Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Night‐to‐night alterations in sleep apnea type in patients with heart failure

In patients with heart failure, apnea type can shift overnight from mainly obstructive to mainly central in association with reductions in PCO2 and increases in periodic breathing cycle length, indicative of a fall in cardiac output. We hypothesized that the predominant apnea type could also vary from one night to another in association with alterations in PCO2 and cycle length. We studied 12 men with heart failure in whom the predominant apnea type changed from one night to the next over periods of at least 1 month, and two groups with either predominantly obstructive or central sleep apnea (OSA or CSA) in whom apnea type remained stable over time. In patients with unstable apnea type (n = 12, duration between sleep studies 9.0 ± 4.4 months), PCO2 was significantly lower (37.6 ± 1.6 mmHg versus 41.7 ± 1.9 mmHg, P < 0.01), and cycle length significantly longer (61.9 ± 3.4 s versus 51.0 ± 1.9 s, P < 0.001) during nights with predominantly central than nights with predominantly obstructive apnea. In contrast, in both the stable central (n = 8, duration between sleep studies 11.9 ± 5.3 months) and the stable obstructive (n = 8, duration between studies 6.9 ± 5.2 months) sleep apnea groups, neither PCO2 nor cycle length changed significantly between the baseline and follow‐up sleep studies. We conclude that in some patients with heart failure, OSA and CSA are part of a spectrum of periodic breathing that can shift over time in association with alterations in PCO2, cycle length and probably cardiac function.
Apoptosis in the Connective Tissues of the Periodontal Ligament and Gingivae of Rat Incisor and Molar Teeth at Various Stages of Development

Apoptosis in the periodontal connective tissues was studied using the TUNEL technique, supported by electron microscopy. For 16 rats (aged 3, 8, or 104 weeks), nuclear fragmentation was assessed using the TUNEL technique (for 4 of the animals aged 8 weeks, incisor eruption was experimentally increased by trimming of teeth to the gingival margin--unimpeded eruption). A further 8 rats (aged 8 and 104 weeks) were employed for electron microscopy. For the incisor, prior to aging, and regardless of eruptive behavior (i.e., for both impeded and unimpeded incisors), there was little evidence of apoptosis in the periodontal ligament or gingival connective tissues. For the molar, apoptosis was also not usually detected when the teeth were erupting or in the mature, erupted state. In the aged animals, however, there was a marked increase in apoptosis (as assessed by the TUNEL technique) within the periodontal ligament and gingivae of both the molars and incisors (where eruption rates also increased). Nevertheless, electron microscopy indicated that significant numbers of apoptotic cells were only in the incisor periodontium. These findings are not consistent with the view that the periodontal fibroblasts provide a component of the force(s) responsible for eruption.
Overload Control Method for Synchronized MTC Traffic in GERAN

Increasing attention has been drawn in Machine Type Communications (MTC), also known as Machine to Machine (M2M) Communications, since it enables implementation of new services, and expansion of revenue sources for mobile equipment manufacturers and mobile network operators. This potential is high, but some issues have to be solved to enable the wide application of MTC services, especially those which could request connections in a synchronized manner. In GSM networks, synchronized channel requests can result in signaling channel overload, which would delay the access procedure for all users trying to access the network. This paper presents a solution for this problem, in which devices connecting in a periodical manner request a future network access already during a previous connection. Simulation results have shown that by using this technique, overload on the access channels is reduced, improving the access delay of normal users and enabling more MTC devices to be included in the network.
Isolation and Characterization of Methanothermobacter crinale sp. nov., a Novel Hydrogenotrophic Methanogen from the Shengli Oil Field

ABSTRACT Syntrophic acetate oxidation coupled with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is an alternative methanogenic pathway in certain thermophilic anaerobic environments such as high-temperature oil reservoirs and thermophilic biogas reactors. In these environments, the dominant thermophilic methanogens were generally related to uncultured organisms of the genus Methanothermobacter. Here we isolated two representative strains, Tm2T and HMD, from the oil sands and oil production water in the Shengli oil field in the People's Republic of China. The type strain, Tm2T, was nonmotile and stained Gram positive. The cells were straight to slightly curved rods (0.3 μm in width and 2.2 to 5.9 μm in length), but some of them possessed a coccal shape connecting with the rods at the ends. Strain Tm2T grew with H2-CO2, but acetate is required. Optimum growth of strain Tm2T occurred in the presence of 0.025 g/liter NaCl at pH 6.9 and a temperature of 65°C. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 40.1 mol% ± 1.3 mol% (by the thermal denaturation method) or 41.1 mol% (by high-performance liquid chromatography). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that Tm2T was most closely related to Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus ΔHT and Methanothermobacter wolfeii VKM B-1829T (both with a sequence similarity of 96.4%). Based on these phenotypic and phylogenic characteristics, a novel species was proposed and named Methanothermobacter crinale sp. nov. The type strain is Tm2T (ACCC 00699T = JCM 17393T).
Leukocyte nucleus segmentation and recognition in color blood-smear images

