Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Moderately Thermophilic Type Ib Methanotroph Isolated from an Alkaline Thermal Spring in the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Aerobic moderately thermophilic and thermophilic methane-oxidizing bacteria make a substantial contribution in the control of global warming through biological reduction of methane emissions and have a unique capability of utilizing methane as their sole carbon and energy source. Here, we report a novel moderately thermophilic Methylococcus-like Type Ib methanotroph recovered from an alkaline thermal spring (55.4 °C and pH 8.82) in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The isolate, designated LS7-MC, most probably represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Methylococcaceae of the class Gammaproteobacteria. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny indicated that strain LS7-MC is distantly related to the closest described relative, Methylococcus capsulatus (92.7% sequence identity). Growth was observed at temperatures of 30–60 °C (optimal, 51–55 °C), and the cells possessed Type I intracellular membrane (ICM). The comparison of the pmoA gene sequences showed that the strain was most closely related to M. capsulatus (87.8%). Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) was not detected, signifying the biological oxidation process from methane to methanol by the particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO). The other functional genes mxaF, cbbL and nifH were detected by PCR. To our knowledge, the new strain is the first isolated moderately thermophilic methanotroph from an alkaline thermal spring of the family Methylococcaceae. Furthermore, LS7-MC represents a previously unrecognized biological methane sink in thermal habitats, expanding our knowledge of its ecological role in methane cycling and aerobic methanotrophy.
Anodal tDCS over the right parietal but not frontal cortex enhances the ability to overcome task set inhibition during task switching

Switching between tasks requires individuals to inhibit mental representations of the previous task demands and to activate representations of the new task demands. The inhibition of the executed task remains active for a while so that when the inhibited task set must be re-activated shortly after, the need to overcome residual task set inhibition leads to behavioral costs. In a sham-controlled balanced-order within-subjects experimental design we investigated whether applying right anodal/left cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal or parietal cortex modulated the ability to overcome persistent task inhibition during task switching. Results showed that right anodal/left cathodal tDCS over the parietal cortex improves performance selectively when switching back to a recently inhibited task that requires previous inhibition to be overcome. Right Anodal/left cathodal tDCS over the prefrontal cortex improves performance during task switching in general, either when re-engaging in a inhibited task or when engaging in a non-inhibited task. Results suggest a different contribution of prefrontal and parietal regions to task switching, with parietal cortex being selectively involved in overcoming persistent task inhibition and prefrontal cortex being more generally involved in the control of task set during task switching.
MicroRNAs in gray and white matter multiple sclerosis lesions: impact on pathophysiology

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the CNS, hallmarked by inflammation and demyelination. Early stages of the disease frequently show active lesions containing numerous foamy macrophages and inflammatory cells. Disease progression is highlighted by increasing numbers of mixed active/inactive or inactive lesions showing sparse inflammation and pronounced astrogliosis. Furthermore, gray matter lesions increase in number and extent during disease progression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a group of several thousand (in humans more than 2000), small non‐coding RNA molecules with a fundamental influence on about one‐third of all protein‐coding genes. Furthermore, miRNAs have been detected in body fluids, including spinal fluid, and they are assumed to participate in intercellular communications. Several studies have determined miRNA profiles from dissected white and gray matter lesions of autoptic MS patients. In this review, we summarize in detail the current knowledge of individual miRNAs in gray and white matter lesions of MS patients and present the concepts of MS tissue lesion development based on the altered miRNA profiles. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Drinking and Obesity: Alcoholic Liver Disease/Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Interactions

Abstract Alcohol and obesity are the main risk factors for alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), respectively, and they frequently coexist. There are considerable synergistic interaction effects between hazardous alcohol use and obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities in the development and progression of fatty liver disease. Intermittent binge-drinking has been shown to promote steatohepatitis from obesity-related steatosis, and binge-drinking is associated with progression to cirrhosis even when average alcohol intake is within the currently used criteria for a NAFLD diagnosis. Recent longitudinal studies in NAFLD have shown that light-to-moderate alcohol use is associated with fibrosis progression and incident clinical liver disease, suggesting that there is no liver-safe limit of alcohol intake in the presence of NAFLD; a J-shaped association between alcohol and all-cause mortality remains controversial. The interaction effects between alcohol and obesity make the present strict dichotomization of liver disease into alcoholic and NAFLD inappropriate, and require attention in future research, public health policy, individual counseling, and risk stratification.
How dissociation of carboxylic acid groups in a weak polyelectrolyte brush depend on their distance from the substrate.

