Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Viral Mimicry of Interleukin-17A by SARS-CoV-2 ORF8

Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants lacking open reading frame 8 (ORF8) have been associated with milder infection and disease outcome, but the molecular mechanism behind how this viral accessory protein mediates disease pathogenesis is not yet known. In our study, we revealed that secreted ORF8 protein mimics host IL-17 to activate IL-17 receptors A and C (IL-17RA/C) and induces a significantly stronger inflammatory response than host IL-17A, providing molecular insights into the role of ORF8 in COVID-19 pathogenesis and serving as a potential therapeutic target. ABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection triggers cytokine-mediated inflammation, leading to a myriad of clinical presentations in COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 open reading frame 8 (ORF8) is a secreted and rapidly evolving glycoprotein. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants with ORF8 deleted are associated with mild disease outcomes, but the molecular mechanism behind this is unknown. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 is a viral cytokine that is similar to but distinct from interleukin 17A (IL-17A) as it induces stronger and broader human IL-17 receptor (hIL-17R) signaling than IL-17A. ORF8 primarily targeted blood monocytes and induced the heterodimerization of hIL-17RA and hIL-17RC, triggering a robust inflammatory response. Transcriptome analysis revealed that besides its activation of the hIL-17R pathway, ORF8 upregulated gene expression for fibrosis signaling and coagulation dysregulation. A naturally occurring ORF8 L84S variant that was highly associated with mild COVID-19 showed reduced hIL-17RA binding and attenuated inflammatory responses. This study reveals how SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 by a viral mimicry of the IL-17 cytokine contributes to COVID-19 severe inflammation. IMPORTANCE Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants lacking open reading frame 8 (ORF8) have been associated with milder infection and disease outcome, but the molecular mechanism behind how this viral accessory protein mediates disease pathogenesis is not yet known. In our study, we revealed that secreted ORF8 protein mimics host IL-17 to activate IL-17 receptors A and C (IL-17RA/C) and induces a significantly stronger inflammatory response than host IL-17A, providing molecular insights into the role of ORF8 in COVID-19 pathogenesis and serving as a potential therapeutic target.
Age-varying association between depression and cognitive function among a national sample of older U.S. immigrant adults: the potential moderating role of physical activity

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to (1) investigate age-associated trends in depression and cognition, (2) determine whether the association between depression and cognition varies across age, and (3) test whether this association is moderated by different levels of physical activity among older U.S. immigrant adults aged 60 to 80 years. Methods Using national data on elderly U.S. immigrants (N = 375) from the 2011–2014 NHANES, we employed weighted intercept-only linear time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) and weighted linear TVEM to address our research questions. Results Weighted intercept-only linear TVEM indicated no trend in depression, but its mean peaked at age 67. Cognition consistently decreased with age, reaching its lowest point at age 78. Weighted linear TVEM revealed a significant inverse association between depression and cognition at some age ranges, with the strongest association at around age 66. Yet, we did not find the moderational relation of physical activity to this age-varying association. Conclusions Although we observed a significant inverse relationship between depression and cognition at a certain age point, physical activity did not moderate the age-varying association. Understanding of age-varying effects on the depression–cognition interaction will promote prevention efforts targeting aging immigrant populations at highest risk for these health outcomes. Further work is needed to test moderating effects of other health behaviors on this association across age. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2022. 2056139 .
HIV-Related Stigma, Sexual Identity, and Depressive Symptoms Among MSM Living With HIV in China: A Moderated Mediation Modeling Analysis

Depression is one of the biggest health issues among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV, where sexual identity might play an intricate role. Yet, findings of the relationship between sexual identity and depression were mixed and few studies explored its underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the association between sexual identity and depression, and the potential mediating role of HIV-related stigma and moderating role of age. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 203 MSM living with HIV in Guangxi, China. Participants provided information on sexual identity, depression, HIV-related stigma, and background information. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and path analysis were applied to examine our hypotheses. Bivariate analysis demonstrated that participants who self-identified as gay reported a lower level of HIV-related stigma and depression. Path analysis revealed an insignificant direct effect of identifying as gay on depression. Yet, the indirect pathway was significant, with identifying as gay being associated with a lower level of HIV stigma and thus a lower level of depression. This indirect effect was moderated by age. The conditional indirect effect was significant in the younger group yet ceased in the older group. The study provided information to better understand the effect of sexual identity on mental health among stigmatized sexual and gender minorities by highlighting the mediating effect of HIV-related stigma and the protective effect of age. Interventions targeting mental health of MSM living with HIV might consider placing greater emphasis on addressing HIV-related stigma among younger MSM.
Formulation and optimization of silymarin-encapsulated binary micelles for enhanced amyloid disaggregation activity

