Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections Induce Hypermetabolism in Pediatric Upper Airways

To determine whether respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) regulates human metabolism, we used positron emission tomography (PET) of patient lungs along with bioenergetics and metabolomics of patient upper airway cells and fluids. We previously found a significant negative monotonic relationship between glucose uptake and respiratory viral infection in 20 pediatric patients (e.g., 70% of infected patients had glucose uptake within 0–3 days). In our recent study, 3 out of 4 patients positive for glucose uptake at later times (>5 days) were positive for RSV infection. At present, the bioenergetics of upper respiratory cells (URCs) from nasal pharyngeal aspirates have not been investigated, and in vitro studies indicate RSV reduces metabolism in cell lines. To define metabolic changes in RSV-infected pediatric patients, we acquired fresh aspirates from 6 pediatric patients. Immediately following aspiration of URCs, we measured the two major energy pathways using an XFe flux analyzer. Glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration were significantly increased in URCs from RSV-infected patients, and mitochondrial respiration was operating at near maximal levels, resulting in loss of cellular capacity to increase respiration with impaired coupling efficiency. Metabolomics analysis of metabolites flushed from the upper airways confirmed a significant increase in TCA cycle intermediates. Taken together, these studies demonstrate RSV induces significant hypermetabolism in pediatric patients’ lungs and respiratory tract. Thus, hypermetabolism is a potential anti-viral drug target and reveals RSV can regulate human metabolism. Contributions to the field Metabolic changes in humans in response to viral infection are largely unknown. In this brief clinical report, we find metabolism is markedly increased in live upper respiratory cells from infants infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) concomitant to changes in metabolites in their upper airway fluids. This sheds light on viral induced hypermetabolism in the airways and offers potential biomarkers for RSV. In addition, this identifies potential therapeutic targets for host directed therapies of aberrant metabolism in RSV. This work has clinical impact as biomarkers and therapeutics for RSV are needed for this pervasive virus that causes infections with long term consequence for some children. Further, advancements in molecular mechanisms underpinning RSV infection biology are constrained by the difficulties in translating model systems to humans as well as relating human studies in adults to infants (Mestas and Hughes, 2004; Papin et al., 2013).
Reliability assessment of existing bridges for military use — Appropriate values of partial factors for traffic loads

Freedom of movement and manoeuvre are key assumptions to success in any military operation and one of the core responsibilities for each corps of army engineers. The calculation of military loading capacity of any civilian bridge is one of the essential tasks to achieve this target. Partial factors for the traffic loading in standards for civilian use fail to adequately reflect conditions for assessing existing bridges under well-defined military loads. Based on the safety format adopted in an upcoming edition of STANAG 2021, the submitted contribution illustrates on how the partial factor for military traffic can be adjusted considering various crossing conditions. The numerical study, focused on a crossing of a MLC80 class vehicle over an existing bridge, reveals that the partial factor of the military traffic load can range from 1.1 up to 1.4, depending on the chosen crossing conditions and the target reliability level selected for the crossing mode under consideration.
Fuzzy Optimal Phase Balancing of Radial and Meshed Distribution Networks Using BF-PSO Algorithm

