Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Ni Catalysts Supported on Biomorphic Carbon Derived From Lignocellulosic Biomass Residues in the Decomposition of Methane

In this work, we present the results of production of carbonaceous nanomaterials by decomposition of methane on a catalyst of Ni supported on a Biomorphic Carbon. The catalyst was prepared by thermal decomposition in a reductive atmosphere of vine shoots previously impregnated with the Ni precursor. In order to optimize the reaction productivity and selectivity, the effect of the main operational conditions (reaction temperature and feed composition) has been studied in a thermobalance. The main textural properties, BET area of 63 m2/g and 56% of microporosity, of the catalyst synthesized indicates that these materials are suitable for gas-phase reactions even in harsh conditions. Thus, the catalyst has proved to be active in the synthesis of carbon nanofibres and graphene related materials at elevated temperatures. The productivity, type and quality of the carbonaceous nanomaterials obtained are deeply dependent on the operating conditions during the reaction. As an important fact, is has been obtained that the reaction temperature strongly affects the type of the nanomaterial produced. Thus, it is produced CNFs of bamboo type at temperatures until 850 oC. Above this critical temperature, it is mainly obtained nanolayers of graphitic nature. The characterization results indicate that the highest quality graphenic materials were obtained operating at 950 °C with 14.3 % of CH4 and 14.3 % of H2. The kinetic model used to analyze the experimental data is based on the more relevant stages of the mechanism of reaction.
Accessibility percolation in random fitness landscapes

The fitness landscape encodes the mapping of genotypes to fitness and provides a succinct representation of possible trajectories followed by an evolving population. Evolutionary accessibility is quantified by the existence of fitness-monotonic paths connecting far away genotypes. Studies of accessibility percolation use probabilistic fitness landscape models to explore the emergence of such paths as a function of the initial fitness, the parameters of the landscape or the structure of the genotype graph. This chapter reviews these studies and discusses their implications for the predictability of evolutionary processes.
Identification of Prognostic Alternative Splicing Signature in Breast Carcinoma

Background Increasing evidence indicated a close relationship between aberrant splicing variants and carcinoma, whereas comprehensive analysis of prognostic alternative splicing (AS) profiling in breast cancer (BRCA) is lacking and largely unknown. Methods RNA-seq data and corresponding clinical information of BRCA patients were obtained and integrated from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Then SpliceSeq software was used to assess seven AS types and calculate the Percent Spliced In (PSI) value. Univariate followed by stepwise multivariate Cox regression analyses identified survival associated AS events and constructed the AS signature, which were further sent for enrichment analysis, respectively. Besides, the splicing correlation network was constructed. Additionally, nomogram incorporating AS signature and clinicopathological characteristics was developed and its efficacy was evaluated with respect to discrimination, calibration and clinical utility. Results A total of 45,421 AS events were detected, among which 3071 events were found associated with overall survival (OS) after strict filtering. Parent genes of these prognostic events were involved in BRCA-related processes including NF-kappaB and HIF-1 signaling pathway. Besides, the final prognostic signature built with 20 AS events performed well with an area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve up to 0.957 for 5 years. And gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) also confirmed the candidate 20 AS events contributed to progression of BRCA. Moreover, the nomogram that incorporated 20-AS-event-based classifier, age, pathological stage and Her-2 status showed good calibration and moderate discrimination, with C-index of 0.883 (95% CI, 0.844–0.921). Decision curve analysis (DCA) confirmed more benefit was added to survival prediction with our nomogram, especially in 5 or 8 years with threshold probability up to 80%. Finally, splicing correlation network revealed an obvious regulatory pattern of prognostic splicing factors (SF) in BRCA. Conclusion This study provided a systematic portrait of survival-associated AS events involved in BRCA and further presented a AS-clinicopathological nomogram, which could be conveniently used to assist the individualized prediction of long-term survival probability for BRCA patients. And a series of bioinformatic analysis provided a promising perspective for further uncovering the underlying mechanisms of AS events and validating therapeutic targets for BRCA.
Deriving Iodine-free Spectra for High-resolution Echelle Spectrographs

