Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GAIN SCORES IN RESEARCH CAN BE HIGHLY RELIABLE

Many investigators have concluded that difference scores and gain scores, such as differences between pretest and posttest measures resulting from an experimental treatment or period of instruction, have questionable value in research in part because of their low reliability (e.g., Linn & Slinde, 1977; Lord, 1963; O'Connor, 1972). Cronbach and Furby (1970, p. 80) recommended that ". investigators who ask questions regarding gain scores . frame their questions in other ways. " These conclusions are based on certain assumptions which at first glance appear reasonable about the values of parameters in a well known formula for the reliability of differences. (See, for example, Lord, 1963.) In this paper we will show that a reliability coefficient calculated from the formula can be high, provided one makes other assumptions about the values of pretest and posttest reliability coefficients and standard deviations. Furthermore, there is reason to believe that the revised assumptions are more realistic than the usual ones in testing practice.
Hyperglycemia in Turner syndrome: Impact, mechanisms, and areas for future research

Turner syndrome (TS) is a common chromosomal disorder resulting from complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome. Hyperglycemia, ranging from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to diabetes mellitus (DM), is common in TS. DM in individuals with TS is associated with an 11-fold excess in mortality. The reasons for the high prevalence of hyperglycemia in TS are not well understood even though this aspect of TS was initially reported almost 60 years ago. Karyotype, as a proxy for X chromosome (Xchr) gene dosage, has been associated with DM risk in TS – however, no specific Xchr genes or loci have been implicated in the TS hyperglycemia phenotype. The molecular genetic study of TS-related phenotypes is hampered by inability to design analyses based on familial segregation, as TS is a non-heritable genetic disorder. Mechanistic studies are confounded by a lack of adequate TS animal models, small and heterogenous study populations, and the use of medications that alter carbohydrate metabolism in the management of TS. This review summarizes and assesses existing data related to the physiological and genetic mechanisms hypothesized to underlie hyperglycemia in TS, concluding that insulin deficiency is an early defect intrinsic to TS that results in hyperglycemia. Diagnostic criteria and therapeutic options for treatment of hyperglycemia in TS are presented, while emphasizing the pitfalls and complexities of studying glucose metabolism and diagnosing hyperglycemia in the TS population.
Immersive Experience and Climate Change Monitoring in Digital Landscapes: Evidence from Somatosensory Sense and Comfort

In this study, the virtual engine software (Unity 2019, Unity Software Inc., San Francisco, California, the U.S.) was used to generate a digital landscape model, forming a virtual immersive environment. Through field investigation and emotional preference experiments, the ancient tree ecological area and the sunlight-exposed area were respectively monitored, and the somatosensory comfort evaluation model was established. The subjects showed the highest degree of interest in the ancient tree ecological area after landscape roaming experience, and the mean variance in SC fluctuation was 13.23% in experiments. The subjects were in a low arousal state and had a significant degree of interest in the digital landscape roaming scene, and there was a significant correlation between positive emotion, somatosensory comfort and the Rating of Perceived Exertion index; moreover, the somatosensory comfort of the ancient tree ecological area was higher than that of the sunlight-exposed area. Meanwhile, it was found that somatosensory comfort level can effectively distinguish the comfort level between the ancient tree ecological area and the sunlight-exposed area, which provides an important basis for monitoring extreme heat. This study concludes that, in terms of the goal of harmonious coexistence between human and nature, the evaluation model of somatosensory comfort can contribute to reducing people’s adverse views on extreme weather conditions.
The Effect of Fatigue on Trunk and Pelvic Jump-Landing Biomechanics in View of Lower Extremity Loading: A Systematic Review

Fatigue has often been considered a risk factor for developing sports injuries, modulating lower extremity jump-landing biomechanics. The impact of fatigue on proximal trunk and pelvic biomechanics has been suggested to play an important role in lower extremity loading and injury risk, yet the available evidence remains ambiguous as the trunk and pelvis were often not the primary focus of research. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to determine how fatigue affects trunk and pelvic three-dimensional jump-landing biomechanics. PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus were consulted up to and including April 2022 for potential studies investigating the effect of fatigue on trunk and pelvic kinematics, kinetics and/or muscular activity during jump-landing tasks in healthy, physically active populations. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed by the modified Downs and Black checklist. Twenty-one studies were included and methodological quality was moderate to high among these studies. The results indicate prevailing evidence for more trunk flexion during standardized jump-landing tasks after lower extremity muscle fatigue. Otherwise, lumbo-pelvic-hip muscle fatigue does not seem to elicit major detrimental changes to these jump-landing biomechanics. Although a wide variability of trunk and pelvic jump-landing strategies was observed, the results provide evidence for increased trunk flexion after lower extremity muscle fatigue. This proximal strategy is suggested to help unload fatigued lower extremity structures and lack of this compensation might increase knee injury risk.
Numerical analysis of the shear and thermal creep flows of a rarefied gas over a plane wall on the basis of the linearized Boltzmann equation for hard‐sphere molecules

