Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Have Deaths of Despair Risen during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Systematic Review

This systematic review synthesized literature on potential impacts of protracted isolation and other disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic on deaths of despair (suicide, overdoses, and drug-related liver diseases). Five electronic databases were searched yielding 70 eligible articles. Extant evidence mostly from high-income countries indicates COVID-19-related disruption may not have influenced suicide rates so far, but there have been reports of increased drug-related and liver disease mortality. Minority groups and women were more vulnerable, indicating the need for stronger equity focus on pandemic recovery and resilience strategies. Further high-quality studies with longer-term follow-up, especially from low-income countries, will inform these strategies.
A randomized comparative evaluation of C-MAC video-laryngoscope with Miller laryngoscope for neonatal endotracheal intubation

Background and Aims: An efficient neonatal airway management is peculiarly challenging even in the most experienced hands. Considering the recent interest in assessing the performance of various video-laryngoscopes (VL) in pediatric cohort, the prospective randomized study was contemplated to stage a comparative evaluation of C-MAC with Miller laryngoscope for neonatal endotracheal intubation. Material and Methods: 150 neonates were randomized to undergo intubation with either the C-MAC VL (n = 75) or the Miller laryngoscope (n = 75) performed by an experienced anesthesiologist in a tertiary care perioperative setting. The percentage of glottic opening (POGO), time to best glottic view (TTBGV), time to intubation (TTI), number of attempts, optimal external laryngeal manipulation (OELM) employed, and the complications were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: C-MAC group demonstrated a significantly higher POGO, compared to the Miller group (88 ± 26.7%;76.8 ± 32.1%, respectively, P = 0.022). TTBGV was significantly lower in the C-MAC (7.7 ± 0.1s) group as opposed to the Miller group (11.3 ± 1.1s). The C-MAC group displayed higher TTI values compared to the Miller group (25.4 ± 1.6s; 19.7 ± 1.2s, respectively, P < 0.01). The first-attempt intubation success rate and the number of attempts were comparable in both the groups. OELM was required in 24% of the patients in the Miller group as opposed to 10.7% in the C-MAC group (P = 0.031). Higher patient percentage in the C-MAC group required the need of stylet for assisting a successful intubation, although the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Despite an improved view of the glottis, the TTI was higher for C-MAC compared to direct laryngoscopy with a comparable first-attempt success rate in the two techniques.
Promoting Students’ Critical Thinking through Socratic Method: Views and Challenges

: Critical thinking skills (CTS) is one of the main focuses of the educational system around the globe as a means to equip students with 21st century learning. In parallel, Malaysia too highlights critical thinking skills with the curriculum transformation witnessing more emphasis on student-centred learning approaches. These include constructivism, mastery learning and inquiry-based learning. However, most teachers find difficulties in embarking on these new ways of teaching. Hence, this qualitative study sought to explore teachers’ views and the challenges when implementing a subset of inquiry-based learning called the Socratic method in classrooms. The researchers employed a purposive sampling method to select five (5) teachers teaching various subjects to be involved in the semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that most of the teachers had positive views on the application of the Socratic method specially to enhance the critical thinking skills. Despite that, there were a few challenges faced by the teachers particularly on their content knowledge, knowledge on questioning methods, class participation, topics and time constraints. Based on the challenges extracted, this study concluded that the teachers require due support particularly in terms of their subject knowledge and teaching skills in carrying out the Socratic method in classrooms effectively. Thus, this study proposes further actions to be taken in helping teachers by providing professional training and developmental programs to effectively implement Socratic questioning in the classrooms.
The Influence of Aerosols on Ice and Mixed-Phase Clouds Based on In-Situ Observations and Cam6 Simulations

THE INFLUENCE OF AEROSOLS ON ICE AND MIXED-PHASE CLOUDS BASED ON IN-SITU OBSERVATIONS AND CAM6 SIMULATIONS by Flor Vanessa Maciel Clouds have a large impact on Earth’s radiation budget, and although there is a considerable amount of research on them, there are still uncertainties concerning how thermodynamics, dynamics, and aerosol indirect effects impact their microphysical properties. The lack of observational analysis on cirrus and mixed-phase cloud controlling factors, i.e., temperature, relative humidity, vertical velocity, and aerosol number concentrations, limits our understanding of how these properties impact their microphysical properties and, therefore, complicates how they are simulated within climate models. With seven flight campaigns funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and five funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), we categorize cirrus clouds into five evolution phases. We then compare the NSF dataset to simulated data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model 6 (CAM6). We find that the evolution phases demonstrate clear differences between one another indicating that it is important to take them into account when analyzing the aerosol indirect effects on cirrus clouds. Additionally, we present a new method to separate mixed-phase clouds into four transition phases which allows us to represent their macrophysical properties. Using this method and comparing it to a derived dataset that defines phases per particle reveals that there is a correlation between the macrophysical and microphysical properties of mixed-
Regional models do not outperform continental models for invasive species

