Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular disease risk factors and diet of Fulani pastoralists of northern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND The Fulani of northern Nigeria are seminomadic pastoralists who consume a diet rich in saturated fats, do not use tobacco, are lean, and have an active lifestyle. Little is known about their serum lipid profiles and corresponding risk of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE We measured serum lipid, homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 concentrations in Fulani men and women and assessed the nutrient content of their diet. DESIGN Blood samples from 42 men (18-64 y old) and 79 women (15-77 y old) living in the Jos Plateau of Nigeria were analyzed for cholesterol (total, HDL, and LDL), triacylglycerol, homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 serum concentrations. Body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Dietary information was obtained with use of a 7-d dietary recall and a food-frequency questionnaire. Results were compared with US referent ranges. RESULTS The mean energy content of the Fulani diet was relatively low (men, 6980 kJ; women, 6213 kJ) and the mean protein content was high (men, 20% of energy; women, 16% of energy). Nearly one-half of energy was provided by fat, and one-half of that was derived from saturated fatty acids. The diet provided marginal to adequate amounts of vitamins B-12, B-6, and C but only one-third of the US recommended dietary allowance for folate. The mean total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triacylglycerol concentrations of Fulani adults were within the referent ranges; the mean LDL-cholesterol concentration of Fulani adults below the range; and the mean serum homocysteine concentration of Fulani men above the range. Homocysteine and folate concentrations were inversely correlated for both men and women. CONCLUSIONS Despite a diet high in saturated fat, Fulani adults have a lipid profile indicative of a low risk of cardiovascular disease. This finding is likely due to their high activity level and their low total energy intake.
Even Highly Correlated Measures Can Add Incrementally to Predicting Recidivism Among Sex Offenders

Criterion-referenced measures, such as those used in the assessment of crime and violence, prioritize predictive accuracy (discrimination) at the expense of construct validity. In this article, we compared the discrimination and incremental validity of three commonly used criterion-referenced measures for sex offenders (Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offence Recidivism [RRASOR], Static-99R, and Static-2002R). In a meta-analysis of 20 samples (n = 7,491), Static-99R and Static-2002R provided similar discrimination but outperformed the RRASOR in the prediction of sexual, violent, and any recidivism. Remarkably, despite large correlations between them (rs ranging from .70 to .92), these risk scales consistently added incremental validity to one another. The direction of the incremental effects, however, was not consistently positive. When controlling for the other measures, high scores on the RRASOR were associated with lower risk for violent and any recidivism. We also examined different methods of combining risk scales and found that the averaging approach produced better discrimination than choosing the highest score and produced better calibration than either choosing the lowest or highest risk score. The findings reinforce the importance of understanding the psychological content of criterion-referenced measures, even when the sole purpose is to predict a particular outcome and provide some direction concerning the best methods for combining risk scales.
Service Quality, Resistance to Change, Employees‟ Engagement, and Outsourcing in Telecom Enterprise Organizations

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between service quality, employees resistant to change, employees’ engagement, and outsourcing in a telecom environment. While managers adopt outsourcing as a strategy that benefits organization, engagement of employees to achieve efficiency results to resistance to outsourcing. Porter's theory of competitive advantage complimented the relational explanation of the variables. A random sample of 95 information technology employees from telecom service companies in the United States participated in an online survey. The results from a multiple linear regression model were significant in predicting the outsourcing behavior of the employees. Service quality and resistant to change were significant contributors to outsourcing behavior; the findings indicated moderate R as the p-value was significant. The introduction of other organizational related variables by future researchers might enhance the effectiveness of the model. The practical implications for change includes the potential to enhance telecom managers appreciate factors that influence employee behavior during outsourcing.
Characterization of the Key Aroma Compounds in Chinese Syrah Wine by Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry-Mass Spectrometry and Aroma Reconstitution Studies

