Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Slow running benefits: Boosts in mood and facilitation of prefrontal cognition even at very light intensity

Although running upright has been reported to have positive effects on both physical and mental health, the minimum running intensity/speed that would benefit mood and prefrontal cognition is not yet clear. For this reason, we aimed to investigate the acute effect of very slow running, which is classified as a very light intensity exercise, on mood, executive function (EF), and their neural substrates in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Twenty-four healthy participants completed a 10-minute very slow running session on a treadmill at 35% and a resting control session in randomized order. EF was measured using the Stroop task and the mood state was measured using the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale (TDMS) before and after both sessions. Cortical hemodynamic changes while performing the task were monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results show that ten minutes of very slow running significantly enhanced mood, reduced Stroop interference time (i.e., enhanced EF), and elicited left lateral PFC activation. Moreover, head acceleration, the magnitude of up-and-down oscillations, was measured during running, and a significant positive correlation with pleasant mood was found. Head acceleration is a remarkable characteristic of running and may be one of the factors related to a pleasant mood induced by very slow running. In conclusion, the current study reveals that a single bout of running, even at very slow speed, elicits a pleasant mood and improved executive function with enhancing activation in prefrontal subregions. This shed light on the slow running benefits to brain health.
SAR324 and related lineages are associated with the evolutionary history and origins of dsr-mediated sulfur oxidation

Microorganisms play vital roles in sulfur cycling through the oxidation of elemental sulfur and reduction of sulfite. These metabolisms are catalyzed by dissimilatory sulfite reductases (dsr) which function in the reductive (dsr) or reverse, oxidative direction (rdsr). Dsr-based sulfite reduction is an ancient metabolism and has been proposed to fuel energy metabolism in some of Earth’s earliest microorganisms. Conversely, sulfur oxidation is believed to have evolved later in association with the widespread availability of oxygen on Earth. Organisms are generally believed to carry out either the reductive or oxidative pathway, yet a subset of bacterial phyla have recently been discovered with gene combinations that implicate them in both pathways. A comprehensive global investigation into the metabolisms of these phyla regarding dsr can shed light on the evolutionary underpinnings of sulfur metabolism but is currently lacking. In this study, we selected one of these phyla, the abundant and metabolically versatile candidate phylum SAR324, to study the ecology and evolution of dsr and rdsr. We confirmed that phylogenetically, environmentally, and geographically diverse SAR324 contained dsr, rdsr, or both. Comprehensive phylogenetic analyses with other dsr-encoding bacterial and archaeal phyla revealed that organisms encoding both dsr and rdsr genes are constrained to a few phyla, which we term “transitionary clades for sulfur oxidation”, and these phyla are phylogenetically positioned at the interface between well-defined oxidative and reductive bacterial clades. Together, this research suggests that SAR324 and other transitionary clades are associated with the evolutionary history and origins of the reverse dsr pathway in bacteria.
Ordered and disordered regions of the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) combine to direct in-vivo binding at symmetric and non-symmetric motif sequences

The Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) seeds replication-fork formation by binding to DNA replication origins, which in budding yeast contain a 17bp DNA motif. High resolution structure of the ORC-DNA complex revealed two base-interacting elements: a disordered basic patch (Orc1-BP4) and an insertion helix (Orc4-IH). To define the ORC elements guiding its DNA binding in-vivo, we mapped genomic locations of 38 designed ORC mutants, revealing that different ORC elements guide binding at different sites. At silencing-associated sites lacking the motif, ORC binding and activity were fully explained by a BAH domain. Within replication origins, we reveal two dominating motif variants showing differential binding modes and symmetry: an asymmetric motif whose binding requires Orc1-BP4 and Orc4-IH, and a symmetric one where another basic patch, Orc1-BP3, can replace Orc4-IH. Disordered basic patches are therefore key for ORC-motif binding in-vivo, and we discuss how these conserved, minor-groove interacting elements can guide specific ORC-DNA recognition.
Identifying the function of the NMDA NR1C2 subunit through its interaction with Magi-2 during inflammatory pain

