Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature-dependent genetics of thermotolerance between yeast species

Many traits of industrial and basic biological interest arose long ago, and manifest now as fixed differences between a focal species and its reproductively isolated relatives. In these systems, extant individuals can hold clues to the mechanisms by which phenotypes evolved in their ancestors. We harnessed yeast thermotolerance as a test case for such molecular-genetic inferences. In viability experiments, we showed that extant Saccharomyces cerevisiae survived at temperatures where cultures of its sister species S. paradoxus died out. Then, focusing on loci that contribute to this difference, we found that the genetic mechanisms of high-temperature growth changed with temperature. We also uncovered a robust signature of positive selection at thermotolerance loci in S. cerevisiae population sequences. We interpret these results in light of a model of gradual acquisition of thermotolerance in the S. cerevisiae lineage along a temperature cline. We propose that in an ancestral S. cerevisiae population, alleles conferring defects at a given temperature would have been resolved by adaptive mutations, expanding the range and setting the stage for further temperature advances. Together, our results and interpretation underscore the power of genetic approaches to explore how an ancient trait came to be.
Effects and Reversibility of Pre- and Post-natal Iron and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency, Alone and in Combination, on Bone Development in Rats

Both iron and omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids may play an important role in bone development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pre- and post-natal iron and n-3 fatty acid deficiency (FAD), alone and in combination, on bone development in rats, and to determine whether effects are reversible when a sufficient diet is provided post-weaning. Using a 2×2-factorial design, 56 female Wistar rats were allocated to one of four diets: (1) control, (2) iron deficient (ID), (3) n-3 FAD or (4) ID and n-3 FAD, and were maintained on the respective diets throughout gestation and lactation. At weaning (post-natal day [PND] 21), offspring (n = 24/group; male:female=1:1) were randomly allocated to either continue with their respective diets or to switch to the control diet until PND 42-45. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength were determined using dual X-ray absorptiometry and three-point bending tests, respectively. Pre- and post-natal ID resulted in significantly lower BMD in the spine and bone strength in the left femur. Both ID and n-3 FAD resulted in lower BMD in the right femur, with an additive reduction in the combined ID and n-3 FAD group vs. controls. While negative effects of pre- and post-natal ID alone were reversed in offspring switched to a control diet post-weaning, lower BMD and bone strength persisted in offspring with combined ID and n-3 FAD during the prenatal and early post-natal period. Effects were not sex-specific. These results indicate that ID during early life may negatively influence bone development, with potential additive effects of n-3 FAD. While the effects of ID alone seem reversible, a combined ID and n-3 FAD may result in irreversible deficits in bone development.
Leptin Promotes Greater Ki67 Expression in CD4+ T Cells From Obese Compared to Lean Persons Living With HIV

While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has proven effective in suppressing viremia and disease progression among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH), suboptimal CD4+ T cell reconstitution remains a major obstacle in nearly 30% of ART-treated individuals. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that obesity, or a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, is positively correlated with greater CD4+ T cell recovery in PLWH on ART. Leptin is a known immunomodulator that is produced in proportion to fat mass and is increased in obese individuals, including PLWH. We hypothesized that CD4+ T cells from obese PLWH have increased cell proliferation and cytokine production compared to cells from lean PLWH, potentially modulated by differential effects of leptin signaling. To test this hypothesis, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from obese and lean PLWH with long-term virologic suppression on the same ART regimen were pretreated with recombinant leptin and then stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 or PMA/ionomycin to measure Ki67 expression, leptin receptor (LepR) surface expression and cytokine production. In the absence of leptin, Ki67 expression and IL-17A production were significantly higher in CD4+ T cells from obese compared to lean PLWH. However, LepR expression was significantly lower on CD4+ T cells from obese compared to lean PLWH. After leptin treatment, Ki67 expression was significantly increased in CD4+ T cells from obese PLWH compared to the lean participants. Leptin also increased IL-17A production in CD4+ T cells from obese healthy controls. In contrast, leptin decreased IL-17A production in CD4+ T cells from both obese and lean PLWH. Combined, these results demonstrate that obesity is associated with greater CD4+ T cell proliferation among PLWH, and that higher circulating leptin levels in obesity may contribute to improved CD4+ T reconstitution in PLWH initiating ART.
Comparison of Myocardial Layer-Specific Strain and Global Myocardial Work Efficiency During Treadmill Exercise Stress in Detecting Significant Coronary Artery Disease

