Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic sleep fragmentation induces endothelial dysfunction and structural vascular changes in mice.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Sleep fragmentation (SF) is a common occurrence and constitutes a major characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). SF has been implicated in multiple OSA-related morbidities, but it is unclear whether SF underlies any of the cardiovascular morbidities of OSA. We hypothesized that long-term SF exposures may lead to endothelial dysfunction and altered vessel wall structure. METHODS AND RESULTS Adult male C57BL/6J mice were fed normal chow and exposed to daylight SF or control sleep (CTL) for 20 weeks. Telemetric blood pressure and endothelial function were assessed weekly using a modified laser-Doppler hyperemic test. Atherosclerotic plaques, elastic fiber disruption, lumen area, wall thickness, foam cells, and macrophage recruitment, as well as expression of senescence-associated markers were examined in excised aortas. Increased latencies to reach baseline perfusion levels during the post-occlusive period emerged in SF mice with increased systemic BP values starting at 8 weeks of SF and persisting thereafter. No obvious atherosclerotic plaques emerged, but marked elastic fiber disruption and fiber disorganization were apparent in SF-exposed mice, along with increases in the number of foam cells and macrophages in the aorta wall. Senescence markers showed reduced TERT and cyclin A and increased p16INK4a expression, with higher IL-6 plasma levels in SF-exposed mice. CONCLUSIONS Long-term sleep fragmentation induces vascular endothelial dysfunction and mild blood pressure increases. Sleep fragmentation also leads to morphologic vessel changes characterized by elastic fiber disruption and disorganization, increased recruitment of inflammatory cells, and altered expression of senescence markers, thereby supporting a role for sleep fragmentation in the cardiovascular morbidity of OSA.
Application of alternating deep belief network in image classification

Aiming at the problem that the bottom layer parameters of deep belief network (DBN) can not be fully learned during the process of image classification, this paper proposes an image classification method based on alternating deep belief network (ADBN). After the unsupervised learning of each layer of restricted boltzmann machine (RBM), we use back propagation (BP) algorithm to fine tuning its parameters. Alternating the use of unsupervised and supervised training process, so that the entire network weights can achieve minimum training error. Consequently, a comparative experiment is conducted on multiple data sets of UCI database. Experimental results indicate that ADBN has effectively alleviated the problem of vanishing gradient and obtained higher accuracy than DBN and support vector machine (SVM).
Migration as a business: the case of trafficking.

"A case is made for treating international migration as a global business which has both legitimate and illegitimate sides. The article focuses on migrant trafficking, the core of the illegitimate business. Our model conceives of trafficking as an intermediary part of the global migration business facilitating movement of people between origin and destination countries. The model also suggests how through the existence of common routes and networks of contacts, traffickers increasingly channel migrants, thus determining the geography of movement. We also demonstrate the model with available evidence on trafficking mainly in and across Europe and attempt thereby to show how trafficking operates both theoretically and in practice. " (EXCERPT)
Recreational noise exposure and its effects on the hearing of adolescents. Part I: An interdisciplinary long-term study Exposición a ruido recreativo y sus efectos en la audición de los adolescentes. Parte I: un estudio interdisciplinario a largo plazo

This interdisciplinary long-term study examined the effects of recreational noise exposure on the hearing of adolescents. Boys and girls (aged 14–17 years) were examined during a four–year period. Audiological, psychosocial, and sound measurements were performed yearly to determine the hearing threshold level (HTL) of participants in the 250–16 000 Hz range, their participation in recreational activities, and the sound levels at discos and through personal music player use. A tendency of the mean HTL to increase in both genders during the study was observed, especially at 14 000 Hz and 16 000 Hz. Boys had a higher mean HTL than girls. The participation in musical activities increased yearly, ’attendance at discos’ being the favourite musical activity for both groups. In general, boys were more exposed to high sound levels than girls. The equivalent sound levels in discos ranged between 104.3 and 112.4 dBA, and between 75 and 105 dBA from personal music players.
Steroids in neurooncology: actions, indications, side-effects.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Glucocorticoids are frequently used in the treatment of patients with neurooncological disorders. This review addresses different clinical indications and provides information on beneficial and undesired effects exerted by these drugs. The most important cellular mechanisms of action of glucocorticoids under different conditions are highlighted. RECENT FINDINGS Glucocorticoids have been used for the treatment of lymphoid neoplasms for decades. In addition to proapoptotic effects, recent studies have delineated the induction of autophagy in lymphoma cells as an important alternative mode of cell death. In contrast, glucocorticoids may reduce the sensitivity of tumor cells, including glioma cells, other than lymphoma cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Corticosteroids also provide transient relief from neurological symptoms caused by increased intracranial pressure and edema associated with primary and secondary brain tumors. However, treatment with glucocorticoids is also commonly associated with considerable side-effects including hyperglycemia, myopathy, osteoporosis, lymphopenia and others. SUMMARY Although in clinical use for more than 40 years in the field of neurooncology, steroids remain a central and essential part in the treatment of brain tumor patients. Along with improved therapeutic options and prolonged life expectancy of many of these patients, careful administration is required and long-term side-effects must be considered.
Anticoagulant Monitoring and Neutralization during Open Heart Surgery—A Rapid Method for Measuring Heparin and Calculating Safe Reduced Protamine Doses

