Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Do Healthy Women Perceive the Risk of Breast Cancer? The Role of Illness Perceptions and Compared Risk between Portugal and the U.A.E

(1) Background: Breast cancer (BC) shows significant epidemiological differences between Eastern and Western countries. These may arise from socio-cultural factors influencing how healthy young women perceive this condition, their risk of getting cancer, and the implications for preventive screening behaviors. In this study, the illness perceptions, individual risk perception, compared risk, and beliefs about preventive behaviors for BC of female university students were compared using an anonymous online survey between a European country (Portugal) and the United Arab Emirates. (2) Method: A structural equation model (SEM) was developed to investigate the hypothetical relationship between illness perceptions and compared risk as predictors of perceived risk for BC. (3) Results: There were significant differences between the study variables. The SEM was invariant, but the differences between regression coefficients in both countries were highly statistically significant. Mediation analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of compared risk on individual risk and a significantly stronger direct effect for the Emirati sample. (4) Conclusions: These findings suggest that cultural research may help to explain factors that may shape social comparison of individual risk characteristics and influence perceived risk. Moreover, providing culturally appropriate strategies to be designed and implemented can promote early detection behaviors for BC.
Could bright γ-ray burst optical transients have been recorded historically?

The brightest optical flash from a γ-ray burst (GRB) was, briefly, a naked-eye object. Several other GRBs have produced optical transients only slightly fainter. We argue that, based upon the recently accumulated data from hundreds of GRB transients, many such optical events should have been visible to the unaided eye in the course of human history. The most likely repositories of such observations are historical records from the Orient, and we have located and discuss a number of candidates. We also consider the value of such observations, should any very likely ones be uncovered, to modern astrophysics.
Implementation of Time Division Multiplexing With Commercial Flyback Controller for Multi-Outputs USB Power Delivery Charger

Universal serial bus power delivery (USB-PD) chargers are more attractive to consumers with multiple output ports where more devices can be charged simultaneously. Existing multiple-port charger designs take multi-stage approaches, which increases power loss, charger size, and cost. This paper addresses this issue by presenting a time-division multiplexing (TDM) quasi-resonant (QR) flyback converter that eliminates the buck converter stages with simple and commercial analog implementations without the need of microprocessors. The circuit operation and practical design considerations are discussed in detail. An universal AC input, dual-USB-C GaN prototype validates the concept, while demonstrating USB-PD compliant operation, passed conducted EMI, and superior efficiency which passes the most stringent efficiency standards with margin where the benchmark GaN charger fails. Thanks to the elimination of buck stages, the proposed dual-USB-C charger achieves 1.9 W/cm$^{3}$ uncased power density, close to that of single-USB-C charger.
Chandra survey of nearby highly inclined disk galaxies – IV. New insights into the working of stellar feedback

Galaxy evolution is regulated by the interplay between galactic disks and their surrounding medium. We study this interplay by examining how the galactic coronal emission efficiency of stellar feedback depends on the (surface and specific) star formation rates (SFRs) and other parameters for a sample of 52 Chandra-observed nearby highly inclined disk galaxies. We first measure the star forming galactic disk sizes, as well as the SFRs of these galaxies, using data from the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, and then show that 1) the specific 0.5-2~keV luminosity of the coronal emission correlates with the specific SFR in a {\sl sub-linear} fashion: on average, $L_X/L_K \propto (SFR/M_*)^{\Gamma}$ with $\Gamma =0.29\pm0.12$; 2) the efficiency of the emission $ L_X/SFR$ decreases with increasing surface SFR ($I_{SFR}$; $\Gamma = -0.44\pm0.12$); and 3) the characteristic temperature of the X-ray-emitting plasma weakly correlates with $I_{SFR}$ ($\Gamma = 0.08\pm0.04$). These results, somewhat surprising and anti-intuitive, suggest that a) the linear correlation between $L_X$ and SFR, as commonly presented, is largely due to the correlation of these two parameters with galaxy mass; b) much of the mechanical energy from stellar feedback likely drives global outflows with little X-ray cooling and with a mass-loading efficiency decreasing fast with increasing $I_{SFR}$ ($\Gamma \lesssim -0.5$); c) these outflows heat and inflate the medium around the galactic disks of massive galaxies, reducing its radiative cooling rate, whereas for relatively low-mass galaxies, the energy in the outflows is probably dissipated in regions far away from the galactic disks.
Infinite-order diagrammatic summation approach to the explicitly correlated congruent transformed Hamiltonian

