Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflation in multi-field modified DBM potentials

We study multi-field inflation in random potentials generated via a non-equilibrium random matrix theory process. We make a novel modification of the process to include correlations between the elements of the Hessian and the height of the potential, similar to a Random Gaussian Field (RGF). We present the results of over 50,000 inflationary simulations involving 5-100 fields. For the first time, we present results of 𝒪(100) fields using the full `transport method', without slow-roll approximation. We conclude that Planck compatibility is a common prediction of such models, however significant isocurvature power at the end of inflation is possible.
Macrophage internalization creates a multidrug-tolerant fungal persister population, providing a permissive reservoir for the emergence of drug resistance

Candida glabrata is a major fungal pathogen notable for causing recalcitrant infections, rapid emergence of drug-resistant strains, and its ability to survive and proliferate within macrophages. Resembling bacterial persisters, a subset of genetically drug-susceptible C. glabrata cells can survive lethal exposure to the fungicidal echinocandin drugs. Herein, we show that macrophage internalization induces cidal drug tolerance in C. glabrata, expanding the persister reservoir from which echinocandin-resistant mutants emerge. We show that this drug tolerance is associated with non-proliferation and is triggered by macrophage-induced oxidative stress, and that deletion of genes involved in reactive oxygen species detoxification significantly increases the emergence of echinocandin-resistant mutants. Finally, we show that the fungicidal drug amphotericin B can kill intracellular C. glabrata echinocandin persisters, reducing emergence of resistance. Our study supports the hypothesis that intra-macrophage C. glabrata is a reservoir of recalcitrant/drug-resistant infections, and that drug alternating strategies can be developed to eliminate this reservoir.
Hidden endosymbionts: A male-killer concealed by another endosymbiont and a nuclear suppressor

Maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that cause male killing (MK) have only been described from a few insects, but this may reflect challenges in their detection rather than a rarity of MK. Here we identify MK Wolbachia in populations of Drosophila pseudotakahashii, present at a low frequency (around 4%) in natural populations and previously undetected due to a different fixed Wolbachia strain in this species expressing a different reproductive manipulation, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). The MK phenotype was eliminated after tetracycline treatment that removed Wolbachia. Molecular analyses indicated the MK phenotype to be expressed when a second Wolbachia strain was present alongside the CI Wolbachia. A genomic analysis highlighted Wolbachia regions diverged between the strains involving 17 genes and also identified the Wolbachia as representing an outgroup to a clade of Wolbachia infecting melanogaster-group species, including wRi-like and wMel-like strains. Doubly infected males induced CI with uninfected females but not females singly infected with CI-causing Wolbachia. The MK phenotype manifested at the larval stage and was transmitted maternally at a high fidelity but with occasional loss of the MK Wolbachia strain. A rapidly spreading dominant nuclear suppressor genetic element affecting MK was identified through backcrossing and subsequent analysis with ddRAD SNPs of the D. pseudotakahashii genome. These findings highlight the complexity of nuclear and microbial components affecting MK endosymbiont detection and dynamics in populations, and the challenges of making connections between endosymbionts and the host phenotypes affected by them.
Neuroprotective Capability of Narcissoside in 6-OHDA-Exposed Parkinson’s Disease Models through Enhancing the MiR200a/Nrf-2/GSH Axis and Mediating MAPK/Akt Associated Signaling Pathway

We assessed the antioxidant potential of narcissoside from Sambucus nigra flowers (elderflowers) in Parkinson’s disease models in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that narcissoside lessened the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. In the 6-OHDA-exposed Caenorhabditis elegans model, narcissoside reduced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and ROS generation, and also improved dopamine-related food-sensitive behavior and shortened lifespan. Moreover, NCS increased total glutathione (GSH) by increasing the expression of the catalytic subunit and modifier subunit of γ-glutamylcysteine ligase in cells and nematodes. Treatment with a GSH inhibitor partially abolished the anti-apoptotic ability of narcissoside. Furthermore, narcissoside diminished the 6-OHDA-induced phosphorylation of JNK and p38, while rising activities of ERK and Akt in resisting apoptosis. The antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase reporter activity analysis and electromobility gel shift assay showed that narcissoside promotes the transcriptional activity mediated by Nrf2. Finally, we found that narcissoside augmented the expression of miR200a, a translational inhibitor of the Nrf2 repressor protein Keap1. Downregulation of Nrf2 and miR200a by RNAi and anti-miR200a, respectively, reversed the neuroprotective ability of narcissoside. In summary, narcissoside can enhance the miR200a/Nrf2/GSH antioxidant pathway, alleviate 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis, and has the neuroprotective potential.
Design of Non-Uniformly Excited Linear Slot Arrays Fed by Coplanar Waveguide

