Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Information, physics, quantum: the search for links

This report reviews what quantum physics and information theory have to tell us about the age-old question, How come existence? No escape is evident from four conclusions: (1) The world cannot be a giant machine, ruled by any preestablished continuum physical law. (2) There is no such thing at the microscopic level as space or time or spacetime continuum. (3) The familiar probability function or functional, and wave equation or functional wave equation, of standard quantum theory provide mere continuum idealizations and by reason of this circumstance conceal the information-theoretic source from which they derive. (4) No element in the description of physics shows itself as closer to primordial than the elementary quantum phenomenon, that is, the elementary device-intermediated act of posing a yes-no physical question and eliciting an answer or, in brief, the elementary act of observer-participancy. Otherwise stated, every physical quantity, every it, derives its ultimate significance from bits, binary yes-or-no indications, a conclusion which we epitomize in the phrase, it from bit. Revolution in outlook though Kepler, Newton, and Einstein brought us [1-4], and still more startling the story of life [5-7] that evolution forced upon an unwilling world, the ultimate shock to preconceived ideas lies ahead, be it a decade hence, a century or a millenium. The overarching principle of 20th-century physics, the quantum [8] — and the principle of complementarity [9] that is central idea of the quantum — leaves us no escape, Niels Bohr tells us, [10] from "a radical revision of our attitude as regards physical reality" and a "fundamental modification of all ideas regarding the absolute character of physical phenomena. " Transcending Einstein's summons [11] of 1908, "This quantum business is so incredibly important and difficult that everyone should busy himself with it," Bohr's modest words direct us to the supreme goal: Deduce the quantum from an understanding of existence. How make headway toward a goal so great against difficulties so large? The search for understanding presents to us three questions, four no's and five clues:
A longitudinal analysis of conspiracy beliefs and Covid-19 health responses

Abstract Background Little is known about how conspiracy beliefs and health responses are interrelated over time during the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. This longitudinal study tested two contrasting, but not mutually exclusive, hypotheses through cross-lagged modeling. First, based on the consequential nature of conspiracy beliefs, we hypothesize that conspiracy beliefs predict an increase in detrimental health responses over time. Second, as people may rationalize their behavior through conspiracy beliefs, we hypothesize that detrimental health responses predict increased conspiracy beliefs over time. Methods We measured conspiracy beliefs and several health-related responses (i.e. physical distancing, support for lockdown policy, and the perception of the coronavirus as dangerous) at three phases of the pandemic in the Netherlands (N = 4913): During the first lockdown (Wave 1: April 2020), after the first lockdown (Wave 2: June 2020), and during the second lockdown (Wave 3: December 2020). Results For physical distancing and perceived danger, the overall cross-lagged effects supported both hypotheses, although the standardized effects were larger for the effects of conspiracy beliefs on these health responses than vice versa. The within-person change results only supported an effect of conspiracy beliefs on these health responses, depending on the phase of the pandemic. Furthermore, an overall cross-lagged effect of conspiracy beliefs on reduced support for lockdown policy emerged from Wave 2 to 3. Conclusions The results provide stronger support for the hypothesis that conspiracy beliefs predict health responses over time than for the hypothesis that health responses predict conspiracy beliefs over time.
Epitaxial growth of ferromagnetic La2NiMnO6 with ordered double-perovskite structure

Epitaxial thin films of ordered double-perovskite La2NiMnO6 were deposited on SrTiO3, (LaAlO3)0.3–(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7, and LaAlO3 substrates by a pulsed-laser deposition method. A rock-salt-type ordering for Ni2+ and Mn4+ ions was confirmed through structural and magnetic measurements. Despite the difference in heteroepitaxial constraints on the crystal structure, the magnetic properties of the films were quite similar to each other and also to those of bulk La2NiMnO6.
Cumulative rehospitalizations and implications for subsequent mortality after first-ever ischemic stroke

