Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Metabolomic Signature of Obesity and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: Two Nested Case–Control Studies

Obesity is a leading contributor to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but the metabolic mechanisms linking obesity to CRC are not fully understood. We leveraged untargeted metabolomics data from two 1:1 matched, nested case–control studies for CRC, including 223 pairs from the US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial and 190 pairs from a prospective Chinese cohort. We explored serum metabolites related to body mass index (BMI), constructed a metabolomic signature of obesity, and examined the association between the signature and CRC risk. In total, 72 of 278 named metabolites were correlated with BMI after multiple testing corrections (p FDR < 0.05). The metabolomic signature was calculated by including 39 metabolites that were independently associated with BMI. There was a linear positive association between the signature and CRC risk in both cohorts (p for linear < 0.05). Per 1-SD increment of the signature was associated with 38% (95% CI: 9–75%) and 28% (95% CI: 2–62%) higher risks of CRC in the US and Chinese cohorts, respectively. In conclusion, we identified a metabolomic signature for obesity and demonstrated the association between the signature and CRC risk. The findings offer new insights into the underlying mechanisms of CRC, which is critical for improved CRC prevention.
Depressional runoff cascade networks of the Des Moines Lobe of Iowa

In this study, we develop a general mathematical framework and algorithm for routing cumulative precipitation excess through depressional fill–spill cascade networks in a landscape using only information about depression morphology, local contributing areas, and potential overland flow pathways. The framework also allows for the classification of depressions according to their landscape position within a network, and calculation of precipitation‐ and non‐precipitation‐dependent network properties, including measures of network complexity and runoff connectivity. To demonstrate its use, we applied our framework to the 167,287 drained depressions of the Des Moines Lobe of Iowa, a sub‐region of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, over a large range of historically observed precipitation amounts for scenarios both neglecting and incorporating infiltration in runoff generation. Our results show that 85.3% of depressions in this region form 18,851 unique depressional runoff cascade networks, with the remainder being disjunct features. Most of the properties of the region's networks appear to conform to either a truncated power‐law or lognormal distribution. For a given rainfall amount, surface runoff connectivity between depressions within networks, and between networks and off‐network areas, is controlled primarily by available aggregate depressional volumetric storage and contributing area, and to a lesser degree, network complexity.
First record of Linderiella jebalae Boix, Sala, Escoriza & Alonso 2016 (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca) in the Iberian Peninsula. Dispersal across the Strait of Gibraltar?

We report the first record of Linderiella jebalae in the Iberian Peninsula from two temporary ponds in La Línea de la Concep¬ción (Cádiz, southern Spain). This species was described in 2016 in the Moroccan Atlas Mountain range on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, 102 km away from this new Iberian location. Sequencing a fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) showed a higher genetic diversity in Morocco, but only one haplotype in the Iberian populations, suggesting recent dis¬persal from Morocco to Spain, possibly mediated by birds through their annual migrations. This finding increases the diversity of anostraceans in the Iberian Peninsula to 16 species.
Rehabilitation Practitioners’ Perceptions of Optimal Sitting and Standing Posture in Men with Normal Weight and Obesity

The concepts of “optimal posture (OP)” and “harmful posture (HP)” are commonly used, and specific spinal postures can contribute to back pain. However, quantitative descriptions of optimal and harmful standing (StP) and sitting (SP) postures are currently lacking, particularly for different body mass indices (BMIs). Therefore, this study aimed to identify and quantify the OPs and HPs of StP and SP at different BMIs and investigate the attitudes and beliefs of rehabilitation practitioners toward OPs and HPs. Overall, 552 rehabilitation practitioners were recruited to participate in a questionnaire survey to select the optimal position from seven sitting and five standing postures for each BMI healthy volunteer. The segmental relationships of each posture were qualified using the Vicon software. For normal BMI, the physiotherapists chose two SPs (48.19% and 49.64%) and one StP (80.42%) as the OP. One sitting SP (83.7%) and two standing StPs (43.48% and 48.19%) were selected as optimal for obese BMI. All the most commonly selected OPs had an upright lordotic posture, while the postures with slouched spinal curves or forward head postures were almost all selected as HP. Additionally, 96.74% of participants considered education about optimal SP and StP to be “quite” or “very” important. The OP of the StP and SP postures was mostly based on the vertical alignment of gravity lines and sagittal balance. For obese people, the rehabilitation practitioners’ observations may be erroneous, and further physical examination is necessary. Rehabilitation practitioners generally believe that postural education is essential in clinical practice.
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as Source of Multifunctional Peptides with Antioxidant, ACE and DPP-IV Inhibitory Activities

