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The ARIANNA detector is designed to detect neutrinos with energies above 1017 eV. Due to the similarities in generated radio signals, cosmic rays are often used as test beams for neutrino detectors. Some ARIANNA detector stations are equipped with antennas capable of detecting air showers. Since the radio emission properties of air showers are well understood, and the polarization of the radio signal can be predicted from the arrival direction, cosmic rays can be used as a proxy to assess the reconstruction capabilities of the ARIANNA neutrino detector. We report on dedicated efforts of reconstructing the polarization of cosmic-ray radio pulses. After correcting for difference in hardware, the two stations used in this study showed similar performance in terms of event rate and agreed with simulation. Subselecting high quality cosmic rays, the polarizations of these cosmic rays were reconstructed with a resolution of 2.5° (68% containment), which agrees with the expected value obtained from simulation. A large fraction of this resolution originates from uncertainties in the predicted polarization because of the contribution of the subdominant Askaryan effect in addition to the dominant geomagnetic emission. Subselecting events with a zenith angle greater than 70° removes most influence of the Askaryan emission, and, with limited statistics, we found the polarization uncertainty is reduced to 1.3° (68% containment).

The ARIANNA experiment is an Askaryan detector designed to record radio signals induced by neutrino interactions in the Antarctic ice. Because of the low neutrino flux at high energies (Eν > 1016 eV), the physics output is limited by statistics. Hence, an increase in sensitivity significantly improves the interpretation of data and offers the ability to probe new parameter spaces. The amplitudes of the trigger threshold are limited by the rate of triggering on unavoidable thermal noise fluctuations. We present a real-time thermal noise rejection algorithm that enables the trigger thresholds to be lowered, which increases the sensitivity to neutrinos by up to a factor of two (depending on energy) compared to the current ARIANNA capabilities. A deep learning discriminator, based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), is implemented to identify and remove thermal events in real time. We describe a CNN trained on MC data that runs on the current ARIANNA microcomputer and retains 95% of the neutrino signal at a thermal noise rejection factor of 105, compared to a template matching procedure which reaches only 102 for the same signal efficiency. Then the results are verified in a lab measurement by feeding in generated neutrino-like signal pulses and thermal noise directly into the ARIANNA data acquisition system. Lastly, the same CNN is used to classify cosmic-rays events to make sure they are not rejected. The network classified 102 out of 104 cosmic-ray events as signal.

The sources of ultra-high energy (UHE) cosmic rays, which can have energies up to 1020 eV, remain a mystery. UHE neutrinos may provide important clues to understanding the nature of cosmic-ray sources. ARIANNA aims to detect UHE neutrinos via radio (Askaryan) emission from particle showers when a neutrino interacts with ice, which is an efficient method for neutrinos with energies between 1016 eV and 1020 eV. The ARIANNA radio detectors are located in Antarctic ice just beneath the surface. Neutrino observation requires that radio pulses propagate to the antennas at the surface with minimum distortion by the ice and firn medium. Using the residual hole from the South Pole Ice Core Project, radio pulses were emitted from a transmitter located up to 1.7 km below the snow surface. By measuring these signals with an ARIANNA surface station, the angular and polarization reconstruction abilities are quantified, which are required to measure the direction of the neutrino. After deconvolving the raw signals for the detector response and attenuation from propagation through the ice, the signal pulses show no significant distortion and agree with a reference measurement of the emitter made in an anechoic chamber. Furthermore, the signal pulses reveal no significant birefringence for our tested geometry of mostly vertical ice propagation. The origin of the transmitted radio pulse was measured with an angular resolution of 0.37◦ indicating that the neutrino direction can be determined with good precision if the polarization of the radio-pulse can be well determined. In the present study we obtained a resolution of the polarization vector of 2.7◦. Neither measurement show a significant offset relative to expectation.

