Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiac rehabilitation programme as a non-pharmacological platelet inhibitory tool in acute coronary syndrome survivors

Background Acute coronary syndrome is associated with platelet hyperactivity, which in its persistent form, promotes recurrent thrombotic events. Complex cardiac rehabilitation after acute coronary syndrome improves clinical outcome; however, its effect on platelet hyperactivity is unknown. Design and methods We enrolled 84 acute coronary syndrome patients on dual antiplatelet therapy, who underwent a new complex cardiac rehabilitation programme (NovaCord physiotherapy, lifestyle counselling, strict diet, stress management and regular coaching) and 51 control acute coronary syndrome patients with traditional cardiac rehabilitation. Platelet functionality was determined at enrolment and at three months follow-up by aggregometry, serum platelet-derived growth factor levels, total- and platelet-derived microvesicle counts (PMV; CD41a+/CD61+, CD62P+). Results Platelet aggregation parameters and platelet-derived growth factor levels were significantly decreased in the complex cardiac rehabilitation group at three months (1 µg/ml collagen, median (interquartile range): 22 (10–45) vs 14 (7.5–25.5)%, p = 0.0015; 2 µg/ml collagen: 36 (22–60) vs 26.5 (16–37)%, p = 0.0019; 1.25 µM adenosine-diphosphate: 4.5 (1–10) vs 1 (0–3)%, p = 0.0006; 5 µM adenosine-diphosphate: 27 (16–38) vs 22 (12–31)%, p = 0.0078; epinephrine: 33 (15–57) vs 27 (12–43)%, p = 0.01; platelet-derived growth factor: 434.6 (256.0–622.7) vs 224.8 (148.5–374.1) pg/ml, p = 0.0001). In contrast, these changes were absent or did not reach statistical significance in the traditional cardiac rehabilitation group. Platelet–derived microvesicle counts were significantly decreased in both groups, while total microvesicle count was significantly reduced only in the complex cardiac rehabilitation group (median (interquartile range): 3945.5 (2138–5661) vs 1739 (780–2303) count/µl; p = 0.0001). Conclusions Platelet hyperactivity three months after acute coronary syndrome significantly decreased in patients undergoing complex cardiac rehabilitation. Besides dual antiplatelet therapy, effective management and comprehensive control of cardiovascular risk factors might represent a new, non-pharmacological approach to influence platelet functionality.
A Unified Method for First and Third Person Action Recognition

In this paper, a new video classification methodology is proposed which can be applied in both first and third person videos. The main idea behind the proposed strategy is to capture complementary information of appearance and motion efficiently by performing two independent streams on the videos. The first stream is aimed to capture long-term motions from shorter ones by keeping track of how elements in optical flow images have changed over time. Optical flow images are described by pre-trained networks that have been trained on large scale image datasets. A set of multi-channel time series are obtained by aligning descriptions beside each other. For extracting motion features from these time series, PoT representation method plus a novel pooling operator is followed due to several advantages. The second stream is accomplished to extract appearance features which are vital in the case of video classification. The proposed method has been evaluated on both first and third-person datasets and results present that the proposed methodology reaches the state of the art successfully.
Reliability of conditioned pain modulation: a systematic review

Abstract A systematic literature review was undertaken to determine if conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is reliable. Longitudinal, English language observational studies of the repeatability of a CPM test paradigm in adult humans were included. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias in 6 domains; study participation; study attrition; prognostic factor measurement; outcome measurement; confounding and analysis using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) critical assessment tool. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) less than 0.4 were considered to be poor; 0.4 and 0.59 to be fair; 0.6 and 0.75 good and greater than 0.75 excellent. Ten studies were included in the final review. Meta-analysis was not appropriate because of differences between studies. The intersession reliability of the CPM effect was investigated in 8 studies and reported as good (ICC = 0.6-0.75) in 3 studies and excellent (ICC > 0.75) in subgroups in 2 of those 3. The assessment of risk of bias demonstrated that reporting is not comprehensive for the description of sample demographics, recruitment strategy, and study attrition. The absence of blinding, a lack of control for confounding factors, and lack of standardisation in statistical analysis are common. Conditioned pain modulation is a reliable measure; however, the degree of reliability is heavily dependent on stimulation parameters and study methodology and this warrants consideration for investigators. The validation of CPM as a robust prognostic factor in experimental and clinical pain studies may be facilitated by improvements in the reporting of CPM reliability studies.
Characterizing Software Engineering Work with Personas Based on Knowledge Worker Actions

