Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virtual Canine Comfort: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of a Canine-Assisted Intervention Supporting Undergraduate Wellbeing

ABSTRACT Being a university student is known to be a stressful experience, and researchers across studies have reported elevated stress and compromised mental health for university students when compared with findings from the general population. The unexpected disruption to their studies arising from COVID-19 and its corresponding social isolation added to the stress experienced by students. This study assessed the effects of a virtual canine-assisted intervention to support student stress reduction and wellbeing. Participants (n = 467) were recruited from undergraduate psychology classes at a mid-size Western Canadian university and were randomly assigned to either synchronous (i.e., live Zoom) or asynchronous (i.e., pre-recorded YouTube videos) sessions with or without a dog present. An abbreviated, small group dose intervention of five minutes was used and handlers across conditions followed a script that mirrored as closely as possible the dialogue shared during a typical live, in-person visit (i.e., shared information about their dog, asked participants to reflect on their wellbeing, etc.). Measures of wellbeing included 1-item measures of connectedness to campus, loneliness, and stress, the PANAS, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Circumplex Model of Affect, and self-ratings of engagement during the intervention. Results of paired samples t-tests revealed that participants, regardless of condition, reported significant reductions in anxiety, stress, loneliness, and negative affect and more positive emotional states and stronger feelings of connectedness to their campus. Regarding the impact of platform delivery, participants reported greater campus connectedness following their participation in the synchronous conditions; however, type of platform was not associated with other aspects of wellbeing as noted above. As hypothesized, undergraduate students in this study did report feeling less stressed at the end of the intervention when a dog was present. The implications of the findings are discussed within the context of university student wellbeing.
Assessment of Local Pulse Wave Velocity in Arteries Using 2D Distension Waveforms

The reciprocal of the arterial pulse wave velocity contains crucial information about the mechanical characteristics of the arterial wall but is difficult to assess noninvasively in vivo. In this paper, a new method to assess local pulse wave velocity (PWV) is presented. To this end, multiple adjacent distension waveforms are determined simultaneously along a short arterial segment, using a single 2D-vessel wall tracking system with a high frame rate (651 Hz). Each B-mode image consists of 16 echo lines spanning a total width of 15.86 mm. Dedicated software has been developed to extract the end-diastolic diameter from the B-mode image and the distension waveforms from the underlying radiofrequency (rf) information for each echo-line. The PWV is obtained by determining the ratio of the temporal and spatial gradient of adjacent distension velocity waveforms. The proposed method is verified in a phantom and in the common carotid artery (CCA) of humans. Phantom experiments show a high concordance between the PWV obtained from 2D distension velocity waveforms (4.21 ± 0.02 m/s) and the PWV determined using two pressure catheters (4.26 ± 0.02 m/s). Assuming linear spatial gradients, the PWV can also be obtained in vivo for CCA and averages to 5.5 ± 1.5 m/s (intersubject variation, n = 23), which compares well to values found in literature. Furthermore, intrasubject PWV compares well with those calculated using the Bramwell-Hill equation. It can be concluded that the PWV can be obtained from the spatial and temporal gradient if the spatial gradient is linear over the observed length of the artery, i.e. the artery should be homogenous in diameter and distension and the influence of reflections must be small.
The role of mother–child relationship between young children’s anxiety and social play

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the moderating role of mother–child relationships (closeness and conflict) in the relations between children's anxiety and play behaviour in the sample of Turkish preschool children. Participants were N = 211 children (117 boys, M age = 64.08 months, SD = 12.26) attending preschool from suburban areas in Ankara. Mothers rated children’s anxiety and mother–child relationships, whereas teachers provided ratings of children’s social play. Among the results, children’s anxiety and mother’s conflict was positively correlated with reticence behaviour and negatively correlated with social play. Moreover, mother–child closeness significantly moderated these associations. The current findings suggest that mother – child relationships moderated the association between unsociability and social play in children (buffering effect). The interaction between anxiety and mother–child closeness could be beneficial for predicting unsociable children’s social play behaviour. Mothers can improve their relationship depending on unsociable children to provide nurturing social play behaviour. Limitations and future directions of the current study are discussed.
Upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite field hockey players during a dry run for the Tokyo Olympics

