Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Breeding of Farm Animals through Gene Editing

: The rapid development of biotechnology has facilitated our understanding of the biological functions of candidate genes for important economic traits in farm animals. Molecular breeding by gene editing has greatly revolutionized the breeding of farm animals. Through gene editing and embryo manipulation, breeds with designed economic or disease-resistant traits can be readily generated. Along with this fast progress, the safety assessment of gene-edited farm animals has attracted public and regulatory attention. This review summarizes the research progress of gene editing in farm animals, focusing on performance improvement, disease resistance, bioreactors, animal welfare, and environmental friendliness. The limitations and future development of gene editing technology in farm animal breeding are also discussed
Phenolic Compound Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Harvested at Different Growth Stages

The profile of phenolic compounds changes during the growth of a plant and this change affects its antioxidant potential. The aim of this research has been to find the growth stage of flax with the highest antioxidant capacity, and to determine the phenolic compounds responsible for such a capacity. Flax was harvested in six growth stages: from stem extension to mature seeds. The phenolic compounds were identified using LC–TOF–MS and quantified in an extract and in the fresh matter (FM) of each growth stage. The radical scavenging activity against ABTS•+ and DPPH•, the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the antioxidant activity in the β-carotene-linoleic acid emulsion system were determined. Mono- and di-C-glycosyl flavones were found to be the most abundant phenolics of the aerial parts of flax, which also showed the highest content of isoorientin (210–538 µg/g FM). Coniferin, its derivative, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were also detected. The plant was richer in flavone C-glycosides from stem extension to seed ripening (1105–1413 µg/g FM) than at the mature seed stage (557 µg/g FM). Most of the individual flavone C-glycoside contents in the extracts decreased when increasingly older plants were considered; however, the isoorientin content did not change significantly from the steam extension to the seed ripening stages. The antiradical activity against ABTS•+ and FRAP was higher for the aerial parts of the flax harvested at the flowering, brown capsule, and seed ripening stages, mainly due to the presence of flavone C-glycosides. The oxidation of β-carotene-linoleic acid emulsion was instead inhibited more effectively by the extracts from plants at the brown capsule and mature seed stages. Coniferin and its derivative were significantly involved in this activity. The extracts from the aerial parts of the flax harvested from flowering to seed ripening could be a valuable source of flavone C-glycosides for use as nutraceuticals and components of functional foods.
Lower Estimate of the Attractor Dimension for a Chemotaxis Growth System

This paper estimates from below the attractor dimension of the dynamical system determined from a chemotaxis growth model which was presented by Mimura and Tsujikawa. It is already known that the dynamical system has exponential attractors and it is also known by numerical computations that the model contains various pattern solutions. This paper is then devoted to estimating the attractor dimension from below and in fact to showing that, as the parameter of chemotaxis increases and tends to infinity, so does the attractor dimension. Such a result is in a good correlation with the numerical results.
Some Implications of the Mesoscale Circulations in Tropical Cloud Clusters for Large-Scale Dynamics and Climate

Abstract Recent calculations suggest that mature cloud clusters produce a vertical distribution of diabatic beating with a sharp maximum near 400 mb and very weak heating below 600 mb. It is demonstrated that when such a vertical distribution of heating is applied to a linear steady-state model it results in simulated tropical east-west circulations which are in much better agreement with observations than those which are produced with a more conventional heating profile. In particular, the mature cloud cluster heating profile produces a Walker Circulation with its centers at the observed altitudes and with the observed westward tilt with height. It is suggested that the mature cloud cluster beating profile may provide the appropriate vertical distribution of tropical diabatic heating in many cases. since the presence or absence of mature cloud clusters is often the proximate cause of heating variations in the tropical atmosphere. Some further implications of this suggestion for large-scale dynamics and c.
Antimicrobial Natural Products Derived from Microorganisms Inhabiting the MENA Region

Objective/Background Natural products (NPs) derived from microorganisms are the basis of a plethora of clinically utilized medications, namely, antimicrobial remedies. Although these secondary metabolites have been extensively explored all over the planet, they remain understudied in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Methods A literature search was conducted to first find NPs that were isolated from environmental fungi and bacteria that inhabit the soils and seawater of the MENA region. Then, purified molecules with biological activity against pathogenic bacteria, biofilms, fungi, and parasites were described in terms of structure, function, and location. Moreover, the methods that could be used to ameliorate the discovery of novel NPs from this region were investigated. Results A multitude of antimicrobial molecules from various chemical classes were found to be derived from the environmental microbes of MENA. Although many were rediscovered, some represented novel structural scaffolds for novel families of antimicrobial agents. Additionally, the geographical distribution showed a high number of these NPs were unraveled in a restricted area leaving much of MENA untapped. Furthermore, as relatively traditional and low-efficiency methods were typically used in the discovery process, advanced high-throughput techniques were suggested to enhance this practice at the regional level. Conclusion MENA represents a fairly unexploited region where antimicrobial drug discovery could be performed comprehensively through the concomitant exploration of untouched geographical locations and advanced molecular techniques.
Improvement in Nasal Obstruction and Quality of Life after Nasal Septoplasty with Turbinoplasty: A Pre- and Post-study

