Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A MODIFIED SURGICAL SEPSIS MODEL SATISFYING SEPSIS-3 AND HAVING HIGH CONSISTENCY OF MORTALITY

ABSTRACT Background: Cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) is currently considered the criterion standard model of sepsis; however, there are some deficiencies, such as low clinical relevance, inconsistency in severity grading, and an unknown proportion of CLP animals meeting the requirements of sepsis-3. Methods: Adult rats were randomly divided into the following three groups: modified CLP (M-CLP) group, CLP group, and sham group. The vital organ function of rats was evaluated 24 hours postoperatively by blood pressure, behavioral testing, histopathology, and blood test. Cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and T-cell suppression was assessed by flow cytometry. The stability of the model was evaluated by comparing the survival rates of repeated experiments in all groups from day 1 to day 14. Results: More rats in the M-CLP group met Sepsis-3 criteria than those in the CLP group 24 hours postoperatively (53.1% vs. 21.9%, P = 0.01). Rats in the M-CLP group developed more serious hepatic, pulmonary, and renal dysfunction. Similar to human sepsis, rats in the M-CLP group demonstrated more serious immunosuppression and systemic inflammation compared with the CLP group. In addition, disease development and severity, which was indicated by the stable survival rates of model animals, were more stable in the M-CLP group. Conclusions: More rats could meet Sepsis-3 criteria with this novel surgical procedure, which may reduce the number of animals needed in preclinical sepsis experiments. This stable M-CLP model may contribute to the development of new therapies.
Stability studies of a hollow plasma in the double cusp experiment

Axisymmetric cusp end cells have application for the stabilization and plugging of a tandem‐mirror‐type reactor. Experiments have been performed on the RFC‐XX double cusp in Nagoya, Japan to measure the stability of the hollow plasma in the adiabatically confined region of the device. Experiments were performed with both a uniform field central section and with a mirror central section connecting the two cusps. The plasma is produced by an rf discharge of gas puffed into the vessel. Plasma fluctuations were measured by Langmuir probes and magnetic probes. Stable regions of operation with a hollow plasma in the cusp are found for both magnetic configurations. Various types of instabilities are observed: electrostatic drift type waves with m≥1, lower‐frequency waves with a magnetic perturbation associated with the density perturbation, an m=0 ion‐acoustic mode, and a large amplitude relaxation oscillation.
The effects of chronic concentric and eccentric training on position sense and joint reaction angle of the knee extensors

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of chronic concentric or eccentric training on position sense and joint reaction angle, in healthy, untrained young men. Twenty-four men were randomly assigned into a pure concentric (CT) or a pure eccentric (ET) group and performed for 8 weeks, one training session/week, 75 maximal knee extensors contractions. Before and 48 h after the first (W1) and the last (W8) training sessions, knee joint position sense and joint reaction angle were assessed at three different knee angles (i.e. 30°, 45° and 60°). At the same time points, indirect indices of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) were evaluated (i.e. range of motion [ROM], optimal angle, maximum isometric, concentric and eccentric torques, delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS] and blood creatine kinase concentrations [CK]). Forty-eight hours post W1, position sense, reaction angle and all EIMD indices were significantly changed for both groups (p < 0.05; η2: 0.125–0.618), however, greater alterations were observed after ET. Significant correlations were found, in both groups, between the training-induced changes of position sense, reaction angles and the changes of EIMD biomarkers (r: −0.855–0.825; p < 0.005). No significant changes were found 48 h post W8 for position sense, reaction angle and EIMD indices (p > 0.285) for both CT or ET groups. In conclusion, exercise-induced changes in position sense and reaction angle, were related to the magnitude of EIMD, and not by the type of muscle contraction per se. Highlights Exercise induced changes in position sense and reaction angle, were related to the magnitude of EIMD, and not by the type of muscle contraction per se. After the 1st training session eccentric exercise caused greater disturbances, compared to concentric exercise, in EIMD indices which caused concomitant disturbances to position sense and knee reaction angle. 8 weeks of either eccentric or concentric training leads to preservation of position sense and knee reaction angle 48 h after maximal intensity exercise of either types of muscle contraction.
A numerical and experimental study of the time-evolution of a low Mach number jet

