Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflammation Related to Association of Low Uric Acid and Progression to Severe Disease in Patients Hospitalized for Non-Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019

Uric acid has antioxidant properties. To examine whether a low uric acid level is associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression via inflammation, alveolar damage, and/or coagulation abnormality, a retrospective observational study of 488 patients with non-severe COVID-19 and serum uric acid level ≤7 mg/dL at admission was conducted. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6), and plasma D-dimer levels were also measured as markers of inflammation, alveolar damage, and coagulation abnormality, respectively. Median values for uric acid, CRP, KL-6, and D-dimer at admission were 4.4 mg/dL, 3.33 mg/dL, 252.0 U/mL, and 0.8 µg/mL, respectively. Among the total cohort, 95 (19.5%) progressed to severe COVID-19 with a median (interquartile range) time of 7 (4–14) days. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that low uric acid level was associated with a higher rate of severe COVID-19 progression. However, uric acid level was inversely associated with CRP level, and the association between the level of uric acid and severe COVID-19 progression was significantly different with and without CRP level inclusion. In contrast, no such association was found for KL-6 or D-dimer level. Low uric acid may contribute to severe COVID-19 progression via increased inflammation in subjects without hyperuricemia.
Can Surface-Cover Tiles Be Summed to Give Neighborhood Fluxes in Cities?

The paper addresses the question of whether the modeling practice of summing separate land-cover tiles to give urban fluxes at the neighborhood scale has merit. A central-city site in Basel, Switzerland, was instrumented to measure turbulent sensible heat fluxes QH from the two main land-cover types (roofs and canyons) separately and from the whole neighborhood. Path-averaged QH values were measured in the roughness sublayer (RSL) using scintillometry, and the spatially averaged QH neighborhood-scale flux was measured in the inertial sublayer (ISL) by an eddy-covariance system. The roof and canyon flux results are combined and weighted according to the respective plan-area abundance of each to give an estimated value of the neighborhood flux. The results show that this ‘‘bottom up’’ approach underestimates the measured ISL values by about 25% when averaged across all periods and wind directions. This finding led to consideration of possible errors from instrumentation, inappropriate turbulent source areas, failure to sample representative surfaces, and inability to fully capture RSL heat exchange. Sorting data by the two main wind directions revealed significant differences. The measured fluxes in the ISL and across the canyon top depend little upon wind direction, but daytime roof values show a marked sensitivity to wind direction. Qualitative analysis suggests this might be caused by systematic controls such as solar angle, site morphometry, and observational setup. The comparison of bottom up versus ISL is inconclusive; in some conditions agreement appears promising, and in others it does not. The question has not been proven or disproven. It may be too ambitious to test the concept at a real-world site.
Studies of Exciton Condensation and Transport in Quantum Hall Bilayers

This thesis is a report of the transport properties of bilayer two-dimensional electron systems found in GaAs/AlGaAs double quantum well semiconductor heterostructures. When a strong perpendicular magnetic field is applied so that the total Landau filling factor is equal to one and if the two layers are close enough together, a novel quantum Hall (QH) state with strong interlayer correlations can form. This QH state is often described as an excitonic condensate, in which electrons in one layer pair with holes in the other. As neutral particles, excitons feel no Lorentz force and are not confined to the edges of the bilayer system like charged quasiparticles are. Instead, excitons are expected to be able to move freely through the bulk and even flow without any dissipation under proper conditions (i.e.,~excitonic superfluidity). Counterflow studies that directly probe the bulk verify this exciton transport in the electrically insulating interior. We also report on studies of the phase boundary between the correlated and uncorrelated phases at total Landau filling factor one as the effective interlayer separation is tuned. When both phases are fully spin polarized at high Zeeman energy, the phase transition is much broader than when the uncorrelated phase is incompletely polarized at low Zeeman energy. This suggests a possible change in the nature of the phase transition in the regime of complete spin polarization.
Estimation of Focal Length Variations of a 100-m Radio Telescope’s Main Reflector by Laser Scanner Measurements

AbstractDue to gravitation, the main reflector of a radio telescope underlies a deformation that causes a change in focal length depending on the variations of the elevation angle of the telescope. To estimate these gravity dependent deformations of the main reflector of the 100-m radio telescope at Effelsberg, Germany, this study proposes a measurement concept based on a laser scanner being mounted upside down on the subreflector. The measurements that have been performed at seven different elevations between 90 and 7.5° are used to estimate the focal length variation of the main reflector parameterized by a rotational paraboloid. To guarantee reliability of the adjustment, this study uses an orthogonal distance regression (ODR) rather than a classical least squares adjustment in a Gauss-Helmert model and formulates the independence of the focal length estimation from the absolute position and orientation of the main reflector in space as a requirement for a reliable adjustment approach. This investigati.
Strain-Induced Electronic Structure and Bandgap Transition in Bilayer $\text{MoSe}_{2}$ of AB and AA Stacking Order

The transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) materials have received intensive research interest for strain engineering applications. In this work, we report the biaxial strain $(\varepsilon)$ -induced electronic structure of AB and AA stacked 2L $\text{MoSe}_{2}$ using Density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We found that AB stacked 2L $\mathbf{MoSe}_{2}$ remains its intrinsic indirect bandgap transition $(\Gamma-\Sigma_{\min})$ within the strain range from -1.8 % to +0.3%. An indirect to direct bandgap crossover is observed in AA stacked 2L $\text{MoSe}_{2}$ at a practically achievable strain value of -0.1%. The direct bandgap value for AA-stacked $\mathbf{MoSe}_{2}$ makes it a promising candidate for optoelectronic device applications. For the higher strain (-2% $< \varepsilon >$ 0.5%), both AB and AA stacked 2L $\text{MoSe}_{2}$ have similar bandgap tunability and transition.
THE REAL FREED-HOPKINS-TELEMAN THEOREM

Let G be a compact, connected, and simply-connected Lie group viewed as a G-space via the conjugation action. The Freed-Hopkins-Teleman Theorem (FHT) as- serts a canonical link between the equivariant twisted K-homology of G and its Verlinde algebra. In this paper we give a generalization of FHT in the presence of a Real structure of G. Along the way we develop preliminary materials necessary for this generalization, which are of independent interest in their own right. These include the definitions of Real Dixmier-Douady bundles, the Real third cohomology group which is shown to classify the former, and Real Spin c structures.
Establishment and Application Evaluation of an Improved Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening Questionnaire for Chinese Community: The CNCQ-OSA

Objective Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-disordered breathing disease. We aimed to establish an improved screening questionnaire without physical examinations for OSA named the CNCQ-OSA (Chinese community questionnaire for OSA). Methods A total of 2585 participants who visited sleep medicine center and underwent overnight polysomnography were grouped into two independent cohorts: derivation (n = 2180) and validation (n = 405). The CNCQ-OSA was designed according to the baseline of patients in derivation cohort. We comprehensively analyzed the data to evaluate the predictive value of the CNCQ-OSA, compared to the GOAL questionnaire, STOP-Bang questionnaire (SBQ) and NoSAS questionnaire. Results The CNCQ-OSA included seven variables: loud snoring, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, male gender, apnea, sleepiness, hypertension and age ≥30, with a total score ranging from 7 to 16.7 points (≥13.5 points indicating high risk of OSA, ≥14.5 points indicating extremely high risk). In the derivation and validation cohorts, the areas under the curve of the CNCQ-OSA were 0.761 and 0.767, respectively. In the validation cohort, the sensitivity and specificity of a CNCQ-OSA score ≥13.5 points for the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5/h were 0.821 and 0.559, respectively (Youden index, 0.380), and the score ≥14.5 points were 0.494 and 0.887, respectively (Youden index, 0.375). The CNCQ-OSA had a better predictive value for AHI ≥ 5/h, AHI > 15/h and AHI > 30/h, with the highest Youden index, compared to the other questionnaires. Conclusion The CNCQ-OSA can effectively identify the risk of OSA, which is appropriate for self-screening at home without physical examinations.
The safety and immunogenicity of a two-dose schedule of CoronaVac, and the immune persistence of vaccination for six months, in people living with HIV: A multicenter prospective cohort study

