Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of an Overnight Wireless High-Resolution Oximeter plus Cloud-Based Algorithm for the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common but largely underdiagnosed condition. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) obtained using a wireless high-resolution oximeter with a built-in accelerometer linked to a smartphone with automated cloud analysis, Overnight Digital Monitoring (ODM), is a reliable method for the diagnosis of OSA. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred to the sleep laboratory with suspected OSA underwent in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) and simultaneous ODM. The PSG apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was analyzed using the criteria recommended and accepted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) for the definition of hypopnea: arousal or ≥3% O2 desaturation (PSG-AHI3%) and ≥4% O2 desaturation (PSG-AHI4%), respectively. The results of PSG and ODM were compared by drawing parallels between the PSG-AHI3% and PSG-AHI4% with ODM-ODI3% and ODM-ODI4%, respectively. Bland-Altman plots, intraclass correlation, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were conducted for statistical evaluation. ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT03526133. RESULTS: This study included 304 participants (men: 55%; age: 55±14 years; body mass index: 30.9±5.7 kg/m2; PSG-AHI3%: 35.3±30.1/h, ODM-ODI3%: 30.3±25.9/h). The variability in the AASM scoring bias (PSG-AHI3% vs PSG-AHI4%) was significantly higher than that for PSG-AHI3% vs ODM-ODI3% (3%) and PSG-AHI4% vs ODM-ODI4% (4%) (9.7, 5.0, and 2.9/h, respectively; p<0.001). The limits of agreement (2±SD, derived from the Bland-Altman plot) of AASM scoring variability were also within the same range for (PSG vs ODM) 3% and 4% variability: 18.9, 21.6, and 16.5/h, respectively. The intraclass correlation/AUC for AASM scoring variability and PSG vs ODM 3% or 4% variability were also within the same range (0.944/0.977 and 0.953/0.955 or 0.971/0.964, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that ODM is a simple and accurate method for the diagnosis of OSA.
The Inhalation Toxicity of Sarin (Gb) Vapor in Rats as a Function of Equilibration Time for Ten Minute Exposures

Abstract : Characterizing the toxicity of airborne exposures to chemical warfare agents requires sensitive, accurate and reliable analytical chemistry methods as well as adequate methods for generating and controlling the test atmosphere. In addition to concentration and exposure time, it is necessary to examine what effect the chamber equilibration time (t99) has on measured biological endpoints for shorter duration inhalation exposures (i.e. less than or equal 10 minutes). The t99 is defined as the time necessary for an exposure chamber to reach 99% of its experimental concentration. Once this value is reached, the chamber concentration will not rise more than an additional 1%, regardless of exposure time. MacFarland (1975) has suggested that for short-term dynamic exposures, exposure time (t) should be greater than (or equal to) 13(t99) (MacFarland's Rule). Although there is no problem in adhering to this guideline for longer exposures (e.g. 60 or 240 min), adherence is not practical for exposures of 10 min or less where chamber dynamics will only allow the t99 value be kept to a minimum. The present study examined dose-response (lethality) relationships for GB vapor in rats derived from 10-minute exposures with t99 values that do not adhere to MacFarland's Rule, i.e., 2.1, 5.2, or 8 minutes. It was generally concluded that differences in LCt50 values collected under the above t99 conditions were minimal and would not be considered statistically significant.
Combinational Pretreatment of Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor Inhibitor and Triptolide Upregulates BDNF-Akt and Autophagic Pathways to Improve Cerebral Ischemia

Ki20227, a selective inhibitor of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), has been suggested to regulate microglia inflammatory function and neuronal synaptic plasticity. Triptolide (TP) pretreatment has neuroprotective effects through its anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic features in ischemic stroke mice. However, the underlying mechanism and pathway are presently unclear. We thus investigated the association between neuroprotective effects of combined TP and Ki20227 and BDNF-Akt and autophagy pathways. Ki20227 was administrated for 7 days, and TP was administered once 24 hours prior to building the ischemic stroke model in C57BL/6 mice. Behavioral tests, Golgi staining, immunofluorescence, and western blot analyses were employed to examine neuroprotective effects of TP and Ki20227. TP and Ki20227 pretreatments improved the neurobehavioral function in stroke mice. Synaptic protein expressions and density of dendritic spine density were upregulated in Ki20227 and TP pretreated stroke mice. Further, optimized integration of TP and Ki20227 pretreatments upregulated the NeuN expression and downregulated Iba1 expression after stroke. In addition, both TP and Ki20227 pretreatments significantly upregulated BDNF, p-Akt/Akt, and Erk1/2 protein expressions and autophagy related proteins (LC3II/I, Atg5, and p62), indicating the activation of BDNF and autophagic pathways. Optimized integration of TP and Ki20227 can improve cerebral ischemia by inhibiting CSF1R signal and trigger autophagy and BDNF-Akt signaling pathways to increase dendritic spine density and synaptic protein expressions, which in turn enhances neurobehavioral function.
Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosed Using Indigenously Wrapped Sweating Technique: First Large-Scale Study Reporting Socio-Demographic, Clinical, and Laboratory Features among the Children in Bangladesh A Lower Middle Income Country

