Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extreme Features of the Galdieria sulphuraria Organellar Genomes: A Consequence of Polyextremophily?

Nuclear genome sequencing from extremophilic eukaryotes has revealed clues about the mechanisms of adaptation to extreme environments, but the functional consequences of extremophily on organellar genomes are unknown. To address this issue, we assembled the mitochondrial and plastid genomes from a polyextremophilic red alga, Galdieria sulphuraria strain 074 W, and performed a comparative genomic analysis with other red algae and more broadly across eukaryotes. The mitogenome is highly reduced in size and genetic content and exhibits the highest guanine–cytosine skew of any known genome and the fastest substitution rate among all red algae. The plastid genome contains a large number of intergenic stem-loop structures but is otherwise rather typical in size, structure, and content in comparison with other red algae. We suggest that these unique genomic modifications result not only from the harsh conditions in which Galdieria lives but also from its unusual capability to grow heterotrophically, endolithically, and in the dark. These conditions place additional mutational pressures on the mitogenome due to the increased reliance on the mitochondrion for energy production, whereas the decreased reliance on photosynthesis and the presence of numerous stem-loop structures may shield the plastome from similar genomic stress.
Visual SLAM and Structure from Motion in Dynamic Environments

In the last few decades, Structure from Motion (SfM) and visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (visual SLAM) techniques have gained significant interest from both the computer vision and robotic communities. Many variants of these techniques have started to make an impact in a wide range of applications, including robot navigation and augmented reality. However, despite some remarkable results in these areas, most SfM and visual SLAM techniques operate based on the assumption that the observed environment is static. However, when faced with moving objects, overall system accuracy can be jeopardized. In this article, we present for the first time a survey of visual SLAM and SfM techniques that are targeted toward operation in dynamic environments. We identify three main problems: how to perform reconstruction (robust visual SLAM), how to segment and track dynamic objects, and how to achieve joint motion segmentation and reconstruction. Based on this categorization, we provide a comprehensive taxonomy of existing approaches. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of each solution class are critically discussed from the perspective of practicality and robustness.
Tethered Swimming Test: Reliability and the Association to Swimming Performance and Land-based Anaerobic Performance.

The purpose of this study was three-fold: (a) to examine the test-retest reliability of a 30 second maximal tethered freestyle swimming test (TST), (b) to assess the validity of the TST by examining the association to sprint swimming performance and, (c) to examine the associations between a swim-specific and land-based measure of anaerobic performance. A total of twenty-nine male and female swimmers were recruited to participate in the study. Each participant completed a Wingate Anaerobic cycling test (WAnT), two or four TST, and a 22.9 meter (25 yard), 45.7 meter (50 yard), and 91.4 meter (100 yard) maximal freestyle performance swims (PS). Mean and peak force (Fmean, Fpeak) were recorded for both the WAnT and TST, and average swimming velocity and time were recorded for the PS. Additionally, physiological and perceptual measures were recorded immediate post exercise for all tests. The results of the present investigation showed strong intersession and intrasession reliability (R= 0.821-0.975; p<0.001) for force parameters of the TST. Moderate correlations were found between Fmean and PS time and velocity of all distances, with slightly weaker correlations between Fpeak and the 22.9 meter (time and velocity) and 45.7 meter (velocity) PS. Finally, moderate correlations were found for Fmean and Fpeak of the TST and WAnT. This study demonstrated that the TST is a reliable measure, with moderate association to swimming performance, producing similar physiological responses compared to free swimming. Therefore, future research shoulSd focus on investigating the potential benefits of utilizing the TST as a regular assessment tool as a part of a competitive swimming training program to track adaptations and inform training decisions.
Translation, cultural adaption, and test–retest reliability of Chinese versions of the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory and Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire

ABSTRACT Quantitative assessments of handedness and footedness are often required in studies of human cognition and behaviour, yet no reliable Chinese versions of commonly used handedness and footedness questionnaires are available. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to translate the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) and the Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire-Revised (WFQ-R) into Mandarin Chinese and to evaluate the reliability and validity of these translated versions in healthy Chinese people. In the first stage of the study, Chinese versions of the EHI and WFQ-R were produced from a process of translation, back translation and examination, with necessary cultural adaptations. The second stage involved determining the reliability and validity of the translated EHI and WFQ-R for the Chinese population. One hundred and ten Chinese participants were tested online, and the results showed that the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of internal consistency was 0.877 for the translated EHI and 0.855 for the translated WFQ-R. Another 170 Chinese participants were tested and re-tested after a 30-day interval. The intra-class correlation coefficients showed high reliability, 0.898 for the translated EHI and 0.869 for the translated WFQ-R. This preliminary validation study found the translated versions to be reliable and valid tools for assessing handedness and footedness in this population.
Stem Cell Applications and Tissue Engineering Approaches in Surgical Practice

