Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrition and handgrip strength of older adults in rural Malawi

Abstract Objective: To examine the relationship between the nutritional status and handgrip strength of older people in rural Malawi. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Lilongwe rural, Malawi, situated approximately 35–50 km from the city. Subjects: Ninety seven males and 199 females participated in this study. Methods: Selected anthropometric measurements were taken and nutrition indices were computed using standard equations. Handgrip strength was measured using an electronic grip strength dynamometer. Results: The mean handgrip strength (in kg) for men was significantly higher than for women (28.0±5.9 vs. 21.7±4.5). In addition, there was a significant decline in handgrip strength with age in both sexes. Furthermore, handgrip strength was positively correlated to the following nutritional status indicators: BMI (r = 0.40 in males and r = 0.34 in females), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (r = 0.45 in males and r = 0.38 in females) and arm-muscle area (AMA) (r = 0.39 in males and r = 0.37 in females). After controlling for potential confounders, namely sex, height and age, the correlations between handgrip strength and the nutrition indices were still significant. Conclusion: The results of this study support the hypothesis that poor nutritional status is associated with poor handgrip strength. Malawian males had both lower handgrip strength and lower arm muscle area than their counterparts from industrialised countries. However, Malawian females had similar handgrip strength despite lower arm muscle area, in comparison with women from industrialised countries, reflecting perhaps their higher level of physical activity. Further studies are required to determine whether by alleviating nutritional problems a concomitant improvement in handgrip strength can be obtained.
Massage Therapy and Labor Outcomes: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction Massage is a time-honored method by which women have received comfort throughout the millennia, yet it has not been rigorously evaluated in the modern day delivery suite. No study to date that we are aware of has evaluated the effect of massage therapy by a regulated massage therapist on labor pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of massage therapy provided by registered massage therapists in managing pain among women in active labor. Methods BC Women’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC. Research Design: a randomized controlled trial. Participants: 77 healthy nulliparous women presenting in spontaneous labor. Intervention: Swedish massage administered for up to five hours by a registered massage therapist during labor vs. standard care. Main outcome measures include: cervical dilation at the time of administration of epidural, compared using estimated marginal means in an analysis of covariance. We also compared perception of pain at three time periods during labor according to cervical dilation at 3–4 cm, 5–7 cm, and 8–10 cm using the McGill Present Pain Intensity Scale. Results The mean cervical dilation at the time of epidural insertion after adjustment for station of the presenting part, cervical dilation, and status of membranes on admission to hospital was 5.9 cm (95% CI 5.2–6.7) compared to 4.9 in the control group (95% CI 4.2–5.8). Scores on the McGill Pain Scale were consistently lower in the massage therapy group (13.3 vs. 16.9 at 3–4 cm, 13.3 vs. 15.8 at 5–6 cm, and 19.4 vs. 28.3 at 7–8 cm), although these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions Our findings from this pilot study suggest that massage therapy by a registered massage therapist has the potential to be an effective means of pain management that may be associated with delayed use of epidural analgesia. It may therefore have the potential to reduce exposure to epidural analgesia during labor and decrease rates of associated sequelae.
The Benefits of Conservative Accounting to Shareholders: Evidence from the Financial Crisis

Using the recent financial crisis as a natural quasi-experiment, we test whether and to what extent conservative accounting affects shareholder value. We find that there is significantly positive and economically meaningful relation between conservatism and firm stock performance during the current crisis. The result holds for alternative measures of conservatism and is validated in a series of robustness checks. We further find that the relation between conservatism and firm value is more pronounced for firms with weaker corporate governance or higher information asymmetry. Overall, our paper complements LaFond and Watts (2008) by providing empirical evidence to their argument that conservatism is an efficient governance mechanism to mitigate information risk and control for agency problems, and that shareholders benefit from it.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Gingival Crevicular Fluid in Different Periodontal Conditions

