Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
X-ray absorption spectroscopy of Ce2O3+ and Ce2O5+ near Ce M-edge

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of size-selected free cerium-oxide cluster ions has been carried out by employing an ion trap. X-ray absorption spectra of Ce 2 O 3 + ? > and Ce 2 O 5 + ? > were obtained in the energy range of the Ce M-edge. The spectra consisted of two prominent peaks corresponding to Ce M5- and M4-‘white line’ peaks. The photon energies of the peaks showed that the charge state of Ce in Ce 2 O 3 + ? > was comparable with a formal valence number. On the other hand, the estimated charge state of Ce in Ce 2 O 5 + ? > was much smaller than a formal valence number, which was consistently understood by assuming that Ce 2 O 5 + ? > has a Ce2O3–O2 configuration with a molecular O2 adsorbed. It was thus demonstrated that an ion trap facilitates XAS measurement for determining charge states of atoms in a free cluster.
Analysis of the Effect of Jakpreneur Program Implementation on Improving MSMEs Financial Performance

The government plays an important role in supporting the growth of MSMEs, contributing greatly to the nation's economy. This study aims to examine the implementation of the Jakpreneur program in improving the financial performance of MSMEs in DKI Jakarta. The samples in this study were 220 respondents with the criteria of MSMEs in the West Jakarta area who had been established and joined the Jakpreneur program for more than one year. Research data were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method. The results showed that the Training, Marketing, Financial Reporting, and Capital programs had a positive and significant effect, while the Mentoring program had a positive but insignificant effect. On the other hand, the Licensing Program has an insignificant effect on improving the financial performance of MSMEs.
Alzheimer's Disease Image Classification Based on Efficient Convolutional Neural Network

This paper proposes a novel structure based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to identify magnetic resonance images (MRI) of Alzheimer's disease. The model has a strong generalization ability and can help doctors to identify the patient's state. The advantages of this model are that it has a simple structure and high accuracy, which can quickly make a high-confidence classification judgment on the input image, and can be applied to hardware-level design. The paper also compares the differences between this method and traditional image processing and classification methods, showing the advantages of deep methods.
Asm2Seq: Explainable Assembly Code Functional Summary Generation for Reverse Engineering and Vulnerability Analysis

Reverse engineering is the process of understanding the inner working of a software system without having the source code. It is critical for firmware security validation, software vulnerability research, and malware analysis. However, it often requires a significant amount of manual effort. Recently, data-driven solutions were proposed to reduce manual effort by identifying the code clones on the assembly or the source level. However, security analysts still have to understand the matched assembly or source code to develop an understanding of the functionality, and it is assumed that such a matched candidate always exists. This research bridges the gap by introducing the problem of assembly code summarization. Given the assembly code as input, we propose a machine-learning-based system that can produce human-readable summarizations of the functionalities in the context of code vulnerability analysis. We generate the first assembly code to function summary dataset and propose to leverage the encoder-decoder architecture. With the attention mechanism, it is possible to understand what aspects of the assembly code had the largest impact on generating the summary. Our experiment shows that the proposed solution achieves high accuracy and the Bilingual Evaluation Understudy (BLEU) score. Finally, we have performed case studies on real-life CVE vulnerability cases to better understand the proposed method’s performance and practical implications.
Terrestrial self-contained navigation system based on a novel laser Doppler velocimeter

In order to improve the accuracy and manoeuvrability of terrestrial self-contained navigation system, an idea of building an integrated navigation system using a novel laser Doppler velocimeter together with an inertial navigation system is proposed. The structure and performance of the split reuse-type structure of the laser Doppler velocimeter are expounded, and the integrated technology of marching initial alignment and real-time errors compensation are also discussed in detail. The static inertial alignment of the inertial navigation system can be skipped over and the position error of navigation has been decreased from 1180 m in 2 h to 6 m in 2 h. The experiment results show that the strapdown inertial navigation system/laser Doppler velocimeter integrated navigation system can work effectively without parking and the high-accuracy self-contained navigation can be achieved.
A Dynamic Domination Problem

