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The Structure and TOpology Replica Molecular Mechanics (STORMM) code is a next-generation molecular simulation engine and associated libraries optimized for performance on fast, vectorized central processor units and graphics processing units (GPUs) with independent memory and tens of thousands of threads. STORMM is built to run thousands of independent molecular mechanical calculations on a single GPU with novel implementations that tune numerical precision, mathematical operations, and scarce on-chip memory resources to optimize throughput. The libraries are built around accessible classes with detailed documentation, supporting fine-grained parallelism and algorithm development as well as copying or swapping groups of systems on and off of the GPU. A primary intention of the STORMM libraries is to provide developers of atomic simulation methods with access to a high-performance molecular mechanics engine with extensive facilities to prototype and develop bespoke tools aimed toward drug discovery applications. In its present state, STORMM delivers molecular dynamics simulations of small molecules and small proteins in implicit solvent with tens to hundreds of times the throughput of conventional codes. The engineering paradigm transforms two of the most memory bandwidth-intensive aspects of condensed-phase dynamics, particle–mesh mapping, and valence interactions, into compute-bound problems for several times the scalability of existing programs. Numerical methods for compressing and streamlining the information present in stored coordinates and lookup tables are also presented, delivering improved accuracy over methods implemented in other molecular dynamics engines. The open-source code is released under the MIT license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth nickelates (RENiO3: RE≠La) exhibit metal–insulator transition (MIT) properties that enable potential applications, such as critical temperature resistance thermistors, optoelectronic switches, and correlated logical devices. Nevertheless, their abrupt structural distortion across MIT results in mechanical stresses and forms microcracks within the bulk RENiO3, and this irreversibly reduces their resistive change during MIT that further impedes their practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate a compositing strategy that simultaneously improves the MIT performances and mechanical strength of RENiO3 by introducing a secondary phase of perovskite oxides with similar lattice parameters and high resistivity. Despite its much higher resistivity compared to RENiO3 (e.g., RE = Sm or Pr), introducing the LaMnO3 compositing phase under high oxygen pressure surprisingly reduces the matrix resistivity. Furthermore, such a compositing process (e.g., 20% LaMnO3) also effectively improves the mechanical strength of RENiO3 by eight times. Such counterintuitive variations are attributed to the similar structure and lattice parameter between RENiO3 and the perovskite composites that modify the grain boundary. As a result, the resistive change is more abrupt across MIT owing to the reduction in the resistivity associated with the grain boundary, while the defect generation and propagation are also suppressed that improves the mechanical properties. This further pave the way to the application of bulk RENiO3 as discrete devices in correlated electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical triggering of a metal-insulator transition (MIT) often results in the formation of characteristic spatial patterns such as a metallic filament percolating through an insulating matrix or an insulating barrier splitting a conducting matrix. When MIT triggering is driven by electrothermal effects, the temperature of the filament or barrier can be substantially higher than the rest of the material. Using X-ray microdiffraction and dark-field X-ray microscopy, we show that electrothermal MIT triggering leads to the development of an inhomogeneous strain profile across the switching device, even when the material does not undergo a pronounced, discontinuous structural transition coinciding with the MIT. Diffraction measurements further reveal evidence of unique features associated with MIT triggering including lattice distortions, tilting, and twinning, which indicate structural nonuniformity of both low-and high-resistance regions inside the switching device. Such lattice deformations do not occur under equilibrium, zero-voltage conditions, highlighting the qualitative difference between states achieved through increasing temperature and applying voltage in nonlinear electrothermal materials. Electrically induced strain, lattice distortions, and twinning could have important contributions in the MIT triggering process and drive the material into nonequilibrium states, providing an unconventional pathway to explore the phase space in strongly correlated electronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing research on the role of intellectuals in alleviating suffering has overlooked contributions by prominent Black intellectuals from the United States in the early 1990s. Two roundtable debates co-organised under the auspices of the Boston Review at Harvard and MIT in 1992 and 1993 in response to Eugene Rivers' essay "On the Responsibility of Intellectuals in the Age of Crack" were central to these contributions, counting a star-studded line-up of Black intellectuals including bell hooks, Cornel West, and Glenn Loury. Participants explore the role of Black intellectuals in the US, debating what they can and should do to combat oppression and domination. In this article, I recover the context of the debates, reconstruct their arguments, and make a case for their major historical and political significance. I comparatively interpret the two roundtables, identifying three major points of convergence. First, participants begin from a Gramscian conception of organic intellectuals, developing this further to defend the need for collective intellectual praxis. Second, the race-class-gender nexus plays a central role in structuring the very possibility of intellectuals affecting social change. Third, these intellectuals subscribe to a significantly pessimistic action paralysis, indicative of the relative powerlessness of intellectual debate in addressing structural oppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the practical implementation of magnetic end effector is presented using magnetic levitation (Maglev) system as a working prototype, due to their similar functionality. Maglev refers to a method by which an object can be suspended with the aid of a magnetic field. The motive of this research is to propose a novel fractional-order enhanced model reference adaptive controller (FOEMRAC)-based approach for controlling the stability of the levitating magnetic objects. FOEMRAC uses modified MIT rule as the adaptation mechanism in this system. The stability analysis of Maglev system has been conducted using Matignon theorem. The simulation is carried out using Quanser Maglev system, and a comparative study is conducted with other existing state-of-the-art approaches. The integral error criterion including integral absolute error, integral square error, and integral time absolute error, and other performance metrics such as rise time, settling time, overshoot, and undershoot have been used to compare the robustness of the controllers under nominal, load disturbance, and parametric uncertain environments. Further, the results are verified on the hardware in real time which reveal that FOEMRAC shows efficient results than other controllers and thus can be used to enhance the performance of the magnetic end effector in real-time environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This literature review explores the impact of music on tonal language learning, with a