Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current physical activity guidelines for health are insufficient to mitigate long-term weight gain: more data in the fitness versus fatness debate (The HUNT study, Norway)

Background To promote and maintain health, all adults are recommended to do moderate-intensity aerobic activity a minimum of 30 min on 5 days, or vigorous-intensity activity of 20 min on 3 days, each week. Whether these levels prevent long-term weight gain is uncertain. Objective To assess the relationship between physical activity and long-term weight gain. Study design An observational prospective cohort study. Methods Weight and physical activity were measured in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study in 1984–1986, 1995–1997 and 2006–2008. Participants (n=19 127) were classified based on physical activity into inactive, below recommended level, recommended level or above recommended level. We carried out adjusted mixed model regression analyses with weight as outcome. Results Men maintaining physical activity above the recommendations for 33 years increased 5.6 kg, while inactive men increased 9.1 kg. For women, corresponding numbers were 3.8 kg in those above recommended physical activity levels, and 9.5 kg in inactive. In adjusted analyses, physical activity above the recommendations was associated with 2.1 kg (95% CI 1.8 to 2.4) less weight gain in men over any 11-year period, compared with inactive. Women exceeding the recommendations gained 1.8 kg (CI 1.5 to 2.2) less than inactive. Compared with inactive, the ORs of gaining meaningful weight of ≥2.3 kg were 0.79 (CI 0.69 to 0.91) and 0.70 (CI 0.60 to 0.81) if exceeding the recommendations in men and women, respectively. Conclusions Physical activity above the current recommendations for health benefits was associated with significantly lower risk of weight gain.
Effects of flunixin meglumine, diclofenac sodium and metamizole sodium on experimen- tal wound healing in rats

SUMMARY The aim of the study was to examine the effect of various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the healing of excisional wounding in the skin of rats. Twenty rats were equally divided among four groups. After the excisional wounding, all animals received various NSAIDs for 14 days, except control group. Repair of full-thickness excisions was followed up for 14 days and re-epithelialization, neovascularization, inflammatory cell infiltration of the wound bed, collagen deposition and percent contraction of original wound size have been evaluated as the determinants of the healing process. The percent wound closure of diclofenac and flunixin meglumin treated animals was found to be significantly less compared to control group animals. Histological findings demonstrated a relative delay of healing tissue in NSAID treated animals except metamizole group. Neovascularization was significantly less in the granulation tissue of diclofenac and flunixin meglumin treated groups on day 7 postwounding, than that of the controls. The mean tissue hydroxyproline contents on days 0, 7 and 14 were not statistically significant among the study groups. NSAIDs used in this animal model of wound healing caused a slight deficiency in the healing process by decreasing wound contraction, and angiogenesis which are two crucial factors in tissue integrity.
A cost model for estimating the performance of spatial joins using R-trees

The development of a cost model for predicting the performance of spatial joins has been identified in the literature as an important and difficult problem. The authors present the first cost model that can predict the performance of spatial joins using R-trees. Based on two existing R-trees (join targets), the model first estimates the number of expected I/Os for the join process by assuming a zero buffer size. The method for this estimation extends the cost model for R-tree window queries (developed by Kamel and Faloutsos (1993) and by Pagel et al. (1993)) to also handle spatial joins (which are more complex). In the context of spatial join processing, this number of zero-buffer expected I/Os is not practical for performance prediction in a buffered environment. To model the buffer impact, they use an (exponential) distribution function to measure the probability that a bufferless I/O would cause a page fault in a buffered environment. Based on this probability and the zero-buffer expected I/O cost, the estimated number of I/Os for an R-tree join can then be computed. The comparisons between the predictions from the cost model and the actual results from the experiments based on real GIS maps show that the average relative error ratio is about 10% with a maximum of about 20% for a wide range of buffer sizes. Therefore, our model is a useful tool for the query optimization of spatial join queries.
Black Holes in Higher Dimensions

We review black-hole solutions of higher-dimensional vacuum gravity and higher-dimensional supergravity theories. The discussion of vacuum gravity is pedagogical, with detailed reviews of Myers-Perry solutions, black rings, and solution-generating techniques. We discuss black-hole solutions of maximal supergravity theories, including black holes in anti-de Sitter space. General results and open problems are discussed throughout.
Microfabrication and characteristics of low-power high-performance magnetic thin-film transformers

