Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between lipoproteins, thrombosis, and atrial fibrillation

Abstract The prothrombotic state in atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs as a result of multifaceted interactions, known as Virchow’s triad of hypercoagulability, structural abnormalities, and blood stasis. More recently, there is emerging evidence that lipoproteins are implicated in this process, beyond their traditional role in atherosclerosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the various lipoproteins and explore the association between lipoproteins and AF, the effects of lipoproteins on haemostasis, and the potential contribution of lipoproteins to thrombogenesis in AF. There are several types of lipoproteins based on size, lipid composition, and apolipoprotein category, namely: chylomicrons, very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein. Each of these lipoproteins may contain numerous lipid species and proteins with a variety of different functions. Furthermore, the lipoprotein particles may be oxidized causing an alteration in their structure and content. Of note, there is a paradoxical inverse relationship between total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and incident AF. The mechanism by which this occurs may be related to the stabilizing effect of cholesterol on myocardial membranes, along with its role in inflammation. Overall, specific lipoproteins may interact with haemostatic pathways to promote excess platelet activation and thrombin generation, as well as inhibiting fibrinolysis. In this regard, LDL-C has been shown to be an independent risk factor for thromboembolic events in AF. The complex relationship between lipoproteins, thrombosis and AF warrants further research with an aim to improve our knowledge base and contribute to our overall understanding of lipoprotein-mediated thrombosis.
Identification of diabetes self-management profiles in adults: A cluster analysis using selected self-reported outcomes

The present study describes adult diabetes self-management (DSM) profiles using self-reported outcomes associated with the engagement in diabetes care activities and psychological adjustment to the disease. We used self-reported data from a community-based cohort of adults with diabetes (N = 316) and conducted a cluster analysis of selected self-reported DSM outcomes (i.e., DSM behaviors, self-efficacy and perceived empowerment, diabetes distress and quality of life). We tested whether clusters differed according to sociodemographic, clinical, and care delivery processes variables. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct DSM profiles that combined high/low levels of engagement in diabetes care activities and good/poor psychological adjustment to the disease. The profiles were differently associated with the variables of perceived financial insecurity, taking insulin treatment, having depression, and the congruence of the care received with the Chronic Care Model. The results could help health professionals gain a better understanding of the different realities facing people living with diabetes, identify patients at risk of poor outcomes related to their DSM, and lead to the development of profile-specific DSM interventions.
Development of aortic valve stenosis in myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis with renal involvement

Introduction Degenerative aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a chronic progressive disease that resembles atherosclerosis development. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is reportedly associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. This study aimed to examine the development of AS in patients with myeloperoxidase-AAV (MPO-AAV) with renal involvement at more than 1 year after the onset of vasculitis. Methods We performed a retrospective review of clinical records of MPO-AAV patients with renal involvement without AS at the onset of vasculitis who were treated in three hospitals and three dialysis clinics. Results The study included 97 MPO-AAV patients with renal involvement and 230 control patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Among them, 64 patients had AS. The prevalence rates of AS were 28.9% and 15.7% in MPO-AAV and control patients, respectively (p = 0.006). The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that MPO-AAV, dialysis dependence, and hypertension were independently associated factors for AS. In MPO-AAV patients, systolic blood pressure was positively significantly associated with AS, whereas glucocorticoid dose of induction therapy was negatively significantly associated. The use of cyclophosphamide tended to be negatively associated with AS. The survival rate was significantly lower for patients with AS than for those without AS. Conclusions The AS prevalence rate was significantly higher in MPO-AAV patients at more than 1 year after the onset of vasculitis than in control CKD patients. Therefore, regular monitoring of echocardiography during MPO-AAV treatment is suggested.
Indirect questioning methods for sensitive survey questions: Modelling criminal behaviours among a prison population

Information such as the prevalence and frequency of criminal behaviour is difficult to estimate using standard survey techniques because of the tendency of respondents to withhold or misrepresent information. Social desirability bias is a significant threat to the validity of self-reported data, especially when supplied by persons such as sexual offenders or those convicted of theft or substance abuse. The randomized response approach is an alternative to the standard interview method and offers great potential for researchers in the field of criminal justice. By means of a survey of 792 prison inmates, incorporating both indirect and direct response techniques, we investigate if the prison population also has problems recognizing their participation in criminal acts such as theft, illicit drug use, violence against property, reckless driving and arson. Our research findings suggest that self-reported criminal behaviour among a prison population is affected by social desirability bias and that the behaviour considered is significantly associated with the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The results also demonstrate the inadequacy of traditional, yet widely used, direct questioning methods, and the great potential for indirect questioning techniques to advance policy formation and evaluation in the field of criminal behaviour.
Transport and Removal of Expiratory Droplets in Hospital Ward Environment

