Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Similarities and Differences in the Structure and Interpretation of Empowerment and Job Satisfaction between Minority and Majority Faculty Members

Faculty empowerment is a more important topic today than ever before, as faculty roles have become increasingly complex. Moreover, an increase in minority faculty has presented universities with the need to understand the complex interactions between demographics and empowerment to better promote employees’ well-being. Past research has found that racial majority and minority faculty perceive their experiences as faculty differently. In this study, we used an empowerment framework and structural equation modeling to investigate similarities and differences in workplace empowerment for a sample of 720 racial majority and minority faculty members. Empowerment was largely similar for majority and minority faculty members, but the construct of self-determination had different meanings for minority faculty members, and it was more strongly related to trust in their institutions and the personal consequences of their work. Moreover, minority faculty members’ beliefs about their capabilities, the specialness of their work, and their ability to make decisions about their work were more important for efficacy, meaning, and self-determination than they were for majority faculty members. Résumé De nos jours, l’autonomisation du corps professoral est un sujet plus important que jamais, dans un contexte où les rôles qu’il est appelé à jouer deviennent de plus en plus complexes. D’autre part, vu le nombre croissant d’enseignants issus de minorités, l’université a besoin de mieux comprendre les rapports complexes entre démographie et autonomisation afin de mieux assurer le bien-être de ses employés. Certaines études ont déjà observé que les majorités perçoivent leur vécu en milieu universitaire de manière différente que les minorités visibles. Dans l’étude actuelle, nous utilisons un cadre d’autonomisation et la modélisation d’équations structurelles afin d’enquêter sur les ressemblances et différences relatives à l’autonomisation au travail dans un échantillon de 720 universitaires de majorités et de minorités visibles. En gros, le niveau d’autonomisation est semblable pour les universitaires majoritaires et minoritaires, mais l’autodétermination a un sens différent pour les minoritaires, celle-ci étant étroitement liée à la confiance qu’ils ont dans leurs institutions et aux conséquences personnelles de leur travail. En outre, comparée à celle des majoritaires, l’attitude des universitaires minoritaires envers leurs propres capacités, le caractère unique de leur travail et leur liberté de prendre des décisions sur leur travail a un plus grand effet sur leur efficacité, le sens qu’ils prêtent à leur travail et leur autodétermination. Keywords / Mots clés : academia, critical race theory, empowerment, faculty, structural equation modeling / milieu universitaire, théorie critique de la race, autonomisation, corps professoral, modélisation d’équations structurelles
Dark Energy, Anthropic Selection Effects, Entropy and Life

According to the standard LCDM model, the matter and dark energy densities (rho_m and rho_DE) are only comparable for a brief time. We address the cosmic coincidence problem under LCDM and generalized dark energy models by considering the temporal distribution of terrestrial planets. We compare the Sun to representative stellar samples in 11 properties plausibly related to life. We find the Sun to be most anomalous in mass and galactic orbital eccentricity. When the 11 properties are considered together, the observed "anomalies" are consistent with statistical noise. This contrasts with previous work suggesting anthropic explanations for the Sun's high mass. The long-term future of dissipative processes (such as life) depends on the continued ability to use free energy to increase the total entropy. The entropy budget of the present observable Universe is dominated by supermassive black holes in galactic cores. We report a new entropy budget of the Universe with quantified uncertainties for all components. We find the total entropy in the observable Universe to be S_{obs} = 3.1^{+3.0}_{-1.7} x 10^{104} k, at least an order of magnitude higher than previous estimates due to improved measurements of the mass function of supermassive black holes (which dominate the budget). We evaluate upper bounds on the entropy of a comoving volume. Under the assumption that energy in matter is constant in a comoving volume, the availability of free energy is found to be finite and the future entropy in the volume is limited to a constant of order 10^{123} k. Through this work we uncover a number of unresolved questions with implications for the ultimate fate of the Universe.
Deconfinement in d=1: A closer look