Due to lack of robust data on childhood cystic fibrosis (CF) in Bangladesh we sought to evaluate their clinico-epidemiology. A cross-sectional observation was conducted adopting CF-foundation consensus-panel-diagnostic criteria in 3 tertiary-care-hospitals in Bangladesh from 2000 to 2017. Clinically suspected 95 CF-cases were subjected to sweat-chloride testing using locally-developed a fast, cheap and effective indigenously body-wrapped sweating technique measured by US-Easy Lyte-automated microprocessor-controlled analyzer marking ≥60 mmol/L as positive. Mean-age of CF-cases at disease-onset was 16.9 ± 26.6 months that significantly differed with age-at-diagnosis (P < .02). Pulmonary syndromes included chronic wet cough in 100%, respiratory distress in 90.5%, digital-clubbing in 78%, mucopurulent-sputum in 74%-cases, and crepitation in 82%. Radio-imaging revealed bronchiectasis in 60%, hyperinflation/peribronchial-thickening in 22% and, pan-sinusitis in 89%-cases. While 37% had history-of malabsorption, high-fecal-fat revealed in 53%-cases. Malnutrition prevailed as severe-underweight in 87%-cases and all CF-cases (100%) had high sweat-chloride (mean = 118 ± 53.34 mmol/L). Thus, children with pulmonary features coupled with severe malnutrition and associated radio-imaging bronchiectasis should be screened for CF with a fast, cheap and effective sweat test in resource poor settings.
C-reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio and Acute Kidney Injury after Radical Cystectomy among Elderly Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Background The C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio is a useful index used to represent patient inflammation and nutritional status. Elderly patients are at the highest risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). We clarified the impact of the preoperative CRP/albumin ratio on AKI and evaluated the impact of postoperative AKI on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among elderly cystectomy patients. Methods We included elderly patients ≥ 65 years of age who underwent radical cystectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to identify risk factors for AKI. Propensity score-matched analysis and conditional logistic regression analysis were performed to elucidate the impact of the CRP/albumin ratio on AKI. The incidence of ESRD was compared between the non-AKI and AKI groups at 12 months after radical cystectomy. Results AKI occurred in 110 patients (32.2%). The CRP/albumin ratio and 6% hydroxyethyl starch amount were risk factors for postoperative AKI. The optimal cut-off value for the CRP/albumin ratio predicting AKI was 0.1. After propensity score matching, the AKI incidence in the CRP/albumin ratio ≥ 0.1 group was higher than that in the CRP/albumin ratio < 0.1 group (46.7% vs. 20.6%, P < 0.001), and a CRP/albumin ratio ≥ 0.1 was associated with a higher AKI incidence (odds ratio = 4.111, P < 0.001). The ESRD incidence was higher in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group (7.3% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.017). Conclusion A CRP/albumin ratio ≥ 0.1 was associated with an increased incidence of AKI, which was associated with higher ESRD incidence among elderly cystectomy patients.
Forage quality and performance of sheep in Massai grass pastures managed at pre-grazing canopy heights

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pasture height at pre-grazing of Massai grass on the quality of available forage, forage intake and the performance of lambs raised for meat production. The treatments consisted of four pre-grazing canopy heights (35, 40, 45 and 50 cm). Pastures were managed by the intermittent stocking method and 32 sheep were used. Dry matter intake (DMI) was estimated by Lipe® indicator. Green forage allowance was not affected by pre-grazing heights. There was no effect of heights on the chemical composition of the stem or the leaf blades, except for crude protein content of leaf blades, which showed an inverse linear effect. Grazing time had a quadratic response in function of canopy height. The minimum point was at 42.6 cm, with 502.9 min/day. DMI increased linearly with increasing pasture height. Average daily weight gain (ADG) and stocking rate (SR) responded linearly to pre-grazing heights. Weight gain per hectare was not affected by height as a result of the compensation between SR and ADG. The increase from 35 to 50 cm in Massai grass canopy height reduces its nutritional value and individual performance and increases DMI of sheep intended for meat production. Keywords : Panicum maximum, tropical pasture, voluntary intake
Factors influencing cancer genetic somatic mutation test ordering by cancer physician

