Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Older people awaken more frequently but fall back asleep at the same rate as younger people.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine whether the increased wake within a bedrest episode in healthy older people is due to an increased number and/or increased duration of awakenings by evaluating the rates of transition between sleep and wake bouts within a bedrest episode. DESIGN Analysis of previously reported polysomnographic data from 13 older and 11 younger healthy individuals scheduled to sleep at many different phases of the endogenous circadian cycle during conditions of forced desynchrony (18.7 hours wake: 9.3 hours bedrest) of the circadian and wake-bedrest cycles. SETTING General clinical research center PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS None. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Older subjects had an approximately 2.7-fold increased rate of awakening from sleep but the same rate of falling back asleep as younger subjects. These differences between young and older individuals were observed at most circadian phases and throughout the bedrest episodes. In addition, the circadian variation in transition rates was greater in younger than older subjects. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the reduced consolidation of sleep within a bedrest episode is due to difficulties remaining asleep, rather than falling asleep once awake, and is a primary change in sleep with aging.
Flavonols: old compounds for old roles.

BACKGROUND New roles for flavonoids, as developmental regulators and/or signalling molecules, have recently been proposed in eukaryotic cells exposed to a wide range of environmental stimuli. In plants, these functions are actually restricted to flavonols, the ancient and widespread class of flavonoids. In mosses and liverworts, the whole set of genes for flavonol biosynthesis - CHS, CHI, F3H, FLS and F3'H - has been detected. The flavonol branch pathway has remained intact for millions of years, and is almost exclusively involved in the responses of plants to a wide array of stressful agents, despite the fact that evolution of flavonoid metabolism has produced >10 000 structures. SCOPE Here the emerging functional roles of flavonoids in the responses of present-day plants to different stresses are discussed based on early, authoritative views of their primary functions during the colonization of land by plants. Flavonols are not as efficient as other secondary metabolites in absorbing wavelengths in the 290-320 nm spectral region, but display the greatest potential to keep stress-induced changes in cellular reactive oxygen species homeostasis under control, and to regulate the development of individual organs and the whole plant. Very low flavonol concentrations, as probably occurred in early terrestrial plants, may fully accomplish these regulatory functions. CONCLUSIONS During the last two decades the routine use of genomic, chromatography/mass spectrometry and fluorescence microimaging techniques has provided new insights into the regulation of flavonol metabolism as well as on the inter- and intracellular distribution of stress-responsive flavonols. These findings offer new evidence on how flavonols may have performed a wide array of functional roles during the colonization of land by plants. In our opinion this ancient flavonoid class is still playing the same old and robust roles in present-day plants.
A planning quality evaluation tool for prostate adaptive IMRT based on machine learning.

PURPOSE To ensure plan quality for adaptive IMRT of the prostate, we developed a quantitative evaluation tool using a machine learning approach. This tool generates dose volume histograms (DVHs) of organs-at-risk (OARs) based on prior plans as a reference, to be compared with the adaptive plan derived from fluence map deformation. METHODS Under the same configuration using seven-field 15 MV photon beams, DVHs of OARs (bladder and rectum) were estimated based on anatomical information of the patient and a model learned from a database of high quality prior plans. In this study, the anatomical information was characterized by the organ volumes and distance-to-target histogram (DTH). The database consists of 198 high quality prostate plans and was validated with 14 cases outside the training pool. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to DVHs and DTHs to quantify their salient features. Then, support vector regression (SVR) was implemented to establish the correlation between the features of the DVH and the anatomical information. RESULTS DVH/DTH curves could be characterized sufficiently just using only two or three truncated principal components, thus, patient anatomical information was quantified with reduced numbers of variables. The evaluation of the model using the test data set demonstrated its accuracy approximately 80% in prediction and effectiveness in improving ART planning quality. CONCLUSIONS An adaptive IMRT plan quality evaluation tool based on machine learning has been developed, which estimates OAR sparing and provides reference in evaluating ART.
Pediatric-based intervention to motivate mothers to seek follow-up for depression screens: The motivating our mothers (MOM) trial

