Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Generativity in Later Life in the Case of Productive Activities: Does the Type of Active Aging Activity Matter?

Active aging has been associated with both personal and social benefits. However, active aging encompasses a broad range of activities, including self-oriented and community-oriented ones. The aim of this study was to explore to what extent generativity is a key factor in differentiating between both types of activity, and to contribute to the theoretical and methodological literature on generativity as a multidimensional concept relevant to later life participation in certain activities related to an active style of living. A sample of 549 older adults who engaged in two types of self-oriented activity (leisure activities and students of University of the Third Age programs) and two types of community-oriented activity (formal volunteering and political activism) participated in this study. Following a mixed-method strategy, we administered several qualitative and quantitative measures of generativity, including generative concern, generative goals, and perceived cultural demand. Our results showed that participants who engaged in self-oriented and community-oriented activities differed on all dimensions of generativity. Differences in generativity were particularly high regarding cultural demand and future generative goals, which were far more frequently mentioned by political activists and volunteers than by university of the third age students and those pursuing leisure activities. Overall, our findings suggest that generativity plays a role in older adults’ participation in some (but not all) active aging activities in later life, and that our understanding of generativity in later life gains from a multidimensional assessment of the concept.
TEMPORAL PROPERTIES OF GX 301−2 OVER A YEAR-LONG OBSERVATION WITH SuperAGILE

We present the long-term monitoring of the high-mass X-ray binary GX 301−2 performed with the SuperAGILE (SA) instrument on-board the Astro-rivelatore Gamma ad Immagini LEggero (AGILE) mission. The source was monitored in the 20–60 keV energy band during the first year of the mission from 2007 July 17 to 2008 August 31, covering about one whole orbital period and three more pre-periastron (PP) passages for a total net observation time of about 3.7 Ms. The SA data set represents one of the most continuous and complete monitoring at hard X-ray energies of the 41.5 days long binary period available to date. The source behavior was characterized at all orbital phases in terms of hard X-ray flux, spectral hardness, spin-period history, pulsed fraction, and pulse shape profile. We also complemented the SA observations with the soft X-ray data of the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer/All-Sky Monitor. Our analysis shows a clear orbital modulation of the spectral hardness, with peaks in correspondence with the PP flare and near phase 0.25. The hardness peaks, we found, could be related with the wind-plus-stream accretion model proposed in order to explain the orbital light-curve modulation of GX 301−2. Timing analysis of the pulsar spin period shows that the secular trend of the ∼680 s pulse period is consistent with the previous observations, although there is evidence of a slight decrease in the spin-down rate. The analysis of the hard X-ray-pulsed emission also showed a variable pulse shape profile as a function of the orbital phase, with substructures detected near the passage at the periastron, and a clear modulation of the pulsed fraction, which appears in turn strongly anticorrelated with the source intensity.
Hygienic behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic may decrease immunoglobulin G levels: Implications for Kawasaki disease

Background Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hygienic behaviors became a new norm since January 2020. The hygiene hypothesis predicts that an excessively hygienic environment may adversely affect human health. Objective We quantified the effect of COVID-19 on immunological parameters linked to the hygiene hypothesis. Methods We examined age-specific levels of total nonspecific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgE in individuals who visited Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital between 2010 and 2021. Pre-COVID (2010–2019) and COVID (2020–2021) periods were compared. Results IgG levels steadily decreased throughout Pre-COVID period. IgG levels fell abruptly from the pre-COVID period to the COVID period in all age groups (P = 0.0271, < 0.3 years; P = 0.0096, 0.3–5 years; P = 0.0074, ≥ 5 years). The declines in IgG in < 0.3 years and that in ≥ 5 years accelerated during the COVID period. IgE levels were seasonal, but did not change noticeably from the pre-COVID to COVID period. IgG levels recorded for patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) (mean 709 mg/dL) were significantly lower than for matched control subjects (826 mg/dL) (P<0.0001). Discussion Hygienic behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak decreased the chance of infection, which may explain the decreases in IgG levels in children and adults. Neonatal IgG declined, possibly because of the decrease in maternal IgG. Conclusion Hygienic behaviors decreased the IgG levels in all age groups, from neonates to adults. This downturn in IgG may lead to vulnerability to infections as well as to KD.
Unsupervised segmentation of color images based on k-means clustering in the chromaticity plane

Presents an original technique for unsupervised segmentation of color images which is based on an extension (for use in the u'v' chromaticity diagram) of the well-known k-means algorithm, which is widely adopted in cluster analysis. We suggest exploiting the separability of color information which, represented in a suitable 3D space, may be "projected" on to a 2D chromatic subspace and on to a 1D luminance subspace. One can first compute the chromaticity coordinates (u', v') of colors and find representative clusters in such a 2D space by using a 2D k-means algorithm, and then associate these clusters with appropriate luminance values by using a 1D k-means algorithm, which is a simple dimensionally-reduced version of the 2D one. Experimental evidence of the effectiveness of our technique is reported.
dynDeepDRIM: a dynamic deep learning model to infer direct regulatory interactions using time-course single-cell gene expression data

