Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Sleep Apnea Prediction Model Developed for African Americans, the Jackson Heart Sleep Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES African Americans have a high prevalence of severe sleep apnea which is often undiagnosed. We developed a prediction model for sleep apnea and compared the predictive values of that model to other prediction models among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Sleep Study (JHSS). METHODS JHSS participants underwent a Type 3 home sleep apnea study and completed standardized measurements and questionnaires. We identified 26 candidate predictors from 17 preselected measures capturing information on demographics, anthropometry, sleep, and comorbidities. To develop the optimal prediction model, we fit logistic regression models using all possible combinations of candidate predictors. We then implemented a series of steps: comparisons of equivalent models based on the C-statistics, bootstrap to evaluate the finite sample properties of the C-statistics between models, and 5-fold cross-validation to prevent overfitting. RESULTS Of 719 participants, 38% had moderate or severe sleep apnea, 34% were male and 38% reported habitual snoring. The average age and BMI were 63.2 (SD:10.7) years and 32.2 (SD: 7.0) kg/m². The final prediction model included: age, sex, BMI, neck circumference, depressive symptoms, snoring, restless sleep, and witnessed apneas. The final model has an equal sensitivity and specificity of 0.72, and better predictive properties than commonly used prediction models. CONCLUSIONS In comparing a prediction model developed for African Americans in the JHSS to widely used screening tools, we found a model that included measures of demographics, anthropometry, depressive symptoms, and sleep patterns and symptoms better predicted sleep apnea.
Responses of physiological groups of tropical heterotrophic bacteria to temperature and dissolved organic matter additions: food matters more than warming

Summary Compared to higher latitudes, tropical heterotrophic bacteria may be less responsive to warming because of strong bottom‐up control. In order to separate both drivers, we determined the growth responses of bacterial physiological groups to temperature after adding dissolved organic matter (DOM) from mangroves, seagrasses and glucose to natural seawater from the Great Barrier Reef. Low (LNA) and high (HNA) nucleic acid content, membrane‐intact (Live) and membrane‐damaged (Dead) plus actively respiring (CTC+) cells were monitored for 4 days. Specific growth rates of the whole community were significantly higher (1.9 day‐1) in the mangrove treatment relative to the rest (0.2–0.4 day‐1) at in situ temperature and their temperature dependence, estimated as activation energy, was also consistently higher. Strong bottom‐up control was suggested in the other treatments. Cell size depended more on DOM than temperature. Mangrove DOM resulted in significantly higher contributions of Live, HNA and CTC+ cells to total abundance, while the seagrass leachate reduced Live cells below 50%. Warming significantly decreased Live and CTC+ cells contributions in most treatments. Our results suggest that only in the presence of highly labile compounds, such as mangroves DOM, can we anticipate increases in heterotrophic bacteria biomass in response to warming in tropical regions.
A breakfast-centered meal plan for people with diabetes: A modest cohort study under free-living conditions

Aim: To test the efficacy of a new breakfast centered meal plan in improving weight, waist circumference, HbA1c and in preventing hypoglycaemia in people with diabetes and pre-diabetes under free-living conditions. Methods: Twenty-three adults with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes received half-day training in a personalized, low-carb meal plan which typically included one big breakfast and 4-5 small meals/snacks. Carb intake was individualized using ADA and AACE guidelines: ppg of <180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) for the big meal (preferably breakfast) and <140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) for the small meals. The subjects were also instructed not to eat during the three hours prior to bedtime. Reminders were through monthly meetings, and by phone or e-mail. Results: Of the 23 people trained, 11 (48%) adhered to the meal plan for 3 months. The subjects included 1 man and 10 women, age 47-69, BMI 27-39 Kg/m2. Four had pre-diabetes and 7 had type 2 diabetes. Four took no diabetes medications, one type 2 patient was on insulin and the rest took oral agents for diabetes. Average weight reduction was 6 lbs (range +2 to -22). HbA1c came down by 0.5% (+0.2 to -1.66). Fasting glucose decreased by 44 mg/dL (+12 to -151). Waist circumference decreased by 0.47 inches, (+2” to -3.5”) but was not a statistically significant. Glucose variability has been minimum for this meal plan by design. No hypoglycaemia or other adverse events intervened. All 11 subjects noted that eating close to bedtime raised fasting glucose. The consensus was that they were eating healthier than before and no instances of excessive hunger or hypoglycaemia occurred. Conclusion: A breakfast-centered (big breakfast and 5 small meals) offered improved satiety, weight, fasting glucose, glycemic variability and HbA1c under free-living conditions for people with diabetes and pre-diabetes – without precipitating hypoglycaemia.
Generation of Transgenic Cynomolgus Monkeys Overexpressing the Gene for Amyloid-β Precursor Protein