A weak polyelectrolyte brush is composed of a layer of polyacids or polybases grafted by one end of their chains to a substrate surface. For such brush layers immersed in an aqueous solution, the dissociation behavior of the acidic or basic groups and the structural and physical properties of the brush layer will thus be strongly dependent on the environmental conditions. For a polyacid brush layer consisting of, e.g., poly(acrylic acid), this means that the chains in the brush layer will be charged at high pH and uncharged at low pH. However, theoretical scaling laws not only foresee the structural changes occurring in response to the pH-induced dissociation behavior but also how the dissociation behavior of the brush layer depends on the ionic strength of the aqueous solution and the density of acidic groups within the brush layer. We have herein employed spectroscopic ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) to experimentally evaluate the theoretically predicted dissociation and structural behavior of PAA brushes. Spectroscopic ellipsometry allows us to study the brush thickness as a function of pH and ionic strength, while QCM-D gives us an opportunity to investigate the swelling behavior of PAA brushes at various penetration depths of propagating acoustic waves. Our studies show that the dissociation degree of the carboxylic acid groups in a PAA brush increases with increasing distance from the substrate. Moreover, the ionic strength enhances carboxylic acid dissociation, such that a higher ionic strength leads to a narrower distribution and higher average dissociation degree. In conclusion, our results provide an experimental verification of the theoretically predicted gradient in the degree of dissociation of the acid groups in weak polyacid brush layers and shows that at a pH value equal to approximately the average pKa value of the brush, the state of the acid groups varies from being almost uncharged to almost fully dissociated depending on the ionic strength and vertical position in the brush.
Evaluation of Dose-Fractionated Polymyxin B on Acute Kidney Injury Using a Translational In Vivo Rat Model

We investigated dose-fractionated polymyxin B (PB) on acute kidney injury (AKI). PB at 12 mg of drug/kg of body weight per day (once, twice, and thrice daily) was administered in rats over 72 h. The thrice-daily group demonstrated the highest KIM-1 increase (P = 0.018) versus that of the controls (P = 0.99) and histopathological damage (P = 0.013). A three-compartment model best described the data (bias, 0. ABSTRACT We investigated dose-fractionated polymyxin B (PB) on acute kidney injury (AKI). PB at 12 mg of drug/kg of body weight per day (once, twice, and thrice daily) was administered in rats over 72 h. The thrice-daily group demonstrated the highest KIM-1 increase (P = 0.018) versus that of the controls (P = 0.99) and histopathological damage (P = 0.013). A three-compartment model best described the data (bias, 0.129 mg/liter; imprecision, 0.729 mg2/liter2; R2, 0.652,). Area under the concentration-time curve at 24 h (AUC24) values were similar (P = 0.87). The thrice-daily dosing scheme resulted in the most PB-associated AKI in a rat model.
Validierung der deutschen Version der Pediatric Self-Efficacy for Diabetes-Type-1 Scale