The primary mission of the ARIANNA ultra-high energy neutrino telescope is to uncover astrophysical sources of neutrinos with energies greater than 1016 eV. A pilot array, consisting of seven ARIANNA stations located on the surface of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica, was commissioned in November 2014. We report on the search for astrophysical neutrinos using data collected between November 2014 and February 2019. A straight-forward template matching analysis yielded no neutrino candidates, with a signal efficiency of 79%. We find a 90% confidence upper limit on the diffuse neutrino flux of E2Φ=1.7× 10-6 GeV cm-2s-1sr-1 for a decade wide logarithmic bin centered at a neutrino energy of 1018,eV, which is an order of magnitude improvement compared to the previous limit reported by the ARIANNA collaboration. The ARIANNA stations, including purpose built cosmic-ray stations at the Moore's Bay site and demonstrator stations at the South Pole, have operated reliably. Sustained operation at two distinct sites confirms that the flexible and adaptable architecture can be deployed in any deep ice, radio quiet environment. We show that the scientific capabilities, technical innovations, and logistical requirements of ARIANNA are sufficiently well understood to serve as the basis for large area radio-based neutrino telescope with a wide field-of-view.

The measurement of ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrinos (E > 1016 eV) opens a new field of astronomy with the potential to reveal the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays especially if combined with observations in the electromagnetic spectrum and gravitational waves. The ARIANNA pilot detector explores the detection of UHE neutrinos with a surface array of independent radio detector stations in Antarctica which allows for a cost-effective instrumentation of large volumes. Twelve stations are currently operating successfully at the Moore's Bay site (Ross Ice Shelf) in Antarctica and at the South Pole. We will review the current state of ARIANNA and its main results. We report on a newly developed wind generator that successfully operates in the harsh Antarctic conditions and powers the station for a substantial time during the dark winter months. The robust ARIANNA surface architecture, combined with environmentally friendly solar and wind power generators, can be installed at any deep ice location on the planet and operated autonomously. We report on the detector capabilities to determine the neutrino direction by reconstructing the signal arrival direction of a 800 m deep calibration pulser, and the reconstruction of the signal polarization using the more abundant cosmic-ray air showers. Finally, we describe a large-scale design – ARIA – that capitalizes on the successful experience of the ARIANNA operation and is designed sensitive enough to discover the first UHE neutrino.

Ultra high energy neutrinos (Eν > 1016.5eV) are efficiently measured via radio signals following a neutrino interaction in ice. An antenna placed1(15 m) below the ice surface will measure two signals for the vast majority of events (90% at Eν=1018 eV): a direct pulse and a second delayed pulse from a reflection off the ice surface. This allows for a unique identification of neutrinos against backgrounds arriving from above. Furthermore, the time delay between the direct and reflected signal (D'n'R) correlates with the distance to the neutrino interaction vertex, a crucial quantity to determine the neutrino energy. In a simulation study, we derive the relation between time delay and distance and study the corresponding experimental uncertainties in estimating neutrino energies. We find that the resulting contribution to the energy resolution is well below the natural limit set by the unknown inelasticity in the initial neutrino interaction. We present an in-situ measurement that proves the experimental feasibility of this technique. Continuous monitoring of the local snow accumulation in the vicinity of the transmit and receive antennas using this technique provide a precision of (1 mm) in surface elevation, which is much better than that needed to apply the D'n'R technique to neutrinos.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a critical role in cancer initiation and progression, and thus may mediate oncogenic or tumor suppressing effects, as well as be a new class of cancer therapeutic targets. We performed high-throughput sequencing of RNA (RNA-seq) to investigate the expression level of lncRNAs and protein-coding genes in 30 esophageal samples, comprised of 15 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) samples and their 15 paired non-tumor tissues. We further developed an integrative bioinformatics method, denoted URW-LPE, to identify key functional lncRNAs that regulate expression of downstream protein-coding genes in ESCC. A number of known onco-lncRNA and many putative novel ones were effectively identified by URW-LPE. Importantly, we identified lncRNA625 as a novel regulator of ESCC cell proliferation, invasion and migration. ESCC patients with high lncRNA625 expression had significantly shorter survival time than those with low expression. LncRNA625 also showed specific prognostic value for patients with metastatic ESCC. Finally, we identified E1A-binding protein p300 (EP300) as a downstream executor of lncRNA625-induced transcriptional responses. These findings establish a catalog of novel cancer-associated functional lncRNAs, which will promote our understanding of lncRNA-mediated regulation in this malignancy.

