Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-Conscious Effect of Food Odors on Children’s Food Choices Varies by Weight Status

Objective Food cues are omnipresent in the daily environment and may influence eating behavior even non-consciously. An increased reactivity to food cues, such as food odors, has been shown to be correlated with obesity in children. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the non-conscious influence of food odors on children’s food choices varies by their weight status. Methods Seventy-four children, of whom 29 were obese, took part in this study. The children performed a food choice intention task presented as a computer game in which 30 pairs of food images (a fatty-sweet food picture vs. a fruit picture) successively appeared on the screen. The children had to choose the item “they most wanted to eat at the present moment” for each pair. While performing this task, the children wore a headset in which the microphone foam was odorized with a fruity odor, a fatty-sweet odor or no odor. They performed the intention task three times, one time for each olfactory condition. The odors were non-attentively perceived, i.e., none of the children were aware of the odorization of the microphone foams. The modeled probability is the probability to choose a fruit. Results In children with obesity, the fruity odor increased the likelihood of a fruit to be chosen compared to the no-odor condition [OR (95% CL) = 1.42 (1.13–1.78), P = 0.0028], while the fatty-sweet odor had no effect on food choice [OR (95% CL) = 1.07 (0.85–1.36), P = 0.55]. In children without obesity, both the fruity and the fatty-sweet odors decreased the likelihood to choose a fruit compared to the no-odor condition [OR (95% CL) = 0.76 (0.64–0.90), P = 0.0015, for the fruity odor and OR (95% CL) = 0.79 (0.66–0.93), P = 0.0062, for the fatty-sweet odor]. Conclusion The different patterns of results obtained in both groups of children suggest differences in the mental representations activated by non-attentively perceived olfactory cues based on weight status.
Biomarkers of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Barrett’s Esophagus

The rising incidence and poor prognosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the Western world have intensified research efforts into earlier methods of detection of this disease and its relationship to Barrett’s esophagus. The progression of Barrett’s esophagus to adenocarcinoma has been the focus of particular scrutiny, and a number of potential tissue and serum-based disease biomarkers have emerged. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of esophageal adenocarcinoma are outlined. Tissue biomarkers allowing risk stratification of Barrett’s are reviewed as well as strategies currently being used to discover novel biomarkers that will facilitate the early detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Finally, the uses of biomarkers as predictive tests for targeted treatments and as surrogate endpoints in chemoprevention trials are considered.
Adhesion of a Rigid Punch to a Thin Elastic Layer

Abstract Adhesion between a rigid flat cylindrical punch and an elastic layer has been investigated. FE analysis was employed to determine the layer stiffness. Linear elastic fracture mechanics was then used to determine the energy release rate, Ga, per unit of bonded area for a circular debond propagating inwards from the edge of the punch. The calculations showed a strong effect of Poisson's ratio for thin layers, small departures from complete incompressibility causing large reductions in stiffness and hence in detachment force. Experiments were performed with an aluminum punch adhered to a rubber layer using a rubber-based adhesive. The ratio of punch radius to layer thickness was varied over the range 0.07 to 3.3. Detachment forces were measured and compared with calculated values. Reasonable agreement was obtained for thick layers but not for thin ones, possibly because of a change in the mode of failure.
Novel oxygen sensor based on terfluorene thin-film and its enhanced sensitivity by stimulated emission

Ter(9,9-diarylfluorene) (TDF) neat film featuring oxygen sensing with advantages of fast response, reversibility and high efficiency is reported. The fast O2 fluorescence quenching process (4.0 × 1010 M−1 s−1) is unique and is mainly due to intact amorphous morphology of the TDF film, providing ample porous sites in nature so that O2 can travel therein freely. This, together with a large S1–T1 energy gap of TDF, leads to efficient O2 sensitization, i.e. the O2 induced S1–T1 intersystem crossing. The sensitivity can be further enhanced up to ∼10-fold and ∼20-fold in amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lasing action, respectively. The work thus demonstrated a new class of organic materials suited for high-speed, high-sensitivity oxygen sensing.
Long-term prediction of time series by combining direct and MIMO strategies