Time-course single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data have been widely used to explore dynamic changes in gene expression of transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes. This information is useful to reconstruct cell-type-specific gene regulatory networks (GRNs). However, the existing tools are commonly designed to analyze either time-course bulk gene expression data or static scRNA-seq data via pseudo-time cell ordering. A few methods successfully utilize the information from multiple time points while also considering the characteristics of scRNA-seq data. We proposed dynDeepDRIM, a novel deep learning model to reconstruct GRNs using time-course scRNA-seq data. It represents the joint expression of a gene pair as an image and utilizes the image of the target TF-gene pair and the ones of the potential neighbors to reconstruct GRNs from time-course scRNA-seq data. dynDeepDRIM can effectively remove the transitive TF-gene interactions by considering neighborhood context and model the gene expression dynamics using high-dimensional tensors. We compared dynDeepDRIM with six GRN reconstruction methods on both simulation and four real time-course scRNA-seq data. dynDeepDRIM achieved substantially better performance than the other methods in inferring TF-gene interactions and eliminated the false positives effectively. We also applied dynDeepDRIM to annotate gene functions and found it achieved evidently better performance than the other tools due to considering the neighbor genes.
Branched polyethyleneimine: CHARMM force field and molecular dynamics simulations

Polyethyleneimine (PEI), one of the non‐viral vectors of great interest for gene delivery, was investigated at all‐atom level, with particular emphasis on its branched form. We report the extension of our previously published CHARMM force field (FF) for linear PEI, with parameters optimized specifically for branched configurations. A new residue type for the branch connector is introduced and the charges and bonded parameters are derived from ab initio calculations based on a model polymer. The new FF is validated by extensive molecular dynamics simulations of solvated branched PEIs of various protonation fractions and branch lengths. The gyration radii, end‐to‐end distances, and diffusion coefficients are compared with results for linear PEIs of similar molecular weights and protonation patterns. Solvated complexes of DNA with (linear/branched) PEI were also investigated to determine favorable attachment conformations. The parametrized atomistic force field is suitable for simulations of PEI with arbitrary branching pattern, protonation, and size, and is expected to provide relevant insights regarding optimal conditions for DNA‐PEI complex formation.
The role of priming in grammatical acceptability judgements for native versus non-native speakers: Effects of intelligibility

Comprehenders frequently need to adapt to linguistic variability between talkers and dialects. Previous research has shown, given repeated exposure to quasi-grammatical structures, comprehenders begin to perceive them as more grammatical (Luka & Barsalou 2005, Luka & Choi 2012). We examined whether grammatical acceptability judgements differ for native versus non-native speech. In an exposure phase, native English speakers listened to, retyped, and rated the grammaticality of quasi-grammatical sentences (e.g., What Emily is thankful for is that she is here) spoken by a native or non-native speaker. In a subsequent test phase, participants rated additional sentences, some of which had the same structure as exposure sentences. Participants rated native-accented sentences as more grammatical, demonstrating a role for talker identity in perceptions of grammaticality. Furthermore, structures previously heard during the exposure phase were rated as more grammatical than novel unprimed structures, but only for the native speaker. Subset analyses suggest this effect is driven by speaker intelligibility, which holds implications for communication between native and non-native speakers.
Growing Up After Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

This study investigates the effects of adolescent bariatric surgery among young adults approximately 10 years post-surgery. Participants were recruited from a hospital-based bariatric registry. We used an exploratory, qualitatively-driven mixed methods design. Findings were integrated with medical chart data and the SF-36, Body QoL, and the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire. Of the 22 participants who completed surveys (14 females and 8 males), 20 participants also completed a phone interview. Median participant age was 25 years (range = 19–30). Median weight-loss was 23% (6.0%‒58%). Four themes emerged: taking control, weight loss challenges, body image adjustment, and growing up. Participants reported physical benefits of surgery yet were challenged by eating habits, body image, and interpersonal relationships. Participants were indifferent to preventative healthcare, despite the potential for vitamin deficiencies and the return of weight-related comorbidities. Clinicians can facilitate the transition to young adulthood by providing continued mental support, education, and medical monitoring.
2D-materials-integrated optoelectromechanics: recent progress and future perspectives

