Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Linear versus Sigmoid Coding of Visual or Audio Biofeedback for the Control of Upright Stance

Although both visual and audio biofeedback (BF) systems for postural control can reduce sway during stance, a direct comparison between the two systems has never been done. Further, comparing different coding designs of audio and visual BF may help in elucidating how BF information is integrated in the control of posture, and may improve knowledge for the design of innovative BF systems for postural control. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of linear versus sigmoid coding of trunk acceleration for audio and visual BF on postural sway in a group of eight, healthy subjects while standing on a foam surface. Results showed that sigmoid-coded audio BF reduced sway acceleration more than did a linear-coded audio BF, whereas a linear-coded visual BF reduced sway acceleration more than a sigmoid-coded visual BF. In addition, audio BF had larger effects on reducing center of pressure (COP) displacement whereas visual BF had larger effects on reducing trunk sway. These results suggest that audio and visual BF for postural control benefit from different types of sensory coding and each type of BF may encourage a different type of postural sway strategy
DeepDeblur: Fast one-step blurry face images restoration

We propose a very fast and effective one-step restoring method for blurry face images. In the last decades, many blind deblurring algorithms have been proposed to restore latent sharp images. However, these algorithms run slowly because of involving two steps: kernel estimation and following non-blind deconvolution or latent image estimation. Also they cannot handle face images in small size. Our proposed method restores sharp face images directly in one step using Convolutional Neural Network. Unlike previous deep learning involved methods that can only handle a single blur kernel at one time, our network is trained on totally random and numerous training sample pairs to deal with the variances due to different blur kernels in practice. A smoothness regularization as well as a facial regularization are added to keep facial identity information which is the key to face image applications. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate that our proposed method can handle various blur kenels and achieve state-of-the-art results for small size blurry face images restoration. Moreover, the proposed method shows significant improvement in face recognition accuracy along with increasing running speed by more than 100 times.
DRC: a dependence relationships based cohesion measure for classes

A large number of cohesion measures based on method-attribute references have been proposed. However, virtually no attention has been paid to the abstract representation that objectively depicts the relationships among the members of a class. Specially, the flow dependence relationship among attributes, the indirect and potential dependence relationships among class members, and the direction of method-attribute references are ignored. To address this problem, we first identifies four types of basic dependence relationships and uses a class member dependence graph to represent all dependences among the members of a class. Then, a dependence relationships based measure for measuring the class cohesiveness is proposed. Finally, we compare our class cohesion measure with typical cohesion measures.
Striving for habitual well-being in noninvasive ventilation: a grounded theory study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with acute respiratory failure.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To present a theoretical account of the pattern of behaviour in patients with acute respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease while undergoing noninvasive ventilation in a hospital setting. BACKGROUND Strong evidence supports a positive effect of noninvasive ventilation, but successful treatment remains a challenge. Little attention has been given to patient intolerance to noninvasive ventilation as a cause of treatment failure. A better understanding of the patients' patterns of behaviour during noninvasive ventilation may improve treatment success. DESIGN A constant comparative classic grounded theory study was performed. METHODS Data collection consisted of participant observation during the treatment of 21 patients undergoing noninvasive ventilation, followed by interviews with 11 of the patients after treatment completion. Data were collected from December 2009-January 2012. RESULTS A substantive theory of striving for habitual well-being was developed. The theory included three phases: initiation, transition and determination. Each phase contained a set of subcategories to indicate the dimensions of and variations in the participants' behaviour. CONCLUSIONS The substantive theory revealed that the patients' behaviour was related to their breathlessness, sensation of being restrained by the mask and head gear, and the side effects of noninvasive ventilation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This inter-relationship should be addressed in the use of noninvasive ventilation for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to achieve treatment success.
Platelets, Coagulation and Cancer: Multifaceted Interactions

