Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-Throughput Sequencing Investigation of Bacterial Diversity in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media and Middle Ear Cholesteatoma

Background Chronic otitis media is a common middle ear disease in otolaryngology. Bacterial infection is considered as the cause of the disease, but relying on conventional bacterial cultures can be problematic for identifying specific pathogens. Current research suggests that bacteria in microbial communities can only be identified by rDNA sequencing of bacteria. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized broad-range PCR amplification of 16S rRNA genes with clone analysis to compare bacterial diversity in lesions from 6 patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and 10 patients with cholesteatoma of middle ear lesions. Bacteria were analyzed at the levels of phylum, order, family, genus, and species. Results The age and sex difference between the patients with chronic suppurative otitis media and the patients with middle ear cholesteatoma were comparable (P > 0.05). Bacterial species abundance and species diversity were greater in cholesteatoma of the middle ear lesions than in CSOM lesions. The total number of detected operational taxonomic units (OTU) was 838, comprising 788 OTU detected in cholesteatoma pathological tissues, 230 in CSOM pathological tissues, and 180 OTU common to both groups. Proteus is a major part of CSOM (99.46%, P = 0.000321). The phyla detected in the Cholesteatoma samples were Proteus (Proteobacteria) (35.77%), thikum (Firmicutes) (44.21%, P = 0.001071), and Actinomycetes (Actinobacteria) (16.66%, P = 0.032464). At all bacterial taxonomic levels, the epithelial tissue of middle ear cholesteatoma was complex in terms of bacterial diversity, covering many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, likely related to bacterial microbiome formation. In contrast, the bacteriology of the CSOM lesions was relatively simple at all taxonomic levels, with all sequences characterized as belonging to Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion Our results suggest that persistent middle ear cholesteatoma infection may be a microbial flora disorder related to conditional pathogenic bacteria rather than a single bacterial infectious disease. The pathogen is relatively single in the diseased tissue of chronic suppurative otitis media, which is the main reason for its effective antiinfection treatment.
Esports for Seniors: Acute Effects of Esports Gaming in the Community on the Emotional State and Heart Rate among Japanese Older Adults

In the last few years, esports have become popular among older individuals. Although participation in esports can become a novel activity for older adults, evidence on their effects is limited to young individuals. This study investigated the effects of esports participation on the emotional and physiological states of older adults. Twenty-five older men and women participating in health promotion activities in community centers (75 ± 8 years old) played a two-player racing game (Gran Turismo Sport, Sony) for 8–10 min. Their heart rates (HRs) were measured while the subjects played the games. The blood pressure (BP) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) were measured before and after gaming. The average HR during games (98 ± 17 bpm) was significantly higher than at pre-gaming (76 ± 11 bpm, p < 0.001). The BP before and after the games did not significantly change. Interestingly, the vigor scores (positive mood affect) in POMS increased after the games (p < 0.05) in females, but not in males. In summary, among older individuals, playing esports games showed a moderate increase in HR, no spike/drop of BP, and positive mood elevation. Our preliminary data suggest the feasibility of participating in esports in a community for older adults and that it could affect mood positively, especially among older women.
Global well-posedness of fourth-order Petrovsky equation with weak and strong damping terms

In this paper, a semilinear fourth-order Petrovsky equation with nonlinear weak damping term and linear strong damping term is considered in the frame of the potential well. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the global strong solution with sub-critical initial energy. In addition, we obtain the global existence, asymptotic behaviour and finite time blowup for the weak (non-steady state) solution with a critical initial energy level.
Adjust the resonance frequency of (Co90Nb10/Ta)n multilayers from 1.4 to 6.5 GHz by controlling the thickness of Ta interlayers

In this work, the static and high frequency magnetic properties of (Co90Nb10/Ta)(n) multilayers have been investigated. The results show that the in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy fields can be adjusted from 12 to 520 Oe only by decreasing the thickness of Ta interlayers from 8.0 to 1.8 nm. As a consequence, the resonance frequencies of the multilayers continuously increased from 1.4 to 6.5 GHz. It was found that the changes in the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy field are ascribed to the interlayer interactions among the magnetic layers by investigating the delta M(H) curves.
Influence of Acidic Environmental Conditions on Push-Out Bonding Strength of Four Calcium Silicate-Based Materials to Root Dentin

