Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical Activity as a Preventive Lifestyle Intervention Acts Through Specific Exosomal miRNA Species—Evidence From Human Short- and Long-Term Pilot Studies

Exercise initiates systemic adaptation to promote health and prevent various lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that circulating exosomes mediate some of the beneficial effects of exercise via the transfer of microRNAs between tissues. Yet to date, a comprehensive profile of the exosomal miRNA (exomiR) content released following short-term (0.5 year in this study) and long-term (25 + years in this study) regular bouts of exercise is still lacking. However, a better understanding of these miRNA species would assist in clarifying the role of regular exercise at the molecular level in the prevention of chronic diseases. In the present pilot studies we analyzed serum exomiR expression in healthy young, sedentary participants (n = 14; age: 23 ± 2 years) at baseline and following a half year-long moderate-intensity regular exercise training. We also analyzed serum exomiR expression in older, healthy trained participants (seniors, n = 11; age: 62 ± 6 years) who engaged in endurance activities for at least 25 years. Following the isolation and enrichment of serum exosomes using Total Exosome Isolation Reagent (TEI) their exomiR levels were determined using the amplification-free Nanostring platform. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the majority of exomiRs overlap for short-term (0.5 year in this study) and long-term (25 + years in this study) regular bouts of exercise. The top 12 significantly altered exomiRs (let-7a-5p; let-7g-5p; miR-130a-3p; miR-142-3p; miR-150-5p; miR-15a-5p; miR-15b-5p; miR-199a-3p; miR-199b-3p; miR-223-3p; miR-23a-3p, and miR-451a-3p) were used for further evaluation. According to KEGG pathway analysis a large portion of the exomiRs target chronic diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, and viral infections. Our results provide evidence that exosomal miRNA modulation is the molecular mechanism through which regular exercise prevents various chronic diseases. The possibility of using such exomiRs to target diseases is of great interest. While further validation is needed, our comprehensive exomiR study presents, for the first time, the disease-preventive molecular pattern of both short and long-term regular exercise.
Not Only Diamonds Are Forever: Degradation of Plastic Films in a Simulated Marine Environment

In recent years, biodegradable polymers have been hailed as one of the potential solutions to the plastic pollution problem, due to their ability to fully degrade rather than break down in smaller pieces over time. However, complete degradation of biodegradable polymers is often achievable only under strictly controlled conditions (i.e. increased temperature and pressure), which are not found in the natural environment – particularly in aquatic and marine habitats. This study aims to compare the degradation performance of plastic films made of two different biodegradable polymers – polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) – to that of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films, in a simulated marine environment. Plastic films of the three chosen polymers, of equal dimensions, were exposed to natural sunlight within a novel setup - which simulated the sea surface - for six months. Films were chosen as they are among the most frequently reported type of plastic litter in coastal environments worldwide, and because of the increasing adoption on the market of biodegradable films for packaging. Results showed that, after six months, no consistent degradation could be observed on any of the films–not even the biodegradable ones. Between PLA and PHA films, the latter weathered slightly more than the former, but not at a significant level. Interestingly, differences were reported among the different polymer films in terms of type and extent of biofouling, brittleness, surface charge and surface microstructural changes. Overall, this work suggests that biodegradable plastic behaves rather similarly to traditional plastic in the marine environment over a half-year span. Albeit further experiments on even longer timescales are needed, this study provides evidence that, unless properly disposed of in an industrial composter facility, biodegradable plastic may only contribute to the very problem it was intended to solve.
A comparative study of recycling of used lubricationOils using distillation, acid and activated charcoal withclay methods

Lubricating oils are viscous liquids used for lubricating moving part of engines and machines. Since lubricating oils are obtained from petroleum – a finite product, and with dwindling production from world oil reserves, the need arises more than ever, to recycle used lubricating oils. Accordingly, this research effort focuses on comparative study of four methods of recycling of used lubrication oils: acid/clay treatment, distillation/clay, acid treatment and activated charcoal/clay treatment methods. Test carried out on the recycled lubrication oil include: flash point, pour point, specific gravity, metal contents, viscosity and sulphur contents. The results from the tests showed that, viscosity increased from 25.5 for used lube oil to 86.2 for distillation, 89.10 for acid/clay treatment and 80.5 is for activated/clay treatment. This is compared with 92.8 cs for fresh lube oil. Other results from the different tests showed varied degrees of improvement with the best results obtained using the acid/clay treatment.
A Physiology-Guided Classification of Active-Stress and Active-Strain Approaches for Continuum-Mechanical Modeling of Skeletal Muscle Tissue

