Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigation of Project Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle Aeroheating: Larc 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel Test 6931

An investigation of the aeroheating environment of the Project Orion Crew Entry Vehicle has been performed in the Langley Research Center 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel. Data were measured on a approx.3. 5% scale model (0.1778-m/7-inch diameter) of the vehicle using coaxial thermocouples at free stream Reynolds numbers of 2.0 10(exp 6)/ft to 7.30 10(exp 6)/ft and computational predictions were generated for all test conditions. The primary goals of this test were to obtain convective heating data for use in assessing the accuracy of the computational technique and to validate test methodology and heating data from a test of the same wind tunnel model in the Arnold Engineering Development Center Tunnel 9. Secondary goals were to determine the extent of transitional/turbulent data which could be produced on a CEV model in this facility, either with or without boundary-layer trips, and to demonstrate continuous pitch-sweep operation in this tunnel for heat transfer testing.
Mom, Asian International Student, Doctoral Student, and In-Between: Exploring Asian International Doctoral Student Mothers' Mental Well-Being

Abstract:Drawing on interviews with seven participants, this qualitative study presents unique experiences related to participants' mental well-being as Asian international students pursuing doctoral degrees while raising children. Their experiences include struggles with depression and mood swings, ongoing battles to manage both academic progress and mothering, constant conflict with their spouses, feelings of guilt, thoughts of dropping out, and concerns about their children. Implications for student affairs practice are discussed.
Lead-Glazed Pottery at Late Medieval Corinth: Assessing Craft Production and Trade at a Greek City under Western Influence

Abstract:We present a multimethod analysis of 97 lead-glazed tablewares from the so-called Frankish Area at Corinth, at the time of the transition from Frankish feudalism to an administration by powerful Florentine bankers, then the Despotate of the Morea in the late 13th to early 15th century a.d. This sector of the medieval city appears to have been continuously occupied after the Catalan raid of 1312. The results shed new light on the late years of the Corinthian Sgraffito ware industry, and on the role of northern Italian trading cities and their possessions overseas as production and distribution centers of lead-glazed pottery, including imitations of Zeuxippus and other Byzantine wares using specific glaze recipes and pigments.
IPHAS A-TYPE STARS WITH MID-INFRARED EXCESSES IN SPITZER SURVEYS

We have identified 17 A-type stars in the Galactic Plane that have mid-infrared (mid-IR) excesses at 8 μm. From observed colors in the (r′ − Hα) − (r′ − i′) plane, we first identified 23,050 early A-type main-sequence (MS) star candidates in the Isaac Newton Photometric H-Alpha Survey (IPHAS) point source database that are located in Spitzer Galactic Legacy Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire Galactic plane fields. Imposing the requirement that they be detected in all seven Two Micron All Sky Survey and Infrared Astronomical Satellite bands led to a sample of 2692 candidate A-type stars with fully sampled 0.6 to 8 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs). Optical classification spectra of 18 of the IPHAS candidate A-type MS stars showed that all but one could be well fitted using MS A-type templates, with the other being an A-type supergiant. Out of the 2692 A-type candidates 17 (0.6%) were found to have 8 μm excesses above the expected photospheric values. Taking into account non-A-Type contamination estimates, the 8 μm excess fraction is adjusted to ∼0.7%. The distances to these sources range from 0.7 to 2.5 kpc. Only 10 out of the 17 excess stars had been covered by Spitzer MIPSGAL survey fields, of which five had detectable excesses at 24 μm. For sources with excesses detected in at least two mid-IR wavelength bands, blackbody fits to the excess SEDs yielded temperatures ranging from 270 to 650 K, and bolometric luminosity ratios LIR/L⋆ from 2.2 × 10−3 − 1.9 × 10−2, with a mean value of 7.9 × 10−3 (these bolometric luminosities are lower limits as cold dust is not detectable by this survey). Both the presence of mid-IR excesses and the derived bolometric luminosity ratios are consistent with many of these systems being in the planet-building transition phase between the early protoplanetary disk phase and the later debris disk phase.
An overview of the ABC Repair System for Datalog-like Theories

