Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity and other health determinants across Europe: The EURALIM Project

STUDY OBJECTIVE EURALIM (EURope ALIMentation), a European collaborative study, aimed to determine and describe the extent to which European data on risk factor distributions from different populations could be pooled and harmonised in a common database for international comparisons. SETTING Seven independent population-based surveys from six European countries (France, Italy, Northern Ireland/United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands). METHODS Data for 18 381 women and 12 908 men aged 40–59 were pooled in a common database. Central statistical analyses on major cardiovascular risk factors were conducted with careful consideration of methodological issues, including differences in study designs, data assessment tools, and analytic techniques used. MAIN RESULTS Because of the detected variability among methods used, direct comparisons of risk factor distributions and prevalences between studies were problematic. None the less, comparisons of within population contrasts by sex, age group, and other health determinants were considered to be meaningful and apt, as illustrated here for obesity. Results were targeted and disseminated to both the general public and public health professionals and framed in the context of a European information campaign. CONCLUSIONS International and national comparisons between existing locally run studies are feasible and useful, but harmonisation methods need improvement. Development of an international risk factor surveillance programme based on decentralised data collection is warranted. In the meantime, risk factor contrasts across populations can be used as a basis for targeting needed public health intervention programmes.
Bacterial vaginosis and anaerobic bacteria are associated with endometritis.

BACKGROUND Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae account for approximately one-third to one-half of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) cases. Thus, up to 70% of cases have an unknown, nongonococcal/nonchlamydial microbial etiology. METHODS We investigated the associations of N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, bacterial vaginosis, anaerobic bacteria, facultative bacteria, and lactobacilli with endometritis among 278 women with complete endometrial histology and culture from the PID Evaluation and Clinical Health Study. RESULTS Women with acute endometritis were less likely to have H(2)O(2)-producing Lactobacillus species (odds ratio [OR], 0.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.8) and more likely to be infected with C. trachomatis (OR, 16.2; 95% CI, 4.6-56.6), N. gonorrhoeae (OR, 11.6; 95% CI, 4.5-29.9), diphtheroids (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.1-12.2), black-pigmented gram-negative rods (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4-7.0), and anaerobic gram-positive cocci (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.3) and to have bacterial vaginosis (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3-4.3). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that bacterial vaginosis-associated organisms are frequent among women with PID. Because these organisms were strongly associated with endometritis, we recommend that all women with PID be treated with regimens that include metronidazole.
Cranial radiation exposure during cerebral catheter angiography

Background Radiation exposure to patients and personnel remains a major concern in the practice of interventional radiology, with minimal literature available on exposure to the forehead and cranium. Objective In this study, we measured cranial radiation exposure to the patient, operating interventional neuroradiologist, and circulating nurse during neuroangiographic procedures. We also report the effectiveness of wearing a 0.5 mm lead equivalent cap as protection against radiation scatter. Design 24 consecutive adult interventional neuroradiology procedures (six interventional, 18 diagnostic) were prospectively studied for cranial radiation exposures in the patient and personnel. Data were collected using electronic detectors and thermoluminescent dosimeters. Results Mean fluoroscopy time for diagnostic and interventional procedures was 8.48 (SD 2.79) min and 26.80 (SD 6.57) min, respectively. Mean radiation exposure to the operator's head was 0.08 mSv, as measured on the outside of the 0.5 mm lead equivalent protective headgear. This amounts to around 150 mSv/year, far exceeding the current deterministic threshold for the lens of the eye (ie, 20 mSv/year) in high volume centers performing up to five procedures a day. When compared with doses measured on the inside of the protective skullcap, there was a statistically significant reduction in the amount of radiation received by the operator's skull. Conclusions Our study suggests that a modern neurointerventional suite is safe when equipped with proper protective shields and personal gear. However, cranial exposure is not completely eliminated with existing protective devices and the addition of a protective skullcap eliminates this exposure to both the operator and support staff.
New highly lipophilic camptothecin BNP1350 is an effective drug in experimental human cancer

