Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Filler Anisometry on the Mechanical Response of a Magnetoactive Elastomer Cell: A Single-Inclusion Modeling Approach

A finite-element model of the mechanical response of a magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) volume element is presented. Unit cells containing a single ferromagnetic inclusion with geometric and magnetic anisotropy are considered. The equilibrium state of the cell is calculated using the finite-element method and cell energy minimization. The response of the cell to three different excitation modes is studied: inclusion rotation, inclusion translation, and uniaxial cell stress. The influence of the magnetic properties of the filler particles on the equilibrium state of the MAE cell is considered. The dependence of the mechanical response of the cell on the filler concentration and inclusion anisometry is calculated and analyzed. Optimal filler shapes for maximizing the magnetic response of the MAE are discussed.
Ultrafine particle number fluxes over and in a deciduous forest

Ultrafine particles (UFP, particles with diameters (Dp) < 100 nm) play a key role in climate forcing; thus, there is interest in improved understanding of atmosphere‐surface exchange of these particles. Long‐term flux measurements from a deciduous forest in the Midwestern USA (taken during December 2012 to May 2014) show that although a substantial fraction of the data period indicates upward fluxes of UFP, on average, the forest is a net sink for UFP during both leaf‐active and leaf‐off periods. The overall mean above‐canopy UFP number flux computed from this large data set is −4.90 × 106 m−2 s−1 which re‐emphasizes the importance of these ecosystems to UFP removal from the atmosphere. Although there remain major challenges to accurate estimation of the UFP number flux and in drawing inferences regarding the actual surface exchange from measurements taken above the canopy, the above the canopy mean flux is shown to be downward throughout the day (except at 23.00) with largest‐magnitude fluxes during the middle of the day. On average, nearly three quarters of the total UFP capture by this ecosystem occurs at the canopy. This fraction increases to 78% during the leaf‐active period, but the over‐storey remains dominant over the subcanopy even during the leaf‐off period.
Prediabetes-Associated Changes in Skeletal Muscle Function and Their Possible Links with Diabetes: A Literature Review

The skeletal muscle plays a critical role in regulating systemic blood glucose homeostasis. Impaired skeletal muscle glucose homeostasis associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been observed to significantly affect the whole-body glucose homeostasis, thereby resulting in other diabetic complications. T2DM does not only affect skeletal muscle glucose homeostasis, but it also affects skeletal muscle structure and functional capacity. Given that T2DM is a global health burden, there is an urgent need to develop therapeutic medical therapies that will aid in the management of T2DM. Prediabetes (PreDM) is a prominent risk factor of T2DM that usually goes unnoticed in many individuals as it is an asymptomatic condition. Hence, research on PreDM is essential because establishing diabetic biomarkers during the prediabetic state would aid in preventing the development of T2DM, as PreDM is a reversible condition if it is detected in the early stages. The literature predominantly documents the changes in skeletal muscle during T2DM, but the changes in skeletal muscle during prediabetes are not well elucidated. In this review, we seek to review the existing literature on PreDM- and T2DM-associated changes in skeletal muscle function.
Virtual Academic Asynchronous Mentoring (VAAM) for Faculty Physicians: An Innovative Mentorship

Introduction: Successful mentorship programs in academic medicine correlate with increased achievement in scholarly activities, leadership, and academic advancement for faculty members, as well as reduced burnout. Despite these benefits, the traditional mentorship model may be underutilized due to challenges of time constraints and alignment in goals. Furthermore, women and underrepresented in medicine (UriM) physicians are less likely to have mentorship, perpetuating the gap in the diversity of academic faculty in leadership and career advancement. To address this, we created an innovative mentorship model for busy academic faculty physicians using a virtual academic asynchronous mentoring video platform. Methods: A series of videos were created by interviewing 10 identified mentors (four male, six female) from various medical specialties at a national academic institution. The mentors included nine physician faculty with the academic rank of Associate Professor or full Professor and one Research Administrator. Key learning points shared by mentors included topics on academic advancement, mentorship development, leadership development, and research resources. Results: Between March 2020 and September 2023, the Virtual Academic Asynchronous Mentoring (VAAM) Video Series garnered 182 unique viewers, received 2,107 visits, and accumulated 1,871 total minutes of viewing time. All viewers were surveyed, with an 11% survey response rate received. Fifty-two percent of survey respondents reported that the video content was excellent and 43% reported very good. Seventy-six percent of respondents thought the video series had the potential to enhance their professional development and academic productivity. Conclusion: The VAAM Video Platform offers a novel approach to academic mentoring for faculty physicians which eliminates limitations of traditional mentorship models in a convenient and cost-effective way. VAAM offers an egalitarian starting point for all junior faculty who have not yet established a mentoring relationship to seek information and resources on academic advancement and career development.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Restrictions on Vitamin D Status in a Large Cohort of Italian Children and Adolescents

