Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ubiquitin Ligases in Longevity and Aging Skeletal Muscle

The development and prevalence of diseases associated with aging presents a global health burden on society. One hallmark of aging is the loss of proteostasis which is caused in part by alterations to the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) and lysosome–autophagy system leading to impaired function and maintenance of mass in tissues such as skeletal muscle. In the instance of skeletal muscle, the impairment of function occurs early in the aging process and is dependent on proteostatic mechanisms. The UPS plays a pivotal role in degradation of misfolded and aggregated proteins. For the purpose of this review, we will discuss the role of the UPS system in the context of age-related loss of muscle mass and function. We highlight the significant role that E3 ubiquitin ligases play in the turnover of key components (e.g., mitochondria and neuromuscular junction) essential to skeletal muscle function and the influence of aging. In addition, we will briefly discuss the contribution of the UPS system to lifespan. By understanding the UPS system as part of the proteostasis network in age-related diseases and disorders such as sarcopenia, new discoveries can be made and new interventions can be developed which will preserve muscle function and maintain quality of life with advancing age.
An Analysis of Student’s Behavioral Intention to Use Digital Wallet Using UTAUT Model

The aim of study is to analyze the factors that affect the behavioral intention of students to use digital wallet based on unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The population of research is students of Universitas Negeri Semarang who have used digital wallet. The number of respondents was 155 students. The sampling technique was incidental sampling. We used a questionnaire for data collection. The data analysis technique used was SEM-PLS. The results showed that performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivations, and habits influence behavioral intention significant and positively. Meanwhile, there are no evidence that effort expectancy, social influence, and price value affect student’s behavioral intention to use a digital wallet significantly.
The Effects of Information-Seeking Behaviors on Risk Perception During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Survey

Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus represents an ongoing public health challenge that necessitates a heightened need to understand people’s risk perceptions as well as their information-seeking behavior. Objective The aim of this study is to explore the impact of different information-seeking behaviors on people’s risk perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We employed convenience sampling in order to administer questionnaires to 3048 residents in Hunan Province, China. After screening the questionnaires for inclusion in the study, multiple linear regressions were then used to analyze the impact of the characteristics of respondents’ information-seeking behavior on their risk perceptions. Results From the 3048 distributed 2611 were included. New media (80.20%) was the most frequently used source of information seeking, and traditional media were participants’ most trusted source of COVID-19 information. Statistics of COVID-19 were the type of information most frequently queried by respondents, and approximately 30.0% of them reported that most or all of the COVID-19 information they sought was negative. Approximately one in five respondents reported that they sought COVID-19 information more than 10 times per day. The results of our multivariate linear regression analysis showed that “seeking information from new media ”, “level of trust in new media and local propaganda”, “information content being about protective behaviors and personal related information”, “proportion of negative information”, and “frequency of information seeking” were positively associated, and “seeking information from traditional media” and “level of trust in traditional media” were negatively associated with people’s risk perception of COVID-19. Conclusion We find that specific types of channels of information acquisition and public trust in these information channels, their informational content, and proportion of negative information, as well as a frequency of information seeking all had an impact on risk perception during COVID-19.
Measuring Faculty Faith & Learning Involvement: Toward the Validation of a Survey Instrument

Abstract Higher education continues to face an uncertain future, not only through demographic shifts, rising costs, and a competitive marketplace, but also through dissonant visions for the telos of education. In this context, Christian institutions have the opportunity to carve out a distinctive niche, provide answers about the purpose of a liberal education, while also impacting the lives of its students and staff through their Christ-centered missions. In an effort to meet those ends, the integration of faith and learning remains central in the life of religious colleges and universities. As a result, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument to measure faculty involvement in faith-learning integration. Through a sample of faculty at seven member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), the survey instrument met both validity and reliability standards, and also revealed three distinct areas of faculty involvement in the integrative task. Moving forward, administrative and faculty leaders could use the instrument to help gauge the involvement of their current and future faculty, and then engage in tailored professional development toward sustaining and supporting faculty growth.
What controls local entrainment and detrainment rates in simulated shallow convection?

