Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Association of Breakfast Frequency and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Factors among Adolescents in Malaysia

Breakfast frequency is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Western populations, possibly via the types of food eaten or the timing of food consumption, but associations in Malaysian adolescents are unknown. While the timing of breakfast is similar, the type of food consumed at breakfast in Malaysia differs from Western diets, which allows novel insight into the mechanisms underlying breakfast–CVD risk associations. We investigated foods eaten for breakfast and associations between breakfast frequency and CVD risk factors in the Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Team study (MyHeARTs). Breakfast (frequency of any food/drink reported as breakfast in 7-day diet history interviews) and CVD risk factors (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were cross-sectionally associated using linear regression adjusting for potential confounders (n = 795, age 13 years). Twelve percent of adolescents never ate breakfast and 50% ate breakfast daily, containing mean (SD) 400 (±127) kilocalories. Commonly consumed breakfast foods were cereal-based dishes (primarily rice), confectionery (primarily sugar), hot/powdered drinks (primarily Milo), and high-fat milk (primarily sweetened condensed milk). After adjustment, each extra day of breakfast consumption per week was associated with a lower BMI (−0.34 kg/m2, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.02, −0.66), and serum total (−0.07 mmol/L 95% CI −0.02, −0.13) and LDL (−0.07 mmol/L 95% CI −0.02, −0.12) cholesterol concentrations. Eating daily breakfast in Malaysia was associated with slightly lower BMI and total and LDL cholesterol concentrations among adolescents. Longitudinal studies and randomized trials could further establish causality.
Renal cell carcinoma: radiofrequency ablation with a multiple-electrode switching system--a phase II clinical study.

PURPOSE To prospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation with a multiple-electrode switching system for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS From November 2009 to December 2010, 33 patients (mean age, 70.7 years; range, 44-86 years) with histologically proved RCCs--including 24 men (mean age, 69.5 years [range, 44-86 years]) and nine women (mean age, 74.1 years [range, 64-83 years])--were enrolled in this phase II study. The institutional review board approved the study after patients provided written informed consent. The mean maximum tumor diameter was 2.9 cm ± 1.0 (standard deviation) (range, 1.5-5.0 cm). Radiofrequency ablation was conducted with a multiple-electrode switching system. The primary endpoint was evaluated with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Secondary endpoints were changes in renal function, technique effectiveness, local tumor progression, and survival. Changes in renal function were evaluated by using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS No severe adverse events occurred, but three of 33 patients (9%) had grade 2 adverse events. Although the mean glomerular filtration rate at 1 year after radiofrequency ablation was similar to the baseline value in 26 patients with bilateral kidneys (P = .14), it was decreased significantly in six patients with a single kidney (P = .03). Tumor enhancement disappeared after a single radiofrequency session in 31 patients and after two radiofrequency sessions in the other two patients (rates of primary and secondary technique effectiveness, 94% [31 of 33] and 100% [33 of 33], respectively). No local tumor progression was found during the mean follow-up of 20.0 months (range, 11.6-27.6 months). The respective 1-year overall and RCC-related survival rates were 97% (95% confidence interval: 91%, 100%) and 100%. CONCLUSION Radiofrequency ablation with a multiple-electrode switching system is safe and effective for treatment of RCCs. However, further study is warranted to determine whether this technology is superior to other previously described methods.
A performance, power, and energy analysis of ultrasound B‐mode imaging on a GPU with VFS

Because of the power and energy constraints in modern computing systems, it is important to find a balance between performance and power/energy consumption to produce not only energy efficient portable devices but also reliable computing systems. In this paper, we present an analytical investigation of the performance and power/energy consumption of a well‐known medical application, “ultrasound B‐mode imaging,” which is implemented on modern commercial graphics processing units (GPUs). With this target application, we investigate the impact of GPU hardware features on performance, power, and energy by experimentally applying voltage and frequency scaling on various GPU devices. Based on our results, we mathematically build a performance prediction model to show the analytical relationship between the architectural features of those GPUs and the application performance. Our results show that the performance prediction model has errors of less than 8.71% and that there exists an energy‐optimal point in the design space spanned by the core clock frequency. We expect that our model can help engineers to design an ultrasound diagnosis system with the most suitable GPU that satisfies cost, performance, and power/energy constraints.
Changes in resting-state functional connectivity following delay and trace fear conditioning acquisition and extinction