We describe a new method to derive clean, iodine-free spectra directly from observations acquired using high-resolution echelle spectrographs equipped with iodine cells. The main motivation to obtain iodine-free spectra is to use portions of the spectrum that are superimposed with the dense forest of iodine absorption lines, in order to retrieve lines that can be used to monitor the magnetic activity of the star, helping to validate candidate planets. In short, we provide a straightforward methodology to clean the spectra using the forward model used to derive radial velocities, the line spread function information plus the stellar spectrum without iodine to reconstruct and subtract the iodine spectrum from the observations. We show our results using observations of the star τ Ceti acquired with the Planet Finder Spectrograph (PFS), High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES), and University College London Echelle Spectrograph (UCLES), reaching an iodine-free spectrum correction at the ∼1% rms level. We additionally discuss the limitations and further applications of the method.
Epigenetic Enzyme Mutations: Role in Tumorigenesis and Molecular Inhibitors

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, result in heritable changes in gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Epigenetic regulatory enzymes such as DNA methyltransferases, histone methyltransferases, and histone deacetylases are involved in epigenetic modification. Studies have shown that the dysregulation caused by changes in the amino acid sequence of these enzymes is closely correlated with tumor onset and progression. In addition, certain amino acid changes in the metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) are linked to altered epigenetic modifications in tumors. Some small molecule inhibitors targeting these aberrant enzymes have shown promising anti-cancer efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials. For example, the small molecule inhibitor ivosidenib, which targets IDH1 with a mutation at R132, has been approved by the FDA for the clinical treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. In this review, we summarize the recurrent “hotspot” mutations in these enzymes in various tumors and their role in tumorigenesis. We also describe candidate inhibitors of the mutant enzymes which show potential therapeutic value. In addition, we introduce some previously unreported mutation sites in these enzymes, which may be related to tumor development and provide opportunities for future study.
Expressional Profiling of Carpet Glia in the Developing Drosophila Eye Reveals Its Molecular Signature of Morphology Regulators

Homeostasis in the nervous system requires intricate regulation and is largely accomplished by the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The major gate keeper of the vertebrate BBB is vascular endothelial cells, which form tight junctions (TJs). To gain insight into the development of the BBB, we studied the carpet glia, a subperineurial glial cell type with vertebrate TJ-equivalent septate junctions, in the developing Drosophila eye. The large and flat, sheet-like carpet glia, which extends along the developing eye following neuronal differentiation, serves as an easily accessible experimental system to understand the cell types that exhibit barrier function. We profiled transcribed genes in the carpet glia using targeted DNA adenine methyl-transferase identification, followed by next-generation sequencing (targeted DamID-seq) and found that the majority of genes expressed in the carpet glia function in cellular activities were related to its dynamic morphological changes in the developing eye. To unravel the morphology regulators, we silenced genes selected from the carpet glia transcriptome using RNA interference. The Rho1 gene encoding a GTPase was previously reported as a key regulator of the actin cytoskeleton. The expression of the pathetic (path) gene, encoding a solute carrier transporter in the developing eye, is specific to the carpet glia. The reduced expression of Rho1 severely disrupted the formation of intact carpet glia, and the silencing path impaired the connection between the two carpet glial cells, indicating the pan-cellular and local effects of Rho1 and Path on carpet glial cell morphology, respectively. Our study molecularly characterized a particular subperineurial cell type providing a resource for a further understanding of the cell types comprising the BBB.
A Multi-species ASEP(q,j) and q-TAZRP with Stochastic Duality