The well-established sliding filament and cross-bridge theory explain the major biophysical mechanism responsible for a skeletal muscle's active behavior on a cellular level. However, the biomechanical function of skeletal muscles on the tissue scale, which is caused by the complex interplay of muscle fibers and extracellular connective tissue, is much less understood. Mathematical models provide one possibility to investigate physiological hypotheses. Continuum-mechanical models have hereby proven themselves to be very suitable to study the biomechanical behavior of whole muscles or entire limbs. Existing continuum-mechanical skeletal muscle models use either an active-stress or an active-strain approach to phenomenologically describe the mechanical behavior of active contractions. While any macroscopic constitutive model can be judged by it's ability to accurately replicate experimental data, the evaluation of muscle-specific material descriptions is difficult as suitable data is, unfortunately, currently not available. Thus, the discussions become more philosophical rather than following rigid methodological criteria. Within this work, we provide a extensive discussion on the underlying modeling assumptions of both the active-stress and the active-strain approach in the context of existing hypotheses of skeletal muscle physiology. We conclude that the active-stress approach resolves an idealized tissue transmitting active stresses through an independent pathway. In contrast, the active-strain approach reflects an idealized tissue employing an indirect, coupled pathway for active stress transmission. Finally the physiological hypothesis that skeletal muscles exhibit redundant pathways of intramuscular stress transmission represents the basis for considering a mixed-active-stress-active-strain constitutive framework.
Impact of Perceived Severity of COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) on Mental Health of University Students of Pakistan: The Mediating Role of Muslim Religiosity

Background: Perceived severity of COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) is known to be associated with mental health of people in general and health professionals in particular in Western societies. However, its association with the mental health of students in Pakistan, which is predominantly a Muslim society, remains unclear so far. Moreover, the role of Muslim religiosity for such an association has not yet been investigated. We aimed to examine the association and report findings on the impact of perceived severity on mental health with a sample of students from all five provinces of Pakistan. Methods: We did a cross-sectional online survey from 1,525 Pakistani students in March 2020 using standardized measurement tools. We then determined the prevalence of perceived severity among students and its impact on their mental health. The strength of associations between these variables was estimated using generalized linear models, with appropriate distribution and link functions. Structural equation modeling through SmartPLS (3.0) software was utilized to analyze the results. Findings: The perceived severity of COVID-19 is significantly associated with mental health of Pakistani students, whereas Muslim religiosity is a strong mediator between perceived severity and mental health of Pakistani students. Conclusions: Though the perceived severity of COVID-19 is associated with mental health, this relationship can be better explained by the role of Muslim religiosity. When tested individually, the perceived severity accounted for only 18% variance in mental health that increased up to 57% by the mediating role of Muslim religiosity. This difference clearly indicates the mediating role of Muslim religiosity in the association between perceived severity and mental health for Pakistani students.
Altered Brain Functional Network Topology in Lung Cancer Patients After Chemotherapy

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the topological features of brain functional network in lung cancer patients before and after chemotherapy using graph theory. Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from 44 post-chemotherapy and 46 non-chemotherapy patients as well as 49 healthy controls (HCs). All groups were age- and gender-matched. Then, the topological features of brain functional network were assessed using graph theory analysis. Results: At the global level, compared with the HCs, both the non-chemotherapy group and the post-chemotherapy group showed significantly increased values in sigma (p < 0.05), gamma (p < 0.05), and local efficiency, Eloc (p < 0.05). The post-chemotherapy group and the non-chemotherapy group did not differ significantly in the above-mentioned parameters. At the nodal level, when non-chemotherapy or post-chemotherapy patients were compared with the HCs, abnormal nodal centralities were mainly observed in widespread brain regions. However, when the post-chemotherapy group was compared with the non-chemotherapy group, significantly decreased nodal centralities were observed primarily in the prefrontal–subcortical regions. Conclusions: These results indicate that lung cancer and chemotherapy can disrupt the topological features of functional networks, and chemotherapy may cause a pattern of prefrontal–subcortical brain network abnormality. As far as we know, this is the first study to report that altered functional brain networks are related to lung cancer and chemotherapy.
Finite-Time Stability of Hybrid Systems With Unstable Modes

In this work, we study finite-time stability of hybrid systems with unstable modes. We present sufficient conditions in terms of multiple Lyapunov functions for the origin of a class of hybrid systems to be finite-time stable. More specifically, we show that even if the value of the Lyapunov function increases during continuous flow, i.e., if the unstable modes in the system are active for some time, finite-time stability can be guaranteed if the finite-time convergent mode is active for a sufficient amount of cumulative time. This is the first work on finite-time stability of hybrid systems using multiple Lyapunov functions. Prior work uses a common Lyapunov function approach, and requires the Lyapunov function to be decreasing during the continuous flows and non-increasing at the discrete jumps, thereby, restricting the hybrid system to only have stable modes, or to only evolve along the stable modes. In contrast, we allow Lyapunov functions to increase both during the continuous flows and the discrete jumps. As thus, the derived stability results are less conservative compared to the earlier results in the related literature, and in effect allow the hybrid system to have unstable modes.
Certification report for the reference materials ERM-AE102a, -AE104a, -AE120, -AE121 and -AE122