Approach: Literature review of the multifaceted interactions between platelets, coagulation and cancer. Results: Over the years, the links existing between cancer development, progression and occurrence of metastasis on one side and coagulation on the other have become obvious. Tumors seems to activate platelets whereas, platelets, on the other hand, through their capacity to activate and release soluble factors and microparticles, interact with tumor cells and influence immune regulation. They appear to be key regulators of many cancer events. Furthermore, coagulation with its different facets also interplays and significantly crosstalks with malignancy. The objectives of this article are to review the mechanisms through which cancer interacts with platelets and the coagulation, triggering thrombosis and the role played by platelets and coagulation factors in the regulation of cancer and to underline the perspectives that are now open in the development of novel diagnostic tools and new cancer treatment strategies. Conclusion/Recommendations: Challenging issues and unresolved questions still need to be addressed to understand the complexity existing between coagulation factors and platelet components and the different stages of cancer progression. Recent discoveries are leading clinicians to consider new therapeutic applications of anticoagulant therapies or new drugs targeting specific platelet functions in cancer patients management. Furthermore, markers of coagulation and platelet activity may prove to serve as biomarkers for dormant tumors.
Prior exposure to a behaviorally sensitizing regimen of d‐methamphetamine does not alter the striatal dopaminergic damage induced by a neurotoxic regimen

Repeated exposure to psychostimulant drugs such as d‐methamphetamine (d‐METH) and cocaine can be associated with extremely long‐lived changes in dopamine systems at the behavioral, cellular and molecular level. Sensitization or an enhanced response to drug exposure is one such change. Investigations of these phenomena at the cellular and molecular levels are being conducted in the hope that this will aid in understanding how such adaptations might contribute to drug addition. Repeated exposure to certain amphetamines can also result in damage to dopaminergic pathways. Although some of the same molecular adaptations and mechanisms are suspected to occur or play a role in the neurotoxic sequelae associated with psychostimulant exposure, there has been little attempt to examine the relationship among these phenomena. Here we utilized C57BL/6J female mice to examine whether exposure to a sensitizing regimen of d‐METH would impact the degree of neural injury induced by a subsequent exposure to a neurotoxic regimen of the same psychostimulant. Every other day exposure to d‐METH (1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg) for 11 days produced a behavioral sensitization, as evidenced by a significant increase in the degree of locomotor activity induced by each subsequent exposure to d‐METH. Following a 5‐day period of no drug exposure sensitized mice were given a neurotoxic regiment of d‐METH (a total of four injections of 10.0 mg/kg, one every 2 hours) and striatal tissue examined 72 hours later. All groups, whether drug‐naive or sensitized previously to d‐METH, showed exactly the same degree of dopaminergic striatal damage induced by a neurotoxic regimen. This was evidenced by equivalent reductions in dopamine and elevations in GFAP protein, a marker of astrocytic response to injury, GFAP. The inability of a sensitizing regimen to either exacerbate or lessen the neurotoxic actions of the same compound suggests that the molecular and cellular control of these two aspects of psychostimulant exposure may differ.
Functional disomies of the X chromosome influence the cell selection and hence the X inactivation pattern in females with balanced X-autosome translocations: a review of 122 cases.

We reviewed 122 cases of balanced X-autosome translocations in females, with respect to the X inactivation pattern, the position of the X break point and the resulting phenotype. In 77% of the patients the translocated X chromosome was early replicating in all cells analysed. The break points in these cases were distributed all along the X chromosome. Most of these patients were either phenotypically normal or had gonadal dysgenesis, some had single gene disorders, and less than 9% had multiple congenital anomalies and/or mental retardation. In the remaining 23% of the cases the translocated X chromosome was late replicating in a proportion of cells. In these cells only one of the translocation products was reported to replicate late, while the remaining portion of the X chromosome showed the same replication pattern as the homologous part of the active, structurally normal X chromosome. The analysis of DNA methylation in one of these cases confirmed noninactivation of the translocated segment. Consequently, these cells were functionally disomic for a part of the X chromosome. The presence of disomic cells was highly prevalent in translocations with break points at Xp22 and Xq28, even though spreading of X inactivation onto the adjacent autosomal segment was noted in most of these cases. This suggests that selection against cells with a late replicating translocated X is driven predominantly by a functional disomy X, and that the efficiency of this process depends primarily on the position of the X break point, and hence the size of the noninactivated region. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A 4Mb conductive-bridge resistive memory with 2.3GB/s read-throughput and 216MB/s program-throughput

