Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

RATIONALE Upper airway muscle function plays a major role in maintenance of the upper airway patency and contributes to the genesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Preliminary results suggested that oropharyngeal exercises derived from speech therapy may be an effective treatment option for patients with moderate OSAS. OBJECTIVES To determine the impact of oropharyngeal exercises in patients with moderate OSAS. METHODS Thirty-one patients with moderate OSAS were randomized to 3 months of daily ( approximately 30 min) sham therapy (n = 15, control) or a set of oropharyngeal exercises (n = 16), consisting of exercises involving the tongue, soft palate, and lateral pharyngeal wall. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Anthropometric measurements, snoring frequency (range 0-4), intensity (1-3), Epworth daytime sleepiness (0-24) and Pittsburgh sleep quality (0-21) questionnaires, and full polysomnography were performed at baseline and at study conclusion. Body mass index and abdominal circumference of the entire group were 30.3 +/- 3.4 kg/m(2) and 101.4 +/- 9.0 cm, respectively, and did not change significantly over the study period. No significant change occurred in the control group in all variables. In contrast, patients randomized to oropharyngeal exercises had a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in neck circumference (39.6 +/- 3.6 vs. 38.5 +/- 4.0 cm), snoring frequency (4 [4-4] vs. 3 [1.5-3.5]), snoring intensity (3 [3-4] vs. 1 [1-2]), daytime sleepiness (14 +/- 5 vs. 8 +/- 6), sleep quality score (10.2 +/- 3.7 vs. 6.9 +/- 2.5), and OSAS severity (apnea-hypopnea index, 22.4 +/- 4.8 vs. 13.7 +/- 8.5 events/h). Changes in neck circumference correlated inversely with changes in apnea-hypopnea index (r = 0.59; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Oropharyngeal exercises significantly reduce OSAS severity and symptoms and represent a promising treatment for moderate OSAS. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT 00660777).
Human Cytochrome P450 2E1 Mutations That Alter Mitochondrial Targeting Efficiency and Susceptibility to Ethanol-induced Toxicity in Cellular Models*

Background: Induced expression of CYP2E1 is known to enhance alcohol liver toxicity. Results: Novel mutations W23R/W30R and L32N in human CYP2E1 alter mitochondrial and microsomal targeting efficiency. Conclusion: Human variants with altered targeting modulate susceptibility of cells to alcohol. Significance: Carriers of the novel W23R/W30R mutation in CYP2E1 are likely to be more susceptible to alcohol toxicity. Human polymorphisms in the 5′-upstream regulatory regions and also protein coding regions of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) are known to be associated with several diseases, including cancer and alcohol liver toxicity. In this study, we report novel mutations in the N-terminal protein targeting regions of CYP2E1 that markedly affect subcellular localization of the protein. Variant W23R/W30R protein (termed W23/30R) is preferentially targeted to mitochondria but very poorly to the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas the L32N protein is preferentially targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum and poorly to mitochondria. These results explain the physiological significance of bimodal CYP targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria previously described. COS-7 cells and HepG2 cells stably expressing W23/30R mutations showed markedly increased alcohol toxicity in terms of increased production of reactive oxygen species, respiratory dysfunction, and loss of cytochrome c oxidase subunits and activity. Stable cells expressing the L32N variant, on the other hand, were relatively less responsive to alcohol-induced toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. These results further support our previous data, based on mutational studies involving altered targeting, indicating that mitochondria-targeted CYP2E1 plays an important role in alcohol liver toxicity. The results also provide an interesting new link to genetic variations affecting subcellular distribution of CYP2E1 with alcohol-induced toxicity.
The Acute Effects of Fluid Intake on Urine Specific Gravity and Fluid Retention in a Mildly Dehydrated State

