Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular beam epitaxial growth of multilayer 2D-boron nitride on Ni substrates from borazine and plasma-activated nitrogen

2D boron nitride (2D-BN) was synthesized by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy on polycrystalline and monocrystalline Ni substrates using gaseous borazine and active nitrogen generated by a remote plasma source. The excess of nitrogen atoms allows to overcome the thickness self-limitation active on Ni when using borazine alone. The nucleation density and the shape of the 2D-BN domains are clearly related to the Ni substrate preparation and to the growth parameters. Based on spatially-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and on the detection of the π plasmon peak, we discuss the origin of the N1s and B1s components and their relationship with an electronic coupling at the interface. After optimization of the growth parameters, a full 2D-BN coverage is obtained, although the material thickness is not evenly distributed. The 2D-BN presents a granular structure on (111) oriented Ni grains, showing a rather poor cristallographic quality. On the contrary, high quality 2D-BN is found on (101) and (001) Ni grains, where triangular islands are observed whose lateral size is limited to ∼20 μm.
Intracellular Ion Control of WNK Signaling.

The with no lysine (K) (WNK) kinases are an evolutionarily ancient group of kinases with atypical placement of the catalytic lysine and diverse physiological roles. Recent studies have shown that WNKs are directly regulated by chloride, potassium, and osmotic pressure. Here, we review the discovery of WNKs as chloride-sensitive kinases and discuss physiological contexts in which chloride regulation of WNKs has been demonstrated. These include the kidney, pancreatic duct, neurons, and inflammatory cells. We discuss the interdependent relationship of osmotic pressure and intracellular chloride in cell volume regulation. We review the recent demonstration of potassium regulation of WNKs and speculate on possible physiological roles. Finally, structural and mechanistic aspects of intracellular ion and osmotic pressure regulation of WNKs are discussed. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Physiology, Volume 85 is February 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Identifying Unsolvable Instances, Forbidden States and Irrelevant Information in Planning

Planning is a central research area in artificial intelligence, and a lot of effort has gone into constructing more and more efficient planning algorithms. In real-world examples, many problem instances do not have a solution. Hence, there is an obvious need for methods that are capable of identifying unsolvable instances efficiently. It is not possible to efficiently identify all unsolvable instances due to the inherent high complexity of planning, but many unsolvable instances can be identified in polynomial time. We present a number of novel methods for doing this.We adapt the notion of k-consistency (a well-studied concept from constraint satisfaction) for testing unsolvability of planning instances. The idea is to decompose a given problem instance into a number of smaller instances which can be solved in polynomial time. If any of the smaller instances are unsolvable, then the original instance is unsolvable. If all the smaller instances are solvable, then it is possible to extract information which can be used to guide the search. For instance, we introduce the notion of forbidden state patterns that are partial states that must be avoided by any solution to the problem instance. This can be viewed as the opposite of pattern databases which give information about states which can lead to a solution. We also introduce the notion of critical sets and show how to identify them. Critical sets describe operators or values which must be used or achieved in any solution. It is a variation on the landmark concept, i.e., operators or values which must be used in every solution. With the help of critical sets we can identify superfluous operators and values. These operators and values can be removed by preprocessing the problem instance to decrease planning time.
New approach to quarkonium polarization studies

Significant progress in understanding quarkonium production requires improved polarization measurements, fully considering the intrinsic multidimensionality of the problem. We propose a frame-invariant formalism which minimizes the dependence of the measured result on the experimental acceptance, facilitates the comparison with theoretical calculations, and provides a much needed control over systematic effects due to detector limitations and analysis biases. This formalism is a direct and generic consequence of the rotational invariance of the dilepton decay distribution and is independent of any assumptions specific to particular models of quarkonium production.
Dietary high-protein distiller’s dried grains with solubles can fully replace soybean meal in diets for meat quails without affecting growth performance