Schultz, D. , Balderston, N. , Newman, J., Larson, C. , & Helmstetter, F. (2012). Brain activity during fear conditioning in incarcerated psychopaths. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans. Schultz, D. , Balderston, N. , Hannula, D. , & Helmstetter, F. (2012). Using eye movement and pupil dilation measures to examine the role of awareness in fear conditioning. Poster presented at Pavlovian Society meeting in Jersey City, NJ. Schultz, D. , Balderston, N. , & Helmstetter, F. (2011). The amygdala shows increased functional connectivity with the dorsal mPFC following fear conditioning. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington DC. Schultz, D. , Balderston, N. , & Helmstetter, F. (2011). The amygdala shows changes in functional connectivity following fear conditioning. Poster presented at the Pavlovian Society meeting in Milwaukee. Balderston, N. , Schultz, D. , & Helmstetter, F. (2011). Neuromagnetic amygdala responses during trace fear conditioning without awareness. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington DC.
An explorative study of experiences of healthcare providers posing as simulated care receivers in a ‘care-ethical’ lab

In recent approaches to ethics, the personal involvement of health care providers and their empathy are perceived as important elements of an overall ethical ability. Experiential working methods are used in ethics education to foster, inter alia, empathy. In 2008, the care-ethics lab ‘sTimul’ was founded in Flanders, Belgium, to provide training that focuses on improving care providers’ ethical abilities through experiential working simulations. The curriculum of sTimul focuses on empathy sessions, aimed at care providers’ empathic skills. The present study provides better insight into how experiential learning specifically targets the empathic abilities of care providers. Providing contrasting experiences that affect the care providers’ self-reflection seems a crucial element in this study. Further research is needed to provide more insight into how empathy leads to long-term changes in behaviour.
Variations in Hospitalization Outcomes in Children Admitted With Seizures Between 2003 and 2006

Economic factors play an increasingly important role in the management of medical conditions. This study evaluated the economic impact of seizures in children in the United States using a large national data set known as the Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID). The aim of this study was to characterize hospitalizations including total costs, length of stay, and variations in care. There were 63 719 pediatric seizure discharges in the 2003 and 2006 Kids’ Inpatient Database. The mean hospital cost was $4105 in 2003 and $4553 in 2006. Patients with government insurance as the primary payer had a significantly longer length of stay compared with private insurance or self-pay patients (P < .0001); however, there was no significant difference in the total costs of hospitalization between the different payer groups. This analysis highlights multiple disparities of health care utilization in pediatric seizure management. In a stressful economic climate, all health care entities must focus on cost management of pediatric seizure.
A Physical Hypothesis on the Origin of the Body Image Embedded into the Turin Shroud

The faint body image embedded into the Turin Shroud has not yet explained by science. We present experimental results of excimer laser irradiation (wavelengths 308 nm and 193 nm) of a raw linen fabric and of a linen cloth, seeking for a possible mechanism of image formation. We achieved a permanent coloration of both linens as a threshold effect of the laser beam intensity. The coloration is obtained in a surprisingly narrow range of irradiation parameters: the shorter the laser wavelength, the narrower the range. We also obtained the first direct evidence of latent coloration impressed on linen that appears in a relatively long period (one year) after a laser irradiation that at first did not generate an evident coloration. The comparison of the results of our excimer laser irradiation with the characteristics of the Turin Shroud image suggests we cannot exclude the possibility that a short and intense burst of ultraviolet radiation may have played a role in the formation of the Shroud image.
Economic Instability and Aggregate Investment

Recent literature suggests that because investment expenditures are irreversible and can be delayed, they may be highly sensitive to uncertainty. We briefly summarize the theory, stressing its empirical implications. We then use cross-sectional and time-series data for a set of developing and industrialized countries to explore the relevance of the theory for aggregate investment. We find that the volatility of the marginal profitability of capital-a summary measure of uncertainty-affects investment as the theory suggests, but the size of the effect is moderate and is greatest for developing countries. We also find that this volatility has little correlation with indicia of political instability used in recent studies of growth, as well as several indicia of economic instability. Only inflation is highly correlated with this volatility and is also a robust explanator of investment.
Development of the rat superior cervical ganglion: initial stages of synapse formation

