Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contextual factors associated with smoking among Brazilian adolescents

Background Very few studies have examined the role of school, household and family contexts in youth smoking in middle-income countries. Methods This work describes smoking exposure among 59 992 high school students who took part in the Brazilian Survey of School Health and investigates contextual factors associated with regular smoking, defined as smoking cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days. The explaining variables were grouped into: socio-demographic characteristics, school context, household context and family rapport. Variables independently associated with smoking in each context were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results 53% of the total sample were girls, 89% were aged 13–15 years. 24% had already experimented with cigarettes, 50% before the age of 12 years. The prevalence of regular smoking was 6.3% (95% CI 5.87 to 6.74), with no sex variation. Smoking was not associated with either the mother's education or the index of household assets. In the multivariable analysis, studying at a private school, the possibility of purchasing cigarettes at school and skipping of classes without parents' consent increased the chances of smoking. In the household context, living with both parents was negatively associated with smoking, while having smoking parents and exposure to other people's smoking was positively related to smoking. In the family context, parental unawareness of what the adolescent was doing increased smoking, but having meals with the mother one or more days per week and parents' negative reactions to adolescent smoking reduced the chances of smoking. Conclusion The results reinforce the role of school, household and family contexts in youth smoking behaviours and will help improve public health policies aimed at preventing smoking and health promotion in adolescents.
Theory of mind in normal development and autism

A theory of mind remains one of the quintessential abilities that makes us human (Whiten, 1993). By theory of mind we mean being able to infer the full range of mental states (beliefs, desires, intentions, imagination, emotions, etc.) that cause action. In brief, having a theory of mind is to be able to reflect on the contents of one’s own and other’s minds. Difficulty in understanding other minds is a core cognitive feature of autism spectrum conditions. The theory of mind difficulties seem to be universal among such individuals. This paper describes some of the manifestations of this abnormality, and emphasizes how developmentally appropriate tests are needed in order to reveal it. Throughout the paper, the terms ‘theory of mind’, ‘mindreading’, and ‘understanding other minds’ are used synonymously.
Prevalence and impact on survival of hepatopulmonary syndrome and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy in a cohort of cirrhotic patients

Extrahepatic complications of cirrhosis increase the risk for decompensation of the liver disease and death. Previous studies show common pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. We aimed to assess the link between these entities and their effect on disease‐related patient morbidity and mortality.
The Sun Never Sits on Distributed Development

More and more software development is being distributed across greater and greater distances. The motives are varied, but one of the most predominant is the effort to keep costs down. As talent is where you find it, why not use it where you find it, rather than spending the money to relocate it to some ostensibly more "central" location? The increasing ubiquity of the Internet is making far-flung talent ever-more accessible.
Experience Use History, Place Bonding and Resource Substitution of Trout Anglers During Recreation Engagements

Experience use history (EUH) was hypothesized to be linked to recreational place bonding and resource substitution behavior. Trout anglers (n = 203) of two Trout Unlimited chapters were surveyed (response rate = 71%) for EUH, place bonding, and resource substitution. Four classifications (Beginners, Visitors, Locals, and Veterans) of EUH were formed, a 26-item scale was rated to form five dimensions of place bonding (Familiarity, Belongingness, Identity, Dependence, and Rootedness), and number of alternative equivalent streams recorded as resource substitutes. The EUH classifications were shown to be linked to different types and degree of place bonding, and to a lesser degree, with substitution behavior among trout anglers. Veterans and Locals had higher degrees of place bonding, while Veterans and Visitors had the highest degree of substitution behavior.
Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity Finds the Start of Repeating Patterns in Continuous Spike Trains

Experimental studies have observed Long Term synaptic Potentiation (LTP) when a presynaptic neuron fires shortly before a postsynaptic neuron, and Long Term Depression (LTD) when the presynaptic neuron fires shortly after, a phenomenon known as Spike Timing Dependant Plasticity (STDP). When a neuron is presented successively with discrete volleys of input spikes STDP has been shown to learn ‘early spike patterns’, that is to concentrate synaptic weights on afferents that consistently fire early, with the result that the postsynaptic spike latency decreases, until it reaches a minimal and stable value. Here, we show that these results still stand in a continuous regime where afferents fire continuously with a constant population rate. As such, STDP is able to solve a very difficult computational problem: to localize a repeating spatio-temporal spike pattern embedded in equally dense ‘distractor’ spike trains. STDP thus enables some form of temporal coding, even in the absence of an explicit time reference. Given that the mechanism exposed here is simple and cheap it is hard to believe that the brain did not evolve to use it.
Optimal selection of markers for validation or replication from genome‐wide association studies