focus on Mandarin Chinese. Utilising searches across major databases such as ERIC (EBSCO), ProQuest Central, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from 2005 to 2024, we selected relevant peer‐reviewed English‐language articles examining music's role in aiding tone acquisition and related cognitive processes. From 30 publications, findings are categorised into theoretical relationships, cognitive effects, melodic intonation therapy (MIT) applications and digital music applications. Theoretical frameworks emphasise the correlation between musicality and language proficiency, highlighting musicians' enhanced tonal perception and production skills. Cognitive effects include music's influence on pronunciation, memory and cultural understanding. MIT's effectiveness in tonal language learning is then discussed, emphasising its potential to improve cortical representations of tone categories. Finally, digital music applications are examined, focusing on language learning apps incorporating music for personalised and engaging learning experiences. The review finds significant literature reporting that music‐based methodologies, aligned with experiential learning paradigms, hold significant potential in Mandarin Chinese acquisition. They enhance listening comprehension, spoken language production, and understanding of grammar and syntax. Similar to MIT principles, music‐assisted tonal language learning utilises exaggerated melody and rhythm to improve language production, especially with complex words. This review is motivated by the recognition of music's potential benefits in language education, especially for tonal languages. It aims to provide educators and researchers with insights into effective methods and applications, guiding instructional practices and stimulating further empirical investigations in this interdisciplinary field. Ultimately, it contributes to the ongoing discourse on optimising tonal language learning methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole genome analysis for microbial genomics is critical to studying and monitoring antimicrobial resistance strains. The exponential growth of microbial sequencing data necessitates a fast and scalable computational pipeline to generate the desired outputs in a timely and cost-effective manner. Recent methods have been implemented to integrate individual genomes into large collections of specific bacterial populations and are widely employed for systematic genomic surveillance. However, they do not scale well when the population expands and turnaround time remains the main issue for this type of analysis. Here, we introduce AMRomics, an optimized microbial genomics pipeline that can work efficiently with big datasets. We use different bacterial data collections to compare AMRomics against competitive tools and show that our pipeline can generate similar results of interest but with better performance. The software is open source and is publicly available at https://github.com/amromics/amromics under an MIT license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warehousing and storage is an economically vital industry, with 1.2 million workers in 2020. The Fulfillment Center Intervention Study focuses on workers in fulfillment centers in the e-commerce segment of this industry. Fulfillment centers are a growing yet understudied work environment which provides a unique setting to further examine how working conditions and worker voice influence health. The Study involves a group-randomized controlled trial comparing participants in worksites randomized to launch the participatory intervention (Health and Well-Being Committees, or HaWCs) with participants working for the same firm in control sites. HaWCs serve as a new formal voice channel where a small group of frontline workers and supervisors solicit workers' concerns and ideas about safety (e.g., physical hazards), the psychosocial environment (e.g., how workers feel about their treatment at work), and work organization (e.g., workflow, training opportunities, scheduling) and then develop and implement improvement projects in response. The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate the efficacy of the HaWC intervention and its effect on mental health outcomes and changes in the conditions of work within fulfillment centers, and to conduct a process evaluation of key contextual factors that support effective intervention implementation and sustained engagement. To our knowledge, this will be the first trial of a participatory intervention within a fulfillment center setting. Anticipated challenges include competing demands and company initiatives that may limit management support and high turnover. Should the intervention be shown to be feasible, the outcomes from this study will inform future randomized controlled trials of participatory interventions. Trial registration: This trial is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT05199415) and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Protocol: 200800024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron correlations as triggered by on-site Coulomb repulsion within correlated vanadium dioxide (VO2) open up an emerging paradigm to explore new electronic phases and promising device applications. Apart from correlated electrical transport, the thermoelectric thermopower (S) of VO2 also undergoes abrupt variation across the critical temperature (TMIT) that sheds lights on the potential thermoelectric functionality. Nevertheless, bridging bi-functionality of VO2 associated with the thermistor and thermoelectric properties is still restricted by the limitation in improving the absolute magnitude of S and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). Herein, we demonstrate the widely adjustable metal–insulator transition (MIT) behavior and overlooked thermoelectric performance for Ti-substituted VO2 pellets that enable the bi-functionality strategy as combined with thermistor and thermoelectric properties. As-achieved tunable TMIT while maintaining large |TCR| is herein achieved for Ti-substituted VO2 pellets that enables practical device applications near room temperature. Apart from the well-known MIT functionality, we reveal the overlooked thermoelectric properties for VO2 via coherently co-sintering with TiO2 that introduces a new freedom (thermopower). Specifically, the largely enhanced thermopower observed for insulating V1−xTixO2 exceeds the one for pristine VO2 by five times, while the thermoelectric power factor for its metallic phase is comparable to typical organic or oxide thermoelectric materials. The presently achieved thermistor and thermoelectric bi-functionality (e.g., |S| > 100 μV/K and |TCR| > 1 K−1) for Ti-substituted VO2 pellets extends the horizons in material designs that combines such a bi-functionality to achieve both the passive and active sensing for improving the accuracy in thermal perturbations of VO2 bulk as infrared detectors near room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization and urbanization contribute significantly to environmental pollution, particularly in water bodies. The consequences of this pollution are dire, impacting both the environment and public health. A serious hazard to life on Earth, contaminated water can cause food poisoning, diarrhea, respiratory diseases, and skin ailments, among other health problems. In countries like Bangladesh, where industrial activities, particularly in the garment sector, are prevalent, waste dumping into rivers and canals has reached alarming levels. This has resulted in a drastic decline in water quality, endangering aquatic life and ecosystems. To solve this important issue, we built an innovative real-time water quality monitoring system using the Internet of Things (IoT). Our system operates at three levels, collecting data from different layers of wastewater. Key parameters, including temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and pH, are continuously monitored to assess water quality. The analysis revealed that wastewater temperature varied between 25 and 37 °C across different sites, with higher temperatures observed in industrial zones, indicating potential thermal pollution. Total dissolved solids (TDS) levels exhibited substantial variations, ranging from 170 to 360 ppm, surpassing standard thresholds and posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems. Turbidity readings ranged from 1.30 to 12.89 NTU, with higher turbidity observed in areas receiving industrial discharge, highlighting the impact of suspended solids on water clarity. pH values exceeded 7.0 across all sites, ranging from 9.5 to 10.32, indicating alkaline wastewater, particularly in regions with dyeing and textile industries. By integrating these specific metrics into our monitoring system, we provide valuable insights into industrial wastewater quality and its environmental implications. These findings underscore the urgent need for real-time monitoring and targeted interventions to address water pollution. Implementing sustainable water management strategies in industrial contexts is critical to protecting public health and preserving ecosystems for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MiT family translocation renal cell carcinomas (tRCCs) primarily include Xp11.2/ transcription factor E3 (TFE3) gene fusion-associated renal cell carcinoma (Xp11.2 tRCC) and t(6;11)/TFEB gene fusion-associated RCC. Clinical cases of these carcinomas are rare. Fluorescence in situ hybridization can be used to identify the type, but there are no standard diagnostic and treatment methods available, and the prognosis remains controversial. Herein, we present a case of a patient with Xp11.2 tRCC at 29 weeks of gestation. The baby was successfully delivered, and radical surgery was performed for renal cancer at the same time. This is a unique and extremely rare case. We have described the case and performed a literature review to report the progress of current research on the treatment and prognosis of pregnant patients with Xp11.2/TFE3 translocation renal cell carcinoma. This study aims to contribute to improving the diagnosis and treatment of Xp11.2 tRCC in pregnant patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is the most specific thyroid hormone transporter identified to date, deficiency of which has been associated with severe intellectual and motor disability and abnormal serum thyroid function tests. However, it is presently unknown if MCT8, similar to other thyroid hormone transporters, also accepts additional substrates, and if disruption of their transport may contribute to the observed phenotype. Methods: In this study, we aimed to identify such substrates by applying liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolome analysis in lysates of control and MCT8-overexpressing Xenopus oocytes. A subset of identified candidate substrates were validated by direct transport studies in transiently transfected COS-1 cells and human fibroblasts, which endogenously express MCT8. Moreover, transport characteristics were determined, including transport saturation and cis-inhibition potency of thyroid hormone transport. Results: Metabolome analysis identified 21 m/z ratios, corresponding to 87 candidate metabolites, with a 2.0-times differential abundance in MCT8-injected oocytes compared with controls. These metabolites included 3,5-diiodotyrosine (DIT) and several amino acids, including glutamate and glutamine. In accordance, MCT8-expressing COS-1 cells had 2.2-times lower intracellular accumulation of [125I]-DIT compared with control cells. This effect was largely blocked in the presence of 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) (IC50: 2.5 ± 1.5 µM) or thyroxine (T4) (IC50: 5.8 ± 1.3 µM). Conversely, increasing concentrations of DIT enhanced the accumulation of T3 and T4. The MCT8-specific inhibitor silychristin increased the intracellular accumulation of DIT in human fibroblasts. COS-1 cells expressing MCT8 also exhibited a 50% reduction in intracellular accumulation of [125I]-3-monoiodotyrosine (MIT). In contrast, COS-1 cells expressing MCT8 did not alter the intracellular accumulation of [3H]-glutamate or [3H]-glutamine. However, studies in human fibroblasts showed a 1.5-1.9 times higher glutamate uptake in control fibroblasts compared with fibroblasts derived from patients with MCT8 deficiency, which was not affected in the presence of silychristin. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that the iodotyrosines DIT and MIT can be exported by MCT8. MIT and DIT interfere with MCT8-mediated transport of thyroid hormone in vitro and vice versa. Future studies should elucidate if MCT8, being highly expressed in thyroidal follicular cells, also transports iodotyrosines in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to detect anomalous changes in social network structure in real time and to offer early warnings by phase II monitoring social networks. First, the exponential random graph model is used to model social networks. Then, a test and online monitoring technique of the exponential random graph model is developed based on the split likelihood-ratio test after determining the model and its parameters for a specific data set. This proposed approach uses pseudo-maximum likelihood estimation and likelihood ratio to construct the test statistics, avoiding the several steps of discovering Monte Carlo Markov Chain maximum likelihood estimation through an iterative method. A bisection algorithm for the control limit is given. Simulations on three data sets Flobusiness, Kapferer and Faux.mesa.high are presented to study the performance of the procedure. Different change points and shift sizes are compared to see how they affect the average run length. A real application example on the MIT reality mining social proximity network is used to illustrate the proposed modelling and online monitoring methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how regional migration to tech clusters impacts the performance of startups within the United States. Startups that move to Silicon Valley experience a significant improvement in performance. This improvement is higher than migrations to other regions in the United States, many of which report null treatment effects. The startups that benefit the most from migration are those leaving low performing entrepreneurial ecosystems and moving to high performing ecosystems, consistent with an agglomeration mechanism. Within different measures of the ecosystem, the level of local patenting predicts startup improvements more than venture capital or the quality-adjusted number of startups, suggesting the local innovation environment is more important to migrant performance than financing or the presence of other startup peers. This paper was accepted by Toby Suart, entrepreneurship and innovation. Funding: This work was supported by Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Jean Hammond (1986) and Michael Krasner (1974) Entrepreneurship Fund at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Edward B. Roberts (1957) Entrepreneurship Fund at MIT. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4924. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra high user density is one of the key requirements in 6G and beyond. Also, in future, THz based communication system and Molecular Communication (MC) will coexist. In such coexist scenarios, Electromagnetic (EM) radiation and in subsequent molecular absorption leads to Radiation Absorption Noise (RAN). However, the RAN and in turn Molecular Information Transfer (MIT) greatly depends on different realistic parameters of human tissues and polarization factor of incident EM radiation. On the other hand, in MC, limited computational capabilities of the information molecules limit them to discriminate against the presence of Bob or Eve. Effect of different parameters of human tissues and polarization factor of incident EM radiation on the secrecy of MC system is modelled and analysed in this research. Basically, this research presents different secrecy measures of the MC system under RAN and therefore, it's effect on MIT is presented. In particular, closed form expressions of different secrecy metrics such as, Secrecy Outage Probability (POUT (Rs)), and Probability of Non-Zero Secrecy Capacity (PNZ-SC (Rs)) are derived in this research work. The effect of impedance of various human tissues like brain, skin and bloods, the effect of polarization factor of incident EM radiation and the effect radiation frequency on each of the proposed secrecy metrics is demonstrated. Different simulated results show a perfect match with the theoretical background. The proposed research is useful in implementation of a secure MC system in a scenario where THz based communication system coexists with MC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in addressing climate change. While the UN Panel on Climate Change emphasizes the importance of CCS in limiting global warming, there are concerns about its cost-effectiveness and ability to significantly reduce emissions. Despite this, countries like the UK and the US are showing support for CCS through government initiatives and funding. The article emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks and financial support from governments to encourage private investment in CCS. It also discusses the current state of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology and the need for increased government support to promote its widespread use. The article provides a balanced perspective on the opportunities and challenges associated with CCUS. [Extracted from the article]

The metal–insulator transition (MIT) in polycrystalline vanadium dioxide (VO2) is less sharp than in single-crystal VO2 due to the presence of grain boundaries (GBs). The MIT causes a resistivity change (Ron/Roff) across the MIT to decline from the single-crystal value of ∼104 and also causes a larger hysteresis across the transition. The properties of GBs in VO2 are studied as a function of GB tilt angle. We find that V–V site pairing, which causes a monoclinic phase VO2 to be semiconducting in bulk, also controls bandgap opening at GBs, thus influencing the overall metal–insulator behavior. The almost linear relationship between the ratio of adhesion energy divided by two times the surface energy and the GB energy indicates that the GB energy of twin GBs is primarily determined by re-binding across the GB rather than by the corresponding surface energy. Moreover, a steeper linear fit, characterized by a slope of 0.62, observed in the monoclinic phase VO2 suggests that the GB energy and stability have a higher tolerance to interfacial distortion at the boundary, compared to the rutile phase VO2 and TiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-sharp metal-to-insulate transition (MIT) of 1.24 K − 1 in the epitaxial perovskite NdNiO 3 thin films was derived by the chemical solution deposition on the LaAlO 3 substrates. The thermal strains from shrink, grain growth, and thermal expansion coefficient misfit play a key role in the film microstructure and electrical properties. The originally theoretical in-plane compressive epitaxial strain changes into a tensile one caused by the thermal driving force. It relaxes with improved grain growth via decreased oxygen vacancies with increasing annealing temperature, while the concurrently enhanced tensile strain from the thermal expansion coefficient misfit between the films and the substrate leads to the destabilization of Ni 3 + and the higher MIT temperature. Nevertheless, too much higher tensile strain gives rise to island-grain growth in the films, leading to the weak and even disappeared MIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The injection of energy into the Earth's magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms and substorms has a direct impact on the ionosphere in the auroral and sub-auroral regions. This influence can be observed through phenomena such as the expansion of the auroral oval, and fluctuations in plasma density and the intensity of the field-aligned current (FAC) system. Changes in the geomagnetic environment significantly affect the main ionospheric trough (MIT) and field-aligned currents (FACs). In this study, we analysed two geomagnetic storms of different origins—October 2015 and September 2017 that occurred during solar cycle 24. Both storms were characterised by two minima of the Dst index and classified as two-step storms. In this work, we investigate the evolution of FACs density, the displacement of MIT and FACs during the development of geomagnetic storms, and we quest for the relationship between field-aligned currents and the main ionospheric trough. We noticed a connection between the positions of the main ionospheric trough minima and the Dst index, found cases especially during the main and recovery phase of the storms when FACs increase after leaving the ionospheric trough, and observed the predominance of downward currents in the area of the MIT which suggest their influence on the formation of this region of depleted plasma density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), developed this innovation, embedding aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) within the interlaminar regions of polymer composites. This process addresses the critical issue of [...]

Purpose: To evaluate structural alterations and healing responses in the trabecular meshwork region with optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) following after gonioscopy assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) and microincisional trabeculectomy (MIT). Methods: 73 eyes of 67 patients (M:F = 45:22) with ≥6 months of follow-up after MIT (n = 41) or GATT (n = 32) with or without combined cataract surgery were included for this prospective study. The angle as seen on AS-OCT at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery were evaluated for structural alterations like peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS), hyphema, and hyperreflective scarring responses. The scarring was graded according to the linear extent measured from the centre of the trabecular meshwork (TM) gutter to the sclera/cornea as mild (<250μ), moderate (250–500μ), and severe(˃500μ), while the pattern of scarring was graded as open saucer/gutter, closed gutter, and trench pattern. The association of the need for medication or surgical outcome and clinical variables and AS-OCT parameters including the pattern and severity of scarring were analysed using multivariate regression. Results: All eyes achieved significant reduction of IOP and number of medications with a final IOP of 15±3.2mm Hg at a mean follow-up of 8±32. months. While mild scarring was seen more common in MIT, severe scarring was seen in >65% of GATT eyes compared to 31% of MIT eye, p<0.001. An open saucer was equally seen in MIT and GATT while the trench pattern was more commonly seen in GATT eyes (>50%). Severe scarring in a trench pattern seemed to predict the need for medications for IOP control, though they independently did not seem to influence the final IOP or surgical outcome. Conclusion: A severe form of scarring in a trench pattern on AS-OCT predicted the need for glaucoma medications after MIGS surgery. Regular monitoring of the scarring responses by AS-OCT and clinical examination are necessary to identify those at need for medications after MIGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pan-virus detection, and virome investigation in general, can be challenging, mainly due to the lack of universally conserved genetic elements in viruses. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing can offer a promising solution to this problem by providing an unbiased overview of the microbial community, enabling detection of any viruses without prior target selection. However, a major challenge in utilising metagenomic next-generation sequencing for virome investigation is that data analysis can be highly complex, involving numerous data processing steps. Results: Here, we present Entourage to address this challenge. Entourage enables short-read sequence assembly, viral sequence search with or without reference virus targets using contig-based approaches, and intrasample sequence variation quantification. Several workflows are implemented in Entourage to facilitate end-to-end virus sequence detection analysis through a single command line, from read cleaning, sequence assembly, to virus sequence searching. The results generated are comprehensive, allowing for thorough quality control, reliability assessment, and interpretation. We illustrate Entourage's utility as a streamlined workflow for virus detection by employing it to comprehensively search for target virus sequences and beyond in raw sequence read data generated from HeLa cell culture samples spiked with viruses. Furthermore, we showcase its flexibility and performance on a real-world dataset by analysing a preassembled Tara Oceans dataset. Overall, our results show that Entourage performs well even with low virus sequencing depth in single digits, and it can be used to discover novel viruses effectively. Additionally, by using sequence data generated from a patient with chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection, we demonstrate Entourage's capability to quantify virus intrasample genetic variations, and generate publication-quality figures illustrating the results. Conclusions: Entourage is an all-in-one, versatile, and streamlined bioinformatics software for virome investigation, developed with a focus on ease of use. Entourage is available at https://codeberg.org/CENMIG/Entourage under the MIT license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AAA-type ATPase VPS4 is recruited by proteins of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport III (ESCRT-III) to catalyse membrane constriction and membrane fission. VPS4A accumulates at the cytoplasmic viral assembly complex (cVAC) of cells infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), the site where nascent virus particles obtain their membrane envelope. Here we show that VPS4A is recruited to the cVAC via interaction with pUL71. Sequence analysis, deep-learning structure prediction, molecular dynamics and mutagenic analysis identify a short peptide motif in the C-terminal region of pUL71 that is necessary and sufficient for the interaction with VPS4A. This motif is predicted to bind the same groove of the N-terminal VPS4A Microtubule-Interacting and Trafficking (MIT) domain as the Type 2 MIT-Interacting Motif (MIM2) of cellular ESCRT-III components, and this viral MIM2-like motif (vMIM2) is conserved across β-herpesvirus pUL71 homologues. However, recruitment of VPS4A by pUL71 is dispensable for HCMV morphogenesis or replication and the function of the conserved vMIM2 during infection remains enigmatic. VPS4-recruitment via a vMIM2 represents a previously unknown mechanism of molecular mimicry in viruses, extending previous observations that herpesviruses encode proteins with structural and functional homology to cellular ESCRT-III components. Author summary: Enveloped viruses appropriate cellular membranes from infected cells to generate their membrane coats. Many enveloped viruses accomplish the membrane wrapping of new virus particles by recruiting the cellular membrane-remodelling ESCRT machinery to sites of virus assembly. Herpesviruses have a complex assembly pathway and molecular roles of the ESCRT machinery in the production of new herpesvirus particles remains unclear, but previous studies have shown that the ESCRT-associated ATPase VPS4A is recruited to the cytoplasmic assembly site of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Here we show that the HCMV protein pUL71 is necessary for this VPS4A recruitment. Using a combination of biochemical, computational and cell-based techniques we demonstrate that a C-terminal segment of pUL71 binds VPS4A via molecular mimicry of cellular 'MIM2' VPS4-binding motifs. Direct binding to VPS4A via a viral MIM2 (vMIM2) represents a previously unknown mechanism of molecular mimicry in viruses, extending previous observations that herpesviruses encode proteins with structural and functional homology to cellular ESCRT-III components. However, mutational analysis reveals that VPS4A recruitment by pUL71 is not required for HCMV particle assembly, indicating that this novel and conserved HCMV vMIM2 has an unknown function of during infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes a spatial and temporal analysis of the ionospheric variability over the European sector during a major storm event from 23 to 24 March 2023. The analysis is mainly based on ionospheric characteristics such as foF2, hmF2 and Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) over ten Digisondes and co-located GNSS receivers. The event started at 12:00UT on 23 March as a positive ionospheric storm followed by a negative ionospheric storm to 04:00 UT on the next day SYM-H<-183nT. A notable latitude dependence of the ionospheric response is more prominent over the northern mid-latitude region attributed to the equatorward displacement of the Midlatitude Ionospheric Trough (MIT). To verify this hypothesis, Swarm latitudinal electron density profiles from in-situ Langmuir probe measurements over Europe were considered. These profiles demonstrate a clear MIT displacement from ∼65°N on 22 March to ∼55°N on 23 March with a subsequent recovery around ∼65°N on 25 March. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: TRIMP and sRPE are both representative indicators of training load(TL), and the correlation between two has been widely demonstrated across various sports. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of sRPE-TRIMP correlation across different intensities/duration of training in cross-country skiing, and whether sRPE can serve as an validity supplement to TRIMP data in cases of lost heart rate data. Method: 10 athletes were used as the experimental objects. The intensity, duration and RPE of 273 different types of training sessions were collected, and statistical methods were used for data analysis. Results: 1. There was a significant correlation between sRPE and TRIMP (r = 0.68, p < 0.05), but the correlation differs among the LIT, MIT and HIT groups (r = 0.70, 0.46, r = 0.31, p < 0.05) 2. sRPE-TRIMP correlation among three different time duration in the LIT group (0-60 min, 60-120 min and 120-180 min), are all highly significant (r = 0.70, 0.67, 0.69, p < 0.05) and the LRsRPE-TRIMP of 3 duration have no significant differences (chow test, p > 0.05). 3. The difference in actual training duration between samples was the main reason for the difference in the application effect of sRPE, because the actual training duration ratio of LIT was 89.7 ± 16.4%; MIT, 98.5 ± 6.2%; and HIT, 94.4 ± 13.5%. Conclusion: 1. The linear relationship between sRPE and TRIMP (LRsRPETRIMP) is more significant in LIT compared to that in MIT and HIT. 2. Variations in the duration of LIT sessions do not affect the consistency of the relationship between sRPE and TRIMP. 