ABSTRACT 1. The purpose of this study was to determine the metabolisable energy of high-protein distiller’s dried grains with solubles (HP-DDGS) for meat quail (Coturnix coturnix coturnix; Experiment I) and evaluate the effects of dietary levels of HP-DDGS on animal performance, carcase characteristics, meat quality, and organ weights (Experiment II). 2. In Experiment 1, 96 meat quail were distributed in a completely randomised design with two treatments (reference or test diet) and six replicates of eight birds. The experimental period consisted of 5 d adaptation, followed by 5 d total excreta collection. The experimental diets consisted of a reference (control) and a test diet formulated with 800 g/kg reference diet and 200 g/kg HP-DDGS. 3. In Experiment 2, 612 meat quail were distributed in a completely randomised design fed one of six dietary levels of HP-DDGS (0, 85, 170, 255, 340, or 425 g/kg) as a replacement for soybean meal. At 42 d of age, birds were slaughtered and evaluated for carcase yield, organ weights, and meat quality. 4. Apparent metabolisable energy values corrected for nitrogen retention of HP-DDGS were 12.5 and 12.3 MJ/kg for males and females, respectively. 5. In the starter phase (1–21 d of age), increasing dietary HP-DDGS levels had a quadratic effect on body weight (BW) (P = 0.020) and body weight gain (BWG) (P = 0.019). The maximum BW and BWG values were estimated to be achieved with 296.0 and 296.2 g/kg dietary HP-DDGS, respectively. Overall (1–42 d of age), increasing dietary HP-DDGS levels in replacement of soybean meal did not affect animal performance, carcase yield, meat quality or organ weight in meat quail. 6. It was concluded that dietary HP-DDGS can fully replace soybean meal in meat quail diets without affecting growth performance, carcase yield, meat quality or organ weight.
THE ENERGETICS OF A GLOBAL SHOCK WAVE IN THE LOW SOLAR CORONA

As the most energetic eruptions in the solar system, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can produce shock waves at both their front and flanks as they erupt from the Sun into the heliosphere. However, the amount of energy produced in these eruptions, and the proportion of their energy required to produce the waves, is not well characterized. Here we use observations of a solar eruption from 2014 February 25 to estimate the energy budget of an erupting CME and the globally propagating “EIT wave” produced by the rapid expansion of the CME flanks in the low solar corona. The “EIT wave” is shown using a combination of radio spectra and extreme ultraviolet images to be a shock front with a Mach number greater than one. Its initial energy is then calculated using the Sedov–Taylor blast-wave approximation, which provides an approximation for a shock front propagating through a region of variable density. This approach provides an initial energy estimate of ≈2.8 × 1031 erg to produce the “EIT wave,” which is approximately 10% the kinetic energy of the associated CME (shown to be ≈2.5 × 1032 erg). These results indicate that the energy of the “EIT wave” may be significant and must be considered when estimating the total energy budget of solar eruptions.
A dominant negative mitofusin causes mitochondrial perinuclear clusters because of aberrant tethering

Our analysis of a CMT2A-associated mitofusin variant reveals that aberrant mitochondrial tethering results in perinuclear clusters and that conformational dynamics in Hinge 2 are required to progress from membrane tethering to membrane fusion. In vertebrates, mitochondrial outer membrane fusion is mediated by two mitofusin paralogs, Mfn1 and Mfn2, conserved dynamin superfamily proteins. Here, we characterize a variant of mitofusin reported in patients with CMT2A where a serine is replaced with a proline (Mfn2-S350P and the equivalent in Mfn1, S329P). This serine is in a hinge domain (Hinge 2) that connects the globular GTPase domain to the adjacent extended helical bundle. We find that expression of this variant results in prolific and stable mitochondrial tethering that also blocks mitochondrial fusion by endogenous wild-type mitofusin. The formation of mitochondrial perinuclear clusters by this CMT2A variant requires normal GTPase domain function and formation of a mitofusin complex across two membranes. We propose that conformational dynamics mediated by Hinge 2 and regulated by GTP hydrolysis are disrupted by the substitution of proline at S329/S350 and this prevents progression from tethering to membrane fusion. Thus, our data are consistent with a model for mitofusin-mediated membrane fusion where Hinge 2 supports a power stroke to progress from the tethering complex to membrane fusion.
Cryo-EM structures of LolCDE reveal the molecular mechanism of bacterial lipoprotein sorting in Escherichia coli

Bacterial lipoproteins perform a diverse array of functions including bacterial envelope biogenesis and microbe–host interactions. Lipoproteins in gram-negative bacteria are sorted to the outer membrane (OM) via the localization of lipoproteins (Lol) export pathway. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter LolCDE initiates the Lol pathway by selectively extracting and transporting lipoproteins for trafficking. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of LolCDE in apo, lipoprotein-bound, and AMPPNP-bound states at a resolution of 3.5 to 4.2 Å. Structure-based disulfide crosslinking, photo-crosslinking, and functional complementation assay verify the apo-state structure and reveal the molecular details regarding substrate selectivity and substrate entry route. Our studies snapshot 3 functional states of LolCDE in a transport cycle, providing deep insights into the mechanisms that underlie LolCDE-mediated lipoprotein sorting in E. coli.
GODAE OceanView Class 4 forecast verification framework: global ocean inter-comparison