Aim To quantify the proteome composition of the GCF in periodontal health (HH) and in sites with different clinical conditions in chronic periodontitis (CP) subjects. Material and Methods 5 subjects with HH and 5 with CP were submitted to full-mouth periodontal examination, and GCF sampling. Sites in the CP group were classified and sampled as periodontitis (P, probing depth, PD>4 mm), gingivitis (G, PD≤3mm with bleeding on probing, BOP), and healthy sites (H, PD≤3mm without BOP). GCF proteins were subjected to liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for identification, characterization and quantification. Results 230 proteins were identified; 145 proteins were detected in HH, 214 in P, 154 in G, and 133 in H. Four proteins were exclusively detected at HH, 43 proteins at P, 7 proteins at G, and 1 protein at H. Compared to HH group, 35 and 6 proteins were more abundant in P and G (p<0.001), respectively; and 4, 15 and 37 proteins were less abundant in P, G and H (p≤0.01), respectively. Conclusions There are marked differences in the GCF proteome according to disease profile. Comprehension of the role of the identified proteins in the etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease may lead to biomarkers definition.
Oral submucous fibrosis: is it a collagen disease? A study in search for its aetiology

Background: The aetiopathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), though not an uncommon disease, is not yet well established. OSMF is prevalent in the geographical area of study. These were the driving factors to conduct this study. This haematological study in patients with oral submucous fibrosis was conducted to find out some definite causative features so that an effective treatment regime could be evolved.Methods: This prospective hospital-based observational study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) and Pathology in a tertiary care medical college hospital. The 150 clinically diagnosed patients were enrolled for the study. Routine laboratory tests were done to identify markers which would suggest autoimmune conditions. Results: In 124 cases (83%), mild to moderately anaemia was observed while 75 cases (50%) showed raised ESR. Lymphocytosis and eosinophilia were observed in 42 cases (28%) and 48 cases (32%) respectively. Hyperglobulinaemia was observed in 45 cases (30%). In 18 cases (12%) leukocytosis was observed. In 30 cases (20%), pus cells were seen in urine, while ova and cysts were found present in 42 cases (28%). Conclusions: The present study could not establish the commonly claimed theory of collagen disease. The exact aetiology of OSMF is not yet known. Some genetic factors seem to play a role, which make some people predisposed to react abnormally to chronic masticatories of different forms of areca nut, tobacco and areca leaves. Therefore further research in the direction of genetic studies will perhaps reveal the exact cause of OSMF.
Stunting : Studi Konstruksi Sosial Masyarakat Perdesaan dan Perkotaan Terkait Gizi dan Pola Pengasuhan Balita di Kabupaten Jember

Abstract: Indonesia’s rank in world was 5th on stunting case. 5 million of children under five (38.6 % from 12 milion) got stunting in Indonesia. The aims of this study were to descript the social construction of rural-urban community about the meaning of children’s health and illness,and the pattern of nurturing which was related to stunting. The study used qualitative’s method, datas collected with depth interview and observation partisipation. The study was conducted in rural-urban communities which had stunting cases in Jember (Kalisat and Jelbuk). The study was conducted in June to December 2013. The study showed that stunting were related to social construction. Difference social construction in rural-urban which constructed the meaning of healthy or illness and nuruturing the stunting’s children was affected by maternal education, early-age marriage, after marriage’s residence, responsibilities of nurturing, and valuable concept in community that causes the lack of knowledge about nutrition. The study concluded that stunting was not a single cause of heatlh’s problems, but it related to social construction. Causes lied in the distinction of social construction, patterns of communication and interpretation between health providers and community, so there was no meeting point for the success of nutritional improvement children under five’s programs.
On the Estimation of Kinematic Parameters in the Atmosphere From Radiosonde Wind Data