Background Clinical whole exome sequencing was introduced in an Australian centre in 2017, as an alternative to Sanger sequencing. We aimed to identify predictors of cancer physicians’ somatic mutation test ordering behaviour. Methods A validated instrument assessed somatic mutation test ordering, genomic confidence, perceived utility of tumour molecular profiling, and percent of patients eligible for targeted therapy. A cash incentive was included in 189/244 questionnaires which were mailed to all Queensland cancer specialists in November 2018. Results 110 participated (response rate 45%); 54.7% oncologists, and the remainder were surgeons, haematologists and pulmonologists. Oncologists were more likely to respond (p = 0.008), and cash incentive improved the response rate (p < 0.001). 67/102 (65.7%) of physicians ordered ≥ 5 somatic mutation tests annually. Oncologists saw 86.75 unique patients monthly and ordered 2.33 somatic mutation tests (2.2%). An average of 51/110 (46.1%) reported having little/no genomic confidence. Logistic regression identified two significant predictors of somatic mutation test ordering: being an oncologist (OR 3.557, CI 1.338–9.456; p = 0.011) and having greater confidence in interpreting somatic results (OR 5.926, CI 2.230–15.74; p < 0.0001). Conclusions Consistent with previous studies, the majority of cancer physicians ordered somatic mutation tests. However, the percentage of patients on whom tests were ordered was low. Almost half respondents reported low genomic confidence. Somatic mutation test ordering was higher amongst oncologists and those with increased confidence in interpreting somatic variants. It is unclear whether genomically confident individuals ordered more tests or whether ordering more tests increased genomic confidence. Educational interventions could improve confidence and enhance test ordering behaviour.
The identification of the Prox gene family and the development of optical projection tomography for use in Zebrafish

Vertebrate homologues of the Drosophila melanogaster gene prospero have been identified in many species. Whilst the function and regulation ofprospero has been well studied in Drosophila the function and regulation of the homologous vertebrate gene, praxl, is not known. We describe the identification of the prox genes as members of a multigene family in vertebrates through the isolation of new members of the Prox gene family in zebrafish, Fugu rubripes, Tetraodon nigroviridis, mouse, and human. We examined the phylogeny of this new multigene family and we characterised the expression of these novel genes in zebrafish. Analysis of the expression of these genes identified the slow muscle as site of expression for prox 1 that did not overlap with the novel zebrafish Prox genes. Therefore, we studied the function ofprox 1 in the slow muscle using a combination of DNA, and morpholino injections. We demonstrate that prox 1 in not required for the specification of slow muscle as determined by the expression of markers of terminal differentiation. We also show that the medial lateral migration of the slow muscle is unaffected by the loss of prox 1. However, ectopic expression of prox 1 specifically in the fast muscle causes a defect in nuclear patterning. In normal development the fast muscle cells fuse early to form a multinucleate syncytium. The nuclei in this syncytium are normally evenly spaced. Ectopic expression of prox 1 resulted in the nuclei of the fast cells being positioned at the centre of the syncytium similarly to the situation observed in the mononucleate slow muscle. Furthermore loss of Prox 1 results in the disrupted patterning of the slow fibres, demonstrating a role for Proxl in the patterning of the slow muscle fibres. An understanding of the 3-dimensional (3D) pattern of gene expression can often lead to a better understanding of gene function. Optical projection tomography
Düşük ve Yüksek Sıcaklıklarda Kurutulan Patlıcan (Solanum melongena L.) Dilimlerinin Kurutma Kinetiği ve Renk Değerleri Açısından En Uygun Kurutma Sıcaklığının Belirlenmesi