Humans are smart in revising their knowledge and concepts based on observations when they find conflicts. This ability to repair representations is also important for AI agents so that they can represent their environment correctly. This paper gives an overview of the domain-independent ABC system for repairing faulty logical theories by combining three existing techniques: abduction, belief revision and conceptual change. (A) Given an observation, represented as an assertion, and a current theory, abduction adds axioms, or deletes preconditions, which explain that observation by making the corresponding assertion derivable from the expanded theory. (B) Belief revision incorporates a new piece of information which conflicts with the input theory by either deleting old axioms or adding new preconditions to them. (C) Conceptual change uses the reformation algorithm for blocking unwanted proofs or unblocking wanted proofs. The former two techniques change an axiom as a whole, while reformation changes the language in which the theory is written. These three techniques are complementary so they are combined into one system: the ABC repair system, which is capable of repairing logical theories with better result than each individual technique alone and has been applied to applications in multiple domains. Datalog is used as ABC’s underlying logic of theories, but the proposed system has the potential to be adapted to theories in other logics.
Convergence and molecular evolution of floral fragrance after independent transitions to self–fertilization

The study of the independent evolution of similar characters can highlight important ecological and genetic factors that drive phenotypic evolution. The transition from reproduction by outcrossing to self-fertilization has occurred frequently throughout plant evolution. A common trend in this transition is the reduction of flower features in the selfing lineages, including display size, flower signals and pollinators’ rewards. These changes are believed to evolve because resources invested in building attractive flowers are reallocated to other fitness functions as the pressures to attract pollinators decrease. We investigated the similarities in the evolution of flower fragrance after independent transitions to self-fertilization in Capsella. We identified a large number of compounds that are similarly changed in different selfer lineages, such that the composition of the flower scent can predict the mating system in this genus. We further demonstrate that the emission of some of these compounds convergently evolved based on mutations in different genes. In one of the Capsella selfing lineages, the loss of β-ocimene emission was caused by a mutation altering subcellular localization of the ortholog of TERPENE SYNTHASE 2 without apparent effects on its biosynthetic activity. This mutation appears to have been selected at the early stage of this selfing lineage establishment through the capture of a variant segregating in the ancestral outcrossing population. The large extent of convergence in the independent evolution of flower scent, together with the evolutionary history and molecular consequences of a causal mutation, suggest that the emission of specific volatiles has important fitness consequences in self-fertilizing plants without obvious energetic benefits.
Copper chelation inhibits TGF-β pathways and suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer

Copper is a trace element essential to cellular function with elevated levels implicated in cancer progression. Clinical trials using copper chelators are associated with improved patient survival, however, the molecular mechanisms by which copper depletion inhibits tumor progression are poorly understood. This remains a major hurdle to the clinical translation of copper chelators. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is often exploited by malignant cells to promote growth and metastasis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a master regulator of EMT and facilitates cancer progression through changes in the tumor and its microenvironment. Herein, we report that a reduction of copper with the chelating agent tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) inhibited EMT in vitro in three diverse cancer cell types; human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), neuroblastoma (NB), and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) cell lines. Single-molecule imaging demonstrated EMT markers including Vimentin, β-catenin, ZEB1, and p-SMAD2 had increased expression with copper treatment and this pro-mesenchymal shift was rescued by the addition of TEPA. Moreover, SNAI1, ZEB1, and p-SMAD2 demonstrated increased accumulation in the cytoplasm after treating with TEPA. Transcriptomic analyses revealed a significant downregulation of the EMT pathway, including canonical (TGF-β/SMAD2&3) and non-canonical (TGF-β/PI3K/AKT and TGF-β/RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK) TGF signaling pathways. Matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9 and MMP-14 proteins which activate latent TGF-β complexes were also downregulated by TEPA treatment. These molecular changes are consistent with reduced plasma levels of TGF-β we observed in cancer models treated with TEPA. Importantly, copper chelation reduced metastasis to the lung in a TNBC orthotopic syngeneic mouse model. Our studies suggest copper chelation therapy can be used to inhibit EMT-induced metastasis by targeting TGF-β signalling. Because on-target anti-TGF-β therapies are failing in the clinic, copper chelation presents itself as a potential therapy for targeting TGF-β in cancer.
Site-Specific knockdown of microglia in the locus coeruleus regulates hypervigilant responses to social stress in female rats