Reliable and accurate prediction of time series over large future horizons has become the new frontier of the forecasting discipline. Current approaches to long-term time series forecasting rely either on iterated predictors, direct predictors or, more recently, on the Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) predictors. The iterated approach suffers from the accumulation of errors, the Direct strategy makes a conditional independence assumption, which does not necessarily preserve the stochastic properties of the time series, while the MIMO technique is limited by the reduced flexibility of the predictor. The paper compares the Direct and MIMO strategies and discusses their respective limitations to the problem of long-term time series prediction. It also proposes a new methodology that is a sort of intermediate way between the Direct and the MIMO technique. The paper presents the results obtained with the ESTSP 2007 competition dataset.
The OutPatient Experiences Questionnaire (OPEQ): data quality, reliability, and validity in patients attending 52 Norwegian hospitals

Objective: To describe the development and evaluation of the OutPatient Experiences Questionnaire (OPEQ) for somatic outpatients. Design: Literature review, patient interviews, pretesting of questionnaire items, and a cross sectional survey. Setting: Postal survey of adult outpatient clinics at 52 hospitals in all five regions of Norway during 2003 and 2004. Subjects: 35 719 patients who had attended an outpatient clinic within the previous 3 weeks. Results: 19 266 patients (53.9%) responded to the questionnaire. Low levels of missing data suggest that the questionnaire is acceptable to patients. Factor analysis of items applicable to all patients produced three factors: clinic access (two items), communication (six items), and organisation (four items). The remaining items contributed to the hypothesised scales of hospital standards (three items), information (six items), and pre-visit communication (three items). With the exception of the pre-visit communication scale, the levels of Cronbach’s alpha were >0.7. With the exception of the hospital standards scale, all produced test-retest correlations that exceeded 0.7. Most of the results of validity testing were as hypothesised. Correlations between the OPEQ scores ranged from 0.30 (clinic access and hospital standards) to 0.73 (communication and information). As hypothesised, scores were significantly related to patient responses to questions about overall satisfaction, general health and age. Conclusions: The OPEQ is a self-administered questionnaire that includes the most important aspects of patient experience from an outpatient perspective. It has good evidence for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity.
Measuring Peer Group Effects: A Study of Teenage Behavior

Individuals or households often have some scope for choice of peer groups, whether through the selection of neighborhood of residence, school, or friends. This study addresses the estimation of peer group effects in cases in which measures of peer group influence are potentially endogenous variables. Using a rich data set on individual behavior, the paper explores teenage pregnancy and school dropout behavior. For both cases, the estimation of a straight-forward single-equation model yields statistically significant peer group effects; however, these effects disappear under simultaneous equation estimation. The results are robust and suggest the need for careful modeling of the choice of peer groups.
The Effect of Self-Affirmation in Nonthreatening Persuasion Domains: Timing Affects the Process

Most research on self-affirmation and persuasion has argued that self-affirmation buffers the self against the threat posed by a persuasive message; thus, it increases the likelihood that participants will respond to the message favorably. Little research, in contrast, has looked at the effects of self-affirmation on persuasive messages that are not threatening to the self. This research examines mechanisms that can operate under these conditions. Consistent with the idea that self-affirmation affects confidence, the article shows that self-affirmation can decrease information processing when induced prior to message reception (Experiment 1) and can increase the use of self-generated thoughts in response to a persuasive message when induced after message reception (Experiment 2). In addition, Experiment 3 manipulates the timing of self-affirmation to replicate both effects and Experiment 4 provides direct evidence for the impact of self-affirmation on confidence.
Laboratory Experiments On Pressure Pulse Flow Enhancement In Porous Media