Abstract A dynamic domination problem in graphs is studied in which an innite sequence of attacks occurs at vertices with guards and the guard at the attacked vertex is required to vacate the vertex by moving to a neighboring vertex. Other guards are allowed to move at the same time, and before and after each attack, the vertices containing guards must form a dominating set. We are concerned with the minimum number of guards required to achieve this goal against any arbitrary sequence of attacks; this number is called the swap number. The swap number lies between the domination and independence numbers of the graph; bounds for some classes of graphs are examined in this paper.
Timed receptor tyrosine kinase signaling couples the central and a peripheral circadian clock in Drosophila

Circadian clocks impose daily periodicities to behavior, physiology, and metabolism. This control is mediated by a central clock and by peripheral clocks, which are synchronized to provide the organism with a unified time through mechanisms that are not fully understood. Here, we characterized in Drosophila the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in coupling the central clock and the peripheral clock located in the prothoracic gland (PG), which together control the circadian rhythm of emergence of adult flies. The time signal from central clock neurons is transmitted via small neuropeptide F (sNPF) to neurons that produce the neuropeptide Prothoracicotropic Hormone (PTTH), which is then translated into circadian oscillations of Ca2+ concentration and daily changes in PTTH levels. Rhythmic PTTH signaling is required at the end of metamorphosis, and transmits time information to the PG by imposing a daily rhythm to the expression of the PTTH receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), TORSO, and of ERK phosphorylation, a key component of PTTH transduction. In addition to PTTH, we demonstrate that signaling mediated by other RTKs contribute to the rhythmicity of emergence. Interestingly, the ligand to one of these receptors (Pvf2), plays an autocrine role in the PG, which may explain why both central brain and PG clocks are required for the circadian gating of emergence. Our findings show that the coupling between the central and the PG clock is unexpectedly complex and involves several RTKs that act in concert, and could serve as a paradigm to understand how circadian clocks are coordinated. Significance statement Circadian clocks impose daily periodicities to behavior, physiology, and metabolism, and are synchronized to provide the organism with a unified time through mechanisms that are poorly understood. In holometabolous insects, the circadian control of adult emergence depends on the coupling between the central clock and a peripheral clock located in the prothoracic gland (PG). Here we identify the cellular and molecular mechanism that transmits time information from the central clock to the PG clock. This process is unexpectedly complex and involves a number of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Such a mechanism may add robustness to the coupling between the 2 clocks and serve as a paradigm for understanding how circadian clocks are coordinated.
Water hardness variously influences tissue physiology of freshwater fish - Cyprinus carpio var koi: A report on glucose, oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers

Fishes endemic to freshwater habitat are strongly influenced by water hardness with physiological consequences. The present study aimed to understand the effects of four-fold sequential increase from soft to hard waters, on selected tissues of Koi carp, a popular ornamental freshwater fish. Secondary stress markers - Glucose, Oxidative stress (Malondialdehyde – Lipid Peroxidation damage) and Antioxidants (Catalase, Glutathione-S-Transferase and Glutathione) were quantified in gills and white muscle after 14 days of exposure to hardness of 75 (Soft - TS), 150 (Moderate - TM), 225 (Hard - TH) to 300 (Very Hard - TV) mg CaCO3/L. Both the examined tissues were distinctly affected by soft and moderate waters. Glucose in gills (p < 0.05) was proportional to the rise in hardness concentration. Soft, moderate and very hard waters (75, 150 and 300 mg CaCO3/L) affected gills and muscle due to elevated MDA concentrations (p < 0.05). CAT and GST provided antioxidative protection to the tissues. The study results showed tissue-specific differential responses and more importantly, concentrations below 225 mg CaCO3/L elicited strong oxidative impairment in both gill and muscle.
PROX1 Inhibits PDGF-B Expression to Prevent Myxomatous Degeneration of Heart Valves