Background Women are at increased risk for psychosocial stress-related anxiety disorders, yet mechanisms regulating this risk are unknown. Psychosocial stressors activate microglia, and the resulting neuroimmune responses that females exhibit heightened sensitivity to may serve as an etiological factor in their elevated risk. However, studies examining the role of microglia during stress in females are lacking. Methods Microglia were manipulated in the stress-sensitive locus coeruleus (LC) of female rats in the context of social stress in two ways. First, intra-LC lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0 or 3μg/side, n=5-6/group), a potent TLR4 agonist and microglial activator, was administered. One hour later, rats were exposed to control or an aggressive social defeat encounter between two males (WS, 15-min). In a separate study, females were treated with intra-LC or intra-central amygdala mannosylated liposomes containing clodronate (m-CLD; 0 or 25μg/side, n=13-14/group), a compound toxic to microglia. WS-evoked burying, cardiovascular responses, and sucrose preference were measured. Brain and plasma cytokines were quantified, and cardiovascular telemetry assessed autonomic balance. Results Intra-LC LPS augmented the WS-induced burying response and increased plasma corticosterone and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Further, the efficacy and selectivity of microinjected m-CLD was determined. In the context of WS, intra-LC m-CLD attenuated the hypervigilant burying response during WS as well as the accumulation of intra-LC IL-1β. Intra-central amygdala m-CLD had no effect on witness stress-evoked behavior. Conclusions These studies highlight an innovative method for depleting microglia in a brain region specific manner and indicate that microglia in the LC differentially regulate hypervigilant WS-evoked behavioral and autonomic responses. HIGHLIGHTS Intra-LC LPS augments behavioral and physiological responses to social stress Mannosylated liposomal clodronate site-specifically reduces microglial expression Microglia within the locus coeruleus regulate stress-evoked behavior in female rats
Design and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 DNA Vaccine Encoding RBD-PVXCP Fusion Protein

The potential of immune evasive mutations accumulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to its rapid spread causing over 600 million confirmed cases and more than 6.5 million confirmed deaths. Huge demand for the rapid development and deployment of low-cost and effective vaccines against emerging variants renews interest in DNA vaccine technology. Here we report a rapid generation and immunological evaluation of novel DNA vaccine candidates against Wuhan-Hu-1 and Omicron variants, based on the RBD protein fused with the Potato virus X coat protein (PVXCP). Delivery of DNA vaccines using electroporation in a two-doses regimen induced high antibody titers and profound cellular response in mice. Antibody titers induced against Omicron variant of the vaccine were sufficient for the effective protection against both the Omicron and Wuhan-Hu-1 virus infections. PVXCP protein in the vaccine construct shifted immune response to the favorable Th1-like type and provided oligomerization of RBD-PVXCP protein. A naked DNA delivery by the needle-free injection device allowed us to achieve antibody titers comparable with the mRNA-LNP delivery in rabbits. This data identifies the RBD-PVXCP DNA vaccine platform as a promising solution for robust and effective SARS-CoV-2 protection, supporting further translational study.
Comparisons between Complete Genomes of the Eukaryotic Extremophile Galdieria sulphuraria Reveals Complex Nuclear Chromosomal Structures

Extremophiles, while typically bacteria and archaea, are also found in the eukaryotic domain of life. The eukaryote Galdieria sulphuraria is a thermoacidophilic red alga belonging to the class Cyanidiophyceae, an especially unique class as it comprises the basal clade of eukaryotic extremophiles. Galdieria species can grow both photosynthetically and heterotrophically on a variety of carbon sources, thriving down to pH 0 and temperatures up to 56 °C, while tolerating high levels of reactive oxygen species and high levels of heavy metals. Here we report whole-genome sequencing of three G. sulphuraria strains, uncovering a compact (13.1 Mb – 16.0 Mb) nuclear genome with 72-73 chromosomes, dependent on the strain.Comparative analyses of the macro synteny revealed significant structural rearrangement between G. sulphuraria isolates and the genome shows signs of sexual recombination. This, along with the large number of nuclear chromosomes compared to the genome size, reveals a mechanism of intrinsic adaptability in this eukaryotic extremophile, uncovering how G. sulphuraria can thrive in a rapidly changing extreme environment.
Rapid isolation of respiring skeletal muscle mitochondria using nitrogen cavitation