Introduction Calcium silicate-based cements (CSCs) are frequently used in various endodontic procedures such as perforation repair, vital pulp therapy, regenerative treatments, or apexification. One of their areas of use, treatment of perforations, can be challenging in clinical practice. Selection of stable, durable, and compatible material with structural and biological alterations is a must in such situations. Aim This study aimed to compare the dislocation resistance of various calcium-silicate-containing materials used in endodontic treatment exposed to various environmental conditions in a push-out study model. Methods Selected ninety-six human mandibular premolars with single root canals were cut from the middle portion to obtain dentin slices of 2 mm thickness (n = 192). Then, the canal lumen was enlarged by using #4Gates-Glidden drills. Specimens for each repair material (MTA, Angelus, Endosequence RRM (ERRM), Biodentine, BioMTA) were placed in shaped lumens, wrapped in pieces of gauze, and randomly divided into four groups (n = 48) according to the storage time and media: group A: 4 days in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), group B: 4 days in acetic acid (pH = 4.4), group C: 34 days in PBS, and group D: 4 days in acetic acid (pH = 4.4) followed by exposure to PBS for 30 days. A universal testing machine measured the dislodgement resistance followed by scanning electron microscopy imaging to evaluate the material-dentin interface. Results ERRM showed the highest dislocation resistance in all test groups (p < 0.05). The greatest bonding strength was observed (13,54 ± 5,56 MPa) after exposure to 34 days in PBS (pH = 7.2). The values for ERRM decreased in contact with acetic acid (pH = 4.4) and increased when placed in PBS (p > 0.05). Conclusion All repair materials showed a higher dislocation resistance when stored in PBS regardless of storage time. However, the improved pH of the surrounding media was not successful in reversing the deteriorating effect caused by lower pH in relation to dislocation resistance in all tested materials except for ERRM.
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over the Primary Motor Cortex in Improving Postural Stability in Healthy Young Adults

Simple Summary Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is used as an adjuvant rehabilitation treatment to improve postural control and lower limb function. This study explored the effects of sham and anodal tDCS over the leg region of M1 on static and dynamic postural stability in healthy young adults. Jump-landing tasks were used to examine dynamic postural stability. Static postural stability was assessed by a single-leg stand on force plates with open eyes. Anodal tDCS had an immediate improving effect on static and dynamic postural stability, and might evolve as an adjuvant rehabilitation treatment to enhance postural deficits in the future. Abstract Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) is of increasing interest to improve motor performance in healthy adults and patients with respective deficits. This study aimed to examine whether tDCS over M1 can improve static and dynamic postural stability in young healthy adults. Seventeen healthy participants (mean age = 25.14 ± 2.50 (standard deviation, SD) years) received sham and anodal tDCS (2 mA) over the vertex at the Cz electrode position for 15 min. Static and dynamic postural stability were evaluated before and immediately after tDCS. The center of pressure (COP) sway area (COPSA) and COP maximum displacements to medio-lateral (COPML) and antero-posterior directions (COPAP) were used to evaluate static postural stability. The anterior–posterior stability index (APSI), medial–lateral stability index (MLSI), vertical stability index (VSI), dynamic postural stability index (DPSI), and time to stabilization (TTS) in forward (FL), 45° anterior lateral (LL), and 45° anterior medial (ML) direction landing, as well as the Y-balance composite score (YBTCS) were used to assess dynamic postural stability. The results showed that the LL-TTS (p = 0.044), non-dominant leg COPSA (p = 0.015), and YBTCS (p < 0.0001) were significantly improved in the real stimulation as compared with the sham stimulation session, and anodal tDCS significantly changed dominant leg COPAP (p = 0.021), FL-APSI (p < 0.0001), FL-TTS (p = 0.008), ML-TTS (p = 0.002), non-dominant leg YBTCS (p < 0.0001), and dominant leg YBTCS (p = 0.014). There were no significant differences in all obtained balance values in the sham stimulation session, except for non-dominant leg YBTCS (p = 0.049). We conclude that anodal tDCS over M1 has an immediate improving effect on static postural stability and dynamic performance in young healthy adults. This makes tDCS a promising adjuvant rehabilitation treatment to enhance postural stability deficits in the future.
Radio Jets in Young Stellar Objects with the SKA

