Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A type VII secretion system in Group B Streptococcus mediates cytotoxicity and virulence

Type VII secretion systems (T7SS) have been identified in Actinobacteria and Firmicutes and have been shown to secrete effector proteins with functions in virulence, host toxicity, or interbacterial killing in a few genera. Bioinformatic analysis indicates that Group B streptococcal (GBS) isolates encode four distinct subtypes of T7SS machinery, three of which encode adjacent putative T7SS effectors with WXG and LXG motifs. However, the function of T7SS in GBS pathogenesis is not known. Here we show that the most abundant GBS T7SS subtype is important for virulence and cytotoxicity in brain endothelium and that these phenotypes are dependent on the WXG100 effector EsxA. We further show that the WXG motif is required for cytotoxicity in brain endothelium and that EsxA is a pore-forming protein. This work reveals the importance of a T7SS in host–GBS interactions and has implications for the functions of T7SS effectors in other Gram-positive bacteria.
Live imaging reveals the cellular events downstream of SARM1 activation

SARM1 is an inducible NAD+ hydrolase that triggers axon loss and neuronal cell death in the injured and diseased nervous system. While SARM1 activation and enzyme function are well defined, the cellular events downstream of SARM1 activity but prior to axonal demise are much less well understood. Defects in calcium, mitochondria, ATP, and membrane homeostasis occur in injured axons, but the relationships among these events have been difficult to disentangle because prior studies analyzed large collections of axons in which cellular events occur asynchronously. Here we used live imaging with single axon resolution to investigate the cellular events downstream of SARM1 activity. Our studies support a model in which SARM1 NADase activity leads to an ordered sequence of events from loss of cellular ATP, to defects in mitochondrial movement and depolarization, followed by calcium influx, externalization of phosphatidylserine, and loss of membrane permeability prior to catastrophic axonal self-destruction.
Novel intracellular phospholipase B from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with activity towards endogenous phospholipids affects biofilm assembly

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a severe threat to immunocompromised patients due to its numerous virulence factors and multiresistance against antibiotics. This bacterium produces and secretes various toxins with hydrolytic activities including phospholipases A, C and D. However, the function of intracellular phospholipases for bacterial virulence has still not been established. Here we demonstrate that the hypothetical gene pa2927 of P. aeruginosa encodes a novel phospholipase B named PaPlaB. PaPlaB isolated from detergent-solubilized membranes of E. coli rapidly degraded various GPLs including endogenous GPLs isolated from P. aeruginosa cells. Cellular localization studies suggest that PaPlaB is peripherally bound to the inner and outer membrane of E. coli, yet the active form was predominantly associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. In vitro activity of purified and detergent-stabilized PaPlaB increases at lower protein concentrations. The size distribution profile of PaPlaB oligomers revealed that decreasing protein concentration triggers oligomer dissociation. These results indicate that homooligomerisation regulates PaPlaB activity by a yet unknown mechanism, which might be required for preventing bacteria from self-disrupting the membrane. We demonstrated that PaPlaB is an important determinant of the biofilm lifestyle of P. aeruginosa, as shown by biofilm quantification assay and confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of biofilm architecture. This novel intracellular phospholipase B with a putative virulence role contributes to our understanding of membrane GPL degrading enzymes and may provide a target for new therapeutics against P. aeruginosa biofilms.
Computational fluid dynamics provide evidence for a compensatory suction feeding like effect in the predatory strike of dragonfly larvae

Most fast-moving aquatic predators face the challenge of bow wave formation. Water in front of the predator alarms or even displaces the prey. To mitigate the formation of such a bow wave, a strategy aiming at pressure reduction via suction has evolved convergently in several animal groups: compensatory suction feeding. The aquatic larvae of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) are likely to face this challenge as well. They capture prey underwater using a fast-moving raptorial appendage, the so-called prehensile labial mask. Within dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) two basic shapes of the prehensile labial mask have evolved, with an either flat and slender or concave distal segment. While the former is a pure grasping device, the latter is also capable of scooping up smaller prey and retaining it inside the cavity by arrays of bristle-like structures. The hydrodynamics of the prehensile labial mask was previously unknown. We used computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of the distal segment of the mask, to investigate for the first time how different shapes of the mask impact their function. Our results suggest that both shapes are highly streamlined and generate a low-pressure area, likely leading to an effect analogous to compensatory suction feeding. This presents a vivid example of how convergent evolution enables very different animal groups to successfully deal with the challenges of their environment. It may also be an interesting concept for technical application in small scale grasping devices; e.g. for simple sampling mechanisms in small-sized autonomous underwater vehicles (μAUVs).
Plasmid analysis of NDM metallo-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales isolated in Vietnam

