Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Panel Data Analysis of Subjective Well-Being Based on Microblog User Information

Big data modelling using microblogs is applied to acquire nationwide representative panel data on subjective well-being. The analysis directly validates the influence of China’s Livelihood Index on subjective well-being. Using panel data on subjective well-being collected for the period from 2010 to 2021 from users of the Weibo (Sina Corporation, Beijing, China) microblogging platform, this study finds Granger causality running from China’s Livelihood Index to subjective well-being and that the two are positively correlated. We also find Granger causality running from a life stress indicator to a life satisfaction indicator. The education indicator model is found to be positively correlated with life satisfaction and positive emotions, whereas the life stress indicator and life satisfaction are negatively correlated. Medical and health indicators are positively related to life satisfaction, while a negative correlation is found between the traffic indicator model and life satisfaction. The relationship between economic development and subjective well-being also displays bidirectional Granger causality and a positive correlation. However, in China’s provinces and prefecture-level cities with relatively strong economic growth, the correlation between the livelihood index and economic development appears to be weaker. We suggest boosting gross domestic product per capita and absolute per capita income to increase subjective well-being in less developed western China. Bridging the gross domestic product per capita gap nationwide may also positively influence subjective well-being. To achieve this, we suggest measures that include improving medical and health services, alleviating traffic congestion, increasing the teacher–student ratio and improving the education universalisation rate. These steps would improve the equitable and balanced development of China’s Livelihood Index across the country’s 31 provinces.
Co-Treatment of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester with Chitosan Nanoparticles Inhibits DNA Methylation in HepG2 Cells

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a key anticancer component of honeybees propolis (bee glue), however, its anticancer effect is limited due to its rapid degradation into caffeic acid. To get rid of this disadvantage and increase the anticancer effect of CAPE, CAPE-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) were used. The anti-tumor effects of CAPE and chitosan CNPs on cancer cells have been separately studied but the precise epigenetic molecular mechanisms for the combined therapy are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the epigenetic mechanism of CAPE and/or CNPs on human HepG2 cells. The results revealed a significantly higher cytotoxic effect for CAPE on HepG2 cells than CNPs. The combined therapy with CAPE and CNPs exhibited significantly higher expression of the apoptotic Bax gene and lower expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl2 gene than treatment with each alone. CAPE and CNPs co-treatment also inhibited global DNA methylation levels and downregulated the expression of DNA methylation-related genes ( DNMT1 and Ube2e2 ) in HepG2 compared to cells treated with CAPE and CNPs each alone. These findings conclude that the cytotoxic impact of CAPE and CNPs combined therapy on HepG2 cells involved an epigenetic effect.
Clarifying Inflation Models: Slow-roll as an expansion in 1/N_{efolds}

Slow-roll inflation is studied as an effective field theory. We find that the form of the inflaton potential consistent with Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data and slow roll is V({phi})=NM{sup 4}w(({phi}/{radical}(N)M{sub Pl})), where {phi} is the inflaton field, M is the inflation energy scale, and N{approx}50 is the number of e-folds since the cosmologically relevant modes crossed the Hubble radius until the end of inflation. The inflaton field scales as {phi}={radical}(N)M{sub Pl}{chi}. The dimensionless function w({chi}) and field {chi} are generically O(1). The WMAP value for the amplitude of scalar adiabatic fluctuations {delta}{sub kad}{sup (S)2} fixes the inflation scale M{approx}0.77x10{sup 16}. This form of the potential makes manifest that the slow-roll expansion is an expansion in 1/N. A Ginzburg-Landau realization of the slow-roll inflaton potential reveals that the Hubble parameter, inflaton mass and nonlinear couplings are of the seesaw form in terms of the small ratio M/M{sub Pl}. For example, the quartic coupling {lambda}{approx}(1/N)((M/M{sub Pl})){sup 4}. The smallness of the nonlinear couplings is not a result of fine-tuning but a natural consequence of the validity of the effective field theory and slow-roll approximation. We clarify Lyth's bound relating the tensor/scalar ratio and the value of {phi}/M{sub Pl}. The effectivemore » field theory is valid for V({phi})<<M{sub Pl}{sup 4} for general inflaton potentials allowing amplitudes of the inflaton field {phi} well beyond M{sub Pl}. Hence bounds on r based on the value of {phi}/M{sub Pl} are overly restrictive. Our observations lead us to suggest that slow-roll, single field inflation may well be described by an almost critical theory, near an infrared stable Gaussian fixed point. « less
Visible photoluminescence in ZnO tetrapod and multipod structures