The notion of deconﬁnement in two d = 1 models, the Schwinger model and the Heisenberg chain, is re-examined. Both have half-asymptotic excitations (where particles and antiparticles must alternate) and also truly asymptotic particles which are half as many in number. The two kinds of particles are related by a complicated transformation. The main purpose of this note is to highlight the relationship between asymptotic and half-asymptotic particles. The relevance of our ﬁndings to higher dimensions is brieﬂy discussed.
New Approach for Preparing Solid Lipid Nanoparticles with Volatile Oil-Loaded Quercetin Using the Phase-Inversion Temperature Method

Quercetin (QCT), a natural flavonoid, is of research interest owing to its pharmacological properties. However, its pharmacokinetic limitations could hinder its widespread therapeutic use. Nanocarriers, especially solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), might overcome this constraint. This study aimed to investigate QCT-loaded SLNs prepared via a new approach using a volatile oil. The phase-inversion temperature method was used to incorporate rosemary oil (RMO) into SLNs prepared using solid lipids possessing different chemical structures. Among the solid lipids used in the formulations, trilaurin (TLR) exhibited the smallest particle size and good stability after a temperature cycling test. SLNs prepared with a ratio of RMO to TLR of 1:3 could load QCT with an entrapment efficiency of >60% and drug loading of ~2% w/w. The smallest particle size was achieved using the polyoxyethylene-hydrogenated castor oil RH40, and the particle size depended on the concentration. The drug-release profile of QCT_TLR exhibited prolonged biphasic release for >24 h. QCT_TLR was a safe formulation, as indicated by a cell viability percentage of >75% at <2% v/v. In a computer simulation, the system with RMO enabled smaller sized SLNs than those without RMO. This new discovery shows great promise for producing SLNs via the phase-inversion temperature method with incorporation of volatile oil, particularly for delivering compounds with limited water solubility.
A Comparison of Service Time and Racial Categories within Traditional and Alternative Route Internship Programs for Special Education Licensure

We used 14 years of state licensure and classroom data from Virginia to follow 19,878 special education teachers (SETs) who completed either the alternative route (AR) internship or traditional programs. Findings reveal that a greater percentage of SETs of color participated in AR programs compared to traditional licensure programs, while a greater percentage of White SETs completed traditional programs. SETs of color attained approximately three fewer years of service time if they completed the AR program compared to traditional programs. For White SETs, a difference of less than 1 year was found. For SETs from AR programs who did not complete 27 credit hours of university coursework, attrition occurred at higher rates within the first 3 years of service. Implications for future research on AR internship programs and teachers of color are provided, informing both policy and practice.
Interactions Among Non-Coding RNAs and mRNAs in the Trigeminal Ganglion Associated with Neuropathic Pain

Background Recent studies have demonstrated the contribution of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) to neuropathic pain. However, the expression profile of ncRNAs in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and their functional mechanism underlying trigeminal neuropathic pain are still unclear. Methods In the present study, the trigeminal neuropathic pain model induced by chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION) was used to study the expression profile and potential regulatory mechanism of miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and mRNAs in the TG by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics analysis. CCI-ION mice suffered from mechanical allodynia from 3 days to 28 days after surgery. Results The RNA-seq results discovered 67 miRNAs, 216 lncRNAs, 14 circRNAs, 595 mRNAs, and 421 genes were differentially expressed (DE) in the TG of CCI-ION mice 7 days after surgery. And 39 DEGs were known pain genes. Besides, 5 and 35 pain-related DE mRNAs could be targeted by 6 DE miRNAs and 107 DE lncRNAs, respectively. And 23 pain-related DEGs had protein–protein interactions (PPI) with each other. GO analysis indicated membrane-related cell components and binding-related molecular functions were significantly enriched. KEGG analysis showed that nociception-related signaling pathways were significantly enriched for DE ncRNAs and DEGs. Finally, the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network of DE lncRNA/DE circRNA-DE miRNA-DE mRNA existed in the TG of mice with trigeminal neuropathic pain. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate ncRNAs are involved in the development of trigeminal neuropathic pain, possibly through the ceRNA mechanism, which brings a new bright into the study of trigeminal neuropathic pain and the development of novel treatments targeting ncRNAs.
Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila Reduces Fat Accumulation via nhr-49-Mediated Nuclear Hormone Signaling Pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans

Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila (p-AKK) is related to lipid metabolism and helps control obesity. The main goal of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of p-AKK in lipid metabolism using Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that p-AKK increased the healthy lifespan of nematodes and helped maintain exercise ability in aging, suggesting a potential increase in energy expenditure. The overall fat deposition and triglyceride level were significantly decreased and the p-AKK anti-oxidative stress helped to regulate fatty acid composition. Additionally, the transcriptome results showed that p-AKK increased the expression of lipo-hydrolase and fatty acid β-oxidation-related genes, including lipl-4, nhr-49, acs-2 and acdh-8, while it decreased the expression of fat synthesis-related genes, including fat-7, elo-2 and men-1. These results partially explain the mechanisms underlying the fact that p-AKK decreases fat accumulation of C. elegans via nhr-49/acs-2-mediated signaling involved in fatty acid β-oxidation and synthesis.
The creation of distortion products through the interaction of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions and externally generated tones.

A spontaneous otoacQustic emission (SOAE) and external tones (XTs) were used as primaries f2 and f1, respectively (frequency of f2 > f1) to create 2f1f2 distortion products (DPOAEs). The DPOAEs primarily reflect active processes in the cochlea because lowto medium-level primaries less than 60 dB SPL were employed. DPOAE characteristics were determined and compared to what is known from the literature about DPOAEs created using two XTs. SOAE frequency and amplitude were also described. One hundred twenty-two women were screened for the presence of SOAEs to obtain 10 sllbjects for the study. XTs were presented to the ear at SOAE/f1 ratios between 1.08 and 1.22. Sound pressure levels were incremented in 5 dB steps and extended from levels equal to the Initial SOAE amplitudes to levels at which the SOAEs and DPOAEs disappeared into the noise floor. Amplitude and frequency of the SOAE, XT, and DPOAE were recorded by placing a low-noise microphone in the ear canal and extracted using Fast Fourier Transform analysis. Results indicated that the DPOAE amplitudes and SOAE suppression characteristics were variable across subjects. Despite the variability, the following trends were noted: 1) at larger frequency ratios, DPOAE generation and SOAE suppression were associated with greater XT levels; 2) DPOAE growth functions were characterized by slopes less than 1 dB/dB, a maximum, rollover and disappearance into the noise floor with increasing XT levels; 3) maximum amplitude DPOAEs were observed at frequencies approximately one-half octave lower than the SOAE; 4) DPOAE thresholds were associated with little SOAE suppression whereas the maximum DPOAEs were associated
On asymptotic stability of N{solitons of the Gross{Pitaevskii equation

We consider the Cauchy problem for the Gross{Pitaevskii (GP) equation. Using the @ generalization of the nonlinear steepest descent method of Deift and Zhou we derive the leading order approximation to the solution of GP in the solitonic region of space{time jxj < 2t for large times and provide bounds for the error which decays as t % 1 for a general class of initial data whose dierence from the non vanishing background possess’s a xed number of nite moments and derivatives. Using properties of the scattering map of NLS we derive as a corollary an asymptotic stability result for initial data which are suciently close to the N-dark soliton solutions of (GP).
Adding Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) Powder to Wheat Bread: Effects on Physicochemical, Sensory and Microbiological Qualities of the End-Product

