Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fluctuations and Pinning for Individually Manipulated Skyrmions

We numerically examine the dynamics of individually dragged skyrmions interacting simultaneously with an array of other skyrmions and quenched disorder. For drives just above depinning, we observe a broadband noise signal with a 1/f characteristic, while at higher drives, narrowband or white noise appears. Even in the absence of quenched disorder, the threshold force that must be applied to translate the driven skyrmion is finite due to elastic interactions with other skyrmions. The depinning threshold increases as the strength of the quenched disorder is raised. Above the depinning force, the skyrmion moves faster in the presence of quenched disorder than in a disorder-free system since the pinning sites prevent other skyrmions from being dragged along with the driven skyrmion. For strong pinning, we find a stick-slip motion of the driven skyrmion which produces a telegraph noise signature. The depinning threshold increases monotonically with skyrmion density in the absence of quenched disorder, but when pinning is present, the depinning threshold changes nonmonotonically with skyrmion density, and there are reentrant pinned phases due to a competition between pinning induced by the quenched disorder and that produced by the elastic interactions of the skyrmion lattice.
Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Nepali Health Care Workers during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Survey

ABSTRACT Introduction: Studies among health care workers from different part of world during the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic have reported substantial impact on their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This study measured the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the mental health of Nepali healthcare workers in different parts of the world during the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out from December 25, 2020 to Jan 25, 2021. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (reference number: 372). Online questionnaire including demographic profiles and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21 instrument were sent to Nepali healthcare workers around the world through social media apps using convenience sampling. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel for Mac version 16.49 and analysed. Results: Among 208 who participated in the study, 62 (30%) participants were positive for anxiety, 47 (22.5%) for depression and 25 (12%) for stress. Higher prevalence of depression 18 (30%) and stress 10 (17%) was found in nurses compared to paramedics, among whom depression was seen in 5 (20%) and stress in 4 (16%). Among doctors, depression was found in 24 (19%) and stress in 11 (9%). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a high proportion of healthcare workers were suffering from depression, anxiety and stress. Our findings are similar to the data from other national and international studies.
Association between the levels of CGI-58 and lipoprotein lipase in the placenta of patients with preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is an idiopathic disease of pregnancy, which seriously endangers the life of both the mother and the infant. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia has not been fully elucidated, although it is generally considered to be associated with abnormal lipid metabolism during pregnancy. Comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) are involved in the first step of triglyceride hydrolysis and serve an important role in lipid transport in the placenta. The present study aimed therefore to investigate the association between CGI-58 and LPL in the placentas of patients with or without preeclampsia and to evaluate blood lipid levels. The patient cohort was divided into two groups, pregnant women with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women (control). According to biochemical analyses, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry analysis and western blotting, the expression of CGI-58 and LPL in the placenta was detected, the blood lipid levels were evaluated and other clinical data were collected. Compared with the control group, triglycerides (TGs), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and atherosclerotic index (AI) were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group, whereas high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A (ApoA) were significantly lower (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression levels of CGI-58 and LPL in the placental tissue of the preeclampsia group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Linear correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a positive association between CGI-58 and LPL (r=0.602; P<0.05), that CGI-58 was positively associated with HDL-C (r=0.63; P<0.01) but negatively associated with TG and ApoB (r=0.840; P<0.01; and r=0.514; P<0.05, respectively), that LPL was positively associated with HDL-C (r=0.524; P<0.01) but negatively associated with TG and AI (r=0.659; P<0.01; and r=0.496; P<0.01, respectively). These results suggested that the expression of CGI-58 and LPL in the placenta was associated with the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and maternal lipids and the risk of preeclampsia was increased with decreasing expression levels of CGI-58 and LPL. Hence, CGI-58 and LPL may be used as important indicators for the diagnosis of preeclampsia and for the prevention of preeclampsia in pregnant women.
The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in astrocytes

