Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Study on the effects of leptin on puberty development in children].

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of leptin on puberty development in children. METHODS Three hundred obese and 300 healthy children without taking any medication or having evidence of endocrine or metabolic diseases were studied. Their ages of first spermatorrhea and menarche were surveyed, and blood levels of leptin, sex hormones, growth hormone (GH) and insulin (INS) were measured. RESULTS With increased of age, blood levels of leptin appeared from low to high and from high to low again in the boys, with (1.04 +/- 0.21) nmol/L to (1.20 +/- 0.27) nmol/L and to (0.66 +/- 0.10) nmol/L in the obese group, and with (0.31 +/- 0.06) nmol/L to (0.45 +/- 0.10) nmol/L and to (0.19 +/- 0.04) nmol/L in the control group. While blood level of leptin appeared an increasing trend in girls, with (0.89 +/- 0.15) nmol/L to (1.39 +/- 0.23) nmol/L in the obese group, and (0.46 +/- 0.08) nmol/L to (0.88 +/- 0.18) nmol/L in the control group. Levels of sex hormones also appeared an increasing trend in the all groups. Levels of GH showed an abrupt increased at certain ages, different in boys from girls (14-15 years of age in boys and 13-14 in girls). In the all ages, serum levels of leptin and INS were higher in the obese group than those in the control group, while the level of GH was lower in the obese group than that in the control group. Serum level of leptin was higher in the obese group of both boys and girls than that in the control group, with (0.71 +/- 0.17) nmol/L and (0.30 +/- 0.04) nmol/L and (1.11 +/- 0.21) nmol/L and (0.70 +/- 0.18) nmol/L, respectively. Ages at first spermatorrhea and menarche were much earlier in the obese children than those in the controls, with (12.5 +/- 1.2) and (13.2 +/- 1.2) years of age in boys and (11.6 +/- 0.8) and (12.8 +/- 0.9) in the girls, respectively. Blood levels of leptin was higher in the girls than that in the boys. Age at menarche and earlier in the girls than that of first spermatorrhea in the boys. Blood level of testosterone correlated inversely with that of leptin in boys, while that of estradiol correlated with that of leptin in girls. Level of GH correlated inversely with that of leptin in boys and correlated with that in girls. Level of INS correlated with that of leptin in the control girls. CONCLUSIONS Leptin might have an effect on initiation of puberty in children, possibly with more importance in girls than in boys. The gender difference in the degree of correlations between levels of leptin and GH may cause their difference in the ages at sudden growth in boys and girls. The gender difference in the degree of correlation between levels of leptin and sex hormone may cause their difference in the ages at first spermatorrhea and menarche in both boys and girls.
MECA: Mobile System Support for Brazilian Community Health Agents Program Based on Context-Awareness

The advance of information systems ascended research in the area of pervasive computing applied to healthcare, especially in the application of context-awareness in pervasive applications. In essence, context-awareness in healthcare integrates concepts and technologies to provide healthcare to a wider part of the population and in a personalized way. Allied to mobile technologies, context-awareness can support healthcare professionals providing pervasive access to information in an adaptable, private and personalized form. This work presents a software architecture, called MECA, to support Brazilian community of health agents program based on context-awareness. This system aims to assist the community of health workers in carrying out the processes of context integration and then, present relevant information to the agent according the actual context, as location, time and activity, among others. Through an evaluation in a study case, it was possible to verify the efficiency of the association of context information in the presentation of information to health agents and the alerting with contextual information, based on precision and recall measure.
Post-translational Modifications of Ras and Ral Are Important for the Action of Ral GDP Dissociation Stimulator*

Ral GDP dissociation stimulator (RalGDS) is a GDP/GTP exchange protein of Ral and a new effector protein of Ras. Therefore, there may be a new signaling pathway from Ras to Ral. In this paper, we examined the roles of the post-translational modifications of Ras and Ral on this new signal transduction pathway. The post-translationally modified form of Ras bound to RalGDS more effectively than the unmodified form. The modification of Ras was required to regulate the distribution of RalGDS between the cytosol and membrane fractions in COS cells. The post-translational modification of Ral enhanced the activities of RalGDS to stimulate the dissociation of GDP from and the binding of GTP to Ral. Furthermore, the modified form of Ral bound to Ral-binding protein 1 (RalBP1), a putative effector protein of Ral, more effectively than the unmodified form. Taken together with the observations that Ras and Ral are localized to the membranes, these results suggest that the post-translational modifications of Ras and Ral play a role for transmitting the signal effectively on the membranes in the signal transduction pathway of Ras/RalGDS/Ral/RalBP1.
Oscillatory Theta Activity during Memory Formation and Its Impact on Overnight Consolidation: A Missing Link?