ABSTRACT The primary aim of this study was to examine if biomarker and/or self-reported data could predict upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) risk in elite field hockey players. The secondary aim was to investigate the effect of the additional stressor ‘repeated heat exposure’ on measures of thermoregulation and immunity. A prospective cohort repeated measures study design was used to collect URTS, household illness, self-reported wellness, biomarker and thermoregulatory data from elite male field hockey players (n = 19), during an 8-week training and competition period that simulated the preparatory and competition phases of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Heat response testing (HRT) was performed at the beginning of the study period, following heat acclimation (HA) and following an intensified competition period (ICP) played in hot and humid conditions (27–37°C and 53–80% relative humidity). Univariate frailty analysis demonstrated that illness in players' households (Hazard ratio (HR: 4.90; p < 0.001)) and self-reported stress (HR: 0.63; p = 0.043) predicted players' risk for URTS. Additionally, low baseline resting salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration predicted players' “potential” URTS risk (p = 0.021). The additional stressor “repeated heat exposure” was found to facilitate partial thermoregulatory adaptation without attenuating resting immune functions. In conclusion, lifestyle and behavioural factors (i.e. household illness and stress) influenced players risk for URTS more so than sport-related stressors. Furthermore, repeated heat exposure did not appear to compromise players resting immunity. To assess athletes’ risk for URTS, baseline screening of SIgA concentration and regular monitoring of self-reported lifestyle and behavioural data are recommended. Highlights Self-reported illness in players’ households and higher self-reported stress significantly predicted increased upper respiratory tract symptom risk. Low baseline salivary secretory immunoglobulin A concentration predicted players “potential” URTS risk. Repeated heat exposures facilitated partial thermoregulatory adaptation without altering resting immunity.
The Effects of Exposure to Information About Animal Welfare Reforms on Animal Farming Opposition: A Randomized Experiment

ABSTRACT There is limited research on the effects of animal welfare reforms, such as transitions from caged to cage-free eggs, on attitudes toward animal farming. This preregistered, randomized experiment (n = 1,520) found that participants provided with information about current animal farming practices had somewhat higher animal farming opposition (AFO) than participants provided with information about an unrelated topic (d = 0.17). However, participants provided with information about animal welfare reforms did not report significantly different AFO from either the current-farming (d = −0.07) or control groups (d = 0.10). Although these latter effects on AFO were small and nonsignificant, they appeared to be mediated by changes in perceived social attitudes toward farmed animals and optimism about further reforms to factory farming. Exploratory analysis found no evidence that hierarchical meat-eating justification or beliefs about how well-treated farmed animals currently are mediated the effect. Further research is needed to better understand why providing information about animal welfare reforms did not substantially increase AFO overall, whereas providing information about current practice did somewhat increase AFO.
Dynamic optical manipulation of colloidal systems using a spatial light modulator

Abstract A method and mathematical foundation are presented for generating multiple-beam optical tweezers capable of introducing complex trapping beam configurations that enable optical manipulation for a variety of colloidal structures. The method is based on the generalized phase contrast technique for generating high intensity beam patterns from an input phase modulation encoded on a spatial light modulator. The mathematical foundation describes issues concerning how the method provides high photon efficiency adequate for generating large array traps while maintaining dynamic features. Experimental results show multiple trapping of up to 25 particles using a 200 mW laser diode operating at 830 nm. Arbitrary array beam configurations are also shown where the shape, position and size can easily be reconfigured and applied for dynamic manipulation of colloidal particles.
A three-dimensional MHD simulation of the interaction of the solar wind with the earth's magnetosphere - The generation of field-aligned currents

A global computer simulation of the interaction of the solar wind with the earth's magnetosphere was executed by using a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic model. As a result, we were able to reproduce quasi-steady-state magnetospheric configurations and a Birkeland field-aligned current system which depend on the polarity of the z component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Twin convection cells and a dawn to dusk electric potential of 30–100 kV appeared at the equator in the magnetosphere. Four types of field-aligned currents were observed. Region 1 and 2 field-aligned currents generated for all IMF conditions were 0.6–1.0×106 A and 0.15–0.61×106 A, respectively, in the total current. Region 1 currents at high latitudes are generated from the field-aligned vorticity at the flanks through a viscous interaction and are strengthened by a twisting of open magnetic field lines in the tail region for southward IMF. On the other hand, the low-latitude region 2 currents probably are generated mainly from the inner pressure gradient of the plasma sheet. The region 1 current obtained from the simulation was in good agreement with an estimate from our theoretical analysis of the localized Alfven mode. The other two types of field-aligned currents are the dayside magnetopause currents in the dayside cusp region, which increase for northward IMF, and the dayside cusp currents for southward IMF. The cusp currents are associated with a twisting of open magnetic field lines in the magnetopause region.
Research on the Influence of Virtual Reality on the Learning Effect of Technical Skills of Science and Engineering College Students: Meta-Analysis Based on 32 Empirical Studies

