Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geometrical Formulation of Supergravity Theories

This thesis deals with a geometrical formulation of diverse Supergravity theories. In particular, the construction of Supergravity actions in four and three dimensions are considered in dierent frameworks with interesting physical implications. Before approaching supersymmetry, we brie y review some gravity theories in the Cartan formalism. The formalism used in the introductory chapter is crucial in order to understand the development of the present thesis. Some interesting results are presented in chapter 2 using the semigroup expansion method in the Chern-Simons (CS) and Born-Infeld (BI) gravity theories. Subsequently, a brief introduction of supersymmetry and some supergravity models are considered in chapter 3. Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 contain the main results of this thesis which are based on ve articles written during the cotutelle research process. Initially, we present a family of superalgebras using the semigroup expansion of the Anti-de Sitter superalgebra. In the MacDowell-Mansouri approach, we study the construction of diverse four-dimensional supergravity theories for dierent superalgebras. Interestingly, we show that the pure supergravity action can be obtained as a MacDowell-Mansouri like action using the Maxwell symmetries. Additionally, a generalized supersymmetric cosmological constant term can be included to a supergravity theory using a particular supersymmetry, called AdS-Lorentz. Furthermore, we present a supergravity model in three dimensions using the CS formalism and the Maxwell superalgebras. Subsequently, the thesis is focused on a supergravity model with partial breaking of N = 2 to N = 1 supersymmetry which, in the low energy limit, gives rise to a N = 1 supersymmetric theory. Eventually, the thesis ends with some comments about possible developments
A Cost Model for Neurological Diseases in Puerto Rico: Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and Huntington's Disease.

OBJECTIVE This article proposes an engineering-economics model to determine the total cost of a neurological disease along its temporal progression. The objective was to develop a planning tool faithful to the reality of this type of ailment as well as to that of Puerto Rico (PR). METHODS The proposed model organizes a given neurological disease into 3 progressive phases of deterioration; in each, the model collects the typical associated costs and adjusts them based on their value over time. This way, the total cost of the ailment is calculated and its present day dollar value expressed. Model verification was carried out using data from Puerto Rico related to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases. RESULTS The method demonstrated here considered Parkinson's disease in PR. Our model calculated a total annual cost of $64,915 for a patient at the medium stage. This figure is larger than estimates from other authors, which fall between $41,689 and $51,600 for the USA. This difference is partially due to the proposed model considering the individual's opportunity cost of the loss of productive years, an original contribution of our work. CONCLUSION A neurological disease is one in which an individual goes through progressive phases of deterioration that will require significant economic resources. The model proposed here is designed across the commonalities between Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases and illustrated using costs from PR. As an additional contribution, it allows the consideration of the opportunity cost of lost productivity, a characteristic that makes it more realistic.
Liquid Hydrogen: A Mirage or Potent Solution for Aviation’s Climate Woes?

The aviation industry faces a formidable challenge to cap its climate impact in the face of continued growth in passengers and freight. Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is one of the alternative jet fuels under consideration as it does not produce carbon dioxide upon combustion. We conducted a well-to-wake life cycle assessment of CO2 emissions and non-CO2 climate change impacts per passenger-distance for 17 different hydrogen production routes, as well as conventional jet fuel and biofuels. Six other environmental and health impact categories were also considered. The Boeing 787-800 was used as the reference aircraft, and a range of flight distances were explored. Contrail cirrus contributes around 81 ± 31% of the combustion climate impacts for LH2, compared to 32 ± 7% for conventional jet fuel, showing that research is needed to reduce uncertainty in the case of LH2. The life cycle impacts of the two dominant commercial LH2 pathways are on average 8 and 121% larger than conventional jet fuel. Some novel LH2 pathways do show considerable potential for life cycle climate impact reductions versus conventional fuel (up to −205 ± 78%). LH2 from renewable energy is not climate neutral, though, at best −67 ± 10% compared to conventional over the life cycle.
Structure and magnetism of the triangular lattice material YbBO3