ABSTRACT Introduction Clinical implications of readmission following initial hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are not known. We examined predictors of readmissions and impact of readmissions on subsequent mortality after first-ever AIS. Materials and methods Adults aged ≥18 years who survived to discharge after hospitalization for first-ever AIS from 2003 to 2019 were included in the study. For each patient, the overall burden of hospitalizations was measured as total number of hospitalizations and aggregate days spent hospitalized during follow-up. We used Poisson regression to estimate incident rate ratios (IRR) for predictors of re-hospitalization and time-dependent Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for mortality. Results Of 908 AIS survivors, 537 died, 669 had 2,645 readmissions over 4,535 person-years follow-up. Adjusted independent predictors of cumulative readmission inlcuded being white (IRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03–1.42), dependency on discharge (IRR 1.27, 95% CI 1.17–1.38), cardio-embolism (IRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18–1.45), smoking (IRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.08–1.35), anemia (IRR 1.40, 95% CI 1.24–1.57), arthritis (IRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.10–1.31), coronary artery disease (IRR 1.34, 95% CI 1.23–1.47), cancer (IRR 1.96, 95% CI 1.64–2.30), chronic kidney disease (IRR 1.36, 95% CI 1.21–1.57), COPD (IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.34), depression (IRR 1.50, 95% CI 1.37–1.66), diabetes mellitus (IRR 1.48, 95% CI 1.36–1.48), and heart failure (IRR 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.34). Conversely, hyperlipidemia was associated with a lower risk of readmission (IRR 0.79, 95% CI 0.71–0.88). Mortality was significantly increased with each hospitalization and cumulative days spent in hospital. Conclusions Among survivors of AIS hospitalization, certain sociodemographic indicators, stroke-specific features, and several key comorbid conditions were associated with increased risk of readmissions, which in turn correlated with increased mortality. Therefore, lifestyle modification and optimal treatment of comorbidities are likely to improve the outcome after AIS.
Comparison of Ice-Phase Microphysical Parameterization Schemes Using Numerical Simulations of Tropical Convection

Abstract A numerical cloud model is used to evaluate the performance of several ice parameterizations. Results from simulations using these schemes are contrasted with each other, with an ice-free control simulation, and with observations to determine to what extent ice physics affect the realism of these results. Two different types of tropical convection are simulated. Tropical squall-type systems are simulated in two dimensions so that a large domain can be used to incorporate a complete anvil. Nonsquall-type convective lines are simulated in three dimensions owing to their smaller horizontal scale. The inclusion of ice processes enhances the agreement of the simulated convection with some features of observed convection, including the proportion of surface rainfall in the anvil region, and the intensity and structure of the radar brightband near the melting level in the anvil. In the context of our experimental design, the use of three ice classes produces better results than two ice classes or ice-fr.
Depressive symptoms and cognitive control: the role of affective interference

ABSTRACT Depressive symptoms are characterised by reduced cognitive control. However, whether depressive symptoms are linked to difficulty in exerting cognitive control in general or over emotional content specifically remains unclear. To better differentiate between affective interference or general cognitive control difficulties in people with depressive symptoms, we employed a non emotional (cold) and an emotional (hot) version of a task-switching paradigm in a nonclinical sample of young adults (N = 82) with varying levels of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were linked to greater difficulties in exerting cognitive control in complex situations (mixed-task blocks) compared to simple and semiautomatic situations (single-task blocks) in both task versions. Moreover, greater depressive symptoms were associated with longer latencies in the emotional version of the task across all trial types. Thus, the emotion-specific effect was not modulated by the degree of cognitive control required to perform the task. In sum, depressive symptoms were characterised by a general difficulty to exert cognitive control in both emotional and non emotional contexts and by greater difficulty in even simple attentional processing of emotional material. This study granted novel insights on the extent of cognitive control difficulties in emotional and non emotional contexts for people with depressive symptoms.
Anthropic Likelihood for the Cosmological Constant and the Primordial Density Perturbation Amplitude