Mistaking versatility for universal skills, some companies tend to categorize all software engineers the same not knowing a difference exists. For example, a company may select one of many software engineers to complete a task, later finding that the engineer's skills and style do not match those needed to successfully complete that task. This can result in delayed task completion and demonstrates that a one-size fits all concept should not apply to how software engineers work. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of different software engineers and their working styles we interviewed 21 participants and surveyed 868 software engineers at a large software company and asked them about their work in terms of knowledge worker actions. We identify how tasks, collaboration styles, and perspectives of autonomy can significantly effect different approaches to software engineering work. To characterize differences, we describe empirically informed personas on how they work. Our defined software engineering personas include those with focused debugging abilities, engineers with an active interest in learning, experienced advisors who serve as experts in their role, and more. Our study and results serve as a resource for building products, services, and tools around these software engineering personas.
Would You Like to Motivate Software Testers? Ask Them How

Context. Considering the importance of software testing to the development of high quality and reliable software systems, this paper aims to investigate how can work-related factors influence the motivation of software testers. Method. We applied a questionnaire that was developed using a previous theory of motivation and satisfaction of software engineers to conduct a survey-based study to explore and understand how professional software testers perceive and value work-related factors that could influence their motivation at work. Results. With a sample of 80 software testers we observed that software testers are strongly motivated by variety of work, creative tasks, recognition for their work, and activities that allow them to acquire new knowledge, but in general the social impact of this activity has low influence on their motivation. Conclusion. This study discusses the difference of opinions among software testers, regarding work-related factors that could impact their motivation, which can be relevant for managers and leaders in software engineering practice.
Comparing visual and objective skin assessment with pressure injury risk

Contemporary approaches to pressure injury (PI) risk identification rely on the use of risk assessment tools and visual skin assessment. Objective biophysical measures that assess skin hydration, melanin, erythema and lipids have not been traditionally used in PI risk; however, these may prove useful as a risk assessment tool. The relationship between subjective visual assessments of skin condition, biophysical measures and PI risk warrants investigation. This study used a descriptive correlational design to examine the relationship between measures of skin hydration, colour (melanin and erythema) and lipids at PI‐prone areas amongst geriatric persons (n = 38), obtained using biophysical skin measures and visual skin assessment. Twice daily measures of epidermal hydration, colour and lipids were assessed using the SD202 Skin Diagnostic (Courage + Khazaka GmBH, Cologne, Germany) over pressure‐prone areas of the body of study participants over seven consecutive days. Concurrent visual assessment of skin hydration and colour was performed. Results obtained using the SD202 Skin Diagnostic were compared with results gathered from visual assessment and examined for their association with participants' PI risk based on scores of the Norton Risk Assessment Scale. While epidermal hydration and skin colour reading scores did not vary significantly over the data collection period, lipid readings could not be registered on any occasion. With the exception of skin dryness, skin parameters via both objective and subjective means had significant, positive correlations. Statistically significant correlations emerged between visual assessment of skin wetness at the sacrum (r = −0·441, P < 0·01) and ischia (r = −0·468, P < 0·01) and Norton Risk Assessment Scale scores. It was found that the objective assessment of epidermal hydration (skin wetness) was also significantly associated with PI risk at the sacrum (r = −0·528, P < 0·01), as well as the right ischia (r = −0·410, P < 0·05) and left ischia (r = −0·407, P < 0·05). Erythema, when assessed objectively, was significantly correlated with PI risk at the sacrum (r = −0·322, P < 0·05). Such findings indicating that the finer measures afforded by the SD202 Skin Diagnostic in the assessment of the subtle red hues displayed in erythematous skin may provide an additional advantage over traditional, clinician assessment.
Hypertension and diabetes prevalence among adults with moderately increased BMI (23·0–24·9 kg/m2): findings from a nationwide survey in Bangladesh

Abstract Objective BMI is a proxy for fat accumulation in the body. Increased diabetes and CVD risks have been observed for Asian populations at lower BMI than the WHO-recommended BMI cut-off points for overweight (≥25·0 kg/m2) and obesity (≥30·0 kg/m2). The current study aimed to quantify the increased hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevalence in Bangladeshi adults with moderately increased BMI (23·0–24·9 kg/m2). Design Data from the most recent Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (2011) were analysed. Modified Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) for HTN or T2DM by BMI category, considering BMI=18·5–22·9 kg/m2 as the reference. All analyses incorporated the complex sampling design of the survey. Setting BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar and related information were collected from a nationally representative sample. Subjects Adults (n 7433) aged≥35 years. Results About 12 % of Bangladeshi adults, both male and female, were within the BMI range 23·0–24·9 kg/m2 or moderately overweight. Compared with the reference BMI group (18·5–22·9 kg/m2), they had an increased PR for HTN (1·55–1·77) and T2DM (1·54–1·93). These increased PR are similar to those for the WHO-defined overweight group (BMI=25·0–29·9 kg/m2). Conclusions Our findings support the recommendation that calls for setting the optimum BMI for Asian populations to 18·5–23·0 kg/m2 for health promotion and for public health interventions like leisure-time physical activity. WHO cut-off points for overweight (≥25 kg/m2) should be used to facilitate international comparisons.
Analysis of the Understanding of the Concepts of Task and Skill Variety by Software Engineering Professionals