There has been an increasing interest in stem cell applications and tissue engineering approaches in surgical practice to deal with damaged or lost tissue. Although there have been developments in almost all surgical disciplines, the greatest advances are being made in orthopaedics, especially in bone repair. Significant hurdles however remain to be overcome before tissue engineering becomes more routinely used in surgical practice.
Bye‐bye mummy – Word comprehension in 9‐month‐old infants

From the little research that exists on the onset of word learning in infants under the age of 1 year, the evidence suggests an idiosyncratic comprehensive vocabulary is developing. To further this field, we tested 49 nine-month-old infants by pre-assessing their vocabularies using a UK version of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory. Intermodal preferential looking (IPL) was then used to examine word comprehension including: (a) words parents reported as understood, (b) words infants are expected to understand according to age-related frequency data, and (c) words parents had reported infants not to understand. Assuming parents are good assessors of their infant's early word knowledge, we expected a naming effect with IPL in condition (a), but not condition (c). As language research uses standard samples of words, we expected a discernible naming effect in condition (b). Results show clear IPL evidence of word comprehension for those words that parents reported their infants to understand (condition a). This agreement between methods demonstrates the usefulness of parental communicative developmental inventory in conjunction with IPL to assess infant's individual word knowledge. No naming effects were found for condition (c) and the lack of naming effects in (b) shows that pre-established word lists may not give a sufficiently clear picture of infant's true vocabulary - an important insight for researchers and practitioners alike. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Most word comprehension research is mainly based on older infants (12, 15, or 18 months of age to 2-3 years and older). Some evidence of word comprehension for common and novel nouns in 6- to 10-month-olds. Existing evidence uses either only specific word groups or nouns combined with specific training and/or repetition procedures. What does this study add? Nine-month-olds display word knowledge independent of context and without repetitions of words. First words encompass not only nouns, but a range of other word classes. Parents are good at indicating which words their infants do and do not understand.
Status of the Low Enriched Uranium Fuel Development for High Performance Research Reactors

Historically, uranium enriched to >90% 235U has been used for many peaceful applications requiring high fission densities such as driver fuels for research reactors. However, the use of high-enriched uranium or HEU (all enrichments >20% 235U are considered HEU) for civil applications, is considered a proliferation concern. Since the 1970's, efforts are being devoted to the conversion of research reactors operating on HEU to alternative fuels using uranium with enrichment below 20% or LEU. These efforts imply the development of high-density LEU fuels to replace the low volume-density (mostly) UAlx based HEU fuels. The paper updates the present status of these developments focusing on the UMo dispersion fuel. It aims to provide an overview of the knowledge generated and the lessons learned in roughly 15 years of UMo dispersion fuel R&D in Europe through irradiation experiments and post-irradiation examinations (PIE).
Elevated Temperature Effects on HSC Residual Strength

Concrete is generally thought of as being an excellent fireproofing material. With the evolution of high-strength concretes (HSC), questions have arisen as to whether these types of concrete, with significantly reduced porosity, can still be effective as a fireproofing material. Because of concerns about the use of HSC in facilities for the production of oil and gas where hydrocarbon fires are not uncommon, a joint industry/government multiphase research program was initiated to examine the effects of hydrocarbon fires on HSC. This article examines the residual strength determinations for 3 different types of HSC used in oil and gas facilities: normal density concrete, lightweight concrete, and an intermediate density concrete called modified normal density concrete. Materials used, preparation and casting of test specimens, testing and results, and conclusions are discussed.
To Consent or Decline HPV Vaccination: A Pilot Study at the Start of the National School‐Based Vaccination Program in Sweden

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Parents' beliefs about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination influence whether they allow their daughters to be vaccinated. We examined the association between parents' refusal and sociodemographic background, knowledge and beliefs about HPV, and the HPV vaccination in relation to the Health Belief Model. METHODS The sample consisted of 200 (55%) parents of children aged 11‐12 years in the Swedish national vaccination program. Data were collected using a self‐reported questionnaire. Most parents (N = 186) agreed to the vaccination. Pearson's chi‐square, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann‐Whitney U test were used to analyze data. RESULTS Declining parents saw more risks and fewer benefits of HPV vaccination but no differences in beliefs regarding the severity or young girls' susceptibility to HPV were found. There was an association between refusing the HPV vaccine and lower acceptance of previous childhood vaccinations, and their main source of information was the Internet. Parents who declined the vaccine believed it could adversely affect condom use, the age of their daughter's sexual debut, and the number of sexual partners. CONCLUSION Parents should have the possibility to discuss HPV and HPV vaccine with a school nurse or other health care professionals, and should have access to evidence‐based information on the Internet.
Diabetes Is Associated With Reduced Stress Hyperlactatemia in Cardiac Surgery

