Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Membrane fluidity adjusts the insertion of the transacylase PlsX to regulate phospholipid biosynthesis in Gram-positive bacteria

PlsX plays a central role in the coordination of fatty acid and phospholipid biosynthesis in Gram-positive bacteria. PlsX is a peripheral membrane acyltransferase that catalyzes the conversion of acyl-ACP to acyl-phosphate, which is in turn utilized by the polytopic membrane acyltransferase PlsY on the pathway of bacterial phospholipid biosynthesis. We have recently studied the interaction between PlsX and membrane phospholipids in vivo and in vitro, and observed that membrane association is necessary for the efficient transfer of acyl-phosphate to PlsY. However, understanding the molecular basis of such a channeling mechanism remains a major challenge. Here, we disentangle the binding and insertion events of the enzyme to the membrane, and the subsequent catalysis. We show that PlsX membrane binding is a process mostly mediated by phospholipid charge, whereas fatty acid saturation and membrane fluidity remarkably influence the membrane insertion step. Strikingly, the PlsXL254E mutant, whose biological functionality was severely compromised in vivo but remains catalytically active in vitro, was able to superficially bind to phospholipid vesicles, nevertheless, it loses the insertion capacity, strongly supporting the importance of membrane insertion in acyl-phosphate delivery. We propose a mechanism in which membrane fluidity governs the insertion of PlsX and thus regulates the biosynthesis of phospholipids in Gram-positive bacteria. This model may be operational in other peripheral membrane proteins with an unprecedented impact in drug discovery/development strategies.
Cooperative Localization Improvement Using Distance Information in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

In vehicular ad hoc networks (VANets), a precise localization system is a crucial factor for several critical safety applications. The global positioning system (GPS) is commonly used to determine the vehicles’ position estimation. However, it has unwanted errors yet that can be worse in some areas, such as urban street canyons and indoor parking lots, making it inaccurate for most critical safety applications. In this work, we present a new position estimation method called cooperative vehicle localization improvement using distance information (CoVaLID), which improves GPS positions of nearby vehicles and minimize their errors through an extended Kalman filter to execute Data Fusion using GPS and distance information. Our solution also uses distance information to assess the position accuracy related to three different aspects: the number of vehicles, vehicle trajectory, and distance information error. For that purpose, we use a weighted average method to put more confidence in distance information given by neighbors closer to the target. We implement and evaluate the performance of CoVaLID using real-world data, as well as discuss the impact of different distance sensors in our proposed solution. Our results clearly show that CoVaLID is capable of reducing the GPS error by 63%, and 53% when compared to the state-of-the-art VANet location improve (VLOCI) algorithm.
Study on Heating Process of Ultrasonic Welding for Thermoplastics

Heating mechanisms of ultrasonic welding for thermoplastics were studied via numerical simulation and experiment. Relationship between dynamic modulus and static relaxation modulus of thermoplastics was theoretically analyzed. Segment time–temperature equivalency equation for different temperature ranges and a method for directly separating viscoelastic heat from strain energy were used in the simulation. Temperature measurement tests with poly(methyl methacrylate) specimens were carried out to verify the simulation results. Results of simulation and experiment reveal that interfacial friction rather than viscoelastic heat initially start the whole welding process. Viscoelastic heating becomes dominant when temperature reaches Tg (glass transition temperature) of the material. And viscoelastic heat provides most required heat during welding.
20-year trends of distal femoral, patellar, and proximal tibial fractures: a Danish nationwide cohort study of 60,823 patients

