Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the role of sphingolipid-related genes in clinical outcomes of breast cancer

Background Despite tremendous advances in cancer research, breast cancer (BC) remains a major health concern and is the most common cancer affecting women worldwide. Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous cancer with potentially aggressive and complex biology, and precision treatment for specific subtypes may improve survival in breast cancer patients. Sphingolipids are important components of lipids that play a key role in the growth and death of tumor cells and are increasingly the subject of new anti-cancer therapies. Key enzymes and intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism (SM) play an important role in regulating tumor cells and further influencing clinical prognosis. Methods We downloaded BC data from the TCGA database and GEO database, on which we performed in depth single-cell sequencing analysis (scRNA-seq), weighted co-expression network analysis, and transcriptome differential expression analysis. Then seven sphingolipid-related genes (SRGs) were identified using Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (Lasso) regression analysis to construct a prognostic model for BC patients. Finally, the expression and function of the key gene PGK1 in the model were verified by in vitro experiments. Results This prognostic model allows for the classification of BC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, with a statistically significant difference in survival time between the two groups. The model is also able to show high prediction accuracy in both internal and external validation sets. After further analysis of the immune microenvironment and immunotherapy, it was found that this risk grouping could be used as a guide for the immunotherapy of BC. The proliferation, migration, and invasive ability of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines were dramatically reduced after knocking down the key gene PGK1 in the model through cellular experiments. Conclusion This study suggests that prognostic features based on genes related to SM are associated with clinical outcomes, tumor progression, and immune alterations in BC patients. Our findings may provide insights for the development of new strategies for early intervention and prognostic prediction in BC.
Updating the probability of study success for combination therapies using related combination study data

Combination therapies are becoming increasingly used in a range of therapeutic areas such as oncology and infectious diseases, providing potential benefits such as minimising drug resistance and toxicity. Sets of combination studies may be related, for example, if they have at least one treatment in common and are used in the same indication. In this setting, value can be gained by sharing information between related combination studies. We present a framework that allows the study success probabilities of a set of related combination therapies to be updated based on the outcome of a single combination study. This allows us to incorporate both direct and indirect data on a combination therapy in the decision-making process for future studies. We also provide a robustification that accounts for the fact that the prior assumptions on the correlation structure of the set of combination therapies may be incorrect. We show how this framework can be used in practice and highlight the use of the study success probabilities in the planning of clinical studies.
Asymptotic symmetry and local behaviors of solutions to a class of anisotropic elliptic equations

Let 0 ≤ a 0. Equation (0.1) is arising from the celebrated Caffarelli-Kohn-Nirenberg inequality. For a = b < 0 and p = 2N N−2 , we show there is no positive solution of the equation (0.2)  −div(|x|−2a∇u) = |x|−bpup−1 in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω. in D a (Ω), where Ω ⊆ R+ be a cone domain satisfying Ω = R+ × ω with ω ⊂ SN−1 being star-shaped with respect to the North pole on SN−1.
Wideband slow light assisted by ultrahigh-order modes

A new mechanism for slow light is introduced by employing a symmetrical metal-cladding optical waveguide with millimeter scale. The basis is the anomalous dispersion of the ultrahigh-order modes near zero wavenumber, where the effective index approaches zero. Without use of any coherent or material resonance, this scheme is not subject to limitations of the delay-bandwidth product and can generate arbitrarily small group velocities over an unusually large frequency bandwidth.
Fading boundaries between the physical and the social world: Insights and novel techniques from the intersection of these two fields

This review focuses on the subtle interactions between sensory input and social cognition in visual perception. We suggest that body indices, such as gait and posture, can mediate such interactions. Recent trends in cognitive research are trying to overcome approaches that define perception as stimulus-centered and are pointing toward a more embodied agent-dependent perspective. According to this view, perception is a constructive process in which sensory inputs and motivational systems contribute to building an image of the external world. A key notion emerging from new theories on perception is that the body plays a critical role in shaping our perception. Depending on our arm’s length, height and capacity of movement, we create our own image of the world based on a continuous compromise between sensory inputs and expected behavior. We use our bodies as natural “rulers” to measure both the physical and the social world around us. We point out the necessity of an integrative approach in cognitive research that takes into account the interplay between social and perceptual dimensions. To this end, we review long-established and novel techniques aimed at measuring bodily states and movements, and their perception, with the assumption that only by combining the study of visual perception and social cognition can we deepen our understanding of both fields.
Short and Long Wave Peristaltic Flow: Modeling and Mathematical Analysis