A resolution of identity approach to explicitly correlated congruent transformed Hamiltonian (CTH) is presented. One of the principle challenges associated with the congruent transformation of the many-electron Hamiltonian is the generation of three, four, five, and six particle operators. Successful application of the congruent transformation requires efficient implementation of the many-particle operators. In this work, we present the resolution of identity congruent transformed Hamiltonian (RI-CTH) method to handle many-particle operators. The resolution of identity was used to project the explicitly correlated operator in a N-particle finite basis to avoid explicit computation of the many-particle operators. Single-particle states were obtained by performing Hartee-Fock calculations, which were then used for construction of many-particle states. The limitation of the finite nature of the resolution of identity was addressed by developing partial infinite order (PIOS) diagrammatic summation technique. In the PIOS method, the matrix elements of the projected congruent transformed Hamiltonian was expressed in terms of diagrammatic notation and a subset of diagrams were summed up to infinite order. The RI-CTH and RI-CTH-PIOS methods were applied to isoelectronic series of 10-electron systems (Ne,HF,H2O,NH3,CH4) and results were compared with CISD and CCSD(T) calculations. One of the key results from this work is that for identical basis set, the RI-CTH-PIOS energies are lower than CISD and CCSD(T) values.
A Light-Weight Inflatable Hypersonic Drab Device for Venus Entry

The author has studied inflatable drag devices (ballute = balloon + parachute) for deceleration in the atmosphere of Venus, for both direct aerocapture and for entry from circular orbit. The studies indicate that ballutes made of thin materials capable of temperatures of about 500 C allow an entry system mass that is , for both aerocapture and entry, less than with the conventional entry body. For aerocapture the exit conditions are controlled by measuring the velocity loss and releasing the ballute when the desired exit conditions are indicated. A development program is necessary to explore the ballute shapes and changes in flight and to mitigate possible instabilities. To design an entry vehicle using a ballute the designer takes the vacuum orbiter or the lander as it is on the surface, chooses one surface to attach the ballute, and places an MLI blanket on the other end. PRIOR BALLUTE STUDIES Ballutes seem to have been invented in the forties and fifies to reduce the ground impact speed of empty sounding rockets or rocket casings. The investigators probably discovered that the mass of a ballute, inflated at high altitude, to slow a returning high altitude sounding rocket was less than the mass of a necessarily stronger parachute system that would open at low Mach number and high pressure. In the late sixties studies and wind tunnel tests were performed (1,2) by Goodyear and NASA Langley with a view to using ballutes to assist deceleration of the Viking landers at Mars, but these ballutes were deployed after peak deceleration and heating, thus having limited potential to change the entry trajectory. A mushroom shape was found to be more stable than a sphere. In 1976 the authors of Ref. 3 proposed to use a ballute inflated prior to entry into Venus. They proposed a ballute of mass over 300 kg and computed the ablation during entry, and evaluated some candidate materials. In the mid eighties studies of ballute materials were done at Langley, but again the concept was to deploy ballutes after peak entry deceleration and heating. In recent years NASA Ames has studied drag modulation of vehicles equipped with inflatable components (Ref. 4). RECENT STUDIES In the past five years the author has studied the use of ballutes for aerocapture and entry at several planets, including a Mars orbiter and a Pluto lander, both reported in Ref. 5. Other applications not yet reported are ballutes at Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, Titan and Earth. The present report describes ballutes applied to aerocapture at Venus of a sample return vehicle at direct entry, and to subsequent entry from a circular orbit after a plane change at a high apoapsis and aerobraking. (Ref. 6). * A. D. McRonald is a Member of the Technical Staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology. The research described in this paper was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Genetic Diversity of Venturia inaequalis in Latvia Revealed by Microsatellite Markers

