Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary timescales for circumstellar disks associated with solar‐type pre‐main sequence stars

Excess infrared radiation above photospheric levels provides the basis for diagnosing the presence of circumstellar disks surrounding solar‐type pre‐main sequence (PMS) stars, and for determining the evolutionary timescales for these disks. Analysis of a large and representative sample of currently known solar‐type PMS stars in Taurus‐Auriga shows that for those stars with ages t<3 Myr, ∼1/2 exhibit excess 2.2 μm and 10 μm emission consistent with that expected from optically thick disks extending inward to the stellar surface. By an age t∼10 Myr, fewer than 10% of our sample show evidence of dust emission from optically thick disks, and hence must have accreted or destroyed their disks, or may have begun to assemble distributed gas and dust into larger bodies. Hence, the timescale over which disks survive as infrared‐luminous, optically thick structures is t≤10 Myr. Out of a sample which contains 33 solar‐type PMS stars surrounded by optically thick disks (typical age, t∼3 Myr), 3 show evidence of inner .
Joint High Level of Oxidized Low‐Density Lipoprotein and High‐Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein are Associated With Recurrent Stroke and Poor Functional Outcome in Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Background Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and hs‐CRP (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein) plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases though inflammation and oxidative stress, etc. However, evidence on their combined effects on stroke prognosis is still limited. We aimed to explore the joint association of oxLDL and hs‐CRP with outcomes of minor stroke or transient ischemic attack. Methods and Results A subgroup of 3019 patients from the CHANCE trial (Clopidogrel in High‐Risk Patients With Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events) were analyzed. Baseline oxLDL and hs‐CRP levels were measured. The primary outcome was any stroke within 90 days. The secondary outcomes included any stroke within 1 year, and ischemic stroke, combined vascular events, and poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 2–6 or 3–6) at 90 days and 1 year. Vascular events outcomes were analyzed with Cox proportional hazards and poor functional outcomes with logistic models. Elevated oxLDL (>28.81 μg/dL) and hs‐CRP (>4.20 mg/L) was observed in 624 (20.67%) of the 3019 patients. Patients with oxLDL >28.81 μg/dL and hs‐CRP >4.20 mg/L had a higher risk of recurrent stroke within 90 days (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.17–1.97), compared with those with oxLDL ≤28.81 μg/dL and hs‐CRP ≤4.20 mg/L, after adjusting relevant confounding factors (P=0.002). Similar results were observed for secondary outcomes (P<0.05 for all). Conclusions In patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack, joint high levels of oxLDL and hs‐CRP was associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke, combined vascular events, and poor functional outcome.
Influence of parity on six-minute walk test in Indian females

Abstract Six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple test measuring submaximal functional capacity. Various factors such as anthropometric, demographic, and physiological characteristics, are associated with functional decline. However, few authors have dealt with the link between functional decline and parity. Thus, the researchers aimed to measure the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in healthy Indian women and to determine the factors influencing 6MWD in Indian females, with particular attention to parity. Two hundred asymptomatic females aged 45–60 years were recruited for this cross-sectional study based on selection criteria. A single 6MWT was performed and a 6MWD was recorded. Mean ± SD 6MWD was 483.03 ± 50.22 m. Parity significantly affected the 6MWD among Indian females (r = 0.418, p = 0.0001). Parity is an important factor influencing female functional capacity and should be considered when assessing and prescribing rehabilitation in female participants.
DAGAL: Detailed Anatomy of Galaxies

Abstract The current IAU Symposium is closely connected to the EU-funded network DAGAL (Detailed Anatomy of Galaxies), with the final annual network meeting of DAGAL being at the core of this international symposium. In this short paper, we give an overview of DAGAL, its training activities, and some of the scientific advances that have been made under its umbrella.
When sticking influences H2 formation