Isotope reference materials are essential to enable reliable and comparable isotope data. Besides the correction of mass fractionation or mass discrimination isotope reference materials are indispensible for validation and quality control of analytical procedures. This article describes the production and certification of a set of five isotope reference materials ERM-AE102a, 104a, AE120, 121 and 122, for boron isotope analysis. The isotopic composition of all materials has been adjusted by mixing boron mother solutions enriched in 10B or 11B with a boron mother solution having natural-like isotopic composition under full gravimetric control. All mother solutions have been analysed for their boron mass fraction as well as their boron isotopic composition by TIMS using IDMS as calibration technique. For all five reference materials the isotopic composition obtained on the basis of the gravimetric data agrees very well with the isotopic composition obtained from different TIMS techniques. Performed stability and homogeneity studies show no significant influence on the isotopic composition as well as on the related uncertainties. The certified isotope abundances for 10B are 0.29995 (27) for ERM-AE102a and 0.31488 (28) for ERM-AE104a. The certified δ11B values are -20.2 (6) ‰ for ERM-AE120, 19.9(6) ‰ for ERM-AE121 and 39.7 (6) ‰ for ERM-AE122. Together with the formerly certified ERM-AE101 and -AE103 a unique set of seven certified reference materials (CRM) for boron isotope analysis is now available from BAM.
Simulating the Impact of Nitrogen Management on Rice Yield and Nitrogen Uptake in Irrigated Lowland by ORYZA2000 Model

ABSTRACT This paper considers the implications of ORYZA2000 model in simulating physiological traits of rice at different nitrogen concentrations. The experiment was conducted over the course of the growing season in 2012 and 2013 in Rice Research Institute, Deputy of Mazandaran, Iran. The variety used was Shiroudi as a high yielding variety. The considered factors were the amount of nitrogen at four levels (40, 80, 120, 160 kg N ha−1 and control) and nitrogen splitting in four levels. We compared simulated and measured grain yield, biomass, grain nitrogen, total plant nitrogen uptake, and leaf area index (LAI) by Student’s t-test of means and by absolute and normalized root mean square errors (RMSE). Results showed that grain yield was simulated with an RMSE of 411–423 kg ha−1 and a normalized RMSE of 6%. RMSE was 671–910 kg ha−1 for biomass on harvesting date. RMSE were 7–11 for grain nitrogen, and 10–13 for total plant nitrogen uptake. LAI was simulated with a normalized RMSE of 17–23%. Generally the model simulated LAI, an exceeded measured value for different nitrogen treatments. The most obvious finding that emerged from this study was that ORYZA2000 model can be applied as a supportive research tool for selecting the most appropriate strategies for rice yield improvement at various nitrogen fertilization concentrations.
Application Of Biological Indicators For Estimation Of Remediation Of Soil Degraded By Sulphur Industry

Abstract The study was conducted on an experiment established in the area of the former Sulphur Mine “Jeziorko. ” The remediation was applied to a soil-less formation with particle size distribution of weakly loamy sand, strongly acidified and with bad sorptive properties (Corg. - 2.0 g kg−1; pHKCl - 4.3; T - 7.0 cmol(+) kg−1). In the particular treatments of the experiment the following were applied to the soil-less formation: flotation lime and NPK; lime and sewage sludge; sewage sludge; mineral wool (5 cm 50 cm−1), lime and NPK; mineral wool (5 cm 50 cm−1), lime and sewage sludge; mineral wool (500 m3 ha−1), lime and NPK; mineral wool (500 m3 ha−1), lime and sewage sludge. Plots prepared in that manner were then sown with a mix of grasses. The control was the soil with no amendments. The analyses of the soil material comprised assays of the numbers of particular groups of bacteria and fungi, and of their biochemical and enzymatic activities. The study revealed that all the wastes applied for the remediation caused an increase in the numbers of the bacterial groups studied (copiotrophic, oligotrophic, cellulolytic, lipolytic), as well as in the respiration activity and rate of mineralisation of cellulose. That effect was the most pronounced in the case of sewage sludge. In treatments in which sewage sludge was applied, an increase was also observed in the numbers of the studied fungi (fungi on Martin medium, cellulolytic fungi, lipolytic fungi) and in lipase activity. Whereas, the application of the remaining wastes resulted in a slight decrease in the numbers of the fungal groups under analysis. Comparing the mean annual values of the analysed biological, physical, chemical and physicochemical properties it was found that the biological properties were as sensitive, and in the case of certain tests (numbers of cellulolytic and lipolytic bacteria, rate of cellulose mineralisation) even more sensitive indicators of positive changes taking place in the remediated soil.
Studying Bacillus cereus's ability to biodegrade crude oil in hot areas