Abstract A technique is proposed for computing horizontal velocity divergence and the vertical component of vorticity from radiosonde wind data. Utilizing a quadratic Taylor's series representation of the horizontal wind field, one can consider nonlinear variations in the wind directly in estimates of the first-order derivatives of the wind components. These nonlinear variations are found to be significant in a number of cases. Vertical motions computed by the kinematic method and horizontal divergence are modified by an adjustment scheme. Comparison of these results with those derived from computations from a linear Taylor's series representation of the wind suggests that the quadratic model is superior to the linear. Synoptic analyses of vorticity, divergence, and vertical motions over the United States at 0000 and 1200 GMT on Apr. 13, 1964, reveal good agreement with the circulation patterns and associated weather.
The Construct Validity and Responsiveness of Sensory Tests in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background and Purpose : Sensory evaluation is fundamental to evaluation of patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The purpose of this study was to determine the construct validity and responsiveness for sensory threshold tests in patients with CTS. Methods : Sixty-three patients diagnosed with CTS were evaluated prior to orthotic intervention and again at follow up at 6 and 12 weeks. Sensory tests included touch threshold PSSD (Pressure Specified Sensory Device) and vibration threshold (Vibrometer). Construct validity was assessed by comparing sensory tests to hand function, and dexterity testing using Spearman rho (rs). Patients were classified as either responders or non-responders to orthotic intervention based on the change score of the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) of 0.5. Responsiveness of the sensory tools was measured using ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves, SRM (Standardized Response Mean), and ES (Effect Sizes). Results : The PSSD had low to moderate correlations (rs ≤ 0.32) while Vibrometer scores had moderate correlations (rs = 0.36 - 0.41) with dexterity scores. The Clinically Important Difference (CID) for the PSSD was estimated at 0.15 g/mm2 but was not discriminative. The Vibrometer demonstrated moderate responsiveness, with a SRM = 0.61 and an ES = 0.46 among responders. The PSSD had a SRM = 0.09 and an ES = 0.08 and showed low responsiveness for patients with a clinically important improvement in symptoms. Conclusion : Measurement properties suggest that the Vibrometer was preferable to the PSSD because it was more correlated to hand function, and was more responsive. Clinicians may choose use the Vibrometer opposed to the PSSD for determining important change in sensation after orthotic intervention.
A Qualitative Theory of Motion Based on Spatio-Temporal Primitives

This paper presents a formal theory for reasoning about motion of spatial entities, in a qualitative framework. Taking over a theory intended for spatial entities, we enrich it to achieve a theory whose intended models are spatio-temporal entities, an idea sometimes proposed by philosophers or AI authors but never fully exploited. We show what kind of properties usually assumed as desirable parts of any space-time theory are recovered from our model, thus giving a sound theoretical basis for a natural, qualitative representation of motion.
Reduced Access to Insulin-Sensitive Tissues in Dogs With Obesity Secondary to Increased Fat Intake

Physiological hyperinsulinemia provokes hemodynamic actions and augments access of macromolecules to insulin-sensitive tissues. We investigated whether induction of insulin resistance by a hypercaloric high-fat diet has an effect on the extracellular distribution of macromolecules to insulin-sensitive tissues. Male mongrel dogs were randomly selected into two groups: seven dogs were fed an isocaloric control diet (∼3,900 kcal, 35% from fat), and six dogs were fed a hypercaloric high-fat diet (∼5,300 kcal, 54% from fat) for a period of 12 weeks. During hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, we determined transport parameters and distribution volumes of [14C]inulin by applying a three-compartment model to the plasma clearance data of intravenously injected [14C]inulin (0.8 μCi/kg). In another study with direct cannulation of the hindlimb skeletal muscle lymphatics, we investigated the effect of physiological hyperinsulinemia on the appearance of intravenously injected [14C]inulin in skeletal muscle interstitial fluid and compared the effect of insulin between control and high-fat diet groups. The hypercaloric high-fat diet resulted in significant weight gain (18%; P < 0.001) associated with marked increases of subcutaneous (140%; P < 0.001) and omental (83%; P < 0.001) fat depots, as well as peripheral insulin resistance, measured as a significant reduction of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake during clamps (−35%; P < 0.05). Concomitantly, we observed a significant reduction of the peripheral distribution volume of [14C]inulin (−26%; P < 0.05), whereas the vascular distribution volume and transport and clearance parameters did not change as a cause of the diet. The second study directly confirmed our findings, suggesting a marked reduction of insulin action to stimulate access of macromolecules to insulin-sensitive tissues (control diet 32%, P < 0.01; high-fat diet 18%, NS). The present results indicate that access of macromolecules to insulin-sensitive tissues is impaired during diet-induced insulin resistance and suggest that the ability of insulin itself to stimulate tissue access is diminished. We speculate that the observed diet-induced defects in stimulation of tissue perfusion contribute to the development of peripheral insulin resistance.
Unconscious Activation of the Cognitive Control System in the Human Prefrontal Cortex