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and understanding its pathogenesis should lead to improved therapeutic and diagnostic methods. Although several groups have developed transgenic mouse models overexpressing the human amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) gene with AD mutations, with and without presenilin mutations, as well as APP gene knock-in mouse models, these animals display amyloid pathology but do not show neurofibrillary tangles or neuronal loss. This presumably is due to differences between the etiology of the aged-related human disease and the mouse models. Here we report the generation of two transgenic cynomolgus monkeys overexpressing the human gene for APP with Swedish, Artic, and Iberian mutations, and demonstrated expression of gene tagged green fluorescent protein marker in the placenta, amnion, hair follicles, and peripheral blood. We believe that these nonhuman primate models will be very useful to study the pathogenesis of dementia and AD. However, generated Tg monkeys still have some limitations. We employed the CAG promoter, which will promote gene expression in a non-tissue specific manner. Moreover, we used transgenic models but not knock-in models. Thus, the inserted transgene destroys endogenous gene(s) and may affect the phenotype(s). Nevertheless, it will be of great interest to determine whether these Tg monkeys will develop tauopathy and neurodegeneration similar to human AD.
The influence of submerged healing abutment or subcrestal implant placement on soft tissue thickness and crestal bone stability. A 2-year randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE Aims of the study were: (a) to register crestal bone loss around 1.5 mm subcrestally placed implants and epicrestally placed implants with soft tissue tenting technique, (b) to record bone remodeling in subcrestal group, and (c) to determine the increase of vertical soft tissues after tenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-two patients with vertically thin tissues of 2 mm or less received 40 submerged bone level platform-switched implants, divided into two groups-(a) 1.5 mm subcrestally placed implants and (b) epicrestally placed implants with soft tissue tenting over 2 mm healing abutments. At the second stage surgery, implants received 4 mm healing abutments, soft tissue thickness was measured in epicrestal group, and later implants were restored with zirconia-based screw-retained single restorations. Radiological images were taken at the second stage surgery, restoration delivery and after 2 years of follow-up. Bone loss was calculated as a distance between implant neck and first radiographically visible bone-to-implant contact. Bone remodeling was calculated as a distance between the bone crest and implant neck. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis, significance set to 0.05. RESULTS After 2 years of follow-up, Group 1 (subcrestal) had 0.18 ± 0.32 mm of bone loss, Group 2 (epicrestal with 2 mm healing abutment) had 0.51 ± 0.4 mm of bone loss, with statistically significant difference (P = .001). Bone remodeling in Group 1 (subcrestal) was 1.17 ± 0.51 mm. Vertical tissue thickness in epicrestal group before the intervention was 1.85 ± 0.26 and 3.65 ± 0.41 mm after the use of 2 mm healing abutment, with a statistical difference (P = .005). CONCLUSION Subcrestal implant placement can significantly reduce crestal bone loss, compared to vertical soft tissue thickening by tenting of epicrestally placed implants, although soft tissue tenting can significantly increase soft tissue thickness.
High cardiovascular reactivity and muscle strength attenuate hypotensive effects of isometric handgrip training in young women: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Objective Isometric resistance training may reduce resting blood pressure (BP); however, the magnitude of this effect varies among individual subjects and few studies attempted to predict it. This study aimed to investigate the potential hypotensive effects of isometric training and their association with cardiovascular reactivity to acute isometric exercise and muscle strength in young women. Methods In this randomized trial, twenty young women were randomly assigned to either the training (n = 10) or control (n = 10) group. Women from the training group performed unilateral isometric handgrip sessions for 8 weeks (4 × 2 min at 25% of maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]; 3 days/week). Cardiovascular reactivity to acute isometric exercise and MVC were measured at baseline. Resting BP was assessed during and after the intervention. Results Resting systolic BP significantly lowered only in the training group. The change in resting systolic BP following an 8-week intervention was significantly associated with the systolic BP and diastolic BP reactivity to the acute exercise at baseline during set 3 and 4 (P <.05). The handgrip MVC was associated with changes in systolic BP (r = 0.79, P =.007), diastolic BP (r = 0.68, P =.032), and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.79, P =.006). These results indicated that high cardiovascular reactivity and strength attenuate the hypotensive effects following isometric training in young women. Conclusions The hypotensive effects following isometric training may be identified by BP reactivity to acute isometric exercise or handgrip strength in young women.
Abstract 15673: LPA/PKD-1-FoxO1-CD36 Signaling Axis Regulates Capillary Arterialization in Ischemic Conditions

