Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aggregation of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles in the presence of heparin: towards highly stable delivery systems

The effect of heparin adsorption on the colloidal stability of layered double hydroxide particles as potential drug delivery agents was studied in aqueous suspensions. The lamellar structures were prepared by the co-precipitation method and composed of magnesium(II) and aluminium(III) mixed hydroxide as the layers and carbonate anions between the layers. Stable and positively charged particles were observed at low heparin concentrations and low ionic strengths where the surface charge was only partially neutralized by the oppositely charged natural polyelectrolyte adsorbed on the surface. Increasing the heparin dose resulted in charge neutralization and subsequent charge reversal at appropriate doses. The particles aggregated rapidly in the absence of sufficient surface charge, however, remarkably stable dispersions were obtained when the particles were completely covered by heparin. The latter coating process gave rise to two-times higher surface charge density in magnitude and about 20-times higher critical coagulation concentration than for the bare particles. The significant stabilization effect due to the heparin-coating resulted from repulsive interparticle forces of electrostatic and steric origin. On the basis of these findings, efficient delivery systems can be designed where the colloid stability of the carrier particles is enhanced by coating with a biocompatible polyelectrolyte.
DNA metabarcoding reveals trophic niche diversity of micro and mesozooplankton species

Alternative pathways of energy transfer guarantee the functionality and productivity in marine food webs that experience strong seasonality. Nevertheless, the complexity of zooplankton interactions is rarely considered in trophic studies because of the lack of detailed information about feeding interactions in nature. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to highlight the diversity of trophic niches in a wide range of micro- and mesozooplankton, including ciliates, rotifers, cladocerans, copepods and their prey, by sequencing 16- and 18S rRNA genes. Our study demonstrates that the zooplankton trophic niche partitioning goes beyond both phylogeny and size and reinforces the importance of diversity in resource use for stabilizing food web efficiency by allowing for several different pathways of energy transfer. We further highlight that small, rarely studied zooplankton (rotifers and ciliates) fill an important role in the Baltic Sea pelagic primary production pathways and the potential of ciliates, rotifers and crustaceans in the utilization of filamentous and picocyanobacteria within the pelagic food web. The approach used in this study is a suitable entry point to ecosystem-wide food web modelling considering species-specific resource use of key consumers.
Climate variability and parent nesting strategies influence gas exchange across avian eggshells

Embryo survival in birds depends on a controlled transfer of water vapour and respiratory gases through the eggshell, and this exchange is critically sensitive to the surrounding physical environment. As birds breed in most terrestrial habitats worldwide, we proposed that variation in eggshell conductance has evolved to optimize embryonic development under different breeding conditions. This is the first study to take a broad-scale macro-ecological view of avian eggshell conductance, encompassing all key avian taxonomic groups, to assess how life history and climate influence the evolution of this trait. Using whole eggs spanning a wide phylogenetic diversity of birds, we determine that body mass, temperature seasonality and whether both parents attend the nest are the main determinants of eggshell conductance. Birds breeding at high latitudes, where seasonal temperature fluctuations are greatest, will benefit from lower eggshell conductance to combat temporary periods of suspended embryo growth and prevent dehydration during prolonged incubation. The nest microclimate is more consistent in species where parents take turns incubating their clutch, resulting in lower eggshell conductance. This study highlights the remarkable functional qualities of eggshells and their importance for embryo survival in extreme climates.
Discontinued alcohol consumption elicits withdrawal symptoms in honeybees

The honeybee continues to be developed as a model species in many research areas, including studies related to the effects of alcohol. Here, we investigate whether workers display one of the key features of alcoholism, namely withdrawal symptoms. We show that workers fed for a prolonged time on food spiked with ethanol, after discontinuation of access to such food, exhibited a marked increase in the consumption of ethanol and a slight increase in mortality. We additionally show that withdrawal symptoms do not include an increase in appetitiveness of ethanol diluted in water. Our results demonstrate that workers can develop alcohol dependence, which might be especially important in the natural setting of repeated exposure to ethanol in floral nectar and for their potential as a model of alcohol addiction.
Anthropogenic lead pervasive in Canadian Arctic seawater