The properties of ZnO tetrapod and multipod structures were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence (PL), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. While there is relationship between g=1.96 EPR and green PL in some of the samples, this is not the case for all the samples. Therefore, the commonly assumed transition between a singly charged oxygen vacancy and photoexcited hole [K. Vanheusden, C. H. Seager, W. L. Warren, D. R. Tallant, and J. A. Voigt, Appl. Phys. Lett. 68, 403 (1996)] does not explain the green emission in all ZnO samples. The green emission likely originates from surface defects.
Star and Linear Dunes on Mars

Abstract A field containing 11 star and incipient star dunes occurs on Mars at 8.8°S, 270.9°W. Examples of linear dunes are found in a crater at 59.4°S, 343°W. While rare, dune varieties that form in bi- and multidirectional wind regimes are not absent from the surface of Mars. The occurrence of both of these dune fields offers new insight into the nature of martian wind conditions and sand supply, The linear dunes appear to have formed through modification of a formerly transverse aeolian deposit, suggesting a relatively recent change in local wind direction. The 11 dunes in the star dune locality show a progressive change from barchan to star form as each successive dune has traveled up into a valley, into a more complex wind regime. The star dunes corroborate the model of N. Lancaster (1989, Progr. Physical Geogr. 13, 67-91; 1989, Sedimentology 36, 273-289) for the formation of star dunes by projection of transverse dunes into a complex, topographically influenced wind regime. The star dunes have dark streaks emanating from them, providing evidence that the dunes were active at or near the time the relevant image was obtained by the Viking 1 orbiter in 1978. The star and linear dunes described here are located in different regions on the martian surface. Unlike most star and linear dunes on Earth, both martian examples are isolated occurrences; neither is part of a major sand sea. Previously published Mars general circulation model results suggest that the region in which the linear done field occurs should be a bimodal wind regime, while the region in which the star dunes occur should be unimodal. The star dunes are probably the result of localized complication of the wind regime owing to topographic confinement of the dunes. Local topographic influence on wind regime is also evident in the linear dune field, as there are transverse dunes in close proximity to the linear dunes, and their occurrence is best explained by funneling of wind through a topographic gap in the upwind crater wall.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering integrated with microfluidic device fabricated using atomic force microscopy tip-based nanomachining approach

Nanostructure-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates have drawn increasing interest because of their wide variety of applications. In particular, SERS integrated with microfluidic devices have shown merit in detecting liquid solvents. In this study, a SERS–microfluidic device is prepared using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip-based nanoscratching technique. The influence of the normal load on the period and amplitude of the machined nanogroove are investigated. Nanodot arrays are also fabricated using a twice-scratching strategy. The effects of the feed value and scratching angle on the morphologies of the nanodot arrays are studied, and the Raman spectra of rhodamine 6G (R6G) are detected based on the fabricated nanostructures. The influences of the Au film thickness and period of the nanostructure on the SERS intensity are studied and agree well with the simulated results obtained using the COMSOL software. Furthermore, the Raman spectra of R6G obtained by the SERS substrate and SERS–microfluidic device are compared. The Raman spectra of a mixture of R6G and malachite green (MG) are also measured using the SERS-microfluidic device. In principle, the method reported here could be implemented to prepare SERS microfluidic devices used in biological or chemical molecular detection.
Deformation and flow of amorphous solids: Insights from elastoplastic models