Slot dipole antennas fed by coplanar waveguide (CPW) have a number of appealing characteristics that include relatively low feed line dispersion and losses at millimeter-wave frequencies, ease of integration with circuit components due to the uniplanar configuration, and considerably wider impedance bandwidth than microstrip patch antennas on comparable substrates, e.g., (Miao et al., 2000). In the sub-millimeter and millimeter-wave ranges, CPW-fed slots have been used to feed dielectric lens antennas (Focardi et al., 2002); arrays of CPW-fed slots are also expected to be used for space applications (Neto et al., 2003). While a variety of CPW-fed slot arrays have been reported (see section 3), rigorous design procedures for CPW-fed slot arrays that incorporate the effects of element interactions in the form of mutual coupling have only rarely been presented (Huang et al., 1999; Jacobs & Joubert, 2009b). An iterative design typically involves the a priori generation of selfadmittance data for representative slot dimensions, and requires the calculation of mutual coupling between all possible slot pairs in the array; this is especially pertinent if a nonuniform aperture distribution aimed at achieving reduced sidelobe levels is to be realized. In this chapter an overview of the current state-of-the-art in the design of non-uniform linear CPW-fed antennas, as well as its subsidiary calculations, is presented. In section 2, the field distribution in an isolated CPW-fed is shown; this is important information for the calculation of mutual coupling. Section 3 focuses on the calculation of mutual coupling using a reciprocity-based paradigm. This is done in the context of two important practical cases. The first involves mutual coupling between slots on electrically thin substrates, where a simplified yet accurate method can be used that obviates use of the substrate Green’s function. Arrays of slots on such substrates exhibit bi-directional radiation. The second involves an extended reciprocity approach for calculating the mutual admittance between slots on a conductor-backed two-layer substrate, a configuration that would be useful when unidirectional radiation is required. Section 4 gives details of two types of CPW-fed linear array design. First, the iterative design using an approximate procedure of a uniform array on a conductor-backed two-layer substrate is summarized; measured results are presented. The procedure doesn’t require the explicit calculation of the mutual admittance between 25
Magnetic properties of a pressure-induced superconductor UGe2

We performed DC-magnetization and neutron scattering experiments under pressure P for a pressure-induced superconductor UGe 2 . We found that the magnetic moment is enhanced at a characteristic temperature T * in the ferromagnetic state, where T * is smaller than a Curie temperature T C . This enhancement becomes remarkable in the vicinity of P C * =1.20 GPa, where T * becomes 0 K and the superconducting transition temperature T SC shows a maximum. The characteristic temperature T * , which decreases with increasing pressure, also depends on the magnetic field.
Differential burden of rare protein truncating variants in Alzheimer’s disease patients compared to centenarians

We compared coding region variants of 53 cognitively healthy centenarians and 45 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), all of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) ancestry. Despite the small sample size, the known AD risk variant APOE4 reached genome-wide signiﬁcance, indicating the advantage of utilizing ‘super-controls’. We restricted our subsequent analysis to rare variants observed at most once in the 1000 Genomes database and having a minor allele frequency below 2% in our AJ sample. We compared the burden of predicted protein altering variants between cases and controls as normalized by the level of rare synonymous variants. We observed an increased burden among AD subjects for predicted loss-of-function (LoFs) variants deﬁned as stop-gain, frame shift, initiation codon (INIT) and splice site mutations ( n ¼ 930, OR ¼ 1.3, P ¼ 1.5 (cid:2) E (cid:3) 5). There was no enrichment across all rare protein altering variants deﬁned as missense plus LoFs, in frame indels and stop-loss variants ( n ¼ 13 014, OR ¼ 0.97, P ¼ 0.47). Among LoFs, the strongest burden was observed for INIT (OR ¼ 2.16, P ¼ 0.0097) and premature stop variants predicted to cause non-sense-mediated decay in the majority of transcripts (NMD) (OR ¼ 1.98, P ¼ 0.02). Notably, this increased burden of NMD, INIT and splice variants was more pronounced in a set of 1397 innate immune genes (OR ¼ 4.55, P ¼ 0.0043). Further comparison to additional exomes indicates that the difference in LoF burden originated both from the AD and centenarian sample. In summary, we observed an overall increased burden of rare LoFs in AD subjects as compared to centenarians, and this enrichment is more pronounced for innate immune genes.
Digital Strategy in Information Systems: A Literature Review and an Educational Solution Based on Problem-Based Learning