Zusammenfassung Einleitung Da für den deutschen Sprachraum kein geeignetes Instrument zur Erfassung der spezifischen, diabetesbezogenen Selbstwirksamkeit bei Kindern mit Typ-1-Diabetes vorliegt, wird in dieser Arbeit die Konstruktion und Validierung der deutschsprachigen Pediatric Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Type-1 Scale (PSEDT-1) dargestellt. Auf der Grundlage der Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale (SED) von Grossman, Brink & Hauser sollte eine leitlinienkonforme, pädiatrische, revidierte Selbstwirksamkeitsskala entwickelt und validiert werden. Design & Methoden Es wurden N=221 Kinder mit Typ-1-Diabetes (12–17 Jahre) in eine klinische, multizentrische Validierungsstudie eingeschlossen. Zur Beurteilung der Veränderungssensitivität füllten davon 58 Kinder mit Typ-1-Diabetes jeweils vor, unmittelbar nach der Beendigung und 6 Monate nach der stationären Diabetesschulung die PSEDT-1 Skala aus. Um die Konstruktvalidität zu überprüfen, wurde die PSEDT-1 mit anderen Skalen in Verbindung gebracht, die inhaltlich ähnliche und inhaltlich entfernte Konstrukte messen (Multidimensionale Selbstwertskala – MSWS, Kontrollüberzeugungen zu Krankheit und Gesundheit – KKG). Ergebnisse Die Reliabilitäts-Ergebnisse zeigten eine gute interne Konsistenz der 20 Items mit Cronbachs α=0,87. Die Trennschärfen der Items waren akzeptabel. Es ließen sich mittels explorativer Faktorenanalyse 4 Faktoren identifizieren, die 54% der Varianz erklären: 1) Diabetes-Selbstmanagement-Kompetenz, 2) (medizinische) Insulin-Management-Kompetenz, 3) (generelle) Selbstbehauptungskompetenz und 4) autonome Selbstregulation. Die theoretisch erwarteten Korrelationsmuster konnten belegt werden. Zudem zeigten die Verlaufsergebnisse Hinweise auf eine ausreichend hohe Veränderungssensitivität. Diskussion Die Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass es sich bei der PSEDT-1 um ein valides und reliables deutschsprachiges Instrument handelt, das zusätzlich zu den Skalenwerten der Kompetenzbereiche Diabetesselbstmanagement, Medizinisches Management und generelle Selbstbehauptung auch den Skalenwert der autonomen Selbstregulation zur Erfassung der diabetesbezogenen Selbstwirksamkeit bestimmt.
Audiological outcome measures with the BONEBRIDGE transcutaneous bone conduction hearing implant: impact of noise, reverberation and signal processing features

Abstract Objective: To assess the performance of an active transcutaneous implantable-bone conduction device (TI-BCD), and to evaluate the benefit of device digital signal processing (DSP) features in challenging listening environments. Design: Participants were tested at 1- and 3-month post-activation of the TI-BCD. At each session, aided and unaided phoneme perception was assessed using the Ling-6 test. Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) and quality ratings of speech and music samples were collected in noisy and reverberant environments, with and without the DSP features. Self-assessment of the device performance was obtained using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire. Study sample: Six adults with conductive or mixed hearing loss. Results: Average SRTs were 2.9 and 12.3 dB in low and high reverberation environments, respectively, which improved to −1.7 and 8.7 dB, respectively with the DSP features. In addition, speech quality ratings improved by 23 points with the DSP features when averaged across all environmental conditions. Improvement scores on APHAB scales revealed a statistically significant aided benefit. Conclusions: Noise and reverberation significantly impacted speech recognition performance and perceived sound quality. DSP features (directional microphone processing and adaptive noise reduction) significantly enhanced subjects’ performance in these challenging listening environments.
Canonical Correlation Analysis of Imaging Genetics Data Based on Statistical Independence and Structural Sparsity

Current developments of neuroimaging and genetics promote an integrative and compressive study of schizophrenia. However, it is still difficult to explore how gene mutations are related to brain abnormalities due to the high dimension but low sample size of these data. Conventional approaches reduce the dimension of dataset separately and then calculate the correlation, but ignore the effects of the response variables and the structure of data. To improve the identification of risk genes and abnormal brain regions on schizophrenia, in this paper, we propose a novel method called Independence and Structural sparsity Canonical Correlation Analysis (ISCCA). ISCCA combines independent component analysis (ICA) and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) to reduce the collinear effects, which also incorporate graph structure of the data into the model to improve the accuracy of feature selection. The results from simulation studies demonstrate its higher accuracy in discovering correlations compared with other competing methods. Moreover, applying ISCCA to a real imaging genetics dataset collected by Mind Clinical Imaging Consortium (MCIC), a set of distinct gene-ROI interactions are identified, which are verified to be both statistically and biologically significant.
Pre-Analytical and Analytical Variables of Label-Independent Enrichment and Automated Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Cancer Patients