Background and purpose — Knee fracture treatment burden remains unknown, impeding proper use of hospital resources. We examined 20-year trends in incidence rates (IRs) and patient-, fracture-, and treatment-related characteristics of knee fracture patients. Patients and methods — This nationwide cohort study of prospectively collected data including patients with distal femoral, patellar, and proximal tibial fractures from the Danish National Patient Registry during 1998–2017, assesses IRs of knee fractures (per 105 inhabitants) as well as patient-, fracture-, and treatment-related characteristics of knee fracture patients. Results — During 1998–2017, 60,823 patients (median age 55; 57% female) sustained 74,106 knee fractures. 74% of the study population had a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of 0 and 18% a CCI of ≥ 2. 51% were proximal tibial fractures, 31% patellar fractures, and 18% distal femoral fractures. At the time of knee fracture, 20% patients had concomitant near-knee fractures (femur/tibia/fibula shaft/hip/ankle), 13% concomitant fractures (pelvic/spine/thorax/upper extremities), 5% osteoporosis, and 4% primary knee osteoarthritis. Over 1/3 knee fractures were surgically treated and of these 86% were open-reduction internal fixations, 9% external fixations, and 5% knee arthroplasties. The most common surgery type was proximal tibia plating (n = 4,868; 60% female). Knee fracture IR increased 12% to 70, females aged > 51 had the highest knee fracture IR, proximal tibial fracture had the highest knee fracture type IR (32) and surgically treated knee fracture IR increased 35% to 23. Interpretation — Knee fracture IRs, especially of surgically treated knee fractures, are increasing and proximal tibial fracture has the highest knee fracture type IR. Females aged > 51 and patients with comorbidity are associated with knee fracture, proximal tibial fracture, proximal tibial fracture surgery, and posttraumatic knee arthroplasty.
Comparative Evaluation of Nemoceph and Foxit PDF Reader for Steiner's Cephalometric Analysis.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the values of Steiner's cephalometric analysis using Nemoceph and Foxit PDF Reader. No significant difference between the two methods will result in that Foxit PDF Reader can be used as a cost-effective alternative. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted on 100 digital lateral cephalograms taken from the same machine. The samples were collected by nonprobability convenience sampling procedures. These images were analyzed for Steiner's cephalometric analysis using two software packages. RESULTS The skeletal and dental values showed no statistically significant difference in the majority, except for the L1-NA (linear) and L1-NB (linear). CONCLUSION Results showed that there is a high agreement between the two methods. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This article provides a simple and cost-effective method of onscreen cephalometric analysis. This technique uses the inbuilt measurement tools in the tool bar of our daily use software. The method can be used independently anywhere without any internet connection and software subscription.
Composite chitosan hydrogels as advanced wound dressings with sustained ibuprofen release and suitable application characteristics

Abstract The physical chitosan hydrogel, obtained by ionic gelation in lactic acid solution, was combined with biocompatible oil-in-water microemulsion with ibuprofen, to prepare composite hydrogels with 0.25–1% of the polymer and 5% of the drug. The electrical conductivity measurement, photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), and rheological analysis showed that the composite hydrogels comprise oil nanodroplets (16.21–22.56 nm) embedded within pseudoplastic chitosan hydrogel. In vitro ibuprofen release was sustained for 12 h and followed zero-order kinetics. pH values of the composite hydrogels were in the range of 4.80–5.27, thus physiologically acceptable. The formulation containing 0.5% chitosan enabled the maximum drug release rate of 239.25 μgh−1cm−2 as well as cohesiveness (154.958 ± 0.731 g*s) higher than hardness (13.546 ± 0.065 g) and adhesiveness (−12.042 ± 1.161 g*s), so textural properties were suitable for application along skin surface, without spillage, and for easy removal. This is the first study in which the composite chitosan hydrogels with ibuprofen were formulated by combining the chitosan hydrogel prepared without harmful chemical crosslinkers and low viscosity oil-in-water microemulsion, and the preclinical characterization of their biopharmaceutical aspect and textural characterization, that is of key importance in improving the patient’s compliance, were performed. Graphical Abstract
The Classification of Alcoholics

Alcoholics differ in many of their personal and drinking-related characteristics, and for the past 150 years, clinicians and researchers have tried to categorize alcoholics based on these differences. Such typologies can advance our understanding of alcoholism as well as improve treatment of the disease. The history of alcoholism typology can be divided into three periods: the prescientific period, the Jellinek era, and the post-Jellinek era. During the prescientific period, physicians—especially those specializing in treating mental illnesses and addictions—developed numerous typologies, building primarily on clinical observation, anecdotal evidence, and armchair intuition. E.M. Jellinek has been credited with creating the first scientific typology that was developed into a comprehensive theory of alcoholism as a disease. The typologies that have evolved since Jellinek’s landmark work have been derived mainly from empirical research data. Despite the wide variety of methodological approaches used, it appears that subtypes from all typologies developed since the 19th century can be classified into two major categories, the Apollonian and Dionysian subtypes.
The Computer-Aided Design and Rapid Prototyping Fabrication of Removable Partial Denture Frameworks

: This study explores the application of computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/ CAM) to the process of electronically surveying a scanned dental cast as a prior stage to producing a sacriﬁcial pattern for a removable partial denture (RPD) metal alloy framework. These are designed to retain artiﬁcial replacement teeth in the oral cavity. A cast produced from an impression of a patient’s mouth was digitally scanned and the data converted to a three-dimensional computer ﬁle that could be read by the computer-aided design (CAD) software. Analysis and preparation were carried out in the digital environment according to established dental principles. The CAD software was then used to design the framework and generate a standard triangulation language (STL) ﬁle in preparation for its manufacture using rapid prototyping (RP) methods. Several RP methods were subsequently used to produce sacriﬁcial patterns, which were then cast in a chromium–cobalt alloy using conventional methods and assessed for accuracy of ﬁt. This work demonstrates that CAD/CAM techniques can be used for electronic dental cast analysis, preparation, and design of RPD frameworks. It also demonstrates that RP-produced patterns may be successfully cast using conventional methods and that the resulting frameworks can provide a satisfactory ﬁt.
The Minimum Legal Drinking Age

Minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws provide an example of how scientific research can support effective public policies. Between 1970 and 1975, 29 States lowered their MLDAs; subsequently, scientists found that traffic crashes increased significantly among teenagers. Alcohol use among youth is related to many problems, including traffic crashes, drownings, vandalism, assaults, homicides, suicides, teenage pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of a higher MLDA in preventing injuries and deaths among youth. Despite laws prohibiting the sale or provision of alcohol to people under age 21, minors can easily obtain alcohol from many sources. Increased MLDA enforcement levels and deterrents for adults who might sell or provide alcohol to minors can help prevent additional injuries and deaths among youth.
Stabilization process within a sewage sludge landfill determined through both particle size distribution and content of humic substances as well as by FT-IR analysis

Landfill is largely considered as a reliable option for sewage sludge disposal in most metropolitan areas worldwide due to the huge quantities of this waste to be disposed of and the relatively low costs of such a kind of sludge management. It has been found that the sludge in the landfill degrades rapidly and becomes stabilized within a few years. In the present study, the sludge from different landfill stages was characterized by particle size distribution, humic substances contents and elemental composition, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), as the landfill time increased. In general, the mean particle size of the sludge increased from 37 mm at day 0 to 143mm at 300 days and the corresponding median particle size increased from 13 to 70mm. The stability of particle size distribution can be assessed by the mean or median particle size. The humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) contents extracted from dry sludge after different landfill periods increased from 4.2 and 2.7% of day 0 to 5.6 and 3.1%, respectively, at 400 days, thereby indicating that the stabilization process of sludge in a landfill is also a humification process. The HA samples contained more carbon and nitrogen, and less hydrogen and oxygen than the FA samples, indicating a high degree of maturity and humification of these HA samples. The FT-IR spectra indicated that easily degradable organic matter components, such as aliphatic chains and protein, were distinctly decomposed during landfill. Based on the changes in the band relative intensity, it was concluded that after 300 days in a landfill the sludge is still in the process of degradation and maturity.
Cardiac autonomic modulation during recovery from acute endurance versus resistance exercise

Background The kinetics of parasympathetic reactivation after dynamic endurance exercise have been well elucidated. However, autonomic recovery of cardiac function after resistance exercise is not known. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess cardiac autonomic modulations during recovery from acute resistance exercise versus acute endurance exercise. Methods Electrocardiogram readings were collected before and 30min after a single bout of endurance or resistance exercise in 14 male participants (aged 25.3±2.5 years). Heart rate (HR) variability was spectrally decomposed using an autoregressive approach. High frequency (HF) power was considered representative of vagal modulation. All values were expressed in both absolute and normalized units (normalized for change in total power). Results A mode-by-time interaction (P<0.05) was detected for HR, which remained elevated to a greater extent after resistance exercise. Total power was significantly reduced after resistance exercise (P<0.05) but not endurance exercise. An interaction (P<0.05) was also detected for both a change in absolute natural log function HF power and natural log function low frequency (LF) power (P<0.05), as both variables decreased more after resistance exercise. When normalized for changes in total power, interactions in LF and HF power were lost. The LF/HF ratio was significantly increased after both resistance and endurance exercise (P<0.05). Conclusion Greater elevations in HR after acute resistance exercise versus acute endurance exercise may be related to greater reductions in cardiac parasympathetic tone. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 13:80–86 c 2006 The European Society of Cardiology
Does the Association Between Self-Reported Restless Sleep and Objective Sleep Efficiency Differ in Obese and Non-Obese Women? Findings From the Kingston Senior Women Study

Our study assessed the validity of self-reported restless sleep (SRRS) in measuring sleep efficiency and the degree to which these measures differed depending on obesity status in older women. Data were from 100 participants enrolled in the Kingston Senior Women Study. Participants recorded SRRS for 7 consecutive nights. Sleep efficiency measures were recorded nightly through actigraphy. Repeated-measures multilevel logistic analysis was used. Mean sleep efficiency was 87% (SE = 1.09), SRRS occurred in 37% (SE = 3) of nights. Obesity status moderated the association between sleep efficiency and SRRS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.02, 1.14]) when controlling for age, medication intake, and depressive symptoms. Higher sleep efficiency reduced the odds of SRRS in non-obese women, but no association was shown in obese women. The lack of correspondence between objective and subjective measures in obese women suggests that SRRS may not be as indicative of sleep quality in obese compared with non-obese older women.
Sexual activity contraceptive choice and sexual and reproductive health indicators among single Canadian women aged 15-29: additional findings from the Canadian Contraception Study.