YbBO3 is a member of the orthoborate family of materials which contains a triangular arrangement of Yb3+ ions. Here we study the physical properties of YbBO3 with neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering, specific heat, and ac susceptibility measurements. The neutron diffraction measurements confirm that our samples of YbBO3 crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c (#15) which contains two crystallographically distinct Yb3+ sites decorating a slightly distorted triangular lattice. Heat capacity and ac susceptibility measurements indicate a potential transition to magnetic order at 0.4 K. In agreement with these observations, neutron diffraction measurements at 0.044 K observe magnetic Bragg peaks which can be indexed by a propagation vector of (0 0 1). Although determining a unique spin configuration corresponding to the observed magnetic Bragg peaks is not possible, model refinements indicate that the ordered moments are likely in the range of 0.4–0.9 μB and, notably, require moments on both Yb sites. In addition to the magnetic Bragg peaks, diffuse scattering at low Q is observed indicating that the transition does not correspond to complete long range magnetic order. The two-site picture for YbBO3 is further evidenced by the number of crystal field excitations observed by inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Together these results show that YbBO3 is a two-site triangular lattice material with signatures of long-range order as well as shorter ranged spin correlations.
Investigating the inhibitory property of DM hCT on hCT fibrillization via its relevant peptide fragments

The irreversible aggregation of proteins or peptides greatly limits their bioavailability; therefore, effective inhibition using small molecules or biocompatible materials is very difficult. Human calcitonin (hCT), a hormone polypeptide with 32 residues, is secreted by the C‐cells of the thyroid gland. The biological function of this hormone is to regulate calcium and phosphate concentrations in the blood via several different pathways. One of these is to inhibit the activity of osteoclasts; thus, calcitonin could be used to treat osteoporosis and Paget's disease of the bone. However, hCT is prone to aggregation in aqueous solution and forms amyloid fibrils. Salmon and eel calcitonin are currently used as clinical substitutes for hCT. In a previous study, we found that the replacement of two residues at positions 12 and 17 of hCT with amino acids that appear in the salmon sequence can greatly suppress peptide aggregation. The double mutations of hCT (DM hCT) also act as good inhibitors by disrupting wild‐type hCT fibrillization, although the inhibition mechanism is not clear. More importantly, we demonstrated that DM hCT is biologically active in interacting with the calcitonin receptor. To further understand the inhibitory effect of DM hCT on hCT fibrillization, we created four relevant peptide fragments based on the DM hCT sequence. Our examination revealed that the formation of a helix of DM hCT was possibly a key component contributing to its inhibitory effect. This finding could help in the development of peptide‐based inhibitors and in understanding the aggregation mechanism of hCT.
Integrated analysis of single-cell and Bulk RNA sequencing reveals a malignancy-related signature in lung adenocarcinoma

Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common histotype of lung cancer, may have variable prognosis due to molecular variations. The research strived to establish a prognostic model based on malignancy-related risk score (MRRS) in LUAD. Methods We applied the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub database to recognize malignancy-related geneset. Meanwhile, we extracted RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The GSE68465 and GSE72094 datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were downloaded to validate the prognostic signature. Random survival forest analysis screened MRRS with prognostic significance. Multivariate Cox analysis was leveraged to establish the MRRS. Furthermore, the biological functions, gene mutations, and immune landscape were investigated to uncover the underlying mechanisms of the malignancy-related signature. In addition, we used qRT-PCR to explore the expression profile of MRRS-constructed genes in LUAD cells. Results The scRNA-seq analysis revealed the markers genes of malignant celltype. The MRRS composed of 7 malignancy-related genes was constructed for each patient, which was shown to be an independent prognostic factor. The results of the GSE68465 and GSE72094 datasets validated MRRS’s prognostic value. Further analysis demonstrated that MRRS was involved in oncogenic pathways, genetic mutations, and immune functions. Moreover, the results of qRT-PCR were consistent with bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion Our research recognized a novel malignancy-related signature for predicting the prognosis of LUAD patients and highlighted a promising prognostic and treatment marker for LUAD patients.
Estimating Scatterer Positions using Sparse Approximation