We investigated low-power (1.5-W), solenoid-type magnetic thin-film transformers with a Ni/sub 81/Fe/sub 19/ core for a 5-MHz drive dc-dc converter application. We used 2-/spl mu/m-thick Ni/sub 81/Fe/sub 19/ films covered by 20-/spl mu/m-thick copper coils as the core materials. The transformers fabricated in this study range in size from 3.08 mm /spl times/ 25.5 mm to 6.15 mm /spl times/ 12.75 mm. The design of the transformers was optimized by utilizing the conventional equations, a Maxwell three-dimensional field simulator, and parameters obtained from the magnetic properties of NiFe magnetic core materials. The 6.15 mm /spl times/ 12.75 mm transformers exhibit inductance (L) of 0.83 /spl mu/H, dc resistance of 2.3 /spl Omega/, coupling factor of 0.91, and gain of -1 dB at 5 MHz. These results are comparable to those reported in recent literature for various types of transformers sandwiched by more complex magnetic core materials. The calculated data obtained by using the well-known equation of L and the equivalent circuit agreed well with the high-frequency data for L and gain of the transformers.
Evaluating and Measuring the Value, Use and Impact of Digital Collections

It's good time! Time for reading Evaluating And Measuring The Value Use And Impact Of Digital Collections, as best seller publication in this wolrd. Do not have it? Too bad. Currently, you can download and install or perhaps merely review online this book by Simone Schweitzer in this web site. Just sign up and click the switch to get them and also choose reading enter zip, rar, txt, word, kindle, ppt, as well as pdf.
Enhancing transcription through the Escherichia coli hemolysin operon, hlyCABD: RfaH and upstream JUMPStart DNA sequences function together via a postinitiation mechanism

Escherichia coli hlyCABD operons encode the polypeptide component (HlyA) of an extracellular cytolytic toxin as well as proteins required for its acylation (HlyC) and sec-independent secretion (HlyBD). The E. coli protein RfaH is required for wild-type hemolysin expression at the level of hlyCABD transcript elongation (J. A. Leeds and R. A. Welch, J. Bacteriol. 178:1850-1857, 1996). RfaH is also required for the transcription of wild-type levels of mRNA from promoter-distal genes in the rfaQ-K, traY-Z, and rplK-rpoC gene clusters, supporting the role for RfaH in transcriptional elongation. All or portions of a common 39-bp sequence termed JUMPStart are present in the untranslated regions of RfaH-enhanced operons. In this study, we tested the model that the JUMPStart sequence and RfaH are part of the same functional pathway. We examined the effect of JUMPStart deletion mutations within the untranslated leader of a chromosomally derived hlyCABD operon on hly RNA and HlyA protein levels in either wild-type or rfaH null mutant E. coli. We also provide in vivo physical evidence that is consistent with RNA polymerase pausing at the wild-type JUMPStart sequences.
Facial reactions in response to dynamic emotional stimuli in different modalities in patients suffering from schizophrenia: a behavioral and EMG study

Emotional facial expression is an important low-level mechanism contributing to the experience of empathy, thereby lying at the core of social interaction. Schizophrenia is associated with pervasive social cognitive impairments, including emotional processing of facial expressions. In this study we test a novel paradigm in order to investigate the evaluation of the emotional content of perceived emotions presented through dynamic expressive stimuli, facial mimicry evoked by the same stimuli, and their functional relation. Fifteen healthy controls and 15 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were presented with stimuli portraying positive (laugh), negative (cry) and neutral (control) emotional stimuli in visual, auditory modalities in isolation, and congruently or incongruently associated. Participants where requested to recognize and quantitatively rate the emotional value of the perceived stimuli, while electromyographic activity of Corrugator and Zygomaticus muscles was recorded. All participants correctly judged the perceived emotional stimuli and prioritized the visual over the auditory modality in identifying the emotion when they were incongruently associated (Audio-Visual Incongruent condition). The neutral emotional stimuli did not evoke any muscle responses and were judged by all participants as emotionally neutral. Control group responded with rapid and congruent mimicry to emotional stimuli, and in Incongruent condition muscle responses were driven by what participants saw rather than by what they heard. Patient group showed a similar pattern only with respect to negative stimuli, whereas showed a lack of or a non-specific Zygomaticus response when positive stimuli were presented. Finally, we found that only patients with reduced facial mimicry (Internalizers) judged both positive and negative emotions as significantly more neutral than controls. The relevance of these findings for studying emotional deficits in schizophrenia is discussed.
(Health-related) quality of life and psychosocial factors in adolescents with chronic disease: a systematic literature review