This paper reports on sexual activity contraceptive choice and sexual and reproductive health indicators among single Canadian women aged 15-17 18-24 and 25-29 who participated in the 1998 Canadian Contraception Study and provides a more detailed description of these parameters than was available in the initial report of this research. Sexual experience was common in the 15-17 year old cohort of unmarried women and exceeded 80%-90% in the older age cohorts. Most sexually experienced single young women were currently sexually active and over half of them had two or more partners in the previous two years. Contraceptive use at first and last intercourse with current partner was common (about 80% in both cases) whereas consistency of contraceptive use across the last 6 months was reported less often (60% to 82% always used contraception). Condom use was high at first intercourse with current partner less so at last intercourse and discouragingly inconsistent over the preceding six-month time period. Sexual health concerns (such as coital pain and inhibited sexual desire) and insufficient attention to reproductive health issues (such as annual Pap smears and monthly breast self-examination) were also characteristic of this sample. The results are discussed in comparison with other Canadian research and in relation to the development of effective health education programs public health policies and clinical management strategies for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health among younger single women in Canada. (authors)
The Impact Of Chronic Diseases On The Quality Of Life Among The Elderly People In The East Of Tehran

Background and Aim: Increase in life expectancy is associated with noncommunicable diseases. This study is aimed to survey the effect of chronic diseases on the quality of life among the elderly people in elderly care centers in the East of Tehran in 2011. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical study in which 424 people were randomly selected. They were members of elderly care centers and were 60 years of age or higher. The data collection instruments were a standard quality-of-life questionnaire(SF36) and a chronic diseases record checklist. The data were collected in an interview. For data analysis purposes, Independent T-Test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. Results: The mean age of participants was 67.34±7.16. Some 92.2% of patients were suffering from at least one chronic disease, and there was a significant statistical difference between the mean points of all aspects of quality of life of those suffering from chronic diseases and those without a history of chronic diseases(P<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant relationship between the quality of life on the one hand and gender, marital status, economic status, and education on the other(P<0.05). Conclusion: The findings show that an increase in the number of chronic diseases leads to a decrease in the quality of life, and that the application of appropriate educational and interventional approaches can help take effective steps to enhance the old people’s health.
No Significant Association Between Prenatal Exposure to Poliovirus Epidemics and Psychosis

Objective: To examine the association between prenatal exposure to poliovirus infection and later development of schizophrenia or affective psychosis in a Southern Hemisphere psychiatric register. Methods: We calculated rates of poliomyelitis cases per 10 000 background population and rates for schizophrenia (n = 6078) and affective psychosis (n = 3707) per 10 000 births for the period 1930–1964. Empirically weighted regression was used to measure the association between a given psychosis birth-rate and a poliomyelitis epidemic during gestation. Results: There was no statistically significant association between exposure to a poliomyelitis epidemic during gestation and subsequent development of schizophrenia or affective psychosis. Conclusions: The lack of a consistent statistically significant association between poliovirus epidemics and schizophrenia suggests that either poliovirus may have a small effect which is only detectable with large data-sets and/or the effect may be modified by location. Further investigation of such inconsistencies may help elucidate candidate risk-modifying factors for schizophrenia.
Comparison of Standard Tube Agglutination, Coombs' and Brucellacapt Tests in the Diagnosis of Brucellosis

Purpose: Serological tests are preferred in the diagnosis of Brucellosis since bacterial isolation method is timeconsuming. The standard tube agglutination test (STAT) is used routinely in serological diagnosis, but false negative results may be observed caused by blocking antibodies. However, Coombs’ test (CT) and more recently Brucellacapt test (immuncapture agglutination, IcAT) have been used. In this study, we aimed to compare STAT, CT and IcAT. Materials and Methods: Serum samples from 21 patients diagnosed with brucellosis were included and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. For all patients with positive blood cultures, Brucella melitensis was identified. The cut off titer was defined as 1/160. Results: STAT test was positive in 15 (71.4%), CT in 18 (85.7%) and IcAT in 20 (95.2%) of 21 culture positive patients. All tests were negative in the control group. When culture is taken as the reference, the sensitivities were found to be 41.6% in STAT, 85.7% in CT and 95.2% in IcAT whereas the specifities were found to be 100% for these three tests. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the high performance of IcAT in the diagnosis of brucellosis, which however needs to be further supported by detailed studies.