Due to increasing neutral current and power losses resulting from phase unbalancing in distribution networks, the act of phase balancing has been a matter of interest in recent years. In this paper, a new method for phase arrangement of laterals and the distribution transformers is presented based on bacterial foraging (BF) oriented by particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm (BF-PSO). The algorithm is proposed for radial and meshed distribution networks in the presence of unbalanced loads. The objective function of this problem includes the neutral current of the supporting feeder, the rephasing cost, the voltage drop, and the line losses. Since these objectives do not have similar units and the same variation ranges, the four objectives are fuzzified and then integrated as the fuzzy multi-objective function. In order to prove the efficiency of the BF-PSO algorithm, its performance is compared with bacterial foraging, genetic and immune algorithms. To evaluate the proposed method, it is applied to feeder No. 3062 in Ahwaz, Iran. The simulation results confirm the efficiency of the method for the reduction of system costs and network phase balancing.
Fish consumption and stroke in men. 30-year findings of the Chicago Western Electric Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Evidence of a relationship of fish intake to stroke incidence or mortality is weak. This report examines the association of fish consumption with stroke. METHODS A cohort of 2107 men aged 40 to 55 years from the Chicago Western Electric Study who were free of coronary heart disease and stroke through their first annual reexamination was investigated in relation to baseline fish intake and 30-year risk of fatal and nonfatal stroke. Data on baseline fish intake, categorized into four levels (> or = 35 g/d, 18 to 34 g/d, 1 to 17 g/d, and 0 g/d), were available for 1847 men. Average values of macronutrients and micronutrients from the first two examinations and major coronary and stroke risk factors were assessed in relation to fish consumption. Stroke mortality was ascertained from death certificates and nonfatal stroke from records of the Health Care Financing Administration. RESULTS During 46,426 person-years of follow-up, 76 stroke deaths occurred. Men consuming > or = 35 g/d of fish (highest level) had a higher age-adjusted death rate from stroke (23.5 per 10,000 person-years) than men in the three other categories of fish consumption. Based on a Cox proportional hazards regression model with adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, serum cholesterol level, diabetes, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and table salt use, hazards ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for fish consumers compared with nonconsumers were 1.34 (0.53 to 3.41) for > or = 35 g/d, 0.96 (0.41 to 2.21) for 18 to 34 g/d, and 1.00 (0.43 to 2.33) for 1 to 17 g/d. Age-adjusted and multivariate analyses for fatal and nonfatal strokes (n = 222) yielded similar results. CONCLUSIONS With stroke rates highest in the subgroup reporting highest fish intake, these data do not support the hypothesis of an inverse association of fish consumption with strokes.
INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG NURSING PERSONNEL IN MALAYSIA

Abstract. Sinniah, D. , Chong, F. M. and Arokiasamy, J. (Departments of Paediatrics and Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya and the School of Nursing, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Infant feeding practices among nursing personnel in Malaysia. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69:525, 1980. —Concerned by the alarming decline in breast feeding in the urban and rural areas of Malaysia, we conducted a critical review of infant feeding practices among nursing personnel from representative centres using questionnaires. It was found that although 75 % of mothers breast‐fed their babies at birth only 19% did so at 2 months and 5% at 6 months respectively. Chinese mothers initiated breast feeding less frequently compared with Indian or Malay mothers. The prevalence of breast feeding was higher among lower category nurses, lower income groups and those from health centres. Decision for breast feeding was based in most instances on conviction derived from reading, lectures or advice from relatives. The vast majority of mothers listed ‘work’ as the main reason for termination of breast feeding followed by ‘insufficient breast milk’ and satisfactory past experience with bottle feeding. The ramifications of these findings and measures to improve the prevalence and duration of breast feeding are discussed.
Orally Administered Koumine Persists Longer in the Plasma of Aged Rats Than That of Adult Rats as Assessed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Aging leads to changes in nearly all pharmacokinetic phases. Koumine (KM), an alkaloid derived from Gelsemium elegans Benth. , is effective against age-associated chronic diseases, but its dose proportionality following oral administration in aged individuals remains unknown. Herein, we established and validated a simple method that requires low sample volumes to determine KM concentration in rats using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 7 mg·kg−1 KM was ~12-fold and ~24-fold higher than that of 0.28 mg·kg−1 KM in adult and aged rats, respectively (P < 0.01). Time to reach Cmax (Tmax) for 7 mg·kg−1 KM was 4-fold longer in aged rats (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of 7 mg·kg−1 KM was >17-fold and >43-fold higher than those of 0.28 mg·kg−1 KM in adult and aged rats, respectively (P < 0.01). The half-life (t1/2) of 7 mg·kg−1 KM was over 4-fold longer than that of 0.28 mg·kg−1 KM in adult rats (P < 0.01). The t1/2 of 1.4 and 7 mg·kg−1 KM were 1.5~2-fold longer, than that of 0.28 mg·kg−1 KM in aged rats (P < 0.05). The clearance rate of 7 mg·kg−1 KM was significantly lower in aged than in adult rats (P < 0.05). For 7.0 mg·kg−1 KM, the Cmax in aged rats was higher than in adult rats during the Tmax period (P < 0.05). In aged rats, the AUC for KM was >2.5-fold higher (P < 0.05) and the t1/2 was >60% longer than in adult rats (P < 0.05). These results help interpret the pharmacokinetics of KM in aging-associated diseases.
A tale of two cities - the effect of low intensity conflict on prevalence and characteristics of musculoskeletal pain and somatic symptoms associated with chronic stress.