We present a comparison between a plasma-generated ‘starting jet’ experiment and an axisymmetric numerical simulation of the flow. The experimental flow and the numerical simulation give results that agree both qualitatively and quantitatively, showing that the complex vortical structures arising in the flow are surprisingly well reproduced by the numerical model. This result inspires confidence in the accuracy of astrophysical jet numerical simulations. Also, even though the Mach number of our laboratory jet is somewhat low (M∼0.5), the dimensionless parameters of this jet are not very far from those expected for Faranoff–Riley class I radio jets.
Critical Residues Involved in the Coassembly of L1 and L2 Capsid Proteins of Human Papillomavirus 16

Over 200 types of HPV have been isolated, with several high-risk types correlated with the occurrence of cervical cancer. The HPV major capsid protein, L1, assembles into a T=7 icosahedral viral shell, and associates with the minor capsid protein, L2, which plays a critical role in the HPV life cycle. ABSTRACT Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are small DNA viruses associated with cervical cancer, warts, and other epithelial tumors. Structural studies have shown that the HPV capsid consists of 360 copies of the major capsid protein, L1, arranged as 72 pentamers in a T=7 icosahedral lattice, coassembling with substoichiometric amounts of the minor capsid protein, L2. However, the residues involved in the coassembly of L1 and L2 remain undefined due to the lack of structure information. Here, we investigated the solvent accessibility surfaces (SASs) of the central cavity residues of the HPV16 L1 pentamer in the crystal structure because those internal exposed residues might mediate the association with L2. Twenty residues in L1 protein were selected to be analyzed, with four residues in the lumen of the L1 pentamer identified as important: F256, R315, Q317, and T340. Mutations to these four residues reduced the PsV (pseudovirus) infection capacity in 293FT cells, and mutations to R315, Q317, and T340 substantially perturb L2 from coassembling into L1 capsid. Compared with wild-type (WT) PsVs, these mutant PsVs also have a reduced ability to become internalized into host cells. Finally, we identified a stretch of negatively charged residues on L2 (amino acids [aa] 337 to 340 [EEIE]), mutations to which completely abrogate L2 assembly into L1 capsid and subsequently impair the endocytosis and infectivity of HPV16 PsVs. These findings shed light on the elusive coassembly between HPV L1 and L2. IMPORTANCE Over 200 types of HPV have been isolated, with several high-risk types correlated with the occurrence of cervical cancer. The HPV major capsid protein, L1, assembles into a T=7 icosahedral viral shell, and associates with the minor capsid protein, L2, which plays a critical role in the HPV life cycle. Despite the important role of the L2 protein, its structure and coassembly with L1 remain elusive. In this study, we analyzed the amino acid residues at the proposed interface between L1 and L2. Certain mutations at these sites decreased the amount of L2 protein assembled into the capsid, which, in turn, led to a decrease in viral infectivity. Knowledge about these residues and the coassembly of L1 and L2 could help to expand our understanding of HPV biology and aid in the development of countermeasures against a wide range of HPV types by targeting the L2 protein.
The Continuous Mutual Evolution of Equatorial Waves and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation of Zonal Flow in the Equatorial Stratosphere

AbstractThe continuous mutual evolution of equatorial waves and the background quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is demonstrated using daily NCEP–U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reanalysis for the period from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 2010. Using a novel diagnostic technique, the phase speed, vertical tilting, and form stress of equatorial waves in the stratosphere are obtained continuously on a daily basis. The results indicate that, on top of a weak-amplitude annual-cycle signal, all of these wave properties have a pronounced QBO signal with a downward propagation that evolves continuously together with the background QBO. The analysis also highlights the potential role of wave-induced form stress in driving the QBO regime change.Dominant waves in the equatorial stratosphere propagate very slowly relative to the ground at all times, implying that their observed intrinsic phase speed evolution follows the background QBO nearly exactly but with opposite sign, as the established theory predicts. By reve.
Novel Wideband Bandpass Filter Integrating HMSIW with DGS