Context: In organizational psychology literature, Task Variety and Skill Variety are considered different aspects of work design. Albeit related to different aspects of the work, it is common to find strong correlations between these constructs. After applying the Work Design Questionnaire (WDQ) on a sample of 102 software professional, we found the similar correlations and conjectured that they were partly due to a misunderstanding about what a task is, what a skill is, and what could be considered a variety of those concepts in the practice of software development. Goal: Our goal in this study was to investigate the actual existence and the possible sources of such misunderstanding. Method: We performed semi-structured interviews with software professionals that had previously participated in the application of the WDQ and analyzed the results using qualitative research techniques. We selected four software professionals among those with higher experience in software development. Results: Qualitative data revealed insights regarding the reasons why the correlation identified in the quantitative results could have arisen in our sample. Conclusions: Our findings pointed out that the misunderstanding of such concepts might affect the results of the application of quantitative questionnaires that measure these constructs.
Liraglutide as adjunct to insulin treatment in type 1 diabetes does not interfere with glycaemic recovery or gastric emptying rate during hypoglycaemia: A randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, parallel‐group study

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) therapy is a potential treatment as adjunct to insulin in type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, GLP‐1RAs inhibit glucagon secretion and delay the gastric emptying (GE) rate and may impair recovery from hypoglycaemia. We evaluated the effect of the GLP‐1RA liraglutide on counterregulatory responses and GE rate during hypoglycaemia in persons with T1D.
PI3Kγ Activates Integrin α4 and Promotes Immune Suppressive Myeloid Cell Polarization during Tumor Progression

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumor-associated macrophages, aided by PI3Kγ and integrin α4, accumulate in tumors and block antitumor immune responses. Suppression of PI3Kγ or integrin α4 alleviated the block and supported antitumor immune responses. Immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) accumulate in tumors where they inhibit T cell–mediated antitumor immune responses and promote tumor progression. Myeloid cell PI3Kγ plays a role in regulating tumor immune suppression by promoting integrin α4–dependent MDSC recruitment to tumors and by stimulating the immunosuppressive polarization of MDSCs and TAMs. Here, we show that integrin α4 promotes immunosuppressive polarization of MDSCs and TAMs downstream of PI3Kγ, thereby inhibiting antitumor immunity. Genetic or pharmacological suppression of either PI3Kγ or integrin α4 blocked MDSC recruitment to tumors and also inhibited immune suppressive myeloid cell polarization, thereby reducing expression of IL10 and increasing expression of IL12 and IFNγ within tumors. Inhibition of PI3Kγ or integrin α4 within tumors stimulated dendritic cell and CD8+ T-cell recruitment and maturation, as well as tumor cell cytotoxicity in vivo, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. As blockade of PI3Kγ or integrin α4 prevents accumulation of MDSC and reduces myeloid cell expression of immunosuppressive factors that stimulate tumor immune escape, these results highlight PI3Kγ and integrin α4 as targets for the design of cancer therapeutics. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(11); 957–68. ©2017 AACR.
Dynamic muscle ultrasound identifies upper motor neuron involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to elucidate the pattern of change in bulbar muscles using ultrasound in patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: Changes in the mylohyoid and geniohyoid muscle complex (mylohyoid-geniohyoid-muscle-complex) thickness were recorded while swallowing 5 ml of water using M-mode ultrasound in 30 ALS patients compared to 20 healthy controls. The ratio of mylohyoid-geniohyoid-muscle-complex thickness as determined by the maximum thickness of mylohyoid-geniohyoid-muscle-complex during swallowing divided by thickness at rest, was compared between ALS patients and controls, with the correlation between thickness ratio, echogenicity and clinical parameters assessed. Results: Overall, the thickness ratio in ALS patients was 1.39 ± 0.23 (mean ± SD) compared to 1.55 ± 0.17 in controls (p < 0.05). In sub-analysis, the thickness ratio was significantly decreased in ALS patients with bulbar-onset disease compared to those with limb-onset disease (p < 0.01) and controls (p < 0.01). Thickness ratio negatively correlated with the severity of upper motor neuron involvement in the bulbar region (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Bulbar muscle ultrasound represents a novel method to detect impaired mobility and thereby provides an objective assessment of upper motor neuron involvement in the bulbar region of ALS patients.
Modelling Multimedia Social Networks Using Semantically Labelled Graphs