Confident monitoring of heparin during cardiopulmonary bypass and subsequent neutralization by protamine has been hampered by the absence of an accurate, reproducible, rapid, simple, and specific assay for heparin. By using two new instruments in tandem, one of which produced 0.5 ml of plasma in 1 min and one which specifically measures heparin in 3–4 min, heparin levels are available in approximately 5 min. By performing heparin assays at a variety of intervals, it was demonstrated that 76% of patients receiving common doses of heparin during cardiopulmonary bypass may have plasma levels that are potentially too low. Minimum neutralizing doses of protamine may be calculated using the formula: (estimated blood volume + pump prime volume) x (plasma heparin level/100) × 1.1 +50. These doses were nearly two-thirds of previous doses and were unassociated with increased bleeding, clotting, or clinically significant heparin rebound.
Concurrent Infection of the Urinary Tract with Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in a Renal Transplant Recipient

ABSTRACT A urinary tract coinfection, caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II and Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D, was identified in an HIV-seronegative renal transplant recipient kept under lifelong immunosuppression. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing concurrent infection with these two microsporidia species in organ transplant recipients.
Age-Related Buildup of Humoral Immunity against Epitopes for Rosette Formation and Agglutination in African Areas of Malaria Endemicity

ABSTRACT In this report, we show an age-related buildup of agglutinating activity as well as serum activity against rosette formation in children living in areas of Kenya and Gabon where malaria is endemic. Sera from Kenyans in general exhibited a stronger and wider immune response toward the epitopes, probably reflecting a difference in transmission patterns between the two areas. Thus, our results indicate that repeated malaria attacks in areas of endemicity, and consequently exposure to different isolate-specific antigens, will elicit an antibody-mediated response eventually enabling recognition of the majority of rosetting and agglutinating antigens. The correlation between antirosetting and agglutinating capacity was poor in individual cases, indicating that the rosetting epitopes are only a minor part of the highly diverse surface-exposed antigens (mainly PfEMP1) on the surface of parasitized erythrocytes toward which antibodies may react. These data together with our previous findings that the protection against cerebral malaria correlates with presence of antirosetting antibodies shed new light on our understanding of the gradual acquisition of immunity toward severe complications of malarial infection which children reared in areas of endemicity attain.
Heart Rate Variability Analysis in Full-Term Infants: Spectral Indices for Study of Neonatal Cardiorespiratory Control

ABSTRACT: The heart rate and respirations of twenty healthy full-term infants between 30 and 60 h postnatal age were studied during quiet sleep with the objective of defining spectral indices which represent normal neonatal heart rate variability (HRV) characteristics. Total HRV power and the distribution of power across different frequency bands varied considerably among infants. Cluster analysis on the measured variables indicated that the population divided into two groups that represented significantly different patterns of HRV behavior. In one group (11 subjects), infants had lower breathing rates and HRV power in a band about the respiration frequency [respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) band] was more than 20% of the total power (TP). Additionally, the ratio of low frequency band power to RSA band power was <4. The other group of neonates (nine subjects) had relatively higher breathing rates, RSA power <20% of total power, and low frequency to RSA power ratio >4. Regression analysis of low frequency versus TP and RSA versus TP graphs gave strong support to the hypothesis that there were indeed two distinct patterns of HRV behavior. Separation of apparently normal neonates into two groups may be attributed partially to differences in respiratory rates and breathing patterns. However, it is possible that differences in the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system control, perhaps related to autonomic maturation, also contribute to group separation. The indices developed from HRV spectral analysis in this investigation may be of value in the study of cardiorespiratory control in neonates.
Comparative evaluation of anti-plaque efficacy of herbal and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash in a 4-day plaque re-growth study