Virtual reality technology (VR) has been widely used in education and teaching, but the results of a large number of experimental studies on the impact of VR on students’ technical skill learning are not consistent. In this study, a meta-analysis method was used to conduct in-depth quantitative analysis of 32 experimental or quasi-experimental research literatures based on virtual reality in the past 20 years. The results showed that: (1) virtual reality technology has a moderately positive effect on the learning of technical skills of science and engineering college students ( SMD = 0.363 ); (2) the effect of VR on cognitive strategies ( SMD = 0.487 ) was significantly greater than that of mental skills ( SMD = 0.275 ) for technical skills under different measurement dimensions. (3) Different test periods, previous experience levels, and auxiliary methods have different degrees of positive influence on improving students’ technical skills, among which the 40-60 minutes experiment period ( SMD = 0.484 ) has the greatest influence on the improvement of technical skills. According to the research conclusions, we suggest to make an overall planning for the construction of VR enabling teaching application scenarios and create a human-machine collaborative interactive teaching model of “theory+VR simulation+feedback” based on flow theory.
Coexisting Frailty and Cognitive Impairment as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes in Older Inpatients After Discharge: Results from a One-Year Follow-Up Study

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of frailty and cognitive impairment on adverse outcomes, including new falls and new activities of daily living (ADL) dependency over a 1-year follow-up. Patients and Methods A total of 311 older hospitalized patients participated in this retrospective observational study and completed a 1-year follow-up. Frailty was assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). All participants were classified into four groups: 1) the healthy group (n=180); 2) the cognitive impairment group only (n=38); 3) the frailty group only (n=44); and 4) coexisting frailty and cognitive impairment group (n=49). The follow-up data of adverse outcomes include the incidences of new falls and new ADL dependence. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associations of frailty and/or cognitive impairment with adverse outcomes. Results The prevalence rates of frailty, cognitive impairment, and co-occurring frailty with cognitive impairment were 29.9%, 28%, and 15.8%, respectively. Among these four groups, there was a statistical difference in the incidence of new ADL dependence during the follow-up period (9.5% vs 11.4% vs 35.9% vs 61.9%, P < 0.001). After adjusting the confounding variables, older hospitalized patients with frailty and cognitive impairment had a higher risk of new ADL dependence when compared with the healthy group (OR: 4.786, 95% CI: 1.492–15.355), but frailty only or cognitive impairment only was not associated with new ADL dependency. Conclusion Elderly inpatients with comorbid frailty and cognitive impairment on admission were significantly associated with an increased risk of new ADL dependency 1 year after discharge. Therefore, it is necessary for the early identification of frailty and cognitive impairment, and effective interventions should be implemented.
Electromagnetic eigenwaves in metastructures: perturbation theory method

The perturbation theory (PT) for electromagnetic eigenwaves in finite-finite 2D metamaterials is developed. A simple procedure to find the essential part of full solution for electromagnetic field 2D photonic crystals (PhCr) is proposed. The existance of PT small parameter for electromagnetic modes in finite 2D PhCr is proven if sizes are sufficiently big. The spectrum and amplitude distribution for several types of 2D states: band, waveguide, surface and pure local states are considered for PhCr binary samples counting several hudred elementary cells in both directions. Ways of controlled field redistribution inside the structure are analyzed for glass, silicon and silicon-glass 2D PhCr.
Molecular Doping of CVD-Graphene Surfaces by Perfluoroalkyl-Substituted Perylene Diimides Derivatives

Non-covalent π-π and dipolar interactions with small aromatic molecules have been widely demonstrated to be a valid option to tune graphene work functions without adding extrinsic scattering centers for charge carriers. In this work, we investigated the interaction between a CVD-graphene monolayer and a thermally evaporated sub-monolayer and the following few-layer thin films of similar perylene diimide derivatives: PDI8-CN2 and PDIF-CN2. The molecular influence on the graphene work function was estimated by XPS and UPS analysis and by investigating the surface potentials via scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy. The perfluorinated decoration and the steric interaction in the early stages of the film growth determined a positive work function shift as high as 0.7 eV in the case of PDIF-CN2, with respect to the value of 4.41 eV for the intrinsic graphene. Our results unambiguously highlight the absence of valence band shifts in the UPS analysis, indicating the prevalence of dipolar interactions between the graphene surface and the organic species enhanced by the presence of the fluorine-enriched moieties.
Search for non-resonant di-Higgs production in the 𝒃 ¯ 𝒃𝒃 ¯ 𝒃 ﬁnal state at √ 𝒔 = 13 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

Results are presented of the search for non-resonant di-Higgs production in the 𝑏 ¯ 𝑏𝑏 ¯ 𝑏 ﬁnal state using the Run-2 dataset of proton-proton collisions at √ 𝑠 = 13 TeV accumulated with the ATLAS detector. The 𝑏 ¯ 𝑏𝑏 ¯ 𝑏 ﬁnal state is one of the most sensitive channels for measuring the Higgs self-coupling and the di-Higgs production cross-section, thanks to its high branching ratio. The analysis utilizes a novel neural network to estimate the large QCD multijet backgrounds, and employs analysis categorizations to improve the sensitivity to di-Higgs production. The analysis strategy and the latest result of the observed (expected) upper limits on the SM di-Higgs production cross-section and the constraint on the Higgs self-coupling in this analysis are presented.
MASCoD—Multidimensional Assessment of Subjective Cognitive Decline

