Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Intermittent Hypoxia and Respiratory Muscle Structure and Function

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common condition associated with significant morbidity and increased mortality. During sleep, the sub atmospheric pressure developed in the extra thoracic airway by the contraction of the thoracic pump muscles during inspiration causes collapse of the compliant upper airway, resulting in an episode of apnoea. Normally, upper airway collapse is prevented by contraction of upper airway muscles and if the airway does collapse, it is re-opened by a reflex augmented neural drive and greater contraction of these muscles. Therefore, the function of these muscles plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of the obstructive sleep apnoea. The multiple episodes of apnoea that occur during the course of sleep cause intermittent hypoxia. We have proposed that chronic intermittent hypoxia causes adverse changes in structure and function of upper airway muscle that result in an exacerbation of the condition. We have shown that chronic intermittent hypoxia in rats causes greater fatigability of upper airway, diaphragm and limb muscles. In general, this appears to be true also for chronic continuous hypoxia, although the diaphragm muscle is relatively tolerant of sustained hypoxia compared to limb muscle. We propose that the chronic intermittent hypoxia of obstructive sleep apnoea causes a positive feedback that exacerbates the condition by reducing upper airway muscle endurance, thus making the upper airway more vulnerable to collapse. This effect involves the generation of reactive oxygen species and treatment with antioxidants either prevents or ameliorates the adverse effects on muscle function, suggesting that antioxidants could be used as an adjunct therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea. This may be true also for respiratory disease in general since chronic continuous hypoxia is also associated with increased muscle fatigue.
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF HYDROCHLORIDE SALT OF TYLOPHORINIDINE AND TYLOPHORININE ISOLATED FROM AERIAL PARTS OF TYLOPHORA INDICA

The extracts from aerial parts (leaves and stem) of Tylophora indica were evaluated for their antioxidant activity. The antioxi dant activity of crude extracts was determined by using DPPH free radical scavenging method in which methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed high est antioxidant activity (IC 50 values 87 µg/mL and 81 µg/mL respectively). Methanol extract was further puri fied to isolated hydrochloride salt of tylophorinidine and tylophorinine, identified by analytical and spectral data. Tylophorinidine hydrochloride showed promising antioxidant activit y with IC 50 24 µg/mL.
Switching regime and ARFIMA processes

The phenomena of long range dependence and regime switching are intimely related and it is very difficult to separate the two effects. In this paper we consider the problem of inference on the order of integration in presence of infrequent structural breaks. For this purpose we consider the most important estimators of long memory parameters used in literature and compare their performances in finite samples via Monte Carlo experiments.
An approach to solving the boundary free edge difficulties in SPH modelling: application to a viscous accretion disc in close binaries

Adaptive spatial domains are currently used in smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) with the aim of performing better spatial interpolations, mainly for expanding or shock gas dynamics. In this work, we propose an SPH interpolating kernel reformulation, also suitable for treating free edge (FE) boundaries in the computational domain. Application to both inviscid and viscous stationary low compressibility accretion disc models in close binaries is shown. The investigation carried out in this paper is a consequence of the fact that low compressibility modelling is crucial for checking numerical reliability. Results show that physical viscosity supports well-bound accretion disc formation, despite the low gas compressibility, when a Gaussian-derived kernel (from the error function) is assumed, in an extended particle range – whose half-width at half-maximum is fixed to a constant h value – without any spatial restrictions on its radial interaction: Gaussian SPH in extended range (hereinafter GASPHER). At the same time, GASPHER ensures adequate particle interpolations at the boundary FEs. Both SPH and adaptive SPH (ASPH) methods lack accuracy if there are no constraints on the boundary conditions, in particular at the edge of the particle envelope: FE conditions. In SPH, an inefficient particle interpolation involves a few neighbour particles; however, in ASPH, non-physical effects involve both the boundary layer particles and the radial transport. A GASPHER scheme can be rightly adopted in troublesome physical regimes such as in a regime where FE conditions involve the computational domain, in viscous fluid dynamics or in both. Despite the low compressibiity condition applied, the viscous GASPHER model shows clear spiral pattern profiles demonstrating better quality of results compared to SPH viscous ones. Moreover, a successful comparison of results concerning a GASPHER 1D inviscid shock tube with an analytical solution is also reported.
A Novel Multistage Secret Sharing Scheme