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are promising tools for risk prediction and the monitoring of response to therapy in cancer patients. Within the EU/IMI CANCER-ID consortium, we validated CTC enrichment systems for future inclusion into clinical trials. Due to the known heterogeneity of markers expressed on CTCs, we tested the Parsortix® system (ANGLE plc) which enables label-independent CTC enrichment from whole blood based on increased size and deformability of these tumor cells compared to leukocytes. We performed extensive comparisons both with spiked-in blood models (i.e., MDA-MB-468 tumor cell line cells spiked at very low concentration into blood from healthy donors) and validated the protocol on actual clinical samples from breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancer patients to define optimal conditions for CTC enrichment. Multiple parameters including cassette gap, separation pressure, and cell fixatives were compared in parallel. Also, the compatibility of blood collection tubes with whole genome amplification of isolated tumor cells was demonstrated and we furthermore established a workflow for semi-automated CTC detection using a quantitative cell imager. The established workflow will contribute to supporting the use of size-based CTC enrichment platforms in clinical trials testing the clinical validity and utility of CTCs for personalized medicine.
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Thiosemicarbazides as a New Class of Compounds against Stomach Cancer Potentially Intercalating with DNA †

Thiosemicarbazide is a useful structural moiety that has the biological potential. Optimization of this structure can result in groundbreaking discovery of a new class of therapeutic agents. In the light of this, 1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetyl-4-(1-naphthyl)thiosemicarbazide (1) and 1,4-bis[(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetylthiosemicarbazide]phenyl (2) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic method. Cytotoxicity of obtained compounds was evaluated on MKN74 gastric cancer cell line and human skin fibroblast BJ based on methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. The apoptosis/necrosis and cell cycle analysis were conducted using image cytometry. Additionally, in DNA of treated cells, abasic sites (AP) and double strands breaks (DSB) presence were measured. Intercalating properties of active compounds were evaluated using the UV–spectroscopic method. Among newly synthesized derivatives, compound 2 showed toxic effects on gastric cancer cells with simultaneous lack of toxicity to normal fibroblasts. Cell cycle analysis revealed that both compounds influence cell division mainly at the stage of replication. Simultaneously with DNA synthesis disorders, DNA damages like AP-sites and DSBs were observed. Spectroscopic studies revealed possible DNA intercalating properties of tested compounds. Obtained results indicate that the newly synthesized thiosemicarbazide derivatives are a promising group of compounds with potential anticancer activity resulted from interactions with DNA and cell cycle interrupt.
Health Disparities in the Access and Cost of Health Care for Otolaryngologic Conditions

Objective To demonstrate whether race, education, income, or insurance status influences where patients seek medical care and the cost of care for a broad range of otolaryngologic diseases in the United States. Study Design Retrospective cohort study using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, from 2007 to 2015. Setting Nationally representative database. Subjects and Methods Patients with 14 common otolaryngologic conditions were identified using self-reported data and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. To analyze disparities in the utilization and cost of otolaryngologic care, a multivariate logistic regression model was used to compare outpatient and emergency department visit rates and costs for African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian patients, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results Of 78,864 respondents with self-reported otolaryngologic conditions, African American and Hispanic patients were significantly less likely to visit outpatient otolaryngologists than Caucasians (African American: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.5-0.65; Hispanic: aOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.56-0.73) and reported lower average costs per emergency department visit than Caucasians (African American: $4013.67; Hispanic: $3906.21; Caucasian: $7606.46; P < .001). In addition, uninsured, low-income patients without higher education were significantly less likely to receive outpatient otolaryngologic care than privately insured, higher-income, and more educated individuals (uninsured: aOR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.29-0.51; poor: aOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.87; no degree: aOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54-0.82). Conclusion In this study, significant racial and socioeconomic discrepancies exist in the utilization and cost of health care for otolaryngologic conditions in the United States.
Assessment of the relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Evidence from an updated meta-analysis