In this paper, a novel method is proposed to design wideband bandpass filters with compact size. Combining half mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) and periodic dumbbell-shaped defected ground structure (DGS), two compact wideband bandpass filters with different HMSIW-microstrip transitions are fabricated and measured. The filters are found to possess wide passband bandwidth and compact size. Good agreement between the measured and simulated results demonstrates the validity of this technique.
Efficient solution generation for the bicriterion shortest path problems

In this paper, we present an algorithm to compute the set of all efficient extreme solutions in the objective space for the biobjective shortest path problem (BSPP). A simplex-based algorithm that generates all the efficient extreme points and edges in the objective space rather than the decision space is developed. Since not every extreme point of the decision space corresponds to an extreme point of the objective space, the number of these efficient extreme points in the objective space cannot exceed that of the decision space. Since the coefficient matrix associated with the flow conservation equations is totally unimodular for the BSPP, the efficient frontier is the non-dominated set of its continuous relaxation.
Nanometer-Scale Surface Modification Using Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)-Based Lithography with Conductive Layer on Resist

The resolution on electron-beam lithography is limited by the electron scattering to high-energy incident electron. The field emission of scanning tunneling microscope (STM)-tip is used for having a very-minute electron-beam. STM electron-beam lithography can do by the low energy of the tunnel current between STMTip and flat electrode, that is formed by three layers that are from an electric conductor, a resist and a semiconductor substrate. We obtain the line of width 82 nm and depth 11 nm by a creative method uses the conductive layer in STM-based lithography.
Design, synthesis, in vitro evaluation, and molecular modeling studies of N‐substituted benzomorphans, analogs of LP2, as novel MOR ligands

6,7‐Benzomorphans have been investigated in medicinal chemistry for developing new drugs. This nucleus could be considered a versatile scaffold. The physicochemical properties of benzomorphan N‐substituent are crucial in achieving a definite pharmacological profile at opioid receptors. Thus, the dual‐target MOR/DOR ligands LP1 and LP2 were obtained through N‐substituent modifications. Specifically, LP2, bearing as N‐substituent the (2R/S)‐2‐methoxy‐2‐ phenylethyl group, is a dual‐target MOR/DOR agonist and is successful in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. To obtain new opioid ligands, we focused on the design and synthesis of LP2 analogs. First, the 2‐methoxyl group of LP2 was replaced by an ester or acid functional group. Then, spacers of different lengths were introduced at N‐substituent. In‐vitro, their affinity profile versus opioid receptors has been performed through competition binding assays. Molecular modeling studies were conducted to deeply analyze the binding mode and the interactions between the new ligands and all opioid receptors.
Using a frequentist and Bayesian approach to examine video game usage, substance use, and sleep among college students

Video games are a popular form of entertainment. However, there is mixed evidence for the association between video game usage and poor sleep quality, short sleep duration, or delayed sleep timing. The current study examined associations between daily sleep behaviours and video game usage via a Bayesian and frequentist statistical approach. Caffeine and alcohol consumption were also assessed as moderators, as these behaviours may co‐occur with video game usage and poor sleep. 1032 (72% female) undergraduate students were recruited between 2006–2007. Participants completed questionnaires examining video game and substance use, as well as sleep diaries for 1 week. Frequentist analyses revealed that video game usage was related to increased variability in the total sleep time, and a later average sleep midpoint, but not sleep efficiency. Alcohol use moderated the relationships between video game usage and both average and variability in total sleep time. Caffeine use was related to shorter average total sleep time and more variability in sleep efficiency. Alcohol consumption was related to more variability in the total sleep time and sleep midpoint, and a later average sleep midpoint. Bayesian models suggested strong evidence that video game playing was associated with later average sleep midpoint. Like the frequentist approach, alcohol consumption moderated the relationship between video game usage and both average and variability in total sleep time, but the evidence was weak. The effect sizes for both approaches tended to be small. Using a rigorous statistical approach and a large sample, this study provides robust evidence that video game usage may not be strongly associated with poor sleep among undergraduate students.
Fun in facets: A flexible new tool for population genomics in R