3. Discrepancies between actual and planned training durations directly impact the significance of the LRsRPE-TRIMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptomic profiling became a standard approach to quantify a cell state, which led to the accumulation of huge amount of public gene expression datasets. However, both reuse of these datasets or analysis of newly generated ones requires significant technical expertise. Here, we present Phantasus: a user-friendly web application for interactive gene expression analysis which provides a streamlined access to more than 96,000 public gene expression datasets, as well as allows analysis of user-uploaded datasets. Phantasus integrates an intuitive and highly interactive JavaScript-based heatmap interface with an ability to run sophisticated R-based analysis methods. Overall Phantasus allows users to go all the way from loading, normalizing, and filtering data to doing differential gene expression and downstream analysis. Phantasus can be accessed online at https://alserglab.wustl.edu/phantasus or can be installed locally from Bioconductor (https://bioconductor. org/packages/phantasus). Phantasus source code is available at https://github.com/ctlab/phantasus under an MIT license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N -Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a thiol group modifier and antimicrobial agent. Arthrobacter sarcosine oxidase (SoxA), a diagnostic enzyme for assaying creatinine, loses its activity upon the addition of MIT, and its inactivation mechanism remains unclear. In this study, SoxA was chemically modified using MIT (mo-SoxA), and its structural and chemical properties were characterized. Spectral analysis data, oxygen consumption rates, and reactions were compared between intact SoxA and mo-SoxA. These demonstrate that the oxidative half-reaction toward oxygen is inhibited by MIT modification. The oxidase activity of mo-SoxA was approximately 2.1% of that of intact SoxA, and its dehydrogenase activity was approximately 4.2 times higher. The C-to-S mutants revealed that cooperative modification of 2 specific cysteine residues caused a drastic change in the enzyme reaction mode. Based on the modeled tertiary structures, the putative entrance for oxygen uptake is predicted to be blocked by the chemical modification of the 2 cysteine residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation The BigWig and BigBed file formats were originally designed for the visualization of next-generation sequencing data through a genome browser. Due to their versatility, these formats have long since become ubiquitous for the storage of processed sequencing data and regularly serve as the basis for downstream data analysis. As the number and size of sequencing experiments continues to accelerate, there is an increasing demand to efficiently generate and query BigWig and BigBed files in a scalable and robust manner, and to efficiently integrate these functionalities into data analysis environments and third-party applications. Results Here, we present Bigtools , a feature-complete, high-performance, and integrable software library for generating and querying both BigWig and BigBed files. Bigtools is written in the Rust programming language and includes a flexible suite of command line tools as well as bindings to Python. Availability and implementation Bigtools is cross-platform and released under the MIT license. It is distributed on Crates.io, Bioconda, and the Python Package Index, and the source code is available at https://github.com/jackh726/bigtools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amundsen Sea sector has some of the fastest-thinning ice shelves in Antarctica, caused by high, ocean-driven basal melt rates, which can lead to increased ice streamflow, causing increased sea level rise (SLR) contributions. In this study, we present the results of a new synchronously coupled ice-sheet–ocean model of the Amundsen Sea sector. We use the Wavelet-based, Adaptive-grid, Vertically Integrated ice sheet model (WAVI) to solve for ice velocities and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm) to solve for ice thickness and three-dimensional ocean properties, allowing for full mass conservation in the coupled ice–ocean system. The coupled model is initialised in the present day and run forward under idealised warm and cold ocean conditions with a fixed ice front. We find that Thwaites Glacier dominates the future SLR from the Amundsen Sea sector, with a SLR that evolves approximately quadratically over time. The future evolution of Thwaites Glacier depends on the lifespan of small pinning points that form during the retreat. The rate of melting around these pinning points provides the link between future ocean conditions and the SLR from this sector and will be difficult to capture without a coupled ice–ocean model. Grounding-line retreat leads to a progressively larger Thwaites Ice Shelf cavity, leading to a positive trend in total melting, resulting from the increased ice basal surface area. Despite these important sensitivities, Thwaites Glacier retreats even in a scenario with zero ocean-driven melting. This demonstrates that a tipping point may have been passed in these simulations and some SLR from this sector is now committed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dynamic environments, a central task of the attentional system is to keep track of objects changing their spatial location over time. In some instances, it is sufficient to track only the spatial locations of moving objects (i.e., multiple object tracking; MOT). In other instances, however, it is also important to maintain distinct identities of moving objects (i.e., multiple identity tracking; MIT). Despite previous research, it is not clear whether MOT and MIT performance emerge from the same tracking mechanism. In the present report, we study gaze coherence (i.e., the extent to which participants repeat their gaze behaviour when tracking the same object locations twice) across repeated MOT and MIT trials. We observed more substantial gaze coherence in repeated MOT trials compared to the repeated MIT trials or mixed MOT-MIT trial pairs. A subsequent simulation study suggests that MOT is based more on a grouping mechanism than MIT, whereas MIT is based more on a target-jumping mechanism than MOT. It thus appears unlikely that MOT and MIT emerge from the same basic tracking mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, by using vanadium dioxide (VO2) with metal–insulator transition (MIT) temperatures of 60 ℃ and 72 ℃, respectively, and analyzing the effects of the two states of VO2 before (insulator state) and after (metal state) MIT on the amplitude and phase of the double MIT VO2 (DMITV) unit structure, constituting the terahertz beam reconfigurable phase gradient metasurface of VO2 based on different MIT temperatures, which achieves flexible regulation of terahertz beam. The structure is composed of two different MIT temperature VO2, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and metal. By changing the external temperature, the structure has different beam deflection angles at different temperatures. At 1.4 THz, when the temperature is below 60 ℃, the beam deflection angle is 0°, when the temperature is between 60 ℃ and 72 ℃, the beam deflection angle is 36° and when the temperature is above 72 ℃, the beam deflection angle is 17°. This terahertz phase gradient metasurface based on VO2 with different MIT temperatures provides a new way to flexibly control terahertz beams, and will have great application prospects in terahertz transmission, imaging, wireless communication, or other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adaptive control law encompasses a regulating control rule compensating for system dynamics variations by adjusting the controller characteristics to maintain the overall system performance. Recently, some techniques have been developed based on fundamental aspects of the adaptability of living organisms. The adaptive control method is a technique that measures the dynamic characteristics of the plant automatically and continuously to make a comparison with its required output. It utilizes the difference between these two to commute adaptable