There are two main security issues in a multistage (t, n) secret sharing scheme: 1) Multiple secrets cannot be reconstructed in predetermined order. 2) The secret holder cannot determine the values of the secrets. In this article, we propose a new multistage secret sharing to meet these security issues. There are two advantages in the proposed scheme: 1) the multiple secrets could be reconstructed in predetermined order. 2) The secret holder could determine the values of the secrets.
Effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart) on cd4+ cell count and liver enzymes in HIV infection at Lokoja, Nigeria

Aim: To assess the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on CD4 + cell count and liver enzymes in HIV-infected patients six month post-therapy based on age and sex distribution. Methods: A cohort of 200 (66 males, 134 females) consenting HAAR naive patients, aged between 16 and 65 years with confirmed cases of HIV infection (by Western blot method) at Lokoja, Nigeria having a baseline CD4 + cell counts ≤350 cells/µL were initiated on HAART for six months. Two blood samples were collected, one at pre-HAART (baseline) and the other at post-HAART (follow-up) phase. CD4 + cells were counted and liver enzymes levels were evaluated using the Partec® Cyflow Counter and Reflotron® Plus Auto-Analyzer, respectively. Results: The immunological outcome of 6 months HAART shows that there was slight increase (statistically, considered not significant, P>0.05) in the post-HAART mean±SEMCD4 + cell count in the different age and sex strata investigated, when comparison was made with the pre-HAART mean±SEMCD4 + cell count. Also, the post HAART liver function test show that the liver enzymes levels were not significantly (P>0.05) elevated when compared to the baseline values. Conclusion: Six months of HAART repleted CD4 + cell counts of HIV-infected patients of different age and sex strata, with no risk of liver damage. Keywords: HIV, HAART, Immune response, CD4 + cell, Liver enzymes
Experimental Study on Effects of Litter Material and its Quality on Foot Pad Dermatitis in Growing Turkeys

Since turkeys are in continuous contact with the litter, the potential effects of bedding materials and their quality are of major concern in the etiology of Foot Pad Dermatitis (FPD). Two week-old female turkeys were allotted to four groups, with 29 in each and housed either on wood shavings, lignocellulose, chopped straw or dried maize silage over a period of four weeks without artificial climatisation. The birds in all groups were fed identical commercial diets. Half of the turkeys in each group were additionally exposed for 8 h/d to corresponding wet (27% DM; by adding water) litter in adjacent separate boxes. Foot pads of the birds were examined macroscopically and histologically at the start and end of the experiment as well as at weekly intervals. Lignocellulose showed the lowest severity of FPD on dry and wet litter treatments, whereas chopped straw was associated with high FPD scores on dry treatment. Foot pad scores were similar on wood shavings and dried maize silage whether dry or wet. The DM content of litter materials was determined and the highest moisture content among dry treatments was observed in straw (about 31%) which was paralleled with FPD severity. The severity of FPD was overall much higher (>2 times) on wet than on dry litter. Exposure of the birds to wet litter for 8 h/d was sufficient to develop FPD. Lignocellulose could reduce the FPD severity, probably due to higher water binding capacity and faster release of water, while straw may increase it due to lower water evaporation. The physical form of litter either soft (lignocellulose) or with sharp edges (chopped straw) may also affect the onset of FPD. The litter moisture appears to be the dominant factor resulting in the development of FPD and should be kept lower than about 30% to minimise the prevalence and severity of FPD in turkeys.
The Correlation of Counting Speed with Visual Search and Visuomotor Organization: A Conjugate Study on Borderline and Normal People

