Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein and carbohydrate supplementation increases aerobic and thermoregulatory capacities

The incidence of heat illness and heat stroke is greater in older than younger people. In this context, exercise training regimens to increase heat tolerance in older people may provide protection against heat illness. Acute increases in plasma volume (PV) improve thermoregulation during exercise in young subjects, but there is some evidence that changes in PV in response to acute exercise are blunted in older humans. We recently demonstrated that protein–carbohydrate (Pro‐CHO) supplementation immediately after a bout of exercise increased PV and plasma albumin content (Albcont) after 23 h in both young and older subjects. We also examined whether Pro‐CHO supplementation during aerobic training enhanced thermoregulation by increasing PV and Albcont in older subjects. Older men aged ∼68 years exercised at moderate intensity, 60 min day−1, 3 days week−1, for 8 weeks, at ∼19°C, and took either placebo (CNT; 0.5 kcal, 0 g protein kg−1) or Pro‐CHO supplement (Pro‐CHO; 3.2 kcal, 0.18 g protein kg−1) immediately after exercise. After training, we found during exercise at 30°C that increases in oesophageal temperature (Tes) were attenuated more in Pro‐CHO than CNT and associated with enhanced cutaneous vasodilatation and sweating. We also confirmed similar results in young subjects after 5 days of training. These results demonstrate that post‐exercise protein and CHO consumption enhance thermoregulatory adaptations especially in older subjects and provide insight into potential strategies to improve cardiovascular and thermoregulatory adaptations to exercise in both older and younger subjects.
Subjective family socio-economic status, school social capital, and positive youth development among young adolescents in China: A multiple mediation model.

Previous research has demonstrated that subjective socio-economic status (SES) and school social capital are associated with a wide range of socio-emotional outcomes for children. Less is known about whether subjective SES is linked to overall child development and whether school social capital is a mediator in developing countries. The current study aimed to examine the association between subjective SES and positive youth development (PYD) among young adolescents in China, explore whether student-teacher relationships and student-student relationships mediated this association, and test whether there were gender differences in these associations. The analytical sample included a total of 1011 seventh-graders (mean age = 13.24, SD = .69; 53.70% boys) recruited from Beijing and Anhui Provinces. The results showed that subjective SES was positively and significantly associated with PYD and that student-teacher relationships and student-student relationships played independent and joint mediating roles in the link between the two constructs. In addition, girls benefited more than boys from having closer relationships with teachers. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting school social capital in reducing PYD disparities across subjective SES levels, and suggest that school should be an effective venue for interventions to promote PYD among young adolescents in China.
ETX Could Result in Lower Throughput

ETX (Expected Transmission Count) is the best routing metric for single radio wireless mesh network (WMN) in terms of throughput as it selects the links with highest packet delivery paths. In our experiments, however, we found that under some scenarios which commonly occur in normal practice, e.g., when data rates approach channel capacity, ETX could yield lower throughput than other metrics, such as, minimum hop-count or RTT (Round Trip Time). The paper presents the experimental evidence of performance anomaly in ETX, identifies the operating conditions when anomaly occurs, and discusses the results of our investigation regarding potential causes, such as, probing overhead, load-sensitivity, etc., using simulations and testbed experiments. Results show that probing, though incurs small overhead, plays a major role in performance degradation of ETX. When node buffers are full because of higher data rate, prioritized control packets, including probes, push data packets outside the queue. When alternative paths are not very much different to each other, ETX appears worse than hop-count because of this additional buffer overflow loss. Although, this loss becomes insignificant when penalty of selecting a lossy path is higher. We also observed that ETX exhibits route oscillations due to load-sensitivity but strong correlation of its load-sensitivity with degraded performance is not found.
Mapping sources of noise in an intensive care unit