Aims: Because of their catalytic properties, interstellar dust grains are crucial to the formation of H2, the most abundant molecule in the Universe. The formation of molecular hydrogen strongly depends on the ability of H atoms to stick on dust grains. In this study we determine the sticking coefficient of H atoms chemisorbed on graphitic surfaces, and estimate its impact on the formation of H2. Methods: The sticking probability of H atoms chemisorbed onto graphitic surfaces is obtained using a mixed classical-quantum dynamics method. In this, the H atom is treated quantum-mechanically and the vibrational modes of the surface are treated classically. The implications of sticking for the formation of H2 are addressed by using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations that follow how atoms stick, move and associate with each other on dust surfaces of different temperature. Results: In our model, molecular hydrogen forms very efficiently for dust temperatures lower than 15 K through the involvement of physisorbed H atoms. At dust temperatures higher than 15 K and gas temperatures lower than 2000 K, H2 formation differs strongly if the H atoms coming from the gas phase have to cross a square barrier (usually considered in previous studies) or a barrier obtained by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to become chemisorbed. The product of the sticking times efficiency can be increased by many orders of magnitude when realistic barriers are considered. If graphite phonons are taken into account in the dynamics calculations, then H atoms stick better on the surface at high energies, but the overall H2 formation efficiency is only slightly affected. Our results suggest that H2 formation can proceed efficiently in photon-dominated regions, X-ray dominated regions, hot cores and in the early Universe when the first dust is available.
THE DISCOVERY OF A STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD AND COROTATING MAGNETOSPHERE IN THE HELIUM-WEAK STAR HD 176582

We report the detection of a strong, reversing magnetic field and variable Hα emission in the bright helium-weak star HD 176582 (HR 7185). Spectrum, magnetic, and photometric variability of the star are all consistent with a precisely determined period of 1.5819840 ± 0.0000030 days which we assume to be the rotation period of the star. From the magnetic field curve, and assuming a simple dipolar field geometry, we derive a polar field strength of approximately 7 kG and a lower limit of 52° for the inclination of the rotation axis. However, based on the behavior of the Hα emission, we adopt a large inclination angle of 85° and this leads to a large magnetic obliquity of 77°. The Hα emission arises from two distinct regions located at the intersections of the magnetic and rotation equators and which corotate with the star at a distance of about 3.5 R* above its surface. We estimate that the emitting regions have radial and meridional sizes on the order of 2 R* and azimuthal extents (perpendicular to the magnetic equator) of less than approximately 0.6 R*. HD 176582 therefore appears to show many of the cool magnetospheric phenomena as that displayed by other magnetic helium-weak and helium-strong stars such as the prototypical helium-strong star σ Ori E. The observations are consistent with current models of magnetically confined winds and rigidly rotating magnetospheres for magnetic Bp stars.
Comments on arXiv:1006.0972

Savage et al. have recently put forward the claim that results from the XENON10 experiment are incompatible with the totality of both DAMA/LIBRA and CoGeNT experimental regions. In this brief note the source of this erroneous conclusion is identified in a misinterpretation of the XENON10 efficiency in the detection of S1 light from low-energy nuclear recoils.
Cortical auditory evoked potential in cochlear implant users: An objective method to improve speech perception

Objective To investigate if cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) measures can be used to verify the cochlear implant (CI) map and consequently improve CI outcomes in adults with bilateral hearing loss. Design CAEPs were measured in CI recipients using the speech tokens /m/, /g/, /t/ and /s/. If CAEP responses were present for all speech tokens, the participant’s map was considered “satisfactory”. If CAEP responses were absent, the CI map was considered “unsatisfactory” and therefore adjusted and CAEP measures repeated. This was repeated until auditory potentials were seen in response to all four speech tokens. Speech testing was conducted pre-CI, as well as before and after CAEP-guided map adjustments. Results 108 adult unilateral CI users participated, whose sound processors were previously programmed using subjective methods. 42 CI users elicited a CAEP response to all four speech tokens and therefore no further mapping adjustments were made. 66 subjected lacked a CAEP response to at least one speech token and had their CI map adjusted accordingly. Of those, 31 showed a CAEP response to all four speech tokens, and the average speech score significantly improved after CI map adjustments based on CAEP responses. Conclusion CAEP’s are an objective tool that can be used to guide and verify CI mapping in adults CI users. Significant improvement in speech scores was observed in participants who had their CI map adjusted based on CAEP responses.
Quantum transport in ladder-type networks: the role of nonlinearity, topology and spin