Sleep has been shown to promote memory consolidation driven by certain oscillatory patterns, such as sleep spindles. However, sleep does not consolidate all newly encoded information uniformly but rather “selects” certain memories for consolidation. It is assumed that such selection depends on salience tags attached to the new memories before sleep. However, little is known about the underlying neuronal processes reflecting presleep memory tagging. The current study sought to address the question of whether event-related changes in spectral theta power (theta ERSP) during presleep memory formation could reflect memory tagging that influences subsequent consolidation during sleep. Twenty-four participants memorized 160 word pairs before sleep; in a separate laboratory visit, they performed a nonlearning control task. Memory performance was tested twice, directly before and after 8 hr of sleep. Results indicate that participants who improved their memory performance overnight displayed stronger theta ERSP during the memory task in comparison with the control task. They also displayed stronger memory task-related increases in fast sleep spindle activity. Furthermore, presleep theta activity was directly linked to fast sleep spindle activity, indicating that processes during memory formation might indeed reflect memory tagging that influences subsequent consolidation during sleep. Interestingly, our results further indicate that the suggested relation between sleep spindles and overnight performance change is not as direct as once believed. Rather, it appears to be mediated by processes beginning during presleep memory formation. We conclude that theta ERSP during presleep memory formation reflects cortico-hippocampal interactions that lead to a better long-term accessibility by tagging memories for sleep spindle-related reprocessing.
Nocturnal Enuresis and Psychosocial Problems in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease and Sibling Controls

Abstract. To evaluate current and lifetime prevalence rates of nocturnal enuresis and psychosocial problems among children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in comparison with sibling controls, a structured interview and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist were administered to primary caretakers regarding 126 of their children aged 5 to 17 with SCD and 47 sibling controls. Lifetime rates of enuresis among children with SCD were comparable to similar studies, and exceeded population prevalence and sibling control rates. In addition, enuretic children had higher levels of total psychosocial problems on the Pediatric Symptom Checklist regardless of group status, although patterns of subscale differences varied by group and enuresis history after controlling for child age. These findings replicate and extend previous findings and provide further evidence to support a need for monitoring of hydration levels and screening for psychosocial problems among children with SCD and enuresis, as well as evaluation of the psychometric properties of psychosocial screening measures and identification of efficacious treatments for enuresis in children with SCD.
The Antihypertensive Efficacy and Safety of a Chronotherapeutic Formulation of Propranolol in Patients With Hypertension

This study evaluated the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of a chronotherapeutic formulation of propranolol designed for nighttime dosing (propranolol controlled release [CR]). A total of 434 patients with mild‐to‐moderate hypertension were randomized to placebo or to one of four doses of propranolol CR (80, 120, 160, or 640 mg/d). At baseline, the mean morning blood pressures were similar in each treatment group and averaged 152/101 mm Hg. After 8 weeks of treatment, morning diastolic blood pressure, the primary efficacy measurement, was significantly reduced from baseline in placebo (‐6.98 mm Hg) and all propranolol groups (p<0.001). The decreases ranged from 10.1 mm Hg in the 80‐mg/d group to 11.0 mm Hg in the 120‐mg/d group and were significantly larger than placebo in the 120–, 160‐, and 640‐mg/d groups (p<0.05). Blood pressure measured in the evening (trough) demonstrated similar antihypertensive efficacy. Heart rate and rate‐pressure product were reduced in a dose‐related manner by propranolol CR. The formulation was well tolerated with only fatigue and dizziness being reported more frequently than in the placebo group. Propranolol CR is an effective antihypertensive formulation that May reduce blood pressure during the morning period of maximum cardiovascular risk.
Oscillator Model Analysis for Slow Light in Bright-Dark-Dark Waveguide Systems

The tunable wideband slow-light based on plasmonic analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in bright-dark-dark mode waveguide systems is investigated in this letter. A three-oscillator model is established to characterize optical responses and slow-light effects in the waveguide systems. The main dependent factors of slow-light effects based on plasmonic analogue of EIT, namely, the cavity-cavity separation and media environment of resonators, are numerically and theoretically discussed in this letter. We find that both the group index and the bandwidth of the slow light in the bright-dark-dark waveguide structures show better performance than those in the normal bright-dark ones. These results suggest that the contradiction between the large group index and the wideband slow light in the bright-dark mode waveguide system can be weakened. At the same time, tunable wideband slow-light effects are also achieved. Our researches may have an application in optical slow-light devices.
The Loss-Averse Newsvendor Problem with Random Capacity