Background Myocardial layer-specific strain can identify myocardial ischemia. Global myocardial work efficiency (GWE) based on non-invasive left ventricular (LV) pressure-strain loops is a novel parameter to determine LV function considering afterload. The study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of GWE and myocardial layer-specific strain during treadmill exercise stress testing to detect significant coronary artery disease (CAD) with normal baseline wall motion. Methods Eighty-nine patients who referred for coronary angiography due to suspected of CAD were included. Forty patients with severe coronary artery stenosis were diagnosed with significant CAD, and 49 were defined as non-significant CAD. Stress echocardiography was performed 24 h before angiography. Layer-specific longitudinal strains were assessed from the endocardium, mid-myocardium, and epicardium by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between significant CAD and echocardiographic parameters. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the capability of layer-specific strain and GWE to diagnose significant CAD. Results Patients with significant CAD had the worse function in all three myocardial layers at peak exercise compared with those with non-significant CAD when assessed with global longitudinal strain (GLS). At the peak exercise and recovery periods, GWE was lower in patients with significant CAD than in patients with non-significant CAD. In multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, peak endocardial GLS (OR: 1.35, p = 0.006) and peak GWE (OR: 0.76, p = 0.001) were associated with significant CAD. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed peak GWE to be superior to mid-myocardial, epicardial, and endocardial GLS in identifying significant CAD. Further, adding peak GWE to endocardial GLS could improve diagnostic capabilities. Conclusions Both GWE and endocardial GLS contribute to improving the diagnostic performance of exercise stress echocardiography. Furthermore, adding peak GWE to peak endocardial GLS provides incremental diagnostic value during a non-invasive screening of significant CAD before radioactive or invasive examinations.
Profile and Predictors of Maternal Quality of Life During Physiological Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background Quality of Life (QoL) and its determinants are significant in all stages of life, including pregnancy. The physical and emotional changes during pregnancy affect the QoL of pregnant women, affecting both maternal and infant health. Hence, assessing the QoL of pregnant women is gaining interest in literature. We, therefore, aimed to describe the QoL of pregnant women during physiological pregnancy and to identify its associated predictors in women attending a public healthcare institute of Quetta city, Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Sandeman Provincial Hospital Quetta city, Pakistan. The respondents were asked to answer the Urdu (lingua franca of Pakistan) version of the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Physiological Pregnancy. Data were coded and analyzed by SPPS v 21. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to establish normality of the data and non-parametric tests were used accordingly. Quality of Life was assessed as proposed by the developers. The Chi-square test was used to identify significant associations and linear regression was used to identify the predictors of QoL. For all analyses, p < 0.05 was taken significantly. Results Four hundred and three pregnant women participated in the study with a response rate of 98%. The mean QoL score was 19.85 ± 4.89 indicating very good QoL in the current cohort. The Chi-Square analysis reported a significant association between age, education, occupation, income, marital status, and trimester. Education was reported as a positive predictor for QoL (p = 0.006, β = 2.157). On the other hand, trimester was reported as a negative predictor of QoL (p = 0.013, β = −1.123). Conclusion Improving the QoL among pregnant women requires better identification of their difficulties and guidance. The current study highlighted educational status and trimester as the predictors of QoL in pregnant women. Health care professionals and policymakers should consider the identified factors while designing therapeutic plans and interventions for pregnant women.
Serotonergic Neurons in the Chick Brainstem Express Various Serotonin Receptor Subfamily Genes

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a phylogenetically conserved modulatory neurotransmitter. In mammals, 5-HT plays an important role in the regulation of many mental states and the processing of emotions in the central nervous system. Serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system, including the dorsal raphe (DR) and median raphe (MR) nuclei, are spatially clustered in the brainstem and provide ascending innervation to the entire forebrain and midbrain. Both between and within the DR and MR, these serotonergic neurons have different cellular characteristics, developmental origin, connectivity, physiology, and related behavioral functions. Recently, an understanding of the heterogeneity of the DR and MR serotonergic neurons has been developed at the molecular level. In birds, emotion-related behavior is suggested to be modulated by the 5-HT system. However, correspondence between the raphe nuclei of birds and mammals, as well as the cellular heterogeneity in the serotonergic neurons of birds are poorly understood. To further understand the heterogeneity of serotonergic neurons in birds, we performed a molecular dissection of the chick brainstem using in situ hybridization. In this study, we prepared RNA probes for chick orthologs of the following serotonin receptor genes: 5-HTR1A, 5-HTR1B, 5-HTR1D, 5-HTR1E, 5-HTR1F, 5-HTR2A, 5-HTR2B, 5-HTR2C, 5-HTR3A, 5-HTR4, 5-HTR5A, and 5-HTR7. We showed that the expression pattern of 5-HT receptors in the serotonin neurons of chick DR and MR may vary, suggesting heterogeneity among and within the serotonin neurons of the DR and MR in the chick brainstem. Our findings regarding the molecular properties of serotonergic neurons in the bird raphe system will facilitate a good understanding of the correspondence between bird and mammalian raphes.
Association Between Dynamic Trends of Functional Disability and Poverty Among People Aged 45 and Over