Entomophagy, that is, the consumption of insects, is gaining more and more popularity. The research carried out so far on the use of edible insects in the food industry has shown that they are a valuable source of protein, and do not significantly affect the functional and sensory properties of food. Edible insects also contribute to sustainable, environment friendly food production. Taking the above into account, the influence of adding insect powder on the physicochemical properties, sensory characteristics, and microbiological qualities of wheat bread was evaluated. This study aimed to partially replace wheat flour (5, 10, and 15%) in bread with mealworm powder (T. molitor) to produce protein-fortified bread. Bread containing mealworm powder showed similar density and water activity compared to the control wheat bread. The addition of mealworm powder did not negatively affect the properties of bread. The total color difference increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the insect flour share in bread formulation and ranged between 2.27 for M5, 4.00 for M10, and 4.50 for M15. The protein content in bread fortified with 5–15% mealworm powder increased by 15–59% compared to the control bread, whereas fat content increased by 35% to 113%. Results of sensory evaluation revealed that modification of the recipe, depending on the mealworm powder addition level, significantly (p < 0.05) affected bread color, odor, flavor, and overall sensory quality. The research showed that the optimal enrichment level is using 5% mealworm flour in the bread recipe. Moreover, the obtained variants of bread were characterized by good microbiological quality after baking. In bread M10, no yeasts and molds were found during a period of 2 days of storage. The number of yeasts and molds in the other bread variants was relatively low. To conclude, the results confirmed the usefulness of insect powder in making protein-fortified bread of good quality comparable to traditional wheat bread.
Controlled precipitation of radiation belt electrons by whistler -mode waves

This dissertation presents results and analysis regarding the use of anthropogenic ground-based and space-based Very Low Frequency (VLF) transmitters to precipitate energetic electrons in the inner radiation belt. While existing ground-based VLF transmitters already precipitate energetic electrons, they do so inadvertently. In this work, we consider sources designed specifically for the purpose of precipitating >100 keV electrons. This concept is termed controlled precipitation. We focus on this energy range because these electrons are most damaging from a so-called space weather perspective. We initially consider the distribution of whistler-mode wave energy from spacebased sources distributed in L-shell and geomagnetic latitude. We also incorporate the effects of VLF antenna radiation immersed in a magnetoplasma. Our results demonstrate that a space-based source, by varying the frequency of the injected waves, can target L-shells both higher and lower than the source site, with wave frequencies below (above) the local lower hybrid resonance frequency moving to higher (lower) L-shells. We show that only three sources placed at various locations in the inner magnetosphere are required to project wave power over the range 1.4≤L≤2.7, which comprises the bulk of the inner radiation belt. We also calculate the energetic electron precipitation that would be induced by waves injected by such sources. The waves injected by space-based sources propagate with highly oblique wave normal angles close to the local resonance cone. In contrast with previous analysis, we show that these waves do induce substantial >1 MeV electron precipitation. Compared to a single-pass interaction, highly oblique magnetospherically reflecting whistler-mode waves precipitate up to 16 times more 100 keV to 5 MeV electrons. Waves injected
Semi-Cohen Versus Cohen Algebras

We show that there are semi-Cohen Boolean algebras which cannot be completely embedded into Cohen Boolean algebras. Using the ideas from this proof, we give a simpler argument for a theorem of S. Koppelberg and S. Shelah, stating that there are complete subalgebras of Cohen algebras which are not Cohen themselves.
Antimicrobial resistance among Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus and Rhodococcus equi isolated from equine specimens submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Kentucky, USA