Much is understood about the structure and gating properties of NMDA receptors (NMDAR), but the function of the carboxy-terminal splice variant of the NR1 subunit, NR1C2 has never been identified. By studying the scaffolding protein Magi-2 in animal models of inflammatory pain, we discovered how NR1C2 protein is specifically regulated. We found that Magi-2 deficiency resulted in decreased pain behavior and a concomitant reduction in NR1C2 protein. Magi-2 contains WW domains, domains typically found in ubiquitin ligases. We identified an atypical WW-binding domain within NR1C2 which conferred susceptibility to Nedd4-1 ubiquitin-ligase dependent degradation. We used lipidated peptidomimetics derived from the NR1C2 sequence and found that NR1C2 protein levels and pain behavior can be pharmacologically targeted. The function of NR1C2 is to give lability to a pool of NMDAR, important for pain signaling.
A spinal cord injury time and severity consensus transcriptomic reference suite in rat reveals translationally-relevant biomarker genes

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that leads to motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. Current therapeutic options remain limited, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of the underlying SCI-associated molecular mechanisms. This study characterized distinct SCI phases and severities at the gene and functional levels, focusing on biomarker gene identification. Our approach involved a systematic review, individual transcriptomic analysis, gene meta-analysis, and functional characterization. We compiled a total of fourteen studies with 273 samples, leading to the identification of severity-specific biomarker genes for injury prognosis (e.g., Srpx2, Hoxb8, Acap1, Snai1, and Aadat) and phase-specific genes for the precise classification of the injury profile (e.g., Il6, Fosl1, Cfp, C1qc, Cp). We investigated the potential transferability of severity-associated biomarkers and identified a twelve-gene signature that predicted injury prognosis from human blood samples. We also report the development of MetaSCI-app - an interactive web application designed for researchers - that allows the exploration and visualization of all generated results (https://metasci-cbl.shinyapps.io/metaSCI). Overall, we present a transcriptomic reference and provide a comprehensive framework for assessing SCI considering severity and time perspectives. Teaser A transcriptomic meta-analysis of spinal cord injury provides a consensus reference and biomarker genes for injury phase/severity.
Impacts of the rapid development in recreational demand on the desert environment : a case study of the Dammam region of Saudi Arabia

As the capital city of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Dammam has undergone rapid economic development in the last fifty years. Desert areas on the outskirts of the city have become outdoor recreational places and picnicking areas, despite not being designed for such use nor having basic facilities. In fact, local residents are finding these sites more attractive than the projects established specifically by the city authorities for recreational purposes. This research examines if socio-cultural factors in Saudi society are the only reasons for this pattern of outdoor recreation and also, the resulting impact on the desert environment itself. A mixed-methods approach is used, based on questionnaires, goalong interviews and participant observation, in order to understand how people are using the desert and what it means to them. The physical and ecological condition of the popular sites was also compared with the condition of an unused and also, a protected area in the same region. In addition, a Global Positioning System was used to establish the mutually acceptable distances maintained between desert picnickers to satisfy privacy and territorial needs. The research shows that Dammam residents use desert areas as outdoor recreation spaces to escape from their urban environment, allowing women, particularly, to be close to nature and retain their privacy, besides experiencing a feeling of freedom and undertaking numerous activities with the full confidence that no stranger will intrude. It also shows that for many users, the silence of the desert and its remoteness enhances spirituality, and contemplation of God’s natural creation. In general, it builds a picture of family members and also groups of single males gathering in the desert for specific recreational reasons, highlighting the importance of such recreation in local people’s lives across different ages and genders. This increasing number of desert users, however, is found to be damaging the desert environment and its long-term sustainability is threatened by vehicle use, litter, fires and erosion. This is an urgent issue for residents and the professional and governmental bodies responsible for its management. Thus, this research also establishes basic guidelines for new developments that can better manage and protect the desert environment.
The structure of the Orm2-containing serine palmitoyltransferase complex reveals distinct inhibitory potentials of yeast Orm proteins

