Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obtenção de xilooligossacarideos por resíduos lignocelulósicos: alternativa para produção de compostos funcionais para alimentos

A crescente demanda por novos alimentos que sejam capazes de promover a saude e prevenir doencas, tem atraido a atencao mundial sobre os prebioticos. Xilo-oligossacarideos (XOS) sao considerados uns dos poucos nutraceuticos que podem ser produzidos a partir da biomassa lignocelulosica. Esta biomassa, por sua vez, e considerado um residuo de baixo custo e que muitas vezes representa um problema sistemico para o meio ambiente. Com isso, a producao de XOS a partir de residuos agricolas oferece grandes possibilidades para a industria alimenticia como materia-prima barata e disponivel em abundância. As principais vantagens do consumo de XOS, provem da estimulacao do crescimento seletivo da microflora intestinal benefica, incluem a reducao dos indices glicemicos e de colesterol no sangue, de reduzir enzimas pro-carcinogenicas no trato gastrointestinal, melhorar a absorcao de minerais no intestino grosso, alem de estimular o sistema imune. Com isso, o objetivo deste artigo e demonstrar os efeitos funcionais dos XOS e a sua obtencao a partir da biomassa lignocelulosica, como alternativa para a formulacao de alimentos saudaveis alem de propiciar uma alternativa viavel para a diminuicao dos residuos agricolas dispostos no meio ambiente.
Active contour extraction method for objects with a rough surface using single-chip FMCW radars

In this paper a method for contour extraction of objects with a high degree of surface roughness in the range of 60 GHz Radar is presented. The proposed algorithm is based on an active contour model (snake) with external forces called component normalized gradient vector flow (CN-GVF). The snake algorithm extracts the contour of the object under test (OUT) based on wavefront Radar imaging methods. Experimental validations were performed with two fully integrated wideband frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) single-chip Radar transceivers with an operational band from 57 GHz to 64 GHz, a corner cube retroreflector and a target object with a high degree of surface roughness.
Het vaststellen van kwaliteit van leven bij cliënten in de ouderenzorg

Met nieuwe instrumenten is nu voor alle clienten in de verpleeg- en verzorgingshuizen de kwaliteit van leven te meten. Ook van ouderen met dementie. Betrouwbaar Hoe het in de ouderenzorg met de kwaliteit van leven is gesteld, is lastig te meten. Hoe ligt dit bijvoorbeeld bij een oudere met dementie? Met de vragenlijst Zicht op eigen leven en de gelijknamige observatielijst zijn nu betrouwbare meetinstrumenten beschikbaar. Het NIVEL (Nederlands instituut voor onderzoek van de gezondheidszorg) toetste onlangs nogmaals de vragenlijst en ontwikkelde samen met ActiZ (de brancheorganisatie van zorgondernemers) de observatielijst voor ouderen met cognitieve beperkingen, door bijvoorbeeld dementie. Kwaliteitsdomeinen De observatielijst wordt ingevuld door verzorgenden en gaat uit van vier domeinen van kwaliteit van leven: gezondheid, woon- en leefsituatie, participatie en mentaal welbevinden. Deze vier domeinen zijn ook het uitgangspunt voor de vragenlijst en de ‘Normen voor verantwoorde zorg’. Observatielijst De observatielijst Zicht op eigen leven is samengesteld uit bestaande meetinstrumenten. De observatielijst is geschikt voor ouderen met matige tot ernstige dementie en andere cognitieve problemen. Voor ouderen met zeer ernstige dementie is de observatielijst aangepast, omdat bepaalde gedragingen niet meer goed zijn vast te stellen. De observatielijst is samengesteld uit de Qualidem, de Sociaal welbevinden observatieschaal (SWON) en de DS-DAT (voor clienten met zeer ernstige dementie). NIVEL en ActiZ ontwikkelen momenteel een handleiding en een bijbehorend digitaal verwerkingsinstrument.
¿Psicología en crisis? Reflexiones