Weinberg et al. calculated the anthropic likelihood of the cosmological constant using a model assuming that the number of observers is proportional to the total mass of gravitationally collapsed objects, with mass greater than a certain threshold, at t \rightarrow \infty. We argue that Weinberg's model is biased toward small \Lambda, and to try to avoid this bias we modify his model in a way that the number of observers is proportional to the number of collapsed objects, with mass and time equal to certain preferred mass and time scales. Compared to Weinberg's model, this model gives a lower anthropic likelihood of \Lambda_0 (T_+(\Lambda_0) ~ 5%). On the other hand, the anthropic likelihood of the primordial density perturbation amplitude from this model is high, while the likelihood from Weinberg's model is low. Furthermore, observers will be affected by the history of the collapsed object, and we introduce a method to calculate the anthropic likelihoods of \Lambda and Q from the mass history using the extended Press-Schechter formalism. The anthropic likelihoods for $\Lambda$ and Q from this method are similar to those from our single mass constraint model, but, unlike models using the single mass constraint which always have degeneracies between \Lambda and Q, the results from models using the mass history are robust even if we allow both \Lambda and Q to vary. In the case of Weinberg's flat prior distribution of \Lambda (pocket based multiverse measure), our mass history model gives T_+(\Lambda_0) ~ 10%, while the scale factor cutoff measure and the causal patch measure give T_+(\Lambda_0) \geq 30%.
Assessing the impact of different neutron RBEs on the all solid cancer radiation risks obtained from the Japanese A-bomb survivors data

Abstract Purpose Development of a model characterizing risk variation with RBE to investigate how the incidence risk for all solid cancers combined varies with higher neutron RBEs and different organ dose types. Material and methods The model is based on RERF data with separate neutron and gamma dose information. Results For both additive and multiplicative linear excess risks per unit organ averaged dose, a reduction of 50% in the risk coefficient per weighted dose arises when a neutron RBE of 110 is used instead of 10. Considering risk per unit liver dose, this reduction occurs for an RBE of 130 and for risks per unit colon dose for an RBE of 190. The change in the shape of the dose response curve when using higher neutron RBEs is evaluated. The curvature changed and became significantly negative for males at an RBE of 140 for colon dose, 100 for liver dose and 80 for organ averaged dose. For females this is the case at an RBE of 110, 80 and 60, respectively. Conclusions Uncertainties in neutron RBE values should be considered when radiation risks and the shape of dose responses are deduced from cancer risk data from the atomic bomb survivors.
Understanding Barriers to Network Exploration with Visualization: A Report from the Trenches

This article reports on an in-depth study that investigates barriers to network exploration with visualizations. Network visualization tools are becoming increasingly popular, but little is known about how analysts plan and engage in the visual exploration of network data—which exploration strategies they employ, and how they prepare their data, define questions, and decide on visual mappings. Our study involved a series of workshops, interaction logging, and observations from a 6-week network exploration course. Our findings shed light on the stages that define analysts' approaches to network visualization and barriers experienced by some analysts during their network visualization processes. These barriers mainly appear before using a specific tool and include defining exploration goals, identifying relevant network structures and abstractions, or creating appropriate visual mappings for their network data. Our findings inform future work in visualization education and analyst-centered network visualization tool design.
Engineering highly-aligned three-dimensional (3D) cardiac constructs for enhanced myocardial infarction repair

Native myocardium exhibits well-organized cellular orientations and highly vascularized architectures, which is important for tissue survival and synchronic contraction activities. Mimicking such structural organizations to engineer functional cardiac constructs is a promising approach to treat myocardial infarction in vivo. Here we propose a novel strategy to engineer highly-aligned three-dimensional (3D) cardiac constructs by co-culturing cardiomyocytes and rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) along with native extracellular matrix-derived fibrin within electrohydrodynamic-printed microfibrous architectures. Cell-laden fibrin with a relatively rapid gelation rate enables uniform cellular distribution in 3D and can re-organize to form multidirectionally aligned 3D cardiac bands with similar orientations to the printed microfibers. The resultant 3D cardiac constructs show enhanced cardiomyocyte-specific protein expression, synchronous contraction and low excitation threshold. The addition of RAECs significantly increases the width of cardiac bands and enhances their beating frequency. The engineered 3D cardiac constructs with layer-specific orientations were found to effectively reduce infracted area, enhance neovascularization and eventually realize functional repair of infarcted myocardium in vivo. This exploration provides a promising strategy to engineer 3D cardiac constructs with tissue-specific cellular orientations for the functional repair of infarcted myocardium.
Parental body mass index and maternal gestational weight gain associations with offspring body composition in young women from the Nutritionists’ Health Study

