Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Vitamin D on Physical Efficiency and Exercise Performance—A Review

Vitamin D deficiency amongst athletes and the general population seems to be a prominent problem. The most recognized role of vitamin D is its regulation of calcium homeostasis; there is a strong relationship between vitamin D and bone health. Moreover, its concentrations are associated with muscle function and immune response in both the general and athletic populations. Vitamin D level is strongly connected with the presence of VDRs (vitamin D receptors) in most human extraskeletal cells. Expression of multiple myogenic transcription factors enhancing muscle cell proliferation and differentiation is caused by an exposure of skeletal muscles to vitamin D. The aim of this review is to summarize current understanding of the significance of vitamin D on exercise performance and physical efficiency, as well to analyze the impact of vitamin D on multiple potential mechanisms. More high-quality research studies, considering free 25(OH)D as a better marker of vitamin D status, the baseline level of 25(OH)D and multiple pathways of vitamin D acting and usage in athletes are required.
Organizational Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Mediating Effect of Triple Bottom Line

Limited research in the area of the triple bottom line (TBL) mediation effect on the relationship between organizational strategic performance (OSP) and corporate social responsibility performance (CSRP) has motivated this study. The objective of this study is to investigate how OSP affects CSRP and the mediation impact of TBL elements through the decision-making process of business management. Considering a sample of 250 employees from Bangladesh, this study used structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the relevant research hypotheses. Through the lens of stakeholder, institutional, legitimacy and resource-based view theories along with rigorous statistical techniques, this study has found that OSP is positively related to CSRP. In terms of the mediation effect, this study has found that economic responsibility has no intervening role while environmental and social responsibility significantly mediated the relationship between OSP and CSRP. Finally, the full mediation power of the model suggests that OSP affects a firm’s strategic decision and CSR outcomes directly as well as indirectly through TBL.
Socioeconomic determinants of nutritional status among ‘Baiga’ tribal children In Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh: A qualitative study

The Baigas due to their primitive agricultural techniques, poor education status and poor population growth have been conferred the status of ‘Scheduled Tribe’ by the Government of India. The community bears the brunt of inequities, reflected in their poor nutritional and socioeconomic status. We have employed qualitative design for the study, as we wanted to understand the contextual factors for Baiga tribal children’s inferior nutrition status. Twenty in-depth interviews with the mothers of the children suffering from moderate to severe malnutrition and several other interviews were conducted with the key stakeholders like anganwadi workers, Integrated Child Development Scheme supervisors, Accredited Social Health Activists, public distribution system shopkeeper and registered medical practitioners. Interviews with the key informants were conducted in the Balagahat district of Madhya Pradesh. Key factors responsible for perpetuating malnutrition were then identified through thematic analysis. It was found that dissatisfaction with public services and indifferent attitude of public servants resulting in poor uptake of public services further accentuated the problem. A qualitative enquiry into the issue of high and persistent levels of malnourishment among these tribal children revealed several aspects which quantitative method may not have captured. This implies that while framing a policy for improvement in the nutrition status in such population, a holistic approach is required instead of focussing on one aspect such as supplementation of nutrition alone.
Concurrent Validity of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire and Study Short Form 36 for Measuring the Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Foot Problems

Background and Objectives: Foot problems may be considered to be a prevalent condition and impact the health-related quality of life (QoL). Considering these Spanish-validated tools, the Foot Health Status questionnaire (FHSQ) may provide a health-related QoL measurement for specific foot conditions and general status. To date, the domains of the FHSQ and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) have not been correlated. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to correlate the domains of the FHSQ and SF-36 in patients with foot problems. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. A sample of 101 patients with foot problems was recruited. A single researcher collected descriptive data, and outcome measurements (FHSQ and SF-36) were self-reported. Results: Spearman’s correlation coefficients (rs) were calculated and categorized as weak (rs = 0.00–0.40), moderate (rs = 0.41–0.69), or strong (rs = 0.70–1.00). In all analyses, statistical significance was considered with a p-value < 0.01 with a 99% confidence interval. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) were found between all domains of FHSQ and SF-36, except for the mental health domain of the SF-36 with foot pain, foot function, and general foot health of the FHSQ, as well as between the vitality domain of the SF-36 and the general foot health domain of the FHSQ (p > 0.01). Statistically significant correlations varied from week to strong (rs = 0.25–0.97). The strongest correlations (p < 0.001) were found for physical activity and physical function (rs = 0.94), vigor and vitality (rs = 0.89), social capacity and social function (rs = 0.97), and general health domains of the SF-36 and FHSQ. Conclusions: The FHSQ and SF-36 showed an adequate concurrent validity, especially for the physical activity or function, vigor or vitality, social capacity or function, and general health domains. Nevertheless, the mental health domain of the SF-36 should be considered with caution.
Effects of Aging and Lifelong Aerobic Exercise on Basal and Exercise-Induced Inflammation.