In this paper, a leukocyte segmentation and recognition method is proposed for leukocyte differential counting. In general, leukocytes are usually manually classified in laboratories by using microscopes. It is a painstaking and subjective task for biologists. An automatic method is essential to reduce the overhead for biologists. The nuclei are used to identify five types of leukocyte in this paper. The leukocyte cell nucleus enhancer is proposed to segment the region we are interested in by enhancing the region of the leukocyte nucleus and suppressing the other region of the blood smear images. In the recognition steps, we reduce features by principle component analysis (PCA) to obtain suitable features. The genetic algorithm based k-means clustering approach is used to classify the five kinds of leukocyte in the reduced dimensions. The experimental results show that even though only leukocyte nucleus features are used for classification in our method, we achieve a high and promised accurate recognition rate.
Stroke risk profile, brain volume, and cognitive function

Background: Mid-life stroke risk factors have been related to late-life cognitive impairment. This association may result not only from clinical strokes but also from subclinical brain injury, such as a global atrophy demonstrable on quantitative brain MRI. Methods: The authors evaluated the community-based cohort of Framingham Offspring Study participants. A total of 1,841 subjects (mean age, 62 years; 857 men, 984 women) who underwent quantitative MRI and cognitive testing between 1999 and 2001 and were free of clinical stroke and dementia constituted our study sample. The authors used age- and sex-adjusted linear regression models to relate previous (1991 to 1995) and recent (1998 to 2001) Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP) scores to the total cerebral brain volume ratio (TCBVr) on follow-up MRI, and further to relate the TCBVr with education-adjusted scores on neuropsychological tests administered at the time of imaging. Results: There was an inverse association between FSRP scores and TCBVr. The TCBVr also showed a significant positive association with performance on tests of attention (Trails A), executive function (Trails B), and visuospatial function (visual reproduction, Hooper visual organization), but not with performance on tests of verbal memory or naming. Conclusions: The Framingham Stroke Risk Profile may identify subjects with smaller brains and poorer cognitive function among stroke- and dementia-free subjects, reinforcing the importance of managing stroke risk factors.
Increasing Higher Education Access: Supply, Sorting, and Outcomes in Colombia

Between 2000 and 2013, higher education (HE) in Colombia expanded substantially in response to greater demand, greater supply of capacity and programs on the part of HE institutions, and policies enhancing HE access and attractiveness. We use rich student- and program-level data to decompose the observed enrollment expansion, and we show that changes in HE supply, policy, and returns account for most of the expansion and have been critical to the inflow of low-ability students. We investigate the supply expansion and the opening of new programs and find that these were driven by the economic incentives facing the institutions.
Maximal Heart Rate Prediction in Adults that Are Overweight or Obese

Franckowiak, SC, Dobrosielski, DA, Reilley, SM, Walston, JD, and Andersen, RE. Maximal heart rate prediction in adults that are overweight or obese. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1407-1412, 2011-An accurate predictor of maximal heart rate (MHR) is necessary to prescribe safe and effective exercise in those considered overweight and obese when actual measurement of MHR is unavailable or contraindicated. To date, accuracy of MHR prediction equations in individuals that are overweight or obese has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of 3 equations for predicting MHR in adults that are overweight or obese. One hundred seventy-three sedentary adults that were overweight or obese enrolled in weight-loss study and performed a &OV0312;o2peak treadmill test before the start of the weight loss treatment. A total of 132 of the 173 participants met conditions for achieving maximal exercise testing criteria and were included in this study. Maximal heart rate values determined from &OV0312;o2peak treadmill tests were compared across gender, age, and weight status with the following prediction equations: (a) 220 − age, (b) 208 − 0.7 × age, and (c) 200 − 0.48 × age. Among 20- to 40-year-old participants, actual MHR averaged 180 ± 9 b·min−1 and was overestimated (p < 0.001) at 186 ± 5 b·min−1 with the 220 − age equation. Weight status did not affect predictive accuracy of any of the 3 equations. For all participants, the equation, 200−0.48 × age estimated MHR to be 178 ± 4 b·min−1, which was greater than the actual value (175 ± 12, p = 0.005). Prediction equations showed close agreement to actual MHR, with 208 − 0.7 × age being the most accurate.
Determinants of International Consumption Risk Sharing in Developing Countries

