Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compressing Geodesic Information for Fast Point-to-Point Geodesic Distance Queries

Geodesic distances between pairs of points on a 3D mesh surface are a crucial ingredient of many geometry processing tasks, but are notoriously difficult to compute efficiently on demand. We propose a novel method for the compact storage of geodesic distance information, which enables answering point-to-point geodesic distance queries very efficiently. For a triangle mesh with n vertices, if computing the geodesic distance to all vertices from a single source vertex costs O(f(n)) time, then we generate a database of size O(mnlogn) in O((f(n)+m3n)√n) time in a preprocessing stage, where m is a constant that depends on the geometric complexity of the surface. We achieve this by computing a nested bisection of the mesh surface using separator curves and storing compactly-described functions approximating the distances between each mesh vertex and a small relevant subset of these curves. Using this database, the geodesic distance between two mesh vertices can then be approximated well by solving a small number of simple univariate minimization problems in O(mlogn) worst case time and O(m) average case time. Our method provides an excellent tradeoff between the size of the database, query runtime, and accuracy of the result. It can be used to compress exact or approximate geodesic distances, e.g., those obtained by VTP (exact), fast DGG, fast marching, or the heat method (approximate) and is very efficient if f(n) = n, as for the fast DGG method.
Life Satisfaction and Telework during COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

This study mainly aims to investigate the effects of telework on life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. The hypothesis this research examines are: (1) the positive relationship between life satisfaction and telework, (2) the optimum point of telework to total working hours exists, (3) telework promotes spending time on housework and childcare. Statistical analysis is mainly conducted, and additionally, machine learning is conducted. As the results, it was found that (1) a positive relationship between life satisfaction and telework is observed, (2) the effect of telework on life satisfaction was the largest in the case of less than 50%, and (3) telework increased the time for housework and childcare clearly in the cases of males.
Challenges in Utilizing Learning History Data from the Perspective of a Community of Practice: Through Comparison with Online Practice of Noh and Tea Ceremony

In Japan, the digital transformation of education is expected to be realized by providing one device per student in elementary and secondary education. In particular, based on the experience of online classes as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the active use of ICT and the utilization of learning history data are being discussed to realize a more fulfilling education. This paper critically examines the pitfalls of utilizing educational history data from the perspective of (community of practice), which is "another view of learning" proposed as a criticism of school education, based on the findings of online practice in Noh and tea ceremony.
Influences of the interplanetary magnetic field clock angle and cone angle on the field‐aligned currents in the magnetotail

The influences of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) cone angle θ and clock angle ϕ on the field‐aligned currents (FACs) at the plasma sheet boundary layers (PSBLs) have been investigated using Cluster Data. The FAC occurrence increases monotonically with IMF cone angle and has two peaks at −90° and +110° clock angle, respectively. The peak at +110° is distinctly larger than that at −90°. Overall, there are more FACs between 0° < ϕ < 180°, indicating that FACs occurrence is closely associated with duskward IMF. More FACs occur when 90° < |ϕ| < 180°, implying that FAC is closely associated with southward IMF. The large FAC densities occur when 60° < |ϕ| < 120°. The density also has two peaks and the peak at +90° clock angle (duskward IMF) is larger than that at −90° (dawnward IMF). These results indicate that the IMF influence on the FACs is from all IMF components and not only from a single component.
The VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey (VVDS) - The dependence of clustering on galaxy stellar mass at z ~ 1

Aims: We use the VVDS-Deep first-epoch data to measure the dependence of galaxy clustering on galaxy stellar mass, at z~0.85. Methods: We measure the projected correlation function wp(rp) for sub-samples with 0.510^9 Msun to r0 ~ 4.28 h^-1 Mpc for galaxies more massive than 10^10.5 Msun. At the same time, the slope increases from ~ 1.67 to ~ 2.28. A comparison of the observed wp(rp) to local measurements by the SDSS shows that the evolution is faster for objects less massive than ~10^10.5 Msun. This is interpreted as a higher dependence on redshift of the linear bias b_L for the more massive objects. While for the most massive galaxies b_L decreases from 1.5+/-0.2 at z~0.85 to 1.33+/-0.03 at z~0.15, the less massive population maintains a virtually constant value b_L~1.3. This result is in agreement with a scenario in which more massive galaxies formed at high redshift in the highest peaks of the density field, while less massive objects form at later epochs from the more general population of dark-matter halos.
Astrocyte MCT1 expression does not contribute to the axonal degenerative phenotype observed with ubiquitous MCT1 depletion