Abstract Logan-Sprenger, HM and Spriet, LL. The acute effects of fluid intake on urine specific gravity and fluid retention in a mildly dehydrated state. J Strength Cond Res 27(4): 1002–1008, 2013—Many athletes arrive at training sessions and competitions in a mildly hypohydrated (HYPO) state and are instructed to drink fluids before exercise to reach a euhydrated (HYD) state. Ten recreational athletes (6 women, 4 men; 71.9 ± 4.6 kg, 25.2 ± 0.9 years) participated in the studies to examine (a) the day-to-day variability of morning urine specific gravity (USG), (b) the effects of consuming 600 ml of water on the hydration status of HYD and HYPO (USG > 1.020) subjects, and (c) the effects of consuming water (W), salt-water (SW, 40 mM Na+), a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution with 3% or light carbohydrate (CES-L, 20 mM Na+) or a CES with 6% carbohydrate (CES, 20 mM Na+) on the hydration status of HYPO subjects. The hydration status was assessed with USG and body mass measures and urine volume collections. The day-to-day variability in morning USG (coefficient of variation = 0.2 ± 0.1%) was low and the responses to 600 ml of W ingestion were repeatable. Pretrial USG was 1.022 ± 0.001 in the HYPO trial and decreased <1.020 by 45 minutes (1.013 ± 0.003). In the CES study, HYPO subjects reached HYD status at 45 minutes in all conditions (W 1.013 ± 0.003, SW 1.013 ± 0.003, CES-L 1.011 ± 0.003, CES 1.017 ± 0.004) because salt or CES ingestion did not affect fluid retention (W 68%, SW 72%, CES-L 68%, CES 76%). This study demonstrated that mildly HYPO subjects could reach euhydration within 45 minutes of the ingestion of 600 ml of W or a combination of salt and CES solutions. Following this practice will minimize the incidence of starting a practice or competition hypohydrated.
Noncovalent sidewall functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes for protein immobilization.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are molecular wires that exhibit interesting structural, mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical properties. 1-3 A SWNT is unique among solidstate materials in that every atom is on the surface. Surface chemistry could therefore be critical to the physical properties of SWNTs and their applications. 3-10 SWNT sidewall functionalization is important to soluble nanotubes, 4-6 self-assembly on surfaces, and chemical sensors. 8-10 For these purposes, it is imperative to functionalize the sidewalls of SWNTs in noncovalent ways to preserve the sp 2 nanotube structure and thus their electronic characteristics. Immobilization of biomolecules on carbon nanotubes has been pursued in the past, motivated by the prospects of using nanotubes as new types of biosensor materials. 11-15 The electronic properties of nanotubes coupled with the specific recognition properties of the immobilized biosystems would indeed make for an ideal miniaturized sensor. A prerequisite for research in this area is the development of chemical methods to immobilize biological molecules onto carbon nanotubes in a reliable manner. Thus far, only limited work has been carried out with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). 11-15 Metallothionein proteins were trapped inside and placed onto the outer surfaces of open-ended MWNTs.11-14 Streptavidin was found to adsorb on MWNTs presumably via hydrophobic interactions between the nanotubes and hydrophobic domains of the proteins. 15 DNA molecules adsorbed on MWNTs via nonspecific interactions were also observed. 12-14
The Role of Lymphadenectomy in Esophageal Cancer

Objective:To address the role of lymphadenectomy in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Background:The role of lymphadenectomy in esophageal cancer surgery is controversial, and there is a lack of uniformity as to what the term means. Methods:The published data was reviewed to evaluate the evidence base for, and the terminology associated with, lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer. Results:Recommendations are given for a standardization of terminology for radical and nonradical lymphadenectomy procedures. Although there is no doubt that the presence of lymph node metastases worsens prognosis for a patient, there is a lack of high-level evidence to support lymphadenectomy. Logically, the best procedure, from a staging and perhaps theoretical oncologic point of view, is a 3-field lymphadenectomy but it is not clear which patients, if any, are most likely to benefit. Conclusions:Well-designed randomized controlled trials are required to test, in a scientific manner, which of these procedures we should be offering our patients.
Ketone bodies: a review of physiology, pathophysiology and application of monitoring to diabetes

