Proteomic Biomarkers of the Apnea Hypopnea Index and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Presence,Severity, and Treatment Response

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disease associated with excessive sleepiness and increased cardiovascular risk, affects an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. The present study examined proteomic biomarkers indicative of presence, severity, and treatment response in OSA. Participants (n = 1391) of the Stanford Technology Analytics and Genomics in Sleep study had blood collected and completed an overnight polysomnography for scoring the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI). A highly multiplexed aptamer-based array (SomaScan) was used to quantify 5000 proteins in all plasma samples. Two separate intervention-based cohorts with sleep apnea (n = 41) provided samples pre- and post-continuous/positive airway pressure (CPAP/PAP). Multivariate analyses identified 84 proteins (47 positively, 37 negatively) associated with AHI after correction for multiple testing. Of the top 15 features from a machine learning classifier for AHI ≥ 15 vs. AHI < 15 (Area Under the Curve (AUC) = 0.74), 8 were significant markers of both AHI and OSA from multivariate analyses. Exploration of pre- and post-intervention analysis identified 5 of the 84 proteins to be significantly decreased following CPAP/PAP treatment, with pathways involving endothelial function, blood coagulation, and inflammatory response. The present study identified PAI-1, tPA, and sE-Selectin as key biomarkers and suggests that endothelial dysfunction and increased coagulopathy are important consequences of OSA, which may explain the association with cardiovascular disease and stroke.     

Quand les objets deviennent communicants La mise en confiance des acteurs humains et la question des traces numériques

The “Internet of things” is likely to give a second breath to the information society. However, the loss of control over personal information is both problematical and widely criticized. The “promise” of a better society offered by new services based on communication between machines carries with it frightening corollaries: it evokes a totalitarian space, where anonymous exchanges are no longer possible and the various traits of people’s digital identities are stored by agents of public and business powers. It is thus the management of digital tracking technologies that we wish to explore in this publication. Our hypothesis is that current criticism of a police state or of new forms of economic alienation is taking place at far too general a level. It obscures the real problem with the profusion of tracking methods, which for us reveals a crisis of confidence (as Giddens means it), at the individual level, in the means of production of telecommunications, which is the result of a deficit in the standardization process. From this perspective, the issue of the profusion of tracing technologies and their management transcends the issue of social control to encompass that of social responsibility and of modalities of proofs when the system fails.     

High pass filter with above IC integrated SrTiO3 high K MIM capacitors

This paper describes realization and characterization of SrTiO₃ (STO) high K MIM capacitors above BiCMOS integrated circuit (IC). These capacitances are connected to IC and are used as coupling capacitors in order to realize a high pass filter. Surface capacitance achieved is 10 nF/mm² with capacitance value of 1.2 nF. The process for STO MIM fabrication does not exceed 400 °C, which is compatible with interconnections. Typical K and dielectric losses values obtained are, respectively 110% and 2%. Yield obtained reaches 83% for capacitors. A functional high pass filter using these STO capacitors was realized in this study. It exhibits a cut-off frequency at 6.5 kHz and a constant gain at higher frequencies of −1.3 dB.     

Index Calculus in Class Groups of Non-hyperelliptic Curves of Genus Three

We study an index calculus algorithm to solve the discrete logarithm problem (DLP) in degree 0 class groups of non-hyperelliptic curves of genus 3 over finite fields. We present a heuristic analysis of the algorithm which indicates that the DLP in degree 0 class groups of non-hyperelliptic curves of genus 3 can be solved in an expected time of . This heuristic result relies on one heuristic assumption which is studied experimentally. We also present experimental data which show that a variant of the algorithm is faster than the Rho method even for small group sizes, and we address practical limitations of the algorithm.     