The deformation and flow of disordered solids, such as metallic glasses and concentrated emulsions, involves swift localized rearrangements of particles that induce a long-range deformation field. To describe these heterogeneous processes, elastoplastic models handle the material as a collection of 'mesoscopic' blocks alternating between an elastic behavior and plastic relaxation, when they are too loaded. Plastic relaxation events redistribute stresses in the system in a very anisotropic way. We review not only the physical insight provided by these models into practical issues such as strain localization, creep and steady-state rheology, but also the fundamental questions that they address with respect to criticality at the yielding point and the statistics of avalanches of plastic events. Furthermore, we discuss connections with concurrent mean-field approaches and with related problems such as the plasticity of crystals and the depinning of an elastic line.
Assessment of the Factors Influencing Female Teachers’ Employment in Private Schools in Morogoro Municipality

The purpose of this study was to assess factors influencing female teachers’ employment in private schools in Morogoro Municipality. The mixed research approach and cross-sectional research design were used. The sample size of this study includes 56 respondents that involve 50 female teachers and 6 heads of schools. This study used simple random sampling technique in the selection of female teachers and purposive sampling technique in the selection of heads of schools. Primary data were collected through questionnaire and interview methods, while secondary data were collected through documentary reviews. Findings of the study revealed that, the roles of female teachers in private schools are reducing girls dropout, helping students to combat their challenges, advising students, mentoring students life skills, share with students opportunities, sharing knowledge and acting as an external parent. The study recommend that, Government should ensure that, gender role stereotypes should also be abolished and urgent steps should be needed to remove the social, cultural, political, economic and legal barriers that marginalized and discrepancies of female teachers.
Does Antioxidant Mitoquinone (MitoQ) Ameliorate Oxidative Stress in Frozen–Thawed Rooster Sperm?

Simple Summary The cryopreservation of sperm cells is widely used in many animal species. In commercial stocks, frozen–thawed rooster semen is unreliable for artificial insemination. During cryopreservation, spermatozoa experience mitochondrial oxidative damage, causing oxidative damage to the spermatozoa. As a selective mitochondrial antioxidant, mitoquinone (MitoQ) has proven to be effective in ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and reducing oxidative stress in mitochondria. In this study, we attempted to determine whether MitoQ ameliorates oxidative stress in frozen–thawed rooster sperm, thereby improving sperm quality. We found that an adequate amount of MitoQ (150 nM) not only ameliorated post-thawed sperm quality and motility parameters by restoring ATP level and preventing membrane damage, but also improved the redox balance and antiapoptotic activity. These results can offer some new perspectives to improve the efficacy of the current rooster semen cryopreservation technology. Abstract In this study, we aimed to determine the benefit of mitoquinone (MitoQ) in rooster semen extenders on sperm quality, motility parameters, antioxidant capacities, and apoptotic changes in post-thawed rooster semen. A total of 85 ejaculates from 18 roosters were collected and then divided into five equal aliquots and cryopreserved in extenders with 1.0% soy lecithin nanoparticles that contained various concentrations of MitoQ (0 nM (M0), 50 nM (M50), 100 nM (M100), 150 nM (M150), and 200 nM (M200)). By using a computer-assisted semen analyzer, sperm motility parameters were assessed after freeze thawing. The M150 group had significantly higher percentages of total motility, progressive motility, viability, acrosome membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity than the other groups (p < 0.05). Compared to other groups, M100 and M150 groups produced a higher percentage of plasma membrane integrity and ATP contents (p < 0.05). Additionally, the lowest levels of ROS and MDA in spermatozoa were observed in M150 group (p < 0.05), whereas the highest levels of ROS and MDA were observed in sperm in the controls or the M200 group (p < 0.05). Significantly higher values of SOD, GPx, and Cas-3 were found in the M150 group compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Overall, these results demonstrate that MitoQ at 150 nM not only ameliorates post-thawed sperm quality and motility parameters by restoring ATP levels and preventing membrane damage, but also improves redox balance and antiapoptotic activities.
The Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Patients with Mitral Regurgitation