BNP1350, 7‐[(2‐trimethylsilyl)ethyl]‐20(S)‐camptothecin, is a novel semi‐synthetic, highly lipophilic, silicon‐containing camptothecin and an inhibitor of topoisomerase I. It has been supercomputer engineered for superior oral bioavailability, superior lactone stability, broad anti‐tumor activity, increased potency and insensitivity to Pgp/MRP/LRP drug resistance. We determined the efficacy of BNP1350 in experimental human colon cancer and compared its anti‐tumor effects with those of CPT‐11/SN‐38. We also determined a possible influence of Pgp, MRP and LRP on the efficacy of BNP1350. The in vitro anti‐proliferative capacity of the compounds using various exposure times was assessed in five colon cancer cell lines and indicated that BNP1350 was similarly effective or slightly more potent than SN‐38. Four cell lines of other origin with sublines expressing Pgp, MRP and/or LRP showed that BNP1350 was significantly more effective than SN‐38 (p < 0.05) and that the activity of BNP1350 was not reduced in multidrug‐resistant cells. For in vivo experiments, BNP1350 was given 1.0 mg/kg i.p. or 1.5 mg/kg p.o. daily × 5 and CPT‐11 20 mg/kg i.p. daily × 5 being equitoxic schedules in nude mice bearing s.c. human tumor xenografts. The schedules were studied in colon cancer xenografts COLO320, COLO205 or WiDr as well as in two Pgp‐positive xenografts 2780AD and BRO/mdr1.1 and the parental Pgp‐negative A2780 ovarian cancer xenografts and BRO melanoma xenografts. Growth inhibition of >50% was obtained for BNP1350 given i.p. in six out of the seven xenografts studied. BNP1350 was similarly effective when given i.p. or p.o. CPT‐11 was as effective as BNP1350, except in BRO and BRO/mdr1.1 xenografts. Pgp expression in xenografts in vivo confirmed that there was no negative influence on the efficacy of BNP1350. In conclusion, BNP1350 shows a broad spectrum of activity in experimental human tumors and is a suitable candidate for oral treatment of cancer. Int. J. Cancer 88:260–266, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Induction of Controlled Wound Healing with PMMA Segments in the Deep Stroma in Corneas of Hens

Purpose Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) segments are normally used in additive surgery to treat both corneal ectasia post laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and keratoconus. The aim of this work was to develop an experimental animal model to induce wound healing in the deep stroma in corneas of hens. Methods PMMA segments were implanted in the right eyes of 40 adult hens without suture in the wound incision. Animals were randomized for 5 time points to histopathology study (1, 3, 15, 30, and 90 days) being clinically evaluated during the experiment. Results Thirty-four eyes (85%) had a successful clinical outcome and intraoperative mistakes occurred in 6 eyes (15%), including anterior chamber perforation resulting in abscess (1), excess of lamellar dissection with segment migration (3), and peripheral incisions evolving with neovascularization (2). At 24 hours, all the epithelial injuries were completed in integrity, but a persistent stromal incision, with a fish mouth form, was observed until day 15. Corneal edema disappeared at the fifth day. Haze, keratocyte cell death, keratocyte proliferation, myofibroblast differentiation, and new matrix production were observed in length around the segment. Conclusions Wound healing was induced in the deep corneal stroma by means of PMMA segment implantation in a new animal model developed in hens.
The effects of surface-induced loads on forearm muscle activity during steering a bicycle.

On the bicycle, the human upper extremity has two essential functions in steering the bicycle and in supporting the body. Through the handlebar, surface- induced loads are transmitted to the hand and arm of the bicycle rider under vibration exposure conditions. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of vibration exposure on forearm muscle activity for different road surfaces (i.e. smooth road, concrete stone pavement, rough road) and for different bicycles. Ten subjects participated in experiments and two types of bicycles, i.e. Road Bike (RB) and Mountain Bike (MTB) are compared. The acceleration magnitudes were dominant along x and z-axes. The r.m. s acceleration values in the z direction at the stem of MTB were at most 2.56, 7.04 and 10.76 m·s(-2) when pedaling respectively on asphalt road, concrete pavement and rough road. In the case of RB the corresponding values were respectively 4.43, 11.75 and 27.31 m·s(-2). The cumulative normalized muscular activity levels during MTB trials on different surfaces had the same tendency as with acceleration amplitudes and have ranked in the same order from lowest to highest value. Although road bike measurements have resulted in a similar trend of increment, the values computed for rough road trials were higher than those in MTB trials. During rough road measurements on MTB, rmsEMG of extensor muscles reached a value corresponding to approximately 50% of MVC (Maximum Voluntary Contraction). During RB trials performed on rough road conditions, rmsEMG (%MVC) values for the forearm flexor muscles reached 45.8% of their maximal. The level of muscular activity of forearm muscles in controlling handlebar movements has been observed to be enhanced by the increase in the level of vibration exposed on the bicycle. Since repeated forceful gripping and pushing forces to a handle of a vibratory tool can create a risk of developing circulatory, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorder, a bicycle rider can be considered vulnerable to developing vibration related overuse injuries and/or performance diminishing consequences. Key PointsThe muscular activity level in the forearms increases in response to random vibration transmitted to the bicycle to control handlebar movements.The level of vibration transmission depends on irregularities on road surface and bicycle type.A bicycle rider can be considered vulnerable to developing vibration related overuse injuries and/or performance diminishing consequences.
Reduction in Hospitalwide Incidence of Infection or Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus With Use of Antimicrobial Hand-Hygiene Gel and Statistical Process Control Charts