Abstract Silymarin (SLY) is a natural hydrophobic polyphenol that possesses antioxidant and amyloid fibril (Aβ1–42) inhibition activity, but its activity is hindered due to low aqueous solubility. In this study, SLY is encapsulated in binary micelle (SLY-BM) that has been utilized to enhance the Aβ1–42 fibril disaggregation. To enhance the aqueous solubility, SLY payload in micelles were optimized using Box–Behnken Design (BBD) to increase the efficiency of Aβ1–42 fibril disaggregation. BBD was used to investigate the effect of ratio of Solutol HS15:Poloxamer-188, amount of acetone and hydration volume on critical quality attributes, particle size, and entrapment efficiency for SLY-BM. Furthermore, SLY-BM was characterized for its physical and drug release properties. The Aβ1–42 fibril disaggregation and antioxidant studies were monitored using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. BBD optimized the particle size <50 nm with %EE > 80%, and solubility factor of SLY-BM was enhanced to 460 folds than free SLY. Inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) value of SLY-BM was 19.67 µg/mL compared to free SLY (30.06 µg/mL) in diphenylpicrahydrazyl assay. SLY-BM increased the Aβ1–42 disaggregation compared to free SLY observed via thioflavin-T assay, photon correlation spectroscopy, and circular dichorism. Further morphological evaluation of Aβ1–42 disaggregation was monitored by microscopy which showed that SLY-BM disaggregated the fibrils in 48 h. According to our findings, we concluded that SLY-BM micelles are potential candidates for delivery of neuroprotective agents.
Do metapopulations and management matter for relict headwater bull trout populations in a warming climate?

Mountain headwater streams have emerged as important climate refuges for native cold-water species due to their slow climate velocities and extreme physical conditions that inhibit many non-native invasions. Species persisting in refuges oftentimes do so as fragmented, relict populations from broader historical distributions that are subject to ongoing habitat reductions and increasing isolation as climate change progresses. Key for conservation planning is determining where remaining populations will persist and how habitat restoration strategies can improve biological resilience to enhance the long-term prospects for species of concern. Studying bull trout, a headwater species in the northwestern U.S., we developed habitat occupancy models using a dataset of population occurrence in 991 natal habitat patches with a suite of novel geospatial covariates derived from high-resolution hydroclimatic scenarios and other sources representing watershed and instream habitat conditions, patch geometry, disturbance, and biological interactions. The best model correctly predicted bull trout occupancy status in 82.6% of the patches and included effects for: patch size estimated as habitat volume, extent of within-patch reaches < 9 °C mean August temperature, distance to nearest occupied patch, road density, invasive brook trout prevalence, patch slope, and frequency of high winter flows. The model was used to assess 16 scenarios of bull trout occurrence within the study streams that represented a range of restoration strategies under three climatic conditions (baseline, moderate change, and extreme change). Results suggested that regional improvements in bull trout status were difficult to achieve in realistic restoration strategies due to the pervasive nature of climate change and the limited extent of restoration actions given their high costs. However, occurrence probabilities in a subset of patches were highly responsive to restoration actions, suggesting that targeted investments to improve the resilience of some populations may be contextually beneficial. A possible strategy, therefore, is focusing effort on responsive populations near more robust population strongholds, thereby contributing to local enclaves where dispersal among populations further enhances resilience. Equally important, strongholds constituted a small numerical percentage of patches (5-21%) yet encompassed the large majority of occupied habitat by volume (72-89%) and their protection could have significant conservation benefits for bull trout.
Microstructure and electrical conductivity of titanium irradiated with swift heavy ions

Radiation damage caused by heavy ions may induce changes in the surface topography, crystalline structure, and electrical conductivity of irradiated materials. Titanium was irradiated with 130 MeV xenon ions and 260 MeV krypton ions at a fluence of 1, 3, and 5×10 ions/cm. The irradiation altered the surface topography of the sample, caused transformation of the α phase into the fcc phase, and reduced electrical conductivity with the increasing irradiation fluence. Streszczenie. Uszkodzenia radiacyjne wywołane ciężkimi jonami mogą powodować zmiany topografii powierzchni oraz zmiany w strukturze krystalicznej i przewodności elektrycznej napromieniowanych materiałów. Tytan napromieniowano jonami Xe o energii 130 MeV i jonami kryptonu o energii 260 MeV. Doza napromieniowanych jonów była równa 1, 3 i 5×10 jonów/cm. Napromieniowanie zmienia: topografię powierzchni próbki, powoduje transformacje fazy α w fazę fcc oraz obniża przewodność elektryczną wraz ze wzrostem dozy napromieniowania. (Mikrostruktura oraz przewodność elektryczna tytanu po napromieniowaniu jonami wysokoenergetycznymi).
Versatile Thermal‐Solidifying Direct‐Write Assembly towards Heat‐Resistant 3D‐Printed Ceramic Aerogels for Thermal Insulation