In recent years, there has been a considerable amount of information systems (IS) research on digital strategy. However, it is not clear how digital strategy is taught in higher education. To investigate this issue, we conducted a literature review on digital strategy in the IS field and IS education. We then developed a digital strategy course using the problem-based learning (PBL) approach with constructivism as a theoretical lens. The research contributes to the literature by illustrating the key differences between digital strategy and IT/IS strategy while providing insight into the dimensions of digital strategy. These dimensions are digital strategy environments, digital strategy visions, digital strategy approach, digital strategy capabilities, digital strategy stakeholders, and digital strategy challenges. We then used these dimensions as inputs to design the digital strategy course. We contribute to IS education by proposing a meta-requirement for the digital strategy course based on the PBL approach and provide an example of the course syllabus.
Introducing a New Egyptian Version of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (E-GNKQ) for Adults: Validity and Reliability Test

The present study aims to introduce a new Egyptian version of the general nutrition knowledge questionnaire (E-GNKQ) for adults by assessing its validity and reliability in an Egyptian context. The study relied on the revised version of the general nutrition knowledge questionnaire, performed by Kliemann et al. in 2016. The questionnaire was translated and adapted into a seventy-eight-item Arabic version. The questionnaire was subjected to five validation studies that were carried out for content validity; face validity; internal reliability and external reliability; construct validity between participants with nutrition knowledge and with little nutrition knowledge, and without nutrition knowledge; and convergent validity for correlation between nutrition knowledge and demographic characteristics. The study targeted two groups of students (students of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Menofia University (n 163), and students of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at the University of Sadat City (n 91). The seventy-eight-item Egyptian General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire had an acceptable construct, content and face validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. So, it has been shown that the E-GNKQ is a valid and reliable way to measure how much college students in Egypt know about nutrition.
Carriage of the JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans by Periodontitis Patients of Various Geographic Origin, Living in Sweden

The JP2 genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotype b is associated with aggressive forms of periodontitis and was initially identified as affecting adolescents in North and West Africa. The dissemination of this genotype follows the migration routes and can today be detected in samples from periodontitis patients in a high number of countries. In the present study, we aim to describe findings of the JP2 genotype A. actinomycetemcomits in a clinical laboratory at the Dental School, Odontology, Umeå University, Sweden. The findings of JP2 carriers are documented during a 21-year period, and the age and geographic origin of the sampled individuals are described. In addition, the collected JP2 isolates were separated into North or West African origin by analyses of the presence of a point mutation in the hbpA2 pseudogene of the bacterium. In a total of 2296 sampled individuals during this period in this Swedish population of periodontitis patients, 32 JP2 carriers were detected by cultivation and PCR. The geographic background of these individuals was diverse, including sixteen with African origin, ten with a Swedish origin and six additional ones with a non-African origin. The JP2 genotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans were mainly isolated from young individuals (<35 years of age), and seven out of the 32 isolates were of a West African origin based on the sequence of hbpA2. We conclude that the JP2 genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans can be detected world-wide in subgingival plaque samples from adolescents affected by periodontitis.
Geochemical Journal, Advance publication

Corresponding author (e-mail: E-mail: jixizhang@gznu.edu.cn, TEL: +86+0851-86690199, FAX: +86+0851-86690199) Theoretical Calculation of Equilibrium Cadmium Isotope Fractionation Factors 1 between Cadmium-bearing sulfides and aqueous solutions 2 Jixi Zhang*, Renxue Shi 3 School of Geography & Environmental Science (School of Karst Science), Guizhou 4 Normal University/State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertification, 5 Guiyang 550001, China 6 Abstract 7 In this study, the equilibrium isotope fractionation factors between Cd-bearing 8 aqueous solutions and minerals were predicted. The theoretical method used to calculate 9 the Cd isotope fractionation factors is the first-principle quantum chemistry method (Cd: 10 LANL2DZ, other atoms: 6-311+G(d, P)). Reduced partition function ratios (RPFRs) of 11 Cd-bearing minerals (Greenockite and Sphalerite) were modeled by the method of the 12 volume variable cluster model (VVCM). The theoretical method of “water-droplet 13 method” is used to simulate the solvation effect of different Cd-bearing aqueous solutions. 14 The results show that, in most cases, the Cd-bearing aqueous solutions are enriched in 15 114Cd relative to Greenockite. The Cd isotope fractionation factors between Cd-bearing 16 Geochemical Journal Advance Publication Received: June 30, 2022 Accepted: October 13, 2022 Released online: October 2
ACEFusion - Accelerated and Energy-Efficient Semantic 3D Reconstruction of Dynamic Scenes