Age-associated chronic basal inflammation compromises muscle mass and adaptability, but exercise training may exert an anti-inflammatory effect. This investigation assessed basal and exercise-induced inflammation in three cohorts of men: young exercisers (YE, n=10, 25±1y, VO2max:53±3mL/kg/min, quadriceps area:78±3cm2), old healthy non-exercisers (OH, n=10, 75±1y, VO2max:22±1mL/kg/min, quadriceps area:56±3cm2), and lifelong exercisers with a 53±1y aerobic training history (LLE, n=21, 74±1y, VO2max:34±1mL/kg/min, quadriceps area:67±2cm2). Resting serum IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, and IGF-1 were measured. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained at rest (basal) and 4h after an acute exercise challenge (3x10reps, 70%1RM) to assess gene expression of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-4, IL-1Ra, TGF-β), chemokines (IL-8, MCP-1), cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1, COX-2), prostaglandin E2synthases (mPGES-1, cPGES) and receptors (EP3-4), and macrophage markers (CD16b, CD163), as well as basal macrophage abundance (CD68+cells). Aging led to higher (P≤0.05) circulating IL-6 and skeletal muscle COX-1, mPGES-1, and CD163 expression. However, LLE had significantly lower serum IL-6 (P≤0.05 vs. OH) and a predominantly anti-inflammatory muscle profile [higher IL-10 (P≤0.05 vs. YE), TNF-α, TGF-β, and EP4 (P≤0.05 vs. OH)]. In OH only, acute exercise increased expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, TGF-β, and IL-8 (P≤0.05). LLE had postexercise gene expression similar to YE, except lower IL-10 (P≤0.10), mPGES-1, and EP3 (P≤0.05). Thus, while aging led to a pro-inflammatory profile within blood and muscle, lifelong exercise partially prevented this and generally preserved the acute inflammatory response to exercise seen in young exercising men. Lifelong exercise may positively impact muscle health throughout aging by promoting anti-inflammation in skeletal muscle.
Alveolar nitric oxide is related to periostin levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive diffuse lung disease leading to chronic respiratory failure and death in 3-5 years. Among potential prognostic biomarkers, alveolar nitric oxide (CaNO) and serum periostin showed to predict mortality and disease progression in these patients. The aim of this study is to investigate potential correlations between CaNO and serum periostin and evaluate their prognostic value. METHODS 59 patients with IPF (47 males, 65.5 ± 9.5 years old) were recruited in Siena Regional Referral Centre for Interstitial Lung Disease. In this population, we retrospectively collected multiple- flows exhaled nitric oxide parameters and serum periostin at diagnosis and compared these values with a control group of 60 and 8 healthy volunteers, respectively. Clinical, functional and survival data were collected according to our Centre follow-up program. RESULTS IPF patients reported higher levels of CaNO but not of periostin in respect with healthy controls (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.1096, respectively). CaNO significantly correlated with periostin levels and TLCO% (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0205, respectively). Patients with CaNO > 6 ppb showed a worse prognosis, close to statistical significance (p = 0.0628). No difference in survival time was found according to periostin levels. CONCLUSIONS CaNO was significantly higher in IPF patients and was related to functional severity of disease. CaNO levels correlated with periostin, suggesting a potential common pathway between the biomarkers.
Loss of Chondroitin Sulfate Modification Causes Inflammation and Neurodegeneration in skt Mice

One major aspect of the aging process is the onset of chronic, low-grade inflammation that is highly associated with age-related diseases. The molecular mechanisms that regulate these processes have not been fully elucidated. We have identified a spontaneous mutant mouse line, small with kinky tail (skt), that exhibits accelerated aging and age-related disease phenotypes including increased inflammation in the brain and retina, enhanced age-dependent retinal abnormalities including photoreceptor cell degeneration, neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, and reduced lifespan. By positional cloning, we identified a deletion in chondroitin sulfate synthase 1 (Chsy1) that is responsible for these phenotypes in skt mice. CHSY1 is a member of the chondroitin N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase family that plays critical roles in the biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) that is attached to the core protein to form the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG). Consistent with this function, the Chsy1 mutation dramatically decreases chondroitin sulfate GAGs in the retina and hippocampus. In addition, macrophage and neutrophil populations appear significantly altered in the bone marrow and spleen of skt mice, suggesting an important role for CHSY1 in the functioning of these immune cell types. Thus, our study reveals a previously unidentified impact of CHSY1 in the retina and hippocampus. Specifically, chondroitin sulfate (CS) modification of proteins by CHSY1 appears critical for proper regulation of immune cells of the myeloid lineage and for maintaining the integrity of neuronal tissues, since a defect in this gene results in increased inflammation and abnormal phenotypes associated with age-related diseases.
Developing an intervention to implement an ICF-based e-intake tool in clinical otology and audiology practice

