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Microscopic evolution at the functional biomolecular level is an ongoing process. Leveraging functional and high-throughput assays, along with computational data mining, has led to a remarkable expansion of our understanding of multifunctional protein (and gene) families over the past few decades. Various molecular and intermolecular mechanisms are now known that collectively meet the cumulative multifunctional demands in higher organisms along an evolutionary path. This multitasking ability is attributed to a certain degree of intrinsic or adapted flexibility at the structure–function level. Evolutionary diversification of structure–function relationships in proteins highlights the functional importance of intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs) which are highly dynamic biological soft matter. Multifunctionality is favorably supported by the fluid-like shapes of IDPs/IDRs, enabling them to undergo disorder-to-order transitions upon binding to different molecular partners. Other new malleable members of the protein superfamily, such as those involved in fold-switching, also undergo structural transitions. This new insight diverges from all traditional notions of functional singularity in enzyme classes and emphasizes a far more complex, multi-layered diversification of protein functionality. However, a thorough review in this line, focusing on flexibility and function-driven structural transitions related to evolved multifunctionality in proteins, is currently missing. This review attempts to address this gap while broadening the scope of multifunctionality beyond single protein sequences. It argues that protein intrinsic disorder is likely the most striking mechanism for expressing multifunctionality in proteins. A phenomenological analogy has also been drawn to illustrate the increasingly complex nature of modern digital life, driven by the need for multitasking, particularly involving media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the metal additive manufacturing techniques, directed energy deposition (DED) is least investigated, particularly in the context of machine learning (ML)-based process-structure correlation. To address this aspect, we performed the planned experiments for continuous deposition of single tracks of austenitic stainless steel (SS316L) by varying the process parameters. Based on extensive analysis of the melt pool quality in terms of defect morphology, the process map for DED of SS316L was created. This can help in decision-making regarding process parameter selection. Within the limitation of a small dataset, a number of statistical learning algorithms with tuned hyperparameters were trained to predict the geometrical parameters of single tracks (width, depth, height, track area, melt pool area). Based on an extensive evaluation of the performance metrics and residual error analysis, the Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) model was found to consistently predict all of the geometrical parameters better than other ML algorithms, with a statistically acceptable coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE). An attempt has been made to rationalise the superior performance of GPR in low data regime, over linear regression or gradient boosting machine (GBM) in reference to the underlying statistical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a cooperative game theoretic approach to fair division of profit generated by overlapping teams of workers. We argue that unlike the standard notion of efficiency, individual shares must exhaust the sum of worths of all coalitions in this setting. We show that utilising the Shapley value through a suitably constructed characteristic function to account for this feature is unlikely to be practically acceptable. Instead, we directly use this no-wastage condition (we call it 'extended efficiency') to completely characterize two solutions of the fair division problem that satisfy monotonicity and symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adenoidectomy is a frequently done ENT procedure. The purpose of the current article is to assess endoscopic powered adenoidectomy as a potential replacement for the traditional curettage approach. Methods: Two hundred forty consecutive adenoidectomy cases were randomly divided into two groups of one hundred twenty each. Between August 2020 to February 2023 after getting ethical clearance from Institutional Ethical Committee, Group I underwent Conventional Curettage Adenoidectomy (CA), while Group II underwent Endoscopic Micro-debrider Adenoidectomy (EMA). Results: Average operative time in CA Group was 31.4 min and in EMA group was 55.7 min. In CA group, mean intraoperative blood loss was 64.4 mL, however, in EMA group, mean blood loss was 86.7 mL (p 0.001). In EMA Group, the resection was consistently complete, with 112 out of 120 cases having an adenoid grade of less than I in post-op. However in the CA group, in 44 (36.7%) of the patients, there was more than 25% remaining adenoid tissue postoperatively and more than 50% remnant adenoid tissue was found in 12 cases (10%) post-op. Post-operative pain was studied with the CA Group demonstrating an average 7 days' postoperative pain score of 3.90 whereas EMA Group demonstrating an average 7 days' postoperative pain score of 0.9. Conclusions: It was observed that EMA was a secure and reliable tool for adenoidectomy. Endoscopic powered adenoidectomy performed better in the completion of resection, accuracy of resection under vision, collateral damage, and post-operative pain. Contrarily, conventional Curettage adenoidectomy scored higher in terms of shorter surgery times and less intraoperative hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two dimensional intergranular brittle cracks propagating through a microstructured material produce fracture profiles which, at scales larger than the microstructural length scale, are anti-persistent and close to directed random walks with Hurst exponent ∼ 0.5 . The extent of intergranularity is controlled by the ratio of the toughness of the grain boundaries to that of the grain interior. However, experiments suggest [e.g. Ponson et al. (Phys Rev Lett 97(12), 2006)] that even when transgranular crack propagation is possible, the fracture profile is still close to a random walk. In this work, generating fracture profiles in a material with an idealised honeycomb microstructure using a phase field based model of crack propagation, we show that the competition between inter and transgranular fracture manifests in a manner that is more nuanced than what the experiments suggest. While the fracture profile is indeed always anti-persistent, transgranularity resulting from toughening the grains leads to profiles that can have roughness exponents much lower than 0.5. Moreover, in such cases, the overall toughness of the specimen scales with the Hurst exponent. On the other hand, transgranularity resulting from weakening the grain boundaries, without changing the toughness of the grain interior, always lead to fracture profiles close to the random walk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fallopian tube undergoes extensive molecular changes during the menstrual cycle and menopause. We use single-cell RNA and ATAC sequencing to construct a comprehensive cell atlas of healthy human fallopian tubes during the menstrual cycle and menopause. Our scRNA-seq comparison of 85,107 pre- and 46,111 post-menopausal fallopian tube cells reveals substantial shifts in cell type frequencies, gene expression, transcription factor activity, and cell-to-cell communications during menopause and menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycle dependent hormonal changes regulate distinct molecular states in fallopian tube secretory epithelial cells. Postmenopausal fallopian tubes show high chromatin accessibility in transcription factors associated with aging such as Jun, Fos, and BACH1/2, while hormone receptors were generally downregulated, a small proportion of secretory epithelial cells had high expression of ESR2, IGF1R, and LEPR. While a pre-menopausal secretory epithelial gene cluster is enriched in the immunoreactive molecular subtype, a subset of genes expressed in post-menopausal secretory epithelial cells show enrichment in the mesenchymal molecular type of high-grade serous ovarian cancer. The fallopian tube undergoes extensive cellular and molecular changes during the menstrual cycle and aging. Here, Weigert et al. present a single-cell atlas of the normal human fallopian tube revealing the transition of secretory epithelial cells throughout the menstrual cycle and menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, population growth, and agricultural intensification are increasing nitrogen (N) inputs, while driving the loss of inland water bodies that filter excess N. However, the interplay between N inputs and water body dynamics, and its implications for water quality remain poorly understood. Analyzing data from 1995 to 2015 across China, here, we find a 71% reduction in the area of small (<104.5 m2) water bodies (SWB), primarily in high-N-input agricultural regions. Preferential loss of SWBs, the most efficient nutrient filters, places 42% of China at high water quality risk due to increasing N inputs and declining SWB density. Currently, N removal by water bodies is 986 kilotonnes year−1, but restoring 2.3 million hectares of SWB could increase removal by 21%, compared to just 5% for equivalent restoration of large water bodies. Targeted SWB restoration is crucial for improving water quality and mitigating N pollution in China. Small water bodies are crucial in global hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles. This study reveals rapid losses of small water bodies in China and highlights their restoration as a cost-effective, sustainable solution to improve water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pulsed electrodeposition was performed on mild steel surfaces to prepare Ni-W-based composite coatings consisting of TiO2 and ZrO2 oxide nanoparticles. To evaluate the oxidative properties of coatings, isothermal oxidation studies were performed on the coatings at 873, 973, and 1073 K in the air for 30 h. The coatings' phase evolution, morphology, and chemistry were investigated by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. As a result of examining the microstructure changes after the oxidation test, it was found that the oxide formation increased according to the oxidation temperature. To determine the oxidation kinetics of the respective coatings, Arrhenius plots were drawn and activation energies were calculated. The final results confirmed that the oxidation resistance of the Ni-W-TiO2-ZrO2 nanocomposite coatings (NiWNC) increased with the addition of ZrO2 (0 − 15 g/L). In this study, better oxidation resistance was observed for the Ni-W-5 g/L TiO2-15 g/L ZrO2 nanocomposites compared to the rest of the coatings. These findings highlight the potential of producing highly oxidation-resistant coatings using a cost-effective method on commercially available metal surfaces such as mild steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As digital mobility services increasingly reshape the transportation landscape, offering a multitude of choices for users, a significant lack of equality emerges: vulnerable-to-exclusion groups are often left behind, unable to equally access digital transport services. This study investigates the opportunities to create inclusive and accessible digital mobility services, based on the viewpoints of developers, operators, and policy makers. Through 32 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, we look into the existing regulatory frameworks, the extent of user involvement in service (re-)development, considerations for data protection and privacy for vulnerable groups, and the financial aspects supporting the development and operation of inclusive digital transport services. A thematic content analysis reveals a complex challenge: a lack of effective communication, collaboration, and co-creation across the majority of services, in combination with a widespread failure to disseminate insights among stakeholders, resulting in a lack of knowledge about vulnerable-to-exclusion groups. Despite a general awareness of the importance of inclusive design, actionable steps to achieve inclusive digital services remain scarce, with only a handful of services actively pursuing these goals. Our findings push for a comprehensive approach that enhances clear communication, stakeholder collaboration, and promotes the co-creation of services, while also protecting vulnerable users' data and thereby bridging the accessibility gap to ensure that the benefits of digital mobility extend to all users, including those most at risk of exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell states are modulated by intrinsic driving forces such as gene expression noise and extrinsic signals from the tissue microenvironment. The distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic cell state determinants is essential for understanding the regulation of cell fate in tissues during development, homeostasis and disease. The rapidly growing availability of single-cell resolution spatial transcriptomics makes it possible to meet this challenge. However, available computational methods to infer topological tissue domains, spatially variable genes, or ligand-receptor interactions are limited in their capacity to capture cell state changes driven by crosstalk between individual cell types within the same niche. We present NiCo, a computational framework for integrating single-cell resolution spatial transcriptomics with matched single-cell RNA-sequencing reference data to infer the influence of the spatial niche on the cell state. By applying NiCo to mouse embryogenesis, adult small intestine and liver data, we demonstrate the ability to predict novel niche interactions that govern cell state variation underlying tissue development and homeostasis. In particular, NiCo predicts a feedback mechanism between Kupffer cells and neighboring stellate cells dampening stellate cell activation in the normal liver. NiCo provides a powerful tool to elucidate tissue architecture and to identify drivers of cellular states in local niches. A key question in single-cell biology is how cells communicate and exchange information with neighboring cells in tissues. Here, the authors introduce NiCo to predict the downstream effect of cell-cell interactions on cellular states in tissue niches from spatial transcriptomics data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we first study the consequence of spacetime translations and Lorentz transformations on Celestial CFT OPEs. Working with the light transforms of the operators belonging to the modified Mellin basis, we found that the leading order singularity in the OPE of such operators could be fixed purely using Poincaré symmetries owing to the non-trivial action of the translations on these operators. The OPE coefficient is then fixed using the soft limit of the correlation functions. We check that this singular structure obtained from symmetries is consistent with the OPE limit of three-point functions. This approach could potentially be useful for studying Celestial CFT without adverting to bulk physics. As another goal, we explore