Background Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among veterinary pathogens is necessary to identify clinically relevant patterns of AMR and to inform antimicrobial use practices. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and Rhodococcus equi are bacterial pathogens of major clinical importance in horses and are frequently implicated in respiratory tract infections. The objectives of this study were to describe antimicrobial resistance patterns and identify predictors of AMR and multidrug resistance (MDR) (resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes) among equine S. zooepidemicus and R. equi isolates. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility data from equine specimens submitted to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory between 2012 and 2017 were used in the study. Temporal trends in AMR and MDR were assessed using the Cochran-Armitage test. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between patient characteristics and the following outcomes: (a) MDR among S. zooepidemicus isolates, and (b) resistance to macrolides and ansamycins (rifampin) among R. equi isolates. Logistic regression was also used to investigate whether resistance of S. zooepidemicus and R. equi isolates to an antimicrobial class could be predicted by resistance to other drug classes. Results The vast majority of S. zooepidemicus (99.6%) and R. equi isolates (83%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, but no significant temporal trends in AMR were observed. Approximately half (53.3%) of the S. zooepidemicus isolates were multidrug-resistant, and there was a significant (p < 0.001) increasing temporal trend of MDR among S. zooepidemicus isolates. Resistance to penicillin, which is typically recommended for treatment of suspected S. zooepidemicus infections, also increased during the study period, from 3.3% to 9.5%. Among R. equi isolates, 19.2% were resistant to one or more macrolide antibiotics, 24% were resistant to rifampin, and 15.6% were resistant to both macrolide(s) and rifampin. For both organisms, resistance to an antimicrobial class could be predicted based on resistance profiles to other drug classes. For instance, significant (p < 0.01) predictors of β-lactam resistance among S. zooepidemicus isolates included resistance to macrolides (Odds Ratio (OR) = 14.7) and ansamycins (OR = 9.3). Resistance to phenicols (OR = 3.7) and ansamycins (OR = 19.9) were associated with higher odds of macrolide resistance among R. equi isolates. Conclusions The increase in MDR among S. zooepidemicus isolates is concerning. The observed levels of resistance to macrolides and rifampin among R. equi are also worrisome given the limited number of antimicrobials available for treatment of this organism. The findings of this study highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance of AMR to guide treatment decisions and directions for future research.
Ready for careers within and beyond academia? Assessing career competencies amongst junior researchers

ABSTRACT This study examines the extent to which career competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to manage one’s own work and learning experiences to achieve the desired career progression) are prevalent amongst early career researchers (ECRs). We adapted the Career Competencies Questionnaire [Akkermans, J., Brenninkmeijer, V. , Huibers, H. , & Blonk, R. W. (2013). Competencies for the contemporary career: Development and preliminary validation of the career competencies questionnaire. Journal of Career Development, 40(3), 245–267] to ECRs’ training and career specificities, considering the two career tracks facing them: within and outside academia. This questionnaire was sent to PhD students and junior PhD holders in 16 countries (n = 727). Our results show that career competencies for within and outside academia are clearly contrasted. Furthermore, compared with their female counterparts, male participants generally reported stronger career competencies in preparation for careers both within and outside academia, while PhD students perceived having more career competencies in preparation for careers outside academia than PhD holders did. We also found a positive link between ECRs’ career competencies and their perceived employability, and those who perceived themselves as having strong career competencies were more likely to consider their current work meaningful. While most PhD holders pursue careers beyond academia, the concept of career competencies offers an innovative theoretical contribution to the field of ECRs’ development, by highlighting how this population perceives their preparedness for diverse professional paths.
Mixture density networks

Minimization of a sum-of-squares or cross-entropy error function leads to network outputs which approximate the conditional averages of the target data, conditioned on the input vector. For classifications problems, with a suitably chosen target coding scheme, these averages represent the posterior probabilities of class membership, and so can be regarded as optimal. For problems involving the prediction of continuous variables, however, the conditional averages provide only a very limited description of the properties of the target variables. This is particularly true for problems in which the mapping to be learned is multi-valued, as often arises in the solution of inverse problems, since the average of several correct target values is not necessarily itself a correct value. In order to obtain a complete description of the data, for the purposes of predicting the outputs corresponding to new input vectors, we must model the conditional probability distribution of the target data, again conditioned on the input vector. In this paper we introduce a new class of network models obtained by combining a conventional neural network with a mixture density model. The complete system is called a Mixture Density Network, and can in principle represent arbitrary conditional probability distributions in the same way that a conventional neural network can represent arbitrary functions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of Mixture Density Networks using both a toy problem and a problem involving robot inverse kinematics.