Introduction: Counting is of the most basic mathematical abilities. Many researches have demonstrated that different perceptual abilities can affect counting skills. We investigated the impact of visual search (VS) and visuoumotor organization (VMO) on counting speed. Material and Methods: A total of 40 people in two groups of borderline and normal intellectual ability (20 subjects in each group) participated in the study. Three areas were evaluated: (1) VS, (2) VMO, and (3) counting speed. We used three self-designed evaluation softwares to examine VS and counting speed. VMO was assessed by Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment. Results: We calculated the Pearson rank correlation in both groups, to investigate the relation between counting speed and two other variables. According to the results, the speed of counting was related to VMO (P < 0.050). However, VS was correlated to counting speed just in normal people (P < 0.050). In contrast, the effect of VMO on counting speed was influenced by the spatial distribution of the objects in each set. Conclusion: Counting in different sets of objects is influenced by VMO and VS depending on their characteristics such as spatial distribution and the number of contents.
Factors promoting vocational students’ learning at work: study on student experiences

In order to promote effective pedagogical practices for students’ work-based learning, we need to understand better how students’ learning at work can be supported. This paper examines the factors explaining students’ workplace learning (WPL) outcomes, addressing three aspects: (1) student-related individual factors, (2) social and structural features of workplace and (3) educational practices related to the organising of WPL periods. The data were collected from final-year vocational students (N = 3106, n = 1603) via an Internet questionnaire. The findings from regression analysis showed that students’ WPL outcomes cannot be seen merely as consequences of student-related individual factors such as motivation, as has often been suggested; even more important for the success of students’ WPL were the social features of the workplace and the pedagogical arrangements for WPL periods. A further finding was that the learning environments of different vocational fields at the interface of school and working life seem to differ significantly from each other, and to offer students different settings for learning at work. This implies that when studies on WPL and professional development are conducted on a single employee group, they should not be directly generalised across different domains.
The Pan-STARRS1 Proper-motion Survey for Young Brown Dwarfs in Nearby Star-forming Regions. I. Taurus Discoveries and a Reddening-free Classification Method for Ultracool Dwarfs

We are conducting a proper-motion survey for young brown dwarfs in the Taurus-Auriga molecular cloud based on the Pan-STARRS1 3π Survey. Our search uses multi-band photometry and astrometry to select candidates, and is wider (370 deg2) and deeper (down to ≈3 MJup) than previous searches. We present here our search methods and spectroscopic follow-up of our high-priority candidates. Since extinction complicates spectral classification, we have developed a new approach using low-resolution (R ≈ 100) near-infrared spectra to quantify reddening-free spectral types, extinctions, and gravity classifications for mid-M to late-L ultracool dwarfs (≲100–3 MJup in Taurus). We have discovered 25 low-gravity (vl-g) and the first 11 intermediate-gravity (int-g) substellar (M6–L1) members of Taurus, constituting the largest single increase of Taurus brown dwarfs to date. We have also discovered 1 new Pleiades member and 13 new members of the Perseus OB2 association, including a candidate very wide separation (58 kau) binary. We homogeneously reclassify the spectral types and extinctions of all previously known Taurus brown dwarfs. Altogether our discoveries have thus far increased the substellar census in Taurus by ≈40% and added three more L-type members (≲5–10 MJup). Most notably, our discoveries reveal an older (>10 Myr) low-mass population in Taurus, in accord with recent studies of the higher-mass stellar members. The mass function appears to differ between the younger and older Taurus populations, possibly due to incompleteness of the older stellar members or different star formation processes.
The suitability of core French for recently arrived adolescent immigrants to Canada