Abstract Introduction Septoplasty and turbinoplasty are common surgical interventions used to relieve nasal obstructive symptoms. Since it is difficult to measure the degree of nasal blockage, current literature wonders about the frequent performance of these procedures. Objective To evaluate the perceived change in the nasal obstruction and the quality of life (QoL) of patients that underwent a septoplasty along with a turbinoplasty by applying subjective scales, to describe the correlation between those scales, and to study the impact of clinical factors in the postoperative outcomes. Methods Prospective observational study. The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) were assessed. The paired sample Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate the difference between the pre- and postoperative surveys. The correlation coefficient between the subjective scales was calculated. A quantile regression was performed to evaluate the effect of surgery on the results adjusted for clinical and demographic variables. Results A total of 115 patients were interviewed. Postoperative NOSE scores were 45 points lower (95% confidence interval [CI]: - 53.53–- 35.46; p < 0.001) in comparison with the NOSE preoperative scores. Obesity was the only statistically significant factor associated with worse outcomes. Additionally, we found a high correlation between the NOSE and VAS scores and a negative correlation between the GBI and postoperative VAS scores. Conclusion Nasal septoplasty, when paired with a turbinoplasty, decreases nasal obstruction and improves QoL. Obesity was associated with worse results. There was a strong correlation between the NOSE and the VAS results and between the GBI and postoperative VAS results.
Nonlinear susceptibility of colloids consisting of silver nanoparticles in carbon disulfide

Measurements of the effective third-order susceptibility χ(3)eff(ω,ω,−ω,ω) of a colloid consisting of silver nanoparticles (NPs) in liquid carbon disulfide (CS2) are reported for excitation at 532 nm. Changes in χ(3)eff(ω,ω,−ω,ω) were controlled varying the NP filling factor f. Cancellation and sign reversal of the nonlinear (NL) index of refraction and the NL absorption coefficient of the colloid were observed owing to competing contributions from the NP and the CS2 molecules. The Re χ(3)eff(ω,ω,−ω,ω) and Im χ(3)eff(ω,ω,−ω,ω) change linearly when f assumes values from 0.4×10−5 to 4.0×10−5. An analysis of the results is provided using a generalized Maxwell Garnett model that allowed evaluation of the NL susceptibility of the NP.
MAPping tubulin mutations

Microtubules are filamentous structures that play a critical role in a diverse array of cellular functions including, mitosis, nuclear translocation, trafficking of organelles and cell shape. They are composed of α/β-tubulin heterodimers which are encoded by a large multigene family that has been implicated in an umbrella of disease states collectively known as the tubulinopathies. De novo mutations in different tubulin genes are known to cause lissencephaly, microcephaly, polymicrogyria, motor neuron disease, and female infertility. The diverse clinical features associated with these maladies have been attributed to the expression pattern of individual tubulin genes, as well as their distinct Functional repertoire. Recent studies, however, have highlighted the impact of tubulin mutations on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). MAPs can be classified according to their effect on microtubules and include polymer stabilizers (e.g., tau, MAP2, doublecortin), destabilizers (e.g., spastin, katanin), plus-end binding proteins (e.g., EB1-3, XMAP215, CLASPs) and motor proteins (e.g., dyneins, kinesins). In this review we analyse mutation-specific disease mechanisms that influence MAP binding and their phenotypic consequences, and discuss methods by which we can exploit genetic variation to identify novel MAPs.
The Prospects of Using Structural Phase Analysis of Microcalcifications in Breast Cancer Diagnostics

The detection of microcalcifications in the breast by mammography is of great importance for the early diagnostics of breast cancer. This study aimed to establish the basic morphological and crystal-chemical properties of microscopic calcifications and their impact on breast cancer tissue. During the retrospective study, 55 out of 469 breast cancer samples had microcalcifications. The expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptors and Her2-neu showed no significant difference from the non-calcified samples. An in-depth study of 60 tumor samples revealed a higher expression of osteopontin in the calcified breast cancer samples (p ˂ 0.01). The mineral deposits had a hydroxyapatite composition. Within the group of calcified breast cancer samples, we detected six cases of colocalization of oxalate microcalcifications together with biominerals of the usual “hydroxyapatite” phase composition. The simultaneous presence of calcium oxalate and hydroxyapatite was accompanied by a different spatial localization of microcalcifications. Thus, the phase compositions of microcalcifications could not be used as criteria for the differential diagnostics of breast tumors.
A Sustainable Road Transport Decarbonisation: The Scenario Analysis of New Energy Vehicle in China