This paper introduces a multi-species version of a process called ASEP(q,j). In this process, up to 2j particles are allowed to occupy a lattice site, the particles drift to the right with asymmetry 0<q^{2j}<1, and there are n-1 species of particles in which heavier particles can force lighter particles to switch places. Assuming closed boundary conditions, we explicitly write the reversible measures and a self-duality function, generalizing previously known results for two-species ASEP and single-species ASEP(q,j). Additionally, it is shown that this multi-species ASEP(q,j) is dual to its space-reversed version, in which particles drift to the left. As j goes to infinity, this multi-species ASEP(q,j) converges to a multi-species q-TAZRP and the self-duality function has a non-trivial limit, showing that this multi-species q-TAZRP satisfies a space-reversed self-duality. The construction of the process and the proofs are accomplished utilizing spin j representations of U_q(gl_n), extending the approach used for single-species ASEP(q,j).
On Hausdorff dimension of radial projections

For any $x\in\mathbb{R}^d$, $d\geq 2$, denote $\pi^x: \mathbb{R}^d\backslash\{x\}\rightarrow S^{d-1}$ as the radial projection $$\pi^x(y)=\frac{y-x}{|y-x|}. $$ Given a Borel set $E\subset{\Bbb R}^d$, $\dim_{\mathcal{H}} E\leq d-1$, in this paper we investigate for how many $x\in \mathbb{R}^d$ the radial projection $\pi^x$ preserves the Hausdorff dimension of $E$, namely whether $\dim_{\mathcal{H}}\pi^x(E)=\dim_{\mathcal{H}} E$. We develop a general framework to link $\pi^x(E)$, $x\in F$ and $\pi^y(F)$, $y\in E$, for any Borel set $F\subset\mathbb{R}^d$. In particular, whether $\dim_{\mathcal{H}}\pi^x(E)=\dim_{\mathcal{H}}E$ for some $x\in F$ can be reduced to whether $F$ is visible from some $y\in E$ (i.e. $\mathcal{H}^{d-1}(\pi^y(F))>0$). This allows us to apply Orponen's estimate on visibility to obtain $$\dim_{\mathcal{H}}\left\{x\in\mathbb{R}^d: \dim_{\mathcal{H}}\pi^x(E)<\dim_{\mathcal{H}}E\right\}\leq 2(d-1)-\dim_{\mathcal{H}}E,$$ for any Borel set $E\subset{\Bbb R}^d$, $\dim_{\mathcal{H}} E\in(d-2, d-1]$. This improves the Peres-Schlag bound when $\dim_{\mathcal{H}} E\in(d-\frac{3}{2}, d-1]$, and it is optimal at the endpoint $\dim_{\mathcal{H}} E=d-1$.
Best Information is Most Successful Mutual Information and Success Rate in Side-Channel Analysis

Using information-theoretic tools, this paper establishes a mathematical link between the probability of success of a side-channel attack and the minimum number of queries to reach a given success rate, valid for any possible distinguishing rule and with the best possible knowledge on the attacker’s side. This link is a lower bound on the number of queries highly depends on Shannon’s mutual information between the traces and the secret key. This leads us to derive upper bounds on the mutual information that are as tight as possible and can be easily calculated. It turns out that, in the case of an additive white Gaussian noise, the bound on the probability of success of any attack is directly related to the signal to noise ratio. This leads to very easy computations and predictions of the success rate in any leakage model.
A Noise Mitigation Approach for VLC Systems

Visible Light Communication (VLC) is based on the dual use of the illumination infrastructure for wireless data communication. The major interest on this communication technology lies on its specific features to be a secure, cost-effective wireless technology. Recently, this technology has gained an important role as potential candidate for complementing traditional RF communication systems. Anyway a major issue for the VLC development is a deep comprehension of the noise and its impact on the received signal at the receiver. In this work, we present a simple but effective approach to analyze the noise and drastically reduce it through a signal processing method. In order to validate the effectiveness of this analytical approach, we have developed an USRP-based testbed. Experimental results have been carried out by evaluating the symbol error rate (SER) and show the effectiveness of the noise mitigation approach in different interference conditions and at different distance between the transmitter and the receiver.
Gravitational lensing of gravitational waves: wave nature and prospects for detection