The growing demand for higher performance in the storage and access of data in various consumer electronic and computing devices has driven the development of nonvolatile memory (NVM) technologies. The promising candidates for future NVM such as FeRAM and PCM have demonstrated shorter access time, faster programming and wide read/write bandwidth in the chip and the memory macro [1–2]. Resistive memory (ReRAM) is also one of alternative NVMs, because of its low operating voltage, high speed and good scalability. Several types of ReRAM characteristics have been investigated on memory array [3–6]. However, most are limited in terms of memory array performance because of not having suitable read/write circuit for ReRAM. In this work, we present a 4Mb conductive bridge ReRAM test macro realizing 2.3GB/s read-throughput, 216MB/s program-throughput and robust reliability results by using read/write fully functional device technology with direct sense in programming (DSIP) method.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics and the risk for delayed admission and masked diagnosis of infectious diseases: a lesson from Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem worldwide. It is particularly alarming in Taiwan and other countries of the Pacific Rim, where antimicrobial drugs are used excessively. OBJECTIVE To determine whether use of antimicrobial drugs before coming to an emergency department was associated with delayed admission or masked or missed diagnoses at a large general hospital in Taiwan. METHODS Antimicrobial activity in urine (AAU) was determined in all patients seen in the emergency department during a 3-month study. A physician, unaware of the results of the urine tests, reviewed the medical charts of patients who were admitted to the hospital to determine whether admission was delayed for at least 7 days or the diagnosis was masked or missed. RESULTS Of the 1182 patients, 444 were admitted to the hospital. In 220 patients (49.5%), AAU was detected. There was no significant difference in AAU between patients with or without an infectious disease (53.0% vs 46.3%, respectively; P =.41). For patients with infection, 34.8% of those with AAU had a delayed admission, compared with only 21.6% without AAU (relative risk [RR], 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.52; P =.03). For patients without infection, 36.2% of those with AAU had a delayed admission compared with 31.1% without AAU (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.81-1.68; P =.64). For patients with infection, 48.7% of those with AAU had a masked or missed diagnosis, compared with 25.5% without AAU (RR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.30-2.80; P<.001). For patients without infection, 27.6% of those with AAU had a masked or missed diagnosis compared with 14.8% without AAU (RR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.11-3.17; P =.02). CONCLUSION Use of antimicrobial drugs before coming to an emergency department was associated with a significantly increased risk for delayed and masked or missed diagnoses of infectious diseases and missed diagnosis of noninfectious diseases.
The Epithelial Na+ Channel Is Inhibited by a Peptide Derived from Proteolytic Processing of Its α Subunit*

Epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs) mediate Na+ entry across the apical membrane of high resistance epithelia that line the distal nephron, airway and alveoli, and distal colon. These channels are composed of three homologous subunits, termed α, β, and γ, which have intracellular amino and carboxyl termini and two membrane-spanning domains connected by large extracellular loops. Maturation of ENaC subunits involves furin-dependent cleavage of the extracellular loops at two sites within the α subunit and at a single site within the γ subunit. The α subunits must be cleaved twice, immediately following Arg-205 and Arg-231, in order for channels to be fully active. Channels lacking α subunit cleavage are inactive with a very low open probability. In contrast, channels lacking both α subunit cleavage and the tract αAsp-206-Arg-231 are active when expressed in oocytes, suggesting that αAsp-206-Arg-231 functions as an inhibitor that stabilizes the channel in the closed conformation. A synthetic 26-mer peptide (α-26), corresponding to αAsp-206-Arg-231, reversibly inhibits wild-type mouse ENaCs expressed in Xenopus oocytes, as well as endogenous Na+ channels expressed in either a mouse collecting duct cell line or primary cultures of human airway epithelial cells. The IC50 for amiloride block of ENaC was not affected by the presence of α-26, indicating that α-26 does not bind to or interact with the amiloride binding site. Substitution of Arg residues within α-26 with Glu, or substitution of Pro residues with Ala, significantly reduced the efficacy of α-26. The peptide inhibits ENaC by reducing channel open probability. Our results suggest that proteolysis of the α subunit activates ENaC by disassociating an inhibitory domain (αAsp-206-Arg-231) from its effector site within the channel complex.
Dose-response relationships for the binding of benzo(a)pyrene metabolites to DNA and protein in lung, liver, and forestomach of control and butylated hydroxyanisole-treated mice.

In this study, the formation of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) metabolite:DNA adducts in lung, liver, and forestomach of control and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)-treated (5 mg/g diet) female A/HeJ mice was examined as a function of BP dose (p.o.), ranging from 2 to 1351 mumol/kg. The major identified adduct in each tissue at each dose was the (+)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (BPDEI):deoxyguanosine adduct. A 7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene:deoxyguanosine adduct, a(-)-BPDEI:deoxyguanosine adduct, and an unidentified adduct were also observed. In lung and liver of untreated animals, the dose-response curves for BPDEI:DNA adduct levels were sigmoidal. In forestomach, there was no indication of saturation of DNA binding over the BP dose range examined. The dose-response curves became linear as BP dose approached zero and thus, no threshold dose existed below which binding of BPDEI to DNA did not occur, at least in lung, liver, and forestomach of these mice. In forestomach, the dose-response curve for BPDEI:DNA adducts in BHA-treated mice, 0.5% of diet for 2 weeks, was parallel to the curve for control animals and thus, the inhibition (45%) of adduct formation is independent of BP dose. In contrast, BHA treatment diminished the curvilinear nature of the dose-response curves for BPDE adducts in lung and liver. The inhibition of BPDEI:DNA adduct formation by BHA in lung and liver was dose dependent. The inhibition of lung (68%) and liver (82%) adduct formation was highest at a BP dose of 270 mumol/kg. As the BP dose approached zero, the inhibition of BPDEI:DNA adduct formation by BHA decreased with BP dose and approached values of approximately 40% (lung) and 55% (liver). The dose dependency of the binding of BP metabolites to protein was also examined. BPDEI:DNA adduct concentrations ranged from 2 to 10% of protein binding concentrations in liver of untreated animals, from 3 to 7% in forestomach, and from 5 to 7% in lung. The dose-response curves for protein binding of BP metabolites in lung and liver from BHA-treated animals were essentially parallel to those in control animals and thus, the inhibition of protein binding by BHA treatment had no dose dependency in these organs. No consistent BHA effect was observed on the amount of binding of BP metabolites to forestomach protein.
Does GABA Act as a Signal in Plants? Hints from Molecular Studies

GABA is a non-protein amino acid that accumulates rapidly in plant tissues in response to biotic and abiotic stress. There have been a number of suggestions as to the role that GABA might play in plants, ranging from a straightforward involvement in N metabolism to a signal mediating plant-animal and plant-microbe interactions. It has also been several proposed that it might function as an intracellular signalling molecule in plants. Here, we discuss recent evidence that plant cells respond at the molecular level to the presence of applied GABA. We argue that these data might serve as the basis for investigating the possible signalling role for GABA in plant development and stress responses in more detail.
Anisotropic fluid turbulence in the interstellar medium and solar wind