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) represent a serious threat to public health due to the lack of treatment and high mortality. The rate of antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacterales isolates to major antimicrobials, including carbapenems, is much higher in Vietnam than in Western countries, but the reasons remain unknown due to the lack of genomic epidemiology research. A previous study suggested that carbapenem resistance genes, such as the carbapenemase gene blaNDM, spread via plasmids among Enterobacterales in Vietnam. In this study, we characterized blaNDM-carrying plasmids in Enterobacterales isolated in Vietnam, and identified several possible cases of horizontal transfer of plasmids both within and among species of bacteria. Twenty-five carbapenem-nonsusceptible isolates from a medical institution in Hanoi were sequenced on Illumina short-read sequencers, and 13 blaNDM-positive isolates, including isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Morganella morganii, and Proteus mirabilis, were further sequenced on an Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read sequencer to obtain complete plasmid sequences. Almost identical 73 kb IncFII(pSE11)::IncN hybrid plasmids carrying blaNDM-1 were found in a P. mirabilis isolate and an M. morganii isolate. A 112 kb IncFII(pRSB107)::IncN hybrid plasmid carrying blaNDM-1 in an E. coli isolate had partially identical sequences with a 39 kb IncR plasmid carrying blaNDM-1 and an 88 kb IncFII(pHN7A8)::IncN hybrid plasmid in a C. freundii isolate. 148–149 kb IncFIA(Hl1)::IncA/C2 plasmids and 75–76 kb IncFII(Yp) plasmids, both carrying blaNDM-1 were shared among three sequence type 11 (ST11) isolates and three ST395 isolates of K. pneumoniae, respectively. Most of the plasmids co-carried genes conferring resistance to clinically relevant antimicrobials, including third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones, in addition to blaNDM-1. These results provide insight into the genetic basis of CRE in Vietnam, and could help control nosocomial infections.
Accessing children’s historical experiences through their art: four drawings of aerial warfare from the Spanish Civil War

ABSTRACT This article considers the potential for children’s drawings to be utilized more widely as documentary evidence by historians. Children remain seen but not heard in much of history, with a noted source problem hampering efforts to address this. Drawings are a different type of ambiguous evidence but there is a compelling case for their usage, partly demonstrated by various professional uses including the acceptance of children’s drawings as evidence in courts. This article analyses four boys’ drawings of aerial conflict from the Spanish Civil War which are powerful visual reminders of the toll of war on children and exemplify the communicative power of non-linguistic sources to a heavily textual discipline.
Measurement of the 240Am production cross section via proton irradiation of 242Pu

Abstract A new nuclear reaction for the production of 240Am was experimentally investigated. Targets of 150 – 500 μg/cm2 242Pu on 2 μm Ti were produced through molecular deposition. Five irradiations, in which 242Pu, natTi, and natNi targets were jointly activated with protons from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88-Inch Cyclotron produced 240Am, 48V, and 57Ni, respectively. The radioactive decay of these nuclides was monitored using high-purity Ge gamma ray detectors in the weeks following irradiation. A maximum 242Pu(p, 3n)240Am nuclear reaction cross section was measured to be 45 ± 13 mb with 23 MeV protons. While this value is lower than theoretical predictions, it is high enough to be the most viable nuclear reaction for the large-scale production of 240Am.
DETERMINATION OF SUITABLE CONCENTRATIONS OF H2O AND CO2 IN THE FEED OF SYNGAS PRODUCTION

Modeling and optimization of synthesis gas production via the non-catalytic partial oxidation of methane (NCPO) were studied by minimizing of Gibbs free energy, and comparison studies were carried out to analyze the mechanism of syngas production. For this purpose, concentrations of CO2 and H2O in the feed were optimized in specified pressure and temperature, such that the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio in the product was set between 1.98 and 2.02 (suitable ratio for FT and methanol synthesis process) and concentration of CH4 in the product was less than 1.5%. The predictions obtained by this simulator were in agreement with the experimental data as well as the AspenPlus® package results.
Ions in Solution and their Solvation