The levels of sphingolipids are crucial determinants of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, sphingolipid levels have to be tightly regulated. The Orm protein family and ceramides act as inhibitors in the rate-limiting step of sphingolipid biosynthesis – the condensation of L-serine and palmitoyl-CoA. The two yeast isoforms Orm1 and Orm2 form a complex with the serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT). While the sequences of the Orm proteins are highly similar, however, Orm1 and Orm2 are differentially regulated in yeast cells. The mechanistic details of the differential regulation remain elusive. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism, we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the SPT complex containing Orm2. Through in vitro activity assays and a newly developed plasmid coverage assay combined with targeted lipidomics, we demonstrate that the SPT complex with Orm2 exhibits lower activity in comparison to the complex containing Orm1. This collectively suggests a higher inhibitory potential of Orm2, despite the remarkably similar structures of the Orm1- and Orm2 containing complexes. The high conservation of the SPT from yeast to man implies that the three human ORMDL isoforms could also have different regulatory capacities, which might be essential to understanding their role in sphingolipid-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. Highlights Cryo-EM structures of serine palmitoyltransferase with Orm2 from S. cerevisiae Ceramide-mediated inhibition on SPT activity is conserved amongst SPTs The two yeast Orm isoforms have different regulatory capacity
Endocannabinoid-mediated rescue of somatosensory cortex activity, plasticity and related behaviors following an early in life concussion

Due to the assumed plasticity of immature brain, early in life brain alterations are thought to lead to better recoveries in comparison to the mature brain. Despite clinical needs, how neuronal networks and associated behaviors are affected by early in life brain stresses, such as pediatric concussions, have been overlooked. Here we provide first evidence in mice that a single early in life concussion durably increases neuronal activity in the somatosensory cortex into adulthood, disrupting neuronal integration while the animal is performing sensory-related tasks. This represents a previously unappreciated clinically relevant mechanism for the impairment of sensory-related behavior performance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that pharmacological modulation of the endocannabinoid system a year post-concussion is well-suited to rescue neuronal activity and plasticity, and to normalize sensory-related behavioral performance, addressing the fundamental question of whether a treatment is still possible once post-concussive symptoms have developed, a time-window compatible with clinical treatment.
Detecting superspreaders in wildlife reservoirs of disease

Wild animals commonly harbour infectious diseases with risk of spillover to humans and livestock. Identifying superspreaders, those individuals most responsible for onward transmission of infection, is critical for disease management but challenging in practice, since monitoring relies on imperfect surveillance and diagnostic testing. We fitted an individual-level stochastic spatial meta-population model of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) transmission to data from a long-term longitudinal study of the European badger (Meles meles). We develop a novel estimator for the individual effective reproduction number, providing quantitative evidence for the presence of superspreader badgers, despite the population-level effective reproduction number being less than one. Control of bTB in badgers could be substantially increased by targeting interventions at the individuals responsible for most onward transmission. Our framework provides an efficient and generalisable means of fitting state-space models to individual-level data, to identify high-risk individuals and explore important epidemiological questions.
Typology of information systems

A l'heure ou il est plus que jamais necessaire a l'entreprise d'exploiter la bonne information au bon moment, il s'agit d'aider celle-ci a choisir le systeme d'informations adapte a ses besoins et a son organisation et qui l'aidera a prendre ses decisions. L'objet de cet article est de poser un nouvel eclairage sur la grande famille des Systemes d'Informations. Ces derniers ont ete positionnes sur une matrice composee d'un axe du pouvoir sur l'information et d'un axe des besoins en informations. Avec l'emergence des technologies internet une nouvelle typologie se profile qui est encore a definir.
Ancient Kanesh: A Merchant Colony in Bronze Age Anatolia