We present a convex optimization method for a class of inverse scattering problems. The method is based on three steps: (i) compute a database of scattering data for the measurement situations of interest; (ii) find a sparse approximation of a measured response in terms of the database; and (iii) estimate a representative description from the sparse approximation as a weighted average. We use the method to estimate the position of multiple scatters inside a microwave measurement system.
Wound induced small-peptide mediated signalling cascade regulated by OsPSKR, dictates balance between growth and defense in rice

Wounding is a general stress in plants that results from various pest and pathogenic infections in addition to environment induced mechanical damages. Plants have sophisticated molecular mechanisms to recognize and respond to pests and pathogens. Although several molecules such as phytohormones, peptides and receptors have been attributed to wound responses in dicots, such mechanisms for monocots probably having distinct wound responses are less understood. Here, we show the involvement of two distinct categories of temporally separated, endogenously derived peptides, namely, plant elicitor peptides (PEPs) and phytosulfokine (PSK), that mediate wound responses in rice. These peptides trigger a dynamic signal relay in which a novel receptor kinase named OsPSKR played a major role. OsPSKR perceived PSK ligand, acting in association with a co-receptor OsSERK1, to activate downstream responses in a kinase activity-dependent manner. Perturbation of OsPSKR expression in rice led to compromised development and constitutive autoimmune phenotypes. These results suggested that OsPSKR maintains the trade-off between growth and exaggerated defense responses, both during homeostasis and wounding. Collectively, these findings indicate the presence of a stepwise peptide-mediated signal relay that regulates the transition from defense to growth upon wounding in monocots. One line summary Endogenous peptide signalling initiated wound responses through a receptor-like kinase OsPSKR to maintain the balance between growth and defense responses.
ER-Mitochondria Contact Sites expand during mitosis

Membrane contact sites between various organelles define specialized spatially defined signaling hubs, they are of great interest to better understand inter-organelle communication and its implications on cellular physiology. ER-mitochondria contact sites (ERMCS) are one of the best studied and mediate Ca2+ signaling that regulates mitochondrial bioenergetics. However, little is known about ERMCS during mitosis. Here we show that ERMCS expand during mitosis using transmission electron microscopy, serial EM coupled to 3D reconstruction, and ERMCS markers. ERMCS expansion in mitosis is functionally significant as it is associated with enhanced Ca2+ coupling between the ER and mitochondria resulting in heightened activation of mitochondrial dehydrogenases. Our data suggest that ERMCS remodeling in mitosis is important to meet the increased energy needs during cell division.
Global Output‐Feedback Stabilization for Stochastic Nonlinear Systems with Function Control Coefficients

This paper investigates the global output‐feedback stabilization for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems with function control coefficients. Notably, the systems in question possess control coefficients that are functions of output, rather than constants; hence, they are different from the existing literature on stochastic stabilization. To solve the control problem, an appropriate reduced‐order observer is introduced to reconstruct the unmeasured system states before a smooth output‐feedback controller is designed using the backstepping method, which guarantees that the closed‐loop system is globally asymptotically stable in probability. This paper combines the related results in the deterministic and stochastic setting and gives the first treatment on the global output‐feedback stabilization for the stochastic nonlinear systems with function control coefficients. A simulation example is given also to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
MEAN MERIDIONAL CIRCULATION AND ANGULAR MOMENTUM BALANCE IN THE YEAR OF 1950

