Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The theory of viscoelastic crack propagation and healing

Classical fracture mechanics applied to a viscoelastic material states that the critical stress-intensity factor at which the crack propagates depends on the instantaneous elastic modulus of the solid, and provides no mechanism for a speed dependence of the apparent surface energy. This suggests that any speed dependence must be because surface energy itself is speed-dependant. Schapery (1975) has explained how by using the Barenblatt concept of fracture mechanics, involving surface forces instead of surface energy alone, a dependence of the apparent surface energy on the crack speed is found. Here, Schapery's principles are applied to the particular case of a Maugis–Dugdale surface force law and a three-element viscoelastic solid to find the complete dependence of the apparent surface energy, both in fracture and in crack healing, on the crack velocity. To a good approximation, the apparent surface energy in crack healing is the reciprocal of the energy for fracture. Simple approximate equations relating the crack speed to the stress-intensity factor are given.
The Angular Power Spectrum of Galaxies from Early Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data

We compute the angular power spectrum Cl from 1.5 million galaxies in early Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data on large angular scales, l ≲ 600. The data set covers about 160 deg2, with a characteristic depth on the order of 1 h-1 Gpc in the faintest (21 < r* < 22) of our four magnitude bins. Cosmological interpretations of these results are presented in a companion paper by Dodelson and coworkers. The data in all four magnitude bins are consistent with a simple flat "concordance" model with nonlinear evolution and linear bias factors on the order of unity. Nonlinear evolution is particularly evident for the brightest galaxies. A series of tests suggests that systematic errors related to seeing, reddening, etc. are negligible, which bodes well for the 60-fold larger sample that the SDSS is currently collecting. Uncorrelated error bars and well-behaved window functions make our measurements a convenient starting point for cosmological model fitting.
Does telehealth influence the decision to transfer residents of residential aged care facilities to emergency departments? A scoping review

Abstract Background Emergency Departments (ED) can be crowded places and not ideal environments for Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) residents awaiting assessment. Assessment and care planning may be made available via telehealth thereby avoiding unnecessary transfer to ED, without compromising the quality of care for the older person. Telehealth is attractive addition to improving healthcare decision‐making in RACFs. Objectives The aim of this scoping review is to explore the evidence around the use of telehealth and whether it influences the decision to transfer residents of RACF to ED. Methods All peer reviewed literature that focused on RACFs, decision‐making and assessment of residents using telehealth in real time, was included. All study designs, pilot studies and some systematic reviews were considered. Databases Medline, Embase and CINAHL were used in this search in June 2022. Search terms were a combination of the population: RACF residents, decision‐making and assessments using telehealth, and or transfer to the ED. The search was assisted by a senior university research academic librarian/information specialist and reviewed by senior researchers. The PRISMA‐ScR guidelines were used to report this study. Results Of the 124 articles initially identified, 31 were eligible for inclusion for synthesis. The date range of the included studies was 2001 to 2022, with 15 published in the last five years. Critical appraisal was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Conclusion This scoping review has mapped evidence that telehealth has been widely used in multiple settings. The association between the use of telehealth with improved clinical outcomes highlights its potential utility in enhancing care delivery for an older population in RACFs. Telehealth has shown that it can improve the decision‐making for residents in RACFS, but more robust research designs are needed. Implications for practice Using video/telehealth appears to improve RACF staff access to expert clinicians who can then assess and jointly plan care/management that can be provided in the resident's home. Knowledge and skills of RACF staff appear to be improved through joint assessment and decision‐making with the use of video/telehealth access to expert clinicians.
A new measure of Delta alpha/alpha at redshift z = 1.84 from very high resolution spectra of Q1101-264