the significance of light transformation in Carrollian CFTs. In the special cases we considered, we show that light transformation equips us with a map between two branches of Carroll CFT in d = 3 dimension at the level of correlation functions in the near coincident limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinct contribution of rotational ground motion to the failure of structures has been observed in the past. A direct recommendation on considering rotational hazards in seismic design is not presently available. In this work, the construction of rocking and torsional spectra [collectively called rotational spectra (Rot)] for scenario- and intensity- based seismic performance assessment is proposed based on scaling of the associated horizontal spectra (H) through respective Rot/H spectra. Rot/H spectral shape is determined given the earthquake magnitude, epicentral distance, and average shear wave velocity. The procedure is based on the ratio of median rotational to median horizontal-spectral ordinates, which has been demonstrated to be a good representation of the median Rot/H spectral ratio. The median level recommendations are also demonstrated to apply to design level (of a particular facility located in a specific site, which is also governed by a scenario) under certain assumptions. Determination of Rot/H spectrum contingent on a scenario involves two steps: construction of normalized Rot/H spectra (denoted by alpha) with unity at zero period scaled by the ratio of median Rotational- to median Horizontal- PGA (denoted by beta). An estimate of alpha and beta for different soil types is also proposed for intensity-based assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well known quotient of the real Stiefel manifold is the projective Stiefel manifold. We introduce a new family of quotients of the real Stiefel manifold by cyclic group of order 2 whose action is induced by simultaneous pairwise flipping of the coordinates. We obtain a description for their tangent bundles, compute their mod 2 cohomology and compute the Stiefel Whitney classes of these manifolds. We use these to provide applications to their stable span, parallelizability and equivariant maps, and some associated results in topological combinatorics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, nanotechnology has gained popularity as a viable solution to address gene and drug delivery challenges over conventional methods. Extensive research has been conducted on nanosystems that consist of organic/inorganic materials, drugs, and its biocompatibility become the primary goal of improving drug delivery. Various surface modification methods help focus targeted and controlled drug release, further enabling multidrug delivery also. This newer technology ensures the stability of drugs that can unravel the mechanisms involved in cellular processes of disease development and its management. Tailored medication delivery provides benefits such as therapy, controlled release, and reduced adverse effects, which are especially important for controlling illnesses like cancer. However, multifunctional nanocarriers that possess high viscoelasticity, extended circulation half-life, biocompatibility, and biodegradability face some challenges and limitations too in human bodies. To produce a consistent therapeutic platform based on complex three-dimensional nanoparticles, careful design and engineering, thorough orthogonal analysis methods, and reproducible scale-up and manufacturing processes will be required in the future. Safety and effectiveness of nano-based drug delivery should be thoroughly investigated in preclinical and clinical trials, especially when considering biodistribution, targeting specific areas, and potential immunological toxicities. Overall, the current review article explores the advancements in nanotechnology, specific to nanomaterial-enabled drug delivery systems, carrier fabrication techniques and modifications, disease management, clinical research, applications, limitations, and future challenges. The work portrays how nanomedicine distribution affects healthcare with an emphasis on the developments in drug delivery techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional Brazilian test is the most widely used method in assessing the indirect tensile strength of rock materials in engineering environments. Several investigations, most of which are numerical in nature, have been carried out by researchers focusing on the flattened Brazilian disc and ring tests in order to alleviate the problem of fracture initiation in conventional Brazilian tests. However, a comprehensive experimental investigation comparing these tests in terms of their applicability does not seem to have been taken up by previous researchers. This study addresses the said issue by considering two types of Gondwana sandstone (i.e., the Barakar and Raniganj sandstones) from India. The study shows that the significant difference in the indirect tensile strength (i.e., in terms of Brazilian, flattened Brazilian and ring tensile strengths) between the Barakar and Raniganj sandstones can be attributed to their microstructural differences, particularly in terms of grain size, texture and mineralogy. It is found that the ring tensile strength values reflect the rock heterogeneity more efficiently than Brazilian and flattened Brazilian tensile strengths. For both the sandstones, the ratio of ring tensile strength to Brazilian tensile strength increases when the investigated rock is weak and less compact. When the failed specimens are examined, more uniform specimen failure patterns are observed in ring tests than in flattened Brazilian disc tests. Whether or not the fracture appears at the center of a flattened Brazilian disc, the corresponding tensile strength values do not reflect the same. Considering all observations, the ring test proves to be practically more efficient than the flattened Brazilian disc test in assessing the indirect tensile strength of rock materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum few-body systems are deceptively simple. Indeed, with the notable exception of a few special cases, their associated Schrödinger equation cannot be solved analytically for more than two particles. One has to resort to approximation methods to tackle quantum few-body problems. In particular, variational methods have been proposed to ease numerical calculations and obtain precise solutions. One such method is the Stochastic Variational Method, which employs a stochastic search to determine the number and parameters of correlated Gaussian basis functions used to construct an ansatz of the wave function. Stochastic methods, however, face numerical and optimization challenges as the number of particles increases.We introduce a family of gradient variational methods that replace stochastic search with gradient optimization. We comparatively and empirically evaluate the performance of the baseline Stochastic Variational Method, several instances of the gradient variational method family, and some hybrid methods for selected few-body problems. We show that gradient and hybrid methods can be more efficient and effective than the Stochastic Variational Method. We discuss the role of singularities, oscillations, and gradient optimization strategies in the performance of the respective methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an algorithm for computing the Betti numbers of semi-algebraic sets with singly exponential complexity has been a holy grail in algorithmic semi-algebraic geometry and only partial results are known. In this paper we consider the more general problem of computing the image under the homology functor of a continuous semi-algebraic map f : X → Y between closed and bounded semi-algebraic sets. For every fixed ℓ ≥ 0 we give an algorithm with singly exponential complexity that computes bases of the homology groups H i (X) , H i (Y) (with rational coefficients) and a matrix with respect to these bases of the induced linear maps H i (f) : H i (X) → H i (Y) , 0 ≤ i ≤ ℓ . We generalize this algorithm to more general (zigzag) diagrams of continuous semi-algebraic maps between closed and bounded semi-algebraic sets and give a singly exponential algorithm for computing the homology functors on such diagrams. This allows us to give an algorithm with singly exponential complexity for computing barcodes of semi-algebraic zigzag persistent homology in small dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a global issue that demands urgent attention due to its detrimental effects on human health and the environment. Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) change is an essential factor that significantly impacts ambient air quality through alterations in emission sources, vegetation cover, natural processes, and urban design. This study investigates the spatio-temporal variation of key air pollutants resulting from urban LULC changes in the Delhi region. Findings reveal a notable increase in pollutant concentrations, particularly particulate matter, in 2019 (PM10: 318.65 ± 45.80 µg/m3) and 2023 (PM10: 383.70 ± 61.49 µg/m3), compared to 2008 (PM10: 246.76 ± 30.66). LULC change analysis demonstrates a rise in built-up areas 24.59%(2008 to 2019), 33.62% (2008 to 2023) and a decline in vegetation cover 27.49% (2008 to 2019),32.37% (2008 to 2023). Correlation analysis indicates a positive correlation between PM10 and urban indices (+ 0.63) and a negative correlation between PM10 and vegetation indices (− 0.61), highlighting the impact of LULC on air quality deterioration. Subsequently, a fuzzy inference system model integrates LULC information to develop an air quality index (AQI). Incorporating LULC changes in AQI assessment offers a realistic approach to address the complexity arising from combined air pollutant effects, surpassing conventional AQI calculation methods. The findings underscore the significance of understanding the impact of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) change on ambient air quality in formulating effective air quality management programs and policies. Integrating this knowledge into policymaking is crucial for the successful abatement of air pollution in urbanized areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization in tropical landscapes is a complex phenomenon that can lead to community shifts rather than simple species extinction in response to multiple stressors in peri-urban and urban settings. We have investigated the impacts of different stressors along a tropical urban-peri-urban gradient on the bee community, the health of which is a global conservation concern. Several stressors such as increased built-up area, pesticide application and air pollution may effectively regulate bee community composition and corresponding functional diversity along urban-peri urban gradients. We investigated the changes in bee community structure in response to associated stressors in 20 locations including parks and gardens along an urban-peri-urban gradient surrounding the megacity of Kolkata. Bee community structure differed significantly between urban and peri-urban sites with urban sites showing lower value of nestedness. Network analysis also revealed that Apis florea and Lasioglosssum sp. 1 were the most important species in the urban and peri-urban areas respectively, as they had the highest values in bee-site network parameters. Functional diversity increased with urbanization and decreased with pesticide toxicity. Functional redundancy decreased with urbanization. Individual stressors impacted the bee assemblage differentially along the urbanization gradient. SO2 and pesticide toxicity negatively influenced bee abundance and diversity. Urban sites sustained more specialized species and therefore are more vulnerable to shocks while peri-urban sites had a more functionally redundant community making it comparatively more resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum alloys have gained widespread attention in various engineering sectors such as aerospace, automobile, and construction industries owing to their attractive properties. On the other hand, the tribological properties of aluminum alloys are of serious concern due to their limitation in terms of hardness. The objective of the current study was to enhance the surface mechanical properties including microhardness, compressive residual stress (CRS), and wear resistance of 7075-T651 aluminum alloy subjected to ultrasonic shot peening (USP). The samples of aluminum alloy were first treated with USP for various durations followed by different types of in-depth characterization. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to examine the bulk texture development after peening. The wear studies were carried out on a ball-on-plate wear testing machine under various applied loads. The results indicated an increase in hardness, surface roughness, and CRS of the samples with increasing USP time. Additionally, a marginal difference in the surface roughness of peened samples was observed for selected peening times. The wear depth and width of peened wear tracks were found to be less than those of un-peened ones. The surface tribological properties of the worn-out samples were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The elemental analysis was carried out using electron-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a prevalent form of heart failure results in dilation and disruption of heart. Most strikingly a majority of the DCM cases do not have any identified etiology, hence known as idiopathic DCM (IDCM). Our study aimed to investigate the cross-talk between leukocytes and cardiomyocytes in terms of cardiac inflammation and stress response in IDCM. Methods: 60 IDCM patients and 60 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were recruited in this study based on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) guidelines. Their echocardiographic and biochemical markers were assessed and PBMCs were analyzed for leukocyte migration and inflammation. Also C2C12 myocyte cells were cultured with LPS-activated RAW264.7 monocytes to investigate the cross-talk between them. Results: Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction was evident in the IDCM patients which were correlated with their physical discomfort level according to NYHA classification. Their serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α (≈ 20 pg/ml) were found to be very high along with hs-CRP and IL-2. Elevated levels of ROCK, SMA and ICAM-1 proteins indicated activation and migration of the leukocytes. During monocyte-myocyte co-culture, robust diapedesis was observed in the cultured macrophage cells towards myocytes through the transwell pores (8 µM) in presence of IL-1β and TNF-α causing ER stress and cell death in the myocytes. Inhibition of this migration or by alleviating ER stress inhibits leukocyte recruitment and ensures protection to the myocytes. Conclusion: The present study showed that alleviating cellular stress and managing leukocyte migration promotes protection to the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is about to be swamped by an unprecedented wave of AI-generated content. We need reliable ways of identifying such content, to supplement the many existing social institutions that enable trust between people and organisations and ensure social resilience. In this paper, we begin by