Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of quality of life between older adults living in high and low altitude areas

Background High altitude is known to have a significant impact on human physiology and health, therefore, understanding its relationship with quality of life is an important research area. This study compared the quality of life (QOL) in older adults living in high and low altitude areas, and examined the independent correlates of QOL in those living in a high altitude area. Methods Older adults living in three public nursing homes in Xining (high altitude area) and one public nursing home in Guangzhou (low altitude area) were recruited. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to measure the QOL. Results 644 older adults (male: 39.1%) were included, with 207 living in high altitude and 437 living in low altitude areas. After controlling for the covariates, older adults living in the high altitude area had higher QOL in terms of physical (P = 0.035) and social domains (P = 0.002), but had lower QOL in psychological (P = 0.009) domain compared to their counterparts living in the low altitude area. For older adults living in the high altitude area, smoking status was associated with higher social QOL (P = 0.021), good financial status was associated with higher physical QOL (P = 0.035), and fair or good health status was associated with higher physical (p < 0.001) and psychological QOL (P = 0.046), while more severe depressive symptoms were associated with lower QOL. Conclusion Appropriate interventions and support to improve depressive symptoms and both financial and health status should be developed for older adults living in high altitude areas to improve their QOL.
Valued outcomes in the counter-spaces of alternative education programs: success but on whose scale?

For marginalised young people, alternative education settings - referred to here as flexible learning programs (FLPs) - are thought to provide a powerful ‘counter-space’ to damaging experiences of mainstream schooling. Such programs are inherently contradictory, with potential to also reproduce stigma and disadvantage. The provision of secondary schooling via FLPs is significant. In Australia, for example, the sector serves over 70,000 students. A better understanding of student experiences and outcomes in these educational spaces is needed. Drawing on interview data with staff, students, and graduates from two FLPs in Victoria, this paper employs Soja's ideas about conceived, perceived, and lived space to explore what outcomes are valued and to consider how success is measured in these programs. The paper shows that FLP staff and students valued a diverse range of academic, social, and personal outcomes that support a more expansive vision of education and monitoring student success than dominant perspectives. The paper also suggests that these FLPs are both a counter-space and a space that connects back to the mainstream, optimally understood as third space, a hybrid place, bringing together the conventional and the alternative to create a valued and valuable education for marginalised young people.
Research on Indoor Fusion Positioning Based on EKF for Uwb_Imu

The study aims to improve the accuracy and stability of indoor positioning by integrating information from two types of sensors: UWB (Ultra-Wideband) and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) calibrated to eliminate system errors. The fusion algorithm utilizes Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to combine UWB data and IMU measurements. First, the IMU undergoes self-calibration to correct system errors. Then, UWB ranging technology is used to estimate the target's position, and the information from the IMU's gyroscope and accelerometer is used to update the kinematic model. Finally, the EKF filters and predicts measurement errors and system noise to obtain accurate target position estimation. Experimental results demonstrate that this fusion method can enhance the precision and robustness of indoor static target positioning. The research findings are highly applicable in areas such as indoor positioning and intelligent surveillance.
Post-Translational Modifications in Histones and Their Role in Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants

Abiotic stresses profoundly alter plant growth and development, resulting in yield losses. Plants have evolved adaptive mechanisms to combat these challenges, triggering intricate molecular responses to maintain tissue hydration and temperature stability during stress. A pivotal player in this defense is histone modification, governing gene expression in response to diverse environmental cues. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histone tails, including acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation, regulate transcription, DNA processes, and stress-related traits. This review comprehensively explores the world of PTMs of histones in plants and their vital role in imparting various abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Techniques, like chromatin immune precipitation (ChIP), ChIP-qPCR, mass spectrometry, and Cleavage Under Targets and Tag mentation, have unveiled the dynamic histone modification landscape within plant cells. The significance of PTMs in enhancing the plants’ ability to cope with abiotic stresses has also been discussed. Recent advances in PTM research shed light on the molecular basis of stress tolerance in plants. Understanding the intricate proteome complexity due to various proteoforms/protein variants is a challenging task, but emerging single-cell resolution techniques may help to address such challenges. The review provides the future prospects aimed at harnessing the full potential of PTMs for improved plant responses under changing climate change.
Protected areas systems review of the Indo-Malayan Realm