Background and Objectives: Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin upon sunlight exposure, showing variations with season and latitude. We aimed to investigate the influence of age, sex, and season on vitamin D status in a large pediatric cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic period and the corresponding pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Retrospective data concerning subjects aged < 18 years were extracted anonymously from the large database of a reference laboratory hospital (Sassari, Northern Sardinia, Italy). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels measured during the pre-pandemic period (1 March 2018 to 30 September 2019) were compared with those detected during the pandemic period (1 March 2020 to 30 September 2021). Results: A total of 2317 samples from subjects aged < 18 years were included in the analysis, 1303 (47.9% females) of which were collected in the pre-pandemic period and 1014 (51.3% females) in the pandemic period. No significant differences in 25(OH)D levels were found between the two periods, whereas, in children aged < 2 years, levels were higher than those in children aged 11–16 years (p < 0.05). Monthly levels of 25(OH)D between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods did not differ, although significant differences were detected across months (p < 0.0001). Similarly, 25(OH)D values did not differ significantly between males and females in both periods. Marked seasonal variations were observed in males and females across all age groups. Conclusions: Serum vitamin D levels and their season-related variations were not significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions in a large cohort of Italian children and adolescents.
GluN2A Mediates PS-Induced Depressive-Like Behavior by Activating CaMKII and Inhibiting Myelinization.

BACKGROUND Prenatal stress (PS) can induce depression in offspring, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. OBJECTIVE The aim of this work was to investigate the mechanism that underlies PS-induced depressive-like behavior in offspring. METHODS A prenatal restraint stress procedure was developed in which pregnant rats at GD14 to GD20 were placed head-first into a well-ventilated bottle three times each day and for 45 min each time. Depressive-like behavior in the male offspring was examined using the sucrose preference test (SPT) and the forced swim test (FST). The level of glutamate and the expression levels of GluN2A, p-CaMKII and myelin basic protein (MBP) in the hippocampus of PS-susceptible (PS-S) offspring were also evaluated. To clarify the mechanism by which PS leads to depression in offspring, the effects of excessive corticosterone were also investigated using an in vitro "injured neuronal" model. RESULTS The glutamate level in the hippocampus of PS-S male offspring was significantly elevated compared to controls. The expression levels of GluN2A and p-CaMKII were also altered. In addition, the optical density of MBP staining and the expression levels of MBP mRNA and MBP protein were decreased, demonstrating impaired myelinization in the hippocampus. Treatment of PS-S offspring with the GluN2A receptor antagonist NVP-AAM077 resulted in antidepressant-like effects in the FST, as well as rescue of the MBP and p-CaMKII abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that GluN2A is a promising target in the development of pharmacotherapies for PS-induced depression.
Phillipsite Cementation in a Foraminiferal Sandstone at Hole 373A and "The Case of the Violated Foram"

Pliocene foraminiferal sandstone at Site 373A contains about 35% phillipsite as pore-filling cement. The sediment originated as a well-sorted foram-rich sand which was redeposited from an adjacent area and which had very high initial porosity. Following compaction, precipitation of phillipsite in intergranular pore space cemented the sand. Phillipsite crystals also precipitated within foraminiferal chambers where, in places, they replaced micrite. Some zeolite crystals also breach shell walls by penetrating their pores. This precipitation of phillipsite appears to be the consequence of unusual pore water chemistry, the proximity to altered basalt, and the high porosity of the sand layer.
THE EFFECT OF WEATHER VARIABILITY ON THE ENERGY BALANCE OF A LAKE IN THE HUDSON BAY LOWLANDS, CANADA

Evaporation is an important component of the water balance of lakes in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, but the amount of summer evaporation in this area is not well known. Hourly summertime estimates of evaporation, from a small tundra lake near Churchill, Manitoba, are compared to equilibrium evaporation estimates of the Penman model. For the entire measurement period a = 1.35. For individual days a ranges from 1.0 to 2.0 and for individual hours from 1.0 to 4.0. Local advection is primarily responsible for the large fluxes of latent heat. The latent heat flux exceeds available radiant energy over the summer, with temperature inversions occurring over the lake on the majority of days. The advective enhancement of lake evaporation responds to daily weather variations. The classification of these variations will improve operational estimates of lake evaporation.
Status of Living with Parents, Smartphone Addiction, and Problematic Eating Behavior in Adolescents