system parameters to maintain optimal performance regardless of the system variations. The behavior of the adaptation rule is significantly affected by the adaptation gain value. Here, it has also been investigated that the adaptation gain range is wide for the systems with the lower order. The appropriate range of adaptation gain decreases as the order of the system increases. In the present work, the model reference adaptive control (MRAC) for first- and second-order systems has been designed and investigated using a wide range of values for the adaptation gain and variations in the reference model parameters. The MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Lyapunov rules are applied for the analyses of systems. On the MATLAB/Simulink platform, all the adaptation process comparisons, variations, and investigations have been carried out by altering the adaptation gain and the reference model parameters. The obtained results present encouraging outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The development of new blood vessels involves the stimulation of growth, migration, and stabilization, which is influenced by various stimulating and inhibiting factors such as Thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). This study aimed to compare the effect of eight weeks of different aerobic training methods on the expression of TSP-2 and TGF-β genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue of rats. Materials and Methods: The study conducted an experimental research on 32 male Wistar rats to investigate the effects of different training protocols on gene expression. The rats were divided into four groups (n=8): scheme, high-intensity training (HIT), moderate-intensity training (MIT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The training protocols involved treadmill running for eight weeks, with varying intensities and durations for each group. Gene expression was measured by RT-PCR method. The data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests at a significance level of p≤0.05. Results: The results of the study show that all three training methods led to a significant reduction in TGF-β expression compared to the scheme group. However, no significant difference was observed between training methods. It was also found that only the HIT and MIT methods caused a significant decrease in TSP-2 expression compared to the scheme group, and that HIT could significantly reduce the expression of TSP-2 compared to the HIIT protocol. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is suggested that aerobic exercises, particularly HIT with specific intensity and duration, may be effective in improving blood supply to fat tissue and subsequently reducing fat mass through their impact on the expression of angiostatic genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We deal with the problem of managing a project or a complex operational process by controlling the execution pace of the activities it comprises. We consider a setting in which these activities are clearly defined, are subject to precedence constraints, and progress randomly. We formulate a discrete-time, infinite-horizon Markov decision process in which the manager reviews progress in each period and decides which activities to expedite to balance expediting costs with delay costs. We derive structural properties for this dynamic project expediting problem. These enable us then to devise exact solution methods that we show to reduce computational burden significantly. We illustrate how our method generalizes and can be used to tackle a wide range of so-called stochastic shortest-path problems that are characterized by an intuitive property and can capture other applications, including medical decision-making and disease-modeling problems. Moreover, we also deal with the state identification issue for our problem, which is a challenging task in and of itself, owing to precedence constraints. We complement our analytical results with numerical experiments, demonstrating that both our solution and state identification methods significantly outperform extant methods for a supply chain example and for various randomly generated instances. This paper was accepted by Chung Piaw Teo, optimization. Funding: R. Mogre acknowledges support from the U.S.-UK Fulbright Commission and the Lloyd's Tercentenary Research Foundation through the Fulbright-Lloyd's Scholar Award, which allowed him to spend an extended period of time at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4876. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally understood that the origin of ocean diapycnal diffusivity is primarily associated with the stratified turbulence produced by breaking internal (gravity) waves (IW). However, it requires significant effort to verify diffusivity values in ocean general circulation models in any particular geographical region of the ocean due to the scarcity of microstructure measurements. Recent analyses of downscaled IW fields from an internal‐wave‐admitting global ocean simulation into higher‐resolution regional configurations northwest of Hawaii have demonstrated a much‐improved fit of the simulated IW spectra to the in‐situ profiler measurements such as the Garrett‐Munk (GM) spectrum. Here, we employ this dynamically downscaled ocean simulation to directly analyze the nature of the IW‐breaking and the wave‐turbulence cascade in this region. We employ a modified version of the Kappa Profile Parameterization (KPP) to infer what the horizontally averaged vertical profile of diapycnal diffusivity should be, and compare this to the background profile that would be employed in the ocean component of a low‐resolution coupled climate model such as the Community Earth System Model (CESM) of the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). In pursuing this goal, we also demonstrate that the wavefield in the high‐resolution regional domain is dominated by a well‐resolved spectrum of low‐mode IWs that are predictable by solving an appropriate eigenvalue problem for stratified flow. We finally suggest a new tentative approach to improve the KPP parameterization. Plain Language Summary: A much‐improved spectrum of the simulated internal wave (IW) field has recently been obtained by downscaling a global ocean model into a higher‐resolution regional configuration. The global simulation is based on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm) forced by both astronomical tidal potential and surface atmospheric processes. By employing a mathematical framework to predict the structure of IWs, we first demonstrate that the interior wavefield of the high‐resolution regional domain is well dominated by a series of low‐order IW modes. Then, we address the issue as to whether the component of the K‐Profile Parameterization (KPP) associated with IW shear might be able to explain the physical origins of the background depth dependence of diapycnal diffusivity that would normally be employed in the ocean component of a modern coupled climate model. Finally, we suggest a tentative approach to further improve KPP. Key Points: A representation of internal wave modes that includes dissipation is derived that explains spectra in a tidally forced numerical simulationEliminating the background component of KPP leads to a representation of the physics of internal wave breakingRealistic diapycnal diffusivity profiles can be obtained by minor adjustments to the shear component of KPP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines spectra of horizontal kinetic energy (HKE) in the surface and sub‐surface ocean, with an emphasis on internal gravity wave (IGW) motions, in global high‐resolution ocean simulations. Horizontal wavenumber‐frequency spectra of surface HKE are computed over seven oceanic regions from two global simulations of the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) and