The transport and removal characteristics of expiratory droplets at different supply airflow rates and “coughing” orientations were investigated both numerically and experimentally in a three-bed hospital ward setting. A Lagrangian-based particle-tracking model with near-wall correction functions for turbulence was employed to simulate the fate of the expiratory droplets. The model was tested against experimental droplet dispersion data obtained in an experimental hospital ward using Interferometric Mie Imaging and a light-scattering aerosol spectrometer. The change in airflow supply rate had insignificant effect on the transport and deposition of very large droplets (initial sizes ≥ 87.5 μm) due to the dominance of gravitational settling on these behaviors. Smaller droplets (initial sizes ≤ 45 μm) exhibited certain airborne behaviors. The effect of thermal plumes from heat sources was observed only when the supply airflow was low and when the droplet size was small, as observed in the vertical mixing patterns of the droplets of various sizes. Larger droplets tended to settle lower and lateral dispersion of the droplets became weak at the low supply airflow rate. The deposition characteristics for different surfaces in the room are described. The heat plumes seemed to obstruct small droplets from being deposited onto heated surfaces. More deposition was predicted in the lateral injection case compared with the vertical injection case. Adopting near-wall correction for turbulence in the model reduced the predicted deposition removal fraction by 25% for 1.5 μm droplets. This reduction became less significant for larger droplets due to the smaller dependence on turbulent diffusion in their deposition.
Longitudinal Change of Circulating Tumor Cells During Chemoradiation Therapy and Its Correlation with Prognosis in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) change during chemoradiation with the treatment response and survival profiles in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.Methods: 58 advanced NSCLC patients underwent concurrent chemoradiation were enrolled, then their peripheral blood samples were collected pre-chemoradiation and at 1 months post-chemoradiation to assess the CTCs using a CTC-Biopsy system. Moreover, CTCs were classified as CTCs positive and CTCs negative according to CTCs’ count, and CTCs’ change was calculated. Additionally, response of chemoradiation was evaluated at 1 months post-chemoradiation, then progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Results: Pre-chemoradiation CTCs positive was associated with increased TNM stage, but not correlated with other clinicopathologic characteristics. After chemoradiation, the CTCs’ number (1.0 (0.0-3.0) vs. 4.0 (2.0-10.0)) and the percentage of CTCs positive cases (37.9% vs. 77.6%) were both decreased compared with those prior to chemoradiation. Regarding treatment response, pre-chemoradiation CTCs positive was associated with lower partial response; post-chemoradiation CTCs positive was associated with reduced disease control rate; while CTCs’ change during chemoradiation was not associated with treatment response. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that post-chemoradiation CTCs positive and increased CTCs’ number during chemoradiation were associated with reduced PFS, then multivariate Cox’s regression analysis disclosed that they independently predicted decreased PFS. However, no correlation of CTCs status or CTCs’ change with OS was observed. Conclusions: Longitudinal monitoring of CTCs may provide important reflection for the prognosis in chemoradiation treated advanced NSCLC patients.
Understanding the stability in water of mesoporous SBA-15 and MCM-41

Surprisingly, SBA-15 mesoporous silicas are not as stable as expected in water, even at room temperature, despite their thick walls. The microporosity of SBA-15, synthesized at a temperature below 110 °C, is lost during water treatment, leading to a strong decrease in specific surface area and an increase in mesopore size. Only SBA-15s without microporosity, such as the ones synthesized at 130 °C, are stable under water treatment. Investigations by nitrogen adsorption isotherms and hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectroscopy have been performed in an effort to understand the silica dissolution/redeposition processes occurring during water treatment at room temperature and at the boiling point for three SBA-15s synthesized at different temperature levels: 60, 100, and 130 °C. The differences between the local curvatures of silica in the different structures explain the difference of behavior in water with respect to silica dissolution/redeposition. Similar experiments on MCM-41 lead to a totally different disso.
What fosters environmental engagement in China? Exploring the underlying pathways using the O-S-R-O-R model

ABSTRACT Building on the O-S-R-O-R framework, this study proposes the environmental communication mediation model and examines the formations of environmental engagement behavior in China. Analyzing data from the 2013 China General Social Survey (N = 11,438), this study shows that informational media use impacts environmental engagement both directly and indirectly through environmental discussion, environmental knowledge and external environmental efficacy. Findings also reveal a spillover effect between green purchasing behavior and environmental citizenship behavior. In addition, the results highlight the varied pathways from informational media use to the two types of environmental engagement across Eastern, Central, and Western China. The theoretical model developed in this study provides a coherent framework to understand the mechanisms of environmental engagement. It also enhances the external validity of the O-S-R-O-R model by extending it to the field of environmental communication. Lastly, the findings of the study underscore the role of contextual factors in shaping media use and its effects at the individual level.
Social movements and human rights language in abortion debates