The key aroma compounds and the organoleptic quality of two Chinese Syrah wines from the Yunnan Shangri-La region and Ningxia Helan mountain region were characterized. The most important eighty aroma-active compounds were identified by Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry. In both Syrah samples, ethyl 2-methylpropanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, 3-methylbutyl acetate, 2- and 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, 2-phenethyl acetate, methional, 3-methylbutanoic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, β-damascenone, guaiacol, 2-phenylethanol, trans-whiskylactone, 4-ethylguaiacol, eugenol, 4-ethylphenol, and sotolon were detected to have the highest odor intensities. In the chemical analysis, 72 compounds were quantitated by Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction combined with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Based on the Odor Activity Value (OAV), the aromas were reconstituted by combining aroma compounds in the synthetic wine, and sensory descriptive analysis was used to verify the chemical data. Fatty acid ethyl esters, acetate esters, and β-damascenone were found with higher OAVs in the more fruity-smelling sample of Helan Mountain rather than Shangri-La.
Method for estimating body weight in persons with lower-limb amputation and its implication for their nutritional assessment.

BACKGROUND Body weight is a good indicator of a person's size and is widely used in clinical assessment. However, health-status assessment based on observed body weight (W(O)) is incorrect for persons with limb amputation. OBJECTIVES The objectives were 1) to develop a more accurate and generalized method for estimating body weight in persons with limb amputation, 2) to determine whether corrected body weight can be used to assess nutritional status in persons with limb amputation, and 3) to test the validity of the estimation by using empirical data. DESIGN Anthropometric data were collected from men from Calcutta and adjoining areas with unilateral lower-extremity amputation (n = 102). Mathematic formulas were developed for determining estimated body weight (W(E)) and body mass index (BMI) calculated from both W(O) and W(E) (ie, BMI(O) and BMI(E), respectively). We assessed nutritional status by using BMI(O) and BMI(E) and tested the validity of each by considering the result of nutritional assessment from midupper arm circumference as the gold standard. We also compared the nutritional status results for the subjects with limb amputation with those for a similar sample size of healthy control subjects. RESULTS BMI(E) had a stronger association with midupper arm circumference and a higher efficiency (ie, proportion of correct results given by any test method) than did BMI(O). Moreover, the results obtained with BMI(E) were similar to those obtained with BMI in healthy control subjects. However, the nutritional assessments made with BMI(O) and BMI(E) did not differ significantly from one another. CONCLUSION For persons with limb amputation, W(E) provides a better basis for appropriate nutritional evaluation than does W(O).
Is the promise of methadone Kenya’s solution to managing HIV and addiction? A mixed-method mathematical modelling and qualitative study

Background and objectives Promoted globally as an evidence-based intervention in the prevention of HIV and treatment of heroin addiction among people who inject drugs (PWID), opioid substitution treatment (OST) can help control emerging HIV epidemics among PWID. With implementation in December 2014, Kenya is the third Sub-Saharan African country to have introduced OST. We combine dynamic mathematical modelling with qualitative sociological research to examine the ‘promise of methadone’ to Kenya. Methods, setting and participants We model the HIV prevention impact of OST in Nairobi, Kenya, at different levels of intervention coverage. We draw on thematic analyses of 109 qualitative interviews with PWID, and 43 with stakeholders, to chart their narratives of expectation in relation to the promise of methadone. Results The modelled impact of OST shows relatively slight reductions in HIV incidence (5–10%) and prevalence (2–4%) over 5 years at coverage levels (around 10%) anticipated in the planned roll-out of OST. However, there is a higher impact with increased coverage, with 40% coverage producing a 20% reduction in HIV incidence, even when accounting for relatively high sexual transmissions. Qualitative findings emphasise a culture of ‘rationed expectation’ in relation to access to care and a ‘poverty of drug treatment opportunity’. In this context, the promise of methadone may be narrated as a symbol of hope—both for individuals and community—in relation to addiction recovery. Conclusions Methadone offers HIV prevention potential, but there is a need to better model the effects of sexual HIV transmission in mediating the impact of OST among PWID in settings characterised by a combination of generalised and concentrated epidemics. We find that individual and community narratives of methadone as hope for recovery coexist with policy narratives positioning methadone primarily in relation to HIV prevention. Our analyses show the value of mixed methods approaches to investigating newly-introduced interventions.
Vitamin supplements, socioeconomic status, and morbidity events as predictors of wasting in HIV-infected women from Tanzania.