Jets are ubiquitous in the star-forming process since accretion is intimately associated with outflow. Weak free-free continuum emission in the centimeter domain is associated with these jets. Observations in the cm range are most useful to trace the base of the ionized jets, close to the YSO and its accretion disk, where jets are accelerated and collimated. Optical or near-IR images are obscured by the high extinction present. Radio recombination lines in jets (in combination with proper motions) should provide their 3D kinematics. SKA will be crucial to perform this kind of observations. Thermal radio jets are associated with both low and high mass protostars. The ionizing mechanism appears to be related to shocks in the associated outflows, as suggested by the observed correlation between the centimeter luminosity and the outflow momentum rate. From this correlation and that with the bolometric luminosity of the driving star it will be possible to discriminate with SKA between unresolved HII regions and jets, and to infer physical properties of the embedded objects. Some jets show indications of non-thermal emission (negative spectral indices) in their lobes. Linearly polarized synchrotron emission has been found in the lobes of the jet of HH 80-81, allowing us to measure the direction and intensity of the magnetic field, a clue ingredient in determining the jet collimation and ejection mechanisms. As only a fraction of the emission is polarized, very sensitive observations such as those that will be feasible with SKA are required to perform these studies in other objects. Jets are common in many kinds of astrophysical scenarios. Characterizing YSO radio jets, whose physical conditions can be reliably determined from their thermal emission, would be also useful in understanding acceleration and collimation mechanisms in all kinds of astrophysical jets.
Flammulina velutipes Mycorrhizae Attenuate High Fat Diet-Induced Lipid Disorder, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Liver and Perirenal Adipose Tissue of Mice

Flammulina velutipes (FV) is edible mushroom that has nutritional and medicinal values. FV mycorrhizae, the by-products of FV, are an abundant source and receive less attention. The objective of this study was to investigate the composition of FV mycorrhizae, and its effects on high fat diet (HFD)-induced lipid disorder, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines, both in the liver and perirenal adipose tissue (PAT) of mice. The results showed that FV mycorrhizae contain abundant trace elements, polysaccharide, amino acids and derivatives, and organic compounds. It was found that 4% FV mycorrhizae (HFDFV) supplementation decreased HFD-induced liver weight and triglyceride (TG) in the plasma, liver and PAT, altered plasma and hepatic fatty acids profiles, promoted gene expression involved in lipid hydrolysis, fatty acid transportation and β-oxidation in the liver and reduced lipid synthesis in the liver and PAT. HFDFV attenuated HFD-induced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine by increasing GSH/GSSG, and decreasing levels of MDA and IL6 both in the liver and PAT, while it differentially regulated gene expression of IL1β, IL6, and CCL2 in liver and PAT. The results indicated that FV mycorrhizae are effective to attenuate HFD-induced lipid disorder, oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver and PAT, indicating their promising constituents for functional foods and herbal medicine.
Sodium, Potassium and Iodine Intake in an Adult Population of Lithuania

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular events and death. A reduction in salt intake is among the most cost-effective strategies to reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Increasing potassium lowers blood pressure and is associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Adequate iodine intake is important to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. Salt iodization is a key strategy to prevent such deficiency. In Lithuania, no surveys have been performed to directly assess sodium, potassium and iodine consumption. The aim of the present study was to measure sodium, potassium and iodine intake in a randomly selected adult Lithuanian adult population using 24 h urine collections, and to assess knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards salt consumption. Salt and potassium intakes were estimated in 888 randomly selected participants by 24 h urine sodium and potassium excretion and 679 individuals provided suitable 24 h urine samples for the analysis of iodine excretion. Average salt intake was 10.0 (SD 5.3) g/24 h and average potassium intake was 3.3 (SD 1.3) g/24 h. Only 12.5% of participants consumed less than 5 g/24 h of salt. The median value of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 95.5 μg/L. Our study showed that average salt intake is twice as high as the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organization while potassium and iodine intakes in Lithuania are below the recommended levels.
The possible use of circRNAs as useful diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in osteoporosis

Bone health is ensured by coordinated work between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. When this balance is lacking, skeletal diseases, including osteoporosis (OP), arise. The latter is caused by an increase in erosion and a decrease in bone matrix deposition, resulting in low-quality bone that tends to have a higher risk of fracture. To date, despite the use of sophisticated software to diagnose OP, and the use of several drugs to mitigate the effects of this pathology, there are still limitations that drive the scientific community to search for new biomarkers. In recent years, epigenetics has attracted the attention of many researchers as a possible mechanism involved in the onset and progression of OP. In particular they have focused on circular RNAs (circRNAs), a particular class of non-coding RNAs. Precisely because of their properties, these molecules could open up new possibilities in the field of precision medicine. In conclusion, therefore, the aim of this review is to offer an overview on circRNAs, which could potentially become, in the future, useful diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in OP routine clinical practice.
Antioxidant Potential of the Sweet Whey-Based Beverage Colada after the Digestive Process and Relationships with the Lipid and Protein Fractions

