Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lifestyle intervention with weight reduction: first-line treatment in mild obstructive sleep apnea.

RATIONALE Obesity is the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, although included in clinical guidelines, no randomized controlled studies have been performed on the effects of weight reduction on mild OSA. OBJECTIVES The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled parallel-group 1-year follow-up study was to determine whether a very low calorie diet (VLCD) with supervised lifestyle counseling could be an effective treatment for adults with mild OSA. METHODS Seventy-two consecutive overweight patients (body mass index, 28-40) with mild OSA were recruited. The intervention group (n = 35) completed the VLCD program with supervised lifestyle modification, and the control group (n = 37) received routine lifestyle counseling. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was the main objectively measured outcome variable. Change in symptoms and the 15D-Quality of Life tool were used as subjective measurements. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The lifestyle intervention was found to effectively reduce body weight (-10.7 +/- 6.5 kg; body mass index, -3.5 +/- 2.1 [mean +/- SD]). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean change in AHI between the study groups (P = 0.017). The adjusted odds ratio for having mild OSA was markedly lowered (odds ratio, 0.24 [95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.72]; P = 0.011) in the intervention group. All common symptoms related to OSA, and some features of 15D-Quality of Life improved after the lifestyle intervention. Changes in AHI were strongly associated with changes in weight and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS VLCD combined with active lifestyle counseling resulting in marked weight reduction is a feasible and effective treatment for the majority of patients with mild OSA, and the achieved beneficial outcomes are maintained at 1-year follow-up.
Symbiosis between the pea crab Dissodactylus primitivus and its echinoid host Meoma ventricosa: potential consequences for the crab mating system

In many symbioses involving marine crustaceans the nature of the relationships and the population biology remain overlooked, obscuring the understanding of their ecology and evolution. The association between the pea crab Dissodactylus primitivus and the irregular sea urchin Meoma ventricosa was investigated in the Caribbean Sea. The work tested the predictions provided by an evolutionary model, in which host-switching behaviour and polygynandry are expected for the mat- ing system of D. primitivus. The crab prevalence (infected sea urchins) and mean burden were high and variable between sites and/or years. All post-metamorphic stages of crabs were found on the host, and no exclusion effect was observed between juvenile and adult crabs. In adults, although a general 1:1 sex ratio was stable over the years, there was no evidence for social monogamy. Adult males occurred more often on host-harbouring non-ovigerous females, suggesting that they search for females available for mating. This assumption was supported by a recolonization experiment showing that the males move between hosts. However, both juveniles and females also moved between hosts, indicating that this behaviour could occur due to causes other than mate searching. D. primitivus inflicts external lesions on M. ventricosa teguments. The most severe lesions were asso- ciated with a lower gonad volume during spawning, suggesting a reduction in fitness of the host. The demography of D. primitivus and the recolonization experiments indicate that the mating system of this crab is the 'pure-search polygynandry of mobile females', but the parasitic nature of the relationship could confound this assumption.
Natural history of secundum atrial septal defect in adults after medical or surgical treatment: a historical prospective study

Objective—To compare outcome in patients with medically treated secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) first diagnosed after the age of 25 with the long-term outcome in a similar group of patients after surgical closure. Design—A historical, prospective, unrandomised study. Setting—A tertiary referral centre. Patients—All patients with ASD followed up since 1955 who fulfilled the entry criteria and had reached a current age of over 45 years—that is, 34 medical and 48 surgical patients with a mean follow up of 25 years. Main outcome measures—Survival, symptoms, and complications. Results—There was no difference in survival or symptoms between the two groups and no difference in the incidence of new arrhythmias, stroke or other embolic phenomena, or cardiac failure. No patient in either group developed progressive pulmonary vascular disease. Conclusion—Outcome in adults with ASD was not improved by surgical closure. Because progressive pulmonary vascular disease did not develop in any of these patients its prevention is not a reason for advising closure of ASD in adults.
The influence of ethnocentrism in organizational contexts: perceptions of interviewee and managerial attractiveness, credibility, and effectiveness

This paper presents the results of two studies that examine the influence of ethnocentrism on interpersonal perceptions of attractiveness, credibility, and managerial effectiveness. In Study I participants (N=117) watched a video-taped interview of a Korean national student being interviewed for a job in the financial aid office of her United States (US) college. Participants then completed measures of ethnocentrism, interpersonal attraction, credibility, and were asked to give a hiring recommendation. Results reveal that ethnocentrism was negatively and significantly correlated with perceptions of social attraction, competence, character, and hiring recommendations. Study II focused on the influence of ethnocentrism on perceptions of managerial attraction, credibility, and effectiveness in a manager–subordinate conflict situation. Approximately half (N=59) of the participants watched a video of an Asian student manager reprimanding a white student worker. The other half (N=64) watched a nearly identical video of a white student manager reprimanding the same white student worker. Participants completed measures of ethnocentrism, interpersonal attraction, credibility, generalized attitudes about the manager, and managerial effectiveness. In the group of participants who watched the Asian student manager, results reveal that ethnocentrism was negatively and significantly correlated with perceptions of physical, social, and task attraction, competence, and general attitudes about the manager, but not managerial effectiveness. In the group of participants who watched the white student manager there were no significant correlations between ethnocentrism and any of the dependent variables.
Epidemiologic study of molar-incisor hypomineralization in 8-year-old Spanish children.