OBJECTIVE Hyperglycemia and hyperlactatemia are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critical illness. We evaluated the relationship among hyperlactatemia, glycemic control, and diabetes mellitus (DM) after cardiac surgery. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of 4,098 cardiac surgery patients treated between 2011 and 2015. Patients were stratified by DM and glucose-lowering medication history. Hyperglycemia (glucose >180 mg/dL), hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL), and the hyperglycemic index were assessed postoperatively (48 h). The relationship between lactate and glucose levels was modeled using generalized linear regression. Mortality was analyzed using an extended Cox regression model. RESULTS Hyperglycemia occurred in 26.0% of patients without DM (NODM), 46.5% with DM without prior drug treatment (DMNT), 62.8% on oral medication (DMOM), and 73.8% on insulin therapy (DMIT) (P < 0.0001). Hypoglycemia occurred in 6.3%, 9.1%, 8.8%, and 10.8% of NODM, DMNT, DMOM, and DMIT, respectively (P = 0.0012). The lactate levels of all patients were temporarily increased with surgery. This increase was greater in patients who also had hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia and was markedly attenuated in patients with DM. Peak lactate was 5.8 mmol/L (95% CI 5.6, 6.0) in NODM with hyperglycemia vs. 3.3 (95% CI 3.2, 3.4) without hyperglycemia; in DMNT: 4.8 (95% CI 4.4, 5.2) vs. 3.4 (95% CI 3.1, 3.6); in DMOM: 3.8 (95% CI 3.5, 4.1) vs. 2.9 (95% CI 2.7, 3.1); and in DMIT: 3.3 (95% CI 3.0, 3.5) vs. 2.7 (95% CI 2.3, 3.0). Increasing lactate levels were associated with increasing mortality; increasing glucose reduced this effect in DM but not in NODM (P = 0.0069 for three-way interaction). CONCLUSIONS Stress hyperlactatemia is markedly attenuated in patients with DM. There is a three-way interaction among DM, stress hyperlactatemia, and stress hyperglycemia associated with mortality after cardiac surgery.
Behavior of calcium silicate in leaching process

Based on the thermodynamic calculation, the mole ratio of CaO to SiO2, temperature and A/S of bauxitehave a profound influence on the mole ratio of 2CaO @ SiO2 to CaO @ SiO2 in sinter. CaO @ SiO2 and β-2CaO @ SiO2appear stable in caustic solution but unstable in soda solution, and CaO @ SiO2 is more stable than β-2CaO @ SiO2 un-der the same leaching condition. Compared with the conventional sinter, the rate of alumina extraction of the newsinter is large and the secondary reaction is restricted in the leaching, which might be mainly due to the more contentof CaO @ SiO2 in sinter and better stability of CaO @ SiO2 in leaching.
The age-related positivity effect in electronic gambling

ABSTRACT Background: Older adults are increasingly spending time and money playing electronic gambling machines (EGMs). The current study assessed whether the age-related positivity effect influences responding to various EGM outcomes, including wins and losses of equivalent magnitude and frequency. We also explored cognitive mechanisms potentially underpinning the positivity effect. Methods: We recorded the skin conductance response (SCR) of healthy older and younger adults while they played for wins, losses, and fake wins (losses disguised as wins). After every win and fake win, participants were forced to choose red or black to either double their win or lose it. They also provided ratings of enjoyment and excitement, estimated number of wins and losses, and completed measures of cognitive function. Results: Young and older adults demonstrated larger SCRs to wins relative to losses. When these wins and losses were of equivalent magnitude and frequency following a double-or-nothing scenario, only older adults responded more to a win than a loss. There were no age group differences in excitement and enjoyment, but older adults were more accurate than young adults in their recall of wins and losses. Conclusion: During EGM play, young and older adults demonstrate similar patterns on autonomic arousal. However, young adults’ responding suggests generalized excitement, whereas older adults respond more to the prospect of financial gain.
Intravenous versus oral paracetamol for acute pain in adults in the emergency department setting: a prospective, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised controlled trial