ABSTRACT Objective: Intrauterine environment can induce fetal metabolic programming that predisposes to adiposity-related chronic diseases in its lifespan. We examined the associations of parental nutritional status and gestational weight gain with offspring body composition in early adulthood. Materials and methods: This is cross-sectional analysis of female participants of the NutriHS who were submitted to questionnaires, clinical examinations and body composition assessed by DXA. Association of pre-conception parental BMI and maternal gestational weight gain (exposures) with body composition measurements (outcomes) were analyzed using multiple linear models adjusted for Directed Acyclic Graphs-based covariables (maternal and paternal educational level, maternal age, and tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs use). The sample included 124 women (median 28 (24-31) years) with a mean BMI of 25.4 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Results: No association between previous paternal BMI and offspring’s body composition was detected. In the fully adjusted linear regression model, maternal BMI was associated with offspring’s total lean mass (β = 0.66, p = 0.001), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (β = 0.11, p = 0.003) and fat mass index (FMI) (β = 0.03, p = 0.039). Gestational weight gain was associated with increased offspring’s BMI (OR 1.12 [95% CI 1.02-1.20], p = 0.01). The linear regression model adjusted for maternal age and maternal and paternal education levels showed associations of gestational weight gain with offspring’s ASMI (β = 0.42, p = 0.046), FMI (β = 0.22, p = 0.005) and android-to-gynoid fat ratio (β = 0.09, p = 0.035). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that preconception maternal BMI could influence lean mass and general adiposity of young adult female offspring and that gestational weight gain could be useful for predicting centrally distributed adiposity.
Lessons learned from 2 years of influenza vaccinations in the UK and USA during the COVID-19 pandemic as respiratory viruses return

ABSTRACT During the COVID-19 pandemic, immunization programs for other respiratory infections, notably influenza continued worldwide but attracted less public or political attention than COVID-19 vaccinations. Due to non-pharmaceutical intervention measures the global influenza burden decreased substantially; but with lifting of restrictions a rebound in other respiratory virus pathogens is both plausible and likely. This article discusses lessons identified from the UK and USA, and provides recommendations for future influenza vaccination programs in light of emerging data from the southern hemisphere and the need for harmonization with COVID-19 vaccination, focusing on operational delivery and messaging to practitioners and the public.
SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in dogs and cats is associated with contact to COVID‐19‐positive household members

Abstract Several domestic and wild animal species are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. Reported (sero)prevalence in dogs and cats vary largely depending on the target population, test characteristics, geographical location and time period. This research assessed the prevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive cats and dogs (PCR‐ and/or antibody positive) in two different populations. Dogs and cats living in a household with at least one confirmed COVID‐19‐positive person (household (HH) study; 156 dogs and 152 cats) and dogs and cats visiting a veterinary clinic (VC) (VC study; 183 dogs and 140 cats) were sampled and tested for presence of virus (PCR) and antibodies. Potential risk factors were evaluated and follow‐up of PCR‐positive animals was performed to determine the duration of virus shedding and to detect potential transmission between pets in the same HH. In the HH study, 18.8% (27 dogs, 31 cats) tested SARS‐CoV‐2 positive (PCR‐ and/or antibody positive), whereas in the VC study, SARS‐CoV‐2 prevalence was much lower (4.6%; six dogs, nine cats). SARS‐CoV‐2 prevalence amongst dogs and cats was significantly higher in the multi‐person HHs with two or more COVID‐19‐positive persons compared with multi‐person HHs with only one COVID‐19‐positive person. In both study populations, no associations could be identified between SARS‐CoV‐2 status of the animal and health status, age or sex. During follow‐up of PCR‐positive animals, no transmission to other pets in the HH was observed despite long‐lasting virus shedding in cats (up to 35 days). SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in dogs and cats appeared to be clearly associated with reported COVID‐19‐positive status of the HH. Our study supports previous findings and suggests a very low risk of pet‐to‐human transmission within HHs, no severe clinical signs in pets and a negligible pet‐to‐pet transmission between HHs.
Possible signals of new phenomena in hadronic interactions at dn/deta=5.5+-1.2