Background Cardiac valve disease (CVD) is observed in 2.5% of the general population and 10% of the elderly people. Effective pharmacological treatments are currently not available, and patients with severe CVD require surgery. PROX1 and FOXC2 are transcription factors that are required for the development of lymphatic and venous valves. We found that PROX1 and FOXC2 are expressed in a subset of valvular endothelial cells (VECs) that are located on the downstream (fibrosa) side of cardiac valves. Whether PROX1 and FOXC2 regulate cardiac valve development and disease is not known. Methods We used histology, electron microscopy and echocardiography to investigate the structure and functioning of heart valves from Prox1ΔVEC mice in which Prox1 was conditionally deleted from VECs. Isolated valve endothelial cells and valve interstitial cells were used to identify the molecular mechanisms in vitro, which were tested in vivo by RNAScope, additional mouse models and pharmacological approaches. The significance of our findings was tested by evaluation of human samples of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and aortic valve insufficiency. Results Histological analysis revealed that the aortic and mitral valves of Prox1ΔVEC mice become progressively thick and myxomatous. Echocardiography revealed that the aortic valves of Prox1ΔVEC mice are stenotic. FOXC2 was downregulated and platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) was upregulated in the VECs of Prox1ΔVEC mice. Conditional knockdown of FOXC2 and conditional overexpression of PDGF-B in VECs recapitulated the phenotype of Prox1ΔVEC mice. PDGF-B was also increased in mice lacking FOXC2 and in human MVP and insufficient aortic valve samples. Pharmacological inhibition of PDGF-B signaling with imatinib partially ameliorated the valve defects of Prox1ΔVEC mice. Conclusion PROX1 antagonizes PDGF-B signaling partially via FOXC2 to maintain the extracellular matrix composition and prevent myxomatous degeneration of cardiac valves. Novelty and Significance What Is Known? The transcription factors PROX1 and FOXC2 are critical regulators of lymphatic and venous valve development. PROX1 and FOXC2 are expressed in the downstream valvular endothelial cells of heart valves. What Is New? Deletion of Prox1 from the valvular endothelial cells of mice results in enlarged and myxomatous aortic and mitral valves. Aortic valves of the mutant (Prox1ΔVEC) mice were stenotic. FOXC2 is partially responsible for the phenotype of Prox1ΔVEC mice. PROX1 and FOXC2 inhibit the expression of the cytokine PDGF-B in heart valves. Hyperactivation of PDGF-B signaling results in aortic and mitral valve thickening. Inhibition of PDGF-B signaling ameliorates aortic valve stenosis in Prox1ΔVEC mice. PDGFB is overexpressed and PROX1 is downregulated in human mitral valve prolapse (MVP) samples. Our findings suggest that PROX1 is an inhibitor of myxomatous valve disease that afflicts ~10% of the elderly population. We have also identified PDGF-B as a potential target for treating myxomatous valve disease.
Examining a Perceived Value Model of Servicescape for Bed-and-Breakfasts

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of various determinants on bed-and-breakfast (B&B) guests’ perceived value, which leads to customer satisfaction and positive word-of-mouth (WOM) intentions. Through online surveys completed by 238 B&B guests, the study examined the proposed theoretical framework via the structural equation modeling technique. Physical space and social relationship factors significantly affected B&B guests’ perceived value, customer satisfaction and WOM intentions. The physical space factor contained six dimensions: ambience, layout, decor, signage, image, and cleanliness. The social relationship factor considered attentiveness, professionalism, host-guest interaction, and reliability. The study fills a gap in the literature by establishing a perceived value model encompassing both physical space and social relationship factors in the B&B industry. The study further examines the outcome of satisfaction and WOM. It also provides insights for B&B practitioners to implement in their management and marketing strategies per their guests’ expectations and preferences.
Developmental Machine Learning: From Human Learning to Machines and Back (Dagstuhl Seminar 22422)

