor growth site. In this study, we compared the gene expression profiles of NPC tissues from patients with and without recurrence to identify potential molecular biomarkers of NPC recurrence. Methods Microarrays were used to analyze the expression of genes in 15 NPC tissues taken at the time of diagnosis and at the site of recurrence following therapeutic treatment. Pathway enrichment analysis was used to examine the biological interactions between the major differentially expressed genes. The target identified was then validated using immunohistochemistry on 86 NPC tissue samples. Results Our data showed that the Wnt signaling pathway was enhanced in NPC tissues with recurrence. FZD10, a component of the Wnt signaling pathway, was significantly expressed in NPC tissues, and was significantly associated with NPC recurrence. Conclusion Our study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of NPC and identifies FZD10 as a potential molecular biomarker for NPC recurrence. FZD10 may be a promising candidate for NPC recurrence and a potential therapeutic target.
Benchmark shielding calculations for fusion and accelerator-driven sub-critical systems

We conducted benchmark calculations of neutron-shielding experiments for fusion applications such as (1) Neutron spectra in iron shields with 14 MeV neutrons; and (2) Leakage neutron spectra from various sphere piles by 14 MeV neutrons, and for Accelerator-Driven Sub-Critical system (ADS) such as (3) Neutron energy spectra after transmission through iron and concrete shields using a quasi-monochromatic neutron source, (4) Thick target neutron yield produced by high-energy heavy ion incidence on a thick target, and (5) Induced radio activity in concrete exposed to secondary particles produced by heavy-ion incident reaction on an iron target by using the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS). For case (1), the calculated neutron energy spectra using the nuclear data libraries, JENDL-4.0, agreed with the experimental data in iron shields. For the cases (2) of Al, Ti, Cr, and As piles, the neutron energy spectra calculated with JENDL-4.0 agreed with the experimental results well. For the case (3), the neutron spectra calculated with JENDL-4.0/HE reproduced the experimental data because the proton data library of 7Li can produce source neutrons for proton incident reactions. For the case (4), calculated results for thick target neutron spectra produced by a 400 MeV per nucleon carbon incident reaction on lead reproduced the experimental data well. For the case (5) with a neutron source produced by the 200–400 MeV per nucleon heavy-ion incident reaction, the calculated results of the reaction rate depth profiles of 197Au (n, γ)198Au reactions reproduced the experimental results within a factor of 2. Overall, PHITS with nuclear data libraries reproduced the experimental data sufficiently well. Thus, PHITS has a potential application in the design of advanced reactor systems, such as fusion and ADS facilities. This experimental data are also useful in validating nuclear reaction models in other Monte Carlo codes and evaluating nuclear data libraries for advanced reactor systems.
The Hamilton-Jacobi method and Hamiltonian maps

A method for constructing time-step-based symplectic maps for a generic Hamiltonian system subjected to perturbation is developed. Using the Hamilton-Jacobi method and Jacobi's theorem in finite periodic time intervals, the general form of the symplectic maps is established. The generating function of the map is found by the perturbation method in the finite time intervals. The accuracy of the maps is studied for fully integrable and partially chaotic Hamiltonian systems and compared to that of the symplectic integration method.
Lactate dehydrogenase and the severity of adenoviral pneumonia in children: A meta-analysis

Background Children with severe adenoviral pneumonia (ADVP) have poor prognosis and high risk of mortality. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between pretreatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and severity, postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO), and mortality in children with ADVP. Methods Relevant observational studies were identified by search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI databases from inception to August 3, 2022. A random effect model was used to pool the results by incorporating the potential between-study heterogeneity. Results Overall, 23 studies with 4,481 children with ADVP were included in this meta-analysis. Results of meta-analysis showed that children with severe ADVP had a significantly higher level of pretreatment LDH as compared to those with non-severe ADVP (standard mean difference [SMD]: 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36 to 0.66, p < 0.001; I2 = 69%). Besides, pooled results also suggested that the pretreatment LDH was significantly higher in children who developed PIBO as compared to those who did not (SMD: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.84, p = 0.02, I2 = 80%). Finally, results of the meta-analysis also confirmed that a higher pretreatment LDH (>500 IU/L) was a risk factor of increased mortality during hospitalization (odds ratio: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.62 to 5.92, p < 0.001, I2 = 0%). Sensitivity analyses by excluding one dataset at a time showed consistent results. Conclusion High pretreatment LDH may be associated with disease severity, development of PIBO, and increased risk of mortality in children with ADVP.
Nonlinear pseudoparabolic equations as singular limit of reaction–diffusion equations