Significance Anthropogenic lead (Pb) is widespread and far reaching in the environment. However, it was thought that western Arctic Ocean seawater was pristine based on low dissolved Pb and proxy data. By measuring Pb isotopes on seawater with extremely low concentrations, this study shows that anthropogenic Pb is pervasive in western Arctic Ocean seawater, and much of the dissolved Pb is from remobilization of previously deposited aerosols from the high-Pb emission period of the 20th century. Thus, historic Pb pollution still impacts Arctic seawater, and accelerated melting of permafrost and ice and increased coastal erosion may enhance this remobilization. This study also demonstrates that dissolved Pb isotopes are a sensitive tracer of contaminant and particulate sources in Arctic seawater. Anthropogenic Pb is widespread in the environment including remote places. However, its presence in Canadian Arctic seawater is thought to be negligible based on low dissolved Pb (dPb) concentrations and proxy data. Here, we measured dPb isotopes in Arctic seawater with very low dPb concentrations (average ∼5 pmol ⋅ kg−1) and show that anthropogenic Pb is pervasive and often dominant in the western Arctic Ocean. Pb isotopes further reveal that historic aerosol Pb from Europe and Russia (Eurasia) deposited to the Arctic during the 20th century, and subsequently remobilized, is a significant source of dPb, particularly in water layers with relatively higher dPb concentrations (up to 16 pmol ⋅ kg−1). The 20th century Eurasian Pb is present predominantly in the upper 1,000 m near the shelf but is also detected in older deep water (2,000 to 2,500 m). These findings highlight the importance of the remobilization of anthropogenic Pb associated with previously deposited aerosols, especially those that were emitted during the peak of Pb emissions in the 20th century. This remobilization might be further enhanced because of accelerated melting of permafrost and ice along with increased coastal erosion in the Arctic. Additionally, the detection of 20th century Eurasian Pb in deep water helps constrain ventilation ages. Overall, this study shows that Pb isotopes in Arctic seawater are useful as a gauge of changing particulate and contaminant sources, such as those resulting from increased remobilization (e.g., coastal erosion) and potentially also those associated with increased human activities (e.g., mining and shipping).
Separating words and trace reconstruction

We prove that for any distinct x,y ∈ {0,1}n, there is a deterministic finite automaton with O(n1/3) states that accepts x but not y. This improves Robson’s 1989 bound of O(n2/5). Using a similar complex analytic technique, we improve the upper bound on worst case trace reconstruction, showing that any unknown string x ∈ {0,1}n can be reconstructed with high probability from exp(O(n1/5)) independently generated traces.
Turbulence in a heated pipe at supercritical pressure

Abstract The purpose of this research is to provide a new understanding of the turbulence dynamics in a heated flow of fluid at supercritical pressure. A unified explanation has been established for the laminarisation mechanisms due to the variations of thermophysical properties, buoyancy and inertia, the last of which plays a significant role in a developing flow. In the new understanding, the various factors can all be treated similarly as (pseudo-)body forces, the effect of which is to cause a reduction in the so-called apparent Reynolds number. The partially laminarising flow is represented by an equivalent-pressure-gradient reference flow plus a perturbation flow. Full laminarisation is used in the paper referring to a region where no new vortical structures are generated. This region is akin to the pre-transition region of a boundary layer bypass transition, and in both cases, the free-stream or pipe-core turbulence decays exponentially, but elongated streaks are formed in the boundary layer. Turbulence kinetic energy in this region may still be significant due to the decaying turbulence as well as newly generated streaks. The latter lead to an increase in streamwise velocity fluctuations near the wall. Later, re-transition occurs when the streaks break down and multi-scale vortices are generated, leading to an increase in the radial and circumferential velocity fluctuations. The structural effect of buoyancy on turbulence is weak and negative in the partially laminarising flow, but is dominant in the full laminarisation and re-transition regions.
Ideological and Partisan Bias in the Canadian Public

Abstract Partisan and affective polarization should have observable consequences in Canada, such as bias in political information search and processing. This article presents the results of three studies that test for partisan and ideological bias using the Digital Democracy Project's study of the 2019 Canadian election. Study 1 uses a conjoint experiment where respondents choose from pairs of hypothetical news stories where the slant of the source and headline are both randomized. Study 2 tests for partisan-motivated responsiveness to elite cues with a policy vignette that manipulates the presence of party elite cues and a motivational prime. Study 3 requires respondents to solve a randomly assigned numeracy task that is either political or nonpolitical in nature. Results suggest that Canadians (1) select politically congenial information, though not sources of such information, (2) follow elite cues when partisan motivation is primed and (3) evaluate evidence in ways that are biased by their ideological beliefs.
Evidence for lower threshold for diagnosis of hypertension: inferences from an urban-slum cohort in India