Abstract This study empirically examines the ways in which anti- and pro-abortion rights actors utilize human rights frames with varying success in getting them repeated by the news media in the different legal terrains of the Republic of Ireland and Canada. Given the results of a content analysis of 1,100 news articles on abortion from six newspapers spanning five years (2009-2014) during periods of relative policy stability in these two countries, this article suggests that social movement actors who feel their voices have been ignored in their domestic contexts may find human rights frames helpful in attracting news media attention. This finding has implications for the way in which international human rights language can be harnessed by diverse actors and employed domestically in battles over women's rights.
Structural Chemistry of the Platinum Group Metals: MCl2(bpy) (M = Pd, Pt; bpy = 2,2'-Bipyridine)

A singlecrystal X-ray structure determination of (2,2′-bipyridine)dichloropalladium(II), iso- morphous with the 'yellow' form of the platinum(II) analogue, has been carried out. Crystals are orthorhombic, Pbca, a 18.144(5), b 15.952(5), c 7.494(2) A, Z 8, 1113 diffractometer reflections being refined by full matrix least squares to a residual of 0.052. The planar molecules of PdCl2(bpy) are stacked into columns along the c direction, at a separation of c/2, neighbouring molecules in the stacks being related by glide planes with Pd…Pd separations of 4.587(2) A.
Impact of epitaxial strain on crystal field splitting of α-Cr2O3(0001) thin films quantified by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy

The influence of epitaxial strain on the electronic structure of α-Cr2O3(0001) thin films is probed by combining X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and crystal field multiplet calculations. In-plane lattice strain introduces distortions in the CrO6 octahedron and splits the 3d orbital triplet t2g into a1 + e orbitals. For relaxed thin films, the lines-shape of the Cr 2p core levels are well reproduced when the t2g subset is fully degenerated. In-plane tensile strain stabilizes a1 with respect to e orbitals, whereas compressive strain destabilizes a1 orbitals. Understanding these crystal field variations is essential for tuning the physical properties of α-Cr2O3 thin films. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Recent R&D Trends in Inorganic Single‐Crystal Scintillator Materials for Radiation Detection

In this review, the major achievements and research and development (R&D) trends from the last decade in the field of single crystal scintillator materials are described. Two material families are included, namely, those of halide and oxide compounds. In most cases, the host crystals are doped with Ce3+, Pr3+ or Eu2+ rare earth ions. Their spin‐ and parity‐allowed 5d–4f transitions enable a rapid scintillation response, on the order of tens to hundreds of nanoseconds. Technological recipes, extended characterization by means of optical and magnetic spectroscopies, and theoretical studies are described. The latter provide further support to experimental results and provide a better understanding of the host electronic band structure, energy levels of specific defects, and the emission centers themselves. Applications in medical imaging and dosimetry, security measures, high‐energy physics and the high‐tech industry, in which X(γ)‐rays or particle beams are used and monitored, are recognized as the main driving factor for R&D activities in this field.
KINETICS OF DISPROPORTIONATION OF HYPOIODOUS ACID AT HIGH PH, WITH AN EXTRAPOLATION TO RAINWATER

The disproportionation of hypoiodous acid into iodide and iodate has been studied in alkaline solution (10 -3 to 1.0 mol l -1 OH - ) in the presence of between 0.01 and 0.10 mol l -1 of iodide, and at an ionic strength of 1.0. The recent model incorporating pre-equilibria between I 2 and I 3 - , HOI, I 2 OH - , OI - and rate-determining steps involving couplets of these has been found to account for most of the observed variation. Whereas, at the higher iodide concentrations, the main reaction involves I 2 OH - and OI - , at lower concentrations, the HOI–HOI interaction predominates. The overall behaviour of disproportionation in hydroxide solutions is the same as that found earlier in borate buffer and, therefore, in both cases the pH of the peak rate is determined largely by the iodide concentration and not by buffer catalysis, as has been generally believed previously. By extrapolation the overall rate constant for disproportionation in rainwater is estimated to be 6×10 4 l mol -1 min -1 .
Influence of alkali treatment on the fine structure and morphology of bamboo fibers