Astrocytes are glial cells that support neurological function in the central nervous system (CNS), in part, by providing structural support for neuronal synapses and blood vessels, participating in electrical and chemical transmission, and providing trophic support via soluble factors. Dysregulation of astrocyte function contributes to neurological decline in CNS diseases. Neurological diseases are highly heterogeneous but share common features of cellular stress including the accumulation of misfolded proteins. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been reported in nearly all neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. ER stress occurs when there is an accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER lumen and the protein folding demand of the ER is overwhelmed. ER stress initiates the unfolded protein response (UPR) to restore homeostasis by abating protein translation and, if the cell is irreparably damaged, initiating apoptosis. Although protein aggregation and misfolding in neurological disease has been well described, cell‐specific contributions of ER stress and the UPR in physiological and disease states are poorly understood. Recent work has revealed a role for active UPR signaling that may drive astrocytes toward a maladaptive phenotype in various model systems. In response to ER stress, astrocytes produce inflammatory mediators, have reduced trophic support, and can transmit ER stress to other cells. This review will discuss the current known contributions and consequences of activated UPR signaling in astrocytes.
Mental Health and Wellbeing of 9–12-year-old Children in Northern Canada Before the COVID-19 Pandemic and After the First Lockdown

Objectives: Children’s mental health and wellbeing declined during the first COVID-19 lockdown (Spring 2020), particularly among those from disadvantaged settings. We compared mental health and wellbeing of school-aged children observed pre-pandemic in 2018 and after the first lockdown was lifted and schools reopened in Fall 2020. Methods: In 2018, we surveyed 476 grade 4–6 students (9–12 years old) from 11 schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in Northern Canada that participate in a school-based health promotion program targeting healthy lifestyle behaviours and mental wellbeing. In November-December 2020, we surveyed 467 grade 4–6 students in the same schools. The 12 questions in the mental health and wellbeing domain were grouped based on correlation and examined using multivariable logistic regression. Results: There were no notable changes pre-pandemic vs. post-lockdown in responses to each of the 12 questions or any of the sub-groupings. Conclusion: Supporting schools to implement health promotion programs may help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health and wellbeing. The findings align with recent calls for schools to remain open as long as possible during the pandemic response.
Effect of feed pellet size and tank water level on growth performance in juvenile pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.), reared in a recirculating system

Abstract Three 28-day experiments were performed to assess the impact of two sinking feed pellet sizes (0.5–1.0 and 0.9–1.6 mm for experiment I, 0.9–1.6 and 1.3–2.0 mm for experiment II, and 1.3–2.0 and 1.6–2.4 mm for experiment III) and two tank water levels (0.50 and 0.65 m) on the growth performance of juvenile pikeperch of different mean initial body weights in experiment I, II, III respectively (1.1 ± 0.1 g, 5.1 ± 0.2 g, 16.6 ± 0.5 g) at different ages (67, 102, and 137 days post hatch). Two-factor analysis of variance showed that the growth of pikeperch was positively correlated with feed pellet size in experiment I, both feed pellet size and water level in experiment II, and water level in experiment III. The feed pellet sizes of 0.9–1.6 and 1.3–2.0 mm at body weights of 1.1 g and 5.1 g, respectively, are recommended to promote more efficient pikeperch growth rates. In the case of pikeperch with a body weight of 16.6 g, the feed pellet size was less important than the tank water level.
Hyperbranched Polyethylenimine Modified Waste Fiberboard Activated Carbon for Enhanced Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium

The objective of this work is to prepare a hyperbranched polyethylenimine (HBPEI) grafted activated carbon obtained from waste fiberboard for effectively removing Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The waste fiberboard activated carbon (WFAC) was modified by HBPEI and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA). The optimal modified conditions were as follows: HBPEI molecular weight 10,000 g/mol, HBPEI/WFAC (w/w) 0.5, GA concentration 0.25%, reaction time 60 min. Both pristine WFAC and HBPEI–WFAC were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and Roman spectra. XPS data showed the obvious increase in nitrogen (from 0.72% to 6.65%) after modification. The results of FTIR and XPS suggested that HBPEI was chemically bonded onto the WFAC by the glutaraldehyde (GA) between the amine groups of WFAC and that of HBPEI. HBPEI was also probably grafted onto WFAC through the intermolecular interaction between the carboxylate groups of WFAC and the amine groups of HBPEI. However, the BET surface area of modified WFAC declined slightly (about 200 m2/g). The ID/IG of modified WFAC decreased from 0.92 to 0.82, which indicated that the modification process had no significant effect on the graphitization of activated carbon. The adsorption property onto HBPEI–WFAC and the factors containing contact time, pH value, and Cr(VI) concentration were also investigated. Analysis of the Cr(VI) adsorption data was well simulated by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, and maximum Cr(VI) uptake of HBPEI–WFAC was 500 mg/g.
Determinants of Non-Adherence to the Medications for Dyslipidemia: A Systematic Review