The present study aimed at characterizing the possible biological activities of the multifunctional low molecular weight fractions (<3 kDa) peptides isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis. The fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was tested for its antioxidant property along with its angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activities. In particular, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay and the 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assays were carried out for the evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant activity. The cell-free ACE and DPP-IV inhibitory activity assays were also estimated, showing a dose-dependent inhibition. These biological properties were additionally quantified at the cellular level using human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Namely, the antioxidant activity was determined by evaluating the capability of the hydrolysate to reduce the H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation levels, and the DPP-IV activity assays show a reduction of enzyme activity of up to 27.57 ± 3.7% at 5 mg/mL. The results indicate that Oncorhynchus mykiss-derived peptides may have potential employment as health-promoting ingredients.
Production and investigation of quasi-two-dimensional Bose gases

When an ultracold bosonic gas is strongly confined along one direction of space, the corre- sponding degrees of freedom are “frozen” and the gas becomes effectively two-dimensional. The production of such quasi-two-dimensional Bose gases with a new experimental setup and subsequent studies of these objects are the principal subject of this thesis manuscript which is divided into two parts. The first part describes the basic experimental apparatus and techniques that permit us to create ultracold Bose gases for various purposes. The particular case of a quasi-two-dimensional Bose gas is discussed in detail in the second part where we describe the production (in which holographic phase plates play an important role) and investigation of this system. The goal of these experiments was the measurement of the quasi-two-dimensional Bose gas's equation of state. It turned out that the otherwise well-established method of absorption imaging gives rise to unexpected effects when applied to quasi-two-dimensional samples. We present a thorough characterisation and elements of possible explanations for these effects.
Improving Students' Critical Thinking Skills: Is Interactive Video and Interactive Web Module Beneficial?

This study aims to analyze the comparison of students' critical thinking skills by using learning media based on phenomenon-based learning in a general chemistry course. The media were an interactive web module and an interactive video about the colloidal system. This research is comparative research with a quantitative approach. The sample comprised 68 students from the State Islamic University of Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau and The University of Riau from the chemistry education department. The research data were obtained from students' critical thinking ability test, which consisted of 10 questions and was analyzed using SPSS version 26 for windows. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to notice the difference in students' achievement, while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test hypotheses and the effect size contribution. The results showed there is a significant difference in students' critical thinking skills between classes that use interactive web modules and classes that use interactive video. Both PhenoBL learning media can improve students' critical thinking skills where the effect size reaches one-third of the percentage. Therefore, educators can consider these learning media to facilitate students in improving critical thinking skills.
Detection of Porcine Deltacoronavirus RNA in the Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract and Biliary Fluid and the Effect of Infection on Serum Cholesterol Levels and Blood T Cell Population Frequencies in Gnotobiotic Piglets

Simple Summary Porcine deltacoronavirus is a newly emerged coronavirus infecting pigs. Deltacoronaviruses were previously reported mainly in birds. Porcine deltacoronavirus infects the small intestine of pigs and causes diarrhea, dehydration, and anorexia, leading to decreased body weight gain and deaths. Moreover, porcine deltacoronavirus can infect other avian or mammalian species, such as poultry and cattle, respectively. The virus has also been detected in febrile children. However, the pathogenesis in pigs or other animals is unclear. In this study, we infected germ-free piglets oronasally with porcine deltacoronavirus. We investigated the presence of the virus in various tissues, as well as differences in T cell populations (a type of immune cell), and cholesterol levels between infected and control animals. As expected, the infected piglets developed intestinal disease, but we also detected viral RNA in respiratory samples and in bile. Furthermore, the infected piglets showed trends toward lower frequencies of T cells in blood, and had higher levels of serum cholesterol compared with control animals. Our findings contribute to an understanding of porcine deltacoronavirus pathogenesis. Abstract Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) was first identified approximately a decade ago, but much is still obscure in terms of its pathogenesis. We aimed to further characterize PDCoV infection by investigating the presence of virus in respiratory and biliary tissues or fluids; T cell population frequencies in blood; and altered serum cholesterol levels. Twelve, 6-day-old, gnotobiotic piglets were inoculated oronasally with PDCoV OH-FD22 (2.6 × 107 FFU/pig). Six control piglets were not inoculated. Rectal swab (RS), nasal swab (NS), nasal wash (NW), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and biliary fluid (BF) samples were collected at 2, 4, and 7 days post-inoculation (DPI) and tested for PDCoV RNA by RT-qPCR. Blood T cell populations and serum cholesterol levels were determined by flow cytometry and a colorimetric assay, respectively. Moderate to high, and low to moderate titers of PDCoV RNA were detected in RS and in NS, NW, BAL, and BF samples, respectively, of inoculated piglets. There were trends toward decreased CD4+CD8−, CD4−CD8+, and CD4+CD8+ blood T cell frequencies in inoculated piglets. Furthermore, serum cholesterol levels were increased in inoculated piglets. Overall, we found that PDCoV infection does not exclusively involve the intestine, since the respiratory and biliary systems and cholesterol metabolism also can be affected.
Location of adult children as an attraction for black and white elderly return and onward migrants in the United States: Application of a three-level nested logit model with census data