We investigate the quantum transport of electrons, phase solitons, etc, through the mesoscopic networks of zero-dimensional quantum dots. Straight and circular ladders are chosen as networks with each coupled with three semi-infinite leads (with one incoming and the other two outgoing). Two transmission probabilities as functions of the incident energy ε show a transition from anti-phase aperiodic to degenerate periodic spectra at the critical energy εc which is determined by a bifurcation point of the bulk energy dispersions. TPs of the circular ladder depend only on the parity of the winding number. The introduction of a single missing bond (MB) or missing step doubles the period of the periodic spectra at ε > εc. Shift of the MB by a lattice constant results in a striking switching effect at ε < εc. In the presence of the electric-field-induced spin–orbit interaction (SOI), an obvious spin filtering occurs for the spin-unpolarized injection. For the spin-polarized injection, on the other hand, the spin transport shows spin-flip (magnetization reversal) oscillations with respect to SOI. We also show a role of soliton in the context of its transport through the ladder networks.
Genome Reporting for Healthy Populations—Pipeline for Genomic Screening from the GENCOV COVID‐19 Study

Genome sequencing holds the promise for great public health benefits. It is currently being used in the context of rare disease diagnosis and novel gene identification, but also has the potential to identify genetic disease risk factors in healthy individuals. Genome sequencing technologies are currently being used to identify genetic factors that may influence variability in symptom severity and immune response among patients infected by SARS‐CoV‐2. The GENCOV study aims to look at the relationship between genetic, serological, and biochemical factors and variability of SARS‐CoV‐2 symptom severity, and to evaluate the utility of returning genome screening results to study participants. Study participants select which results they wish to receive with a decision aid. Medically actionable information for diagnosis, disease risk estimation, disease prevention, and patient management are provided in a comprehensive genome report. Using a combination of bioinformatics software and custom tools, this article describes a pipeline for the analysis and reporting of genetic results to individuals with COVID‐19, including HLA genotyping, large‐scale continental ancestry estimation, and pharmacogenomic analysis to determine metabolizer status and drug response. In addition, this pipeline includes reporting of medically actionable conditions from comprehensive gene panels for Cardiology, Neurology, Metabolism, Hereditary Cancer, and Hereditary Kidney, and carrier screening for reproductive planning. Incorporated into the genome report are polygenic risk scores for six diseases—coronary artery disease; atrial fibrillation; type‐2 diabetes; and breast, prostate, and colon cancer—as well as blood group genotyping analysis for ABO and Rh blood types and genotyping for other antigens of clinical relevance. The genome report summarizes the findings of these analyses in a way that extensively communicates clinically relevant results to patients and their physicians. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Massive black hole and gas dynamics in mergers of galaxy nuclei – II. Black hole sinking in star-forming nuclear discs

Mergers of gas-rich galaxies are key events in the hierarchical built-up of cosmic structures, and can lead to the formation of massive black hole binaries. By means of high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations we consider the late stages of a gas-rich major merger, detailing the dynamics of two circumnuclear discs, and of the hosted massive black holes during their pairing phase. During the merger gas clumps with masses of a fraction of the black hole mass form because of fragmentation. Such high-density gas is very effective in forming stars, and the most massive clumps can substantially perturb the black hole orbits. After $\sim 10$ Myr from the start of the merger a gravitationally bound black hole binary forms at a separation of a few parsecs, and soon after, the separation falls below our resolution limit of $0.39$ pc. At the time of binary formation the original discs are almost completely disrupted because of SNa feedback, while on pc scales the residual gas settles in a circumbinary disc with mass $\sim 10^5 M_\odot$. We also test that binary dynamics is robust against the details of the SNa feedback employed in the simulations, while gas dynamics is not. We finally highlight the importance of the SNa time-scale on our results.
A BLIND SEARCH FOR MAGNETOSPHERIC EMISSIONS FROM PLANETARY COMPANIONS TO NEARBY SOLAR-TYPE STARS