As part of the work of the GODAE OceanView Inter-comparison and Validation Task Team (IV-TT), 6 global ocean forecasting systems spread across 5 operational oceanography forecast centres were inter-compared using a common set of observations as a proxy for the truth. The ‘Class 4’ in the title refers to a set of forecast verification metrics defined in the MERSEA-IP/GODAE internal metrics document (Hernandez 2007), the defining feature of which is that comparisons between forecasts and observations take place in observation space. This approach is seen as a departure from other diagnostic approaches such as analysing model trends or innovation statistics, and is commonly used in the atmospheric community. The physical parameters involved in the comparison are sea surface temperature (SST), sub-surface temperature, sub-surface salinity and sea level anomaly (SLA). SST was measured using in-situ observations obtained from USGODAE, sub-surface conditions were compared to Argo profiles, while sea level anomaly was measured by several satellite altimeters courtesy of AVISO. The 5 forecast centres involved in the project were Met Office, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Mercator Océan, Environment Canada and NOAA/NWS/NCEP. Combining Met Office, Mercator Océan and Environment Canada forecasts into a mixed resolution multi-model ensemble produces estimates of the ocean state which have better accuracy and associativity properties for SST, SLA and temperature profiles than any individual ensemble component.
The cosmological constant and the size of the Physical Universe.

The cosmological constant $\Lambda$ is a free parameter in Einstein's equations of gravity. We propose to fix its value with a boundary condition: test particles should be free when outside causal contact, e.g. at infinity. Under this condition, we show that constant vacuum energy does not change cosmic expansion and there can not be cosmic acceleration for an infinitely large and uniform Universe. The observed acceleration requires either a large Universe with evolving Dark Energy (DE) and equation of state $\omega>-1$ or a finite causal boundary (that we call Causal Universe) without DE. The former can't explain why $\Omega_\Lambda \simeq 2.3 \Omega_m$ today, something that comes naturally with a finite Causal Universe. This boundary condition, combined with the anomalous lack of correlations observed above 60 degrees in the CMB predicts $\Omega_\Lambda \simeq 0.70$ for a flat universe, with independence of any other measurements. This solution provides new clues and evidence for inflation and removes the need for Dark Energy or Modified Gravity.
Absolute Lymphocyte Count as a Marker for Cytomegalovirus Infection After Heart Transplantation

Background. Previous studies indicate an association between reduced absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after solid organ transplantation and have therefore highlighted the potential of ALC as a simple tool to predict CMV infection in transplant patients. This study aimed to examine the utility of ALC as a valuable marker for CMV infection in heart transplant patients. Methods. Clinical information and ALC data of all adult patients who received orthotopic heart transplantation at the Medical University of Vienna between January 2004 and May 2019 were collected. We performed a multivariable Cox regression model that incorporates repeated measurements of ALC as a time-varying continuous factor in 2 ways, first as continuous logarithmic factor considering a 50% decrease of ALC levels and second as binary factor using a threshold of 610 cells/μL. Results. One hundred fifty-eight (39%) patients developed CMV infection over the course of 2 y. Patients with lymphopenia were shown to be at higher risk of developing CMV infection both in the continuous approach (HR [per 50% reduction] 1.29; confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.53; P = 0.003) and the binary approach with a cutoff of 610 cells/μL (HR 1.74; CI, 1.20-2.51; P = 0.003). Conclusions. This study demonstrated a strong association between reduced ALC and the development of CMV infection after heart transplantation. ALC value monitoring could provide an additional tool to assess individualized CMV risk after solid organ transplantation.
Pharmacological and physiological correlates of the bidirectional fear phenotype of the Carioca rats and other bidirectionally selected lines.

The Carioca rat lines originated from the selective bidirectional breeding of mates displaying extreme defense responses to contextual conditioned fear. After three generations, two distinct populations could be distinguished: the Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing rats, CHF, and CLF, respectively. Later studies identified strong anxiety-like behaviors in the CHF line, while indications of impulsivity and hyperactivity were prominent in the CLF animals. The present review details the physiological and pharmacological-related findings obtained from these lines. The results discussed here point towards a dysfunctional fear circuitry in CHF rats, including alterations in key brain structures and the serotoninergic system. Moreover, data from these animals highlight important alterations in the stress-processing machinery and its associated systems, such as energy metabolism and antioxidative defense. Finally, evidence of an alteration in the dopaminergic pathway in CLF rats is also debated. Thus, accumulating data gathered over the years, place the Carioca lines as significant animal models for the study of psychiatric disorders, especially fear-related ones like anxiety.
Neural and contractile determinants of burst‐like explosive isometric contractions of the knee extensors