Endothelial cells (ECs) are critical in effective arterial remodeling to supply blood in ischemic conditions. We recently showed that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)/protein kinase (PKD-1) signaling suppresses CD36 transcription in microvascular ECs (MVECs), leading to transcriptional reprogramming towards arteriogenic gene expression. This process is regulated by PKD-1 mediated interaction between histone deacetylase HDAC7 and transcription factor FoxO1 in the nuclei. Moreover, our in vivo studies implicate that LPA/PKD-1-mediated CD36 transcriptional repression is involved in microvascular remodeling. We thus hypothesize that LPA/PKD-1-FoxO1-CD36 signaling axis regulates capillary arterialization in ischemic settings. To test this hypothesis, we transduced MVECs with lentiviral FoxO1 and found an increase in CD36 mRNA levels, along with change of arteriogenic gene expression. This was attenuated by co-transduction of FCoR, or LPA treatment (p in vivo , we established a hindlimb ischemia model in EC-specific pkd-1 null mice. The functional outcomes, assessed by the Tarlov ischemia scale, were significantly worse in the null mice compared to the controls. The Tarlov scores were 2±0.71, 2.2±1.3, 2.6±1.67, 3±2, 3.75±2.87, and 3.33±3.06 vs 3±0.47, 4.1± 0.7, 5.6±0.5, 5.8±0.4, 6, and 6, at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 post surgery. Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging showed worse blood supply in the ischemic limb in the null mice. L/R ratios prior to, and post surgery at day 0, 3, 7, 14 were 1.11±0.12, 0.11±0.06, 0.20±0.07, 0.22±0.09 vs 0.25±0.13 in the null mice vs 1.01±0.11, 0.12±0.05, 0.29±. 09, 0.47±0.14, and 0.56±0.33 in the control, consistent with a defect in microvascular arterialization. Intriguingly, Masson’s Trichrome assays showed strong collagen staining and extensive bleeding in the muscle of the null mice at day 7, indicating severe tissue fibrosis and vascular leakage after ischemic insults. In conclusion, our studies indicate that LPA/PKD-1-FoxO1-CD36 signaling axis may be important in capillary arterialization in the ischemic conditions.
Acquisition of rock phosphate by combined application of ammonium fertilizers and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 in maize as affected by soil pH

The use of plant growth‐promoting micro‐organisms (PGPMs) to improve plant‐nutrient acquisition has a long history but reproducibility remains a challenge. Recent findings suggest an important role of suitable inoculant‐fertilizer combinations for the expression of PGPM‐effects, particularly with respect to nitrogen (N) supply. In face of the well‐documented N form effects on rhizosphere pH, this study addressed the impact of ammonium‐assisted PGPM‐interactions on the acquisition of sparingly soluble calcium‐phosphates as affected by soil pH.
Genetic characterization of four Algerian cattle breeds using microsatellite markers