AIM To find the prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in a random sample of Spanish children, and to investigate the gender influence, distribution of defects, the treatment need associated and the relation between this disorder and dental caries. DESIGN A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine MIH and caries prevalence in a randomly selected sample of 840 children from the 8-year-old population of the Valencia region of Spain. The examinations were carried out in the children's schools by one examiner who had previously been calibrated with the MIH diagnostic criteria of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD). RESULTS The percentage of children with MIH was 21.8% (95% CI 19.1-24.7), with a mean 3.5 teeth affected (2.4 molars and 1.1 incisors) been the maxillary molars the most affected. No gender differences were found. Of those with MIH, 56.8% presented lesions in both molars and incisors Children with MIH needed significantly more urgent and non-urgent treatment than those without MIH (chi-squared test P-value < 0.005). Both caries indices were significantly higher (Student's t-test P-value < 0.05) in the children with MIH than in the healthy children: the DMFT scores were 0.513 and 0.237 and the DMFS scores 1.20 and 0.79, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Molar-incisor hypomineralization prevalence is high in the child population of this region and equally affects boys and girls. The condition increases significantly the need of treatment of affected children. A significant association with dental caries was observed.
First-principles study of phase transitions in KNO3.

We report a first-principles simulation study of phase transitions in KNO3, using our recently developed method for treating ionic molecular solids. With the interionic potentials calculated from ab initio electron charge densities of the ions, our structural static relaxation gave close fits to both the normal room-temperature (α-phase) and the ferroelectric (γ-phase) structures. Our supercell molecular-dynamics calculations closely simulated the transitions from the α phase and γ phase to the high-temperature disordered β phase, and successfully reproduced the abnormally large c-axis thermal expansion observed in experiment. Both transitions were found to be initiated by the rotations of the nitrate ions about their triad axes parallel to the c axis. Our lattice-dynamics calculations in the spirit of the quasiharmonic approximation revealed that these rotations are intimately connected to the large c-axis thermal expansion, and both of them derive from the strong anharmonicity in the system. ©1991 The American Physical Society. Used by permission. URL: http://link.aps. org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.44. 7215 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.44. 7215 PHYSICAL REVIEW B VOLUME 44, NUMBER 14 1 OCTOBER 1991-11 First-principles study of phase transitions in KNO, H. M. Lu and J. R. Hardy Department of Physics and Center for Electro-Optics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0111 (Received 21 December 1990; revised manuscript received 20 May 1991) We report a first-principles simulation study of phase transitions in KNO,, using our recently developed method for treating ionic molecular solids. With the interionic potentials calculated from ab initio electron charge densities of the ions, our structural static relaxation gave close fits to both the normal room-temperature (a-phase) and the ferroelectric (y-phase) structures. Our supercell moleculardynamics calculations closely simulated the transitions from the a phase and y phase to the hightemperature disordered /3 phase, and successfully reproduced the abnormally large c-axis thermal expansion observed in experiment. Both transitions were found to be initiated by the rotations of the nitrate ions about their triad axes parallel to the c axis. Our lattice-dynamics calculations in the spirit of the quasiharmonic approximation revealed that these rotations are intimately connected to the large c-axis thermal expansion, and both of them derive from the strong anharmonicity in the system.
Synthesis and In Vitro Anti-Influenza Virus Evaluation of Novel Sialic Acid (C-5 and C-9)-Pentacyclic Triterpene Derivatives