We recently reported that loss of oligodendrocyte metabolic support through the lactate and pyruvate transporter Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1) is well tolerated into adulthood. Only with advanced aging did we observe axonal degeneration and hypomyelination due to loss of MCT1 from oligodendroglia lineage cells. MCT1 is also expressed by other glial subtypes, such as astrocytes and endothelial cells where it has been suggested to be essential for learning and memory tasks. However, the importance of MCT1 in these cell types for long-term axonal metabolic support is still unknown. We therefore addressed whether conditional loss of MCT1 from either of these cell types would lead to widespread axonal degeneration with aging. Using a conditional null approach, similar to what was used for oligodendrocyte MCT1 depletion, we observed that conditional knockout of MCT1 from either astrocytes or endothelial cells did not cause neuronal injury. On the other hand, inducible ubiquitous depletion of MCT1 causes late-onset axonal degeneration, comparable with what was observed in our previous study using the oligodendrocyte lineage MCT1 null mice. In summary, we conclude that unlike oligodendrocyte MCT1, astrocyte MCT1 is not an essential driver of astrocyte mediated axonal energy homeostasis with aging.
The Streptococcus mutans Rhamnose-glucose Polysaccharide Plays an Important Role in Oxidative Stress Resistance and Iron Homeostasis

The rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide (RGP) of Streptococcus mutans is known to play an essential role in cell division and biofilm formation. It has become increasingly apparent that the structure plays a role in protection against external stress, including an undefined role in oxidative stress. In this study, we demonstrate that the loss of RGP impairs the uptake of glucose and the susceptibility of S. mutans to lethal concentrations of iron, while at the same time, generates elevated content of intracellular iron, a prominent producer of reactive oxygen species. Intracellular iron levels were significantly higher in a strain lacking rhamnose production (ΔrmlD), compared to a strain deficient in components of the RGP production pathway (ΔrgpG). The seemingly paradoxical discrepancy between iron uptake and iron susceptibility may be partially explained by increased expression of dpr and sod, genes that protect against oxidative stress and prime S. mutans against oxidative stressors such as H2O2 and superoxide. Analysis of the promoter of the rhamnose biosynthesis gene rmlD indicated the presence of regulatory motifs, including Rex and PerR, which we have shown control expression for the genes responsible for rhamnose biosynthesis and RGP production. These results provide initial insights into the role that RGP plays in toleration of oxidative stress and suggest a complexity in regulation of the genes responsible for production of the RGP. Importance Dental caries, a disease caused by Streptococcus mutans, imposes significant healthcare burdens and productivity losses in the US. The outer structure of S. mutans, which is primarily composed of the rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide (RGP), is understudied, though it plays a crucial role in survival of the organism in response to environmental stress. Elucidating the protective role of RGP and the regulatory mechanisms that control the synthesis of RGP in S. mutans will lead to insights into the structure and function of cell wall polysaccharides in other streptococci. This study reveals a role for L-rhamnose, the building block of RGP, in mediating homeostasis of iron uptake, while the loss of rhamnose biosynthesis causes alterations in transcription of sod and dpr.
Projectively equivalent metrics subject to constraints

This work examines the relationship between pairs of projectively equivalent Riemannian or Lorentz metrics g and g* on a manifold M that induce the same Riemannian metric on a hypersurface H. In general such metrics must be equal. In the case of distinct metrics, the structure of the metrics and the manifold are strongly determined by the set, C, of points at which g and g* are conformally related. The space (M — C, g) is locally a warped product manifold over the hypersurface H. In the Lorentz setting, C is empty. In the Riemannian case, C contains at most two points. If C is nonempty, then H is isometric to a standard sphere. Furthermore, in the case that C contains one point, natural hypotheses imply M is diffeomorphic to R". If C contains two points M is diffeomorphic to S". Introduction. This work considers the extent to which a Riemannian or Lorentz metric is determined by its geodesies. Historically, this problem has been viewed as an "inverse problem" in the calculus of variations. The problem is also related to the classical works on affine and projective connections of Cartan, Thomas, Veblen, Weyl and others. As Hilbert and Cohn-Vossen point out in [5], this problem ". plays a certain role in modern physics because the trajectories of material points [particles] are regarded in the theory of general relativity as geodesies of a four dimensional continuum [Lorentz manifold]. " To observers in a space time, only information concerning the trajectories of particles is available; the metric that determines these trajectories must be obtained through the coupling of this available information with the Einstein field equations. An important result, which motivated the problems considered here, was obtained by Alexander in [1]. Using techniques from geometric measure theory, Alexander [1] proved the following Theorem. Let d and d* be continuous distance functions on the plane such that the straight lines are the shortest paths between points for both d and d*. If H is a simple closed curve bounding a region U in the plane, and if for each pair of points p, q in H, d(p, q) = d*(p, q), then d and d* agree throughout U. Received by the editors April 13, 1983. The contents of this paper were presented during the Special Session on Differential Geometry and Global Analysis at the 87th annual meeting of the American Mathematical Society, January 9, 1981. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 53A20, 53C22, 53C50. ©1984 American Mathematical Society 0002-9947/84 $1.00 + $. 25 per page
Competition Between Two-Sided Platforms With Quality-Based Subsidization