Tras incorporarme de nuevo a mis labores docentes me llego la invitacion del director del Anuario de Psicologia para participar en este volumen, dedi-cado a la valoracion de aspectos de la metodologia de la psicologia actual, en torno al trabajo del profesor de la Universidad de Salamanca Juan Delgado. No sin cierta curiosidad comence a leer el articulo del profesor Delgado y compro-be, gratamente, que algo empieza a moverse en nuestra area de conocimiento. Tras comentar el articulo con la profesora San Luis esbozamos, conjuntamente, las siguientes reflexiones. El hecho de que la Psicologia este en crisis no creo que sea preocupante en si, tambien podria ser considerado como un sintoma de madurez, o un ele-mento mas en el entorno de una crisis mas profunda y que atane, por poner un ejemplo que nos resulta especialmente cercano, a la concepcion que tenemos de la Universidad, tan necesitada de un cambio en profundidad. Incluso mas, la crisis de la Psicologia (que data de hace mucho tiempo) se hace quiza hoy mas patente y mas presente pues es tambien parte de la crisis que se hace notar en los inicios del siglo al contemplar como el mundo se hace cada vez mas complejo y la realidad se nos aparece cada vez mas inaccesible al hombre. La sociedad pretende dar respuestas a los nuevos retos haciendo analisis criticos sobre el estado de la ciencia y sus problemas actuales. La Psicologia en este sentido es una muestra mas de lo que ocurre a nivel general en relacion con la Ciencia, su utilidad y su progresion (si se nos permite decirlo asi). Pero aun compartiendo la reflexion generica de la crisis del pensamiento dominante preferimos alinearnos en tesis mas cercanas a Wallerstein (1997), para quien el sistema cientifico sigue siendo central y su finalidad es ordenar un sistema de ideas generales, coherentes, logico y necesario en cuyos terminos sea posi-ble interpretar cualquier elemento de nuestra experiencia. La crisis se puede entender, en un contexto general, como revolucion en el sentido que Thomas Samuel Kuhn nos propone en su ensayo La estructura de
Spectral analysis of R-R and arterial pressure variabilities to assess sympatho-vagal interaction during mental stress in humans.

We tested the hypothesis that spectral analysis of the R-R interval and systolic arterial pressure variabilities allows assessment of the dynamic changes in neural control of the cardiovascular system in men undergoing mental stress testing. Mental arithmetic increased the low-frequency components of R-R and systolic arterial pressure, i.e. markers of sympathetic activity to the SA node and the vasculature, respectively; it also decreased the high frequency component of R-R variability, a marker of vagal activity. Spectral analysis of R-R and systolic arterial pressure variabilities may be used in the clinic to test the dynamic effects of mental stress on both sympathetic and vagal activities.
Myocardial Protection During Reperfusion

After prolonged periods of energy depletion, myocardial cells may rapidly deteriorate during the early stage of reperfusion. It has now been clearly demonstrated that this kind of acute lethal reperfusion injury is due to specific processes elicited by cellular re-energization. The most prominent single cause of acute harm to the reoxygenated myocardial cells is myofibrillar hypercontraction. Hypercontraction is caused by a resupply of energy of the myofibrils at excessive cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations. Additionally, the ability of the cytoskeleton to withstand large mechanical forces seems to be weakened after a prolonged period of energy depletion. Intracellular acidosis during the early stage of reperfusion represents a natural mechanism of protection against acute reperfusion injury. The reperfused myocardial cell may also suffer from uncontrolled water uptake and increased sarcolemmal fragility, favoring osmotic damage of cell membranes. As yet therapeutical interventions trying to specifically interfere with these pathomechanisms of reperfusion injury have only been tested experimentally. It seems promising to evaluate their utility for myocardial protection in cardio-surgical operations.
Correlación entre el grado de anemia en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica y el grado de hiperfosfatemia y producto de solubilidad

