Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Topology, Antiviral Functional Residues and Mechanism of IFITM1

Interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITM1/2/3) have been reported to suppress the entry of a wide range of viruses. However, their antiviral functional residues and specific mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we firstly resolved the topology of IFITM1 on the plasma membrane where N-terminus points into the cytoplasm and C-terminus resides extracellularly. Further, KRRK basic residues of IFITM1 locating at 62–67 of the conserved intracellular loop (CIL) were found to play a key role in the restriction on the Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV). Similarly, KRRK basic residues of IFITM2/3 also contributed to suppressing ZIKV replication. Finally, IFITM1 was revealed to be capable of restricting the release of ZIKV particles from endosome to cytosol so as to impede the entry of ZIKV into host cells, which was tightly related with the inhibition of IFITM1 on the acidification of organelles. Overall, our study provided topology, antiviral functional residues and the mechanism of interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins.
Experimental Insights into Concrete Flow-Regimes Subject to Shear-Induced Particle Migration (SIPM) during Pumping

In this paper, the authors have focused on shear-induced particle migration (SIPM), its effect on concrete flow patterns, and lubricating layer formation during pumping. For this purpose, various volume-fractions ϕ of aggregates were selected. The particle migration was analyzed by applying two methods: sampling hardened concrete exposed to pumping and performing X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) and image analysis to determine the thickness of the lubricating layer due to SIPM. The results indicate that the first approach is unsuitable due to the nearly equal molecular density of particles and matrix. The second approach indicated that the actual thickness of the lubricating layer depends on the discharge rate as well as on ϕ and viscosity of concrete bulk; hence, it cannot be defined as a constant parameter for all concrete mixtures. Additionally, the concrete pipe-flow pattern, i.e., plug versus shear flow, was captured and studied while considering pumping pressure and discharge rate. It was concluded that particle migration is essential in the cases of both flowable and very flowable concretes with a high volume-fraction of solids. The changes in rheological properties caused by SIPM are severe enough to influence the definition of the flow pattern as plug or shear and the discharge rate of pumped concrete as well.
Subjective Benefits of Bimodal Listening in Cochlear Implant Recipients with Asymmetric Hearing Loss

Objective To investigate the influence of cochlear implant (CI) use on subjective benefits in quality of life in cases of asymmetric hearing loss (AHL). Study Design Prospective clinical trial. Setting Tertiary academic center. Subjects and Methods Subjects included CI recipients with AHL (n = 20), defined as moderate-to-profound hearing loss in the affected ear and mild-to-moderate hearing loss in the contralateral ear. Quality of life was assessed with the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) pragmatic subscales, which assess binaural benefits. Subjective benefit on the pragmatic subscales was compared to word recognition in quiet and spatial hearing abilities (ie, masked sentence recognition and localization). Results Subjects demonstrated an early, significant improvement (P < .01) in abilities with the CI as compared to preoperative abilities on the SSQ pragmatic subscales by the 1-month interval. Perceived abilities were either maintained or continued to improve over the study period. There were no significant correlations between results on the Speech in Quiet subscale and word recognition in quiet, the Speech in Speech Contexts subscale and masked sentence recognition, or the Localization subscale and sound field localization. Conclusions CI recipients with AHL report a significant improvement in quality of life as measured by the SSQ pragmatic subscales over preoperative abilities. Reported improvements are observed as early as 1 month postactivation, which likely reflect the binaural benefits of listening with bimodal stimulation (CI and contralateral hearing aid). The SSQ pragmatic subscales may provide a more in-depth insight into CI recipient experience as compared to behavioral sound field measures alone.
Hyperhomocysteinemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Aim: To determine the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia amongst chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients at a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria and to determine its relationship with the severity of kidney disease. Study Design: A comparative cross sectional study carried out in the department of Medicine in a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria between April 2012 and May 2013. Methodology: A comparative cross sectional study among138 patients with CKD and 69 healthy consenting hospital staff individuals. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated for both patients and controls, using measured serum creatinine in the Cockcroft-Gault formula and the patients were grouped into the different stages of chronic kidney disease. All subjects had the homocysteine levels measurements using the enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. Homocysteine levels were compared between healthy persons and CKD patients as well as within different stages of chronic kidney disease. Results: Most of the CKD patients (47.8%) were stage 4, followed by (33.3%) stage 3 and stage 5 (14.5%). While stages 1 and 2 were the least (2.2% each). The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 16.5 years and 42.3 ± 14.7 years for control subjects. The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 57.9% amongst cases and 4.3% among control subjects with median homocysteine (Hcy) level being 19.1 µmol/l (IQR - 13.8) in cases and 8.3 µmol/l (IQR - 2.9) in controls, this was significant ( P <.001), the chronic kidney disease patients having higher median homocysteine levels as the degree of kidney disease worsened. Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is high in CKD patients compared to controls and it increases as CKD progresses.
Proteomic Adaptation of Streptococcus pneumoniae to the Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37