UNLABELLED Although both acute and chronic stress leads to pain, the precise characteristics of this association have not been well defined. Sderot is an Israeli town exposed to repeated missile attacks. Ofakim, a town of similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, had not been targeted, as of the period of our study. We examined the occurrence and characteristics of pain and related somatic symptoms in Sderot and Ofakim. METHODS One thousand and twenty-four individuals in Sderot and 1006 in Ofakim were interviewed regarding pain, somatic symptoms, mood, trauma-exposure, and general health status. RESULTS Significantly higher levels of trauma-related symptoms and somatic symptoms were noted in Sderot compared with Ofakim (p<0.001). Chronic widespread pain (CWP) was more common in Sderot (11.1%) than Ofakim (8.3%; OR 1.37, p=0.038). Women were more likely (13.9% vs. 9.3%; OR 1.45, p=0.06) than men (8.9% vs. 7.3%, OR 1.24, p=0.37) to experience CWP in Sderot vs. Ofakim. Amongst males, chronic regional pain (CRP) was more common in Sderot (19.2%) than in Ofakim (14.2%; p=0.036). Pain severity in Sderot was significantly higher than in Ofakim (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Similar to previous studies that have suggested that chronic stress is associated with chronic pain, this study demonstrates significantly increased rates of somatic complaints, including pain, fatigue and IBS-like symptoms, among individuals in Sderot compared with Ofakim, as well as significantly higher rates of trauma-related symptoms. Thus, a fibromyalgia-like symptoms cluster was more likely to be found in Sderot compared with Ofakim. Widespread pain was reported as being significantly more frequent by inhabitants of Sderot compared with Ofakim. These results have relevance to both the general population and for populations enduring chronic stress.
Stable SRAM cell design for the 32 nm node and beyond

SRAM cell stability will be a primary concern for future technologies due to variability and decreasing power supply voltages. 6T-SRAM can be optimized for stability by choosing the cell layout, device threshold voltages, and the /spl beta/ ratio. 8T-SRAM, however, provides a much greater enhancement in stability by eliminating cell disturbs during a read access, thus facilitating continued technology scaling. We demonstrate the smallest 6T (0.124/spl mu/m/sup 2/ half-cell) and full 8T (0.1998/spl mu/m/sup 2/) cells to date.
Pre-transfusion serological testing: are we doing it right?

When a decision to blood transfusion is made, series of procedures are taken to ensure the safety and efficacy of blood transfusion, one of which is compatibility testing. An essential part of this testing, which is taken to prevent hemolytic transfusion reaction via immunological process, is pre-transfusion testing including ABO group/Rh (D) type, antibody screening and crossmatching. Antibody screening assess in the process of demonstrating non-ABO red cell antibodies that might have a negative effect in the normal survival of transfused red blood cell. To increase the sensitivity of the testing processes, many modalities of antibody screening have been developed and broadly implemented in hospital transfusion service department such gel-based or solid-phase technology. However, challenges in detecting unexpected red cell antibody persist specially when only a single test is employed for this purpose. Therefore, the current pretransfusion testing scheme with respect to the sensitivity and the multiplicity has to be re-evaluated.
Characterization of Leakage and Reliability of SiNx Gate Dielectric by Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition for GaN-based MIS-HEMTs