Purpose Dyslipidemia is a major cardiovascular risk factor, and its control leads to less cardiovascular events. Many patients will need some medications to achieve ideal targets. Non-adherence to medications is a complex problem with high impact on their effectiveness. This study aims to identify the determinants of non-adherence to medications in patients with dyslipidemia. Patients and Methods We conducted a systematic review. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for original articles, published between 2000 and 2020, using the MeSH terms “Dyslipidemias” and “Medication Adherence”. Results From the initial 3502 identified articles, we selected 46 to include in the final qualitative synthesis. The determinants associated with non-adherence were lower age (≤50 years), female sex, African American ethnicity, smoking habits, being a new user of lipid-lowering medications, reporting or having concerns about lipid-lowering medication side effects and some comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, depression and diabetes). On the contrary, adherence is higher in older patients, alcohol drinking habits, taking β-blockers, having a higher number of comorbidities, having a history of cardiovascular events, cardiac interventions or revascularization procedures, having health insurance and having more provider follow-up visits. Conclusion There are important identifiable determinants of non-adherence in patients with dyslipidemia. These patients benefit from a specific approach to minimize the problem and maximize the potential benefit of the prescription.
Pressure Curves, Static and Dynamic Stiffness of Different Two-Component Compression Systems for the Treatment of Chronic Edema of the Lower Limbs.

Background: Compression is a cornerstone modality in edema treatment. Different types of bandages are available in clinical practice. Short-stretch bandages are commonly used; however, newer technologies such as the two-component compression system are available as well. This study assesses the pressure curves and static and dynamic stiffness (Static Stiffness Index [SSI] and Dynamic Stiffness Index [DSI]) of two different two-component compression systems, Coban and CoFlex, for edema treatment. Methods and Results: For this prospective cohort study, 12 healthy volunteers were recruited. The healthy volunteers wore both two-component compression systems for 48 hours. Pressure sensors (PicoPress®; Microlab, Italy) were placed at 10 and 25 cm above the internal malleolus and 10 pressure readings were used to obtain pressure curves. The SSI and DSI were assessed. Additionally, comfort (ICC compression questionnaire) and adverse events were assessed as well. Both two-component compression systems exert a sufficient amount of sub-bandage pressure, although CoFlex exerts systematically significantly lower pressure in comparison with Coban. This difference in sub-bandage pressure remains constant over 48 hours. Both two-component compression systems are sufficiently stiff (stiffness >15 mmHg) and remain stiff over time. Conclusions: Both two-component compression systems have pressure curves that are high enough to motivate their use in the treatment of chronic edema. Additionally, both systems were found to be comfortable and have clinically effective SSI and DSI values.
Enabling social participation for older people: The content of reablement by age, gender, and level of functioning in occupational therapists’ interventions

Abstract Background Social participation and the ability to build and maintain social relationships is emphasized as important for older people’s health and well-being. Aim To explore if social participation is addressed and whether age, gender and level of functioning are associated with the composition of occupational therapy interventions within the context of reablement. Method In this cross-sectional study, invitations to participate were sent to 60 municipalities in Sweden. 318 occupational therapists participated and described the character of initiated interventions made during 3 weeks through web-based surveys. Result 1392 cases were reported in the age span of 19–103 years, 61.7% were women. A higher proportion of persons having no home care and minor functional dependency got interventions with a focus on social participation to a higher extent than persons with major functional dependency. Occupational therapists’ interventions vary as related to functional limitation, age, and gender. Conclusion The results indicate that the severity of functional limitation impacts the focus of the intervention whereas age and gender do not. There is a need for social participation to be more clearly addressed within the context of reablement. Significance To develop a person-centred intervention, one needs to consider aspects of age, gender, and functions.
Electrocardiogram Quality Assessment Using Unsupervised Deep Learning

Objective: Noise and disturbances hinder effective interpretation of recorded ECG. To identify the clean parts of a recording, free from such disturbances, various quality indicators have been developed. Previous instances of these indicators focus on human-defined desirable properties of a clean signal. The reliance on human-specified properties places an inherent limitation on the potential power of signal quality indicators. To move away from this limitation, we propose a data-driven quality indicator. Methods: We use an unsupervised deep learning model, the auto-encoder, to derive the quality indicator. For different quality assessment settings we compare the performance of our quality indicator with traditional indicators. Results: The data-driven method performs consistently strong across tasks while performance of the traditional indicators varies strongly from task to task. Conclusion: This strong performance indicates the potential of data-driven quality indicators for use in ECG processing, removing the reliance on expert-specified desirable properties. Significance: The proposed methodology can easily be extended towards learning quality indicators in other data modalities.
Lead-antimony sulfosalts from Tuscany (Italy). XIX. Crystal chemistry of chovanite from two new occurrences in the Apuan Alps and its 8 Å crystal structure