In this article, a solution of a nonlinear pseudoparabolic equation is constructed as a singular limit of a sequence of solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic equations. If a system with cross diffusion, modelling the reaction and diffusion of two biological, chemical, or physical substances, is reduced then such an hyperbolic equation is obtained. For regular solutions even uniqueness can be shown, although the needed regularity can only be proved in two dimensions.
A zone-of-inhibition assay to screen for humoral antimicrobial activity in mosquito hemolymph

In insects, antibacterial immunity largely depends on the activation of downstream signaling and effector responses, leading to the synthesis and secretion of soluble effector molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs are acute infection response peptides secreted into the hemolymph upon bacterial stimulation. The transcription of innate immunity genes encoding for AMPs is highly dependent on several signaling cascade pathways, such as the Toll pathway. In the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, AMPs hold a special interest as their upregulation have been shown to limit the growth of malaria parasites, bacteria, and fungi. Most of the current knowledge on the regulation of insect AMPs in microbial infection have been obtained from Drosophila. However, largely due to the lack of convenient assays, the regulation of antimicrobial activity in mosquito hemolymph is still not completely understood. In this study, we report a zone of inhibition assay to identify the contribution of AMPs and components of the Toll pathway to the antimicrobial activity of A. gambiae hemolymph. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate that Micrococcus luteus challenge induces antimicrobial activity in the adult female mosquito hemolymph, which is largely dependent on defensin 1. Moreover, by using RNAi to silence Cactus, REL1, and MyD88, we showed that Cactus kd induces antimicrobial activity in the mosquito hemolymph, whereas the antimicrobial activity in REL1 kd and MyD88 kd is reduced after challenge. Finally, while injection itself is not sufficient to induce antimicrobial activity, our results show that it primes the response to bacterial challenge. Our study provides information that increases our knowledge of the regulation of antimicrobial activity in response to microbial infections in mosquitoes. Furthermore, this assay represents an ex vivo medium throughput assay that can be used to determine the upstream regulatory elements of antimicrobial activity in A. gambiae hemolymph.
Rapid screening and scaled manufacture of immunogenic virus-like particles in a tobacco BY-2 cell-free protein synthesis system

Several vaccine platforms have been developed to fight pathogenic threats, with Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) representing a very promising alternative to traditional platforms. VLPs trigger strong and lasting humoral and cellular immune responses with fewer safety concerns and higher stability than other platforms. The use of extensively characterized carrier VLPs modified with heterologous antigens was proposed to circumvent the viral complexity of specific viruses that could lead to poor VLP assembly and yields. Although carrier VLPs have been successfully produced in a wide variety of cell-based systems, these are limited by low protein yields and protracted clone selection and optimization workflows that limit VLP screening approaches. In response, we have demonstrated the cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) of several variants of the hepatitis B core (HBc) carrier VLP using a high-yielding tobacco BY-2 lysate (BYL). High VLP yields in the BYL system allowed in-depth characterization of HBc variants. Insertion of heterologous sequences at the spike region of the HBc monomer proved more structurally demanding than at the N-terminus but removal of the C-terminal domain allowed higher particle flexibility and insert acceptance, albeit at the expense of thermal and chemical stability. We also proved the possibility to scale the CFPS reaction up to 1L in batch mode to produce 0.45 grams of the native HBc VLP within a 48-hour reaction window. A maximum yield of 820 µg/ml of assembled VLP particles was observed at the 100µl scale and most remarkably the CFPS reaction was successfully scaled from 50µl to 1L without any reduction in protein yield across this 20,000-fold difference in reaction volumes. We subsequently proved the immunogenicity of BYL-derived VLPs, as flow cytometry and microscopy clearly showed prompt recognition and endocytosis of fluorescently labelled VLPs by human dendritic cells. Triggering of inflammatory cytokine production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was also quantitated using a multiplex assay. This research establishes BYL as a tool for rapid production and microscale screening of VLP variants with subsequent manufacturing possibilities across scales, thus accelerating discovery and implementation of new vaccine candidates using carrier VLPs.
Talk of the Town mobile app platform: New method for engaging family in STEM learning and research in homes and communities