Aim: Species distribution models can guide invasive species prevention and management by characterizing invasion risk across space. However, extrapolation and transferability issues pose challenges for developing useful models for invasive species. Previous work has emphasized the importance of including all available occurrences in model estimation, but managers attuned to local processes may be skeptical of models based on a broad spatial extent if they suspect the captured responses reflect those of other regions where data are more numerous. We asked whether species distribution models for invasive plants performed better when developed at national versus regional extents. Location: Continental United States. Methods: We developed ensembles of species distribution models trained nationally, on sagebrush habitat, or on sagebrush habitat within three ecoregions (Great Basin, eastern sagebrush, and Great Plains) for nine invasive plants of interest for early detection and rapid response at local or regional scales. We compared the performance of national versus regional models using spatially independent withheld test data from each of the three ecoregions. Results: We found that models trained using a national spatial extent tended to perform better than regionally trained models. Regional models did not outperform national ones even when considerable occurrence data were available for model estimation within the focal region. Information was often unavailable to fit informative regional models precisely in those areas of greatest interest for early detection and rapid response. Main conclusions: Habitat suitability models for invasive plant species trained at a continental extent can reduce extrapolation while maximizing information on species’ responses to environmental variation. Standard modeling methods can capture spatially varying limiting factors, while regional or hierarchical models may only be advantageous when populations differ in their responses to environmental conditions, a condition expected to be relatively rare at the expanding boundaries of invasive species’ distributions.
WD 0346+246: A Very Low Luminosity, Cool Degenerate in Taurus

We report the serendipitous discovery of a new, very low luminosity, cool degenerate in the region of Taurus. The object was found as a very high proper-motion star (μ = 1.″3 yr-1) on seven I-band UK Schmidt Telescope plates, dating from 1987 to 1994, via digitized scans from the new, fast, high-precision microdensitometer SuperCOSMOS. Photometry and spectrophotometry indicate that the object has a temperature comparable to those of the handful of coolest white dwarfs currently known (T~3900 K). We discuss the relevance of this discovery to current research concerning Galactic structure and evolution.
Application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to CMB data: Is the universe really weakly random?

A recent application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to the WMAP 7 year W-band maps claims evidence that the CMB is “weakly random”, and that only 20% of the signal can be explained as a random Gaussian field. I here repeat this analysis, and in contrast to the original result find no evidence for deviation from the standard ΛCDM model. Instead, the results of the original analysis are consistent with not properly taking into account the correlations of the ΛCDM power spectrum.
Improving Deproteinization in Colombian Latex from Hevea brasiliensis: A Bibliometric Approximation

Natural Rubber Field Latex (NRFL) allergens restrict its use in some markets due to health-threatening allergic reactions. These molecules are proteins that are related to asymptomatic sensitization and hypersensitivity mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). Although NRFL allergens have been investigated since the 1980s, there are still gaps in knowledge regarding the development of deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR). Therefore, in this study, the deproteinization of NRFL from the lower basin of the Cauca River, Antioquia-Colombia was evaluated using eight systems. The highest removal value was 84.4% and was obtained from the treatment containing SDS (Sodium dodecyl sulfate), Urea, and Ethanol. It was also possible to determine that at high concentrations of SDS, removal percentages higher than 70% are reached. On the other hand, all deproteinizing systems decreased NRFL Zeta potentials without self-coagulation, suggesting enhanced colloidal stability in DPNR latex. On the other hand, the bibliometric analysis presented technological advances in DPRN through different parameters and bibliometric networks. The analysis presented makes an important contribution from the bibliometric approach that could be positive for the development of research on DPNR.
DUSTY WIND-BLOWN BUBBLES

Spurred by recent observations of 24 μm emission within wind-blown bubbles (WBBs), we study the role that dust can play in such environments and build an approximate model of a particular WBB, “N49. ” First, we model the observations with a dusty WBB, and then ask whether dust could survive within N49 to its present age (estimated to be 5 × 105 to 106 yr). We find that dust sputtering and especially dust–gas friction would imply relatively short timescales (t ∼ 104 yr) for dust survival in the wind-shocked region of the bubble. To explain the 24 μm emission, we postulate that the grains are replenished within the WBB by destruction of embedded, dense cloudlets of interstellar medium gas that have been overrun by the expanding WBB. We calculate the ablation timescales for cloudlets within N49 and find approximate parameters for the embedded cloudlets that can replenish the dust; the parameters for the cloudlets are roughly similar to those observed in other nebula. Such dust will have an important effect on the bubble: including simple dust cooling in a WBB model for N49, we find that the luminosity is higher by approximately a factor of 6 at a bubble age of about 104 yr. At ages of 107 yr, the energy contained in the bubble is lower by about a factor of 8 if dust is included; if dust must be replenished within the bubble, the associated accompanying gas mass will also be very important to WBB cooling and evolution. While more detailed models are certainly called for, this work illustrates the possible strong importance of dust in WBBs, and is a first step toward models of dusty WBBs.
CONSTRAINED SIMULATION OF THE BULLET CLUSTER