This report documents the growth and changing character of the protected areas systems of the Indo-Malayan Realm over the period 1986-96 with a view to: 1) evaluate the representational coverage and conservation importance of the existing protected areas system; 2) identify gaps and shortcomings in the existing system; 3) identify sites of global priority for conservation ; and 4) monitor progress on the development of protected areas within the Realm. The report evaluates the protected areas systems from the following viewpoints: how much of each country and its bio-geographical sub-divisions are under protection status; the management effectiveness in individual countries; the coverage in relation to species richness, centers of endemism, and in relation to threats to habitat. It also provides specific suggestions on how the present approaches and initiatives relating to protected areas management could be improved throughout the Realm.
The association between dietary inflammatory index and C-reactive protein in plasma and semen with semen quality: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Infertility affects couples worldwide, with male factors being responsible for half of all cases. Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in plasma and semen with the quality of semen in infertile males. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 88 infertile men referring to Besat hospital, Tehran, Iran from December 2021-November 2022 were enrolled. A detailed questionnaire requesting information, and a 168-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, were completed by participants. A food frequency questionnaire was used to calculate the DII. Additionally, semen and blood samples were collected from each participant for semen analysis and CRP-level assessment. Statistical analyses were performed to explore the association between DII and CRP levels with sperm quality. The correlation between DII and serum/semen CRP, besides assessing nutrients in each DII quartile group, was also explored. Results A significant difference was observed between different DII quartiles considering sperm motility (p = 0.006) and morphology (p = 0.014). Post hoc study revealed a significant difference between the 1 st and 2 nd quartiles and the 1 st and 4 th quartiles of DII regarding sperm motility (p = 0.011, and 0.017 respectively) and a significant difference between the 1 st and 2 nd quartiles of DII considering sperm morphology (p = 0.009). A statistically significant inverse correlation was also observed between DII and sperm motility (p = 0.017). Carbohydrates and β-carotenes were significantly different between the 4 DII quartiles (p = 0.043 and p = 0.026, respectively). Finally, no significant correlation was observed between DII and CRP levels in blood and semen (p > 0.05). Conclusion The findings suggested a notable correlation between DII and semen quality; however, no significant association were observed between DII and CRP levels in blood and semen.
A novel method for processing multivariate data of marine remote sensing

According to current situations that large-scale, quantitative conjoint analysis methods of multivariate marine data are restricted to pairwise analysis, a novel method for processing multivariate data is put forward, applied to exploring the correlation in three marine factors in spatial distribution and time period. Based on canonical correlation analysis, this method takes the multiple correlation coefficient as a standard to measure the correlation of three factors, separates the linear correlation mode according to the principle of maximum correlation. This method is applied to a 144-month ocean remote sensing data in North Pacific, the first canonical correlation mode indicates sea surface wind over 0–10°N, 160°E–180° E, precipitation over 0°N–5°N and SST over 0°–15°N, 170°E–150°W have the most significant correlation, and the correlation coefficients are greater than 0.8. Anomalies in these regions are similar to anomalies ENSO caused. This method can reduce calculation times from three to one, and avoid ignoring the influence of the third ocean factor in present conjoint analysis, which makes results of this method closer to the ocean phenomenon.
Neuromodulatory effects of high-definition theta transcranial alternating current stimulation on the parietal cortex: a pilot study of healthy males

Introduction Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can regulate brain functions by modulating endogenous brain rhythms. Theta-band neural oscillations are associated with memory function. In particular, theta neural oscillatory power evoked in the parietal cortex is closely related to memory retrieval processes. In this study, the immediate effects of high-definition theta transcranial alternating current stimulation (HDθ-tACS) on the human left parietal cortex were investigated using short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and electroencephalography (EEG). Methods Ten subjects participated in this study. We used 6-Hz HD tACS to stimulate the left parietal cortex for 15 min. SAI was calculated, and non-linear dynamic analysis of the EEG was performed to analyze neuronal function after HD θ-tACS. Results The results showed a significant decrease in SAI (p < 0.05), while the left frontoparietal network was reinforced, leading to brain lateralization after HD θ-tACS. During performance of a memory task, F3 signals showed a significant upward trend in approximate entropy following treatment (p < 0.05). There was also a significant decrease in cross-approximate entropy in the C3–C4 and P3–P4 connections following the intervention (p < 0.05) in a resting eyes-open condition and in the memory task condition. Discussion In conclusion, HD θ-tACS could alter cholinergic transmission and cortical excitability between the parietal and motor cortices, as well as reinforcing the frontoparietal network and the left-lateralization phenomenon, which may facilitate memory formation, encoding, and consolidation.
Long-Term Structural and Functional Assessment of Doyne Honeycomb Retinal Dystrophy following Nanosecond 2RT Laser Treatment: A Case Series