Abstract Cattle plays a very important role in agriculture and food security in Algeria. In the present study, the genetic diversity and structure of Algerian indigenous cattle populations were evaluated by microsatellite markers. A total of 138 individuals belonging to four cattle breed populations were characterized using 22 microsatellite markers. A total of 360 alleles was detected across studied all loci. Results obtained for the mean number of alleles (16.36), expected heterozygosity (0.84) and polymorphic information content (0.82) indicated that the total analyzed populations are characterized by noticeable genetic variability. It can be said that there is a low genetic differentiation in the cattle populations studied considering obtained mean FST value (0.039). It was revealed 97.10% of the total genetic variation can be explained by genetic differences among individuals while 2.90% among populations. The structure, factorial correspondence analysis results and dendrogram showed that cattle populations studied are clustered in three groups. The present study has revealed an important knowledge about the genetic diversity and the relationship between some native cattle breeds raised in Algeria. The results showed that the breeds studied have a high genetic diversity. Moreover, it can be said that microsatellite markers used can be successfully used to determine genetic diversity and population structure in Algerian cattle breeds.
A Novel Symmetry Driven Siamese Network for THz Concealed Object Verification

Security inspection aims to improve the high detection rate as well as reduce the false alarm rate. However, it still suffers from two challenges affecting its robustness. 1) Existing security inspection methods are mostly designed for natural images, which cannot reflect the uniqueness and imaging principle of THz images. 2) Existing methods is sensitive to noise interference and pose variations. This work revisits these challenges and presents a novel symmetry driven Siamese network (SDSN) for THz concealed object verification. Our idea is to employ a specially designed network architecture for THz concealed object verification. First, to reflect the uniqueness and the special property of THz images, Siamese network with Contrastive loss is used for feature extraction along with symmetrical prior information consideration, which can learn symmetrical metrics from the same person. Second, to alleviate the impact of noise interference and pose variations, the adaptive identity normalization (A-IDN) is proposed to normalize the symmetrical metrics each person. Finally, to enhance the generalization of network, an adaptive selective threshold based on Gaussian mixture model (AST-GMM) is designed, which serves as a classifier for the final classification results. Extensive experiments show that SDSN significantly improves the accuracy. Specially, SDSN outperforms the state-of-the-art methods without symmetrical prior information on THz security dataset.
Physiological responses to maximal eating in men

Abstract This study investigated metabolic, endocrine, appetite and mood responses to a maximal eating occasion in fourteen men (mean: age 28 (sd 5) years, body mass 77·2 (sd 6·6) kg and BMI 24·2 (sd 2·2) kg/m2) who completed two trials in a randomised crossover design. On each occasion, participants ate a homogenous mixed-macronutrient meal (pizza). On one occasion, they ate until ‘comfortably full’ (ad libitum) and on the other, until they ‘could not eat another bite’ (maximal). Mean energy intake was double in the maximal (13 024 (95 % CI 10 964, 15 084) kJ; 3113 (95 % CI 2620, 3605) kcal) compared with the ad libitum trial (6627 (95 % CI 5708, 7547) kJ; 1584 (95 % CI 1364, 1804) kcal). Serum insulin incremental AUC (iAUC) increased approximately 1·5-fold in the maximal compared with ad libitum trial (mean: ad libitum 43·8 (95 % CI 28·3, 59·3) nmol/l × 240 min and maximal 67·7 (95 % CI 47·0, 88·5) nmol/l × 240 min, P < 0·01), but glucose iAUC did not differ between trials (ad libitum 94·3 (95 % CI 30·3, 158·2) mmol/l × 240 min and maximal 126·5 (95 % CI 76·9, 176·0) mmol/l × 240 min, P = 0·19). TAG iAUC was approximately 1·5-fold greater in the maximal v. ad libitum trial (ad libitum 98·6 (95 % CI 69·9, 127·2) mmol/l × 240 min and maximal 146·4 (95 % CI 88·6, 204·1) mmol/l × 240 min, P < 0·01). Total glucagon-like peptide-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide and peptide tyrosine–tyrosine iAUC were greater in the maximal compared with ad libitum trial (P < 0·05). Total ghrelin concentrations decreased to a similar extent, but AUC was slightly lower in the maximal v. ad libitum trial (P = 0·02). There were marked differences on appetite and mood between trials, most notably maximal eating caused a prolonged increase in lethargy. Healthy men have the capacity to eat twice the energy content required to achieve comfortable fullness at a single meal. Postprandial glycaemia is well regulated following initial overeating, with elevated postprandial insulinaemia probably contributing.
Congenital rubella in the Western Cape Province of South Africa : a vaccine preventable condition

