Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health benefits of anthocyanins and molecular mechanisms: Update from recent decade

ABSTRACT Anthocyanins are one of the most widespread families of natural pigments in the plant kingdom. Their health beneficial effects have been documented in many in vivo and in vitro studies. This review summarizes the most recent literature regarding the health benefits of anthocyanins and their molecular mechanisms. It appears that several signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor κB, AMP-activated protein kinase, and Wnt/β-catenin, as well as some crucial cellular processes, such as cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, and biochemical metabolism, are involved in these beneficial effects and may provide potential therapeutic targets and strategies for the improvement of a wide range of diseases in future. In addition, specific anthocyanin metabolites contributing to the observed in vivo biological activities, structure–activity relationships as well as additive and synergistic efficacy of anthocyanins are also discussed.
Influence of phytosterol and phytostanol food supplementation on plasma liposoluble vitamins and provitamin A carotenoid levels in humans: An updated review of the evidence

ABSTRACT Phytosterols and phytostanols (PAP) compete with cholesterol absorption in the intestine, resulting in a 5–15%-reduction in plasma total and LDL cholesterol. An important issue is the PAP potential to reduce the plasma concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins and provitamin A carotenoids. Here, an update of the scientific evidence is reviewed to evaluate plant PAP-enriched foods impact on plasma fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoid levels, and to discuss potential implications in terms of cardiovascular risk. Based on 49 human interventional and 3 bioavailability studies, results showed that regular consumption, particularly over the long term, of foods fortified with PAP as recommended in labeling does not significantly impact plasma vitamins A, D, and K concentration. A 10% significant median reduction was observed for α-tocopherol. Concerning carotenoids, while 13 studies did not demonstrate statistically significant plasma β-carotene reduction, 20 studies showed significant reductions, with median effect size of −24%. This decline can be mitigated or offset by increased fruits and vegetables consumption. Furthermore, higher cardiovascular risk was observed for differences in plasma β-carotene concentration of the same magnitude as the estimated average decrease by PAP consumption. These results are supported by the only study of β-carotene bioavailability showing decrease in absorption by phytosterols daily intake.
Combined prolonged-release oxycodone and naloxone improves bowel function in patients receiving opioids for moderate-to-severe non-malignant chronic pain: a randomised controlled trial

Background: This randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group multicentre study assessed the impact of a total daily dose of 60-80 mg oral oxycodone prolonged-release (PR)/naloxone PR (OXN PR) as fixed-ratio combination for patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC) having moderate-to-severe, non-malignant pain. Methods: During pre-randomisation patients receiving opioids for moderate-to-severe non-malignant pain were converted to oxycodone PR (OXY PR) and titrated to an effective analgesic dose. During randomisation 265 patients on a stable OXY PR dose (60-80 mg/day) and with OIC were included in the full analysis population to receive OXN PR or OXY PR alone. Primary outcome was improvement in symptoms of constipation as measured by the Bowel Function Index (BFI). Secondary/exploratory outcomes examined analgesic efficacy and other bowel function parameters. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, patients receiving OXN PR showed a significant improvement in bowel function compared with those in the OXY PR group (-14.9; 95% CI: -17.9, -11.9; p<0.0001) as measured by BFI which was seen after only 1 week of treatment continuing to the end of the study. After 4 weeks of treatment, patients receiving OXN PR had a median number of 3.0 complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM) per week compared with only 1.0 for OXY PR alone. Laxative intake was lower in the OXN PR than the OXY PR group. Furthermore, improvements in bowel function were achieved without loss of analgesic efficacy; pain intensity scores were comparable between the groups and consistent for duration of the study. Most frequently reported adverse events were consistent with those reported for opioid analgesics; no new or unexpected adverse reactions attributable to OXN PR used in higher doses were observed. Conclusion: This study shows that the fixed-ratio combination of OXN PR is superior to OXY PR alone in terms of bowel function, while providing effective equivalent analgesia.
Robust resource allocations through performance modeling with stochastic process algebra

Parallel and distributed computing has led to a proliferation in solving computationally intensive mathematical, science, or engineering problems. However, such computational environments are often prone to unpredictable variations due to problem, algorithm, and system characteristics. Therefore, a robustness study of resource allocations and application scheduling is required to guarantee a desired level of performance. Given an initial workload, a mapping of applications to resources is considered to be robust if it optimizes the execution performance and guarantees a desired level of performance in the presence of unpredictable perturbations at runtime. In this research work, a stochastic process algebra, performance evaluation process algebra, is used for obtaining performance of various resource allocations via a numerical analysis of performance modeling of the parallel execution of applications on parallel computing resources. Further, a robustness analysis of various allocations is performed for finding a robust mapping from a set of initial mapping schemes. The numerical results obtained from this performance modeling of resource allocations have been validated by the simulation results of earlier research, which are available from the existing literature, thus underscoring the significance of using stochastic process algebra models in providing a cost‐effective and low overhead analysis of robustness. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heterogeneous CPU+GPU approaches for mesh refinement over Lattice‐Boltzmann simulations

