Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Similarity solutions for stratified rotating-disk flow

This work treats the vertically stratified system of two homogeneous fluid layers confined between horizontal infinite rotating disks which rotate steadily about a common vertical axis. Allowance is made for uniform injection of fluid at either disk. With appropriate restrictions on disk rotational speeds and injection rates a flat interface is possible, and the problem admits similarity solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations of the Kármán-Bödewadt-Batchelor variety. This type of flow allows for a uniformly accessible surface of interphase mass and heat transfer at the two-fluid interface, and, with that as the primary motivation, the present work provides exploratory numerical solutions of the above equations for both corotation and counter-rotation combined with injection. A linearized theory is given for the case of nearly rigid rotation, with explicit analytical results for the large-Reynolds-number boundary-layer limit. Also, we offer a theoretical discussion of the inviscid limit for arbitrary rotation and injection rates. Based on the type of Euler-cell solutions identified in previous work, we derive the remarkably simple formula \[ \rho_1\omega_1^2\cot^2\frac{\omega_1d_1}{V_1} = \rho_2\omega^2_2\cot^2\frac{\omega_2d_2}{V_2} \] connecting densities ρ, depths d, rotation speeds ω and injection velocities V. Sample calculations and comparisons are given for property ratios typical of water-kerosene layers. In this case, the linearized theory works exceedingly well for corotation with small injectional Rossby numbers V/ωd. The simple inviscid theory cited above shows excellent agreement with the numerical computations for Reynolds numbers greater than 500 and for Rossby numbers > 1/π, corresponding to strong blowing in the inviscid regime. The larger-wavelength inviscid cell structure appears to provide the kind of stagnation-flow pattern essential to the application envisaged.
Dementia “e”-consults for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: Improving access to specialty dementia care for rural Veterans

ABSTRACT Objectives This paper characterizes a telephone-based e-consult program designed to assess and treat behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) for older rural Veterans. Methods E-consults required geriatricians to conduct chart review and telephone calls to caregivers to determine behavior triggers, prior management attempts, and medications. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacological recommendations were provided with follow-up calls as needed. Results Evaluation of 364 Veterans (M age = 80.8, 32% in rural/distal clinics) showed 97% (n = 355) of E-consult interventions included caregiver dementia education to prepare them for managing disease progression and provide non-pharmacological strategies for BPSD. Ninety-four percent (n = 244) of Veterans received medication guidance. A total of 37,504 travel miles was saved, with an average of 108 miles for each Veteran. Conclusions Findings support continued implementation of telephone and other virtual modalities of assessing and treating BPSD for older Veterans, thereby increasing access to dementia specialists, especially for rural older adults and their caregivers. A limitation to e-consults is the time needed to provide services compared to the maximum workload credit allowed. Clinical Implications Virtual care improves access to Geriatric specialists and semi-urgent care that otherwise is not available. E-consults are effective in providing primary care providers guidance for diagnosis and management of dementia.
Analysis of discrete-time multi-server queue with balking

This paper analyses a discrete-time multi-server queue with balking behavior. The inter-arrival and service times are assumed to be independent and geometrically distributed. If all the servers are busy, an arriving customer either enters with probability b or balks with probability 1 − b. Otherwise, the service of the arriving customer commences immediately. The system is analysed under the assumptions of an early arrival system and a late arrival system with delayed access. Closed-form expressions for the steady-state probabilities at arbitrary epochs and an outside observer's observation epoch probabilities are obtained. Various performance measures along with some numerical results in the form of a table and graphs are presented. Some special cases of the model have also been discussed. We have shown that the obtained results converge to the results of the continuous-time counterparts in the limiting case.
‘Everything turned upside down’: A thematic analysis of adolescents’ experiences of everyday life during COVID-19 restrictions

Background: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were encouraged to practice social distancing, and schools and leisure venues closed. Aims: We aimed to explore the everyday experiences of Norwegian adolescents during COVID-19 restrictions, when in-person contact with peers was severely limited. Methods: A total of 622 high-school students (16–18 years of age) replied to an online survey containing open-ended questions about the changes they experienced in everyday life during the first three months of the pandemic. Results: Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (a) ‘Everyday life turned upside down – everything is on hold’; (b) ‘Alone with my thoughts – new concerns’; (c) ‘A loss of social life – a fear of wasting important time’; and (d) ‘Gratitude – new perspectives in life’. The results are discussed according to mental-health concerns and psychological developmental challenges during adolescence, such as social exploration of roles with peers, autonomy and identity formation during a crisis. Conclusions: The results underline individual variations and positive experiences among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite social restrictions. Still, the lack of in-person contact with friends is related to an increased experience of loneliness and mental-health concerns for many adolescents.
Rotational anisotropy and repulsive effects in the Kerr metric