Methods of isolating mitochondria commonly utilize mechanical force and shear stress to homogenize tissue followed by purification by multiple rounds of ultracentrifugation. Existing protocols can be time-consuming with some physically impairing integrity of the sensitive mitochondrial double membrane. Methods Here, we describe a method for the recovery of intact, respiring mitochondria from murine skeletal muscle tissue and cell lines using nitrogen cavitation in combination with differential centrifugation. Results This protocol results in high yield, pure and respiring mitochondria without the need for purification gradients or ultracentrifugation. The protocol takes under an hour and requires limited specialised equipment. Our methodology is successful in extracting mitochondria of both cell extracts and skeletal muscle tissue. This represents an improved yield in comparison to many of the existing methods. Western blotting and electron microscopy demonstrate an enrichment of mitochondria with their ultrastructure well-preserved and an absence of contamination from cytoplasmic or nuclear fractions. Using respirometry analysis we show that mitochondria extracted from the murine skeletal muscle cell lines and tibialis anterior have an appropriate respiratory control ratio. These measures are indicative of healthy coupled mitochondria. Conclusion Our method successfully demonstrates the rapid isolation of functional mitochondria and will benefit researchers studying mitochondrial bioenergetics as well as providing greater throughput and application for time-sensitive assays.
The Tarantula Massive Binary Monitoring II. First SB2 orbital and spectroscopic analysis for the Wolf-Rayet binary R145

We present the first SB2 orbital solution and disentanglement of the massive Wolf-Rayet binary R145 ( P = 159 d) located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The primary was claimed to have a stellar mass greater than 300 M ⊙ , making it a candidate for being the most massive star known to date. While the primary is a known late-type, H-rich Wolf-Rayet star (WN6h), the secondary has so far not been unambiguously detected. Using moderate-resolution spectra, we are able to derive accurate radial velocities for both components. By performing simultaneous orbital and polarimetric analyses, we derive the complete set of orbital parameters, including the inclination. The spectra are disentangled and spectroscopically analyzed, and an analysis of the wind-wind collision zone is conducted. The disentangled spectra and our models are consistent with a WN6h type for the primary and suggest that the secondary is an O3.5 If*/WN7 type star. We derive a high eccentricity of e = 0.78 and minimum masses of M 1 sin 3 i ≈ M 2 sin 3 i = 13 ± 2 M ⊙ , with q = M 2 / M 1 = 1.01 ± 0.07. An analysis of emission excess stemming from a wind-wind collision yields an inclination similar to that obtained from polarimetry ( i = 39 ± 6°). Our analysis thus implies M 1 = 53 +40 -20 and M 2 = 54 +40 -20 M ⊙ , excluding M 1 > 300 M ⊙ . A detailed comparison with evolution tracks calculated for single and binary stars together with the high eccentricity suggests that the components of the system underwent quasi-homogeneous evolution and avoided mass-transfer. This scenario would suggest current masses of ≈ 80 M ⊙ and initial masses of M i,1 ≈ 105 and M i,2 ≈ 90 M ⊙ , consistent with the upper limits of our derived orbital masses, and would imply an age of ≈ 2.2 Myr.
Adaptation to spindle assembly checkpoint inhibition through the selection of specific aneuploidies

