Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning and Teaching Astronomy with Digital Tools promotes Preservice Physics Teachers’ digital Competencies

In this paper, we study the experiences of preservice physics teachers when they are asked to use modern digital tools within learner-centered astronomy education. Since digital tools are of particular importance in astronomy, this context provides an authentic setting for testing the effects of both, learning and teaching, for digital competence. The project was carried out as a highly-modified tutorial accompanying an introductory astronomy lecture with 20 M.Ed. physics students. The preservice teachers were given an opportunity to apply the techniques learned within day-long projects carried out with visiting school classes. A significant increase in digital competence, assessed by a TPACK self-assessment, was observed after the 13-week tutorial. From interviews, twelve main strengths (e.g. familiarity with digital tools) and two main weaknesses (e.g. preparation for exam) of the course could be identified. The developed astronomy course concept can be easily adapted to conditions of other universities and the digital tools developed or used can also be adopted in high school classes.
UV/VIS/NIR imaging technologies: challenges and opportunities

Challenges and opportunities of ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) light imaging technologies are overviewed in this paper. For light detectors and image sensors for UV/VIS/NIR imaging, it is required that they have high sensitivity for wide spectral light waveband or targeted narrow waveband as well as the high stability of light sensitivity toward UV light based on cost effective technology. Wide spectral response, high sensitivity and high stability advanced Si photodiode (PD) pn junction formation technology based on the flattened Si surface and high transmittance on-chip optical filter formation technology were developed. A linear photodiode array (PDA), wide dynamic range and ultrahigh speed CMOS image sensors employing the developed technology were fabricated and their advanced performances are described in this paper.
Multigrid algorithm for staggered lattice fermions

Critical slowing down in Krylov methods for the Dirac operator presents a major obstacle to further advances in lattice field theory as it approaches the continuum solution. Here we formulate a multi-grid algorithm for the Kogut-Susskind (or staggered) fermion discretization which has proven difficult relative to Wilson multigrid due to its first-order anti-Hermitian structure. The solution is to introduce a novel spectral transformation by the K\"ahler-Dirac spin structure prior to the Galerkin projection. We present numerical results for the two-dimensional, two-flavor Schwinger model, however, the general formalism is agnostic to dimension and is directly applicable to four-dimensional lattice QCD.
Searching for a pair of accreting supermassive black holes in J1425+3231

Abstract In hierarchical structure formation scenarios, merging galaxies are expected to be seen in different phases of their coalescence. Simulations suggest that simultaneous activity of the supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the centres of the merging galaxies may be expected at kpc-scale separations. Currently, there are no direct observational methods which allow the selection of a large number of such dual active galactic nuclei (AGN) candidates. SDSS J142507.32+323137.4 was reported as a promising candidate source based on its optical spectrum. Here we report on our sensitive e-MERLIN observations performed at 1.6 and at 5 GHz, which show that the optical spectrum of the source can be more straightforwardly explained with jet–cloud interactions instead of the dual AGN scenario.
Eva uation of Salivary KCNJ3 mRNA Levels in Breast Cancer: A Case–control Study and in silico Analysis

: Background: Breast cancer (BC) is considered the most malignant and central cancer-related death among women worldwide. There is an essential need to discover new methods for developing noninvasive and low-cost diagnoses. The present study examines the expression of KCNJ3 which acts as a biomarker for detecting BC in the saliva of BC patients compared to controls. Methods: The mRNA expression level of KCNJ3 has been evaluated. Forty-three unstimulated whole saliva samples from BC patients and forty-three salivary samples from healthy controls were collected. The mRNA level was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, the protein-protein interaction network in which KCNJ3 is involved was obtained. In silico analysis was applied to predict the possible molecular mechanisms of KCNJ3 in BC development. Results: Differentially expressed KCNJ3 was statistically significant between BC patients and controls (p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of KCNJ3 mRNA in BC detection were 76.74% and 94.95%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of KCNJ3 mRNA revealed that Area under the curve (AUC) was 0.923 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.866-0.979). AUCs of ROC curve analysis were 0.743 (95% CI: 0.536-0.951), 0.685 (95% CI: 0.445-0.925), and 0.583(95% CI: 0.343-0.823) for differentiation stage I from stage III, stage I to stage II and finally stage II from stage III, respectively. Furthermore, the GABAergic synapse signaling pathway was suggested as a potential pathway involved in BC development. Conclusion: Salivary levels of KCNJ3 could be considered a potential diagnostic biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity for BC detection.
Continuum models for twisted bilayer graphene: Effect of lattice deformation and hopping parameters