The discovery of two-dimensional (2D) materials has gained worldwide attention owing to their extraordinary optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. Due to their atomic layer thicknesses, the emerging 2D materials have great advantages of enhanced interaction strength, broad operating bandwidth, and ultralow power consumption for optoelectromechanical coupling. The van der Waals (vdW) epitaxy or multidimensional integration of 2D material family provides a promising platform for on-chip advanced nano-optoelectromechanical systems (NOEMS). Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the nanomechanical properties of 2D materials and the recent advances of 2D-materials-integrated nano-electromechanical systems and nano-optomechanical systems. By utilizing active nanophotonics and optoelectronics as the interface, 2D active NOEMS and their coupling effects are particularly highlighted at the 2D atomic scale. Finally, we share our viewpoints on the future perspectives and key challenges of scalable 2D-materials-integrated active NOEMS for on-chip miniaturized, lightweight, and multifunctional integration applications.
Effectiveness of Exercises With Electromyographic Biofeedback in Conservative Treatment of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

Objective The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program with electromyographic biofeedback compared with the control group on patients with massive rotator cuff tear. Design Forty-six adults with massive rotator cuff tears, randomly assigned to 2 groups (23 electromyographic biofeedback group vs. 23 control group). The electromyographic biofeedback group (experimental group) performed the exercises under the guidance of electromyographic biofeedback, unlike the control group. All patients underwent a 45-minute training session a day, 3 times a week over a 6-wk duration, and followed up until 1-year. The outcome measures were American Shoulder and Elbow score, shoulder flexion strength, shoulder range of motion, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and Global Rating of Change Scale. Results Compared with the control group, the electromyographic biofeedback group demonstrated a significant change in shoulder flexion strength and patient satisfaction from baseline to 6 wks (posttraining) and from baseline to 12-mo follow-up (F = 4.671, P = 0.005). There were significant improvements in within groups statistics for American Shoulder and Elbow score, shoulder flexion strength, shoulder range of motion, and Numeric Pain Rating Scale in both groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results demonstrate that deltoid-focused structured rehabilitation program combined with electromyographic biofeedback can be used to increase shoulder flexion strength and patient satisfaction in conservative treatment of massive rotator cuff tear.
ANALYSIS OF HEAD INJURIES USING A BAYESIAN VECTOR GENERALIZED ADDITIVE MODEL

The potential of cycle helmets to reduce head injury remains controversial. Although several case‐control studies have been published, ecological analyses of head injury remain commonplace, presumably because of the availability of data and policy‐makers’ preference for ‘whole population’ studies. Given that such population‐level analysis will be conducted, this paper models the odds ratio between different road‐user groups over time. We use a Bayesian implementation of a vector generalized additive model in order to examine the odds ratio for head injury when comparing male cyclists with female cyclists, male pedestrians with male cyclists, and female pedestrians with female cyclists over a period when helmet‐wearing rates were thought to diverge by gender.
ANALYSIS OF IRIS AND NST OBSERVATIONS OF THE 12.06.2014 FLARE EVENT

We present results of analysis of a M1.0 class flare event of 12 June, 2014 (SOL2014-06-12T21:12), observed with the NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectro- graph (IRIS) mission and New Solar Telescope (NST) at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO). The IRIS observed this event in the coarse raster mode and obtained high- resolution UV spectra and Slit-Jaw (SJ) images for almost the whole flaring region. Our analysis of the IRIS data in different spectral lines reveals strong redshifted fluxes of the chromospheric material before the flare. It is also found that most of the chromospheric and transition region lines are redshifted across the flaring region during the flare. Expan- sion of a photospheric flux-rope structure is observed in the high-resolution images from the NST with the Broadband Filter Imager (BFI) using the TiO filter. Emission of the hot (2·10 7 K) coronal FeXXI line is detected ∼400 seconds after the emission peaks of the lower temperature lines in the OI IRIS spectral window. We found that the Fe XXI line is blueshifted across the flaring region. This corresponds to evaporation flow with a speed
Sensory Loss and Risk of Dementia

Sensory loss in olfaction, vision, and hearing is a risk factor for dementia, but the reasons for this are unclear. This review presents the neurobiological evidence linking each sensory modality to specific dementias and explores the potential mechanisms underlying this. Olfactory deficits can be linked to direct neuropathologic changes in the olfactory system due to Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease, and may be a marker of disease severity. Visual deficits potentially increase dementia risk in a vulnerable individual by reducing resilience to dementia. Hearing deficits may indicate a susceptibility to Alzheimer disease through a variety of mechanisms. More generally, sensory impairment could be related to factors associated with resilience against dementia. Further research is needed to tease out the specific and synergistic effects of sensory impairment. Studying sensory loss in relation to neurodegenerative biomarkers is necessary to clarify the mechanisms involved. This could produce new monitoring and management strategies for people at risk of dementia.
Ultrasonic elastic responses in a monopole lattice