Introduction: Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy (DHRD), or autosomal dominant radial drusen, is a genetic disease caused by pathogenic variants of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 EFEMP1 gene and is characterized by the formation of subretinal drusenoid deposits. In a previous study, we reported the short-term beneficial effects of nanosecond laser treatment (2RT) on retinal function in DHRD. The aim of the present report was to describe the findings of a long-term follow-up of retinal structure/function in a small case series of patients with DHRD who underwent 2RT treatment. Case Presentation: Three DHRD patients (case 1, male and cases 2 and 3, two sister females, age range 41–46) with EFEMP1 pathogenic variant (c.1033C>T; p.R345W) and drusenoid deposits at the posterior pole were examined at baseline and after 2RT treatment, at regular intervals (every 2–4 months) up to 30 months. All 3 patients underwent one or two treatment sessions in one or both eyes during the follow-up period. Case 3 was treated with only the left eye (LE). Each patient underwent a full ophthalmologic examination, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), central perimetry with frequency doubling technology, and mesopic and photopic Ganzfeld electroretinograms. Compared to baseline findings, during follow-up, visual acuity improved in both eyes in case 1 and LE in case 2, while it decreased in the right eye in case 2 and LE in case 3; perimetric sensitivity was stable in case 1 and improved in both eyes in cases 2 and 3; and electroretinogram amplitude improved in cases 1 and 2 and was stable in case 3 (both eyes). OCT central macular thickness and retinal structure were stable in all cases. None of the patients had treatment-related side effects. Conclusion: This is the first report showing that in a long-term follow-up, 2RT treatment in DHRD may improve or stabilize some retinal function parameters without significant structural changes.
CDKN2B‐AS (rs2891168), SOD2 (rs4880), and PON1 (rs662) polymorphisms and susceptibility to coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iranian patients: A case‐control study

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a devastating illness and primary cause of death worldwide that arises from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Several large‐scale studies found that 9p21.3, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphisms increase type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Our research aimed to investigate whether the SNPs of the 9p21.3 locus (rs28911698), SOD2 (rs4880), and PON1 (rs662) genes were associated with the risk of T2DM and/or CAD in the Iranian population.
Infection of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells with Muromegalovirus muridbeta1 involves binding to neuropilin-1 and is dynamin-dependent

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) are scavenger cells with a remarkably high capacity for clearance of several blood-borne macromolecules and nanoparticles, including some viruses. Endocytosis in LSEC is mainly via the clathrin-coated pit mediated route, which is dynamin-dependent. LSEC can also be a site of infection and latency of betaherpesvirus, but mode of virus entry into these cells has not yet been described. In this study we have investigated the role of dynamin in the early stage of muromegalovirus muridbeta1 (MuHV-1, murid betaherpesvirus 1, murine cytomegalovirus) infection in mouse LSECs. LSEC cultures were freshly prepared from C57Bl/6JRj mouse liver. We first examined dose- and time-dependent effects of two dynamin-inhibitors, dynasore and MitMAB, on cell viability, morphology, and endocytosis of model ligands via different LSEC scavenger receptors to establish a protocol for dynamin-inhibition studies in these primary cells. LSECs were challenged with MuHV-1 (MOI 0.2) ± dynamin inhibitors for 1h, then without inhibitors and virus for 11h, and nuclear expression of MuHV-1 immediate early antigen (IE1) measured by immune fluorescence. MuHV-1 efficiently infected LSECs in vitro. Infection was significantly and independently inhibited by dynasore and MitMAB, which block dynamin function via different mechanisms, suggesting that initial steps of MuHV-1 infection is dynamin-dependent in LSECs. Infection was also reduced in the presence of monensin which inhibits acidification of endosomes. Furthermore, competitive binding studies with a neuropilin-1 antibody blocked LSEC infection. This suggests that MuHV-1 infection in mouse LSECs involves virus binding to neuropilin-1 and occurs via endocytosis.
Changes in brain perfusion with training-related visuomotor improvement in MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. A better understanding of the mechanisms supporting brain plasticity in MS would help to develop targeted interventions to promote recovery. A total of 29 MS patients and 19 healthy volunteers underwent clinical assessment and multi-modal MRI acquisition [fMRI during serial reaction time task (SRT), DWI, T1w structural scans and ASL of resting perfusion] at baseline and after 4-weeks of SRT training. Reduction of functional hyperactivation was observed in MS patients following the training, shown by the stronger reduction of the BOLD response during task execution compared to healthy volunteers. The functional reorganization was accompanied by a positive correlation between improvements in task accuracy and the change in resting perfusion after 4 weeks’ training in right angular and supramarginal gyri in MS patients. No longitudinal changes in WM and GM measures and no correlation between task performance improvements and brain structure were observed in MS patients. Our results highlight a potential role for CBF as an early marker of plasticity, in terms of functional (cortical reorganization) and behavioral (performance improvement) changes in MS patients that may help to guide future interventions that exploit preserved plasticity mechanisms.
Improved Glacial Isostatic Adjustment Models for Northern Canada