Objective. To evaluate the impact of serial interventions on the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Design. Longitudinal observational study before and after interventions. Setting. The Alfred Hospital is a 350-bed tertiary referral hospital with a 35-bed intensive care unit (ICU). Interventions. A series of interventions including the introduction of an antimicrobial hand-hygiene gel to the intensive care unit and a hospitalwide MRSA surveillance feedback program that used statistical process control charts but not active surveillance cultures. Methods. Serial interventions were introduced between January 2003 and May 2006. The incidence and rates of new patients colonized or infected with MRSA and episodes of MRSA bacteremia in the intensive care unit and hospitalwide were compared between the preintervention and intervention periods. Segmented regression analysis was used to calculate the percentage reduction in new patients with MRSA and in episodes of MRSA bacteremia hospitalwide in the intervention period. Results. The rate of new patients with MRSA in the ICU was 6.7 cases per 100 patient admissions in the intervention period, compared with 9.3 cases per 100 patient admissions in the preintervention period (P = .047). The hospitalwide rate of new patients with MRSA was 1.7 cases per 100 patient admissions in the intervention period, compared with 3.0 cases per 100 patient admissions in the preintervention period (P < .001). By use of segmented regression analysis, the maximum and conservative estimates for percentage reduction in the rate of new patients with MRSA were 79.5% and 42.0%, respectively, and the maximum and conservative estimates for percentage reduction in the rate of episodes of MRSA bacteremia were 87.4% and 39.0%, respectively. Conclusion. A sustained reduction in the number of new patients with MRSA colonization or infection has been demonstrated using minimal resources and a limited number of interventions.
Enhanced Sonar Array Target Localization Using Time-Frequency Interference Phenomena

The ability of traditional active sonar processing methods to detect targets is often limited by clutter and reverberation from ocean environments. Similarly, multipath arrivals from radiating sources such as ships and submarines are received at sensors in passive sonar systems. Reverberation and multipath signals introduce constructive and destructive interference patterns in received spectrograms in both active and passive sonar applications that vary with target range and frequency. The characterization and use of interference phenomena can provide insights into environmental parameters and target movement in conjunction with standard processing methods including spectrograms and array beamforming. This thesis focuses on utilizing the time-frequency interference structure of moving targets captured on sonar arrays to enhance the resolution and abilities of conventional sonar methods to detect and localize targets. Physics-based methods for interferencebased beamforming and target depth separation are presented with application of these methods shown using broadband simulated array data.
The global dynamics of a discrete juvenile–adult model with continuous and seasonal reproduction

A general discrete juvenile–adult population model with time-dependent birth rate and nonlinear survivorship rates is studied. When breeding is continuous, it is shown that the model has a unique globally asymptotically stable positive equilibrium provided the net reproductive number is larger than one. If it is smaller than one, then the extinction equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. When breeding is seasonal, it is shown that there exists a unique globally asymptotically stable periodic solution provided the net reproductive number is larger than one. When this value is less than one, the population goes to extinction. Conditions on the birth rate where the population with seasonal breeding survives while the population with continuous breeding becomes extinct are provided.
Measurement of Krypton Fission Product Yields from 14 MeV Neutrons on 238U

Author(s): Edwards, Ellen | Advisor(s): Morse, Edward | Abstract: Precisely-known fission yield distributions are used to determine a fissioning isotope and the incident neutron energies in nuclear security applications. 14 MeV neutrons from DT fusion at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) induced fission in depleted uranium (DU) contained in the target assembly hohlraum. The fission yields of Kr isotopes (85m, 87, 88, 89, and 90) were measured relative to the cumulative yield of 88Kr. The fission gas was pumped from the target chamber, collected, and analyzed in the Radiochemical Analysis of Gaseous Samples (RAGS) diagnostic. Isotopes with half-lives ranging 8 s-9 hr can be measured. Kr fission yields have been measured both from the fission of DU in the hohlraum and DU doped into the capsule ablator. Since the mass of U was not known, the relative amounts of Kr isotopes were calculated and compared to existing fission product distribution tables. It was found that measurements can be performed with high precision for isotopes with half lives longer than 4 minutes. A more precise quantification of gas transport needs to be achieved to quantify isotopes with shorter half lives to a precision of the published tables.
A randomized controlled trial comparing sequential with triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori in an Aboriginal community in the Canadian North.