Background Hypertension (HTN) is a key risk-factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Blood-pressure (BP) categorizations between systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120 and 140 remain debatable. In the current study we aim to evaluate if individuals with a baseline SBP between 130-140 mm Hg (hypertension as per AHA 2017 guidelines) have a significantly higher proportion of incident hypertension on follow-up, as compared to those with SBP between 120-130 mm Hg. Methods Secondary data analysis was performed in a community-based cohort, instituted, and followed since 2017. Participants were aged [≥]30 years, residents of urban slums in Bhopal. BP was measured at or near home by Community Health Workers (CHWs). Two-year follow up was completed in 2019. We excluded participants who were on BP reduction therapy, had fewer than two out-of-office BP measurements and who could not be followed. Eligible participants were re-classified based on baseline BP in four categories: Normal (Category-A), Elevated-BP (Category-B), Variable-BP (Category-C) and reclassified HTN based on AHA-2017 (Category-D). Proportion of individuals who developed incident hypertension on follow up was primary outcome. Result Out of 2649 records, 768 (28.9%), 647 (24.4%), 586 (22.1%), 648 (24.4%) belonged to Categories A, B, C and D respectively. Incident HTN with cut-off of 140/90 mm Hg was, 1.6%, 2.6%, 6.7%, 12% in categories A, B, C and D respectively. Incidence of incident hypertension in individuals with a baseline SBP between 130-140 mm Hg (Category D) was significantly higher as compared to those with SBP between 120-130 mm Hg (Category B). Conclusion We conclude that biological basis for AHA-2017 definition of hypertension is relatively robust also for low income and resource-limited settings. Evidence from our longitudinal study will be useful for policy makers for harmonizing national guidelines with AHA-2017. Keywords- hypertension, elevated blood pressure, community health worker, cardiovascular diseases
Assessing the Level and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Kenya

The government of Kenya has launched a phased rollout of COVID-19 vaccination. A major barrier is vaccine hesitancy; the refusal or delay of accepting vaccination. This study evaluated the level and determinants of vaccine hesitancy in Kenya. We conducted a cross-sectional study administered through a phone-based survey in February 2021 in four counties of Kenya. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify individual perceived risks and influences, context-specific factors, and vaccine-specific issues associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Kenya was high: 60.1%. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy included: older age, lower education level, perceived difficulty in adhering to government regulations on COVID-19 prevention, less adherence to wearing of face masks, not having ever been tested for COVID-19, no reported socio-economic loss as a result of COVID public-health restriction measures, and concerns regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness. There is a need for the prioritization of interventions to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine confidence as part of the vaccine roll-out plan. These messaging and/or interventions should be holistic to include the value of other public health measures, be focused and targeted to specific groups, raise awareness on the risks of COVID-19 and effectively communicate the benefits and risks of vaccines.
Climate change education in public health and medical curricula in Australian and New Zealand Universities: a mixed methods study of barriers and areas for further action

Background: The World Health Organization deemed climate change and air pollution as the top threat to global health in 2019. The importance of climate for health is recognised by healthcare professionals, who need to be equipped to deliver environmentally sustainable healthcare and promote planetary health. There is some evidence that climate change and health is not strongly embedded in accredited master-level public health training programs and medical programs globally, however, the immersion of climate-health in Australian and New Zealand programs is unclear. Objectives: To explore the extent to which climate-health education is currently embedded into public health and medical curricula in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: Educators identified by their coordination, convenorship, or delivery into programs of public health and medicine at universities in Australia and New Zealand were invited to participate in a cross-sectional, exploratory mixed methods study. Participants completed an online quantitative survey and qualitative interviews regarding their experience in program and course delivery, and the prominence of climate-health content within program and course delivery. Quantitative surveys were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative interview content was analysed via a modified ground theory approach. Results: The response rate of the quantitative survey was 43.7% (21/48). Ten survey respondents also completed qualitative interviews. Quantitative results showed that epidemiologists were the most common experts involved in design and delivery of this curriculum, with a reliance on guest lecturers to provide updated content. Qualitative interviews highlighted the ad-hoc role of Indigenous-led content in this field, the barriers of time and resources to develop a coherent curriculum and the important role of high-level champions to drive the inclusion of climate change and planetary health. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to strengthen current support available for pedagogical leadership in the area of climate and broader environmental change teaching at universities.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Anxiety and Depression in Rosacea Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in China