This interdisciplinary seminar brought together 18 academic and industry computer science researchers in artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine learning with 19 researchers from developmental psychology, neuroscience and linguistics. The objective was to catalyze connections between these communities, through discussions on both how the use of developmental insights can spur advances in machine learning, and how computational models and data-driven learning can lead to novel tools and insights for studying child development. The seminar consisted of tutorials, working groups, and a series of talks and discussion sessions. The main outcomes of this seminar were 1) The founding of DevelopmentalAI (http://www.developmentalai.com), an online research community to serve as a venue for communication and collaboration between develpomental and machine learning researchers, as well as a place collect and organize relevant research papers and talks; 2) Working group outputs – summaries of in-depth discussions on research questions at the intersection of developmental and machine learning, including the role of information bottlenecks and multimodality, as well as proposals for novel developmentally motivated benchmarks.
Vertex Partitioning in Graphs: From Structure to Algorithms (Dagstuhl Seminar 22481)

This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 22481 “Vertex Partitioning in Graphs: From Structure to Algorithms”, which was held from 27 November to 2 December 2023. The report contains abstracts for presentations about recent structural and algorithmic developments for a variety of vertex partitioning problems. It also contains a collection of open problems which were posed during the seminar. Seminar
Following nanoparticle uptake by cells using high-throughput microscopy and the deep-learning based cell identification algorithm Cellpose

How many nanoparticles are taken up by human cells is a key question for many applications, both within medicine and safety. While many methods have been developed and applied to this question, microscopy-based methods present some unique advantages. However, the laborious nature of microscopy, in particular the consequent image analysis, remains a bottleneck. Automated image analysis has been pursued to remedy this situation, but offers its own challenges. Here we tested the recently developed deep-learning based cell identification algorithm Cellpose on fluorescence microscopy images of HeLa cells. We found that the algorithm performed very well, and hence developed a workflow that allowed us to acquire, and analyse, thousands of cells in a relatively modest amount of time, without sacrificing cell identification accuracy. We subsequently tested the workflow on images of cells exposed to fluorescently-labelled polystyrene nanoparticles. This dataset was then used to study the relationship between cell size and nanoparticle uptake, a subject where high-throughput microscopy is of particular utility.
A density functional theory analysis of the adsorption and surface chemistry of inorganic iodine species on graphitea

In the event of a nuclear accident, fission products may be released into the environment. The release of 131I is of particular concern to human health. Iodine can be captured using a number of materials and frequently, this is accomplished with activated carbon impregnated with organic bases. Previous studies have used DFT and the graphite (0001) surface as a surrogate for adsorption, those studies focus on the species I•, I2, and CH3I. In this work we perform an ab initio study of the adsorption onto the surface of a graphite sheet of I2, CH3I, and inorganic acidic iodine species (HI, HOI, HIO2, and HIO3), which were selected to examine the possible effect of oxidation state on adsorption. The PBE exchange-correlation functional with D3 dispersion was employed. It was found that for molecular iodine, the iodine atoms tended to either situate above the center of a hexagonal site on the graphite or directly atop a carbon atom with the lighter components resting closer to the graphite. For each species the relative binding energies spanned the range of 21–33 kJ mol-1 and graphite-iodine distance was in the range of 3.52–3.93 Å. In all cases we found no significant charge transfer between the iodine species and the graphite, thus we conclude that all the iodine species studied undergo strong physisorption to the graphite.
Development and characterization of novel jGCaMP8f calcium sensor variants with improved kinetics and fluorescence response range