highlighting an important new development: providers of AI content generators have new obligations to support the creation of reliable detectors for the content they generate. These new obligations arise mainly from the EU's newly finalised AI Act, but they are enhanced by the US President's recent Executive Order on AI, and by several considerations of self-interest. These new steps towards reliable detection mechanisms are by no means a panacea—but we argue they will usher in a new adversarial landscape, in which reliable methods for identifying AI-generated content are commonly available. In this landscape, many new questions arise for policymakers. Firstly, if reliable AI-content detection mechanisms are available, who should be required to use them? And how should they be used? We argue that new duties arise for media and Web search companies arise for media companies, and for Web search companies, in the deployment of AI-content detectors. Secondly, what broader regulation of the tech ecosystem will maximise the likelihood of reliable AI-content detectors? We argue for a range of new duties, relating to provenance-authentication protocols, open-source AI generators, and support for research and enforcement. Along the way, we consider how the production of AI-generated content relates to 'free expression', and discuss the important case of content that is generated jointly by humans and AIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stellar configurations of quark stars have been studied using perturbative QCD (pQCD). The effective equation of state (EoS) for cold quark matter from pQCD has been used which goes beyond the MIT bag model description. The neutron star structures with EoS obtained from NRAPR Skyrme interaction have also been explored. The quark-hadron deconfinement phase transition in matter under extreme pressure in stellar interior has been studied using Maxwell construction. The influence of hybrid EoS on the jump in energy density has been investigated. To study hybrid stars, the NRAPR hadronic model and pQCD EoS for the quark phase have been used. The effects of the different parameters of the pQCD model on the structural properties of Quark stars and Hybrid stars have been investigated in light of various recent astrophysical observations. The mass-radius variation of Quark stars, Neutron stars and Hybrid stars with quark matter cores in the context of twin stars and appearance of special points have been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper computes the Fadell–Husseini index of Stiefel manifolds in the case where the group acts via permutations of the orthogonal vectors. The computations are carried out in the case of elementary Abelian p-groups. The results are shown to imply certain generalizations of the Kakutani–Yamabe–Yujobo theorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance of double perovskite oxides as cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells can be enhanced through structural modifications. The electrochemical performance of Sr2CoNbO6-δ-Sm0.2Ce0.8O2-δ (SCNO-SDC) composite structurally assembled using various techniques, one-pot, electrospinning, and mixing have been studied to understand the structural change and performance relationship. The nanofiber composite exhibited superior cell performance of 0.996 W/cm2 peak power density and 0.079 Ω cm2 polarisation resistance compared to one-pot and the mixed composite, which yielded 0.831 W/cm2 and 0.0908 Ω cm2, and 0.706 W/cm2 and 0.206 Ω cm2, respectively, at a temperature of 700°C. The work emphasises a successful approach to modifying the structure of the SCNO-SDC cathode by identifying the rate-determining process to produce superior electrode materials. The improved electrochemical performance of the structurally modified cathode composite is a result of its cohesive interfacial interaction, which significantly improves the kinetics of the electrode reaction and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder. The pattern of HAE is different in children as compared to adults. There is limited literature from developing countries where all first-line treatments are either unavailable or not easily accessible. Data of children with HAE were retrieved from medical records of patients registered in the Pediatric Immunodeficiency Clinic at our institute. Of the 206 patients with HAE, 61 were diagnosed before the age of 18 years. Male: female ratio was 1.1:1. Median age at onset of symptoms and diagnosis were 6.2 years (range 1–17 years) and 10.7 years (range 1.5–18 years) respectively. Median delay in diagnosis was 4.9 years (range 0–16 years). The commonest presentation was facial swelling (51/61) followed by swelling of extremities (47/61). Laryngeal edema and abdominal symptoms were reported in 28/61 and 31/61 patients respectively. Abdominal attacks were found to be less common in children as compared to adults. Most patients in our cohort received fresh-frozen plasma (n = 5/61) as on-demand therapy. Long-term prophylaxis included attenuated androgens (n = 25/61) and tranexamic acid (n = 23/61). Median duration of follow-up was 2242 patient months. One patient died on follow-up in this cohort. This is the largest single-centre cohort of pediatric HAE from resource-constrained settings. Facial attacks were more common, and there were significant delays in diagnosis when the age of onset of symptoms was younger. Gastrointestinal symptoms were less common in children than adults. Highlights: One of the largest single-centre cohorts of pediatric HAE and the only one from resource-constrained settings. There were significant delays in diagnosis when the age of onset of symptoms was younger. Abdominal attacks were found to be less common in children as compared to adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) is an Old World genus known for its medicinally important saponins. The genus has two basic chromosome numbers, i.e. x = 7 and x = 8. Of the 202 recognized taxa, only 49 (24%) have been studied cytogenetically. Most of the cytogenetical data come from the Asian taxa, particularly, the Indian subcontinent. We examined the cellular cytogenetics of five Chlorophytum species, namely C. bharuchae (2n = 16), C. borivilianum (2n = 28), C. comosum (2n = 28), C. laxum (2n = 32) and C. tuberosum (2n = 16). Comparative karyotypes of these taxa revealed majority of the chromosomes with submedian and median region centromeres. A few sub-telomeric chromosomes were seen in C. comosum and C. bharuchae. Male meiosis in the pollen mother cells (PMCs) was normal except for C. comosum and C. tuberosum that exhibited non-disjunction, stickiness, precocious separation, laggards, bridges and spindle mis-orientation. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) of 5S rDNA on C. comosum chromosomes revealed five loci on the interphase nucleus and mitotic metaphase whereas six loci were observed for 45S rDNA on the mitotic metaphase on different chromosome sets (somatic cells). Genomic in-situ hybridization (GISH) showed that the DNA of diploid species, viz. C. heynei and C. filipendulum subsp. amaniense hybridised with the DNA of C. comosum non-specifically, indicating gross similarity in the genomes of diploid species. Chlorophytum on account of its large-sized chromosomes and owing to the presence of different ploidy levels (diploid to dodecaploid) is an ideal material to apply molecular cytogenetic techniques and flow cytometry to understand role of chromosomes in speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate reductases play pivotal roles in nitrogen metabolism by leveraging the molybdopterin cofactor to facilitate the reduction of nitrate to nitrite. Periplasmic nitrate reductases (NapA) utilize nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor when oxygen is limiting, helping to drive anaerobic metabolism in bacteria. Despite extensive research into NapA homologs, open questions about the mechanism remain especially at the molecular level. More broadly, little is understood of how the molybdopterin cofactor is tuned for catalysis in these enzymes enabling broad substrate scope and reactivity observed in molybdenum-containing enzymes. Here, we have prepared NapA from Campylobacter jejuni under single turnover conditions to generate a singly reduced enzyme that can be further examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Our results provide new context into the known spectra and related structures of NapA and related enzymes. These insights open new avenues for understanding nitrate reductase mechanisms, molybdenum coordination dynamics, and the role of pyranopterin ligands in catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In copper smelting, obtaining uniform blend compositions from diverse copper concentrates is vital for stable and economical operation, keeping in mind the decreasing quality of raw material with time. The concentrates differ in chemical compositions and contain around 24 critical elements, making it challenging to achieve these within range consistently. To address this, concentrate blending becomes crucial, ensuring uniform copper, iron, sulfur, silica, impurities and maximizing valuable metals (gold, silver and PGMs). The concentration of critical elements, as well as particle size, which determines process parameter settings during smelting mainly depends on these blending operations. Conventional manual calculations of concentrate ratios for blending are complex and error-prone due to various constraints like mine source instability, fluctuating chemical compositions and incomplete data. To simplify and optimize this process, the new blend practice involving a new stacking practice together with the model-based blend weight ratio was developed. This model predicts concentrate ratios, minimizes impurities and maximizes blend duration for process stability. The blend advisor model is deployed, and it outperforms traditional methods, resulting in extended blend duration, reduced impurity levels in the anode and improved overall smelter operation stability. Further, the model predicts the blends for the future based on the yard position and concentrate arrival plant, thus helping in planning of the concentrate procurement and inventory management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of cuticular hydrocarbons differs qualitatively and quantitatively among insect species. These differences convey species-specific information about host suitability to foraging parasitoids, enabling them to discriminate between the host and non-host species. Specialist parasitoids that parasitize fewer host species are predicted to use host-specific cues compared to generalists that have evolved to use common cues present in multiple potential host species. Here, we tested the above hypothesis by evaluating two parasitoids with varying levels of host specificity, Microplitis croceipes (specialist) and Cotesia marginiventris (generalist), for their responses to cuticular extracts of three caterpillar species, Chloridea virescens, Helicoverpa zea, and Spodoptera exigua. First, we compared the cuticular profiles of the three caterpillar species and found that C. virescens and H. zea were qualitatively similar in cuticular composition, whereas S. exigua differed qualitatively and quantitatively from the other two. In contact bioassays, both parasitoid species were behaviorally arrested by the host cuticular extracts, with specialist M. croceipes able to discriminate between the cuticular extracts of its host and non-host caterpillar species. Assessment with the coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) revealed qualitative and quantitative differences in parasitoids' antennal responses to the components of cuticular extracts of host species, with M. croceipes showing greater antennal response than generalist C. marginiventris. The data implicated 13-methylhentriacontane as a probable host-specific kairomone used by specialist M. croceipes. These results suggest that specialist parasitoids like M. croceipes may exploit the differences in the composition of cuticular chemicals of caterpillars as cues for host recognition and discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the exactly solvable model of exponential last passage percolation on ℤ2, consider the geodesic Γn joining (0, 0) and (n, n) for large n. It is well known that the transversal fluctuation of Γn around the line x = y is n2/3+o(1) with high probability. We obtain the exponent governing the decay of the small ball probability for Γn and establish that for small δ, the probability that Γn is contained in a strip of width δn2/3 around the diagonal is exp(−Θ(δ−3/2)) uniformly in high n. We also obtain optimal small deviation estimates for the one point distribution of the geodesic showing that for t 2 n bounded away from 0 and 1, we have ℙ(∣x(t) − y(t)∣ ≤ δn2/3) = Θ(δ) uniformly in high n, where (x(t), y(t)) is the unique point where Γn intersects the line x + y = t. Our methods are expected to go through for other exactly solvable models of planar last passage percolation and also, upon taking the n → ∞ limit, expected to provide analogous estimates for geodesics in the directed landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergen-based diagnostics are essential in the management algorithm of allergic diseases. Unlike systemic allergy, where the indications and interpretation of these diagnostic modalities are well established, their utility in ocular allergy is not well-defined. With the rising prevalence of ocular allergies and the need for personalized treatment strategies, there is a growing demand for precision allergen diagnostics. This review describes the commonly used tests with their indications, procedures, and limitations. A review of the literature was carried out on articles on allergen diagnostics in ocular allergy, and after excluding articles that were not relevant, 82 papers were included in the current review. IgE-mediated pathways contribute significantly to seasonal and perennial ocular allergy and partly to vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Most diagnostic techniques aim to detect IgE sensitization. In vivo tests include skin prick (SPT), intradermal, and patch tests. SPT is considered the gold standard and directly evaluates the presence of allergen-specific IgE in the skin. In vitro tests measure total and specific IgE from either tears or sera. Tear IgE measurement is relatively specific for allergic conjunctivitis and can provide insight into the potential allergens responsible for local sensitization. The conjunctival provocation test can help establish true allergy, especially in patients with polysensitization. This review also provides an overview of evidence in literature segregated based on the test employed. This includes 17 studies on only SPT; 42 studies on IgE measured in serum, tears, or both; and 20 studies which have evaluated both SPT and IgE. The pattern of allergen sensitization can guide recommendations for avoidance measures and immunotherapy. Thus, this could create a corticosteroid-sparing therapy avenue in these patients, reducing disease severity and resulting visual morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address several outstanding problems in nuclear astrophysics, an accelerator centre has been developed in India. The Facility for Research in Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics (FRENA) will serve as a laboratory dedicated to nuclear astrophysics measurements. The 3 MV high current, low energy two-stage accelerator housed at FRENA is capable of delivering different types of beams—protons, alphas, carbon, silicon, among others. The accelerator can provide direct, as well as, pulsed beams of protons and alphas. A set of dedicated high efficiency detector arrays composed of solid state detectors, scintillation detectors and other particle detectors will be used at different end-stations to perform different experiments in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data suggest that buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common malignancy in India. In this study, we presented our 5-year clinical experience with oral SCC and examined factors associated with surgical outcomes. Methods: In this retrospective study, 45 patients diagnosed with SCC of buccal mucosa (January 2013–December 2018) underwent wide local excision (WLE) and neck dissection at our institution. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT)/chemotherapy (CT) was given. Most were aged 60–69 (44.4%, n = 20), mean age of 58 ± 8.2 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.14. Tumor thickness, extracapsular spread (ECS), and survival were analyzed with ≥ 5-year follow-up for different stages. Results: The data was analyzed revealing that the T1 stage was most common (55.6%, n = 25), followed by T3 and T4 (15.6%, n = 7 each), then T2 (13.3%, n = 6). Smaller tumors had lower grades. Nodal involvement was seen in 44.4% (n = 20), with N2 stage being the most frequent. Larger tumors had a greater propensity for invasion. Survival probability was 71.1%. The T1 stage showed a higher survival rate than other stages. Nodal involvement reduced survival probability (29.5%). ECS with neural and vascular invasion significantly lowered survival (12%). All associations were highly significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Effective locoregional control is crucial for managing buccal mucosa SCC. Supraomohyoid neck dissection is recommended, even for the clinically negative neck with tumor thickness greater than 0.4 cm. Postoperative RT with or without CT, clear margins, and early detection enhance the survival outcomes of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-microbial stewardship program (AMSP) is practiced only in tertiary hospitals in India, though, the lower tier hospitals remain the first point of contact in patient care. This study was conducted in lower tier hospitals to calculate antibiotic and multiple antibiotic prescription rate (APR, MPR) for common infections and finding existing strength of health system for optimizing antibiotic prescription. We conducted a cross sectional convergent parallel mix-method study in eight lower tier hospitals of three districts of West Bengal, India. Six hundred OPD prescriptions of UTI, ARI, AUFI, ADD were evaluated. Qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews of medical officers/officers in administrative positions, infection control nurses were analyzed using content analysis method. APR was 63.8% in primary tier hospitals and 60.8% in secondary tier hospitals. The MPR was higher in secondary tier hospital (23.8%). Presence of infection control committee, designated nursing staff, initiation of prescription audit, increased monitoring were identified as few facilitators for future implementation of AMSP in lower tier hospitals. The routine infection control activities of lower tier hospitals are currently delinked from AMR containment measures and thus, customized AMSP needs to be established in these hospitals catering two third of the population of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mix design of concrete is an important aspect that affects its strength and durability. This paper aims to revisit the existing mix design method given in IS 10262:2019 through a capacity-based approach. The approach involves identifying the possible failure modes in concrete and eliminating the undesirable ones leading to significant reduction in dispersion. This is accomplished by utilizing coarse aggregates that meet a specific minimum strength requirement or threshold (e.g., ~ 77 MPa for M95 grade of concrete), which is determined through a priori estimating the cohesion and friction angle of the concrete. The methodology to estimate the cohesion and friction angle from a single unconfined compression test is proposed based on the Mohr–Coulomb theory and using the orientation of failure plane of fractured specimen as a supplemental information from the same experiment. This paper also offers a simple and approximate test procedure to estimate the aggregate's compressive strength (~ 106 MPa in this mix design) reasonably which is essential for the capacity-based mix design. An experimental programme is also carried out to design the concrete mix using the proposed capacity-based approach. The results indicate that M95 concrete is achieved with a low standard deviation and coefficient of variation (~ 3%), falling in class of excellent quality control as per ACI 214R-11. This quality control is crucial in seismic structural design as variations in concrete strength is likely to negate the underlying principle of strong column–weak beam philosophy resulting in the triggering of undesirable shear modes of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are critical for plant development as well as for its stress response. They can function as signaling molecules to orchestrate a well-defined response of plants to biotic stress. These responses are further fine-tuned by phytohormones, such as salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene, to modulate immune response. In the past decades, the intricacies of redox and phytohormonal signaling have been uncovered during plant–pathogen interactions. This review explores the dynamic interplay of these components, elucidating their roles in perceiving biotic threats and shaping the plant's defense strategy. Molecular regulators and sites of oxidative burst have been explored during pathogen perception. Further, the interplay between various components of redox and phytohormonal signaling has been explored during bacterial, fungal, viral, and nematode infections as well as during insect pest infestation. Understanding these interactions highlights gaps in the current knowledge and provides insights into engineering crop varieties with enhanced resistance to pathogens and pests. This review also highlights potential applications of manipulating regulators of redox signaling to bolster plant immunity and ensure global food security. Future research should explore regulators of these signaling pathways as potential target to develop biotic stress-tolerant crops. Further insights are also needed into roles of endophytes and host microbiome modulating host ROS and RNS pool for exploiting them as biocontrol agents imparting resistance against pathogens in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though ADHD is the most common pediatric diagnosis in community mental health clinics (CMHCs), little is known about its diagnostic accuracy in these settings. We characterize CMHC diagnostic patterns for ADHD and common comorbidities with attention to gender and racial/ethnic disparities and the impact of misdiagnosis on evidence-based treatment implementation. Culturally diverse adolescents with a primary diagnosis of ADHD (N=278) completed comprehensive research team diagnostic assessments. Concurrently, they were assessed at one of four CMHCs in a large United States city. CMHC psychiatric diagnoses were obtained from electronic health records and compared to best