Shear flow and thermal creep flow (flow induced by the temperature gradient along the boundary wall) of a rarefied gas over a plane wall are considered on the basis of the linearized Boltzmann equation for hard‐sphere molecules and diffuse reflection boundary condition. These fundamental rarefied gas dynamic problems, typical half‐space boundary‐value problems of the linearized Boltzmann equation, are analyzed numerically by the finite‐difference method developed recently by the authors, and the velocity distribution functions, as well as the macroscopic variables, are obtained with good accuracy. From the results, the shear and thermal creep slip coefficients and their associated Knudsen layers of a slightly rarefied gas flow past a body are derived. The results for the slip coefficients and Knudsen layers are compared with experimental data and various results by the Boltzmann–Krook–Welander (BKW) equation, the modified BKW equation, and a direct simulation method.
Integrin αvβ3 Is a Master Regulator of Resistance to TKI-Induced Ferroptosis in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Simple Summary Intrinsic or acquired resistance to clinically approved targeted therapies for breast cancer patients is a major cause of treatment failure. Our findings provide conclusive functional evidence that the cell adhesion receptor αvβ3 integrin is a critical mediator of resistance to Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor -2 (HER2)-targeting small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We show that αvβ3 integrin contributes to the persistent activation of the AKT signalling pathway as well as to the re-wiring of the iron and antioxidant metabolism of the cells, thereby providing increased protection from an iron-dependent form of cell death called ferroptosis. Importantly, we demonstrate that genetic manipulation or therapeutic targeting of this receptor provides a novel strategy to reverse the resistance to TKI-induced ferroptosis in mouse and human HER2-positive breast cancer cells. We propose that the increased dependency on αvβ3 integrin signalling in TKI-resistant cells represents an Achilles’ heel that can be targeted pharmacologically to improve patient outcomes. Abstract Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-targeting therapies provide clinical benefits for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. However, the resistance to monotherapies invariably develops and leads to disease relapse and treatment failure. Previous studies have demonstrated a link between the potency of HER2-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and their ability to induce an iron-dependent form of cell death called ferroptosis. The aim of this study was to understand the mechanisms of resistance to TKI-induced ferroptosis and identify novel approaches to overcome treatment resistance. We used mouse and human HER2-positive models of acquired TKI resistance to demonstrate an intimate link between the resistance to TKIs and to ferroptosis and present the first evidence that the cell adhesion receptor αvβ3 integrin is a critical mediator of resistance to TKI-induced ferroptosis. Our findings indicate that αvβ3 integrin-mediated resistance is associated with the re-wiring of the iron/antioxidant metabolism and persistent activation of AKT signalling. Moreover, using gene manipulation approaches and pharmacological inhibitors, we show that this “αvβ3 integrin addiction” can be targeted to reverse TKI resistance. Collectively, these findings provide critical insights into new therapeutic strategies to improve the treatment of advanced HER2-positive breast cancer patients.
Hypermatrix algebra: applications in parallel image processing

Abstract A unique algebraic methodology is presented for implementing parallel tasks on multistage multidimensional architectures. Such architectures are motivated by the potential of digital optical and optoelectronic computing. Structured tasks can be decomposed from their initial algebraic casting and shown to match known canonical forms representing desirable computing structures such as 2D Omega processor. Algebraic manipulation of two-dimensional data structures—typical in image processing—requires more powerful operations than those afforded by classical matrix algebra. To this end, hypermatrix algebra provides a compact treatment of multidimensional objects and associated operations. Mappings of linear transformations are demonstrated including 2D Hadamard transformations, matrix rotations, and transposition.
Sex- and Age-Dependent Wide-Field Choroidal Thickness Differences in Healthy Eyes

In this study, we aimed to map and characterize the choroidal thickness over a wide area from the posterior pole to the vortex vein in normal eyes. This observational study included 146 healthy eyes (63 male). Three-dimensional volume data were acquired to create a choroidal thickness map using swept-source optical coherence tomography. The map was classified as type A if an area with a choroidal thickness >250 µm in the vertical direction from the optic disc, and the area corresponding to the watershed was not observed, or as type B if such an area was observed. The relationship between the ratio of groups A to B and age was compared by classifying the age for three age groups: <40, 40–60, and >60 years in men and women. In men and women, 69.8% and 49.4% were classified as type A, respectively, with significant sex differences (p = 0.013). The proportion of type B decreased with increasing age in both the sexes. There was a significant difference between ≤60 and >60 years in men and between ≤40 and >40 years in women (p < 0.05). To conclude, the wide-area choroidal thickness and the age-dependent changes in healthy eyes differed between the sexes.
Sea Surface Temperatures from Nimbus-7 SMMR Radiances