Apple scab caused by the ascomycete Venturia inaequalis is an economically significant disease worldwide. The annual sexual reproduction of V. inaequalis leads to high variation, changes in the population’s genetic structure and adaptations to the changing environment, including overcoming the host’s resistance. The objective of this study is to characterise and assess the genetic diversity of V. inaequalis populations in two main apple-growing regions in Latvia. In total, 143 V. inaequalis isolates were collected from Latvia, six reference strains with known virulence were obtained from other countries, and all strains were genotyped by 12 SSR markers. The SSR markers were highly variable and informative, identifying 158 alleles that ranged from two to 29 per locus. The Bayesian clustering identified three genetic lineages among the Latvian isolates that did not correlate to the geographic origin, host genotype, organ (leaves or fruits) from which the pathogen was isolated, time of collection, and type of isolation (single conidium or ascospore). The possible relatedness to virulence was detected when reference strains with known virulence were included in the analysis. Our findings correspond with previous studies demonstrating that V. inaequalis in Europe has a high genetic diversity within populations, but low diversity among the populations.
Applications of Focused Ultrasound for the Treatment of Glioblastoma: A New Frontier

Simple Summary Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common primary brain tumor with a short median overall survival despite aggressive treatment with resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Focused ultrasound (FUS) represents a promising new therapeutic approach for treatment of GBM. Unlike imaging forms of ultrasound, FUS can successfully penetrate the skull surrounding the brain, allowing for non-invasive ablation of tumor tissue. FUS can also temporarily disrupt the blood–brain barrier, a microvascular network that prohibits diffusion of most therapeutic agents, allowing chemotherapeutic drugs to penetrate the tumor. Other modalities are under investigation and include means of stimulating the immune system and sensitizing tumors to radiation therapy. The feasibility and safety of transcranial FUS has been illustrated in animal models and clinical trials. Precise results can be obtained under guidance from magnetic resonance imaging, limiting side effects. Successful outcomes from clinical trials will likely continue to motivate investigation and innovation of FUS technology for GBM. Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary astrocytoma associated with short overall survival. Treatment for GBM primarily consists of maximal safe surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy using temozolomide. Nonetheless, recurrence and tumor progression is the norm, driven by tumor stem cell activity and a high mutational burden. Focused ultrasound (FUS) has shown promising results in preclinical and clinical trials for treatment of GBM and has received regulatory approval for the treatment of other neoplasms. Here, we review the range of applications for FUS in the treatment of GBM, which depend on parameters, including frequency, power, pulse duration, and duty cycle. Low-intensity FUS can be used to transiently open the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which restricts diffusion of most macromolecules and therapeutic agents into the brain. Under guidance from magnetic resonance imaging, the BBB can be targeted in a precise location to permit diffusion of molecules only at the vicinity of the tumor, preventing side effects to healthy tissue. BBB opening can also be used to improve detection of cell-free tumor DNA with liquid biopsies, allowing non-invasive diagnosis and identification of molecular mutations. High-intensity FUS can cause tumor ablation via a hyperthermic effect. Additionally, FUS can stimulate immunological attack of tumor cells, can activate sonosensitizers to exert cytotoxic effects on tumor tissue, and can sensitize tumors to radiation therapy. Finally, another mechanism under investigation, known as histotripsy, produces tumor ablation via acoustic cavitation rather than thermal effects.
An Effective Pruning Scheme for Top-k Dominating Query Processing on Uncertain Data Streams

