Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenging Future Generations: A Qualitative Study of Students’ Attitudes toward the Transition to Animal-Free Innovations in Education and Research

Simple Summary In February 2022, the university course Replacing Animal Testing (RAT) Challenge was organized for the first time by an alliance of Dutch universities with the aim of engaging future generations in finding solutions to replace the use of animals in testing. Educating the next generations of researchers and professionals is an important step in the transition to promote animal-free science, to which the Dutch government is committed. Students are key stakeholders in the transition to animal-free innovations but their perspective still remains underrepresented. Therefore, our study aimed to explore their viewpoints focusing on their beliefs, values, and the motivations of students to join the course. We conclude that students share the ethical and scientific values that inspire the transition, and that their reflections on the socio-political landscape provide valuable insights on current and future challenges to the acceptance of animal-free innovations. Abstract In 2016, the Dutch government declared its commitment to phasing out animal experiments by 2025. Although a high number of animal experiments are still performed and the 2025 target will not be met, the commitment remains. Efforts are being made to identify levers that might foster the transition to animal-free science. Education has been found to play a key role in the future of animal-free science and young generations are increasingly seen as key stakeholders. However, their attitudes toward the transition to animal-free innovations have not been investigated. The present article focuses on the values and beliefs held by students, who in 2022, participated in the course ‘Replacing Animal Testing’ (RAT) Challenge, organized by a consortium of Dutch universities. Contextually, students’ motivations to follow the course were investigated. The research was based on a qualitative study, including semi-structured interviews and a literature review. Our analysis of the findings revealed that students feel aligned with the social, ethical, and scientific reasons that support the transition to animal-free innovations. Moreover, the participants identified a series of regulatory, educational, cultural, and political obstacles to the transition that align with those identified in recent literature. From the discussion of these findings, we extrapolated six fundamental challenges that need to be addressed to foster the transition to animal-free science in an acceptable and responsible way.
Fabrication and properties of dense ex situ magnesium diboride bulk material synthesized using spark plasma sintering

High density ex situ magnesium diboride bulks were synthesized from commercial MgB2 powder using spark plasma sintering under a range of applied uniaxial pressures between 16 and 80 MPa. The microstructure was characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, polarized optical microscopy, Vickers hardness measurements, and density measurements using the Archimedes method. By combining these data with those for other bulk samples we have developed a correlation curve for the hardness and density for magnesium diboride for relative densities of 60–100%. The superconducting properties were determined using magnetization measurements. Comparison to samples of significantly higher porosity indicates a positive correlation between magnetization critical current density and bulk density for magnesium diboride bulks up to around 90% density. Above this level other microstructural processes such as grain growth begin to influence the critical current density, suggesting that full elimination of porosity is not necessary to obtain high critical current density. We conclude that the best superconducting properties are likely to be obtained with a combination of small grain size and minimal porosity.
Polar low tracks over the Nordic Seas: a 14-winter climatic analysis

To develop a 14-winter (October–April; 1999–2013) climatic description of polar low (PL) occurrence for the Nordic Seas, systems have been tracked using images acquired from the Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Also, the dominant PL characteristics – their temporal and spatial distributions, size, lifespan, distance travelled, speed of propagation and directions – have been determined. On average, 14 PL events occur per winter but there is strong inter-annual and intra-seasonal variability. Although systems may form and travel over the whole Nordic Seas, their genesis is enhanced in areas characterised by warm oceanic currents. At the start of the season (October–November), systems mainly form over the Greenland and Norwegian Seas, but further into winter they form increasingly over the Barents Sea. In connection with recent low-ice winters, new areas of PL formation are evident, particularly to the west of Spitsbergen and in the Barents Sea. PL speeds of propagation range between 5 and 13 m/s but are observed to be highly variable among cases and even during the lifespan of individual PLs. To a considerable extent, the direction of movement is controlled by the large-scale flow in the lowest atmospheric layers, but we also observed cyclonic co-rotation of some pairs of PLs due to their influence on the ambient flow. Although these generally move southward or southeastward, a substantial number of PLs have westward and even northward tracks. PLs in the western part of the region average larger than their eastern counterparts. This study also highlights that PLs characteristics and tracks differ according to weather regimes.
Research on the Sound Insulation Performance of Composite Rubber Reinforced with Hollow Glass Microsphere Based on Acoustic Finite Element Simulation