Background The disability problem has become prominent with the acceleration of the global aging process. Individual disability is associated with economic conditions and contributes to family poverty. As disability will change over a long period of time and may even show distinct dynamic trends, we aimed to focus on activities of daily living (ADL) and classify functional disability trends. Moreover, we aimed to highlight and analyze the association between functional disability trends and economic conditions and explore the influencing factors. Materials and Methods A total of 11,222 individuals who were 45 years old or older were included in four surveys conducted by the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. Samples were analyzed after excluding those with missing key variables. The latent class growth model was used to classify the ADL trends. Two binary logistic regressions were established to observe the association between the ADL trends and follow-up economic conditions or catastrophic health expenditure trends. Results ADL trends of older adults were classified into improving (25.4%), stabilizing (57.0%), and weakening ADL (17.6%). ADL trend was associated with follow-up poverty (p = 0.002) and catastrophic health expenditure trends (p < 0.001). Compared with the improving ADL trend, the stabilizing ADL may have a negative influence on individuals' economic conditions (OR = 1.175, 95%CI = 1.060–1.303). However, a stabilizing ADL trend was less likely to bring about catastrophic health expenditures (OR = 0.746, 95%CI = 0.678–0.820) compared with an improving ADL trend. Conclusion The improvement of functional disability would make the medical expense burden heavier but would still be beneficial for the prevention of poverty. A significant association was found between socioeconomic factors and poverty. Preventing the older adults from developing disability and illness, improving the compensation level of medical insurance, and optimizing the long-term care insurance and the primary healthcare system can potentially contribute to the prevention of poverty. Meanwhile, focusing on people who are poor at early stages, women, middle-aged, low-educated, and in rural areas is important.
Safety Stressors and Construction Workers' Safety Performance: The Mediating Role of Ego Depletion and Self-Efficacy

As an important influencing factor of construction workers' safety performance, safety stressor has received increasing attention. However, no consensus has been reached on the relationship between different types of safety stressors and the subdimensions of safety performance, and the mechanism by which safety stressors influence safety performance remains unclear. This study proposed a multiple mediation model with ego depletion and self-efficacy as mediators between safety stressors and workers' safety performance. Data were collected from 335 construction workers in China. Results demonstrated that: (1) the three types of safety stressors (i.e., safety role ambiguity, safety role conflict, and interpersonal safety conflict) all had negative effects on workers' safety performance (i.e., safety compliance and safety participation); (2) self-efficacy mediated all the relationships between the three safety stressors and safety performance; (3) ego depletion only mediated part of the relationships between the three safety stressors and safety performance; and (4) only part of the multiple-step mediating effects through ego depletion and self-efficacy were supported. This study made contributions by shedding light on the mechanism by which safety stressors influence workers' safety performance and providing more empirical evidence for the relationship between various safety stressors and the subdimensions of safety performance. Additionally, targeted strategies for improving workers' safety performance were proposed according to the findings.
Efficacy and Safety of GHX02 in the Treatment of Acute Bronchitis and Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis: A Phase Ⅱ, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial

Acute bronchitis and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) have cough and sputum as the main symptoms with a high prevalence and substantial economic burden. Although the demand for bronchitis treatment increases due to causes, such as air pollution, the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions and the effects of current symptomatic treatments for bronchitis are unclear. GHX02, which is a combined formulation containing four herbs, and has been clinically used for bronchitis in South Korea. We conducted a phase II, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Patients with acute bronchitis or AECB were recruited and randomized to receive high-dose GHX02 (1920 mg/day), standard-dose GHX02 (960 mg/day), or placebo for 7 days. The primary outcome measure was the change in Bronchitis Severity Score (BSS) from baseline to Day 7. The secondary outcomes were the frequency of coughing fits, Questionnaire of Clinical Symptoms of Cough and Sputum (QCSCS), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Integrative Medicine Outcome Scale (IMOS), and Integrative Medicine Patient Satisfaction Scale (IMPSS). A total of 117 patients were randomized to parallel groups (38 in the high-dose GHX02, 41 in the standard-dose GHX02 group, and 38 in the placebo group). The mean differences in BSS from baseline to Day 7 in the treatment groups (4.2 ± 2.0 and 4.5 ± 1.8 in the high-dose GHX02 and standard-dose GHX02 groups, respectively) were higher than the placebo group (3.8 ± 2.1), p = 0.028. The mean differences in the frequency of coughing fits from baseline to Day 7 and IMPSS were better in the GHX02 treatment group than in the placebo group (standard-dose GHX02 group vs placebo group, p = 0.036). The QCSCS, LCQ, IMOS, and GHX02 of the treatment groups also showed more improvement than the placebo group, but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. There were no severe adverse effects during the trial. This study supports that GHX02 is effective and safe for patients with bronchitis and provides the basis for progression to a phase III study. Clinical Trial Registration: [https://cris.nih. go.kr] WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Clinical Research Information Service [KCT0003665].
Exogenous Vitamin D3 Modulates Response of Bovine Macrophages to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Infection and Is Dependent Upon Stage of Johne’s Disease