Excessive noise in hospitals adversely affects patients’ sleep and recovery, causes stress and fatigue in staff and hampers communication. The World Health Organization suggests sound levels should be limited to 35 decibels. This is probably unachievable in intensive care units, but some reduction from current levels should be possible. A preliminary step would be to identify principal sources of noise. As part of a larger project investigating techniques to reduce environmental noise, we installed a microphone array system in one with four beds in an adult general intensive care unit. This continuously measured locations and sound pressure levels of noise sources. This report summarises results recorded over one year. Data were collected between 7 April 2017 and 16 April 2018 inclusive. Data for a whole day were available for 248 days. The sound location system revealed that the majority of loud sounds originated from extremely limited areas, very close to patients’ ears. This proximity maximises the adverse effects of high environmental noise levels for patients. Some of this was likely to be appropriate communication between the patient, their caring staff and visitors. However, a significant proportion of loud sounds may originate from equipment alarms which are sited at the bedside. A redesign of the intensive care unit environment to move alarm sounds away from the bed‐side might significantly reduce the environmental noise burden to patients.
Effect of levodopa on electroencephalographic biomarkers of the parkinsonian state.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate proposed electroencephalographic biomarkers of Parkinson disease (PD) and test their correlation with motor impairment, in a new well-characterized cohort of PD patients and controls. METHODS 64-channel electroencephalography was recorded from 14 rigid-akinetic PD patients with minimal tremor, and 14 age-matched healthy controls at rest and during voluntary movement. Patients were tested off and on medication during a single session. Recordings were analyzed for phase-amplitude coupling over sensorimotor cortex, and for pairwise coherence from all electrode pairs in the recording montage (distributed coherence). RESULTS Phase-amplitude coupling and distributed coherence were found to be elevated off compared to on levodopa and their reduction was correlated with motor improvement. In the off medication state, phase-amplitude coupling was greater in sensorimotor contacts contralateral to the most affected body part, and reduced by voluntary movement. CONCLUSIONS Phase-amplitude coupling and distributed coherence are cortical biomarkers of the Parkinsonian state that are detectable noninvasively, and may be useful as objective aids for management of dopaminergic therapy. SIGNIFICANCE Several analytic methods may be used for noninvasive measurement of abnormal brain synchronization in PD. Calculation of phase-amplitude coupling requires only a single electrode over motor cortex.
Outcomes of processing of bone marrow harvests for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in pediatric patients utilizing a novel red blood cell sedimentation kit

Bone marrow (BM) grafts are often subject to manipulation to minimize infusion volume, to deplete red blood cells (RBCs), to deplete plasma, and/or to achieve optimal concentration of nucleated cells (NCs) for freezing. Here, we report results of processing and infusion of four major ABO‐incompatible BM grafts for allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation in pediatric patients.
Genetic analysis of ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) c.14576G>A polymorphism in patients with vertebral artery dissection: a comparative study with moyamoya disease

ABSTRACT Background: Intracranial vertebral artery dissection (VAD) and moyamoya disease (MMD) are rare cerebrovascular diseases, both of which have an ethnic predominance in the East Asian population. Disruption of the internal elastic lamina and subsequent rupture of the medial layer result in intracranial VAD. MMD is a chronic occlusive cerebrovascular disease of unknown etiology, in which the medial layer and internal elastic lamina of the intracranial arteries are significantly compromised. Recent genetic studies found ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) to be an important susceptibility gene for MMD in East Asian patients, but the association between VAD and RNF213 has not been investigated. Methods: We investigated polymorphism of the RNF213 gene (c.14576G>A) in genomic DNA of 24 patients with intracranial VAD in comparison with 58 patients with definitive MMD and 48 healthy controls. Results: Although RNF213 gene polymorphism (c.14576G>A) was evident in 69% of the MMD patients (40/58), none of the patients with intracranial VAD had this characteristic polymorphism (0/24, p < 0.001). The incidence of RNF213 c.14576G>A polymorphism was 4.2% in healthy controls (2/48). After adjustment by age and sex, the incidence of RNF213 c.14576G>A was significantly lower in intracranial VAD patients (p = 0.021) than that in MMD patients. Conclusions: In contrast to MMD patients, the prevalence of RNF213 c.14576G>A polymorphism was significantly lower in patients with intracranial VAD. The RNF213 gene polymorphism may preferentially affect the cerebrovascular lesion in the anterior circulation, which is originated from the primitive internal carotid arteries. The genetic background underlying intracranial VAD should be elucidated in future studies. Abbreviations: VAD: vertebral artery dissection; MMD: moyamoya disease; RNF213: ring finger protein 213; CAD: carotid artery dissection
Relationship between anaemia during pregnancy and preterm delivery

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between preterm delivery and maternal anaemia. This retrospective cohort study was completed with 483 women; 294 of them had a normal delivery and 189 had a preterm delivery. The haemoglobin (Hb) values of all the women participating in the study were measured in the first and second trimesters, and the average Hb values were calculated. The pregnant women participating in the study were divided into three groups, according to their Hb level: those with Hb level <10 g/dl, those with Hb level between 10 and 11 g/dl and those with Hb level >11 g/dl. In crude analysis, women with low Hb levels had an increased rate of preterm delivery (odds ratio, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.07–5.49). Our study provides data that low Hb level is effective in preterm delivery. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Serum Hb levels have inconsistent associations with a risk of preterm delivery. What the results of this study add? Compared with term delivery Hb levels are lower in preterm delivery. It is necessary to take into account the Hb levels of both the first and second trimester of the pregnancy when describing the pregnancy anaemia. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Given these results, physicians should take into account anaemia in pregnancy when considering the risk of a preterm delivery.
Development and evolution of the metazoan heart