We discuss the gravitational lensing of gravitational wave (GW) signals from coalescing binaries. We delineate the regime where wave effects are significant from the regime where geometric limit can be used. Further, we focus on the effect of microlensing and the combined effect of strong lensing and microlensing. We find that microlensing combined with strong lensing can introduce time varying phase shift in the signal and hence can lead to detectable differences in the signal observed for different images produced by strong lensing. This, coupled with the coarse localization of signal source in the sky for GW detections, can make it difficult to identify the common origin of signal corresponding to different images and use observables like time delay. In case we can reliably identify corresponding images, microlensing of individual images can be used as a tool to constrain properties of microlenses. Sources of gravitational waves can undergo microlensing due to lenses in the disc/halo of the Galaxy, or due to lenses in an intervening galaxy even in absence of strong lensing. In general the probability for this is small with one exception: extragalactic sources of GWs that lie in the galactic plane are highly likely to be microlensed. Wave effects are extremely important for such cases. In case of detections of such sources with low signal-to-noise ratio, the uncertainty of occurrence of microlensing or otherwise introduces an additional uncertainty in the parameters of the source.
Updated extraction of the APOGEE 1.5273 μm diffuse interstellar band: a Planck view on the carrier depletion in dense cores

Context. Constraining the spatial distribution of diffuse interstellar band (DIB) carriers and their links with gas and dust are mandatory steps in understanding their role in interstellar chemistry. Aims. The latest SDSS/APOGEE data release, DR14, has provided an increased number of stellar spectra in the H band and associated stellar models using an innovative algorithm known as the Cannon. We took advantage of these novelties to extract the 15 273 Å near-infrared DIB and to study its link with dust extinction and emission. Methods. We modified our automated fitting methods dedicated to hot stars and used in earlier studies with some adaptations motivated by the change from early- or intermediate-type stars to red giants. A new method has also been developed to quantify the upper limits on DIB strengths. Careful and thorough examinations were carried out of the DIB parameters, the continuum shape, and the quality of the adjustment of the model to the data. We compared our DIB measurements with the stellar extinctions, AV, from the Starhorse database. We then compared the resulting DIB–extinction ratio with the dust optical depth derived from Planck data, both globally and separately for nearby off-plane cloud complexes. Results. Our analysis has led to the production of a catalog containing 124 064 new measurements of the 15 273 Å DIB, allowing us to revisit the correlation between DIB strength and dust reddening. The new data clearly reveal that the sky-averaged 15 273 Å DIB strength is linearly correlated with AV over two orders as reported by earlier studies but leveling off with respect to extinction for highly reddened lines of sight behind dense clouds. The comparison with Planck individual optical depths reveals in a conspicuous way this DIB depletion in the dense cores and shows it applies to all off-plane dense clouds. Using selected targets located beyond the Orion, Taurus, and Cepheus clouds, we derived empirical relationships between the DIB–extinction ratio and the Planck dust optical depth for the three cloud complexes. Their average is similar to the DIB carrier depletion measured in the dark cloud Barnard 68. Conclusions. APOGEE measurements confirm the ubiquity of the 15 273 Å DIB carrier decrease with respect to dust grains in dense cloud cores, in a manner that can be empirically related to the dust optical depth reached in the cloud. They also show that the ratio between the DIB equivalent width and the extinction AV for sightlines with τ(353GHz) ≲ 2 × 10−5 that do not contain dense molecular gas is about four times higher than the constant limit towards which the ratio tends for very long sightlines with many diffuse and dense phases distributed in distance.
An Update on Plant Photobiology and Implications for Cannabis Production

This review presents recent developments in plant photobiology and lighting systems for horticultural crops, as well as potential applications for cannabis (Cannabis sativa and C. indica) plant production. The legal and commercial production of the cannabis plant is a relatively new, rapidly growing, and highly profitable industry in Europe and North America. However, more knowledge transfer from plant studies and horticultural communities to commercial cannabis plant growers is needed. Plant photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis are influenced by light wavelength, intensity, and photoperiod via plant photoreceptors that sense light and control plant growth. Further, light properties play a critical role in plant vegetative growth and reproductive (flowering) developmental stages, as well as in biomass, secondary metabolite synthesis, and accumulation. Advantages and disadvantages of widespread greenhouse lighting systems that use high pressure sodium lamps or light emitting diode (LED) lighting are known. Some artificial plant lighting practices will require improvements for cannabis production. By manipulating LED light spectra and stimulating specific plant photoreceptors, it may be possible to minimize operation costs while maximizing cannabis biomass and cannabinoid yield, including tetrahydrocannabinol (or Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and cannabidiol for medicinal and recreational purposes. The basics of plant photobiology (photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis) and electrical lighting systems are discussed, with an emphasis on how the light spectrum and lighting strategies could influence cannabis production and secondary compound accumulation.
Physicochemical properties and stoichiometry of Mollisols in responses to tillage and fertilizer management