The 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study estimated that there were approximately 24.2 million people affected worldwide by degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), resulting in 34,200 deaths. After aortic stenosis, MR is the most prevalent VHD in Europe and the second-most common VHD to pose indications for surgery in western countries. Current ESC and AHA/ACC guidelines for the management of VHD emphasize the importance of an integrative approach for the assessment of MR severity, which is of paramount importance in dictating the timing for surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) are the first-line imaging modalities; however, despite the technological advancement, sometimes, the final diagnosis on the degree of the disease may still be challenging. In the last 20 years, CMR has emerged as a robust technique in the assessment of patients with cardiac disease, and, recently, its role is gaining more and more importance in the field of VHD. In fact, CMR is the gold standard in the assessment of cardiac volumes, and it is possible to accurately evaluate the regurgitant volume. The purpose of this review is to outline the current state-of-the-art management of MR by using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR).
Comparison of bleeding following gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy in patients treated with and without direct oral anticoagulants

Abstract Background and study aims Despite the widespread use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), the association between DOAC use and complications (e. g., bleeding) following gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate complications after biopsy in patients treated with DOACs in Japan, where biopsies would be generally performed without DOAC withdrawal based on guideline recommendations. Patients and methods Using a Japanese nationwide database, we identified patients taking DOACs who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy (n = 2,769, DOAC group) and those not taking DOACs (n = 129,357, control group) from April 2015 to November 2020. We conducted 1:4 propensity score (PS) matching and overlap PS-weighting analyses with adjustment for background characteristics to compare occurrence of post-procedure hemorrhage and stroke within 1 week after biopsy, and thrombin use on the day of biopsy without a diagnosis of hemorrhage. Results In total, 578 patients (0.44 %) developed post-procedure hemorrhage, and 13 patients (0.01 %) developed stroke. The DOAC group had more comorbidities than the control group. The PS matching analysis revealed no significant differences in post-procedure hemorrhage (odds ratio, 1.52 [95 % confidential interval, 0.96–2.41]) or stroke (1.00 [0.21–4.71]), whereas the DOAC group received thrombin more often than the control group (1.60 [1.30–1.95]). The results were equivalent in the overlap PS-weighting analysis. Conclusions The PS analyses showed no significant differences in complications following gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy between DOAC users and non-users. These results suggest the safety of endoscopic biopsy without DOAC withdrawal although the need for careful hemostasis remains.
Physical Origins of Gas Motions in Galaxy Cluster Cores: Interpreting Hitomi Observations of the Perseus Cluster

The Hitomi X-ray satellite has provided the first direct measurements of the plasma velocity dispersion in a galaxy cluster. It finds a relatively “quiescent” gas with a line-of-sight velocity dispersion σ v , los ≃ 160 km s − 1 , at 30–60 kpc from the cluster center. This is surprising given the presence of jets and X-ray cavities that indicates on-going activity and feedback from the active galactic nucleus (AGN) at the cluster center. Using a set of mock Hitomi observations generated from a suite of state-of-the-art cosmological cluster simulations, and an isolated but higher resolution simulation of gas physics in the cluster core, including the effects of cooling and AGN feedback, we examine the likelihood of Hitomi detecting a cluster with the observed velocities. As long as the Perseus has not experienced a major merger in the last few gigayears, and AGN feedback is operating in a “‘gentle” mode, we reproduce the level of gas motions observed by Hitomi. The frequent mechanical AGN feedback generates net line-of-sight velocity dispersions ∼ 100 – 200 km s − 1 , bracketing the values measured in the Perseus core. The large-scale velocity shear observed across the core, on the other hand, is generated mainly by cosmic accretion such as mergers. We discuss the implications of these results for AGN feedback physics and cluster cosmology and progress that needs to be made in both simulations and observations, including a Hitomi re-flight and calorimeter-based instruments with higher spatial resolution.
Role of magnetic and orbital ordering at the metal-insulator transition in NdNiO 3