Due to the prosperous development of the economy, the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) have intensified and attracted attention worldwide. China has set the “dual-carbon” aim to pursue sustainable development in the transport sector. Thus, this study created a generalised Bass model to forecast new energy vehicle (NEV) ownership by introducing a new factor, charging piles, to reflect the infrastructure effects. Using the improved model with the hypothesis of annual mileage, an empirical analysis was conducted with the subject of NEVs in China by using the NEV-related panel data from 2010 to 2020, and the forecast result is outstanding with a goodness-of-fit of 99.7%. With the forecasts, carbon emission reduction was calculated with a bottom-up method. To further discuss the pathway to achieve carbon neutrality in the transport sector of China, a scenario analysis was conducted with ideal, enhanced, and radical constraints. The results show that if all factors remain “as is” until 2050, China will be far from carbon neutrality. Thus, this paper proposes relevant policy implications to assist the government to obtain effective methods to assess carbon reduction benefits and find viable pathways to a sustainable road transport system.
Stabilization of orthogonal piecewise linear systems using piecewise linear Lyapunov-like functions

In this paper the problem of asymptotic stabilization of orthogonal piecewise linear (OPL) systems is considered. OPL systems arise when the state-space is partitioned into a number of distinct regions by hyperplanes orthogonal to the states. Different regions possess different continuous linear affine dynamics. Such systems are a special class of hybrid systems and can be thought of as approximations to nonlinear systems. A rule-based control design is proposed that asymptotically stabilises the system, and Lyapunov-like techniques are used for the determination of the control laws, implemented as different static state feedback designs for different regions. In particular, special types of piecewise linear Lyapunov functions are introduced, which allow independent local design and offer stability of all possible sliding modes. Optimized control solutions are achieved using simple linear programming algorithms.
Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of GaN on Si(111): Stress control and application to field-effect transistors

Two schemes of nucleation and growth of gallium nitride on Si(111) substrates are investigated and the structural and electrical properties of the resulting films are reported. Gallium nitride films grown using a 10–500 nm-thick AlN buffer layer deposited at high temperature (∼1050 °C) are found to be under 260–530 MPa of tensile stress and exhibit cracking, the origin of which is discussed. The threading dislocation density in these films increases with increasing AlN thickness, covering a range of 1.1 to >5.8×109 cm−2. Films grown using a thick, AlN-to-GaN graded buffer layer are found to be under compressive stress and are completely crack free. Heterojunction field effect transistors fabricated on such films result in well-defined saturation and pinch-off behavior with a saturated current of ∼525 mA/mm and a transconductance of ∼100 mS/mm in dc operation.
PHOTOCURRENT STUDY OF ERBIUM DELTA-DOPED InP GROWN BY ORGANOMETALLIC VAPOR PHASE EPITAXY

The photocurrent of erbium delta-doped InP grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy was observed at room temperature. The clear PC spectra of doped samples reflect the high quality formation of ErP quantum structure in InP. The PC spectra of doped sample with different Er exposure duration show that the total number of ErP islands increase with increasing exposure time, reflected in the sharper PC spectra. When applying an electric field, the spectra of the doped sample exhibit significant shift with increasing field.
Potency of Hexaconazole to Disrupt Endocrine Function with Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin

Hexaconazole is widely used as a fungicide for agricultural purposes. However, the endocrine-disrupting potential of hexaconazole is still under investigation. In addition, an experimental study found that hexaconazole may disrupt the normal synthesis of steroidal hormones. The potency of hexaconazole to bind with sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a plasma carrier protein that binds androgens and oestrogens, is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of hexaconazole to bind with SHBG by molecular interaction, a molecular dynamics method. In addition, principal component analysis was performed to understand the dynamical behaviour of hexaconazole with SHBG in comparison with dihydrotestosterone and aminoglutethimide. The binding scores of hexaconazole, dihydrotestosterone, and aminoglutethimide with SHBG were found to be −7.12 kcal/mol, −11.41 kcal/mol, and −6.84 kcal/mol, respectively. With respect to stable molecular interaction, hexaconazole showed similar molecular dynamics patterns of root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg), and hydrogen bonding. The solvent surface area (SASA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of hexaconazole exhibit similar patterns in comparison with dihydrotestosterone and aminoglutethimide. These results show that hexaconazole has a stable molecular interaction with SHBG, which may acquire the active site of the native ligand, resulting in significant endocrine disruption during agricultural work.
Imaging Membrane Proteins Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) in Mammalian Cells