In the modern age of information explosion, everyone can easily obtain all kinds of data, so how to find the most valuable information in massive data has become an important issue. In general, most data collected from the applications of Internet of Things (IoT) become uncertain since there is a probability or part of the data is missing. However, the calculation of the uncertain data will be much more complicated than certain (or deterministic) data. As a result, the performance of uncertain data handling becomes a significant challenge in meeting low latency requirements. In this work, we propose a distributed computing algorithm and apply it to an edge computing to calculate the probabilistic top-k dominating (PTKD) objects of uncertain data. The overall latency of PTKD query processing is significantly reduced. The main idea of this method is to reduce the cost of time without unnecessary calculations of objects. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm can improve 58% latency on average. With a high pruning rate, performance can be reduced by up to 92%.
CHANGES OF QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNCTIONAL FRUIT YOGURTS FORTIFIED WITH HUSK EXTRACTS OF VARIOUS NUTS DURING COLD STORAGE

Walnut, almond, and pistachio husk extracts were used to enrich the peach yogurt. The effects of the extracts on the physicochemical, biochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of yogurt were investigated during 21 days of cold storage. Husk extracts slowed down the increase in acidity of yogurt and, correlatedly, the syneresis values of extract fortified yogurts were lower than the control yogurt. Inevitably, husk extracts caused a difference in ΔE of yogurts. However, this difference did not affect the sensory appearance scores of yogurts negatively. All extracts, especially those of walnut husk, significantly increased the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of yogurt, but this effect was partially reduced with prolonged storage. Also, the extracts reduced the lipid oxidation of yogurt by almost half. Although some sensory values of almond and walnut samples were relatively lower than control yogurt, the panelists liked pistachio yogurts at least as much as control yogurt. The findings of this study revealed that husk extracts of various nuts can be used as both a natural preservative and a functional ingredient in fruit yoghurt.
Involvement of Arsenic Atom of AsF3 in Five Pnicogen Bonds: Differences between X-ray Structure and Theoretical Models

Bonding within the AsF3 crystal is analyzed via quantum chemical methods so as to identify and quantify the pnicogen bonds that are present. The structure of a finite crystal segment containing nine molecules is compared with that of a fully optimized cluster of the same size. The geometries are qualitatively different, with a much larger binding energy within the optimized nonamer. Although the total interaction energy of a central unit with the remaining peripheral molecules is comparable for the two structures, the binding of the peripherals with one another is far larger in the optimized cluster. This distinction of much stronger total binding within the optimized cluster is not limited to the nonamer but repeats itself for smaller aggregates as well. The average binding energy of the cluster rises quickly with size, asymptotically approaching a value nearly triple that of the dimer.
Local Attention to Environment and Green Innovation: Evidence from Listed Manufacturing Companies in 120 Cities in China

ABSTRACT This paper conducts a textual analysis of the reports on the work of local governments to measure local governments’ attention to environmental governance and study the impact of these concerns on corporate green innovation. We find evidence that local governments’ attention to the environment will significantly improve corporate green innovation, and the government can promote the green technology innovation of enterprises by providing support and strengthening supervision. Further research shows that the uniformity between the central and local governments and environmental attention pressure from higher-level government reinforce the influence of local environmental attention on corporate green innovation.
Lactoferrin Binding to SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Blocks Pseudoviral Entry and Relieves Iron Protein Dysregulation in Several In Vitro Models

SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19, a predominantly pulmonary disease characterized by a burst of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase in free iron. The viral glycoprotein Spike mediates fusion to the host cell membrane, but its role as a virulence factor is largely unknown. Recently, the antiviral activity of lactoferrin against SARS-CoV-2 was demonstrated in vitro and shown to occur via binding to cell surface receptors, and its putative interaction with Spike was suggested by in silico analyses. We investigated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of bovine and human lactoferrins in epithelial and macrophagic cells using a Spike-decorated pseudovirus. Lactoferrin inhibited pseudoviral fusion and counteracted the deleterious effects of Spike on iron and inflammatory homeostasis by restoring basal levels of iron-handling proteins and of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Using pull-down assays, we experimentally proved for the first time that lactoferrin binds to Spike, immediately suggesting a mechanism for the observed effects. The contribution of transferrin receptor 1 to Spike-mediated cell fusion was also experimentally demonstrated. In silico analyses showed that lactoferrin interacts with transferrin receptor 1, suggesting a multifaceted mechanism of action for lactoferrin. Our results give hope for the use of bovine lactoferrin, already available as a nutraceutical, as an adjuvant to standard therapies in COVID-19.
Growth and magnetic characterization of epitaxial Fe81Ga19∕MgO (100) thin films