Secreted antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important part of the human innate immune system and prevent local and systemic infections by inhibiting bacterial growth in a concentration-dependent manner. In the respiratory tract, the cationic peptide LL-37 is one of the most abundant AMPs and capable of building pore complexes in usually negatively charged bacterial membranes, leading to the destruction of bacteria. However, the adaptation mechanisms of several pathogens to LL-37 are already described and are known to weaken the antimicrobial effect of the AMP, for instance, by repulsion, export or degradation of the peptide. This study examines proteome-wide changes in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39, the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, in response to physiological concentrations of LL-37 by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Our data indicate that pneumococci may use some of the known adaptation mechanisms to reduce the effect of LL-37 on their physiology, too. Additionally, several proteins seem to be involved in resistance to AMPs which have not been related to this process before, such as the teichoic acid flippase TacF (SPD_1128). Understanding colonization- and infection-relevant adaptations of the pneumococcus to AMPs, especially LL-37, could finally uncover new drug targets to weaken the burden of this widespread pathogen.
Lower Levels of Circulating Adiponectin in Elderly Patients with Metabolic Inflammatory Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Metabolic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity. The above metabolic disorders often coexist and are closely related with systemic low-grade inflammation. Metabolic inflammatory syndrome (MIS), a cluster of these four metabolic disorders, is a novel concept that is thought to be a better predictor of coronary heart disease than metabolic syndrome. Adiponectin is an adipokine that increases insulin sensitivity and antioxidation as well as has an anti-atherosclerosis effect. It is unclear whether adiponectin is associated with MIS. The objective of this study was to assess whether circulating adiponectin can be used as an indicator for MIS in elderly adults. Methods A total of 136 elderly inpatients were divided into two groups: the MIS group and the non-MIS group. Characteristics, inflammatory markers, blood lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and circulating adiponectin levels were assessed and compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between the associated factors and MIS. Results MIS patients were more likely to have a higher body mass index, have a higher fasting blood glucose level, be smokers, have fundus arteriosclerosis, have lower levels of adiponectin (4044.90 ± 3906.82 ng/mL vs 8503.89 ± 3523.89 ng/mL, p < 0.001), and have higher levels of inflammation (white blood cell and C-reactive protein) than non-MIS patients. Multiple factor analysis showed that lower adiponectin levels (OR = 22.937, p < 0.001) were independently associated with MIS. Adiponectin levels were lower in the vascular disease (2673.29 ± 1930.05 ng/mL vs 7194.38 ± 4615.83 ng/mL, p = 0.001), atherosclerosis (2374.14 [1496.41–4263.90] ng/mL vs 6037.48 [3865.61–10,373.60] ng/mL, p < 0.001), and type 2 diabetes (2391.73 [1386.41–4069.68] ng/mL vs 8916.03 [5801.14–12,724.45] ng/mL, p < 0.001) subgroups than in the non-MIS group. Conclusion Lower adiponectin levels in serum are associated with MIS. Low adiponectin may be used as a biomarker for atherosclerosis in patients with MIS.
Oral Lactate Administration Additively Enhances Endurance Training-Induced Increase in Cytochrome C Oxidase Activity in Mouse Soleus Muscle