Both the presence of an abnormal complement of chromosomes (aneuploidy) and an increased frequency of chromosome missegregation (chromosomal instability) are hallmarks of cancer. Analyses of cancer genome data have identified certain aneuploidy patterns in tumors; however, the bases behind their selection are largely unexplored. By establishing time-resolved long-term adaptation protocols, we found that human cells adapt to persistent spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) inhibition by acquiring specific chromosome arm gains and losses. Independently adapted populations converge on complex karyotypes, which over time are refined to contain ever smaller chromosomal changes. Of note, the frequencies of chromosome arm gains in adapted cells correlate very well with those detected in cancers, suggesting that our cellular adaptation approach recapitulates selective traits that dictate pan-cancer aneuploidy patterns. We further engineered specific aneuploidies to determine the genetic basis behind the observed karyotype patterns. These experiments demonstrated that the adapted and engineered aneuploid cell lines limit CIN by extending mitotic duration. Heterozygous deletions of key SAC and APC/C genes recapitulated the rescue phenotypes of the monosomic chromosomes. We conclude that aneuploidy-induced gene dosage imbalances of individual mitotic regulators are sufficient for altering mitotic timing to reduce CIN.
Statistical phasing of 150,119 sequenced genomes in the UK Biobank

The first release of UK Biobank whole genome sequence data contains 150,119 genomes. We present an open-source pipeline for filtering, phasing, and indexing these genomes on the cloud-based UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform. This pipeline makes it possible to apply haplotype-based methods to UK Biobank whole genome sequence data. The pipeline uses BCFtools for marker filtering, Beagle for genotype phasing, and tabix for VCF indexing. We used the pipeline to phase 406 million single nucleotide variants on chromosomes 1-22 and X at a cost of 2,309 British pounds. The maximum time required to process a chromosome was 2.6 days. In order to assess phase accuracy, we modified the pipeline to exclude trio parents. We observed a switch error rate of 0.0016 on chromosome 20 in the White British trio offspring. If we exclude markers with nonmajor allele frequency < 0.1% after phasing, this switch error rate decreases by 80% to 0.00032.
Integration of silicon chip microstructures for in-line microbial cell lysis in soft microfluidics

The paper presents fabrication methodologies that integrate silicon components into soft microfluidic devices to perform microbial cell lysis for biological applications. The integration methodology consists of a silicon chip that is fabricated with microstructure arrays and embedded in a microfluidic device, which is driven by piezoelectric actuation to perform cell lysis by physically breaking microbial cell walls via micromechanical impaction. We present different silicon microarray geometries, their fabrication techniques, integration of said microarrays into microfluidic devices, device operation and testing on synthetic microbeads and microbial cells to evaluate their efficacy. The generalized strategy developed for silicon chip integration into soft polymeric devices can serve as an important process step for a new class of hybrid silicon-polymeric devices for future cellular processing applications. The proposed integration methodology can be scalable and integrated as an in-line cell lysis tool with existing microfluidics assays.
Calcium transients in nNOS neurons underlie distinct phases of the neurovascular response to barrel cortex activation in awake mice

Neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS), a Ca2+ dependent enzyme, is expressed by distinct populations of neocortical neurons. Although neuronal NO is well known to contribute to the blood flow increase evoked by neural activity, the relationships between nNOS neurons activity and vascular responses in the awake state remain unclear. We imaged the barrel cortex in awake, head-fixed mice through a chronically implanted cranial window. The Ca2+ indicator GCaMP7f was expressed selectively in nNOS neurons using adenoviral gene transfer in nNOScre mice. Air-puffs directed at the contralateral whiskers or spontaneous motion induced Ca2+ transients in 30.2 ± 2.2% or 51.6 ± 3.3% of nNOS neurons, respectively, and evoked local arteriolar dilation. The greatest dilatation (14.8 ± 1.1%) occurred when whisking and motion occurred simultaneously. Ca2+ transients in individual nNOS neurons and local arteriolar dilation showed various degrees of correlation, which was strongest when the activity of whole nNOS neuron ensemble was examined. We also found that some nNOS neurons became active immediately prior to arteriolar dilation, while others were activated gradually after arteriolar dilatation. Discrete nNOS neuron subsets may contribute either to the initiation or to the maintenance of the vascular response, suggesting a previously unappreciated temporal specificity to the role of NO in neurovascular coupling.