We analyze a description of twisted graphene bilayers, that incorporates deformation of the layers due to the nature modern interlayer potentials, and a modification of the hopping parameters between layers in the light of the classic Slonczewski-Weiss-McClure parametrisation. We shall show that flat bands result in all cases, but that their nature can be rather different. We will show how to construct a more general reduction to a continuum model, and show that even though such a model can be constructed, its complexity increases, requiring more coupling parameters to be included, and the full in-layer dispersion to be taken into account. We conclude that the combination of all these effects will have a large impact on the wave functions of the flat bands, and that changes in the detail of the underlying models can lead to significant changes. A robust conclusion is that the natural strength of the interlayer couplings is higher than usually assumed, which causes additional Dirac points to appear for the standard magic angles. This gives rise to a degeneracy at the $\Gamma$ point. Since the appearance of a gap at the $\Gamma$ point is crucial for the construction of the Wannier states which are used in the standard descriptions of superconductivity, such an approach not be robust.
Quill: A Declarative Approach for Accelerating Augmented Reality Application Development

Data we encounter in the real-world such as printed menus, business documents, and nutrition labels, are often ad-hoc. Valuable insights can be gathered from this data when combined with additional information. Recent advances in computer vision and augmented reality have made it possible to understand and enrich such data. Joining real-world data with remote data stores and surfacing those enhanced results in place, within an augmented reality interface can lead to better and more informed decision-making capabilities. However, building end-user applications that perform these joins with minimal human effort is not straightforward. It requires a diverse set of expertise, including machine learning, database systems, computer vision, and data visualization. To address this complexity, we present Quill – a framework to develop end-to-end applications that model augmented reality applications as a join between real-world data and remote data stores. Using an intuitive domain-specific language, Quill accelerates the development of end-user applications that join real-world data with remote data stores. Through experiments on applications from multiple different domains, we show that Quill not only expedites the process of development, but also allows developers to build applications that are more performant than those built using standard developer tools, thanks to the ability to optimize declarative specifications. We also perform a user-focused study to investigate how easy (or difficult) it is to use Quill for developing augmented reality applications than other existing tools. Our results show that Quill allows developers to build and deploy applications with a lower technical background than building the same application using existing developer tools.
OP-GTHE210340 1..10

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is frequently overexpressed in cancer, but the role of MELK in cancer is still poorly understood. MELK was shown to have roles in many cancer-associated processes including tumor growth, chemotherapy resistance, and tumor recurrence. To determine whether the frequent overexpression of MELK can be exploited in therapy, we performed a high-throughput screen using a library of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants to identify genes whose functions become essential when MELK is overexpressed. We identified two such genes: LAG2 and HDA3. LAG2 encodes an inhibitor of the Skp, Cullin, F-box containing (SCF) ubiquitinligase complex, while HDA3 encodes a subunit of the HDA1 histone deacetylase complex. We find that one of these synthetic lethal interactions is conserved in mammalian cells, as inhibition of a human homolog of HDA3 (Histone Deacetylase 4, HDAC4) is synthetically toxic in MELK overexpression cells. Altogether, our work identified a novel potential drug target for tumors that overexpress MELK.
Nematode/copepod ratio and nematode and copepod abundances as bioindicators of pollution: a meta-analysis

A�������. Meiofauna has been considered a suitable group for monitoring pollution effects. Based on different pollution tolerance, a nematode/copepod ratio was proposed as an easy tool for monitoring the effect of anthropogenic activities. Although the validity of this tool has been subject to debate due to controversial results, it is still widely used. To establish a general pa�ern in the response of the ratio and nematode and copepod abundances to the effects of organic enrichment, oil pollution and metal enrichment in the marine environment, we conducted a global-scale meta-analysis. The database consisted of 715 pairs of data obtained from 46 studies published during the last 39 years. We could not find a general trend in the response of nematode and copepod abundances to these pollutants. Regarding the ratio, the only significant difference we found is under the effect of oil pollution. However, this difference appears to be an artifact due to publication bias. The information gathered in this study suggests that the ratio and mean abundances are not reliable tools for monitoring purposes.
Embedded Clusters in Giant Extragalactic HII Regions III. Extinction and Star Formation