Objective To determine if intravenous paracetamol was superior to oral paracetamol as an adjunct to opioids in the management of moderate to severe pain in the ED setting. Methods A prospective, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled trial was conducted at a single academic tertiary care ED. Adult patients with moderate to severe pain were randomly assigned to receive either the intravenous paracetamol or oral paracetamol. The primary outcome was Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain reduction at 30 min. A clinically significant change in pain was defined as 13 mm. Results 87 participants were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 43.5 years and 59.8% were female. Overall mean baseline VAS pain score was 67.9 mm (±16.0). Both formulations achieved a clinically significant mean pain score reduction at 30 min, with no significant difference between the groups with 16.0 mm (SD 19.1 mm) in the intravenous group and 14.6 mm (SD 26.4) in the oral group; difference −1.4 mm (95% CI −11.6 to 8.8, P=0.79). Secondary outcomes, including postintervention intravenous opioid administration, patient satisfaction, side effects and length of stay, did not differ between groups. Conclusions Overall, there was a small but clinically significant decrease in pain in each group. No superiority was demonstrated in this trial with intravenous paracetamol compared with oral paracetamol in terms of efficacy of analgesia and no difference in length of stay, patient satisfaction, need for rescue analgesia or side effects.
Two-year evaluation of an educational program for adult outpatients with asthma.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the understanding of asthma and the clinical improvement in patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma prior to and after their participation in an educational program presented during the routine outpatient visits. METHODS This was a prospective pilot study involving 164 patients over a two-year period. The educational program, presented to small groups on outpatient visit days, consisted of lectures divided into three parts: pathophysiology; environmental control; and treatment, including training in the inhalation technique. The program was evaluated using standardized questionnaires on clinical improvement and understanding of the disease. RESULTS By the end of the first year, 120 patients had completed three visits, and 51 of those patients were re-evaluated at the end of the second year. The mean age of the patients was 44 years, 70% were female, and 43% had up to eight years of schooling. The educational intervention significantly increased the understanding of the disease (p < 0.001), and allowed greater clinical improvement (p < 0.05) with a decrease in the use of oral corticosteroids, fewer visits to the emergency room and fewer days missed from work or school. CONCLUSIONS The educational program offered during the routine outpatient visits of adult patients with asthma at our clinic resulted in a progressive long-term increase in knowledge, as well as in clinical improvement.
Structural Insights into σ1 Receptor Interactions with Opioid Ligands by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Despite considerable advances over the past years in understanding the mechanisms of action and the role of the σ1 receptor, several questions regarding this receptor remain unanswered. This receptor has been identified as a useful target for the treatment of a diverse range of diseases, from various central nervous system disorders to cancer. The recently solved issue of the crystal structure of the σ1 receptor has made elucidating the structure–activity relationship feasible. The interaction of seven representative opioid ligands with the crystal structure of the σ1 receptor (PDB ID: 5HK1) was simulated for the first time using molecular dynamics (MD). Analysis of the MD trajectories has provided the receptor–ligand interaction fingerprints, combining information on the crucial receptor residues and frequency of the residue–ligand contacts. The contact frequencies and the contact maps suggest that for all studied ligands, the hydrophilic (hydrogen bonding) interactions with Glu172 are an important factor for the ligands’ affinities toward the σ1 receptor. However, the hydrophobic interactions with Tyr120, Val162, Leu105, and Ile124 also significantly contribute to the ligand–receptor interplay and, in particular, differentiate the action of the agonistic morphine from the antagonistic haloperidol.
Over‐expression of pemt2 into rat hepatoma cells contributes to the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

We previously established a line of phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase 2 (pemt2) ‐stably transfected CBRH‐7919 hepatoma cells, and showed that pemt2 over‐expression inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. This study was aimed to further elucidate the cellular mechanisms leading to this apoptosis in these cells. Fatty acid compositions of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in pemt2 over‐expressed cells and control cells, and the location of PC synthesized by PEMT2 pathway were analyzed with lipid extraction, high‐performance thin layer chromatography, high‐performance gas chromatography (HPGC), and [3H]‐ethanolamine tracing. The effects of pemt2 over‐expression on the mitochondrial membrane fluidity, the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria, and the activity of caspases were determined by Western blot. Newly synthesized PC by PEMT2 contained more acyl groups of oleic acid (P < 0.01) and was mainly located in mitochondria; pemt2 over‐expression increased the mitochondrial membrane fluidity and the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria into the cytoplasma, which in turn activated caspase‐9 and caspase‐3, the key molecules in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. We demonstrated that, in rat hepatoma cells, PEMT2‐induced apoptosis proceeds through mitochondria. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(8): 846–852, 2009
An approach for sample size determination of average bioequivalence based on interval estimation

In 1992, the US Food and Drug Administration declared that two drugs demonstrate average bioequivalence (ABE) if the log‐transformed mean difference of pharmacokinetic responses lies in (−0.223, 0.223). The most widely used approach for assessing ABE is the two one‐sided tests procedure. More specifically, ABE is concluded when a 100(1 − 2α) % confidence interval for mean difference falls within (−0.223, 0.223). As known, bioequivalent studies are usually conducted by crossover design. However, in the case that the half‐life of a drug is long, a parallel design for the bioequivalent study may be preferred. In this study, a two‐sided interval estimation — such as Satterthwaite's, Cochran–Cox's, or Howe's approximations — is used for assessing parallel ABE. We show that the asymptotic joint distribution of the lower and upper confidence limits is bivariate normal, and thus the sample size can be calculated based on the asymptotic power so that the confidence interval falls within (−0.223, 0.223). Simulation studies also show that the proposed method achieves sufficient empirical power. A real example is provided to illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.