The authors investigate the repulsive properties of the Kerr spacetime solution and their relationship with the rotational anisotropy of the curvature. From a comparative study of the Komar mass integral and the dynamics of freely falling particles they deduce an effective 'mass' which accounts for the insurgence of the repulsive effects by taking negative values.
Hill’s formula for -periodic trajectories of Lagrangian systems

In this paper some results of a work by Bolotin and Treshchëv are generalized to the case of g-periodic trajectories of Lagrangian systems. Formulae connecting the characteristic polynomial of the monodromy matrix with the determinant of the Hessian of the action functional are obtained both for the discrete and continuous cases. Applications to the problem of stability of g-periodic trajectories are given. Hill’s formula can be used to study g-periodic orbits obtained by variational methods. §
Infrared Spectroscopy to Analyze Sexual Dimorphism of Hard Dental Tissue Maturation at Eruption in Patients with Connective Tissue Dysplasia

The aim of this study was to research the biochemical changes in the hard tissues of the lower “wisdom” teeth, which are at the stage of eruption, with connective tissue dysplasia, depending on sex. The study involved 38 patients aged 17–25 years, who had the extraction of the lower third molars on the left and right for medical reasons. Twenty-one participants in the experiment (16 females, five males) were diagnosed with connective tissue dysplasia; the remaining 17 were healthy and made up the control group (11 females, six males). Samples of enamel, dentin, and enamel–dentin junction were dried to constant weight and examined in tablets pressed in a mixture with potassium bromide on an FT-801 Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer (NPF Simex, Russia) in the range of 500–4000 cm−1. In the IR spectra of the enamel, enamel–dentin junction, and dentin, the absorbance ratio of amide I and II changed significantly and the absorbance of the absorption band of phosphate ions decreased from enamel to dentin. Differences between groups with and without connective tissue dysplasia increased in the following series: dentin, enamel–dentin junction, and enamel. With connective tissue dysplasia, a change in the ratio of the intensities of the absorption bands of amide I and phosphate ions was observed. Normally, the content of organic substances in the enamel of the teeth in the males group is lower than in the females group. Against the background of connective tissue dysplasia, the content of organic substances in the enamel in women decreased while in men it increased, which confirmed the presence of sexual dimorphism during the maturation of hard dental tissues at the eruption stage. The study confirms the opinion of many researchers about the significant role of collagen proteins, which, together with non-collagen proteins, are involved in the development and maturation of dental hard tissues, which are characterized by pronounced heterogeneity and sexual dimorphism in the group with connective tissue dysplasia. Graphical Abstract This is a visual representation of the abstract.
The role of language in mental health during the transition from primary to secondary education

We report a preregistered analysis to test whether children meeting diagnostic criteria for language disorder (LD) have higher self-reported and/or parent-reported mental health symptoms during the transition from primary to secondary education. Data are from a UK-based longitudinal cohort study, The Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study (SCALES). SCALES oversampled children at risk of LD at school entry. Language was measured using a battery of standardised assessments in Year 1 (age 5–6 years, n = 529), and mental health symptoms were measured using self and parent report in Year 6 (age 10–11 years, n = 384) and Year 8 (age 12–13 years, n = 246). Social experiences were also measured using self-report measures in Year 6. Mental health symptoms were stable during the transition from primary to secondary school. Symptom rates did not differ between children with and without LD based on self-report, but children with LD had higher parent-reported mental health symptoms than their peers with typical language. Similarly, early language was negatively associated with parent-reported but not self-reported mental health symptoms. Early language was associated with fewer child-reported positive social experiences in Year 6, but social experiences did not mediate the association between language and mental health. We found poor agreement between parent and self-reported child mental health symptoms across language groups. Future studies should aim to determine sources of disagreement between parent and child report, particularly for children with communication difficulties who may struggle to accurately self-report mental health symptoms.
Quality of Dying and Death of Patients With Cancer in Hospice Care in Uganda