Synapse formation in the rat superior cervical ganglion has been investigated electrophysiologically and at the ultrastructural level. Preganglionic axons first enter the superior cervical ganglion between days 12 and 13 of gestation (E12 to E13), and on E13 a postganglionic response can be evoked by preganglionic stimulation. The susceptibility of this response to fatigue and to blocking agents indicates that it is mediated by cholinergic synapses. On E14, the overall strength of ganglionic innervation arising from different spinal segments already varies in a pattern resembling that found in maturity. However, the distribution of synapses on individual target cells gradually changes in the prenatal period. Transmission begins prior to the elaboration of ganglion cell dendrites; therefore, the first contacts to form are largely axosomatic. As dendrites appear (beginning on E14), ultrastructural evidence shows that synaptogenesis becomes focused upon these processes. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to possible mechanisms for the formation of appropriate synaptic connections.
Seasonal variation of the oviduct of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis (Reptilia: Crocodylia)

The annual oviductal cycle of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, is described using light and electron microscopy. Previous work done by Palmer and Guillette ([ 1992 ] Biol Reprod 46:39–47) shed some light on the reproductive morphology of the female alligator oviduct; however, their study was limited and did not report details relating to variation across the reproductive season. We recognize six variable regions of the oviduct: infundibulum, tube, isthmus, anterior uterus, posterior uterus, and vagina. Each area shows variation, to some degree, in the histochemistry and ultrastructure of oviductal secretions. Peak secretory activity occurs during the months of May and June, with the greatest variation occurring in the tube and anterior uterus. During the month of May, high densities of neutral carbohydrates and proteins are found within the tubal and anterior uterine glands. The epithelium of the entire oviduct secretes neutral carbohydrates throughout the year, but many regions lack protein secretions, and the posterior uterine glands show little secretory activity of any type throughout the year. After oviposition, secretory activity decreases drastically, andthe oviduct resembles that of the premating season. This study also provides evidence to support the homology between alligator and bird oviducts. Sperm were observed in glands at the tubal‐isthmus and utero‐vaginal junctions in preovulatory, postovulatory and postovipository females. J. Morphol. , 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An empirical study of global software development: distance and speed

Global software development is rapidly becoming the norm for technology companies. Previous qualitative research suggests that multi-site development may increase the development cycle time. We use both survey data and data from the source code change management system to model the extent of delay in a multi-site software development organization, and explore several possible mechanisms for this delay. We also measure differences in same-site and cross-site communication patterns, and analyze the relationship of these variables to delay. Our results show that, compared to same-site work, cross-site work takes much longer and requires more people for work of equal size and complexity. We also report a strong relationship between delay in cross-site work and the degree to which remote colleagues are perceived to help out when workloads are heavy. We discuss the implications of our findings for collaboration technology for distributed software development.
IT outsourcing partnerships: Empirical research on key success factors in Bulgarian organizations

Outsourcing has recently developed as an overall business strategy in the search for global competitiveness. As a part of this process, IT outsourcing is widely spread in the Central and Eastern European countries. The objective of the paper is to identify the key factors affecting the success of IT outsourcing partnerships on the basis of an empirical study conducted in Bulgaria. The paper presents selected results from a survey of outsourcing relations considering the development of successful strategic partnerships in IT outsourcing practices. According to its results, the most influential factors of these partnerships’ success are the level of achievement of partnership goals, top management commitment, and the level of effective communication. In addition to this, a trustful sharing of information and knowledge between partners can build a competitive synergy for achieving goals which otherwise cannot be accomplished separately by the organizations themselves. The key factors contribute to the strengthening of IT outsourcing partnerships and to the improvement of the organizational performance of both partners.
Educational consequences of developmental speech disorder: Key Stage 1 National Curriculum assessment results in English and mathematics.