This paper examines a single-period inventory problem with random capacity and demand, where the loss-averse preference is adopted to describe the newsvendor’s decision-making behavior. When the loss-averse newsvendor orders, the supplier has some random replenishment capacity. He will choose an order quantity to maximize his expected utility. The newsvendor’s optimal ordering policy is obtained, then the impacts of loss aversion, price, salvage value and cost on the optimal order quantity are analysed. Our research shows that the loss-averse newsvendor’s optimal order quantity is always less than the risk-neutral newsvendor’s. Moreover, the newsvendor’s optimal order quantity and expected utility are decreasing in the loss aversion level and purchasing cost, while increasing in selling price and salvage value. The numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate our theoretical results.
Nursing student feedback on undergraduate research education: Implications for teaching and learning

Abstract Teaching research to undergraduate students presents many challenges to nurse academics. Yet facilitating students to develop skills in critically analysing and interpreting research is vital if we are to achieve evidence-based nursing practice. This paper explores student feedback from a research unit undertaken by Australian undergraduate nurses in order to highlight the challenges for academics trying to engage students in this material. Three hundred and sixty nine (83.5%) second year nursing students provided qualitative and quantitative feedback at the completion of a research unit using a standardised student feedback form. From a combination of the qualitative and quantitative feedback, the most positive aspects of the unit were the teaching staff, the group work and interaction in the class room and the online assessment item. Participants were least satisfied with the way in which the unit was presented, the written assessment items and assessment feedback and the perceived relevance of the unit. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the theoretical underpinnings of adult learning and teaching in the development of future course materials.
Risk identification in product innovation projects: new perspectives and lessons learned

ABSTRACT The paper addresses the improvement of innovation project (IP) risk identification by applying the RBS (Risk Breakdown Structure) method, and represents a follow-up analysis of the subject (a case of IP before and after applying the method). The activities of risk identification are an initial phase in most of risk management processes and classifications. High-level risk-taking is one of the key characteristics of IPs, due to the fact that this type of projects is related to implementation of new ideas. An example illustrates the combination of RBS/WBS for evaluating the risk concentration, called Risk Breakdown Matrix. This research has proven that implementation of the presented approach in the context of the Serbian market can improve efficiency of all phases of the project, especially those related to planning phase.
Survey of the Fungi that Infect Imported Carrot (Daucus Carota L.) in the Areas of Baghdad

An extensive survey of fungi associated with post-harvest carrot degradation in different parts of the Baghdad market. samples were collected from three different regions of Adhamiya, Kadhimiya and Sadiyah . Five fungal species, such as , Aspergillus nige, Altinaria radicina, Sclerotinia sclerotorum, Geotrichum candidum and Rhizoctonia carotae, which isolated from the decayed samples. In this context, Altinaria radicina showed the highest frequency of 23.3%. Both Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Aspergillus nige, Geotrichum candidum at 20% While Rhizoctonia carotae showed the lower frequency at 16.7%. Pathogenic exam showed that all isolated fungi were pathogenic to host roots Storage. However, Aspergillus nige was found to be more pathogenic to carrots resulting in a rapid disintegration of infected roots by 90%during the incubation period. While Alternaria radicina, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, was 80% followed by Geotrichum candidum 75% and Rhizoctonia carotae less than 70% .
Few-Shot Generative Conversational Query Rewriting

Conversational query rewriting aims to reformulate a concise conversational query to a fully specified, context-independent query that can be effectively handled by existing information retrieval systems. This paper presents a few-shot generative approach to conversational query rewriting. We develop two methods, based on rules and self-supervised learning, to generate weak supervision data using large amounts of ad hoc search sessions, and to fine-tune GPT-2 to rewrite conversational queries. On the TREC Conversational Assistance Track, our weakly supervised GPT-2 rewriter improves the state-of-the-art ranking accuracy by 12%, only using very limited amounts of manual query rewrites. In the zero-shot learning setting, the rewriter still gives a comparable result to previous state-of-the-art systems. Our analyses reveal that GPT-2 effectively picks up the task syntax and learns to capture context dependencies, even for hard cases that involve group references and long-turn dependencies.
Forced-air warming effectively prevents midazolam-induced core hypothermia in volunteers