three global simulations of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm). In regions with high IGW activity, high surface HKE variance in the horizontal wavenumber‐frequency spectra is aligned along IGW linear dispersion curves. For both HYCOM and MITgcm, and in almost all regions, finer horizontal resolution yields more energetic supertidal IGW continuum spectra. The ratio of high‐horizontal‐wavenumber variance in semi‐diurnal and supertidal motions relative to lower‐frequency motions, a quantity of great interest for swath altimetry, depends on the model employed and the horizontal resolution within the model, implying that quantitative predictions of the partition between low‐ and high‐frequency motions taken from particular simulations should be treated with care. The frequency‐vertical wavenumber spectra, frequency spectra, and vertical wavenumber spectra from the models are compared to spectra computed from McLane profilers at nine locations. In general, MITgcm spectra match the McLane profiler spectra more closely at high frequencies (|ω| > 4.5 cpd). In both models, vertical wavenumber spectra roll off more steeply than observations at high vertical wavenumbers (m > 10−2 cpm). The vertical wavenumber spectra in such models is an important target for improvement, due to turbulence production and dissipation that takes place at high vertical wavenumbers. Plain Language Summary: Recently, a small but growing number of global ocean models have begun to employ simultaneous tidal and atmospheric forcing. At the same time, increasing supercomputer power has allowed for simulations of oceanic motions with increasing accuracy, increasing feature (spatial) resolution, and more frequent time slices. Global ocean models with fine grid spacing, and simultaneous tidal and atmospheric forcing, host a vigorous spectrum of high‐frequency waves that control mixing over most of the ocean water column, and are important for many operational oceanography challenges. As an example of the latter, high‐resolution global internal wave models have been used to study the relative partition of high‐frequency versus low‐frequency motions at the small horizontal scales that will be measured by the new Surface Water Ocean Topography mission. The partition described above depends on the model employed and the grid spacing employed within that model, meaning that conclusions about the partition are dependent on the model used to estimate it. Comparisons between the models and vertically profiling instruments indicate that resolving fine scale motions in the vertical direction, where ocean mixing takes place, is not yet handled well by the models. Modeling of fine‐vertical scale motions is therefore an important future research direction. Key Points: Vertical wavenumber spectra of internal gravity wave kinetic energy in two high‐resolution global models are compared to observed spectraModels under‐estimate motions at high vertical wavenumbers (small vertical scales), flagging this as a target for model improvementThe ratio of high‐ versus low‐frequency surface kinetic energy at small horizontal scales is dependent on the model and grid spacings employed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a novel dataset focused on structural damage in quadcopters, addressing a significant gap in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) research. The dataset is called CrazyPAD (Crazyflie Propeller Anomaly Data) according to the name of the Crazyflie 2.1 nano-quadrocopter used to collect the data. Despite the existence of datasets on UAV anomalies and behavior, none of them covers structural damage specifically in nano-quadrocopters. Our dataset, therefore, provides critical data for developing predictive models for defect detection in nano-quadcopters. This work details the data collection methodology, involving rigorous simulations of structural damages and their effects on UAV performance. The ultimate goal is to enhance UAV safety by enabling accurate defect diagnosis and predictive maintenance, contributing substantially to the field of UAV technology and its practical applications. DataSet:   https://github.com/AerialRoboticsUUST/CrazyPAD DataSet License: MIT License [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that it was no coincidence that one of the places in which the modern theory of finance was developed was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Not only had it attracted Paul Samuelson, who had a long-standing interest in the problem, but its academic culture as a science-focused engineering school that fostered a competitive atmosphere and close relations between its economics department and business school was conducive to the development of such theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SYNOPSIS: G. Peter Wilson, most recently on the faculty at Boston College, was a consummate academic and leader. He profoundly influenced accounting research and the art and science of accounting instruction. He also advanced the accounting academy through his various leadership roles at the American Accounting Association. This memorial article documents Wilson's early upbringing, academic career, professional activities, and achievements. The overarching themes are love and impact. Wilson loved life, loved his work, and above all, loved his family, friends, students, and colleagues. As a result, he profoundly impacted each aspect of the academy—research, teaching, and service. Indeed, his impact continues through the undergraduate and master students he inspired, the doctoral students he mentored at various universities and consortia, the colleagues he collaborated with, and the many who continue to learn from his innovations. This article sets forth the most significant impacts to preserve the past and inspire future generations. JEL Classifications: M41; M42; M48. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Power and Progress: Our Thousand Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity" is a book by Daren Acemoglu and Simon Johnson that explores the relationship between power, progress, and technology. The authors argue that technology has the potential to bring transformative change and productivity gains, but its impact is influenced by social and political factors. They examine historical examples, such as the industrial revolution, to illustrate how technology can both enhance and exacerbate societal inequalities. The authors also discuss the role of artificial intelligence and the importance of redirecting technology for the betterment of human productivity. They emphasize the need for alternative narratives and countervailing powers to shape the direction of technology and promote inclusivity. [Extracted from the article]

Preservation of stochastic orders through the system signature has captured the attention of researchers in recent years. Signature-based comparisons have been made for the usual stochastic order, hazard rate order, and likelihood ratio orders. However, for the mean residual life (MRL) order, it has recently been proved that the preservation result does not hold true in general, but rather holds for a particular class of distributions. In this paper, we study whether or not a similar preservation result holds for the mean inactivity time (MIT) order. We prove that the MIT order is not preserved from signatures to system lifetimes with independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) components, but holds for special classes of distributions. The relationship between these classes and the order statistics is also highlighted. Furthermore, the distribution-free comparison of the performance of coherent systems with dependent and identically distributed (d.i.d.) components is studied under the MIT ordering, using diagonal-dependent copulas and distorted distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]