Bamboo fibers in the form of strips and dust were treated with NaOH solution of varying concentration (10, 15, and 20%). These treated and untreated samples were then subjected to FTIR and morphological studies. Again XRD study was carried out on those treated and untreated bamboo samples in both strip and dust form. It was found that during alkali treatment a lattice transformation from cellulose-I to cellulose-II took place. It is observed from IR index value that the conversion is maximum in between 15 and 20% of alkali treatment. Swelling in NaOH introduces considerable changes in crystallinity, orientation angle, etc. Degree of crystallinity and crystallinity index for bamboo strips increases with increasing treatment concentration of alkali and falls off after 15% alkali concentration. This is also supported by d-spacing value. Orientation factor fx was calculated from the FWHM and it was found that fx value has been increased from 0.9879 to 0.9915 for 15% alkali treated and again lowered to 0.8522 for 50% alkali treated samples. Same observation of X-ray study was obtained for dust samples but at an earlier concentration. Morphological study of bamboo dust with scanning electron microscope indicates fibrillation at higher alkali concentration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5050–5056, 2006
Field-effect and capacitive properties of water-gated transistors based on polythiophene derivatives

Recently, water-gated organic field-effect transistors (WGOFET) have been intensively studied for their application in the biological field. Surprisingly, a very limited number of conjugated polymers have been reported so far. Here, we systematically explore a series of polythiophene derivatives, presenting different alkyl side chains lengths and orientation, and characterized by various morphologies: comparative evaluation of their performances allows highlighting the critical role played by alkyl side chains, which significantly affects the polymer/water interface capacitance. Reported results provide useful guidelines towards further development of WGOFETs and represent a step forward in the understanding of the polymer/water interface phenomena.
Viticultural experimentation using whole blocks: evaluation of three floor management options

Background and Aims: Vineyard floor cover crops can affect vine vigour because of their requirement for soil, water and nutrients, as well as their interactions with pests and diseases. An on-farm trial was established to identify the best floor cover management for an organically certified vineyard in the Clare Valley, South Australia, which was characterised by low vine vigour and yield. In establishing this trial, we also sought to evaluate a new approach to field experimentation in which the entire management unit is used for the experiment rather than small plots. Methods and Results: Three different floor covers were compared: the existing ryegrass cover crop with compost under the vine (control), ryegrass with mulch under the vine, and a replacement of the ryegrass with alternating mid-rows planted to either cereal (Triticum triticosecale) or legume (Vicia faba), in both cases reverting to bare soil during summer. Spatially variable treatment differences were evident in the second and third year of the trial. The greatest benefits, in terms of enhanced yield and vine vigour, were induced by the cereal/legume treatment, although it was shown that only about half of the experimental area (i.e. only half of the entire vineyard) would have increased yields with the adoption of such a floor management strategy. Conclusions: The whole-of-block approach offers both researchers and vineyard managers a means of acquiring considerably more useful information than would be obtained from a conventional plot-based experiment. In this particular vineyard, differential management with ryegrass retained in the southern part, but with the cereal/legume cover crop used in the northern part, is the ideal management practice. Significance of the Study: This study provides a novel demonstration of an approach that makes use of spatial variability as an experimental tool, and which enables experimental results to be acted upon in a way that recognises and exploits the underlying spatial variability of the vineyard.
Impact of Technologies During COVID-19 Pandemic for Improving Behavior Intention to Use E-learning

This comprehensive study to review the technology impact during the COVID-19 pandemic that elucidates the overarching of technology usage to technology enhanced learning which assisted to enhance the behavior intention to use technologies among undergraduates. Recently, higher education institutions suffer from the impact of using emerging technologies with electronic learning during COVID-19 pandemic for improving student academic performance in higher educational institution. The main purpose in this study is to determine the impact of technology enhanced learning that allow the students to emerge technologies and software's to develop their skill and improve their academic performance. The method should influence critical instructions in the way of online learning through the COVID-19 pandemic. The results revealed that the unique features of TEL spur and encourage the behavior intention to use e-learning. Additionally, social learning, perceived deterrents, and internal controls contribute to behaviors.
Understanding Issues Affecting Students' Commitment to Online Discussion Forums in Undergraduate Courses

This study explored students’ commitment and factors impacting their commitment to the online discussion forums that complement teaching and learning in two undergraduate courses. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative strategies, we collected and analyzed data to address our research questions. The findings indicate that students are committed to online discussion forums in this study, which seemed to be impacted by students’ technological skills and exciting topics. Even so, a few students were not as committed as they would have liked because the platform was new, and they needed time to adapt to the learning platform. That said, our findings reveal that students’ commitment to and engagement in the online discussion forum can be fostered with faculty support, exciting topics, and time to understand the new learning terrain.