The composite rubber reinforced with hollow glass microsphere (HGM) was a promising composite material for noise reduction, and its sound insulation mechanism was studied based on an acoustic finite element simulation to gain the appropriate parameter with certain constraint conditions. The built simulation model included the air domain, polymer domain and inorganic particles domain. The sound insulation mechanism of the composite material was investigated through distributions of the sound pressure and sound pressure level. The influences of the parameters on the sound transmission loss (STL) were researched one by one, such as the densities of the composite rubber and HGM, the acoustic velocities in the polymer and inorganic particle, the frequency of the incident wave, the thickness of the sound insulator, and the diameter, volume ratio and hollow ratio of the HGM. The weighted STL with the 1/3 octave band was treated as the evaluation criterion to compare the sound insulation property with the various parameters. For the limited thicknesses of 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm, the corresponding optimal weighted STL of the composite material reached 14.02 dB, 19.88 dB, 22.838 dB and 25.27 dB with the selected parameters, which exhibited an excellent sound insulation performance and could promote the practical applications of the proposed composite rubber reinforced with HGM.
Effect of Local Hyperthermia on Respiratory Indices of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Change in respiratory indices is the most common problem in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients. This problem is managed through pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical methods. This study aimed to determine local hyperthermia effect on respiratory parameters of COPD patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted on 46 patients with COPD referred to Allameh Bohlool Hospital in Gonabad, Iran in 2019. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups using quadrupled blocks. In both groups, a local pack was placed on the anterior chest for 23 min twice daily for 5 days. In the intervention group, the temperature of the hot pack was 50° and in the placebo group was the same as the body temperature. Respiratory indices including force vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), etc., were measured and compared before and after the last intervention in both groups. To gather data, demographic information form and respiratory indices record form were used. Results: Compared to before the intervention, all respiratory indices such as vital capacity (VC) (z = -4.25, p < 0.001), FEV1 (t22 = -114.18, p < 0.001), PEF (t22 = 5.91, p < 0.001) in the experimental group were increased significantly. Moreover, the difference in the mean respiratory indicators such as Pick Expiratory Flow rate (PEF) (t44 = 94.63, p < 0.001) and SPO2 (z = -3.27, p < 0.05) was also statistically significant in the two groups before and after the intervention. Conclusions: Local hyperthermia is effective in the improvement of respiratory indices among COPD patients, but it is recommended to conduct further studies before the implementation of this approach.
THE INFLUENCE OF PRICE PERCEPTION, PROMOTION, AND ONLINE CUSTOMER REVIEW ON CONSUMER BUYING INTEREST IN LAZADA E COMMERCE IN PADANG UTARA DISTRICT

ABSTRACTThis study has a problem formulation, namely whether price perception affects consumer buying interest in Lazada e-commerce and whether promotion affects consumer buying interest in Lazada e-commerce and whether online customer reviews affect consumer buying interest in Lazada e-commerce. And this study aims to determine whether price perceptions, promotions, and online customer reviews have an effect on consumer buying interest in Lazada e-commerce. The research method used is the Explanatory Research method. The sample obtained is 80 respondents. Data analysis used multiple linear regression analysis, classical assumption test, and hypothesis testing. The results showed that the price perception variable partially had a positive and significant effect on consumer buying interest in Lazada e-commerce. While the promotion variable partially has a positive and significant effect on consumer buying interest in Lazada e-commerce. And the online customer review variable partially has a positive and significant effect on consumer buying interest in Lazada e-commerce.Keywords: Buying Interest, Price Perception, Promotion, Online Customer Review
On stability of streamwise streaks and transition thresholds in plane channel flows

Streak breakdown caused by a spanwise inflectional instability is one phase of the following transition scenarios, which occur in plane Poiseuille and Couette flow. The streamwise vortex scenario is described by formula here The oblique wave scenario is described by formula here The purpose of this paper is to investigate the streak breakdown phase of the above scenarios by a linear stability analysis and compare threshold energies for transition for the above scenarios with those for transition initiated by Tollmien-Schlichting waves (TS), two-dimensional optimals (2DOPT), and random noise (N) at subcritical Reynolds numbers. We find that if instability occurs, it is confined to disturbances with streamwise wavenumbers α0 satisfying 0<αmin< [mid ]α0[mid ]<αmax. In these unstable cases, the least stable mode is located near the centre of the channel with a phase velocity approximately equal to the centreline velocity of the mean flow. Growth rates for instability increase with streak amplitude. For Couette flow streak breakdown is inhibited by mean shear. Using the linear stability analysis, we determine lower bounds on threshold amplitude for transition for scenario (SV) that are consistent with thresholds determined by direct numerical simulations. In the final part of the paper we show that the threshold energies for transition in Poiseuille flow at subcritical Reynolds numbers for scenarios (SV) and (OW) are two orders of magnitude lower than the threshold for transition initiated by Tollmien–Schlichting waves (TS) and an order of magnitude lower than that for (2DOPT). Scenarios (SV) and (OW) occur on a viscous time scale. However, even when transition times are taken into account, the threshold energy required for transition at a given time for (SV) and (OW) is lower than that for the (TS) and (2DOPT) scenarios at Reynolds number 1500.
Lipid Management in Korean People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Korean Diabetes Association and Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis Consensus Statement

Dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes is an important treatment target as a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the primary treatment goal for dyslipidemia is to control low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), achieving this goal remains suboptimal according to recent studies. It is important to set the target goal for LDL-C control based on an accurate risk assessment for CVD. Here, we summarize the latest evidence on lipid management in patients with diabetes and present a consensus of the Korean Diabetes Association and Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis on the treatment goals of LDL-C according to the duration of diabetes, presence of CVD, target organ damage, or major cardiovascular risk factors. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and CVD, an LDL-C goal of <55 mg/dL and a reduction in LDL-C level by 50% or more from the baseline is recommended. For the primary prevention of CVD in patients with T2DM with a duration of diabetes ≥10 years, major cardiovascular risk factors, or target organ damage, an LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL is recommended. In patients with T2DM with a duration of diabetes <10 years and no major cardiovascular risk factors, an LDL-C goal of <100 mg/dL is recommended.
Low Expression of MATR3 Is Associated with Poor Survival in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Matrin 3 (MATR3) is one of the most abundant inner nuclear matrix proteins involved in multiple nuclear processes. However, to date, the biological role and prognostic relevance of MATR3 in human cancers still need to be explored. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the expression levels and prognostic significance of MATR3 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. We assessed MATR3 immunohistochemical staining and RNA-seq data from publicly available data sets, and the results were analyzed with reference to clinicopathological characteristics and the overall survival of patients. Furthermore, the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network for MATR3 and its neighbors was constructed, functionally annotated, and screened for survival-related genes. MATR3 protein and mRNA levels were lower in tumor tissues compared to control tissues. Lower MATR3 protein (HR 2.36, 95%CI 1.41–3.97; p = 0.001) and mRNA (HR 2.01, 95%CI 1.46–2.75; p < 0.0001) expression levels were found to be a significant independent adverse prognostic factor for the patient’s overall survival (OS). Moreover, of the candidate genes, the MRPL23 gene was identified as being the most predictive of OS, and combined MRPL23/MATR3 expression status predicted patient survival better than looking at each marker individually (HR 3.15, 95%CI 2.05–4.83; p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the results from the present investigation warrant further research into the biological and prognostic value of MATR3 and MRPL23 in ccRCC patients.
Isotopic Compositions of Strontium, Zirconium, Molybdenum, and Barium in Single Presolar SiC Grains and Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars

The strontium, zirconium, molybdenum, and barium isotopic compositions predicted in the mass-losing envelopes of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of solar metallicity and mass 1.5, 3, and 5 M☉ are discussed and compared with recent measurements in single presolar silicon carbide (SiC) grains from the Murchison meteorite. Heavy-element nucleosynthesis via the s-process occurs in the helium intershell, the region between the helium-burning and hydrogen-burning shells, producing heavy elements beyond iron. After a limited number of thermal runaways of the helium shell (thermal pulses), at the quenching of each instability, the convective envelope penetrates into the top layers of the helium intershell (third dredge-up), mixing newly synthesized 12C and s-process material to the stellar surface. Eventually, the envelope becomes carbon-rich (C ≥ O), a necessary condition for SiC grains to condense. In the helium intershell, neutrons are released by (α, n) reactions on 13C and 22Ne during interpulse phases and the thermal pulses, respectively. A 13C pocket is assumed to form in a tiny region in the top layers of the helium intershell by injection of a small amount of protons from the envelope during each third dredge-up episode. This 13C then burns radiately during the interpulse phase. The average neutron density produced is low, but of long duration, so the total neutron exposure is high. We have explored a large range of possible 13C abundances in the pocket. In low-mass AGB stars (1.5 M☉ ≤ M ≤ 4 M☉), a second small burst of neutrons is released by marginal 22Ne burning in the thermal pulse. The neutron density reaches quite a high peak value but is of short duration, so the neutron exposure is low. In intermediate-mass AGB stars (4 M☉ < M ≤ 8 M☉), the 22Ne neutron source is more efficiently activated. The neutron capture process has been followed with a postprocessing code that considers all relevant nuclei from 4He to 210Po. The predicted isotopic compositions of strontium, zirconium, molybdenum, and barium in the envelopes of low-mass AGB stars of solar metallicity are in agreement with the isotopic ratios measured in individual presolar SiC grains, whereas predictions for intermediate-mass stars exclude them as the sources of these grains. A multiplicity of low-mass AGB stars with metallicity around solar, having different masses and experiencing different neutron exposures, are required to account for the measured spread in heavy-element isotopic compositions among single presolar SiC grains. The range of neutron exposures corresponds, on average, to a lower mean neutron exposure than that required to reproduce the s-process main component in the solar system.
Colour Perception with the Peripheral Retina