OBJECTIVE— To determine the initial effectiveness of a novel, pediatric office-based intervention in motivating mothers to seek further assessment of positive depression screens. METHODS— In this pilot randomized controlled trial, English-speaking mothers (n=104) with positive 2-question depression screens and presenting with children 0–12 years old for well-child care to a general pediatric training clinic received interventions from a trained research assistant. The Motivating Our Mothers (MOM) intervention included office-based written and verbal targeted depression education and motivational messages encouraging further depression assessment and a semi-structured telephone “booster” delivered 2 days later. The control intervention included non-targeted written and verbal messages and 2 days later, an attention control telephone survey. Both groups received a list of depression care resources. The primary outcome was the proportion of mothers in each group who reported trying to contact any of 6 types of resources to discuss the positive screen at 2 weeks post-intervention (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01453790). RESULTS— Despite 6 contact attempts, 10 MOM and 9 control mothers were lost to follow-up. More mothers in the MOM intervention tried to contact a resource compared to control (73.8% vs. 53.5%, difference 20.3%, 95% CI for difference −0.1% to 38.5%, P = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS— Mothers receiving the MOM intervention made more attempts to contact a resource for follow-up of positive depression screens. If found effective in larger studies, MOM may prove a promising approach for motivating depression screen-positive mothers identified in general pediatric settings within and beyond the postpartum period, to seek further depression assessment and support.
Talen voor Nederland

We moeten verstandiger en efficienter omgaan met de talen in ons land, en daar heldere keuzes bij maken. Nederland is een meertalige samenleving geworden en daar is beleid voor nodig. Het Nederlands zelf heeft een brede basis nodig, en het leren van Nederlands zou laagdrempelig moeten zijn, voor vluchtelingen en immigranten, maar ook voor expats en internationale studenten. Daarnaast moeten we verder kijken dan het Engels en beter gebruikmaken van aanwezige talenkennis.
Hormone-sensitive lipase, the rate-limiting enzyme in triglyceride hydrolysis, is expressed and active in beta-cells.

Triglycerides in the beta-cell may be important for stimulus-secretion coupling, through provision of a lipid-derived signal, and for pathogenetic events in NIDDM, where lipids may adversely affect beta-cell function. In adipose tissues, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is rate-limiting in triglyceride hydrolysis. Here, we investigated whether this enzyme is also expressed and active in beta-cells. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that HSL is expressed in rat islets and in the clonal beta-cell lines INS-1, RINm5F, and HIT-T15. Western blot analysis identified HSL in mouse and rat islets and the clonal beta-cells. In mouse and rat, immunocytochemistry showed a predominant occurrence of HSL in beta-cells, with a presumed cytoplasmic localization. Lipase activity in homogenates of the rodent islets and clonal beta-cells constituted 2.1 +/- 0.6% of that in adipocytes; this activity was immunoinhibited by use of antibodies to HSL. The established HSL expression and activity in beta-cells offer a mechanism whereby lipids are mobilized from intracellular stores. Because HSL in adipocytes is activated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), PKA-regulated triglyceride hydrolysis in beta-cells may participate in the regulation of insulin secretion, possibly by providing a lipid-derived signal, e.g., long-chain acyl-CoA and diacylglycerol.
Intravenous Glucocorticosteroid Treatment Augments Apoptosis of Inflammatory T Cells in Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis (EAN) of the Lewis Rat