We tested the hypothesis that oral lactate supplementation increases mitochondrial enzyme activity given the potential role of lactate for inducing mitochondrial biogenesis. In this study, mice were assigned to a saline-ingested sedentary group (S+S; n = 8), a lactate-ingested sedentary group (L+S; n = 9), a saline-ingested training group (S+T; n = 8), and a lactate-ingested training group (L+T; n = 8). Mice in the S+S and S+T groups received saline, whereas mice in the L+S and L+T groups received sodium lactate (equivalent to 5 g/kg of body weight) via oral gavage 5 days a week for 4 weeks. At 30 min after the ingestion, mice in the S+T and L+T groups performed endurance training (treadmill running, 20 m/min, 30 min, 5 days/week). At 30 min after lactate ingestion, the blood lactate level reached peak value (5.8 ± 0.4 mmol/L) in the L+S group. Immediately after the exercise, blood lactate level was significantly higher in the L+T group (9.3 ± 0.9 mmol/L) than in the S+T group (2.7 ± 0.3 mmol/L) (p < 0.01). Following a 4-week training period, a main effect of endurance training was observed in maximal citrate synthase (CS) (p < 0.01; S+T: 117 ± 3% relative to S+S, L+T: 110 ± 3%) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activities (p < 0.01; S+T: 126 ± 4%, L+T: 121 ± 4%) in the plantaris muscle. Similarly, there was a main effect of endurance training in maximal CS (p < 0.01; S+T: 105 ± 3%, L+T: 115 ± 2%) and COX activities (p < 0.01; S+T: 113 ± 3%, L+T: 122 ± 3%) in the soleus muscle. In addition, a main effect of oral lactate ingestion was found in maximal COX activity in the soleus (p < 0.05; L+S: 109 ± 3%, L+T: 122 ± 3%) and heart muscles (p < 0.05; L+S: 107 ± 3%, L+T: 107 ± 2.0%), but not in the plantaris muscle. Our results suggest that lactate supplementation may be beneficial for increasing mitochondrial enzyme activity in oxidative phenotype muscle.
The experience of living after ECT: a qualitative meta-synthesis

Abstract Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a controversial treatment. Research has predominantly focused on clinician assessment of short-term efficacy and, occasionally, on participant experiences of the treatment itself. While service user accounts of the long-term impacts of ECT are reported, they are dispersed throughout the literature and typically tangential to studie’s main foci. Aim The aim of this study was to synthesise service-user accounts, within peer-reviewed literature, of long-term impacts of ECT in their daily lives. Methods A qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted. A systematic literature search identified qualitative articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Results sections of eligible papers were analysed thematically. Results From 16 eligible papers, the review identified 11 long-term impacts, four social influences and five strategies that people employed to navigate these long-term impacts. Conclusion Limited research has examined long-term experiences of ECT from service-user perspectives. These lived experience perspectives are required to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and assist future service delivery to align with needs of people living with long-term ECT impacts.
PRCI ambient NO2 AERMOD performance assessment and model improvement project: Modeled to observed comparison

