Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cephalometric, muscular and swallowing changes in patients with OSAS

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS) is believed to be associated with craniofacial and neuromuscular changes, although the interplay among these variables still is poorly recognised. The objective of this study was to identify hyoid, muscular and swallowing changes associated with OSAS, and to correlate these alterations with OSAS severity. Cross-sectional study, in a tertiary referral centre. Seventy-two adult individuals participated in this study: 12 controls (without apnoea) and 60 patients with apnoea (mild, moderate and severe OSAS-20 individuals in each group). All participants were initially evaluated by otorhinolaryngologist and neurologist and underwent polysomnography for OSAS stratification. Cephalometric data, clinical myofunctional status and swallow videofluoroscopy exam were assessed. A hybrid effect model was used to analyse swallowing parameters; dependent variables were age, body mass index (BMI) and cephalometric measures. Individuals with OSAS presented lower hyoid position and narrower posterior airway distance when compared to controls. These parameters correlated to OSAS severity. Additionally, OSAS patients exhibited significantly lower myofunctional scores. Both velum and hyoid contraction times were significantly lower in the OSAS group at videofluoroscopy, regardless of its severity. Premature leakage into pharynx was more common in OSAS groups. Laryngeal penetration phenomenon occurred only in two patients (both from OSAS group). Our results suggest that hyoid bone position is associated with OSAS severity. Muscular pattern and swallowing are impaired in OSAS patients, irrespective of OSAS severity and facial profile. These findings indicate a higher predisposition of OSAS patients to present an inferior hyoid positioning, accompanied by myofunctional and swallowing disorders.
Estimating mental health impacts of alcohol's harms from other drinkers: using propensity scoring methods with national cross‐sectional data from the United States

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Alcohol's harms to others (AHTO) may cause substantial distress, particularly when harms are perpetrated by close others. One challenge to identifying causal impacts is that people harmed by drinkers differ in many ways from those not so harmed, so our aim was to assess mental health in relation to two serious types of AHTO, financial harm and assault by someone who had been drinking, using propensity score (PS) weighting to adjust for potentially confounding differences. DESIGN Cross-sectional, nationally representative, random sample of adults. SETTING United States. PARTICIPANTS Seventy-six respondents reporting financial harm compared with 4625 with no past-year AHTO; 192 respondents reporting assault compared with 4623 with no past-year AHTO. MEASUREMENTS Predictors were reported exposure to financial problems due to someone's drinking and assault by someone who had been drinking. Mental health outcomes were quality of life, distress and positive affect. Confounders included family history of alcohol problems, child physical/sexual abuse, substance use/dependence, impacts of recent economic recession, racial/ethnic discrimination, poverty and other demographics. RESULTS In double-robust PS weighted models for financial harm, there were associations with reduced quality of life (B = -0.28, P = 0.02) and increased distress [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.69, P < 0.001], and for assault by a partner or family member, there were associations with increased distress (aOR = 2.23, P = 0.09). For assault by a friend or stranger, none of the associations are statistically significant after PS weighting (all P > 0.10). CONCLUSIONS Financial troubles due to someone else's drinking and assaults perpetrated by drinking intimates (spouses, other partners or family members) are associated with reduced mental health.
Dipeptide-modified nanoparticles to facilitate oral docetaxel delivery: new insights into PepT1-mediated targeting strategy

Abstract Oligopeptide transporter 1 (PepT1) has been a striking prodrug-designing target. However, the underlying mechanism of PepT1 as a target to facilitate the oral absorption of nanoparticles (NPs) remains unclear. Herein, we modify Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs with the conjugates of dipeptides (L-valine-valine, L-valine-phenylalanine) and polyoxyethylene (PEG Mw: 1000, 2000) stearate to facilitate oral delivery of docetaxel (DTX) to investigate the oral absorption mechanism and regulatory effects on PepT1 of the dipeptide-modified NPs. The cellular uptake of the dipeptide-modified NPs is more efficient than that of the unmodified NPs in the stably transfected hPepT1- Hela cells and Caco-2 cells, suggesting the involvement of PepT1 in the endocytosis of NPs. The internalization of the dipeptide-modified NPs is proved to be a proton-dependent process. Moreover, the L-valine-valine modified NPs with shorter PEG chain exhibit distinct advantages in terms of intestinal permeability and oral absorption, resulting in significantly improved oral bioavailability of DTX. In summary, PepT1 could serve as a desirable target for oral nanoparticulate drug delivery and the dipeptide-modified NPs represent a promising nanoplatform to facilitate oral delivery of hydrophobic drugs with low bioavailability.
Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning with Human Strategies