In patients with severe septic cardiomyopathy, levosimendan has been found to improve myocardial contractility more effectively than dobutamine, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to compare the effects of levosimendan and dobutamine on cardiac function and inflammatory markers in patients with septic cardiomyopathy, and to further investigate the advantages and disadvantages of both treatments. We included 40 patients with septic cardiomyopathy treated in the intensive care unit of our hospital from September 2020 to September 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=20) and a dobutamine group (n=20). Plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta (IL-1b), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) were measured by immunofluorescence at the start of treatment, 24 hours, and 48 hours. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were determined by chemiluminescence, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured using the Simpson method. After 24 hours of treatment, there were no significant differences in IL-6, IL-1b, and TNFa levels between the two groups (P>0.05). However, at 48 hours, the IL-6 level in the levosimendan group was significantly lower than that in the dobutamine group (319.43±226.05 pg/ml vs. 504.57±315.20 pg/ml, P=0.039), while IL-1b and TNF-a levels showed no significant differences (P>0.05). Additionally, the cTnI level in the levosimendan group was significantly lower than that in the dobutamine group (1.01±0.54 ng/ml vs. 1.40±0.63 ng/ml, P=0.042), and LVEF was significantly higher in the levosimendan group (50.60±6.11% vs. 46.90±4.95%, P=0.042). These findings suggest that levosimendan may reduce plasma IL-6 levels, alleviate myocardial injury, and improve myocardial contractility in patients with septic cardiomyopathy compared to dobutamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information about seasonal variation in the fatty acid (FA) composition of bulk tak milk and its relationship with dietary factors in Taiwan remains to be completed. This study aimed to determine the average FA composition of milk in different seasons and collect dietary information to investigate the relationship between dietary characteristics and lactation performance, including FA concentration in bulk tank milk. Methods: Bulk tank milk samples were collected monthly from 90 dairy farms across Taiwan for two years to capture seasonal variations. Additionally, 36 bulk tank milk samples from three farms were collected monthly from August 2022 to July 2023. Result: Milk production (kg/day), fat (%), crude protein (%), true protein (%), lactose (%) and solids-not-fat (%) were significantly higher in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P<0.05) over the studied period. In contrast, somatic cell counts were significantly lower in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P<0.05). Total saturated FA and C14:0 concentrations were significantly higher in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P<0.05). In contrast, the C18:1 concentration was significantly higher in the hot and warm seasons than in the cold season (P<0.05). However, the C18:0 concentration did not differ significantly by season. Fat and FA concentrations varied significantly among three selected dairy farms (P<0.05). Milk fat only differed significantly between the three farms in the hot season, with Farm B having the lowest milk fat concentration (P<0.05). FA concentrations showed significant seasonal effects at all three farms. These results provide an overview of milk FA variation and identify the critical factors influencing variation in bulk tank milk fat and individual farm FA concentrations: dietary ether extract content and forage choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase - field method offers the prospect of carrying out realistic numerical calculation on dendrite growth in metallic systems. The dendritic growth process of Al - 0,02mole % Si binary alloy was simulated by the coupling method of phase field and solute field. The effects of anisotropic parameters on the growth morphology of dendrite were studied. The results show that with the increase of the anisotropy magnitude, the secondary dendrite arms are more developed, and the dendrite tip is obvious oriented. For the multiple dendrite growth, the dendrites present the morphology from the tip splitting to the dendrite tip oriented. The multi dendritic branching and remelting states of Al - Si alloy were obtained and the directional solidification remelting and solute segregation were obtained under different anisotropic index conditions. And numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the growth of single and multiple dendrites under coupled conditions of phase field, solute field, and flow field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the internal relationship between the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment and investigated the role of the immune microenvironment of glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in the occurrence and progression of DKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chip datasets GSE104948 and GSE96804 from the Gene Expression Common Database (GEO) were merged using the "lima" and "sva" software packages in R Software (4.2.3), and the merged dataset was used as the validation set. The intersection between the differential genes of DKD and the glucose and lipid metabolism genes in the MSigDB database was identified, and a nomogram of the incidence risk of DKD was built using three machine learning methods, namely LASSO regression, support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF), to validate the accuracy of the prediction model. Immune scores were conducted using the unsupervised clustering method, and patients were divided