ABSTRACT We study platform competition in two-sided markets, where consumers value not only the number of providers on the other side of platforms but also their quality. In this context, enhancing provider quality is critical in the competition, and platforms may incentivize high-quality providers to join the platforms with a subsidy. The article examines a two-stage competition game between two platforms who decide their quality-based subsidization strategy and access fees charged to both sides of the platforms. We derive the equilibrium outcomes of the two competing platforms under different subsidization strategy scenarios, and provide insights on the impact of subsidization on platforms’ pricing, network sizes, quality, profits, and social welfare in a competitive setting. Our study shows that in competitive environment, subsidization is a double-edged sword that can lead to a prisoner’s dilemma for platforms, despite quality improvement. We also find that while subsidization has a positive quality effect that always increases consumer surplus, it may hurt provider surplus if the same-side competition effect among providers is too strong, which negatively affects provider surplus and may drive out low-quality providers under subsidization. As a consequence, the total social welfare also hinges on the provider side competition intensity.
Physical Activity Interventions in Rehabilitation Programs for Outpatients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

ABSTRACT Introduction: There is limited scientific evidence about the optimal content and parameters of physical activity (PA) interventions for rehabilitation outpatients with persisting symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Clinicians have thus had to develop services based on their expertise, feasibility and patient needs. Objectives: This study aimed to document PA interventions delivered in specialized programs of a Canadian province offering outpatient rehabilitation services for individuals with persisting symptoms of mTBI to inform clinical intervention development and future research. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study using an online survey containing 32 multiple choice and short open-ended questions to be answered by program administrators, with their clinical team’s input. Content analysis and descriptive statistics were used. Results: Data from 94% of rehabilitation sites (n = 17) revealed that PA interventions are delivered to children (n = 4), adults (n = 15) and older adults (n = 5) with mTBI symptoms lasting ≥1 month to ≥1 year post injury. PA interventions aim to increase participation (n = 14), improve body functions (n = 9), manage persisting mTBI symptoms (n = 5) and improve self-management skills (n = 5) and knowledge (n = 4). Interventions include individual (n = 15) or group-based (n = 12) format, home-programs (n = 7), and teaching/education (n = 6). Most PA interventions include aerobic and resistance exercises. PA dosage parameters vary greatly. Conclusion: Clinical experts use multimodal interventions for rehabilitation program users that target improvement in body functions, participation and symptoms. The results can inform the development, enhancement and evaluation of PA interventions. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions for this clientele are warranted.
Special Issue: Progress of Physical Geography in China

Vegetation production is an important variable in terrestrial ecosystems, playing crucial roles in sustaining carbon balance, reducing atmospheric CO2 concentration, and mitigating global climate change. Satellitebased models, which benefit from spatially and temporally continuous remote sensing observations of vegetation growth conditions, are widely used for quantifying regional and global vegetation production. Satellite-based vegetation production models were initially simple statistical models, but later, process-based light use efficiency models were developed. The latest models are based on the relationship between solarinduced chlorophyll fluorescence and vegetation production. An increasing number of satellite-based studies are being conducted by Chinese scientists, who are developing and implementing plant production models, particularly by self-developing a number of light consumption efficiency models and establishing a long-term worldwide dataset of vegetation production. Furthermore, Chinese scientists have investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation using diverse models, significantly improving our understanding of terrestrial functions and structures. However, current models and estimation techniques need further improvement, and Chinese scientists had the opportunity to improve model capability and our understanding of vegetation production patterns and their regulating elements.
Editorial: Novel modalities in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics

Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, OH, United States, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
The investigation of the NH3-SCR performance of a copper-based AEI-CHA intergrown zeolite catalyst