We probe the evolution of the fine-structure constant, alpha, with cosmic time. Accurate positions of the FeII lines 1608, 2382,and 2600 A are measured in the z = 1.84 absorption system from a high-resolution (FWHM = 3.8 km/s) and high signal-to-noise (S/N >= 100) spectrum of the quasar Q1101-264 (z_em = 2.15, V = 16.0), integrated for 15.4 hours. The Single Ion Differential alpha Measurement (SIDAM) procedure and the Delta chi^2 method are used to set constraints on Delta alpha/alpha. We have found a relative radial velocity shift between the 1608 A and 2382,2600 A lines of Delta v = -180 +/- 85 m/s (both random and systematic errors are included), which, if real, would correspond to Delta alpha/alpha = (5.4 +/- 2.5) 10^{-6} (1sigma C.L.). Considering the strong implications of a such variability, additional observations with comparable accuracy at redshift z ~ 1.8 are required to confirm this result.
Success of nano-vaccines against COVID-19: a transformation in nanomedicine

ABSTRACT Introduction The vaccines being used against COVID-19 are composed of either non-viral or viral nanoparticles (NPs). Nanotechnology-based vaccine technology was studied for its potentially transformative advancement of medicine. Areas covered NPs protect the encapsulated mRNA in vaccines, thereby enhancing the stability of the ribonucleic acids and facilitating their intact delivery to their specific targets. Compared to liposomes, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are unique and, through their rigid morphology and better cellular penetrability, render enhanced cargo stability. To explore nanotechnology-mediated vaccine delivery and its potential in future pandemics, we assessed articles from various databases, such as PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, including editorial/research notes, expert opinions, and collections of data from several clinical research trials. In the current review, we focus on the nanoparticulate approach of the different SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and explore their success against the pandemic. Expert opinion The mRNA-based vaccines, with their tremendous efficacy of ~95% (under phase III-IV clinical trials) and distinct nanocarriers (LNPs), represent a new medical front alongside DNA and siRNA-based vaccines. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Thickness-Magnetic Field Phase Diagram at the Superconductor-Insulator Transition in 2D

The superconductor-insulator transition in ultrathin films of amorphous Bi has been tuned by changing both film thickness and magnetic field on the same set of films. A thickness\char21{}magnetic field phase diagram has been mapped in the $T\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0$ limit. A finite size scaling analysis has been carried out to determine the critical exponent product $\ensuremath{\nu}z$, which was found to be $1.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ and $1.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ for the thickness-tuned transitions in zero and finite magnetic fields, respectively. These are different from the exponent found for the magnetic-field-tuned transition in the same system, $0.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$.
CRITICAL BEHAVIOR OF RANDOM-BOND POTTS MODELS

The effect of quenched impurities on systems which undergo first-order phase transitions is studied within the framework of the q-state Potts model. For large q a mapping to the random field Ising model is introduced which provides a simple physical explanation of the absence of any latent heat in 2D, and suggests that in higher dimensions such systems should exhibit a tricritical point with a correlation length exponent related to the exponents of the random field model by \nu = \nu_RF / (2 - \alpha_RF - \beta_RF). In 2D we analyze the model using finite-size scaling and conformal invariance, and find a continuous transition with a magnetic exponent \beta / \nu which varies continuously with q, and a weakly varying correlation length exponent \nu \approx 1. We find strong evidence for the multiscaling of the correlation functions as expected for such random systems.
Diffuse X-Ray-emitting Gas in Major Mergers