BACKGROUND Wasting is a strong independent predictor of mortality in HIV-infected persons. Vitamin supplements delay the disease progression, but their effect on wasting is not known. Data are lacking on the risk factors for wasting in African HIV-infected persons. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to examine the effect of vitamin supplements on wasting in HIV-infected women and to assess the effects of sociodemographic characteristics, morbidity events, and immunologic progression on the risk of wasting. DESIGN HIV-infected women (n = 1078) from Tanzania were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 daily oral regimens: multivitamins (B complex, C, and E), vitamin A plus beta-carotene, multivitamins that included vitamin A plus beta-carotene, or placebo. The endpoints of the study included first episodes of a midupper arm circumference <22 cm or a body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) <18 and the incidence of weight loss episodes during a median 5.3 y of follow-up. RESULTS Multivitamins alone significantly reduced the risk of a first episode of a midupper arm circumference <22 cm (relative risk: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.94; P = 0.02). In multivariate-adjusted Cox models, the woman's age, education level, and height were inversely related to the incidence of wasting. Episodes of diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, lower respiratory tract infections, oral ulcers, thrush, severe anemia, and low CD4+ cell counts were each significantly related to an increased risk of wasting. CONCLUSIONS Vitamins C and E and the vitamin B complex have a protective effect on wasting in HIV-infected women. Prevention of diarrhea, severe respiratory tract infections, and anemia are likely to decrease the burden of wasting.
Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Yield, Uptake and Quality of Sugarcane in Calcareous Soil

The field experiment was conducted to study the integrated use of organic product viz., pressmud + neem cake and seaweed extract along with inorganic fertilisers on yield, uptake and nutrient availability of sugarcane (BO 154) in alluvial soil rich in free calcium carbonate. The plot treated with pressmud + neem cake/seaweed extract either alone or in combination with inorganic fertiliser (100% NPK) significantly increased yield attributes and cane yield over control. The mean data indicated that highest number of tillers (101.44 x10 3 /ha), NMC (76.68 x10 3 /ha), cane length (162.40 cm) and single cane wt. (863.3 g) were recorded in treatment receiving 100 % NPK along with pressmud + neem cake + seaweed extract in combination and lowest in control. The result indicated that integrated use of organic along with inorganic nutrient source was found superior regarding increasing cane yield up to the tune of 21.34% over control. However, juice quality parameters viz., brix, pol and purity coefficient remains unaffected. The mean sugar yield varied (6.718.23 t/ha) significantly due to application of an inorganic and organic source of nutrients. The uptake of nutrients followed the similar trend as cane yield. However, the effect of various organic products viz., pressmud + neem cake and seaweed extract was found at par. The significant increase in organic carbon and available –N and available phosphorus were recorded in organic treated plots and being highest in treatment receiving pressmud + neem cake + seaweed extract in combination with inorganics over control. Thus, integrated use of RDF (150–85–60 kg N–P2O5– K2O /ha) along with soil application of pressmud + neem cake ( 9:1@ 1 t/ha) or seaweed extract Original Research Article Jha and Thakur; CJAST, 31(1): 1-7, 2018; Article no.CJAST. 45864 2 (@ 1 kg/ha) was found favourable for improving yield and soil fertility status of sugarcane. It would be better to apply inorganic fertiliser with organics to sustain the productivity of sugarcane in calcareous soil.
Effects of exposure to winter oilseed rape grown from thiamethoxam‐treated seed on the red mason bee Osmia bicornis