ABSTRACT On January 22, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a new one-hour probabilistic National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at 100 parts per billion (ppb) or approximately 188 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). The 1-hr NO2 NAAQS is considerably more stringent than the longstanding annual standard of 53 ppb or approximately 100 µg/m3. AERMOD is the EPA recommended dispersion modeling tool for predicting impacts from emission sources, including compressor station reciprocating engines. Existing datasets were previously reviewed to evaluate and improve AERMOD 1-hr NO2 model performance. However, these datasets were not representative due to either an absence of accurate concurrent hourly emission inventories, being associated with larger electric generating units, shorter duration tracer studies, or were too site-specific (e.g., external influences such as terrain). To address this data gap, an intensive 13-month field data program was undertaken by Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) to collect a comprehensive dataset including concurrent emissions, meteorological, and ambient ozone and nitrogen oxide measurements. This paper describes the Balko, OK natural gas compressor station host site and the design of the meteorological, ambient NOx and O3 monitors and continuous Parametric Emissions Monitoring System (PEMS). Two comparisons are made between the monitored data and AERMOD results. First, the measured onsite data (ambient air, meteorological, and emissions) were used as input to AERMOD to make comparisons between measured and modeled NOx and NO2. These comparisons showed that NOx was both over and under predicted, sometimes beyond a factor-of-two. The second comparison uses the typical permitting approach where onsite data are not available to contrast how conservative input assumptions for emissions, background O3, NO2, and offsite meteorology cause significant over predictions especially for this site where engines have a low annual utilization rate and operate infrequently throughout the year. Implications: This project resulted following the promulgation of the new 1-hr NO2 NAAQS and the challenges that natural gas pipeline compressor stations have in modeling intermittent emissions using AERMOD to demonstrate compliance with this standard. AERMOD was developed and validated with a primary focus on large sources with tall stacks, such as electric utility boilers. A recently collected dataset at a gas compressor station in Balko, Oklahoma shows that the use of permitted allowable emission values compared to actual hourly emission values causes over predictions using typical regulatory methods. Comparison of model results using actual hourly emission values to coincident ambient air monitoring values at the site shows that AERMOD over predicts near-field impacts due to simplifying assumptions including building downwash, plume dispersion, chemistry, and 1-hr invariant meteorological conditions.
Rapid Resynthesis of Catecholamines in the Dog Adrenal Medulla during Haemorrhage

The effect of acute bleeding on catecholamine synthesis in the dog adrenal medulla has been investigated. This study showed that haemorrhage was associated with an increase in the synthesis of catecholamine. The increase in the synthesis was found to be about 66 % when compared with the catecholamine content of the left adrenal, the control gland.
Effects of impregnation combined heat treatment on the pyrolysis behavior of poplar wood

To investigate the effects of urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin impregnation combined heat treatment (IMPG-HT) on the pyrolysis behavior of poplar wood, the chemical composition, pyrolysis characteristics, pyrolysis kinetics, and gaseous products released during pyrolysis of untreated (control), IMPG-HT, IMPG and HT woods were analyzed. The results demonstrate that IMPG-HT changes pyrolysis behavior of poplar wood significantly. Unlike the control and HT samples, the thermogravimetric / derivative thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) curves of IMPG wood shift toward lower temperature, and the shoulder on DTG curves weaken or even disappear. The maximum mass loss rate of IMPG-HT samples decreases, and carbon residual yield increases to 23% or more and activation energy (E) increases sharply after conversion rate (α) reaching 0.80. HT improves the thermal stability of IMPG wood, which is represented by the increase of decomposition temperature (Td) and DTG peak temperature (Tpeak) and the higher E value of IMPG-HT wood. For the pyrolysis gaseous products, IMPG-HT wood produces nitrogen-containing gases (HNCO and NH3) due to the presence of UF resin, but the amounts of these gases are less than that produced by IMPG wood because the heat treatment had removed part of N elements.
Equipment for Testing Measuring Devices at a Low-Level Radon Activity Concentration

The National Institute for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection, under the European project 16ENV10 MetroRADON (the European metrology program for innovation and research, EMPIR), has developed unique equipment for the testing of measuring devices at low-level radon activity concentrations. The equipment consists particularly of an airtight low-level radon chamber (LLRCH) with an inner volume of 324 liters; a Rn-222 type RF 5 flow-through source with a Ra-226 activity of 4.955 kBq developed by Czech Metrological Institute within the above-mentioned project; and a pressure vessel as a radon-free air source. The mass flow controller of the Bronkhorst EL-Flow type is a part of the apparatus and ensures the requested airflow through the radon source—partialized if necessary—through the chamber. The homogeneity of the atmosphere in the chamber is ensured by means of a continuously regulated fan (airflows in the range of 0.1–3.5 m·s−1 can be established). Another important chamber component is the measuring device of climatic conditions, since temperature, air pressure, and relative humidity must be determined. The construction of the equipment allows the time-stable radon activity concentration to be maintained at a precise level for several days. Radon concentration values can be arbitrarily and continuously set in the range from 100 Bq·m−3 to 300 Bq·m−3.
The influence of offside rule and pitch sizes on the youth soccer players’ small-sided games external loads