High-amplitude pressure pulsing or mechanical excitation of a saturated porous medium under a pressure gradient increases the flow rate of the liquid along the direction of the flow gradient. Experiments show that this occurs for singlephase liquid systems and two-phase liquid systems (e.g. water-wet, paraffin oil mobile phase) under various conditions and system parameters. The presence of free gas in the system leads to a delay of the effect because the excitation energy is dissipated in compressing the gas. Experiments have been performed in a wide range of configurations (cylindrical cells and flat plate simulators), grain sizes (30 to 2000 microns), viscosities (1 to ~10,600 cP), and flow factors (e.g. with and without sand flow). Mobile phase flow rate increases of from 30% to over a thousand percent (in the case of the most viscous oils) were measured. These beneficial flow rate effects took place in sand packs without saturation changes, without fabric changes, and under conditions of constant external head. They cannot be rationalized within Darcy theory, as this theory contains no inertial terms. A new theory has been developed. The flow enhancement effect requires large strains; seismic amplitude strains are inadequate. The nature of excitation is important: high amplitude non-seismic pulses are best. This is most easily achieved in the laboratory and in the field by pressure pulsing, as opposed to other excitation methods. One of the most interesting series of experiments was related to physical (visual and quantitative) demonstrations that viscous fingering instabilities can be suppressed by pulsing applied to the less viscous invading phase. These results have important implications in the execution of water floods in the field, and can lead to methods of converting old water floods to stabilized front floods. Laboratory Experiments on Pressure Pulse Flow Enhancement in Porous Media Brett C. Davidson, PE-TECH Inc, Lloydminster Alberta T.J.T. (Tim) Spanos, PE-TECH Inc. Edmonton Alberta Maurice B. Dusseault, PE-TECH Inc. Waterloo Ontario Presented and published in the Proceedings of the CIM Regina Technical Meeting, Oct 1999
Lund-mackay staging system in cystic fibrosis: a prognostic factor for revision surgery?

BACKGROUND Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States. Mucus in CF patients can be exceptionally viscous, leading to progressive cycles of inflammation and infection. The most widely accepted staging system used to score sinus computed tomography (CT) scans is the Lund-Mackay Score (LMS). METHODS To determine if a significant correlation exists between LMS and the need for revision sinus surgery in a patient population with CF, we performed a retrospective review of 32 patients with CF who were referred to the Tulane Otolaryngology Clinic from 2005 to 2011 and received a CT scan of the paranasal sinuses. CT scans were graded in a blinded manner by the institution's neuroradiologist using the LMS system. RESULTS We found no statistically significant difference in the raw or scaled LMSs between patients receiving revision surgery (n=9) and patients receiving a single surgery (n=23). CONCLUSIONS CT scans are vital for preoperative planning, but they are not a useful tool for risk stratification. More specifically, application of the LMS is not relevant in identifying which CF patients with chronic rhinosinusitis will be at risk for revision surgeries.
Crystal Structure, Cytotoxicity and Interaction with DNA of Zinc (II) Complexes with o-Vanillin Schiff Base Ligands

Two new zinc complexes, Zn(HL1)2 (1) and [Zn2(H2L2)(OAc)2]2 (2) [H2L1 = Schiff base derived from o-vanillin and (R)-(+)-2-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol, H3L2 = Schiff base derived from o-vanillin and 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol], have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, TG analyses, solid fluorescence, IR, UV-Vis and circular dichroism spectra. The structural analysis shows that complex 1 has a right-handed double helical chain along the crystallographic b axis. A homochiral 3D supramolecular architecture has been further constructed by intermolecular C-H··· π, O-H···O and C-H···O interactions. Complex 2 includes two crystallographically independent binuclear zinc molecules. The two binuclear zinc molecules are isostructural. The 2-D sheet supramolecular structure was formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction. The fluorescence of ligands and complexes in DMF at room temperature are studied. The interactions of two complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) are investigated using UV-Vis, CD and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results show that complex 1 exhibits higher interaction with CT-DNA than complex 2. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes towards four kinds of cancerous cell lines (A549, HeLa, HL-60 and K562) were assayed by the MTT method. Investigations on the structures indicated that the chirality and nuclearity of zinc complexes play an important role on cytotoxic activity.
Social and non-social visual attention patterns and associative learning in infants at risk for autism.