Utilizing the latitudinal mean ot upper meridional wind of 1950 given by Buch and Starr and White, mean meridional circulation has been studied. Fig. 1-3 (fig. 1 for whole year, fig. 2 for winter, fig. 3 for summer) reveal three cells: two direct cells in low and high latitudes respectively and one indirect cell in middle latitudes. The average jet stream of 1950 is situated in the middle cell. The yearly average equatorial convergence zone is at about 5°N. From winter to summer all the three cells shift northward. The Hadley cell of winter hemisphere extends to summer hemisphere. The intensity of these cells seems to be stronger in winter than in summer.Angular momentum balance for the latitudes 10°N-70°N for the year 1950 was also studied, and figure for stream lines for the transfer of angular momentum was constructed (fig. 5). The most interesting feature in this figure is that through the surface separating easterlies and westerlies the stream lines are vertical. Thus it indicates that the angular momentum generated in the easterlies is transported to the westerlies not in horizontal direction, but transported to upper westerlies in low latitudes by vertical motion. Then from there it is tiansfer-ed to middle latitudes. The mechanism of such transfer is as follows: In Hadley cell the upward motion in equatorial region and southern tropics carries more angular momentum due to earth's rotation, while the downward motion in northern tropics and subtropics carries less angular momentum due to earth's rotation. Thus in the mean angular momentum generated in easterlies is transported to upper levels.Finally the mechanism of maintenance of zonal circulation was discussed. The conclusion is this: In middle arid high latitudes gross disturbances are of primary importance while in low latitudes mean meridional circulation is important in maintaining zonal circulation.
Increased reliance on temporal coding when target sound is softer than the background

Everyday environments often contain multiple concurrent sound sources that fluctuate over time. Normally hearing listeners can benefit from high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in energetic dips of temporally fluctuating background sound, a phenomenon called dip-listening. Specialized mechanisms of dip-listening exist across the entire auditory pathway. Both the instantaneous fluctuating and the long-term overall SNR shape dip-listening. An unresolved issue regarding cortical mechanisms of dip-listening is how target perception remains invariant to overall SNR, specifically, across different tone levels with an ongoing fluctuating masker. Equivalent target detection over both positive and negative overall SNRs (SNR invariance) is reliably achieved in highly-trained listeners. Dip-listening is correlated with the ability to resolve temporal fine structure, which involves temporally-varying spike patterns. Thus the current work tests the hypothesis that at negative SNRs, neuronal readout mechanisms need to increasingly rely on decoding strategies based on temporal spike patterns, as opposed to spike count. Recordings from chronically implanted electrode arrays in core auditory cortex of trained and awake Mongolian gerbils that are engaged in a tone detection task in 10 Hz amplitude-modulated background sound reveal that rate-based decoding is not SNR-invariant, whereas temporal coding is informative at both negative and positive SNRs.
Measuring Dental Enamel Thickness: Morphological and Functional Relevance of Topographic Mapping

The interest in the development of dental enamel thickness measurement techniques is connected to the importance of metric data in taxonomic assessments and evolutionary research as well as in other directions of dental studies. At the same time, advances in non-destructive imaging techniques and the application of scanning methods, such as micro-focus-computed X-ray tomography, has enabled researchers to study the internal morpho-histological layers of teeth with a greater degree of accuracy and detail. These tendencies have contributed to changes in established views in different areas of dental research, ranging from the interpretation of morphology to metric assessments. In fact, a significant amount of data have been obtained using traditional metric techniques, which now should be critically reassessed using current technologies and methodologies. Hence, we propose new approaches for measuring dental enamel thickness using palaeontological material from the territories of northern Vietnam by means of automated and manually operated techniques. We also discuss method improvements, taking into account their relevance for dental morphology and occlusion. As we have shown, our approaches demonstrate the potential to form closer links between the metric data and dental morphology and provide the possibility for objective and replicable studies on dental enamel thickness through the application of automated techniques. These features are likely to be effective in more profound taxonomic research and for the development of metric and analytical systems. Our technique provides scope for its targeted application in clinical methods, which could help to reveal functional changes in the masticatory system. However, this will likely require improvements in clinically applicable imaging techniques.
Research on Fault Diagnosis of HVAC Systems Based on the ReliefF-RFECV-SVM Combined Model