Recently arrived English as a second language (ESL) students were compared to their unilingual and multilingual Canadian-born peers on measures of French proficiency. All of the participants were enrolled in secondary core French (CF)—the ESL students were studying introductory French, whereas the Canadian-born students were in Grade 9 CF, their sixth year of French study. French proficiency was measured using a multi-skills test consisting of a multiple choice listening test, three reading tasks, two writing tasks, a dictation and three oral tasks. The ESL group outperformed the other groups in both the reading and listening test components and in one of the writing tasks. They also outperformed the unilingual group on one section of the speaking test and the multilingual group on another section of the speaking component. There were no significant differences found among the groups for the other test components: the dictation, the second writing section or the final speaking component.
Metallic bonding and cluster structure

Knowledge of the structure of clusters is essential to predict many of their physical and chemical properties. Using a many-body semiempirical Gupta potential (to perform global minimizations), and first-principles density functional calculations (to confirm the energy ordering of the local minima), we have recently found [Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 1600 (1998)] that there are many intermediate-size disordered gold nanoclusters with energy near or below the lowest-energy ordered structure. This is especially surprising because we studied ''magic'' cluster sizes, for which very compact-ordered structures exist. Here, we show how the analysis of the local stress can be used to understand the physical origin of this amorphization. We find that the compact ordered structures, which are very stable for pair potentials, are destabilized by the tendency of metallic bonds to contract at the surface, because of the decreased coordination. The amorphization is also favored by the relatively low energy associated to bondlength and coordination disorder in metals. Although these are very general properties of metallic bonding, we find that they are especially important in the case of gold, and we predict some general trends in the tendency of metallic clusters towards amorphous structures. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
AN EXPLORATION OF THE “ INVITATION DAY ” AS A LEISURE ACTIVITY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CONSPICUOUS LEISURE AND CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION

Leisure is gradually becoming an important element for the quality of life with a vast number of activities. A great number of leisure pursuits are known to exist but studies have indicated that women’s leisure in Turkey is predominantly homecentered. Among the most common leisure activities of women in Turkey are visits to friends, relatives and neighbors, and participation in so-called “invitation days”. The “invitation day” is a highly popular leisure activity in which women come together and spend time at their homes, mostly at the weekends. The aim of this study is to examine invitation days as a home-based leisure activity in terms of conspicuous leisure and consumption. For this aim, in-depth interviews were conducted and six themes knowledge display, family praise, home arrangements, physical appearance, benevolent contribution, and menu and food service emerged in the context of conspicuous leisure and consumption.
Effect of Various Doses Gamma-radiation on Phenotypic and Molecular Characteristics of Two Egyptian Soybean Varieties

WO Egyptian soybeans varieties, Giza111 and Crawford were selected for the current study. Their seeds were exposed to three doses of gamma-radiation 150, 200, and 250 Gy in order to study their mutagenic effects in the treated seeds and two following generations at various levels. In the first generation (M1), two doses (150 and 200 Gy) were the most effective in enhancement of some agronomic traits like number of stem branches, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and weight of 100 seeds and crop yield. Analysis of protein profiles using SDS-PAGE showed variation among the treatments in each variety, where a total of 35 protein bands were recorded. Three of which were unique bands, one unique band of size 37 kDa was found in the treated seeds before germination (M0) in Crawford at 250 Gy treatment. The other two unique bands (102 and 162 kDa) were found in M2 generation in Crawford at 150 Gy and Giza111 at 200 Gy, respectively. ISSR analysis using five primers gave a total 45, 38 and 28 ISSR bands in M0, M1 and M2, respectively; 4 of which were unique bands. The primer HB14 amplified 6 DNA bands, 2 were unique bands (895 &1050 bp), both in M1 generation of Giza111 at 150 Gy, while primer 844 and 862 amplified only one unique band both found in M0 Giza111 control. They have a molecular size of 888 and 900 bp, respectively. Although, UBC-827 amplified the highest number of bands (7) no unique bands were found.
The association between institutional ownership and the likelihood of the firm reporting non-recurring charges