Whey-based beverages could be an effective way of reusing a by-product of th cheese industry, mitigating environmental hazards and, at the same time, profiting a useful food with high nutritional and antioxidant properties. In this study, a traditional Ecuadorian beverage (Colada) was prepared combining sweet whey, Maracuyá and barley. Antioxidant properties before and after an in vitro digestion using the INFOGEST method were determined, and relationships with intestinal transformations of the lipid and protein fractions were analyzed. The digestive process had a positive effect on antioxidant properties based on increased values of ABTS and FRAP located in the bioaccessible fraction (BF), together with strong increments of total polyphenols. Moreover, pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with the BF of Colada significantly reduced ROS generation (p < 0.001) measured by the dichlorofluorescein assay. Substantial changes of the fatty acid profile occurred during digestion, such as a fall of saturated fatty acids and a rise of polyunsaturated. The protein profile, examined by SDS-PAGE and exclusion molecular chromatography in the BF, showed that the major part of the proteins were digested in the intestinal phase. Analysis of NanoLC-MS/MS revealed 18 antioxidant peptides originated from whey proteins, but also 16 peptides from barley with potential antioxidant properties. In conclusion, combining sweet whey with Maracuyá and barley constitutes an excellent nutritional beverage with a strong antioxidant potential.
Association Between Serum Ferritin Concentration and Risk of Adverse Maternal and Fetal Pregnancy Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective This study evaluated the associations of serum ferritin (SF) concentration during pregnancy with the risk of adverse maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 2327 pregnant women from 2015 to 2020 in Guangdong, China. SF concentrations were measured at 16–18th and 28–32th week of gestation. Logistic regression models were applied to estimate the association between SF concentration and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results After multivariable adjustment, the odds ratio (OR) of the highest quartile of SF concentration at 16–18th week of gestation was 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 1.89) for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.15, 2.79) for small for gestational age (SGA) when compared with the lowest quartile. At 28–32th week of gestation compared with the lowest quartile, women with SF in the highest quartile had an increased risk of SGA (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.62). Moreover, the lowest quartile of SF concentration decreased risk of SGA by 90% (95% CI: 0.01, 0.80) when compared with the highest quartile among pregnancy women with GDM. Conclusion Elevated SF concentrations increased the risk of GDM and SGA during pregnancy. Maintaining an appropriately low level of maternal SF at 28–32th week of gestation in women with GDM could reduce the risk of SGA.
Simulations of small mass structures in the local universe to constrain the nature of dark matter

Title of dissertation: SIMULATIONS OF SMALL MASS STRUCTURES IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE TO CONSTRAIN THE NATURE OF DARK MATTER Emil Polisensky, Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Massimo Ricotti Department of Astronomy I use N-body simulations of the Milky Way and its satellite population of dwarf galaxies to probe the small-scale power spectrum and the properties of the unknown dark matter particle. The number of dark matter satellites decreases with decreasing mass of the dark matter particle. Assuming that the number of dark matter satellites exceeds or equals the number of observed satellites of the Milky Way, I derive a lower limit on the dark matter particle mass of mWDM > 2.1 keV for a thermal dark matter particle, with 95% confidence. The recent discovery of many new dark matter dominated satellites of the Milky Way in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey allows me to set a limit comparable to constraints from the complementary methods of Lyman-α forest modeling and X-ray observations of the unresolved cosmic X-ray background and of halos from dwarf galaxy to cluster scales. I also investigate the claim that the largest subhalos in high resolution dissipationless cold dark matter (CDM) simulations of the Milky Way are dynamically inconsistent with observations of its most luminous satellites. I quantify the effects of the adopted cosmological parameters on the satellite densities and show the tension between observations and simulations adopting parameters consistent with WMAP9 is greatly diminished. I explore warm dark matter (WDM) cosmologies for 1–4 keV thermal relics. In 1 keV cosmologies subhalos have circular velocities at kpc scales 60% lower than their CDM counterparts, but are reduced by only 10% in 4 keV cosmologies. Recent reports of a detected X-ray line in emission from galaxy clusters has been argued as evidence of sterile neutrinos with properties similar to a 2 keV thermal relic. If confirmed, my simulations show they would naturally reconcile the densities of the brightest satellites and be consistent with the abundance of ultra-faint dwarfs. I conclude by using N-body simulations of a large set of dark matter halos in different CDM and WDM cosmologies to demonstrate that the spherically averaged density profile of dark matter halos has a shape that depends on the power spectrum of initial conditions. Virialization isotropizes the velocity dispersion in the inner regions of the halo but does not erase the memory of the initial conditions in phase space. I confirm that the slope of the inner density profile in CDM cosmologies depends on the halo mass with more massive halos exhibiting steeper profiles. My simulations support analytic models of halo structure that include angular momentum and argue against a universal form for the density profile. SIMULATIONS OF SMALL MASS STRUCTURES IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE TO CONSTRAIN THE NATURE OF DARK MATTER