PURPOSE Despite advances in palliative care in Uganda, there has been relatively little recent patient-centered research investigating end-of-life outcomes in this region. We assessed the quality of dying and death of patients with cancer in hospice care in Uganda. METHODS Bereaved caregivers of patients who received hospice care in Uganda and died 2-12 months earlier (N = 201) completed the Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire, which includes 31 items and single-item ratings of overall quality of dying and moment of death, and the FAMCARE measure of family satisfaction with cancer care. RESULTS Caregivers reported low-intermediate overall quality of dying (mean [M] standard deviation [SD], 3.25 [2.98]) and overall quality of moment of death (M [SD], 3.59 [3.51]), with 47.0% of the ratings of these two outcomes in the poor range, but the mean family satisfaction with care was high (M [SD], 77.75 [10.26]). Most Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire items (74.2%) were rated within the intermediate range. Items rated within the good range were religious-spiritual, interpersonal, and personal facets; two items within the poor range reflected physical functioning. Overall quality of dying was most strongly correlated with pain control (Spearman's rho [rs] = 0.45, P < .001), and overall quality of moment of death with state of consciousness before death and being unafraid of dying (rs = 0.42, P < .001). The FAMCARE score was not correlated with overall quality of dying or moment of death (P = .576-.813). Only one FAMCARE item, information on managing patient's pain, was correlated with overall quality of moment of death (rs = –0.19, P = .008). CONCLUSION End-of-life care in hospices in Uganda requires further improvement, particularly with regard to symptom control. Patient-centered data could bolster advocacy efforts to support quality improvement of palliative care in this and other countries.
P/2006 HR30 (Siding Spring): A Low-Activity Comet in Near-Earth Space

The low cometary activity of P/2006 HR30 (Siding Spring) allowed a unique opportunity to study the nucleus of a periodic comet while near perihelion. P/2006 HR30 was originally targeted as a potential extinct comet, and we measured spectral reflectance and dust production using long-slit CCD spectroscopy and wide-field imaging obtained at the Palomar Mountain 200 inch telescope on 2006 August 3 and 4. The dust production Afρ = 19.7 ± 0.4 cm and mass-loss rate Qdust = 4.1 ± 0.1 kg s-1 of the comet were approximately 2 orders of magnitude less than 1P/Halley at similar heliocentric distance. The VRI colors derived from the spectral reflectance were compared to Kuiper Belt objects, Centaurs, and other cometary nuclei. We found that the spectrum of P/2006 HR30 was consistent with other comets. However, the outer solar system bodies have a color distribution statistically distinct from cometary nuclei. It is our conjecture that cometary activity, most likely the reaccretion of ejected cometary dust, tends to moderate and mute the visible colors of the surface of cometary nuclei.
Willingness to Pay for Annual Health Care Services in Small Ruminants: The Case of South India

A study was undertaken in southern peninsular State of India, the Tamil Nadu State, to assess the farmers' 'Willingness To Pay' (WTP) for annual health care services in small ruminants. The districts of the State were categorized as 'Livestock Developed' (LD) and 'Livestock Under Developed' (LUD) based on initial base line developed. Contingent Valuation (CV) approach was used to study the farmers' maximum WTP value for two types of health care services: (a) providing animal health care services at government veterinary centres, (b) extending animal health care services at farmers' door steps. A Payment Card (PC) format was used to assess the farmers' maximum WTP for ensuring health care services to sheep and goat. The Maximum Likelihood Interval technique was used on interval midpoints. The farmers were willing to pay a maximum of INR 56.34 and INR 61.61 for availing health services to their sheep and goat, respectively, by in-centre services, while they were ready to offer INR 87.49 and INR 95.27 for the animal health services delivered at doorsteps. The mean maximum WTP value was found to be more for goats than sheep, postulated both in-centre and home services. Of the factors incorporated in the in-centre service model for sheep, age of respondent, livelihood share of livestock, number of sheep and VLU owned and distance from nearest public veterinary centre were found to significantly influence the WTP values. Unlike sheep, age of respondent, VLU possession, distance of the public veterinary centre and district versatility had a significant role in determining WTP values in goats. WTP values in sheep for home service were found to be significantly predisposed by all the significant factors of in-centre services model, except number of sheep owned. Similarly, in goat the age of respondent turned to be insignificant in home services model. The results indicated that the people were willing to pay more for getting their small ruminants adequately protected from diseases and treated at once with quality services.
Feasibility Study of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients with Terminal Cancer