Using magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance techniques, we have characterized Fe81Ga19 (100) thin films (90 nm thick) grown on MgO (100). We have observed that for low sputtering powers (<35W) it is possible to grow films with cubic magnetic symmetry, and that larger powers induce an in-plane magnetic easy axis. Films with cubic symmetry were further characterized using ferromagnetic resonance at frequencies of 34 and 9.7 GHz. From the angular variation of the resonance field we have obtained the cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant, K1=2×105erg∕cm3, and the saturation magnetization, M∼1460G. The magnitude and the angular variation of the linewidth suggest an important contribution of the two-magnon scattering mechanism to the relaxation of the magnetic excitations.
A Novel Step UP Cascaded Dual T-Type Multilevel Inverter with High Voltage Boosting Gain

In this study, a seven-level cascaded inverter architecture with voltage boosting features is suggested. Switched capacitor inverters, that supply voltage levels in conjunction with an input voltage source, are adapted in this way. An inductor is connected to charging line to provide gentle charging. The output voltage from 2 capacitors with a voltage source is greater than the voltage of the input source. MATLAB/Simulink software is used to simulate the suggested inverter.
ATMOSPHERIC ESCAPE FROM HOT JUPITERS

Photoionization heating from ultraviolet (UV) radiation incidents on the atmospheres of hot Jupiters may drive planetary mass loss. Observations of stellar Lyman-α (Lyα) absorption have suggested that the hot Jupiter HD 209458b is losing atomic hydrogen. We construct a model of escape that includes realistic heating and cooling, ionization balance, tidal gravity, and pressure confinement by the host star wind. We show that mass loss takes the form of a hydrodynamic (Parker) wind, emitted from the planet's dayside during lulls in the stellar wind. When dayside winds are suppressed by the confining action of the stellar wind, nightside winds might pick up if there is sufficient horizontal transport of heat. A hot Jupiter loses mass at maximum rates of ∼2 × 1012 g s−1 during its host star's pre-main-sequence phase and ∼2 × 1010 g s−1 during the star's main-sequence lifetime, for total maximum losses of ∼0.06% and ∼0.6% of the planet's mass, respectively. For UV fluxes FUV ≲ 104 erg cm−2 s−1, the mass-loss rate is approximately energy limited and scales as . For larger UV fluxes, such as those typical of T Tauri stars, radiative losses and plasma recombination force to increase more slowly as F0.6UV. Dayside winds are quenched during the T Tauri phase because of confinement by overwhelming stellar wind pressure. During this early stage, nightside winds can still blow if the planet resides outside the stellar Alfvén radius; otherwise, even nightside winds are stifled by stellar magnetic pressure, and mass loss is restricted to polar regions. We conclude that while UV radiation can indeed drive winds from hot Jupiters, such winds cannot significantly alter planetary masses during any evolutionary stage. They can, however, produce observable signatures. Candidates for explaining why the Lyman-α photons of HD 209458 are absorbed at Doppler-shifted velocities of ±100 km s−1 include charge-exchange in the shock between the planetary and stellar winds.
Short Circuit Ruggedness of Trench Filled Superjunction Devices

In this study, TCAD simulations are used to construct trench seuperjunction devices with similars BV (~750V) and Ron,sp < 10mΩ. cm2. TCAD mixed-mode simulation with self-heating is then used to study their short-circuit ruggedness. It is found that “p-sidewall” and “charge sheet” have shorter short circuit withstanding time, τsc. High thermal conductivity materials are then proposed to alleviate the problem and verified in TCAD simulations.