The interstellar medium and solar wind is permeated by a magnetic field that renders magnetohydrodynamic turbulence anisotropic. In the classic work of Iroshnikov [Astron. Zh. 40, 742 (1963)] and Kraichnan [Phys. Fluids 8, 1385 (1965)], it is assumed that the turbulence is isotropic, and an inertial range energy spectrum that scales as k−3/2 is deduced based on the nonlinear interaction of Alfven wave packets. Much insight can be gained by analysis and high-resolution numerical simulations of such interactions. In the weak-turbulence limit in which three-wave interactions dominate, analytical and high-resolution numerical results based on random scattering of shear-Alfven waves propagating parallel to a large-scale magnetic field demonstrate an anisotropic energy spectrum that scales as k⊥−2. Even in the absence of a background magnetic field, when the energy spectrum is globally isotropic, anisotropy is found to develop with respect to the local magnetic field. The two-dimensional case is studied by mean.
Detailed Characterization of a Long-Term Rodent Model of Critical Illness and Recovery

Objective:To characterize a long-term model of recovery from critical illness, with particular emphasis on cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and muscle function. Design:Randomized controlled animal study. Setting:University research laboratory. Subjects:Male Wistar rats. Interventions:Intraperitoneal injection of the fungal cell wall constituent, zymosan or n-saline. Measurements and Main Results:Following intervention, rats were followed for up to 2 weeks. Animals with zymosan peritonitis reached a clinical and biochemical nadir on day 2. Initial reductions were seen in body weight, total body protein and fat, and muscle mass. Leg muscle fiber diameter remained subnormal at 14 days with evidence of persisting myonecrosis, even though gene expression of regulators of muscle mass (e.g., MAFbx, MURF1, and myostatin) had peaked on days 2–4 but normalized by day 7. Treadmill exercise capacity, forelimb grip strength, and in vivo maximum tetanic force were also reduced. Food intake was minimal until day 4 but increased thereafter. This did not relate to appetite hormone levels with early (6 hr) rises in plasma insulin and leptin followed by persisting subnormal levels; ghrelin levels did not change. Serum interleukin-6 level peaked at 6 hours but had normalized by day 2, whereas interleukin-10 remained persistently elevated and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol persistently depressed. There was an early myocardial depression and rise in core temperature, yet reduced oxygen consumption and respiratory exchange ratio with a loss of diurnal rhythmicity that showed a gradual but incomplete recovery by day 7. Conclusions:This detailed physiological, metabolic, hormonal, functional, and histological muscle characterization of a model of critical illness and recovery reproduces many of the findings reported in human critical illness. It can be used to assess putative therapies that may attenuate loss, or enhance recovery, of muscle mass and function.
A breaking down of the Mediterranean diet in the land where it was discovered. A cross sectional survey among the young generation of adolescents in the heart of Cilento, Southern Italy.

BACKGROUND To investigate dietary habits among young people in the Mediterranean lands, exactly where the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MD) were discovered by Ancel Keys. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional study design. METHODS A 10-items food-frequency questionnaire was administered to 1117 students in the schools of the Cilento area. Adherence to the MD was appraised according to a scale of 0-10. A logistic regression model was used to identify possible factors associated with "Following an unhealthy diet". Results were expressed as Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS A percentage of 63.8 reached a score under six, indicating that the majority of the students did not respect the rules of the Mediterranean diet and only 36.2% (n. 371) exceeded a score of 6 adhering to it in varying degrees. At the logistic regression analysis smokers resulted to be affected by almost a double risk of getting away from the Mediterranean dietary pattern (OR = 1.93; CI 95% 1.44-2.57); on the contrary, those with a higher PCS12 (Physical Component Summary score) were in a lower risk to move away from the MD style (OR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.96-0.99). CONCLUSIONS Despite its increasing popularity worldwide, adherence to the MD model is decreasing. The new generation of young people does not adhere to the MD pattern although they live in the lands characterized by the tradition and culture of healthy diet and where the benefits from this pattern were initially discovered. Interventions and specific education about the healthy diet may be useful to recover student's dietary patterns as in the old eating tradition.