The use of mesh refinement in CFD is an efficient and widely used methodology to minimize the computational cost by solving those regions of high geometrical complexity with a finer grid. In this work, the author focuses on studying two methods, one based on Multi‐Domain and one based on Irregular meshing, to deal with mesh refinement over LBM simulations. The numerical formulation is presented in detail. It is proposed two approaches, homogeneous GPU and heterogeneous CPU+GPU, on each of the refinement methods. Obviously, the use of the two architectures, CPU and GPU, to compute the same problem involves more important challenges with respect to the homogeneous counterpart. These challenges and the strategies to deal with them are described in detail into the present work. We pay a particular attention to the differences among both methodologies/implementations in terms of programmability, memory management, and performance. The size of the refined sub‐domain has important consequences over both methodologies; however, the influence on Multi‐Domain approach is much higher. For instance, when dealing with a big refined sub‐domain, the Multi‐Domain approach achieves an important fall in performance with respect to other cases, where the size of the refined sub‐domain is smaller. Otherwise, using the Irregular approach, there is no such a dramatic fall in performance when increasing the size of the refined sub‐domain. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy

ABSTRACT Benzoic acid is an aromatic carboxylic acid naturally present in plant and animal tissues, which can also be produced by microorganisms. Benzoic acid and a wide range of derivatives and related benzenic compounds, such as salts, alkyl esters, parabens, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and benzoyl peroxide, are commonly used as antibacterial and antifungal preservatives and as flavoring agents in food, cosmetic, hygiene, and pharmaceutical products. As a result of their widespread occurrence, production, and uses, these compounds are largely distributed in the environment and found in water, soil, and air. Consequently, human exposure to them can be high, common, and lengthy. This review is mainly focused on the presence and use of benzoic acid in foods but it also covers the occurrence, uses, human exposure, metabolism, toxicology, analytical methods for detection, and legal limits for benzoic acid and its derivatives. Their controversial effects and potential public health concerns are discussed.
Atomic force microscopy of starch systems

ABSTRACT Atomic force microscopy (AFM) generates information on topography, adhesion, and elasticity of sample surface by touching with a tip. Under suitable experimental settings, AFM can image biopolymers of few nanometers. Starch is a major food and industrial component. AFM has been used to probe the morphology, properties, modifications, and interactions of starches from diverse botanical origins at both micro- and nano-structural levels. The structural information obtained by AFM supports the blocklet structure of the granules, and provides qualitative and quantitative basis for some physicochemical properties of diverse starch systems. It becomes evident that AFM can complement other microscopic techniques to provide novel structural insights for starch systems.
Examining communication competence as a contributing factor in health care workers’ job satisfaction and tendency to report errors

Abstract The communication competence of health care employees is vital to patient safety and the overall success of a health care organization. This study examined how health care workers’ communication skills predicted greater job satisfaction and error reporting behavior. Results from this study indicated that higher levels of communication competence directly contributed to increased employee satisfaction. In addition, through greater job satisfaction, competence indirectly predicted error reporting. However, subsequent moderator analyses showed that at higher levels of role identity, job satisfaction was not associated with error reporting. This indicated that health care workers’ satisfaction was a more significant contributing factor in error reporting behavior when employees identified less with their position. Overall, this study provided a clearer understanding of the interrelationships between communication skills and health care professionals’ attitudes and behaviors. By continuing to explore such relationships, researchers and practitioners may gain knowledge about the factors that contribute to a more positive work environment for health care professionals, as well as a safer and more effective organization.
Scalable SDN architecture with distributed placement of controllers for WAN

By separating control plane from data plane, software‐defined network (SDN) adopts centralized controllers to manage data flows in the network. Nevertheless, the rapid growth of network service traffic requires a large number of controllers, reducing network performance due to the scalability constraint. Therefore, we consider distributed placement of controllers in wide‐area network to construct a scalable SDN architecture, by taking service traffics, traffic propagation delay, and load balancing into account. Specifically, we first partition the network into several small sections (named SDN domains) and then place the least amount of controllers to a proper node in each domain. The architecture provides a control channel to deliver requested messages for each SDN domain, so it reduces the link delay (which is assumed to be proportional to the physical length of the link) between switches and SDN controllers. Unfortunately, it also introduces extra latency among controller sets at different SDN domain. Accordingly, we formulate an integer linear program to optimize network cost and performance by considering all those conflicting factors and propose an efficient heuristic algorithm called distributed SDN placement to solve the problem. Simulation results confirm that our proposed heuristic distributed SDN placement can achieve suboptimal solutions as compared with the integer linear program results.
Absolute CD4+ T-Lymphocyte Count as a Surrogate Marker of Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease Progression