Abstract Objective: To develop an intervention for the implementation of an ICF-based e-intake tool in clinical oto-audiology practice. Design: Intervention design study using the eight-stepped Behaviour Change Wheel. Hearing health professionals’ (HHPs) and patients’ barriers to and enablers of the use of the tool were identified in our previous study (steps 1–4). Following these steps, relevant intervention functions and policy categories were selected to address the reported barriers and enablers (steps 5–6); and behaviour change techniques and delivery modes were chosen for the selected intervention functions (steps 7–8). Results: For HHPs, the intervention functions education, training, enablement, modelling, persuasion and environmental restructuring were selected (step 5). Guidelines, service provision, and changes in the environment were identified as appropriate policy categories (step 6). These were linked to nine behaviour change techniques (e.g. information on health consequences), delivered through educational/training materials and workshops, and environmental factors (steps 7–8). For patients, the intervention functions education and enablement were selected, supported through service provision (steps 5–6). These were linked to three behaviour change techniques (e.g. environmental factors), delivered through their incorporation into the tool (steps 7–8). Conclusions: A multifaceted intervention was proposed to support the successful implementation of the intake tool.
A preliminary 3-D comparison of rapid and slow maxillary expansion in children: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND This study compared the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and slow maxillary expansion (SME) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). AIM To evaluate the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects differences produced by two different maxillary expansion protocols. DESIGN Eligibility criteria included maxillary transverse deficiencies in children (mean age, 8.18 years old), randomly assigned to either: RME and SME. At the outcome analysis phase a sample of 29 subjects has been analyzed (RME group, N=16 and SME group, N=13). CBCT scans taken before expansion and six months later were evaluated. Five posterior and 6 anterior transverse measurements were made at different vertical levels. Treatment changes were analyzed using paired t-tests; independent t-tests were used to compare the two groups. RESULTS There were statistically significant (p<.05) increases in maxillary width at the skeletal, alveolar and dental levels for both groups, with significantly smaller increases at the more superior than inferior levels. The RME group exhibited statistically larger width increases than the SME group for all measures except interorbital width, anterior alveolar process width, and intercanine width. The group differences were greater for anterior than posterior apical base widths. CONCLUSIONS Rapid maxillary expansion produced greater orthopedic effects than slow maxillary expansion, with the greatest effects occurring in the anterior apical base.
Trade-offs in motivating volunteer effort: Experimental evidence on voluntary contributions to science

Digitization has facilitated the proliferation of crowd science by lowering the cost of finding individuals with the willingness to participate in science without pay. However, the factors that influence participation and the outcomes of voluntary participation are unclear. We report two findings from a field experiment on the world’s largest crowd science platform that tests how voluntary contributions to science are affected by providing clarifying information on either the desired outcome of a scientific task or the labor requirements for completing the task. First, there is significant heterogeneity in the motivations and ability of contributors to crowd science. Second, both of the information interventions lead to significant decreases in the quantity and increases in the quality of contributions. Combined, our findings are consistent with the information interventions improving match quality between the task and the volunteer. Our findings suggest that science can be democratized by engaging individuals with varying skill levels and motivations with small changes in the information provided to participants.
Imbalance Data Processing Strategy for Protein Interaction Sites Prediction

Protein-protein interactions play essential roles in various biological progresses. Identifying protein interaction sites can facilitate researchers to understand life activities and therefore will be helpful for drug design. However, the number of experimental determined protein interaction sites is far less than that of protein sites in protein-protein interaction or protein complexes. Therefore, the negative and positive samples are usually imbalanced, which is common but bring result bias on the prediction of protein interaction sites by computational approaches. In this work, we presented three imbalance data processing strategies to reconstruct the original dataset, and then extracted protein features from the evolutionary conservation of amino acids to build a predictor for identification of protein interaction sites. On a dataset with 10,430 surface residues but only 2,299 interface residues, the imbalance dataset processing strategies can obviously reduce the prediction bias, and therefore improve the prediction performance of protein interaction sites. The experimental results show that our prediction models can achieve a better prediction performance, such as a prediction accuracy of 0.758, or a high F-measure of 0.737, which demonstrated the effectiveness of our method.
Ethnic differences in the prevalence, socioeconomic and health related risk factors of knee pain and osteoarthritis symptoms in older Malaysians