With reductions in genotyping costs and the fast pace of improvements in genotyping technology, it is not uncommon for the individuals in a single study to undergo genotyping using several different platforms, where each platform may contain different numbers of markers selected via different criteria. For example, a set of cases and controls may be genotyped at markers in a small set of carefully selected candidate genes, and shortly thereafter, the same cases and controls may be used for a genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association study. After such initial investigations, often, a subset of “interesting” markers is selected for validation or replication. Specifically, by validation, we refer to the investigation of associations between the selected subset of markers and the disease in independent data. However, it is not obvious how to choose the best set of markers for this validation. There may be a prior expectation that some sets of genotyping data are more likely to contain real associations. For example, it may be more likely for markers in plausible candidate genes to show disease associations than markers in a genome‐wide scan. Hence, it would be desirable to select proportionally more markers from the candidate gene set. When a fixed number of markers are selected for validation, we propose an approach for identifying an optimal marker‐selection configuration by basing the approach on minimizing the stratified false discovery rate. We illustrate this approach using a case‐control study of colorectal cancer from Ontario, Canada, and we show that this approach leads to substantial reductions in the estimated false discovery rates in the Ontario dataset for the selected markers, as well as reductions in the expected false discovery rates for the proposed validation dataset. Genet. Epidemiol. 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EVALUATION OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FOR PIPELINE ROUTE SURVEILLANCE AND THE PREVENTION OF THIRD PARTY INTERFERENCE DAMAGE

The damage caused by Third Party Interference (TPI) is one of the major causes of pipeline failures. Consequently, new technologies for identifying activities that may cause damage to our pipelines are constantly being developed. A recently completed project sponsored by a number of pipeline operators has investigated the use of high-resolution satellites for the integrity management of onshore transmission pipelines. The sponsors were BG Technology (on behalf of Transco), Dansk Olie NatureGas, Gasunie, BP, Gaz de France, Distrigas, and the Health and Safety Executive. The project started with a general review of the satellite technologies available and their potential. The study was then focussed on the identification of activities that might result in damage to the pipeline and the potential of high-resolution optical satellites in identifying hazardous activities. A key element of the study was a comparison with existing surveillance systems, which generally involve regular aerial patrols of the pipeline route. To achieve this a survey was carried out to try and evaluate the costs and benefits of existing systems. In addition a simple model for analysing the cost benefit of pipeline surveillance was constructed, and a functional specification for a surveillance system drafted. Finally the performance of the IKONOS 2 high-resolution satellite system was tested in a controlled experiment using targets placed along a pipeline route. The results of this test were compared with a similar test of helicopter-based surveillance carried out by one of the sponsors.
A photometric study of the two poorly known northern open clusters NGC 133 and NGC 1348

We present CCD UBVI observations obtained in the eld of the previously unstudied northern open clusters NGC 133 and NGC 1348. We argue that NGC 133 is a heavily contaminated cluster, for which we identify 13 candidate members down to V =1 4:50 mag on the basis of the position in the two-color Diagram. Membership has been checked against proper motions from Tycho 2, whenever available. The cluster turns out to have a reddening E(B V )=0 :60 0:10 mag, to be 630 150 pc distant from the Sun, and to have an age less than 10 Myrs. NGC 1348 is a more reddened clusters (E(B V )=0 :85 0:15 mag) for which we isolate 20 members. The cluster lies at a distance of 1:9 0:5 kpc away from the Sun, and has an age greater than 50 Myrs.
Genotypes, Antibiotic Resistance, and ST-8 Genetic Clone in Campylobacter Isolates from Sheep and Goats in Grenada

Rectal swabs from 155 sheep and 252 goats from Grenada were evaluated to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. , antibiotic resistance, and multilocus sequence types. Fifteen Campylobacter isolates were obtained (14 C. jejuni and 1 C. coli). The prevalence (3.7%) did not differ significantly between sheep (4.5%) and goats (3.2%). Among the seven antimicrobials tested, resistance was only detected for tetracycline (30.8%) and metronidazole (38.5%). Campylobacter isolates showed no significant difference between sheep and goats for type of antimicrobial resistance or percent of resistant isolates. Twelve of the isolates were successfully genotyped consisting of four recognized clonal complexes and three novel sequence types. Importantly, one isolate from one goat was identified as the C. jejuni sequence type-8, a zoonotic and tetracycline-resistant clone reported to be a highly virulent clone associated with ovine abortion in the USA. Although most samples were from comingled sheep and goat production units, there were no shared sequence types between these two host species. None of the sequence types identified in this study have previously been reported in poultry in Grenada, suggesting sheep- and goat-specific Campylobacter clones in Grenada. This is the first report of genotyping of Campylobacter isolates from sheep and goats in the Eastern Caribbean.
A comparative efficacy and safety study of long-acting risperidone injection and risperidone oral tablets among hospitalized patients: 12-week randomized, single-blind study.