Until recently, descriptions of peripheral colour perception have been largely qualitative. The present paper reports a quantitative determination of the colours of peripherally presented lights, in which a foveal mixture field is used for comparison. Observations were made under dark adaptation conditions by two observers. The colour changes are analysed in terms of hue and saturation. In addition, spectral sensitivity curves are derived from the colour-matching data. Some subsidiary experiments are reported which indicate effects due to light adaptation, test luminance and exposure time. The results indicate a progressive deterioration in colour perception with distance from the fovea: tending, under the conditions of the experiment, to dichromatism at 25°-30° and to monochromatism at 40°–50°. The roles of (a) rod vision, (b) the fusion of nerve pathways, and (c) the depletion of the cone population are discussed.
Links between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s Disease—What Do We Already Know?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a life-changing condition whose etiology is explained by several hypotheses. Recently, a new virus contributed to the evidence of viral involvement in AD: the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the COVID-19 coronavirus disease. AD was found to be one of the most common COVID-19 comorbidities, and it was found to increase mortality from this disease as well. Moreover, AD patients were observed to present with the distinct clinical features of COVID-19, with delirium being prevalent in this group. The SARS-CoV-2 virus enters host cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 is overexpressed in brains with AD, which thus increases the viral invasion. Furthermore, the inhibition of the ACE2 receptor by the SARS-CoV-2 virus may also decrease the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), contributing to neurodegeneration. The ApoE ε4 allele, which increases the risk of AD, was found to facilitate the SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells. Furthermore, the neuroinflammation and oxidative stress existing in AD patients enhance the inflammatory response associated with COVID-19. Moreover, pandemic and associated social distancing measures negatively affected the mental health, cognitive function, and neuro-psychiatric symptoms of AD patients. This review comprehensively covers the links between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease, including clinical presentation, molecular mechanisms, and the effects of social distancing.
The Flame of the West: A Perspective on the Oxford Inklings’ Vision for Imaginative Learning in Christian Scholarship

This article will address the power of imaginative learning in Christian formation in personal pedagogy as exemplified in the writings of the Oxford Inklings. Foreseeing the dehumanizing effects caused by an overemphasis on utilitarian education, their collective scholarship in literary fiction helped preserve many ideas that were the treasures of Western thought for millennia. As successful as the Oxford Inklings were in influencing their generation through literary fiction and its power to engage the imagination, using literary fiction for Christian formation remains a largely neglected mode of learning in a culture facing even greater idiological challenges—such as those presented by the Simulation Theory Hypothesis.
AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION ON CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF INTERNET BANKING IN AN ISLAMIC BANK

The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants that influence Internet banking acceptance among the Islamic bankâ€™s customers. Technology acceptance model (TAM) is utilised as a point of departure. In this study, perceived credibility, amount of information on Internet banking, perceived enjoyment, and social norm are added to the model, in addition to perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use. More importantly, the estimated linear regression model suggests that perceived credibility and social norm are significant determinants of Internet banking acceptance among Muslims. In contrast, the estimated linear regression model suggests that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment and social norm are significant determinants of Internet banking acceptance among non-Muslims. Taken as a whole, the estimated linear regression model suggests that perceived credibility and social norm are significant determinants of Internet banking acceptance among the bankâ€™s customers. Overall, the results of this study are valuable to both researchers and practitioners in providing new insights about the Internet banking from Islamic banking institution point of view.