Modern programming languages, most notably Rust, offer advanced linguistic constructs for building highly configurable software systems as aggregations of features—identified by a configuration. However, they pose substantial challenges for program analysis, optimization, and testing, as the combinatorial explosion of configurations often makes exhaustive exploration infeasible. In this manuscript, we present the first compiler-based method for prioritizing configurations. Our approach consists of four main steps: (1) extracting a tailored intermediate representation from the Rust compiler, (2) constructing two complementary graph-based data structures—a feature dependency graph capturing inter-feature code-level dependencies weighted by predicate structure, and an atom dependency tree encoding the extent of code governed by each feature—, (3) using centrality measures to rank features, and (4) refining the ranking by considering the extent of code they impact. A fixed number of most relevant configurations are generated based on the achieved feature ranking. The validity of the generated configurations is guaranteed by using a SAT solver that takes a representation of feature dependencies in conjunctive normal form. We formalized this approach and implemented it in a prototype, RustyEx, by instrumenting the Rust compiler. An empirical evaluation on higher-ranked open-source Rust projects shows that RustyEx efficiently generates user-specified sets of configurations within bounded resources, while ensuring soundness by construction. The results demonstrate that centrality-guided configuration prioritization enables practical exploration of large configuration spaces, and we discuss the implications and open challenges for future configuration-aware analysis and optimization.
Despite increasing use of waste-derived polymers in extrusion-based 3D printing (3DP), formulation-process relationships governing 3DP fidelity for food waste protein-based inks remain poorly understood. Addressing this gap, we aimed to study the development of 3DP ink using sodium caseinate recovered from expired pasteurized milk for sustainable packaging applications. A formulation-driven approach was adopted by varying sodium caseinate (11-13%), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (10-12%) and glycerol (15-20%). The inks were described for stability, steady-shear flow at 50 degrees C, syringe extrudability, mechanical properties at 50 and 25 degrees C, dimensional accuracy of printed constructs, and deposition cooling dynamics. All formulations exhibited shearthinning behavior, with concentration-dependent differences in viscosity and shear stress. 3DP fidelity was highest for formulations containing 12% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 13% sodium caseinate, and 15% glycerol, which produced constructs with dimensional deviation below 10%. In contrast, formulations with 20% glycerol and 10% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose content showed dimensional deviation exceeding 60%. The extrudability results showed that formulations exhibiting a stable force plateau enabled continuous material deposition, whereas formulations characterized by pronounced force peaks showed uneven extrusion and poor printing accuracy. Mechanical properties at printing temperature (50 degrees C) indicated that inks exhibiting intermediate hardness (153-224 g) retained their shape after deposition. Infrared thermography revealed deposited filaments exhibiting initial temperatures above 42 degrees C and cooling toward 30 degrees C within a layer. In contrast, delayed extrusion was characterized by lower initial layer temperatures, coinciding with reduced interlayer adhesion. This study provides a systematic demonstration of caseins from expired milk as ink for sustainable 3D printed materials.
The petrographic and geochemical characterisation of the diagenetic calcite and dolomite associated with carbonate-hosted ore deposits can contribute to a better understanding of mineralisation mechanisms. The lower Carnian Breno Formation and Calcare Metallifero Bergamasco in the Dossena area (Gorno mining district, Lombardy Basin, Southern Alps) are two shallow marine carbonate lithostratigraphic units hosting Alpine-type Pb-Zn-F-Ba ores. Several interpretations have been proposed for the genesis of mineralisation in these Triassic carbonates: syngenetic from submarine exhalations linked to the Ladinian-Carnian volcanism; or Alpine-type syngenetic to epigenetic in burial settings by hydrothermal fluids, during Early-Middle Jurassic rifting. Recent studies propose that ores formed in shallow burial settings (tens to few hundreds of metres), precipitated from hydrothermal fluids related to Triassic magmatism, prior to the Early Jurassic rifting. Petrographic analysis, delta 18O data, REEYN normalised patterns, calculated element ratios and lanthanum, cerium and europium normalised anomalies suggest precipitation of the saddle dolomite and calcite cements, filling-fractures preceding and post-dating the mineralisation, from low temperature (<200 degrees C) hydrothermal fluids. The geochemistry of these fluids was influenced by seawater and burial basinal brines. REEYN patterns and Y/Ho ratios suggest the interaction of these fluids with Permian and Ladinian-Carnian siliciclastic and volcaniclastic deposits and/or with the Variscan metamorphic basement, which are possible sources for metals. The identified paragenesis supports a hydrothermal epigenetic origin for the mineralisation, at burial depths not shallower than 300 m. In fact, pre-mineralisation fractures filled by saddle dolomite and calcite cements cross-cut voids occluded by burial sparite cements and stylolites in an already lithified host rock, affected by burial compaction and pressure solution. These conclusions may contribute to the understanding of other global occurrences of carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn mineralisation, providing new insights into complex dolomite and calcite paragenesis preceding and following the ore formation.