Excessive intensity of smartphone use can disrupt eating behavior in adolescents. This study aims to analyze the relationship between smartphone addiction and problematic eating behavior. This research involved 230 junior high school students in Jakarta. The research design uses a cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation and Independent Sample T-Test. The results of the Chi-Square test show that the Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) for the smartphone addiction category with a problematic eating behavior category is 0.000 (p<0.05). The correlation test result shows a relationship between the smartphone addiction category and the duration of smartphone use in the morning, afternoon and evening. The Chi-Square Test shows a relationship between the categories of problematic eating behavior and the duration of smartphone use in the morning and afternoon. The Independent Sample T-Test result shows a significant difference in the daily-life disturbance and positive anticipation dimensions between respondents who live with their complete parents (TOL) and those who do not live with their complete parents (TTOL). The result shows a significant positive relationship between smartphone addiction and problematic eating behavior (r=0.711; p=0.000). Adolescents need to raise awareness to use smartphones as needed. In addition, adolescents are advised to adopt healthy eating habits to optimize their growth.
Factors Affecting Criminal Behavior of Afghan Youth: A Case Study of Kabul Province Afghanistan

One of Afghanistan's primary challenges is its high rate of criminal activities. The alarming rise in the number of crimes committed across the country is becoming a matter of great concern. It is popular to relate criminal activities with the poor physical, psychological, social and economic situation of the impoverished part of the population. The most prominent factors contributing to youth criminal behavior in Afghanistan are the country's high levels of poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Keeping all of these facts in mind, the major objective of this study was to analyze the factors affecting youth criminal behavior in Kabul, Afghanistan. In this study quantitative research approach was used. Field surveys were the primary method for collecting the data. A multistage random sampling technique was used for collecting the data. Firstly, two districts were chosen at random from central Kabul. The Kabul Children's Reform and Education Center was a deliberate choice for the second stage. the third stage involved selecting a sample size of 300 responders in a way that was purposeful. A questionnaire was designed as a data collection instrument, and collected data was analyzed using version 25 of the SPSS program. According to the findings of the survey, the majority of the respondents who were involved in criminal activities were between the ages of 21 and 25, and they were married. Univariate analysis revealed that, the primary factors contributing to youth criminal behavior include poverty, unemployment, lack of socializing and peer pressure. Bivariate analysis revealed that youth unemployment and excessive use of social media were factors that contributed to criminal activities. Hence, this study suggested that government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should work together to raise awareness and foster youth empowerment in order to ensure that individuals have the skills and knowledge necessary to engage in the job market and become productive members of society.
Antibiotic prescribing practices in otolaryngology head and neck surgery in Australia and New Zealand: a survey of 137 specialists

Background: Antibiotic resistance has become a global health issue with substantial health and economic burdens. Surgical prophylaxis is the main indication for prescribing antibiotics and over 40% of prescriptions are inappropriate. This study aims to assess the antibiotic prescribing practices in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in Australia and New Zealand, comparing current practices to national guidelines and current evidence. Methods: A survey was sent to practising Otolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. Surgeons were asked to indicate their antibiotic prescribing practises for general and subspecialty procedures. Results: A total of 472 emails were sent to members from the Australian Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS) and New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (NZSOHNS). After 12 weeks of the survey being active, a total of 137 responses were collected (29.0% response rate). For tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy 64% (n=87) prescribed no antibiotics while 31.1% (n=41) prescribed postoperative antibiotics. For insertion of middle ear ventilation tubes, most surgeons (51.8%, n=71) did not prescribe antibiotics while 48.9% (n=67) prescribed post-operative ototopical antibiotics only. For septoplasty ± turbinoplasty most surgeons preferred post-operative antibiotics if they used packing after the operation (62.3%, n=81). Prescribing practices for subspecialty operations within Head and Neck/Laryngology, Otology, Rhinology/Skull base and facial plastics were varied. Conclusions: Antibiotic prescribing practices were varied among Otolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand with a gap between current prescribing practices and national guidelines. Given the increased attention to and awareness of antibiotic resistance, further high-level studies are needed to determine the need and efficacy of antibiotics in various elective operations.
Evaluation of Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis against Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry for Estimation of Low Muscle Mass in Older Hospitalized Patients

The accuracy of multi-frequency (MF) bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to estimate low muscle mass in older hospitalized patients remains unclear. This study aimed to describe the ability of MF-BIA to identify low muscle mass as proposed by The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) and The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP-2) and examine the association between muscle mass, dehydration, malnutrition, and poor appetite in older hospitalized patients. In this prospective exploratory cohort study, low muscle mass was estimated with MF-BIA against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 42 older hospitalized adults (≥65 years). The primary variable for muscle mass was appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), and secondary variables were appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Cut-off values for low muscle mass were based on recommendations by GLIM and EWGSOP-2. MF-BIA was evaluated against DXA on the ability to estimate absolute values of muscle mass by mean bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and accuracy (5% and 10% levels). Agreement between MF-BIA and DXA to identify low muscle mass was evaluated with sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV). The association between muscle mass, dehydration, malnutrition, and poor appetite was visually examined with boxplots. MF-BIA overestimated absolute values of ASM with a mean bias of 0.63 kg (CI: −0.20:1.46, LOA: −4.61:5.87). Agreement between MF-BIA and DXA measures of ASM showed a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 94%, PPV of 75% and NPV of 97%. Boxplots indicate that ASM is lower in patients with malnutrition. This was not observed in patients with poor appetite. We observed a tendency toward higher ASM in patients with dehydration. Estimation of absolute ASM values with MF-BIA should be interpreted with caution, but MF-BIA might identify low muscle mass in older hospitalized patients.
Deep learning-based projection synthesis for low-dose cone-beam computed tomography imaging in image-guided radiotherapy