ABSTRACT The aim was to analyse the influence of the offside rule and pitch sizes on the external loads encountered by young soccer players during small-sided games (SSGs). Twenty-four U12 soccer players belonged to the same Spanish Performance Soccer Academy participated in the study. Each player participated in six different SSGs attending to the offside rule (i.e., offside not applicable [NOS] and with offside [WOS]) and the pitch sizes (i.e., individual interaction space [IIS] of 25, 50 and 75 m2 per player). The obtained data included measures of external loads by global positioning systems. Players covered higher total distance and greater distances at jogging (8–12.9 km·h−1), cruising (13.0–16.0 km·h−1) and sprinting (>16.0 km·h−1) in NOS75 and WOS75 SSGs (p < 0.01; d = 0.65–6.60). Besides, in the NOS75 SSG, the total distance and the distance at cruising were higher in respect to WOS75 (p < 0.01; d = 0.63–0.82). In addition, players performed lower sprints (p < 0.01; d = 1.17–1.71) and achieved lower Vmax (p > 0.05; d = 1.10–1.88) during NOS25 and WOS25 SSGs. These findings could provide relevant information for coaches in order to apply different pitch sizes and the inclusion/absence of the offside rule throughout the microcycle.
Inhibiting the Whole Number Bias in a Fraction Comparison Task: An Event-Related Potential Study

Introduction People often use heuristics derived from natural number tasks to solve fraction comparison tasks. For instance, one may falsely consider a fraction with a larger natural number to be the larger in magnitude, as in the case of 1/5 vs 1/4. We hypothesized that inhibitory control was needed to overcome this type of bias. Methods To test the hypothesis, Event-related potentials (ERP) were collected when participants were conducting fraction comparison tasks that designed with the negative priming paradigm. Twenty-eight adult participants performed three types of fraction comparison tasks: congruent items, incongruent items and neutral items. Results We found a negative priming effect in terms of response time. Consistently, ERP results demonstrated larger N1 and N2 amplitudes and a smaller P3 amplitude in the test trial than in the control trial. Conclusion These findings indicated that adults still need to inhibit the “larger natural number-larger fraction” misleading strategy when solving fraction comparison tasks with common components.
Sedentary Time Accumulated in Bouts is Positively Associated with Disease Severity in Fibromyalgia: The Al-Ándalus Project

To examine the associations of prolonged sedentary time (ST) with disease severity in women with fibromyalgia, and to analyse the combined association of total ST and prolonged ST with the disease severity in this population. Women (n = 451; 51.3 ± 7.6 years old) with fibromyalgia participated. Sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured using triaxial accelerometry and ST was processed into 30- and 60-min bouts. Dimensions of fibromyalgia (function, overall, symptoms) and the overall disease impact were assessed with the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Body fat percentage was assessed using a bio-impedance analyser, and physical fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Tests Battery. Greater percentage of ST in 30-min bouts and 60-min bouts were associated with worse function, overall, symptoms and the overall impact of the disease (all, P < 0.05). Overall, these associations were statistically significant when additionally controlling for MVPA and overall physical fitness. Participants with low levels of total ST and prolonged ST (>60-min bouts) presented lower overall impact compared to participants with high levels of total ST and prolonged ST (mean difference = 6.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.83 to 11.29, P = 0.002). Greater percentage of ST accumulated in 30- and 60-min bouts and a combination of high levels of total and prolonged ST are related to worse disease severity. Although unable to conclude on causality, results suggest it might be advisable to motivate women with fibromyalgia to break prolonged ST and reduce their total daily ST.