This work prepared an ISAPO-34/SAPO-18 intergrown zeolite using phosphate organoamine as the structure guiding agent. Physical-chemical characterizations by XRD, SEM, TG, and BET showed that the SAPO-34/SAPO-18 presents a cross-stacked cubic block-like microscopic morphology, with characteristic diffusive diffraction peaks at 2θ = 16–18° and 30–33° and a specific surface area of 557 m2 g−1. The series of copper-based catalysts prepared from SAPO-34/SAPO-18 showed a shift of the active temperature window to a lower temperature with increasing copper content. Moreover, the Brønsted acid site decreased significantly due to copper ion exchange and zeolite structure framework damage. Among them, the 1.2 wt% sample showed the widest active temperature window, with a T90 range of 175–435°C. After low-temperature hydrothermal aging treatment, the zeolite structure was eroded and the catalyst activity deteriorated significantly.
Linear and nonlinear stability thresholds for a diffusive model of pioneer and climax species interaction

In this paper a reaction–diffusion model describing two interacting pioneer and climax species is considered. The role of diffusivity and forcing (stocking or harvesting of the species) on the nonlinear stability of a coexistence equilibrium is analysed. The study is performed in the context of a new approach to nonlinear L2‐stability based on the analysis of stability of the zero solution of a suitable linear system of ordinary differential equations. Theorems concerning the effect of forcing and diffusivity on the dynamics are established and stability–instability thresholds for the system are obtained. An example to illustrate the practical use of the results is also provided. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nucleobase-modified nucleosides and nucleotides: Applications in biochemistry, synthetic biology, and drug discovery

Abstract. DNA is often referred to as the “molecule of life” since it contains the genetic blueprint for all forms of life on this planet. The core building blocks composing DNA are deoxynucleotides. While the deoxyribose sugar and phosphate group are ubiquitous, it is the composition and spatial arrangement of the four natural nucleobases, adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T), that provide diversity in the coding information present in DNA. The ability of DNA to function as the genetic blueprint has historically been attributed to the formation of proper hydrogen bonding interactions made between complementary nucleobases. However, recent chemical and biochemical studies using nucleobase-modified nucleotides that contain “non-hydrogen bonding” functional groups have challenged many of the dogmatic views for the necessity of hydrogen-bonding interactions for DNA stability and function. Based on years of exciting research, this area has expanded tremendously and is thus too expansive to provide a comprehensive review on the topic. As such, this review article provides an opinion highlighting how nucleobase-modified nucleotides are being applied in diverse biomedical fields, focusing on three exciting areas of research. The first section addresses how these analogs are used as mechanistic probes for DNA polymerase activity and fidelity during replication. This section outlines the synthetic logic and medicinal chemistry approaches used to replace hydrogen-bonding functional groups to examine the contributions of shape/size, nucleobase hydrophobicity, and pi-electron interactions. The second section extends these mechanistic studies to provide insight into how nucleobase-modified nucleosides are used in synthetic biology. One example is through expansion of the genetic code in which changing the composition of DNA makes it possible to site-specifically incorporate unnatural amino acids bearing unique functional groups into enzymes and receptors. The final section describes results of pre-clinical studies using nucleobase-modified nucleosides as potential therapeutic agents against diseases such as cancer.
Metabolomic profiling of developing perilla leaves reveals the best harvest time

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were applied to analyze metabolites in perilla leaves (PLs) during its developmental process. In total, 118 metabolites were identified, including volatile and non-volatile compounds, such as terpenoids, sugars, amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and others. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated great variations of metabolites during PLs development. Clustering analysis (CA) clarified the dynamic patterns of the metabolites. The heatmap of CA showed that most of the detected metabolites were significantly accumulated at stage 4 which is the pre anthesis period, and declined afterwards. The results of the present study provide a comprehensive overview of the metabolic dynamics of developing PLs which suggested that pre anthesis period is the best harvest time for PLs.
Whole genome sequencing and prediction of antimicrobial susceptibilities in non-tuberculous mycobacteria

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic pathogens commonly causing chronic, pulmonary disease which is notoriously hard to treat. Current treatment for NTM infections involves at least three active drugs (including one macrolide: clarithromycin or azithromycin) over 12 months or longer. At present there are limited phenotypic in vitro drug susceptibility testing options for NTM which are standardised globally. As seen with tuberculosis, whole genome sequencing has the potential to transform drug susceptibility testing in NTM, by utilising a genotypic approach. The Comprehensive Resistance Prediction for Tuberculosis is a database used to predict Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance: at present there are no similar databases available to accurately predict NTM resistance. Recent studies have shown concordance between phenotypic and genotypic NTM resistance results. To benefit from the advantages of whole genome sequencing, further advances in resistance prediction need to take place, as well as there being better information on novel drug mutations and an understanding of the impact of whole genome sequencing on NTM treatment outcomes.