Background: Chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash has earned eponym of gold standard to treat and/or prevent periodontal disease. However, it has been reported to have local side-effects on long-term use. To explore a herbal alternative, the present study was carried out with an aim to compare the anti-plaque efficacy of a herbal mouthwash with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash and normal saline. Materials and Methods: It was an examiner-blinded, parallel designed clinical trial, in which 90 pre-clinical dental students with gingival index (GI) ≤1 were enrolled. To begin with, GI and plaque index (PI) were recorded. Then, baseline plaque scores were brought to zero by professionally cleaning the teeth with scaling and polishing. After that, randomized 3 groups were made (of 30 subjects each - after excluding the drop-outs) who were refrained from regular mechanical oral hygiene measures. Subjects were asked to swish with respective mouthwash (0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, herbal mouthwash, or normal saline) as per therapeutic dose for 4 days. Then, GI and PI scores were re-evaluated on 5th day by the same investigator, and the differences were compared statistically by ANOVA and Student's ‘t’-test. Results and Observations: Least post-rinsing GI and PI scores were demonstrated with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, followed by herbal mouthwash and highest scores with normal saline. The difference of post-rinsing PI scores between the chlorhexidine and herbal mouthwash groups was statistically non-significant, whereas this difference was significant between chlorhexidine and saline groups, and the difference between herbal and saline groups was non-significant. It was concluded that 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash remains the best anti-plaque agent. However, when socio-economic factor and/or side-effects of chlorhexidine need consideration, presently tested herbal mouthwash may be considered as a good alternative.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene Therapy in Improvement of Skin Paddle Survival in a Rat TRAM Flap Model

The use of growth factors in inducing angiogenesis and enhancing flap viability has provided promising results. Targeted gene therapy has evolved in hopes of increasing the longevity and effectiveness of these growth factor treatments. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of preoperative treatment by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plasmid DNA on the survival of the skin paddle in a rat pedicled TRAM flap model. In part one of the study, VEGF plasmid DNA incorporated with lipofectamine was injected into the subcutaneous fascial layer of the upper abdominal walls of the rats. At 4 days postoperatively, biopsies were taken from the injected area for histology and VEGF protein quantification. In part two of the study, the rats were divided into three groups. In one experimental group, the VEGF plasmid DNA was injected into the subcutaneous fascial layer in the area where the TRAM flap would be elevated. In two control groups, the plasmid without VEGF DNA and saline were injected. The flaps were raised and replaced 4 days after injection. Flap survival was examined. Results showed that tissue receiving VEGF plasmid DNA injection revealed new vessel sprouting. The VEGF levels in these tissues were significantly higher than in the tissue not receiving VEGF plasmid DNA. In flap survival, the mean viable area of the skin paddles receiving preoperative VEGF plasmid DNA injection was significantly larger than that of flaps receiving no VEGF plasmid DNA and saline injection. This study demonstrated that preoperative subcutaneous injection of VEGF plasmid DNA could induce angiogenesis and improve TRAM skin paddle survival.
Propensity-Score Matched Comparison of Midterm Angiographic Outcomes of Sirolimus- Versus Everolimus- and Biolimus-Eluting Stents for De Novo Coronary Stenosis.

We conducted propensity-score matched comparisons of midterm angiographic outcomes of sirolimus (SES) versus either everolimus- (EES) or biolimus- (BES) eluting stents after placements for coronary stenosis in a daily practice environment since previous randomized trials did not demonstrate the superiority of EES and BES over SES in terms of midterm angiographic outcomes.The present study was a non-randomized, retrospective, and lesion-based study, recruiting angiographically followed-up lesions within 550 days after successful and elective SES (n = 1793), EES (n = 1303), or BES (n = 324) placement for de novo native coronary stenosis during the period from August 2004 to January 2014 at 6 institutes. The endpoint, as an angiographic surrogate marker of clinical efficacy, was the distribution of in-stent follow-up percent diameter stenosis (%DS) which comprised the percentages of 1) follow-up %DS < 20 and 2) follow-up %DS > 50. Propensityscore matched analyses were conducted to adjust 21 baselines.In 1215 baseline adjusted lesions, the endpoints in the EES group [1) 74.1%, and 2) 4.6%] were significantly different from those in the SES group [57.9%; P < 0.001, 7.2%; P = 0.006, respectively). In 307 baseline adjusted lesions, the endpoints in the BES group [1) 80.5%, 2) 2.0%] were significantly different from those in the SES group [59.3%; P < 0.001, 2) 8.1%; P = 0.001, respectively]. The present study is the first to confirm the superiority of midterm angiographic outcomes after the placement of EES and BES over SES for de novo coronary stenosis in a clinical setting.
Does Financial Innovation Enhance or Inhibit Real Innovation?