ACEFusion is the first 3D reconstruction system able to capture the geometry and semantics of dynamic scenes using an RGB-D camera in real-time on a robotic computing platform. Harnessing the hardware accelerators of an Nvidia Jetson AGX Xavier, the system uses heterogeneous computing to achieve 30 FPS under a 30W power budget. Using a data-parallel design, we perform most image computation on the dedicated hardware accelerators, freeing the general purpose cores and GPU to process 3D geometry. To further increase efficiency, we employ a hybrid geometry representation with octrees for static-semantic reconstruction and surfels for dynamic reconstruction. ACEFusion achieves competitive results on standard benchmarks while efficiently performing a more complex overall task than existing SLAM techniques. Figure. 1 shows the output of our system on a dynamic sequence.
Interpretable image features for anomaly identification on hexagonal net knitting machines

Hexagonal pattern nets made of polyester monofilament are widely used for fish cages and rockfall prevention due to their durability. Although these nets are manufactured by automatic knitting machines, factory workers constantly monitor the process to prevent abnormalities as it is difficult to distinguish abnormalities. Therefore, it is necessary to automatically, quickly and accurately detect net abnormalities during production. On the other hand, subsequent tension adjusting operations for anomaly clearance must be still performed by factory workers. To prevent mesh abnormalities in knitting machines, therefore, it is not enough just to be able to detect abnormalities with high accuracy; it is also important to obtain feedbacks on the subsequent factory worker’s anomaly clearance operations. This article proposes image features that achieve the requirement and a method for obtaining these features from net images. It further proposes a learning method to identify abnormalities with high accuracy using such images. We shows that the identification accuracy of our method is as high as that of the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based method, which is well known by its high performance in detecting anomalies using image data, even when not enough training data is available. In addition, we show that it is easy to estimate which strings need to be adjusted to clear the anomaly by obtaining these proposed image features, without training the classifier. Furthermore, this proposed method was implemented on an actual knitting machine as an experiment, which confirmed that it can detect mesh abnormalities in real-time.
GCD2: A Globally Optimizing Compiler for Mapping DNNs to Mobile DSPs

More specialized chips are exploiting available high transistor density to expose parallelism at a large scale with more intricate instruction sets. This paper reports on a compilation system GCD2, developed to support complex Deep Neural Network (DNN) workloads on mobile DSP chips. We observe several challenges in fully exploiting this architecture, related to SIMD width, more complex SIMD/vector instructions, and VLIW pipeline with the notion of soft dependencies. GCD2 comprises the following contributions: 1) development of matrix layout formats that support the use of different novel SIMD instructions, 2) formulation and solution of a global optimization problem related to choosing the best instruction (and associated layout) for implementation of each operator in a complete DNN, and 3) SDA, an algorithm for packing instructions with consideration for soft dependencies. These solutions are incorporated in a complete compilation system that is extensively evaluated against other systems using 10 large DNN models. Evaluation results show that GCD2 outperforms two product-level state-of-the-art end-to-end DNN execution frameworks (TFLite and Qualcomm SNPE) that support mobile DSPs by up to $ 6.0 \times$ speedup, and outperforms three established compilers (Halide, TVM, and RAKE) by up to $4.5 \times, 3.4 \times$ and $4.0 \times$ speedup, respectively. GCD2 is also unique in supporting, real-time execution of certain DNNs, while its implementation enables two major DNNs to execute on a mobile DSP for the first time.
SynAVB: Route and Slope Synthesis Ensuring Guaranteed Service in Ethernet AVB

In the automotive domain, Ethernet Audio Video Bridging (AVB) provides service guarantees for real-time traffic. Its configuration synthesis requires routing the flows and allocating the bandwidth for Credit Based Shaping (CBS). Current approaches typically employ deadline-oblivious bandwidth allocation and rely on routing to establish deadline guarantees. But the worst-case delay of AVB flows requires complex analysis. Thus, routing integrated with the delay analysis either supports limited Stream Reservation (SR) classes or suffers significant timing overhead. To enable efficient run-time flow setup, we propose SynAVB, a tool to synthesize the configuration of Ethernet AVB, which establishes deadline awareness in bandwidth allocation. SynAVB supports an arbitrary number of SR classes and processes them one by one. For the flows in an SR class, it first performs a deadline-oblivious routing based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) to guarantee the necessary bandwidth required by the flows. Then, a deadline-aware slope allocation algorithm computes the bandwidth required on every link to satisfy the deadline of all flows. Our experiment demonstrates that, given the same routes, the deadline-aware bandwidth allocation results in fewer flows violating the deadline compared with other allocation strategies. Moreover, SynAVB can guarantee the deadline of more flows while its run-time is up to 14.3x faster than the state-of-the-art approaches.