Background and objective Midazolam is a commonly used sedative and anaesthetic adjuvant and the agent is known to decrease core temperature by core-to-periphery redistribution of heat. We tested the hypothesis that forced-air warming could effectively prevent midazolam-induced hypothermia. Methods Six healthy male volunteers were studied over 3 days. On the first day, the volunteers were alert during a 30 min control period with forced-air warming. On the second day, after the volunteers were vasoconstricted, 75 μg kg−1 midazolam was injected intramuscularly and they were covered with a cotton blanket. On the third day, after the volunteers were vasoconstricted, 75 μg kg−1 midazolam was again administered and they were given forced-air warming. Tympanic temperature was measured as the core temperature. Four adhesive skin-surface probes with thermocouples were fixed on the chest, upper right arm, lateral calf and thigh, and both mean skin and body temperatures were calculated. Fingertip perfusion was evaluated using forearm minus fingertip and calf minus toe skin-surface temperature gradients. Thirty minutes after the intramuscular injection of midazolam, the level of sedation in volunteers was measured by a blinded observer according to the alertness/sedation scale. Results Core temperature significantly decreased by midazolam premedication in a time-dependent manner. Although forced-air warming did not prevent the midazolam-induced transient decrease in core temperature, it increased the temperature to the control level thereafter. Conclusion We conclude that forced-air warming can effectively prevent midazolam-induced redistribution hypothermia.
Liquid Latex Body Paint Monster Liquid Latex PlayDoh ( Orange ) Ecoflex ( Silicone ) 2 D Printed on Transparency Wood Glue Crayola Model Magic Gelatin

The primary purpose of a fingerprint recognition system is to ensure a reliable and accurate user authentication, but the security of the recognition system itself can be jeopardized by spoof attacks. This study addresses the problem of developing accurate, generalizable, and efficient algorithms for detecting fingerprint spoof attacks. Specifically, we propose a deep convolutional neural network based approach utilizing local patches centered and aligned using fingerprint minutiae. Experimental results on three public-domain LivDet datasets (2011, 2013, and 2015) show that the proposed approach provides state-of-the-art accuracies in fingerprint spoof detection for intra-sensor, crossmaterial, cross-sensor, as well as cross-dataset testing scenarios. For example, in LivDet 2015, the proposed approach achieves 99.03% average accuracy over all sensors compared to 95.51% achieved by the LivDet 2015 competition winners. Additionally, two new fingerprint presentation attack datasets containing more than 20,000 images, using two different fingerprint readers, and over 12 different spoof fabrication materials are collected. We also present a graphical user interface, called Fingerprint Spoof Buster, that allows the operator to visually examine the local regions of the fingerprint highlighted as live or spoof, instead of relying on only a single score as output by the traditional approaches.
Understanding Intentions of Others Reflects Evoked Responses in the Human Mirror Neuron System: Evidence From Combined fMRI and EEG Repetition Suppression

Abstract : Viewing the behavior of other agents to infer and understand their intents recruits brain regions within the mirror neuron system (MNS), particularly the inferior parietal lobule and inferior frontal gyrus. However, decoding when intention understanding occurs in the human brain remains unclear. Accordingly, and to distinguish MNS involvement from lower level visual scene analysis, we tested repetition suppression effects in 24 healthy male volunteers who performed an intention inference task while their brain activity was recorded with high-spatial fMRI and high-temporal EEG recordings. During this intention inference task, participants were instructed to attend to video-clips displaying hand-on object actions, and to try to decode why actions were being performed. Functional MRI results confirmed the specific role of the MNS and superior temporal sulcus (STS) in intention understanding by revealing repetition suppressions (RS) in inferior parietal, inferior frontal cortex, and STS when participants saw repeated actions with the same intention. High-density EEG neuroimaging combining brain microstate analysis with LAURA distributed linear source estimations expanded these results by revealing suppressed responses for intention decoding in this brain network in the early stage of processing (within the first 300 ms after the hand-on object interaction). Together, these results establish that intention understanding is mediated by a specific subset of regions within the human MNS that are different than those used to decode lower level visual features related to the object. The findings identify a time window of activity within MNS that may be critical for intention decoding. This could potentially be used for on-line monitoring of action awareness.
Psychometric evaluation of the compulsive exercise test (CET) in an adolescent population: links with eating psychopathology.

OBJECTIVE Compulsive exercise describes a rigid, driven urge to exercise that has been reported in different populations, including eating disorder patients. This compulsion can develop at an early age and yet the measurement of compulsive exercise in adolescents is limited by inappropriate assessment techniques. This study aimed to psychometrically evaluate the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) in a sample of adolescents. METHODS The sample consisted of 1012 adolescents aged 12-14 years old, who completed the CET, the Commitment to Exercise Scale (CES), and selected subscales from the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2). RESULTS Results confirmed the original five-factor solution of the CET. The CET's concurrent validity with the CES, as well as the convergent validity with the EDI-2, was established. The CET was not strongly related to exercise frequency. CONCLUSION The CET appears to be valid and reliable for use with adolescents. Replication with an adolescent clinical eating disorder sample is now required.
Evidence for a nickel-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenase in Methanobrevibacter arboriphilicus

In growing cultures of Methanobrevibacter arboriphilicus (Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus), the synthesis of active carbon monoxide dehydrogenase required nickel. The 21-fold-purified enzyme from 63Ni-labeled cells of M. arboriphilicus comigrated with 63Ni during gel filtration. These results provide evidence that the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase of methanogens is a nickel protein.