Abstract Two new occurrences of the lead oxy-sulfosalt chovanite have been identified at the Monte Arsiccio and Pollone mines, Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy. Chovanite from Monte Arsiccio occurs as black acicular crystals, up to 5 mm long, associated with rouxelite, robinsonite, sphalerite, valentinite, baryte, dolomite, quartz and Ba-rich K-feldspar (‘hyalophane’) inmetadolostone vugs. Its unit-cell parameters are a = 48.38(5), b = 4.11(4), c = 34.18(4) Å, β = 106.26(2)°, V = 6521(64) Å3, space group C2/m. Very weak reflections indicate the doubling of the b parameter. Electron-microprobe data gave (wt.%): Ag 0.28, Tl 1.51, Pb 45.57, Sb 31.00, As 1.09, S 19.73, Se 0.05, Cl 0.02, sum 99.25. On the basis of ΣMe = 58 apfu, its formula is Ag0.30Tl0. 86Pb25.56Sb29. 59As1.69S71. 52Se0.07Cl0.05. Adding one oxygen atom, it is close to the formula TlPb26(Sb,As)31S72O. Chovanite from Pollone occurs as thick black acicular crystals, up to 1 cm long, associated with baryte and quartz. The high-diffraction quality of the available material allowed the solution and refinement of the 8 Å crystal structure in the space group P21/c, with unit-cell parameters a = 34.052(3), b = 8.2027(7), c = 48.078(4) Å, β = 106.258(4)°, V = 12891.9(19) Å3. The refinement converged to R1 = 9.14% on the basis of 19,853 observed reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). Electron-microprobe data gave (wt.%): Ag 0.12, Tl 0.54, Pb 48.34, Bi 0.20, Sb 26.71, As 3.37, S 20.23, Cl 0.07, sum 99.57. It corresponds to the formula Ag0.13Tl0. 30Pb26.94Bi0. 10Sb25.33As5. 20S72.85Cl0.20, close to the idealized formula Pb28(Sb,As)30S72O, with a single oxygen atom bound to two (Sb/As) atoms alternating with a vacancy along b as in scainiite and in other Pb oxy-sulfosalts. The crystal chemistry of this 8 Å crystal structure is detailed, taking into account its modular description, the (Sb,As)mSn polymerization, its topological derivation from pellouxite, and the oxygen non-stoichiometry.
Obesity and the relation between joint exposure to ambient air pollutants and incident type 2 diabetes: A cohort study in UK Biobank

Background Air pollution has been related to incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We assessed the joint association of various air pollutants with the risk of T2D and examined potential modification by obesity status and genetic susceptibility on the relationship. Methods and findings A total of 449,006 participants from UK Biobank free of T2D at baseline were included. Of all the study population, 90.9% were white and 45.7% were male. The participants had a mean age of 56.6 (SD 8.1) years old and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.4 (SD 4.8) kg/m2. Ambient air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) with diameters ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), between 2.5 μm and 10 μm (PM2.5–10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. An air pollution score was created to assess the joint exposure to the 4 air pollutants. During a median of 11 years follow-up, we documented 18,239 incident T2D cases. The air pollution score was significantly associated with a higher risk of T2D. Compared to the lowest quintile of air pollution score, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for T2D was 1.05 (0.99 to 1.10, p = 0.11), 1.06 (1.00 to 1.11, p = 0.051), 1.09 (1.03 to 1.15, p = 0.002), and 1.12 (1.06 to 1.19, p < 0.001) for the second to fifth quintile, respectively, after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, genetic factors, and other covariates. In addition, we found a significant interaction between the air pollution score and obesity status on the risk of T2D (p-interaction < 0.001). The observed association was more pronounced among overweight and obese participants than in the normal-weight people. Genetic risk score (GRS) for T2D or obesity did not modify the relationship between air pollution and risk of T2D. Key study limitations include unavailable data on other potential T2D-related air pollutants and single-time measurement on air pollutants. Conclusions We found that various air pollutants PM2.5, PM2.5–10, NO2, and NO, individually or jointly, were associated with an increased risk of T2D in the population. The stratified analyses indicate that such associations were more strongly associated with T2D risk among those with higher adiposity.