This article assesses the influence of the location of adult children on the 1985-90 interstate migration of black and white elderly "nonnatives" (i.e., those whose state of residence in 1985 was different from their state of birth) in the United States, based on the application of a three-level nested logit model with 1990 census data. The model accounts for (1) the choice between departing and staying put, (2) the choice between return and onward migration, and (3) the choice of a specific destination. The main findings are as follows. First, elderly nonnatives were strongly attracted by the location of their adult children when they made their migration decisions at all levels of the choice framework, and this attraction was stronger for the widowed than for those of other marital statuses. This finding can be taken as empirical support for Eugene Litwak's theory of the modified extended family. Second, in the return/onward and destination choice processes, the attraction of the location of adult children was found to be stronger for whites than for blacks. This finding is consistent with the finding of Hogan et al. (1993) that whites had stronger inter-generational connections than did blacks.
Computer-Based Cognitive Training vs. Paper-and-Pencil Training for Language and Cognitive Deficits in Greek Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease: A Preliminary Study

The purpose of the present study was to explore whether Computer-Based Cognitive Training (C-BCT) versus Paper-Pencil Cognitive Training (P-PCT) is more beneficial in improving cognitive and language deficits in Greek patients living with Alzheimer’s disease (pwAD). Twenty pwAD were assigned to two groups: (a) the C-BCT group, receiving a computer-based cognitive training program using the RehaCom software, and (b) the P-PCT group, which received cognitive training using paper and pencil. The cognitive training programs lasted 15 weeks and were administered twice a week for approximately one hour per session. The analyses of each group’s baseline versus endpoint performance demonstrated that the P-PCT group improved on delayed memory, verbal fluency, attention, processing speed, executive function, general cognitive ability, and activities of daily living. In contrast, the C-BCT group improved on memory (delayed and working), naming, and processing speed. Comparisons between the two groups (C-BCT vs. P-PCT) revealed that both methods had significant effects on patients’ cognition, with the P-PCT method transferring the primary cognitive benefits to real-life activities. Our findings indicate that both methods are beneficial in attenuating cognitive and language deficits in pwAD. The need for large-scale neurobehavioral interventions to further clarify this issue, however, remains a priority.
Dissolved Organic Phosphorus Removal in Secondary Effluent by Ferrate (VI): Performance and Mechanism

Dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP), which is recalcitrant in municipal wastewater treatment, accounts for 26–81% of dissolved total phosphorus in the effluent. More importantly, the majority of DOP could be bioavailable, potentially threatening the aquatic environment through eutrophication. This study aimed to develop a ferrate (VI)-based advanced treatment to effectively destruct and remove DOP from secondary effluent and use deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and adenosine-5’-triphosphate (ATP) as DOP model compounds to explore the relevant mechanisms. The results showed that ferrate (VI) treatment could efficiently destruct and remove 75% of the DOP in secondary effluent from an activated sludge-adopted municipal wastewater treatment plant, under normal operating conditions. Moreover, the coexistence of nitrate, ammonia, and alkalinity barely affected the effectiveness, while the presence of phosphate significantly inhibited DOP removal. The mechanistic study revealed that ferrate (VI)-induced particle adsorption was the dominant way to achieve DOP reduction, rather than oxidating DOP to phosphate and forming precipitation afterward. Meanwhile, DOP molecules could be effectively decomposed into smaller ones by ferrate (VI) oxidation. This study clearly demonstrated that ferrate (VI) treatment could achieve a promising DOP removal from secondary effluent for mitigating the risk of eutrophication in receiving water bodies.
Mood Status Response to Physical Activity and Its Influence on Performance: Are Chronotype and Exercise Timing Affect?