Ketone bodies are produced by the liver and used peripherally as an energy source when glucose is not readily available. The two main ketone bodies are acetoacetate (AcAc) and 3‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (3HB), while acetone is the third, and least abundant, ketone body. Ketones are always present in the blood and their levels increase during fasting and prolonged exercise. They are also found in the blood of neonates and pregnant women. Diabetes is the most common pathological cause of elevated blood ketones. In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), high levels of ketones are produced in response to low insulin levels and high levels of counterregulatory hormones. In acute DKA, the ketone body ratio (3HB:AcAc) rises from normal (1:1) to as high as 10:1. In response to insulin therapy, 3HB levels commonly decrease long before AcAc levels. The frequently employed nitroprusside test only detects AcAc in blood and urine. This test is inconvenient, does not assess the best indicator of ketone body levels (3HB), provides only a semiquantitative assessment of ketone levels and is associated with false‐positive results. Recently, inexpensive quantitative tests of 3HB levels have become available for use with small blood samples (5–25 µl). These tests offer new options for monitoring and treating diabetes and other states characterized by the abnormal metabolism of ketone bodies. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Late angiotensin II receptor blockade in progressive rat mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis: new insights into mechanisms

Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis is the most common nephritis worldwide. We examined the effects of low‐ and high‐dose telmisartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, in rats with progressive anti‐Thy1.1 mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis in a clinically relevant situation of established renal damage. Uninephrectomized nephritic rats were randomized on day 28 to remain untreated (control treatment; CT), or to receive low‐ (0.1 mg/kg/day, LT) or high‐dose telmisartan (10 mg/kg/day, HT), hydrochlorothiazide + hydralazine (8 + 32 mg/kg/day, HCT + H), or atenolol (100 mg/kg/day, AT). CT and LT rats were hypertensive, whereas HT, HCT + H and AT treatment normalized blood pressures. On day 131, despite similar blood lowering effects, only HT, but not AT or HCT + H, prevented loss of renal function and reduced proteinuria compared to CT. Only HT potently ameliorated glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial damage, cortical matrix deposition, podocyte damage and macrophage infiltration. HT reduced cortical expression of platelet derived growth factor receptor‐α and ‐β as well as transforming growth factor‐β1. LT exhibited minor but significant efficacy even in the absence of antihypertensive effects. Transcript array analyses revealed a four‐fold down‐regulation of renal cortical chemokine (C–C motif) receptor 6 (CCR6) mRNA by HT, which was confirmed at the protein level. Silencing of CCR6 did not alter podocyte function in vitro, thus indicating a predominant role in the tubulo‐interstitium. In human kidney biopsies, CCR6 mRNA and mRNA of its ligand chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 20 was up‐regulated in patients with progressive IgA nephropathy compared to stable disease. Thus, delayed treatment with high‐dose telmisartan exerted a pronounced benefit in progressive mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, which extended beyond that of equivalent blood pressure lowering. We identified down‐regulation of platelet‐derived growth factor receptors and CCR6 as potential mediators of telmisartan‐related renoprotection. CCR6 may also regulate the renal outcome in human mesangioprolfierative glomerulonephritis. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prefinal : Improving the Kinect by Cross-Modal Stereo

The introduction of the Microsoft Kinect Sensors has stirred significant interest in the robotics community. While originally developed as a gaming interface, a high quality depth sensor and affordable price have made it a popular choice for robotic perception. Its active sensing strategy is very well suited to produce robust and high-frame rate depth maps for human pose estimation. But the shift to the robotics domain surfaced applications under a wider set of operation condition it wasn’t originally designed for. We see the sensor fail completely on transparent and specular surfaces which are very common to every day household objects. As these items are of great interest in home robotics and assistive technologies, we have investigated methods to reduce and sometimes even eliminate these effects without any modification of the hardware. In particular, we complement the depth estimate within the Kinect by a cross-modal stereo path that we obtain from disparity matching between the included IR and RGB sensor of the Kinect. We investigate how the RGB channels can be combined optimally in order to mimic the image response of the IR sensor by an early fusion scheme of weighted channels as well as a late fusion scheme that computes stereo matches between the different channels independently. We show a strong improvement in the reliability of the depth estimate as well as improved performance on a object segmentation task in a table top scenario.
Effects of wood ash fertilization on forest soil chemical properties