In this paper, we present a mathematical model for the peristaltic flow of a Newtonian fluid in an axisymmetric channel with small aspect ratio. In particular, we study the effects of the wave length of the wall oscillation distinguishing between long wave length (same order of the vessel's length) and short wave length (same order of the vessel's radius). We prove that the oscillation produces flow even in the absence of a pressure gradient in case of long wave. In case of short wave length, peristalsis does not affect the flow. We also prove that, in both cases, the tube resistance increases as the oscillation amplitude increases.
The influence of shift-work on perceived stress, sleep quality, and body mass index among emergency nurses

ABSTRACT Shift-work leads to many negative health outcomes among nurses, including overweight/obesity, high stress level, and sleep disturbances. This study purposed to evaluate the influence of shift-work on perceived stress, sleep quality, and Body Mass Index (BMI) among emergency department (ED) nurses in Jordan. A descriptive correlational design was employed. A structured self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from emergency nurses in government and private hospitals. A total of 450 emergency nurses responded to the questionnaire. Findings found that around 81.1% and 14.0% of the study participants endorsed moderate and high levels of stress, respectively. The majority of the participants (94.5%) had poor sleep quality; 35.3% had overweight and 18.7% had obesity. The study findings indicated that shift-work influenced on perceived stress (β = 0.18, p < .001) and BMI (β = 0.15, p < .001). The mixed shift-workers had lower perceived stress and higher BMI than their counterparts who were doing other shift-work categories. Hence, shift-work had a negative influence on the levels of perceived stress and BMI. Hence, this influence should be taken into consideration when planning interventions and strategies to minimize the negative effects of shift-work.
Dopamine-Assisted Modification of Polypropylene Film to Attain Hydrophilic Mineral-Rich Surfaces

The presented study focuses on the modification of polypropylene (PP) film with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) under heterogeneous conditions via polydopamine/polyethylene imine (PDA/PEI) chemistry using a facile dip-coating procedure to attain hydrophilic mineral-rich surfaces. Thus, the resulting PP-based films were further immersed in ion-rich simulated body fluid (SBF) to deposit Ca-based minerals onto the film’s surfaces efficiently. In addition, the chemical reaction mechanism on PP film was proposed, and mineralisation potential inspected by determination of functional groups of deposits, zeta potential, hydrophilicity and surface morphology/topography using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, streaming potential, water contact angle (WCA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The obtained results show the improved wettability of samples on account of PDA inclusion (WCA was reduced from 103° for pure PP film to 28° for PDA-modified film), as well as the presence of functional groups, due to the PDA/PEI/TEOS surface functionalisation, increased the ability of minerals to nucleate on the PP film’s surface when it was exposed to an SBF medium. Moreover, the higher surface roughness due to the silica coatings influenced the enhanced anchoring and attachment of calcium phosphate (CaP), revealing the potential of such a facile approach to modify the chemically inert PP films, being of particular interest in different fields, including regenerative medicine.
Is Early Initiation of Maternal Lactation a Significant Determinant for Continuing Exclusive Breastfeeding up to 6 Months?

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) within the first hour after birth. However, certain perinatal factors, namely caesarean section, may prevent this goal from being achieved. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between EIBF (maternal lactation in the first hours and degree of latching before hospital discharge) and the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding (MBF) up to the recommended 6 months of age (as advocated by the WHO). Methods: This observational, retrospective cohort study included a random sample of all births between 2018 and 2019, characterising the moment of breastfeeding initiation after birth and the infant’s level of breast latch (measured by LATCH assessment tool) prior to hospital discharge. Data were collected from electronic medical records and from follow-up health checks of infants up to 6 months postpartum. Results: We included 342 women and their newborns. EIBF occurred most often after vaginal (p < 0.001) and spontaneous births with spontaneous amniorrhexis (p = 0.002). LATCH score <9 points was associated with a 1.4-fold relative risk of abandoning MBF (95%CI: 1.2–1.7) compared with a score of 9–10 points. Conclusions: Although we were unable to find a significant association between EIBF in the first 2 h after birth and MBF at 6 months postpartum, low LATCH scores prior to discharge were associated with low MBF, indicating the importance of reinforcing the education and preparation efforts of mothers in the first days after delivery, prior to the establishment of an infant feeding routine upon returning home.
ELEFANT: a user-friendly multipurpose geodynamics code