Antecedentes: la anemia aumenta la morbilidad y mortalidad por complicaciones cardiovasculares (angina, hipertrofia del ventriculo izquierdo e insuficiencia cardiaca) que, a su vez, pueden favorecer mayor deterioro de la funcion renal e inicio del sindrome cardiorrenal anemico. Objetivos: medir las concentraciones de hemoglobina, calcio y fosforo en pacientes con enfermedad renal cronica estadio 5 en tratamiento con eritropoyetina y establecer si existe correlacion entre estas variables. Material y metodo: estudio descriptivo, observacional, transversal y prolectivo en el que se determino una muestra de 24 pacientes (hombres y mujeres) con enfermedad renal cronica en estadio 5 en tratamiento sustitutivo de la funcion renal con dialisis peritoneal ambulatoria continua y anemia resistente. Se tomaron muestras para cuantificacion de: hemoglobina, fosfato (P04) y calcio (Ca) y se calculo el producto de solubilidad (producto calcio x fosforo). Para correlacionar la variable hemoglobina con las variables calcio y fosfato se utilizo estadistica inferencial por medio del coeficiente de correlacion de Pearson. Tambien se calculo el coeficiente de determinacion. Para calcular la p se recurrio a la distribucion t y se considero que habia significacion estadistica con valores de 0.05. Resultados: de los pacientes incluidos 12 eran mujeres y 12 hombres, con media de edad de 45.5 anos. La correlacion entre la variable hemoglobina y el producto de solubilidad resulto negativa, con una r de -0.433 (IC 95% -.034 a -.711) y coeficiente de determinacion de 18%, con un indice de confianza de 95% con p < 0.05. Al correlacionar la variable hemoglobina y fosfato se encontro una correlacion negativa de -0.485 (IC 95% -.113 a -.722) y coeficiente de determinacion de 23%, con un grado de confianza de 99% con una p < 0.05. Conclusiones: existe correlacion negativa, estadisticamente significativa, entre la
Th22 and related cytokines in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

Introduction: Th22 and related cytokines regulate various processes and have been linked to diverse effects. The levels of Th22 and cytokine IL-22 are increased in several disorders and positively related to some autoimmune diseases. Preclinical studies have suggested that the inhibition or stimulation of IL-22 is an attractive approach to reverse the immune disorders. Simultaneously, considering many patients with refractory autoimmune diseases respond poorly to the therapies which are highly toxic, more effective therapies are to be examined. Areas covered: The role of Th22 cells and related cytokines and therapeutic strategies targeting them in many illnesses, especially inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Expert opinion: Th22 cells and related cytokine IL-22 regulate multiple biological functions and play an important role in a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. They have unique and attractive advantages for targeting. Targeting IL-22 has already been trialed in many mice experiments, showing better efficacy and fewer side effects compared with classical drugs. Targeting IL-22 or Th22 might provide pathogenetic treatment. However, Th22 subset is a recently identified Th subset and its associated research is extremely limited. Therefore, there are still many unanswered questions and further researches are warranted.
Predictions of response to artificial selection from new mutations.

The pattern of response expected from fixation of mutant genes for quantitative traits in finite populations is investigated for a range of distributions of mutant gene effects. The eventual rate depends on the total variance of mutant effects per generation, but the initial rate and the variance of response is higher if the distribution of mutant effects has a large standard deviation or is leptokurtic. The difference between initial and eventual rates of response is greater with large population sizes. For a range of assumptions, new mutants are unlikely to have much influence on response for 20 or so generations, but then may contribute substantially, such that no plateaux are obtained. However, information on the variance contributed by mutants is almost entirely on bristle number in Drosophila . It is argued that the role of new mutants should be considered in designing breeding programmes, in particular in utilizing large populations.
Uncoupling proteins : current status and therapeutic prospects Meeting on Uncoupling Proteins