Complete financial markets allow countries to share their consumption risks internationally, thereby creating welfare gains through lower volatility of aggregate consumption. This paper empirically looks at international consumption risk sharing and its determinants in a panel of 120 countries from 1970 to 2014. Contrary to some previous studies, I show that financial liberalization and financial integration has a significantly positive impact on international consumption risk sharing in poorer developing countries, whereas in emerging market countries only capital account openness has an impact. Moreover, there is some evidence that high income inequality or a high share of low income individuals reduces consumption smoothing in less developed countries. Lack of financial reforms, a lower degree of financial integration and higher inequality can thus partly explain why the degree of risk sharing is lower in developing countries than in advanced economies.
Estradiol Promotes Luteal Regression Through a Direct Effect on the Ovary and an Indirect Effect From the Celiac Ganglion via the Superior Ovarian Nerve

There is evidence suggesting that estradiol (E2) regulates the physiology of the ovary and the sympathetic neurons associated with the reproductive function. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of E2 on the function of late pregnant rat ovaries, acting either directly on the ovarian tissue or indirectly via the superior ovarian nerve (SON) from the celiac ganglion (CG). We used in vitro ovary (OV) or ex vivo CG-SON-OV incubation systems from day 21 pregnant rats. Various concentrations of E2 were added to the incubation media of either the OV alone or the ganglion compartment of the CG-SON-OV system. In both experimental schemes, we measured the concentration of progesterone in the OV incubation media by radioimmunoassay at different times. Luteal messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) enzymes, respectively, involved in progesterone synthesis and catabolism, and of antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and proapoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), were measured by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the end of the incubation period. Estradiol added directly to the OV incubation or to the CG of the CG-SON-OV system caused a decline in the concentration of progesterone accumulated in the incubation media. In addition, E2, when added to the OV incubation, decreased the expression of 3β-HSD and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. We conclude that through a direct effect on the OV, E2 favors luteal regression at the end of pregnancy in rats, in association with neural modulation from the CG via the SON.
Immunophenotyping of low‐grade B‐cell lymphoma in blood and bone marrow: poor correlation between immunophenotype and cytological/histological classification

Results of immunophenotypic examinations of peripheral blood and/or bone marrow (BM), involved in low‐grade B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas, were compared with the results of cytomorphological and histopathological examinations in 133 adult patients. 69 cases of chronic B‐lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL), 16 centrocytic (CC) lymphomas, 14 centroblastic‐centrocytic (CB/CC) lymphomas, 15 immunocytomas (IC), 10 cases of hairy cell leukaemia (HCL), four prolymphocytic leukaemias (PLL), two B‐CLL in transformation, one splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL), one hairy cell leukaemia variant (HCL‐V), and one lymphocytic lymphoma (LC) were classified according to the Kiel and /or FAB classification. Leukaemic disease was found in 105 cases. The following markers were used for immunocytology (APAAP technique) of blood and/or BM smears: CD 19, CD 5, CD 10, CD 11c, CD 14, CD 21, CD 22, CD 23, CD 25, CD 38 and TdT. All cases tested showed CD 19, but no TdT expression. Every case of HCL had a distinct phenotype with expression of CD 11c, CD 22 and CD 25 and the lack of CD 5 and CD 23 antigens. In all other NHL cases a very heterogenous expression of CD‐antigens with no significant correlations to the cytomorphological subtypes was found. The expression of CD 5 is a frequent but inconstant finding in lymphoproliferative diseases other than B‐CLL, so 50% of CB/CC, 75% of CC and 80% of IC were CD 5 positive. Our results indicate that, with the exception of HCL, the diagnostic relevance of immunophenotyping for the classification of cytomorphologically and histopathologically defined subtypes in blood and/or BM is of very limited value.
The human cytomegalovirus UL94 open reading frame encodes a conserved herpesvirus capsid/tegument-associated virion protein that is expressed with true late kinetics

In this report, we provide a detailed characterization of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL94 gene product. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of infected cell RNA demonstrated that UL94 message was found only at late times of infection and was not synthesized in the presence of the viral DNA replication inhibitor ganciclovir. Expression of the UL94 open reading frame in vitro and in vivo yielded a protein with the predicted molecular mass of 36 kDa. A monoclonal antibody raised to a UL94-specific peptide reacted specifically with a 36-kDa protein in HCMV-infected fibroblasts. This protein was found only at late times of infection and was also present in purified HCMV virions. Fractionation of purified virions and HCMV-infected cells revealed an association of UL94 immunoreactivity with the capsid/tegument and nuclear fractions, respectively. The evolutionary conservation of UL94 protein sequence and an analysis of potential functional regions of the protein are discussed.
S6 kinase phosphorylated at T229 is involved in tau and actin pathologies in Alzheimer's disease