Introduction Genetically encoded biosensors for monitoring intracellular calcium changes have advanced our understanding of cell signaling and neuronal activity patterns in health and disease. Successful application of GCaMP biosensors to a wide range of biological questions requires that sensor properties such as brightness and dynamic range, ligand affinity and response kinetics be tuned to the specific conditions or phenomena to be investigated. Random as well as rational targeted mutations of such sensor molecules have led to a number of important breakthroughs in this field, including the calcium sensors GCaMP6f and GCaMP6fu. jGCaMP8f of the most recently developed generation is promising a step-change in in vivo imaging with further increased fluorescence dynamic range. Here, we critically examine the biophysical properties of jGCaMP8f and report development by rational design of two novel variants of jGCaMP8f. Methods We determined the in vitro biophysical properties of jGCaMP8f and selected variants by fluorescence spectroscopies and compared their performance monitoring intracellular Ca2+ transients with previously developed fast and bright GCaMP sensors by live cell imaging. Results We demonstrate that the physiologically highly relevant Mg2+ not only majorly affects the kinetic responses of GCaMPs but also their brightness and fluorescence dynamic range. We developed novel variants jGCaMP8f L27A which has threefold faster off-kinetics and jGCaMP8f F366H which shows a ∼3-fold greater dynamic range than jGCaMP8f, in vitro as well as in HEK293T cells and endothelial cell line HUVEC in response to ATP stimulation. Discussion We discuss the importance of optimization of biosensors for studying neurobiology in the context of the novel variants of jGCaMP8f. The jGCaMP8f F366H variant with a large dynamic range has the potential to improve in vivo imaging outcomes with increased signal-to-noise ratio. The L27A variant with faster kinetics than jGCaMP8f has larger cellular responses than previous fast GCaMP variants. The jGCaMP8f generation and novel improved variants presented here will further increase the application potential of GECIs in health and disease.
Surgery for metastatic spinal differentiated thyroid cancer: feasibility, outcome, and prognostic factors

Study design A retrospective cohort study. Objectives This study aims to report the surgical outcome of metastatic spinal differentiated thyroid cancer (MSDTC) and analyze the factors affecting the prognosis. Methods Thirty-five patients were recruited in our single institution who underwent spinal surgery and adjuvant therapies from 2009 to 2019. Two surgical procedures, total en-bloc spondylectomy and debulking surgery, were undertaken. Their clinical data, postoperative events, and survival data were collected and analyzed. Survival time and associated factors were further analyzed. Results The cohort had a median survival time of 60 months. The mean visual analog scale scores and the Karnofsky performance score improved postoperatively (p < 0.05). The patients' Frankel grade was elevated for cases with preoperative neurological deficits (p < 0.05). In 31 patients who underwent debulking surgery, 41.9% (n = 13) had local recurrences, and radiotherapy reduced the risk of local relapse (p < 0.05). Preoperative and postoperative Frankel grades and radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy were associated with the patients’ survival in the univariate analysis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a multivariate regression analysis showed the postoperative Frankel grade as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion Pain, quality of life, and neurological status of patients can be effectively improved after surgery. Radiotherapy can reduce the risk of local recurrences, whereas RAI therapy has a limited effect on local and extraspinal tumor control. Neurological status was independently associated with the patients' survival.
Gasdermin D-mediated pyroptosis: mechanisms, diseases, and inhibitors

Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis and downstream inflammation are important self-protection mechanisms against stimuli and infections. Hosts can defend against intracellular bacterial infections by inducing cell pyroptosis, which triggers the clearance of pathogens. However, pyroptosis is a double-edged sword. Numerous studies have revealed the relationship between abnormal GSDMD activation and various inflammatory diseases, including sepsis, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), neurodegenerative diseases, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and malignant tumors. GSDMD, a key pyroptosis-executing protein, is linked to inflammatory signal transduction, activation of various inflammasomes, and the release of downstream inflammatory cytokines. Thus, inhibiting GSDMD activation is considered an effective strategy for treating related inflammatory diseases. The study of the mechanism of GSDMD activation, the formation of GSDMD membrane pores, and the regulatory strategy of GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis is currently a hot topic. Moreover, studies of the structure of caspase-GSDMD complexes and more in-depth molecular mechanisms provide multiple strategies for the development of GSDMD inhibitors. This review will mainly discuss the structures of GSDMD and GSDMD pores, activation pathways, GSDMD-mediated diseases, and the development of GSDMD inhibitors.