In northern Canada, the glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) response of the Earth to the former Pleistocene Laurentide and Innuitian ice sheets contributes significantly to the Earth’s past and ongoing sea-level change and land deformation. In this dissertation, measurements of Holocene sea-level change and observations of GPSmeasured vertical crustal uplift rates are employed as constraints in numerical GIA models that examine the thickness and volume history of the former ice sheets in northern North America. The study is divided into two main sections; the first provides new measurements of Holocene sea-level change collected west of Hudson Bay, while the second presents a GIA modelling analysis for the entire study area of northern Canada.
Long-term effects of middle ear pressure therapy with the EFET01 device in patients with Ménière’s disease and delayed endolymphatic hydrops in Japan

Abstract Background Long-term efficacy of middle ear pressure therapy (MEPT) with the EFET01 device in patients in Japan with definitive Ménière’s disease (MD) and delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH) was evaluated. Objective To examine the effects of reducing vertigo attacks and improving hearing of MD and DEH patients by using MEPT with the EFET01 device for two years after treatment. Material and Methods A retrospective study was conducted of 32 MD patients and 2 DEH patients treated by MEPT with the EFET01 device from December 2018 to April 2021. According to Japan Society for Equilibrium Research (JSER) guidelines, patients were investigated for the frequency of vertigo attacks and change in hearing levels during a period of 6 months before to 18–24 months after start of treatment. Results The frequency of vertigo attacks significantly decreased in both MD and DEH patients, and hearing level has remained stable in the majority of our patients after treatment. Conclusion Our study clarified that MEPT with the EFET01 device was effective in controlling vertigo symptoms of MD and DEH. It should be considered a safe option for patients failing medical treatment. Significance The efficacy of MEPT with the EFET01 was shown over a 2-year follow-up period.
Effectiveness of bivalent COVID-19 boosters against COVID-19 mortality in people aged 65 years and older, Australia, November 2022 to May 2023

We followed 4,081,257 Australian adults aged ≥ 65 years between November 2022 and May 2023 for COVID-19-specific mortality, when recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages (predominantly XB and XBB) as well as BA.2. 75 were circulating. Compared with a COVID-19 booster targeting ancestral SARS-CoV-2 given > 180 days earlier, the relative vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 death of a bivalent (ancestral/BA.1 or ancestral/BA.4-5) booster given 8 to 90 days earlier was 66.0% (95%CI: 57.6 to 72.2%) and that of a monovalent ancestral booster given 8 to 90 days earlier was 44.7% (95%CI: 23.9 to 59.7%).
A simple energy budget algorithm for the snowmelt runoff model.

The snowmelt runoff model (SRM) uses a degree-day approach for melting snow in a basin. A simple radiation component was combined with the degree-day approach (restricted degree-day method) in an effort to improve estimates of snowmelt and reduce the need to adjust the melt factor over the ablation season. A daily energy balance model was formulated that requires not only the input of radiation but also measurements of daily wind speed, air temperature, and relative humidity. The three approaches for computing snowmelt, namely, the degree-day, restricted degree-day, and daily energy balance model were tested at the local scale by comparing melt rates with lysimeter outflow measurements. Because radiation measurements are not often available, a simple model for simulating shortwave and longwave components of the radiation balance that requires minimal information (i.e., daily cloud cover estimates, air temperature, and relative humidity) was developed. It was found that clouds and their effects on daily insolation at the surface can produce significant differences between measured and model estimates. In the comparisons of snowmelt estimates with the lysimeter outflow, the restricted degree-day method yielded melt rates that were in better agreement with the observed outflow than the degree-day method and were practically the same as estimates given by the energy balance model. A sensitivity analysis of runoff generated with SRM using as input the local snowmelt computations given by the three models and measured outflow from the lysimeter was performed for a basin. A comparison of the synthetic hydrographs for the basin suggests that a radiation-based snowmelt factor may improve runoff predictions at the basin scale.