In this paper, we systematically investigated the leakage and breakdown mechanisms of the low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) silicon nitride thin film deposited on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. The LPCVD-SiNx gate dielectric exhibits low leakage and high breakdown electric field. The dominant mechanism of the leakage current through LPCVD-SiNx gate dielectric is identified to be Poole-Frenkel emission at low electric field and Fowler-Nordheim tunneling at high electric field. Both electric-field-accelerated and temperature-accelerated time-dependent dielectric breakdown of the LPCVD-SiNx gate dielectric were also investigated.
Recovery From a Forward Falling Slip: Measurement of Dynamic Stability and Strength Requirements Using a Split-Belt Instrumented Treadmill

Aim: Falls commonly occur from trips and slips while walking. Recovery strategies from trips and backward falling slips have been extensively studied. However, until recently, forward falling slips (FFSs) have been considered less dangerous and have been understudied. This study aimed first to create an application to realistically simulate FFSs using a split-belt instrumented treadmill and then to understand the biomechanical requirements for young adults to recover from an FFS. Methods: We developed a semi-automatic custom-made application on D-Flow that triggered FFSs by briefly and unexpectedly increasing the speed (a = 5 m·s−2) of the right belt during stance. To validate the protocol, we tested against criteria defined for an ecologically and experimentally valid FFS: unexpected occurrence of the slip, increased foot velocity, forward loss of balance during the slip and consistent perturbation timing. We evaluated the recovery strategies of 17 young adults by measuring dynamic stability, joint moments and ground reaction force (GRF) vector angles before, during and on 15 steps following the FFS. Results: The application successfully triggered FFSs, according to the criteria we defined. Participants' balance returned to normal for a minimum of three consecutive steps in 10.9 (7.0) steps. Recovery from the FFSs was characterised by larger hip flexor and knee extensor moments to support the centre of mass during the slip, and a longer first recovery step with large hip extensor moments to arrest the fall followed by large knee extensor moments to raise and advance the centre of mass into the next step (p < 0.001 compared with normal gait). Subsequent steps progressively returned to normal. Conclusion: This is the first study to experimentally simulate FFSs meeting the aforementioned criteria, and to measure their effects on the dynamic balance and kinetic parameters. The split-belt instrumented treadmill proved a promising tool to better study the mechanisms of falls and recovery. The required large hip and knee joint moments generally agree with findings on trips and backward falling slips and provide an indication of the functional capacities that should be targeted in fall-prevention interventions. These findings should be used to better understand and target the mechanisms of balance loss and falls in older adults following FFSs.
Improvement of Light Extraction From Patterned Polymer Encapsulated GaN-Based Flip-Chip Light-Emitting Diodes by Imprinting

To improve surface light extraction of GaN-based flip-chip light-emitting diodes (FC-LEDs), we employed an imprint approach of thermosetting polymer for patterning microscale surface grating on the polymer encapsulant. One-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) taper-like polymer gratings with a period of 6 mum were successfully realized on encapsulant above the sapphire backplane of GaN LED. By adopting the 1-D and 2-D taper-like grating encapsulant, the improvement of light extraction from the 1 mm times 1 mm FC-blue LED with a reflective Ag film on the p-side was about 18.5% and 31.9% compared to the LED encapsulated by flat polymer, respectively. To evaluate the concept of a diffraction grating in enhancement of light extraction, we performed a simulation of diffraction based on 1-D rigorous coupled wave analysis with the supporting experiments.
Near-Approach Imaging Simulation of Low-Altitude ENA Emissions by a LEO Satellite