The mechanisms of the evolution and development of the heart in metazoans are highlighted, starting with the evolutionary origin of the contractile cell, supposedly the precursor of cardiomyocytes. The last eukaryotic common ancestor is likely a combination of several cellular organisms containing their specific metabolic pathways and genetic signaling networks. During evolution, these tool kits diversified. Shared parts of these conserved tool kits act in the development and functioning of pumping hearts and open or closed circulations in such diverse species as arthropods, mollusks, and chordates. The genetic tool kits became more complex by gene duplications, addition of epigenetic modifications, influence of environmental factors, incorporation of viral genomes, cardiac changes necessitated by air‐breathing, and many others. We evaluate mechanisms involved in mollusks in the formation of three separate hearts and in arthropods in the formation of a tubular heart. A tubular heart is also present in embryonic stages of chordates, providing the septated four‐chambered heart, in birds and mammals passing through stages with first and second heart fields. The four‐chambered heart permits the formation of high‐pressure systemic and low‐pressure pulmonary circulation in birds and mammals, allowing for high metabolic rates and maintenance of body temperature. Crocodiles also have a (nearly) separated circulation, but their resting temperature conforms with the environment. We argue that endothermic ancestors lost the capacity to elevate their body temperature during evolution, resulting in ectothermic modern crocodilians. Finally, a clinically relevant paragraph reviews the occurrence of congenital cardiac malformations in humans as derailments of signaling pathways during embryonic development.
Qualitative systematic review of barriers and facilitators to patient-involved antipsychotic prescribing

Background Despite policy and practice mandates for patient involvement, people with serious mental illness often feel marginalised in decisions about antipsychotic medication. Aims To examine stakeholder perspectives of barriers and facilitators to involving people with serious mental illness in antipsychotic prescribing decisions. Method Systematic thematic synthesis. Results Synthesis of 29 studies identified the following key influences on involvement: patient's capability, desire and expectation for involvement, organisational context, and the consultation setting and processes. Conclusions Optimal patient involvement in antipsychotic decisions demands that individual and contextual barriers are addressed. There was divergence in perceived barriers to involvement identified by patients and prescribers. For example, patients felt that lack of time in consultations was a barrier to involvement, something seldom raised by prescribers, who identified organisational barriers. Patients must understand their rights to involvement and the value of their expertise. Organisational initiatives should mandate prescriber responsibility to overcome barriers to involvement. Declaration of interest None.
Uptake of Drug-Eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds in Clinical Practice: An NCDR Registry to Practice Project.

Importance Physicians have been criticized for having an overly enthusiastic response to new device approvals, especially for novel technologies. However, to our knowledge, the rates of new product adoption and patterns of new device usage in clinical practice have not been well described. Objective To characterize the patterns of uptake of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) within the United States following device approval and to describe changes in response to subsequent releases of data and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings. Design, Setting, and Participants This analysis of the uptake of BVS between January 2016 and June 2017 used CathPCI Registry data; all percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures with an implant of either a BVS or conventional stent were included. Data analysis was performed in October 2017. Exposures Implant of BVS. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was monthly use of BVS in the United States. In addition, the characteristics of patients who received BVS and of hospitals that used BVS were assessed and comparisons of patient characteristics between BVS recipients and patients who were treated contemporaneously with metallic stents were made. Results Of 682 951 procedures, 471 064 (69.0%) were done in men, 587 301 (86.0%) were among white people, and the mean (SD) age of those undergoing procedures with BVS vs conventional stents was 62.6 (11.4) years vs 65.7 (11.9) years. Of these, 4265 procedures (0.6%) used BVS overall (after FDA approval of BVS). Procedures with implants of BVS occurred among patients with fewer comorbidities and lower-acuity presentations compared with procedures with implants of conventional stents. The patient characteristics for BVS use were not dissimilar to the inclusion criteria of the ABSORB III FDA approval trial, with notable differences based on trial eligibility (eg, excluding patients with myocardial infarctions). The maximum monthly use of BVS was 1.25% of all PCI procedures that occurred 90 days after FDA approval, but with site-to-site variability. Declines in use were observed coincident with the scientific presentation of adverse event data as well as FDA warnings. Conclusions and Relevance Most US physicians and hospitals were selective in their use of BVS, primarily using them in patients similar to those in the device's FDA approval trial. In addition, declines in use were evident in the subsequent month following the release of data that reported negative outcomes. These results illustrate an example of an appropriate physician response to adverse data updates and FDA warnings.
Bayesian species identification under the multispecies coalescent provides significant improvements to DNA barcoding analyses