Abstract Global displays of sea surface temperatures (SST's) from the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) are obtained with spatial sampling intervals as small as 50 km rather than the 150 km spacing normally used for such retrievals. An example is illustrated using a composite global SMMR data set for January 1979, a preliminary version of the SST retrieval algorithm, and a sampling interval of 100 km. The results were found to be in qualitative agreement with in situ and climatic data, insofar as such comparisons were attempted. In addition to the expected climatic patterns, the global oceanic isotherms contain oscillations that are clearly not instrumental but geophysical in nature.
Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of Diet Polyphenols and Their Modulation of Gut Microbiota

It is generally accepted that diet-derived polyphenols are bioactive compounds with several potentially beneficial effects on human health. In general, polyphenols have several chemical structures, and the most representative are flavonoids, phenolic acids, and stilbenes. It should be noted that the beneficial effects of polyphenols are closely related to their bioavailability and bioaccessibility, as many of them are rapidly metabolized after administration. Polyphenols—with a protective effect on the gastrointestinal tract—promote the maintenance of the eubiosis of the intestinal microbiota with protective effects against gastric and colon cancers. Thus, the benefits obtained from dietary supplementation of polyphenols would seem to be mediated by the gut microbiota. Taken at certain concentrations, polyphenols have been shown to positively modulate the bacterial component, increasing Lactiplantibacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. involved in the protection of the intestinal barrier and decreasing Clostridium and Fusobacterium, which are negatively associated with human well-being. Based on the diet–microbiota–health axis, this review aims to describe the latest knowledge on the action of dietary polyphenols on human health through the activity of the gut microbiota and discusses micro-encapsulation of polyphenols as a strategy to improve the microbiota.
Frequency–temperature relations of thickness‐shear and flexural vibrations of contoured quartz resonators

The two‐dimensional first‐order equations of incremental vibrations superposed on the steady and homogeneous thermal deformations of crystal plates by Lee and Yong are reduced to a set of four coupled equations for frequencies up to and including those of the fundamental x1x2 (or slow) thickness‐shear mode. These equations are employed to study the frequency–temperature relations of the thickness‐shear and flexural vibrations of beveled plates of AT cut of quartz. Closed form solutions for the uniform portion and analytical solutions in terms of infinite power series for the contoured portions are obtained. By requiring these solutions to satisfy the continuity conditions and traction‐free edge conditions, the frequency equation is obtained. Effects of the contouring and the orientation angle of the plate are examined systematically by computing the frequency changes as a function of temperature increment for various values of geometric parameters and the orientation angle of the plate. Similar results fo.
Arts and creativity: maintaining mental wellbeing during COVID-19 lockdowns in UK universities

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic placed increasing pressure on university staff with spiralling workloads due to the rapid implementation of changes to university processes and staff being required to take on additional duties due to self-isolating or unwell colleagues. The mental health of students was also adversely affected due to changes in their education and social life and the overall uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Engaging in creative and cultural activities has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on mental wellbeing. The present study aimed to explore how and why staff and students in one UK university engaged with arts, cultural and creative activities, and the perceived impact of this engagement on their mental wellbeing during UK lockdowns. This article presents findings from a series of fourteen qualitative interviews conducted with staff and students in the summer of 2021. Thematic analysis identified that participants engaged in the activities to enhance their mental wellbeing through a sense of achievement, enjoyment, absorption and connecting to others. However, the activities were also used as a coping strategy, to deal with loss, and to make meaning of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic.
Between the Scales: Water from different Perspectives