Background People living with HIV (PLWH) are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2. However, evidence on the immunogenicity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in this population is insufficient. The objective of this study is to assess the immunogenicity and safety of the two-dose schedule of Sinovac CoronaVac for 6 months postvaccination in PLWH. Methods We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study among PLWH and HIV-negative adults in China. Participants who received two doses of CoronaVac prior to the recruitment were allocated into two groups and followed up for 6 months. The neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), immunoglobulin G against the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein (S-IgG), and gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) were measured to assess the associations among CoronaVac immunogenicity and related factors. Adverse reactions were collected to evaluate the safety profile of vaccination. Results A total of 203 PLWH and 100 HIV-negative individuals were enrolled. A small portion of participants reported mild or moderate adverse reactions without serious adverse events. Median nAbs level in PLWH (31.96 IU/mL, IQR: 12.34-76.40) was lower than that in the control group (46.52 IU/mL, IQR: 29.08-77.30) at the 2-4 weeks postvaccination (P=0.002), and the same trend was presented for median S-IgG titer (37.09 vs. 60.02 IU/ml) (both P <0.05). The nAbs seroconversion rate in the PLWH group was also lower than in the control group (75.86% vs. 89.00%). After then, the immune responses reduced over time in term of only 23.04% of PLWH and 36.00% of HIV-negative individuals had a positive seroconversion for nAbs at 6-month. The multivariable generalized estimating equation analysis showed that PLWH with CD4+T count≥350 cells/µL presented higher immune response than PLWH with CD4+T count <350 cells/µL in terms of antibody seroconversion and titers. The immunogenicity did not differ in participants with low or high HIV viral load. The S-antigen specific IFN-γ immunity was generally stable and had a slow attenuation in both two groups for 6 months postvaccination. Conclusion The Sinovac CoronaVac was generally safe and immunogenic in PLWH, but the immunity response was inferior and the antibodies vanished faster compared to HIV-negative individuals. This study suggested a shorter than 6-month interval of prime-boost vaccination for PLWH to ensure a better protection.
Drug-Induced Gingival Overgrowth—Molecular Aspects of Drug Actions

Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is one of the side effects produced by therapeutic agents, most commonly phenytoin, nifedipine and cyclosporin A. However, the precise mechanism of DIGO is not entirely understood. A literature search of the MEDLINE/PubMed databases was conducted to identify the mechanisms involved in DIGO. The available information suggests that the pathogenesis of DIGO is multifactorial, but common pathogenic sequelae of events emerge, i.e., sodium and calcium channel antagonism or disturbed intracellular handling of calcium, which finally lead to reductions in intracellular folic acid levels. Disturbed cellular functions, mainly in keratinocytes and fibroblasts, result in increased collagen and glycosaminoglycans accumulation in the extracellular matrix. Dysregulation of collagenase activity, as well as integrins and membrane receptors, are key mechanisms of reduced degradation or excessive synthesis of connective tissue components. This manuscript describes the cellular and molecular factors involved in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix remodeling triggered by agents producing DIGO.
Downregulation of miR‑10b‑5p facilitates the proliferation of uterine leiomyosarcoma cells: A microRNA sequencing‑based approach

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is one of the most aggressive gynecological malignancies. In addition, the molecular background of ULMS has not been fully elucidated due to its low incidence. Therefore, no effective treatment strategies have been established based on its molecular background. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in the development of ULMS. Comprehensive miRNA sequencing was performed using six ULMS and three myoma samples, and revealed 53 and 11 significantly upregulated and downregulated miRNAs, respectively. One of the most abundant miRNAs in myoma samples was miR-10b-5p. The mean normalized read count of miR-10b-5p was 93,650 reads in myoma, but only 27,903 reads in ULMS. Subsequently, to investigate the roles of miR-10b-5p, gain-of-function analysis was performed using SK-UT-1 and SK-LMS-1 cell lines. The overexpression of miR-10b-5p suppressed cell proliferation and reduced the number of colonies. Moreover, miR-10b-5p increased the number of cells in the G1 phase. In conclusion, tumor-suppressive miR-10b-5p was significantly downregulated in ULMS compared with in myoma; thus, miR-10b-5p may serve a specific role in sarcoma progression.
A Method for Identifying the Sensitive Areas in Targeted Observations for Tropical Cyclone Prediction: Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbation

Conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP), which is a natural extension of the linear singular vector into the nonlinear regime, is proposed in this study for the determination of sensitive areas in adaptive observations for tropical cyclone prediction. Three tropical cyclone cases, Mindulle (2004), Meari (2004), and Matsa (2005), are investigated. Using the metrics of kinetic and dry energies, CNOPs and the first singular vectors (FSVs) are obtained over a 24-h optimization interval. Their spatial structures, their energies, and their nonlinear evolutions as well as the induced humidity changes are compared. A series of sensitivity experiments are designed to find out what benefit can be obtained by reductions of CNOP-type errors versus FSV-type errors. It is found that the structures of CNOPs may differ much from those of FSVs depending on the constraint, metric, and the basic state. The CNOP-type errors have larger impact on the forecasts in the verification area as well as the tropical cyclones than the FSV-types errors. The results of sensitivity experiments indicate that reductions of CNOP-type errors in the initial states provide more benefits than reductions of FSV-type errors. These results suggest that it is worthwhile to use CNOP as a method to identify the sensitive areas in adaptive observation for tropical cyclone prediction.
The Vertical Stratification of Air Temperature in the Center of Athens