ABSTRACT In this study, the biodegrading ability of three spices of Bacillus isolated from a soil, which was contaminated by crude oil, was studied. Isolated species are able to biodegrade crude oil carbohydrates by producing biosurfactants and lowering the rate of surface tension at different temperatures and pHs. The decrease of surface tension from 57 mN/m to 31 mN/m at 37°C and to 32.5 mN/m at 20°C by Bacillus cereus B1 in samples with 1% crude oil can be referred to as the results of this research.
Structure and solution properties of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose carboxymethyl

We have investigated the macroscopic properties of eight commercial samples of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) with molecular weights between 9000 and 360 000 g mol -1 and substitution degrees between 0.75 and 1.47 in aqueous solutions. From rheological and electric birefringence measurements (a.c. and d.c. methods) we distinguished four critical concentrations which depend on the molecular weight of the samples, the charge density of the polyelectrolytes and the ionic strength of the solutions. For very low concentrations the polyelectrolytes are in their most extended conformation. The reduced Kerr constants and the relaxation times determined from the electric birefringence decay are independent of concentration and the viscosity is water-like. At a concentration c 0 the distance between the chains corresponds approximately to their persistence length and the reduced Kerr constants decrease for the lower molecular weight samples (up to 30 000 g mol -1 ). For a concentration c 1 the extended chains start to overlap and all the samples show an increase in viscosity which follows a scaling law of (c/c 1 ) 1/2 . Both concentrations are in good agreement with theoretical predictions by Dobrynin et al. With further increasing polyelectrolyte concentration the now coiled chains start to overlap and to entangle. This concentration c 2 is characterized by a strong increase in the viscosity with the same concentration scaling of (c/c 2 ) 5.5 as for uncharged polymers. The relaxation times of all samples start to increase strongly. The polyelectrolytes now behave like neutral polymers and form a transient network structure. For the higher molecular weight samples a further concentration c 3 is observed at which the solutions form a (thermoreversible) gel state. Any changes in the ionic strength of the polyelectrolyte solutions cause strong changes in the different concentration regions. The addition of salt or surfactant molecules as well as a change in the pH value of the solutions in general cause a decrease in the Kerr constants, the relaxation times and the viscosity.
Reduction of Tissue Na D Accumulation After Renal Transplantation 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Kidney 52 53 Reduction of Tissue Na Accumulation After Renal Transplantation 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 Anke Dahlmann, Peter Linz, Isabelle Zucker, Viktor Haag, Jonathan Jantsch, Thomas Dienemann, Armin M. Nagel, Patrick Neubert, Daniela Rosenhauer, Manfred Rauh, Stephan Horn, Dominik N. Müller, Mario Schiffer, Friedrich C. Luft, Michael Uder and Christoph Kopp Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Institute of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Department of Surgery, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Pediatrics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Kuratorium für Heimdialyse, Erlangen, Germany; and Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) engenders salt-sensitive hypertension. Whether or not tissue Naþ accumulation is increased in CKD patients remains uncertain. How tissue Naþ is affected after renal transplantation has not been assessed. Methods: We measured tissue Naþ amount in 31 CKD patients (stage 5) and prospectively evaluated tissue Naþ content at 3 and 6 months, following living-donor kidney transplantation. Additionally, preand post-transplantation data were compared to 31 ageand sex-matched control subjects. Na–magnetic resonance imaging (Na-MRI) was used to quantify muscle and skin Naþ of the lower leg and water distribution was assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy. Results: Compared to control subjects, CKD patients showed increased muscle (20.7 5.0 vs. 15.5 1.8 arbitrary units [a.u.], P < 0.001) and skin Naþ content (21.4 7.7 vs. 15.0 2.3 a.u., P < 0.001), whereas plasma Naþ concentration did not differ between groups. Restoration of kidney function by successful renal transplantation was accompanied by mobilization of tissue Naþ from muscle (20.7 5.0 vs. 16.8 2.8 a.u., P < 0.001) and skin tissue (21.4 7.7 vs. 16.8 5.2 a.u., P < 0.001). The reduction of tissue Naþ after transplantation was associated with improved renal function, normalization of blood pressure as well as an increase in lymphatic growth-factor concentration (vascular endothelial growth factor C [VEGF-C] 4.5 1.8 vs. 6.7 2.7 ng/ml, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Tissue Naþ accumulation in predialysis patients with CKD was almost completely reversed to the level of healthy controls after successful kidney transplantation.