Ceramic aerogels have great potential in the areas of thermal insulation, catalysis, filtration, environmental remediation, energy storage, etc. However, the conventional shaping and post‐processing of ceramic aerogels are plagued by their brittleness due to the inefficient neck connection of oxide ceramic nanoparticles. Here a versatile thermal‐solidifying direct‐ink‐writing has been proposed for fabricating heat‐resistant ceramic aerogels. The versatility lies in the good compatibility and designability of ceramic inks, which makes it possible to print silica aerogels, alumina‐silica aerogels, and titania‐silica aerogels. 3D‐printed ceramic aerogels show excellent high‐temperature stability up to 1000 °C in air (linear shrinkage less than 5%) when compared to conventional silica aerogels. This improved heat resistance is attributed to the existence of a refractory fumed silica phase, which restrains the microstructure destruction of ceramic aerogels in high‐temperature environments. Benefiting from low density (0.21 g cm–3), high surface area (284 m2 g–1), and well‐distributed mesopores, 3D‐printed ceramic aerogels possess a low thermal conductivity (30.87 mW m–1 K–1) and are considered as ideal thermal insulators. The combination of ceramic aerogels with 3D printing technology would open up new opportunities to tailor the geometry of porous materials for specific applications.
[Main food intake prediction of Chinese residents based on grey model].

OBJECTIVE To predict the main food intake trend of the China's urban and rural residents from 2022 to 2030. METHODS Data was collected from the China Health and Nutrition Survey(CHNS), which was carried out on a stratified, multistage, clustered, and random sampling method. And the average daily food intake in the survey was continuously collected by a 24-hour dietary review method for 3 consecutive days. The sample sizes aged 20 years or older of seven rounds survey were 9794, 9425, 9313, 9726, 12 760, 15 446 and 15 051, respectively. Based on the seven rounds of average food intake, the main food intake of urban and rural residents in China from 2022 to 2030 was predicted by the Grey model. RESULTS (1)The mean absolute percentage error of average food intake prediction in urban and rural ranged from 1.6% to 38.4%. (2)In terms of the trends of food intake from 2022 to 2030, the grain and vegetable average intake of plant food in urban and rural residents showed a decreasing trend, while the average intake of fruits showed an increasing trend. The average intake of animal food, such as poultry and aquatic products in urban, livestock, poultry, eggs in rural areas showed an upward trend. Meanwhile, the average intake of animal food, such as livestock and eggs in urban and aquatic products in rural showed a downward trend. (3)Compared with the 2018, the fruits, poultry and aquatic product intake of urban and rural residents in 2030 will increase by 60.7%, 29.4% and 6.6%, the intake of grain, vegetables, livestock and eggs in urban areas will decrease by 36.9%, 19.4%, 8.7% and 12.4%, respectively. In 2030, the intake of fruits, livestock, poultry and eggs of rural residents will increase by 88.9%, 31.8%, 71.9% and 9.2%, respectively. While the intake of grain, vegetables and aquatic products of rural residents will decrease by 32.5%, 24.8% and 2.2%, respectively. (4)By 2030, the average intake of poultry in urban and rural areas will be within the recommended range of dietary guidelines. But the average intake of grain, vegetables, fruits, eggs and aquatic products in urban and rural areas will remain below dietary recommendations. While the livestock average intake will be far higher than the recommendations. CONCLUSION The model accuracy is different when applied to different kinds of food. According to the prediction result of the grey model, residents should be guided to maintain the current grain intake level and increase the intake of vegetables, fruits, poultry, eggs and aquatic products in order to get balanced diet, while reducing the intake of livestock.
Long Covid at the crossroads: Comparisons and lessons from the treatment of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

Whilst parallels have been drawn between Long Covid and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), there is a well-documented history of negative stereotyping and marginalisation of patients with ME/CFS. A socio-politically oriented comparison of scientific, clinical and societal responses to Long Covid and ME/CFS is thus important to prevent similar harms arising among Long Covid patients. We identify four reasons for injustices in the treatment of ME/CFS patients, and discuss the risk of Long Covid following a similar trajectory. We conclude with policy and practice recommendations to help prevent such injustices arising again, including consideration of critical reflexivity in medical education.
Clinical efficacy and safety of interleukin-6 receptor antagonists (tocilizumab and sarilumab) in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT This study investigated the efficacy and safety of interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonists with standard care treatment in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The randomized controlled trials were identified through systematic searches of electronic databases through February 10, 2022. In total, 17 trials comprising 8,614 patients were included. Compared with exclusive standard care or placebo, IL-6 receptor antagonists with standard of care treatment were associated with a significantly reduced all-cause mortality at 28 days (pooled risk ratios [RR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82–0.95; 17 studies) and progression to invasive mechanical ventilation (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71–0.88; nine studies). Particularly, the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 showed a significant mortality benefit (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81–0.96; four studies) and a reduced risk for mechanical ventilation (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70–0.91; three studies) with tocilizumab treatment. The frequency of serious adverse events was lower in the tocilizumab treatment group than in the standard of care treatment group (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71–0.97; 11 studies), with no significant difference in the sarilumab treatment group (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.89–1.40; four studies). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that tocilizumab treatment showed promising results in reducing 28-day mortality and progression to mechanical ventilation in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, without the burden of serious adverse events. Trial registration: PROSPERO: registration number CRD42021294120.
Development and Evaluation of the Ethernet Interface(s) for the Monitoring and Control System of a New Beamforming Radio Telescope