We live in an increasingly connected and data-greedy world. In the last decade, informative contents over the Web have grown in volume, connectivity and heterogeneity to an extent never seen before. Well known examples of Online Multimedia Social Networks (OMSNs), such as Facebook or Twitter, demonstrate the humongous volume and complexity characterizing common scenarios of the contemporary Web. Recognizing that, today, means adopting intelligent information systems able to use data and links between data to gain insights and clues from such intricate and dense networks. To address this goal, these systems should have formal models able to extract efficiently the knowledge retained in the network, even when it is not so explicit. In this way, complex data can be managed and used to perform new tasks and implement innovative functionalities. This article describes the use of a semantically labelled and property-based graph model in order to represent the information coming from OMSNs by exploiting linguistic-semantic properties between terms and the available low-level multimedia descriptors. The multimedia features are automatically extracted using algorithms based on MPEG-7 descriptors and integrated with textual data from a general knowledge base.
Adaptive patterns of phenotypic plasticity in laboratory and field environments in Drosophila melanogaster

Identifying mechanisms of adaptation to variable environments is essential in developing a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary dynamics in natural populations. Phenotypic plasticity allows for phenotypic change in response to changes in the environment, and as such may play a major role in adaptation to environmental heterogeneity. Here, the plasticity of stress response in Drosophila melanogaster originating from two distinct geographic regions and ecological habitats was examined. Adults were given a short‐term, 5‐day exposure to combinations of temperature and photoperiod to elicit a plastic response for three fundamental aspects of stress tolerance that vary adaptively with geography. This was replicated both in the laboratory and in outdoor enclosures in the field. In the laboratory, geographic origin was the primary determinant of the stress response. Temperature and the interaction between temperature and photoperiod also significantly affected stress resistance. In the outdoor enclosures, plasticity was distinct among traits and between geographic regions. These results demonstrate that short‐term exposure of adults to ecologically relevant environmental cues results in predictable effects on multiple aspects of fitness. These patterns of plasticity vary among traits and are highly distinct between the two examined geographic regions, consistent with patterns of local adaptation to climate and associated environmental parameters.
Impact of opioids on oxidative status and related signaling pathways: An integrated view.

BACKGROUND Opioids produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are highly reactive molecules that damage cells and tissues, and are suggested to contribute to the opioid use disorders. Thus, antioxidant supplementation might improve the disturbance in redox (oxidation-reduction) homeostasis. However, randomized trials on antioxidant therapy have not shown beneficial effects. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this review is to shed lights on the oxidative changes resulting from opioid use and to highlight the unanswered questions regarding oxidative profile in an effort to provide a comprehensive view of different aspects of an efficient antioxidant therapy in clinical settings. METHODS The studies were identified and gathered from the PubMed database over the past 16 years (2000-2016). Our search results were limited to articles in English, both animals and human and in vitro and in vivo studies. A total of 50 full text articles were reviewed and summarized. RESULTS Opioids elevate the level of ROS and decrease the function of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. They increase the risk of vitamin deficiency and modify gene expression of target cells through ROS production. The effects of opioids on their target cells are exerted through different way and various mechanisms. CONCLUSION Opioids modulate the redox homeostasis; therefore, understanding the profile of oxidative changes in individuals with opioid use disorder could be of significant benefits in the clinical setting, to help with selection of an efficient antioxidant therapy and diminishing oxidative damage.
Wet feed and cold water as heat stress modulators in growing Muscovy ducklings

&NA; In an attempt to alleviate the deleterious effects of high summer temperatures, the present study investigated the effects of wet feed and cold water on the growth performance, carcass and meat quality, leg problems, physiological responses, and blood parameters of growing Muscovy ducklings. A total of 180 4‐week‐old ducklings was randomly divided into 6 experimental groups in a 3 × 2 factorial design that included 3 feed systems (AD: ad libitum dry; DW: diurnal wet; and AW: ad libitum wet) and 2 systems of water (TW: tap water; and CW: cold water). Access to wet feed and cold water affected the growth performance, dressed carcass, gizzard, meat quality (tenderness, juiciness, and susceptibility), tonic immobility, body temperature, and blood parameters [albumin: globulin (A: G) ratio and levels of glucose, alanine transferase (ALT), total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), and malondialdehyde (MDA)] of the ducklings but had no significant effect on plumage condition, shank length, keel bone length, leg problems, or breast blisters. The body weight (BW) of the DW group was 1.97 and 3.12% greater than that of the AD and AW groups, respectively, and the BWG of the DW group was 6.91 and 10.72% greater than that of the AD and AW groups, respectively. Therefore, providing access to wet feed and cold water is highly recommended when raising Muscovy ducks in open houses under high‐temperature conditions.