Abstract Background Research on living with a chronic disease (CD) in adolescence is increasing. However, studies on the relevance of psychosocial factors are still needed. The present review, focuses on the impact of living with a CD in adolescence on on quality of life (QoL), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial factors. Methods A literature review of articles identified through PubMed, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES (these last two ones comprise the Ebsco Host platform) and original peer-reviewed research papers, published between 2010 and 2015, with no restrictions regarding the format/source of interventions, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or types of comparisons were included. Results Eighteen papers met the inclusion criteria and contradictory results were found: the majority showed a significantly higher risk of impairment on QoL/HRQoL and psychosocial factors, whereas others reported a significantly lower risk of impairment (highlighting possible protective factors), or no significant differences. Heterogeneity in the assessment procedures and substantial difficulties in considering adolescence as a single and independent age group, were also noted. Conclusion The higher risk of impairment and the heterogeneity observed between cohorts, reinforce the need to work towards consensual procedures, which allow for more accurate comparisons among studies. Additionally, it conveys the challenge to find more effective interventions. Furthermore, it is highly suggested to routinely assess HRQoL/psychosocial factors within an individualized framework, to considerer adolescents as a single/independent group, to emphasize potential protective factors, and, to increase youth’s participation in their own adaptation process and in health promotion in general. These are possible future directions that could enable multidisciplinary responses to improve HRQoL and psychosocial care in adolescents with a CD.
Global adaptive control of nonlinearly parametrized systems

In this paper, we consider global adaptive control of nonlinearly parametrized systems in parametric-strict-feedback form. Unlike previous results, we do not require a priori bounds on the unknown parameters, which is as in the linear parametrization case. We also allow unknown parameters to be time-varying provided they are bounded. Our proposed adaptive controller is a switching type controller, in which the controller parameter is tuned in a switching manner via a switching logic. Global stability results of the closed-loop system have been proved.
Physical fitness and fatness in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND This study investigated health-related fitness in adolescents with intellectual disabilities and analysed the various performances in physical fitness tests according to degrees of obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-seven French intellectual disabilities adolescents (14.24 ± 1.48 years) performed the EUROFIT physical fitness test battery. Height, weight and waist circumference were assessed, and BMI and waist-to-height ratio were calculated. 'Bio-impedancemetry' evaluated body fat (BF) percentage. RESULTS Ninety-four per cent of the adolescents completed the aerobic running test, 52% of which had low VO(2max). Thirty-seven per cent were obese (%BF), and 32% had excess visceral adipose tissue. Adolescents with the lowest cardiorespiratory fitness had the highest BF percentages (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Intellectual disabilities adolescents showed low physical fitness and high prevalence of obesity. Both could further worsen social participation and health status.
Individual Responses for Muscle Activation, Repetitions, and Volume during Three Sets to Failure of High- (80% 1RM) versus Low-Load (30% 1RM) Forearm Flexion Resistance Exercise

This study compared electromyographic (EMG) amplitude, the number of repetitions completed, and exercise volume during three sets to failure of high- (80% 1RM) versus low-load (30% 1RM) forearm flexion resistance exercise on a subject-by-subject basis. Fifteen men were familiarized, completed forearm flexion 1RM testing. Forty-eight to 72 h later, the subjects completed three sets to failure of dumbbell forearm flexion resistance exercise with 80% (n = 8) or 30% (n = 7) 1RM. EMG amplitude was calculated for every repetition, and the number of repetitions performed and exercise volume were recorded. During sets 1, 2, and 3, one of eight subjects in the 80% 1RM group demonstrated a significant linear relationship for EMG amplitude versus repetition. For the 30% 1RM group, seven, five, and four of seven subjects demonstrated significant linear relationships during sets 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The mean EMG amplitude responses show that the fatigue-induced increases in EMG amplitude for the 30% 1RM group and no change in EMG amplitude for the 80% 1RM group resulted in similar levels of muscle activation in both groups. The numbers of repetitions completed were comparatively greater, while exercise volumes were similar in the 30% versus 80% 1RM group. Our results, in conjunction with those of previous studies in the leg extensors, suggest that there may be muscle specific differences in the responses to high- versus low-load exercise.
Distribution of the maximum in air pollution fields

Air quality standards are set to protect public health. The values of the standards are often based on health effect studies, without any statistical considerations. In order to judge if a standard is met measurements of ambient air quality are taken at monitoring stations, and these measured values are used to decide whether or not the standard has been violated. In this paper we examine the statistical quality of some air quality standards by taking both measurement error and variability of the ambient field away from the monitoring sites into account. In particular we study the distribution of the maximum of the ambient field conditional on a measured monitoring value at the value prescribed by the standard. The distribution of the maximum is computed using a Rice method and relies on a generalization of upcrossings of a level in one dimension to two dimensions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Paracrine activation of hepatic stellate cells in platelet‐derived growth factor C transgenic mice: Evidence for stromal induction of hepatocellular carcinoma