We simulate a 2-D ENA coded modulation imager on board a polar orbit satellite. An imaging measurement, which can realize continuous monitoring of low-altitude ENA emission sources, is applied to the evolution process of energetic ion events. The present simulation results show that: (1) Low earth polar orbit satellites can approach ENA emission sources from inside and outside the inner radiation belt. At low altitude, ENA images can be collected with a time resolution of only 5 s, enabling for the first time observation of the evolution process of energetic ion events, on top of determining a global distribution pattern of energetic ions; (2) For tracing energetic particle trigger source of substorm, the propagation distance of energetic particles can be calculated by using time difference of ENA energy spectrum response of different energy channels; (3) Due to the proximity of the ENA emission source, the ENA imager will respond to medium and small-magnitude signals of substorms, which will help sample continuous collection and statistical analysis of massive data under various geomagnetic activities, and provide important data support for space weather forecasts.
Wearable Environmental Sensors and Infrastructure for Mobile Large-Scale Urban Deployment

We present a platform to allow up to 50000 students to simultaneously collect and learn from their personal activity, transportation, and environmental data. The main goals that we met during the design of our sensor platform were to: be low cost; remain powered for the duration of the data collection campaign; robustly sense a wide range of environmental parameters; and be packaged in a form factor conducive to wide-spread adoption and ease of use. We describe and generalize the design methods we applied on the hardware and firmware. Our sensors employ Wi-Fi communication to move data as well as to localize themselves using a radio-map of Singapore. Our system uses embedded as well as server-based machine learning algorithms to perform on-sensor transportation mode identification and state inference. The testing and validation methods that we applied ensured that over 98% of the deployed sensors successfully met all of their design goals. In addition, we summarize the results of a large-scale deployment of our system for a nation-wide experiment in Singapore in 2015, and describe three sample applications of the collected data. We publish sample data sets and algorithm code for researchers to analyze.
Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia in Tomm5–/– Mice

Almost all mitochondrial proteins are encoded in the nuclear DNA and synthesized in the cytosol as pre-proteins. There is a protein translocase located in the mitochondrial outer membrane that transports mitochondrial pre-proteins into mitochondria. The central component of this translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOMM) complex is TOMM40, and TOMM5 is one of three small subunits associated with TOMM40. Translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 5 homolog (Tomm5–/–) knockout mice demonstrated an unexpected lung-specific phenotype characterized by widespread intra-alveolar fibrosis. Although TOMM5-deficient mice tested normal in a very broad range of phenotyping assays, they displayed histopathological lesions in the lung that were consistent with those reported in humans with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), which is also known as bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). The lesions had a patchy distribution in the lung and were characterized by the presence of intraluminal fibrogenic buds consisting of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts embedded in a loose connective tissue matrix that occupied the lumina of alveoli and alveolar ducts, with preservation of underlying alveolar architecture. In addition to macrophages, which were numerous in affected and surrounding alveoli, eosinophils comprised the most common and widespread inflammatory cell. Taken together, the findings in Tomm5–/– mice provide yet another example of the value of histopathology as a baseline assay in high-throughput phenotyping systems.
Twelve-Month Effects of the COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN Program on Overweight and Depressive Symptoms in High School Adolescents.

BACKGROUND We evaluated the 12-month effects of the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) Healthy Lifestyles TEEN (Thinking, Emotions, Exercise, Nutrition) program versus an attention control program (Healthy Teens) on overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms in high school adolescents. METHODS A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were 779 culturally diverse adolescents in the US Southwest. COPE is a cognitive-behavioral skills-building intervention with 20 min of physical activity integrated into a health course and taught by teachers once a week for 15 weeks. Outcome measures included body mass index (BMI) and depressive symptoms. RESULTS COPE teens had a significantly lower BMI at 12 months (F(1,698) = 11.22, p = . 001) than Healthy Teens (24.95 versus 25.48). There was a significant decrease in the proportion of overweight and obese COPE teens from baseline to 12 months (χ(2) = 5.40, p = . 02) as compared with Healthy Teens. For youth who began the study with extremely elevated depressive symptoms, COPE teens had significantly lower depression at 12 months compared with Healthy Teens (COPE M = 42.39; Healthy Teens M = 57.90); (F(1 ,12) = 5.78, p = . 03). CONCLUSIONS COPE can improve long-term physical and mental health outcomes in teens.