Soft x-ray resonant scattering at the Ni L{sub 2,3} edges is used to test models of magnetic- and orbital-ordering below the metal-insulator transition in NdNiO{sub 3}. The large branching ratio of the L{sub 3} to L{sub 2} intensities of the (1/2 0 1/2) reflection and the observed azimuthal angle and polarization dependence originates from a noncollinear magnetic structure. The absence of an orbital signal and the noncollinear magnetic structure show that the nickelates are materials for which orbital ordering is absent at the metal-insulator transition.
Exploring the limits of Fe^3+ solid solution in calcium hexaluminate

Calcium hexaluminate (CA6) forms a broad range of solid solutions by substitution of Al^3+ with other cations such as, for example, Fe, Co, Mn, etc. Solid solutions of CA6 with magnetic ions have attracted interest because they allow designing the magnetic behavior depending on the composition of each solid solution. In this paper, we have studied materials pertaining to an area of the CaO–Al_2O_3–Fe_2O_3 ternary phase diagram that is potentially interesting, but which has not been too much explored so far. We report on various synthesis methods of calcium hexaluminate with iron in solid solution. The percentages of iron introduced have been varied in order to determine the maximum percentage of iron that can enter into solid solution in the calcium hexaluminate such that the materials obtained exhibit magnetic behavior. Graphical Abstract Exploring the limits of Fe^3+ solid solution in calcium hexaluminate.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Very Low-Calorie Diets and Low-Fat Vegan Diets on Weight and Glycemic Markers in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Caloric restriction and vegan diets have demonstrated protective effects for diabetes, however their role in improving clinically relevant outcomes has not been summarized. Our aim was to evaluate the evidence for low-calorie diets (VLCD) and vegan diets on weight and glycemic control in the management of patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Database searches were conducted using Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Ovid) and Embase. Systematic Review Registration: CRD42022310299. Methodological quality of studies was assessed using Cochrane RoB Tool for RCTs, Cochrane ROBINS-I RoB Tool for non-RCTs and NIH Quality Assessment tool for other studies. Sixteen studies with a total of 834 individuals were included and assessed to have a moderate to high risk of bias. Statistically significant changes in weight, BMI, and HbA1c were not observed in vegan diet cohorts. However, LDL cholesterol was significantly decreased by vegan diet. VLCDs significantly improved glycaemic control, with reductions in fasting glucose, pooled mean difference (MD) −1.51 mmol/L (95% CI −2.89, −0.13; p = 0.03; 2 studies) and HbA1c, pooled MD −0.66% (95% CI −1.28, −0.03; p = 0.04; 3 studies) compared to non-dietary therapy. Both diets suggested a trend towards improved weight loss and anthropometric markers vs. control. VLCD diet intervention is associated with improvement in glycaemia control in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
Interferometric thermometry of ocular tissues for retinal laser therapy.

Controlling the tissue temperature rise during retinal laser therapy is highly desirable for predictable and reproducible outcomes of the procedure, especially with non-damaging settings. In this work, we demonstrate a method for determining the optical absorption, the thermal conductivity, and the thermal expansion coefficients of RPE and choroid using phase-resolved optical coherence tomography (pOCT). These parameters are extracted from the measured changes in the optical path length (ΔOPL) using an axisymmetric thermo-mechanical model. This allows the calculation of the temperature rise during hyperthermia, which was further validated by imaging the temperature-sensitive fluorescence at the same location. We demonstrate that, with a temperature uncertainty of ±0.9°C and a peak heating of about 17°C following a laser pulse of 20 ms, this methodology is expected to be safe and sufficiently precise for calibration of the non-damaging retinal laser therapy. The method is directly translatable to in-vivo studies, where we expect a similar precision.