The effects of wood ash fertilization on soil chemical properties were studied in three young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations and a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) plantation with different site fertility in southern Finland. The dose of 3 t ha–1 of loose wood ash was applied to 4 replicate plots (25 × 25 m) at each experiment. Humus layer and mineral soil samples were taken before the treatment and 7 and 16 years after wood ash application. Results showed that neutralization as well as fertilization effects of wood ash on forest soil were of long duration. An ash-induced pH increase of 0.6–1.0 pH units and exchangeable acidity (EA) decrease of 58–83% were detected in the humus layer 16 years after wood ash application. The decrease in acidity was most pronounced on the Calluna site with initially the lowest pH and highest EA. In the mineral soil the increase in pH was observed later than in the humus layer. After 16 years, the mineral soil pH was increased (0.2–0.3 pH units) on the Vaccinium and Myrtillus sites. A corresponding and in most cases a signifi cant increase in the extractable Ca and Mg concentrations was detected in both the humus layer and in the mineral soil. Wood ash signifi cantly increased the effective cation exchange capacity (CECe) and base saturation (BS) but decreased the concentration of exchangeable Al in both soil layers on all the sites. No response of N availability to wood ash application could be found.
Cortical thickness, surface area, and volume of the brain reward system in alcohol dependence: relationships to relapse and extended abstinence.

BACKGROUND At least 60% of those treated for an alcohol use disorder will relapse. Empirical study of the integrity of the brain reward system (BRS) is critical to understanding the mechanisms of relapse as this collection of circuits is implicated in the development and maintenance of all forms of addictive disorders. This study compared thickness, surface area, and volume in neocortical components of the BRS among nonsmoking light-drinking controls (controls), individuals who remained abstinent and those who relapsed after treatment. METHODS Seventy-five treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals (abstinent for 7±3 days) and 43 controls completed 1.5T proton magnetic resonance imaging studies. Parcellated morphological data were obtained for following bilateral components of the BRS: rostral and caudal anterior cingulate cortex, insula, medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), rostral and caudal middle and superior frontal gyri, amygdala and hippocampus as well as for 26 other bilateral neocortical regions. Alcohol-dependent participants were followed over 12-months after baseline study and were classified as abstainers (no alcohol consumption; n=24) and relapsers (any alcohol consumption; n=51) at follow-up. RESULTS Relapsers and abstainers demonstrated lower cortical thickness in the vast majority of BRS regions as well as lower global thickness compared to controls. Relapsers had lower total BRS surface area than both controls and abstainers, but abstainers were not significantly different from controls on any surface area measure. Relapsers demonstrated lower volumes than controls in the majority of regions, while abstainers showed lower volumes than controls in the superior frontal gyrus, insula, amygdala, and hippocampus, bilaterally. Relapsers exhibited smaller volumes than abstainers in the right rostral middle and caudal middle frontal gyri and the lateral OFC, bilaterally. In relapsers, lower baseline volumes and surface areas in multiple regions were associated with a greater magnitude of post-treatment alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest relapsers demonstrated morphological abnormalities in regions involved in the "top down" regulation/modulation of internal drive states, emotions, reward processing, and behavior, which may impart increased risk for the relapse/remit cycle that afflicts many with an alcohol use disorder. Results also highlight the importance of examining both cortical thickness and surface area to better understand the nature of regional volume loss frequently observed in alcohol use disorders. Results from this report are consistent with previous research implicating plastic neurobiological changes in the BRS in the maintenance of addictive disorders.
An approach for detecting bridging faults in CMOS domino logic circuits using dynamic power supply current monitoring