Patlican taze olarak ve kurutularak bircok yemegin yapiminda kullanilmaktadir. Kuru olarak tuketim isteginde kurutma havasi sicaklik degerinin iyi belirlenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu calismada patlican, konvektif bir kurutucu ile 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 ve 90 °C kurutma havasi sicakliklarinda, 0.5 cm kalinliginda daire seklinde dilimlenerek kurutulmus ve kuruma kinetigi ile bir kalite gostergesi olan son renk degerleri belirlenmistir. Kurutma islemlerinde urun nemi icerikleri yas baza gore % 10-13 seviyelerine kadar devam edilmistir. 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 ve 90 °C kurutma sicakliklari icin belirlenen ortalama kuruma sureleri sirasiyla; 1085, 435, 235, 175, 105 ve 90 dakika olarak belirlenmistir. Urunden birim zamanda uzaklasan nem oranlari ince tabakali kurutma modellerinde islenerek kuruma egrilerini en iyi tahmin eden matematiksel model belirlenmistir. Egriler olusturulurken literatur de meyve ve sebzeler icin en yaygin olarak kullanilan Page, Midilli-kucuk ve Yagcioglu modellerinde islenmistir. Kullanilan tum modellerin kabul edilebilir guvenilirlik degerleri p< 0.001 olarak belirlenmistir. Tum kuruma modelleri icerisinde en yuksek R2 degeri Midilli-Kucuk modelinde belirlenmistir. Kurutulmus son urunlerin renk kalitesi acisindan onemli olan, kroma ve kahverengilesme indeks degerleri bakimindan tazeye en yakin degerler 50°C kurutma sicakliginda belirlenmistir. Bu sicaklikta belirlenen degerler; kroma (C): 16.47, hue°: 77.49, toplam renk degisimi: 56.02 ve kahverengilesme indeksi ise: 29.79 olarak belirlenmistir.
Genetic variability heritability and genetic advance studies in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum l.)

The present experiment was carried out at research farm of Cotton Research Station, Srivilliputtur, to determine genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance estimates in upland cotton. The analysis of variance involving a set of fourty two improved hirsutum genotypes received from various research institutes under AICRP on Cotton for eleven characters viz., Days to 50 % flowering, Plant height, Number of monopodia per plant, Number of sympodia per plant, Number of bolls per plant, Boll weight, Ginning percentage, Upper Half Mean Length, Bundle strength, Micronaire value, and Seed cotton yield (kg/ha) revealed highly significant mean sum of squares for all the characters indicating greater diversity among the genotypes. The value of Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) is greater than Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV); it means that the apparent variation is not only due to genotypes but also due to influence of environment. The difference between the estimates of PCV and GCV were low for all the characters except number of monopodia per plant, number of sympodia per plant and number of bolls per plant thereby indicating that lesser role played by the environment in the expression of these characters. The traits like Days to 50% flowering, Plant height, Boll weight, Seed cotton yield (kg/ha), Upper half mean length, Micronaire value and Bundle strength exhibited high broad sense of heritability and moderate sense of heritability was observed for Number of monopodia per plant, Number of sympodia per plant, Number of bolls per plant and Ginning percentage. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percent of mean was recorded for boll weight, seed cotton yield and micronaire value indicated the major role of additive gene action in the inheritance of these characters. Thus, these characters may serve as an effective selection parameter during breeding programme in the upland cotton.
Convertible bond arbitrage and short-selling activity

The objective of this study is to examine the impact of convertible bond arbitrage activity onshort-selling levels of the underlying equity. We exploit changes in Reg SHO reported shortsale data to identify convertible bond arbitrage related short-selling activity. By furtherscrutinizing 335 convertible bonds around the issuance as well as for the period followingissuance. Results provide considerable evidence of arbitrage-induced short-selling for boththe period around the issuance and the post-issue period. Moreover, deal-specific charac-teristics capturing hedging demand and attractiveness of the arbitrage opportunity stronglyrelate to convertible arbitrage short-selling. Given our identification of short-selling withdaily accuracy near the issuance, our paper highlights the benefits of applying empiricalprecision to the study of convertible bond arbitrage activity.
Effect of Shunt Surgery on Life Satisfaction and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