Purpose Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form is a legal document for terminally ill patients to make medical decisions with physicians near the end-of-life. A multicenter prospective study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of POLST administration in actual oncological practice. Materials and Methods Patients with terminal cancer, age ≥ 20 years, and capable of communicating were eligible. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of POLST. Data about physicians’ or patients’ barriers were also collected. Results From June to December 2017, 336 patients from seven hospitals were eligible. Median patient age was 66 years (range, 20 to 94 years); 52.7% were male; and 60.4% had poor performance status. Primary cancer sites were hepato-pancreato-biliary (26.2%), lung (23.2%), and gastrointestinal (19.9%). Expected survival duration was 10.6±7.3 weeks, with 41.2% receiving hospice care, 37.9% showing progression after cancer treatment, and the remaining patients were under active treatment (15.8%) or initially diagnosed with terminal cancer (5.1%). POLST forms were introduced to 60.1% of patients, and 31.3% signed the form. Physicians’ barriers were reluctance of family (49.7%), lack of rapport (44.8%), patients’ denial of prognosis (34.3%), lack of time (22.7%), guilty feelings (21.5%), and uncertainty about either prognosis (21.0%) or the right time to discuss POLST (16.6%). The patients’ barriers were the lack of knowledge/understanding of POLST (65.1%), emotional discomfort (63.5%), difficulty in decision-making (66.7%), or denial of prognosis (14.3%). Conclusion One-third of patients completed POLST forms, and various barriers were identified. To overcome such barriers, social engagement, education, and systematic support might be necessary.
C‐terminal agrin fragment as a biomarker of muscle wasting and weakness: a narrative review

Ageing is accompanied by an inexorable loss of muscle mass and functionality and represents a major risk factor for numerous diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. This progressive loss of muscle mass and function may also result in the insurgence of a clinical syndrome termed sarcopenia, exacerbated by inactivity and disease. Sarcopenia and muscle weakness yield the risk of falls and injuries, heavily impacting on health and social costs. Thus, screening, monitoring and prevention of conditions inducing muscle wasting and weakness are essential to improve life quality in the ageing modern society. To this aim, the reliability of easily accessible and non‐invasive blood‐derived biomarkers is being evaluated. C‐terminal agrin fragment (CAF) has been widely investigated as a neuromuscular junction (NMJ)‐related biomarker of muscle dysfunction. This narrative review summarizes and critically discusses, for the first time, the studies measuring CAF concentration in young and older, healthy and diseased individuals, cross‐sectionally and in response to inactivity and physical exercise, providing possible explanations behind the discrepancies observed in the literature. To identify the studies investigating CAF in the above‐mentioned conditions, all the publications found in PubMed, written in English and measuring this biomarker in blood from 2013 (when CAF was firstly measured in human serum) to 2022 were included in this review. CAF increases with age and in sarcopenic individuals when compared with age‐matched, non‐sarcopenic peers. In addition, CAF was found to be higher than controls in other muscle wasting conditions, such as diabetes, COPD, chronic heart failure and stroke, and in pancreatic and colorectal cancer cachectic patients. As agrin is also expressed in kidney glomeruli, chronic kidney disease and transplantation were shown to have a profound impact on CAF independently from muscle wasting. CAF concentration raises following inactivity and seems to be lowered or maintained by exercise training. Finally, CAF was reported to be cross‐sectionally correlated to appendicular lean mass, handgrip and gait speed; whether longitudinal changes in CAF are associated with those in muscle mass or performance following physical exercise is still controversial. CAF seems a reliable marker to assess muscle wasting in ageing and disease, also correlating with measurements of appendicular lean mass and muscle function. Future research should aim at enlarging sample size and accurately reporting the medical history of each patient, to normalize for any condition, including chronic kidney disease, that may influence the circulating concentration of this biomarker.
Feedforward Self-Modeling and Self-Regulation: It’s Not Just for Learning

ABSTRACT Purpose: This research investigated whether Zimmerman’s model of self-regulated learning could be transferred into a competitive setting. We also investigated whether a feedforward self-modeling video could influence one’s use of self-regulation and as such be an effective self-regulatory intervention. Methods: Nine competitive gymnasts took part in two interviews; one interview was conducted after a competition in which the video was viewed (experimental interview: EI) and the other after a competition where no video was seen (control interview: CI). Results: The gymnasts’ responses to the interviews suggested that many processes and beliefs used in the learning context described by Zimmerman were also engaged in within a competitive context. Furthermore, comparison of gymnasts’ responses between the EI and CI suggested that the feedforward self-modeling video influenced gymnasts’ use of self-regulation during a competition. Conclusion: This research suggests that Zimmerman’s model of self-regulation has potential to be transmitted into the competitive context and that an individual’s self-regulation can be influenced by viewing a feedforward self-modeling video.