The lack of consensus as to how entrainment and detrainment must be represented in convection parameterizations highlights the need for in-depth investigations of the processes driving lateral mixing in clouds. Direct estimates of entrainment and detrainment rates are here obtained from high-resolution simulations of shallow cumulus convection using a method that isolates the contributions from various competing processes. Moreover, cloud averaged entrainment and detrainment rates are computed and correlated with bulk cloud and environmental properties. Detrainment is found to dominate in the middle of the cloud layer, and is locally driven by evaporation along cloud edges. Entrainment and detrainment events also occur due to changes in updraft velocity, but vertical acceleration and deceleration balance each other on average to yield no net entrainment/detrainment. In contrast, entrainment at cloud base is mostly related to condensation in dry updrafts surrounding the clouds, whereas detrainment at the top of the cloud layer is driven by buoyancy reversal. Cloud averaged entrainment and detrainment rates both correlate preferentially with in-cloud vertical pressure gradients at all altitudes, but not with cloud core buoyancy. No significant influence of environmental moisture on entrainment/detrainmentwas found, probably because of the very humid shell surrounding each cloud. Overall, these results suggest that entrainment and detrainment result from two concurring processes: a cloud-scale circulation driven by vertical pressure gradients, and small-scale, turbulent-like motions along the core edges generating mixing and, again, vertical pressure gradients.
Social capital in the context of volunteer conservation initiatives

Conservation volunteering aims to benefit species and ecosystems, but whether positive collective social outcomes exist for conservation group participants is largely unknown. To examine the importance of the collective social benefits from conservation, we surveyed members of the Auckland, New Zealand public to investigate social capital: the connections among people and the collective positive benefits that are enabled. We found members of community groups, particularly conservation groups, had higher social capital than people who did not participate in community groups. Members of multiple types of community group also had increased social capital scores. Conservation group members had more positive perceptions of pest management compared with members of the public not undertaking conservation action. Our findings indicate that conservation groups and their members are associated with collective social benefits not previously identified. Linking social capital benefits with ecological benefits could increase conservation's appeal to people more strongly motivated by personal well‐being and a sense of community, facilitating positive outcomes for them and the environment. To increase social capital at the community level, we recommend encouraging participation in community conservation.
Improving Sustainability of EDM Sector by Implementing Unconventional Competitive Manufacturing Approach

In this research work, an attempt was made to machine the titanium (Ti6Al4V) alloy utilizing electric discharge machining technique. The distinct process parameters and its impact on the machining performance were identified using the cause-and-effect diagram (CED). The key process parameters identified by CED diagram were current, pulse on time (Ton), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) powder concentration, and gap distance; experiments were conducted by varying the process parameters, experimental runs were designed using the Taguchi mixed orthogonal array. The experimental results revealed that improvement in material removal rate (MRR) was due to the bridging effect; reduction in tool wear rate (TWR) owing to the expansion of spark gap and enhancement in the surface roughness (Ra) was due to the complete flushing of machined debris. The interaction impact was analysed using the contour plot and with the aid of mathematical modelling experimental fits that were identified and the results were validated utilizing the sensitivity analysis. The obtained results were optimized using the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) optimization technique.
Effectiveness of an Integrated Simulation in Teaching Clinical Social Work Skills: Geriatric Mental Health Proficiency

ABSTRACT Nationally, social work students face limited access to clinical education that examines the intersection of older adults, chronic disease, and mental health. This is critical due to a rapidly aging population and a shortage of geriatrics trained social workers. Scant data exists on the effectiveness of clinical simulations to prepare social work students in geriatrics and mental health specialties. In this study, 118 MSW students completed a simulation through the Standardized Patient (SP) Program consisting of a gerontology course, patient interview, debriefings, self-efficacy and counseling skill outcomes, and qualitative surveys. Students reported gains in knowledge, counseling self-efficacy, and clinical skill competency. Simulations assess students in clinical scenarios to improve counseling skills towards achieving clinical competency.
Antiaging Mechanism of Natural Compounds: Effects on Autophagy and Oxidative Stress

Aging is a natural biological process that manifests as the progressive loss of function in cells, tissues, and organs. Because mechanisms that are meant to promote cellular longevity tend to decrease in effectiveness with age, it is no surprise that aging presents as a major risk factor for many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and diabetes. Oxidative stress, an imbalance between the intracellular antioxidant and overproduction of reactive oxygen species, is known to promote the aging process. Autophagy, a major pathway for protein turnover, is considered as one of the hallmarks of aging. Given the progressive physiologic degeneration and increased risk for disease that accompanies aging, many studies have attempted to discover new compounds that may aid in the reversal of the aging process. Here, we summarize the antiaging mechanism of natural or naturally derived synthetic compounds involving oxidative stress and autophagy. These compounds include: 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) derivatives (synthetic triterpenoids derived from naturally occurring oleanolic acid), caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE, the active ingredient in honey bee propolis), xanthohumol (a prenylated flavonoid identified in the hops plant), guggulsterone (a plant steroid found in the resin of the guggul plant), resveratrol (a natural phenol abundantly found in grape), and sulforaphane (a sulfur-containing compound found in cruciferous vegetables).
Recent Progress in the Development of Opaganib for the Treatment of Covid-19