Using archived data from the Chandra X-ray telescope, we have extracted the diffuse X-ray emission from 49 equal-mass interacting/merging galaxy pairs in a merger sequence, from widely separated pairs to merger remnants. After the removal of contributions from unresolved point sources, we compared the diffuse thermal X-ray luminosity from hot gas (LX(gas)) with the global star formation rate (SFR). After correction for absorption within the target galaxy, we do not see a strong trend of LX(gas)/SFR with the SFR or merger stage for galaxies with SFR > 1 M☉ yr−1. For these galaxies, the median LX(gas)/SFR is 5.5 × 1039 ((erg s−1)/M☉ yr−1)), similar to that of normal spiral galaxies. These results suggest that stellar feedback in star-forming galaxies reaches an approximately steady-state condition, in which a relatively constant fraction of about 2% of the total energy output from supernovae and stellar winds is converted into X-ray flux. Three late-stage merger remnants with low SFRs and high K-band luminosities (LK) have enhanced LX(gas)/SFR; their UV/IR/optical colors suggest that they are post-starburst galaxies, perhaps in the process of becoming ellipticals. Systems with LK < 1010 L☉ have lower LX(gas)/SFR ratios than the other galaxies in our sample, perhaps due to lower gravitational fields or lower metallicities. We see no relation between LX(gas)/SFR and Seyfert activity in this sample, suggesting that feedback from active galactic nuclei is not a major contributor to the hot gas in our sample galaxies.
Platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric cancer survivors: GSTP1 c.313A>G variant association

Hearing damage is one of the main toxic effects of platinum compounds, it derives from the irreversible degeneration of hair cells of the ear. Genetic association studies have suggested an association between GSTP1 c.313A>G variant and platinum-induced ototoxicity in childhood cancer survivors. We aimed to detect the frequency of ototoxicity and associated risk factors in survivors of childhood cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy and to detect the relation between GSTP1 c.313A>G (rs1695) polymorphisms and ototoxicity. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 64 cancer survivors who received platinum agents (cisplatin and/or carboplatin) at least 2 years after the end of chemotherapy. The patients underwent comprehensive audiological evaluations and genotyping to detect the presence of the GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphisms. Hearing loss (HL) was identified in 16/64 patients (25%), including 62.5% treated with cisplatin and 37.5% treated with carboplatin. The greater incidence of ototoxicity was found in children treated for osteosarcoma (28.1%) followed by patients with germ cell tumors (25%) and neuroblastoma (21.9%). The AA, AG, and GG types of GSTP1 c.313A>G variant were detected in 84.4%, 9.4%, and 6.3%, respectively, of patients with HL with a significant association between mutant genotype of GSTP1 rs1695 and platinum-induced ototoxicity (P = .035). HL was not significantly associated with the total cumulative dose of cisplatin and carboplatin. GSTP1 c.313A>G variant may increase the risk of HL in pediatric oncology patients treated with cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy.
Solar-system tests of the relativistic gravity

In 1859, Le Verrier discovered the Mercury perihelion advance anomaly. This anomaly turned out to be the first relativistic gravity effect observed. During the 157 years to 2016, the precisions and accuracies of laboratory and space experiments, and of astrophysical and cosmological observations on relativistic gravity have been improved by 3–4 orders of magnitude. The improvements have been mainly from optical observations at first followed by radio observations. The achievements for the past 50 years are from radio Doppler tracking and radio ranging together with Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR). At present, the radio observations and LLR experiments are similar in the accuracy of testing relativistic gravity. We review and summarize the present status of solar system tests of relativistic gravity. With planetary laser ranging, spacecraft laser ranging and interferometric laser ranging (laser Doppler ranging) together with the development of drag-free technology, the optical observations will improve the accuracies by another 3–4 orders of magnitude in both the equivalence principle tests and solar system dynamics tests of relativistic gravity. Clock tests and atomic interferometry tests of relativistic gravity will reach an ever-increasing precision. These will give crucial clues in both experimental and theoretical aspects of gravity, and may lead to answers to some profound issues in gravity and cosmology.
EVN observations of low-luminosity flat-spectrum active galactic nuclei