The emergence of drug resistant variants of the influenza virus has led to a great need to identify novel and effective antiviral agents. In our previous study, a series of sialic acid (C-2 and C-4)-pentacyclic triterpene conjugates have been synthesized, and a five-fold more potent antiviral activity was observed when sialic acid was conjugated with pentacyclic triterpene via C-4 than C-2. It was here that we further reported the synthesis and anti-influenza activity of novel sialic acid (C-5 and C-9)-pentacyclic triterpene conjugates. Their structures were confirmed by ESI-HRMS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analyses. Two conjugates (26 and 42) showed strong cytotoxicity to MDCK cells in the CellTiter-Glo assay at a concentration of 100 μM. However, they showed no significant cytotoxicity to HL-60, Hela, and A549 cell lines in MTT assay under the concentration of 10 μM (except compound 42 showed weak cytotoxicity to HL-60 cell line (10 μM, ~53%)). Compounds 20, 28, 36, and 44 displayed weak potency to influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus (100 μM, ~20–30%), and no significant anti-influenza activity was found for the other conjugates. The data suggested that both the C-5 acetylamide and C-9 hydroxy of sialic acid were important for its binding with hemagglutinin during viral entry into host cells, while C-4 and C-2 hydroxy were not critical for the binding process and could be replaced with hydrophobic moieties. The research presented herein had significant implications for the design of novel antiviral inhibitors based on a sialic acid scaffold.
Serotonin transporter genotype, morning cortisol and subsequent depression in adolescents

Background The short (s) allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR) may be associated with exposure to social adversities and the subsequent onset of depressive illness in adulthood. Aims To test in adolescents at high risk for depression whether the short ‘s’ allele is associated with levels of morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode. Method High-risk adolescents (n = 403) were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. Salivary samples were obtained on four consecutive school days within 1 h of waking from 393 (97.5%) individuals and 367 (91%) underwent a mental state reassessment at 12 months. Results Multilevel analysis revealed higher levels of salivary cortisol in short allele carriers (s/s>s/l>l/l). A subsequent episode of depression was increased in those with higher cortisol and the ‘s’ allele, and independently by depressive symptoms at entry, in both genders. Conclusions The short allele of 5-HTTLPR may moderate the association between morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode.
Effects of openings on the wind–sound environment in the traditional residential streets in a severe cold city of China

The streets in the traditional residential areas of severe cold cities in China often have openings leading to enclosed courtyards. These openings connect the street to the courtyard space, which affects the physical environment of the residential streets. This paper uses field measurements and numerical simulation to study the wind–sound environment in the street, comparing and analysing the effects of the existence, size and form of openings on the wind–sound environment in the street. The results indicate that both the average wind velocity and sound pressure level have some degree of reduction around the opening, with the difference of wind velocity reaching 1.0 m/s and the difference in sound pressure level reaching 0.5–1.6 dB. Additionally, the T30 changes from 0.2 s to 0.4 s around the opening, while the average T30 in the street also varies. Increasing the width of the opening by 1 m increases the influential range of the opening on the sound environment by 0.5–4 m. In contrast, the width of the opening has little effect on the sound pressure level and the T30. Compared with an entrance of the same width, a gap intensifies the fluctuation of the local wind velocity and causes the average T30 to reduce by 0.3 s. The results of this paper lay a data foundation for further studies on the optimized design of the physical environment in enclosed residential areas.
Spectrum management for coexistence of high altitude platform system (HAPS) and fixed services in 5.8GHz band

: The theoretical base behind the spectrum management of High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) as an innovative promising technology is classified under the worst case (WC) prediction model to indemnify the fortification of the existing services. Accordingly, this paper sheds light on the spectrum sharing of coexistence between High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) and the Fixed Services (FS) that are intended for future applications. Hence, an inclusive intersystem interference theoretical model is proposed in this paper to depict the WC scenario in terms of a minimum coupling loss (MCL). The coexistence between HAPS and FS is then investigated and consequently, new Minimum Interference Coupling loss (MICL) model is introduced by combination of bandwidth attenuation plus antenna pointing and clutter height variation of the victim. The spectrum sharing has evaluated based on the Interference to Noise Ratio (INR). Accordingly, optimistic results obtained at this juncture illustrate the feasibility of coexistence of both systems in 5.8 GHz band in early stage of spectrum management.
Regulation and function of COX-2 gene expression in isolated gastric parietal cells.

We examined expression, function, and regulation of the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 gene in gastric parietal cells. COX-2-specific mRNA was isolated from purified (>95%) canine gastric parietal cells in primary culture and measured by Northern blots using a human COX-2 cDNA probe. Carbachol was the most potent inducer of COX-2 gene expression. Gastrin and histamine exhibited minor stimulatory effects. Carbachol-stimulated expression was inhibited by intracellular Ca(2+) chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-AM (90%), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF-109203X (48%), and p38 kinase inhibitor SB-203580 (48%). Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB inhibitor 1-pyrrolidinecarbodithioic acid inhibited carbachol-stimulated expression by 80%. Similar results were observed in the presence of adenoviral vector Ad.dom. neg.IkappaB, which expresses a repressor of NF-kappaB. Addition of SB-203580 with Ad.dom. neg.IkappaB almost completely blocked carbachol stimulation of COX-2 gene expression. We examined the effect of carbachol on PGE(2) release by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Carbachol induced PGE(2) release. Ad.dom. neg.IkappaB, alone or with SB-203580, produced, respectively, partial (70%) and almost complete (>80%) inhibition of carbachol-stimulated PGE(2) production. Selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 blocked carbachol-stimulated PGE(2) release without affecting basal PGE(2) production. In contrast, indomethacin inhibited both basal and carbachol-stimulated PGE(2) release. Carbachol induces COX-2 gene expression in the parietal cells through signaling pathways that involve intracellular Ca(2+), PKC, p38 kinase, and activation of NF-kappaB. The functional significance of these effects seems to be stimulation of PGE(2) release.
Incremental Component-Based Construction and Verification of a Robotic System