ions in solution and their solvation What to say and what to do when mostly your friends love reading? Are you the one that don't have such hobby? So, it's important for you to start having that hobby. You know, reading is not the force. We're sure that reading will lead you to join in better concept of life. Reading will be a positive activity to do every time. And do you know our friends become fans of ions in solution and their solvation as the best book to read? Yeah, it's neither an obligation nor order. It is the referred book that will not make you feel disappointed.
Therapeutic Effect of Large Channel Endoscopic Decompression in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic decompression (PED) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that is now used for not only disc herniation but also lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). However, few studies have reported endoscopic surgery for LSS. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the outcomes and safety of large channel endoscopic decompression. Methods: Forty-one patients diagnosed with LSS who underwent PED surgery were included in the study. The estimated blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, reoperations, complications, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and SF-36 physical-component summary scores were assessed. Preoperative and postoperative continuous data were compared through paired-samples t-tests. The significance level for all analyses was defined as p < 0.05. Results: A total of 41 consecutive patients underwent PED, including 21 (51.2%) males and 20 (48.8%) females. The VAS and ODI scores decreased from preoperatively to postoperatively, but the JOA and SF-36 physical component summary scores significantly increased. The VAS (lumbar) score decreased from 5.05 ± 2.33 to 0.45 ± 0.71 (P = 0.000); the VAS (leg) score decreased from 5.51 ± 2.82 to 0.53 ± 0.72 (P = 0.000); the ODI score decreased from 52.80 ± 20.41 to 4.84 ± 3.98 (P = 0.000), and the JOA score increased from 11.73 ± 4.99 to 25.32 ± 2.12 (P = 0.000). Only 1 patient experienced an intraoperative complication (2.4%; dural tear), and 1 patient required reoperation (2.4%). Conclusions: Surgical treatment for LSS is to sufficiently decompress and minimize the trauma and complications caused by surgery. This study did not reveal any obvious shortcomings of PED and suggested PED is a safe and effective treatment for LSS.
Maintaining or Losing Intervention-Induced Health-Related Behavior Change. A Mixed Methods Field Study

The aim of this mixed methods field study was to gain a better understanding of how psychological factors can contribute to success in intervention-induced behavior change over time. While it can be difficult to change behavior, the use of interventions means that most participants succeed in change during the intervention. However, it is rare for the immediate change to automatically transform into maintained behavior changes. Most research conducted on health-related behavior change interventions contains quantitative studies that investigate key intervention components on a group level. Hence, to bring more knowledge about maintained intervention-induced behavior change, there is need for a study approach that enhances the understanding of individual participants' experiences during and after the intervention. Therefore, the present study, which was conducted in Sweden, used a mixed methods design (triangulation) consisting of pre-, post-, and follow-up quantitative data (questionnaires and body measurements) and qualitative data (interviews), where the individuals' accounts are used to broaden the understanding of the intervention and the behavior change process. All study participants were enrolled in a volitional (fee-based and non-manipulated) intervention given by certified gyms. The quantitative data collection included 22 participants who completed questionnaires and body measurements before and after the intervention, plus 13 complete body measurements 6 months after the intervention. The qualitative data included pre-interviews with 12 participants and six follow-up-interviews. The questions in both questionnaires and interviews related to expectations, efficacy, motivation, goals, achievements, behavior change, and future. Overall, the results show that levels of expectations, efficacy, and motivation cannot be used in isolation to predict maintained intervention-induced behavior change. To successfully extend and maintain immediate change, it was crucial to experience goal achievement (but not BMI change). Furthermore, enabling talk was salient in the pre-interviews with participants reporting successful immediate (and maintained) change. By contrast, pre-interview disabling talk turned out to be evident in interviews, with participants not responding to follow-up. When the qualitative and quantitative results are summarized and integrated, it appears that subjective goal achievement, combined with enabling self-talk, were crucial factors in successful maintained behavior change.
Chinese App User’s Needs Profile: From Questionnaire Measurement to Behavior Analysis

With the widespread use of mobile devices, the Apps people install and use could be closely linked to their needs. A precise profile of the needs of the user has become a vital foundation of the experience of the user. Previous studies mainly rely on self-reporting to understand the subjective attitudes of the App user toward a single App. This research combined questionnaire measurement and behavior analysis to profile the needs of the App user from a broader perspective. Based on the theoretical model of previous research studies, study 1 developed a novel needs questionnaire measurement of a Chinese App user, which showed good reliability and validity. In study 2, authorized App usage data were collected to construct the behavioral needs profile of a Chinese user. The results showed that the primary needs of the Chinese user remained a relatively high consistency between the questionnaire and the behavior data. The questionnaire-based and behavioral data-based needs profiles provide a reference for further personalized user experience design.
Role of VEGFR2 in Mediating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Under Glucose Deprivation and Determining Cell Death, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammatory Factor Expression