A new approach for the detection of bridging faults in CMOS domino logic circuits is presented in this paper. It is based upon the transient current that is sourced (or sink) by the power supply (or ground) rail of the inverter in the domino logic gate during a low-to-high (or high-to-low) output transition. We show that the dynamic power supply current can be used to detect bridging faults because it is a function of the parameters and the interconnectivity of the transistors that form the discharge/charge circuits in the gate-under-test. An example of a dynamic power supply current monitoring circuit is also presented. This paper is concluded with an example of the application of the proposed approach for detecting bridging faults in CMOS domino logic circuit.
TDM35—a new monoclonal antibody to the XH1 cervical carcinoma cell line. Characterization and immunoperoxidase localization in benign and malignant tissues

The murine monoclonal IgG1 kappa antibody TDM35 was raised against the cervical carcinoma cell line XH1. The antibody recognizes 18.5–66 kDa NCA‐like glycoproteins and immunostains a variety of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded normal, benign, and malignant tissues. It is of value in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas and it identifies foci of squamous and glandular differentiation in other tumours. TDM35 should form a useful addition to a panel of antibodies for the evaluation of epithelial lesions.
Need for special units for the management of neuropsychiatric disorders in people with intellectual disabilities

The severe forms of intellectual disabilities (IDs) are associated with a wide range of treatment-resistant neuropsychiatric conditions including epilepsy, dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome), attention deficit/hyperactivity, behavioural, sleep and movement disorders as well as self-injury, aggression anxiety, depression, and psychosis (1). The limited availability and poor quality of healthcare facilities for people with an ID often add to the inequality experienced by this vulnerable group in comparison to other people (2, 3). The crucial problem is that various behavioural disorders may reflect communication problems, sensory processing disorders, or undiagnosed somatic disorders rather than treatable psychiatric disorders. In addition, numerous psychotropic medicines are commonly prescribed in spite of the limited evidence of their benefits (4, 5). Consequently, this multidimensional uncertainty can easily lead to inappropriate medication accompanied by drug-induced side-effects. Intellectual disability is seldom curable and its prognosis depends on an etiology, but the prognosis can be considered good when using general wellbeing, quality of life and daily functioning of an individual as an endpoint. The burden neuropsychiatric disorders and other comorbidities place on an individual and, on the other hand, on society cannot be determined without careful clinical examination including etiological evaluations and definition of intelligence quotient and functional and communicative capabilities. All this speaks for the importance of individually tailored treatment and rehabilitation.
M-learning e Celulares: em busca de soluções práticas

Neste artigo defende-se que e preciso buscar meios que contribuam para a aproximacao entre as pesquisas em mobile learning (m-learning) e as praticas educacionais efetivas. Nesse sentido, sao analisados recursos pedagogicos para celulares. Focalizam-se solucoes que possam funcionar em diversos aparelhos e ser elaboradas por professores, por meio de programas gratuitos. Corroborando a defesa pelo uso destes dispositivos, sao analisados dados, levantados em 2011, sobre os celulares dos alunos de duas turmas do Ensino Superior. A seguir, sao descritas ferramentas de desenvolvimento de recursos para estes dispositivos e sao discutidas formas de usos educacionais dos mesmos. E promovida, ainda, uma analise visando verificar se os recursos focalizados levam em consideracao, ou nao, caracteristicas que sao diferenciais de m-learning. Para tanto, e utilizada uma taxonomia selecionada na literatura. Foi possivel observar que mesmo recursos simples podem ter formas de uso adequadas a proposta de m-learning.
Prediction in Annotation Based Guideline Encoding

The encoding of clinical practice guidelines into machine operable representations poses numerous challenges and will require considerable human intervention for the foreseeable future. To assist and potentially speed up this process, we have developed an incremental approach to guideline encoding which begins with the annotation of the original guideline text using markup techniques. A modular and flexible sequence of subtasks results in increasingly inter-operable representations while maintaining the connections to all prior source representations and supporting knowledge. To reduce the encoding bottleneck we also employ a number of machine-assisted learning and prediction techniques within a knowledge-based software environment. Promising results with a straightforward incremental learning algorithm illustrate the feasibility of such an approach.