Cirrhosis is the primary risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet the mechanisms by which cirrhosis predisposes to carcinogenesis are poorly understood. Using a mouse model that recapitulates many aspects of the pathophysiology of human liver disease, we explored the mechanisms by which changes in the liver microenvironment induce dysplasia and HCC. Hepatic expression of platelet‐derived growth factor C (PDGF‐C) induces progressive fibrosis, chronic inflammation, neoangiogenesis and sinusoidal congestion, as well as global changes in gene expression. Using reporter mice, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and liver cell isolation, we demonstrate that receptors for PDGF‐CC are localized on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which proliferate, and transform into myofibroblast‐like cells that deposit extracellular matrix and lead to production of growth factors and cytokines. We demonstrate induction of cytokine genes at 2 months, and stromal cell‐derived hepatocyte growth factors that coincide with the onset of dysplasia at 4 months. Our results support a paracrine signaling model wherein hepatocyte‐derived PDGF‐C stimulates widespread HSC activation throughout the liver leading to chronic inflammation, liver injury and architectural changes. These complex changes to the liver microenvironment precede the development of HCC. Further, increased PDGF‐CC levels were observed in livers of patients with nonalcoholic fatty steatohepatitis and correlate with the stage of disease, suggesting a role for this growth factor in chronic liver disease in humans. PDGF‐C transgenic mice provide a unique model for the in vivo study of tumor–stromal interactions in the liver.
Sleep health of healthcare workers in Kano, Nigeria

Background: The relevance of sleep in the life of a human being cannot be overemphasized in terms of physical and mental well-being. Among several factors that can affect the sleep health of an individual occupation have been found to play a prominent role. The literature is still scanty with regard to sleep studies in our environment. Aim: This study aims to assess the sleep health of tertiary healthcare workers in Kano Nigeria and find, if any, its determining or related factors. Material and Methods: This study was cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey and involved all consenting staff members of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire was used to assess the sleep health of the participants. Results: The participants' ages ranged from 18 to 65 years and have a mean age of 38.94 ± 8.07 years. There were 119 (74.4%) males and 41 (25.4%) females with a M:F ratio of 3:1 (χ2 = 19.415; P = 0.000). Among the 155 participants who completed all the aspects of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires, the overall sleep quality of the study population was found to be significantly poor [good sleepers = 71 (45.8%), poor sleepers = 84 (54.2%), χ2 = 116.4; P = 0.000]. Considering the various occupational groups working in the hospital, poor sleep was commonest among the nurses 35 (42.7%). Furthermore, among the nurses, poor sleep was significantly commoner in those on shift work 27 (77.1%) than those not on shift work 8 (22.9%); χ2 = 36.2; P = 0.000. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, and duration in service were not significant predictors of poor sleep quality among the participants [odds ratio (OR) = 1.013, 95% confidence interest (CI) = 0.948–1.084, P = 0.698; OR = 0.691, 95% CI = 0.293–1.631, P = 0.399; and OR = 0.993, 95% CI = 0.932–1.058 P = 0.840, respectively). Conclusions: Our study found that a significant proportion of healthcare workers and particularly nurses had poor sleep quality. Also, age, sex, and duration in service were not significant predictors of poor sleep quality among the participants.
Physical Activity and Nutrition Knowledge and Preferences in Kindergarten Children

The aim of the present study was to determine physical activity and nutritional knowledge and preferences in kindergarten children. Following height and weight measurement, and age and gender adjusted BMI percentile calculation, 202 kindergarten children (4 - 6.5 yr) completed twice in a random order, a photo-pair food and exercise questionnaire. Knowledge was determined by asking the child to choose food/activity that would make a selected doll healthier, while preferences where determined by the child's own choise. Nutritional knowledge score was higher than the physical activity knowledge score (73.4 +/- 1.5 vs. 67.5 +/- 1.9 %, p < 0.006), while the nutrition preference score was lower than the physical activity preference score (42.2 +/- 1. 8 vs. 66.5 +/- 1.6 %, p < 0.0001). There was a difference between nutrition knowledge and preferences (73.4 +/- 1.5 vs. 42.2 +/- 1.8 %, p < 0.0001). No differences were found between physical activity knowledge and preferences. No differences were found between overweight and normal weight kindergartners. Female kindergartners had higher nutrition knowledge and preference scores, but lower physical activity preference scores compared to male kindergartners. Our data suggest that in developing health promotion programs for kindergarten children, an effort should be made to increase physical activity knowledge and to improve nutritional preferences.
Traffic light recognition in varying illumination using deep learning and saliency map

The accurate detection and recognition of traffic lights is important for autonomous vehicle navigation and advanced driver aid systems. In this paper, we present a traffic light recognition algorithm for varying illumination conditions using computer vision and machine learning. More specifically, a convolutional neural network is used to extract and detect features from visual camera images. To improve the recognition accuracy, an on-board GPS sensor is employed to identify the region-of-interest, in the visual image, that contains the traffic light. In addition, a saliency map containing the traffic light location is generated using the normal illumination recognition to assist the recognition under low illumination conditions. The proposed algorithm was evaluated on our data sets acquired in a variety of real world environments and compared with the performance of a baseline traffic signal recognition algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate the high recognition accuracy of the proposed algorithm in varied illumination conditions.