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a postmitotic monolayer located between the neuroretina and choroid, supports the retina and is closely associated with vision loss diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) upon dysfunction. Although environmental stresses are known to play critical roles in AMD pathogenesis and the roles of other stresses have been well investigated, glucose deprivation, which can arise from choriocapillary flow voids, has yet to be fully explored. In this study, we examined the involvement of VEGFR2 in glucose deprivation-mediated cell death and the underlying mechanisms. We found that VEGFR2 levels are a determinant for RPE cell death, a critical factor for dry AMD, under glucose deprivation. RNA sequencing analysis showed that upon VEGFR2 knockdown under glucose starvation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) are reduced. Consistently, VEGFR2 overexpression increased ER stress under the same condition. Although VEGFR2 was less expressed compared to EGFR1 and c-Met in RPE cells, it could elicit a higher level of ER stress induced by glucose starvation. Finally, downregulated VEGFR2 attenuated the oxidative stress and inflammatory factor expression, two downstream targets of ER stress. Our study, for the first time, has demonstrated a novel role of VEGFR2 in RPE cells under glucose deprivation, thus providing valuable insights into the mechanisms of AMD pathogenesis and suggesting that VEGFR2 might be a potential therapeutic target for AMD prevention, which may impede its progression.
A Pediatric Knee Exoskeleton With Real-Time Adaptive Control for Overground Walking in Ambulatory Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

Gait training via a wearable device in children with cerebral palsy (CP) offers the potential to increase therapy dosage and intensity compared to current approaches. Here, we report the design and characterization of a pediatric knee exoskeleton (P.REX) with a microcontroller based multi-layered closed loop control system to provide individualized control capability. Exoskeleton performance was evaluated through benchtop and human subject testing. Step response tests show the averaged 90% rise was 26 ± 0.2 ms for 5 Nm, 22 ± 0.2 ms for 10 Nm, 32 ± 0.4 ms for 15 Nm. Torque bandwidth of P.REX was 12 Hz and output impedance was less than 1.8 Nm with control on (Zero mode). Three different control strategies can be deployed to apply assistance to knee extension: state-based assistance, impedance-based trajectory tracking, and real-time adaptive control. One participant with typical development (TD) and one participant with crouch gait from CP were recruited to evaluate P.REX in overground walking tests. Data from the participant with TD were used to validate control system performance. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected by motion capture and compared to exoskeleton on-board sensors to evaluate control system performance with results demonstrating that the control system functioned as intended. The data from the participant with CP are part of a larger ongoing study. Results for this participant compare walking with P.REX in two control modes: a state-based approach that provided constant knee extension assistance during early stance, mid-stance and late swing (Est+Mst+Lsw mode) and an Adaptive mode providing knee extension assistance proportional to estimated knee moment during stance. Both were well tolerated and significantly improved knee extension compared to walking without extension assistance (Zero mode). There was less reduction in gait speed during use of the adaptive controller, suggesting that it may be more intuitive than state-based constant assistance for this individual. Future work will investigate the effects of exoskeleton assistance during overground gait training in children with neurological disorders and will aim to identify the optimal individualized control strategy for exoskeleton prescription.
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells as a Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in COVID-19

Clinical presentations of COVID-19 are highly variable, yet the precise mechanisms that govern the pathophysiology of different disease courses remain poorly defined. Across the spectrum of disease severity, COVID-19 impairs both innate and adaptive host immune responses by activating innate immune cell recruitment, while resulting in low lymphocyte counts. Recently, several reports have shown that patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit a dysregulated myeloid cell compartment, with increased myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) correlating with disease severity. MDSCs, in turn, promote virus survival by suppressing T-cell responses and driving a highly pro-inflammatory state through the secretion of various mediators of immune activation. Here, we summarize the evidence on MDSCs and myeloid cell dysregulation in COVID-19 infection and discuss the potential of MDSCs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in COVID-19 pneumonia and associated disease.
Propensity for Calcification in Serum Associates With 2-Year Cardiovascular Mortality in Ischemic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

Background: The propensity of serum to calcify, as assessed by the T50-test, associates with mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. In chronic heart failure, phosphate and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), which are important components of the vascular calcification pathway, have been linked to patient survival. Here, we investigated whether T50 associates with overall and cardiovascular survival in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: We measured T50, intact and c-terminal FGF-23 levels in a cohort of 306 HFrEF patients. Associations with overall and cardiovascular mortality were analyzed in survival analysis and Cox-regression models. Results: After a median follow-up time of 3.2 years (25th−75th percentile: 2.0–4.9 years), 114 patients (37.3%) died due to any cause and 76 patients (24.8%) died due to cardiovascular causes. 139 patients (45.4%) had ischemic and 167 patients (54.6%) had non-ischemic HFrEF. Patients with ischemic HFrEF in the lowest T50-tertile had significantly greater 2-year cardiovascular mortality compared to patients in higher tertiles (p = 0.011). In ischemic but not in non-ischemic HFrEF, T50 was significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality in univariate (p = 0.041) and fully adjusted (p = 0.046) Cox regression analysis. Significant associations of intact and c-terminal FGF-23 with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in univariate Cox regression analysis did not remain significant after adjustment for confounding factors. Conclusion: T50 is associated with 2-year cardiovascular mortality in patients with ischemic HFrEF but not in non-ischemic HFrEF. More research on the role of T50 measurements in coronary artery disease is warranted.