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori infection occurs more frequently in Arctic Aboriginal settings than elsewhere in North America and Europe. Research aimed at reducing health risks from H pylori infection has been conducted in the Aboriginal community of Aklavik, Northwest Territories. OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of the Canadian standard therapy with an alternative therapy for eliminating H pylori infection in Aklavik. METHODS Treatment-naive H pylori-positive individuals were randomly assigned to a 10-day regimen (oral twice-daily doses) with rabeprazole (20 mg): standard triple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, added clarithromycin [500 mg] and amoxicillin [1 g] [PPI-CA]); sequential therapy (ST) added amoxicillin (1 g) on days 1 to 5, and metronidazole (500 mg) and clarithromycin (500 mg) on days 6 to 10. Participants with clarithromycin-resistant H pylori were randomly assigned to ST or quadruple therapy. Treatment effectiveness was estimated as per cent (95% CI) with a negative urea breath test at least 10 weeks after treatment. RESULTS Of 104 (53 PPI-CA, 51 ST) randomized participants, 89 (49 PPI-CA, 40 ST) had post-treatment results. Per-protocol treatment effectiveness was 59% (95% CI 45% to 73%) for PPI-CA and 73% (95% CI 58% to 87%) for ST. Based on intention to treat, effectiveness was 55% (95% CI 41% to 69%) for PPI-CA and 57% (95% CI 43% to 71%) for ST. Of 77 participants (43 PPI-CA, 34 ST) with 100% adherence, effectiveness was 63% (95% CI 43% to 82%) for PPI-CA and 81% (95% CI 63% to 99%) for ST. CONCLUSIONS While additional evidence is needed to confirm that ST is more effective for Arctic Aboriginal communities than the Canadian standard H pylori treatment, these results show standard PPI-CA treatment to be inadequate for communities such as Aklavik.
High power laser materials processing – New developments and trends

In materials processing with high power lasers the diode laser has established itself for processes without need of extreme intensities. The presentation demonstrates actual applications in the field of hardening, brazing and coating with diode lasers. For cutting and 2D-welding processes CO2 lasers are applied, whereas the Nd:YAG laser is the well proven laser for 3D-welding. These statements are affirmed with current examples.Nevertheless, this state-of-the-art will be faced considerable changes in the near future. High power high brightness lasers represent a new generation of lasers for the materials processing, characteristic traits of which are: smaller, cost-effective and processing on-the-fly. Diverse examples show up the variety of application possibilities regarding welding and cutting.Although the CO2 laser is expected to keep playing an important role in the processing of synthetic materials and ceramics, the laser materials processing will certainly be pushed forward enormously by the development of the high power fiber lasers. Fiber lasers replace – even today - numerous conventional, established as well as new laser systems.In materials processing with high power lasers the diode laser has established itself for processes without need of extreme intensities. The presentation demonstrates actual applications in the field of hardening, brazing and coating with diode lasers. For cutting and 2D-welding processes CO2 lasers are applied, whereas the Nd:YAG laser is the well proven laser for 3D-welding. These statements are affirmed with current examples.Nevertheless, this state-of-the-art will be faced considerable changes in the near future. High power high brightness lasers represent a new generation of lasers for the materials processing, characteristic traits of which are: smaller, cost-effective and processing on-the-fly. Diverse examples show up the variety of application possibilities regarding welding and cutting.Although the CO2 laser is expected to keep playing an important role in the processing of synthetic materials and ceramics, the laser materials processing will certainly be pushed forward enormously by the develop.
Consent for genetic research in a general population: The NHANES experience

Purpose: To determine the sociodemographic factors associated with consent for storage of DNA for future genetic research.Methods: Analysis of the characteristics of consenting individuals participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey of the US household population.Results: In 1999, 84% (95% confidence interval 82.4–85.6) of eligible participants consented to have their blood samples included in a national repository for genetic research. In 2000, 85.3% (95% confidence interval 84.0–86.6) consented. Females and black participants in both years were least likely to consent (1999, 82.2% and 73.2%; 2000, 83.6% and 81.3%, respectively). An assessment by logistic regression demonstrated that in both years only non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity was a significant independent predictor for not consenting to future genetic research.Conclusion: Although non-Hispanic black individuals have overall response rates similar to those of the other racial/ethnic groups, they are less likely to agree to have a blood sample saved for future genetic research. In balance, however, these findings demonstrate wide acceptance among survey participants for allowing storage of specimens for future genetic research across many demographic variables.
The non-technical challenges of Location Based Services markets: Are the users' concerns being ignored?

Location Based Services (LBS) market is growing rapidly, however it has faced several challenges and issues, including the availability of reliable positioning services seamlessly (indoors and outdoors), the privacy protection issues, and the relatively high demands for resources, such as high power consumption and cost. Among all the issues introduced to the markets of LBS, the non-technical issues can be easier to understand for many of ordinary users of LBS and they, consequently, can become yet bigger challenge to the development of LBS markets. Lack of social acceptance of the LBS applications can result in slowing down the growth of the market, if not failure. This paper reviews the non-technical issues of LBS market from users' perspective and evaluate the significance of their impact on the growth of the market based on the results of a survey conducted and the predictive analysis have been done.