into two subgroups. The two subgroups were screened for differential genes for enrichment analysis. The differential genes of patients diagnosed with DKD were clustered into two gene subgroups for co-expression analysis. In this study, we utilized the Cytoscape software to construct a network of interactions among key genes. RESULTS: Using machine learning, a diagnostic model was developed with G6PC and HSD17B14 as key factors. Enrichment analysis and immune scoring demonstrated that the development of DKD was related to the imbalance in the microenvironment brought about by glucose lipid metabolism disorders. CONCLUSIONS: G6PC and HSD17B14 may be potential biomarkers for DKD, and the established predictive model is more helpful in predicting the incidence of DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the application value of distal femur 90° locking plate fixation for supracondylar femoral fractures (SFF) in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 SFF children with or without diabetes who were enrolled in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were randomized into a control group and a study group by the random number table method. The study group received distal femur locking plate fixation, and the control group adopted Kirschner wire (K wire) internal fixation. The primary outcomes of the two groups of children and the secondary outcomes of the diabetic patients were compared. RESULTS: The fracture union rate of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks after the operation (p<0.05), while the rate showed no significant difference between the two groups at 28 weeks after the operation (p>0.05). The two groups showed similar operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy time, and hospital stay (p>0.05). The study group yielded a more favorable outcome with regard to the Harris-Hip-Score (HHS) scores, HHS excellent- and-good rate, and Flynn scores satisfaction rate than the control group (p<0.001 or 0.05). The intracavitary pressure of the knee joint of the two groups presented a gradual decline with time, with remarkably lower results in the study group compared with the control group at 8 weeks and 16 weeks after the surgery (p<0.05), and differences at 24 weeks after the surgery did not come up to the statistical standard (p>0.05). Patients experienced fewer postoperative complications after locking plate fixation, as compared to those who received K wire treatment (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, the fracture union rate of diabetic children in the study group was significantly higher at 12 weeks, 16 weeks, and 20 weeks after surgery, respectively (p<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two groups at 24 weeks and 28 weeks (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distal femur 90° locking plate fixation for diabetic children with SFF obviates the need for plate shaping and ensures firm fixation, with biomechanical design, promising efficacy, and few complications. The distal femur 90° locking plate fixation has better efficacy for children with diabetes. It shows great potential as the treatment of choice for diabetic children with SFF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum varieties J67 and Jiniang 2nd (JN2) were used as test materials in this experiment. Regression analysis and multivariate comparison were used to explore the relationship between sorghum yield, quality and climate factors in different sowing dates, which provided a theoretical basis for the study of sorghum adaptability in Jiangxi region, China. The results showed that the inter annual, sowing date and sorghum yield reached significant (P < 0.05) and extremely significant level (P < 0.01), respectively. The yield of J67 and JN2 was the highest on the 25th April, and 5th May, respectively, and the average yield was 34.67% and 11.85% higher than that of other sowing dates. The content of protein, fat and starch increased first and then decreased with the delay of sowing date. The relationship between effective precipitation and yield is linear function, while the relationship between effective temperature, daily average temperature, sunshine hours and yield is quadratic function. In addition, the climate factor that has the greatest impact on the quality is the daily average temperature, while the hours of sunshine have the least impact. The results showed that suitable sowing date was the key to the formation of sorghum yield and grain quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterointerfaces between two insulators play a central role in the study of oxide electronics owing to a spectrum of emergent properties. Manipulating transport of the interface by light can result in significant modulation of the ground state and excite localized states. However, their dynamics and mechanisms of photogenerated carries remain unclear. Here, this study presents the dynamics of carrier density and mobility under and after light illumination by Hall effect over time. It is discovered that the density and mobility after light illumination obey a stretched exponential expression, further indicating that the variation of mobility caused by the electron-electron scattering plays an important role in the recovery process in addition to the reduction of carrier density. Meanwhile, a non-linear Hall resistance at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface under the illumination of a 360 nm laser at low temperature is observed. Furthermore, the gating effect can tune the recovery process after light illumination and induce a disappearance of non-linear Hall resistance. The results provide the experimental support for detailed mechanisms of the nonequilibrium process and developing of all-oxide electronic devices based on heterointerfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]