Objective The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism is closely related to the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Several case–control studies have investigated this association; however, no conclusions could be drawn. A comprehensive updated meta-analysis is established to explain these contradictions and clarify the overall impact of this variant on the susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods Electronic searches were conducted to select published studies prior to June 2018. Pooled odds ratios and stratification analysis were performed under different genetic comparison models, age, and ethnicity. Results Totally, 66 case–control studies including 9619 acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases and 17,396 controls were selected. Our analyses showed that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism was protective mainly in Asian and European countries, under all genetic models and regardless of age, but leukemogenic in mixed population. Conclusion Thus, C677T polymorphism may be a promising acute lymphoblastic leukemia biomarker, but they should be interpreted with caution considering other factors such as folic acid intake, gene–gene and gene–environment interactions.
Expression and significance of soluble LAG-3 in the serum of the patients with gastric cancer

Objective To investigate the level and diagnostic value of soluble LAG-3( sLAG-3) in the serum of the patients with gastric cancer. Methods The levels of sLAG-3 in the serum samples from 92 patients with gastric cancer and 50 healthy controls were detected by ELISA,and the correlation between the level of sLAG-3 and clinical pathological feature in the gastric cancer patients was also analyzed. The diagnostic value of sLAG-3 as a marker for the diagnosis of gastric cancer was assessed by ROC curve. Meanwhile, the CEA levels of the patients were determined by the electrochemiluminescence and its diagnostic efficiency was compared with that of sLAG-3. Results The median( interquartile range) of sLAG-3 in the serum of the patients with gastric cancer [137. 06( 78. 18, 356. 79) ng / mL]was significantly lower than that of healthy controls [711. 43( 504. 82,1 089. 39) ng / mL,Z = 7. 513,P 0. 01]. The level of sLAG-3 in the serum of gastric cancer patients was positively correlated with the stage,differentiation and the depth of invasion of the tumor( all P 0. 05). The sensitivity( 75. 00%) and accuracy( 81. 69%) of sLAG-3 for the diagnosis of gastric cancer were significantly higher than that of CEA( 16. 30% and 43. 66%). Conclusion sLAG-3 may be regarded as a candidate serum marker for the diagnosis of gastric cancer.
Studies on Meningococci isolated in the United States, 1928-1930. Serological Classification and Geographic Distribution.

The prevalence of certain important communicable diseases, as indicated by weekly telegraphic reports from State health departments to the Public Health Service, is summarized in this report. The underlying statistical data are published weekly in the Public Health Reports under the section entitled "Prevalence of Disease. " Influenza. -For the aggregated States included, the reported cases for the 4-week period totaled 25,635, which was very nearly three times last year's figure for the corresponding season. During the preceding period this ratio stood at 3.9, the reported cases having totaled 41,548.
Inversion Algorithm of Fiber Bragg Grating for Nanofluid Flooding Monitoring

In the current study, we developed an adaptive algorithm that can predict oil mobilization in a porous medium on the basis of optical data. Associated mechanisms based on tuning the electromagnetic response of magnetic and dielectric nanoparticles are also discussed. This technique is a promising method in rational magnetophoresis toward fluid mobility via fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The obtained wavelength shift due to Fe3O4 injection was 75% higher than that of dielectric materials. This use of FBG magneto-optic sensors could be a remarkable breakthrough for fluid-flow tracking in oil reservoirs. Our computational algorithm, based on piecewise linear polynomials, was evaluated with an analytical technique for homogeneous cases and achieved 99.45% accuracy. Theoretical values obtained via coupled-mode theory agreed with our FBG experiment data of at a level of 95.23% accuracy.