Context . True spin-orbit obliquities Ψ offer valuable insights into the evolutionary history of exoplanetary systems. Previous studies have suggested that exoplanets tend to occupy either aligned or perpendicular orbits. However, recent research has indicated potential biases caused by the small sample, and has brought into question whether this dichotomy would persist with a larger dataset. Simultaneously, a similar dichotomous behavior has been suggested for Neptune-sized planets. Aims . Our aim was to investigate the distribution of true spin-orbit obliquities Ψ with an enlarged sample, looking for confirmation of the disputed dichotomy previously found, with a focus also on the obliquities of Neptunes. Methods . Starting from a sample of 264 projected obliquities λ, we homogeneously computed true obliquities Ψ for 116 planets using the rotation period method. We combined them with four further values gathered from the literature and we then studied their distribution, also as a function of various star-planet system parameters. Results . Our data-driven work was based on 120 true obliquities Ψ, the largest sample to date, and strongly confirms the presence of a single cluster of aligned planets, followed by an isotropic distribution of misaligned planets with no preferred misalignment. This result is based on a uniform distribution of stellar inclinations i * , for which non-uniformity could have biased previous interpretations of the arrangement of true obliquities. We confirm that Neptunians show a tentative dichotomous distribution with the data available today, but this needs confirmation with an enlarged sample, also because an anisotropic distribution of stellar inclination may be one of the factors hindering the real distribution. Conclusions . The future increase in the measured Ψ sample over different planet types will allow a better investigation of the relation between misalignment and system properties and will provide a more comprehensive picture of the planetary evolution processes.
Abstract Background The ovarian reserve, primarily composed of primordial (PMF), primary (PF), and secondary follicles (SF), holds great potential for fertility preservation, yet remains inaccessible mainly due to the challenges of replicating early folliculogenesis in vitro. The molecular mechanisms governing the activation and differentiation of oocytes from the dormant PMF pool remain poorly defined. In this study, we used a bovine model to investigate early follicular development. Results The transcriptome of isolated PMF, PF, and SF revealed different profiles of the follicles during early folliculogenesis. Differential gene expression analyses between PF versus PMF and SF versus PF revealed 689 and 3,206 significantly regulated genes, respectively (FDR < 0.05), highlighting key pathways including PI3K-Akt, Wnt, mTOR, and ECM-receptor interaction. Between PF versus PMF and SF versus PF, 13 and 69 DEGs were identified as transcription factors, respectively. A Likelihood Ratio Test followed by hierarchical clustering identified four major gene expression clusters across the three stages, showing significant enrichment in processes such as ECM-related functions and cell cycle. Based on the enrichment of the cell cycle pathway, we focused on RAD51, which was highly expressed in preantral follicles. Immunohistochemical analysis further showed that RAD51 protein localized in the ooplasm, along with the mitochondrial marker HSP60. Conclusion This is the first study to perform bulk RNA sequencing on isolated preantral follicles (PMF, PF, and SF) in cattle. Our findings provide new insights into the stage-specific mechanisms regulating follicle activation and growth in cattle, laying the groundwork for future in vitro fertility preservation strategies in both clinical and conservation contexts.