Deep learning has enabled traditional reinforcement learning methods to deal with high-dimensional problems. However, one of the disadvantages of deep reinforcement learning methods is the limited exploration capacity of learning agents. In this paper, we introduce an approach that integrates human strategies to increase the exploration capacity of multiple deep reinforcement learning agents. We also report the development of our own multi-agent environment called Multiple Tank Defence to simulate the proposed approach. The results show the significant performance improvement of multiple agents that have learned cooperatively with human strategies. This implies that there is a critical need for human intellect teamed with machines to solve complex problems. In addition, the success of this simulation indicates that our multi-agent environment can be used as a testbed platform to develop and validate other multi-agent control algorithms.
Exploring the Valuable Carotenoids for the Large-Scale Production by Marine Microorganisms

Carotenoids are among the most abundant natural pigments available in nature. These pigments have received considerable attention because of their biotechnological applications and, more importantly, due to their potential beneficial uses in human healthcare, food processing, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. These bioactive compounds are in high demand throughout the world; Europe and the USA are the markets where the demand for carotenoids is the highest. The in vitro synthesis of carotenoids has sustained their large-scale production so far. However, the emerging modern standards for a healthy lifestyle and environment-friendly practices have given rise to a search for natural biocompounds as alternatives to synthetic ones. Therefore, nowadays, biomass (vegetables, fruits, yeast and microorganisms) is being used to obtain naturally-available carotenoids with high antioxidant capacity and strong color, on a large scale. This is an alternative to the in vitro synthesis of carotenoids, which is expensive and generates a large number of residues, and the compounds synthesized are sometimes not active biologically. In this context, marine biomass has recently emerged as a natural source for both common and uncommon valuable carotenoids. Besides, the cultivation of marine microorganisms, as well as the downstream processes, which are used to isolate the carotenoids from these microorganisms, offer several advantages over the other approaches that have been explored previously. This review summarizes the general properties of the most-abundant carotenoids produced by marine microorganisms, focusing on the genuine/rare carotenoids that exhibit interesting features useful for potential applications in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and medicine.
A Crossed Optical Dipole Trap

This thesis presents the setup of a crossed optical dipole trap, called dimple. The setup is characterized within experiments regarding the trap depth, the trap geometry and the stability in combination with dilute clouds of ultra-cold Cr atoms. Simulations of the particle dynamics in optical dipole traps support and clarify the experimental data. Simulating the cooling performance of demagnetization cooling the application of this technique in dimple trap geometries are suggested. In dieser Diplomarbeit wird der Aufbau einer gekreuzten optischen Dipolfalle vorgestellt, den man Dimple nennt. Dieser Aufbau wird im Rahmen von Experimenten zur Fallentiefe, Fallengeometrie und Stabilität charakterisiert. Diese Experimente werden mit ultra-kalten verdünnten Cr Atomwolken durchgeführt. Die Messungen zu den Fallenfrequenzen werden mit Simulationen zur Teilchendynamik in optischen Dipolfallen unterlegt. Die Simulation zur Kühlleistung durch die Technik des Entmagnetisierungskühlens suggeriert, dieses Verfahren mit Dimple Fallengeometrien anzuwenden.
Testing multithreaded programs via thread speed control

A multithreaded program's interleaving space is discrete and astronomically large, making effectively sampling thread schedules for manifesting concurrency bugs a challenging task. Observing that concurrency bugs can be manifested by adjusting thread relative speeds, this paper presents the new concept of speed space in which each vector denotes a family of thread schedules. A multithreaded program's speed space is approximately continuous, easy-to-sample, and preserves certain categories of concurrency bugs. We discuss the design, implementation, and evaluation of our speed-controlled scheduler for exploring adversarial/abnormal schedules. The experimental results confirm that our technique is effective in sampling diverse schedules. Our implementation also found previously unknown concurrency bugs in real-world multithreaded programs.
System-level Modelling for SpiNNaker CMP System

The SpiNNaker Chip-multiprocessor (CMP) system is a novel SoC architecture, designed specifically for large-scale neural simulations in real-time. We have developed a multi-chip complete system simulation for the SpiNNaker massively parallel CMP system using SystemC Transaction Level Modelling (TLM) to analyse architectural tradeoffs, verify the design, and develop/test intended applications. The model has been very helpful in understanding system-level behaviour in the early stages of the design which was not possible with a Hardware Description Language (HDL) simulation because of the development time, performance and scale of simulation. We could simulate a system with up to 200 SpiNNaker CMPs to test a parallel distributed application developed for the SpiNNaker. The model helped in refining SpiNNaker’s design while providing a platform for developing applications in parallel with the hardware design.
Particle-beam-dependent optimization for Monte Carlo simulation in hadrontherapy using tetrahedral geometries