There has been increasing interest in the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on wild bees. In solitary bee species the direct link between each individual female and reproductive success offers the opportunity to evaluate effects on individuals. The present study investigated effects of exposure to winter oilseed rape grown from thiamethoxam‐treated seed on reproductive behavior and output of solitary red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) released in 6 pairs of fields over a 2‐yr period and confined to tunnels in a single year. After adjustment to the number of females released, there was significantly lower production of cells and cocoons/female in tunnels than in open field conditions. This difference may be because of the lack of alternative forage within the tunnels. Under open field conditions, palynology of the pollen provisions within the nests demonstrated a maximum average of 31% oilseed rape pollen at any site, with Quercus (oak) contributing up to 86% of the pollen. There were no significant effects from exposure to oilseed rape grown from thiamethoxam‐treated seed from nest establishment through cell production to emergence under tunnel or field conditions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1071–1083. © 2017 SETAC
Clinical recognition and aspects of the cerebral folate deficiency syndromes

Abstract We characterized cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) as any neuro-psychiatric condition associated with low spinal fluid (CSF) N5-methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF) but normal folate status outside the central nervous system (CNS). The commonest cause underlying CFD syndromes is the presence of serum autoantibodies of the blocking type directed against folate receptor-α (FRα) attached to the plasma-side of choroid plexus epithelial cells. Blocking FR antibodies inhibit MTHF transport across the choroid plexus. Serum titers of FR antibodies may fluctuate significantly over time. Less frequent causes of CFD are FOLR-1 mutations, mitochondrial disorders and inborn errors affecting folate metabolism. Maternal FR antibodies have been associated with neural tube defects while the presence of FR antibodies in either one or both parents increases the risk of an offspring with infantile autism. Recognizable CFD syndromes attributed to FR-antibodies in childhood are infantile-onset CFD presenting 4–6 months after birth, infantile autism with neurological deficits, and a spastic ataxic syndrome from the age of 1 year, while progressive dystonic or schizophrenic syndromes develop during adolescence. FR autoantibodies are frequently found in autism spectrum disorders, in an Aicardi-Goutières variant and in Rett syndrome. The heterogeneous phenotype of CFD syndromes might be determined by different ages of onset and periods when FR autoantibodies are generated with consequent CNS folate deficiency. Folate deficiency during various critical stages of fetal and infantile development affects structural and functional refinement of the brain. Awareness of CFD syndromes should lead to early detection, diagnosis and improved prognosis of these potentially treatable group of autoimmune and genetically determined conditions.
Diet-induced change in fatty acid composition of plasma triacylglycerols is not associated with change in glucagon-like peptide 1 or insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) have been shown to positively affect blood lipids; however, their comparative effects on insulin sensitivity are unclear. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to investigate whether chronic intake of MUFAs or PUFAs improves insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes via stimulation of the endogenous gut hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 [7-36] amide (GLP-1). DESIGN Nine overweight people with type 2 diabetes received isoenergetic high-MUFA (20.3 +/- 3.5% of total energy) or high-PUFA (13.4 +/- 1. 3%) diets for 24 d in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. RESULTS Weight and glycemic control remained stable throughout the study. Despite a significant change in the plasma triacylglycerol linoleic-oleic acid ratio (L:O) with both diets (MUFA: from 0.46 +/- 0.03 to 0.29 +/- 0.02, P: < 0.005; PUFA: from 0.36 +/- 0.04 to 0.56 +/- 0.05, P: < 0.05) and the phospholipid L:O (1.7 +/- 0.1 to 2.0 +/- 0.3; P: = 0.04) during consumption of the PUFA diet, this change was not associated with a change in insulin sensitivity, measured by the short-insulin-tolerance test. There was a significant reduction in the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol during consumption of the PUFA diet (5.2 +/- 0.4 compared with 4.7 +/- 0.3; P: = 0.005) but no change with the MUFA diet. There was no change in the fasting or postprandial incremental area under the curve in response to an identical standard test meal for glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, nonesterified fatty acids, or GLP-1. CONCLUSIONS Over the 3-wk intervention period, diet-induced change in the triacylglycerol or phospholipid L:O was not associated with either increased stimulation of GLP-1 or a change in insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes.
Influence of surface processing and passivation on carrier concentrations and transport properties in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