Knee pain is often underreported, underestimated and undertreated. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence, burden and further identify socioeconomic factors influencing ethnic differences in knee pain and symptoms of OA among older adults aged 55 years and over in Greater Kuala Lumpur (the capital city of Malaysia). The sample for the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) was selected using stratified random sampling, by age and ethnicity from the electoral rolls of three parliamentary constituencies. Information on knee pain was available in 1226 participants, mean age (SD) 68.96 (1.57) years (409 Malay, 416 Chinese, 401 Indian). The crude and weighted prevalence of knee pain and self-reported knee OA symptoms were 33.3% and 30.8% respectively. There were significant ethnic differences in knee pain (crude prevalence: Malays 44.6%, Chinese 23.5% and Indians 31.9%, p<0.001). The presence of two or more non-communicable diseases (NCD) attenuated the increased risk of knee pain among the ethnic Indians compared to the ethnic Chinese. The prevalence of knee pain remained significantly higher among the ethnic Malays after adjustment for confounders. While the prevalence of knee pain in our older population appears similar to that reported in other published studies in Asia, the higher prevalence among the ethnic Malays has not previously been reported. Further research to determine potential genetic susceptibility to knee pain among the ethnic Malays is recommended.
Transcriptome analysis of differential gene expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle from Debao and landrace pigs based on RNA-sequencing

Abstract RNA-seq analysis was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the genetic level in the longissimus dorsi muscle from two pigs to investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying the difference in meat quality between Debao pigs and Landrace pigs. Then, these DEGs underwent functional annotation, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses. Finally, the expression levels of specific DEGs were assessed using qRT-PCR. The reference genome showed gene dosage detection of all samples which showed that the total reference genome comprised 22342 coding genes, including 14743 known and 190 unknown genes. For detection of the Debao pig genome, we obtained 14168 genes, including 13994 known and 174 unknown genes. For detection of the Landrace pig genome, we obtained 14404 genes, including 14223 known and 181 unknown genes. GO analysis and KEGG signaling pathway analysis show that DEGs are significantly related to metabolic regulation, amino acid metabolism, muscular tissue, muscle structure development etc. We identified key genes in these processes, such as FOS, EGR2, and IL6, by PPI network analysis. qRT-PCR confirmed the differential expression of six selected DEGs in both pig breeds. In conclusion, the present study revealed key genes and related signaling pathways that influence the difference in pork quality between these breeds and could provide a theoretical basis for improving pork quality in future genetic thremmatology.
Phylogeny of Anoxygenic Photosynthesis Based on Sequences of Photosynthetic Reaction Center Proteins and a Key Enzyme in Bacteriochlorophyll Biosynthesis, the Chlorophyllide Reductase

Photosynthesis is a key process for the establishment and maintenance of life on earth, and it is manifested in several major lineages of the prokaryote tree of life. The evolution of photosynthesis in anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria is of major interest as these have the most ancient roots of photosynthetic systems. The phylogenetic relations between anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria were compared on the basis of sequences of key proteins of the type-II photosynthetic reaction center, including PufLM and PufH (PuhA), and a key enzyme of bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis, the light-independent chlorophyllide reductase BchXYZ. The latter was common to all anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria, including those with a type-I and those with a type-II photosynthetic reaction center. The phylogenetic considerations included cultured phototrophic bacteria from several phyla, including Proteobacteria (138 species), Chloroflexi (five species), Chlorobi (six species), as well as Heliobacterium modesticaldum (Firmicutes), Chloracidobacterium acidophilum (Acidobacteria), and Gemmatimonas phototrophica (Gemmatimonadetes). Whenever available, type strains were studied. Phylogenetic relationships based on a photosynthesis tree (PS tree, including sequences of PufHLM-BchXYZ) were compared with those of 16S rRNA gene sequences (RNS tree). Despite some significant differences, large parts were congruent between the 16S rRNA phylogeny and photosynthesis proteins. The phylogenetic relations demonstrated that bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis had evolved in ancestors of phototrophic green bacteria much earlier as compared to phototrophic purple bacteria and that multiple events independently formed different lineages of aerobic phototrophic purple bacteria, many of which have very ancient roots. The Rhodobacterales clearly represented the youngest group, which was separated from other Proteobacteria by a large evolutionary gap.
Understanding and measuring human B‐cell tolerance and its breakdown in autoimmune disease

The maintenance of immunological tolerance of B lymphocytes is a complex and critical process that must be implemented as to avoid the detrimental development of autoreactivity and possible autoimmunity. Murine models have been invaluable to elucidate many of the key components in B‐cell tolerance; however, translation to human homeostatic and pathogenic immune states can be difficult to assess. Functional autoreactive, flow cytometric, and single‐cell cloning assays have proven to be critical in deciphering breaks in B‐cell tolerance within autoimmunity; however, newer approaches to assess human B‐cell tolerance may prove to be vital in the further exploration of underlying tolerance defects. In this review, we supply a comprehensive overview of human immune tolerance checkpoints with associated mechanisms of enforcement, and highlight current and future methodologies which are likely to benefit future studies into the mechanisms that become defective in human autoimmune conditions.