practices research diagnoses. Mixed methods analyses characterized diagnostic agreement, racial/ethnic and gender disparities, and the effect of missed ADHD diagnoses on treatment implementation, as well as agency staff perceptions of barriers and facilitators to accurate diagnosis. Diagnostic agreement was unacceptable for all diagnoses (k=.02 to.19). CMHCs provided an ADHD diagnosis to 65.4% of best practices diagnosed participants. Female gender and White race were associated with missed ADHD diagnoses (often in favor of depressive or adjustment disorders) and CMHCs demonstrated overdiagnosis of conduct disorder (CD) in African American youth. Missed ADHD diagnoses predicted clinician deviation from evidence-based treatment for ADHD. Agency stakeholders noted systemic barriers and clinician beliefs and biases that may contribute to diagnostic inaccuracy and made suggestions for future practice. CMHCs might review their ADHD diagnostic practices to identify contributors to misdiagnosis, such as racial and gender biases, clinician inexperience, and systemic disincentives for careful diagnosis. Adopting systematic diagnostic practices such as pursuing parent and teacher ratings, consulting the DSM when diagnosing, and integrating supervisors into diagnostic process may be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penalized logistic regression is extremely useful for binary classification with large number of covariates (higher than the sample size), having several real life applications, including genomic disease classification. However, the existing methods based on the likelihood loss function are sensitive to data contamination and other noise and, hence, robust methods are needed for stable and more accurate inference. In this paper, we propose a family of robust estimators for sparse logistic models utilizing the popular density power divergence based loss function and the general adaptively weighted LASSO penalties. We study the local robustness of the proposed estimators through its influence function and also derive its oracle properties and asymptotic distribution. With extensive empirical illustrations, we demonstrate the significantly improved performance of our proposed estimators over the existing ones with particular gain in robustness. Our proposal is finally applied to analyse four different real datasets for cancer classification, obtaining robust and accurate models, that simultaneously performs gene selection and patient classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As hourly PM2.5 measurements become more accessible, health impacts from subdaily exposures can be evaluated to develop health guidance. We obtained hourly PM2.5 concentrations covering Southern California from May 2018 through March 2020 and daily emergency department visits (EDVs) for cardiorespiratory-related conditions at ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) levels. ZCTAs were aggregated into 35 clusters based on similar geographic and sociodemographic features. Daily exceedance concentration hours (DECH) above 9, 12, and 15 µg/m3, daily maximum, and average PM2.5 concentrations were calculated for each cluster-day. Two-stage time-series analyses were conducted to estimate excess risks of daily EDVs. DECH metrics exhibited the same direction but smaller effects on cardiovascular and respiratory EDVs compared to daily average metrics. Excess risks for cardiovascular EDVs were 1.77% (95% CI: 1.20, 2.34), 1.04% (0.61, 1.47), and 2.67% (1.98, 3.37) per interquartile range increase of DECH-9, DECH-12, and daily average PM2.5 during 7-day lag period, respectively. Excess risks of respiratory EDVs increased by 6.34% (4.25, 8.48), 4.39% (2.85, 5.95), and 6.61% (4.78, 8.47) per IQR increase of DECH-9, DECH-12, and daily average PM2.5 during a 3-day lag period, respectively. Elevated excess risks were observed among older adults (65+), children (0–17), and low-poverty neighborhoods on both subdaily and daily metrics. In summary, subdaily PM2.5 exposures above the current standards exhibited excess risks in cardiorespiratory-related EDVs but no greater than those derived from the daily average metric. Health guidance based on the daily average metric provides sensible protection to the public in Southern California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under standard regularity conditions, the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) is the most efficient estimator at the model. However, modern practice recognizes that it is rare for the hypothesized model to hold exactly, and small departures from it are never entirely unexpected. But classical estimators like the MLE are extremely sensitive to the presence of noise in the data. Within the class of robust estimators, which constitutes parametric inference techniques designed to overcome the problems due to model misspecification and noise, minimum distance estimators have become quite popular in recent times. In particular, density-based distances under the umbrella of the Bregman divergence have been demonstrated to have several advantages. Here we will consider an extension of the ordinary Bregman divergence, and investigate the scope of parametric estimation under continuous models using this extended divergence proposal. Many of our illustrations will be based on the GSB divergence, a particular member of the extended Bregman divergence, which appears to hold high promise within the robustness area. To establish the usefulness of the proposed minimum distance estimation procedure, we will provide detailed theoretical investigations followed by substantial numerical verifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-induced reactions are of pertinence in the production of radioisotopes used in varied domains including therapeutics and diagnostics. Sustained efforts are directed towards optimizing the production of such isotopes, typically using α-beams from the accelerators. Measurement of beam current remains an imperative component of the exercise and is conventionally pursued through the use of monitor reactions. The present work reports cross-section measurements of three such monitor reactions natCu(α,x)66,67Ga, 65Zn, in the energy range of Elab = 40–50 MeV where data is sparse in the existing literature. The experimental cross-sections have been reproduced in the reaction model calculations, using the TALYS framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discriminating two similar candidate statistical models for a given data set based on the conventional ratio of maximized likelihood values has been studied extensively in the literature. The problem of model discrimination becomes more complicated when the candidate models resemble each other closely for a certain region in the parametric space, with only a handful of different characteristics that are difficult to extract or identify from a given data set. The conventional method may fail to provide conclusive discriminatory evidence toward either model for such cases. In this paper, a novel discrimination criterion based on the density power divergence is proposed for model discrimination between the generalized exponential distribution and the Weibull distribution. Along with the discriminating procedure, asymptotic properties of the associated discriminating statistic are discussed. A Monte Carlo simulation study is used to evaluate the performance of the proposed model discrimination method and compare it with the ratio of the maximized likelihood method under different scenarios with and without contamination. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the proposed model discrimination method developed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]