A study of star formation is carried out on 35 giant extragalactic HII regions (GEHRs) in seven galaxies using optical photometric data in BVR broad bands and in the emission line of H alpha. Interstellar extinction, metallicity and nebular contributions to the broad bands are estimated using spectroscopic data on these objects. Dimensionless diagrams involving B-V and V-R colors and the flux ratio of Balmer line to B band continuum are used to study star formation. The cluster colors indicate reduced extinction towards stellar continuum compared to the values derived from Balmer lines for the ionized gas. The frequency of detection of classical young (t < 3 Myr) regions with only one burst of star formation is found to be low as compared to young regions with an accompanying population rich in red supergiants from a previous burst (t ~ 10 Myr). Reduced extinction towards cluster stars, destruction of ionizing photons and the existence of older population, often spatially unresolvable from the younger population, all conspire to make the observed Balmer line equivalent widths low in a majority of the GEHRs. A scenario of star formation is suggested which explains many of the observed properties of GEHRs, including the core-halo structure, reduced extinction for the radiation from stars as compared to that from the nebular gas, non-detection of young single burst regions and the co-existence of two populations of different ages.
High-Resolution STIS/Hubble Space Telescope and HIRES/Keck Spectra of Three Weak Mg II Absorbers toward PG 1634+706

High-resolution optical (HIRES/Keck) and UV (STIS/Hubble Space Telescope) spectra, covering a large range of chemical transitions, are analyzed for three single-cloud weak Mg II absorption systems along the line of sight toward the quasar PG 1634+706. Weak Mg II absorption lines in quasar spectra trace metal-enriched environments that are rarely closely associated with the most luminous galaxies (>0.05L*). The two weak Mg II systems at z = 0.81 and 0.90 are constrained to have at least solar metallicity, while the metallicity of the z = 0.65 system is not as well constrained, but is consistent with more than 1/10 solar. These weak Mg II clouds are likely to be local pockets of high metallicity in a lower metallicity environment. All three systems have two phases of gas, a higher density region that produces narrower absorption lines for low-ionization transitions, such as Mg II, and a lower density region that produces broader absorption lines for high-ionization transitions, such as C IV. The C IV profile for one system (at z = 0.81) can be fitted with a single broad component (b ~ 10 km s-1), but those for the other two systems require one or two additional offset high-ionization clouds. Two possible physical pictures for the phase structure are discussed: one with a low-ionization, denser phase embedded in a lower density surrounding medium and the other with the denser clumps surrounding more highly ionized gas.
Feasibility of Digital Circuit Design Based on Nanoscale Field-Effect Bipolar Junction Transistor

Background and Objectives: The Field-effect Bipolar Junction Transistor (FEBJT) is a device with a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) characteristics except that it is designed with standard CMOS technology. Therefore, it can be implemented in nanometer dimensions without the usual restrictions in fabricating the nanoscale BJTs. In addition to the advantages that FEBJT has as a bipolar junction transistor in analog circuits, it can also be used to design digital circuits. Here, we have investigated the capability of FEBJT as the base of a new digital family in nanometer scales. Methods: To do this, we have designed and simulated an inverter logic gate based on FEBJT. We have presented this logic gate's static and dynamic assessment criteria and compared these characteristics with other technologies. Also, a three-stage ring oscillator circuit based on FEBJT is designed and presented. A three-dimensional TCAD Mixed-Mode simulator has been used for the simulations. Results: The value of maximum frequency, PDP, dynamic power, and ring frequency are calculated 0.25THz, 38×10 -17 J, 94uW, and 85GHz, respectively. Conclusion: The excellent function of the FEBJT-based inverter gate and oscillator demonstrates that this device can be used as the base of new digital circuits and can open a doorway to the nanoscale CMOS digital family.
bupaRflow: A Workflow Interface for bupaR

In recent years, the open-source process analytics tool bupaR has seen a significant increase in usage. Among the advantages are its functional programming design – making it inherently suitable for interactive data analysis – and its reproducibility. However, writing scripts is still out of the comfort zone for many professionals who might benefit from the insights of process analysis. In order to make bupaR accessible to a wider audience, this paper presents bupaRflow, a graphical interface on top of bupaR that combines the workflow paradigm with an analytical building block architecture.
Bilingualism and creativity: Benefits from cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility

Bilingualism has been shown to be associated with creativity, but the mechanisms of this association are not very well understood. One possibility is that the skills that bilinguals use in switching back and forth between languages also promote the cognitive processes associated with creativity. We hypothesized that high-proficient Chinese-English bilinguals would show higher convergent and divergent thinking than low-proficient bilinguals, with the differences being mediated by cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility, respectively. Chinese university students (N = 54) were classified as high-proficient (n = 27) and low-proficient (n = 27) bilinguals based on their performance on the National English Test for College Students. As expected, group comparisons showed that the high-proficient group had higher scores on the Remote Associates Test (RAT, convergent thinking) and the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT, divergent thinking). Also as expected, the association between bilingualism and convergent thinking was mediated by scores on a Stroop task (cognitive inhibition), and the association between bilingualism and divergent thinking was mediated by scores on a More-odd shifting task (cognitive flexibility). These findings suggest that bilingual learning can promote the development of different components of creativity through stronger cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility. The results provide empirical evidence for the relationship and mechanism between bilingual learning and creativity.
Exploring robust computer-aided diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease based on various voice signals