Introduction In a springtime Madrid, under the auspices of the Juan March Foundation, some 50 scientists who work on uncoupling proteins convened to debate the mode of action of these mitochondrial membrane carriers, the control of their expression, their physiological roles and their therapeutic potential. In bioenergetics, ‘uncoupling’ refers to any process through which energy released from the combustion of substrate (food) in the mitochondria is not conserved. The final steps in the oxidation of substrate are the transfer of electrons to oxygen, forming water, by the respiratory chain. The energy released is used by the respiratory chain to pump protons out of the mitochondria, as seen in Fig 1A. In most mitochondria, the majority of these protons re-enter through the ATP synthase, and the energy is used to synthesize ATP. However, if the protons re-enter by any other means, the mitochondria are considered to be uncoupled. To some degree this happens in all mitochondria, in ways not understood at present. There is also at least one protein whose function is to allow protons to re-enter the mitochondria without using the energy for any purpose (Fig 1A). Under these conditions, the energy is released as heat. The undisputed uncoupling protein, UCP1, performs this task in brown adipose tissue. Mammals, including newborn humans, use the released heat to protect themselves against cold; this process is referred to as nonshivering thermogenesis. As energy in this process is transferred to heat and not stored as fat in the body, the activity of the uncoupling protein(s) can be viewed as an anti-obesity mechanism—a possibility that has attracted much attention, as both pharmaceutical companies and the general public are looking for easy ‘slimming’ agents. It would be expected that the congregation of scientists assembled in Madrid would be united at least in the definition of an uncoupling protein. However, given the intense and animated discussions that characterized the meeting, it is clear that an accord has not even been reached on this basic subject, a fact that underlines the timeliness of this lively meeting. The reasons for this plurality of definitions are mostly historical. They reflect the development of the field, from a time when only one uncoupling protein was known (UCP1), to the present day when a steadily increasing number of proteins are being advocated as functional uncoupling proteins. The discussions in this respect centred on whether uncoupling proteins should be identified on the basis of their structural similarity to UCP1 or on their functional properties. The advantage of a structural similarity definition is that there is a formal solution to the problem—only proteins with high sequence similarity are included in the UCP family. The disadvantage is that some
Siderophore-Iron Uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A family of four putative transporters (Arn1p–4p) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is expressed under conditions of iron deprivation and is regulated by Aft1p, the major iron-dependent transcription factor in yeast. One of these, Arn3p/Sit1p, facilitates the uptake of ferrioxamine B, a siderophore of the hydroxamate class. Here we report that ARN family members facilitated the uptake of iron from the trihydroxamate siderophores ferrichrome, ferrichrome A, and triacetylfusarinine C. Uptake of siderophore-bound iron was dependent on either the high-affinity ferrous iron transport system or the ARNfamily of transporters. The specificity of each siderophore for individual transporters was determined. Uptake of ferrichrome and ferrichrome A was facilitated by both Arn1p and Arn3p. Uptake of triacetylfusarinine C was facilitated by Arn2p, although small amounts of uptake also occurred through Arn1p and Arn3p. In contrast to the trihydroxamates, uptake of iron from the dihydroxamate rhodotorulic acid occurred only via the high-affinity ferrous iron system. Epitope-tagged Arn1p was expressed in intracellular vesicles in a pattern that was indistinguishable from that of Arn3p, whereas Ftr1p, a component of the high-affinity ferrous system, was expressed on the plasma membrane. These data indicate that S. cerevisiaemaintains two systems of siderophore uptake, only one of which is located on the plasma membrane.
Mesures de forme, de déplacement, et de paramètres mécaniques parstéréo-corrélation d’images isogéométrique

Ces travaux de these sont dedies a la mesure de formes 3D, de champs cinematiques 3D surfaciques et a l'identification de parametres mecaniques a partir de mesures par correlation d'images. Cette methode optique se base sur l'utilisation de cameras comme support de la mesure. Pour cette raison, une etude des differents modeles de camera classiquement utilises est effectuee, puis le passage d'un formalisme continu pour la description des images a une approche discrete utilisant la notion de pixel est decrit. Une attention particuliere est portee aux distorsions optiques et une approche utilisant la correlation d'images pour les evaluer est developpee. Une nouvelle methode de mesure de forme 3D et de champs de deplacements 3D surfaciques par stereo-correlation d'images est introduite. Elle utilise un modele numerique de l'objet observe comme support pour la correlation. Cette methode mene a une formulation globale de la stereo-correlation. Elle peut etre ecrite dans le cas general et particularisee a des surfaces NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines). Le champ de deplacement est egalement exprime dans un formalisme NURBS completement coherent avec le modele geometrique utilise pour definir la forme observee. Des mesures sont validees en utilisant des mouvements imposes a un carreau de Bezier usine. La faisabilite de la technique dans plusieurs cas industriels est egalement etudiee avec, par exemple, la mesure des deplacements d'une piece composite de train d'atterrissage chargee mecaniquement. Enfin, a partir de cette formulation isogeometrique de la mesure de champs, une etude de la caracterisation de proprietes elastiques est effectuee. Deux methodes inspirees d'approches existantes sont ainsi proposees, utilisant des mesures de champs et des calculs numeriques dans un formalisme isogeometrique pour identifier des parametres de loi de comportement elastique isotrope sur un cas test numerique et pour un essai de traction uniaxiale.
SIRT1 Regulates Cognitive Performance and Ability of Learning and Memory in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Models