The landscape of analytical tools for population genomics continues to evolve. However, these tools are scattered across programming languages, making them largely inaccessible for many biologists. In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Hemstrom and Jones, 2022 (Mol Ecol Resour; 962) introduce a new R package, snpR. This package combines a large number of existing analyses, to provide a one‐stop shop for population genomics. F‐statistics, admixture analyses, effective population size inferences, genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), and parentage analyses are all implemented natively within the package. A variety of third‐party software can also be run without leaving the R environment. The authors pay particular attention to data structure – avoiding redundancy – and allowing analyses to be run across multiple sample or single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) groupings. Because of its great accessibility and wide range of analyses, snpR has the potential to become a favourite within the Molecular Ecology community.
A stress mindset manipulation can affect speakers’ articulation rate

ABSTRACT Background and Objective Mindsets about stress can be altered so that people interpret stress as either a positive or negative force. We exposed participants to a stress mindset intervention to test its effects on a challenging speech production task. Design and Method Participants (N = 60) were randomly assigned to a stress mindset condition. In the stress-is-enhancing (SIE) condition, they viewed a brief video that characterized stress as a positive force that benefits performance. In the stress-is-debilitating (SID) condition, the video characterized stress as a negative force that should be avoided. Each participant completed a self-report measure of stress mindset, performed a psychological stressor task, and then repeatedly produced tongue twisters aloud. Speech errors and articulation time were scored for the production task. Results The manipulation check confirmed that stress mindsets were altered after viewing the videos. Participants in the SIE condition articulated the phrases more quickly than those in the SID condition without an accompanying increase in errors. Conclusions A stress mindset manipulation affected speech production. This finding indicates that one way to mitigate the negative effects of stress on speech production is to instantiate beliefs that stress is a positive force that can enhance performance.
The Torsatron TJ-K, an experiment for the investigation of turbulence in a toroidal low-temperature plasma

The Torsatron TJ-K is a toroidal device operated with a magnetically confined low-temperature plasma to study turbulence and wave propagation. The magnetic configuration is the same as for a fusion plasma device. However, the plasma parameters are such that probes can be used in the entire plasma cross section to measure the detailed spatiotemporal structure of the turbulence. At the same time, the dimensionless parameters governing turbulence are in the same range as those of the fusion plasma edge. The objective of the experiment is to obtain data, which allow a close comparison with drift-wave turbulence simulations. Furthermore, the propagation of the helicon heating wave in a toroidal geometry as well as excited gap Alfven modes will be studied. The article presents the experimental setup and the diagnostics. It is demonstrated that the TJ-K plasma has parameters and profiles relevant to achieve the objectives of the project. First results of turbulence and wave studies are presented.
Synergic Induction of Autophagic Cell Death in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) has poor prognosis, high mortality rate and lack of effective therapy. A synergic combination of PD-L1 antibody together with cell death promoting substances like deacetylase inhibitors (DACi) and multi-kinase inhibitors (MKI) could sensitize ATC cells and promote decay by autophagic cell death. The PD-L1-inhibitor atezolizumab synergized with panobinostat (DACi) and sorafenib (MKI) leading to significant reduction of the viability, measured by real time luminescence, of three different patient-derived primary ATC cells, of C643 cells and follicular epithelial thyroid cells too. Solo administration of these compounds caused a significant over-expression of autophagy transcripts; meanwhile autophagy proteins were almost not detectable after the single administration of panobinostat, thus supporting a massive autophagy degradation process. Instead, the administration of atezolizumab caused an accumulation of autophagy proteins and the cleavage of the active caspases 8 and 3. Interestingly, only panobinostat and atezolizumab were able to exacerbate the autophagy process by increasing the synthesis, the maturation and final fusion with the lysosomes of the autophagosome vesicles. Despite ATC cells could be sensitized by atezolizumab via the cleavage of the caspases, no reduction of cell proliferation or promotion of cell death was observed. The apoptosis assay evidenced the ability of panobinostat alone and in combination with atezolizumab to induce the phosphatidil serine exposure (early apoptosis) and further the secondary necrosis. Instead, sorafenib was only able to cause necrosis. The increase of caspases activity induced by atezolizumab, the apoptosis and autophagy processes promoted by panobinostat synergize thus promoting cell death in well-established and primary anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. The combined therapy could represent a future clinical application for the treatment of such lethal and untreatable solid cancer.
Adverse Events During Apnea Testing for the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria: A Single-Center, Retrospective Pediatric Cohort*