Abstract The Covid-19 pandemic driven by the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to exert extensive humanitarian and economic stress across the world. Although antivirals active against mild disease have been identified recently, new drugs to treat moderate and severe Covid-19 patients are needed. Sphingolipids regulate key pathologic processes, including viral proliferation and pathologic host inflammation. Opaganib (aka ABC294640) is a first-in-class clinical drug targeting sphingolipid metabolism for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Recent work demonstrates that opaganib also has antiviral activity against several viruses including SARS-CoV-2. A recently completed multinational Phase 2/3 clinical trial of opaganib in patients hospitalized with Covid-19 demonstrated that opaganib can be safely administered to these patients, and more importantly, resulted in a 62% decrease in mortality in a large subpopulation of patients with moderately severe Covid-19. Furthermore, acceleration of the clearance of the virus was observed in opaganib-treated patients. Understanding the biochemical mechanism for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of opaganib is essential for optimizing Covid-19 treatment protocols. Opaganib inhibits three key enzymes in sphingolipid metabolism: sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2); dihydroceramide desaturase (DES1); and glucosylceramide synthase (GCS). Herein, we describe a tripartite model by which opaganib suppresses infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting SK2, DES1 and GCS. The potential impact of modulation of sphingolipid signaling on multi-organ dysfunction in Covid-19 patients is also discussed.
Restored Life of Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects every aspect of human life: medical, psychological, social, material. People with SCI face a variety of secondary conditions (e.g., chronic pain, urinary tract infections, cognitive impairment) that place a significant emotional burden, resulting in an increased risk of depression and reduced quality of life. The purpose of this study was to better understand the coping strategies and to identify factors that promote or hinder the successful adjustment of elite athletes after SCI. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight top athletes after spinal cord injury. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then thematically analyzed using MAXQDA software. Thematic analysis identified the following categories: coping, athletic identity, and adjustment. The results of the study indicate that loss of functional ability does not cause loss of athlete identity. Elite athletes live a life consistent with this identity, attempting to maintain it despite the loss of physical fitness. Involvement in sports provides meaning and is a positive factor in the process of disability acceptance, which is essential in the process of adjustment to injury and also provides group belonging.
Impact of Geometry Dimension on Quality Factor and Mass-Sensitivity of PZT Thin Film-Based MicroCantilevers

The impact of the piezoelectric cantilever geometry and resonant mode on the quality factor and mass-sensitivity were investigated. The piezoelectric cantilevers with Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) as an active layer were fabricated based on MEMS technology. The PZT thin films were grown on the silicon-on-insulator substrates by pulsed laser deposition. It is shown that the resonant frequency of a defined vibration mode is inversely proportional to the length squared of the piezoelectric cantilever. The experimental results indicated that a shorter cantilever length will contribute to a larger quality factor. The cantilever quality factor has values in a range of 190 to 505, depending on the length and resonant mode. The mass-sensitivity increases when the cantilever length decreases and reaches the highest value of 37.6 Hz/pg for the 100-µm-long cantilever. High-mode vibration was successfully exhibited for the higher mass-detection sensitivity.
Implementation of Statewide Election Data to Examine Fairness of South Carolina District Maps: A Comparative Analysis of Approaches for Approximating Results in Uncontested Races

After each census, researchers analyze election data to provide information relevant to the redistricting process. South Carolina is among a collection of states which face certain issues regarding election analysis of fairness due to the presence of a large percentage of uncontested races. Although uncontested results are known to create analysis challenges, there is not a universal consensus on how to best handle these situations. Here we explore quantification of partisan fairness and the impact of using statewide election county-level data as a proxy for estimating uncontested results. We develop a district approximation method using statewide elections at the county scale and use known metrics to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate resulting election characteristics in historical and simulated election contexts. The same metrics were then used to perform a thorough comparative analysis of other common approximation methods. We find county-level election data to be an effective tool in approximating uncontested elections by providing evidence to support the notion that county-level data is effective under multiple election conditions. Furthermore, analysis of different approximation methods show how measures of partisan fairness for a particular election can change based upon a particular approximation method, potentially affecting future interpretations of uncontested election results.
Absolute Tectonic Stress Inversion in the 2016 Mw 7.0 Kumamoto Earthquake Source Region Using Topography and Rupture Models