Background: Traditionally in pediatric HIV, the CD4+ T-lymphocyte percent is used to monitor disease progression because of the variability in absolute CD4+ T-lymphocyte numbers. Because of the high cost of equipment, sophisticated and delicate technology, most laboratories in resource-limited settings use simple protocols that enumerate only the absolute CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts. We assessed the use of absolute CD4+ T-lymphocyte count as a surrogate marker of pediatric HIV disease progression. Methods: We analyzed the CD4+ T-lymphocytes and HIV viral load over a 10-year period (1996–2006) of 97 HIV-infected children enrolled in the Yale Prospective Longitudinal Pediatric HIV Cohort using generalized linear mixed models. Both CD4+ T-lymphocytes and HIV viral load were assessed at baseline and every 2–3 months. The modeling approach used in this study allows the intercept and the rate at which outcome variables change over time to vary across participants. Results: We determined that absolute CD4+ T-lymphocytes count was just as reliable at monitoring pediatric HIV as CD4+ T-lymphocyte percentage. Antiretroviral treatment, regardless of the regimen used, was associated with higher CD+ T-lymphocytes count (P < 0.01). Race was significantly associated with CD4+ T-lymphocytes counts (with lower values for blacks compared with nonblacks; P < 0.01). The presence of other infections was associated with lower CD4+ T-lymphocyte count (P = 0.01) and higher viral load (P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusions: In situations where determination of CD4+ T-lymphocyte percentages is not readily available, the absolute count may provide an affordable and accessible laboratory surrogate marker of HIV disease progression in children.
Improved Laboratory Diagnostics of Lyme Neuroborreliosis in Children by Detection of Antibodies to New Antigens in Cerebrospinal Fluid

Background: Laboratory diagnostics in Lyme neuroborreliosis need improvement. We hereby investigate 4 new recombinant or peptide Borrelia antigens in cerebrospinal fluid in children with neuroborreliosis to evaluate their performance as diagnostic antigens. Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IgG antibodies to recombinant decorin binding protein A (DbpA), BBK32, outer surface protein C (OspC), and the invariable region 6 peptide (IR6). The recombinant antigens originated from 3 pathogenic subspecies; Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum from children with clinical features indicative for neuroborreliosis (n = 57) were analyzed. Classification of patients was based on clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. Controls were children with other neurologic diseases (n = 20) and adult patients with no proven infection (n = 16). Results: Sensitivity for DbpA was 82%, for BBK32 70%, for OspC 58% and for IR6 70%. Specificities were 94%, 100%, 97%, and 97%, respectively. No single antigen was superior. When new antigens were combined in a panel, sensitivity was 80% and specificity 100%. The reference flagella antigen showed a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 100%. Over all, the B. garinii related antigens dominated. Conclusions: Recombinant DbpA and BBK32 as well as the peptide antigen IR6 perform well in laboratory diagnostics of neuroborreliosis in children. New antigens seem to improve diagnostic performance when compared with the routine flagella antigen. If different antigens are combined in a panel to cover the antigenic diversity, sensitivity improves further and a specificity of 100% can be achieve.
Mittelfristige Ergebnisse nach radiolunärer Arthrodese bei der chronischen Polyarthritis mittels Mini-T-Platte