1. Introduction Part I. Beginnings: 2. The discovery 3. The mound at Kultepe 4. The lower town 5. Understanding the texts 6. Chronology and change Part II. The Home Town: 7. Assur 8. The king in Assur 9. The government of a city 10. The year eponym Part III. Anatolia: 11. The Anatolians and their land 12. The colonial system 13. The government of a colony Part IV. Economy and Society: 14. The caravan trade 15. Quantities and origins 16. Families and money 17. Where did the money come from? 18. Law and death Part V. Cultures: 19. Cultural interaction 20. Religion Part VI. Interpretations: 21. Economic theory and evidence.
Heterogeneous ice nucleation of α‐pinene SOA particles before and after ice cloud processing

The ice nucleation ability of α‐pinene secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles was investigated at temperatures between 253 and 205 K in the Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere cloud simulation chamber. Pristine SOA particles were nucleated and grown from pure gas precursors and then subjected to repeated expansion cooling cycles to compare their intrinsic ice nucleation ability during the first nucleation event with that observed after ice cloud processing. The unprocessed α‐pinene SOA particles were found to be inefficient ice‐nucleating particles at cirrus temperatures, with nucleation onsets (for an activated fraction of 0.1%) as high as for the homogeneous freezing of aqueous solution droplets. Ice cloud processing at temperatures below 235 K only marginally improved the particles' ice nucleation ability and did not significantly alter their morphology. In contrast, the particles' morphology and ice nucleation ability was substantially modified upon ice cloud processing in a simulated convective cloud system, where the α‐pinene SOA particles were first activated to supercooled cloud droplets and then froze homogeneously at about 235 K. As evidenced by electron microscopy, the α‐pinene SOA particles adopted a highly porous morphology during such a freeze‐drying cycle. When probing the freeze‐dried particles in succeeding expansion cooling runs in the mixed‐phase cloud regime up to 253 K, the increase in relative humidity led to a collapse of the porous structure. Heterogeneous ice formation was observed after the droplet activation of the collapsed, freeze‐dried SOA particles, presumably caused by ice remnants in the highly viscous material or the larger surface area of the particles.
Demography and dynamics of mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni in the Bale Mountains National Park,Ethiopia

We studied the population dynamics of endangered mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni between 2003-2005 in the Bale Mountains National Park. Line-transect sampling and total count methods were used to gather data on demographics and movement patterns. The population's age-group composition was 58% adults, 25% sub-adults, 9% juveniles, 5% calves and 3% unidentified with a female-male sex ratio of 2:1. Population density was found to be significantly different between the two sub-populations (Dinsho Sanctuary and Gaysay/Adelay). A significant difference was found for age-group composition across the two sub-populations except adult females, sub-adult males and calves. The Dinsho sub-population was an isolated group. Separation and containment of the mountain nyala population could have negatively affected their ability to search for habitat requirements and mates from distant areas. The population varied between 830-908 individuals (95% CI), a reduction of 45% from earlier reports. However, the mean population density increased due to contraction of the species' habitat range. We observed a population decrease of 2%-5% per year over the course of our study. Many of the assessed demographic parameters did not significantly change over the three years. This suggests that the decrease in nyala population was not due to random variations in reproduction. Anthropogenic factors such as competition with livestock for forage, habitat encroachment and poaching by the local people might have been partly responsible for the depleted population in our study areas
Vein Minerals in Basalt, Hole 462A, Leg 61 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project