We present and discuss the results of very-long baseline interferometry (VLBI, EVN) observations of three low-luminosity (P-5GHz <10(25) W Hz(-1)) broad emission line active galactic nuclei (AGNs) carefully selected from a sample of flat-spectrum radio sources (CLASS). Based on the total and the extended radio power at 5 and at 1.4 GHz respectively, these objects should be technically classified as radio-quiet AGN and thus the origin of their radio emission is not clearly understood. The VLBI observations presented in this paper have revealed compact radio cores which imply a lower limit on the brightness temperature of about 3 x 10(8) K. This result rules out a thermal origin for the radio emission and strongly suggests an emission mechanism similar to that observed in more powerful radio-loud AGNs. Since, by definition, the three objects show a flat (or inverted) radio spectrum between 1.4 and 8.4 GHz, the observed radio emission could be relativistically beamed. Multi-epoch VLBI observations can confirm this possibility in two years' time.
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and socioeconomic status: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are an independent risk factor for obesity and other non-communicable diseases. Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the key drivers for the purchase and consumption of SSBs among children and adults; however, there is a lack of strong evidence. This study aims to determine the association between SES and consumption patterns of SSBs across populations. Results The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, Cochrane, and CINHAL databases were searched for relevant articles until 2022. Participants included children, adolescents, and adults who consumed different SSBs and were assessed based on their SES. The random-effects model was used to obtain the pooled odds ratio (OR). Twenty-one studies (152,070 participants) met the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool, with the majority of the studies indicating medium to high quality. Eight ORs from four studies (34,454 participants) were considered for meta-analysis. Results showed those belonging to high SES had 48% lower odds of consuming the SSBs (OR 0.52; 95% CI: 0.42–0.61; p = 0.017). The overall quality of evidence was ascertained using GRADE criteria, illustrating a moderate certainty of evidence between SSB consumption and SES. Conclusion Meta-analysis suggests that SES influences the consumption pattern of SSBs, with high SES having lower odds of SSB consumption.
Does sex interact with the 2D:4D ratio or adult circulating hormones on the estimated glomerular filtration rate? A cross‐sectional study in Ghana

The 2D:4D ratio is the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure and has been suggested as a correlate of adult circulating testosterone and estrogen. The study aimed to determine whether sexual dimorphism in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) can be partly explained by the 2D:4D ratio or adult circulating testosterone or estrogen. The study was cross‐sectional from June to December 2021 at the University for Development Studies. The study involved 206 healthy adults (Female = 93, Male = 113) between 18 and 30 years. The 2D:4D ratio was measured using computer‐assisted analysis. Venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for testosterone, estradiol and creatinine using the ELISA technique and routine biochemical analysis. The adjusted eGFR was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD‐EPI) creatinine equation (2021). The eGFR and the testosterone‐to‐estradiol ratio (TT:E2) were significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between sex and the TT:E2 on the eGFR (p < 0.001). Although the relationship between the eGFR and the TT:E2 was negative in both males and females, a unit change in the TT:E2 had a greater impact on the eGFR in females (B = −1.38) than in males (B = −0.01). Sexual dimorphism in the eGFR is influenced by both testosterone and estradiol. Although the sex difference in the eGFR may be influenced by the TT:E2, estrogen seems to account for more variability in the eGFR than testosterone.
f_B and f_B_s from QCD sum rules

The decay constants of the pseudoscalar mesons B and B_s are evaluated from QCD sum rules for the pseudoscalar two-point function. Recently calculated perturbative three-loop QCD corrections are incorporated into the sum rule. An analysis in terms of the bottom quark pole mass turns out to be unreliable due to large higher order radiative corrections. On the contrary, in the MS_bar scheme the higher order corrections are under good theoretical control and a reliable determination of f_B and f_{B_s} becomes feasible. Including variations of all input parameters within reasonable ranges, our final results for the pseudoscalar meson decay constants are f_B = 210 +- 19 MeV and f_B_s = 244 +- 21 MeV. Employing additional information on the product sqrt(B_B) f_B from global fits to the unitarity triangle, we are in a position to also extract the B-meson B-parameter B_B = 1.26 +- 0.45. Our results are well compatible with analogous determinations of the above quantities in lattice QCD.
Temperature dependence of the band gap of colloidal CdSe∕ZnS core/shell nanocrystals embedded into an ultraviolet curable resin