I hjarnan finns det ett sammanhangande system av halrum i vilket hjarn- och ryggmargsvatska cirkulerar. Nar dynamiken av hjarn- och ryggmargsvatskan i detta system ar paverkad ger det upphov till en vidgning av hjarnans halrum i kombination med en klassisk symptombild bestaende av gang- och balanssvarigheter, urininkontinens och paverkad intellektuell funktion. Syndromet uppstar hos den aldre populationen och i dagslaget missas det ofta, vilket gor att for fa patienter far diagnosen. Den mest effektiva behandlingen ar operation dar man skapar en forbindelse mellan halrummen i hjarnan och bukhalan i vilken overflodig hjarn- och ryggmargsvatska kan tommas. Trots att detta ar en sjukdom som forekommer hos manga aldre har livstillfredsstallelse fortfarande inte undersokts pa denna patientgrupp overhuvudtaget och halsorelaterad livskvalitet har endast undersokts ett fatal ganger. Med denna studie hoppas vi fa en storre forstaelse for hur dessa patienter sjalva upplever sin livskvalitet och tillfredsstallelse med hjalp av tva olika skattningsskalor, en for respektive omrade. Ett annat mal ar att undersoka hur dessa matt forandras efter operation och hur dessa matt paverkas av sjukdomsborda samt hur hjalpberoende patienterna ar. Denna studie ar ett samarbete mellan tva medicinska center (Sahlgrenskas och Linkopings universitetssjukhus) med 122 patienter som har fatt diagnosen enligt de nationella riktlinjerna for sjukdomen och som har planerats for den tidigare beskrivna typen av forbindelseoperation mellan januari 2016 och juni 2018. Patienternas kliniska symptom och hjalpberoende varderades fore och tre manader efter operation. Vid samma vardtillfallen skattades aven livstillfredsstallelse och halsorelaterad livskvalitet av patienterna med hjalp av de tva olika skattningsskalorna. 102 patienter var kvar vid uppfoljningen efter 3 manader. Efter operation forbattrades 81% av patienterna i sina symptom. Andelen som var nojda med livet som helhet var 32% innan operation och okade till 47% efter. Patienterna forbattrades ocksa inom nojdhet med fritid, sjalv-vard, fysisk och psykisk halsa. Operationen medforde aven en forbattring i livskvalitet hos 73%. Patienter som var beroende av andras hjalp for att klara sig i det vardagliga livet hade generellt sett samre livsnojdhet och livskvalitet an de som klarade sig i vardagslivet sjalva. De nojda patienterna hade ofta mindre symptomborda. Ett samband sags aven mellan mindre symptomborda och battre livskvalitet. En majoritet av denna patientgrupp ar missnojda med livet som helhet. Da de behandlas med kirurgi forbattras 81% kliniskt, men en storre del av patienterna ar fortsatt missnojda. Dessa patienter har ocksa dalig livskvalitet, vilken forbattras hos 75% av patienterna efter operation. Samre livsnojdhet och livskvalitet ar dessutom associerat med bristande sjalvstandighet och storre sjukdomsborda. Den har studien talar for att det finns ett behov av atgarder som fokuserar pa att specifikt forbattra livsnojdhet och livskvalitet hos denna patientgrupp
A DNA barcode library for ground beetles of Germany: the genus Pterostichus Bonelli, 1810 and allied taxa (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Abstract Species of the ground beetle genus Pterostichus Bonelli, 1810 are some of the most common carabids in Europe. This publication provides a first comprehensive DNA barcode library for this genus and allied taxa including Abax Bonelli, 1810, Molops Bonelli, 1810, Poecilus Bonelli, 1810, and Stomis Clairville, 1806 for Germany and Central Europe in general. DNA barcodes were analyzed from 609 individuals that represent 51 species, including sequences from previous studies as well as more than 198 newly generated sequences. The results showed a 1:1 correspondence between BIN and traditionally recognized species for 44 species (86%), whereas two (4%) species were characterized by two BINs. Three BINs were found for one species (2%), while one BIN for two species was revealed for two species pairs (8%). Low interspecific distances with maximum pairwise K2P values below 2.2% were found for four species pairs. Haplotype sharing was found for two closely related species pairs: Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz, 1823/Pterostichus oblongopunctatus (Fabricius, 1787) and Pterostichus nigrita Paykull, 1790/Pterostichus rhaeticus Heer, 1837. In contrast to this, high intraspecific sequence divergences with values above 2.2% were shown for three species (Molops piceus (Panzer, 1793), Pterostichus panzeri (Panzer, 1805), Pterostichus strenuus (Panzer, 1793)). Summarizing the results, the present DNA barcode library does not only allow the identification of most of the analyzed species, but also provides valuable information for alpha-taxonomy as well as for ecological and evolutionary research. This library represents another step in building a comprehensive DNA barcode library of ground beetles as part of modern biodiversity research.