Uniform Virus‐Like Co–N–Cs Electrocatalyst Derived from Prussian Blue Analog for Stretchable Fiber‐Shaped Zn–Air Batteries

Zn‐air batteries (ZABs) offer promising commercialization perspectives for stretchable and wearable electronic devices as they are environment‐friendly and have high theoretical energy density. However, current devices suffer from limited energy efficiency and durability because of the sluggish oxygen reduction and evolution reactions kinetics in the air cathode as well as degenerative stretchability of solid‐state electrolytes under highly alkaline conditions. Herein, excellent bifunctional catalytic activity and cycling stability is achieved by using a newly developed Co–N–C nanomaterial with a uniform virus‐like structure, prepared via a facile carbonization of a prussian blue analogue (PBA). Furthermore, a solid‐state dual‐network sodium polyacrylate and cellulose (PANa‐cellulose) based hydrogel electrolyte is synthesized with good alkaline‐tolerant stretchability. A solid‐state fiber‐shaped ZAB fabricated using this hydrogel electrolyte, the virus‐like Co–N–Cs air cathode, and a zinc spring anode display excellent stretchability of up to 500% strain without damage, and outstanding electrochemical performance with 128 mW cm^?2 peak power density and good cycling stability for >600 cycles at 2 mA. The facile synthesis strategy demonstrated here opens up a new avenue for developing highly active PBA‐derived catalyst and shows, for the first time, that virus‐like structure can be favorable for electrochemical performance.     

Dry fermented sausages elaborated with Lactobacillus plantarum-Staphylococcus carnosus part I: Effect of partial replacement of NaCl with KCl on the stability and the nitrosation process

The effect of partial replacement of NaCl with KCl on the nitrosation process of dry fermented sausages elaborated with L. plantarum + S. carnosus as starter culture was analysed. The Na⁺/K⁺ ratio decreased from 4.38 in the control to 0.86 in the modified product. The nitrosation process happened in a quicker and more intense way from the beginning of the process onwards. The chemical conversion percentages (nitrosopigments/total pigments × 100) were higher during the whole ripening process in the modified product. This fact agrees with the highest acidification found in the modified products. Also, a reduced degree of pigment oxidation was found.     

Influence of partial replacement of NaCl with KCl on lipid fraction of dry fermented sausages inoculated with a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum and Staphylococcus carnosus

The effect of partial replacement of NaCl (3% NaCl) with KCl (1.5% NaCl and 1% KCl) on the lipid fraction of dry fermented sausages inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum and Staphylococcus carnosus as starter culture was analysed. The reduction in salt concentration did not affect the Micrococcaceae count. A positive effect on the intensity of lipolytic activity was observed as a consequence of the decrease in salt level. There was no decrease in the oxidative processes. The higher amounts of volatile fatty acids found suggest that the tested modification enhances some of their mechanisms of synthesis.     

Effect of propionic acid on kinetics of acetate and oleate and on plasma and milk fatty acid composition of goats

Entry rates of acetate and oleate and their incorporation into lipids of blood plasma and fatty acids of milk were studied in lactating goats fed a concentrate-roughage ration with propionic acid infused intraruminally at 0, 5.52, and 13.74 g/h by primed constant intravenous infusion of [1-carbon-14] acetate and [9, 10-hydrogen-3] oleate. Means for infusion rates were acetate, 60, 52, and 39 micrograms/ml blood plasma; propionate 9, 12, and 22 micrograms/ml; oleate, 19, 14, and 12 micrograms/ml; acetate entry rate, 3.9, 2.7, and 1.8 mmol/h per kg bodyweight; oleate entry rate, 47, 29, and 19 mumol/h per kg bodyweight; acetate oxidation rate, 2.0, 1.7, and 1.4 mmol/h per kg, and its contribution to the total carbon dioxide production, 16, 14, and 11%. Propionic acid increased incorporation of carbon-14 and hydrogen-3 into plasma lipids, elevated proportions of 7:0, 9:0, 11:0, 13:0, 15:0, and 17:0 fatty acids in milk, and tended to lower others. Specific radioactivities of milk fatty acids during infusion of propionic acid were elevated by 1.8 to 2.8 times, and total fatty acids in milk and plasma were lowered by 22 and 38%. Data support the glucogenic theory that propionic acid either directly or through gluconeogenesis stimulates insulin secretion, which in turn inhibits release of fatty acids from adipose tissue, resulting in milk fat depression.