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a subclinical cognitive impairment that is complained by the individual without being objectively supported at clinical, diagnostic, and neuropsychological levels. It can negatively impact on patient’s frailty and quality of life, as well as on the caregiver’s burden. Moreover, it can be prodromal to Mild Cognitive Impairment or dementia. Although the clinical manifestations of SCD can differ along with several cognitive domains, to date there are only screening tools to investigate subjective memory complaints. Thus, the first aim of this paper is to propose a preliminary English and Italian version of a new screening tool called MASCoD (Multidimensional Assessment of Subjective Cognitive Decline); the second aim is to propose its preliminary adoption on a pilot sample. This schedule is a brief test derived from the review of the literature and the clinical experience provided by an experts panelist. From pilot tests, it seems promising as it can help the professional to make differential diagnosis and to predict the risk of developing severe cognitive impairment over time, developing a personalized care path. This screening tool is brief, easily embeddable in usual clinical assessment, and administrable by different professionals. Furthermore, following validation, it will allow to collect manifold cognitive manifestations of SCD, addressing the shortage of previous validated instruments globally assessing cognition affected by this condition.
Comparing heart rate variability biofeedback and simple paced breathing to inform the design of guided breathing technologies

Introduction A goal of inbodied interaction is to explore how tools can be designed to provide external interactions that support our internal processes. One process that often suffers from our external interactions with modern computing technology is our breathing. Because of the ergonomics and low-grade-but-frequent stress associated with computer work, many people adopt a short, shallow breathing pattern that is known to have a negative effect on other parts of our physiology. Breathing guides are tools that help people match their breathing patterns to an external (most often visual) cue to practice healthy breathing exercises.However, there are two leading protocols for how breathing cues are offered by breathing guides used in non-clinical settings: simple paced breathing (SPB) and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRV-b). Although these protocols have separately been demonstrated to be effective, they differ substantially in their complexity and design. Paced breathing is a simpler protocol where a user is asked to match their breathing pattern with a cue paced at a predetermined rate and is simple enough to be completed as a secondary task during other activities. HRV-b, on the other hand, provides adaptive, real-time guidance derived from heart rate variability, a physiological signal that can be sensed through a wearable device. Although the benefits of these two protocols have been well established in clinical contexts, designers of guided breathing technology have little information about whether one is better than the other for non-clinical use. Methods To address this important gap in knowledge, we conducted the first comparative study of these two leading protocols in the context of end-user applications. In our N=28 between-subject design, participants were trained in either SPB or HRV-b and then completed a 10-minute session following their training protocol. Breathing rates and heart rate variability scores were recorded and compared between groups. Results and discussion Our findings indicate that the exercises did not significantly differ in their immediate outcomes – both resulted in significantly slower breathing rates than their baseline and both provided similar relative increases in HRV. Therefore, there were no observed differences in the acute physiological effects when using either SPB or HRV-b. Our paper contributes new findings suggesting that simple paced breathing – a straightforward, intuitive, and easy-to-design breathing exercise – provides the same immediate benefits as HRV-b, but without its added design complexities.
Pyroptosis-related lncRNAs: A novel prognosis signature of colorectal cancer

Pyroptosis is a newly discovered programmed cell death mechanism involved in tumorigenesis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the potential role of pyroptosis-related lncRNAs (PRLs) in CRC remains unelucidated. Therefore, we retrieved transcriptomic data of CRC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). With the use of univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models and the random forest algorithm, a new risk model was constructed based on eight PRLs: Z99289.2, FENDRR, CCDC144NL-ASL, TEX41, MNX1-AS1, NKILA, LINC02798, and LINC02381. Then, according to the Kaplan–Meier plots, the relationship of PRLs with the survival of CRC patients was explored and validated with our risk model in external datasets (Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases; GEO17536, n = 177, and GSE161158, n = 250). To improve its clinical utility, a nomogram combining PRLs that could predict the clinical outcome of CRC patients was established. A full-spectrum immune landscape of CRC patients mediated by PRLs could be described. The PRLs were stratified into two molecular subtypes involved in immune modulators, immune infiltration of tumor immune microenvironment, and inflammatory pathways. Afterward, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) and microsatellite instability (MSI) scores were analyzed. Three independent methods were applied to predict PRL-related sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Our comprehensive analysis of PRLs in CRC patients demonstrates a potential role of PRLs in predicting response to treatment and prognosis of CRC patients, which may provide a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying CRC pathogenesis and facilitate the development of effective immunotherapy.