Numerous veins are present in basalts recovered from Hole 462A, Leg 61 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. Three mineral assemblages are recognized and stratigraphically controlled. These assemblages are (1) a zeolite-bearing, quartz-poor assemblage which occurs from Core 44 to the bottom of the hole and contains smectite, clinoptilolite, calcite, pyrite, ± chabazite, ± analcime, ± quartz, ± apophyllite, ± talc (? ); (2) a quartz-rich, pyrite-bearing assemblage, found between Cores 19 and 29, which contains smectite, calcite, quartz, and pyrite; and (3) a quartz-rich, celadonite-bearing assemblage which occurs from Cores 14 through 17 and contains smectite, calcite, quartz, celadonite, and Fe oxide. These data are interpreted to represent two episodes of vein mineral formation with an oxidative overprint on the more recent. The first episode followed the outpourings of basaltic lavas onto the sea floor. Zeolite-bearing veins were formed at elevated temperatures under low Pc θ 2» while the thermal gradient was high and before a cover of calcareous sediments had formed. The second mineralization episode followed injection of basalt and microdiabase sills into a thick layer of sediments, and produced all the vein minerals now occurring between Cores 14 and 29. These veins formed at lower temperature and higher Pco2 t n a n ^e zeolite-bearing veins. The presence of pyrite indicates a nonoxidative environment. After the initial formation of these veins, oxygenated seawater diffused through the sedimentary cover and oxidized the pyrite and smectite, forming celadonite and Fe oxides.
Modest net autotrophy in the oligotrophic ocean

The metabolic state of the oligotrophic subtropical ocean has long been debated. Net community production (NCP) represents the balance of autotrophic carbon fixation with heterotrophic respiration. Many in vitro NCP estimates based on oxygen incubation methods and the corresponding scaling relationships used to predict the ecosystem metabolic balance have suggested the ocean gyres to be net heterotrophic; however, all in situ NCP methods find net autotrophy. Reconciling net heterotrophy requires significant allochthonous inputs of organic carbon to the oligotrophic gyres to sustain a preponderance of respiration over in situ production. Here we use the first global ecosystem‐ocean circulation model that contains representation of the three allochthonous carbon sources to the open ocean, to show that the five oligotrophic gyres exhibit modest net autotrophy throughout the seasonal cycle. Annually integrated rates of NCP vary in the range ~1.5–2.2 mol O2 m−2 yr−1 across the five gyre systems; however, seasonal NCP rates are as low as ~1 ± 0.5 mmol O2 m−2 d−1 for the North Atlantic. Volumetric NCP rates are heterotrophic below the 10% light level; however, they become net autotrophic when integrated over the euphotic zone. Observational uncertainties when measuring these modest autotrophic NCP rates as well as the metabolic diversity encountered across space and time complicate the scaling up of in vitro measurements to the ecosystem scale and may partially explain the previous reports of net heterotrophy. The oligotrophic ocean is autotrophic at present; however, it could shift toward seasonal heterotrophy in the future as rising temperatures stimulate respiration.
Les conséquences durables de la sécheresse actuelle sur l'écoulement du fleuve Sénégal et l'hypersalinisation de la Basse-Casamance

In Sahelian and Sudanese regions, the persistent consequences of the present drought differentiate it from other dry spells of the 20th century. Two investigations carried out in Senegal showed the part of a major depletion of groundwater storage. After the annual flood, the hydrographs of the Senegal River showed discharges falling off exponentially according to a depletion coefficient without large change during seventy years (mean value: a = 0.0186 day" ). This trend has been altered over the present drought showing an increasingly rapid decline (a = 0.038 day in 1984). Marine intrusion and tidal influences characterize the Lower Casamance. In dry season, until 1973, salinity decreased going upstream (maximum < 35%o). Actually, the salinisation gradient has 501
Growth curve modeling of nucleus F0 on Korean accentual phrase *

The present study investigates the effect of Accentual Phrase on F0 using a subset of large-scale corpus of Seoul Korean. Four syllable words which were neither preceded nor followed by silent pauses were presumed to be canonical exemplars of Accentual Phrases in Korean. These four syllable words were extracted from female speakers’ speech samples. Growth curve analyses, combination of regression and polynomial curve fitting, were applied to the four syllable words. Four syllable words were divided into four groups depending on the categorical status of the initial segment: voiceless obstruents, voiced obstruents, sonorants, and vowels. Results of growth curve analyses indicate that initial segment types have an effect on the F0 (in semitone) in the nucleus of the initial syllable, and the cubic polynomial term revealed that some of the medial low tones in the 4 syllable words may be guided by the principle of contrast maximization, while others may be governed by the principle of ease of articulation.