Abstract. Apoptosis plays a crucial role in natural recovery from experimental autoimmune disorders of the nervous system. Here we investigated in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) whether apoplosis is augmented by high-dose corticosteroids, the mainstay of therapeutically active compounds in this group of disorders. Adoptive transfer EAN was induced by intravenous injection of P2-specific T cell blasts. At disease onset or at the maximum of disease two pulses of steroids were given within 12 hours, and animals were sacrificed 6 hours later. Steroid therapy significantly reduced T cell infiltration in sciatic nerve. Treatment on both day 4 and day 7 caused a significant increase of T cell apoptosis (42% vs 8.4% in placebotreated animals on day 4, p < 0.05; 22.5% vs 7.0% on day 7, p < 0.05) in sciatic nerve as assessed by molecular labeling techniques. In addition, reduction of body weight and thymus weight and augmentation of thymocyle apoptosis were observed in steroid recipients. Steroid treatment markedly reduced cellular proliferation in lymphoid organs as measured by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Glucocorticosteroid treatment augments T cell apoptosis in inflammatory lesions of the peripheral nervous system, and this may add to their anti-inflammatory properties mediated by downregulation of cytokine expression.
Hierarchical VS2 Nanosheet Assemblies: A Universal Host Material for the Reversible Storage of Alkali Metal Ions

Reversible electrochemical storage of alkali metal ions is the basis of many secondary batteries. Over years, various electrode materials are developed and optimized for a specific type of alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, or K+), yet there are very few (if not none) candidates that can serve as a universal host material for all of them. Herein, a facile solvothermal method is developed to prepare VS2 nanosheet assemblies. Individual nanosheets are featured with a few atomic layer thickness, and they are hierarchically arranged with minimized stacking. Electrochemical measurements show that VS2 nanosheet assemblies enable the rapid and durable storage of Li+, Na+, or K+ ions. Most remarkably, the large reversible specific capacity and great cycling stability observed for both Na+ and K+ are extraordinary and superior to most existing electrode materials. The experimental results of this study are further supported by density functional theory calculations showing that the layered structure of VS2 has large adsorption energy and low diffusion barriers for the intercalation of alkali metal ions.
Can economic incentive help in reducing food waste: experimental evidence from a university dining hall

ABSTRACT We show that a fixed financial incentive reduces the amount of food waste in an all-you-can-eat university-dining hall. Results indicate that the incentive increased the likelihood of students cleaning their plates, but did not affect the amount of food taken. These results raise important questions about implementing well-studied policies in modifying food consumption. An unintended consequence of the monetary incentive might have led students to consume relatively more food, thus encouraging unwanted eating habits.
Increased carotid intima-media thickness in HIV patients is associated with increased cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell responses

Objectives:HIV-infected subjects are at increased risk for myocardial infarction. The mechanism of this increased risk remains unclear. Since cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been associated with accelerated atherosclerosis in the transplant population and immune responses against CMV may be altered by HIV disease, we hypothesized that enhanced T-cell responses against CMV would be associated with increased atherosclerosis in subjects with HIV. Methods:We measured high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), T-cell activation, CMV-specific T-cell responses, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in 93 HIV-infected subjects and in 37 uninfected controls. Results:The mean age of the HIV-infected subjects was 48 years and 85 (91%) were male. The median carotid IMT was higher in the HIV-infected group compared to the uninfected group (0.95 mm versus 0.68 mm, P < 0.001). This difference remained significant after controlling for all traditional risk factors. Compared to HIV-negative controls, HIV-infected subjects had higher median levels of hs-CRP (P = 0.05), higher levels of CD4 and CD8 T-cell activation (P < 0.0001) and higher CMV-specific interferon-γ CD8 T-cell responses (P < 0.0001). CMV-specific T-cell responses, but not hs-CRP and T-cell activation, were independently associated with higher carotid IMT (P = 0.001). Conclusions:HIV-infected subjects had thicker carotid IMT compared to controls. While HIV patients also had higher T-cell activation, hs-CRP levels, and CMV-specific T-cell responses, only CMV-specific T-cell responses were independently associated with IMT. Accelerated atherosclerosis in HIV patients may be mediated by heightened CMV-induced immune responses.
An Experimental Study on the Relationship Among Airway Pressure, Pneumoperitoneum Pressure, and Central Venous Pressure in Pure Laparoscopic Hepatectomy