Water is one of the most frequently studied fluids on earth. In this thesis, water was investigated at two resolutions using multi-scale computer simulation techniques. First, the atomistic and coarse-grained resolutions were studied separately. In the atomistic resolution, a water molecule is described chemically by three atoms, while in the coarse-grained case, a molecule is modeled by a sphere. In this work, various coarse-grained models have been developed using different coarse-graining techniques, mainly iterative Boltzmann inversion and iterative inverse Monte Carlo, which are structure-based approaches that aim to reproduce distributions, such as the pair distribution functions, of the atomistic model. In this context the Versatile Object-oriented Toolkit for Coarse-graining Applications (VOTCA) was developed. It was studied to which extent the coarse-grained models can simultaneously reproduce several properties of the underlying atomistic model, such as thermodynamic properties like pressure and compressibility or structural properties, which have not been used in the coarse-graining process, e. g. the tetrahedral packing behavior, which is responsible for many special properties of water. Subsequently, these two resolutions were combined using the adaptive resolution scheme, which combines the advantage of atomistic details in a small cavity of high resolution with the computational efficiency of the coarsegrained model in order to access larger time and length scales. In this scheme, the introduced coarse-grained models were used to study the influence of the hydrogen bonds on the hydration of small fullerenes. It was found that the interface structure is more dependent on the nature of the interaction between the solute and water molecules than on the presence of the hydrogen bond network.
TRMM 2A12 Land Precipitation Product - Status and Future Plans

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) 2A12 product consists of unique components configured for land and oceanic precipitation retrievals. This design was based on the vastly different physical characteristics of the retrieval, involving primarily emission over ocean and entirely scattering over land. This paper describes the current status of the TRMM Version 6 (V6) 2A12 product over land and envisioned improvements for TRMM TMI V7 and GPM GMI V1. On a global scale, the 2A12 land algorithm exhibits biases when compared with the TRMM 2A25 (Precipitation Radar (PR) based) and rain gauges. These range from 6 percent for GPCC to 20 percent for 2A25. Closer comparison also reveals regional and seasonal biases, with the largest positive biases found in warm-season convective zones and over semi-arid regions. Some negative biases are found in warm-rain precipitation regimes where scattering at 85 GHz is unable to detect a precipitation signal. On an instantaneous time scale, 2A12 land also produces a positive bias when compared with high-quality radar data from Melbourne, Florida, a TRMM ground validation site. The largest discrepancies occur for rain rates of less than 2 mm h -1 . A number of known “anomalies” are highlighted, including overestimation of rainfall in deep convective systems, underestimation in warm-rain regimes, and a number of features associated with the
Particle Image Velocimetry for Complex and Turbulent Flows

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) has evolved to be the dominant method for velocimetry in experimental fluid mechanics and has contributed to many advances in our understanding of turbulent and complex flows. In this article we review the achievements of PIV and its latest implementations: time-resolved PIV for the rapid capture of sequences of vector fields; tomographic PIV for the capture of fully resolved volumetric data; and statistical PIV, designed to optimize measurements of mean statistical quantities rather than instantaneous fields. In each implementation, the accuracy and spatial resolution are limited. To advance the method to the next level, we need a completely new approach. We consider the fundamental limitations of two-pulse PIV in terms of its dynamic ranges. We then discuss new paths and developments that hold the promise of achieving a fundamental reduction in uncertainty.
Scavenging of Superoxide in Aprotic Solvents of Four Isoflavones That Mimic Superoxide Dismutase

Isoflavones are plant-derived natural products commonly found in legumes that show a large spectrum of biomedical activities. A common antidiabetic remedy in traditional Chinese medicine, Astragalus trimestris L. contains the isoflavone formononetin (FMNT). Literature reports show that FMNT can increase insulin sensitivity and potentially target the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, PPARγ, as a partial agonist. PPARγ is highly relevant for diabetes control and plays a major role in Type 2 diabetes mellitus development. In this study, we evaluate the biological role of FMNT, and three related isoflavones, genistein, daidzein and biochanin A, using several computational and experimental procedures. Our results reveal the FMNT X-ray crystal structure has strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding and stacking interactions which are useful for antioxidant action. Cyclovoltammetry rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) measurements show that all four isoflavones behave in a similar manner when scavenging the superoxide radical. DFT calculations conclude that antioxidant activity is based on the familiar superoxide σ-scavenging mode involving hydrogen capture of ring-A H7(hydroxyl) as well as the π–π (polyphenol–superoxide) scavenging activity. These results suggest the possibility of their mimicking superoxide dismutase (SOD) action and help explain the ability of natural polyphenols to assist in lowering superoxide concentrations. The SOD metalloenzymes all dismutate O2•− to H2O2 plus O2 through metal ion redox chemistry whereas these polyphenolic compounds do so through suitable hydrogen bonding and stacking intermolecular interactions. Additionally, docking calculations suggest FMNT can be a partial agonist of the PPARγ domain. Overall, our work confirms the efficacy in combining multidisciplinary approaches to provide insight into the mechanism of action of small molecule polyphenol antioxidants. Our findings promote the further exploration of other natural products, including those known to be effective in traditional Chinese medicine for potential drug design in diabetes research.