We present evidence that financial innovation plays a role in increasing the level of real innovation. We focus on non-financial firms’ innovation performance, measured by patentbased metrics, and employ an exogenous change in the market for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives in 1987. Distance from financial centers is used as an instrument for the likelihood of derivatives use. We find that firms with higher likelihood of derivatives usage innovate more and have higher quality of innovations. The relationship is stronger for firms with ex-ante more volatile cash flows and returns. This evidence shows that risk management has real consequences on firms’ innovation.
Is pharmaceutical detailing informative? Evidence from contraindicated drug prescriptions

Crestor, an important but controversial cholesterol-lowering drug, is contraindicated for use by senior and Asian patients. In this paper, we exploit this fact along with unique physician-level prescription and detailing data for statin drugs to examine the hypothesis that detailing is informative. Our tests are based on a simple model in which detailing impacts physicians’ expected match utility of Crestor for different types of patients. We find strong evidence for the informative-detailing hypothesis: relative to the other patients, detailing significantly reduces physicians’ likelihood of prescribing Crestor to contraindicated patients. Our results are robust to detailing being correlated with physician-specific unobserved factors and/or differential trends in individual physicians’ attitudes toward Crestor.
Cystic fibrosis enters the proteomics scene: New answers to old questions

The discovery in 1989 of the gene encoding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and its mutation as the primary cause of cystic fibrosis (CF), generated an optimistic reaction with respect to the development of potential therapies. This extraordinary milestone, however, represented only the initial key step in a long path. Many of the mechanisms that govern the pathogenesis of CF, the most commonly inherited lethal pulmonary disorder in Caucasians, remain even today unknown. As a continuation to genomic research, proteomics now offers the unique advantage to examine global alterations in the protein expression patterns of CF cells and tissues. The systematic use of this approach will probably provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms involved in CF dysfunctions, and should ultimately result in the finding of new prognostic markers, and in the generation of new therapies. In this article we review the current status of proteomic research applied to the study of CF, including CFTR‐related interactomics, and evaluate the potential of these technologies for future investigations.
Trafficking of PrPc to mitochondrial raft-like microdomains during cell apoptosis

The cellular form of prion protein (PrPc) is a highly conserved cell surface GPI-anchored glycoprotein that was identified in cholesterol-enriched, detergent-resistant microdomains, named “rafts. ” The association with these specialized portions of the cell plasma membrane is required for conversion of PrPc to the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy-associated protease-resistant isoform. Usually, PrPc is reported to be a plasma membrane protein, however several studies have revealed PrPc as an interacting protein mainly with the membrane/organelles, as well as with cytoskeleton network. Recent lines of evidence indicated its association with ER lipid raft-like microdomains for a correct folding of PrPc, as well as for the export of the protein to the Golgi and proper glycosylation. During cell apoptosis, PrPc can undergo intracellular re-localization, via ER-mitochondria associated membranes (MAM) and microtubular network, to mitochondrial raft-like microdomains, where it induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and citochrome c release, after a contained raise of calcium concentration. We suggest that PrPc may play a role in the multimolecular signaling complex associated with cell apoptosis Lipid rafts and their components may, thus, be investigated as pharmacological targets of interest, introducing a novel and innovative task in modern pharmacology, i.e., the development of glycosphingolipid targeted drugs.
Model order reduction of large-scale state-space models in fusion machines via Krylov methods

This work presents a robust technique, based on the Krylov subspace method, for the reduction of large-scale state-space models arising in many electromagnetic problems in fusion machines. The proposed approach aims at reducing the number of states of the system and lowering the computational effort, with a negligible loss of accuracy in the numerical solution. It is built on the Arnoldi algorithm, which allows to avoid numerical instabilities when computing the reduced model, and exploits both input/output Krylov methods. In the full paper a detail performance study will be presented on an ITER-like machine.
How to Avoid Empty Chairs in IT Divisions? IS Supported Succession Management to Control Development and Retention of IT Professionals

The IT profession possesses two main characteristics: an imbalance between demanded and available IT professionals, and a fast technological change, which constantly requires new IT competences. Hence, medium and large organizations that heavily rely on IT need methods to retain and develop the employees of their IT divisions in order to avoid vacancies. However, prior scientific research only examines this problem from an individual perspective, but it remains unknown how organizations can control the development and retention of IT professionals. In this paper, we reveal how IS supported succession management can help to control the development and retention of IT professionals. Therefore, we employ an exploratory interview study among 21 organizations. Our results indicate that succession management can be used to control the development and retention of IT professionals. Moreover, an IS support of succession management allows to extend the target group of IT professionals while costs are hold down.
Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus After Forty Years

Seventy-three patients with juvenile diabetes mellitus for a mean duration of 42.9 years were retrospectively studied on a nuiltidisciplinary basis. Only three of this group of patients were socially disabled as a result of their long-standing illness. Of all the complications, insulin-induced hypoglycemia was most common. Although diabetic retinopathy was clinically evident in about 75 per cent of patients, only 50 per cent of these seventy-three patients had a significant visual impairment. Nephropathy was apparent in 59 per cent of patients, and neuropathy was demonstrable in half of them. Significant peripheral vascular system impairment was present in 40 per cent and major cardiac complication in 20 per cent.