Objectives:To determine optimal settings for airway pressure (AWP), pneumoperitoneum pressure (PPP), and central venous pressure (CVP) in pure laparoscopic hepatectomy. Background:High PPP is often employed to control bleeding from the hepatic vein during pure laparoscopic hepatectomy; however, there is a risk of pulmonary gas embolism. We noted that decreases in AWP were often effective. Methods:After establishing carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in 6 male piglets and maintaining PPP at 25 mmHg, CVP was measured 3 times at each of 9 levels of airway pressure, which was increased in increments of 5 cmH2O from 0 to 40 cmH2O. CVP was measured in the same manner by maintaining PPP at 20, 15, 10, 5, and 0 mmHg, and in laparotomy. Correlation and regression analyses were performed among airway pressure, CVP, and pneumoperitoneum pressure. Results:Positive correlations were observed between AWP and CVP and between PPP and CVP (P < 0.001). Under high airway pressure, CVP was persistently higher than pneumoperitoneum pressure. Under low airway pressure, CVP did not increase or often decreased when PPP was higher than CVP. Conclusions:By increasing pneumoperitoneum pressure, bleeding from the hepatic vein cannot be controlled under high airway pressure, but can be controlled under low airway pressure. However, under low airway pressure, the risk of pulmonary gas embolism increases when PPP is higher than CVP. We consider that reducing AWP is also effective for controlling bleeding from the hepatic vein and safer than increasing pneumoperitoneum pressure.
Alternative multidrug regimen provides improved suppression of HIV‐1 replication over triple therapy

Objective:To compare the viral suppression of two antiretroviral regimens using three drugs or five drugs. Design:Two open-label studies using a three-drug (zidovudine, lamivudine and ritonavir) and a five-drug regimen (zidovudine, lamivudine, abacavir, indinavir and nevirapine) in study-drug-naive patients, except for one in the five-drug study. Methods:Participants with ≥ 10 000 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml in plasma at baseline were compared by means of Kaplan-Meier curves for time to < 50 copies/ml, as well as linear regression analysis for the first phase of decline using log-transformed copy numbers. Results:The elimination rate constants for HIV-1 RNA in 15 participants of the three-drug study were compared with nine participants of the five-drug study. The level of < 50 copies/ml was reached earlier when using the five-drug than when using the three-drug regimen (P log rank = 0.0005): median time to reach this level was 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. No differences were found in HIV-1 RNA elimination rate constants in the first 2 weeks after the initiation of therapy. When the viral load declines were calculated from day 2 onwards, adjusting for differences in pharmacological delay of the drugs used, again no differences in early viral load decline were found between the two regimens. Conclusion:With the five drugs used in this study, the median time to reach < 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml was 8 weeks shorter than with the three-drug regimen. This finding shows that suppression of viral load in HIV-infection by standard triple-drug therapy can be improved upon.
Overexpression of Transforming Growth Factor-pl mRNA Is Associated With Up-Regulation of Glomerular Tenascin and Laminin Gene Expression in Nonobese Diabetic Mice1

Am. Soc. ABSTRACT Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop immune-mediated insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and nephropathy, providing an opportunity to study the early molecular events in a model of diabetic glomerulosclerosis. The expression of several genes coding for growth factors and extracellular matrix was examined in microdissected glomeruli, by the use of reverse transcription-competitive polymerase
Germline mutations of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene in children and young adults with second malignant neoplasms.