Children do not just learn in the classroom. They engage in “informal learning” every day just by spending time with their family and peers. However, while researchers know this occurs, less is known about the science of this learning—how this learning works. This is so because investigators lack access to those moments of informal learning. In this mini-review we present a technical solution: a mobile-based research platform called “Talk of the Town” that will provide a window into children’s informal learning. The tool will be open to all researchers and educators and is flexibly adaptable to these needs. It allows access to data that have never been studied before, providing a means for developing and testing vast educational interventions, and providing access to much more diverse samples than are typically studied in laboratories, homes, and science museums. The review details the promise and challenges associated with these new methods of data collection and family engagement in STEM learning sciences.
Polymeric microcarriers for minimally-invasive cell delivery

Tissue engineering (TE) aims at restoring tissue defects by applying the three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic pre-formed scaffolds to restore, maintain, and enhance tissue growth. Broadly speaking, this approach has created a potential impact in anticipating organ-building, which could reduce the need for organ replacement therapy. However, the implantation of such cell-laden biomimetic constructs based on substantial open surgeries often results in severe inflammatory reactions at the incision site, leading to the generation of a harsh adverse environment where cell survival is low. To overcome such limitations, micro-sized injectable modularized units based on various biofabrication approaches as ideal delivery vehicles for cells and various growth factors have garnered compelling interest owing to their minimally-invasive nature, ease of packing cells, and improved cell retention efficacy. Several advancements have been made in fabricating various 3D biomimetic microscale carriers for cell delivery applications. In this review, we explicitly discuss the progress of the microscale cell carriers that potentially pushed the borders of TE, highlighting their design, ability to deliver cells and substantial tissue growth in situ and in vivo from different viewpoints of materials chemistry and biology. Finally, we summarize the perspectives highlighting current challenges and expanding opportunities of these innovative carriers.
Associations between reproductive history, hormone use, APOE ε4 genotype and cognition in middle- to older-aged women from the UK Biobank

Introduction Relative to men, women are at a higher risk of developing age-related neurocognitive disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. While women’s health has historically been understudied, emerging evidence suggests that reproductive life events such as pregnancy and hormone use may influence women’s cognition later in life. Methods We investigated the associations between reproductive history, exogenous hormone use, apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 genotype and cognition in 221,124 middle- to older-aged (mean age 56.2 ± 8.0 years) women from the UK Biobank. Performance on six cognitive tasks was assessed, covering four cognitive domains: episodic visual memory, numeric working memory, processing speed, and executive function. Results A longer reproductive span, older age at menopause, older age at first and last birth, and use of hormonal contraceptives were positively associated with cognitive performance later in life. Number of live births, hysterectomy without oophorectomy and use of hormone therapy showed mixed findings, with task-specific positive and negative associations. Effect sizes were generally small (Cohen’s d < 0.1). While APOE ε4 genotype was associated with reduced processing speed and executive functioning, in a dose-dependent manner, it did not influence the observed associations between female-specific factors and cognition. Discussion Our findings support previous evidence of associations between a broad range of female-specific factors and cognition. The positive association between a history of hormonal contraceptive use and cognition later in life showed the largest effect sizes (max. d = 0.1). More research targeting the long-term effects of female-specific factors on cognition and age-related neurocognitive disorders including Alzheimer’s disease is crucial for a better understanding of women’s brain health and to support women’s health care.