Autonomous robots are complex systems that require the interaction/cooperation of numerous heterogeneous software components. Nowadays, robots are critical systems and must meet safety properties including in particular temporal and real-time constraints. We present a methodology for modeling and analyzing a robotic system using the BIP component framework integrated with an existing framework and architecture, the LAAS Architecture for Autonomous System, based on GenoM. The BIP componentization approach has been successfully used in other domains. In this study, we show how it can be seamlessly integrated in the preexisting methodology. We present the componentization of the functional level of a robot, the synthesis of an execution controller as well as validation techniques for checking essential “safety” properties.
Reading Without Words: Eye Movements in the Comprehension of Comic Strips

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The study of attention in pictures is mostly limited to individual images. When we ‘read’ a visual narrative (e.g., a comic strip), the pictures have a coherent sequence, but it is not known how this affects attention. In two experiments, we eyetracked participants in order to investigate how disrupting the visual sequence of a comic strip would affect attention. Both when panels were presented one at a time (Experiment 1) and when a sequence was presented all together (Experiment 2), pictures were understood more quickly and with fewer fixations when in their original order. When order was randomised, the same pictures required more attention and additional ‘regressions’. Fixation distributions also differed when the narrative was intact, showing that context affects where we look. This reveals the role of top-down structures when we attend to pictorial information, as well as providing a springboard for applied research into attention within image sequences.Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stress-mediated covariance between nano-structural architecture and ultraviolet butterfly coloration

Summary 1Structural coloration is a striking component of sexual ornamentation, and may function as a signal of mate quality. Although the proximate optical mechanisms are often well defined, we know much less about the morphological basis for intraspecific variation in structural colour. 2Males of the butterfly Colias eurytheme L. possess a thin-film interference array on their dorsal wing scales that generates a bright and iridescent ultraviolet (UV) signal. This signal is used in mate choice. 3Using scanning electron microscopy, we investigated the covariance between nano-structural architecture and UV reflectance in samples that were variously subject to either nutrient stress (using a larval host-plant manipulation), or thermal stress (using transient heat and cold shocks during the pupal period). We employed these two stressors to mimic natural stressful processes and to accentuate the variance in UV signal characteristics. 4Two primary structure–reflectance relationships were apparent. First, UV brightness increased with the density of scale ridges that bear the interference reflectors. Second, the breadth of above-wing angles for viewing the UV covaried with a measure of thin-film angular orientation. These relationships were, however, either limited to, or stronger among, males of the nutrient stress sample. 5Our results are consistent with a causal effect of developmental stress on nano-structural architecture and henceforth UV reflectance, but also suggest that the proximate basis for signal variation may be intimately linked to the nature of prevailing stressors.
INFORMATION WANTS TO BE FREE

Yes, I admit it; I’ve always been in favour of Open Access. There is something so inspiring about the saying “information wants to be free” that hackers in the early days of Internet chanted. And as I participate, in my role as librarian, in Malmo University’s Master’s course Communication for Development, these old words are filled with new connotations. The thought that information wants to be free is a serious one, grounded in great ethical and epistemological positions, and it has obvious implications in the areas of communication and development. As the Internet has narrowed the world, enabling fast communication and meetings all over the globe, it has also increased the information gap and widened the digital divide. Each updated attempt to map the Internet, displaying hubs and nodes of connection clusters, clearly shows that there is still much to ask for.
Taken Out of Context: An Empirical Analysis of Westin’s Privacy Scale

This paper offers the results of an empirical analysis of Alan Westin’s privacy scale using survey data taken from a nationally representative survey of American internet users conducted in July 2009. I focus on two questions: 1) Are there any demographic covariates that can be reliably associated with Westin’s three privacy categories? ; 2) Can Westin’s categories be used to make predictions about privacy attitudes, knowledge, or behavior? I use these findings to suggest that Westin’s scale does not provide a reliable framework for analysis or prediction outside of its original context. Privacy researchers in the 21 st century should seek new tools for measuring the public’s privacy attitudes rather than overloading Westin’s scales.