Abstract. A new finite element code for the solution of the Stokes and heat transport equations is presented. It has purposely been designed to address geological flow problems in two and three dimensions at crustal and lithospheric scales. The code relies on the Marker-in-Cell technique and Lagrangian markers are used to track materials in the simulation domain which allows recording of the integrated history of deformation; their (number) density is variable and dynamically adapted. A variety of rheologies has been implemented including nonlinear thermally activated dislocation and diffusion creep and brittle (or plastic) frictional models. The code is built on the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian kinematic description: the computational grid deforms vertically and allows for a true free surface while the computational domain remains of constant width in the horizontal direction. The solution to the large system of algebraic equations resulting from the finite element discretisation and linearisation of the set of coupled partial differential equations to be solved is obtained by means of the efficient parallel direct solver MUMPS whose performance is thoroughly tested, or by means of the WISMP and AGMG iterative solvers. The code accuracy is assessed by means of many geodynamically relevant benchmark experiments which highlight specific features or algorithms, e.g., the implementation of the free surface stabilisation algorithm, the (visco-)plastic rheology implementation, the temperature advection, the capacity of the code to handle large viscosity contrasts. A two-dimensional application to salt tectonics presented as case study illustrates the potential of the code to model large scale high resolution thermo-mechanically coupled free surface flows.
Utility of Telehealth Platforms Applied to Burns Management: A Systematic Review

The financial burden of burn injuries has a considerable impact on patients and healthcare systems. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have demonstrated their utility in the improvement of clinical practice and healthcare systems. Because referral centres for burn injuries cover large geographic areas, many specialists must find new strategies, including telehealth tools for patient evaluation, teleconsultation, and remote monitoring. This systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, IBECS, and LILACS were the search engines used. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, and observational studies were included in the study search. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD42022361137. In total, 37 of 185 studies queried for this study were eligible for the systematic review. Thirty studies were comparative observational studies, six were systematic reviews, and one was a randomised clinical trial. Studies suggest that telehealth allows better perception of triage, more accurate estimation of the TBSA, and resuscitation measures in the management of acute burns. In addition, some studies assess that TH tools are equivalent to face-to-face outpatient visits and cost-efficient because of transport savings and unnecessary referrals. However, more studies are required to provide significant evidence. However, the implementation of telehealth should be specifically adapted to each territory.
Equilateral sets in Minkowski spaces

The structure of equilateral sets in an n-dimensional Minkowski space Mn is shown to be closely related to the properties of antipodal sets. The range of the cardinality of maximal equilateral sets in Mn is obtained and a subset characterization of antipodal sets is derived and applied to equilateral sets.
Observation of 3-6 day meridional wind oscillations over the tropical Pacific, 1973-1992: Vertical structure and interannual variability

Abstract Rawinsonde data from tropical Pacific stations were examined for westward-propagating 3–6-day meridional wind oscillations in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, 1973–1992. Four types were identified from cross- spectrum and principal component analysis. 1) The dominant oscillation, near 250 mb, had a period slightly greater than 5 days, zonal wavenumber 4–6, and modified Rossby-gravity structure near the date line. 2) In the western Pacific lower troposphere there was broadband activity with short zonal scale, coupled to upper- tropospheric waves in NH summer. 3) In the central Pacific, during NH autumn, there was a well-defined ∼4½-day oscillation with maximum amplitude in the lower troposphere and baroclinic phase tilt above. The vertical structure suggested coupling to deep tropical convection; this interpretation was supported by correlation of meridional wind with antisymmetric outgoing longwave radiation. 4) In the stratosphere, Rossby-gravity waves had periods ≤4 days and zonal wavenu.
The efficacy of injury screening for lower back pain in elite golfers

Background Injury prevention is a growing focus for golfers in general and for elite golfers in particular. Movement screening has been proposed as a possible cost-effective means of identifying underlying risk factors and is widely utilised by therapists, trainers and coaches. Objectives Our study aimed to establish whether results from movement screening were associated with subsequent lower back injury in elite golfers. Methods Our prospective longitudinal cohort study with one baseline time point included 41 injury-free young elite male golfers who underwent movement screening. After this, the golfers were monitored for 6 months for lower back pain. Results Seventeen golfers developed lower back pain (41%). Screening tests that were able to differentiate golfers who developed and those who did not develop lower back pain, included: rotational stability test on the non-dominant side (p = 0.01, effect size = 0.27), rotational stability test on the dominant side (p = 0.03; effect size = 0.29) and plank score (p = 0.03; effect size = 0.24). There were no differences observed in any other screening tests. Conclusion Out of 30 screening tests, only three tests were able to identify golfers not at risk of developing lower back pain. All three of these tests had weak effect sizes. Clinical implications Movement screening was not effective in identifying elite golfers at risk of lower back pain in our study.
Recovery based error estimation for the Method of Moments