In this work, we report on a detailed simulation of the Bullet Cluster (1E0657-56) merger, including magnetohydrodynamics, plasma cooling, and adaptive mesh refinement. We constrain the simulation with data from gravitational lensing reconstructions and the 0.5–2 keV Chandra X-ray flux map, then compare the resulting model to higher energy X-ray fluxes, the extracted plasma temperature map, Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect measurements, and cluster halo radio emission. We constrain the initial conditions by minimizing the chi-squared figure of merit between the full two-dimensional (2D) observational data sets and the simulation, rather than comparing only a few features such as the location of subcluster centroids, as in previous studies. A simple initial configuration of two triaxial clusters with Navarro–Frenk–White dark matter profiles and physically reasonable plasma profiles gives a good fit to the current observational morphology and X-ray emissions of the merging clusters. There is no need for unconventional physics or extreme infall velocities. The study gives insight into the astrophysical processes at play during a galaxy cluster merger, and constrains the strength and coherence length of the magnetic fields. The techniques developed here to create realistic, stable, triaxial clusters, and to utilize the totality of the 2D image data, will be applicable to future simulation studies of other merging clusters. This approach of constrained simulation, when applied to well-measured systems, should be a powerful complement to present tools for understanding X-ray clusters and their magnetic fields, and the processes governing their formation.
AGE AND MASS CONSTRAINTS FOR A YOUNG MASSIVE CLUSTER IN M31 BASED ON SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION FITTING

VDB0-B195D is a massive, blue star cluster in M31. It was observed as part of the Beijing–Arizona–Taiwan–Connecticut (BATC) Multicolor Sky Survey using 15 intermediate-band filters covering a wavelength range of 3000–10000 Å. Based on aperture photometry, we obtain its spectral energy distribution (SED) as defined by the 15 BATC filters. We apply previously established relations between the BATC intermediate-band and the Johnson–Cousins UBVRI broadband systems to convert our BATC photometry to the standard system. A detailed comparison shows that our newly derived VRI magnitudes are fully consistent with previous results, while our new B magnitude agrees to within 2σ. In addition, we determine the cluster's age and mass by comparing its SED (from 3000 to 20000 Å, comprising photometric data in the 15 BATC intermediate bands, optical broadband BVRI, and Two Micron All Sky Survey near-infrared JHKs data) with theoretical stellar population synthesis models, resulting in age and mass determinations of 60.0 ± 8.0 Myr and (1.1–1.6) × 105 M☉, respectively. This age and mass confirms previous suggestions that VDB0-B195D is a young massive cluster in M31.
The Stark effect in linear potentials

We examine the Stark effect (the second-order shifts in the energy spectrum due to an external constant force) for two one-dimensional model quantum mechanical systems described by linear potentials, the so-called quantum bouncer (defined by V(z) = Fz for z > 0 and V(z) = ∞ for z < 0) and the symmetric linear potential (given by V(z) = F|z|). We show how straightforward use of the most obvious properties of the Airy function solutions and simple Taylor expansions gives closed form results for the Stark shifts in both systems. These exact results are then compared to other approximation techniques, such as perturbation theory and WKB methods. These expressions add to the small number of closed-form descriptions available for the Stark effect in model quantum mechanical systems.
Impact of a Turbulent Ocean Surface on Laser Beam Propagation

The roughness of the ocean surface significantly impacts air-to-sea imaging, oceanographic monitoring, and optical communication. Most current and previous methods for addressing this roughness and its impact on optical propagation are either entirely statistical or theoretical, or are ‘mixed methods’ based on a combination of statistical models and parametric-based physical models. In this paper, we performed experiments in a 50-foot-wave tank on wind-generated waves, in which we varied the wind speed to measure how the surface waves affect the laser beam propagation and develop a geometrical optical model to measure and analyze the refraction angle and slope angle of the laser beam under various environmental conditions. The study results show that the laser beam deviations/distortions and laser beam footprint size are strongly related to wind speed and laser beam incidence angle.
Evaluation of electric and magnetic fields distribution and SAR induced in 3D models of water containers by radiofrequency radiation using FDTD and FEM simulation techniques