Optical absorption and photoluminescence techniques were used to investigate the energy band gap of CdSe∕ZnS core/shell nanocrystals matrixed into a resin. The band gap is measured as a function of temperature for several samples with different nanocrystal diameters. Debye and Einstein temperatures were obtained by fitting the energy band gap using two different empirical expressions. Stokes shift was estimated by taking the difference between the first exciton and emission peaks. The Stokes shift was found to increase as the nanocrystal diameter is decreased suggesting a stronger electron-phonon coupling in smaller size nanocrystals.
Targeted Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Maximize Climate Benefits

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can reduce aviation’s CO2 and non-CO2 impacts. We quantify the change in contrail properties and climate forcing in the North Atlantic resulting from different blending ratios of SAF and demonstrate that intelligently allocating the limited SAF supply could multiply its overall climate benefit by factors of 9–15. A fleetwide adoption of 100% SAF increases contrail occurrence (+5%), but lower nonvolatile particle emissions (−52%) reduce the annual mean contrail net radiative forcing (−44%), adding to climate gains from reduced life cycle CO2 emissions. However, in the short term, SAF supply will be constrained. SAF blended at a 1% ratio and uniformly distributed to all transatlantic flights would reduce both the annual contrail energy forcing (EFcontrail) and the total energy forcing (EFtotal, contrails + change in CO2 life cycle emissions) by ∼0.6%. Instead, targeting the same quantity of SAF at a 50% blend ratio to ∼2% of flights responsible for the most highly warming contrails reduces EFcontrail and EFtotal by ∼10 and ∼6%, respectively. Acknowledging forecasting uncertainties, SAF blended at lower ratios (10%) and distributed to more flights (∼9%) still reduces EFcontrail (∼5%) and EFtotal (∼3%). Both strategies deploy SAF on flights with engine particle emissions exceeding 1012 m–1, at night-time, and in winter.
Post‐operative survival in head and neck cancer patients with elevated troponins

The strenuous demands of head and neck cancer surgery (HNS) place patients at increased risk of myocardial injury. Troponin positivity (TP) post‐operatively is a predictor of increased complications and mortality. The present study is the first to investigate the effects of TP on potential delays in adjuvant treatment and disease‐specific survival.
Characteristics of Oral Corticosteroid Users Among Persons with Asthma on GINA Step 3 Therapy and Above: A Cross-Sectional Study in Portuguese Community Pharmacies

Purpose Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are frequently used in asthma management but have an important risk-profile. The aim of the study is to characterize and compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, treatment regimen and asthma control between OCS users and non-users among the population of asthma patients (≥18 years) at GINA step 3 and above treated with a fixed combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist (ICS/LABA). Methods Cross-sectional study in Portuguese community pharmacies. Data was collected via paper-based interview delivered at the pharmacy (sociodemographic characteristics and asthma treatment regimen, namely ICS/LABA and OCS utilization), followed by a telephonic interview collecting smoking history, comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), history of exacerbations and asthma-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in the previous 12 months, as well as asthma control using the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT®). Results A total of 347 patients recruited in 98 pharmacies were included in the analysis. Of those, 328 had completed both questionnaires. A quarter of the individuals reported OCS use in the previous 12 months (OCS users), either as add-on therapy (6%) or exacerbation treatment (19%). Patients were mostly females (72%), with an average age of 59.5 years (SD=15.4). OCS users were significantly older and reported more frequently having conjunctivitis (25.9% vs 15.0%), osteoporosis (25.9% vs 13.4%), arthritis (14.6% vs 6.9%), and gastrointestinal disease (16.1% vs 8.1%). OCS users also reported greater urgent HCRU: unscheduled consultations (33.3% vs 9.3%) and emergency department (ED) visits (32.1% vs 12.1%). Both groups presented poor disease control (85.2% of OCS users vs 72.9% of non-OCS users). Conclusion These results highlight the burden of OCS therapy to asthma patients and the need to improve asthma management, by adopting OCS sparing strategies in this subgroup of patients.