Abstract The intraurban temperature variation in the center of Athens, Greece, was investigated in relation to urban geometry. This paper describes two main tasks: 1) Air temperature was recorded in the center of Athens and at the Meteorological Service Station at the University of Athens. Experimental data were collected through extensive monitoring at four different heights inside five different urban canyons in the center of Athens during the summer period. A measurement uncertainty analysis was carried out to estimate critical threshold values of air temperature below which differences were not significant. 2) The correlation between urban–suburban air temperature differences was assessed, using the geometrical characteristics of each urban street canyon. Urban–rural air temperature differences were considered to be not important if they were below the threshold value of 0.3°C. It was concluded that the major factor controlling urban–suburban air temperature differences was the geometry of the urban a.
Assessing Community Readiness for Payments for Ecosystem Service Schemes for Tropical Primary Forest Protection in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract Primary forest conservation is essential for limiting climate change, for meeting conservation objectives, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Schemes that compensate communities for forgone extractive uses are important policy tools, but effective deployment demands an understanding of local deforestation drivers and host communities’ preferences. We use Q-methodology to reveal discourses present in three communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our results reveal three factors with a common emphasis on forest conservation and preferences for compensation in the form of social investments, rather than cash. The main contrasts were in attitudes towards farming. The first discourse, we call conservationist—open to ideas, displayed a commitment to learning better practices for community material benefit in service of forest conservation. The second discourse, which demonstrated greater confidence in their capacity to support livelihoods from farming, we call aspirational artisans. The third, which was acutely aware of the impact of their farming on forest conservation, we called passive, conflicted farmers. We also demonstrate an aspiration for the continued development of farming amongst participants, which although still correlated with preferences for forest conservation, may lead to compensation schemes inadvertently stirring future land use tensions if design does not reconcile agricultural development and conservation.
LA CONJECTURE DES POINTS LES PLUS ´ ELOIGN ´ ES REVISIT ´ EE

One of the oldest open questions (since the 1960 years) in Real Analysis and Approximation Theory is the so-called farthest point conjecture; it is formulated as follows: Given a closed bounded subset S of a normed vector space X, one considers the set-valued mapping QS(·) which assigns to x 2 X the points in S which are farthest from x; if QS(x) contains one and only one element for all x 2 X, could we assert that S itself is a singleton? More than one hundred papers have been devoted to this question since its formu- lation, positively answering the conjecture in rather gene ral situations (examples: whenS is compact, if X is finite-dimensional, when X is a particular normed vector space, etc.) but not in all of them.
Impact of Religious Orientation on Prosocial Behavior of Undergraduate University Students: Emotional Expressivity as Moderator

The purpose of the current study is to find out the impact of religious orientation on the prosocial behavior of undergraduate university students. The sample consisted of 528 undergraduate students (279 female, 249 male), who were purposefully selected with an age range of 17 to 24 years. Three scales were employed: the Religious Orientation Scale (Urdu) developed by Khan, Ghous, and Malik (2016), the Prosocial Tendency Measure (PTM-R) by Carlo and Randall (2002), and the emotional expressivity scale (Urdu) developed by Fahd and Hanif (2019). SPSS (22.0) is used to draw the results. This study provides important insights into the relationship between religious orientation and prosocial behavior and highlights the role of emotional expressivity as a moderator in this relationship. The results suggest that individuals who are more religious and also score highly on emotional expressivity may be more likely to engage in prosocial behaviors. This has implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying the relationship between religious orientation and prosocial behavior and may inform interventions aimed at promoting prosocial behavior.
Distributed Average Consensus with Time-Varying Metropolis Weights ?

Given a network of processes where each node has an initial scalar value, we consider the problem of computing their average asymptotically using a distributed, linear iterative algorithm. At each iteration, each node replaces its own value with a weighted average of its previous value and the values of its neighbors. We introduce the Metropolis weights, a simple choice for the averaging weights used in each step. We show that with these weights, the values at every node converge to the average, provided the innitely occurring communication graphs are jointly connected.
Assessment of Hydrometeor Collection Rates from Exact and Approximate Equations. Part II: Numerical Bounding

Abstract Past microphysical investigations, including Part I of this study, have noted that the collection equation, when applied to the interaction between different hydrometeor species, can predict large mass transfer rates, even when an exact solution is used. The fractional depletion in a time step can even exceed unity for the collected species with plausible microphysical conditions and time steps, requiring “normalization” by a microphysical scheme. Although some of this problem can be alleviated through the use of more moment predictions and hydrometeor categories, the question as to why such “overdepletion” can be predicted in the first place remains insufficiently addressed. It is shown through both physical and conceptual arguments that the explicit time discretization of the bulk collection equation for any moment is not consistent with a quasi-stochastic view of collection. The result, under certain reasonable conditions, is a systematic overprediction of collection, which can become a seriou.