OBJECTIVE The superiority of risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) over oral typical and atypical antipsychotics demonstrated in previous studies may be related to the improved drug compliance. The aim of the 12-week randomized, single-blind study was to test whether the superiority of RLAI remained among hospitalized patients that drug compliance could be optimally controlled. METHODS Fifty hospitalized stable schizophrenic patients, who had maintained on oral risperidone for more than 3 months, were randomized to the RLAI and oral risperidone group. Finally 49 patients (98 %) completed the study, and no dose change of oral risperidone, or RLAI was noted among all patients. RESULTS The RLAI group showed significantly increased positive score of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) than the risperidone group (0.72 +/- 3.52 vs. -1.24 +/- 3.81, p = 0.022), but without significance difference for the PANSS total, negative and general psychopathology scores. The RLAI group also showed a significantly improved Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser (UKU) Scale (p = 0.037), social life domains of Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (p = 0.011), and reduced prolactin level (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION The results indicated that with optimal controlling of drug compliance among hospitalized patients, RLAI showed no benefit of efficacy over oral risperidone, but with advantages of improved side-effect profiles, social life ratings, and reduced prolactin levels.
The New Pelagic Operational Observatory of the Catalan Sea (OOCS) for the Multisensor Coordinated Measurement of Atmospheric and Oceanographic Conditions

The new pelagic Operational Observatory of the Catalan Sea (OOCS) for the coordinated multisensor measurement of atmospheric and oceanographic conditions has been recently installed (2009) in the Catalan Sea (41°39′N, 2°54′E; Western Mediterranean) and continuously operated (with minor maintenance gaps) until today. This multiparametric platform is moored at 192 m depth, 9.3 km off Blanes harbour (Girona, Spain). It is composed of a buoy holding atmospheric sensors and a set of oceanographic sensors measuring the water conditions over the upper 100 m depth. The station is located close to the head of the Blanes submarine canyon where an important multispecies pelagic and demersal fishery gives the station ecological and economic relevance. The OOCS provides important records on atmospheric and oceanographic conditions, the latter through the measurement of hydrological and biogeochemical parameters, at depths with a time resolution never attained before for this area of the Mediterranean. Twenty four moored sensors and probes operating in a coordinated fashion provide important data on Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs; UNESCO) such as temperature, salinity, pressure, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll fluorescence, and turbidity. In comparison with other pelagic observatories presently operating in other world areas, OOCS also measures photosynthetic available radiation (PAR) from above the sea surface and at different depths in the upper 50 m. Data are recorded each 30 min and transmitted in real-time to a ground station via GPRS. This time series is published and automatically updated at the frequency of data collection on the official OOCS website (http://www.ceab.csic.es/~oceans). Under development are embedded automated routines for the in situ data treatment and assimilation into numerical models, in order to provide a reliable local marine processing forecast. In this work, our goal is to detail the OOCS multisensor architecture in relation to the coordinated capability for the remote, continuous and prolonged monitoring of atmospheric and oceanographic conditions, including data communication and storage. Accordingly, time series of measurements for a number of biological parameters will be presented for the summer months of 2011. Marine hindcast outputs from the numerical models implemented for simulating the conditions over the study area are shown. The strong changes of atmospheric conditions recorded in the last years over the area have altered the marine conditions of living organisms, but the dimension of the impact remains unclear. The OOCS multisensor coordinated monitoring has been specifically designed to address this issue, thus contributing to better understand the present environmental fluctuations and to provide a sound basis for a more accurate marine forecast system.
Prospective study of incidence of juvenile diabetes mellitus over 10 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE--To ascertain the annual incidence of diabetes requiring treatment with insulin in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during a 10 year period from 1 January 1982 to 31 December 1991. DESIGN--Prospective registration at a major urban hospital of all patients with newly diagnosed diabetes who were resident in Dar es Salaam. SETTING--Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PATIENTS--86 patients: 45 male, 41 female. RESULTS--The annual incidence of juvenile diabetes for both sexes was 1.5 per 100,000 population aged 0-19 years (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 1.7). Incidence per 100,000 population per year increased with age: 0.6 (0.0 to 0.13) in the age group 0-4 years, 0.5 (0.3 to 0.7) at 5-9 years, 2.2 (1.8 to 2.6) at 10-14 years, and 3.4 (2.9 to 3.9) at 15-19 years. CONCLUSION--Juvenile diabetes mellitus is fairly rare in sub-Saharan Africa. If environmental factors such as infection and material deprivation were important determinants of insulin dependent diabetes in Africans, as they may be in Europeans, much higher rates would have been expected unless genetic factors possibly exert a protective role. The eightfold greater incidence in African Americans than in Tanzanians may be related to greater genetic admixture in African Americans with people from countries in Europe with a high incidence.
Effects of divergent selection for incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) on purebred and crossbred performance. 2. Processing yield