Background: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is characterized by multiple defects causing physical, intellectual and developmental retardation, auditory and visual problems, placing a huge burden on health care services in countries where rubella immunization is not routine. The incidence and extent of CRS in South Africa, where rubella vaccine is not included in the expanded program on immunization (EPI), is unknown. Objective: To determine the minimum prevalence and morbidity of CRS in the public sector of the Western Cape province of South Africa, as well as to describe the clinical presentation and features of all confirmed and probable CRS cases at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study and case series using clinical records. Rubella serology data was retrieved from National Health Laboratory Systems at Tygerberg Academic Hospital between 01 January 2006 and 31 December 2011 and Groote Schuur Hospital between 01 January 2008 and 31 December 2011. For confirmed CRS, detection of rubella by PCR or specific IgM antibodies below 3 months of age was diagnostic. For probable CRS, a PCR or IgM positive at 3 months 1 year of age with more than two of the following conditions: cataracts, congenital glaucoma, congenital heart disease, hearing impairment or pigmentary retinopathy. Alternatively, one of one of these conditions plus any of the following: purpura, splenomegaly, microcephaly, mental retardation, meningoencephalitis, radiolucent bone disease or neonatal jaundice within 24 hours of birth. Confirmed cases between 01 January 2008 and 31 December 2011 from the two laboratories were used to calculate a minimum prevalence for the Western Cape. Medical records of infants with confirmed and probable CRS under a year of age from Tygerberg between 01 January 2006 and 31 December 2011 were reviewed for inclusion in the case series. Results: Thirty confirmed cases were identified from 01 January 2008 and 31 December 2011 in the two laboratories for a minimum prevalence of 0.073 cases per 1000 population for the Western Cape (95% confidence interval [CI] 0 – 0.1). Twenty confirmed and probable cases were obtained from Tygerberg Children’s Hospital from 01 January 2006 to 31 December 2011. The median gestational age at birth was 37 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 32 – 38). Fourteen (70%) had low birth weight (LBW), nine (45%) were premature and seven (35%) were small for gestational age (SGA). Six women (30%) gave a history of rubella in pregnancy, five in the first trimester and one in the second trimester. The most common presenting signs were: petechiae in eight (40%), and cataracts in seven (35%) infants. Other presenting signs in the infants included hepatosplenomegaly. Nine (45%) had ophthalmologic involvement, all with cataracts; of these three had pigmentary retinopathy and one had congenital glaucoma. Four of the twelve tested (33%) had hearing impairment and ten Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Biomarker panels for prognosis prediction in heart failure on a CHARM basis

As in other medicine fields, science in heart failure is discovering and testing more biomarkers for prognostic use. The natriuretic peptides and troponins—the most cardiac specific of the present biomarkers—have proved useful biomarkers for predicting cardiac events in heart failure patients, on top of established and validated clinical prediction markers (1,2).
Effect of the muscular strength detraining in prepubertal boys

The strength trainability in children has been widely explored, however, there is still a questioning with regard to how strength decreases when they stop training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of muscular strength detraining of boys trained for 12 weeks. Seven prepubertal boys (EX 9.4 ± 1.6 years of age) trained three series of 15 repetitions, three times a week for 12 weeks. The training, supervised and developed in equipments, consisted of eight exercises including knee extension (KE) and elbow flexion (EF). The 1-RM test of NE and EF was performed before and after training and 12 weeks after detraining. A similar group of boys (n = 7, 9.7 ± 1.7 years), who did not train served as control (CO). After training, the group EX increased (p 0,05). When corrected by the body weight and by the lean body mass (LBM), the 1-RM of NE decreased significantly (p > 0,05) from 0.64 ± 0.1 to 0.45 ± 0.1 and from 0.83 ± 0.2 to 0.61 ± 0.2 of the body weight and LBM, respectively. The EF strength did not decrease significantly when corrected by the body weight and LBM. The strength levels did not change in the first 12 weeks for group CO, however, after 24 weeks, it presented an increase of 41% in the 1-RM of KE and 53% in EF. One concludes that, after detraining, the muscular strength presented no significant reduction in absolute values; the results are significant only when corrected by weight and LBM and it is only evidenced for the lower limbs.