Background The imaging dose of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) poses adverse effects on patient health. To improve the quality of sparse-view low-dose CBCT images, a projection synthesis convolutional neural network (SynCNN) model is proposed. Methods Included in this retrospective, single-center study were 223 patients diagnosed with brain tumours from Beijing Cancer Hospital. The proposed SynCNN model estimated two pairs of orthogonally direction-separable spatial kernels to synthesize the missing projection in between the input neighboring sparse-view projections via local convolution operations. The SynCNN model was trained on 150 real patients to learn patterns for inter-view projection synthesis. CBCT data from 30 real patients were used to validate the SynCNN, while data from a phantom and 43 real patients were used to test the SynCNN externally. Sparse-view projection datasets with 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 of the original sampling rate were simulated, and the corresponding full-view projection datasets were restored using the SynCNN model. The tomographic images were then reconstructed with the Feldkamp-Davis-Kress algorithm. The root-mean-square error (RMSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and structural similarity (SSIM) metrics were measured in both the projection and image domains. Five experts were invited to grade the image quality blindly for 40 randomly selected evaluation groups with a four-level rubric, where a score greater than or equal to 2 was considered acceptable image quality. The running time of the SynCNN model was recorded. The SynCNN model was directly compared with the three other methods on 1/4 sparse-view reconstructions. Results The phantom and patient studies showed that the missing projections were accurately synthesized. In the image domain, for the phantom study, compared with images reconstructed from sparse-view projections, images with SynCNN synthesis exhibited significantly improved qualities with decreased values in RMSE and increased values in PSNR and SSIM. For the patient study, between the results with and without the SynCNN synthesis, the averaged RMSE decreased by 3.4×10−4, 10.3×10−4, and 21.7×10−4, the averaged PSNR increased by 3.4, 6.6, and 9.4 dB, and the averaged SSIM increased by 5.2×10−2, 18.9×10−2 and 33.9×10−2, for the 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 sparse-view reconstructions, respectively. In expert subjective evaluation, both the median scores and acceptance rates of the images with SynCNN synthesis were higher than those reconstructed from sparse-view projections. It took the model less than 0.01 s to synthesize an inter-view projection. Compared with the three other methods, the SynCNN model obtained the best scores in terms of the three metrics in both domains. Conclusions The proposed SynCNN model effectively improves the quality of sparse-view CBCT images at a low time cost. With the SynCNN model, the CBCT imaging dose in IGRT could be reduced potentially.
Reconfigurable Black Phosphorus Vertical Tunneling Field-Effect Transistor With Record High ON-Currents

Tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) have been proposed as energy-efficient switches for low-power integrated circuits. In this letter, we present the first reconfigurable black phosphorus vertical TFET. The device exhibits a record high ON-current (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}_{\text {ON}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) among all 2D TFETs of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$15.2~\mu \text{A}/\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> at <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {DS}} = -{1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V and a subthreshold swing (SS) of 187 mV/dec at <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$V_{\text {DS}} = -{0.3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V. By tuning the electrostatic doping with multiple gates, the device can be reconfigured to operate in the TFET mode or the MOSFET mode and can be tuned to behave like an n-type or p-type FET. Moreover, negative differential resistance (NDR) is observed in the forward bias of the TFET at room temperature, providing unambiguous evidence of band-to-band tunneling in our devices.
Lipase-Assisted Synthesis of Alkyl Stearates: Optimization by Taguchi Design of Experiments and Application as Defoamers

The present work proposes the optimization of enzymatic synthesis of alkyl stearates using stearic acid, alkyl alcohols (C1-OH, C2-OH, C4-OH, C8-OH and C16-OH) and Candida rugosa lipase by a L9 (34) Taguchi-type design of experiments. Four variables were evaluated (reaction time, temperature, kU of lipase and alcohol:stearic acid molar ratio), ensuring that all variables were critical. In optimal conditions, five stearates were obtained with conversions > 90%. The obtained products were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Additionally, the defoaming capacity of the five stearates was evaluated, obtaining better performance for the compound synthesized from C8-OH alcohol.