The average transverse momentum dependence on multiplicity shows in many experiments at center of mass energies ranging from 22 to 7000 GeV a slope change at a charged particle rapidity density constant within systematic uncertainties. We find correlated signals which together with the slope change may indicate a transition to a new mechanism of particles production.
Tumour necrosis factor plays a deleterious role in the pathogenesis of chikungunya virus infection

Arthralgia is a hallmark of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection and can be very debilitating and associated with a robust local inflammatory response. Many pathophysiological aspects associated with the disease remain to be elucidated. Here, we describe a novel model of CHIKV infection in immunocompetent mice and evaluate the role of tumour necrosis factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. C57BL/6 wild type (WT) or TNF receptor 1 deficient (TNFR1−/−) mice were inoculated with 1 × 106 PFU of CHIKV in the paw. Alternatively, etanercept was used to inhibit TNF in infected WT mice. Hypernociception, inflammatory and virological analysis were performed. Inoculation of CHIKV into WT mice induced persistent hypernociception. There was significant viral replication in target organs and local production of inflammatory mediators in early time‐points after infection. CHIKV infection was associated with specific humoral IgM and IgG responses. In TNFR1−/− mice, there was a decrease in the hypernociception threshold, which was associated with a milder local inflammatory response in the paw but delayed viral clearance. Local or systemic treatment with etanercept reduced CHIKV‐induced hypernociception. This is the first study to describe hypernociception, a clinical correlation of arthralgia, in immunocompetent mice infected with CHIKV. It also demonstrates the dual role of TNF in contributing to viral clearance but driving tissue damage and hypernociception. Inhibition of TNF may have therapeutic benefits but its role in viral clearance suggests that viral levels must be monitored in CHIKV‐infected patients and that TNF inhibitors should ideally be used in combination with anti‐viral drugs.
Incidence and clinical course of COVID-19 in patients using omalizumab for chronic spontaneous urticaria and/or severe allergic asthma and using mepolizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma: A single center real life experience.

Introduction To assess the incidence and course of COVID-19 in patients with severe asthma/chronic spontaneous urticaria using biological agents. Materials and Methods A total of 202 patients (142 with asthma, and 60 with urticaria) were enrolled. The subjects were asked via face-to-face or telephone interview whether they had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and the course of the disease. Result Study group consisted of 132 women, and 70 men (median age= 48 years). Median omalizumab dose was 300 mg/month in asthma (min-max= 150-1200 mg). The mepolizumab dose of two patients diagnosed with EGPA was 300 mg/month. Thirty one (15.3%) patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, 22 (71%) of whom were receiving omalizumab and nine (29%) were receiving mepolizumab. Asthma or chronic spontaneous urticaria diagnosis, age, sex, smoking, weight, comorbidities, atopy, and biological agent use were not statistically different between patients with or without COVID-19. Nine COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, and three of them required intensive care. Mepolizumab usage was higher in hospitalized patients (5, 55.6%), whereas omalizumab usage was higher in home-treated patients (18, 81%). The mean duration of biological use in home-treated patients was significantly higher than that of the hospitalized patients (35.64 months vs. 22.56 months, p= 0.024). Biological treatment was interrupted in 47 (23%) patients, selfinterruption due to the infection risk was the foremost reason (34%). Conclusions The incidence of COVID-19 among patients with asthma and urticaria on mepolizumab and omalizumab was higher compared to studies from other countries. The disease course appeared mild in patients receiving long-term biological therapy.