BACKGROUND Children with speech difficulties may have associated educational problems. This paper reports a study examining the educational attainment of children at Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum who had previously been identified with a speech difficulty. AIMS (1) To examine the educational attainment at Key Stage 1 of children diagnosed with speech difficulties two/three years prior to the present study. (2) To compare the Key Stage 1 assessment results of children whose speech problems had resolved at the time of assessment with those whose problems persisted. SAMPLE(S) Data were available from 39 children who had an earlier diagnosis of speech difficulties at age 4/5 (from an original cohort of 47) at the age of 7. A control group of 35 children identified and matched at preschool on age, nonverbal ability and gender provided comparative data. METHODS Results of Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs) in reading, reading comprehension, spelling, writing and maths, administered to children at the end of Year 2 of school were analysed. Performance across the two groups was compared. Performance was also compared to published statistics on national levels of attainment. RESULTS Children with a history of speech difficulties performed less well than controls on reading, spelling and maths. However, children whose speech problems had resolved by the time of assessment performed no differently to controls. Children with persisting speech problems performed less well than controls on tests of literacy and maths. Spelling performance was a particular area of difficulty for children with persisting speech problems. CONCLUSIONS Children with speech difficulties are likely to perform less well than expected on literacy and maths SAT's at age 7. Performance is related to whether the speech problem resolves early on and whether associated language problems exist. Whilst it is unclear whether poorer performance on maths is because of the language components of this task, the results indicate that speech problems, especially persisting ones, can affect the ability to access the National Curriculum to expected levels.
Inhibitin: a specific inhibitor of sodium/sodium exchange in erythrocytes.

An inhibitor of ouabain-insensitive sodium/sodium exchange in erythrocytes has been isolated from leukemic promyelocytes. To explore the specific effects of this inhibitor, named inhibitin, sodium transport experiments were carried out in human erythrocytes. Inhibitin reduced ouabain-insensitive bidirectional sodium transport. It did not change net sodium fluxes, had no significant effect on rubidium influx, and did not inhibit sodium-potassium-ATPase activity. The inhibitory effect of inhibitin was studied on sodium/sodium exchange and on sodium/lithium countertransport in 140 mM sodium and in sodium-free media. In the presence of sodium, inhibitin reduced sodium and lithium efflux to that observed in sodium-free medium. Inhibitin showed no reduction in sodium or lithium efflux when sodium was replaced by choline chloride or Mg2+. When inhibitin was combined with one or more of the other transport inhibitors (i.e., ouabain, furosemide, or bumetanide and amiloride), its inhibitable component remained distinct and it did not overlap with that of the other inhibitors. These studies show that inhibitin is a specific inhibitor of carrier-mediated sodium/sodium exchange and sodium/lithium countertransport processes in human erythrocytes.
Reproductive Health Risk and Protective Factors Among Unmarried Youth in Ghana

International Family Planning Perspectives Although the HIV/AIDS epidemic has had less impact in Ghana than in many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, available data indicate that HIV prevalence is increasing in the general population of Ghana, and the potential for much wider spread of the disease exists. The number of confirmed cases of AIDS rose from 42 in 1986 to 15,980 in 1995.1 Estimates from a 1990 population-based seroprevalence survey conducted among 2,410 residents of four communities of southern Ghana indicated that nearly 2% of females and about 1% of males were infected with HIV type one or two.2 A more recent report indicated prevalence of roughly 3% in the general population.3 A seroprevalence survey undertaken in 1997 among sex workers in Accra revealed that 73% were infected,4 indicating a substantial reservoir of infection that could make its way into the general population. As in most African countries, heterosexual transmission is the primary mode of spread of HIV in Ghana.5 Because adolescents tend to have multiple sexual partners (sequentially, if not concurrently), not use condoms consistently and be vulnerable to coercion, the behaviors of adolescents and young adults will play a crucial role in the course of the HIV epidemic in Ghana. Sexual risk-taking behaviors among Ghanaian youth and the extent to which these may be changing over time have been the focus of a substantial amount of research since the early 1990s.6 However, the available data provide limited information for devising effective AIDS prevention strategies targeted at Ghanaian adolescents. Much of the existing research has been directed to documenting young people’s patterns of sexual and contraceptive behaviors, knowledge of reproductive health risks and means of avoiding them, attitudes toward contraceptive and condom use, and access to contraceptives and reproductive health services. These factors are, however, only a small subset of those that influence adolescent risk-taking and health-seeking behaviors. A review of the literature has identified 13 clusters of factors at the individual, family, community and societal levels that are associated with risky behaviors or adverse reproductive health outcomes among U.S. adolescents; furthermore, the findings suggest that individually, these key antecedents tend to have only small or modest effects.7 Studies of more limited sets of antecedents have been conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa.8 This article describes the results of the most comprehensive assessment conducted to date of factors underlying sexual risk-taking among unmarried Ghanaian youth. Our focus is on eight categories of risk-related factors: demographic characteristics, household economic status, communication with and support from family members and friends concerning sex and contraception, community “connectedness,” peer behaviors and influence, gender role perceptions, self-efficacy, and partner communication concerning reproductive health risks and contraception.