The latest experimental advances have extended the scenario of coupling mechanical degrees of freedom in chiral magnets (MnSi/MnGe) to the topologically nontrivial skyrmion crystal and even monopole lattices. Equipped with a spin-wave theory highlighting the topological features, we devise an interacting model for acoustic phonons and magnons to explain the experimental findings in a monopole lattice with a topological phase transition, i.e. annihilation of monopole–antimonopole pairs. We reproduce the anisotropic magnetoelastic modulations of elastic moduli: drastic ultrasonic softening around the phase transition and a multi-peak-and-trench fine structure for sound waves parallel and orthogonal to the magnetic field, respectively. Comparison with experiments indicates that the magnetoelastic coupling induced by Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction is comparable to that induced by the exchange interaction. Other possibilities such as elastic hardening are also predicted. The study implies that the monopole defects and their motion in MnGe play a crucial role.
Evaluating the Use of Uncertainty Visualisations for Imputations of Data Missing At Random in Scatterplots

Most real-world datasets contain missing values yet most exploratory data analysis (EDA) systems only support visualising data points with complete cases. This omission may potentially lead the user to biased analyses and insights. Imputation techniques can help estimate the value of a missing data point, but introduces additional uncertainty. In this work, we investigate the effects of visualising imputed values in charts using different ways of representing data imputations and imputation uncertainty—no imputation, mean, 95% confidence intervals, probability density plots, gradient intervals, and hypothetical outcome plots. We focus on scatterplots, which is a commonly used chart type, and conduct a crowdsourced study with 202 participants. We measure users' bias and precision in performing two tasks—estimating average and detecting trend—and their self-reported confidence in performing these tasks. Our results suggest that, when estimating averages, uncertainty representations may reduce bias but at the cost of decreasing precision. When estimating trend, only hypothetical outcome plots may lead to a small probability of reducing bias while increasing precision. Participants in every uncertainty representation were less certain about their response when compared to the baseline. The findings point towards potential trade-offs in using uncertainty encodings for datasets with a large number of missing values. This paper and the associated analysis materials are available at: https://osf.io/q4y5r/
Internal dynamics of Abell 1240: a galaxy cluster with symmetric double radio relics

Context. The mechanisms giving rise to diffuse radio emission in galaxy clusters, and in particular their connection with c luster mergers, are still debated. Aims. We aim to obtain new insights into the internal dynamics of the cluster Abell 1240, showing the presence of two roughly symmetric radio relics, separated by∼ 2 h −1 70 Mpc. Methods. Our analysis is mainly based on redshift data for 145 galaxies mostly acquired at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo and on new photometric data acquired at the Isaac Newton Telescope. We also use X‐ray data from the Chandra archive and photometric data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (Data Release 7). We combine galaxy velocities and positions to select 89 cluster galaxies and analyze the internal dynamics of the Abell 1237 + Abell 1240 cluster complex, being Abell 1237 a close companion of Abell 1240 towards the southern direction. Results. We estimate similar redshifts for Abell 1237 and Abell 1240,h zi= 0.1935 andh zi= 0.1948, respectively. For Abell 1237 we
Spin Dynamics with Inertia in Metallic Ferromagnets

Non-adiabatic contribution of environmental degrees of freedom yields effective inertia of spin in effective spin dynamics. In this paper, we study several aspects of the inertia of spin in metallic ferromagnets. (i) a concrete expression of the spin inertia $m_s$: $m_s=\hbar S_c/(2g_{\rm sd})$, where $S_c$ is the spin polarization of conduction electrons and $g_{\rm sd}$ is the $sd$ coupling constant. (ii) dynamical behavior of spin with inertia, discussed from viewpoints of a spinning top and of a particle on a sphere. (iii) behavior of spin waves and domain walls in the presence of inertia, and behavior of spin with inertia in the case of a time-dependent magnetic field.
Human preparedness: Relational infrastructures and medical countermeasures in Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT This paper examines health worker experiences in two areas of post-epidemic preparedness in Sierra Leone – vaccine trials and laboratory strengthening – to reflect on the place of people in current models of epidemic response. Drawing on ethnographic research and interviews with health workers in the aftermath of Ebola, it explores the hopes and expectations that interventions foster for frontline workers in under-resourced health systems, and describes the unseen work involved in sustaining robust response infrastructures. Our analysis focuses on what it means for the people who sustain health systems in an emergency to be ‘prepared’ for an epidemic. Human preparedness entails more than the presence of a labour force; it involves building and maintaining ‘relational infrastructures’, often fragile social and moral relationships between health workers, publics, governments, and international organisations. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the value of rethinking human resources from an anthropological perspective, and investing in the safety and support of people at the forefront of response. In describing the labour, personal losses, and social risks undertaken by frontline workers for protocols and practicality to meet in an emergency context, we describe the social process of preparedness; that is, the contextual engineering and investment that make response systems work.