OBJECTIVES: To report the prevalence of adverse events in children undergoing apnea testing as part of the determination of death by neurologic criteria (DNC). DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective study. SETTING: Academic children’s hospital that is a Level I Trauma Center. PATIENTS: All children who underwent apnea testing to determine DNC from July 2013 to June 2020. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We abstracted the medical history, blood gases, ventilator settings, blood pressures, vasoactive infusions, intracranial pressures, chest radiographs, and echocardiograms for all apnea tests as well as any ancillary test. Adverse events were defined as hypotension, hypoxia, pneumothorax, arrhythmia, intracranial hypertension, and cardiac arrest. Fifty-eight patients had 105 apnea tests. Adverse events occurred in 21 of 105 apnea tests (20%), the most common being hypotension (15/105 [14%]) and hypoxia (4/105 [4%]). Five of 21 apnea tests (24%) with adverse events were terminated prematurely (three for hypoxia, one for hypotension, and one for both hypoxia and hypotension) but the patients did not require persistent escalation in care. In the other 16 of 21 apnea tests (76%) with adverse events, clinical changes were transient and managed by titrating vasoactive infusions or completing the apnea test. CONCLUSIONS: In our center, 20% of all apnea tests were associated with adverse events. Only 5% of all apnea tests required premature termination and the remaining 15% were completed and the adverse events resolved with medical care.
Reduced phosphatidylcholine level in the intestinal mucus layer of prediabetic NOD mice

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease with rising incidence. Pre‐ and manifest T1D is associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction, skewed microbiota composition, and serum dyslipidemia. The intestinal mucus layer protects against pathogens and its structure and phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid composition may be compromised in T1D, potentially contributing to barrier dysfunction. This study compared prediabetic Non‐Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice to healthy C57BL/6 mice by analyzing the intestinal mucus PC profile by shotgun lipidomics, plasma metabolomics by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, intestinal mucus production by histology, and cecal microbiota composition by 16 S rRNA sequencing. Jejunal mucus PC class levels were decreased in early prediabetic NOD vs C57BL/6 mice. In colonic mucus of NOD mice, the level of several PC species was reduced throughout prediabetes. In plasma, similar reductions of PC species were observed in early prediabetic NOD mice, where also increased beta‐oxidation was prominent. No histological alterations were found in jejunal nor colonic mucus between the mouse strains. However, the β‐diversity of the cecal microbiota composition differed between prediabetic NOD and C57BL/6 mice, and the bacterial species driving this difference were related to decreased short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA)‐production in the NOD mice. This study reports reduced levels of PCs in the intestinal mucus layer and plasma of prediabetic NOD mice as well as reduced proportions of SCFA‐producing bacteria in cecal content at early prediabetes, possibly contributing to intestinal barrier dysfunction and T1D.