Walking and running are based on rapid burst‐like muscle contractions. Burst‐like contractions generate a Gaussian‐shaped force profile, in which neuromuscular determinants have never been assessed. We investigated the neural and contractile determinants of the rate of force development (RFD) in burst‐like isometric knee extensions. Together with maximal voluntary force (MVF), voluntary and electrically evoked (8 stimuli at 300 Hz, octets) forces were measured in the first 50, 100, and 150 ms of burst‐like quadriceps contractions in 24 adults. High‐density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) was adopted to measure the root mean square (RMS) and muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) from the vastus lateralis and medialis. The determinants of voluntary force at 50, 100, and 150 ms were assessed by stepwise multiple regression analysis. Force at 50 ms was explained by RMS (R2 = 0.361); force at 100 ms was explained by octet (R2 = 0.646); force at 150 ms was explained by MVF (R2 = 0.711) and octet (R2 = 0.061). Peak RFD (which occurred at 60 ± 10 ms from contraction onset) was explained by MVF (R2 = 0.518) and by RMS50 (R2 = 0.074). MFCV did not emerge as a determinant of RFD. Muscle excitation was the sole determinant of early RFD (50 ms), while contractile characteristics were more relevant for late RFD (≥100 ms). As peak RFD is mostly determined by MVF, it may not be more informative than MVF itself. Therefore, a time‐locked analysis of RFD provides more insights into the neuromuscular characteristics of explosive contractions.
Delay‐dependent robust stability analysis for switched time‐delay systems with polytopic uncertainties

In this paper, sufficient conditions are provided for the stability of switched retarded and neutral time‐delay systems with polytopic‐type uncertainties. It is assumed that the delay in the system dynamics is time‐varying and bounded. Parameter‐dependent Lyapunov functionals are employed to obtain criteria for the exponential stability of the system in the form of linear matrix inequality (LMI). Free‐weighting matrices are then provided to express the relationship between the system variables and the terms in the Leibniz–Newton formula. Numerical examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growing in time IDLA cluster is recurrent

We show that Internal Diffusion Limited Aggregation (IDLA) on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ has near optimal Cheeger constant when the growing cluster is large enough. This implies, through a heat kernel lower bound derived previously in [H], that simple random walk evolving independently on growing in time IDLA cluster is recurrent when $d\ge 3$.
Niektóre osobliwości algorytmów genetycznych na przykładzie zagadnień logistycznych

The aim of the following article is to systematize the concepts connected with modern genetic algorithms together with presenting examples of their applications in logistic issues. Using appropriate tools for solving logistic problems is a basic condition of develop-ment and/or endurance on the market with an intensive competition. According to the author, modern genetic algorithms are effective optimizing, ransacking and teaching tools which may have a broader use in logistics. This paper also discusses the matter of genetic algorithm’s parameters as a factor determining the effectiveness of their application in logistic issues. The weak and strong points of genetic algorithms in the context of their practical usage has also been pointed out. Presented article is based on literature studies concerning modern concepts of genetic algorithms and their applications.
The Crab Nebula as a standard candle in very high-energy astrophysics

The continuum high-energy gamma-ray emission between 1 GeV and 100 TeV from the Crab Nebula has been measured for the first time in overlapping energy bands by the Fermi large-area telescope (Fermi/LAT) below ~ 100 GeV and by ground-based imaging air Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) above ~ 60 GeV. To follow up on the phenomenological approach suggested by Hillas et al. (1998), the broad band spectral and spatial measurement (from radio to low-energy gamma-rays < 1 GeV) is used to extract the shape of the electron spectrum. While this model per construction provides an excellent description of the data at energies < 1 GeV, the predicted inverse Compton component matches the combined Fermi/LAT and IACT measurements remarkably well after including all relevant seed photon fields and fitting the average magnetic field to B = (124 +/- 6 (stat.) +15 / -6 (sys.)) {\mu}G. The close match of the resulting broad band inverse Compton component with the combined Fermi/LAT and IACTs data is used to derive instrument specific energy-calibration factors. These factors can be used to combine data from Fermi/LAT and IACTs without suffering from systematic uncertainties on the common energy scale. As a first application of the cross calibration, we derive an upper limit to the diffuse gamma-ray emission between 250 GeV and 1 TeV based upon the combined measurements of Fermi/LAT and the H.E. S.S. ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. Finally, the predictions of the magneto-hydrodynamic flow model of Kennel & Coroniti (1984) are compared to the measured SED.
Undulator A characteristics and specifications

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) Undulator A is a planar device optimized for the hard x-ray region. In the mature phase of operation, it satisfies the requirement of providing high brilliance x-rays continuously over the tuning range from 4.2 key to above 30 key, using the first and the third harmonic radiation from the undulator. This is achieved through the choice of the 3.3-cm long period, the hybrid undulator design, and the stringent requirements on the magnetic field quality. The undulator is 2.4 m long (including the end sections) with 72 periods. The magnetic structure consists of Nd-Fe-B magnets with vanadium permendur poles. The field errors are specified in this paper to ensure that the third harmonic radiation from the actual device will achieve at least 70% of its theoretical brilliance. The first harmonic is less sensitive to field errors and thus should attain brilliance even closer to the theoretical value. The predicted magnetic fields at various gap values based on a detail design of the magnetic structure of Undulator A are listed in this paper.