DNA barcoding methods use a single locus (usually the mitochondrial COI gene) to assign unidentified specimens to known species in a library based on a genetic distance threshold that distinguishes between‐species divergence from within‐species diversity. Recently developed species delimitation methods based on the multispecies coalescent (MSC) model offer an alternative approach to individual assignment using either single‐locus or multiloci sequence data. Here, we use simulations to demonstrate three features of an MSC method implemented in the program bpp. First, we show that with one locus, MSC can accurately assign individuals to species without the need for arbitrarily determined distance thresholds (as required for barcoding methods). We provide an example in which no single threshold or barcoding gap exists that can be used to assign all specimens without incurring high error rates. Second, we show that bpp can identify cryptic species that may be misidentified as a single species within the library, potentially improving the accuracy of barcoding libraries. Third, we show that taxon rarity does not present any particular problems for species assignments using bpp and that accurate assignments can be achieved even when only one or a few loci are available. Thus, concerns that have been raised that MSC methods may have problems analysing rare taxa (singletons) are unfounded. Currently, barcoding methods enjoy a huge computational advantage over MSC methods and may be the only approach feasible for massively large data sets, but MSC methods may offer a more stringent test for species that are tentatively assigned by barcoding.
Using fecal microbiota as biomarkers for predictions of performance in the selective breeding process of pedigree broiler breeders

Much work has been dedicated to identifying members of the microbial gut community that have potential to augment the growth rate of agricultural animals including chickens. Here, we assessed any correlations between the fecal microbiome, a proxy for the gut microbiome, and feed efficiency or weight gain at the pedigree chicken level, the highest tier of the production process. Because selective breeding is conducted at the pedigree level, our aim was to determine if microbiome profiles could be used to predict feed conversion or weight gain in order to improve selective breeding. Using 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing, we profiled the microbiomes of high and low weight gain (WG) birds and good and poor feed efficient (FE) birds in two pedigree lineages of broiler chickens. We also aimed to understand the dynamics of the microbiome with respect to maturation. A time series experiment was conducted, where fecal samples of chickens were collected at 6 points of the rearing process and the microbiome of these samples profiled. We identified OTUs differences at different taxonomic levels in the fecal community between high and low performing birds within each genetic line, indicating a specificity of the microbial community profiles correlated to performance factors. Using machine-learning methods, we built a classification model that could predict feed conversion performance from the fecal microbial community. With respect to maturation, we found that the fecal microbiome is dynamic in early life but stabilizes after 3 weeks of age independent of lineage. Our results indicate that the fecal microbiome profile can be used to predict feed conversion, but not weight gain in these pedigree lines. From the time series experiments, it appears that these predictions can be evaluated as early as 20 days of age. Our data also indicates that there is a genetic factor for the microbiome profile.
An intramembrane sensory circuit monitors sortase A–mediated processing of streptococcal adhesins

A two-component system in Streptococcus gordonii monitors the proper processing of adhesins for biofilm formation. Quality control in bacterial adhesion Adhesins mediate bacterial adhesion and are often required for host colonization. As adhesins of the LPXTG family are exported and covalently linked to the cell wall, the LPXTG motif is cleaved, producing a C-terminal peptide (C-pep) that remains embedded in the cell membrane. Hall et al. found that the presence of C-peps from the LPXTG adhesins of Streptococcus gordonii, which are found in oral microbial biofilms and can cause infective endocarditis after entering the bloodstream, inhibited the expression of alternative adhesins through a two-component system (TCS). In the absence of C-peps from LPXTG adhesins, the TCS stimulated the expression of alternative adhesins that supported biofilm formation. This intramembrane quality control mechanism ensures that S. gordonii can form biofilms under various environmental conditions. Bacterial adhesins mediate adhesion to substrates and biofilm formation. Adhesins of the LPXTG family are posttranslationally processed by the cell membrane–localized peptidase sortase A, which cleaves the LPXTG motif. This generates a short C-terminal peptide (C-pep) that remains in the cell membrane, whereas the mature adhesin is incorporated into the cell wall. Genes encoding adhesins of the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii were differentially expressed depending on whether the bacteria were isolated from saliva or dental plaque and appeared to be coordinately regulated. Deletion of sspA and sspB (sspAB), both of which encode LPXTG-containing adhesins, unexpectedly enhanced adhesion and biofilm formation. C-peps produced from a model LPXTG-containing adhesin localized to the cell membrane and bound to and inhibited the intramembrane sensor histidine kinase SGO_1180, thus preventing activation of the cognate response regulator SGO_1181. The absence of SspAB C-peps induced the expression of the scaCBA operon encoding the lipoprotein adhesin ScaA, which was sufficient to preserve and even enhance biofilm formation. This C-pep–driven regulatory circuit also exists in pathogenic streptococci and is likely conserved among Gram-positive bacteria. This quality control mechanism ensures that the bacteria can form biofilms under diverse environmental conditions and may play a role in optimizing adhesion and biofilm formation.