ABSTRACT Understanding the influence of tillage and fertilizer management on soil physical properties, and their roles in soil stoichiometry are critical for estimating the ecological implications of agricultural management. The study investigated the 3-yr effects of tillage and fertilizer management on soil physical properties, nutrients, and stoichiometry. The study included two tillage methods: rotary tillage (R) and deep tillage (D), with three fertilizer management: chemical fertilizer (N), chemical fertilizer + straw returning (S), chemical fertilizer + straw returning + organic fertilizer (M). Samples were collected at three depths: 0–15, 15–30, 30–50 cm. Results indicated that treatment effects were better at depth 0–30 cm than at 30–50 cm. The D significantly increased the soil C: N but decreases the C: P because nutrient fixation state was broken. The M had more effect on soil nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry. Effects of tillage and bulk density were positively correlated with soil nutrient concentrations, while moisture content and compactness were positively correlated with the soil stoichiometric ratio. Fertilizer management is the main factor to control soil nutrient and stoichiometry while using organic fertilizer under deep tillage can improve nutrients and maintain the stability of Mollisols ecosystem.
Insight Into Dynamics of Gut Microbial Community of Broilers Fed With Fructooligosaccharides Supplemented Low Calcium and Phosphorus Diets

We investigated how the microbiota in the ileum and cecum of broiler chickens fed a diet of low calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (aP) and prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) supplements changed over a 3 weeks period. Three dietary treatments were randomly assigned to four replicate cages of five birds each, including: positive control (PC), a wheat-corn-soybean meal-based diet; negative control (NC), as PC with 0.2% reduced Ca and aP; and NC + FOS, as NC supplemented with 0.5% of FOS. Ileal and cecal digesta were sampled from each replicate (n = 4) on d21 and processed for 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V4 region) sequencing using Illumina platform. Statistical differences were observed in the microbiome by GI location as determined by 2-way ANOVA and Permutational MANOVA. On average, 24,216 sequence reads per sample were generated resulting in 800 and 1,280 operational taxonomic units in the ileal and cecal digesta, respectively. Difference (P < 0.0001) on alpha diversity and abundances of several phyla was observed between ileal and cecal digesta. ß-diversity was different (P < 0.05) between each treatment groups in the ileum but not in the cecum. In the cecum, species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and the number of observed species were higher in PC compared to NC + FOS (P < 0.05). Several phyla, including Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria, had significantly different abundance in the ileal and cecal digesta (P < 0.05). In the ileal digesta, positive correlation were observed between Salinibacterium and Lysobacter and PC diet. Blautia, Faecalibacterium and Pseudomonas and the NC diet and Lactobacillus and Escherichia and the NC + FOS diet. In the cecal digesta, Butyrivibrio, and Allobaculum were positively correlated to PC. Although, Clostridium and Anaerotruncus were positively correlated to NC + FOS, they showed negative correlation to PC and NC. The study concludes that dietary Ca and aP level and FOS supplementation alters ileal microbiota of the broiler chickens.
A Simple Haploid-Diploid Evolutionary Algorithm

It has recently been suggested that evolution exploits a form of fitness landscape smoothing within eukaryotic sex due to the haploid-diploid cycle. This short paper presents a simple modification to the standard evolutionary computing algorithm to similarly benefit from the process. Using the well-known NK model of fitness landscapes it is shown that the benefit emerges as ruggedness is increased.