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by facial redness and bothersome symptoms. It can exert significant psychological effects and impair the quality of life of patients. To investigate the prevalence and risk predictors of anxiety and depression in rosacea patients, we conducted a cross-sectional study in an outpatient setting. Consecutive patients completed a questionnaire, which included questions on sociodemographic information and severity of signs and symptoms; they also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. Disease burden was assessed using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Willing-to-Pay, and Time trade-off. Multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the risk factors for anxiety and depression. A total of 774 patients completed the survey. The prevalence of anxiety was 53.9% (95% CI: 50.4–57.4%) and that of depression was 58.1% (95% CI: 54.7–61.6%). The factors associated with anxiety were age, gender, the need to make appearances at work, severity of self-reported symptoms, the number of rosacea signs and adaptive behaviors, and disease burden. Depression was associated with younger age, more severe self-reported symptoms, more adaptive behaviors, and higher disease burden. After adjusting for demographics, the risk of anxiety or depression increased in young patients who had severe self-reported symptoms, high DLQI scores, and many adaptive behaviors. Taken together, there is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among Chinese rosacea patients. Younger rosacea patients who have more severe self-reported symptoms and higher disease burden are prone to anxiety and depression.
Digital Overuse and Addictive Traits and Their Relationship With Mental Well-Being and Socio-Demographic Factors: A National Population Survey for Wales

Introduction: Population health concerns have been raised about negative impacts from overuse of digital technologies. We examine patterns of online activity predictive of Digital Overuse and Addictive Traits (DOAT). We explore associations between DOAT and mental well-being and analyse how both relate to self-reported changes in self-esteem, perceived isolation, and anxiety about health when individuals use the internet for health purposes. Methods: A cross-sectional nationally representative household survey of adults using stratified random sampling (compliance 75.4%, n = 1,252). DOAT was measured using self-reported questions adapted from a social media addiction scale (failure to cut down use, restlessness when not using, and impact on job/studies and home/social life in the last year), combined into a single DOAT score. Higher DOAT score was defined as >1 standard deviation above population mean. The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale was used to measure mental well-being. Analyses were limited to those with internet access (n = 1,003). Results: Negative impacts of digital technology use on work and home/social lives were reported by 7.4% of respondents. 21.2% had tried but failed to cut down use in the past year. Higher DOAT was associated with higher social media and internet use but also independently associated with greater risks of low mental well-being. Higher DOAT was associated with both improvement and worsening of self-esteem, perceived isolation and anxiety about health when using the internet for health reasons, with no change in these outcomes most likely in those with lower DOAT. Lower mental well-being was associated with a similar bi-directional impact on perceived isolation and was also associated with worsening self-esteem. Conclusions: Substantial proportions of individuals report negative impacts on home, social and working lives from digital technology use, with many trying but failing to cut down use. Individuals with higher DOAT may experience improvements or worsening in self-esteem and other measures of mental well-being when using the internet for health purposes. From a public health perspective, a greater understanding of risk factors for digital overuse, its impacts on well-being and how to reasonably limit use of technology are critical for a successful digital revolution.
Cyberbullying Involvement, Resilient Coping, and Loneliness of Adolescents During Covid-19 in Rural China

Cyberbullying involvement can lead to internal health issues, especially mental health problems. Different coping strategies may reduce or enhance the strengths between cyberbullying experience and mental health problems. In this study, we examined the correlations between cyberbullying involvement and loneliness among a group of children and adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic in China, focusing on investigating the protecting effect of the resilient coping strategy. The results demonstrated that 86.68% of the students were not involved in cyberbullying activities, 8.19% were victims only, 1.89% was perpetrators only, and 3.24% were both victims and perpetrators. Compared with the non-involved, the victims-only group had a significantly higher degree of reported loneliness and a lower score of resilient coping, while the differences of the other groups were not significant. Resilient coping strategy can significantly reduce loneliness and play a mediating role between cyberbullying victimization and loneliness, but such mitigating effect was relatively weak. Besides, peer relations were the primary protective factors, and age was the primary risk factor of loneliness among the controlled variables. This study can enrich current knowledge of cyberbullying involvement and the psychological health among children and adolescents, especially in the context of the pandemic.