BACKGROUND Acquired mutations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene have been detected in several human cancers, including colon, breast, and lung cancer. Inherited mutations (transmitted through the germline) of this gene can underlie the Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare familial association of breast cancer in young women, childhood sarcomas, and other malignant neoplasms. We investigated the possibility that p53 mutations in the germline are associated with second primary cancers that arise in children and young adults who would not be considered as belonging to Li-Fraumeni families. METHODS Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood leukocytes of 59 children and young adults with a second primary cancer. The polymerase chain reaction, in combination with denaturant-gel electrophoresis and sequencing, was used to identify p53 gene mutations. RESULTS Mutations of p53 that changed the predicted amino acid sequence were identified in leukocyte DNA from 4 of the 59 patients (6.8 percent). In three cases, the mutations were identical to ones previously found in the p53 gene. The fourth mutation was the first germline mutation to be identified in exon 9, at codon 325. Analysis of leukocyte DNA from close relatives of three of the patients indicated that the mutations were inherited, but cancer had developed in only one parent at the start of the study. CONCLUSIONS These findings identify an important subgroup of young patients with cancer who carry germline mutations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene but whose family histories are not indicative of the Li-Fraumeni syndrome. The early detection of such mutations would be useful not only in treating these patients, but also in identifying family members who may be at high risk for the development of tumors.
Automatic extraction of component inspection regions from Printed Circuit Board

The inspection machine in PCB(Printed Circuit Board) assembly line checks for assembly errors by examining the images inside the component inspection region. The component inspection region consists of a component package region and a soldering region. The regions need to be extracted automatically so the auto-teaching system of the inspection machine can work. An image segmentation method was proposed to extract the component inspection regions automatically from the images of the PCB. The acquired image was transformed to HSI color model, and then segmented by several regions by a clustering method. A modified K-means algorithm was developed to increase the accuracy of extraction. The heuristics generating the initial clusters and merging the final clusters were newly proposed. The vertical and horizontal projection was also developed to distinguish the region of the component package and the region of soldering. The experimental results are presented to highlight the utility of the proposed method.
The 5‐year outcome of multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients in the Cape Province of South Africa

Little is known about the outcome of multidrug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries. In this study, 443 patients with MDR‐TB, defined as resistance to two or more antituberculosis drugs, were identified over the 2‐year period 1987 and 1988 in the Cape Province of South Africa. The 5‐year outcome of the 343 (77%) patients that could be traced by questionnaire was evaluated retrospectively during 1992 and 1993. Of these, 240 (70%) were resistant to both isoniazid (H) and rifampicin (R) with or without resistance to other first‐line antituberculosis drugs and 103 (30%) were resistant to H or R and/or other antituberculosis drugs. Mortality was 116 (48%) and 28 (27%) in these groups respectively with a significantly greater risk of death in the first group. Only 114 (33%) of all the MDR‐TB patients were cured after 5 years, 50 (15%) were respiratory disabled and 44 (13%) were still bacteriology positive. Twenty‐four (7%) patients were lost during follow‐up. Taking into account the high costs involved in treating MDR‐TB patients and the scarce resources available in developing countries, more emphasis should be placed on direct observed therapy to cure newly diagnosed infectious drug sensitive tuberculosis patients, thus preventing MDR‐TB rather than treating it.
Altered Cytokine Production in Mice Lacking P2X7Receptors*

The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ATP-gated ion channel expressed by monocytes and macrophages. To directly address the role of this receptor in interleukin (IL)-1β post-translational processing, we have generated a P2X7R-deficient mouse line.P2X7R −/− macrophages respond to lipopolysaccharide and produce levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and pro-IL-1β comparable with those generated by wild-type cells. In response to ATP, however, pro-IL-1β produced by theP2X7R −/− cells is not externalized or activated by caspase-1. Nigericin, an alternate secretion stimulus, promotes release of 17-kDa IL-1β fromP2X7R −/− macrophages. In response to in vivo lipopolysaccharide injection, both wild-type andP2X7R −/− animals display increases in peritoneal lavage IL-6 levels but no detectable IL-1. Subsequent ATP injection to wild-type animals promotes an increase in IL-1, which in turn leads to additional IL-6 production; similar increases did not occur in ATP-treated, LPS-primedP2X7R −/− animals. Absence of the P2X7R thus leads to an inability of peritoneal macrophages to release IL-1 in response to ATP. As a result of the IL-1 deficiency,in vivo cytokine signaling cascades are impaired in P2X7R-deficient animals. Together these results demonstrate that P2X7R activation can provide a signal that leads to maturation and release of IL-1β and initiation of a cytokine cascade.