The Long Wavelength Array (LWA) is a large multi-purpose radio telescope, operating in frequencies between 10 and 88 MHz, designed for both long-wavelength astrophysics and ionospheric science. The LWA will eventually consist of 53 “stations”, each consisting of 256 pairs of crossed-dipole antennas whose signals are formed into beams. The Monitoring and Control System (MCS), a subsystem of each LWA station, controls the station’s subsystems and also monitors their status. This thesis addresses the interface-related features of MCS. The physical interface of the MCS with each subsystem is a Gigabit Ethernet connection and the interface protocol is User Datagram Protocol (UDP). An analysis of the throughput obtained through the interface using UDP is compared to that achieved using Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). It is seen that the throughput with UDP is 15% better than with TCP, and that UDP is a better choice for the given requirements. Implementation of a new ionospheric calibration scheme requires that the MCS be capable of repointing between astronomical sources on a 5 ms time scale. The rate at which beams can be repointed is analyzed. It is confirmed that MCS is at least 2 orders of magnitude faster than necessary, and is limited by the ethernet network throughput. Python software that facilitates the development and testing of MCS and other subsystems have been developed, and are described.
Targeting kinesin family member 21B by miR-132-3p represses cell proliferation, migration and invasion in gastric cancer

ABSTRACT Recently, kinesin family member 21B (KIF21B) has been reported to be an oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the functional role of KIF21B and related molecular mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) remain largely uncovered. In this study, online bioinformatics analysis showed that KIF21B was overexpression in GC and predicted poor prognosis. Consistently, we found that the protein expression of KIF21B was upregulated in GC tissues compared with adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry. Knockdown of KIF21B significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in GC cell lines (AGS and SNU-5) using Cell counting kit‑8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation and transwell assay. KIF21B was confirmed as the target of miR-132-3p in GC cells by luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, miR-132-3p was down-regulated and KIF21B expression was upregulated in GC tissues. Overexpression of KIF21B reversed the miR-132-3p-mediated suppressive effects on GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, miR-132-3p overexpression downregulated the protein levels of Wnt1, c-Myc, β-catenin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and N-cadherin, and upregulated E-cadherin expression in GC cells, which were all alleviated after KIF21B overexpression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that down-regulation of KIF21B by miR-132-3p suppresses cellular functions in GC, which might be linked to reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Graphical abstract
Anodal stimulation of inhibitory control and craving in satiated restrained eaters

ABSTRACT Objectives Eating and weight disorders are severe and complex clinical conditions which, among other behaviors, include (attempts at) restrained eating, food avoidance, following dietary rules, and overeating. Comparable to women with obesity, restrained eaters (RE) without formal eating disorder diagnosis are worse at inhibiting their motor responses than unrestrained eaters (URE). According to neuroimaging studies, the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) is involved in inhibitory control which, in turn, could be improved by neuromodulation such as anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) across rIFG. Methods This double-blind sham-controlled cross-over study was conducted after a standardized breakfast. Normal-weight female RE und URE performed a stop-signal task (SST) with food and non-food stimuli during sham or anodal tDCS. Food craving, hunger, and satiety were self-reported before and after tDCS. We employed a mixed between-subjects (group: RE vs. URE) and within-subjects factorial design (tDCS: anodal tDCS vs. sham; stimuli: food vs. control pictures). Results Breakfast consumption was comparable for RE and URE, as well as craving, hunger, and thirst. Regarding inhibitory control, a significant two-way interaction between group and tDCS ermerged: RE had longer stop-signal reaction times (SSRTs) during sham tDCS, but they improved to the level of URE by application of anodal tDCS. Discussion Results replicated an inhibitory control deficit in RE with longer SSRTs compared to URE without stimulation. During anodal tDCS to the rIFG, reduced SSRTs in RE indicated an improvement in inhibitory control. The findings suggest a specificity of rIFG stimulation in at-risk groups with regards to inhibitory control irrespective of craving.