BACKGROUND Social inattention is common in children with autism whereas associative learning capabilities are considered a relative strength. Identifying early precursors of impairment associated with autism could lead to earlier identification of this disorder. The present study compared social and non-social visual attention patterns as well as associative learning in infant siblings of children with autism (AU sibs) and low-risk (LR) infants at 6 months of age. METHODS Twenty-five AU sibs and 25 LR infants were observed in a novel social-object learning task, within which attention to social and non-social cues was contrasted. Video recorded data were coded for percent duration of gaze to objects or caregiver. Movement rates to activate the toy within the associative learning task were also quantified. RESULTS Both groups learned the association between moving a switch and activating a cause-effect toy. AU sibs spent less time looking at caregivers and more time looking at the toy or joystick when their caregivers made no attempts to engage their attention. However, response to caregiver-initiated social bids was comparable for both groups. CONCLUSIONS Infrequent self-initiated socially directed gaze may be an early marker of later social and communication delays.
Reversion of the Malignant Phenotype of Human Breast Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture and In Vivo by Integrin Blocking Antibodies

In a recently developed human breast cancer model, treatment of tumor cells in a 3-dimensional culture with inhibitory β1-integrin antibody or its Fab fragments led to a striking morphological and functional reversion to a normal phenotype. A stimulatory β1-integrin antibody proved to be ineffective. The newly formed reverted acini re-assembled a basement membrane and re-established E-cadherin–catenin complexes, and re-organized their cytoskeletons. At the same time they downregulated cyclin D1, upregulated p21cip,waf-1, and stopped growing. Tumor cells treated with the same antibody and injected into nude mice had significantly reduced number and size of tumors in nude mice. The tissue distribution of other integrins was also normalized, suggesting the existence of intimate interactions between the different integrin pathways as well as adherens junctions. On the other hand, nonmalignant cells when treated with either α6 or β4 function altering antibodies continued to grow, and had disorganized colony morphologies resembling the untreated tumor colonies. This shows a significant role of the α6/β4 heterodimer in directing polarity and tissue structure. The observed phenotypes were reversible when the cells were disassociated and the antibodies removed. Our results illustrate that the extracellular matrix and its receptors dictate the phenotype of mammary epithelial cells, and thus in this model system the tissue phenotype is dominant over the cellular genotype.
Reactive Power Billing Under Nonsinusoidal Conditions for Low-Voltage Systems

This paper analyzes reactive power definitions for billing purposes in low-voltage installations with high harmonic distortion levels. First, the theoretical definitions of power under nonsinusoidal conditions and their outcomes are presented and two of them are chosen as the focus to determine which one is the most appropriate for billing: nonactive power and fundamental reactive power. The regulatory framework of different countries is then analyzed and compared with the theoretical definitions. Subsequently, different reactive power measurement methods are analyzed and their outputs are again compared with the definitions. Simulations performed with typical nonsinusoidal voltage and current signals show that several measurement techniques can easily be used for fundamental reactive power measurement, whereas the measurement of nonactive power requires more effort. Finally, a regulatory comparison of the pros and cons of each reactive power quantity is conducted. It is concluded that the surplus of reactive power in electricity grids should be controlled via fundamental reactive power (or displacement power factor), since it is independent of the harmonic distortion, the responsibility for it can be easily assigned, and it is easy to be measured with the use of several simple electronic measurement techniques.
AT(1) receptor agonistic antibodies from preeclamptic patients cause vascular cells to express tissue factor.