This paper examines the association between the level of institutional ownership and the likelihood of the firm reporting non-recurring or unusual charges. The increase in the magnitude and frequency of one-time charges has caused confusion and debate in the media (WSJ 2001). This paper posits that increased monitoring on the part of influential stakeholders (e.g., institutional investors) causes management to take corrective actions which leads to the reporting of these charges. If this is the case, non-recurring charges may be informative and value-relevant in the sense that they signal restructuring activity that will likely improve the degree of efficiency in which corporate assets are invested. The results support the hypothesis and indicate that the likelihood of management reporting non-recurring charges is positively and significantly associated with the level of institutional ownership.
Impact of solar versus volcanic activity variations on tropospheric temperatures and precipitation during the Dalton Minimum

Abstract. The aim of this work is to elucidate the impact of changes in solar irradiance and energetic particles versus volcanic eruptions on tropospheric global climate during the Dalton Minimum (DM, AD 1780–1840). Separate variations in the (i) solar irradiance in the UV-C with wavelengths λ 250 nm, (iii) in energetic particle spectrum, and (iv) volcanic aerosol forcing were analyzed separately, and (v) in combination, by means of small ensemble calculations using a coupled atmosphere–ocean chemistry–climate model. Global and hemispheric mean surface temperatures show a significant dependence on solar irradiance at λ > 250 nm. Also, powerful volcanic eruptions in 1809, 1815, 1831 and 1835 significantly decreased global mean temperature by up to 0.5 K for 2–3 years after the eruption. However, while the volcanic effect is clearly discernible in the Southern Hemispheric mean temperature, it is less significant in the Northern Hemisphere, partly because the two largest volcanic eruptions occurred in the SH tropics and during seasons when the aerosols were mainly transported southward, partly because of the higher northern internal variability. In the simulation including all forcings, temperatures are in reasonable agreement with the tree ring-based temperature anomalies of the Northern Hemisphere. Interestingly, the model suggests that solar irradiance changes at λ 250 nm). Reduction of irradiance at λ > 250 nm leads to a significant (up to 2%) decrease in the ocean heat content (OHC) between 0 and 300 m in depth, whereas the changes in irradiance at λ
Fractional continua for linear elasticity

Fractional continua is a generalisation of the classical continuum body. This new concept shows the application of fractional calculus in continuum mechanics. The advantage is that the obtained description is non-local. This natural non-locality is inherently a consequence of fractional derivative definition which is based on the interval, thus variates from the classical approach where the definition is given in a point. In the paper, the application of fractional continua to one-dimensional problem of linear elasticity under small deformation assumption is presented.
Archeological and mtDNA evidence for Tropical Lowland migrations during the Late Archaic / Formative in northern Chile

La influencia de migraciones desde las tierras bajas tropicales en la emergencia de cambios culturales en los Andes Centrales, ha sido propuesta en terminos generales desde comienzos de la ultima decada (Tello 1929). Evidencia arqueologica y genetico molecular reciente, particularmente la agricultura de cultigenos tropicales y la haplotipificacion de ADNmt antiguo, obtenida en el norte de Chile, sugieren una relacion cronologicamente mas acotada entre ambas regiones. Contrastamos en este articulo la hipotesis que el proceso de transformacion cultural de las poblaciones prehistoricas costeras y vallunas del norte de Chile podria explicarse parcialmente por flujos migracionales originados en la vertiente oriental de los Andes y/o en las tierras bajas tropicales durante el periodo Arcaico Tardio / Formativo Temprano (ca. 3,500-2,000 A.P.).
Surgery of involutions with middle-dimensional fixed point set.

Surgery on manifolds with involution is considered when the dimension of the fixed point set is less than or equal to half the dimension of the ambient manifold. As in earlier work of the first author, there are some sharp contrasts with the corresponding results when strict inequality holds. The overall approach is based upon earlier work of the first author, but the results are reformulated in broader contexts reflecting both known and anticipated applications of the underlying ideas.