As the voice disorder is a typical early symptom of Parkinson, some researchers attempt to diagnose this disease based on voice data collected from suspected patients. Although existing methods can provide acceptable results, they just work in partial scenarios. In other words, they are not generable and robust enough. To this end, we present a Parkinson’s auxiliary diagnosis system based on human speech, which can adaptively build a suitable deep neural network based on sound features. The system includes two modules: hybrid features extraction and adaptive network construction. We extract kinds of information from the voice data to form a new compound feature. Furthermore, particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to build the corresponding 1D convolution network for features classification. Extensive experiments on two datasets consisting of English and Italian are conducted for evaluation purposes. Experimental results show that our method improves the accuracy of voice-based Parkinson’s disease detection to some extent.
Evolutionary genetics of malaria

Many standard-textbook population-genetic results apply to a wide range of species. Sometimes, however, population-genetic models and principles need to be tailored to a particular species. This is particularly true for malaria, which next to tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS ranks among the economically most relevant infectious diseases. Importantly, malaria is not one disease—five human-pathogenic species of Plasmodium exist. P. falciparum is not only the most severe form of human malaria, but it also causes the majority of infections. The second most relevant species, P. vivax, is already considered a neglected disease in several endemic areas. All human-pathogenic species have distinct characteristics that are not only crucial for control and eradication efforts, but also for the population-genetics of the disease. This is particularly true in the context of selection. Namely, fitness is determined by so-called fitness components, which are determined by the parasites live-history, which differs between malaria species. The presence of hypnozoites, i.e., dormant liver-stage parasites, which can cause disease relapses, is a distinct feature of P. vivax and P. ovale sp. In P. malariae inactivated blood-stage parasites can cause a recrudescence years after the infection was clinically cured. To properly describe population-genetic processes, such as the spread of anti-malarial drug resistance, these features must be accounted for appropriately. Here, we introduce and extend a population-genetic framework for the evolutionary dynamics of malaria, which applies to all human-pathogenic malaria species. The model focuses on, but is not limited to, the spread of drug resistance. The framework elucidates how the presence of dormant liver stage or inactivated blood stage parasites that act like seed banks delay evolutionary processes. It is shown that, contrary to standard population-genetic theory, the process of selection and recombination cannot be decoupled in malaria. Furthermore, we discuss the connection between haplotype frequencies, haplotype prevalence, transmission dynamics, and relapses or recrudescence in malaria.
The effect of telemedicine on secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficiency of telemedicine on the secondary level of prevention of patients with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), provide evidence for the application of telemedicine in secondary prevention and promote the development of telemedicine in secondary prevention. Methods A computer-based search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Pubmed, EBSCO, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials regarding the effect of telemedicine on secondary prevention of ASCVD were included from inception to May, 2022. Meta-analysis was used to compare the results of the included studies by RevMan5.4 software. The Cochrane Collaboration bias risk tool was used to perform risk of bias assessment in this study. Outcomes included risk factors, physical activity and exercise, muscle function, exercise compliance, medication adherence, healthy diet, depression and anxiety, self-efficacy, knowledge score, economy, and safety endpoints. Subgroup analysis was carried out for different main intervention measures included in the literature. Results A total of 32 randomized clinical studies (n = 10 997 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with usual secondary prevention (USP) group, participants in telemedicine of secondary prevention (TOSP) group showed significant improvement in some risk factors including BMI (MD –0.87, p = 0.002), SBP (MD –4.09, p = 0.007) and DBP (MD –2.91, p = 0.0002) when they use the telephone as the intervention. In physical activity and exercise, Patients in TOSP showed an improvement in VO2 Peak (mL⋅kg–1⋅min–1) (OR 1.58, p = 0.02), 6MWT (MD 21.41, p = 0.001), GSLTPA score (MD 2.89, p = 0.005). Effects on medication adherence, exercise compliance, muscle function, healthy diet, economy and self-efficacy were synthesized narratively. Patients in TOSP did not show a reduction in knowledge score, depression, anxiety and safety endpoints. Conclusion There is a net benefit of secondary prevention supported by telemedicine (especially when using the telephone as an intervention) in patients with ASCVD in the terms of some risk factors, physical activity and exercise. There are still controversies in the improvement of medication adherence, exercise compliance, muscle function, healthy diet, knowledge score, self-efficacy and economy via telemedicine, which is worth exploring. Larger samples size and longer-term follow-ups are needed in future studies. Systematic review registration [https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/PROSPERO/display_record. php? RecordID=330478], identifier [CRD42022330478].