The cell surfaceome is of vital importance across physiology, developmental biology, and disease states alike. The precise identification of proteins and their regulatory mechanisms at the cell membrane has been challenging and is typically determined using confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, or total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). Of these, TIRFM is the most precise, as it harnesses the generation of a spatially delimited evanescent wave at the interface of two surfaces with distinct refractive indices. The limited penetration of the evanescent wave illuminates a narrow specimen field, which facilitates the localization of fluorescently tagged proteins at the cell membrane but not inside of the cell. In addition to constraining the depth of the image, TIRFM also significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio, which is particularly valuable in the study of live cells. Here, we detail a protocol for micromirror TIRFM analysis of optogenetically activated protein kinase C-ε in HEK293-T cells, as well as data analysis to demonstrate the translocation of this construct to the cell-surface following optogenetic activation. Graphic abstract
A study of the Fe-based superconductor SmFeAsO1−xFx by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The electronic structure of the Fe-based superconductor SmFeAsO1−xFx (x = 0 and 0.2) is studied with x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) through comparing the band structures of the nonsuperconducting parent material SmFeAsO and the superconducting SmFeAsO0.8F0.2 (Tc = 52.5 K). A small peak centered at 0.2 eV below the Fermi level, EF, in the valence band is observed in the parent material SmFeAsO, which is due to the low-spin state of the Fe 3d electrons. With fluorine doping, the peak at 0.2 eV disappears and a broad plateau forms near the Fermi level; in the meantime, the density of states at EF is slightly suppressed. The O 1s and Sm 3d core levels shift towards high energy by ∼0.55 eV with fluorine doping, but in a sharp comparison, the Fe 2p and As 3d core levels do not shift significantly (the binding energy shift is less than 0.01 eV). It is deduced from the core-level shifts that the Fermi level of the system moves up by 0.55 eV by fluorine doping.
Modeling of 2-D Leakage Jet Cavitation as a Basic Study of Tip Leakage Vortex Cavitation

As the first step of the study of cavitation in the tip leakage flow in turbomachinery, experimental and numerical investigations on characteristics of 2-D leakage jet cavitation are conducted. The experiments using 2-D model apparatus are carried out for three values of initial pressure and for three values of tip clearance. The numerical methods are constructed by combining the vortex method with three types of cavity models
A neural network unification

We study the relation between the asymptotic behaviour of synchronous Boltzmann machines and synchronous Hopfield networks. More specifically, we consider the relation between the pseudo consensus function that is used in analyzing Boltzmann machines and the energy function that is used in the study of Hopfield networks. We show that for small values of the control parameter, synchronous Boltzmann machines and synchronous Hopfield networks compute global respectively local maxima of the same function.
Self-similar solutions in gas dynamics with exponential time dependence

Self-similar gas flow with similarity coordinate ξ=re∓t, exponential in time, is investigated for plane, cylindrical and spherical geometry. The underlying Lie group symmetry is pointed out and also how it is obtained from flow with power-law self-similarity (ξ=r/|t|α) in the limit α→∞. Six distinct types of solutions are derived and plotted in r−t coordinates. They are characterized by steep density gradients. Also, solutions with strong shock boundaries are discussed. A completely analytical solution is presented, related to Sedov’s solution of a strong point explosion.
SLOW MAGNETOACOUSTIC WAVES IN TWO-RIBBON FLARES

We demonstrate that disturbances observed to propagate along the axis of the arcade in two-ribbon solar flares at the speed of a few tens of km s−1, well below the Alfvén and sound speeds, can be interpreted in terms of slow magnetoacoustic waves. The waves can propagate across the magnetic field, parallel to the magnetic neutral line, because of the wave-guiding effect due to the reflection from the footpoints. The perpendicular group speed of the perturbation is found to be a fraction of the sound speed, which is consistent with observations. The highest value of the group speed grows with the increase in the ratio of the sound and Alfvén speeds. For a broad range of parameters, the highest value of the group speed corresponds to the propagation angle of 25°–28° to the magnetic field. This effect can explain the temporal and spatial structure of quasi-periodic pulsations observed in two-ribbon flares.
Sharp thermal emission and absorption from conformally coated metallic photonic crystal with triangular lattice

A metallic photonic crystal consisting of a triangular lattice of holes in a silicon layer coated with gold is fabricated at a lattice pitch of 3.75 μm using conventional lithographic methods. The photonic crystal exhibits a deep reflection minimum and sharp thermal emission peak near the lattice spacing. Scattering matrix simulations agree well with measurements. This simple structure with a single patterned metallic layer has no emission sidebands and can be scaled to other lattice spacings to tune the wavelength of the absorption and emission peak.
Iron K fluorescent lines from relativistic, ionized discs

We present detailed Monte Carlo calculations of the iron KIX lines from X-ray photoionized, relativistic accretion discs. The vertical ionization structure of the matter has been taken into account, and Compton scattering and resonant absorption have been treated in detaiL We find that the ratio of lines emitted by different iron ions depends, apart from the ionization parameter, on the disc inclination angle. The line profiles with relativistic corrections have also been calculated; they can be used to distinguish between different source geometries.