Absolute tectonic stress estimation is of fundamental importance to investigating regional earthquake hazards, while traditional algorithms only invert relative stress and its orientations. We use topography data and rupture models to invert the absolute tectonic stress in the source region of the 2016 Mw 7.0 Kumamoto earthquake. We adopt a basic assumption that the slip direction of each sub‐fault is in the shear direction of the total stress tensor, which is a combination of tectonic and topographic stresses. We use the Bayesian theorem to describe the probability density function of stress parameters and perform a grid search for the optimal values and uncertainties of stress parameters. Our synthetic test shows that the true parameters can be reliably estimated over a broad range of tectonic stress magnitudes. In the application to the Kumamoto earthquake, we find that the optimal tectonic stress is uniaxial tensional with a magnitude of 35 MPa and orientation of N6.5°W, which is at an angle of ∼47.5° to the fault strike. The average total shear stress on the fault plane is 16 MPa on the fault plane. With the inverted stress parameters, we evaluate the pore pressure based on the absolute stress field, the result of which is within a range of 0.3–0.45 of the lithostatic stress.
Construction of eigenfunctions for scalar-type operators via Laplace averages with connections to the Koopman operator

This paper extends Yosida's mean ergodic theorem in order to compute projections onto non-unitary eigenspaces for spectral operators of scalar-type on locally convex linear topological spaces. For spectral operators with dominating point spectrum, the projections take the form of Laplace averages, which are a generalization of the Fourier averages used when the spectrum is unitary. Inverse iteration and Laplace averages project onto eigenspaces of spectral operators with minimal point spectrum. Two classes of dynamical systems --- attracting fixed points in $\mathbb{C}^{d}$ and attracting limit cycles in $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ --- and their respective spaces of observables are given for which the associated composition operator is spectral. It is shown that the natural spaces of observables are completions with an $\ell^{2}$ polynomial norm of a space of polynomials over a normed unital commutative ring. These spaces are generalizations of the Hardy spaces $H^{2}(\mathbb{D})$ and $H^{2}(\mathbb{D}^{d})$. Elements of the ring are observables defined on the attractor --- the fixed point or the limit cycle, in our examples. Furthermore, we are able to provide a (semi)global spectral theorem for the composition operators associated with a large class of dissipative nonlinear dynamical systems; any sufficiently smooth dynamical system topologically conjugate to either of the two cases above admits an observable space on which the associated Koopman operator is spectral. It is conjectured that this is generically true for systems where the basin of attraction can be properly "coordinatized".
Tight Security Analysis of the Public Permutation-Based PMAC_Plus

Yasuda proposed a variable input-length PRF in CRYPTO 2011, called PMAC_Plus , based on an n -bit block cipher. PMAC_Plus is a rate-1 construction and inherits the well-known PMAC parallel network with a low additional cost. However, unlike PMAC , PMAC_Plus is secure roughly up to 2 2 n/ 3 queries. Zhang et al. proposed 3kf9 in ASIACRYPT 2012, Naito proposed LightMAC_Plus in ASIACRYPT 2017, and Iwata et al. proposed GCM-SIV2 in FSE 2017 – all of them secure up to around 2 2 n/ 3 queries. Their structural designs and corresponding security proofs were uniﬁed by Datta et al. in their framework Double-block Hash-then-Sum ( DbHtS ). Leurent et al. in CRYPTO 2018 and then Lee et al. in EUROCRYPT 2020 established a tight security bound of 2 3 n/ 4 on DbHtS . That PMAC_Plus provides security for roughly up to 2 3 n/ 4 queries is a consequence of this result. In this paper, we propose a public permutation-based variable input-length PRF called pPMAC_Plus . We show that pPMAC_Plus is secure against all adversaries that make at most 2 2 n/ 3 queries. We also show that the bound is essentially tight. It is of note here that instantiation of each block cipher of pPMAC_Plus with the two-round iterated Even-Mansour cipher can yield a beyond the birthday bound secure PRF based on public permutations. Altogether, the solution incurs (2 ‘ + 4) permutation calls, whereas our proposal requires only ( ‘ + 2) permutation calls, ‘ being the maximum number of message blocks.
Application of Compressive Sensing to Two-Dimensional Radar Imaging Using a Frequency-Scanned Microstrip Leaky Wave Antenna

a Abstract The application of compressive sensing (CS) to a radar imaging system based on a frequency-scanned microstrip leaky wave antenna is investigated. First, an analytical model of the system matrix is formulated as the basis for the inversion algorithm. Then, L 1 -norm minimization is applied to the inverse problem to generate a range-azimuth image of the scene. Because of the antenna length, the near-field effect is considered in the CS formulation to properly image close-in targets. The resolving capability of the combined frequency-scanned antenna and CS processing is examined and compared to results based on the short-time Fourier transform and the pseudo-inverse. Both simulation and measurement data are tested to show the system performance in terms of image resolution.