In this study, two software packages using different numerical techniques—FEKO 6.3 with Finite-Element Method (FEM) and XFDTD 7 with Finite Difference Time Domain Method (FDTD)—were used to assess exposure of 3D models of square-, rectangular-, and pyramidal-shaped water containers to electromagnetic waves at 300, 900, and 2400 MHz frequencies. Using the FEM simulation technique, the peak electric field of 25, 4.5, and 2 V/m at 300 MHz and 15.75, 1.5, and 1.75 V/m at 900 MHz were observed in pyramidal-, rectangular-, and square-shaped 3D container models, respectively. The FDTD simulation method confirmed a peak electric field of 12.782, 10.907, and 10.625 V/m at 2400 MHz in the pyramidal-, square-, and rectangular-shaped 3D models, respectively. The study demonstrated an exceptionally high level of electric field in the water in the two identical pyramid-shaped 3D models analyzed using the two different simulation techniques. Both FEM and FDTD simulation techniques indicated variations in the distribution of electric, magnetic fields, and specific absorption rate of water stored inside the 3D container models. The study successfully demonstrated that shape and dimensions of 3D models significantly influence the electric and magnetic fields inside packaged materials; thus, specific absorption rates in the stored water vary according to the shape and dimensions of the packaging materials.
Describing galaxy weak lensing measurements from tenths to tens of Mpc and up to z ∼ 0.6 with a single model

The clustering of galaxies and the matter distribution around them can be described using the halo model complemented with a realistic description of the way galaxies populate dark matter haloes. This has been used successfully to describe statistical properties of samples of galaxies at z<0.2. Without adjusting any model parameters, we compare the predicted weak lensing signal induced by Luminous Red Galaxies to measurements from SDSS DR7 on much larger scales (up to ~90 h_{70}^{-1} Mpc) and at higher redshift (z~0.4). We find excellent agreement, suggesting that the model captures the main properties of the galaxy-dark matter connection. To extend the comparison to lenses at even higher redshifts we complement the SDSS data with shape measurements from the deeper RCS2, resulting in precise lensing measurements for lenses up to z~0.6. These measurements are also well described using the same model. Considering solely these weak lensing measurements, we robustly assess that, up to z~0.6, the number of central galaxies as a function of halo mass is well described by a log-normal distribution with scatter $\sigma_{\log L_{\rm c}}=0.146\pm0.011$, in agreement with previous independent studies at lower redshift. Our results demonstrate the value of complementing the information about the properties of the (lens) galaxies provided by SDSS with deeper, high-quality imaging data.
Biologically Unrelated Living Donor for Kidney Transplantation Associated With Higher Acute Rejection Rate but With Similar Graft Survival of a Related Living Donor

Introduction: Kidney transplantation (KT) from living donors has been shown to have multiple benefits compared to those from deceased donors. We sought to compare significant graft outcomes, namely acute rejection (AR), graft function, and survival between transplant recipients who received a kidney from living related donor (LRD) and living unrelated donor (LURD). Methods: Our cohort comprised 198 donor and recipient pairs undergoing living-donor KT at our center over 10 years. The LRD recipients were compared with LURD recipients according to demographic and clinical characteristics, transplant variables (including immunosuppression), graft function, survival, and AR rate. Results: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was similar in both groups over the follow-up time i.e., 60-65 mL/min (p>0.05 over 10 years). Censored graft survival was similar between LRD and LURD recipients (96.9% vs. 98.0% at five years and 87.8% vs. 79.4% at 10 years, respectively; p=0.837). The LURD recipients had a higher incidence of AR, although LURD recipient status was not an independent risk factor for AR. Multivariate analysis showed that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR mismatch (MM) was an independent predictor of AR (hazard ratio (HR) 2.256, p<0.05). Both HLA-A and HLA-B MM did not affect the AR HR between the groups. Conclusion: Graft function and censored graft survival rates were similar between LURD and LRD KT recipients in our study. The AR was higher in LURD recipients, although the LURD recipient status was not an independent risk factor for AR. The HLA-DR MM was an independent predictor of AR, while HLA-A and HLA-B MM did not affect AR HR between groups of patients.
Forbidden Pairs Make Problems Hard

This thesis introduces a decision problem in graph theory that we call the forbidden pairs problem by generalizing from similar, more specific prior work. We focus on the following decision problems: given a graph property, a graph G, and a set F of pairs of vertices (or edges) from G, can we find a subgraph of G that has the property subject to the condition that no two of its vertices (or edges) form a pair in F? Our main result proves that for many graph properties, such as cyclic and nonplanar, that are described by their members necessarily having specific minors, the corresponding forbidden pairs decision problems are NP-complete. Additional results determine the computational complexity of more forbidden pairs problems. Future work could more completely classify further sets of graph properties or attempt to approximate solutions to the hard problems introduced here.