A fault diagnosis method of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems based on the ReliefF-recursive feature elimination based on cross validation-support vector machine (ReliefF-RFECV-SVM) combined model is proposed to enhance the diagnosis accuracy and efficiency. The method initially uses ReliefF to screen the original features, selecting those that account for 95% of the total weight. The recursive feature elimination based on cross validation (RFECV), based on a random forest classifier, is then applied to select the optimal feature subset according to diagnostic accuracy. Finally, a support vector machine (SVM) model is constructed for fault classification. The method is tested on seven typical faults of the ASHRAE 1043-RP water chiller dataset and three typical faults of an air-cooled self-built air conditioner simulation dataset. The results show that the ReliefF-RFECV-SVM method significantly reduces diagnosis time compared to SVM, shortening it by about 50% based on the ASHRAE 1043-RP dataset, while achieving an overall accuracy of 99.98%. Moreover, the proposed method achieves a comprehensive diagnosis accuracy of 99.97% on the self-built simulation dataset, with diagnosis time the reduced by about 65% compared to single SVM.
Nanoclay-Reinforced Nanocomposite Nanofibers—Fundamentals and State-of-the-Art Developments

Nanoclays are layered mineral silicates, i.e., layered silicate nanosheets. Nanoclays such as montmorillonite, bentonite, kaolinite, etc., have been used as reinforcements in the nanofibers. Numerous polymers have been used to fabricate the nanofibers, including poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(vinyl alcohol), polycaprolactone, nylon, polyurethane, poly(ethylene oxide), and others. To develop better compatibility with polymers, nanoclays have been organo-modified prior to reinforcement in the nanofiber matrices. This state-of-the-art review highlights the fundamentals, design, fabrication, and characteristics of the polymer/nanoclay nanofibers. The nanoclay filled nanocomposite nanofibers have been fabricated using electrospinning and other fiber processing techniques. The electrospinning technique has been preferred to form the nanoclay-filled nanofibers, owing to the better control of processing parameters and resulting nanofiber properties. The electrospun polymer/nanoclay nanofibers usually have fine nanoparticle dispersions, microstructures, smooth textures, and narrow diameters. The physical properties of the designed nanofibers depend upon the processing technology used, solvent, solution/melt concentration, flow rate, spinning speed, voltage, and other process parameters. Hence, this review attempts to assess a literature-driven consequence of embedding nanoclays in the polymeric nanofibers in a broad context of the application of these fibrous materials. Conclusively, to design the polymer/nanoclay nanofibers, montmorillonite nanoclay has been observed as a nanofiller in most of the studies, and, similarly, the electrospinning technique was preferred as a fabrication technique. Almost all the physical properties of the nanofibers studied revealed dependences upon the choice of the polymer matrix for nanofiber formation as well as the nanoclay contents, modification, and dispersion state. Accordingly, the nylon/nanoclay nanofibers have been investigated for nanofiller dispersion, mechanical properties, and thermal profiles. The antibacterial properties were among the prominent features of the poly(vinyl alcohol)/nanoclay nanofibers. The poly(vinylidene fluoride)/nanoclay systems were explored for the microstructure, crystallinity, and piezoelectric properties. The polycaprolactone/nanoclay nanofibers having fine microstructure were capable of forming tissue engineering scaffolds. The drug delivery and sound absorption properties were noticeable for the polyurethane/nanoclay nanofiber systems. Moreover, the poly(lactic acid)/nanoclay nanofibers were found to have prominent biodegradability and low gas permeability features. The resulting polymer/nanoclay nanocomposite nanofiber systems found potential for the technical applications of sensors, packaging, tissue engineering, and wound healing. However, thorough research efforts have been found to be desirable to find the worth of polymer/nanoclay nanofibers in several concealed technological sectors of energy, electronics, aerospace, automotives, and biomedical fields.