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex age-related metabolic disease. Cognitive dysfunction and learning and memory deficits are main characteristics of age-related metabolic diseases in the central nervous system. The underlying mechanisms contributing to cognitive decline are complex, especially cognitive dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. SIRT1, as one of the modulators in insulin resistance, is indispensable for learning and memory. In the present study, deacetylation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, microRNA, and tau phosphorylation are considered in the context of mechanism and significance of SIRT1 in learning and memory in diabetic and nondiabetic murine models. In addition, future research directions in this field are discussed, including therapeutic potential of its activator, resveratrol, and application of other compounds in cognitive improvement. Our findings suggest that SIRT1 might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cognitive impairment induced by type 2 diabetes mellitus.
A multiplex real‐time PCR for quantification of HIV‐1 DNA and the human albumin gene in CD4+ cells

We have established a simple system for measuring HIV‐1 DNA load in CD4+ cells. In a multiplex configuration, a conserved region in the HIV‐1 pol gene and a section of the human albumin gene were simultaneously amplified to estimate the number of HIV‐1 DNA copies per cellular genome. An established Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) standard system was used to calibrate the HIV‐1 quantification. Our multiplex PCR system was tested on different in vitro developed HIV‐1 strains and on longitudinal samples from eight patients. The system was able to amplify both in vitro and in vivo samples of various genetic compositions. In all eight patients, HIV‐1 DNA was detected and ranged between 0.17 and 51×10−3 copies per CD4+ cell and could be monitored longitudinally, including long‐term PI‐ART and STI. The measured HIV‐1 DNA load may be used to select the best time for the institution or re‐institution of therapy.
Lead Perforation: Incidence in Registries

Pacemaker and implantable defibrillator lead perforation, although relatively uncommon, is a recognized potential complication of pacemaker or defibrillator lead implantation. Published event rates range from 0.1% to 0.8% for pacemaker leads and 0.6–5.2% for implantable defibrillator leads.1 Although most perforations are recognized during or shortly after implantation, subacute and late perforations have also been reported. Khan and colleagues reported three cases of late perforation (detected more than one month after implant); two with right atrial and one with a right ventricular pacing lead.1 Subclinical lead perforation may occur more frequently. A recent report showed radiographic evidence for perforation in 15% of both active and passive pacemaker and defibrillator leads discovered incidentally on CT scans obtained for other reasons. Pacemaker and defibrillator lead perforation is often attributed to one or a combination of factors including patient characteristics, concomitant therapies such as steroids or anticoagulants, implant techniques, and the design characteristics of the lead. This issue of PACE includes three case reports describing four patients with late (detected more than 30 days after implant) implantable defibrillator lead perforation involving St. Jude Medical’s Riata ST leads, including three 8-French (F) leads and one 7-F lead.3–5 Like other manufacturers of implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, St. Jude Medical encourages, logs, and tracks all verbal and written reports with respect to any device or lead issue, including perforation. Among returned products and reported incidents involving 121,000 implanted Riata leads in the United States, a perforation incidence rate of 0.086% has been observed. This voluntary field reporting indicates an incidence of 0.057% for 86,000 Riata 8-F leads and 0.157% for 35,000 implanted 7-F leads. Although voluntary reporting is both encouraged and valuable, it may underestimate the true
Evidence of the Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Agent in Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Switzerland

ABSTRACT A total of 1,667 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from five regions in Switzerland where there have been sporadic occurrences of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs and horses. The ticks were examined for rickettsiae of the Ehrlichia phagocytophila group via nested PCR. Twenty-one ticks (1.3%) were positive; 3 (0.5%) were nymphs, 6 (1.3%) were adult males, and 12 (1.9%) were adult females. The number of positive ticks varied with the stage of development and with the geographical origin. Nucleotide sequencing of the isolated PCR products identified these products as part of the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia. In addition, these products had 100% homology with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The occurrence of this agent in I. ricinus in Switzerland presents a potential danger of transmission of granulocytic ehrlichiosis to dogs, horses, and humans.