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of ruminant enteritis, targets intestinal macrophages. During infection, macrophages contribute to mucosal inflammation and development of granulomas in the small intestine which worsens as disease progression occurs. Vitamin D3 is an immunomodulatory steroid hormone with beneficial roles in host-pathogen interactions. Few studies have investigated immunologic roles of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) in cattle, particularly cattle infected with MAP. This study examined the effects of exogenous vitamin D3 on immune responses of monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs) isolated from dairy cattle naturally infected with MAP. MDMs were pre-treated with ± 100 ng/ml 25(OH)D3 or ± 4 ng/ml 1,25(OH)2D3, then incubated 24 hrs with live MAP in the presence of their respective pre-treatment concentrations. Following treatment with either vitamin D3 analog, phagocytosis of MAP by MDMs was significantly greater in clinically infected animals, with a greater amount of live and dead bacteria. Clinical cows had significantly less CD40 surface expression on MDMs compared to subclinical cows and noninfected controls. 1,25(OH)2D3 also significantly increased nitrite production in MAP infected cows. 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment played a key role in upregulating secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-12 while downregulating IL-10, IL-6, and IFN-γ. 1,25(OH)2D3 also negatively regulated transcripts of CYP24A1, CYP27B1, DEFB7, NOS2, and IL10. Results from this study demonstrate that vitamin D3 compounds, but mainly 1,25(OH)2D3, modulate both pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses in dairy cattle infected with MAP, impacting the bacterial viability within the macrophage.
Post-weaning Social Isolation in Male and Female Prairie Voles: Impacts on Central and Peripheral Immune System

The socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) offers a unique opportunity to examine the impacts of adolescent social isolation on the brain, immune system, and behavior. In the current study, male and female prairie voles were randomly assigned to be housed alone or with a same-sex cagemate after weaning (i.e., on postnatal day 21–22) for a 6-week period. Thereafter, subjects were tested for anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and Forced Swim Test (FST), respectively. Blood was collected to measure peripheral cytokine levels, and brain tissue was processed for microglial density in various brain regions, including the Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc), Medial Amygdala (MeA), Central Amygdala (CeA), Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST), and Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus (PVN). Sex differences were found in EPM and FST behaviors, where male voles had significantly lower total arm entries in the EPM as well as lower latency to immobility in the FST compared to females. A sex by treatment effect was found in peripheral IL-1β levels, where isolated males had a lower level of IL-1β compared to cohoused females. Post-weaning social isolation also altered microglial density in a brain region-specific manner. Isolated voles had higher microglial density in the NAcc, MeA, and CeA, but lower microglial density in the dorsal BNST. Cohoused male voles also had higher microglial density in the PVN compared to cohoused females. Taken together, these data suggest that post-weaning social housing environments can alter peripheral and central immune systems in prairie voles, highlighting a potential role for the immune system in shaping isolation-induced alterations to the brain and behavior.
Gas–Liquid Slug Flow Studies in Microreactors: Effect of Nanoparticle Addition on Flow Pattern and Pressure Drop

Colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles (e.g., metals and oxides) have been considered as a promising working fluid in microreactors for achieving significant process intensification. Existing examples include their uses in microflow as catalysts for enhancing the reaction efficiency, or as additives to mix with the base fluid (i.e., to form the so-called nanofluids) for heat/mass transfer intensification. Thus, hydrodynamic characterization of such suspension flow in microreactors is of high importance for a rational design and operation of the system. In this work, experiments have been conducted to investigate the flow pattern and pressure drop characteristics under slug flow between N2 gas and colloidal suspensions in the presence of TiO2 or Al2O3 nanoparticles through polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) capillary microreactors. The base fluid consisted of water or its mixture with ethylene glycol. The slug flow pattern with nanoparticle addition was characterized by the presence of a lubricating liquid film around N2 bubbles, in contrast to the absence of liquid film in the case of N2-water slug flow. This shows that the addition of nanoparticles has changed the wall wetting property to be more hydrophilic. Furthermore, the measured pressure drop under N2-nanoparticle suspension slug flow is well described by the model of Kreutzer et al. (AIChE J 51(9):2428–2440, 2005) at the mixture Reynolds numbers ca. above 100 and is better predicted by the model of Warnier et al. (Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 8(1):33–45, 2010) at lower Reynolds numbers given a better consideration of the effect of film thickness and bubble velocity under such conditions in the latter model. Therefore, the employed nanoparticle suspension can be considered as a stable and pseudo single phase with proper fluid properties (e.g., viscosity and density) when it comes to the pressure drop estimation.