The 70‐kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K), a serine/threonine kinase that modulates the phosphorylation of the 40S ribosomal protein S6, regulates cell cycle progression and is known as a tau kinase in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD brains, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) have been shown to be positively stained with antibodies against S6K proteins phosphorylated at T389 (pT389‐S6K) or T421/S424 (pT421/S424‐S6K) by the mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, respectively. However, there is little information available about S6K proteins directly phosphorylated at T229 (pT229‐S6K) by the PI3K‐PDK1 pathway. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of pT229‐S6K in post mortem human brain tissues from elderly (control) and patients with AD using immnunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. pT229‐S6K immunoreactivity was localized to small granular structures in neurons and endothelial cells in control and AD brains. In AD brains, intense pT229‐S6K immunoreactivity was detected in 16.3% of AT8‐positive NFTs, neuropil threads, and dystrophic neurites in the hippocampus and other vulnerable brain areas. In addition, Hirano bodies were also positive for pT229‐S6K but were negative for pT389‐S6K or pT421/S424‐S6K. The present results indicate that S6K phosphorylation via the PI3K‐PD1 pathway is involved in tau pathology in NFTs and abnormal neurites as well as actin pathology in Hirano bodies.
High-risk of obstructive sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness among commercial intra-city drivers in Lagos metropolis

Background: The burden of obstructive sleep apnea among commercial drivers in Nigeria is not known. Aim: To assess the prevalence of high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) among intra-city commercial drivers. Setting and Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study in three major motor parks in Lagos metropolis. Materials and Methods: Demographic, anthropometric and historical data was obtained. The risk of OSA and EDS was assessed using the STOP BANG questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, respectively. Statistical Analysis: The relationship between the OSA risk, EDS risk and past road traffic accident (RTA) was explored using the Pearson's chi square. Independent determinants of OSA risk, EDS risk and past RTA, respectively, were assessed by multiple logistic regression models. Result: Five hundred male commercial drivers (mean age (years) ±SD = 42.36 ± 11.17 and mean BMI (kg/m2) ±SD = 25.68 ± 3.79) were recruited. OSA risk was high in 244 (48.8%) drivers and 72 (14.4%) had EDS. There was a positive relationship between OSA risk and the risk of EDS (Pearson's X2 = 28.2, P < 0.001). Sixty-one (12.2%) drivers had a past history of RTA but there was no significant relationship between a past RTA and either OSA risk (X2 = 2.05, P = 0.15) or EDS risk (X2 = 2.7, P = 0.1), respectively. Abdominal adiposity, regular alcohol use and EDS were independent determinants of OSA risk while the use of cannabis and OSA risk were independent determinants of EDS. No independent risk factor for past RTA was identified. Conclusion: A significant proportion of commercial drivers in Lagos metropolis are at high risk of OSA and EDS.
Up-regulation of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (CXCL12) production in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts through interactions with T lymphocytes: role of interleukin-17 and CD40L-CD40 interaction.

OBJECTIVE Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is a potent chemoattractant for memory T cells in inflamed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and CD40-CD40L interaction on SDF-1 production in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). METHODS Synovial fluid (SF) and serum levels of SDF-1 in RA patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The SDF-1 produced by cultured RA FLS was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA after FLS were treated with IL-17 and inhibitors of intracellular signal molecules. The SDF-1 level was also determined after FLS were cocultured with T cells in the presence and absence of IL-17. RESULTS Concentrations of SDF-1 in the sera and SF were higher in RA patients than in osteoarthritis patients, although the increase in the serum levels did not reach statistical significance. The production of SDF-1 in RA FLS was enhanced by IL-17 stimulation. This effect of IL-17 was blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), NF-kappaB, and activator protein 1 (AP-1). When FLS were cocultured with T cells, SDF-1 production was up-regulated, especially in the presence of IL-17, but FLS were inhibited by neutralizing anti-IL-17 and anti-CD40L antibodies. Addition of RA SF to cultured RA FLS significantly up-regulated SDF-1 messenger RNA expression, which was hampered by pretreatment with anti-IL-17 antibody. CONCLUSION SDF-1 is overproduced in RA FLS, and IL-17 could up-regulate the expression of SDF-1 in RA FLS via pathways mediated by PI 3-kinase, NF-kappaB, and AP-1. Our findings suggest that inhibition of the interaction between IL-17 from T cells and SDF-1 in FLS may provide a new therapeutic approach in RA.
INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCOME VARIATION AND EFFICIENCY OF BANKS ACCEPTED IN THE STOCK EXCHANGE

Abstract. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between income variation and efficiency of banks accepted in the stock exchange. This research is descriptive-correlative method and is of applied research type. The statistical population of the study is all banks accepted in the Tehran Stock Exchange during the years 2012 to 2016, in which 15 banks have been active throughout the entire period of the research in the stock market. The research data were extracted from financial statements of banks and analyzed using regression models using combination data. The research findings showed that there was a relationship between the size of the bank and the efficiency of the banks accepted in the stock exchange, as well as between the equity and the efficiency of the banks accepted to the stock exchange. Keywords: Income Variation, Bank Efficiency, Bank Size, Equity.