Zusammenfassung: Die radiolunäre Arthrodese ist ein probates Operationsverfahren, Instabilität und Schmerzen am rheumatisch veränderten Handgelenk zu behandeln. Zwischen 1988 und 1993 haben wir dieses Operationsverfahren bei 27 Patienten (33 Handgelenke) mit gesicherter chronischer Polyarthritis durchgeführt. 26 Patienten haben ein Follow-up von wenigstens 2 jahren, der durchschnittliche Nachuntersuchungszeitraum beträgt 51 Monate. Die Nachuntersuchungsquote beträgt 97 %. In die Nachuntersuchung gehen ein: Carpaler Höhenindex, ulnarer Translationsindex, Schmerzintensität, Bewegungsumfang, Komplikationsrate und Änderung des Larsen-Stadiums. Die Operationsindikation wurde im Larsen-Stadium 2-3 (2,7 gemittelt) bei ulnarem Translationsindex von 0,31 und carpalern Höhenindex von 0,49 gestellt. Wir haben alle Patienten nach 24 Monaten und, soweit dies möglich war, nach 4 jahren erneut untersucht. Röntgenologisch sind 97% aller Arthrodesen knöchern fest konsolidiert, lediglich eine radiolunäre Arthrodese ist fibrös fest. Nur in einem Drittel der nachuntersuchten Handgelenke hat sich das präoperativ radiologisch festgelegte Larsen-Stadium zum Zeitpunkt der Nachuntersuchung nicht verändert, 2/3der Handgelenke wiesen anläßlich der Nachuntersuchung ein schlechteres Larsen-Stadium auf. Das Larsen-Stadium verschlechterte sich lediglich bei einem Patienten nach zwei jahren, bei einem weiteren Patienten nach 3 jahren, bei allen anderen Patienten 4 jahre und später. Bei den Patienten, die wir 5 jahre und länger überblicken, sind lediglich 2 Patienten in ihrem Larsen-Stadium unverändert. Die Änderung der carpalen Höhe von 0,49 präoperativ auf 0,46 ist statistisch signifikant. Der ulnare Translationsindex liegt präoperativ bei 0,31 und bei der letzten Nachuntersuchung bei 0,36, bei der Nachuntersuchung 2 Jahre postoperativ bei 0,33. Der ulnare Translationsindex verschlechtert sich signifikant. Signifikante Änderungen für die Beweglichkeit zeigen sich für die Flexion, die Radialabduktion sowie die Pround Supination. Als Komplikationen haben wir zwei Plattenbrüche zu verzeichnen. Unsere durchschnittliche Nachbeobachtungszeit von 51 Monaten zeigt, daß bei klinischer Beschwerdefreiheit oder -armut radiologische Destruktionen voranschreiten, insbesondere in den Intercarpalgelenken. Die radiolunäre Arthrodese kann das Fortschreiten der grunderkrankungsbedingten Destruktionen nicht aufhalten, jedoch deutlich verlangsamen. Die für die Gesamtfunktion der Hand deletäre Ulnartranslation wird entscheidend positiv beeinflußt.
Acoustic-Reflex Patterns in Peripheral and Central Auditory System Disease

* Director of Clinical Services, The Methodist Hospital Audiology Service, and Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas † Professor and Head, Division of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas The story of modern clinical immittance audiometry began in Copenhagen in 1946 with the classic monograph by Metz on the use of impedance measurement in otological diagnosis. In his time, the diagnostic question concerned the differentiation of conductive hearing loss from sensorineural hearing loss. In a later expansion of his work, Metz reported that ears with sensorineural hearing loss and loudness recruitment showed acoustic-reflex thresholds at lower sensation levels (SL) than normal ears. This "objective measure" of recruitment was the forerunner of modern diagnostic applications of the acoustic reflex. A number of years passed before the true diagnostic potential of reflex measurement was revealed. During the intervening period, clinical emphasis was placed on measurement of absolute impedance for the identification of middle ear disorder, and acoustic-reflex measurement was largely ignored. Although the potential of reflex measurement for studying nervous system integrity was becoming clear to those involved in laboratory research, it was not until the 1969 report of Anderson et al. that the diagnostic potential of acoustic reflexes was realized. They reported that crossed reflex thresholds were present at abnormally elevated SLs in ears with acoustic neuroma and that reflex amplitude decayed rapidly when these ears were presented with sustained signals. The next major contribution to the understanding of acoustic reflex patterns came shortly thereafter and resulted from the development of practical methods for measuring the ipsilateral or uncrossed acoustic reflex. At the time, focus was still on the diagnosis of middle ear disorder, and crossed reflex measurement was simply something that had to be tolerated because of instrumentation limitations. The introduction of technology to measure uncrossed reflexes conveniently was aimed at replacing crossed reflex measurement. However, in 1970, Greisen and Rasmussen reported crossed and uncrossed reflex results on two patients with brainstem tumors. In both cases, uncrossed reflex thresholds were normal, and crossed reflex thresholds were absent. Although this report was
Design and phenomenology of the FEBSTAT study

Purpose: Febrile status epilepticus (FSE) has been associated with hippocampal injury and subsequent hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and temporal lobe epilepsy. The FEBSTAT study was designed to prospectively examine the association between prolonged febrile seizures and development of HS and associated temporal lobe epilepsy, one of the most controversial issues in epilepsy. We report on the baseline phenomenology of the final cohorts as well as detailed aims and methodology.
An emerging trend in functional foods for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: Marine algal polyphenols

ABSTRACT Marine macroalgae are gaining recognition among the scientific community as a significant source of functional food ingredients. Due to the harsh environments in which macroalgae survive, they produce unique bioactive compounds that are not found in terrestrial plants. Polyphenols are the predominant bioactive compound in brown algae and are accountable for the majority of its biological activity. Phlorotannins are a type of polyphenol that are unique to marine sources and have exhibited protective effects against hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, inflammation and oxidative stress, known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetic complications, in cell culture, animal studies and some human studies. This review updates the information on marine polyphenols, with a particular focus on phlorotannins and their potential health benefits in relation to the prevention and treatment of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.