The use of tetrahedral-based phantoms in conjunction with Monte Carlo dose calculation techniques has shown high capabilities in radiation therapy. However, the generation of a precise dose distribution can be very time-consuming since a fine tetrahedral mesh is required. In this work, we propose a new method that defines the density distribution of patient-specific tetrahedral phantoms, based upon the CT-scans and the direction of the particle beam. The final purpose is to coarsen the tetrahedral mesh to improve computational performance in Monte Carlo simulations while guaranteeing a precise dose distribution in the target volume. Contrarily to the state of the art methods that calculate the density value of a tetrahedron, locally based only on the CT-scans, our approach also takes into account the direction of the beam to minimize the error of the water equivalent thickness of the tetrahedrons before the tumor volume. In this study, the experiments carried out on a multi-layer computational phantom, and a thorax geometry, show that by applying our method on a coarse mesh, we offer a better dose distribution inside the tumor compared to other density mapping methods, in the same level of detail. This is due to the reduction of the water equivalent path length error from 9.65 mm to 0.62 mm in the case of the multi-layer phantom, and from 2.42 mm to 0.48 mm for the thorax geometry. Moreover, a similar dose coverage is obtained with refined tetrahedral meshes. As a consequence of the reduction of the number of tetrahedrons, computational time is found to be 25% shorter than both the refined tetrahedral mesh and the voxel-based structure in most cases. Using a coarse tetrahedral mesh to have accurate dose distributions on a given target is feasible as long as the water equivalent path length in the direction of the beam is respected.
BDNF Polymorphism: A Review of Its Diagnostic and Clinical Relevance in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a unique role in the neuronal development, differentiation, and survival in the developing and adult nervous system. A common single-nucleotide polymorphism in the pro-region of the human BDNF gene, resulting in a valine to methionine substitution (Val66Met), has been associated with the susceptibility, incidence, and clinical features of several neurodegenerative disorders. Much research has been dedicated to evaluating the effects of polymorphism in the past decade, and functional effects of this genetic variation. A better understanding of how this naturally occurring polymorphism associates with or influences physiology, anatomy, and cognition in both healthy and diseased adults in neurodegenerative conditions will help understand neurochemical mechanisms and definable clinical outcomes in humans. Here we review the role and relevance of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in neurodegenerative diseases, with particular emphasis on glaucoma, multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Several controversies and unresolved issues, including small effect sizes, possible ethnicity, gender, and age effects of the BDNF Val66Met are also discussed with respect to future research.
The role of the network of matches on predicting success in table tennis

ABSTRACT The influence of training, posture, nutrition or psychological attitudes on an athlete’s career is well described in literature. An additional factor of success that is widely recognized as crucial is the network of matches that an athlete plays during a season. The hypothesis is that the quality of a player’s opponents affects her long-term ranking and performance. Even though the relevance of these factors is widely recognized as important, a quantitative characterization is missing. In this paper, we try to fill this gap combining network analysis and machine learning to estimate the contribution of the network of matches in predicting an athlete’s success. We consider all the official games played by the Italian table tennis players between 2011 and 2016. We observe that the matches network shows scale-free behavior, typical of several real-world systems, and that different structural properties are positively correlated with the athletes’ performance (Spearman , p-value ). Using these findings, we implement three different tasks, such as talent identification, performance and ranking prediction. Results shows consistently that machine learning approaches are able to predict players’ success and that the topological features play an effective role in increasing their predictive power.
Development of novel NEMO-binding domain mimetics for inhibiting IKK/NF-κB activation

Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a transcription factor important for regulating innate and adaptive immunity, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence. Dysregulation of NF-κB and its upstream regulator IκB kinase (IKK) contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory and degenerative diseases as well as cancer. An 11–amino acid peptide containing the NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO)-binding domain (NBD) derived from the C-terminus of β subunit of IKK, functions as a highly selective inhibitor of the IKK complex by disrupting the association of IKKβ and the IKKγ subunit NEMO. A structure-based pharmacophore model was developed to identify NBD mimetics by in silico screening. Two optimized lead NBD mimetics, SR12343 and SR12460, inhibited tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-κB activation by blocking the interaction between IKKβ and NEMO and suppressed LPS-induced acute pulmonary inflammation in mice. Chronic treatment of a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with SR12343 and SR12460 attenuated inflammatory infiltration, necrosis and muscle degeneration, demonstrating that these small-molecule NBD mimetics are potential therapeutics for inflammatory and degenerative diseases.
How Much Is Enough in a Perfect World? Cultural Variation in Ideal Levels of Happiness, Pleasure, Freedom, Health, Self-Esteem, Longevity, and Intelligence

The maximization principle—that people aspire to the highest possible level of something good if all practical constraints are removed—is a common yet untested assumption about human nature. We predict that in holistic cultures—where contradiction, change, and context are emphasized—ideal states of being for the self will be more moderate than in other cultures. In two studies (Ns = 2,392 and 6,239), we asked this question: If participants could choose their ideal level of happiness, pleasure, freedom, health, self-esteem, longevity, and intelligence, what level would they choose? Consistent with predictions, results showed that maximization was less pronounced in holistic cultures; members of holistic cultures aspired to less happiness, pleasure, freedom, health, self-esteem, longevity, and IQ than did members of other cultures. In contrast, no differences emerged on ideals for society. The studies show that the maximization principle is not a universal aspect of human nature and that there are predictable cultural differences in people’s notions of perfection.
Cognitive-Affective Correlates of Suicide Ideation and Attempt: Mindfulness is Negatively Associated with Suicide Attempt History but not State Suicidality

The objective of this study was to test whether 3 cognitive-affective correlates,--mindfulness, emotion reactivity, and depressive symptom severity—have different associations with current suicidal ideation (SI), a history of suicide attempt (SA) and SA + SI among emerging adults. Whether impulsive-aggression (IA) moderated associations between cognitive-affective correlates of suicidal behavior and suicidality was also tested. Survey data on current SI, SA history, mindfulness, emotion reactivity, depressive symptom severity, and IA were collected from 780 emerging adults. Results from multinomial logistic regression analysis showed greater depressive symptom severity among emerging adults with current SI, regardless of SA history. Those with a history of SA reported greater depressive symptom severity and less mindfulness than controls. IA did not moderate relationships of SI and/or SA and mindfulness, emotion reactivity, or depressive symptom severity. Mindfulness is a marker of SA, and depressive symptom severity is associated with current SI and SA history in emerging adults. IA does not moderate these associations. To the extent that a history of SA is indicative of elevated trait-like suicide risk and SI indicates state suicidality, our findings suggest that mindfulness protects against longer-term vulnerability to suicide while depressive symptom severity is associated with suicide state-trait risk.
THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN AND SLEEP

Why do we need to sleep? Not only is getting enough sleep important for our overall health and well-being, it is perhaps of utmost importance for normal brain functioning. Scientific findings derived from studying sleep deprivation suggests that sleep also plays an important role in our emotional functioning, which has led researchers to propose a causal and intimate relationship between sleep and emotional brain functioning. Without sleep it seems as our emotional processing become impaired in various ways. Along with advances in cognitive neuroscience, it is now possible to characterize mechanisms underlying emotional brain processes. In pursuit of the possible functions of sleep, researchers have also proposed that rapid eye movement sleep, might support a process of affective brain homeostasis and recalibration that optimally prepares the organism for next-day social and emotional functioning. This thesis reviews current behavioral and neurophysiological evidence focused on the relationship between sleep and emotional brain functioning, and the role of rapid eye movement sleep in emotional processing.
Maxillomandibular Syngnathia: 3D Planning and Review of the Literature

Congenital maxillomandibular fusion or syngnathia is a rare craniofacial disorder with only 26 cases reported in the literature. We present a case of a congenital complex zygomatico-mandibular syngnathia associated with a palatal cleft, posterior maxilla and turbinate agenesia, mild hemifacial microsomia, and a disordered dental eruption. The patient has the highest age (15 years) at diagnosis described in the literature. 3D planning of the surgery was performed to study the patient's anatomy and design the necessary osteotomies to separate the jaws. En bloc removal of the fused fragment with bilateral coronoidectomy and aggressive long-term physiotherapy for 3 months led to a stable increase in mouth opening from 0 to 21 mm inter-incisor distance. The patient reported an improvement in speech, was able to eat without restriction regarding food consistency, and could maintain a good oral hygiene.
Sympathetic Discharges in intercostal and abdominal nerves

There are hardly any published data on the characteristics of muscle nerve sympathetic discharges occurring in parallel with the somatic motoneurone discharges in the same nerves. Here, we take advantage of the naturally occurring respiratory activity in recordings of efferent discharges from branches of the intercostal and abdominal nerves in anesthetized cats to make this comparison. The occurrence of efferent spikes with amplitudes below that for alpha motoneurones were analyzed for cardiac modulation, using cross‐correlation between the times of the R‐wave of the ECG and the efferent spikes. The modulation was observed in nearly all recordings, and for all categories of nerves. It was strongest for the smallest amplitude spikes or spike‐like waveforms, which were deduced to comprise postsynaptic sympathetic discharges. New observations were: (1) that the cardiac modulation of these discharges was modest compared to most previous reports for muscle nerves; (2) that the amplitudes of the sympathetic discharges compared to those of the somatic spikes were strongly positively correlated to nerve diameter, such that, for the larger nerves, their amplitudes overlapped considerably with those of gamma motoneurone spikes. This could be explained by random summation of high rates of unit sympathetic spikes. We suggest that under some experimental circumstances this overlap could lead to considerable ambiguity in the identity of the discharges in efferent neurograms.