The Method of Moments (MoM) is routinely used for the numerical solution of electromagnetic surface integral equations. Solution errors are inherent to any numerical computational method, and error estimators can be e ectively employed to reduce and control these errors. In this thesis, gradient recovery techniques of the Finite Element Method (FEM) are formulated within the MoM context, in order to recover a higher-order charge of a Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) MoM solution. Furthermore, a new recovery procedure, based speci cally on the properties of the RWG basis functions, is introduced by the author. These recovered charge distributions are used for a posteriori error estimation of the charge. It was found that the newly proposed charge recovery method has the highest accuracy of the considered recovery methods, and is the most suited for applications within recovery based error estimation. In addition to charge recovery, the possibility of recovery procedures for the MoM solution current are also investigated. A technique is explored whereby a recovered charge is used to nd a higher-order divergent current representation. Two newly developed methods for the subsequent recovery of the solenoidal current component, as contained in the RWG solution current, are also introduced by the author. A posteriori error estimation of the MoM current is accomplished through the use of the recovered current distributions. A mixed second-order recovered current, based on a vector recovery procedure, was found to produce the most accurate results. The error estimation techniques developed in this thesis could be incorporated into an adaptive solver scheme to optimise the solution accuracy relative to the computational cost. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Cubic equations of additive type

It is proved that two simultaneous equations of the form axx + . + a nxl = 0, bxx + . + bnxl = 0, with integral coefficients, are soluble (with not all of x1, ., xn zero) in p-adic integers for every prime p if n16, and are soluble in integers if n 18. The condition n 16 in the former result is best possible.
Driving Time to the Nearest Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-Capable Hospital and the Risk of Case Fatality in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction in Beijing

Timely arrival at a hospital capable of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is critical in treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined the association between driving time to the nearest PCI-capable hospital and case fatality among AMI patients. A total of 142,474 AMI events during 2013–2019 from the Beijing Cardiovascular Disease Surveillance System were included in this cross-sectional study. The driving time from the residential address to the nearest PCI-capable hospital was calculated. Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of AMI death associated with driving time. In 2019, 54.5% of patients lived within a 15-min drive to a PCI-capable hospital, with a higher proportion in urban than peri-urban areas (71.2% vs. 31.8%, p < 0.001). Compared with patients who had driving times ≤15 min, the adjusted odds ratios (95% CI, p value) for AMI fatality risk associated with driving times 16–30, 31–45, and >45 min were 1.068 (95% CI 1.033–1.104, p < 0.001), 1.189 (95% CI 1.127–1.255, p < 0.001), and 1.436 (95% CI 1.334–1.544, p < 0.001), respectively. Despite the high accessibility to PCI-capable hospitals for AMI patients in Beijing, inequality between urban and peri-urban areas exists. A longer driving time is associated with an elevated AMI fatality risk. These findings may help guide the allocation of health resources.
Hybrid metamaterials enable fast electrical modulation of freely propagating terahertz waves

We demonstrate fast electrical modulation of freely propagating terahertz waves at room temperature using hybrid metamaterial devices. The devices are planar metamaterials fabricated on doped semiconductor epitaxial layers, which form hybrid metamaterial—Schottky diode structures. With an applied ac voltage bias, we show modulation of terahertz radiation at inferred frequencies over 2MHz. The modulation speed is limited by the device depletion capacitance which may be reduced for even faster operation.
Linear Order Statistic Estimation for the Two-Parameter Weibull and Extreme-Value Distributions from Type II Progressively Censored Samples

Point estimation for the scale and location parameters of the extreme-value (Type I) distribution by linear functions of order statistics from Type II progressively censored samples is investigated. Four types of linear estimators are considered: the best linear unbiased (BLU), an approximation to the BLU, unweighted regression, and a linearized maximum likelihood. Linear transformations of the estimators are also considered for reducing mean square errors. Exact bias, variance, and mean square error comparisons of the estimators are made for several censoring patterns. Since the natural logarithms of Weibull variates have extreme-value distributions, the investigation is applicable to estimation for Weibull distributions.
Particle swarm optimization with switched topology

This paper studies the particle swarm optimization (PSO) with switched topology (SW-TOPO) and its application to the multi-optima problems (M-OPT). Particles converge at multiple optima simultaneously, since SW-TOPO disconnect the transmission of information and separate the topology of the particles. We introduce the switching path length as a basic measure to evaluate the switched topology. Also, applying the proposed PSO to typical benchmark functions of the M-OPT, the algorithm efficiency is investigated.