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we tested whether unconscious information can influence the cognitive control system in the human prefrontal cortex. Volunteers had to prepare to perform either a phonological judgment or a semantic judgment on an upcoming word, based on the instruction given at the beginning of each trial. However, in some trials they were visually primed to prepare for the alternative (i.e., “wrong”) task, and this impaired their performance. This priming effect is taken to depend on unconscious processes because the effect was present even when the volunteers could only discriminate the identity of the primes at chance level. Furthermore, the effect was stronger when the visibility of the prime was near zero than when the visibility of the prime was significantly higher. When volunteers were unconsciously primed to perform the alternative task, there was also decreased neural activity in the brain areas relevant to the instructed task and increased neural activity in the brain areas relevant to the alternative task, which shows that the volunteers were actually engaged in the wrong task, instead of simply being distracted. Activity in the mid-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was also found to be associated with this unconscious priming effect. These results suggest that the cognitive control system in the prefrontal cortex is not exclusively driven by conscious information, as has been believed previously.
Long period variables detected by ISO in the Small Magellanic Cloud

This article presents the study of the light-curves extracted from the MACHO database of a sample of stars observed by the Infrared Space Observatory in the Small Magellanic Cloud. These stars belong to the ISO-Mini-Survey catalogue of the Magellanic Clouds (ISO-MCMS, Loup et al. in preparation). Most of them are in the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and supergiant phases. The dominant period and amplitude of pulsation have been derived and the stars have been classified as Mira or Semi-Regular pulsators. Furthermore, the cross-identification with near-infrared DENIS and 2MASS magnitudes available within the ISO-MCMS allowed us: (i) to investigate the properties of these stars in the combined near- and mid-infrared colour-magnitude diagrams, (ii) to derive the bolometric magnitude by integrating the spectral energy distribution and (iii) to estimate the mass-loss rate. The stars have been divided into carbon- (C-) and oxygen-rich (O-rich) using the (J − KS , KS ) colour-magnitude diagram and their period and amplitude distributions have been compared. C-rich AGB stars have a sharp peak in their period distribution at about 250 days and have on average a larger amplitude than O-rich AGB stars. This effect, not previously detected from the study of similar stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud and in the Baade's window, might be closely related to the metallicity of the environment in which the stars have formed.
TNF and regulatory T cells are critical for sepsis‐induced suppression of T cells

The immune system in sepsis is impaired as seen by reduced numbers and function of immune cells and impaired antigen‐specific antibody responses. We studied T cell function in septic mice using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) as a clinically relevant mouse model for sepsis. The proliferative response of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was suppressed in septic mice. Adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated that the T cells were not intrinsically altered by CLP. Instead, the septic host environment was responsible for this T cell suppression. While CLP‐induced suppression was dependent on TNF activity, neither the activation of TNF receptors type 1 nor TNF receptor type 2 alone was sufficient to generate sepsis‐induced suppression showing that the two TNF receptors can substitute each other. Specific depletion of regulatory T (Treg) cells improved the impaired T cell proliferation in septic recipients demonstrating participation of Treg in sepsis‐induced suppression. In summary, sepsis leads to TNF‐dependent suppression of T cell proliferation in vivo involving induction of Treg cells.
In-situ observations of aerosol particles remaining from evaporated cirrus crystals: Comparing clean and polluted air masses