BACKGROUND We recently described autoantibodies (angiotensin-1 receptor autoantibodies, AT(1)-AA) directed at the AT(1) receptor in the serum of preeclamptic patients, whose placentas are commonly infarcted and express tissue factor (TF). Mechanisms of how AT(1)-AA might contribute to preeclampsia are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that AT(1)-AA cause vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to express TF. METHODS AND RESULTS IgG from preeclamptic patients containing AT(1)-AA was purified with anti-human IgG columns. AT(1)-AA were separated from the IgG by ammonium sulfate precipitation. We transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the AT(1) receptor with TF promoter constructs coupled to a luciferase reporter gene. VSMC were obtained from human coronary arteries. Extracellular signal-related kinase activation was detected by an in-gel kinase assay. AP-1 activation was determined by electromobility shift assay. TF was measured by ELISA and detected by immunohistochemistry. Placentas from preeclamptic women stained strongly for TF, whereas control placentas showed far less staining. We proved AT(1)-AA specificity by coimmunoprecipitating the AT(1) receptor with AT(1)-AA but not with nonspecific IgG. Angiotensin (Ang) II and AT(1)-AA both activated extracellular signal-related kinase, AP-1, and the TF promoter transfected VSMC and Chinese hamster ovary cells, but only when the AP-1 binding site was present. We then demonstrated TF expression in VSMC exposed to either Ang II or AT(1)-AA. All these effects were blocked by losartan. Nonspecific IgG or IgG from nonpreeclamptic pregnant women had a negligible effect. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that AT(1)-AA and Ang II both stimulate the AT(1) receptor and initiate a signaling cascade resulting in TF expression. These results show an action of AT(1)-AA on human cells that could contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Clinical Manifestations, Laboratory Findings, and Treatment Outcomes of SARS Patients

Clinical and laboratory data on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), particularly on the temporal progression of abnormal laboratory findings, are limited. We conducted a prospective study on the clinical, radiologic, and hematologic findings of SARS patients with pneumonia, who were admitted to National Taiwan University Hospital from March 8 to June 15, 2003. Fever was the most frequent initial symptom, followed by cough, myalgia, dyspnea, and diarrhea. Twenty-four patients had various underlying diseases. Most patients had elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and lymphopenia. Other common abnormal laboratory findings included leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated levels of aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase. These clinical and laboratory findings were exacerbated in most patients during the second week of disease. The overall case-fatality rate was 19.7%. By multivariate analysis, underlying disease and initial CRP level were predictive of death.
MailCat: an intelligent assistant for organizing e-mail

MailCat is an intelligent assistant that heips users organize their e-mail into folders. It uses a text classifier to learn each user’s mail-filing habits. MailCat uses what it learns to predict the three folders in which the user is most likely to place each incoming message. It then provides shortcut buttons to file each message into one of these three folders. When one of MailCat’s predictions is correct, the effort required to file a message is reduced to a single button click.
High Magnetic Moment of FeCo Nanoparticles Produced in Polyol Medium

High magnetization Fe55Co45 alloy nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by the polyol reduction process followed by annealing under argon. The diethylene glycol was used as solvent and reducing agent simultaneously in this process. All the synthesized samples of FeCo nanoparticles were annealed at 873 K for different times. The alloy formation processes, the evolution of the microstructure, and the magnetic properties have been investigated before and after samples annealing. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the synthesized product before annealing shows that a cobalt ferrite is spinel structure of crystallite size of about 10 nm. XRD analysis of the samples annealed at 873 K for different times also shows that of the FeCo alloy has been obtained by reducing the cobalt ferrite. It has been confirmed that the formation of a body-centered cubic (bcc) single-phase structure where the wt% increases with annealing times leading to a pure phase after annealing during 4 h. These results are confirmed by transmission electron microscopy study. The saturation magnetization of the Fe-Co alloys increases with annealing time, indicating an increasing homogeneity in composition and the single bcc FeCo phase formation. The highest saturation magnetization of 235 Am2 · kg-1 with a low coercivity of 7.5 mT was obtained for the Fe55Co45 nanoparticles annealed during 4 h. The anisotropy constant K has been extracted and we have shown that increases with the annealing time.