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of selection for high (H) or low (L) incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia for 7 generations on processing performance of broilers. 2. Birds were obtained from diallel matings of the H and L lines (HH, HL, LH, and LL) and a randombred control (CC) line. Birds were reared to 7 weeks of age under standard management conditions. All birds were processed at 7 weeks of age. Body weight at 7 weeks, carcase weight, and carcase part weights were recorded on each bird. 3. An interaction between sire line and dam line was caused by lighter body and carcase weight at 7 weeks of age in HH birds than from the birds of the other crosses. 4. Birds by L line dams had heavier drumstick weights. The influences of sire line and dam line on weight of total breast muscle were not significant. Thigh weights and Pectoralis minor weights were lighter in HH line birds than those other matings. 5. Heterosis for body weight and for weights of carcases, drumstick and thigh was negative. Total breast muscle weight and P.major weight did not show significant heterosis. 6. It was concluded that selecting against TD does not reduce processing yield of broilers.
Effects of muscle fiber motion on diffuse correlation spectroscopy blood flow measurements during exercise

The influence of muscle fiber motion during exercise on diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) measurements of skeletal muscle blood flow is explored. Isotonic (with muscle fiber motion) and isometric (without muscle fiber motion) plantar flexion exercises were performed at 30% of maximal force on a dynamometer, and muscle blood flow was continuously monitored on the medial gastrocnemius (calf) muscle of a healthy volunteer using DCS. During exercise, dynamometer recordings including footplate position, footplate angular velocity, and plantar flexion torque were obtained. Muscle fiber motions introduced artifacts into the DCS signals, causing an overestimation of blood flow changes. We show how proper co-registration of dynamometer recordings and DCS measurements enables separation of the true blood flow responses during exercise from those affected by the motion artifacts.
Fade-durations derived from land-mobile-satellite measurements in Australia

Transmissions from the Japanese ETS-V geostationary satellite were measured at L-band (1.5 GHz) in a vehicle driving on roads of south-eastern Australia. The measurements were part of a program designed to characterize propagation effects due to roadside trees and terrain for mobile-satellite-service (MSS). It is shown that the cumulative distributions of fade and nonfade durations follow a lognormal and power law, respectively. At 1% probability, fades last 2-8 m, and nonfades 10-100 m, depending on the degree of shadowing. Phase fluctuations are generally small, allowing the channel characteristics to be estimated from levels only. >
Fabrication and surface modification of macroporous poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (70/30) cell scaffolds for human skin fibroblast cell culture.

The fabrication and surface modification of a porous cell scaffold are very important in tissue engineering. Of most concern are high-density cell seeding, nutrient and oxygen supply, and cell affinity. In the present study, poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (70/30) cell scaffolds with different pore structures were fabricated. An improved method based on Archimedes' Principle for measuring the porosity of scaffolds, using a density bottle, was developed. Anhydrous ammonia plasma treatment was used to modify surface properties to improve the cell affinity of the scaffolds. The results show that hydrophilicity and surface energy were improved. The polar N-containing groups and positive charged groups also were incorporated into the sample surface. A low-temperature treatment was used to maintain the plasma-modified surface properties effectively. It would do help to the further application of plasma treatment technique. Cell culture results showed that pores smaller than 160 microm are suitable for human skin fibroblast cell growth. Cell seeding efficiency was maintained at above 99%, which is better than the efficiency achieved with the common method of prewetting by ethanol. The plasma-treatment method also helped to resolve the problem of cell loss during cell seeding, and the negative effects of the ethanol trace on cell culture were avoided. The results suggest that anhydrous ammonia plasma treatment enhances the cell affinity of porous scaffolds. Mass transport issues also have been considered.