Purpose: It is well known that there is an obvious 24 h diurnal variation in the individual’s mood state and physiological activity, and training at different times of the day may lead to different exercise performance and metabolic outcomes; however, the time-dependent effect of emotional state on physical activity and the influence of its circadian rhythm on exercise performance are still not comprehensively understood. Based on this, this study summarizes the rhythmic experimental research in the field of sport psychology, and it aims to provide the basis for coaches to optimize sports training scientifically and to improve the mental health of the related crowd to the greatest extent. Methods: The systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and CNKI databases for relevant literature; the search scope was research before September 2022. Results: 13 studies comprising 382 subjects examined the effects of exercise timing on mood responses to exercise or the effects of circadian rhythms of mood on exercise performance, which included 3 RCTs and 10 Non-RCTs. The subjects included athletes (both training or retired), college students, and healthy adults. Two studies were designed for long-term exercise intervention (aerobic training and RISE) and the rest for acute intervention (CrossFit training, HIIT, aerobic combined with muscle conditioning training, constant power exhaustion training, and cycling) or physical function tests (RSA + BTV tests, 30 s Wingate test, muscle strength + CMJ + swimming performance test, RSSJA, shooting accuracy tests + 10 × 20 m dribbling sprint, 200 m time trials). All trials reported specific exercise timing; of these, 10 studies reported subjects’ chronotypes, most commonly using the MEQ scale, while 1 recorded with the CSM. Mood responses were assessed with the POMS scale in 10 studies, while 3 other studies used the UMACL, PANAS, and GAS scales, respectively. Conclusion: There was much inconsistency between the results, with subjects likely to be exposed to more sunlight (the main timing factor of the circadian rhythm) during early morning exercise, resulting in feeling more positive emotions; however, following a night’s rest, delayed responses and poor functioning of the various organ systems of the human body may also lead to higher feelings of fatigue and negative emotions indirectly. Conversely, for athletes, their physical function tests are also more susceptible to the circadian rhythm of emotions, suggesting the importance of synchronizing them. In addition, night owls’ emotional state during physical activity seems to be more susceptible to exercise timing than that of early birds. In order to achieve the best emotional state, it is suggested that night owls arrange courses in the afternoon or evening in future training.
An inverse problem in electrostatics

We reconstruct the shape of a conductor from knowledge of its Green function on a large sphere. To this end, we consider an integral operator F having as kernel the difference between the Green function of the conductor and the Green function of free space. We use the representation F = (1/2)GSG* with the single-layer potential S and a suitable operator G to show that the range of F1/2 and the range of GS1/2 coincide. This allows us to characterize the range of GS1/2 with the help of the singular system of F via Picard's theorem. The characterization, in turn, provides a possibility of deciding whether a point is an element of D by computing a series involving the singular system of F and the free space Green function.
Third-Order Approximation of Dynamic Models without the Use of Tensors

I outline a new method for finding third-order accurate solutions to dynamic general equilibrium models. I extend the Gomme & Klein (2011) solution for second-order approximations without using tensors, to a third-order. In particular I derive a third-order matrix chain rule and use this to solve the third-order approximation. My solution method is easier to understand and code-up, and faster to implement in Matlab. I provide Matlab code and demonstrate my solution method with a simple RBC model. The resulting code is up to 80 times faster than Matlab code using tensor notation.
Effects of Berries, Phytochemicals, and Probiotics on Atherosclerosis through Gut Microbiota Modification: A Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of death and disability. The beneficial effects of phytochemicals and probiotics on atherosclerosis have gained significant interest since these functional foods can improve inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbiome dysbiosis. The direct effect of the microbiome in atherosclerosis, however, needs further elucidation. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of polyphenols, alkaloids, and probiotics on atherosclerosis using a meta-analysis of studies with mouse models of atherosclerosis. Identification of eligible studies was conducted through searches on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Science Direct until November 2022. The results showed that phytochemicals reduced atherosclerosis, which was significant in male mice, but not in females. Probiotics, on the other hand, showed significant reductions in plaque in both sexes. Berries and phytochemicals modulated gut microbial composition by reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and by upregulating health-promoting bacteria, including Akkermansia muciniphila. This analysis suggests that phytochemicals and probiotics can reduce atherosclerosis in animal models, with a potentially greater effect on male animals. Thus, consumption of functional foods rich in phytochemicals as well as probiotics are viable interventions to improve gut health and reduce plaque burden in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD).