Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ambulatory blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in subjects with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring, compared with matched control subjects, and their response to treatment.

1. Obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring are associated with daytime hypertension. It is uncertain whether this association is directly due to the disturbed sleeping respiration or the result of confounding variables, particularly obesity, smoking and alcohol intake. 2. Ambulatory blood pressure and echocardiographic left ventricular muscle mass were measured in 19 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, 19 men who snore without apnoea and 38 control subjects matched for age, sex, body mass index, smoking and alcohol intake. Ambulatory blood pressure was also measured before and after treatment in 11 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and their matched control subjects. 3. Compared with matched control subjects, untreated obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring were not associated with an increase in daytime blood pressure. A daytime elevation of either systolic or diastolic blood pressure of > 3.8 mmHg due to obstructive sleep apnoea or snoring was excluded with 95% confidence in each of the study groups. Daytime blood pressure was also unchanged when obstructive sleep apnoea was treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Night-time blood pressure was not significantly different in the patients with obstructive sleep apnoea or the snorers when compared with their matched control subjects. However, a fall in night-time systolic blood pressure was seen in the patients with obstructive sleep apnoea after treatment [fall in systolic blood pressure -6.3 (SD 8.2) mmHg, P < 0.02]. 4. Left ventricular diameter, wall thickness and calculated mass were similar in each of the study groups and their matched control groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Remote monitoring of post-operative patients using wireless sensor networks

Patients recovering from surgery are at risk of complications due to reduced mobility as a result of post-operative pain. The ability to monitor the recovery of this group of patients and identify those at risk of developing complications is, therefore, clinically desirable and may result in an early intervention to prevent adverse outcomes. We have developed a real-time patient monitoring system that integrates a vital signs sensor, a sensor network, electronic patient records and web portal technology to allow remote monitoring of post-operative patient status in the hospital and homecare conditions and to alert medical personnel when life-threatening events occur. This system will facilitate communication among patients, medical professionals at local hospitals and specialists available for consultation from distant places through a secured web server. The most valued features of this system are to prevent the patient from re-hospitalisation and to avoid possible critical events, thus reducing global healthcare costs.
The quest for wisdom: lessons from 17 tsunamis, 2004–2014

Since the catastrophic Sumatra–Andaman tsunami took place in 2004, 16 other tsunamis have resulted in significant damage and 14 in casualties. We review the fundamental changes that have affected our command of tsunami issues as scientists, engineers and decision-makers, in the quest for improved wisdom in this respect. While several scientific paradigms have had to be altered or abandoned, new algorithms, e.g. the W seismic phase and real-time processing of fast-arriving seismic P waves, give us more powerful tools to estimate in real time the tsunamigenic character of an earthquake. We assign to each event a ‘wisdom index’ based on the warning issued (or not) during the event, and on the response of the population. While this approach is admittedly subjective, it clearly shows several robust trends: (i) we have made significant progress in our command of far-field warning, with only three casualties in the past 10 years; (ii) self-evacuation by educated populations in the near field is a key element of successful tsunami mitigation; (iii) there remains a significant cacophony between the scientific community and decision-makers in industry and government as documented during the 2010 Maule and 2011 Tohoku events; and (iv) the so-called ‘tsunami earthquakes’ generating larger tsunamis than expected from the size of their seismic source persist as a fundamental challenge, despite scientific progress towards characterizing these events in real time.
Implications of information theory in optical fibre communications

Recent decades have witnessed steady improvements in our ability to harness the information-carrying capability of optical fibres. Will this process continue, or will progress eventually stall? Information theory predicts that all channels have a limited capacity depending on the available transmission resources, and thus it is inevitable that the pace of improvements will slow. However, information theory also provides insights into how transmission resources should, in principle, best be exploited, and thus may serve as a guide for where to look for better ways to squeeze more out of a precious resource. This tutorial paper reviews the basic concepts of information theory and their application in fibre-optic communications.
Towards high-accuracy primary spectral radiometry from 400 K to 1300 K

We describe the design, construction, calibration and use of a near-infrared thermodynamic radiation thermometer to measure blackbodies from 400 K to 1300 K. The motivation for this work is the pending redefinition of the kelvin and the need for direct, thermodynamic temperature measurements of the fixed-point blackbodies presently used in the realization of the temperature scale. The challenges of accurately measuring Planck radiances which vary greatly in radiance level and spectral shape are discussed. Methods to characterize the components used in the radiation thermometer design are described. The use of this radiation thermometer as a relative primary thermometer and the resulting residuals are shown. We describe radiometric calibration procedures for using the radiation thermometer as an absolute primary thermometer. Preliminary data showing the initial radiometric calibration steps are discussed.
Portuguese Validation of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form

In the latest (fifth) edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) was included as a tentative disorder worthy of future research. Since then, several psychometric instruments to assess IGD have emerged in the literature, including the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), the most brief tool available to date. Research on the effects of IGD in Portugal has been minimal and may be due to the lack of a psychometrically validated tool to assess this construct within this particular cultural background. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese IGDS9-SF. A total of 509 adolescents were recruited to the present study. Construct validity of the IGDS9-SF was assessed in two ways. First, confirmatory factor analysis was performed to investigate the factorial structure of the IGDS9-SF in the sample, and the unidimensional structure of the IGDS9-SF fitted the data well. Second, nomological validation of the IGDS9-SF was carried out and the nomological network analyzed was replicated as expected, further supporting the construct validity of the IGDS9-SF. Criterion validity of the IGDS9-SF was also established using key criterion variables. Finally, the IGDS9-SF also showed satisfactory levels of reliability using several indicators of internal consistency. Based on the results found, the IGDS9-SF appears to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess IGD among Portuguese adolescents and further research on IGD in Portugal is warranted.
Fathers’ Experiences of Childbirth Education

The aim of this phenomenological study was to describe fathers’ experiences of childbirth education. Ten fathers were interviewed 2–4 months after the birth of their first child. The researchers analysed the interviews. The study’s findings show that childbirth education creates preparedness for birth and fatherhood, but it has a secondary role for fathers. Thus, the fathers’ transition becomes more complicated due to a focus on their secondary role. The opportunity to receive information that addresses the needs and concerns of fathers, specifically, and to develop male group discussions is needed to build networks and support the transition to fatherhood.
The Psychological Benefits of Being Authentic on Facebook

Having others acknowledge and validate one's true self is associated with better psychological health. Existing research indicates that an individual's true self may be more readily expressed on Facebook than in person. This study brought together these two premises by investigating for the first time the psychosocial outcomes associated with communicating one's true self on Facebook. Participants (n = 164) completed a personality assessment once as their true self and once as the self they present on Facebook (Facebook self), as well as measures of social connectedness, subjective well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress. Euclidean distances quantified the difference between one's true self and the Facebook self. Hypotheses received partial support. Better coherence between the true self and the Facebook self was associated with better social connectedness and less stress. Two models provided evidence of mediation effects. Findings highlight that authentic self-presentation on Facebook can be associated with positive psychological outcomes.
Characterisation of grain quality in diverse sorghum germplasm using a Rapid Visco-Analyzer and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND Twenty-two diverse sorghum landraces, classified as normal and opaque types obtained from Ethiopia, were characterised for grain quality parameters using near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS), chemical and Rapid Visco-Analyzer (RVA) characteristics. RESULTS Protein content ranged from 77 to 182 g kg(-1), and starch content from 514 to 745 g kg(-1). The NIRS analysis indicated the pig faecal digestible energy range from 14.6 to 15.7 MJ kg(-1) as fed, and the ileal digestible energy range from 11.3 to 13.9 MJ kg(-1) as fed. The normal sorghums had higher digestible energy than the opaque sorghums, which exhibited lower RVA viscosities, and higher pasting temperatures and setback ratios. The RVA parameters were positively correlated with the starch content and negatively correlated with the protein content. The normal and opaque types formed two distinct groups based on principal component and cluster analyses. CONCLUSION The landraces were different for the various grain quality parameters with some landraces displaying unique RVA and NIRS profiles. This study will guide utilisation of the sorghum landraces in plant improvement programs, and provides a basis for further studies into how starch and other constituents behave in and affect the properties of these landraces.
Correlates of Mono- and Dual-Victims of Cybergrooming and Cyberbullying: Evidence from Four Countries

Today's adolescents grow up using information and communication technologies as an integral part of their everyday life. This affords them with extensive opportunities, but also exposes them to online risks, such as cybergrooming and cyberbullying victimization. The aims of this study were to investigate correlates of cybergrooming and cyberbullying victimization and examine whether victims of both cybergrooming and cyberbullying (dual-cybervictims) show higher involvement in compulsive Internet use (CIU) and troubled offline behavior (TOB) compared to victims of either cybergrooming or cyberbullying (mono-cybervictims). The sample consisted of 2,042 Dutch, German, Thai, and U.S. adolescents (age = 11-17 years; M = 14.2; SD = 1.4). About every ninth adolescent (10.9 percent) reported either mono- or dual-cybervictimization. Second, both CIU and TOB were associated with all three types of cybervictimization, and finally, both CIU and TOB were more strongly linked to dual-cybervictimization than to both forms of mono-cybervictimization. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the associations between different forms of cybervictimization and psychological health and behavior problems among adolescents.
P2Y12 receptors: structure and function

The platelet P2Y12 receptor (P2Y12R) for adenosine 5′diphosphate (ADP) plays a central role in platelet function, hemostasis, and thrombosis. Patients with inherited P2Y12R defects display mild‐to‐moderate bleeding diatheses. Defects of P2Y12R should be suspected when ADP, even at high concentrations (≥ 10 μm), is unable to induce full, irreversible platelet aggregation. P2Y12R also plays a role in inflammation: its role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma has been well characterized. In addition, inhibition or genetic deficiency of P2Y12R has antitumor effects. Drugs inhibiting P2Y12R are potent antithrombotic drugs. Clopidogrel is the P2Y12R antagonist that is most widely used in the clinical setting. Its most important drawback is its inability to inhibit adequately P2Y12R‐dependent platelet function in about one‐third of patients. New drugs, such as prasugrel and ticagrelor, which effectively inhibit P2Y12R in the vast majority of patients, have proved to be more efficacious than clopdidogrel in preventing major adverse cardiovascular events.
Maxwell electromagnetism as an emergent phenomenon in condensed matter

The formulation of a complete theory of classical electromagnetism by Maxwell is one of the milestones of science. The capacity of many-body systems to provide emergent mini-universes with vacua quite distinct from the one we inhabit was only recognized much later. Here, we provide an account of how simple systems of localized spins manage to emulate Maxwell electromagnetism in their low-energy behaviour. They are much less constrained by symmetry considerations than the relativistically invariant electromagnetic vacuum, as their substrate provides a non-relativistic background with even translational invariance broken. They can exhibit rich behaviour not encountered in conventional electromagnetism. This includes the existence of magnetic monopole excitations arising from fractionalization of magnetic dipoles; as well as the capacity of disorder, by generating defects on the lattice scale, to produce novel physics, as exemplified by topological spin glassiness or random Coulomb magnetism. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Unifying physics and technology in light of Maxwell's equations’.
The effects of depression on diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-management, and perceived control in indigent patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to assess differences in diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-management, and perceived control among depressed and nondepressed individuals in an indigent population with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Depressed and nondepressed patients with the clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were recruited from an indigent care clinic. Subjects completed validated surveys to assess diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-management, and perceived control of diabetes. We compared demographic characteristics and diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-management, and perceived control of diabetes by depression status. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 14.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). RESULTS Of the 201 subjects with diagnosed type 2 diabetes enrolled in the study, approximately 20% n = 40) of the sample was depressed. Subjects with depression were more likely to report self-care control problems (mean = 2.2 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.6, P < 0.001) and less likely to report positive attitude (mean = 2.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.5, P < 0.001), self-care ability (mean = 3.2 +/- 3.6 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.5, P < 0.001), and self-care adherence (mean = 3.3 +/- 0.9 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.6, P < 0.001). Depressed patients were less likely to report perceived control of diabetes (mean = 47.7 +/- 8.5 vs. 57.8 +/- 7.4, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in diabetes knowledge, self-care understanding, and perceived importance of self-care between depressed and nondepressed patients. CONCLUSIONS In this indigent population with type 2 diabetes, diabetes knowledge did not differ significantly by depression status, but diabetes self-management practices and perceived control of diabetes differed significantly by depression status. Patients who were depressed had poorer diabetes self-care and felt they had less control over their disease.
Essential oils to control Botrytis cinerea in vitro and in vivo on plum fruits.

BACKGROUND The consequence of misusing chemical biocides in controlling pests and diseases has drawn the attention of policy makers to the development of methods potentially available in nature for this purpose. In the present study the inhibitory effects of black caraway, fennel and peppermint essential oils against Botrytis cinerea were tested at various concentrations in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS The in vitro results showed that the growth of B. cinerea was completely inhibited by the application of black caraway and fennel oils at concentrations of 400 and 600 µL L⁻¹ respectively. The in vivo results indicated that black caraway, fennel and peppermint oils at all applied concentrations inhibited B. cinerea growth on plum fruits compared with the control. In addition, all three oils at higher concentrations showed positive effects on fruit quality characteristics such as titrable acidity, total soluble solids, carbohydrate content, pH and weight loss percentage. Thus the oils inhibited the infection of plum fruits by B. cinerea and increased their storage life. CONCLUSION This research confirms the antifungal effects of black caraway, fennel and peppermint essential oils both in vitro and in vivo on plum fruits postharvest. Therefore these essential oils could be an alternative to chemicals to control postharvest phytopathogenic fungi on plum fruits.
Platelet secretory behaviour: as diverse as the granules … or not?

Platelets play a central role in the arrest of bleeding after damage to a blood vessel and in the development of thrombosis. Platelets rapidly respond after interaction with sub‐endothelial components and release cargo from their storage granules. The three principal granule types of platelets are α‐granules, dense granules and lysosomes. Timed release of granule contents and regulated expression of critical receptors are essential for maintenance of the platelet thrombus, yet also have important functions beyond hemostasis (i.e. inflammatory reactions and immune responses). α‐granules store adhesive molecules such as von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen, growth factors and inflammatory and angiogenic mediators, which play crucial roles in inflammatory responses and tumor genesis. The α‐granules comprise a group of subcellular compartments with a unique composition and ultrastructure. Recent studies have suggested that differential secretory kinetics of α‐granule subtypes is responsible for a thematic release of adhesive and inflammatory mediators. In addition, new results indicate that activation‐dependent synthesis and release of cytokines also contribute to the inflammatory role of platelets. We will discuss the various methods that platelets use to regulate secretory processes and how these relate to potential differential secretion patterns, thereby promoting adhesiveness and/or inflammatory functions. We will focus on the heterogenic granule population, open canalicular system (OCS) plasticity, the role of contractile and mechanobiological forces, and the fusogenic machinery.
Regimes of wrinkling in pressurized elastic shells

We consider the point indentation of a pressurized elastic shell. It has previously been shown that such a shell is subject to a wrinkling instability as the indentation depth is quasi-statically increased. Here we present detailed analysis of this wrinkling instability using a combination of analytical techniques and finite-element simulations. In particular, we study how the number of wrinkles observed at the onset of instability grows with increasing pressurization. We also study how, for fixed pressurization, the number of wrinkles changes both spatially and with increasing indentation depth beyond onset. This ‘Far from threshold’ analysis exploits the largeness of the wrinkle wavenumber that is observed at high pressurization and leads to quantitative differences with the standard ‘Near threshold’ stability analysis. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Patterning through instabilities in complex media: theory and applications. ’
The effect of captopril on progression of retinopathy in type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in those of working age in the world. However, it is a preventable vision loss. According to current animal studies, it could be hypothesized that using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors could play a crucial role as a protective factor in the progression of retinopathy in human. Because little known is about this effect in humans, we designed a case-control study to explore whether captopril could be a protective factor for prevention of retinopathy in patients with diabetes. METHODS A case-control study was conducted on 164 patients with type 2 diabetes. Thirty-three patients with retinopathy were considered as cases, and 41 patients, without retinopathy, were designated as controls. All biochemical data were collected from results of laboratory tests at the last clinical visit. Dilated eye examination was performed by a trained ophthalmologist using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy on dilated pupils. RESULTS Retinopathy was determined to be 35.4% and occurred more in men. Older age, male sex, longer duration of diabetes, higher systolic blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, and lower body mass index were associated with retinopathy. In our model only age (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-7.9) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.3-9.9) were found to be associated with the risk of retinopathy. Forty-five percent had hypertension. Age (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.8-4.7), duration of diabetes (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.5-3.87), and HbA1c (OR = 3.73, 95% CI = 1.82-7.64) were associated with developing retinopathy in patients with diabetes and hypertension. However, captopril was shown to be a protective factor after adjusting other variables in our model. This effect was not statistically significant (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.37-6.2). CONCLUSIONS The benefit of using captopril to slow or prevent the progression of retinopathy has been demonstrated in this study. However, statistically it is very difficult to be confident in interpreting the results, and therefore more trials are needed.