This paper reports a blind search for magnetospheric emissions from planets around nearby stars. Young stars are likely to have much stronger stellar winds than the Sun, and because planetary magnetospheric emissions are powered by stellar winds, stronger stellar winds may enhance the radio luminosity of any orbiting planets. Using various stellar catalogs, we selected nearby stars (≲30 pc) with relatively young age estimates (<3 Gyr). We constructed different samples from the stellar catalogs, finding between 100 and several hundred stars. We stacked images from the 74 MHz (4 m wavelength) VLA Low-frequency Sky Survey, obtaining 3σ limits on planetary emission in the stacked images of between 10 and 33 mJy. These flux density limits correspond to average planetary luminosities less than 5–10 ×1023 erg s−1. Using recent models for the scaling of stellar wind velocity, density, and magnetic field with stellar age, we estimate scaling factors for the strength of stellar winds, relative to the Sun, in our samples. The typical kinetic energy carried by the stellar winds in our samples is 15–50 times larger than that of the Sun, and the typical magnetic energy is 5–10 times larger. If we assume that every star is orbited by a Jupiter-like planet with a luminosity larger than that of the Jovian decametric radiation by the above factors, our limits on planetary luminosities from the stacking analysis are likely to be a factor of 10–100 above what would be required to detect the planets in a statistical sense. Similar statistical analyses with observations by future instruments, such as the Low Frequency Array and the Long Wavelength Array, offer the promise of improvements by factors of 10–100.
A curse of knowledge or a curse of uncertainty? Bilingualism, embodiment, and egocentric bias

The ability to adopt others’ perspectives—our “Theory of Mind”—underpins social interaction. Nevertheless, adults are imperfect perspective takers, demonstrating egocentric biases. Here, a series of experiments assessed whether (1) embodying an agent’s physical perspective (working out whether he held something in his left or right hand) or (2) being bilingual, would benefit perspective taking. Participants were shown a scenario in which an agent puts a ball in one of four boxes. When he returns later, the boxes have been rearranged. Participants, who additionally know that the ball is now in a different box, then judge how likely the agent is to look for the ball in each of the four boxes first. In Experiments 1–3 participants were not more likely to judge the agent would look where he last saw it as a function of either factor. In Experiments 4 and 5, one group of participants were told where the ball had been moved to, the other only that the ball had been moved to a different box. In Experiment 4, participants in the latter condition assigned higher probability to the boxes that were never mentioned. In Experiment 5 this was replicated and was driven by monolinguals and those who had received the embodiment condition. These results suggest that egocentric biases may be more likely to arise when participants are more deliberative, such as when making a judgement under uncertainty, and that extrinsic factors such as bilingualism and embodiment may influence perspective attributions under such conditions.
Metformin's Impact on the Microvascular Response to Insulin.

Metformin improves insulin's action on whole body glucose metabolism in various insulin-resistant populations. The detailed cellular mechanism(s) for its metabolic actions are multiple and still incompletely understood. Beyond metabolic actions, metformin also impacts microvascular function. However, the effects of metformin on microvascular function and microvascular insulin action specifically are poorly-defined. In this mini-review, we summarize what is currently known about metformin's beneficial impact on both microvascular function and the microvascular response to insulin while highlighting methodologic issues in the literature that limit straightforward mechanistic understanding of these effects. We examine potential mechanisms for these effects based on pharmacologically-dosed studies and propose that metformin may improve human microvascular insulin resistance by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Finally, we explore several important evidence gaps and discuss avenues for future investigation that may clarify whether metformin's ability to improve microvascular insulin sensitivity is linked to its positive impact on vascular outcomes.
Expression profile of serum LncRNA THRIL and MiR-125b in inflammatory bowel disease

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to investigate, for the first time, the expression profile of serum level of LncRNA THRIL and MiR-125b in IBD patients and their relations with patient’s clinical and biochemical investigations. Methods Our study included 210 subjects divided into 70 healthy subjects considered as control group (male and female), 70 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 70 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Blood samples were obtained from all subjects. Expression of LncRNA THRIL and MiR-125b in serum was detected by Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results Our results showed a significant increase in the fold change of LncRNA THRIL in UC patients (Median = 11.11, IQR; 10.21–12.45, P<0.001) and CD patients (Median = 5.87, IQR; 4.57–7.88, P<0.001) compared to controls. Meanwhile there was a significant decrease in the fold change of MiR-125b in UC patients (Median = 0.36, IQR; 0.19–0.61, P<0.001) and CD patients (Median = 0.69, IQR; 0.3–0.83, P<0.001) compared to controls. Furthermore, there was a negative significant correlation between LncRNA THRIL and MiR-125b in UC patients (r = -0.28, P = 0.016) and in CD patients (r = -0.772, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis was done showing the diagnostic value of these markers as predictors in differentiating between cases of UC, CD, and control. Conclusion Serum LncRNA THRIL and MiR-125b could be used as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
DNA in nanochannels: theory and applications

Abstract Nanofluidic structures have over the last two decades emerged as a powerful platform for detailed analysis of DNA on the kilobase pair length scale. When DNA is confined to a nanochannel, the combination of excluded volume and DNA stiffness leads to the DNA being stretched to near its full contour length. Importantly, this stretching takes place at equilibrium, without any chemical modifications to the DNA. As a result, any DNA can be analyzed, such as DNA extracted from cells or circular DNA, and it is straight-forward to study reactions on the ends of linear DNA. In this comprehensive review, we first give a thorough description of the current understanding of the polymer physics of DNA and how that leads to stretching in nanochannels. We then describe how the versatility of nanofabrication can be used to design devices specifically tailored for the problem at hand, either by controlling the degree of confinement or enabling facile exchange of reagents to measure DNA–protein reaction kinetics. The remainder of the review focuses on two important applications of confining DNA in nanochannels. The first is optical DNA mapping, which provides the genomic sequence of intact DNA molecules in excess of 100 kilobase pairs in size, with kilobase pair resolution, through labeling strategies that are suitable for fluorescence microscopy. In this section, we highlight solutions to the technical aspects of genomic mapping, including the use of enzyme-based labeling and affinity-based labeling to produce the genomic maps, rather than recent applications in human genetics. The second is DNA–protein interactions, and several recent examples of such studies on DNA compaction, filamentous protein complexes, and reactions with DNA ends are presented. Taken together, these two applications demonstrate the power of DNA confinement and nanofluidics in genomics, molecular biology, and biophysics.
Development of a Mobile Application for Detection of Adolescent Mental Health Problems and Feasibility Assessment with Primary Health Care Workers

Abstract Introduction: There has been a sharp increase in the use of digital health interventions in global health, particularly mobile health applications, in recent years. The extreme shortage of health care providers trained in mental health screening and intervention in low- and middle-income countries raises questions about the applicability of mobile applications to deliver these services due to their accessibility and availability. This exploratory paper describes the development and feasibility assessment of a mobile screening application for the detection of mental disorders among adolescents in Zambia and South Africa. Methods: Eighty-two health care workers (HCW) working in primary care evaluated the acceptability and practicality of the mobile screening application after receiving brief training. The evaluation included questions from the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) as well as open-ended questions. Results: The acceptability of the screening app was high and study participants were positive about using the app in routine care. Problems with internet connectivity, and time and staff constraints were perceived as the main barriers to regular use. Conclusion: HCW in primary care were able and willing to use a mobile screening app for the detection of mental health problems among treatment-seeking adolescents. Implementation in clinical practice needs to be further evaluated.