In situ observations of aerosol particles contained in cirrus crystals are presented and compared to interstitial aerosol size distributions (non-activated particles in between the cirrus crystals). The observations were conducted in cirrus clouds in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes during the INCA project. The first campaign in March and April 2000 was performed from Punta Arenas, Chile (54° S) in pristine air. The second campaign in September and October 2000 was performed from Prestwick, Scotland (53° N) in the vicinity of the North Atlantic flight corridor. Size distribution measurements of crystal residuals (particles remaining after evaporation of the crystals) show that small aerosol particles (Dp < 0.1µm) dominate the number density of residuals. The crystal residual size distributions were significantly different in the two campaigns. On average the residual size distributions were shifted towards larger sizes in the Southern Hemisphere. For a given integral residual number density, the calculated particle volume was on average three times larger in the Southern Hemisphere. This may be of significance to the vertical redistribution of aerosol mass by clouds in the tropopause region. In both campaigns the mean residual size increased with increasing crystal number density. The observations of ambient aerosol particles were consistent with the expected higher pollution level in the Northern Hemisphere. The fraction of residual particles only contributes to approximately a percent or less of the total number of particles, which is the sum of the residual and interstitial particles.
Supernova Bounds on Resonant Active-Sterile Neutrino Conversions

We discuss the effects of resonante → �s and ¯ �e → ¯s (�s is a sterile neutrino) conversions in the dense medium of a supernova. In particular, we assume the sterile neutrinos to be in the hot dark matter few eV mass range. The implications of such a scenario for the supernova shock re-heating, the detectede signal from SN1987A and for the r-process nucleosynthesis hypoth- esis are analysed in some detail. The resulting constraints on mixing and mass difference for thee − �s system are derived. There is also an allowed region in the neutrino parameter space for which the r-process nucleosynthesis can be enhanced.
Selenium in Australia : Selenium status and biofortification of wheat for better health

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals, but is deficient in at least a billion people worldwide. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major dietary source of Se. The largest survey to date of Se status of Australians found a mean plasma Se concentration of 103 mg/l in 288 Adelaide residents, just above the nutritional adequacy level. In the total sample analysed (six surveys from 1977 to 2002; n 1⁄4 834), plasma Se was higher in males and increased with age. This study showed that many South Australians consume inadequate Se to maximise selenoenzyme expression and cancer protection, and indicated that levels had declined around 20% from the 1970s. No significant genotypic variability for grain Se concentration was observed in modern wheat cultivars, but the diploid wheat Aegilops tauschii L. and rye (Secale cereale L.) were higher. Grain Se concentrations ranged 5–720 mg/kg and it was apparent that this variation was determined mostly by available soil Se level. Field trials, along with glasshouse and growth chamber studies, were used to investigate agronomic biofortification of wheat. Se applied as sodium selenate at rates of 4–120 g Se/ha increased grain Se concentration progressively up to 133-fold when sprayed on soil at seeding and up to 20-fold when applied as a foliar spray after flowering. A threshold of toxicity of around 325mg Se/kg in leaves of young wheat plants was observed, a level that would not normally be reached with Se fertilisation. On the other hand sulphur (S) applied at the low rate of 30 kg/ha at seeding reduced grain Se concentration by 16%. Agronomic biofortification could be used by food companies as a cost-effective method to produce high-Se wheat products that contain most Se in the desirable selenomethionine form. Further studies are needed to assess the functionality of high-Se wheat, for example short-term clinical trials that measure changes in genome stability, lipid peroxidation and immunocompetence. Increasing the Se content of wheat is a food systems strategy that could increase the Se intake of whole populations. r 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.