The influence of surface chemical treatments and of deposition of a SiO2 surface passivation layer on carrier distributions and mobility in AlxGa1−xN/GaN heterostructure field-effect-transistor epitaxial layer structures is investigated. Surface chemical treatments are found to exert little influence on carrier distribution and mobility. Deposition of a SiO2 surface passivation layer is found to induce an increase in electron concentration in the transistor channel and a decrease in mobility. These changes are largely reversed upon removal of the SiO2 layer by wet etching. These observations are quantitatively consistent with a shift in Fermi level at the AlxGa1−xN surface of approximately 1 eV upon deposition of SiO2, indicating that the AlxGa1−xN/SiO2 interface has a different, and possibly much lower, density of electronic states compared to the AlxGa1−xN free surface.
INFORMATIK BERICHTE 374 – 10 / 2016 HEURISTICS FOR VEHICLE ROUTING PROBLEMS WITH BACKHAULS , TIME WINDOWS , AND 3 D LOADING CONSTRAINTS

In this paper, we consider vehicle routing problems with backhauls and time windows (VRPBTW). Different backhaul variants are studied, namely clustered backhauls (CB), mixed linehauls and backhauls, and variants with simultaneous delivery and pickup and with divisible delivery and pickup. Three dimensional loading constraints are assumed. A two-phase approach following the principle packing first, routing second is proposed. In the first phase, the packing of goods is carried out by solving a 3D strip packing problem for each customer using tabu search. The resulting VRPTW instance is solved in the second phase using first a multi-start evolutionary strategy to minimize the number of vehicles while again tabu search is applied to minimize the total travel distance. We show that the various backhaul types can be incorporated into this framework. For the backhaul variants different from CB, unloading and reloading efforts are taken into account. Moreover, side loading and a separation of the loading space into separate compartments for goods of linehaul and backhaul customers are proposed. Computational results for benchmark instances and new randomly generated problem instances are presented that demonstrate that the heuristics determine high-quality solutions in a short amount of computing time. The unloading and reloading strategies outperform the strategies based on two separate compartments.
Maternal consumption of a docosahexaenoic acid-containing functional food during pregnancy: benefit for infant performance on problem-solving but not on recognition memory tasks at age 9 mo.

BACKGROUND There are few studies reporting on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) supplementation during pregnancy and infant cognitive function. DHA supplementation in pregnancy and infant problem solving in the first year have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that infants born to women who consumed a DHA-containing functional food during pregnancy would demonstrate better problem-solving abilities and recognition memory than would infants born to women who consumed the placebo during pregnancy. DESIGN In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, pregnant women consumed a DHA-containing functional food or a placebo from gestation week 24 until delivery. Study groups received DHA-containing cereal-based bars (300 mg DHA/92-kcal bar; average consumption: 5 bars/wk; n = 14) or cereal-based placebo bars (n = 15). The Infant Planning Test and Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence were administered to infants at age 9 mo. The problem-solving trial included a support step and a search step. The procedure was scored on the basis of the infant's performance on each step and on the entire problem (intention score and total intentional solutions). Scores were generated on the basis of the cumulative performance of the infant on 5 trials. RESULTS Treatment had significant effects on the performance of problem-solving tasks: total intention score (P = 0.017), total intentional solutions (P = 0.011), and number of intentional solutions on both cloth (P = 0.008) and cover (P = 0.004) steps. There were no significant differences between groups in any measure of Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence. CONCLUSION These data point to a benefit for problem solving but not for recognition memory at age 9 mo in infants of mothers who consumed a DHA-containing functional food during pregnancy.